02 nov 2014

SUNDAY SATURDAY

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 257

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Meet CEOs of Nigeria’s advertising agencies

POLITICS

Why North dominates judiciary }31

I

n any economy, you could glimpse the relevance of any sector by its sheer impact on the wellbeing of other businesses.

Although a few sectors that exert such enormous influ-

nigerians murdered abroad

ence could be cited, but there’s hardly any one that commands the sort of indispensability that the advertising industry flaunts.

In simpler terms, a company’s bottomline is inevi-

SPORT

N1.2BN MESS: HOW FRAUDSTERS RUINED EX-SUPER EAGLE, WILSON ORUMA FEMALE INMATE SMUGGLES TWO NOKIA PHONES INTO PRISON IN PRIVATE PART }32

Why most outlets don’t use POS }23 Bed, Work & Life

20

Time to call it a spade

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

OVER VISIT TO JONATHAN

BUSINESS

jewelry’ 17

In its place has emerged a bustling industry with turnover figures that are just as impressive as those posted by the blue chips they manage.

IN TROUBLE

}60

‘I invest in expensive

ple slice of the market.

So the era - like the 60s and 70s - when the few advertising agencies that existed then were mere fringe players in the country’s economic life, is long gone.

SANUSI

}4

My Passion

tably tied to the ability of the advertising agency that oversees its marketing communications profile to create for it a cutting edge campaign which could help such company gain an am-

}6

15

Body Soul

l Kwankwaso jittery, summons Kano Emir l May withhold staff of office

SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Sexy mini power

JONATHAN

KWANKWASO

RANCOUR, VIOLENCE AS PDP HOLDS CONGRESSES NATIONWIDE Business} 23

Politics}31

Education} 39

Faith} 51

}9

2

SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Contents | 02.11.14 BODY & SOUL

Sexy mini power A woman has wiles that, with a mini dress, make a sexy, powerful duo

}15

POLITICS

Why North dominates judiciary The current composition of the nation’s judiciary is a cause of concern ahead of the 2015 elections

}31

BUSINESS

‘Why most outlet don’t use POS’ Service providers are complaining about the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cash-lite policy

}23

FAITH

New leader for Assemblies of God, Nigeria After two years of power tussle in the Assemblies of God church, a new General Superintendent, Chidi Okoroafor, has emerged

}51

SPORT

How fraudsters ruined Oruma

Former Super Eagles star, Wilson Oruma, battles with mental illness after he was duped by fraudsters introduced to him by his pastor in Lagos two years ago

}60 - 61

THE SUNDAY MAGAZINE

Pathetic: Nigerians killed abroad This week, The Sunday Magazine takes a look at the recurring deaths of Nigerians abroad most times, in controversial circumstances

}4-5

Editorial

N

Oil sector threats

igeria’s economy now seems to be gyrating full blast on the oil and gas dependency complex, following disturbing reports that the country’s exploration drilling has hit its lowest level in history since the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in 1958. Coming from the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), the report, we strongly believe, needs to be urgently given the utmost attention it deserves.

Sadly, the replenishment of the country’s reserves is beginning to wane, following the slump in oil prices to $93 per barrel, while massive government spending has resumed and may likely restart a gale of fiscal deficit.

The situation is even worsened by a recent further drop below $90 per barrel, which has already triggered a warning by the managers of the country’s economy, that some austere measures might be considered if the drop in oil prices persists especially beyond the verge of emergency alert. Yet they state with the other end of the mouth that the drop in oil prices would not affect the country significantly.

Oil prices have been below $100per barrel in recent months. Brent crude price tested $95per barrel in September and further slumped to $90, the lowest point since 2012.

Sadly still, the disturbing distortions in the global oil market are threatening to erode the cheery oil sector growth that shifted from four consecutive negative quarters to 5.1 per cent positive, with oil theft and vandalism slowing down and prices going up in the second quarter of this year. The emergence of the US as the world’s highest oil producer is already keeping the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on its toes and may necessitate quota reduction during its meeting slated for January. The last time OPEC gashed production quota was in 2008.

NAPE is disturbed that the country’s oil and gas industry landscape in the past five years has witnessed some of the most far-reaching changes since crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity 56 years ago. The association cites the advent of Shale gas, which has not only emerged a game changer but also a big threat to the industry, especially in the liquefied natural gas market where Nigeria is an established major player in the Atlantic basin region.

We believe that the country immediately needs to develop and administer some sharp result-oriented shock therapies, absorbers, and automatic stabilizers as response, to dampen the negative impact of the threatening scenario.

This stems from the harsh reality that the spate of oil and gas discoveries in other African countries is already putting sustained pressure on the country and may tarnish its status as “the favourite” destination for oil and gas investments in Africa. Expectedly, reports of new discoveries are few and far between and where reported, the reserves are getting smaller. Ironically, the operating landscape is experiencing an unprecedented rate of pluralisation as the industry witnesses the largest number of divestment and acquisition activities that bring new players as operators to the risky business of oil and gas exploration and production.

However, the possible impact of this flurry of D&A activities on the nation’s reserves position is at best dubious with respect to meeting the long established national target of 40 billion barrels reserves and four million barrels of oil per day production capacity, as new entrants are more interested in focusing on production operations.”

NAPE’s remarks are insightful, and obviously challenge operators and investors in the plum industry to blend caution with national aspiration for the good of the majority, as they chase cash rather than passion. The opportunities and rewards in the country’s oil and gas industry remain verdant enough to accommodate all but would make more rapid and sustainable progress with serious, committed and gutsy investors rather than with pretenders and wannabes whose activities and goals are antithetical to growth and reinforcing progress.

Bank of America fiscal resilience stress test shows base case scenario price at $108 per barrel and production at 2.39 million barrels per day. Analyst affirm that if oil price declines to $86.4per barrel and production is at two million barrels per day, oil revenues will decline by more than 33 per cent. They further estimate that the fiscal deficit could hit N2 trillion or 2.21per cent of GDP, while net federation distributable revenue could decline by 33 per cent from N4.5trillion to N3trillion.

‘Weaker oil earnings causes further risks for Nigeria. The medium term plan assumes an increase in the benchmark price in 2015.

Production shortfalls due to vandalism plus OPEC quota will undermine the plan.

Revenue declines also result in slower foreign exchange inflows and further reserves depletion. The fiscal and external reserves buffers could erode slightly,’ researchers and analysts at Financial Derivatives Company say. With this depiction in mind, we demand urgent response by all stakeholders before the country is tipped into major crisis.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief n Eric Osagie Deputy Managing Directors n Gabriel Akinadewo

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Asst. Editor, News & Politics n Biyi Adegoroye

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Ag. Sales/Circulation Manager n Uchey Okezie

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2014

3

4

The Sunday Magazine SUNDAY, 2 NOVEMBER, 2014

Pathetic: Nigerians killed abroad W

Ahaoma Kanu hen Toba Falode and Oyoms Alamieyeseigha left the shores of Nigeria for the United Arab Emirates, they had so many things in common: they were both young international students hoping to get a better education and become useful members of the society. Their parents and family members had high expectations from them and looked forward to the day they would graduate and return to Nigeria.

But that hope shared by loving parents who, not satisfied with the quality of education in Nigeria, had sent their children abroad, was dashed prematurely. Both of them met their untimely deaths in mysterious circumstances in Dubai, a desert city that has become one of the world’s most attractive tourist destinations. While Falode is said to have been pushed to his death by a Saudi national, Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser, and his British girlfriend, Olivia Richards, Oyoms was found dead in the corridor of his apartment by the security men guarding the building where he resided.

One report said he was found dead on a Dubai street while another said he killed himself in an elevator.

Both deaths appear to be homicide cases but are being classified as ‘accidents’ by the Dubai police. There are fears that the possibility of thorough investigations to apprehend those behind the killings may never be realised as the Nigeria government has paid little or no attention to the killings of her citizens under suspicious circumstances abroad. Sunday New Telegraph investigations revealed that the recent deaths of the two students was among the several cases of Nigerians who have met their deaths in different countries all over the world but have been either forgotten or abandoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All over the world, it is a normal and internationally accepted norm for people to migrate from one geographical region to another. In fact, there are so many factors, such as trade, education, marriage, international relations and, to a great extent, the search for greener pastures, which could occasion such migration. Any intending immigrant would have nothing to fear if he/she is able to secure the valid documents from the appropriate quarters.

In many cases, however, some immigrants lack the valid papers required for such trips and/or residence in the host country, but are able to manoeuvre their ways through the system. A number of Nigerian citizens fall into this category in their quest for greener pastures. As such, they stand the risk of being deported if and when they get caught by law enforcement agents of the country they are illegally residing in.

When illegal immigrants are caught, the internationally accepted practice is for the authorities of the rejecting country to deport such persons by sending them back to their countries of origin unharmed. But, in recent times, the rising number of cases of injustice and inhuman treatment meted out to Africans, especially Nigerians, in foreign lands during deportation, call for serious concern, at least, for Africans. These ill treatments, in some cases, have cost these helpless individuals their lives.

In 1998, 20-year-old Nigerian citizen, Semira Adamu, was killed by Belgian security officials. She was shackled hand-and-foot before she died of fatal brain haemorrhage

•Why government is helpless

Toba Falode

Franca Abumen

Oyoms Alamieyeseigha

Osamuyi Aikpitanhi

Marcus Omofuma

Festus Okey

Chukwudi Ayogu

Semira Adamu

Samson chukwu

after her face was pushed into a pillow to subdue her on a Nigeria-bound flight from Brussels, Belgium.

Adamu was captured on CCTV camera being led towards the aircraft, with her hands handcuffed to the back. She was shown seated inside the aircraft between two gendarmeries, looking apprehensive. There were also shots of her being held down by the two men in what has been described as the cushion-technique, the evil grin on their faces very visible. One gendarme gripped her hands while the other held her head down with the cushion, covering her nose and mouth for several minutes, thereby suffocating her.

This documented evidence, which showed the two gendarmeries cracking jokes while holding the cushion over the face of a helpless Adamu, was used in the trial of the kill-

ers, though there were claims of the video being doctored.

Adamu’s death led to the resignation of Louis Tobback, Belgium’s deputy prime minister at that time, after new information about the incident came to light. He admitted police had “made a mistake,” which may have led to Semira’s death.

On May 1, 1999, a 25 year-old Nigeria deportee, Marcus Omofuma, was put on a Balkan Air flight to Sofia by Austrian police in Vienna. Omofuma’s deportation was ordered after his asylum application in Austria had been turned down in December of the previous year. When Omofuma showed resistance on the plane and began screaming for help, the three escorting officers from the Federal Police Department decided to “shut his mouth.”

According to the police officers, the young

man had been “so loud that air personnel demanded we gag him as a condition for his transport.” The officers tied Omofuma to his seat with leather straps and taped his mouth and part of his nose with adhesive tape. About 20 minutes before arrival in Sofia, the officers noticed that Omofuma was “quiet,”s but refrained from removing the straps and tapes before the landing. At Sofia airport, a doctor could only state that Marcus Omofuma had died. An autopsy carried out in Bulgaria later confirmed his death by suffocation.

Not only are Nigerian immigrants killed inside aircraft or in detention cells as they await deportation, they are also killed on the streets and malls. But when this incessant killing of Nigerians includes those with legal documents and worse off, the act is perpetrated inside a hospital meant to keep people alive

semira adamu

5

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Sunday Magazine C O N T ’ D F R O M PAG E 4

and in good health, then Nigerians abroad need much to be done regarding their safety in foreign lands.

The tragic story of 34-year-old Edmond Idehen, a Nigerian citizen and expectant father as at the time of his death in 2007, is also another case of a mysterious death abroad.

Edmond was admitted to Hospital Maggiore in Bolognia, Italy in May, 2007, for bed rest, due to depression. After some days in the hospital, specifically on May 6 that year, a concerned Nigerian (name withheld) paid him a visit at his recuperation bed. He informed her that he was feeling better and was ready to go home to his four-year-old daughter and his wife, Dorothy, who was heavy with their second baby. The hospital authorities were contacted to process his discharge while he sat on his bed singing praise and worship songs.

The female doctor that was informed about patient Idehen’s readiness to be discharged refused the request.

While the sister tried to convince the doctor that her brother has confirmed he was fit to leave the hospital, the doctor instructed a nurse to call the police. Sunday New Telegraph gathered that Idehen remained calm and kept singing Christian hymns. Two police officers arrived and requested the sister to leave the room and wait at the corridor. She complied.

While waiting for whatever the police and hospital personnel would do concerning her brother’s demand, she heard some commotion inside his admission room. She remained where she was, totally confused. She became worried when she saw one of the nurses run out frantically from the room to a phone. Ten minutes later, two policemen accompanied by an ambulance and paramedics carrying oxygen cans arrived and rushed into her brother’s room. She went in after them and saw her brother lying unconscious on the floor while the paramedics frantically administered oxygen to him. Idehen gave up the ghost. His crime was that he declared that he was fit to be discharged from a hospital he willingly presented himself to be treated.

An enquiry into the circumstances leading to Idehen’s death was initiated and an autopsy was ordered to be carried out. But the findings of the autopsy were to take six whole months to be ready. Till date, no arrests have been made and no conviction reached.

The case has been abandoned even by the Nigerian government.

In May 2001, on a second attempt by Swiss immigration authorities to deport a Nigerian, Samson Chukwu, after a previous attempt failed because of the refusal of the pilot to take him aboard, anti-terror unit officers from the Canton of Valais came early to the detention centre in Valais to escort him to a flight back to Nigeria. Instead, he was killed by suffocation, with his hands cuffed behind his back. Some officers sat on top of him, preventing oxygen supply. None of the officers was prosecuted.

Also, on June 9, 2007, another Nigerian, Osamuyi Aikpitanhi, was murdered by Spanish security officials. According to eye-witness accounts, 23-year-old Osamuyi was handcuffed with his legs chained and his mouth gagged completely with industrial-strength rubber tape. Thereafter, a sack was put over his head to hide him from public view while he was being deported from Spain.

The Spanish officials then pummelled him and injected him with tranquilisers, which led to his suffocating to death. His vomit and excrements were all over him. His crime was that he did not possess a residence permit, authorising him to live and work in Spain.

To the Spaniards, another illegal immigrant had been taken care of; but for the family of the young man in Benin, Edo State, life can never be the same again.

Sunday New Telegraph gathered that it took the efforts of concerned Nigerians in Spain to make the Nigerian Embassy in Barcelona to wake up to its responsibility.

Due to the government’s lack-lustre attitude towards issues like this, a group, Concerned Nigerians Worldwide, through the coordination of the website, www.nigeriavillag-

Pathetic: Nigerians killed abroad

Theresa Oresanya

esquare.com, wrote a protest letter which was forwarded to the Spanish government over the death of Osamuyi. They also held a worldwide protest in many Spanish embassies around the world on June 29, 2007, to condemn the death of Osamuyi and demand adequate compensation for the family.

Their action compelled then President Umaru Yar’Adua to institute an investigation. House of Representatives member, Hon. Samson Osagie, brought the matter to the House of Representatives then headed by Mrs. Patricia Etteh, calling for an investigation into the death. A committee headed by then Chairman, House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Hon. Seriake Dickson (current Bayelsa State Governor), was constituted to investigate the matter. The Spanish Government, due to the investigation, supported the family of late Osamuyi with €10,000 to help with the burial. It also promised to ensure justice and closure for the family. Seven years after, the matter has been forgotten and the family has yet to get justice.

When Sunday New Telegraph contacted his brother, Iziegbe Aikpitanhi, he said the matter had long been forgotten by the Nigerian and Spanish governments.

“It is unfortunate the way our government treated the matter. The people that murdered my brother are still walking around freely. We did not get justice,” he said.

In August 2007, two Nigerians, Festus Okey, and a friend, Mamaria Oga, were arrested and taken into custody in Istanbul’s Central Beyoglu District on charges of drug possession. But some few minutes after the due were separated inside the police station for questioning, Festus was shot point-blank by a police officer identified as Cengiz Yildiz who claimed that the suspect had tried to grab his gun, prompting the accidental discharge. No surveillance camera was inside the interrogation room at the time of the incident. The killing generated so much rage across the world that Turkish human rights lawyers took the case upon themselves to get justice for the brutal manner in which the victim was murdered.

His family and human rights activists lamented the irresponsible manner in which the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Embassy responded to the case. They neither showed up in court nor collaborated with the human rights groups that took up the matter.

According to Pinar Ceylan, a human rights lawyer who took up the matter, the Nigerian government offered no help whatsoever.

“Several attempts were made to get in contact with the Nigerian Embassy (in Turkey).

Nevertheless, all of these attempts were fruitless,” he said.

Though the killer was found guilty in 2011 and sentenced to four years and two months imprisonment for involuntary manslaughter, Ceylan revealed that the Nigerian government did not participate in getting justice for their citizen.

“Unfortunately, it is not possible to say that Nigerian authorities were efficiently involved in the case. They seem to have left the case to its fate,” he said.

In December 2012, Franca Abumen, a 27

Olunna Ogbu

years old Nigerian lady, living in Rome, Italy met her untimely death in the hands of unknown men who brutally murdered her by tying her ankles and strangling her to death with a black cord. Her body was found on the street. Italian police have yet to apprehend her killers.

In June 2013 , another Nigerian lady known as Jessica was found dead in an industrial area between Carinaro and Gricignano, near Morris bicycle factory, Italy.

The body was found naked and without documents for identification and two clean knives were left beside the body. Police said she died of strangulation and her killers are still at large.

December 2013 recorded the death of two Nigerian students at the Donetsk National Technical University, Ukraine. The youngsters were alleged to have died under circumstances bearing on alleged negligence on the part of the hospital where they were admitted for treatment. The deceased students, Theresa Olaoluwa Oresanya, a third year Electrical Engineering student and her Master’s Degree Engineering counterpart, Bede Olunna Ogbu, died eight days apart in the same hospital.

Not only are the deaths happening in Europe and America, Nigerians have also been killed in African countries, especially neighbouring nations. The case of 19-year old Nigerian student, Godwin Chukwudi Ayogu, comes to mind. He was alleged to have been killed by his Ghanaian roommate in January 2014 at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

His killers stabbed him to death and disembowelled his stomach before his corpse was dropped in front of his hostel.

As if the killing of ordinary Nigerians has not been enough to bring the government to react accordingly, the assassination of a senior Nigerian diplomat in the Nigerian embassy in Prague, Czech Republic in 2003 has been abandoned.

Mr. Micheal Lekari Wayi, an agent of the National Intelligence Agency serving in the Nigerian Embassy, Prague, was said to have been shot in the head and chest by a 72-yearold Czech national, Jiri Pasovsky.

The killer, who was said to be an ex-KGB agent, murdered Wayi inside his office in the Nigerian embassy located at Pred Baterie 18, Prague 6.

Pasovosky was allegedly duped in an advance fee fraud scheme in Nigeria and had reportedly been coming to the Nigeria embassy for help to recover his money. He soon became infuriated when nothing was being done about the issue. He came into the embassy, shot the Nigerian diplomat inside his office and turned the place upside down. According to reports, diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Czech Republic were severed and all embassy activities were moved to Warsaw, Poland. Subsequently, the Office of the State Prosecutor in the Czech Republic closed the matter, but the Union of Nigerians in the Czech Republic (UNCR), members of the international community and the media pressurised the Czech Government (GCR) to reopen the matter about a year later. Sunday New Telegraph gathered that the family of the late diplomat have yet to be compensated.

Also, the legal fees for the lawyer that represented Nigeria at the trial have yet to be paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The case appeared to have been closed as the Nigerian embassy resumed in Prague in 2012.

According to Lagos human rights lawyer, Abdul Jimoh, Nigerians are being treated that way due to the ineptitude of the government.

“It is all part of the gross ineptitude and incompetence on our government. Basically our government does not feel responsible for its citizenry unless it is a matter that affects them directly. You know that the recent deaths of Nigerians in Dubai only attracted government attention after the son of former Bayelsa State governor died there. Previously, the son of an AIT journalist died there and the government did nothing but because it affected one of the ruling classes, they woke up to their responsibility. They are very lukewarm and lackadaisical about it. It shows that ordinary Nigerians don’t matter to our government, anything that does not affect the ruling class is none of their business and they tend to overlook it,” he said.

But the former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi, said the challenges Nigerian foreign missions face in some of these cases is that the citizens involved are illegal residents.

“In consonance with Nigeria’s citizen centred diplomacy, the country has the responsibility of protecting her citizen’s resident outside the country. And it is the ambassador and the embassy that takes care of this responsibility. But the issue in most cases is that many Nigerians abroad are illegal aliens because on arrival their country of residence, they often discard their Nigerian passports.

They neither report to the Nigerian embassy nor retain their passports; some throw it away.

So when any major issue happens to them, it is difficult to trace them. However, I believe that Nigeria needs to do more in protecting her citizens abroad,” he said.

Efforts to contact the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed as at the time of filing this report. Last month, Aisha Folade, mother of Toba Falode (earlier mentioned in this story), wrote a passionate letter to President Goodluck Jonathan. In the letter, she urged him to take critical action on Nigerians being killed abroad in order to stop the trend.

“I warned the Nigerian government that Nigerian youths were being killed in Dubai on a daily basis, as confirmed by our embassy in Dubai. I also warned parents about the dangers of Dubai. I also stated repeatedly that if justice was not got for my son that another murder would happen.

“Indeed, there have been many more after my son, although not mentioned because they do not have a voice. But now, there is one so close to the government that has been struck.

We cannot stand by and watch our youths’ lives being downplayed over and above ‘collaboration and partnership’ with a country that hates us with so much passion, that they are cutting down the lives of our young ones in cold blood crudely and viciously. Yet, we seek ‘partnership and collaboration’ in investment with this same country,” she appealed.

While assuring her that she would get justice for the late Folade, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, promised that the matter would be conclusive.

“This committee in pursuit of this matter tabled a motion on Thursday, March 19 on your son and other Nigerians who were victims of such evil. If our children are not safe in Nigeria and they are also not safe abroad, then where’s the hope? “For your son, we have obtained some documents from the Nigerian High Commission in Dubai and we must follow up to ensure that those responsible are brought to book. I assure that it will not be swept under the carpet,” she promised.

With so many assurances have been given by the federal government promising to end the campaign of death and destruction from Boko Haram which has terrorised the country for five years, some Nigerians are afraid that both at home and abroad, Nigerians are not assured of safety from their government.

6

SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Sanusi in trouble over meeting with Jonathan

L-R: Head Operations, Globacom, Bisi Koleosho; Managing Director, Sun Newspapers, Mr. Femi Adesina; Regional Director, Marketing Communications, Globacom, Charles Jenarius and Editor, BusinessWorld, Nik Ogbulie, at a Media Executives Forum in Lagos…yesterday

Muhammad Kabir

F Kano

ew days after a reported reconciliatory meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has summoned the monarch to explain the trip.

The emir had led a delegation from Kano Emirate on a visit to Jonathan at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.

Though no reason was given for the visit, Villa sources said the former Governor of the Central

Bank of Nigeria used the opportunity to reconcile with Jonathan.

They had fallen out shortly before Sanusi was named emir of Kano over his revelation that $20 billion could not be accounted for by the Jonathan administration.

The visit was said to have angered Kwankwaso, who felt it amounted to a betrayal and slight on his office.

Kwankwaso and the monarch met behind closed doors for about 30 minutes.

Journalists’ efforts to speak with the emir were rebuffed by palace guards, who claimed that Sanusi was

on a ‘personal visit.’

Journalists attached to the Government House, Kano had been directed to wait for the emir in one of the chambers. There they met cooks and other Government House officials arranging drinks, apparently for a function. But the newsmen were quickly told to leave the place and wait for the emir on a aisle as he was leaving.

One of the Kwankwaso’s advisers had earlier told journalists to prepare to interview Sanusi on his way out of the meeting, but the plan was truncated by the emir’s courtiers.

There has been a cold

war between Jonathan and Kwankwaso over certain issues, leading to verbal exchanges between Villa aides and the governor.

Matters got to a head last year when the governor and four other colleagues defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress over some issues.

Kwankwaso is one of the aspirants seeking the presidential ticket of the APC. Sunday New Telegraph learnt that the fear is that Sanusi may have struck a deal with the President to support his second term bid.

There are insinuations that Jonathan may be

planning to use Sanusi to undermine Kwankwaso’s support base in Kano.

The state is one of the key states being relied upon by the APC in its quest to defeat Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election.

As such, Kwankwaso may withhold Sanusi’s staff of office, to curtail his influence.

Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday, Kwankwaso warned that any country that lacks a strong army should consider itself a failed nation.

Kwankwaso, who expressed dismay at the way Nigerian soldiers were being allowed to suffer in the fight against Boko Haram, said they should be strengthened for the tough battle against Boko Haram.

Kwankwaso told journalists in his office that the war against Boko Haram was being hampered by a lack of political will on the part of Jonathan’s government.

“Lack of political will is what is in essence affecting the Nigerian military. But if not, these are soldiers who fought in Darfur, Sierra Leone, Liberia and many other countries. These are soldiers who were respected by friends and seriously feared by their enemies.

“So as a former Minister of Defence, and who is a close friend of the Army, Navy and Air Force, I know that what they are yearning for are kits and

military hardware to take on the fight. If they are given kits, you will see what will happen in a few days,” he declared.

He said the prevailing insurgency necessitated the APC’s inclusion of security as a priority in its campaign. He promised that if the party is elected in 2015, it would provide serious governance that Nigerians would be proud of.

Kwankwaso said the Presidency was confused and did not know what to do. He said the Jonathan administration had concentrated on a media campaign instead of performance.

“People all over today are laughing at us and they see us as nothing. Today, over four million Nigerians have been displaced internally. Many have fled to Niger and Cameroon while some are still on the mountains. But the President shows no concern.

“They only talk of bogus achievements which are not there. They should be told that all cannot be well when you have some segments of the country under the control of insurgents.

What are we talking about?

“They should not look the other way when Nigerians are in desperate need of shelter, food and clothing.

They should come to the rescue of Nigerians. They should see the ongoing killings as their primary concern, before anything else.”

IBB returns, says ‘I want to rest’ 400 terrorists killed as Army foils attack on Maiduguri Dan Atori MINNA

F

ormer Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, returned to the country yesterday after two months of medical treatment in Germany.

The former military leader, who arrived on a chartered flight at Minna International Airport at about 2.50pm spotting a navy blue Kaftan with golden stripes and a cap to match, expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their concern and care during the period of his treatment.

His son and daughter, Mohammed and Halimat, a grand-child and some of his close friends and associates, mostly retired military officers, were at the airport to receive the former leader.

Efforts by newsmen to take his photographs were rebuffed. But when pressed for an interview at the airport, Babangida simply replied, “Alihamadulillahi.

I am coming up well. I am grateful to all Nigerians.”

He was then driven home in a BMW black car with registration number ABJ O1 RY. He arrived his Hilltop

IBB

residence at about 3:15pm and was received by four of his grandchildren.

Babangida, who looked fresh and in high spirits, told journalists that he was in a good condition.

“I’m feeling better. I want to use this opportunity to appreciate all my compatriots, Nigerians, for the goodwill they expressed during my absence.

“I have been deeply touched by their (Nigerians’) love, affection and prayers. I want to use this medium to thank each and every one of them.”

When asked how he would cope with the pressure of the build-up to the 2015 elections, the highly elated leader said he was following political events in Nigeria while in Germany.

“I missed all of you that

came to welcome me, especially my local champions (journalists). I look forward to all of you to sit and chat, talk about politics as we always do. For now, I want to rest,” he stated.

Among those at the airport to receive him were the Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Air Vice Marshall Hamzat Abdullahi; erstwhile director of Military Intellegence, Brig-Gen. Halilu Akilu; former Niger State military administrator, Col. Habibu Shuaibu; former minister of Sports, Alhaji Sani Ndanusa; and Alhaji Umar Ndanusa.

Others are the National Chairman of National Democratic Party, Alhaji Hassan Jalo; former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Abubakar Muye; and a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Musa Datijo.

A short prayer session led by his childhood friend, Alhaji Mohammed Tako, was said shortly on his arrival to thank God for His mercies. Tako prayed for Babangida’s quick recovery, renewed strength, long life and good health.

Ahmed Miringa and Amadi Nnamdi

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ver 400 Boko Haram terrorists were on Friday night killed by the Nigerian Army on their way to attack Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

A security source who did not want to be named, told our correspondent that the insurgents met their waterloo when the troops of the Nigerian Army intercepted them on their way to Maiduguri near Mafa bush.

He said, “The combined ground troops of the Nigerian Army and a fighter jet of the Nigerian Air force opened fire on over 3,000 insurgents, killing over 400 of them while others escaped with bullet wounds and burns.”

The source stated that at about 2am on Friday, the insurgents were seen approaching Maiduguri via bush paths on motorcycles and Hilux vehicles.

This came some hours after Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, released a new video, refuting any ceasefire deal with the Federal Government.

Following the recent in-

vasion of Mubi, Adamawa State by Boko Haram, hundreds of Nigerians who fled across the border to neighbouring Cameroon have been reported to be trapped in bushes and quarantined by Cameroonian soldiers.

The Cameroonian authorities cited Ebola as the reason.

Sunday New Telegraph gathered this information from Mrs. Agnes Onyemerekwe, the mother of one of the Nigerians who fled from Mubi to Cameroon.

Relaying the predicament of her son whom she said gave her a distress call from a GSM number early Wednesday, Onyemerekwe narrated that her son said they had been trapped in the bush under terrible conditions.

He reportedly said they were quarantined in the bush by Cameroonian soldiers for fear of Ebola virus disease.

The traumatised mother described her son as a final year student of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State. She said the boy had gone back to school to conclude his final

exams when Boko Haram attacked the town.

Her words: “on Thursday morning, my son called me to say they were trapped in the bush; that there was a fire in Mubi so they ran away to an unknown village from where they continued running till they were told they were now in Cameroon. He said some soldiers received them and restricted their movement, saying that Nigeria has Ebola problem. Therefore, they were denied free movement.

“My son said they have been begging the soldiers there to help them return to Nigeria safely as they have been suffering and can’t even afford good food. He said they can’t even go out to change the Naira they have with them to Cameroonian currency,” she narrated in tears.

Onyemerekwe, while expressing anxiety over her inability to reach her son again with the number he used to call her, begged the Federal Government to assist in ensuring the safe return of her son and other trapped Nigerians in Cameroon.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2014

News

Ndigbo must produce Lagos deputy gov’ Paul Ogbuokiri

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Vice-President, Namadi Sambo (right), addressing constituents at the Peoples Democratic Party ward congress at Kabala ward 05 in Kaduna …yesterday

2015: Jonathan preaches violence-free elections Anule Emmanuel

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Yenagoa

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday pleaded for violence-free elections in the country.

The President stated this when he and his wife, Patience, picked new membership cards of the Peoples Democratic Party at Ward 13, Otuabulla II community of Bayelsa State.

Jonathan’s remarks may have come as a result of fears expressed in several quarters that next year’s elections would be marred by violence and bloodbath.

..picks new PDP membership card

Jonathan received his card with registration number 2851001 while the First Lady had her card with registration number 2851002.

The President and his wife accompanied by the wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Rachael Dickson, and a representative of the PDP national chairman also joined party members in the state congresses in Otualla II at Abula Hall where three delegates were selected for the party’s forthcoming primaries.

The President said he looks forward to a time in Nigeria when all elec-

tions would be devoid of violence; with only people having genuine intentions being given the opportunity to serve.

He said, “Let me use this opportunity to talk to Nigerians and members of the PDP family that this is the beginning of our political journey.

“I want a situation where all levels of our elections should be very very peaceful. If you really want to serve, you don’t impose yourself on the people. If you have different agenda, of course you will want to intimidate them.

“If you carry weapons to hold offices, that means you have a different motive of wanting to hold that office. Those that genuinely want to serve don’t carry weapons to intimidate the people, if they really want to serve.

“If you want to serve and the people say you can’t serve even if you think you are the best, go back.

Anybody who thinks he wants to pull the nation down because he wants to hold a political office has a different motive of why he wants to serve,” the President noted.

NLNG MD named institute’s global president

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hartered Institute of Procurement & Supply has appointed Nigeria LNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Babs Omotowa, as its Global President for 2014/2015.

In selecting Omotowa for the role, the UK headquartered CIPS’ Global Board of Trustees said his appointment was based on selfrecognition and his strong

contributions to global procurement and supply governance and practice.

NLNG General Manager, External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke, said in a statement that Omotowa’s distinguishing selection to the global chartered body makes this only the second of its kind in the institute’s 82 year history, of appointing its president on self-recognition.

With his calm demeanor,

strategic vision, global experience and knowledge, and proven judgment, Omotowa will be the brand face and chief representative of CIPS, leading over 100,000 members in some 150 countries where the body is represented “I am honoured by this global appointment. It speaks volumes about our four core values at NLNG - integrity, teamwork, ex-

cellence and caring. I trust this appointment will give an added push to the drive to develop Nigerians and Africans professionally, an aspiration that NLNG has been at the forefront of, in line with the company’s overall vision to help build a better Nigeria,” he said.

Omotowa will assume the position this month, succeeding Craig Lardner, an Australian.

One million jobs created in transport sector - Minister

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he Federal Government has created over one million direct and indirect new jobs from the resuscitation of rail transportation by the Jonathan administration in the last four years.

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, stated this while speaking on the sidelines of PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM, a programme organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs in Abuja.

According to the minister, the ongoing construc-

tion of new rail lines and rehabilitation of existing ones is a key component of the Transformation Agenda which has a goal of repositioning the nation’s economy for the overall benefit of the Nigerian people.

“The fundamental goal of the transport sector under the transformation agenda is to develop an adequate, safe, environmentally sound, efficient and affordable integrated transport system within the framework of a progressive and competitive national

and international market economy,” he stated.

Umar explained that the rehabilitation of over 90 per cent of the entire existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country is almost completed, noting that the rehabilitation was the first segment of the 25 years railway strategic plan which encapsulates the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan for the nation’s transportation sector .

He said the rehabilitation of the 1,124km western rail line (Lagos-Kano) is completed while work on the

1,657 km Eastern rail line (Port Harcourt- Maiduguri) is at an advanced stage of completion with the branch line from Kafanchan – Kaduna expected to be completed before the end of this year According to the minister, the Jonathan administration is constructing the first rail line from the Federal Capital Territory to Kaduna, which is a standard gauge rail line while the contract for Lagos – Ibadan standard gauge double track has also been awarded.

oordinator, South-East Women Progressive Initiative, Princess Chisom Onuoha, has said that the Women Wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos Council will back the efforts of the group to ensure that an Igbo person becomes the next Lagos State deputy governor in 2015.

Onuoha, also called ‘Oluoma Ndigbo,’ stated that her ambition is that the next deputy governor would be an Igbo woman.

“If I am elected the Women Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State Council in our election coming up on Wednesday, November 4, 2014, I will concentrate in realising this collective wish of Ndigbo in Lagos,” she pledged.

Onuoha, who said that her NGO has over 8900 members across the world and has empowered no

fewer than 500 women and youths across the country, further said she would work assiduously to foster unity among Igbo women in Lagos State.

“I will also continue to sensitise, train and retrain them to be less dependent on their husbands in providing for the upkeep of their families,” she said.

She explained that Ndigbo Lagos rightly deserves to produce the next Lagos State deputy governor because people of the ethnic stock in the state constitute not less than 44 per cent of the population.

“We are also the engine of the growth; the state has been recording over the years. Infact without fear of contradiction, Ndigbo except the Yoruba, are the biggest contributor to the economic development of Lagos, Nigeria’s centre of excellence,” she added.

Advertising CEOs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

With the economy getting even more robust and fuelling much stiffer competition, the importance of advertising agencies grows inevitably. From its marginal position of the bygone era, the industry has today grown into the mainstream and the proof is evident in the several

advertising budgets they control on behalf of multinationals, banks and other businesses with healthy balance sheets.

New Telegraph will on Monday launch a series that looks at the chief executive officers in this industry that helps turn companies into iconic brands. Their compelling tale will surely be a pleasant revelation.

Four die in Nasarawa attack Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

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arely six days after Governor Al-Makura of Nasarawa State called on people affected by the recent farmers/herdsmen clash in some parts of the state to return to their homes, AK 47-wielding Fulani insurgents yesterday attacked Koro community in Assokio, Lafia East Development Area of the state, killing four persons and burning several houses.

The attackers reportedly invaded the community in the early hours of Saturday, shooting sporadically without challenge from security agents, in an operation that lasted several minutes.

The insurgents reportedly looted food stuff and carted away about eight motorcycles and other valuables from the scene of the attack.

Ajeh Amodu, a resident of Koro community at Assakio who escaped

from the scene, told Sunday New Telegraph that Fulani gunmen numbering over 100 invaded the community in a surprise attack.

His words: “We woke up this morning and were set to go about our normal activities when suddenly Fulanis came and started shooting. I ran for my dear life. As I speak, I don’t know the whereabouts of my wife and children.

“We are Migili (Koro).

We are not Eggon and we don’t know why we were attacked. We are living peacefully. I am appealing to the state government to come to our aid. We are suffering’’ cried Amodu.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that hundreds of Fulani insurgents have taken over Ashigogo area of Assakio where they currently operate from.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ismaila Numan, told newsmen in a telephone interview that he had not been briefed about the development.

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Babatope wants Akande-Adeola as Speaker

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Temitope Ogunbanke ormer Minister of Transportation and member of the Board Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has canvassed for the elevation of Leader of House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, to the position of Speaker following the defection of the Speaker, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal to All Progressives Congress.

Speaking to New Telegraph on Sunday, Babatope said the elevation

of Adeola-Akande to the position of Speaker will satisfy Yoruba’s aspiration within the PDP, considering the fact that the position was originally zoned to South-West at the beginning of the present Seventh Assembly.

His words: “There are some issues that are constitutional in relation to his exist from the PDP. For example that seat of Speaker is for PDP, arising from the fact that the PDP has the majority in the House of Representatives.

So, having defected to the APC, it is assumed that constitutionally, the seat

must go to a PDP person.

And that is why those of us who are in PDP believe that Hon. Mulikat AdeolaAkande should now be elevated by the House of Representatives because she contested with Tambuwal in the first instance.

“If Mulikat AdeolaAkande is elevated to the position of the Speaker, it is going to satisfy Yoruba’s aspiration within the PDP, who in fact were given that position in the first in-

stance. So, apparently, the constitutional issue must be resolved by the House and Tambuwal has nothing to say about that. Those of us who are from the SouthWest geo-political zone want Mulikat to take the position.”

Babatope also noted that the defection of Tambuwal will not have any effect on PDP performance in 2015 general election: “In the first instance, Tambuwal as an individual has the

right to make decision that affects him. So, it is free to associate himself to any Nigerian and to also move to anywhere he wants to move to. I wish Tambuwal best of luck and I believe his defection to APC has no effect at all on the PDP. It is something which we have been expecting for a long time and the boy has embarked on a political gambling.

“Tambuwal has taken a political gamble about

his life. The man is free to take any political gamble, so one can only wish him the best of luck where he is. If he decides to contest governorship election in Sokoto State, good luck to him. There is nothing serious or big about his defection. He has gambled and he will pay for the gamble.

His defection will not affect PDP in Sokoto and I can assure you that he is going to regret his action,” he said.

Aspirant promises to govern Delta as a businessman Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant from Delta State, Mr. Akwue Peter Eloka Okocha, has promised to govern the state with the mental attitude of a businessman from the private sector.

Okocha, who stated this over the weekend in Abuja, after he returned his Expression of Interest Form for the governorship race in Delta State, promised to introduce the private sector mentality into the business of governance.

“Good corporate governance would be the driving force of my government.

Civil servants must deliver efficient services and appropriately remunerated.

If elected, I will use the 13% derivation fund to develop the oil producing areas of the state because the people in these areas suffer environmental degradation, untold health hazards as well as economic deprivation resulting from oil exploration activities,” he added.

According to him, “My government would be panDeltan. No part of the state would feel abandoned and I assuredly declare that it is my intention to build on the legacy of the present administration.”

Present at the event were leaders of various interest groups from Delta State among which are Delta State PDP Youth Solidarity Group, National Congress of Anioma Youths and the Delta State Multi-Ethnic Coalition.

‘Chime’s successor should re-invent agric blueprint’ Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in Enugu State, Prof.

Ikenna Omeje, has advised whoever succeeds Governor Sullivan Chime next year to reinvent the state’s abandoned 22-year old blueprint on agriculture development.

Omeje, a professor of agriculture, who spoke at the Ninth Diamond lecture organised by Ezike Diamond Club, Nigeria, said Chime’s successor should “do something differently by ensuring that his policies and programmes are those that satisfy the yearnings across the political divides.”

Pointing to agriculture and agro-industry as roadmaps to desired development of the state, he said the incoming administration should ensure that the fine labour of the selected egg-heads in the Agricultural Think Tank, who 22 years ago put

forward an infallible agricultural blueprint that was never implemented would end in vain.

Specifying aspects of the said abandoned agricultural blueprint, the lecturer stated that the “most cogent and expedient aspect of the document bordering on projects, installations, access point, agricultural industrial nexus and market access,” among others,, should brought to the front burner as the coming administration forms its development policy.

To make a success of the reinvention of the blue print, he counseled the coming government to “set up a committee to review the 22-year old blue print on agriculture and agro-related plans for Enugu statet o streamline its provisions in line with the current global practices that engender agricultural transformations for improved nutrition, lucrative business venturing and export of surplus produce:

L-R: Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ashraf Salam; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomhoibi and Minister Of State (2) for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad, at a valedictory session for Uhomhoibi in Abuja

Boko Haram: CAN wants Dasuki, Gusau sacked Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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he Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN)yesterday called for the immediate sack of the Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd) and National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki ( rtd) for their inability to stem the tide of violent attacks by the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.

The umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria also condemned the recent invasion and violent attack in Borno, Adamawa and Gombe States, lamenting that apart from the destruction of military formations, police stations and prisons, the major victims of these attacks were innocent civilians, most of who were Christians.

The Christian community in Nigeria, CAN said, was no longer comfortable with the continued

inclusion of these two individuals in the federal cabinet, given their apparent helplessness in the face of the increasing spate of violence, terrorism and insurgency in parts of the country.

In a statement issued

by General Secretary of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, the organisation said that the recent happenings in the North East , especially the invasion of towns and hoisting of the Caliphate’s flags, had confirmed its earlier position that the Boko Haram had no other mission than to annihilate all Christians in the region and install an Islamic regime. The terrorists, Asake said, had embarked on a deliberate destruction of Christian places of worship and killing any one they found around them.

In a bid to justify its demand for the sack of the Minister of Defence and National Security Adviser, Asake argued,

that President Goodluck Jonathan, appointed Col. Sambo Dasuki as National Security Adviser and General Aliyu Gusau as Minister of Defence because of the impression that the duo being Muslims would do better in terms of combating the insurgency. He said that in spite of the pledge by both men to deal ruthlessly with the Boko Haram, the security situation has been growing worse under their watch.

“The major task handed down to Col. Dasuki and Gen. Gusau is to tackle Boko Haram insurgency, which was already threatening to spread into other regions of the country. But the question on the lips of every Nigerian Christians today is: What changes have these two military tacticians brought to bear since they were appointed? What is the wisdom of entrusting the nation’s security in the hands of two relations from the

North-West? Why have these two relations from Sokoto and Zamfara states not changed their tactics in accordance with the presidential mandate given to them to root out the insurgents in the North-East geo-political zone? Is this a game plan to eliminate people in that region and put them in perpetual subjugation?

The Federal Government should do well to explain to the nation the sins committed by the former National Security Adviser, late Gen. Owoeye Azazi who was summarily dismissed in June 2012,” he said.

The organisation wondered why the NSA and the Defence Minister have not voluntarily resigned their appointments for poor coordination of relevant agencies to tackle the security challenges in the North-East region of the country in spite of the the huge budgetary allocations at their disposal.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Peoples Democratic Party Ward Congresses

Congress disrupted in Oyo Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan

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he ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, held yesterday, with some leading governorship aspirants of the party trading blames over the disruption of process at the party secretariat in Ibadan.

At the PDP secretariat, distribution of materials for the congress was disrupted by some hoodlums alleged to be loyalists of the former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala.

However, in the Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso and Ibarapa areas of the state, the conduct of the congress was generally peaceful.

On the disruption, a party member, Adeola Alani, said the unknown men stormed the secretariat after materials have been distributed to 21 of the 33 council areas of the state.

“They caused delay in the distribution of materials but policemen stopped them from taking away anything”, he said.

Coordinator of Teslim Folarin campaign team, Sunday Babalola alleged that the political thugs were loyalists of Alao-Akala, adding however that candidates of the former Senate Leader, Folarin, were ahead of others in the congress.

Discountenancing the allegation, however, a close associate of Alao-Akala, Dr Kola Balogun, said that there was no basis for his boss, the former governor, to have disrupted the distribution of materials, stressing that his camp had no cause to panic.

“In politics, things are not as reported. People do cause trouble and pin it on their opponents. It is unfortunate that a camp will jump to the conclusion that Alao-Akala led thugs to the secretariat.

