25th oct 2014

SATURDAY SATURDAY

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Vol. 1 No. 249

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Meet the CEOs of Nigeria’s leading banks

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ith total assets estimated at N22.64 trillion ($138b) and robust annual profits that pale the figures posted by some multinationals, banks no doubt make

some of the most significant contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth.

That fact inevitably implies that chief executive officers of banks should rank among the most influential SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

Sport Splash

FREE

25

News

Focus on defence, Taribo tells Amodu p.27

Premier League

Man Utd, Chelsea test might at Old Trafford p.28

Championship

Omeruo, Ighalo clash in the Championship p.28

personalities in the country.

But the self-effacing ethos of the banking world has made ample knowledge of these individuals a very remote possibility.

But from Monday, 27

October, New Telegraph, will beam its searchlight on the CEOs of Nigeria’s 21 banks whose strength is evident in the many stress tests they have survived, from the recapitalisation of the

Prof. Charles Soludo era as CBN governor.

The series is essentially a celebration of success exemplified in the careers of these professionals over the years. It will highlight

SPORT

BEZ

JUBILEE JONAS

Your free 8-page thriller }25

Not just That Stupid Song

Online business ‘smells good’

}23

}6

showbiz

Interview

I quit my job to focus on Rio 2016 – Akinyemi p.31

their work and the philosophy that shape their work ethic, and help put a face to the enduring brands that Nigerian banks have become.

Keep a date.

OPENING SHOT

Super Eagles players during their match against France at the World Cup in Brazil

keShi, eagleS ruin adidaS deal

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The Team Vincent EboigbelAssistant Editor Ajibade Olusesanl Correspondent Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing

Ajibade Olusesan peting brands during international matches. fully aware of the kit policy on ground and However, our correspondent learnt that still went ahead to contravene it. Maybe beevelations have emerged on the role shortly before the World Cup, Keshi opened cause he knew the NFF cannot punish him. former Super Eagles coach Stephen a negotiation with rival sportswear company At that point, Maigari and his people were Keshi played in the event that led to Nike and secured a personal deal. The coach more determined not to renew Keshi’s conthe termination of contract between compounded the problem by encouraging tract when it expired after the World Cup,” the Nigeria Football Federation and sports- some of his players to sign contract with the a source said. wear giants, Adidas.

United States-based company.

The source also added that: “Keshi did The NFF, under Aminu Maigari signed Consequently, the coach and some of the well as a coach because he achieved so much an improved four-year contract with the players appeared at the World Cup, spotting within a short period of time but some things sportswear company in 2012 but the outfit outfits produced by Nike. The management actually happened under his rein and we terminated the agreement barely two years of Addidas quickly raised objections to the have to be happy that we are done with into the tenure of the deal, citing breach of development and sought explanation from that era. How can you explain the fact that contract. the NFF board. a member of the technical crew turned the New Telegraph exclusively learnt that the “The sports company told the NFF to call team to a business centre where he markets agreement between the two parties was that Keshi to order but they were surprised that all kinds of merchandise and will even comthe German company will kit all the 11 na- Maigari and his people could not do any- pel players to patronise him, he would even tional teams annually with a proviso that thing to the coach and they were left with no threaten them if they don’t patronise him and players must not wear anything from com- option than to cancel the contract. Keshi was Keshi did not do much to stop this coach.”

COUP COMMENT

GOWON PROVOKES WAR }47

MURTALA’S family, OKOGIE, FANI-KAYODE JOIN BATTLE

IBINABO FIBERESIMA YES, I’M A CELEBRITY. BUT MY MARRIAGE WON’T CRASH }13

FG: Talks with Boko Haram ongoing Ndubuisi Ugah and Buhari Bello

Jos with agency reports

D

espite the air of uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire and the subsequent release of over 200 Girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, the federal government yester-

lSect’s ‘spokesman’ says Chibok girls to be released Monday

day said talks with the sect had not been jettisoned.

Director-General of the National Orientation Agency and coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, stated this during an interview with the British

Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service) monitored in Jos, Plateau State.

He explained that there was no time or date given on the release of the girls, noting that the original announcement by the government was never specif-

ic with regard to date.

“We are currently talking with the group that claimed they have the girls in their custody. After presenting to the Chadian president, who also ascertained their claim, Nigeria is trusting on that

dialogue. Although, there is too much uncertainty concerning the correct members of Boko Haram, we are optimistic that only time shall tell,” Omeri said.

On the continuous attacks on some villages

after the ceasefire deal, he said it would be a betrayal if the group was behind it.

Meanwhile, Chad has said it believes that the federal government’s secret deal with Boko Haram Islamists to free the schoolgirls will go ahead, despite the apparent breakdown CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Okey Wali, ex-NBA president, regains freedom

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Contents | 25.10.14 INSTYLE

THE ARTS

SHOWBIZ

Irrepressible Jumpsuits

Jumpsuits made their debut in the 1960s when the fashion philosophy was predominantly prudish. Since then they have become a celebrity staple. Its enduring power derives from the cutting edge creativity deployed by designers

}17

Dark Side of Life An exhibition of photographs by Nigerian artist, Uche James Iroha, that opens in Lagos on November 1 speaks to Nigeria’s existential debacle particularly with regard to the less than salutary state of public power

}37

Felabration and Morning After It was a pulsating moment while it lasted, with iconic stars from across the world performing alongside indigenous artistes.

Felabration has grown to become a major highlight of the showbiz calendar. But what happens the morning after it rounds off ?

}34

SPORT

Kit Deal Gone Awry

Just how did a lucrative deal the Nigeria Football Federation had with sportswear giants, Adidas, end so abruptly? A new report suggest the reason lies in the decision by ex-Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to secure a deal with rival kit-maker, Nike

}25

TRAVEL

One Night in Sokoto A visit to the seat of the Caliphate is sure to thrill. And a thrill what was our correspondent got on a recent visit to Sokoto. The ancient streets, endless swarm of almajaris and a taste of Kaba, a specially prepared barbecue, all combined makes Sokoto a compelling destination

}42

CHEF’S CORNER

Attention to Details Master chef of Lagos-based Emglo Suite, Akintola Akinleye, reminisces on his decades long experience working at the Nigerian embassy in Gabon and serving some governors

}40 Plus: Street Diary 11 | My Weekend 44 |

Faceoff 48

Comment

Tourism as mainstay of the economy

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ith the potential to earn at least $7 billion yearly from its tourist markets, stakeholders in the tourism sub-sector have emphasised the need for sustainable partnerships and linkages to harness the opportunities in the industry. Specifically, Nigeria’s tourist markets hold a $4 billion domestic market and a $3 billion Diaspora market yet to be maximally explored for growth. According to the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the domestic tourism market has very high revenue and job creation potentials but remains under-explored, as Nigerians’ preference for foreign tourism takes toll on the sector.

Speaking during a seminar organised by the Hotel, Tourism and Entertainment Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, the DirectorGeneral, NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo stated that religious tourism topped the bulk of domestic tourism recorded last year.

“In 2013, Nigeria recorded a total of 4,037,808 international tourist arrivals, which accounted for $649.5 million in expenditure, while 3,081,808 domestic tourists accounted for $470.6 million, during the period,” she said. “Religious tourism recorded over a million domestic tourists and a substantial number of international tourists in 2013. In order to address the challenges bedeviling the tourism sector, there is need to address certain concerns including infrastructure challenge, legal changes, funding, collaboration between state governments, as well as with the private sector.”

Although government is making efforts to address the issue of capital flight through tourism, Mbanefo stressed the need for all stakeholders to do more to promote the sector. “The NTDC and government in general are aware that developing our local tourism industry for domestic consumption will not be an easy task as it is no longer a secret that more and more Nigerians that can afford it travel abroad every day,” she said. “Government can no longer fold its arms and continue to watch the daily capital flight that leaves our over 4,279 hotels and numerous restaurants dry. Nigeria must put in place a mechanism through which benefits can be derived from all departures. We must develop domestic tourism, not just for paid travellers alone, but leisure infrastructure in our various communities for citizens who cannot afford to travel.”

We couldn’t agree more with the NTDC DG. Tourism is the fourth largest industry in the global economy and no country can afford to take it lightly. In 2009, the industry

was described by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as one that helps promote peace and stability in developing countries through job provision, income generation, economy diversification, environmental protection and promotion of cross-cultural awareness. However, for some obvious reasons—infrastructural and power deficits, for instance-- successive governments in Nigeria have been largely unable to develop this important sector of the economy to its full potential. Some of these factors also include absence of enduring water transportation, sub-standard and expensive hotels, lowprofile shopping malls and corner shops, near absence of classy relaxation centres, inability to book for hostels and apartments online, difficult immigration and visa processes, lack of information about tourist sites in the country, high cost of operation, lack of human capital and lack of retail infrastructure, among many others.

We urge that as a veritable platform for creating mass employment, especially in many developing countries with rich flora and fauna, pristine beaches and glitzy cultural festivals to entertain tourists, tourism must, therefore, be given its due attention in Nigeria. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism accounts for about 11 percent of the global GDP. Similarly, the worth of export of tourist provisions is nearly 6-7 percent of global exports of services and goods, even as it is estimated that the tourism industry hires nearly 6 % of the global professional population.

It is disheartening that though Nigerians, especially the wealthy, love shopping, they prefer to do so abroad, thereby depriving the local economy of the billions that should ordinarily accrue to it from sales tax and all that. Worse still, these billions are often lost as capital flight to other economies, thereby depriving the government—and the political economy as a whole—the funds needed to develop the country.

As John Obayuwana, founder and Managing Director of Polo Luxury Group, puts it, Nigerians’ preference for consuming luxury goods abroad is an indication that “in Nigeria, customers are not just looking for logos; they are also looking for quality and great service.”

What that means is that it is time for Nigeria to look inwards by developing the nation’s tourism through bringing quality and great service to bear on the operation of the sub-sector. As has been proved in other countries, a well-planned, developed and professionally-operated tourism sub-sector can, indeed, become the mainstay of the local economy.

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, Saturday n Waheed Bakare

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

News Editor n Ndubuisi Ugah

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Ag. Sales/Circulation Manager n Uchey Okezie

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

3

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Take two for the price of one, from October 6, 2014.

Read the International New York Times in every Monday Edition of the New Telegraph

Nigeria’s authoritative Newspaper in Business and Politics

www.newtelegraphonline.com

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News

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

PDP leaders tackle Obasanjo over Kashamu Ndubuisi Ugah, Sola Adeyemo, Biodun Oyeleye, Babatope Okeowo and Adesina Wahab

T

he ripple effect of the statement made recently by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Chairman of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in SouthWest, Mr. Buruji Kasamu, cannot be his leader may have raised fresh controversies among the party chieftains in the region, Saturday New Telegraph has learnt.

Indication that the ‘centre may longer hold’ concerning the issue emerged during the week when some party chieftains from the region expressed divergent views on the issue.

While some were of the opinion that Obasanjo’s allegation against Kashamu had not been proved in a competent court of law in Nigeria, others argued that the former president’s tantrum against Kashamu should be seen as the normal brickbat that occurs in a ‘father-son’ relationship.

Obasanjo had recently rejected the peace moves initiated by the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and for-

lAnti-Corruption Network writes AGF, seeks PDP chief’s extradition mer Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, among others where he had stated that he could not be in the same group with “a drug baron” who was wanted in the United States.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP leaders to do the “needful” instead of begging him for forgiveness.

But Kashamu in his reaction denied being a wanted drug baron, stating that he was never convicted of such criminal allegations.

Expectedly, the statement, which was coming on the sidelines of preparations for the 2015 elections, however, drew some ‘cold blood’ among some PDP chieftains, especially from the South-West region, who spoke with Saturday New Telegraph.

For instance, former Senate Leader and governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, said: “Baba Obasanjo is a leader of everybody in the PDP. Mr. Buruji Kashamu is a party financier, who is doing well for the party.

“I know Buruji himself cannot claim to be Baba’s leader because Baba is not only our leader in the South-West, but our leader in the whole of

L-R: Brothers of late Dame Remi Oyo, Pastor Abayomi Oke; Mr. Sunday Oke; son in-law, Mr. Tolu Abudiore; daughter, Mrs. Okiemuote Abudiore; husband, Mr. Vincent Oyo; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Nkem Oyo and son, Mr. Otome Oyo, during the funeral mass for the late Remi, at the St. Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Nigeria. Buruji wants our party to win in the next election so he cannot afford to be in conflict with Baba Obasanjo. We should get on in harmonious relationship in order to win the next election.”

Speaking also, a former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, said he would always be on the side of the party.

Speaking through his Media Assistant, Jide Kolade, the Oyo State governorship aspirant, said: “Adedoja’s stand is always on the side of the party. To

him, interest of the party takes pre-eminence over that of any individual. The party’s interest is supreme.

If it is Kashamu that is in such office today or any other person, it means it suits the party as such.

Whatever the party decides is what matters.”

Commenting also, Ondo State PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Wale Ozogoro, said as long as Kashamu had not been convicted of drug related offence, he is deemed to be innocent of such allegation.

Ozogoro said Obasanjo

FG: Talks with Boko Haram ongoing CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 1

of a truce, stressing that the key to the agreement was a prisoner swap.

The accord mediated by Chad for the release of the girls seized from Chibok in April had been called into question since it was announced by the Nigerian military last week.

A ceasefire supposed to be part of the agreement had been broken, while about 25 girls were reportedly abducted this week.

Speaking to Reuters on Thursday in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, the second-in-command in Chad’s foreign ministry, Moussa Mahamat Dago, said it appeared some Boko Haram factions were refusing to abide by the deal, brokered by the Chadian foreign minister with two representatives of the Islamist group and two Nigerian negotiators at meetings in Chad on September 14 and 30.

“Quite possibly those who are fighting are dissidents that even they (Boko Haram) aren’t able to control. So far, there is no rea-

son for others to doubt this agreement. What I can say is that those that negotiated with the Nigerian government did so in good faith ...

We are waiting for the next phase which is the release of the girls,” Dago said.

He said the two sides had agreed verbally to a series of points summarised in a document he had seen, including the release of the schoolgirls and of jailed Boko Haram fighters.

“The starting condition of Boko Haram was the liberation of some of their members ... That is the compensation,” Dago said, adding that the specifics on the names and number of Boko Haram fighters still to be released had not yet been agreed.

He said he still expected the girls to be freed, without giving a time frame.

The Boko Haram negotiators were no longer in Chad although they had agreed to return in October, after freeing the girls to hold more talks.

“The first stage of the agreement made was the release of a group of 27

Chinese and Cameroonian hostages by Boko Haram two weeks ago in northern Cameroun.

“We remain optimistic.

The two sides agreed to find a negotiated solution and to show their good faith they already freed some hostages and announced a ceasefire,” he said.

Dago admitted it would be embarrassing for Chadian President Idriss Deby’s government, which had taken a leading role in security and diplomacy in Africa’s turbulent Sahel region in recent years, if the girls were not freed.

“It would be very disappointing. We are engaged in this now. If this negotiation doesn’t succeed that would be damaging for Chad’s facilitating role,” he said.

The release of the girls is expected to bolster President Goodluck Jonathan’s profile ahead of the 2015 elections.

He has been strongly criticised for his tardy response after news of the students abduction broke. His government’s inability to quell the insurgency has also been another sore point.

Although Boko Haram

has not yet commented on the ceasefire. Dago said he was confident that the negotiators had the authority to speak on behalf of the group.

“They are envoys who answer to their leader Shekau who himself confirmed that these emissaries spoke on his behalf. That was confirmed in writing to the Chadian government,” he said, confirming local press reports that the negotiators were named Cheikh Goni Hassane and Cheikh Boukar Umarou.

But Mallam Danladi Ahmadu, the secretarygeneral of the sect said to have held negotiation on their behalf has given assurances that the abducted school girls will be released on Monday.

A Voice of America report quoted him as saying that talks between his group and the government has been successful. According to him, the talks would be rounded off on Monday in Chad, and the girls would be handed over to him for presentation to the Nigerian government.

as a respected statesman knows that Kashamu was not the leader of the party in the South-West geo-political zone and was wrong to have described him as such.

In his comment, a PDP chieftain, Dr. Dare Bada, said the former president was just being dramatic as he knew the constitution of the party that being the chairman of a committee does not confer leadership status of the party on anyone.

Another leader, Mr. Ola Oguntimehin, said the former president was entitled his opinion and the way he

looks at everything.

The Legal Adviser, Ekiti State chapter of the PDP, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, said, “It is unfortunate if somebody now wants to use the ploy of use and dump. For me, as long as he has not been found guilty of any offence, he remains innocent. No one should see another person as being good only when that person is doing their bidding. Until Kashamu is convicted of any crime, he is presumed innocent and nobody should call him names,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Wali, ex-NBA president, regains freedom lIts unfortunate, says Ozokheme lAlison-Madueke’s younger sister abducted Foluso Ogunmodede and Tunde Oyesina Abuja

F

ormer President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali (SAN), yesterday regained freedom from his abductors in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, after spending 13 days with them.

Wali, who was kidnapped, while on his way to visit a family member, was released by his abductors without any ransom yesterday.

In a statement issued by the NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), said the former president was released hale and hearty about 11p.m. yesterday.

The statement stated: “The 26th president of the NBA, Okey Wali, was about 11p.m. on October 23 released by his abductors after 13 days in captivity.

I have personally spoken to him and can confirm that he is hale and hearty and in good spirit. He expresses his thanks and

appreciation to members of the Bar, Bench, securitymen, friends and family for their concern, support and prayers during the period of his ordeal.”

Commenting on the development yesterday, human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on youth unemployment and infrastructural decay in the country.

Ozekhome, who spoke with Saturday New Telegraph in Abuja, stated the call was aimed at bringing the misguided youths out of the forests and iniquitous ways and into gainful employment.

“Truly, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. The youth must imbibe the tenets of hard labour and learn the truism that crime does not pay in the long run. I salute his courage in withstanding this near death ordeal. I thank God for delivering him to us safe and unharmed,” he added.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

The attention of PDP Ebonyi state chapter has been drawn to a press briefing in Abuja by one Mike Awo who claims to be a factional chairman of the party in Ebonyi state. On the 23rd of October, 2014, Nigerians and the general public were furnished with blatant falsehood on the above subject matter in pages 10 and 56 of the sun newspaper. Our first perception was to ignore. However, as the day and time was winding up rumours of the falsehood went round like wild fire and so it became necessary and expedient that we refute the falsehood to allay the fears and concerns of the public and our teeming supporters, our reliable members across the globe, national headquarters and national leader who believe in the indefatigability and uniqueness of Ebonyi state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party.

We hereby urge our peaceful members and teeming supporters and indeed the general public to disregard the purported press release/briefing which was sponsored by those who want to cause disorder, disaffection and deceit to both members and the general public who have demonstrated on undiluted support for our great party. The Ebonyi state chapter of PDP still remains one big peaceful family which has no faction or problem of any kind as claimed by the unknown imposter and his cohorts.

Therefore we reply thus: a) That these imposters are non-existing and if they exist they should show themselves to the world. b) They cannot be members of Peoples Democratic Party anywhere or in Ebonyi State. Members cannot display such amount of ignorance in a national daily; that is why both the address of the party and the composition the state working committee or the state executive will be so incorrectly displayed. c) These imposters do not read or may be did not understand simple English language, that is why they could so invest or arrogate in themselves the powers of dissolution or to install a state chapter executive of the party against the constitutional stipulation see chapter 10 section 57 (7) of the party constitution 2012 as amended. d) These people are not in anyway close to being members of our party and that is why they cannot recognize the organs of the party as structured for the administrative convenience and disciplinary action(s) to be taken against persons, officers or chapter executives as in chapters 4 part ii and 10 of the party constitution as amended.

We don’t wish to join issues with the unknown persons but to put the record straight, those who signed the press briefing hide under fictitious names which do not exist in the party’s register.

Therefore, it should be treated as no issue. We therefore state as follows: ì it is a known fact that Ebonyi state chapter is the most peaceful state chapter of the party in Nigeria and so, caucus cannot be as often as in a crises prone chapter but it is not correct that caucuses are not held.

In fact, the last and most recent was held, Monday 13th October 2014. ì The 2012 party congresses held across the chapters of the party throughout the federation therefore no true, concerned and dedicated member cannot be shut out at the state level because the national headquarters provide an alternative for one to pick form(s) and contest. ì The dictatorial stance of the Governor in the running of the party is an imagination of uninformed, desperate, over zealous and of course unscrupulous elements. That’s uncomplimentary of a leader who has done so much for the people and who has galvanized massively and prudently for both the state and the party. ì The immediate past State Chairman Hon. Prince Ugorji Amaoti voluntarily resigned his position to seek an elective position for Afikpo North/Afikpo South federal constituency. He presided over both caucus and SEC meetings held by the state chapter the previous week and in both occasion sought and got the permission of members to release him to seek his ambition. So, where is the story of intimidation to resign coming from. ì It is in public knowledge that the constitution of the party just like in other organization of the society when the Chairman resigns the Deputy naturally takes over. This was what played out here in PDP Ebonyi state. Chief Onwe Joseph Onwe the former state Deputy Chairman took over from the former chairman, Hon. Prince Ugorji Amaoti. ì The is issue of imposition of gubernatorial candidate exposes the import of all these charlatants. It opens the hand work of enemies of the party in the state, just as it establishes connect between these imposters and their sponsors who would want to scuttle the loud voices and choice of the people. However, we wish to bring to the domain of the public that Ebonyi Gubernatorial seat will be contested and won according to party guidelines, rules and constitution therefore, the issue of imposition goes to no issue. ì When a man with unsound or adulterated mind speaks, he pours venoms. That’s why the sack of a coordinator who is an employee of the Governor and Chief Executive will elicit comments from desperate impostors who want to score cheap political points and further exposes their naivety and lack of knowledge of the ethic of cooperate existence and governance. ì Yes, meeting of PDP State Executive Committee (SEC) the highest decision making organ of the chapter held. It is of importance that only three out of 91 statutory members were absent, out of the 3, two (2) sent their apologies and so decisions of such high powered organ cannot be diluted nor can it be distorted by no less impostors who are not known by this party. For the records, 34th SEC resolved to zone the 2015 gubernatorial seat to the Southern zone of the state in accordance with the provisions of the party constitution and vision of the our party founding fathers – 2012 PDP constitution as amended – see preamble 2 (d) and the charter of equity by Ebonyi founding fathers. Therefore, all candidates from the zone are qualified to aspire.

News

Finally, we wish to thank Ebonyians for believing and choosing option PDP. The assurance of handlers and leaders of this state Chapter is that we are united, formidable, unbeatable, intact, reliable and of course, focused. No amount of desperation from these enemies and allies will derail us. The National leader of the party, Mr. President and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR and indeed the National Chairman of our great party Alh. Dr. Adamu Ahmed Mu’azu (the game changer) and his wonderful team of National Working Committee (NWC) are assured of unflinching, and unwavering support of Ebonyi state chapter of the party and also a deposition of profound assurances of our resolute resolve to deliver as usual 100% come 2015 general elections is a warranty. This is an already done deal.

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OpeningShot SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

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25 OCTOBER, 2014

Why online business smells good Jubilee Jonas is a lawyer but her passion lies elsewhere - a nose for business and, well, good smell. She runs an online retail store for perfumes inspired by her love for everyone to smell good. She speaks on the prospect for online business in this interview with Oluwatosin Omoniyi What is the name of your online business?

My shop is the Perfume Place. It is an online business where people go, click and shop for different perfumes. So it’s an online shopping. We have perfumes in a virtual store. Once you have perfumes in a virtual store and you have your internet; you click the URL or the link shop. The Perfume Place is a one shop for perfume basically.

How is the online business run essentially?

Once people place their order on the Perfume Place, we get their mails and we process their order and send it through. People get to pay when their goods are delivered to them. So all you just need to do is go on the net, select what you want through the mail, we send it out to you and you pay on delivery.

What was the inspiration for this?

You know Lagos is a unique place, the world generally is unique and it is becoming a global village. So, I thought why not take our perfume shop online to our customers because the Lagos traffic doesn’t allow anybody do much. So going online makes it easier. You could sit down in your office and actually get everything done. Online business is where the world is moving towards, so there are great prospect in the online business. I love fragrance. I grew in a compound that has flowers, and I noticed that in the evening, there is this lovely fragrance, everything changes, the fragrance in the house is really nice, even the garden and all that.

My mother told me a childhood story that I will take a few of the flowers, grind it and pour oil thinking it was going to come out as perfumes. So when I was growing, it became part of me. Really, I like to smell good, and I like people to smell good. So, my dad told me to turn that into a business since I like socialising.

How long have you been in this business?

We’ve been about a year now online, but before then, we have been on about three years. We operate wholesale; we just started the retail online.

“We want people to smell good, from the security man, to the house help because fragrance is the beauty of a place.”

How would you describe the response to the business?

Well, it’s been very encouraging. Like every other business its starts slow, but persistence is what makes you stand out. So far, it’s been really encouraging. I wouldn’t say it’s been short of encouraging. We get massive response and we are working on getting more like advertising and all of that, making people know that we are online. It will surprise you to know that we have over one million online shops in Nigeria; we have competition but we try our best so that we can let the world out there to know that we sell genuine goods.

When you buy stuff from the Perfume Place, you go to bed knowing that your goods are very genuine. So you have nothing to fear about us. With the business, we are very careful, we want everything to smell good at the little fractions and our key word is quality.

Is the business limited to perfumes or mixed?

We are just considering our perfumes.

Further down the line we plan to do our own perfumes, our own brands.

What about the cost of your products?

We want people to smell good, from the security man, to the house help because fragrance is the beauty of a place.

If you come to a place and it smells good, you are happy. Besides, thoughts tend

to flow better. They are affordable. Our prices fall into two categories - the low and high class. It ranges from N6,000 and we are even working to get it lower than that for everything. Designer fragrances are as low as N6, 000. I want everyone to smell good, from undergraduates to the working class. Our campaign is that everyone should smell good and that’s what I want.

Would you say the encouragements have outweighed the moments of despair?

My husband was very encouraging because, it wasn’t easy when I started.

The sales were slow, and I had high expectations and all of that. Sometimes, I will just breakdown and my husband would say, ‘this is the beginning of something and the beginning is not always easy’. I remember vividly he gave me an example of the child trying to walk the first time, how he falls down. He explained that the child will not just sit and refuse to work again.

So, that particular example he gave me really helped me because I’d keep trying until the whole world knows about the Perfume Place. I emphasised that he was really encouraging because he kept on pushing and telling me that I could do this and my mom also was very encouraging; she would travel, come back home and purchase perfume from me.

So I had a very good support system in my business.

You want people to smell good, are you implying that people largely do not smell good?

Some people feel you have to be in a certain place before you use a perfume which is not supposed to be so. In fact, it takes so much effort to smell good, so I think it’s more of a collective responsibility if I we all smell good. It will help the whole environment because you’ve taken so much effort to smell good not only for yourself but for others. So, basically the campaign to get people to smell good is good for everyone. It makes a whole lot of sense.

Have you left law for the perfume business?

I’ve always been in the retail business. I work in BLK Investment as a retailer and in the marketing department, and even in school they would say ‘this Igbo girl likes business’.

So do you not think you should have studied something else consistent with your passion?

When I think about it, I wish I actually did that but I have to fulfill the desires of my parents. I vividly remember my first law class in year two. I knew this was not what I ought to do but I just kept going on and got through with that and I said, ‘OK, let me pursue my passion’. And that is what I am doing.

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Law school mass failure: NBA advocates state of emergency on legal education OUTCRY Disenchantment greets the result released by the Nigerian Law School Ndubuisi Ugah, Foluso Ogunmodede and Tunde Oyesina

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ollowing the mass failure recorded at the last 2013/2014 Part II Final Bar Examination of the Nigerian Law School (NLS), which was held in August, President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), has said the legal body is tinkering on declaring a state of emergency on legal education in order to address the dismal performance.

To this effect, he said he had already written to the Director General of NLS, Dr. Olarenwaju Onadeko, on how the NBA and NLS could partner to address the development, which he said, was the worst in the annals of the NLS. “This year’s law school result is the worst in the annals of the school. We are not happy about it and this had informed our decision to set up an inquiry to probe what had happened. As a matter of fact, we have written the Director General of NLS, Olarenwaju Onadeko, about this development. It is time we declared emergency on legal education in Nigeria with what we have seen today," he said.

The NBA president’s reaction followed the release of the result, which showed that 5,841 regular candidates sat for the examination out of which four had First Class honours, while 96 candidates had Second Class Upper Division and 620 had Second Class Lower Division.

Saturday New Telegraph

l Lawyers decry performance of students gathered that two of the First Class graduates were from the Abuja campus, while Lagos and Bayelsa states campuses recorded one each.

Reacting to the dismal result, the Board of Studies of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) said henceforth, re-sit candidates would have to attend at least eight weeks compulsory revision classes at the NLS. Secretary of the CLE and Director of Administration of NLS, Mrs. Elizabeth Max-Uba, said there was no shortcut to success during the conduct of bar examinations by the school.

She said the outright pass was 57 per cent, while 33 per cent failed the examination.

Max-Uba, who said a resit would be conducted for those who failed the examination next year, stating that if the re-sit students had a degree in law, “how is it impossible for them to pass a bar examination after attempting it for up to five times?

“In the campuses that are close to town, many will not even go to class. They are all over doing what nobody understands. Some will come in and sneak out because they have to sign attendance; perhaps they were able to pass through the university that way,” she stated.

Shedding more light on how examination papers were marked, MaxUba, said: “The Director General of NLS does not mark examination papers.

The DG did not mark one script. He did not moderate one script. He did not process one script. People designated their work, the result ends on his table.”

Speaking further, she stated that: “All he is re-

quired to do is to ensure that whoever is put in charge at different levels does what is expected of him, and once that is done, I know that there is a level playing field for each candidate’s paper that was marked.”

Corroborating MaxUba’s position, Head, Public Relation of the NLS, Mr. Chinedu Ukekwe, said the Law School authorities had directed that no re-sit candidate would be allowed at the bar final examinations until he or she had undergone the stipulated revision classes.

However, despite the public outcry that greeted the dismal performance, some stakeholders, who spoke with our correspondent expressed misgivings, stating that the result was a reflection of the standard raised by the CLE, which oversees the NLS. The lawyers, who spoke to the Saturday New Telegraph absolved the NLS of blame for the high percentage of failure recorded during the examination.

The lawyers stated that the result was an indication that the Law School was on course in carrying out its mandate of producing the best of lawyers for the country.

An inside source, who pleaded anonymity, said the failure could be as a result of the standard, which the school recently raised.

Also reacting, an external examiner with the NLS, Olusoji Toki, said the school should not be blamed for the mass failure, adding that the failure was a reflection of the standard, which the school is trying to maintain.

“The problem started some years ago when Science and Technology based universities started offering

law programmes, certainly, half baked lawyers will be produced. Secondly, state universities too whittled down the standard of law education.

“Above all is the private universities who are unmindful of the number of students that should be admitted for the programme.

When we mark scripts, we wonder whether these students ever passed the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC). I can say authoritatively that there is no negative marking and no mark reduction. Those students who failed may compare their results with the marking scheme,” Toki stated.

Another law teacher, Kayode Ajulo, said the implication of the result had showed that the NLS is still living up to its academic standard, while also ensuring that academic excellence is maintained.

“It is not all that failed the examination that are dullard. It only showed that some of them have not measure up to the expectation of a prospective lawyer in the country. Failing the law school examination means that they have not met the standard of becoming lawyers,” Ajulo said.

Also reacting, a lawyer, Bola Aidi, said the mass failure was caused by combination of so many factors.

“Cost of legal education is this country is so exorbitant and these make students to run helter-skelter within the academic session to see how to make ends meet,” Aidi stated.

Commenting also, a Legal Adviser at Newman and Associate, Lagos, Mr. Chijioke Christino, said: “The bar results must be reviewed.”

News

The Week Ahead

Delta council poll holds today The Delta State Independent National Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has fixed October 25 for the conduct of local government elections in the state. Chairman of DSIEC, Mr. Moses Ogbe, said the date was chosen after wide consultations were made with the various stakeholders in the state.

APGA’s sale of EOI forms begins Oct 27 The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has said the purchase and return of the expression of interest (EoI) and nomination forms by aspirants for its primaries will begin on October 27 and end on November 4.

National Secretary of the National Working Committee (NWC), Dr. Abdulahi Sani Shinkafi, in a schedule of activities released after its meeting in Abuja, pegged its governorship form at N12 million, with the EoI form going for N2million, while the nomination form is N10million.

NIPSS, PPLPDC hold conference Oct 27 The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in collaboration with Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC), is organising an international conference with the theme: ‘Political Parties and Violence-free Elections in Nigeria: Towards Deepening the Democratic Process’.

The event, which is billed to hold on October 27 to 28 at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, is supported by Democratic Governance and Development (DGD) 11Project.

Akwa Ibom to open tender for SUBEB Oct 28 The National Association of Insurance Correspondents (NAICO) in conjunction with the Lagos State Government is organising a public lecture on insurance and pensions industry in Nigeria on October 28.

The lecture will hold at Apa Suite, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos at 11a.m. The theme of the lecture is “The Role of Government in Management of Risks in Nigeria” with Lagos State Government as case study.

In a statement by the Planning Committee Chairman, Chris Ebong, said the lecture which is to be personally delivered by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), will x-ray the Lagos State response to insurance and pensions reforms in Nigeria with particular reference to building insurance law, group life cover and contributory pension scheme.

PDP holds governorship primaries Oct 29 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed October 29 for its governorship primaries ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, who stated this in Abuja, said this was to enable public office holders, who resigned their appointments to be actively involved in the build-up to 2015 elections.

It was also gathered from the party’s national headquarters that sales of nomination and expression of interest forms for various elective offices would be between October 27 and 28.

Court hears contempt suit against CBN Oct 29 A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos will on October 29 continue hearing in the committal proceedings initiated by some pensioners against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over the alleged disobedience of the judgment of the court by the apex bank.

The plaintiffs are Messrs James Jemilo, Thompson Edun, Jacob Amao and Joachim Ajala.

The plaintiff for themselves and on behalf of all CBN pensioners, who had prayed the court to compel the CBN to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on pension harmonisation, obtained a favourable judgment from the court.

NMMA holds award ceremony Nov 1

L–R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister Interior, Comrade Abba Moro; Senator Smart Adeyemi and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, at the foundation laying of the joint border post at Seme–Krake, Benin–Nigeria Border...yesterday

7

President Goodluck Jonathan will be the grand patron at this year’s Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA), annual award presentation ceremony on November 1 at the Imo State International Conference Centre, Owerri by 6p.m.

The event, which will also have Vice-President Nemadi Sambo as guest of honour and Mr. Vincent Maduka as chairman, NMMA Board of Trustees (BoT), will also have a NMMA national media leaders round-table.

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25 OCTOBER 2014

FCT ONITSHA Annie Okonkwo rejoins PDP PDP governorship aspirants Former deputy National Chairman unveil agenda

N EWS I N BRIEF

of the All Progressives Congress (South), Senator Annie Okonkwo has rejoined his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Okonkwo in statement after he was given waiver by the PDP to run for Senate, said he left APC because the platform does not observe internal democracy.

Okonkwo, who represented Anambra Central senatorial under PDP between 2007 and 2011 after taking his seat in the Senate, was appointed to committees on Upstream Petroleum Resources, Police Affairs, Environment (vice-chairman) and Agriculture.

€4m

The annual earnings of Philippe Mexes of AC Milan in 2014-2015.

Source: Goal.com

Governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have promised to reverse the infrastructure deficit in their states if elected governor in 2015.

