Binder1 aug 31, 2014

Sunday Edition

Sanctity of Truth

N150 Sunday, August 31, 2014

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Vol. 1 No. 194

ON SUNDAY

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

BUSINESS

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Sanctity of Truth

crisis looms over extortion of alaba MARKET traders

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NEWS EXTRA

POLITICS IBIKUNLE Amosun DECLARES: Ogun people will re-elect me in 2015 }28-29

WHY I EXPOSED MY BREASTS IN ASO ROCK - ACTRESS, OMONI OBOLI

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Page 15, AUGUST 31, 2014

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT www.newtelegraphonline.com/body&soul

‘I walked the streets but I’m ready for marriage now’

Leggy in leggings

Those who think I’m arrogant do not know me Yomi Fash Lanso

Jonathan’s SECRET pact with us, uk, israel

CRUSH BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS BY OCT. 31 lChibok girls, others may be freed soon

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Adamawa: PDP disqualifies Fintiri, clears Ribadu, others Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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L-R: Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike and Secretary to the Government of Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, at the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, South-South Zonal Rally, in Port Harcourt …yesterday

he Peoples Democratic Party yesterday disqualified Adamawa State Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri, at its screening of members of the state chapter who had indicated interest to pick its ticket for the forthcoming governorship bye-election in the state.

Fintiri was disqualified pursuant to Section 191(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which forbids somebody in acting capacity from transmuting to a substantive governor, according to the panel chairman and former Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, at a press conference.

He said Fintiri ought to

have played the role of a midwife to ensure a successful election, since he became acting governor upon the impeachment of Murtala Nyako in July.

It, however, cleared 13 other aspirants, namely: Mohammed Buba Marwa; Nuhu Ribadu; Jerry Kurndisi; Andrawus Sawa; Aliyu Kama; Ahmed Modibbo; Ahmed Ardo; Senator Abubakar Girei; Awwal Tukur; Ahmed Gulak; Aliyu Idi Hong; James Bakar; and Marcus Gundiri The aspirants were screened by a committee set up by the PDP National Working Committee. The panel began the screening process around noon.

The exercise, which was supposed to have held on CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

South-South collects 4.15m signatures for Jonathan Emmanuel Masha and Tony Okafor

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eaders of the SouthSouth yesterday tendered 4.15 million signatures which they said were in support of the call for President Goodluck Jonathan to seek a second term.

Making the declaration at a rally organised by the

APGA urges president to seek re-election Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, the Secretary to the Government of the federation, Pius Anyim, said Jonathan would soon declare his intention to seek a second term.

Kunle Fagbemi, Director of Documentation, TAN,

presented the signatures to Anyim.

“Yes, the South-South has broken the record of the other five regions that have so far asked President Jonathan to run for a second term of four years. Your region has collected 4,150,000 signatures. The signatures can be verified. You can see

the names of those who signed; their telephone numbers and local government. This process is real,” Anyim told the crowd.

The event attracted Jonathan’s supporters across the six states of the zone, including present and past political office holders.

As a helicopter hovered

around the large expanse of the stadium complex as part of the security measures put in place by the organizer, heavily armed security officers patrolled the premises.

Some of the leaders who addressed the massive crowd lauded Jonathan for redirecting Nigeria to the path of greatness.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

FG, U.S, UK, Israel move against Boko Haram

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Biyi Adegoroye resident Goodluck Jonathan has put in place a multi-lateral military operation with top security brass from Britain, the United States and Israel, with a mandate to crush the Boko Haram insurgency by the end of October 2014.

Top security sources told New Telegraph on Sunday that some subterranean collaborations were underway between British spy agency, M-15; the U.S Central Intelligence Agency; and Israel’s MOSSAD to ensure a successful operation.

They will also ensure the recovery of the female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted since April 14.

The multi-dimensional operation which is a combination of tactical and intelligence measures, enjoys

lChibok girls, others may be freed soon

the participation of the top echelon of the military, and two emirs with strong military background.

They have reportedly expressed disdain over the near destruction of the North by the Boko Haram insurgents.

“I can tell you of the presence in the country of top military brass from the said countries for this purpose.

They have been holding high level meetings, gathering intelligence and mapping out operational strategies with the Defence Headquarters. The deployment of three British military aircraft (drones) to the country is part of this strategic grand plan,” the source said.

At a top security meeting held some days ago, “the insurgents’ embarrassing incursions into many towns and formations were

roundly condemned, hence the grand plan for the renewed offensive, which also enjoys the support of neighbouring countries in the North-East.

“The military operation is well-defined with a code name and a command-andcontrol centre established, for the execution of the multi-dimensional strategies and tactics designed to ensure an error-proof operation,” the source said.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that the joint operation has also led to the arrest of some Boko Haram leaders, who have allegedly made confessional statements in Abuja. Accordingly, they are enjoying a kind of reprieve from the Federal Government which has promised not to prosecute them, provided they support the offensive against the group.

Ten Ogun model schools ready by Sept - Amosun Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday said 10 out of the 26 model schools currently under construction across the state would be ready by September for the 2014/2015 academic session.

Amosun stated this during a live radio programme monitored in Abeokuta, where he gave the assurance that each of the schools would be equipped with modern facilities to admit students irrespective of their background.

He said that apart from the regular subjects in arts and sciences which would be offered in the schools, technical subjects, including woodwork, painting, plumbing, fabrication, carpentry and joinery, would also be ofOnyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday met with a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, to woo him back to the party.

Ikimi had last week left the All Progressives Congress where he was a foundation member and said he had not yet made up his mind on which political party he would pitch his tent with.

At the meeting with the PDP leadership, Ikimi, who was a PDP chieftain before he left for the defunct Ac-

fered in the schools.

The governor denied insinuations that the schools were being constructed at the expense of existing conventional schools.

He explained that his administration at inception embarked on the renovation of dilapidated blocks of classrooms in the three geopolitical zones of the state.

“We are embarking on this construction of model schools to complement the existing schools. Don’t forget that when we first came in, we renovated about 100 blocks of classrooms in our secondary schools. We did this in view of the terrible state we met our schools when we came on board,” Amosun said.

The governor added that the State Universal Basic Education Board had also constructed blocks of classrooms in selected public primary schools across the state.

According to him, the construction of the model schools was meant to complement the existing secondary schools by putting up structures that were favourable to teaching and learning.

He stated that the state required at least 7,000 classrooms before learning could be made conducive.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, has given the assurance that the health status of students in primary and secondary schools will be monitored with two health officers placed in each of the public primary and secondary schools in the state.

The development, according to Odubela, was taken as a measure to prevent the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease when the schools resume in October.

The said emirs have been making useful interactions with the detained leaders of the group, communicating in their local dialects to boost their confidence in government’s assurance and consequently support the efforts.

“We enjoy the support of a number of the local peo-

ple in the areas seriously affected by the insurgency in the North. With the arrest and co-operation of these sectional leaders of the insurgents, we have succeeded in dividing their ranks and are hopeful of crushing them within the next two months,” the top military sources said.

A top ranking senator, who was privy to one of the

The couple, Emeka Kizito Onwugbenu and Onyinye Linda Chukwuma (middle), with the officiating Ministers, after their Solemnization of Holy Matrimony, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Victoria Island, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Mark thanks Jonathan over doctors’ recall Chukwu David Abuja

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resident of the Senate, David Mark, yesterday expressed appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan for reinstating the 16,000 resident doctors sacked during their twomonth strike.

Mark had mediated the industrial action following the disagreement between the Federal Government and the doctors over unpaid arrears arising from hazard and relativity allowances among others.

Angered by the seeming irresponsiveness of the medical practitioners during the strike, the Federal Government sacked all resident doctors and suspended

the residency training.

The doctors under the aegis of the Nigeria Medical Association vowed not to return to work until government reverses the decision sacking them.

At the peak of the crisis, Mark pleaded with them to suspend the strike and allow him to work out a solution to the crisis.

It was on upon his intervention that the doctors agreed to suspend the strike.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate, Mr. Paul Mumeh, said Mark thanked Jonathan for the kind gesture.

Mark also appreciated the NMA for calling off the strike and directing its

I’m ready to return to PDP - Ikimi tion Congress of Nigeria and later APC, expressed readiness to join the ruling party and pull in his political structure in the SouthSouth to ensure its victory in the 2015 elections.

He said he dumped the APC due to its deep-seated anti-nationalistic and discriminatory tendencies.

“I look forward to bringing value to the PDP. I believe that my contributions will again be noteworthy.

By my joining PDP, we are assured of victory not only in Edo State but in the en-

tire South-South geo-political zone,” Ikimi said.

He noted that he was ready to serve the party in any capacity deemed appropriate by the leaders.

Stating that the visit had laid to rest speculations and arguments regarding where he has resolved to pitch his tent, Ikimi said he would transmit the outcome of the meeting to his constituency and gave the assurance that the response would be favourable.

He also expressed his desire to work with the Chair-

meetings, confirmed the renewed offensive, stating that, “The President and indeed the Federal Government found the activities of the insurgents very embarrassing, as they have claimed over 3,000 lives and displaced several other thousands; hence the latest multinational, but surreptitious military approach to the security quagmire.”

man, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, to move the party and the nation forward and bring about the much expected development to Edo State and the South-South.

“I believe that our people are looking forward to this reunion because they will benefit the most from it.

When Chief Tony Anenih and I work together, I do not think we can have any obstacle we cannot overcome,” he said.

PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu

who led a delegation of party leaders to meet with Ikimi in Abuja to finalise arrangements for his formal declaration, said the party was happy that the former minister had decided to return to the fold.

Mu’azu described Ikimi as a highly organised and patriotic Nigerian who had the interest of the nation at heart, adding that such qualities made it hard for him to be in a party like the APC. He said the PDP would immensely benefit from Ikimi’s “wealth of experience,

members to return to their duty posts immediately.

He, therefore, enjoined the doctors to reciprocate the gesture by rendering the excellent services, especially under the current health care challenges orchestrated by the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease.

“Strikes should be avoided at all cost, especially in critical sectors like health. Dialogue remains the option to any dispute no matter the circumstances. I believe that some useful lessons have been learnt to prevent an occurrence in future.”

Mark also urged Nigerians to be patriotic “because we need the support and cooperation of all to make progress and make our country a better place. strong political structure and massive followership across the country.”

He also praised the Edoborn politician for his courage in deciding to return to the PDP while noting that the party would recognise and reward loyalty, commitment and experience.

In the same vein, Anenih commended Ikimi for his decision, which he said was in the overall interest of the nation.

Also at the meeting were PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; PDP BoT Secretary, Senator Wali Jibril; and a former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

News

2015: I’ll speak on my ambition soon - Tambuwal Cajetan Mmuta Benin

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peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday said he would soon address Nigerians on his next political move.

Tambuwal, who also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct free, fair and trans-

parent elections next year, spoke in Benin, Edo State at the official residence of Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, after attending the wedding of the son of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ehioze Erediauwa, and his wife, Chioma.

Besides, he kicked against the use of military personnel during the elections, describing it as undemocratic.

There are speculations that

the Speaker may soon dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress, where he is expected to vie for the presidential ticket of the party.

Flanked by the Minority Whip of the House and member representing Uhumwonde/Orhiomnwon Federal Constituency, Samson Osagie; Rasaq BelloOsagie (Oredo Federal Constituency); Jim Adun (Egor/

Ikpoba Okhai); Isaac Osahon (Ovia Federal Constituency) and members of the State Executive Council, he said he was still consulting and meeting with senior political leaders on the intended step ahead of 2015.

“When I went to collect my voter’s card, I said I was consulting and I am still consulting. Nigeria is not a small country, we have very, very senior leaders that one

L-R Managing Director, Guardian of the Nation International (GOTN),Mr. Linus Okorie; Former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana and Governor of Ekiti State,Dr. Kayode Fayomi, during the Guardian of the Nation International(GOTN)2014 emerging leaders conference in Abuja on Friday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

They said he had overwhelmingly demonstrated that he deserves to be reelected as President in 2015, and urged Nigerians to support the bid.

Minister of Sports, Tammy Danagogo, said that Nigeria had been transformed since the emergence of Jonathan’s administration.

“We are happy that Mr. President will declare for a second term in office. He is an excellent product, and an excellent product sells itself,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswil Akpabio, the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Udom, said Nigeria has a distinguished leader in Jonathan.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

September 28, was pushed forward by two days to enable the NWC to process the waiver applications of three of the aspirants.

The aspirants took turns to appear before the committee and were expected to present before the committee evidence of party membership or waiver, tax clearance papers, commitment to the growth of the party, educational qualifications, NYSC discharge certificate or exemption letter (where applicable), among others.

All the aspirants expressed satisfaction with the screening process. Ardo, however, kicked against

APGA urges president to seek re-election The SSG, who led the delegation from Akwa Ibom State, added that the people of the state were very proud of Jonathan and would give him their votes in 2015.

Udom stressed that “a good first term deserves a second term.”

For his part, the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, said that Rivers was totally for the President because he has performed, adding, “Mr. President makes promises and fulfills them.”

The South-South caucus in the Senate and House of Representatives also canvassed support for the President.

Chairman of the Senate

Committee on the Niger Delta, Senator James Manager, declared that “when a man is doing very well, all you need to do is to support him.”

His counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. John Enoh, said the people of South-South were not tired of Jonathan, whom he said “has given the best leadership in the annals of Nigeria.”

The event was also attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; as well as some former governors of Rivers State, Sir Peter Odili and Sir Celestine

Omehia, among others.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Grand Alliance yesterday launched a proJonathan support organisation known as Join Jonathan Journey (J.J.J), to encourage Jonathan to seek re-election.

The event, which took place at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the Anambra State capital, witnessed a large turnout of politicians from the South-East. They included a former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani; ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih; and erstwhile Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho.

Incidentally, they are all of the Peoples Democratic

PDP clears Ribadu, Modibbo, Marwa, 10 others the waiver granted to three of the aspirants because it did not follow due process.

According to him, the waiver ought to have emanated from the applicants’ wards and not Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after appearing before the committee, Ribadu said, “The process went on well. I am okay with everything that took place. I pray to God for the good of the country, for the people of Adamawa. What is going on today is probably a turning point and change that is coming to Nigeria and Adamawa State. My expectation is positive and

Ribadu

Modibbo

fantastic. It is all about the country; it is all about the people of Adamawa. I am happy.”

71-year-old Sawa, who is the oldest man in the race,

said he joined the governorship to sanitise the state.

Finitiri and former Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji

need to meet with before taking such decisions. As I said, I am consulting and at the appropriate time, I will come out to say what I will be doing in 2015.

“And as for Nigerians, they want free fair and credible elections in 2015. Yes in as much as we need security during elections, we don’t need over dose of it. Where we need heavy presence of military men is in the front line states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. So we should focus more on that than states where we are conducting civic responsibilities like elections,” he said.

He said the deployment of excess military personnel was capable of discouraging the electorate from casting their votes in any election.

He said, “I made my position known at the NBA conference about a week ago. And I said that it is not the best of fashions in a democracy that you militarise a process to the extent that voters get intimidated and scared and they rather withdraw and remain indoors.”

He posited that large number of soldiers should be deployed to frontline states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states and not to election

zones.

He added, “INEC regulations are very clear. The Electoral Act does not allow people to come out and begin to campaign at a particular period. So I don’t think it is late, what is important is that for those who are aspiring to offices to prepare themselves for those offices. And this is not something that you do over night.”

Tambuwal also sued for maximum support by Nigerians to enable the Federal Government and the military to deal with the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

“As we all know the phenomenon is new to our armed forces, what our armed forces need from us are support and our prayers.

And as National Assembly, we have given them all the necessary support so far. We have given them resources, we have given them money, we have given them the legal framework that they require.

“We employ Nigerians not to lose hope, not to lose sleep in the fight against insurgency. It is not an easy task and we should support the government to ensure that we address this problem squarely.”

Party.

Speaking at the event, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, urged Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015 and continue with his transformation agenda.

Obiano, who said APGA’s support for Jonathan was peculiar to the presidential election, said APGA would sponsor candidates for all other elective positions in the elections.

Addressing the mammoth crowd that thronged the square as early as 10am, APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, said he authorised the registration of JJJ under the party to ensure Jonathan re-election.

He maintained that his party had entered into discussions with the PDP, with a view to fashioning out a contractual accord on how

to allocate political patronages and resources in Jonathan’s second term.

Umeh, who berated Anambra State PDP Chairman, Prince Ken Emeakayi, over his rejection of APGA’s support for Jonathan’s second term, stressed that no group or oganisation in the state had the capacity and capability to deliver Anambra to the President more than APGA, with a sitting governor, 21 local government chairmen and 318 councillors.

He warned Emeakayi to refrain from making utterances that could cause a crisis in the state.

In their separate speeches, Anenih and Nnamani expressed gratitude to the APGA leadership for its complementary role in Jonathan’s re-election project.

Ahmed Gulak, refused to speak to the press after their screening.

On Friday, a group under the aegis of Concerned Youths for Good Governance in Adamawa State had petitioned the screening panel, seeking the disqualification of the acting governor from participating in the PDP governorship primaries. It alleged that he was a returnee to PDP who had not been granted a waiver.

The group in a petition signed by Ahmed Ya’uba on its behalf said Fintiri like many other officials of the last administration of the state, had defected from PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

“Ahmadu Umaru had actually registered with the APC during its membership drive in February at his Kirshiga unit of K/ wuro Ngayanndi ward of Madagali Local Government, with the following details: NAME: UMORU AHMADU, REG NO: 05009281, TEL: 08058536087, GENDER: MALE, AGE: 44 YRS.” Fintiri, however, said had never been a member of APC, adding that he had always been a member of PDP. The committee is expected to submit its report to the NWC. The ward congress for elect delegates to the September 6 primary holds tomorrow.

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Moments

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Former Miss Gloria Nyamadi and her husband, Mr. Taiwo Mesagam, after their wedding at Bethlehem Campground Christian Ministry of Reconciliation (Grace and Truth), Ogun State…recently

L-R: Wife of Former Governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Margret Obi; Dr. Chris Ngige; Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor; Newly consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye and Mr. Peter Obi shortly after the consecration at St. Patrick Cathedral, Awka, on Friday

L-R: Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC) Plc, Mr. Fortunate Leynes; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Deputy Managing Director, IEDC, Mr. John Darlinton and Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr Ismail Olalekan Alli, during the inauguration of Rehabilitated Injection Substation in Akanran Area, Ibadan…on Friday

L-R: Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Rev. Dr. Jude Arogundade;Emeritus Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev Dr. Michael Fagun; Parish Priest, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, , Rev. Father, Anthony Taiye Fadairo and Emeritus Archbishop of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Okogie during the 50th birthday celebration of the Parish Priest at the Church in Maryland,Lagos…yesterday.

Wedding reception of New Telegraph employee Blessing Ogboko, and husband, Rotimi Bello at God’s Tabernacle Grace Ministry in Lagos. PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R,Apostle John Iriakpe, the couple, Blessing; Rotimi and Bishop Emmanuel Enumeru

Parents of the Groom, Chief Lawrence Bello and Mrs. Elizabeth Falodun

Adm Manager, Mr. Robbinson Eze (third left); Advert Manager, Mr. Taiwo Ahmed and other staff of New Telegraph at the event

Parents of the Bride...Mr. Peter Ogboko and Mrs Ogboko

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

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Moments

L-R: Former Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Ahmed Moddibo; National Organising Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Mustapha and PDP Chieftain, Sani Bala, during the submission of the nomination form for the gubernatorial election in Adamawa State by Moddibo in Abuja…on Tuesday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Federal Council, Lawrence Amaechi; National President, Comrade, Kiri Shaibu; President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and Secretary, NCSU, Nehemiah Ogem, during the commissioning of Federal Might House in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Managing Director, Aquila Leasing, Chuka Onwuchekwa; President, Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, Albert Okumagba and Rivers State governorship aspirant, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Tonye Princewill, during a dinner in honour of Okumagba and Larry Ettah in Lagos

L-R: Chief Ayo Afolabi; Rev. Tunde Adegbuyi; Otunba Dele Ajomale; Zonal Women Leader, APC, Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; the National Vice-Chairman, South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure; Chief Akin Oke; Alhaji Tajudeen Ola Bello; Hon. Isaac Kekemeke and Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji, during a courtesy visit by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), South-West to the governor in Ibadan, Oyo State…yesterday

President, Gospel Baptist Conference of Nigeria and overseas, Archbishop Magnus Atilade (right) and Bishop of Oyo State District, Rev. C.A. Ogunniyi, during the commissioning of the Ago Oniwasu branch at the 42nd Anniversary of the church, in Fiditi, Oyo State...on Friday

Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Adewale Ayodele (right), being presented the Best LG Chairman of the Year 2014 award by Chief Executive Officer, Meljenstin Nigeria Limited, Amb. Chibuzo Patrick, at a ceremony organise by Meljenstin Nigeria Limited in Lagos

L-R: Director, Legal Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Samuel Vongtau; President Rivers/Bayelsa Shippers Association, Mr. Ofon Udofia and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, during an interactive meeting with members of Rivers/Bayelsa Shippers Association in Port Harcourt …on Friday

L-R: General Secretary, Ewohimi Community Development Association, Mr. John Ikekhide; Principal, A.M. John Associates, Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Aigbe John; and Managing Director/CEO, O. Solek Technical, Mr. Solomon Omuada, during a press briefing on the forthcoming Eguare Progressive Union General Meeting, in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area, Edo State. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

News

Coup: Lesotho’s PM flees to S’Africa

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L-R: Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Udeh Okochukwu; Abia State Chairman, People Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emma Nwaka; State Governor Theodore Orji and his wife, Mercy during the funeral of Late Chief James Ogbunnefi father in-law to Senator Nwaka at Akaeze in Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State yesterday

Ebola: Obasanjo wants summit of heads of govt Kunle Olayeni, Abeokuta

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ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday called for an urgent summit of presidents and heads of government of West African countries on how to contain the spread of Ebola Virus Disease in the sub-region.

He made the call while answering questions from guests during an event organised by the publisher of Inside Watch Africa magazine, Mr. Oluwaseyi Adegoke-Adeyemo, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta.

At the programme tagged “An afternoon with Obasanjo,” the ex-president also berated the Liberian officials who connived with Patrick Sawyer, the late

Liberian-American, who imported the virus into Nigeria.

According to him, there is a need for an urgent summit where a broad-based policy on the disease would be formulated. He observed that the disease had started to take its toll on the manpower and economy of not only Nigeria but also the West African subregion.

He, however, said but for Sawyer’s appearance in the country, the deadly virus would not have surfaced in Nigeria.

He said: “It is devilish enough the Patrick Sawyer had to spread this, and indeed spread it to Nigeria in connivance with some authorities from his country. Because they knew he had it before he came to Nigeria.

“The EVD has started to

take its toll on the country and the West African subregion. The toll is not only on the number of those that are ill or dead but on the economic of communities, country, region and subregion.”

Obasanjo disclosed that he had a meeting with the Ghanaian President and chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), John Mahama, few weeks ago.

He stated that they both discussed how to contain the spread of the deadly virus within the sub-region, explaining, however, that while Mahama wanted the meeting of ministers of health, he suggested that there was a limit to which the ministers could go.

Obasanjo, who noted that Ebola was not only a regional or sub-regional threat, described the dis-

ease as a global one. He also stressed the need to encourage world pharmaceutical companies to carry on research on the virus and come up with the needed vaccine to eliminate it.

His words: “Pharmaceutical companies in the country should be encourage to carry out research on the EVD and come up with vaccines to treat the deadly disease.

“Also, we have to be aggressive in taking precautionary measures. When you see your neighbour or someone who has unique symptoms not just of ordinary cold or fever, take him to the doctor, whether it is symptomatic of Ebola or ordinary malaria. We should not wait till someone has got incubated in it, just like Patrick Sawyer, who knew he had it and he deliberately spread it,” he said.

Man kidnaps, kills own father in Enugu Uwakwe Abugu, Enugu

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etectives from the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Enugu State Police Command, have arrested a man for allegedly kidnapping and killing his own father.

The deceased, Mr. George Ofonago, a family head at Abor, in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, was reported kidnapped recently but has been discovered to have been shot dead by his own son. A new twist was however, introduced to the case as the suspect claimed that his father ac-

tually asked him (son) to shoot him dead.

Spokesman of the state police command, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, in a release stated that the detectives “have commenced a full scale investigation into the alleged incident of murder of George Ofonago by his son identified as one Chukwuekezie Ofonago of Abor village, Enugu Inyi in Oji River local government Area of the state.”

It was gathered that the deceased had allegedly been reported kidnapped earlier, following his sudden disappearance from home “until information got to the security operatives about the involvement of the son whom

they reasonably suspected in the alleged abduction of the father and the subsequent demand for ransom.”

Amaraizu explained that though Ckuwkwukezie kept his father in an unknown place for some time, he was eventually linked to the man’s disappearance and eventual death.

He said, “The suspect was tracked down and arrested. He gave an insight into how he abducted the father and took him to where he allegedly shot his father dead with a single barrel gun and buried him in a shallow grave.

“Suspect further added that it wasn’t his wish to

shoot the father dead but rather pressure from the father who had instructed him to shoot him dead.”

In yet another kidnap incident, police also stated that “one Uchenna Francis Nwozor who specialised in kidnap threats to unsuspecting members of the public around Oji River and its environs has been nabbed.”

Amaraizu alleged that the suspect had demanded the sum of N5 million from an unidentified person, failing which the targeted person would be kidnapped.

He was, however, tracked him down in Awka, capital of neighbouring Anambra State.

esotho’s Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane, yesterday fled to South Africa over an attempted coup in his country.

Speaking in an interview aired by South African broadcaster, eNCA, the prime minister of the Southern African kingdom alleged that the army staged a coup and that his life was in danger.

Speaking to the BBC, Thabane said he would return from South Africa, which surrounds Lesotho, “as soon as I know I am not going to get killed.”

Reports say the capital, Maseru, is now calm after soldiers seized buildings.

The army denied staging a coup. Lesotho has seen a series of military coups since independence in 1966.

Thabane has headed a unity government since

2012, but suspended parliament sessions in June amid feuding in his coalition.

The Lesotho government is seeking the assistance of the South African government and other neighbouring states, Thabane said.

The prime minister said that since the Lesotho military was looking for him, he decided “to get out of the way,” and fled to an unknown location.

“In my political life, it was not the first time that I saw this kind of activity by the Lesotho army,” Thabane said. A lot of effort has been made to reform the military and to “make it a normal army that is subject to the civilian authority,” according to Thabane.

He told the broadcaster he would not resign.

Thabane became Prime Minister in 2012, when he formed the kingdom’s first coalition government.

Group urges support for Jonathan’s re-election Adeolu Adeyemo, Osogbo.

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group, Positive Group Initiative (PGI), has announced its readiness to ensure the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 elections.

This was disclosed by the National Coordinator, Hajia Zainab Saliu, while speaking with newsmen in Oshogbo, the Osun state capital.

Saliu stated that the group has put all machinery in motion in all states of the federation to see that the president is re- elected in the forthcoming presidential election.

While announcing the establishment of its campaign offices nationwide, she said the group’s objective will be realised.

“We believe in the ability

and capability of the president and have pledged to work round the clock to ensure his victory at the poll in the forthcoming election,” she said.

The group stressed that with its operational tentacles in every state, they would start from wards to local governments to be able to pass the political doctrines of the president to all and sundry effectively.

Describing President Jonathan as dependable, straightforward and the only hope for the hopeless ones, the National Coordinator urged Nigerians to re-elect President Jonathan and give him the opportunity of completing all the on-going Transformation projects his administration has embarked upon.

Aliyu commends voters, INEC over bye-election Dan Atori, MINNA

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iger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu on Saturday commended the maturity displayed by voters in the Niger East senatorial by-election despite the heavy downpour during the execise.

Aliyu said at the Umar Musa polling unit after accreditation that voters also displayed determination to exercise their franchise by coming out in their thousands to cast their ballots.

He said: “I commend the peaceful nature of the polls which held in nine local government areas of the state.

You can see that even in the rain people still came out to

vote this is commendable”.

Aliyu also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for delivering election materials in good time, adding that this has added to the success recorded. He expressed optimism that the candidate of the People Democratic Party, Dr Shem Zagbayi Nuhu will emerge victorious in the election as a result of the support the candidate and the PDP enjoyed from the people in the senatorial district.

Change of Name Nyamadi I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nyamadi Gloria now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mesagan Gloria.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

News

TAN UK storms Notting Hill Carnival

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nited Kingdombased Pro-Jonathan group, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, United Kingdom (TAN UK), held its introductory Rally at the Notting Hill Carnival in London UK on Thursday.

A statement by the group’s Director of Public Communications and Strategy, Mr. Ezenwa C. Anazodo, said, “TAN UK seized the opportunity of the Nothing Hill Carnival, which draws thousands of people of different nationalities to the UK annually, to talk about the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria and its aims and objectives.”

Members of TAN UK, led by the Coordinator, Mr. Onyedika Chukwuma, the statement said, distributed

flyers to about 5000 revelers in order to create awareness about the group and it activities. They also asked Nigerians in the Diaspora to support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.

“TAN UK congratulates its parent body, TAN Nigeria, for its successful hosting of the South East zonal rally in Awka, South West rally held in Ibadan and South South edition in Port Harcourt.

Our prayer is that God will continue to guide our leader and founder, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Uba,” Chukwuma said.

According to the statement, TAN UK would have the Diaspora’s official rally in October 2014 after TAN in Nigeria had concluded her nationwide scheduled rally.

Group flays dialogue on Anambra North

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nambra North Youth Movement (ANYM) has described the impending economic dialogue on Anambra North being championed by former Minsiter of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah as “a political deceit” The Group, which stated this in a statement signed by its Chairman, Barr. Nnamdi Ejiofor and Secretary, Comrade Okey Chidolue, added that the dialogue, organised under the auspices of Anambra North Development Forum“ was a platform which Oduah had designed to market herself for the Anambra North Senatorial seat which it said, Oduah was pursuing with desperation and indecent haste.

The Movement noted that Princess Oduah was merely hoodwinking the Anambra North business and intellectual class into believing that she could develop an economic blue print for the development of Anambra North. It said that Oduah lacked the power to implement whatever re-commendations that would emanate from the talk-shop.

The Movement chal-

lenged Oduah to mention the development projects she attracted to Anambra North while serving as a Minister. It frowned at what it called “the deceitful antics of Oduah which are meant to use illustrious sons of Anambra North such as Mustapha Chike Obi and Oscar Onyema to launder Oduah’s image and position her for the 2015 Senatorial race.

The Group which said that it fought for Oduah during the corruption allegations against her further advised the former Minister to first clear the air of the charges against him before engaging in any “political maneuverings”.

The Movement condemned the former Minister for what it called “display of wealth” which it said Oduah was engaging in. “That Anambra North Senatorial seat will never be sold to the highest bidder”. The Group warned that a Senatorial seat which Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Nwafor Orizu and Dr. Chuba Okadigbo once occupied would never be left to be trivialized by male or female moneybags with questionable records.

Members of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, United Kingdom (TAN UK), during their rally at the Nothing Hill Carnival in London... on Thursday

Why Igbos can’t leave Northern Nigeria — Ohaneze

Ibraheem Musa

T Kaduna

he Kaduna State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo has vowed that Igbos resident in Northern Nigeria cannot leave the region because of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The chapter’s President, Chief Austin Amaechi, who made this known at the inauguration of the new executive of the panIgbo organisation yesterday, assured Igbo leaders who were asking them to come back home that the insurgency would soon come to an end.

ivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Felix Obuah, yesterday condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in a boat mishap on Bonny Sea, Rivers State on Friday.

A statement by his spokesman, Jerry Needam, quoted Obuah as saying, “My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the ill-fated boat mishap and the good people of Rivers State.”

While praying God to grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses and the repose of

the souls of those who lost their lives in the boat mishap, Obuah urged the Rivers State Government and local governments in the state to formulate policies that would safeguard sea transport.

Obuah, who also attended the South South Zonal rally of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, yesterday, commended the people of the South-South for their overwhelming support for President GoodLuck Jonathan as demonstrated at the rally.

would jointly ensure that Nigerians investments are protected by Nigerians.”

Amaechi also explained that during the Nigerian civil war, the properties of Ndigbo were secured

by Northerners and were later handed over to them after the war. He said this included money collected from rents, adding that that helped them to reestablish themselves after the war.

“Unlike other parts of Nigeria where the investments of Igbos were declared abandoned properties, that never happened in the North. That is giving us the confidence to continue investing in the

North despite the security challenges. I can assure you that the investment will continue because very soon the security challenges will come to an end, by the Grace of God. “Apart from the indigenes of any state, Igbo people constitute the major tribes in most of the Northern parts of the country. So there is therefore the need to have a sound leader to ensure that the good relationship between the Igbos and their host communities is sustained. My mission is therefore to enhance an understanding between the Igbos resident in Kaduna State and their host communities,” he pledged.

Lagos moves to curb open defecation, urination over Ebola Muritala Ayinla

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s Ebola Virus Disease continues to ravage West African countries, Lagos State

Rivers PDP mourns boat mishap victims

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Amaechi said the investments of Igbos in the North was over N40 billion currently, wondering, “So, how can you leave that and go back to the East? Economically, we are at home in the North and politically we want to participate. We will therefore ensure that we pursue peace with our host communities and among the Igbo communities. This is because once there is peace our investments and other peoples’ investments will be secured,” he argued.

He added, “If there is no peace, it is not only the investments of Igbos that are threatened but the investments all Nigerians. So, we

“This unprecedented crowd has never been witnessed in this stadium. The stadium was filled to capacity. Five times the multitude you saw inside the stadium were outside for want of space.

“They were here to show their love and support for our dear President, Dr GoodLuck Ebele Jonathan, President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria and our great party, the PDP. The South South region is the home of our President and the PDP,” he stated.

Government has moved said to impose serious sanction against anyone who engages in indiscriminate urination and defecation as part of the moves to prevent the spread of the dreaded diseases in the state.

The State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who gave the warning during the August edition of the monthly environmental sanitation inspection at the Isolo Local Council Development Area in the state, said the warning was necessary to contain the spread of the diseases through unsafe and unhealthy practices.

Bello said that since the deadly diseases can be contracted through human faeces and urine, government had to impose serious sanctions against public

urination and defecation, so as to reduce chance of people being infected with the virus through contact with human waste products.

Bello who emphasised that the August edition of the sanitation was to intensify the campaign against the scourge, also appealed to the residents to maintain proper hygiene and ensure that their environment is clean always.

He said: “We need advocacy. This is important and it is the first to curtail the virus; prevention is better than cure. Residents need to know how they can avoid contacting the virus.

“It is not until Ebola outbreak occurs in the state that the government will commence fire brigade approach. That was why we have commenced sen-

sitisation across the state to give residents clear picture of the virus.

“One of the things we have told our residents was that they should clean their environment often.

And stop open defecation and urination. These are one of the easiest ways to spread the Ebola Virus Disease. Residents of Lagos must stop these unhealthy acts now. “ He assured that areas with blocked drainages and other environmental challenges would be looked into with a view to addressing their problems.

He also urged residents to always dispose their waste properly and desist from cart pushers, saying the task of creating a sustainable environment in Lagos is a collective responsibility of everyone.

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News Muhammad Kabir

M KANO

oves by the Kano State House of Assembly to enact a law that will restrict movements of Islamic preachers from one local government to another, have started generating tension, as many Muslims have threatened to resist such “barbaric and antiIslamic action.”

Though the Executive Bill from the State Executive Council, has undergone First and Second Readings at the Assembly, some clerics in the state are worried that because of its critical

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Tension as Kano govt moves to restrict itinerant clerics

nature, it should have followed the due constitutional process of public hearing, but instead, legislators said they have submitted it to some selected Ullamas for their advice.

Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, was quoted to have said that they have allowed some Ullamas to make an input to the Bill, but was evasive on the provisions

of the law which government sources said bother of security.

A top government source said that the edict is not new in Kano, rather the current exercise was an amendment not just to monitor the movement of the clerics, but to also ensure that their messages are not inciting their followers to violence and breakdown of law and order.

The Bill if passed into law

will stop Islamic preachers in the state from moving from one place to another or from one local Government to another, unless they get permission from relevant authorities to carry out their preaching activities.

Already, many Jumaat Mosque Imams during their last weekend sermons condemned such moves by the House of Assembly and called for caution, because

according to many of them, enacting such law will be counterproductive to Islamic teachings which says that “there should be some of you who will stand up to preach against evil and people to be just and pious.”

Kano State Chairman of Izala sect, Dr Abdullahi Sale Pakistan, said that a situation where preachers are restricted from carrying out their message from God “is a sign of the end,” wondering why gov-

ernment failed to restrict Christian Missionaries who come to Kano from all parts of the world from carrying out their preaching .

A preacher from Abuja who is the Chief Imam of Kubuwa Jummaat Mosque, Shiek AbdulMumin, warned the legislators to shun any act that will create uncertainty, adding that they should rather advise government to undertake the census of preachers and mosque.

Group decries illegal prisons in Anambra

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L-R: Chairman on the occasion, Prof. Dawud Naobi; National Amirah, Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajia Aminat Omoti; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and Member National Assembly, Representing Irewole, Ayedade and Isokan Federal Constituency, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, at the FOMWAN 29th National Conference at Osogbo City Stadium…on Friday

Egwu denies plot to unseat Anyim Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

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ormer Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, has denied ever leading a high-powered lobby to unseat the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, from his current position.

In a statement issued from his country home in Ebonyi State yesterday, Dr Egwu said that he was confounded by the carefully constructed falsehood in the said report.

Media report yesterday said that the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, was angling for Anyim’s job and that the issue has polarised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The story further alledged that Egwu is leading the lobby for Obi, but Egwu denied any involvement in the issue.

“The first is that Anyim conducted himself well as Senate President and he is performing exceptionally well in his current position as SGF. Anyim is said to have made the Presi-

dent and the nation proud through various far-seeing national unity initiatives; such as the just concluded National Conference, the Centenary celebrations and many others,’’ Egwu said.

The statement further said Obi will be shocked to hear that Egwu “is part of any plot to unseat the SGF a few months before an election he, (Obi), would like President Jonathan to win.”

According to Egwu, he “has never had any discus-

sions with Peter Obi, who is responsible and easy-going, regarding his future since he left office as Governor of Anambra State and that he does not see how Obi will be involved in such a plot.”

Egwu added that the idea of using his name ‘’to dramatise an imaginary plan to unseat the SGF, in order to create ripples in Ebonyi, is a harebrained plot as both Anyim and the people of Ebonyi State know better.”

The former Ebonyi State

governor also said that “the story is obviously the handiwork of very creative wicked minded and politically desperate individuals who hope to achieve other aims by knocking heads together through insinuations and irresponsible innuendos.”

Egwu further said that “I am however convinced that anyone with even a little knowledge of politics and the personalities mentioned in that report will immediately dismiss it without second thoughts”.

Suswam restates support for SURE-P Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has said that the state government has taken training of its youths enrolled in the SURE-P scheme seriously to enable them acquire requisite skills to be self-reliant and employed.

Suswam stated this yesterday during the graduation ceremony of the state’s SURE-P skills acquisition scheme of the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, (NASME) in

Makurdi.

Represented by the state’s Chairman of SURE-P implementation and State Head of Service, Mr. Terna Ahua, expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship and partnership between the state government and NASME, particularly in the training of youths in skills acquisition programmes.

Suswam expressed happiness over the youths that have undergone basic training to be self-reliant and employed saying, it will further prevent them from roaming the streets and assured of

his determination to engage more youths to be trained in other programmes under the scheme.

He charged the graduands to make judicious use of the knowledge and skills to better their lives stressing that government will soon organize a ceremony for all SURE-P graduands and further offer some token for them as an indication of encouragement, and also promised to look into the numerous challenges confronting the programme for the interest of the people of the state.

digbo Unity Forum has decried the sprouting of illegal detention centres and checkpoints operated by vigilance groups in Anambra and Abia state.

In a statement by the group’s President, Augustine Chukwudum, and Secretayr, Chinedu Onyebuchi, NUF said the detention centres were in Ichi, Ekwusigo Local Government, Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government, Nkpor and Ogidi, both in Idemili North Local Government, Umuchu, Aguata Local Government all in Anambra State.

The group said that at its meeting on August 26, 2014, its members appraised the security situation in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Delta states, noting that they were unhappy at the illegal checkpoints mounted in Isouchi near Isouchi Police Station in Umunneochi Local Govern-

ment Area of Abia State and also Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The group also observed that the decline in kidnapping, violent and other organised crimes in the SouthEast can be attributed to the “priceless effort of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Awkuzu; Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Terrorism and Heinous Crime Team C, Fegge Police Station Onitsha South LGA of Anambra State; B Division Nigerian Police Force Asaba; and Delta State Police Command.

“We also observed a decline in the incessant harassment of law abiding citizens by touts and other illegal bodies in all the major cities in the South-East e.g Onitsha, Umuahia, Okigwe, Owerri, Aba, Nsukka, Enugu, Oji River, Abakaliki, Awka, among others.”

Kwara to sanction defacement of billboards Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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wara State government has vowed to impose heavy sanctions on anyone caught defacing approved billboards or outdoor advertising in any part of the state.

Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed, who gave the warning in Ilorin, the state capital at a stakeholders’ forum organized by the Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWSSAA), said the move became imperative to guard against untoward actions as the state prepares for the next general elections.

Ahmed, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Elder Peter Kishra, therefore, urged political parties, politicians and other political actors to comply with the rules of outdoor advertising and signage in the state to maintain integ-

rity and professionalism in the sector.

There has been much allegations between the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over the spate of defacement of billboards mounted by the two parties. While the APC at a briefing accused the PDP of destroying its billboards in major parts of the state capital, the PDP in return pointed accusing fingers at the ruling party for the several damages to its own materials in turn.

But Ahmed told the gathering yesterday that although outdoor advertising will play more critical roles in political campaign in 2015, there is need for politicians and their parties to understand that mounting billboards alone or defacing them is no guarantee of success in any political contest.

EDITORIAL

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Our VISION

To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

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To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014

Ade Ajayi, historian par excellence

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he illustrious historian, Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi recently passed away. He was one of the pioneers of the famous Ibadan School of History. Hitherto, it was the contention of European supremacists that Africa had no history. It took the intervention of the likes of Ajayi to deconstruct the horrendous foreign polemics and disabuse minds the world over about established negative stereotypes.

