26th oct 2014

SUNDAY SATURDAY

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

Vol. 1 No. 250

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Meet the CEOs of Nigeria’s leading banks

W

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

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 24 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

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.

2015 RUNNING MATE

JONATHAN’S

DILEMMA }4&5

Top contenders for Vice-President’s job

Sambo: Incumbent

Mu’azu

Shema

Yuguda

Dasuki

Woman caught with N49m cocaine at Lagos airport lNigerian dies in Spain after cocaine pellets burst in stomach Juliana Francis

O

fficers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala

Muhammed International Airport, Lagos have arrested a 51-year-old mother of four children, Muyinotu Alade, with 3.44kg of co-

caine and heroin hidden inside body cream.

The drugs were allegedly found in her possession during the outward

screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to China, according to a statement by CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

INSIDE} BODY&SOUL }15 | POLITICS }30 | BUSINESS }23

I’M NOT READY FOR BABIES

Soon-to-wed Olympian Blessing Okagbare } 60

2

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Contents | 26.10.14 BODY & SOUL

Great recognition for Nigerian woman Being appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire for her charity works is a great recognition for Modupe Debbie Ariyo and Nigerian women all over the world

}15

POLITICS

APC and consensus

Despite denials, Northern stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress are tinkering with the prospect of having Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as consensus presidential candidate

}31

BUSINESS

2014 budget under pressure The falling oil prices pose serious threat to the 2014 budget and Nigeria will remain in such precarious situation until it diversifies its revenue base

}23

FAITH

Trouble in God’s House Feel the pulse and worries of Christian leaders about the deluge of troubles in the house of God

}51

SPORT

Not yet time for babies Nigeria’s current best athlete, Blessing Okagbare, says she won’t rush into having babies.

Okagbare, who is getting married soon, says she will take her time before starting a family

}60 - 61

THE SUNDAY MAGAZINE

2015 Running Mate: Jonathan’s Dilemma The Sunday Magazine takes a look at what President Goodluck Jonathan faces in choosing a running mate for 2015 election

}4-5

Editorial

No to NYSC N4,000 ‘mobilisation fee’

T

he decision by the NYSC to make that Corps Members pay N4, 000 to download their call-up letters online is completely uncalled for and is indeed a rip-off of struggling fresh Nigerian graduates and their already overburdened parents. We join other well-meaning Nigerians in calling for an immediate reversal of what in our view is actually an obnoxious policy.

A few weeks back, Director, Corps Mobilisation, Anthony Ani gleefully announced that Corps Members would henceforth pay N4, 000 to download copies of their call-up letter online. He explained that the N4, 000 online registration fee was introduced in a bid to stop fresh graduates from traveling back to their various schools to pick up the letters.

Interestingly, even before Nigerians had had time to interrogate and react to the new policy, the National Assembly had in a rather conspiratorial manner approved the plan. The House of Representatives which had earlier adopted a motion suspending the policy later made a U-turn after and approved the policy. Chairman, House Committee on Youth Development, Kamil Akinlabi who made the disclosure explained that the fee would service a private sector-driven build, operate and transfer agreement, adding that the registration equipment would be installed at the NYSC offices nationwide while the contractor handling the project is expected to recoup his or her investment within five years. Did the National Assembly interrogate this plan very well?

When the NYSC announced the plan, it was stridently criticized by Nigerians who felt outraged that the NYSC could charge candidates so much merely to download their call-up letter at a time of free emails and websites. But rising to its self defence, the NYSC said the computerization would ease the rigorous processes involved in the collection of the call-up letter.

Humanity has never been more wired together as it is today. Indeed, the world has not just become a global village, that village is now in palmtops and i-phones, carried about by just any one who could afford any of the aforementioned facilities. So, why should computerization of the NYSC call-up letter cost so much as to even aggravate rather than ameliorate the plight of Corps Members? Why on earth should Corps Members pay so much just to download their call-up letter from

the Internet? Just what is the big deal in downloading a document from the Internet in this day and age as to make people pay so much to do that?

Director General of the NYSC, Johnson Bamidele Olawumi asserted during a House of Representatives Committee hearing on the N4, 000 online registration fee that over N800 million was required to set up the computer registration system the NYSC would be using for the proposed online registration. This means that the burden of funding the computer registration centre has been placed on the shoulder of unemployed fresh graduates.

Why so? Very curious, indeed.

NYSC is a national service. Corps members ought to be—and are, indeed-government property’, for whom the government must take full responsibility during the one-year period of national service. And in any case, the NYSC Corps was established as part of the reconciliation effort of the government after the Civil War. Current national realities have the existence of the Service even more imperative. National reconciliation and integration are continuous efforts and process which the agency has been spearheading. Why should the same government turn around to impose levies on a group it should be paying living wages but is not, in the name of online registration and collection of call-up letter?

We insist that there is no big deal about downloading the call up letter from the Internet. As a matter of fact, prospective Corps Members should be able to download copies of the letter from the website of their respective tertiary institutions free of charge. This is not a difficult thing to do at all. What the NYSC has done is simply to turn the whole exercise into a moneymaking venture and this is a very dangerous thing to embark upon. If the country wants the students who are the leaders of tomorrow to make sacrifices for the country, then, the government must also make sacrifices for the students today. Instead of adding to the numerous burdens of Nigerian youths, the government must look for creative and pragmatic ways of putting enduring smiles on their faces.

Asking Corps Members to pay N4,000 apiece just to download their call-up letter is certainly not one of those ways.

We, therefore, call on the government to intervene and ensure that this exploitative, even immoral, sheer money-making policy by the NYSC does not stand.

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

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Asst. Editor, News & Politics n Biyi Adegoroye

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Ag. Sales/Circulation Manager n Uchey Okezie

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

3

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 26 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

www.facebook.com/newtelegraph

www.twitter.com/newtelegraph1

4

The Sunday Magazine SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Jonathan (middle) Sambo (left) and Mu’azu (right) at the PDP North Central rally

2015 Running Mate

Jonathan’s Dilemma A

Ahaoma Kanu & Ibraheem Musa

s President Goodluck Jonathan joins other Christian pilgrims in a prayer session for the progress of the country at an inter-denominational service in Jerusalem today as part of his pilgrimage in Israel, among the prayer requests on his list will include the timely release of the abducted Chibok girls; victory in the 2015 election and the wisdom to choose a befitting running mate.

Recent activities and reports emanating from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suggest a divide in the choice of retaining Vice-President Namadi Sambo, as Jonathan’s running mate as he seeks re-election next year.

Various PDP chieftains, especially from the Northern part of the country, have intensified their strategies and lobbying to replace Sambo as running mate to Jonathan. Though the PDP, through the NWC, has denied the existence of a schism in the party, Sunday New Telegraph gathered from reliable sources that the President is in a dilemma in choosing a running mate.

Mu’azu is said to have set up the National Chairman Support Group, calling for support for a joint ticket with Jonathan for 2015. to scuttle Jonathan’s 2015 With Jonathan last week declaring his interest in contesting the 2015 presidential election to the party as well as setting up a presidential committee saddled with the responsibility of organising a formal declaration next month, the race for who succeeds Sambo may have shifted into a new level.

Among those allegedly angling to take over the vice-presidential ticket are Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido; Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema; Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida; Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yaguda; Senator Makarfi; PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, and surprisingly, the National Security Adviser,

Sambo Dasuki.

Sunday New Telegraph gathered that though the likes of Lamido, Shema, Yaguda, Makarfi and Babangida have never hidden their interest in the VP’s position, the entrance of Mu’azu and Dasuki came as a surprise. This has given vent to speculations that Jonathan may leave his choice of Sambo open-ended.

Sambo’s many hurdles.

When the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party met for its 66th NEC meeting on September 18, one decision that topped the agenda was the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s candidate for the 2015 presidential election. The confirmation of his candidacy followed a series of endorsements by each of the state chapters of the party in the six geopolitical zones of the country, the BOT and PDP national Caucus as well as the PDP Governors Forum.

While responding to the endorsement, Jonathan said that he was so overwhelmed and humbled and lacked words to express his feelings. He added that for the party to express that kind of confidence in him made him feel “extremely challenged.”

He said, “It means that whatever we had done in the past three years, we will triple it.

That is the only way that Nigerians will appreciate it. I will not disappoint you,” he said.

As the party top executives applauded him inside the NEC hall of the party’s Wadata House national headquarters in Abuja, one man who is still not quite sure of his fate is Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Throughout the meeting, the only mention of a possibility of his remaining Jonathan’s running mate came from a commendation delivered by a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo. Speaking while seconding the motion for NEC to endorse Jonathan as the party’s sole presidential flag bearer, he commended both the President and his deputy for lifting the banner of the PDP very high.

If the non-mention of the vice-president during the meeting of the party’s highest decision making organ did not throw much light on the chances of Sambo on a joint ticket with Jonathan, the declaration of the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, few days later that the vice-president’s fate as running mate for the 2015 presidential election would be decided by the president, con-

5

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Sunday Magazine

Jonathan’s Dilemma

C O N T ’ D F R O M PAG E 4

firmed the possibility of him being replaced.

Sunday New Telegraph gathered from an authoritative source in the party that Sambo’s chances of running with Jonathan again are hanging in the balance. While the party’s strategists are playing a waiting game, they are said to be watching how political permutations will play out in the coming weeks.

A top PDP chieftain, who spoke under the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, said for now, Sambo’s fate as running mate is not cast in stone.

“The vice-president’s chances of retaining the ticket as running mate to President Goodluck Jonathan will be decided tactically.

For now, the PDP is being strategic and Mr. President is not in a hurry to make any announcement about who will be his running mate,” he said.

For the past couple of months, speculations have been rife that Jonathan has been under pressure to drop Sambo. In fact, many orchestrated media reports have pointed to the plot to scheme Sambo out. Also, our correspondents learnt that many Northern politicians within the PDP are already hatching plans on how to succeed Sambo, in the eventuality of his being dropped.

The announcement at the NEC meeting confirmed that Sambo’s chances of remaining Jonathan’s running mate are not as firm as they were during the last election. The reassurances given by the PDP through its publicity directorate that Sambo would not be dropped, being a part of the winning team, was more like a mere pat on the back to raise his optimism and acknowledge his continued loyalty to the party.

Plot to replace Sambo According to our source, the plot to remove Sambo was systematic and had been in the making as far back as 2010 when he was chosen by Jonathan as the vice-president.

His emergence as the number two citizen of Nigeria did not go down well with many Northern political elites and decision makers.

“Sambo’s emergence as VP was not as rosy.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum made sure that President Jonathan chose someone from among them. Initially, the Northern political elite preferred Senator Ahmed Makarfi since the choice of vice-president was zoned to the North-West. But due to some issues regarding his health and with Yar’Adua predicament still fresh in the minds of Nigerians, he was rejected. It was Gen. TY Danjuma that played a major role in the emergence of Sambo. His choice was did not go down well with many of the kingmakers, mainly the Fulanis. That was when the plot to oust Sambo commenced,” our source said.

The plot to replace Sambo was among the reasons the South-West lost the position of Speaker, House of Representatives to Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal in 2011.

“To the Northern power brokers, Sambo was not a true representative of the North.

He is an Hausa man and in order to have true representation, they instigated Tambuwal to upstage Mulikat Akande-Adeola to the Speakership position already zoned to the South-West. Since the President is from South-South, the Vice-President was not Fulani and the Senate Presidency was zoned to North-Central. They initiated the machinery that brought Tambuwal. All those actions were calculated and strategic and occurred because Sambo was VP and they don’t see him as their own,” our source said.

The many campaigns Among the many smear campaigns launched to discredit Sambo was the propagation of stories questioning his roots in Kaduna. It was alleged that he was not originally from Kaduna State but from Auchi in Edo State. Many of Sambo’s travails started from his home state of Kaduna and to some extent, he is said to be the architect of his many troubles.

According to reports, the vice-president is still pursuing the same isolationist policy that he prosecuted as governor. In March

Babangida

2012, during the PDP state congress, the vice-president single-handedly picked the entire executive, leaving then Governor Patrick Yakowa holding the hat. Sambo, without consultations, had cornered 10 slots for his cronies, as Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, from Zone Three, became party state chairman.

In addition, he chose Alhaji Kabir Bala from Zone One as state secretary while Yakubu Abdullahi from Zone 2 became the NorthWest zonal secretary.

Similarly, the vice-president chose all the three ex-officio national members, as well as Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim Tamadina, the state women leader. In addition, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, former Head of Service in Kaduna State, was made National Organising Secretary, a position that was zoned to the entire North-West.

Similarly, some critics have compartmentalised Sambo as vice-president of Kaduna State, owing to his penchant to favour his own. In particular, the appointment of Alhaji Sani Sidi, the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), received muted protests from North-West stakeholders. Young, dynamic and capable, Sidi was Commissioner of Works when Sambo was governor. Afterwards, he became the NEMA helmsman when Sambo became vice-president and the elevation didn’t go down well with other governors. The NEMA top post, according to them, was zoned to the North-West and not Kaduna State alone.

Another hurdle that Sambo would need to surmount is the indication of former FCT Minister and National Deputy Secretary of the APC, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to run for governor of Kaduna State.

El-Rufai listed the state being fragmented across ethnic and religious lines; decaying educational institutions and increasing youth restiveness as among the reasons he wants to contest for the office of Governor of Kaduna State. Having garnered a substantial support base coupled with his popularity, he is seen as a strong force in Kaduna where analysts feel the state Governor, Ramallan Yero, under performed.

Yero has never contested an election and so far, his political capacity has never been tested. With Sambo, who introduced him into politics in 2007 to serve as his Finance Commissioner, having never won any election at his polling unit, his ward and local government area since becoming vice-president, their combined influence in Kaduna is not deemed very strong to deliver the required votes for the presidential elections. Already, El-Rufai has started exhibiting extreme confidence to defeat the PDP, saying that Sambo is a “nobody” in Kaduna.

Many allegations have been thrown at Sambo to build up a mountain of reasons why he should be dropped. Among the reasons being peddled is his not being able to

Lamido

win his wards during elections and also not commanding the required political followership in the North-East to carry the PDP and deliver the required votes from the North for President Jonathan. Sunday New Telegraph gathered that one common characteristic among those calling for Sambo’s ouster is the fact that they are all Fulani and are desperately campaigning for 2019, not 2015.

“Many of those beating the loudest drums for Sambo to go are doing so with their eyes on 2019. Let me tell you, this constant agitation is not about 2015 and Sambo’s alleged incapability, it is about the 2019 elections and who succeeds Jonathan. The Fulani power brokers thought that Jonathan would not run in 2015. When he started showing signs that he would run, they brought out the agreement issue which Aliyu Babangida (Niger State Governor) threatened he would present. Then, they started their G-7 rally and when it dawned on them that Jonathan would not play ball, they abandoned that and started planning for 2019.

“Therefore, Sambo needed to be removed for them to achieve their plan. They want to make sure that a Northern Fulani man succeeds Jonathan because whoever is vicepresident would likely be the person to beat in 2019. What Nigerians don’t know is that the campaign for the 2019 elections started a long time ago. The crisis that rocked PDP which led to the defection of five governors was part of the game plan to remove Sambo and position a Fulani man as VP. If you take a look at all those clamouring for Sambo’s job are all Fulani,” said another source who spoke to Sunday New Telegraph and did not want his name published.

The Gladiators While some of the gladiators that have their eyes on the vice-presidential ticket are indirectly engaging in consultations and lobbying for the position openly, others are plotting their strategies secretly.

For Lamido, he really had intentions and went all the way to achieve the objective. On more than one occasion, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has presented him as a preferable and worthy choice for president.

He was among the G-7 governors that went round the country consulting with elder statesmen and founding fathers of the PDP. Sunday New Telegraph gathered that he had to drop his ambition to prevent harassment and possible prosecution, especially as some of his children had some issues with law enforcement agents.

Shema on the other hand started lobbying for the position after getting a second term as governor. His plan was to realise the aim through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, where he was angling to be chairman until the crisis which later rendered the once powerful group impotent. He consolidated

his lobbying using the Yar’Adua machinery and appeal to emotion. Even after the NEC meeting, Shema was said not to have been swayed by the reports that Jonathan would not drop Sambo.

His ambition came to a climax during a stakeholders and reconciliation meeting of the PDP held in Katsina State last week.

Shema had through some PDP stakeholders in the state prevailed on the PDP BOT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, to convince the President to replace Sambo with Shema.

But the plan hit a brick wall when Anenih told Shema to shelve his ambition of replacing Sambo and opt for the Senate.

Babangida, who has for a long time threatened Jonathan’s eligibility for re-election with a threat to expose an alleged agreement the President reached with Northern governors not to run in 2015, was part of the G-7 governors but made a U-turn when some of them decided to defect to the APC. He has since joined the campaign to re-elect Jonathan.

Isa Yaguda, Bauchi State governor, was another contender who was scheming for the same objective but his chances was cut short with the emergence of his predecessor, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, as the National Chairman of the party in January this year. With his new position, Mu’azu had the upper hand and put his machinery in use immediately.

Mu’azu is said to have set up the National Chairman Support Group, calling for support for a joint ticket with Jonathan for 2015.

His posters flooded Abuja, prompting another group, the Northern Youth Governance and Democratic Coalition, to accuse him of attempting to scuttle Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.

For his part, Dasuki, though maintaining a low profile in his lobbying for the post, may have joined the train to fly the kite. Sources who spoke to Sunday New Telegraph alleged that he has indicated interest to close friend and allies to have a go at the ticket. Though he has been quiet his lobbying, a PDP source alleged that he would jump into the fray should the opportunity arise.

While all the scheming and plotting continues against him, what Sambo has going for him is his loyalty to the President. This virtue, Sunday New Telegraph gathered, has endeared him to the close allies of the President, such as Chief Tony Anenih and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark.

They are said to be ones that advised Jonathan to refuse Obasanjo’s demand for Sambo to be dropped for Lamido.

But if former head of state, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, picks the presidential ticket of the APC, the PDP will be keen on seeing who he picks as his running mate. This is because Buhari’s running mate will be a deciding factor on whether Sambo remains Jonathan’s vice-presidential candidate for 2015 or if any of the contenders will realize their plot.

6

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

7

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014

News

Drug mule dies CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.); Senator Hadi Sirika of Katsina North and former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, during the funeral rites of Chief Benson Adigio-Eseni, at Okpoama-Brass, Bayelsa State yesterday

CBN to regulate dividend payments Ayodele Aminu

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria has introduced new rules to prevent banks that do not meet minimum capital requirements from paying dividends, in a bid to shore up the sector.

The apex bank said in a circular dated October 8, 2014 and sent to lenders and discount houses that the amount banks can pay in dividends would depend on their capital level, statutory reserve requirements and the proportion of nonperforming loans.

In the past, lenders paid out a high proportion of net profit as dividends, despite their risk profiles and capital levels. The regulator, according to Reuters, said it wanted to correct this situation with the new rules.

“There shall be no regulatory restriction on dividend

payout for banks that meet the minimum capital adequacy ratio, have a cash reserve requirement of ‘low’ or ‘moderate’ and a nonperforming loan ratio of not more than five per cent,” the regulator said in the circular.

The banking watchdog has vowed to prevent a repeat of the circumstances that led to a bailout in 2009 and has moved towards strenghtening rules and tightening capital requirements.

Since last year, lenders have also been facing a profit squeeze as a result of regulatory measures put in place. They are partly designed to get banks to lend more to domestic businesses and consumers.

The banking sector had been making bumper profits by mopping up government deposits and using the cash to buy high-yielding treasury bonds and declaring

Umar warns govs,banks over loans Chijioke Iremeka

F

iery former military governor of old Kaduna State, Co. Abubakar Umar, yesterday warned state governors and banks against conniving to raise excessive loans.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Umar said the governors had been “mortgaging the future of their states through excessive borrowing from commercial banks and other financial institutions through excessive borrowing from commercial banks and other financial institutions to finance projects of dubious viability.”

Umar said though the motive for such frenzied borrowing was unclear, he was of the view that “it is either to fraudulently acquire campaign funds as the 2015 elections approach or re-

tirement benefits. Some of them are also desperately selling off state’s assets including shares and other long term investments.”

He noted, “In a situation where states’ legislatures have reduced themselves to all but an arm of the executive, it is unrealistic to expect them to check and stop this fraud. We therefore appeal to the anti-corruption agencies to intervene.

“We also warn banks to desist from connivance with those governors.

They need to be reminded of their civic responsibility and banking ethics to protect helpless public. They must be aware that most of these states have already lost the capacity to meet their financial obligations due to huge debt burden and diminishing source of revenue resulting from falling oil revenue.

huge dividends. As a result, banks had little incentive to lend to the real economy.

Analysts welcomed the new rules on dividends but said they might hurt banking stocks if cash payments to investors fall. The rules may also lower loan growth as banks try to conserve more cash, which in turn could hit profits.

Banks have also had to adopt a stricter international capital requirement, which has seen capital ratios for most lenders drop by 100400 basis points to near the regulatory minimum of 16 per cent under the new rules.

Analysts at Renaissance Capital said FBN Holdings, United Bank for Africa and FCMB have capital ratios close to the minimum requirement.

But some have also been shoring up their balance sheets. Access Bank got the

nod from shareholders to raise up to N68 billion this month, while Sterling Bank plans to seek approval to raise $320 million.

Rival lender, UBA, has announced plans to raise capital while Diamond Bank and Unity Bank have just concluded rights issues.

“We do not think GT Bank, Zenith and Stanbic get affected much by these directives ... we expect them to consider lowering payout ratios from 2014. Other banks in a less favourable capital position are likely to have deeper dividend cuts,” Renaissance Capital said.

Nigeria’s banking sector index, which accounts for around 40 per cent of total market capitalisation, has gained 32 per cent so far this year. It lost 10 per cent last year, owing to a heavy burden from tight regulation, which cramped profits.

NDLEA spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju.

She was found with 150 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.725kg and 150 wraps of heroin weighing 1.715kg concealed inside body cream.

According to http://www. havocscope.com/black-market-prices/cocaine-prices, a gramme of cocaine in China is worth $106.9 while heroin goes for $66.9 per gramme.

While the cocaine is worth $184,402.5, the heroin is valued at $114,733.5.

At an exchange rate of N164.67 to a dollar, the consignment would have fetched her about $300,000 (N49.4 million) in China.

The statement said NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, confirmed Alade’s arrest.

The NDLEA official said, “Alade Muyinotu was caught with drugs at the central screening area on her way to China. The total weight of the drugs is 3.44kg. The case is currently under investigation.”

In her statement, the Kwara State-born suspect allegedly said she was offered $4,000 to smuggle the drugs to China.

“I used to import clothes from Dubai and China when business was going on well with me. I even had a shop at Balogun market. My problem started when I lost my shop and was unable to rent another one. Since then things have gone from bad to worse.

“My major concern is that I have four children living with me and I am separated from my husband. It was a friend that introduced me to the people that gave me

the drugs. They bought my return ticket and offered me $4,000,” Alade stated.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade described the action of the suspect as unfortunate.

In his words, “China is one of the countries with capital punishment for drug trafficking. It is unfortunate for a mother of four children to get involved in such a criminal act. If not for our vigilance that led to her arrest, she would have been killed abroad and her children left to suffer endlessly.”

The suspect will soon be charged to court.

Meanwhile, an unnamed Nigerian drug courier who began convulsing at Madrid airport after bags of cocaine he had swallowed split open was left to die because terrified staff thought he had Ebola.

Daily Mail newspaper reported that airport security officials abandoned him immediately he was identified as a Nigerian.

The report added: “A civil guard officer initially positioned the man on his side and identified him from personal documents.

When it was clear he was a Nigerian, no one dared touch him. Medical staff decided immediately that there was a risk that this could be a case of Ebola.”

Airport officials later discovered that the man was suffering the effects of a cocaine overdose after several bags of the drug burst in his stomach.

A passenger accompanying the Nigerian later told police that he had flown from Madrid to Istanbul on October 14 and had not been to Nigeria for four years.

UNIBEN student killed NAFDAC arraigns four Cajetan Mmuta, BENIN

T

ension is mounting within and outside the University of Benin, following the murder of a 300 level student, Mr. Gbenedio Ejiroghene.

The student, Mr. Gbenedio Ejiroghene was murdered by unknown persons inside the Ugbowo campus of the University on Friday night.

Until his sudden death, Eiyrghene was a student of Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Physical Sciences of the university.

According to a stamen issued yesterday night by UNIBEN’s Deputy Registrar, Mr. Harrison Osarenren, the student was shot by suspected assassins at about 7pm within the campus.

The statement reads,

“There was a gruesome murder of a 300 level student of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Mr. Gbenedio Ejiroghene, at about 7pm yesterday (Friday) 24th October, 2014, by unknown persons. The incident which took place at the Ugbowo campus of the university has been reported at the Ugbowo police station.”

The statement added that the body of the deceased had been deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

Osarenren further stated that the matter was being investigated.

Edo State Police command’s spokesman, Noble Uwoh, when contacted yesterday, said the command was aware of the incident and was investigating it.

N

ational Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has dragged four persons before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in fake and unregistered regulated products.

The four persons, who were separately apprehended and charged differently, are Ify Unigwe Nnameka Nwabueze, Tina Ezeaku and Ebenezer Arimiwem.

During their separate arraignment on Friday, the prosecutor, Umar Shamaki, told the court that Unigwe and Nwabueze sold fake and unregistered De Rica tin tomatoes on October 16, 2014 at Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island.

Ezeaku was arraigned on four counts of manufacturing and selling a fake and unregistered yoghurt product, labelled Timbora Yoghurt.

The prosecutor said she committed the offence on October 17, 2014 in the Mafoluku area of Lagos.

As for Arimiwem, the prosecutor told the court that the accused was involved in the unauthorised manufacture, distribution and sale of cosmetic products labelled as Nice Skin Cream, Perfect White Cream, among others.

But the four of them pleaded not guilty and were subsequently remanded in prison custody.

Justice Okon Abang adjourned till November 18, 2014 for commencement of trial in the case of Nwabueze, while Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned till October 28 for consideration of bail applications and opening of trial in the case of Ezeaku, Unigwe and Arimiwem.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Police, thugs disrupt rally in Katsina, Muazu, Anenih escape Ahmed Mohammed, Katsina

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Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel and his wife Martha(m), acknowledging cheers from the crowd of supporters on arrival at the Uyo Stadium during his declaration recently

Fayose prostrates, weeps over teachers’ support Adesina Wahab,

M Ado-Ekiti

oved by the unalloyed support given to him during his political travails, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, at the weekend wept and prostrated for teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

He also rolled on the floor of the Bishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, Ado-Ekiti, venue of his maiden meeting with them since his inauguration for another term in office.

Fayose, who was overwhelmed with emotion,

said the support of teachers and public servants was critical in his overwhelming victory in the June 21 governorship poll in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

Fayose, who spoke about how his government was able to raise Ekiti to sixth and seventh positions in 2005 and 2006 in public examinations conducted by NECO and WAEC through the cooperation of the teachers, promised to re-enact the feat in his second coming to rescue the education sector from collapse. The governor assured that their the two months salaries and other benefits owed by the administration of Governor Kayo-

de Fayemi, would be paid soon, while also promising other motivation to enable them to uplift education sector in the state.

“I knew how I was able to partner with you to bring Ekiti from 35th to sixth position. I will still do same now.

Before any payment to political appointees, you will be the first to be considered.

During my first term, I met a deplorable education sector, but with your support, I overcame it.”

He said it was bad and disheartening that rather than for ex-governor Fayemi to face human capital development, he believed in building a N3.3 billion Government Lodge for his

own comfort at the expense of the workers.

As part of education development efforts, he promised release the sum of N800 million required for the accreditation of courses at the Ekiti State University, to the National Universities Commission.

He also promised that his government would dignify the office of the Tutor-General which he established during his first term to make it be at par with the position of Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service.

“For you not to have forgotten or abandoned me after eight years of my exit shows how good and reliable you are.

Boko Haram scare mars immunisation Aspirant warns against violence Steve Uzoechi

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OWERRI

he on-going immunization programme organised by the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children’s Educational Fund Efforts in Imo State has been marred by rumours that it was a ploy by Boko Haram to kill children in the state.

Dr. Sebastin Okwu, WHO State Coordinator in the state who disclosed this over the weekend, said that the efforts which were designed to eradicate meningitis A and tetanus diseases have been adversely affected by the rumour. He called on parents to discountenance it and ensure their children and youths are immunised.

At the 2014 Men AfricVac and Maternal/NeoNatal Tetanus Elimination Campaign in Imo held at Umuneke in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, the state Deputy Governor,

Prince Eze Madumere, advised parents and guardians in the state to ensure their children and wards benefit from vaccination exercise. Children and youths below 29 years are to receive the MenAfric vaccines while women who are between the age of 15 and 49 years were advised to receive the free tetanus toxoid vaccines.

The state Coordinators of National Primary Health Development Agency, Dr Josephine Obayagbona and that of UNICEF, Dr Flint Zulu thanked the state government for keying into the immunisation exercise billed to end October 30.

Our correspondent who monitored the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination exercise reports that many parents in the state were yet to seize the opportunity provided by the international community and donor agencies to get their wards and children immunised.

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oliticians and their followers have been urged to avoid acts capable of heating up the polity as the quest for power is not a do or die affair.

An aspirant for the House of Representatives for the Warri Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Barrister Alero Ogbemi Barlow gave the advice when she picked nomination forms to contest the party Primary elections for the 2015 Warri Federal Constituency House of Representatives general election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party PDP. Barrister Barlow, who picked the nomination forms at the PDP Secretariat in Asaba in accompany of her family members and supporters told newsmen that her desire to contest the position was borne out of her willingness to pursue bills that

would bring the needed transformation to Warri Federal Constituency.

She said she would focus among other areas on youth and women empowerment, job creation, scholarship scheme for indigent students as well as building on the socioeconomic and infrastructural development of the present administration.

Barrister Barlow urged the good people of her constituency to rally round her in the primaries and the main elections to enable her actualize her lofty programs and attract meaningful development to her constituency.

She assured the people of her constituency that if given the mandate, she would ensure the rapid and sustained human and infrastructural development of the area by liaising with government and non-government agencies to actualize set goals.

olice in Katsina State yesterday cordoned off the venue of a rally by a gubernatorial aspirant in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Tsauri, aborting his planned declaration of his ambition to contest for the governorship election come 2015.

The venue, which is also the polo field, saw heavily armed policemen stationed within and outside the area, directing traffic away, while canopies erected for the event were burnt to ashes. Some stores of the polo ground were affected by the fire.

Some youths who were Tsauri’s supporters were said to have been harassed by the police when they tried to enter venue of the event. Tsauri, who was also known as Tata, has been

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severally stopped from carrying out political activities in the state by security personnel or thugs believed to be sponsored by powerful politicians in the state.

The police dispersed the huge crowd that had gathered to receive Tsauri at the Katsina International Airport, chasing them away and smashing cars and buses. Witnesses said the aircraft in which Tsauri arrived had hardly landed when police began to shoot into the air and fire tear gas into the crowd.

The situation led many people to run for safety while others were wounded during the confusion.

The National Chairman of the party Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu and Board of Trustee Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, who were earlier at the airport prior to Tata’s arrival had to rush back in their aircraft.

Bent declares ambition

ormer Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Mrs. Grace Bent, has declared her intention to represent Adamawa South Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party again.

Bent, who formally de-

clared interest in the 2015 senatorial race on Wednesday in Numan, Adamawa State, was in the Senate between 2007 and 2011.

The senator told her supporters that she would attract more dividends of democracy to the people of the district, if elected in 2015.

Elechi trades words with Nwagu Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

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overnor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State yesterday lashed at the senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, over what he described as a misleading information by the senator, whom he called an ingrate.

Elechi told newsmen in Abakaliki that the publication in one of the national dailies, wherein the senator warned that “Ebonyi may lose presidential votes if governorship primaries go awry,” was unfortunate, coming from a lawmaker who he assisted to become a useful citizen.

Elechi said as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and as the chief executive, such unguarded utterances was most condemnable, adding however, that he was not too perturbed because it was not unusual for people to become jittery a few months before elections.

Though he said he would refrain from joining issues with senator, Elechi said he chose to refute the statement which is already in public domain to avoid a situation where it would be regarded as facts.

“What Senator Nwagu is saying does not apply here.

As far as presidential election is concerned, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has no rival in Ebonyi State. He should remain assured at all times of the support of the people of Ebonyi State as has been the case in the past.

“The allegation that I am imposing Prof. Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu on the people of Ebonyi State has been debunked severally because the people know the truth and they cannot be persuaded to the contrary.

I assure you that we will elect our gubernatorial candidate through a democratic process as enshrined in the constitution.

Elechi added that there was no iota of truth in the rumour of a parallel PDP in the state, stating that: “We do not know of such. Our party is intact. But very often people are hired from the opposing political parties to smear the image of the ruling party.

Change of Name

Ibude: I, formerly, Ibude Evelyn now wish to be called and addressed as Ibude Evelyn Obiageli. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

9

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

News

Clark carpets North over Jonathan Joe Obende Warri

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lder Statesman and former Federal Information Commissioner, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday carpeted the North over its claim that President Goodluck Jonathan is not qualified to run for the presidency in 2015.

Clark, who had come to his country home in Kiagbodo to cast his vote and observe the local government election in Delta State in which his son, Ebikeme, ran as a chairmanship candidate in Burutu Council on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, insisted that Jonathan was qualified to run and take his second term in office.

He said: “There is nothing Jonathan does that will satisfy the Northerners who believe they are ordained to rule this country. People like Ango Abudulahi, Isa Kaita, Muhammadu Buhari and the five recalcitrant governors who went away, are like that.

“They say he is not qualified to contest the 2015 election and I am championing the cause that Jonathan is very welcome to contest.

Section137 of our Constitu-

tion says that for a man to be disqualified, you must have contested two elections and for eight years you are in office.

“When the former President died, Jonathan was sworn in. That swearing-in has nothing to do with elections; it was an emergency, a transition period. That is why a Vice-President contests with the President so that when we lose one tyre, he comes in. That period is not counted for him in the Constitution.

“This is what happened in America. If we are copying the American example, then we should do that well. Take the case of Al Gore who contested with Bill Clinton for two terms as Vice-President and after that, he wanted to contest on his own even though he lost to George Bush.

“In Nigeria, people want to do things which will divide this country; which will create problems for this country. I have told those my Northern friends, they are very few in this, that four years is not everlasting. You have ruled this country for about 40 years.

Nobody worried. Are we second class citizens? No. Everybody is equal”, Clark said.

Pirates abduct four policemen, six others in Bayelsa

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o fewer than four policemen and six civilians were at weekend kidnapped by suspected pirates in Nembe, Bayelsa State.

The pirates also seized a gunboat belonging to the Nigeria Police in the attack, which occurred about 1.30pm. The gunboat was said to be escorting a barge owned by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company when it came under attack.

The hoodlums, who operated in a speedboat, reportedly laid ambush for the gunboat and opened fire on the policemen.

They were said to have overpowered the police-

men and later took control of the gunboat in an incident which occurred along Santa Barbara and Nembe waterways caused panic among travellers and delayed the movement of people travelling to Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area, for the funeral of former Governor Timipre Sylva’s uncle.

Most of the guests for the burial were said to have waited at Ogbia jetty till after the gunmen finished their operation.A security source who pleaded anonymity said the hoodlums were not interested in the Agip barge and its occupants.

He, however, said three

policemen and the gunboat operator were kidnapped after the gunmen hijacked the boat.

He said: “Policemen escorting an Agip barge were attacked on Friday. The gunboat and the policemen were all taken away.

The policemen were three, including the driver of the boat making them four.

“The barge and its occupants escaped because the gunboat was the target of the pirates. This incident happened along Santa Barbara and Nembe route at about 1.30pm. The pirates were after the gunboat and the police arms.”

In a separate incident, the source confirmed that

six persons working for a company identified as Icon Xearex were abducted at Oluasiri in Nembe.

He said the pirates attacked a boat owned by the company in the early hours of Friday and took the workers away.

According to him, the company is suspected to be an oil-servicing firm.

“There was another incident at Oluasiri. As a matter of fact six persons were kidnapped. They were in a boat called Icon Xeareax.

Six persons were abducted from the boat belonging to that company. The company is suspected to be an oil-servicing company”, he said.

CSR: Standard Chartered Bank educates students on Ebola/HIV Biyi Adegoroye

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tandard Chartered Bank PLC, has donated materials to Agidingbi Grammar School in Lagos, as part of measures to curb the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, (HIV) and Ebola Virus Disease in the community.

Releasing the items on behalf of the bank, Head of Corporate Real Estate Services, Mr. Boye Oyelami, said the materials donated to the school were part of their corporate social responsibility to the school and the society as well.

The materials include medicated sanitisers, hand gloves and books on EVD and HIV, which he said would help inform and educate the students on how to remain free from Ebola and HIV. He also advised them take their studies seriously and develop leadership qualities which will prepare them for their respective future roles in the society.

Some notable show business personalities such as Zaaki Azze, Arinse Okonkwo, Nkem Ike and Sly Kuka supported the effort with their presence and advised the students on how to live healthy and clean now, so as to be successful persons in the feature.

The event also featured practical advice by an HIV

positive young mother of two, Mrs. Aminat Ali Abudulahi, who contracted HIV while in higher institution, was attended by teachers and pupils of the school.

Abdulahi, warned them on the need to abstain from illicit sex and the dangers of unprotected sex. “My advice to the pupils is that they should abstain from sex/ unprotected sex because this act can bring them to her position,” she said.

She attributed her existence several years after contracting the virus to God’s grace, adding that her husband was fully aware of her status before they got married.

A guest of the bank at the occasion, Mrs. Yemisi Anjoorin, taught the pupils on the efficacy of good hand washing habits with appropriate sanitizers. She told the pupils that EVD can be contacted in different ways such as contact with body fluid of Ebola victim as well as consuming infected animals like bats, monkeys etc.

Principal of the school, Mr. Bakare Tiamiyu who received the equipment with appreciation, advised the standard chartered team to extend the awareness about Ebola and HIV to other schools in Lagos State for effective curbing of the diseases in the state.

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; presidential aspirants, Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and All Progressive Congress National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the Rivers State Mega rally in Port Harcourt …yesterday

I won’t hand over to ‘a thief,’ says Amaechi Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

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ivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday said he would not hand over the reins of government to ‘a thief’ in 2015.

Amaechi, who made the declaration at a rally to mark his seven years in office at the Adokie Amasiemaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, said one of the governorship aspirants in the state abandoned projects awarded to him in the state.

He declared that there must be change in 2015, and that Nigerians would help the All Progressives Congress to punish the Peoples Democratic Party by voting the latter out of power in 2015.

Addressing the mammoth crowd, said, “Today, I decided to test my popularity. They have made too much noise.

The President said we exist on posters and bill-

boards. So, we brought a large bill board for him.

If the President is not watching, they will give him a security report.

“This stadium is 40,000-sitting capacity, I built it. One of them campaigning for governorship was the contractor to do a road. He abandoned the road, took N3 billion and left. Now he wants to become governor. A thief will not be our governor.”

Amaechi, who lamented the rising level of corruption in the country, noted that it had assumed an ‘industrial scale’ because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was no longer fighting the anti-graft war.

“I challenge them to an integrity test; any of them, from Abuja to Rivers State. I challenge them to an integrity test.

I have worked with them, I have their records. They are in the office of the governor. I challenge

them to go ahead. The problem we have is that EFCC is no longer working. Corruption is at an industrial scale,” he said.

At the rally, which was attended by top leaders of the APC, including presidential aspirants, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso (governor of Kano State); the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun among others, Amaechi said detractors that expected his tenure to be truncated had been disappointed.

Amaechi, who sang and danced alongside some aides round the gigantic podium, alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan ceded the state’s oil well to Bayelsa, abandoned the East/West Road project, and refused to visit the state when the Ebola Virus Disease broke out, but visited Lagos State.

Amaechi said that Jonathan had repeatedly demonstrated that he does not like the state and its people, and vowed to punish the PDP through the peoples’ votes.

Amaechi also urged the people of the state not to cast their votes based on religious and ethnic sentiment, explaining that the Port Harcourt Refinery, Eleme Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) were all built by Northern leaders.