This is not good for our democracy. It is always good to make allegation and back it with fact. This is a clear fabrication of our opponents”, he said.

When contacted for clarification of the situation, State Chairman of the party, Olayinka Taiwo, directed our correspondent to the state PRO of the party, Kehinde Salawu, for comment on the issue. However, Salawu’s phone was switched off as at the time of filing the report.

The camp of another leading candidate, Seyi Makinde, refused to comment, saying, it would issue a release about its feeling towards the congress after collation was completed.

“We are still collating the results, so we cannot make any comment now until the process is completed,” said Alhaji Akeem Azeez, Media Aide to the aspirant.

... fails to hold in Abia

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ack of party membership register prevented the ward congresse to choose the three delegates for the party primaries in Abia State. The registers were confiscated from the ward chairmen about three weeks ago and were not made available for the election to hold.

Consequently, the three Abia Senators; Senators Uche Chukwumerije, Nkechi Nwaogu and Enyinnaya Abaribe and other aspirants have protested the situation to the panel sent by the PDP national leadership.

As at the time of filing this report, enthusiastic party members were still waiting for the team from the state secretariat in Umuahia to arrive with the materials for the election.The aspirants,

who include former Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, ex-Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Alex Otti, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje, Uche Oga with the exception of the touted candidate of the governor and his son, Okezie Ikpeazu told the panel led

by Tony Ceaser Okeke that membership registers have been confiscated by the disbanded congress committee led Charlie Ogbonna.

They complained that there was no way congress election will be held without the ward membership register A former member of House of Representatives, Honourable Nze Esiaga told our correspondent that election did not also hold in Omaegwu Ward of Umuahia South Local government Area as at 4:30pm.

Congress cancelled in Pankshin

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he Plateau State chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Raymond Dabo announced the cancellation of the delegate congress of the party in Pankshin local government of the state.

The cancellation, according to him, was based of disagreements among stake-

holders in the local government over distribution of the delegate forms.

Briefing journalists in his office, Hon Dabo said, “We have to cancel the congress in Pankshin local government because there was serious disagreement by stakeholders of the local government.

L–R: First Lady, Patience Jonathan; President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Colonel Sam Inokoba (rtd), during the Ward Congress at Otuabula 11, Ward 13, in Ogbia Local Government, Bayelsa State …yesterday

Ohakim, Araraume in near fisticuffs Steve Uzoechi,

T Owerri

he meeting for all governorship aspirants in the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), almost turned violent yesterday following the threat by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume to slap former governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

According to PDP sources, the meeting, which was held at the state PDP secretariat, Owerri, ahead of the party’s ward congresses, saw the two leaders in heated argument about a petition filed to the national delegation from Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state. The two leaders are from Isiala Mbano Council area.

When Araraume arrived the party’s state secretariat in the morning, he was fuming, “why should that happen? That shouldn’t happen and it can’t happen” A source at the party office disclosed that Ohakim and Araraume were actually embroiled in a battle over who controls the party machinery in their LGA and Okigwe zone in general.

Trouble, started when Ohakim approached the chairman of the Congress delegation, Hon. Umar Kumaila, and told him that before he would start distributing election materials for the congress, he should first of all look into the petition from Isiala Mbano. The petition, it was learnt, was written against the senator’s governorship aspiration.

But, the senator was said

to have rained abuses on the former governor and threatened to slap him.

In a fit of anger, Ohakim, was said to have exploded and shoved the senator first before some fellow aspirants intervened and prevented the situation from getting ugly.

Immediately, Ohakim stormed out of the meeting and would not speak to journalists who were waiting to hear from him.

It was the same for Araraume who went straight to his vehicle.

Meanwhile, the state congress scheduled to hold yesterday in Imo State could not hold in many local government areas of the state as a result of the unavailability of the electoral materials.

As at 3.44 pm when our correspondent left Mann Street Primary School, ven-

...peaceful in Lagos Wale Elegbede

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he Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded a peaceful ward congress in the 245 wards in the state with a large turnout of its members in the state witnessing the congress.

Speaking after the congress, the state chairman of the party, Chief Tunji Shelle, said the party is poised to challenge and defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in the forthcoming 2015 general elections in the country, adding that the party is repositioning to serve the state better.

“The state leadership of our great party wishes to commend our members and to urge them to replicate the same comportment at the

upcoming local government congresses.

“PDP is a party of peace.

We may have had one or two disagreements at the congress but those were swiftly settled in a family manner.

He said however, that there is no place in the world that in the world that congresses or any form of election will hold without one or two persons who lost complaining.

While noting that the party would consider all complaints on their merits, he said the party is already gearing up for the next phase of the congress.

Shelle further said that officers of the party who conducted the congresses were warned to adhere strictly to the party’s guidelines which they did.

ue of the election for Ikenegbu ward 1, the election was yet to take place. It was the same situation in Ogii ward in Okigwe LGA, and most part of Ngor Okpala LGA and Nkume Ward in Njaba LGA of the state where the election could not hold as at the time of filing this report.

It was however gathered that in most places, some of the governorship aspirants hijacked the congresses by ensuring that the list of their supporters were submitted even without an election while in some others, they adopted harmonization process without the election. For instance, in Ngor Okpala LGA, the list of delegates were said to have been compiled since Friday in favour of a governorship aspirant from Mbaise and his line-up.

Police take over Ekiti PDP secretariat Adesina Wahab, Ado-Ekiti

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o prevent any possible breakdown of law and order, the police yesterday took over the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ado-Ekiti, just as the exercise went on peacefully across the state.

However, the State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose and Senator Ayo Arise trade accusations over alleged manipulation of the delegates lists.

When journalists moved round to monitor the situation, the congress was substantially peaceful, except in few areas where there were pockets of crises over the modality to adopt for the conduct of the congress or how the lists of delegates were drawn.

Senator Arise, who spoke with newsmen on the conduct of the congress, alleged that Governor Fayose did not allow any congress to hold in Ekiti North Senatorial district where he (Arise) is a senatorial aspirant.

“Governor Fayose had already compiled the list of delegates in favour of my challenger, Hon. Duro Faseyi.

So, as I am talking to you the chairmen of all the wards and local governments have been summoned to Ado-Ekiti by the governor to sign the forged lists,” Arise alleged.

But Fayose, in Ado-Ekiti, said he never doctored the lists of delegates, saying “all the ward chairmen and aspirants in each of the local governments were allowed to take charge.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPINION Good news on Nigeria’s food exports

Opeyemi Adu t is good news that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan is demonstrating a sustained concrete commitment to the restoration of the role of agriculture in the national economic equation. With good reasons! As the bastion of the Nigerian economy, employing some 70 per cent of the active labour force and contributing over a third of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Agriculture should hold a pride of place in our developmental scheme of things. Even with the ‘oil boom’ and its adverse impact on the non-oil sectors of the economy, the sector holds the key to sustainable growth. The fact of Nigeria having vast arable land, extensive coastline and wide expanse of flora and fauna, make it such a richly endowed nation that could actually earn all its foreign exchange through agriculture. This also offers an absolutely incredible range of investment opportunities in agro-business.

The main challenges confronting the nation today that the sector can help solve include poverty, food insecurity, global competitiveness and sustainable management of agroresources for global relevance. The majority of agricultural activities in the country had been small holdings, with largely unorganised approaches to modern farming methods, as well as widely dispersed land holdings that make large scale farming activities difficult. Linked to these are the nature of land ownership and control, poor funding, limited access to improved technologies and extension services and inadequate infrastructure.

Over the last decade or so, the Federal Government has put in place a number of initiatives planned not only to boost food production and security, but to expand the contributions of agricultural products in the

nation’s export profile and revenue returns.

A look at the area of boosting food exports is instructive. There is the National Agricultural Investment Plan [NAIP], which is a private sector-driven agenda focused on all the components of the agricultural value chain. This initiative incorporates project conception, production, storage, processing, marketing and delivery. Outcomes include over 10 per cent annual growth rate; significant reduction in post-harvest losses; expansion of irrigated and cultivated land to some 100,000 hectares; practical training for thousands of extension workers; and expected generation of at least US$ 35 billion from agro-exports. The major crops in focus include cassava, rice, cocoa, vegetable oil, cotton, tomatoes, sugar and yams.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development manages the Federal Department of Agriculture. Its programmes include crop improvement projects, Agriculture Quarantine Service to enhance crop, livestock, fishery and surveillance capacity against pests & diseases. There is also the Seed Inspectorate Services, Fisheries and Livestock Departments, Dam & Irrigation Schemes for all-season farming and agricultural research.

Under the present dispensation, the ministry has expanded national food storage capacity from 300,000 metric tonnes to about two million metric tonnes, even as over 20 more silos are in advanced stages of construction across the country.

There are now more rice processing mills and related facilities in major producing States. The existing grazing reserves have been improved, while model ones are in the process of being fully activated, complete with earth dams, pastures, boreholes, road networks, milk collection points & service centres. There are also fisheries, employing about two million people directly, in addition

to the establishment of over 50 farm estates nationwide. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has continued to sustain the interests of EU and US markets for Nigerian shrimp and fish products.

Commendable as government initiatives are, attention must be drawn to success factors for the meaningful transformation of the agricultural sector, especially in the critical area of boosting food exports. The NAIP is ambitious but attainable. Its successful implementation depends on proper funding, executive capacity, facility empowerment, monitoring, evaluation and review. Properly focused, Nigeria could also attain an edge in the export of live animals, processed meats, dairy products and eggs, cereals, fruits and vegetables, sugar, honey root crops like cassava, yams, potatoes, ginger, carrots. There are also beverages, like coffee, tea, cocoa, in addition to such nuts as cashew, groundnuts, walnuts, palm produce and oil seeds. The lucrative options in agrofood processing and packaging for the export market is all too obvious to everyone.

The beauty of these opportunities lies in the abundance of basic raw materials for the agro-food industry in the country. The success stories of the likes of UAC, Nestle Foods, Unilever, Cadbury, Dangote Foods and Nasco Group cannot be flukes. Indeed, it is projected that with active private sector involvement, Nigeria can generate minimum monthly revenue of U$1 billion from food exports. That is why the NAIP, being a private sector-driven initiative, must not be cramped by bureaucracy that has frustrated many laudable developmental programmes in the past. Government must ensure that all the indicated support goes to the investors – and there are many out there, within and outside the country.

Something must also be done about the na-

ture of land ownership and control in Nigeria. this has been a sore point in the development of agricultural enterprises. Even as Government has assured a review of the tenure system, special concessions would be in order for confirmed investors in the sector. For small holdings, Government should revamp the farm co-operatives system with professional management. They can then have access to a pool and be supervised to achieve quality products for the domestic and international markets. The contributions of donor agencies and Development Partners to the sector need to be sustained and consolidated. Among others, the World Bank-assisted Agricultural Development Projects, International Fund for Agricultural Development, African Development Bank, Food & Agriculture Organisation, USAID, Canadian International Development Agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA], UNDP and EU can do better, if encouraged.

In a globalised operating environment, competition is increasingly stiff. A successful food export drive will require strong quality controls and creativity, especially in promotions, packaging and delivery. A major springboard for Nigeria is to attract a decent share of the West African and wider African markets. This imposes some responsibilities on our foreign missions and chambers of commerce & industry. At the level of grass roots involvement, our practising farmers should be provided the enabling environment, complete with empowerment and other support enjoyed by their counterparts in the advanced economies, for greater results. From current trends, and given the continued political will, the sector will be elevated to being a major player not only in the economy, but in the international market for agricultural production.

•Adu write from Lagos

APC in presidential choice quagmire Segun Olanipekun

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ince the start of the present democratic dispensation in 1999, the desire of Nigerians for a formidable alternative party to the leviathan ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been palpable. To many citizens, it was welcome news therefore to see some of the fragile, Lilliputian political parties merged into the present opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in February 2013 to confront the dominant ruling party in the quest for political power in the country. \ The APC alliance was made up of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a splinter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Hitherto, these parties were seen as either regional or ethnic because they lacked the national spread in membership and acceptability to strongly contest with the PDP for power at the center.

Unfortunately, the good news may soon be sour if the intense rivalry between two major contending tendencies in the opposition APC is not speedily resolved as the party cascades towards its presidential primary in December.

This primary election to pick its flag bearer portends a potential trigger for a probable implosion; the implications of such intra-party crisis would not only be unnerving for the nation’s nascent democracy but could possibly spell the death knell to the young, but formidable opposition party.

From all indications and calculations, the APC has only two major contenders for its presidential ticket: General Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Turakin Adamawa. Others like Governors Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano and Rochas Okorocha

of Imo State and motley aspirants constitute peripheral weight in the calculus to pick the APC flag bearer.

Governor Okorocha is even out of the race before it begins because every key leader in the party and pundit knows that the North will produce the APC presidential candidate; primarily to assuage the zone of the ill-feelings created by the debacle that followed the unfortunate death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, a northerner in 2009. The second reason why the North will produce the APC flag bearer is pure political smartness since the PDP candidate is a Southerner and a Christian.

While Governor Okorocha is encouraged and permitted to sound the usual traditional ogene for the position, the truth is, that would only amount to making a statement perhaps to enable him to negotiate a plum position if the APC eventually forms the government at the centre. As for Governor Kwankwanso, though he has the advantage of being young, dynamic and perceived as an achiever, the fact also remains that he lacks the gladiatorial capacity of GMB or the legendary national political network and financial muscle of the Turakin Adamawa, his being a northerner notwithstanding.

Predictably, the desire and agitation of the motley may create ripples in the impending APC primary cesspool as some of them may play the spoiler role. The storm is, however, expected to rage over the combative and horse-trading battles for nomination by separate but intra-party forces that support either Buhari or Atiku. Though the APC may seem quiet for now, its capacity to remain calm and survive as a strong formidable party depends on its handling of the likely impending storm.

Between now and the party presidential pri-

mary date, slated for December, is indeed a trying and testing period for the party. It is a period that calls for a display of a sagacious, novel political engineering model in order to ensure a post-presidential primary survival and stability.

The factors for this scary post-presidential primary scenario for the party are not farfetched if a cursory analysis is done of the political intrigues and surreptitious campaigns being employed by the two major camps in the APC in their efforts to have dominance and clinch the presidential ticket of the party.

First, the Buhari camp is incensed that a competitor could even arise to want to wrestle the ticket from their man, who, they see as someone who has sacrificed so much in the process of forming APC. Secondly, it is argued that only Buhari, with his teeming supporters, could give the incumbent, the obvious candidate of PDP, a good run for his ‘limitless’ wallet. So they clamour for him to be the consensus candidate. On the first leg of this argument, the crowd around Buhari could be justified but the second pillar of the proposition is invalid. The reasons for this, perhaps unsavory deduction, will come towards the conclusion of this piece.

The Atiku camp on the other hand celebrates the legendary political and business networks of its principal, arguing consistently that he is a de-tribalised, non-sectional leader, and a successful entrepreneur who also has been tested in government. Buhari, they agreed, has also been in government but in a mold that was antithetical to democracy while Atiku has been a proven democrat, a man of dogged principles who refused to serve any military regime and was even bold enough to go up in arms against the ‘Third term agenda’ of his boss at Aso Rock.

But is Atiku perfect? ‘No’, they agree. But

just as no one is, democracy however requires that every aspirant be given a fair chance. To them, this fair chance or plain field is to hold a primary election where all party members are stakeholders in electing the APC flag bearer and not by consensus where a few senior party leaders will pick the prospective nominee.

This unfolding conundrum is the dilemma of the APC as it wades through the muddy water of holding its presidential primaries in December. But is there a way out of this imminent quagmire? Yes! And methinks the solution to this lies in the hands of party leaders, especially the so-called APC chieftains across the length and breadth of the country.

Unfortunately, the APC leadership is, however, engrossed in self-evident deception by not facing the political realities on the ground. For instance, it must be conceded that Buhari has massive, popular and cult-like support but that the scope of that electoral turf is sectional; it is a rich vault locked up and consigned to the North.

An example of this was demonstrated in the 2011 presidential election. Buhari polled 12,214,853 votes covering only 16 states, mostly in the North, while his major rival, the incumbent, polled more than 20 million votes with a threshold of 31 states. Ditto could be said about his performance in previous attempts. The truth is, Buhari, the northern star and the generally amiable and Spartan soldier, is a certified electoral liability in the southern parts of the country. Nobody should be deceived that this crucial connect with the electorate is built overnight. It cannot. And it does not. Because political loyalty is not manufactured like a loaf of bread overnight but it is cultivated overtime.

• Olanipekun is a Communications consultant and a journalism teacher in the United States

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Moment

L-R: Manager, Deliotte Corporate Services Limited (DCSL), Anne Agbo; Director, Forte Oil PLC, Mrs. Korede Omoloja; Director, Mr. Chris Adeyemi; Director, Dr. Grace Ekpenyong; Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola; Dr. Christopher Kolade; Group CEO, Forte Oil PLC, Akin Akinfemiwa; Group CFO, Julius Omodayo-Owotuga; Director, Deacon Akinola; General Counsel, Akin Olagbende, and Ifeanyi Madubuike of DCSL, at the annual board training programme in Lagos…recently L-R: Acting Secretary, National Planning Commission, Mr. Bassey Akpanyung; Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, at the 13th Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development meeting in Ibadan…on Friday

L-R: Consultants to Alliance Against Monopoly (AAM), Ms. Funke Awodumila; Legal Adviser, Mr. Ogbonna Agbafo and Consultants to AAM, Mr. Celestine Achi, at a Summit on Underscoring the Essence of Best Practices in the Construction Industry in Lagos …on Saturday

L-R: Participant, Mr. Kazim Odunola; Participant, Mrs. Modinat Adebola; Assistant Investor Relations Officer, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr. Olayinka Oladosu and Facilitator, Mr. Danmole Adebola, during a teacher training seminar, entitled, “Improved learning Outcomes” in Lagos …on Thursday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (middle), with other members at the 9th Assembly of Igbo Leaders of Thought in Enugu…on Friday

L-R: Nurse, Miss. Edith Uwalaka; Chairman, Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Mr.Kamal Bayewu; first African Principal, Queens College, Mrs. Efunjoke Coker; National Coordinator, Family Ark Mission (Agency for the Aged), Dr.Oludare Mark-Okunsanya and former student, Queens College, Mrs. Stella Kragha, during the 2014 World Elders’ Day with the theme: ‘Empowering Women in the Care of The Elderly’ in Lagos…on Thursday. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Traditional Ruler of Igbo Ukwu, Igwe Martin Ezeh; Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (with the prototype of the famous Igbo Ukwu bronze), Traditional Ruler of Ikenga Town, His Royal Majesty Igwe A.N Onwuneme and others, during the governor’s flag-off of a road project in Igbo Ukwu...on Friday

Art teacher, Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Mr. Olusegun Michael Adeniyi: Principal BBA, Dean Abel Adebajo and Ayankola Olatomiwa Ridwan, one of the top five winners of 2014 NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture National Art Competition with the theme: Nigeria at 100 (Centenary Celebration) held at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos...recently

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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News

Bankole, Kashamu’s loyalists clash in Ogun Kunle Olayeni,

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Abeokuta

here was tension at the Peoples Democratic Party Ogun State secretariat in Abeokuta yesterday as members loyal to former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, and party financier, Prince Buruji Kashamu, clashed over delegates’ congresses.

The development came as the party’s chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo, raised the alarm that there were attempts by some chieftains to hijack the party primaries through the manipulation of delegates.

The congresses held across the 236 wards of the state.

Sunday New Telegraph gathered that party stalwarts loyal to Bankole and Kashamu battled at some of the venues of the delegates’ congresses, which prompted party officials and security operatives to intervene.

The bone of contention was the inability of some delegates to submit their forms, leading to a protest and subsequent deployment of mobile policemen to the party secretariat.

A party chieftain, however, said the PDP national leadership had put the del-

egates’ congresses on hold and resolved to share positions among the contending groups in the state chapter to forestall crisis.

But speaking with reporters in Abeokuta yesterday, Dayo alleged that some top members of the party were trying to hijack the process through the back door.

Though he did not mention names, the party chairman claimed that some leaders of the party collated separate forms of delegates aside the ones legally obtained by the contestants at the party secretariat.

He added that the groups did not submit their forms by the deadline but later

Confusion in Enugu as congress fails to hold • Chime, Ekweremadu factions make claims

Uwakwe Abugu, Enugu

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onfusion occasioning claims and counterclaims assailed the scheduled ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State, as constituents waited all through yesterday without seeing electoral officials and electoral materials.

However, the confusion was manifest in the claim by a faction of the party said to be loyal to Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, that it had successfully held the congress whereas the State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, in a statement said no congress held anywhere in the 260 electoral wards in the state as the fiveman panel from Abuja billed to conduct the exercise had not arrived.

It was gathered that on Friday, some National Assembly members kept vigil at the National Secretariat of the PDP from 3pm till 9pm, trying to take away the result sheets meant for the Enugu exercise but did not succeed.

Some National Assembly members, including Hon. Patrick Asadu, Senator Ayogu Eze, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, Senator Gil Nnaji, Hon. Oforchukwu Egbo converged on the Enugu residence of Ekwer-

emadu as they also waited in vain for the arrival of the panelists and the materials from Abuja to no avail.

State Deputy Chairman, Elder David Aja, who has been laying claim to being the acting state chairman after the resignation of the former state chairman, Chief Vita Abba, was also at the residence of Ekweremadu where he also addres sed newsmen on the crisis.

Curiously, however, by about 5pm yesterday, a statement purporting that a sucessful ward congress had been held made the rounds and we gathered that it came from the camp of the deputy Senate president.

Hence, the confusion worsened when a statement said that “the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Enugu State Chapter wishes to state that no Ward congress of the Party inEnugu State has officially commenced in the State as at 4 30pm.

“The State Party Secretariat has been opened and ready for the congress since 7am today. No member of the Electoral Panel from the National Secretariat of the Party has reported to our party office at N0. 1 Chime Lane, G.R.A, Enugu, the venue officially designated by the National Secretariat of our party for the commencement and coordination of all the Con-

gresses and Party Primaries.

“It is pertinent to note that the Deputy Governor of the State, His Excellency, Rev. Ralph Nwoye, the National, Zonal, State and Local Government Area Executives of the Party and all the 17 Local Government Chairmen including thousands of other Party faithful and our teeming supporters have been waiting tirelessly at the State Party Secretariat for the arrival of electoral materials from Abuja and proper commencement of the ward congress but report available to us is that the ward congress committee panel from the National Secretariat are still in Abuja.

“The State Chapter wishes to state that this unfortunate development is the handiwork of those who are dangling in the euphoria of unpopularity and are bent on exploiting all undemocratic measures to scuttle the Ward congress of the Party, through mischief and manipulation of the entire process.

“Our members and supporters are ever ready to participate fully in the congresses through a transparent and democratic process where every member will be given the opportunity to test his or her popularity at the polls,” said the party which also alerted the public to the development.

... peaceful in Osun Adeolu Adeyemo, Osogbo.

O

sun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday held its ward congresses in all the 332 wards of the state with a charge to all party members to work copiously to defeat all other political parties in the 2005 general elections.

At the Congresses, crucial political matters were thrashed out while delegates that would vote during the primaries to elect flag bearer of the party for the state and national assembly polls were elected. The chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa while speaking shortly after the congress in Osogbo, described the struc-

ture of the party as formidable and impeccable and also appealed to the electorate to cast their votes for the party in the forthcoming political exercise.

While explaining the reason the congress was held, Olaoluwa said that it was “to send signals to the camp of the ruling party in the state of PDP’s readiness to win

brought them in order to cause confusion within the party.

Dayo said, “The problem is individuals come here to collect forms; some went to Abuja to collect their forms but when you are talking of a group bringing in 1,000 forms for delegates, it is something else because they know the forms are being collated somewhere.

“If people collect forms individually, why do we have delegates forms in thousands? Why is someone collecting 1,000 forms for delegates? From here, you’ll know that there’s something behind those delegates forms because

delegates are supposed to collect their forms and fill them in this office or go to Abuja.

“No doubt about that, some people are already planning to hijack the primaries because when you see somebody having 1,000 forms in three batches and bringing it to the secretariat, you’ll know that something is behind that.

“Some people have no followers and they think they can just collect forms because they want to cause confusion since the thing did not turn out well for them.”

It was, however, gathered that the four-man congress

committee later collected the forms from the aggrieved groups.

But reacting, a PDP chieftain, Abeeb Ajayi, said the party chairman was being economical with the truth.

Ajayi, who belongs to the Senator Jubril MartinsKuye group, said the party executive did not accept forms from other groups in the party, hence the protest.

He explained that the forms were taken to the party secretariat on Thursday at about 2pm, which was before the deadline, but the chairman rejected them until there was a protest.

Boko Haram holds open courts in Adamawa Ibrahim Abdul, Yola

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oko Haram sect which overran Mubi town in Adamawa State has begun to hold open court and public sessions implementing strict Shariah law and amputation of some persons for looting in the area.

Mubi which fell into the hands of the insurgents last

week Wednesday has enabled them to consolidate their hold on the area, with the insurgents hoisting their flags at the Emir of Mubi’s Palace which has now become the command headquarters of the insurgents.

Reports from the area indicate that a long convoy made up of a delegation of Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram sect were yesterday spotted entering into

Mubi Town and making its way to the Emir’s palace annexed by the sect.

An eyewitness account said that the insurgents also paraded 10 persons whose hands were amputated in the full glare of residents who were told to converge and witness the enforcement of strict Shariah law on the suspect who were to face punishment for looting.

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Imoke presents N149.4bn budget for 2015 Clement James

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Calabar

enator Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, has budgeted the sum of N149,442,681,821.02 for the 2015 fiscal year. The budget, tagged “Budget of Transition,” was presented over the weekend on the floor of the State House of Assembly.

According to the gov-

ernor, the expected inflows, the sum of N25,546,053,654.00 is expected from internal revenue, N43,051,013,114.00 from Federal allocation while capital receipts is N80,845,615,053.02.

Of this amount, the economic sector will gulp N91,139,347,806.24, which is 60 per cent, social services- N34,871,977,563.56, representing 23.3 per cent, regional development takes

N11,469,766,973.77, representing 7.68 per .

In 2014, the governor presented a budget proposal of N173, 746, 154,608.15, which he tagged Budget of Progression He said the economic sector was given the highest amount because it is expected to stimulate the entire economy and create jobs for unemployed youths.

“Consistently, the economic sector has the high-

est allocation in the 2015 budget proposal. This is understandable as the sector is expected to stimulate the entire economy of the state and create jobs for our unemployed youths,” Imoke said.

On roads, he said government’s pre-occupation in 2015 shall be to complete all projects initiated by his administration. “Consequently, we shall complete the Margaret Ekpo Airport

by-pass, the Nyaghasang network of roads and the urban renewal projects in Calabar, Ugep, Ekori, Obubra, Ikom, Ogoja, Obudu and the newly included Okangha Mkpansi network of roads.”

“Other projects billed for completion in this sub-sector are the Boki network of roads, the Okuni-AgbotaiNsofang-Mkpot road, the Channel 2 underground drainage in Calabar, all the on-going Rural Access and Mobility Project and Rural Development Agency’s roads across the state. We have set aside the sum of N18, 116, 947,133.02 to accomplish this task.”

He said the government

has set aside the sum of N6, 186, 018,466.00 to tackle what he calls “strategic infrastructure, which includes the Calabar International Convention Centre, which he said has the potential to catalyse the socioeconomic development of the State.

“When completed and opened in the first quarter of 2015,“ he said “the facility which is designed to be equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and multi-functional spaces, is expected to significantly increase and sustain the number of visitors coming into the state and therefore impact positively on the state’s economy.”

Ihedioha calls for less dependence on oil Felix Nwaneri

D L-R South-East Chairman of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, Mr. Chima Anyaso; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and National Chairman of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia at the inauguration ceremony of South-East State Executives of the forum held at Rock View Hotels, Owerri over the weekend

Kalu counsels clerics against prosperity gospel Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

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ormer Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday admonished Christian religious leaders to preach the gospel of salvation rather than focusing energy on prosperity.

Kalu, who gave the advice at a special church service to mark the consecration of the President and Founder of Dayspring Christian Ministries, Abuja, Bishop Charles Olowojoba, said that salvation of the soul of a man was of paramount importance as it would naturally trigger good health, prosperity and other divine benefits from the kingdom of God. Placing more emphasis on prosperity by some clerics, Kalu observed, had made some people in the society to see the church as a market rather than a place of worship and divine supplication. According to him, religious leaders have a duty to lead their congregations on the right path of seeking first the kingdom of God and righteousness, and expect the blessings that would accrue therefrom.

“All the religious leaders have a binding role to speak the truth and also preach salvation. I don’t like seeing too many leaders of our religious sect that preach prosperity. Once you preach salvation, prosperity comes with it. Prosperity comes with good life; it comes with a healthy life and good health. So, I want to see more of our religious leaders preach salvation.

“Religious leaders have a lot of roles to play and I am sure that their roles will be more effective when done collectively, whether

it is Dayspring Church, the Catholic Church or any other church. I also believe that religious leaders should be part and parcel of preaching good governance, and preaching openness in everything we do, “Kalu said.

On the consecration of Olowojoba as the Bishop of Dayspring Christian Ministries, Kalu said that the elevation of the ordained cleric was a good development and a boost to Christianity in Nigeria. He expressed hope that the consecration would impact positively on the life of Bishop Olowojoba, his

family, the Dayspring congregation and the society.

In a brief chat with newsmen after his consecration, Olowojoba said that his elevation to the position of a bishop came 23 years, after he was ordained a pastor and 15 years after he founded Dayspring Christian Ministries International Incorporated with headquarters in Abuja. He expressed gratitude to God for the elevation, adding that he would continue to rely on the grace of God in shouldering the responsibilities of the new office.

Obinna Odoh

by the Commission against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos, in a case of Emmanuel Ofoegbu vs FRSC on 26th March 2014 which ruled that FRSC has no statutory powers to fix deadline for motorists to switch over to the new vehicle number plate and driver’s license.

The verdict by the Court of Appeal in Lagos, delivered by Justice Joseph Ike with Justices Ndukwe Anyanwu and Jamillah Tukur as members, the court up-

held the validity of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012, and the validity of old number plate bought by the respondent, Emeka Ofoegbu expired on 13th October, 2014, the deadline issued by the FRSC. It also “dissolved the order of injunction by the Federal High Court, restraining FRSC from setting deadline for change over to the new number plates and observed that the 13th October, 2014 deadline, had passed.

Court upholds FRSC deadline on new number plates Abuja

T

he Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has upheld the powers of the Federal Road Safety Commission to set deadlines for motorists to change to the new vehicle number plates and drivers’ licence.

A statement issued by the agency and signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Stella Uchegbu, said the verdict was delivered in respect of the appeal filed

eputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has stressed the need to diversify the nation’s economy to lessen the current over-dependence on oil revenue.

Making the call in Owerri, Imo State, at the inauguration of the South-East states executives of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF), Ihedioha lamented that Nigeria is still ranked among less developed countries of the world despite her huge potential.

The Deputy Speaker said: “The challenge of our economy is very critical; we should think of how our economy would be less dependent on oil. It is very important because that is the only way we can survive as a country.

“We cannot say that we are a developed country, as we are not where we should be as a nation, but the government is doing enough to ensure that Nigeria takes its rightful place in the comity of nations, especially with in the various concessions in the power sector.”

Ihedioha also lamented the way the country’s politics is being taken over by blackmail ahead of the 2015 general election. “Our country and politics is suffering from unnecessary blackmail and there is no way we can move forward with this brand of politics,” he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, a former member of the House of Representatives and a Peoples Democratic Party aspirant for Imo East Senatorial seat, Chief Chris Asoluka, decried the way politics is becoming an all comers affair in the country.

He admonished politicians to see politics as a call to duty and not a do-

or-die affair. According to him, “politics is so sacred to be left in the hands of ‘professional politicians.’

So, professionals must be encouraged to take part in state craft.”

National chairman of NYPF, Mr. Moses Siasia, who decried that Nigerian youths are not being given the opportunity to impact positively on the society, said the future of Nigeria lies in the hands of youths.

He therefore charged the country’s young professionals to come together and galvanise themselves ahead of the forthcoming elections to take what rightly belongs to them.

The South-East chairman of the group, Mr. Chima Anyaso in his address stressed the need forpositive change in Nigeria, adding that young people must be in the driving seat of the change.

“Our mission in the SouthEast would be to send the message that young professionals must come out and participate in government if we want things to change in this country. We would pass the message that professionals are better equipped to change Nigeria. There are no two ways or shortcuts,” he said.

Anyaso, reminded politicians that the days of making use of young people as political thugs during elections are over, as the youths of the zone would no longer be available to anyone as tools of violence and destabilization.

He revealed plans by the NYPF to institute mentorship programmes in the five states of the South-East as well as put up structures that will bring the youths of the zone closer to the group in their developmental stages through contact points in the various tertiary institutions.

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My Passion ‘I invest in expensive jewelry’ 17

Bed, Work & Life

Time to call it a spade 20

Body Soul SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Sexy mini power

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

heart y m m o r f t h g Strai

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Contents 02.11.2014 COVER

Through Archbishop Benson Idahosa, I began to understand that Christianity is something to enjoy here on earth unlike the mindset we have, waiting to get to heaven before we enjoy.

-Apostle Kingsley Peters

FASHION Mini dress is a fun and engaging trend women are embracing all over the world. They are an absolute hit on the red carpet...

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor)

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent) Wole Adepoju

} 22&43

Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent)

} 18-19

BEAUTY

Hair grows an average of half an inch per month, but it’s how you treat your hair that determines how much of the new growth you’ll retain

} 21

GLAM DUDES

A nice tie is the first thing people notice when you step out in public

} 44

Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics)

MY PASSION I am a grown man and I have responsibilities to take care of.

I have a child to care for too, so I must invest in the future. I don’t spend money on foolish things

Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 julietbumah@gmail.com julietbumah@newtelegraphonline.com

Associates

} 17

BED, WORK & LIFE

“Ben is a friend, male, unattached and seeking a wife,” she says coolly.

“And didn’t you tell him that you are taken?”

Dave asks, incredulous.

“Taken?

By who?” Kathryn asks, surprise in her voice.

“Me!” Dave r e p l i e s , exasperated.

Kathryn laughs, that short mirthless laugh.

} 20

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

17

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

I invest in expensive jewelry -Wizkid

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is an internationally acclaimed artiste, songwriter and performer.

He started his musical career at age 11. His work has earned him several achievements, including a BET Award, a Channel O Music Video Award and four Nigeria Entertainment Awards. He was ranked 5th on Forbes and Channel O’s 2013 list of the Top 10 Richest/Bankable African Artistes. The ‘Holla at Your Boy’ crooner spoke with VANESSA OKWARA about his diamond studded styles What was growing up like?

Growing up was going through everything I went through in life. I don’t think I will be who I am if I didn’t go through what I did while I was growing up. All the stress, poverty and everything I went through have shaped me into who am I today.

How was it like doing music while growing up?

I started doing my music in the suburbs of Surulere, especially Shitta, known as small London. There is no part of Surulere I have not done music. There are so many stories and music I will like to do about the areas I used to go and perform while growing up. I use to go to all the carnivals every December in every street in Surulere then like Lawanson, Ojuelegba and so on.

Nobody paid me money for performing in events in those days. I have paid my dues. There are so many stories that are yet to unfold. I hope to tell a lot of those growing up stories through my music by God’s grace.

How did the name, Star Boy originate?

It was on the streets back in Surulere where I started singing that gave me the name. They started calling me Star Boy even back then and the name has stuck with me. I use it as the name for my record label.

How have you been able to build the Wizkid brand to grow into a household name in such a short period of time?

Building the Wizkid brand has taken practically all my life. Prior to making music, I already had what I wanted to do in my head. I had a concept of how I would love my journey into the music industry to be like. I definitely knew I wanted to build a brand and not just be a music artiste. Of course, I had to get into some trouble while doing that and I have tried as much as possible to stay out of trouble but sometimes things happen.

Do you ever worry about the brand fizzling out one day like the others before you?

Yes, I worry about that a lot. That is why I spend sleepless nights working hard to stay relevant. Even when I no longer exist, I want to leave a legacy. I am not just building Wizkid as a brand, I am also building Star Boy, my record label, to help every young artiste out there, to create a platform for them to show their talent and push out their music.

We just started and we are a year older and already the artistes signed to the label are getting nominations in the music industry. So it’s a great feeling and I feel really blessed. I work endlessly to make the Wizkid brand to stay for a long time. I don’t just make music for now. I intend to make my music global.

What’s the most challenging song you have ever recorded?

The most challenging song I’ve ever written, I would say, is when I made ‘Jaiye Jaiye’. When I made it, I didn’t know if people were ready for such a song.

I needed to make it special so I called Femi Kuti to join me in recording the song. I was surprised when he said ‘Yes’ immediately. I didn’t know he was going to tell me ‘Yes’ straight away, I called him that day and we recorded it the next day.

when buying watches, they have to look nice and worth investing in.

What is your signature accessory?

That will be my diamond stud earrings. I wear them most of the time.

What is your passion?

I am very passionate about music. I live and dream and eat music.

Where are you sinking your money?

I actually save my money in property and jewelry.

Don’t you think jewelry are vanities?

Do you know how much I can sell these jewelries if I want to sell them? I am a grown man and I have responsibilities to take care of. I have a child to care for too, so I must invest in the future. I don’t spend money on foolish things.

If we take a peek in your wardrobe, what kind of clothes can we find?

Good clothes, boxers and lots of shoes. I shop a lot as well. Anywhere I see nice things I just stop and shop both here in Nigeria and when I travel abroad.

Describe your fashion style.

My style is simply fresh.

I make sure I look fresh all the time.

You seem to have a lot of tattoos. How many are they?

I don’t count how many tattoos I have on my body. If I feel like it, I will just point which part of my body I want the artist to place it and it will be for a reason anyway.

Your bling is part of the Wizkid style?

I have always loved chains and bling which are mostly gold and diamonds. For me, I actually think it is an investment. That is why I buy a lot of expensive watches, gold and diamonds. I see expensive jewelry as a way of investing my money.

Which of the tattoos on your body do you cherish the most?

I think my sisters’ names, my mum and my son. These are the closest people to me in the whole world. I love my dad too, but he gets jealous sometimes about my affection for the other members of the family.

What brand of wristwatches do you like?

I like several brands and designer labels. I love Rolex watches mostly. Basically,

What are your cravings?

I don’t like sweet things. I don’t even like chocolates.

I think I am actually weird.

Are you currently in a relationship?

Please leave that matter.

It is all about Star Boy mingling and having fun. That is all I have to say on the relationship issue.

Has fame changed anything about you?

No, being famous has not changed anything about me. It only added a few good accessories to my life like gold and diamond chains, good clothes. I didn’t grow taller or anything. I am basically the same person I have always been.

Why do you like showing off your wealth on social media?

It is not a show off. I didn’t have all these trappings of wealth while growing up.

I hustled to get them. So, I have to show people to motivate them. While I was singing on the streets, was I wearing gold chains and diamonds? No! But I

worked hard to get these things. I don’t steal or kill but I worked hard to get to where I am today. So I use it to motivate guys on the streets who are starting like me that they too will get there.

Would you describe yourself as a terrible person as a lot of people have been calling you all sorts of names on social media?

Well, people have different opinions about people.

If they say I am terrible, then you should actually go and ask those people what I did to them. I am just being myself and trying to be a good person. Everyone cannot like or hate you. That is all I have to say.

Do you enjoy being controversial?

I am not deriving any enjoyment from controversies.

I have made mistakes but in all, I am just living my life.

I am a normal boy growing

up. I am bound to make mistakes and learn from them.

As you get older, would you change your name from Wizkid to something else?

We are all kids at heart. I am just going with the flow for now. When I get to that bridge, I will know how to cross it.

Which of the international artistes are you currently working with?

I am shooting music and video with Chris Brown and this will drop early next year.

Who is your role model?

I don’t think I have one. I just learn from everyone but I have people I look up to and Tuface is one of them.

He’s been here for ages and he is still headlining shows and every young man looks up to him. I look up to other people in the industry as well.

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

An Emir once gave me a gift General Overseer, Destiny Chapel, Lagos Apostle Kingsley Peters recalls his encounter with the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, in this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA Recalling the events at your Apostolic consecration, when did you start this journey?

I gave my life to Christ in 1984. I was young then. I read a tract and was convicted. Then, I was on my bed about to sleep. I have a habit of reading materials that come my way. After reading the tract, I had a strong conviction and I went to my mum.

Of course my parents were both born again. I told her my experience, and she led me to Christ. From there, I got involved in Christian activities and children’s programmes. As at 1988, I had started preaching in children programmes and at the church’s convection.

But it was after my secondary school education that it came strongly upon me that I should join a Bible school. Though people had been telling me about the God’s calling upon my life, I wasn’t keen about that because I was concerned about my academic pursuit.

I wasn’t concerned leaving my academic pursuit for a theological school because I was good in sciences. I was hoping to study medicine in the university. But in 1994, there were certain challenges in my family and I was interceding for my family.

At that time, we had left Kafanchan in the North for the South-East, and things turned around for my father. He was a contractor in the North, doing well but now found himself in the new area, no jobs and matters grew worse.

At a point in the early 90s, we left Owerri for our village and we were degraded.

It was that bad! It was a time of great burden for my family. I entered into fasting and prayers for my family. When I knelt down, I was hearing a voice, as if someone was speaking into my ears, saying ‘Jonah! Jonah!’

Then, I had read my Bible several times and I learnt a lot about Jonah. What I picked from there was that Jonah was a man running away from God’s call.

I didn’t need a prophet to explain that to me. So, the next thing I said to God was that I would answer this call but He had to improve the welfare of my family.

And He said to me that if I entered Bible school, I would see how things would change for my family and I obeyed.

So, what came to my mind was to attend Holiness Divinity College owned by Holiness Evangelical Bible Church. So, I went there to enrol and they said I should come and join the next semester as they had gone far in the current semester.

I had to wait. As I was preparing to join them, I had a revelation or vision of the night. In that vision, I saw a relative of mine that I lost contact with many years ago. She was in a group of people putting on an ordination gown and somewhere praying in tongues and some were preaching.

When I got up, I tried to find out what the dream was all about and God said to me, ‘I want you to attend the Bible school that Mary attended.’ How I would see her became a problem but while I was contemplating, someone visited and out of excitement, said, ‘We saw reverend Mary.

She came for a crusade.’

So, I went to her house and saw her brother, who told me she had left for Aba. But while I was about leaving, he said, ‘No, I think she hasn’t gone.’ I waited until she returned. I told her my vision and

she asked, ‘Was it because of you that I didn’t travel today? I just went to bid my relatives farewell and leave for Aba, but I can’t even go today again?’

I told her my mission and she said she attended All Nations For Christ Bible Institute in Benin. That was Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s Bible school. I was like, whoa, this man I saw in Kaduna about 10 years ago, I had admired him for years, I was like ‘does it mean I will have an opportunity to come closer to him?’

Then, she said, I should prepare and come to Aba so that we go. When I got to Aba, she said everything is falling in place. She told me that somebody came from the school with scholarship for one semester from the school. So, we moved to Benin.

When we got to the school, Idahosa saw Rev Mary and I and said, ‘Whoa, you (Mary) have brought another soldier.’

After graduating from the school, I had a month internship with one Rev. Paul in Owerri. I did my practical with him and I told him I would like to work with him afterwards. After my practical, I went back to him.

I was with him until 1998 and at a point, my aunt in the United States said she wanted me to come over for an internship programme in their church. I wanted to maximise that opportunity but I was denied a visa on the ground that I did not have ties. So, I got married.

By February, 1999, I tried to travel, again, they denied me visa. So, it was like I had to return to Owerri to know what to do for myself. While I was contemplating on that, I heard a voice that said, ‘You have a work in Lagos.’ I saw it that God used that visa episode to bring me to Lagos. So, in March 18, 2001, I inaugurated Destiny Chapel, which I’m the General Overseer.

The late Idahosa was a great man of God and those that encountered him had one thing or the other to say. In what way did he affect your life?

Honestly, it’s something that will take a lot of time to explain. My meeting with that man re-oriented me. I came from a conservative background; coming from Holiness Believing Church and their dressing. When I got to Benin, I was a man that practised true holiness and the finished work of Christ.

Through him, I began to understand that Christianity is something to enjoy here on earth unlike the mindset we have, waiting to get to heaven before we enjoy.

He believed in the life of dominion here on earth and experiencing prosperity all around. He made Christianity very relevant to me. His faith challenged me a lot.

It was in his life that I began to see the reality of the miracles of Jesus Christ and the power of God. In one of our meetings at the school of ministry, there was a commotion at the gate, and he beckoned on the usher who told him a woman brought her dead child to the church and they were trying to stop her.

Surprisingly, he asked them to bring the child in and I was watching. He carried the lifeless boy in his hands, prayed and breathed into his nostril and threw him on the platform. Immediately, the child woke up. I was dumfounded. The life of that man made me to take the word of God seriously.

My encounter with the archbishop brought about the reality of Christianity

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

–Apostle Kingsley Peters to me. Now, I know that this divine life is something we can start enjoying here on earth. In fact, the word of God was with that man. I picked the good news from him.