A professor of history at the University of Ibadan from 1963-1989, he served as dean of Faculty of Arts and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. From 1972 to 1978 he also served as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lagos. From 19841988, he was Pro-Chancellor at the State University, Ado-Ekiti.

Ajayi was a cultivated and refined representative of his discipline. His admirable works and beautiful products of his peculiar genius remain to be the pride of academic scholarship to the present and future generations. With his death, the chapter of historical advancement of African history may have closed.

Popularly known as J. F. Ade Ajayi, he was born on May 26, 1929 in IkoleEkiti, in what is today Ekiti State. His father was a personal assistant of the Oba of Ikole during the era of Native Authorities. Records have it that he started education at St Paul’s School, Ikole, at the age of five. He then proceeded to Ekiti Central School for preparation as a pupil teacher. He gained admission into Igbobi College in Lagos, having secured

a scholarship from the Ikole Ekiti Native Authority. After completing his studies at Igbobi, he gained admission to the University of Ibadan, where he was to pick between History, Latin or English for his degree. He chose History.

In 1952, he traveled abroad and studied at Leicester University. After graduation, he was a research fellow at the Institute of Historical Research, London from 1957-1958. He later returned to Nigeria and joined the History Department of the University of Ibadan. In 1964, he was made Dean of Arts at the University and later promoted a deputy vice chancellor. After his stint as deputy vice chancellor, he was made the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos in 1972.

As an early writer of Nigerian and African history, though not a pioneer like Kenneth Dike, Professor Ajayi brought

According to available records, he helped in no small to develop African historiography. It is to his credit that he also embarked on a vigorous staff development programme, under which graduates of the university were sent abroad to acquire advanced degrees and return to take up teaching positions

considerable respect to the Ibadan School and African research. He was known for the arduous research and rigorous effort he puts into his work. By extensive use of oral sources in some of his works such as pre-twentieth century Yoruba history, he was able to weigh, balance and assay each and all of his sources, uncovering a pathway towards facts in the period which were scarce in written and non-prejudiced forms. Ajayi also tried to be dispassionate in his writings, especially when writing about controversial or passionate subjects in African history.

According to available records, he helped in no small to develop African historiography. It is to his credit that he also embarked on a vigorous staff development programme, under which graduates of the university were sent abroad to acquire advanced degrees and return to take up teaching positions. Before Ajayi’s administrative tenure , the university undertook to pay only one-half of the salary of members of staff training abroad, plus passage and tuition. Most of those who trained under that scheme did not return, and the programme was more or less a disinvestment.

Ajayi moved quickly to correct this half-hearted attempt at staff development. Under the new programme, staff members going on study leave abroad would receive their full salary, half of it in foreign exchange. The university would pay the full tuition as well as maintenance allowance for their families. And all this was without prejudice to any other financial support the staff

member may get elsewhere.

Undoubtedly, he was a man of great achievements including being labeled a professor’s professor becausehe produced scores of professors. But his landmarks never affected his attitude; he was always cool, calm and collected.

He listened to people with rapt attention and never looked down on anyone.

He was always fair, just, honest and dutiful. He represented all that was exemplary, modest and caring. He was a good Christian who did things with the fear of God. He was a man worthy emulating by all and sundry as well as generations yet unborn. Indeed the demise of Professor Ade Ajayi has signaled the end of an era but the good thing is that, he came, he saw and he conquered.

He published four major works on Africa: Nigerian History (1962), A Thousand Years of West African History (1964), Yoruba Warfare in the Nineteenth Century which he co-authored with R.S. Smith (1964), and Christian Missions in Nigeria: The Making of a New Elite (1965). He published about 60 books and several publications in local and international journals.

Even at the time of his retirement from the University of Ibadan in 1989, he had 11 books in the works then. He had the reputation of a workaholic, a gentleman to the core, a silent achiever, very humble and unassuming. His demise at a time the importance of history as a subject in our institutions has been compromised, should serve as a basis for a major rethink as a mark of honour.

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 JULIET BUMAH Deputy Editor (Sunday) LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIYI ADEGOROYE Assistant Editor, News & Politics TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

OPINION Nigerians await mobile healthcare delivery

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Anthony Daramola he news that President Goodluck Jonathan will soon launch the mobile healthcare service delivery scheme in Abuja has continued to excite Nigerians, owing to the importance of the scheme which is completely new in Nigeria.

The scheme, which was successfully launched in Lagos last month, is an initiative of Salt & Einstein MTS, a technology business aggregator, that created a single platform for MTN and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to provide health services for Nigerians at affordable rate, through the mobile phone.

Following the launch in Lagos, Salt & Einstein MTS said it would extend it to other parts of the country, to enable every Nigerian benefit from the initiative, beginning from Abuja, where the President is billed to launch it.

Although the platform is open to other telecoms operators in the country like Globacom, Airtel, Etisalat and Visafone, the company said it has plans to bring additional services other than

healthcare service to the unique platform. The plan is that social services providers can use the platform to provide services to Nigerians at reduced cost, while Nigerians will have the opportunity to have access to the platform to register for services of their choice.

The introduction of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria in 2001, opened up a lot of opportunities for Nigerians to fully utilise the capabilities of mobile phones in accessing healthcare services and other social services, but such was not the case, as Nigerians were using the phones to make and receive calls only.

But of late, young techies in Nigeria have started utilising other features of the phones for entertainment, information dissemination via the internet, games and to develop solutions that address basic challenges of Nigerians. One of such opportunities that the mobile phone brings is what Salt & Einstein is trying to make available and accessible to Nigerians, when it facilitated the mobile healthcare initiative between MTN and NHIS, aimed at helping Nigerians have access to

medical services, using their mobile phones. Nigerians had been deprived of such opportunity that will enable them select their own Health Management Organisations (HMOs) and at the same time have access to medical services offered through the comfort of their mobile phones.

Health is wealth and most times people die with their ill-health either as a result of ignorance or poverty. The initiative therefore brings service providers in the health sector, especially the HMOs and the telecoms service providers, on a single online platform that is accessible to all Nigerians. Healthcare services will be provided on that platform, and all telecoms subscribers that register on the platform, will receive medical advice and attention, via their mobile phones. With their mobile phones, they could communicate with any HMO of their choice and get the best medical service at affordable cost.

Having realised the need for a single platform that will accommodate several service providers, the company decided to come up with a business model that can accommodate industry

multiple solutions that should connect the common man.

What they did was to look at the entire value chain and came up with business solutions model that will address every sector, comprising the regulator, the players and the various ecosystem. The initiative, no doubt, will give Nigerians access to affordable and innovative healthcare programmes, via the mobile phone, and at the same time place the country on the same pedestal with countries adjudged to have universal healthcare delivery system. While creating the single platform and facilitating easy access to healthcare services and other social services, Salt & Einstein MTS said the prevailing circumstance of poor service quality will not in any way affect the success of the initiative, believing that telecoms operators will continue to find solution to the challenge, to enable them remain in business. It is expected that the initiative will receive boost, if launched in Abuja and other cities, as currently being planned by Salt & Einstein MTS. •Anthony Daramola writes from Lagos

A pack of crayons for Jonathan Jaafar S. Jaafar

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ince the government of Nigeria employed the services of international public relations firm, Levick, to restore its lost image, there has been a general outcry among Nigerians as to why the firm would be given the sum of $1.2 million for the PR sinecure.

Not just about the enormity of the amount do Nigerians keep haggling about but the logic behind the Federal Government’s decision. What was the rationale behind dismissing calls from local activists long before the situation went out of hand? Why should the Federal Government raise doubts over the issue in the first place? Why or how will the opposition party kidnap the girls in order to make the President unpopular?

Why shouldn’t the FG take action until the global catcall?

In the past few months, the traditional media and the new media focused their attention on Nigeria over the Chibok girls, who were abducted three months ago while sitting for secondary school certificate examinations. The Chibok kidnap obviously stirred the hornet’s nest, letting the world see the many shortcomings of the Jonathan presidency.

Nigeria’s problems are worsening by the day. The attacks have become a daily locurrence — competing in the realm of certainty with sunset. Under emergency rule and Jonathan’s inept government, the terrorists are gaining grounds, kidnapping hundreds, getting more arms, capturing more towns and declaring an Islamic state.

Much as I do not believe the pedestrian theory that Jonathan’s government is behind Boko Haram terrorism, I also do not believe the vague notion that the opposition All Progressives Congress is sponsoring the terrorists. I can only blame the President for lack of commitment, much as I will accuse the opposition of wanting to exploit his failures in this regard for political gains.

Now let’s come back to the issue of Jonathan’s image crisis, which necessitated the Levick contract. One credo in public relations is taking proactive measures as against reactive measures. It’s peculiar with the Jonathan presidency that action is not always taken until a situation deteriorates or captures the attention of the world.

President Jonathan’s inability to show commitment to the fight against terrorism made him suffer a huge image crisis, blighting almost beyond recognition his local and international outlook.

I suppose redeeming an image so tarred is perhaps the most difficult PR drudgery Levick has ever attempted. What lies will Levick tell the world about 480 defecting Nigerian troops? The underlying factors that led to their action clearly indicate the failure of Jonathan’s government either to provide them the required motivation or firepower. It will surely motivate our troops at the battle line and increase Jonathan’s image rating if he spares some hours off his frequent Europe junkets to visit and motivate them. Perhaps if this proactive measure was taken, there wouldn’t be any crossover, mutiny or desertion.

Levick must also make the President understand that the blame game doesn’t solve any problem. It rather lowers the estimation of the Jonathan administration in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community. The more he apportions blame without taking action, the more he is seen as a weakling.

Rather than blame the opposition or accuse Northern elders of sabotage, the President should expose the ‘perceived saboteurs’ and bring them to book.

Shortly after Malala Yousafzai’s plea and the President’s consent to see the Chibok girls’ parents, Jonathan’s publicists blamed the opposition for stopping the Chibok community from seeing the President. The opposition queried back: Who stopped the President from seeing the distraught parents and community leaders for three months? You see the

response the blame game elicits?

Levick should make Jonathan understand, treat and see terrorism as a national issue and not that of the North alone. As celebrated journalist Funmi Iyanda aptly puts it, “Treating Boko Haram as a ‘Northern problem’ is like treating Ebola as a First Consultant Hospital problem. Utterly, dangerously senseless.”

Levick should also caution the President against the use of religion to gain political capital from a section of the country. Jonathan should ask his party and its spokesmen to refrain from accusing the opposition party of religious bias.

As a PR strategy, if I were President Jonathan, I would have a number of people from a religion different from mine as my image handlers. An average Muslim in the North sees Jonathan’s government as having ethnic and religious bias. Nigeria’s dichotomy and division is no longer the issue of the South versus the North. The chasm created by religious differences is now the in-thing, and has become a mine where votes can be ploughed out easily.

Despite some implied actions and inactions denoting the use of the religious card, the ruling PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Oliseh Metuh, first fired the salvo in January, saying the APC exco was brimming with Muslims. Rising in defence, APC’s all-time spokesman Lai Mohammed, says his party’s 35-man exco was evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Why all this? In the first instance, invoking religion into political war is defeatist.

Already a division has been created.

What is now needed is the remedy. The rattling lot of Labaran Maku, Reuben Abati, Doyin Okupe, Reno Omokri, Mike Omiri, Frank Mba (now Emmanuel Ojukwu), Chris Olukolade, Marilyn Ogar, who are directly or indirectly the spin masters of Jonathan administration, should not be all Christians. I say this not because I am a Muslim but as

the ideal way to shore up the President’s image rating in the North; it’ll be a good PR gimmick at this moment.

Levick should tell the President that his shadow propagandists like Edwin Clark, Asari Dokubo, Femi Fani-Kayode and Ayo Oriysejafor are creating more enemies than supporters for his government. Every time Femi Fani-Kayode opens his wide mouth to abuse the North and its people, Jonathan loses a wide range of supporters in the North.

I have a screenshot of a tweet from the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Mr. Reno Omokri, in which he said the North is parasitic. No action was taken by the president over this insult. The same person also once sent an article with his infamous nom de plume, Wendell Simlin, linking the present emir of Kano to Boko Haram. The presidency didn’t take action. As a way to disassociate itself from Omokri’s action, the President should have relieved him of his appointment immediately.

Levick should tell Mr. President that refusal to do so signifies approval of the presidency.

A few days ago, Mike Omeri blamed the Borno State Government for the saga of the missing Chibok girls. Forget the fact Borno State is under a state of emergency, protection of lives and property of the people is the primary responsibility of the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Only recently, the spokesperson of the Department of State Security (DSS), Marilyn Ogar, also went partisan, saying when APC wins an election, Boko Haram doesn’t detonate bombs. Statements like these do harm mainly to the President’s image.

By and large, Jonathan is the architect of his own image problems. Levick can help him redraw the image, using the locally made crayons highlighted above.

•Jaafar, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Kano. He can be reached on jafsmohd@ yahoo.com

Letters Editor

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AUGUST 31, 2014

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

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

UN is a racist organisation

Dear Editor, Africa has more United Nations members than any other continent. All the continents are represented at the level of United Nations Security Council except Africa.

Africa, which accounts for one-third of the membership of the United Nations, is the only continent not represented in the permanent Security Council category. Africa is a continent that is the main source of raw materials for the developed West without which the industries in the Western countries would shut down. Should Africans have permanent representation at the UN Security Council? If you answered “yes”, then look at the following facts.

Pan-Africanist Colonel Muammar Gaddafi tried to get Africans united to demand a voice (veto power) at the UN Security Council, and in addition he called for $7.77 trillion in compensation to be paid to Africa by its former colonial masters, like MKO Abiola did. As a result of his efforts to unite Africans and his standing up to the neo-colonial powers, Gaddafi was targeted by the former colonial rulers just like MKO Abiola was killed with America tea. France and England got a UN authorisation to bomb out Libya back to the Stone Age. If you are an African concerned about lack of representation at the UN Security Council, why should you support racist UN resolutions against an African country?

Kola Afolabi Paris, France

The Enugu State deputy gov chicken impeachment Dear Editor, This impeachment of the Enugu deputy governor is a disgrace and an affront to political fairness. You can not impeach someone for not attending a function. What if the deputy governor had initiated an impeachment process against Governor Chime when he went AWOL during his cancer drama? People would have crucified him for being so callous. Governor Chime has up until now been very good to Enugu State but this debacle will definitely leave a stain on his remarkable career.

Amaechi Osegbo Enugu

Oh God, let this oil stop flowing Dear Editor, More of the problems caused by agitation for power shift and retention in this country boil down to oil in the Niger Delta. The tensions, ethnic rivalry and acrimonious exchange among the leaders of Nigeria and their bellicose language still sum-up to oil. Oil is the greatest source of our problems in Nigeria.

Crude oil is the singular reason why some retrogressive minds are violently opposed to resource control and federalism in this country. This is because they know that the bulk of the nation’s resources is domiciled in the center or federal government.

Without this oil politicians will not kill to win elections, they will not go to the extreme to get power.

The point should be made that oil itself is not evil; it is the utilisation and management of oil resources that makes the difference. Look at the United Arabs Emirate, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and other countries with oil and responsible leadership, these countries have been built with oil money.

Nigeria, in contrast, is a nation of stupid, irresponsible and insane leaders; a nation of religious and ethnic bigots; a nation where the victims of slavery and misgovernance are the greatest champions of elongation of suffering; a nation of slaves in love with their chains and a nation where corruption is an official state policy.

So imagine a Nigeria without oil, it will be a nation where those who are truly out for service will contest elections. It will be a nation whose unity will be negotiable and whose diversity will be a source of power. Let us pray for this oil to either dry up or cease from flowing. Think of a Nigeria without oil, think of a great nation.

Inibehe Effiong Lagos

Hawking kids on the street of Lagos as a result of the long holidays.

Uduaghan, please complete this road project at Agbor Dear Editor, I write this letter to register our worries over the slow execution of the three-kilometer Old LagosAsaba road project at Agbor in Delta State, which was awarded in 2008. I am surprised that despite the fact that this project, which included a dual carriage way, drainages, walk way and street light which was meant to be completed with three years has been dragging till now.

The project which stretched from Igbenoba Grammar School, Agbor, to Ika Grammar School, Owa, was initially awarded to Road Tech Construction Ltd, but had to be re-awarded to Hi-Tech for whatever reason. Six years after, only about one kilometer of this road has been completed.

Today, the road, which is central to all our commercial and economic activities in the area, is in a bad shape, especially when it rains. We are also aware that the value of this contract has been reviewed upwards at least twice since it was awarded. During rainy season, the situation in Agbor is very pathetic, as erosion practically swallows up the town.

One indigene of Ika had asked Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan during one of his visits to one of the schools in the area not too long ago, and he blamed it on some of our leaders. Though this was said in the presence of the Senator and Representatives of the area at both the state and National Assembly, none of them could raise their voice to state otherwise.

I therefore call on the state government to expedite action on the road to ensure it is completed before 2015 because of the vital role it plays in the social and economic lives of our people.

Nkemdilim Okafor, Agbor.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

APC won’t miss Ikimi Dear Editor, Chief Tom Ikimi should not have left APC. The old man was Chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC), which assisted to frustrate the victory of Bashorun MKO Abiola during the aborted Third Republic. Ikimi remains a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.

It was frustration by colleagues that brought Ikimi to APC. Along with former vice president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, Ikimi is a leading light of a section of the conservatives who believe they should use a progressive platform to ‘capture’ power at the centre.

It is certain that PDP will welcome Ikimi. But the former NRC chairman’ll not be missed a bit in the APC. However, I fear for his relevance in PDP. The man don expire since!

Wale Adedayo Abuja

APC bloggers and 100,000 articles about Ribadu Dear Editor APC bloggers have now written over 100,000 articles in only one week about how “Ribadu is useless for leaving the APC” yet they can’t tell you the name of any of APC’s candidates in Adamawa - this is the same way they focus so much on insulting GEJ without being able to tell you who their own candidate in 2015 is even though it is only about 20 weeks to the elections. If you ask them, and they respond with the silly question “Has GEJ declared yet?”

What do you call this sort of a mental disorder?

Favour Afolabi Lagos

Life

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Ebola: Nigeria not free until affected countries are clear-Odubanjo Dr. Oladoyin Odubanjo, First vice-president Lagos Chapter of the Association of Public Heath Physicians of Nigeria speaks on the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria in this interview with AHAOMA KANU do you perceive the initial treatment given to Sawyer by the management of the hospital he was admitted?

Dr. Odubanjo

Nigeria and other West African countries are going through one of their worst moments talking of the Ebola Virus Disease which have killed thousands of persons. What, in your opinion, is the initial step the government ought to have taken when it was announced in March 2014 that there was Ebola incidents in Guinea?

T

here are a number of things they should have done but there is this thing we have in Medicine; we say that hindsight is 20:20. It means when you measure the sight in a clinic, it is always perfect if you have to think of something in retrospect. But usually, it is a challenge when you are caught unawares. So there are many things that could have been done; we could have had small isolation units all over the country in readiness. Knowing that Nigeria is a top migration spot in West Africa, we could have taken more steps. I am sure some steps were taken but we could have done more. We could have done more to detect the infection in our ports of entry. Perhaps, more importantly, some have argued that maybe Nigeria should have gone out into those countries to help. We should not have waited for Ebola to come to Nigeria, we would have gone there and render help just like the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is doing to assist the other countries.

EVD have been around since 1976 when it was first detected.

Did Nigeria scientists get involved in research on the disease knowing the propensity of Nigerians and their exposure to eating bush meats?

I really don’t know but one of the things you will find since 1976 is that it has never happened in Nigeria. Sometimes, one of the reasons why people may not want to work on something is because they have not seen it, it is not in their environment, it is not a threat to them. So they may not work on it. And then if you mention bush meat, even in Nigeria, Ebola did not come through that means. It came through an infected person and not through an animal as we know it to start. I will say because of these we may not have worked on it. What we have is Lassa fever and we have people working on that.

The Ebola virus was introduced into Nigeria by Patrick Sawyer who was taken to a Lagos Hospital. Since our health personnel do not have the right training to manage EVD, how

From all what I have read, I consider the hospital management staff as heroes; that’s the way I see them from everything I have been able to collect on the issue. I think it has been fairly established that the man was not very cooperative and an uncooperative patient is a real danger in any hospital.

He is the kind of patient that can shake the needle in your hand and you prick yourself. And I was told that he went as far as urinating all over and things like that indicates he was really an uncooperative patient. So for them to have protected Nigerians as against the pressure to let him out of that hospital, I see them as heroes.

One of the concerns raised by doctors is that some of them are not trained for this kind of outbreak. With this development how would you rate the containment of EVD in the country?

I think the government is trying and many people have commended the government for its efforts. When there is an outbreak like this, the first people you need are public health physicians- that is their training. Their training, beyond many things, is how to manage such issues like an epidemic; how do you control it; how do you stop it. They should be at the forefront of this battle. You will also need different specialists to deal with many aspects of the disease including psychologists to deal with psychological issue that may arise. I think the public health specialists are needed at the centre itself and you also need good clinicians with good clinical acumen because it will not give you anything different from other diseases. The human body can react to a disease in many ways. If you are bleeding, we know what can go wrong; if you are losing fluid, we know what can go wrong. So you just need people with good clinical skills who can attend and appropriately respond to any complications that might arise during the treatment of patients.

There has been a case of some of the suspected exposed persons leaving the centre, like the nurse that traveled to Enugu. Since we are dealing with a highly contagious disease, why should such lapses occur?

You have to understand the difference between somebody who is already a contact and one who is a case, which means you have confirmed this person of having the disease. A contact is somebody who you know has been around somebody who has EVD. So what you are saying at that period is please stay, minimize your movement and then you keep checking on this person as it were. And at this point, people are not being kept in prison as it were. You monitor this person, he may be in his house but you keep in touch with them. Now they are given thermometers to monitor themselves to check the reading should they have fever. At the slightest moment you start feeling sick, you let us know. You have people you call and they will get back to you. Now when they get back

to you, you are then tested and if the Ebola virus is seen then you become a patient. It is actually at that time that you are moved to the isolation ward where you cannot move out. So the person you are talking about was never in an isolation ward, she was being monitored.

Majority of Nigerians are clamouring for our borders to be closed to prevent the escalation of the disease. Is this a measure that should be adopted in containing disease outbreaks of this nature?

When people say certain things, they need to think, not narrowly but widely, about the implications of every decision made. I think a lot of times we are reactive and expecting things to be done according to our fears but we need to think about the implications. What happens if the United States decides to close its borders to Nigeria as a people that travel a lot? What do you think will happen? How many businesses will suffer? What if the UK did that and the whole of Europe does that? Coming to West Africa, do you know how much economic damage would be done should we decide to close our borders to our neighbouring countries considering the fact that Nigeria is a high migration region? What we should be looking out to start with is how do we safeguard those places and not necessarily close it? We have not reached that stage that our borders need to be closed.

Doctors without borders have predicted that it may take up to six months to curb the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, what is your take on that?

Yes, given the complexities of having to deal with the disease. Can you imagine now, Nigeria does not have many cases but we have many people who are being monitored. What you are saying when you are monitoring people is that any of those people stand a chance of developing the sickness until the very last person among those people are certified fine. For each one of them it takes 21 days from their time of exposure to the disease. Nigeria is likely to do a lot better but if you look at it critically, Nigeria will know no peace until all those countries are fine. So in a sense, the world has become a very small place and that is why every other country is on high alert because diseases know no boundary. So nobody can rest until everything is fine in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

There has been a lot of awareness on the preventive measures on EVD. As a public health expert, which of these is the basic?

Wash your hands with soap and water. Sanitisers are no replacements for soap and water. Sanitisers are a next best alternative. The real recommendation is wash your hands with soap and water as often as you can. Sanitisers is not a wonder therapy, the basic thing to do is wash your hands.

What would you advise people that love bush meat and suya?

There are few things we should keep in view; as much as people should be cautious about such delicacies, you must understand that the virus is destroyed by heat by whatever means it is applied. Whether you cook or smoke it, make sure it is well cooked or smoked. The second thing is that the current outbreak in Nigeria is not from an animal, it was from a human being. So it’s not like in Guinea where it is suspected to have been infected from an animal to a man. So that is not the most important issue on our radar here as it has not been discovered that our animals do not have the Ebola virus.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

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Ahaoma Kanu

fter a flourishing political career that spanned 12 years in the Delta State House of Assembly, where he got the highest post of Speaker, and the Federal House of Representative in the National Assembly, Rt. Hon Olisa Imegwu has found a new passion in the service of humanity.

Having impacted on the lives of his people in his Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State through law making, Imegwu has found a charitable way to touch the less privileged -donating a building to an orphanage in his state.

Speaking to New Telegraph on Sunday during the launching of the Foster Paradise Home in Ashaka, Delta State, he said he feels very happy to be able to lend a hand to humanity.

“You see, I have been in politics for a long time and found out that there are so many things to do about life apart from elective office. I am in school law and want to use that to do something for those who have been unjustly denied their rights and can’t fight because they don’t have the resources to do so. When they ( staff of the orphanage) came and told me to support them, I discovered that an orphanage would be another platform for me to touch more lives, especially that of abandoned children. So I donated a building to them to start until they can support themselves and pay rent.

There are many ways to help people out of politics,” he said. In his speech, Imegwu told the people of the community where the home is located to consider themselves as being involved in the running of the orphanage as it is the first of such facilities to be established within the area.

“The first step has been taken in establishing the orphanage home but more importantly, the work ahead will need our concern. We have charted the course and now

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Life

Ex-Delta Speaker finds new passion in orphanage have the pleasure of inviting you to join us in this journey of self discovery by taking your first step in supporting the children that will be taken care of in this home.”

According to the founder of the home, Engr. Anthonet Uzorka, the story of this home started a long time ago when she discovered she had compassion for children and had a desire to start a home where kids would be taken care of.

“Today, I thank God that this has become a reality. It was not an easy journey to where we are today. Our story is one that was divinely inspired, gradually nurtured, constantly watered with consistent prayers and supplication and carefully planned to achieve the desired objective which is to take care of orphans and motherless children,” she said.

She said that Foster Paradise orphanage is poised to offer various programmes to give quality life to children, including guidance and counselling, educational training of especially young girls on what to do should they find themselves with unplanned pregnancies and advocacy for the motherless and orphans.

The Chairman of Ndokwa Local Government Area, Hon. Alex Aniche, pledged the council’s support for the home and promised that they would work together to make sure that the children in the home are well taken care of. “I am happy to be part of what is happening here today. For some obvious reasons, this home is one of its kind in our area and it is being pi-

The ex- speaker, Olisa Imegwu, orphanage founder Anthonet Uzorka and one of the babies at the orphange

loted by one of our young daughters. This is happening in my tenure and we have pledged to support this initiative because it is a worthy effort at helping humanity,” he told New Telegraph on Sunday.

During a tour of the facility, the former speaker, the chairman and invited guests were introduced to the staff and children in the home. They later joined the children and staff to cut the cake.

Three children with cerebral palsy need N3.5m for corrective surgeries

Ahaoma Kanu

H

er eyes were closed and her chest heaved with every breath she look up.

The frail fingers clasped tightly to the little toy she held. She would occasionally open her eyes and smiles to whatever movement she could perceived. Iyanu Fashola is one of the children with cerebral palsy living at Lady Oyindamola Memorial Home located at Badagry, Lagos State.

There are over 26 of them with different mental conditions ranging from Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome to Autism. Three of them need urgent assistance to be able to undergo various corrective surgeries.

While many deliveries bring joy and happiness to their parents and family, their births brought grief, confusion and stigmatization.

Apart from having something in common in their mental conditions, one similar experience they have even at very tender ages is that of abandonment.

Six-year old Divine was found abandoned with a written note inside her pocket at Regina Mundi Catholic Church at Olosha, Mushin Lagos in November 2013. In January 2013, passersby found five-year old Ajoke tucked under the Paediatrics shed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Ikeja while 11-year old Samson Adedeji was left at the home after her grandmother who brought him died.

They all had Cerebral Palsy.

“When they are brought to us by the Lagos State Government, we try as much as possible to start showing them love and support so that they would adapt into this environment.

Many of them have different ailments, so the first thing is to identify these defects and start working on them. There are times we have to go out of our way to learn sign languages to be able to communicate with them,” said Mrs. Elsie Akerele, founder of the home. But some

Iyanu

Tayo

Taye

of the children are brought to the home and abandoned there, like Iyanu who was brought by his parents from Ibafo in Ogun State. They later disappeared.

“We trusted that parents could not just abandon their children but with the experience of five abandoned kids, we had to introduce these measures,” Akerele said. One of the many challenges the home faces is dealing with the recurrent ill health of the children.

At the moment, three of the children need urgent corrective surgeries to stabilize their conditions.

Iyanu has congenital cataract, an eye defect at birth which makes vision blurry. Her vision impairment also affects other activities like walking and standing. Although she had undergone preliminary surgery at Ancillia Hospital in Ijaiye, Lagos, she still requires the final phase of the corrective surgery to be able to gain her sight.

“We have been putting her through physiotherapy and she has been improving but we believe if she gets her sight fully back, she will be encouraged to improve,” Akerele said. The

surgical procedure will cost N800, 000.

Tayo, who is four years, was brought into the home with a spine injury. At the time she was admitted into the home, she was flat on her back and could not move any of her limbs.

But with physiotherapy, she is now able to sit on special Orthopaedic seats for children with cerebral palsy. When she was taken to the National orthopaedic Hospital at Igbogbi, Lagos, the doctor recommended a corrective surgery which would cost N1.5m. Her indigent father cannot afford the amount.

For Taye, not only was he born with cerebral palsy, he has a physical defect known as Club Feet which makes it difficult for him to sit or stand. Though there has been some improvement when physiotherapy was administered, he still cannot walk but crawls using his buttocks at five years.

“The doctors told us that the defect can be corrected and that he can be able to walk,” the founder said. His needs N1.2m.for the surgery.

While sending appeal to Nigerians during their annual awareness week with the theme, Spread Your Love Around, Akerele called on

Nigerians to help the children to get some part of their life back. “These children did not have a choice on how they were born, but you have a choice to help them and I trust that kindhearted Nigerians will come to their aid. On a monthly basis, we invests more than N250, 000 to run the facility and these include payment for therapies, salaries, feeding and purchasing essential commodities like diapers and drugs for the children. The drugs for some of the children for their seizures and hyperactivity are very expensive. Also, some of them are born blind due to cerebral palsy. We do need support from people to help us with essential materials like diapers, food stuff and most importantly medical intervention for three of our children,” she said.

Donations and support for the medical intervention should be directed to Lady Oyindamola Memorial Home, 5332018399, EcoBank PLC. “We are appealing to the federal, state and local governments to provide us with electricity and potable water. We call on corporate bodies, religious institutions and individuals to help us,” she appealed.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Life

Nigerian Armed Forces and Boko Haram: An incursion too far

S

Ahaoma Kanu ince 2009, when the terror group, Boko Haram, started its reign of terror, efforts by the Federal Government to rid the country of the group’s activities have not been fully realised. The performance graphs of the Nigeria Armed Forces who have been fighting the insurgents have been a parabola with different tales of challenges that the army is facing in flushing out the terrorists.

Two incidents last week jolted the sensibilities of Nigerians. The declaration by Abubakar Shekau, leader of the group, that Gwoza town, which was overrun by the insurgents, had become an Islamic Caliphate. In a video posted online, Shekau vowed not to leave the town. In the video post, many fighters for the group were seen sacking law enforcement institutions including the mobile police training college in Limankara, near Gwoza, Borno State.

The quantity of arms and ammunition being stolen by the insurgents who waved their rifles glaringly as shown in the video sends shivers down the spines of viewers.

The insurgents have consolidated on their weaponry and may be bracing up for more attacks.

Also, the report of at least 480 soldiers fleeing into the Cameroonian town of Maroua to escape confrontation with Boko Haram extremists, who have, over the past few weeks, wrecked havoc on innocent people, brought another low to the fight against terrorism.

This development is coming at a time when parents of the over 200 abducted students of Government Girls Secondary School , Chibok, Borno State , haven given up hope of getting their children alive, had performed funeral ceremonies for their children. The girls were abducted on April 14, same day Boko Haram exploded bombs on innocent commuters in Nyanya, an Abuja suburb, killing over 100 people.

As Nigerians all over the world received with shock the latest incident, an action the Army Spokesperson, MajGen Chris Olukolade, described as a tactical maneuver, a cross section of people who spoke to New Telegraph on Sunday decried the situation and urged the FG to immediate put an end to the escalating security situation.

“Insurgency at any level is always serious guerrilla warfare. They may not possess as much weaponry as the conventional army. They may not even have the numbers but they are usually more determined, focused and ruthless with the sole aim to forcing a change. Hence, the war will not be won with more weapons for conventional army; the war will possibly be won by incurably committed army, with 100 per cent sense of patriotism to national cause,” Esuola Ayotunde, a social commentator, said.

“Naturally, one is appalled that men of the Nigerian Army had to run for dear lives into a neighbouring country, thus exposing our Military to odium and ridicule.

What makes the situation worse, however, is that the Defence Headquarters [DHQ], despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, chose to lie that the men tactically maneuvered into Cameroon! Whilst they were at their customary deception, it has since been revealed that the Cameroonian Army had to kill 27 Boko Haram fighters in order to save the 480 Nigerian soldiers. A fall-out from this incidence is that I am yet to see a lot of people sympathizing with the Nigerian Army on this matter,” Abdul Jimoh, a Lagos lawyer, said.

The major opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), described the incident as an unprecedented national embarrassment and called on the president to put partisanship aside and rally the nation against Boko Haram.

While the government and Army headquarters try very hard to convince the public that the army will put a stop to the activities of Boko Haram, certain incidents that have occurred since the war of terror was declared have proved otherwise.

In January 2013, about 190 Nigerian soldiers bound for peace keeping operation in Mali were ambushed a few kilometers from Okene in Kogi State. The attack occurred while the soldiers were traveling in three luxurious buses via Kaduna to Bamako, Mali. There has not been any report on how the movement of the solider were traced, marked and attacked.

In May 2014, the General officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigeria Army, General Ahmadu Mohammed, escaped death when it was reported that angry soldiers opened fire on his official vehicle when he came to address them at the Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The soldiers were said protested the deaths of their colleagues killed in an ambush.

Few weeks ago, wives and children of Nigerian sol-

Soldiers of the Nigeria Army

Jonathan

Shekau

diers took to the streets in Maiduguri, protesting that their spouses were ill-equipped to take on the violent group.

Borno State Governor, Ibrahim Kashim Shettima, had in a press briefing stated that the insurgents are better equipped and motivated than the Nigerian military.

“In all fairness to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Police, they are doing their best, given the circumstances they have found themselves in. But, honestly, Boko Haram members are better armed and are better motivated than our own troops. And believe me, I am an eternal optimist as I have always said, but I am also a realist. Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram,” he said.

Before 2009, Nigeria troops have been rated among the best in Africa and have contributed more than any other Africa countries to peace missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What then may have gone wrong?

“The problem with the Nigerian military and security agencies in the war against Boko Haram is that they have some Islamist Fifth Columnists among their officers and men. It is a challenge fishing out such elements without the government not being portrayed by opponents as profiling and persecuting Muslims just as Gen. Muhammadu Buhari accused President Goodluck Jonathan of being ‘anti-north’ for declaring a State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States last year,” said Egheomhanre Eyieyien.

While testifying before the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate in May, the US Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Welsh III, said that the Nigeria military were reluctant to engage Boko Haram.

“We’re now looking at a military force that is, quite frankly, becoming afraid to even engage. The United States doesn’t have the capacity, the capability to go rescue every kidnapped person around the world,” he said. This attitude, the Principal Director for African Affairs at the Pentagon, Alice Friend, said stems from corruption which affects every other institution in the country.

“Much of the funding that goes to the Nigerian military is skimmed off the top, if you will,” he said.

The security sector has, for three years now, been getting the lion’s share of budgetary allocations. In the 2014 budget which totaled N4.91 trillion, the military got N968.12bn out of which N130.7bn was released to the to the Ministry of Defence for military operations in the first quarter of the year as disclosed by the Ministry of Finance in May. Yet issues of Boko Haram having superior weapons than soldiers of the Nigeria Army still abound and this is despite the deployment of about 20,000 troops in the North East, along with intensified aerial surveillance, incidents abound of troops avoiding a face-off with Boko Haram which has so far claimed over 12,000 lives and with thousands maimed and displaced.

It has not been reported that Boko Haram has jet fighters but the Nigeria Air force has. Analysts believe the Nigerian Armed Forces needs to be reformed. The call for the reformation in the system is increasing with both experts and Nigerians giving suggestions on the way forward.

“How many years will it take Jonathan to reform the military? He cannot keep lamenting on what he has inherited and do nothing about it? It is time he tries his Transformation Agenda on security,” Ige Abiola, a social activist said.

For Iyanda Olufemi, the change needed would have to be a collective effort from every Nigerian.

“Nigerians should be ready to save Nigeria. We only need 774 serious persons across the 36 states of the federation, Abuja inclusive to coordinate the rebirth.

If these 774 persons could recruit one or two persons in each ward of every local government and the sensitisation and mobilisation is sincerely embarked upon

exploiting the social media, I believe a meaningful change can be achieved,” she said. Jimoh believes the president should brace up to the challenge.

“On what should be the responsibilities of the Federal Government, it’s very simple. The president, as the head of the Federal Government, should brace up and do what he has been elected to do, which is to provide effective and focused leadership. Presently, the President is too distracted by the self-induced shenanigans of TAN and others,” he said.

Sanctity of Truth

ON SUNDAY

Page 15, AUGUST 31, 2014

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT www.newtelegraphonline.com/body&soul

‘I walked the streets but I’m ready for marriage now’

Leggy in leggings

Those who think I’m arrogant do not know me Yomi Fash Lanso

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

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Contents 31.08.2014 COVER

Method acting is what I really crave but unfortunately, we are not at that level, probably because of the time frame in which we produce our films.

It’s one area that is very challenging

-Yomi Fash Lanso

} 18-19

BEAUTY

Lipstick wears best on a smooth surface, so gently buff your lips with a damp washcloth. Pat on a clear lip balm and give it a few minutes to sink in, then blot with a tissue } 21

GLAM DUDES

The beauty of the va r s i t y - i n s p i re d jacket is that you can throw them over anything you have in your wardrobe and still come out looking stylish.

With some careful consideration, the varsity jacket can elevate your looks

} 45

FASHION

Petite ladies should elongate their frames with a striped pair of leggings. Printed styles will work well with most body shapes but those with fuller thighs, butts and legs will look best in plain black

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor)

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent)

} 22&43

Wole Adepoju

ACCESSORIES

Sometimes you want to add an extra oomph to a plain jersey, classic t-shirt or vest; the perfect way to go is a pair of glitzy ear huggers.

They are the best friends of the offbeat rock chic

Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent) Abimbola Sodeke Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics) Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 chibumah@yahoo.com julietbumah@newtelegraphonline.com

Associates

} 17

BED, WORK & LIFE She raises her head from his chest and asks, “Do you want to hear the truth?”

“Yes,” he replies.

She hesitates a moment and says

distinctly but quietly, “I was a professional escort for years. I retired about five months ago because I want a new life.”

“Professional what?” Dave asks, incredulous.

“Please tell me you are joking,” he begs.

“No honey, I ain’t joking

} 20

Helen Paul

Stanlee Ohikhuare

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Accessories

Ear Cuffs

Biwom Iklaki

A

s icing is to cake, so is an ear cuff to an edgy look.

Sometimes you want to add an extra oomph to a plain jersey, classic t-shirt or vest, the perfect way to go is a pair of glitzy ear hugger. They are the best friends of the offbeat rock chic, as far as jewellery is concerned. It goes without saying that an oversized ear cuff makes a stronger statement that your traditional earrings.

Many fashion forward ladies have embraced this trend. But for those who are not so sure of how to style the ear cuffs, just remember to treat them like your costume jewellery. This means that when you wear an ear cuff, you must forget about a statement

necklace. It would be regarded as fashion overkill. Likewise, the need to limit the ear cuffs to one ear only (not that you cannot wear both, but you are super-cool with just one). They are statement pieces and not your traditional earrings after all. It also adds to the edgy rock glam that the ear cuff is known to give.

Just like their counterparts, the regular earrings, there are many fun varieties to the ear cuffs.

The studs, spikes, flora/fauna-inspired, gemstones, metals, etc are all quite popular.

Ear cuffs are not restricted to those with pierced ears, so those needle-phobes amongst us can rock them too.

Go on and get an ‘earful’ style this weekend.

17

Body&Soul

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Those who think I’m Business administration graduate of University of Lagos and actor, Yomi Fash Lanso, has carved a niche for himself in the movie industry in Nigeria. The father of three talks about his job, fame, women and other interesting issues in this interview with WOLE ADEPOJU What was it like for you to have featured in ‘Dazzling Mirage’ from Main Frame Productions, judging from the fact that actors look forward to working with them?

Taking part in Main Frame Productions’ ‘Dazzling Mirage’ was a big experience for me; judging by the trade mark of this film company and that of the head of the production outfit, in the person of Tunde Kelani. He has come a long way in the film industry that we don’t have yet in Nigeria, anyway. What I am trying to say is let us assume that we want to talk about the film industry, Tunde Kelani can never be toyed with because he has done a lot. So, working with him was a huge experience that remains a memorable one for me.

Are there things you would say you learnt from him?

Yes, I learnt so much. Starting from the story itself, what it teaches and the direction of the story. Also, having him behind the camera was a huge one. I can’t begin to share all I learnt but I can tell you I did tap into his wealth of knowledge.

Has being a part of that production added anything to your brand?

I’d say working with Tunde Kelani will automatically give any actor additional leverage because he does not run a film production company that produces films every month.

His trade mark is there. So, if you work with or you are part of his cast, I believe it will add to your resume.

What has made you relevant in the industry over the years?

I would say consistency, not speed, because consistency and speed are two different things. I conform to consistency, and that is the essence of every brand. The ability to be visible and be there positively. When you are there and you are making an impact and not being there just because you want to be there. Examine the reason behind your action, ask yourself why you want to be part of a production. What leverage is it going to give you? And if you are not convinced enough to be involved, then, don’t do it.

Having got to this

19

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Body&Soul

arrogant do not know me -Yomi Fash Lanso level, what is it you are looking forward to as an actor?

There is this thing that is called ‘method acting’ and I think it might soon be coming to play via my films. Method acting is what I really crave but unfortunately, we are not at that level, probably because of the time frame in which we produce our films. It’s one area that is very challenging. For instance, before Spike Lee could get Halle Berry into that role in Jungle Fever, Halle Berry stopped taking her bath for like two weeks to really look the part. So, for me, I think that is the next level.