He described the APC as the solution to the country’s problems, and urged the PDP to rate him based on his performance in the last seven years as governor.

Also speaking on the occasion, Buhari commended Amaechi for his sterling leadership qualities and his performance as governor and promised that the APC “will consolidate on the good works of Amaechi.”

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPINION Kalu and his support for Jonathan

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Olaniyi Olanike aster strategist, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, is a politician and business mogul whose interests cut across national boundaries. A compatriot so concerned about the people, how to remake Nigeria has been his concern. The man has to be restless at this stage, because according to him, he might not have such strength to do all that he is doing today in the next 10-15 years.

Kalu loves the unity of the country and has been doing everything within his reach for that. He no longer talks about himself but Nigeria. Evidence is that he has lived in the same house for a long time now. Kalu who believes so much in reconciliation has said that he thinks democracy goes with quarrels; however, the ability to reconcile is very important. He believes that democracy has a lot of problems and that is why the practice needs a lot of patience.

To Kalu, if there is any problem in the PDP, it is being handled, because the party is a very big family. In a big family like that, there are always problems. There are all kinds of people in the family. You know, he said, it is like a church, where some people come to know if they can see God; some come to know if God would solve one problem or the other for them immediately; many come to show off their new clothes.

Many come to show off their new car; some people are genuinely, in their hearts, in the church to worship God. Kalu would say that this is what a political party looks like. Last year when people were strategising for 2015, Kalu said that he had no political plans other than for an Igbo man to be president, which was what Njiko-Igbo was fighting for. But when the headship of Ohanaeze, a socio-cultural

group, begged of him at his Abuja and Lagos residences for a period of about six months to drop his presidential ambition, Kalu listened, for the support of Jonathan in 2015. Apart from that, his people of Abia North Senatorial District pleaded with him later to represent them at the Senate. And based on that, he was persuaded to pick the PDP nomination form for that purpose recently.

It was obvious that before Kalu picked his nomination form for the Abia North Senatorial District, he said he had no political aspirations other than to make sure that Ndigbo produce the president. Kalu, however, said that he might have an aspiration as time goes on and, here he is today in the senatorial race for his people.

It was obvious that before Kalu picked his nomination form for the Abia North Senatorial District, he said he had no political aspirations other than to make sure that Ndigbo produce the president. Kalu, however, said that he might have an aspiration as time goes on and, here he is today in the senatorial race for his people

While his aspiration was initially to galvanise the people, get Ndigbo to be very purposeful than they used to be, the youths, market men and women, workers and everybody for the Igbo presidency, Kalu has thrown that energy and dexterity into support for President Jonathan, a man he cherishes, because Ndigbo love him.

Today, Kalu has been calling on all Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the event that he declares his intention to run in the 2015 presidential election.

This pioneer of the political group – G37 and, the Founder of Njiko Igbo Worldwide, Kalu says the G37 which is still on course and a human-to-human group is making sure that Nigeria is peaceful and does not go the way of Rwanda.

Kalu would say that the members of the G37 do not like to discuss the group’s activities; they have officers who speak on issues that bother the group. It is observable that at anytime the group wants to issue a press statement, it has a secretary and some officers who do that for it. According to Kalu, it is only when the group sits that it makes a statement and issues a press release. So, Kalu would say that he was not even competent to talk about the group, because it’s a collective effort.

Kalu would add that he wants Ndigbo to understand the purpose of coming together.

Kalu was crying before he threw his weight for Jonathan that when Njiko Igbo was talking about the marginalisation of the Igbo, people thought it was all about appointments. But it was not like that. It was not about who was made a minister or not. It was about the fundamental issues like local government creation.

He pointed out that between Kano and Jigawa states, the local governments in those two states are more than the local

governments in the whole of the SouthEast. He said that those are the fundamental things; you talk about the senators, you see that the South-East has only 15 in the whole federation. Kalu would say that these were the things he was talking about: You talk about states, you see that the South-East is the only zone with five states; these are constitutionally entrenched; other zones have six states each.

Kalu has vowed that he can’t stop doing what he knows is good for his people, because the government closed some of his companies. According to him, one of his companies employed over 13,000 workers, but it was shut down. He believes that it is a mistake for people in government to mix personal business with politics. His bank that they closed down lost about 5,000 workers and Slok Airline lost about 1,000 workers.

Our leaders should know that the country and the states do not belong to anybody. According to him; they belong to the Nigerian people. And if they belong to the people, they should stop mixing politics with the personal businesses of individual politicians. He has said that business is different from politics. They should be conscious of other people being employed in these conglomerates.

Kalu has vowed that he appreciates all the efforts of President Jonathan in distancing himself from mixing business and politics.

He has said: “Let me also tell you the truth, Jonathan has been civil, unlike past presidents. The massive abuse of human rights is reduced under the Jonathan administration.

This means the President is not attacking political opponents. Kalu hopes Jonathan can continue on that note so that more investors will come into the country.”

•Olaniyi Olanike writes from Umuahia

Why APC is restless Nwachukwu Ngige

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very odd clientele for any an image maker in a growing nation like ours is government, irrespective of the tier. The reason is that popular cynicism against government is often very high and often too, tends to paint advocacy in colours of lies-paid-for. The same extends to a political party in power. An image management strategy which is not well cut out in this type of circumstance would leave the practitioner in a corner, where he is immersed in a defensive mode and mostly counteracting in a field that gives all the edge to his challengers. The opposition has effectively exploited this in driving a multifaceted media strategy that dwarfed the efforts of the ruling PDP over the years. They set the agenda and led the discussion in a manner that concentration for a ruling party who must deliver on its promises could be compromised.

However, all that has changed and the APC is seriously discomfited by a reverse development which has seen the PDP setting the pattern of discussion.

Several times, the trend has driven the opposition to the defence line, sweating to deny and wriggle out of labels tightly hung on its neck by the sharp and awakening interpretative style of the ruling party. Things have really changed. The APC and its leaders are reeling from a

fatal blow from the reinvigorated PDP media management team and looking for all means to get even. There is an el-Rufai suit against Metuh but since this appears not to be gathering enough smoke to suffocate and demobilise him, the barrage of orchestrated media attacks may therefore serve better.

But how did the PDP end up pushing the APC to the edge? First is that Metuh has been able to effectively communicate the position of the PDP, leaving no doubt as to the direction of his party on every single issue. Achieving this means he took time to do a painstaking and unbiased assessment of the ruling party, gauging its weaknesses against its strengths. He dug out the dormant party core values and through that, animated an image paradigm that he encapsulated in a thesis that though the PDP is yet to take the nation to the promised land, it has nevertheless taken the nation away from the tethers of backwaters where decades of military regime tied it. Thus, while accepting that it is not yet Uhuru, there is the incontrovertible fact that the PDP has made tremendous progress in re-engineering the socio-economic and political fabric of the nation. There is no doubt in his mind whatsoever that the gains which the PDP has made have unfortunately been overcast by the oozing propaganda of the opposition to whom the PDP must be pilloried. Bringing to the consciousness of all Nigerians, the numerous though modest achievements

in all sectors and reassuring the people that the party was not only determined in uniting the nation but creating abundance became an immediate task. While doing this, Metuh carefully understudied the opposition whose promises have remained at best hypocritical. He was therefore able to harness the chic in their armoury, puncturing their positions on several issues while extrapolating the hollowness in their propositions which he termed “lies and deceit.” He matched their propaganda with facts. For the first time in years, the PDP became resilient, gave the lead and acquired an agendasetting knack, the lack of which was the reason for a disabled media proactivity. Metuh’s power of anticipation and deep capacity for prompt situational diagnosis ably authorised his analytical accuracy and correct prediction of his opponents while fearlessly interpreting and dressing them in appropriate robes.

For a practitioner who has Metuh’s level

For the first time in years, the PDP became resilient, gave the lead and acquired an agendasetting knack, the lack of which was the reason for a disabled media proactivity

of visibility and whose commentaries occupy a large chunk of media space, nothing could have exempted or staved off occasional gaffe than the mastery of not just the rudiments of his role but also the sure-footed understanding of the locale, history and perspectives of his party. At the receiving end is the sulky opposition APC. What else do you expect from a megaphonic opposition long used to theatrics and manipulation, from a group in whose acerbic tongue, profiling is exclusively domiciled. The Nigerian opposition must be the one deciding who is good and who is bad; must be the one dictating the yardstick for performance, consigning the ruling party and its members to all manner of abusive nomenclatures and the party stands guilty as charged! By this configuration, the PDP has all along been ‘corrupt;’ ‘nest of killers;’ ‘non-performing;’ ‘incompetent;’ and lately ‘clueless.’ Ironically, the opposition expects that this barrage of invectives be left unchallenged. Unfortunately, things have changed. The APC has got the media battle taken to its doorsteps.

However, it must be pointed out that Metuh has merely exposed the opposition’s own vomit, the underbelly which the opposition has made so soft with its own very hands. He has only drawn public attention to a festering mess long overlooked.

•Nwachukwu Ngige lives in Abuja

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Sunday Mail OCTOBER 26, 2014

You have a right to be heard! Send your letters and photographs to sundayletters@newtelegraphonline.com.

Letters should not be more than 150 words and must have the name and address of the sender.

APC as unattractive bride in Imo Dear Editor, All over the world, ruling parties are usually the most patronised and the most competitive. However, the ruling party in Imo State, the All Progressives Congress, has made another ignoble history as the most unattractive ruling party in the history of Nigerian politics. While good business goes on for the opposition parties in the state, and the parties’ secretariats bubble with activities, the ruling party glories in the trickles that come to make enquiries. While the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and even the United Progressives Party have sold out forms for all the elective positions in the state, in the APC, about 10 little known politicians have sneaked into its IMSU Junction Secretariat to pick nomination forms.

Matters are made worse for the party by the clear non-commitment and confused gambles of their leader - Governor Rochas Okorocha, who has kept even his closest confidants guessing about what could be his next move. Compounding the confusion of the APC in Imo State is the fact that none of the governor’s closest allies has picked the party’s nomination forms. While other state chapters of the party are busy selling their forms and making good money for the party, Okorocha is alleged to have relocated with his closest appointees and House of Assembly members to Abuja to see if they can prevail on the PDP national leadership to reabsorb them into the party. This move has been vehemently resisted by leaders of the PDP in Imo State, who have also relocated to Abuja to give the Presidency and the Party NWC reasons why Governor Okorocha is a no-sell in Imo State. APC members in the state are also as stranded as sheep without a shepherd as the state chairman is said to be languishing in prison custody over his alleged involvement in criminal activities. Analysts have seen this as clear indication of where the pendulum will be swinging in Imo politics, come 2015.

Jones Onwuasoanya Owerri, Imo State

What manner of ceasefire?

Dear Editor, I can categorically say that the so-called ceasefire with Boko Haram was a hoax. Who exactly did the Nigerian government negotiate a ceasefire with? When our government starts lying blatantly, you know we are in serious trouble. No fewer than 60 women have been reportedly abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from Waga Mangoro and Garta villages in Adamawa State, in fresh attacks unleashed by the militants. Forty of the women were said to have been abducted in Waga Mangoro while 20 were reportedly seized in Grata. Residents of the affected areas, who escaped during the attack, confirmed the incident to the press on the telephone on Wednesday. One of them said hundreds of insurgents overran the area on motorcycles and vans during a raid on Saturday, burning houses and abducting young women.

Amaechi Osegbo Wuse, Abuja

Igbokwe’s agenda against Ndigbo Dear Editor, Arthur Nzeribe used the Associatoion for Better Nigeria to help keep Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, a Northerner, in power; Daniel Kanu used the One Million Man March to try to keep Abacha in power. Joe Igbokwe is trying to use his APC position to bring Buhari, a Northerner, back to power. Notably, IBB, Abacha and Buhari are all retired generals from the North while Nzeribe, Dan Kanu and Joe Igbokwe are all civilians from the South-East. Why have you not told your APC that at least an Igbo man should hold a substantial position in the party? Izunaso is the peak you can get. He is Organising Secretary and that is the person that will get venues and mount canopies.

Why not nominate one of us as a potential running mate to your Hausa Fulani lords? Why not organise a meeting of Igbo leaders in Lagos since you are an APC executive in the state to tell them the opposite of what Uba and Anyim told them?

Louis Igwilo Lagos

Green sailing.

Pope Francis should disband Ahiara Diocese

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Okonjo-Iweala and Nigeria’s economy

Dear Editor, I wonder why Pope Francis has not done the needful by disbanding or dissolving or causing the Ahiara Diocese to cease to exist. That diocese has become a sore on the church, with all kinds of characters masquerading as priests, and bringing the Catholic Church into disrepute. The least the pope can do under these shameful and utterly abominable circumstances is to either dissolve the diocese or throw the disobedient and unruly priests out of the priesthood. In the matter of the Ahiara Diocese, a stitch in time shall save far more than nine.

Nze Anizor Owerri, Imo State

What Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said is that the country is not broke. One cannot be considered broke as long as he still has a job (even if he has no cash and is in debt). It can be extended to mean that one cannot be considered broke as long as he has life.

Isn’t it?... Isn’t it?... This headmistress attitude to managing our economy is what got us here in the first place. The Governor of the Central Bank says dwindling oil revenues are negatively impacting our economy. The headmistress says the economy dey kampe (is in good order). Is everything really alright with our economy because we still have resources in the ground? Never heard this before. A man is already a great man because he has the ‘potential’?

Timipre Sylva Abuja

Osoba and AGN

Kwankwaso not my kind of president

Dear Editor, In all honesty, apart from acting to stop APC, how many LGs can the Action Group of Nigeria win?

Can AGN win the governorship election? How many House of Assembly seats can AGN pick? How many of the nine House of Representatives positions can the party win? How many of the three Senate seats can AGN win?

It is disheartening seeing some AGN leaders, who insisted they’ll sink or swim with Osoba going to the PDP event in Abeokuta. They should have done that from the beginning. Since that did not happen from the beginning, the most honourable thing to do was to return to the house. That is the lesson of the PDP event of today for these Matagbamole elements who want to be used as canon fodder in another person’s war - those fighting among themselves in PDP are celebrating a reunion, and our own leaders are clapping.

Wale Adedayo Abeokuta, Ogun State

Dear Editor, Engr. (Dr.) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso may have done well in Kano as Governor. Even his opponents accept that he has been a huge success in Kano. No doubt, I like him. The ringtone on one of my phones is a song dedicated to him (the only politician ever to enjoy such). I like him a lot. I also can think he will be a good President if he ‘accidentally’ gets the post.

However, I am sure I won’t run the risk of voting for him to be in that office. He doesn’t look like my kind of President. Honestly, I would prefer a Goodluck Jonathan as a gamble for another four years than risking a Kwankwaso. I have told those close to him to advise him to drop his ambition. He is killing his political career the same way Shekarau did. He should have tactically aligned with Buhari and convinced, cajoled or even blackmailed him into not contesting but, adopt him.

Aminu Muhammad Kano

12

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview

I can pick Christian or Muslim

All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, in this interview with TheCable, outlines his vision for Nigeria, if elected in 2015. Excerpts Why should Nigerians prefer you to any other candidate in the presidential race?

We need to stabilise the system. And the beauty of democracy is competition. I honestly welcome the competition. I have tried to be elected president three times and I failed three times, and I ended up in the Supreme Court three times. I try to explain to those who are interested why I have been ending up in the Supreme Court. Not because I was hoping that the court would change the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, announcing that it was the PDP that won, but I wanted to get it on the record that when we are trying to stabilise this system. These are part of the difficulties. We provided evidence at the tribunals. There are people who try really to see that the system stabilises, to make sure it reaches credible and international standards. That is a role I have been trying to play all along.

So what qualities stand you out from other candidates?

That is an unfair question. I would not like to blow my own trumpet. But I think Nigerians are the judges. The only thing I would say is that I have been a governor. To begin with my career as a military man, from lieutenant colonel, that is one pip, in charge of 36 people, to a general commanding a division… I am proud to say that I am the only officer in the Nigerian army that commanded three out of the four divisions then in the Nigerian army: the second division in Ibadan, the third armoured division in Jos and the fourth division in Lagos, which was moved to Enugu and renamed 82 Division. I commanded three divisions out of the four. And then I became command-in-chief, as short as it was, for 20 months. And politically, I was governor of the North-East, which is now six states, comprising Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba. From there, when Gen. Murtala Muhammed was assassinated (in 1976), and there were additional states in the country and I was moved to Lagos. I was sworn in as member of the Supreme Military Council under Obasanjo’s government and then made federal commissioner of petroleum and chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). And from there I went to the War College in the US, came back and became head of state. And I ended up in jail for three and a quarter years (general laughter). After that, I went home and I decided to join partisan politics in April 2002. So anything a Nigerian politician wants to be, I have been, although in khaki. So I have been attempting since 2003 to go back in civil dress and play partisan politics.

A lot of people are saying the problems of Nigeria are so many now, more than what you met in 1983 as military head of state. If you are elected president, what would you do differently from President Jonathan on power supply, for instance? How can we tackle this problem?

It cannot be done overnight. The hearings conducted by the National Assembly on NEPA or Power Holding Company of Nigeria, of blessed memory, pension fund and petroleum industry show the extreme mismanagement of what Nigeria stands for… because if you remove the petroleum industry, if you remove the organisation of pension funds and power, Nigeria will collapse. I refer you to my declaration that in 1999 when the PDP came, power generation was hovering between 3,000 and 4,000 megawatts. It is now hovering between that number again after $20 billion had been spent.

This is what the hearings exposed. And no-

Buhari body has been punished. What happened to the $20 billion? What happened to pension funds? What happened to another $20 billion exposed by a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Lamido Sanusi)? All these things the PDP governments between 1999 and now have not been able to explain to Nigerians. And the remarkable thing about Nigeria is that: because having been a minister, governor and head of state, you do not go to any parastatal or any ministry without meeting financial instructions and administrative instructions, but Nigerians have the audacity at each level to cast that away and keep doing what they like. And no one is being punished.

Would you like to dig up the report before we move forward?

If you try to do that, the state will immediately collapse because a lot of the institutions have been compromised. With whom are you going to work? My own belief now is that you just have to draw a line and move forward. But since cases are in the court, no matter what, you have to allow the judiciary to do its job. We can hurry them up a bit, but we must allow the judiciary because it is not a profession you can take over their duties. It is the third arm of government.

We can come as the military as we did and remove some parts of the constitution, but most of the constitution has to remain. Again, it is the judiciary that will have to interpret what remains. But in a democratic setting, you cannot do what the National Assembly and the Judiciary are empowered by law to do. It is impossible. And look again, when our soldiers started giving interviews to the foreign press that they were being sent to the war front (against Boko Haram) with obsolete weapons, the National Assembly attempted to call the service chiefs and show them the budgets they have been approving over the years for arms and ammunition and for military hardware and software. Where is the money? Have you heard of the hearing again?

What do you think they are doing wrong in the power sector?

If you could recall, after the 1983 elections, NEPA virtually collapsed. But when we came in 1984-1985, we had the late Lukman, an engineer. He was in Plateau when I was working as GOC 2 Armoured Division. I got to know him. He was an extremely truly hardworking engineer of great integrity.

I put him in charge of NEPA. If you could recall, I did a tour of NEPA installations and some industries. And we ordered some spare parts mostly of the thermal station and we were using the military C130 aircraft to bring spare parts. By the time we were removed in August 1985, blackout in Lagos had been forgotten because the thermal station had been made functional. Lagos was the home of industries. Industries were given priority because of employment. If you close the factories, as they have done now, there will be no goods and services. Power is the most important thing for our sustained development. But unfortunately, the PDP government has failed to understand or accept that.

Hence money, billions of dollars, goes down the drain. If from 1999 till now, in my own perception, Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro had been repaired and brought to optimal usage, and we do the thermal stations… it is a question of changing spare parts because the gas is there. The studies of Nigerian petroleum, the studies of 1970s when I became minister of petroleum, showed that Nigeria was a petroleum country in name; mostly it is a gas country. In the east of the Niger, the gas reserves there were fantastic. That was why the LNG project was initiated. You cannot initiate LNG except you have a 30-year reserve to back you up. But this means nothing to the PDP government. It is not a priority.

That’s why we find ourselves where we are.

What’s your position on the Petroleum Industry Bill?

I know the PIB is a non-issue as far as this government is concerned. So I am telling you practical things that will transform the economy (beyond the PIB). I will tell you one thing about industries. The Nigerian textile firms in Ikeja, Aba, Kaduna, Kano, they used to employ over 300,000 Nigerians in the 1980s.

Now they employ less than 30,000. A serious government would get worried if over 250,000 in one industry are put out of job.

Because behind every Nigerian worker are five dependants. This is my problem with PDP government. Unseriousness. That is the textile industry alone.

Part of the key recommendations in the PIB is deregulation that will lead to the removal of petrol subsidy. Removal of subsidy is sensitive issue. How do you hope to handle that if you are elected president?

When we came into power, technically in December 1983 but we started in 1984, I had

been part of Obasanjo’s government in petroleum. Nigeria handed over to the second republic government a relatively physicallysecure and economically-safe country. I can’t recall exactly how much foreign reserve we had, but there was physical security and the economy was good. That is what the military handed over to the second republic. By the time the military came back and I happened to be the head of state, if anybody told you that he knew how much Nigeria was owing, it was a lie. So we had two committees, one international and the other local, to find out the debt Nigeria had accumulated over those years and how. This report has never seen the daylight because up to the time we were removed, it was not brought to us. But when it was eventually brought, by which time I was safely under lock and key, nobody could do anything about it. Secondly the American president then, Ronald Reagan, sent his friend, Gen. Walters, to me saying we should accept the IMF programme. What was the IMF programme then? World Bank and IMF wanted us to remove the so-called petroleum subsidy, to devalue the naira, to remove the subsidy on flour, as they perceived it. But what we knew was that in some of the states, workers were being owed nine months salaries. I was in Plateau State and I saw the so-called progressive governors crisscrossing this country almost every other month, making a lot of noise when the ordinary worker was not being paid. I told Walters we were not going to devalue the naira; we were not going to remove any subsidy. And if you recall by the time we were removed, one naira was equal to 1.2 or 1.5 dollars. The naira was run down to N80 to a dollar by General Babangida’s regime. I refused to remove the so-called petroleum subsidy. I said I had been in the petroleum industry for three and a quarter years. I signed the contracts for Warri and Kaduna refineries. I signed the contract for more than 20 depots, from Makurdi to Ilorin to Gusau to Kano to Maiduguri. And then pipes were laid over 3,200 kilometres. Nigeria didn’t borrow a kobo. I can understand Nigerians being charged the cost of petroleum if you can work it out… because we know how Nigerian crude costs per barrel from the world market, the transportation cost to the refinery, the money for refining and then the transportation to the filling station. I agree Nigerians should pay for that to sustain the industry. But for someone to say they are subsidising, who is subsidising whom? This industry, the pros-

13

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Interview

as my running mate -Buhari pecting and development, were paid for by the Nigerian people. We spent money to discover the oil. Who then is subsidising whom?

To come and kill Nigerians, you know, to put that amount of burden on them when their salary is hardly enough for them to eat, pay for their healthcare, and education of their children. Who are you subsidising? It is Nigerian petrol, it is Nigerian capital that was used to mine it, it is Nigerians doing most of the work, so who are you subsidising? Subsidy for what? And even then, if you go and interview Tam David-West, when I came back as head of state, and we stopped (illegal) bunkering, Nigeria was choked with products. We were exporting 100,000 barrels per day of refined products because Warri, Kaduna, Port Harcourt alone were doing 250,000 a day, the old refinery and the new one built… and we found out Nigeria was normally consuming about 300,000 barrels a day. All the people that were doing the (illegal) bunkering abandoned their jetties, their barges, because they knew we were sending them to jail or beyond. But now, Nigeria goes to the world market and buys petrol as much as any other person does with all the infrastructure in place. That is how efficient the PDP government is (laughter).

Some of your allies in APC believe in fiscal federalism, resource control and restructuring of the federation. What is your position on these issues?

The important thing is to change Nigeria.

And with the economy which is almost down and out, how can you bring sustainable economic development? There is the terrible problem of youth unemployment. The first one is security. Nigeria has to be secure and efficiently managed. This cannot be done overnight. Nigerians have to be prepared, at least from 2015 to maybe about 2018 to really work extremely hard. We have to work extremely hard because a lot of institutions have been compromised. Education down, infrastructure down, security almost nonexistent. So for anybody to come and create the impression that he can work wonders (is a lie). Nigerians have to be prepared to suffer for at least five straight years before we can stabilise this country, security-wise and economically because so much damage has been done. And Nigerians are feeling it. No matter how much you like Nigerian voters, if you lie to them they will know, because so much damage has been done. But we can quickly recover as we showed between 1984 and 1986 until the naira was killed, literally.

We were recovering.

Do you believe in resource control?

Who is to control what? All this is said mainly on petroleum because it is what Nigeria depends on. It gives us at least 90% of our foreign revenue at the great danger of ignoring agriculture and solid minerals, which Nigeria has great potential in. In fact, in my declaration speech, I emphasised the question of agriculture and solid minerals. For employment of youths generally, we have to go into agriculture very fast and solid minerals to complement the petroleum industry and stop the illegal bunkering and outright theft. And we see what we can do with education, the standard of education, and the lack of it in parts of the country, especially the North. I believe some generations have been betrayed because if people fail to go to school or become dropouts before they go to university or tertiary institutions, and without going to training schools to become electricians, bricklayers, mechanics, and so on, we have really destroyed their lives. I was listening to a programme now, from the BBC, there are 64 million Nigerians that have missed education. 64 million. Now, out of a population of a 160 or 170 million, you have a youthful chunk that has missed education. We can only take them to agriculture, solid miner-

als, give them quick training, for them to get employment and a means of living because you can’t say you’re going to send them to polytechnics, and universities that are overcrowded, lack of infrastructure, no equipment, no qualified teachers. Oh God! We’re in very, very bad shape. Nigerians need to know we are in a very, very bad shape.

Do you think there is a need to restructure the federation?

To start with, those who are clamouring for more states, I think they are exploiting the ignorant people of their respective constituencies. Look at the overheads, try and observe a meeting of governors’ forum and see the number of expensive vehicles costing more than N10 million apiece (that they bring to the venues). How many of them? Again, look at the vehicles the police and the military are using for their operations in the North-East.

Consider their maintenance and cost of fuelling. We are extremely wasteful. Really, the Nigerian elite have to sit up because we are throwing our resources down the drain. Let me tell you. I went to the United Kingdom for training as a motor transport officer in 1965. What I discovered in the British army, all the vehicles are properly registered, from motorcycle to aircraft, each one has a book, and that book is the recommendation by the manufacturer on how to maintain it, and successive commanders, from bottom to top, either monthly, quarterly or yearly have to sign that book certifying that those machineries are being maintained according to the specifications provided by the manufacturers. If you give it to the Nigeria police or army now for their Toyota vehicle which is supposed to last 10 years, some of them don’t last 18 months. We are extremely wasteful at the expense of our country. For you to bring the culture of sustained development, the elite must wake up because if the country collapses, they are the first victims. They are the ones with air-conditioned rooms, generators and can afford to go abroad to get treatment.

If the country collapses, I’ll like to see where they will go. The elite need restructuring

(general laughter).

Some people say the quota system and federal character no longer have a place in Nigeria, that originally they were meant to equalise the states, but that now virtually every state has educated people, that the field should be thrown open. What’s your position on this?

I think it is important in the federation when you come to the centre, it is better for people to feel that they too are participating at the centre. But it must not be at the expense of standards. Any geopolitical zone or state, if they want their people to participate at the centre, must ensure they can compete professionally. You can’t take somebody who did not go to school or who said he went to the university but cannot write a two-page memo, to become a permanent secretary.

How will he do it? How can he articulate policies that will be taken to executive council to be debated by ministers? We really have a problem. We have to remove sentiments and not excite or provoke our constituencies that they have to participate. You can only participate if you develop the capacity to participate.

You said you were not going to run again in 2011. People are now using it against you.

What has changed?

The moment I made this statement, in my party and among those who support me, hell was technically let loose. And I think I wrote a letter where I mentioned some people who told me I cannot do that. Luckily for me or the system, I did not say I was abandoning partisan politics. What I said was that I would not present myself for elective office, but people told me I could not do that because to some people I no longer belong to myself, I belong to them. People really, including technocrats that were out or still in government, came to me and said if you say you are remaining in partisan politics, then you have to present yourself. It is now up to those who are backing you to come out and support you.

And if this declaration is anything to go by,

going by the number of people that came to the event, I am impressed. That crowd cannot be rented. And when the ruling party conducted its TAN the following day, they were only limited to the podium. There was nobody elsewhere. The amount of people who came from the south for my declaration was amazing. It’s just because we all dress as Nigerians, you won’t know. People were sleeping on the streets of Abuja just to come and witness the declaration. Just declaration.

So others should rest assured even if you don’t get the ticket that you will work for the party?

I would work for the party because I didn’t say I’m jettisoning partisan politics. It is not quite right.

And there is this sensitive issue of MuslimMuslim ticket…

You see, Nigerians will always discover an impossible room for manoeuvre for politicians. I had to face one of the governors in our party’s meetings. I told you I joined partisan politics in April 2002. In 2003, I was given a ticket. Whom did I chose as my running mate? Chuba Okadigbo. He was brought up

by Zik. And he was Senate president and was a serving senator when he accepted to be my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, whom did I pick? Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic.

He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I even chose a pastor. Pastor Tunde Bakare. Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what also can I do? In any case, who attempted to kill me? Is it Boko Haram or who because I told them they were ungodly? Again, I repeated it during my declaration that they are ungodly.

Because no religion advocates hurting the innocent. No religion. So if you go and kill children while they are sleeping, blow people up in churches, in mosques, in the market place, and motor park, you can’t say “Allau Akbar”. Because “Allahu Akbar” means God is great. Now if you believe God is great, He says you must not hurt the innocent. There must be a justice system, investigations… if you find people guilty, punish them. So, you either don’t believe that God is great, or you don’t know what you are saying. Is it for this that they attempted to blow me up?

Or somebody else did it? So the question of this Muslim-Muslim ticket, although it was a long way from Abiola and Kingibe (in 1993), all the same, I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a Christian or Muslim as running mate if I get the ticket. Because I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone through what they have gone through, realise it is not a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria. And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they know and they believe in the almighty God. The question of stealing and short-changing people in the name of religion should stop. Why did Nigerians line up and elect Abiola and Kingibe, both Muslims? The late Joseph Tarka, in a clearly Roman Catholic environment, brought Ibrahim Imam from Borno, to his constituency to represent Tivland in the Northern House of Assembly in 1961. This new phenomenon of religion is another blackmail political confusionists in Nigeria are bringing to the fore. I will tell you something. Tinubu’s wife is a Christian, Governor Fashola’s wife is a Christian, Governor Amosun’s wife is a Christian, Bisi Akande’s wife is a Christian, Governor Ajimobi’s wife is a Christian. For goodness sake, the children of these political leaders in Nigeria were bred and brought up by Christian mothers. You think those people, wherever they participate, they will bring a religious issue? What kind of people are we? Nigerians will always bring something to cause confusion while we are trying to stabilise the system.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

14

News

Delta LG poll: Voters defy downpour, late materials Dominic Adewole,

D ASABA

espite the downdownpour in Aniocha North and some parts of Oshimili North Local Government Areas of Delta State yesterday, eligible voters trooped out to elect their leaders at the council level.

As early as 8a.m, the Polling Units provided by the state’s Independent Electoral Commission visited by the New Telegraph in the five council areas of Oshimili South, which harbours Asaba, the state capital, Oshimili North, Aniocha South and North and Ika South, were already filled to their capacities.

Voters, in their hundreds, were seen sitting and standing in anxious positions, waiting for DSIEC officials to commence the exercise.

At Ward 3, located at Omu-Boys Primary School in Ibusa, Oshimili North axis of the state where there was a brawl over hijack of materials belonging to one of the two Polling Units (Ward 4), the Collation Officer of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. John Okpara, sought for clarification on why the two Polling Units were merged.

But a member of the state’s House of Assembly, Princess Pat Ajudua, on the spot said there was nothing like that, maintaining that “the complaint will be investigated.”

The situation was different at Ward 4, situated in Anishi Primary School, Ogwuashi-Uku, Aniocha South, voters became agitated for hours before sensitive materials arrived at about 12 noon.

The Vice Chairman of APC in the locality, Mr. George Okafor, who decried the lateness, also wondered why “DSIEC wore the impunity toga of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).” But Chief Isaac Anwuzia, the PDP chairmanship hopeful in the council area said his party would

coast to victory “no matter any campaign of calumny against it.” He hailed the electoral umpire for a job well done, even as he described the exercise as “free, fair and credible.”

At Omado and Martins Primaries Schools in IseleUku, there was delay in the commencement of the exer-

cise as the electoral officers said the delay was due to the early down pour. But Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Mrs. Anthonia Ashiedu, who was on the spot to cast her vote, commended the voters for defiling the heavy rains and the pa-

tience they exercised while the materials were yet to arrive.

Meanwhile, hope of victory has risen among the supporters of the ruling party, who immediately after voting ended retired to the nearby restaurants to celebrate anticipated victory.

...aspirant’s office burnt Joe Obende, Warri

T

he campaign office of an All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Delta State, O’tega Emehor, was torched by suspected thugs in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area during the local government elections in the state.

Only the timely intervention of firemen saved the entire building. Though the election was generally peaceful with pockets of skirmishes in places such as Koko in Warri North Local Council Area where members of PDP and All Progressives Congress clashed with some persons arrested.

In Isoko South Local Government Area, there was late arrivals of materials in all the

wards. Voting materials left Oleh for Olomoro at 3:00pm.

The story was different as materials did not arrive in Iri. The materials were there but no security personnel to escort them to the various wards. In Aviara, voting had begun at 1:30pm in Unit 6 Ward 3.

Voting materials were destroyed in Wards 6 and 7 when PDP thugs allegedly attempted to snatch them in Olomoro. In Ovirogbo-Iri, Isoko North, an opposition stronghold, people were seen voting peacefully In Warri there was late or non arrival of materials and other party agents, particularly those of APC were chased away. At 6:00pm, election had been concluded in most wards across the state with the PDP believed to have won most seats.

Youths rake N2m for Jonathan Muhammad Kabir, Kano

T

he Northern Youth Forum, Kano wing, has in solidarity with the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, donated N2 million to assist him to purchase the Peoples Democratic Party nomination form.

The Forum which organised a rally in Kano as part of its campaign to President Jonathan, said it was doing so despite all insinuations against the President who they described as innocent of all accusations labeled against him.

The rally which was attended by the Minister of Education Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali

and that of Sports and Youth Development, Boni Haruna, as well as the President Adviser on Political matters Professor Rufai Alkali, drew a large crowd of supporters.

Speaking at the event, the coordinator of the Forum in Kano, Mr. Bello Gambo Bichi, said they had over time watched with keen interests affairs of the Nigeria nation more specifically under Jonathan and are convinced that he means well for the everybody regardless of where one comes from.

Boni Haruna in his remark said that by their action, Kano people have really and genuinely showed to the entire country that they are true politicians who believe that power actually come from God.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, casting his vote during the local government election at Unit 1 Ward 6 Abigborodo… yesterday

Oyegun blames Nigeria’s woes on vices

Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan

N

ational Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has blamed Nigeria’s underdevelopment and instability on sycophancy, political irresponsibility, dishonesty, and betrayal of public trust.

He said this while delivering a lecture tagged: “Nigeria, a Trajectory of Dashed Expectation: Looking into the Future with Hope”, at the 2014 Alumni Lecture organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Associa-

tion (UIAA).

Odigie-Oyegun urged Nigerians to shun the identified vices, stating that, “Nigeria today must begin to put an end to sycophancy and political acts of irresponsibility as is presently the case in Nigeria, and begin to think deeply on how to develop our nation. And this is what we do in All Progressives Congress.

“While it remains an obvious truth that Nigeria, 54 years after, is perceived and still behaves like a toddler, there is no doubt that the country has suffered stunted growth as a result

of gross leadership failure.

This is exemplified by our failure, as a people to use our huge human and material resources to galvanise development in our country. This is in spite of being a leading oil producing country in the world.

“I see a very bright future for us all, but a lot depends on the Nigerian people, who continue to show docility and not being able to take their destinies in their own hands”. Casting a swipe at the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s administration, Odigie-Oyegun said, “Without any resort to vio-

lence, because that, to me, is defeatist, I do believe that we as a people can achieve so much through the ballot box by easing out that party who has held on to power for a decade and a half and have not made any meaningful impact in our lives”.

The first elected governor of Edo State, also advocated that there should be a balance between present needs and future demands that must be anchored on a well-articulated economic blueprint. According to him, no nation develops without a well-articulated development plan.

Soldiers, miscreants kill four in Ondo clash BabatopeOkeowo, Akure

A

t least four persons were killed while several others were injured in Igbotako in Okitipupa local Government Area of Ondo State during the monthly environmental sanitation exercising the town yesterday.

A source said trouble started after the chairman of the Local Government Caretaker Committee, Mr. Niyi Pirisola had met with

market women in the area and advised them on the need to comply with environmental laws in order to ensure cleanliness.

While the council chairman was monitoring the exercise and ensuring compliance with the restriction of movement, a member of a violent group, popularly called ‘Ojota Boys, identified as Ogbege’ allegedly ran into the council boss with his motorbike, knocking him down.

An attempt by the Environmental Task Force of the

council to pursue the fleeing rider allegedly turned tragic as the vehicle ran into a young man. Youths associated with Ogbege who are mostly “Ojota’ Boys” said to be loyal to a local political thug then mobilised and attacked the council chairman, inflicting machete cuts on him.

The attempt to rescue the attacked local government chairman by the police it was gathered led to another accident with another casualty. A detachment of military men on patrol that

moved into the area were also attacked with guns and broken bottles by the said “Ojota Boys.”

The soldiers while trying to bring the crisis under control engaged in a gun battle with the street boys leading to the death of another two. Sources said security operatives have moved into the town to restore order.

Police Public Relation Officer in Ondo State, DSP Wole Ogodo, said he yet to get the full details of the incident.

15

GlamDudes Fashion Luxury ‘man Brighten your day with yellow bags’

22&43

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Body Soul SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Modupe Debbie Ariyo obe

I was shocked to be honoured

by Queen Elizabeth II

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SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

heart y m m o r f t h g Strai

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Hero

Contents 26.10.2014 COVER

-Modupe Debbie Ariyo OBE

} 18-19

BEAUTY

Whether you’re snapping a selfie in your car or capturing the moment just before you step out for the day, ensure you look your best

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of thea he ro lly Ou r is act ua me is na e we ek ne, her . Sh heroi t Os ho ala NigeAs isa year old r wh o is a 20foo tba lle d the ria n en name 2014 be s of the Cup. ha player best U20 World lde n Go A a FIF wo n scorSh e award for and goals to Boot ers seven ing ing oth . Her als d ass ist two go not en score urs did s ho nhono she wa Pre sithe re, by the tional ou redwith a na mber Me the dent as a of award Orde r ). Yo u of ther (M ON e a lot Ni ge achiev age or too cantter your ieve in no mat. Just belthe sky talen elf and pping yours your ste be will . stone

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor)

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent) Wole Adepoju Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent)

} 22&43

Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics)

ACCESSORIES Trending this season are the aviator sunglasses.

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

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} 17

BED, WORK & LIFE “Can I come over immediately,” Ben asks. “ N o t i m m e d i at e ly dear. Give me three hours.

I’m not home

of th

rial.com g-tuto -trainin w.free rce: ww • Sou

Juliet

It was one of the happiest days of my life.

It was great to have received a letter telling you the Queen was ‘minded’ to make you an OBE. But to actually receive it was a huge source of joy to me

Gags

now. Will call you when I get home,” she replies.

“Great! Looking forward to seeing you dear,” he says.

“Me too,” she replies.

Dave clears his throat behind her and she turns, startled.

“Who are you seeing in three hours’ time?” he asks

} 20

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Accessories

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Body&Soul

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SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

I was shocked to be honoured by Queen Modupe Debbie Ariyo is the Founder and Executive Director of Africa United Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA), an organisation that fights against child abuse in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She was honoured by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, with a Member of the British Empire (OBE). In this interview with AHAOMA KANU, she talks about her career, achievements and aspirations You took a decision more than a decade ago to quit civil service in the United Kingdom and become a civil activist and advocate for better welfare for children. Why did you take that decision?

