Binder1 aug 15, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

Saturday Edition

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Saturday, AUGUST 16, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 179

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Doctors Without Borders:

It will take 6 months to curb Ebola spread

l Patients yet to receive experimental drug l Health commissioner claims Lagos yet to ‘get a penny’ from N1.9bn Ebola Fund l Ebola scare: Sick NYSC member abandoned in Ado-Ekiti l Catholic Church in Benue stops Holy Communion on tongues Appolonia Adeyemi, Muritala Ayinla, Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

s anxiety over the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease mounts, the humanitarian group, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders), has said it will take about six months to bring the epidemic under control, noting that the outbreak in West Africa felt like “wartime, is moving, advancing”. There was also another dim report as the Lagos State government yesterday said it had yet to receive “a penny” from the N1.9 billion Ebola fund announced last week by President Goodluck Jonathan. International president of MSF, Joanne Liu, speaking after a 10-day trip to West Africa, said more experts were needed on the ground and was critical of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for declaring Ebola a “public health emergency of international concern” only on August 8. “We need people with a hands-on operational mindset,” to combat the outbreak, Reuters quoted Liu as saying at a news briefing in Geneva. The death toll from the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Northern Elders: Why we gave Jonathan ultimatum on Chibok l ACF kicks against pro-Jonathan rally Ndubuisi Ugah and Ibrahim Musa, Lagos/Kaduna

lthough the Northern Elders Forum’s declaration that President Goodluck Jonathan should produce the over 200 abducted schoolgirls in Borno by October or forget re-election had drawn the Presidency’s ire, the group has maintained its action was justified. The ultimatum, according to a member of the group, Mr. Solomon Dalung, was premised on what they termed the federal government’s “ineptitude” in resolving the abduction of the Government

Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, students. Dalung, who alongside other members of the group issued the ultimatum to the president, told New Telegraph on Saturday that their grouse was because the federal government had failed to give “substantive reasons why the abducted girls were still being held more than 124 days”, after being taken hostage by the terror group, Boko Haram. Dalung said: “In our press conference, we mentioned specifically that in Gwoza, for over seven days, there was consistent attacks and killings of not less than 50 people everyday. There is even no political will to abate

such killings. But there is the political capacity to campaign for 2015. In other words, 2015 appears to the government as the only agenda in Nigeria. So, we must tie it to its own interest. If we do not tie it to its own interest, the government may not understand. “We have adopted a strategy that the government will understand because so many efforts by Nigerians to draw the attention of government, to the embarrassment that this country has suffered and the damage to our image, have all fallen on deaf ears. So, if 2015 is the issue, the president should know CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The disc jockey with a billionaire father P.13 Conversation

TAIWO AJAI-LYCETT

‘Why brands ignore the movie industry’ P.22

Ideas & Brands

OKEY BAKASSI

‘Some people mistake fame for wealth’ P.18

Showbiz

MOSES ADIGWE

‘Winning Idol has been an

eye-opener’ P.21 Showbiz

ebola or not, life must continue lDJ Cuppy with her father, Femi Otedola, in his yacht

Why I resigned as APGA BoT leader - Peter Obi P.2

- Neighbours of hospital where Sawyer died p.42 Features

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

Content 16.08.14 INSTYLE

CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 1

Ripped off

world’s worst outbreak of Ebola stood on Wednesday at 1,069 from 1,975 confirmed, probable and suspected cases. The majority were in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, while four people have died in Nigeria, reports Reuters. “If we don’t stabilise Liberia, we will never stabilise the region. Over the next six months we should get the upper hand on the epidemic, this is my gut feeling,” Liu said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday, expressed concern over the “vastly underestimated” scale of the Ebola outbreak as the death toll from the disease reaches 1,069. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted a state-

The ripped jeans is back and hipper than ever with an appeal that goes beyond the walls of university campuses to where it was once confined.

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SHOWBIZ

From Choir to Hip-Hop

Rhymzee (real name Omelli Ukamaka) honed her music skill in a choir, having lived with a reverend father. But growing up, she found the pull of hip-hop and dancehall irresistible.

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THE ARTS

Triumphant Chorale

The Lagos City Chorale’s profile soars once more on the world stage with the three silver it won at the 8th World Choir Games in Latvia. But the Chorale led by Sir Emeka Nwokedi could do with some more help from the government and corporate sponsors.

ment by WHO that it had evidence that the number of reported cases and deaths do not reflect the scale of the crisis. “Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak. “WHO is co-ordinating a massive scaling up of the international response,”the statement said. According to the statement, extraordinary measures are needed to check the diseases as the outbreak is expected to continue for some time. “Part of the challenge is the fact that the outbreak is in settings, characterised by extreme poverty, dysfunctional health systems, a severe shortage of doc-

tors and rampant fear,” the statement said. Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, at a news conference called to give journalists an update on efforts to curb the disease in the state, said what the state had been spending since the disease broke was its emergency fund. The commissioner who also disclosed that the dedicated helpline had received over two million calls, added that only five doctors and eight nurses were currently providing care to the Ebola virus patients. He however said the federal government had been helpful, but added that he was hopeful the funds would be released soon to help tackle the problem. “This is a collaborative effort between the federal,

state governments and other foreign partners. As at now, we are yet to receive a penny from the central government. “All the money spent on the health of the Ebola victims were funds released by state Governor, Babatunde Fashola. He released the money immediately the first case was reported. And that is the money we have been spending. “Perhaps maybe the federal government will release later. But we are grateful for all the federal government has done-giving us technical support in the fight against the virus, releasing their staff for contact tracing, case management, operation of the Emergency operation centre and the rapid response team.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

‘Why we gave Jonathan ultimatum on Chibok girls’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

that you cannot talk about 2015 when a whole generation of about 300 girls are in captivity. The number is enough to produce a society like Nigeria.” The group had on August 11, at a press conference addressed by Dalung and Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed in Kaduna, said President Jonathan had until the end of October this year to produce the schoolgirls abducted in April, or face mass opposition to his re-election as president in 2015. In reaction to the ultimatum by NEF on Tuesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, condemned the group’s action, stressing that the president did not require any threat or ultimatum from the North or any group of persons for

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sport

Rangers on His Mind Ex-international and Giwa FC coach, Duke Udi, speaks of his inability to play for Rangers International of Enugu and insists the bad boy image he had to live with as a player was a wrong character assessment.

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TRAVEL & TOURISM Fit for a Royal

Royal View Hotel and Suites flaunts its proximity to the Lagos international airport. No one should begrudge that; any hotelier in their shoes would as well.

}39 GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday WAHEED BAKARE Deputy Editor, Saturday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board NDUBUISI UGAH News Editor TAIWO AHMED Advert Manager UCHEY OKEZIE Ag. Sales/Marketing Manager TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

6 months to curb Ebola spread

him to perform his constitutional responsibilities. But speaking further, Dalung said: “All the socalled efforts of the government do not explain satisfactorily why the girls should be in captivity for 119 days in a great country like Nigeria that has provided international peace keeping operations and returned with medals. “So, we find it unacceptable that the government is still trying to rescue the girls 119 days after. The Chief of Defence Staff has admitted that they know where the girls are. If Boko Haram kidnapped the girls and the government says it knows where they are, then there is an unexplained partnership? So, our ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan becomes necessary because government has

demonstrated lack of political will to do what is right.” The NEF leader said its anger further stems from the swift manner Cameroun’s security forces rescued the country’s deputy prime minister’s wife after she was abducted by armed men. “The uncle of the president was kidnapped but he was rescued alive. So, if the Chief of Defence Staff is telling us that they know where the girls are and that they are not interested in storming the place, it is wrong. Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum has described the planned political rallies in the six geopolitical zones by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria which will commence today, as ill conceived and insensitive to the prevailing security challenges in the country. In a statement issued yesterday by Alhaji Mu-

hammad Ibrahim, the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, ACF said that TAN members want to rally support for President Goodluck Jonathan. ACF noted that although they were entitled to support whoever they wanted, the present mood of the nation calls for “sober reflections and prayers”. According to the forum, Nigeria is facing “daily attacks on innocent souls by Boko Haram insurgents in the North, ritual killings in the West, kidnappings of prominent persons in the South-South and armed robbery in the East and the sudden entry of Ebola virus into the country through one Mr. Sawyer. “Moreover, INEC is yet to lift the ban on political rallies as per the provisions of our Constitution and the electoral Act.’’

Why I resigned as APGA BoT leader - Peter Obi Ndubuisi Ugah

acts have emerged as to why former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, resigned as the leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). In a resignation letter addressed to the national secretary of the party and submitted at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday, Obi cited family and personal reasons as reasons why he decided to quit as the party’s leader. APGA is presently witnessing exodus of key members, who have cited the appropriation of the party by an individual as a reason. This, according to the party’s stakeholders stemmed from the leadership tussle, which had polarised the party into two faction with

Chief Victor Umeh on one hand and Chief Maxi Okwu on the other hand. However, the former governor wished the party well in its future endeavours, even though he did not give specific details for his action. It was gathered that Obi assured the party that he would remain an ordinary member, despite the fact that the party is the ruling party in his home state and which he is generally credited as the party’s backbone. The news of the resignation of Obi as APGA BoT chairman was first published Friday morning on an online news por-

tal, the News Express. Obi said he was resigning as leader and BoT chairman into which he was appointed in January 2014 by the National Executive Council which, according to him, was yet to be ratified by a convention of the party as stipulated by the constitution of the party. When contacted, his media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, confirmed the development. He said: “If you recall, my boss was nominated the leader of the party and the chairman of her Board of Trustees in January. The nomination was yet to be ratified by a convention of the

party when he submitted his letter of resignation. “Since the convention will take place next year, people have found it convenient to blame him for the woes of the party on the reason that he had failed to intervene on matters affecting the party, not knowing that without ratification of his nomination, he had no platform under which to intervene.” Obienyem said his boss remained an APGA member and would continue to support the party at all times. Speaking with journalists two weeks ago in Awka-Etiti, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Obi had lamented that the failure by APGA to ratify the positions had made it impossible for him to have a platform to engage aggrieved party members.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

Heavy downpour, late arrival of materials mar INEC’s PVC exercise Ndubuisi Ugah, Babatope Okeowo, Onyekachi Eze, Sola Adeyemo and Gabriel Choba

he distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), which began yesterday in 11 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), took off smoothly, while the turnout of prospective voters was impressive. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the exercise got a boost with the Anambra State Government declaring yesterday work free-day for civil servants in the state to enable them to participate in the exercise. But despite the successes recorded during the exercise, INEC reportedly suspended the distribution of the PVCs in Eseodo Local Government Area and some political wards in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State due to the impact of the flood being experienced by the people of the area which had displaced most communities from their homes. Similarly, the electoral commission also announced that it would conduct fresh registration of voters in eight local government areas and distribute over one million permanent cards in Kwara State. Also, an early morning rainfall, which lasted for some hours yesterday, delayed the commencement of the distribution of PVCs in Bauchi State. However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the Ondo State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, said the distribution of voters cards would not hold in three wards of Owo Local Government Area and one in Ondo East Local Government Area of the

l Ajimobi frowns at exercise in Oyo l Fresh registration of voters to hold in eight LGs in Kwara state, which include Ward 05 Ijebu II, Ward 8, Isaipen, Ward 11, Uso /Emure -Ile in Owo Local Government Area and Ward 01, Ateru/ Otadan/Igba in Ondo East. A statement signed by the REC said the distribution of the PVCs would hold in all other part of the state form August 15 to 17, while the Continuous Voter Registration (CVRs) will also take place from August 20 to 25. The statement read: “The commission has therefore decided to conduct fresh registration in those polling units during the Continuous Voters Registration exercise fixed for August 20 to 25 to enable all eligible voters to have their data captured in the voters register." As a way of boosting the exercise, the Labour Party (LP) the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have mobilised their supporters to participate actively in the exercise. In the same vein, REC in Kwara State, Chief Timothy Ibitoye, while speaking yesterday at a meeting with members of the State InterAgency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (SICVEP) in Ilorin, said 1.1 million PVC would be distributed in 1, 872 polling units in the 16 local government areas of the state. Ibitoye said fresh registration would be conducted in the 76 polling units of the eight council areas, where thumbprints of electorate were not properly captured during 2010/2011 registration. The NAN reported that the exercise commenced between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. in most centres in Bauchi State, as against the scheduled time of 8 a.m. due to late arrival of INEC officials. NAN reports that turnout in some polling units visited in Tirwun, Dutsen

Tenshi, Yelwa and Bayara area of the metropolis was impressive. In Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, several prospective voters had collected their cards as early as 10.30 a.m. This was evident in Ndiowu community in Orumba North Local Government Area, where women came out for the exercise. One of them, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwafor, told NAN that she was lucky to be the first woman to obtain her card in the community. At ward 1 in Enugwuukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, a prospective voter, Mr John Okeke, said that INEC officials, who handled the exercise, came out early to attend to the people. Mr. Val Ayika, who represents Njikoka I constituency in the state House of Assembly, said he was impressed with the preparation and turnout of the electorate and INEC officials. In Abuja, the exercise experienced some hiccups as some people, who intended to visit some polling units to collect their cards were prevented to do so by heavy downpour which started at about 2:30 pm. New Telegraph correspondent, who monitored the exercise, observed that the exercise, which would end tomorrow, was marred by late arrival of materials and voter apathy despite the heavy downpour. At Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Asokoro, Lugbe and Gwarimpa Districts of the FCT, the INEC staff arrived at most of the distribution centers well past noon. The INEC staff also ran into some logistics problem of sorting out the PVCs in alphabetical order as the cards they were given were mixed up, which took a lot

of time. However, the situation was different in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as the exercise commenced with several people trooping out en masse as early as 7 a.m. But they were, however, disappointed as they awaited for INEC officials, who started arriving the centres around 1 p.m. At Eleyele, Ashi Bodija, Apata, Omi Adio, Mokola, Sango, Amuloko, Oke Padre in Ibadan, people were on queue waiting for INEC officials around 11 a.m, when New Telegraph visited the polling centres. But situation changed around 1p.m at Amuloko and Mokola areas as people were being attended to. As at about 4.30 p.m., many of the centres were still packed with people waiting to have their cards collected. Reacting to this, Governor Abiola Ajimobi frowned at the process of issuing the PVCs, stating that it was capable of disenfranchising a wide network of the people of the state. Speaking through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the governor said: “Our government has implicit trust in the INEC and its ability to conduct a free and fair election in Oyo State." However, the situation was different in Asaba, the Delta State capital, where the state Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), called on Deltans to ensure they collect their PVC in order to exercise their civic duties during the 2015 general election. Speaking to journalists yesterday, after the collection of his PVC at Ward 2, Unit 4, Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, Utuama said without the PVC no one would be allowed to vote.

NEWS EDITOR, SATURDAY:

NDUBUISI UGAH

ndubuisi.ugah@newtelegraphonline.com; nduby001@yahoo.com; 08033617741

The Week Ahead

Nigeria hosts Lesotho in AYC qualifier today Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will today file out against the U-20 team from Lesotho in an Africa Youth Championship (AYC) in Kaduna. Flying Eagles Assistant Coach, Mr. Nduka Ugbade, said the team was prepared to qualify for the championship as the Coach Gabar Manu-led technical crew had assembled a formidable squad for the game. He also stated that the team was built around players who were poised to surmount every team that comes their way in any international engagement.

TheNiche on Sunday for presentation today ACCLAIM Communications Limited has fixed August 16 for the formal presentation of Nigeria’s exclusive Sunday newspaper, TheNiche on Sunday, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event will hold under the chairmanship of a former vicepresident of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), Prof. Anya O. Anya, while the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, will be the chief host. Highlight of the occasion will be the presentation of a keynote address entitled “A new Nigeria is possible,” by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku.

ISDMG’s voting index on public institutions ends today The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) tagged Centre for Transparency Advocacy has said voting will end by noon today during the fourth annual service delivery index awards for outstanding public institutions in Nigeria between 2013 to 2014. The voting procedure, according to the organisers, is to allow Nigerians decide through voting whether they are satisfied with the quality of service rendered by public institutions.

NOUN’s 5th inaugural lecture holds Aug 19 A renowned professor of Yoruba-French Comparative Linguistic, Prof. Olu Akeusola, will on August 19 deliver the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), fifth inaugural lecture series titled: ‘ Preserving Yoruba Language through Linguistic Vaccination of Comparative Grammar’. The lecture will be delivered at the NOUN’s national headquarters, Victoria Island, Lagos at 2p.m.

Nigerian Lubricants’ Summit holds Aug 19 A PR firm, CMC Connect in collaboration with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), will hold the maiden edition of Nigerian Lubricants Summit, which will feature the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, as special guest of honour, while his counterpart in the Petroleum Resources Ministry, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, will deliver the key speech. The event, which will feature forums and exhibitions, will have ‘Nigeria’s Lubricant market: Challenges and Opportunities’, as its theme.

UNILAG’s eight inaugural lecture holds Aug 20 The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has said its eight inaugural lecture for 2013/2014 session will take place on August 20 at the main auditorium of the institution by 4p.m. A statement issued by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. Taiwo F. Ipaye, said the lecture with the theme: ‘Unseen Guest at Table, the Unsung Heroes of Our Environment’, will be delivered by Prof. Olusimbo Olugbo Aboaba, under the chairmanship of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon A. Bello.

PPA begins nationwide registration Aug 20

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, displaying his transaction receipt after launching Nigeria’s first Outward Money transfer in Abuja… yesterday

The Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) has said it will commence its nationwide membership registration to prepare its members ahead of the 2015 general elections on August 20. The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary; Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, after its National Working Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, expressed its readiness to commence the party congresses at all levels immediately after the nationwide membership registration. According to Ajumbe, the nationwide membership registration will commence on August 20 and end on September 6.

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

Police, students clash over review of tuition fees in Ogun l OAU finally reopens l Group cautions politicians

CLASH Police brush with protesting students leave many injured and properties destroyed Kunle Olayeniand Mojeed Alabi

Abeokuta /Lagos

iot policemen and protesting students of tertiary institutions in Ogun State yesterday clashed, leaving several people injured and property worth millions of Naira destroyed. The incident paralysed commercial activities in Abeokuta, the state capital, and also delayed for about

five hours the presentation of 13 brand new buses for Students’ Unions of tertiary institutions by Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Similarly, an education advocacy group, Education Access Project (EAP), has cautioned politicians in Ogun State to stop using students to fight their political battles. And after two months of closure as a result of students’ protest against increased fees, the authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has announced its decision to reopen the campus for the continuation of the 2013/2014 academic session. However, the students,

mainly from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, had on Thursday stormed the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta in protest against the review of their tuition fees by the state government. While demanding further reduction of their school fees and immediate implementation of new fee regime in the current academic calendar, the students also clashed with their colleagues from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta and other institutions who had earlier staged a solidarity march over government's decision. But the situation esca-

lated yesterday when aggrieved students, who slept overnight in Abeokuta, mobilised to the Governor's Office but were dispersed by policemen. Chanting various slogans, the students, led by the OOU Students’ Union President, Olusegun Ifade, insisted that the 61 per cent reduction in tuition fees announced by the government to take effect from 2014/2015 academic session was politically motivated. Policemen deployed to quell the demonstration shot sporadically into the air and arrested some of the students in the process. At Kuto Roundabout, Abeokuta where an Ar-

L-R: Vice-President, Namadi Sambo; Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Abubakar Kachalla; Director General, Debt Management Office (DMO), Mr. Andrew Nwankwo and Special Adviser on Economics to the vice-president, Prof. Tamunopriye Agiobenebo, at a meeting on debt management, in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Power sector privatisation is fruitful – BPE Simeon Ogoegbulem

T Abuja

he Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, has said the power sector privatisation in Nigeria has started yielding positive results as Lagos, the nation's economic nerve have started recording 18hour uninterrupted power supply. Dikki who made the assertion when he played host to a delegation of Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA), noted that power supply in Lagos and other parts of the country would have improved considerably but for the shortage of gas supply. He said the new power

owners had invested heavily to upgrade infrastructure and other requirements to give Nigerians steady and uninterrupted power supply “but the impediment is steady gas supply”. While appealing to Nigerians to be patient with the new owners of the power assets, the DG maintained that government was doing everything possible to solve the gas challenge. Dikki, who listed the establishment of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Debt Management Office (DMO) and National Pension Commission (PENCOM) as some of the achievements of the BPE to reform the Nigerian economy, said that

$10.76bn

The total revenue realized from arms sales of Thales, France in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

despite these landmark achievements,”BPE does not embark on propaganda to beat its chest but take advantage of platforms provided by credible organizations like ABUCCIMA to showcase BPE’s achievements”. Dikki stressed that the pension reform, for instance, had attracted over N4.2 trillion into the financial system and expressed the hope that in the next few years, “this will quadruple and give the banks stable funds to give long term loans at low rates”. He appealed for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in its original context to open up the oil and gas sector so that jobs would be created to tackle the growing unemployment in the country.

80.8%

The percentage of the urban population of Canada in 2012. Source: Un.org

His words: “I appeal to relevant stakeholders and credible organisations like ABUCCIMA to prevail on the National Assembly to the pass the PIB with clear separation of the role of policy formulation, regulation and operation to open up the oil and gas sector so that jobs will be created to take care of the country’s teeming unemployed population,” he added. Earlier, the First Deputy President of ABUCCIMA, Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, explained that the move was informed by the chamber's desire to partner with the privatisation agency to showcase its activities during the forth-coming 9th Abuja Trade Fair scheduled for September 23-October 6, 2014.

54.69%

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Canada in 2008. Source: Itu.int

moured Personnel Carrier (APC) and police patrol vans were stationed to contain the uprising, the students barricaded a section of the road, causing traffic gridlock. Amosun later met with the protesting students and appealed to them to always channel their grievances through official quarters. “Before we arrived at the decision to reduce school fees, we met with all student union leaders‎ and agreed on this. Next time when you have issues, please use the official channel. Go through your leaders to make your submission,” he told the students. The governor, however, assured that the state government would look into their agitations, saying the committee that reviewed the tuition fees will reappraise the situation and feed them back. “In the whole of Nigeria, only Ogun State has 10 tertiary institutions and this means a lot of pressure on the state government. Our administration will remain committed to uplifting the education sector and moving the state forward,” he added. In the same vein, EAP, according to a statement by its chair, Dr. Henry Adetona, condemned the use of a handful of students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), allegedly by some politicians to disrupt commercial activities in Abeokuta under the guise of fighting for further reduction in schools fees announced on Tuesday by the Ogun State Government. “The protest is even more intriguing considering the fact that it coincided with the solidarity rally of nine out of the 10 tertiary schools in the state under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), organised to

thank the state government for the significant cut in their school fees,” he said. “The fact that the protest by a handful of the OOU students, reportedly without any principal officer of their SUG in attendance, was allegedly sponsored by former political office holders in the state, under whose watch schools fees of OOU increased from fifteen thousand naira (N15,000) to one hundred and fifty thousand (N150,000), shows how desperate our politicians can become in order to rubbish the successes of their political rivals,” Adetona further said. Meanwhile, OAU in a statement issued yesterday by the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, said the decision, followed the outcome of a Senate meeting held on the campus yesterday. According to him, the university will be officially reopened today, while lectures continue on August 25. The statement read in part: “The university management enjoins the students to face their studies squarely and conduct themselves in manners that will not be capable of truncating the re-adjusted academic calendar, wishing them a safe trip back to their beautiful campus.” It would be recalled that the university management had on Wednesday, June 18 abruptly announced the closure of the campus, citing the persistent protest by the students led by the students’ union leadership as its reason. The students had vehemently kicked against the new fee regime which they described as anti-masses, saying the implementation of the increased fees would discourage many students from attending the university.

'Jonathan hasn’t disclosed whereabouts of Chibok girls' Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Presidency has distanced itself from a news report that President Goodluck Jonathan has made public the whereabouts of about 270 school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State. A statement yesterday by Dr. Reuben Abati, special adviser on media and publicity said any such report of claims that the President had disclosed the whereabouts of the girls should not be believed. He said: “No such press release was written or circulated by me. It is clearly the work of fraudsters who have hacked into my email account in an odious attempt to mislead the

public at the expense of the credibility of the Jonathan Administration. “We totally condemn this criminal resort to political dirty tricks which seeks to cynically play on national concern and emotions about the Boko Haram insurgency and fate of the abducted Chibok girls.” The statement stressed that: “Aspects of the fraudulent press release, such as its incoherence and invitation to click on a link, would have alerted discerning persons who are conversant with the style and format of my press statements to the possibility of skulduggery. I find it necessary, however, to issue this disclaimer for the benefit of the unwary.”

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

LAFIA FCT AKURE Minister assures residents on BOA disburses N5m to less NIPOST organises summit Akure-Ilesha Road on Stamp Duties Act privileged women

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Minister of State for Works, Mr. Adedayo Adeyeye, yesterday assured that the 66-kilometre Akure-Ilesha Road would be durable after its completion. Adeyeye, who made this known in Akure, while inspecting the project, said the road was being constructed with a new technology that would make it resistant to cracks. He said the World Bank-sponsored road was being constructed using a polymer-textile material that holds the asphalt in place and prevents cracking. “A new technology is being introduced that has not been used on any road in this country before. It is one technology that has been used in many parts of the world,” he said.

The sex ratio of men to 100 women above 60 years age group in Congo in 2012. Source: Un.org

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA), in collaboration with the Nasarawa State office of the Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN), has disbursed N5 million loan to 53 less privileged women in Doma local government area of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the disbursement of the loan took place at the Doma branch of BOA on Friday and that the beneficiaries were members of four women cooperative groups in the area. The Branch Manager of the bank, Mr. Ismail Shuaibu, said: “Our hope is that these beneficiaries will utilise the money for the intended purpose and refund it as at and when due.”

2.9%

The estimated percentage drop of water requirements for energy production until 2050. Source: Unesco.org

The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has said it will organise a two-day summit to educate the general public on Stamp Duties Act. The service the forum would be jointly organised with Postal Agents Nationwide between Aug. 19 and 20, in Abuja. The Managing Consultant of Double Platinum Global Projects Ltd and convener of the conference, Mr. Simon Sunday, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja. According to him, the theme of the event will be “Implementing Protocol in Nigeria: Section 5(2) and 89 of the Stamp Duties Act Cap S.8 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

The number of goals scored by Brazil at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Abia laws allow us to demolish suspected kidnappers’ homes –Orji DEMOLITION Abia governor insists that demolition of kidnappers' houses in the state is legal. Emmanuel Onani

T Abuja

he Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, has said the laws of the state, empower government to demolish houses belonging to suspected kidnappers. Orji made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, when he paid a courtesy call on the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Suleiman Abba. When fielding questions from journalists on the legality or otherwise of demolishing any house, whose owner had either been arrested for alleged kidnapping, or is suspected

l IG list change in attitude, discipline as his core mandate to be a kidnapper, Orji said: “We act in accordance with our extant laws, passed by the House of Assembly. So, when a house is demolished, it is demolished in accordance with our laws. “When a kidnapper is caught...you know, if you take him to a court, it takes a long time...Sometimes, people don't come to testify. But, you can catch the kidnapper in action, in a house, or when you catch him, you know him and his house...” While explaining his mission at the Force Headquarters, the governor said: “I am here to congratulate the IG and the entire police force, because they worked very hard in assisting us in overcoming kidnapping, when we had that challenge in Abia State. “I am happy to announce that today, by the grace of God, we are on top of the situation. Kid-

napping has drastically reduced, and other crimes also have reduced,” he declared. Meanwhile, Abba has vowed to pursue attitudinal change among police officers and the rank and file. Abba also declared that discipline and absolute loyalty, would be enforced by his leadership, to enable him achieve his core vision. The acting IG stated these positions yesterday in Abuja, during the ceremony to flag-off the distribution of share certificates of Nigeria Police Bank to some personnel of the force. While noting that the distribution of share certificates “will help the police to access funds from the National Housing Fund", Abba urged officers and men to “continue to exhibit the spirit of discipline, and of obeying the instructions of the IG.” He promised that “this

housing scheme that has started, I will make sure it goes to every state of the federation”, even as he added that "we will not allow anyone doing business with us to take...advantage. “It would be recalled that the compulsory deduction of the sum of Eleven thousand (N11,000.00) Naira only from the emolument of all officers and men of the Force as a subscription fee for the ordinary share of the Police Mortgage bank sometime last year, gave automatic share-holding status to all Police personnel whose money were compulsorily deducted. “The share-holding status will enable the Police take full ownership of the Mortgage Bank institution and equally enable them to benefit from the dividends as well as loans for the purposes of developing their own houses.”

ACF kicks against pro-Jonathan rally Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described the planned political rallies in the six geopolitical zones by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), which will commence today, as ill conceived and insensitive to the prevailing security challenges in the country. In a statement issued yesterday by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, the ACF said that TAN members wanted to garner support for President Goodluck Jonathan. ACF noted that although they were entitled to support whoever they wanted to but the present mood of the nation calls for sober reflections and prayers. The forum said Nigeria was facing “daily attacks on innocent souls by Boko Haram insurgents in the North, ritual killings in the West, kidnapping of promi-

nent persons in the SouthSouth and armed robbery in the East and the sudden entry of Ebola virus into the country through one Mr. Patrick Sawyer.” The statement added that northern states had been under siege by the activities of insurgents, towns and villages are being wiped out, innocent people, including security personnel are being attacked and killed on a daily basis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States that had been under an emergency rule in the last 14 months. "The federal and state governments’ combined efforts in tackling the security challenges is yet to achieve the desired result and some Nigerians are busy planning celebrations,” the statement lamented. ACF further pointed out that while the 200 Chibok girls that were kidnapped 120 days ago are still in captivity of the Boko Haram insurgents, another 100 young men have recently been kidnapped at Baga, Borno State.’’

Soldiers massacred my members, Zakzaky alleges Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he killing of 33 people during a peaceful procession, which was embarked upon by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on July 25 in Zaria, Kaduna State was a massacre and not an exchange of fire between soldiers and the Shiite members. The leader of the movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, stated this in a letter, while responding to the invitation of the Board of Inquiry that was set up by the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to investigate the shooting that took place during Quds day celebration last month. In a written response, Zakzaky alleged that: “What took place on that fateful day was a massacre by soldiers against citizens they were

employed to protect.” He warned that “anyone who attempts to cover up or justify the actions of these killer soldiers will be a partner in their crime.” Zakzaky also pointed out that from the text of its invitation letter, the board seem to have already written its report before making any inquiry because it had “already concluded that there was an ‘exchange of fire’ between two parties.” The leader of the Islamic Movement also debunked the notion that his people are followers of a certain sect. He said: “I have never been a member or follower of a sect, I am not one and will never be. In none of my speeches or writings for the last 40 years, can one deduce the idea of referring us to the idea of a sect. It will be mischief to call us with names we do not call ourselves with.”

CACOL condemns sack of 16, 000 Resident doctors T

Deputy Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph, Felix Abugu and Editor of New Telegraph on Saturday, Laurence Ani, during a visit to the Electronic Dealers Association in Onitsha, Anambra State. They are flanked from the left by: Chinedu Njoku, Chief Provost; Uchenna Nwachukwu, Third Provost; Okeke Anthony, Fourth Provost; Onwuamah Samuel, First PRO; Izuchukwu Okoye, President; Onigbo Obiorah; Assistant Financial Secretary; Chief Obi Onyedika, Exco Member; Oguowere Patrick, Second Provost; Odah Ikenna, Asst Secretary…recently

Temitope Ogunbanke he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has flayed the Federal Government over the sack of 16, 000 resident doctors, following the nationwide doctors’ strike. CACOL in a statement by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, described the sack as unfortunate. “The sack of the 16, 000 resident doctors is so unfortunate. Our fear that the present crop of government in the country does not have respect for the fundamental rights of its citizens

has been confirmed by this doctors’ sack. "Is this a new technique for settling labour dispute in a democratic society? We consider it as an act of stupidity for any government to lay-off striking workers. It depicts that such government does not have respect for the fundamental rights of its employees. All over the world, workers fight for their rights: it is a legitimate action for workers to coerce their employers into doing their wish, and Nigerian government case should not be different.

‘Electricity is textile industry’s greatest challenge’

A fashion designer, Mr. Mudiaga Enajemo (aka Mudi), yesterday said power outage remained the greatest challenge of the textile industry in the country. Enajemo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that while Nigerians could be regarded as the best dressed in Africa, the textile industry in the country had failed to thrive. “With my exposure, we are number one in terms of dressing; in Africa, we are number one; after Nigeria, we have the Congolese. For you to know a good outfit, you have to first of all consider the concept, then fitting, and finishing,” he said.

MAKURDI

ZARIA

SURULERE

N EWS I N BRIEF

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Nigeria’s future depends on quality of its teachers - Yero

The Police yesterday arraigned Mohammed Suraju, 30, in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for defrauding a businessman. Monday Audu of ECWA Church 2, Zuba, reported the matter at the Wuse Police Station, Abuja, on July 29. Police prosecutor, Corporal Gideon Ekomson, told the court that the accused, of Behind NITEL Pole in Madala, Niger State, collected the money in May under false pretence that he was going to introduce the complainant to ‘the latest business in the town.’ The prosecutor added that the accused collected the money in the company of two other persons now at large.

20%

18,000

The percentage distribution of water-related disaster The number of fixed-telephone that occurred in the Americas in 1990-2001. subscriptions of Guinea in 2012. Source: Unesco.org Source: Itu.int

'Suswam aware of my governorship ambition'

Benue State Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, has said his de decision to succeed his boss, Governor Gabriel Suswam is not hidden to him and allayed the fears that the Tiv people will suffer marginalisation if an Idoma man emerged as governor in 2015. Lawani, who disclosed this when he led his campaign train to Naka in Gwer West local government area in continuation of his state wide consultation, said both the Tiv and Idoma people have lived together peacefully for generations. He reiterated that he would work assiduously to ensure that the age long nexus between the two tribes is sustained.

5,441

The number of pending asylum seekers of India at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

Fayose: Army, Police want APC’s petition dismissed Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he authorities of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police have asked the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the electoral victory of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the poll, Mr. Ayo Fayose. The army and the police also denied the allegations by the APC that they helped the PDP and its candidate win the election or that they intimidated voters during the exercise. The duo of the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), through their counsel in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, made the submissions in their defence filed before the tribunal in the petition filed by the APC linking them and their men with official misconduct during the June 21 exercise.

They told the tribunal that their officers and men were in Ekiti to perform their constitutional duties of protecting lives and property of Nigerian citizens, contrary to the claims by the APC that they were drafted to be used as conduit pipes for rigging. The two defendants, who were listed as fourth and fifth respondents in the APC petition, urged the tribunal to strike out the entire petition as “empty and lacking in substance”. Counsel to the Chief of Army Staff, Mr. Abayomi Sadiku, specifically told the tribunal that men of the Nigerian Army were not in the state on their own, as the power to draft soldiers to maintain peace in critical circumstances solely resides in the President who is the Commander-in-Chief. He said the deployment of the troops actually gave rise for the peaceful conduct of the poll as hoodlums and party thugs were unable to perpetrate their acts.

Ebola virus is pandemic to Nigeria – Ekhomu Isioma Madike

T L-R: Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Managing Director, First Bank Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya; Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Mr. Toyin Ayinde and President, Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria (ACMWMN), Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, at the inauguration of Tejuosho Shopping Complex in Yaba…yesterday

Marwa, Gundiri not qualified to contest Adamawa guber – Gulak ELECTION Returnees to Adamawa's PDP may have their ambition settled following the party's constitution Onyekachi Eze

A ABUJA

former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, yesterday said he has better chance of picking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the October 11 governorship election in Adamawa State. Gulak, who was at the National Secretariat of the party to pick the Expression of Interest (EOI) and Nomination forms of the party, said some of the aspirants still have constitutional issues to contend with. He specifically noted that former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Ambassador Buba Marwa

l Says Ribadu is welcomed to PDP and former gubernatorial candidate of the party, Marcus Gundiri, who joined the PDP recently were yet to fulfill the two-year constitutional provision by the party for them to be granted waiver as members. Citing section 50 of the PDP's constitution which provides a two-year period for waiver, the former Political Adviser noted: "I am not aware that Marwa and some others have followed the waiver provisions as contained in the party's constitution for anyone who wants to contest. “Procedures for waivers are clearly spelt out in the constitution beginning from the ward through the zonal levels. You must have been a member of the party for two years,” he said. Marwa and Gundiri joined PDP from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Gulak also said the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was free to join the PDP provided he was ready to eat his vomit over negative comments he made against the party. “He is welcome any time and any day, whether in APC or any other party; it is the people that will elect him. Nobody can sit somewhere and decide who becomes governor of a place,” he said. He also noted that the Anule Emmanuel Abuja

ormer Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential villa Abuja where he declared that his decision to dump the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party was taken in the interest of the country. Sheriff explained that having been elected as state

former EFCC chairman had stated that he would not join PDP even if he was offered the presidential ticket for free. “If he decides to summersault and eat his words he is welcome to PDP,” Gulak added. He disclosed that he consulted President Jonathan on his ambition, adding "Mr. President is the leader of the party and father of the nation. Everybody is supposed to intimate him on his intention to stand.

he Federal Government has been urged to define the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as a threat to national security and immediately appoint a top military commander to take charge of the national response to the crisis in order to avoid an imminent disaster. Reacting to the death of the third person in Nigeria as a result of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, the President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu, said that the response by governments on all levels to the biological weapon of mass destruction (WMD) was too little, too late. He said as far back as June, the Nigerian authorities should have called in the military, declared a national emergency and closed the land borders in order to prevent entry of the deadly disease into Nigeria. Ekhomu said military personnel should be deployed to guard persons under quarantine, or they should be taken into a central location for quarantine

and observation. According to him, “it is irresponsible to expect persons said to be under quarantine to police themselves. They must be guarded by the military in the public’s interest. “The Ebola pandemic is germ warfare against Nigeria and Nigerians and it must be defined as the national security threat that it is, and combated vigorously in order to save Nigerian lives. “Air-borders should have been shut against countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea that were experiencing the pandemic.” Ekhomu, who is also chairman of the School of Management and Security, said the Health Ministry was embroiled in resident doctors’ strike and was not sufficiently equipped to assess the risk of Ebola pandemic entering Nigeria. He, however, praised the Lagos State government for its aggressive response to the outbreak, and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to dismiss Federal Government officials, who by their negligence and indolence allowed the disease to enter Nigeria “while they were sleeping at the switch.”

Modu Sherriff visits Jonathan in Aso Rock governor twice and a senator three times, his interest at the moment was now how to move the nation forward. The APC chieftain stated this while speaking to State House correspondents shortly after holding a closed-door meeting with President Jonathan. He noted that he did not discuss issues relating to the PDP with the President, but explained that

their discussion was purely on personal ground. “Nigeria is a very interesting country and people like us who the nation has done everything for, both as individuals or collectively, need to pay back. “By the grace of God, in Borno State, I have been made governor twice which is the maximum any one can get in terms of the limits imposed by the Constitution. I was elected into

the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria thrice. “This means that in every aspect of life, I am one of the stakeholders in Nigeria because if by the help of God, the people of Nigeria had placed me in that position at every time, my interest now should be on how to move the nation forward. “Our interest should be on what makes the nation move forward."