How have you been able to move with the trend?

It is a matter of getting yourself trained ceaselessly. I’d say everyone is an actor but we are called professional actors because we get paid. Also, I take note of things around me; how people react to issues; so, I am training myself.

I try to see the making of movies and do studies generally because you need to do all that to be informed since what is obtainable this year may not be the same next year. You need to always be on your toes and ready to learn.

On a lighter note, recently, in the spate of weeks, you bought a Prado SUV and Toyota car. What is the source of this newfound wealth?

My response is that I don’t do any other thing beside acting at the moment. I’ll say it is determination that makes things work out. People don’t know the stress and all you go through to work towards getting something but when they see it, they feel it has been a bed of roses.

Have you ever had a crush on any actress?

Crush… I think Bimbo Oshin. She’s one girl I really admire because of her ways.

Why didn’t you marry her?

Yeah, one thing I was fond of her until I got my wife was that when I liked a girl, I would take time to examine her and make sure it was not lust. So, I would not go and mess up the relationship. I never messed up a relationship until I married my wife, I never did.

So, maybe that’s why I did not go for her, but I did have a crush on her. We are both married now, but we used to joke about it.

What is the weirdest thing a female fan has done to you?

That’s a serious one. On this day, we went to a friend’s birthday party at a club in Ikeja GRA. My friends and I rode in one car since we were going to the same place. While the fun was on, one of my friends came to tell me, ‘See wetin one girl dey talk o,’ and before we knew it, the girl had come over and said I must sleep with her. As if that was not enough, she started making funny advances. I had to play a fast one on her and disappeared.

I hid in the car because she was serious about it. So, I think that’s the craziest I have seen.

Out of the roles you have played, which one do you consider most tasking?

No role that comes to me is not challenging; there is no role that is minute. I don’t see any role as more tasking

and may be it is part of my character.

For instance, as a lover boy, you must be able to provide some character to the name that will make it different from the one you have played before, that is the way I see it. So no role that comes to me is cheap. I take every role I get very seriously.

elsewhere tomorrow and he goes like, ‘Hey Fash, come’; ordering you around because he paid for your drink or something. Do you understand? The case is not that you don’t have the money, but he volunteered. When you now say ‘no’ to such moves, they would then say that Fash is arrogant.

When you are paired on set, what is it that brings the best out of you?

It’s simple. When you are working with a professional actor, you will flow, the thing will come out. But when you are paired with a green horn, it kills your mood.

You have been able to live without scandal.

How have you sustained it?

I would say it’s contentment. When you have contentment, you have everything. And s e c o n d l y, you don’t allow fame to get into your head.

If you allow fame to control you or get into your head, then it could spell

Who really is Yomi Fash when he’s not acting?

Fash is really a fun loving person. I like to be with my friends to discuss and forget about all the wahala of life. I also like to spend time with my family when I am not on set. I want to believe he’s just the guy next door. I am a very shy person, so I like to keep my head cool and try to be nice to people because I don’t like keeping enemies.

But some people are of the opinion that you are arrogant.

That accusation is not new to me.

Many people can testify to it that I am not like that. The problem with those who think I am arrogant is that they are not close to me. They don’t know you very well so they just jump to conclusion. I try as much as possible to be nice to my admirers, even when my mood is not too bright. But they don’t realise that some of them want you to idolise them, claiming they are the ones who buy your films. They expect so much, forgetting that we too are peoples’ husbands or wives and so we deserve some respect. You can imagine a scenario where someone meets you at a bar and he pays for your order. This person now sees y o u

doom.

Do you get carried away when acting romantic roles?

That will be very unprofessional of me. In fact, it will not happen to a normal person; apologies for that. But sincerely, it cannot happen to me because we have the camera men around, D.O.P, director and the rest of the crew, so you only act and get off.

What is usually your wife’s reaction when you watch one of your romantic scenes together?

Before now, she would complain about how I kissed a girl and all that, but she now handles such with much maturity.

She now understands better.

Politics seems to be one of the ‘in things’ among actors. Do you see yourself considering it someday?

I will not rule it out because if we keep saying they don’t do it right, and you and I have got one or two ideas, then why don’t we try to get there and inject these ideas to make the country a better place? One thing we all know is that this country is in bad shape, even with all the natural resources we are blessed with.

How costly is it for you to maintain your looks?

I don’t do anything more than the usual to achieve it. I just do everything in moderation and I thank God the little I do is yielding results.

You are a fashionable person. Where did you get that from?

First, I would say my DNA, may be I got that from my father and my mother. And I think I am also very interested in what I wear. I may not be keen on designers but whatever that fits me.

20

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Body&Soul with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

chibumah@yahoo.com

‘I walked the streets but I’m ready for marriage now’

K

athryn has longed to see how manly Dave is. Now she has an unfettered access to his ribbed torso. His Penistus Trouserius is a joy to behold...too endowed but she’s seen and taken all sizes in the course of her duty. So Dave’s is just okay for a lifetime romance.

She kneels and gingerly taps the neck of his PT and it lunges at her.

Impressive!

She gets down to business. She runs her tongue the whole length of his ramrod PT before taking him into her mouth. Dave shivers and moans.

At a point, he isn’t sure whether it’s her warm wet tongue or her feathery palms that are causing him to lose his mind.

The few times he was given head like this, they were done by professional escorts in Las Vegas.

“Who is this woman?”

He shut his eyes and moans.

Kathryn is lost. She feels like she’s rendering a professional service to a client. But this client is special. Her heart is involved, she’s not expecting any reward. Her whole being wants this man. She desires to pleasure him and she concentrates on doing just that. Her fingers feel like feathers as she kneads here, rubs there and generally turns him insane. When he is about to explode in her mouth, she runs a dull tooth on a particular vein at the base of his PT and the tension reduces a wee bit. She starts building him up again.

Only a professional can achieve this...

He stares at the nape of her neck -fresh and inviting. He touches it and an electric current runs through his body. A sound escapes his clenched teeth and she looks up and smiles.

Deftly, she springs up and finds his mouth in a flash, her hands all over him. He feels the twin mountains bobbing against his chest and every nerve in his body tingles.

Locked in that pose, he moves her to the dressing table inside which drawer he gropes with one hand until he finds it...a pack of sheaths.

She snatches it from his hand, picks one from the pack and goes down on one knee. She has dressed his PT with it before Dave realises what has happened.

Well, at this point, his mind is cluttered with just one business.

The bed seems so far away. So she goes on her knees on the lush rug and drags him with her. She wants to be in charge and he allows her.

She mounts, adjusts her derrière to take him deeper and begins the exciting ride.

Dave feels the two warm bulbous load rubbing gently on his face. He grabs them with his two hands and his mouth sets to work, drawing from the sweetness therein. Then she begins to sing a familiar love song quietly. Her sonorous voice reaches out to his soul while her derrière rock him to never land.

He has never seen or felt anything like this before. He hums along. Her voice rises...his also. They sing and rock...and get into a frenzy. They are singing so loudly as the bubble bursts for them together, disintegrating into tiny stars. They scream and scream as the spasms rock their bodies and subside.

She collapses on him and drifts into

dreamland. Wow! That was the best action a woman has given him till date! He drifts off to sleep too.

After about 30 minutes, he drifts back into consciousness. It’s past 11pm. She is sleeping peacefully beside him, her head resting on his chest. He props up on one hand and admires her...his trophy. His body is gearing up for more sport.

He traces his finger on her body and she stirs. He wakes her with a kiss.

His man is fully awake.

“My darling wife, where did you learn that?” Dave asks her gently.

She looks at him, lost.

“I mean, where did you learn how to take a man and defeat him sweetly?”

It takes her some minutes to reply him.

She raises her head from his chest and asks, “Do you want to hear the truth?”

“Yes,” he replies.

She hesitates a moment and says distinctly but quietly, “I was a professional escort for years. I retired about five months ago because I want a new life.”

“Professional what?” Dave asks, incredulous.

“Please tell me you are joking,” he begs.

“No honey, I ain’t joking. I just told you the truth. I slept with men for money. Now, I’m outta it. I’m living a decent life. I wanna get married and have kids. I’ve gone straight,” she says seriously.

Dave’s man goes limp and he moves away from her, unconsciously.

She understands his body movement.

She gets up and moves to the bathroom, picking her clothes off the floor.

Twenty minutes later, she is dressed.

“I’m leaving,” she tells him as she

picks up her bag.

“Okay, I’m so tired. I won’t be able to take you home,” he replies, moving to his wardrobe.

He picks a bundle of one thousand Naira notes and holds it out to her.

“For your cab home,” he says.

She smiles and says, “No dear. I’ve resigned. Moreover, we both enjoyed it. I hope your gateman will let me out?”

She walks out of the room. Mercifully, no one is in the sitting room.

She lets herself out and knocks on the door of the gatehouse.

The security man is surprised to see her come out alone. He looks behind her, no one. He glances at his wristwatch.

“Dave says you should open the gate for me,” she tells him cooly, admiring the exotic cars for the last time.

The man hesitates a moment, then opens the small gate and she walks into the cool, lonely night.

The street is empty. She shivers.

Thank God the street lights are on. ******* Dave pours himself an unhealthy shot of cognac.

“Kathy, a whore? OMG! No! How can? This must be a dream. He swigs the spirit in a few gulps and pours another.

“How could I have fallen in love with a whore? And I love her!”

He glances at the bedside clock and realises it is a few minutes before midnight.

“Oh no! How could I have allowed her to leave this late in the night?”

He calls the gateman through the intercom.

“Lock the gate, don’t allow her to go out,” he shouts into the mouthpiece.

“Oga, she has gone o,” the gateman replies, fear in his voice.

“WHAT!” He pulls a T-shirt over his boxers and runs downstairs. The gateman is shaking.

“Which way did she go?” he asks him, not noticing that the man is cowering.

“Oga I don’t know. I didn’t look out,” he says, barely audible.

“Open the gate!”

He runs out, first to the right. After a distance without any sign of her, he turns back on the empty street and moves to the left. About five minutes later, he sees her. She is entering a vehicle. It is not a cab!

“KATHY!” He shouts and runs towards them.

The vehicle pulls away.

He stops and watches as the rear lights of the car disappear around the corner. He walks back home, tired and angry. His first thought is to go to her house, but what if she doesn’t go home, or what if that man in whose car she is, goes home with her? Something pulls at the corner of his heart.

Jealousy! As he enters his room, he pours himself another large drink and picks his phone to call her. He still hasn’t taken her phone number!

Not again!

He wonders where she is now. What if that car belongs to an armed robber or worse still, a ritual killer?

He looks at his timepiece and panics.

“Why did I allow her to leave? Why didn’t I keep her till morning? ******

So, Kathryn is a retired professional escort?

Does that change anything? Keep a date with me next Sunday.

Send your observations to julietbumah@gmail.com

21

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Best ways to keep lipstick from fading Vanessa Okwara

W

e all wish for the picture-perfect lips of models in magazines -glossy, rich and perfectly applied lipstick. Most of us try our best at making our lipstick last longer but after a few hours, it fades, even the long lasting formulas. A perfect pout is a photo must, but with all the eating, drinking, and talking going on, how do we stand a chance?

Long lasting lipstick has been a goal of makeup manufacturers all over the world. While formula have changed and new colours are available, applying lipstick properly is one of the most effective ways to extend its lifespan.

To get lipstick to last on your lips, make sure your lips are healthy enough to absorb and keep colour.

Here are a few things you need to do to ensure that your lipstick stays longer than it usually does: Exfoliate. First, remove any

dead skin and make sure your lips are oil-free. Scrub your lips with the rest of your face while you’re in the shower in the morning. A gentle exfoliator will smooth over the flakes that come with dry and chapped lips.

Prep your lips. Lipstick wears best on a smooth surface, so gently buff your lips with a damp washcloth. Pat on a clear lip balm and give it a few minutes to sink in, and then blot with a tissue.

Dab a bit of foundation over the lips and lip line, which helps to fill in fine lines and gives a lip colour something to adhere to. This can be done in several ways. When putting on foundation, make sure to apply it over your lips as well or use concealer to prime your lips. This works especially well when using a nude lip colour.

Pencil it in. Lip pencil adds a layer of pigment and helps your colour last. Choose one that matches your lipstick -unless it’s very dark, in which case go one shade lighter. Trace the pencil lightly along the inside

edge of your lips, then fill in your mouth and blot. Using the side gives a softer application that’s easier to blend; look for a natural or nude shade that matches the colour of your lips.

Apply lipstick on top of lip liner. Some people prefer to apply lipstick with a brush/applicator but you can apply directly from the tube. Applying with a brush gives more precision and only a thin coat of lipstick is applied which doesn’t crack. Blot once with tissue and apply another layer of lipstick. Two thin layers will last longer than a one thick layer. Make sure you fill in all the gaps and corners. It’s also important to look for lip colour products designed to last substantially longer than usual. If you are wearing makeup for a special occasion, always tuck in a tube of lipstick or lip gloss in your purse for touch-ups.

For shine, apply lip gloss. Use a clear or coloured lip gloss if you want extra shine. Apply lip gloss only in the centre of lips and press together. Avoid the corners of lips.

22 AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

ew things in a woman’s closet are as comfy and versatile as a pair of leggings. It is a wardrobe staple, which is pleasantly multipurpose -dress up for work, dress down for beach, night on the town, glammed up, rock chic look, work out, etc.

The leggings are perfect to mix and match with several other pieces like over-sized tops, tshirts or sweaters, under short skirts or tunics. They often come in a mix of nylon and spandex fabric but there are other fabrics that can be made into leggings: leather, wool, silk, cotton, polyester, etc. These are fabrics that allow this garment to be a favourite in all seasons.

Jeggings are a variant of leggings. They are leggings that take certain attributes from jeans, such as colour and style. They are a mixture of the two and hence the adoption of the name ‘jeggings’. Some styles have taken the jean-like look to such lengths as adding faux pockets and faux zippers to add to the look.

With a pair of leggings, a blouse and fashionable blazer with pumps or courts, you are office ready (if your office’s dress code permits that).

You can style a camo-print leggings, white t-shirt with a rock icon on the front (possibly embellished with fringed details on the shoulder or sequins) and a pair of wedged hightops. Consider a black wet/leather-look leggings, red tee and black studded leather jacket and you have a gothic look.

Petite ladies should elongate their frames with a striped pair of leggings. Printed styles will work well with most body shapes but those with fuller thighs, butts and legs will look best in plain black.

Pear shaped women should avoid designs with details on the behind and around the hips because this will just lay emphasis on that area…unless of course that is your intention.

Whatever your style of the day

F

Biwom Iklaki

Leggy in leggings

Body&Soul

43

Hardball Amosun: Ogun people will re-elect me in 2015 p.28

biyi adegoroye, ASSISTANT Editor, Politics NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

AUGUST 31, 2014

Obiano

biyi.fire@yahoo.com

Tel: 08033024007

Interview Kwankwaso: Ribadu has made the biggest mistake of his life p.26

23

Politics ON SUNDAY

Victor Umeh

Chekwas Okorie

APGA's journey into oblivion

A

s everyone who had high hopes at the emergence of the Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) years back reads this piece, a requiem mass would probably be holding for what remains of the party. Ironically, at that mass, it is doubtful if anyone would drop any rose on the tomb stone, or have a blessing for those who drove the party to its grave.

Their anger wuold be that the prophecies, great expectations and hopes, especially among Ndigbo when APGA was registered as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on June, 24, 2002, had become a mirage.

Many saw the party as a special platform, on which they could seek political offices in a pluralistic Nigerian society after the demise of the Nigerian Peoples Party formed by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, which recorded some successes in the 1999 and the 1983 elections.

Though APGA recorded some successes especially in Imo and Anambra states,

Following the plethora of problems which have affected the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the past few years, TONY OKAFOR writes that a requiem mass might well be in the offing for a party which once held promise in the South-East

where it produced two governors and a number of lawmakers at the National Assembly, its fortunes have since nose-dived.

Its governor in Imo State has defected to the All Progressives Congress, while Senator Chris Anyanwu from that state has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.

As if that was not a devastating blow, in Anambra State, lawmakers like Uche Ekwunife, Victor Ogene, Hon. Cyril Egwuatu and Chris Azubuogu followed suit.

Like a last straw which broke the camel’s back, former governor of the state, Peter Obi, has also resigned as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, a situation

most people saw as a requiem for the party.

Obi said he resigned his position because the party prevaricated in ratifying his BoT appointment.

The initial vision

Chief Chekwas Okorie, APGA’s pioneer chairman and one of its founding fathers, saw the party as one that would propagate the beliefs and aspirations of the Igbo man, and indeed endear them to their fellow countrymen. He once said, “There is no doubt in the minds of Nigerians that I founded APGA as a political party. And it was out of great concern that since the Igbo was created as a race and we joined the

Nigerian union as a nation, no registered national political party has been registered based on the initiative of the Igbo. So, I felt that was an aspect of our politics that needed to be corrected urgently. It was not a knowledge that came to me over night, I had made an attempt in 1996, the party was not registered, in 1998, we made a second attempt, in 2001/2002, we made a third attempt and it was successful.”

Okorie noted that by that singular achievement, he got himself “into the history books as the first Igbo man to found a registered national political party in Nigeria. Two, the first Igbo man to become the national chairCONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Analysis

APGA's journey into oblivion C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

man of a registered political party, that also came with its own challenge to make sure that the thing didn’t fizzle out like most things other people started – newspaper associations that never materialised into parties. So, the challenge was there. When I got in, the few parties that were available, all politicians had taken one position or the other in them. So the field was not filled with politicians who were looking for where to go to, it was difficult to find people to make it up.”

In no time, notable Nigerians of Igbo extraction like late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu identified with the cause. In that process, Chief Victor Umeh and later Peter Obi and many others joined the party. Okorie became the substantive chairman and from 2003, he gave a healthy direction to the party.

Initial successes

Basking in the euphoria of the new broom, APGA fielded candidates in the general elections of 2003 - the late Ojukwu wore the toga of the party in that year’s poll as its presidential candidate and won about 3.3 per cent of the valid votes cast. In the National Assembly elections, the party won about 1.4% of the votes and two out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives. It did not win any seat in the Senate. But the party was happy with the level of participation and sense of belonging which the opportunity afforded it.

In the governorship poll in the state, the party put up a strong fight. Expectedly as the home state of the late Ikemba Nnewi, the party garnered mass support, but the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Dr. Chris Ngige of the PDP as winner of that year’s poll in the state. The situation brought about a long legal battle that has today become ‘locus classicus’ in the country’s legal system.

Peter Obi , the governorship candidate of the APGA in the election, won the matter both at the Election Tribunal and the Court of Appeal after about three years legal struggle.

Since no further appeals were possible, Obi was sworn– in immediately but was subsequently ‘impeached’ by the PDP-controlled House of Assembly, six months later.

APGA and Obi returned to court and successfully upturned the impeachment. The governor returned to his office in February 2007. In 2010, Obi was re-elected for another four years, thus stamping the party’s feet in Anambra State as an APGA state.

In 2011, APGA won the gubernatorial election in Imo State. This was further boosted by the support it received from some legislators at the National Assembly.

The hands of Esau

The first crisis in the party was when the presidency began to show interest in the leadership of the party. Some Igbo agents in the presidency prevailed on INEC to recognise a treasurer as chairman of the party. It got to a level that the then Secretary to Government of the Federation, Chief Uffot Ekaette, wrote a formal letter to then INEC Chairman, Dr. Abel Guobadia, to explain the situation in APGA leadership. Guobadia replied and stated that as APGA had not had a convention to change its leadership, Okorie remained the national chairman of APGA. According to Okorie, three months after, they waited for Guobadia’s tenure to end in May and Prof. Maurice Iwu came on board.

Okorie said, “Knowing that the presidency did everything to frustrate the registration of APGA and was therefore determined to destroy the soul of the party, the option left was for me to go to court. Before we knew it, the thing became more complicated. At the end of the day, we made about 25 attempts to reconcile, especially when the late Ojukwu’s role in the matter had become open and public.

So, I felt that the answer was reconciliation and there were 25 attempts and none yielded results. Some of these we initiated, some we pleaded with groups to initiate.”

Litany of legal battles

If there is any party that has been in and out of courts in the country in the last six years, it is APGA. First, it was over the leadership tussle between Chief Victor Umeh and Chekwas Okorie. This was much disturbing because Ikemba was a stabilising force in the party for a number of years. That case dragged to the Supreme Court.

Thereafter, they were both in open confrontation for a few years, until Okorie floated another political party, United Progress Party, to be in rivalry with him over a political space in the same area. Prominent members of

Obi

Maxi Ukwu

APGA believed that it was only Ojukwu who could have brought peace to the party. Ironically, he passed on, when his influence was most needed in the party.

APGA’s travails obviously began around 2004, when it somewhat looked impossible that the party could win its governorship election petition in Anambra State. Certain forces opted to trade off the party’s mandate to the government in power in the state under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Umeh, who was the national treasurer, stood firm against Okorie. Thus, he took over the challenge of ensuring that the APGA mandate of 2003 was rescued.

He quickly announced the expulsion of Okorie from the party, and took over as the national chairman with the backing of some stakeholders such as Ojukwu and Obi. The party was saved from an imminent extinction at very young age (two years after its registration).

However, since then, the party has been passing through recurring crisis, ocasioned by the influx of members who did not share the mission of its founders. The biggest blow landed on the party on February 7, 2013, when a faction of what was left of the original party, along with Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, joined three other parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shortly after Okorocha’s defection, Umeh and Obi fell apart just some months to the December 16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra State. Thus a convention was held in Awka by the Obi faction of APGA which purported to have ousted Umeh as the national chairman of APGA and ushered in Maxi Okwu, a lawyer, as the national chairman. Okwu’s tenure as the party’s leader died on arrival.

On April 8, the day he was elected, the Court of Appeal, Enugu, reinstated Umeh as the national chairman of the

party, following a suit by one Jude Okuli who had challenged Umeh’s tenure as the national chairman of the party.

The said Okuli and his ‘secret’ sponsors had argued at the Enugu High Court and got judgment that Umeh’s tenure had long expired.

They further contended that his (Umeh’s) reelection in 2011 ran foul of relevant sections of the party’s constitution. Justice Umezuliike who heard the case agreed with Okuli and sacked Umeh and his entire National working Committee (NWC).

But, upon Appeal by Umeh, the court reinstated him, and vilified both the lower courts and the litigant, describing them as “busy bodies on voyage of discovery.” But Okwu is still contending that his election at the April 8 convention of the party in Awka was in ordeer and authentic in law. When he (Okwu) somehow re-litigated the matter at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Adefarati gave him judgment, but the Court of Appeal also in Abuja had to quash that verdict recently and reinstated Umeh. However the matter is before the Supreme Court now.

The Obi/Okwu and Umeh crisis nearly caused the party to lose Anambra State in last year’s governorship election in the state if not for the quick intervention of stakeholders – including churches and the traditional rulers. Obi and Umeh had to 'kiss' themselves on national television to convince their followers that the 'war' had ended, thus, they united and worked together for the election of Obi’s successor, Chief Willie Obiano.

Barely eight months after Obiano’s election, it seemed as if the the party had commenced another round of war that might finally sing its nunc dimitis. Penultimate Sunday, Umeh broke his silence over the current travails in his party, calling Obi an ingrate who would always want to blow off the bridge after crossing it. He accused Obi of instigating the crisis in the party which culminated in the exit of four House of Representatives members of APGA in the state defecting to the PDP. According to Umeh, Obi was responsible for the seeming delay in ratifying his position.

He told journalists at a function at Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, last Sunday, that the party wrote several time to Obi for funds to enable the party to organise a convention during which, according to the party’s constitution, his (Obi’s) BoT chairmanship could be ratified. Obi allegedly systemically turned down the party’s request.

Sources also say Obi and his successor, Willie Obiano, have fallen apart. It is still inexplicable that a feud could arise between the two friends who had known themselves for several years as colleagues in Fidelity Bank where Obi served as chairman of the board and Obiano as Executive Director, Business Banking, before joining politics.

Umeh recently declared his intention to contest the 2015 senatorial election, while Obi is rumoured to be eyeing the PDP, at least to canvass support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the South-East in next year’s polls. Obiano is facing the reality of “executive exodus” from the party on whose back he rose to office.

Just some days back, a source in Government House, Awka told New Telegraph on Sunday that the governor himself might be turning his back on APGA, apparently to end the doubts on his support for the re-election of Jonathan in next year’s elections - but not so soon.

According to this source, Obiano is in dilemma over this decision, but it is an issue he is giving serious thought because of his political future. The source maintained that certain political detractors of Obiano in APGA are misrepresenting the governor before the Presidency. So, to end these deliberate misrepresentations and mischief, the governor may finally join the PDP. In what looks like a corroboration of this information, Obiano and his political associates have floated a pro-Jonathan campaign organisation known as Join Jonathan Journey (JJJ). The headquarters of the organisation is just a stone's throw from the Governor's Lodge in Amawbia near Awka, the state capital.

As a political tsunami sweeps APGA into the dustbin of history, hastened by its sickening intractable political leadership tussle, observers believe and a number of Igbo irredentists will never forgive the undertakers who sunk the boat for selfish reasons.

25

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Politics / Column

Ebola: Need to end discrimination

N

igeria, has no doubt received its share in the ravaging effect of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that continues to hit some African countries. As compared to the impact of the disease in countries like Liberia and Senegal, the country indeed has every cause to remain thankful but not celebrate with the level of success it has achieved in containing it.

From the index case that was imported into the country by Patrick Sawyer who has already been described as a 'mad man' in the words of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Liberian-American, we have witnessed no fewer than 13 issues of persons infected. Ordinarily, Nigeria's success story in handling persons infected with the virus as at Wednesday this week, was becoming a reference point, but for the fresh cases that have broken out in Port-Harcourt.

As succinctly presented by the World Health Organisation (WHO), unlike other diseases, one reported case of the Ebola in any part of a country is obviously, an epidemic. Unfortunately since its outbreak, the virus has hit not just Africa but even some advanced countries. The United States of America, Britain, the Philippines, Morocco and Brazil have also received their share of the dreaded disease.

Having realised the dangerous nature of the EVD and the need to halt its further spread in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan on August 9 declared Ebola as a national emergency with about N1.9billion approved for the Ministry of Health and its agencies to combat the disease head long and serve lives.

Interestingly, both the WHO and the United States have commended government's efforts at confronting the disease saying that Nigeria's response was a

Anule Emmanuel emmyanule@yahoo.com model for other affected countries to copy.

While the latest commendation came from the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday, two fresh cases unfortunately were on Thursday confirmed in Port Harcourt by the Minister of Health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu. But like the UN envoy Dr, David Navarro said during his meeting with President Jonathan at the presidential villa, there will always be outbreaks of dangerous diseases in the world because of globalisation and because we want freedom of movement between countries and between communities.

Since viruses also move from the animal kingdom to the human population, the ability to device means to tackle these disease when they break is more critical than the fear of them.

What is fast becoming of great concern particularly to citizens is not whether government does have the capacity to tackle the Ebola scourge, but the level of discrimination melted against Nigerians in other parts of the world over the existence of the disease. The sad event of Nigerian athletes and officials to the just concluded second Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China is one painful incident to remember.

That our athletes were quarantined,

isolated and barred from training alongside other athletes of the World on arriving at the competition venue without any trace or diagnosis of the virus on them is unacceptable. Such treatment to the athletes is best greatly inhuman.

Nigeria had prepared to feature in athletics, wrestling and beach volleyball, with 12 athletes.

The decision to withdraw Team Nigeria from the Games which was taken after a meeting with Sports Minister, Dr Tammy

...Still on grounded villa shuttle

F

or over two years now, the Villa Shuttle system that was adjudged efficient by visitors and workers alike has been suspended. First-time visitors to the Aso Rock especially, appreciated the free shuttle bus system in serene environment. Today, the buses are no more.

One is sure that Mr. President may not be aware of this development. What is certain however is that the provision of buses helped a great deal. It provided an organised system where most visitors, high profile dignitaries inclusive, did not necessarily need to drive right inside in their cars. The option was there to park outside at the car park.

IPAC and INEC’s code of conduct A INECDiary lthough Nigeria has 25 registered political parties, people often get to hear about only four of them . Even at the just concluded National Conference, only national chairmen of these four parties were nominated by the Federal Government to participate in the national dialogue.

The parties are: the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP). Today they dominate the nation's political landscape probably because their members were elected into the executive and legislative arms of government at both state and national levels.

The electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set up Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), to serve as a link between the commission and the registered political parties.

By implication, all the parties ought to be members of the body. And INEC should not deal directly with individual political party expect on matters that concern them but rather, through the IPAC. The council has elected executive. But either by design or by chance to do away with constituted authority if they can get what they want through another means, the weaker parties are allowed dominate the executive committee of IPAC. For instance, the National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yinusa Tanko is the National Chairman of National Conscience Party while the Secretary is Peter Ameh who

Onyekachi Eze

is also National Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). At most of the functions of IPAC, even the ones organised by INEC, the "big boys" rarely attend. And when it is incumbent for them to do so, they usually send their representatives, sometime aides of the party fuctionaries.

INEC has a code of conduct, which political parties registered with it supposed to abide with. But often times, these codes are breached by the "big" parties. One of the codes stipulates the amount of money to be spent by parties during campaigns.

This is regularly violated by the "big" parties, and nobody sanctions them.

At a three-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop organised by INEC in collaboration with the Democratic Governance for Development Project (DGD II), recently, Dr. Tanko regretted that ‘’when one political parties has an enormous opportunity to states’ resources and security for personal use it will create the room for other political parties to be used."

That has been the case. During the main

Danagogo, Nigeria Olympic Committee President, Engineer Sani Ndanusa and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye is commendable.

Now that Jonathan has come out openly in condemnation of any such discriminatory actions against Nigerian citizens in any part of the world over the Ebola disease, the international community must have no option but respect diplomatic protocols and treat out citizens with dignity.

The unambiguous fact is that Nigeria did not originate the disease. If Sawyer did not visit the country, one is sure that we would have be free of Ebola.

Rather than discriminate against Nigerian citizens, President Jonathan should rather introduce stiffer measures at the nation's entry and exit points to examine nationals particularly of those country are subjecting our citizens into unacceptable treatment.

ezekatchy@yahoo.co.uk

elections, and because the "smaller" parties lack the needed funds to sponsor their campaigns, they become a pun in the hands of the "big" parties. They have no alternative than to "adopt" the candidate of any of the big parties as theirs.

Since INEC had stopped giving annual grants to the parties, the cost of electioneering rests on few individuals within the parties, while the big parties have money bags that are ready to bankroll their campaigns at any time.

IPAC is not only asking for the restoration of party funding but that 0.5 per cent of the nation's annual budget should be set aside for the political parties' funding, not only to lessen the burden but also to make democracy thrive in the country.

The fund, he said, must not necessarily go to the political parties as it were, but go to the technical areas of electioneering. "Once we are able to differentiate this type of expenditure and tie it down to electoral processes, it gives room for a balanced situation", he added.

The other aspect of the code that is often

The 18-seater buses usually commenced operation on week-days as early as 8am to close around 6pm, conveying both visitors and staff into and around the premises.

Presidency officials may have their reasons for grounding the buses, but the system does more good than the disadvantage. At least, vehicular traffic can be reduced to the barest minimum. For staff in the lower cadre, it is more than a nightmare currently. They would trek long distances when on errand. If the decision to halt the system came as a result of systemic failure and poor management, the consensus among workers currently is that the buses are returned.

violated by the big parties is the one concerning electioneering campaign. The law stipulates that no political party should commence campaigns for elective office earlier than 90 days before the election.

But the big parties have not adhered to this. Though the 2015 general elections are some six months away, these parties have already started subtle campaigns.

They have been holding rallies in major cities and towns, which they tagged "sensitisation" or 'National Unity Rallies" while the streets are adorned with posters and billboards of their supposed candidates for the general elections.

The electoral body has not only been "studying the situation" but it has kept a loud silence over this. In another breath, INEC said since there was no message like "vote for 'Mr. A', the rallies, posters and billboards do not amount to campaign.

Tanko said that IPAC has set up a committee to monitor parties which disobey regulations governing campaigns for elections and libelous advertisements.

He even boasted that anybody who tries to contravene this aspect of the law will be referred to the appropriate committee with a view to recommending necessary sanctions and punishments "because we are not an organization that cannot bite.

We are committed to making sure that the right thing is done."

One, however, wonders if the council has the power to sanction any of these big parties when they violate the law, especially now that not even INEC could do that.

26

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Interview

Kwankwaso: Ribadu has made Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in this interview, addresses some issues under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, and the defection of former presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the last election, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the Peoples Democratic Party.

MUHAMMAD KABIR was there

Kwankwaso

W

hat is your view on the rumbles in the National Conference over the endorsement of a new Constitution?

In my last chat with you, when I mentioned the issue of new constitution and the conference, many people thought it was a joke; but this is a very bitter reality. Today immediately after Council meeting, I received so many calls from northern delegates at the National Conference in Abuja that the issue of new Constitution 2014 is now a reality in the confab. Of course, all the people who love this country and really understand the situation we are today, and the likely consequences of another brand new Constitution which Villa wants to use to start eight years, beginning from 2015, certainly know that it a very dangerous development.

Let me use this opportunity to thank all those who have rejected the issue of new constitution, let us also take the opportunity to thank the National Assembly because they were the ones that have received an earlier plan, earlier efforts by those at the Villa to have one single term of six years beginning from 2015, which they rejected. Now, in a way of trying to succeed, they are smuggling it into the confab.

Now, I believe that the delegates, whether

from the North or from the South, whether they are Christians or Muslims, whether Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa or any other tribe should help in rejecting that Constitution, because that will not help in this country, it will not help the orphans and it will not help anybody in this country. That is why we told our delegates very clearly that they owe a duty for this country by rejecting that new Constitution. We have seen some of the things contained in the new Constitution, especially, they are on the papers, the issue of six-year single term has already resurfaced after it was kicked out like polio and Ebola by the National Assembly. And the issue of 50 per cent derivation, the scrapping of 774 local governments, listing additional 18 states, and limiting of ministers to 18.

The only good thing that I saw here is the limiting of ministers to 18.

Now, we only hope that those who are pretending to be representing us there in Abuja will have no place when they will come back or remain there; we will send them to the Almajiri Schools that were being built by President Goodluck Jonathan. And I believe that all of us should come and join hands to save this country. It is difficult to know their thinking in Abuja. I think they are too much, too high in the air, they don't know what is happening on the ground. The story of the higher it goes, the cooler it becomes, maybe,

it applies to the situation in Abuja today. Those that are very high are in very cool atmosphere, while the masses, the people of this country are very much suffering from poverty. Illiteracy is killing this part of the country; and of course, the issue of insecurity. Every day, people are being killed and maimed, everyday, properties are being destroyed. As we are sitting here, displaced Nigerians in Borno are now taking refuge in the forest, many of them are in Cameroon, many are in Chad, and also thousands are in Niger Republic; now what we are talking here is to extend the tenure of Jonathan to life presidency!

It is very sad that this thing is happening now and I am one of those that have travelled across the world or have the opportunity to read a lot; the Nigeria's history, geography and of course, political situation across the world. What is happening today in Nigeria, if 10 per cent of it can happen anywhere, that leadership cannot stand; and it is very dangerous for all of us. We are very happy here with what we are doing for the people of the state; but we are very angry because we have read the minds of our people because they are not happy with what Villa is doing, we have never seen anything like this from this part of the country; and they seem not to care, they seem not to understand, they are very busy in the air, working for themselves and helping them-

selves to steal forever. I always remind people that when the offspring happened in the NorthEast, little did many people know that one day, it will come to this part of the country. We have it here, it is also in the North-Central, and now it is crossing over to the South. I am sure that you are aware that some parts of this country now have flags other than green-white-green. This is terribly ugly and unprecedented. It is up to us to appeal to our delegates and Nigerians to resist the temptation of the so-called dollars people are distributing in Abuja to come and save this country. Any Constitution rather than the 1999 Constitution should be rejected because anything less than that is an instrument designed by those who think it will help them, but it will not.

As a major player in the opposition, what steps are you likely to take to ensure that this new Constitution does not see the light of the day?

One of the steps is what we are doing here. We want to make our position very clear to them and the entire world, especially, our friends across the world that we believe that what is happening now is very dangerous not only in Nigeria, but for our neighbours; and I believe the consequences will cut across the continent. That is why I thought I should use this opportunity to appeal

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Politics / Interview

the biggest mistake of his life to all Nigerians to shun away from the division tendency that we are seeing from Abuja- the division of North and South, the division of Christians and Muslims, the division on the issue of tribe, division everywhere. That is the keyword.

The keyword now is divide-and-rule, and I don't think that will help. And from the information I have which is not correct--that many people are saying those who are not supporting the new Constitution are the minorities and that whether they like it or not, tomorrow, they will push it to Nigerians; and the next thing is to start a kangaroo referendum. They will cook the figures like they did in Ekiti and force themselves on us. I don't think that is good enough. I appreciate the elasticity of Nigerians, but I think that elasticity has a limit. When you keep on pulling and pulling, there will come a time when it will not take anymore. That is why I think the good people of this country should speak because some of the consequences, as many people are now seeing will affect everybody.

Your party, the APC just won the Osun governorship election. What do you think your victory is signaling ahead 2015 general elections?

Well, my party has been elections. My opinion and the opinion of my party is that we won the Ekiti governorship election; and I think that is why the party is in court. The experience that we had in Ekiti worked for us in Osun because people came en mass and defended their votes and that is exactly what is going to happen in 2015. People will vote, and not only vote, they will stay and defend their votes. Let me thank the social media. Those who have cooperated with us and those who have supported us as a party and that made it very difficult for anybody to change the real figures. I they had done that in Ekiti, I am sure they wouldn't have had the chance to rig us out. But to us, the Ekiti experience is a lesson; and also that of Osun, we have learnt from our mistakes. INEC is improving and I hope the security agencies should also improve. We always tell them that instead of militarising Ekiti and Osun with mass security agents, they should go to southern Borno and do their job there so that we can have free and fair elections, and also on the other hand, have a peaceful country.

So, we are happy that people of Osun and Ekiti came en mass to vote for APC, and I am sure, given an opportunity again, especially in Adamawa where they want to use the executive power from Abuja to force Nyako out of office because of his opinion, I believe that when the election comes, people will come out en mass and support APC so that we can have peaceful North-East, free from what we are seeing now as emergency in the state and other states in the North-East, so that people can continue their normal businesses, people can come down from the rocks and hills and forests to go to their towns and villages. In that part of the country nobody is talking about education, nobody is talking about agriculture, nobody is talking about business, people are talking about survival - what to eat and how to see tomorrow. These are the things that, by the grace of God, APC will provide in 2015.

From what is happening, there are indications that 2015 may be violent. What are your prayers?

Our prayers are not only about 2015. We are also praying for this president to take the ship to the shores in 2015. I think we are more concerned about that because the way things are going now, the way people are dying, the way people are being kicked out of their homes; when we are seeing the picture, I believe it is not the best; and I believe that Nigerians are being taken for granted. And we hope that 2015 is going to be peaceful and we will do everything possible to ensure that it is peaceful from our own end because we believe that everybody wants a united Nigeria where

Kwankwaso

an Igbo man will continue to stay in Kano. You know here in Kano, we have what we call New Enugu. If you go close to airport, you will see a whole area that we called New Enugu. It is looking like any part of Abuja. We are very happy that we have them here; and we hope one day, we will have New Kano in Enugu, New Kano in Port Harcourt, New Sokoto in Adamawa, and so on and so forth. Here we are working to integrate our people, here we are together as Muslims and Christians, Hausa, Igbos, Yorubas-we are one and the same. We are all Nigerians.

That is what we want in this country and that is the best way we can have peace. Otherwise, by the time every party like they are doing begins to divide, I don't think that it will be good. During democracy, all this tendencies tend to go down; while unity of people based on political parties will come up and that is why I preach that we all should see ourselves as brothers irrespective of our religion or where we come from.

Former presidential candidate of the defunct CAN and former Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has defected to the PDP. Why is your party unable to stop him?

Well, I have heard the rumour and we read it in newspapers and watch it on the television; and I don't want to believe that that is correct or that is true. But I want to say that if that becomes a reality--it is, indeed a big disappointment to Nigerians. People ordinarily will think that my brother, Nuhu Ribadu is a principled person; somebody with good ideology, somebody who is progressive; somebody who is always working towards the unity of this country; and above all, I remember during his days as the chairman of EFCC, he has done so much to deal with corruption.

As we are moving deep into democracy, water is taking its level; people are moving in and out of parties, meaning that people with similar ideologies are coming together. Unlike 1998/99 when we were forming parties to deal with the military and install democracy, everybody from all ideological tendencies came together. Now that we have gone deep into democracy, we are looking at our shoulders to say who is close to who and who is on the other side; and that was why some of us left the PDP to join our brothers and sisters who have the same ideology with us--and that is to bring about the desired change in this country. Now, for him who was, in my opinion, in the right place and together with the

I don't think that is good for him and I don't think that is good for the country. At the end of the day, if that happens, God forbid, he will be the biggest loser. He will lose because he joined a group that most of them were jailed by him progressives, if he should just leave because he is looking for position or he is looking for a ticket to contest election, I don't think that is good for him and I don't think that is good for the country. At the end of the day, if that happens, God forbid, he will be the biggest loser. He will lose because he joined a group that most of them were jailed by him. I don't think they will ever want to see him there but in politics, there is this accommodation of people that they will bring you close, raise you up and dump you. At the end of the day, they will laugh at you and say, ‘look at him now. If Ribadu is joining PDP, whether he wins election or not, he will be the biggest loser.’ People can't believe that all what we said about him was completely wrong. The biggest punishment for a politician is for him to be in a wrong place; because if he goes there, by the time they are talking about how to share $20 billion, I don't think he will be happy if he is the kind of person I use to know; unless he was just deceiving all of us. I don't think Nuhu Ribadu will make that mistake because if he does, it will be the biggest political mistake of his life.

Somebody like Fani Kayode is gone from APC, now it is Nuhu Ribadu. What have you done to stop Ribadu and does it not worry you that people considered to be highly placed in the APC are defecting at this time?