When I started AFRUCA in 2001, I was driven by the need to get the UK African community to start working together so all the terrible stories we were hearing about children being killed or ending up in care could end. Some of the cases then were so horrific – like that of a little girl called Victoria Climbie who was brought from Africa and tortured to death by her aunty. That case really affected me because Victoria was the same age as my daughter then. I really wanted to get the African community to take a stand to end child abuse so I named the charity, Africans Unite Against Child Abuse. For me, it was a call to action, a rallying call. I am very happy that many years down the line, we are still a community oriented organisation although I’m sad that many of the issues we set out to address are still present. But then, you cannot on your own eradicate a major issue like child abuse, certainly not in the 13 years we have been in existence. We can only continue to do what we do to the best of our ability and help to safeguard as many children as possible in the process.

Being an African woman who started a crusade, how were you received in the UK? To be sincere, I don’t think I experienced any hardship as a woman establishing an organisation. This is the UK afterall, it was not a new thing to have a woman do something like this. Generally speaking, people setting up NGOs-Nigerians or not, have a negative image. People think you are in it to make money. Most people do not believe others can be altruistic or well meaning.

This is a shame really because we do have a lot of people who are working hard for the sake of humanity – although there are bad eggs everywhere. However, I actually had to quit my civil service job after setting up AFRUCA in 2001 to be able to run it. I had been employed in the Service for about 11 years prior to then. I had risen to middle management level, meaning I had a glowing career ahead of me. I even had an option at that time to go into consultancy in a very new, developing work area in Africa. So, it used to make me really sad when people made insinuations about setting up a charity to make money. Aside quitting to run the charity, I also worked for free for the first five years.

Things were extremely financially difficult for me and my family. However, today, I give thanks because all that sacrifice has paid off. The charity is doing very well in terms of the work we do, as we have supported thousands of children and their families since our establishment.

This is something I find very fulfilling. This is my dream come true! Aside that, AFRUCA is also one of the best known blackled charities in the UK and it has won many awards for its good work. Of course I was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 for the work I do at AFRUCA. As a Nigerian woman, that to me is a great sign of recognition of my

work and the impact that my charity has made here in the UK. Let me take you back to your early years while growing up. How would you describe the family you come from and do members of your family have activism in their blood?

To be sincere, my family was your typical Nigerian family. I don’t recollect any activist in my family; my mother was a civil servant. My grandfather was a politician.

My father was a business man. There was no activism whatsoever. However, I have always been against injustice. This probably has something to do with being a middle child!

You always have to fight your own battles.

Which activist would you say you admired as a young person?

I t would have to be Nelson Mandela.

H e was a n enigma. He was my hero and my inspiration. I was full of admiration for him and Winnie. They both represented t o

me the true image of what an African person should be: relentless, bold, determined and above all able to make sacrifices for the common good. These were virtues that I really admired in both of them and I believe I have also tried to emulate them in my own ways.

At what age did you return to Nigeria and what prompted that decision?

My parents returned with my sister and I back to Nigeria after their studies. They had been in the UK for about nine years or so. I was very young when we returned. I recall we moved from city to city – Lagos, Ibadan and after Ogun State was created, to

Abeokuta the capital. I went to secondary school in Abeokuta. I then went to the University of Benin. I deliberately didn’t want to study outside the West of Nigeria.

I wanted to mingle and meet people from other parts of Nigeria and I’m happy today that I chose UNIBEN. I still have many friends from my time there. Many are here in the UK with their families.

What memories do you have there and how did you cope with the series of face-offs against government and students in those days?

I loved UNIBEN! The students seem to be a bunch of rebels because the university was closed down each year I was there – the longest was my final year. We were closed down after the May 1989 SAP demonstrations by the government for six months!

However, even though I was not an activist, I learnt a lot about the need to stand up for fairness and justice. Many of the student actions were because of the desire for fairness and justice, no matter how this was viewed by the authorities. My final year was my best year. It was the year I knew that Nigeria could change if people wanted it to. Almost all students took part in the SAP demonstrations of 1989. We were very peaceful, we all went to town to demonstrate – male and female. Everyone was against the government of Babangida and his desire to tie down future generations of Nigeria via the planned Structural Adjustment Programme. This was when I knew people were capable of peacefully fighting for a cause – without any thoughts to direct benefits. Of course, the government was angry with us. Our university was closed down for six months as punishment!

You were a student in UNIBEN when Prof.

Grace Alele Williams was there. What kind of relationship would you say she had with the students?

Prof. Alele Williams was my hero. She was a role model and I was glad she was my vice-chancellor. We both came to UNIBEN the same year (1985) and left the same year (1989). She was obviously a pacesetter as the first female Vice Chancellor in the whole of Africa. I don’t think a lot of people, especially the men, liked her because she was a woman.

She got a lot of stress from ASUU, the body of lecturers and NANS, the student body.

People like the late Dr. Festus Iyayi were thorns in her flesh! They gave her a very hard time but she stood up to them and for many of us girls in the university, she was a strong role model! She never gave up. However, it must have been a very difficult and lonely job for her – but I believed she did it very well indeed. So I am very proud of her.

You graduated in 1989 and the next year, returned to the UK. Why did you leave for London again? Was it a question of no adequate jobs or just that you wanted

19

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Body&Soul

Elizabeth II -Modupe Debbie Ariyo OBE to ‘check out’ like Andrew?

I returned to the UK as I was really fed up staying at home when the government closed down UNIBEN for six months after the May 1989 SAP demonstrations. I believe it was meant to punish the students but it was really demoralising. After wasting six months staying at home, I felt there was no point. I was fed up like most young Nigerians at that time. Fortunately, I had an option and I took it. To be sincere, I don’t regret it whatsoever!

Can you remember the first series of cases you handled when you started AFRUCA? Yes, I had started AFRUCA when the murder of a young Nigerian boy called Jude happened. The case had a huge emotional impact on me. He was punched by a fellow student and he had brain hemorrhage and later collapsed at home and died. He was such a good boy, a gentle and brilliant boy but he was targeted by bullies at school. The case made me realise that we needed to do more to alert parents to the issue of bullying at school. Nigerian children were always targeted then because they were always so brilliant in class and many parents did not know how to deal with this. As a result of this programme, we set up a project called ‘Child Protection Training for Newly Arrived African Parents’ and we worked with many parents to help educate them about bullying. We have different versions of this project running across the UK at present.

Which case would you say gave some prominence to your campaign?

There were a number of cases but the case of Boy Adam, the little boy whose torso was found in the Thames, was one that AFRUCA was really involved in right after our inception. It was probably the first time such a case would occur in Europe so practitioners, the media and researchers across the country were seeking our advice and expertise to help understand the issues involved – which ranged from child abuse to child trafficking and of course ritual abuse and witchcraft. Myself and the others at AFRUCA had to learn very quickly as we were being relied on to provide advice on things we didn’t really know much about – for example witchcraft! This was also interesting because everyone thought because you lived in Africa you must know about witchcraft and ritual killing! It was a steep learning curve for us but right now, as a charity working with children of black African origin, that case helped to put us in the limelight very quickly and right after our inception in 2001.

Your organisation is based in UK and Nigeria but you operate from London. How do you manage operations between the two continents?

We do have an office in Nigeria. Our offices are based in Abeokuta. We actually have a separate branch of AFRUCA UK in Nigeria – the AFRUCA Foundation for the Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Children. The main reason for setting up in Ogun State was to be able to work at the grass roots level, in villages and small towns, places where no one else was working. Unfortunately, the work in Ogun State did not take off as I had hoped. I will not go into the reasons on the pages of a newspaper. However, my desire to have my charity fully established in Nigeria is still there. I have high hopes to do a lot more, to help transfer much of the knowledge, skills and expertise we have gained working in Europe to Nigeria. I know there is a high demand for our work so I am quite keen.

Of course, there are obstacles which will be difficult to deal with as we have experienced before. However, I do hope we can

overcome those challenges for the sake of the children.

clothes as long as they are nice and clean. I don’t have any ideologies towards clothes.

If it looks nice on me, I am wearing it!

You wear low cut hair. How long have you been wearing this look?

I love the natural look and I have had my hair short since 1992. Prior to that, I had long, permed hair but most people who knew me since 1992 do not believe that! I love that I don’t have to put chemicals of any sort in my hair – and I detest wearing anything fake, be it Brazilian or Indian.

So I wear my hair short because I like the natural look. It is also easier to manage, and for someone always on the move, it is ideal! Some people say it suits me, so that’s equally fine.

You are very quiet about your family; can you tell us about your immediate family?

I like to keep my private life private. I think it is important, especially in the work that I do to maintain some privacy. I don’t talk publicly about my family.

How many children or families have benefitted from AFRUCA? Thousands of children, young people and families have benefitted from our work. It is really fulfilling when I look back to when we started in 2001 and where we are now.

It is not just about figures, it is also about impact. We have helped to change policies for black children in this country. We have helped to bring families back together, support children who were trafficked and exploited and helped them to rebuild their lives. We have taken action on the issue of children branded as witches and we have pushed the government to act. All this is in the UK here. Don’t forget we are also a social enterprise. We employ 12 full time staff and are thereby also helping to support families by providing for them. My only regret is that we have not been able to make similar impacts in Nigeria.

You were honoured and appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for your work with children and families. Did you know you were on the list?

It was a complete shock to me! I was absolutely shocked and thrilled at the same time to have been nominated. Someone has to nominate you and submit your name to the Prime Minister’s office and you had to go through a series of checks and verifications and assessments – without your knowledge that it was being done! If you are successful, then the Prime Minister’s office will pass your details to the palace for your appointment. It is only then you are contacted! I was very gratified that someone thought my work merited a nomination and that I was found to be worthy!

You were very interested in one of the female clerics that was accused of spearheading the Akwa Ibom witch children incident. Why were you so interested in that case at the time?

I think it is important that we start to work closely with faith leaders. They need to understand what it means to abuse children, they need to start to think about how to improve what they do and how they do it so children will not get harmed. The issue of child branding is one where we need to take action. So yes, I am very interested in this issue, not necessarily the minister you talked about. We need to be able to help educate faith leaders so that they understand their own roles in protecting children from abuse and harm

How did you feel when the news got to you that a decision you took 10 years back to become a child advocate had attracted the attention of the Queen of England?

I was very pleased. I always say to the young people that I mentor – no decision you make in life is too small. You never know how far-reaching your decisions would be, so always ensure you make the right decision. I was happy I made the right decision to set up AFRUCA and to have worked hard to ensure it gets to the level where it would be recognised by the Queen of England.

Will you categorically say that churches may be overstepping their boundaries in inculcating discipline in children?

Faith organisations, no matter their denomination, must be safe places for children. It is essential that they learn the boundaries between teaching children right from wrong and abusing them. It is true that many faith groups either sanction or themselves are a party to children being abused. That is something that needs to stop. The best way to do that is what we are already doing in the UK. We are running a Safeguarding Children from Abuse workshop for faith organisations across Yorkshire and many churches, for example have taken part in the past four years. I would like to introduce a similar programme to Nigeria where we work with faith organisations en masse and teach them what it means to protect children from abuse and harm. There are hundreds of thousands of faith groups in Nigeria, but if we can only reach some of them, that will be great!

What influences your choice of dressing and do you wear more African print than you do western fashion?

To be sincere, I am not your average conscious dresser. I put on

What will you not leave the house without?

I am an adherent of the Grail Message. I have been since I was in my third year at University of Benin when I was 18 years old. I never leave home without wearing my Grail Cross. It is a part and parcel of me.

Tell me how you felt the day you were pinned with that

medal and given that honour?

It was one of the happiest days of my life.

It was great to have received a letter telling you the Queen was ‘minded’ to make you an OBE. But to actually receive it was a huge source of joy to me.

What doors did being an OBE open to you?

I don’t think it is about opening doors. I think it is about people realising you must have done something ‘big’ to have been appointed an OBE. It means that people also unconsciously have respect for you, and trust you, and accept that you are indeed an expert in your field. It makes life easier, in a way.

You were also given a Centenary award as a Nigerian that has given a positive image to Nigeria. What would you say these awards have prompted in you?

It says a lot when you get recognised for the work you do. All these awards mean a lot, in the sense that it is the Queen, the community and others saying: ‘We value your work’ or ‘You have done well’. It is good to be valued that way and I’m really thankful for all the acknowledgements.

What dream do you have for the African child?

I want each and every African child to be valued the same way we value children in Europe. I want them to have access to the things in life that will make their lives less oppressive and difficult, like the children in Europe.

Children in Africa suffer excessively. We can work hard to make life better for them and that is my dream - A better life for the African child.

20

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

B

en wonders at Kathryn’s sudden change of behaviour.

He will go visit her again. He has fallen in love with her. He is sure fate threw them together for a purpose. If not, why meet and admire her in a club only to sit beside her again two days later in a church?

His search for wife is over, he is convinced about that.

He dials her number and it is switched off.

No problem.

Women always prove difficult to get, even when they are very interested in the guy, he reasons.

He’s sure she is interested in him, she is just being the woman she is.

He dons a T-Shirt and knickers.

He will go in search of the woman he loves. **** An unplanned ‘party’ is underway in Dave’s house. About 15 people are in the sitting room, among them six ladies. Two of the ladies sure know their way around the house.

Kathryn feels so self conscious.

She is not dressed for it. To make matters worse, one of the ladies, Kim, is flirting so openly with Dave.

Kim behaves like she owns Dave.

Her sister, Mabel is there with her boyfriend.

Dave introduces them to Kathryn, his arms thrown lovingly around her shoulders.

Kathryn has to quickly place an order for more food.

After they’ve all eaten and are chatting overs drinks, Kim walks into the kitchen and comes out bearing a tray with saucers filled with nuts.

“Dave, I’m afraid all the nuts in the house are in this tray,” she coos as she bends to place the tray on the table.

“It’s ok. Kathryn will replace them,” Dave replies, betraying no emotion.

Kim moves to where Dave is sitting on a dinner chair and perches on his laps.

“Oh dear me! I need to rest my toes,” she exclaims, crossing her left arm on Dave’s neck.

Kathryn shoots them a poisonous look.

Dave shifts uncomfortably.

“Dave darling, what happened to that wall? That mark wasn’t there the last time I was around,” Kim says, pointing to a slight discoloration on a portion of the wall.

“It has been there for long time,” Dave replies her, rather curtly. She looks up, embarrassed.

“Common dear...” she says.

Two seats away, Kathryn observes them from the corner of her eyes, uncomfortable with the way Kim is massaging Dave’s head with her left palm.

Kim is Ricky’s sister. She just finished her National Youth Service Corps and is searching for a job.

“I visited two companies this past week and was told to drop my curriculum vitae. I’m hoping I’ll be invited for an interview. But darling, I was thinking I could come to your company. Isn’t there a job you can offer me even if on a temporary basis? I’m tired of staying at home, doing nothing,” she whispers into Dave’s ears. He murmurs into her ears.

Kathryn boils; the fact that she can-

Roses and thorns

not hear whatever she is saying to Dave makes her angrier.

She looks around her, the other visitors are having a swell time. Three couples are dancing while the others are engaged in an interesting argument. No one is paying Dave and Kim any attention, except Kathryn...and Hanson.

Hanson enters the kitchen and comes out moments later. He moves to Kathryn and sits on the armrest of the chair and whispers into her ears.

“Don’t mind her Katty. She’s Ricky’s sister and is a bother most times. My brother doesn’t have anything to do with her,” he says.

Kathryn looks gratefully at him. She breathes deeply and smiles.

“Thanks dear. I was almost bursting a vein,” she says, laughing quietly.

“No need dear. They live in the neighbourhood. She wants my brother…obviously.” Hanson says and they laugh.

Dave watches them, his forehead creasing into a frown.

Then, smack! Kim gives him a kiss right on his lips and something gives in Kathryn’s heart.

Kathryn looks away, fuming. She excuses herself and goes upstairs, to the bedroom. She switches on her phone and the moment it comes on, a call comes through.

It is Ben! She takes the call.

“I waited for your call my dear. What is the problem? I really need to see you,” Ben says.

Kathryn’s heart melts. Suddenly, she has the urge to see him.

“There’s no problem dear,” she says, ever so gently.

“Can I come over? I want to see you,” Ben says.

“I want to see you too,” she says.

“Can I come over immediately,” Ben asks.

“Not immediately dear. Give me three hours. I’m not home now. Will call you when I get home,” she replies.

“Great! Looking forward to seeing you dear,” he says.

“Me too,” she replies.

Dave clears his throat behind her and she turns, startled.

“Who are you seeing in three hours’ time?” he asks.

“A friend,” she replies, looking him in the eye.

“So interesting. You must love that friend so much. A man loves a woman and the woman loves someone else. This world is not fair,” he says, hurt in his voice.

“It’s so easy for you to say that. Meanwhile, you shamelessly flirt with your

girlfriend down there. Did you think of my feelings? I need a man who will love me. I need a man who will stay true to me,” she tells him, tears in her voice.

“And you think I’m not that man?” Dave asks.

“I don’t know what to think anymore. You seem to have a harem,” she replies.

Dave gives a short, mirthless laugh and says, “You need to know me more. I hate bragging but I’m successful and women love people like me. However, it doesn’t get into my head. When I saw you, it was like you’re the woman I’ve been waiting for all my life. I made one or two mistakes in the past. But I’m convinced you are no mistake,” he says, drawing her into his arms.

“I guess your wife is one of those mistakes you’ve made,” she says.

He laughs heartily and says, “Yes...you know, one day, you will understand. Very soon...”

They can hear footsteps on the staircase. A moment later, Kim barges into the room.

“Oh there you are! Thought you came upstairs to use the loo.

It’s bad manners to leave your guests unattended to,” Kim tells Dave. She totally ignores Kathryn.

“Kim, it’s bad manners to barge into your host’s bedroom...”

Dave begins and Kim cuts him short.

“Barge? Have I not been coming here before? Why are you making it look like I’m a visitor here?” she asks him.

Kathryn looks on, amused.

“Kim, perhaps, I didn’t do a proper introduction. I’ll do that now. Meet my wife, Kathryn. I’ll appreciate you respect her,” he says, drawing Kathryn close.

“Your wife? Are you married?” Kim asks, mouth agape.

“Well, you now know I’m married,” Dave replies her.

Kathryn becomes more confused.

What happened to Dave’s wife? She needs to be more careful.

About an hour later, the visitors take their leave.

Phew!

The only thing on Kathryn’s mind is to go home. She’s tired out. She’ll call Ben as she leaves.

“Sweetheart, I have to leave now. It’s almost 11pm. Need to go hug my pillows at home,” Kathryn tells Dave after they have cleared the sitting room.

“Leave? To where? Is this house not comfortable enough for you? You ain’t going anywhere,” Dave says firmly.

“No darling, I’m going home,” she says.

“To meet the man you spoke to on the phone? No way,” he insists.

She picks her bag. Her phone is ringing. Ben is calling. ******* This is a tricky situation. Let’s meet here next Sunday to continue on this journey.

Send your observations to the email above.

21

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

&

Body&Soul

Nailing a flawless makeup Vanessa Okwara

T

aking solo pictures of oneself has become an instant hit since the addition of cameras to mobile phones. Now people take self- portraits or selfies with their smart phones and upload them instantly on social media for views and comments by friends and admirers The word ‘selfie’ has become so popular that the Oxford Dictionary adopted it into the English vocabulary in 2013.

Even Kim Kardashian is cashing in on the selfie fever. The 33-year-old reality starlet is releasing a 352-page book of her selfies titled ‘Selfish’.

Whether you’re snapping a selfie in your car or capturing the moment just before you step out for the day, ensure you look your best for a selfie, Here are tips and make-up essentials you can adopt so you can capture a flawless look whatever the occasion. · Avoid heavy textured SPF creams beneath your makeup as they can create a ‘flashback’, making you look washed out. · Make sure your brows are neat and groomed. A clean brow makes your overall look more polished. · Apply your eye makeup first, so stray eye shadow doesn’t mess up your foundation. Doing your eye makeup before you apply your foundation allows you to wipe away any eye shadow or mas-

cara residue that falls onto your cheeks without a trace. · After you’ve applied your shadow and liner of choice, swipe on a few coats of mascara · Contour and highlight your face.

Contouring is all about calling attention to your good features and shadowing the ones you don’t want to highlight. · Keep eyebrows full – thin brows can age your look and appear too harsh in photos. A full brow will actually look a little thinner in your picture. A strong eyebrow gives structure to your eyes and face. · Use a dark eye liner to create a more dramatic line around the rims of your eyes. You need a heavier line for the liner to show up in pictures, so don’t be afraid to wear more than usual for your shot. · Make lips look fuller by using a highlighter round the lips, then apply lipstick a shade paler than your lips. Use a tinted lip balm, moisturising lipstick, or a gloss for that luscious look. · Tidy up your make up by using your foundation brush to prep and perfect your powder. · Brush and tidy up your hair. Always tame the hair before taking a picture, because you don’t want your end result to look frizzy. · Practice your smile in the mirror before taking a picture to get the best smile for that award winning selfie.

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

n the psychology of colour, yellow is associated with laughter, happiness, optimism and good times.

Yellow outfits are trending this season. Fashionable ladies add a burst of the colour to their outfit, whether as a dress or accessories.

Everyone likes yellow but few people are bold enough to wear it. When you walk into a room in a yellow outfit, you will definitely get noticed. Yellow comes in interesting hues - mustard, canary, neon, marigold, lemon or pastel - to suit every skin tone. The key to looking good in yellow is making sure you wear the right shade for your skin tone.

Since yellow is a bright colour, you don’t need much of it to give your outfit just that bit of extra flair.

Yellow is also refreshingly versatile, as it can be worn casually or formally. You can wear yellow dresses for a red carpet event or simply throw in a yellow skirt or top for a casual outing.

Unfortunately, yellow does not work well for everyone. If you are one of the lucky women who can pull it off, the look can be fabulous. For the plus size ladies, don’t wear a headto-toe outfit in yellow as it will make you look bigger. Just pick one piece of clothing in yellow to bring proportion to your overall look and compliment it with darker colours to make you look slimmer.

Accessories are also a great way to add a splash of yellow colour. It could be a bag, shoes or statement necklace to help add colour to an otherwise dull outfit.

So, bring some sunshine

I

Vanessa Okwara

Brighten your day with yellow

Body&Soul

22

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23

SundayBusiness SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

News

Manufacturing moving from China to US –survey p.28

Transport

KIA Motors partners FCMB on auto finance scheme p.29

Interview

TV commercials: Nigeria loses million of dollers to S’ Africa p.27

Features

Pressure mounts on CBN over N400bn non-performing loans p.24

Shell’s major oil and gas terminal on Bonny Island in southern Nigeria’s Niger Delta

PHOTO:AFP

Stakeholders fret over oil price drop •Insist on diversification of country’s revenue base

T

Chijioke Iremeka

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

here has been widespread trepidation across the globe and among the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to which Nigeria belongs, that the precipitous drop in global crude oil price would hit between $60 and $70 per barrel before stabilising.

Taking precedence from the 2008 oil glut, while the price could overshoot on the downside, it is believed that the prices would continue to fall to between $60 and $70 per barrel before stabilising at level slightly above the $38 per barrel experienced in 2008, which inflicted shockwaves to the economic growth.

The International Energy Agency had on Tuesday said the world would experience weaker oil demand in 2015 than forecast previously, stating that the recent drop in price seemed supply and demand driven. It added that the drop would be needed for supply to take a hit or for demand growth to get a lift.

However, the oil price, which dropped at $88 per barrel as at Monday last week, further swung around $83 and $80 per barrel in the preceding week, making the above forecast on further drop seemly feasible.

The situation has raised fears about the Nigerian economy as many stakeholders have begun to re-echo the need for the diversification of the country’s revenue base. This is especially as the recent GDP rebasing has shown that the non-oil sector is capable of salvaging the economy.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,

“One of the motivations was to create jobs for the people so that they could be taxed since government depended on the taxes”

Godwin Emefiele, had admitted that the current global peg off in crude oil prices portended some risks for the country. He also said the 25 per cent downward drop from $112 in June to last week $86 per barrel calls for vigilance, though he noted that efforts are being made by relevant authorities to ensure that the country remains strong and healthy.

Also, as an indication that the non-oil sector can sustain Nigerian economic growth at 6.5 per cent or more, the CBN’s quarterly report revealed that the non-oil sector remained the main driver of growth, recording 6.71 per cent in Q2, 2014, 8.21 in Q1 and 8.88 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2013, while the oil sector grew by 5.14 per cent in the same quarter; a marked reversal from the decline recorded in the preceding four quarters.

On this heels of this disclosure, the stakeholders, who feared that the Nigerian-practiced mono-product economy with its dependency on crashing oil prices is no longer a solution to Nigerian economic woes, as the prevalent

situation would adversely affect her economy, especially her 2014 budget, which is under serious pressure.

Proverbially, this would further dispel some optimism among Nigerian experts, who reportedly claimed that the drop in the global oil price would not affect the country’s 2014 budget on the grounds that the budget was calculated on $77.5 benchmark per barrel, except it makes further downward dive to $60 per barrel.

Perhaps, this is the time for Nigeria’s economic managers to have a rethink and diversify the nation’s revenue base in order to avoid the looming danger that the situation would present next year, if the IEA’s forecast is anything to go by.

Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda Yusuf, said the price crash would mean a lot to Nigeria as it depends solely on the oil revenue for its expenditure and projects. He also said it is all the more worrisome that many of the 36 states depend on statutory allocation.

He noted that a situation whereby all Abuja and the state governments wait for revenue without developing other sectors is a strong reason why its effects would be dire for the Nigerian economy. He added that the exchange rate is a price determined by forces of supply and demand and Nigeria’s major supply is forex inflow, which comes from the oil.

Managing Director, Star Oil Servicing Venture, Lagos, Lekan Akanbi, said the way forward from the precarious situation is a conscious C ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 25

24

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Feature

Pressure mounts on CBN over N400bn non-performing loans DMBs “may have to watch their risk creation more carefully, as there will be no AMCON to take the burden off their books. AMCON’s position also means that there is likely to be some banks NPLs going above the CBN recommended five per cent limit by the end of 2013,”

CBN Governor, Emefiele

I

Paul Ogbuokiri n an update on the state of the economy and financial sector which was presented to the Bankers’ Committee recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed that the total banking industry impaired loans increased by 16.36 per cent to N400.57 billion in August 2014 from N344.26bn in August 2013.

Also, 66.84 per cent or N267.74bn in loan loss provisions had been made by banks in the country out of the figure.

However, the NPL ratio stood at 3.57 per cent as at August 2014, representing a decrease of 14 basis points compared with the corresponding period of August 2013.

Analysts say though the NPL portfolio is still within the threshold of five per cent of limit for non-performing loans stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, there is the need for Nigeria’s Deposit Money Banks to exercise caution and halt the increase, as the economy can ill-afford another round of distress in the sector.

This is especially now that the economy is on the verge of growth and needs a vibrant banking sector to support it.

Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane, in his monthly presentation at the Lagos Business School breakfast meeting said the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria’s purchase of banks’ non-performing loans till 2012 helped improve their balance sheets generally. The result was that most banks’ non-performing loans ratio was below five per cent.

He said that as the bad bank starts to wind down, selling its holdings, the DMBs “may have to watch their risk creation more carefully, as there will be no AMCON to take the burden off their books. AMCON’s position also means that there is likely to be some banks NPLs going above the CBN recommended five per cent limit by the

end of 2013,” he said.

Financial analyst with FutureView Financial Services Limited, Tochukwu Kemakolam, said the bad loans remain a pitfall that can sink the banking industry. He said when the management of a bank avoids it, the bank will remain healthy.

He said Nigerian banks would continue to record some growth, but must ensure that they do not cross the five per cent ceiling given by the CBN. He said the economy needs a strong, virile and vibrant banking sector to remain on the part of growth.

A lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Lagos, Dr. Ladi Al-Moruf, warned that this is not the time for the nation’s financial regulatory bodies to go to sleep, saying the recent gains made in corporate governance, risk management and close monitoring of the books of the Deposit Money Banks in the country to ensure that they continue to grow.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that two of the banks have already failed Capital Adequacy Ratio stress test, by failing to meet the 10 percent CAR stipulated in the Basal I and 11 Accord.

The CAR, also known as Capital to Risk (weighted) Assets Ratio (CRAR), is the ratio of a bank’s capital to its risk. Regulators track a bank’s CAR to ensure that it can absorb a reasonable amount of loss and comply with statutory capital requirements.

This ratio is used to protect depositors and promote the stability and efficiency of financial systems around the world. Two types of capital are measured: tier one capital, which can absorb losses without a bank being required to cease trading, and tier two capital, which can absorb losses in the event of a winding up and so provides a lesser degree of protection to depositors.

Nigeria joined other global banks to adopt the Basel I and Basel II Accord in response to the deficiencies in financial regulation re-

vealed by the financial crisis of 2007–2008.

The Basel Accord is a global, voluntary regulatory standard on bank capital adequacy, stress testing and market liquidity risk. It stipulates that banks meet the regulatory minimum CAR of 10 per cent.

A former president of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Nzekwe, said the authorities should not allow the Nigerian banking industry to slip back to the era of destructive libertarianism in the banking sector.

“If the report we are reading is true that CBN governor has lifted the ban on the creditor that caused the problems we had before, then, I think we need to exercise serious caution. We must not fall back to the era of insider dealings; bank chiefs were giving loans to themselves, giving unsecured loans to cronies and associates.

“Now that past actions of the apex bank which resulted in Nigeria having world class big, strong and solvent banks are being reversed. I hope we are not being taken back to the era of big empty banks that cannot meet their responsibilities to depositors. Somebody needs to reassure me that the trouble has not already started with the two banks failing the CAR stress test,” he said.

But the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, said in a recent update on the Nigerian banking industry that the DMBs in the sector remain adequately capitalised despite the N400.75bn NPLs. She said though two of the DMBs capital adequacy ratio has fallen below the 10 per cent prudential minimum stipulated under the Basel I and Basel II framework, the sector is nowhere close to any form of crisis.

Alade said the decline was due largely to increase in risk weighted assets, adding that under the Basel II framework, the industry Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 15.76 per cent as of the end of August 2014.

She also said that the industry liquidity ratio declined from 50.6 per cent at the end of December 2013 to 42.6 per cent by June 2014 due to the increased Cash Reserve Requirement.

She noted that by end-August 2014, the ratio stood at 43.87 per cent, adding that all the DMBs met the prudential minimum requirement of 30 per cent during the period

under review.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that the industry’s unaudited profit before tax decreased marginally by about 0.004 per cent from N385.68bn for the period January to August 2013 to N385.67 billion during the period January to August 2014.

Also, the return on equity (ROE) among banks declined to 2.39 per cent in August 2014 compared to 2.63 per cent in August 2013, while return on assets (ROA) dropped to 20.36 per cent in August 2014 compared to 22.47 per cent in August 2013.

She noted that the gross loans by Nigerian banks increased by 21.03 per cent from N9.278tn in August last year to N11.229tn in August 2014.

According to her, the average CAR of the rest of the banks was 17.75 per cent at the end of August 2014, as against 18.1 per cent at the same period of last year.

Alade attributed banks’ declining CAR largely to an increase in risk weighted assets.

Meanwhile, the CBN said it is closely monitoring the two lenders that failed the CAR stress test, even as the affected two banks, whose identities is yet to be made public; were said to have been directed by the central bank to recapitalise to meet the regulatory minimum.

The 48th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Adedoyi Owolabi, has urged the CBN to eliminate the signs of distress which have already crept into the sector. He urged the apex bank to make sure that before its next report, the two banks which failed the CAR stress test return back to the state of good health. He said whether it is just one or two that have shown signs of distress, “it is immaterial. The truth is that some of the banks have shown signs of ill-health.”

He called for the sustenance of the regulatory oversight of the sector. He warned that for the economy to witness any meaningful growth, “our banks must be resilient and solvent always. It is the banks that grow the economy, when they are weak the economy cannot grow.”

He further warned the central bank that it would not be in the best interest of the sector and the economy for the banks nonperforming loans to continue to grow.

He noted that the apex must not go to sleep because the non-performing loans of banks have not exceeded the five per cent threshold.

Under Lamido Sanusi, CBN in 2009 intervened to rescue 10 distressed lenders in the industry, after an examination of the banks showed that their CAR ranged between 1.01 and 7.41 per cent, while the NPLs of the 10 affected banks totalled N1.696tn, representing 44.38 per cent of total loans.

The development made the governor to on August 14, 2009, sack Erastus Akingbola of Intercontinental Bank Plc; Cecilia Ibru of Oceanic Bank International Plc; Barth Ebong of Union Bank Plc; Okey Nwosu of FinBank Plc; and Sebastian Adigwe of Afribank Plc. Meanwhile, the central bank last weekend announced that it had lifted the ban on the debtors of AMCON and other obligors in the banking industry, saying that followed several requests by the DMBs.

25

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stakeholders fret over oil price drop

CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 23 sectors can do more than

an enabling environment for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and other sectors to bridge the inevitable gap that would be created.

He noted that hope was heightened wihh reasonable growth in the Nigerian real sector, noting that the nonoil sector can actually contribute meaningfully to the economy growth, going by what obtains in the current rebased economy.

“The recurrent GDP rebasing has shown that these

what we think. We have to stop neglecting other sectors because of oil money.

Oil revenue has been threatened by so many economic forces. Look at the performance of Nollywood and entertainment. We need to give other sectors chance to prove themselves,” he said.

A public administrator, Dr. Leke Pitan, said, “The fall in the price will definitely affect Nigeria aggregate revenue.

It’s not controversial because when you sell below your margin price, it affects your economy, especially a mono-

product economy like ours.

“Also, I want to say that the government has not done well in the area of diversifying Nigeria’s revenue base.

A lot needs to be done in that regards. The drop in global oil price is a major issue that one has to pay attention to, if our policymakers would see it that way.”

According to the Managing Director, Hedonmak Management Services Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, before the discovery of oil, the focus of the leaders and managers was channelled to wealth creation.

He said the emphasis of government policies was moving dramatically in the direction of creating wealth or developing a stimulating environment for wealth creation. “Look at what they did with the regional governments in those days of agriculture and agricultural extension services among others. Recall the way the marketing boards organised agriculture, and how manufacturing was stimulated by government fixing industrial estates.

“One of the motivations was to create jobs for the

L-R: After Sales Supervisor, Patrick Alagia; Sales and Marketing Director, Kayode Adejumo; Administrative Director, Felix Lee; Sales Consultant ,Victor Oladele; Marketing Planner, Martin Odoemelam; all of CIG Motors after the inaugural test drive of GAC Brand of vehicles from Lekki in Lagos to International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan Oyo State recently.

Okunnola: A thriving world-class entrepreneur Habib Okunola, CEO of Tilt Construction Company Ltd is among a crop of young Nigerian enterpreneurs making a positive impact in the economy, writes TAI ANYANWU

F

irst time meeting with Habib Olalekan Okunnola, Chief Executive Officer, Tilt Construction Company, leaves one with the impression that he was born with a silver spoon. But like most young people who grew up in the cluster areas of Lagos metropolis inhabited by the less affluent members of society, Habib as he is fondly called, learnt the rudiments of success hawking on the streets of Ebute Meta.

Not deterred by his humble background, he got admitted to the University of Lagos where he bagged a first degree in Philosophy.

After graduation, he found himself among other young people who had to cope with the huge labour market.

But fired by the quest to quit the lower rungs of the social ladder, he identified an opportunity in the construction and real estate sector of Lekki axis of Lagos State. Today, he leads a team of other young Nigerian professionals making a difference in the real estate sector with Tilt Construction Company limited.

An advocate of youth development and empowerment, Habib has been a successful player in the real estate business for close to two decades.

“My vision is to someday

create an avenue whereby the average Nigerian can afford decent shelter and enjoy access to quality infrastructure leading to improved standards of living.”

Reputed for his philanthropic gesture, Habib continues to make a substantial impact in all the communities where he has investments.

This is a testimony to his favourite saying: “Empowerment is proof of wealth.”

He believes in team work and does not joke with the human resources available to his organisation. He explains; “Our greatest asset is our people. Our organisation has grown and developed highly motivated and dedicated staff at all levels in its hierarchy.

“Tilt Construction places great emphasis on attracting and retaining highly skilled and committed personnel so as to continually deliver exceptional output on our projects.

“We are very proud of our achievements thus far and our people whose skills, dedication and expertise have been recognised by a number of leading industry stakeholders,” he added.

Tilt Construction Company also parades modern project management methods which makes it possible to minimise

time constraints and ensure a balance on quality and cost.

Apart from leveraging on professionals services from the Tilt Construction team, Habib has also acquired an extensive in-house fleet of plants and equipment which could be effectively mobilised and relocated to the remotest environments where duty calls.

Some of the construction projects handled by the company include civil engineering work on the rehabilitation of Isiba Olowu in Lagos; construction of a Primary Health care Centre in Papa Epe, Lagos; a residential project at Sangotedo, Eti-Osa Locl Government Area, Lagos; and Woodgreen Estate, said to be the first green estate in Nigeria, located near Chevron, Lagos.

Others are the construction of North Finchely Garden, a private sector development by Lord Wingate at Waterfront, Lekki Peninsula Phase I. There is also East Finchely Garden Estate handled by Tilt Construction Company at llasan, Lekki.

From the densely populated Ebute Meta background, Habib has joined the league of celebrated entrepreneurs who can boast of having a corporate headquarters in the highbrow Lekki area of Lagos.

people so that they could be taxed since government depended on the taxes. When oil came, the government shunned factories and that has been the real downfall of the Nigerian economy.

“Then, manufacturing got to the point that it nearly contributed 13 per cent of the GDP. Today, we are deindustrialised and I believe that the manufacturing sector is less than 3 per cent of GDP. These are lacking today, and for us to run away from inherent oil pitfalls, we have to go back to the basics.”

According to an economic historian at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Elochuchu Anikwe, the diversification of the Nigerian economy is the only way out of inherent danger sleeping through winter, as a result of a drop in the crude oil price.

He noted that it is long overdue for Nigeria to revert and develop its non-oil sector.

“The drop in the oil revenue will be good for the economy, if it will force the government to push towards developing other sectors of the economy. This is a big problem for us because oil is the mainstay of

the economy.

“If oil were to contribute less than five per cent of the total GDP, nobody would panic over oil price crash.

Other countries that do not have oil are calm and doing their business.

Nevertheless, every little contribution made by any sector of the economy is a boost and an upward movement to the country’s purse.”

However, an Abujabased non –governmental organisation, Heinrich Boll Foundation, held a sevenday closed workshop on resource management and the possible end of oil era in the world. It urged Nigeria to diversify her revenue base to the non-oil sector.

Coordinator of the foundation, Ms. Christine K., warned that Shale oil discovery in America would soon make oil business unimportant in the world, especially by the countries that depend solely on oil production as their economic mainstay. She noted that since many countries are discovering alternative sources of energy, this is the more reason the oil price will further crash as demand for it is dropping.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Equities market tilts positive

T

he Nigerian equities market started the week on a positive note, gaining on the first 3 trading days vs. losses on the preceding eleven trading days.

This generally positive mood saw the NSEASI surge by 2.33% WoW (week on week) to bring the YtD (year to date) return to -5.42%, as market cap pegged at NGN12.906trn.

Despite the positive week, volume traded and market turnover dipped by 25.04% and 28.21% respectively WoW. COSTAIN led the gainers’ chart with a week on week return of 16.25% to close at NGN0.93 (vs. NGN0.80 in previous week). NEIMETH, LEARNAFRCA, NASCON and NEM followed suit with gains of 13.27%, 10.69%, 10.43% and 10.14% in that order.

On the flip side, UNILEVER was the largest decliner, with 12.76% loss week on week to close at NGN40.00 (vs. NGN45.85 in previous week). PZ, PRESCO, CUTIX and RTBRISCOE followed suit with 11.01%, 9.72%, 6.91% and 5.62% losses accordingly.

We expect the market to maintain the positive sentiment as all sector records gains for the week. More investors are expected to take position to benefit from the current low prices.