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It will take six months to curb Ebola spread co n ti n u ed f r om page 2

On whether the state has taken the delivery of Nanosilva, the experimental Ebola drug, the commissioner said though the drug was being expected in the state on Friday, he was not sure if it had arrived. “On the Nanosilva drug, yes we heard it’s on the way to Lagos. We have not received any as of now.” Idris said the state government had been making efforts from the manufacturers of the drug on how to get it to treat victims. The commissioner said First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, Lagos, where the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, was admitted would soon be reopened following threerounds of state-certified decontamination process. Idris said the 24 health workers detected at the NNPC health facility in Lagos where a case was reported had been put under surveillance. There was evident scare on Friday in Enugu State where some people now wear hand gloves to markets and offices. Mr Ndubuisi Iloh, a civil servant who wore white gloves to an event in Enugu, told NAN that it was a protective measure due to his usual culture of shaking hands with people. ``I usually forget that I should not shake people and because of that, I wear my gloves so that even if I shake, I will not contract Ebola virus. "There are some elders you cannot afford not to shake because they will read a different meaning to it. "Although they say it is when a person is down with sickness that he or she can transmit the virus, but how will you know if someone is sick or not when you see him outside,’’ he queried. Mrs Ezinne Uduma, a house wife who also wore white gloves to the market, said the gloves had become necessary, to avoid unnecessary contact at the markets. ``I thank God because I heard that the woman who sneaked out from her surveillance place in Lagos has been taken back; but the problem is that they said some people are under surveillance.” It was a chaotic scene at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Ise/Orun/ Emure-Ekiti, when a sick Corps member who collapsed was abandoned by colleagues and others over fear that he was probably infected with the virus. Their action was fuelled by the rumour that the disease has now spread to towns across the SouthWest from Lagos where the first in Nigeria case was recorded.

However, Ekiti State commissioner for health, Prof Olusola Fasubaa, on Friday dispelled the rumour, saying there was no case of Ebola disease in the state. He advised residents not to mistake common ailments such as chronic fever for the Ebola virus. He said it was not true that the sick youth corps member had contracted the disease, noting that although information from the ministry of youth and sports confirmed that the concerned male youth corps member collapsed at the orientation camp, it was unfortunate that people around him ran away and abandoned him. “The youth corps member has been removed from camp and is currently being kept at our isolated centre located within Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. “As I speak, I assure residents that the health of the boy in question is already improving while he continues to show signs of good health far from Ebola,” he said. Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishop of the Makurdi Diocese, Bishop Athanasius Usuh has said that Catholic churches across the state has for now stopped administering Holy Communion to members on the tongue. He said it would be placed on members palm to avoid coming into contact with the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease. Bishop Usuh said the new system was a precautionary measure to safeguard its members from contracting the disease and to forestall panic as well as avoid what he described as a “pastoral catastrophe”. A statement issued by the Diocese’s director of communications, Rev. Father Moses Iorapuu, also noted that “In the liturgy, the sign of peace before the Lamb of God can be omitted or replaced with a suitable gesture to avoid shaking hands." l Additional report by Cephas Iorhemen in Makurdi

Wife of former Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Lateef Jakande (left), presenting Classic Magazine’s Africa Merit Awards ‘Style writer of the year’ award to New Telegraph’s Fashion and Lifestyle Correspondent, Angela Davies, during the magazine’s fourth award ceremony, in Lagos…recently

115

The sex ratio of international women migrants to 100 migrant men in Argentina in 2010. Source: Un.org

2.45m

The total population of Nagpur, India in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

Saraki, APC leaders: Osun poll good for Kwara HOPE Hope rises for the actualisation of the electorate's mandate with the recent free and fair poll in Osun State. Biodun Oyeleye

F Ilorin

ormer Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said the victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent governorship election in Osun State has brightened the chances of the party in the coming general election. Saraki, while addressing a meeting of APC stakeholders in Ilorin, the state capital, said the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbe-

sola, had also shown that no federal might could subvert the popular wish of the people. The senator said he was optimistic that APC would wrest power at the federal level from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015, while also promising to respond to calls on him to contest the presidential race ‘at the right time’. “We have now come to an era when the federal might cannot impose candidate on the people, it is the people now that elect leaders of their choice. For politicians in Kwara State who believe Abuja can make the result that does not exist, this is a lesson,” he added. Like other APC leaders, Saraki who condemned the practice of arresting opposition leaders before and during elections, stressed that the practice must be

...Victims' doctors threaten to down tools - Fashola Muritala Ayinla

ollowing barrage of allegations and complaints that Ebola victims under intensive care are not receiving adequate medical care, specialists attending to the victims yesterday threatened to down tools and abandoned the patients. The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde. Fashola, who stated this, while briefing journalists at the State House Ikeja, said the medical specialists felt unappreciated by the public and some concerned relatives of the victims, despite risking their lives to attend to the Ebola victims. Fashola said: “The re-

The number of goals scored by Germany at the just concluded Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

port reaching me about two hours ago was that some of the health workers at the centre felt unappreciated and they decided to stop work because of the media report that they were not working effectively to save the lives of the victims. We do not need that at the moment. While we sympathise with the victims, the health workers are doing their best to care for the victims. “My appeal to the people is that more health workers should sign up. And from what I was told by experts was that even if one is the best physician in the world, the person cannot enter the isolation ward. He or she has to be trained on how to

kit up and how to get out of the centre. And the training takes between five and seven days to achieve. Even if we have the full complement of the doctors signing up today, it is risky to put them inside the isolation centre without adequate training. “People must understand the process required. And when it appears to the people that nothing was been done, it was because we are still building up capacity at the facility. We are better off today than 10 days ago. We know that it is complain that comes out of empathy but it is complain that does not focus on the reality of what is going.”

stopped, describing it as undemocratic. Saraki called on party faithful to troop out en-masse for the collection of Permanent Voters' Card which commences yesterday. He stressed the need for the party members to make a sacrifice of obtaining the permanent voters card to enable them to elect leaders of their choice in the coming elections. Earlier, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, had enumerated the various achievements of his administration on

health, road construction and rehabilitation, agriculture, water, energy, education as well as youth empowerment and employment among others. He said Saraki political structure was being sustained because of inclusiveness in its mode of operation. The state Chairman of APC, Mr. Ishola BalogunFulani, expressed confidence that the party had come to stay in the state as it keeps playing host to defectors from other political parties on a daily basis.

NLNG, NIMASA resume legal battle over $140m tax Adeola Yusuf

he bickering between the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA) over $140 million tax worsened yesterday, as the agency declared that said it would resume legal action against NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVS) in its bid to be exempted from paying freight levies on its gas cargoes. This action, the company said in a statement, was sequel to a ruling on August 11by a Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, which upheld NLNG’s request to sue a private security company, Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, employed by state maritime security

agency NIMASA to carry out blockades of shipment of LNG cargoes between May and June 2013. NLNG General Manager, External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke, who issued the statement said: “In a lead judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Rita Nosakhare Pemu, with which the other Justices that heard the appeal concurred, the Appeal Court ruled that the Notice of Appeal filed by Global West was “incompetent” as contended by NLNG, having been filed without leave either of the Federal High Court or the Court of Appeal. “The ruling affirms a previous one by the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissing Global West’s Notice of Preliminary Objection against a substantive suit by NLNG on the ground that Global West was a proper party to the suit."

SEGUN EDWARDS olaedwards@yahoo.com 08111813095

Companies & Stock 16 AUGUST 2014

Investors lower expectations over Caverton’s 32% profit slide

averton Offshore Support Group (COSG) Plc, the Nigerian company that operating in the maritime, aviation and logistics sector, had its half year profit hit by spiralling operating costs, as analysis of the financial showed. The management of the company say the drop in profits was as a result of a N2 billion in other income reported in the corresponding period of 2013 which boosted that years pre-tax profit to N3.8billion. It said the other income was mainly a N1.6billion interest written back into profits for the period. For the first six months of the year, the company’s pre-tax profit fell by 32 percent to N2.60 billion from N3.81billion in the same period of 2013, while revenue increased by 21 percent to N12.50 billion. Profit after tax in the period came downwards as it reduced by 12 percent to N1.58 billion, compared with N1.79 billion as of HY 2013 on mounting costs. The fulcrum of the slow growth at the bottom-line level performance glaringly resulted from a 183 percent increase in cost-of-sales to N6.02 billion in the period under review from N2.17 billion the preceding year. Similarly, cost-of-sales margin spiked to 48.10 percent in the half year of 2014, as against 21 percent in 2013, culminating in the lowering of gross margins to 51.84 percent from 79.34 percent last year. The 46 percent decrease in administrative expenses in the review period and reduction in operating expense margin to 26.32 percent in 2013, from 58.73 percent, and could not boost bottom-line due

eplat’s 2014 half year results have revealed all fronts dip including a surprising a near 50 per cent drop in earnings per share. The result which probably is just a blip considering the reasons given also highlights the importance of revenue in the company’s results as it navigates through the very critical path of growth in a high risk high reward upstream oil and gas sector. Its profit in the period dipped by a huge 94 per cent to N24.3 billion ($156.0m) from N47.1 billion ($303.3m), recorded in the comparative period of 2013, a situation mainly attributed to deferred tax liabilities of N14.4 billion ($92.7m) released in the comparable period in 2013 as a result of pioneer status granted to the group, and lower revenue due to downtime on the TFP for 45 days. This was partly offset by a reduction in work-overs (US$16.4 million, N2.5 billion) and DDA costs (US$2.8 million, N435 million), royalties (US$18.3 million, N2.8 billion) and Crude handling (US$4.5 million, N699.0 million). Gross revenue for the period stands at N60.3 billion ($388.2m) as against N65.1 billion ($419.4m) which is 7 per cent lower than the comparative period of year 2013. Crude revenue (after adjusting for changes in lifting) equally dropped

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Bode Makanjuola... CEO, Caverton

to 99 percent decrease in other operating income to N12.64 million from N2.09 billion in 2013. Net margin, a measure of profitability and efficiency, fell to 12.64 percent in the period, from 17.36 percent recorded in the same period of 2013. The spiralling cost may have arisen due to capital expenditure incurred by the company as it seeks aggressive expansion drive into sub-Saharan Africa with a

view to maximising shareholders wealth it so, is likely to continue to incur operating expenses which needs to be placated by fascinating revenue growth. However, the lower income margin highlights the need for management to carry out an effective cost control mechanism that will reduce cost and improve profits. COSG had announced plans to build a 40000 square metres facility at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, for in-country training of pilots, engineers and aircraft maintenance. Total assets were up by 10.25 percent to N41.91 billion in the period, from N38.01 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013, while return on equity (ROE) dropped to 12.60 percent in the period from 15.60 percent in the same period of 2013. Return on assets (ROA) in the period also fell to 3.70 percent in 2014, as against 4.70 percent in the corresponding period of 2013.

CBN, Western Union collaborate on outbound money transfer

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Western Union Money Transfer have entered into collaboration to launch the Outbound Money Transfer Services in Nigeria The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the move is to provide Nigerians the opportunity of transferring funds up to $2,000 to their relatives and dependents abroad (person to person transfer). With this new arrangement, Nigerians will only pay the Naira equivalent to the Money Transfer Service Operators for foreign currency disbursements to recipients abroad. Recently, the Apex Bank recently approved new Guidelines for International Money Transfer Services in Nigeria. It issued a new guideline for the regulation of International Money Transfer Services in the country, a move

Transcorp eyes $1b profits in three years

igeria’ wholly indegenous conglomerate, Transnational Company of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc, has announced plans to ensure that its profit hit the $1 billion mark, in the next three years . This was disclosed by its newly appointed CEO seasoned banker, Emmanuel Nnorom, who emerged the President and CEO of the conglomerate and owner of Nigeria’s iconic Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. Africapitalist proponent, Tony Elumelu, is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Speaking on his plans for the company Nnorom disclosed that the implementation of the company’s strategic intent which is accelerated growth in all spheres of business would be pursuit vigorously

Seplat in all fronts half-year dip

by 8 per cent to N58.8 billion (US$ 378.6m) in the period from 64.2 billion (US$ 413.1m) mainly due to 45 days downtime in the reviewed period . Revenue which is a critical aspect of the company’s operations is not spared from dip due mainly to a third party downtime slice off 7 per cent of its revenue, this a huge risk. The company in response, says plans are underway to mitigate this risk may not enough assurance such would not occurs again. Nevertheless, revenue needs to be growing at double digits if its current P.E ratio of about 13x is to be justified. Gross profit in the period stands at N38.4 billion (S$247.2m), which represents a one per cent decrease over N38.9 billion (S$250.3m) recorded in the same period of 2013. This variance is mainly driven by lower revenue in the reviewed period due to lifting adjustments over working interest of 302 mbbls. This was partly offset by lower costs of sales as a result of the reduction in crude handling fees by 25 per cent and royalties by 19 per cent. The work-over costs of the company on the existing wells stands at N2 billion (S$12.7m), this represents a decrease of 56 per cent

compared to what was recorded in 2013. This decrease was due to a switch from work-overs to development drilling program. Expectedly, gross profit margins should either remain the same or improve because the reason for the downtime was due to a service provider whose cost will be captured in the company’s cost of sale. Also, general and administration expenses increased to N8.5 billion (S$54.6m) in the reviewed period compared to what obtained in 2013, mainly due to commitment and arrangement fees paid to banks for the new N1.8 billion (US$12m) loan facility, higher

aimed at ensuring that all business rules governing their activities are strictly adhered to. It noted that as a preamble to the series of obligations, the operator must be ready to comply with the provisions of CBN on “Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism in Banks and Other Financial Institutions Regulations 2013. The bank said the objectives of the guidelines were to provide minimum standards and requirements; specify delivery channels for (inbound/outbound), in a cost effective manner; provide an enabling environment; specify minimum technical and business requirements for various participants; and provide broad guidelines for implementation of processes and flows of international money transfer services, from initiation to completion.

staff costs due to increase in head count (included in this amount is a onetime payment of IPO bonus to staff, in line with the Prospectus of US$5.0 million), US$12 million, regulatory payment of US$14 million (N2.5 billion), which is also a onetime cost that will not re-occur in future periods, costs for the accounting and procurement system change of N1.0 billion (S$7m) and new business development costs for evaluation of prospect for new ventures. This explains how important revenues are to the operations of this company. As it navigates through capacity expansion and

towards raising see the profit of the company to $1 billion by 2018. Elumelu in a statement, said the appointment of Nnorom represents a further important milestone in its transformation as it moves from stabilisation to growth, while he According to him, Ufudo has delivered on the company’s objectives under the first phase of the turnaround programme, stating that Ufodu’s three years as CEO of the Transcorp Group, witnessed the laying of a strong foundation of good governance, as well as achieving significant financial returns for the company and playing a key role in transforming an ailing enterprise into an emerging investment powerhouse, with a market capitalisation of over $1.2 billion. growth, it is likely to continue to incur operating expenses which needs to be placated by fascinating revenue growth. It did claim some of the expenses are one time cost but I doubt the company’s opex will remain stable in the near term due to its rapid expansion plans. It will want to attract the best hands, contract lawyers, tax consultants, advisors, etc and these cost money. Depreciation cost and other amortised cost will continue to pose a risk too. All of these won’t matter much if revenue continues to prosper exponentially. Finance costs as in the reviewed period stood at N3.4 billion (S$21.6m) as against N1.7 billion ($10.7m),.The increase is due to higher outstanding debts due to draw down of the balance of N33.4 billion ($215m) on the N85.4 billion ($550m) loan and additional new loan of N31.0 billion ($200m) compared to the same period in 2013. Seplat total external loans currently stands at N98billion but still under 50 per cent of its net assets as such debt equity structure seem fine. Return on asset at about 18 per cent also provides comfortable debt service coverage for the company but all of these doesn’t take away the fact that it is s till in an interest risk territory.

What will you do if your spouse is sterile? p.12

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Ijegun residents cry over bad roads The residents of Ijegun and Ijegemo are usually beautiful brides because they belong to Alimosho Local Govt. Area, where the highest number of votes is recorded in Lagos State during elections. Our correspondents, GLORY TITTY and BOLA KAREEM, who visited the areas, report however, that the government seems to have forgotten the area owing to bad roads in the communities.

he residents of ljegun and Ijegemo in Igando-Ikotun Aimosho Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have appealed to the state government on several ocassions to fix bad roads in the area. A cross section of the residents who spoke with our correspondents said apart from the effect of the bad roads on their businesses, quite a number of people living in the area have had accidents on the roads because of their bad state. They said there were cases where damaged vehicles, were abandoned on the roads by their owners for months, adding that this is common during the rainy season. The bad roads are Ijegun-Ijeagemo Road, Ijegun-Jakande-Isolo Road and Ikotun-Ijegun Road. Our correspondents reported that Ijegun-Ijegemo Road is not tarred, Ijegun-Jakande-Isolo Road has been abandoned while IkotunIjegun Road has many potholes, which inhibit free flow of traffic. “Our relatives do not want to visit us any longer except for cogent reasons. They believe it does not worth it to spend hours on a road that should not take more

An Okada rider that fell on the road

Ijegun-Ijeagemo Road

than 20 minutes because of social visit. “Our customers no longer patronise us because of the bad roads. To bring in goods from the Island is always a problem because commercial drivers dread plying the roads especially when they have to carry goods. If the roads are not repaired on time, more residents may be involved in accidents,” a trader, who identified himself, simply as Mr. Steven, said. It was learnt that the majority of the accidents in the area involved commercial motorcycle riders and their passengers. “There was a day a pregnant woman who strapped a baby on her back was involved in an accident. If not for timely intervention of the residents who came to her aid, it might have resulted in death or the woman losing her pregnancy,” another resident, who declined to give her name, said. A member of the businessmen/ women association of Ijegun, Mr. Ike Uche, expressed his disap-

My prayer is that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should not rule Lagos next year, because, the state government is not doing anything about our roads. pointment that the government had not repaired the road. “My prayer is that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should not rule Lagos next year, because, the state government is not doing anything about our roads. All they are after is how to make money for themselves and their family. They are treating us as if we are not part of Lagos State and here in Alimosho we have the highest number

Another portion of the bad road

of vote cast for the party in 2011,” he said. Another resident, Olalekan Popoola, who is an okada rider in the area, said the last time government carried out a major repair on the road was over 10 years, adding, “The chairman of the local government came here and promised to do something about the road but he is yet to fulfill the promise.” On his part, a lorry driver, Steven Olayiwola, said the community had written letters to the government about the state of the road but expressed surprise that nothing was being done to alleviate the suffering of the residents. “It is sad that government has not fixed the road after we had sent representatives to them on many occasions. However, the LCDA still collects money from the traders inform of traders’ permit. They are not mindful of the fact that the state of the roads have affected our businesses. Ijegun-Ijegemo Road is a major road in the area and something should be done urgently,” a

trader, Mr. John Ede, said. Also, a motorist, Mr. Timothy Eigbokhan, said he could not recall the number of times the road had damaged his car. “I spent N25, 000 just yesterday (Thursday) in addition to other expenditure done on the car due to the impact of the bad road. If I continue like this how will I be able to feed my family? How much do I earn as salary? I don’t know why the government has abandoned this area for so long. If nothing is done by this month end, I will pack out of this area,” he said. When our correspondents visited the palace of the monarch of the area, one of his guards said the king had gone out. One of the Councillors who represents Ijegemo, Mr. Alade Adewale, described the IjegunIjegemo Road as nightmare, asking the state government to provide an alternative route pending its repair. “For the past four years, the people have been managing the road and the government has promised to construct it. But before then, an alternative measure has to be provided,” he added. He further explained that there were two local governments involved – Igando-Ikotun and Iba local council development areas and that the contract for the road had been awarded but the execution is being delayed “because of paper work.” Adewale further said that there were plans on the ground to fix Ijegun-Ijeagemo Road before the end of the year, attributing the delay to the rainy season. He also said efforts were being made to lobby the LCDA to provide an alternative route so as to ease human and vehicular movements from Ijegun to Ijegemo. He also promised that the project for rehabilitation of the road had been approved by the government and work would soon commence immediately after the rainy season, assuring that the road would be completed before next election.

A man removing a stuck truck PHOTOS: GLORY TITTY

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

STREET DIARY

Pandemonium as police kill 3 okada riders In Lagos

Muritala Ayinla

tactical attempt by commercial motorcycle operators also known as okada riders to return to the prohibited roads in Lagos yesterday turned bloody as men of the Nigeria Police from Ishashi Police Station reportedly gunned down three commercial motorcycle operators. There are still speculations that the state through the Lagos State House Assembly is already considering the review of the law by reducing 475 prohibited roads for the commercial motorcyclists in the state to about 300 roads. New Telegraph on Saturday gathered that the commercial motorcycle operators were shot dead at Iyana School Bus Stop, along LASU-Iba Express Road, Close to Iba Local Council Development Area of the state. It was learnt that the three okada riders were shot dead when

they resisted the seizure of their motorcycles by the police who were patrolling the area. Speaking on condition of anonymity an eyewitness said: “The policemen from Ishashi started shooting sporadically in the air and in the process shot three riders dead and seriously injured three other riders who are being treated at El-Shadai Hospital in the area.” It was gathered that the bodies of the okada riders were taken to Isashi police station. Meanwhile, the gruesome killing of the okada riders led to the motorcycle riders blocking the road and burning tyres on it, thereby causing traffic snarl in the axis. As movement around the area became stalled, it resulted in heavy traffic jam on both sides of the road leaving motorists helpless. Meanwhile, The police have arrested a 22-year-old security guard, Gideon Musa, also known as Aboki, for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl, Endurance

Church honours Imoke’s mother-in-law Clement James Calabar

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko

Ominiyi, to death at Abakpa Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, the incident happened on August 8. The PPRO said since that day, “grief has assailed the family of Edwin Ode Ominiyi of Umuchigbo, a community in Abakpa Enugu East Local Government.” He added, “on that fateful day, the deceased identified as one Endurance Ominiyi, the daughter of

Edwin and a nine-year-old damsel had suddenly disappeared without trace till 1pm, when the father started searching for her daughter and later reported the incident to the police operatives the next day, which was August 9 at 11:25am. “Following the report, operatives swung into action and spread their tentacles within the area and its environs owing to the content of the report. The father of the child also assisted in searching for the girl and the culprit even accompanied him.

Group trains teenagers on leadership, responsibilities Olushola Ricketts

or all the people who participated at the grand finale of the Unveiling Africa (UVA) Days of Change, there seemed to be a renewed hope towards a better Nigeria and Africa. Last Saturday at Oxbridge Tutorial College, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, the children did not only display great understanding of the art of leadership, the UVA Teen Ambassadors as they were called, signaled that they can make a difference in the society. UVA Days of Change, an online leadership campaign for children that lasted for seven days, was aimed at dispelling the myth that youths are the leaders of tomorrow. At UVA community, they believe that the youth are the leaders of today, hence providing the campaign as a platform to engage Nigerian teenagers by challenging them with daily tasks so as to educate and empower them. In an interview with New Telegraph on Saturday, the founder, UVA, Chizoba Imoka, said that the essence of the campaign was to make the children brace up in thinking, help them assume leadership responsibilities and to serve as role models for other teenagers. “We may not be able to cover Nigeria, Africa or the world immediately, but we are sure we could do this gradually. For the past seven days, we are proud to tell you that we have engaged and positively imparted no fewer than 173 diverse Nigeria teenagers who signed up for the online campaign,” she explained. Imoka added that the campaign was necessary to address the challenges Africans have

Some of the participants at the teens’ event

been going through. “The journey of being a president, exceptional entrepreneur or politician starts from being a transformative teenage citizen and unveiling Africa is providing that opportunity for young people to begin that journey,” she insisted. She bemoaned that Nigerian teens had been deceived for a long time that they were the hope of tomorrow, noting that it was high time to let them assumed responsibilities. Worth mentioning at the event was the contribution of the Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN). His presence was a great source of inspiration to the children, especially the ones who desire to become lawyers someday. Falana stressed that it was significant to challenge young people that they could on their own decide the path they want

the country and the continent to follow. “I have seen a lot of confidence in the teenagers paraded today, and to that extent, one must commend the initiative. In the midst of decade in the society, young people are still trying to take their destinies in their own hands. The challenge for us as parents is to see how we can encourage them to achieve their dreams. I think this is the beauty of it and a challenge to their colleagues too,” he said. But, according to the lawyer, it can be dangerous to allow kids to make certain decisions without proper discussion with their parents. “There has to be a dialogue through a democratic process. You must discuss with your kids and persuade them to see reasons with you when taking some decisions. But once the kids have made up their minds, we can only encourage them and

throw our support behind them. I have a son trained as a lawyer, but he simply woke up one day and told us he wanted to be a musician and there was nothing we could do about it,” he added. Citing an example, Falana informed that the mother of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti wrote him off, pointing that there was no way he could make it in the modern Nigeria. “But Fela insisted and at the end of the day he became more prominent, popular and famous than even his brothers who read medicine. I think our duty as parents is to support our children once they have made up their minds on what to do,” he said. UVA is a youth-led, volunteer and non-profit organisation founded in 2006. Since 2010, it has developed more than 3,000 teenagers across Nigeria in leadership and teen-led community development projects.

rs. Grace Ifem Ezi-Ashi, the mother of Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, wife of the Cross River State governor, has been honoured with the prestigious tittle of the ‘Eti Eka’ Award (Good Mother) by the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women Organisation (ACCWO), Calabar Diocese. The ceremony, which took place at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Ikot Ansa, was part of this year’s celebration of ‘Adiaha Obong’s Day and Conferment of Awards,’ according to the organisers. Ezi-Ashi, who was honoured along with other prominent women in the society, was said to have contributed to the growth of the church and humanity. Speaking during a Holy Mass to mark the event, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Christopher Okpu, said the honour was done to those who distinguished themselves in the service of God and humanity. He reminded the recipients of the need to continue to live exemplary lives and to emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary whom he described as the model of every Christian woman. While presenting the award to octogenarian Ezi-Ashi, the Archdiocesan President, Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) Chief Theresa Oyo-Ita, explained that every August was usually a memorable one for all Catholic women as it is the month they celebrate themselves. She said the award was meant for CWO women who had contributed meaningfully to the growth and development of the organisation, the church, their communities and humanity in general. “The title of this award instituted in honour of our Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose virtues we must emulate. Eti Eka by direct translation means ‘good mother.’ An Eti Eka awardee here-in-after must be worthy to be so-called at all times and in all ramifications. She must be a symbol and instrument of peace and comfort. She is expected to live an exemplary life of humanity, patience and charity and also firm in her faith and be courageous to defend it anytime and anywhere,” Oyo-Ita noted. She therefore urged the awardees to see the honour as a boost to their profile, a pat on their back and a measure of encouragement for them to do more than they had been doing, adding that every good deed was rewarded by God and even men also. The daughter of the recipient, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, was full of joy for the honour done her mother. She thanked the Archdiocesan CWO for finding her mother worthy of the prestigious award. She also thanked God for her mum’s Christian life, describing her as a unique and hard working woman. “My mother is always cheerful and happy, very virtuous. I am blessed to be her daughter and I have also promised that the award would be a milestone for all of us in the family, especially if our mum could still be remembered at her old age,” the governor’s wife said.

Voices

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

Street Diary

What will you do if your spouse is sterile? I won’t leave him With the help of science, the case of infertility is no more a serious issue. I will stick to my husband and we will try science. (Okoro Dumebi, businesswoman)

I will seek divine intervention I will take it to God in prayer and God will surely intervene because we are His children. I will remain with my partner. (Obi Isioma, trader)

designer)

I will leave him I cannot stay. I will have to leave him. Although I will cry because I love him but nevertheless, I cannot stay without a child because that is the most important thing in life. (Philip Dolapo, fashion

I will accept my fate I married her because I love her and love covers so many things. There is nothing I can do than to accept it as my fate. (Vasco Aniekan, barber) In God I trust I will leave everything to God, most especially if I had a court marriage. The only thing I can do is to put my hope in God because there is nothing impossible for Him to do. (Wasiu Akinbiyi, student) I will stick with her I do not think I can do anything because it is for better or worse. So I will have to take it as my fate and also carry it as my cross. (Isaac Omezia, student)

I will seek medical solution If such should happen to me I will try everything possible to make her fertile either by going to the hospital or church. But if all my efforts prove abortive I will still love and care for her but there will be agreement that I will marry another woman that will procreate for me because I can’t imagine not having a child of my own. (Kareem Lekan, sign writer) I will marry another wife Such case is not easy to conclude. It won’t be easy on my part and of course, the lady’s. But I know for sure that I will get marry to another woman because I will want to satisfy my parents by giving them grand children and my religion also supports getting married to four wives. (Haruna Usman, student)

I will stick with him I'd just be patient and prayerful so long as I love him. It might be tough with my family, friends and all, but we will settle it amicably. (Obehi Abumere, civil servant) I will adopt I don't mind as long as we love each other. I will adopt because for me I am going to love him to the core. (Gina Nwachukwu, NYSC member) I will divorce her I will have to divorce her because I cannot live without a child. To me the most important gain in marriage is children. That is why she has to leave. (Sunday Oluwashina, student)

I will still love her Although I will feel very bad but at the same time I will accept my fate since marriage is for better or for worse. I know for sure that I can’t marry who I don’t love in the first place, so I will still care and love her because I believe nothing is impossible with the help of God. (Adetola Oyenuga, student) I will adopt If my spouse does not procreate there is no problem, I will adopt. God has a reason for everything and God's time is the best. (Samuel Ndubisi, banker) I will divorce her What is the essence of getting married without children? I'd better divorce her or she would have to contend with another woman coming in. (Enabulele Aidamenbor, entrepreneur)

I will resort to prayers I don’t have anything else than to pray to God. Only God provides children and I believe so much in Him because marriage is for better or worse. (Obaji Emenike, student) I will stand by him We will look for solutions in both physical and spiritual ways. Whatever happens I will surely stand by him. (Christy Akpabio,student) We will go for adoption I think love is beyond complaining, since I was unable to discover her state of fertility before marriage then I have to go by the promise I made on the wedding day. No problem is permanent and with money we can go for medical help or adopt. (Akintayo Moses, student)

compiled by

GLORY TITTY, FAITH OBADAN, BOLA KAREEM AND TOSIN ADEWALE

Ideas & Brands

Why brands ignore Nigeria’s film industry p.23

Hospitality

A hotel for guests averse to long airport shuttle p.39

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C o n v e r s at i o n

DJ Cuppy and her father, Otedola, in his yacht.

s ’ e r i a n o i l l i b e h T l e e t s n the wheels of o r e t h daug

Seldom do we cross paths with billionaires’ kids who get unfettered approval from their parents to explore an enterprise as showbiz. You would typically assume that all the fuss about Florence Ikeoluwa Otedola is because she is daughter of oil and gas magnate, Femi Otedola. But you would be wrong because DJ Cuppy, as she’s known in the showbiz industry, is no dilettante on the turntable. The 21-year-old speaks to LANRE ODUKOYA about her career, dream and family.

A SELF PORTRAIT I’m a disc jockey, a songwriter and a producer. I’ve just recently taken it to a professional level after I graduated from King’s College, UK. So, I can do this full time. Now, I’m making sure I do things to a very professional degree. I realised that if your dream is to grow your art into a brand, you must do things in ways that are properly structured especially in Nigeria and when you speak of Nigeria, you’re speaking of Africa. My dreams are bigger than me and they are all very exciting. I started ‘disc jockeying’ when I was about 16 years old. I got a deck and I’ve always loved music and I also had academics to balance as well. So, it was about prioritising things and education is key to fulfilling these dreams. I’m also very passionate about young people. So, when I see young people watch me do what I do and come to tell me, ‘you’re a great example’, I feel so honoured. As I think of acquiring education, I think of fam-

ily life and I also think in direction of my company which is into publishing and management. Cuppy is just the baby of the company and it’s the first brand. I have a 10-year long plan to grow to be someone who is the pioneer of a new movement not only for females and the young, but to Nigerians generally. I’ve just launched my new compilation which is called House of Cuppy. I’m 21 years old and I’ve been a DJ for five years. But professionally, I would say I got involved in music a year ago when I launched my debut single titled, I Love My Country. It’s an original song by Tunji Oyelana which was written by Wole Soyinka. It was commercially released in July, 2013. And it was debut single for sale and has its music video. It’s a revival of the old song. I’ve lived half my life in Nigeria and the other half in the UK, so, I reflect both cultures in my music. There’s a music genre called ‘House’ and I’m passionate about it CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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‘People assume disc jockeys should be guys’ CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 1 3

so much that when I’m in London I take it and a piece of Nigerian music with me and I constantly play them. I make the fusion with other kinds of music which makes me unique as a DJ. TAKING THE BILLIONAIRE’S DAUGHTER SERIOUSLY It’s true that some people just think that, ‘how do I contract a billionaire’s daughter to play for me?’ And the truth is that I understand where that feeling is coming from. People do make assumptions. There are times when I go to a venue with my general manager and they look at him straight and say, ‘okay, the DJ’s here’. They’d assume the DJ should be the guy and that’s because there are just a few female DJs around. People don’t even expect females in that career. Do people expect me to be a DJ? No. Do I know my job and do it well? Yes. MY SCHEDULES To be honest with you, I’m mostly very busy. And that’s maybe because I put 101 percent in everything I do. To me, what is worth doing is what doing well. Same explains why I put my all into whatever I do. I don’t like too many projects at a time so that I can concentrate on one and deliver it perfectly. We’re more than halfway through the year and I’m already working on a project for next year. HOW I DID THE TUNJI OYELANA SONG What I did was just to sample the chorus of I Love My Country and it’s only that part because I feel it’s a very powerful song. I delivered the song in House/Techno music style and it makes it impressively unique. I think because of globalization, Nigerians are more open to new sounds and for me it was getting

“I feel very fortunate to have parents that believe in me and are challenging me constantly.” something that is very Nigerian and making it become something everyone around the world can listen to. And in my new project, House of Cuppy, that’s the same thing I did. I got five of my favourite Nigerian songs and interpreted them in my own way with a different sound. That’s the same way I got the fusion of Afrobeat and House. HOW I’D MAKE HOUSE MUSIC WORK IN NIGERIA LIKE HIP-HOP It’s something that’s going to be a journey just like every other thing. If you look at old music in Nigeria, you’d see different influences from different genres. So, Nigerian music itself is not the same that we saw back in the days, naturally, we’re coming to terms with the new waves of sounds going around because musically is something people socialise with universally. CONTENT OF MY LONG TERM PLAN As far as Nigerian musical content is concerned, I feel that there’s so much potentials on global scale. I’m a Nigerian bringing different sounds to Nigeria and I also want to take Nigerian sounds to other places that have different sounds. With my job, I get so fortunate because I’m always travelling around and I think we underestimate the power of music. If we look at the population we have in Nigeria and how no matter where you go certain songs are prevalent and how people really use music as a way to interact, you’d appreciate it more. In the long run, I would love to have a business that gives opportunities to African artists on global platform. I’m not talking about the cliché record companies having sorts of music group per se. It’s like having stuffs like publishing rights, having writers and producers particularly. In these modern days, I can see the DJs and producers being more prevalent. If you look at the Nigerian industry, you’d see that DJs, producers and songwriters are now being recognised. These were people who were previous-

‘People get distracted by the background information they have about me’, she said. ‘So when I make any success, they’d tie it to my dad’s wealth.’

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

ly known to be behind the artists. So, I think moving forward, there’s going to be a lot of changes in the industry. When I look at the business side, it’s great that I have a talent but how does it get commercialised? How does one do it properly as a business? One has to look at how the industry is going with professionals trying to get their works protected from pirates. I’m actually doing my Master’s degree in music business in New York City. I’m looking forward to learning how to monitor sales, the legal sides of entertainment and the rest because a lot of music talents are wasting because their contents are not protected at all. My 10-year plan will form a legacy to frame the Nigerian music industry to be one that is very lucrative. HOW MY PARENTS REACTED TO MY CAREER CHOICE I have to say that I’m very lucky because I have the most supportive parents in the world. I think generally, what stops a lot of young people from following their passion is not having support. I mean moral support not necessarily financial. My parents push me to be a better person and be myself. I feel very fortunate to have parents that believe in me and are challenging me constantly. BETWEEN MY DAD’S WEALTH AND MY CAREER I know that quite often people get distracted by the background information they have about me. So, when I make any success, they’d tie it to my dad’s wealth. Here I am following my dream doing a very exciting project yet it’s shadowed by my family life. It’s quite difficult to convince people that I’m doing this without reliance on my dad’s mega influence. But I think time tells it all and talent and passion will speak. I’m a very honest person and I hope people start identifying only with what I do and how passionate I am about what I do. In life, we all have different platforms, big or small, it depends. Everyone has their personal battles too and maybe this is mine. But it’s how you deal with it. Do I go to my job and do it well? This kind of questions always creeps through me constantly. You might get opportunities based on different things, but that can only take you as far as it can and after a while, if you are not good at what you do, you’d have nothing left.

Awards this year and it was such an amazing gig. It was very interesting because they approached and said, ‘we love what you’re doing especially with the House music’. Talking about different sounds in Africa, House music is very big in South Africa. We see it constantly slipping into the Nigerian music industry and Nigerian music is also very big in South Africa. So, we can see the synergy across the continent. With the job I do, I get to do different things; I’ve done awards, weddings, birthdays and I did a show for the Financial Times in Mexico which was absolutely fantastic. My job keeps me on my toes as I get to do different things while I learn on the job. HOW ‘DJ CUPPY’ BECAME MY SHOWBIZ MONIKER It came from the word ‘Cup Cake’. I decided to be called ‘DJ Cup Cake’ because when I was 15, I was absolutely obsessed with cup cakes and I love baking as well. I think it was more or less a girly thing. So, when at 16 it was time to choose a stage name, I chose DJ Cup Cake but I also asked myself, ‘do I want to be called DJ Cup Cake when I’m in my 20s? No. Naturally, friends were calling also sorts of names from that pronunciation and that was how Cuppy stuck. FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER I don’t think marriage later would conflict with my job. Even with the job everyone else does, there’s the work line balance, to be honest, I’m not good at considering that yet. If I’m not working, I’m thinking about working and that comes from the pressure of always having school and music to worry about. I’m not just a DJ, I own a music company and it requires me to be wearing different hats at different times. Sometimes I’m DJ Cuppy, other times I’m the head of my company and there are times I’m a student. I also find time when I am just that 21-year-old who doesn’t know what to do, but somehow I find balance of everything. As for settling down in the long run, it’s something I’m looking forward to but I’ve just started something really massive and it’s important to focus for now. I’m dedicating my time to the project now and every other thing will come later. SHINING IN A MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY Being in a male dominated industry can actually can be very difficult at times but it makes me very comfortable with myself and I feel quite confident. No intimidation whatsoever on my part. It makes me just fight a bit harder. MY UNSUNG PASSION If I wasn’t into music, I would have been a lawyer. I love law especially entertainment law. MY CHILDHOOD Growing up was absolutely colourful because I was a very playful and naughty child. I loved to always ask question because I was intrigued by things. I was very energetic. In fact, I turned our living room into a studio. I grew up on the Mainland at Ikeja G.R.A., Lagos and I remember my childhood with a lot of fondness. FIRST CAREER FANTASY I wanted to be a banker because I would pick papers and cut them to look like money and I would be playing a banker with my sister.