Well, it doesn't worry me at all. It is something that we should expect. I wasn't in APC. I left PDP because I realised it was not a place that I should be; and that was why I moved. And of course those who were in ACN, CPC, ANPP and APGA who are now in APC, they would have moved and don't forget we are dealing with a government that has accumulated so much money to the extent that they see everybody and attach price tag on him. I believe that not everybody will be on this side and stay long including your humble self - and maybe, they don't know you,

otherwise, when they start dangling some dollars, you begin to wonder whether you stay or go. That is not the issue; the issue I believe is the people. The issue is the people. Some of us are lucky in the sense that we have so many people behind us. So, we are so heavy that it is not issue for us to be flying from one pole to another. And once we decide to do it, we do all the arithmetic, we do all the calculations that are necessary so that we can go with almost 100 per cent and that is what we have done here in Kano. So, there is limitation, but those who align to it - it is very simple because they believe that their wives and children are behind them. It is very easy for them to change position. You see, in politics, you don't sit down and start looking around and be chasing luck. Where can I get it? Create it!

Stay where you are and work hard. You don't have to win elections all the time. I contested elections 12 times (including primary and secondary elections), and I lost one - that is the general election of 2003. It was a big lesson to me. I learnt so much, I was humbled and I am very proud of that particular election - one out of 12; because I believe any politician who has never won election or never lost election or only had one---that to me is not a complete politician. You need to win, you need to lose election; with that, you have to know how to manage success, you will have to know how to manage failure. And we cannot do anyone of them, if you are not lucky to find yourself in both experiences. That is the position under which I believe that we will continue to work together as progressives so as to make this country better for all of us.

What is the APC doing to ward off impeachment of APC governors using the state Houses of Assembly?

It is unfortunate that so many mistakes are being made by the leadership of our party in Adamawa State. They got it very easy there; and that is why they wanted to replicate the same thing using security agencies, using money, using all sorts of things - intimidation, blackmail. I am happy that it failed in Nasarawa State; and I want to congratulate the young men and women who have decided to chase away the state Assembly members.

I am very happy that they chased them out and I hope they chased them far to where they belong - that is the Villa. That is good for them because I don't believe that they have the state in mind, I don't believe that they have the country in mind. What they want was what they saw in Adamawa. Now, if you have to amend the constitution of Nigeria, I think the people should check this area of the state Assembly impeaching governors for themselves.

A Speaker in his own is sacking a governor who was elected by over 20 local government areas, go give to himself who was elected by only one local government areas I think these are the things that should be changed in the Constitution at the appropriate time. I mean these weaknesses that Abuja is exploiting. So, I hope this does not work anywhere because people are beginning to call the man (President Jonathan) Mr. Impeacher; and that is not a good name for somebody at that level. There are many other issues in addition to that. Look at what is happening in Edo State; look at what is happening in Rivers State. As long as you are an APC Governor, you are standing the risk of being attacked by the EFCC, security agents, just because you are not in PDP; but no matter how big a crook is in PDP, he is being sheltered, he is being protected. Everybody is behind him, he is getting the clap that he should continue, that he is doing well; and that is why many people, especially with those tendencies cannot stand any other place rather than going under him for protection.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Hardball

Ogun people will re-elect Almost at the end of his first term, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, delivers his scorecard and explains some knotty issues about his administration's style and projects as well as his relationship with one of his predecessors, Chief Olusegun Osoba. BIYI ADEGOROYE reports excerpts of the interview with a team of editors

H

ow well are you combining all the various infrastructural development projects embarked upon by your administration with what is now known in the South-West as politics of stomach infrastructure?

I will continue to maintain my position that it will be an insult on our people to reduce governance to the distribution of kerosene and rice. It is an insult that will undermine the memory of the great leaders that our state has produced. While I agree that governance is about the people but it cannot be reduced to that level.

The problem is that over the years, governments have failed and poverty has escalated.

Successive governments have not applied any holistic approach to providing succour to the people. Certain solutions that are needed to address the issue of unemployment have been neglected or ignored. One of such solutions is the provision of electricity. The issue of unemployment is widespread and that makes poverty to escalate in the land. The unemployed in Ogun State will be close to 500,000 because of the presence of many higher institutions in the state and that is very bad for us.

We have to go back to the basics and address those issues that brought us to this sorry pass. We should start creating wealth for the people. It is not about giving them fish but teaching them how to fish and create the enabling environment for them to be productive.

The poverty level is too high and it won't be tackled by distributing rice. I give rice too. Yes, I give rice to people during festive periods and I have been doing that long before I started playing partisan politics. It is not to be giving rice to secure votes during elections. That is bad. That is fraudulent. That is an insult to our people.

But the fact remains that the unemployment rate is too high. That is what we need to address as government. Unfortunately, many of these issues rest with the Federal Government.

When we came in, we said we wanted to employ 10,000 people for civil service jobs but close to 70,000 people applied. In fact, at a point we had to stop allowing people to apply because it was simply over-

Amosun

whelming. Recently, we announced that we would recruit 2000 environmental marshals and over 50,000 people including doctorate degree holders applied. That is dangerous for us as a nation. We are giving too much stress to our youths. The government must put in place a holistic approach to addressing the issue of poverty.

What lessons did you learn from the Ekiti governorship election?

I disagree that the good people of Ekiti voted the way they did because some people gave them rice. The people of Ekiti are very educated. There must be some other things that happened that people are yet to know and appreciate. We have some lessons we have picked from the Ekiti episode which we have reflected here.

What are you then doing to address the issue of poverty and unemployment?

In Ogun State, what I am doing is to provide the enabling environment through solid infrastructure for industrialists to come to the state.

We are doing this by working on our financial base. I inherited an IGR of N730m in 2011 and with the help of God we are now on an average of N5.2bn per month. We attained this level without inconveniencing our people. We have to think out of the box to generate money and with the aid of God, we have been successful so far. This is why we have been able to do so many things to improve the welfare of our people. We realise we need to attract investors to Ogun State. I am happy to say there are 58 new companies now in Ogun State and more are still coming. We go out of our way to invite the companies to come to Ogun State. Ogun State is now an industrial hub. We are the largest industrial base in Nigeria presently. Interestingly, as those companies come in, they employ our people and we try to reduce unemployment. Again, we have many youth empowerment programmes aimed at creating entrepreneurs out of our youths. Our Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Women Affairs and Social Development, Community Development and Cooperatives, Agriculture, Vocational Education Board as well as the Uplift Foundation run by the Wife of the Governor have many entrepreneurial

development programmes aimed at making youths self employed and becoming employers of labour.

What is the contribution of the agriculture sector to the efforts to rebuilding the economy of Ogun State?

Our agriculture policy is maturing now. I can say that we have some 3000 youths who are in the agriculture sector. We have a partner in the Bank of Industry which is providing the finance. We have a graduate agricultural scheme in all the three senatorial districts. We give you land and money and implements and you are encouraged to employ some people to assist you too. We have 16, 409.26 square kilometers of land, 80 percent of which is arable. So, we know that if we strategise properly we can have a comparative advantage in agricultural production Lagos even came to request for 1,000 hectares of our land to cultivate rice in Eggua and we too have 10,000 hectares to cultivate rice in the same area. It is a healthy competition going on in Eggua now. Our people there are being employed and the local economy of that area is being positively affected. We also have a cassava farm in Ibiade and we are about to start planting on a 20-hectare cashew farm in Afon. Our Green House technology farm in Kotopo is already producing pepper and tomatoes that are already being sold in the market. Our intervention in the areas of poultry, fishery and piggery are also yielding fruits.

We have rice mills ready and I must mention too that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, is assisting us too in all these measures.

Today in cassava production we are number one in Nigeria.

Cassava is one reason why some companies are coming into Ogun State. Our goal is to feed Lagos, house Lagos a n d

clothe Lagos.

We are working on housing too. Already, we have four housing estates that are about 80 percent completed. They include the Orange Valley, Plainfields, both in Oke Mosan in Abeokuta, AAK Degun MITROS Estate, Laderin and OPIC Estate, Agbara. There are two others in Makun and Isheri that are about to begin. In Nigeria, everybody struggles to buy land, build houses and get Certificate of Occupancy but do they do that in UK or USA? No, it is not like that. There are houses for whatever category of income one belongs to, once you are in that society. Our own situation is because government has failed in the area of housing and there cannot be a vacuum. People can’t stay in the open; they must get land and build for themselves.

Government seems to have surrendered. And

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Politics / Hardball

me in 2015, says Amosun it is a shame. People now build anything even without planning.

Our re-election will be achieved, by God's grace and with the support of the people. Go and write it down. But I must say it is in the interest of everybody that we are united

The ongoing Sango-Ojodu Road is causing inconvenience to the residents. When do you hope to complete the project?

We had to make the Sango-Ojodu-Abiodun Road a six-lane road because we plan for a light rail system that will pass through that area. Initially, it was to be a four-lane road but we had to re-plan and re-design it. It was to cost N40bn then and now it is to cost N70bn. We do not have the money. So, we are constructing it in phases but we will construct it over a period of three and a half years. It is a huge investment but we will install toll gates on it to recoup the investment.

The demolition of structures for road construction is a bold effort. How have you handled the fallout and payment of compensation?

There has been failure of governments over the years but the role of a governor is to be fair and just. In our urban renewal drive, we have reasons to demolish some structures to give way for the roads we are to build. In the first of such roads that we completed, the Ibara - SokoriTotoro Road, five structures that had to do with members of my family were affected. Three belonging to former President Olusegun Obasanjo were initially affected. When we moved to the fourth building owned by the former President, Baba called me to ask if I was planning to run him out of town and I said, 'No, we are trying to reorder things'. But today Baba prays for me because we didn’t demolish the structures and leave the work undone. Several kilometres of road and bridges are being built across the state to raise the infrastructure profile of our state and attract investors.

When we started, a lot of people were unhappy with us and called us several names. Even some party people said it would sink the party.

But today, they have seen the reason why those structures must give way to the roads. They have seen the work that is going on and people appreciate it.

We give compensation to home owners whose properties were affected, irrespective of whether you have the necessary documents. This is Ogun State and we recognise that we cannot subject our people to the conditions attached to such an exercise in other places. So, we have to pay compensation. What we do in some instances is to build completely new houses for some very old very vulnerable people whose homes were demolished.

The abuse by some people over these tough decisions doesn’t have an impact on me. I usually plead with our people that you cannot make an omelette without breaking an egg. I take inspiration from the fact that Pa Obafemi Awolowo was thoroughly abused when he commenced the construction of the 25-storey Cocoa House building in Ibadan. Women took to the streets to protest. Today, that building defines the landscape of the whole of Ibadan and the whole of Yorubaland. One should not be deterred by criticism if you are sure of what you are doing and you have your eyes on history.

There are accusations by the opposition that the cost of your road construction is too high and that you are borrowing heavily to fund the construction work.

All the roads we are constructing are of world standard and the cost is the lowest in Nigeria. I challenge anyone to investigate this claim and prove me wrong. We deliver high quality at low cost to the people of Ogun State. Our Ogun Standard roads come with six lanes minimum, and there are eight to 10-lane boulevards. There are drains on both sides, walkways, median, street lights, green areas and bus stops. Those who cannot comprehend the financial management strategy that is helping us to handle all these completed and ongoing gigantic projects are the ones shouting about phantom N300bn loans. Our debt profile hovers between N37bn and N40bn because we pay back regularly and I want to challenge those who cry about N300bn loan to provide the names of the banks where they have helped us to secure such loans.

Amosun

Tell us more about your Home Ownership Charter Programme We put in place the Home Ownership Charter because we realised that a lot of people had built homes without relevant approval and papers. It wasn’t to demolish any structure. It is a scheme aimed at empowering our people, putting higher values on their property and helping to generate enumeration statistics.

In areas like Magboro, Aseese and many of our border areas that are unplanned in that axis, we appreciate that past governments abdicated their responsibility and that was why people built in the manner they did. We plan to do something called ‘envelope development system'. That means development that will take the peculiarity of that particular area into cognisance and try to fashion out some order in the prevailing disorderliness.

There was a master plan for Ogun State. Even my predecessor reviewed it but didn't use it. The largest limestone belt in West Africa is along the Sagamu-Papalanto belt. It is in the master plan and yet what do you have over the limestone deposit now? This housing estate, that housing estate. I cannot understand why people will see the right thing and decide to do the wrong thing.

But my own plan is to deliver quality houses for our people to the extent that becoming a house owner won’t be a problem. Some people told me that the houses in the estates we are building in Abeokuta would be taken over by Lagos people. I said it would never happen.

Nobody will buy the houses and lock them up.

They must be occupied. They will have to come and be living in them. But we have to be ready to change the way we lived in the past.

As a result of her multi-border nature, Ogun State is prone to security challenges. What have you done to address the problem?

Only two states are investing in security more than Ogun State in Nigeria today. These are Lagos and Rivers States. We met 19 rickety Hilux vans provided for the use of the police when we came in 2011. Today, we have over 300 brand new Hilux vans equipped with communication facilities. We have 13 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) in place today. No state in Nigeria has the type of APC we have. It is a 2011 technology, the very latest technology from the USA. Some people wrote a petition to EFCC saying that we had approval for eight APCs and ended up buying 13. They said we had the intention of stealing and that was why approved only eight at the State Executive Council in the first instance. I said this is ridiculous. It is if I collected money for 13 and bought eight that I think I

would have committed an offence. A local supplier brought eight APCs for us and I took the entire Executive Council to inspect them. Then, one police officer called our attention to the failings of the APCs that were brought to us. We quickly sent them back to the suppliers and proceeded to import our own APCs from the USA. We were advised that if we were buying 10, the manufacturers would reduce the price and so instead of the eight that we approved, the money was enough to buy 10. And due to the exigencies of the time when banks could not open in the whole of Ogun East Senatorial District, we had to fly the APCs into the country. Even at that, we were able to bring them into the country at a very low cost. We were initially about to charter a plane to fly seven of them simultaneously into the country immediately but someone advised me that it would be cheaper to bring them into the country in piecemeal. That advice again saved money for us to be able to buy more APCs. Happily, when I was asking for a waiver from the President, I asked for 13 not eight. The cost of our own APCs compared to the one anyone has is far cheaper. I am not a thief. I have my family name to protect. We have 56 Divisional Police Officers. We fund the operations of those Hilux vehicles and those APCs. We give allowances to policemen and soldiers in our security outfits.

When we came, banks were all closed but due to the measures we put in place, all banks are today working in Ogun State. Some people try to sabotage the APCs but we always get around it. They planned to mess us up but God is in control. My own goal is to provide security for the people of Ogun State. Before we came, night life was almost zero, now people can move around even at night and night life is back in the state.

Properties of our people are now well secured.

We have not got there yet but we are on the correct route and we are not stopping.

Why did your administration abandon the cargo airport project?

When the project was conceptualised in 2004, the Expected Date of Delivery was to be December 6, 2006. The people of Ogun State were happy that we are about to get to Eldorado. But by the time the former governor left office in 2011 nothing was done and billions of naira had been supposedly committed to the project. I want to revisit the project and continue with it but we can’t even see the plan they have for it. We can’t see anything on the ground and they even left debt on it. Ituah Ighodalo is one of those we are still owing some money over the project. Some people have even dragged us to court over the debt arising from the project. They obtained injunctions that nothing must be done until the case is dispensed with.

But the good news is we have a plan for a cargo airport in the state. In the 1940s, there was the World War II and there was an airstrip in Alamala Army barrack which was used by our colonial masters. The place is already revived and fenced with some preliminary work already done by the Federal Government on it. My predecessor knew of this airstrip but looked the other way.

The beauty is that the cargo airport will still go ahead. But you cannot say you are doing an airport when there is no road. The road that leads to the airport is one of the roads Papa Obafemi Awolowo constructed. It’s in a very bad state. The Federal Government is actually working on one cargo airport in Wasinmi and they should have completed it really but I don’t know why they have not because money was voted for it yearly.

Why was it difficult to resolve the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) crisis before you ordered the closure of the school?

In a more decent environment, my predecessor would not be in this state and be walking around freely, grandstanding and spreading false information to cover up the obvious lack of planning manifest in the administration he headed. In one fell swoop, he created four tertiary institutions and raised the number of tertiary institutions owned by Ogun State Government to 10. Even Lagos, with all the money, has just five. He then funded them for two months and stopped and then accumulated debts of unpaid salaries and subventions. We came in and inherited all manners of debt. In Olabisi Onabanjo University alone, he left a debt of N1.8bn. For eight years, the OOU couldn't hold any convocation because they couldn't process results of students. We had to clear all the backlog of unpaid salaries and allowances. We held a convocation for over 40,000 graduates in one fell swoop. Every governments around us have three, four or five but Ogun State must fund all its 10 institutions. He himself funded the schools for just two months and stopped and allowed debts to pile up.

The students of OOU are being used and can sometimes be very mischievous. I know what I said during my campaigns in 2011 because I have all my campaigns on tape. When I was campaigning, I promised to reduce the tuition fee by 60 per cent. The following day after I publicly made the promise, he reduced the tuition fee by 50 per cent to take the wind off our sail. I then promised to reduce the tuition fee by 10 per cent and I did that immediately I assumed office.

We give over N600m to each of the schools every month. When you multiply that by 12, you will get N7.2 billion. That is what we spend yearly on tertiary institutions alone.

What is the subvention payable by Lagos every month?

He really caused havoc in this state. He set booby traps all over the state. For instance, he increased the pension of the retired permanent secretaries in the state civil service from N40,000 to N400,000 after his party lost the election and refused to pay the retired permanent secretaries. I got to office and that was what I was paying. I have had to be paying the N400,000. He was paying N40,000 and increased it to N400,000 and I have been paying that.

He stopped paying gratuities to retired workers since 2007. Recently, I realised that we still had some people who hadn’t collected gratuity despite the N26bn we had spent on that sector. So, we investigated the situation.

We discovered that he stopped paying in December 2007. We were made to clear 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 arrears. It means that if he hadn’t owed those years, Ogun State Government won’t be owing any gratuity to its retirees. It’s unfair that some people will work and not be paid their entitlements when they retire. We still have some N7bn to be up to date in gratuity payment but that is where we found ourselves. He left debt everywhere and I have been clearing debts all these years.

To return to the OOU issue, the government reduced tuition fees in all its tertiary institutions, even up to 61 per cent in some cases, depending on which school they are studying. Students from nine institutions came and thanked me, but their colleagues in OOU said they want further reductions and that the new school fees regime must commence immediately. Against all advice from security agents, I went to address them. I saw some of them in hood like those SSS operatives used during the recent Osun State election. I wonder why a student will be in hood. When it became obvious that all our explanations and efforts to make the students see reason fell on deaf ears and that they were bent on fomenting crisis like they did on August 15 when they CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / National

We'll handle Mimiko’s return with caution’ Benson Enikuomehin, a lawyer, is a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain and former Commissioner representing Ondo State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In this interview with BABATOPE OKEOWO, he spoke on the planned defection of the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko from LP to PDP, implications of frequent defections on the nation’s polity, his projections for 2015 polls and other issues

W

hat do you make of the planned defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko and some lawmakers from Labour Party to People’s Democratic Party?

The scenario is very dicey, because his coming can be seen from three ways- namely to enhance the success of the party, or on the other hand, to come with his team to fuse his men into the party in order to dislodge party structures already in place. The third scenario might be that his coming can make the populace not embark on protest vote against the PDP in the state because since he assumed office for the second term, his policies have been anti-people and can be our albatross. People have become angered by those policies.

You see, I was his returning officer in the last election, so I know him. He is such a person when he says ‘good morning,’ you will need to take a second look at your watch. PDP primaries will come up very soon, and he might just come in to place his people in strategic positions and you know some of his commissioners are not even acceptable in their local government areas. The imposition might lead to another defection crisis.

That is our fears. If we go into election in Ondo State today, the PDP will come first, APC second and LP third. With his defection now, and his anti-people policy, the people might embark on protest vote to the benefit of the APC. My people have a saying that if a man has gotten one or two children and probably, his intention is just to have one more but providence gives him triplets, you can’t slaughter them because it’s an additional blessing to you. But you know it will also be a challenge because it will challenge your purse.

Aside from this, when the children come, they will also not overtake their elder brothers who had been on ground even though if they are triplets, because if you give them all attention and you leave the elder brothers, you know there will be crisis as well. So, the coming in of Governor Mimiko is a welcome development, but we do hope that it will be an added advantage to the party in Ondo State; not added advantage to the party in Nigeria because the party in Nigeria is already stable.

There is nothing that the coming in of the governor will do for the President in Nigeria. If, we remove the total votes of Ondo State, it will still win the election. And I think the party leaders should look at this so that nobody comes in to say those who are inside are our enemies.

If you are coming into a house of a man and you are not an arm robber, you should sit and make the man that you are coming to visit a happy person.

It is only a robber that comes in and unseats the man in the house, dislodges him and his family, takes their goods and walks away. I

we will work with them but they should not think that those of us that are inside are fools.

If that is it, then it will mean that the coming in is to generate crisis because for now, PDP is stable. But I believe that will not be their intention. I believe their intention will be: ‘Let’s join the winning team’ and that ‘Labour Party can no longer stand the test of time’ so that we can use the two hands to watch each other and the hands will become neater.

Enikuomehin

don’t think that will be the intention. So, if he had decided to come to join us, we will accept him. You can’t have two cars and have additional one and say you want to get angry because your cars have become three. But if the car that will come in will give you more problems, you better tell the owner of the car: ‘Please, hold your car’. But if it is a brand new vehicle that is not going to give you any issue, why not?

Ordinarily, one would expect that when a governor moves into a political party he should be an added advantage to the party, but he should not see those who were there before him as enemies. If that is the orientation, then the leadership should begin to check. And again, if one wants to leave a political party, you do so because there are issues that you are not happy about, just as I left Labour Party for PDP. But in this case there is no quarrel, you are the leader of the party but you just say you don’t want your party again; you want to fuse into PDP. Bring the good things you have but the bad things over there, please leave them there because nobody will tolerate them. But we will accept them. We will all work together.

We have been together before.

For example in PDP, the governor of a state is usually the leader of the party. As soon as he comes in, the leadership is conceded to him as the leader of the party in the state. But it

does not mean that once you are the leader of the party every other person is a slave. You have grades of leadership. The President for example is the leader of the party in Nigeria.

But he must take the governors of the state, ministers, members of the National Working Committee into consideration. It should be a marriage that brings everybody into one in which the man that has come in is accepted, the people at home are also loved. A man does not marry a new wife in order to beat up the old wife. At the end of the day, if the man dies before the new children are of age, who will bury him? So, PDP in Ondo State has been stabilised, well-grounded, well-structured but we do not hate addition. We are not saying people should not join us because no matter how big a bank is, the bank cannot say you shouldn’t bring in deposits. But don’t bring a deposit that will make the bank collapse anyway.

So, what we are saying is that the coming in of the governor will be accepted, he will be taken as a leader, but I’m sure he will not bring the person who was the former chairman of the party and say he should come and be the chairman of PDP. We concede the leadership to you but as a General going to a war, he must begin to think of there are some Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel and all the rest of them. As they come, we welcome them in, we will play with them,

Ogun people will re-elect me in 2015 –Amosun C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 9

destroyed property and attacked innocent people in Abeokuta, we ordered the closure of the university to maintain peace and order.

There is the accusation that the party members who worked for your election are not being taken care of?

I don't really know the genesis of this claim but I believe some people see us as miracle workers. In their minds, they say there is no money and everything is going on smoothly.

Roads are being constructed and bridges are being constructed. They now say, ‘The money is there, bring it’. Well, the money is not there to be shared. The money is there to the ex-

tent that those for capital projects will go for capital projects, those for recurrent will go for recurrent. We are struggling to cope because the allocations from Abuja keep declining. I don’t know what people are thinking really.

What is the relationship between you and Chief Olusegun Osoba like?

Chief Osoba is my leader and whatever happens, he remains my leader. There is no contest about that. I do not want to say more than that.

Why is it difficult for you to carry him along?

I don’t know what you mean by carrying him along. The ACN executive in the state in 2011 had 52 members. Today, 47 of them

are with us in APC. So if I do not carry people along, how will they be with me? These are people who have been with Chief Osoba since he joined politics in the late 80s. So, why is the allegation of not carrying people along?

The Osoba people dominate the current APC executive in Ogun State. They constitute 71 per cent of our executive committee. I will appeal to you journalists to assist in preaching the gospel that one per cent of something is better than 100 per cent of nothing. It is in the overall interest of all of us to continue to work together as a team. Our tendency is the only one that can bring development to our state and country. We should not allow any reverse to the ongoing development of our state. I am a peace lover and will continue to reach out to

What is the implication of persistent defections by politicians on the nation’s polity, as it relates to playing politics with principles and ideologies?

I am at sea as to which of the political parties in this country have ideology. The only ideology that each of the political party has is the ideology of interest. As at today in Nigeria, and I have not exempted myself because that is the policy on ground, the only ideology available to everyone is the ideology of where does my interest lie or where will my interest be protected? So, to talk about integrity, it is tied to their own interest. And it is because we have not streamlined what each of the political parties stand for. There may be paper work. You see guys today who will say: ‘I will die in PDP, I will work in PDP’. Tomorrow if something happens and they are on the other side. You see the other guy who calls himself ‘Progressive’. Now the question I ask is this: somebody had been in PDP, he is conservative.

But as soon as he jumps to APC, he becomes progressive. Does it mean changing into the party makes you a progressive? And when he comes back to PDP, he becomes conservative? These things are internally built; you cannot change the colour of a leopard. So, the persons who are used to amassing wealth at whatever cost, if they go to APC, whether you name the party progressives or not, the pig will depict the piggery inside him. Therefore, it is the interest that is driving politicians jumping from one boat to the other, not the integrity.

Integrity in the Nigerian polity today is close to zero level.

Political parties should choose people who are credible and reliable because the populace will watch. At the end of the day, you can’t go and manipulate the votes. In fact, some persons, when they join a political party they become a liability on that party. It’s like when you bring somebody with Ebola to a room; everybody runs away because he Ebolarises the environment and make a mockery of the whole system. The fact that I am lonely in my house, does not mean that I will go and bring in somebody that is infected with Ebola in to cheer me up, because that will make me very close to death. Mimiko’s return is an ‘ebolastic’ situation which should be handled with casution. all those who feel aggrieved and all the good people of Ogun State.

Indeed, it is a good credit for Chief Osoba to continue to be in a position to say that it was while our government was in power that we recorded these so many feats we are seeing in Ogun State.

Are you not afraid that these crises could derail your re-election?

Our re-election will be achieved, by God's grace and with the support of the people. Go and write it down. But I must say it is in the interest of everybody that we are united. So I will want to appeal again that we should come together to make history for our state. I will relentlessly push for us to have a united, stronger and focused APC in Ogun State.

It must be stated clearly, at this point, that I am not in competition with Chief Osoba.

Transport Nissan Patrol comes with transformation p.33

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/politics

Sunday Business Rising debt profile: March to ‘economic’ Golgotha p.32

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

AUGUST 31, 2014

31

Business ON SUNDAY

Paul Ogbuokiri

pauloguokiri@gmail.com

NEPAD business group tackles youth unemployment

A

Adebiyi Adegoroye

larmed at the high level of graduate unemployment in the country, NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) has initiated a training programme for youths tagged the NBGN Graduates’ Employability Improvement & Development Initiative (GEIDI). This is also in furtherance of its objective of wealth creation for poverty alleviation.

Unveiling the programme at a press conference in Lagos, the NBGN Chairman, Chief Chris Ezeh explained that it was intended to equip Nigerian graduates with both technical and entrepreneurial skills “to address the observed mismatch in graduate training and those skills required in modern workplace for enhanced employability and selfreliability.”

He added that since unemployment of youths posed a great challenge to the economy and the eventual growth of the nation, NBGN had no choice but to partner with Government in assisting to find a solution to the scourge of youth unemployment and its associated vices.

In a statement signed by Oluwole Dosumu of NEPAD Business Group in Nigeria, GEIDI is a six-month programme being organised in conjunction with the Nigeria Opportunities In-

L-R: Director, Marketing and Promotions Department, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Fibi Ikilam; Director, Administration and Supply Department, Mr Boniface Chukwuekwu Eboka; Director General, Dr. Sally Mbanefo; Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank, Mr. Philip Ikeazor and Deputy General Manager, Commercial Banking, Keystone Bank, Aisha Mohammed, during a courtesy call on Mbanefo, in Abuja

dustrialisation Centres (NOIC), Bank of Industry Limited (BOI), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), among others.

According to Ezeh, the group has secured BOI’s assurances of making available suitable loan facilities to qualified graduates of the scheme to set up in their chosen trade and vocations while NOIC and SMEDAN would pro-

vide the vocational training and entrepreneurial development skills development respectively.

The NEPAD boss charged other Business Membership Organisations (BMOs), the Organised Private Sector, Non-Governmental Organisations and development groups to join hands with government in reducing youth unemployment “for socio-economic growth of our dear nation”.

2014: Cargo throughput up 15.4% at Nigerian ports

I

Paul Ogbuakir n the first six months of the 2014, the Nigerian Ports Authority recorded a 15.4 per cent increase in the quantum of cargo handled in all the seaports in the country.

According to figures released by NPA’s Research Department on Tuesday, the cargo throughput rose to 41,317,962 million metric tonnes, which translates to an increase of 15.4 per cent over 35,812,858 metric tonnes recorded in the corresponding period in 2013.

The figures which were released by the AGM Public Affairs of NPA

on behalf of the GM Public Affairs, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, gave the breakdown as follows: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment stood at 10,418,248 metric tonnes, a growth of 23 per cent over 8,462,535metric tonnes in 1st half of 2013; General Cargo was 5,975,098 metric tonnes, indicating an increase of 1.3 per cent over 5,900,817 metric tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2013; Dry Bulk Cargo stood at 4,841,816 metric tonnes as against 4,573,322 metric tonnes achieved in 2013, showing a rise of 5.9 per cent; refined petroleum product was 10,189,177 metric tonnes, an increase of 3.6 per cent over 2013 figure

of 9,835,719 metric tonnes. Also on the list are Laden Container throughput at 509,946TEUs, a growth of 14 per cent over 447,388TEUs figure of 2013; empty containers, amounted to 364,745TEUs, showing a growth of 14.2 per cent over the 2013 figure of 319,467TEUs; while a total of 154,846 units of vehicles were handled in the period under review showing an increase of 16.5 per cent over the same period of 2013 figure of 132,930 units.

In review period, a total of 2,719 ocean going vessels called at all Nigerian ports, showing an increase of 12 per cent over the 2013 figure of 2,427 vessels.

The total Gross Registered Ton-

Inside

The maiden edition of the scheme is scheduled to start in the first week of September with 50 trainees drawn from all over the federation. Courses being offered include Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Computer hardware Maintenance, Hotel & Catering Management, Electrical Installation, Automotive Mechanics as well as Painting & House Decoration.

nage (GRT) of the vessels that called in the first half of 2014 was 70,659,820 Metric tons, indicating an increase of 17.57 per cent over the corresponding 2013 first half GRT of 60,096,179 metric tons.

In his reaction to the feat, Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority, Habib Abdullahi, said the present management would continue to be focused and consistent in its effort to achieve its vision to be the leading port in Africa by rehabilitating port infrastructure, engaging in constant dredging of the channels and implementing sound financial policies like the E-payment solution among others.

Apapa is world’s worst port-Nweke

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My father tried to get a landline for 50yrs but couldn’t-Ovienmhada

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Sunday business

Rising debt profile: March to ‘economic’ Golgotha

PAUL OGBUOKIRI writes that less than a decade after Nigeria’s glorious exit from a $36 billion debt burden, she is back in the shackles of debt

T

owards the end of 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration negotiated debt relief (forgiveness) from Nigeria’s main creditors, the Paris Club, and its counterparts in London.

The agreement had involved payment in a lump sum, which facilitated the cancellation of a proportion of the debt.

Over 25 years that preceded 2005, Nigeria paid its creditors about $40bn on initial loans of about $20bn, but owed about $33bn as at 2005.

The deal negotiated by Nigeria with the Paris Club and its counterparts in London was a three-part $12.4bn dollar payment, after which $30bn of debt owed the body was cancelled.

Facts about the external debts before cancellation: (a) Nigeria’s full external debt obligations were $3bn a year – $2.3bn to the Paris Club and $700m to other creditors. (b) Nigeria was not paying $3bn a year, having negotiated a lower annual payment level of $1bn to the Paris Club, for $1.7bn a year total. (c) Under the agreement, the Paris Club compiles the difference between Nigeria’s full payment level and her actual payment level as ‘arrears’ the country still owes. (d) The debt cancellation deal involves paying $6bn on the arrears, getting an $18bn write-off, and buying-back the remaining $12bn discounted to $6bn.

The debt forgiveness which the country was granted after paying the lump sum was celebrated by government and counted as a major achievement of the Obasanjo administration. That unfortunately ended a year later, as the same Obasanjo administration went for a $3.5bn external loan in 2006.

New Telegraph on Sunday reports that there is fear in the polity on the rising debt profile of government, as it means returning the country to the shackles of debt less than a decade after its glorious exit from the dungeon.

This year, the government is faced with the hemorrhaging debt service to the tune of N712bn, an attestation to the fact that the country is back in the debt game. The debt service provision also represents a quantum increase from N591.8bn budgeted in 2013.

As at December 2007, there was a retraction in the external debt profile to $3.3bn.

But the movement of the debt figures, which assumed a back and forth direction initially and arithmetic progression at other time, jumped to $3.72bn by December 2008. The debt accumulation strategy at this point returned to the path of mixture of marginal and outright increases from 2009 onwards. For example, by December 2009, it increased by about $227m to $3.95bn, representing a six per cent increase. As at September 2010, a nine-month period, Nigeria’s external debt had risen to $4.53bn, an increase of about $587m, representing 14.9 per cent increase.

After a six-month period ending March 31, 2011, the country had increased its external debt stock to $5.2bn and negotiated an additional $406m by the end of September 2011. The strategy was sustained as it recorded $5.9bn and $6.3bn by March and September 2012 respectively. The increases continued in 2013, as it hit $8.3bn in September, from $6.7bn in March the same year. The external debt contributed about 13.59 per cent to the total debt as at second quarter of 2013. The increase in the

Okonjo-Iweala

“This year, the government is faced with the hemorrhaging debt service to the tune of N712bn, an attestation to the fact that the country is back in the debt game.” percentage of the external debt in the third quarter 2013, compared to second quarter, according to authorities, was due to the benign interest rate environment in the international financial system, which the federal and state governments utilized to their advantage.

On domestic scene, the accumulation of debt was visible and well participated by the alleged group of individuals and corporate organisations linked to the corridors of power in the country.

Government’s means of handling the domestic debt strategy included the floating of bonds, Nigerian Treasury Bills and Development Stock. The processes and requirements to participate have eluded ordinary Nigerians, which have as well raised controversies, especially on the high rate of returns (yields) attached to it, being adjudged one of the highest in the emerging market economies (presently in double digits).

As at December 2008, Nigeria’s domestic debt profile was N2.32trn, from N1.6trn recorded in 2005. However, the sustained risk appetite of the Federal Government raised the total stock to N3.22trn as at December 2009.

Also, there was a huge commitment to the risk portfolio (domestic debt) in 2010, as it jumped to N4.6 trn, representing about 41 per cent increase. The development corresponded with the period of increased borrowing externally, when government raised more funds by about 14.9 per cent in nine months, culminating in the external debt stock’s record of $4.53bn.

As at 2011, government raised additional

money in excess of N1trn locally, putting domestic debt at N5.62trn. It also accumulated more in 2012, which sum was in excess of N900bn, as the total domestic debt stock hit N6.54trn. As at September 2013, the deals had hit N7.03trn, representing 84.5 per cent of the total debt stock and increased to N7.18trn six months later (March 2014).

The trend of the government’s domestic debt when measured by year-on-year average from 2009 to 2013, showed about 22.1 per cent yearly growth. This, however, showed a marginal increase over external debt growth pattern. This has also raised controversy over the authorities’ choice of domestic borrowings against external ones, given the comparative cost advantage of the latter.

The states of the federation, also known as sub-national governments, have also contributed to the rising notoriety of the country’s risk appetite. The states’ rise to fame in debt accumulation was built from the $1.7bn outstanding as at December 2008. Four years later, precisely by June 2012, records showed a total debt stock of $2.2bn, an increase of $500m. However, by December 2012, the debt increment had assumed a marginal strategy as it rose to $2.38bn and $2.64bn as at June 2013.

There was a ‘big bang’ dimension in their quest for debt as almost all the states got involved in raising capital for acclaimed development projects in their respective areas. This resulted in a phenomenal increase from $2.64bn by June 2013, to $9.96bn (N1.55trn) total debt stock, representing about $7.3 billion increase (more than 277 per cent) in just nine months.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that because of the successes of the Federal Government bond in the Eurobond Market, several companies in the country and even states have either floated bonds on the Euro market or are angling to do so.

Though bonds and other capital market instruments are the best sources of cheap funds for financing critical projects, Nigeria has a bad history of corruption and funds not being used for earmarked projects. There is fear in the polity that these

loans would final end up in the pockets of people in the corridors of power and their cronies who masquerade as contractors, while the economy would bleed to pay the debt, there making development impossible even in the nearest future.

However, the Head of Africa Strategy, Standard Chartered Bank, Samir Gadio, said Nigeria’s public debt profile remains largely sustainable, especially when compared with its peers. It is against this backdrop that the President of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Chief Sunny Nwosu, said, “Much as it is practically impossible to run a debt-free government, the big question is: what are the debts procured used for? Are the monies spent on consumption or production?

Are they being used on capital projects for which they were sourced for ab initio?

How come with all the domestic and external borrowings the state of infrastructure in the country is still parlous and deplorable?

“Is there a possibility that these borrowed funds are being misapplied and stolen?

Why is government reluctant to use part of our external reserve to fund some of the projects for which money is being borrowed locally?”

According to him, the overall ratio of public debt to GDP was around 10 per cent, which is low by emerging and frontier market standards. Domestic debt still remains by far the largest component of total public debt. He added that an interesting trend is that external debt seems to be rising faster lately.

“This is consistent with the government’s desire to reshape the mix of public debt and rely more on external borrowing.

“At two per cent of GDP, external debt is so benign that the authorities certainly have room to borrow offshore. Besides, the funding cost for Nigeria in the Eurobond market is largely affordable amid a supportive global risk environment. We also suspect there would be strong investor demand for a new Nigerian dollar bond,” he said.

Also, the Director General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, said recently in Abuja that although the debt profile had increased, the debt remained sustainable at a ratio of 12.51 to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP. The external debt trend, measured by year-on-year increases from 2010 to date, showed an average of about 21.2 per cent yearly.

Nwankwo also said that the managers of the nation’s debt would apply more caution in further borrowings so as not to run into the crisis of a debt overhang, which the nation once suffered.

But the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had once said that the regime of open fiscal policy may be sustained, as pressure for more expenditure from unions and groups continue to mount amid dwindling revenues occasioned by unabated oil theft. Indeed, recurrent expenditure sustained its dominance as estimates in the 2014 budget amounted to 72 per cent.

She said, “People want increased salaries and employment from government. But how did we get to where we are today?

In 2010, we had a 53 per cent increase in expenditure, associated with salaries alone.

How many countries can you see makeCO NTINUED O N PAGE 34

SundayTransport 33

PAUL OGBUOKIRI, paulogbuokiri@gmail.com 0802-779-0557, 08037613380

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNRDAY

AUGUST 31, 2014

Nissan Patrol comes with transformation

C

ar buffs waiting to catch a glimpse of the latest Nissan Patrol would have every reason to celebrate as one of the best-known and longest established nameplates on the global 4WD four-wheel drive (4WD) scene would be at the car shops.

According to the maker of the all new Nissan Patrol, Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria Limited, the vehicle is coming with a quantum of transformation, now designed with an unprecedented zest and ergonomics.

“The more than six decades old nameplate has returned with a futuristic look that stands out for its unique combination of the most recent technologies and new design DNA,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Assembled in Nigeria by Stallion NMN plant in Lagos, the new Y62 Patrol as it’s fondly called, epitomises Nissan’s tagline: ‘Innovation that excites.’

The statement signed by the company’s Media Advisor, Manny Philipson, noted that President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged the beauty and adroitness of the made-in-Nigeria Y62 Patrol when he, in company with some government officials, took delivery of the vehicle in Abuja on Democracy Day.It further quoted President Jonathan as saying, “I’m quite happy that Nissan has demonstrated the reality of exporting cars from Nigeria is possible which suggest we can soon as a nation export vehicles to other parts of the world.”

Stallion NMN says the new Nissan Patrol adapts to the needs of consumers by breaking away from its ‘proper offroader’ status to become urbane-friendly SUV with far more refined proposition that offers a dramatically improved ride quality and fuel economy than its predecessor.

According to Stallion NMN Head, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Amit Sharma, the local Nissan sales company also attested to the Patrol’s expediency, saying, “The new Y62 Patrol isn’t the previous workhorse but a technologically savvy SUV imbued with all the practicality of a luxury sedan.

“And just as the new Patrol easily conquers a long uphill task with its exceptionally modified V8 torque, so does its multi-mode grip compensates for rocks and loose sand when driven on rough roads and in deep water.”

Sharma further said the new Nissan Patrol is undoubtedly one of Nissan’s most revolutionary designs ever in the Patrol’s 62-year history and it incorporates the most innovative highest quality, and highest value luxury SUV in Nissan history.

He said if compared with Toyota’s Land Cruiser, the new Patrol offers substantial ground clearance of 283mm which is 58mm greater and it matches competition’s maximum wading depth of 700mm, but breathes through the left-side guard vent, simplifying the fitment of an aftermarket snorkel.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that the Y62 Patrol comes equipped with a big V8 engine that delivers 298kw of power and 560Nm of torque - 90 per cent of which is available from just 1,600 rpm that makes 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.6 seconds.

International test drivers say the Patrol engine is undeniably a driver’s delight with an advanced seven-speed automatic transmission and sophisticated and electronically controlled all-mode 4X4 system.

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Maintain appropriate distance when following other motorists, bicyclists, motorcyclists, etc.?

Provide appropriate distance when cutting in after passing vehicles?

Use headlights in cloudy, rainy, and other low light conditions? Yield to pedestrians?

Come to a complete stop at stop signs, before right turn

Nissan Patrol Y62 version for media

“When in auto mode for instance, there’s torque split between the front and rear wheels on a 50/50 variable basis depending on road surfaces and at the touch of a button, a switch activates 4WD high for semi-serious off-road conditions or 4WD low for the really heavy stuff,” test drivers affirmed.

They also said that the Patrol SUV is certainly a fun to drive.