Banking Sector: Positive trading in line with market mood

There was a remarkable turnaround in the banking sector in the week as positive sentiments in the market seeped into the sector, resulting in a 3.64% gain for the week. Overall, there were only three price losers for the week, (STERLNBANK -5.11%, FCMB -2.62% and WEMABANK -1.05%), while the 11 gainers were led by DIAMONDBNK (+7.88%), UBA (+6.99%) and ZENITHBANK (+5.56%), with UNITYBNK trading flat. The gains in this week were largely on the back of attractive entry prices following weeks of persistent losses recorded in the sector.

GUARANTY released their Q3:2014 results during the week, in which the bank posted a 9.48% increase in its gross earnings, as interest and non-interest income grew by 8.19% and 11.88% in that order. The bank retained its industry cost leadership position as its cost-toincome ratio pegged at 43.99% for the period, albeit weaker than the 41.86% recorded in the previous year owing to an 11.30% increase in operating expenses. The effect of the provision taken in the Q2:2014 was still evident in the bank’s result, with loan loss expenses recorded at 128.10% over the corresponding period of 2013 acting to depress earnings after tax by 3.61% YoY. We expect a level of cautious trading in coming weeks, as well as minimal profit taking as sentiments towards banking sector stocks remain uncertain as investors’ price in the effects of regulatory reforms.

Industrial Goods: Reign of the Bulls

Reversing the WoW losing streak, the sector treaded in the positive as six stocks closed positive, two closed negative and others traded flat. CAP led the gainers advancing by 5.13% following three weeks of calm activities on the counter. ASHAKA, WAPCO, PORTPAINT, CCNN, and DANGCEM followed suit gaining 5.12%, 4.39%, 3.51%, 3.50%, and 1.42% respectively. Losers for the week were CUTIX and BERGER dipping 6.91% and 4.94% in that other.

First Aluminum Nigeria Plc. (FIRSTALUM) released Q3:2014 results, declaring 0.41% dip in Cost of Sales, 53.23% dip in OPEX, and 34.46% decline in Finance Expense. Operating Profit grew by 111.56%, as Turnover and Profit After Tax increased by 0.02% and 118.91% respectively.

In line with our expectations, buy-rally on CAP on the heels of its strong Q3:2014 figures was witnessed during the week. Though coming late in the week, it was enough to drive the stock to the top of the sector’s gainers chart. We expect positive results from the remaining sector stocks to further trend returns on the sector high.

…as NSEASI gained 2.33%

while MRS and CONOIL closed flat.

Base on the current price obtainable in the market, OANDO topped our recommendation list for the sector. We also believe there are upside potentials in ETERNA and TOTAL and maintain our overvalued position on FO and MRS.

Insurance Sector: Bullish investment in the insurance sector

Consumer Good Sector: NB declared NGN194.73bn 9 Month turnover

The sector experienced a positive turn around as the NSEFB10 appreciated by 0.75%. NASCON took a surprising lead of the sector’s gainers chart with 10.43% W-o-W appreciation, other advancers for the week include DANGSUGAR, HONYFLOUR, NESTLE, NB, GUINNESS and INTBREW with 9.22%, 3.64%, 2.75% 1.94%, 1.11% and 1.02% gains respectively. PZ and UNILEVER were the only counters in the losers chart declining by 11.01% and 12.76% W-o-W in that order.

Nigerian Breweries Plc. (NB) posted NGN194.73bn turnover for 2014:Q3 in the course of the week, implying a revenue growth to 2.33% (compared to NGN190.30bn in 2013:Q3). Cost of sales inched up slightly by 1.89% to peg cost to sales ratio at 51.24%.

Driven by a 35.17% significant decline in finance charges, Profit before tax (PBT) and Profit after tax (PAT) expanded by 10.52% and 11.29% accordingly. The premium beer maker declared an interim dividend of NGN9.5bn translating into NGN1.25 dividend per share and a dividend yield of 0.74%. We believe this weak top-line expansion may be linked to the keen competition within the sector and the sustained slowing growth in the Nigerian beer market.

Also, CADBURY posted NGN23.31bn revenue for the 3rd quarter of the year 2014,

compared to previous period this figure represent a 12.18% decline in turnover. PBT and PAT contracted significantly by 56.62% and 57.35% accordingly. We think this unimpressive performance may be attributed to the competitive operating environment and the security concerns in the north. The Conglomerates sector also enjoyed the positive market mood, with AGLEVENT and UACN gaining 9.02% and 5.4%5 respectively during the week’s trading session.

We expect more earnings releases to drive sector performance in the coming week, though the overall market trend will go a longer way in shaping returns in the coming week.

Oil and Gas: Oando rebounds

The oil and gas sector rebound from the previous week decline advancing by 1.79% to peg the YtD return at 20.94%. Investors took advantage of the low prices as positive sentiment spread across the sectors counters.

OANDO reversed its previous week position by topping the gainers’ chart in the industry with 10.09% return WoW. SEPLAT also recoup some of the previous weeks’ loses, advancing by 4.69% to close at NGN574.00 still below its NGN576.00 listing price, the decline is not unconnected with the global drop in crude oil prices. MOBIL, FO, ETERNA and TOTAL also returned positive with gains of 2.08%, 1.44%, 1.33% and 1.17% respectively

The insurance sector consolidated on recent gains, as the MERI-INS Index indicates that the sector surged marginally by 0.65% week on week to peg the YtD return for the sector at 16.14%.

The sector breadth (4.00x) titled in favour of gainers as 4 stocks appreciated in price against 1 decliners, while other counters remain flat for the week. NEM led the gainers chart in the sector with a 10.14% gain, to peg its price at NGN0.76 (vs. NGN0.69 in the previous week). AIICO, CUSTODYINS and CONTINSURE joined the gainers list by appreciating by 3.85%, 2.30% and 1.10% in that order.

On the flip side, MANSARD was the only counter that shed points, declining by 0.33% W-o-W as it closed at NGN2.98 (vs. NGN2.99 in the previous week). All other counters traded flat.

We expect the positive sentiment for the sector to persist as the low volatility in the sector might appeal to investors looking to preserve capital. NEM and AIICO remain our top picks, just as we expect MANSARD to enjoy favourable market sentiment even as it trades at its fair price.

Healthcare Sector: NEIMETH gains 13.27% in 3 trading days

The MERI-HLTH index reduced its loss momentum in the week, shedding 3.50% compared to 8.05% loss posted the previous week to peg the YtD return at 20.36%, even as most of the counters in the sector closed flat. The sector breadth favoured the profit takers at 0.5x as one stock advanced against two stocks that shed points.

NEIMETH posted gains three out of the five trading days to return 13.27% Week-on-Week while MAYBAKER and GSK declined by 5% and 3.57% respectively.

The companies in the sector are yet to release their Q3:2014 numbers, but we expect these results to drive activities in the sector in subsequent weeks. Whilst we await Q3 earnings releases, FIDSON and GLAXOSMITH remain our top picks at their current levels.

Services Sector: Hospitality Stocks drives the Bull North…as LEARN AFRICA dips in Earnings.

The services sector ended the week on a positive note with a market breadth of 4.0X WoW as 8 stocks gained as against 2 stock that lost while 7 stocks traded flat.

LEARNAFRICA came tops with 10.69% followed by IKEJAHOTEL, TRANSCORP, ABCTRANS, REDSTAREX, UPL, CAVERTON and NAHCO with 7.96%, 6.61%, 6.15%, 3.75%, 3.50%, 0.72%, 0.20% in that order. Conversely, RT BRISCOE topped the losers chart with 5.62%, followed by ASL with 4.19% while ACADEMY, C&I LEASING, LENNARDS, NSLTECH, STUDPRESS, TANTALIZER, TRANSEXPR all traded flat.

In another development, LEARN AFRICA PLC and TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC released their Q3:2014 results. LEARN AFRICA witnessed a positive Turnover, Cost of sales and Gross profit of 24.68%, 10.47% and 64.80% respectively but dipped in Profit after Tax by 6.69% as a result of the rise in its Operating expenses by 6.10%.

TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC also recorded positives in their Turnover, Cost of sales and Gross Profit albeit marginally with 1.44%, 2.33% and 0.83% in that order but declined in Profit after Tax by 45.39% as a result of a combination of increase in OPEX and finance cost which rose by 10.41% and 15.87% correspondingly.

27

27

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sundayinterview

Looking at this industry in the past three decades and what it is today, how would you assess its progress, challenges and impacts on Nigerian economy?

Let me start by saying that I started practising in the industry since 1985 after I graduated. While I was schooling in USA, I was doing a bit of it. In terms of challenges, I think there were a couple of challenges in the earlier years of the industry.

Then, Nigerian companies, especially the advertising agencies, do not believe in using local talents to shoot their television commercials. They weren’t using local companies too. At a point, when they wanted to shoot any commercials, they move to South Africa. That is, shooting Nigerian commercials in South Africa, Egypt and other countries, using exotic people as models to represent Nigeria.

And this practice took away a lot of jobs from Nigeria, which means revenue to the country. It was a major challenge to contend with then. Also, there was a case of devaluation of naira at the time, which made everything not to work.

When you got a job of about N200, 000, it would seem like £4,000. In those days, looking at the exchange rate, you would discover that this was not going to do anything meaningful. It was a major challenge to the industry then, especially when you needed to shoot the film and go for postproduction abroad.

But the most recent challenge has been that of equipment profile. In the last 10 years, equipment has changed so dramatically that one can’t keep up with the new wave of equipment coming out every day.

In the recent past, most film productions were done, using cinema tabloid, 35 and 15milimeter cameras. Whoever was going to use the camera, would be trained properly on how to use it. Then, it took years to go to schools to become a cinematographer but now, it has become an all-comers’ affair because technology has made it such that all sorts of cameras are coming out.

There are N4,000 cameras and cameras on cell phones in which one can actually shoot a movie with, but the difference lies in the dissemination of the video.

Like I said, equipment profile has been liberalised and everybody is now a filmmaker. It’s a challenge. For instance, 30 years ago, editing facilities and equipment cost like over £100, 000 but you can get a desktop computer, which is a co-editing machine for N200, 000. Technology is good but has affected the industry.

What are the challenges with the new wave of technology in the industry?

The industry is in trouble in terms of what it should be. I think technology is really the problem of most industries in the world. In most industries, people are being driven out and replaced with technology.

I love technology but it’s harming humanity. After all, it was from the same technology that I could have made tonnes of millions of pounds some years back. I’m an investor and I have a UK patent for an invention, which was for a computer mouse cleaner that I invented in 2007.

That product could have sold many millions except for the fact that technology came and brought about a new kind of mouse that uses light under instead of a ball and this stalled my invention. But I’m very proud to be an inventor with a UK patent, which not many Nigerians have.

Technology is going to be the end of society. There are many things that you saw when you were growing up as a young child that your unborn children might not see again as a result of technology.

Yes, technology is helping the society, but also has its effects on the society. Before the advent of cell phones, people used to talk to each other and have time for one another.

Again, when cell phones came, people still talked to one another and made calls once in a while.

But when the smart phone arrived, the behaviour changed. Now, we spend over

TV commercials: Nigeria loses million of dollars to S’ Africa

Busola Holloway is the Managing Director, Image ProFilms Limited, Lagos and the ex-President, Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria. In this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, he says the industry is being threaten by technology, which hurts the industry don’t have the same attitude required.

I might want to shoot a home movie now and place a camera in front of the character for like 15 seconds before cutting. But I can’t do that in a commercial because I have to employ different cameras, moving around the person and doing different cuts, up to six different cuts within that 15 seconds. Shooting a commercial is an extremely difficult thing to do and it takes a lot of know-how.

So, in which of them does Image Profilms belong?

Well, my company is a film production company. We also produce TV documentaries and commercials. We have been in this business for years. We have done quite a number of jobs for Lagos State in a number of festive periods and carnivals.

We have done quite a few documentaries for Nigerian LNG. We do publicity of all sorts and marketing. Now, we are getting more to social media marketing as well.

Like I said earlier, the world is changing; the same way the publicity is done is changing as well. So, we are changing too, going into the new media.

Busola

“That is, shooting Nigerian commercials in South Africa, Egypt and other countries, using exotic people as models to represent Nigeria...And this practice means revenue to the country” 40 per cent of our time looking at smart phones, doing one thing or the other on the phone. We don’t pay attention to each other anymore. Now, instead of concentrating on your driving, you are pressing phones, and texting messages. All these, we didn’t do before.

It’s so bad, that now in China, they have started creating lanes for pedestrians, who are telephone addicts because they always bump into other road users. So, if you going to be pressing your phone, while on the road, then walk on this lane. I love technology but it’s harming humanity.

Is the local content challenge you mentioned still the same or it has changed?

It’s a lot more challenging than in the olden days. It’s not only in this industry though; it’s being experienced in other sectors of the Nigerian economy. This is because many content owners want to shoot abroad.

One of the reasons encouraging the practice is that most of the people involved in it have travel opportunities afforded them by their companies. At least, two weeks in South Africa, where they are pampered and spoilt in hotels.

Again, those ones are already overloaded with contracts. So, they have a lot to spoil producers with when they get there.

Two, they don’t own equipment like we do here, rather they go and hire.

So, they have excess money to take these women out there and spoil them.

They have yearly allowance for travel. So, you can imagine one who has N200, 000 to shoot a TV commercial locally and another who is lodged and paid N70, 000 per day in a hotel.

He will always want to push to shoot abroad so that he would make extra money from it. Also, I will not deny the fact that there are good quality commercials that they get from abroad but I tell you that the same quality can be got here if they spend half of the amount they spend in South Africa in Nigeria. I have seen young people who are very brilliant that can do that same thing here.

Now, when you mention TV commercials, what does it entail?

A television commercial is a form of advertising in which goods, services, organisations and ideas among others are promoted via the medium of television. Most commercials are produced by an outside ad agency and airtime is purchased from the channels or networks in exchange for the sponsorship of its programming.

Producing a TV commercial is not as easy as carrying a camera and placing in front of a character. You are going to do script writing, casting and getting the right people for the job and you will shoot at different locations.

If you are looking for a commercial that would run for 60 seconds, believe me, sometimes, it takes more work to shoot a 60 seconds commercial than it takes to shoot a two-hour film. Each commercial of about 60 seconds might probably has about 30 cuts at 30 different units that make up 60 seconds. And each unit takes like two seconds cuts and you will be looking at two seconds, while editing the film.

Not everybody can shoot a TV commercial. Those who shoot home movies cannot actually shoot commercials because they

The movie and entertainment industry contributed a certain percentage to the recently rebased GDP of Nigeria. Talking about the high cost of equipment, has government done anything to reduce duties and encourage producers?

I don’t know if government has subsidised duty. They have never done that before.

But recently, the Federal Government said it would give some entertainment funds, which a few people have tapped into. But right now, it’s difficult to get through that.

Yes, the equipment we use are very expensive but I have learnt one thing in the course of this job. You don’t have to own everything in this industry. You don’t have to buy every kind of camera. You don’t have to buy every type of editing machine.

I used to change cameras when there were few of them available. We chase after them in order to do a better job. But right now, there are greater ones coming and I decided not to chase after them anymore because if you buy one in January,

by March, the older version is out. And

by June, the grandfather is out again. So, by then, the January camera would have become obsolete.

You possibly need to wait until you have a need for them, then you can hire.

It’s another major challenge. If you go to the UK, for instance, my counterparts there don’t own equipment. They hire from those equipment houses, where people hire equipment to do their works.

We have some places like that here in Nigeria but they don’t have enough. So, I don’t need to tie my money down on equipment that I’m not using at the moment. When I need it, I hire.

What happens to the obsolete ones?

I usually donate the obsolete ones to higher institutions for their trainings. I have three cameras that I’m about to donate to the University of Lagos for their students to learn with. I have done quite a lot in past.

The equipment are not dead but can be used for training. They possibly cannot be used for professional work.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Personality

Manufacturing moving from China to US –survey

Obamaen. wikipedia.org

W

ashington (AFP) - Large manufacturers are increasingly moving production back to the United States from China, according to a new report by The Boston Consulting Group released Thursday.

In the third annual survey of US-based senior executives at manufacturing companies with annual sales of at least $1 billion, the number of respondents who said their companies were currently reshoring to the US from China increased 20 percent from a year ago.

“Given the fact that China’s wage costs are expected to grow, do you expect your company will move manufacturing to the United States?” the August survey asked executives at an unspecified number of companies that currently manufacture in China.

The executives who said “Yes, we are already actively doing this” rose to roughly 16 percent in the “Made in America, Again” survey in August from 13 percent a year earlier and seven percent in the first survey in the series, in February 2012.

After watching the US bleed jobs for years as manufacturers offshored production to China, “now we’re watching a switchback,” Harold Sirkin, a co-author of the BCG research, told AFP. The Boston-based global management consulting firm said the online survey was

“These findings show that not only does interest in repatriating production to the US and creating American jobs remain strong but also that companies are acting on those intentions” conducted across a wide range of industries, from electronic and computer equipment to transportation machinery, petroleum refining, apparel and food products.

Almost all of the decision makers work for companies that manufacture in the US and overseas and make products for both US and non-US consumption, BCG said, without identifying the companies. The overall survey drew 252 responses.

The number of executives who said their companies would “consider” moving production back to the US from overseas in the near future climbed by about 24 percent.

Increasing labour costs in China’s factories are pushing some American companies to consider mov …

More than half -- 54 percent -- of the respondents said they were interested in

Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao

reshoring production to the US, roughly the same percentage as a year ago.

More than 70 percent cited better access to skilled labor as a reason to move production to the US, more than four times as many who cited it for moving production away from the US. For goods that would be sold in the US, nearly 80 percent gave shorter supply chains and reduced shipping costs as a motive for reshoring.

In addition, 71 percent said it was easier to do business in the world’s largest economy and about 75 percent said the move provided local control over manufacturing processes and improved quality and yield.

“These findings show that not only does interest in repatriating production to the US and creating American jobs remain strong but also that companies are acting on those intentions,” Sirkin said in a statement.

China’s waning share predicted Looking at plans for shifting production in five years, respondents said that an average 47 percent of total production would be in the US, a seven percent increase from last year’s responses.

Cutbacks in China were projected to be sharp, down to 11 percent of total production capacity, a decrease of 21 percent from the 2013 survey.

Declines were also predicted for Mexico (-5.0 percent), Western Europe (-19 percent) and the rest of Asia (-22 percent), whereas a 23 percent increase was seen for the rest of the world.

The survey found the United States has topped neighboring Mexico as the most likely destination for new capacity to serve the US market.

Tied roughly even last year, at 26 percent each, this year 27 percent of executives cited the US, while 24 percent favored Mexico. A strong majority of respondents -- 72 percent -- plan to invest in additional automation or advanced manufacturing technologies in the next five years, saying that would allow them to cut costs, boost competitiveness and allow them to benefit from being closer to suppliers and customers.

“The US is strongly positioned to benefit from manufacturers that seek to increase regionalization, especially as automation costs decline,” BCG said.

The future looked brighter for employment, too. Fifty percent of the executives expected US manufacturing jobs growth of at least five percent in the next five years, compared with 17 percent who anticipated net job losses. http://news.yahoo.com/manufacturing-moving-china-us-survey065217238--finance.html

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Transport

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER , 2014

KIA Motors partners FCMB on auto finance scheme

K

Paul Ogbuokiri IA Motors Nigeria says it has sealed an alliance with First City Monument Bank to offer an auto loan to its teeming customers.

The company said the collaboration with FCMB was on developing financing options that would help customers own the KIA brand from as low as N47,400 monthly.

It noted that the collaboration comes with flexible payment plan options, free insurance, FCMB a goody bag and free vehicle

registration.

“Woven into this auto finance scheme is the standard five year warranty on all KIA vehicles,” it said, adding that the new alliance with FCMB is an integral pillar of Kia’s business strategy to make it possible for the public to own a Kia brand with the best auto financing schemes.

Speaking at the media launch, the Deputy Marketing Manager, KIA Motors Nigeria, Peter Ayewoh, said the alliance with FCMB has gone through a rigorous perusal aiming at giving the very best in auto financing

scheme to customers. He further said that the scheme would be able to strengthen Kia’s foothold in the country and consolidate its position in the automobile retail industry.

Executive Director, Lagos and South West, FCMB, Mr. Olufemi Bakre, explained that the partnership was borne out of an alliance between the two institutions.

He further said: “FCMB has been a well acclaimed industry leader in consumer loan offering and this finance scheme is a viable alliance aimed at furthering the frontiers

of delivering an exceptional customer experience.” He said by unifying its efforts towards delivering quality automobile technology and making it affordable to customers in partnership with FCMB, Kia would be able to provide its vehicles via the auto financing loan.

“Rooted in the stylishly sophisticated technology and affordability of its products, Kia is profoundly committed to realising advanced technology capable of emerging as the best auto manufacturing company in the world over. By mobilising its proven strengths in the domain of auto manufacturing, KIA will continue to supply quality vehicles to align with the aspirations of customers and exceed their expectations,” Bakre said.

“FCMB has been a well acclaimed industry leader in consumer loan offering and this finance scheme is a viable alliance aimed at furthering the frontiers of delivering an exceptional customer experience”

Auto Clinic

Safety tips for teen drivers

W L-R: Executive Director, FCMB, Lagos and South-West; Mr. Femi Bakre; General Manager, Sales, KIA Motors Nigeria, Mr. Amargeet Singh; Divisional Head, Retail Banking, FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu; Head, Retail Asset, Product Consumer Asset Team, FCMB, Olajire Awofisibe; and Deputy Marketing Manager, KIA Motors Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ayewoh, during the inauguration of KIA Motors Nigeria/FCMB Alliance on auto loans.

GIC Motors unveils selling points

C

IG Motors unveiled its selling points of GAC brand of vehicles to key media stakeholders during a one-day test-drive exercise from Lekki – Epe Expressway to Akobo, Ibadan via the LagosIbadan Expressway recently.

CIG Motors, the sole representative for GAC brand of vehicles in Nigeria, initiated the test drive as part of the brand’s elaborate plans to launch itself fully into the Nigerian auto market.

Addressing newsmen from major media houses in Nigeria at the IITA conference Centre in Ibadan, Sales and Marketing Director of CIG Motors, Mr. Kayode Adejumo, said the exercise was the first major attempt by his company to formally unveil the GAC brand to the public. He said this was a way of getting Nigerians and prospective customers to gain insight into the unique selling points of the brand.

He stated that the launch of GAC brand of vehicles into the country was informed by the need to offer Nigerians the best from China with the highest standards applied in vehicle manufacturing giving value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed.

“We are here to offer Nigerians the best from China with the highest Standard

applied in vehicle manufacturing giving value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed,” he stated.

He said the first set of models to be launched into the market which were used during the test drive exercise are GS5 2.0L engine, the mid luxury SUV, currently the flagship.

He listed the selling points as: Advanced

world-class factory; Stamping: Automation in the whole assembly process, security and accuracy implemented; welding: precision cast with the steel frame, without the slightest error; painting: Superior quality, environmental protection and energy saving; and integrated assembly: adjustable production, high efficiency and high quality.

Renault Nigeria woos patrons R

enault Nigeria has lent credence to a graphic representation of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, which was put together by renowned Nigerian photographer, George Osodi.

Titled ‘Transgrexion;’ the photo exhibition profiles Osodi’s prolific photographic career, showcasing iconic photographs that documents oil crisis in the Niger Delta communities as well as aesthetic images of life in Lagos.

The exhibition is organized by Art House – The Space and is ongoing at the Renault Showroom Victoria Island Lagos.

George Osodi is also spotlighting the

fascinating beauty, struggle and uniqueness of contemporary Nigerian culture.

Also as part of the show, Renault is offering cash discount and free service packages for three years or 50, 000 kilometres (whichever comes first) for every Renault Duster sport utility vehicle purchased during the exhibition. Renault Duster is priced from N3.6m.

A prolific photographer and author, George Osodi had in one of his books, ‘Delta Nigeria – The rape of Paradise’ create awareness for environmental degradation in the Niger Delta – an accomplishment that distinguishes him as a leading international photographer.

hether you’re just getting ready to hit the road or have been driving for months―or even years―now, take some time to review these eight safe driving tips. n Keep Your Cell Phone Off Multiple studies indicate using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of driving drunk―that’s even when using a hands-free phone. Besides, your state may prohibit the use of cell phones while driving. Many do for drivers of certain ages. n Don’t Text Research shows texting―on average― causes a loss of focus on the road for five seconds. A lot can go wrong in those five seconds. Don’t try the “texting-while-stopped” approach, either, as many states ban texting while behind the wheel. And, when you have your head down, you won’t notice key developments that may occur, even when you’re stuck at a red light. n Turn on Your Headlights Doing so can increase your visibility and help other drivers see you, even on sunny days. n Obey the Speed Limit Speeding causes about 40% of all fatal teen accidents. That’s especially true when driving on roads with lots of traffic or you’re not familiar with. Don’t feel pressured to keep up with traffic if it seems like everyone else is flying by you. Driving a safe speed helps ensure your well-being, and keeps you away from costly traffic tickets that can cause a sharp hike in your auto insurance premiums. n Minimize Distractions It may be tempting to eat, drink, flip around the radio dial, or play music loudly while you’re cruising around town; however, all can cause your mind or vision to wander, even for a few seconds. And, that can be enough for an inexperienced driver to lose control of your car, or not notice an obstacle in the road.

Source: DMV.org

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sunday/ Business

Between age and success (2) Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

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ast week, in discussing the above-stated topic, I cited examples of young persons that were taking the world by surprise, with their astonishing records of success.

The idea was to challenge young persons out of their comfort zones and set them on the course of engaging their potential to the fullest, with a view to living a successful life.

However, it is possible for an old person who didn’t ‘do exploits’ in his or her youth, to wonder if he is out of time. If you are one of such persons or know anybody like that, here is an appropriate word.

In his 70s, Ronald Reagan was president of the United States of America.

Boris Pasternak, Russian lyric poet and novelist, wrote his first novel at age 66.

At 107, Johannes ‘Jopi’ Heesters, Dutch-born opera singer, was still good at what he did. He was reputed at some point to have said, “I want to be at least 108-years-old.”

As a sign of the indefatigability of his commitment to a successful life, he said, “Should I just sit at home and wait until they come and pick

me up?”

The oldest person to have climbed Mount Everest was said to have done so at 71. These days, a lot of young people hardly survive an endurance trek. Friend, it is not about the muscle, but about the mind.

According to Thelma Mariano, in the work ‘Great Achievers Over 55,’ “Jack Benny, the comedian, retired from his successful TV show when he was 71.”

It was at 70 that Noah Webster wrote the famous Webster Dictionary.

At 81, Benjamin Franklin helped in the framing of the Constitution of what has turned out to be the world’s foremost nation, the United States of America.

John Glenn became the oldest person ever to travel to outer space when, at 77, he returned to space.

Though he had done that three decades earlier, who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks?

At 73, Helen Keller, blind and deaf, wrote a book titled, ‘Teacher.’

She was the one who when asked what was worse than blindness said, “To have sight without vision.” Oh my God! Montalcini, at 101, was still active in her field of neurobiology. She was, in 1986, along with her lab colleague, awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

At 83, the famous Thomas Edison applied for a patent. How then can age be a barrier to success?

KFC was founded by Colonel Sanders at 65. He went on to be-

come a millionaire.

George Bernard Shaw, playwright, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature at 69, was at work on a comedy when he died at 94. Even at the point of death, he was still committed to success.

Micheangelo was said to be in his late 80s when he painted some of his masterpieces.

Friend, it was George Burns who said, “You don’t get old as long as you are working.”

Let’s come home.

Our own Chinua Achebe wrote his last book, “There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra” at 82.

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, at 77 was reported to be eyeing a Ph.D, whereas, many young persons in our universities are abusing the opportunity of education.

Away from Nigeria, Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa at 74. He remains the most loved by the people of South Africa and the world over, even in death.

Dear friend, ‘OLD’ is not synonymous with ‘COLD.’ ‘GREY’ is not synonymous with ‘GRAVE.’ AGE should not be a CAGE. Spread your wings and fly. You are destined for the top most top. See you there. Bye! REFERENCES: n China Daily 02/14/2011 page10; n Thelma Mariano, in the work ‘Great Achievers Over 55’. n www.google.com

Keys to success The Big Picture Julian Atufunwa 08032810713 (SMS only)

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did promise last week to list out laws of mentoring and qualities of a good mentor. Are you wondering why I chose the above title? Well, mentoring is one of the keys to success; involving yourself in a mentoring relationship makes success thrice as fast.

I did say that mentoring is the transmitting and impacting of knowledge, wisdom and skills to another of lesser experience.

Mentoring is beneficial, because it creates a higher level of knowledge.

It builds your self-worth, creates an open door, saves time and money, reduces frustration and increases your level of success and productivity.

A mentoring relationship should not be confined to mentors you can see but also mentors you may never meet face to face but whose works, books and audio-visual materials transmit wisdom.

Qualities of a good mentor n A good mentor should possess more wisdom and experience. n A good mentor is available to share his or her knowledge willingly (respect your mentor’s time). n A mentor should never dominate the protégé or mentee.

n He or she should always inspire and motivate the protégé. n A good mentor should be transparent enough to give full in-depth wisdom to a protégé - there have been cases where the mentor gave 99 per cent of information and left one per cent out.

Laws of mentoring Be reminded that laws are universal facts of life that hold true everywhere. Different areas of life are governed by different laws. Take out time to study laws that work for what you are doing.

These are some of the laws of mentoring n Law of Focus: It says that both parties involved in mentoring relationship should pay most attention to the objectives and look away from the flaws of the mentor or protégé. Perfection should not be expected, just focus on his or her grace and skill, knowledge and experience; not on his or her personal issues. We all have issues. n Law of Restricted Responsibility: This law says the mentor should not compel the protégé. It is the duty of the mentor to train, advise and impact but never force the protégé to follow his/her pattern.

Your principles may be the same but methods vary. The protégé must not be forced to do it the way you are doing it. n Law of Openness: The mentor should be open enough to share his/her mistakes and successes with the protégé. n Law of Risk: Life is a risk. To build a relationship with someone is a risk. Mentoring cannot succeed if

you are not willing to run a risk with people, because of past mistakes or mistrust. This law is relative to both parties, that is the mentor and the protégé. n Law of Mutual Protection: The parties involved in mentoring relationship should protect and guard each other’s reputation and confidence. The mentor should protect and defend the protégé and later discipline or reprimand in private. The protégé must never join parties to criticise or utter any word against the mentor. The protégé or mentee should vehemently defend and detest any actions against the mentor even when he is wrong. n Law of Independence: The objective of a mentor is to build a responsible individual who should be able to stand on his/her own to take decisions based on his developed capacity. The protégé should not be dependant on the mentor. n Law of Inspection: This law says that the mentor should monitor and follow up on the progress of the protégé. The protégé is also expected to leave feedback. n Law of Communication: The most important aspect of mentoring is the impartation of spirit. Therefore, when you are face to face with your mentor or any wise person, it is advisable you keep quiet and just listen. Words are spirits and alive.

Ask questions, relevant questions that could prompt your mentor to speak more (but respect his or her time). Allow your mentor to flow, do not want to prove that you know.

Make sure you have a note pad to write down what you hear.

080395121535 (SMS only)

…And the sucker punch happened

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t was celebration galore for the Nigerian military last week following a widely announced ceasefire, purportedly reached between Boko Haram negotiators and representatives of the Nigerian government. The airwaves were jammed with the report and the social media space buzzed as most hoped that finally respite had finally come for beleaguered Nigeria that seemed to be unsure of how to win the war on terror.

But I was one of the few that were not excited by the ceasefire announcement and I had very good reasons. Those who read this column last week would understand this better. For those who didn’t, I may just take a paragraph or two to explain.

On this page last week, we had argued that the government of Nigeria was employing propaganda ‘much too much’ in its efforts to contain the ignoble Boko Haram sect. We had contended that propaganda, as far as this kind of war is concerned, serves the interest of the terrorists more than the legitimate institution of state. We gave a few examples, including how the United States left Osama bin Laden alone on the propaganda podium while strategically and quietly plotting his execution. We said what the Nigerian military should do is talk less and work more. Of course, that is what is expected of a military with a robust intelligence unit.

Are you now seeing why I rejected the excitement that followed what I may just call the ‘ceasefire that never existed?’ You see, it was terribly wrong for the Nigerian government to have been the one to make the announcement on the ceasefire, even if there was one. The impression that gave was that the Nigerian army was battle-weary and in desperate need of a truce with the rampaging terrorists.

This is simple negotiation psychology. If you

want to give the impression that you have the upper hand in something as ordinary as a business negotiation, you work to ensure the other guy yields first. You can even work to put the cost of announcing the deal on him. You are the stronger partner. He is the one that NEEDS the business and not you.

In boxing, you do not ask the referee to stop the match when you know you are higher on points.

Even if you are tired, you just keep jumping around the ring, waiting for your opponent to wear out.

The worst thing that the Nigerian military did was to be the one to announce the ceasefire.

Even if there was one, those who negotiated the truce on behalf of government should have known that it was the call of Boko Haram to make such an announcement.

This did not happen and we are all living with the embarrassing outcome. Boko Haram has taken the lives of many innocents ever since.

They have sustained the regime of abductions and our military are left to look like weak liars. This could have been avoided had somebody not been in too much hurry to appear effective.

I have said it here before and I will repeat it today. The war on terror is not fought in the media. During World War II, Sir Winston Churchill was famously credited to have mobilised Britons to push back the invading German forces with this quote: “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

This was war propaganda. And it was (still is) useful in wars where battle lines are drawn.

The war on terror is won on the intelligence space alone. The more silent you are, the more the territory you gain on your enemies.

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Politics SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014

The Sunday Interview

Dabin: Retired generals not suitable for democracy p.32

Interview

‘With a united PDP in Anambra, APGA is finished’ p.35

Buhari

Atiku

Buhari: The making of a consensus candidate C

Biyi Adegoroye biyi.fire@yahoo.com 08033024007 © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

onferences, political meetings and seminars are held frequently in Kaduna, the epicentre of northern politics. Every week, political parties, pressure groups and civil society organisations meet on the state of the nation at Arewa House in Kaduna. In recent times, these meetings have become more frequent as the nation inches towards the 2015 elections.

On October 8, the All Progressives Congress converged in Kaduna as all Northern stakeholders, including presidential aspirants, met at Asa Pyramid Hotel. Officially, the meeting was convened, according to the Deputy National Chairman, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, to discuss ‘’matters of common interest to us as members of the same family.’’ However, the bone of contention, according to sources, was how to adopt a consensus presidential candidate.

Consequently, almost everyone that was ‘somebody’ was there, especially Northern APC bigwigs. Specifically, the presidential aspirants turned up with their associates. In particular, former head of state, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, was there likewise former vice-president and Turakin Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Buhari’s posters, supporters and campaign slogans were everywhere outside the meeting’s venue.

Similarly, Atiku’s supporters praised him to high heavens. Likewise, Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stood out with his signature Kwankwasiyya red cap. A sea of red heads followed him to the meeting, singing and dancing. Not left out of the political carnival was the founder of Leadership Newspapers, Mr.

Penultimate Saturday, the All Progressives Congress Northern stakeholders met in Kaduna to find a common ground on the choice of a consensus presidential candidate, despite the conveners’ denials, as IBRAHEEM MUSA and Johnchuks Onuanyim, observe in this analysis

Sam Nda-Isaiah, who breezed into the venue with beefy bodyguard in tow.

The governors of Borno, Zamfara and Yobe states, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, Abdul Azeez Yari and Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam respectively, as well as National Assembly members, state party chairmen, APC stalwarts across the North and other stakeholders. However, Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Almakura, and Governor Aliyu Wamako of Sokoto State were absent.

The opening ceremony began an hour late at 11am as Shuaibu, who also acted as the convener, gave the welcome address. In summary, he revealed the meeting’s agenda, bemoaned the state of the nation and highlighted the trajectory of the APC North Forum. The meeting, according to him, was not “for the purpose of picking candidates or anointing anybody for any office.”

Rather, party leaders and elders as well as elected officials were expected to rub minds for a stronger, more focused and democratic APC. “Another reason for this meeting is to sensitise

our esteemed leaders to their roles as guardians and conscience of our party,” he added. He did not fail to state that the forum would prepare APC for the 2015 elections, noting, “In this meeting, my colleagues at NWC and I are going to be guided by discussions that could mainly improve the fortunes of the party.”

Thereafter, Shettima spoke on behalf of the governors. Speaking extempore, he decried the state of the North and gave general advice to its people. He asked Northerners to come together in 2015, irrespective of ethno-religious differences, to salvage the nation. He pointed out that the North was the least in all indices of economic development, at the best of times, let alone now that insurgency is ravaging some parts of the region.

“We are now the poorest of the earth. Poverty has no religion, it has no ethnicity; therefore, we must reach out to other parts of the country, so that by 2015, other Nigerians can join forces with us to salvage the country,” according to the Borno CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014

The Sunday

Dabin: Retired generals no Haruna Dabin is a founding member of the Democratic Institute Abuja before he later became the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State.

In this interview with BUHARI BELLO, he explains the failure of the political class to abide by democratic principles and its impact on national development

How would you assess the current political class in the country?

I think the challenge to an emerging democracy like ours is to know the background as to where we are coming from. In Nigeria, we are coming from the background of authoritarian rule and most of the actors are used to a command structure. They are not conversant with dialogue and consensus, which are the hallmarks of democracy.

Like we say at the Democratic Institute, democracy is not a day’s job. It takes time. You have to build it and you have to sustain democracy. You must have a large heart to be able to accommodate various contesting and sometimes conflicting interests. I must say that we have not had generations of politicians that are committed to democracy. We need a generation that is committed to democratic ideals and fair play. We need people to know that democratic ideals are about the will of the majority articulated through various organs and institutions. Unless the will of the majority is upheld, then we are very far from consolidating democracy. One hopes that with 15 years of sustainable democracy as we approach 2015, we will have a differ-

ent crop of politicians particularly those in the legislature. You know for me, the legislature is usually the first arm of the democracy because it is the people’s parliament.

Unless you have legislators that are very conscious of their rights, privileges and responsibilities to be able to enforce what should be done at all times, you will always have an Executive that could be overbearing.

A study we did at the Democratic Institute shows a large influx of those who had participated in military rule and are now retired generals and now want to perpetuate themselves in democracy. It is very difficult for people who are used to a command structure to be able to fit in. Well, they may do well as chief executives but democracy is not just about projects and commissioning of roads.

Do you see lack of decorum as well as wrangling among politicians, especially the faceoff between some governors and the presidency, as part of these undemocratic tendencies?

Wrangling is a fundamental expression of discontent with rules. Again in theory, rules are not airtight so the whole philosophy of separation of powers has not been respected.

Yet over time in the contemporary period, the understanding is about sharing of power.

Those in the legislative arm need to have oversight functions which are more like executive roles. So there must be a sharing of roles. Where people don’t understand the nature of those roles that need to be shared, then we have not been able to install democracy the way we should.

Those misgivings are there and you know the hallmark of democracy is more about the rule of law rather it is about the rule of men. It is not about arbitrariness; it is not about what I think. It should be more of what the law says. Where the Executive arm has any doubt, it should be able to resort to the legislature and ask, ‘Look, what you mean by this law? How can we interpret it?’ But the failure of the executive arm to seek those judicial interpretations would keep creating hiccups.

Look at what happened in Adamawa State where constitutional provisions were not followed because people were in a hurry to flush Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy out of office. No. Even if you need to have a consensus on those issues, it should not be at the expense of the law. No. The right thing should be followed first. Here is a Bala Ngilari who sat back and said ‘okay, if you insist on my impeachment, I will contest it’ and he went to court. Honestly, I must salute the judiciary in Adamawa State for doing the right thing because we must uphold the fundamental nature of the rule of law rather than the arbitrariness of the rule of men.

It is about the law and not those in power. I hope having experienced what he saw, he should now protect the institutions of democracy. I think also it has been the major weakness of the institutions of democracy.

I believe that the key institutions like the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are there but to a very large extent, I believe in the role of the press in a democratic setting.