MY OUTING AT THE MTV MUSIC AWARDS I was actually honoured to be the resident DJ for the MTV African

MY DEAL WITH QUILOX PUB The re-launch of Quilox was fantastic and I was privileged to be their guest DJ that night. But concerning doing regular gigs there, I would be living in New York but I would be in Lagos nearly every month because I an ongoing project back in Lagos. So, I won’t be gone for too long and you won’t have to miss me too much.

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

All things brown and beautiful Fair complexioned Nollywood actress, Benita Nzeribe’s love for stylish dresses and brown colour cannot be overemphasized writes ANGELA DAVIES.

Rock the ripped jeans in style

Angela Davies

ou can call it ripped, shredded or destroyed jeans and you will not be wrong. However, it is commonly known as jeans. The ripped jeans trend is back and is hotter than ever as ladies are seen rocking this denim at informal events and on the streets. They are fabulous for adding a little bit of sexy edge to your style. Ripped jeans which feature the mandatory holes and shreds can be worn in the most casual or sophisticated way depending on your style. However, when it comes to these denim jeans many young ladies opt for the skinny ripped jeans. They are definitely a hot choice for ladies who want to inject some sexy rock and roll edge to their outfit. Ripped jeans colour options range from washed to dark blue, down to white and black. Wearing ripped jeans goes beyond

choosing the appropriate style as you have to know how to wear the shredded jeans in a perfectly stylish and flawless way that will stand you out with little effort. Consequently, you can wear your ripped jeans with a variety of tops depending on your style and the fashion statement you want to make but then the rips on the jeans should be minimal so that the top will be the focal point of your ensemble. To give your ripped jeans a dressy and trendy look, accessories with bangle bracelet, pointy toe, gladiator sandals or high heels as well as necklace or even a fedora hat. Make sure that they are simple in colour and design. Then style your ripped jeans look with a soft, easy hairdo and natural make.

How would you define your style? I am simply English. What determines the kind of outfit you wear? My comfort, the occasion and weather determines the kind of outfit I wear. What sort of outfits take up the most space in your wardrobe? That will be dresses because I am just a dress person. Is there an outfit you would rather not wear? Extremely short lycra dress or clinging dress because there is no way you can wear anything inside without it showing. Also, I will never wear ankle boots on a very hot afternoon in Nigeria. That is a no-no for me. Fashion accessory you cannot leave home without My wristwatch because time is very important. Signature perfume I am wearing 212 for women and Georgia Armani right now. I don’t wear only one kind of perfume. Best designer Well I don’t have a best designer I just go for the best and what looks good on me. If this looks good on me I buy it, I am not a designer label freak. What kind of shoes do you love to wear? I love wearing high heels except when I have to be casual. How do you love your make up? I love my make up not too light or heavy. Most times I do invisible make up. However, I do loud make up when I am going to an event. How do you love your hair? I braid and fix. However, the way I style my hair depends on my mood. Best colour I love all shades of brown maybe because I am light in complexion. Do you follow fashion? I am not freakish about fashion. I love fashion but it has to go with my physique because some fashion will make you look stupid if it does not flatter you. In essence, I don’t follow fashion but if I will, then, it has to flatter me. Nzeribe

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

Accessories to live for

Classic pearl necklaces

Pearl necklaces are versatile and superb choice for both formal and casual outfits as long as you can pull off the look, writes ANGELA DAVIES.

earl necklaces are one of the most elegant and sought after jewellery pieces by fashion conscious women. These classic pieces of jewellery with an effortless elegance about them come in a wide range of styles and can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. However, the key to pulling off a fabulous and beautiful pearl look lies in the necklace length, type of pearls you choose and the occasion. Whether you wear a strand, double or multi-strand pearl necklace, it will sure depict confidence, sophistication and splendour no matter the type of outfit you pair with it. It is also a great option for workplace jewellery. When it is dressed down with jeans and

top, a bold pearl necklace or long strand is ideal as it will add a playful and flirty touch to your outfit. Also, a long strand of pearls wrapped twice around your neck will give drama and fun to your ensemble and help keep your casual outfit from becoming bland. Pearl necklace mixed with diamond or other gemstones can be a gorgeous look for wedding, evening and special events especially when worn with an elegant outfit. When it comes to length of the necklace, collars and chokers look great with plunging necklines, off shoulder and spaghetti strap outfits. Also, pearl necklaces measuring around 16-20 inches in length works well with high or low necklines. Note that pearl necklaces are typically simple but very eye-catching, so allow your pearls to take center stage.

FASHION ETIQUETTE

Flats and the right skirt length A

lthough flats are versatile footwear, however, when it comes to wearing flats with skirts, you should pair with the right length Flats look best when worn with a shorter skirt that are an inch or more above the knee or on the knee, since having no heel can make legs look shorter. So you should show a bit more leg to gain that length back. Also you could wear a skirt with a little flare, which adds a contemporary touch to the look. Do not wear flats with long skirts because wearing no-heeled shoes with a skirt that falls below the knee will give a frumpy silhouette.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

Clan thigh high slit dress

he fashion showdown this week is between Nollywood actress cum producer, Rita Dominic and Studio 53 Extra cohost and budding actress, Eku Edewor. The outfit in contention is the Clan thigh high slit dress. Both beauties rocked the Kassandra dress from Clan fashion label 2014 classics collection which features a V neckline, peplum detail and thigh high slit. Gorgeous Dominic rocked the black colour of the dress at Our Heritage project event which held at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington DC for the US-Africa Summit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nigeria Our Heritage event representing Nollywood on August 4. She styled her look with gold drop earrings, a gold bracelet, a blue clutch and black heels. She complemented her look with sexy smokey eyes, red pout and long wavy locks. Meanwhile Edewor strut the red carpet at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards (AMVCA) which held in Saturday, March 8 in the champagne colour of the dress. She harmonized her look with gold drop earrings, gold cocktail rings, gold bracelet and embellished gold heels. Her light make up and golden brown wavy locks completed her look for the event. Though, both Dominic and Edewor wore the same outfit, but who do you think rocked it better with swag? Dominic

Facts Tony Okoye, younger brother of musicians, P Square is the brain behind Ajeh Clothing. The University of Maiduguri creative arts graduate's designs are an urbanized African design, infused with rich and true African nature and unique colour combination.

The cardigan was originally made to be a military jacket made of knitted wool.

The perfect shoes that could be worn without socks are loafers. They are smart and chic, and give the necessary edge to the look

Edewor

It is believed that applying eyeliner was used to protect people from the hot sun and to ward off evil spirits.

Rhymzee Lack of funds shattered my dream to be a doctor p.20 9ice Quits music to contest House of Reps seat p.19

SHOWBIZ NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

16 AUGUST 2014

www.newtelegraphonline.com/showbiz

'You're retiring soon when your jokes become popular' Okey "Bakassi" Onyegbule hit the limelight by making people laugh. So fans were sad to see him leave comedy for a political appointment a few years ago and relieved when he announced his return to his primary constituency. The comedian speaks with LANRE ODUKOYA and GLORY TITTY about that transition. LIFE OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT Life outside the government house has been good. Entertainment has always been my first love, so, coming back to entertainment business actively has been fun and rewarding. It has also given me an opportunity to reflect, compare and contrast and be appreciative of the knowledge acquired and appreciate the benefit of absence from the industry. It has been a interesting transition altogether. RE-INTEGRATING INTO AN ALTERED INDUSTRY Talking about the industry holistically, for the three years that I was away, the thing that changed is that some of my colleagues that I left to go and do politics had improved, which is expected. Nobody stays static. You’re not in any business so that you can remain in one place. I’m very happy to know they had improved. And I had also improved while I was away but in a different direction. The music industry has fared well, stand-up comedy business has had much more entrants. In terms of the top tier practitioners of comedy, not much has changed, the same old people are still leading. And about re-integrating, I’m happy to God that I came back into the industry like I never left. So, it’s interesting because the position I was before I left didn’t really change. If I have nothing to offer, that would have transited me into hurried retirement. There are few people in stand-up comedy business who will take the risk I took to go to serve with the government and return to the industry and be relevant. HIATUS FROM NOLLYWOOD My infrequent appearance in movies is a conscious decision. In the last one month, I’ve rejected three movie roles. Stand-up comedy is more rewarding but I still enjoy making movies. I have told myself that I just don’t want to make movies for the fun of it. I ran into some of my fans who said, “Oh, we miss you o. You’ve not been doing movies lately.” The thing is that I don’t just want to make movies so that there will be something out there for somebody to watch. Producers have got to change and so are directors too. This is 2014 and we cannot be making movies like we’re still in 1998. Nollywood is more than 20 years old now and it should reflect in the movies that are out there. So, if a producer who is not willing to change approaches me to be part of his movie, once I don’t have the guarantee that I’m doing anything that will elevate my career, I shouldn’t oblige such person. What is the pay you’re bringing 'It's like I never left the industry,' says if it won’t impact on my life the way I think it should in 2014? There are few producers doing Okey Bakassi

quality movies and none of them will contact Okey Bakassi today and I will turn down because they have shown that they are change-elements. For example, Obi Ominonyen, I did a production with him early last year and it got me a nomination for the best actor in an Igbo movie. That is the kind of jobs I want to do. I just shot another movie earlier this year. The producer shuttles between Germany and here. He brought in some people from Germany to come and work on the project. I want projects that will take the career beyond where it is, the kind of project that will show that Nollywood is departing from the past and embracing the future in movie making. PERSPECTIVES ON THE ACTORS’ GUILD OF NIGERIA My assessment of the president of the guild, Ibinabo Fiberisima, so far has been good. She has done a wonderful job. She is a president who emerged in a time of crisis. She’s a woman but that’s not to take away the abilities of women to lead, but she came at a time nobody even gave her a chance to succeed. Now, just run a check from the time she became the president till now the landmark achievements she has made. AGN can now say that we own a place - in a couple of months God-willing, a befitting national secretariat - in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. She’s been able to do that. We have the Certificate of Occupancy of the land we were given in Abuja to build the screen actors’ secretariat. This is the first guild to do this in the country and she’s the first AGN president to make that a reality. You cannot belittle that because it’s landmark. Suddenly, we’re beginning to take health insurance seriously, people are becoming more aware that there are opportunities available to them to be more conscious of their health as entertainers. She came at a time when some thought that the guild will die. It has not died and there are people who had run away but are now aspiring to become the president of the same guild. If there was nothing to brag about the guild they wouldn’t identify with it. These are people who have sat to watch the guild go down but it has soared instead. ON CRISES AT AGN STATE CHAPTERS Do we have any state that is not in one crisis or the other in Nigeria? There are confusions in the North, there are some states in the South and there are several cases in the court where people are trying to impeach their governors. I’m sure is some Southwest states people are still contesting election results, does that mean that President Goodluck Jonathan has completely failed? Does that mean that the entity called Nigeria has collapsed? Leadership and governance is a work in progress. Tell me one person that you can bring to rule AGN today and the guild will be crisisfree. Tell me one professional body in Nigeria continued on page 18

showbiz

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'Some people mistake fame for wealth' continued FROM page 17

today that is crisis-free. Is the Nigerian Labour Congress united? The answer is no. The Nigerian Bar Association has members who are not happy with how it’s been run and it’s the same thing with the Nigerian Medical Association. There’s no professional body in Nigeria without internal crises. We’re managing ours. What we should be looking at is the ratio of progress made on the crises on ground, is it tilting towards progress? If the answer is yes, then we should be happy. I think the right direction to go is for people to come on board with invaluable contributions. Do we have crises in some state chapters like Mr. Ibu said? Of course, we do. There have always been those crises. There was a time everywhere was in crisis? But the number of states where we have crises is shrinking which means that there’s work being done. Are there elements dissatisfied with the progress made? Yes. Are they going to fight back? Yes. Are there people who thrive when there are crises? Yes. HELPING THE GUILD TO GROW The point is that we all cannot be the guild’s president. I’m a member of the board of directors of the guild. And by that singular position, I don’t know if the constitution would even allow me to aspire to that position. But already, as a member of the board of trustees, I’m already in a position to help the guild grow. I should explore all avenues to assist my guild. All other members

My attitude to this is quite different. We did the show in Canada and we did all the hype we can do in Canada for those who are in the country to be able to attend the show. They came out for show and we had a swell time. We had done two events after the debut in Canada. WHY I WON’T HAVE MY SHOWS ON CDs There are reasons I won’t put my works on the CDs. It’s the same reason for what some of my colleagues are doing now that some of them are stealing other people’s materials. In our business, when you put your materials on CDs out there, they become obsolete and you cannot use them anymore. When the music becomes popular for a musician, it’s good news but in my enterprise when your jokes become popular, that means you’re retiring soon. Some of the guys who have their works on the CDs, when they’re performing at any show, as soon as they start one joke, people in the audience will complete it for them. And it’s not good business. So now, because they cannot sustain that business, they are stealing from other people. When they go for other people’s shows, they’d be busy recording their materials. You don’t know the number of guys who quarrel back stage because when they get there, immediately they do one joke, somebody somewhere is prepared to steal it. It doesn’t have to be that way. Somehow because of the quest to hype and make money, people are taking this decision without thinking it through. Yes, it makes you some

public. It’s a fan-based business. Your success depends on the number of fans you can sustain. What changes is that, as a bachelor, you’re more spontaneous in your decisionmaking process. When I was a bachelor, if you said to me that there would be a tour of Europe from city to city, I wouldn’t have to think about it, I would pack my bag and follow you. But now, as a family man, I have to cool down and assess: how long is this tour? At the end this tour, how would it have been rewarding enough for me and my family? Back to your question, handling of women is not all that showbiz is about. Female and male fans are not so different in the eyes of somebody who wants to focus on his career. Anytime you go for movie productions or comedy shows, there are two genders that are cheering, the male and the female. A woman who admires you as a single artist once she sees that you’re married, she curtails how much affection she shows towards you because she doesn’t want to send the wrong signals. For instance, if D’Banj decides to marry today, his fans won’t disappear, but the way they want to haul themselves at him would be different. They would remember that this celebrity is now somebody’s husband and the same affects women in our industry. I’VE NEVER HAD A CRUSH ON MY FEMALE COLLEAGUES Maybe because celebrities meet every time, we are one another’s friend one way or

...on stage

should also take advantage of the opportunities that they have presently to make the guild work. It’s only when we have done that well that we can seek to add more responsibilities to that. If you’re not a good follower, why suddenly do you want to lead? I think leadership should start from followers who are very quality in following. WHY MY CANADA COMEDY SHOW GETS NO BUZZ IN NIGERIA If you’re doing a Canada show and you’re making the buzz in Nigeria, is it for Nigerians to come to Canada and attend the show? The buzz will be in Canada. Understandably, because it is show business, everyone likes to use the social media in a way that you’re seen to be doing so much. It’s a tactics that work for some people and I won’t knock it, and it works generally if your ambition is to hype. A lot of people don’t know that I run a laundry business in Ajao Estate, Lagos. But my attitude is that let me win my immediate environment first, if I can have as much clients as I desire here, when I begin to spread outlets to other areas, I’d take the buzz to them. If I’m operating in Ajao Estate and hyping in Lekki and they can’t find my presence in Lekki, am I expecting them to come all the way from there to come and wash clothes when they have several facilities like this close to them? I need to take the business to them and tell them where I am around them. If I want to make so much noise, I can be in all the media shouting because that is what people understand in show business - showmanship.

money in the short run, in the long run it puts you out of business quickly. If you ask me to do a post mortem of the stand-up comedy business, I would tell you that a lot of people are struggling to get contents. Tell me how many people are doing well with their CDs out there. The few ones that are doing well are dishing out skits, but they are saving their materials for their shows. WHAT I MISS IN THE FORMATIVE YEARS OF ACTING What I really miss is the brotherhood that used to exist in Nollywood. Going on set was like an extension of a family life for most of the weeks we had to spend together. Being on set was so much fun, but I found out that it’s not like that anymore. These days you go on set and you’re in a hurry to go back. These days you’d be on set seeing things that would provoke your sensibility. The way some of the productions are being run these days leaves little to be desired. I found out that sometimes they are taking advantage of people and I don’t like that. It’s because people are vulnerable and so interested in celebrities overnight. It’s no longer about the passion for the art. Some people are beginning to mistake fame for wealth. They think when you give them a shot at being popular they’d be rich. Check the people who belong to our era, there’s some level of professionalism that we bring into it that’s beyond naira and kobo. HOW WOMEN PATRONISE ME BEFORE MARRIAGE AND NOW That doesn’t change as long as you are in the eyes of the

the other, the crush is never there. In Nollywood for instance, there are actresses whose deliveries are impressive. You look forward to working with them because they’d bring out the best in you and it’s not beyond that. If you ask for my female preference, I actually admire people who are not in my line of business. You can find that strange, but the truth is that they appeal more to me. I feel that we in showbiz are sometimes over-hyped. In terms of good looks you’d find several more attractive women who are non-entertainers. WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IF I GET A SECOND CHANCE If I say I wouldn’t have done anything differently, it means I’ve not grown in the business that I do. What growth does is that it helps you uncover the errors you made in the past. During our era, there were no people we were modelling our career after. We were just trying to build an industry that didn’t exist. Now the younger ones are lucky because they’ve got people to learn from. They have our mistakes to correct. So, if I have a second chance, because precedents have been set, a lot would be easier to accomplish. We were not drawing contracts, there were no skills in the act of negotiation and there were no endorsement deals the way we have it now. There was no social media or GSM, so people who wanted you couldn’t reach you. No social media to ‘google’ and find you. You can now imagine how much progress I would have made if all these were in place to cushion the challenges of that era.

showbiz

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SHOWBIZ TODAY

LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445 lanreodukoya@gmail.com

Lasbrey, Melody evicted from MTN Project Fame

fter David's exit, the competition took a new turn as the remaining contestants strived to be at their best. The show this time had Melody and Lasbrey sadly saying goodbye. It was quite an emotionally tensed one as the pain of saying farewell became inevitable. However the contestants were quick to conform to reality and stood up to the new challenge. Meanwhile, the judges in the course of the week evaluated the numerous Wildcard competition entries uploaded on Youtube by individuals who have been vying for a spot in the Academy. These hopefuls who were pruned to five came on the show to battle it out for the vacant Wild Card entry into the Academy. After their performances, they were left in the hands of the audience to determine who made it into the Academy by their votes. This was immediately followed by an amazing group performance by all contestants who are not on probation. They did a medley, paying special tribute to some legends of Motown. Then came the dreaded moment when

the contestants on probation had to know their fate. There was a pin-drop silence in the studio. Flourish emerged the first lucky one among the five as she came through viewers’ votes. The faculty decided to save Ugo; so Melody, Lasbrey and Debbie could only count on the contestants’ votes as a life saver. Debbie beat the other two to it with five votes, while Lasbrey and Melody got two votes apiece. This sadly, brought Melody and Lasbrey's sojourn on the contest Lasbrey and Melody to an abrupt end. They however left a big smile on the audience's faces as they performed Tease the past week, and his inability to stand, Me and Gobe respectively for the last time he was still able to effortlessly put up a fantastic performance. on the Project Fame West Africa 7 stage. Amazingly, they all seemed to have The following day was indeed a night of stellar performances as the contestants become dancers overnight, and the shy took on two of Nigeria's finest afro-pop ones swaggered up and down the stage, artistes, performing their major hit songs. evidently enjoying every bit of their perThe show witnessed so much excite- formances; all thanks to Kaffy. While they got a standing ovation ment and cheering from the crowd as the contestants took on the battle not only to from the audience, the faculty, and even excite the audience but to also stay off pro- the guest judge Akosia Agyapong, it bation. Clement especially proved to be a was quite a shocker when the judges anfighter. Despite all he had been through in nounced that all the contestants had been

E-BRIEFS

J Saints makes debut with Hands Up

emiloluwa Solomon Babayemi, popularly known as J Saints recently released his debut single, a gospel song titled, Hands Up, after a signing deal with Kennis Music's first lady, Kenny Saint Best on her record label, KSB records. Talking about his new single, J Saints said: “My music is enjoyable and helpful for spiritual growth. The video has just been released. T h e beauty of this video is that it is modest as you will not see too many flashy scenes. The reason being that people will focus on the message I am trying to pass across. It was produced by Vtek. “I was born in the United States of America, but relocated to Nigeria with my family in 2008. First, I am a Christian and I come from a royal family. My family has always been into music, starting from my grandfather. He was a professor, a king and a drummer and my uncle too was a keyboardist. And now that I am old enough, I decided to pursue a career in music in a way that I can bring Jesus Christ to people and make good music in a contemporary fashion. One of my main aims is to spread the gospel through music. I also enjoy writing music,” he explained. J Saints insists that he gets inspiration to write his songs when he studies the Bible and from everyday situation.

placed on probation. This did not sit well with the audience and, of course, the faculty members. Mum J demanded an explanation for such a decision when it was clear that the judges were impressed with the performances. Tee Y, speaking on behalf of the judges, said the contestants needed to be shaken up a bit so they could always give their best. Overall, the judges announced their favourite performances for the evening, and they are Clement, Shola, and Debby's.

9ice quits music, joins politics

inger, Abolore Akande, a.k.a. 9ice, has officially declared his intention to run for political office in the next election. 9ice intends to run for a seat in the House of Representatives to represent Ogbomosho North/Ogbomosho South/Orire Federal Constituency. This was confirmed after the singer shared his primary campaign poster on Instagram. The poster shows the singer in a traditional white garment, an orange coloured native cap, brown trousers and shoes against an obviously opulent backdrop. News of his political ambition had broken in January with the singer confirming his switch from music to politics in an interview with journalists. “I’m leaving music, I need to go into something more challenging. Music is no longer competitive for me, I’ve done all that needs to be done in music,” he said.

YQ joins Cadilly Entertainment, gets new car T

he hard work of Nigerian musician, Yakubu Jubril aka YQ, seems to have paid off following a record deal reportedly worth millions of naira he recently signed with Cadilly Entertainment. Immediately he signed the deal, he tweeted: “Glad to tell y'all I signed a new record deal yesterday with #CadillyENT…” The contract also came with a new car. YQ, who has performed alongside Akon and Ricky Rozay, signed the record deal with the fast growing record label the same week he had his birthday. With his music over the years, the Efimile crooner has toured the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, Malaysia, Ghana, Dublin etc. The award-winning singer has collaborated with A-list artistes such as Naeto C, MI, Ice Prince, Banky W, Wizkid, Eldee D Don, Mode 9, Vector, Jaywon, Terry G, Dagrin (R.I.P), Ill Bliss and a host others. With the help of Cadilly, he now plans to take his music career to greater height. Other artistes signed under the label are Cj-Mama, J'Lar and Ucee Black.

20 SHOWBIZ

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Rhymzee: Lack of funds shattered my dream to be a doctor Hip-hop and dancehall artiste Rhymzee (real name Omelli Ukamaka) talks about music, education and other issues in this interview with ANGELA DAVIES

What kind of songs do you sing? I sing hip-hop and dancehall. Are you working on anything currently? Yes, I am working on two new songs titled, Bad Girl featuring Blacka of Naija Ninja and Telemi featuring Henry Knight. Both songs are produced by Holy Joezy, mixed and mastered by Jaystuntzonline. Have you released any album or single before now? Yes, I already released four dancehall singles which include Go-go Below, Ur Way, Thinking of U and Baby Mo which are all receiving bountiful airplay. Go-go Below especially is a song calling on everyone irrespective of your sex and class to come out and dance. It is a danceable song that can be played anywhere and you will sure shake your body. My aim is to hit the limelight with my singles while we wait for the album. How and when did you start singing? I lived with a reverend father and living a life in a parish house is about singing and Christian activities. It is either you are in the choir, an altar boy or you are in one group or another in church. The beautiful thing about all these was that we learnt all the basic music keys in the choir. That was how I fell in love with music and that was how music started for me. But I started singing professionally in 2011. Why hip-hop and dancehall since you started from a choir? Well, learning all the music keys in the parish house does not mean that I must stick to hymns just like the way we used to sing in the choir. I had my own calling. Everything about me is music because whether I am cooking, washing, bathing or walking on the street I sing. Music is an important part of my life. I was able to dictate tunes and sounds even as an undergraduate. What did you study at the university? I studied mathematics at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. So why mathematics and not music? I actually passed JAMB to study medicine, but my parents could not afford all the financial demands that studying medicine entailed back then. So in order not to stay at home and waste the good result I had, I opted to study mathematics. My choice of mathematics was because I needed to study a course that will keep me busy and challenged and it really did as I had to solve one mathematical problem or the other. I am glad that I read the course. Are you engaged in anything else apart from singing? I am a makeup artist. As an undergraduate I was into beauty pageants and modelling. While we were in camp, the organisers usually brought resource persons to lecture and train us on the art of makeup, hair styling and even bead-making. They were not detailed, but if you have interest in any area, it is left for you to develop yourself. With that privilege, I developed myself in the art of makeup. So during my leisure time or when I am not in the studio or performing, I do makeup for whoever needs my services. At least, this brings in some extra cash. Which artiste would it be if you decide to have a collaboration? I actually have two of them in mind. I am looking forward to doing a collabo with Tiwa Savage and on the male side, I will like to feature Davido. Tiwa Savage has a unique style that stands her out. She has a unique voice and she is good at what she does. Also, she is energetic just like me. I believe that if I do something with her, I will be fulfilled. Davido has his own style, I love his songs. But apart from that, he is a hardworking young artiste who has really done well for himself. How do you intend to have a breakthrough in the music

Rhymzee says she would love to have duets with Tiwa Savage and Davido

industry with so many equally gifted artistes? I believe that being unique solves it all. When you know what you are doing, stick to it with prayers and you are going to excel. You don’t need to copy anybody; you don’t need to be someone else. To improve my musical skill, after my first degree I attended Tenstrings Music Institute in Lagos where I obtained a diploma in music training artiste programme. Besides singing, I can play the guitar, keyboard and piano. I know that I am unique, focused, always ready to learn and improve myself and above all prayerful. I believe that whatever price I have to pay today as an upcoming artiste will see me through the ladder of success tomorrow. How do you view the Nigerian music industry? I will say that the Nigerian music industry is growing every day. And I will say that I am proud of our music industry. The truth is that once you don’t try to copy anyone, you will stand out. However, there are some artistes who are trying hard to copy and be like other musicians. If you are passionate about what you are doing, you will be able to stand the test of time What inspires you? My inspiration comes from God. But I don’t leave home

without a pen and piece of paper because inspiration can come from anywhere and anything at any time. Sometimes I also record any tune or rhythm in my phone if the inspiration comes. Then go back to my drawing board and try to finetune it. What was your childhood dream? When I was a child, I always dreamt of being a great public figure. Back in school, I was a member of the drama society. I enjoyed acting, loved singing and performing as well. I was selected as the cultural dance team leader due to my level of energy and ability to organize people. What is your greatest fear? My greatest fear in life is embarrassments of any kind because it lowers my spirit. Tell us about your ideal kind of man. I have always dreamed of a God-fearing, fun loving and caring man. He must not possess heaven and earth but must be hard working. How do you relax? I always relax listening to Rihanna's songs and playing games. I love dancing too.

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SHOWBIZ

‘Winning Idol has been an eye-opener for me’ Moses Obi Adigwe, the “Teddy Bear”, came into limelight last year when he emerged the winner of the reality show, Nigerian Idol. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he reflects on his career growth. Was music your first love as a kid? Music for me has always been the love of my life. I've been singing since I could talk and it only seemed natural to join the choir at a young age. I would sing along to every song on the radio even if I had never heard it before. If I had a dollar for every time someone in my family told me to keep quiet and stop singing, I would have had a lot of it. I started writing my own songs right after primary school. And over time I tried to work hard to become the artiste I am today. Did your parents encourage you to do music? I really am grateful to God for the amazing family I have. They gave me their full support through the show and with my career choice. I remember my mother telling me over the phone at the beginning of Idol's that all I needed to do was make sure I killed every single performance and they would take care of the rest. So far, how is life after Idol? Nigerian Idol definitely had a huge impact in my life. Within a heartbeat I was transformed from a regular guy who just came out from the university to a celebrity artiste who is loved and admired by millions of fans. I became the winner of a huge show and finally got a chance to do music which is what I've always wanted. Life after Idol took me a bit of time to get used to and it has been a big eye opener for me. It's amazing to have random people in public calling your name or coming over to say hello and get a picture. But the feeling that people were expecting so much from me also got me into the studio less than a week after the show ended. I have had the chance to meet a lot of people I may not be opportune to meet otherwise.

How would you describe the challenges? I think life is all about challenges, but I always try not to let it stop me from getting what I really want. If you try and you fall, get up and try again. This might be easier said than done, but it is the only way forward. What are the qualities you like in a woman? I love beauty and intellect. That's my motto. You've got to be pretty, you've got to be smart and you've got to be witty. And I don't think I'm asking for too much. Do you have some specific plans for the future I have many plans, but I'm mainly focused on my music and my career. I am also thinking of going back to school for my masters degree sometime soon. I have to start thinking of a wife and kids very soon too. Do you have any fear for the industry? My fear for the music industry is for it not to become one dimensional and then stale. I do not want that to happen. I think we have too much talent around for us to keep doing the same style of music repeatedly.

able with what I am wearing above anything else. What are your dislikes and likes? I dislike the squealing sound of sand against metal or glass and bad breath. I like when I pick up my phone and it still has like 80 percent battery left. I also like meeting people. Is there anything you wished you could rewrite about yourself? I don't think I truly have regrets. Yes, I may have made tons of mistakes in my life, but I see each one as a lesson. How do you like to be remembered? I love to be remembered for the lives I have touched both through my music and my good works. I would also like to be remembered for my smile and for fighting against something really bad in the society.

How would you describe your fashion sense? My fashion sense is lazy. I like to play around a bit with what I wear. But comfort comes first for me. I must be comfort-

What's the experience like as a new face in the industry? Being a newcomer in the industry is interesting to say the least. You have to figure out the rules guiding the industry. And you have to make up your own rules as you go along. It's a big industry and so easy to get lost in it. Unless you're in the music industry you might never realise the kind of things that go on behind the scenes. I have at present four singles, Number One, Love in the Air, Love Letter ft Eva Alordiah and the latest track Egwu. Egwu is currently making headway on the airwaves across the country. I have released a video for Number One and we are just about to shoot the video for Egwu also. I have also done a couple of collaborations like a cover of Pharrell’s Happy that I did with Classiq. How would you define your kind of music? My music style is a bit eclectic. I like to play around with different sounds and step out of my comfort zone most times to have fun. I always mould my music to serve a purpose and ignite some sort of response from listeners. I love creativity, honesty and also infuse those themes into my music. When do you plan to release an album? Presently, we have not agreed on a name for the album or a date for the release, but I am most definitely putting together an album that will make a bold statement. It would melt the hearts of my fans and get their body moving. How do you find inspiration? My music is inspired by life. In a weird way I think my music is like a soundtrack to my life. I write what I had felt or witnessed. Are there other things you do? Apart from being a singer, I have a degree in political science and public administration. I'm a song-writer, a vocal coach, a writer and an aspiring talk show host.

Adigwe

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Why brands turn their back on Nigeria’s film industry –Taiwo Ajai-Lycett The movie industry We need to look at how we train our actors and the people in the business to the level we want them to be. Nigeria is a very ambitious nation and very good too. But people who do not dream, do not ever have their dreams come true. We must aim high. Look at the World Cup; the people who have been training for the last eight to 12 years ran off with the cup. Those who are just calling people in because they think that they are so good and they call them in six months before the tournament and you see lack of coordination, lack of cohesion on the field; it’s not going to work. And yet without our boys, European leagues are nothing. The Bundesliga, La Liga, the Premier League, our people make the leagues exciting with great energy. But we can’t make them do anything at home. We should ask ourselves why? We are not coordinated and focused. This addresses each and every one of us as well. This is what I am trying to tell the Nigerian movie industry. If you are not focused and then not fill by knowledge, and get your people to be prepared to put in some works, then of course, you just remained as dreams that never get realized as our African teams displayed at the world cup. Personally, they were good but collectively, their countries couldn’t make them do anything. But the other countries also have their footballers playing all over the world as well, and they ensured that their footballers are utilized effectively and compensated adequately to win laurels for their countries. You will see that they were not even worried about money because they know that the integrity is there that they will be paid. So being focused and being organized make you excel in life both at a personal level and corporate level. Corporate organisations and the film industry The industry is not organized enough for corporate bodies to start dishing out support. Corporate bodies have their own shareholders, and they are responsible to their shareholders. They are not charities. Their business is to make profit for their shareholders. When you have an industry that is well organized, and structured, they wouldn’t be able to exploit us like they are doing now. The corporate bodies know that players in the movie industry are not organized. Only few of our entertainers have managers. This is more prominent in the music industry. The managers fight for them and source for jobs for them and have percentage of your earnings. But we don’t want to share our earnings with anybody. So, the ways to make fortunes, people don’t follow it because they are blinded by greed and shortsightedness. You look at the white people; they have confidence in each

Not many people know that Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and her late husband, Thomas Aldridge Lycett, a former Shell marketing communication executive, established an advertising company called Partnership Advertising Limited and PR firm, Taiwo Ajai Communications. AjaiLycett recounts that experience and argues that lack of organizational structure will continue to rob the movie industry of support from the corporate world. She spoke with Kingsley Ogbonna

Ajai-Lycett

Only few of our entertainers have managers the ways to make fortunes, people don’t follow it because they are blinded by greed and shortsightedness

other. They partner a lot and ensure that each party gets its due share of the proceed from any business and everybody is happy because it is a win-win situation. Do you see that happening around here? You can’t cheat people and get away with it and that is why there isn’t enough wealth and abundance around us. Her drive I am a mother, grand mother, a widow and I am an actor and a writer. The part that I like most is that I am a personal development person. I am

dedicated to getting people to realize their own divinity and genius because it’s there. When you have the knowledge that I am talking about, it nullifies fear and when you don’t have fears, you have full knowledge to navigate this world knowing that you own the universe, you own the world and you can not fail. The only thing that can make you fail is fear. If you have fear, you can not realize your dreams. But if you know the kind of genius you are, you will succeed. That is your inheritance. So you can make a difference because everyone that is born here is for a specific purpose. Nobody just happen here on the earth. Every one of us has an assignment to fulfill. You must have a sense of purpose. Know what your goals are and focus on your goals and go for them and then you will achieve them if you are changing your mind every five minutes, that means you are not focused. That means you don’t believe in what you are doing. Belief, patience, perseverance - these are divine qualities and fortunes. Don’t be jealous of anybody. Those that take what does not belong to them, they pay for it? That is the law, whatever thing you sow, you shall reap. You don’t sow potatoes and reap tomatoes. Those that steal, pay dearly for it. You must be change you want in the world. Don’t just say we have corruption in this country and you see someone else’s phone, you steal it and think nobody is seeing you. If you want Nigeria to be good, start with yourself. How do you treat your neighbours? How do you treat your spouse? How do you treat you children, neighbours, relations, colleagues at work etc? Impacting the lives of the Nigerian youth I teach and I write. In fact, a collection of my essays is about to be published by one of my mentees because I used to be a mentor for Fate Foundation. One of my mentees who lives in America now collected some of my articles. These are ways in which I am impacting. I also teach one on one for not just youngsters, but adults as well because in order for us to make a turn around in this country, even adults need to have a new mindset. What kind of values propels us? What kind of legacies are they leaving behind for their children? How are they running their businesses? How are they making their money? People have really been inspired by this and they call me week in week out and they pay for the knowledge. Word for the youth Education! Education! Education! You can not get success overnight. Success is in your mind and you’ve got to train your mind. Don’t think that your destiny is in the hand of the third party. Oh, no. you own your destiny and whatever you are getting is a reflection of what you are doing or not doing.

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IDEAS & BRANDS

BA-sponsored aviation students return from foreign training ix Nigerian aviation students outstanding performance during SUnited have returned home from the the training in Nigeria and United Kingdom after successfully Kingdom.

L-R: Head, Marketing, SBC, Mr. Norden Thurston and last year’s winner of the Aquafina Elite Model Look Nigeria, Miss Nneoma Anosike, at the Aquafina Elite Model Look Nigeria casting that was held recently in Lagos

100 qualify for Aquafina Elite Model final

tardom may be a beckoning for one hundred young male and female model prospects shortlisted during the final casting in Lagos for this year’s Aquafina-sponsored Elite Model Look Nigeria. The four judges had a herculean task picking the 50 male and 50 female from the over 4,000 candidates. The prequalified 100 aspiring models will undergo further selection process for the final 30 that will go into the Boot Camp. Elite Model Look is reputedlythe most renowned international modelling contest that attracts “more than 350,000 participants every year, from 800 cities, 70 countries and five continents. It is unique in providing the opportunity for young girls to enter the fashion world, become models and make fabulous careers”. Aquafina Table Water, from the makers of Pepsi has been sponsoring the Elite Model Look Nigeria since 2013. This year, male models have been

given opportunity to be part of the global cast for Elite Look. The winners in the male and female categories will represent Nigeria at the global contest and stand the chance of winning $150,000. Commenting on Aquafina’s sponsorship of the Aquafina Elite Model Look Nigeria, Seven-Up Bottling Company’s head of marketing, Mr. Norden Thurston, said: “Aquafina as one of the biggest water brands in the world is delighted to partner with Elite Model Look to give young Nigerians a platform to aspire to the zenith of international modeling and fashion. We believe that beauty comes from within and is a function of clean and pure habits, especially eating good food and drinking clean water; this creates a synergy for Aquafina with Elite Model Look Nigeria as the participants portray the benefits of drinking purity guaranteed Aquafina Premium water.” Thurston said both PepsiCo

and Seven-Up Bottling Company believe in the talent and ability that reside in the Nigerian youth and have consistently provided opportunities for them to express themselves, be it in music, football or education through a number of consumer empowerment schemes. Some of the pre-qualified contestants expressed delight with Aquafina for giving them the opportunity to live their dreams of becoming international models. Neoma Anosike, an 18–year-old won the 2013 edition and had an impressive showing in the global contest in China where she represented Nigeria. Other super models such as Cindy Crawford, Gisele Bundchen, Chika Emmanuella all emerged from this platform. First runner up in Mr. World contest and current Mr. Nigeria, Emmanuel Ikubese, commended Aquafina for sponsoring Aquafina Elite Model Look Nigeria, as such youth-oriented platforms paved the way for his discovery.

completing the inaugural British Airways’ Leaders of Tomorrow programme, an internship aimed at promoting excellence in Nigerian aviation. The two-week internship included spending a week with the airline’s commercial team in Lagos and another visiting various departments from engineering to revenue management at its head office in Waterside, United Kingdom. It culminated with Keith Williams, British Airways’ chief executive, presenting the six undergraduate students of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, with global airline aviation training certificates. They are Abimbola Caulcrick, Fajemisin Peter Adebola, Adachie Eneojo, Banigo Michael, Ubong George Itok, and Ogunranti Olaluwa. Williams said the British Airways Leaders of Tomorrow programme celebrates the aspirations of young aviation students who represent the future of aviation in Nigeria. He commended the winners for their

“We embarked on the Leaders of Tomorrow initiative because we recognise how important a robust and well-run aviation sector is for any economy and particularly one with as much potential as Nigeria. We hope that the knowledge, expertise and experience we were able to pass on to these students will contribute to in some small way to the future of Nigerian aviation,” he said. Fajemisin Peter, one of the winners who spoke on behalf of the others after receiving their certificates, thanked British Airways for its commitment to the programme: “On behalf of all the winners, we want to express our appreciation to British Airways for doing this for Nigeria. This internship gave us access to extensive and professional aviation training, covering both theory and practice and which was championed by experts. With what we have learned throughout the programme, I can confidently say that we will be going back to promote excellence in the Nigeria aviation sector.”