It offers four terrain options: Sand, Snow, Rock and On-road - at the touch of a button. This feature makes it unique in its segment as competition does not offer this feature.

According to them, at city speeds and crawling around offroad, the broad spread of ratios is perfectly matched to the smooth delivery of torque from the 5.6-litre V8 while on the highway, the Patrol lopes along at 110km/h with the engine seemingly only a tick above idle. And when stoked, it responds with a throaty induction-snarl matched by impressive acceleration, particularly when overtaking.

Features Standard in both variants of the Nissan Patrol range are Bluetooth phone and audio streaming; large format front DVD player; a 2GB hard drive music server with 13 speakers; USB

and iPod connectivity; steering wheel audio controls; intelligent key access; eight-way power assisted driver’s seat; drive computer, three-zone climate control, front, side and curtain airbags with active front headrests. In addition are around view camera, 600ml cool box with dual side openings. The Patrol LE however gets separate seven-inch DVD screens in the rear of the front seat headrests with power operated tailgate.

Compared to its luxury rivals, the new Patrol has much offroad capability. And in crowded motor parks, you can be rest assured you won’t bump into other cars with dedicated parking aids such as a reversing camera, all-round parking sensors and a 360 degree around-view monitor. This again is a unique feature, which gives absolute peace of mind.

Interior There are plenty of interior space and comfort levels that you can expect including wood grain finishes, and upmarket dash layout and high quality finishes. The Patrol is also functional. With all three rows of seats occupied, there’s still 550 litres of storage space and when the second and third row seats are folded, the new Patrol can provide 3100 litres with a virtually flat floor.

on red, etc.?

Stop for red traffic lights?

Approach intersections and pedestrians at slow speeds to show your intention and ability to stop?

Drive below posted speed limits when conditions warrant?

Drive at slower speeds in construction zones?

Maintain speeds appropriate for conditions?

Use vehicle turn signals for all turns and lane changes?

Make eye contact and signal intentions where needed?

Acknowledge intentions of others?

Use your horn sparingly around pedestrians, at night, around hospitals, etc.?

Avoid unnecessary use of highbeam headlights?

Yield and move to the right for emergency vehicles?

Refrain from flashing headlights to signal a desire to pass?

Drive trucks at posted speeds, in the proper lanes, using

non-aggressive lane changing?

Make slow, deliberate U-turns?

Maintain proper speeds around roadway crashes?

Avoid returning inappropriate gestures?

Avoid challenging other drivers?

Try to get out of the way of aggressive drivers?

Focus on driving and avoid distracting activities (e.g., smoking, use of a car telephone, reading, shaving)?

Avoid driving when drowsy?

Avoid taking more than one parking space?

Avoid stopping in the road to talk with a pedestrian or other driver?

Avoid inflicting loud music on neighboring cars?

Score Yourself...

Are you an Aggressive Driver or a Smooth Operator?

Answering “No” to more questions means you’re a more aggressive driver.

Auto Clinic

34

August31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Business interview

Apapa is world’s worst port -Nweke Dr. Eugene Nweke is the President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders. He is also the Managing Director of Ocean Star Shipping Company Limited. PAUL OGBUOKIRI took him up on some issues in the sector You have received awards and chieftaincy titles in recent times. Is there anything you think you are doing better now that qualify you for these titles, including your recent honorary doctorate degree?

I

commit myself to my job, which is the mandate given to me by thousands of freight forwarders in this country.

We play advocacy roles, promote the maritime industry and we continue to engage government to ensure the best for the sector and the economy in general. In doing this, if any group or institution feels that I deserve to be appreciated in form of an award, who am I to reject that? But the awards will not enter into my head because there is still more work to be done to reposition the Nigerian maritime industry. I remain committed to humanity.

You recently led a delegation to Enugu State to inaugurate the Enugu chapter of NAGAFF. What will you members be doing there?

For your information, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport has been designated an international cargo airport. Also, very many import cargoes, especially telecom and oil and gas equipment, are transported by air. That means that there is already a lot of activities for our members there. But we did not go there to inaugurate the Enugu Chapter of the association as reported by a section of the media. The chapter had been inaugurated since last year.

I led the delegation to Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, because we are looking beyond the present status of the airport to transforming it to become a hub for transit air cargo in the West and Central Africa. If the place becomes a hub, there will be the need for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to establish what is called an inland container depot there, which will serve as a holding bay for cargoes that will be going to different parts of the country.

That was our reason for visiting the governor to sensitise him on the opportunities that are open to the state as a result of the citing of the Akanu Ibiam International Cargo Airport in the state.

Do the Nigerian Ports Authority and the terminal operators in any way deserve blame for the current traffic congestion in Apapa?

Are you asking me whether NPA should be blamed for this terrible traffic situation

“If the performance index of the port is compared with that of other ports in the world this year, you will find out that the port is the worst in the world.”

CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 32

such an increase? Yet, people seem to be oblivious of its implications and nobody said it was unacceptably high. In an effort to make up for the 53 per cent increase in 2010, our domestic debts increased sharply. We floated bonds, which ordinarily we shouldn’t have done. I want the media and everybody to know that the rise in debts was from 2010 and not from any other time.

that is causing loss of hundreds of millions of naira to importers weekly? By the time the figures are finally calculated you will weep for this country. What we have in our system is a cargo movement system that does not have a cargo distribution model. Apapa Port is bigger than Tema Port in Ghana. But Tema port has eight wide gates, in the case of Apapa Port, it has just two small gates. That is why once 50 trucks enter the port, no other truck can enter the port throughout the day. In other places, we have port in-going and out-going gate system, but we don’t have that here.

If the performance index of the port is compared with that of other ports in the world this year, you will find out that the port is the worst in the world. Businessmen are losing money because their consignments cannot come out of the ports for no fault of theirs. But at the end of the day, the shipping companies terminal operators charge them demurrage and storage fees.

Not until we develop a system whereby trucks are called in to load by electronic SMS, we will continue to experience this type of congestion year in year out. Also, the terminal operators must stop using their terminals to store empty containers so that there will be some space for the trucks.

They must establish holding bays outside the ports for the empty containers. For several years now we heard that one is being built by the Federal Government opposite the second gate of Tincan Island Ports, but as we speak, it has not been completed.

You have said at different fora that NAGAFF is empowering youths. How is it doing this?

If you take off from the street somebody who has been unemployed, roaming the streets without any means of livelihood, and you provide him or her with a legal means of earning a living, what have you done? You have empowered the person.

We are not distributing money to them, but we give them jobs. We have over 200,000 members across the country - in the North, West and East. We are taking the youths off the streets and giving them training to practise freight forwarding in the country.

Your association has been complaining of multiple and arbitrary charges by terminal operators and shipping companies. What is your reaction to the recent appointment of Nigerian Shippers’ Council by the Federal Government to be the commercial regulator of Nigerian ports?

I must confess that we consider that as the best thing to happen to the Nigerian maritime industry in recent times. When we were complaining about these charges, people did not understand what we were talking about. With what the shipping companies and the terminal operators were doing, it was like a second slavery, because what those multinational companies were doing was like mopping up all the money in the country and carrying same to their countries.

At what time have any of the companies declared what they are making in this country and the amount they are taking home? The terminal operators charge whatever tariff that pleases them; even the consignment overstays in the seaports as a result of the fault of the terminal operators. They still collect what they call storage charges from us. Why? Because nobody regulates them. They just do whatever they like.

We are indeed grateful to President Jonathan for giving a listening ear to our cries and appointing NSC the regulator of commercial activities in the Nigerian port industry. It means now that there will proper pricing of the services rendered by the terminal operators and the shipping companies are rendering here. We consider him as Nigeria’s best president. The freight forwarding community is happy with him and would w a n t him to continue as Nigerian president till 2019.

We will vote for him in 2015 because he understands w h a t impact the maritime sector will have on the economy. Like other nations of the world, the sector is capable of driving the economy. It is not a sector you can just leave to foreigners to plunder as they like.

You said that freight forwarding practice in the country is moving to the third level.

What do you mean by that?

We are looking at moving to total logistic handling as it is done all over the world.

What that means is that you as an importer will come to us to say what you want to import and we will take it from there. We will do the designing, packaging, labeling and importation of the good ourselves, handling port formalities, warehousing and finally delivering to the doorstep of the importer. That is going through the whole hog of the total logistics chain. We are mov-

Nweke

ing away from the era of clearing and forwarding. It involves training and retraining of practitioners.

It will also require huge capital. Do you think all your members have such financial muscle to go into the business fully like after receiving the training?

We have a clear vision on how to go about it. That will usher in an era of mergers. We will encourage three four five companies to go into merger to enable them to raise the required capital to handle a business of such magnitude. No member will go out of job, rather more jobs will be created.

Rising debt profile: March to ‘economic’ Golgotha “The increases affected in 2010 only delivered shock to the economy. Still, you have pensioners and others standing out there with demand for another increase.

This is why you see recurrent expenditure also high in 2014, because we would be absorbing some of those costs. We are really doing the best we can, but we all have

to live with the consequences of our decisions. The increasing pressure on the government had taken away the proceeds of privatisation of oil companies and funds from the national budget in the settlement of workers from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN),” she said.

Meanwhile, Ike Ndukwe, a development

economist at Abia State University Uturu, Okigwe, said that though the recent rebasing of Nigerian economy has boosted her capacity to borrow, the size of the country’s GDP which places it ahead of South Africa and make it the 26th biggest economy in the world, does not reflect the actual developmental status of the country.

35

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Sunday Interview

My father tried to get a landline for 50 years but couldn’t - Ovienmhada

Michael Ovienmhada is a business consultant and a presidential aspirant under the Citizens Popular Party. In this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, he speaks on how Nigerian economy can be made viable.

Ovienmhada

Economic activities are fast grinding to a halt in the North, especially with the declaration of a ‘caliphate’ by Boko Haram. How can the Northern economy be reclaimed?

T

here are two major approaches to security issues in the country. One of them is short-term and the other is long-term. I will start with the long-term solution.

We will look at the real reason behind those things that culminated into insecurity. We have the tendency of ignoring problems in Nigeria until they become mountains. We have ignored the problem of unemployment in the country for too long.

We ignored the problem of compensating the people that have mineral resources in the country. The issues of backwardness and illiteracy in the North have been ignored for too long. So, we have to start from there. I’m not surprised we have these problems in the country.

When you have between 60 million and 70 million unemployed persons, the devil will find work for their hands to do. Educated unemployed young men are finding work for themselves either as kidnappers or militants. Fraudsters are perfecting their acts. Nature abhors a vacuum.

In the North, religion played into the hands of illiteracy. People are unemployed and they are vulnerable to Islamic extremism.

What do they have to lose but the shirts on their backs?

So, we need to tackle the issue of education, looking at grievances and nipping them in the bud. And we need to tackle the issue of unemployment in the country to reduce the rate of crime for the long term and the quickest way to tackle unemploy-

ment is massive investment in agriculture. We can create 30 million jobs in one year by cultivating two million hectares of rice and investing in increased milling capabilities which would not only make us self-sufficient in rice production but also make us net exporters. We will earn foreign exchange and strengthen the value of the Naira. Thailand has done it successfully. The unemployment rate in Thailand is 0.07 per cent. Now, that is a good model to copy.

Then, for the short-term measures, we already have a big problem on our hands. We a need quality surge in the number of security operatives which in itself is creating jobs. We need a surge in the intelligence forces and the army. After the civil war, we had an army of over 250,000 but 44 years after, we are talking about an 100,000-man army which has been poorly equipped by successive regimes for fear of coups. I will take that number to 200,000 very quickly and make them the pride of our nation and Africa. Our nation must project its power not only within the country but also on the continent.

Furthermore on short-term measures, I will immediately ensure that we develop an emergency 911 system across the country. We must rebuild trust between the citizenry and the security forces. There have been too many abuses in the past that have created a situation of distrust. Nigerians don’t like uniformed people because we view them as oppressors. We must work hard to change that image quickly. Also, we must develop a sustainable way of creating an enduring database for our country. This is the first line of defence.

As a business consultant, spanning over 36 years, what would you say of the Nigerian economy, especially in relation to the strength of Naira?

The standard of living of a country is directly dependent on the strength and value of its currency. There is no reason for a country like Nigeria which operates a mono-product economy to devalue its currency. I will discourage the Central Bank immediately from using devaluation as a monetary policy instead we should be aiming to strengthen the Naira by tackling issues of demand and supply. We should embark on massive investment in agriculture to grow rice, wheat and produce fish and sugar all of which combined, suck $15 billion of our foreign exchange yearly. We should immediately complete Ajaokuta and this will save another $6 billion in steel imports and help make us the spare parts capital of the world. This also means we can now make all the components of a car, all 2,500 components of a car locally. This will save foreign exchange used to import cars and spare parts.

and wanted to get finance to build a refinery in Nigeria. When asked where he was going to get the feed stock from, he said NNPC would allocate him this and that. But the truth is that allocation will not work. If you are waiting for that, your refinery will not work because the day the man on the chair doesn’t like your face again, the allocation will not come.

So, why should I build a refinery when I’m looking for allocation? Do I wait for allocation to refine tomatoes into paste? Do I need to go to the minister of agriculture to get allocation? No. All I need to do is to go to the farmers and buy as much as I need. If I want to process mango into juice, do I need to wait for allocation from the Ministry of Agriculture to process it? No. So, how would you handle that if you What I need to do is to go to the farmers are confronted with such a situation as and negotiate with them and pay. It’s gopresident?

First, devaluation is like a subsidy you ing to be the same thing with petroleum. give out for your product to be able to sell I should be able to walk up to Chevron abroad. If I’m confronted with such a situ- and Total to get crude for my refinery. It’s ation, as president, I will tackle it head-on. cheaper to sell to local refineries than send I will introduce an aggressive economic the crude to Europe.

It’s good business for them and they will policy that is Nigeria-centric. Every part of the policy will be Nigeria! Nigeria! Any- be encouraging you and more people to body that comes to sign an agreement with build more refineries in the country. If you Nigeria will explicitly show me the interest have 10 jobs before deregulation, when of Nigeria in line one and in subsequent you deregulate, you have a million jobs.

Look at the telecom industry. For many lines.

So, the interest of my country is what years, we had this colossus called NITEL. comes first and to be able to do that, you Do you know that in 1995, total installed have to pull a lot of knowledge and un- telephone capacity in Nigeria was 330,000 derstanding. We need leaders who have land lines in the country? To tell you how knowledge and who ask good questions. bad it was, my father applied for a teleBut if you don’t know much about a thing, phone for 50 years and died without getthen you should have those who know ting one.

Now, if my father were to wake up from around you to help. the grave today to see over 100 million You mentioned deregulation in the course Nigerians carrying phones, he would run away; that is what deregulation does to of your explanation. Do you think private an economy. It opens up the economy and we what than better investors would do makes people to thrive and bubble. It’s have right now, especially with refinertime for us to dance as a country with all ies?

We need the total deregulation of refineries the resources we have.

I promise Nigerians better days ahead. and petroleum industry. You see, we have everybody go and save money to buy Let and nation a as have we to decide what what we need as a nation. We have this dancing shoes because they will dance unproduct, crude oil, and it appears to be the der my government. Government is about human beings. all in all right now.

For the sake of this conversation, if the industry employs 10 people without deregu- Electricity is pivotal to Nigerian industrilation, then, with deregulation, it’s going alisation and one can’t talk about industo employ over 1,000 people. Government- trialisation in isolation of power. What controlled businesses have never worked plans do you have for the power sector?

For 15 years in power, if PDP had drawn favourably anywhere in the world.

Privatisation is not exactly a way to go be- up a power policy to be generating at least cause it’s a mere transfer of national assets 500MW every year since then, by now, we to a few hands for pennies on the dollar would have had 7,500MW for the country but deregulation is the way out. When you at the end of the 15 years. de-regulate, more people will be involved But let me tell you what other countries have done in the past 15 years. Germany and the masses will buy petrol at N65. just came up with a policy in the year I’m say and Shell to go With this, I can building a refinery in Sapele for 10, 000 2000 that by 2020, they want to have 50 barrels and I need you to give me 10, 000 per cent of their energy from the renewShell says, ‘why able sources. barrels of crude daily. not’; if you will give me what the man in Now, the private sector is generating Europe pays me for a barrel of crude, $100 250,000 MW of electricity from renewa barrel, it’s better to give it to you than the able sources, 210, 000 MW from solar and 40,000 MW from wind. They have exceedman in Europe. ed that target already. by say, and cross-check Shell would now the way, it costs then $50 to transport it to They are de-commissioning their nuclear the man in Norway but it’s going to cost plants. They want to go green.

And these were achieved without the them just $3 to transport it to you. Shell would now say it can get my barrels of government spending a penny. We have crude for $53 and no more $100 because spent billions of dollars on the power sectransportation is a major chunk of my tor in 15 years of PDP and look at the state overhead. So, with that, things are going of electricity in the country and this is what I’m going to do. to change.

CO NTINUED F R O M PAGE 37 Last year, a gentleman approached me

I will totally deregulate the petroleum industry and stop all fuel imports. This will save us another $15 billion. Now, when you pursue a very aggressive economic policy which is totally Nigeria-centric, your currency will gather strength, the standard of living of your people will improve and you will bring smiles back to the faces of Nigerians. That is the way to go. We must make our people dance and rejoice. It is my objective to strengthen the value of the Naira versus the Dollar by 25 per cent every year over a four-year period. So, when I say I can make the Naira and the dollar one-to-one in four years. I mean it!

36

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Commerce

Success Nuggets

8037674300 Victor Okwudiri 0 (SMS only)

080395121535 (SMS only)

Psychology of Greatness (2) (Untold Secrets of Some of the Greatest Men That Ever Lived 8. A life lived in REVENGE is a life lived in REVERSE. The word ‘re’ is a prefix suggestive of doing something again or going back to something, as in ‘revisit’ - to visit again or go BACK to a place.

From the above semantic analysis, we can infer that REVENGE runs one’s life on the reverse gear; it makes one live life ‘backward’.

Azuka lost her genius to the instinct of revenge. The moment she gave in to a revengeful instincts, PROGRESSION gave in to RETROGRESSION. Friend, I have discovered that both REVENGE and REGRET produce negative energy. As such, I have concluded that the best directions in life are FORWARD and UPWARD. Nkiruka (which in Igbo language means, ‘that which is in front is better’), proved this by her attitude to life.

9. Today’s WRITE-OFF can be tomorrow’s RIGHTSTUFF. Nkiruka was written off as a dull student. However, that was to change. She later graduated the best in her class, with a First Class degree.

From Albert Einstein to Ben Carson, it has been practically proven times and over again that the one people WRITE OFF today can become the RIGHT STUFF to-

S

uccess is not just setting goals for yourself and achieving them; success is discovering God’s purpose for your life and achieving them. Success is not material acquisition, success is purposeful living.

It is needful to know that God alone decides whether you fail or succeed, it then behold us to stay forever connected to him, he is the source of our lives, the very reason of our existence cutting from him is death, you may say I am still living and doing well for myself, the truth is a branch of tree cut off can survive for a while.

God created you for a purpose, he knows all about you. You are not here by accident, your parent may not have planned your conception, there are no mistakes in God’s program, and he knew the right gene and DNA to combine to form you, components needed to fulfill your purpose. He made introverts, extroverts, all for a reason. Now if you have not found out yet why you are here, ask God he will reveal to you, it is the owner’s manual that reveals the purpose of an invention.

PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS what are principles?

Principles are fundamental truth or laws. principles hold truth everywhere just like the law of gravity, in line with discovering God’s purpose for your life, you also need to discover that there are tremendous powers or force in the universe and these powers are governed by law or principles obedience to these laws bring success. These principles make life predictable and provide a fair ground for all.

Different areas of life are governed by different principles or laws.

These success principles are 1. PRINCIPLES OF PREPARATION: if you want to be successful, get yourself ready for the great days you desire, anticipate good and become receptive to its possibilities before there

morrow.

Friend, I assure you that, if you don’t give up on yourself, those who LAUGHED AT you will LAUGH WITH you soon.

10. Life does not necessarily give you what you deserve, but what you demand of it.

If life was bound to give what one deserves, no child should suffer, because a newborn has done no wrong.

However, because life does not necessarily give what one deserves, we see children born into unfortunate circumstances.

Friend, life is waiting for you to make a demand of it by dint of hard work and practical responsibility.

Make that demand consistently, from today, and life will answer to you.

11. Your BACKGROUND is no excuse for your BACK to be on the GROUND Nkiruka rose from the point where she wad REJECTED as an infant to the point where she was CELEBRATED as an adult. Why? Unlike Azuka, she refused to give in to excuses, even when she discovered that she had a questionable paternity, and her classmates wrote off her mental productivity.

Friend, if Nkiruka, Helen Keller and our own Yinka Ayefele, among others, did it, you too can rise above your seeming limitations.

Stand up for a #NewNigeria Welcome to a ‘paradigm shift’.

Success Nuggets Julian Atufunwa

MS only) (08032810713 (S

What is Success? is any evidence of it, your present realities should not be allowed to cloud your view of a preferable future. Get ready mentally, physically, and spiritually for the days ahead, just as they say success occurs when opportunity meet preparation, day dream write down plans of action and get ready.

PRINCIPLES OF PROGRESS; to have a shift in any areas of your life you must first have a mental shift. It is first within then without, input answers to output success is who you are, you can’t grow on the inside and remain stunted on the outside, fight negative thought, all things are possible, be committed to self development renew your mind daily with God’s word.

PRINCIPLES OF CONFESSION; You are your own prophet, defy your circumstances, say what God is saying about you, speak positive words, speak out when people say negative words to you. Anytime you speak you are activating spiritual forces that will affect your life, the biblical account of the children of Israel after the return of the spies, they said, they to God it would have been better if they have died in Egypt or in this wilderness than to fall into the hands of the Anakims. They forgot that God said Canaan

is a land flowing with milk and honey.

This got God angry and he said in numbers 14 vs. 28, “As they have spoken in mine ears so will I do to them, their carcasses shall fall in this wilderness”.

Speak the right words always.

PRINCIPLES OF SERVICE; Your reward in life are in direct proportion to the value you give to others. You were born to make a contribution not just to take from life but to serve (to give back) service is a pathway to real significance the good news is, you have something to offer to the world around you. Your talents, your gifts, life experience, your background experience, your painful experiences are all tools to be a blessing to someone. Make every situation a learning process because you will need it someday to encourage and add significance to your world.

PRINCIPLE OF DECISION; Making up your mind on the time, on where, what, when and how, nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific, most times it’s when you decide that the ‘how’ will come, make a choice, success is a matter of choices not chances, there is no luck anywhere.

You create your own luck by your decisions if you don’t make decision you help others make and implement theirs.

My husband is a businessman Ikem Okuhu

M

oney is one of the greatest inventions handed to us by those who walked this earth before us. It has enabled us to solve problems, sustain relationships, improve the quality of life and made the world closer and smaller. It has made exchange of values a lot less burdensome. Money is good.

But has anyone looked around us to discover just how much this very valuable tool has contributed in what I describe as ‘shifting morality’ in the world we live in, especially in Nigeria, where the quality of money as a ‘store of value’, has become the measure of morality and virtue?

The power of money is enormous. Many wives today really don’t care what their husbands do for a living, provided he brings home enough to take care of their never-ending desires.

We want that new clothing that puts us ahead as fashion trendsetters and all we care about are the positive reviews and the heads that turn in our direction each time we ‘rock’ parties and attend church and other social events.

Police records are replete with material on wives that got arrested because they just could not explain a few things about their husbands’ line of business. That is because it never really mattered to them. Many men living among us today are engaged in sundry criminal activities like kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings, terrorism, advanced fee fraud and the like but the power of money, the vanquished positive interpretations we have come to ascribe to all that it can and cannot do, blinds us to its oftentimes, true reprehensibly obnoxious evil origins.

But our wives are not guilty of this selective amnesia. Husbands, in the general desire to enhance the earning stream of the family, turn blind eyes to certain activities of their wives that cross legal and moral boundaries. It has been mainly the women that are behind the child trafficking sour stories we all read about in the papers and watch on television. It has been mainly the women playing the ignoble role of armourers for armed robbers, providing safe havens for kidnappers; and these women have husbands.

Why has this become so? As pointed out earlier, we are living in an age of shifting morality. Back in the days when we lived in proper communities, policing and crime containment was easier and better. Today, the community is destroyed and what we have are pockets of discreet units living as neighbours but not caring about each other. Those who cared did so for the gains (financial and associational) therefrom. Sin was hitherto properly defined. But morality has so shifted that sin is defined from the perspective of who is committing it.

The long term effect of this is that we have failed to look closely at what people do to earn the money for which we accord them respect and recognition. We don’t ask questions.

We have outsourced our capacity to think to the purchasing power of money.

Society does not grow backwards. It is against any known occurrence in evolution. But I am certain that we still have a chance to re-work our morality in order to save society. So many things that happen in our midst today began when the people closest to the source ignored the early signs of danger, at which time, good old, simple moral suasion could have helped stem a future social and criminal epidemic.

“Many men living among us today are engaged in sundry criminal activities like kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings, terrorism, advanced fee fraud and the like but the power of money, the vanquished positive interpretations we have come to ascribe to all that it can and cannot do, blinds us to its oftentimes, true reprehensibly obnoxious evil origins.”

MARKETS&MALLS

37

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

AUGUST 31, 2014

Tel: 08027790557, 08037613380

U

Paul Ogbuokiri

nless the Lagos State Government quickly intervenes, the peaceful business environment that currently exists at Alaba International Market would be threatened.

Traders in the market, who raised the alarm over this on Wednesday, expressed frustration over the activities of street urchins (Area Boys). They accused the urchins of extorting money from them violently.

The said the hoodlums usually position themselves at four strategic locations in the market from Volkswagen Junction to St Patrick Junction, adding that they extort not less that N50,000 from the traders for every 40ft container that enters the market. They stated that about N30,000 is collected under duress for every 20ft container.

One of the traders who didn’t want him name mentioned, alleged that this year alone the traders had lost five containers laden with electronic gadgets and worth over N100 million. He said the trailers bearing the containers upturned when they were being chased by the hoodlums.

“Our worry is that the authorities at Ojo Police Station said their hands are tied because they have a letter signed by highly placed individuals in the community, including traditional authorities.

They claim that the letter says the hoodlums should not be disturbed by the police as they go about their illegal activities,” he said.

He said, before, the boys at Volkswagen bus-stop were issuing receipts bearing the name of Road Transport Employers of Nigeria, noting that they stopped issuing the papers when the traders continued to challenge them over their authority to collect such monies.

Our correspondent, who visited the market on Wednesday, saw the boys chasing trucks laden with containers at Volkswagen junction. They only allowed such trucks to go after collecting money. They were also at other points such as Ojo LGA; Sunny bus-stop; Ojo Trade Centre, opposite Unity House; and St. Patrick bus-stop.

The amount extorted at those points could not be independently verified by our correspondent, but one of traders said the group at Volks collects N10, 000 for a 20ft container and N20,000 for a 40ft container.

Another group at Ojo LGA Sec-

Crisis looms over extortion of Alaba traders

My father tried to get a landline for 50 years but couldn’t - Ovienmhada

CONTINUED F R OM PAGE 35

Scene of a recent accident at volkswagen in Lagos

retariat collects N10,000 for every 40ft container and N5,000 for a 20ft container, while the ones at Sunny Bus-stop led by one Tunde demands N10,000 for each 40ft container and N5,000 for a 20ft container.

The groups at the Ojo Trade Center, opposite Unity Plaza, and the ones at St. Patrick junction collect N10, 000 for each 40ft container and N5, 000 for a 20ft container respectively.

A senior member of the market leadership told our correspondent that two years ago when the extortion started, they wrote to the Ojo LGA Chairman, pleading that the boys be dislodged from the market.

“He told us that he would not be able to do so but he could only help us get the money collected reduced,” he said.

The market leaders also alleged that the association wrote to Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, last year over the same matter, and on account of that,

the State Government Taskforce on Environmental and Miscellaneous Offences visited the market.

“After their investigation, they said government would take action on the hoodlums. But as we speak, nothing has been done. Instead of the street urchins being dislodged, they have expanded their operation from Volks to St. Patrick’s junction,” he lamented.

Also, one of the landlords in the market who said they live in fear of the miscreants told New Telegraph on Sunday that they were warned by the boys that if they do not desist from campaigning for their dislodgment or they would burn many warehouses and shopping malls in the market.

Sources at Ojo Police Station said the police cannot act on a letter from the traders requesting that the hoodlums be dislodged unless the local government chairman endorses the request.

However, the leadership of the market said the illegal activities

of the street urchins contributes to the terrible traffic situation in area, particularly from Volks, They pleaded with the state government to intervene quickly and put an end to the activities of the urchins.

He said the traders in the market are law abiding citizens who discharge their civic responsibilities, including paying their Wharf Landing Fees after clearing their consignments from the ports.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that because of the intimidation, harassment, waste of man hours, brutalisation of traders and collection of the illegal fees by these street urchins, transporters now charge importers extra N100,000 for every container leaving Apapa port to Alaba International Market.

Attempts by our correspondent to reach the council Chairman, Hon. Yinka Durosinmi, did not yield positive result as our correspondent was told that he was not in town.

NAFDAC raids Kano markets, seizes fake products

T

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has sealed seven shops and confiscated contraband and fake food products worth millions of Naira in Kano. The special raid carried out by the Enforcement Directorate of the Agency under tight security and witnessed by journalists, according to a statement by Mr. Anslem Okonkwor of NAFDAC’s Public Relations Unit.

Six of the affected shops were located at the popular Singer Market while the other shop was situated at Galadima area in Sabon Gari, according to the statement . The Assistant Director (Enforcement), Mr. Sha-

ba Mohammed who led the operation, told newsmen that the essence of the raid was to measure the level of compliance with regulations on food products. “The items of interest in today’s operation are mainly sugar, flour, vegetable oil and macaroni or spaghetti which is a contraband. “In fact we don’t want to see any of these products imported into Nigerian markets because they are contraband products,” he said. He lamented that the environment where the seized palm oil was being repackaged at one of the affected shops was completely unhygienic and as such unacceptable to the agency. “The environment where these things were being done

is very dirty and unhygienic; that is why we sealed off the place. The vehicles being used to bring the palm oil are tankers for petroleum products and this is also unacceptable,” he said. He explained that some of the seized items would have to undergo tests at the laboratory to ascertain their quality level.

Mohammed said the country had factories that can meet local demands for the products hence the decision to ban their importation into the country. He said the agency would continue to carry out similar operations across the country in consonance with its mandate of safeguarding the public health.

I’m going to ask the National Assembly to repeal the 2005 Electricity Act because it tends towards privatisation, which is the transfer of national assets to a few privileged hands.

Well, I will not reverse that decision. Let them go on and do their businesses but we are going to throw the industry totally open to all investors, while the government plays the regulatory role. We already have the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. What is needed is for it to be strengthened to make sure that the customers are not exploited.

There should be no middle man between the man who generates the power and the man who needs it. So, what do we need?

If I live in Ogudu, I need a company to come there and produce power and run their cables to my house. I don’t need the nationalising of my problems in Ogudu.

Rather, I need a local solution to my local problems.

If I live on the Island and I need water, give me a reservoir that will supply me water at the local level so that when there is no water I could go to them and find out why there is no water. I don’t need to go to Abuja to ask why I don’t have water in Lagos. We must localise solutions to every local problem.

Look at every state, what do they have that you can generate power from? In Lagos, you can get wind power from the ocean.

There is no reason Lagos should be waiting for power from one station or the other outside Lagos State. In Ekiti and Ondo, you can use sawdust from their sawmills to generate electricity.

Cargill is doing it in Honduras successfully. In Plateau, Kogi and the South-East states, coal can be the preferred way of generating power.

If I live in Kebbi, I need solar energy due to availability of sunshine and wind energy in Katsina. These are open areas, where the wind speed is high and they make renewable energy successful. We don’t need to nationalise our solutions. No. I will totally deregulate and open up the electricity market. That is the way to go. In a short period of time, every Nigerian can begin to enjoy 24-hour electricity and job creation will be enhanced as more and more opportunities will be created as people free up their cash for investment.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Equities pare points W-o-W

A

ctivity in the Nigerian equities market ended the week low as the NSEASI dipped marginally by 0.08%, pegging the YtD (Year-to-date) return at 0.49%. However, the volume and value traded increased by 103.4% and 321.8% respectively vs. (64% and 45% declines) recorded in the previous week. Market mood was largely bearish for most part of the week as the market shed points for three out of the five trading days.

The gainers chart was topped by small cap stocks such as PREMBREW, with a week-on-week (W-o-W) return of 31.65%.

BETAGLAS, TRANSCORP, 7UP and UBA followed suit with returns of 10.17%, 6.64%, 5.69% and 5.26% respectively.

On the flip side, VONO, NEIMETH, CADBURY, MAYBAKER and DANGFLOUR share prices declined by 16.00%, 13.33%, 10.27%, 10.13% and 6.67% in that order.

We review the sector performance for the market whilst stating our expectation for the coming week below.

Banking: Massive gains at week close up sector index

The sector traded positive during the week as the MERI-BNK index closed with a 1.00% YtD gain. Six of the fifteen banking stocks closed positive; while another six counters traded negative, and three traded flat. The top three gainers for the week were UBA, GUARANTY and FBNH, appreciating by 5.26%, 4.80%, and 2.94% in that order. On the losers chart, DIAMONBK, FCMB, and WEMABANK declined by 1.61%, 1.16%, and 1.02% respectively.

ACCESS released H1:2014 numbers; Gross earnings and Profit before tax advanced by 15% and 4% respectively, as a combination of both increased income generation and increased operational efficiency boosted the bank’s performance in the quarter.

After consternation about GUARANTY’s H1:2014 performance had abated, the stock gained markedly (+4.8%) during the week, along with other banking stocks. We expect trading on banking stocks to generally oscillate over the next month until the guidelines from the CBN regarding calculation of capital either swings the sector positive or negative.

Industrial Goods: Bearish mood swings returns to -2.04% WtD

Market negative sentiment impaired sector’s performance as the MERI-IND index shed –2.04%. PORTPAINT gained 4.79% and emerged as the only industrial goods stock to close the week positive. The cement stocks, which had hitherto driven sector gains lost with DANGCEM shedding the most (2.16% to close at NGN225.00).

CCNN, ASHAKACEM and WAPCO also declined by 2.12%, 1.47% and 1.10% respectively, while BERGER followed suit by losing 2.17% during the week.

We believe the recent re-emergence of the bears during the week is due to the cautious trading on the part of investors as they continue to factor in the country’s rising security challenges ahead of the 2015 elections, as well as the continued northern insurgency. We however anticipate a reversal of the trend in the coming weeks given the attractiveness of the industrial goods sector on the back of expected increase in

…albeit, volume and value surge

nificantly drive trades, our expectations for the sector next week is muted. Our fair value estimates for OKOMUOIL, PRESCO and LIVESTOCK remain NGN32.40, NGN29.91 and NGN1.73 respectively.

Insurance: Rebounds to close positive

building and construction activities across the country.

Consumer Goods Sector: Sector Index stays negative

Sentiment on the consumer goods stocks stayed largely negative this week, as selling pressure on key sector players depressed the NSE-FB10 (which tracks the sector performance) by 0.23%.

PREMBREW, driven by unconfirmed rumours concerning its acquisition remained the best performer in the sector returning 31.65% for the week. BETAGLAS, 7UP, INTBREW and NASCON all closed in the green zone, appreciating by 10.17%, 5.69%, 3.70% and 2.93% respectively.

VONO led the decliners in the sector, shedding 16.00%. We also note a significant decline in the price of CADBURY, which pared by 10.27%. DANGFLOUR (-6.67), NNFM (-5.00%), GUINNESS (-2.63%), and PZ (-2.78%) were other tickers in the consumer good space that also traded below the waters for the week.

We do not foresee any trigger for the sector in the coming week, as earnings season draws to a close, though we still await the full year scorecard of GUINNESS which is was initially expected last month.

Oil & Gas: OANDO jettison industry negative sentiment

Sector wide losses were experienced in the share prices save OANDO which returned 3.78% to close at NGN27.45 and SEPLAT and MOBIL that traded flat. CONOIL led the laggards list returning -4.97%. MRS, ETERNA, FO and TOTAL followed in that order losing 4.33%, 2.36%, 0.95% and 0.56%.

From the technical stance, 14-day RSI indicated that MOBIL is tilting towards a fairly valued region, while MRS, TOTAL and OANDO are in the oversold region.

However, our fundamental valuation supports TOTAL and ETERNA, while FO, MRS and CONOIL remain overpriced.

Agriculture: OKOMUOIL drags sector WtD return

The sector closed the week on a negative note as it shed 2.59% to peg sector YtD return at -13.96%.

In line with technical indicators, which pointed to a possible price correction in coming weeks, OKOMUOIL shed 5.40% in the week to settle at NGN34.50. LIVESTOCK on the other hand gained 2.18% while PRESCO and other sector stocks remained flat.

In the absence of any major news to sig-

The insurance sector closed the week on a positive inching up by 0.35%. The gainers’ chart was led by INTENEGINS which recorded price appreciation of 4.00% on the last day of trading. WAPIC also closed the week with 3.95% gain.

CONTINSURE witnessed moderate levels of position taking as its price appreciated by 2.04%. We are of the opinion that the counter is currently trading at its support level given the negative sentiments that greeted its H1:2014 result, and the divestment news of her major shareholder. Also contributing to the sector’s performance was CUSTODYINS which gained 1.60% w-o-w.

The sector’s laggards for the week were ROYALEX and CORNERST as their prices waned by 4.92% and 3.39% respectively.

ROYALEX price decline was due to profit taking given the rally it enjoyed following the release of its recent financial results.

We are still optimistic of further resurgence in CONTINSURE as we expect investors’ negative sentiments to subside before FY2014. From technical stance, we are moderately bullish on CUSTODYINS and MANSARD even though fundamental valuation suggests they are currently trading around their intrinsic value.

Healthcare: Sector shed 0.02%

Trading activity was relatively calm as three stocks recorded price movements; although the sector index level declined marginally by 0.02%.

NEIMETH recorded the highest decline in price, shedding 13.33%. This might be related to profit taking following a significant +11.11% return it posted in the preceding week. The sell off on MAYBAKER persisted this week shedding 10.13% (vs.

2.74% in the previous week).

On the converse, EVANSMED rebounded from previous week’s decline advancing by 2.50% (vs. -6.98% the previous week). Other counters in the sector closed flat.

While we suggest that investors should take position in counters with sound fundamentals such as FIDSON, we are also believe that some counters can deliver strong returns within a short holding period.

Services: …a good week of trading for the sector

The sector witnessed a robust week of trading contrary to general negative mood in the market. Based on the MERISER index, the sector gained 3.56% WtD, driven mainly by TRANSCORP (+6.64% to NGN6.1) and REDSTAREX (+4.35% to NGN4.8). RT Briscoe took a breather from previous week’s loss as the ticker gained 1.16% to close at NGN0.87.

CAVERTON continued on a downtrend trend during the week as the stock shed 5.0%. AIRSERVICE, ABCTRANS and IKEJAHOTEL also declined by 3.24%, 2.86% and 1.28% respectively.

South-East

39

BEATS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

AUGUST 31, 2014

Ngige: PDP won't have upper hands in 2015 elections

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here was election penultimate Saturday in Osun State where APC won. What is your impression about the election?

My party won the election convincingly.

We defeated our major opponent, who is the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a wide margin. He scored about 292,000 votes while our candidate scored 394,000 and won overwhelmingly in 23 local governments. Therefore, one would say that because we won, we would not say that that election had pitfalls. Two important things there are that, first and foremost, the state was over militarised and secondly, our strong supporters, the key people who anchored our elections in their local governments were hounded. If you go to Ede-North, Senator Isiaka Adeleke who is a former Governor was hounded. In fact, he couldn’t cast his vote because they went to his house, looking for him, hooded people in masks and fully armed. He had to escape from the accreditation line when his family members alerted him. Whereas distinguished colleague again in Osogbo, Senator representing the area from 2003 to 2007 in the Senate, was also hounded. In his own case, they actually arrested him. Lai Mohammed, our spokesman who left his hotel room and was among those driving to the Governor’s Lodge to join other people who were in the control room in Government House, -because we had about three different control rooms.

We had one that was general in nature and we had one that was inside Government House and we had another one in the campaign office. Then, they arrested Lai and arrested one other technical person working with us who is an Assistant to former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Mr. Sunday Dare. They arrested them for no just cause and without reason. Even as I speak now, some Commissioners, Special Assistants and Advisers who were arrested are still in detention. So, even though Osun people rose up in defence of their votes, in defence of their sovereignty, one would not say that there wasn’t intimidation in Osun State. There was a mighty and gargantuan show of force aimed at cowing and intimidating the people because in the main, the people of Osun State were ACN supporters and sympathisers. So, I am telling you on good authority that if we remove for those elements of intimidation, our candidate would have gotten double the votes that he got, especially in his area Ijesha, Ilesha and even in Ebe. And these are the populous areas-Osogbo, Ijesha, Ife and Ede. But if you go to Ife, the PDP candidate had a field day. They allowed his people to come.

They allowed them to mix freely with the polling clerks and everybody and you can see the result that they produced from there. So, that result from Ife is a rigged result. It is a rigged result. I mean the result of Ife, the three local governments of Ife. How would you assess the logistics for the election in Osun compared to what happened in Anambra?

In terms of logistics planning, INEC did better than they did in Anambra. Anambra was a colossal failure for INEC in terms of logistics.

In terms of staff deployment, personnel deployment for the Anambra election, INEC did not even get a pass mark. And in terms of corruption of the electoral process in the Anambra elections, which means colluding with one political party against the others, which

Former governor of Anambra State and Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district, in the National Assembly, Dr Chris Ngige, in this interview with TONY OKAFOR in Awka, spoke on national issues, including his legal battle with Governor Willie Obiano over the state’s 2013 governorship poll

Ngige

means the Resident Electoral Commissioner deploying APGA people as ad-hoc staff, which also means and connotes and entails disenfranchisement of voters in areas where my party in particular, All Progressives Congress was strong, in areas of Idemili North, Idemili South, parts of Ogbaru, especially Okpoko, parts of Awka South, especially areas where previous results show that the former ACN had been able to do wonderfully well like Government House area, GRA, St Thomas Aquinas, Esther Obiakor booths, all those areas were starved of electoral materials, such that voting could not take place in those places. And then I had to score zero and for them also to score zero. But in the final analysis, our party was the biggest loser. So, compared side by side with what we saw in Osun, where the people were very resolute and were ready to die and confront any security men, I will say that INEC had been pressurised to improve. This improvement, I don’t know whether they can carry it on to 2015. We will watch and see what they do in the bye-election of Adamawa which is coming up in the next two months because Adamawa as you all know is an APC-friendly state.