Each time he was preaching, it was all good news. That gave my ministry a new dimension. God used him to balance me doctrinally and to believe in faith of all that I had ever seen in the Bible. I’m so much indebted to him.

But my meeting him one-on-one was when somebody saw my work and took me to him. I had the privilege of compiling his quotes. Each time he came to the classroom, I jotted everything he said.

So, I later titled it, ‘100 super quotes of Archbishop Idahosa.’ He was impressed.

In one of the anointing services, when he finished anointing people, he felt like rubbing off the oil on his hand and he came to where I was seated and cleaned his hands on my head. That was significant to me.

Also, in my dream, when I was in Owerri, he carried oil and asked me to kneel down, asking me whether I know what kind of oil it was. He said it was thick oil and he poured it on me and after that, I heard he had gone to meet the lord. I was at his burial in Benin. So, he did that physically and in my dream he repeated it. It was significant to me.

How did you manage the issue of young vibrant Christians and sex?

Then, I was a youth pastor and I actually discovered that God’s grace was covering me. When I say this, some people might not believe it but it’s not by power nor might but the Spirit of God. Some people have boasted that they were virgins but I just encountered God’s grace.

I remember a day that a lady came purposely to seduce me, but by the time she was done, she was tired and frustrated and she said to me, you were the only person I tried to seduce that never succumb.

I had visited my uncle where I met her.

So, at night while I was sleeping on the sofa, she tried to seduce me but the grace of God covered me that I didn’t even feel as a woman was by my side.

I want to make believers to understand that there is grace and they should trust in God. He will help them. It’s not easy but with God you are covered. If you are tense and you want to do it by your powers, you will fail. God grace helped in the issue of women relationship.

In what circumstance did you meet your wife?

Hmmm…interesting! Each time someone draws my attention to my wife, Susan Ugochi Okechukwu-Peters, I smile because this is one encounter that lasts me a lifetime. Apart from salvation, this is the greatest experience I have had. Now, if you delight yourself in the Lord, he will give you what you want. I met my wife in the line of ministry.

If you follow God, you will start meeting the things He says you will need in life. A man of God asked me to accompany him to a programme to interpret for him. It was an assignment that looked so odd to me but he felt I could do it for him and I obeyed.

I’m someone that always likes to make myself available because, part of my greatest problem, is saying ‘no.’ I don’t know how to say ‘no.’ Sometimes, I accept that to my hurt. So, I accepted and I lodged with him, serving as his interpreter at Holiness Evangelical Church.

That programmes should held something in n1993.

Where we were lodged, my wife (would

be) was among the sisters that were cooking for us. So, I picked interest in her and coincidently, the man of God happened to be a family friend to them. After the programme, I still went with him to visit my wife’s family. But at a point I felt like taking it closer.

We started having a joint prayer session, including her with other people, but not in the area of marriage. We were rotating the prayer with vigil in our various homes. That programme linked me up with her but the issue of marriage wasn’t so strong in my mind then but we continued as prayer partners.

But when I entered the Bible school, about the fourth year, I began to have marital desire for her. But the next hurdle I had was how to talk to her about my feelings. It wasn’t easy for me because I was thinking if I should tell her about marriage, she would wonder if it was because of all that I was doing. I wouldn’t want her to see that happen because she held me in high esteem.

She later entered the university and that was the period I was in the Bible school.

I shared my feelings with my uncle and he said I should talk to her. On her side, the Lord had spoken to her but I did not know. My uncle arranged the meeting for us in his house.

My uncle invited her to come and cook for us, which she did. It got to a point, he asked me to go and talk to her. She would walk past and give me signs and I said any way let me go and say something.

I gathered courage and told her and she didn’t even behave as if God had said anything to her; you know now, women’s stuff.

Then, inside of me, I felt somehow. I thought she was going to accept it immediately but I was surprised when I returned to school and she wrote me a letter accepting the proposal, confirming that the lord had spoken to her. So, on February 1996, we wedded in Holiness Evangelical Church, Owerri.

What craziest thing have you ever done

for her love?

Well, one thing I do is within my ability.

For now I feel like showing her practical love. When the money comes, then, something else comes in. Publicly, I display my love for her, lift her up in the public, kiss her in the public and do it regularly for her.

Have you ever cooked a special meal for her?

Yes, there was a time they traveled to Abraka for vacation with our children, so the day they will return, I had to prepare a meal for them. I could have called any of the members to do that, but I chose to do it myself. My children were surprise that I could do that.

I prepared Egusi soup with intestine, the type she likes. I drifted from the normal meat and they enjoyed it. They ate with fufu, though I didn’t pound the fufu, I bought the already made one but I cooked the soup.

But after that, I have not been able to do that again, maybe she had made me lazy or something like that. So, to enter kitchen now is a challenge but I have really prepared special meal for her.

How often do you find time to go out with your wife?

Like her birthday was in September, I took her out and spoilt her a bit and got some family members to come along.

Though, she is the quiet type. She doesn’t like going on outings but occasionally, I take her go out. The recent one was in August. I just had to take her out.

What are your hobbies?

I’m a poetic person. When I was in school, I wrote a poem that they hung on the wall of our classroom. I like to read books. I like football. I play table tennis and enjoy classic gospel music like that of Patti Obasi, Voice of the Cross.

Your favourite meal?

Okro soup with Titus fish will do me good with eba. But there is a local deli-

cacy that my wife prepares well, ‘Ugba soup.’ She knows how to prepare it, and sometimes, she prepares it with snails. I also like fried yam.

Sports activities?

Table tennis.

What’s your highpoint in life and ministry?

Hmm, let me line them up accordingly.

The first was when an Emir shook hands with me and gave me a gift at a public event, where I was recognised as the best student in my team then in Government Secondary School Kafanchan, when I was in JSS 2. It was a high point for me. Emirs are almost worshipped in the north.

Next to that was in Owerri, when I preached at a national convention in 1988, where I minister to over 12, 000 people.

Also, my handshake with Archbishop Benson Idahosa on my graduation day at All Nations for Christ Bible School was another one.

Again, my wedding and my Apostolic consecration by Reverend Julius Uchechukwugeme, which gave me a new pedestal in God’s work, are yet another highpoints. The grace of that consecration is still on me. We have opened new branches in Abuja and Port Harcourt.

These are highpoints to me because it’s only by the Grace of God that they happened.

Family and educational background I was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Chukwuemeka Peters from Obasi Mbeiri, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. I’m the first born of 11 children – seven males, three females and we grew up in the North.

I had my secondary school education at Gowon Primary School and my secondary education partly in Government Secondary School, Kafanchan and Holy Ghost College, Owerri. I did my theology at All Nations for God Bible Institute, Benin.

20

SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

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Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

“

Time to call it a spade

Take that call,” Dave tells Kathryn.

“Must I?” Kathryn asks him.

“Yes,” he replies.

“I won’t,” she says.

The phone rings again. As Kathryn hesitates, Dave snatches the bag from her and rummages inside. He brings out the phone but it has stopped ringing.

Kathryn prays that it doesn’t ring again but it appears that such prayers are not answered.

It rings the third time and Dave peeks at it.

“Ben wants to speak with you.

It’s urgent, I guess,” he says, thrusting the phone into her hand.

Kathryn makes up her mind.

Some things are better confronted head on.

She takes the call.

“Hello,” she says, her voice dry.

“Oh my dear. I’ve been so worried. You seem to have a habit of not keeping to your words and taking your calls. I have called several times,” Ben says.

“Oh sorry, it wasn’t convenient for me to take your call and it’s still not convenient for me to talk now,” she replies coolly.

“Darling, what is happening? Is there something you aren’t telling me? You were so glad to see me again earlier today but you changed suddenly,” Ben says.

“I’m still very glad to see you.

It’s just that it’s not convenient for me to talk right now. Let’s talk in the morning,” she says, firmly.

“Ok, if that’s what you want,” Ben says, disappointment in his voice.

“Talk in the morning then,” she replies and ends the call.

“So, who is Ben? And you sure are so glad to see him again,” Dave says, eyes blazing with anger.

“If you must know, Ben is a friend, male, unattached and seeking a wife,” she says coolly.

“And didn’t you tell him that you are taken?” Dave asks, incredulous.

“Taken? By who?” Kathryn asks, surprise in her voice.

“Me!” Dave replies, exasperated.

Kathryn laughs, that short mirthless laugh.

“Baby, a woman does not become ‘taken’ simply because a guy says so. You must be very selfish. How can you keep your wife abroad and lay claim to another woman here? Even if you are a polygamist, were you not told that only consenting adults should get involved in it? What makes you think that after my horrible experience with my father’s other wife and children, I’d want to be involved in another?” Kathryn says, fury in her voice.

“Who told you I’m married?

Who told you I want to be a polygamist?” Ben replies, laughter in his voice.

“Oh? You wanna deny your wife? You are not proud of the children she bore you?” Kathryn scoffs.

“My darling, there are things that shouldn’t be discussed while standing. I think we should sit down to talk about this,” he says, taking her hand and leading her to the bed.

“No, let’s sit on the couch,” she says.

“You win, darling,” Dave replies and guides her towards the couch.

“So, why are you denying your wife,” she asks.

I’m not married,” he says.

“There he goes again,” she says, rolling her eyes.

“I repeat, I’m not married. I was searching but stopped the

moment I got to be with you,” he replies, looking into her eyes.

“Oh?” Kathryn says, eyebrows raised.

“Yes,” Dave replies.

Kathryn sighs.

“If there’s one thing I hate, it’s people who lie,” she says.

“Kathryn dear, I’ve not told you a single lie since we met,” he says.

“Oh? I remember distinctly. You told me that your wife and children were vacationing abroad,” she says, glaring at him.

“Hmmmmmmmm! I didn’t tell you that. I told you that my FAMILY is vacationing abroad,” he says.

“Family! So your wife and children are not your family?” Kathryn asks with glee. She has found him out!

“My wife and children are my family dear. Only that I’m yet to

get them,” he replies.

She looks at him, confused.

“Are you divorced? Tell me the truth,” she says, hope building in her heart.

“I’m not divorced,” he says, killing the hope immediately.

“Why are you being economical with the truth? I hate men who are not men enough to say the truth,” she says, anger in her voice.

“My darling, my wife and children are a figment of your imagination. You created them and they exist in your mind,” he says, drawing her into his arms.

She allows herself to be cuddled. All of a sudden, weariness overcomes her.

She still doesn’t understand what Dave seems to be saying but needs to rest. Her bones ache.

She has not had a moment rest since she came in earlier in the

evening.

Thoughts of Ben keep filtering into her mind. She just realises that she doesn’t want to get into any polygamist setting, Dave or not. She also doesn’t like the fact that Dave is not telling her the truth. What difference is he trying to make between family and wife? She has to be careful with him. She shouldn’t allow him to mess up her mind.

It’s almost midnight. She doesn’t feel like a night drive.

“It’s almost midnight,” she murmurs against his chest.

“Yes, my wife. It’s midnight. I can’t take you home and I won’t allow you to drive home. You sleep here. In the morning, we’ll decide what next,” he says soothingly.

“Decide what next? Aren’t you going to work tomorrow?” Kathryn asks.

“When you are here? What will I be doing in the office the morning after my wife slept in our house for the first time? Work can wait,” he says.

“Work can wait? “Kathryn echoes him.

“Yes, my love. I own the company. I don’t need to overwork myself. I did that when I was nobody. Now I’m paying so many people to do the hard work for me while I take life easy,” he says.

“Cool. Promise me that you won’t give that uncouth girlfriend of yours a job in your company,” she says.

“Who? Which girl?” Dave asks, lost.

“The one that left not too long ago with your friends,” she replies.

“Oh, you mean Kim? She is not my girlfriend. She was never and can’t be. She’s not my choice,” he says, searching for her mouth with his.

“Baby I’m tired. I want to sleep,” she says, pushing him away.

“I know my love. I’m tired also but I want you now, like I’ve wanted you since I set my eyes on you,” he murmurs into her ears.

She knows that refusing his demand will only complicate matters and she doesn’t want to argue anymore.

They schmooze some more and as his hard on gets to an incredible turgidity, he divests her of her clothing. After fondling her knockers for sometime, he carries her and lays her like the choice meal she is on the bed.

“Don’t worry yourself. I’ll do all the work,” he says huskily as he mounts and devours her. ******* Did Kathryn go to see Ben in the morning? Let’s find out next week!

Send your observations to the email above.

21

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

&

Body&Soul

Nurture hair through healthy hair habits Vanessa Okwara

O

ne of the biggest myths about the black African hair is that it doesn’t grow as quickly as other types of hair. Everyone is always searching for that miracle product that will give them long tresses. The truth is that hair grows an average of ½ inch per month, but it’s how you treat your hair that determines how much of the new growth you’ll retain.

There is no rocket science needed to make the hair grow. Your hair is growing, but you may not be retaining the length due to chemical abuse, dryness, excessive heat styling and a general lack of proper care. All that is needed from you is tender loving care.

1. Live a healthy lifestyle: Eating a lot of bad carbohydrates and processed sugars will definitely affect the health of your hair. Before seeing changes on the outside, we need to take care of the inside.

Eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly for your body’s overall health. People who suffer from vitamin deficiencies and unhealthy diets can also suffer from dry, brittle hair.

2. Relax your hair with care: Chemical abuse is one of the biggest causes of hair damage in black women. Don’t relax too often, but when it’s time for a touch-up, get one because the longer you wait, the greater the chance of breakage where the relaxed hair meets the new growth. Allow for at LEAST over an inch of growth before you relax it again and make sure you ONLY RELAX THE NEW GROWTH.

3. Trimming: This is so essential, yet, often neglected. People sometimes go months, even years before they give their hair a good trim. It prevents the split end from continuing up the hair shaft to cause severe breakage. Depending on the chemicals you have in your hair as well as your daily routine, you may need a trim anywhere from every six weeks to six months.

4. Condition your hair liberally: Deep condition at least once a month. Deep conditioners containing olive, avocado or sweet almond oil work well. Apply heat to your hair and wear a shower cap while you wait; heat activates the conditioner. You can sit under a hood dryer or wrap your head in a towel that has been soaked in hot water. Besides the right shampoo and conditioner, use leave-in conditioners as well. Wellmoisturised hair is less prone to dryness and breakage, leading to more hair retention. Use vegetable or animal-based oils on your hair such as coconut oil and Shea butter to stay moisturised.

5. Stay away from heat as much as possible: you should minimise heat styling as much as possible.

Choose hairstyles that don’t rely on so much heat, as well as gentle styling methods like wraps, buns, ponytails and twists. If you have to straighten the hair, turn down the heat.

Body&Soul

22

ini dress is a fun and engaging

Vanessa Okwara

statement for a long time and never really goes off trend. There are many kinds of mini dresses such as the club-

those legs are looking long and lean with even skin tone from the thighs to the feet.

length dress and team it with a pair of tights to cover up the legs and wear a belt on the slimmest part of your waist

Sexy mini power

SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Keep the occasion in mind. You cannot wear a mini dress to office or official events. A mini dress is definitely not an

43

23

SundayBusiness SUNDAY, 2 NOVEMBER, 2014

Public Finance Dwindling revenue: Govt may raise taxes to save economy p.24

Transport Nissan emerges Interbrand ‘Best Global Brand’ 2014 p.25

Interview Fuel subsidy is non-existent, says Ozo-Eson p.27

Company Watch Huawei’s operations under scrutiny p.28

News Compliance regime calls for Africa-specific solutions p.29

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Pos

Why most outlets don’t use POS – Investigation A

Chijioke Iremeka gainst the background of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s campaign for commercial banks to step up investment in low-cost branchless channels, such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point-of Sale (POS) terminals to drive its cash-lite policy, there has been poor compliance by various service outlets, Sunday New Telegraph’s investigation has revealed.

The investigation showed that most service outlets, such as Quick Service Restaurants, filling stations, hospitality centres, transport companies, parks, supermarkets and departmental stores among others are not POS-compliant.

It was also learnt that the CBN, on its own, has not been keen on enforcing POS-compliance among non-banking sectors, with the exception of few staggering incentives mentioned in its circular to Deposit Money Banks (MDBs), which began yesterday (November 1, 2014) while others are to commence in December and January.

“CBN seems to be challenging the banking sector on the deployment of POS but less effort has been made to co-opt the service providing firms, which appear to be carrying out more cash transactions than the banks.

“There has to be a revolutionalisation of POS transactions and terminals in Nigeria, if the CBN’s cash-lite policy would take a centre stage in the Nigerian economy, pertaining to financial services,” said Mr. Vincent Ezeme, a doctorate research fellow.

Moreover, the CBN had in recent times increased its campaign on the possibility of banks deploying more ATMs and POS terminals. Since then, the number of ATMs has gone up astronomically but most of these deployments are non-functional for some obvious reasons.

According to CBN’s reports on e-payment channels, as at the end of 2011, the number stood at 9,640, giving an average of 11 ATMs per 100,000 adults. This is compared with an average of 59 ATMs per 100,000 adults in South Africa; 13 ATMs per 100,000 adults in Indonesia; 42 ATMs per 100,000 adults in Argentina; 120 ATMs per 100,000 adults in Brazil; and 56 ATMs per 100,000 adults in Malaysia.

Adopted to accelerate the use of modern electronic payments channels, the cash-lite policy is implemented in pursuit of three major objectives – developing and modernising the payment system; reducing banking cost to drive financial inclusion; and improving the effectiveness of monetary policy.

The current CBN review on compliance with the policy in Lagos indicates that the number of deployed POS grew from 5,300 in June 2010 to 18,874, as at March 4, 2011 and increased to 100,000 between the end of 2011 and first half of 2012. This also translates to 13 terminals per 100,000 adults, compared with 338 terminals per 100,000 adults in Namibia.

Unfortunately, the number of active POS terminals in Nigeria has not grown.

During Sunday New Telegraph’s visits to a number of service outlets, it was rather

shocking to hear some of the reasons for their non-compliance with the policy.

It was gathered that most employees of these organisations are deliberately frustrating the policy to maintain the tips they get from customers. Sources said the staff would prefer to sustain the tips coming from clients who usually drop some money for cashiers and service attendants after making purchases or paying for one service or the other. Of course, POS terminals would not afford them this opportunity.

At Fagbems Filling Station, Mile 2, Lagos, there was nothing like a POS there. When questioned, an employee said they had not been given any.

“But what do you want to do with a POS terminal in a filling station where danfo drivers come to buy fuel and diesel? Hahaha, that’s not for our kind of business.

“Is it that there is a plan to stop the sale of fuel in plastic containers? Come to think of it, if we use POS it will delay our work. How about the tips we get from change? Anyway, the government can still do it but this is not our problem in this country. We need money,” he said.

Also, at NNPC Mega Station along OshodiApapa Expressway, by Second Rainbow and MRS station at 22 Road, Festac in Lagos, the story was the same.

It was the same scenario at many filling stations in different cities and towns nationwide.

C ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 29

24

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Public Finance

Dwindling revenue: Govt may raise taxes to save economy

Okonjo-Iweala

T

Paul Ogbuokiri he dwindling price of oil is taking its toll on the Nigerian economy, as the government’s cash-flow is reducing.

This follows the fall in the country’s revenue by N99.55bn last month.

Consequently, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says the Federal Government has raised the revenue targets to be collected by revenue agencies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

She said, “Global benchmark oil price has fallen from $114 per barrel in June to less than $90 per barrel in October, saying this sequel to the upswing in the Shale oil production in the United States and sluggish demand from Europe and Asia. “These are putting downward pressure on the demand for crude oil.”

While answering questions on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper sent to the Senate by President Goodluck Jonathan two weeks ago, she raised serious concern over the continued depletion of the Excess Crude Account, saying the development was capable of causing further inflation.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that the gross revenues received in the Federation Account have steadily declined to N503bn in September from N602bn in August and N630bn in July. These revenues after the deduction of fixed collection and other costs become the net amount for distribution, on which the derivation principle is applied in favour of the oil-producing states before the three-way split, according to the set formula.

The three tiers of government receive additional distributions from VAT receipts, the payment of arrears by the NNPC and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.

All the states with the exception of Lagos receive the greater part of their revenues from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee. Analysts say the State will fight any reduction of their allocation from FAAC. CBN data for 2012 show that internally generated revenues accounted for just 15 per cent of total revenues on an aggregate basis.

An economist, Mrs. Ojomo-Ajibola Olayinka, called on the Federal Government to quickly diversify the economy in the face of dwindling crude oil revenue, adding that taxes are some of the means government can shore up its revenue.

Olayinka gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Osogbo on last week after delivering a speech at an event organised by the Osun Agricultural Development Programme.

A Senior lecturer in Economics at Lagos State University, Dr. Ismail Adejumo, says taxation is the main source of revenue to modern governments but successive administrations in Nigeria, at the federal and state levels, have not paid the necessary attention to it because of cheap oil money shared monthly at the FAAC. He pointed out that apart from Lagos State, none of the remaining 35 states appears to be interested in improving their internally generated revenue. He advised the state governments to start to develop their state economies like the regions did in the First Republic.

Managing Director of Olujime Finance Limited, a stockbroking firm, Mr. Olajide Olujim, said responsible taxation is the main source of revenue for government.

According to him, it’s a lack of seriousness on the part of government that it does not pay serious attention to taxes.

“Responsible governments collect taxes because they know that it will give account to the people in terms of services. A government decided to be accountable to the people will collect taxes not just folding

their hands and wait for allocations from the Federation Account.

“Maybe the dwindling of oil revenue is a blessing in disguise as most of these leaders in this country who lack vision will find out governance is not for them but for those who want to serve,” he added.

President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Lucky Amiewero, says the dwindling government revenue from oil should encourage it to look at most of its untaxed services. He says if government pays adequate attention to the collection of customs duty, it will realise more than N2trn annually. According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service does not collect up to half of the revenue accruable to the Federation Account annually.

Amiewero, who is also the Managing Director of Aiyes Resources Limited, a licensed Customs firm, says government has failed over the years to realise it accruable revenue from Customs Duty because of corruption in the system. He said graft had made it impossible to effectively deploy the Customs Automated Clearing Platform introduced at the beginning of the year.

“If it works, it will reduce human contact and reduce corruption. So it will not work. And the loser is government who will continue to lose revenue to Customs officers and collaborators (licensed Customs Agents),” he said.

Meanwhile, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, in a statement at the end of the October technical meeting of the FAAC, attributed the reduction of government revenue in September to the slight decrease in crude oil prices and production loss due to the shutdown of the trunk lines and pipelines at the various terminals.

He also said: “The distributable statutory revenue for the month was N463.79bn. The sum of N36.55bn was proposed for distribution under the SURE-P. In addition, the sum of N6.33bn was refunded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The total revenue distributable for the month, including VAT, was N603.53bn.”

Okonjo-Iweala had told the Senate Finance Committee that the Excess Crude Account was built to cushion the economy.

She said the ECA played that role to perfection during the 2008 global economic crises, when oil fell to $38 per barrel, which according to her is worse than what the country is in now.

She said: “The IMF actually calculated $6.3bn to be maintained in that account. It (would) help to cushion our exchange rate.

So if we go and withdraw it abruptly beyond that amount, it causes a problem and you know we went down to $2bn last year.

“We later built it up to $9bn and there was insistence that we must share. It came down to $2 and then we had at least built it back to $5bn. Right now, we are at $4.1bn.

“If we had built it to a stable cushion, then anything above that we could now use to augment and that was the reason why we had not seen. That is why we have to balance out everything.”

But the recent FAAC meeting will not take any of that as they insisted on sharing $2.7bn from the ECA to augument for the shortfall in the revenue available for sharing

Revenue shared by the three tiers of government for the month of September depleted the ECA to $4.1bn. An amount, Okonjo-Iweala, says is not enough to fund three months’ imports for the country.

She had, however, said on the dwindling government revenue, “I want to assure Nigerians that we are putting in place contingency plans so that our economy remains stable? Right now, we have fluctuations in the price of crude oil and when that happens, it means that the money that comes into the coffers is a little bit small. Does that mean that the country is broke? If we are not able to pay salaries to people or meet other obligations, then we can say the country is broke but we have not got there. Nigeria is not broke.”

According to the Managing Director of Financial Directives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, though the Federal Government says the Nigerian economy has not yet got to a dangerous situation, “the country is getting close to it.”

Some state governors in reaction to the emerging economic scenro in their recent meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State, accused the Federal Government of politicising its monthly allocation to states. They said the allocations to opposition states have increasingly dwindled over the past months despite the government’s assurance that Nigeria is not broke.

They said the PDP states may be secretly receiving ‘backdoor’ funding tucked in by the federal government to boost their delivery of services to their people.

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said, “This has become a very serious concern to us as governors and we felt that issues that affect the lives of our people must never be politicized. We refuse to accept the fact that this nation is broke and thank God that the federal government has confirmed that the country was not broke.”

Okonjo-Iweala had told a national newspaper at the recent IMF-World Bank meeting in Washington DC that the country would need $5bn savings while the turbulence in the international oil market lasts.

“We are trying to build the ECA up again we did our modelling and forecast at $5bn.

If we can save that, it will us for a while, it will save us for a while. IMF did its own modelling and said we need $6.3bn in that ECA minimum to cushion us. All this while we have been shouting that let us save and not share. We will try to manage the best we can.

“We all want the best for our country, which is to make sure that our reputation for keeping a stable economy is sustained.

We don’t want a situation where the exchange rate is fluctuating. Most Nigerians don’t want it. You have to relate the level of reserve and the amount of money in the EC to the exchange rate. That’s what keeps it stable. If you now go spending everything and you have a crisis, and the oil prices fall, you will not have anywhere to turn.

“This is what we have been preaching in the last three years and we are been harassed because of it but now we are seeing it happen. What we are doing is to make contingency plan to keep the economy steady as much as we can through this crisis,” she said.

25

Transport

SUNDAY, 2 NOVEMBER , 2014

Nissan emerges Interbrand ‘Best Global Brand’ 2014

W

Paul Ogbuokiri

orld-leading brand consultancy - Inter-brand - has ranked Nissan as one of the world’s most valuable brands for 2014.

Nissan was placed 56th up from 65 in 2013 in the Interbrand 2014 ‘Best Global Brands Study’ which commended the strength of Nissan’s financial performance; product portfolio and leadership position in electric vehicles.

Inter-brand similarly cited the strength of Nissan’s financial performance; product portfolio and leadership position in electric vehicles - some of the indices that raised the value of the Nissan brand to an estimated $7.623 billion

from last year’s estimate value of nearly $6.2billion.

Nissan was in June named one of the world’s greenest brands for 2014 in Interbrand’s Best Global Green Brands report having moved up one spot to fourth overall - powered by the Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling 100% electric vehicle and making the company the global leader in Zero Emissions mobility.

“Brand power is a key indicator of the health of the Nissan business and a major driver of the company’s growth,” said Roel de Vries, Nissan Corporate Vice President and global head of Marketing and Brand Strategy.

He said: “We are pleased to see a 23 per cent increase in brand value from

last year – nearly doubling Nissan’s brand value since its inaugural appearance on the list in 2011 – and recognition as a ‘top’ riser in the study.”

Interbrand’s annual ‘Best Global Brands study’ method looks at ongoing investment and management of the brand as a business asset, taking into account financial performance, the role of brand in the purchase decision process, and the strength of the brand.

The study noted Nissan’s recent launches for the Qashqai, Murano and Rogue as a demonstration of the brand’s ‘Innovation and Excitement for Everyone,’ adding: “The company’s leadership in electric vehicles and investment in future mobility, like autonomous vehicles and fuel cell technology, were

recognized for addressing emerging customer needs in a rapidly changing automotive market.”

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is Japan’s second-largest automotive company and a part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

The Yokohama based automobile company delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands.

Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF in 2010 and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first massmarket, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment.

“We are pleased to see a 23 per cent increase in brand value from last year – nearly doubling Nissan’s brand value since its inaugural appearance on the list in 2011 – and recognition as a ‘top’ riser in the study”

Auto Clinic Why it’s smart to stay insured Legal requirements Most states require some level of car liability insurance that pays for another’s medical costs related to an accident or damages to another person’s property or vehicle if you’re at fault in an accident.

If you own a car and you’ve allowed a lapse in auto insurance, you might be violating the law, even if the car is parked and not driven. If you do drive the vehicle and cause an accident, you’ll be cited and subjected to stiff fines or worse.

Kia Rio

Kia unveils Made-in-Nigeria Optima, others

K

ia motors Nigeria unveiled its Madein-Nigeria vehicles at the ongoing Abuja International Auto Fair at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

This it said is in fulfillment of its promise to the Nigerian enthusiasts and patrons that Made-in-Nigeria Kia will be available before the end of the year.

The Made-in-Nigeria Kia vehicles, which included the Rio, Cerato and Optima were unveiled by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide.

The Minister who represented the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo at the event used the occasion to have a test drive of the Made-in-Nigeria Optima in the company of the Chief Commercial Officer of KIA Motors Nigeria, Mr. Sandeep Malhotra, the Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr. Ifeanyi Agu and the Deputy Director of the National Automotive Council and Mr. P. B. Salau (representing the Director General of the National Au-

tomotive council).

A statement by the Asst, Manager Marketing (Events and Public Relations), Dana Motors, Olawale Jimoh, said after the test drive, Mrs. Akinjide expressed her delight and congratulated the company for the made-in-Nigeria cars stating that they are “Very, Very good cars” and also adjudged Kia Rio as “the People’s Ca. “Wow, Beautiful ride, Very smooth…..this is a Great Car,” the Minister was further quoted as saying. The statement also said that she was trilled with admiration for the Kia Soul, saying the model is “incredibly built to compliment the youth and the women”.

The flagship model of Kia, The Quoris, according to Jimoh, also caught the flair of the minister when she was shown around the luxury sedan by Mr. Sandeep Malhotra.

He said other dignitaries at the event also took a spin of the made-in-Nigeria KIA vehicles.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that the

stylish compact Rio, Optima and Cerato with thoroughly contemporary and distinctive styling, coupled with maximum versatility and cutting-edge safety and convenience features are truly innovative cars created keeping in mind the demands of modern living, while also adding a dash of spice to life.

The statement also quoted Mrs. Akinjide as saying that the made-in-Nigeria Kia brands are elegant and is at the vanguard of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

She further stated that the impressive stride of Kia Motors Nigeria in producing its Made-in-Nigeria vehicles will earn the company a lion’s share in the auto industry. As a strong form in the fast developing Nigeria automobile industry and the number one Korean brand in the country, Kia says it offers the best in world class vehicles that have always exceeded the expectations of customers and provide the best value for money..

Financial consequences Driving without car insurance is risky.

If you’re responsible for an accident and don’t have insurance, you may be sued to pay for the damages – and end up paying for everything, including the lawyer, out of pocket.

Insurance rate increases After an auto insurance lapse, your ability to get insurance at an affordable rate could be compromised. And, chances are, it will be at an increased rate. You may need to search for an insurance company that specializes in insuring risky drivers. Typically, high-risk insurers charge more for their policies, so complete, affordable coverage might be difficult to obtain.

Driving record impact In some states, auto insurance companies are required to notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when you drop insurance or change companies. Once you have a lapse in auto insurance, it may be noted on your driving record. Your car could be seized and your license suspended.

26

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Equities down 8.88% in October

T

he Nigerian equities market could not sustain last week’s positive note, as it closed negative in all the five trading days of the week. Against this backdrop, the NSEASI recorded a 3.93% dip WoW as market capitalization pegged at NGN12.437trn having lost NGN469bn for the week. Year-toDate (YtD) market return slipped further in the negative region to close at -9.14%, while volume and value traded WoW surged by 48.41% and 18.74% respectively.

Equities market trading for the month largely portrayed investors’ reactions to mixed Q3:2014 earnings reported by companies amidst growing security and political uncertainties, as most positive flashes in trading activities resulted from bargain hunting on the part of investors. Given the general bearish mood witnessed in the market in October and the consequent attractiveness of the market, we suspect that whiles the bearish trend may still be noticeable in November, barring any positive news to drive the market upwards, support from bellwether and defensive stocks may keep the market upbeat. We therefore advise investors to balance optimism with caution.

Fixed Income Market: Still offers a better Alternative

Amidst investors’ concerns around country risk necessitating funds outflow from Nigeria’s investment space, the fixed income market still tends to offer a safer return options.

The treasury bills market declined by 0.08% to peg average yield at 11.10% compared to 11.18% in the previous week. The 1M and 3M tenors appreciated by 0.09% and 0.04%, while the 2M, 6M, 9M and 12M tenors declined by 0.11%, 0.16%, 0.25% and 0.08% respectively for the week.

NIBOR across tenors declined by 0.03% on the average as the CALL rate and 1M tenor rates decline by 0.31% and 0.06%. While the 3M and 6M tenors had increases of 0.16% and 0.33% WoW respectively. OBB and OVN rates also lost 0.33% apiece WoW while closing at 10.25% and 10.50% respectively.

Yields on fixed income instrument for the week inched higher for the week on the back of increased demand as mid yield settled at 12.48% relative to previous 12.10%. The MERIBond index gained 0.08% WoW while it lost 1.26% in October.

Naira continues to respond to the dwindling oil prices depreciating by 3.54% YtD against the greenback despite the Monday auction to close at an equal ask and bid price of N165.65 for the week. We however project relative stability of the Naira in the near term given the CBN’s commitment to continuous defence of the currency.

As the bearishness of equities market persists, we advise investors to consider an optimal portfolio mix skewed towards fixed income securities even as tension and uncertainties around 2015 general elections build.

Banking Sector: Drags despite myriad of generally positive results

It was a lackluster performance for the sector even as a substantial number of banks released generally positive results, as the sector remains weighed down by investors’ sentiments regarding the regulatory climate. There were only 3 gainers, while 11 stocks lost, and UNITYBNK stayed flat. The gainers included ETI (4.05%) as the market seemingly reacted to the bank’s strong Q3:2014 in which they grew the top line by 16.57% while the bottom line grew by 31.33%. The WoW gainers list also included STERLNBNK (+5.83%) and WEMABANK (+1.06%), while the top decliners for the week were UBA (-16.08%), UBN (-12.80%), and SKYEBANK (-12.73%).

Q3:2014 earnings results for 10 banks were released this week: DIAMONDBNK, ZENITHBANK, STERLNBANK, FBNH, FCMB, UBN, STANBIC, ETI, FIDELITYBK, SKYEBANK. STANBIC consolidated on its performance thus far in 2014 by recording gross earnings and Profit after Tax growth of 14.13% and

…fixed income market option?

(USD0.06)/share.

We believe there are upside potentials in ETERNA and TOTAL and maintain our overvalued position on FO and MRS.

Insurance Sector: Impressive results inform sector gain

57.32% respectively. ZENITHBANK recorded top and bottom line growth of 7.22% and 5.60% respectively. STERLNBNK recorded gross earnings growth of 12.11% and earnings growth of 39.19% as the bank recovered strongly from a lacklustre half year. Also, FCMB grew gross earnings by 10.43% YoY, while profit after tax increased by 11.26% YoY. DIAMONDBNK grew top line by 14.68%, while Profit after Tax grew by 0.65% as the results were once again weighed down by an exponential increase in OPEX. On the flip side, FBNH grew gross earnings by 12.65%, while earnings declined by 5.85%, just as SKYEBANK recorded declines in top and bottom line of 4.82% and 15.31% respectively as the negative 2014 persisted.

We are of the opinion that the negative sentiments causing a drag in the performance of sector stocks provide an opportunity for investors to take position, although it should be noted that we expect these negative sentiments to persist in the near future and so a medium to long term horizon is a necessity.

Industrial Goods: Bearish trend persists

Sell sentiments prevailed in the sector in line with general market mood as the Meri-IND index declined by 0.52%. The negative mood was prevalent in October as evidenced in the 6.47% decline recorded during the month.

CUTIX was the biggest loser for the month as the stock shed 16.3% to close the month at NGN1.59. CCNN, WAPCO and BERGER also recorded share price declines of 14.3%, 13.2% and 7.0%. DANGCEM the largest cap stock in the basket was a major contributor to the sector’s gloomy performance as the stock closed the month at NGN215, 3.2% down MoM. In line with the general sector mood, CAP emerged as the only price gainer for the month having appreciated in value by 7.4% largely driven by an impressive two-digit top and bottom line growth as seen in the paint maker’s Q3:2014 result.

Lafarge Africa (WAPCO) released its first consolidated result showing a 3.39% increase in top line and 37.14% decline in bottom line while ASHAKACEM recorded 3.03% growth in revenue and a 103.39% increase in PAT.

Consumer Goods Sector: GUINNESS announced new leadership

The sector index, NSEFB10 declined by 4.85%, despite corporate releases. 7UP had the most impressive outing this week, being the only gainer with 1.31%, week on week (WoW) increase. The WoW decliners’ chart had CADBURY, DANGSUGAR, HONYFLOUR, declining by 14.25%, 9.09%, and 0.75% in that order.

NESTLE posted an impressive result showing a growth in revenue by 7.60% YoY. This however did not translate to growth in bottom-line as PAT declined by 1.38%. UNILEVER 2014Q3 revenue declined by 7.08% QoQ and yet again, increase in operating expense and finance charges dragged earnings as PAT contracted by 47.97% (YoY).

In the Breweries space, GUINNESS announced new leadership, Mr. John O’Keefe, is to take over from Mr Seni Adetu who steps down after two and half years. Against our expectation, the beer maker recorded another revenue decline (6.07%) in its first quarter result, despite recent strategic initiatives into the value segment of the beer market.

Oil and Gas: SEPLAT, TOTAL and MOBIL declared 9month result.

The NSE oil gas sector index slipped 4.76% WtD on the back of overall market bearish mood, as well as generally unimpressive Q3:2014 corporate releases from MOBIL, TOTAL and SEPLAT during the week.

MOBIL declared NGN60.72bn revenue, a 3.4% growth compared to NGN58.74bn in the prior period. After tax profit (NGN5.99bn) recorded a 135.2% growth on the back of a massive income from asset sales worth NGN2.78bn.

TOTAL grew turnover (NGN177.81bn) by 1.99%, while earnings were depressed by finance costs which rose by 26.68%, despite a 7.70% decline in operating expense.

Also, SEPLAT’s revenue (NGN92.01bn) declined 8%, while earnings declined at a faster pace, declining by 24% as a result of huge OPEX which grew 153%. The company declared an interim dividend of NGN9.90

Chart 2: Foreign Exchange Market (NGN Naira/USD Dollar)

The sector continues to enjoy positive sentiments as NSEINS10 index gained 0.98% for the week to peg YtD return at -3.21%.

AIICO released its Q3:2014 result with its top-line and bottom-line appreciating massively by 49.87% and 256.70% respectively.

This impacted positively on the counter as it gained 6.25% week on week (W-o-W) to top the gainers’ chart. ROYALEX, CONTINSURE, PRESTIGE and MANSARD followed suit with 3.77%, 2.11%, 2.00% and 0.67% gains accordingly.

MBENEFIT and NEM dipped by 3.70% and 1.32%, as CUSTODYINS also shed 0.79%, despite growth in top and bottom lines of 14.04% and 53.42% respectively in recently released Q3:2014 result.

LASACO and CONTINSURE released Q3:2014 result with top-line decline of 35.74% and 0.86%, albeit bottom-line surged by 13.02% and 0.84% respectively. NEM Q3:2014 top-line grew by 7.20% while bottom-line dipped 21.99%, LINKASSURE also released Q3:2014 result, growing both top and bottomline by 34.67% and 49.47 accordingly.

Healthcare Sector: Rebounds despite the market mood

The MERI-HLTH index rebounds after several weeks of negative turn, gaining 0.02% to peg the YtD at -20.35%. The sector breadth (4x) favoured the position takers as four counters gained against one stock that shed points during the week.

EVANSMED, FIDSON, PHARMADEKO and MAYBAKER posted gains during the trading week advancing 13%, 5%, 5% and 1% respectively, on the flip side, only NEIMETH lost during the week shedding 8%. All other counters in the sector closed flat.

GLAXOSMITH released its Q32014 result to the market, showing moderate revenue increase by 8.81% (NGN23.212bn vs.

NGN21.332bn), while the earnings dipped by 23.29 %( NGN1.482bn vs. NGN1.932bn), owing to the 18.63% increase in cost of sales which increased cost to sales to 66.04% compared to 60.57% in prior year. All other companies in the sector are yet to release their Q3 results, but we await these results and their expected effects on healthcare stocks.

Services Sector: Hospitality Stocks takes a plunge

The services sector closed with a market breadth of (0.80x) as four stocks gained as against five stocks that declined WoW. RT BRISCOE led the gainers with +7.14% price change followed by LEARNAFRICA, NAHCO and UPL which advanced by 4.14%, 1.60% and 0.24% respectively. On the flip side, TRANSCORP led the losers with 19.20%, trailed by IKEJAHOTEL, with its first WoW loss in five weeks, ABCTRANS , ACADEMY and REDSTAREX with respective losses of 13.46%, 5.80%, 4.35% and 3.61% while all others traded flat.

TRANSCORP, STUDPRESS and RT.BRISCOE released their Q3:2014 results.

TRANSCORP had quite an impressive result with growths in Turnover and PAT of 166.57% and 130.78% despite having increases in cost of sales and operating expenses of 299.02% and 40.25%.

STUDPRESS recorded a sterling turnover of 70% YoY even though a combination of a 131% upsurge in finance charge and 246% growth in OPEX by 131% and 246% caused an abysmal decline in PAT by 615%.

RT BRISCOE recorded a 5.66% decline in turnover from NGN 15.792Bn to NGN14.861Bn while cost of sales declined by 6.94%. Respective growths in OPEX and finance cost by 14.97% and 12.73% respectively resulted in a 764.17% decline in profit after tax.

27

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/interview

It is about two years since the Federal Government made the partial withdrawal of the subsidy on petroleum products. How has it fared in your assessment?

There are two ways to know that something was withdrawn - the first is by an increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit. We know it used to be N65 a litre and after the partial withdrawal, it went up to N97 a litre. The cost of energy to Nigerians has clearly gone up. That has increased the cost of living both in terms of direct use of petrol as well as associated adjustments in the cost of transportation and all that.

More importantly, you know that the resolution of the impasse then, which led to the partial withdrawal, was the use to which government put the savings. It was one of the major issues that Nigerians thought was the gain of that process.

Then, there was the setting up of SURE-P. Looking back, SURE-P here and there has complimented the federal budget in terms of the provision of infrastructure. We hear that they have put in so much into AbujaLokoja Road. We heard of the railway transformation, short term job creation thing in the states and all that.

So there has been some impact. You know there were purchases of buses and vehicles.

Some many were put into transportation sector. These have been some interventions but in terms of changing the objective conditions that made Nigerians to say you didn’t need to withdraw subsidy I do not think it has achieved it.

For instance, one major condition or consideration was the instability in the power sector. SURE-P’s interventions here and there have not made any change in any way. Nigerians today are still faced with unstable power and therefore small operators in the informal sector still need to depend on generators in order to run their businesses. The problems are still there.

The issue of transportation cost; yes SUREP was to intervene in mass transportation to reduce the impact of the high oil price on the citizens. But today, the modal split in terms of transportation has not changed. Some few buses here and there have not changed the fact that Nigerians still have to face small operators in order to move themselves to work and back. They may have scratched at them but clearly there has not been any change in the basic architecture that characterises the transport sector.

We look forward however to a time when the railway functions properly. Then, we start to talk of that architecture changing.

So it has been some motion but not much movement has taken place.

Would you say government was justified with the subsidy removal?

What I am saying is that the architecture remains unchanged. I cannot therefore say that it was justified. No. Recently, the Minister of Information canvassed for a total subsidy removal, arguing that no development can take place where government subsidises petroleum products. What is your take on this?

That is the same argument they advanced.

There is nothing new in that statement.

Government has been repeating that year in, year out and we have continued to say it is wrong; it is not true. We don’t agree with that position. To say that you must remove the subsidy because no nation can survive on subsidising petroleum products; we are not an island unto ourselves. We need to address this matter in a critical way as an oil producer and OPEC member. We have other OPEC members to look at. Are nations that are subsidising petroleum not surviving? Are there no nations in OPEC whose prices are less than 50 per cent of what Nigerian prices are?

As an oil producing country, we should be comparing ourselves to those in the same club as we are. No matter how often government officials repeat that statement, if it wasn’t true yesterday, it will not be true to-

Fuel subsidy is non-existent, says Ozo-Eson General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, speaks on the partial withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products. YEKEEN NURUDEEN reports.

Ozo-Eson

I don’t think it is for lack of competent technocrats because we do have them. The direction of policy is a political decision; it is not a technocratic decision. We need to realize that

morrow. If it wasn’t correct yesterday, it will not be correct by repeating it over and over continuously. We reject that position. We believe that if the subsidy scheme is properly administered and is removed from the corruption network that they have used to cripple it, then clearly it is something that is doable, something that is sustainable. In any case, for us to have a stable order in petroleum prices, it is not the subsidy removal that is the crux of the matter.

It is that we need to refine our products in the country because if we do not, the prices of petroleum products will remain unstable.