The aspirants, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia), Dr. Charles Amanze (Imo), Prof.

Taoheed Adedoja (Oyo), Lady Clara Njoku (Imo), Arc. John Alkali (Plateau) and Hon. Abiodun Akinlade (Ogun), who picked their governorship nomination forms yesterday, unfolded their blueprints for their states.

Abaribe promised to ensure local government autonomy if elected, while Amanze said he would make Imo State the number one state in terms of industrialisation, job creation and infrastructure development if he becomes governor in 2015.

8.1%

The percentage of households with internet access at home in developing countries in 2005.

Source: Itu.int

MAKURDI Suspected illegal arms dealers remanded in prison

Three persons charged with criminal conspiracy, attempted homicide and illegal possession of firearms at a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court were on Friday remanded in prison by the court.

The accused, Igbasuwe Orjirne, Terfa Agaga and Godwin Ukem, are all of New Ornyev Layout, North Bank, Makurdi.

The Magistrate, Mrs Theresa Wergba, ordered the remand of the accused at the Federal Maximum Prison, Makurdi, to enable the court to sort out the issue of jurisdiction on the matter.

Wergba, who did not take any plea from the accused, consequently adjourned the case to November 11.

37%

The percentage contribution of the Banking sector to Nigeria’s capital importation in 2007.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Remi Oyo was an accomplished woman – Oyinlola, Fayemi, Oni

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ormers governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Segun Oni, Kayode Fayemi and a renowned actor, Bassey Young, on Friday paid glowing tributes to the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, who died at the age of 61, describing her as a dedicated and accomplished woman.

Oyo died in the United Kingdom (UK), where she was undergoing treatment for cancer on October 1.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos, during her burial at Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos, that Oyo would be missed for her talents, professionalism and commitment to duty.

Fayemi said Oyo was a woman, who left an indelible mark in the sand of time through her exemplary life.

“She was very professional, dedicated to the service of her fatherland in the

various positions she occupied. Her talents and hard work won many laurels for her. We thank God for her life. She lived a life worthy of emulation,” he said.

Oni said Oyo’s contributions to journalism would be greatly missed.

“She always had helpful things to contribute to society. She serves, serves and serves. She gave her total time, attention and expertise readily to everybody. She created a work friendly portal that made NAN subscribers to enjoy NAN services.

“She was an accomplished woman. We thank God for her life, though very short,” he said Oyinlola said Oyo was an amiable woman whose accomplishments were unparalleled in her field.

“Despite all her achievements, she never at any time raised banners to flaunt her successes in life. She was indeed an energetic and amiable woman,” he said.

Terrorism: Court refuses secret trial for Ndume Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State governorship aspirant, Akinwunmi Ambode, during his declaration in Lagos…yesterday

Jonathan to declare for presidency Nov 11 PRESIDENCY

The president will declare his ambition for 2015 election soon.

T

Anule Emmanuel here are strong indications that President Goodluck Jonathan may finally declare his ambition to contest the 2015 presidential election on November 11.

Investigations revealed that the date has been set aside for the president to meet Nigerians and tell them his plans for 2015.

Chairman of the presidential committee inaugurated by President Jonathan to harmonise his declaration for 2015 general elections, Dr. Haliru Bello, who spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said: “The President gave

l Declaration c'ttee holds inaugural meeting in Aso Rock us the task to organise the modality of creating a platform for him to meet Nigerians and announce his response to the various calls for him to come out and declare his interest in the presidential election.

“It is our honest hope that he will come out and say yes to the demand of multitude of Nigerians.

We expect he will say yes but we cannot say yes for him. We will wait for him to speak. The date that is fixed is Tuesday, November 11.

On that day, there will be a forum for the President to meet Nigerians to announce his decision.”

Bello, who was a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also stated that the committee held its first meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The former PDP chair-

man said they had been given a special assignment to prepare a proper forum for the President to respond to several calls from Nigerians for him to seek another term in office.

According to him, although, President Jonathan has not said anything yet, it is like all Nigerians have called on him.

Haliru also explained that the committee was yet to decide on a venue for the event.

“That will be decided at our next meeting. When we come out on November 11, the President will face the people of Nigeria and say yes to their demand. If he says yes, it will be yes. If he says no, then it is negative. But you are aware that our party, the PDP in all its organs, from the caucus to the Board of Trustees, NWC had decided that President

Jonathan should be given the first option of refusal with the PDP ticket.

“If he is going to contest, the PDP will give him preference. As the President, he has performed and we are satisfied with what he has done. It is only when he declines that we can look at any other contestant,” he said.

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State also told reporters that members were grouped into subcommittees during the inaugural meeting.

Some of the groups according to him, include secretariat, venue and decoration, media and publicity, security, protocol and mobilisation among others.

He expressed the hope that the committee would come up with enough preparations that would ensure a hitch-free declaration.

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday refused to fully grant an application brought by the Federal Government seeking to conduct the trial of Senator Ali Ndume in secret.

Ndume is standing trial on terrorism charges.

Ruling on the application, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the court was inclined to partially grant it because the application was not strong enough to be granted in full.

The court further held that while the accused was entitled to fair hearing and fair trial, the state owed the responsibility of protecting the lives of prosecution witnesses during the trial.

The court also held that the application was caught between fair hearing and trial and state responsibility, thereby necessitating the court to strike a balance between the two ends.

“The application is not one that is sufficiently strong and in the light of this the court will grant the application in a limited manner. Witnesses will be shielded under a special arrangement by the court but such witnesses will also not be masked.

“This is except for members of the press and parties in the suit. The public will not be allowed into the court room,” Justice Kolawole held.

The Federal Government had through its counsel, E. A Orji, sought a court order to conduct the trial on Ndume in secret.

Lack of fund won’t deter me from developing Rivers -Amaechi

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espite poor funding to states by the Federal Government, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has said he is determined to complete most of the projects started by his administration.

He expressed confidence that the reserve fund in the state coffers amounting to N19billion that was approved by the State Assembly would be used judiciously especially to complete ongoing projects before the end of his tenure.

Amaechi stated this during an inspection tour of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, ahead of the APC mega rally in Port Harcourt today.

He said: “It is so alarming that we cannot pay salaries and even complete our projects. But, we will shame those people who think we cannot complete our projects. We promised to work on Oyigbo roads, complete Elioparanwo Road, and also work on Rumuagholu Road and several others.

"We will also furnish our primary schools, carry out renovation of our secondary schools. But, we are starved of funds by the Federal Government. So, how do we complete our projects? That is why I said, we will work until May 29, 2015 before leaving office."

25 OCTOBER 2014

Uzoma Dozie appointed Diamond Bank MD

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r. Uzoma Dozie, the first son of the founder of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Pascal Dozie, has been appointed the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, following the resignation of Dr. Alex Otti.

It was gathered that Otti resigned from the bank in order to pursue his political ambition of becoming the governor of Abia State in 2015 election.

Before his appointment, Dozie served as Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of Retail Banking. But before then, he had served at different times as an Executive Director of Retail Banking and Executive Director of Corporate Banking, as well as Executive Director of Regional Business – Lagos & West.

Dozie has over 15 years

of banking experience in three different financial institutions in Nigeria. He joined Diamond Bank in 1998 as an Assistant Manager and Head of Diamond Bank’s Oil and Gas Unit.

Mr. Dozie served as Financial Controller of Diamond Bank, from June 2001 to April 2004. He has been a Director of one of the faculties at the Lagos Business School since 2007. He has been an Executive Director of Diamond Bank Plc since 2005.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Reading, Berkshire, a Master’s of Science degree in Chemical Research from the University College, London and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Imperial College Management School of London in 1998.

Mark commends Pwajok for empowering constituents Musa Pam Jos

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resident of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has commended Senator Gyang Nyam Pwajok representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone for empowering his constituents with items worth over N150 million.

Mark stated this in Jos, Plateau State, during the constituency empowerment and development programme by Pwajok, who is representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone to mark his two years in office.

He commended Pwajok for providing good governance for his people, stating that once elections

were conducted, there should be good governance and that was what the legislator had done.

Mark, who earlier presented a 14-seater bus to Plateau PDP office donated

by Senator Pwajok said the lawmaker has demonstrated being a true representative of his constituents through the empowering programme.

“It is not how long a senator spends in a senate, but it is the amount of impact you made by virtue of your contribution and those of you who watch our proceedings will agree with me that Pwajok has contributed immensely and very positively and robustly in a manner you think he has been in the senate for so long."

PDP leaders tackle Obasanjo on Kashamu continued from page 4

Also, Ekiti State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, said “Buruji Kashamu is an erudite member and leader of the PDP in the South-West geopolitical zone. He is helping and building the party using his finances and personal efforts. Those who are now calling him names were they not wining and dining with him in the past.”

In the same vein, Chairman Kwara State chapter of PDP, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, said: My personal opinion is that Obasanjo’s position on the issue is personal.

We may also believe that he couldn’t function properly if he alleges that Kashamu is a criminal but is he the only alleged criminal in all

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the parties in Nigeria?

Meanwhile, Director (Outreach Services), AntiCorruption Network, Mr. Timi Frank, has called on the extradition of Kashamu to face the allegations levelled against him in the U.S. by petitioning the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, on the issue.

The group in a statement issued on Monday, said: “We have written a petition to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation on the need to release Mr. Buruji Kashamu, to the security agencies in America looking for him. A man with international warrant on him should not be allowed to parade himself in Nigeria as a political leader.”

ILORIN FCT APC inaugurates c’ttee for mini LUBCON boss declares for governorship tomorrow convention

NEWS IN BRIEF

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday in Abuja, inaugurated an 18-man committee for its mini convention scheduled to take place in Abuja on October 29.

National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who inaugurated the committee, urged members to work to achieve the mandate of ensuring a hitch-free convention.

The Chairman of the committee, Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar of Zamfara State, who responded on behalf of the committee, assured members that the expectation of the party on the convention would be achieved.

“The mandate given to me as far as the committee is concerned is to ensure that we have a successful convention,” he said.

228,000 The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Bahrain in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

KADUNA

Having been cleared by the screening committee of his party, industrialist and gubernatorial hopeful Alhaji Jani Ibrahim will tomorrow formally enter the race to contest the 2015 governorship seat in Kwara State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The aspirant, who is a former Managing Director of the defunct Nigerian Airways, will declare his intention to run at the Lower Niger River Basin premises in Ilorin, where he will unfold a four-point programme, which he described as the Kwara Prosperity Agenda.

A statement issued by his media office said Jani, who currently runs LUBCON Oil and Gas Company, had invited political stalwarts in the state, including various aspirants as well as all members of the PDP to the event.

95

The sex ratio of men above 60 years per 100 women in China in 2012.

Source: Un.org

9

Candidates decry slow pace of JAMB registration

Some potential candidates for the 2014/2015 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination in Kaduna State, on Friday decried the slow process in registering for the examination.

The candidates, who expressed their feeling in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, said that they spent more than six hours to get registered.

NAN correspondent, who visited JAMB centres in Kaduna reports that candidates were seen in long queues to be registered.

60%

The percentage of the world’s population that lives in the Asia-Pacific region.

Source: Unesco.org

2015: Ambode declares for governor, promises good governance AT LAST

An APC governorship aspirant promises to improve the living standard of residents of Lagos State.

Temitope Ogunbanke and Wale Elegbede

F

ormer Lagos State Accountant-General, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has promised to create a clean, secure and prosperous state if he succeeds Governor Babatunde Fashola on May 29, 2015.

Speaking yesterday at Onikan Stadium, Lagos during his formal declaration to run for February 28, 2015 governorship election on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ambode said his adminis-

tration would provide leadership, accountability, good governance, opportunities and service to Lagosians.

He said he is putting himself forward for the position of the governor of the state in 2015 because he believes that he had the qualities required to continue the giant strides, which his party, APC, had achieved in Lagos in recent years.

“I stand before you today in the spirit of the continuity of excellence that Lagos is known for. My vision and mission is to create a clean, secure and prosperous Lagos State that is driven by a vibrant economy and supported by quality service, equity and justice. I am resolved to offer genuine leadership that will be accountable with all the principles of good governance, a gov-

ernment of inclusion that will not leave any race or gender behind.

“We will work to create opportunities for all and offer selfless service.

We will create wealth. We will create new jobs. We will challenge ourselves to make Lagos a better place.

We will take Lagos to the next level. We are going to do it together.

“I call on all Muslims, Christians, and people of other religious persuasions to come out en masse and ensure we vote in a candidate that has the interest of Lagos and Lagosians at heart. A candidate that is passionate about Lagos State. A candidate that truly understands the needs of the ordinary people. I am that candidate,” he said.

Ambode also assured Lagosians that if elected as

the next governor, he would not only continue the great works of great patriots like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Bola Tinubu and Fashola, who have contributed to the development of the state.

“I stand before you today as a bridge between the elderly and the youth. I hold before you a beacon that summons us all to building together a more prosperous Lagos. I have the competence, experience and determination to lead Lagos State to greater economic heights and prosperity.

“I ask for your support and your votes that will send me to Alausa to continue in my tradition of selfless service to this great state of ours,” Ambode said.

Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh (middle), sympathising with a victim of a bomb blast at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Azare… Thursday

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News

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25 OCTOBER 2014

AWKA Oduah strategises to win Anambra North seat

N EWS I N BRIEF

Former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has begun mobilisation of stakeholders’ support for her ambition to contest the Anambra North Senatorial District seat in 2015 general elections.

Addressing supporters in Onitsha on Friday, Oduah said she would provide effective representation and credible voice for the zone.

The zone comprises seven local government areas in Anambra, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Oyi, Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Ogbaru.

Oduah, who had already picked the nomination form, announced her campaign team members, which comprised Chief Okwudili Uzoka, Mrs. Stella Odife, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu and Chief Basil Ejidike.

1

The number of deaths that resulted due to Ebola virus outbreak that occurred in South Africa (ex-Gabon) in 1996.

Source: Who.int

APAPA 17 ships expected at Lagos ports

Seventeen ships carrying food items like rice, crude palm oil, bulk wheat, bulk sugar, frozen fish, bulk soya bean and bulk salt are expected at the Lagos ports.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said this in its daily publication – the Shipping Position - made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

It said the ships were expected to arrive from October 24 to November 15, with 18 other ships arriving with containers, while 11 others will sail in with petrol, aviation fuel, diesel and kerosene.

37.74%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

PORT HARCOURT Wike: I’ll defeat Amaechi if he contests for third term

The immediate past Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said he has the capacity to defeat Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi if he goes for third term in office, stressing that he has the structure and the support to defeat any candidate that contests Rivers State governorship election in 2015.

Wike, who stated this yesterday at his campaign office in Port Harcourt, during his declaration to contest the election, said nobody had the capacity to stop him from contesting in 2015.

“If Amaechi should change the constitution and run for third term in office, I will defeat him. I am very sure of the fact that I will defeat him,” he said.

27.97

The average age of Russia team in Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Telegraph.co.uk

NLC, TUC condemn removal of wages from Exclusive List Azubike Nnadozie

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he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have condemned the removal of wages from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List by the National Assembly.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said the removal of wages from the Exclusive List was “an act of treachery masterminded by conservative governors and their cohorts in the National Assembly which will do the polity no good.”

The NLC also threatened to mobilise its members to resist the purported move to scrap the national minimum wage.

“We recall that last year our national campaign and mobilisation on this subject matter was suspended at the instance of the leadership of the Senate which promised to revisit the issue now that they “are better informed.”

It recalled paying tribute to the House of Representatives, which it said did not contemplate removing wages from the Exclusive List, adding, “it is also worth recalling that the

just concluded National Conference retained wages on the Exclusive List in deference to the logic of the argument for the necessity of maintaining wages on the Exclusive List.”

“Minimum Wage Laws are in force in approximately 90 per cent of the countries of the world today.

Why would Nigeria leave this group for the negative 10 per cent?" he said.

Meanwhile, TUC in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, said workers would not hesitate to shut down the entire space to protest the attempt by the lawmakers to further impoverish Nigerian workers by outlawing the meagre National Minimum Wage through the backdoor.

“We call on the Trade Union movement, the Civil Society groups, Religious Leaders, Royal Fathers, and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the National Assembly to reverse its decision to deregulate wages in order to avert the mother of all strike that will be embarked upon by labour to press home its demand," he said.

2015: Ochei, Uduehi seek support of the Urhobo Gabriel Choba Ughelli L-R: Wife of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji; her husband, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Dean Emeritus, Archbishop of Lagos, Anglican Church Communion, Most Revd Adebola Ademowo and his wife, Oluranti, during the speaker's courtesy visit to Ademowo in Lagos... yesterday

Fayose appoints Assembly member as High Court judge NO VENGEANCE

l Governor’s supporters protest alleged impeachment plan campaign

Gov Fayose dismisses vengeful acts but calls for cooperation among the various arms of government

was far greater than personal or individual interest.

Also yesterday, hundreds of supporters of the governor took to the streets to protest alleged plan to remove him from office, despite the denial by members of the Assembly that they had no plan to impeach Fayose.

But Fayose, who was making reference to recent political developments in the state, said he had not come to retaliate any bad thing done to him in the past by anybody or group.

“I am ready to work with the Assembly. I am a man of uncommon history, coming back to office after eight years is divine. I have a stern warning from God, do not avenge. I plead with the other two arms of government that Ekiti should come first. You may not like

Adesina Wahab

E

Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, on Friday called on the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin and members of the Assembly to work with his administration to ensure the growth of the state.

Fayose, who told Omirin, who was among the dignitaries that witnessed the inauguration of Mr. Dele Omotosho, as a High Court judge in the state, said the interest of the state

my face and I may not like yours, but Ekiti should be number one. Vengeance belongs to God and everything works together for good of all," he said.

Fayose said his inauguration of Omotosho as a judge after two years of being cleared for the post by the National Judicial Council (NJC), was a demonstration of a forgiving spirit.

Omotosho, as a lawyer, chaired the panel that removed Fayose as governor in controversial circumstances in 2006.

“There is nothing personal I have against the judiciary. People would want to be where you are and life is about struggles.

We need more judges and we will help in making them comfortable in the discharge of their duties.

People said I should not

swear him in because he sat on my impeachment panel. There is need for fair hearing. I want the other arms of government to give my administration a fair hearing and the chance to perform,” he said.

Meanwhile, the protesters under the aegis of Positive Minds Club for Teachers converged on Fajuyi Park, Ado-Ekiti, clutching placards bearing various messages denouncing members of the Assembly.

They moved round major streets in the state capital and terminated their procession at the popular Ijigbo Junction.

Some of the placards read “No to impeachment”, “We want peace in Ekiti”, “Return the N100m bribe to your leader,” “No going back on June 21 election result”, among others.

T

wo gubernatorial hopefuls from Delta North extraction, former speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochei and Dr. Esther Uduehi, yesterday called on the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), the umbrella body of the Urhobo both at home and in the Diaspora, to seek the support of the Urhobo in the 2015 governorship election.

The duo, while making this appeal at separate consultation visits to UPU executive at the residence of the President General, Chief Joseph Omene, also pledged to consolidate on the structure put in place by former Governor James Ibori.

They acknowledged that the Urhobo nation was the

most populous ethnic group in the state which should be considered in the affairs of the governorship of the state.

Ochei said: “For anybody to come out and say he or she wants the governorship of Delta State, such a person must as a matter of necessity consult the Urhobo, otherwise such a person is not serious. I have come to tell them that even if they do not support me, they should not fight against me in my electioneering processes.”

Oh her side, Uduehi said: “I am a daughter of the Urhobo nation, the largest ethnic group in the state, and am very qualified to get their support. The position of the Urhobo in the state cannot be neglected because I will not disappoint them if they support me."

Wali, ex-NBA president, regains freedom cont inued from page 4

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report revealed yesterday that Ms. Osigo Agama, the younger sister to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, was abducted by unknown gunmen.

Agama was said to have been abducted in Port Harcourt on Wednesday night

in her home.

At press time, efforts to reach her brother, Mr. Timi Agama, proved abortive, just as the Rivers State Police Command was yet to comment on the development with the kidnappers yet to contact her family for any ransom. see news extra on page 53

Voices How will you react to your teenage daughter's pregnancy?

Street Diary

p.12

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

11

Synagogue: Coroner insists on TB Joshua's appearance Akeem Nafiu & Shola Adefuwa

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he coroner sitting on the inquest into the collapsed building on the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, on Friday insisted that the General Overseer of the church, Prophet T.B. Joshua, should appear before the court to give his own account of the incident on November 5.

Counsel representing the church at the inquest, Jude Nnadi (SAN), had earlier hinted that the pastor might not be able to give a first-hand account of the incident since Collapsed building on the premises of SCOAN (inset) T.B.Joshua he was not a witness.

However, the coroner in his submissions said Joshua’s MA Zonal Head of Zone 7 in appearance was of utmost im- Ejigbo, further stated that importance because as the head mediately he was informed of of the church, his own account the incident, his team made efof the incident would shed forts to decongest the already some light on the whole issue. built-up traffic between Segun The pastor is now expected Irefin street and Ikotun-Egbe The pastor to appear before the coroner road junction. to share his own testimony on “While this was going on, might not the incident.

I also contacted Lagos State be able During yesterday’s pro- Traffic Radio, 96.1 FM, to relay ceedings, witnesses from the alternative routes to motorists to give a Lagos State Traffic Manage- coming to Ikotun from Isolo ment Authority (LASTMA) to Jakande Gate to link Isheri first-hand and the Lagos State Fire Ser- road through Ijegun to Ikotun account vice gave their testimonies on and from NNPC to link Iyana the incident.

Ejigbo to Idimu Road to Ikotun of the The witness from LAST- and vice versa,” he also added. incident MA, Oladiti Wasiu, in his He said that the main purdeposition stated that he was pose of their action was to resince he informed of the incident by duce the volume of vehicular the officer on duty at Ikotun traffic coming from Isolo inwas not a Roundabout about 1pm on ward Ikotun in order to create witness the day the building collapsed. avenue for all essential agenWasiu, who is the LAST- cies responsible for rescue op-

BSG increases awareness on drink-driving Shola Adefuwa

B

eer Sectoral Group (BSG) has increased awareness on dangers of drinking and driving among drivers so as to reduce alcohol-related harm.

The Corporate Relations Director of Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, said that safety on the roads should be everyone’s concern at an event tagged ‘Drive Alcohol Free Campaign’.

“As manufactures of products that consumers like to use as part of their daily lifestyle, we want to see a more positive behaviour to alcohol by consumers and particularly by road users,” he added.

Sobowale said the main objectives were the promotion of a healthy and respected beverage alcohol industry in Nigeria and the fostering of a respon-

erations to gain easy access to the scene of the incident.

Wasiu added that he and his team were at the location until late at night and were present throughout the rescue operation.

The other witness from the Lagos State Fire Service, Adebayo Olayinka, an operational officer of the agency, also informed the court that he knew about the incident through a phone call he received from one, Mr. Eze, who contacted the Lagos State Command through the Alausa Control room.

He said upon receiving the call, a fire water tanker of 10,000 litres capacity with four fire-fighters on board proceeded to the scene of the incident. He added that

sible alcohol consumption culture.

He said, in many parts of the world, drink-driving had been found to be a major challenge. He noted that drinkdriving was still relatively low in Nigeria and there was paucity of data linking road crashes to drink-driving.

“We cannot fold our arms and wait until the problem assumes a bigger dimension before we initiate measures to address and curb it. It is our view that any fatality or harm that is related to misuse of alcohol, whether through drink-driving or any other cause is something that could be avoided,” Sobowale said.

He further said we are working with the knowledge that Nigerians, including commercial drivers and where family lovers would strive not to hurt members of their families.

“We have adopted an approach that will confront the survival instinct of commercial drivers and challenge them not to do anything that will hurt the future and bonding of the family.

“We will like to commend the Federal Road Safety Corps for the good work it has been doing in promoting road safety which has contributed greatly to reducing the carnage on our roads,” he stated.

other senior officers, head of stations and principal officers including the assistant director were all mobilised to the scene by the director of Fire Service, who was also present.

He said they were only allowed access to the premises of the church after about 15 minutes of argument with persons who introduced themselves as church security officers.

“It took another 15 minutes to enter the site, however, we were not allowed to participate in the rescue operation until the morning of the following day,” he revealed.

The witness said he was able to carry out a 360 degree check which involved assessing the scene situation, extent

of damage and physical cause of the collapse.

When he was being crossexamined by the church counsel, Olayinka said that he did not carry out any test to determine the structural effectiveness of the collapsed building.

He further indicated that the fire outbreak that occurred at the scene on the fourth day of the incident was as a result of the shifting and moving of earth machines, iron rods and other free burning materials.

He said the fire was immediately put out with the help of a medium size jet from the fire water tank.

Olayinka added that 131 people were rescued alive with various degrees of injuries from the incident while 80 bodies were recovered and taken away by the ambulance provided by the church. All the bodies recovered, according to him, were neither dismembered nor burnt.

The witness added that other agencies who assisted at the rescue operation included the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Lagos State Physical Development Agency, Lagos State Building Control Agency, National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Red Cross, Nigerian Police and other sympathisers.

The inquest has been adjourned till next week Tuesday when the Pathologist, LASEMA, Ministry of works and NEMA will give their evidences.

198 farmers, 7 soldiers, others killed in Fulani-Benue farmers’ clash –Report Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

A

t least 198 farmers in the Benue State South senatorial district and seven soldiers who were deployed in the area on peacekeeping Mission were killed during the attack on Peasant farmers in the area by suspected Fulani gunmen, a report has said.

The Chairman of the Committee on Peace Building and Reconciliation on the Fulani crisis in the area, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd.) said this when he led other members of the committee to submit its final report to Governor Gabriel Suswam at the Government House, Makurdi.

The committee was set by the Benue State Govern-

Gov. Suswam

ment to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the crisis and take necessary steps to end the imbroglio.

Onoja said 23 suspected Fulani insurgents also lost their lives during the fierce attack, while eight council wards were badly affected in the crisis as many homes and economic trees were

destroyed.

He acknowledged the support of both the federal and state governments through the deployment of armed security men including the police, soldiers as well as men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), traditional rulers and local government chairmen of the affected areas whose intervention he said prevented the crisis from escalating.

While calling on the government to assist the victims to enable them to rebuild their houses already destroyed in the attack, the committee also called for the setting up of a joint security patrol to intensify surveillance in the areas to forestall future attacks.

Voices

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

How will you react to your teenage daughter’s pregnancy?

She will give birth to the baby

As far as she will give birth to the baby then she has become a mother, and it’s a lesson for her and that is enough for her to learn from.

– Oluwatosin Bamidele, civil servant

That will be a failure on my part I will feel like am a failure because I couldn’t guide my child rightly or that I didn’t nurture her rightly.

– Temitope Adefowope, civil servant

I won't crucify her but scold her Of course, no parents will be happy to see their teenage daughters pregnant, but all the same, one will not crucify her. After seriously scolding her, you will still draw her to yourself and encourage her.

– Mrs. Olusewa Akila, lecturer

She will be heavily punished Fe e l i n g s of disappointment will be the reaction and a suitable punishment will be given.

After she might have learnt her lesson, then I can support her.

– Opeyemi Oyeyemi, civil servant

It's never the dream of a father Kai!!!!!! God forbid o. it’s never a father’s dream for a lovely daughter of his at all, it’s a stigma to the child and the family at large…so therefore it’s an ugly incident though it happens!

– Alex Owhowheroan, engineer

She will incur my wrath Yes, it’s never a type of wish any reasonable parents will ever want, but in such a case, after incurring some punishment on the child, one will still have to draw her close so as to avoid more unwanted situations. That is why every good parents should ensure they properly guide their children and teach them the right thing at the right time.

– Ruth Johnson, civil servant

I can’t sent her out of the house

I will be very angry because I will not like it at all. If care is not taken it can be the end of her career. I can’t force her to get married or send her out, I will still take care of her because we all make mistakes in life.

– Abiodun Macaulay, lecturer

I will be disappointed I will feel seriously bad, but I won't send her out of the house. I will make sure she doesn't make that mistake again and put her back in school after delivery.

I will monitor, guide her and gets closer to her. I will even be more determined to see that she succeeds in life.

– David Ademilua, wed-solutions provider

She and the man will carry their cross She will have to relocate to the village to have the child because it will be a shameful thing to my kind of person and what I stand for. But if there is a father and he claims responsibility, then she could carry her cross with the man.

We will have to discuss the matter

If my daughter gets pregnant, it will mean three things - either I have failed, she has failed or we both have failed. I will sit her down along side with her mum to talk. We will know the person responsible and how we will resolve the issue.

– Dr. Solanke, lecturer

I will be mad but stand by her I will be crazy about it. I will later accept it as fate and do every necessary thing for her, including counselling and making sure she continues with her education.

– Damilola Samuel, NYSC member

I will accept my fate I will accept it as fate. I cannot encourage abortion because it is wrong killing an unborn baby. I won’t force my daughter into early marriage because it will affect some of her rights like education, motherhood and others.

– Sunday Ayodabo, lecturer

She will keep the baby She will keep the baby, it's a lesson for her. Though I would ask her what she wants to do first, I would advise her to keep the baby.

– Muyiwa Babatunde, businessman

– Themba Okoye

If she is pregnant, she is not young If God thinks it’s too early, she will not have got pregnant.

It's simple Biology. She got pregnant because she is ready to be pregnant. All the necessary components are in place so nature performed it’s miracle. There is nothing like she is too young. If she is too young then pregnancy will not occur. Biology does not lie.

It has been proven scientifically!

– Niyi Bankole, IT expert

compiled by

JOHN EDU, AYORINDE DUROJAYE, INIOLULUWA EKELOERE, OLUSHOLA RICKETTS AND FAITH OBADAN

12

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

WeekendDelight 13

C o n v e r s at i o n

Instyle

Making bold statement with dress shirts p.15

Showbiz

Lepacious Bose: There’s a thin line between jokes and insult p.33

Ibinabo Fiberesima

‘My marriage won’t end in divorce’

From having a public spat with fellow actress Clarion Chukwurah to rallying support for President Goodluck Jonathan, president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Ibinabo Fiberesima never fails to excite. She speaks with Sony Neme on the thrill of being elected for another term to head AGN and why her marriage this December will not end like some celebrity unions.

I

The Arts

On the dark side of life p.37

Love&Living

‘I regret marrying a man who lives abroad’ p.19

Renee

binabo Fiberesima was on October 16 re-elected as the president of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) for a second tenure. For the Okrika, Rivers State born actress, it is double celebration, as she will in December say “I do” to an old flame.

While both undergraduates at the University of Ibadan, they were mere friends, she told Saturday New Telegraph.

She had, while campaigning for reelection, urged members to vote her as she intended to consolidate on gains made in her fist term and also improve the welfare of actors in Nigeria.

And minutes after her victory, she had this to say, “I won my re-election as president of Actors Guild of Nigeria. Thank you for your prayers and love. I am forever indebted to my Facebook family. To all chapters of Actors Guild in Nigeria, God bless you all for your total confidence in me. I had a landslide victory. I am overwhelmed.

“What I have done in my first tenure was to transform the guild. So, what I intend to do in my second tenure is to grow the guild.”

Indeed, during her first tenure, she came up with some welfare packages for AGN members, a situation which she said “is getting bigger and better.” According to her, “We have more members coming in, especially to be part of the health plan.

Some members that didn’t think it was not necessary were the ones who were falling sick lately, as they run to me for help. We are still doing everything possible to support them. But I urge more members of the guild to re-validate their membership so as to benefit from the health plan.”

On the awards project she has put on

“I have found a partner that is my best friend, my brother; someone I can relate with, someone that understands me and the kind of work I do for a living... I will continue to love him because he is my friend. He was my best friend back in the university though we weren’t dating then.” © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Ibinabo

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Weekend Delight

| Conversation

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

‘My marriage won’t end in divorce’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 3

hold, she explained: “Given that it was my first tenure, I had a lot of dreams at the beginning.

But getting into the system, and understanding what is on ground, I thought it’s necessary to put the project on hold. There are a lot of award bodies out there. But the kind of award I want to organise is totally different from what is obtainable today. My priority is to put the guild on the right track again after which other things will fall in place.”

On her second tenure, she is coming back to continue where she stopped, especially with projects conceived to touch the lives of members across

the states, she said. “The interstate cultural competition is one project that I must take off the drawing board. We are going to organise it immediately after our re-election into office again.

It’s about ethnic harmony, telling Nigerians that we are one and that we shall remain one and indivisible entity. We are going to organise that competition.

“It’s dance, drama, poetry and painting. It’s a talent hunt as well. At the same time, we are promoting our cultural heritage. It’s something that has been on my mind. All the state chapters are ready for the competition. But following different events that came up during my first tenure, we were not able

Ibinabo at her inauguration for another term

to actualise that dream. It’s my desire to make the dream come true in my second tenure. Also, in my second tenure, I intend to pay more attention to the state chapters because some of them don’t have offices. They hold their meetings under trees. I in-

tend to approach state governments with a view of securing parcels of lands to build identical AGN offices nationwide.”

Her eyes lit up when the subject changed to her coming wedding. “There is joy around me all the time. He is someone

I totally adore. I can’t wait to tie the knot in December. I feel blessed getting married. I feel I have found a partner that is my best friend, my brother; someone I can relate with, someone that understands me and the kind of work I do for a living, someone that appreciates me.

Yes, the questions are coming, I will not divorce. I love my husband and I know I will continue to love him because he is my friend. He was my best friend back in the university; though we weren’t dating then. He proposed to me when we met again after a couple of years.

We became friends again. He proposed to me and I jumped at it.”

Given how overjoyed she is at the prospect of getting married, you wonder if being single had been a worrying point. It might be for other women; certainly not for Ibinabo. “Not at all. I didn’t think I missed anything in life. I was content with myself and now, I am blessed.”

TV&Radio with Angela Davies

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In the grip of Big Brother

ou might disagree with the notion that Big Brother Africa (BBA) is the continent’s biggest reality show, but there’s no denying that it has a spellbinding hold on television audiences. The show which started on October 5, has already seen five ladies evicted from the house in just two weeks.

Although Housemates have expressed sadness over the evicted housemates, but the show continues as each contestant came with one purpose and that is to win.

Some housemates entered the BB House with strategies while some said they will simply be themselves and let viewers decide and vote for them. But the truth is that whether you have a strategy or not, you are playing the game to the best of your knowledge.

Early Risers In the BB House while some are early risers, some are not. For instance, the early risers in the house are Malawian housemate, Mr. 265 and JJ. Mr. 265 is always the first housemate to get out of bed. Once he does, he begins his morning ritual which is cleaning the house and getting rid of the previous day’s mess. He is later joined by JJ and both men clean the house on their own, without waking up other housemates and they don’t complain about keeping the house clean. Every day, other housemates wake up to a spotless lounge area.

Head of House task Who does not want to stay safe each week? Housemates battle hard to win the Head of House task. As Head of House, you know that you are 100 per cent sure that your stay in the BBA is sure. With this year’s twist, instead of the Head of House to save one nominated housemate for eviction, the HOH adds a housemate who is not put up for eviction on the list of housemates for possible eviction. Revealing the name of the housemate you added to the list during the live eviction show is not an easy thing to do.

Tasks and Presentations For some housemates, task presentation is something they look forward to especially if they have worked hard at it.

However, before they put the presentation together, different suggestions, quarrels and arguments must have ensued. For the winning team, all that will be put behind as they will not be nominated for possible eviction. However, for the team that lost, loosing breeds animosity.