Today as a politician, I would rather address 10 journalists than to talk to thousands of voters. Journalist will systematically reach

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4 NEW TELEGRAPH

y Interview

ot suitable for democracy them. We must also avoid this compactness where certain agenda must be forced on people. This is not right and I think that the fourth estate of the realm should be able to rise to the challenges of democracy.

issue will report properly and a decision will be taken on the issue.

What can you say about a situation where governors and other public office-holders flagrantly disobey court orders?

Actually, such activities weaken democracy.

There is no doubt that anybody who is elected through the ballot box or an appointee within the constitutional system should respect the provisions of the law. This in itself will truncate democracy; that is the surest way of running democracy aground. The worst offenders are elected representatives, particularly those in the executive arm that flout judicial pronouncements anyway they like. It portends a serious danger to our democracy and I hope that 2015 will throw up more civil democrats.

Is that not the same thing retired generals are doing to our democracy today?

I think it is a mixed bag. There are some of them who have done excellently. Senator David Mark was a fine gentleman and general.

Yes, he was a military governor and a minister but since he came to the Senate, he has been a major stabilising force at the National Assembly. I have no hesitation that when somebody has done so well he should be given another opportunity because we need to grow. The longer people serve in the legislature the better they are. But many of them who go in as retired generals don’t fit in because you hardly hear their voices. You hardly hear of their participation in the lawmaking process. It looks like they are there for the perks of office. They are there to be able to protect certain interests which are not about lawmaking.

Yes, I believe that Governor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State has done so well. But in terms of relationship and advancement of certain democratic tenets, I am afraid he has not done much. I am being objective because one notices that successively there have been many challenges and that is not the best for democracy. There are several issues to look at and one would have wished that the house of assembly in the state had been up and doing to be able to serve as an upright partner in governance. But to compare Jang with his predecessor (Joshua Dariye), I think Jang has done much better. The social relationship and the matrix in politics coupled with the security challenges are some issues he has been able to handle. Also, he has been able to build some useful networks for the sustenance of democracy. If we pursue these further, we will do well. I am afraid that there are others who are still upset with the command structure and they want things done according to their wishes under a democratic setting. That is not possible.

How would you react to cases of abuse of court pronouncements by the Plateau State government?

Well, like I said, democracy is not all about constructing roads, projects and programmes, as useful they are. It is also about people. Yes, during the first term of Jang, there were those challenges after the 2008 local government election which was characterised by general non-adherence to court decisions. But in the end, he observed them like the cases of Mikang, Langton and Wasa where he swore in the council chairmen. But in his second term, I think he has done much better quite frankly in terms of his relationship with the judiciary.

I was at the valedictory session for the former Chief Judge and I observed that the judiciary was quit appreciative of the kind of relationship, even in terms of giving some attention to court infrastructure that had been neglected

Look at what happened in Adamawa State where constitutional provisions were not followed because people were in a hurry to flush Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy out of office for several years. The governor has been able to attend to it and yes there may be certain judges that are not too comfortable. For me, these are never principal issues. I think that on the whole, he has done better in the second term as a democrat.

When Jang became governor in 2007, Plateau people saw him as one who would liberate the people because of the State of Emergency and governance under Chief Joshua Dariye. Has that desire been achieved?

Maybe we should wait until after May 29, 2015 although there may be no more significant changes. That goes to say that Governor Jang will be remembered as a leader who left an indelible mark in terms of projects and infrastructural development. Yes, there have been challenges with labour relations and civil servants generally. Even now we hear of some rambling between the civil servants and politicians.

I think the processes for transition will make or mar Governor Jang’s administration just like the annulment of the June 12 election which completely dwarfed the Ibrahim Babangida administration. I believe that Governor Jang’s posture in the transition process will help place him properly among politicians in Plateau State. I pray that God gives him the wisdom to be a father. There is no way you cannot be interested as a person in the scheme of events. Yes, we also know that God Almighty has a way of handling events so that we would have a level playing ground in the Plateau project. We want people to come up with the leader of their choice rather than a leader that is imposed on them or manipulated in one way or the other. I think that whoever emerges in a free atmosphere will do some good to Governor Jang’s memory.

The national secretariat of the party has said ‘no’ to imposition, ‘no’ to consensus and all those tendencies that subvert the will of the people. All those things should be kept aside.

I think Plateau people have always voted during elections because this is one place that voting is always done, whether during primaries or general elections. People actu-

ally go out to demonstrate what is in their hearts and I think it will be well for us to keep that tradition of Plateau people. So let us hope that the process will create a Plateau community because imposition will be intolerable.

Governor Jang took over from Governor Dariye in the same party at a period when the animosity that was in that transition programme was absolutely avoidable and I think this time there should be a most friendly transition with less acrimony.

What is your view about the inability of Jang’s administration to receive Dariye, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and others who have returned to the party?

It is true that these are some of the roadblocks that must be removed. Democracy is about the people and it is important that the rule of law is respected. If the constitution of the party makes provision for people to return, then we must follow it.

Like I said before, I am aware that Dariye for example has been recommended by his electoral wards. Before I left office as the chairman of PDP, we were about making an announcement on his return to the party. A situation where we deliberately create roadblocks is not healthy for our democracy because these are Plateau people.

There is no way you can just wish Dariye away after being governor for eight years and now a serving senator for four years.

I am one person who does not uphold the practice of people jumping from one political party to another or where people use a platform and if it doesn’t deliver, they jump from one political party to the other.

Or if it doesn’t favour them, then they shut shop. It is to that extent that I think that such behaviour will mar the smooth transition programme on the Plateau. We should remove those bottlenecks. If in other states people have returned to the party, then why is ours different? I have always said that the power to decide finally for people to return lies with the national secretariat.

I believe that the panel they set up on the

Can the ruling PDP afford to lose election in Plateau State as a result of the governor’s miscalculation?

Honestly, the party cannot afford to lose Plateau State because of its strategic position in the Nigerian political environment. By that you see, we must say this with very serious caution because President Goodluck Jonathan is different from former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The sort of push that Obasanjo would give to the party is quite different from what President Jonathan would do. Unless we are prepared to go by the rules and allow a level playing field, honestly, we can never just say that we have won election and therefore we will win again. No. It’s about people and if people think that we cannot get it right there is always danger.

Take a cue from Plateau Central Senatorial zone in 2007 which was the heart of PDP in the state; yet when the people thought that the election of Senator Mantu was not in the best interest of the zone, the same people voted him out. People said there was religious consideration but I said it was not so because Mantu was voted in the same constituency that is overwhelmingly Christians. But they then decided to vote Senator Gogwin Sati rather than Senator Mantu and I said that was a strong signal to the possibilities that, ‘look, if you don’t get your candidacy right, we will not go with you.’ I think we must get candidates at all levels during the elections. Generally, I think the Plateau electorate will support Jonathan.

What does the return of this political duo mean for the party in the state, in view of their influence?

It means overwhelming victory for the party. It means a contest that will be an in-house affair. Once we get it right inhouse, you will win; but if we don’t get it right, it will raise more doubts about the general elections. If perhaps Jonathan got 1.2 million votes in 2011 and now with all these people coming to the party there is no reason why we cannot give him 2.2 million votes out of the over three million population of the state. That number is very important to the President for the 2015 elections. We cannot afford a situation where the mismanagement of relationships will make the President to lose the state and/ or lead to the loss of other elections in the state.

Do you see the PDP headquarters getting Governor Jang to see this?

The governor is one of the several party leaders in the state. Yes as important as his position is, he cannot overrule the constitution of the party as a person. I don’t think he has expressly said it anywhere that he will stop anybody from coming back to the party. Of course, he will detest a situation where people jump in and out.

There is no doubt that PDP will always overcome its challenges. It is such a miraculous organisation I have seen over the years. When the controversy over then national chairman, Bamanga Tukur, was going on, it was as if it was going to cause a nightmare. But at the end of the day, PDP came out as a very strong family and I believe that PDP in Plateau State will also emerge as a one big family. The national headquarters will always play its role and the majority will carry the day. I believe that when the right things are done, then we will have the best result.

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Politics / Analysis

The making of a consensus candidate C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

state governor. In addition, he advised party members against fighting over political offices within the party.

“We must not allow our aspirations as individuals to jeopardise our collective resolve to salvage the country. We have the number and we are in the position to make or mar the future of the generations yet unborn in this country,” he declared.

Afterwards, Buhari took the floor and unlike Shettima, fired shots at the Peoples Democratic Party. Warning Nigerians against its antics, Buhari said that four more years of PDP misrule would plunge the nation into the abyss.

Right now, Nigeria needs to be rescued from the precipice.

The APC, Buhari said, is ready to rescue the nation and change the lives of Nigerians for the better if voted into office. The PDP, according to him, has been manipulating Nigerians, using ethnicity and religion to polarise the people. Buhari also said the PDP rigs elections, especially on the three occasions he had contested for the presidency.

He recalled that on each occasion, he challenged the election results up to the Supreme Court. Buhari said he lost at the apex court owing to “naira and dollars.” Voters, he pointed out, were intimidated during the Ekiti governorship election and the state was heavily militarised on polling day.

“If the number of soldiers that were sent to Ekiti were deployed in the North-East, the insurgency would have been contained,” the former head of state said. Atiku had earlier declined the invitation to speak, nominating Buhari instead to take the floor. Nda-Isaiah also refused to speak in the presence of the media and thereafter, journalists were excused from the meeting which went into a closed door session.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that the meeting, contrary to Shuaibu’s claim, condensed to a single agenda of a consensus presidential candidate. Participants, party chieftains and all stakeholders told each other the home truth behind closed doors. They agreed on the fact that currently, APC needs to raise its showing in several respects.

Sources said the politicians agreed that instead of expending time, energy and resources on the primaries, the party ought to concentrate on the general elections. However, participants warned against foisting any particular candidate on the party, preferring that the presidential candidate should be produced through consultations and negotiations. Basically, the comments, arguments and proposals revolved around this point with few exceptions. Thereafter, the stakeholders resolved to continue negotiations and on that note, the meeting ended.

However, the six-point communique gave a different picture of the proceedings. Signed by Shuaibu, the communique reiterated APC’s commitment to the “unity and continued existence of Nigeria as a democratic, progressive nation committed to the wellbeing of all citizens.”

In addition, the stakeholders agreed to strengthen “the unity of APC as a major political force in the country.” Similarly, they resolved to “work closely and diligently with all members of the party across the country to ensure the ousting of the corrupt, disastrous and clueless PDP government in the 2015 general elections.”

In addition, the communique promised that the party would “provide a level playing field to all those who aspire to contest for public office on the platform of the party through its internal democratic process.’’ If elected, APC government ‘’will make security of life and property of all citizens, respect for the rule of law and good governance its top most priority.’’ The communique, while welcoming the ceasefire deal with Boko Haram, advised against deceiving Nigerians by creating ‘’a false sense of security for political ends.’’

Afterwards, the politicians broke into cau-

Kwankwaso

First, in the history of this country, nobody has garnered the number of votes Gen. Buhari has been able to pull as an opposition presidential candidate. cus. Significantly, under the cover of the night, representatives of the three presidential aspirants, according to reports, met to reach a common ground. Mainly, the pressure was on Kwankwaso, as the Buhari camp tried to talk him out of his bid. On October 12, Senator Bukola Saraki has thrown in the towel and quit the presidential race in the interest of APC. Almost always, losers are disappointed after primaries and parties invest so much energy, according to Saraki, to reconcile various interests. Consequently, APC can’t “afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election,” the former Kwara State governor said. Significantly, Saraki didn’t endorse anyone but he may support Buhari.

Since then, Kwankwaso has come under pressure as Buhari’s men, according to reports, have been pleading with him to follow the Saraki example. Similarly, after the stakeholders’ meeting, Buhari’s foot soldiers continued their onslaught and in the end, Kwankwaso allegedly agreed to pull out of the race. However, the Kano State governor will still maintain his structure, express interest in the presidency and buy nomination forms, regardless of the deal. On December 2, Kwankwaso will allegedly withdraw from the race during the presidential primaries and ask his supporters to vote for Buhari.

However, Alhaji Baba Dantiye, Kwankwaso’s spokesman, has denied this deal and stated that his principal will slug it out till the end.

Atiku, on the other hand, is all for an open contest where delegates and not every party member, will chose the flagbearer. Similarly, Nda-Isaiah has said he is fully in the race. In the coming weeks, the situation will be clearer but in about one month, the direction to be taken by APC will be decided at the party’s national convention, where a presidential candidate will emerge. The way and manner the choice is made will make or mar APC. Speaking about the meeting, the National Secretary of Buhari Support Group Centre, (BSGC), Ibrahim Bello, admitted that it was

Odigie-Oyegun

meant among other things to arrive at a consensus presidential candidate. He said, “There are certain provisions in the APC constitution that allows for consensus before primaries, which is what the party is trying to do.

“The Support Group is merely canvassing for the actualisation of the candidature of General Buhari. The lobbying in terms of consensus is being handled by a class of people that believed that Buhari is the best aspirant and they are managing it very well and like l said the party allows for consensus before primaries.

So whatever you see going on …will end up well for the party. Of course you cannot rule out one or more skirmishes which is normal in politics but in overall, the consensus pattern is what is happening as allowed by the constitution and when they are through, I am sure the result will be made public if consensus has been reached or if primaries would be finally conducted among the aspirants,” he said.

A member of the Board of Trustees of APC who spoke with Sunday New Telegraph in anonymity stated that Buhari’s declaration has sent jitters down the spine of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking proverbially , he said: “It is only a tree with good fruits that attracts attention and stoning and that is what General Buhari represents in APC and the nation’s political landscape.”

As if lending his weight to Buhari’s prospect of defeating President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 election, National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, said in his remarks when Gen. Buhari collected his presidential nomination form that he was proud and encouraged by the crowd at the event. To him, such gathering was a tip of the iceberg for the 2015 presidential election.

Reacting to a statement credited to Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan that APC top presidential aspirants are serial losers, Oyegun said that the PDP and its presidential candidate are doomed in the February presidential election if they continued to perceive APC’s top presidential aspirants from such point.

Giving reasons for this, he said, “Before now, there was no truly national alternative political in this nation; before now, we had the ANPP that was domiciled in the NorthEast; we had the ACN that was domiciled in the South-West and off course they had members all over the places. We had APGA that was largely domiciled in the South-East.

These three forces have been welded together.

Today we have a national party that is representative - the APC - strong in every corner of

the country. Today men, women, children are crying for change and the dynamics are different and l pray they continue to miss-read the signs and that would be good for us”.

Oyegun’s position has been buttressed by other APC leaders. Rivers State governor, Rotimi Ameachi, who spoke on behalf of APC governors at Buhari’s declaration, had stated that populous states in the country today are governed by the APC. He was alluding to Lagos, Kano and Rivers which have the highest number of voters.

He said, “In the past, when the progressives had this type of gathering, you will not see too many governors. Today, the APC can boast of 14 governors. There is change in the air. The governors in the APC are determined to work together for this change. In all our meetings, we insist that whoever emerges as the party candidate, all of us will work to deliver APC. You know that our dear GMB (General Mohammadu Buhari), is one of the aspirants who want the ticket of the party and you know that he is a material they do not have in the other party. If they say they have someone like him, they should show us somebody who is anti corruption like Buhari.”

He said APC provides an alternative for the country. “We have been tested and we have never disappointed Nigerians. We will line up behind our candidate to ensure that we vote out Jonathan”.

Ibrahim Bello, quoted earlier, spoke on the worries Buhari as a consensus APC candidate portends for PDP and its presidential candidate. He said “First, in the history of this country, nobody has garnered the number of votes Gen. Buhari has been able to pull as an opposition presidential candidate and he has maintained a percentage increase from 2003 to 2011.

“So the fact is that that percentage ratio will double with the emergence of APC as a nationally party. That is danger number one.

The votes they are getting before would not be there. Secondly the support that we are getting will only go to confirm what l said about percentage rise in votes. That is the major danger”.

General Buhari who had thrice contested for the presidential elections, - in 2003 on the platform of ANPP and came second, with PDP’s candidate, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo coming first and the late Dim Odimegwu Chukwuemeka OJukwu of the APGA coming third.

In 2007, he also contested on the platform of ANPP and also came second, with the candidate of the PDP, late Umar Yar’Adua coming first and the candidate of AC and now APC CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

35

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014

Politics / Analysis

‘With a united PDP in Anambra, APGA is finished’ of what I have been doing and they will not let me down. This election will not be won on the basis of big name or being a veteran but on the basis of your good work.

Kodilinye Okelekwe, a senatorial aspirant in Anambra Central district on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, in this interview with TONY OKAFOR, speaks about the fortunes of the All Progressives Grand Alliance against the backdrop of the unity in the PDP and other issues

You are seeking election into the Senate on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. What difference do you intend to make this time after your unsuccessful governorship aspiration in 2009?

First of all, you will remember that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said that the greatest glory in life is not for ever falling, but ability to rise each time one falls. Again, I believe in the promise of God in the affairs of men. God is the one who elevates and He is the one who dethrones. I believe that without God, one cannot achieve anything in life.

If it is the will of God that I will be a Senator, no human being will stop it. But if it is not the will of God that I will be Senator, no human being will make me a senator.

So, I am looking up to God, let His will be done. Mine is to present myself but I know, looking at the uniqueness of my intention, looking at the fact that what is propelling me is a platform to reach the greatest number of people possible, He will bring it to pass to His own glory. So I am confident that He will see me through.

But specifically, how organised is the PDP in Anambra State today and their ability to win election, considering the lingering crises in the party?

PDP is one happy family in Anambra State. We have a functional state executive under the chairmanship of Prince Ken. Emeakayi, who has displayed uncommon and unprecedented political sagacity in the ways he has handled the affairs of the party in the state. I commend him for the good work he has done in the way he is piloting the affairs of PDP in the state. Of course, I will not fail to mention our leaders in Abuja, Prince Arthur Eze, and Chief Olisa Metuh.

They have provided credible leadership to C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar coming third.

And in 2011 Gen. Buhari contested the presidential election on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, and came second with a total vote of 12 million votes against the candidate of PDP, Dr. Jonathan.

One of the leaders of Buhari Campaign Organisation, (BCO) Mr. Osita Okechukwu argued that it would be unthinkable for APC to ignore such votes in the consideration of its presidential candidate. According to him, 12 million votes would be the joker of APC and Gen Buhari come February 2015, But the National President of Atiku Abubakar’s support group, Turaki Vanguard, Mr. Fabiyi Oladimeji, dismissed the 12 million votes Buhari garnered in 2011. According to Oladimeji, the votes were not stored any-

As you talk about effective representation, are you saying that Senator Chris Ngige from APC has not offered Anambra Central an effective representation?

Dr. Ngige is a very good friend of mine, but as a policy, I don’t discuss individuals.

I discuss issues and my developmental programmes. If you go through my mission statement, I stated in black and white those things that I will do. I don’t want to talk about my good friend, Dr. Chris Ngige. I am talking about what I will do if the good people of Anambra Central deem it fit to elect me to represent them in the senate, what I promise them is efficient, effective, selfless, dynamic, altruistic and result oriented representation. I don’t want to talk about who has done well or not, rather, it is for the people to judge.

Okelekwe

our party in this state.

So we are one family and this time around, I can categorically state that Anambra State is a PDP state. APGA has been doing its pretentious abracadabra because of the crisis in PDP. Now that we have settled it, it is Operation Total Sweep as we are going to sweep everywhere, quote me. Now that PDP is united as one family, we must take that which belongs to us. APGA has been winning by default and we are not going to allow that any longer.

How do you intend to contend with other aspirants like Senator Chris Ngige, the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh if you clinch the ticket in the PDP? Again, like I said before, it is God who elevates and crown kings. Ultimately, my faith is in God but talking as a human being, I have done so much with my personal resources, the evidence is there. I have empowered a lot of youths, and have seen over 100 graduates through the university with my personal

resources. These are verifiable facts because I have a board being chaired by Prof. Israel Okoye of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

So, if a man could do so much with his personal resources you can imagine what he will achieve when in government. That is why foremost traditional rulers like Prof.

Laz Ekwueme, immediate younger brother of the former Vice President, in 2009, deemed it fit to confer a chieftaincy title Ezechimere of Oko, meaning a king crowned by God on me. Again in 2011, another traditional ruler of Awka, Igwe Gibson Nwosu, conferred on me the title Ochendo-Umuogbenye of Awka, meaning the Provider of Shelter for the poor and needy. It is an attestation to what I have been doing.

So, people know what I stand for, I am one of them - the poor and needy. They know that if they send me there, I will go there as their representative to help to pull them out of poverty. God has pulled me out of poverty and it is incumbent on me to help to pull others. I know that people have been taking note

What is the different thing you want to offer the people of Anambra Central which you think those that have represented the zone have not done?

The key point I have is accessibility. If you also look at my mission statement, I stated there that I have been having monthly town hall meeting with my constituency which will be rotating from one local government to another. In Anambra Central zone, we have seven local government areas. So, this town hall meeting will rotate among the local government areas on monthly bases and I will personally be there to listen to them. It is part of me that I answer every phone call, even when you call and it is not possible for me to answer, I return those calls later because I don’t make promises I will not keep.

Those who knew me when I was nobody can still attest to the fact my behavior has not changed in any way. Therefore, accessibility is the first promise I made to my people and then, youth empowerment which I strictly believe in. It is the road I passed and when I see a poor person, what I have for such person is empathy.

Mind you, poverty cannot be explained by just laziness. No, it is an opportunity because if it is hard work that determines richness, those who carry heavy load in the market could have been the richest people, but they are not. So, poverty is an economic and sociopolitical problem in society. That is part of the uniqueness I am bringing, people will know that they have elected somebody to represent them, who can be their voice.

I may not be Aliko Dangote or those money spinners but the little God has given me, I can pay my bills; I can meet my needs. Honestly, God has taken care of me, so I need also to use that resource to take care of others. That is why I am running for the Senate.

If you fail to secure the mandate in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Searching for consensus candidate where and the nation is in 2014 going to 2015.

He said: “First and foremost, if anybody tells me Gen. Buhari is popular I will say yes - maybe in the Northern part of the country. But when I hear people talking about 12 million votes the question I do ask is where is it housed and is it possible for him to bring them back if he picks APC presidential ticket?

He said the party should face the reality on ground because we are in 2014 and trudging towards 2015 elections and a lot of things have changed since then.

Besides, it is said that age is not on the side of Buhari and his presidential aspiration. Supporters of the governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwanso, one of the presidential aspi-

rants of APC, believe that giving the age of the General, he should step down to support the candidature of Kwankwanso.

Also, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmed Gumi, was alleged to have called on Gen. Buhari, not to contest the 2015 presidential election because of his age. The cleric rather suggested that Buhari should back a younger aspirant. But the BSGC has dismissed the advice, stating that it was all about politics and personal opinion of elder statesman.

Buhari’s camp is basking in the political tremor that greeted its leader’s declaration, stating that “if winning election is all about popularity, acceptability, support, APC does not have any aspirant who is better than Buhari. Winning election is not about how much

you have or how exposed you are. It is about how much support you have and how much vote you can pull.”

It believes that governing a country also bothers on how competent and experienced a leader is, positing that all these attributes are found in Gen. Buhari. To this camp, there is nobody in the country who can accuse Buhari of corruption or mismanagement, even his political opponents have not been able to identify any blemish in him.

They said besides his popularity in the North and his track records, the party sees in him the personality and positive qualities required to rescue the nation and move it forward at this critical time in history.

36

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / Column

Gowon: Leadership lessons for today’s leaders

A

t 80, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), the youngest ever Nigerian head of state, has seen it all. He was an active player in the 30-month civil war that threatened the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation. After the war, he was hailed as a hero, a unifier, someone who fought and won the unity of the country. But six years later, Gowon was declared a fugitive, stripped of his rank and declared ‘wanted’ by the same nation he fought very hard to ensure it did not disintegrate.

Urbane, simple and humble, Gowon is still the only Nigerian past leader who does not go around with retinue of security operatives because of fear of attack. At every function, he mingles with the crowd, throwing banters not bothering that he might be harmed.

Again, Gowon is the only former head of state (both civilian and military) who has that humility to go back to school (after leaving office), humbly and patiently endured the rigours of a course of study (outside the shores of the country), and obtained a degree up to a doctorate level. He was later to explain that what motivated him to go back to school after serving as head of state of Africa’s most populous black nation for nine years, was the criticisms that he did not know anything about economics and political theory because he had not been to the university.

“One version was that most of the things that I did as Head of State were not deep and that was as a result of the fact that I didn’t have the educational background. Specifically, it was said that my policies lacked philosophical basis and, of course, economic and political objectives.... It was the undue criticism that I had not been to the university that triggered my resolve to get university education”, he explained.

He took such criticisms, not in bad fate but as a challenge and underwent the rigours of academic pursuit. The former head of state was later to serve as a church warden, in a local church, again, the only former head of state to humble himself for such godly service.

Apart from the unfortunate circumstance that led to the civil war, General Yakubu Gowon has remained uncontroversial both in and out of office. He described his choice as head of state by the July 29, 1966 coupists as a surprise, and he would have rejected it.

“These young officers said it was me they wanted to give the leadership. At that time Ogundipe was around, Adebayo was around and all other senior officers. I was the one that they chose. It was me most of them knew because I was an adjutant in that particular unit…”

Even when his government was overthrown when he was in Kampala, Uganda while attending the then Oganisation of African Unity (OAU) meeting, Gowon said he accepted this in good faith and would not challenge it because he would not like to “see the army striking against itself again”.

According to him, that would have been the situation if he had returned to the country after the overthrow of his government.

From Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), last week marked his 80th birthday. ONYEKACHI EZE examines those qualities that makes him a stateman worthy of emulation by contemporary leaders

Gowon

president and Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Gowon is Nigeria’s fourth head of government. Eleven others however, came after him. But none of them has faced the challenge that confronted him when he was head of state, neither was any of them the same age he was when he became Nigerian leader.

His interest in Nigerian unity made him to initiate the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in 1973, three years after the civil war. This was borne out of his belief that the country’s unity could better be pursued through cultural exchange and interaction, and through the youths who are potential agents of change.

The former head of state had after the end of the war declared that there was “no victor, no vanquished”, and immediately introduced the famous three ‘Rs’- Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reconstruction. The implementation of this programme has helped in healing the wounds of the civil war.

President Goodluck Jonathan, at a thanksgiving service to mark the 80th birthday of the general, said the former head of state did not see the Biafran side during the war as a side that should be crushed but was more saddled

with how to keep Nigeria one. ”He was not bent on defeating an opponent but how to keep the country one. He is totally committed to keeping Nigeria one, even after his life in the military,” the president added.

Jonathan also described Gowon as a good example of an elder statesman who is more committed to leaving a better Nigeria for generations yet unborn, noting that he had been working with every government in the country and never failed to attend the Council of State meetings, except when it was inevitable.

Indeed, compared with other former heads of state, Gowon refused to be a cog in the wheel of progress of any successive administration. After his failed bid to contest the presidency under Option A 4 in 1992, Gowon quit partisan politics and devoted his life to community service.

He founded Yakubu Gowon Centre in 1992 through which and in partnership with foreign donors such as Carter Foundation and Global Fund of Geneva, he engaged in the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme as well as the HIV Programme.

His commitment to the peace and unity of the country led to his founding of “Nigeria

Prays Ministry”, and have travelled around the country praying for the nation.

Born on October 19, 1934, the fifth in a family of eleven, General Yakubu Gowon enrolled early in life into the military in 1954. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1966 Gowon became head of state at the age of 31. Following the overthrow of his government by General Murtala Muhammed led military government, Gowon went into selfexile. He defended his alleged implication in the botched coup that killed Murtala Muhammed in 1976 and rejected the “pardon” granted him by Shehu Shagari’s government because, according to him, he did not commit any crime that warranted pardon.

Since his return in 1983, Gowon has lived a quiet and austere life. Even while in government, he was not corrupt despite the fact that almost all but one Military Governors and Administrator of East Central State were indicted by the succeeding government of corruption. He was later to tell a national newspaper that Murtala Muhammed who succeeded him felt sorry for the allegations against him and was saving, N500,000 to build a house for him.

‘With a united PDP in Anambra, APGA is finished’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 5

primaries, will you look for another platform to actualise your dream, or you play it dirty with them?

First of all, I am a PDP person. If you look at my history, I have been a foundation member of PDP. I have not left PDP for once since inception. Even when I sought for PDP ticket to run for the governorship election in this state in 2009; even when the party didn’t give me the opportunity to participate in the party primary election after paying

N5.2 million, I still didn’t leave PDP and I don’t see myself leaving PDP regardless of the outcome of this current dispensation. I will not leave PDP but let me assure you, for everything God created, He had created the opposite. And because God is involved in this venture, he will ensure that things are done in a way that will give credit to His name as the Almighty. I have no doubt that He will see me though.

I don’t know what will be your advice to the party leadership in the issue of giving

ticket to people who were in the party, left the party and returned. Do you think everybody should be given equal opportunity in a matter like this?

We have visionary leadership under Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the game changer. You know, PDP is a large family. Like in the Bible, there was a prodigal son who woke up one morning and asked the father to share the wealth and give him his portion to start his own life.

As a loving father, he obliged him and shared what he had, gave him his own portion and he left. He squandered his share and came

back home and his father as well welcomed him.

We will welcome the returnees but they should know that they are returnees. The intelligent ones should know that the house they left some years ago cannot be the same again. However, I advise our party leaders that in as much as we welcome everybody, we should also do it in such a way that we don’t encourage indiscipline. It is important that we draw a line between welcoming everybody and through our action don’t encourage indiscipline.

37

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014

Politics / Column

Sen. Anyanwu’s move against sexual violence From the

Red Chamber chukwudavid68@yahoo.com

Chukwu David

A

mongst innumerable crimes committed against humanity in the world today, sexual assault against women and children tends to top the list, even as it continues to grow in Nigeria. Virtually every day, one form of sexual crime or another is committed against women and children. While women face the threat of rape constantly, female children also face varied levels of sexual abuse in the hands of criminals in the society.

Across the whole world, human rights groups have made and are still making concerted efforts to bring these atrocities against the vulnerable women and children to an end. In Nigeria, attempts have been made in the past to tackle the menace of sexual crimes against women and children. Many non-governmental organisations have been making efforts particularly through advocacy to end this societal vice but to no success. The failure has been attributed to lack of enabling laws to adequately prosecute and punish offenders.

Worried by this ugly trend in the system and in her avowed resolve to solve the problem, Senator Chris Anyanwu, a Peoples Democratic Party member representing Imo East Senatorial district, decided to sponsor a bill as a pragmatic means of effectively addressing the enigma.

This is because she believes that sexual crimes flourish in the country as a result of the legal lacuna in the system, which makes it possible for offenders to continue to go unpunished after committing the crime.

Consequently, the Sexual Offences Bill

The bill gives protection and absolute cover to those who may be afraid of stigma that comes with sexual violence and if the bill is passed, the trial can be held without necessarily realising the details of the victims she introduced and is being currently processed in the Senate passed Second Reading and now awaiting final passage by the Upper Chamber. The bill prescribes life imprisonment for paedophiles (persons sexually attracted to children).

The bill also seeks to make sexual assault an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years, which could be extended to life imprisonment.

Senator Anyanwu had at many fora, decried the increasing incidence of sexual crimes against women, children and men in the country. She said that the bill became imperative because some sexual abuses, currently committed in the country, were not provided for in the existing criminal laws. The politician also said that credible reports have shown that sexual crimes in the country were under- reported, under-investigated and insufficiently addressed.

Her words: “Hardly any day passes without reports in the media of one form of abhorrent sexual crime or the other, ranging from rape, defilement of children and animism. The children and young people of this country, both male and female, today face a growing danger

Anyanwu

as they are being routinely targeted by sexual predators and paedophiles”, the senator stressed the urgent need to review the extant laws on sexual offences in the Criminal Code Act and the Penal Code Act, which were enacted in 1916 and 1960 respectively. She posited that provisions of these laws had become obsolete and out of touch with prevailing realities.

Anyanwu said that the bill made provision for the creation of a register of paedophiles and sexual offenders, compulsory documentation and supervision of sexual offenders as well as medical treatment for victims. According to her, the bill is also aimed at strengthening the weak, protection offered to victims and witnesses in the trials of sexual offences.

Also, speaking last Thursday at the mock tribunal/court on sexual and gender based violence organised by the National Assembly Women Affairs Committee and the Legislative Advocacy Coalition for Violence in Nigeria, Senator Anyanwu said that, due to the pernicious nature of sexual violence, the National Assembly

would do everything within its powers to pass the Sexual Offences Bill.

She explained that, if the Bill is passed into law, sexual offenders who had served their desired punishments would also be isolated from areas where persons perceived to be prone to rape live. The politician however, regretted that legislators were afraid of sponsoring bills aimed at tackling sexual and gender violence due to fear that they might be stigmatized as victims who had at one point or another silently gone through the act but vowed that such would not deter her in her resolve to end the menace in the country.

“Many people don’t want to talk about it, even legislators don’t want to present bills on it because they don’t want people to say ‘oh, you are bringing it because maybe you suffered abuse yourself. But there are some of us who don’t really care, My bill gives protection, absolute cover to those who may be afraid of stigma that comes with sexual violence and if the bill is passed, the trial can be held without necessarily realising the details of the victims”, she said.

Another aspect of the Bill which will make it work as explained by the sponsor is that those who committed the crime would go into a diary of sexual offenders, especially when there are repeat offenders. According to the Senator, they will go into a book so that anywhere they go, they would not be allowed to work or operate near children or people who might be likely victims.

There is no doubt that the Sexual Offences Bill, if passed into law, would help reduce the horrifying experiences of women and children in respect of sexual offences and other related inhuman treatments they go through in the country. It is therefore, imperative that the Senate expedites action on the proposal and pass it into law before the expiration of the Seventh Assembly in 2015.

Adequate sanctions against baby factories From the

Green Chamber ternyam@gmail.com

Philip Nyam

T

he proliferation of baby factories in the country particularly in the South-East geopolitical zone is of concern to every right thinking Nigerian. It is an evil and inhuman trade that has unfortunately become notorious at time the nation is struggling to overcome the challenge of Boko Haram security threat.

Every other week, a baby factory is discovered in one South-East state or the other.

People may ask: what are baby factories?

These are homes where some criminal elements operating under the cover of either maternity homes or orphanages engage unsuspecting young girls and pay them to allow hired boys to impregnate them to procreate for them. When these girls who are paid paltry sums eventually put to bed, the babies are taken from them and sold out to traffickers perhaps for slavery or ritual purposes. This practice is fast growing even as the security agencies beam their search light on the promoters.

It is the prevalence of this evil practice that attracted the attention of the members of

the House of Representatives. Hon. Eddie Ifeanyichukwu Mbadiwe, a member representing Ideato North/ South federal constituency of Imo state, decided to sponsor a bill to amend the trafficking in persons act in order to combat the menace of this trade.

Incidentally, Mbadiwe hails from Imo, one of the state’s hard hit by this alien trade.

Mbadiwe keep it up!

Expectedly, when the bill came up for debate, no member of the House spoke against it. It is clear that no sane society would condone this trade that is worse that slavery, which ended almost 300 years ago.

The bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, No 28 of 2004 to Prohibit Racketeering with Human Pregnancy or Operation of Baby Production Factories, Harbouring of Pregnant Persons under the age of 18 years and above, Selling or Attempting to Sell New Born Babies and for other matters related” enjoyed overwhelming patronage from the legislators.

My concern, however, with this bill is that it is too lenient with its violators or the perpetrators of these heinous acts. The bill in section 25 (a) provides that “without prejudice to any existing law, a person who operates a baby care centre, institution or surrogates home that is not registered with appropriate government institutions, or unlawfully takes custody or secures taken

Perpetrator of this kind of crime deserve life imprisonment.

A fine of N500,000 is nothing to a human trafficker custody of a baby or female person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not below two years or a fine of N500,000 or both” For a crime like this that debases the dignity of man, this is no punishment at all. The penalty is grossly inadequate to deter such criminals. Perpetrators of this kind of crime deserve life imprisonment.

A fine of N500,000 is nothing to a human trafficker. If this fine is allowed to stand, it will end up encouraging more criminally minded people to engage in the trade. This is because the criminals realise not less than N500,000 from the sale of each baby.

I would, therefore, like members of the House Committee on Justice and Human Rights who have been mandated to look deeper into this bill to take a second look at the punitive measures. If they are going for anything less than life imprisonment, it must not be less than 15 years with hard

labour. I do not subscribe to an option of fine. There should be no fine because these people operate in a cartel hence even if the fine is N10 million, they will not spend a day in jail. This is a crime against God and humanity and it must be discouraged totally. There should be no half measures.

Apart from that, professionals such as nurses and doctors who aid and abet this crime should not be spared. In fact, their punishment should be stiffer because I expect them to value human life more than any other person. But most importantly, parents of girls who are recruited as baby making machines should also be watched closely and any found wanting be made to share the same fate with proprietors and functionaries that work in these factories.

It is no news that some parents encourage their children to go into prostitution just for the sake of ‘supporting’ the family. Such parents should be made to pay dearly for their greed and criminality.

This is indeed a wakeup call for social welfare departments of various governments to sit up and properly monitor even duly registered orphanages and homes. A whole lot of rot is going on in some of these homes and only constant and scrupulous probe into their activities will unravel the truth. I give kudos to the lawmakers for taking this bold commend encourage them to wield the big stick and stamp this evil out of Nigeria.

38

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / Interview

Aire: South Africa will soon refund Nigeria’s $15m The current diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa over the botched importation of arms may not have abated, but Peoples Democratic Party Youths Coordinator in South Africa, Frankie Ehimuan Aire in this interview with AHANOMA KANU says the issues are being resolved Congratulations on your emergence as the PDP Youth Leader in South Africa. What will be your priority in this new position?

My number one priority is to make Nigerian government look to her younger generation deeply and ensure that at least 30 per cent of government appointments go to them.

We are also using this opportunity to create aware-

ness in the Diaspora worldwide, especially with the recent diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa concerning funds for arms seized by South African government.

As a representative of the PDP in South Africa, what are you doing towards convincing the authorities and also Nigerians that the $15million deal is genuine?

To be very honest with you, I do not know how true the story is but I believe that Nigerian government and the South Africa counterpart are resolving the issue at the moment, as this is an issue between the two countries to resolve. All I know is that PDP is the ruling party in Nigeria under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Neither The Federal Republic of Nigeria nor the PDP or Mr. President will deal in ammunitions illegally when it is easier and better to handle it illegally. Therefore, I believe there is a set up somewhere in that story.

When did you join the PDP and what contributions have you made to the party? Can you tell me what attracted you to the party?

Well I have been interested in politics since I was still a little boy and that is because my father was a heavy weight in the Nigeria politics way back. I have been a PDP member since 2002 and that was because I was attracted by the party’s vision.

We are also creating awareness among our citizens here in South Africa.

Aire

Comparing the PDP and ANC, what similarities will you say both parties possess and what qualities do you see in ANC that you will want the PDP to emulate?

Talking about ANC, they fought against apartheid and oppression; against oppression by the white minority while PDP fought against the military government. PDP should not forget where they are coming from and their destination is more important. That is why the youths are a very important object of the party. PDP should strive to deepen democracy and improve the more of the lives of the people As the 2015 elections draw near, what campaign methods have the PDP (SA) employed to realise the continuity of PDP in government?

We just had our first major rally on the September 4, 2014, which was very huge and successful. Nigeria youth in South Africa is very much aware that it is very important for PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan to continue in government, as it is noted worldwide that transformation is sure by GEJ. We are also going to be having a huge Nigerian Carnival coming up in South Africa by December 2014, which will allow the Nigeria youth exhibit their arts. We are also currently organising soccer tournaments for all Nigeria youth teams all over South Africa. Scouts will be coming in from All South African local teams and all over the world.

At the last NEC meeting of PDP , the party adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus candidate. Tell us why you believe in the choice of Jonathan for 2015?

I am very happy that we (PDP) realized this early enough. President Jonathan is one of the most humble Presidents we ever had.