Importing it will continue to weaken the Naira. The demand for foreign exchange to import will weaken the Naira and once the Naira depreciates, that increases the pump price of the product. So it is a vicious and endless cycle as long as you do not refine your product domestically.

We want to see government say it has achieved this level of domestic refining.

Now we are able to take care of 70 to 80 per cent of domestic products prices. Given that, then we can now start discussing the issue of what to do with subsidy. That’s the way a logical economic analysis should go.

You just talked about domestic refining as a way out but our refineries are not working.

But we have gone through this year in and year out and part of the promises government has always made is that with this removal we will get these refineries to work.

But they are not working. Instead of getting fixated on the problem of subsidy why does government not concentrate on how to fix

domestic refining? If you refine domestically you are going to save on freight, you are going to relieve the pressure on the foreign exchange that helps to drive the prices of domestic products. Also, you will create a more stable order in which you can then talk of the process of pricing.

Don’t you think government needs to look inwards for solutions, especially now that the U.S that’s the biggest buyer of crude oil is contemplating cutting its demand for the product?

It is not just new: the demand for Nigerian oil is dropping. The Shale oil in the U.S is now giving a major share of the supply of the oil that the US needs. Beyond that, it has also repositioned to other countries where it is getting its product. We have therefore been searching for market. We are relocating most of our exports to China and India. The truth of the matter is that crude oil cannot be the permanent way for the Nigerian economy.

The reality is that alternative energy sources are being developed and then increasingly, cars are being developed that are not using fuel. There are already hybrid cars; there are 100 per cent electric cars. There are cars that are being tested with other sources of energy and so we need to know that the crude might not be what it is for us into the future and therefore how to develop other areas of the economy.

And this is part of the argument that we have always been making that when you are endowed like we are endowed with crude, we need to use it to create other avenues in the economy. How do you do that? One way is to ensure that energy intensive industries are set up that use the energy that we have.

And you price that energy differentially for domestic use because it is then you use it to define what your comparative advantage is. Even India that is not an oil exporter deliberately had a policy of pricing energy down in order to encourage energy intensive industries.

Here we are chasing world prices while we

could be using the cheap energy to attract industries in other areas that use energy. Let me give you an example. When you survey manufacturers, they will tell you that about 33 per cent of their operating cost goes into energy because they have to maintain generators and all that. If you then price diesel deliberately cheap in order to cushion that, you are going to have more investment in manufacturing.

We need to focus on what we call a general equilibrium type analysis in Economics instead of focusing on each sector as if they are islands onto themselves. In the same way, when we are talking of the price of petrol, for instance, we have continued to emphasise that even the size of the informal sector today and given the fact that the energy of choice in informal sector today is petrol because of small scale nature of their business everybody is looking for small generators.

Even the 1.5KVA generator is driving a barber. When you drive up the up of petrol, you will ruin that sector. The people will not be able to survive. Those small businesses that are helping to employ some of the unemployed people will not be able to work. You will then compound the unemployment problem, the social and even the insecurity problems that we have. If you price people that are able to fend for themselves out of operation because you have raised the price of petrol, their businesses will collapse. Then some of them would join those who are causing insecurity and perpetrating crimes. We need to take a holistic view in order to deal with this matter.

What then is the problem:, the policy or implementation?

The general refrain people say is we have good policies, but it is the implementation.

But in this regard, I think it is actually the issue of policy. It is almost an ideological contest. I think market fundamentalism is part of the thing. Our policy direction must focus on ensuring that our economy continuously develops until it gets to a certain level of maturity, and then you can start having the ideological purity of market fundamentalism. I think the policies need to be recalibrated.

Does it mean that the President does not have the right kind of technocrats around him?

I don’t think it is for lack of competent technocrats because we do have them. The direction of policy is a political decision; it is not a technocratic decision. We need to realise that.

When you have therefore taken that political decision, you can then have technocrats that will drive it. Competent technocrats are there in government to drive it.

An example is this: if you decide that the policy is not politically motivated, then you are going to have an economy that is driven by state activism; then technocrats will be able to work it out. China, for instance, took a policy direction that would allow price as a signal thing to play some roles. That’s what opens door gradually in phased manner in the Chinese economy and it has achieved good result.

I think first and foremost that for political direction, policy lies squarely in the hands of the political leadership before you then challenge the technocrats who will do the day-today implementation. It is then if the policy has been taken we can say the implementation may have been weakened and look for the strengthening of the technocratic class.

28

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Company Watch

Huawei’s operations under scrutiny In 1996, Shen, who then served as the director of Chongqing Telecom Bureau, arranged for Ericsson’s facilities to be purchased by the bureau. In exchange, Shen obtained a two per cent commission for the deal, according to procurators

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin

L

Chijioke Iremeka

ast week’s admittance by Huawei Technologies that it had committed ‘malicious practices’ following allegations that it was involved in a major hacking and forgery scandal in South Sudan opens another page in a trail of scandals and controversies involving the firm.

South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, in a letter dated October 10, 2014 accused the firm of hacking into government e-mails and forging government documents. He also said it had attempted to send forged documents to the Export-Import Bank of China on his behalf, asking for the postponement of funding for the country’s Digital Migration TV Project.

Head of South Sudan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,Michael Leuth, had sent a complaint letter to the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alleging that “Huawei attempted to send a forged document to Hon. Li Ruogu, the President of the Export-Import Bank of China.” This was even as he alleged that the telecoms giant may have been hacking many government e-mails and falsifying and forging documents on behalf of senior government officials.

One Mr. Chen Nan was fingered for the forgeries.

In response to the incident, the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, Ambassador Ma Quaing, said Huawei Technologies internally investigated the case and discovered that Mr. Chen Nan (Sullivan Chen), an employee, sent the email at 10:48am on October 3, 2014. He added that “the company regrets that Mr. Chen

Photo: eyeradio.org

Nan never consulted the company over his intention….Mr. Chen has neither reported to the Management of Huawei in regards of the email nor mentioned the summon notice from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting after the incident occurred.”

It went on to say that “moreover he (Chen) is not even the authorised account person responsible for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at all.

Huawei would like to express the deep regret for any inconveniences it may occur to you.”

He added that Huawei confesses that the email is “purely individual behaviour” that remains under thorough internal investigation, pending legal implications.

Whether the South Sudan government was convinced or not, the case in that country once again brings to question security concerns regarding Huawei’s operations. Huawei devices have been banned for use in the United States, Australia and the Britain, which early this year its devices were prohibited because of security concerns.

A former United States Central Intelligence Agency boss, Micheal Hayden, had last year similarly accused the firm of spying on the U.S, an allegation which may have prompted the US National Security Agency to start monitoring the company’s information systems. The U.S government counter-attacked the company by also hacking into its systems. This prompted the Chinese government to alert that the U.S had hacked into Chinese government and corporate networks.

The New York Times had reported that the NSA penetrated the network of Huawei, gaining access to information about

the company’s routers and switches and tapping into the communications of corporate executives.

The U.S government had previously made efforts to block the use of Huawei’s hardware over concerns that it could be used in Chinese cyber attacks. This is because it believes Huawei is a spy company of the Chinese government that could “intercept high-level communications, gather intelligence, wage cyber war, and shut down or disrupt critical services.”

The company’s alleged ‘sins’ would seem not to be limited to hacking and cybercrimes. In 2013, it was also enmeshed in a bribery scam involving Belgian Telecom Operator, Belgacom, considered one of Europe’s best- run telecoms companies.

The deal involving Huawei and Belgacom led to the sacking of Mr. Michel Moll, chairman of the Belgian firm for allegedly collecting the sum of $1 million from Huawei.

Belgian media reported that Moll received a total of 954,000 euros from Huawei between 2010 and 2012 in a deal done through monthly payments of 26,500 euros to his company, 2MConcept, for a consultancy services Moll began shortly after the end of 2009.

Belgacom had signed a contract with Huawei for hundreds of millions of euros for the maintenance of the network and the upgrade to 3G at the expense of Nokia Siemens Networks, Belgacom old partner.

Reports say Huawei had responded that the payments were made in respect of consultancy services for market knowledge about Africa and not related to Europe or Belgium, and that there was no conflict of interest.

Some few years before that, the company was also enmeshed in a procurement bribery deal with Ericsson. During the hearing of the case, it was accused of accepting bribes totalling 36.2 million yuan, from companies including Ericsson and Huawei.

In 1996, Shen, who then served as the director of Chongqing Telecom Bureau, arranged for Ericsson’s facilities to be purchased by the bureau. In exchange, Shen obtained a two per cent commission for the deal, according to procurators.

Procurators argued Shen abused his po-

sition at the state-owned China Mobile to benefit privately-owned Huawei, which took a major portion of telecom equipment orders from China Mobile Chongqing Branch.

Analysts say it is still a mystery that despite the murky deals that Huawei is constantly embroiled in, it is making inroads in Nigeria where there is a telecoms boom. The current brouhaha over the company’s hacking and forgery allegations in South Sudan may compel the Nigerian government to beam its searchlight on the circumstances surrounding a recent suit instituted by Gabriel GiwaAmu, a human rights activist and lawyer against the company.

In September 2014, Giwa-Amu wrote to the Minister of the Interior, Abba Moro, the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, over what he termed “misdemeanour” by Huawei on its local workforce, comprising mainly Nigerians.

The lawyer had alleged that Huawei hacked into its employees’ bank accounts, personal emails as well as their suppliers’ bank accounts and emails. He also alleged that the firm was involved tax evasion and other corrupt practices in breach of immigration laws of Nigeria.

The lawyer alleged that the company was in the habit of obtaining fake visas for its Nigerian employees and carrying out anti-labour practices that are not only injurious to the well-being of the said Nigerians but also contrary to the standard prescribed by the International Labour Organisation.

For the past seven years, he revealed, Huawei had engaged in the illegal trafficking of Chinese nationals for the purpose of seeking employment in Nigeria and has also exceeded the expatiate quota allocated by the Ministry of Interior.

He went as far as stating that company houses illegal immigrants in several locations in Lagos including Plot 19, block 111, Oniru family private layout; Plot 15/16, Water Corporation Road, Plot 22/23 Oniru Chieftaincy Family private layout Plot 18, Block 111, Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Layout; Plot 20/22 Palace Road, Oniru Layout; Block XXA, Plot 11, No. 4 Akinogun Road and Plot 1 Ligali Ayorinde Street, all in Victoria Island.

29

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayNews

Compliance regime calls for Africa-specific solutions No intention to leave

P

Chijioke Iremeka

resident, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Jean-Louis Ekra, has said the increasing costs African banks and financial institutions incur in complying with the evolving regulations imposed by principal international financial centres has necessitated standardised Africa-specific solutions to challenges in the financial services sector.

He made the remark during a recent two-day

Afreximbank Customer Due Diligence and Corporate Governance Forum, in Dakar.An email message from Afreximbank External Communications, Obi Emekekwue, indicated that Ekra said that in the face of the compliance regime, many international banks had ended their activities considered to be high risk, with significant negative impact on Africa.

According to Ekra, many have also discontinued normal correspondent banking relationships with African clients, making it difficult

for those African businesses to engage in international trade.

Ekra said the forum was created to enable participants to develop African solutions to such problems.

In the plenary session, following the opening ceremony, he noted that participants received presentations on the key aspects of corporate governance and due diligence from representatives of the International Finance Corporation, the Banque Atlantique and the Groupe Intergovernmental

d’Action contre le Blanchiment d’Argent.

He noted that the subsequent general sessions focused on customer due diligence in Africa and on solutions for Africa, saying the forum will continue with discussions on the issue of corporate governance.

Afreximbank organised the forum in collaboration with Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, the Government of Senegal, and CISSCORP Holding International, and a Senegalbased consulting firm.

L-R: Chief Financial Officer, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ladi Balogun; Senior Vice President/ Head, Risk and Compliance, Mr. Bayo Sanni and Group Head, Treasury and Financial Markets, Mr. Gerald Ikem, at the bank’s Corporate Bond Investors’ Forum in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Why most outlets don’t use POS – Investigation CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 23

Nevertheless, Julie Eze at Total Filling Station, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos told our correspondent that in the past, the service outlet accepted Totalcard from its customers. But infrastructural challenges and low level of use by customers discouraged its continuation.

In most cases, where POS terminals are deployed in some service outlets, they are not effective due to poor infrastructure, such as internet facilities.

In many outlets, POS terminals have been abandoned. Also, cash handling is preferred in order to withhold customers’ balance in the guise that there is no change.

The Managing Director, Digital IT Ventures, Seye Balogun, said, “The cashlite policy will not work if the CBN doesn’t get non-banking sectors to comply. I went to Mr. Biggs at First Avenue, Festac. I tried to buy a bottle of water but I was told that they don’t have change.

“I offered to use my debit card and the attendant said their POS terminal wasn’t working but they were on display on the counter. And this is a particular branch that never had change for any customer. Maybe, if I had uncorked the water, I would have still left my balance with them.

“This is what we see, shopping in Lagos, especially with the presence of those young girls, who would gladly withhold your balance. At the end of the day, they go home with much money.” Also, at a Sweet Sensation outlet on Victoria Island, Lagos, an attendant was seen asking a customer to exhaust his change as there was no money to give him.

A former salesgirl at Ajao Estate

branch of Tetrazzini, Kate Peters, said they usually paid for unsold food after close of work. She lamented that before the end of the month, sales persons would have used up their money to offset the deficit.

At a supermarket in Lagos, a customer, Bayo Adebayo, said, “After buying a tin of powdered milk and few biscuits, I wanted to pay via POS but I discovered that a female customer had been trying for over 30 minutes to effect the same payment. Though her account was debited, yet the cashier said the transaction wasn’t successful.

“After seeing that, I felt I wasn’t going to go through such stress and I opted to pay cash. I was forced to spend my N10 change on sweets as the salesgirl said she had no change. I had no choice than to collect the sweets and went my way.

Whether it was deliberate or something else, I can’t say.”

At Golden Tulip Hotels, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Emmanuel Ele, said the organisation collects accepts cash and debit cards. He noted that there is no other policy in place or extra incentives to woo customers on the use of cards in the hotel, apart from the CBN’s directives.

The Chief Executive Officer of LagBus, operators of the GreenLine Bus Company Ltd., Nnamdi Elememba, said his company was still working on the effective use of POS but that infrastructure has been a major challenge.

However, the Managing Director of a card processing company, NG Traders, Bowo Olateru-Olagbegi, said one of the reasons for dysfunctional POS terminals is the dearth of supporting infrastructure.

He noted that a lot is put together to enable the system to work, noting that

telecom companies should have been co-opted to drive the cashless policy since they have already established and well developed infrastructure to drive it. He said, “Electronic banking and e-payment options are very good but challenged by other supporting facilities. For instance, in the open market, people need power to charge POS batteries of POS to enable them to work.

It’s not good enough to say use POS without these facilities.

“I want to see POS galleries just like we have done in the area of ATM. It should be everywhere. To me, ATM is not even good enough for cashless policy because it still dispenses cash.

But POS and other mobile money transactions will do a lot. We will get there, but I would have preferred telecom companies to be in charge. It will go long way.”

A local Internet provider, ipnx, in an online statement stated that internet connectivity is the major factor militating against transactions within different networks in most cases.

“Sometimes, when you want to do a transaction from different banks, you will discover that the both servers or one is down, while the other is working. This affects the immediate transactions and that is why some people still want to carry money about,” it said.

However, the CBN, through its circular (BPSD/DIR/GEN/CIR/012) to all DMBs and all Licensed Payments Service Providers, titled: ‘Electronic Payments Incentive Scheme and Awareness Campaign, signed by Director, Banking and Payments System Department, Dipo Fatokun, approved an industry-wide incentive scheme and awareness campaign for electronic payments stakeholders and users.

Nigeria, says Shell

Azubike Nnadozie

S

hell D’Arcy, as it was then known was granted an exploration licencein 1937 and started business the same year as Shell Nigeria. In 1956, Shell discovered the first commercial quantity of crude oil at Oloibiri, a small community in Ogbia LGA of present day Bayelsa State, Nigeria. It started oil exports in 1958.

Over time, Shell grew and established many subsidiaries, including Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) which remains the largest fossil fuel company in Nigeria and operates over 6,000 kilometres of pipelines and flow lines; about 87 flow stations, eight natural gas plants and more than 1,000 oil wells.

With its role basically confined to the physical production and extraction of petroleum, it has operated joint venture partnerships with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which owns 55 per cent, Shell 30 per cent, Total S.A. 10 per cent and Eni five percent. Until relatively recently when it ventured into offshore explorations, it operated largely onshore and in the mangrove swamps.

Today, Shell is a household name in Nigeria and has touched the national economy in virtually every aspect, from agriculture to education to health, and employing thousands of Nigerians, the list is endless.

However, Shell’s success story in Nigeria was not without its hiccups.

This includes the celebrated face-off with the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, (MOSOP) in the 1990s, which eventually culminated in Shell pulling out of Ogoniland, albeit, temporarily.

MOSOP initiated its efforts with the 1990 Ogoni Bill of Rights, addressed to the federal government. The bill read more like a complaint to the Federal Government and listed their concerns which among other things included oil-related sufferings of their people, accusing Shell of taking their natural wealth and giving nothing back. These pressures and what industry watchers have come to regard as efforts by the oil behemoth to curtail cost and rein in on profitability appears to have compelled it to embark on a veritable weight shedding by selling off some of its oil mining leases to other operators in the Nigerian turf.

This has prompted fears among a cross-section of Nigerians whether the love affair between the company and the Federal Government of Nigeria was over. Is Shell

planning a total pullout from Nigeria?

Last year, Shell put up for sale its 30 per cent shares in four oil blocks in the Niger Delta. They include Oil Mining Licence (OML) 18, 24, 25, 29, as well as a key pipeline, the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

In line with its global costsaving initiative, Nigeria’s biggest crude oil producer, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, through its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), has continued its quest to complete the sale of four oil blocks in Eastern Niger Delta to meet its target of 15 billion dollars from assets sales between 2014 and 2015.

The assets under consideration are oil mining leases (OMLs) 18, 24, 25, 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

In a recent chat with our reporter, Media Relations Manager, Shell Nigeria, Mr Precious Okolobo, stated that the divestment was part of a strategy of consolidation that was intended to strengthen Shell’s position and future in Nigeria, adding that it also allows indigenous companies to enter the upstream oil and gas business.

He said that Shell companies in Nigeria are committed to a long-term future in Nigeria as it had said on many occasions. Shell has a history of over 50 years in Nigeria and has been the pioneer in onshore oil, gas, LNG, shallow and deep water.

“The enhanced focusing of our portfolio in Nigeria offers us an opportunity to concentrate on where we can create most value together with government and our other partners. In Nigeria as elsewhere globally we seek to be the most competitive and innovative energy company. Nigeria remains an important part of Shell’s portfolio, with clear growth potential, particularly in deep-water and onshore gas.

This strategic review marks another step in re-focusing the SPDC portfolio in particular our onshore oil portfolio, he added. He said, “the divestment of our equity in some OMLs does not mean Shell is leaving Nigeria. In fact, we continue to be active in other areas of our business in Nigeria. For example, on August 5, 2014, the offshore arm of Shell in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) achieved first oil from the Bonga North West field. Perhaps, the most significant aspect is that this was achieved by a Shell company headed by a Nigerian and with Nigerian personnel and contractors playing key roles.”

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sunday/ Business

The parable of time Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

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r. Uzo, a printer and publisher, was given a contract to produce a programme booklet for a special occasion planned by a group of well-meaning citizens to mark Nigeria’s independence anniversary. He was given the contract on September 25, 2014, and asked to deliver latest at 6am on October 1, 2014.

Mr. Uzo swung into action. He concluded work on the content of the book on the September 28, 2014, and spent the following three days giving the cover design the best of his creativity, because he believed that a good book with a bad cover may not stand a bad book with a good cover.

He managed to finish the wonderful booklet cover on the d-day (October 1, 2014), after three days of mental fireworks. However, it was almost 8am, an hour to the commencement of the event, for which the programme was produced. Mr. Uzo dashed off in his car from Ikeja, heading to Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island, to deliver the ‘beautiful’ job.

He hoped he would get there just before the programme commenced.

However, the worst happened. On getting to the Third Mainland Bridge, Mr. Uzo met the worst traffic of his life. He was there for two hours. By the time he got to the venue, he was almost three hours behind schedule. The event was almost concluded. He felt like killing himself.

Too many thoughts ran through his mind. What would be his justification to demand the balance to be paid him on the job? What had become of his business reputation?

Can he be trusted with another job?

Of what use is the beautiful design done on the programme booklet when the event was already over?

He was still asking himself these questions when he was jolted back to reality by the tune of the national anthem signalling the closing formalities of the event.

Comment We live in the realm of time, where everything says ‘NEXT’, as against the timeless realm called ‘eternity’, where everything says ‘NOW.’ Think about this: the ‘second’ is about the smallest unit of measurement of time (at least, to the lay man), yet the statement: “this very second” is illusionary because before you finish saying “this very second,” this second is already gone. This means that it is no longer the “this very second” you referred to. Do you understand? The greatest friend we have is time.

The greatest enemy we have is also time. A good use of time can make us, just as the abuse of time

can mar us. Time is an unquantifiable variable, as different persons can achieve different degrees of results within a specified period of time. It is commonly said that time is money, but I disagree. Time is not money. Time is more than money. I say so for the following reasons: n One could create more than money with time - goodwill, relationship, ideas, value, and other ‘invaluables’; n One person could use an hour to make N1,000; while another could use the same one hour to make N1 million. The point is, the possibilities time can birth are almost limitless.

Time, also, is arguably the only variable, which, if lost, cannot be regained. One may do at a future date what he failed to do at a given time. But that does not change the fact that the first time he should have used to do it is lost forever. In view of the forgoing, I believe you would agree with me that everything we have to do has to be done within time. It is not enough to do something. It must be done within time, else the thing done might lose its essence. This is one area where some potential achievers get it wrong. There are a lot of people with capacity to deliver, but lacking in discipline to deliver within time.

The question then becomes, “What is the essence of what was done if it has been overtaken by events?” Friend, if you must be relevant as an achiever, you must finetune your activities within time. See you at the top.

Personal development The Big Picture Julian Atufunwa 08032810713 (SMS only)

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an operates in two worlds, the natural and the spiritual. The spiritual operates by the law of faith, but the natural is governed by principles. Aligning yourself with timeless principles puts you ahead and one of those principles is personal development.

Man is a living magnet; one of the keys of success in life is to develop the capacity to attract the right kind of things/people into your life.

What you can’t attract you can’t retain. If you notice you can’t attract certain opportunities, it means you have to prepare more. You cannot attain your dreams by standing still at your current level of knowledge, skill and abilities. The world is moving fast; if you don’t constantly upgrade ‘Yourself,’ you will be left behind. If you change, it is certain circumstances around you will change.

God is interested in your case. He wants to pour so much into your life, but He can’t pour new wine into old bottles. Make room! You can’t receive beyond your capacity.

He can only deposit as much as you can contain. The problem is ‘You;’ develop yourself, enlarge your

mind. You can’t lead people further than you have gone neither can you rise beyond your level of knowledge. The first law of success is first within then without. You can’t grow on the inside and remain stunted on the outside. To do what you have never done before you have to become who you have never been before. It’s time to step out of your comfort zone. It’s not too late to get a university degree but the surprising thing about our educational system is that courses taught are not applicable to real life.

The head is filled but the mind is not enriched. There are workshops and seminars that will build you up in every area of your life - spiritual, social, physical. Personal development is not a destination but a journey throughout life. You keep improving everyday. Make deliberate efforts to add more value to yourself. Why does a manager earn more than the cleaner in the same company? It’s because the manager improved himself and therefore is able to add more value to the company than the cleaner. That does not undermine the value or contributions of the cleaner. Benjamin Franklin said for the best return on your money, pour your purse into your head, buy books in your field and they will keep you ahead. Read books by professors and intellectuals. Step up your game, keep pace with the present standard. It’s hard work to develop yourself and it takes commitment. You have to pay the price to grow. You have to go the extra mile to improve on the quality of your life. Dedicate yourself to

the cause of self-actualisation. It’ll distinguish you from the average.

You have to restrict yourself from distraction, giving your time, your energy and your resources.

Self-Discipline: It’s the ability to subject one’s feelings and weaknesses in order to pursue a cause, despite temptations to drift. It takes discipline to wake before dawn to meditate and read some chapters of books to set you up for the day.

It takes a lot of willpower to pay to attend seminars and workshops.

Persistence: Personal development is not a destination but a lifelong course. Success doesn’t happen overnight, neither can you stroll to success. It requires steady effort. You have to keep doing it, improving yourself. It may take months, years.

You have to persist as success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.

Why is personal development important? It makes you compete favourably with your counterparts.

It will aid you to make meaningful contributions in any organisation you belong to due to enhanced abilities and skills. It will move you to positions of leadership, boost your confidence and light you up.

Personal development builds your health. It’s also about being aware of how your body functions and the right kind of food to consume. You end up living healthier. Personal development builds your social life. It will help you become a better mate, friend, colleague and improve your behavioural pattern. It’ll enhance your mindset and help you make better decisions and choices.

080395121535 (SMS only)

Christmas and insects within

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e are already in November. I am sure many of us would switch into panic mode on learning that in just about 61 days, 2014 would be history. Yearend has a habit of sneaking up on us. I remember a friend who on Christmas Day of a certain year jokingly advised us to begin preparation for the next Christmas so we don’t get caught by surprise again.

“The next Christmas is now 12 months away today,” he had joked. We laughed at this but the lesson was not lost on some of us who were aware of the hustle and bustle that attend this holiday period.

People prepare to make merry at Christmas. People save to ensure they have a good time and give same to friends and loved ones. But the year has over the years developed the uncanny habit of grinding very slowly but appearing to suddenly gather supersonic speed from September. For people at this time, the 24 hours in a day becomes so insufficient we would want to hold time to enable us to meet the challenges of preparing well enough.

But as we work at this, criminals are also battling against time. They may also have been waiting for their big breaks before the season crept in. In desperation, they get into the swing of making life extremely unbearable for everybody.

If God eventually blesses you and you are preparing for the season, take time to reflect on the nature of our society. This is because somewhere in the darkness of the criminal world, some people may just be looking covetously at your own blessings, plotting and plotting devious means of converting it to theirs.

Crime peaks at Christmas. It is strange that a season during which Christians commemorate the birth of the man whom they believe saved them from death and during which most people around this part of the world also use to mark the end of the calendar year has become the season for upsurge in

crime rate.

We need to exercise a lot of caution. I am sure you should know that most criminal activities do not happen by accident.

People plan it and they do not do so by throwing wild punches. They have their targets. What this means is that as you are making your harvests and planning for the end of the year, a lot of dark-minded people are watching your every move and waiting for you to bring in the crops before, like beetles, they creep in to eat your yams.

I was reading a story in a national newspaper of how a Liberian refugee was able to snatch 15 vehicles from unsuspecting people in various parts of the country and it triggered in my mind the mistakes some of us make.

This Liberian refugee is a driver. He comes to you, looking humble and reliable. In Nigeria of today, many people have come to prefer people from Liberia, Togo and Benin Republic when looking for drivers, cooks and other domestic staff. But this Liberian would take the job, wait for an opportune day and drive off with his boss’ car. Of course, he would sell it, spend the money and look for the next victim.

He may be a foreigner but there are characters like that everywhere.

There are many of them who are Nigerians and would win your trust, only to set you up for robbery.

In most cases of kidnap that have been reported in Nigeria, there was always someone who knew the target. Someone has to play the Judas, point at you, reveal the opportunities derivable from robbing or kidnapping you.

It never really comes from outside. As we gather the fruits of our labour for the year and prepare for Christmas, let us remember that the insect that eats the vegetable lives inside the vegetable. We may not be able to guard against all adverse eventualities but a little vigilance can help widen our safety corridors.

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Politics SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

The Sunday Interview

Giwa-Amu: How female inmate smuggled two Nokia phones into prison in her private part p.32

Interview

Sen. Adeseun: APC leaders are power drunk p.35

Revealed! Why North dominates judiciary The current composition of the nation’s judiciary whereby the Chief Judge of the Federation, President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court come from the northern part of the country is one that causes some measure of concern ahead of the 2015 elections writes TUNDE OYESINA

Tambuwal’s defection and its aftermath p.37

Jonathan

F Biyi Adegoroye biyi.fire@yahoo.com 08033024007 © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

rom time immemorial, the judiciary has been the arm of government which interprets and applies the law in the name of the state and provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. In consonance with the doctrine of the separation of powers, the judiciary generally does not make law, but rather interprets law and applies it to the facts of each case.

This branch of the state which is often tasked with ensuring equal justice under law, consists of a court of final appeal called the Supreme Court or Constitutional Court, together with lower courts.

The Supreme Court which is Nigeria’s apex court was created by Section 230(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

It is followed by the Court of Appeal which has its establishment in Section 237(1) of the same Constitution.

Following in the order of hierarchy is the Federal High Court which was created by Section 249(1) of the Constitution. There are other courts classified under Federal Courts. Such courts are High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Court of Appeal of the FCT and Customary Court of Appeal of the FCT. Judges

Aloma Muktar

constitute a critical force for interpretation and implementation of a constitution, thus de facto in common law countries creating the body of constitutional law.

In Nigeria, the Supreme Court is the highest court of the land with the Chief Justice of Nigeria as the overall head. The CJN also chairs the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

A critical look at the headship of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court reveals that they are all from the North. The CJN, Justice Aloma Muhktar, hails from Kano State; the President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, from Gombe State; while the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, is from Borno State.

This no doubt raises a serious question in the minds of observers as to whether the nation’s judiciary is not being Northernised, especially at a time like this when the nation is approaching another election year. After the elections, petitions will be filed at election tribunals while most of whose cases are expected to terminate at the Court of Appeal.

Looking at the constitutional provision for appointing a head of the court, Section 231(2) of

the Constitution provides that “the appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.”

Sub-Section 4 provides that, “If the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the President shall appoint the most senior justice of the Supreme Court to perform those function.”

From 1958 till date, the apex court has had about 13 Chief Justices. Out of the 13 CJNs, seven including the outgoing one have come from the North. Those who have headed the court from the North were Justices Mohammed Bello (1987-1995), Mohammed Uwais (1995 2005), S.M.A Belgore (2005- 2009), Justice Idris Kutigi (2007 - 2010), Justice Dahiru Musdapher (2010- 2012) and currently Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar (2012- till date).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014

The Sunday

Giwa-Amu: How fema phones into prison in Gabriel Giwa-Amu is known as a foremost crusader for prisons’ reforms in Nigeria. In this interview with JULIANA FRANCIS, the lawyer speaks on the last prison riot in Lagos, stressing why jailbreaks and riots will never stop. He also speaks against the judiciary, insisting some judges and magistrates are not qualified for their positions. Excerpts What is the cause of jailbreaks and riots in Nigerian prisons?

Congestion is an issue. It’s not the fault of the Nigerian prison service or the officers in charge of the various yards. Among their statutory duties is to receive persons who ought to be kept in their custody on the orders of the courts or tribunals.

They don’t have the discretion to receive or not to receive such persons, except in cases where they don’t have the facilities to look after the person. Their other duty is to bring the person to court as at when due based on the warrant sent to them by the court. The prisons are not entitled to keep lunatics. They’re not entitled to keep someone whose state of health can endanger other patients; for example, an Ebola patient.

There’s also the issue of the maltreatment of inmates.

When there’s a crowd of people, it becomes difficult to individualise contact with everybody. For example, the Kirikiri Medium Prison was built for 1, 300 inmates, it now has about 2, 800. It’s difficult for the Chief Warder or warder to enter into a personal relationship with the inmates. This is what the awaiting trial expect; after all, the court has not found them guilty. They regard it as maltreatment.

The feeding is an issue too. The contractor of the various prisons, who supplies foods, lives in Abuja.

How do they determine the number of inmates they have to feed in the various yards? At the end of the day, the contractors’ supply two or three bags of rice or two bags of garri and feel they’ve done their bit. It’s this that necessitated the inmates wanting to feed themselves.

This is why the inmates now scramble for an opportunity to have stoves.

They feel that if you can’t feed us while we’re awaiting trial, we might as well feed ourselves.

Some officers in charge have been gracious enough to allow them; though it’s a breach of the standing order to allow stoves, pots and generating sets to inmates.

When you say maltreatment of inmates, do issues of sodomy, lesbianism and homosexuality come into the picture?

Such happens in every prison in the world, not just Nigeria! The prison is a different world entirely.

Why do you expect a man who has been in custody for seven years

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4 NEW TELEGRAPH

y Interview

ale inmate smuggled n her private part not to spike his libido? You can get the truth from me, even if the prison authority tells you they don’t have such issues. I have clients who speak to me about such things. I relate with them oneon-one. The officers in these prisons will not tell you what I’m telling you now. There’s high grand lesbianism and rampant homosexuality in the prisons. In South Africa, it’s worse!

What about female inmates who end up having babies in prison? Do you think it’s the prison warders who are responsible?

You want me to say that, but I would not say that! I’ll be very frank with you. Any seminar or convention I attend, they ask me this same question. I regret to inform, that’s not the case.

In the female prison, you have female warders.

The way it is built, you hardly find a female making contact with a male. But sometimes in the past, there had been just one incident; about nine years ago, where a warder was alleged to have impregnated an inmate. That ended well because immediately after she was released, they got married. In the last four years or so, there was a case I know where an inmate impregnated a female wardress. Again, it ended well. They’re happily married today. There’s no law that says a wardress cannot marry an inmate.

There are some allegations that some warders smuggle Indian hemp into prisons and sell to inmates.

It’s true! A bag of Indian hemp in the Nigeria Prisons sells for N250; that same bag sells for N50 in the conventional market. The more difficult it is to take in, the higher the price. This year, a prison warder was convicted by Justice Idris and given 21 years imprisonment for trafficking Indian hemp in the maximum prison. It’s a known fact!

And the former Deputy Comptroller of Prison (DCP) in charge of the maximum prison, Shinoye, did a wonderful job of checking trafficking; so did the former DCP of the Medium Prison, that’s Tunde Ladipo. Several times they would bring out the raw seeds and burn them outside. Aside from Indian hemp, they have cases of cell phone use.

The most dangerous part is that SIM cards are put into watermelons taken into the prisons by relations. You wouldn’t think any person would put a SIM card inside a watermelon. Incidentally, a client of mine was in court with us and at the time she was taken back to the yard, she had two Nokia phones inserted in her vagina. They were tied neatly in a nylon bag and inserted in her vagina; and she was in her period.

But for the diligence of the prison officers that day, she would have gone into the yard with those phones.

There are also allegations that charity materials brought for inmates are taken over by warders.

In every profession, we have the good, the bad and the ugly. In my profession, I can’t say all lawyers are as clean as the Pope. We have some rogue warders. They deviate from the norm. It’s not unusual to hear such things. Sometimes they pilfer, not just things brought to the inmates by the NGO, but even things supplied to them. So long as these matters are checked, it won’t become a permanent problem. That it happens is not in doubt.

Why do people sent to prison to be reformed come out worse? Sometimes they form robbery gangs inside the prison. Has the system failed in reformation?

In actual fact, in most prisons, we have gangs; even in Brazilian and Mexican jails. The prob-

In Ikoyi prison, for instance, I was surprised to see an officer writing on his laps. I asked him how much he had in his account lem is that when you have congestion, you must have ways to dissipate the anger of these inmates.

When you fail to maintain the prison, gangs now emanate. It’s all over the world.

We also heard that inmates stay inside prisons to organise robbery operations.

Yes! It’s possible.

Is it because the inmates were given the liberty of using phones?

It’s not a liberty, it’s trafficking! When you talk of liberty, it means it’s lawful. But this time, it is trafficking. An inmate once called me. He said he hoped I didn’t live in Oshodi, I said no. He said he was asking because there was a robbery there last night, from midnight till 3am. I didn’t know there was a robbery. I asked him if anybody was killed, he said he didn’t know, but that by tomorrow morning, he would give me a report of the casualties. I told him that I’d recorded our discussion and that by tomorrow I would play it to the warder in charge of him. I reminded him that we were representing him pro bono, that he should get another lawyer because I wouldn’t be out there, battling to release him, believing he was innocent, only for him to come and start looking for the number of people he had killed outside.

Do you know that incidentally, without any effort on our part, the CJ went there in the course of one of her visits and released that man. He had been there for eight years without trial. The good news about the matter was that he was killed in Ijebu-Ode in a robbery operation.

That’s just what I’ve been saying, the prison system has failed! These people are not being reformed.

No! No! Let me tell you, I’ve watched with interest the Minister for Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, saying that the prisons were built for reformation, rehabilitation and restoration. And I said to him, restore to what? Rehabilitate what? How do you restore a man who has spent six years in prison custody, only for him to be found, not guilty?

How do you restore a person, who has lost all, including his family, property and everything?

If funds are actually sent to the prison yard, there’s a lot that the officers in the prison yards can actually do in terms of rehabilitation. This is unlike what is happening now. The aftercare section in the prison yard is dead. The rehabilitation section is also dead. What we have now is just a dumpsite!

We heard that most of the prison structures had been there since the colonial era.

The wall at Ikoyi prison fell. My brother there was told to go and source for money to rebuild it. He was the officer in charge of that yard. He didn’t have money to rebuild it. He now used zinc to cover it until they came from wherever and rebuilt it. In Kirikiri, the soil there is marshy. It’s quick to sink. If you build a wall now, don’t be too

sure you’ll see that wall by next year. These are issues they hadn’t looked at. That there hadn’t been a violent jailbreak there is not because of the height of the wall, but because of the character of the officers and men there.

What motivated you into fighting for inmates, taking their cases pro bono and demanding the renovation of prison yards?

It gets to a stage in a man’s life, when it can’t be about you all the time. My brother initiated me into this prison ministry. My first experience when I visited prison was to discover that most of the inmates, awaiting trial, are innocent people. I was shocked.

You can imagine a case, where a policeman had a dispute over a fan with his neighbour and simply because he works with Federal SARS, he organised the arrest of his neighbour, charged him to court for armed robbery and the man stayed in prison for two years.

Within those years, the man lost his job and his wife not wanting to wait further, married another man and the landlord threw out the property of the man who was still in prison.

This sort of story brings tears to the eyes.

There was a case where a man visited his girlfriend and because her uncle didn’t like him, he arrested the man and he was charged with armed robbery. He was in prison for five years. When you see such kind of cases, you’re bound to be touched. We now throw our backs behind indigent people, giving legal services pro bono.

When we got in, we realised that there was another problem. If you don’t want a dog handler to share of the food of your dog or starve your dog to death, you must look after the handler too.

Do you mean the warders?

Yes, the warders are the dog handlers! We found out that most of them are frustrated.

They lack what is needed to work. They need motivation and equipment to work. As I speak with you, Nigerian Prison Service is not known to have a hospital of their own; they have clinics, dispensaries in the yards.

This is unlike other uniformed agencies that have theirs, like the Navy Hospital, Military Hospital and even the police.

You can imagine how frustrated a doctor that works with the Nigerian Prisons will be, when all his patients are being taken to Navy hospital.

We said let’s do something. From the little resources we had, we did some minor repairs in the prisons. Those that didn’t have furniture, we supplied them.

In Ikoyi prison, for instance, I was surprised to see an officer writing on his laps. I asked him how much he had in his account. He said in his salary and personal accounts, nothing.

I told him that I wanted him to buy a table and chair for himself, so that I could refund him, but since he said nothing, we supplied him with a table and chair.

The things we supplied are worth about N12 million, but in the whole of Lagos State offices, they have about N18 million furniture. This doesn’t include vehicles and other items. I charged the minister for interior that there was nothing he could tell me about prisons. I told him that we should visit some of the prisons. At Sagamu prison, the place was leaking and there were inmates who had not been taken to courts in the last two or three years. Yes! This is because they don’t have functional vehicles. As I speak with you,

the ACG, which is equivalent to AIG Zone 2, doesn’t have a functional vehicle to take him to work.

The comptroller of prison in Ogun State doesn’t have a functional vehicle to take him to work. There are inmates in Abeokuta who saw the court room a year ago. At Kwale Prison, the officials take inmates to courts in motorcycles. In that same prison, we have men who are as old as 85 years awaiting trial, for cases like house breaking. We released one in June this year.

Except the government takes a bold step, of actually setting up a serious minded committee, empowered to renovate the prisons and emphasise the role of the prison, we’ll still have these problems.

If you’re a prison warder whose salary is just N35,000, and you have three kids and someone brings some bags of rice, what will you do with one bag of rice? Pastors say those who stay by the altar should feed by it; so also the warder, who stays by the gate of the prisons, should feed therein.

Recently, you wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the prisons. Has he replied you? We also heard that prisons have budgets.

On paper, there’s a budget. Budget stops at the prison headquarters in Abuja. I know for a fact that N40, 000 was what was paid to the Lagos State Command every month as allocation. What they’ve done now, is to make sure the contractors get paid in Abuja, so everybody focuses on Abuja.

I challenge any prison officer to go on oath, to come and tell me if they’ve collected up to N500, 000 this year as allocation. And when there’s a jailbreak, there is usually a complaint that these officers don’t know what they’re doing. They know what they’re doing.

As to whether the President replied my letter, I’ve always asked people how one tells a deaf and dumb man that his mother is dead.

When we sent that letter, we were not expecting a reply. We just wanted awareness.

A Senate committee visited the prisons and gave a damming report. The prisons are not congested. It’s the awaiting trial sections that are congested. If you remove the awaiting trials, you’ll have enough room.

Why are we having so many awaiting trials?

Why are so many innocent people on death row even though they had been through lawyers, magistrates and judges?

That the judicial system is bad is not in doubt! That we also have bad judges and magistrates is not in doubt. That we also have good ones is not in doubt. That administration of justice can be improved is also not in doubt. We pray that the day will come, when the selection of judges will not be based on personal relationship.

What about the qualification and character of the judges?

There’re some judges whose favourite pasttime is to adjourn cases. We went to Ogudu Court and a magistrate adjourned a case till February next year. I know of a judge in Lagos State who did not take a magistracy exam.

But she’s a high court judge now. When you have such kind of people in the judiciary, what do you expect? It’ll be adjournment upon adjournment. The Lagos State Government has done its bit. It has passed laws; it remains to check arbitrary adjournments.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / Analysis

Revealed! Why North dominates judiciary C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

Even as Justice Aloma will be bowing out of the nation’s judiciary come November 20 when she will attain the retirement age of 70, another Northerner, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who is next in line, has been nominated by the FJSC to be the next CJN. It has been a long tradition that succession in the judiciary shall be in order of seniority.

Though there is no written law that stipulates this arrangement, it has been widely accepted by stakeholders.

From the records of past CJNs, it is, however, clear that the North continues to sit at the commanding heights of the apex court, especially by having the highest number officers at the temple of justice. This exists despite the fact that early in the history of the country, the first set of lawyers were of South-West extraction, with the East and the North coming much later.

Why the apprehension Some of the scenarios as it unfolded from various election petition tribunals in the past, no doubt, have made many stakeholders worried about whether the Northernisation of the judiciary is not targeted at working out an agenda come 2015.

It was this scenario that led to the feud between a former CJN, Justice Alloysius Katsina-Alu, and a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami. It was what led to Salami’s eventual exit from the judiciary.

The crisis of confidence between KatsinaAlu and Salami revealed what could be described as a long-standing agenda in the judiciary.

The story became public knowledge when Salami alleged that Katsina-Alu interfered in the handling of the court case arising from the 2007 governorship election in Sokoto State, an election won by Governor Aliyu Wamakko, then of the Peoples Democratic Party; but was challenged by Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi of the Democratic Peoples Party.

Katsina-Alu was alleged to have told Salami to dismiss the panel investigating the case on the ground that its impending judgment had leaked. One thing led to another and the NJC, headed by Katsina-Alu, recommended that Salami should be promoted to the Supreme Court.

But to Salami, it was a demotion from the privileged chair of the Court of Appeal President to an ordinary seat in the Apex Court.

Salami rushed to court for an order to stop the ‘promotion.’ The Court of Appeal, being the decider of election petitions, particularly governorship cases, was then accused of corruption in almost all cases that went through its portals.

While the allegations are legion, the cases of Charles Soludo vs Andy Uba; Wamakko vs Dingyadi; Kayode Fayemi vs Segun Oni; and Rauf Aregbesola vs Olagunsoye Oyinlola had all attracted allegations of corrupt inducements to pervert the course of justice.

Observers said that for the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary to be maintained, issues about the ‘key players’ in the judiciary should not be politicised or used to drag the legal system in the mud. It seems like some political interests are steering the events in their desired direction.

It has also been stated that the dynamics of political interests and egocentric tendencies have infiltrated and polluted the ‘integrity’ of the Nigerian judiciary and its key players.

Reactions Some stakeholders have listed reasons for this as ranging from quota system and unwillingness of lawyers from other geo-political zones to go to the Bench at an early age like their counterparts from the North.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, said there is nothing wrong with Northerners heading the three courts. He said the judiciary does not bother itself about ethnicity or who heads which court.