Tecno Mobile unveils Phantom Z Smartphone T ecno Mobile has unveiled its Phantom Z in an event that saw 10 lucky consumers winning a Phantom Z each. Speaking at the event, Deputy General Manager, TECNO Mobile, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo, remarked that the entry of Phantom Z is a great milestone for the company because it offers superior features for Smartphone users. “Phantom Z is about to revolutionalize how Smartphone is being used in Nigeria. It also comes with a data bundle from MTN, Etisalat, Glo and Airtel. Our products have won several prestigious awards in the last two years.” The device is powered by Android 4.4 Kitkat OS. The new entrant boasts features like - 7.9mm unibody design; 2GB RAM that can store memory of up to 32GB; 3030mAH battery that delivers 24 hours of talk time with up to 960 hours of standby time on a 3G network. It also flaunts a stylish high-

end back cover, a dual camera complete with the first dual flash camera that allows the user to create stunning selfies at daytime or nighttime. Its 5.2 inch, 1920x1080p Full HD screen makes use of the latest AMOLED screen technology to ensure high pixel density and high contrast ratio and with anti-scratch and anti-fingerprint surface. Head of public relations, TRANSSION Holdings, Mounir Boukali said: “What we have seen in Nigeria is an increased adoption of TECNO Mobile’s Smartphone products, the Phantom A+ was a huge success in Nigeria and we believe Nigerians are ready for a high-end Smartphone experience.” “The Phantom Z will revolutionize how Nigerians interact with mobile technology due to the speed provided by the world’s first true Octa-core processor, Mediatek’s MT6592 developed by our technology.”

PRRedline wins CAMA’s Outstanding PR Agency of the year award

RRedline, has emerged as Nigeria’s Outstanding PR Company of the Year 2014 for its outstanding works on local and international brands such as MoneyGram, Heritage Bank, Osun State Government, PZ, Doyin Group, Myer Fruit Juice and others. This recognition came at the 5th Classic Africa Merit Award (CAMA) organized by the Classic International Magazine. According to the Organizers of the Award, PRRedline, a subsidiary of Centrespread Integrated Marketing Communications Group, was picked for the honour

ahead of other agencies in the same category based on critical evaluation of the depth of professionalism deployed into stakeholder communications of the activities of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and its handling of Heritage Bank’s corporate reputation. Head of Strategy and Business Development, Aishat Bello-Garuba, noted that PRRedline was grateful for the recognition by the management of Classic Magazine, adding that “the award has further challenged us to do more and deliver the best at L-R: Head, Media Relations, PRRedline, Eric Eghaghe; Princess Lady Zpee of Zpee Production; Mrs Titilola Aboyade-Cole, Managing Director, all times for our stake- Podium International; Head, Strategy and Business Development, PRRedline, Aishat Bello-Garuba and Head, Media Research & Analysis, holders”. PRRedline, Ganiyu Olowu receiving Classic Africa Merit Award Outstanding PR Company of the Year Award plaque in Lagos

THE ARTS

Music Festival Plaudits for the Lagos City Chorale on the world stage p.33

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A snapshot of life as Araism returns from Florida Members of the art movement, Araism, preps for a five-day exhibition in Lagos, writes TONY OKUYEME.

fter stamping its creative authority on the American soil with a glamorous opening ceremony of its first ever international exhibition – a 40-day expose - in Florida, United States, Araism Movement 13 is back in Nigeria with a sequel to the international exhibition. Now slated for the Red Door Art Gallery on Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, it is titled “Araism Movement 13: Return From Florida” and will open on Thursday, September 4, from 5pm. The show will, however, remain mounted till Monday, September 8, artist and founder of Araism, Mr. Mufu Onifade said in a statement, adding that this Nigerian leg of the show is a testimony to its proclamation as the country’s most consistent art group. It is also an opportunity to interact with the Nigerian art publics. Araism Movement 13 will feature the same seven artists whose works were shown to the American audience: Mufu Onifade (founder of the movement), Abiola Mautin Akande, Oludotun Popoola, Oluwanbe Amodu, George Egunjobi, Jonathan Imafidor and Odumbo Adeniran. Each of the participating artists will contribute some of the works shown in Florida. As exhibited in Florida, all works on display reflect as a mirror on what is described by Robyn Vegas, the Florida show’s co-curator, as “a snapshot of life in Africa where life began”. Onifade also said Araism Movement 13 will present 21 works in all and these include Tibi Tire (Pain and Gain), Ibale (White Handkerchief), and Community Police by Mufu Onifade; Motherhood and Bini Chief by Jonathan Imafidor; Dolphin, Awelewa (Symbol of Beauty) and Oba Eye (Peacock) by Oludotun Popoola. Others are Adeniran Odumbo’s Living on Stilts, Sand Boats, King's Guard, and Lagos Yellow; Oluwanbe Amodu’s Asale Ere (Night of Performance), From Lagos to Yankee, and OnaKan O Woja (Access Roads). George Egunjobi will present Oracle’s Language, Spokesman and Moremi (Courageous Queen). As described by Robyn Vegas, all the 21 works, with the exception of Popoola’s Dolphin, address one social issue or the other that are of African authenticity. “The Movement’s return to exhibition space in Nigeria after its sojourn to the USA is a continuation of the imprints of its exhibition series. It is also the Movement’s sustenance of its tradition of consistency. Our first international appearance in the US testified to the quality of our works produced by individual members and we were appreciated for it. We are delighted at the reception accorded us, and the fact that we are progressing with history,” Onifade stated. On his part, secretary of the Movement, Popoola who was on the advance party to the US and led other members back to Nigeria, is still reeling in excitement. “Apart from the Founder, we were

Dolphin by Oludotun Popoola

A o Merin Joba by Abiola Mautin Akande

Community Police by Mufu Onifade

all first-time travelers. The show was an eye opener. And this has become one of Araism Movement’s invaluable advantages to our individual practice,” he said. This 13th edition of Araism Movement’s exhibition series will be curated by Bola Asiru whose gallery, since its opening last year, has maintained a high level of professionalism in its handling of art. On the hosting of Araism Movement for the first time in his gallery, Asiru explained that the Red Door Art Gallery’s interest in Araism Movement was spurred by the group’s “consistency and sustainability of quality in its members’ creative output”. This, he argues, will appeal to any gallery and “we will do our bit, hoping the Move-

ment will continue to sustain the tradition for which it is widely known”. This clean bill of health for the Movement is further reinforced in the Red Door’s Gallery Statement for the show: “We encourage everyone to treat this exhibition as a journey of immersion - first of all immerse yourself in the unique Araism technique and subsequently, immerse yourself into the unique message behind each work that has been selected for the show.” The statement noted further that “the exhibition was envisioned as a celebration of a return from a long journey after exhibiting Araism in the United States. But indeed, it will begin a new journey for African art observers and Araism followers worldwide."

REFLECTION

Whither goeth the sourness in our yoghurt? Timothy Akinleye

Time changes even as it flies, Peoples, seasons and time change; And so much have our lives. In utter awe and amazement watched I something strange: The travail of two 'pepper thieves' On trial in the crude court of men A teenager crying for mercy and a woman pleading on bended knees They pleaded with their captors again and then. In the palace of a ruler Stripped to their bare skins, Two females at the mercy of heartless selfrighteous 'law enforcers' In full glare of all with no veil to shield their sins. Hardened against their pains and shame On them poured liquified pepper as body lotion Their tender skin twitching to the burning flame The sobs and the pleadings for mercy set in riveting motion. Their skins glowing in sweaty mixture of pain and horror! Not satisfied, their tormentors went a step further and deeper too! They opened them up! Yes, they did indeed pour Freshly ground hot pepper in a plastic bottle. Men, grabbing arms and legs of helpless women with contempt, Amid cries, sobs and entreaties spread wide... In they emptied the liquified peppery content! All down into the private passage between their thighs while... The strident echoes of painful cries rang through the air. And rivers of sympathy filled my eyes My lips vibrating in disbelief, I could only mutter, 'this is not fair' It was somewhere in Lagos... Centre of Excellence! Accused of stealing pepper in the market, not far away, Miscreants had a field day In a Kangaroo Court, jungle justice held sway, The accused recklessly violated all the way. For the last time, one of the victims her eyes closes, Yes! She passes away, painfully! Humiliated! Dehumanised! On many occasions, such heinous crimes, Undiluted callousness and uncivilised brutality go unpenalised. Like a rudderless wilderness, Where might tames justice And Peace takes flight without a witness, Anarchy and oppression with time takes office. Indeed, things have changed. Our over-sweetened yoghurt has lost its sourness The mark of its nutritional value damaged Begging the question: Wither goeth our sense of oneness? copyright Tim: August 2014

Man City open defence against Newcastle

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Wenger: Koscielny for Palace clash

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Mikel, Osaze, Anichebe on the march zzAs Ideye faces EPL baptism

Adekunle Salami

s the English Premier League kicks off today in England, Super Eagles players are again on the march to boost their respective careers especially as the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers draw near. Three strikers – Osaze Odemwinge, Victor Anichebe and Brown Ideye – are not sure of a regular starting role in the national team and the new season affords them the opportunity

to convince the Super Eagles handlers of their abilities. Fenerbahce of Turkey’s Emmanuel Emenike is the only Nigerian striker sure of a starter’s role in the Eagles on current form. No doubt, Osaze will not only be thinking of Stoke City as the season begins today while Ideye and Anichebe who were not part of the party to Brazil for the World Cup will attempt to do well for West Brom to attract the attention of national team selectors. Osaze was on target for Stoke six times in

15 games last season after joining the team during the January transfer window. Anichebe could only manage three goals in 24 appearances for West Brom and Ideye who just joined the EPL scored five times in seven games for Dynamo Kiev. He however scored 33 goals for the team in 74 appearances over three seasons. The duo of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses will also be working hard to make an imContinue on page 27

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Umeh cautions F/Eagles, Falconets against complacency

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Nigerian B’Ball league ‘pathetic’ – FIBA

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Abia Warriors march out in customised bags

Debut goal thrills Eugene Obi

ormer Kano Pillars midfielder, Eugene Obi, was over the moon after recording his first league goal for his new club, El-Kanemi Warriors. Obi gave his new side the three points on Wednesday against FC Taraba at the dead as the game was heading to a stalemate. The midfielder scored through a free kick in the 92nd minute of the game to send their fans into frenzy. Obioma Arinze had earlier missed a penalty in the 77th minute for El-Kanemi. Speaking with League Rendezvous, Obi said he was very happy helping his club to get the maximum points in the game. “All I wanted to do when we got the free-kick was to put the ball at the back of the net. I have been practising free kicks on my own, and I was happy it gave my team the victory. “I am ready to give everything to the team anytime. Our target is to get a continental ticket at the end of the season and that is what we are working towards,” he said. The former Lobi Stars player said he was not setting any goals target for himself, but is ready to weigh in with the goals anytime he has the opportunity.

Eugene

El-Kanemi’s Akinbode Jelili (right) in action against Kaduna United

Enyimba seek revenge against Abia Warriors

nyimba will this weekend in Aba seek to revenge their home loss against Abia Warriors in the first half of the season and also strengthen their quest to wrestle the league title from Kano Pillars. Abia Warriors inflicted on Enyimba their only home loss this season, and the former champions will be hoping to put their city rivals where they belong. The skipper of the Aba Elephants, Chinedu Udoji, says the players are prepared for their opponents and nothing short of victory will be acceptable.

zz As Crown, Nembe, continue battle for survival “We are aiming to win the league and the only way to do that is by winning our matches. “It was very painful losing at home to our city rival at the beginning of the season, and the only way to atone for the dropped points is to defeat them this weekend,” he said. Meanwhile, the battle for survival at the bottom of the league table continues with Crown hosting Sharks in Ibadan, while Nembe will be away to FC Taraba. Speaking with our correspon-

dent, the coach of Crown, Daniel Ogunmodede, said the club would continue to battle for survival until the end of the season. “We have resolved to escape relegation by making sure we win all our home matches while picking few points away. “I have told the players to play with their whole heart and help the club to escape the drop to the lower division, and I am hopeful that by special grace of God and hard work, we will achieve our target,” he said.

Osaguona ready to break Aneke’s record

angers striker, Osaguona Ighodaro, has voiced his determination to break Jude Aneke’s 20-goal record. The former Shooting Stars of Ibadan striker is currently the top scorer of the Nigeria Professional Football League with 13 goals, eight shy of the record number of goals. Last season he was with relegated 3SC of Ibadan

where he managed to score only five goals despite scoring an impressive 21 goals during pre-season for the club. The striker said that with an average of a goal per match till the end of the season, he could break the goal record. “I am taking it one game at a time, I don’t want to rush, but with what I have achieved so far, I believe I

can break the record. “With 15 matches to go, if I can score at least a goal per match, I can easily surpass the 20 goals mark and create another record of my own in the league,” he said. Osaguona will hope to make it 14 goals this weekend as his team files out against Giwa FC in one of the Week 24 NPFL matches.

Players in coat of many colours

igerian league players have been wearing different types of jersey while playing league matches despite playing for the same club. Investigations by League Rendezvous exposed the embarrassing development in various venues across the country thereby making the league the laughing stock among other leagues on the continent. While some players

wear the new season’s jerseys with their names written at the back, some others will be playing with the previous season’s jerseys. The difference is so glaring due to the design on the respective jerseys. Also, some of the players use a piece of cloth to cover the name of the player who previously used the jersey with the new player ’s name written with a marker. Speaking with our correspondent, a player with

one of the clubs said he was given the jersey at the inception of the second half of the season after the departure of the original owner to another club. “I was not registered at the beginning of the season, but after one of our players left for another club I was given his jersey because there were no extra jerseys. They had to cover his name with another cloth to be able to put my name on it,” he said.

MATCH DAY 24 FIXTURES Bayelsa Utd vs Kaduna Utd Sunshine Stars vs Dolphins Crown vs Sharks FC Taraba vs Nembe Rangers vs Giwa Heartland vs Gombe Akwa Utd vs El-Kanemi Lobi vs Nasarawa Abia Warriors vs Enyimba Warri Wolves vs Kano Pillars

t was a big surprise to League Rendezvous when the players of Abia Warriors arrived for their league match against Nembe City in Omoku, Rivers State, midweek. The players marching down from the club bus were seen clutching customised bag bearing the club’s logo to the admiration of fans around. When our correspondent approached Team Manager of the club, Offor Abiayi, he revealed that the need to make the club a real professional outfit informed the production of the customised bags among other things. The official are revealed that they were still expecting the delivery of customised suits for the players. “Our target is to be a real professional club in Nigeria, we have been watching some of the big clubs around the world and we are working towards becoming one of them. “Apart from the bags, you can see that the players are putting on our regular club’s sport wear, but the club will soon take delivery of our official suit that will be used by the players and officials whenever we are going for matches,” he said. When asked if fans can easily get a replica of kit, he said they were available at a reasonable price. The club is currently fifth on the league table, four points behind Kano Pillars who sit atop the table as they seek a continental ticket at the end of the season.

Abia Warriors’ customised bags

TOP SCORERS

Glo league table No

Team

Pts

Kano Pillars

Nasarawa Utd

Dolphins FC

Enyimba

Abia Warriors

Sharks FC

Warri Wolves

Lobi Stars FC

-3

Sunshine Stars

El-Kanemi

Giwa FC

Akwa Utd

-2

Heartland FC

FC Taraba

-7

Gombe Utd

Rangers

Kaduna Utd

-8

Bayelsa Utd

-9

Crown FC

-12

Nembe City

-21

13 Goals Osaguona Ighodaro (Rangers) 11 Goals Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars) 10 Goals Peter Ebimobowei (Bayelsa United) Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves) 9 Goals Mfon Udoh (Enyimba) Adamu Mohammed (Gombe United) 8 Goals Bright Ejike (Heartland) Peter Onyekachi (Abia Warriors) Adamu Hassan (Kano Pillars) Emem Eduok (Dolphins) Ifeanyi Egwim (Dolphins) Christian Pyagbara (Sharks) 7 Goals Babalo Haruna (Gombe United) Isah Aminu (Kaduna United)

Mikel, Osaze, Anichebe on the march again

Nigerian league ‘pathetic’ – FIBA Ifeanyi Ibeh

asketball’s governing body, FIBA, has passed a scathing verdict on the Nigerian Premier Basketball League, insisting that the country’s national championship is ‘pathetic’. This disclosure was made during the week by newly elected president of FIBA Africa Zone-3, Samuel Ahmedu, who revealed that some FIBA officials are of the opinion that certain aspects of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League are not up to the internationally acceptable standard. One particular area Nigeria was found wanting, according to Ahmedu, a retired Nigerian Army Colonel, was the standard of the court situated inside the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos. “FIBA rules are very clear on the dimensions of a basketball court. A basketball court must have a border area of two metres, but the one used this season in Lagos does not have a two-metre border area,” said Ahmedu. “A basketball court, according to FIBA guidelines, must be marked in a certain way but the one in Lagos isn’t and that is why they feel that our league is pathetic.”

SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

CONTINUED from PAGE 25

pression in the star-studded Chelsea team beginning from Monday when the team travels to Burnley for their season’s opener. Moses was on loan to Liverpool and in 19 appearances, he only had six starts and just a goal in the whole of last season. Mikel featured in 24 games with only 11 starts and also had a goal to his credit. Sad enough, Moses and Mikel performed below expectations at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup in the colours of Nigeria. A former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siaisa, has charged the players in the EPL to use the competition to boost their careers. Siasia said;

Mikel

“Nigerians are more exposed to the EPL than other leagues. For the players in the EPL, it is a big avenue to show the world and people back home how good you are. “The exposure is there and all the templates needed, it is left for the players to up their game. To be in the national team, the job will start from the club level.” Another former international, Seyi Olofijana, stressed that with hard work, Nigerians would always excel in the EPL. “The EPL involves so much strength and Nigerians are naturally endowed physically. With seriousness on the part of the players, they will always stand out. We all remember the impact made by Nwankwo Kanu, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Austin Okocha,” Olofinjana said. Kanu was impressive with Arsenal winning the league title and the FA Cup with the Gunners. Aiyegbeni for many seasons was scoring more than 20 goals in the EPL. He featured for Everton, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough.

Women need support to dominate T’Tennis like men, says Offiong Ajibade Olusesan

op table tennis player, Edem Offiong, has said that Nigerian women ping-pongers need more support to emulate their male counterparts. Nigerian male table tennis players have thrived on the global stage far more than women. Players like Babatunde Obisanya, Atanda Musa, Segun Toriola, and Monday Merountohun dominated Africa for a long time but their female counterparts never enjoyed such dominance. In fact, men’s team won the only table tennis medal for the country at the just concluded Glasgow Commonwealth Games whereas women crashed out early in all their events. But in an interview with our correspondent Offiong said that the ladies need more encouragement to do as well as men in the game. “We are very happy that the men are doing well, we celebrated with

them when they won the bronze medal in Glasgow. I know that the women can also do well but I don’t think we have enough support. The talents are there, it is just that we don’t have the right kind of push. I am sure, if we have the equipment, the facility and sponsorship we can develop very well,” she said. The former national champion however praised the current leadership of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation saying that the Enitan Oshodi-led board is working hard to reposition the sport in the country. “The current board is trying. I am sure we would have gone far if we had somebody like our President in charge. We are attending competitions now; there are more competitions at home for us, international competitions too and now we are reaping the benefit. We did not win any medal four years ago in India and now we came back home with a bronze medal, that is progress,” she said.

Offiong

We deserved our Commonwealth Games medals, says Elegbeleye Charles Ogundiya

irector General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has stated that the medals won by Team Nigeria at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, were achieved through hard work, insisting that the performance of the country’s athletes was no fluke. Elegbeleye, in an interview with New Telegraph in Akure, Ondo state, said the country’s athletes prepared very well for the Glasgow Games, debunking the common notion that there was no proper preparation for the Games. “I don’t know why everybody keeps saying that we didn’t prepare well for the competition,” said the NSC DG. “Telling the whole world about your preparation is tantamount to exposing yourself and failure could be the outcome; that is why we kept the preparation away from the public. “We gave the athletes everything they needed to prepare for the competition and you can all see the results with the number of medals won by the country,” said Elegbeleye, who added that the aim of every country at international competitions was to win medals. On the country’s plans ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Elegbeleye said arrangements were in place to monitor all the athletes who won medals at the Glasgow Games, as well as those who progressed to the latter stages of the various events. “We plan to keep tabs on all our medallists, as well as those who went far in their respective events,” said the NSC chieftain. “We will not leave any stone unturned to win medals in Rio. “The performance of the country at the last Olympic Games in London was not acceptable and we are going to win medals in Brazil to make Nigerians happy like we did in Glasgow,” added Elegbeleye.

Umeh cautions F’Eagles, Falconets against complacency

cting President of Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Mike Umeh, has called on players and officials of the U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, and the U-20 Women National Team, Falconets, to guard against complacency in important international matches this weekend. The U-20 boys host their counterparts from Lesotho in a 2015 African Youth Championship qualifying series final round, first leg encounter at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Saturday, while the girls lock horns with New Zealand in the quarter finals of the 7th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in

Canada. “It is important that our U-20 boys and girls approach their different matches with utmost seriousness. I mean that they should banish the temptation to underrate their opponents,” Umeh, himself a one-time Team Manager of the Senior National Team, said in Abuja on Thursday. Lesotho has a far smaller name in African football than Nigeria and there will definitely be the temptation to underrate the visitors. “But football is no longer that way and any socalled big team that takes the opposition for granted could

leave itself open for a sucker punch.” The delegation of the Junior Crocodiles is scheduled to arrive in Abuja on Friday, before heading to Kaduna. It would be recalled that Lesotho defeated more-fancied Angola home and away in the previous round of the qualifying series. However, the Flying Eagles, loaded with record fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup winners in United Arab Emirates last year, also dismissed Tanzania home and away in the previous round. Umeh also told the U-20 girls, Falconets, not to look down on their quarterfinal opponents,

New Zealand. “It is true that our girls have been improving steadily with each match and I am happy about that. But they should not under-estimate the New Zealand girls, who defeated Paraguay and won handsomely against Costa Rica to reach this stage.” Victory in Saturday’s match will stand the Flying Eagles in good stead for a spot at the 2015 African Youth Championship, while victory over New Zealand on Sunday will earn the Falconets their third successive semi final berth at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals.

Umeh

est Ham may return to Metz in a surprise move to take Diafra Sakho to Upton

‘Sakho deal not dead”

obinho’s agent has admitted that ‘technically’, the Brazilian could return to Milan at the end of his loan with Santos. “It is still too early to talk about Robinho, but technically it is correct that he could return to Milan,” Marisa Ramos told reporters. “Were his loan not to be extended then he would return to the Rossoneri in 12 months’ time.”

Robinho may return to Milan – Agent

TRANSFERS

espite Isco putting in a string of decent performances on Real Madrid’s US tour and having trained at Valdebebas from the first day of pre-season, Ancelotti decided to start James Rodriguez in the Super Cup against Sevilla in Cardiff. The Spanish attacking midfielder, who Carletto tried out as a false ‘9’ and roaming central midfielder in the US, had to settle for coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes of the UEFA Super Cup, just as he did in the Champions League final, when he came on the for last 30 minutes to turn the game completely on its head. Ancelotti had planned to test out the starting XI that he expects to field for most of the season - even if that meant fielding James and Toni Kroos, who were both making their Real Madrid debuts – and benching Isco and Illarra, who had both played every game in pre-season. Isco is now expected to regain his place in Warsaw this Saturday in an international friendly and challenge for a place in the team to face Atlético in the Spanish Super Cup first-leg at the Bernabéu on Tuesday 19th August.

Isco ready for Real starting role in Warsaw

ajibade.olusesan@newtelegraphonline.com

ajibade oluSesan

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

NEW TELEGRAPH

Balotelli

anchester City

crew to look ahead to this

Silva

3-3 draw against Marseille, showing impressive potency in attack. Last season’s runners-up Monaco travel to Bordeaux with new coach Leonardo Jardim still searching for his first competitive win since taking over from Claudio Ranieri.

make his eagerly anticipated Premier League debut as Manchester United manager when Swansea City visit Old Trafford in Saturday’s early kick-off. Previous boss David Moyes opened last campaign with a 4-1 victory over the same opponents and the for the coming season, adding Scot’s successor is to

There has been just one draw in the past eight meetings between the sides, but you cannot bet on them sharing the spoils this time out. After the misery of the Moyes era, Van Gaal’s arrival has restored optimism around Old Trafford this summer thanks to an impressive preseason campaign.

Van Gaal in baptism of fire against Swansea ouis van Gaal will rable win on Saturday.

rsene Wenger says Laurent Koscielny should be fit to face Crystal Palace today despite sustaining a knock to his Achilles. The French international went off at halftime of Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield victory over Man City to be replaced by Nacho Monreal and it had been suggested the Spanish left-back could retain his central defence berth for the season opener. “Koscielny had a knock on his Achilles but he should be available for Saturday,” Wenger told Arsenal Player on Thursday. Given Per Mertesacker is unavailable having just returned from his post-World Cup holiday and Thomas Vermaelen is no longer on the books it’s just as well Kos is available, his experience marshalling things next to young Calum Chambers is much needed.

Wenger: Koscielny for Palace clash

aris Saint-Germain will need to overcome the absence of Thiago Silva in order to kick-start their Ligue 1 title defence by beating Bastia. The defending champions host the Corsicans at the Parc des Princes on Saturday and will be have a point to prove after being held 2-2 at Reims in the season opener last Friday. However, Laurent Blanc’s men will have to do so without skipper Silva, who is set to be out for several weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in a friendly with Napoli on Monday. That should serve as welcome news to a Bastia side that began life under Claude Makelele with a

Silva blow for PSG as Jardim seeks Monaco win

Man City open defence against Newcastle

iuseppe Rossi believes that the Italian people are putting too much pressure on Mario Balotelli. The pair have played regularly for the national team, and the Fiorentina striker has claimed that fans on the peninsula expect far too much from the Milan man. “No great team should rotate around one single player,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “It takes a whole squad to divide tasks and responsibilities. “It seems that everything depends on him. The focus on Mario is exaggerated so much.”

Rossi: Too much pressure on Balotelli G

Global Football Special

Arsenal Having ended their trophy drought with an FA Cup victory

Liverpool The Reds head into this campaign with some confidence after moving from pretenders to contenders. They finished second at the end of last season. However, it remains to be seen how they would cope with the departure of their talisman, Sturridge Luis Suarez, whom they have sold to Bar- celona this summer. Suarez scored amazing 31 league goals as they surprisingly led the Premier league table until they capitulated in the dying minutes of the campaign. Although Coach Brendan Rodgers has been desperate to cover the void left by Suarez with heavy investment in new players but critics don’t feel Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic can combine to do the job. The coach will give Daniel Sturridge more responsibilities, more of the goals are expected to come from him with Lallana and last season’s revelation, Raheem Sterling, expected to weigh with some goals too.

Manchester City Manchester City won the title on the last day of the tournament with a 2-0 win over West Ham. Similar scenario played out three years ago when they won the trophy; they had to battle till the last minute to pip city rivals, Manchester United, to the gong. They know that the battle will get Aguero fiercer this time because rivals have reinforced heavily but City will surely not surrender their title without a fight. City have a squad with incredible depth heading into this summer transfer market but Manuel Pellegrini still added six players to his star-studded cast. They have brought in Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero, Bruno Zuculini, Frank Lampard, Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando Domestic success might not excite their fans as much as a good showing on the continent, and the ambition to make a point in the Champions League might cause them a slight loss of concentration in the run for EPL title.

he 2014/15 English Premier League season kicks off today and this campaign promises to be more competitive than last term’s. Manchester City won the title with 86 points, two ahead of Liverpool, while Chelsea (82) and Arsenal (79) are the other clubs in the top four. These clubs will be the frontrunners again but Manchester United who finished in the 7th position are also expected to fight for the trophy.

Ajibade Olusesan

Focus on EPL gladiators

28 SPORT NEW TELEGRAP 16 AUGU

Leicester City

QPR

Stoke City

West Brom

West Ham

Arsenal

Newcastle

Chelsea

Lorient

Metz

Rennes

Toulouse

Lyon

Evian TG

Nantes

Nice

Guingamp

Bastia

Montezemolo

they won the EPL title for the second time in two years. But Coach Manuel Pellegrini will work hard to get the player committed as much this time after he threatened to quit the side because they forgot his birthday and refused to allow him visit his sick brother. Toure is a box-to-box midfielder who relies on his passing and physical strength to wreak havoc on opponents. If he can shrug of resentment towards the club’s hierarchy and get over his younger brother ’s death, he can emerge as one of EPL’s best again.

Luca di Montezemolo has dismissed “unfounded gossip” about Fernando Alonso’s future at Ferrari. The Italian marque’s colourful president was responding to what he described as typical “summer” speculation that the Spaniard could be looking to end his contract early and switch to another team. At the same time, there have been rumours that Alonso, already reportedly the highest paid driver in F1, is demanding a huge pay-rise from Ferrari.

SPORT BRIEFLY

Yaya Toure Yaya Toure was unarguably the best performer for Man City last term as

Cesc Fabregas Former Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, understands the league very well and he is not expected to struggle in his second spell in England. His move to Chelsea was shocking to many Gunners fans and he must work hard to make himself a darling to the Blues fans. He will be the creative force for Chelsea and they can also count on him for goals.

United challenge for the title.

The former Netherlands coach is yet to be beaten as Red Devils boss, having led the side to five wins and one penalty shootout victory in six fixtures over the past few weeks.

Tiger Woods ruled himself out of contention for a wildcard spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team due to lingering back problems on Wednesday and has been told by doctors not to play or practice until his condition improves, said the former world No. 1. Woods, who had surgery in March to treat a pinched nerve and has played just eight tournaments this year, asked U.S. captain Tom Watson not to consider him for one of three wildcard picks for the biennial team competition against Europe next month.

Monaco

Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney the New Manchester United captain is expected to play a leading role in the Red Devils redemption under Louis van Gaal. He is a fighter who has eyes for goals, he has scored career 173 Premier League goals in his 374 matches since he featured for Everton in 2003 and he is expected to add more to help Manchester

piped Real Madrid and Barcelona to the league title. He also helped them reach the final of the UEFA Champions League. He arrived the Stamford Bridge to solve the scoring problem at the club and he is expected to be the star man for Jose Mourinho.

follow suit by coming out on top here. However, the Swans gained their revenge by knocking United out of the FA Cup in January’s third-round clash on this ground and can earn another memo-

Bury boxer Muhammad Ali insists revenge is on his mind as he eyes gold at next week’s Youth Olympic Games. Ali has already enjoyed a year to remember after winning silver at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Bulgaria back in April, following on from his national and Three Nations triumphs. “I was buzzing when I found out I would be going to Nanjing because it shows that all the hard work in training has paid off and I am really looking forward to it,” said Ali, who will fight in the 52kg category.

Bordeaux

Reims

Montpellier

Diego Costa Diego Costa must hit the ground running following his big money move from Atletico Madrid. He scored a massive 36 goals in all competitions for his former club last term, 27 of them in the La Liga as the Mattress Makers

Alexis Sanchez Alexis Sanchez’s arrival in the Premier League this season makes it more exciting, although it remains to be seen how far he can go in his first season. He is a tireless worker and can fit into many roles in the attack. He can play as a winger in both wings and can also feature as the lone striker upfront. He has incredible eyes for goals and excellent dribbling skills.

Emmanuel Riviere and Siem de Jong. Two 2014 World Cup players will also be suiting up for the Magpies in Dutchmen Daryl Janmaat and Tim Krul. Nevertheless, Newcastle are in for a tough season opener against the defending champions. Manchester City led the league in scoring last season with a total of 102 goals in 38 matches. Ivorian powerhouse Yaya Toure topped the team’s goalscoring charts with 20, the most in his career.

Stars to watch

opener. Both teams enter the new Premier League campaign having totally revitalised their rosters. Manchester City signed Bacary Sagna Willy Caballero, Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala. Also added were Bruno Zuculini and Frank Lampard. After finishing in the top five two seasons ago, Newcastle United’s offense struggled mightily in the 2013-2014 Premier League. They have done their best to bolster their roster

Tiger Woods

Saint-Étienne

begin their title defence on Sunday with a visit to St. James Park against Newcastle United and will be keen to kick off their campaign with three points. They did not get off to the best of starts after a 3-0 loss at the hands of FA Cup holders Arsenal cost the reigning Premier League champions their first silverware of the campaign, the Community Shield. As such, it’s now time for Manuel Pellegrini and his

Muhammad Ali

Marseille

Sunday

Lens

Man City

Southampton

Ligue 1

PSG

Burnley

Liverpool

Monday

Crystal Palace

Tottenham

Sunderland

Aston Villa

Hull City

Everton

Swansea

Sunday

Man United

Saturday

Premier League

FIXTURES

Park. Despite negotiations apparently breaking down and the French club seemingly ready to report the Irons to Uefa, we understand talks could continue. But a club insider told ClaretandHugh: “That particular move may not necessarily be dead – watch this space.” We understand that cash for fees is very short which is why a loan, with a view to a permanent deal once the club has had the chance to take a look at Sakho, was put on the table.

Chelsea Jose Mourinho is aware that another trophy-less season will not be tolerated by the club owner, Roman Abrahamovic and he will throw everything into reclaiming the league title for the Blues. They were very close last seaHazard son, in fact they were leading the table with just nine games to the end of the campaign but surprise defeats in the hands of Aston Villa, Sunderland and Crystal Palace wrecked their dreams. The team greatest undoing last term was lack of fire-power but Mourinho appears to have solved the issue after overseeing the capture of Diego Costa and return of Blues legend Didier Drogba. Cesc Fabragas who was brought in from Barcelona has plenty of Premier League experience and is expected to make the former European champions even stronger. Mourinho records show that his team gets stronger in his second year in charge and EPL fans should expect a vastly improved all-round performance from the Blues but can they win the league? Surely, they are one of the hot favourites.

Manchester United The Red Devils have looked like a rejuvenated side under new manager, Louis Van Gaal after a torrid experience during ignoble David Moyes’ reign last season. The 20-time winners finished the season in a pitiable 7th position, their worst in more than 20 van Persie years and will be desperate to leave that experience behind them. Although Van Gaal is a vastly experienced tactician, he is not expected to pick the gong in his first season but Manchester United can never be written off still. Despite recording 100 percent success in their preseason run, including victories over Real Madrid, Liverpool and Valencia, Man Utd are still far from a side capable of dominating England. They lost some of the key players of the last phase of Sir Alex Ferguson’s golden reign, including Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs at the end of last season. Although Luke Shaw and Anders Herrera have been brought in this summer they still need to make a few more world-class additions, especially in the defence before they can catch up with the rest of the contenders.

last season, the question is whether Arsenal can be counted as a true Premier League contender this term. The Gunners have not finished higher than third since 2004-05 seaRamsey son, in fact it is more than a decade since they last won the title but their fans can raise their hopes following recent success. Arsenal won their second trophy within the space of three months when they pummelled Premier League champions, Manchester City, 3-0 to win the Community Shield last Sunday. They have also made a strong statement of intent with shrewd business in the transfer market. Following the acquisition of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid last season Coach Arsene Wenger has brought in another high-profile player to the squad. The purchase of Alexis Sanchez proved that Wenger has abandoned his austere strategy and is ready to challenge other top guns for the signatures of the world’s best stars. PH ON SATURDAY UST 2014

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30 SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

25 years on... Okwaraji still inspires love

Vincent Eboigbe

e was the epitome of patriotism. He would routinely fly home on his bill to play for Nigeria, and if a refund were not forthcoming as was frequently the case he would take it in his stride. This is in sharp contrast to modern-day footballers that would virtually burst an artery with the stridency of their demand for money from the football federation. But that was vintage Sam Okwaraji. He was a breed apart and this obviously had something to do with his being a lawyer who had a master’s degree in international law from the University of Rome. That quality ensures that 25 years after his death on August 12, 1989 at the main bowl of the National Stadium in Lagos, Nigerians still have very fond memories of the dread-locked star. Okwaraji exploded onto the Nigerian consciousness in 1988. But between then and his death just over a year hence -

MEMORY LANE

The day Dick Tiger ended Gene Fullmer’s career

an African Nations Cup and an Olympic appearance later - he had succeeded in establishing an eternal connection with Nigerians. He was ready to represent his fatherland whether the situation was conducive or not. He did that and more until that fated day in August in 1989 during a World Cup qualifier between his beloved Nigeria and Angola. A stanza in Nigeria’s national anthem romanticises heroes in this verse: “the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain…” But has Okwaraji be done justice by Nigeria? A rather inconspicuous statue, at the entrance of the National Stadium in Lagos where Sam Okwaraji flanked by Sunday Eboigbe and Stephen Keshi during an he died in harness a quarter of Olympic qualifying match against Algeria in January 1988 a century ago, is all that serves as a memento to this illustrious son. Beyond this insignificant keepsake what has been done by the country he served with all his heart to keep his memory alive so that the younger generation can have someone to look up to in a society where heroes are as difficult to find as a needle in a haystack?

His former colleagues capture the essential Sam Sochukwuma Okwaraji. Ndubuisi Okosieme Okwaraji was a kind, earthy, playful and cheerful person. When he first came to the national camp in Enugu before the Olympic qualifier against Algeria, it was just like he had been with us for a long time. He fitted in easily because of his natural friendly disposition and the players had no choice but to accept him. We all know our country. It has always been the case that we don’t honour our heroes; even the ones that are still alive are forgotten. But Sam is someone that we should never forget given the circumstance of his death-in the national colours. He should be immortalised in a more befitting manner. Etim Esin Okwaraji’s one burning ambition was to qualify for Italia 1990 World Cup, and he did everything to realise that dream. You will recall that he schooled in Italy, played for some time in Italy too, so you can understand his determination to make sure Nigeria qualified for the World Cup that year. I could say that Sam and myself were about the most determined to qualify for the World Cup in the team then. He was like Ruud Gullit because he wore dread locks and I was compared to Diego Maradona. We were the first Eagles set to defeat Cameroun in the Italia ’90 World Cup qualifiers in Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan. Sam’s orientation was understandably different because he went to school.