Drama and frustration of wager loss In the Big Brother House, sometimes drama from one or two people is all it takes to draw attention, bring fun and sometimes also to know who your real enemy is. Sometimes, losing a task by a group ends up frustrating housemates as they keep blaming one another or a particular housemate for their failure. For those who cannot handle this accusation, they tell fellow housemates’ that they want to leave the house. This could be done in sincerity or just to seek pity from fellow housemates.

For instance, Luis said that he wanted to leave the Big Brother House. He explained how he took the loss of the wager badly and had felt rejection quite often in the house.

Shower Hour One of the things that attracted people to this reality show is the “Shower Hour”.

The Shower Hour is shown live when housemates are taking their bath in the past seasons. However, for about three seasons now, this has not been the case.

To watch the Shower Hour, you have to be a “VIP” to log in. And to become a VIP, you have to pay approximately eight dollars (about N1,320) to watch the Shower Hour.

Diary Room The Diary room is where housemates vent, nominate housemates they consider their strongest contender for possible eviction, get their task and get messages from home as well. And for those who want to dance and entertain Biggie, with Biggie’s permission, of course you can. Housemates

Top: Host, IK Osakioduwa with evicted Lilian from Nigeria and Esther from Uganda on stage Below: Mr. 256 and JJ cleaning the house

look forward to their Diary sessions with Biggie. They always have something to say to Biggie.

Evictions Although five female housemates have been evicted so far, however, the most shocking so far is that of Nigerian female representative, Lillian simply known as

‘Lillian the twerker’. Nigerian fans of Big Brother Africa are still yet to come to terms with this reality because in the history of BBA, Lillian is the first Nigerian to be evicted in just two weeks of staying in the house.

So tomorrow, let’s wait and see how many housemates will get evicted. Nobody can predict what Big Brother has up his sleeves.

25 OCTOBER 2014

Making bold statement with your dress shirts

D

Angela Davies

ress shirts are versatile and universally flattering. Depending on the style and colour, it can be worn as a formal, evening as well as casual wear. All you need to do is properly accessorize to suit the event.

These effortless simple and comfortable outfits come in different fabrics cuts and styles. The style you choose to wear should flatter your figure and hide your flaws. When it comes to fabric cotton, linen, polyester and silk are preferable.

They also come in varied lengths, colours, patterns and sleeves to choose from.

Dress shirts which are perfect for women of any age, height and figure can be worn loose, fitted or cinched with a skinny or wide belt depending on your style. Some dress shirts also come with their own belt which helps the wearer look taller because it doesn't break up the line of the body.

TIPS l You can wear a loose fit style or one nipped at the waist and volume below to balance you out. l A dress shirt that is made out of polyester which features front button closures will not only make you feel

Instyle

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

15

Between ideology and designer labels

comfortable, but will look chic as well. l If your dress shirt is transparent, then, wear a camisole underneath and unbutton the top of the dress enough to let it show. Choose something in a contrasting colour for a pop of color, or choose one in the same colour as the dress for a sleek effect. l Simple accessories add the perfect touch to a dress shirt. They add just the right amount of interest without appearing overdone. Accessories like bracelets, earrings, shoes, necklaces, clutch and handbags are the ultimate shirt dress accessories. l When it comes to shoes, the one you wear will depend on the occasion. For a casual look, you can wear strappy or flat sandals. For more formal events, pair your dress shirt with pumps, stilettos, wedge or cute dressy sandals.

So, if you decide to wear a dress shirt, then, look for something sleek and modern for that ageless and stylish look.

Chubby Mykel Parish Ajaere is the president of Pan-African Film Development and Advancement Awards. His dress sense often reflects the peculiar style of the African countries he has visited even though he prefers western clothes. ANGELA DAVIES writes.

What is your own style?

I like to be classy. I love to wear a lot of sleek stuff.

It may be western and sometimes with an African touch because I am a pan-Africanist so I promote the African culture a lot. Every country I visit, I try to dress like them to fit into their society. But on a regular day, I want to dress western. The traditional attire I am wearing is an advancement of the African culture.

What kinds of outfits make up a larger part of your wardrobe?

I am a conventional suit and jacket guy. So, I will say shirts. I like very sleek shirts.

Fashion accessories you cannot do without?

That will be my wristwatch and shoes. I am a wristwatch collector and I love all kinds of designer shoes.

Empress Njamah

What is that fashion item you wouldn't mind spending so much on?

That would be wristwatch. I won’t wear a wristwatch less than two thousand dollars.

Best designer I like Mudi because his styles are unique. He knows how to mix and match fabrics. Then I am also a fan of Louis Vuitton.

Signature perfume I love Tom Ford perfumes. It makes me feel comfortable.

Clothing item you would never be caught wearing?

I will wear anything kind of outfit once it is good, comfortable and suits my body frame. But I will not wear all those tight clothes that will make you look like gay.

Best colour My best colour is blue.

It is a calm colour. To me, it is royality and it can balance every other colour.

Rita Dominic

Genevieve Nnaji

Yolanda Okereke

Who are your fashion role models?

I like the dressing of Richard MofeDamijo and Jim Iyke. When it comes to dressing, you cannot fault RMD. Then, Jim Iyke understands how to mix and match. He also takes his time to select what he wants to wear to any event.

Ajaere

16

Instyle

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Accessories to live for

Facts Prince Akanni Idowu Oyefusi CEO of Nobel Afrik and Director of Nobel Afrik Training and Dressmaking became interested in technical dressmaking in 1989 when he was asked to help manage junior classes while in Mac’s Fashion/dressmaking school, Lagos. He studied Designing at the Yaba College of Technology and started Nobel Afrik in 1993.

Cinch a wide waist belt Wide waist belts are statement-making accessories. They do not only accentuate a woman’s figure but also breathe life into plain outfits, ANGELA DAVIES writes.

A

wide waist belt can do wonders to a woman’s silhouette. Wide waist belts can accentuate your waist, narrow it, hide flab, enhance your curves and also add a superb finishing touch to a loose-fitted blouse or dress.

They give that trendy and gorgeous look when wrapped in the proper position. So, the classic and trendy place to wrap a wide waist belt is around your natural waistline, which defines and slims down your upper body.

Just make ensure you choose a style and colour that will complement your outfit and fit perfectly. If your dress or blouse is simple, your belt should be colourful and if your dress is flashy, then, your belt should be simple to blend flawlessly.

T-shirts are durable and versatile garments with mass appeal.

Majority of T-shirts are made of 100% cotton, polyester or a blend of both.

No doubt belts can feel odd when you are not used to wearing them.

Sometimes it is just a matter of getting used to the extra pressure around your waistline, so it is advisable to give yourself some time to get used to the feeling of wearing a belt even though it is not an everyday thing.

However, for comfort you could opt for belts that are part elastic because of their stretchy nature. Wide waist belts come in a wide array of widths, lengths, styles, colours and fabrics to make your fashion statement with.

So why not style your loose fitting outfits with a chic wide waist belt that will accentuate your figure and also add some oomph to your overall look.

Coloured nail polishes were invented in the 1920s and the first nail polish was launched by Revlon.

The Hermès Birkin bag is named after singer, Jane Birkin.

FASHION ETIQUETTE

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

Sunglasses should not be worn indoors or at night

Long flowing chiffon boubou

T

S

unglasses go beyond protecting the eyes from the scorching sun. They are also a fashion accessory that reflects ones personality.

In this part of the world, people are seen wearing sunglasses indoors and at night in the public. This may look fashionable but the fact is that wearing sunglasses indoors or at night anywhere is always not appropriate.

Socially, wearing sunglasses indoors is often considered disrespectful and plain rude. While wearing it at night may make you look cool but will sure make it appear as if you have something to hide like being drunk, avoiding people or trying to cover up a black eye.

So, it is not just a good idea.

As the name suggest, sunglasses should only be worn under the scorching sun to protect your eyes as well as act as a fashion accessory.

Inyang

Silva

he fashion face-off this week is between renowned Nollywood actress and Director of Studies Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, Joke Silva and gospel singer, Princess Ann Inyang. The attire in contention is chiffon boubou, a long loose-fitting outfit.

Silva stepped out in a black and white floral chiffon boubou to watch ‘The wives’ stage play which held at the Agip Recital Hall of Muson centre, Onikan, Lagos on Saturday, October 11.

She styled the boubou which featured a round neckline taped with black with pearl stud earrings, necklace, bracelet and silver wristwatch. She spotted a moderately done make-up that suits her face and completed her look with a pair of pumps and colourful headgear.

While Inyang wore a white boubou to the Classic Africa Merit Award 2014 which held at 10 Degrees event centre, Oregun, Lagos on August 10. The white boubou which featured a beaded canoe neckline was matched with an intricately beaded pearl earrings and necklace, red strap wristwatch, high heel shoes and red with pink sequined handbag.

Her lovely painted red nails matched the colour of her wristwatch and handbag. She wore her natural hair, spotted pink lipstick and gold eye shadow.

Although both women wore the long flowing boubou in style, however, who do you think wore it better? Is it seasoned actress, Silva or gospel musician, Inyang?

Trends

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

17

Irrepressible jumpsuits

J

Angela Davies umpsuits made their fashion debut in the 1960s, and since then have been on the fashion scene. In fact, they have become one of the favoured costumes of fashionistas in recent times.

Jumpsuits were first designed and worn in the 1940s by skydivers and paratroopers. The jumpsuit was later adapted by mechanics, the military and astronauts before finding its way to the fashion industry in 1960s.

The fashion industry then adopted and modified the look to be a must-have for women of style.

In the world of fashion, a jumpsuit refers to a piece of clothing that has an attached top and bottom. These outfits come in different styles and fabrics. The top comes in an array of styles such as short-sleeve, long-sleeve, sleeveless, one sleeve, collared, buttoned, halter neck, fitted and flowing to suit any occasion.

While the bottoms can be long, capri, tapered, fitted or even loose.

They are made with a variety of fabrics ranging from print, Ankara, lycra, spandex, cotton, denim amongst others.

In recent times, jumpsuits are fre-

Lamide Akintobi

Chisom Ndukwe

quently worn at various events styled in varied ways. From casual to formal gatherings, jumpsuits have become a popular alternative to dresses. Accessories such as purses, jewellery and shoes are an easy way to change the look of the entire outfit.

Jumpsuits can be dressy, casual and glamorous depending on the event.

However, your choice of jumpsuit should fit and flatter your physique. Then, style and accessorise with belts, shoes, jackets, jewellery and clutch or handbag to suit the occasion and also look your best.

Tips on choosing a jumpsuit l Choose a jumpsuit that fits, flatters your silhouette and suits the occasion. l Tall, leggy women have the option of wearing just about any type of jumpsuit including the long and flowy ones. l Jumpsuit with plunging necklines will elongate the body, and adding a long strand necklace will accent the jumpsuit and complete the look. l Short-statured women should select a tapered ankle or capri length jumpsuit. And adding a pair of tall wedges will add a few inches of height. l Women who want to elongate their body should consider a V-shaped neckline.

Accessorising a Jumpsuit Accessories are meant to spruce up any outfit. So, below are some essential accessories you need to take your jumpsuit from casual to glam.

Belts- Besides choosing a jumpsuit that fits and flatters, depending on the

Dami Obada

style, pairing it with a lovely belt in an array of widths, materials and colours will either accentuate or hide certain body features. Buying belts in neutral colours like black, brown and navy blue will give you a variety to choose from.

Curvy women should use wide belts to create the appearance of a trimmer waist to complement their body shape.

While small, petite women look best using skinny belt.

Jewellery – Necklaces, bracelets, earrings and cocktail rings will instantly change the look of a jumpsuit from casual to glam. Long, dangling necklaces and earrings are ideal for jumpsuits with V-shaped and plunging necklines.

Jackets – Wearing the right jacket can dress a jumpsuit, thus, taking it from casual to a stylish professional look. Jackets are ideal if you decide to wear a sleeveless jumpsuit to the office to give it a professional look. A few coloured jackets in black, brown, navy and red can be paired with almost any type of jumpsuit.

Shoes – When wearing a jumpsuit, the most critical accessory is the shoes.

The right pair of shoes can accentuate the legs and add a few inches depending on the type of jumpsuit and your body type. You can opt for wedge, stilettos and strappy sandal.

Other accessories: Other accessories you need include handbag, clutch or oversized tote depending on the time of the event. However, clutches are best for a night event.

The most important thing about wearing a jumpsuit is to know what style and fabric best suits your figure, then, style and accessorise to look your best and standout.

Ladies in sassy jumpsuits

Short Story SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

O

Writer in focus:

Ahaoma Kanu

18

The River Benue Massacre

ur journey to the east was smooth without hitches as we passed several northern towns and villages.

Wale did not stop at any of the stations for fear that his cargo might be discovered, but when complaints of hunger came from his colleagues who had exhausted the food they had, he decided to stop at a place safe and away from any town. Everyone was hungry as we had all not eaten anything since the night we left Zaria till the evening of that day. Wale and friends had to devise a way to buy food. As we got to one of the train stations; I had no idea of the exact villages we were passing, he passed the station and stopped a mile ahead.

Jasper and Dede were deployed to go back to the town to buy food.

"Na only us go eat?" Umaru asked, "What about the people wey we carry?"

He asked.

"Abeg dat one no concern me", Jasper replied, "They suppose happy say we save their life not to complain about hunger", he said arrogantly, ready to move on.

"But na true Umaru talk", Wale interrupted, "We suppose buy them something even if na bread", he suggested "Bread? Wey the money?" Jasper cried, "If the Oyibo woman give you money make you talk now."

"Jasper wetin dey worry your head, how many times I go tell you say I no collect shilling for this thing", Wale replied angrily.

"Then how you wan buy bread for all these plenty people wey dey there", Jasper replied pointing to the coaches.

They did not mind that the people were listening to their argument.

"We go pay for our bread abeg!"

One of the women shouted from inside the coach.

"Wetin that person talk?" Jasper asked.

"They said they will pay for their bread", I called out to them from the window.

"Oh they get money sef", Dede asked.

"No be Igbo dem be, Igbo wey sabi hide money well well", Jasper said jokingly.

They all started laughing, allowing the brewed to tension to subside.

Wale called me down and told me to go inform the people to contribute money for the food. I climbed inside the coach to reach them; they were all sitting down on the floor of the train, some of the women were lying down with their babies and children. A few of the men sat on top of the drums and they all looked up to me as I came in. I explained the situation to the people. The response was encouraging; some of them had managed to hide some money in their underwear and pockets while quite a number of them lost everything. Those that had money contributed while the people that were penniless looked on hopefully. As I gathered the contributions which were mainly in coins, I calculated ₤2,10shillings; it would definitely not be enough for all of the people. I knew that the people that had money were just being selfish and had to do something pretty fast.

"Please my people", I started, "I want to let you know that this money will not be enough for all of us. None of us

prayed for these events to happen and nobody planned to be going back to the east this way. I know some of us have money and others don't, please I want to beg those that have to give more. Remember that none of us paid to be in this train and also the people that harboured us at the Red Cross did not collect a dime from us but yet, risked their lives for us. I am begging, if you know you still have some money, endeavour to contribute more so that all for us can have something to eat. The road is still very far and after all, we are going home where there will be plenty for us. Let us show the spirit of kindness and oneness, remember we are all Ibos; brothers and sisters. I and my brothers will also donate ₤5 to this amount we already have".

Those words were the only sweet things I could say and my appeal worked; immediately there were rustlings as people started responding. Women untied the knots in their wrappers while others pulled out their purses from their breasts.

The men unbelted their trousers in a bid to reach to their pants and inner shorts where they had hid money.

"Nwa mu welu shilling ise".

"Ne ₤3".

"Welu ₤7 nye ya".

Those became the responses I got and the money started increasing.

People donated kind heartedly while those without anything to give called out blessing on the givers for their generosity. I was all smiles and kept saying "Thank you" over and over again. At the end we had contributed ₤23.80 for the purchase of food for ourselves.

"Tell the driver and his friends to keep their money, it is for all of

"Those words were the only sweet things I could say and my appeal worked"

us", one man said, I remember he handed me ₤10 and whispered that I should retain my ₤5. As I came down from there and handed the money over to Wale, all their eyes were popping in surprise.

"How much?" he asked me still gaping at the money.

"Twenty-three eighty", I replied proudly, "For everybody including you and your friends".

"God go bless una make una reach una place safely", Umaru prayed aloud.

"Amen!" They all responded except Jasper who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Jasper wetin again?" Dede asked him, his muteness was very evident.

"How we go carry dat amount of bread without suspicion?" He asked.

"I sabi the man wey get the bakery here, na Yoruba man. He will help us", Wale replied his question.

"Na only me and Dede go carry the whole things?" Jasper asked again.

"I go follow una go", Wale replied in his normal pidgin English.

They succeeded in buying the food and did not only bring the breads in sacks, they also came with variety of fruits; mangoes, bananas and pineapples all freshly plucked.

Wale informed us that his baker friend took pity on us when he heard our story and so the gesture. Dede and Umaru took plastic gallons to fetch water from a nearby river. The breads were shared among everyone. Wale ordered that one of the drums of palm oil be opened so that it could be used as sauce in eating the bread, so that gave the people a choice of either using river water or

palm oil to eat their bread. The fruits were not enough to go round so I suggested that it should be shared among the wounded, children and nursing mothers. Nobody challenged the decision. As the merriment ensued, it reminded me of the story in the bible where the Lord fed the people. It was a touching sight to see the people eating bread with palm oil happily and with joy.

They all ate and drank, grateful to God for sparing their lives from the people of northern Nigeria.

For close to two hours, the people fed themselves, not knowing that that would be the last supper they would have in their respective lives.

After the short break for feeding, we continued our journey home. I suggested that Wale allow us to be with the others in the coaches but he refused.

"I promise Kemi say una go stay with me for engine. I no want take any risk", He insisted. That singular decision saved us from the massacre that was about to happen in the evening of the next day. The journey so far had without any hindrance, maybe because we were on a cargo train or it was due to Wale's decision not to be stopping at the stations. Around 4pm, I heard him call out to his friends that that we were at Ayalugu.

"Is that the name of this place?"

I asked him quietly.

"Yes", he replied, "we go soon reach Makurdi once we cross the bridge there. Na im be say we don reach east be that", he explained further.

As it was, Makurdi was a town in the Benue region of the northern part of the country and shared borders with the east. The Makurdi Bridge was one of the two bridges linking the north and the east, the other being the Jebba Bridge in the Niger area also in the north. Like Wale said, crossing the River Benue bridge would be a guarantee of safety as one would have passed all the hostile regions in the region.

We did not have a fore knowledge that the bridge at Makurdi had been sealed off by men of the army in order to fish out fleeing easterners.

Our lack of knowledge was made possible by our one way trafficking, had it been that Wale made it a point to stop at the stations to make enquiries, maybe the bloodbath at what was later to be known as the Red bridge of Makurdi would have been averted.

I looked out of the window to notice signs of living around which showed that we were finally getting into Makurdi. I kept looking at the many round huts popularly called doki houses that adored the area; it was evening and the town seemed to be relaxing. Activities were normal so nobody was suspicious of anything.

I assumed that all was well and so laid my head back on my legs to sleep. I had barely closed my eyes for five minutes when I heard Wale muttering to himself.

"Shit!" He cursed again. I felt less concerned. to be co n t i n u e d n e x t w ee k

LIfe Experience:

'I was sacked because I was a lesbian'

p.20

True Confession ‘I Married My Stalker' p.22

L ve&Lv ng SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

‘I regret marrying a man who lives abroad' Love Confession Foreign-based men are usually regarded as 'hot cakes' by desperate local women who want to leave the country for greener pastures. In this story, one woman reveals how ugly it could be staying married to a man based abroad.

You’re breaking my heart with the way you treat me.

M

y name is Ifeoma. I’m 32 and my guy is 43 and is based abroad. He came from Germany and paid my bride price six years ago. But since he returned to Europe, he has virtually abandoned me. The last time he came to Nigeria, he spent only two weeks.

Besides, I don’t like his character.

Our marriage is what I’ll call ‘telephone marriage’ because we talk more on phone than we see each other. God knows I’ve done all I can to make him happy. But he likes keeping things to himself when annoyed.

He won’t call and he won’t tell me what I’ve done to offend him. Rather, he would keep malice. He does not call me all the time and even when he calls, he talks so rudely that I end up being angry with him over the phone.

The most annoying thing is that he is married to a white woman in Germany. And sometimes when I call him, the woman asks me who I

am. In order to avoid problems with his white wife, Chidi told her that I’m his sister from Nigeria and he forces me to tell such a lie whenever I call.

Even our daughter that is with me, he doesn’t send me money regularly for her upkeep. My Germany-based husband sends money to me only once or twice in a whole year. And even the money he send to me for the whole year for the upkeep of I and our daughter is not up to N50,000. When I complain, he will tell me to go and find work to do to survive.

But when I see my mates and my friends who are living with their husbands here in Nigeria, I cry. I cry because I see how happily they are living together and taking care of their children. I regret getting pregnant for Chidi and marrying him just because he came from overseas.

For the past five years, he hasn’t visited Nigeria and I am all alone with my child struggling to survive.

If not for the child I have for him, I would have quit the joyless marriage a long time ago. The problem is that I already have a child for him.

That’s why I’m still managing. I’m tired of my ‘telephone marriage’.

I need the physical presence of a husband in my life. I advise all single ladies to beware of these overseas-based Nigerians who come down to marry. Most of them will just put you in the family way, pay your bride price and disappear.

Then you and your kids will start suffering. Guys based abroad don’t make the best of husbands. Marriage with them is “telephone marriage”, because you’ll relate more with them on phone since their physical presence is never there.

Romantic Quotes “I love you, in my mind where my thoughts reside, in my heart where my emotions live, and in my soul where my dreams are born. I love you.” ― Dee Henderson, The Healer

"I would pour you a glass of wine, but wouldn’t it be more romantic if you sipped it out of my armpit?” ― Jarod Kintz

MODEL OF THE WEEK

Megie Whyte 07038003810

19

20

Love&Living

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Love News

A

voter standing beside President Barack Obama as he was casting his early ballot for the 2014 midterm elections in Chicago warned the Commander-inChief: 'Don't touch my girlfriend'.

Mike Jones was waiting in line with his girlfriend Aia Cooper when President Obama arrived at the poling station in Chicago.

A nervous Jones said: 'I know you're Mr President, but don't touch my girlfriend.'

Cooper later told CBS Chicago: 'I didn’t know what to say. I was just shaking. I said ‘"Oh boy, this is the president. What am I supposed to do?".'

President Obama commented on the encounter: 'There’s an example of a brother just embarrassing me for no reason, just for no reason whatsoever.'

Jones said: 'It was so silent in there and everyone was just taking pictures I figured I had to say something to make people laugh.'

President Obama told Cooper what she might tell her family and friends about the day she met the President: 'I can’t believe Mike, he is such a fool.

'But fortunately, the president was nice about it, so it’s alright,' he added.

Outside the poling station Cooper told WLS-TV that she received a hug and a kiss from the President: 'On the cheek, just the cheek — please, Michelle, don’t come after me — just the cheek!'

They said they had no idea before turning up that President Obama would be there. He was voting early himself to encourage a higher turnout among the electorate.

The couple have been interviewed on multiple broadcasts since the jokey exchange including on CNN and on CBS Chicago.

President Barack Obama cast his vote early for the 2014 midterm elections in a bid to get voters to go to the polls ahead of election day.

The president voted in a community center in Chicago - named after

'Don't touch my girlfriend' l Man tells President Obama to keep his hands off girl

AKON

Lonely Lonely I'm Mr Lonely, I have nobody, For my own I'm so lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely I have nobody, For my own I'm so lonely, Yo this one here goes out to all my players out there ya know got that one good girl who's always been there like ya Know took all the bullshit then one day she can't take it no more and decides to leave

the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., near his family's home on Chicago's South Side.

'The most important office in a democracy is the office of citizen,' the president told reporters at the Center, as he took advantage of the first day of early voting in Illinois.

'I’m so glad I can early vote. It’s so exciting. I love voting,' the president said, in a not-so-subtle way.

Adding: 'Everybody in Illinois [should] vote early. It’s a wonderful opportunity.'

Before he was handed his ballot, a poll worker asked if he was Barack Obama, according to Politico.

'That’s me,' he said.

However, his gesture was widely seen as being symbolic as he explained that the most 'important job in a democracy is the job of citizen.'

Obama also delivered doughnuts and pastries to Democratic campaign volunteers in Chicago to boost moral on Monday.

He carried the boxes of pastries into a Pat Quinn campaign office as Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick

Durbin stood alongside him.

'The way we win any election is making sure we turn out,' he told the room full of volunteers.

And on Sunday night, the president did not shy away from saying exactly who he was likely to cast his vote for at a rally for Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. The governor is running for re-election in Obama's home state.

A fired up Obama told a crowd at Chicago State University, that he would vote early for Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin.

'The first thing I'm gonna do tomorrow is cast my vote to re-elect Dick Durbin and give my friend Pat Quinn four more years as governor of the great state of Illinois,' Obama said.

Obama described Durbin as a mentor who took him under his wing when he first became a senator in 2005.

He said: 'Durbin helped make sure that I didn't get into too much trouble.'

However, another stop made by the president on the campaign trail Sunday was marred by a steady stream of crowd members leaving early and even a yelling heckler.

‘I was sacked because I was a lesbian'

M

Y name is Faith and I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. I'm a graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). I passed out with a Second Class Lower degree and after my youth service, last year, I secured employment with a private company run by a woman in Lagos. My madam, the Managing Director (MD) of the company, was very good to me. And within a few months of my working with the company, I became good friends with my MD's daughter, which made me visit her house regularly.

As my boss's daughter and I became more intimate, I confided in her about my Sexual preference and she understood perfectly when I told her I was a lesbian. To my surprise, she said that she too had developed lesbian feelings with her school mother while she was in secondary school. She was in the boarding house of one of the Federal Government colleges, which was where she first experienced the touch of another woman and lesbian romance. She said she recalled those moments with nostalgia and wouldn't mind if I touched her.

Love Songs

Life Experience "We had many good times together and spent many weekends in secret places until her mother became suspicious"

That was how my boss's daughter and I became lovers. We had many good times together and spent many weekends in secret places until her mother, my boss, became suspicious. At first, she summoned us and told us that our intimacy was becoming too cold for comfort. She said that we were acting like husband and wife. But we denied anything of the sort and insisted that we were just best of friends.

I didn't know that my boss put a trail on us. She was watching us closely, and sent people to monitor our movements. Unfortunately, one of the people she sent

saw us kissing in the garden, one night and reported it to madam. My boss was so angry when she heard it. She said that her suspicions had been confirmed and that I had come to corrupt her only daughter and lead her into sin and perversion. I tried to explain to her that lesbianism, as far as I was concerned, wasn't as bad as people painted it. But my boss didn't listen.

The following Monday, at the office, she called me privately into her office for a talk.

She gave me a long talk on moral values and concluded by saying that she didn't want a Sxxual pervert in her company. She said I had to leave because I was leading her daughter astray, and handed me a sack letter. I wept and begged her to forgive me but she refused.

That was how I lost my last job, just because I’m a lesbian.

I've heard before that a guy lost his job in Lagos because he is gay, but I never knew that such a thing could happen to me.

I don't know why there is so much discrimination against homosexuals in Nigeria. Now I'm desperately in search of another job.

I woke up in the middle of the night and I noticed my girl wasn't by my side, coulda sworn I was dreaming, for her I was Feenin, so I had to take a little ride, back tracking over these few years, tryna figure out what I do to make it go bad, cause Ever since my girl left me, my whole life came crashing I'm so lonely (so lonely), I'm Mr. Lonely (Mr. Lonely) I have nobody (I have nobody) For my own (to call my own) girl I'm so lonely (so lonely) I'm Mr. Lonely (Mr. Lonely) I have nobody (I have nobody) For my own (to call my own) girl Can't believe I had a girl like you and I just let you walk right outta my life, after all I put you through you still stuck Around and stayed by my side, what really hurt me is I broke your heart, baby you were a good girl and I had no right, I Really wanna make things right, cause without you in my life girl I'm so lonely (so lonely) I'm Mr. Lonely (Mr. Lonely) I have nobody (I have nobody) For my own (to call my own) girl I'm so lonely (so lonely) I'm Mr. Lonely (Mr. Lonely) I have nobody (I have nobody) For my own (to call my own) girl Been all about the world ain't never met a girl that can take the things that you been through Never thought the day would come where you would get up and run and I would be out chasing you Cause ain't nowhere in the globe I'd rather be, ain't no-one in the globe I'd rather see then the girl of my dreams that made me Be so happy but now so lonely

Love Poem

Jacquelyn Upton

I'll Be… You fill the room with sweet sensation distracting bits of information crowd the space where logic dwells distorting sights and sounds and smells touching me with tactile pleasure pushing me beyond a measure of reasonable doubt that soon I sense I'm nowhere in the present tense.

*Send your love poems along with your name and number to ireto007@yahoo.com

Romantic Jokes

ANNIVERSARY GIFT

A couple had been married for 25 years and also celebrated their 60th birthdays. During the celebration a fairy appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple all those years, she would give them one wish each. The wife wanted to travel around the world.

The fairy waved her wand and boom! She had the tickets in her hand.

Next, it was the husband's turn. He paused for a moment, then said shyly, "Well, I'd like to have a woman 30 years younger than me." The fairy picked up her wand and boom! He was 90...

25 OCTOBER 2014

Relationships & Love Advice

'I'm crazy about two men at the same time' Dear Love Doctor, My name is Belinda. The fact is that me and my boyfriend have never been very serious. We want different things in life, we have different perspectives and not very much in common, yet we like each other a lot and love spending time with each other. From the start I felt I'm in love with him but I wouldn't agree to marry him or have children with him.

Our relationship looks like a temporary thing!

Now I recently met another guy and I've also fallen in love with him, even though I still love my boyfriend. So, what do I do now that I'm in love with two guys? I'm crazy about both guys at the same time. Please tell me what to do.

From Belinda.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Belinda, Falling in love with two men at the same time sounds immature. It is likely that you are emotionally immature and what you feel for either of both men might not actually be love but infatuation or a crush.

You need to know somebody well before you can be sure of your feelings for that person. At this stage, you are not yet sure of your feelings, which means anything can happen. So you may well fall out of love the same way you were fell in love.

B

Love&Living

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

Love stands the test of time.

But any such feeling that doesn't stand the test of time is not love.

Y o u r relationship with your boyfriend doesn't appear to be serious or based on commitment. If your relationship is not based on commitment, and if you and your boyfriend are not committed to each other, then what you feel can't really be said to be love.

Furthermore, you may be emotionally weak or insecure, and your weak, insecure feelings may be leading you astray.

So why don't you work on fixing those issues before you go into a relationship or commit yourself to any man?

You would have to grow up and cultivate a greater sense of maturity in order to decide what is best for you. Being in a 'temporary' relationship with a guy with whom you see no future together is simply not good enough.

If you want daily love tips or advice, download The Color of Love Guide on your iPad and iPhone. Search for ‘Color of Love’ on your Apple App store now and download the App. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com. For free marriage/relationships counseling, or if you have fibroid, fertility problems or need a male or female child; call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08131161840.

Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com

Odd News

listering marital rows and depression can lead to people piling on the pounds, according to a study.

The double whammy of arguing with a spouse and a history of depression can increase the risk for obesity in adults, as it alters how the body processes high-fat foods.

Researchers found men and women with a history of depression who had especially heated arguments with their spouse burned fewer calories after a meal than less argumentative couples.

The reduction in calories burned could translate to gaining 12 pounds a year, almost an entire stone.

These couples also had higher levels of insulin, which contributes to the storage of fat, and spikes of triglycerides - a form of fat in the blood - after eating a heavy meal when compared to participants without these risk factors.

Lead researcher Jan Kiecold-Glaser, from Ohio State University said the findings reveal how important it is to treat mental health problems.

The new study backs up her previous research, which found that women who are stressed put on weight because their metabolism slows down, burning

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Lovers’ Answers Game: The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love, and choose your lover from the top 3 answers.

Faith, 23, in Akwa Ibom, is asking all men: "Between a man and a woman, who stays longer without having sex?" *Call Mike: 07031028714 to send questions or issues.

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Romantic Text of the Week

I miss you like the deserts miss the rain.

21

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How arguing with your spouse could make you FAT: Marital rows and depression lead to fewer calories being burned after meals 100 fewer calories a day.

She said: 'These findings not only identify how chronic stressors can lead to obesity, but also point to how important it is to treat mood disorders.

Interventions for mental health clearly could benefit physical health as well.

'Our results probably underestimate the health risks because the effects of only one meal were analysed. Most people eat every four to five hours, and often dine with their spouses.'

'Meals provide prime opportunities for ongoing disagreements in a troubled marriage, so there could be a longstanding pattern of metabolic damage stemming from hostility and depression.'

HOW ARGUING WITH YOUR PARTNER IS 'BAD FOR YOUR HEART Arguing with a partner isn't just upsetting - it's also bad for your heart.

People who think their partner is unsupportive are more likely to develop heart disease, a study has found.

Scientists at the University of Utah found people who say their spouse is sometimes supportive but also some-

times upsetting have higher levels of artery calcification.

This suggests their arteries are diseased and they are at greater risk of premature death.

The findings showed that when both partners perceive the support they get from each other as ambivalent - that is, sometimes helpful and sometimes upsetting - each partner's levels of coronary artery calcification tend to be particularly high.

The researchers recruited 43 healthy

couples, ages 24 to 61, who had been married for at least three years.

As part of the study, participants completed a range of questionnaires that included assessments of marital satisfaction, past mood disorders and depressive symptoms.

During the two daylong study visits, all participants ate eggs, turkey sausage, savoury biscuits made from dough, and gravy that totalled 930 calories and 60 grams of fat.

The meal was designed to mimic common fast-food options, and matches the calories and fat in a Burger King double whopper with cheese or a Big Mac and medium fries at McDonald's.

Two hours later, the couples were asked to discuss and try to resolve one or more issues that researchers had previously judged to be most likely to produce conflict. Common topics were money, communication and in-laws.

Researchers left the room during these videotaped discussions, and later categorized the interactions as psychological abuse, distress-maintaining conversations, hostility or withdrawal.

22

Love&Living

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Love Education

True Confession From Overseas

What is petting?

‘I Married My Stalker'

continued from last week

W

hen I was 24 years old I had a good job and a beautiful little girl of 4 years old. Her father was not involved in her life.

He was on drugs and living in another state.

I had been living with my folks and finally struck out on my own again. I got a cute little garage apartment and fixed it up to make a nice home for my little girl and me.

At this point in my life I was very naive. I was into running. I went running around the college track after work one day. My little girl was walking around the grassy areas as I ran. I noticed a random guy walking around.

When I was done running I went to do my stretches and the creeper came up to me and started talking to me. I was so naive I ended up telling him where I work.

He called me at work the next day and asked me out. I told him no but he kept insisting. I finally gave in. Eventually he would call me at work all the time, come to my house all the time. My boss was getting mad about his constantly calling me at work.

I didn't understand that this was not normal behaviour.

We dated and then I said I just want to be friends. Sometimes I just said "get out of my life". Then he would agree to just be friends and consume my time and weasel his way back in. After trying to get rid of him for some time he eventually weaseled his way back in and after us talking about getting married he would tell people that I was his fiance. He wore me down, I signed the papers and we were wed, no wedding just paper signing.

Before this there were plenty of red flags but I was unable to see them and was being manipulated by him. Guys like him will deny your reality, lie to keep you off balance.

Essentially try to stop you from seeing what's really happening. He called me from jail one night claiming that he got picked up on some old traffic ticket warrant. I picked him up.

The details were sketchy and every time I asked him the details they would change. He turned out to be a pathological liar.