Bukachuwa

Jega

to a practising lawyer; in which such a lawyer will have to argue a case before his wife. The wife 1. Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar will not because of that be partial in her judgment. This is because 2. Justice Mahmud Mohammed they are professionals and not husband and wife.

3. Justice Walter Onnoghen “A problem will only arise if 4. Justice Tanko Muhammad they act as husband and wife in the discharge of their responsi5. Justice Muhammad Muntaka-Commassie bilities to the laws of the land.

6. Justice John Fabiyi There is no problem with where the head of a court comes from.

7. Justice Suleiman Galadima They must have risen above ethnicity and their place of origin.

8. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour All they do is dictated by law and 9. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta not their reasoning.”

Speaking from a different point 10. Justice Mary Peter-Odili of view, the President of Public 11. Justice Kayode Ariwoola Interest Lawyers League, Abdul Mahmud, said that Section 14(3) 12. Justice Musa Muhammad of the 1999 Constitution has set out the Federal Character com13. Justice Clara Ogunbiyi position of the Federal Govern14. Justice K.B. Akaahs ment. He added that the law provides that the composition shall 15. Justice Kudirat Kekere - Ekun be carried out to reflect or pro16. Justice Chima Nweze mote national unity and loyalty.

“One question that needed to be answered is whether the apTo him, each court has its own hierarchy pointments reflect ethnic or sectional domiand such is considered when it comes to the nance? One would argue that they do not appointment of the head of the court. He said, because the appointments represent diverse “In the Supreme Court, if the next person to ethnic and geo-political spread. the present CJN is a Northerner, nothing will “However, the preponderance of geo-politistop the person from assuming the office. Ju- cal regions in the North, North-West, East and diciary is so far insulated from Federal Char- Central as against single geo-political regions acter. There is a laid down code of conduct gives the North a major advantage. In view which every head must follow. of the foregoing, I think the dominance of the “Whoever is the head is not there by his or heads of court is against Section 14(3) of the her own doing but by the enabling law. So I 1999 Constitution,” he said. don’t have any problem with whoever asAnother legal practitioner, Wahab Toye, sumes the headship of any of the court.” said that as much as any judge has been apAlso reacting, an Abuja-based lawyer and pointed to the Bench, it means such a person human rights activist, Chief Nkereuwem had fulfilled the number of years which the Udofia Akpan, said, “The average man on constitution recommends.

He added that it is just a coincidence that the street is not concerned about where the judiciary’s heads are from so long as their ap- about three successive CJNs are from the pointments follow due process. I personally North. Wahab further stated that the North believe that the judiciary should be insulated nominates young people to the Bench unlike from the ethnic politics and shenanigans of the South-West that nominates old people politicians but you and I know that in Nigeria who retire within a short time. everything has been politicised.”

“The Northerners on the Bench have opAnother Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief portunities to rise to the top because they Awa Kalu, said there is no problem with hav- all joined the Bench at a younger age. This ing Northerners as the head of the courts, is unlike the South-West that will always adding that they are professionals and they nominate old people to the bench. These old handle their work as professionals. He further people retire before they rise to the headship stated that they have sworn to an oath of of- of the court.

“So the law is not to be blamed for putting fice to discharge their duties without fear or the three of them there. I think the age factor favour.

“In this profession, a judge can be the wife should be considered by other regions. They

JUSTICE S OF THE SUPREME COURT

Auta

should be futuristic when they are sending their nominations to the Bench,” Toye added.

On the other hand, he recalled that there was a time in the past when judges from the South-West dominated the Bench. That notwithstanding, he said, the fact that all three of them are from the North has no negative implications on the polity.

While also reacting, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), said having Northerners at the helm of affairs of the courts has not had a negative effect on the polity. He added that the procedure that placed them there was agreed upon by other judges.

“The procedure was not put in place by Northern justices. The procedure provides that most senior judges will take up the headship. I think it is tidier like that instead of creating problems for the system. To balance the equation, other zones should nominate younger judges who will have more years to spend on the Bench so as to rise to the headship,” he said.

Another contributory factor is the unwillingness of lawyers from the South to proceed from the Bar to the Bench. Statistics revealed that a larger percentage of brilliant lawyers are from the South and none of them is willing to drop advocacy for adjudication.

An inside source in the NJC who prefers anonymity stated that most lawyers especially from the South-West are not willing to head to the Bench.

“We should be fair to the North. The quota system is open to everybody and every region but people cannot be forced to come to the Bench. You will discover that most lawyers from the South-West choose to stay in advocacy rather than come to the Bench.

“The South-West has the largest number of Senior Advocates of Nigeria than any other region. Their defence is that they make more money at the Bar than the Bench. The situation might have been different if those young brilliant SANs from other regions had decided to come to the Bench,” he added.

A lawyer, Emeka Maduewesi, states that the succession of Northerners to the headship of the nation’s judiciary has been possible because of deliberate effort.

In a post on Facebook dated June 14, 2011, he said the South-East cannot produce the CJN unless it plays the script used by the North over the last 27 years.

“Ndigbo will never produce the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) or the President of the Court of Appeal unless we play the same game that have seen the North produce the CJN successively since 1987 (Mohammed Bello 1987-1995, Muhammad Lawal Uwais CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

35

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Politics / Interview

Sen. Adeseun: APC leaders are power drunk Senator Ayoade Adeseun was in the All Progressive Party before he moved to the defunct Action Congress and later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party. He went back to Action Congress of Nigeria which fused into the All Progressives Congress and again returned to the PDP. He was a local government chairman in Ogbomoso in Oyo State, a member House of Representatives on the platform of PDP but currently a senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district on the ticket of APC. He is interested in the governorship election in the state on the platform of the PDP. He spoke with SOLA ADEYEMO Sen. Adeseun: Why we want to unseat Ajimobi Senator Ayoade Adeseun was in the All Progressive Party before he moved to the defunct Action Congress and later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party. He went back to Action Congress of Nigeria which fused into the All Progressives Congress and again returned to the PDP. He was a local government chairman in Ogbomoso in Oyo State, a member House of Representatives on the platform of PDP but now a senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district on the ticket of APC. He is planning to declare interest in the governorship election in the state on the platform of the PDP. In this interview with SOLA ADEYEMO, he bares his mind on many political issues including his penchant for dumping one party for the other, his grouse with Governor Abiola Ajimobi and why he is contesting the governorship election with his friend and kinsman, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala Many people are not comfortable that you have repeatedly moved from one party to another for your own advantage. How do you feel about this?

Fundamentally, the most essential quality of a politician is his determination. His focus should be on serving the larger interest of the largest number of his/her constituents; helping the society to develop, to advance. If that is the bedrock on which we build everything else, then if the situation calls for changing parties, we should.

Going down memory lane you will recall that my movements have been strategic. I moved from a party that is in power, that has all the machinery of government at its disposal to a party that has nobody; that has no hope of ever holding power and we now helped that party that was out of power, that was out of contention to build a structure, to energise it and of course to win.

What was the conflict in the PDP before you left for the ACN? In that party then, winners took control of not governance alone but the running of the party as well as party structure. I am a democrat. Number two, I have an ear to the grassroots. I am very, very close to the grassroots and what I do always is to get my constituents involved in the running of affairs.

Leadership became monsters once they held unto power. They assumed a new status; they want to control everything. Once they had the sense of holding everything, they wanted to become “Lords of the Manor.” We usually came back, talked to them, pleaded with them that things were not working the way they wanted, and that things/powers needed to be democratised. But, when they refuse to listen, I consulted my constituents and if my constituents say just continue to stick with it, I will continue, but each time the constituents said, ‘no, these people will run us aground,’ I returned back to the leadership and warned them of dire consequence of their action. Of course they had power to becloud their sense of reasoning. Then we have to take our leave.

Are you saying that you told Governor Ajimobi of this and he did not yield to your advice?

Yes, I did. Of course, I have done that several times - over and over again.

arena. Any wonder then that he won the election? This other man here has lost all of those who were the vital players that got him into office. Election is around the corner, you will see what happens when the election comes.

What is the game plan?

We are going to the polls and we will teach some people some lessons through the ballot box.

But you want to be governor?

By the special grace of God, I will be the governor.

Your friend and kinsman, Alao-Akala also wants to be governor…

That is okay. What is wrong with that? We must be sportsmen and women. What is wrong with having a healthy competition?

What is wrong with two or three people wanting a particular thing that is good? You go to the field; you sell yourself to the electorate and membership of your political party. If they give you the ticket or whoever gets the ticket will get the support of others. If I get the ticket, Akala will support me. If Akala gets the ticket, I will support him also and the party will win.

When you told him you want to be the governor, what did he tell you?

He said, ‘ah Ayo, I will want to come back for the second term,’ and I equally said ‘Bayo, I also want to be governor. I have not been governor at all. I want to be for a first time. So let me go and be governor for the very first time’.

Akala is your friend; Teslim Folarin too and you all want to be governor? How are you people going to resolve this?

What is wrong with that? What is wrong with people who are good, who have the desire to contribute? What is wrong with them coming out and saying ‘I want to contribute?’

But ultimately, one person will get the ticket and one person will win the election. The important thing is that whoever gets it will win it and the rest of the people must be willing to get together and work for the party‘s victory.

Adeseun

Okay, why did you leave APC for PDP? When ACN was going to be, three different groups formed ACN: there was Action Congress, Alhaji Lam Adesina’s group, there was PDP reformed, that was my group. Then there was All Nigeria Peoples Party component.

Three groups got together, formed ACN. We went to the polls; we all contributed maximally to get the result we got. Initially, in the very first two years or so, I didn’t have a single commissioner in the cabinet. Not a single one and we complained. We said three parties got together to create what we have here, thus we must partake of what came out of it. Of course, the man at the helm of affairs will take the largest share of what is on the table while other component parts must also be part of it. And they must be part of it, not to take a token. Sincerely, bring them on board and allow them to be partakers in the policy- making processes.

Did you complain to Alhaji Lam Adesina then?

I complained to Late Lam Adesina. At a point, he had to fold up his arms in the air out of frustration. He said once this fellow had become elected, he became somebody else, he wouldn’t talk to anyone again. In democracy, you can’t say you take charge arbitrarily because it belongs to all of us. It is not yours alone.

So, that was the beginning of the end?

Yes. We started raising issues; we kept telling him to look at the identified areas where we were found wanting in a number of ways. I

spoke to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu three times. I had a one-on- one meeting with him and I told him that Oyo State would go asunder unless some dramatic steps were taken to ensure that this man would not continue to lord it over the rest of us.

But some people do say that you did not win Ogbomoso and that if not for Alaafin, you would not have become a senator. What do you see to that?

I agree with you, but let me also say that no single person will dare say that. I didn’t win Ogbomoso but I ensured that somebody else did not win. If I had allowed somebody else to do what they would have loved to do, this man would not be governor today. That is the fact.

You and Senator Olufemi Lanlehin are fighting Ajimobi. Some people believe that you senators have ganged up against the governor.

Why the fight?

People should ask what could have warranted Senators Femi Lanlehin and Adeseun - the only two senators that Ajimobi had- to fight him? Go to Osun State for instance. We just had an election in Osun State and the governor won convincingly. Every single member of the National Assembly in Rauf Aregbesola’s setting stayed with him. All the three Senators; all the Rep members, all the members of the State House of Assembly were with him. He did not lose a single one. In addition to that, this man was able to woo others from the PDP into his

It has been said that you really want to go to the House of Representatives to become Speaker because it will be zoned to the South West and that the governorship move is just a ploy. How do you react to that?

Let me now say this to you. I am not using the governorship thing as a ploy. I want to be governor. I am saying it loud and clear that I am not going back to the Senate for a second term and I am not going to the House of Reps to be Speaker as some have being insinuating.

Ayo Adeseun is shooting for the PDP ticket for gubernatorial election come 2015 and by the special grace of God, I expect to be the candidate of the party and I expect to win the election.

But what makes you think that PDP is now a better party?

When I left PDP, the party was like what APC is right now. APC people are turning themselves into a cabal and that was the way PDP was operating. Now PDP is saying that anybody who wants to contest should come out; go to the field and dig it out with other contenders and if they win good. PDP is now insisting that one man one vote must be the mantra.

Why can’t you politicians fight from inside and resolve the issues rather than what is playing out now?

They do fight from inside but they get frustrated. Let me tell you that Senator Olufemi Lanlehin was the one that started the quarrel with Ajimobi, because instead of allowing members of the party to choose their executive members themselves, they imposed people on them. The elections were over; they went for congresses, but they just sat somewhere and wrote the names of the executive and boxed CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

36

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / Column

2015 and scramble to donate to Jonathan Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

Anule Emmanuel

W

hile most politicians at local, state and national leve​​l​s​ are busy scrambling to raise funds and purchase their party nomination forms, President Goodluck Jonathan appears to be in a comfort zone, basking in affluence, courtesy of several groups and close associates who are keenly interested in his second term bid.

Since the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, the two major parties in the country commence​d​the sale of forms for the various categories of offices to be contested for in the 2015 elections, there has been indeed fears that those with lean resources may be shut out of the race due to high fees charged by the parties.

Fees for obtaining expression of interest forms as well as nomination forms to contest primary elections in the APC and the PDP have been described as high because the parties have fixed their fees in millions of naira.

Presidential aspirants in the PDP are required to pay total sum of N22 million, representing N2 million for expression of interest form and N20 million for nomination forms.

In the APC, politicians seeking for the presidential ticket of the party have been made to part with N27. 5, made up of N2.5 million for expression of interest forms and another N25 million for nomination forms.

Jonathan

Interestingly, the PDP has already extended time for the purchase of the forms to give room for those with slim pockets.

As far as President Jonathan may be concerned however, the N22 million announced by his party, for both expression of interest and nomination forms for the primary elections is a chicken fee, a no big deal. The reason is that the world itself has always been unfair to the poor. Unfortunately, even the holy scriptures supports one fact​:​that ‘whoever has, will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

The President is actually not in t​ he c​ ategory of Nigerians that can not cough out paltry N22million on short notice. If one may p​au​se to ask quickly, would he in the first instance, even ha​ve​solicited for assistance from those that have donated so far, to pick the nomination forms?

The answer definitely seems to be in the negative. In the list of donours, even the disabled collectively contributed N100,000 while the association of widows also donated N100,000.

Not less than N98.6million has been donated to the Jonathan project 2015.

A former aide of President Jonathan from Adamawa State whose name for this purpose would not ​be ​mentioned, once told reporters in the presidential villa in a private discussion that the President has no choice but to contest the 2015 election because of the numerous investments that people have​ been m ​ ade in him.

‘It is not about himself, but about those of us who have invested heavily in his project.’

As far as the aide was concerned, President Jonathan’s not contesting the 2015 election would be suicidal for most of them.

It can be understood here that when politicians form parties and invest all their time, energy and financial resources, they do so because they have a direct stake.

But where is the place of the category of donors such as the disabled after the elections? Most of them really do not even know the President. What do they stand to gain​ from​their contributions? Why have they not supported persons without financial muscle.

There were reports that even one of the top contenders for the APC presidential ticket had to borrow to purchase his form.

For governors and organised members of the different groups such as the Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN), it is never an investment in futility. If the donations have actually come without soliciting for them therefore, it would mean that President Jonathan is really fortunate. He has gotten more than he needs for the forms and may get additional when he begins the real campaign.

What is of concern is why the President has decided to make public the various contributions. After serving as President for nearly a term of fours now, there is no one doubting his ability to raise N22million but maybe, to his critics, the President has come open to make a point of how acceptable he is before many Nigerians.

Esuene in Akwa-Ibom murky guber race From the

Red Chamber chukwudavid68@yahoo.com

Chukwu David

S

enator Helen Esuene is one of the aspirants in the Akwa-Ibom governorship race. Right now, there are 28 contestants, and she is the only woman. In view of the way women are perceived and placed in some cultures, it might not be easy for her. She is also aware of this cultural bias against women and perhaps would have made up her mind to face the challenge.

Initially, she had a robust relationship with her state governor, Dr. Godswill Akpabio. However, in the process of time, that relationship seemed to have slacked. The reason for this is not surprising. In politics, they say that there is neither permanent friend nor permanent enemy; but permanent interest. Therefore, it is possible that the interest of the governor, who was seen to be supporting Senator Esuene’s governorship ambition in the beginning, has shifted to another aspirant.

Recently, Senator Esuene and her campaign train visited Essien Udim Local Government to formally make her intention to govern the state known to the people and also seek their support during election. Unfortunately, the lawmaker and her team were reportedly attacked by some perceived hired political thugs in the area.

The thugs, even though they did not beat

The lawmaker and her team were reportedly attacked by some perceived hired political thugs in the area at a campaign

the Senator, made sure that the programme of the day did not hold as they scattered chairs, tables and other materials set for the event.

According to the report, she brought to public domain after the incident, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Essien’s Udim Local Government, Mr. Friday Udo was subsequently suspended for receiving the Senator and her campaign team. This is an indication that certain powerful forces are working against her political ambition in the state.

Ordinarily, it was expected that by now, Esuene ought to have been harassed out of the race, but this did not happen. Instead, she forges ahead and continues to attract more supporters from her Akwa-Ibom South Senatorial district and beyond.

Last weekend in Abuja, the politician further reinforced her intention to continue with her ambition to run for the seat, in spite of the obvious hurdles facing her. This

was as the Ibom Consolidated Assembly, a frontline socio- political organisation for all Akwa-Ibomites in and outside the state endorsed her as the candidate to be elected as governor in 2015.

The national co-ordinator of the group, Hon. Otib Etiebet, during the inauguration of the Abuja chapter of the assembly last week Saturday, explained that the group decided to endorse Senator Esuene as a result of consultations carried out in 19 out of the 31 local government councils in the state in the last two months, which convinced them that the female contestant was the most qualified of all the aspirants.

His words: “After the zoning of the governorship slot of the state to Eket Senatorial District, where distinguished senator comes from and presently represents in the Senate, ICA as a concerned socio- political group in the state went into action for critical assessment of the entire 28 aspirants as regards their requisite experience in public service, competence and acceptability among the electorates, Esuene came top going by her pedigree in that respect.

“Being somebody who has the capacity for creative thinking, ICA sees her as the person who will take Akwa-Ibom to the next level of higher uncommon transformation if given the mandate to be the governor of the state next year, a process we are starting with her endorsement today here in Abuja, the very day we are inaugurating the Abuja chapter of ICA”.

In her response to the endorsement, Esuene, who acknowledged that Governor Akpabio has done well, promised that she would improve on the feats of the gover-

nor and also do more in the areas of education, job creation, rural electrification and effective and affordable health care for the people of the state.

She promised that if elected governor, she would run an all inclusive, open and transparent government, which would reflect a bottom-up system of administration, where inputs would be collected from the grassroots, accessed and processed before policies would be put in place for the betterment of all in the state, saying that she had got the requisite administrative knowledge and experience to govern the state well.

“We are 28 aspirants for the governorship race in the state but I’m the only woman amidst them. I seek that office because I know that I have a lot to offer for my people. I have what it takes to occupy the position, having garnered enough experience along the way. I have integrity and I am hard working. The evidences are there for people to see. Governor Akpabio has done a lot in the area of infrastructural development. There will be job creation and stomach infrastructure. It is very important because a happy workforce is where you can get the best from”.

With Esuene’s antecedents in politics, and with the goodwill of the people of her senatorial district and elsewhere, it is expected that the battle for the Ibom Government House in 2015 will be a fierce one as she is ready to put up a dogged fight to clinch the exalted office. However, in the next few weeks, the coast will be clear on whose head will bear the crown after the PDP primaries.

37

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Politics

Tambuwal’s defection and its aftermath

T

he dust generated by the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is one issue that will not settle- at least in the next few weeks. Though he had lived up to speculations by defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the opposition, the All Progressives Congress, the action have generated controversies in the country.

For instance while the PDP was contemplating challenging the legality and morality of the defection and whether Tambuwal could continue to preside over the House when it resumes, he sprang a surprise over the weekend when rushed to court challenging withdrawal of his security details and seeking a injunction restraining the PDP from tampering with the leadership of the House.

The PDP is not the only one that has advised Tambuwal to vacate the position; several commentators have called on the Sokoto State-born legislator to leave the seat for PDP. Meanwhile, his new platform the APC has said he remains speaker because neither the Constitution nor the House standing orders contemplated a Speaker from the majority party.

The question is, will Tambuwal heed the call

by PDP and step down as speaker? Judging from Tambuwal’s antecedents and his body language, resignation is not on his cards. But if he does not resign, will the PDP attempt to impeach him and can its lawmakers alone carry out such impeachment?

Reacting to the defection of the speaker, the APC caucus in the House led by the Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), described the development as “historic and long expected”. He said: “We welcome and applaud the Speaker’s decision. Ever since the crises started in the PDP which led to the formation of the ‘New PDP’ and the defection of five PDP Governors, 37 PDP members of the House of Representatives to the APC, and the formal merger of the ‘New PDP’ with the APC, we had all along known that this day would come.

Gbajabiamila, who confirmed that the APC currently has 160 with the defection of Tambuwal said: “the PDP is still in the majority.”

He assured that “as a caucus, we pledge our continued support to the current leadership of the House of Representatives. We will not do anything to destabilise the institution of the House of Representatives, so that it will continue to deliver on the mandates given to its members by Nigerians. More than ever before, there is need for vigilance and focus on the concerns of the Nigerian people who elected all of us” He continued: “His move is in tandem with the law. Constitutionally, the Speaker emerges through the members of the House of Representatives. The PDP still have the majority of members but with the 160 members we have, the House can be said to very balanced. Tambuwal has been a speaker to the whole House and has always placed national interest first.

Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo), argued that, “As the House is presently constituted, I do not think there will be any move to change the leadership of the House. The motion for adjournment was moved by the leader of the House, Mulikat Adeola-Akande and seconded by deputy leader, Leo Ogor, who you know belongs to the PDP.”

PDP Caucus Expectedly, the development did not go well with the PDP caucus in the house. House Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP, Oyo) said: “This is a party affair.

Members take decision on the floor based on party lines. So, the party will take decision at the appropriate time” Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) in his reaction said although Tambuwal’s defection was unexpected they would keep an eagle eye on him. “We will watch further, and definitely will see what

In this analysis, PHILIP NYAM, gauges the reactions of lawmakers to the defection of Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and the various issues which greeted it

Tambuwal

happens. Let’s look and see how he manages the House. We will watch him with eagle eyes and interpret every action that he takes”.

“Let me emphasise here that, the Speaker has left. Because he has gone does not mean that the PDP does not control the House. He sits down there as the presiding officer, we run the affairs of the House; and as people who control the House, we must go the extra mile to protect the interest of our party.

We are not going to lose our sleep because Tambuwal defected to the APC. He has gone to APC, he has a political interest in his constituency. His constituency has told him that this is the party under which he can win election. Based on that, we will wish him good luck”. The deputy leader added that “what happened today was quite unexpected. But again, that decision was a personal decision and has no major implication on our political party. The PDP members of the House will look at the situation and take a position in respect of the defection. He is gone, fine. And he emphasized that his decision borders on his local politics. That it borders on the interest of his people and his constituency”. He also called on the judiciary to expedite action on the case bordering on the defection of 37 members of the House so that the issue of defection would be put to rest once and for all.

Resignation Tambuwal perfected his exit strategy from the PDP and has put the ruling party in a tinder box. Pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the House Standing Orders, it will be practically impossible to push out the speaker from the exalted position. Section 50(1) (b) of the constitution stipulates that, “There shall be a speaker and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of

that House from among themselves”. In other words, a speaker could come from any of the parties provided he is elected by members of the House.

The House Standing Orders also towed the same line. Section 4 states that “the election of the speaker shall be conducted in the following manner (a) a member-elect, addressing the clerk shall propose another member-elect with legislative experience as member of the NationalAssembly to the House to be speaker and shall move that such member-elect do take the chair of the House as speaker of the House of Representatives”. This provision has adequately covered Tambuwal from any move against him.

House reacts Reacting to the calls on Tambuwal to resign, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra) said: “it is easy to narrow the concerns to two key issues. One, whether Speaker Tambuwal ought to vacate his seat as representative of Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State, by virtue of section 68 (1) (g), of the 1999 Nigerian constitution, as amended; and two, if he shouldn’t step down as Speaker, having defected from the majority party in the House to a minority platform.

Ogene maintained that “it is common knowledge that following the defection of 37 members of the House in December 2013, from the PDP to APC, there have been multiple court cases on the matter, thus rendering it subjudice to discuss any likely outcome.

Everyone is thus enjoined to await final judicial pronouncement on the issue of defection, which has afflicted virtually all political parties in the land”.

He noted that “concerning calls for Mr.

speaker to step down from the position which his colleagues freely elected him to on June 6, 2011, we wish to reaffirm - even with the pains of almost sounding monotonous - that the speakership of the House of Representatives, or indeed, any other national elective position, belongs to the generality of Nigerians, and not the political platforms upon which such leaders emerge.

“While the case of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who as a sitting Vice President moved to another political party - and did not get judicial reprobation for the act - is still fresh in our memories, the clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian constitution easily settles the worries regarding the continued speakership of Rt. Hon. Tambuwal. “There shall be a speaker and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves”, the above quoted portion of the constitution stipulates. It would, therefore, amount to an affront on members’ privilege to question their constitutionallyguaranteed right to freely elect their leader”, he submitted.

According to the deputy spokesman, “It is in the light of the foregoing that the House wishes to appeal to those who seek to “regulate its procedure” from outside its hallowed chambers to have a rethink, as the nation’s constitution, the Standing Orders of the House and precedent - as in the speakership of the late Rt. Hon. Edwin Ume-Ezeoke in the Second Republic on a minority platform - have all provided answers to what would have otherwise been a knotty political issue.”

Withdrawal of security details In spite of the explanation from the House, CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

38

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics

Senator Adeseun: APC leaders are power drunk C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 5

out Lanlehin’s group totally. Lanlehin protested and went to the leadership of the party but nothing happened. No change was effected. A similar thing was to happen to me at the last congress of the APC where they brought up some persons who are politically irrelevant and they said they were the ones they would hand the party over to in my domain. But I said, ‘you can’t dictate to me because, I knew how we came about this party. We have to sit down and negotiate and talk about it.’ What they were afraid of was that by the time the gubernatorial contest began, I would be one of those that would come out and challenge the governor for the ticket. Thus they were afraid of me.

And I had a meeting with the man and I told him Mr. Governor very early in his administration. ‘I said Mr. Governor, you have been elected governor, we all contributed maximally to your becoming the governor,’ because I knew he would be looking over his soldiers with people like me around and I said I want the governorship seat; I want to be governor

some day, but two people cannot be governor at the same time. I said I would give him maximum support. So, I am not gunning for Senate or House of Representatives.

What is your grouse with Ajimobi’s governance?

Democracy is about making lives of the constituents better. My governor sets up mobile courts; he demolished people’s places; put a law in place establishing mobile courts.

They would arrest somebody for instance who is hawking ‘pure water.”. Nobody in his right senses will carry three or four bags of pure water on his head at a singular point in time. What they do is they go and collect the pure water in the morning, because they don’t have the capital. So they collect on credit then hawk and come back in the evening, pay the supplier and whatever little profit they make is what they take home to feed their families and their children. To arrest such a person and take him or her to s mobile court and fine him N10, 000 or N15, 000 for violating state laws is not fair. If that individual is unable to pay, they send him to jail. And

they were jailing our people, but I went to the governor and told him ‘Mr. Governor, look, this is not going to fly. This cannot happen in Oyo State’. You know what my governor told me? He said ‘look, Distinguished, that policy is being implemented in Ibadan now.

We are not implementing it in Oke-Ogun; we are not implementing it in Ogbomoso. So it is an Ibadan thing’. But I said look, number one, are you saying to me that I should shut up because I am not an Ibadan man? But remember five of the local governments in my senatorial district belong to Ibadan area. So what happens there affects me.

Those are the kind of things we are saying.

What is lawmaking in short? It is about seeking to make life better and easier and more comfortable for people, and this is what I am saying.

The state of education in Oyo State according to a recent WASCE result is dismal. Oyo came 24th of the 36 states of the federation. If elected what are your plans for the education sector?

We will not go anywhere as a nation until

we tackle the problems in the educational sector and this is the way to go about it. Technology education, skills acquisition should be the bedrock. Nigeria started the 6:3:3:4 System whereby students, when they graduate from the elementary schools should be able to go into areas where they can learn skills. They abandoned that. That is where my first priority is. Without education, look, Japan the third largest economy in the world is a nation without any natural resource of any kind.

Are you going to lay emphasis on technical education? Is it going to be free?

It is sure going to be free. That is the only way to encourage students. I mean free in the sense that there will not be tuition; students will not pay tuition. Where we can, we will encourage giving kids and students free meal once a day to encourage them to come to schools. Parents will buy the books and it is going to be a partnership. Free in the sense that we will provide quality teachers and quality equipment so that when our students graduate from those schools, they would be on the way to leading a successful life.

Tambuwal’s defection and its aftermath

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 7

the ruling party is not resting on its oars to shove the speaker off the exalted seat.

The first major move was to withdraw the speaker’s aides on Thursday. The police have hinged its action pursuant to section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution. The intention is to make the speaker vulnerable and prepare way for his impeachment.

Meanwhile, members of the House have been condemning the withdrawal of the speaker’s security aides. Reacting to the development, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano), said it didn’t come to him as surprise.

“This is a government that is used to impunity. They know the law and they break it.

It was really expected. They had sworn to uphold the constitution, but they break it.

In his reaction, Hon. Bimbo Daramola (APC, Ekiti) said: “I’m not shocked at all.

They didn’t disappoint me. This administration has a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most brazen in acts of impunity, recklessness that border on an attitude of ‘you can go to blazes!

According to the minority whip of the House, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo), the action was an act of desperation and despondency. He said, “It’s surprising that the Nigerian Police has admitted that the Speaker’s security details were withdrawn on account of his defection to APC”.

“It smacks of crash ignorance of the Constitution and parliamentary convention on the part of the Nigerian Police to declare that our own Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the people’s speaker, has ceased to be Speaker.

“It is an act of desperation and despondency for the ruling party to want to use the police to harass and intimidate the Nigerian speaker on account of his choice of political party.

“Why did the police not withdraw police security from Dr. Olusegun Mimiko when he left labour party for PDP? “Let it be known to the Nigeria Police that Aminu Waziri Tambuwal remains speaker House of Representatives until he is removed by 2/3 majority of the house members.

“We members of the APC caucus advised the police to thread with caution as we are not in a banana republic where no law operates.

We urge the Acting IGP to seek legal advice to determine whether this action of the police can be justified in law”.

In his own reaction, chairman of the House Committee on Anti-corruption, Hon. Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos), said, “I’m surprised that they can go that low. They want to expose him to danger. But God will stand by him.

He is a people’s speaker and the people will provide security for him at all times”.

Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC Kano) said it is the height of irresponsibility and a classical proof of personalisation of state apparatus.

“This is one of the many abuses of state power by the Jonathan administration, and further highlights the need for us as a people to intensify efforts and ensure the retrenchment of GEJ and his cohorts before they fling us into a Somalia.”

Tambuwal’s office Also condemning the actions of the police, the speaker’s office argued that Tambuwal was not in breach of Section 68 (1) (g) as claimed by the police. Mallam Imam Imam said they “received with shock and amazement the statement issued by the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters justifying the withdrawal of Police Security Personnel attached to the Hon Speaker, by the Acting Inspector General of Police.

“In the said statement, the Force has stated to the effect that by his defection from the PDP to the APC, the Hon Speaker is in breach of Section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution and is consequently no longer entitled to police security. Nothing can be further from the truth. The implication of the Inspector Gen-

eral of Police’s statement is that as sanction for this alleged Constitutional breach, he has removed Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from office of Speaker House of Representatives.”

Justifying there was indeed divisions in the PDP, Imam submitted that “For the avoidance of doubt, the question of whether or not there is a division or faction in the PDP has been resolved by Lord Justice Faji of the Ilorin Division of Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/605/2013 in which the court held that indeed there were factions in the PDP. “Again in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/ 605/2013, the Sokoto Division of the Federal High Court per Justice Aikawa, the judgment of the court was that there was not only Division but faction in the PDP which later merged with the APC. “As the number four citizen in the hierarchy of protocol in the country, the Speaker is entitled to security protection by the security agencies, therefore we see the action of the Acting Inspector General of Police as not only contempt of the courts but a ploy to bring harm to the person of Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

We are on authority that nothing in the 1999 Constitution nor the Police Act confers on the

police force adjudicatory powers including the interpretation of the constitution. In any case even Section 215 of the 1999 Constitution does not contemplate the issuing of or compliance with unlawful orders by the president and or the Inspector General of Police respectively”.

The spokesman said: “What the Acting Inspector General of Police has done therefore has no basis in law including the 1999 Constitution which he has cited. It is a brazen act of crass impunity, gross Constitutional breach and contempt of court. The Inspector General should desist from assuming or usurping the constitutional functions of the Judiciary.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Speaker of the House is elected by members from among themselves under Section 50(1) (b) of the constitution and vacates office under Section 50 (2) (a) (b) &(c), in the case of (c) by two-thirds majority of members of the House.

“The Section 68(1) (g) of the constitution which refers to a member vacating his seat on grounds of defection, which the Inspector General of Police refers to, has a proviso which has been and still is a matter for judicial and not police interpretation. From all indication, the battle has just started.

Why North dominates judiciary C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

1995–2006, Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore 2006-2007, and Idris Legbo Kutigi 2007-2009, Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu 2009- present).

“When Justice Kakstina Alu retires later this year, he will likely be succeeded by Justice Dahiru Musdapher from Jigawa State, who served as Chief Judge of Kano Sate from 1979 to 1985, and as a member of the Court of Appeal from 1985 until 2003, and thereafter

by Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar who was born in 1944 and appointed a Kano State High Court in 1977 at the age of 33 years. She was called to the Bar in 1967.

“We (Ndigbo) should play the same game by appointing state high court judges who are less than 45 years old. By the time they are 55, they have 10 years’ experience at the Bench.

By the time they are 65, they have 20 years bench experience. When asked to nominate a Judge for the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, we should send our youngest quali-

fied, not our oldest most qualified.

“If we send someone who is 55 with 10 years experience at the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, by the time he is 65 with 20 years experience, most of the judges who came at an older age will retire. He will become the CJN or President of the Court of Appeal at 65 years with a projected retirement age of 70. So he will hold the post for five years, causing even more older Justices to retire. We can never get the CJN or Appeal Court President using our current process.

“I practised law in Kano from 1987 to 1998.

I appeared before Justice Auta at the Federal High Court, Kano. He is now in line to be the President of the Court of Appeal. Read the bio of Kano State Judges like Chief Judge Sanusi (Yes, the same Sanusi Lamido, scions of Emir Sanusi), Justice Haliru Mohammed, Justice Abdu Aboki (now of the Court of Appeal) and see how young they were on appointment as High Court Judges. I can predict that Justice Aboki may one day be our CJN.

“If Justice Aboki goes to the Supreme Court to replace Justice Alooma Muktar (who was elevated to the Court of Appeal because Kano State was not ready for a female Chief Judge), he may likely be the youngest. Even if you fault his intellectual capacity, you cannot fault his experience; ten years High Court and ten years Court of Appeal. Any Igbo judge with a better experience would have either retired or be on the threshold of retirement!

“If we continue to be stupid and appoint only old people, our judges will end in the Supreme Court and serve for a year or two before they retire. The worst case was Justice Nwokedi, a long serving CJ of Anambra State, who served in the Supreme Court for only six months,” he said.

Whether the lopsidedness in the headship of the nation’s judiciary will manifest in the repeat of the post-election rancour of 2011 or Nigerians would benefit from their avowed fairness remains to be seen in the next few months.

39

Education on Sunday SUNDAY 02 NOVEMBER 2014

Our work is really frustrating

– Lagos teachers

Mrs. Oladunjoye, Education Commissioner

C

Kayode Olanrewaju ontrary to wide condemnation of teachers over the dwindling quality of education and poor performance of pupils in Lagos State schools, teachers in the state’s primary and secondary schools have said rather than accusing teachers; the government, parents and pupils should be blamed for the misfortune in the school system.

The teachers, who lamented that rather than beam a searchlight on the contributions of the society, environment, government and parents, as well as the pupils for their poor attitude to learning and other crises in the sector, especially mass failure in external examination, they are blaming the teachers.

They said: “It right that teachers’ core mandates include provision of quality teaching, role modelling and

Out of 63 pupils who wrote the last promotion examination in SS II to SS III, only 15 passed in Biology, Mathematics and English Language subjects

moulding of students’ lives, as well as management of the school and delivery of the curriculum effectively, but the unfavourable school environment, attitude of the pupils, parents and government have continued to frustrate such mandate of quality teaching and counselling.”

But, the Education Commissioner, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye has declined comments on the issue, saying in her reply to the text message sent to her GSM phone that our Correspondent should “get in touch with the PRO of the ministry.”

Meanwhile, all efforts to get the PRO’s (Jide Lawal) reaction failed as he neither responded to the text message sent to his phone or returned his missed calls.

While regretting the students’ poor academic performance, resulting in mass failure in internal and external examinations including the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO), the teachers claimed that teaching in Lagos State is rather a hell than a blessing.

However, investigations by New Telegraph have shown that in some schools, especially around Idi-Araba under District Six, pupils particularly during the Muslim fasting periods are not encouraging.

In fact, a teacher in one of the public secondary schools in Idi-Araba, who did not want his name in print, recalled what the teachers experience during the yearly Muslim fasting period concerning attendance of pupils in school.

He said apart from the fact that the school records poor attendance of pupils, the few pupils who report in school either come late to school or are fond of sleeping in the classroom.

“What will the teachers do under this situation?” he argued, saying the teachers are helpless, as this further portrays the attitude of the students and their parents to education.

Besides, he spoke of how some of the students who are either practicing or apprentices of one vocation or the other and because of that, before the closing hours many of them would have left for their shops or hawking businesses.”

They engage in vocations ranging from roadside mechanic, fashion designing, carpentry and hawking, and they always abandoned the school to attend to their vocations or hawking during school hours.

The teacher of English, however, recalled that most of the students are not ready to learn, while there is the limit a teacher could drag such a child.

“Apart from this, many of the students are lamenting their experience, a teacher at one of the secondary schools in Ile-Epo in District I, said of the 63 pupils who wrote the last promotion examination in Senior Secondary School (SS II) to SS III, only 15 passed in the conference marking

in Biology, Mathematics and English Language that are core compulsory subjects.

He attributed the causes of poor education quality to the attitude of the pupils and their parents to education, in which most of the pupils have no textbook except the ones provided by the Lagos State Government.

He said: “The age at which children go to school nowadays is also a problem. We have nine year old pupils in Junior Secondary School (JSSI), who are supposed to be in Primary Four, if it were in the good old days.”

The teacher, who hinted that most of the pupils lacked that 3Ds – Determination, Decision and Direction – added that the exposure to modern technology which supposed to be an added advantage and add value to learning has been taken the other way round.

He noted that most parents do not want to invest in their children and wards’ education, even as the teacher condemned the payment of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) registration fees and the free education programme, which to him, has greatly affected the attitude of the pupils to learning.

“Whatever that is free is not valued by the people,” he said, adding that the problems of lack of facilities and conducive teaching and learning environment, where the government failed in its responsibility to provide those facilities that will bring about effective teaching and learning is also part of challenges facing the teachers in the delivery of quality education, the teacher noted.

According to him, the problem on the bloated classroom enrolment where a class has over 160 pupils, which negates effectively teaching is another problem.

Specifically, he cited the problem of his school, where the hoodlums daily take over immediately after school hours as their hideouts to smoke Indian hemp and carry out their other nefarious activities.

His words: “The issue of area boys is an urgent problem the government should take very seriously. After 2 pm the area boys take over our school compound drinking and smoking hemp.”

The situation was that bad that when New Telegraph visited the school, some hoodlums were spotted on the school premise smoking and drinking.

In fact, he blamed the government for siting schools close to motor parks and markets, saying this has negatively affected the psyche of the children and the school system.

He, therefore, suggested as part of the way out the need for the government to remunerate teachers adequately to enlist their dedication, while teachers who are not ready to work should be shown the way out.

Besides, the teacher, who bemoaned the gross shortage of teachers in schools, wondered who will relive those female teachers nursing babies go for the six-month maternity leave newly introduced by the state government, in schools already facing the problem of inadequate teachers.

40

South-East Focus SUNDAY, 2 NOVEMBER, 2014

Igbere: Scarred by gully erosion Geography, geology and eccentric governance mesh to put Igbere - a lush, picturesque town in Abia State on edge as nightmarish gully erosion rewrites the unique narrative of the land of folksy charm, swashbuckling warriors and daring achievers. LOUIS ACHI reports

P

eering down from the rim of the scary Amaofufe gully erosion site in Igbere Town of Bende Local Government Area, Abia State, four traditional monarchs of the 13 constituent autonomous communities of that realm looked deeply worried.

Clearly, the sage royals have good reason to be troubled. Down, down the deep yawning gully, a Toyota bus which had plunged into the chasm with four wheels in the air dramatised just how dangerous the situation had become.

Are the gods angry with the folks of this warrior community in the state which prides itself as God’s Own State?? If they haboured any such thoughts, the monarchs were careful not to give them away. But if really they secretly believed that a miffed deity was at work, they may probably have a point. They had experienced decades of relative serenity and stable existence previously. But a hazy ‘anger-of-gods theory’ cut little ice with a fifth chieftain on the excursion. He is the President of Igbere Welfare Union, Prof. M.I. Ijeoma.

Incidentally an environmental scientist and academician of note, Ijeoma is a former vice chancellor of Abia State University.

Ijeoma attributes gully initiation and propagation in Igbere land to mainly anthropogenic factors, including unconsolidated soil. These have had a strong effect on the local control measures put in place to check the menace.

Tracking back in time to convey a sense of how the Onu gully evolved, Ijeoma reveals: “That place used to be a major road leading to a community. That was the road our people took to their various farmlands. Now, after the war many people came home and started

building on both sides of that…it was a valley before, not a gully. We are talking about Onu gully, remember. So people started building.

“Many demanded to exploit the forest for farming and for harvesting of firewood. That reduced the vegetation cover in this area.”

Noting that it is a very loose sandy soil being protected by the plant cover, the lanky academician observed, “But now the vegetation is being cleared, exposing the land. Once you expose an area, forces of erosion will kick in.

So with this kind of change in land use pattern there were consequences, of course. So when people came back in about 1972, after the war, this erosion problem developed. Our people rallied round and took measures and halted the advance of the erosion entirely; stopped the gully head.

“After doing engineering work to control it and building impoundments and all that, they planted some trees like the bamboo and some other trees that can cover the area. We thought the problem was settled. But as a result of extreme rainfall events happening, particularly this year the gully developed again.

Before you knew it the remaining part of the road had been swept off. Buildings have been destroyed.”

Giving insight into Igbere’s dilemma, the academician continued, “Onu is the major artery, a major gateway to all Igbere communities. Nobody knew that this Onu gully erosion would develop so fast and so wide and so destructively as even to make the Amaofufe gully a child’s play. The Amaofufe gully where a bus fell in was considered a major problem while the Onu erosion was not considered as such. Now, it is actually severing

the whole of Igbere from the outside world.

“If you are coming to Igbere from any part of Nigeria you now have to go to Uzuakoli and then take a detour to Ozuitem. From there, you enter Igbere. Unfortunately too, that road is impassable. Nobody passes there now. The next alternative would be to pass Igbere towards Abriba and then take a bush path. Vehicles don’t ply there; they cross the Mbuba River before coming into Igbere.

“The scope of the current gully erosion as you see yourself has surpassed the capacity for local intervention. There are none of our parliamentary representatives who can say they are not aware of this environmental crisis.

In concrete terms, as you have seen, there is no intervention from government. I don’t think this issue has been discussed in any forum, even in the Senate or House of Representatives. Government, if ever they will make any effort, has yet to make it. Government has not made any effort.”

Igbere is the home town of a former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

In Igbere, government appears a distant reality and this scenario only serves to complement the growing danger. Like the python which patiently asphyxiates its prey in its powerful coils before gobbling it up, the potent erosion currently gnawing at the innards of the town is sending clear signals to those who can decode it - that dangerous, massive change is afoot. Significantly, the arrowheads of state governance in that turf appear incapable or unwilling to provide quality intervention to cage the growing menace.

Undefeated in successive battles in its history, Igbere today is confronted by a far more

dangerous adversary. Even the royal fathers recognise the phenomenon that fundamentally threatens their thrones.

“We are a warrior community. Even our neighbours know that we have never been defeated. Our history attests to that. So in the case of this erosion, there is no retreat and no surrender,” His Royal Highness, Eze Joseph Enyanta, Enyi Ezeji I of Ibinukwu Autonomous Community told Sunday New Telegraph reflectively.

The fair skinned royal father added, “By the grace of God, we are going to tackle it.

If we continue waiting for the federal or state government to come – maybe before they intervene we would have been forced out from our ancestral turf. But then as you know, government cannot do everything for the people. We shall start doing something so that when and if government comes, they can see to what extent we have gone and perhaps will intervene.”