I think the government can set up a foundation not only for Sam but for others, who have equally served the nation, like (Rashidi) Yekini, Alloysius (Atuegbu), (Thompson) Oliha and several others. Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola did something for Sam sometime ago; there are philanthropists who love football that can also pitch Okwaraji in, the private sector can equally help out. It cuts across many generations of footballers, and that is why when current players insist on getting their money you cannot blame because when they stop playing or get injured nobody remembers them. Emeka Ezeugo I was fortunate enough to have shared a room with Sam so I can say I was one of the players who were close to him, besides coming from the same area in Imo State. Sam was a nice guy, great company to be with. If you needed to win a game, he was the sort of guy you needed in your team as he was always prepared to get down and do the dirty job. It was a pity that we lost him the way we did. We have a line in our national anthem that talks about the labours of our heroes not being in vain, but we have not put that in practice. Imagine if it were a politician they would have named edifices and streets after him and that probably would have been someone who also looted the nation’s treasury, but sportsmen are never held in high regard. I think that a stadium

Okosieme

Ezeugo

should have been named after Sam and a fund endowed in his name that upcoming sportsmen can benefit from.

fatherland with everything he had. I used to tell him that ‘no matter how many people you dribble, if you don’t score goals nobody will remember you.’ And we celebrated his wonder strike against Cameroun at the group stage of the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. It is unfortunate that nothing has been done to imomrtalise this hero.

Henry Nwosu He was a gentleman, loving. He loved people and people loved him in return. He was a friendly person and it never mattered where you came from. He was a wonderful player who served his

n August 10, 1963 Dick Tiger defended his world middleweight title against American Gene Fullmer, their third meeting, at the Liberty Stadium, in Ibadan Nigeria, Tiger’s home nation. Heading into this fight Fullmer had gained notoriety from his four fights with the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of alltime, Sugar Ray Robinson. Fullmer boasted a 2-1-1 record over Robinson winning the first and last meetings between the pair. 10 months before their third fight, in Candlestick Park, California, Fullmer would defend his world titles against Tiger for the first time. Tiger, who lost the first four fights of his career, all against English opposition, entered the fight with a record of 45-14-2. In front of a crowd of 11,600 Tiger beat Fullmer via unanimous decision to capture the world middleweight titles and handed Fullmer only his fifth career defeat. Four months later the rematch took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and after 15 hard fought blood-drenched rounds Tiger retained his championship when the fight ended in a draw. A third and final fight was set in Nigeria, on August 10 1963. A crowd of over 35,000 produced a gate of $250,000. Tiger was guaranteed $100,000 and Fullmer $60,000. The rubber match ended after Gene Fullmer retired in his corner in round seven. This would be Fullmer’s final fight; he would end with a career record of 55-6-3. After hanging up his gloves Fullmer appeared in a cameo role in the 1968 film The Devil’s Brigade as a Montana bartender. Tiger would go on to fight and beat Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Tiger floored Rubin three times en-route to a unanimous decision, and would retire with a record of 60-19-3 cementing his legacy as one of the greatest fighters to come out of Africa. Tiger was banned from returning to Nigeria because of his involvement in the Biafran movement, which led to the Nigerian civil war. Tiger was appointed CBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but he returned his insignia as a protest for what he perceived as a lack of support by Great Britain to the Biafran cause. After retiring Tiger took a job as a security guard at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. While working he felt strong pains in his back. He got tested by doctors and was diagnosed with liver cancer, an illness which would end his life at only 42 years of age on December 14 1971.

Dick Tiger

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

SPORT

My only regret is not playing for Rangers – Duke Udi Former Nigeria international, Duke Udi, is back in the country’s top flight as coach of Jos-based Giwa FC. In this interview with CHARLES OGUNDIYA, the retired midfielder insisted that he was never the bad boy he was made out to be by the country’s media. Excerpts... Having made the transition from playing to coaching, what in your opinion is the difference? There are lots of differences. A good player might not end up becoming a good coach. In coaching, you need a level of concentration different from that of a player. Coaches need to sit down to fashion out programmes. If you win a game the players get the glory, but when you lose, the pressure falls on the coach. After losing a game, the players will still go out and enjoy themselves, but the coach has to think about how the game was lost. Giwa FC have been impressive so far in the league. What has been the secret? It is just God, the players and the proprietor, Chris Giwa. The man believes in the youth and he has been doing all he can to promote them. How were you able to get the Giwa FC job despite your lack of coaching experience? When I came in, the club was sixth on the table but only six points behind leaders, Kano Pillars. The proprietor felt I lacked the needed experience, but I told him that if he has belief in God then he should believe in what I can do for his club. I told him of my plans for his team, and he decided to place his trust in me. He told me that his belief in the country’s youths informed his decision not to employ big-time coaches as he wanted to give the youths, including young coaches, an opportunity to develop. According to him, the youths are the future of football in this country; not only football, but the country as a whole. As it stands now, very few people believe in the country’s youths, which is a big problem. Why is it so difficult these days for the country to produce fantastic footballers? Let me tell you the truth, when we played the game, we played with passion and the love for the game. But now it is all about the money. Then we wanted to make a name for ourselves, but these days that passion is no longer there. In the past it was all about integrity and trying to fight for the country’s honour but not so with the current players. Again, in the past football was for the poor, but now, even the children of ministers are playing football because they believe that is the place they can make more money, whether they know how to play or not. The footballers of today have lost the passion for the game, but if we can go back to the basics by developing from the grassroots and selecting players based on how good they are, we will be

able to produce great players again. What can you say about ex-players becoming coaches? We are changing the trend and I am happy it is happening now. We have Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Austin Eguavoen, Emmanuel Amuneke and so many others being given a chance to manage teams in the country. Despite my lack of experience, I was given the opportunity to manage a team for which I will forever be grateful to the proprietor of Giwa FC, Chris Giwa, who gave me my breakthrough in coaching. What about the level of officiating in the league? Actually, the referees have improved but a lot still needs to be done. I am sure they will soon change for the better especially once the era of giving money to referees to get points becomes a thing of the past. The younger coaches are not ready to do that. We picked this profession because of the passion we have for the work and not because of money. Some of us have played the game and now we want to pass our knowledge to the younger ones. We really want the game to grow in the country which is why we are here in the country and not overseas. The referees too will see it from our own point of view and start handling matches with total commitment without any prejudice. Has the emergence of the League Management Company changed the league? I must tell you that the LMC is doing a great job and I wish them all the best. One thing they must do is that they must stand by their beliefs. When I was playing, it was different, but the league has changed for the better since the arrival of the LMC. Now teams can win away from home, so I appreciate them and wish them all the best. How do we get fans back to league venues across the country? The first thing is security. In Europe you can bring your family to the stadium for a match. They believe they are going to watch a great game, where the two teams will give their best. But here there is no security; you cannot bring your family to a place that is not secure. In Europe and America, the players and match officials are well taken care of to ensure the better team on the day wins, but the reverse is the case in Nigeria. How did you get into football? I can say, from the beginning, that my life has evolved around football. Everything about me is football. Taking football away from me is like taking God away from me.

Every negative thing said about Duke Udi, I can categorically say, was not true. Things like ‘Duke Udi went to Europe and fought his coaches’, were all lies

So who inspired you to become a coach? I was not inspired by anybody. I was in the US to buy trucks for my haulage company, and when I got to Chicago, I saw a television advert calling on people to apply as coaches. So, I picked up my phone and called the office of the Chicago Soccer Football Federation and told them that I wished to apply, even though I was on holidays. The only question they asked me was if I had a genuine visa, and I told them I still had about two years left on my visa. I applied in the company of Seyi Ogunsanya, my former teammate at Shooting Stars and Enyimba, who has a US resident permit. We were given the opportunity to achieve our goals of becoming coaches. I never thought I would become a coach; the stress and pressure are way too enormous. When the team plays badly, it is the fault of the coach, and when they play well, nobody remembers the coach. When it comes to the sack, it is the coach who gets booted out. I guess that is why the job is just about hiring and firing. How do you cope with the pressure? It is just God. Sometimes I just try to forget what may have transpired in the previous game while looking forward to the future. Do you see yourself handling a national team soon? Seeing some of my colleagues handling the various national teams gives me a lot of joy. I am grateful to God that such is happening now and I will also give thanks to (former NFF secretary general) Taiwo Ogunjobi. He started the revolution by bringing in ex-national team players to serve as national team coaches beginning with Samson Siasia. He played football and has been around the world to understand what it takes to become a coach. Now we have so many ex-players handling various teams. Keshi is there, Amuneke is there and I am sure I will get my own opportunity very soon. What is your target for Giwa FC this season? I am a positive-minded coach, so I am sure at the end of the season, we will have something to cheer about in Giwa. You have in the past, during your playing days, been branded a bad boy by the media. What have you got to say about that? Every negative thing said about Duke Udi, I can categorically say, was not true. Things like ‘Duke Udi went to Europe and fought his coaches’, were all lies. What I did then was to fight for my right and people misconstrued it as insubordination. When you feel that someone is trying to deny you your right, the best thing is to fight for it which was what I was doing back then. But some people decided to change it by claiming that I was stubborn. If you don’t believe it, you can go on the internet and verify. What is your regret as a player? I can say my inability to play for Rangers International of Enugu is my only regret. I love the club with so much passion, but God said I would never get to play for them. It was the biggest club in my life.

32 Sport

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

Neville’s Lifestyle wife Beckham, wife voted best poses celebrity hair couple D nude

Phil Neville’s wife, Julie posing nude

ormer Manchester United and Everton defender Phil Neville is more used to putting his kit on but it seems wife Julie has gone the other way by removing all her clothes. Julie Neville decided to go nude in an advertising campaign to help launch her new health shop in Manchester’s Arndale Centre. She has even successfully converted husband Phil to vegetarianism, and she supplies the England team and several

Premier League clubs with supplements. The shop, Win Naturally, is due to open on Saturday (today) and Mrs Neville wanted to show that you can be fit and healthy naturally, so she stripped down to show off her physique. The 38-year-old told the Manchester Evening News: ‘Nowadays people are always looking for quick fixes – be it ready meals, weight loss or recovering from illness, and are too keen to put food and chemicals into their body without think-

ing about the long-term consequences. ‘The idea behind the naked photo shoot was to highlight there are ways to be the way we want to be but naturally – the way nature intended.’ When asked why he had embraced his wife’s healthy methods, Phil Neville said: ‘I started to feel healthier, leaner. I started to feel great. You can get your proteins, you can get every kind of nutritional values in vegetarian dishes.’

and what a heartthrob he’s become. “The pair’s hair is impeccable, and we can only hope that the rest of their brood grow up to look just like Posh and Becks.” In second place was the second footballer on the list, Peter Crouch and his model girlfriend Abbey Clancy scoring 18% of the vote. TOWIE power couple Elliot Wright and Chloe Sims closely followed with 17% placing them third. Respondents agreed that the loved-up reality TV stars’ well-kept mops always looked in impeccable condition and perfectly complimented their great sense of style.

Snoop Dogg pictured in Barcelona shirt F

Balotelli’s fiancee, Neguesha

orget Luis Suarez, Snoop Dogg will be the biggest star to be wearing the Barcelona shirt this summer. The American hip-hop star posted pictures on his Instagram boarding a plane to the Spanish city for a gig. And before fans start claiming ‘Snoop Lion’ is a Barca fan, he has also been pictured in several other sporting jerseys over his career. But who does he really support? Snoop Lion has also been pictured in Manchester United and England shirts.

Balotelli, wife end holiday M

Balotelli strolling with friends

avid Beckham and wife Victoria have garnered plenty of fashion attention over the years, whether it’s matching leather outfits or him sitting front row at her fashion show, and now the celeb pair have been hailed as the couple with the best hair. The well-groomed couple scored almost a quarter of the vote with 23% believing they were head and shoulders above the others. One respondent said: “Victoria and David Beckham are one of the best groomed couples I know. Victoria has definitely taught her man how to look his best,

ario Balotelli enjoyed his final summer holiday before getting back down to action with AC Milan. The 23-year-old striker, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, soaked up the sun in Versilia in Tuscany, Italy. A topless Balotelli drew quite a crowd as he strolled through the small coastal town with an entourage of friends. And his model fiancée Fanny Neguesha showed what’s waiting for him when he returns home with a seriously racy Instagram picture that left little to the imagination. The Belgian model posted a mirror selfie where she’s wearing just a skimpy black bikini set - predictably getting almost 23,000 likes from her delighted followers. The couple got engaged just before this Snoop Dogg summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

David Beckham and wife Posh

Arsenal players celebrate Community Shield with night out T hey were derided by opposing fans for not winning a trophy in nine years, now two have come along in a matter of months but you wouldn’t have guessed judging by the faces of some Arsenal players. The Gunners squad were out in London on Sunday night ‘celebrating’ their 3-0 Community Shield success against Manchester City at the Novikov Bar in Mayfair. Rather than being pictures of happiness after the Wembley win, the FA Cup holders looked more downbeat. New signing Alexis Sanchez was involved

in the rather muted celebrations after marking his competitive debut with a 45-minute flurry of pace and skill against City at Wembley.

Szczesny and wife

Stories courtesy Dailymail

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

THE ARTS

Lagos City Chorale in a group photograph

Plaudits for the Lagos City Chorale on the world stage

The Lagos City Chorale's profile soared once more on the world stage, this time winning three silver at the 8th World Choir Games, a biennial event held recently in Riga, Latvia. ELIJAH SAMUEL writes.

igeria has had some splendid moments on the global stage of which the 2013 African Cup of Nations' triumph and the impressive showing at the recent Commonwealth Games are a few examples. These were in sports where full government sponsorship is enormously enjoyed. Regrettably, some other areas where more feats are being recorded - and could have been won - are left in utter neglect. One of such is choral music. Although not many are disposed to this kind of art, it is nonetheless one art that is endowed with bright prospects. The Lagos City Chorale led by Sir Emeka Nwokedi is a lone crusader that has kept alive the flame of Nigerian cultural crusade and winning laurels on the international stage through the medium of choral art music. The Lagos City Chorale established 25 years ago, has played a remarkable role in the development of choral music in Nigeria, using music to promote the country’s cultural richness on the global plane. Led by the ebullient Sir Emeka Nwokedi, Nigeria’s representative at the World Choir Council has in the past few years been at the heart of rebranding Nigeria and showcasing her positive abilities through participating in global music games and winning laurels. In 2012, it won three Silver medals at the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. In 2013, it also won two gold and two Silver medals at the 1st European International Choir Competition in Graz, Austria. At the 8th World Choir Games, the world’s largest choral festival, a biennial event which held in Riga, Latvia, from July 9 – 19, the Chorale’s performance choice in the contest was limited to three categories for want of resources. Thus, it participated in the Champions Competition, the highest level of the contest, the Music of Spirit and Faith, and the Mixed Chamber Choir and Folklore. It won a silver medal in each of the category. The World Choir Games which has become a melting point for the diversified cultures of the world was organized by

the Interkultur, Germany, with the aim of fostering peace and unity in the world as the nations of the world sing together in harmony in an event which had over 400 choirs from 73 countries across the five continents with the motto, “Singing together brings nations together”. The climax of the event was the recognition accorded Nigeria’s representation during the closing ceremony in which Lagos City Chorale was invited to be an integral part of a few selected choirs. This comprised the International Stage Choir that gave a most exhilarating and memorable performance of various choral music from across the globe, accompanied by Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. As the next edition of the World Choir Games holds at Sochi, Russia, in July, 2016, the chorale’s effort at the promotion of Nigeria’s rich culture embodied in indigenous choral music, is a commendable feat that needs to be given the needed support. However, Nwokedi, still relishes the enthralling experience of the latest outing in Lativia. “The outing for Nigeria was good as ever because we really represent the Black Africa. Although there were other African countries in Africa at the event, Nigeria presence was very strong in terms of our costumes and performance. It is noteworthy that during the parade of nations, Nigerian contingent, in the national colours of green white green, received the loudest ovation from the Latvians who lined up the passage routes. “We took part in the champions competition which was the highest cadre in the event. You cannot reach that cadre unless you have passed the preliminary stage of the event. However, it was a beautiful outing for Nigeria as we were called out to the podium three times to receive prices. Apart

Nwokedi...seeks improved support from the government

from the competitive level, we performed at friendly concerts. “It is like the Olympics were you only have chances to win in the games entered for. The more games entered for, the more chances to win more medals. One may not get medal at all if the performance falls below the benchmark, at that point you will be awarded certificate of participation. But that we were able to get three silver medals was a testimony of high performance at the choir world games,” Nwokedi said. The bright performance notwithstanding, more medals could have been won but for paucity of funds. “We were able to participate in only three games because of funds. Obviously, time was against us as we

had less time for practices because we were running around for funds and sponsorship which would make us attend the event. If we have had the required and adequate support, we would have participated in more games; and that could have increased our opportunities to win more medals. “We reached out to the governments at different tiers and corporate bodies. There was no response probably because they do not attach the kind of importance they attach to football and other sports, to this allimportant art-exposing game. This is one of the things that expose a country far beyond: our sounds have gone out into all the lands; and our works unto the end of the world. “Some of the choirs from other continents at the event sought and demanded to have the Nigerian songs that we performed. These choirs have western songs but they needed new to explore new songs from other cultures. They found Nigerian songs appealing, so they demanded to have them in their repertoire. We haven’t thought about this: it’s a means of preserving and promoting our languages. “We have made efforts to let the relevant authorities know what we are doing and as well make them realize that there are many other ways, apart from football and other sports, through which the country can be positively projected and elevated." Ruing the lone representation, Nwokedi would like to see other groups supported by corporate bodies and the government. It is painful that Nigeria is not keying into what brings other countries together culturally, and also painful that the country is underrepresented. Other African countries like South Africa were always well represented with many choirs to perform at different categories of the World Choir Games," he said.

Multichoice cautions against commercial piracy Tony Okuyeme

n its effort to curb commercial piracy of pay TV signals, MultiChoice, has urged individuals or entities that use DStv services for public use without a commercial license to get a commercial license to enable them broadcast DStv content without litigation. According to the PR manager, DStv, Caroline Oghuma, MultiChoice gave commercial pirates the opportunity to convert to legal

commercial broadcast in 2013. “We want these subscribers to stay on the right side of the law, and those who are yet to convert are infringing on the copyright laws of Nigeria and will face appropriate penalties,” she said. Oghuma, who explained that MultiChoice is working in association with the Nigerian Copyrights Commission to stem the rising trend in commercial piracy, stated that early this year, officials of NCC's Lagos zonal office issued a 14-day deadline for hotels to obtain the appropri-

ate commercial licenses for the broadcast of DStv channels in their hotels. “We are happy that some hotel owners have complied by legalizing their subscriptions. However, we urge those who have not complied to do so,” she reiterated. The Commission last year launched a campaign to create awareness on broadcast piracy. Oghuma said the campaign will move to the second phase which will involve the copyright audit of outlets using DStv in public and sanctioning of infringing users.

StartUps

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

16 AUGUST 2014

‘Cyber café operators without adequate IT knowledge will fail’ What does it entail to commence business as internet cafe entrepreneur? The major expectation for anybody wishing to be an entrepreneur of internet service provider to consumers which is referred to as Cyber Cafe business are commitment, hard work and dedication. The person must also be upright in dealing with customers on a daily basis in terms of providing them with quality service. This is a major challenge to the individual in itself, which the person must be prepared to imbibe to be able to succeed in this business. The location of the outlet would also go a long way to determine return on the business. So, it is favourable to situate closer to consumers of internet services for reasonable patronage. What are the basic requirements for the take-off of the business, aside the knowledge of the terrain? You need capital, which is basic to provide you the space for the operation of the business, you need to get yourself an internet service provider (ISP), which you need to subscribe to, for the (product) supply, the internet service which you provide for your customers. Then you need other tools like the computers, (PCs), and you need other facility like the scanner, some pieces of the device called the uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for purpose of sustaining power momentarily on the computers when there is power failure, the printers for the printing of documents and other logistics. What are some of the major challenges that a would-be entrepreneur is expected to face to be able to succeed in the business? One major challenge I would say is power provision which is a major challenge to every businesses, though not peculiar to the internet cafe outlets. It is an essential factor for any entrepreneur in the business as uninterrupted power usage is required to power the systems or computers always. Without this provision, without, which would require the entrepreneur-tobe to prepared to have other alternative power supply like the inverter , and may be gasoline power generator. In essence, an internet cafe business entrepreneur, would need steady power supply to operate with otherwise, the business will collapse within a short period of time. This is so because we are well aware that the power supply situation in the country at the moment is not wholesome. What is the requirement in the area of expertise knowledge to be able to provide quality service to customers and become successful in the business? Basically, you must have the basic information, telecommunication and technology (ICT) knowledge, not necessarily university qualification, though this would be an added advantage. However, you must be educated and knowledgeable in IT to a reasonable extent to be able to handle customers’ complaints on issues like accessing the internet, operating the computers when they wish to have document

Lawal

Olawale Lawal, proprietor of Aditel internet Cyber cafe tells SEGUN EDWARDS in this interview that start-up entrepreneurs in the internet vendoring business must be prepared to weather the epileptic power supply challenge. printed out from the internet. It is also important for the entrepreneur to be able to restore problem of break out from internet supply, without having to often call the attention of your ICT engineer, who may not be easily available. In the alternative, you can employ a standby computer engineer, which will also be an added cost to your overhead aside the cafe attendant. You need to always be abreast of techniques in the operations of the various computer devices and applications, you need to be abreast of situations in the computer world to be able to avail your customers of quality for their patronage. The business requires you to be regularly trained in various respects of computer knowledge as well as update yourself in the latest skills of service provision. IT knowledge does not have limit so, you must be up to date on computer knowledge that of course would add to your basic academic background. The prospective entrepreneur may take computer training offered by various training computer schools or training institutes, it could also be acquired through approved university or technic. poly-

You said something about regular training to enable the person to be abreast of new techniques in the ever evolving computer world, what exactly would require of the entrepreneur in this regard? You don’t need to stop at a particular level of acquisition of computer knowledge, if you do, you certainly would run of ideas about knowledge in terms of new things in the industry and this would impact on your client service provision. For instance, regular trainings would enable you to know the most proficient ISP, like the current phase, where internet subscription no longer requires the use of the dish, which has now been replaced with modem or link through the satellite service from the ISP. This can be regarded as upgrading in the industry, so, you need to be abreast with the various innovations. That way, you won’t run out of latest basic ideas that would give you an edge as well improve your fortunes in the business. As an entrepreneur, can you give some hints that would guide a would-be entrepreneur wishing to come into the business? I will advise any prospective entrepreneur to undergo formidable IT knowledge either through conventional or formal education from the tertiary institutions like the university of polytechnic and to

The capital requirement would depend on the number of pieces of desktops the person is able to acquire at the time of taking off

embrace dedication, which is a principle to the success of any business. Like I said earlier, the person would also need to regularly upgrade his knowledge about the latest innovations in the computer world. The person must strive to update his knowledge, irrespective of the daunting challenges in the Nigerian business environment, the person must be equipped with the knowledge of various applications that would ensure the speed of the computers he installed for customers use in his outlet. This entails basic IT idea, and it would go a long way in attracting patronage for your business. The person must be able to provide alternative power supply for a steady supply power to attract customers, but the person may find himself in a helpless situation, when the frequent or constant use of the generator results in break down, while power supply isn’t forth coming or forthright. How much would be required for an average entrepreneur to commence the business? In terms of fund for take-off of the business, it would depend on the location of business, that is talking about cost of acquiring a space, averagely, I think it require about N300, 000three to take-off. The capital requirement would equally depend on the number of pieces of desktops the person is able to acquire at the time of taking off. So, the fund for take-off could be more but averagely with current economic realities, N300, 000 would do for a moderate outfit. What can you say about the running of the business in view of present power situation in the country? Honestly, that is a major challenge, it has had some negative impact on the business but, as an entrepreneur, who knows what he is doing, I have always stand my ground. It is a general situation that also affects the ISP, whose service I subscribe to. They would tell us at times that their generator is down when we complain of poor service. It is a general situation but, for me the alternative power from gasoline generator is what I use to power my PCs and it has been of immense assistance.

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'I killed my husband to save my son' Love Confession In this confession, a mother suspects her husband of Voodoo after she loses some of her children under mysterious circumstances. Her desire to protect her only surviving child leads her to take her husband's life.

y name is Regina, but how do I begin to tell my story of how I killed my husband in order to save my child? But really, I had no choice. I had to choose between my husband and my son. My husband Biodun was a rich businessman. He had several plots of land and other pieces of property scattered around the country. Life was very pleasant for us and I gave birth to my first child, a girl, in the second year of our marriage. Within six years of marriage, I had given birth to four children, three girls and a boy. I had my fifth child, a boy, in the ninth year of our marriage. But I wasn't prepared to lose my children one after the other so soon. After his last trip abroad, my husband started having severe and inexplicable financial problems. He was losing money rapidly and his businesses were recording terrible losses. My husband kept battling to keep his companies afloat until he took ill. He began to emaciate and look older than his age, due to his illness and the stress his business was giving him. During this time, I lost my first son and my first daughter in a ghastly motor accident as the

16 AUGUST 2014

MODEL OF THE WEEK Name: DAMMY Tel: 08125936432

driver took them to school one morning. After the deaths of my first son and daughter, my husband's condition improved for about six months and then relapsed again. That was when my second daughter died mysteriously in her sleep. My husband's condition kept improving and deteriorating for the next two years and during that time, I lost four of my children mysteriously and was left only with my second son. Out of five children, I had lost four, and grief for my children as well as the trauma of my husband's persistent illness had made me a shadow of myself. I became more religious and practically slept in the church doing prayers and fasting. The revelation came from the prophet that my husband was a member of a secret society and had given the lives of my children in exchange for his own life and prosperity in business. The prophet said that if care was not taken, I would lose my only surviving son too, because my husband was about to use him too for sacrifice. I was advised to bring my husband to church for deliverance from the occult kingdom. The stubborn fly follows the corpse to the grave. That was the only solution, according to the prophet. But my husband stubbornly refused to follow me to church, insisting that he wasn’t in the occult and had no hand in the deaths of our four children. That was when I resolved to kill my husband in order to save my son’s life, because I was sure that my husband would use my only surviving child for rituals too in the near future. I had no choice but to poison my husband and save my son. Now my husband is dead; gone forever with his evils. And I’m living happily with my only surviving child. I now have my peace of mind.

Romantic Quotes Our souls were split in two in heaven in order that we should find each other in this world and become whole.

– Rabbi Avroham Czapnik

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKWE

36 LOVE&LIVING

Odd News

omen are being forced to undergo virginity tests when seeking education jobs in Brazil's most popu-

lous state. Prospective education employees in the state of Sao Paulo are required to undergo a pap smear to prove they are free of cancers or to present a doctor's certificate verifying they are not sexually active. Women's rights campaign groups have denounced the practice as a gross violation of women's privacy and their human dignity. Until recently the education department also required women to have a coloscopy - a type of gynecological examination used to detect disease. The department since at least 2012 has required the exams to show that candidates for long-term teaching positions are in good health and would not take extended or frequent absences to attend to health matters. Critics, however, decried it as an invasion of privacy. Ana Paula de Oliveria Castro, a public defender of women's issues in Sao Paulo, said: 'It violates women's rights. It's very intimate information that she has the right to keep. It's absurd to continue with these demands.' Brazil's national Special Secretariat for Women's Rights said it was against any requirements that compromise the privacy of women. "The woman has the right to choose whether to take an exam that will not affect her professional life," said the statement. Such policies violate constitutional protections of human dignity and the principle of equality and right to private life, it said. The public management department

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

Brazilian employers require women to have virginity tests before taking them on

RIHANNA

Te Amo "Te amo, te amo," she says to me I hear the pain in her voice Then we danced underneath the candelabra, she takes the lead That's when I saw it in her eyes, it's over Then she said "te amo" Then she put her hand around my waist I told her no, she cried "te amo" I told her I'm not gonna run away, but let me go "Te amo, te amo," she says to me I hear the pain in her voice Then we danced underneath the candelabra, she takes the lead That's when I saw it in her eyes, it's over Then she said "te amo" Then she put her hand around my waist I told her no, she cried "te amo" I told her I'm not gonna run away, but let me go

for Sao Paulo said that all tests ordered follow the standards and recommendation of the country's Health Ministry for public servants as well as state law. It also said that other states and federal agencies have similar requirements. "The health inspections are intended to ensure, beyond technical ability, the physical and mental ability of candidates to keep their jobs for an average of 25 years." While the department requires other health exams, such as a mammography for women and a prostate test for men older than 40, the gynecological exams were criticized as particularly invasive. The issue came to light this week

after a news site interviewed a 27-yearold woman who said she was ashamed to ask a doctor for a note declaring she was still a virgin to escape the other tests. The bar association of Sao Paulo said the practice was unconstitutional. The group, Catholics for the Right to Choose, also complained about it, saying in a statement "We are living in the Middle Ages!" Last year, a similar incident sparked anger in the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil, when female candidates for police jobs were asked to take the tests or prove their hymens were not torn. The government subsequently asked that such tests be eliminated.

Life Experience

‘People called me a witch because of my husband’s strange illness' I love both Christians and Moslems but I believe in Ifa. I practice African Traditional Religion. I'm a Yoruba woman married to an Igbo man. I wedded in Church because that was what my husband’s family wanted. However, before we got married, my husband promised not to forcefully convert me to Christianity. He promised to give me my freedom to practice my traditional religion. And that freedom almost destroyed my marriage when my husband took ill some years ago. My husband, Ifeanyi, never complained of ill health until he celebrated his 60th birthday. Shortly after that, he became seriously ill and several doctors were unable to identify the cause. But rather than try to find a solution to the problem, my in-laws descended heavily on me with all their accumulated prejudices and intolerance of my religion. They accused me of being responsible for my husband's strange illness and issued me an ultimatum to leave my husband's house. The mouth of a crocodile is too short to threaten a tree in the forest. I stood my ground and refused to succumb to pressure from my inlaws to pack and leave my husband's house. I told my sisters-in-law that I was in my husband’s house and so they too, should go back to their husband’s houses. Even when my mother-in-law came with them to

Love Songs

My husband's condition continued to deteriorate and I was determined to find out the cause of his illness in order to vindicate myself throw me out, I refused to move and called the police. When the police arrived, they told my in-laws that they had no right to eject me from

my husband’s house. That was how police saved me from being thrown out of my husband’s house. Next, my in-laws said I was possessed and dragged me to church. There, I asked my mother-in-law, “Mama, just because I believe in Ifa, does that mean I'm possessed?” The priest was angry and told them to stop harassing me because I'm not possessed. He advised us to take my husband to a hospital to find out the cause of his illness. My husband's condition continued to deteriorate and I was determined to find out the cause of his illness in order to vindicate myself. I spent all my money carrying him from one hospital to another until finally, my husband was diagnosed of cancer in a teaching hospital. I was vindicated when my husband was diagnosed with cancer and my inlaws now had to apologize to me for insinuating all along that I’d been responsible for my husband's condition. They were now sorry for treating me with so much disrespect. I told my in-laws that the fact that I believe in African Traditional Religion does not make me a witch or a wicked person. They may call me a witch, but I’m not responsible for bad things that happen in the family. I pray my husband pulls through, but even if he doesn't, I'm glad I've been vindicated.

My soul is awry, without asking why I said, "te amo, wish somebody'd tell me what she said" Don't it mean "I love you"? Think it means "I love you" Don't it mean "I love you"? Te amo, te amo, she's scared to breathe I hold her hand, I got no choice Pulled me out on the beach, danced in the water, I start to leave She's begging me and asking why it's over Then she said "te amo" Then she put her hand around my waist I told her no, she cried "te amo" I told her I'm not gonna run away, but let me go My soul is awry, without asking why I said, "te amo, wish somebody'd tell me what she said" Don't it mean "I love you"? Think it means "I love you" Don't it mean "I love you"? Listen we can dance, but you gotta watch your hands Watch me all night, I'm movin' to the light because I understand That we all need love and I'm not afraid I feel the love, but I don't feel that way Then she said "te amo" Then she put her hand around my waist I told her no, she cried "te amo" I told her I'm not gonna run away, but let me go

Love Poem Daydream

JOANNE WASSERMAN

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

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

Romantic Jokes

Bad Luck

A woman's husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she stayed by his bedside every single day. When he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he said, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you gave me support. When my health started failing, you were still by my side... You know what?" "What dear?" She asked gently. "I think you bring me bad luck."

A programme for Singles and Married takes place at Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac Town, Lagos, every Monday by 7.00pm. Hosted by Rev. Fr. Sebastine Ukwandu.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

Relationships & Love Advice

‘I want my ex back' Dear Love Doctor, I'm in a very complicated situation with my ex girlfriend. Our relationship ended four years ago due to many interferences and also due to how I always overthink at that time. I would panic a lot about her leaving me for one of them. In time she couldn't take how I kept overthinking and broke up. After we broke up. I constantly messaged her and sometimes she wouldn't reply and I would panic and send more messages. When I realized what I'd been doing it was too late. The following year she got over me and found a new boyfriend. That was in 2012 but since then, I haven't been myself. I want her back by all means but she doesn't seem interested in me anymore. From James. Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear James, You can't get your girl back by trying to force your way back into her life. Love is not by force and has never been by force, so stop being obsessed with her. However, if you really want her back, you need to demonstrate that you have grown up, learnt from your

If you want daily love tips or advice, download The Color of Love Guide on your iPad and iPhone. Search for ‘Color of Love’ on your Apple App store now and download the App. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com If you’re in a crisis, call for help: 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08023700641. Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com

Love Education

What is a broken heart or heartbreak? A

broken heart (or heartbreak) is a common metaphor for the intense emotional pain or suffering one feels after losing a loved one, whether through death, divorce, breakup, physical separation, betrayal, orromantic rejection. Heartbreak is usually associated with losing a family member or spouse, though losing a parent, child, pet, lover or close friend can all "break one's heart," and it is frequently experienced during grief and bereavement. The phrase refers to the physical pain one may feel in the chest as a result of the loss, although it also by extension includes the emotional trauma of loss even where it is not experienced assomatic pain. Although "heartbreak" ordinarily does not imply any physical defect in the heart, there is a condition known as "Takotsubo cardiomyopathy" (broken heart syndrome), where a traumatising incident triggers the brain to distribute chemicals that weaken heart tissue. For many people having a broken heart is something that may not be recognized at first, as it takes time for an emotional or physical loss to be fully acknowledged. As Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson states: Human beings are not always aware of what they are feeling. Like animals, they may not be able to put their feelings into words. This does not mean they have no feelings. Sigmund Freud once speculated that a man could be in love with a woman for six years and not know it until many years later. Such a man, with all the goodwill in the world, could not have verbalized what he did not know. He had the feelings, but he did not know about them. It may sound like a paradox — paradoxical because when we think of a feeling, we think of something that we are consciously aware of feeling. As Freud put it in his 1915 article The Unconscious: "It is surely of the essence of an emotion that we should be aware of it. Yet it is beyond question that we can 'have' feelings that we do not know about." Courtesy: Wikipedia.

Love News

hey recently returned from a romantic break in Ibiza, however Ellie Goulding and Dougie Poynter still looked eager to spend time together when they were spotted out and about on Saturday. The Burn hitmaker walked arm-in-arm with her McBusted beau as they shopped in London, before heading home with a number of bags in hand suggesting it had been a successful trip. The 27-year-old looked casual in her Sex On The Beach baseball cap, after speaking to Style magazine about her views on fitness to coincide with the launch of their #fitnotthin campaign. The Herefordshire-born beauty displayed her slim pins in black skinnies, complete with ripped detailing on the thighs, and chunky black boots. She teamed the low-key trousers with a loose-fit striped Tee and a checked shirt, after telling the publication: 'For me, the appeal has always been to be really fit and strong. I think a pair of powerful legs on a girl, or a bigger bum from doing squats, is so sexy. 'I'm interested in their [fans'] response to the fitness pictures I post. They say things things like, 'You've got me running'... It makes me feel happy.'

She polished off her ensemble with blue trainers, large black sunglasses and a delicate gold chain. When Style Ellie about her vices, she added: 'I drink, I smokes sometimes, but if I have a big night out I pay for it by doing some gruelling exercise the next day.' Meanwhile Dougie, 26, looked as equally as dressed down in a Vans baseball cap, feather-motif T-Shirt and dark shorts. Ellie took to Twitter later in the day to say: 'Been watching Galápagos with David Attenborough. Truly mind blowing and fascinating. Watch if you want mind blown. Before adding: 'Cheers bootcamp off to Hong Kong now', suggesting she might not be seeing her man for a while. Dougie previously dated The Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford while Ellie has previously been linked to Radio 1 DJ Greg James, electronic music star Skrillex and singer Ed Sheeran. Courtesy: Daily Mail.

H ♥ ♥ K U P . . . f i n d yo u r h e a r t ’s d e s i r e Women SEEKING relationship/marriage ♥ Mimi, 37, big, busty and sexy, from Delta, needs a mature man of 55 years and above who is romantic and caring. 08142142659. ♥ Esther, 34, civil servant in Abuja, single mother, needs a man of 37 years and above for marriage. +234 8114226917. ♥ Favour needs a mature and responsible man of 30-40 years to love. +234 708 083 1522. ♥ Jennifer, 25, from the East, a student of UNIPORT, needs a man for a serious relationship. 08100648387.

MEN LOOKING FOR RELATIONSHIP/MARRIAGE ♥ Zandjok, 48, graduate from Enugu, in Osogbo, wants a responsible lady of 20-35 years for marriage. 08189485966. ♥ Onuoha, 49, fair, businessman from Abia, based in Abuja, needs a honest lady from 35 years and above for marriage. 08131659304. ♥ Emeke, 38, from Delta, HIV Positive, educated and working, needs an educated HIV Positive girl above 30 years for a relationship. 08131893005.

♥ Damilola, 26, in Lagos, needs a guy of 30-35 years for a serious relationship. 08137057971.

♥ Khalid, 33, 5.9ft, handsome, needs a HIV positive lady of 23-30 years, graduate and working, and preferably a Muslim from either the north or Kwara. 08117673371.

♥ Becky, 30, a nurse from Gombe but works in Jigawa, needs a responsible man from the north for marriage. 080777042830, 07030829342.

♥ Chinwike, 30, from Enugu, state, handsome, works with NSCDC, wants a humble, hard working, lady between 30-45 years for marriage. 08137193518.

♥ Tracy, 41, tall, homely and honest, needs a loving and caring mature man from 50 years and above for a serious courtship. 07067274696.