Before we married I had gone out of town.

I would not give him the key to my apartment. He calls my brother in law (I was at my sisters house) he says he wants to talk to me. My sister and I were out somewhere. He becomes insistent that he must speak to me at once. My brother in law is like, "You can talk to her when she gets back." At that point he lies, "Well, the window in her bedroom was broken out. I need to talk to her right away about it." So, my brother in law gives him the number. He calls me at my other sisters house where I was. He tells me the lie. In reality he was just stalking me down.

I get back home. My window looks the

"He wore me down, I signed the papers and we were wed.

No wedding, just paper signing"

same. There is not broken glass anywhere and the window looks like the same window I had left. It had some tell tale signs that I could tell it was never broken. It made no sense.

At other times I would come home and see my back door left open and food missing out of my fridge. I went outside and discovered my little girls favorite pizza snack wrappers on the porch of my neighbors. (we shared a patio). well, I believe he broke in, ate the food and planted it there.

He was very familiar with the little girl next door, overly familiar, and it turns out later that when I went over there I found my little girls toys over there. I put two and two together and decided that he was giving this little girl toys. I can only conjecture why he would be bribing a little girl.

Before I married him he said that he almost had his Masters Degree in Social Work. I knew nothing about how college or universities worked. I believed him.

After we were married I asked him when was he going to go back to school. He would always make some excuse. He had low wage jobs. When I met him he worked at a temp service. Finally, after years of marriage, when I pushed him again about finishing school so we didn't have to be poor anymore he

said, "I don't want to go into that field." I was like, "So what!, it's a good job." He got angry and changed the subject. Years later, after the divorce I investigated and found out that he only took one class at the University that he claimed to have attended. It all turned out to be a made up lie. He doesn't even have an Associates degree.

Back to the wedding night. Before we were married he had lied to me and said that he was tested and was sterile. He claimed that he was unable to have children. He was 34 years old. I believed him.

So, we used no protection and I became pregnant immediately. He had to get me pregnant in order to control me with a child.

He kept his low paying job while I worked at my job. I had to get up a 4 am every morning to do my paper route before my job. He would force me to stay up late every night. The tireder I was the more control he had over me.

We finally moved into a bigger apartment with 2 bedrooms. I continued to work through my pregnancy. I cried because I was so tired and wanted to quit early. He refused to get more work. I had to keep working so my labor and delivery would be covered by the insurance from work.

I started planning my escape. My eldest daughter and I would have meetings after he went to his pizza delivery job. We would plot things like: my daughter was going to start taking clothing and personal items to school and put them in her locker.

One day I would go to take the kids to school and we would get the stuff out of the locker and then I would clean out the bank account and we would split, to my sisters. I was making secret plans with my family.

There are so many other details. In the end I got away from him with all three kids. It took more than one attempt and the day of the escape is a story in itself.

I decided that the justice system stunk so I used the system to my advantage.

Neither of us had any money. I had a lawyer working on the divorce, he had no lawyer by this time. So I used that. I got him to agree to visitations as agreed between the parties for my little girl.

Petting is often referred to in older books as 'foreplay' – meaning that it's something you can do before starting intercourse.

Doing it before intercourse is actually an excellent idea, because it prepares the body for actual penetration.

Indeed, nearly all women need plenty of petting before intercourse - in order to get their genitals 'ready'.

To be specific, petting before intercourse will: make the vagina open up make the 'love juices' flow get the woman excited so that she really enjoys intercourse.

Failure to give enough petting before intercourse is one of the commonest male mistakes - and very often leads to sex becoming unsatisfactory for the woman.

Can you go in for petting without going on to intercourse?

Definitely! Plenty of couples – particularly young ones – go in for petting 'sessions' for half-an-hour or an hour, but don't go on and have intercourse.

These sessions are particularly useful for young people who need to express their emotions and find sexual relief, but who don't want to progress to intercourse (or perhaps can't progress to intercourse because of their circumstances).

What happens when a woman 'pets' a man?

She can do any of the following: stroke the man's penis rub his penis kiss his penis lick his penis suck his penis - this is often described as a 'blow job' (but please do not blow – this is dangerous!) use a vibrator on him (though in practice vibrators are much more commonly used by men on women).

What happens when a man 'pets' a woman?

He can do any of the following: caress her breasts and nipples kiss them lick them suck them stimulate her clitoris, vulva and vagina with his fingers stimulate these areas with his lips or tongue use a vibrator (or other sex aid).

Is there any risk of catching STDs or getting HIV? There is an extremley small risk of acquiring infection through petting, but it is much less than with full sex. Statistically, the biggest is of catching herpes, through being given oral sex by someone who has a 'cold sore ' on their lips. There is also some risk of catching gonorrhoea ('clap') through oral love play.

Conclusion Generally, petting is great fun and very safe.

Learning to do it skillfully is well worthwhile – especially as skilled love play is essential for helping most women to reach a climax.

Courtesy: netdoctor.co.uk

Wedding Traditions

The Human Carpet: Tahiti and French Polynesia

P

lanning a destination wedding to Tahiti?

Just make sure you don't bring stilettos!

On the Marquesas Islands, it is tradition at the end of a wedding reception for the bride and groom to walk all over their friends and family. Seriously, everyone lies down and creates a "human carpet" that the couple has to tread through to get to the door and be sent off on their

honeymoon. This is according to the book Planet Wedding: A Nuptual-pedia, and no explanation behind the meaning of this could be found.

On the Maruesas Islands of French Polynesia after the wedding reception is over the relatives of the bride all lay side by side in the dirt, face down. The bride and groom then walk across them like some sort of human rug.

Lepacious Bose

Felabration

Blurring the thin line between jokes and insults

Morning after the party

p.24

ShowBiz

p.34

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

23

Bez Idakula: Marriage hasn’t slowed me down Alternative soul singer, Bez Idakula, is an award-winning artiste whose first album, Super Sun, released in 2011 was rated by the Boston Globe as one of the top 10 world music albums of 2011. He is also in MTV Iggy’s hall of fame and his song, Stupid Song, was the first international video to premiere on BET’s 106 and Park. The singer who is signed to Cobhams Asuquo’s C.A.M.P got married to Bolatito Ladoja, daughter of former governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, in January. The artiste, just back from a tour of Uganda where he performed at the Kigali Up Festival and The Concert for Peace, speaks with LANRE ODUKOYA and EDWIN USOBOH on music, love and family.

You recently returned from a very eventful tour to Rwanda where you played at the Kigali Up Festival and the concert for Peace. What did this tour do for your image as a musician and entertainer?

First of all let me start off by thanking all the fans in Rwanda who came out to all our shows in Gisenyi and Kigali. The opportunity to visit other African cities always shows you the power of the music, its ability to bring us all together. At one point all one is doing is trying express their art and live a dream and you never know how far that art is going, so much so that I live in Lagos and write my music here, but people in Rwanda can sing along to That Stupid Song and Zuciya Daya. The folks at RwandAir and Afrogroov made it happen.

They were amazing hosts to us.

How was the trip from the beginning to your final day? How receptive were the people of Rwanda to you?

They were very open to the music. It was nothing short of amazing. As a country, they have been to the brink and back and you can sense the resilience amongst the people. It’s a beautiful country with amazing topography and the folks there are so laid back, sometimes it reminded me of what Jos used to be like when I was younger. Nigerian music as whole is very popular there and my own brand of Naija music was very welcomed and celebrated.

How would you compare the music scene in Rwanda to what is obtainable here?

Did you have any collaboration?

The modern music scene is burgeoning in Rwanda, they have had a long love for traditional music and musicians, now the younger folk are crafting their own brand of music infused with sounds of hip-hop and R&B. I happened to do a show with an amazing American-based, Rwandan singer called Iyadede, it was amazing.

You have been married for almost a year; do you intend to start a family very soon?

Yeah, January will make it a year. I have

been blessed with an amazing wife and it’s been joy building the foundation for what we pray will be a fulfilling life together, and one day we will be blessed with children and grandchildren even.

Your 2011 album, Super Sun, is critically acclaimed. I understand you are working on your second album; what should we expect from Bez post Super Sun? Are there going to be any changes as to style of music?

I have been working on the new album for over a year now, it’s been a long process, but rewarding nonetheless. The goal is capture growth, evolution of an artiste. Most of the instrumentation on the album is live and so we have recorded here in Lagos, in New York, Houston and we went to my villages in Nasarawa and recording traditional musicians. That was so exciting for me to go home to Karu and be able to reflect some of that music in my recordings. In Houston I worked with amazing horn players and percussionists, one of them even plays in Beyonce's band.

The style of music isn’t going to change much, a slightly more rock edge to it, but most of all I think it will reflect a growth and also be more accessible to those may not have heard the Super Sun album. I also co-wrote a number of songs on the upcoming album with X3m Music artiste Simi, you have probably heard her new single, Tiff and Omolara Ayodele. Also Cobhams Asuquo is at the helm of producing the album.

When specifically will you drop your album and how would it be?

In this region, probably second quarter of 2015.

The Super Sun concert took place in 2012 and was a success; are you replicating the same any time soon?

No plans in the works at the moments, but keep watching this space.

Do you think that marriage has slowed

you down musically?

Not at all, if anything marriage has quickened my pace. Music to me is a calling; it’s my life's work so I have to move really fast in this space in order for things to work out well. I have been on the road, as you know live performances are the bread and butter for any artiste. I spent this time introducing a whole new fan base to my music, establishing a base in East Africa, in November I am scheduled to be in Spain and the U.S. Work and shows have been going on.

"Music to me is a calling; it’s my life's work so I have to move really fast in this space"

Are there any collaborations on your new album?

Yes, there are.

What are your plans for Bez as a brand?

The goal is to keep cranking out amazing music and growing a fan base for a brand of music that 'they' say is niche. I intend to focus on more music videos from this upcoming album. We do have some interest from foreign markets, so we are currently following up on those requests. We intend to stay the course and keep the energy high during our live performances and give the fans a show every single time. It’s called show business for a reason.

24

Showbiz

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

The wait is over as Newman’s Street hits screen

T

he much talked about TV series, Newman’s Street, has finally become an item for lovers of gripping TV dramas. Concept Promotions in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Centre for Communication Programmes last Thursday played host to guests at the premiere of Newman’s Street. Notable actors including Tony Manjaro and Keppy Ekpenyong, amongst others, present at the event lauded the creative presentation of the series directed by award winning director and producer, Bond Emeruwa.

Newman’s Street, an innovative TV Drama series creatively scripted to address key health concerns in the Nigerian society with a view to galvanising support for managing them, is definitely a new dimension to nip some health hazards in the

bud.

Guests were left on the edge of their seats as they attempted to unravel the suspense and intrigues in the flowing plots. The Newman’s Street TV series is breathtaking, filled with scenes of passion, love, happiness and contemporary in every sense of the word.

According to Bond Emeruwa, Newman’s Street is a sitcom produced with the Nigerian audience in mind. “On 'Newman’s Street', you will meet Andy, a handsome barber and aspiring Afro-hip hop artist fighting the uphill battle to fame.

Andy is just one of the interesting folks featured on Newman’s Street, an edgy TV drama about young Nigerians with big dreams who strive to overcome the harsh realities of city life to achieve happiness, fame and fortune.”

An interesting character, Mama

Roseline Okposio, Mr. Bond Emeruwa, Dr. (Mrs) Isoken Aikpokpo and Mrs. Emeruwa at the premiere of Newman Street

Ejiro, who is a seamstress aspires to get additional training that will enhance her business.

She dreams of clothing the high and mighty and consequently finding fame and fortune.

Newman’s Street is an engaging TV programme and a must watch for everyone. The story lines will uplift the spirits of its viewers and provide the appropriate information in making life decisions as they deal with everyday issues.

Newman’s Street TV drama made its debut last Sunday at 8.30pm on the entertainment channel (1O5) of the NTA on the StarTimes

E-BRIEFS

Femi Kuti and ex rekindle old flame ove heals all and you could tell from the sheer L show affection between estranged couple, Femi Kuti and his ex-wife, Funke. Do we smell a reunion

Kenneth Okonkwo picks PDP nomination form

N

ollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, is not lagging behind in his quest to represent his people of Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives come 2015, with his purchase of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form few days ago.

The actor who is also a lawyer, had made his intention known few months ago and when many thought he does not have the wherewithal to pull some weight politically, Okonkwo has shown that he has what it takes to stand shoulder to shoulder with other aspirants.

After obtaining his form, the elated actor posted on his online campaign site: “Join me in thanking God for assisting me obtain my nomination form of our great party PDP to contest for the House of Representatives to represent Nsukka/ Igboeze South Federal Constituency. To Him be all the glory.”

Okonkwo has a lot of following in his community and the movie industry where he is one of the pioneers of Nollywood having been there since inception.

bouquet. A repeat broadcast comes up every Friday at 8.00p.m.

Newman’s Street is a production of Nollywood Concept Promotions and the Centre for Communication Programs Nigeria (CCPN). It is supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID/PMI), United Nation's Population Fund (UNFPA), the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Centre for Communication Programmes (JHUCCP) and UK Department for International Development (UKaid).

soon? There's no doubt that many will be glad if that truly happens. During the Felabration event, which took place at the shrine last week, the singer and his ex were all cuddly. You can’t help but notice genuine affection which clearly shows they have put behind them the pains their separation caused them both.

Tillaman is here with Cairo A quila Records’ sign-on Adetona Adeyemi (Tillaman) has dropped his fist single, Cairo, under his new record label. The song, which was produced by Otyno Akpabio and mastered by Ademoye Oluseyi aka Sheyman, is a groovy track.

It highlights the pop singer’s unique vocal range, style and identity. With the touches of Otyno, it is almost certain that Cairo would find love on the dance floors, radio stations and music charts in the country and beyond.

Also, Clarence Peters, Capital Dreams Pictures, has shot the video of Cairo and it drops this month.

Aquila Records is part of Aquila Group of Companies which is owned by business man and socialite, Shina Peller. The record company presently has two artistes, Tilla and Que Peller.

Tillaman, who is in his mid 30s came into limelight in 2012 with his single, Ko Ma Roll, featuring Vector. He is the son of His Royal Highness, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo. Last year, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi appointed Tillaman as a Youth Musical Ambassador for the State.

Bachure debuts with Dancing Belle

A

yo Balogun a.k.a. Wizkid who recently released his sophomore album, Ayo, has one of the songs, Mummy Mi, dedicated to his mum and is determined to celebrate her further. "I will shoot Mummy Mi video with my mum.," said the 24-year-

old singer who is no doubt one of the most successful artistes in the country at present. Other songs in which he pays copious tribute to his mother include Joy and Ojuelegba. That is with regard to his newly-released sophomore album.

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

FREE

Sport Splash 25

News

Focus on defence, Taribo tells Amodu p.27

Premier League

Man Utd, Chelsea test might at Old Trafford p.28

Championship

Omeruo, Ighalo clash in the Championship p.28

Interview

I quit my job to focus on Rio 2016 – Akinyemi p.31

Super Eagles players during their match against France at the World Cup in Brazil

keshi, Eagles ruin Adidas deal

R

Ajibade Olusesan

The Team

Vincent EboigbelAssistant Editor Ajibade Olusesan l Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing

evelations have emerged on the role former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi played in the event that led to the termination of contract between the Nigeria Football Federation and sportswear giants, Adidas.

The NFF, under Aminu Maigari signed an improved four-year contract with the sportswear company in 2012 but the outfit terminated the agreement barely two years into the tenure of the deal, citing breach of contract.

New Telegraph exclusively learnt that the agreement between the two parties was that the German company will kit all the 11 national teams annually with a proviso that players must not wear anything from com-

peting brands during international matches.

However, our correspondent learnt that shortly before the World Cup, Keshi opened a negotiation with rival sportswear company Nike and secured a personal deal. The coach compounded the problem by encouraging some of his players to sign contract with the United States-based company.

Consequently, the coach and some of the players appeared at the World Cup, spotting outfits produced by Nike. The management of Addidas quickly raised objections to the development and sought explanation from the NFF board.

“The sports company told the NFF to call Keshi to order but they were surprised that Maigari and his people could not do anything to the coach and they were left with no option than to cancel the contract. Keshi was

fully aware of the kit policy on ground and still went ahead to contravene it. Maybe because he knew the NFF cannot punish him.

At that point, Maigari and his people were more determined not to renew Keshi’s contract when it expired after the World Cup,” a source said.

The source also added that: “Keshi did well as a coach because he achieved so much within a short period of time but some things actually happened under his rein and we have to be happy that we are done with that era. How can you explain the fact that a member of the technical crew turned the team to a business centre where he markets all kinds of merchandise and will even compel players to patronise him, he would even threaten them if they don’t patronise him and Keshi did not do much to stop this coach.”

26

Sport

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Nigerian League Rendezvous

Dedication, hard work my secret – Emem Eduok

It is unprecedented in the Nigerian league for a player to score six goals in a match, but Dolphins’ striker, Emem Eduok, did the magic on Wednesday, scoring all six goals in a 6-0 thrashing of Nembe City. Speaking with CHARLES OGUNDIYA, the Akwa Ibom state-born defender turn striker said dedication and hard work have been his secret.

Feelings about scoring six goals I am so happy, so delighted scoring those goals. It has never happened in the Nigeria Professional Football League before. So becoming the first player to do so makes me happy.

Influence of Stanley Eguma Eguma has been a major source of inspiration to me. He converted me from a defender to a striker in the beginning after seeing my qualities and since then he has been telling me that I can do it. He told me that if I have been converting all my chances I would have been scoring many goals. So during the game against Nembe I decided to take advantage of all the chances that came my way, although I still missed some, but I am happy that my conversion rate has improved in recent weeks.

Eguma has helped me a lot, he gave me the belief as a player and I am grateful to him.

Breaking Jude Aneke's record It is very possible for me, all I need now is to score two goals in the remaining three matches and I know that by the special grace of God and dedication, I am going to achieve it. I am not under any pressure at all because nobody gave me the chance to come this far. At a time it was between Gbolahan Salami, Osoguona Ighodaro and Peter Ebimobowei, but now

Mfon Udoh and myself have entered the fray too, but I will not allow that to get into my head. I will continue to work hard and be focused.

National team ambitions I am doing everything to become a permanent member of the national team, the Super Eagles.

My first invitation to the Super Eagles was for the two games against Sudan, although I didn’t feature in any of the games, I was able to gain valuable experience.

It was a great experience for me and the only way to be invited again is to continue scoring goals.

I believe I have what it takes to be part of the Super Eagles.

Secret of success so far Commitment and hard work coupled with prayers have helped me to this level. At the beginning of the season, I set a target for myself and I have been working so hard to achieve it. It’s about coming to pass, I am grateful to God. Dedication First and foremost I want to thank God for making it possible and to my coach, Stanley Eguma. He has been a source of inspiration to me and I also want to appreciate the players who have been supplying me with the passes.

Sunshine Stars Paul Onobi (foreground)

Eduok, Udoh battle to surpass Aneke’s goals tally

S

striker Mfon Udoh who has18 goals.

Gbolahan Salami and Osaguona Ighodaro of Warri Wolves and Rangers respectively are on 16 goals each.

The form of Akwa Ibom-born duo of Eduok and Udoh has shown that the record will be surpassed this term.

Speaking with League Rendezvous, the contenders said they were all going for the record with three matches to go.

Eduok said: “It is very possible for me to break Aneke's record; all I need now is to score two goals in the remaining three matches and I

Stories by Charles Ogundiya ince 2011 no player has been able to break Jude Aneke’s all-time record of 20 goals in a single league season, but this is likely to change this time.

There are indications however that the record will be broken this season with three matches to the end of the 2013/2014 Glo Nigeria Professional Football League campaign.

Dolphins’ striker, Emem Eduok, currently leads the pack with 19 goals, one less than Aneke’s tally.

He is followed closely by Enyimba

A week of records

MATCH DAY 36: (26TH OCT 14) LOBI STARS VS AKWA UTD HEARTLAND VS fc TARABA CROWN VS ABIA WARRIORS SHARKS VS WARRI WOLVES GOMBE UTD VS RANGERS NASARAWA UTD VS SUNSHINE KADUNA UTD VS GIWA EL-KANEMI VS KANO PILLARS NEMBE VS ENYIMBA BAYELSA UTD VS DOLPHINS

T

TOP SCORER AS AT MATCH DAY 29 1 Emem Eduok (Dolphins FC) 19 Goals 2 Mfon Udoh (Enyimba) 18 Goals 3 Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves)16 Goals 4 Ighodaro Osaguona (Rangers) 16 Goals 5 Peter Ebimobowei (Bayelsa Utd) 14 Goals

Glo league table

Dolphins' Eduok in a recent league match

know that by the special grace of God and with dedication I am going to achieve it.”

Udoh said: “I hoped to score 20, but now I’m on 18; hopefully I will score more to equal that record and to surpass it. I’m working hard to achieve that.”

His goals have helped propel Enyimba towards another league title as they inch ever closer to leader Kano Pillars.

The six-time league champions are currently third on the log with 57 points from 35 matches, and play away to league whipping team, Nembe City on Sunday.

No.

Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

Pts

1

Kano Pillars

35

17

8

10

49

37

59

12

2

Warri Wolves

35

18

4

13

45

34

58

11 20

GD

3

Enyimba

35

16

9

10

44

24

57

4

Dolphins FC

35

15

9

11

43

29

54

14

5

Rangers

35

16

6

13

43

35

54

8

6

Nasarawa Utd

34

16

5

13

39

34

53

5

7

Lobi Stars

35

17

2

16

37

42

53

-5

8

Abia Warriors

35

15

7

13

46

36

52

10

9

Heartland FC

35

13

12

10

34

25

51

9

10

Sharks FC

34

14

9

11

40

32

51

8

11

Sunshine

35

13

12

10

46

42

51

4

12

Akwa United

35

14

9

12

27

29

51

-2

13

Giwa FC

33

14

7

12

33

30

49

3

14

El-Kanemi

35

13

9

13

37

28

48

9

15

FC Taraba

35

14

4

17

31

41

46

-10

16

Gombe Utd

35

12

7

16

36

39

43

-3

17

Bayelsa Utd

35

13

3

19

41

51

42

-10

18

Kaduna Utd

35

11

4

20

31

48

37

-17

19

Crown

35

10

6

19

27

52

36

-25

20

Nembe City

35

6

10

19

22

63

28

-41

he week 35 of the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League on Wednesday threw up some interesting results with several records broken on the day.

Prior to that match day, the highest number of goals scored in one game in a season was the 6-0 drubbing of Nembe City by Gombe United in one of the Week 11 matches played on May 8. But the record was broken by Warri Wolves who defeated Crown 7-1 in Warri.

Adamu Mohammed of Gombe United and Sharks’ Christian Pyagbara scored four goals each in a single match. Mohammed got his

double brace for Gombe when they routed Nembe 6-0, while Pyagbara got all the four goals when Sharks defeated Sunshine 4-1, but on Wednesday, Dolphins’ striker, Emem Eduok, consigned the record to the trash bin after scoring all the goals in a 6-0 trouncing of Nembe City in Port Harcourt.

The number of goals scored on the match day by the top scorers is a huge testament to their push to break Jude Aneke record of 20 goals in a season. Salami scored a brace to take his total to 16 goals while Osaguona Ighodaro scored a goal to also move to 16 goals.

Who joins Nembe, Crown in relegation?

A

fter a final day survival last season, one of the two privately owned clubs in the premier league, Nembe City, are on the brink of going back to the lower division.

Nembe City gained promotion to the elite division at the beginning of the 2012/2013 season and despite starting the league with a bang, winning their first game 2-1 away to Heartland in Owerri, the team struggled and barely escaped relegation on the last day of the season.

This time however

Nembe’s fate seems sealed after some poor results and points deduction by the League Management Company for the unruly behaviour of their fans.

Another club sure of going down is Crown of Ogbomosho currently second from bottom with three matches to the end of the season.

With four teams to be relegated the two other clubs that will be joining Nembe and Crown are still unknown.

Sport

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Focus on defence, Taribo tells Amodu

T

Vincent Eboigbe aribo West has identified Super Eagles defence as the major task ahead of Amodu Shaibu and his consortium of coaches in their quest to turn around Nigeria’s floundering campaign in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers.

The former Eagles defender also highlighted the ability of the

consortium of coaches that took over from Stephen Keshi to sustain the tempo of play on display in the team’s last match against Sudan in Abuja as another crucial element in the battle to reverse the poor outing so far in the series.

The Super Eagles won the match 3-1 with Keshi still in charge, but he has since been shown the exit door, and West who was a no nonsense defender

in his heyday said there was an urgent need to strengthen the backline.

“I have a problem with our defence, in fact that entire area is terrible. Amodu must as a matter of urgency begin to look for ways to shore up that backline, especially the central defence pairing,” Taribo told New Telegraph in an exclusive chat.

“Look at the goal we conceded

against Sudan in the first match in Khartoum, for instance, the centre halves were completely caught napping. At this level that is unpardonable. Juwon Oshaniwa was poor and I think we must begin to look for replacements now.”

The former AC Milan and Inter Milan defender insisted that Nigeria could still qualify for the African Nations Cup next year if

they could maintain their tempo in the win over Sudan in Abuja.

“It is about consistency. If the players can maintain that level and even raise it, I think we still have a chance of making it to the competition,” added Taribo who was particularly impressed with some of the new players like Hope Akpan, Raheem Lawal who featured in the Abuja match.

City league basketball holds in Ilorin

Extra Joss football finals for Saturday

T

he final of Season 3, Extra Joss football competition will now come up on Saturday at the Campos Stadium, Lagos Island.

The final earlier fixed for Sunday has now been moved to Saturday for logistics reason.

The tournament tagged inter-local government football competition reached the semifinal stage after the final preliminary round was concluded on Sunday at the Legacy pitch with the Lagos Divisional Football Association round of matches.

The round of sixteen kicked-off on Monday at the Campos Stadium with champions of each divisional football associations converging on the sports complex to fight for the star prize of N1m.

The tournament organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development and sponsored by Kalbe International has added value to the growth of grassroots football in the country.

Tournament coordinator, Uthman Ola Okunnu, is optmistic that the future of grassroots football in Lagos State is bright due to the beautiful display of soccer artistry in the tournament which has gone through all the Divisional Football Associations, namely Epe, IKorodu, Badagry, Ikeja and Lagos DFAS.

Charles Ogundiya

P

Charles Ogundiya ogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada, continues to match his words with action after rewarding players and officials of the stateowned clubs, Kogi United and Confluence Queens, with cash reward of N9m.

Breaking the news to the two teams during the week, the chairman of Kogi State Football Clubs, Mallam Abdul Ad-

Wada

reparations are in top gear ahead of the first Maigida Grassroots Basketball City league coming up in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The one-week scouting competition is organised as part of measures to discover fresh talents capable of breaking into the state’s basketball team known as Kwara Falcons.

In a statement release by the secretary of Kwara Falcons basketball team, Bello Azeez, some of the nine teams that will be competing in the competition and have so far registered for the tourney are Unilorin, Nigerian Police, Okelele, Civil Defence and Kwasu basketball teams.

The secretary also disclosed that the competition would begin on October 25 and end on November 1 in Ilorin.

The winner of the competition will get the sum of N30,000 and a trophy while the second and third placed teams will take home the sum of N20,000 and N10,000 respectively.

There will also be an exhibition game between Kwara State basketball veterans and the Nigeria Police Basketball team (Kwara command) on the opening day of the event.

Osaguona

Wada splashes N9m on Kogi teams

K

27

ama, said the money came due to the performance of the teams in their various leagues.

It will be recalled that the state government doled out N9m to the players and coaches of the two teams at the end of the first round of the Nigeria National League having been satisfied with their performances.

In a recent interview with sportswriters Governor Wada expressed confidence in the ability of those in charge of the day to day running of both Kogi United and Confluence Queens under the leadership of Mallam Adama and assured of the commitment of his government to reward hard work.

The governor also charged the players and coaches to take the remaining matches in their league with all seriousness so as to make the state proud.

Kogi United are sitting comfortably in the top half of the Nigeria National League table with three matches to end the season.

In the women’s league, Confluence Queens will end their campaign in the maiden womens Premier League in Nigeria with home and away game against Adamawa Queens.

Mark to host 8,000 students in sport festival

T

Comfort Chukwu he National School Sports Federation has announced that at least 8,000 students from schools in the 36 states of the federation are expected to take part in the seventh national school sports festival in Oturkpo, Benue State.

The festival seeks to engage Nigerian students in more sporting activities.

Chairman of the federation, Ibrahim Muhammed Kano, who made this known on Thursday in Abuja, said the event with the theme "Mark of Excellence" has the Senate President, Senator David Mark, as the guest of honour.

He also explained that 19 scoring events have been lined up for the annual competition with the introduction of cricket.

He revealed that the National Sports Commission has given N25m grant to support the festival, adding that the federation is still in need of an additional

Mark

N75m to complete the required N100m budgeted for the games.

“We are organising the festival in order to help the children develop mentally and discover talents so that it will not be necessary for athletes to shave beards and hairs to look younger,” he explained.

The sports festival is to hold between November 6 and 16 in Oturkpo, Benue State.

arseille's Ligue 1 title credentials are sure to be tested in Sunday's much-anticipated clash at Lyon.

The Olimpico pits two in-form teams against each other, with Marcelo Bielsa's Marseille equalling a club record for consecutive wins stretching back to 1998 - with a 2-0 success over Toulouse last time out.

Goals from Nicolas N'Koulou and

M

Marseille face Lyon test

Bacca

econd-placed Sevilla may enjoy the lack of attention on them this weekend as they host Villarreal on Sunday.

Unai Emery's men - inspired by the six goals of striker Carlos Bacca have won six of their eight matches this season.

Villarreal will arrive in Seville in good form, though, having secured consecutive victories to climb to sixth.

Sevilla can go level on points with Barcelona if they win and Real claim all three points in El Clasico.

Last season's champions Atletico Madrid visit Getafe as Diego Simeone's men seek to keep pace with the chasing pack, knowing a win could take them up to second.

Fourth-placed Valencia should have few problems at home to Elche, who sit in the relegation zone.

Granada will be out to arrest a run of four straight losses at Eibar - who have not won in four themselves.

Cordoba have a good chance to move away from the foot of the table when they host Real Sociedad, who have not won since August.

Sevilla seek more points S

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

NEW TELEGRAPH

Man Utd 170 49 46 75

Chelsea 170 75 46 49

anchester United face their biggest test this season when they welcome the Premier League leaders, Chelsea to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Daley Blind stole a point for the Red Devils in an away game against West Brom as United failed to come out with a win last Monday. Juan Mata failed to impress in midfield. Meanwhile, the defense was underwhelming despite the return of center back Phil Jones. Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw lacked chemistry at the left wing, exposing a vulnerability

M

Played: Won: Drawn: Lost:

out with a groin injury.

Chelsea are now left with the 36-year old Drogba up front, and he didn’t inspire too much confidence playing in Remy’s place against Maribor. In the Premier League, Drogba has only played for 27 minutes in six appearances as a substitute.

Nevertheless, midfielder Eden Hazard can be devastating on the wings. He has two goals and an assist in the Premier League thus far. Hazard seems to be in good form after scoring a brace in the Champions League game against Maribor.

Up front, the Red Devils will

miss captain Wayne Rooney as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension. Starting at forward is Robin Van Persie, who lacked sharpness against West Brom. Van Persie only had one shot on goal in the match, and missed a potential equaliser as he hit the post.

Meanwhile, midfielder Angel di Maria is in superb form. He assisted on Marouane Fellaini’s equaliser to start the second half (his fourth assist of the season).

However, di Maria exited the match with a possible injury, leaving a hole in United’s midfield.

B

ayern Munich return to Bundesliga business on Sunday in a top-ofthe-table clash at Borussia Mon-

straight win.

The Bavarian giants romped to the biggest European away win in the club’s

back to the Bundesliga.”

Gladbach are unbeaten in their eight league games and are one of only four

enneth Omeruo will strive to stop his compatriot, Odion Ighalo as Middlesbrough and Watford battle for a top two spot in the Championship on Saturday.

After missing their last weekend’s match, Omeruo returned to Boro’s starting line up in their 2-0 loss at Wolves and he is also expected to play in this tie.

His major job will be how to stop Ighalo who is now in good form. The former Flying Eagles captain has scored in Watford last two games and he will be a handful for Boro today.

Watford stayed at the summit for just two days after being held at home by Nottingham Forest while Middlesbrough are two points behind in third, following a defeat at Wolves that ended their sevenmatch unbeaten run.

"Saturday is another game," Middlesbrough coach Aitor Karanka told the club's official website.

"That’s the good thing about this league, when you lose a game you have another one to get back on track.

"It's going to be a hard game at home against a very good team so it will be difficult and we have to forget the Wolves game as soon as possible."

Omeruo, Ighalo clash in the Championship K

EAGLES FOCUS

Sport

Bayern, Gladbach in top-of-the-table clash

that opponents can exploit.

Nevertheless, United can breathe a sigh of relief as the visiting Chelsea will very likely be without leading goal scorer Diego Costa. They’ll only have to contend with a slow and aging Didier Drogba, who has exclusively appeared as a sub throughout the season.

The Blues’ quality will be put to the test at Old Trafford when they miss leading goal scorer Costa for the second-straight Premier League match. Meanwhile, Loic Remy, who started in Costa’s place in the Champions League game against Maribor, is

Time 12:45pm

Man Utd, Chelsea test might at Old Trafford

Global Football Special 28 SATURDAY N 25 OCT

entre half Ron Vlaar has talked about his frustration at being out injured for the last few weeks and his obvious delight at coming through the Everton game with no complications, but he also talked about knowing it was time for Villa to get back to winning ways.

Speaking to the Official Site our Dutchman explained. 'I was really happy to be back on the pitch again.

That was something I was really looking forward to after my spell out injured. It was good to be back out there, obviously the result wasn't what we wanted against Everton that was frustrating and we need to be better. From a personal perspective, the good thing was that I played for 90 minutes and didn't have any problems.'

C

Vlaar wants return to winning ways

Cavani

Andre-Pierre Gignac gave Marseille their eighth victory in a row, form that has seen them build a sevenpoint lead at the top of Ligue 1.

Gignac is on an outstanding run, having scored 10 goals in as many league appearances this term, but Bielsa will need him to keep his form up in what shapes as a crucial month in their title push.

PSG remain unbeaten, but are still some way from their best form ahead of their home clash against Bordeaux.

Edinson Cavani's 87th-minute goal gave PSG a scrappy 1-0 UEFA Champions League win over APOEL on Tuesday, but coach Laurent Blanc would have been encouraged by the return of first-choice centre-back pairing Thiago Silva and David Luiz.

Talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still on the sidelines with a heel problem, while Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marquinhos are battling thigh injuries.

E

Barca 227 88 48 368

La Liga

A French doctor who treated seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher says he is no longer in a medically-induced coma and predicted a recovery from his skiing accident within three years.

Jean-Francois Payen, the chief of the anesthesiology department at Grenoble University hospital that treated Schumacher for six months in Switzerland after his injury in December 2013, said that Schumacher is making some progress from his injuries, but it will take time for him to heal.