While the Ekpekomini of Okafia Community, Eze Okorie N. Chukwu, declared that the erosion offensive does not threaten his throne, he conceded that the natural disaster is affecting his jurisdiction. His words: “Within my jurisdiction, we are having serious gully erosion problems. One is on Isiugba axis on the road leading to Bende through Okafia. Then the other one is at Varavara where you have the High Court, Magistrate Court and even the government sub-treasury.”

According to him, these have affected his community very adversely. He noted that the moment gully erosion is allowed to have its way, “my community will definitely be cut off CONTINUED F R OM PAGE 41

41

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

South-East Focus

C O N T ’ D F R O M PAG E 4 0

from other communities in Igbere. Without gainsaying my community is the food basket of Igbere. Then we shall find it difficult to evacuate our farm produce to other areas.”

Eze Okorie Chukwu said, “The erosion menace is not a threat to my throne. We are used to self-help. It is part of Igbo culture. We are also planning. We have so many projects executed by ourselves and not by any government. We have made what is happening known to our sons and daughters out there”.

The plucky resilience of Igbere folks even in the face of a daunting threat derives from some interesting history which the Akpondi I of Amakpo Autonomous Community, Eze Rowland A Ekeoma, readily shared with Sunday New Telegraph.

“Igbere got its name from our adversaries; people who felt our weight in battle. Many times, they wanted to enter Igbere but they couldn’t. They were pushed back and routed.

The fleeing ones went back to tell the tale. At the end of the day, they decided that these children of Ebri – their name better be Igboeru,” he explained.

The custodian of Amakpo culture was not done as he shared another version from Igbere lore. “The other version stemmed from the slave trade period. By the way, slave trade and slavery have been in existence from antiquity not minding some scholars who posited that slave trade started only a few hundred years ago. So in those days when they came hunting for those to enslave in our area, they noted something significant.

“It didn’t matter the number of those they captured from Igbere; over 95 per cent of them came back. So these slave raiders said these people must be ‘Igbo-ere’ – meaning you cannot sell them; you cannot enslave them. So these are the two versions of how we got our name. We are descendants of Ebri.”

Leaning back with a steely glint in his eyes, he proclaimed, “We are going to fight this erosion menace with the same resilience of purpose. We have always learnt how to manage our affairs. When we are confronted like this we sit down and plan. But let me concede that to an extent the erosion has occurred because of some lack of planning. But now it is with us we are going to deal with the matter decisively.

“We are also calling on government, expecting they will intervene. This is because they always come around when they are in trouble; when they need us. Now we need them they have to come. They don’t have to wait for the entire place to be swallowed up before somebody shows up.”

In a compelling message to both friends of Ndigbere and government, he declares undying love for Igbere land, Abia State and Nigeria.

“The traditional rulers are the gatekeepers.

Besides being the traditional rulers they are also indigenes of this place. We love this place; we love our state; we love our country. We call on our friends, we call on those in authority to come and help us. We don’t want to feel alienated. I hope they are listening and I hope they will come,” he pleaded.

For his part, Okam I of Amiyi Autonomous Community, Eze Chike Eme Ogbunba, shares another perspective and concedes that the disaster is threatening his throne.

“The Igbere clan made up of 13 autonomous communities has been battling this erosion.

The situation now is beyond our scope. We need urgent government intervention. We have alerted our representative legislators at the state and federal levels. They have been making efforts in their own small ways to aid us. “But unfortunately, the menace has become so enormous that we cannot deal with it on our own. The first erosion site you saw cut off about seven communities. We have local markets here. It has become very difficult for the women to carry their goods to the market. People coming from neighbouring communities to the market are also extremely impeded. The situation in a sense threatens my throne. We are no longer safe.

Except the erosion menace is checked people here are no longer safe,” he said.

Igbere: Scarred by gully erosion

Igbere traditional rulers at one of the sites

The Triggers Many theories have been put forward to explain gully erosion in the South-East. In their study of the phenomenon, N. N. I Onu and A. I. Opara of the Department of Geosciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri and C. N. Ehirim of the Department of Physics, University of Port Harcourt apparently put their fingers squarely on the fundamental causes of the erosion in Bende Local Government Area, of which Igbere Town is a key constituent.

“Several studies on gully erosion characterisation confirmed that while human activities such as pattern of land use, socioeconomic pressure on land, poor engineering and agricultural practices have contributed to the initiation and growth of gullies, the geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical characteristics of the area, and the inherent properties of the soil are the main factors influencing gully genesis and rate of growth,” they declared.

Their study noted that erosion gullies in South-East Nigeria are concentrated within a broad area described as the ‘gully erosion belt.’ This belt is situated at the southern flank of the lower Benue Trough and runs from Onitsha through Awka (Ekwulobia, Agulu, Nanka, Mbaukwu) and Orlu (Njaba, Amucha, Okwudor and Umuagu Urualla) to Umuahia-Okigwe (Ishikwuato) axis.

Another related study carried out in Umuahia- Okigwe area which includes the area

enclosed by latitudes 5⁰001 to 6⁰001N and longitude 7⁰001 to 8⁰001E shows that the major towns and communities found within the study area include Afikpo, Okigwe, Abiriba, Bende, Arochukwu and Umuahia.

Ecological Funds The necessity for intervention of the federal government in environmental disaster as exemplified by the Igbere gully erosion gave rise to the creation of the Ecological Fund in 1981.

Flood, gully erosion and desert encroachment top the list of the commonest challenges from nature, in Nigeria.

The ecological fund, from Sunday New Telegraph’s checks, is annually derived from billions of naira accruing from two per cent of the monthly allocations from the Federation Account and another one per cent from the Derivation Account.

The emerging consensus is that states abuse the largesse. They do not account for the money; they freely deploy it to areas of priority, often unrelated to ecological issues.

Public Relations consultant and Managing Director of Niche PR, Mrs. Marcella Iyitor, says, “The abuse of the Ecological Fund is usually among charges against former governors, whom the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, put on trial.”

But against the background of bad press for the federal fund managers, the Ecological Fund Office (EFO) in the presidency recently urged states and local governments to cre-

ate similar offices for specific channelling of ecological funds to them.

EFO Deputy Director, Mr. Tolu Makinde, made the call in Abuja, stating that these offices would address the misconception that states were not receiving the funds or using them to address their ecological problems.

According to Makinde, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission allocates ecological funds to states and local governments monthly and the funds are disbursed together with the federal allocation to all tiers of government.

He said the amount allocated to the federal ecological account was not meant to be shared, but for intervention during emergencies. For good measure, he recalled how the Federal Government approved N17 billion during the 2012 flood disaster from its share of the fund and disbursed to the affected states.

“It will be a thing of joy if states and local governments build structures as the federal government has EFO for proper channeling of these funds. These structures could create room for specific disbursement of the fund and will give the public easy access,” he stated.

Efforts by Sunday New Telegraph to obtain clarifications from Abia State Government on why the erosion disaster was not being urgently confronted failed as the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Theodore Orji did not respond to this reporter’s enquiry.

42

Education

U

Mojeed Alabi

niversity of Roehampton, United Kingdom (UK) has reiterated the importance of the study of Psychology as a discipline especially for workplaces.

The university, which is one of the leading institutions in the United Kingdom (UK), also advised Nigerian students to embrace its recently introduced Masters programme in Psychology.

The MSc in Psychology programme, which according to the university has just joined its growing portfolio of online Masters Degrees, would require only an all-inclusive tuition fee of $10,000 for participants.

According to the university’s Head of the Department of Psychology, Dr. Diane Bray, fundamental understanding of psychology has become important for a variety of career paths especially in this present interconnected world, such as educators, healthcare providers, business people

SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Roehampton varsity urges Nigerians to embrace its online courses and public service workers.

He said: “Through problem-based and experiential learning, our online psychology students will be able to build a practitioner toolbox of skills based on their applied psychology research expertise and improve their insight into human behaviour to enhance their current skill set and knowledge.”

He added that the institution’s unique online approach, backed by the expertise of one of the UK’s largest psychological training departments, allows students to cover all the core psychology course areas, including the historical and ethical context as well as social, cognitive, developmental and biological theories and approaches.

“Students explore these subjects through modules that put these areas in context, such as self, identity and culture, understanding

L-R: Regional Programme Coordinator, Junior Achievement, Nigeria, Mr. Abiodun Adegbola; Marketing Executive, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, First Bank, Mrs. Obianuju Akanbi; winner of the National JA Company of the Year Competition and a pupil of Government Girls Secondary School, Abaji, Abuja, Mariam Zakari; Executive Director JA, Mrs. Kunbi Wuraola and Channel Development Manager, Systems Application Products (SAP), Ayokanmi Ayuba, at the competition. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

relationships and psychology in the workplace. Roe-

hampton’s distinct structure provides an opportunity for

students to gain practical skills that they can apply

in their everyday lives,” he concluded.

Students laud rector on CBT exams, as OKOPOLY goes digital Emeka Onwudinjo, UNIZIK

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he National Association of Class Representative Students (NACRS) has lauded the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Professor Godwin Onu for facilitating Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development, and introducing Computer-Based Test (CBT) in the institution.

The commendation was given during the National Executive Council (NEC)

meeting of the association which took place at Whiteview Hotel, Awka last week.

In the communiqué issued after the meeting and made available to our reporter, NACRS stated that the introduction of CBT mode of examinations in the institution, would go a long way in fighting and eradicating corrupt practices in the system, even as it urged other institutions to emulate the novel idea.

“The National Executive Council of Class Represen-

tative Students from different institutions in Nigeria categorically declare that the Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination currently introduced at OKOPOLY will go a long way in alleviating many difficulties that students are facing on campuses, such as loss of transcripts, sharp practices, extortion, sexual harassment and intimidation,” the association said.

In a chat with New Telegraph shortly after the meeting, the association’s National President, Achi-

onye Nnanedu Joseph, a final year student of Public Administration at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, pointed out that Prof Onu has proved his mettle as a visionary leader, whose passion for the transformation of the institution has never been in doubt.

He said: “When you look around the polytechnic, there are numerous changes. For instance, all the dilapidated buildings including the medical centre, Mass Communication building and other dilapidated buildings had

Nigerian UK PG students beat Indian counterparts N

igeria will soon overtake India to become the United Kingdom’s second biggest source of international postgraduate students, according to research compiled by the British Council.

Forecasting by the organisation suggests that the UK will host 241,000 postgraduate international students by 2024, allowing it to remain one of the top two destinations for studying a postgraduate abroad – second only to the US. But researchers warn that the UK is too dependent on China for its international numbers, and that it is losing out on Indian students.

Demographic changes mean India’s appetite for higher education is expand-

ing quickly and providing a source of international postgraduate students that the US is exploiting.

While in the UK, China accounts for 44 per cent of growth in the international postgraduate market, this figure stands at 33 per cent in the US. More than half (54 per cent) of the United States’ international students arrive from India – which, by 2024, will be home to the largest tertiaryaged population, numbering over 119 million.

“No single market should drive the growth and composition of a country’s incoming postgraduate body,” said Zainab Malik, Director of Research for British Council education intelligence.

“As such, it is essential

already been pulled down and replaced with befitting buildings. The issue of cultism, drug abuse and other social vices has been curbed on campus through the quality leadership of Prof.

Onu.” According to him, the computer-based test examination introduced in the institution would checkmate malpractices and reduce possible extortion of students by lecturers to zero level.

To the association’s spokesman, Ernest Nkechika, an undergraduate

of Marketing at the polytechnic, however noted that before the current administration assumed office, infrastructure were moribund both on the main and other campuses of the institution.

While adding that Onu’s administration has brought great changes to the institution in the past few years, Nkechika hinted that the Rector has really brought “sunshine” on the campus, which has positioned the polytechnic as a citadel of learning and academic excellence.

UI students tackle NYSC on online registration fee Hammed Hamzat UI

U Nigerian and Indian students in UK university

for institutions and policymakers to continue to attract students from expanding economies besides China and India, including Nigeria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam,” she added.

The study forecasts that the annual growth rate of the UK’s international postgraduate numbers will dip over the next 10 years, falling 4.1 per cent during the period 2007-12 to 3.5 per cent between 2013 and 2024. This means the UK’s

international postgraduate market will grow more slowly than the US, Canada and Australia.

The predictions for the next decade were generated by researchers, who examined the demographic and economic data for 23 origin countries and six destination countries, as well as examining historical trends. The study did not look at the impact of specific political factors such as visa arrangements, she added.

niversity of Ibadan (UI) graduating students have kicked against what they described as the imposition of N4,000 online registration fees for prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The students, who had gathered at a sensitization programme organised by NYSC to explain the benefits of the new policy, disagreed sharply with the Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Pastor Olanipekun Alao, saying the fee was highly exploitative.

The event, which held at the university’s Trenchard Hall, was attaended by principal officers of the institution, the students and key officers of NYSC. In his presentation, Alao,

who said that all information on the registration process and accredited registration centres nationwide are contained in the homepage of the NYSC website, however urged prospective corps members not to process their registration with those centres that are not accredited

by NYSC management.

But, one of the students and a 400-Level undergraduate of the Department of Sociology, Ogunbanjo Tobiloba described the fee as arbitrary, obnoxious and illegal, saying the development could be part of the Federal Government’s ploys to rake in money for the 2015 general elections.

He, therefore, called on the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to mobilise Nigerian students against what he described as an act of injustice on them.

trend women are embracing all over the world. They are an absolute hit on the red carpet as well as when worn casually. These versatile dresses can transform you into a sexy diva within minutes. It is a great choice for showing off legs, well-toned body and putting together a look that is both stylish and enticing.

The mini dress has been a fashion

M wear mini, vintage mini and Boho mini dresses, making them a diverse item that can complement women with different body types.

All the same, mini dresses are simply not fit for every body type. You need to have a fit and toned body to be able to carry off the mini dress. It is not for people who are ashamed of their legs.

With the focus on the legs, ensure that

Nothing flatters a leg line more than a pair of heels. Wearing heels with a mini dress will make your legs look longer and leaner. While traditional high heels can work, items with a bit of edge to them like the platforms and sandals can really make you look jazzy in a mini dress ensemble.

If you have a large figure and still want to wear a mini dress, choose a mid-thigh

to give the illusion of a tiny waistline.

Avoid an overly low neck line when wearing a mini dress. Pulling in a dramatic dĂŠcolletage with a mini dress can make you look a bit tacky. Wear jewellery that accents the mini dress rather than distract from it. With a mini dress, a woman should want the visual focus on her legs and oversized jewellery can pull the eyes upward. office wear. It is strictly for power dressing at unofficial events.

When wearing the mini dress, your attitude needs to be very high on the confidence and boldness quotient. If you wear the mini dress, you should be ready to be noticed and given a lot of attention. Go ahead and be the centre of the attention as you jazz up your looks in hot, sexy, mini dresses.

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Ties...neck’s best friend Vanessa Okwara

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nice tie is the first thing people notice when you step out in public. When an event or occasion commands a respectful appearance, a tie is essential. The necktie is usually the focal point of your ensemble and care should be taken in choosing the right size and colour to fit your personality.

Ties are neck’s best friend as they instantly add glam to a man’s otherwise casual look. Status is communicated visually on many levels, of which apparel is one. Knotting quality ties the right way keeps you stylish and in vogue.

Knowing where to wear a tie to is helpful, but it is also important to know what type of tie to choose. Men who show up at a conservative event with a loud tie may look more tacky than professional. To make sure

the tie fits the occasion, it is important to understand which tie befits wedding, job interviews, office, funerals or formal events.

Although ties generally bring out your dressing, it’s meant to speak to the rest of your outfit, not stand apart from or clash with it. It is important to know what type of dress shirt goes with a particular tie colour and design.

Also, the length matters a lot. Whether you’re six feet four or three feet two, the tip of the tie should hit right at your belt line. A tie that has been tied too short will throw off the entire look.

A flimsy looking tie knot that does not fill the gap between the collar, or a knot that shows any part of the narrow end of the tie is totally off the radar of a welldressed gentleman. The tie width you choose must be proportionate to your body

type, dress shirt, suit, and tie knot. The width of the tie should match the width of the lapel. Yes, skinny ties are trendy, but they will look out of place if worn with a wide lapelled suit.

Keep your ties neat always. A wrinkled or stained necktie is immediately noticeable. Always untie your necktie after each wearing. Ties should not be washed or ironed because doing so damages the inlay and drape of the tie. Therefore, hang your ties on a tie rack or over a hanger and the fabric will straighten itself out overnight. To always look trendy, rotate your ties and never wear the same tie two days in a row. Look sensationally sharp and smart in ties of the right colour and size and you will be the cynosure of all eyes.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

When dealing with Meddling in-laws

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ometimes, you will think some people were sent to this world just to make your life a living hell. They go to great lengths to ensure you never have a moment’s peace and generally act like monsters that plague your worst nightmares. That is why Ugochi has branded her mother-in-law as monster-in-law! Before you gesticulate and brush it aside as yet another daughter-in-law litany of complaints about her mother-in-law, I think you should listen to her story.

Ugochi came from a poor background and growing up was not easy for her and her siblings, but her parents did their best to make sure she furthered her studies. It was in the University she met Obinna and they fell in love.

He came from a wealthy home but that didn’t stop him from loving her. When he finally proposed, she couldn’t believe it and was beside herself with joy.

Then it was time to meet the in-laws.

Her parents were absolutely glad to meet and make Obinna their son-in-law but the same could not be said of his parents. In fact, it was a definite stirring of the hornets’ nest! They made her feel she was not good enough for their son. They called her all sorts of demeaning names, ranging from gold digger to low class slut! When it became clear that Obinna was adamant on making her his wife, they grudgingly agreed to go ahead with the marriage rites.

Her marriage is five years old with two lovely kids today, yet a sort of cold war still exists between her and her

T

in-laws. They keep treating her like an outsider in everything they do in the family. She has tried her best to see if she could overcome their hostilities but they still see her as someone who came to poach on their land. Anything her husband does for her own family becomes subject of discussion and gossip at family meetings. They even go as far as telling people that she used ‘juju’ to get Obinna to marry her. Her mother-inlaw interferes in every decision she and her husband make, even the way they discipline their children. She meddles in her domestic activities, insisting she is not qualified to handle responsibilities in a rich man’s house.

The painful part is that her husband is beginning to dance to his mother ’s subtle tunes to breakup their marriage.

Due to her interference, her husband now questions her judgment and hardly confides in her. He goes to his mother for advice on issues regarding their home even before discussing them with her.

Her mother-in-law alters every decision she makes in her own house, dismissing

them as either frivolous or not meeting up with family standards. These days, her mother-in-law is the one running her home by proxy.

What is happening in Ugochi’s family is similar to what some people are experiencing in their matrimonial homes today. It can also happen between a sonin-law and his wife’s parents. The truth of the matter is that In-laws from both partners want a piece of your marriage; if you let them.

Are you struggling right now with inlaws’ intrusion in your marriage? You need to take some hard decisions if you want to save your marriage from collapse. Marriage is between two people and not a whole clan. African culture welcomes the idea of extended families but at the same time, you should not let third parties have undue access to your marriage and create unnecessary tension in your home. Guard the peace and harmony that exists between you and your spouse jealously if you truly desire your marriage to last. It has been reported that what causes most divorce

cases in our country stem largely from external influence in general and in-law wahala in particular.

The only way to avoid them from meddling is to make sure there are no divided loyalties. Both in-laws must be treated equally if you want peace to exude from both camps. This is a decision you and your partner must make from the onset of your marriage. Both parents should be warned from the beginning not to meddle. None of your parents should be given special treatment.

When gifts are sent, let it be sounded that it came from both of you. They also need to understand that when you got married, your primary loyalty went to your spouse and no one else. Both of you must unite and form a formidable bond that will scare away even the most forceful in-law!

Parents, please allow your children’s marriages to work. Give them space to make their own mistakes, and resolve their problems alone without interfering. If called upon, offer your parental advice but don’t impose your will on your children’s marriages. That way, you are giving them the needed liberty to make good their marriage vows.

Love your in-laws like your own parents and establish a rich and active relationship with them but at the same time, please checkmate some of their excessive meddling in your home and secure the fragile threads holding the peace in your marriage.

Send your views to the email above!

For our women, we must rise as one

oday, my label is pink. I am standing up as someone with a mother, a wife, a daughter and sisters. I am that kind of person that is naturally attracted to pretty things and it is no wonder, as I grew up with three (my sisters), was born by one and married to another. Therefore anything that will affect my sisters, either biological or intellectually, is of interest to me and so worth talking about.

My point is, October has been the month of raising awareness for breast cancer and letting all women know simple steps that they can take to check for lumps in their bosom. It is on record that quick detection of breast cancer can save the patient. Sadly, another laudable drive has been swallowed by the unstable condition that the world currently finds itself. The beginning of October saw the world grappling with the ISIS insurgency and then flowed into the Ebola epidemic. Breast cancer, the focus of the month, is nothing but a background in the story of a month that it should dominate.

However, as the month has winded down, it is still pertinent to state that the fight against breast cancer and indeed any human affliction is a continuous one and so must continually be placed in the public domain until people are well informed to take care of themselves.

This has been my constant argument whenever I encounter people who want to pin a month or day on a particular issue. Fine, I welcome the focus but then we must also device a way of continuously engaging the subject after the day or month of focus. That is why I have

never been one for ‘World AIDS day,’ ‘Black History Month,’ or even the so called ‘International Day of The women.’ All of the aforementioned are issues we must all engage with constantly to be able to make our society a harmonious one.

The killer called breast cancer must be exposed and called out. Everyone must take a stand against it and not just women. This is another grouse I have against those organising the events around these endeavours. Their target is always women and the feminine kind.

Breast Cancer is an issue that affects all.

Sons have been orphaned and fathers widowed by the disease and so they must be invited to take part. Only a collective effort can resolve this.

Education is also important. We

must now abandon our prudish outlook about discussing anything under the clothes and talk freely about these things; of course, provided we do so in a dignified manner. God spoke freely about menstruation, sex and semen in the bible when giving His laws to the nation of Israel even though children were in the audience and as such, I find it necessary to start teaching every child from an early age how to check for signs of this killer in their body. I also believe open communication will help anyone detecting the signs early to seek professional medical help.

Some have said our culture is one of the barriers to open communication but I beg to disagree. Our culture encourages the full dissemination of information related to the body by older women

Some have said our culture is one of the barriers to open communication but I beg to disagree.

Our culture encourages the full dissemination of information related to the body by older women to younger women in the society

to younger women in the society. That is why, at a recent conference, I argued strongly for the re-phrasing of the so called ‘fattening room’ to a more embracing ‘wellness room’ as most western scholars miss the point of the room where brides are kept in the Efik culture, but replicated in other forms in cultures in sub-Sahara Africa. The girls are not just locked up and fed to be fat, but the intention is to make them look well. They are also trained in the traditions and culture of the people by mature women and those who have gone through this culture will confirm that no subject is considered a taboo. I call the session oral biology as the entire female body’s function is analysed.

So where is the problem? It is in our full embrace of western culture and religion at the expense of the one that sustained our forbears. It is the churches that teach that talking about anything related to the body is bad; who forbid seeking medical help and preach miracles instead. Like I said above, people need to reexamine the bible and what it teaches. I am however not surprised about this, seeing that most religious leaders in Nigeria are concerned about their private jets instead of the welfare of their brethren.

That is why we all have to take matters in our hands. It is not a matter for women alone, but for everyone. No type of cancer is friendly, but we must agree that breast cancer is an epidemic that must be tackled headlong and making it strictly a woman’s battle will only be counterproductive.

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Wole Adepoju 07037763410

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Paddy Adenuga undying ways Pastor Oyedepo moves again

P

addy, son of billionaire businessman who owns the giant telecommunica-

tion company, Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga, is sure a privileged young man. Enjoying all the trappings that come with being the child of such a money bag makes many go green with envy. His good looks and carriage are other qualities that make ladies wish he is theirs.

With a free hand to operate as a director in his father’s company, it is another opportunity for him to attract attention, especially from the numerous staff of their company and those who want one favour or the other from him. Unfortunately, the young man is said not have been able to manage the responsibilities placed on his shoulders well as his arrogance soon became his bane.

Different unpalatable tales have been told of his excesses.

Hence, his father, who is also referred to as the Bull, moved to tame him. What has been observed of Paddy is that he has for a long time embraced a low profile lifestyle. Those in the know have not ceased to tell who ever that cares to listen that Otunba Adenuga is responsible for the low profile his son has adopted so that the tales and reports of his rudeness to people, especially, at fun spots, will reduce. However, Celeb Lounge learnt that Paddy has taken his arrogance and rudeness to social network. To be a follower on his twitter account is like seeking entrance to God’s kingdom because of the excessive scrutiny it entails. Those who are his followers on twitter are managing to hang on probably because they want to identify with the son of the rich. However, most of his followers who cannot stand his ways have since shut him out, just the way he blocks any one who raises eyebrow at his activities. Paddy, we were informed, boasts of the wealth and affluence he enjoys in reckless form, even to the detriment of his followers without minding whose ox is gored.

Sola Oke resigns to fate

O

lusola Oke, a lawyer and the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the last governorship election in Ondo State, might have after all given in to fate and moved on with his life.

After the election, which was won

by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Oke had sought to challenge the victory of the re-elected governor, even against the stance of his party. The national leadership of his party had congratulated Mimiko after he was declared the winner of the poll. Oke eventually laid the issue to rest and probably hoped for another time but his plan soon changed when

Mimiko defected from the Labour Party to PDP, thereby taking over the party structure. Muscles were flexed by the existing PDP state executive members and Mimiko’s men, with Mimiko gaining the upper hand. Oke was, however, labeled as one of those pressurising the state executive members not to give in to the governor’s men.

But the crisis has been settled, we learnt. Oke is believed to have resigned to fate and moved on. Oke and Mimiko had hugged each other to signify the end of the crisis at a recent event held at the waterside area of the state, where Oke hails from.

Ogbonna Kanu makes fresh move

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mo State-born dude, Ogbonna Kanu, is the younger brother of the most decorated Nigeria ex-international, Nwankwo Kanu. Like some Nigerian footballers who have taken after their popular and successful senior siblings in the round leather game, Ogbonna is also

a footballer.

Though he did not attain the height his brother got to as a footballer, he did try his best in making his mark as a footballer. During his playing days, Ogbonna donned the jersey of the national team in the youth category and eventually took his trade abroad. The dude has since been saddled with overseeing the business concerns of his brother, among which is Hardley Suites on the Island part of Lagos. Information at our disposal is that he may have introduced strip dancing to the entertainment arm of the hospitality concern for patrons to enjoy and unwind.

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ounder of established worship centre, Living Faith Church a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, is an established man of God with a large following.

The 60-year-old Kwara Stateborn cleric can also pass for a successful businessman with a handful of business ventures to his credit.

Amid the dust raised over the story of his being barred from entering the United Kingdom, Oyedepo was named the richest pastor in the world at the same time when he staged a befitting 60th birthday party.

Information reaching Celeb Lounge, however, suggests that the man of God is neither ready to be slowed down by his rating as the richest pastor nor the alleged UK visa scandal.

Information has it that a plant where vehicles and tricycles are being assembled is now being built at Ota. What is not clear is the purpose of the plant which some say will be used by Covenant University which is owned by Oyedepo.

Good times for Jibayo Adeyeye

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miable politician representing Kosofe Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ajibayo Adeyeye, Celeb Lounge can authoritatively reveal, is enjoying happy times. This is just as friends, family and well-wishers are happy for him over a feat he recently achieved.

The likeable majority leader of the assembly, it was learnt, recently completed his new house at Magodo. The silver spoon politician has since moved into the new house.

On the other hand, as next

the elections approach, Jibayo is not leaving anything to chance.

Feelers reaching us have it that the medical doctor-turnedpolitician is one of the lawmakers who are most likely to get their party’s nod for another term and probably emerge victorious at the poll.

He’s said to be popular and well loved by the people of his constituency who have benefited immensely from his representation as a lawmaker. Though unassuming, his influence in the party cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand.

Between Dariye and Muazu

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eralding a democratic government in 1999, Joshua Dariye was among the numerous politicians who wanted to oversee the affairs of Plateau State.

With the support of those that matter and luck that smiled on him, he was sworn in as the executive governor of Plateau State.

He made an attempt to be re-elected for another term in 2003, which he achieved just like majority of his counterparts. Misfortune, however, crept in when he was impeached in 2006 over sundry issues, while his deputy, Michael Botmang, was sworn in. All that is now history as he has put all that behind him and has opened another

chapter in his life. Dariye, who is among the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State, eventually got a seat in the Senate on the platform of the Labour Party. He won and has remained in the Senate, representing Plateau Central.

Meanwhile, the story in the mill is that arrangements are being made to get Dariye back in the fold. The effort to bring him back, it was learnt, is being coordinated by the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu. The national chairman, it is said, is doing this because he shared a healthy relationship with Dariye when they were both governors.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

Thinking

Ebikeme Clark toes father’s path

C

hief Edwin Clark is a factor in the political arena of Nigeria. It’s evident that he’s relevant in the scheme of things, especially as it concerns happenings in the SouthSouth. Also, the one-time Minister of Information rates high among those who have the listening ear of the number one man in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan.

The thrust of this piece really is that the powerful Niger Delta leader has brought forth one of his children to join him in the political arena. Ebikeme Clark jostled for the chairmanship of Burutu Local Government Area in Delta State and came out victorious. He is one of the 23 local government chairmen that were sworn in

by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan recently. According to those in the know, many had given the victory at the poll to Ebikeme long before the election held because the power and support he enjoys are more than

that of any other candidate. According to our sources, people had started referring to him as the executive chairman of the local government before the election took place.

Ebikeme, who took over

from Tom Kinsley as chairman, came into public consciousness when he was kidnapped in Delta State some months ago.

Chris Uba back on the scene

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nambra State-born member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chris Uba, is one man who has been able to cut the image of a controversial personality for himself. The abduction of Dr. Chris Ngige as a sitting governor of Anambra State in 2003, readily comes to mind when Uba is mentioned.

The politician has not ceased to toe the controversial path that brought him under the spotlight.

Uba, a force to beat in the politics of Anambra State, went under for a long time, with nothing coming from his quarters. His silence had to do with his being sidelined by his party and this was said to have been facilitated by some power brokers in PDP. However, Uba seems to have got his groove back and is now being patronised by the presidency and leadership of the party. Sources in the know reveal that Uba may once again be hobnobbing with the powers-that-be because of his decisive nature. That is said to be likely useful for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan when the time is ripe for action.

His alleged involvement in the Ekiti governorship election, where he was said to have contributed to the victory of Ayodele

Fayose, is evident. Also, his alleged involvement in the Osun governorship poll was, however, unsuccessful as his party lost to the All Progressives Congress.

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All about belief I

t is very easy to lose focus and get distracted by the numerous irrelevant negativity around us. When that happens, we lose the time we have left on earth to fulfil our purpose and be who we were meant to be.

I am totally grateful to God for His promises and encouragement through His word that makes much sense to me every day. There are times when you are not really sure about what you are supposed to be doing, when you are supposed to be doing it and how you are supposed to do it.

Most importantly, we must find our purpose and live accordingly.

So here are some tips I got from this article.

Conflict makes you an easy target for Satan’s attacks. It doesn’t matter if your conflict is with God, other people, or even yourself; it will open the door for Satan to tear you apart. You’ll become a pushover for his plans. It’ll open up every area of your life to Satan’s attacks.

You don’t want that. It’s why the doomsday scenario for many countries is facing wars on multiple fronts.

If you’re fighting yourself, others, or God, you can’t fight against what Satan is doing in the world. You can’t fight a multi-front war effectively. You were never meant to do so.

All levels of conflict leave you flailing for support and searching for a firm footing, as if you’re being sucked into quicksand. That’s why Paul urges believers, “On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong” (Ephesians 6:15 NCV).

Roman soldiers had hobnails on the bottom of their shoes. These little nails helped them get a better grip with their shoes, like cleats for football players. Without them, soldiers would slip and slide in battle. They wouldn’t be able to hold their ground.

Without putting on the “peace that comes from the Good News,” you too will slip and slide your way through life. Paul is writing about three different aspects of peace: with yourself, with others, and with God. It’s called reconciliation, and you need it in all areas of your life. If you wake up each morning at peace with yourself, God, and others, you’ll find yourself on strong footing. You’ll be able to stand strong against the attacks of Satan.

Satan tries to attack your peace through worry. We can worry about anything. We can worry about our future. We can worry about finances.

We can worry about relationships.

Often, we worry about what others think of us. When we worry, it means some area of relational peace is out of whack. In fact, most of the time, it means we’re out of whack in each of those areas.

And it means you’re shoeless — and not letting the peace of God’s word take control. The Bible says, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165 NLT). In other words, the more I love and obey the Bible, the less I’m offended by what others say.

The more I love God’s word, the less I’m offended by what happens to me.

The more I love God’s word, the less my walk with God will be disturbed.

Choose to believe what God’s word says about you, about others, and, most importantly, about God. Choose to believe because obeying God’s word brings you peace. Choose to believe because Jesus did. Choose to believe because what God’s word says about you and the world around you is true.

All levels of conflict leave you flailing for support and searching for a firm footing, as if you’re being sucked into quicksand. That’s why Paul urges believers, “On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong” (Ephesians 6:15 NCV)

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Miscellany Alley

Life is rich sometimes and painful at other times, but it is mostly full.

Let’s share our experiences on this page, after all, everyday is an opportunity to learn...send yours to julietbumah@gmail.com Colour Me Lucky It is a blessing that I read the DIY edition that talked about First Aid. I am a mother with three kids. Since my first child, I had wanted to get a First Aid kit for our home. Finally, after my third child, and a nudge from that DIY edition on Sunday, I finally did. My daughter was playing two days later and scrapped her knee. It was sad with all the blood and tears, but with my first aid kit, she is fine and I did not have to go to the market. Thank you for the nudge!

Claire O. 35yrs Calabar.

Lesson for singles I think being married is not for everyone. Been there, done that! I used to be married to one of those blokes that sometimes make you so happy that you are scared things would go wrong. Or love you so hard you feel inadequate.

I was happy. The problem came when we were in the sack. His package was not so adequate…not for me anyway.

Truth is, I knew all of this before we were married but his affectionate, easy

going nature easily swayed me. I felt with that, we could handle anything, besides; I figured I could always give myself a helping ‘hand’.

Suffice it to say that after five years of marriage without a child, the tolls of our dreary life started to crack our ‘perfect existence’. We began to notice and blow up little issues until we parted ways. Today, I am making up for lost time and enjoying every bit of it.

Most of the enjoyment can be attributed to the package I now frolic with.

Nice and big, and knows how to use it. Basically, I think no one should ever underestimate the importance of the size and abilities of a man’s package.

I still wonder though if things would have been different had we had kids.

Joy Attah, 30yrs Kaduna.

My wardrobe toggle Finally I get to understand that your wardrobe can be shaken up in many different ways. It was a Saturday evening and I needed a dress fast for a pool party. It was one of those week-

ends when you check into a hotel to be pampered all weekend, away from your familiar surroundings. I didn’t pack much. Anyway, I had this Aztec print maxi skirt with me that I had used for a window shopping adventure with friends. While wondering what to wear with it, I pulled it up over my bust and passed by a mirror. The effect was spot on. All I needed was to wrap a wide belt around my waist and throw on a wide brim hat and my sunglasses. I easily looked relaxed, laid back and chic without trying too hard, though I did party hard. Lol Bubu, 22yrs Ikoyi.

Tip for refrigerator smell riddance We all know that a smelly fridge is never palatable, literally. Just like going into someone’s home for the first time and meeting a space that is not only untidy, but stinky. It will take a lot for you to drink water in that home, let alone eat. I think the same rule applies to a refrigerator. Have you ever walked into someone’s kitchen, opened their

DIY on the GO

Sewing at home Esther Odili

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ou don’t have to be a fashion designer to stitch together objects or fabrics with a needle and thread. For years, sewing was done by hand before the invention of sewing machine that brought a revolution into the sewing industry.

The sewing machine makes it easy for anyone to stitch and sew in minutes. Well-fitting clothes can be made in your own choice of colour, quality and style but a measure of skill is required to achieve the desired result.

To mend clothes at home, you need a simple sewing machine.

The sewing machine should be cleaned and oiled frequently following the manufacturer’s instructions.

As a beginner, you need to learn how to sew forward and backwards, know how to follow a simple pattern such as cutting out a square of pretty fabric, turning the edges over and sewing a hem to make simple napkin. And if you are unfamiliar with using a sewing machine, you will need to learn how to set up and thread your machine, and this can be achieved with the instructions with the machine’s manual. Test all stitches on double material, watch machine foot edge when stitching, not the needles, keep bulk of work on your left hand side of the machine and ensure you always remove work towards the back of the machine.

You can save money by mending your clothes.

Acquire a sewing box filled with necessary sewing tools. What you need for mending your clothes will cost very little.

As a beginner, the basic equipment needed for sewing are: •Machine needles of various sizes- 1-12, 14, 16, 18 and so on. These sizes come with the machine bobbin case or shuttle.

•Measuring tape: To measure the material or fabric.

•Thimble: A device that helps push needle through tough resistant surfaces when hand-stitching thick fabric or material.

•Scissors: Large for cutting out fabric material, small for embroidery, medium for cutting paper.

•Thread: For tacking and sewing.

•Stiletto: For making eyelet holes.

•Tailors’ chalk: For marking fabrics.

•Pinking shears.

•‘Quick unpick’ magnet.

•Bodkin: For threading tape, elastic etc.

•Tracing wheel: For tracing on brown paper, and for marking.

•Seam ripper: Used to unfasten rough sewing.

•Carbon paper or brown paper for drafting or sketching a design.

•Hem leveller, pin cushion, pressing iron and cutting table (optional). Meanwhile you can store all these tools in a dry place, such as a drawer or large tool box, with divisions for easy access.

As a beginner you may experience common machine faults like needle not threaded from the ridge side, fabric not between tension discs, tension too loose or tight, blunt needle, incorrect threading procedure, all these can be fixed in a short while.

Exploring the art of needle craft has many rewards. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can try your hands on needle and thread. Hand sewing can be time consuming but it is a great way of unwinding. You can use the needle and thread to do basic embroidery stitches.

How to sew buttons on fabrics Button shapes are varied, and are made of both synthetic and natural materials like glass, shell, wood, leather, plastic etc. A well-made garment should be complemented with good tasteful buttons.

All buttons should be attached with a shank through double fabrics, to avoid puckering when the fabric is sewed.

Process •Mark the button position through a buttonhole round end, where the button will lie when sewn.

•With strong sewing thread, sew according to fabric; sew through holes, stabbing up and down through button and fabric several times.

•Bring needle up between the button and fabric, with thread round the shank six times past the needle to the back of the facing and secure with a back-stitch. But while tacking, ensure you tack all pieces together and always end the tacking with a double stitch.

refrigerator for a refreshing drink, only to be greeted by an unpalatable funk?

It happens here and there. It happened at a friend’s house recently and I was ready to excuse her quickly. She just gave birth and has practically no help, with one other toddler. Anyway, I went about cleaning the refrigerator and it was such a success, plus there could be a housewife or two out there who can use a tip in this matter.

Clean out the refrigerator as usual, taking out all bad food. After doing this, it does not necessarily take out the smell. That needs extra effort, and that’s where my tip comes in. Baking soda and lavender sprigs or oil drops. Take a muslin cloth (or any light, breathable cotton fabric), in ¾ cups of baking soda, add 4-5 drops of lavender and leave it in a dry corner of the fridge. It works like magic to eliminate odours. If your fridge is one of those smaller bedside editions, use less drops of lavender oil.

This is a typical example of less is more.

Margaret Okonkwo, 28yrs Aba.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

Tasty Cabs’ Sauvignon for the palate Ibukunoluwa Kayode

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ines are carefully grown and selected to fill the palate with a refreshing taste. We have them in different grape varietals grown from different regions of the world. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the vintage red wines that deliver on the palate, a refreshing taste.

It is a rich, full-bodied red wine with dark fruit flavours and savory tastes from black pepper to bell pepper. Also, this wine is known to be weighty and thick. It

is regarded as one of the world’s most distinctive red wines. It can lighten up any occassion with family and friends and serve as a table wine to fill the palate.

This wine is grown in selected regions - France, Chile, United States, Australia, Italy, South Africa and Argentina - with usually nine to 18 months Oak. Since Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in a wide range of climates and regions, it has varied flavours.

Sauvignon is known for its brisk fruity character, the black cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry lift

to lighten up the palate for a smooth finish. Its fruity nature also leans towards blackpepper, tobacco, licorice, vanilla and violet.

This vintage wine holds a medium tannin and acidity on the palate floor with 13.5-15.5 per cent ABV, making it a suitable and comfortable wine to enjoy at any given occassion.

The fruit characteristics of Cab makes it a friendly indulgence with different kinds of high fat rich foods like bugger and cheese.

And to best enjoy this wine, serve it chilled.

Indigenous pepper sauce from Benin Republic Biwom Iklaki

I

t is not often that you get an experienced cook from another country to give you a cooking class. It was very exciting to experience, taste and savour cuisine from another country.

After all, food is one of the true identities of a people. Our correspondent met the people of Benin Republic through one of their highly experienced cooks, Chef Ferdinand Gnankpon.

Gnankpon gives a lesson on how to make this rich, indigenous, multipurpose pepper sauce.

INGREDIENTS •20 medium tomatoes •5 green bell peppers •5 red bell peppers •Ginger and garlic (as desired) •5 big bulb onions •1 tsp fennel seeds •1 tsp cinnamon •1 tsp salt •2 stock cubes •3 tbsp black pepper (ground) •1 tbsp tomato paste, or •1 cup ketchup (if you prefer a taste of sweet and sour) •½ cup olive oil PREPARATION Wash and blitz or roughly chop tomatoes, onions, pepper, ginger and garlic.

Heat up a sauce pan with olive oil. Pour in the blitzed ingredients, salt, cubes, black pepper and tomato paste/ketchup. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, add cinnamon and fennel seeds

then immerse whatever protein you want to use (pre-cooked and fried snails, fish, chicken, etc) for 3 minutes and it is done. Serve as sauce for whatever you feel like, including rice, yam, potatoes and plantain.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS Fennel seeds are touted to be the perfect anecdote for many stomach and respiratory issues. The main property which lends the sweet aromatic flavour to the spice is anethol, an essential oil found in the seed. Like most dry seed spices, its flavour is heightened when dry fried before being ground and used. A source of B-complex vitamins, iron, copper, manganese and potassium (when present in the cell and body fluids, are known to control heart rate and blood pressure). Use for sauces, stews, breads, cakes, etc.

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Overcome bullying in an instant Biwom Iklaki

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o you come to school in the morning and submit your lunch money or snacks to a specific person or group of persons? Do you feel like running in the opposite direction whenever you come across someone in the playground? Have you ever felt ashamed or not good enough for any social activity because someone said so? These are just a few ways to describe a social, physical and psychological anomaly among children today. It goes on in schools, churches, and everywhere. Children are the worst hit in this war of the meanest.

The Principal of Grenville Secondary School, GRA Ikeja, Mrs. Ogechi Ekpe, has 14 years experience working in the children’s educational system.

She described bullying as a very sad experience for a child. She said it is the use of force, threat, abuse or aggression to dominate others. Bullying is often done by people seeking attention or to show their

importance. This attitude is common among abused children taking out their anger on others. She said bullying has taken place when there is a ‘predator’ and ‘prey’. She also classified bullying into: •Threats •Spreading rumours •Verbal abuse •Making someone feel less of themselves •Physical abuse (hitting or fighting someone) Those who are the easiest targets, she said, are those with physical challenges (she remembered being called ‘oju igo’ which is Yoruba phrase for ‘glass eyes’. She said she was called such because she wore glasses. Those who already have low self esteem and live with criticism like slow learners and those with weight issues are also an easy target.

Here is what she said you can do to minimise or stop bullying: •The first rule to stopping bullies is to speak up and expose them. That way, you bring attention to them and their bad manners. When you do this, an adult can

source -www.huffingtonpost.com

The Hare and the Tortoise

step in and handle the situation properly before it ends badly. You can also report to your parents or teachers, in fact, that is what your Guidance Counsellor is there for. Speak up!

•You have to believe in yourself, feel good about yourself and your abilities.

If you are unsure, ask your parents to remind you just how awesome you are.

Even if you take a while to learn something, you are still a learner and you paid the same fees as the person who seems to learn faster.

So, you all have the same rights to learning. They are not better than you, else they would not be in school at all.

•She advised parents to limit the amount of money they make available to their children, because it makes them easy prey.

•Monitor their activities on social media Children have access to phones and the Internet. They can be targeted through the numerous Apps available -text messages, Facebook, Myspace, iCloud, Instagram, BBM, etc.

Cross word puzzle

W

henever there was a moonlit sky back in the old days, one knew there would be a captivating story waiting. Grandma never disappointed.

One day, she told a story of the Hare and the Tortoise. We all know that the Tortoise and the Hare are some of the funniest and biggest tricksters in the animal kingdom.