He is always ready to serve the nation and always willing to do his best, our economy has been boosted over the years. I take that as an excellent mark. Since his assump-

tion of office in 2011, President Jonathan has so far created more than 1.2 million jobs through several projects. Just on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, he inaugurated a Presidential Jobs Board to foster the creation of at least three million jobs in the next 12 months. He has also been carrying the Nigeria youth along in his government. He knows the meaning of the mantra ‘Our Youth is Our Future’.

It has been said that the opposition party, APC, has been using its publicity machinery to discredit the Transformation Agenda of the President outside the shores of country.

What efforts have your members put in place to counter issues like this?

The fact is that APC knows that GEJ 2015 is a done deal is disturbing them. As you can see, they have already accepted defeat, so they are doing whatever they are doing out of desperation and frustration. President Jonathan’s transformation structures have proven that action speak louder than words.

Elections are around the corner and political activities have started in earnest. Does your chapter also recorded defections from other parties like we are witnessing in Nigeria?

I am not bothered by other political parties. I am only concerned about doing my best to move my passionate party forward and get President Jonathan in for 2015. What matters is the result that follows the every good work. You know that defections from other political parties happen everywhere in the world and that makes political game more interesting. We always expect such at all time.

Do you have any desire to seek political office in Nigeria and when?

Well politics is a profession and Nigeria is my country but I believe in one step at a time. After this appointment as the PDP Youth Frontier coordinator South Africa, then I will think about the next step.

PDP flays Ogun’s lopsided development

C

hairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Chief Adefemi Dayo, has flayed Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s developmental efforts, stating that it is carried out to the neglect of rural areas of the state.

Dayo said the fact the governor has concentrated on infrastructural development of Ogun Central Senatorial district at the expense of the two –Ogun East and Ogun West - is intolerable and an indication of poor understanding of development.

He lamented that ironically, the bulk of the state’s revenue comes from taxes and internally generated income from industries located in zones, yet they can hardly boast of good roads, drainages and other basic infrastructures.

“I was a local government chairman in this state, and I am aware that development of the hinterland is very vital in stemming rural-urban drift. But what we see today is that Governor Amosun has concentrated his developmental efforts on the Central Senatorial district. This is sad because scores of communities in the state are suffering,” he said.

Communities and towns in Ewekoro, Ifo, Sagamu, Obafemi-Owode and many local governments are currently in decrepit situa-

tion, as they have to contend with flood which has rendered the bad roads almost impassable, causing serious damage to vehicles.

In recent times, development in the hinterland is spearheaded by Community Development Associations and a number of companies and schools which assist under their

corporate social responsibility activities.

During the week, residents of Akute, Isashi, Denro, Assese, Papa Afa, Ibafo and some parts of Mowe in Ifo and Obafemi Owode Local Government Areas of the state appealed to Governor Amosun to come to their aid.

In particular, those in Ifo called for a rehabilitation of the Denro-Akute Road stating that many of the residents had left their homes to become internally displaced persons, taking refuge in other people’s houses, after a recent downpour which rendered hundreds of people homeless.

Those who could not wade through the flood were ferried across the bridge by young men for a fee. An 82-year-old man, Pa Segun Adeolu, said the government had not been fair to them. The octogenarian said that despite the fact that the government claimed ownership of Akute and its environs, nothing could be pointed at as the state infrastructure.

The party chieftain added that: “To worsen matters, the 20 local governments in the state are completely emasculated and denied basic funds to carry out their constitutional duties.

Go to many of them and you will discover that their secretariats are in bad shape.”

On the preparation of the party’s prepara-

tion for the 2015 elections, he said seven governorship aspirants have collected nomination forms, adding that with the recent return of former governor Gbenga Daniel to the party and reconciliation of Buruji Kashamu’s group, victory is certain for the PDP in the governorship election in the state.

The aspirants who have collected governorship nomination forms are Rafiu Ogunleye, Abiodun Akinlade, Kayode Amusan, Anthony Ojesina, Sarafa Tunji Isola and Kayode Adewale and Remi Bakare - all of whom are from various senatorial districts in the state.

Dayo promised a level-playing ground for all the aspirants, by ensuring that they all participate in the governorship primaries in order to avoid the 2011 crises which polarised the party in the state, culminating in the emergence of two party executives and loss of the gubernatorial election.

The House of Representatives hopeful equally lauded the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan calling on Nigerians to redouble their support for him beyond 2015. Barrister Barlow enjoined women to involve themselves in active politics to enable them contribute their quota in rebuilding a new Nigeria.

Life

39

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

My wife is my personal assistant-Bishop Silas General Overseer of Destiny Assembly International, Bishop Emmanuel Silas, speaks about his ministry, family life and the ongoing Annual Convention of his church, with Tai Anyanwu Where did you begin the work of ministry?

I served under Reverend Uma Ukpai, the great evangelist. He was the vessel that God used to make me understand his call upon my life. He taught me precept by precept, line by line. He is my role model both in the ministry and marriage. After my training, I had to put all I was taught to work. And if I encounter any challenge I go to God and also visit my spiritual father for counsel; because in the multitude of counsel, there is safety.

Do you have another discipline or vocation outside ministering the gospel?

Yes. I studied petrochemical engineering at the University of Port Harcourt. And I worked briefly with the PZ Industries. I resigned from the industry and proceeded for Advanced Leadership Training Institute in Abia State. I also have other certifications in ministerial studies.

Could you tell us about your up-coming annual convention?

Our annual convention begins on October 24 and would last till October 26. It has been scheduled to hold here in the city of Aba, at Hotel De la Paix. I want to assure you that it will be a life transforming experience for anyone that participates in the conference.

God has prepared two anointed men that will unleash His grace and glory upon the people.

One of them is one of the founding fathers of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, and the other minister is my friend and my brother Dr. Uche Ogah, the Chief Executive Officer of Masters’ Energy.

What is your ministry doing to give back to the society?

I want to say clearly that a good number of men of God are givers, because the ministry of Jesus is all about giving. So anyone who parades himself as a man of God and does not indulge in giving is not a man of God. In our ministry, we have a process of giving back to the society, and I’m talking about the less privileged, the widows, the prisoners, the sick and those who can’t afford three-squaremeal per day. That is the primary aim of our ministry, creating a beautiful world for those who can’t create one. It is unbiblical when a church leader uses members to enrich himself. I personally am a giver and that’s what I stand for. Many a time people wonder where I draw resources from because the offerings in the church are not enough to carry out some of these humanitarian services, but I keep telling them givers never lack. The Bible says “Give and it shall be given unto you”. I thank God even my members give to people they know and those they don’t know.

What are your thoughts on the issue of marriage failure amongst top Christian leaders?

Marriage challenge amongst church leaders are real, not just in this country but worldwide. From my own personal experience in marriage, I would say no marriage is void of challenges or crisis. But how you manage it is what makes the difference. My wife and I believe that any choice we make as Christians should be guided by the word of God. The Bible made it clear that there shall be tribulations but we have the grace to overcome. No marriage runs smoothly without troubles, because it’s made up of two different personalities, having different views and approaches to life. But God is the way maker in marriage, He instituted it, He is the teacher and He alone has the teaching materials. So, for any marriage to survive the test of time, that marriage must be guided by the teacher of marriage. I must be honest with you; it’s a game of completion and not competition.

If the man understands that he has a job of completion to carry out in the wife, then he will focus less on her wrongs and likewise the woman. This has helped me a lot in marriage, it’s not every occurrence I react to, and many a time, I let go because am not the teacher but also a student. The Bible discourages divorce, so we must endure till the end. Just as every student will endure to graduate from school no matter the rules and regulations’.

Husbands and wives must learn to abide by the rules, which is the word of God. How did you meet your wife?

I met my wife when she was yet in the primary school and I had just started my degree education. I just told her I want to marry her and she said she was going to ponder on it.

But funny enough, I had to wait for seven years before my proposal was honored. I did not buy flowers to give to her, but she believed in me until we went to the altar together. She was the completion of my life. I knew that when we were courting and even till date my wife is my personal assistant.

Anywhere I go to, you must see both of us together.

What position does she occupy in the church?

She is a Pastor in the ministry, and also the Resident Pastor of our branch in PortHarcourt.

Do you assist your wife in domestic work?

Yes I do. My family is as important as the church. My wife is not a slave so why should I overburden her. If I say am the man of the house, then I got to do the jobs of the house.

Before we live for the office I assist in keeping

the home clean and comfortable and as well get my children ready for school. I am a man that assists my wife always.

think they didn’t like you and that they were being harsh on you. But then, they were doing the right thing.

When last did you take your wife out on date?

I take my wife out always. Many a time, we travel out of town to spend time together.

What’s your favorite meal?

Laughs! I am not a good eater, jollof rice, with chicken and a good bottle of soft drink, but in the absence of soft drink I go for table water. I also love swallow and good soups because my wife knows how to prepare them.

When you are not ministering, how do you relax or unwind?

It may sound funny, but I rarely rest. If am not studying am praying. But I force myself to rest at night between 12am to 4am. It’s always mandatory for me to have my quiet time before engaging myself in the day’s activities. But when I have a spare time, I watch Christian movies, documentaries like AIT broadcasting station, Discovery Channel, Crime TV, God Ten, and political issues on the television. Also, on the physical fitness side, I take a walk and jog at times. The issue about taking a walk is that when people see me on the road walking, they like to give me a ride or want to have a chat or have me attend to their spiritual needs, without the pre-knowledge that am on fitness exercise.

What was your growing up like?

For me, I had parents who would flog me a little and sit me to advice me. I believe in not sparing the rod. I flog my children when it is absolutely necessary, especially when I have warned the person and given it as a promise.

So, when he does it, I will flog him so that he wouldn’t say I did not warn him.

Did you ever feel your parents never loved you, especially when they spanked you?

Yea, normally those days, you would

What is fashion to you?

In terms of dressing I’m simple. I love wearing what makes me attractive and comfortable because I address the public within and outside the church. I wear a lot of casuals. I also wear other styles but less of suits, and bulky dresses. My appearance is of much interest to me and most especially my wife because she selects the dresses I wear.

What you wear perfumes?

I wear a lot of perfumes, because I use two at a go.

What is your brand?

I wear 212 sexy and others.

What jewellery do you like?

I wear gold and silver wrist watches. I love them in designers anyway.

As a minister, have written any books?

A good preacher should always have a leftover for his flocks. And that leftover is the books I have written through the inspiration of God. By His special grace I will be publishing four of my books this week. And they are life impacting books that every person should have in his library.

40

Abuja Beats SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

FCT agency lists 358 refugees in Abuja

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Yekeen Nurudeen he Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency has discovered an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Sabon Kuchingoro, a suburb of the FCT. According to the Director of FEMA, Alhaji Abbass G. Idriss the agency has commenced an enumeration of the displaced persons.

Idriss, who spoke to journalists after the exercise, said the action was necessary in order to ascertain the number of displaced persons and their needs.

He explained that the enumeration would enable the agency to know the number of women, aged, children among them and plan adequately for them.

The FEMA boss revealed that there are 358 people comprising men, women and children in the camp.

“Now that statistics have been received, we have started making arrangements for relief materials. We have also contacted our stakeholders in the Health and Human Secretariat and also the Water Board to provide health and water facilities for them,” he said.

The IDPs camp is a makeshift arrangement believed to comprise mainly indigenes of Borno State who fled their homes due to the insurgency in the

Abbass G. Idriss

North-East.

The director further said the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, is concerned about disaster management and IDPs are a result of conflicts in some parts of the country.

He said that the minister has given directives that they are catered for and

provided with the basic necessities to ameliorate their plight.

“Apart from donation of relief materials, our social welfare officers will also be working with them to alleviate their trauma and we work with them so that they can be re-integrated back into the society,” he added.

Insecurity: FCTA relocates Pyakassa Science School Yekeen Nurudeen

A

s part of measures to prevent any possible terrorist attack on schools in Abuja, the FCT Administration has relocated Government Science Secondary School, Pyakassa to the highbrow Maitama District.

According to the FCT Director, Department of Science and Technology, Mrs. Rosemary Umana, students at the science school were vulnerable to attack before the relocation.

While stating that its students would be accommodated at the partly completed Maitama Model Science School, she said that the former location was more at risk as it had no fence or security.

She noted that as Maitama Model Science School had yet to be completed, moving the students there was far better than leaving them in the isolated and volatile environment of Pyakassa.

Umana further explained that though there havde been plans to move the students, the rising wave of attacks on schools by Boko Haram members prompted the quick relocation of the students.

She, however, admonished students of the school after the relocation to maintain their usual high standard in academics and not allow the new environment to affect them in any negative way.

Heritage, Access banks, others shine at Customer Service award Yekeen Nurudeen

I

t was all applause for some firms when they were recently rewarded for effective service delivery and customer satisfaction.

At an elaborate event held at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja, Heritage Bank, Access Bank, Etisalat and 34 other companies were awarded the prestigious Nigeria Customer Service Excellence Award.

The award categories cut across 27 sectors of the economy, including Banking and Finance, Telecommunications, Media, Hospitality, Transport, Real Estate, Oil and Gas and others.

The second edition of the event saw Heritage Bank emerging as the Most Supportive Customer Service Company, while Access Bank and Etisalat won Best Customer Service Company in Banking Service and Best Customer Service Company in Telecommunications.

Other winners at the event included Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company, DHL, DANA Air, Daily Trust, KIA Motors, NNPC, Channels Television, Julius Berger, Lona and Halogen Security.

Speaking at the event, NSCA Coordinator, Dr. Aliyu Ilias, said the award was instituted to celebrate outstanding service excellence across all sectors in the country.

“I want to seize this opportunity to congratulate the winners in this year’s edition.

You have served Nigerians efficiently based

on the data gathered from your service consumers and we hope this award will propel and motivate you to improve in the area of Customer Service,” he said.

He explained that the Customer Service Awards is celebrated during the International Customer Service Week every year, adding that its sole objective is to raise the standard of customer service in Nigeria by encouraging companies to go beyond providing token service.

“We have already set a mechanism in motion that will gather data, process them and then developed into a report. This will form an assessment for companies and also rate them from time to time,” he said.

He explained that the selection of winners follows basic steps which include nomination of the winners by Nigerians.

The next step, according to him, is an interaction with the nominated company by mystery shoppers to verify claims that such nominees escaped the attention of the Nigerian Customer Service Awards.

“While relating with a company upon nomination, we review the staff and management process in the areas of customer service. We also rely on feedbacks from the company’s customers, including indirect service users, and make our deductions. We send out questionnaires and use other forms of research to determine the winners of the wards,” Ilias said.

He said the awards do not encourage com-

Access Bank MD, Herbert Wigwe

Heritage Bank MD, Ifie Sekibo

panies to compete against each other but to strive to be unique and better their own products and services.

The coordinator said, “We also preach that dealing fairly with the customer is both rewarding to the organisation as it is to the customer. This is why we promote and project such hard working organisations that excel in the business of fulfilling customer service satisfaction.”

In his address, chairman of the event, Senator Dahir Umar, who is also the chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, emphasised

the need for the federal government and Nigerians to repackage themselves to meet up with global standard.

“Nigerians need to repackage themselves, we need the best in terms of service delivery in the service sector and dividends of democracy as it is called in the government parlance,” he said.

Group Head, Heritage Bank, Abuja, Lekan Busari, said the bank supported NCSA because of its commitment to excellent service delivery even as he urged other companies to do same.

The next edition of the award is scheduled to hold in Lagos in 2015.

Faith 41

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER , 2014

News

SCOAN: Lagos sends 116 DNA samples to S’Africa p.56

Sermon

God’s transformation agenda p.58

Clerics come under the search light

Sermon

Oh, my baby is crying p.41

Sermon

Anger: Devil’s occasion to rob you destiny p.42

Okotie

T

Tai Anyanwu

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk

titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

he church of God in Nigeria has been troubled in recent times, that some clerics have come to the conclusion that the end-time is here.

Different clergy men who spoke to Sunday New Telegraph seem to be very uncomAdebiyi fortable with so many troubles which had been reported in different denominations of God’s house.

They are particularly worried about the reports of divorce among clerics; exchanges of brickbats between some ministers of the gospel; claims of financial scandal and bloody conflicts over the resources of some churches; controversy over succession; as well as the incidences of collapsed church buildings.

They are also worried about reports that some clerics have been involved in criminal activities; the closeness of some Christian leaders to politicians; and sundry issues.

The development, it was gathered, was contrary to the gift of peace which the Jesus Christ gave unto His disciples just before His ministry on Earth wound up.

“In the book of John chapter 14 verses 27, the Lord Jesus Christ told us: ‘Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the

Joshua

“The unfortunate developments in different churches that we read about in newspapers and see and hear on electronic media only confirm that the end is here” world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’

But today, God’s house is witnessing a deluge of troubles; and that is a negation of the Master’s gift to His followers.

“Everything is indeed happening in churches today but one thing that seems to be so elusive in God’s house is the peace which the Master left for us His followers.

“The unfortunate developments in different churches that we read about in newspapers and see and hear on electronic media only confirm that the end is here,” said Rev. John Nwokoye of Assemblies of God Church.

Pastor Samuel Daniel of Global Grace Church, Lagos, also observed that the

Oritsejafor

church of God is one place where orderliness is expected to reside.

“Instead indiscipline, corruption, fake miracles, marital break-ups, sexual immorality and diverse unChristian character are found.

“Confidence tricksters, who have found themselves as ministers on God’s altar, are taking the grace of God for granted.

“But hear me, these evil men and women who are holding sway in churches today should read the Bible. There is a day set aside for judgment and judgment will definitely begin from the house of God,” he warned.

Speaking specifically on the issue of divorce involving some respected clerics in Nigeria, the Bishop in charge of Ngwa North Anglican Communion in Abia State, Rt. Rev. Chinenye Kanu, explained that it is unbiblical for a clergyman to divorce his wife.

“Divorce and Christianity don’t go together. Leaders should show good example.

Anybody who wants to be an example for people to follow in the house of God should also tell people who are getting married that it is not a bed of roses. It’s not chewing gum and sweets. Divorce is sinful, no matter who CO NTINUED O N PAGE 42

42

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

Clerics worry over crises in churches CON TINUED FR O M PAGE41

is involved but it is more discouraging when a leader is involved,” he pointed out.

A minister within Christ Embassy, who spoke to Sunday New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said the divorce proceedings between Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his wife, Anita, has led to the sacking of some clerics. The ministers were either sacked or suspended for daring to express their views on the divorce case instituted by the pastor’s wife.

The source also said that there are fears that a split might happen in the church, with 90 per cent of the pastoral team going along with the presiding minister while 10 per cent might pitch their tent with his wife.

Other sore points are issues over succession and church control.

For instance, the Christ Apostolic Church and a leading Pentecostal church have been involved in leadership crisis that had given birth to splinter groups.

Each of the factions now brandishes two different certificates of incorporation bearing the same registration numbers and different years.

The CAC crisis, Sunday New Telegraph learnt, had lasted 24 years without any solution in sight. Several efforts to get the parties in the dispute to come back into one single fold had been undermined.

On the other hand, the Assemblies of God Church regarded as the mother of all Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria, is on the brink of a break-up.

In a public notice issued recently, the denomination announced that it had suspended and dismissed its former General Overseer (GS), Dr. Paul Emeka. The GS was accused of dictatorial tendencies and issue related to the handling of the church’s finances.

The erstwhile GS was said to have taken hold of the church’s secretariat in Enugu, by force.

The Acting GS, Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, and the other members of the leadership are said to be steering the affairs of the denomination from unknown locations.

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and the pastor of Household of God Church, Rev. Chris Okotie, have been engaged in an exchange of brickbats. They are squabbling over the South African Government’s seizure of a $9.3 million in a private jet belonging to Oritsejafor.

Okotie had in a statement advised the CAN president to reign. But Can fired back in a statement, accusing Okotie of insincerity.

Okotie replied, saying he would not condescend to the level of engaging in a verbal war with Oritsejafor. He also subtly accused the CAN president of working for the Peoples Democratic Party and reiterated his demand for Oritsejafor’s resignation.

The pastor of Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Joshua, has been embroiled in an international crisis over the collapse in September of the church’s guesthouse in Ikotun, Lagos, which claimed over 100 lives.

The matter is currently being handled by a coroner’s inquest in Lagos State.

Some of the victims were South Africans and nationals of Nigeria and other countries who had converged on the church for a programme.

While Joshua claimed the incident was a ‘controlled demolition’ by a mystery jet, some observers countered that he violated building standard by adding more floors to a two-storey structure.

The Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise

Oyakhilome

Nonyelum

in Imo State has been embroiled in a crisis for over a year in respect of the appointment of a bishop of Anambra State origin, Most Rev. Peter Ebere Okpaleke.

He was not allowed to take occupation of the Bishop’s Court in Nnarambia, Mbaise nor had the opportunity of celebrating mass anywhere within the diocese.

Attempts by the leadership of the church in Nigeria to resolve the crisis have been rebuffed by a section of the diocese, who insists on the appointment of an indigenous bishop.

Sometime last year, two Pentecostal pastors were accused of sexual immorality by some female members of their churches.

The scandals were widely celebrated in the media, with many observers demanding that the clerics step down from their positions.

This demand was, however, ignored as the ministers till remain on their seats.

Last week, the Catholic Church was jolted by reports that Pope Francis had endorsed welcoming gays into the fold.

This call was, however, left out of the final draft of a synod of bishops which apparently did not endorse the call.

Observers say corruption, selfish interest and the tussle over who controls

the financial fortunes of some Nigerian churches was at the root of the crisis.

A founding member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. Moses Iloh, of Soul Winning Ministry, Lagos, told Sunday New Telegraph that Christianity in Nigeria had been turned into a religion rather than a way of life as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ.

“This is why the church today is like an industry in Nigeria. My pain in this country is that today we worship corruption. The point is that the corruption in the country has gone into the church in Nigeria. Tell me, who doesn’t cheat in the country now? if you are doing business with a fellow who is a Christian, he or she is thinking of how to cheat or take advantage of you.

“When a document that is fraudulent is sent to a government ministry, a directorgeneral who is a Christian would not say ‘no.’ But his or her first question is what he or she will gain from the transaction.

“I must tell you that the biggest problem we have in Christianity today is that there is a spiritual conflict between two groups of people in the church -one is the leader of Christians while the second one is the Christians’ leader.

“The majority of them that are leaders of

Christians are not Christians themselves.

Rather, they are brilliant and good business people, they are organised and they don’t need the Holy Spirit to get membership and management. Their congregation is made up of Christians who are held down. For me, the Christian leaders that are scarce now are the leaders who are truly Christians,” Iloh stressed.

Speaking at the seventh annual lecture of Anthony Cardinal Okogie organised in Lagos, the President of Dominican Catholic Institute, Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Anthobny Akinwale, also said that Nigeria was one of the countries with some of the most corrupt religious practices in the world.

General Overseer, Faith and Covenant Divine Ministry, Lagos, Evangelist Ifeanyichukwu Nonyelum, told Sunday New Telegraph that Nigerians need to move closer to God. He stated that people are losing their faith in God because of of the state of the country.

Though he observed that it was caused by politics in the church, he explained that all the troubles in God’s house was a pointer to the end-time.

He, however, noted that most of the unsavoury events in churches today would not have happened if Christians remained steadfast to the vision of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The church, he said, has the responsibility to prepare souls for God’s kingdom, lamenting that it had, however, become a place where people fight over positions.

“The love of money, material things and covetousness is what is causing those struggles in the church today. These things cause them to commit one thing or the other in the church. I don’t believe in fighting and dragging over positions in the church. It is due to politics in the church,” the cleric added.

Speaking on the pope’s call for gays to be welcomed into the Catholic Church, Pastor Charles Ugwu noted that the development had raised negative apprehension that Christendom is standing on the brink.

He stressed that if the Vatican endorses gay rights, Christian values would definitely suffer a deadly blow.

Ugwu complained that wrong Christian values that were being manifested by church leaders reminded him of the scripture which warns believers about certain signs to look out for about the end-time.

Akinwale urged Christians to pray for the church of God in Nigeria; though he also explained that the pope prior to his enthronement had stood against gay practices.

Video games make Bible teaching easy

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n interactive video game has been embraced as a potent device for teaching kids the word of God. The Canadian Bible Society is said to be harnessing the interactive medium of video games to teach kids about the Bible, the Christian Weekly, an online medium, has said.

In conjunction with OneHope organisation, the society has created an online platform, called Incredible Islands.

Incredible Island, it was gathered, is a collection of games designed to make the Bible come alive in exciting new ways.

“The idea behind Incredible Islands is to offer a different way of learning to the kids that come to Sunday school,” says Don Miller, director of Canadian Ministry at the Canadian Bible Society.

The game expands on traditional Sunday school so kids engage with what they’ve learned at church throughout the week.

Miller added: “It’s a totally safe environment and the children’s worker or pastor

can actually tailor some of the learning opportunities for the kid during the week, whether that’s a Bible verse or another way of learning the story online.”

He noted that traditional teaching methods are not as effective as they were even 10 years ago with so many children interacting with technology.

“One of the challenges we’re facing as we introduce this idea,” Miller continued, “is that churches are used to one way of doing things and adopting a new way of learning can be a challenge.”

“The online environment, he added was a creative way to teach young kids core principles in a format they enjoy.

Meanwhile, some online proponents say video games and interactive media can create community and memorable experiences.

Kyle Rudge, a radio DJ and communications specialist in Winnipeg, says one of the things he loves about gaming is community.

“Millions of people play online games and it’s a communal environment,” he says. “In

a game like World of Warcraft, for example, you can’t go out and conquer the greatest of adventures by yourself. You have to communicate with people in order to do it.”

For Rudge, games have also provided surprising opportunities to become a witness to other players. When a friend Rudge met playing an online game was tragically killed in a biking accident, the gaming community sought out Rudge for guidance.

“Our gaming community was really broken by this news. Then the creators of game contacted me. They knew I was a Christian and that I wasn’t a ‘Hellfire and brimstone’ kind of Christian, and would I be willing to host an online memorial service? Our community was grieving and they needed some kind of hope.

“A room was set up in the game for the service. We shared stories of who he was inside and outside of the game. And then I gave a message of hope, which we can rest in knowing there is something greater than what is on the earth.”

to your wardrobe with a touch of yellow. You can feel good about being a little trendy and stylish and keep everyone you meet smiling at the same time!

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Body&Soul

Luxury ‘man bags’ Vanessa Okwara

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n the past, a small wallet tucked inside the trousers’ back pocket is a man’s only ‘bag’, although some men do lug bulky black briefcases to work.

These days, some men now appreciate having everything in one place; especially the expensive gadgets like cell phones, tablets, headphones, iPads, and laptops.

This season, one of the hottest luxury items with global appeal is the men’s handbag. They are popularly called the ‘man bag,’ ‘man purse’ or simply ‘murse’.

These are stylish, professional and practical work bags that today’s man uses as an accessory to compliment his attire and

also help him get through his busy schedules.

Today, with the help of international celebs like Kanye West, David Beckham and Jay Z, who started the trend, men are seen with messenger bags, tote and even in some cases, a men’s purse.

Man bags are specifically made to suit the new fashionable male.

They come in super cool Italian fine leather, patent leather, animal - snake, leopard, crocodile - hides or made from interesting prints and patterned textures fabrics. They are fine leather bags made into carriers for work, casual outings and just general holders for personal effects for that stylish man on the go. It’s a good piece to help make that trendy statement.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Body&Soul

Make romantic fantasies come true E

veryone is created with the innate ability to dream. Vivid imaginations of the kind of life we desire constantly play out as movies in the invisible screen of the mind. These dreams are usually very colourful and rosy. In them, we materialise as heroes without actually lifting a finger in making those dreams come to fruition.

All of a sudden, reality wakes us up harshly from the sweet dream and back to living in the doldrums we are accustomed to. How ironic life can be indeed!

You live like a king in dreamland, yet in reality, you barely scratch the surface of riches. So sad isn’t it? This is the difference between the rich and the poor in the society. The rich live their dreams while the poor die with theirs. A rich man creates and maximises opportunities that comes his way to become richer while the poor sits at the corner of his room daydreaming.

The same thing goes in the way we handle our relationship fantasies. In our daydreams, we play out risqué scenes that will make the best romantic movie look like child’s play. The only catch, however, is that they are developed only in our imaginations, without actually taking place in real life. Why is it so easy to fantasise about the most amazing romance, but never see it come true in life?

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, a wild romantic life remains only in your imagination until you make it happen.

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That’s right; you carry the key that will open the magical door to making all of your romantic dreams come true. What were you expecting me to say to you?

That someday, an invisible wand will be waved over you, miraculously fulfilling all your romantic fantasies?

Well, I never said I was the fairy godmother that helped Cinderella to be the belle of the party, win the heart of the Prince and live happily ever after with him. So I’m only going to tell you the gospel truth here on how to live a fulfilled romantic life.

You are the one that will have to create and re-live the kind of romantic fantasy you have always wanted in your relationship or else kiss your romantic dreams goodbye. Many make the mistake of believing that once they found someone they make a great connection with, both physically and emotionally, everything else will fall into place and all their romantic fantasies will become a reality automatically. But that is a very tall dream that might take forever to be

fulfilled.

If you want your fantasies to become a reality, you must introduce them to real life situations. Your partner is not a mind reader, yet you expect him/her to know exactly how you want to be treated. You expect them to act out in real life the things you pictured them doing in your imaginations. How is that possible? They can only know what’s on your mind when you communicate your desires to them.

The best way you can introduce romantic ideas to your relationship is to act them out yourself. This will paint a clear picture for your partner, helping him or her see what kind of romantic personality you have and what you enjoy. Take for instance, if you are the type that like lovely romantic text messages sent to wake you up every morning, be the first to send it out to him/her. If you are the type that loves hugs and kisses, and saying ‘I love you’ at every given opportunity, then don’t wait for your partner to say or do them before showing it. If you

are very romantic in bed, show it also to your partner and teach them how to please you. That way, your daydreams can easily translate into reality.

Be the first to show love and romance to your partner. By so doing, you will both learn more on how to please each other. Don’t ever hold back from giving your partner the kind of romance you wish to receive. That is why it is extremely important you initiate the kind romance you desire at the beginning of your relationship. If you don’t, you could very well be setting yourself up for deep disappointment.

It is equally imperative that you operate an open and honest relationship.

Talk openly about your hobbies, lifestyle and romantic expectations so that your date also starts to learn who you really are as a person and their role in making your desires a reality. If you do not wish to be misled, then do not mislead others either.

Accomplishing true romance can only happen when you express your fantasies freely and confidently to your partner.

Like the saying goes, ‘it is difficult to spit out sugar once placed in the mouth’. If you begin to act out your romantic fantasies to your partner today, I bet that in no distant future, you will begin to see them reciprocated in a manner that will exceed even your wildest imaginations!

Send your views to the email above!

Uniting to combat terrorism with love

error has knocked on Canada’s door and it did not come from outside.

Home grown extremists are unleashing terror on one of the most peaceful countries in the world and shattering the serenity of the Canadian nation. This is not a joke and indeed, in a world already riddled by a plethora of troubles, some of which I have already recounted in past, this cannot come at a worse time.

On the day Canada joined the world in taking a stand against extremists in the middle east, radicalised Canadian, Martin Rouleau, drove his car into two members of the Canadian Armed forces in Quebec, killing one of them, Patrice Vincent. It was a statement of intent, an attack on the very instrument of Canada’s resistance has taken place. The intention was to hit Canada’s forces from within.

No one paid attention, at least, we all didn’t think anything of it until Wednesday when Michael Zehaf-Bibeau took his gun, killed another soldier, Nathan Cirillo, at the foot of a war memorial, shot his way into Parliament Hill and got ten metres away from the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, before being shot down, according to unconfirmed reports, by the Sergeant at Arms (SAA), Kevin Vickers.

It is all too early to confirm anything as at the time of writing but there have been questions which to me, are unfair to the swift and responsive nature of the Canadian forces and the Police. Many questioned how a lone wolf could cause havoc in the heart of Canada’s political life. How Zehaf-Bibeau could get so deep into the seat of power before being stopped; but I say pause and think- the man was spraying bullets in every direc-

tion, the first instinct of any human is to take cover first, assess the situation and then attack later. All of this, military tacticians will confirm, take time to process.

Sufficient time, in that kind of crazed, manic attack, to get as far as possible.

He will only be stopped later. Those who have posed this question have invariably played and validated the stupid actions of Rousleau and Zehaf-Bibeau. This was an attack on the symbol of governance in Canada and now we question the government?

On the television, I saw police officers in full combat gear, I saw police officers in mufti, indicating they have been recalled from their homes on their days off, I saw the forces come out in full, and this is just minutes after the incident was reported.

To me, that is all you want from any state and the apparatus of the state; rapid response to high tension incidents like this.

For as long as we cannot have one Policeman per citizen, then all we can expect in times like this is a responsive and responsible government. That was provided and if that is not enough, perhaps Canadians will like to go to Liberia and trade places.

The President threatened to sue one of her citizens who needed her help while he was still on his death bed.

The attacks are also an attack on the symbol of resistance and defence against external aggressors; the military forces.

Sadly, two soldiers have been killed. Insignificant as the number may be, the Canadian military is two personnel less.

The intention is to weaken the Canadian

The attacks are also an attack on the symbol of resistance and defence against external aggressors; the military forces. Sadly, two soldiers have been killed.

Insignificant as the number may be, the Canadian military is two personnel less. The intention is to weaken the Canadian forces from base; kind of smash the egg before it hatches. I say it won’t work

forces from base; kind of smash the egg before it hatches. I say it won’t work. The only answer to this is a strong voice of condemnation and not one of dissent.

All answers will be answered as the intentions and the build up to the attack becomes clearer, but until then, a united front is required from all concerned.

Fighting terrorism is now a joint effort, everyone all over the world is concerned.

Terrorism is now a cross-cultural and cross-border phenomenon that requires equal effort from everyone. Terrorist from Nigeria are being trained in Afghanistan and Mali, British terrorists are being trained in Pakistan, Kenyan terrorists are being trained in Sudan, and there is also the threat of home grown terrorism.

The world needs a concerted effort to combat this.

The Canadian government is also commendable in this regard. Party politics was set aside as the Prime Minister allowed the leaders of the two major opposition parties to address the nation soon after he gave his speech. No party politics is greater than the nation and happily the two opposition leaders, Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair spoke to the needs of the nation and not political leanings.

Now, the rest of us must play our part.

It is not enough to stop something bad from happening, we must provide alternatives. Writers must begin to write a narrative of love to counter that of hate.

Preachers must now preach love from the pulpit and on the street, politicians must now include love of neighbour in their manifesto. International friends, Nigeria included, must now stand by Canada.

Only a united and firm approach can change the current narrative of hate.

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Body&Soul

with

Wole Adepoju 08085003746

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Moji Oyetayo’s profile Festus Odimegwu relishes life in isolation F

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s a young man, Festus worked very hard to make life worth living for himself.

With focus, dedication and goodluck, the Igboborn Festus was able to find his feet and consolidated on it till he rose to become one to be reckoned with in the society. While he reigned as the man at the helm of affairs at the flourishing company, Nigerian Breweries, Festus made many envious of him as he enjoyed himself tremendously.

Having conquered all at the corporate setting, he started hobnobbing with political titans, and this eventually consumed him as he was relieved of his post over alleged support for the infamous Obasanjo third term agenda. Succor,

however, came his way when years later, he was made the chairman, National Population Commission. Just as he was kicked out as the boss of Nigeria Breweries, he was advised by the powers that be to resign as the NPC boss over alleged ‘loose talk’. What those in the know revealed to Celeb Lounge is that Odimegwu is not brooding over his misfortune, rather, he’s said to be relishing life in isolation. Celeb Lounge was informed that he makes himself happy by inviting musicians to his house to give him private entertainment. This, according to our source, is not strange to his neighbours at Parkview Estate, Lekki, Lagos where he lives, as it is said to be his favourite pastime.

or Lagos-born articulate and eloquent lady, Moji Oyetayo, her plus size frame has never been a setback. Rather, she has used it to make life worth living. Having gone through formal education, dark-skinned Moji tried her hands on a reality show after which she participated in a pageant that was designed for plus size ladies; and she made headway.

Succor for Gbenga Daniel

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he political journey of immediate governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, since he left office is still very fresh in the memory of many. It no longer news that the engineer-turned-politician has returned to the fold of the PDP where he gained prominence before defecting to Labour Party sometime ago.

OGD, as he is fondly called, according to those who should know, decided to return to PDP because of ‘stomach infrastructure’ -his senatorial ambition which looks realistic under PDP. But having appeased those that matter, like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Buruji Kashamu, the ex-governor still has reasons to be worried. Buruji, who is also a powerful politician, has signified interest in the same senatorial district Gbenga is hoping to represent Ogun East Senatorial District. From what we learnt, Gbenga seems to have given in to fate. However, sources told Celeb Lounge that Otunba Daniel might be given a ministerial slot. The source also said that Daniel was at Ijebu Igbo where Kasamu’s aspiration was sealed.

Elfreda Edewor moves on

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eautiful Edo Stateborn society face, Elfreda, at a time was an item with her kinsman and international footballer, Osaze Odemwingie. They were so much into each other that many expected wedding bells to ring. Rather than that, they parted ways.

The Super Eagles striker has since moved on and settled for a Russian lady, with a son to show for the union. The good news, however, is that pretty Elfreda may have found a man who is pampering her. Elfreda is said to be keeping everything about her new man to herself but the sketchy report about him is that the lover boy is making her so happy that she will not joke with him.

With the urge to succeed, she went for auditioning at Wale Adenuga Productions and clinched the role of the popular character in the famous Papa Ajasco series, Mama Ajasco.

Since then, she has not looked back.

Her dexterity at interpreting her role endeared her to many other production outfits that have regularly given her roles in English and Yoruba movies. With several movies to her credit and a soaring image in the industry, the event anchor extraordinaire took a shot at the executive position of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and emerged the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State chapter.

Having performed creditably, she was encouraged to aim higher, which she did at the recently held election of the association.

This time, Moji retained her post as the PRO, but at the national level. She was sworn in alongside re-elected National President, Ibinabo Fiberesima, and others some days ago.

Meanwhile, as part of her perceived responsibility to give back to the society, the frontline thespian launched a foundation sometime ago. The foundation, Mohips Youth Initiative, has been moving round schools and youthoriented platforms to impact them. As part of the foundation’s activities, a number of schools have been lined up for a visit as the year winds up.

Her efforts have not been in vain as she has a number of awards to show for it. Moji, a model with about 10 notable jobs to her credit, was also recently bestowed with an award as outstanding role interpreter by White Cowries Entertainment.

Segun Oni plans superlative bash

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fter going through the rigours of the governorship election in Ekiti State, the former governor of the state, Engineer Segun Oni, may have decided to look the direction of his significant birthday. Preparations for a superlative birthday bash is said to have started. Oni clocked 60 years on September 5, but did not make any noise about it for reasons best known to him. Although details of the event are still sketchy, Celeb Lounge can inform authoritatively that December 6 has been fixed for the bash that will take place at Ifaki Ekiti.

Oni came into public

consciousness some years back when he became the governor of Ekiti State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but was removed by the court in favour of the immediate governor, Kayode Fayemi.

Reviving him from going into oblivion, Oni was made the PDP National Vice Chairman (SouthWest) before he was removed in a controversial manner that made him pitch his tent with APC before the last gubernatorial election in the state.

Unfortunately, APC lost to PDP, leaving Oni to lick a wound received from his miscalculation.

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Body&Soul

Elvina Ibru carves a niche

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ike a couple of other offspring of the popular Ibru dynasty, Elvina Ibru has a name and face that make her a cynosure of eyes wherever she is. And that simply explains why her moves make the news.

This lady with peculiar beauty was very regular in the news when she had her son some years back, and that was because she kept the identity of her father’s baby to herself then.

Meanwhile, many did not know

that beautiful Elvina has a passion that drives her seriously until she debuted on the radio as a presenter. That Elvina is a presenter on Classic F.M is no longer news but what may be of interest is how she’s fast carving a niche for herself as an On-Air Personality. Currently, Elvina could be refered to as the most popular among her peers on air because of the large number of listeners to her programme.

Some observers are of the view that being an Ibru is

Al Mustapha rebounds

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Eyitayo Balogun rewards patronage

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yitayo Balogun Jnr, Managing Director of Sportslinks Media Communications and son of veteran sport journalist and administrator, Eyitayo Balogun, has no doubt taken after his father.