NO TEAM P PTS 1 Barcelona 8 22 2 Sevilla 8 19 3 Real Madrid 8 18 4 Valencia 8 17 5 Atl Madrid 8 17 6 Villarreal 8 14 7 Celta Vigo 8 13 8 Málaga 8 12 9 Vallecano 8 11 10 Getafe 8 10 11 Espanyol 8 9 12 Eibar 8 9 13 Almería 8 9 14 Granada 8 8 15 Deportivo 8 7 16 Sociedad 8 5 17 Bilbao 8 5 18 Elche 8 5 19 Levante 8 5 20 Córdoba 8 4

Michael Schumacher

NO TEAM P PTS 1 Bayern 8 20 2 Mö’gladbach 8 16 3 Hoffenheim 8 14 3 Mainz 8 14 5 Wolfsburg 8 14 6 Leverkusen 8 13 7 Paderborn 8 12 8 Frankfurt 8 12 9 Schalke 8 11 10 Hannover 8 10 11 Köln 8 9 12 Augsburg 8 9 13 Hertha 8 8 14 Dortmund 8 7 15 Stuttgart 8 6 16 Hamburger 8 6 17 Freiburg 8 5 18 Bremen 8 4

Bundesliga

Sergio Garcia has confirmed his place in the field for next month's Turkish Airlines Open, the third event of the European Tour Final Series.

The world No 4 will tee off against a strong field that includes Ryder Cup team-mates Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Victor Dubuisson, who won the inugural tournament at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Antalya last season.

“I heard so many positive things about the Turkish Airlines Open that I decided to check it out for myself,” said Garcia, who is currently second in the Race to Dubai standings behind runaway leader Rory McIlroy.

LA Liga Saturday Almería v Bilbao Valencia v Elche Córdoba v Real Sociedad Eibar v Granada Sunday Málaga v Vallecano Espanyol v Deportivo Sevilla v Villarreal Getafe v Atletico

Serie A Saturday Empoli v Cagliari Parma v Sassuolo Sampdoria v Roma Sunday Chievo v Genoa Juventus v Palermo Udinese v Atalanta Cesena v Inter Milan Lazio v Torino Napoli v Verona Milan v Fiorentina

Somerset veteran fast bowler Alfonso Thomas, who had been set to play for the Cobras in this year's Ram Slam T20 has been ruled out of action with a broken ankle.

Thomas picked up the injury while playing golf, and confirmed on Twitter that he slipped down some wet steps. He has already had surgery, and Somerset are hopeful of his swift recovery.

The statement read: "The 37 year old, who enjoyed a highly successful 2014 season slipped and broke his ankle while playing golf."

SPORT BRIEFLY

Date: Saturday, October 25 Time: 5 p.m.

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Head-to-head

Madrid Match played: 227 Match won: 91 Match drawn: 48 Goals scored 384

record that has stood for 55 years.

As one might expect, homefield advantage has had a large impact on these meetings. Both clubs have won 57 percent of El Clasicos when played in their home stadium, Rodriguez giving Real a slight historical edge on Saturday.

In 227 total meetings, Los Blancos have outscored the Catalans 384 to 368, although El Clasico's top scorer Lionel Messi (21) has done his best to close the gap in recent years.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are expected to dominate attention in this tie as rivalry between the two players continues to blossom but the return of Luiz Suarez from a four-month ban has hugged the headlines in the build-up to this tie.

PREMIER LEAGUE

NO TEAM P PTS 1 Chelsea 8 22 2 Man City 8 17 3 Southampton 8 16 4 West Ham 8 13 5 Liverpool 8 13 6 Man Utd 8 12 7 Arsenal 8 11 8 Swansea 8 11 9 Tottenham 8 11 10 Stoke 8 11 11 Hull 8 10 12 Aston Villa 8 10 13 Everton 8 9 14 West Brom 8 9 15 Leicester 8 9 16 Crystal Palace 8 8 17 Sunderland 8 8 18 Newcastle 8 7 19 Burnley 8 4 20 QPR 8 4

Omeruo

Sergio Garcia

Players to watch Real Madrid Barcelona Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi James Rodrigeuz Neymar Kakim Benzema Luis Suarez Toni Kroos Andre Iniesta Sergio Ramos Gerard Pique

l Clasico, the meeting between La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid, is arguably the biggest and most famous football match on the planet and the two sides will today cross swords at Suarez the Santiago Bernabeu.

The rivalry was born out of strong political motivation, the Alfredo Di Stefano (Real great's) controversy and a healthy rivalry between two of Spain's biggest and most influential cities.

Today's El Clasico still harbours some of that resentment, but mainly, it's a battle of two world-class teams vying for the same trophies - in this case, the La Liga title. And with both clubs in fine form, today's meeting should be another for the ages, with one player in particular having the chance to make history. Lionel Messi could rewrite history if he adds two to his 250 goals to break Telmo Zarra’s

Serie A

NO TEAM P PTS 1 Juventus 7 19 2 Roma 7 18 3 Sampdoria 7 15 4 Milan 7 14 5 Udinese 7 13 6 Lazio 7 12 7 Napoli 7 11 8 Verona 7 11 9 Inter Milan 7 9 Bundesliga 10 Genoa 7 9 Saturday Dortmundd v Hannover 11 Fiorentina 7 9 7 8 Frankfurt v Stuttgart 12 Torino 7 7 Augsburg v Freiburg 13 Empoli 7 7 Hertha v Hamburger 14 Atalanta 7 6 Hoffenheim v Pader- 15 Cesena 16 Palermo 7 6 born 17 Cagliari

7 5 Leverkusen v Schalke 18 Chievo 7 4 Sunday 19 Sassuolo 7 4 Wolfsburg v Mainz 20 Parma

7 3 M’gladbach v Bayern Premier League West Ham v Man City Liverpool v Hull Southampton v Stoke Sunderland v Arsenal West Brom v C' Palace Swansea v Leicester Burnley v Everton Tottenham v Newcastle Man Utd v Chelsea

FIXTURES

clubs who remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga, including Bayern, Mainz and Hoffenheim.

“We’re looking forward to the game, but everyone knows Bayern are a team with a lot of quality and confidence,” said Gladbach’s Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Thomas

est Ham defender Carl Jenkinson is looking forward to crossing swords with champions Manchester City on Saturday at Upton Park.

Last season City inflicted four defeats on West Ham across all competitions but things are going better this time around for the Hammers.

Jenkinson, on loan from Arsenal, is full of confidence ahead of the game and believes the current team will be able to give City a run for their money on Saturday lunchtime.

"I think we've shown we can beat the big clubs already this season with the Liverpool result," he told the club's website.

"We know what we're capable of.

Man City are flying at the moment, they're a world-class team so nobody is kidding themselves because we know it is going to be a difficult game.

"If we play to our potential we know we've got more than a good chance of getting a result. We've just got to be positive and keep playing the football we've been playing, with the intensity and the confidence."

W

West Ham defender eyes City win

Jenkinson

proud history on Tuesday when they hammered Roma 7-1 in the Italian capital with Robben scoring twice.

“We must also keep our feet on the ground,” said Robben.

“It’s still early in the season and although this may sound stupid, there are still things we can improve on. Now it’s

The El clasico

chengladbach with winger Arjen Robben insisting their Champions League record romp at Roma is already history.

Pep Guardiola’s Bayern are four points clear of Gladbach ahead of Sunday’s clash at Borussia Park and Lucien Favre’s side has their work cut out to prevent Bayern claiming a seventh

NEW TELEGRAPH TOBER 2014

Sport

29

30

S

Sport

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Vincent Eboigbe ince the removal of Stephen Keshi by the Nigeria Football Federation, certain revelations have reinforced what was not altogether a secret: that the Super Eagles camp had become a business empire.

It was cash on the barrelhead sort of thing where considerations other than the ability of players, in some instances, were pivotal in their invitations to the national team.

The contention therefore in some quarters is that since Keshi and his coaching crew have been removed, such players who found their way into the team as a result of less than wholesome reasons be also shown the exit door.

Some have even gone as far as suggesting a total overhaul of the team, but others argue that a wholesale sacking of the players will be inimical to the team’s ambitions in the qualifiers. Nigeria has two more matches to play in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and so taking that kind of drastic action now will not help matters, they insist that a gradual process of adding and removing from the team is the way to go.

A former coach of the team, Christian Chukwu, belongs in the former category.

The former Green Eagles skipper believes the current set of players are lethargic and not passionate enough to play for the country, urging the new consortium of coaches to form a team with the home-based players to prosecute the remaining matches of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

“Let the new consortium of coaches disband the team and form their own team with home-based professionals and maybe infuse a few foreign-based professionals to the squad,” Chukwu told New Telegraph.

“These players are no longer dedicated and it shows in their performances; I think we need players who are hungry. We don’t have foreign-based professionals good enough to take permanent shirts in the Eagles, so let us go with the home-based.”

Friday Ekpo however insists that a wholesale clear out of the players at this time should not even be contemplated.

The retired Eagles midfielder argued that national team was not a club side and that the current coaching crew can offset the perceived wrongs of the Keshi era in terms of invitations by extending same to all deserving Nigerian players regardless of where they are from.

“Disbanding the team is not something to think about, starting afresh is never easy, at any rate this is the national team we are talking about not a club side,” said Ekpo.

“There is a coaching crew in place now so they should look at the players that are deserving, who have not been part of the team before now and bring them in. They have to go for the very best; thankfully these are experienced coaches. They have to invite only players who are fit and can fit into their plans, not just anybody simply because they play abroad.

“I also want to add that the coaches must look inwards and give the domestic league players the chance to prove what they are capable of; if it is even all homebased players, why not? It should always be about the very best. Football is one thing that makes us all happy so we can’t afford to trifle with it,” Ekpo added.

For Emeka Ezeugo, it is normal for an Uchebo

'Some players have to go with Keshi' Egwekwe

incoming coach to have his own players, he however is emphatic that some of the players in the last dispensation have no place in the national team.

The 2015 AFCON qualifiers have exposed some of these players so terribly according to the former Nigeria defensive midfielder so much so that keeping them around can only be counter productive.

“It was Keshi’s prerogative to invite whoever he wanted to the Super Eagles, whether that was based on favouritism that is a different matter altogether.

Amodu Shaibu will also bring in his own players and many Nigerian fans will also feel that some of them are not deserving of a place in the national team,” noted Ezeugo.

“However, it was obvious to even the most casual observer that there were players during Keshi’s time who were not doing anything in the team, some of them were there maybe because of their height.”

Ezeugo used one of the matches in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers to buttress his point that some players will naturally have to give way because they do not seem to understand what it means to feature for the national team.

“Look at the goal we conceded in our match against Sudan for instance, there were two defenders who were just walking back and did not pick the opponent in the box. It is well known that when a winger runs down the flank he is going to make a cross, yet the defenders did not

DID YOU KNOW? That Stephen Keshi invited Azubuike Egwekwe all the time he was Super Eagles coach, and that he (Egwekwe) did not play a single match at the 2014 World Cup and in most of the games.

It was obvious to even the most casual observer that there were players during Keshi’s time who were not doing anything in the team

Ambrose

Oshaniwa

Echiejile

pick their man,” said an obviously still miffed Ezeugo.

“That is a very elementary error and yet these guys play in Europe. If I were the coach those guys would not play for the team again. If you pick your man and he overpowers you in the process it is a different thing, but the defenders just went to sleep.”

A member of the Golden Eagles that won the 1985 U-16 World Cup in China, Binebi Numa, on his part pointed out that wholesale disbandment of national teams does not happen in modern football.

He insisted that experience and youth must exist side by side in a dynamic mix to get the best team.

“It is a no go area as far as the modern game is concerned; you can only talk about a massive clear out if you have a four-year or even eight-year projection. At any rate why do you need to do that?” queries Numa.

“The truth is we need players that are motivated in the national team, players who will give everything they have, players with skills, speed and strength, young players raring to go and mix them with experienced stars. These players have to be the very best available to the country, we cannot just pick players from the four winds.

“I have no problem with removing some players from the Eagles, that is a natural process when a new coach comes in especially those that have not justified their presence in the team. Again reorganisations tend to take place after major championships.”

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Not much has been heard about you since the London 2012 Olympic Games. What have you been up to since the Games?

Since the London 2012 Olympics I have been focusing a lot on my physical training and academic studies. I'm currently sitting for my final two ACCA accountancy exams and I'm hoping to be fully qualified by January 2015.

How many competitions have you taken part in since the end of the Games?

Since the London 2012 Olympics I have been struggling to fund my international races as there haven't been money available to race the full international calendar. The Nigerian Rowing and Canoeing Federation has been great and funded the races that they could, including the 2013 African Championships in which I retained my title as African Champion in Kayak Slalom and Kayak White Water Racing. I have now won this title three times which is more than any other athlete. I have also been to the Canoe Slalom World Cup Final in Augsburg Germany, however the result at this race was disappointing as I had been ill in the two weeks leading up to the race.

With funds being extremely limited, I have not been able to afford to go to international races, so I have focused a lot on racing in the British Premier Division. This is the highest division in the UK and numerous word class athletes from all over the world compete in the British Premier Division. This has been crucial to ensure that I have kept competing against some of the best athletes in the world.

With the canoe slalom season coming to an end, I'm looking forward to the final race of the season which is the British Open International Event on November 1, then my out of season can start.

2015 is going to be a busy season and I need to be at my best for the start of the season.

Since you defeated Togo’s Beijing Olympic Games bronze medallist Benjamin Boukpeti at the 2012 African Canoe Slalom Championships in South Africa, you have become the continent’s foremost athlete in the K1 event. This must place a considerable weight on you. How do you cope with such pressure?

I guess there is a considerable weight on my head. I really enjoy racing and I seriously love training really hard, so I know that if I plan and prepare correctly for a race I can deliver results. That is not mean to say that I am complacent, as there are some really great Kayak athletes coming through the ranks in Africa trying to take my place as Africa's greatest.

I guess I feel more pressure and responsibility to act as a good role model to the younger athletes on the Nigerian Kayak team and other African Kayak athletes, especially the really young ones. Whenever I am at training camps and races in Africa and throughout the world, I do my best to try to give advice and help coach the younger athletes. It is my way of giving back to the sport. Lots of people have helped me reach where I am today and I just want to give something back and help out other younger athletes and encourage them. I think it is also really important to do this to help the sport grow in Nigeria.

How supportive has the Nigerian Rowing and Canoeing Federation been regarding your training?

The Nigerian Rowing and Canoeing Federation has been extremely

Sport

I quit my job to focus on Rio 2016 – Akinyemi

31

British-born Jonathan Akinyemi is one of the world’s top stars in the competitive world of canoeing and kayaking, as well as one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

His chances of winning a medal at the 2016 Olympics are however hindered by lack of funds, and in this interview with Ifeanyi Ibeh, the accountant talks about his desire to bring glory to his fatherland in Rio and more.

Excerpts…

How did your family, friends and loved ones react to your decision to quit work to focus on the Olympics?

My dad and family have been really supportive of my decision to quit my job and focus on the Olympics.

They have absolute faith in my abilities. My dad also has a big input into my training programme and is looking forward to working towards Rio. A lot of people think that I am sacrificing a lot in pursuit of the Rio 2016 Olympics as my job was going really well and there were fantastic career opportunities. But I have no regrets, I passionately believe that God has given each and every one of us individual talents and it is important that you use our talents to further glorify Him. I believe that God has given me the talent of Kayaking, therefore it would be wrong to ignore this talent in pursuit of a career and money.

How difficult was it balancing work and training?

This has been the biggest challenge for me since 2012. I realised I needed to work to be able to live and to fund my training. But this has taken up so much time and I have had to fit my training in around work. As an athlete it is important that your sole focus is on your training. That's why I'm really glad to have quit my job. This means that my sole focus is on my training again.

Akinyemi

helpful, with the limited resources that they have. I know that they are continually trying to secure some funding for my training and they do their best.

I pray that they are successful in securing this funding.

I have also got a lot of support from the Nigerian Community in the UK, especially the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom and its chairman, Chief Bimbo Roberts Folayan (MBCS), and the Nigeria High Commission in the UK. They have continually supported me and offered me words of encouragement.

With the relative unpopularity of your sport and with little support coming from the National Sports Commission and corporate bodies in Nigeria how have you been able to finance your training programmes?

Funding my training has been extremely difficult since the 2012 Olympics. I have had no funding since 2012 and in order to fund my training I have had to take on an of-

I raced for Great Britain as a junior but I am far happier racing for Nigeria

fice job. But this left me in a catch 22 situation. I couldn't afford to do my training and racing without working, but I was struggling to find the time to train because I was having to work to fund the training. It has been so difficult over the past 18 months and I haven't been able to fund racing on the international circuit since 2012.

All of led to me making a leap of faith and quitting my job as of last week in order to train full time from now until the Rio 2016 Olympics. I'm putting my faith in God that he will provide for me. I just knew that if I wanted to succeed and win glory for God and Nigeria I couldn't procrastinate any longer, waiting on a decision to be made about my funding so I quit my job to commit to a full time training programme. This had to be done if I am to stand a chance in Rio 2016.

My sole focus is now Rio 2016 and passing my final two exams in accountancy.

Are the Nigerian sporting authorities aware of your situation?

I keep in touch with the rowing and canoeing federation and I try to keep the NSC informed. It would be fantastic if the sporting authorities could help me with funding. We need to start funding our athletes to enable them to train full time if we are to seriously compete for medals at the World Championship and Olympics.

Have you ever regretted your decision to represent Nigeria rather than the UK especially when you consider the level of support some of your competitors from the UK and other countries get from their respective countries?

I get asked this question a lot, especially by some of the British athletes and my answer is always the same: I have never regretted switching to compete for Nigeria.

Although I may not have had the financial and logistical support that my British counterparts receive, the support and encouragement I receive from Nigeria is amazing and more than makes up for this. I feel as though the people of Nigeria have welcomed me with open arms and this gives me so much drive to train even harder in preparation for Rio. I raced for Great Britain as a junior but I am far happier racing for Nigeria than I ever was for Great Britain.

32

Sport

Lifestyle

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Peruvian model strips naked for national team

P

eru lost 3-0 to Chile two Saturdays ago, surrendering their three-game winning run in the process. Hot model Rocio Miranda sensed that her nation needed a lift after the match.

Always the giver, Miranda took to Facebook to share the picture below, along with the message: “To give you some cheer on this bad night of our football team, here is an unpublished photo session I did for Soho Peru, happy weekend!”

Ex Liverpool hero Riise shares wedding snap

Andy Carroll speaks about modelling

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ormer Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise, who won the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, married his third wife, Louise Angelica, in May this year.

Five months on, Riise is still madly in love with the blonde beauty.

He shared this glorious picture with his Instagram followers on Wednesday.

The wrecked car

“When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity.

– Albert Einstein

Onazi's teammate writes off Lamborghini L azio teenager Keita Balde Diao has walked away unscathed after crashing his £158,000 yellow Lamborghini Gallardo.

Reports in Italy indicate that he lost control of the car and that he was below the legal limit.

Diao has played three times for the Serie A outfit this season but is yet to find the net.

Predominately an attacking player, he came through Barcelona's proficient youth system before joining Lazio three years ago.

During his true breakthrough season at the Stadio Olimpico Diao turned out 33 times and was part of the side to make the knockout stages of the Europa League.

ndy Carroll has been keeping busy as he recovers from his latest injury setback - by modelling for the Alexander Wang for H&M fashion campaign.

The West Ham frontman, who has been on the sidelines since suffering ankle ligament damage during the club's pre-season tour to New Zealand in July, was on his first assignment since signing for agency Select Models.

Carroll was up against 200 other candidates to be the face of the campaign but was the chosen one and showed off a whole new set of skills.

Carroll

Dzeko's wife looks incredible in hot beach snap

C

Louise

Amra

Stories courtesy Dailymail

heck out this latest image of Edin Dzeko’s gorgeous partner Amra Silajdzic, who looks incredible in this clearly non-staged trip to the seaside…

The Bosnian completing the upload with the caption: “Think Happy- Be Happy. Spread Love, not Hate!”

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Showbiz

33

Lepacious Bose: Blurring the thin line between jokes and insults Plus size comedian, Bose Osayemi a.k.a.

Lepacious Bose, abandoned the sobriety of the law profession for the irreverent world of showbiz. Today, she is proud of the decision many had seen as a misadventure. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, she speaks about her career and why stand-up comedy should never cross the decency border.

You have an imposing stature combined with lots of wit.

Would you say these are your unique selling points?

I don’t know if they are unique but that is just me.

Have you gotten into any trouble with your jokes?

No. I don’t insult people; I crack jokes about myself because that is the easiest way to stay out of trouble. I don’t like it when people are used as comedy materials.

I consider such jokes as being unfair to people who paid to have fun. There is no point making people feel bad for coming out of their homes to patronize joke merchants.

When you make fun of yourself you have nothing to lose. It is just simple logic; if someone makes fun of me, I will feel offended but if I abuse myself, I won’t be. It is easier for me to make jokes around myself. I don’t insult people with my jokes and that is a standard rule for me. There is no way someone will come and say I insulted him or her. I don’t do it in the middle of the joke or end my jokes with such. There is more to comedy than insulting people and don’t forget that I am also a Christian and my Christianity has to do with building up people’s self-confidence not tearing people down.

In other words you get offended when people make jokes around your person?

Those who make jokes about me don’t make it when I am there and those who make it when I am not present are not my friends.

But Teju Babyface made a joke about your stature when he featured you in his skit?

Teju is my friend and it is something that both of us in the past have joked about, so it is not a big deal. I can’t even call that a joke. There are things people will say that will be an insult to you rather than a compliment. Don’t also forget that there is a very thin line between jokes and insults.

Do people take you seriously at all?

The truth is that I am a very serious-minded person off stage. I make sure people do take me serious.

How do you apply your training as a lawyer to your career as a comedian?

Lawyers are too serious-minded people. My training as a lawyer has never failed to give me the needed confidence and boldness to confront any situation that arises. Law requires intensive thinking and so lawyers don’t really have time for comedy.

Most of your colleagues now have different comedy brands and TV shows. Are you also thinking in that direction?

I don’t do things because people do it neither do I

have to imitate people. I am an inventor and when the right time comes, I will definitely come up with something good. God has brought me this far. Despite not having my own show, He is taking me far.

I don’t do things because people are doing it; I do things because I am persuaded about it. I will like to have my own show but I will like to ensure that I am not doing what others are doing because at the end of the day, they will all look alike. Most of the shows on TV are of the same concept and storyline.

I am working on something unique.

Your delivery is captivating enough to endear you to fans, how did this evolve?

I don’t know how I came about it. In Nigeria, there is no school of comedy and neither do we have any formal institution of comedy training.

This is something I stumbled upon and it has being a wonderful experience so far.

I understand you were not this big before, do you intend to shed some weight?

I think that is my business because I own the body and I am the one that controls the body. That again is not your business. Will you in any way benefit from my weight? The bottom-line is that I am big and very healthy. Will my weight affect your life in anyway? I have the right to my body.

Are you getting married anytime soon?

Once you bring the husband I will marry. I promise you that I will marry the man immediately you bring me the husband.

Were you over-pampered as the last child of your parents?

My parents were teachers so they were so strict and they never indulged me. We were very academic while growing up; we read novels and newspapers more than we went out to social functions.

You are one of the very few female humorists who have been able to create a niche in the industry; what are some of the challenges militating against the emergence of more female comedians?

I grew up around boys and my best friends are guys. I am more relaxed around guys so I have never really had any issue about gender inequality. I never experienced that. Though I want more female comedians but I realized that most of us are not ready to go that extra mile. We don’t have problem with our male colleagues rather, the society places high premium on male comedians than we,

their female counterparts. Our male colleagues are very fantastic and they at times go out of their way to promote us. I don’t know why any seasoning brand will select a man as their brand ambassador?

Very soon, manufacturers of sanitary towels will use men as their brand ambassadors.

Can you tell us about your first experience as a professional comedian?

I can’t really remember that. Some of my colleagues celebrate their anniversaries but I can’t commemorate my anniversary because I don’t know when I started. I just started and before I knew it, it had become a career. It is unfortunate I don’t have a record like most people but my very first performance I can really remember was at the University of Ibadan where I was paid N200. My first 10 minutes on stage that day was so scary.

What has happened to your events management business?

I don’t do that anymore.

What happened?

Lepacious is a very big and known brand. There are too many insults associated with the business.

You can imagine an event in which the caterer comes late and Lepacious is the event planner? I am sure you know the insults will be too much for my brand. It is something I still have a passion for, but I cherish the Lepacious brand too much to be subjected to such destruction. When my friends are getting married I am always on the top of the planning. I don’t see myself sleeping in a bride’s sitting room just to make-up the bride. It will get to a time when people will think that you are broke not knowing that you have passion for it. Some will even think comedy is not financially-rewarding to you. One thing comedy has done for me is that even when you are hungry you work with your heads high. I remember the last catering job I did professionally, I did the catering and the bride didn’t pay up. Eventually I decided I won’t serve the food until she paid my balance. She came to beg me while others interfered. The bride who now has about three children is yet to pay my balance. When I wasn’t Lepacious Bose, I would have insisted they pay me otherwise, I won’t serve the food.

Aside comedy, what else do you do?

I just graduated from a Bible school and I am presently planning to go back to school for my Masters. I do some things I won’t want to discuss on the pages of the papers.

34

Showbiz

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

FELABRATION

Morning after the party Expectedly, the annual Felabration which ended last Sunday was full of excitement and fun. But beyond the blissful celebrations, LANRE ODUKOYA examines its economic importance for the sundry business onwers who ply their trade at the shrine.

T

he annual jamboree, Felabration, conceived to celebrate the life and times of late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, remains, without gainsaying, Nigeria’s most coveted entertainment show which has run effectively from 1998 till date (except 1999 omission due to unavoidable circumstances).

The concept being the brainchild of Yeni Kuti, the legend’s heiress to commemorate her dad’s posthumous birthday on October 15, gained tremendous popularity in Africa and beyond.

The week-long musical explosion holds at the New Afrika Shrine and has become an official tourist destination for the Lagos State Government, the major sponsor of the event.

In 2008, the 10th anniversary of the mega show, over 50 international artistes stormed Nigeria from USA, Britain, France and all over Africa under the aegis of Africa Express to share the stage in the New Afrika Shrine. For the love of Fela, the show is perhaps the only one scores of A-list entertainers would agree to entertain their fans free of charge. Even the international artistes who grace and perform at the event don’t request performance fees. “We cannot afford to pay them performance fees, we just hand them honorarium. Their outings are in honour of Fela and not for economic reason,” Yeni Kuti remarked.

The 2014 edition of the show climaxed last Sunday, October 19, with an enthralling stage play dubbed Fela Son of Kuti at the Freedom Park, Lagos, and grand performance of the genres’ numero unos, Femi Kuti and reggae lord, Don Carlos, who shared the stage with Aima Moses also from Jamaica at the shrine.

Some of the frontline entertainers who performed at the just concluded edition of the show are Tuface, Olamide, Oritsfemi, Daddy Showkey, Naeto C, Dammy Krane, Jesse Jagz, Modenine, Tony One Week, Seyi Shey, Mavins All Star, Weird MC, Styl Plus, Yemi Alade, Ata Wewe, Efya, Ice Prince, Burna Boy, Jimmy Jatt, Patorankin, K-Switch, May7ven among a host of other great acts.

Prior to this edition, musical greats like King Sunny Ade, K1 De Ultimate, D’Banj, Omawumi, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Saheed Osupa, Sarkodie, Donaeo, Asa, Wizkid, Keziah Jones, Lucky Dube to mention but a few had performed at the event.

Now that the festivities on the NERDC Close, Ikeja, Lagos, have rounded off, how is it with the patrons of Afrika Shrine and those who earn their daily living from plying one trade or the other on that axis?

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FELABRATION It might interest you to know that some look forward to Felabration like Christmas, not particularly for the grandeur of its proven panache, but how much economic gains it translates to while the show lasts. And the sales of the ‘puffing substance’ may not even equal the sales of

Afrikan Shrine (Inset: Boom time...Itinerant traders like these made huge sales during Felabration

This place is a small republic, anything happens around here and the people here are just your regular kind who only know a single way of earning a living

Fela

shifting. We pay N500 every day during Felabration to the shrine management but when the celebrations are over, our due is N500 per week,” he noted.

edibles, clothes and foot-wears, belts, liquor of different brands and sizes, sex, gamble, condoms etc. There is an astronomical boom in business for men and women with their different wares. Lolu Martins, (known by the name MO Martins) a mobile clothier, who displays his products mostly men’s wears, says, “I think Felabration is a major publicity for our business in this neighbourhood. Foods, drinks and cigarettes during Felabration nudge people into some kind of spending spree no doubt. When people drink, they’d get hungry and eating means having a new urge to drink either water or alcohol. It’s actually not the same level of sales with my kind of business because those who buy from me are those who didn’t go home either because they are still selling their wares and cannot afford to leave or people who just appreciate the art of dressing well and can afford lifestyle wears I display.”

A prostitute who has done the sex trade in the red light district for three years identified simply as Nancy confessed in pidgin English: “You no fit take Felabration compare any other day na. Na when the show dey na em person dey make more money because even these white people sef dey plenty around here that time. And you fit even charge any amount wey you want for guys wey nor fit hold body.

We no too much here and we sabi ourselves, so stranger no fit come try do business near where we dey.”

Abdusalam Usman’s wares include cigarettes, minty candies, chewing gums and so on. Not only does he sell cigarettes, he puffs the cannabis with astonishing ease. “When I open my market in the morning before 7am, I stay here till 9pm when my brother will bring his own wares just to secure this space. He will leave the following morning at 7am when I return again.

Felabration makes us sell so much and that is why we even have to do

EVERY OTHER WEEK AT THE NEW AFRIKA SHRINE Though the shrine opens for business 24 hours a week, the peak periods are Fridays (when people holler ‘TGIF’), free of charge for regular clubbing, while Sundays bring to the stage the Prince of Afrobeat, Femi Kuti, for a toll between N500 and N1,000. People with different wares make impressive sales during these periods away from the annual show, Felabration is just an icing on the cake.

“This place is a small republic, anything happens around here and the people here are just your regular kind who only know a single way of earning a living. As you just saw the guy with a crazy hair cut share a handshake with me, you’d almost think I’m like him in weirdness, but you would be amazed if you engage this guy in an intellectual discussion.

There is no club anywhere in Africa that has the number of patrons who throng the shrine every Friday and Sunday. People come here in hundreds of thousands.”

The fun spot built by Femi Kuti and managed by Yeni Kuti has its own checks to discourage chaos. One of the golden rules is "no fighting in the shrine." No matter how intoxicated or short-tempered you get, you dare not hit anyone on the premises. The catastrophic result is to have an army of angry guys whip the living day light out of you. But recklessness isn’t prohibited off premises as much. On the street, you may as much as grope, pick pocket, bully and do all sorts with impunity. Somehow, the men of Nigeria Police Force avoid this route. Men here are their own checks.

INSIDE THE SHRINE Once you beat the barricade at the entrance and motion towards the open bar where merry makers lounge, you’re ready to be fragranced by the ubiquitous smell of cannabis. This is a no-go-area for asthmatics. From the well compartmentalised inner and the legendary stage staring right at you, you could order for your drinks, alcoholic or not, pizza, Shawarma and other edibles. Game spots are here and you could as well do some gambling at the snooker boards. Tucked inside the wonderland is an art gallery for those who appreciate quality works of nature. Some girls in skimpy dresses walked the length and breadth of the shrine with gripping dexterity; they call them Femi Kuti’s dancers, these ones you can invite but dare not harass. They live in a section on the premises. It’s a status symbol for a few of them who would later have kids with Femi Kuti typical of his dad.

Showbiz

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

... a finger on the city’s pulse

CONFLUENCE

35

LANRE ODUKOYA

Amid break-up rumour, Rhoda Eweka delivers baby girl for Tayo Alakiu in U.S

E

ighteen years after Rhoda Eweka went into the labour room, she was there again a few days ago. And the lucky man the stylish lady has the baby girl with is the man about town, Tayo Alakiu. She has been the socialite’s mistress for quite a well and they owe no one any apology for this dalliance.

Eweka was delivered of the little angel in the United States of America.

The biological addition is actually Alakiu’s fifth and the second child of the mother.

Eweka’s first and only daughter before the baby girl’s arrival is Osayamen, an undergraduate at Howard University, United States. A lawyer by training, Eweka has remained a constant fixture in Tayo Alakiu's life for over 13 years. The two met in 2001 at the wedding ceremony of Ronke Adetona Dejonwo, the daughter of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona. It was love at first sight for

the duo and they have remained inseparable ever since.

Eweka accompanies Tayo nearly everywhere. She has become such a permanent fixture in Alakiu’s life that most people have even begun to regard her as his legal wife.

Inside sources revealed that Rhoda kept her pregnancy from the public and went low profile. She left for the United States during her second trimester. From all indications, only very few close friends were aware of her pregnancy. It was gathered that most people actually lived with the illusion that Eweka was no longer in Alakiu’s life.

A few months ago, the buzz at major social gatherings was the news of the break-up between Alakiu and Eweka. The lovers were alleged to have ended the affair and gone their separate ways. It was shortly after this news broke that Eweka reportedly travelled abroad reportedly for

respite. But unknown to most people, the charming lady had already taken in when the rumour of her crashed affair with Alakiu became a much talked about subject. A close source disclosed that the couple decided to resort to the yarn of an alleged break-up, so as to avoid the noise the pregnancy would have generated.

Folarin Coker distances self from Tiwa Savage’s marital woe

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entleman, Folarin Coker has set the records straight on the claim that he is the owner of Marvin Records, the music company led by creative mind, Don Jazzy (Collins Ajereh) and alleged romance with singer, Tiwa Savage.

The influential socialite labelled the talks "untrue and sponsored fabrication". And sources close to the man also corroborate this claim. “These reports are not true.

Folly knows Don Jazzy and likes his music a lot. But he has no investment in Mavin Records. These things are not correct”, a source said. Another friend dismissed the tale as an unfounded allegation. “For Tiwa Savage, you cannot even say they are friends, not to talk of lovers.

They hardly even relate.” Mr Coker's friends aggrieved by the injustice against him have initiated moves to unravel the source of the slanderous claim. It is understood there is move to get to be root of the matter which may entail the arrest of the report's mastermind.

The rumour of Folly Coker’s alleged ownership of Marvin Records and involvement in the alleged troubled marriage of Tiwa Savage, 34, and Tunji Balogun, 36, has been a major gossip item in the last couple of days.

Interestingly, the characters in the supposed separa-

tion have denied talks of rift in their matrimony.

According to reports on encomium.ng, "the couple has denied any hint of a hiccup".

The couple worships at Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s House on the Rock (Lekki,Lagos), and showed up there on Sunday, October 12, 2014. When we contacted them, they admitted that indeed they were together in the church that Sunday.

Tunji Balogun (Tee Billz) told encomium.ng: “We are still very much in love and happily married."

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ACROSS 1. PROFESS 5. FIT 7. IBO 8. EBA 9. RAS DOWN 1. PREVENT 2. ORANGE 3. EARL 4. SISTER 5. FOOL 6. TIP

10. TELL 11. EGGS 12. BE 16. AT 17. SHOT 18. STAR

13. OUTRAGE 14. CARESS 15. SHRIEK 19. TEST 20. TARA 21. NAP

22. EJA 23. ILA 24. SOS 25. PIT 26. SPARKLE

Feud not yet over between Aregbesola, Omisore

T

he acrimony between the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the PDP chieftain that lost the governorship election to him, Senator Iyiola Omisore, may have been further fuelled by the former’s founding of a radio station to defend on-air attacks targeted at his administration.

Sources revealed that the construction of the radio station is being supervised by the son of the governor, Kabiru, an engineer who is said to be in charge of his father’s electronic campaign and also the facilitator of Governor Aregbesola’s project, "Opon Imo".

The radio station which has inched towards completion is named Freedom Radio and is located in a remote part of Ilesa, Governor Aregbesola’s hometown.