Now we wondered what tricks they would be up to. Grandma told us the story and we laughed all night. I can still remember how we giggled into our pillows until mom came and shut us up.

It went like this: Once upon a time, the Hare who always boasted of his speed and how much faster than the other animals he was, challenged all the animals to a race. “I have never yet been •Source www.thekahaniproject.org beaten, and never will be” he said.

So after all prepara- about to cross the finish No one was interested in racing tions were fixed, the race line. Though he ran with him because he was too cunning. began. The Hare quickly all his might, he could The tortoise took him up on the bounded off and was not make it in time to challenge. soon out of sight. And cross it before the Tor“I accept and will race you” he just to make a point that toise. The Tortoise was so said quietly. he is faster, he stopped happy and he grinned at “That is a good joke,” said the for a nap. The Tortoise the Hare while whisperHare; “I could dance round you kept on. He was moving ing into his ear “Slow slowly but surely. Soon, and steady wins the all the way to the finish line.”

“Keep all of that boasting till the Hare woke up from race”. you’ve won Mr. Hare,” answered his nap and was just in the Tortoise.

“Shall race?”

•What www.benscoloringpages.com do you callwe a bear with no teeth? time to seeAns: the Because tortoise he tasted funny!

Ans: A gummy bear!

What is a cat’s favourite song?

Ans: Three Blind Mice!

What is the biggest ant in the world?

Ans: eleph-ant!

WhatAn goes up and never comes down?

Is it hard tosuccess spot a leopard?

Where does come before work?

Ans: Age, rain Ans: No, they come that way!

How do bees get to school?

The dictionary Ans: schoolmore, buzz!a ton of feathers or WhichByweighs Knock Did youKnock! hear the joke about the roof? a ton of bricks?

Who’s there?

Why the kid the butter Ans: Never mind, it’s over your head Ans: did Neither, theythrow both weigh a ton out Cowsgo the window?

Cowsgo who?

Ans: butter-fly!

What do you have to beg before you eat?

What To hassee twothe hands, a round face, always No don’t, cows-go moo.

Ans:they Okro or ogbono soup runs but stays in place?

Why the lion spit out the clown?

Ans: did A clock

Gags

Gags

Hero of the week Our hero of the week is Ayankola Olatomiwa Ridwan, a pupil of Baptist Boys’ High School (Mission), Abeokuta, Ogun State. He made his school proud and set a record by receiving an award at the NNPC/Chevron Art Exhibition/Award Ceremony, in the Junior Secondary School category.

Since the inception of the contest in 2005, this was the first time his school was participating. There were 641 artworks submitted, 20 were selected for the Art Exhibition/Award Ceremony in Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. 15 secondary schools across the nation participated, and Baptist Boys’ High School was the only school from Ogun State.

The BBHS Principal, Dr. Abel Adebajo encouraged all his students to work hard academically and otherwise, including Ayankola, who is looked upon as their new ambassador. His Art teacher, Mr. Olusegun Michael Adeniyi, is also proud of his ward that he engaged and guided through the artwork and registration process, along with two other JSS3 students.

You too can aspire for greatness like Ayankola Olatomiwa Ridwan. You just need to dream big, believe in yourself and your hard work will bring you success too.

Faith 51

SUNDAY, 2 NOVEMBER , 2014

Sermon Seed of discrepancy p.55

Sermon

Chidi Okoroafor leads Assemblies of God Nigeria

Option holiness in a world of sin p.56

Roving Worshipper Now is Nigeria’s defining moment-Morris Cerullo p.52

Sermon Living a fear-free life p.57

Okoroafor

A

Tai Anyanwu & Ojiaku Kalu

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

religious sociologist and evangelistic-minister, Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, has been elected the new General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Nigeria by the National Committee of the Church at its 35th quadrennial General Council Meeting held at Okpoto Camp Ground situated in Ebonyi State.

Reverend Okoroafor’s eventual emerAdebiyi gence put paid to the power tussle and intrigue that engulfed the church for an upward of two years, leading to the suspension of his former boss, Prof. Emeka Paul which led to the on-going fight in the law courts.

Following the suspension, the first in the more than 80-year history of the organisation in Nigeria, Reverend Chidi, who was the Assistant General Superintendent, had assumed headship of the more than three million member, church on acting capacity until his election a few days ago.

Okoroafor was born on September 25, 1964 to a headmaster father – Mr. Jonas Okoroafor, a native of Isinkpu village of Arochukwu, in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. And at 50 years of age, he is coming into the exaulted office as the Fifth General Superintendent – after the Reverends Oyakhilome, Ezeigbo, Osueke and Paul and perhaps, the youngest Head of the Church in Nigeria.

Ejim

Aptly a product of the system, Okoroafor has put in a total of 32 years in the service of the church – having become a pastor in the system at the tender age of 18, shortly after his secondary school, and with retirement age set at 70, he is in for a long haul of leadership of the organisation noted for its uncompromising rectitude and heavenmindedness, barring any happenstance as the position according to constitution is absolute until retirement or death.

Reverend Okoroafor attended the Imo River Central School, Ukwa, and the National High School, Azumini Ndoki. It was in his second year of secondary schooling that he formally committed his life to Christ and began what has without relent, become a sterling career in pastoring and church leadership. He would, upon graduating from secondary school, and amidst fierce protestation and persecutions from family and relatives, proceed to the Assemblies of God Divinity School, Old Umuahia, for his tertiary education and ministerial training, and eventually earned from that institution, the Diploma in Theology and B.A degree in Communications/Missions Studies. His postgraduate studies span the three continents Africa, Europe and America – viz: M.A CMissiology, Togo) PGD and M.Sc. (International Relations/Diplomacy, Imo State University, Owerri, M.TH (University of Wales, UK) Advance Leadership Diploma (Haggai Institute, Hawaii, and USA) and Ph.D (Sociology of Relation, University

of Port Harcourt).

Okoroafor has held several pastoral and administrative positions in the system at the local church, sectional, district and the general council levels – from local pastor to Assistant/Acting General Superintendent.

At the poll that produced him as the new head, even the body of collegiate - made up of the Executive Council members and District Boards, was surprised at its near unanimous vote in favour of Okoroafor amidst many co-contenders for the position – a development that observers attribute to his astute team-spirit, creative leadership traits and charismatic stance in the intervening years.

Overwhelmed by the development, the new General Superintendent was said to have lacked words to express his feelings as given his famed humility, he was not expecting to be voted into the office despite having acted in that capacity for a while.

The following 15 officials were also elected as Executive Committee Members to represent the various districts of the Church in different zones of the country: Rev. Prince K. Emeaba- South- East Zone 1 – Aba North District; Rev. Abel Amadi - South- East Zone 2- Owerri East District; Rev. David Agu South- East Zone 3- Enugu South District; Rev. Emmanuel Nshii - South- East Zone 4- Abakaliki District; Rev. Dr. Emmanuel A. Udoka- South- South Zone 1- Eket District; CO NTINUED O N PAGE 52

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

Now is Nigeria’s defining moment-Morris Cerullo

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Tai Anyanwu he atmosphere at The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Headquarters at Anthony Village, Lagos last week was vibrant. The congregation were expectant for prophetic utterances from a revered man of God from the United States. There had been so much awareness and publicity in the past weeks announcing that Dr.Morris Cerullo would be a guest speaker at the church. This August visitor was the reason that a great crowd of worshippers trouped into the Prestigious TREM cathedral ahead of schedule.

Around 4.15 pm, the programme started with the General Overseer of the ministry, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, revealing to the congregation how his life was changed after meeting with Cerullo.

“I met him in Los Angeles; he gave me scholarship and sat me under his ministry.

After that, my life changed for good. Open your ears, just one word from will do you miracles,” Okonkwo advised.

Cerullo entered the stage with appreciations and love to his host and the congregation.

“There is an awesome power that in this building today. I am asking my father to do something for you today He has never done before. I am going to speak to you prophetic words, and he that have an ear to hear; I ask you to hear what the spirit of God is going to say,” Cerullo urged. But before proceeding,

L-R: Mrs Peace Okonkwo, Bishop Mike Okonkwo and Dr. Morris Cerullo at the event

the international evangelist, who foretold the crash of the world financial system, traced the influence of his ministry to Pentecostal movement in Nigeria.

“This is my 68th anniversary in the ministry. Do you know that when I came to Africa in 1961, many of you weren’t even born? But I came to Lagos; I did not know a person here. When I traced Bishop Mike, we ministered in the grass. This place was weeds; and I trekked in through the water to get to

the platform. Now look what you have here.

Cerulo marvelled.

Going retrospect, the evangelist spoke of his formative years at an orphanage in the U.S. “I was little, living in an orphanage for 15 years until God came and put His hands on the Jewish boy the message that the son of the living God is your messiah, he explained.

“In 1962”, he continued; “We kind of put a wooden platform in a little field, passed out some hand bills to begin to preach the

Chidi Okoroafor leads Assemblies of God Nigeria

Amawoh

Alaje

CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 51

Rev. Living Joshua - South- South Zone 2- Bayelsa District.

Others are Rev. Dr. Friday Amirah South- South Zone 3- Warri District; Rev. Isonguyo O. Eshiet - South- South Zone 4- Calabar District; Rev. Prof. Robert Ebuade - South- South Zone 5- Esan East District; Rev. C. N Ogbuji –North Central Zone 1 – Abuja East District; Rev. JohnWhyte Ede- North Central Zone 2- Igede District; Rev. Bawa Gadima- North-West Zone- Kaduna South District; Rev. Jacob Langs- North East Zone – Jos District; Rev. J.O Edivri- South-West Zone 1- Oyo District; and Rev. M.K Ogunbola- South West Zone 2 – Apapa District.

In a related development, the council in session unanimously ratified the decision of General Committee taken on March 6, 2014, to suspend and dismiss its former General Superintendent, Rev. Paul Emeka, as a Pastor and as a member of the AG for taking the Church to court and breaching the constitution and bye law of the Assemblies of God Nigeria.

In addition, the General Council unanimously condemned what it described as untoward act of Paul Emeka such as tak-

ing the church to court, harassing church leaders with police and thugs, malicious and damaging publication in newspapers, among other allegations which are currently subject of a litigation.

On the other hand, the council in session commended the EC for faithfully implementing the decision of the General Committee and for standing firmly and resolved to protect the sanctity of AG at the risk of their lives.

It unanimously excommunicated some people perceived as supporters of the erstwhile General Superintendent namely Raphael Itotoh, Nicholas Anyanwu, and Philip Efejunti, Roland Best, Kayode Shinkale, Bulus Goni, Baba Fada and others.

The council also ordered the former General Superintendent and others to hand over property of Assemblies of God Nigeria to the elected leaders led by Dr. Chidi Okoroafor.

At the end of the peaceful election, the participants (both the ordained and the laity) went wild with jubilation, singing praise, dancing and giving thanks and glory to God for making the council

meeting and election of officers a huge success. Many of them shed tears of joy while the others joined the choir in rendering high praise to God Almighty.

Retired General Superintendent of AG, Rev Dr. Charles Osueke, in a prayer of dedication, specifically expressed his pleasure with the council for commending the immediate past executive council member for taking a firm stand to defend the constitution of the church.

He, however, said that his utmost expectation was to see those he described as dissident members return to the fold. The AG patriarch affirmed that the issue that led to the suspension of Paul Emeka was never a crisis of leadership; but firm resolution by true leaders of the AG to ensure the sanctity and preservation of the constitution and bye-laws of the Church in Nigeria.

In a press briefing held immediately after the council meeting, the General Superintendent elect, assured all AG members that the new executive would no longer allow anybody or group of people to take Assemblies of God Nigeria for granted or take whatever belongs to the church under any guise.

Rev Okoroafor sent a clear message to all those who might have been wondering what had been happening in the denomination for some months now: “Let them know that AG is a unique church. It is the only church that can discipline its leader for wrong doing,” he pointed out.

As he would be announcing his agenda to the members of the church in the next few weeks, it is expected that among those will include his unique strategy to reposition the organization which miraculously survived a devastating leadership imbroglio despite its long-held exemplary mentoring of the community of Pentecostal Christians the world over.

The Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor is married to the Rev. Mrs. Stella Okoroafor, a career guardian and counselor, and they are blessed with five children – three girls and two boys.

gospel. First night, we had just a handful of people. And when the blind began to see, the cripples were limping, the crowd grew.

Within five days, we had over 30,000 people every night.”

Delving into the message for the audience, Cerullo declared that there is a defining moment in everybody’s life and cautioned Christians to be ready for such a moment.

“There comes defining moment in the life of a true child of God. I want you to be in spirit before God because that is going to put a supernatural key of breakthrough, spiritual breakthrough. If I am a prophet of God, you will never ever again suffer. God is going to accomplish His will, His purpose and plan for you today,” he said.

Delving into the prophetic moment he recalled the vision he had which predicted the crisis the financial in the world and his effort to document the predictions in a book.

“About 25 years ago, the Lord came to Morris; and He showed me a vision. He said to me son everything that can be shaken is going to be shaking. But specifically with that shaking, I saw the collapse of the financial system of the world. I preached several message in Nigeria about this. Some of you may have a copy of the financial Bible. Now what is unique about this Bible? On the pages of this Bible, I wrote prophecies. What God gave to me, I wrote and when you write what God tells you, you can’t take it back.

“Over the past 25 years, the financial systems of the world have got worst. Let’s start with my own country America. We are bankrupt. Africa is bankrupt, you live on borrowed money. Germany, England, France, Spain, and Portugal almost every nation in the world is bankrupt. In my country, we float bond, every week my country goes to the financial market and floats bonds in the billions.

“We have trillions of dollars in debt in America. Everywhere in the world, the heads of government need lower interest rate. Do you know that in my country, the interest rate is less than one half of half percent of federal funds? That may not mean much to most of you.

“But I am here in this defining moment in Nigeria to tell you thus saith the Lord of Host. God spoke to me in October, one year ago. I heard the voice of God saying “You have been prophesying the financial collapse; you have been prophesying everything that everything that can be shaken is going to be shaken.

“Now stand before my people and tell them thus said the Lord of Host, it is all over.

It is over but it is not over for the world. God said the world would continue to have calamities such as it has never had before. The will continue to have distrust, distress such as it has never had before, but God said you tell my people I have now drawn a line.”

“If you are on the side of the light, it is all over.

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Scenes at the 31th Adult Harvest and Thanksgiving Service of Ojodu Central Parish of Celestial Churchof Christheld on October 26, 2014

M

embers of the Ojodu Central Parish, Lagos, recently, celebrated their 31st Adult Harvest and Thanksgiving service with pumps.

It was an occassion to show appreciation to God for His goodness.

In his welcome address, the spiritual head of the church, Superior Evangelist Oluwaseyifun Adedeji, said the event was part of the activities originated by the founding fathers of the denomination, which must be observed annually.

“It is compulsory for every members to celebrated harvest every year.

We use assorted fruits like banana, oranges, apples to celebrate harvest.

All we are doing is just to thank God for what he has done for us,” he explained.

Superior Senior Evangelist Oluwaeyifun Adedeji adressing the congregation

L-R: Master Joshua Adedeji, SUP. Evangelist Adedeji and his wife Bolajoka,at the event

Cross section of the church elders at the event

A cross-section of the choir ministering songs at the event

C&S Divine Blessing Chapel urges Christians to embrace Christ C hristians have been advised to prepare themselves well for the heavenly harvest rather than pursuing worldly things.

The advice was given by the Chairman/ General Leader, Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church (Ayo Ni O) Faith in Christ District, Sango, Ogun State, Special Apostle Pastor T. O. Sule, during the Fourth Adult Harvest/Thanksgiving Service of Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church (Ayo Ni O), Chapel of Divine Blessing, Victory District, AIT Road, Agbado, Lagos.

With the theme, ‘Harvest of Grace,’ this year’s adult harvest was celebrated amid praise worship, dancing and thanksgiving at the church auditorium.

The harvest/thanksgiving climaxed the church’s Bands anniversary, which was flagged off in May and concluded with the anniversary/thanksgiving of the Band of Patron and Patrons on Sunday October 12.

In his sermon, Pastor Sule described ‘grace’ as the favour which people do not deserve but which is given to them by God. But, he reminded Christians that unless they are in Christ and Christ is in them, they will not partake in the grace of God. Through the grace of God, he noted that in whatever situation we find ourselves as children of God, we shall definitely triumph if we allow Jesus Christ in us.

To buttress his preaching, he quoted the Holy Bible, Roman 5 verse 15: “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

Describing harvest as an important event in the lives of Christians and church of God, he said: “As Christians, you can only receive grace except you are in Christ and you allow Christ to be in you. God gives us grace through Jesus Christ so that we can have everything as children of God. But without Christ we will not be partakers in His grace.”

On the essence of harvest to Christians, the cleric, who noted that the adult harvest/ thanksgiving was a significant day for the congregation, also quoted John 4 verse 38: “I sent you to that whereon ye bestowed no labour; other men labored, and ye are entered into their labours.”

While alluding to the story of Joseph in the Holy Bible, he reminded the congregation that Joseph despite the tribulations he faced such as persecution by his brothers and imprisonment in Egypt, with the grace and favour of God, was removed from the prison to become the governor in Egypt.

He insisted that Joseph was able to enjoy such favour through the harvest of the grace of God in his life.

Pastor Sule, who wondered how Christians today are looking at the world harvest, stressed however that when the seeds of the world are ripe, “we shall be tested by God if through our character we are good seeds for the kingdom of heaven.”

His words: “We as Christians should be conscious of what we are doing, whether we ar serving God or not in character or deeds. This is the time for us to change to God in order to be good fruits to partake in the heavenly harvest.”

In his thanksgiving, Special Apostle D. A.

C&S HARVEST A: Chairman, Victory District, Special Apostle D. A. Awode (middle) being ushered into the church auditorium. With him are leaders of the church including the Deputy Leader-In-Charge, Special Apostle Idowu (right).

Awode CMA, Chairman, Victory District, Ikorodu, Lagos, who was the special guest, expressed gratitude to Almighty God for His divine protection and guidance, and for watching over members of the congregation and favour on the church. While urging members of the church to move close to the Lord, by walking in His ways, he thanked God for the stability in all the churches under his district, even as the district chairman offered prayer for His continued showers of blessing on the churches and congregation.

The only Bible reading for the adult harvest/thanksgiving service, read by Snr. Apostle L. Ogunsanya, was taken from the Book of Romans 5: 15-21. Also in his thanksgiving, the Leader-In-Charge of the church, Special Apostle J.A. Oyeku JP, praised God

for His divine favour, protection and blessing over members of the congregation.

He said without Christ the church which will turn five next month, would have been nowhere.

“I particularly thank God for His love, blessing and favour on the church and the members. The church is growing in size and in bounds. All praises to the Lord who has for one minute not departed from us,” he stated. Special Apostle Emmanuel Aderemi Awode, managing director/Chief Executive Officer of Chemstar Group, manufacturer of Fine Coat and Shield Paints, who described the harvest/thanksgiving as a point of contact with God, thanked the Lord for His benevolence on the church and the entire congregation.

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Faith

‘Let’s build The Apostolic Church Amumara’ On Sunday October 5, 2014, history was made at The Apostolic Church, Obibi Amumara, Mbaise, Imo State, Igboland Territorial headquarters. 10 Women were honoured, each with the title: ‘A Mother-In-Israel’ for their dexterity and resilience in the service of God by the presiding Pastor, Apostle O.N. Arisa and his Wife, Engr. Gladys Arisa. Similarly, the day was the beginning of infrastructural renaissance to build a befitting cathedral for the Lord as the old one no longer reflects the image of a territorial headquarters, STANLEY AMALAHA, covered the event.

A

Apostle O.N. Arisa and his wife Engr. Gladys

Apostle S.E. Igwe and his wife at the event

Apostle Arisa, enraptured in heavenly bliss

Engr. Gladys Arisa, delivering sermon at the event

L-R: Deaconess Rose Igwe and Engr Gladys Arisa, (Mothers in Israel)

history of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, without mentioning The Apostolic Church Amumara, is like travelling to the city of New York, without a glimpse of the famous statue of liberty. This is because Amumara is the epicenter or the administrative headquarters of The Apostolic Church, Nigeria, Igboland territory, comprising eight states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where faithful converge twice annually for the Area and Territorial conventions. Secondly, Amumara is the home of the only Theological Seminary The Apostolic Church Igboland has, where pastors and leaders are trained. The degree awarding institution established almost 40yrs ago, is accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC)and affiliated to the University of Uyo. In order to reward excellence to individuals as it was done in the Bible days to Joseph, Daniel, David etc, and to build the house of God as Solomon, Nehemiah and others did,The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Amumara Assembly, recently held A- oneday Women special programme where 10 women were honoured, each with the title, ‘A Mother-InIsrael’ by Apostle O.N. Arisa, the presiding pastor & Amumara Field Superintendent and his wife, Engr.

Gladys Arisa. The event also witnessed the beginning of infrastruc-

Apostles Arisa and Igwe, with award recepients cutting the ceremonial cake

Apostle Arisa with some leaders and award recepients (mothers in Israel) at the event

tural renaissance to build a new cathedral for the Lord at The Apostolic Church Obibi, Amumara.

Arisa and his wife with their mountain moving faith believed strongly that with the grace of God, a new Church Cathedral that befits the image of a territorial headquarters of The Apostolic Church must be built in Amumara.

“Come let’s build this church,We must build this Church by the grace of God, we must build this church”, says the distinguished man of God. The event was not about award and infrastructural renaissance only. Salvation which is the centrality of the Gospel, was the key message delivered by Engr. Gladys Arisa, a woman of valour. Her message titled: ‘’Are you a Pillar or a Caterpillar in the house of God”? was a turning point.

She beaconed those that are not pillars in the house of God to give their lives to God first, so that their gifts will be acceptable to God. The alter call made witnessed many that surrendered their lives to Christ.

Apostle S.E Igwe, Igboland Territorial Chairman, set the congregation on fire for the Lord with his wife who was an award recipient, when they donated meritoriously for the building of the cathedral. Apostle Arisa and his wife, who live by example, followed suit and donated at the same financial strength. Women of valour of The Apostolic Church Amumara Assembly surprised the Congregation as they doubled the financial donation. The enthusiasm with which everyone gave at the event was sine qua none which justifies that the The Apostolic Church Cathedral Amumara must surely be built. Indeed, everyone present was enraptured in heavenly bliss, as exhilarating praise flowed from graceful hearts to His Majesty on high.

Everyone present was enraptured in heavenly bliss, as exhilarating praise flowed from graceful hearts to His Majesty on high

Apostles Arisa and Igwe, with some pastors of The Apostolic Church Nigeria at the event

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Faith

Channel of spiritual violence Mystery ofAnxiety Bishop

John Ogbansiegbe

0803 341 6327

S

piritual violence is an application of spiritual force. It means warring against the physical and spiritual opposition and attack that stands against your health, joy, vision, progress and destiny. At times, a child of God should apply and introduce a certain degree or element of violence in order to possess or take back what the devil has taken away.

There are many problems and challenges confronting many believers which do not require gentle prayers and singing of hymns, but the use and application of spiritual force before it can be over. Spiritual violence is a way of looking at the problem eye ball to eye ball and saying ‘NO’ spiritually or saying ‘enough is enough.’ When you say ‘no’ to the devil, arise and pray, fast and hold unto God in faith until you possess your possession.-Matth 11:12.

To this end, the word of God declared: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force.”

Violence is an unrestrained uncontrolled force or outrage. Violence means

something that is forceful and uncontrollable. The world is filled with one form of violence or the other. Media reports are filled with many records of wars, terrorist attacks, suicide bombing, civil or tribal conflict, riot, violent demonstration, armed robbery, kidnapping and murder.

Many people in our world today are victims of human or demonic oppressions, victimisation, exceptional depravity and man’s inhumanity to man. Our world is indeed filled with all kinds of violence and crimes. These violent actions and wicked activities are masterminded by the devil. These things are satanic violence, the devil’s type of violence. The Bible says: “The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy.” John 10:10.That is the sum total of the devil’s ministry. All he knows is violence, lies, deception, distraction, deviation, perversion and destruction. Everything in our world today is by force. The atmosphere in many parts of the world is that of ‘the survival of the fittest.’

People take what they want by force.

Even the political and business activities of our world are also influenced by the attitude of survival of the fittest.

Adolf Hitler, Satan’s incarnate, caused a massive generational genocide and wiped millions of Jews from Germany in the name of ethnic cleansing. South Africa suffered violence for many years because of apartheid. Nigeria had her own during the Nigerian civil war.

One of the characteristic features of the end-time is violence. We are in the days of multidimensional violence but I am here to advocate a better type of vio-

It is time to get spiritually violent and take what belongs to you by force.

The Bible says, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force lence, which is spiritual violence. This is the type of violence that made Gideon to defeat thousands of Midianites with only 300 men. This was that violence that brought down fire from heaven, humiliated, defeated and mesmerised four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and 450 prophets as Elijah prayed. This was the violence that the Holy Ghost captivated, stupefied and hypnotised to conversion, and conviction, Peter’s audience on the day of Pentecost, such that the kingdom of darkness was depopulated and over 3000 souls were added to the church on that day.

It is time to get spiritually violent and take what belongs to you by force.

The Bible says, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force.” There some things belonging to you which are still in the hand of the devil. There are some miracles, promotions, eleva-

tions, financial breakthrough with your name labelled on them, which are still in the hand of the devil. It may be the miracle of your life partner. You are still wondering what is still delaying your marriage. It may be the miracle of the fruit of the womb. It may be that you graduated since five years ago from a university, yet you have not got a job. It may be that you have taken a particular examination several times without success. It may be that you have been denied and rejected the visa of a particular country several times.

It may be that you have been tied with the chain of bewitchment and occultic spells to the point of frustration. It may also be that your destiny has been occultically tied to somewhere, such that you are having disappointments here and there. Maybe you cannot fulfil your dreams, vision or be what God wants you to be. This is the time to get spiritually violent. This is not the time to play hanky-panky or jig-saw puzzle with the devil. This is not the time to talk it over with the devil. This is not the time for negotiation with the devil but this is the time to get violent. This is the time to take what belongs to you by force. This is not the time to sit down with your hands supporting your jaw. This is not the time to continue in sleepless nights, talking, complaining and crying. But, this is the time to possess your possession by force. It is time to get annoyed with the devil. It is time to get disgusted with the stagnation and retrogression in your life. This is the time to rebel against your present ugly circumstances and situations.

Seed of discrepancy the of

Oracles God

Frank Oboden Olomukoro frankolomukoro@yahoo.com

0703 362 1866

“H

eear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deut.

6:4). It is an imperative, a command by God revealing to humanity, first to the nation of Israel, who their God is. God is one person. Knowing who God is, is the greatest knowledge that enables us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

If we do not know who our God is, how do we relate with Him? Invariably there will be no meaningful bond.

God, knowing what man is, said in the 10 commandments that, “Ye shall have no other god before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shall not bow down to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God….” Exodus 20:3-5. The discrepancy that attends the knowledge of God is an age long one. This is the cruel device of the devil, to keep people away from knowing whom God is. In that way, the blessings that accrue from knowing God scripturally and by revelation are shortchanged. Consider these scriptures “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do great exploit.” (Daniel 11:32). Again in John 17:3 “And this is life

eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”

In as much as in post-Apostolic times, after Polycarp and Irenaeus, the men in Christendom who exclusively came from heathenism, distanced themselves from Judaism and the Old Testament, and they explained the New Testament according to their own views resulting in a totally different concept. This is the discrepancy, when man took it upon himself to interpret the word of God which is the exclusive domain of God, who alone interprets His word. Deut 29:29. Secret things belong unto God. It is significant that when the breaking away from Judaism occurred that that was the same time when the Trinity doctrine came into Christendom. Judaism, which is the Old Testament and true Christianity which is the New Testament, believe in the only one true God. But the world organised church which had fallen away from the unaltered word began the most disastrous era in church history, known as the “dark ages”. The age of total spiritual eclipse when the revelation of God’s Word and the Bible was substituted for the church simple catechism, simple prayer book, apostles’ creed and the rest.

The trinity-dogma was proclaimed on May 1, 381 A.D. by Ceasar Theodosius 1 as the state religion in the Roman Empire through the Chalcedonian – Nicene Creed.

That was when the seed of discrepancy was officially sawn into CHURCH. The trinity doctrine that was introduced in the 4th century and also the triune baptism are altogether unbiblical. This was when also Matt 28:19 was misinterpreted and incorrectly applied in water baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Peter, John, James,

Paul – not one of them and none of the others ever knew of a god made up of three persons, co-equal eternally, a trinity, three God in Unity, a triune baptism, or of crossing oneself in the name of the father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. There is not one single scripture where the triune formula is used. Paul experienced a biblical conversion, a biblical water baptism, a biblical baptism of the Holy Spirit, a biblical calling and commission. Acts 9.

He knew where and when his conversion happened and he met Christ, namely at midday, nearby Damascus (Acts 22:6). But none of the church fathers remained in the doctrine of the early apostles, upon careful examination of international church history. The deviation started right after the time of the apostles. Tertullian was the first one to invent the trinity. Along with other church fathers – Augustine, Origen, Cyprian, Ignatius, Justinian among others, neither of them could report of a Biblical conversion, water baptism, baptism of the Holy Spirit, or a direct calling; not one had an experience with Christ, all of them merely accepted Christianity as a religion.

In his books ‘Abermals Krahte der Hahn’ and ‘Die Kriminal geschichtedes Christentums,’ Dr. Karlheinz Deschner gives an account of the statements made by the church fathers against the Jews.

“Since they rejected the one God of Israel – Elohin Yahweh Elohim Echad – in whom the Jews believed, the (church fathers) instead adopted a triune god from Paganism that they introduced as a ‘Holy Trinity.’ This is blasphemy of the eternal God, who said in the first commandment: “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exod. 20:23

After the proclamation of the Trinity–dogma by Ceasar Theodasius I as the state religion on May 1, 381 following the postulation by Tertulian a church father, Pope Leo 1, in the year 443 declared it to be binding to all Christians. The founding of the state church was followed by the forcible Christianisation and the persecution of the Jews and all those who did not voluntarily join the Roman state church.

During the seven crusades between 1095 and 1292 alone, millions of people were gruesomely murdered because they refused to kiss a crucifix and accept the Christian religion. The inquisition, the witch hunt, the counter – Reformation and the persecution of the Hugunots also cost countless people their lives. An awful lot of innocent blood was shed in the name of the state church. Revelation 17:6. “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondered with great admiration.”

The Jews have always preferred death, as they could not accept the Trinity or the triune baptism. The same can be said with uncounted faithful believing Christians, and the final hatred was manifested in the holocaust of the Catholic-dominated Hitler regime. The history of the Pope is soaked with blood, with the blood of the Jews and the blood of faithful Bible believers who died as martyrs. Yes, six million Jews, among them 1.5 million children were killed during the Hitler’s pogrom. About 68 million were recorded martyred by the Roman state during the forceful Christianisation to the Roman state religion. Right up till now fanatical Trinitarians, whether in state churches or other churches, have the same hatred and expression towards those who believe the Bible.

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Option holiness in a world of sin him and whom the liturgy celebrates in the rhythms of the sanctoral cycle”. (CCC 2030).

Firm Faith:

Right Reason Most Rev.

Emmanuel A. Badejo fradebadejo@yahoo.

0803 949 4219 (SMS only)

The primordial attraction Be proud to be pure, hasten to be holy!

That is just one reasonable slogan I see around our youth in recent times. Saint Paul would love that, for he once said to the Thessalonians: “This is the will of God, that you be holy” (1Thess 4:3). Too often in our day, virtuous living is made to look undesirable. Nothing however can change the truth that holiness is more original to man than sin.

Holiness is man’s destiny, sin, his misfortune. The original essence of man when God breathed into him was holy.

That is why the penny Catechism taught that God made us to love him to know him and to serve him. That is why God said “Be holy for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:1). The Church cannot stop calling everyone to holiness for that is the vortex towards which all her life gyrates. Hear it from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC): “From the Church he, (the Christian) receives the grace of the sacraments that sustain him on the ‘way’. From the Church he learns the example of holiness and recognizes its model and source in the all-holy Virgin Mary: he discerns it in the authentic witness of those who live it: he discovers it in the spiritual tradition and long history of the saints who have gone before

Sustaining the holiness project The Solemnity of All Saints is celebrated in the Catholic Church worldwide on Nov 1. It is an occasion set aside to celebrate those who have lived with excellence in spiritual things as far as human standards can measure, It is an occasion to also glorify God for doing great things through human beings in contrast to the human tendency of ascribing success to self.

The reason behind the entire cult of saints and the celebration of All Souls Day, celebrated on November 1 and 2 respectively, is precisely to provide a bank of inspiration where believers can draw from in their pursuit of holiness. Both celebrations recall the bond among those who, though departed, are with God (the Church Triumphant), those who still need atonement for sins committed (the Suffering Church) and those of us who are still in the battlefield of daily living (the Church Militant). All together they form the Church, the body of Christ and the one family of God. How sad that many people pay so little attention to this mainstream aspect of Church life which has the capacity to inspire and strengthen them in their life journey and relationship with God! However, the Church continues to canonize saints, who before us have faced the challenges of life in full colour and candour and have lived through it all in a heroic, exemplary manner. In the early Church only martyrs were venerated as saints but that expanded to include heroes of faith in various ways. The Church

For example, saints celebrated by name in the Church represent many more who have died in many different persecutions which Christians have experienced especially in contemporary times reminds us that such people are found in every land and walk of life by recognizing all classes and races of people through the process of canonization.

The best God meant us to be We all need to be reminded that holiness is desirable and possible for us all, no matter what our profession and occupation may be. Someone said that religion is betting your life that there is a God. That, precisely is what Saints do, accomplishing great feats for God that others would think impossible! 2014 has been a great year in this regard. The canonization, in June, of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II further demonstrates that no matter how exalted the position or responsibility, no matter how tough the challenges may be, everyone indeed can be holy. The process of their canonization was exactly the same as it was for catechists, housemaids, housewives, youths and even children who had been canonized before them. In fact, each of us too are called to be the best God meant us to be for that is what holiness entails.

Even in this rather incredulous society plagued by modernist tendencies, holiness can be acceptable and even attractive.

God alone has complete records The solemnity of All Saints commemorates not only the saints listed by the Church but all those known to God alone who have lived a life of heroic spiritual virtues in ways that only God can determine. For example, saints celebrated by name in the Church represent many more who have died in many different persecutions which Christians have experienced especially in contemporary times. The truth is that if the world would always love the Church, the Church would be no salvation to it.

The logic of success for both Church and world simply cannot be the same.

That is why Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said that the law of progress of the Church is the reverse of the law of progress of the world. In vain does the world try to put out the light of Truth which the Church shines out because it is blinding to pervasive evil. He said: “And although the world is tearing up all the photographs and blueprints of a society and family based on the moral law of God, be not disheartened. The Church has kept the negatives”. Summarily, therefore, valuing sainthood in today’s materialistic and relativist world is an eloquent sign of faith in humanity and an evidence of hope in God’s promise. Humanity will not forever be lost to sin as Jesus said: “all that the father gives to me will come to me” (Jn. 6:37).

So, let us all take an early train and opt for holiness even as we navigate this world of sin.

All you need is an idea (2) Insight Rev.

Femi Akinola

www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

A

man sold an idea to a particular government of this country; this launched him into stardom when it was considered to be feasible. Your problem is not money but lack of ideas.

You might have spent a good part of your life in school; however, this is not enough to take you to where you ought to be.

The fact that you lack ideas is the reason behind your frustration and struggles.

“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” Provs 4:23 (MSG) In life, no one is ready to give you anything for free. Even great people are not willing to help the less privileged except he/she has something to offer which they would in turn pay for. In essence, exchange of ‘wealth’ thrives on ideas; this is why when a great man sees a man of ideas, he holds on to him tenaciously.

Why must you suffer so greatly when you have inside of you your ‘bail out’ from the nightmares of emptiness and unending poverty?

If the Bible says a man would feed a nation, so what makes you think it cannot be you? Though you have been praying but now is the time to seek Godly ideas. Your experience with poverty has been horrible but when your eyes are opened, you will

know that money is not the solution but an idea. Your current workplace is the product of someone’s ingenuity; when will it be your turn to give your world an idea? The Bible says ‘a good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children,’ so what will you leave behind for your own children?

Never ignore it “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Deut 8: 18 (NIV) Some years back, a sister came for counselling and I spoke to her by the Spirit of God that she would be self-employed, selling ‘pap.’ She left in anger saying she had actually come to the wrong place.

Meanwhile, this same lady went somewhere else and the man of God she went to happened to be my father in the Lord.

Her case was mentioned in the course of his ministration. Two years later I was actually strolling down to the salon when I was almost hit by a Toyota Prado. Just as I wondered who this could be, a woman alighted and asked, ‘Sir, do you remember me?’ I said ‘No.’ She said she was the lady I told some years ago to go and sell pap. She was excited to narrate how God inspired her to package pap into powdery form for export to African countries. The reason many of you are languishing is because you have not received an idea; may you locate that idea today in Jesus name.

David prepared for Solomon, so what are you preparing for your children? Stop blaming the government of your country. You need to stumble on that idea by the help of the Holy Spirit. Receive open

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today” access into the realm of heavenly ideas in Jesus name. Why must you be stranded when you can sit with God in prayer and ask Him to give you an idea that can heal your suffering? When God ‘engraces’ you to discover that idea, the same people who have mocked you earlier will stand to thank God for your life. People will not pity you because of your tears. You are neither born to beg nor to be a liability.

Rather, you are born to be celebrated and to be a solution to your world.

The beginning of a new chapter Discrete steps are required in your fight to discover an idea. Don’t look down on yourself because wherever you are now is not the last chapter of your life; you are still at the introductory page of your destiny. Why complain when all you need are ideas for a total turnaround?

When you are bereft of ideas, you will be despised but if the reverse is the case, you will be respected. If you love fiesta, you will end up in disaster; begin to wake up in prayers and consultation with the Holy Spirit because so much is expected of you from the generation God has sent you to.

Whatever you are doing, you must always pray for ideas from above with feasible plans. It is the people that have ideas that will rule your children. You and your children will not serve your enemy in the name of Jesus.

“Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.” Ps 42:7 (NKJV) Nobody discovers or stumbles on gold on the surface; the discovery of gold is a result of a deliberate effort to dig deep into the earth. Likewise, a God-given idea can only be conceived after you have surrendered your life to Christ. You have to be ready to part with the blessings of God towards His Kingdom and humanity. The virtue of faithfulness cannot be undermined if truly you must enjoy heavenly goodness. When you are not faithful in another man’s thing, then you are not set for a release of a lifetime with God. The place of quality meditation on the word of God is another avenue by which you can conceive an idea. As you lay hold on this truth, you will surely discover that idea that will rebrand your destiny in Jesus name.

Please say these prayers n The idea that will change my story, oh Lord, help me to discover it! n By reason of divine idea, I am climbing to the top and I will never come down again! n Every anointing of liability, lose your hold over my destiny! n Every spiritual cataract in my eyes, receive divine healing now! n Every hidden covenant with suffering and struggling, I part ways with you by fire!

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Faith

Breaking barriers through the power in His book!

The Voice of Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

7747546-8 (SMS only)

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elcome to your regular column. When I started this teaching last week, I told you that the Bible is God’s most authentic dream Book for man, waiting to be discovered.

We also understand that the Bible is full of dream seeds.

Remember, from the Parable of the Sower in the Scriptures, the seed is the Word of God. If the Word of God is the carrier of God’s plan and purpose for our lives, and God’s Words are seeds, then the Bible contains God’s dream seeds for our lives (Luke 8:11).

Having discussed what a covenant dream is, I will continue by considering, The Proofs Of Authentic Dreams.

May God give you understanding!

What are the Proofs of Authentic Dreams? n Every authentic dream confers Joy Unspeakable: When we encounter God’s dream for our lives, it stimulates joy unspeakable (Hebrew 12:1-2; Genesis 39: 1-5, 21). n It confers Peace: Every of God’s plan is accompanied by divine peace (Psalm 85: 8).

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Tireless pursuit: Every authentic dream injects us with grace for tireless pursuit (Philippians 3:1214; 1Corinthians 9:16-17; 2Timothy 4:6-7; Genesis 40:14). n Unstoppable declaration: We can see it and not declare it, the prevailing circumstances notwithstanding (Genesis37:1-19; Acts 4:20). n Sustainable focus (Genesis 39:9; Genesis 42:18; Acts 20:24; Romans 8:35-38; 1Corinthians 15:58). n Every authentic dream is highly protected by the dreamer (Philippians 1:21; Philippians 3:7-14).

Having established that God’s plan for our lives is in the Bible, we must understand that the Bible is sealed and only accessible to the redeemed, for unto the redeemed it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. But to unbelievers, no matter how learned they are, they cannot access them. Also, we must understand from Scripture that it’s one thing to be saved; it’s another thing to be committed to discovering and pursuing God’s plan and purpose for our lives, from His Book (Isaiah 29:11-12).

It is also important for us to note that every picture that we discover and believe of ourselves from the dream Book called the Bible is deliverable, realisable, and actualisable, if we meet all the requirements stated therein (Isaiah 14:24; Malachi 4:2; Acts 20:32; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Joshua 1:8).

What, then, are our pictures from the Dream Book?

It is also important for us to note that every picture that we discover and believe of ourselves from the dream Book called the Bible is deliverable, realisable, and actualisable, if we meet all the requirements stated therein (Isaiah 14:24; Malachi 4:2; Acts 20:32; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Joshua 1:8).

n Every child of God is a child of

destiny: Redemption guarantees us a glorious destiny. Therefore, shame and reproach are not part of God’s plan and purpose for our lives (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5; 2 Peter 1:3). n Every child of God is ordained the salt of the earth and the light of the world: Salt is an essential commodity of universal and global relevance.

Therefore, we are redeemed, sought after and ordained to be positive influences in terms of preservation, restoration and taste. As lights of the world, we are also ordained to lead and be the envy of our world (Matthew

5:13-14).

As you continue in this ‘Ember Season,’ your hidden treasures shall be open to you, as the Lord will remember you for good. Your movement and family are blessed in the Name of Jesus. No evil is permitted to come your way this month of November and in the rest of the year.

You are blessed in Jesus Precious Name!

Friend, breaking barriers through the power in His Book, is the preserve of those who are born again.

You can be born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You can do so now if you haven’t, as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan, to serve the Living God. From today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for saving me. Now I know I am a child of God.” I will be with you again next week. Be Blessed!

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books — Walking In Wisdom, Ruling Your World and Understanding Divine Direction.

I am glad to inform you that from December 9-13, 2014 at Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Idiroko Road, Ota, many destinies will be transformed to higher levels of greatness at SHILOH 2014, tagged, Heaven On Earth! SHILOH is the annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family worldwide. Be there!

I know this teaching has blessed you.

Living a fear-free life Timing your Emotions Bishop

Lawrence Osagie 0806 325 0667 www.powerlineministriesinc.org mail:powerlineministries@mail.com

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he Scriptures we will be using as foundation in buttressing this topic will be taken from 2Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of sound mind.” And our reference scripture is Proverbs 25:28 - “He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.”

By the special grace of God, we will be using these scriptures to expound on how to live a fear-free life as a key to divine enthronement. Remember I told you from the beginning that as a child of God there is a place set apart for you by God to occupy in Christ Jesus - that place is divine enthronement. Joseph occupied his own as a governor all over the land of Egypt and preserved Israel as posterity on earth. David killed Goliath and became the choice King of Israel after the failure of Saul. Moses led Israel out of the bondage and slavery of Egypt. Ruth became the wife of Boaz and begat Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David, the root of Jesus.

These are relevant proofs that there is a

royal place for you in Christ Jesus and that is the place of honour and dignity.

This teaching is therefore an instrument that will empower you to live a fear-free life towards your divine enthronement.

The Bible says that a man that has no self-control is like a city broken down and without walls. Such a city exposes her inhabitants to security threats. People will definitely dwell in fear of the unknown.

When your walls are broken down, doors and windows are knocked out while privacy and security are lost. Life and properties are not guaranteed and fear becomes inevitable.

This literally happens to a man who has no self-control. When you are not in control of the thoughts you permit into your thinking faculty, there is every tendency that your thoughts will soon expose you to the dangers of insecurity and threats; even by things that literally have no affinity with your life.

I told you from the beginning of this series that you are a feeling being. God created you with the ability to feel things around you. When you hear gunshots and shouting and wailing around the neighbourhood, you are gripped with anxiety and apprehension. When you dwell on this for a longer period, certainly fear will set in. The ear has just served as a gateway to this feelings. What you hear, what you see and say have various ways of contributing to your feelings. And whether negative or positive, you are the attribute of your feelings. In other words, you become

the end product of your feelings. This is why it is important for you to be able to control your feelings.

Many people who are down and depressed never move forward because of the terrible feelings they accommodate. If you cannot bring your feelings under control you may not be able to attain the glory and honour designed for you on this earth.

Remember that we are redeemed in Christ Jesus to reign in the earth here as kings and priests. This is different from the glory of eternity with God. We are redeemed to reign on earth here. This symbolises your divine enthronement.