He may have a name to leverage on but one thing that is clear about him is his ability and zeal to maintain the household name, break new grounds and further carve a niche for himself.

His brilliance and expertise in sports presentation and analysis are evident in his activities. Aside the fact that Eyitayo has been able to attract the management of Optimal Sports to be among its World Cup analysts for many years, the dude has also distinguished himself with his programmes which include Channels Sports and Ultimate Football Show on Eko FM. Another feat that has made him the toast of his peers is the interest of corporate advertisers in his programmes. In his bid to give back to his teeming listeners, Tayo and the crew of the fast rising and popular Ultimate Football Show - Ibitayo Daramola, Mudashir Shittu, Osaze Simeon and Folabi Dasilva - hosted their listeners under the aegis of Ultimate Football Fans Club.

Under the coordinating effort of a regular listener, Theresa Moses, the listeners were hosted at Mo’cube Lounge, Agidingbi. The session afforded them the opportunity to fraternise just as listeners were given awards in different categories. As gifts were given to listeners, they were treated to sumptuous meals and assorted drinks.

etired former presidential chief security officer, Major Hamza al-Mustapha, came to limelight during the days of his erstwhile boss and late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha. Mustapha’s influence in Abacha’s government was more than a child’s play because his word was law.

Many years after the demise of his boss, al-Mustapha was still the subject of discussion because he was in prison for an alleged murder case.

Though he has been let off the hook, alMustapha has, however, embraced a low profile. Sources say he has been attending to personal issues that suffered during his days behind bars. We were told he’s been holding meetings with an Ekiti State-born lawyer and his crew that are in charge of his properties. The Lagos-based law firm is said to have put up for sale a few houses belonging to al-Mustapha on his instruction during his days in the prison. Though, unconfirmed, the former CSO might be on his way to acquiring some new properties.

Dapo Sarunmi returns L

ife has not been the same for popular Lagos politician, Chief Dapo Sarunmi, in recent times owing to an illness.

The former minister and ex-governorship candidate is said to have been battling with stroke in past few months.

Information made the rounds some weeks ago that the former Minister of Information was flown abroad to receive proper medical treatment. Information available to Celeb Lounge at the moment is that the man has returned to the country. What sources could not confirm is the state of his health.

responsible for her growing popularity on radio. A session held on air on her birthday was cited as an example. She dedicated a session to questions about herself, and caused a scramble of celebrities and other fans struggling to call her. Some sources hinged her popularity on her dexterity oatn the job. She also handles a late evening programme where she thrills listeners to nice tunes and soothing talk with her radio voice.

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Body&Soul

DIY on the GO

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homemade yam, plantain, cassava flour Esther Odili

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am, plantain or cassava flour are traditional food eaten mostly in Africa. Yam flour popularly known as Erubo is a traditional food for the Yoruba in the western part of Nigeria.

The yam flour is powdered starch widely used in food preparation. Typically white or brown, the flour is commonly used in African dishes especially Amala -a thick brown paste or porridge.

It may be used in many other recipes if

desired. These flours are prepared by grinding dried yams, plantain or cassava until they reach a powdered consistency. Dehydrated flour from yams may also be produced from sun drying.

Depending on which, the yam, plantain or cassava, which are very popular root vegetable in Nigeria, are dried and grounded and then sieved and processed into flour. The flour is used for a variety of sumptuous meals.

There are generally three types of flours among the Yoruba.

One is erubo iṣu derived from yam, erubo láfún from cassava and the one made from plantains.

These are produced by removing the skins from the yam, cassava or plantain, they are then cut into tiny pieces for easy drying. It takes days and even weeks to dry.

When using plantain, slice into long strips. Sundry on cement slabs until the plantain is properly dried and greyish white in colour. (This process could take weeks or so. Then grind the dried plan-

tain into a fine powder and store for use.

For cassava flour which is white in colour, peel the cassava, slice it and soak for five days or more. Then drain the water from it and dry it in the sun.

When it is dried, take it to the mill (to be grounded), and it is ready.

Note that the quality of yam tubers, cassava and plantain used for production will tell on the quality of your flour.

So go for the best raw materials to get the best flour.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

Palate lift with a glass of Tempranillo Ibukunoluwa Kayode

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t’s time to ditch the old wine you’ve been drinking and expand your palate. Sipping repeatedly same wine over and over can be boring at times.

In order to lift your taste buds to a refreshing feeling, try Tempranillo red wine.

This is a wildly diverse food-pairing wine that is easy to find and has a great flavour for the value.

When you first taste a Spanish Tempranillo, you’ll get hit with the flavour of leather along with cherries.

The finish is mild, smooth and lingers with tannin on both sides of your mouth.

The friendly fruit characteristics of Tempranillo lean towards cherry, plum and tomato with a smooth finish tone of leather, tobacco, vanilla, and clove on the palate with an American or French Oak aging.

Tempranillo red grape wine holds a medium tannin and acidity with ABV 13-14.5 per cent alcohol level that makes it a perfect refreshing indulgence.

This is a wine for all and can​be enjoyed by anyone who loves to explore the palate for a refreshing taste.

It can serve any occasion and can as well fit into a table wine of choice due to its medium-bodied red fruit characteristics.

The major regions where Tempranillo is grown are Spain, Portugal, USA and Australia.

Tempranillo pairs with all kinds of food because it’s savoury. It can team up with different continental and local cuisines like roasted vegetables and cured meats, lasagna, pizza and dishes with tomato-based sauces. Grits, polenta and dishes with corn as a major ingredient and Mexican food such as tacos, nachos, burritos and chile rellenos.

So, give yourself a treat with a glass of Tempranillo, since wine tasting is all about fun.

Prawns and bell peppers stir fry with whole grain noodles Biwom Iklaki

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othing tempts you to eat a meal better than hunger and a mouth watering presentation of a colourful meal. It takes a few hours to take care of both situations.

INGREDIENTS •12 medium prawns •2 each of red, yellow and green peppers (chopped length-wise) •Ginger, garlic and onion (ground to paste) •2 tsp Cameroon pepper (as your palate can take) •1 tbs soy sauce •2 Stock cubes and salt to taste •1 tsp curry •A few sprigs parsley •5 tabs olive oil •1 onion bulb (finely chopped) •Whole wheat pasta

PREPARATION In a tall pot, bring some water to boil with 1tbs salt and 1tbs oil. Prep and clean your prawns (be sure to de-vein them). Heat up a wok and add the olive

oil. When it is hot, put the onions in and leave to sizzle on low heat to bring out the sweetness. When light brown in colour, add the ginger, garlic and onion paste. Add a little water to maintain the lightness in paste. Let simmer for a bit then stir in some cayenne pepper, soy sauce, stock cubes and curry. When thoroughly mixed, add the peppers and leave to simmer on low heat for 3 minutes. Add the prawns, stir, increase the heat and leave on for 2 minutes. Turn off and put the pasta in the now boiling pot of water and let cook. Once it is done, strain and pour into the wok.

Mix well and serve. You may chop the parsley into the bowl for garnishing.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS Peppers are very high in Vitamin C and also contain anti-oxidant flavonoids such as alpha and beta carotenes, lutein, zea-xanthin, and cryptoxanthin.

When working together, these antioxidant substances in bell peppers help to protect the body from injurious effects of free radicals generated during stress and disease conditions. They are also a rich source of many minerals.

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Body&Soul

Handling pesky pimples and acne Biwom Iklaki

more painful, larger and are caused by infection deep within the pores. So, there are a few steps you can follow to reduce or totally eradicate this problem: •Do not try to squeeze out the heads or pus.

•Always take a shower or wash your face at least twice a day.

•Use a mild toner after washing to gently wipe over the area.

•Always moisturise with a non greasy product.

•Reduce the amount of fatty foods you consume.

•Use only medication prescribed by the doctor.

•Remember, you are beautiful no matter what shows up on your face.

Place the given shapes in the grid in such a way that each row, column and long diagonal contains every shape and every colour.

• Source: www.benscoloringpages.com • www.benscoloringpages.com

Gags

Gags

What do you call a bear with no teeth?

Ans: A gummy bear!

What do you call a bear with no teeth?

WhatAisgummy the biggest Ans: bear!ant in the world?

Ans: An eleph-ant!

What is the biggest ant in the world?

How An do bees get to school?

Ans: eleph-ant!

Ans: By school buzz!

How do bees get to school?

Why By didschool the kidbuzz! throw the butter out Ans: the window?

Ans: did To see Why thethe kidbutter-fly! throw the butter out the window?

Why To didsee thethe lion spit out the clown?

Ans: butter-fly!

Why did the lion spit out the clown?

Ans: Because he tasted funny!

WhatBecause is a cat’she favourite song?

Ans: tasted funny!

Ans: Three Blind Mice!

What is a cat’s favourite song?

Is it hard toBlind spot aMice! leopard?

Ans: Three Ans: No, they come that way!

Is it hard to spot a leopard?

Knock Knock!

Ans: No, they come that way!

Who’s there?

CowsgoKnock!

Knock Cowsgo who?

Who’s there?

No they don’t, cows-go moo.

Cowsgo Cowsgo who?

No they don’t, cows-go moo.

Hero of the week

Cross word puzzle • Source: www.free-training-tutorial.com

P

imples or acne are a common problem among boys and girls between ages 10 and 13. It is a condition that is brought about by the onset of puberty which is a very natural occurrence, but with far reaching effects on your physical and psychological values.

It is shocking to know that something as simple as your face, neck, shoulders, chest and back (some experience it on all five areas) being covered in pimples or spots can be responsible for your loosing friends, having low self esteem, even being bullied. Many boys and girls have been in your shoes

before, and they overcame it. It just takes a bit of understanding of this condition and you will be well on your way to handling it.

First, acne is a condition caused by a mixture of oils produced by the skin, sweat, and the hormones that are responsible for the changes (puberty) you are experiencing. They present themselves as whiteheads, blackheads, and acne/pimples. With blackheads, oils are trapped in the pores, yet remain open, which then reacts with your sweat, bacteria to form blackheads. The whiteheads occur when the pores open up, trap the bacteria and oil then close up with a white cap often filled with pus. Acne are

Crackyour your brain Crack brain

Our hero of the week is actually a heroine. Her name is Asisat Oshoala. She is a 20-year old Nigerian footballer who has been named the best player of the 2014 FIFA U20 World Cup. She won a Golden Boot award for scoring seven goals and assisting others to score two goals. Her honours did not end there, she was honoured by the President with a national award as a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

You too can achieve a lot no matter your age or talent. Just believe in yourself and the sky will be your stepping stone.

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014

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Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation

In the bid to give back to the society and support a healthy environment, The Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation launched a free Health Scheme in various parts of Abia State recently. Drugs were distributed, free tests carried out and various seminars hosted. These photographs from the events say it all.

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014

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Scenes at the sod turning and handing over of the site of Voice of God Recording Office in Nigeria by the Pastor, Grace and Truth Church, Lagos, Rev. John Nyamadi, to Chairman, VOGR Committee, Ben Oguh, and Country Manager, VOGR, Bro. Andrew Alasa, at the Bethlehem Campground Km 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State‌.. yesterday Photos: PHOTOS: TONY EGUAYE

Proto type of the project

L-R: Elder Emmanuel Egwunye; Ekder Ade Mesagan and Pastor, Grace and Truth Church, Lagos, Rev. John Nyamadi, Church , Lagos

L-R: (Front row) Chairman, VOGR Building Committee, Bro. Ben Oguh; Bro. Dada Olayinka; Bro. Apabiekwu Israel and Bro. Agbetuyi Ayoade Felix.

: Chairman, VOGR Building Committee, Bro. Ben Oguh (right), turning the sod

Associate Pastor, Grace and Truth Church, Lagos, Isaac Okoro; and a cross-section of ministers

A cross-section of ministers and guest at the event

L-R: Country Manager, VOGR Nigeria, Bro. Andrew Alasa; Chairman, VOGR Building Committee, Bro. Ben Ogu and Pastor, Grace and truth Church, Lagos, Rev. John Nyamadi

A cross-section of ministers praying at the event

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Faith

Synagogue tragedy: S’African victims’ families get N.75m each

O

Stories by Tai Anyanwu ver one month after the collapse of a multi-storey guesthouse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ikotun, Lagos State, the leadership of the church has said it will donate N750,000 to the family of each South African victim.

The money, which amounts to R50,000 per family, is expected to be used to settle burial expenses of each of the 85 South African victims.

South African newspaper, City Press, quoted the church’s spokesperson, Kirsten Nematandani, as saying that it had assessed the needs of the bereaved families and taken steps to meet them.

“We have done a full audit of each family’s financial needs and assisted with various household expenses because many of the deceased were breadwinners,” Nematandani said.

Household expenses varied from rent money to school fees and groceries, he explained.

No mention was made of the Nigerian victims.

No fewer than 85 people from South Africa were among those killed in the September 12 tragedy.

On Friday, Minister in the South African Presidency, Jeff Radebe, announced that DNA samples of the 116 victims had arrived at a laboratory in the country for analysis.

The DNA process was in the hands of the Nigerian authorities, who had appoint-

ed a laboratory in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, to do the analysis, he said.

Nematandani said the church had travelled to all provinces in the past few weeks to visit, counsel and assess families’ financial needs and assist where possible.

“The church has pleaded with the Nigerian government to expedite the repatriation process in order for families to bury the deceased with dignity and receive closure,” Nematandani said.

The process of repatriating the victims’

remains to South Africa could start as soon as the Nigerian authorities released the bodies, Radebe said.

A total of 85 bodies will be flown back from Lagos – 81 South Africans, as well as the bodies of three Zimbabweans and a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were all South African passport holders.

The Lagos State Government has set up a coroner’s inquest to look into the tragedy.

RCCG pastor urges women to excel

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onal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Province 7, Lagos, Pastor Tinu Odugbemi, has urged Christian women to strive for excellence.

She made the call at the Sisters’ Conference 2014, held at the RCCG, Ikeja Area 2 Women, Lagos Province 6 recently.

Speaking on the theme, ‘It is my time,’ she said the time had come for the women to shine, laugh and be celebrated.

In her sermon, she said, “I am a woman, a woman of God, a woman of power, a chosen vessel in the sight of God. “It is time for women to shine in whatever they are doing. This includes telling others about the love of God,” she explained.

She took the first Bible reading from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-4: ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and time to uproot, a time to kill and time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

She explained that time means a period, a season, an era, which could be a day or 24 hours, a week, a month or a year.

She pointed out that there is a calendar for everybody in Heaven.

“God has appointed seasons for everyone. It is possible for one to marry early while her mates are saying that she married in her early 20s, lucky her. She may not have a child until she is over 30.

“But somebody who got married at over 30 would start having children; that is God’s work because there was an appointed season and an appointed arrangement in God’s calendar,” she added.

The cleric urged the womenfolk to position themselves for God’s work and not shut themselves out of God’s word and blessings.

“Wait upon the Lord, seek the presence of God, pray and fast,” she added.

Glory Christian women Ministries choir at the event

Christians urged to seek spiritual empowerment

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igerian Christian women have been called upon to seek and desire spiritual empowerment through intimacy with God and the help of the Holy Spirit.

Speaking during the 2014 Women Congress of Glory Christian Ministries, Lagos with the theme, ‘The Empowered Woman,’ Pastor (Mrs.) Faith James said, as much as it is good for women to empower themselves with education, business drive, investments and other elevated activities, they should realized that, the greatest empowerment a woman should desire is the empowerment of the holy spirit.

This, she said cannot be compared with societal or merited empowerment, “for a woman to be greatly empowered and become an influence and a substance to her environment, she needs to maintain an intimacy with God,” she said.

Pastor Faith said a woman is a wonderful and awesome masterpiece created with eternal description, title, name and beauty by God, the master planner.

According to her, an empowered woman is specially graced by God to work with determination to build the future, influence her home and the society through prayers, humility, use of the right words, calling spade a spade and carrying out relevant activities that will impact her generation.

As the ‘best director of operations,’ the cleric noted, a woman serves willingly and obediently in a thankless and

timeless job, “anytime, every time and anywhere as a teacher, student, watch night, launder, cook, cleaner, nurse, maid, organizer, mirror and manager among others.”

Pleading on behalf of women, the cleric said no matter the mistake, offence or sin of a woman, she still deserves to be forgiven, celebrated and appreciated “because, she is a ruby and a weaker vessel.”

Quoting extensively from the scriptures, Pastor Faith admonished women not to settle for less out of ignorance, fear or impatient, but should realize the potential power and authority of God in them to enjoy the full benefits of divine empowerment.

She also advised women to make room for God through a personal relationship that would not allow or accommodate a contrary lifestyle.

She also advised them to be spiritually conscious and guard their utterances and conduct.

“No matter the circumstances, situation or elevation of a woman, there is a hierarchy and the head that must be honoured, recognised and submitted to. God has put it that way and it shall remain so,” she said.

Other activities during the congress included a talk show on child development, drama, presentation of tools to artisans, as well as counselling and thanksgiving.

Muoka’s mother dies at 102

T

he Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry has announced the transition of the mother of its General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka.

late Mama Muoka

In a statement signed by the church council, Mama Estha Urujabia Muoka died on September 24 at the age of 102.

Burial arrangements will be announced soon, the statement said.

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Faith

God’s transformation agenda Firm Faith:

distributed throughout the entire world.

This is in order because we too have been beneficiaries of such benevolent outreaches from others until now.

Most Rev.

Of missionaries with passion Indeed, if the great mandate in Matthew’s gospel could often be interpreted to address only the apostles of Christ, the episode of St. Luke’s gospel (Lk. 10:1-16) surely leaves no one in doubt that the work of mission is actually meant for all followers of Christ. Jesus appointed 72 of his disciples and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was yet to go. He told them that “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Those words of Jesus are worth reflecting upon for a fresh understanding of where we each stand in God’s ‘transformation agenda.’ According to Adam Lum in Hitchhikers Guide to Missions, “A missionary is a prepared disciple whom God sends into the world with His resources to make disciples for His kingdom. According to her, there are six Biblical images of mission namely, a witness (Acts 1:8), an evangelist (Lk. 2:10-11) a pioneer (Heb. 12:2), a herald (1Tim. 2: 7) an ambassador (2Cor 5:20) and a servant (1Cor. 4:1). Her conclusions show that an authentic missionary must be driven by passion for the work of God and must be multitalented and able to carry out different missionary functions.

In a multidimensional world as this, missionaries have to be as versatile as possible.

Giving unto God what belongs to God Yet, further challenges exist for the modern-day missionary. The space reserved for religion and the word of God is shrinking fast in people’s lives. Concern for economic pursuit and gains ensure

Right Reason Emmanuel A. Badejo fradebadejo@yahoo.

0803 949 4219 (SMS only)

Of missionary enterprise Last Sunday, the Catholic Church all over the world celebrated Mission Sunday. On that occasion, all the faithful are invited to evaluate their role in the discharge of the mission of Jesus Christ as he proclaimed it at Nazareth (Lk. 4: 18-19) and as He handed it down in the Great Mandate. (Mt 28:19). On Mission Sunday, all offerings and contributions in all Catholic churches are sent whole and entirely to the appropriate office in the Vatican from where they are then applied all over the world for the sole purpose of evangelisation. Besides, Christians are admonished to use their time, treasure and talents to promote the Gospel and build God’s kingdom wherever they find themselves. Jesus Christ came to transform the world and turn the hearts of men and women to God. He called followers to help him accomplish His objective. According to Rev. Sr. Anne Falola, OLA, who trains and animates missionaries for the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Mission Sunday celebrates our Catholicity and the universal solidarity of the Church.

It is an invitation and an opportunity to show who we really are - missionaries who witness to Christ to the ends of the earth, beyond our immediate environment, given that our contribution is

Lord there can be bystanders, complainers, traders, robbers and even opportunists. In missionary enterprise today, regrettably, not all are labourers. It is the desire of the Church that all Christians make every platform of their existence an opportunity for mission.

r unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and unto God what belongs to God.” Even in the work of mission, the freedom of the human being must be recognised and respected. Given that human freedom is a gift of God Himself”

Between Esther and Mordechai It is also needful to be a missionary to one’s own people. Christian politicians and others in authority today have great lessons to learn for example, from Queen Esther and the elder Mordechai when the Jews got into trouble with King Ahasuerus through the treachery of Haman (Es.3-8). Mordechai put on sackcloth and pleaded with the queen to use her position to get her people out of trouble. Esther’s initial response was defensive. She would not approach the king for there was an edict forbidding anyone to do so unless invited.

Mordechai retorted in words that every leader must keep close to his heart: “Do not suppose that because you are in the king’s palace, you alone of all the Jews will escape. If you remain silent now, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another source, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows - perhaps you have come to the throne for just a time as this.”

(Es. 4: 13-14) His words touched Esther deeply, such that she decided to stake her life. She asked all her people to pray and fast and with determination said: “Then I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I die for this, let it be.” (Esther 4: 16). That was good news for her people and God gave Israel victory through her courageous sacrifice.

Would that all our leaders turn missionaries in that wise!

that near-total attention is given to the things of this world. When that is not the case, more and more people now yield to a dangerous religious fevour which pushes them to destructive religious fanaticism. Just think of many young people even in the Western world who are joining insurgencies and murderous sectarian movements! The Catholic perspective of missions is to enable the proposition, not the imposition of the gospel of Christ to millions in the world who are yet to hear it since “faith comes by hearing,” (Rom. 10:17) not by threatening.

The gospel reading of Mission Sunday rightly admonished: “Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and unto God what belongs to God.” Even in the work of mission, the freedom of the human being must be recognised and respected.

Given that human freedom is a gift of God Himself. Not that this makes the job of the missionary any easier. Jesus spoke of labourers in the plentiful harvest. Are there other types of people in the harvest? In any crowd of people there can be varieties of interests. In the harvest of the

All you need is an idea Insight Rev.

Femi Akinola

www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

F

rom time immemorial, the world has always been ruled by ideas.

It is a world governed by men with ingenuity and rare depth of thought and innovative thinking. It is this drive that has moved us into what is now referred to as the ‘jet age.’ The Business Dictionary defines idea as ‘a thought or collection of thoughts that generate in the mind.’ If this simple definition is anything to go by, it then implies that an idea (a heavenly idea) can change your life and turn your rags to riches. The reason you are struggling and stranded is because your life and mind are bereft of ideas. A king can rule for some time and die yet with no remarkable impact but a man with an idea, though he dies but his idea continues to be relevant. You are being looked down upon because you lack the right ideas. No one regards a man who is devoid of meaningful ideas. It is better to be controversial than to be an inconsequential element. In your family or circle of friends, nobody will respect you by reason of this missing link in the equation of your destiny. The idea that will distinguish you among others, may you discover it this moment in Jesus name.

“He who believes in Me (who cleaves

to and trusts in and relies on Me) as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow (continuously) springs and rivers of living water.” Jn 7:38 (AMP) Ideas can change your status. If people can go through all the trouble to dig for gold and diamond in their quest for wealth dominance, this same reason should drive you to crave for ideas because just an idea is more valuable than gold or even diamond. If the Lord can deliver an idea into your hands and you are able to follow it to fruition, you would have contributed greatly to the course of humanity. The scripture above sparks up an understanding; there is a mine of precious virtues in everyman that when discovered and refined can terminate any form of struggle and suffering.

A liability or a celebrity, who are you?

A man who comes to this world and dies without contributing positively to the world is a liability because he has ended up constituting more problems into the world he is to provide solutions in his lifetime. May I ask: are you a liability or a celebrity, a manufacturer or consumer? Everyman carries a well within him which must flow from him to others for an impactful living; and if this isn’t the case, you are merely existing (occupying space in destiny). I pray for you that the idea that will change your generation is coming in Jesus name. If only you can dig deep, there is something in the inside of you that can liberate humanity; you have been suffering all this while because you have not given the world an idea. A man or woman

“He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water” of idea cannot die; you are yet to bring anything to the destiny table.

“GOD will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won’t have to take out a loan.” Deut 28:12 (MSG).

I wondered and was asking how just an individual could feed a whole nation and the Lord replied ‘yes, just an idea’; an idea is enough to sustain a generation.

It is enough to make yours a household name in any field of endeavour; my prayer for you is that you will get there in Jesus name. Stop pursuing the wrong concept about your destiny; great men who once have been through the tides of life, once they stumble on an idea, their children’s children live to enjoy it even after they are no more. Stop praying for money, God cannot drop money from heaven, what the Lord will drop into your heart is an idea and once the idea comes, poverty is conquered.

The reason you are struggling is

because you are running after money, you need to change your focus from the pursuit of money and begin to pray for ideas. I pray that the idea that will turn your life around totally is released upon you now in the name of Jesus. In every country, industry or gathering, there is always the class of the rich and the poor, why? The discovery of a sellable idea makes the difference. Make this your daily prayer, oh Lord, give me an idea that will re-write my story.

“A good man leaves an inheritance (of moral stability and goodness) to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner (finds its way eventually) into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.” Pro 13:22 (AMP) Once you have a genuine encounter with a heavenly idea, people will pay homage to you. Some years ago, someone came up with the idea of ‘sachet water’ and today it has become a household product. What are you going to give to your generation? What will you leave behind for your children? The rich are not ready to release their money except you have an idea to sell to them. An idea is the solution to the many problems in your life and even in the world. I am not running after money but ideas because ideas do not die even when the owner dies. Search for an idea and give it to your world; if people are desperately in search of solid minerals, likewise you must go on exploration for a sellable idea. Look deeply, there is a gold mine of idea within, don’t let it rot away. As you do so, may the Holy Spirit empower you to actualise it in Jesus name.

To be concluded next week….

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Oh, my baby is crying Mystery ofAnxiety Bishop

John Ogbansiegbe

0803 341 6327

A

woman went to a party where there was much noise.

Legs were shuffling, everybody was dancing, mothers kept their babies in another room far from where the party was going on.

One lady suddenly shouted; “Oh, my baby is crying.” They asked her; “How do you know that your baby is crying in the midst of this great noise”? She replied, “I didn’t hear it with my ears, I heard it with my heart.” This is how God hears the prayers of His children.

If you are not born again, you are not joined with God, and that is why it is difficult for God to hear the prayers of a sinner. For God to hear your prayer you must have a spirit link with Him. For instance, a wireless microphone has a sender and a receiver just like the remote of a TV has a sender and receiver and there is no cord or wire connecting them. When you press the button of the remote control, the sender in the remote sends the message to the television, and the receiver in the television receives and reacts or responds back with the sender in it. That is how every born-again child of God has a sender

and a receiver. When you send your message to God through the sender, God receives them through His receiver and gives an answer through His own sender. Like that, our communion and communication with God continues.

Just as a particular remote control cannot control every television set that is how God does not answer every prayer.

He only answers prayers of those that are joined with Him. This is why John 1:7 can be construed to mean thus; “If you abide in me, and my sender and receiver abide in you (which is my spirit and my word), you shall send any message and I shall respond positively to you.” Concerning the prayers of the sinners, the word of God states thus, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight,” (Proverbs 15:8). Just like the breast milk of some mothers begins to flow when their babies which they left at home begin to cry, this is how God’s breast milk begins to flow when we call on Him through prayers.

Some wives, when something happens to their husbands will have the instinctive and intuitive signs or feelings at once. This is because they have buried the personalities of their husbands in their hearts. They are joined in one spirit with their husbands. In the same way, when you have a spiritual link with God and are joined in one spirit with Him. Before you open your mouth to pray, He hears and answers your prayer. To this end, God declared through His word and said thus, “And it shall come to pass, that before they

call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24).

This is because, before you open your mouth to voice out your prayer, you have said it in your heart. Because your heart is in divine joinery fusion with the heart of God, He automatically responds to the communication from your heart. This is why most people with great burdens in their hearts, when they kneel down to pray, they will just be shedding tears in God’s presence for hours without saying anything. Later, they will receive automatic answers to their prayers. Just as the phone numbers of many mobile phones including mine is 11 digits that is how the code number for penetrating heaven is JESUS CHRIST. Count it. This is a mystery; never pray with only the name of ‘Jesus.’ But pray with the full name: ‘Jesus Christ.’ This is because many people have come into this world as fake and false Jesus of one thing or the other. Many of them end up in failure but there is only Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of the living God. Again, just as when you make a call with an incomplete number and there is no response, that is how there may be a hitch in communication when you are not praying with His name or full name. One angel may just be telling you, “The number you have called is incomplete. Please try again later.” When you phone is not charged to communicate to God, it reveals spiritual carelessness. When your phone is charged but there is no credit card, it means that you are not in the right spiritual state; because of sin or compromise, to com-

municate to heaven. When there is no network to make a call to God, it means that there is an external demonic or negative force, like bad weather, attacking your spiritual wellbeing and messing up your communication with God. I am only using the analogy or illustration of a mobile phone to emphasise one fact: that prayer is an effective daily communication and communion with God through the right channel.

Don’t be a spiritual desert. A spiritual desert is the believer who has no time to read the word of God and has no time to pray. He is the believer who absents himself or herself from fellowship and church services. He is more of an empty backslider. Don’t be selfish when you pray: only telling God what you want Him to do for you. Prayer should be a two-way communication between you and God. Start with a prayer of thanksgiving after you have effectively praised and worshipped Him. Praise and worship are also special powerful aspects of prayers.

Then make a prayer of forgiveness of sin and cleansing. Also go into prayer of intercession. Then begin to speak to God about yourself. When you have finished talking to God, wait and listen and He will talk back to you. He will tell you His mind concerning your request because He is the living God. This is called effective and effectual prayers and communication with God. Start praying and communicating with God on everything; prayer is a very powerful channel of favour. As you do so, may God grant you your heart’s desire in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Shadow of man in politics Word of Life

Bishop

Moses Kattey

moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

I

n politics, people cannot declare to contest for elective positions because the President, the Governor or the Local Government Council Chairman has not given the go ahead. Most politicians today dwell under the shadows of the big politicians. All the “blessings” coming from God do not reach them because they try to channel them through their President, Governor, or godfathers. They do not expect anything directly from God except through their political bosses.

You must step out of that shadow if you want God to bless you. The rains and the sun that “beat” the boss should “beat” you too. The boss did not die so you too will not die.

Woe to the rebellions children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me, and that cover with a covering but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.

That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at My Mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt.

Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. (Isa. 30:1-2) Staying under the shadow of man may make you very comfortable and grate-

ful but all these would eventually lead to shame and confusion (Isa. 30:3). The stronger the man, the greater the shame and the more you trust, the more confused you become.

Stepping out of that shadow in your heart is stepping out of impending shame and confusion.

But in trusting Pharaoh you will be disappointed humiliated and disgraced for he cannot deliver on his promises to save you. For though his power extends to Zoan and Hames, yet it will all turn out to your shame – he won’t help one little bit (Isaiah 30:3-5 L.B) When you step out the shadow of the person, you step out of disappointment, out of humiliation, and out of disgrace.

In the contrary, remaining under theshadow is being in the vicinity of disappointment, humiliation, disgrace, shame and confusion.

Not noticed under shadow Shadow is like darkness in a place or something especially made so that you cannot easily see through who or what is there. You work and labour all day long, all week long, all year long, but no one notices you. They only see the owner of the shadow you dwell understanding between the light and you. The person gets all the blessings, all the praises, and all the attention, but not you, after all nobody sees you in the dark.

The miracle is gradual as you step out of the shadow. People you thought notice you before; complain that you have not been around. Why? Spiritually somebody has been covering you. You must step out of the shadow or shade into the light.

As long as you are under any shadow your ambition and plans remain unreal or impossible to achieve. It is impossible

“Why? Spiritually somebody has been covering you. You must step out of the shadow or shade into the light” also to receive as much attention even from your own family as that person whose shadow you dwell under consciously or unconsciously.

Dwelling in the shadow of any person prevents direct light and blessings from reaching you. That person provides a screen for a lamp, light or blessing from reaching you, that makes you less bright, less important, and less noticed.

Elisha and Elijah Elisha was under the shadow of Elijah his master, and Elisha became known only when Elijah left him and the power of God touched Elisha directly and manifested. Hear the discussion between them. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, ask what I shall dofor thee, before I betaken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

And he said, thou hast asked for hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee, but if not it shall not be so.-(2 Kings 2:9,10) Elisha pleaded for twice as much prophetic power as Elijah had. This couldn’t have been possible as long as Elisha dwelled under Elijah’s shadow. All the power and light fell on Elijah under whose shadow Elisha was. As long as Elijah was there it was an impossibility to

be as important as Elijah was, not even to talk of being more important.

The Holy Spirit and Jesus The Holy Spirit was to Lord Jesus Christ what Joshua was to Moses. People could not notice Him (Holy Ghost) and could not even understand Him and His mission. The Holy Spirit would not get enough attention as Jesus had until after the death of Jesus.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away.

For if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart I will send him unto you (John 16:7) Everything the Holy Spirit did when Jesus Christ was alive was not noticed, nor understood. He that believe on me as the scripture Hath said, out o his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke He of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was as yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified) (John 7,38,39) Nicodemus said unto him, how can a man be born again when he is old, can he enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born? Jesus answered, verily verily I say unto you Except a man be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

Today, it seems the Holy Spirit is receiving more attention, than the Lord Jesus Himself. If you offer a prayer stepping out of the unknown or known shadows, you will gradually become noticed, understood, and you will begin to receive attentions while those others people are alive.

The best is waiting to occur when you step out of those shadows.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

Return to God the Oracles of God Frank Oboden Olomukoro frankolomukoro@yahoo.com

0703 362 1866

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nly an expert can go about repairing a faulty equipment to restore it back to normal functions. Only God through the direct commission of the return of Elijah can turn our hearts back to Him and His Word to guarantee the preparedness and readiness of the wise virgins for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When a man has an encounter with God there is a definite impact that brings about awareness that he or she is a sinner. There is also a subsequent change that transforms the character to the divine nature of Christ. That is what the fullness of salvation is all about. Notice: after Peter’s gospel presentation on the day of Pentecost, what was the effect and reaction in Acts 2:37? “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?” What was it, the impact of revelation begat change. Peter gave the eternal prescription for a genuine spiritual birth involving a process like the natural birth. Natural birth goes with pains and struggles during labour, both for the mother and child. So also the spiritual birth goes with pains, a contrite heart and godly sorrow. In the natural birth, there is the breaking forth of water, typing repentance, confession and water

baptism by immersion only in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:1-7. All examples of water baptism are done immediately after accepting the gospel as the pattern of the Apostles showed without any baptismal class, catechism, tutorial or examination.

In Mark 16:15: “Jesus commanded, he that believeth and is baptised shall be saved.” Man added baptismal class to the Word, making the Word of God of none effect.

Church tradition has effectively removed the potent power of the Word of God through substituting the name of Jesus Christ with the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Many will say confidently that it doesn’t matter, that they are the same. That is the devil’s lie. Can ‘Man’ or ‘Son’ be the same as Okonkwo or Okanlawon? Can you cite one example of water baptism in the entire Scriptures conducted by the Apostles in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost? That is why our churches are filled with members with spiritual stillbirth. As sincere as you may be as you strive to worship and serve God, if your water baptism is not in the name of Jesus Christ, you remain an unregenerated sinner. Authority goes with a proper name and not a common name. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are common names. Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in Word or deed, do all (not some) in the name of the Lord Jesus…,” baptism, praying, casting out devils inclusive. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.“(Acts 4:12).

There are those that were baptised at infancy and Christened ‘James’ or ‘John’ etc. That is great. I have nothing against

it but it is wrong. Babies are not to be baptised because they cannot believe.

Jesus said: He that believeth… Can a new born baby who knows nothing but to suck the mother’s breast believe? The spirit of error in the church injected that tradition in the fourth century through the Nicene Council by Constantine.

Others are sprinkled and or poured water without being buried in the pool of water. Decent as it may be, it is equally wrong. “There is only one baptism.”

(Ephesians 4:4). When the scripture testifies of water baptism, then it can only be the baptism by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ as exemplified by the disciples of Jesus Christ. Not two types. The only correct baptism is the pattern and foundation laid down by the Apostles when over 3,000 souls were practically baptised by them in the early church as recorded in the book of Acts. Those who ever did it wrong had to submit themselves for a rebaptism in Acts 19:1-7. These disciples were baptised unto John’s Baptism but a new baptism came into being after Christ’s resurrection, warranting a new order of baptism in the name of Him that died for us - Jesus Christ.

Upon closer examination, however, none of the churches, be it the Catholic, the Orthodox, the Anglican Church, the Pentecostal denominations or any other independent fellowship ministry is actually in agreement with the early church when it comes to true correct water baptismal doctrine and practice.

They all have their own gospel, which is a completely different gospel from the one that was preached by the Apostles at the beginning and was left unto us quite clearly in the Word of God. The churches will continue to abide

by their historical religious traditions.

Despite their differences, they have this one creed which is supposedly apostolic, but in all reality is not apostolic because it did not originate from the apostles.

When it comes to water baptism, there is a world of difference between church doctrine that the new birth takes place through the sprinkling of water or the pouring of water on the forehead of an infant or an adult in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and the actual experience of a rebirth by the believer through the Word by the Apostles’ pattern in Acts 2:38.

Without exception, the churches all fell for the theology of interpretation and rest upon the self-made pillars, the trinity and the triune baptism.

Even renowned teleevangelists are more concerned with presenting either a social or miracle or prosperity gospel than the original one, the way it was left for us in the Holy Scriptures. And that is not all: they even call the Biblical water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ a heresy. According to that, Peter would have been the first heretic, Acts 2:32-40, Philip the second, Acts 8:26-38 and Paul the third, Acts 19:1-7.

Most believe the Roman baptismal creed and not the one from Jerusalem – the Biblical and Apostolic one. There is not one single scripture wherein the triune formula (in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost) was used. It was only in the Fourth Century that Matt. 28:19 was misinterpreted and incorrectly applied.

This triune formula did not exist until the canon of the year 367 AD. The rite of sprinkling water on the forehead, as Constantine received it on his death bed in the year 337, is entirely unBiblical as well.

Anger: Devil’s occasion to rob you destiny Timing your Emotions Bishop

Lawrence Osagie 0806 325 0667 www.powerlineministriesinc.org mail:powerlineministries@mail.com

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he people of Israel turned the blessing God gave them from Egypt to gods and worshipped them. Moses looked at them and he was upset. The very stones on which God inscribed His Ten Commandments with His finger, Moses smashed them on the ground because of uncontrolled anger.

A man who has no control over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls. For anger, Moses lost the labour of 40 days and 40 nights. What a vain glory!

May you never lose what is precious to you because of anger. It took a repeated journey for Moses to get the tablets of commandments from the throne of mercy.

Not long after they journeyed there was no water in the camp and the people murmured against God and Moses their leader. Moses heard it and got fed up.

You know today’s church, when things are going on well, the pastor becomes a celebrity. When there is a little challenge in the system, you hear all kinds of things. Moses was fed up and told God

he was not ready to lead anymore. Anger began to replace love and rejection set in.

God instructed him to go to the rock and strike the rock for water. Moses obeyed and water came out. The people rejoiced and celebrated. It is a trend that is funny but it happens all the time. Not long after, there was no water and the murmur returned. In anger, Moses went back to God. And God in His infinite mercy and loving kindness said: “Moses, what you need to do now is go back to that rock. Don’t strike it but speak to the rock.” When you are talking to an angry man, he hears you with half eardrum blocked with anger.

An angry man is full of anguish, terribly anxious. Moses was fed up and in that mood may not have remembered vividly the second instruction. In the first instance, he was asked to strike the rock.

On the second occasion, he was asked to speak to the rock. Somebody who is tired, speak to the rock, say something to the rock? Why did God say speak to the rock? It is because you can’t crucify the Rock of Ages the second time. Once He died and once He paid the price.

Christ is the Rock of Ages. You struck Him once and He gave you water. When Jesus died on the cross, that was when He made the final payment for your sins.

He gave us life. Out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water. He gave us water. Now that you are born again, having tasted the first water, what you will do to the rock is to speak to it. Come unto

me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Call upon me in the time of trouble, I will hear, I will answer you and will show you great and mighty things that you never knew. Ask and you shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you. So there is no question of going to strike the rock the second time. You don’t crucify Christ the second time.