The station is said to be a re-model of Radio Kudirat which was one of the weapons used to fight the government of General Sanni Abacha and whose success former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, was credited with.

The new radio station is seen to be a tool of objection to intimidation and negative media campaign

by Governor Aregbesola’s political foe, Senator Omisore, who owns Crown Radio in Ile-Ife which many of Aregbesola’s followers believe seeks to soil the present government.

This belief paved way for the governor’s decision to float a private station to fight the negative campaign against his administration.

The construction is said to be a top secret among the loyalists of the Governor who intend to run the station independently without creating the impression that the radio will be funded with the State’s resources.

The need for Governor Aregbesola to operate a private radio station is backed by some of his aides, one of them on condition of anonymity claims that the Governor did not take the radio campaign seriously initially, but what really spurred his interest is the recent appointment of Senator Omisore’s media Director, Diran Odeyemi as the General Manager of Crown FM.

StartUps SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER, 2014

36

Furnishing tools should be bought in bits, says Ogunsanwo What is the name of this business?

The name of the business is furnishing and upholstery.

What does it entail?

The work of a furniture maker is making household items such as wooding beds, kitchen cabinet, wardrobes, sofas or chairs among others. In the case of upholstery, it entails leather works for items like vehicle seat and other leather works.

Abiodun Ogunsanwo, an entrepreneur with specialty in the production of leather upholstery and wooden furniture for interior decor and office items, tells SEGUN EDWARDS that furnishing is a high scale business that requires huge capital outlay.

Ogunsanwo

How long have you been in this business?

I have been in the business for three years. But I have been in the it for eight years because I started when I was in the Junior Secondary School, then I was a part-time trainee while in school. But I became a full-fledged entrepreneur in the last three years and I at present, l have eight trainees undergoing training in my workshop.

What is required of any prospective entrepreneur wishing to come into the business?

A prospective entrepreneur in the business must be a focused individual and must be ready to absorb the rigours of acquiring the needed skill for the job.

What are acquirable skills therein in the business for a prospective entrepreneur?

You would be equipped with skills in terms of calculations of tape for various measurement of a desired furniture work, cutting of wood to specifications of a particular furniture work. For instance, the measurement for a bed is different from the measurement for the chair or sofa, mini or big wine bar. Thereafter, you will be taking through the skill of constructing furniture works like bed, wardrobes and others.

What are the things required from a trainee at the start of the training?

There will be a mutual agreement between the trainee and a proprietor like me and all issues concerning tools required for training would be prescribed for the trainee for the commencement of the training.

Could you name the tools the trainee would need to commence training?

The trainee will require tools like the ‘smoothner,’ which is used for the smoothening of woods, he will require saw for the cutting of wood, he will tape for measurement, pinches, hammer, those are some basic tools required for the trainee to com-

For someone to start moderately, the seed capital should be between N500, 000 or a little above, this will include cost of workshop space

mence the acquisition of skills for the job. He will require other tools after the training for him to set out for entrepreneurship after the acquisition of the needed skill.

What is the duration of training?

A prospective entrepreneur who wishes to take up career in the business will require up to five to six years.

Although the duration of training will also depend on the focus of the trainee because the proprietor may adjudge the trainee skilled enough to go out on his own to commence on his own even after four years. What that means, is that the proprietor may grant the trainee he certifies skilled enough the leave to commence the business with the right guide.

What are those furniture items you can

say you can conveniently produce?

I have expertise in various furniture works, I can conveniently say that I’m well skilled to produce furniture works for offices, hotels, hospitals, saloon, household sofas of varying designs, wooden wine bars (both standing and mini that are hung on the wall), wardrobes, kitchen cabinet, modern wooden beds etc. These are some of the works that can fetch reasonable payment from customers. I equally can produce full upholstery for vehicle seats as well as office leather works.

How much would you estimate as financial commitment or capital requirement including tools to kick start as an entrepreneur?

This will be determined by the focus of the entrepreneur. For a new entrepreneur, he will

require some tools like spraying machine for finishing on furniture works, he will require circular machine, writer machine. Writer machine is used to inscribe beautiful designs on wood for the furnished item and other complimentary tools that will enhance the business to be able to attract the desired patronage.

Like I said, entrepreneurship in the business will always depend on the individual but, for someone to start moderately, the kick-start capital should be between N500, 000 or a little above, this will include cost of workshop space. However, if the person decides to commence on slightly big note, capital requirement in this regard could be between N800, 000 and N1 million. A prospective entrepreneur can start the acquisition of his tools in bits while in training, so as to ease the burden of having to buy all the required tools when the is ripe to set up his own business. That is most advisable because one may not be able to afford the cost of acquiring all tools along with cost of rent for workshop.

With current cost, if a new entrepreneur wants to commence on a strong note that will attract the desired patronage, how much would you say is required?

It is not advisable to invest every available fund to take-off. So, in essence, the entrepreneur should endeavour to invest in tools while still undergoing training. But for anyone wishing to start big, such venture will require reasonable take-off capital in the region of N800, 000 and above, that is taking off with sufficient tools required for smooth operations. The capital requirement for a new entrepreneur is also determined by factors like location of business, which will determine the cost of workshop. The factor will also go a long way in determining cost to customers or clients.

What are the challenges confronting entrepreneurs in this industry?

There are a good number of challenges confronting the business. Major challenges in the business include sourcing for the right inputs, majorly wooden materials. For a furniture maker, who is worth his while, he will be confronted with the challenge of sourcing for quality wooden material like Mahogany, Abora , Itara, Massonia woods and others, they are quite different from just ordinary hard wood. These quality woods are not easy to come by.

With these woods you have mentioned, what cost would it attract from customers requiring the making of sets of sofa or bed?

With Mahogany wood for the production of a four and half inches bed, the cost could range from N25, 000 and N30, 000, for Abora, for the same measurement of bed, the cost would be around N25, 000. For a set of sofa, it ranges, the set of a of sofa comprising three-seater, two-seater and two single-seater, the cost would range between N160, 000 and N120, 000 with Akun or Abora wood.

The Arts

Discourse Narratives in Igbo and Ainu culture

p.38

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

On the dark side of life An exhibition of recent photographs by contemporary Nigerian artist, Uche James Iroha, speaks to Nigeria's existential debacle particularly with regard to the less than salutary state of public power supply, writes TONY OKUYEME.

U

che James Iroha studied sculpture at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1995. A year later, he became interested in photography and has since exhibited extensively in Nigeria and around the world.

The Prince Claus Fund, a Netherlands-based organization that promotes inter-cultural exchange, has described James Iroha as the “leading light of a new generation of Nigerian photographers”.

In his diverse work, he fuses the creative language of imagery with the documentation of everyday reality while addressing wide-ranging issues from economic imperialism to the brutal relationships, which exist between races, social class and gender.

He is also the director of Photo Garage, which offers an indigenous platform for domestic and global intellectual photography exchanges. He is also the director of Depth of Field (DOF), a photography collective based in Lagos.

Iroha has been honoured with the Elan Prize at the African Photography Encounters in Mali, 2005 for his work Fire, Flesh, and Blood, as well as the Prince Claus Award, 2008 for his work in supporting young artists and promoting photography as an art form in Nigeria.

In his recent photographs which will be on display in a solo exhibition titled Power and Powers, Iroha interrogates the "romance" between political power and electrical power distribution in Nigeria, and how this has affected the socio-economic development of the country.

The exhibition which is being organised by Omenka Gallery, Lagos, with support from Nikon, opens on November 1, at Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to the artist, the works on display are largely a critique of a corrupt leadership that profers cosmetic solutions to the persistent issue of public electricity supply.

“The photographs explore the

37

REFLECTION

Goodbye Forever (an elegy) Timothy Akinleye Times for weeping are gone, Times for company are worn, Now's time to reflect. Solitude!

Retrospection. Déjà vu.

Sitting lonely here today, Time, as usual, cruelly ticking away Waiting in vain for those manly strides Oblivious of the leafy protests and tides Hurrying to the embrace of yesterday.

Together, we witnessed time's gentle Wings the leaves listlessly rustle Punctuated by melody of nature Rhythms. Crescendo. Pulsating future Moments I wished all else but brittle.

KBB-Krazy Bill Klan, 2013

dark and unprogressive romance between political power and electrical power distribution in Nigeria. By far the most populous nation in the continent with vast human and material resources and enormous potential, electricity is still a big issue. Marred by erratic power supply, the nation is caught in the web of deceit where political office seekers clearly use the promise of ‘light’ as the most effective bait. It is interesting to know that tons of white elephant projects which include a cashless economic system and automated rail transport, are in the works gulping mammoth budgets and will all depend on an efficient electrical supply system,” he stated.

Explaining further on the exhibition, curator of the exhibition and Director of Omenka Gallery, Oliver Enwonwu said, “The works are largely a critique of a corrupt leadership that proffers cosmetic solutions to the persistent issue of electric power supply and serve as a springboard for confronting issues that continue to face Nigerians today. Perhaps, no singular contemporary Nigerian artist has created a singular body of work that mounts a sustained challenge on such an important issue.”

All images in Power and Powers were shot exclusively with Nikon.

Omenka is a leading art gallery in Nigeria and represents a fine selection of established and emerging contemporary African and international artists working in diverse media. “Omenka stimulates critical discourse on African art through solo, group and large themed exhibitions accompanied by informed, scholarly catalogues.

“In ensuring sustainable presence for African art within a glob-

On this same spot, Those perfect yesterdays, had we sport.

Savouring the aroma of love A breezy and balmy moment. A laugh And a song that knows no end nor a cut.

Only yesterday, I lost my heart to you.

Today, I'm left without a clue: Trudging the brink, About to lose my mind and sink And lonely, down below lies you!

Then, those days indeed, Time surely, our dictates heed; Now, dim are the lights of bygone hours, Bitter, the sweetness of good old years And the stale tunes of forgone melodies.

Enthroned, 2012 (Inset: Top left: James-Iroha)

"The photographs explore the dark and unprogressive romance between political power and electrical power distribution in Nigeria"

al context, Omenka participates in major events like Art Dubai, Joburg Art Fair, Cape Town Art Fair, Cologne Paper Art, Docks Art Fair, Lyon, LOOP, Barcelona, Art14, and 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Additionally, Omenka encourages a cross fertilization of ideas by collaborating with leading galleries across the world to bring the work of many international artists to Nigeria, often for the first time.

Omenka Gallery also organizes several workshops and residencies to encourage curatorial and professional artistic development,” Enwonwu said.

Now here, around me, lies amazing fortitudes: Joyous birds, dancing bushes, Trampled leaves, naked nature, Carefree, creeping creatures, With dignity, do embrace their misfortunes.

And so, though in solitude, my cross I bear. Each moment before us, Life stings our tongues with bittersweetness.

So, in mourning this mischief, above all else, Take a peaceful rest and a rose. © Tim October, 2014

38

The Arts

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Narratives in Igbo and Ainu culture

B

Tony Okuyeme etween the colonial and postcolonial trajectories, transition, change and continuity have defined art and culture among the Igbo people of Nigeria and Ainu people of Japan, although change, for the Ainu, has been very minimal. It is clear that Igbo and Ainu societies have had art throughout their histories, although ante-colonialism, they did not have a single totalizing word to describe the art experience.

This was the assertion by renowned painter, art critic and ethno-aesthetician, Associate Professor of Fine Art, Krydz Ikwuemesi who was the guest lecturer at the OYASAF Lecture Series, held recently at the Lagos office of OYASAF. In attendance at the lecture include dramatist and art patron, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, renowned artist, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo, foremost art collector and founder of OYASAF, Omooba YemisiShylon, among others.

Ikwuemesi in his lecture titled, Art and Culture among the Igbo of Nigeria and the Ainu of Japan in the Postcolonial Period: a critical survey, examined art and culture among the Igbo of Nigeria and the Ainu of Japan. The paper, in the words of Ikwuemesi, problematizes some supremacist views which hold that non-Western societies did not have art prior to colonization, in spite of the obvious bio-cultural nature of art.

According to him, what emerges from the study of Igbo and Ainu art and culture is not a case of cultural diffusion between the two groups, as they are both distanced from each other without any contact. The study foregrounds a “good example of simul-development and thus inscribes art and culture as pan-human phenomena. In doing so, it underscores the uniqueness of the human species in spite of the diversity that defines the world.

He gave a brief outline of Igbo and Ainu

Participants in a group photograph after the lecture

"With a population of about 15 million, the Igbo are the subject of more infusion and diffusions; hence the apparent loss of Igboness in Igbo art"

cultures, noting that like the Igbo, the Ainu were also thought to be one of the "lost tribes of Israel". He argues that although the art of both peoples suffered from non-recognition by their colonisers in their different historical and political developments, postcolonial Igbo art seems to have attained more recognition as art internationally than has Ainu art.

“While the international recognition of Igbo art is due in part to the flourish of African Studies Centers and some major exhibits of African art in the Western world, especially from the 1980s onwards, the poor perception of Ainu art persists as a result of the attitude of Japanese curators and art historians as well as the inability of Ainu artists themselves to see theirs as art. This is evidenced in most catalogues of Ainu art exhibitions where the word ‘craft’ has been preferred to ‘art’ or is used interchangeably with art, thus creating image and status crises for Ainu art and artists.

“However, in spite of the above fact, the Igboness of Igbo art is not as intact as the Ainuness of Ainu art. Although Westernisation can be blamed for the Igbo situation, difference in population also counts. With a population of about 15 million, the Igbo are

ART BRIEF

Krydz Ikwuemesi and Prince Shyllon during the lecture

The stage is now set for the 16th edition of the annual juried exhibition, “OctoberRain”.The exhibition which is organised by the Lagos chapter of the Society of Nigeria Artists (SNA), is scheduled to opens today and runs till October 29, at Nike Gallery, Lekki, Lagos.

This year’s event, according to the chairman of SNA Lagos, Mr. DotunAlabi, is on the theme: “Nigeria @ 100”, in commemoration of thenation’s centenary celebration.It will feature workshop for Primary and Secondary Schools which runs from Monday October 27 – Wednesday 29, as well as student interactive and voting sessions for outstanding works on display.

the subject of more infusion and diffusions; hence the apparent loss of Igboness in Igbo art. With less than 20,000 Ainu in Japan today, cultural essence remains at the heart of much Ainu art,” he stated.

The erudite scholar further notes that available artifacts attest to the long history of the Igbo in their present locus, adding that when Igbo with other nationalities were jumbled in 1914 to form Nigeria, most traditional practices began to cower in the face of the imperial culture. “Most were labeled fetishes in colonial times. Adiele Afigbo notes that ‘A study of the early history of Christianity in Igbo land reveals that it was marked by waves and waves of iconoclasm in which invaluable works of art and culture were destroyed…’ The same sense of nihilism and iconoclasm has endured beyond independence in 1960 to the present. The sorry state of Igbo art in general is, perhaps, an index for the cultural self-hate that is prevalent among the Igbo today.

“As for the Ainu, when scientists from Europe and the United States first met them in the late 1800s they could not place their origin because the Ainu had curly hair and pale skin and looked more like Europeans than Japanese or other Asians.

The Nihon Shoki (sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan), the second oldest book of classical Japanese history, contains the first recorded mention of the Ainu, a society of hunter-gatherers, who settled Hokkaido and lived mainly off fish and plants. The Ainu saw themselves as distinct from plants and animals and kamuy (gods or divine beings), hence their choice of the name Ainu, literally ‘Human Beings’. They also proudly named their homeland Ainu Mosir, “the great, quiet land where human beings dwell.” Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and were also found in the Kurile Islands and much of Sakhalin.

Like the Igbo, the Ainu were also thought to be one of the ‘lost tribes of Israel’.

“Ainu culture dates from around 1200 CE and recent research suggests that it is a complex that originated in a merger of the Okhotsk and Satsumon cultures.

Following years of contact through trade and socio-political commerce dating from around the 13th century, Ainu-Japanese relation tended to favour the Japanese much more than it did the Ainu. This imbalance continued in the years of colonisation, amplified by the subsequent repression of Ainu culture and discrimination against the people. Since the colonisation of the Ainu was from within, it is not easy to pinpoint the date of their independence. While 1997 could be considered in principle because of the passing of the Ainu Shimpo10 that year, the consummation of the freedom symbolised by that law may be found in the Japanese Diet’s declaration of the Ainu as indigenous people of Japan in 2008.

Though they lost territories and suffered economic and social hardship during colonisation, they did not lose their culture. Because their struggles have been rewarded by survival, they remain a viable people with much to teach the world.”

Lagos SNA set for October Rain Announcing the hosting of the event at a press conference held at its office at Aina Onabolu building, National Gallery of Art, National Theatre, Lagos, Alabi said: “This year’s event is a bit different from what we used to have. We are showcasing works by veterans, established, and up-and-coming artists.

We will be having renowned artists such as Bruce Onabrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo, Kunle Filani, among others exhibiting alongside young artists, including those who recently joined the society.”

Various issues concerning the nation from 1914 to date forms the focus of the art works done in various media: paintings, mixed media, prints, installations, sculptures, and ceramics.

“For the first time, we will allow the public to participate in voting session to choose work of choice, based on their connection and appeal to the works on display with guiding elements and principles.

During the Gala Night there will be an award and price for the outstanding work,” Alabi said.

One of the artworks for exhibition

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

Travel &Tourism 39

Chef's Corner

Akintola Akinleye: Attention to details is it p.40

Travel Personality

Matthew Weihs: African governments need to build trust to compete globally p.41

Destination

A night at the Caliphate p.42

HOSPITALITY With Banex Hotel and Suites, the Lagos hospitality industry gets a new entrant that prides itself on offering first class service at a middleof-the-range cost, writes OLUSHOLA RICKETTS who was at the Maryland, Lagosbased hotel.

T

he hospitality sector in Lagos State has continued to swell in ranks with the latest being Banex Hotel and Suites, which is located in Maryland, Ikeja. The coming of the new hotel no doubt is a boost for the city.

The hotel’s façade is a sheer display of splendour and beauty. The hotel which was recently inaugurated by the minister of labour and productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu, is built to provide a new experience in the industry. It has 78 rooms and eight service apartments designed to meet the needs of guests. They are all furnished and fitted with modern hospitality gadgets and amenities of different types.

At a recent press briefing, the chairman of the hotel, Rev. Victor Mbanisi, stressed that they have created an environment of impeccable style and pampered luxury. "Whether you are in town for business or pleasure, we have a special experience just for you. Our friendly staff are committed to making your stay outstanding and we are happy to accommodate any request," he said.

He, however, disclosed that although the hotel is a new entrant in Nigeria’s hospitality business, their objective remains clear - high premium on service delivery, which is one of the unique and outstanding elements of the hospitality industry. He listed some of the hotel’s facilities to include three meeting halls, comprising conference halls, wedding

Lagos bolsters its groove with Banex Hotel

Outdoor entertainment arcade with traditional setting

Posh, exciting setting

and party reception halls, three restaurants, massage centre and three swimming pools as well as outdoor African bar and a barbeque area.

Also, the hotel offers short lease service apartments, which are well-equipped with standard furniture and electronics for the comfort of the guest. The shortlease apartments comprise threebedrooms and a living room; two-bedroom and a living room and one-bedroom and a living room apartment with comfortable sit-out lounge for the relaxation of the occupants.

The short-lease period could be for six months, one year or as the occupant desires.

Also, the short-let facility of-

fers 24-hour automated power back-up; laundry services; swimming pool; indoor sport games; gymnasium and spa; cable television with satellite channels and 24-hour broadband internet services.

For the chief executive officer of Pholax Hospitality Services, consultants to the Banex Group on hotel, Mr. Lekan Olalemi, they are poised to make a difference. "We understand that we have got many competitors due to a kind of buzz in Nigeria’s hotel business in recent years, but our strength will lie on our determined efforts at making Banex a home away from home for families and individuals who will use

our facilities. We are open to everyone who seeks luxury and the hotel is relatively very affordable.’’

Speaking on security, the Banex boss said security at the hotel and its short-lease facility is bolstered by the fact it's close to the Anthony Police Station. ‘‘Our plan is to make a mark in the hospitality industry by delivering accommodation of international standards with affordable price offering,’’ said the chairman. Also, he spoke of the expansion plans of the hotel: ‘‘This is why we are planning two in Abuja, one in Ghana, four in Lagos and one in Port Harcourt. We also intend to go into franchising of Banex Hotel brand just like any other international brand in the market,’’ he added.

The general manager of the hotel, Svetlana Alexandronvna, noted that the management believe in rendering quality services to the customers. ‘‘In Banex Hotel, we do things uniquely because we want to leave our footprints in Nigeria’s hospitality industry and to build a globally acceptable brand.

She added that their major aim is to give guests excellent service at a pocket friendly price. "We also put quality before quantity in our daily activities and our staff members are taught the importance of guest satisfaction at all times."

The hotel is also devoted to creating employment, aiding economic growth and tourism in the country. "With this project coupled with its legion of employees, I have no doubt that we are in good stead to join other organisations and government parastatals to tackle the scourge of unemployment in the country. There is no gain saying the fact that Banex Hotel will boost tourism in the state, the country and ultimately our economy as a nation," she added.

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS BENEFITS There are lots of benefits to derive as one of our partner hotels. For FESTAC, LAGOS

enquiries and details on how

ABA LAGOS

to join the programme, please contact Andrew Iro Okungbowa: 08023152195 (sms only), e-mail: iroandy@ymail.com or Chinyere Opara: 08063768131 (sms only)

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ABA

e-mail angela_curtis-2@live.com

40

Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

CHEF’S CORNER

Akintola Akinleye: Attention to details is it Akintola Akinleye, master chef of Lagos-based Emglo Suite, recounts his career progression in the culinary world to BLESSING ORUCHE.

F

The journey or Akintola Akinleye, it was a journey that began in childhood way back in the countryside where at age nine under the instruction and tutelage of his elder sister he started to take on such chores as fetching wood, making the fire and boiling water. He later graduated to cooking ewedu soup and making amala for the entire household.

“When I was young living in my village as a young boy, my elder sister usually instructed me to gather fire wood and I used to prepare amala with ewedu. I started doing that at the age of nine. When I left there after my secondary school, I came to Lagos and worked briefly with Thermoplastic,’’ he said.

He later moved over to Sango Ota, a few kilometres from Lagos where he worked as a cleaner in a hotel. But as fate would have it, his talent as a cook gave him out as his superiors discovered how good he was and decided to put that skill to use, although not in official capacity, but rather to satiate their hunger at odd hours. ‘‘Back then when the chefs had gone home, some of my directors would be hungry and they will either want someone to dish out food or cook for them.

I was always ready to cook in place of the chefs and they always appreciated my kind gestures,” he recalls.

With over 26 years experience in the profession, Akinleye later went to the Nigeria Hotel Training School where he honed his culinary skill and earned a certificate in hotel and catering services.

He did his training attachment with Central Hotel, Kano, where he garnered some practical experience and knowledge before spreading afield to other outlets across the country and outside the shores of Nigeria.

“I have worked in Gabo and different parts of Nigeria. I was at the Nigerian embassy in Gabon where I worked as a resident chef under ambassador John Essien Ekon, and I later worked under

ambassador, Ismail-Bamidele Mohammed. I left there in 1995.”

He also recalled working with the Lagos State government where he served a number of governors including former military administrators, Mike Akhigbe and Raji Rasaki.

Driven by passion “It is a passion for me because I love cooking.’’ And it has become an infectious passion as one of his sons has also developed the flair for cooking, which he described as the family’s enterprise. ‘‘My last son has developed serious passion for the profession. At the age of four he began baking cake and he helps my wife after school. I have a small eatery at Lagos State University, which my wife manages. I got the passion to cook from my mother. She used to prepare eko (corn meal); it was actu-

Akinleye

ally a family trade.”

Attention to details Akinleye explained that one of the factors that stood him out from the crowd is his attention to details, an inclination which he says helps a chef develop unique cuisine and recipes.

“What makes me different from others is my ability to listen to details.’’

Like any good chef, he is quite adept at preparing both continental and local delicacies. ‘‘I am good with continental and local dishes. When I was in Gabon, I was good at cooking their dishes. When Nigerians come to Nigeria House in Gabon those days they always prefer to eat all manner of local dishes.’’

He lists some of the dishes on offer at the hotel’s restaurant to include sea foods such as prawn cocktail, lobster and dress crab lobsters. For beef, there is brown beef curry, green lamb

and roasted pork while some of the local dishes include edikang ikong, afang, editan, egusi, oha, amala and ewedu.

Challenges One of the major challenges he cites is the difficulty in procuring fresh farm produce.

“In those days you go to the farm and get things fresh, but nowadays it is a problem. Another thing is availability especially in the area of continental dishes; things like cooking cream berries. It is always difficult to get such items around most of the times. I try as much as possible to please my guests.’’

An inclination to learn The profession offers a huge prospect in terms of job opportunities, but that depends on if there is a willingness to learn, he said. “My advice is that the youth should be ready to learn. We learn every day.’’

He recounts an incident to buttress the point that learning is indispensable: ‘‘When I was trying to make egg roll late one night, I had a shortage of flour. My first son suggested we applied some oil on my hands. We did it and the egg rolls came out nice. He is someone that is interested in the field but he gave me a very good idea that day. So we learn every day. With dedication the sky is their limit.’’

Gbegiri Ingredients are beans, catfish, iru (local spice) and red oil.

Gbegiri

Preparation Peel your beans and cook until very soft; blend it with iru and put aside.

Cook your meat and cat fish with spices; when it is ready pour the beans mixture into the pot and add red oil; leave to cook.

It goes well with amala. You can top it up with small ewedu and stew.

TRAVEL BEATS

Southern Sun Ikoyi 4th Golf Championship holds All is set for the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel's 4th Annual Golf Tournament, scheduled to hold at the Ikoyi Club 1938 on Saturday, November 15.

Speaking on preparation for the event, Southern Sun Ikoyi hotel's deputy manager, Cliff Shiridzinody, expressed great delight at the hotel's continuous commitment in organizing another golf tournament. Shiridzinody explained that the growing level of interest in the tournament has witnessed a steady increase in the number of players' participation over the years.

In applauding the array of corporate sponsors for this year's tournament, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel's Sales and PR Manager, Ubong Nseobot, stated that the "commitment and contributions from the sponsors remain a key driving force to the success of the annual tournament".

Nseobot added that over the years the Southern Sun Golf Tournament ensures gender bal-

L-R: Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Captain, Mr. Ted Iwere; Deputy General Manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Mr. Cliff Shiridzinody; Managing Director, Aviator Travels and Tours Ltd. Mrs. Tinuke Nwakohu at the Southern Sun Media Conference for its forth coming Golf Day held in Lagos. ance and a visible representation of female participants at the tournament, promoting the increasing levels of female participation in the golfing sport.

Also, Ball Captain of the Ikoyi Club 1938, Ted Iwere, commended the efforts of the hotel in "partnering with the Ikoyi Club 1938 in promoting golfing as a thrilling sports which also aids the development of youth friendly activities within the community at large".

Iwere reassured the hotel and its tournament sponsors that the "golfers for this year's challenge are excited and raring to go".

One of the sponsors of the tourney, Kenya Airways, according to its sales manager, Diran Oloyede, "the annual Southern Sun Golf Tournament continues to represent an outstanding meeting of partnership amongst esteemed brands, providing an atmosphere for healthy competition, relaxation and a day of fun which allow organizations successfully network with their valued clients.’’

Kenya Airways is offering the overall winner a star prize of two business class tickets to Nairobi alongside an all expense paid trip to play on a larger golf course of great international repute.

Ethiopia Airlines to fly Dublin, Los Angeles in 2015 Ethiopia Airlines has concluded plans to commence flight operations linking Dublin with Los Angeles effective June 2015, making it the first service linking the two cities with Africa. The flights to the two cities will be operated three times a week with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Travelers from Los Angeles and Ireland will be able to enjoy seamless and convenient connectivity options, as the airline, which is known as the new spirit of Africa continues on its extensive network in Africa covering 49 destinations.

"Our new flights connecting Addis Ababa, Dublin and Los Angeles will play a critical role in the expansion of trade, tourism investment between the fast growing continent of Africa and the United States and Ireland. As the these flights will be the first and only direct air route linking Africa with Ireland and the West coast of the U.S., they will bring these two seemingly far away cities much closer to Africa and will facilitate mobility and connectivity for businesses and the large African Diaspora community living in the West Coast of the United States,’’ said the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Tewolde Gebremariam.

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Travel & Tourism

41

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

Matthew Weihs: African governments need to build trust to compete globally the whole the numbers make it easy for hotel brands to be part of any of the African markets and provide good returns to the owners and investors.

Matthew Weihs, managing director of Bench Events, which recently organised African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, fielded questions from ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on the forum and Africa’s tourism industry.

Future of hospitality sector I think this is up to the individual country within Africa to decide. African countries have had the potential of imploding in the past -today it feels there is a real opportunity to be heard. Taking advantage of poor performing Western markets will be crucial -across all sectors Africa needs to compete and build relationships with the East for investment.

On developing local brands in Africa International chains will help the local.

Through their channels more people will visit which, in turn, will grow visitor receipts and make the industry more viable.

As the brand of that particular market is established it will, in turn, drive more visitors and more demand. This is an opportunity as local hotel chains can learn a lot by mimicking and taking what is good from the International chains and adapting to their own customer base.

Competition in this way will provide a more established and trusted market and, when the African traveller starts to migrate to other continents in great numbers, brands will develop with them. Look at some of the brands from the East -they are now moving with their customers.

Advise to African government on how best to develop the tourism industry They have a very important role and I urge them to participate in future AHIF events so that we, with the support of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), help them to continue the conversation between public and private sector. This way they can hear how best they can support changes that will facilitate further investment.

Weins

M Background

atthew Weihs is the managing director of Bench Events with over 17 years’ experience in Business to Business (B2B) conferences. He has had a stint with Guardian News and Media and IQPC before moving over to Bench Events where he has helped to open new vista for the company and the tourism industry with his pioneering the African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in 2012 and Morocco Tourism Investment Forum (MTIF) in 2013. This year, he will launch the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) as well as the Mediterranean Resort and Hotel Real Estate Forum (of MR&H) comes 2015.

Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) Weihs says the founding of AHIF was born out of the series of interactions and discussions he held with the company’s clients when he came on board as the managing director. Based on the flow from his discussion and his mission, he says the need to forge a link between the African market and the international market was very clear hence he birthed the forum.

“When I joined Bench Events I spent time with our customers. It was pretty clear the intentions of the industry when it came to the African market. There was a genuine need by both international and African industries to meet and learn from each other.

The real challenge was always going to be

how to launch and make it happen,” he says.

But two years on, the forum has caught the imagination of many as it has become one of the platforms in the industry for the leading players and emerging ones to interact and chart a course for the growing industry.

AHIF as meeting place for the industry In his judgment, AHIF has within its short existence carved a niche for itself as a meeting place for the industry: “AHIF has already established itself as the meeting place for the industry. For this, I am truly proud and honoured to have had a hand in it. The African market is fragmented and very hard to market to as a consequence.

“It’s taken five years of hard work to get it to where it is today but I feel we are on the cusp of something massive. It’s flattering when our customers praise us for a job well done but the reality is that, without their efforts, this wouldn’t have been such a success. We have now achieved a critical mass where individuals, on their travels around the continent, are suggesting to potential partners to come to AHIF. The success of the forum over the years especially that of this year, he reveals is a big boost for the industry: “This in turn has a knock on effect across many of the local markets as the word of mouth spreads.

With 24 African countries represented, over 500 delegates and 37 sponsors this year the event seems to be shaping the industry, providing a much needed profile

boost and laying the foundations for many of the future deals across Africa.”

Huge potential and opportunities in the hospitality sector “Exciting,” he says, is the word when it comes to describing African hospitality sector as he tells you that the potential and resources of the sector are huge and wonderful. “It has so much potential and a wonderful resource pool to tap into.

Currently much of the focus and activity is on and around the major cities. With a growing middle class and as these people migrate towards these bustling hubs it will draw in future infrastructure development and will drive the growth of hospitality.

Time will open up the wider secondary markets and the tourism developments.”

Given this glowing eulogy of his, one sought to know what should be done to improve on the status of the industry in Africa, to which he says: “the answer to this is multi-layered and very difficult to answer in a quick paragraph. The fundamentals for growth are in place driven by a large, educated youths; but African countries can’t expect this to be the sole attraction to attracting investment. Investors want to be reassured and trust has to be built at government level to compete globally.”

Attractions for international brands Well, supply is low and demand is high.

Driven by business travel and MICE. On

On growing Nigeria tourism industry Although Weihs has not visited Nigeria, however, he shares some thoughts on the country’s tourism industry, which according to him, has suffered from lack of attention from the government. “That the country has not made many headlines in tourism probably stems from the fact that the Nigerian government has neglected the importance of travel and tourism for years. However this is all changing now.

“According to Euromonitor International the importance of travel and tourism as a strategic sector in the national economy has finally been realised. Through the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), it has recently created a new brand, Fascinating Nigeria, with the aim of revitalising the industry. This move aims to make tourism a major contributor to the nation’s GDP and to boost non-oil revenues as Nigeria continues on its mission to diversify its economy out from its current reliance on oil exports. Nigeria has also been exploiting new technologies in order to facilitate growth in its travel and tourism industry. ‘‘Nigeria recently launched a new tourist Visa card so as to ease the burden of visitors carrying cash while in the country. In addition, a biometric registration system for workers in the industry was also created with the aim of reducing fraudulent activities, especially in the hospitality sector. These innovative tourist products will not only boost travel and tourism development, but will also reposition the industry in Nigeria with global standards and best practices.

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Travel & Tourism

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DESTINATION

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Isioma Madike he seat of the caliphate was my destination, and my stereotyped mind had no option. I emptied my heart of rumours and fear, and I was ready to bear. It was my maiden visit, and welcoming was the sun’s rays that poured on my flesh like hot coal. If my skin had a voice, it would have screamed “take me back” but, I had no choice.

I had left Lagos via Abuja on this day by air. I was in company with fellow Journalists. We were going to honour an invite from United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) facilitated meeting on ‘How to use U-report data to derive stories and social media’ holding at the Dankani Guest Palace Hotels situated at 1a Kalabaina Road.

Arrival was Sunday, September 28. It was my first trip to Sokoto and I decided to leave very early in order to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the seat of Caliphate before the summit.

It seemed the sun was just 100 feet above us, on arrival at the Sokoto International Airport. The wind at the airport vicinity was also similar to the one that comes out of a bike’s exhaust and dislike was all my body parts remarked. Could hell be beneath us? I asked rhetorically as I trembled with fear that I could have sunburn. Sweat ran out of my pores, like it was chased by an angry mob and began evaporating like the steam from a cooking pot.

Soon, we were saluted by flies, muscled, like they slept in the gym. Our skin was their safe haven and refuge.

They followed everyone everywhere like paid bodyguards. Even raw eggs had to put on sunshades to avoid been cooked by open oven and passerby were too impatient to say ‘hi’ like they were ice too scared of melting.

I stood on the balcony of my room at the Sokoto Guest House at nightfall, admiring the approaching dawn through the window. Far away in the horizon, the golden red sun reluctantly pushes its way through the silvery clouds and before long, daylight bathes the September 29 dawn in all its glory.

On the centre table were the remains of the previous night’s dinner of Kaba meat. Kaba meat I was informed originated from Maiduguri.

It is actually suya cooked in its sauce without any oil but with lots of cabbage, onions and seasonings. As I opened the cover of the tightly packed container, I was enveloped by a tantalizing aroma of the well garnished and succulent beef, which danced on my tongue with a slightly tangy touch.