Anyone who has no control over his emotional tendencies and expression will never be able to attain the glory and honour designed for him or her here. A given example is those Israeli soldiers who for fear lived in perpetual torment and were never able to dare or challenge Goliath.

They were stripped of honour and glory.

But when David appeared and took on Goliath and defeated him, the people took to the streets to sing his high praises. The same circumstances but different perceptions and reactions: what others feared, David dared.

For me, when I feel funny, I do my best to quickly change it to something edifying and spiritually nourishing because of my destiny. Not just because of me, but more so because of millions of other individuals whose lives are tied to me one way or the other. I can’t afford to mess up because there are many people who look up to me.

So, I do my best to bring myself under control. And this is discipline. You must not yield to all emotional cravings and desires else you will truncate your future and mess up your destiny.

There are occasions when your heart desires are not met in terms of need. So many bills to settle and outstanding projects to attend to and there seems to be a momentary short supply of funds. And your mind begins to query the supremacy and abundance of God: ‘Where is God and all the promises of heaven?’ Such thoughts are able to send negative feelings and cause depression. Instead of you dwelling on that, there are good testimonies of what God has done in the past to encourage you and wipe away negative feelings.

On such occasions, I resort to singing.

And when no song seems to come, there is good music you can listen to that will motivate and encourage your soul. And that is when we must find the ministry of others useful.

Listen to me; you have to stop the devil before he stops you. No need feeling bad, no need feeling rejected and abandoned.

You are never alone. The host of heaven is with you. You are surrounded by innumerable multitude of angels. Tell yourself the good news and be positive about your expectations. Delay is for a while, the answers are already on the way. The miracle will soon hit your door post. Attract the presence of God with a feel-good attitude.

And that is why the Bible says: “Say to the righteous, it is well with your soul.”

Advertise your church events, special programmes, conventions and other church activities on these pages. Contact: Tai on 07064380029

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Abuja Beats SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Lugbe residents receive ECA free medical service

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Yekeen Nurudeen o fewer than 52 residents of Lugbe Across, a community opposite the Federal Housing Authority Estate along Airport Road in Abuja benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Excellent Church Assembly.

ECA carried out the exercise through its Excellent Foundation International.

The free medical outreach which was part of the church’s corporate social responsibility to the rural poor of the FCT featured tests for Hepatitis, Diabetes and Malaria as well as blood pressure measurement.

Thereafter, those who tested positive were offered free drugs to treat their ailments.

The evangelical cum medical outreach was targeted at persons of 40 years and above but accommodated married couples of minimum age of 35 to enable the organisation to make a meaningful impact on the community.

Our correspondent who witnessed the event learnt that the NGO’s President, Dr. David Olusegun, had commissioned it to carry out the medical outreach to the people given his background as a medical foctor.

While addressing the beneficiaries, Co-

Yekeen Nurudeen

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A beneficiary receiving free medical screening by a medical team of Excellent Foundation International, at the FHA bus stop in Lugbe Abuja

ordinator of the NGO, Mr. Bode Joseph, said the seven-week old programme was aimed at men and women who are in the immediate community.

He said, “It is being carried out at various locations of the community to be able to reach people in different parts of Lugbe District of Abuja.”

He pointed out that the church had

focused on these ailments because they are killer diseases, which if well managed, could save many lives, owing to delayed responses.

Amadi Nnamdi

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n Abuja High Court sitting in Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory has sacked the Federal Capital Development Authority Staff Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Caretaker Committee, on the ground that it is unconstitutional, null and void.

Justice U.P Kekemeke, who delivered the judgment, declared that setting up a caretaker committee for the society was a breach of the body’s bye-laws, particularly Articles 13 and 14.

He ordered for the immediate dissolution of the caretaker committee just as he directed members of the said committee to render account and vacate office for an election to be conducted into the offices of the society in accordance with the provisions of the bye-laws.

The suit initiated by Mr. Ambrose Samchi, the former president of the cooperative society, came by way of an originating summons, through which he prayed the court to determine, whether from the clear provisions of Article 13 and 14 of the bye-laws of the FCDA Co-operative Society, there is a provision for the appointment of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the society.

He also argued through his counsel that the provisions of the bye-laws of the FCDA Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society provides that a person can only run the affairs of the organisation if such a person is elected into the office and such person must be a member of the co-operative.

The plaintiff further contended that the involvement of the Registrar of Cooperatives in running the affairs of the co-operative is illegal and disturbing the electoral process which was to be held at the next meeting of the FCDA Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society.

He described it as a violation of the rights of the members of the society who had indicated interest in contesting in the election.

Justice Kekemeke while responding to the allegation of criminal misappropriation against Ambrose by the defendants, submitted that he would restrict himself to the substantive matter before him, which was to interpret the bye-laws of the co-operative society regarding the issues as formulated by the plaintiff.

Meanwhile, some members of the committee, who would not want their names mentioned, said they would meet to consider the court order and decide on the next step to take.

asrul- lahi- il- fathi society of Nigeria (NASFAT) Abuja branch last Sunday ushered in the new Islamic year popularly known as Hijrah with spirituality loaded prayers for Nigeria and Nigerians.

While leading the prayer session, the branch Missioner of Nasfat, Sheikh Sharafadeen Aliagan explained that it was part of the teaching and practices of Prophet Muhammad to show love for and pray for one’s nation.

“It is Sunnah to love one’s place of origin,” he said.

Sheikh Aliagan urged Nasfat members to be thankful to Almighty Allah, love their fellows and pray for the country.

He then led the congregation to recite the holy Quran and some selected prayers from Nasfat Prayer Book for peace and unity of the country.

Shortly after the prayers, the branch chairman of Nasfat Abuja, Dr. Nasir Raji joined children in welcoming the year 1436 A.H. Dr. Raji urged children to be good Muslims at all times.

Queen of Aso International extends charity to Children’s home

Court sacks FCDA cooperative “ society committee

Caleb Onwe

Abuja NASFAT prays for Nigeria at Hijrah celebration

Being a beauty queen is not just about having a pretty face, but also about having a pretty heart.”

Those were the exact words of Miss Ogenna Ekwubiri, the reigning Queen of Aso International Beauty Pageant when she extended her charity outreach to Victorine Home for Children at Gwarimpa, Abuja, recently.

Victorine Home is a place where children of female prisoners are kept.

For Ekwubiri, there could be no better time to start her charity work than the home of children whose mothers are behind bars.

She visited the place with lots of foodstuff, such as bags of rice and garri, tubers of yam, edibles and toys.

This benevolent gesture was received with lots of commendation from the management and staff of the home.

Rev. Sister Jovita Nzeduru, speaking on behalf of Sisters of Jesus the Redeemer and Associates, the managers of the home, thanked the beauty queen

for her kind gesture.

She explained that the home was commissioned four years ago for children in difficulty, especially those whose mothers are in prison, children of insane mothers and orphans.

While presenting her gift items to the children, Ekwubiri expressed gratitude to God for keeping her alive and giving her the opportunity to share with the kids the little she could afford at the moment.

“When I learnt that these children belong to women in prison, it really touched my heart. My vision and passion is basically about empowering women. That is why the name of my pet project is captioned ‘Empower Her.’ “I felt these children need to be encouraged and shown the right path. They also need to be shown love, so that at the end of the day when their mothers are released from prison, maybe after serving their term, they will be reunited happily,” Ekwubiri added.

She stated that her charity and empowerment project would be a con-

tinuous exercise.

“By the special grace of God, this is something that would stand the test of time and create employment and put smiles on the faces of people especially women, because you and I know that women are the backbone of any nation,” she said.

She stated that more programmes such as scholarship grants, sensitisation programmes and a business empowerment scheme would emerge from the stable of her pet project.

While urging the general public to join her in charity outreach, she noted that “the essence of being alive is to impact in the life of others.”

She called on organisers and winners of other beauty pageants to join her in charity work, adding that “being a beauty queen is not just about having a pretty face but also about having a pretty heart.”

Ufot Abang, another visitor to the home, whose visit coincided with that of Miss Ekwubiri added that charity visitation is one habit people should imbibe as it helps to give hope to the hopeless.

Sport 59

SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014

Tennis

Djokovic battles Raonic in Paris Masters final p.62

Football

Kalu commends Jonathan on Keshi’s return p.62

Golf

Junior Golf Challenge: Oyedokun keen to follow in Tiger’s footsteps p.61

Laliga

Danagogo recommends Falcons for Hall of Fame p.62

Sunday Team

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu Golf Reporter Ifeanyi Ibeh

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

2015 Nations Cup: Nigeria may not qualify, says Sofoluwe

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Dapo Sotuminu ormer Super Eagles defender, Yisa Sofoluwe, has expressed his fears that the country’s national senior soccer team may not qualify for the 2015 edition of the African Nations Cup. Sofoluwe popularly called the ‘Minister for Defence’ in his active days in the Eagles, noted that, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, did not act with expected wisdom in sacking the national team’s coach, Stephen Keshi, with two matches to go, before the action was rescinded on Thursday.

“Whoever advised the new NFF board to sack Keshi at that point of the Nations Cup qualifiers, obviously does not love this country. How could they have done that at a point the Eagles’ players had resolved to play out their hearts to pick the ticket for the biggest African soccer showpiece.

“From the players’ performance in the match against Sudan in Abuja, which they won 3-1 to give Nigeria hope of still qualifying for the Nations Cup; they sacrificed everything despite their poor form. The second goal scored by Aaron Samuel, was a clear indication that the players were ready to die on the pitch just to ensure they get victory and protect the coach from being sacked. But after doing these, the NFF still went ahead to sack the coach, that was a very bad decision and the players have been bitter over the action.”

Sofoluwe who played prominently for Abiola Babes of Abeokuta during his active days, stressed that, the action would negatively affect the players who will find it very difficult to put their acts together to-

wards securing the much desired ticket for the 2015 Nations Cup. “The truth of the matter is that, the players were not happy as they kicked against the sacking of Keshi who was described as a father figure.

“The other thing is that, even if Keshi accepts to return to his duty post as resolved on Thursday after a meeting summoned by President Goodluck Jonathan, the players’ morale has been dented and they may not recover until after the two qualifiers games.

By this time, the damage would have been done. Already, caretaker coach, Shuaibu Amodu, came up with his own list that included all the players Keshi had dumped, with Ikechukwu Uche leading the pack. I don’t see wisdom in the NFF’s earlier action.”

He added that, the choice of Amodu as the caretaker coach was also a wrong move by the NFF in the first place, more so when the former Eagles handler is rusty and inactive.

“When was the last time he coached any team, he is definitely out of touch and this is very dangerous for the country’s aspiration to play in the Nations Cup. “The NFF should have detailed one of the Premier League coaches as the caretaker handler of the Eagles and not ask them to work under a rusty Amodu. That was not visionary. What that means is that, the active coaches would have no choice but to take instructions from the outdated chief coach.

“Before Keshi was sacked he used 85 percent of the players that won the Nations Cup title at South Africa 2013, looking at it professionally the poor performance of the team was largely due to loss of form by the top Super Eagles stars,” Sofoluwe said.

Sofoluwe

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SUNDAY, 02 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport

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N1.2 billion mess:

Dapo Sotuminu

former Super Eagles star player, Wilson Oruma, it has been confirmed lost his mind for two years battling with insanity after he was duped by fraudsters introduced to him by a Lagos-based frontline Pentecostal Pastor, (name withheld) whose church (name withheld) is located in the Suru-Lere area of the state.

Oruma’s travail started in 2012 when the Pastor in question invited the former victorious Golden Eaglets captain to a private meeting in the church to discuss the possibility of investing heavily into what he described as a lucrative business where he promised to invite the mega bucks investors to the church a week later. A date was fixed for this.

It was at the second meeting, it was gathered that the former Atlanta 96 Olympic gold medallists was introduced to some well-dressed gentlemen who were said to be in possession of some oil blocks they were ready to sell to the rich ex-international.

Oruma, who acted alone without consultation with any of his lawyers and his close friend, Mr. Emakpor Dibofun, believed the story of the fraudsters and never suspected any foul play as they were introduced by his Pastor.

He was advised to invest heavily so as to yield heavy profit.

The two-time African Nations Cup bronze medallist, withdrew funds from all his investments across Europe in three months and withdrew his life savings to ensure he pumped enough money into the oil business. He did not suspect any foul play as the Pastor kept assuring him that, the people are credible and are God fearing business investors.

In all, Oruma paid a whopping N1.2billion into the dedicated bank account given to him to make payments which he did over six months.

The ex-soccer star that played alongside Frank Ribery and Samir Nasri in his days at Olympique Marseille FC of France started suspecting foul play when he did not hear from the people again and they failed to pick their mobile phones on days scheduled for important updates.

He ran to his Pastor for possible succour and reassurance that all was well, but instead the Pastor rebuffed Oruma and told him that, he was a full-time minister of God who knew nothing about oil business, but only introduced him to those he believed could help make his business empire larger. The Pastor asked if he was involved in the business dealings all the while and the answer was a capital no. He thus divorced himself from any blames leaving the soccer star to lick his own wounds but he was not strong enough to withstand the attendant psychological pressure.

A few weeks after this ordeal, Oruma started behaving funny.

He started talking to himself and had hot altercations with his wife at their Victoria Garden City home in Lagos.

It was gathered that, it was after one of the series of altercations with his wife who blamed him

How fraudsters ruined Wilson Oruma

One of Wilson Oruma’s houses in Lagos

Wilson Oruma poses with his bronze medal after Eagles’ victory over Senegal in their third-place playoff at the African Nations Cup (CAN) in Cairo’ 2006

Oruma in action for his club side

for the family’s misfortune and huge loss of money that Oruma busted out of their home in VGC and stormed a popular supermarket where he destroyed valuables. He was wrestled to the floor, with his legs and hands tied to avoid further destruction.

From this day in 2012, Oruma’s unstable mind became pronounced. His close friend, Emakpor with his hands and legs tied took the soccer star to a church

in Warri, Delta state for spiritual healing. After destroying valuables in the church, Oruma escaped to his VGC home in Lagos where he continued to disturb residents. It was also learnt that with his unstable mind, he gave out one of his expensive SUVs worth N14million to a friend who speedily drove away the vehicle.

To avoid further embarrassments of VGC residents, Oru-

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Golf Weekly Junior Golf Challenge: Oyedokun keen to follow in Tiger’s footsteps Ifeanyi Ibeh

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Wilson Oruma celebrates Nations Cup bronze at Cairo 2006

ma’s family agreed to take him to his Suru-Lere home near Brown Street in Aguda, Lagos where secret treatments continued.

He was first taken to the church where he was duped, which was nearby his Aguda home. Here, the culprit pastor after some failed attempts to heal the player advised that he should be taken back home as Oruma had been hit by a strange mental illness which defiled all known treatments.

The ex-international was tied and closely monitored in his Aguda home for over one year as the family sought spiritual healing for him.

The player, who started his football career at Tamuno Babes FC of Warri, was not taken to an orthodox mental hospital in his family’s attempt to conceal his ailment from the public.

Oruma suffered untold hardship for two years as his family with the help of his close friend

and former teammate, Emakpor Dibofun, took him to number Pentecostal churches in Lagos seeking spiritual healing. The much desired healing eventually came few weeks ago when he was given a clean bill of health as he overcame the mental illness.

He has started walking again as the sores on his legs from long period of being tied down in one place are healing fast.

In the words of Oruma’s kid brother, Dominic a former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles goalkeeper; “Wilson is recovering fast, he now recognizes his family members and he has returned to his house in VGC under the care of his wife.

We are very happy about this. It was not easy seeing him suffer so much in the last two years after his money was taken away. We give God the glory for the gift of healing.

“He has told us not to press charges against the pastor who

Oruma wins French League Cup

Oruma with Frank Ribery at Olympique Marseille

Oruma at the France 98 World Cup

Wilson Oruma kisses La Coupe de France

brought fraudsters to dupe him heavily as he said the incident is now in the past. Another good thing is that all his properties are intact and most of his major investments are doing fine.”

Oruma was captain of the Nigeria Under-17 team that won the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he emerged the tournament’s top goal scorer with six goals. He played 19 international matches over 11 years for Nigeria and was part of the team that participated in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he scored in the only appearance he made in the tournament against Paraguay. He was also a part of the squad that won the Olympic gold medal in 1996, a year after he debuted for Nigeria. He played for the Eagles at the 2002 and 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing both competitions at third place.

Oruma played most of his club career in France, after arriving at RC Lens in 1994. He was loaned to Nancy a year after. He returned to Lens and played in their 1997-98 Ligue 1 title campaign. He moved to Turkish side Samsunspor in 1998 and returned to France one year later to play for Nîmes. In 2000, he was transferred to Swiss side Servette, played two seasons before coming back to France again, where he played until 2009 for Sochaux, Marseille and Guingamp, winning the 2003-04 Coupe de la Ligue with Sochaux and the 2008-09 Coupe de France title with Guingamp.

The former Nigerian international announced his retirement from football at the age of 33 on November 26, 2010. He last played his international football for Kavala FC of Greece, before bidding farewell to football.

ulius Oyedokun, who emerged winner of the inaugural edition of the Junior Golf Challenge, concluded last week at the Ikoyi Club, Lagos, has set his sights on emulating golf legend, Tiger Woods.

The 15-year-old from MicCom Golf Club in Osun state, won the two-day event sponsored by Access Bank, which also featured promising youngsters from Ikoyi, Abeokuta, Ikeja, Shagamu, and Ewekoro Golf Clubs.

Scoring an impressive 83 over 18 holes, four shots ahead of secondplaced Sylvester Joseph, Oyedokun showed a calmness and dexterity on the course quite uncommon among his peers; characteristics which led lots of onlookers at the venue to liken the youngster to a much younger Woods.

If only they knew the now aging former world number one is actually one of Oyedokun’s sporting heroes.

“There are a lot of golfers out there that I like but he (Woods) is my favourite. I love watching him play,” said the likeable Oyedokun, with a smile.

“I have seen him play so many times and I try to fashion my game after his. He has been an inspiration to me and so many of my friends and I hope to be like him someday.

“He is not as dominant as he once was but he still commands a lot of respect and admiration from other golfers because of his

achievements.

“I love playing golf for a lot of reasons and he is one of the reasons why I love the sport,” added Oyedokun, who hopes to turn pro someday and who hopes his victory at Ikoyi would lead to many more in the near future.

“I have been winning various tournaments since I began playing golf a few years ago but most of them have been at my club,” he continued. “So, this is like my biggest so far and I hope to win more in the future.”

Meanwhile, organisers of the Junior Golf Challenge have pledged to improve upon future editions of the event following the successful conclusion of this year’s championship.

Speaking at the end of the twoday event, which also saw Raimot Ibraheem from Abeokuta Golf Club emerging winner of the girls’ event, the CEO of Fairstrokes, initiators of the championship, Sam Emehelu, said his outfit will improve on future editions with the aim of giving opportunities to more kids.

“Our dream is to get more kids involved in the game, and give those already playing opportunities to showcase their talents,” said Emehelu.

In his address, the Captain of the golf section of the Ikoyi Club, Ted Iwere said: “Ikoyi Club 1938 is proud to be associated with Fairstroke’s initiative to position the Nigerian child for all round development through the Junior Golf Challenge.”

Pharmacist bags Ikeja Club’s Eid el Fitri prize Chijioke Iremeka

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t was a fun moment as the winner of the Ikeja Golf Club’s annual Eid el Fitri Golf tournament, Pharmacist Ike Onyechi, the Managing Director of Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Limited, went home with the ultimate price of a silver cup for emerging as the overall winner in the tournament’s general category.

Speaking with New Telegraph, an excited Onyechi, said: “I feel like a winner. I feel good. I got value for my efforts.”

He added: “My game is just getting better in response to consistence practice.”

Onyechi, who has been playing on the lush green course of the Ikeja Golf Club at least three times a week for the past six years, said golf is a game that helps one to create a healthy nation in a quiet way, passionately noting: “Be part of it, if you have the opportunity.

It’s good. I feel good.”

The annual Eid el Fitri golf tour-

nament was organised by the Ikeja Golf Club to encourage wellness among the participants, and to patronise its Muslim members during the two-day Eid celebrations as is the case during the Christmas holidays, as well as other national holidays.

Ike Onyechi (c) with the trophy

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Sport / News

Djokovic battles Raonic in Paris Masters final

Moses frustrated despite scoring for Stoke

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uper Eagles striker, Victor Moses, yesterday expressed his frustration as his goal was not enough to give his English Premiership side, Stoke City, victory over West Ham. Moses’ goal was his first in the colours of Stoke City. The match ended in a 2-2 draw as they were held at home at the Britannia Stadium by visitors, West Ham United.

The Nigeria had put the home team ahead in the 33rd minute with Mame Biram Diouf giving the home side a two goal before the visitors woke from their slumber to snatch the equaliser courtesy of strikes from Enner Valencia and Stewart Downing.

Cameron crossed the ball in from the right with West Ham not dealing with it properly. It falls to Bojan but his short got blocked before coming the way of Moses who knocked it past the line, with Adrian scrambling to recover.

With this result, Stoke City are 12th on the English Premier League with 12 points from 10 games.

Sam Allardyce’s men arrived at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday fourth in the Premier League having won each of their previous three games, including a victory against champions Manchester City last weekend.

This sparked a frantic finale as both sides pushed for a winner, but neither could find the decisive touch.

Sakho’s absence may have hampered West Ham, but the hosts also started the match without their chief attacking threat as Peter Crouch served a suspension, along with defender Phil Bardsley.

But Stoke’s replacements combined to create the first opening on 10 minutes.

Geoff Cameron was allowed to burst forward from right-back time and again in the opening exchanges and almost made West Ham pay when he teed up Bojan 15 yards from goal. However, his shot was blocked bravely by James Collins.

RESULTS

Barclays Premier League Newcastle 1 - 0 Liverpool Arsenal 3 - 0 Burnley Chelsea 2 - 1 QPR Everton 0 - 0 Swansea Hull City 0 - 1 Southampton Leicester 0 - 1 West Bromwich Stoke City 2 - 2 West Ham Germany - Bundesliga Schalke 1 - 0 Augsburg Hamburger 1 - 0 Leverkusen Hannover 1 - 0 Frankfurt Mainz 1 - 2 Werder Bremen Stuttgart 0 - 4 Wolfsburg Bayern 2 - 1 Dortmund Italy - Serie A Napoli 2 - 0 Roma Empoli 0 - 2 Juventus Spain - Liga BBVA Granada 0 - 4 Real Madrid A. Madrid 4 - 2 Cordoba France - Ligue 1 Lorient 1 - 2 PSG

D

Cowry Rugby Football Club of Lagos celebrate victory yesterday after defeating Barewa Rugby Club 27-14 in the finals of the Independence 7s tournament played at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos

Kalu commends Jonathan on Keshi’s return

T

he Pillar of Sports in Nigeria and former Governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has applauded President Goodluck Jonathan and other well-meaning Nigerians who ensured the return of Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles chief coach.

In the past few days, there had been controversies over the Keshi’s sack by Nigeria Football Federation.

Kalu who said his remark was in the interest of Nigerian football,

noted that it is just right for the Eagles coach to manage and see the national team through the remaining two qualifying matches.

He said: “I salute Mr. President and the NFF’s decision to return Keshi. It is timely considering the on-going African Nations qualifying matches.

“The return of Ikechukwu Uche to the Eagles by Keshi shows that the national team is set for business. Keshi has been able to forget the past and he is now focusing on the future. I am indeed glad that

Kalu

Ike Uche is back on field.”

The former governor admonished the returnee Eagles coach to remain friendly with his players as the team will go places if there is peace among the players.

Danagogo recommends Falcons for Hall of Fame

T

he Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, NSC, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, has called on sports-loving Nigerians, stakeholders and the media to project the image of the golden Super Falcons positively in the same manner their male counterparts are being projected. Moreso, as they have exhibited world potentials in the game.

While receiving the Falcons in his office, the minister stated that, the team was indeed stars worthy of emulation by footballers, having won the African Women’s Championship title for the seventh time. He commended them for distinguishing themselves as heroines and thus recommended their names to be registered, in the Hall Of Fame.

Dr. Danagogo was full of praises for the girls whom he said were disciplined, passionate and patriotic. Nevertheless, he assured them that all their entitlements would be duly released to them and that the Sports Commission would support their coaches and the football Federation in all area that will enhance better coaching of the team.

Earlier on, the Director of Grassroots Department, Alhassan Yakmut, in his remarks, emphasized that the Falcons since the inception of the AWC, have

been supported by the National Sports Commission to feature in all their events and that they had lifted the Cup seven times in nine appearances. He encouraged them to intensify efforts to lift the World Cup in 2015 in Canada.

Head Coach of the Falcons, Edward Okon, attributed the team’s victory to God whom he said has used the Falcons to sustain football in the country. Okon, also disclosed that the team was willing to make sacrifices, to achieve higher fame for the nation. He solicited for the prayers of Nigerians for continuous victory.

Captain of the team, Evelyn Nwabuku, in appreciation to the glamorous reception given to her team by the Hon Minister and the Sports management, revealed that `their success was by the mercies of God`. She also said that `their victory was a beginning of new things to come`.

Contributing, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, Amaju Pinnick, stated that the Falcons are associated with success in their various outings and have remained the pride of the country in football events.

efending champion Novak Djokovic easily defeated Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-3 Saturday to set up a Paris Masters final against big-serving Milos Raonic.

The top-ranked Djokovic, who returned to action this week after becoming a father, completed the win in just over an hour against the Japanese player, who beat him in the U.S. Open semifinals.

After trading breaks early in the second set, Djokovic saved three consecutive break points in the sixth game before converting his first match point when Nishikori’s lob was out.

Raonic followed up his win over Roger Federer with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over former champion Tomas Berdych.

Raonic came out on top when Berdych, who won in Paris in 2005, lost his composure in the final game. Serving to stay in the match, the fifth-seeded Czech made four consecutive unforced errors, including two double-faults, to hand his opponent the win.

“In a very uncharacteristic way, he sort of just gave me a big opening, and I did good enough to make the most of it,” said the seventh-seeded Raonic.

Berdych smashed his racket in anger before leaving the court.

IK Uche thrilled by Eagles’ invitation

V

illareal FC of Spain striker, Ikechukwu Uche, has expressed excitement at being reconsidered

by Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa in November.

The 30-year-old striker’s last appearance was in the final of last year’s Afcon final in South Africa when Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso to be crowned African champions.

Uche started that game but only played for 53 minutes before he was replaced by CSKA Moscow attacking winger, Ahmed Musa, but he has now stated that he is “happy to be among those selected” to face Congo and South Africa after nearly 20 months of being ostracized from the national team following a spat with Keshi.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, being cheered by Rugby players yesterday at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos after he was dropped by a helicopter at the Onikan Stadium. Fashola’s arrival halted the presentation ceremony of the Rugby Seven’s Tournament for 10 minutes. He was going home.

63

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2014

Who will save PDP from itself ---in the South East?

O f all the geopolitical zones, the South East and the South South are the only two places where President Goodluck Jonathan is sure of almost 100 per cent vote for his reelection next year. In spite of Oshiomhole and Amaechi, I haven’t a single doubt that the electorates in the South East and South South are already primed to vote for Jonathan next year.

For the South East in particular, this is for two obvious reasons. One is that among the Igbo, it is said that somebody’s neigbour is his brother.

It is considered foolhardy to align with ‘outsiders’ against one’s brother, especially if he hasn’t done any terrible thing to you. The other is that the South East is largely PDP. Vice President Namadi Sambo was, for instance, so touched by the massive turnout at the rally organized in Enugu by the Enugu State Movement for the Re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan late September that he declared that the President had no need to campaign in the state again.

Even in states where the PDP isn’t the ruling party, like Anambra and Imo States, the umbrella-symbol party still dominates the minds and hearts of voters. Not even in the South West is the APC that lucky.

But there is such a thing as pushing one’s luck too far, a strategic pitfall that comes with one party in an otherwise mutually-beneficial relationship taking the other for granted. I am afraid that that the case with the South East PDP now: the party is beginning to take its widespread support in the South East for granted.

And it’s all no thanks to the antics of an under-performing officer like Olisa Metuh, who has been disgracefully outflanked in the propaganda war at the national level but as is usual with his type, has found it convenient to come back home to sow seeds of discord in some of the otherwise peaceful chapters in the South East.

Before Metuh, there was a man called Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the South East. In the heat of the Anambra political (read PDP) crisis in 2003, Ozichukwu was not exactly an impartial conciliator in the face-off between the Chris Ngige faction and the Chris Ubah faction of the party.

On one or two occasions, the South East PDP called for his resignation because his position in the party appeared to be having more deleterious than salutary effects on the fortunes of the party in the zone.

In an August 2003 press interview, for instance, the then zonal financial chairman of the party, Emeka Agbapuonwu was quoted as swearing that “the South-east zonal caucus never discussed or approved of the setting up of the so-called reconciliation committee and wisely boycotted its inauguration last Monday at Hotel Presidential, Enugu,” insisting that “ Nze Ozichukwu’s action is tantamount to a slap on the face of Southeast PDP. This is a man severally alleged to have had a pre-knowledge of the events leading to the July 10 abduction of the governor of Anambra State and because of that, whatever action he is taking on the issue is warped in deceit and protection of self-interest, and cannot pass the test of objectivity.”

Calling for Ozichukwu’s voluntary resignation and expulsion from the party as the South-east zonal wing of the PDP had “lost confidence in

Sunday

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

abugufex@gmail.com 08076290498 (sms only)

“Before Metuh, there was a man called Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the South East.

In the heat of the Anambra political (read PDP) crisis in 2003, Ozichukwu was not exactly an impartial conciliator in the face-off between the Chris Ngige faction and the Chris Ubah faction of the party” his leadership for using the name of the party in the zone to prosecute a private agenda”, Agbapuonwu alleged that after the meeting of August 4 where “the South-east PDP could not have been a party to any discussion, in whatever guise or disguise, of a matter that is subject of seven different court cases all instituted by the actors themselves, at about 11pm, Ozichukwu and the senate president (Wabara) proceeded to pass the night at Chief Chris Uba’s private residence in Enugu. (So), it’s obvious that the after-thought that was the idea of a reconciliation committee was mooted there and now being executed in the name of South-east PDP.” Before then, the South East Zonal Central Working Committee (SEZCWC) of the party had also called for Ozichukwu’s resignation for his dubious role in the Anambra crisis. “PDP South-South once had problem, it was settled in the zone; PDP South-West once had problem in Lagos, Olabode George settled it; why should our own be different?” SEZCWC lamented.

“The reason is just that Ozichukwu doesn’t stay in the zone to serve the people that elected him; he is supposed to be taking care of the zone; he is supposed to be living in the zone for easier supervision like other Vice Chairmen, but he chose to live in Abuja… how many days in a month (does) he spend in Enugu, to settle matters?”

The SEZCWC then pronounced a verdict. “Until Ozichukwu…is removed for another more serious and patriotic person to take over, the zone would continue like this, but if removed the party will definitely bounce back to life.”

That was way back in 2003. And up till today, the Anambra PDP crisis still rages. Eleven years after, history is repeating itself…

You see, some of the officers they elect for the party in the South East are just as greedy as they come. For such people, it’s all about lucre, what deal to strike and line their pockets and not about service. Not for them peaceful co-existence, good governance and progress---those are

Metuh

for good men and they make no bone about their being bad men. Until Olisa Metu came into the equation, the PDP in Enugu was a haven of peace.

Positions were zoned in the party and the machinery of the party ran smoothly. Everybody respected the other ’s space and responsibility.

Under Chime’s leadership, the PDP government in Enugu became probably the only one in the country that has conducted local government elections regularly (every two years) since 2007 (many other states have been running their local councils on caretaker committee basis). The party caucus, in difference to a tradition that had been established by Enugu’s founding fathers, unanimously agreed that power would shift from Enugu-West (where Chime comes from) to Enugu North in 2015. On September 26 this year, in a bid to avoid a riotous and expensive primary election, the Enugu North chapter of the party, under the guidance of Governor Chime, agreed to hold a pre-primary election for the various aspirants (some 14 of them) in order to prune down the number and make the November 29 primary election more manageable. At the election, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a gentleman and three-time House of Representatives Member, beat other contenders to emerge as the most preferred candidate among the 14, to go for the primary election on November 29. The zonal causes in the other two senatorial districts of the state, namely Enugu East and Enugu West concurred with the arrangement, believing that it was an unprecedented, peaceful way of producing a governorship candidate for the state by the ruling party. And everything was good to go until...

In stepped Olisa Metuh, a lawyer.

What did he do? Goaded by atavistic elements from Enugu in Abuja, he issued a press statement (I am certain it was unauthorized) disclaiming everything the state Chapter of the PDP had done. How could one low-level, incompetent so-called spokesman disavow such an orderly, methodical step a ruling party in a state had taken towards enthroning good governance in the state in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility and the party hierarchy just looks the other way? How could Metuh have gone to the press to disavow an action that was taken within the confines of the constitution of the party and Wadata House just tagged along?

When the PDP’s failed spokesman (he should go compete with Lai Mohammed for national media space not go to Enugu to cause confusion) saw that the no-consensus-for-any-othercandidate-except-President-Jonathan campaign had failed because Enugu never said there would be no primary election, he connived with his cotravellers in infamy, those who would bring down the roof upon every other person just to have their way, and resorted to cheap blackmail against the Presidency, claiming that President Jonathan was not amenable to Ihedioha and Ugwuanyi vying for elective offices because they voted for Tambuwal as Speaker of the House. That one again stuck in their throats like a bone in a dog’s throat because it’s obvious the President would rather work with those who have proved to be strong allies (among them Ihedioha and Ugwuanyi) than bother himself with how Reps voted to enthrone Tambuwal.

Now Metuh and Co. are at it again.

Just to create confusion in Enugu PDP, the way he and other political traders have done in Anambra PDP, he connived with Enugu low-lifers in Abuja to scuttle the ward congresses that would have produced delegates for the primary election on November 29, yesterday. Now, with his active support, the divisive elements in the Enugu PDP just lucked themselves up somewhere in the Coal City and from there issued a statement claiming that the congresses took place. Their game plan? We shall soon know.

Finally, Olisa Metuh has succeeded in destroying the peace of a party that had wrapped up all processes towards giving President Jonathan a block vote come next year. And you ask: in whose interest are these people working? The party? Jonathan? Certainly not; more like in self-interest.

I am surprised at PDP’s capacity for self-destruction. How could a ruling national party allow rookies like Oliver Metuh and Co to cause such destructive confusion in a state chapter on which the President should ordinarily rely for support in an election so many want him to lose? How would the confusion in Enugu serve President Jonathan’s interest? Would politicians who have no home support deliver Enugu to Jonathan better than a sitting governor in charge of the party structure in his state?

Why should Abuja allow the confusion in Enugu to occur at all?

It is obvious now that so many who are purportedly working for the President are actually 5th columnists in the party working to destroy the President’s otherwise bright chances of victory at the polls come next year. Enugu is a clear example of the conundrum the Jonathan team may have become.

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Nigerian ‘politricks’ and the Nigerian ‘politrician’ •Here comes the season of anomie

T

he season is here again. The season of the locusts. The season of the tricksters. The season of Professor Peller’s abracadabra magicians. The season of “the more you look, the less you see.” The season of masses’ gullibility. The season of Political buccaneers, Irredentists and turncoats.

The season of the typical, archetypal Nigerian Politrician. They call them Politicians. I call them Politricians who play Politricks. They have already started assaulting our psyche, and insulting our individual and collective sensibilities, promising paradise on earth, banishment of poverty, enthronement of genuine and lasting democracy, Rule of Law, human rights and democratic dividends. They are already promising to replicate the Asian Tigers’ economic wizardry in our country. They will put to shame these Asian Tigers, namely, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. What can he not do? Nothing!

DIRTY WARES

Here comes the Chameleon, the Nigerian Politrician. He has wares to market. Dirty, odious wares.

Wares of crass deceit. Wares of double speak. Wares of perfidy. Wares of treachery. Wares of hallucinatory grandeau of delusion. He has them all, except clean wares that activate societal regeneration and a spirit of nationalism.

EMPTY PROMISES: INANITY

In canvassing for votes, even within his own political party for the purpose of winning the party primaries, he has started his well worn game of empty, hifalutin promises of doing the impossible. He will relocate us from mother earth to another of the nine planets, possibly Mars, Neptune, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto, Venus. He does not rule out the Moon, or even the sun. The sun’s hot rays will not burn us. He would provide the ready antidote.

The Nigerian Politrician is the only homo sapiens that can cover the sun with his palm. He can even hide behind his finger and pretend no one is seeing him. His immersion in higgledy – piggledy, raggle – taggle behaviour is legendary.

He would tar all the roads in Nigeria, when he takes over, to every nook and cranny of every city and hamlet. Indeed, some of the roads would be tarred into the forests and farmlands, to help our beleaguered farmers with easy movement of their harvests from farmlands to city centres. What can he not do? Nothing!

Lest the farmer erroneously thinks he will be left alone in the lurch to till the soil, the Politrician will banish the use of antiquated hoe, cutlass, axe and shovel. He will purchase for the farmers use, harrows, harvesters, tractors, caterpillars and bulldozers.

He would be given sacks, nay, barns of fertilizers, to ensure that the crops do very well. He will then be afforded silos to ensure the crops are well preserved.

What can he not do? Nothing!

The Nigerian Politrician will promise to build bridges on dry land, and install irrigation facilities in the wet, rainy Niger Delta. He will ensure that crops grow in our rivers, while fish will effortlessly swim on dry land. What can he not do? Nothing!

What about shelter for Nigerians? Oh, very simple!

The Politrician is going to build houses for the about 174.9 million Nigerians, including little babies still in their mother’s wombs, and those on their mother’s laps. All the houses will be furnished with latest furniture, gadgets and conveniences. Even domestic animals will have special quarters to live in, lest they disturb our peace and tranquility. We, God’s own chosen people must not be disturbed by mere animals. What can he not do? Nothing!

Medicare challenges will be a thing of the past.

Didn’t we defeat Ebola? Are more advanced Countries of the World, including the numero uno democracy, America, not now seeking our intervention as to how to curb the deadly terminal virus? So, for

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08128444555 (sms only) now, we are the new World wizkids of medicine. If we can defeat Ebola, HIV/AIDS will be a piece of cake for us to conquer. Fathers of Medicine will applaud us from their graves: Hippocrates (remember his popular cliché, “desperate diseases require desperate remedies”?); Florence Nightingale (the most famous Nurse ever, otherwise called ‘the Lady with the Lamp;’ Archibald Mclndoe; Sigmund Freud; Marie Curie; James Blundell; Joseph Lister; Joseph Murray; Alexander Fleming and Edward Jenner.

Are you all medical pathfinders not giving kudos to Nigeria from your graves?

Owning cars, choice cars, for that matter, the Nigerian Politrician will promise, will be as easy as buying groundnuts from a roadside hawker. Every Nigerian will ride any car of his choice, from Jaguar, Prado, Escalade, Expedition, Porsche, Cadillac, Excursion, Camry, Sienna, Infinity, to Limousine, Ferrari, Chevrolet, Ford SUV, to Caravan. Those who are tired of riding cars can fly their own private jets, or helicopters. The Nigerian politrician will ensure this. What can he not do? Nothing!

Cripples and other physically challenged Nigerians currently on wheel chairs should better turn them into archival relics, because they would not have any need for them. All of them will drive cars of their choice. They only need to do one thing: vote the Politrician into office, and bingo, all their problems of mobility are over. For those who prefer artificial limbs, oh yes, Indian, American, European, Chinese, and Japanese limbs will be imported in 40ft containers to substitute for their natural limbs.

THE RENTED CROWD

Amidst a surge of a rented crowd (the hungry hoi polloi that are paid between N200 and N1000 to swell the crowd and give a similitude and verisimilitude of a crowd puller), the Politrician verbalizes: “Fellow countrymen, my beloved kinsmen, I will not disappoint you. I will make a lasting difference. I am the redeemer and liberator you have been waiting for, the avatar of your fortunes, the Lamb of God that taketh away all your sorrows, pains, anguish, pangs and serial disappointments. I will empower the powerless, give voice to the voiceless, strengthen the weak, give hope to the hopeless, encourage the downcast and hapless and defend the defenceless. Read my lips: I will train all your children from crèche to the university, give wives to all the bachelors and husbands to all the spinsters.

MAMA LASISI

Never again will any of you be shoeless at zero age, even whilst in your mother’s womb, let alone walking shoeless at the age of 10, like our Otuoke – born President Goodluck Jonathan. You will be luckier than this Goodluck.

I will banish hunger and annul (pardon me, IBB), the consumption of ordinary home-made yams, maize, garri, akpu, fufu, amala, elubo, eba, fura da nunu, miakuka, edikang ikong, ofe nsala, nkwobi, atsu, ewedu and all such unhealthy local foods. ‘Stomach infrastructure’ or ‘democracy of the stomach’ will be my first and primary concern when you elected me into office.

“My reign will ensure that your breakfast shall comprise of toasted bread, sausage, spring rolls, bacon, and prawns in batter; your lunch, fried pigeon, pork ribs, shrimps in chili sauce and mashed potatoes; while your dinner will be Singapore noodles, crabs, boneless sweet and sour duck, lobsters in black bean sauce and asparagus, broccoli with mixed vegetables.” What can he not do? Nothing!

Nigeria befuddles me.

AND THIS: ONLY IN NIGERIA

It is only in Nigeria that a Politrician will be elected on the platform of a political party, stay put and enjoy the party’s protection and reputation for seven years, quietly or tumultuously defects to an opposition political party in the 8th year, and suddenly realize that his original political party is satanic, luciferous, odious, backward, useless and indeed consists of political lepers and thieves of our common wealth.

Only in Nigeria.

It is only in Nigeria that a Governor will cajole and coax a crowd of people drawn from all nooks and crannies of all the Local Governments of his state, just for the purpose of commissioning a five-kilometre road project whose touted cost is actually more than 500% of the actual cost. The money used in organising the attendant ‘Commissioning’ is nearly as much as the project cost. Only in Nigeria. The poor, cheated and hoodwinked plebians will sing their hearts out, tattoo their bodies with uli and ume, and dance atilogwu, mpokiti, igioge, igbokobia, igieleghe and even egbabonalimhi dance. Only in Nigeria.

It is only in Nigeria you will hear a Governor “vow” to build roads, provide shelter and education, give water and Medicare to citizens of his state, as if he was elected for a different purpose. Only in Nigeria. It is only in Nigeria that a community

will welcome their son or daughter with open arms where he or she can show and demonstrate overt evidence of vulgar opulence, and stolen money. Indeed, the more the ‘son of the soil,’ or ‘daughter of the soil’ stole from the National till, the more he/ she is venerated and idolised. The sudden wealth must luminate in sprawling mansions, in all parts of the world, a fleet of countless cars, vast acres of farmlands, micro industries, and escort - heralded convoy of vehicles. Only in Nigeria.

Woe betide the retiree who comes back empty handed, in the name of prudence, patriotism, honesty and probity, while in service. He/she will be shunned, avoided, derided, scorned, mocked and spat at, for being a fool while in service. Only in Nigeria.

It is only in Nigeria that elders will pour libation and pray for their children thus; “May God and our ancestors increase your wealth (money), but not your work. May you find, or stumble on money that is not owned by any one”. Gracious God! Holy Moses!!

Only in Nigeria.

It is only in Nigeria that certificated criminals who have stolen from our commonwealth, will be rewarded and have their necks garlanded with medals and National Honours. They will be awarded high sounding chieftaincy titles, all of them ending with one (1). There is no number two or three. That is a taboo. It is Ogbini 1, Ogbaleghe 1, Okpughukpughu 1, Onwa 1, MajeKobaje 1, Yerimah 1, etc. Such criminal elements will be accorded prominent seats and mats in the front pews and spaces of our churches and mosques, scrambling for spaces with our liturgical and clerical officials such as canons and Imams.

Only in Nigeria. It is only in Nigeria that small level officials of Government will easily pocket billions of naira and smile home after a judicial slap on their wrist. Only in Nigeria.

It is only in Nigeria that Boko Haram will abduct our innocent daughters from Chibok and rather than unite as a Nation and fight a common enemy, the Haramists, as the Americans did on 11th of September, 2001, when her national pride and symbol of strength, the New York twin towers were leveled to ground zero, we vilify the President and helpless Governor of the receiving state. We abuse and denigrate the military that is fighting the ‘Civil’ war, men and women of honour and valour, who left their loved families and the comfort of their homes, to fight in the damp, cold forests and hot desert to ensure our collective security. Nigerian Politricians turn the entire issue in to a political game of musical chairs, Baba Sala’s Alawada Kerikeri’s histrionics and theatricals. Only in Nigeria. It is only in Nigeria that elected officials of Government will use the first year of a four-year term to study their governance or legislative structure and organogram, including making appointments; use the second year to work for the people who elected them; and use the remaining two years politicking and amassing vulgar wealth.

He enjoys Politicking without governance. Only in Nigeria. It is so sad, so debasing, so amazing and so idiotic.

Nigeria, we hail thee.

• Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

By Aliu Eroje

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: EMEKA MADUNAGU.