Why did you say so?

It is our stronghold. It is an APC state. So, I use this opportunity to congratulate our brother, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

You talked about militarisation in Osun.

Would you say that this may have contributed to the loss of Ekiti because APC didn’t envision the large presence of security men and therefore lost as a result?

Yes, partly, it was one of the major reasons.

We were prepared for this over militarisation.

I am a member of the National Election Com-

mittee of APC and we visited Osun State twice before the election to assess the situation on ground. And in our last visit, the militarization has started. So, we did indoctrination and sensitization of our party members, to the extent that we had a leadership structure in every booth that had alternates. If you arrest one person, there is another person to take over. If you arrest that person that has taken over, there is another person to take over. We did that structure, expecting what had happened and they played that game.

And you know that in military warfare, if you know the strength of your enemy, and know the war tactics that he uses, you will be able to confront him, to stop him on his track.

So, Osun people were not afraid of all the guns and the hooded and masked people that they saw because we told them that they were coming. But my take again on this is that in the general election, it will not be solitary election.

Election will be taking place in all the states of the federation at the same time. So, where do you get this number of soldiers or number of police and State Security operatives to pump into one state? You will see that you can’t do it then because everything will be spread fairly to the states where the people are already based. May be they can earmark some few states and do the over militarisation there but then, we will again apply our Osun strategy in dealing with such situation. My worry about 2015 is that INEC will not then be in a position to dispense with Resident Electoral Commissioners. Jega will not be able to dispense with them-the commissioners that are corrupt or deemed corrupt or who are compromised themselves with politicians like the man in Anambra State.

In our election, he claimed that we did not write a petition, asking for the man to be transferred. In Osun, PDP wrote a petition

and did a press conference and the man was transferred, Rufus Akeju and a new person was brought. In Anambra State, the man there had been there before the last general election, conducted general elections, conducted governorship election and conducted byeelections and everything and he is angling to stay there again and do the next general elections. We are saying no to that. Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra, Emeka Onukaogu should leave. We are not satisfied with the manner he discharges his duties Like my local government in Idemili South, was flooded with known APGA sympathizers. Some of them are lecturers in Nnamdi Azikiwe University and some of them were fake NYSC people. So, for such a man, he has no business conducting any election anywhere in Nigeria. The trick is simple. He will train ad-hoc staff and returning officers from federal institutions and in the morning of the election, he will drop them and say that they failed to appear, that they did not come and then he will bring the already arranged fake people, train them that morning and post them. And it will be an emergency posting in which nobody will then start blaming him because he labeled the other people as absentee people even though those people had appeared. Therefore Professor Attahiru Jega has some in-house cleansing to do. He has to find a recipe for dealing with Resident Electoral Commissioners who by their own appointment enjoy the same status with him.

He cannot sack any of them but he can redeploy them with the full consent of other commissioners in the commission or concurrence of other members of the commission; and you that in any establishment, when the top is not good, it goes down the line to the tail.

Therefore, he has to do a house cleansing before 2015 and also do some personnel readjustments, which I think will include getting special assistants answerable to him, to his office, to get down to the various states and monitor independently what is happening and based in those states, at least six months before the election. And during the elections, they will also be reporting to him. Take for example, I wrote a petition in 2011 after the Senate election on what the Resident Electoral Commissioner had done. They invited the same Electoral Commissioner and he sat in the Electoral Commission with them and gave his own version. His version was what was taken. I was not invited. When a petition is not frivolous, when a petition has a person with an identity, in government parlance, you don’t treat such a petition as if it is anonymous. It can never be an anonymous petition. It is an anonymous petition that you can ignore. If the petitioner has a name, he should come and prove his point. It might be beneficial to you at the end of the day, towards the improvement of your commission. So, I recommend all these to him, a total overhaul of his personnel disposition.

You condemned what happened in Anambra State and you are at the Supreme Court, challenging the election of Governor Willie CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

40

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

South-East Beats

August return: Church, medical expert clash over family planning Uwakwe Abugu

L Enugu

ast Sunday when members of the Catholic Women Organisation (Home and Abroad) of St. Patrick's Catholic Parish, Olido in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State converged on the church and relished a lecture on healthcare delivery, it was issues of reproductive health that took the centre stage. Expectedly, this drew the attention of not just the women but also the Catholic and other clerics present on the occasion.

For the excited women who had returned to the quiet country side for their annual August return, the lecture planned to avail them of the gains of a good knowledge of current issues on their health. It also provided a fertile ground for what turned out as another arena for the advancement of the rivalry between orthodox medical practice and the moralistic teachings of the Catholic Church on family planning.

Chairperson of the Olido Catholic Women Organisation(Home and Abroad), Mrs. Mary Ugwuanyi, and members of her executive had invited Dr. Ejiofor Ugwu, a consultant physician, to speak on the general health of women.

It was an issue that appeared to be of interest to the Catholic women, many of whom have been grappling with some health problems bordering on aging and associated ailments.

They also had enquiries about reproductive health and general health issues at the core of the people's interest.

Ugwu delivered an engaging lecture, employing both the indigenous Enugu-Ezike dialect and passable English as media of communication. Among the issues that attracted many questions from the enthusiastic women were menopause and crisis in menstrual cycle, blood sugar and implications and dietary matters.

Also handled by the medical expert was the nagging issue of blood pressure --hypertension/hypotension. The doctor told the women that what causes hypotension most of the time is abuse of drugs by those who keep taking hypertension drugs without recourse to medical attention.

He warned the women not to join the dangerous bandwagon of self-medication, noting that they should also avoid attributing signs of ill-health to superstitious inclinations. On the issue of rampant cases of blood sugarrelated problems, he warned that such affect the nerves and that people must always seek the advice of medical experts on such matters.

Little did Ugwu know that he was courting trouble when he responded to a young lady’s question on the use of an intra-uterine device.

The lady had said that her friend developed bleeding complications arising from the use of the device. The stirrings of a controversy could be seen in the unease of a priest, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Azegba, parish priest of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, Ikem in Isi-Uzo council area of the state who was present. Although he waited till it was his time to speak, he passed side comments to the host parish priest, Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Ukweze, and Pastor Boniface Obeta, the president of Olido Abroad Union who had come from Nnewi in Anambra State to also speak to the women on the ideals of development drive in the community.

Although Ugwu did not promote the use of the artificial device by the women, he merely advised its patrons to also look out for signs that could present themselves and that may not have arisen from the use of the device.

But Fr. Azegba spoke vehemently against any form of use device for family planning other than what he called "the natural family planning approved by the church". He warned the women not to use any device but to adhere strictly to the natural method, insisting that the church had declared that the artificial method was morally unacceptable since it was anti-life essentially. In fact, he declared to the Catholic women that "the artificial method as pointed out by the woman who asked the question is against the teaching of the Catholic Church on

the issue of family planning and nobody who is a good practising Catholic should use it."

Fr. Ukweze agreed with him while Obeta who praised the women for their development drive both in the church and within the entire community when he addressed them did not specifically allude to the controversial family planning talk, appeared to have agreed with the Catholic priests.

Aside the family planning matter, the doctor also drew the attention of the women to the threat of osteoporosis, which he said is the cause of waist pain experienced by aging women. He also spoke on premature menopause, urging those affected to refer such a development to a medical doctor immediately and not regard it as a normal thing.

After the family planning controversy, Fr. Azegba who hails from the community and is its first Catholic priest, spoke of the significance of August meetings initiated by the Catholic Church and said it is a celebration of the assumption of the body of Virgin Mary into heaven. He thanked them for their outstanding contributions to the infrastructural development of the Catholic Church in Olido.

The women organisation which has been credited with being largely instrumental to the building of the parish house also raised over N1 million during this year's August meeting.

A cross-section of the women

Ngige: PDP won't have upper hand in 2015 elections C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 9

Obiano. What is you candid assessment of his administration so far?

Well, I won’t be able to do a good assessment for two reasons. First, the man who is on the saddle is about 130 days in office. He did his 100 days in office. I wonder why he should be stretching himself trying to commission buses and commission certain things.

I don’t believe in that 100 days in office thing, because 100 days is about three months. It is not enough for anybody to settle down and do something tangible as such, more so when the person has not been in government. The new governor has not been in government before. He was in the private sector. He is not a public sector man. So, I won’t go to assess him. For now, he says the major thing he is doing is security. I won’t also assess him by the number of various Hilux pickups donated to the Nigeria Police or given to vigilante services in the state. I will assess him when the results start coming out. For now, kidnapping is still going on. For now, armed robbery is still going on. So, I will be unfair if I start assessing him seriously now. May be I will do that after his one year in office. And I am in court. If I also start doing anything now, I will be a jaundiced assessor. Any assessment that I make will be jaundiced. And I am jaundiced in my view because I think that he didn’t get in there the proper way. I have nothing against his person. He is an amiable person. And those who dealt with him know him and say he is an honest person. They also say he is frank like me. He talks straight. I don’t do double speak. I don’t do double talk. So, I don’t want to be unfair to him now.

The 2015 elections are fast approaching. Are you contesting for any office?

The election is about seven months away.

And six/seven months away is a lot of time in politics. A lot of things can change. But we learnt party primaries will hold in October.

Primaries start in October. My party will do its presidential primaries first. We are starting with presidential and from there we move to other primaries. Positions that are there to be contested are many.

President-I am qualified to be President.

I can contest it. It doesn’t then make it an Anambra election. There is also Senate or National Assembly. Well, National Assembly, but I cannot be a Senator and then go back to House of Representatives. That again is a seat that is available to be contested for. But more importantly, I am in the court challenging the last governorship election of November 16.

We have just finished at the Court of Appeal. Our lawyers have submitted their papers to the Supreme Court and if you look here, you will see my own copy. They just delivered them. If the Supreme Court says that the election in Anambra State was not right and agrees with APC and PDP that there were electoral flaws that made for non-substantial compliance by INEC with the Electoral Laws in declaring Chief Willie Obiano as the governor of the state, and ordering a rerun, then we will go for a rerun election. If they also finds that Obiano did multiple registration in two places and also did a transfer of his old registration in Lagos State which is a third registration, and they concur with us that he placed two voters cards which to all intents and purposes are voting certificates, voters ID certificates, and extrapolates from there to affidavit he swore in CF001, that we are not presenting any forged certificates because that is what we asked. If they extrapolate into that and agree with our counsels that these voters cards are voters certificates, voters identification certificates, it then means that one of them was forged. And if it is forged, it has contravened information given in form CF001 because people mistake that area of forged certificate to mean only academic certificates from institutions whereas a certificate is anything that certifies you as Mr. A or Mr. B. of this particular identity. And that is what also we have. It is a voter’s card because it has a voters identification number. It identifies you with a voter’s identification number called VIN. It identifies you with an address.

It identifies you with your trade or business.

It identifies you with your photographs, everything. So, it is a certificate. So, if they agree with us, they will disqualify Willie Obiano as prayed and then order for fresh election. But if they don’t do that, we will leave them to God. We will leave the whole matter to God for final judgment and in which case if they agree with us like I said, we will rerun election. And I will be qualified to run. If it were a question of whether I choose to run or I don’t choose to run, it would depend on my party.

Is it not the party that chooses people?

It is not the party that chooses people. It is the candidates that choose. They choose and present to the party and the party will do a run check on the person. But we have gotten to that stage.

From the grapevine, we learnt the Vice Presidential candidate of APC has been reserved for you. Is this true?

Where did this grape come from and where did the vine come from? In which vineyard is this vine coming from?

But we thought it has been zoned?

We have not zoned any position of our party.

We have not. As a matter of fact, organs of our party are now being put in place.

Speculations have also been all over the place that President Goodluck Jonathan who is your very good friend has been pestering you to join PDP to run for Senate in 2015. Is this true?

President Jonathan is my personal friend.

We used to sit in Council of State together when I was governor, because we sit in alphabetical order and we have remained friends ever since he was vice president until when he eventually became president. Now, there is no law that for two persons to be friends forever or continue to maintain their mutuality, they must belong to the same political party. As a matter of fact, you can lose your friend when you go into the same political party. So, to me, being in different political parties does not matter. What matters to me is good governance for the country. Good governance, credible, strong, good governance for the country, government that can be able to provide power supply, electricity to the people so that generator importers, sellers and distributors will be out of business. A government that is able to give jobs to our youths. We have teeming thousands of youths out there in the streets and our universities keep on mass producing and piling every year. Every year, universities in Nigeria graduate with the polytechnics about 240,000 persons. That is what they pour into the labour market. And when you don’t give jobs to these people, the devil will find jobs for them. I can bet anything to prove that 50 percent of those in Boko Haram are unemployed youths in the North-East of Nigeria.

And when this job of Boko Haram came out, they willingly accepted, going further with the brainwashing that is given to them going by their religion.

So, I am interested in a government that will provide jobs for the people and also interested in a government that will give infrastructure, roads, railways, rail tracks. I am interested in such a government. I am interested in a government that also does industrialisation because it is not government that will give everybody jobs. It is the industries. We import tooth picks. Why should we be doing that?

We import everything importable.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Abuja Beats

Abuja Beats

Is Abuja BRT a failed project?

14, 2014. I don’t think banning Araba is the problem. Even when Araba was in operation, people still queued on the road to board vehicles.”

He posited that the FCT administration has adequate buses and that the problem of passengers crowding bus stops only happens during peak periods.

Ughamadu added, “The FCT BRT is not a failure. We were waiting for funds to stuff the plastic barriers with concrete and place them back on the roads.”

O

Amadi Nnamdi

ver the years, the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Transport Secretariat has continually evolved transport policies hinged on its vision statement of “provision of an effective and efficient transportation system in the Federal capital Territory through proactive planning, effective monitoring, safe accident-free and infrastructural development in consonance with the Abuja Transportation Master Plan to meet the expectations of public.”

Unfortunately, despite all measures put in place by successive FCT administrators to checkmate the problem of inadequate means of transportation like the purchase of cars for taxi services, the banning of the green commercial transportation mini buses popularly known as ‘Araba’ and the introduction of high capacity buses in preparation for the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) among other measures commuters in the capital city are still lamenting over what they described as “inadequate means of transportation.”

The huge crowds seen at bus stops and parks in the morning and evenings waiting to board vehicles is a clear testimony that indeed the capital city is in urgent need of more means of transportation.

Some private car owners due to the inadequacies have resorted to carrying commuters for fees sometimes more than the fees charged by the commercial transporters.

Some of them now see it as a means of earning extra income while others like Samuel Akeh, a civil servant in one of the government ministries, see it as means of helping people.

This practice has severally ignited feuds between commercial taxi drivers and these ‘Good Samaritans’, whom they see as trying to deny them of their source of livelihood.

New Telegraph on Sunday ran into one of these civil servants who use their private cars to convey commuters in the mornings before or while going to work and evenings after or while returning from work.

Upon enquiries on why he chooses to carry passengers, he said, “As the economy is now, there is the need for one to have multiple sources of income. You and I know that what we earn from our of-

Utako Park: Investor pays

N1bn obligation fee fices is not enough to cater for our family’s needs. Our take home pay is not even enough to take us home,” he added.

Emmanuel Ije for his own part chided the FCTA for its inability to provide adequate means of transportation for residents of the capital city. As for him, private motorists like him are helping government to accomplish what it has failed to provide to the citizenry.

On their part, registered members of recognised transportation unions are angry with the rampant scenario where they are left to scramble for passengers with civil servants and other private and unregistered car owners after all the series of multiple taxations and levies upon them by the authorities.

Baring his mind on this, a taxi driver lamented over the fact that they pay N200 to AMAC and N100 to their union daily.

Also they are required to buy stickers yearly, noting that despite all this, unregistered private car owners still carry passengers at the same rate as they do.

Meanwhile as residents of FCT continue to bemoan the delay in the take off the BRT system which they believe will ease the transportation difficulty they are currently experiencing, many have began to express doubts about the BRT system, owing to the fact that the plastic delineators reportedly purchased with over N20 million for the take-off of the BRT are lying abandoned by road sides along the Abuja/Keffi expressway.

While assuring the public about the reality of the BRT project and the obstacles

militating against its progress and completion, the Head, Public Relations, FCT Transport Secretariat, Ifeanyi Ughamadu, confirmed that, “Yes, the road delineators are there on the side of the roads as you witnessed. What we are trying to do in the next few months is to stuff these plastic barriers with concrete to make them a little bit heavier, so that vehicles cannot be smashing them or hitting them anyhow when they are placed on the road.

“So we are trying to do a pilot exercise on that in the next few months. Since the budget is out, we will source the funds and do the initial filling and put them back on the road.”

Ughamadu argued that the FCT BRT plastic barriers are the same with the ones available at other places like Lagos, therefore waving aside the speculation that the ones in other cities are not filled with concrete.

“The FCT BRT barrier structure was modeled after the one of Lagos, because the FCT administration’s technical team went to Lagos and under studied theirs.

The only difference is that our roads are not too wide, but the real BRT is in the offing. This is just an experimental BRT. We want to tell FCT residents to expect the real BRT. The real BRT will have the complete design. The roads will be wider that what we have currently.

“The FCT transport system boasts of some terminals where the buses can pick and discharge passengers like the ones at Berger, Area 3, Area 1 and Nyanya where the bomb blasts occurred on April

Land swap targets N3.2trn -Minister Yekeen Nurudeen

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inister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has said that the nation’s capital stands to benefit over N3.2trillion secondary investment from the ongoing land swap initiative.

He stated this in Abuja while receiving the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by its President, Ademola Olorunfemi.

He noted that apart from N3.2 trillion, the sum of N450 billion is already accru-

ing to the FCT Administration from the land swap primary investment, which is the cost of infrastructure to be provided by the investors.

Mohammed, who described Abuja as a national mega engineering project and Nigerian success story, lauded NSE’s contributions to the development of the model city.

The minister described the Abuja land swap as the first of its kind in Africa, which has only been realised during the transformational period of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration.

While promising to allocate a befitting plot of land for NSE to construct its head office, he challenged the society to muster all its contacts to get all the needed resources to build a gigantic edifice.

The minister also promised to support the proposed international engineering conference scheduled for Abuja; stressing that such a conference would open Abuja to the world and avail the territory new frontiers.

While speaking, Olorunfemi solicited for the continued cooperation of the FCT Administration and NSE for the mutual benefit of both bodies.

Yekeen Nurudeen

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inister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has said that Intercity Transport Nigeria limited has met its obligation to the stakeholders of Utako Park, paving the way for seamless deployment of personnel and equipment to rebuilding the park.

Akinjide stated this when she inaugurated a 14-member Ministerial Project Implementation Committee for the development of Utako Motor Park, tasking it to move and clear the place for the developer to move in with its equipment and commence work.

She noted that there were some preconditions to the contract that were to be fulfilled by the investor, explaining that those were the activities that delayed the commencement of work on the park since its agreement was signed in April 2014.

She gave the assurance that the 48-month duration of the project still stands.

She said they paid N1bn to defray the cost of all kinds of legal financial rights by various stakeholders to be able to access the area for the needed development that would be benefit the citizens which was part of the conditions to commence work.

“Today we can safely say that the investors have fulfilled all their own preconditions in terms of putting money on the table; especially to satisfy all the existing right which they met on ground at Utako Motor Park.

They had to provide money to defray the cost of people who had any kind of legal rights to the site which I think is up to the tune of N1bn to defray all those expenses which they have done and there are other things like credit guarantee, project guarantee, certificates that the need to obtain which everything is now in place. So, I believe that work will begin in earnest very quickly now,” the minister stated.

The committee is expected to partner the investor to finalise and adopt the design for the new Utako Transport Terminal; ensure delivery of the vacant site for the developer to effectively commence work; inspect and monitor on periodic basis and ensure that the project is completed within the cycle of 48 months period as pledged by the organisation.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Abuja Beats What was the driving force that pushed you into hair dressing?

I just have passion for it. I see it as a very noble profession. Actually, what is happening to this work is that the women are going out of it and guys are taking over the business.

How did you get involved in this business?

I just grew up to love the work and also I had the intention of learning a job that I can do while in school so as to support myself financially. My vision for this work goes beyond school. The school aspect of the job is to give me the basic knowledge of life. I have the intention of taking this profession to the next level. I want to acquire more professional skills so as to be in charge of hair, nails, lashes and make-up.

Why men are taking over hairdressing business -Igwe

Success Igwe is seeking admission into a tertiary institution but he is already gainfully employed as a hairdresser. He is a hair stylist in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He discusses his vision in this interview with OBINNA ODOH

What other work or profession would you like to take after your education?

I want to go for professional training and acquire more skills in make-up so that when I am invited for a wedding, I can handle the work in full; not looking for somebody to do it for me.

Are you a student now and what level are you?

Yes, I’m done with secondary school.

I’m now looking for admission to a higher institution I just wrote PostUTME and I’m waiting for the result and admission.

What can you do perfectly in this business?

I do pedicure, fixing of eye lashes, nails and hair. Now I want to learn make-up so that I can be in charge of the work.

Where did you learn this skill?

I learnt it in Abuja, Kuje Area Council to be precise. I had both female and male masters. The owner of the shop was a Yoruba woman but she employed both males and females who are professionally skilled. She was importing men who are skilled in the field from Lagos and these guys are Yoruba but girls are employed from within Abuja.

Her shop is the biggest salon in Kuje.

She has about three shops in Kuje and guys are being posted to those shops and they are well paid.

What is make-up all about?

Make-up is all about polishing the face through the use of machines and other cosmetics materials to make it look better. And this is popularly done by women though some men do engage in it but very few of men apply make-up in their faces. What I want to do is everything; let’s use wedding as an example. I want to take the contract and do everything: the nails, lashes, hair and also makeup. Not just do one and look for someone else to do the rest. I want to do the lashes, nails, hair and even make-up. I want to be complete in this work. That is why I’m planning for further training.

Now are you the master of your own or still under someone?

I’m on my own.

What is the level of patronage?

Really, the place I’m now is a new place but I’m doing well. These days, women prefer men making their hair for them than their fellow women. Why did I say so? It is because of my personal experience from where I learnt the work and what I have seen since I started my own. This shop you see me in is not my own. It is owned by the woman you see there but we do our business based on ‘work and share’. The first week I spent here I made about N9,500. Second week, I made N15,000 and in the third week I made N18,000. And after that I had to travel for the post-UTME and since I came back things are yet to pick.

My customers are not all aware that I have returned. I have been trying to reach out and bring them back. The woman that I do combined business with told me that she almost closed down the business until my arrival for lack of patronage. Since I returned, the situation has been reversed.

What do you think is different in your services from that of your female counterparts?

Passion and nothing but passion. Most females think that this is their job and as such don’t take nonsense from anybody.

They sometimes don’t attach a high level of commitment to it. Also, women don’t have all the patience required to sustain the ladies. We guys know how to treat ladies. We know how to handle customers (ladies) that will always spur them come back tomorrow but women lack those qualities.

It is said that customers are always right.

How true is that?

The truth of this matter can only be applied and approved in the business world where interest is centered on profit making to grow your business.

But literally it is not true. Sometimes, customers could be wrong but in order not to lose that customer there is

How much do you make out of this business?

I make like N5000 weekly, that is after expenses but remember I told you that I share whatever profit I make with the owner of this shop. I don’t make much here. I am just managing here pending when I get a better place. Patronage is a major challenge I have here. This location is not really paying compared to where I learned my work. The place I learned the work is on Secretariat Road and the business is booming there. But here we are struggling to pick up but I’m optimistic that business will pick up if not today but definitely tomorrow.

a way you approach them to keep the relationship intact. But this is where our female counterparts in the business cannot stand at all. No woman is ready to take nonsense from any woman at any given time but we guys can do it and even do it with smiling faces simply not to lose that one. And you know there are competitors. If you don’t take care of your customers you may lose them to your competitors. That is why we are maximally patient with them and relate with them very well but women don’t do so. We are different people from

women and women are different people from their fellow women. And I think and believe that the opposite attracts.

We have this very way of calming them down and pleasing them when the need arises for the sole aim of sustainability and continuity.

So what you are implying is that men are already in charge in the business?

That is not what I mean. What I mean is that men know how to manage women and manage business better than ladies.

Most females think that this is their job and as such don’t take nonsense from anybody. They sometimes don’t attach a high level of commitment to it. Also, women don’t have all the patience required to sustain the ladies.

We guys know how to treat ladies. We know how to handle customers (ladies) that will always spur them come back tomorrow but women lack those qualities

What do you have to say to your fellow youths?

I’m advising my fellow young people that the opportunities outside there are so much that people shouldn’t remain idle. Therefore, they need to go and identify with one. Opportunities are plenty out there. I don’t believe that there is no job. It’s just because some people want to go into something that they want people to respect them for even when they cannot get there or fit in there. When I wanted to learn this work initially I had N5000 which I paid as advance payment. This was because that was all I could raise but later when I started working gradually I paid the balance ofN5000 to my master. Then I couldn’t afford it at a go but by being focused and consistent I was afforded with the opportunity of learning the job. Money may pose some challenges in one’s life but cannot stop any serious minded person. When you doggedly resist it by being persistent, eventually you will scale through. My fellow young people please and please instead of carrying your files and CVs for several years looking for job, start doing something now. Before long, you will have testimonies to give.

or occasion (except of course a wedding!), you can be sure that your leggings will find a place to give you the required glamour.

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Body&Soul

Funky Varsityinspired jackets Vanessa Okwara

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hen it comes to fashion trends, nothing will ever be too new or too old. It’s a continuous cycle and a reinvention of styles. Making a comeback in the male fashion world is the Varsity jacket, aka ‘Letterman jacket’.

The Varsity-inspired jacket is a zipper or button-fastened clothing that can serve as both a jacket and a cardigan at the same time. The Varsity jacket, which originated in America, was given to high sport performers in high schools and colleges. The first educational institution to wear varsity jackets was Harvard in 1865 by their baseball team. Since then, these jackets have moved from being and attire for

sportsmen in high schools and colleges to cool jackets for the fly and trendy to wear. These days, the letterman-style jackets do not represent an actual school, but is simply a fashion statement.

The classic Varsity jacket makes of guys look dapper and romantic. It gives a trendy guy the opportunity to pull off the funkiest looks and to feel young again just like in the university days. The jacket may seem sporty, and quite boyish, yet it is one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your closet. Pairing it with simple outfits like jeans, shorts, sneakers, T-shirts, polo, chinos, and baseball caps can give you that boyish, sporty look.

Music stars and fun loving guys often step out in their varsity-inspired

jacket for a cool evening at the club, and evening events that do not require red carpet dressing. They have always been a great option for a sporty and masculine casual jacket.

The beauty of the varsity-inspired jacket is that you can throw them over anything you have in your wardrobe and still come out looking stylish. With some careful consideration, the varsity jacket can elevate your looks. Team the varsity jacket with a white shirt or T-shirt and a solid pair of loafers or sneakers. Never pair corporate dress trousers or shoes with varsity jackets.

Since we are in the cold and wet season, this piece of garment is much needed to keep warm as you step out to have a fun evening with friends.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Men are also victims of abuse

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here is always societal uproar when a man abuses a woman. The evidence is always there for all to see - the swollen red eyes, bruises all over her body and the occasional broken bones. When such physical abuse is meted on a woman, society angrily calls for the head of that man on a platter and they have a right to do so. Inflicting physical injuries on a woman is a breach of her fundamental human rights. No woman deserves to be treated like an animal.

After driving the nail hard on the men in last week’s article, ‘Sleeping with the enemy’, where I described a husband who physically abuses his wife as her ‘enemy’, I got a lot of frowns from the men via E-mails. They are of the opinion that I was grossly unfair in the treatment of that topic. Someone asked me ‘what happens in the case where a man is abused by his wife, who bails him out?’ I laughed because it’s amusing that a woman can physically abuse a man. Where has the man’s single bone disappeared to? Even if it was so, that woman has to be a descendant of Dick Tiger or Samuel Peter, ‘the Nigerian Nightmare’ boxing champion to have the power to beat up her man singlehandedly without getting a double dose of her own medicine. It is indeed a rarity to see a woman physically abuse a man. (Although I’ve been told it actually happens.)

All the same, men bemoan the fact that

they are also abused by their women but in a more subtle and deadlier way -verbal abuse. This kind of abuse does not have any physical evidence to show as damage but it targets the emotional psyche of a man, eats up his self esteem and virtually destroys his overall self confidence as the head of the home.

They usually come down in torrents of harsh words filled with so much venom, even more deadly than that of a cobra.

You hear such hurtful words like: you are a useless, good for nothing man!

You cannot even provide for your family; your mates are making it out there but you are such a lazy, jobless man!

Terrible words like these can break even the strongest man. Verbal abuse attacks the inert abilities and worth of a man. Do you know verbal abuse can sometimes be more lethal than physical abuse? Physical wounds can heal when given the right medical treatment, but there’s no medicine that can heal the man who has been verbally abused by his wife or girlfriend. Those harsh

words are like a tape recorder he carries around with him on a daily basis.

They will keep playing in his head, destroying his will power and sense of self-worth.

I met a man recently who said living with his wife is like walking through a landmine in which the explosives shift locations. He does not know what he will do next that will bring down the rain of abuses on his head and his generation. His wife uses hurtful abusive words on him at the slightest provocation. He dreads coming home early because that will mean giving space for confrontation. He cannot have a meaningful conversation with his wife without it degenerating to verbal war where hateful words are thrown at him like missiles, piercing his very soul. To avoid such wars, he resorts to staying away from home most times. He deliberately leaves the office late or stops over at a bar to drink with his friends before heading home and straight for his bedroom in the wee hours of the morning.

That way, he avoids his wife’s incessant naggings.

A verbally abusive woman always comes out as manipulative and controlling. She wants everything done her own way, else she starts spitting fire and brimstone. She enjoys criticising, screaming, yelling, swearing, full of sarcasm, exaggerating your flaws, and making fun of you in front of others, including the children. A verbally abusive woman wearies her lover and most times castrates the male ego; reducing him to a mere vegetable.

A lot of women have driven their husbands from the house into another woman’s arms by reason of their caustic tongue. Such women should be careful not to be the architect of their own divorce.

If you are a man reading this and you are not yet married and have noticed these signs in the woman you want to marry, it is wise you take a step back and look more critically at that relationship and ask yourself if you can live with such a woman for the rest of your life. If you are already married and find yourself entangled with a verbally abusive woman, it is advisable to seek counsel probably from your local church, Imam or an elderly person in her family whom she respects and listens to. Maybe they can talk some sense into her. Life is too short to spend it living with someone who verbally makes you feel like a worthless person.

There was a country with an accidental public servant

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book never dies and its content far outlives the author. I have always argued this to be true and my opinion has not changed after a recent visit to my mentor, Nduka Otiono.

He opened his library to me and I had the priviledge of reading two somewhat controversial books -‘There was A Country’

by Chinua Achebe and ‘The Accidental Public Servant’ by Nasir El Rufai.

I have refrained from commenting on these two books despite all the controversies that they generated when they were both released. Judging from some of the comments I read when ‘There Was a Country’ was released, I observed that one of two things was at play, either most of the commentators have been blinded by ethnic sentiments or they simply have not read the book before jumping on the ethnic band wagon. Sadly, this is also true of certain ones who were defending the book. Academic and secular commitments have meant that I have not been able to read the aforementioned books until my visit to Otiono and only now do I feel confident enough to talk about those books.

There Was a Country is an exceptional book in terms of content and style.

Achebe weaved a narrative that reads like a novel and yet still retains that feel of an autobiography; a personal history interwoven with the history of an ethnic tribe. It is indeed a story filled with pain and suffering and for any sane human, a learning process for anyone who cares enough for the future of Nigeria. A Yoruba proverb says “To go forward, we must look behind so as not to repeat the mistakes already made.”

That is the poignancy of the book; the fact that it reminded Nigerians of their

ugly past and why they must never allow it happen again. This was lost on most of the readers who only read it as the narrative of an Igbo man. Strangely, I think Achebe has made similar points in previous books such as ‘Morning Yet on Creation Day’ and ‘Trouble With Nigeria.’ Anyone who also can decipher when arts imitate life can see the historical lines in the fictional narratives of Achebe’s novels. While so much have been said, my submission will only be the fact that many of the commentaries missed the subtitle of the book: ‘A Personal History of Biafra.’ The fact that Achebe has clearly noted the book as ‘personal’ means that we cannot fault

the content. It is his personal take on the events of Nigeria at a particular period in history and so to even condemn it is to attempt to deny him of his fundamental rights and freedom of expression. We cannot deny him that, no one can even try. If anyone wants to comment, then either correct or state the fact rather than attack the content of the book. Do I think this should be the sage’s final testament? My heart says one thing and my head says another.

Achebe’s place in the literary and academic world is cemented beyond doubt and his thoughts must also be held sacred.

And that is the beauty of El Rufai’s

There Was a Country is an exceptional book in terms of content and style. Achebe weaved a narrative that reads like a novel and yet still retains that feel of an autobiography; a personal history interwoven with the history of an ethnic tribe.

It is indeed a story filled with pain and suffering and for any sane human, a learning process for anyone who cares enough for the future of Nigeria. A Yoruba proverb says “To go forward, we must look behind so as not to repeat the mistakes already made.”

book. The fact that an autobiography actually states the protagonists’ role in public affairs and mentioned the names of the players involved in the wheeling and dealing of state affairs. I remember my early days on the Literary desk of Post Express newspaper, when autobiographies land on your desk and all you get to read is how the author dealt with ‘a powerful general in government,’ or ‘a principal official of certain ministries.’ It is pages and pages of relationship between the author and nameless people. My thought at that point was that if you are not ready to tell a story or you are afraid to tell the story, please don’t tell the story. I usually get angry that I toss the books in the bin, against my elevated ideal of no book being worthless.

Not ‘The Accidental Public Servant.’

El Rufai named names and called out people. He provided details and added copies of supposedly classified materials to back up his claims. For this, I applaud his courage and only wish more political memoirs like this are produced. I don’t even care if they elevate the author to the level of a saint, as long as he mentions the people he served and those who canonised him. This will actually bring out rejoinder books and that makes the average Nigerians the judge after reading all the sides of the story that is Nigeria’s political history.

This is why ‘Why we Struck’ by Adewale Ademoyega remains a reference point for the background on the first military coup.

Perhaps, we should respect the book as a detribalised and non aligned commodity and as such empty our minds before embarking on the voyage into the mind of any author.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

with

Wole Adepoju 08085003746

Nike, Zeeto Peller set new pace L

ate magician, Alhaji Moshood Abiola, popularly known as Professor Peller, even in death can still be described as the greatest magician that ever lived in Nigeria. Peller was not just a magic performer, he was able to add glamour to the art of magic back then. He was not just popular, but also influential among the movers and shakers of the society.

Since the magician was murdered by gun men over 15 years ago, little or nothing was heard about magic in Nigeria, until two of his offspring - Nollywood actress, Nike, and her elder brother, Zeeto - took it upon themselves to revive the art of magic a few years back. They have not stopped flying the flag

of magic in Nigeria since then.

Nike and Zeeto Peller have been making serious impact in the trade as they are now included in concerts and sev-

eral other shows mostly by corporate bodies. Among their clients are Nigerian Breweries and telecommunication company, Etisalat.

Zeeto and Nike, just like their father did, may have set a new pace in the world of magic. Celeb Lounge gathered that the lawyerturned magician and actress cum magician, Zeeto and Nike, recently signed a deal that will make them perform in the United States for a period of five years. The deal, which was recently concluded in Nigeria, was an initiative of a U.S-based motion picture company, Nubian Productions. The tour which will make them perform their art in the U.S for a period of five years is billed to kick off before the year runs out.

Leah Abiara missing in action

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he name, Leah Abiara, to those in tune with happening on the society scene, will not only ring a bell but a loud one.

The personality behind the name has done more than enough in the social scene. Tall and light skinned Leah is the daughter of popular man of God of CAC congregation, Pastor S.K Abiara.

Leah, upon her return from the United States some years back, became a known face, not just because she returned with so much money with which she was painting the town red, but because she was hitting the news for reasons that made people wonder if she was truly born of the revered man of God. After so much exploits on the social scene, Leah eventually got married to his long time lover, Omotunde Nero, and the controversial couple have since lived happily.

Now, people are wondering why Leah has dissociated herself from the social scene. However, those who should know told Celeb Lounge that her boycott of the social scene might not be uncon-

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their respective parties during the next elections. There is keen interest in who takes over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. Also, the focus is mostly on who becomes the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state as some aspirants have signified intention to pick the ticket.

A few among the aspirants are considered to be powerful but the two who generate attention mostly are the Chief of Staff to Governor Uduaghan, Festus Okubor, and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Feelers from Delta State have it that Okubor, who was a Commissioner for Information under ex-Governor James Ibori, appears to be the anointed candidate of the outgoing governor. It was further said that Okubor might also enjoy the support of his former boss.

As such, many are said to be lending their support to his aspiration.

However, the perceived

arch-rival to Okubor’s aspiration, Okowa, is believed to be a politician that has the wherewithal to vie and become the next governor of Delta State, if given the ticket by the PDP. Okowa, who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Health, is also a former chairman of Ika North Local Government Area. According to findings, he is a man whose influence cuts across the state. His free medical care to the poor through his private hospital, Victory Medical Centre, is among initiatives that have over the years endeared him to people of his community and beyond.

Okowa, representing Delta North, it was learnt, became an aspirant to beat immediately he made his intention known and the tempo of the support is said to be high. People say that prospects are bright for his ambition.

However, Okowa has a formidable opposition in the big wigs of his party and erstwhile governorship contenders. His greatest undoing, it was learnt, is what is considered the act of betrayal then. When other governorship hopefuls kicked against the alleged imposition of Uduaghan back then, he accepted the offer of Secretary to the State Government in Uduaghan’s first term before he left for the Senate. Also, Uduaghan is also alleged not to be favourably disposed to Okowa’s aspiration on the grounds that the senator may be too difficult to handle because he has his own mind.

nected with the fact that she’s been searching for the fruit of the womb.

Taribo West moves to next level

Hurdle for Okowa’s guber ambition J he political atmosphere in Delta State is daily becoming tense, as aspirants take positions to fly the flags o f

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

ust like many lads, going into football was like an hobby for ex- footballer, Taribo West.

Gradually, the hobby snowballed into a profession for him and due to his dexterity at playing the round leather game, Taribo West grew from a local footballer to plying his trade around the globe.

The ex-international, during his heyday, distinguished himself as a force to be reckoned with as h e

was an integral part of Nigeria national team for many years.

Age began to take a toll on him.

Having made some good money as well as being fulfilled, the footballer with a weird hairstyle called it quit with football. Taribo was, however, able to chart a new course for himself. He immediately took to the pulpit back in Italy, where he last played active football, and he has since been known as a pastor. A few years ago, the Rivers State-born ex-international relocated to Nigeria, remaining a vine yard worker but without a specific congregation unlike back in Italy where he ran a church. Celeb Lounge has it on good authority that Taribo has floated a ministry in Lagos. The new ministry, which is said to be somewhere around Ajanaku Street in Opebi, Ikeja, is called Shelter In The Storm Miracle Church of All Nations.

Jonah Jang’s worry

T

he outgoing governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, is worried. His source of concern is said to be the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu.

The former number two federal lawmaker is planning to return to the Senate and going by his influence and how he rubbished the administration of former governor, Joshua Dariye, the current state chief executive is said to be afraid.

Also, Mantu has the listening ears of President Goodluck Jonathan.

To maintain his structure and ensure that his voice continues to resonate among his people, Jang is reportedly planning to plant his son, Yakubu, in the corridors of power by getting him into the House of Representatives.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Body&Soul

with

Wole Adepoju

Biodun Olujimi stages comeback O

muo Ekiti-born journalist turned politician, Abiodun Olujimi, appears to be one woman who knows her onions as far as the game of politics is concerned.

The woman has always positioned herself to be relevant in the scheme of things at every point in time.

After her spell in the House of Representatives, her positioning paid off.

She became the second in command to Ayo Fayose during his first stint as the governor of the Fountain of Knowledge state. The unfortunate incident that befell Fayose paved way for Olujimi to become the first female acting governor of Ekiti State. Her reign was short-lived though. As a politician who probably believed that half a loaf is better than none, she accepted to serve in the cabinet of another governor, Segun Oni, as commissioner for works. Expectedly, she left the corridors of power with her boss when Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Action Congress took over power in the state.

Biodun, who sometime ago returned to school to study law, has remained relevant as she was made a board member of Nigeria Communication Commission. Going by information available to Celeb Lounge, the woman is probably favourably dis-

paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com; 08072709777

with Helen Paul

Choose right (1) I

posed to holding an elective office than being a political appointee. As such, she’s said to have since returned to the drawing board to see where she will perfectly fit into when the next political dispensation comes. On this note, it was reliably gathered that Olujimi has the intention to vie for a seat in the Senate in the next election. Because of her ambition, the woman is said have kept in touch with her people, even though she’s been engaged in one battle or the other back home. The most recent of such is the one with youths of her senatorial district.

On another note, Olujimi and her husband who were hitherto residents of Ajuwon, Ogun State, before they relocated to Magodo when she made mega bucks, may have finally decided to bid the Ogun State suburb bye.

Sources in the know noted that a filling station with a guest house behind it, which the husband was running, may have been given up as operations at the place have been suspended. What could not be confirmed is if the facility has been sold but it has now been taken over by new hands, with renovation work going on.

Lulu Briggs steps up on guber hope

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THINKING ALOUD

08085003746

ark-skinned and handsome dude, Lulu Briggs, may hail from a noble and popular family of Briggs in Rivers State, but the man does not live on that. Instead, he’s been able to make the family name more respectable by his actions.

Not only has he worked hard to become successful, he has also been able to carry his people along so much that he’s well loved by them. This is one of the reasons he could want to vie for the governorship position in Rivers State.

The medical doctor-turned-politician has since signified interest in becoming the next governor of Rivers State and he’s daily leveraging and consolidating on his good works.

After about 16 years of giving out scholarships. He recently increased the number of those benefiting from him by distributing writing materials to thou-

sands of students in the state.

In the same vein, Lulu has commissioned a free transportation scheme for market men and women. Also, some buses have been earmarked for the transportation of students when they eventually resume in October.