♥ Princewill, in Abuja, wants a sugar mummy. 08030704714.

♥ Divine Joy, 29, Imo, 5ft, orphan, undergraduate, needs a true pentecostal and educated Igbo widower of 30-35 years for marriage. 08169279907.

♥ Chidera, 40, from Ebonyi, civil servant in PH, needs a good Christian lady between 23-31 years with a nice shape and very big breasts for marriage. 08037317375.

FERTILITY

Ellie Goulding looks loved-up during shopping spree with Dougie Poynter

T mistakes and changed for the better. Even if she decides to take you back, it won't work if you're the same old person you were before. However, if she decides not to take you back, respect her decision to move on with her life and move on with your life too. Best wishes!

LOVE&LIVING

If you have fertility problems like fibroid, low sperm count, or want a male child or baby sex selection, call 07025350586; 08122352054.

♥ Kindness, fair, handsome, wants a sugar mummy. 07061252367.

Lovers’ Answers Game: The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love, and choose your lover from the top 3 answers. A lady is asking all men: "What can a woman do if her husband doesn't make her reach orgasm?" Contact the lady via 08160508580. *Call Mike: 07031028714 to send questions or issues.

Blackberry Connection Ada, 28, in Abia, needs a man of 35 to 40 years for marriage. BB PIN: 21D29ECD.

• Connect with Mike on WhatsApp or BlackBerry Pin: 7ab29e22 or 21978F71 for details on how to send your BlackBerry or Smartphone Connect request. • Call Mike on 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641 to link up and for direct hookup.

38 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

True Confession From Overseas

SEXUAL COMMUNICATION

'I drove away my sisterin-law's boyfriend' M y sister -in-law, Mandy, has never been a great judge of character when it comes to men. She's had a string of rocky relationships owing to the fact (in my opinion) that she tends to go for 'bad-boys'. My wife, Sian (Mandy's older Sister) has always been protective of Mandy and she hates seeing her get hurt time and again. Sian tries not to interfere but recently it all became a little too much to handle when Mandy introduced us to her latest boyfriend, Dillon. As usual the relationship had rocketed along at a hundred miles an hour and Mandy had already moved in with the boy. Dillon was certainly what most would deem 'tall, dark and handsome' and he seemed nice at first but that soon changed. We first started noticing things weren't right when Sian called Mandy one day on her mobile and Dillon answered. He sounded gruff and annoyed as though he were just arguing with Mandy and he was really rude to my wife, basically hanging up on her mid-sentence. The next time we noticed something was amiss was during a night out we'd organised with just Sian, myself, Mandy and Dillon. In fact it was Mandy who wanted to get us all together as when Sian mentioned the abrupt phone call in passing, Mandy said that we should get to know Dillon as he was nothing like her other boyfriends. The evening started out okay and we chatted over our starters happily at first. Mandy took a little while choosing a glass of wine to have with her main and Dillon was clearly annoyed. "Just order something!" he snapped after huffing

Wedding Traditions

Welsh Love Spoons

pooning might not mean what you think. In Welsh wedding tradition, a man carved a spoon out of wood and gave it to the woman he loved. If she wore it, they were engaged. A Lovespoon is a wooden spoon decoratively carved that was traditionally presented as a gift of romantic intent. The spoon is normally decorated with symbols of love, and was intended to reflect the skill of the carver. Due to the intricate designs, lovespoons are no longer used as functioning spoons and are now decorative craft items. Courtesy: Wikipedia.

He started belittling Mandy at every turn, telling little stories about Mandy with the sole purpose of making her look stupid

and puffing for a while, Mandy just seemed oblivious to the outburst. As the night progressed and more wine was consumed, Dillon's true colours were revealed in sickening clarity. He started belittling Mandy at every turn, telling little stories about Mandy with the sole purpose of making her look stupid. Sian and I went into damage control and tried to be positive when all we wanted to do was to tell the guy he was a jerk. Mandy had begged Sian and I to be nice to Dillon and in hindsight I don't know how we bit our tongues all night. Sian and I got home that night and decided that we couldn't sit back and let Mandy fall victim to this guy. She had become acclimatised to these types over the years and her self esteem was at an all-time low. We talked for half the night about what we could do. After hours of planning and scheming we came up with something devious but effective. In Sian's family, everyone has the keys to everyone else's homes in case of emergency. I work at night so during the early afternoon (when I knew no one would be home at Mandy and Dillon's) I snuck in and left the bomb-shell that I knew would see Dillon running for the

Sex and High Blood Pressure T

hills. It was just a piece of paper with some information on it that Sian and I had compiled together. I left the document on the kitchen bench as I knew that Dillon would get home before Mandy and he would undoubtedly head to the kitchen for a snack as most blokes do. I left the apartment and hoped for the best. Mandy called Sian later that night in tears as Dillon had apparently packed his bags and left without explanation. Sian went over to comfort Mandy and she later told me that she had to search high and low for our document but found it in the garbage bin in the kitchen. Sian used to work as a nurse so it was no problem getting her hands on paper with a medical centre letter head. I typed up a sufficiently official looking set of 'test results' for Mandy including not one, but two, sexually transmitted diseases which Dillon clearly took exception to. We never heard from him again and to this day Mandy doesn't know about our deception. She's with a boy who treats her with compassion and respect now and she's a lot happier. Meddling is not usually our thing but in this instance it worked a treat. Courtesy: nine.com

reatment for high blood pressure and satisfaction with sex can go hand in hand — if you're open about the problem and work closely with your doctor. High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms. But the impact on your sex life may be obvious. Although sexual activity is unlikely to pose an immediate threat to your health — such as a heart attack — high blood pressure can affect your overall satisfaction with sex. A link between high blood pressure and sexual problems is proved in men. For women who have decreased sexual satisfaction, it's not yet proved that high blood pressure is to blame. Challenges for men Over time, high blood pressure damages the lining of blood vessels and causes arteries to harden and narrow (atherosclerosis), limiting blood flow. This means less blood is able to flow to the penis. For some men, the decreased blood flow makes it difficult to achieve and maintain erections — often referred to as erectile dysfunction. The problem is fairly common. Even a single episode of erectile dysfunction can cause anxiety. Fears that it will happen again might lead men to avoid sex — and affect the relationship with their sexual partner. High blood pressure can also interfere with ejaculation and reduce sexual desire. Sometimes the medications used to treat high blood pressure have similar effects. Challenges for women High blood pressure's effect on sexual problems in women isn't well understood. But it's possible that high blood pressure could affect a woman's sex life. High blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the vagina. For some women, this leads to a decrease in sexual desire or arousal, vaginal dryness, or difficulty achieving orgasm. Improving arousal and lubrication can help. Like men, women can experience anxiety and relationship issues due to sexual dysfunction. Women should talk to their doctor if they experience these difficulties.

Lovers in Court

'My brother-in-law is a bad influence on my marriage' Stories: Abimbola Sodeke

ony Okafor, a 30-year-old man, has pleaded with a Lagos customary court to dissolve his marriage with his wife, Ijeoma. He told the court that they met in 2006 at Igando in Lagos and had been living together even though there has neitrher been payment of bride price nor wedding. However, their union is blessed with two children - a boy and a girl. Tony stated that the reason he wants to divorce or separate from his 'wife' is because she is giving him problems. "My wife is giving me trouble, she spoils all my businesses and sources of income. Whenever I come home after work, she does not give me peace. She even comes to my work place to insult me," he said. He pleaded with the court to divorce them so that they can go their separate ways. "I am tired of her attitude. I tried chasing her away but she didn't go. I don't love her anymore and want her to go away," he said. However, Ijeoma started telling her own side of the story by calling

her husband a liar. She stated that she is actually 32 years old while Tony is 35. "I honestly don't know what I did to him. I just noticed that whenever he sees his elder brother, his attitude towards me would change," she said. "We are not having any problem. We are not fighting. I didn't even know this was where we were going to. My brother-in-law just came this morning and said let's go. I thought we were going to check my son in the hospital until I found myself here. "I am surprised he is saying all

these things, because we came from the same roof this morning. I cooked for him and he ate before coming. We even took our bath together. We love each other and I am just confused. "But if Tony insists on divorcing me, he would have to pay me off with N10m, because he has caused me much damage and no man will marry me with these two children," Ijeoma said. After listening to Ijeoma, the Court President, P. A. Williams, rebuked Tony for allowing himself to be wrongly advised by his elder brother.

'I don't know why she left me'

Lagos resident, Mr. Adisa Ogunbiyi, has pleaded with the Agege Customary Court to dissolve his marriage with his wife, Blessing and let him have access to his children. He told the court that the marriage broke down due to long separation and lack of love. "We have been separated for about three months for reasons best known to her, because she packed her belongings and moved out of the

house along with the children to an unknown destination. "I was lucky to have my daughter's number which I used in communicating with them but my daughter told me not to let her mother know that she was in contact with me," he said. He pleaded with the court to make sure his wife appears in court so that he can know his fault and why she left him.

Travel&Tourism ON SATURDAY

Travel Personality Kwara: No harmonious Victor Enwezor: Nigeria tourism chord in tourism lacks direction p.41 p.42 Destination

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/travel

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, EDITOR, TRAVEL AND TOURISM iroandy@ymail.com

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16 AUGUST 2014

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS

FESTAC, LAGOS

PARKVIEW ESTATE, IKOYI, LAGOS

Inviting...a typical room in the hotel

For the guest averse to long airport shuttle HOSPITALITY Royal View Hotel and Suites flaunts its proximity to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the luxurious services it offers guests. No one should begrudge that; any hotelier in their shoes would as well, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA

his Lagos-based hotel located by the popular Aviation Estate by Airport road junction (opposite Ajao Estate), is a luxury facility with a fascinating and appealing ambience. It easily entices, especially a first time visitor. Its facilities and services are well primed for business and leisure travellers who seek the best comfort. Its many offerings, according to its managers, come with elegance and style, hence the hotel prides itself as the home of comfort and leisure. ‘‘We offer luxurious accommodation and leisure facilities at an unbeatable price, way beyond what our contemporaries offer. We are Royal View Hotel and Suites, where comfort, security, luxury accommodation and

elegance are guaranteed to our guest," a message on a promotional leaflet states. Another message cites the hotel's creed as ‘‘to satisfy our guests to the peak of their satisfaction in accommodation and leisure. We make our guest look even happier after visiting us, that is what we do", while its core value is "to offer guests a royal treat as Royal View Hotel and Suites defines what royalty, class and elegance means". Facilities The hotel’s room types include presidential, royal, luxury, governor, executive, diplomatic and classic. They each come with different class, taste and feature tastefully fitted facilities exuding colours and sophistication for the comfort and relaxation of the guest. As a business hotel it offers a rich blend of conference and meeting facilities for the different class of people and event planners with its

star conference facility, banquet hall accommodating about one thousand people. For those seeking to keep trim and fit, the hotel offers an array of fitness amenities with a plush fitness centre and work out area that is fully equipped with different work out machines. The list includes pull-up bars, dumbbells, kettle bells, barbells, treadmills and stationary bikes. ‘‘The ambience around our workout area provides guest the perfect mood to exercise and work out. Also, the view from the gymnasium provides guest an impressive aerial view of the beautiful surrounding,’’ the hotel manager said. The swimming area also comes with its own attractions as it provides ample opportunity for a quick dip for those wishing to relax and savour the beautiful ambience of the swim-

ming poolside. One can simply sit at the poolside, which is available for classy parties. For wine connoisseurs, the hotel’s executive bar offers a wide selection of sported and vintage wines with the serenading mood at the bar amplified by the serene and colourful setting. It is a good spot for relaxation and to hold small business talk and deal. The hotel has a boutique well stocked with the trendy clothing from A-list designers, ranging from children to adults clothing and accessories while its beauty salon parlour offers services from hair dressing, hair cut, pedicure and manicure for children, men and women. The salon is manned by a specialist and experienced beauty therapist and cosmetologist.

LAGOS

ABA

BENEFITS

Guests could shop at this in-house boutique

There are lots of benefits to derive as one of our partner hotels. For enquiries and details on how to join the programme, please contact Andrew Iro Okungbowa: 08023152195 (sms only), e-mail: iroandy@ymail.com or Chinyere Opara: 08063768131 (sms only) e-mail angela_curtis-2@live.com

40 TRAVEL&TOURISM

CHEF’S CORNER

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

The making of Nigerian soups

OUPS constitute a major part of the world’s delicacies with different countries, regions and communities of the world over the years developing different types of soups and ingredients. Whereas some make it to the international level, others remains relatively unknown at the global stage except to locals Soup is an essential element of Nigerian food, cooked most times with special care and who are the makers and custodians of such soups. eaten with relish. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA presents some of the most common soups In Nigeria, there are different kinds of soups as there are many localities and ethnic groups with quite a num- such as Egusi and Ogbono. ber of these varieties further made into smaller varieties by the communities who over the years have come to to the individual but commonly, it is best complemented by cherish and celebrate these soups. eba, fufu, amala, semovita, pounded yam and even starch Over the years, some of these soup varieties in Nigeria while others may apply it on rice, yam, eko (congealed pap). have made it to the national level even though there Here are some of the common ingredients for a sumptuare not yet what we may call official or national soup. ous meal of egusi soup: Somehow, many high brow hotels and eateries across • Beef stew meat (or any other stew meat cubed) the country have in a way succeeded to put a label on • Cod or haddock (pre-soaked/optional) some of these soups and thrown them up as national or • Fresh peppers chopped Nigerian soups with Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic • Large onion chopped backgrounds looking forward to such soups. Even the • Tablespoons of salt foreigners have learnt to savour these soups. • Fresh tomatoes In the category of this national or Nigerian soups, • Small can of tomato sauce which have become so celebrated, especially during • Water social events and festivities are Edikang ikong, egusi and • Cup of dried crayfish ogbono. These are familiar soups that a diner is likely • Stock cubes to come across in any of the eateries across the country. • Cups of grounded Egusi seed In the rating of many Nigerians, egusi appears to be • Half cup of olive or vegetable oil top on the plate as it is one soup that most people can comfortably order and eat with relish, especially if it is well prepared with the standard ingredients. Historically, it's associated with people of the southern part of the country with virtually every local community developing a variety of it. Also, it rates high in many households, eateries and during celebrative events of the people. The raw material is derived from the cucurbitaceae plant family from which melons, gours, and other food crops such as cucumbers are derived. But in most of the localities in Nigeria, egusi is gotten from the melon seed. This is why in many of the communities or eateries it is better known as melon soup. Alternatively, in the absence of melon seed, some communities make use of the pumpkin or pepitas seeds, which are perfect and give a similar - some say even better - feel and taste in the hands of a good chef who understands how to make the pumpkin seeds rise to the occasion. Essentially, what makes the soup a perfect and savoury one depends on the preparation and the ingredients applied and this varies as there is really no standard and acceptable mode of preparation or exact ingredients. However, there is just one or two standard ingredients that commonly used otherwise, it is what the individual household or chef makes of it that comes out as the final presentation. Savoury egusi soup The soup can be eaten with anything that may appear

TRAVEL BEATS

Honour for Captains Irene Mutungi, Esther Mwange at Akwaaba 2014 THE first African female pilot, Kenyan Captain Irene Mutungi of Kenya Airways, alongside Esther Mwange of Rwandair, are to be honoured at this year’s Akwaaba – African Travel Market - a travel and tourism trade exhibition bill for October 26 – 28 at the Expo hall of Eko and Suites. Captain Mutungi who has also earned the acclaim as the first and only female

... La Palm to launch new wing MEANWHILE, La Palm Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana, is to formally launch its newly refurbished hotel wing during the three days travel expo. Golden Beach Hotels, the leading hotel group in Ghana owners of the beach resort would also exhibit its two other hotels Elmina Beach Hotel and Busua Beach Resort. La Palm, which was once the choice hotel top notch businesses and visitors to Accra, has undergone a multimillion dollar renewal of its rooms and facilities with a bid to regain its top rating in the country. The appearance of La Palm at Akwaaba will further enhance the international offerings at the fair this year.

pilot in the world to fly the Boeing B787 Dream liner will be honoured by Women in Aviation (Nigeria) InternationalGlowing Wings Chapter in collaboration with the organizers of Akwaaba –African Travel Quarterly (ATQ). According to the President of the Glowing Wings Chapter, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in aviation with over 10,000 professionals all over the world, Mrs. Ify Megwa, she is being honoured for an ‘‘accomplished feat no female has ever attained in Africa. In doing this, we are not only recognizing her for been exceptional, we

hope this will encourage more females to reach extraordinary heights in their aviation careers and also encourage young women to consider aviation as a career too,’’ adding that there is no other better platform of doing that than Akwaaba. Esther Mwange, Rwandan first female pilot with Rwandair, will also be honoured at the event as one of Africa’s legend by Akwaaba during the award ceremony, which is an integer part of the yearly travel exhibition. Captain Irene Mutungi was first recognized at Akwaaba in 2009 as the first African lady captain of a commercial airliner.

Business Traveller Africa Nigeria Awards 2014 to honour travel excellence COME September 18, excellence performance in travel would be rewarded as the Future Group, publishers of Business Traveller Africa magazine – in association with its Lagos-based affiliate, Tradeblazers, TNS South Africa and partner South African Tourism debut with Business Traveller Africa Nigeria Awards. It is bill to hold at the InterContinental Hotel, Lagos. The objective is to reward excellence in Nigerian business travel and to acknowledge those brands that have performed well over the years. The scope is a widespread one as it covers all aspects of business travel, including hotels, airlines, car rental

and travel management, along with related categories such as foreign exchange, visas etc. South African Tourism’s Regional Director: Africa, Evelyn Mahlaba, says “South African Tourism sees the potential in the Business Traveller Nigeria Awards because for us, this provides a wonderful opportunity to recognize the immense contribution made by some of our trade partners in helping to promote South Africa as a tourism destination. Even more importantly, these Awards are the perfect platform in helping to build a robust Nigerian tourism sector through recognition and rewarding of excellence in the industry.”

South African Tourism appoints new regional director for Africa

Mutungi

South African Tourism (SATOUR) has appointed Evelyn Mahlaba as its new regional director for Africa. Mahlaba’s task is to oversee both the strategy and operational implementation of South Africa’s destination marketing network in various key markets in East, West and Central Africa. In her new position, she is expected to assist SATOUR in building relationships with African travel trade in order to attract tourists to the rainbow nation. Mahlaba is coming into her new office with impressive experi-

ence and track records, as she had earlier worked in 2004 as SATORU’s global trade relations manager and regional director for Asia, Australasia and Americas. A former staff of South African Airways, the Airports Company of South Africa as well as Sun International, she holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications from the University of the North West and another BA in Business Management from De Montford University in the United Kingdom (UK).

TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

Victor Enwezor: Nigeria tourism lacks direction Victor Enwezor is the vice president/CEO of Leisure Afrique, a destination management company with offices in Lagos and Abuja. He relates his journey into the world of tour operations business and the problems with Nigeria tourism to ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

or over 14 years, Victor Enwezor and his partner at Leisure Afrique have made a success of promoting travels into Nigeria despite the challenges and the tough environment that Nigeria presents for travel business. A foray into the travel world was not for him a chanced affair even though it may not have been a calculated move as well. It was something that he was primed for even as a boy. As a member of the Boys’ Brigade growing up, Enwezor was exposed to the nature of travels through camping activities by his youth organisation. “I grew through the ranks to become an officer and I grew to a stage where I became part of the leadership and was also part of the team organising those camps for the younger ones and that was where the whole interest started,” he says of his introduction to the world of travel. But this interest blossom further when in his university days at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as a member of AIESC (International Association of Students interested in Economics and Management) where he joined like minds to travel within and outside the country. Stepped gradually in the travel world, Enwezor began to appreciate the beauties, the economics and business side of travel. His young and impressionistic mind dreamt exploring more business side of travels. Excited by this prospect, he and his partner began to put in place building blocks for the realisation of their fancied world. “As of the time that we were leaving the university we were already setting up agenda on how the company would run and how we wanted it done professionally,” he related of the beginning of leisure Afrique. Setting up the firm wasn’t as easy as he had first imaged because “there was no money to start the business immediately because tourism needs a lot of publicity and networking if you want to succeed.” Therefore, after his service year in an oil and gas company owned by his uncle, he lingered on awhile to earn some money for his tour company. Exciting experience He reminiscenced on the first tour package of the company in early 2001, which was to some states in North east, such as Adamawa State where with their Japanese tourists explored Koma hills and Sukur cultural landscape among others. “It was a wonderful experience and we learnt a lot. The experience showed that even the government and it various agencies don’t even understand what tourism is about and it was a big disappointment. Because as of then we had travelled to various countries in the cause of preparing for

Enwezor with some tourists at a tourist attraction

this business and we knew how we were treated as tourists only for us to start and you find police harassing the tourists. So at the end of the day it wasn’t so much of fun for the person because he wanted to be free but he didn’t have that freedom. “In some places, we were properly welcomed while in some other places we were not welcomed. But we had to continue to forge on. For us, it was exciting and for the client too, it was exciting because he was so happy and till date we still exchange mails. Though it wasn’t as much as what he expected but he enjoyed it.” Rather than give up on the dream following the disappointments and seemingly failure that dogged their heels on their first tour package ever, Enwezor says turning back then was not an option instead they decided to put all the frustrations behind them and matched on. Today, they have obviously mastered the curves as Leisure Afrique ranks among the top rated tour promoters of in-bound travels in Nigeria. “Moving from there, we started building the business,” he tells you even as he reveals that the two elements that propelled their drive were passion and nationalism. “Passion and nationalism were the two things that drove us. We enjoyed what we were doing, travelling around and meeting people.” As young men, they were focused on getting people to visit Nigeria and set about trying to unravel the reasons why Nigeria is not a tourist receiving country. Tour operation business is profitable but.... “It is a profitable business and one would have made so much money if the turnover rate is high,” laments Enwezor of the lots of the tour operation business in Nigeria. “You can do a job that is worth $70, 000 in one month but how often does it come? That is the problem, because the regularity or volume is not very high and that is what gives the impression that it is not profitable and that is why you find many of our colleagues are doing other things like car hire, ticketing, setting up guest houses or hotels so as to sustain

Nigeria is not America, it is not United Kingdom, and it is not South Africa. So why do you want to replicate all those?

themselves. In Nigeria you can’t do tour operation alone, it can’t sustain you because of the irregularity.” There is a whole lot of tourism going on in Nigeria “Do you know how many Nigerian Diaspora families which come with their friends and colleagues to attend one event or the other? Do you know the volume? There is tourism going on here but the point is that we have not been able to structure it. The problem lies with our government agencies and those who claimed to be managing tourism in the sense that they are not taking responsibility. “Because if they are taking responsibility we would know where we are by now and one of the most annoying and sad developments about Nigeria is our attitude of copy and paste, it happens everywhere. Nigeria is not Dubai so why do you want to practice the type of tourism that is in Dubai? Nigeria is not Kenya, why are you trying to replicate what is in Kenya in Nigeria? “Nigeria is not America, it is not United Kingdom, and it is not South Africa. So, why do you want to replicate all those? All these countries that are doing tourism, the major countries, Tunisia used to be at the top, Egypt and Morocco have always been at the top. “If you check, you will find out that everybody builds around the uniqueness of his country to be able to create tourism but in our own case we want to copy and paste because they built 10-storey building in Dubai we have to build 10 stories building so that we would look like we are doing tourism. So you find us doing Eko Atlantic because they built houses on water in Dubai.” Our cultural festivals and food should be our frontline tourism products “We are not lacking in what to see or view or anything else, it is just direction that we don’t have. If you know the volume of conferences that come into Nigeria every year and we are not taking advantage of that. Elsewhere it is tourism but here it is something for government committees. “Our frontline product should revolve round our culture and food. We should play around our cultural festivals, which should include burial ceremonies, wed-

Enwezor

dings, chieftaincy titles, naming, ofala festival, fishing festival and different festivals that abound within the country. It is our responsibility to create something out of them. “They (tourists) want to see something else, they want to see the people and how do you see the people? It is through your festivals, through your cultural activities and the rest of them and it is not by building high rises and all that. “It is by putting these things together and marketing them the way they ought to be. For me, marketing is not about all these jamborees.” According to him, the first step to structuring tourism business in Nigeria is by the government embarking on sensitisation because many of the people who are involved in the business hardly understand what it is all about hence they can’t move it to the next level. Enwezor also speaks of training and marketing as key to a booming tourism business in Nigeria. A bright future ahead Looking back, he says, his company has done well even though it may not be raking in the millions but the fact that 14 years on they are still afloat and keeping the flag flying, is a measure of success. “The future is also bright and I think the way out is to continue to be dynamic. We remain focus on the in-bound and looking at how to create an environment where more people would keep visiting Nigeria directly or indirectly and either by coercion or pampering,” he concludes.

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Kwara: No harmonious DESTINATION

Like most states, Kwara State's potential is vast ‘state of harmony’ if its rich cultural and natural attractions are well developed and promoted. But the dream to take tourism to great heights in the "state of harmony" remains just what it is - a dream. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA writes

Oloffa of Offa at the celebration of Ijakadi Festival in Offa

Ijakadi festival in Offa

Background wara State is located in Nigeria's north-central geo-political zone and is populated by people of multicultural background with diverse languages and rich traditions, abundant natural resources and a rich economic base given the investment opportunities in the state. It is reputed to be one of Nigeria's most peaceful states. Created on May 27, 1967 from the former West Central State and Northern Region from Ilorin and Kabba Province, Kwara State, which derives its name from River Niger as known in the local parlance, spans about 32, 500 square kilometres with Ilorin as the state capital. Some of the major ethnic groups include Fulanis, Nupes, Barubas and Yorubas while some of the crops are cotton, cocoa, coffee, kola nut, tobacco, beniseed and palm produce while the mineral resources of the state are limestone, marble, feldspar, clay, kaolin, quartz and granite rocks. The state has 16 local government areas comprising Offa, Oro, Jebba, Patigi, Erin–Ille, Adeleke Igbewere, Osi, Lafiagi, Ejidongari, Igbaja, Iponrin, Afon, Gure, Kaiama, IsanluIsin, Omu-Aran, Illoffa, Illota and Egbejila. Some of the educational institutions in the state include University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, Kwara State Polytechnic, Al-Hikma University and Landmark University. The state also boasts three colleges of education, aviation school, three colleges of education, school of health technology and school of nursing. Tourism push Under the present administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the state government has placed some emphasis on developing the tourism industry as one of its economic options for the state with a tourism master plan that runs between 2011 and 2015. The thrust of the master plan is creating a tourism industry that boost the economy of the state through job creation and development of the society. This vision aims to create an enabling environment with the necessary social infrastructure, a healthy environment, promo-

Imoleboja Rockshelter, Odo-Owa

Ilorin Central Mosque

Pottery is a major craft in Ilorin

tion of culture, arts and crafts, upgrading and development of the various state tourist attractions. To drive this process, the governor recently appointed a special assistant on culture and tourism development, Mr. Oyedele Adetula, who during a tour of some of the tourist attractions of the state outlines his agency's goals as envisioned by the governor: “The governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has emphatically mandated my office to employ all possible means within the state's capacity to see that tourism takes its place in the positive drive for economic growth in the state.” The agenda of his office, he said, includes intensive evaluation of existing facilities, makeover of facilities, intensive education on sustenance of tourist attractions as well as involvement of investors. How far the governor, his special assistant, the state tourism board and others charged with the development and promotion of the state's tourism assets can go with the master plan, which is just barely one year left, is not yet known. But it's certain that cities do not become tourism giants merely by wishing it or hugging the limelight.

Tourist attractions Owu Fall: Located in the Ilere district of Ifelodun local government of the state, the water fall is one of the highest waterfalls in the country with an amazing and exciting natural fascination. Water cascades in a ferocious manner from the height of about 120 metres forming large pool of water at the base. With its luxuriating and inspiring atmosphere, the mood lend itself to great fun such as picnicking, partying and other forms of leisure even mountaineers can contest for the top but currently, the place is not fully utilized due to lack of development. Ero-Omola: This is another treasured water fall but not in the mode of Owu as it comes with special natural appeal in that it blossoms during the rainy season with some breezy atmosphere while during the dry season the rock formations come to live. It is situated in Osi, Idofin-Igbana road in Oke-Ero local government area. Imoleboja rock shelter: This is a massive rock formation with appealing natural architectural feel. A good location for picnickers to experience the natural pull of the ever calm environment. Legend has it that the rock once served as a safe haven for maidens who protested the pregnancy of some of their peers as a result of pre-marital activities. It is located in Odo–owa in Oke-ero local government area of the state, about 90 kilometres drive from Ilorin. Ilorin Central Mosque: The first Ilorin central mosque was built in 1820 with the present mosque a fascinating architectural masterpiece attracting visitors to the city. Alfa Alimi’s Mosque and Residence: Named after a Fulani Islamic scholar, Alfa Alimi, the mosque was built around 1831 and is said to be the first Juma’s mosque in Ilorin. With the original structures and ele-

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chord in tourism

TRAVEL&TOURISM

Travel update

Ebola: Tips for hotel staff •

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Owu Fall

ments preserved, the mosque which still functions as a routine and special prayers venue, attracts a number of visitors daily. Sheikah Alimi Mosque (Kuho): Sheikah Alimi was another Islamic scholar who is regarded as the progenitor of the Fulani race in the present day Ilorin Emirate. Located in Kuho section near Temidare Village in Asa local government area, the mosque is one prominent sites in the state for religious tourism. Dada Pottery: A traditional pottery located in the capital city, which features the women fashioning out various forms of creative and beautiful pottery for commerce. Located at Dad, Okelele Quarters in Ilorin, visitors could watch the women work on the traditional machines and tools at the pottery said to be the biggest in the state. Jebba: This town is one of the major and popular towns in the state and it comes with rich history and culture, especially colonial history given the important role it played then as commerce and link town. As a major railway station, the town flourished and drew people from across the country. Some of its attractions include the Mungo Park cenotaph, in memory of Mungo Park and the Lander Brothers, the wreckage of Mungo Park’s ship, European cemetery, the Juju Rock, the “Ahoyaya” waterfalls and the Jebba colony, which offers a panoramic view of Jebba town and the almost abandoned railway station. Lord Lugard office/Residence: The state was one of the first few places in northern Nigeria where Lord Lugard, the former governor-general of Nigeria established his presence. He once lived in Gudu in Edu local government area of the state. His colonial office and residence have been preserved over the years for public view. Kainji Lake National Park: With the presence of Kainji Lake National Park, visitors to the state should look forward to experiencing rich ecotourism flavour park, which covers both Kwara and Niger States with its two sectors – Borgu and Zugur. They both boost diverse and endemic fauna and flora species. Located in the Kaiama area of the state,

Boat regatta

Kainji Lake National Park

With the presence of Kainji Lake National Park, visitors to the state should look forward to experiencing rich ecotourism flavour park the best period to explore the park is between December – June. Ningurume fish pond: It is a legendary and mysterious fish pond of sort with the fish believed to be adorned with ear rings and beads. But locals say it is not often the public could see this spectacle except on special occasions. The fish are celebrated and worshipped by the people with pap and ram. The fishes are not edible and only calabash is used to fetch water from the pond. Esie Museum: It is perhaps one of the age–long and most famous attractions of the state with the museum housing a collection of stone images, which were discovered in 1775. Found in Esie in Irepodun, the museum displays the rich and creative ambience of the people. Okuta-Ilorin: Located in the Idi–Ape quarters of Ilorin, the ancient stone has bearing on Ilorin, the capital city, as it is regarded by the stone used by one of the founders - Ojo Isekuse – to sharpen his metal tools. It was once deified and worshipped by the people but it has over the years served as a tourist spots to for visitors to the city. Olofa Palace: The Palace of Oloffa of Offa is a blend of ancient and modern architectural masterpiece and houses a number of the people’s culture, arts and crafts as well as the tomb of past Olofas. Located near the Oba market, the palace is one of the oldest buildings in Offa. Emir’s Palace: The emir of Ilorin palace, located at Oja Oba market in Ilorin, which was built in 1993 is a popular tourist attraction.

International Aviation School, Ilorin

Festivals The state just like others is rich in cultural festivities of diverse nature and colour, which are celebrated yearly by the people and each attract numbers of visitors. The list include: Agan Festival: This is one of the rich festival celebrated yearly by the people and its features among others dancing and singing of spiritual songs. It is a colourful event attracting huge following in ObboAiyekunle and Egosi in Ekiti and Oke-Ero local government areas. Moremi Festival: Also known as Onimoka Festival, it is a people based event featuring wrestling combat between the traditional ruler of Offa and his second-incommand. It is held during the new yam celebration by the people of Offa but it staging over times has waned with efforts being made to bring it back to life. Ikan Festival: It is one of the most fascinating and colourful festivals of the people celebrated in both Etan and Opin in Ekiti local government area of the state. It is an initiation based festivity as its heralds the coming of new set of warriors and retirements of the older group by the community. It is held every seven years. Awon Mass Wedding Festival: Shao in Moro local government area is the place to visit in October to witness a colourful mass wedding ceremony of young brides and grooms yearly. Patigi Regatta/Durbar: Is a twin celebration of the cultural beauty of the people with the regatta featuring mass cultural boat float alongside fishing, swimming and canoe competitions by the people of Nupe who are noted for their proclivity in this form of cultural entertainment while the Durbar is parade of colourfully adorned horses and horses in celebration mood. Dining out The state offers different options for diners spiced with local flavours and delicacies in different localities. Some of the major towns house posh restaurants and eateries with Ilorin, the capital, boasting such spots as Royals Fast Food, Mr. Bigg's, Rushmeal Fast Food, Gomola Fast Food and Friends Fast Food.

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Wear impermeable disposable gloves while cleaning the guest rooms and lavatories; Wipe down lavatory surfaces and frequently touched surfaces in the guest room, such as armrests, seat backs, tray tables, light and air controls and adjacent walls and windows with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered cleaner/disinfectant that has been tested and approved for use; Special cleaning of upholstery, carpets, or storage compartments is not indicated unless they are obviously soiled with blood or body fluids. Special vacuuming equipment or procedures are not necessary; Do not use compressed air, which might spread infectious material through the air; If a seat cover or carpet is obviously soiled with blood or body fluids, it should be removed and discarded by the methods used for bio-hazardous material; Throw used gloves away according to the company's recommended infection control precautions when cleaning is done or if they become soiled or damaged during cleaning; Clean hands with soap and water (or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap is not available) immediately after gloves are removed.

Outside hotel environment • Practice careful hygiene - avoid contact with blood and body fluids; • Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids; • Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola; • Avoid contact with animals or with raw meat; • Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated; • Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever, headache, achiness, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, rash, or red eyes; • Limit your contact with other people when you travel to the doctor - Do not travel anywhere else and; • Tell the doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms before you go to the office or emergency room. Advance notice will help the doctor care for you and protect other • people who may be in the office. -By Institute of Hospitality UK –Nigeria branch

44 SHOWBIZ

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... a finger on the city’s pulse

CONFLUENCE

CBN Deputy Governor Bayo Adelabu completes mega events centre in Ibadan

he Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bayo Adelabu, has completed a breathtaking events centre and top-tier guest house in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. The hospitality facility is located at Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State. The massive construction was reportedly perfected in four months. Sources claim a substantial part of the materials used for the building and interior fittings were imported. Though he’d rather not be linked with the capital intensive investment, his identity was unveiled during protests by residents over citing buildings for commercial purposes in the exclusively residential area. It was said that the banker had calmed frayed nerves, using contacts in government. Adelabu is in charge of Financial System Stability Directorate at the CBN. Before his appointment, the banker with over 22 years experience was an executive director and chief financial officer at First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

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kiti Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, has rebuffed attempts to reconcile him with his siblings. There has been no love lost between Fayose and his siblings, Emmanuel and Isaac, for a while now. The other player in the family fiasco was his late sister, Bimpe Shorinolu. She fought him till she breathed her last and he reportedly refused to help offset the huge debt her prolonged illness had created. The problem afflicting the family had roots in Fayose's first term as governor of Ekiti State. It revolves around two major episodes. The first has hidden details in a development with Emmanuel, his wife and the then governor as major acts. The guarded occurrence saw the family, including the parents’ take sides with Emmanuel. Then, scores of celebrity journals hit town with different versions of the family feud. The other was the collapsed marriage of late Bimpe Shorinolu. Fayose as governor was accused of having a hand in the development. He allegedly empowered the husband while neglecting the sister. Dapo, the hubby, reportedly cozied up to Fayose and abandoned his family. Thus began Bimpe's spat with her husband against whom she

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Kwara First Lady premieres TV series on cancer

he wife of Kwara State governor, Mrs. Omolewa Abdulfatah Ahmed, premiered a13- episode television series, S’ayewore which literally means "get diagnosed" a few days ago. The Kwara First Lady runs a foundation called Leah Charity Foundation aimed at creating awareness for cancer and its prevention. The series, S’ayewore, is aimed at creating breast cancer awareness. The drama features the likes of Femi Adebayo, Oga Bello, Bimbo Thomas, Muyiwa Ademola, Fathia Balogun, Eniola Badmus, Sanyeri, Golugo and many others. The premiere had the executive governor of Kwara State, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed and members of the cast in attendance.

Fayose rebuffs reconciliation with siblings E

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made numerous allegations. Isaac tried to serve as a bridge of sort in the face of the multiple family crises, but it wasn't long before he took sides. He however tried not to show open hostility. The degeneration of the family quarrel came to the fore in the snatching of their late father's body and burial of an empty casket as a decoy by the then governor. While Bimpe fought her elder brother, it appeared the survivors, Emmanuel and Isaac and another sister, Abefe, appeared willing to forgive and forget with Fayose's return to power. The duo offered the olive branch by staging a "victory party" for their brother separately in Lagos and London. But he shunned the two events, even after he confirmed attendance at a London soiree before the scheduled event. Sources claim he did it to avoid a public show of reconciliation with his siblings. He is said to believe too much has happened to just be swept under the carpet with "spurious" show of togetherness at "a victory party" for a fight he is convinced he won alone. It was claimed, also that apart from his family feud, disagreement with political supporter, Kashamu

Buruji, is far from over. The bone of contention is said to be the funds which Buruji allegedly made available for Fayose's campaign. Sources say the former would rather get a refund before inauguration. However, another source insist that any claim of feud between the two is simply a creation of the media.

Mr. Nigeria, Emmanuel Ikubese fetes friends on birthday T

he second most desirable man in the world Emmanuel Ikubese who emerged the first-runner-up in the Mr World competition, was a year older last Tuesday. He celebrated his day with a few friends including Munachi Abii, Linda Ejiofor, Chinyere Adogu, Lilian Esoro, Peggy Ovire, IK Osakioduwa, Anna Ebiere Banner, Yvonne “Vixen” Ekwere, Maria Okanrende, Timi and Busola Dakolo.