It was the uniqueness in the taste that prompted me to want to know more about the dish that I savoured with obvious relish. Eager to savour a native cuisine, I had ventured far into the city in search of the dish, which had been recommended by a friend, my paper’s correspondent in the ancient city. It was a delightfully tender and delicious meal, which I had washed down with generous quaffs of Fura da nono, which is cooked grits made from millet and mixed with local farm yoghurt.

I departed Sokoto Guest House that early in company with my friend, when the city was just rising from the previous day’s slumber, to see the beauty of the city before the commencement of the business of UNICEF, which brought me to the seat of the Caliphate. In that rush, we chanced on a busy market where lorry loads of millet, corn, and other farm

A night at the Caliphate produce were being off loaded. Cows, goats, donkeys and camels completed the merchandise being offered for sale at the very busy roadside market that morning.

My night on the second day in Sokoto was cool, due to the evening rain.

Puddles of water on the streets and some dripping trees gave testimony to the downpour that had washed down the city just a few hours before going to bed. “You must have brought the rain” my friend, Umar, quipped.

The day after, I took advantage of the very clement weather, and decided to go sightseeing again, beginning with Abdullahi Fodio Road, which seemed to be the main artery of the city. The road began where Kano Road ended under a flyover that was recently constructed. It is said to be the second in the city; the first being the one constructed by the immediate past governor. Adjacent to that road was a street that was a contradiction of sort. Most structures on this very street were coated in the sandy brown colour of the untarred road while a mild traffic snarl around the muddy path gave a harassed-looking traffic

'It was obvious that most of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria are represented in the ancient city'

warden some anxious moments.

Abdullahi Fodio Road is home to most of the highbrow commercial centres in Sokoto ranging from a modern bakery to eateries, Cybercafés, an abattoir among others. All these were interspersed by textile shops selling all kinds of material from Guinea Brocade to Vlisco and Caftan. Also in abundance were the small provision shops where you can buy small supplies of sugar, beverages and detergents. At the corner of the road, just before a fuel station, loud modern music wafted an intimidating noise that could be heard from afar. Just across the road at a popular restaurant could be seen a crowd of beggars and almajiris scurrying after patrons with toothpicks in their mouths as they strolled back to their cars after a good meal.

Encouraged by the contented looks of the patrons to the restaurant I decided to give the place a trial. “We have rice, beans, semo, amala with ewedu, vegetable and egusi soup” one of the girls

in the cafeteria said as I settled down in the eatery. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the owner was a Yoruba woman whose steaming plate of ‘amala’ and ‘ewedu’ could rival that of any Ibadan-based buka.

I was equally surprised to discover that the activities in the commercial part of the city continued at a feverish pace way into the night. As my friend put it “the nights are cooler due to the day time heat and so the very active night life.”

It was obvious that most of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria are represented in the ancient city as could be seen from those engaged in commercial activities on Fodio Road. While the Igbo were involved in most of the electronic and spare parts businesses, the Yoruba and people from the middle belt could be seen running some of the canteens while the other non-native Hausas from nearby states ran the other businesses. As it is usually the case in many metropolis in the country, the natives were said to be laid back in their choice of work.

At the tail end of Abdullahi Fodio Road is the Shehu Shagari Market, which suffered from a fire incident a few years ago.

Now rebuilt and operational, the new market is underutilised perhaps, because some of the traders refused to go back to the market preferring instead to continue to operate by the side of the motor garage where they were previously using temporarily.

Travelling further down towards the outskirts of the city

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25 OCTOBER 2014

wuri, I made enquiries about the royal father. I was told that His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111 (MNI), was very busy on that day, attending to a retinue of visitors across the country.

Nevertheless, I proceeded with Umar to the famed Usman Dan Fodiyo tomb located at Muhammadu Bello Way. It was sited in a spacious compound with ample space for parking.

In the compound, a friendly traditional guard handed me over to a policeman stationed at the gate, who in turn handed me over to the tomb guard said to have been appointed by the Sultan. The old man conducted us round the tomb area and the adjourning grave sites. The near flat graves were those of the immediate families of Dan Fodiyo

A major market in the metropolis

was the campus of the Usman Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) at Dundaye. It is an expansive area that still houses several villages, which I was told have been paid for but the villagers still held on to the place. Most of the villagers, who are farmers, produce crops such as millet, sweet potatoes and vegetables, which they sell to members of the university community. The farmers also provide services to the students such as laundry services, water fetching among other minor chores.

Thus, the villagers and the students have a symbiotic relationship.

UDUS is a beautiful well laid out campus with tall leafy Dogonyaro trees lining every angle and providing the much needed shade and aesthetics. Judging from the different vernaculars that floated all around the campus, it is obvious that students and workers from all parts of the country were on the campus.

Also impressive were the various Student Union signboards, which at a glance showed that the students came from almost every state in the country.

It would have been a wonderful idea to get some firsthand information about the university, which is said to have no problems with religious upheavals and cultism from some of its top officials. Unfortunately, all attempts to reach the school authorities proved abortive.

However, it would have also been an anomaly if I went to the seat of the Caliphate without visiting the Palace of the Sultan. And so it was that I made my way to Sultan Abubakar Road where at the Sultan’s Palace located at Kan-

and several other Sultans, like Muhammed Bello, Abubakar I Atiku, Ali Babba bin Bello, Ahmadu Atiku, Aliu Karami, Ahmadu Rufai among others that had ruled the ancient city in the past.

Judging from the way he dished out well informed historical details about the tomb, it was obvious that the guide was well trained. In addition were preserved relics such as currency, traditional dresses and antiques.

On this journey, however, I did not dine with the ‘’big and mighty’’ but crossed paths with the men and women in the streets, the ‘’talakawas”, who form the backbone of the community and are the spirit of humanity’s existence. Maybe that was why my favourite area in Sokoto is not the sedate and cool

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43

university campus at Dundaye, but the ubiquitous and rowdy Tundun Wada where open gutters flow with raw sewage and the air stinks of a medley of aromas ranging from the odious to the fragrant.

It is the place where houses are so jam-packed that they often encroach into the streets making vehicular movement a herculean task. Although class, neatness and orderliness win my approval, it is the battered and stained that capture my heart. This could be due to my love for the under-privileged and the downtrodden, who to me are the essence of our society and the indispensable companions on our voyage through life. It was a fitting journey to the seat of the caliphate. I hope to be back, insha Allah.

"Just across the road at a popular restaurant could be seen with a crowd of beggars and almajiris scurrying after patrons" Usman Dan Fodio's tomb

Palace of the Sultan of Sokoto

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44

Phobia for traffic stops me from going out to eat – Odumosu Mr. Kayode Odumosu, an accountant and educationist tells BLESSING ORUCHE, how his principal shaped his life, why he is no longer keen about going abroad among other issues.

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rowing up for Kayode Odumosu was fun. He recalls that parents were never worried about kidnappers and as such could allow their children to board a bus from Island to Mainland.

“At the age of ten, my family moved from the Island to Mainland in Surulere.

It was wonderful back then, because issues such as kidnapping were not to be imagined nor experienced then. I usually board buses at that age, going from Yaba to Lagos Island for primary school.

I repeated the same thing while coming back, but the journey from Yaba back to Surulere was completed on foot.”

He claims that schooling at Christ School Ado Ekiti state for his secondary school education had very positive impact on his life. “I will say I am an Ijebu boy who was bred in Ekiti. During my university days at Ife, my secondary school Principal, Reverend Cannon Mason, a white man, was still visiting then. His zeal, diligence, principle and discipline were some of the attributes I admired so much. He was a man that shaped my life and that was why when I finally set up my school I called it Mason College named after him. I imbibed and implemented his methods of operations, such as the prayers, songs, discipline even uniforms.”

He speaks loftily about his passion for the Ekiti saying, “thank God I studied there, because it shaped my life. I learnt so many things from them, like being down to earth, desiring the truth to be told no matter the consequences.”

When he was at the university, he played volley ball, and represented Nigerian at the universities games in Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana.

Speaking about his social life, he says he has affiliations with prominent Yoruba social groups and others saying. “When I was young my father belonged to a popular club called the Yoruba Tennis Club.

After my father death, the club members wanted me to fill the vacuum. I agreed but wasn’t so active then, even though that was where I had my first child. The only club I had always wanted to join as a member was Ikoyi Club. We attended as a family, it was good for the children upbringing. There were swimming activities for kids back then, but as my work load increased during the running of my school, the busy schedule took the better part of me.”

Odumosu says he craves the best form of relaxation during the weekend. “I listen to music when I want to, watch television whenever it suites me. I can decide to stop whatever I’m doing and relax.

My weekends are usually fun filled with social activities; name them, christening,

Odumosu

burial receptions or family events.”

To him, weekend menus are the same with his everyday food consumption. “I don’t have any particular preference, any good menu goes. I and my family had patronised some many restaurants in Lagos, both on the Island and Mainland, but presently I get discouraged from going so far for a good lunch or dinner because of my phobia for hectic traffic.”

On his favourite colour, he says he has preference for navy blue, especially when it is combined with white, that combination, he says, is the uniform of his school.

Expectedly, Odumosu still has love for sports particularly with membership of a foreign soccer club, Arsenal Football Club of England. “My best sports are football and volley ball, though I don’t play any longer but I enjoy the games on cables.”

He says he takes delight in playing scrabble game. “One particular game interests me more now, which I play everyday is scrabble. I love to compete against the computer and beat it hands down.

Nothing else makes me happy when I do that.

“I have never really planned a trip to watch my favourite team, Arsenal, play live. But during the course of one of my trips to London with my wife, we visited the Highbury Stadium in London before it was moved to Emirates. I have so many of the jerseys, most of which my kids bring for me,” Odumosu says with excitement.

The career accountant had eventful working years with the prestigious Akintola Williams firm of accountants, where he says he met lots of expatriates along whom he traversed round the world.

“We usually travelled where ever our clients were. Eventually, I joined Madandola Investment as the company secretary, a company which had about 23 companies under it and more than 100 expatriates. My bosses thought me some many things, as a young aspiring man.

The last company I worked for, before setting up my school was Chrislib. I later

set up my first school PASS, them Mason College Festac town,” he adds.

His perception life is quite different, especially as regards religion. “We all grew up together Christians and Muslims. We knew the programmes of the Muslims and they knew ours, but today interpretations of the Bible and Quran are responsible for several problems in the world today. People keep struggling for supremacy all the time, which is not necessary,” Odumosu points out.

Though he no longer runs his school, he is now a blogger managing eight blogs, saying, “I have imported most of my teaching aids to my blogs, and I do connect with so many people from about 202 countries round the world who visit my blog, most of whom are lecturers, teachers and students.”

The educationist says he is still in touch with his students on facebook and his blogs. “My students are planning a very big reunion in December,” he says.

Talking about his 21 years experience as educationist, Odumosu believes that the Nigerian child’s education has greatly improved.

“As an educationist I believe that some of the things our parents should always look out for, when enrolling their children is does the proprietor or proprietress know anything about computer, because if not, the computer teacher may not be competent enough to give the students what is required. Another thing is school library. That is the brain box of every school.

“My international experiences have influenced my life positively, even though I believe home is home, but there so many things I was able to pick during my trips. After I started working at Coopers and Lybrand, I used to visit Liberia Serria Leone, Gambia. We were auditing the accounts of West African health community.

“When I was with Akintola Williams, I was able to travel to countries such as Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, Britain, Germany, US, Canada.

We had clients in all these places, though most of the trips were work related, while the others were holiday trips,” Odumosi recalls.

An interesting experience which he recounts was about a board meeting of a Nigerian company and was held in a ship, from Barcelona to Tunisia on the Mediterranean Sea and that was how he visited Tunisia.

Today when people talk about travelling out, Odumosu feels it is not important to him. “I have seen it all. I’m no longer keen on the idea. Today I spend my time in Nigeria enjoying the life style I have created for myself. It pleases me so much to live here and no other place in the world.”

“In Nigeria a lot of things have gone bad. Wrong operations, but I believe that God has a plan for this country and things will turn out for the better. Opportunities abound in our country. The population is a plus and minus. Sometimes all you need to survive is the population to patronise what you do,” he says.

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014

Politics 45

Controversy

Gown provokes another 'war' p.47

FaceOff

APC and PDP stalwarts disagree on Oshiomhole p.48 & 49

Business Sense

Seven Ministers, seven troubled sectors p.51

‘God used Ebola to teach Nigerians a lesson' Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, the immediate past Minister of Health, has had a distinguished career in academics and public service. The renowned professor of medicine with a post graduate specialist training in orthopaedic surgery became the toast of the world recently when he led Nigeria in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.

Chukwu, a Fellow of West African college of Surgeons and Fellow of International College of Surgeons mobilized the country's health sector with an uncommon confidence and dexterity that won the hearts of the World Health Organsation ( WHO) and put to shame detractors who thought the epidemic would decimate Nigeria. In this valedictory chat with Onwuka Nzeshi, Onyekachi Eze and Obinna Odoh, the outgoing minister tells the story of how the Ebola plague came to Nigeria and what lessons Nigerians should learn from it.

In the last few days, the world has celebrated you as the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria Ebola-free country. How do you feel about this achievement?

Certainly, I'm happy. I feel fulfilled and proud of Nigeria's achievements and I congratulate first, President Goodluck Jonathan; I congratulate the Governors of Lagos, Enugu and Rivers states for these were the states where we had issues with the Ebola Virus Disease. Indeed, I congratulate Nigeria and all Nigerians.

Š Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

When you learnt that the Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer was in Nigeria and had been diagnosed of the Ebola Virus, what was your

immediate reaction?

Well, I felt that this is work. The work we had dreaded all these while since March and when I personally signed alerts to all the governors of the 36 states as well as my colleague, the Minister of the Federal Capital Administration, copied all the Commissioners of Health, I knew that the battle had begun. I was actually returning from Australia where I had gone to represent Mr President at the International HIV/ AIDS meeting which took place in Melbourne. I was actually on my way back from Australia; got to Singapore to get a connecting flight; I switched on my phone and saw a message from the Director of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) saying: "Honourable Minister, it seems

that Nigeria has recorded its first case of Ebola Virus Disease." Of course, that altered my mood, because it meant that we had a challenge and hard work was needed to surmount that challenge. As soon as I landed in Nigeria, I was fully briefed by the Minister of State for Health who was on ground when this case came up in my absence. From then on, it has been work, work and work until now as you can see.

Did you at any time meet or have any communication with the said Patrick Sawyer while he was quarantined at the isolation centre in CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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‘Nigerians don't acknowledge what is good about their country' CONTINUED from PAGE 45

Lagos?

No, I never communicate with him directly. But at a time, I was communicating with the Ambassador of Liberia to Nigeria; I was communicating with the Minister of Health of Liberia.

I didn't have any direct contact with Sawyer before he died.

Did Nigeria lodge an official complaint with the Liberian authorities on why they allowed Sawyer to come to Nigeria knowing full well, he was infected with the EVD? Yes, we did. You know we have our own ambassador who is in Monrovia and he received an official apology from the President of Liberia which he duly conveyed to Mr President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

As at the time, Sawyer was diagnosed of EVD, was Nigeria really prepared to face the challenge or were we caught unawares?

Well, what I don't know is the "really" in your question, but we were prepared. Really tends to establish to what extent we were prepared but certainly, we were prepared and that was why it was not such a disaster.

I have said it that Guinea alerted the world only in March this year but it was later we learnt that their very first case of Ebola was in December 2013.

It means that they thought that it was something they could deal with on their own until the disease now got out of control.

But from the month of Match that we learnt of it, we did not only send an alert but we went on to get ready.

Like I said earlier, for an alert to be personally signed by the Honourable Minister of Health means that it was such an important issue. We started training our medical personnel at the state level. If you ask the Commissioners of Health, they will tell you. We started training our health personnel at the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control but no matter how much a soldier is trained if that soldier has never faced any real war situation, he has not yet seen the real thing. I think that that was what happened to us. In a nutshell, the country was prepared.

Over the years, tackling even smaller health issues have seemed a big challenge for Nigeria, let alone a deadlier disease like Ebola. What was it that our health authorities do differently this time to the extent that the virus was contained in such a short time?

I have always been confident of Nigeria's health system. The fact that you suffered malaria and didn't die shows that our health system has been working. The problem is that Nigerians like to be too excited about what others think and say about our perceived shortcomings. This is one of the beauties of what has happened now.

God wants to teach Nigerians a lesson: believe in yourself for goodness sake. Some Nigerians would always say that nothing is working in our country, but the World Health Organisation has continued to tell you that something is working in Nigeria. I am the 22nd minister of health but within this short time that I have been minister of health, the WHO has had cause three times to give us one certificate

Chukwu

or the other for our accomplishments in the health sector. Yet, some people are still saying that the system is not there. How many countries has the WHO given three certificates within a space of four years? Even as I leave , I believe the minister of state will get in additional three because we have worked hard on this. Then finally you are talking about Ebola. The Nigerian health system has been there, it is only that Nigerians don't like to acknowledge what is good about their country.

When I read newspapers, they say it is only in Nigeria that this happens.

Who told you? We have made ourselves look like we are nobody. The media joined the Americans and you were saying that 'how could the doctors at the First Consultant Hospital not know that the man they admitted could be suffering from Ebola?' They said that if a man could come from Liberia with such an infection and spread it in Nigeria, then it means this country had no health system. Did you not see it happen in the United States?

You see, it is not only on Nigeria. Then when someone walked from Lagos to Enugu and another person moved from Lagos to Port Harcourt, then you people( media) joined the Americans and others in the West to say: 'You see, these Nigerians, what kind of surveillance were you people in the Ministry of Health doing?' Has it not also happened in the United States? But I can't even see the Nigerian media talking to them the way they were talking to Nigeria as if we didn't know what we were doing at all. See the way CNN was dealing with Nigeria during that period but I've not seen the Nigerian media focusing on what is happening in the United States now with respect

to Ebola.

It's curious that you are bowing out after achieving all these feats within such a short time. What are the assurances that there won't be a resurgence of the Ebola virus?

This is why I am confident doing what I have done and going at this time. Remember what the President has been saying over time. For him, what he is trying to do in Nigeria is to build enduring institutions, not individuals. That is a statement from a great man; you don't see that kind of a person all the time. He is building institutions, not individuals and that is what we are also doing in the health sector. It is not an easy thing. The easiest thing to do is to build individuals but what happens when these individuals leave the scene? The system would if course collapse.

I am quite confident that with disease control we will not have problems. You will suddenly find out that you will have someone better than me. That is what is going to happen.

We've built institutions; I'm not anxious about anything.

We started training our health personnel at the Nigerian Centre

When Nigeria could not get the United States to supply us the Zmapp vaccine, there were talks about developing an indigenous remedy through the revival of Professor Maurice Iwu's earlier attempt to develop a remedy for the virus. Where are we now on that project?

Well, you know there are a lot of things people just want to ascribe. If you interview Professor Iwu, himself, he will tell you the actual story.

He had some years ago taken some kind of sabbatical leave from the

University of Nigeria where he was a professor and decided to spend the leave with the Veterans Administration in America. The Veterans Administration has to do with the military. One can understand it because Ebola Virus Disease is not like malaria which occurs regularly and for commercial reason, they don't do a research where the market is not there. This particular outbreak of EVD has dealt with three West African countries very badly but Ebola is not a commercial company's delight.

Let me explain it. It is not everyday you see people suffering from Ebola and if there are only a few cases of the disease and you produce the vaccine that takes so much in terms of cost; how would the company recoup its cost? It is clear that companies would not go into research for what will not be profitable to them. The only people that will go into such a research is the military because they are the ones that think if bio-terrorism and biological warfare. They are the people that would want to do a research to get a remedy for such a dangerous disease.

So, that was why Iwu worked with the military and they were researching on the Ebola Virus Disease, looking for a possible cure and possible vaccine. Now to the best of my knowledge, I think that Professor Iwu is one scientist that has done the greatest scientific work on bitter kola in relation to so many diseases.

If you look through his research papers, much have been on bitter kola.

He is probably the number one world authority on anything that has to do with the medicinal use of bitter kola.

I have not asked him if he went there on his own or they invited him over, but what's important is that he was in America to conduct the research.

They provided him with Ebola Virus in the laboratory and he and his team were carrying out the research. They later found out that the extracts of the Nigerian bitter kola which he took there actually tend to stop the growth and activity of the Ebola Virus. So they published this initial finding.

But normally in research, you take it further. The next thing would have been to test it on an animal that has been infected with Ebola virus. He didn't have the opportunity to do that and to the best of his knowledge, like he said, nobody seemed to have continued with that research since then. When this issue arose, he now felt that he could resume the research and to be honest with you, it was his discussion with me which was made possible by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who referred him to me that made me decide that the best thing was us to establish a treatment research group. We constituted the research group and included him in the team.

We've inaugurated the team and as at today, they've held their first international high level workshop which was attended by some Nigeria scientists and researchers in the Diaspora. We are not against anyone, so anybody who has claims to make about having a remedy for EVD is free to send it to the research group.

It is now their job to verify and decide on the claims to be taken seriously based on its merit.

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Murtala's family to Gowon:

We take exceptions to your insinuations about our father � Gowon's military governors were corrupt, says Okogie � Yes, Murtala was hungry for power - Achuzia DOMINIK UMOSEN, STEVE UZOECHI, AND MOHAMMED KABIR

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Lagos, OWERRI, KANO

lthough the civil war ended 44 years ago, its capacity to polarise discussions in contemporary times has still not waned. A glimpse of that was evident in a recent interview former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, granted The Guardian to commemorate his eightieth birthday anniversary.

From implying that the motive behind the decision by the late Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to secede from Nigeria was driven by ambition for power, to suggesting that the coup which terminated his administration and led by the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed, was carried out for reasons that were not particularly altruistic, Gen. Gowon stirred the hornet's nest, literarily.

"Ojukwu, for example, used to pride himself that he was going to make history, but I used to tell him that, 'no, Emeka, it is history that will make you," he said of the leader of the defunct Biafra Republic and former presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

"My colleagues that we went for training together like (Alexander) Madiebo (he was Biafra's army chief) and others; when they used to say Igbo nation, I would tell them to shut up, that there is only one nation that I know, which is Nigeria. We used to say that as a joke; but what happened?

They wanted to create an Igbo nation."

With regard to the notion that he was overthrown because he had become so tolerant of corrupt practices by his principal officers, he said: "Seriously speaking, they also wanted to rule and probably they wanted to enjoy power.

"We wanted to reorganise the Nigeria Airways to the standard of one of the best in the world. We invited foreign experts and they came in 1975.

But the new government abandoned it. So what has happened to the Nigeria Airways today?"

But to the Murtalas, that was an unflattering depiction of their patriarch who many Nigerians still regard as a paragon of selfless service.

Murtala's daughter, Mrs Aisha Oyebode, told Saturday New Telegraph on the phone that it was the height of mischief to suggest that it was anything other than altruism that inspired the coup that brought his father to power.

Although Oyebode claimed not to have read the interview in question, she said that her late father’s larger family would issue a formal statement in reaction to the relevant sections that mentions their father which our correspondent had read to her.

But retired Catholic archbishop of the Lagos Archdiocese, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, said reports which

indicated that the military governors in the Gowon administration were corrupt had angered the public and helped to validate the Murtala coup.

"If my memory serves me well, I think a report categorically returned a guilty verdict on virtually all of Gen. Gowon‘s lieutenants, with regard to corruption. The only exception was the military governor of Lagos State, retired Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson.

"Understandably, the mood of Nigerians went sour, reinforced by popular disenchantment. It was in the middle of this, perhaps only a question of time before the coup that kicked Gowon’s corrupt regime out.

So I don't understand anything about this new attempt to re-write history."

There were however some kind words for the ex-head of state from the former aviation minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, whose father, the late Remi Fani-Kayode, was deputy premier of the defunct Western Region.

"Gen. Gowon, more than any other person, saved my father. I am aware of what happened that day, even though I was only six years old then.

When the mutinous soldiers came to take my father away, he (Gowon) was not even around," said Fani-Kayode, adding that the former leader did everything possible to save his father.

"Along with Mr. Takuda, an army officer from the Middle Belt, the former head of state did everything to save my father. It was not clear who sent them to arrest my father who saw some of his abductors killed in the ensuing gun battle. My faher was told that he was being held in the barracks for his safety," Fani-Kayode told Saturday New Telegraph on the phone.

"I have great love, respect and affection for him for saving my father.

He is very brave and courageous. If

I have great love, respect and affection for him for saving my father.

Murtala

Gowon

he had decided to run away since he was the target of the mutineers as commander-in-chief, the history of Nigeria would have been different today," he said.

Also, former minister of internal affairs and one of APGA's governorship aspirants in Imo State, Mr. Emmanuel Iheanacho, disagreed that Gowon's states creation exercise was designed to give the north undue advantage over other sections, a sentiment prevalent in the south.

"Over time, people pursued things that were far from the ideal upon which the country was founded on; things that did not unite us.

"It becomes even more of an aberration when next door neihgbours

sack Imo indigenes from their workforce because they are not Abia people." According to him, such argument is akin to blaming the colonial masters for the woes of Nigeria of today.

"We must be able to demonstrate enough capacity, discipline and patriotism and get right in this dispensation before we can justifiably blame the military for allegedly leaving behind a legacy of corruption," Iheanacho also said.

Also speaking on the issue of the motive that underpinned the Murtala coup, former secretary-general of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Col. Joe Achuzia threw his weight behind Gowon’s insinuatio of lust for power. "Even after the original coup by the majors, Murtala Muhammed contested for leadership of the counter-coup with Gowon, until other northern military officers decided in Gowon's favour.

"So one can say that in terms of justification and motive, Muhammed might have had every reason to be hungry for power," he told our correspondent on the phone.

‘If my memory serves me well, I think a report categorically returned a verdict of guilty of corruption on virtually all of Gen Gowon‘s lieutenants, except the military governor of Lagos State, retired Brigadier-General Mobolaji John son. Understandably, the mood of Nigerian s went sour, reinforced by popular disenchantment.

It was in the middle of this, perhaps only a question of time before the coup that kicked Gowon’s corrupt regime out. So I don't understand know anything about this new attempt to rewrite history. I hope I have answered your question,’ the retired Cardinal of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Olubunmi Okojie told our correspondent on the phone.

FaceOff SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH 25 OCTOBER 2014

As the speaker of the Peoples Democratic Party-led group of the state House of Assembly, how has it been since the House split between the APC and PDP? We have been operating in the state House of Assembly while the APC people have stayed away. So, we are here, we must do the constitutional duty we are elected to do.

There are concerns from constituencies because it appears you have been shut out and no longer part of the government.

I don’t think using the word that we are shut out is right. They (APC lawmakers) are equally shut out from activities. We should be the ones crying that they are shut out. We are not shut out. If the governor and his collaborators have decided to operate a closed door government, a government of myself and let Edo ‘people go and die,’ that is it. For Comrade Governor and his co-travellers in the APC, have said that the people should ‘go and die.’ But we are saying that ‘Edo people will not die.’

‘Oshiomhole has no regard for judiciary' Chief Festus Ebea lawmaker representing Peoples Democratic Party in Esan South East and suspended deputy speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly tells CAJETAN MMUTA that Governor Adams Oshiomhole runs one-man show. ing money. And they like it. Every little thing they turn it around to get the comrade governor to fight and they would say some people want to impeach him, the man gets frightened and he gives money to them.

So money is at the centre of it. They are benefiting and they don’t want the crisis to end. We, on our own, have said we are ready to get back to the status quo. If we are ready to get back to status quo, that means whatever positions anybody has we are ready to go back there but don’t sit down there and say you want to prescribe punishment to somebody.

The man who is faulty has continued to call the pot black. A kettle cannot call pot black.

Three weeks ago, the House passed the 2015 appropriation budget and your group did not have any input.

What does that portend for your constituencies?

Nobody has input into the Comrade Governor’s budget these days because the ones we have been having input, which was the bone of contention between some of us and the Comrade Governor or the executive, did not reflect. The inputs we made into the past appropriations, no kobo was given to those inputs. No recognition was given to those inputs in way of bringing to reality what we put in the appropriation.

So, it is now one-man show; it is now a government of himself, for himself and, at best, for his co-travellers in the APC. But people are of the view that the activities of the PDP lawmakers in the House amount to nullity or nothingness, going by the fact that your motions and resolutions cannot be attended to by the executive.

What does that mean to you?

That is what you think. I am not feeling lost about it, am not feeling sad about it because from time the Comrade Governor has never implemented even resolutions of the general house.

Even some of us have complained that this is not the right way to go. And they kept saying we are going to talk to him.

We went there, we sat with him, we raised them and he would say okay he would address them; but he will never. For you to have found out that we have gone our separate ways, it was not a case that just came up one day. It is a thing that has been dragging and we have been waiting, believing that with time, things will be rectified. So, he has not been obeying bills passed by the combined houses, even when the APC and PDP were co-habiting well. He never did, so whatever they are doing now, it is at his behest. He likes it but we have decided to say that even if we were making mistakes before, we don’t want to be part of the mistakes anymore.

Lawmaking is for good governance of the state but there are strong allegations against the PDP legislators which are pending in court, including alleged disobedience of

48

Ebea

court orders. What do you have to say?

I think we have passed this stage of obeying the courts and all that, except you people are new in this state.

I have said let’s place judicial pronouncements or rulings side by side the ones from APC angle led by Adams Oshiomhole and the ones from the PDP angle; let’s see the man who is the greater abuser or the man who has disrespected and disregarded judicial pronouncements more. You were here at the beginning of this government when the governor asked that members of the state Universal Basic Education, as appointed and constituted by former governor Oserheimen Osunbor, be driven away; he made sure he inaugurated his own even when there was a court judgment against it. He neither reinstated them nor pay them their entitlements. You were here when even labour went to court to stop the competency test; didn’t he go against the pronouncement from the Akure arbitration court? Did he obey it? He was calling it black market injunction. You were here when they said judicial workers union should be on the first-line charge, did he obey it until they went on strike that day?

There are so many cases even the state House of Assembly, on its merit through oversight functions, received

Tell Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to allow the opposition’s voice to be heard. He should learn to be tolerant of opposition views.

petitions and all that, we found some of them and we are already in court and in the end, you say they are subjudice. When they finally won in court and they came here and we passed on the resolutions to the government or the executive, did he follow it? So, if you want me to tell you again, there is no court and even PDP’s case with him in 2010, during the days of Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, they went to court and they won. Up and until now, did he reinstate them? Did he pay them their entitlements? He wanted to use that means to get us away and say we should go to hell, I am in charge.

What has the judiciary done to ensure that their pronouncements are being followed?

What lessons can one learn from all these?

Don’t say you trust a man until you give him power and money.

A lot people feel there should have been a political solution to the lingering crisis, including intervention by stakeholders. Why has it become impossible?

It is because the APC lawmakers are gaining from the crisis. The comrade governor didn’t care a hoot about lawmakers before now, suddenly the APC members started see-

But what happened in the case concerning Mr. Rasaq Momoh and the alleged attack by PDP thugs on lawmakers who are APC members?

When Momoh was attacked, nobody knew of it because the comrade governor shut down the press from reporting it until they now felt that the people they hired were equal to their task; that is what my findings were because I wasn’t in town. They didn’t pay the people they hired.

They now went to the quarters to attack them. Do we live in the quarters?

They couldn’t have been looking for us, they were looking for them. They hired them and they didn’t pay them.

I don’t know anything about it. The only thing is that I condemn every act of brigandage whether on human beings or on property. I don’t like it and I don’t stand for it.

So what are we expecting in 2015, especially now that people are afraid that there may be violence during the elections?

Tell Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to allow the opposition’s voice to be heard. He should learn to be tolerant of opposition views.

Do you support the use of soldiers in the conduct of elections?

That is not my judgment. The elections we witnessed, soldiers were deployed in the streets. Soldiers were brought in when we conducted the election even as a member of the opposition and I still won. So, I don’t care whether soldiers are to be deployed or not but anything that can be done to bring peace I stand for it.

Are we expecting a viable and peaceful house next year?

Certainly, we should expect a viable house, irrespective of political leanings. We must, first of all, hold the state in our dealings. That was why I said don’t said ‘I do not trust a man until you give him power.’

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

FaceOff | Politics

‘PDP lawmakers disobeyed court orders'

Have APC members been able to make good their resolve to steer the state House of Assembly, not minding the crisis that split members into two political camps?

Since this unfortunate crisis began, we have tried our best to make sure that all our actions are within the limits as defined by the laws of Nigeria. We have refused, not minding all pressure, to be pushed into taking the laws into our hands. We have followed constitutionality all through. As you know there are so many pending cases in court and as a House, it is in our rule that we should not comment on matters in court. So I will not. You are aware of all the matters in court. It is not interesting because people have simply refused to obey court orders and when they refuse to obey court orders, it is a direct affront on the judiciary of Nigeria. That is quite unfortunate, as lawmakers we should be seen as obeying the laws that we make. If lawmakers don’t obey simple court orders whom do you now expect to obey the court orders; because no matter how it is elementary, no matter how useless the order of court is, it is incumbent on everybody to obey it until it is vacated. This is what has brought us to where we are now which is quite unfortunate.

We don’t have factions. We only have one functional assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Right Hon. Uyi Igbe. We don’t have any other assembly.

Hon. Adjoto Kabiru is the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Akoko Edo constituency 1 tells CAJETAN MMUTA there can’t be political solution when PDD members in the House refused to obey court orders. and police and chased away everybody and said that the renovation cannot take place and on their own they started renovating it. It is quite unfortunate that the law enforcement agents that are supposed to stop these illegalities and abnormalities are the ones supervising them.

Does it mean what they are doing is illegal?

The fact that they are sitting there doesn’t make whatever they do there legitimate because one, none of them have been sworn in by the clerk as a substantive speaker. They don’t have a deputy speaker and the symbol of authority which is the official mace of the House of Assembly. Any Dick and Harry can go to a blacksmith and have what looks like a mace but it is not a mace.

Why has it become impossible to

If you have one house of assembly why have the APC lawmakers, who are in the majority, found it impossible to resume at the original place meant for normal legislative business?

Before we left the Ring Road office, that is the Chief Anthony Enahoro complex, there was a publication. The rule of the house says before you can move the plenary of the assembly to anywhere, there should be a publication. That publication is in form of public notice; it was in form of advertorial in some national newspapers and it was pasted on the gate of the assembly that we are relocating from the Anthony Enahoro complex to the old House of Assembly chambers in Dennis Osadebay Avenue. There was enough notice and having given that notice, we have fulfilled all the requirements. The reason given for our relocating to Dennis Osadebay Avenue is because we want to embark on renovation. You were a witness during the crisis, when some policemen came to the assembly and they shot sporadically. They destroyed a lot of government properties.

If you go to my office, you will see that a lot of things have been destroyed. The Anthony Enahoro complex is Edo State Government’s property and it has to be renovated and has to be with the state government’s consent. That was what we were doing but PDP came in with thugs Kabiru

Any Dick and Harry can go to a blacksmith and have what looks like a mace but it is not a mace.

resolve the crisis?

I will throw the question back to you. Why have some people refused to obey court order? If democracy must succeed, court orders should not be treated like kites that children toy with.

Pronouncements from properly constituted courts, recognised by Nigerian constitution should be obeyed. If somebody because he is highly placed refuses to obey court order, you should not expect the ordinary Nigerians to do same.

We are not saying we should not reconcile; if you want us to reconcile, simply obey what they court has said. If the court now reverts the suspension on some of them to say no, you people wrongly suspended them, we will obey but some persons see themselves as far and above the law of the land.