As a sensitive gubernatorial hopeful, Lulu recently embarked on an awareness and sensitisation campaign on the deadly Ebora virus. Days ago, he distributed free cancer detection kits to women in all the 23 local government areas of the state. Lulu is chasing his gubernatorial ambition on the platform of PDP.

’m sure that relationship is what erable fortunes around, but messed it will first come to your mind after up with his desire for an unnecessary seeing the title of this article. Well, material thing. I’m not saying it was if you’re thinking in that direction, a bad idea to buy a car, but was it the then you’re wrong. I’m not here to first thing he needed at that point in talk about choosing right or wrong in time? Absolutely no! a relationship today. I may consider Many people fall into the category it in subsequent editions anyway, but of this cobbler. They have made the for this week, it is something different. wrong decisions at some point in their Many people are struggling to make career, and it is having huge adverse it today simply because they failed effects on them. The truth is that in this a simple test of how to choose right. part of the world, people want to be In secondary school, I remember that seen and respected outside, and as a we were taught scale of preference in result of that live above their means.

Everybody wants to be respected, and Economics and how our needs can be differentiated from our wants. I love that is why someone who doesn’t have that topic so much because it really a stable source of income will prefer to helped in moulding me on the path buy a car rather than invest the money of success. The reverse is the case for in a small-scale business. No amount is too small to start a business. With many people.

A lot of people have made the grave N20,000, you can start a recharge card mistake of choosing the right thing at business and with good savings, you the wrong time or vice versa. And be- will marvel at the outcome. cause sometimes, opportunity comes While I was in my first year at the but once, such people may not have University of Lagos, event organisers another chance to make amends. A usually called on some of us to add comiserable life beckons. lour to their events by clapping. They It reminds me of a cobbler who was would then pay us. I had already develsquatting with his oped a savfriend in a oneing culture then, so all room apartment. Everybody wants to be my money Things were so respected, and that is why tight for him and went into business was not someone who doesn’t have a my acreally moving, so count. But understandably, stable source of income will my friends his friend agreed prefer to buy a car rather than would prethat he could stay fer to stop with him pending invest the money on a small at Yaba to the time his busibuys jeans, ness would pick scale business. No amount is tops and up. other fashtoo small to start a business.

The prayer of ion accessories. this cobbler was With N20,000, you can start Wow, I answered one have many day when he recharge card business and stories to got a contract to with a good saving culture, share here make shoes for but time all the workers you will marvel at what the will not in a big factory. permit me After delivering outcome this week. the job, he made I promise a reasonable financial gain. What was supposed to that next week’s edition will be more be a turning point in the life of this loaded. But before I drop my pen, I poor cobbler ended up adding to his would like to get your advice on an misery. The reason is not far-fetched – issue. I have this friend at the Univerhe didn’t choose right. sity of Lagos who assumed the status I’m sure you’ll expect the cobbler to of a ‘big girl’ in school. She was one rent his own apartment. He didn’t. In- of those who would buy N250,000 stead, he used the money to buy a car Brazilian hair with her money, while and was still squatting with his friend. I was saving. At some point, she and Perhaps, the friend was angered by the her friends laughed that I was starvcobbler ’s foolishness, so he chased ing myself. him out of his apartment. The cobbler Now that we are out of school, I have ended up migrating from one friend’s floated a company with my savings, house to the other, and could not also and the girl wants me to employ her.

Is it possible? How can I satisfy her maintain the car he bought.

Let me fast-forward the story: As with a salary? I had always known that you’re reading this article, this cob- after school, I wouldn’t be in the labour bler has yet to rent an apartment of market, so I saved a lot and started a his own after about three years, and the laundry business. Now, she wants to car he bought is nowhere to be found. join me.

I don’t pity him. The truth is that he Please, is it wise for me to employ had every chance to turn his own mis- such a person?

DIY on the GO

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Body&Soul

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

White vinegar can get rid of rust!

Abimbola Sodeke

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ust is a stubborn stain to get rid of, especially on clothes and metals, but throwing them away and buying a replacement isn’t always an option.

You can actually remove the rust yourself at home and save some money.

Use white vinegar White vinegar dissolves rust on metal. To use, soak the metal in white vinegar for a few hours, then scrub the rusty paste off. If the object is too big to soak directly

in the white vinegar, pour a layer over the top and allow it time to set. You can also wipe it down with a rag soaked in vinegar.

Try dipping aluminum foil in the vinegar and using it as a brush to scrub off the rust. It is less abrasive than steel, but will still get the rust off.

You can use regular vinegar but allow the rusty metal objects to soak in it for up to 24 hours before rinsing. This method should not require as much scrubbing.

You can also use lime and

salt to remove rust. This can also be used to remove rust on cloths.

Sprinkle salt on the rusted area so that it is thoroughly coated and then juice a lime over the top. Use as much juice as you can get, and allow the mixture to set for two to three hours before scrubbing off. Use the rind (outer layer) of the lime to scrub the mixture off. It is strong enough to remove the rust without further damage.

A lemon can also be used instead of a lime.

AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

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Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

Tasty antioxidant Carrot Juice Ibukunoluwa Kayode

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any times, we indulge in chemically processed, sucrose-based fruits and vegetable juices to satisfy the crave for drink. The truth is, most of these so-called processed fruit juices do more harm than good in the human body.

We all sometimes forget that fruits and vegetables contain natural nutrients and minerals that keep the body functioning optimally.

Just like the carrot juice, vegetable and fruit help to prevent or fight cancer. Though many believe that veggies only aid good eye sight, but the recent research shows that the antioxidant properties found in carrot juice support health and the immune system. Eating unchopped, raw or cooked carrots are great ways to obtain vitamins, minerals and even fibre.

Carrots contain the carotenoid alpha carotene, beta-carotene and potent antioxidants. The recent studies published in the “Antioxidant Miracle,” indicate that alpha carotene is a more potent cancer preventative and fighter than even beta-carotene.

Carrots contain one of the few carotenoids with pro Vitamin A activity. Carrot juice is thought to reduce the risks of many different types of cancers, including skin and breast cancers. The cancerfighting properties of carrot juice are often thought to be excellent due to the high amounts of beta carotene, which changes to Vitamin A in the body. This helps in eliminating cancer-causing free radicals in the body. In addition, car-

rots contain calcium pectate, a source of soluble fibre, Vitamin B-complex, C, D, E and K, iron, calcium and phosphorus and manganese.

The health benefits of carrot juice are thought to include good prenatal health, eyesight, bones and teeth, liver and nails, skin and hair.

The vegetable fruit root achieves its fights against cancer when blended into juice than eaten raw. It can be added as a supplement drink to balance any meal.

Obudu groundnut stew

Biwom Iklaki

G

rowing up in Obudu is one of the fondest memories one could ever boast of. Back in the ‘80s, whenever schools vacated, families found their way back home to be with parents and grandparents – with the occasional expectant great grand parent.

Besides the vast greenery, rolling hills with their caps of mist and icy mountain air-which always made

having a bath a chore, the food was a sumptuous mouth-watering affair. Today, one tries to mirror that heady experience wherever they find themselves. The groundnut stew comes to mind because it was so tasteful and versatile, while taking one back to those simple yesteryears.

Here is how: INGREDIENTS 1 kilo soft chicken (spiced and cooked till

desired tenderness) 1 big smoked fish, washed and cut into medium pieces 3 tablespoons groundnut oil 1 large onion (chopped) 3 spoons ground ginger 1/2cup ground peanut (add water and stir into a light paste) 2 large fresh tomatoes (chopped) 2 stock cubes Salt to taste Fresh pepper to taste

1 tablespoon curry powder PREPARATION Heat up the groundnut oil and stir in the onions and tomatoes. Stir until a semi paste is formed (you should still see some chunks of tomatoes. Add the smoked fish then the peanut paste. Stir and let simmer for about 10 minutes (keep stirring as the paste is quite sticky and may burn). Add the chick-

en stock to keep it light.

Stir in the ginger, stock cubes, salt and pepper to your taste. After 3 minutes, add the chicken and curry and let cook for another 2 minutes then turn off the heat. You can add vegetables of your choice

like carrots, green pepper, cabbage, green beans, etc You can pair this delicious stew with rice, pasta, yam, eko, potatoes or plantain. Experience happy times and make your own memories!

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

All-for-fun holiday gear Biwom Iklaki

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othing says holiday season like kids in their casual frocks. This is the longest holiday in the educational calendar and the kids know it, so do the adults. It is evident in the throngs of people who pile into the shops in various malls, play grounds, games arcades and parties. Even with the current Ebola disease

scare, the kids - and their parents in tow, are undeterred! Some kids have been going to holiday lessons, but other children who have parents with a core holiday ideal are all for fun, fun, fun!

While they leave their parents to worry about their back-to-school wardrobe, there are a few pieces that are trending with the kids today. You can easily find cargo shorts, jeans,

T-shirts, beaded hairstyles, boots, sandals, snickers, etc.

The Team Lead at Ruff & Tumble, a popular shop for kids’ wear and accessories said they had just started the holiday-inspired showcase. They aptly named it ‘Urban and trendy’ for boys and ‘chic and trendy’ for girls. Many of their casual attires she said, are concentrated on reds, blues

and neons according to popular demand. Also, the most purchased footwear are sneakers and sandals. The displays also featured lots of denim jackets and woolly sweatshirts which give a fashionable nod to the weather it has been quite cool these days. This makes sure that the kids stay stylish, chic, and warm through the holiday season.

Interwiew Church must provide solutions -Osaghae p52

News New Life Gospel Church marks 31st convention p.58

TAI ANYANWU, titus.anyanwu@newtelegraphonline.com titusanyanwu.2012@gmail.com 0706 438 0029

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

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Sermon Unlocking The Supernatural! (5) p.57

Faith ON SUNDAY

Nigeria’s oldest pastor, Pa Sadela, had premonition of his death-Aide R

Tai Anyanwu ev Samuel Akinbode Sadela, founder of Gospel Apostolic Church (GAC), characteristically had never missed Sunday service.

In the words of his Chief Interpreter and Head of Legal Department, Gospel Apostolic Church, Pastor Adebola Onadekan, he was in church on August 17.

“We worshipped normally and after service, he blessed everybody. People stood outside, then he blessed them saying, ‘It will be well with you; you will become old’; He prayed for us and went home,” Onadeko recalled.

He stated that those who accompanied the cleric to his house had their usual discussion with him and he also blessed them. But unknown to them and the rest of the congregation, that was the last time the old man would set his foot inside any church.

Regarded as the oldest pastor in Nigeria, Pa Sadela passed on at 114 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Abeokuta in Ogun State.

The shocking news of his demise had initially been denied by some officials of his church, hence casting a cloud of doubt over his rumoured death. This was until a reliable source in GAC confirmed his death last weekend.

“He died at 4.30am on Sunday morning on August 24. He was born in August 1900 and he departed planet earth in August 2014,” Pastor Onadekan said.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that Pa Sadela foretold his death to his congregation.

“He has been telling us that his father, the Lord Jesus Christ, assured him that He would not take him (Pa Sadela) without giving him clear information; so he had known that he was going,” Onadekan explained.

Though the chief interpreter insisted that the cleric was not sick before he died, he confirmed that he was hospitalised in Abeokuta.

According to Onadekan, on the night before he passed on, Sadela had given assignments to his aides and church officials. “He was later powdered and his garment was changed after which he lay down. That was it. He was not sick,” he said.

When New Telegraph on Sunday visited 42, Ayodele Okeowo Street, his residence and headquarters of GAC in Soluyi area of Gbagada, Lagos, sympathisers, relations and church members thronged the place to pay condolence visits to the bereaved family.

However, attempts to get comments from members of his family and church members were rebuffed as Onadekan insisted that he would be the only one to answer to all enquiries.

“Please don’t talk to any other person. I want to be the only one to speak. I will be speaking for now. Please oblige us. I will give you anything you ask for. Just oblige us,” he said.

Asked why the news of his death was earlier denied, Onadekan replied, “What happened was that Abeokuta is a

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distance from here. We had not been informed officially then.

“Once the church was informed officially, we began to give out the information because press information is very important.

“In fact, when we want to do the burial we are going to invite and host you because Baba was known worldwide.

So we will carry the press along,” Onadekan added.

Pa Sadela was known for his commitment to the sanctity of the word of God. He was also known for his uncompromising stance on preaching the word of God, according to his chief interpreter.

“If you wanted to dilute the word of God, he would stand firm against it.

He was also concerned about teaching the next generation. He used to tell us that God made him to live long so that he could teach the coming generation the undiluted word of God,” he stated.

Sadela was also concerned about unity and love in the church, Onadekan said. He recalled that he was once quoted as saying, ‘With unity, the church will be able to move on; not division. In all churches you have good people and you have bad people. What we should care about is that we should go forward in love so that we can take up the gospel all over the world.

“We are not mourning but we are celebrating him for all he stood for. He was concerned about everybody making heaven; soul winning for the Lord Jesus Christ and that people must have the undiluted word of God.” At age 90, Pa Sadela married a 30 year old woman and the marriage produced a child. When asked about pastor Pa Sadela the secret of his longevity, the cleric had attributed it to strict obedience to the word of God, Onadekan added.

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Faith

Churches must provide solutions - Osaghae

Presiding Pastor of This Generation Must Shine Ministry, Pastor Johnson Osaghae, shares his ministry’s goals with Esther Odili

generation people that you will take there. But Moses decided to go to God and started pleading for Him to forgive them. That resulted to what happened to Moses when God asked him to speak to the rock and he smote the Rock.

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As a man of God, how do you know that you have done your work?

The Bible gave us an example of Jesus Christ. Between three and half years, He finished His work.

Paul whom many of us preach today, I can see that Nigerian pastors have gone out of the Jewish kind of preaching which is the style we refer to as Peters and by into that of Pauls that says let them come as they are, we will change them. God has not made anyone a judge. Now let us look at Paul, there came a time in the life of Paul, he gathered people together and said I have ran a good race, I have finished my course, Lord where is my crown?

That is number one. Number two example is Joshua.

The major problem I think we have is that we don’t even know when an assignment starts and when it is closed. When God calls you, it is just like when you are given an employment in an organisation.

They give you your department and tell you your target. If you meet your target, you go back to them.

If they want to renew your contract, they renew; if they don’t want to renew it, they say, ‘Oh! thank you for your service. It’s nice having you around’. I said something in Lagos sometime ago, No church can boast or say these are my members; because when one church is having a programme, everybody rushes down. When another church is having a programme, everybody also rushes down. The only way and manner we will know that we have members is to stop publicising our programmes/ activities. Let us now see the number of people who will attend our programmes. That will tell you those who are truly your members. Joshua said that he and his people would serve God. If we men of God can truly know when our calling began, they there is every certainty that we will know when to call it quits. Just like when Jesus Christ was rounding up, he called His disciples as a mentor and as a father and started putting them through the way, that he was about to leave. That is not happening in the body of Christ today.

What is your special area of calling? n the day of calling and launching this work, God gave me three vision statements which combined transforming them from what they are to who I have made them to be; empowering them to possess their possession, sustaining them through the word by his grace for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those are the goals we are standing for.

How has your ministry fared in these six years of its existence?

So far so good; lives have been touched, marriages, businesses and individual careers and professions. The major goal of this ministry is standing for holiness, righteousness and truth. We care for the less privileged and make sure that the spirit of materialism that has taken hold of the church is reversed. According to the Bible, heaven and earth and everything that are in them shall pass away. As a church, we make sure that people come together in one accord as it was in Acts of the Apostles when the Bible said they had everything in common. There was no one that was lacking anything. Those who had so many possessions sold them to make sure that others would have something that they needed. And that is what we stand for and that is what we’ve been doing for the last six years now. When God calls anyone, He gives the person a blueprint. He did not give me the whole country. He gave me only Lagos and two others. He has also given me when and how to kick-start when the time comes.

In Lagos, we are going to have only one because of the goals attached to the ministry so that we can reach out to the people.

What is your perception of what is happening in our country today, politically, religiously and economically?

I give thanks to our fathers in the Lord and our leaders those who have been before us and have impacted on this generation in one way or the other through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is happening in Nigeria today is not new. I was not yet called when the Lord revealed to me what Nigeria would become as she progresses in the journey of life. Till today, that vision has not changed. What we need today in this country is for the church to trace back its steps; if we can do that Nigeria will rule the world before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the vision He gave to me. It is going to be a nation that will stand out and every nation in the world would reckon with and want to be like.

You see it is only in ministry work that I notice that men of God don’t retire. There is always a time to work and a time to rest or retire. But most of our fathers in Lord whom the Lord had used for a certain period to affect certain generations, if they had been alive today they should be like fathers whom some of us should go to for counsel on how to be able to fulfil our own. It just like when Eli finished his ministry and was about to quit the scene, God had to bring Samuel.

Eli became a counsellor to Samuel for him to be able to forge ahead on his own field. But it is unfortunate that in our own here, as soon as we finish instead of us to return and allow the young ones we start turning the whole system to enlarge the coast, expanding and giving ourselves titles that are not godly, and trying to impress the world on the number of souls we have won. The world did not send us; God sent us. No matter how we try to impress any man, we can’t impress God. God must be the one that has chooses if He is pleased with us or not in the service. If our fathers will key into this idea, there are so many vibrant young men that God has raised for this generation out there and given the solutions to certain problems in our nation and in the church. But because their voices cannot be heard at the top, some of them don’t have the financial wherewithal to reach out.

Pastor Johnson Osaghae

Won’t it be out of place for a Christian leader to retire when his ministry is doing well. Is it Biblical?

When I say retire; it doesn’t mean that such a leader will leave the fold. You could see clearly that when Samuel was still on ground that the children of Israel spoke against him. Why did they ask Samuel to give them a king? It is because they knew that he was about to go. They asked Samuel to give them somebody because they had seen so far that among his children none of them could do as well as their father had done.

Samuel was angry and went to God. God told him not to worry and that was what brought King Saul on the scene. Then you see the case of Moses, the Lord told him that he would be the one to take the Israelites to the Promised Land. But there came a day God called Moses and said; Moses I have seen the heart of these people and I have seen their minds. I don’t see them going further and I don’t see you being the one that would take them further. Let me destroy them and raise another. so that you have a new season and a new

You see it is only in ministry work that I notice that men of God don’t retire.

There is always a time to work and a time to rest or retire. There is always a time to work and a time to rest or retire. But most of our fathers in Lord whom the Lord had used for a certain period to affect certain generations, if they had been alive today they should be like fathers whom some of us should go to for counsel on how to be able to fulfil our own.

What role is the church playing in the problems of our nation?

The church should stand above every other religion. The church is not a religion. Rather, it is the body of Christ. The church should be a body of solution to every problem of every nation. As soon as the church can no longer be reached to solve the problems of a nation or a family, then that is to say the church has missed it. Before now we saw how Elijah and Elisha became solutions to nations. We saw how Jeremiah became a solution to the nation of Israel. We also saw how Daniel became a solution. The major problem our nation is having today is that many of us pastors and our daddies in the Lord have forgotten the main goal of our calling and started buying into the goal of the world. We have forgotten that there is no amount of possession a man owns on earth that can guarantee him a seat in the kingdom of God. You are just starting. When your church becomes a mega ministry, would you like to own a private jet?

I used to know a man of God before he passed on; that was Archbishop Benson Idahosa. Throughout his time, we never heard that he had a private jet. The issues of private jets or even the cars that we use, we need them to carry out the activities or business of the kingdom. That is what I perceive it to be. I don’t see it as a thing that anybody will be saying I must have or I shouldn’t have. If today the church becomes big and I become a global pastor, and you ask me if l would like to own a private jet, I would tell you I would love to do what the Lord asked me to do before thinking of a private jet. Part of the vision given to me when I was called is lying there in the wardrobe and I must fulfil it before any other thing.

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Faith

Elijah and Moses return for third and last time

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evelation 11:3 – 12’ “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand and two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy and have power over waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will.”

Our exposition on the spirit and power of Elijah ministry is no doubt informing and revealing. This coming of Elijah as revealed in Revelation 11:3 – 12 is to the nation of Israel in Palestine well after the bride of Christ has been caught up in the air by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom. The bride of Jesus Christ are the minority few made up of the wise virgins of Matthew 25:1 – 13, who had oil in their lamps and recognised the cry of the midnight prophet, warning that the Bridegroom is coming and they should make themselves ready. That is, they believed and acted on the voice of the midnight prophet and went in with the Bridegroom.

I

The foolish virgins made up of the larger Christian church overlook the warning of the midnight prophet and this led them to miss out on the rapture.

The fifth and last visit of Elijah comes in company with Moses to prophesy to the Jewish nation only. The Jews will not receive any messenger of God who is not a prophet with THUS SAITH THE LORD. That has been God’s pattern of ministering to them from inception. The ministry of these two prophets will open their spiritual blindness since the coming of the Messiah and they will be converted as a nation unto God in one day, recognising and wailing for the brutal treatment meted out to the Lord Jesus Christ and His eventual death. As quoted in the scripture, they shall prophesy for 1260 days, a period of three and half years, which falls in the reign of the anti-Christ one world government.

The entire prophets who came in the spirit and power of Elijah are from the stock of the Jewish nation. The only exception is the fourth visitation by a Gentile, that is the midnight prophet William Branham. Elijah, Elisha, John

THE Oracles of God

God does not need to seek advice from anyone about what He should do.

He alone watches over His word and carries the entire responsibility for all that pertains to the plan of salvation and the whole counsel of God. In the 20th Century – whether or not people believe it or accept it – there was no other man on the face of the earth who had a direct calling and commission like Brother William Branham.

This man acted in direct responsibility toward God according to the plan of salvation for the end time.

Never before has there been such a heightened level of religious activities as we see it in the present time. But with their impressive programmes, they are more or less all building their own kingdoms within the kingdom of God. The careful observer recognises it for what it truly is – religious entertainment, decorated with Bible stories. Only God’s word remains forever, and only God’s word is the original seed.

The true Bride will be a word-Bride. May God always bless you to be part of His Word Bride. Amen!

by

Frank Oboden Olomukoro frankolomukoro@yahoo.com, 07033621866

the Baptist and Elijah/Moses are all Jewish. The Gentile prophet sent to the Gentile Bride of Christ is instructed to prepare for Christ a Gentile Bride who will become the Word of God-based wise virgins, word bride, elected from all the Gentile nations of the world exclusive of the nation of Israel. The commission through the Elijah of our time is to turn the hearts of God’s children away from all things that don’t coincide with the word and bring them back to the Lord. Now, the original doctrine of the 12 apostles, as it was proclaimed at the beginning, must be preached to the church in this end time, so that she can return to her original harmony built upon the true foundation of the apos-

tles and prophets, whereby Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:13 – 22.

Oh, how clear God’s word is! Before the sun turns into darkness and the moon into blood, before all the works of men go up in flames, before the ‘clean-up’ takes place, God promised to send us a prophet. That is the most important promise which has to be fulfilled in our time. Whenever a true prophet arrives on the scene and whose ministry is confirmed by God, then our attention is to be drawn to the message he brings.

Once again we have arrived at the important point, the calling and commission of our own dispensational church messenger and we are not ashamed of God’s choice.

Is A Woman A Human Being?

n simple language, can I explain a woman this way? God created two people at the beginning.

One was a man, the other was a woman. The man is male - meaning that which belongs to the sex that does not give birth to babies. The second human being He created was a female - meaning a woman or girl, the sex that can lay eggs and give birth to babies. The woman is the last of God’s creation and perhaps His best. It was after he made the woman that the creator saw that all He had made was good. Like the last part of the soup in a pot, the woman is the sweetest of all creation.

She embodies and encapsulates God’s creative abilities. She personifies those abilities that are God’s. In her God brought out His artistic best. If you ever had doubt about God’s creative abilities or acumen, look at the woman and your doubt will disappear. If you ever doubted God’s love for aesthetics, look at a woman and you will change your mind.

She is introduced in the Bible as a help meet for the man. He is not complete without a woman. In other words, the woman completes the man. It was when she arrived on the scene that the man felt complete for the first time. Till today, no man can be complete without a woman (wife).

She was made to be cared

for by the gardener whom God gave her. The man is the HUSBAND and not the HORSE-BAND. A HUSBAND is a gardener and tender and a care giver.

The woman is the BAND or the GARDEN where he demonstrates his act of gardening, tending and caring.

The garden that Adam took care of invariably was the wife. He practised marriage before his wife appeared as he dressed and kept the garden.

A gardener without a garden is an aberration. So is a man without a woman. To answer a GARDENER is not one of those guy names men enjoy to answer. Gardening is a serious job for serious people. You need a piece of land to ply your act.

A man needs a woman to demonstrate his gardening abilities. As a bridegroom he grooms the bride, works on her and makes her. Men who understand this spend their resources and energy in developing the GARDEN God gave them. Those who are careless throw theirs away or batter them. Any gardener that invests time, money and energy in building and developing his garden (wife) cannot raise his hand on her. Violence is a sign that God created two human beings and different kinds of animals. While animal have their kinds, humans have only two sexes male and female. These two were created equal by the

same GOD. Jesus authenticated this when he affirmed that from the beginning, He who made them, made them male and female. They were made equal by their creator. At that beginning, there was no dominance by any of the sexes. Paul puts in his stamp on this in Gal 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you all are all one in Christ Jesus.”

In a nutshell, a woman is a human being, created in God’s image. I have said she was not created in the image of man. If she was, then the world would have been the most dangerous place to live in. Imagine the evil female chauvinist now that the woman is God’s image carrier and think about what it could have been had she been man’s image carrier. Catastrophe is the word!

Thank God for His infinite wisdom. He made the man and the woman in His image. He only took His raw material from the man just as He took the raw material from the soil to make the man. The creator is at liberty to pick His raw material from anywhere. He created the world ex-nihilo (out of nothing) and has the power to do anything. So, woman, you are God’s image carrier! Man, the woman you have - your mother, wife or daughter - belongs to God. She carries the image and likeness of God just has you

Woman of Destiny by

Pastor Auguster Ume Tel: 07082655475

do. She is not inferior to you nor is she superior. God placed two of you side by side not up and down. Your relationship is not hierarchical. You are the head by responsibility not by ruler ship. God does not appoint any man a ruler over a woman or his family.

He made him a head and not a ruler. A head is a leader not a ruler. Jesus said to his disciples: “You see the kings of the earth have rulership over their subjects but it shall not be so with you.” Those who do not know their God rule but Jesus lovers lead. Jesus is not the ruler of the church but head and shepherd. If Jesus is not a ruler to the church, who is the wife, how can you assume a position your lord refused and rejected?

Rulership is about measurement or standard. It is only God who is the standard. Jesus does not even see Himself as superior to His body - the church - because He sees us as His brethren. He that sanctifies and they which are sanctified are one. It is apparent that the voice that says “this is my house….” is not the voice of God. It is from the pit of hell!

The man and the woman are God’s stewards of God’s economy. It is required of them to be faithful.

If we have established that a woman is a human being not a goat or animal as we are meant to believe, we can now establish eternal truths. If she is a human being, she is not less, or inferior to the man.

There is nothing psychological, emotional or otherwise that suggests inferiority in the sexes. That Peter calls her ‘a weaker vessel’ does not suggest inferiority in anyway. The furniture in your house is not as strong as the German-built products. That does not make them inferior. The fragility of life is common to all creation and in no sense connotes inferiority. To be continued next week.

I know this has blessed you.

You can order for my books and as well worship with us @ Home Alive Ministries Int’l& Christ Care Ministries Int’l, Aba. Or contact Apostle Augusta Ume on: Email: infoalivedigest@gmail. com Phone : 09033149418, 09097127688, 07082655475

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Faith

The Christian, the Journey and the Destination

T

It all ends in heaven he Christian life is a heaven-bound journey.

Christians are in this world but are not of this world (1Jn.4:4-6). Sometimes, the only way to justify the journey is by constantly remembering where it leads. Considering the experience of true Christians in this world one could always say “the end justifies the means.”

That was the mind of Saint Paul when he declared: “We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him, whom he has called according to his plan.” (Rom 8:28). Otherwise, why would anyone want to go through all the frightening things which Jesus sometimes had to say to his followers? “If you want to follow me, deny yourself take up your cross and follow me. For whoever chooses his life will lose it but the one who loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 16: 24-25). “.. if you want to be first, you make yourself the servant of all” (Matt. 16:27). I have come to bring fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled” (Luke. 12: 49)! “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.”

(Mt10:37). It is doubtful whether any other leader or Master could have ever attracted committed followership with these kinds of sad messages. Well, Jesus Christ

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning”. Ps 30:5 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” II Tim 2:3 There is an institution (of learning) that is established by the Godhead. The motto is found in the book of II Tim 2:3.

There is a solemn charge to us as Christians, and this is to endure hardness, even as good soldiers of Christ. Strange as this may sound, this institution runs on His infallible word and the Chancellor is God the Father Himself.

There is no gain without its corresponding pain; let me try to make it clearer by citing the conventional educational system as an example which runs various programmes ranging from diploma to degree courses, masters even to doctorate and each of these with its own aca-

men say that the Son of man is?” Some of them said John the Baptist, others said Elijah and yet others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. That was whom they said Jesus was.

The turning point for Peter by Then Jesus directly questioned: “But you who do you say that I am?” Simon answered: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:15-16). Jeo.com Tel: 08039494219 Email: revodege@yaho sus endorsed this answer and announced the transformation of Simon. “It is well for you Sidid, yet his followers run into but may have eternal life” (Jn. mon, Barjonah, for it is not flesh billions. All because of heaven! 3: 16). So, in theory, there should or blood that has revealed this Jesus indeed must be a special be no doubt in serious-minded to you but my Father in heavdisciples about who Jesus is. personality. en. And now I say to you: You Who do people say that I am? are Peter (or Rock) and on this Jesus of Nazareth The Bible clearly teaches what The Bible shows that Jesus’ rock I will build my Church; to believe about Jesus. “But ministry entails going from and never will the powers of when the time had fully come, place to place, preaching the death overcome it. I will give God sent forth his Son, born of good news. In fact, “he went you the keys of the kingdom of a woman, born under the law, to about doing good.” It is in this heaven: whatever you bind on redeem those who were under “journey mode” that Jesus can earth shall be bound in heaven, the law, so that we might receive be best known. The idea of go- and what you unbind on earth adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). ing on a journey in the Bible al- shall be unbound in heaven” Of him they confessed that “the ways implied an opportunity for (Matt. 16:17-19). The secret of Word became flesh and dwelt change, change for a higher exis- Peter’s success where others among us, full of grace and tence. That is why Abram had to failed is that while others detruth; we have beheld his glory, leave his father’s land to another scribed Jesus by the reputation glory as of the only Son from land (Gen. 12). The journey of a of the greatest of prophets and the Father… And from his full- Christian must lead him to know miracle workers, they failed to ness have we all received, grace Jesus as He really is. Unfortu- know him as the Messiah, the upon grace.” (Jn. 1: 14, 16). John nately, so many Christians stop one who saves. Peter, on the put into words the faith of those short of really knowing Jesus. other hand, did! early Christians thus: “Yes, God The disciples of Jesus showed True disciples must be transso loved the world that he gave this when they journeyed with formed In Saint Matthew’s gospel, the his only Son that whoever be- him to Caesarea Philippi. There, lieves in him may not be lost Jesus asked them: “Who do only correct answer for a true

disciple of Jesus is to know Him as the Messiah, the Christ. For knowing that, Jesus gave Simon a new name; he became Peter, the rock. A simple fisherman became the rock upon which the Church would be built, one which the powers of death can never overcome. Huge change!

Peter’s reward for knowing Jesus was to himself become a miracle rather than spend his entire life looking for miracles as many Christians do today. Really, that goes for every Christian.

In order to become indestructible to the powers of death, the disciple must know Jesus beyond what others say. Today, people prefer Jesus who would give everything but leave them totally unchanged. The Jesus of Peter’s encounter changed his name, personality and his destiny. It was no different for Abram whose name changed to Abraham (Gen 17: 5), nor for Sarai who was renamed Sarah (Gen,17:15). Would that all Christians have a similar encounter with Jesus! As many Christians would meet Him like that would be transformed and become unconquerable for the forces of darkness. Such Christians would not necessarily be better than others but would be unique, special, transformed enough to become rocks on which the kingdom of God would be built and established.

world but to us believers, this is a mystery (II Cor 2:9-11). Many believers today are complaining because of their present condition. Some have even concluded that it is a school of affliction, the wilderness experience, a state in which God delays answers to prayers or one is denied the best of life. Beloved, this position or understanding is somewhat erroneous and it’s from the pit of hell. ‘The path of the righteous is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day’ (Pro 4:18). All the prophecies you have heard about your life are not enough to stop you from passing through this school. The promises of God to the Israelites were only a means to an end and not an end in itself. In Ex 15:23, on their way to the Promised Land (which was supposed to be flowing with milk and honey), they got to Marah, a place of bitter waters. What an paradox!

Of course, Marah was not part of the promise in itself, though it was factored into the process.

No matter how glorious your destiny might be, God will only reveal His plan and show to you the expected end but would conceal the process. The reason for this is simple: if you are let into the process, you would simply give up as the making of every good thing you see is often unpleasant. At the back of every ‘star’ there are scars.

This is where enrolling into this university becomes a necessity.

•Do not murmur – I Cor 10:10.

•Do not forget that God is with you even in that condition – Heb 13:5.

•Looking for short-cuts in life will only cut your life short. Do not think of going after beggarly powers in the name of finding alternatives – Isa 45:20.

•Always remember that God’s promises to you are neither shaken nor compromised. If you do not wait on God, you will be wasted in life – Isa 43:2-16, 19.

Firm faith: right reason Most Rev. Emmanu el Ade Badejo

It’s only for a while

demic calendar, the durations of which also differ and which of course is a function of the course or programme enrolled for. So also, in the above university of divinity, the magnitude of your destiny determines the duration of your ‘years of training’ before your shining forth in life.

This institution in question has no regard or preference whatsoever for personality, intelligence, prayer, fasting or even tears. Just as every course in any educational system has its time frame so does your candidature in this university only becomes authenticated when you can patiently endure to graduate. No one is exempted from this school as it is a must for everyone.

All through the scriptures, there was never a promise of a good beginning; rather an expected and glorious end (Jer 29:11). Isn’t this humorous?

That is the nature of the God we serve. Though this reversal trend is foolishness to the

God’s objective about this is to make you strong, bold and confident. All the heroes and ‘generals’ of faith were one time or the other students in this university but they all were able to finish well. My prayer for you is that you will end well in Jesus name. Even Jesus, the King of all kings, was not exempted, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” Phil 3:10.

If Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, was not spared but had to pass through this ‘university’, then there is no escape for you. But I pray for you that you will come out successful in the name of Jesus.

Interestingly, this ‘university’ is more or less a test or revealer of your faith or doubt, courage or cowardice, prowess or timidity. My prayer is that you will graduate in Jesus name. Apostle Paul; Joseph who later became a prime minister in a foreign land; Esther, a queen in a Gentile nation; or is it Daniel, an adviser to many Babylonian kings, all passed through this. It might be too late to quit now because you are already getting close to your glory and crown. When you graduate, you become a sought-after; this will be your testimony in the name of Jesus.

For you to successfully graduate from this university, you need to be mindful of the following:

PRAYER POINTS •My season of unending pain and sorrow, expire now by fire!

•Powers from my father’s and mother’s house prolonging my miracle, crash-land now by fire!

•As the Lord lives, I will not break down at the edge of my breakthrough!

•Fountains of bitterness in my life, your time is up; dry up by fire!

• I will not give up when it is my tune to be announced prophetically!

In Jesus name I know you have been blessed.

Write and share your testimonies, comments, etc., through; info@ thehebrewsng.com.

Hotlines – 01-7903163, 08085845864.

You can also listen to my messages on our podcast at www.thehebrewsng.com/podcast.

Rev’d Femi Akinola – The Hebrews International, Hon. Adeniji Str, Off Remi Olowude str, Marwa B/Stop, Oniru, Lekki, Lagos.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

When I live I am obeying God’s commandment. What do you call this? hen I passed by thee and I saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, live (Ezekiel 16:6).

I have the commandment from the Lord, long time ago, to Live, and the same applies to you. Do you now see why many who were born the same time with you are no more?

You and I live by the word of God: LIVE! It is God’s command to you and to me. Live.

But He answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

God has pronounced that I should live and nobody can reverse it. God has pronounced that I should live, and even the devil cannot kill me; not even sickness can do so. Sickness respects God’s order and Word.

If I die today, I have disobeyed God. When I live and refuse to die, I obey God. Circumstances that bring about death will respect your faith in the Word of God. I live

by God’s Word and command.

There is a command that we should live. Will you not obey it?

I am made of superior material.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well (Psalm 139:14).

Permit me, please, to quote from Igbo Bible i.e the Igbo Translation Bible: M’ gekeleGi, n’ihinaejiwoihe di icheiche di egwu me kam’buruokeolu: OkeolunkeoluGinile di. Nkpuru-obim ma-kwarayankeoma (Abu Oma 139:14).

W

M

any people have a misconception that those who own their own companies or run a business do so because they are lucky, fortunate, rich or connected!

What a misnomer! People don’t start their businesses because they are financially loaded or rich and connected, but because of a driving inner desire to see their goal accomplished! Why then have a great number of people been unable to start their dream companies, visions and establishments?

1. The fear of the unknown You see, fear is the opposite of faith and when we live in fear, it cripples us and prevents us from achieving our goals. We begin to observe setbacks in our endeavours and we are unable to do seemingly simple things! What then is fear and why does it prevent us from achieving?

According to Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary, fear is an emotion excited by threatening

To Live is A Command

The Igbo translation of that passage says that God used special materials that are precious and durable to make me.

It is such a set of materials that malaria, diabetes, cancer, and in fact no sickness can destroy.

In those good old days, I don’t know how it is now, handiwork was a subject, and a pupil was expected to present a good craft work as handiwork. A pupil who might fail all other subjects could pass this subject, and score even up to 90 per cent. This passage says that we are God’s handiwork and the score is 100%. See how the scripture describes His handiwork: fearfully and wonderfully made and marvelous.

“Your workmanship is marvellous” and “wonderfully complex,” according to Living Bible (Psalm 139:14).

So you and I were created durable, wonderfully complex and amazing to think about.

The materials the Lord used are DURABLE materials – the materials that will last for more than 90 years and more than 100 years. When I mix my faith with the materials, I know I can last as long as I wish. Any person that adds or mixes doubts the word of God. “For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:7, 8).

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being MIXED WITH FAITH in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) 3. If you don’t mix this Good news in this little invaluable book with your faith, how will it apply to you or profit you; “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”? (Romans 14:23).

All I need to do to live long is to believe and to “mix my faith” with this word of God. It is so simple to live long and

WORD OF LIFE by

Bishop Moses Kat tey Tel: 08087707486, Email: moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

to have the grace of longevity.

THE LORD HAS GIVEN ME LONG LIFE Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corns cometh in his season (Job 5:26).

You shall live a long, good life, like standing grain, you’ll not be harvested until its time! (Job 5:26 Living Bible).

This is the Word of the Lord and it is one of the reasons why I know I shall live long. I have mixed this word with my faith, and that’s all that is required for longevity to be conferred upon you also. Grains of corn go to the threshing floor or palm fruits are harvested for palm oil when they are ripe, not when unripe. There are fruits that can be useful when they are not ripe, and there are some that are useful only when they are ripe. The Lord said you will be harvested only in your old age. Be assured (Job 5;26).

There is only one grave that will be dug and prepared because of me and the Lord has promised and has pledged that I will come across that grave only in my old age. God’s word is final. Do you know that the Lord has the keys to every mortuary or morgue?

“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

(Revelation 1:18).

4. Many translations say He

possesses the keys of death and Hades (the realm or place of the dead). The Lord Jesus has the keys of where those who die are physically and spiritually kept. If the Lord does not open the morgue or mortuary for me to be taken in, I will not die. As far as you and I are concerned, the Lord has locked all the mortuaries against us. It is only when He opens it that we can be taken there – the place of the death, where dead people are taken to physically and spiritually.

I cannot die unless I have reaped what I planted.

The Lord has pledged that He will keep me alive until I reap and harvest what I planted.

Isaiah 65:20, 23 “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. All these promises are to those of us who believe that God has decreed this for us. The Lord said that if I die at 100 years, I would be considered a youth. If I fail to reach 100 years, I should be considered as accursed. What God considers an adult is somebody who lives for more than 100 years.

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Faith

I have a man among my congregation who might be up to 110 years old. He is still strong, dances and gives testimonies.

I have seen another who travelled from a far place for counselling. He is over 115 years.

They have no problems with their eyesight and their hearing. What happened to them that they are alive, strong and still cheerful? What did God infuse in their system that made them immune from sicknesses and other attacks? The Lord has also infused it into my own system. I know I shall live long. What of you? Has the Lord also infused it into your own system?

One other reason why I know I shall live long is because I sow and I build. The Lord pledged

by His life that He will never allow me build a house and die without enjoying the house for a very long time. God pledged that if I sow I must stay alive to reap and enjoy the work of my hands. . .

“And mine elect shall long to enjoy the work of their hands.” (verse 22). If we die now, we have laboured in vain (Isaiah 65:23). The year God stops being faithful to His word and commitment, I will lose hope and can die before 100 years of age.

As far as I am concerned, if I die before 100 years of age, I must be what the Igbo call Ogbanje, and what the Yoruba call Abiku – that bad child believed to come repeatedly to cause sorrow to their parents, and who die when they are most loved and admired. I am not one of them.

5. Ask those who have lost their wives, husbands, sons or daughters, parents, etc and you will discover what pains you will cause people if you die in the next few years. Plant and plant and sow and sow, so that the Lord will keep you alive to reap for a long time.

Launching forth Power in the word with

Banke David

Tel: 08034156014 evil or impending pain accompanied by a desire to avoid or escape it.

Uneasiness about a thing, solicitude accompanied with dread.

You see, fear cripples us and makes us feel threatened. No wonder when people are paralysed with fear, they are unable to perform. Good news! There is a way out! God has said in His Word in 2Timothy 1:7- For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind, Amen. Whenever

a situation of fear arises, know it’s not from God but the devil or ignorance! Let us begin to reject every fear in our lives and instead imbibe the Spirit of faith to enable us to achieve!

2. Satisfaction with our comfort zones - We are unable to launch forth because we seem to think that where we are is more comfortable than the scary unknown!