FACEOFF NAPTON licenses unqualified persons – Ajah p.48 We can license drug operators – Henshaw p.49

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16 AUGUST 2014

Our quarrel with Jonathan - Northern Elders You addressed a press conference where the Northern Elders’ Forum(NEF), asked President Goodluck Jonathan to either produce the Chibok girls that were abducted in Borno state by October, or forget his presidential ambition. Why did NEF put the president on the spot, given that he has been doing his best to rescue the girls, including asking for foreign help. What else do you expect him to do? The Northern Elders Forum is not satisfied with these steps that you have enumerated. Over 300 female students were abducted in a school at night, by armed insurgents and till today, they are still in captivity. Initially, the government denied that it even happened and that it was all politics of blackmailing the government. Then the government admitted after 21 days, that the abduction is real. Suddenly, the same government has invited foreign nations and negotiators to come and assist in securing the girls. After 100 days, there are celebrating the abduction! I mean, human beings were taken into captivity and the government is celebrating 100 days of their captivity! They rented spiritual men, both Muslims and Christians, for the event and at the end of the day, we saw them fighting for money. Meanwhile the real Nigerians who were advocating and campaigning for the Bring Back Our Girls were scattered by the police and prevented from agitating, claiming that they were sponsored by the opposition. But the government did not tell us whether it was the opposition that even kidnapped the girls. If the opposition was sponsored to mount pressure for the release of the girls, is the government telling us that it was the one that kidnapped the girls? So, that argument of government saying that the Bring Back Our Girls campaign was sponsored by the opposition, is a confirmation that government kidnapped the girls. However, all the so called efforts of the government does not explain satisfactorily why the girls should be in captivity for 119 days in a great country like Nigeria that has provided international peace keeping operations and returned with medals. So, we find it unacceptable that the government is still trying to rescue the girls 119 days after. The Chief of Defence Staff has admitted that they know where the girls are. If Boko Haram kidnapped the girls and the government says it knows where they are, then there is an unexplained partnership. So, our ultimatum to Presi-

If Boko Haram kidnapped the girls and the government says it knows where they are, then there is an unexplained partnership

Last Monday, a member of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Barrister Solomon Dalung addressed a press conference in Kaduna where he gave President Goodluck Jonathan up till October to either produce the abducted Chibok girls or forget about his re-election bid, as reported by IBRAHEEM MUSA. dent Goodluck Jonathan becomes necessary because government has demonstrated lack of political will to do what is right. But if I understand what the Chief of Defence Staff said correctly, he argued that although they know where the girls are held, the military does not want to storm the place so as not to jeopardise the lives of the girls. Does this explain you the collaboration that alleged? It is an unsatisfactory explanation from a reputable security chief of his standing. The wife of the Deputy Prime Minister of Cameroun, that does not even have 10% of our national army, was abducted and within three days, she was rescued. The uncle of the President was kidnapped but he was rescued alive. So, if the Chief of Defence Staff is telling us that they know where the girls are

and that they are not interested in storming the place, it is wrong. We did not ask them of the strategy of rescue. They are trained security personnel and must they go to the media to describe the military strategy of how to rescue the girls? Did the United States go on air when they wanted to kill Osama Bin Laden? So, for the Chief of Defence Staff to go on air to discuss the military strategy of rescue, it raises a lot of questions. And it is part of the unacceptable explanation on the part of the federal government. The Northern Elders Forum, from what I know, is supposed to be a non political group. But why are you tying the release of the Chibok girls to the president’s ambition in 2015? Like you rightly pointed out, the forum is a conglomeration of different political interests. It became imperative that the demand must be tied to the election, looking at the level of destruction that is going on in the North East. In our press conference, we mentioned specifically that in Gwoza, for over seven days, there was consistent attack and killing of not less than 50 people every day. There is even no political will to abate such killings. But there is the political capacity to

campaign for 2015. In other words, 2015 appears to the government as the only agenda in Nigeria. So, we must tie it to its own interest. If we do not tie it to its own interest, the government may not understand. There is an adage in Hausa which says that ‘’if you want to talk to a deaf man, you must hit him otherwise he will not know that you are talking.’’ We have adopted a strategy that the government will understand because so many efforts by Nigerians to draw the attention of government, to the embarrassment that this country has suffered and the damage to our image, have all fallen on deaf ears. Daily, if you switch on your TV set, you will see varieties of sponsored commercials, all talking about 2015. So, if 2015 is the issue, the president should know that you cannot talk about 2015 when a whole generation of about 300 girls are in captivity. The number is enough to produce a society like Nigeria. So, to answer your question, we are apolitical but we use political strategies to attain our aims and objectives. But why the choice of the month of October as the deadline? The choice of October became imperative after serious deliberations. The initial concept was to give the government 40 days. But on a second thought, based inputs from professionals like retired military officers, we saw the need to concede sufficient time to see if government will actually start to plan for a successful rescue operation. In your press conference, you seem to have come down heavily on the president and somewhat exempted the governors in the on-going insurgency in parts of the country. As chief security officers in their states, don’t you think that they also share some blame? In the North East, the Federal Government has taken over the security for over eight or so months. This period should have been sufficient enough for the Federal Government to restore normalcy, having declared a state of emergency and a large chunk of the resources of those states now go into security, yet the place is not secured. If you study the text of our interview very well, we didn’t descend only on the Federal Government. In fact, we accused past headsof-state from the north and other northern leaders of maintaining an undignified silence in the face of all that is happening in the north. We mentioned them name by name and that is the first part of the list. We are still going to mention more names. So, we expect these leaders to identify with our people or we will consider them as having abandoned the north, having benefited from the kind gestures of our founding fathers. And if you look at our text, we even commended the Federal Government for intervening on the profiling of northerners in the south. So, our press conference was objective; where the Federal Government deserves commendation, we commended it. And where the President has performed below expectation, we took him up. Our press conference was a double CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

46 THE SATURDAY INTERVIEW

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

‘If you want to talk to a deaf man, you must hit him’ C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 4 5

edged sword that spared nobody. Like you mentioned, NEF blamed past Heads of states of northern origin and former leaders of not doing enough to end the insurgency. What, in your view, can they do, seeing that they are not in office and all they can do is to appeal like you are now doing? They have goodwill, they have influence. Today is a product of yesterday. All those Nigerian leaders, whether in the military or politics, have had their lives influenced by most of those people that we have mentioned. General Yakubu Gowon was the Head of State from 1967 to 1975. Of course, there is no crop of Nigerian leaders today that have not benefited from him or that does not respect him. The same thing with Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari and General Ibrahim Babangida, General TY Danjuma, ex Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and so on. These great sons of the north have not satisfied us with the role that we expect them to play when the north is on fire. It is argued that Nero cannot be busy playing when Rome is on fire. We expect them to play the role that elders are supposed to play in the circumstance but we have not heard much from them. And we have not even seen them actively mobilising the people as to how they could even respond to the situation. We have not heard from them in the contribution of relief materials or assistance. The north looks up to them as elders and leaders and they are not playing that role as expected. We have just expressed the concern of the average northerner. In your press conference, NEF alleged that that the insurgency and the spate of ethno-religious crises rocking the north are engineered from outside to weaken the north in the run up to 2015 elections. But you will agree with me that these crises occurred even under northern presidents. In fact, the Boko Haram insurgency started during President Umaru Yarádua. How do you reconcile these facts with your allegation? We said this from a historical perspective. In 1982, we had the Maitatsine uprising. Shagari was president and even though he was a civilian, he took bold steps to bring it under control, even when Maitatsine had an enclave at the centre of Kano city. In 1984, General Buhari crushed the Bulunkutu riots in Maiduguri which was a fall out of the Maitatsine elements that regrouped. In 1987, we had the Kafanchan riots which engulfed that area and even spread to Katsina state. As Head of State, General Babangida took bold steps to bring the uprising under control and all those indicted were punished. They were convicted, we have the records. The current ‘’insurgency’’ started during the late President Umaru Yarádua and in 2009, even as a civilian, he acted promptly to bring the insurgency under control. If there was a sustenance of that tempo after Yarádua, we would not have been where we are today. So, looking at how former leaders have handled the insurgency, and seeing how it is now being handled, even a mad man in the north believes what NEF said. The insurgency is a politically-engineered situation where a viable military is incapable to contain it. The insurgents, put together and spread all over West African and the Maghreb region, are not more than 10,000. And the president

The north can’t be talking about power through making the country ungovernable for the president

has admitted sending 20,000 troops to the North East. There is even a division created there; yet the soldiers are being pushed to Maiduguri metropolis. The insurgents have taken over several towns and villages and have hoisted flags there. So, what is the explanation in this circumstance? Trillions are being budgeted every year and yet there is no substantial progress and you are hearing the drums of 2015. In Ekiti and Osun states, over 80,000 soldiers were sent for just an election of one day and such number of soldiers can’t be moved to recover Nigerian territories from the terrorists. So, this can be explained as a political strategy to depopulate the over 40 million voters in 2015. If this analysis is wrong, then the president must end the insurgency. There is a flipside to this argument. Some people allege that some northern leaders sponsor the insurgency because power has slipped from them. According to them, such leaders want to make the country ungovernable for Jonathan so that he would either relinquish power to the north or else, his presidency will not be peaceful. Are you persuaded by this argument? Yes, I have heard so much of these even from government officials. But this assertion is a confirmation of their weakness. There is only one president in Nigeria and he is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, meaning that all the resources and tools are at his disposal. I wonder how an individual or a group of people can prevent him from working; or to make Nigeria ungovernable for a Commander in Chief. That is a confirmation that he is incapable of commanding. Anybody making this argument even on the side of government is embarrassing the government. I think the president should have removed such person from government. The buck stops at his table, any other person is just making noise. We don’t know them; we only know President Goodluck Jonathan. Back to the theory of making the country ungovernable for the president. Admitting but not conceding that it exists. Are they, by extension, saying that the whole budgetary allocation goes to these so-called agents of ‘’ungovernability’’? Admitting but not conceding again, if those people who are allegedly making the country ungovernable are succeeding, why has the president not handed over to them since they are the ones that can even rule the country from their bedrooms? To me, that argument is the theory of a very weak leadership, it’s the argument of mentally bankrupt people and it is a disgrace to the image of this country that people are still arguing like that. The insurgency is real. The north can’t be talking about power through making the country ungovernable for the president. If the north is in power, will the south make it governable for the north? NEF

believes in the unity of this country, we believe that every segment of this country should be treated justly. In our letter to the president, we made it clear that we are stakeholders in the Nigerian project. I proceed from here to tell you that if there is any northerner that is trying to make this country ungovernable in order to take advantage, we condemn that act and also assure him that he will never rule this country because he is also not different from what we are complaining against. Look at the abduction of the Cbibok girl. Initially, the government denied that it even happened and that it was part of the politics to blackmail the government. Then the government admitted, after 21 days, that the abduction is real. Suddenly, the same government invited foreign nations and negotiators to come and assist in securing the girls. After 100 days, there are celebrating the abduction! I mean, human beings were taken into captivity and the government is celebrating 100 days of their captivity! They rented spiritual men, both Muslims and Christians, for the event and at the end of the day, we saw them fighting for money. Meanwhile the real Nigerians who were advocating and campaigning for the Bring Back Our Girls were scattered by the police and prevented from agitating, claiming that they were sponsored by the opposition. But the government did not tell us whether it was the opposition that even kidnapped the girls. If the opposition was sponsored to mount pressure for the release of the girls, is the government telling us that it was the one that kidnapped the girls? So, that argument of government saying that the Bring Back Our Girls campaign was sponsored by the opposition, is a confirmation that government kidnapped the girls. However, all the so-called efforts of the government do not explain, satisfactorily, why the girls should be in captivity for 119 days in a great country like Nigeria that has provided international peace keeping operations and returned with medals. So, we find it unacceptable that the government is still trying to rescue the girls 119 days after. The Chief of Defence Staff has admitted that they know where the girls are. If Boko Haram kidnapped the girls and the government says it knows where they are, then there is an unexplained partnership. So, our ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan becomes necessary because government has demonstrated lack of political will to do what is right. Hightly pointed out, the forum is a conglomeration of different political interests. It became imperative that the demand must be tied to the election, looking at the level of destruction that is going on in the North East. In our press conference we mentioned specifically that in Gwoza,

for over seven days, there has been consistent attack and killing of not less than 50 people every day. There is even no political will to abate such killings. But there is the political capacity to campaign for 2015. In other words, 2015 appears to the government as the only agenda in Nigeria. So, we must tie it to its own interest. If we do not tie it to its own interest, the government may not understand. There is an adage in Hausa which says that ‘’if you want to talk to a deaf man, you must hit him otherwise he will not know that you are talking.’’ We have adopted a strategy that the government will understand because so many efforts by Nigerians to draw the attention of government, to the embarrassment that this country has suffered and the damage to our image, have all fallen on deaf ears. Daily, if you open your TV set you will see varieties of sponsored commercials, all talking about 2015. So, if 2015 is the issue, the president should know that you cannot talk about 2015 when a whole generation of about 300 girls are in captivity. The number is enough to produce a society like Nigeria. So, to answer your question, we are apolitical but we use political strategies to attain our aims and objectives. But why the choice of the month of October as the deadline? The choice of October became imperative after serious deliberations. The initial concept was to give the government 40 days. But on a second thought, based inputs from professionals like retired military officers, we saw the need to concede sufficient time to see if government will actually start to plan for a successful rescue operation. In your press conference, you seem to have come down heavily of the president and somewhat exempted the governors in the on going insurgency in parts of the country. As chief security officers of their states, don’t you think that they also share some blame? In the North East, the Federal Government has taken over the security for over eight or so months. This period should have been sufficient enough for the Federal Government to restore normalcy, having declared a state of emergency and a large chunk of the resources of those states now go into security, yet the place is not secured. If you look at our text very well, we didn’t descend only on Federal Government. In fact, we accused past Heads of state from the north and other northern leaders of maintaining an undignified silence in the face of all that is happening to the north. We mentioned them name by name and that is the first part of the list. We are still going to mention more names. So, we expect these leaders to identify with our people or we will consider them as having abandoned the north, having benefited from the kind gestures of our founding fathers. And if you look at our text, we even commended the Federal Government for intervening on the profiling of northerners in the south. So, our press conference was objective; where the Federal Government deserve commendation, we commended it. And where the President has performed below expectation, we took him up. Our press conference was a double edged sword that spared nobody. Like you mentioned, NEF blamed past Heads of states of northern origin and former leaders of not doing enough to end the insurgency. What in your view can they do, seeing that they are not in office and all they can do is to make appeal in the media like you are now doing? They have goodwill, they have influence. Today is a product of yesterday. All those Nigerian leaders, whether in the military or politics, have had their lives influenced by most of those people that we have mentioned. General Yakubu Gowon was the Head of State from 1967 to 1975. Of course there is no crop of Nigerian leaders today that have not benefited from him or that does not respect him.

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

Jonathan deserves second term - Okafor The National President, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Chief Nwabueze Okafor, NDUBUISI UGAH that with the support of Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan will reposition the nation, despite her challenges. What are your reflections on Nigeria, especially with the prevailing insecurity in the country? There is, no doubt, that we are in challenging times, given the security situation in the country. I know that a lot of resources and funds that could have been appropriated to critical areas of the economy are now channeled to the area of security. This is, really, a challenging time but generally, President Goodluck Jonathan has done very well. But what is your take on the barrage of criticisms against the president since he assumed office? Criticising the government has always been part of our culture as a nation. I do not think that there is any government in Nigeria since independence that has not been so criticized. Often times, we only saw the positives of some administrations when those in authority had left the saddle. It is a part of our lives to criticize the government but then, you do not really blame the people because I believe it is our social responsibility to make sure we put the government to test so that they can live up to their responsibilities. So, a country as large as Nigeria, some would criticize, some would appreciate, some would be lukewarm but I do not believe that given the present challenges we have as a nation, the present administration has not done well. What do you make of the National Conference? Will it address the problems facing the nation? The National Conference was a good idea but I think that along the line, certain groups, individuals and sections of the country placed their interests above the national interest. People did not come to the conference with open minds because when they came, it was with the mindset that they came to represent the interests of a particular section, ethnic groups, states or institutions. With that mindset, they could not see the larger picture of national cohesion, integration or the need for us, as a diverse society, to come together and live as one united and prosperous nation. That is where there is a challenge. So, the conference is a well thought out arrangement but, along the line, sectional interests diluted what ought to have been the position of the conference. Are you saying that nothing worthwhile will emerge from the conference? Something good will come out of it. You cannot throw away everything about the conference. However, I think we should leave out issues that create division among Nigerians. We should look at issues that bring us together and issues that touch our very core as a nation. We should talk less of issues that pay attention to a particular group of people because it is only natural that others would rise up to oppose that. Let us consider national issues; how to improve service delivery; how to improve the capacity of the government to respond to the needs of the people; how do we respond to emergency situations; how do we prevent the high wave of criminality; insecurity and insurgency affecting everybody in the country. We also should think of how to sustain a robust educational system that would be respected internationally. We should also think of how to tackle the issue of health to ensure that everybody,

not just those who are living in the urban centres, have access to functional health. We should think of how everybody can get good healthcare, irrespective of status. We should have a programme that even if you do not have money, you do not die of diseases that are otherwise treatable and curable. These are the things we should look at. Have our different sectors performed optimally? Have they really performed in terms of adequate power supply and provision of infrastructures in the nation? These are the things that the National Conference should think about. These are the things we need to legislate on to capacitate the various institutions we have in the country. We should not only dwell on resource control, and what we get from oil resources. We should rather dwell on those issues that are at the core of our existence as a people. What Nigerians want is a government that would be able to provide their basic needs. Are you also afraid that the insurgency in the northern part of the country has the potential to facilitate the disintegration of the country? Insurgency is presently threatening the unity of the country. You find a situation where the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes the fact that every Nigerian citizen is free to reside in any part of the country, do business or go to school Okafor in any part of the country. But in a situation where you talk about registering a citizen of Nigeria from one state in another state, then weakened the system for political and other you can see that the unity of the country is reasons. Some of the delegates at the conferbeing threatened. I insist that the potential ence were well-briefed and tutored on the of the insurgency to threaten the unity of positions to hold. But if you interface with the country is there. But at the same time, Nigerians directly, can tell that they prefer I know that Nigeria would, at the end of a stronger local government system. Look all these, emerge stronger as a united na- at the amendment process of the constitution. The security challenge is not peculiar tion the National Assembly started prior to to Nigeria. In several parts of the world, the before the National Conference! In 90 including in bigger economies, we have all per cent of the constituencies we had in the manner of security challenges and insur- country, Nigerians were very clear on the gency. But I believe that once we are united kind of system they want at that level of govas a country and once we are determined ernment. Nigerians were united in saying to fight the insurgency, we will be able to that they want a strong, virile local governovercome it. And that is why I believe that ment system. For some people to talk about everything boils down to the third tier of scrapping the Local Government system, government which is the Local Govern- I do not understand what they are saying. ment. Everything in Nigeria broke down I believe that until we strengthen the local when the Local Government system broke government system, it will be difficult for down and failed to take care of the needs of us to achieve development in the country. the people where the problem starts from. We created a gap that people, at that level, Do people want that system scrapped had nobody to resort to. The state govern- because already, the Joint Account provision ment is too far away from the people. If we in the constitution seems to have incapacihave a thriving Local Government system, tated that tier of government? where the Chairman is the Chief Security The constitution made three major proviofficer and has the logistics and everything sions for funding the local government sysat his disposal, when the security situation tem. One of the biggest incomes of the local wants to get out of hand, he would be able government is allocation from the Federation to address it. So, we have to come back to Account. The drafters of the constitution, in their own wisdom, decided that there should the local overnment. be a joint account and the intention of that provision is for the state, which is the second Having led ALGON, how did you feel about source of revenue, to take a certain percentthe recommendation that the Local Govage as provided by the law of their revenue ernment system should be scrapped? The people making such recommenda- and put into that coming to the local governtions are not well informed. For those that ment and to be distributed according to the are informed and are still supporting such formula already determined by the Revenue a thing, they are doing that for certain self- and Fiscal Commission. That is the purpose ish reasons. If you watch the composition of that account but over the years, some state of the delegates, you find out that they are governments saw it as a means for them to from the states and most of the challenges get free money to use for their politics and the Local Governments had came from pleasure. Do you know why? It is because the states where they made sure that they this is the money they can spend without appropriation. That has been the major challenge of the local government, apart from I do not understand governors having a political stranglehold on their states. This is why some people are what they are saying. committed to ensure that they finally kill the local government system. They weaken it, I believe that until we in such a way, that the operators of the local strengthen the local government cannot ask for their money. Go and check that any time a governor is havgovernment system, it ing issues with a particular local government chairman, go and check; such reasons are will be difficult for us to usually pecuniary. All the resources of the achieve development in local government, even those captured in the constitution, the Fourth Schedule, you the country find the states taking all the responsibilities

of the local government that have revenue incentives. The state governments know that Section 7 of the constitution that they have sworn to uphold says that the system of government at the local government should be democratically-elected. You will see that a House of Assembly will be so irresponsible that they will pass a law establishing Caretaker Committees to manage local governments even where it is expressly and unambiguously stated in Section 71 of the constitution that the only system of government allowed there is that by democraticallyelected councils. So, over the years, there had been deliberate attempts to weaken the local government system. Does President Jonathan deserve a second tenure? Given all the challenges he met on ground and the way he is tackling them, it is my opinion that he deserves a second tenure. As a person and the President of this country, I think he has the right temperament to lead Nigeria. He deserves a second term. Having led a national body like ALGON, one expects that you would have aspired for higher offices. Are there plans to contest any elective position in 2015? I see elective positions as a call to service. If my people feel, strong enough, that in the different positions I have held that I served them well and they call me and I convince myself that I have all that is required to heed that call, I will ask God, in prayer, to embark on that. I do not believe that time for such ambition has run out. There is a popular saying, appear early and retire early. One must do some level of introspection and have some level of selfconviction. You must ask yourself, if I win this election, am I sure I have all it takes to meet the expectation of the people. Assess the Barrister Sullivan Chime-led administration that is gradually coming to an end in Enugu State? Without fear of any contradiction, I can tell you that Governor Sullivan Chime has done very well. He has been able to maintain the peace and security of the state. Enugu was adjudged by the Inspector General of Police to be the safest state he had visited. The state has done well in terms of infrastructural development and others. I think over all, Governor Chime has done very well.

FaceOff NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

16 AUGUST 2014

NAPTON licenses unqualified persons – Ajah Elder Ajah Ibiang Ajah is the Cross River State Chairman of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria and the Managing Director of Anijah Pharmaceutical Co. Nig. Ltd., based in Calabar. The pharmacist explained the crisis between his association and Pharmacy Technicians of Nigeria (NAPTON) to CLEMENT JAMES in Calabar. What’s the main difference between community pharmacists and the conventional pharmacists? Actually, we pharmacists, sometimes, joke that we are like jacks of many trades and master of all. Pharmacists work in hospitals, the drug manufacturing industries and drug marketing outlets, etc. So then, you have hospital pharmacists, industrial pharmacists, academic pharmacists or administrative pharmacists. Now, we call ourselves community pharmacists because our practices are embedded in the community. What people recognize us mostly for is that we provide drug treatment and drug needs of the community in which we are embedded. But beyond that, we are also public health advocates in the sense that we carry out a lot of activities that, I will say, are not strictly pharmaceutical but health related. For instance, we carry out health education for the community; we also carry out disease prevention activities. In many places, we help people monitor their blood pressure. So generally, we provide treatment, health advice and education. But in providing drug, which is our main forte, we do not just give out the drug, We dispense professionally. In other words, we give drugs out along with the relevant information that will help individuals who consume drugs to get the best. This is important because many drugs are actually poisons if they are not used appropriately; so that instead of curing the ailment for which the person is taking it, it may actually end up hurting the individual or killing the person. So, Pharmacists play a very crucial role in that area. We also provide drug information to other health care providers. What, then, is the difference between a pharmacists and a pharmacy technician? Well, I’ll say number one, the profession of pharmacy recognizes that we need assistance in order to play the role we are expected to play. And so, they came up all over the world with the idea of training low or middle level manpower to assist the pharmacists. That’s how the pharmacy technician role was created. So, a pharmacy technician, which is actually the proper way to call them, is trained in the schools of health technology to assist the pharmacist in the performance of his professional role. Some of the duties that they help the pharmacist to perform include counting of tablets, pouring of liquids, documenting what has been done, among others, especially during production. These are ways in which the pharmacy technician can assist the pharmacist. Right now, what’s the real problem between pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the state? Well, the controversy, I would say is contrived. It is contrived because pharmacy technicians ordinarily have no problem with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) which has the duty to regulate the practice of pharmacy in all facets and ramifications. What is actually happening is the criminal tendency of certain people to take advantage of every opportunity, real or imagined, to feather their own nests. The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria was taken to court by

the National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians of Nigeria (NAPTON) over a circular that had to do with employment and promotion of pharmacy technicians in the public service, in government departments. And then, for whatever reason, the Council did not defend the case well, and the court ruled against her. But that matter had nothing to do with opening a drug store by any member of the public. So, that matter is not related to what’s going on in Cross River State. Indeed, questions will arise as to what is going on in the state and straightaway, we call on government to investigate and bring the culprits to book. Number one, the leader of this group is a retired civil servant. In other words, he cannot continue to be the leader of pharmacy technicians because he’s retired. This is the association of pharmacy technicians. Number two is that he’s collecting money from people who are not even trained as pharmacy technicians, giving them what they call Certificate of Associate Membership and going ahead to give them a paper he calls a licence for them to open drug shops or pharmaceutical shops. These so called pharmaceutical shops are not known to law. What they are doing is clearly criminal and I plead with the state or federal governments, or whoever is concerned, to bring them to book. Pharmacy technicians, truly, have no problem with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. It is these charlatans who are operating under the guise of pharmacy technicians who are causing the problem. These people have not been trained in anyway. They are therefore endangering the health of the people of Cross River State. To show that this is a high level of mischief, they are not doing that in other states of the federation, only in Cross River State. Now, if we go back o the court ruling, (I will give you a copy) and you’ll see that the court did not make a pronouncement that anybody should give licenses to these people. The court only said PCN cannot interfere in the promotion or activities of pharmacy technicians in the public health bodies in the country. No court has given anybody the authority to issue licenses to pharmacy technicians or even to non pharmacists in the name of being associate members. So, what they are doing is criminal and I call on government to bring them to book because they are endangering the health of the people of the state. If the court has ruled that PCN should not interfere with NAPTON’s activities, why are you raising eyebrows? Number one, pharmacists continue to meet because we are law abiding profes-

These people have not been trained in anyway. They are therefore endangering the health of the people of Cross River State

Ajah

sionals. So we do not take the laws into our hands. We submit ourselves to the laws of the federation. I don’t want to dwell too much on that court ruling because, I am not a lawyer. But I have alluded to it that the court did not rule the way they are interpreting it. In fact, on the basis of that ruling, they have gone to the Federal High Court in Calabar and the Federal High Court has ruled that the way they go about interpreting it is wrong and does not reflect the intention of the Lagos High court. So, even though I am not a lawyer, as soon as they call off this judiciary workers’ strike, I’ll make the ruling available to you so that you can see it. So, it is not true. The other thing is that Nigerians are enlightened and we should ask ourselves which profession is allowed to regulate itself. Let me point out that pharmacists are regulated by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, doctors and dentists are regulated by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, nurses are regulated by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and engineers are regulated by Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN). There is no profession or group anywhere in the world that is permitted to regulate itself completely outside of government. That is what I have been saying that pharmacy technicians or doctors or anybody cannot claim that any court gives him the authority to regulate itself. The truth is that these people know what they are doing. The court never gave them the authority to regulate themselves and to bring in illiterates, collect N200,000 or N100,000 from individuals, give them certificates and say ‘you are now our member, we can regulate you.’ They know what they are doing is criminal. It is not done anywhere. Does the fact that this earlier court ruling was made in Lagos make its enforcement a national issue? Indeed, the question should go to the person who is holding this court judgment and using it as a camouflage to deceive people. The

question will be, why is he using that judgment only in Cross River State? Why doesn’t he use it even in Lagos? Unfortunately, I cannot answer the question because I am not the one engaged in this criminality. But I can speculate that because he feels that the government of Cross River State will not be able to bring him to book. I’m only speculating. I don’t know why he’s not doing it in other states. How involved are stakeholders like government and NAFDAC in this matter? Well, let me put it this way: there are many stakeholders. Government’s role is tied to the laws of the federation. Decree 93 (I have forgotten the new nomenclature) provides for the establishment of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria. That is Decree 93 of 1992. So, it’s a federal government duty to regulate the handling of drugs. Number two, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria is given that responsibility by the law. Recognizing that a few people sitting in Abuja or Lagos will not be able to police the whole country, they set up Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (PIC) in each state of the federation. That committee ought to be going about inspecting premises to ensure that they meet the requirement of the law in two aspects. One is the qualification of the individual. Two is the suitability of the premises from where that qualified individual will operate. These are the roles of Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria. Regrettably however, two things have happened. One is the resistance of these so called pharmacy technicians against the activities of the PIC. When the committee says this person is not qualified under the law to operate, or this premises has not been inspected and registered to do this and then they seal it up, that man (Henshaw) will lead his group to go and break the seal and the padlock that was used. As I speak to you, they are facing trial at the Magistrate court by the Police Commissioner.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

Tell us about yourself. I am the national Trustee and Chairman in Council of National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians of Nigeria (NAPTON). I am also the Deputy National President of the association. I know what is good and what is bad. In labour hierarchy, I am a distinguished veteran in Nigeria. Before this problem, we have been, the dispensers in the country. We metamorphosed into chemists and druggists. The training of this cadre of workers was on the job by missionaries. In 1973, when Nigeria decided to adopt this course into the university programme, many places were used in the training of university products. The health centre in Ife was used in training the first batch of pharmacists in Nigeria and the place is now known as the University of Ife. So, Ife is the alma mater of pharmacists in Nigeria. The first batch was admitted in1973, precisely in October and they came out after three years, in 1976, and joined the service in 1977 while others had been in service earlier. Those of us who trained there were Yaba-trained, Yaba school of Pharmaceutical Technologists at Lagos. We produced them (those who entered the university in 1973). So, whatsoever they become today, we were the foundation. Now, the training we gave to them was to introduce orthodox medicine into the hinterland, like in the case of community extension workers which was introduced by Ransome Kuti. We trained them and they were known as sales representatives and today, they are still known as sales representatives. The Pharmaceutical Technologists are experts, industrial experts in drug manufacturing. The technicians are experts in the technical aspects of the job. Because of the creation of states, there was lack of manpower and when they came in, we embraced them. And if you go to hospitals now, it has turned to patent medicine centres. And it is not their area and that is why they run short of drugs in drug stores and allow government money to go based on expired drugs. There are instances where government set up a committee and invited me to guide the committee on the destruction of drugs worth more than N1.9million. Now, my association has a constitution and the constitution spells out our objectives. Part of our functions includes controlling and certifying members to own drug shops. Now, in 1990, the government decided to streamline the academic qualification of new entrants. And before 1990, I had said people were trained on the job and I am the trainer for Nigeria. I am the trainer for Nigeria until my retirement. I know those I trained and those who qualify to do one thing or the other. Is he (Ajah) my member to have said I brought those who are not qualified? I left College of Health Technology, Calabar as head of department of pharmaceutical technology. I have trained people in Abia, Imo, call my name anywhere. And in government, as a professional like you, you can’t practice without license, professional license in a professional industry. All nurses have license; Doctors have theirs; even they (Pharmacists) have their license and it is renewable yearly. You can’t practice if you don’t have a license and you can’t be regulated if you are not a licensed member. And the regulatory aspect of it is on me, with my position. Now, you left your Pharmacists and start regulating my people. You go to shops, lock them and tell lies, behave anyhow and misinforming the public that you are the only authority to issue out license, forgetting that I took you to court and won you in court and with the warning that you should not interfere with our activities. It is not their duty to regulate or control our activities according to the court ruling and my people are

He (Ajah) is not even working for the government but he deceives the government under the umbrella of community pharmacists, collecting N40,000 every month

FACEOFF | POLITICS

We can license drug operators – Henshaw Dr. Lawrence Ewa Henshaw, the Cross River State Chairman of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians of Nigeria (NAPTON). Henshaw, who is also a trustee and Deputy National President of the association debunked allegations of sharp practices in the group. He spoke with CLEMENT JAMES. not their members. And the law has given them limitations that they are to regulate their members only. And the authority of the ruling is accepted by both the state and federal governments. The requirement for being a technician is a school certificate and three years training at the health technology and be registered. I am the authority to register technicians. As the Trustee of this organization, tell me why I will not register and regulate my people as authorized by the government of Cross River State and the Federal government. What they (Pharmacists) are doing is self-acclamation which is faulty. So, whatever they are saying is meant to deceive the public. Now, with their qualifications (Pharmacists), is the salary they are earning today sufficient to keep the go0vernment going? A graduate coming to stay in the hospital to issue out tablets of drugs, 1x3 a day? Is that productivity? They are not productive but keep on fighting. Now, with this class of technical manpower in the country, can you compare them with the patent medicine sellers whom they control? Do you know there are people in the name of patent medicine sellers? Are those people qualified to handle aspirin? Do they know the difference between aspirin and panadol? So, they are not informing the public very well, that’s why I took them to the Court. Right now, we are in the Federal High Court for them to come and explain. They claim many things to themselves. Now, Ajah says he is the chairman of community pharmacists. Is community pharmacist known to law? When was community pharmacists registered? They carve out names to defraud the government of the state. Which law establishes community pharmacist? The only law establishing Pharmacists Council of Nigeria is Cap. P 17. That’s all. Where do you see community pharmacist? Is it because you gang up to deceive the public and government? Can you defend the law establishing community pharmacist? He cannot, so he wants to create confusion. And let me correct one thing, please it is wrong to call them “Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria”. W e are

the pharmaceuticals. We are pharmaceutical technologists. We are pharmaceutical assistants. We are the beginning of the profession; the owners of the profession. Who trained them in 1973 in Nigeria and they are now coming to claim monopoly? Can they differentiate between salt and sugar? Your Association is supposed to be a national body… (Cuts in) Which is the council and I am saying that I am the chairman in council. The complaint is that you are retired and a retiree is not supposed to head NAPTON… (Cuts in again) Trusteeship is for life, whether I am retired or not, trusteeship is for life. He (Ajah) is not even working for the government but he deceives the government under the umbrella of community pharmacists, collecting N40,000 every month to the detriment of technicians. What is he doing? He is not even in government except his gang up which I busted. The allegation is that this is the only state that licences are issued to just anybody. (Flares up) He’s a stupid man. I issue licenses to those practicing, to qualified people without jobs and to pensioners. What does he mean? Is he my member? Has he ever trained anyone? Does he assess? We don’t issue out licenses like that. We give you a form. I have an office. Where is his office? You can’t open anything without having an office so that when they want you, they get you. When you come here (his residence), you get me at any time and on my sign-post, I put my phone number there because I don’t do anything

wrong. What’s the government position on all of these? I have taken them to court because of his (Ajah’s) nonsense. I sued Community Pharmacists. Let him come and defend the case at the Federal High Court. I filed the case between December and January because this thing started last year. What is his headache? He’s not my member. What type of nonsense is this? There is something wrong with that man. If he came to Calabar to fight for his work, he should fight for his work. What type of nonsense? He is embarrassing me, talking rubbish every time. So, I don’t know the difference between qualified and unqualified people? Now that there is a new circular that a new training scheme has come, all those who trained on the job, where do we drop them? The government says partner with them until they phase out. Government document to that effect is there. How are you going to take care of those people who trained without meeting the new entry requirement? Government says the entry requirement is for new entrants and not for those who, all along had been working. Government says manage them until they phase out, now you say they were not trained because you see them in College of Technology. It will be unfair, as a labour man, to throw them away like that. Allow them, after all, they are better than the patent medicine people. Ok, how many years do you think I have to live? Why can’t he wait for me to phase out? Now, you call them unqualified, are you my member? How do you certify those who are not trained? Have you ever trained a single person? I said I am the trainer and I know those that I trained and I have the certificate from government authorizing me to train. What’s your problem? How do you react to allegation that you run NAPTON like a private estate?. My President is a Hausa man. I can’t be the only person. It’s an association with membership that cuts across the entire country. You see how they talk rubbish to spoil people? Can this issue be resolved amicably? The solution is “to thy tent oh, Israel”. Allow vulture to perch and bat to perch. Why do you leave your association to come and regulate my own? How can? Am I your member? I cannot allow it. The court has ruled and we can’t do otherwise. In the interest of the profession, have you made any attempt to extend an olive branch? My dear, only when the court rules shall we take to the ruling of the court. Here, the court says they don’t have the right to interfere in our own business and what he is doing is pure interference. That’s contempt. Suppose I take him to court for contempt, what will he say? Go to Abia State University and go to the pharmacy department and ask anybody about me, Dr. Henshaw. Go to Anambra. Look at this man; he has come here to destroy my Henshaw image.

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Ebola salt and water People crack jokes or play hoaxes to achieve different purposes. WAHEED BAKARE writes that some hoaxes or jokes that appear harmless can be tragic.

lthough no country declares April 1 as a national holiday, the day is generally observed as ‘Fools’ Day. Sometimes called ‘April Fool’s Day or All Fools’ Day,’ the day is celebrated every year on the first day of April. The event, which started in the 19th century, is celebrated as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on one another. The jokes and their victims are known as “April fools.” Apart from April Fools’ Day, people choose other days to play practical jokes and hoaxes for different reasons. However, in most cases, the reason why hoaxers get involved in practical jokes and hoaxes is to deceive and deliberately trick others in order to gain an advantage. Though most jokes and hoaxes appear harmless, quite a number of them have turned awry with some resulting in tragic end. One of such cases was that of a nurse, Jacintha Saldanha. Saldanha worked at King Edward VII’s Hospital Sister Agnes in London, United Kingdom. Duchess of Cambridge was a patient at the hospital in December 2012. She was being treated for hyperemesis gravidarum, known as ‘morning sickness’, but it was actually a rare complication of early pregnancy. On December 4, around 5.30 am a prank call came in and Saldanha picked it as there was no switchboard receptionist on duty. Two voices who introduced themselves as the Queen of England and Prince of Wales spoke briefly with Saldanha using “absurd, plummy accents.” They enquired about the health of the Duchess of Cambridge. An elated Saldanha fell for the hoax and transferred the call to the nurse looking after the Duchess. The prank call was part of the Hot30 Countdown radio programme, broadcast on the Austereo-owned station 2Day FM in Sydney, Australia. Thus, Mel Greig

Counterclockwise from top left: Dramatic pictures of Nigerians supposedly paying heed to the Ebola salt water therapy

and Mike Christian, obtained information about the Duchess of Cambridge’s health by impersonating the Queen and the Prince of Wales. Christian had earlier in the day, proposed calling the hospital in the hope of getting the Duchess on the air. Although Saldanha had reportedly attempted to take her life twice before, she eventually committed suicide on December 7, just three days after receiving the hoax call. In one of the three suicide notes she left behind, she cited the hoax call as one of the reasons she ended her life. April Fools Day in August What could be regarded as Nigeria’s version of hoaxes that went bad reverberated on social media last Thursday when people were advised to bath with warm water mixed with salt to avert Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). To ensure the efficacy of the so-called therapeutic approach to curb the spread of EVD, people were also advised to take the mixture. Neighbours informed neighbours, parents called their children and relatives called one another that the mixture was what the world was waiting for. “I received at least six calls from different people between 1.am and 2.30am. My mother was the first to call. She was almost crying begging me not to ignore the advice. I knew there was no point telling her it was a hoax because I will end up compounding things for myself,” Mr. Bola John, a banker, tells our correspondent.