If we now say okay let us reconcile because people are saying we should reconcile, to hell with court order, we are setting bad precedence. Remember they went to High Court and the High Court gave an order at which they insulted the judge that gave that order. On their own, they appealed and the Court of Appeal, in that interesting judgment, said a contemptmeno cannot be heard, that all of them that came were contempteminous, that they should go back and obey the court order.

Have they obeyed?

But the suspended deputy speaker is of the view that they are ready to return to the status quo and that you people have passed the stage of talking about issues in court at the moment?

That will amount to placing the cart before the horse. So many issues are at stake. We should forget about court order and return to status quo? Are we not setting a dangerous precedence if we do that or what do you think we are doing as lawmakers? The Court of Appeal has given order and we should say no because we are brothers and sister let’s forget this court order?

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Probably as a political solution The House was not the first to go to court. Let them go to court and withdraw the matter. They were the first to go to court and one of their prayers was that the speaker should not declare their seats vacant. They ask for some many prayers. They were the first to take the assembly to court, we were not the first to go to court and court gave judgment. They refused to obey the judgment.

So, if they want political solution, let them go back to the various courts they went to and say we want to withdraw the matters we brought to courts. It is not for us to say we want political solution we are withdrawing from the matter. They took us to court; we are not the ones that took them to court ab initio. So political solution can only be talked about if they first go to court and withdraw all their cases against the House. We can equally not get to the stage of political solution because we have gone beyond that.

How? Court orders are meant to be obeyed. If you refuse to obey it, you are setting a dangerous precedence. And as lawmakers we should be the first to obey court order. If you jettison those orders and say political solution, what will the ordinary man do tomorrow?

What is your position on the recent attack on Abdul Rasaq Momoh and mayhem at the legislators’ quarters by political thugs?

I travelled for the Sallah when the attack happened, I was not in Benin and I wish him a quick recovery, that is Rasaq Momoh.

May God in his infinite mercy make him recover from whatever injuries he might have suffered.

The matter is in court and it is not in our practice to comment on matters that are before a competent court of law. Two legislators have been charged to court, the Majority Leader and Hon. Aghedo, so I will not comment on it.

However, the destruction on the legislators’ quarters is most unfortunate. I was here when the attack happened. If such incident is not checked, it’s capable of derailing our democracy because hoodlums aided by the police came in and wrecked havoc on properties and attempted to kill some members. It’s most unfortunate and my appeal to law enforcement agents is that you don’t wait until an attack happens before you take action, particularly when you were informed 24 hours before the attack took place. There was not proactive measure to stop the attack.

As we speak they said they have arrested some suspects. We don’t know the people they have arrested and more than 36 vehicles were destroyed and some legislators were inflicted with serious injuries. So, the police should try to live above board.

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Politics

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

Judgement has reinforced our confidence in judiciary, says Ray Ekpu

On Monday, October 20, 2014, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Judicial Division, lkoyi, Lagos, in suit No. FHC/L/CP/1367/2012, quashed the Share Purchase Agreement which transferred ownership of Newswatch Communications Limited to Jimoh Ibrahim. Messrs Ray Ekpu and Yakubu Mohammed, co-founders of Newswatch newsmagazine, tell DOMINIK UMOSEN, TOSIN OMONIYI and MOSES KADIRI, that the victory reinforced their faith in the judicial system.

The judgement may have been in your favour but explain its details?

(Mohammed).The interpretation is that Jimoh Ibrahim and his company do not own Newswatch. It means that from today (date of judgement), he cannot run Newswatch, either the magazine or the newspaper anymore because none of them belong to him. He used the name Newswatch daily, anything connected to Newswatch he cannot use it anymore.

What ,specifically, did the minority share holders, Mr. Nuhu Aruwa and Prof. Jubril Aminu asked on behalf of the 49 percent shareholders of Newswatch Communications Limited?

First, the Share Purchase Agreement has been abrogated because Jimoh Ibrahim did not keep to the terms of the agreement; that means if the agreement has been abrogated, he and his company do not have 51 percent in Newswatch, nor 1 percent or anything at all. The agreement was based on the fact that he will pay N510 million to buy 51 percent shares which he have not done. There was a date for the payment which was on or before May 5, 2011; so he cannot own Newswatch. The second plank of the agreement was that he was supposed to pay N500 million within 90 days which will be capitalized within 2 years. He neither paid anything within the 90 days nor anything at all.

Before the matter got to this stage, were there attempts by both parties to sort the issue out or was there any relationship between both parties?

What happened was that on May 5, 2011, we held a completion board meeting, Jimoh lbrahim was in attendance; we were also at the meeting with our chairman, Chief Alex Akinyele. We indicated that we will like to retire, the four of us( Messrs Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akirinade). Jimoh lbrahim said if we retire completely from the company, he would no longer be interested in the deal; he said we could be re-appointed as non executive board members. We retired; we gave out letters of retirement. At the same board meeting, we were re-appointed as non executive board members, we broke the meeting and we led him to the newsroom where he addressed the staff. He told the staff that the directors had resigned in their executive capacity, but had been re-appointed non executive directors; He also said that their services would still be available for the company. We thought that he would pay because that was the last day of the agreement, when he should have paid the N510 million; apparently we were naive, we did not know a man like that who claims to have about 16 -18 companies would come to do a thing like that.

The next day, he said the staff should report for a retreat at his NICON Hotel in Victoria Garden City area of Lagos. We did not go because we had terminated our former relationship. They left on Friday, and came back on Saturday, even though they were supposed to stay till Monday.

When we asked them what happened,

Ekpu

they said the water in the hotel was not flowing so they had to cut the retreat short. I said my God! The hotel owned by a big man, with plenty money and he could not get water for his hotel.

What he did with the N510 million was that after 5 days, we kept asking if the money had been paid. Of course, by then, we had written to the banks, our signatures were no longer with the banks which is the trick he was using. He then went and opened a new account. We had 6 Newswatch accounts, he did not use any to put the money, but opened another account with Main Street Bank, (former Afribank), where he put the money and made himself the sole signatory. The money was supposed to be paid from the buyer to the seller. The board had chosen Dan Agbese and I to receive the money, and do the documentation and give receipt on behalf of the board, but the buyer paid the money to the buyer's account, and made himself the sole signatory. The agreement

The long and short of it is that he did not keep to any of the agreements

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

says when you pay, you will be given receipt. Of course, there was no body to give him receipt because we should have been the ones to give him one. He started spending the money, from there he was taking care of the company and so on. I think it was from there the company paid parts of our terminal benefit; that is what he mearnt by saying 'l have paid the money,' ‘money for what?’

So till date, he has not paid the money?

(Ekpu)Yes, he did not pay the money.

The story he was carrying in the papers was that he paid the money, plenty money. Nigerians believed him that he paid the money. Someone came to me and said you collected money from Jimoh lbrahim and still went to court.

I asked the person if he knew me very well; l am not someone that will collect money that is meant for the company, pocket it and then go to court. I told him don't you look at people before you make statements. The long and short of it is that he did not keep to any of the agreements, the N500 million to be paid in 90 days he did not pay. We started writing to him, holding meetings, nothing worked, he then ignored the staff, he was owing them 4 months salary, he could not pay. The place got deteriorated, the roof started leaking.

The staff started complaining, nothing was done. They wrote a letter, signed by all the editorial staff, they sent to his office, Lagos State Nigerian Union of Journalists. I think he was looking for

an excuse to shut down the place; he went the next day and addressed the staff, saying rudely, ‘l will shut down the place, move the furniture to my office in Lagos Island’. How many papers do you know that operates from Lagos lsland? Almost all the big companies are in mainland; the journalists that traveled every day, use the airports, no body that l know stays on the lsland, because of the cost of running it from the island. It was not strange to me, his airline was operating from Etiebet's Place in Ikeja, he did not or could not pay, the man drove them out and they went to the lsland. People who have airlines that have offices in the island were coming to lkeja because it is near, but he was moving from lkeja to the island.

We then gave him notice to comply with certain things, he went to court to stop us from speaking, writing; that we must not claim to represent the 49 percent shareholders, that there are no shareholders, and directors. He went to court before Justice Okon Abang who granted judgement that we are not directors and that we should not parade ourselves as directors, we cannot speak. We got in touch with our shareholders. Our lawyer said if we can get 2 of our shareholders, we can use the same set of information because their shares are there. We got them, Mr. Nuhu Aruwa and Prof. Jubril Aminu; they said they were very angry with what he has done, that they would go to court. They went to court and this is the product of the decision today. The Judge, at that time, said he would deliver judgement in the case within one month. Of course, they knew they do not have a case and were dragging it; it is 2 years this month. We are happy that the case has been decided in our favour. Justice has prevailed.

Your victory has obviously restored your faith in the judicial system?

Maybe, not exactly restored but definitely reinforced. We have never lost faith in the judicial system, is just that you find pockets of decisions here and there that you will not agree with. But you also find out that there are excellent men in the industry, people talk about corruption in the judiciary, but there are still people who are straight like an arrow, and l think Justice Ibrahim Buba is one of them. I sat in court in all of these sessions. l saw how he handled some of the cases and l said my God! And it has nothing to do with our case, l am talking about other cases.

Sound judgement, good reasoning, thinking. l respect him as a judge, and as a person. I do not know him; l have never met him, but l listened to what he said in court and l am thrilled.

What is the next step after this?

(Mohammed).The court is going to appoint a receiver manager to manage the place, operate it, and if there is any monies that were spent, need to be paid, the receiver manager would after verification pay to him.

How soon?

(Mohammed).The court will decide.

They will be the one to appoint the receiver manager.

How long will the receiver manager be in charge?

(Ekpu). We do not know.

What do you expect Jimoh Ibrahim to do next, appeal the judgement?

(Ekpu). I do not know. Whatever his reaction is, we will square up with him.

Looking at the entire scenario, how would you describe Jimoh Ibrahim as an individual?

(Ekpu). I do not want to describe him in anyway. I am not interested in Jimoh Ibrahim as a person. In Nigeria, many people do business in different ways, and it is up to them if they succeed in the short run or in the long run; that is their business.

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

T

Seven Ministers, seven troubled sectors

he seven ministers that quit the Goodluck Jonathan Cabinet recently helped supervise some of the most troubled sectors in the country. They are Labaran Maku of the Information Ministry; Samuel Ortom of Trade and Industry; Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike; and Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro. Others are Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu; Minister for Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu and Minister of State for the Niger Delta, Dairus Ishaku.

Each of these sectors have hardly been without crises with these ministers, such that it is safe to say, even though they have left for “greener pastures”, looking back, there could be some level of doubt as to whether what they left behind is better than how they met it!

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro’s congratulations to President Goodluck Jonathan are unfounded and short-lived. Recent bomb blast reports contradict the cease-fire arrangement prominently promoted by the media. There is no cease fire. There appear to be additional kidnappings and bombings coming on the heels of the triumphant announcements made by army top brass.

Obanikoro’s period at the Defence Ministry will not go down as producing gains against the dreaded Boko Haram sect because there are no gains. Obanikoro is en route Lagos to fulfill a dream of over 15 years. He wants to be governor of Lagos State on the PDP ticket.

Former Minister for Information Labaran Maku has had a controversial term at the Information ministry. There have been consistent proclamations by him which have not been entirely accurate. Possibly the most famous is that “Nigerians now receive 18hours of electricity everyday”. The question a lot of people asked when they heard this was “which Nigerians?” Chidi Nebo, Minister for Power would never stick his neck out to say that. As at now, in the power sector, there is a tacit admittance of failure;

I

Perspectives

BUSINESS SENSE ALEX OGUNDADEGBE alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

State, chances are he would win, because he worked hard for the incumbent to win the office.

Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has had a riotous period at the ministry of health. The Ebola Virus Disease brought out the best (?) in him. While patients were dying from the disease in Nigeria, Professor Chukwu sat on his haunches making phone calls and emails to the United States, trying to get trial drugs to no avail. Many observers wonder why he did not hit the US himself and break into the diplomatic channels to see how those trial drugs could be brought to Nigeria pronto. The professor has been claiming victory with the recent Ebola free status of Nigeria, but the doctors and health workers would like to have a talk with him before he goes home to Ebonyi to contest the gubernatorial elections. All is still not well in the health sector!

Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike is known for his aggressive mien; something not really known in the education portfolio that he has helped supervise until recently. Everyone who is into politics in Nigeria knows that Wike wants to be governor in Rivers State. Everyone also knows that the incumbent governor would do everything to stop Wike who was his former chief of staff. The former minister is credited with saving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from imminent collapse in Rivers when the

The professor has been claiming victory with the recent Ebola free status of Nigeria especially in the transmission arena, which has affected the whole of country and has in fact made electricity worse than before it was privatized. Intelligent and articulate, Maku reminds you of Professor Jerry Gana in the early days of MAMSER. It would be interesting to see what campaign Maku will put up in Nassarawa State.

Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom, businessman, politician and administrator was the Supervising Minister of Aviation as well as the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade & Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Although he has a deep understanding of business and what it takes to bring investment to bear in a country like Nigeria, the international business index during the time he was minister suffered more losses than gains. Insecurity, a crises ridden petroleum market unstable naira and difficulties of starting and expanding businesses and industry is what Nigerians have witnessed during this period. If he happens to vie for political office in Benue

governor crossed to the opposition. Wike may have worked hard for the PDP, but the education sector would not miss him.

His time in office has witnessed protracted strikes which his stance and mien did not help to resolve. When his senior minister was sacked, the ministry seemed to be left adrift until Ibrahim Shekaru was appointed. Shekaru is the one widely credited with ending the protracted strike of the polytechnic lecturers. Still, education has multipronged problems and that is how Wike has left it.

Southern Taraba’s consensus candidate and Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Darius Ishaku, “must wake up and do more” to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship ticket, Colonel Agbu Kefas was reported as saying recently. Ishaku allegedly had his name submitted alongside that of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as possible gubernatorial candidates for Taraba State in the next election. The Niger Delta has had a lot of attention from the Goodluck Jonathan administration, but many people from that region still swear that there is not much development in spite of all this attention. So where would we say Ishaku’s interest lies?

Taraba indigenes complain about him and Niger Deltans say more should have been done. 2015 beckons.

Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Nwadiala Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu, has often said Nigeria has no business with poverty because vast natural resources abound in the country.

Well, we have heard this before, yet poverty abounds. Talking policy has been a pastime of many ministers. Walking it is completely different. Wogu’s portfolio relied heavily on others like power, security and economic stability to succeed. In the absence of these how could he succeed? Is Nigeria more productive than when he took office? No. Abia state government house beckons. The incumbent is being heavily criticized. Perhaps this is Wogu’s time.

Buhari vs Atiku ... where is the confusion?

s APC a serious party? I think not, otherwise why would they be considering throwing up these dinosaurs with tremendous liabilities as their presidential hopefuls. The more I try to rationalize this the more idiotic it looks to me.

Whether we like it or not President Jonathan is looking very strong. His achievements are legion and the stability that is in the polity cannot be mistaken. He would cap off a strong six months with the ceasefire talks going on with Boko Haram. The Ebola triumph has also gone ahead to beef up his international credentials. The economy is still standing despite the fall in oil prices, housing is being sorted, inflation under control and the exchange rate despite strong pressures is still at least for now holding firm.

Jonathan now has the experience and is no longer walking around as naive as he once did. The confidence is palpable and the moves are deft. See Ekiti, see Obanikoro in Lagos! See the appointment of Mu'azu as chairman PDP all these shows a great and strong resolve to take this contest seriously.

The forces are aligning and the energy levels at the PDP side palpable.

My friends at APC are still battling with lethargy, gerontocracy and nepotism. In Nigeria of today with the strongest and biggest economy, the discovery of shale oil and the need to aggressively diversify the economy, what we need are leaders who understand these issues and who can build a strong team that would tackle these issues headlong and bring succour. Not an old tired General whose claim to electoral fame is that he can muster 12 million votes from the suffering masses.

Where are the visionary policies? Where

EDGAR’S WORLD JOSEPH EDGAR josephsamsponedgar@gmail.com are the strategies for implementation?

Does he even have an economic team. I glimpsed from his speech during his declaration the same tired reasons for wanting to contest. What are Buhari's views on the exchange rate, the economy, manufacturing, education, health especially with the threat of Ebola and other killer diseases? May be I am the one missing these things, but I feel our issues are far more serious than just wanting to discipline us and show that our leader is not corrupt.

Me I prefer a corrupt leader who stabilizes the economy, create jobs, free up the economy and puts food on our table than a leader who is incorruptible and remains strict and steadfast while constricting the economy and not understanding the issues of modern day political economy.

Atiku's own is a different kettle of fish, these APC people are just jokers. Did they not read Mallam Nasir's book? Did they not see all those allegations? I have not seen Rufai selling his house to pay up after a lost case of slander or libel. I am just laughing so if Atiku wins the nomi-

All we will be hearing from Buhari's camp will be environmental sanitation

nation do we expect Rufai to work for him after all those weighty allegations in that very important book. The moment I sensed Atiku's seriousness, I went to my store and brought out that book to read again and I immediately became nauseous. I swear if Atiku continues with this comedy play of wanting to rule us, I will go to every of campaign stop waving that book and asking him chapter by chapter to address those issues.

Atiku should retire and go and do whatever he feels he knows how to do best and APC should re-strategise. The party is a party

51

of old war dogs.

But what is wrong with these people.

Why can't Saraki, Tambuwa, Fashola be given the opportunity. These are young, visionary leaders who have the experience and are clearly plugged in to modern day society. See Fashola in Lagos and the great transformation, see what Saraki did in Kwara and Amaechi in Rivers, but yet instead of allowing the people to choose, the prostate prone elders prefer their ilk as their representatives. Let us see who will vote for them. Atiku or Buhari would be a clear walk over for Johnny Boy. I hate this, because this would rob us of an exciting competition. A competition that would see deep and incisive debates, media strategies, polls and all that makes an election a beautiful experience. All we will be hearing from Buhari's camp will be environmental sanitation, how there will be blood on the floor if he doesn't win or if they rig, how Tinubu is the best thing since toast bread. Jonathan is ready for debate, he has the figures to back him up and has the people around him that would make for a strong movement.

Please do not mistake this article as a support for Johnny Boy. This write up is a support for all that is good for our people hence my very objective view that as today stands PDP is better prepared to lead us for another four years.

Me, I will not vote for any of these two cats that APC is trying to bring up and will effectively campaign against them.

If you don't know, my vote is very critical. Go and ask the senator from my Local Government.

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25 OCTOBER 2014

FG inaugurates stakeholders’ c’ttee for $10m Ogoniland restoration Adeola Yusuf

T

he United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report for the restoration of Ogoniland, received a major boost on Friday as the Federal Government has set up a MultiStakeholder Committee.

The UNEP has said that it will require $10 million to implement the cleanup of the community ravaged by oil spills.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who inaugurated the 14-member committee, maintained that the committee, whic is expected to hit the ground running, was saddled with the immediate responsibility of proposing a focused engagement and implementation plan with clearly defined steps.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Ohi Alegbe, read that the group is also mandated to advise the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, (HYPREP) Advisory Council on the manner in which assets and funds of the project may be held and utilised.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Committee, Alison-Madueke stated that the establishment of the committee was a direct response to the yearnings of the Ogoni people and other stakeholders for inclusion in the effective engagement by government to activate an enduring and robust environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

2015: Goodluck Voters Forum gets PDP’s nod

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he national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed a group, Goodluck Voters Forum (GVF), as one of its key partners in the 2015 general elections.

A certificate sealing the partnership was officially presented to GVF at the National Secretariat of the PDP recently.

To underscore its readiness for the 2015 elections, the group has inaugurated its zonal and state coordinators of the South-South and South-East state chapters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The event saw the emergence of Mr. Alfred Doibo as the Zonal Coordinator for the South-South, while Mr. Ogunna Princewill, was appointed as the state coordinator for Imo State.

Other state coordinators appointed were Nwaolu Charles (Abia), Robert Ebinyo (Bayelsa), Akanimoh Umoh (Akwa Ibom), Mr. Etim Amah (Cross

News Extra

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

River).

The zonal and state coordinators for the SouthWest, North-East, NorthWest and North-Central zones and Abuja were also appointed and ratified by the National Executive Council (NEC) for inauguration next week in all the zones with the SouthWest zone headed by Pedro Olajide.

The group’s NEC has Mr. Esanerovo Agbodo as national coordinator. Others are the National Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Salisiu; National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Udo Silas; National Director, Mobilisation, Charles Mbaba; National Treasurer, Alhaji Musa Usman; National Organising Secretary, Chief Thomas Imafidon; National Youth Leader, Lanre Miller; Financial Secretary, Dennis Tebite; National Director, Voters Welfare, Evaluation and Monitoring, Mr. Mark Alabi and the National Legal Adviser, Mr. Anthony Alabi.

SOKOTO Wamakko visits Niger Republic for bilateral talks

NEWS IN BRIE F

Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wammakko, has arrived Niamey, Niger Republic, for a two-day official visit.

A statement signed by his Special Assistant on Information, Communications and Technology ( ICT), Alhaji Aminu Abdullah, in Sokoto on Friday, said Wamakko’s visit was sequel to an invitation by the Nigerien President, Alhaji Mahamadou Issoufou.

“The governor was received at the Aeroport International Diori Hamani, Niamey, by some top Nigerian Embassy officials and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Niger. The governor was conveyed straight to the Presidential Palace, Niamey, where he met President Mahamadou Issoufou and deliberated on a number of issues ranging from security, business ties, agriculture and health,” he said.

4.1m

The estimated number of deaths related to cancer over the past 40 years.

Source: Smokingstatistics.org

ABAKALIKI Ebonyi governorship seat not for sale-Ikpor

Former Secretary to late premier of defunct Eastern region, Dr. Akanu Ibiam and a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, yesterday warned the leadership of the party and the people of the state against selling out the governor’s seat of the state to the highest bidder.

Ikpor, who stated this in Abakaliki, while declaring his intention to contest the governorship of the state in 2015, said it was unfortunate how politicians have reduced the exalted position due to their greedy nature.

“The former state governor, Dr. Sam Egwu and Chief Martin Elechi transformed the state because of their integrity, competence, desire to serve,” he said.

0.85%

The percentage share of passenger air travel of Port Harcourt airport (international wing) of Nigeria’s total air passengers in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

53

LEKKI Lilygate Hotel opens today Lilygate Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, will formally open for business today with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, as the special guest of honour.

The event is billed for 2p.m.

The hotel, which is located at 2, Olubunmi Owa Street, NBD, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, offers a new vision of luxury in Lagos with 74 bedrooms, including six suites and a range of high-quality facilities and services.

The stunning restaurant offers a beautiful panoramic view of Lekki with buffet and a-la-carte dining.

240

The number of refugees in Trinidad & Tobago at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Ebola: NATOP commends FG’s clean-bill status CONGRATULATION Tourism's umbrella body has lauded Federal Government's effort at checkmating the EVD.

T

Andrew Iro Okungbowa

he Association of Nigeria Tour Operators (NATOP), has commended the Federal Government and other state governments for the prompt and effective manner they worked together to prevent the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

The commendation followed the clean-bill of health declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Nigeria for curtailing the spread of the disease.

The group specifically commended the Lagos State

…urges U.S to treat Nigerians with dignity Government for being proactive in its response to the outbreak of the EVD even as it warmed that Americans and other European countries currently battling the disease should treat Nigerians with dignity and respect for human rights.

In a statement signed by the president of the body, Mr. Nkwereuwem Onung, the body commended the prompt attention giving to tackling the matter and information machinery deployed by the government to enlighten and educate Nigerians on the disease.

It noted that for the first time in a long while, Nigerians witnessed a demonstration of something positive about the Nigerian government, describing the manner the disease was handled as “efficiency in governance,” and the fact that once determined the Nigerian government

could actually go the full hug to deliver good governance to the people.

According to him, the partnership by the Federal Government and Lagos State Government is a pointer to the fact that if all Nigerians and government at all levels lay aside their differences and politics, efficiency and the promotion of public good and interest could be achieved in a question of time.

He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to joins hands in building a virile and united nation, where brotherliness and common good of the people thrive, adding that this was the only way that the country could overcome its many challenges and build a sound economic base for the people.

Onung, who is also the chairman of Remlord Tours and Transport Ser-

vices, stressed that even though its members suffered great losses following the cancellations of business deals, it was happy that the government effectively curtailed the spread of the EVD and that today, Nigeria is free and its members and others can now hope to get their businesses back on track again.

With American and other Western and European countries battling to stave off the spread of the disease in their soil, the group called for caution in the manner that they treat Nigerians travelling in and out of their countries.

He said Nigerians deserved to be accord their full human rights and not seen as the carriers of EVD as the epidemic is a global one, not confined to West African countries alone as many people believe.

Shun materialistic tendencies, Adefarasin tells churches

S

enior Pastor of Guiding Light Assembly, Ikoyi, Lagos, Pastor Wale Adefarasin, has urged the church to shun materialistic tendencies which is likely to deny it its role as a stewardship-oriented centre.

Adefarasin, who spoke as a guest minister at the just concluded annual programme at Christ Disciples Global Gospel Church (Jesus Miracle Assembly), Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, said truth was a problem with churches.

In a sermon titled: 'Turning Point,' Adefara-

sin said: "We have promoted prosperity so much. We have on hand materialistic society today. According to him, that God put each of us to solve a problem not amass wealth or acquire things. And he will equip him with wealth, saying each Nigerian has a problem to solve. He advised that such problem should be solved without compromising our faith, values and ethics urging churches to focus on stewardship centred Christianity and not self centred Christians.”

Anambra Central Senatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obiora Okonkwo (right), with party’s Protocol Officer, Mammy Balami, during Obiora’s collection of the Nomination Form in Abuja…Thursday

54 Sport Extra

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25 OCTOBER 2014

NFF crisis: Stay of execution hearing fixed for Wednesday

Ebola: Enyeama wants CAF to cancel Nations Cup

Ajibade Olusesan

T

he stay of execution suit filed by the Nigeria Football Federation at the Federal High Court, Jos against the ruling of the court which sacked Amaju Pinnick-led board is billed for hearing next week Wednesday, New Telegraph has learnt.

According to a press statement released by the federation spokesperson, Demola Olajire, the soccer body on Friday filled a stay of execution against Justice Ambrose Allegoa ruling that set aside the September 30 election that brought in Pinnick.

Allagoa in his judgement said that the NFF election which was held in Warri, directly flouted the orders of the court granted on September 19, 2014 for it not to hold.

“NFF’s lawyers went to work immediately the ruling was made on Thursday and were able to file for the Stay of Execution on Friday. The court has now set Wednesday, 29th October, 2014 for hearing of the Stay of Execution,” the statement read.

Cameroon, Nigeria clash in AWC final Time 5:30pm

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ameroon will meet Nigeria in Saturday's final of the African Women's Championship after both teams won their semifinals by a 2-1 scoreline.

Both countries have booked tickets for next year's Women's World Cup in Canada.

Nigeria overcame South Africa in Wednesday's earlier kick-off, with a first-half brace from Asisat Oshoala setting them on their way to victory.

Jane Refiloe reduced the deficit for the South Africans but the Super Falcons held on.

In the other semifinal, Cameroon needed extratime to beat Ivory Coast and reach the final for the first time since 2004.

Captain Christine Manie hit the winner in the 118th minute, heading in from a corner.

Gaelle Enganamouit had opened the scoring for Cam-

Abuja

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resident Goodluck Jonathan congratulated the Falcons of Nigeria on their qualification for today's final of the 2014 African Women’s Football Championship in Windhoek, Namibia and next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The President in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity Dr. Reuben Abati yesterday as the Falcons prepare to face Cameroun in the African

uper Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, is afraid of the forthcoming Africa Nations Cup scheduled to hold in Morocco because of the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

The Lille of France shot stopper said he would have loved the competition to be cancelled simply to curb the spread of the virus.

Enyeama argued that since football has mass appeal on the continent, the risk involved in going ahead with the competition was enormous.

He noted further that it could be difficult to curb the spread in a tournament that involves stakeholders from different walks of life including the supporters clubs, journalists and host fans.

Hosts Morocco asked the Confederation of African Football to postpone the January 17 to February 8 event but the organisers have refused.

Enyeama told the BBC; "I really

Congo Synthetic pitch not an excuse – Amodu

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Osuala

eroon on 60 minutes, only for Ines Tia to equalise from close range.

Cameroun's success in reaching the Women's World Cup for the first time in a decade can transform the game in the country, according to their coach.

Enoh Ngatchu told BBC Sport: "We have more girls playing soccer, we are better organised - with this qualification, many things will change."

Women’s Championship Final, he wants them to go all out to continue their glorious domination of African Women’s football with another victory, having won eight of the ten previous championships.

He said "Although the Falcon’s scintillating performance thus far in this year’s AWC tournament makes them the bookmakers’ favourites to win the final match, President Jonathan urges them not to take victory against Cameroun for granted.

El-Clasico: It's Ronaldo, Messi show again

But Amodu has said although they are going to play their next game in Congo on synthetic pitch, Eagles must give their best to achieve result on that ground.

He said there have been plans to camp the players in Warri, Delta State for few days from where they would fly to Congo.

“The players are aware of the enormity of the challenge before us and they cannot afford to fail in Congo because of synthetic pitch.

We understand that the match will be played on synthetic pitch and that is what we have agreed with the Nigeria Football Federation to camp the players for about five days in Warri where we have a world standard synthetic pitch for the team to train there and get used to that kind of turf and then fly to Congo from there,” he said.

Ajibade Olusesan

...Jonathan urges Falcons to defeat Lionesses Anule Emmanuel

S

hope it doesn't happen. It is risky, in Africa everyone is hugging you and shaking your hand. But if CAF says it will happen I will play - if Nigeria qualify."

Only on Thursday, the Eagles goalie was on duty for Lille against Everton in a EUROPA Cup encounter decided in France. The match ended 0-0.

Moroccan officials are set to meet with CAF on November 3 to discuss their request to postpone the tournament.

The Ebola virus has already claimed more than 4,500 lives since the outbreak in West Africa in March and Moroccan youth and sports minister Mohamed Ouzzine fear a big sporting event with large gatherings of people could lead to many more cases.

CAF officials are scheduled to meet in Algiers on November 2 to discuss the situation regarding the tournament, which has never been postponed since its inaugural edition in 1957.

Adekunle Salami

uper Eagles coach, Shaibu Amodu, has warned his players not to see synthetic pitch in Congo as an impediment to victory over their hosts as the two teams clash in the African Nations Cup qualifying match next month.

There are strong indications that the match in Brazzaville will be played on a synthetic pitch. Eagles have struggled on synthetic turf and even complained that they lost their last away match in Sudan because of the state of the pitch in Khartoum.

CONTINUED from PAGE 56

function alongside the Argentine and the Brazilian in the attack.

From their first meeting in 1902 to the present day, the rivalry between Real and Barca is deep and lasting. In fact, the two teams have clashed 12 times in the last two years with Real Madrid winning five times while Barcelona managed four.

Three of the matches ended in draw.

Ronaldo vs Messi On current form, Ronaldo is the man to watch today having netted 15 times.

The Portuguese has scored more goals than 17 clubs in the La Liga and he is the man with the most consecutive goals in the Clasico. He has scored in all of the last six meetings between the two clubs and his tally in all Clasico games are 13.

However, Lionel Messi is the man with the most goals in the Clasico. He has scored 21 times against their bitter rivals since he has spent more time in Spain than Ronaldo. He is the man that has scored two hat tricks in the Clasico and could break the record as La Liga alltime goal scorer. Messi is just one short of Telmo Zarra's 251-goal record which has stood since 1955 and could enter the record books once more on rival territory.

Sharapova out of WTA Finals despite win

M

aria Sharapova went out of the WTA Finals and missed her chance to end the year as world number one despite a win over Agnieszka Radwanska in Singapore.

The Russian could have kept alive her hopes with a straight-sets win in her final group match, but missed three match points in the second set.

Sharapova went on to win 7-5

6-7 (4-7) 6-2, but the result means Serena Williams retains the top ranking.

Caroline Wozniacki beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 6-3 in their final group match.

Wozniacki had already guaranteed a place in the semi-finals and she is joined by Radwanska, with Wimbledon champion Kvitova following Sharapova out of the White Group.

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Kinds of fruit-2

KEY WORDS

KIWI FRUIT PAWPAW RAMBUTAN STRAWBERRY GRAPE SOUR SOP

P A

8

M F R U I T U R

R A B N G D T W A I U R U E N R T A F N T K A U C R B A R M J U A

U U L A H D H A Z E L

H R N E M A N D A R I

F

K

T

O

N

C

2

JACKFRUIT WATER MELON CURRANT DURIAN SPROUT BEAN RHUBARB ANDARIN GROUNDNUT PALM FRUIT WALNUT PEAR HAZEL

B M A T I U R F I W I

L

1

R

R W O P S I A N A T U T Y W N P E R P A T R R A E S M E W B O E B E T U L W P U R O A A O S N R R R O E T G P P A S O S

3

4 7

6

9 10

11

12

13

14 16 18 19 21

22

ACROSS 1 Declare openly 5 Be the right size 7 Tribe in Nigeria 8 Nigeria staple food 9 Royal Agric. Society, abbr.

10 Relate events 11 Animal reproductive structures 12 Exist

17

DOWN 1

Stop from happening

2 Citrus fruit

23

14 Touch lovingly 15 Make shrill sound

3 Middle-ranking British nobleman 19 Examination 20 'Nine' in Hausa language 4 Female sibling 5 Unintelligent person

26

16 Laos currency unit 17 Shooting of gun 18 Mass of gas in space 22 'Fish' in Yoruba language 23 Town in Osun state 24 Distress signal 25 Big hole in ground 26 Glitter

15 20

24 25

5

21 Short sleep

6 Pointed end

13 Violent act

See solution on page 35

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

25 OCTOBER 2014

55

DESTINATION

SATURDAY

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

A night at the Caliphate

Keshi, Eagles ruin Adidas deal

P.42 N150

P.25

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014.

Battle Time 5:00pm

el-clasico

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Ajibade Olusesan arcelona’s good start in the ongoing season is under severe threat this evening at the Santiago Bernabeau as they confront in-form Real Madrid in the first el-Clasico this term.

Barca have won seven of their eight matches with just one ending in a draw.

Lionel Messi and Neymar have been the key drivers of the run as they have formed a good partnership with 15 goals so far.

More remarkable is the fact that Los Braguana are yet to concede a goal in the league this season. Their defence was sup-

it's ronaldo, messi showdown

posed to be the team's major weakness heading into this campaign. Instead, it has been an impregnable wall.

But the strength of the defence will be fully tested against Europe’s most terrific goal machine, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid talisman has scored as many goals as Messi and Neymar put together (15 goals) have managed this term. The former Manchester United striker looks unstoppable, having netted 15 goals in just eight games and it remains to be seen how Barca defenders will contain the goal monster.

Real have won their five consecutive matches after a turbulent start to their

campaign and will again rely heavily on Ronaldo for success today. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will be without Gareth Bale for the encounter and may pair Ronaldo with Karim Benzema in the attack.

The 3-0 victory recorded at Anfield on Wednesday against Liverpool is a big boost to Real.

Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez are featuring in their first Clasico and must up their game to make significant impact in the showdown. The duo has impressed.

They have also shown some inconsistency but they must not allow the stage to frighten them, this is where they can show the world what they have got.

Barcelona will go into this encounter as favourites. The defence looks rock solid, Neymar and Lionel Messi are combining superbly, and Luis Suarez is billed to play his first match. The Uruguayan on Friday served out his four-month ban and interestingly, his first competitive match for his new club is el-clasico and the whole world is waiting how he will CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: Laurence ani.