Speak! What you are expected to do is talk to God. Don’t be anxious for nothing but by prayers and supplications, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. But Moses in anger struck that rock twice and God said to him, ‘Yeah, you had it; the people will drink water but you have lost your own.’

You see what it is for leaders; you see how other people’s behaviour can put your entire destiny in jeopardy. Now I know better, my position is to act and not to react to anybody or anything. You know wisdom is coming; it is not everything that is said that I respond to.

Before, if somebody says something here, I thought I had an obligation to say something else. No, I don’t have to.

In fact, I don’t talk any more; just say whatever you want to say, I will look at you and smile. My wife will tell you, you know ladies like to talk. So you do the talking, if I have time to listen and I will look at her and say, you are the most beautiful one I have ever seen. And the matter ends there. Instead of reacting, I will be acting because I don’t want to die

“I thought I had an obligation to say something else. No, I don’t have to. In fact, I don’t talk any more; just say whatever you want to say, I will look at you and smile” young. I have to fulfil my ministry than allow someone make me wreck the ship of my salvation.

I have realised that all these feelings are occasioned by the enemy to rob man of his destiny in Christ. When I realised that this is the trick of the enemy, I have learnt self-control.

Moses was called up to the mountain and God said: ‘You got yourself into anger; you did not sanctify me in the eyes of the people. Therefore, look to the other side of the valley, what do you see?’

Moses said: ‘I see the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ And God said: ‘That was where you were supposed to lead your people to but you see, your journey ends here, because you gave room to anger.’ So Moses, the great man of God became a living example of the one who led people out of bondage but never entered the Promised Land.

Anger denied him of this privilege.

Advertise your church events, special programmes, conventions and other church activities on these pages. Contact: Tai on 07064380029

Sport 59

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Rugby

S/African Rugby star Juries confirmed for Independence Sevens p.62

Football

Falconets coach makes FIFA’s shortlists for Award p.62

Golf

Junior Golf Challenge out to produce stars p.61

Laliga

Real Madrid win El Classico p.62

‘Oliseh not ripe for Eagles’

•He abandoned Div. 5 club in Belgium

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Dapo Sotuminu

ormer Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, who has been tagged as the next qualified Nigerian coach to handle the Eagles after the reign of Stephen Keshi as handler of the team ended abruptly, has been labeled as unripe for the plum job by a former teammate, Chidi Nwanu.

Nwanu who chided Keshi last week for being his own albatross told New Telegraph on Sunday in an exclusive interview that, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, should not at any point consider Oliseh for the national team job as he is not qualified to be saddled with such assignment.

He said: “Oliseh’s fluency as a football analyst on television should not be mistaken for brilliance in technical matters as it concerns the national team of Nigeria. Theory and practical are not the same when it comes to football. Football is not played on paper with pen but on a football field with football players. It’s the quality of the players in a team that determines the formation the coach will

adopt and not the other way round. Just like the pattern of play by Barcelona will not work in the national team simply because we don’t have such players for that pattern. Experience is the best teacher and should be highly considered in making any choice for the appointment of a national team coach. Van Basten tried it with Holland national team and failed due to inexperience and Holland never tried it again. Let’s go and study some of the nations that have been world champions and learn from them, instead of all these trials to no success. “ T o s t a r t with,

which records did Oliseh present to even be considered at all for the job of the national team coach? His character has a big question mark. Check his records when he was the captain of the Super Eagles. Will history fail to repeat itself? This will be another gross mistake.

“I am a concerned Nigerian, who loves his father’s land and want the best for our country. The position of a national team coach should not be seen as a birthright for a particular people. If Oliseh is qualified, let him apply first to other countries before imposing himself on Nigeria.”

Nwanu who played for Nigeria at the 1988 Olympic Games and the USA 94 World Cup said he has been quiet all these while but he is now ready to play a good role to see the national team better than the 1994 World Cup team. “Actually that team failed the nation. These same people struggling for the job of the national t e a m coach, if I am them, I will just go and hide myself in a pit

Sunday Team

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu Golf Reporter Ifeanyi Ibeh Oliseh

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

considering what they did against this team and the then officials. The likes of Oliseh, Keshi and Samson Siasia fought and frustrated Clemens Westerhof and NFA officials. The team was good enough to play in the semifinals of the World Cup but this trio frustrated everything.”

The former Anderlecht FC of Belgium star revealed that the only club Oliseh ever coached was an Amateur Division 5 club in Belgium, they played in the First Provincial League.

The club’s name is RCS Vervietois and Oliseh spent only nine months as coach before the club went bankrupt. “This is all the experience he has as a coach and he wants to coach the Nigerian national team. It’s even ridiculous thinking about it. A FIFA licensed manager here in Belgium who also knows Oliseh called it the joke of all time.

“Why do our people think that our country should be used as a practicing ground? These are people that have no respect for this country. They should not be considered for anything for now. Let them go and coach somewhere else before coming to coach Nigeria. We need a foreign coach period. At the moment we do not have any Nigerian coach who can do the magic in the Eagles. No, not one.

“You know in the Bible, the prodigal son asked for his share of his father’s inheritance at a time he had no managerial ability to handle it. What did he do with it? He squandered it. I hear Oliseh is boasting, the same pompous language, pride and immaturity that brought down his fellow local coaches. All we have to do is to grow up and stop listening and offering responsible jobs to irresponsible people. We are not in an advertisement sector where who talks more gets more customers.”

Nwanu added that: “The position of the national team coach is simply too much for Sunday Oliseh. When someone begins to ask for something bigger than him, it’s a sign of immaturity.

It’s just like me asking a pilot to let me control the flight just because I have passed the theoretical test of flying that will be crashing the plane and killing everyone on board.

That’s what inexperience will cost. It does more harm than good.”

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SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport/Interview

I’m not ready for babies now, says Blessing Okagbare •Disowns foreigners in Nigerian colours •Says count me out of open Sports Festival Nigeria’s reigning best athlete, Blessing Okagbare, has tasked the federal government on ways the country’s athletes could win Olympic gold medals at the next edition of the Games at Rio 2016. She spoke with DAPO SOTUMINU in this exclusive interview from her home in Sapele as she prepares for her wedding ceremony on November 8 It was double celebration for you as you celebrated your birthday and had a presidential award same day in Abuja. How do you feel about this?

It depends on what you are saying, they are two different occasions entirely, one was to celebrate my life adding another year to my years and my whole life accomplishments, and the other was a reward for excellence representing my country. In all I feel so proud and glad that God is taking control of everything that concerns me.

My birthday comes first it cannot be compared to anything as it is the gift of life from God. You will be getting married to a Nigerian soccer star, Igho Otegheri, on November 8 in Sapele, Delta State. What attracted you to your would-be husband?

(Laugh) Well, he is God fearing that is very important to me. He is also a gentleman. I mean a true gentleman all in all. Whatever you can think of, so that was what attracted him to me. Of course I love him, when you meet people you actually get to understand them.

When we met he was not a perfect man, but with time he was reborn to my taste and I found out some other good things about him I cannot say right now publicly.

You must be looking forward to that great day?

Very well, it’s my wedding day I have everything to celebrate, though I am nervous and excited but I am really looking forward to November 8, it is going to be my happiest day, it is something I am looking forward to. I chose my native land in Sapele, Delta State for the ceremony so as to ensure full blessing from my family.

After you wedding, when do you plan to start a family, I mean having babies?

A family, hahaha, I am not planning about that now. At the moment I have goals that must be accomplished and some things to be achieved professionally, so starting a family immediately after my wedding is actually not in the schedule for me right now, no way. Honestly, we have already talked about it and my fiancé knows what I do for a living. We

have talked about it and he knows there are things I must get done in my career which are very important to me.

Having kids now is out of it, there are things in my career that must be accomplished before we start thinking of building a family.

After my wedding the next agenda is to accomplish all the things I have set out to achieve and that is it, not having babies, this will surely come later.

In 2016, the Olympics will be coming and you are one of the best athletes in the world in your events, the 100 and 200metres sprints and the Long Jump yet you have not won an Olympic gold, what is your plan for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games?

Yeah, Rio 2016 is another Olympic year and winning gold in that edition of the Olympics is one of my major plans. I am looking forward to it and I really want to do well. Winning gold in Rio will be great for me and I have started working for it. Having a gold medal in my resume would be a great deal for me.

Ofcourse, it is going to be a great year for all top athletes and professionals in the world who would be expecting to win Olympic gold.

For me my major focus for Rio 2016 is to win gold and become the best anyone can think of in my events. I know with God all these will be accomplished.

At the London 2012 Olympics, the expectation was so much for Blessing Okagbare to win a medal but at the end of the day, you didn’t win any medal, what happened?

If you don’t mind I don’t like to go back to the past, I have moved on in the last two years. Please pardon me I don’t want to talk about 2012 London Olympics, I think that is in the past now, let’s talk about the future which would be better for all of us.

It is often said that Nigeria’s world class athletes get themselves burnt out competing in races like the Golden League and Diamond League two weeks before the Olympics. And when it is time to win medals they crash out. What

is your impression about this as you also fall in this class of the athletes we are talking about?

Some people have kept talking about this; they stay in one corner to criticize athletes who are doing their best to represent the country well and meritoriously.

For me, I think these people are clueless and they know nothing, absolutely nothing about sports at the highest level. Let them keep talking about athletes who chose to compete two weeks to major championships like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

The athletes surely know what they are doing. There are athletes who will choose to compete two weeks before a major event and they still do well. What we like doing best in Nigeria is just to sit down and criticize.

We must understand that there is time for everything. If you don’t know, competing in such competitions is geared towards doing well. It is only when you compete in an event whose standard is as high as that of the Golden League or the Diamond League that you get yourself fully prepared to get excellent results in the Olympics.

A lot of these people who criticize have done nothing to help build the athletes to world class competitors.

I am a full-time professional athlete and I am paid to compete and I must compete, so if the Nigerian sports authorities do not want me to go for a competition before the Olympic Games or the Commonwealth Games, they should pay me the full entitlements I get in those events. It is very simple.

Then I will think about what you offered and we know where to go from here. Most of these critics do nothing to promote the athletes. It would interest you to know that these competitions set the athletes up for the major Games, and it does not mean that because you didn’t win you have failed. Not so.

The athletes one way or the other must have met their expectations and not necessarily your own goal and that is very important.

It is not true that top athletes just go out there to run and run until they are burnt out, no it is not so.

What I want to tell Nigerians is that there is time for everything, and if that time comes you need

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014

Golf Weekly Junior Golf Challenge out to produce stars Stories by Ifeanyi Ibeh

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he Junior Golf Challenge sponsored by Access Bank in partnership with Caritas Communications and project owner Fairstroke, which ended on Friday at the Ikoyi Club 1938, has been described as a platform to develop international stars.

According to Amaechi Okobi, Head External Relations of Access Bank, his organisation “supported this project because it aligned with Access Bank’s focus on de-

not to be told, you will see it clearly.

World class athletes go into different international championships with goals which vary from time to time, and they have reasons for doing these. There are some athletes whose goal in a particular championship is just to better their personal best; there are some who want to compete in the finals to improve international ratings and some are there to beat their countries’ national records. And once this is achieved individually, the athletes involved have met set goals. But people outside don’t know, all they want you to do in the major games is just to win the gold, but it doesn’t go like that.

Every competition I went for before the 2014 Commonwealth Games built me up for the big event at the Glasgow 2014. And when I got to the Commonwealth Games, I did so well because some of the things I used to do wrongly were corrected and Glasgow 2014 was a very easy competition for me because of the world class buildup in all these leagues across the world. People should stop criticizing the athletes; it does not work like that.

Blessing, you had an excellent outing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, what was the secret?

God first, it was God all the way and I put in my best efforts. The Commonwealth Games was one of my major focuses for the year 2014.

Again, before the Commonwealth Games, I was not the favourite to win the sprints, but my country and my coach went all the way to give me the best preparation and this paid off as Glasgow 2014 aside from being my best Games ever ended up being Nigeria’s best outing in the history of the Games.

Everything just fell into place for me and Glasgow 2014 became the easiest for me as I won the gold in both the 100metres and 200metres.

I am grateful to God for this outing in Glasgow.

Are you comfortable with the influx of foreign athletes coming to compete for Nigeria after competing in the colours of America and England?

You might want to take that issue to the corridors of the Athlet-

ics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, to get the appropriate answer, as it is an issue I really don’t want to get involved in. It is purely administrative. But if you ask me, I will say, I will rather prefer the AFN to groom and build Nigerian young athletes to compete in top international competitions instead of bringing some athletes who are left over’s in their various countries where their best was not good enough.

If I have the opportunity to buys athletes, I would buy the ones that would win gold medals for me at international competitions and not the ones that won’t do well. This issue should be taken to the secretariat of the Athletics Federation and not for me as I am not a fan of what they are doing with these foreign athletes.

Look at a young Nigerian athlete like Ese Brume who won gold medal in the Women’s Long Jump event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, for me she is better than the foreign athletes who didn’t win any gold in Glasgow. Ese has taken me as her role model wanting to become as great as Blessing Okagbare and she is actually achieving her set goals. She calls me her mentor and role model and she is doing well. She is doing well for herself and country, and I pray that the federation supports her to go places.

In the last five years, you have been the face of Nigerian sports, how do you feel about this?

I feel great about this because God might have chosen another person for such glory but he decided to choose me. I am most humble and grateful to God for the support I have gotten so far from all my fans across the world and Nigerians as a whole.

When you are not competing on the tracks what do you do?

I stay indoors to watch television and try to get as much rest as I can.

And during offseason I take time out to visit my friends but I do not party as that is not a part of me.

I am more of the quiet type. The thing is that I try much as possible to stay indoors, that is just me.

What kind of food do you enjoy most?

I love African dishes. My best food ever is white rice with plantain and palm oil soup served with fresh fish; I prefer cat fish, yes.

What are your expectations for next year?

Next year 2015 is a year for the IAAF World Championship and my aim is to win gold medals.

My current gold medals winning streak came from the 2014 Commonwealth Games and I want to keep this trend running and jumping well to win gold medals at the World Championship.

For next year, I want to concentrate more on my main event and first love which is the Long Jump.

I really want to jump well beyond the six metres mark. I want to jump as far as seven metres to set myself up for the big challenges at the Rio 2016 Olympics. I have been working on a lot of things that would stand me out in the World Championship to prepare me for 2016.

The next edition of the National Sports Festival has been thrown open for top Nigeria professionals from across the world to compete.

Would Blessing Okagbare be competing in the Centenary Games in Calabar?

No way, I am really not for that and again the timing is wrong. I have goals for next year and I am not sure the National Sports Festival is a part of it. I have my schedule and the Festival is not included.

I am sorry I can’t do the National Sports Festival again, I can’t, I am supposed to be getting ready for the big season and not one Festival in Nigeria.

I don’t think it is good for people to hear that I am getting in shape to compete in local festival in Nigeria, I won’t do that, I am very sorry I am not going to be there for anything. Whoever is waiting for me to compete there should know that I will not do so. My orientation of the Sports Festival is for the discovery of new talents. I was discovered at the Festival in 2006 when I won bronze in the Long Jump and two year later at the Beijing Olympics, I won an Olympic bronze medal in the Long Jump, so why should anybody think that I will go back to the event where I was discovered in 2006.

veloping communities through initiatives like the Junior Golf Challenge.”

On his part, the Captain of Ikoyi Club’s golf section, Ted Iwere said: “Ikoyi Club 1938 is proud to be associated with Fairstroke’s initiative to position the Nigerian child for all round development through the Junior Golf Challenge.”

Oluwaseun Adesida, the accounts director of Caritas Communications, also said: “Caritas is in the business of growing international brands and the Junior Golf Challenge is a veritable platform to develop international brands.”

He added: “This Challenge has the potential to develop not just a brand but junior golfers’ character through mentorship opportunities available on these platforms.”

Over 50 young golfers, aged between 8 and 15, and drawn from various schools across the country, took part in the two-day championship, competing in two age categories for boys and girls: 8-11 and 12-15.

Ngoka reveals Ikoyi Club’s key to producing stars

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ady Captain of the Golf Section of the Ikoyi Club 1938, Ngozi Ngoka, has attributed the high rate at which the club unearths young talents to the Children’s Golf Clinic which regularly takes place at the club.

The Lagos-based club has in recent times produced some of Nigeria’s top golfing prospects most notably Anita Uwadia, who this year became the first Nigerian to ever compete in a United States Golf Association championship when she took part in the 66th U.S. Girls’ Junior at Forest Highlands Golf Club.

Aside the 17-year-old Uwadia, who this year also became the first Nigerian to win gold in the golf event of the Africa Youth Games, Ikoyi Club is also home to 8-yearold Osiregbeme Egbakhumeh, who was one of the stars at this year’s Kids Golf International Championship in South Africa.

And Ngoka, who has an intense passion for golf, is confident the club will continue to produce teenagers capable of becoming stars in the not-too-distant future.

“I have been involved in the Children’s Golf Clinic for the past three years before I became Lady Captain, and what we’ve done is to create a curriculum for the training of the children,” she said.

“In the past they used to just come here, learn how to swing, and take tee shots, and some of them learn how to putt. But right now what we have is a full curriculum for different skill levels, and the children keep coming back because each time they come they

progress to a different skill level.

And that is how we were able to produce the champion of the Africa Youth Games, Anita Uwadia.

“We start training them on different skills at a very tender age, and we are very happy with the successes that we’ve had.”

She added: “This year we participated in the Kids Golf International in South Africa, and one of our kids, Osiregbemi Egbakome, finished fourth out of the over 200 participants at the championship.

“It is something that we are really proud of and I am hoping that we finish first next time around.”

Ngoka

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SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport / News

Shittu ends Millwall’s eightgame winless run

Falconets coach makes FIFA’s shortlists for Award

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uper Falconets of Nigeria chief coach, Peter Dedevbo, whose team emerged the first runner-up at the 2014 U-20 World Cup in Canada has been shortlisted by the world football governing body, FIFA, for the award of the Best Coach of the Year in the women’s football category in 2014.

Dedevbo’s wards lost narrowly to Germany 1-0 in the final that saw Nigerian star player, Asisat Oshoala, emerged the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Other world class coaches listed for the award include Philippe Bergeroo (France/France national team), Laura Harvey (England/ Seattle Reign FC), Ralf Kellermann (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg), Maren Meinert (Germany/Germany Under-20 national team), Norio Sasaki (Japan/Japan national team), Pia Sundhage (Sweden/Sweden national team), Asako Takemoto Takakura (Japan/Japan Under-17 national team), Jorge Vilda (Spain/ Spain Under-17 national team and Under-19 national team) and Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany/ Switzerland national team).

The final shortlist of three coaches for the FIFA’s award comes up on December 1, 2014, while the winners of the award will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 12, 2015.

The awards would also see top women’s player being rewarded.

No Nigerian player made the cut for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 that has two Germans, Japanese and Swedes each. Brazil, France, Spain and the USA have one player each.

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Cristiano Ronaldo attempts a shot under pressure from Jeremy Mathieu

Madrid win El-Classico

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eal Madrid took the clasico honours as they beat Barcelona 3-1 in the first meeting of the two Spanish giants this season.

With Luis Suarez handed a starting berth for the first time, Neymar opened the scoring for Barca inside five minutes with a wonderful curling effort as he picked up the ball and slotted it coolly past Iker Casillas.

Madrid got level before the halftime break as Marcelo broke free down the left and crossed low, only for Gerard Pique to handle and concede a penalty. Claudio Bravo in the Barcelona goal had not conceded in the league all season, but Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and continued his incredible scoring run by netting the spot-kick.

Then Madrid took over in the second half. Pepe leaped highest to head home from a corner five minutes after the break and Karim Benzema doubled the lead when he capitalised on a counter-attack to score with a low shot that went in off the post on 61.

Suarez, who was quiet throughout the game, went off on 69 minutes and Barcelona were unable to get back into the game as their lead at the top of La Liga was cut to a single point.

In another Laliga game, Athletic Bilbao won for the first time in La Liga since August as Xabier Etxeita’s goal ensured a 1-0 win in a low-quality clash at Almeria.

Etxeita drove home low 12 minutes into the second half to give the visitors some reason for cheer in a

Danagogo, Corporate Nigeria thumbs up NFF

---As Pinnick espouses vision at grand ball

Peter Dedevbo

RESULTS

Barclays Premier League West Ham 2 - 1 Man. City Liverpool 0 - 0 Hull City Southampton 1 - 0 Stoke City Sunderland 0 - 2 Arsenal West Bromwich 2 - 2 C/ Palace Swansea 2 - 0 Leicester Germany - Bundesliga Werder Bremen 0 - 1 Cologne Augsburg 2 - 0 Freiburg B.Dortmund 0 - 1 Hannover Frankfurt 4 - 5 Stuttgart Hertha Berlin 3 - 0 Hamburger Hoffenheim 1 - 0 Paderborn Leverkusen 1 - 0 Schalke Italy - Serie A Empoli 0 - 4 Cagliari Parma 1 - 3 Sassuolo Spain - Liga BBVA Real Madrid 3 - 1 Barcelona Celta Vigo 3 - 0 Levante Almeria 0 - 1 Athletic Bilbao France - Ligue 1 PSG 3 - 0 Bordeaux

S

ports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, First Lady of Delta State, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan and the Chairman of Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Gumba were among the nation’s leading personalities who graced the grand ball organized by the Nigeria Football Federation for Corporate Nigeria in Lagos on Friday.

The colourful event at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island was an experiential session by the new NFF Executive Committee, led by Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, to bond with NFF’s partners and prospective sponsors.

In the presence of top government functionaries, corporate titans and political heavyweights, Pinnick espoused his vision with ease, academic and articulate, and it was applause all the way for the young and energetic new supremo of Nigeria football as he enraptured all who were there.

Sports Minister, Dr Danagogo praised the idea behind the event and the vision of the NFF, saying he was bowled over by the inge-

nuity of it all and pledged Government’s full backing for the Federation.

Senator Gumba said he was hugely impressed by the plan for going forward and would get the National Assembly to give total support.

Bain & Co, who will be NFF’s management consultants, talked on NFF Strategy & Restructuring, while the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismark Rewane captivated the auditorium with Repositioning of Nigeria Football for Global Competitiveness.

Messrs Jibril Aku, Peter Amangbo and Ladi Balogun, Managing Directors of ECOBANK, Zenith Bank and FCMB respectively, President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and Group Managing Director of BGL PLC, Mr. Albert Okumagba, Mr. Dere Otubu of Staco Insurance, Idaere Gogu Ogan of United Securities, Mr. Aniri Ojuya of Senforce Insurance, representatives of the Dangote Group and NFF’s partners Emzor were in attendance.

campaign which has so far brought precious little cause for optimism.

The win was only Athletic’s second in the league this season and ended a nine-match winless run in all competitions. It moved them a point behind their opponents, who themselves have only two league wins to their name this term.

ormer Super Eagles defender, Danny Shittu, marked his first league start since suffering an Achilles injury since March when he powered home a second-half header to end the Lions’ eightgame winless run.

Millwall were also indebted to a stunning double save from former Bluebirds goalkeeper David Forde in the first half to deny Craig Noone and then, from close range, Adam Le Fondre.

The Lions boss Holloway said: “We actually got something we deserved. The double save from my goalie changed the course of the game. Lately they’ve been going in.

“I don’t want Shittu having to score the winner, that’s what my forwards should be doing so I need to have a word with them.

“But it was nice for him to go up and whack one in with his head. He’s very special and I’m delighted he’s on the mend. If anyone sums up this place then it’s that fella.”

Shittu, named captain on his return to the starting line-up, made the breakthrough.

Shaun Williams whipped in a corner from the right and Shittu rose above Bruno Manga and Federico Macheda at the far post to thump a downward header through a crowd of players and into the net.

NFF crisis: Minister saves Falcons from S/African Rugby star CAF ban Juries confirmed for

S

ports Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, yesterday saved the Super Falcons from being stopped by CAF from playing the final match of the African Women’s Championship which took place in Windhoek, Namibia yesterday following the Jos court ruling which set aside the September 30, 2014 election that brought in the Amaju Pinnick-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Consequently the minister has called on all football stakeholders; the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to understand that football matters should not be taken to the ordinary courts but the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) to avoid threats or outright ban of the country by FIFA. Speaking from Windhoek, Namibia where he had gone to deliver President Goodluck Jonathan’s goodwill message and also cheer the Falcons in the final against Cameroon in the African Women’s Championship, Danagogo said he had to negotiate with CAF to allow the Falcons play the final as they were almost stopped from playing.

“As I speak with you now, we have just succeeded in negotiating with CAF not to stop the Falcons from playing the final match. The decision to ban Nigeria has now been shifted to Monday,” he said, stressing that, “all football stakeholders, the judiciary and our law enforcement agencies should understand that each time they take football matters to the ordinary court instead of CAS, Nigeria stands the risk of being banned from all football activities.”

Independence Sevens

F

ormer Springbok 7’s star player, Fabian Juries, would arrive in Lagos on October 30, 2014 for the Independence 7’s in Lagos in a bid to promote the game of rugby in Nigeria.

The ex-Springbok speed star is IRB Sevens highest try scorer in South Africa and 13th in the world.

He is expected to help with officiating in the tournament and prepare the national team the Black Stallion for the African Sevens Championship in Zimbabwe in November.

The Chief Executive Officer of CMB Building, the sponsors of independence rugby sevens from its inception in 2009, Mr. Kelechukwu Mbagwu, who doubles as chairman of Friends of Rugby said: “We are glad that one of the top rugby sevens player in the world would be in Nigeria to support the development of the sport and the tournament.

He noted that his presence would also help motivate the homebased players. He further stated that preparations are ongoing to ensure a great tournament and to also ensure the opportunities embedded therein are harnessed.

“Nigeria has a population of over 150 million; we are also naturally built for rugby. If properly harnessed, rugby can become our number one sport in the country.”

The real estate veteran who is an ex-rugby player further stressed that the game of rugby is the greatest team sport ever, it teaches discipline, respect and he expects the game to spread fast into all schools in the country.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2014

I am not sure Mr. President cares more about vengeance than support

A

t times of intense politics and politicking like these, what would you, if you were President Jonathan’s adviser, have the President do? Canvass popular support from all and sundry for his reelection bid, or develop a long memory and seek to avenge his alleged failure to install the leadership of the House of Representatives? Or better still, should it matter more to the President that even after the House Members had elected their own leadership, majority of the Members still remained staunch allies and supporters of the President and have been instrumental to his having his way most of the time in the House? Or that whosever participated in that election is dealt with for such silly derring-do? These are questions that have arisen in the light of a recent publication in one of the national dailies where ‘sources’ claimed that those PDP Members who voted for Tambuwal to emerge as Speaker might be disqualified from vying for any elective position by the party. Copious references were made in that report to Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who is seeking PDP ticket for Imo governorship election, and Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the presumptive PDP candidate for the 2015 governorship election in Enugu State, having beaten 13 other aspirants in a party caucus election to emerge as the consensus candidate for the race.

Since that report came out, there has been a deluge of reactions to it, mostly from the two Honourable Members’ constituents who believe that the ‘malicious’ report was targeted specifically at the two of them, apparently with intent to cause disaffection for them in the Presidency and among the party hierarchy. If that’s the intent of the sources that gave out (not to say planted) that story (and it may well be their intent), then that’s bad enough, to say the very least. For me, it simply says a lot about the quality of contemporary politicians that in their bid to outflank their opponents and protect their selfish interests, they wittingly or unwittingly say or do things that not only question the democratic credentials of their party or the nation’s leadership, for that matter but also ridicule them. Should any politician worth that name, just to get at an opponent, put out a piece of information (which is even false) to the fact that his party or the President of the country is angry with some party faithful for not aligning with the president in a purportedly failed bid to install a rubber-stamp leadership in the national assembly? Is nothing held sacrosanct at all in a political ‘war ’, not even the name and image of the President? But no matter.

Now, back to the questions I raised at the outset. So, what would you have the president do? Would you advise him to just go ahead and canvass popular support from all and sundry for his reelection bid, or develop a long memory and seek to deal with those who allegedly caused his alleged failure to install the leadership of the House of Representatives? Or better still, do you think it should matter more to the President that even after the House Members had elected their own leadership, majority of the Members still remained staunch allies and supporters of the President who have been very instrumental to his having his way in the House most of the time?

Or that whosever participated in that election is dealt with for such silly derring-do?

Personally, I would simply have ad-

Guest Columnist JohnPaul Ezeaku

Tambuwal

Chime

Ugwuanyi

Ihedioha

vised the President to remember the story of Lot’s wife in the Bible: never look back. When God gives you victory, you do not go looking for those who fought with you to punish, you look for ways to add their strengths to yours so you become stronger and better and forge ahead. Which is exactly what the President did: the House may not be led by a PDP-anointed but the president has as many strong supporters in the lower chamber as he has in the senate. And incidentally, among those most invaluable foot soldiers and strategists of the Big man in the House are the same people some aggrieved politicians want the public to believe their party and the president are after because of their role in Tambuwal’s emergence as House Speaker. Pray, is that what the President of the Federal Republic would be occupied with at this point in time? I fail to understand why some who claim to love the president and the party more than the rest of us do would want to invest him with a long memory he is not known to pos-

sess (figuratively speaking, that is).

Let’s even consider that election. It’s almost four years since it took place.

In the June 6, 2011, election, Tambuwal polled 252 votes to defeat Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola from Oyo State, who is now the House majority leader. Would the PDP block all of its members among the 252 Members who voted for Tambuwal from pursuing any electoral ambition on the platform of the party, even if they are popular and great assets to the party just to avenge its hurt four years ago? Whose interest is served if some disgruntled PDP members who have no home base succeed in deceiving Wadata House to move against the interests of peaceful, well-organised state chapters like Enugu? Certainly not Jonathan’s or PDP’s.

Anyone who has followed Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha’s career in the House since 2011 would wager that he has gone about his duties with so much maturity and loyalty to party and country. Under Ihedioha’s watch as a Jonathan sup-

porter, the House cannot be said to have done anything detrimental to the President’s interests. On several occasions, we have seen how attempts to censure the president or his subordinates on one or two issue have been deftly smothered by the President’s men, marshaled, I dare say, by DS Ihedioha. Ditto for DS’s colleague Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. A quiet, smooth and efficient organizer, Ugwuanyi as Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime, has worked closely with the President’s men and the party hierarchy to stabilize the nation’s maritime sector, which is one of the most profitable sectors of the Nigerian economy today. For every pragmatic political analyst, the question, therefore, is not whether the president ‘installed’ his own men in the House but whether he has men in the House who can be relied upon to ensure that he has it easy in the House. And the answer is yes. Emeka Ihedioha and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi are veritable members of that great President’s team.

As Mike Ajogwu SAN (SAN), told reporters in Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in particular, was part of the House caucus that worked to achieve the desires of the party; that contrary to speculations, Hon Ugwuanyi, in fact, voted for the party’s preferred candidate and so, “there is no reason for his detractors to assassinate his political career on the pages of newspapers.”

Said the legal luminary: “Mr. President was and is still a fellow of the Chartered Institute of arbitrators Nigeria and I was and am, National Vice President of the same Institute.

I joined forces with Hon. Ugwuanyi to canvass for Mr. President on 11th and 12th of January2011. I had been a member of the PDP with Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. He had been a loyal member of the party. In 2011, we all voted for President Goodluck Jonathan. When it was time for election, we were all together with the governor of the state plotting how to win the presidential election. Enugu State delivered a block vote for the president in that election.

“As a member of the Federal House of Representatives, he was keeping faith with the position of the party. He was never touted in any quarters as someone who worked against the interest of the party. So, coming now to associate him with those who work against the interest of the party is not only wicked but a satanic device to rob the people of Enugu State of their desire.

“Hon. Ugwuanyi as we all know is a very quiet type but has strong initiative that can increase the fortunes of PDP in Enugu State in particular and the South East Zone in general. In all the visits of Mr. President to Enugu and the South East, Hon. Ugwuanyi had shown his unwavering support for President Goodluck Jonathan.”

In a contest of choices, what would be the party and the president’s? Would they go for popular candidates and party loyalists supported by peaceful, well-organised local chapters of the party or would they settle for loners, rejected by the party at home but who wouldn’t mind crashing the roof and killing everyone so long as it not they who are in charge. For the PDP, especially in Enugu, following the unanimous choice of Hon. Ugwuanyi as the local chapter ’s consensus candidate for the Enugu 2015 gubernatorial race, the choice is quite clear. It must not allow bad losers and dogs-in-manager to scuttle the will of the people.

• Ezeaku wrote from Enugu-Ezike

SPORT ‘Oliseh not ripe for Eagles’

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Sanctity of Truth

I am not sure Mr. President cares more about vengeance than support

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Comparing Nigeria with the Asian Tigers: Where we missed it (2) The following concludes the Asian Tigers’ Success story, begun last week.

The

OUTWARD ORIENTED STRATEGIES/ POLICIES

The Asian Tigers economies used Export Oriented Industrialization to efficiently utilize abundant factors and fund domestic growth through foreign markets. By cultivating industries with competitive advantage on world markets, and importing goods that were inefficient to domestically create, mostly capital and skill-intensive products, an economy can maintain an advantageous balance of trade. This strategy propelled Japan and indeed, the Asian Tigers into becoming world economies.

In Hong Kong and Singapore, openness was achieved by ending all import restrictions and giving free rein to export sector. In Korea and Taiwan, trade barriers which were initially imposed in the early 1970s, were gradually reduced. The countries used exchange rate policies to favour exporters, and encourage export incentives, and tariff protection, slowing financial sector development and consumer lending, to provide cheap financing to key industries, for exports.

Exports in most countries constitute the bedrock of any economic development. In Nigeria, however, a monocultural foreign trade product (crude oil) prevails.

Export of non-oil products increases the foreign exchange earnings of a country, increases sales and profits to firms that export their products and improve the product quality, to achieve a reduction in production cost, mass production for export and business expansion.

SLOW GROWTH RATES OF POPULATION

This played a great role in reducing family sizes, creating an educated labour force, accumulating household and government savings, raising wages and growing investments in manufacturing technology. By 1965, each of the Asian tigers established family planning programmes. Consequently, result fertility declined. Emphasis was also placed on civil education, increasing the rate of entry of women into the workforce and education sector; leading to delayed marriages. By 1995, the average fertility level was an average of two children per couple.

In Nigeria, there is no sustained policy regarding the control of population. Where a man, living in the slums has three wives and twenty children, it is inevitable that most of the uneducated children, if not all, will be of little, or no positive value to themselves and the society. They will stress the economy.

Fertility reduction, though, by no means an economic development panacea, may well establish conducive conditions in which governments can invest more per capita in education and health, thus creating the human capital necessary for sustained economic growth. Likewise, with fewer children to care for, families can improve their prospects for avoiding the penury trap. At both macro and micro-levels, moderating fertility enhances economic prospects.

THE FLYING GEESE HYPOTHESIS/MODEL

The “flying geese” hypothesis predicts that as labour cost surges in one economy, firms tend to move their investments to the less developed neighbouring countries to take advantage of lower wage rates. An initial “goose”, the more developed economy, leads the second tier “geese”, the less developed economies, to new markets, for nesting.

In turn, these geese are followed by third-tier geese, and so on. This leads to gradual labour production outsourcing, across time and countries. The Flying Geese Model, first introduced by Japanese economist, Akamatsu, in the 1930s, explains that this mega-effect of consecutive growth within a region, can create benefits far beyond national growth strategies. In this case, countries in East Asia aligned successively behind the more developed industrialized countries, in their order of different stages of growth in the wild geese flying pattern. In this pattern, the leading goose pattern

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08128444555 (sms only) “Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, all started out in 1960, as relatively backward and developing economies, but imbibed the culture of honesty, hard work, proper savings, investment in education and skilled labour” is Japan; the second tier of countries are four tigers (Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan); whereas the third third stage consisted of countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia).

China and Vietnam served as the rear guard in the formation.

These flying geese will certainly land in Africa.

Today, five of the fastest growing economies are located in Africa. Africa, especially Nigeria, is seen more and more, as the new frontier of economic berthing of the flying geese phenomenon. Of the five African countries with the highest economic growth, Nigeria leads the pack in real GDP, having surpassed South Africa’s hitherto primus interpares status as the biggest economy in Africa.

CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD FOR NIGERIA

Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, all started out in 1960, as relatively backward and developing economies, but imbibed the culture of honesty, hard work, proper savings, investment in education and skilled labour. They tapped opportunities from their environment and surroundings. These factors contributed to the fast paced economic growth experienced in the region, which allowed the Tigers to rapidly converge towards

MAMA LASISI

income levels of those in advanced economies.

The important lesson for Nigeria in the success story of the Asian Tigers, is that governments need to pursue policies that stress the promotion of both human and physical capital.

WAY FORWRD

The following are recommended as the way forward for Nigeria: 1. Government investment in education: Governments need to stop paying lip service to education, by heavily investing in it. To do this, government must initiate and encourage research in important disciplines dealing with technological advancement.

2. Enhancing an attractive economic environment: Governments must be responsibly proactive with regards to creating conducive environment to positively attract massive foreign direct investment in the economy. To this end, Government must invest heavily in infrastructure. The issue of epileptic power must be settled once and for all. Secondly, the issue of security should be frontally tackled. Governments should summon the political will to deal with terrorism presently ravaging parts of the North, Kidnapping and armed robbery in the South, and piracy and militancy in the Niger-delta, if indeed, it desires replicating the Asian Tigers’ economic feats.

Thirdly, Governments should consciously navigate from the irksome ritual genuflection to red-tapism and excessive officialdom, since investors readily avoid economies that are woven with the labyrinth thread of bureaucracy and red-tapism.

3. Taming corruption: Corruption is the hideous monster, the reprehensive and reprehensible iniquity, which produces and reproduces a decadence of opportunity for a decent society. Thus, Corruption must be tamed in Nigeria for the country to thrive.

Corruption gives Nigeria a bad reputation, weakens our capacity to attract the much needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), obfuscates our economic growth and holds down our national development.

Genuine investors are more attracted to environments where the rules of engagement clear and not susceptible to whimsical interpretations, based on whose palms are greased. To tame corruption in Nigeria, there must exist a genuine democratic system in which political leaders are held account-

able for their actions with corrupt officials exposed and promptly punished. This serves as an effective deterence.

4. Encouraging Indigenous Industries and export: Indigenous industries create employment opportunities, enhance regional economic balance through industrial dispersal and generally promote effective resource utilization considered critical to economic development and growth. Thus, Nigeria must encourage the formation of indigenous of industries and exportation of made-in-Nigeria goods, to enable the country earn fat revenues, accumulate capital, create jobs, employments and engender favourable balance of payment. It is trite that every industrialised country is ever an exporting country, while no full-time importing country is industrialised.

5. Improving the standard of living of Nigerians: The more prosperous an economy, the better off the citizens of that economy are in terms of health and material possessions. Thus, prosperity is attainable when wages are high and countries are highly productive.

6. Aggressive drive for foreign investments: If Africa is the next investment haven as has been serially romanticised, Nigeria should be the natural market. Nigeria should tap into this new thinking, by laying the foundation for enhanced foreign direct investments (FDIs), and by offering better returns than other markets in the region. The Nigerian Governments must not take for granted, the various macro-economic indices which portray us as having the biggest African economy with a robust growth rate of 6-7%. For instance, General Electric Company of the United States, recently sealed a $1billion investment deal on the establishment of a new manufacturing and assembly facility in Calabar.

More of such should be encouraged.

7. Strengthening democracy and rule of law: Rule of law is expected to be the guiding principle of governance, since it is the foundation of good governance.

Rule of law presupposes that the state is subject to the law, that the that the Government should respect the rights of individual citizens and that the judiciary, as an institution, is assigned the role of determining all disputes between persons, Governments or authorities. Investors, as a general rule, avoid a system plagued by arbitrariness, capriciousness and whimsicality associated with governments and governance.

Investors want to be sure that their investment is safe and that where disputes arise from any relationship, such will be resolved according to predictable laws and procedures. Nigeria needs to improve and deliver on good governance, with the rule of law as a focal point, if its progress and economic growth is not to be stymied. Is President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan reading and listing to this “Sermon in the Sunday Telegraph” by Mike Ozekhome, SAN? Only time will tell.

Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

By Aliu Eroje

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: EMEKA MADUNAGU.