I received at least six calls from different people between 1.am and 2.30am. My mother was the first to call.

The rumour soon spread like wild fire. Since salt is cheap and available in every home, those who found sense in the water-salt therapy wasted no time in boiling water. First come, first to bath “Immediately we finished prayer at our mosque, the Imam stood up and addressed the congregation on the therapy. He advised us not to ignore the advice since according to him, we have nothing to lose by bathing with warm water mixed with salt and drinking same throughout the day. “Unlike what I heard before coming to the mosque that day, he added that the bath should be performed before 7.am and we were told to recite a chapter of the Quran seven times into the water before bathing with it,” Mr. Akeem Adesina, who works in the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammmed International Airport, Lagos, said. By the time he got home, which is just behind the mosque, he says neighbours were already queing to take their bath to ensure that they beat the 7.am deadline. “I live in ‘face me, I face you’ (the low cost apartment of one room per tenant). The atmosphere was charged. Some resorted to begging asking that those who got to the front of the bathroom early enough should allow them to have their bath ahead of them. Since we have just one bathroom and everybody can’t go in at the same time, people had to take their turn based on when they got to the front of the bathroom,” Adesina added. Another Lagos resident, Mrs. Joke Salawu, says she received calls from three of her relatives residing in Ilorin advising her and her children to bath with warm water mixed with salt “and we were asked to drink it also.” “Since I don’t have anything to lose, I did it,” she adds.

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therapy: A prank that went awry

Two die, 20 hospitalised But while Salawu and her family did not lose anything by embracing the delusion, same cannot be said about some families. At least two people were confirmed dead while no fewer than 20 were admitted in hospitals in Plateau State following High Blood Pressure, which was traced to excess consumption of salt. One of the victims was a taxi driver and the other was a woman from Catholic Church Wholshe, Jos South Local Government Area of the state. One of the victims was confirmed dead by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Elias Pede. It was learnt that the majority of those admitted had issues with HBD prior to their consumption of excess salt. Worried by the trend on social media concerning the efficacy of water and salt therapy as the antidote against EVD, the Federal Government advised Nigerians to disregard such rumour. The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said in a statement in Abuja last Friday, said, “Nigerians have been urged to disregard rumours being circulated in the social media that bathing with hot water and salt cures the Ebola disease. “There is no cure yet for the Ebola disease, what is being circulated is only a rumour that will only mislead Nigerians.” The minister recalled that the government had informed Nigerians on the necessary steps needed to be taken to avoid the spread of the virus and would be duly informed on additional measures when necessary. He stresses the importance of environmental and personal hygiene to guard against contracting the virus. In a similar vein, Abia State Government also went on air to advice people of the state to ignore the rumour. The state broadcasting corporation, it was learnt, was relaying the message at every 30 minute interval.

The first suggestion was to tell people that aloe vera could cure ebola, but we thought it would sound too ridiculous so we forgot about it. But like in most states of the federation, the consumption of salted water started very early. A man, who wished to be identified simply as John, says his in-law called him around 12 midnight and implored him and his family to drink and bath with salted water. John says, “We were even more concerned about him because the man is hypertensive. When he said we should take because he had taken his and will take more before the day breaks, we told him that since he is hypertensive, it is not advisable for him to take excess salt. “Prior to the rumour, he had been told on medical ground to avoid taking salt and as a result, his food does not contain salt. But he insisted that the salted water will not affect his health. But he was wrong. By Friday afternoon, his BP had increased and he had to be hospitalised. It is God that saved him. “As I am talking to you many people had been admitted in various hospitas in Abia. It is always good to heed advice, especially medical ones because of the consequences of ignoring such advice.” Confession and apology By last Friday evening, a lady who claimed to be initiator of the hoax, begged Nigerians to forgive her for deceiving them. Using the same social media platform, nairaland, the lady who identified herself simply as Adesewa, says, “Dear nairalanders and everyone who have heard of the ebola prevention “News”, my name

is Adesewa, I am coming out clean because what started as a joke has escalated into the unprecedented. How it started “Yesterday l was with a friend in her hostel, we were talking about this ebola outbreak, when one of my friends, Funke (she introduced me to nairaland), brought up the idea of playing a prank on our friends. The first suggestion was to tell people that aloe vera could cure ebola, but we thought it would sound too ridiculous so we forgot about it. “Later that evening, an idea came to me (I now regret that I did it). I decided to send a BBM broadcast message to my friends, telling them that the Ministry of Health has asked everyone to bath with salt and warm water and drink some of it. I sent the message 7:08pm yesterday (last week Thursday). “Later, I started getting calls and messages that I should drink salt water and bath with it. All efforts to tell people that I was the one who started the joke failed. Only my friends who I mentioned earlier believed me. I am using this medium to beg you all and to warn and tell everyone that salt can damage their health. “Please don’t be hash on me. I know this has gone out of hand. I never knew it will be this serious. Some have even added to the original message I sent.” Salt and nutritional value A Lagos-based, medical doctor, Lawrence Onyegbuchi, warns that excessive intake of salt can have adverse medical effect. According to him, salt has “no serious benefit” except to add to taste, warning that excessive intake of it can trigger HBP. Onyegbuchi, who is also the publisher of a health-based magazine, ‘Community Doctor,’ adds, “Apart from increasing the blood pressure, it can also increase the pressure of the body. Over load of salt can also have a negative effect on the kidney.”

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Clean hands save lives

To the developed world, hand washing is as old as time. To Africans, it is strange, while in Nigeria, it is a difficult culture to imbibe. But with the outbreak of the ravaging deadly virus, Ebola, Nigerians now find reason to embrace hand sanitiser, OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI writes.

t was a funny drama along Acme Road, Ogba, area of Lagos. There was a huge gathering round a rickety blue Nissan car. A small, wiry dark complexionlooking man, obviously the driver of the car, came out with a bell in his hand and opened the trunk to display array of some pinkish small bottles. The next minute, he started ringing a bell and shouting at the top of his voice, “attack Ebola now before it attacks you with my original hand wash for only N1, 200.” Gradually, he attracted crowd and within a twinkle of an eye, the man’s voice was drowned by the cacophony of human voices willing to patronise him. “Oya oga, give me two, three, four. Give me my balance,” various voices yelled. Within 30 minutes, the products were exhausted even as the yelling crowd asked for more. It was interesting to see Nigerians hurriedly embracing a culture, which hitherto they had shunned for years. Ironically, hand sanitisers neither kill ebola nor attack. Rather, it is just one of the recommended ways of embracing culture of cleanliness. While hand sanitiser is useful to keep germs and bacteria at bay, experts say it is not enough to use it to disinfect bacteria but rather regular washing of hands is more expedient. Although sanitiser comes in different forms, brands and size, alcohol-based sanitisers are the actual recommended sanitisers for hands. “Regular hand washing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others,” said, Oluseyi Soremekun, National information officer, United Nations Information Centre, UNIC, during a programme in Lagos last week. He highlighted the best time to wash hands as: before, during, and after preparing food, before eating food, before and after caring for someone who is sick, before and after treating a cut or wound and after using the toilet. Others are after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, after touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste, after handling pet, food or pet treats, after touching garbage. According to Dave Macinga, a Research and Microbiologist in an online interview with our correspondent said using alcohol-based hand sanitiser kills germs within seconds by physically destroying the cell membrane and denaturing proteins within the bacteria. He explained that because of the rapidness of the killing and the physical

nature by which it acts, there is no mechanism by which the germs can become resistant to it. Furthermore, because alcohol evaporates from the hands within seconds, the bacteria are never exposed to low levels of alcohol so there is no opportunity for adaptation to it. The National Institutes of Health, America, said the best strategy for combating the spread of drug-resistant bacteria is for everyone to keep their hands clean by washing with soap and water. Though alcohol-based hand sanitisers kill the “bad germs” very effectively, they are also referred to as transient microflora and are germs your hands pick up when they touch your surroundings.” The institute said that the bacteria are located on the outer surface of the skin and are easily killed by the alcohol in hand sanitisers. However, alcohol-based hand sanitisers have minimal effects on the good germs or “resident microflora.” This is because the good germs live within the various layers of the skin and within pores and hair follicles and they are not accessible to the alcohol. Thomas Farley from New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene affirmed that alcohol based hand sanitisers kill germs but are not good for cleaning dirty hands. “Alcohol based hand sanitisers can be used if you’re hands are not visibly soiled,” he said. He warned that it is harmful for children under two, adding, “Never swallow or put hand sanitiser in your mouth.” Dr. Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Centre, Mahanttan, said that hand sanitiser only last for two minutes, not effective at killing germs longterm. “Alcohol sanitisers last only a minute or two and must be reapplied when recontamination occurs. Other than soap and water, the best way to keep harmful germs at bay is “never to touch your face unless you have just washed your hands.” Meanwhile the theory of hand washing started with Ignaz Semmelweis’ in the 19th century in Hungary, when he saw a connection between puerperal fever and disinfected hands of the hospital staff. He observed that the death rate in the first obstetrical clinic was 13.10 per cent; much higher than the 2.03 per cent death rate in the second clinic. He saw that large number of women died during childbirth due to puerperal sepsis or the childbed fever, caused by the transfer of infection due to the lack of indoor plumbing and hygiene facilities in hospitals.

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Ebola or not, life must continue – Neighbours of hospital where Sawyer died

The First Consultant Hospital, Obalende (Inset: Sawyer)

he atmosphere within Obalende, the community housing the First Consultant Hospital, where the first victim of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Patrick Sawyer, died on July 25, may have been characterised by upbeat activities despite the expected consciousness from residents and visitors. A first time visitor to the community if not told, will have no incline about any threat to life by the EVD scourge, as it still retains its significant population of Nigeria’s most populous city, Lagos, in terms of human traffic despite a part of it being shut down and quarantined over the highly infectious disease. Obalende, which existence dates back to 1962, when Lagos was created from the old South Lagos Colony, created by the colonial government, is a central point to all visitors from the mainland. It used to be the closest neighbourhood to the seat of government, Dodan Barracks, in the post First Republic military era. It is central to the nova Richie areas like Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki. Before now, the First Consultant Hospital located at, Ikoyi Road, Obalende, was relatively unknown hence neighbours and passersby need not worry about the facility since it did pose as a threat to them. But now, the facility has emerged as a most dreadful sight following Sawyer’s death at the hospital.

Three weeks after a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, died of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at a Lagos hospital, our correspondents, SEGUN EDWARDS and INIOLUWA EKEOLERE, write that the residents and business owners in the area have moved on with their lives. While some residents and visitors see the vicinity of the hospital as a nogo-area, others think they are not at risk of contracting the virus since they didn’t have any contact with the victim. “Why should we relocate?” some of them asked. Although a few people still express fears of contracting the disease, others however expressed the belief that life must continue despite the reality of the Ebola scourge. Some of commuters, who granted interview to New Telegraph, expressed divergent views. For some of them, it is a great risk being in the vicinity at all but at the same time, life must continue “man go chop,” Emmanuel Odita, a trader, who has his kiosk close to the hospital building says. George Anoku, an auditor, who works in the area says; “I am not scared because I have information. I know it is airborne and is similar to catarrh, but before you can get infected by the disease, it has to be full blown in the person infected. You can’t catch it by just walking around the environment. Initially, I was worried but after I got the full details of how it is transmitted,

I have been at peace. “What I do is to take the necessary precautions by washing my hands when I think I have touched a surface or person I am not sure of but that is not to say that I am part of those that had their baths with salt and hot water.” At first, Toye Ibikunle, a civil servant, expressed indifference to any possibility of contracting the disease but suddenly became awake when he realised he was passing by the vicinity of First Consultant Hospital. “Oh my God! I am in front of the hospital. I just realised it now and am terribly scared. How it is contracted is not yet determined, so I would really like to

Our feeling is that since we didn’t enter the hospital we are not affected. My hands and my colleagues’ are always sanitised

vacate the area until I am sure that am no longer at risk and the issue has been well taken care of,” he added. An operator of Hilly Pharmacy at Odo Street, Obalende, directly facing the gate of the hospital, Franca Ogwe, says; “The first two days people deserted the place. I got to know about the incident through facebook. I was here to confirm if it was true and when I realised it was true, the next thing was to know the preventive measures to take in order not to get infected. As you can see, we now use gloves because we come in contact with sick people, since the first stop of a person that is sick is to come to the pharmacist before they think of going to the hospital. “So, we have decided to join in the fight against the spread of Ebola. We have printed flyers of detailed information on how to live and avoid contracting the disease. We health workers have higher risk of contracting the disease because we deal directly with sick people and since the symptoms are familiar to those of diarrheal and fever, anybody that comes to us vomit or stooling we test them for Ebola and ask them to consult the appropriate health authorities but so far we have not had any case of Ebola. The owner of the hospital is a family friend and we are very worried for him and the nurse that lost her life in the course of attending to Mr. Sawyer. We have sold more sanitizers now than we had be-

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Commercial activities in the area

Commuters boarding a bus at Obalende

fore the incident. The hospital has been closed down and fumigated, it has also been quarantined for 21 days, and we hope that everything will finally return to normal when it is reopened.” Segun Aina, a receptionist at the Royal Cross Medical Hospital on Obalende Road says, “Nobody has been brought in for Ebola, it has not had any impact on our business, we have been having patients, the order we were giving by the Medical Director is to run a temperature test every patients brought in before we know the next line of action, and we also use safety gloves. The scare is everywhere even outside the state, but there is no reduction in patients.” Upon request to speak with the doctor on duty, he simply says the hospital has only one doctor on duty, while the Medical Director was away. Seventy-year-old Mr. Adekambi Ayo, a pub owner on Obalende Road, says, “Business is going on as usual; it has not affected my business. Everybody is watching what is happening and looking to see the outcome of the incident. I have not shutdown since the news about the incident broke out. It has not affected us. We are abiding with what the experts have said about hygiene. It is a strange development and we don’t pray for a recurrence of such again. What is disturbing our business is power supply that has been held from us for the past three days.”

It is none of my business if someone died of Ebola here or not as long as my business is going smoothly I’m less concerned A trader on the same street, Bunmi Kareem, says, “The issue is old news, people are not scared, and it has not affected anything. “It has not in any way affected patronage from my customers. They come as often as they used to before the incident, so it is none of my business if someone died of Ebola here or not as long as my business is going smoothly. I’m less concerned.” Abidemi Olawunmi, an attendant at the Oando fuel station, a few metres from the hospital says, “We have to continue our lives; it does not have any effect on our life or sales, a lot of people are not aware and so life goes on.” Finding shows that ignorance is another factor in the disposition of the people of that neighborhood. The information on Ebola is spreading like wild fire and still a lot of people have had not access to it.

Passersby few metres away from the hospital

A general outlook of the community reveals that business is still going on as normal with some hawkers attracting prospective customers while others like traditional medicine hawker also try to attract a handful of passersby some of whom stop to listen to the entreaties of the hawkers on the usage of herbal medicines. Among businesses noticed are GSM Sim card registrations points that are all over the place, commercial bus operators, hawkers of different brands of products. There is also heavy presence of beggars who detail their kids on passersby to beg for alms. However, among the crowd of passersby, it is often noticeable to see people making frantic efforts as much as possible to avoid bodily contact with fellow passersby. Chidozie Ude, a Super mart owner on Adeniya Street, confesses to the reality of drop in patronage of his business since the news of the dead ebola victim at the hospital saying, “Our customers are afraid to come and patronise us here; I noticed a drop in business. My customers are saying Ebola is in Obalende. It is not possible for us to relocate because we have been here for years. It’s up to two weeks now, I hope and pray that before the 21 days things will return back to normal.” The Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), bus terminus close to the hospital is also alive with a long queue of the buses and

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSSEINI

passengers. When asked, a supervisor of the terminus, Akeem Alabi says, “Business is normal. There is an alternative route but this place is cheaper. Our feeling is that since we didn’t enter the hospital we are not affected. My hands and that of my colleagues’ are always sanitised and I try not to touch people too much. “I almost peed on my pants the first time I heard of it because I was right here doing my work when the news broke out, it was really shocking for me. I have ever since tried as much as I could to avoid going to that hospital. It has not affected the passengers’ number.” On the contrary, the local bus owners express displeasure because they say their customers are taking cabs instead of their buses. It is only those that can’t afford the private cabs that take their own buses and it has affected their business and daily income. The premises of the hospital that was said to be quarantined for the period of twenty one days which has not elapsed as at the time of this report, but people were sported inside the premises probably working, with cars parked like every normal work day. And when asked questions about the operation of the hospital after the incident, the private security outfit of the place refused to grant interview. Instead he said “this is not the hospital and that I don’t know anything about any Ebola case here.”

54 PERSPECTIVES

The arrogance of governance

here is a certain amount of arrogance in governance that makes a political office holder feel larger than life, even when the power he has is transient. Power and wealth can bring out the best in an individual, but they can also bring out the worst. A former journalist becomes a local government chairman and all of a sudden he is translated from a demeanor of accessible humility to royal seclusion that changes him so much that his friends and colleagues become “former”. He has moved up in the world and can no longer be seen with a certain group of people. At a social event in Lagos, Nigeria, this chairman is sitting among the crowd. A long time friend spots him and tries to get close to exchange pleasantries. But a burly security guard blocks the path of the greeter. The Chairman spots him, waves his hand in greeting from a far and turns his head away in blatant dismissal of the person approaching. His “level” has changed! Why would His majesty, a local government Chairman, speak with this “ordinary” journalist? The presence of Soldiers in various election locations across the country has been described as flagrant abuse of power. In Ondo State Local Government elections soldiers were all over the place and even prominent members of the ruling Labour Party had protested that the soldiers worked against their interest. The scenario in Ekiti was amazing. The airspace over Akure, where the nearest airport is located was shut down; roads were blocked to certain groups of people who did not have “presidential clearance” to be in Ekiti. During the Osun elections, masked security operatives were seen driving around the city of Oshogbo shooting into the air in an apparent bid to scare. Journalists who covered the event also claim that certain

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2014

BUSINESS SENSE ALEX OGUNDADEGBE alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

Elections can be run and won with out soldiers and unnecessary arrests. Even though some of the parties concerned appear to attract undue attention with violent words key members of the All Peoples Congress (APC) were arrested before the election and released soon after. There is no evidence of arrest. Usually, in a debate, it is one person’s word against the other, especially, if the arrest and detention only took place for a number of hours. The President of Nigeria has immense powers. These powers are often extended to his wife and other members of his family. Residents of Port Harcourt have often complained about the road blocks and attendant harassment that occurs whenever the First Lady visits the city. We dare not deny the President and his spouse of the necessary security detail when they are on the move within the country. But care must be taken about

the way soldiers are being used to secure civilians during state functions and even during elections. It would be an act of double jeopardy to bestow sundry protection efforts of politicians and civilians during and beyond elections into the hands of the military. Apart from the fact that our soldiers have their hands full with the fighting in North East Nigeria, soldiers are meant for extreme cases of violence and not security details or possible election violence. Even though the presence of gun totting aggressive looking soldiers appears to be good medicine to deter violence and trouble makers, for how long do we need aggression in civil society to maintain peace? Watching a confident top ranking Police officer like Frank Mba, tell the media that the police are good and ready to ensure that there is peace during elections is great. But it looks dodgy later, when the soldiers are doing the job. This lessens the peace keeping abilities of the police in the minds of the civil populace. Does this mean that the police can no longer keep the peace during an election in Nigeria? When we are in trouble to whom should we turn to: the Nigeria Police or the Nigerian Army? The enmity between

the two forces is legendary. It therefore comes as a surprise that detachments from both organizations should be ordered to secure elections. Would it not have been better to merely place them on alert within the election environment instead of having them moving around, seemingly looking for whom to arrest? Our burgeoning democracy does not need the aggression of soldiers to succeed. Neither does it need the high handedness of civilians who appear to abuse the power they have in their hands. Elections can be run and won with out soldiers and unnecessary arrests. Even though some of the parties concerned appear to attract undue attention with violent words. Defense Spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, says that the Nigerian military is well equipped to fight insurgency and terrorism. This is not the impression that Nigerians have of their military. There are sundry reports of soldiers losing their lives in various battles. These reports coupled with the intention of the Federal Government to take a billion dollar loan to update counter insurgency equipment makes the public lose faith in soldiers that guard them. The people of Nigeria look forward to peaceful elections in 2015, no matter how much fire and brim stone the parties that are concerned breath. The country can not afford to ship out security of the kind we have seen in Ekiti and Osun in 2015. Even if the insurgency ends and the soldiers are back in their barracks at the time, we certainly do not have enough man power to peace-keep 35 states simultaneously! The staggered elections that have passed have certainly taught all parties that are involved lessons. There is a possibility that there arrogance would reduce on both sides. After all the electorate is the most important factor in governance.

Soldiers’ wives and the insurgency

am afraid to write this particular article but there are times when men must be men and the last time I checked I was a man. I have read that soldiers’ wives have barricaded the entrance of their barracks refusing their husbands to perform their constitutional rights which is the defence of the country’s sovereignty. The first thing that comes to my mind after reading the report was the surprise revelation that soldiers come back home to their wives every day after a hard day of work fighting and killing the insurgents. This turn of event is really shocking. No wonder we are seeing and hearing some of the funny things that have been happening in the theatre of war. It is a case of our soldiers thinking of the sweet soup their wives are preparing for them at home while dodging bullets and killing and maiming the enemy. It’s the watching time and preparing for closing time when they will all go into the staff bus and head home to the barracks and into the warm embrace of their obviously very pretty wives that is amusing me here. I think the insurgents now know the closing time and apparently plan their dastardly deeds to be executed around those times. And now the wives have joined in by taking their time to plan their protest around the well known resumption time. I am really laughing at this juncture, God forgive me because this is not a laughing matter. I am imagining the soldiers’ wife after preparing her hubby’s breakfast and immediately telling him that she was going out-

EDGAR’S WORLD JOSEPH EDGAR

josephsamsponedgar@gmail.com side to join the protest and without her hubby’s consent she goes out there to protest his involvement. Can we just stop kidding ourselves as a people. If we are not prepared, let us just surrender and let me run to Liberia, Ebola or no Ebola. Why would women be protesting for whatever reasons. When they were marrying soldiers they did not know. Did they think it was just to beat up conductors and slap people like me on the road that was involved in their hubby’s chosen career. The gallant soldiers who fought during our civil war and also other wars from the Second World War down to Sierra Leone and Liberia did not have wives? This is a war that must be fought, delinquent wives or not. We cannot continue to allow these Boko people make a mockery of our institutions, lives and property. They claim the weapons given them to fight are inferior. From where I’m standing, there is no way I can verify this. But truth

This is a war that must be fought, delinquent wives or not. We cannot continue to allow these Boko people make a mockery of our institutions, lives and property be told, I don’t believe. Have we seen Boko people flying warplanes, manning attack gunboats and helicopters? Have we seen them using drones or sharing military intelligence with foreign powers? Until we start to see them in the air before I begin to believe these stories of inferior weapons and Boko being better armed. The truth is that, the world over,

fighting terrorism is no child’s play. See what the ISIS are doing in Iraq. It’s usually very difficult to fight an enemy who strikes and runs away, mixes with civilian population and cowardly use females as bombers. If we try to fight them, the human rights community will start screaming. Meanwhile soldiers are being killed daily, shot at and maimed beheaded and yet you expect the soldiers to fight within so called international laws. Whoever is sending these women should go and have their heads checked. Our soldiers should be encouraged instead of jumping up and down in skimpy clothes and distracting our gallant warriors as they drive through in their staff buses. Where is the association of army officers wives in all these. These women are obviously idle. So they should organize events that would keep them busy. Events that would support the war efforts like getting Tiwa Savage to go and sing for them at the war front. That is what Americans do. They take stars to the front to shore up morale. It is because all these are not happening that the women out of nothing else to do will now tie one wrapper and go and stand on the street to while away the time in the pretext of protesting. If they don’t stop this joke, me too will ask my wife to start protesting why I should go to work every day so that I can stay at home and try the Kama sutra. Teheeee.

Cross River, Chinese firm sign N2.6m Ogoja water contract Clement James

Calabar

he Cross River State Government yesterday signed a N2.6 million agreement with a Chinese firm, CGC Company Limited, for the construction of a water project in Ogoja. The signing of the contract is coming a few months after the inauguration of a N5.3 billion water scheme in Ikom. The Ogoja project, which is expected to be completed in 18 months, is meant to provide access to potable water in the state to about 80 percent of residents of the area. The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Etowa Elemi, who signed the agreement on behalf of the state explained that the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, had placed provision of potable water to the people on his priority list, hoping that

NEWS EXTRA

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 16 august 2014

when completed, the project will improve the well-being of the citizenry. “Provision of potable water and access to water has been on the top of our agenda as an administration. It is our vision that if we can deliver on our projects to the people across the state, then we would achieve the vision of making life easier and reducing poverty while improving on overall wellbeing of the citizenry,” the commissioner stated. The commissioner said that the World Bank assisted Calabar water scheme has become a benchmark for Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, not only in the country but in the West African sub region, and that the state was proud to adopt the PPP to ensure millions of Nigerians have access to water.

DAMATURU

IKEJA

Gaidam decries impact of unemployment on youths

Oil theft: NSCDC seeks support from private firms

NEWS IN BRIEF

AKURE

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday urged corporate organisations to support government effort in fighting oil theft. The Lagos State Commandant of the corps, Mr. Donatus Ikemefuna, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Ikemefuna urged the corporate bodies to provide logistics that would enhance the command’s performance in crime prevention, detection and management. He said one of the major challenges confronting the command was inadequate patrol facilities, especially patrol vehicles and speed boats to stop illegal bunkering.

Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has said lack of jobs is making youths to be frustrated and causing them to engage in activities, inimical to the growth of the society. Gaidam stated this in Damaturu, while distributing machines and other poverty alleviation items worth about N99 million to small-scale entrepreneurs, community-based orgnisations (CBO) and retired civil servants. He said the state government had empowered about 6,000 National Certificate Holders, Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree holders, and distributed tricycles to youths across the 17 local government areas in the state.

31%

Shoprite: Ondo fixes Aug 18 for unveiling

The Ondo State Government has fixed August 18 for the unveiling of its much talked-about Shopping malls project. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the project was part of the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-led administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure and commerce in the state. He added that the development and operation of the Shopping malls was capable of providing employment for local populace, as applicable in major cities of the world. The project, which is located on the premises of Owena Motel, Alagbaka, Akure is expected to be completed within 15 months, while owners of Shoprite stores had also been identified as the major anchor tenant.

55.5%

The percentage of population under The percentage of households with a 15 years old in Cambodia in 2012. computer in developed countries in 2005. Source: Un.org Source: Itu.int

N479.7m

The IGR realized from direct assessment sources of revenue in Bayelsa State in 2011. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

CBN incorporates BDCs agent for money transfer SATISFACTION

The apex bank has given Bureau De Change operators respite with new business innovation Abdulwahab Isa

T Abuja

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a new line of business for operators of Bureau De Change (BDC). Making the announcement yesterday in Abuja, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said structured BDCs that met specific criteria would be authorised to participate as agent for money transfer from Nigeria to overseas countries. Speaking to journalists at the launch of the Western Union/ First Bank of Nigeria Plc Outbound Service in Nigeria yesterday, Emefiele said: “CBN has talked with Western Union and agreed that they have to work with Bureau De Change opera-

tors that are well structured, conditions will be given under which those Bureau De Change will qualify to become Western Union agents and the CBN will be providing a guarantee (of N10 million on behalf of BDCs that qualify to be on this scheme) to Western Union, Royal or Moneygram as guarantees for transactions that are being done to ensure that they themselves feel secured to carry out these transactions without any problem.” He explained that the N10 million CBN guarantee, will be taken out of the N35 million mandatory deposit paid by Bureau De Changes in CBN custody. The governor said the apex bank was working to see that the number of outlets the engaged in the transfer of money outside Nigeria increased to more than the current 5,000. “We will ensure that the guarantors are not undermined that is why we are going to put in place very stringent qualifying criteria that will ensure that before you begin to be recognised

Fashola inaugurates new Tejuosho Shopping Complex Muritala Ayinla

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday inaugurated the first phase of the reconstructed Main Tejuosho Shopping Complex located in Yaba area of the state. The governor, who said the new complex was not only a redemption of the promise, described the complex as a massive improvement with more facilities compared to the old market. Speaking shortly after inaugurating the shopping

complex, Fashola said the delivery of project was a demonstration of his administration's commitment to promote private enterprise and empower residents. The governor said the remaining units would be given to new buyers on first-come-first serve-basis. Fashola said: "The project has been delivered and all is now well that has ended well. I urge you traders to keep the market clean, use the allotted spaces for parking and not for trading so that traffic can move."

as an agent to take on these transactions. “This is an opportunity for our Bureau De Change Operators to also earn fees in areas that they would not before now have been introduced into. This is what we are doing at the CBN to make the business of Bureau De Change robust,” he said. According to him, outbound money transfer will not only be undertaken by

International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) like Western Union and Moneygram, as the banks and BDCs that have met the CBN new requirements will also serve as agents for money transfer services. The CBN governor spelt out transfer cover to “include the maintenance allowance for children abroad, maintenance allowance for aged parents abroad, per-

sonal home remittances within allowable limits, cash gifts within allowable limits and other person to person remittances.” Emefile listed other CBN has introduced to manage the foreign reserves of the country which he said: “Include measures to reduce foreign currency carriage and transportation outside the country, in the course of time some of these guide-

lines will be released, the CBN will be working with the relevant agencies where we will be looking at why do people need to carry out so much cash from the country, for what purpose, if you cannot embrace the official channels that have been put in place then we will begin to ask you how much taxes are you paying for such large cash transaction out of the country.”

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members collecting materials at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Zonal Office in Omu-Aran, Kwara State for the issuance of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) …yesterday

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE World Languages-2

KEY WORDS

GREEK HUNGARIAN ICELANDIC GAELIC ITALIAN MALTESE

BURMESE EFIK NYNORSK NAURAN POLISH SAMOAN ROMANIAN PERSIAN RUSSIAN CHINESE LATIN -

M K E E R G N A O M A

A N U A R A N R H E O

L A T N O E Y T S K P

C I D N A L E C I S L

H I N S S U L M A A E U T W R I C K N R U I T A L O P R O N A M K

R M

E R L K I F E L G Y O

S I T P C B J I U N B

E U J O R P E S E S R R E O S T M I L A A A N N M I G E A T U N A I H L

4 7

9 10

14 16 18 19 21 24 25

1 Main division of a book 5 Thus far 7 Engage 8 Contend 9 Weep 10 To bellow 11 A trick

15 17

12 Indicating ‘reversal’ 16 United Nations (abbr.) 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

Grain storehouse Violent person Washing detergent ‘One’ in Latin Reference to non-human Delete (abbr.) Feeling’s strong agitation

DOWN 1

20 22

ACROSS

Extended over

14 Having wrinkles

2 Opposed

15 Borno state tribe

3 Means of trial

19 Stop a taxi by waiving

4 Elastic solid substance

20 Hausa cassava

5 shout

21 Useless

6 Number after ten 13 Exhausted

See solution on page 44

INSTYLE

THE RIPPED JEANS IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE

P.15

Sanctity of Truth w ww. n ew te l e g r ap h on l i n e . c om

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

N150

SPORT Mikel, Osaze, Anichebe on the march P.25

Governor Aregbesola’s bitterness in victory: The interment of statesmanship

ollowing his triumph in last Saturday’s gubernatorial election, Governor Rauf Aregbesola delivered a mediocre victory speech that quite simply oozed bad blood and undisguised rage. No word of comfort, either superficial or grudging, was deemed necessary for any of his opponents. In so doing, the Governor cast himself as small-minded, spiteful and altogether lacking in chivalry. Taking political animus to such low depths, particularly by a man elected to govern not just the APC faction of the state but the entire state, is, with due respect, utterly disgraceful. I shall rely on a fairly extensive excerpts from Aregbesola’s speech in order to assail it: “After an unnecessarily tense, tortuous and even traumatic process, the Independent National Electoral Commission this morning declared me as the winner.... “We witnessed gross abuse of power and, of due process before, during, and even after the actual voting process. It is so sad and unfortunate that what should be a normal, routine process was maliciously allowed to snowball in to a needless virtual war by the Federal Government and the PDP. “Osun state was unduly militarized in an unprecedented manner through criminal intimidation and psychological assault on our people. This election witnessed an abuse of our security agencies and amounted to a corruption of their professional ethics and integrity. “The security agencies were unprofessionally utilized in Osun state to harass, intimidate and oppress the people whose taxes are used to pay their salaries and provide their arms. Hundreds of leaders, supporters, sympathizers and agents of our party were arrested and detained. Also, hundreds of other innocent citizens including women and the aged were harassed, brutalized and traumatized. “A critical analysis of the elections shows a trend of general low voter turnout largely because of the atmosphere of deliberate tyranny and fear caused by the excessive militarization of the state. Despite our victory, it is pertinent to condemn and also point out the fact that the number of accredited voters in most local governments was less than half of registered voters....” On August 13, 2014, The Punch reported the Governor as saying that “...it was unfortunate that security agents were given orders to hound and kill leaders of the APC in order to put members of the party in disarray to give the Peoples Democratic Party an undue advantage.” In tone, content and diction, the above statements convey, more aptly, the impression of a medieval warrior rallying his troops to march forth and trample the enemy with cudgels than the victory speech of a modern statesman in 2014. Low voter turnout, excessive militarization, atmosphere of deliberate tyranny, orders to hound and kill members of the APC, virtual war by the Federal Government and PDP, criminal intimidation and psychological assault? These are extremely

BROADSIDE EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

Aregbesola

damning epithets by any standards. For a senior citizen, and a man in a position of serious responsibility, to make such sweeping allegations and draw such emotive conclusions is, to put it delicately, beyond tendentious. The allegation of low voter turnout is, comparatively, an outright falsehood. The claim of orders to hound and kill members of the APC is a barefaced lie. The primary impetus for these utterances, whether intentional or otherwise, is scaremongering. If Aregbesola has any real understanding of the dark capabilities of some of his gubernatorial opponents, he ought to have celebrated the heavy security presence that instilled the order and sanity for his victory to become possible. He ought to have given a special mention of gratitude to the men and women in uniform and mufti, who placed their boots on the ground in Osun State in defence and protection of this most fundamental of democratic process – the ability to vote and have the vote count. But, in so viciously maligning them, Aregbesola paid to himself a tribute cast in bitterness and negation. He buried statesmanship at the very moment that so loudly called for its example. It was churlish beyond comprehension, and a reflection of the man’s latent narcissism, that he chose to upbraid INEC for not announcing the results of the election at a speed and time prompt enough to satisfy his own arrogant impatience. If the electoral body cannot be commended when it clearly gets it right, as it did on this occasion, then something is wrong. And I hold not brief for INEC, a body I believe is steeped in corruption and crippled by

incompetence, so that its few success stories are the exceptions that prove the rule – and Osun is one such outstanding exception. The Nation on Sunday reported that “Election materials reached most parts of the capital early and accreditation of voters began by 8 a.m. Voters had little to complain about concerning accreditation although there were a few reports of hooliganism in parts of the state.... In Ilobu for instance, suspected thugs stormed a polling booth shooting sporadically in the air and attempted to disrupt the process of accreditation....They were however repelled by men of the NSCDC. Obokun Ward 3 and Odo Otin recorded similar incidents and in both cases security men acted promptly.” The Nation also reported the State Director of State Security Services (SSS), Andrew Iorkyar, as saying that “The election has been peaceful, some polling units demanded for extra security because of the large turnout of people and we have provided security.” It was reported that 764,582 of the 986,117 (over 77 percent) registered voters in Osun turned out last Saturday and got unimpeded opportunity to cast their votes. If correctly reported, such a turnout must count as one of the highest in Nigerian history. Seventy-seven percent turnout in any election anywhere in the world is usually either the stuff of dreams, or the scandalous fiction often spawned by self-perpetuating African autocrats such as Mugabe of Zimbabwe, or Museveni of Uganda. The total turnout in the 2011 presidential election in Osun State was 498,734 - less than 60 percent of registered voters. ACN scored 299, 711 votes to PDP’s 188,409. Publicly and privately, Governor Aregbesola praised that outcome. Now, go compare. Let it be said. INEC and the security agencies shouldered the patriotic burden that yielded victory in peace and stability to Aregbesola. Sensible Nigerians hope and pray that patriotic professionalism of this nature will long endure in our republic. Aregbesola’s apparent vendetta against the security forces recalls a statement by the peerless Jack Nicolson in the movie, A Few Good Men: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep

for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to. I suspect that the leaders of our security outfits would be nursing similar sentiments. In times of partisan strife, nobility and chivalry fall silent. Yes, the Governor has been subjected to scathing criticisms on religious and political grounds. Matters often got to the point of vilifications. It is perfectly understandable that pent up emotions had to be let rip at some stage. However, it shows grace and class to increase your credit to those who already owe you much. To trade magnanimity for bellicosity in victory is most unbecoming of the man that I thought was a class apart. Broadside has paid glowing tribute to Aregbesola in the past, staunchly defending him against vicious charges of Islamic fundamentalism: “The perils of moral shortcuts in the name of politics are upon us. Corrosion of candour has rendered porous all forms of public discourse. Blackmail and defamation are parceled out with the stamp of vendetta placed on them, complete with a mandate to go par avion, delivering character destruction at the speed of a jet plane. “Engagement with substance is now reserved for the fringes of academia. Freedom of speech has raided the vaults of freedom of thought, bankrupting it. We limp along noisily and raucously, beating the drums of simplicities, gossips, negative and destructive profiling. As venal, depraved, corrupt, arrogant, ignorant and self-obeisant as our rulers are, there still are gems to be found amongst the feculent brigands. Whether Aregbesola is one such gem is not the question I have set out to examine. But of one thing I am certain; it’s not a question that can be answered on the basis of ad hominem, resting on generalities, superficialities, bigotry and gossip. Our political contestations should be much more serious than that.” [Rauf Goes To Church, New Telegraph, May 24, 2014]. Aregbesola’s lack of magnanimity in victory is an unfortunate demonstration of the toxic politics above which I expected him to rise. If he spoke out of frustration, then his inability to show restraint at the highest point of provocation is a regrettable failure of discipline. I expected a lot more from the man that I held up as a paragon of level-headedness [Rauf Goes To Church referred].

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: Laurence ani. All correspondence to PMB 10000, Ikeja, Lagos.