How sad! If only we could see the glorious future ahead of us, surely we would be more willing to venture. Even though we

are dissatisfied with our present condition, we prefer to remain where we are instead of reaching out to an unknown place! How can I start from square one and leave my well-paid job? you may ask. If God is in it, He will make a way! Where God gives a vision, he makes a provision! May God bestow upon us the Spirit of boldness! Amen 3. Lack of capital (imagined) Most people would rather prefer to have all the cash they need before they venture out. God does not work this way! He did not make the world with money neither did He have billions before he created man. He used what he had - the power of confession.

Use what you have. Start from where you are. This is a major hindrance for a majority of people.

Don’t wait till all the conditions are right. They never will be. If God has said so, go right ahead, there’s no better time. God will see you through. You need N1 million, you may say. Start on

a small scale with the little you have. Stop dreaming and take action! God does not despise the days of small beginnings. He is with you. Stop giving excuses. Do it now! When God sees that you can handle a N200,000 business, he will promote you to the next level, Amen!

4. Lack of a compelling vision – Some people don’t venture out because they lack a compelling vision. We are not required to go into a business concern because others are succeeding in it or because it is in vogue. Have a compelling vision. This is what will keep you going when the going gets tough or the business collapses. A compelling vision is needed to drive the business to success and weather the storm. You can do it, you can launch forth as there is a giant in you. God is with you.

Mrs. Banke David is the Proprietress of The Sunrise Academy International, Aba. This topic will be concluded next week.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

Faith

MYSTERY OF ANXIETY with

Bishop John Ogbansie gbe

T

he first divine condition or requirement for you to enter into divine favour, prosperity and success is for you to be bornagain. To this end, the Bible declares thus: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree; that the blessings of Abraham might come unto the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14.

From the above scripture, it is clear that for any man to be connected to the covenant of favour, success and prosperity delivered to Abraham, that person must be redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ through His blood. You must be born-again. This is the gateway to the world of abundance, favour and prosperity.

Again, the Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the death, thou shall be saved. For with the hearth man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Roman 10:9-10. The gracious work of salvation which God does in the hearts of men is

Tel:08033416327

a miracle. It is good and profitable to understand and rightly appropriate this definite work of grace.

In a nutshell, salvation is the act or process of saving, emancipating and rescuing any person or thing from imminent danger of destruction. Spiritually speaking, and in view of the reality of hell, the most fundamental assignment of the church is salvation of humanity from the danger of hell, through the preaching of the gospel of our Jesus Christ.

Sin, Satan, death and hell are man’s great enemies. That is why Satan’s law is sin and death, while the law of Christ is righteousness and everlasting life. This is why the word of God says, “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:2.

Salvation has two sides - God’s side and man’s side. God on His side will confront and convict man of sin. He will prove the guilt of man and open his eyes to the consequential penalty of every sin, which is death. He will do this by His word and By His spirit. The key word is ‘guilt’. He will then reveal to man how he will be saved from the penalty of his sins and find his place in God’s family. He will graciously link you to the privileges of His

Be connected with covenant of favour

son’s death on the cross.

On man’s own side, he is expected to respond to guilt by taking advantage of God’s grace and confessing his sins.

To confess means to agree to say the same thing the Holy Ghost is saying about you. You must agree with God that you are a sinner and that you need salvation and a saviour. Then you must truly repent in spirit and in truth, and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour.

To repent means to change your evil ways and then choose God’s will and way for your life, rather than your own will. In other words, surrender your will to the will of God, ask Jesus to come and be enthroned in your heart.

Give Him the leadership of your life and let Him direct you. Then follow Him by faith and obey His words. The result of salvation is conversion and total restoration. The way of sin and Satan is death, but the way of God is life and life more abundant, life that is superior in quality and superfluous in quality.

Practically speaking, life as a sinner is very expensive and wasteful while life as a sincere believer in Christ is economical and full of wisdom. As a believer in Christ, your soul’s salvation will give you peace of mind.

There is nothing you can give to God to quantify the magnitude of His loving kindness towards us. There is nothing a believer can give to God which is com-

This Time Around M isan tore her eyes away from Antonio and looked around the crowded large hall on the 11th floor of the ship.

Except for the gentle movement of the ship, one would have thought it was a large hotel. People milled about, with food and drinks in their hands as if they had no care in the world. A third of the crowd wore bath suits while almost all the remaining people wore Tshirts and jeans or shorts. The people in the group she came with were part of the few people who were fully dressed.

Conscious that he was still holding her hand, she pulled it from his grasp and followed the queue for food, holding the white plates and the cutlery in her hands tighter to keep her hands from shaking. She didn’t want to make a scene. Some of the people on the line were looking at them, most of whom were white.

Ruth, her friend from The Worship Centre, whom she came to the hall with, looked back and listened to them.

“How are you?” Antonio continued.

She had to be polite, Misan thought. “I’m fine.” She said coldly.

As the line moved forward, she

stepped in behind Ruth, hoping Antonio would leave.

He did not. He moved forward with Misan.

She looked straight ahead, ignoring him, hoping he would realise she didn’t want to talk with him.

Obviously he did not as he commented, “There’s no doubt about that.” He was still smiling. “You look even better than I remember.”

His eyes perused her five feet eight inches frame. The yellow brocade jacket she wore with a pale yellow camisole on a long fitting pale yellow skirt looked good on her slender, well-proportioned figure. Her hair was different from the last time he saw her. It was braided then but now it was long and wavy. He wondered if it was her natural hair or a wig. A person could not tell the difference these days. The accessories she used matched the yellow blouse. Her dark smooth face was moderately made up and her lips glossy.

Antonio’s mind was taken back to four years ago when he first met her. He had taken to her right away, to his surprise. He had also been fascinated by the fact that she spoke English with no trace of an African accent. He had concluded in his mind that she grew

up in America or studied there.

Something about her had drawn him. Even though he had met with many African ladies in the course of his work as a talk show host, he had never considered a relationship with any of them.

What was it about this lady that he liked? He asked himself now as he looked at her. Was it her smile, her innocent look, her way of dressing or what?

This was no time to think about the past. He brought his mind back to the present and asked, “How is your beauty shop?”

So he remembers. She had told him at that time that she had a beauty shop called Head to Toes.

A section of it was a salon and a facial clinic while she sold ladies’ clothings in the other. Since then, she had added other things like beaded jewelleries, hats and shoes. But she wasn’t about to tell him that.

“It’s okay.” She answered in a prim voice without looking at him.

She shouldn’t be surprised that he remembered though. From the brief moment they shared, she could tell he was very smart.

She too had not forgotten that he told her his father was Spanish while his mother was American.

He was born in Spain but had been in America since the age of

parable to the peace, mercy and grace which the believer has received from God as a result of conversion, salvation and redemption.

When you understand the mysteries and vintage fruits of redemption through the death of His son Jesus Christ, you will know and be convinced that it is beyond comparison.

The life of a sinner is a life of wastage after the order of the prodigal son. For instance, to be spending money on women and girls whose bride price you did not pay, in the name of fornication and adultery, is an unreasonable waste. Imagine a man who spends $40 a day on cigarette and drinks with friends, when the total expenditure on cigarette and drinks in a month is calculated, he would have spent about $1,000 (about N150, 000.00) in a month. What a waste! The life of a sinner is very foolish and wasteful.

As a child of God, you are saving a lot; you are saving and securing your health, your marriage, your family, your destiny, your money, your hard work, your vision and your eternal destiny. But when you spend your time and money in the house of God, and for the work of God, God shall return it to you in hundred fold.

Redemption means to repurchase something from somebody. God formed man in His own image, but sin and Satan

deformed man. Redemption became the process and programme through which God bought man back with the high price of the blood of Jesus Christ.

If as a believer you are still living in secret sin and compromise, you are making nonsense of the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the suffering He suffered for you on the cross of Calvary. For any man to enter into this programme of redemption, you must give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. By giving your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall also become a beneficiary of God’s grace, which is incidental to redemption.

Grace is the unmerited favour of God. It means to receive what you did not deserve from God. The Bible says that, “The soul that sinneth shall die.” God created man to be pure, stainless, transparent and white but sin has reduced man to a mere booming repulsive stench before God. Yet in spite of man’s inadequacies, abominations and imperfections, under the programme of grace, God forgave, embraced and accepted man again. This is just like the father of the prodigal son did in the Luke 15: 11-13.

In a nutshell, redemption therefore means to pay a price in order to secure the release of something or someone from oppression, enslavement or imprisonment.

Christian relationship With

Pastor Taiwo Odubiyi +234082300 0773 five when his parents divorced.

He was the host of a popular talk show in the State of Maryland.

Antonio was still looking at Misan, trying to read her facial expression. It seemed she didn’t share his excitement of meeting again. He might be wrong though, he thought.

“I hope we’ll be able to get together sometime,” he said, goodnaturedly.

Get together again? She turned to look at him. That smile was still there and she felt like striking at his face. What is so funny to you? She wanted to shout. She wanted to shout and ask him if he knew that what happened on the last night of the cruise four years ago could result in a pregnancy. She wanted to tell him he had a baby by her called Weyin. She wanted to know why he didn’t get in touch with her at all. She had thought he liked her even if it was a little; after all, they took some photos together.

She wanted to know why he gave her a wrong telephone number.

How could he have done that?

“Will this evening be okay?”

She heard him say.

He had the nerve! What did he take her for - a street girl? Well, she would prove to him that she had changed and she had changed for good. She looked to see if anyone might be listening to them aside Ruth and she saw a couple of faces on them. She couldn’t show her anger now, she must be polite.

“Probably,” she said as nicely as she could but what she felt was far from nice. She wished she could hurl her hurt and anger at him. With pursed lips, she followed the queue.

It was soon her turn to get food and she looked at the different meals. She wasn’t familiar with them and so they did not appeal to her. She moved with the line until she got to the section of cereals, breads and egg and served her food. She put fruits in the second plate. She carried her plates in a tray and with Antonio still following her, she and Ruth went in search of a table.

To be continued.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

W

Faith

Unlocking The Supernatural! (5)

Welcome to the last part of the teaching for the month. Last week, I showed you the Sound Command. This week, I shall be teaching on Good Sound Production, Making Bold Declarations and the Result of Sound.

Good Sound Production: Always produce a sound in your favour using the name of Jesus. There is great power in that name. At the mention of it every knee bows and every tongue confesses that He is Lord. His name is above all names. Too many Christians are producing dangerous sounds to their own hurt. Some are finding it hard to pay their house rents because all you hear them say is, “I don’t have money” or “times are hard.” They make sounds of failure and they reap failure.

There is a great need for you to repent of the dangerous sounds you have released into the atmosphere, in times past. Remember, the angels of God are at your service. They are ever ready and are specially commissioned to execute whatever sound you produce. They hearken to the sound of your voice. Angels are there to serve you; that is why in Revelation 19:10, the angel said to John “I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren.” John did

J

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The Voice of

Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo

Phone: 7747546-8; E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

not know this truth and had bowed down to worship the angel earlier on!

Be careful what you say with your mouth because the angels will make sure they execute them. No wonder God’s Word admonishes us in Ecclesiastes 5:6: Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

Isn’t that revealing? Anytime you produce sound the miraculous takes place either in your favour or against you, depending on the kind of sound you produce. God has given you the gift of a mouth to rule and reign in the midst of your enemies. Your mouth is a destiny-moulder.

Luke 21:15 says: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which

all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Make Bold Declarations: How then should you speak in line with all that we talked about? In a whisper? With half your mouth closed? No, Jesus said, “What I tell you in secret, shout it on the roof top.” Boldness is the key word here. It depicts deep-seated conviction and authority.

Do you know the secret of the great successes recorded by the apostles of old? Boldness! Acts 14:3 says: Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

They did not just speak in the Lord, they spoke boldly. This was what compelled signs and wonders to be done through

their hands. The Lord confirmed His Word in their lives, because of their bold speaking. In order for your enemies to be subdued under you, you must speak God’s Word boldly. Whatever you cannot speak confidently about, don’t expect to see it come to pass. Speak boldly in line with the Word of God and you will see results. Whatever your heart desires, as long as it is covered in the Word of God, sound it out loud and boldly.

The Results of Sound: The sound you produce in line with God’s Word has two major effects: First, it forces the opposition to bow. What actually happens when you keep saying what you believe despite what is happening, is that the negative situation gets tired of hearing you speak against it and therefore leaves.

When I was sounding prosperity, poverty was my neighbour!

But after a while, it became uncomfortable with my incessant bold speaking and packed away.

Now, I don’t know its address.

The Bible confirms this in Psalm 18:44-45.

Second, the sound you produce gets heaven committed to perform. Isaiah 44:26 tells us that God confirms the words that we speak and performs our desires.

Whenever you speak boldly in

the Lord, you are challenging God to rise up to the occasion and defend His Word, which He has exalted above all His names (Psalm 138:2).

Friend, the power to make bold sounds is the privilege of those saved. You are saved by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as Your Lord and Saviour. If you are set for it, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. From today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for saving me. Now I know, I am born again!”

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books — Commanding The Supernatural and Walking In The Supernatural.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or Email: feedback@lfcww.org

Overcoming the spirit of lust

esus says, “He that overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne even as I overcame and sat with my father on His throne.” – Revelations 3:21.

This connotes that there are forces and things that we must overcome in the actualisation of our destinies in Christ.

One of such things is the negative feeling that the enemy used to defile our mortal bodies. In Galatians 5:16-17, the Bible says, “Walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you be led by the spirit you are not under the law.”

By the time God is through with us in this series of teaching, I am sure the scripture will make us better in the name of Jesus. In this episode, I will be dwelling on overcoming the spirit of lust.

Remember that I have been teaching on feelings and emotions and these are things that give direction to your lives; the things that sharpen your thought realm and give you your behaviour pattern.

It is not about anybody but you. The things that gener-

ate within you contribute immensely to the outcome of your attitude whether in public or in secret.

I have told you in the past series that you are a feelingbeing; in other words, God created you with a capacity to feel. You have feelings and that is why when people offend you, you feel angry.

When you are joyful you feel excited. I remember telling you that your feelings give rise to your actions and your actions become what you are known for. They become your attitude in life. And without doubt, your attitude becomes your altitude – that is the level you will go in life.

Friends, if you desire a throne, if you desire one that others will look up to in life, then you need to give attention to your feelings. If you can rule over your feelings, you can rule your world. One of the products of feelings is the spirit of lust. The spirit of lust is one of the most deadly emotions that spring out of your feelings. This is one of the most potent weapons in the hands of the enemy.

There is an evil spirit called lust. Lust wants you to lose control of your life and it has foundation in your feelings. And lust is the root of all killer habits. Any killing habit you know in this world

begins with lust: whether it is called adultery, fornication, drunkenness or drug addiction – all started from lust.

And you cannot indulge in those negative emotions and expect to rule the world.

Another term that generally describes lust is evil appetite.

Lust can also be referred to as spirit of enticement. The major aim of lust is to lure you away from the presence of God. And this is targeted at destroying you and whatever you stand for. It is a major strategy that is being used against believers today.

It has been there from the beginning.

It was the spirit of lust that drove Eve against the spirit of God. She saw the fruit and confessed that it looked pleasant to the eyes and desirable to make one wise.

When she became interested in the look of the forbidden fruit it became easier for her to consider it as food. – Genesis 3. When the devil wants to destroy, to steal or to kill your conscience away from the will of God, he uses the weapon of lust.

Brethren, Satan today is not different. He is still interested in luring the brethren away from the will of God through seduction. He cheaply looks for what will appeal to your feelings and use it against

Taming your Emotions by

Apostle Clement by Ogbonna Bishop Lawrence Osagie apostleofgraceinwo Tel: 08063250667, mail:powerlineministries@mail.com, www.powerlineministriesinc.org

you. But this year, Satan will not rob you in the name of Jesus.

You will be in control of your emotions in Jesus name.

Listen and reason with historical reviews in the bible. Do you know that lust was what destroyed the whole city of Sodom and Gomorrah? When lust is in operation, there is no hunger for the things of God. Lust destroys the energy of righteousness and spirituality. It makes you to desire the things that negate the will of God and when this happens, faith and holiness are compromised.

Experience has shown that it is abnormal for a child not to be hungry. So when a child of God no longer hungers after spiritual things, then something wrong has happened somewhere. If you are born-again you should thirst and hunger after the things of God that gave birth to you. If you are continu-

ally redundant and cold, then there is a big problem as it suggests that something luring and captivating is taking your mind away from the presence of God. And when lust is at play, hunger for spirituality dies; hunger for soul winning dies, hunger for Bible study, prayer and things that edify the soul die.

The spirit of lust has caused a lot of havoc both in the past and in today’s church. It separated Adam and Eve from glory. It destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

It has reduced many high ranking believers and Lord’s generals to nothingness and vain glory. There were many who started very well, I mean those who began with fire, marching with great zeal towards the high mark of the highest calling in Christ Jesus but ended on a very sad note because of their inability to detect and avoid the tricks of the spirit of lust.

ADVERTISE YOUR CHURCH EVENTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMMES, CONVENTIONS AND OTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES ON THESE PAGES. CONTACT: TAI ON 07064380029

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

News Extra

New Life Gospel Church marks 31st convention

I

Tai Anyanwu

Members of Assemblies of God Church, FESTAC (2) led by Pastor Mrs. Hope Chukwudebelu (3rd from right) donating food stuff to inmates of SO-SAID rehabilitation home in Lagos, yesterday.

Looted Funds: Why FG struck deal with Abacha’s family - AGF

A

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), yesterday declared that the Federal Government had been active in tracing and recovering Nigeria’s stolen assets around the world.

Adoke also explained that President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent request to the National Assembly to approve a $1 billion loan to fight Boko Haram was to enable the government to fully equip the nation’s Armed Forces for the war against terrorism in compliance with the resolutions of the National Assembly while approving a further extension of the Proclamation of a State of Emergency in three North-Eastern states of the country. These were con-

tained in a document titled, ‘The Legal Profession in Nigeria’, which the minister presented to the 2014 NBA International Conference in Owerri, Imo State.

He pointed out that the Federal Government’s recent settlement with the family of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, which led to the significant recovery of assets in some foreign jurisdictions, was meant to strengthen the war against graft and money laundering.

“The settlement the Federal Government recently reached with the Abacha family, which led to the significant recovery of assets in foreign jurisdictions, is a fitting testimony to the strenuous efforts being made to ensure the sufficient disgorgement of the proceeds of crime to serve as a deterrent.

“I am aware of the negative commentaries that the settlement generated from those who were ill-informed about the details of the se settlement and the underlying imperatives in the national interest.

“I however wish to reassure the Bar that every aspect of the settlement was transparently conducted and the outcome was in the national interest.

“The settlement has received commendation across the globe and is being used as a model for case studies on stolen assets recovery.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on our colleagues with the penchant for making unguarded and baseless statements in the media to always seek information from appropriate quarters before commenting on issues,” he said.

While speaking on the issue of terrorism, Adoke stressed the need for Nigerians to regard terrorism as a global phenomenon requiring the concerted efforts of all nations.

He said the Federal Government had sought the assistance of other countries and development partners to effectively confront this challenge.

His words, “The request for the sum of $1 billion recently made to the National Assembly was to enable government to fully equip our Armed Forces for the war against terrorism and insurgency in compliance with the resolutions of the National Assembly while approving a further extension of the Proclamation of the State of Emergency in three NorthEastern states of the country.

Why I exposed my breasts in Aso Rock – Omoni Oboli ew days after the premiere of “For me, that is good enough F her movie, Being Mrs Elliot, for the industry. The first time I ever I saw Mr. President was at in Aso Rock, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli, has been hit by several criticisms for her dress, which appeared to have exposed her breasts and cleavage.

Those who slammed the actress expressed disappointment over her dress, saying they never expected her to indulge in such.

However, Oboli has reacted to the criticism, according to an online medium, Eagle Online.

It quoted her as saying that she exposed her breasts due to the type of dress she wore to the event.

She said the dress appeared to have shown much of her ‘chest’ due to the camera angle.

Oboli explained in an inter-

his brother’s burial ceremony, which I attended. I don’t know him from anywhere or personally.

“During the event, Mr. President said in the presence of everybody that the government didn’t have money to give me. So if anybody is going aside to say something else, they are wrong.

“I returned to Lagos with the zzOmoni Oboli (r) with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Na- small purse I took to the event and after the event, I went madi Sambo at the premiere of her movie at the Presidential Villa recently back to my hotel room and left view with the medium that as some claimed. Before the for Lagos the next morning. I after the event, she headed screening, they asked me didn’t stay back in Aso Rock straight to her hotel room and what I wanted and I said I or sneak out to meet anybody. returned to Lagos to meet her didn’t want anything, but that “I’m still hoping they will family. the President and his people call us to come and take She said, “I didn’t collect should see the movie and give something that they are ima dime from the Presidency their blessings. pressed.”

t was an all-inclusive celebration as the New Life Gospel Church celebrated its 31st annual convention last weekend.

Speaking on the occasion, the church’s General Overseer, Rev. (Dr.) Z.A Osuloye, noted that the church had come a long way, having conquered initial huddles.

His words, “The church had known different problemsovertheyearsandevenfromitsinception.

“Accommodation problems were paramount among the problems - from being thrown out of her worship place in Idi-Oro (Jehovah Jireh Primary School), to when her new worship place was demolished by government at Abule Nla, Apapa Road, Ebute Emeta, in 1979,” he added.

The GO traced the church’s beginning to when it was holding fellowship under a tree at Ojota, on to Baba Oloja’s house at Idi Aba also in 1979 to its present status, the New Life Gospel Church.

The achievements of the church include a theological seminary, an outreach ministry known as Amazing Testimony Outreach Ministry, a prayer academy, a radio programme, missionary centres and various branches, Osuloye said.

He was particularly impressed by what he described as the unique success of the church where other ministries had failed.

“New Life Gospel Mission Incorporated has survived where many have failed. This church stands tall where many others bow their heads low in shame and defeat because they sold their birth right. This is a church that maintains its integrity and will do so till Jesus comes,” he affirmed.

Glorious songs of praise filled the auditorium as the celebration lasted. Other side attractions include special numbers, exaltations and sumptuous entertainment.

Dankwambo, Yuguda, Faskari witness Taraba Ag. Gov’s turbanning Jalingo Sabiu Mustapha Jalingo

G

overnors of Gombe and Bauchi states, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and Mallam Isa Yuguda respectively as well as the deputy governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Faskari, yesterday witnessed the turbanning of Taraba State Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, as the ‘Sardaunan Mambilla’ (Saviour of Mambilla People), the highest chieftaincy title and the most respected in Mambilla Emirate Council.

Other dignitaries who attended the event were Minister of State for Niger Delta, Mr. Darius Ishaku, who represented Vice President Namadi Sambo; and Emirs of Bauchi and Gombe, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu and Abubakar Shehu Abubakar respectively; the Lamido of Adamawa, Barkindo Musdafa; and other high ranking traditional rulers, politicians and public officers from within and outside the state.

Speaking after the conferment, the Chief of Mambilla, Dr. Audu Baju, said the decision was taken based on merit.

He further expressed optimism that the title will spur Umar to do more for the people of the state.

Also speaking, the Acting Governor said the title was “so special” to him and pledged to do his best to justify the confidence reposed in him.

Speaking on behalf of the vice-president, Ishaku charged the new Sardauna to emulate all the virtues of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, who integrated the Mambilla region into Nigeria from Cameroon.

I won’t allow my kids embrace weightlifting, says Ogbeifo p.60

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/sport

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

AUGUST 31, 2014

Ozil: I’m one of world’s best p.62

Dapo Sotuminu, Deputy Sports Editor dapo.sotuminu@newtelegraphonline.com 08099400190, 08038154192

Bukola Olopade challenges Danagogo on NFF’s imbroglio F

ormer Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, Honourable Bukola Olopade, has challenged the Sports Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo, to help solve the imbroglio that has been ravaging the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, since Nigeria’s ouster from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Olopade who is also the President of the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria told New Telegraph on Sunday Sports in an exclusive interview that, what is happening in the NFF is attempt to ridicule the integrity of Nigerian football and sports in general.

“A section of the Congress brought Idris Giwa as the new president of the NFF replacing Alhaji Aminu Maigari, but this can not hold water and it will not stand anywhere in the world as the process was inappropriate.

“I challenge the Sports Minister to come out and act like a big brother in this matter that is fast rubbishing the integrity of Nigeria. Right now, the country’s name is not in the good books of FIFA and this is not good at all.

“It is also a disservice to the contributions of President Goodluck Jonathan to sports development. The president has openly come out to support sports and he is doing well in this aspect, but what is happening in t h e footb a l l

Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo

house is enough to rubbish everything Goodluck Jonathan has been doing for sports since he became president.

He added: “I agree that government must have a hand in what is done in sports, here, they have a duty to act like a big brother and not create confusion the way they are doing at the moment on the issue of the NFF.” He noted that, the latest situation in Abuja where Giwa was declared the new president and had resumed duty in office would give FIFA yet another opportunity to hit us hard and embarrass Nigeria with a ban if the right thing is not done.

“I totally back the decision to hold the elective congress on September 4, because that is the right way to go. I have been very quiet in this whole matter as I thought that the right thing would be done, but at this point, I am challenging the Minister who I know is a good man and also a gentleman to do the right thing. “ I t unfair that the minister seems to be confus-

59

Sp rt

ing the whole country when he said on a national television that Aminu Maigari should return to his office, and soon after that announcement, his office came out with a letter

Bukola-Olopade

showing that Maigari has resigned. This is very inconsistent, really I am confused.

“That is why I am saying that the person to lead us aright in this whole mess is the minister. I have no doubt that he would do that as I know him to be a man of honour, dignity and highly principled. We need his leadership right now; this can go a long way in sorting the whole situation.

NFF boss, Aminu Maigari

“As far as I am concerned, the NFF still does not have a president or a board; to me whatever Giwa is claiming is a charade.”

Olopade pleaded for a prompt action that would not make FIFA throw down the hammer of a ban on Nigeria, an action which may stop the Super Eagles from playing the Nations Cup qualifiers games against Congo and South Africa, this invariably would prevent the team from de-

fending the title they won in 2013 in the 2015 competition.

I know when this happen, President Jonathan would be forced to do something about it himself.

“I pray it doesn’t get to this that is why I am asking the Minister to use his wisdom to lead the Nigerian football community fairly well to reach a logical conclusion on this matter that is fast killing the country’s football, the only true unifying factor of the people,” Olopade said.

The Sports Minister on Thursday met with the Idris Giwaled NFF board members in his office in Abuja and gave them his blessings while urging other football stakeholders to cooperate with them as the season of football crisis ends.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sport

I won’t allow my kids embrace weightlifting, says Ogbeifo Nigeria’s weightlifting legend, Ruth Ogbeifo, who won three gold medals at the South Africa 99 All Africa Games and one silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic among other laurels told DAPO SOTUMINU exclusively in London that she would not allow any of her kids take to weightlifting despite her successes in the sport. She also spoke about the circumstances that led to her premature retirement and many more

Ruth Ogbeifo

What is your greatest moment in weightlifting?

My greatest moment was at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where I emerged the first African and Commonwealth champion to win an Olympic silver medal up till date. It was initially a gold medal until the international federation used body weight to judge who eventually won the gold. I had the gold with me before it was collected, as we both lifted the same weight.

Do you have any regrets being a weightlifter?

I don’t have any regrets being a weightlifter; I love myself as a lifter. What I really want now is for the sport to return to where it was during Nigeria’s glory days of sports. This was the period when Nigeria goes out for international competitions and the people were always optimistic that the country would win something. It is not the same again today.

To achieve this we need to go back to the drawing board, but the problems we have in weightlifting are the coaches and those running the federation, these must be addressed for the sport to move forward.

If Nigeria kept being apprehended for doping year in and out, then what are the coaches and the administrators doing there? The Sports Ministry should address this fast.

It is just like in football when you fail in any major competition, the coaches are asked to go while other people try their hands on the team. When you are not performing, you leave the stage for others who have the magic wand.

How and when did you come in to weightlifting?

I was introduced into weightlifting by my husband who was my coach far back in 1992. My first international championship was the World Championship in Turkey in 1994, and then I was three months pregnant and still competed and won a bronze medal. After this, I realised that weightlifting was the main sport for me and I embraced it fully.

I started training very hard to become a world champion as that was my dream. My husband who was my trainer drilled me at the gym. We were not husband and wife during training sessions. This paid off as I became an Olympic silver medallist and I am very proud of this achievement today, more so as my records remain indelible in Nigeria.

How many All Africa Games did you participate in?

Before I retired, I participated in only one, which was in South Africa in 1999. Here I won three gold medals. After then, I went to the World Championship in Greece and won a bronze. I was also in Turkey where I won a silver medal. After this it was the Sydney Olympics where I won gold before it was turned to silver due to my body weight.

When did you stop competing and why?

Okay, that was a long story but I will cut it short.

I stopped competing in 2002 when I was preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

When I came back from the Olympics in 2000, I started preparation for the Commonwealth Games in my base in the United Kingdom, but I was called for a trials competition in Owerri to select the country’s representatives. And just few minutes to my competition, I had an elbow dislocation with just a chicken weight of 90-kilogrammes in a backroom warm up session at a time I was snatching 125kilogrammes.

After this injury, the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation backed off, all those that are important in weightlifting abandoned me, and I can mention some names. The Federation president, Mrs. Kofo

Nwokedi, led the back off and uptil now, nobody asked for my wellbeing, it’s disheartening and very sad after achieving so much for the country.

When I looked at that scenario, I hate to be a weightlifter, but I chose to be a weightlifter because I love the game but the people around the sport are square pegs in round holes. They are not the right people to work with. So, for athletes who love weightlifting, you are on your own. If you need anyone to support you, it is not in weightlifting.

Will you allow any of your children to take to weightlifting?

No way, hell no. Even if it is for the Great Britain, no is the answer. For weightlifting I just love the game, even if they are showing other sports on television I prefer to watch weightlifting. Do you know that before I competed and won that medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, I was not communicating with my federation Secretary General, the federation president and even the foreign coach, Ganev, which everybody worshipped for helping Nigeria win Olympic medal. Ganev, didn’t know where I trained, they are all hypocrites. I wasn’t communicating with no one but my husband who told me to concentrate and win.

Weightlifting has been like that from time and it hasn’t changed, but we need to put things right.

Something happened in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games, when Nigeria’s weightlifter Chika Amalaha tested positive to a banned substance. You were angry about it.

Yes, I was angry that the Nigerian team came with four weightlifting coaches and they claimed ignorance of the situation, which is not right.

The chief coach cannot tell me that he doesn’t know what the girl took as Chika confessed that she used a drug to reduce her body weight and the coach was aware of that, why did he not research on the drug to check if it contains anabolic or any prohibited substances. I am not blaming the girl, but you know what, Nigeria is going to push her aside.

How do we manage Amalaha’s situation?

You see this lady beside me, Hadiza Bakare, she was a victim, her ban just expired few months ago and she has been training under me in London and she is picking up fast. If we have situations like this, we should just put aside the dope issue and ensure the girl starts training again under strict supervision on a clean ground so that she can concentrate and get back to her character. Chika, is a good lifter if she is well managed, the sky would be her limit. We should not allow her go down the drain because of dope. She should be encouraged; we have to make sure that she gets to the level of realising her dream of being a world champion.

Aside from the issue of Amalaha’s doping, Nigeria didn’t do badly at Glasgow 2014, so what should be done to have a better outing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio? In the first place Nigerian weightlifters should not go to Rio with the mind of just participating, they must have a winning mentality, and the Sports Ministry should also try as much as possible to give prominence to athletes’ preparations and not officials. By the beginning of 2015, we must know the athletes that would be going to the Olympics and start preparing them almost immediately. They should be focused and closely monitored to avoid the use of banned drugs.

At this point, will you like to come in to give some supports?

At this stage yes, I would like to come in especially to get the female lifters ready for the big challenges of winning Olympic medals at the Rio Olympics, but the condition must be right. In Nigeria, women are the ultimate in weightlifting and I know they will continue.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Cowrie Rugby Club lead onslaught for Independence 7’s Rugby, as Gosar RFC vow to grab title T

Dapo Sotuminu he main bowl of the National Stadium, Lagos came alive after months of inactivity when top rugby club across the western state of Nigeria converged at the edifice to battle for places for the Independence 7’s Rugby championship.

At the end of hostilities, the Cowrie Rugby Club of Lagos booked one of the tickets alongside hot favourites like the Hawster Athletics, Racing RFC and Gosar RFC. Last year’s champion, Police Machine of Lagos, were also not left of the pack for the rugby fiesta scheduled to take place at the Onikan Stadium on October 10 and 11, 2014.

For the fiesta, there would be eleven local teams and five international clubs who would battle for the trophy.

Hawster Athletics and Racing RFC were the first to qualify from the playoffs but still had to battle for supremacy in the final of the play-offs with Hawster

crowned the play-off king after a very entertaining and mind-blowing game characterized by unprecedented displays of pure adrenaline.

The aging but experienced Racing Rugby Football Club could not withstand the youthfulness of Hawster Athletics who tore into them several times with their lightening and blazing speed with the final scores at 14 -10 making it the first time Hawster Athletics recorded a win over Racing RFC. After a round-robin game by six teams who divided into two groups, Royal Stallions of Ilorin lost their slot in this year’s tournament losing 17-12 to Gosar RFC in the third place match of the play-offs, while Gosar RFC which is the most improved club in the South-West league performed excellently.

The head Coach of Gosar RFC, Gbenga Hammed, said after his team’s qualification that, it was a great honour and achievement to book a place in the most prestigious sevens tournament in West Africa.

The former Nigerian international and captain of the Black Stallions emphasized that his team will immediately hit the training field in their preparation for the two-day rugby fiesta as they are determined to win silverware this year.

To complete the number of Nigerian clubs for the Independence 7’s, the northern clubs will also battle to claim three slots allocated to the region, while SouthSouth, South East region and the Capital Territory clubs will play for a slot each in the event.

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Fasimoye Olatunji, told New Telegraph on Sunday after the playoffs in Lagos, that all the participating teams played to their optimum and he commended them for their high level of discipline and expressed satisfaction over the standard and performance of the southwest teams, while predicting that the trophy is likely to be retained in the zone considering the standard of the matches played during the playoffs.

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AUGUST 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sport

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ritish-record signing Angel di Maria was unable to inspire Manchester United to victory on his debut as they drew 0-0 at Burnley in the Premier League.

A £59.7 million ($A109 million) acquisition from Real Madrid, Di Maria started Saturday’s game, but despite some probing passes and darting runs, he could not illuminate United’s path to goal against Sean Dyche’s promoted side.

Having seen his team beaten by Swansea City and held by Sunderland before being humiliated 4-0 by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup, new United manager Louis van Gaal has now gone four competitive games without recording a win.

United’s frustrations were compounded in the last five minutes when Spanish playmaker Juan Mata had to go off after appearing to injure his hamstring.

Di Maria came into the United team in central midfield alongside Darren Fletcher and saw Burnley

declare Manchester United struggles Fenerbahce Yobo surplus continue on Di Maria debut T

twice go close to taking the lead inside the first five minutes at a sunny Turf Moor.

Burnley’s former United trainee Dave Jones curled a free-kick against the bar and visiting goalkeeper David de Gea then had to save after Lukas Jutkiewicz seized on a miscued back-pass by Jonny Evans.

Di Maria produced his first moment of quality in a United shirt in the 15th minute with a raking 50-yard pass for Robin van Persie, who chested the ball down, only for Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton to parry his shot.

Dave Jones worked De Gea from 25 yards at the other end, while United felt it should have been

awarded a penalty after Burnley right-back Kieran Tripper appeared to push Ashley Young over in the area shortly before half-time.

Van Persie threatened twice for United around the hour, seeing a volleyed cleared off the line by Dean Marney and heading over, before Di Maria was replaced by Anderson with 20 minutes to play.

US Open: Sharapova prepared for Wozniacki test

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aria Sharapova feels well versed in the threat that forthcoming US Open opponent Caroline Wozniacki will pose.

Sharapova moved into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows with a 6-2 6-4 win over Sabine Lisicki on Friday and will come up against the Dane for the first time since Indian Wells a year ago.

The Russian fifth seed holds a 5-2 career advantage over the world number 11 but Wozniacki has been in strong form this year - winning the Istanbul Open while making the semi-finals in Dubai, Monterrey. Eastbourne and Cincinnati.

And ahead of the meeting between the former world number ones, Sharapova feels both players will know one another’s games very well.

“She’s having a really good summer so far. She’s really raising her level to where she wants it to be,” said Sharapova.

RESULTS

Barclays Premier League Burnley 0 - 0 Man. United Man. City 0 - 1 Stoke City Newcastle 3 - 3 Palace QPR 1 - 0 Sunderland Swansea 3 - 0 W/Bromwich West Ham 1 - 3 Southampton Everton 3 - 6 Chelsea Germany - Bundesliga Augsburg 2 - 3 B/Dortmund Leverkusen 4 - 2 H/Berlin Hamburger 0 - 3 Paderborn Stuttgart 0 - 2 Cologne Bremen 1 - 1 Hoffenheim Wolfsburg 2 - 2 Frankfurt Schalke 1 - 1 Bayern Munich Italy - Serie A Chievo 0 - 1 Juventus Spain - Liga BBVA Athletic Bilbao 3 - 0 Levante Cordoba 1 - 1 Celta Vigo France - Ligue 1 Monaco 1 - 1 Lille

Close watch: Angel Di Maria tries to make an early impact on Saturday following his £59.7million move from Real Madrid, but he is crowded out by Burnley trio Michael Duff, Scott Arfield and Kieran Trippier at Turf Moor

Ozil: I’m one of world’s best

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esut Ozil believes criticism of his Arsenal performances stems from high expectations borne of being “one of the best No10s in the world”.

The Germany international struggled to live up to his £42m transfer fee after joining the Gunners from Real Madrid last season, though he did end the campaign as an FA Cup winner. That Wembley win over Hull was followed

by FIFA World Cup™ success with his country this summer.

“The opinions of fans are important to me and I’m happy they have such high expectations of me,” Ozil told the Daily Telegraph.

“I have high expectations of myself. I’m one of the best players in the world in that No10 position.

Fans, coaches, players and everyone knows that my best position is playmaker. It’s different playing on the left.

“When I was in Madrid, I often played on the right. I enjoyed that because I’m leftfooted and I was able to cut

inside to give assists and get shots on target. On the left, it’s more difficult.”

He’s like a guy who plays music with perfect timing. There aren’t many players like that.

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager on Mesut Ozil Manager Arsene Wenger defended the 25-year-old on Friday, likening him to a virtuoso musician and suggesting Ozil’s lack of aggression and defensive ability fuels a perception of him as ‘lightweight’.

“People are very harsh on Ozil because he’s a player who is easy with his

play,” Wenger said. “When you watch his game back the next day you think ‘what a player’. Everything he does is intelligent and the timing of absolutely everything he does is absolutely perfect. He’s like a guy who plays music with perfect timing. There aren’t many players like that.”

Ozil is grateful for the Frenchman’s support. “The whole club can be proud to have such a fantastic manager with so much experience, playing with style and doing so many great things for 18 years here,” Ozil said. “The boss has always blooded youngsters, and helped make them into some of the best players in the world. That’s also why I came here. I wanted to develop myself further.”

Having got into the habit of lifting trophies this summer, Ozil is keen for more.

“Of course Arsenal can win the Premier League,” he said. “We also want to show that we can play better in the Champions League. We have the potential to reach the final.”

Stationery Stores boss wants peace in Nigerian football

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tationery Stores Football Club limited, the oldest surviving club in Nigeria is concerned and saddened by the current situation with the leadership and administration of the beautiful game in our dear country.

Stores Chairman, Adetilewa Adebajo, said yesterday in Lagos that: “We the private clubs are already endangered species and the current situation will only serve to accelerate our extinction.

“A situation where the “Challenge Cup” the oldest cup competition in Nigeria is not held and all league matches are put on hold

does not speak well for the development and commercial aspects of the game.

“Our football league has seen resurgence with the advent of the League Management Company, LMC, a very positive development that is now attracting significant commercial interest. This has also encouraged private club owners and sponsors to get involved.”

He stressed that: “The late Israel Adebajo our founder and a Nigerian Football Icon and his contemporaries were selfless patriots who pooled their personal resources to fund the development of the game

in the 50s and 60s.

“We will like to appeal to the leadership and football administrators to sheath their swords and imbibe the selfless spirit of our founder and his contemporaries by finding credible football elders to arbitrate and negotiate a settlement privately.

“The events playing out in public and the media are definitely not for the good of the game.

“Finally we will like to appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan, to begin the process to privatize both the NFF and the NFA as he had successfully done with NEPA.

urkish Super Lig club, Fenerbahce, have announced that they have released Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo.

Fenerbahce announced on their official website that due to restriction in the number of foreign players, the club and Yobo had to part ways.

Both parties mutually agreed to terminate their contract this week just on the eve of the start of the Turkish top flight this term.

Yobo is now expected to be honoured at Fenerbahce’s opening game of the season against Karabukspor.

“Since the 2010-2011 season, Nigerian player Joseph Yobo successfully served Fenerbahce and the Football Federation of Turkey has brought about the restriction of foreign players as mandatory as of today so our paths (with Yobo is) separated.

“Fenerbahçe Sports Club Board of Directors on Sunday, 31 August, 2014 before a match will reward Joseph Yobo with a plaque of appreciation.

“Fenerbahce Sports Club, today, thank you for the contribution you have made, we wish you success in (your) future football career,” stated Fenerbahce on their official website.

Yobo, first joined the Yellow Canaries, on a season-long loan spell in 2010 and returned the following year again from Everton on another season-long loan deal.

Sierra Leone move Afcon tie with DR Congo to Lubumbashi

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ierra Leone are to host their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic Of Congo in the Congolese city of Lubumbashi on September 10.

The match, which was originally scheduled to take place in Freetown, was ordered to be played at a neutral venue by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) because of the ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.

The country had already suspended all football activities before Caf ordered the match to be relocated.

The secretary general of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Christopher Kamara said he was grateful to DR Congo for their support.

“I’m pleased to state that we’ll host DR Congo in their country in the city of Lubumbashi. We are thankful to DR Congo as we contacted them at the eleventh hour and they responded positively.

“But they gave us conditions - one of which is that all officials travelling from Sierra Leone must undergo tests for Ebola and then be certified as safe by the World Health Organisation.”

Christopher Kamara added that other nations had also been contacted as potential hosts.

“We also approached other countries such as Ghana and Morocco but they never responded, so we are making use of what is available to us.”

Meanwhile Kamara said the SLFA are insisting that their match with Ivory Coast must take place in Abidjan.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

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SPORT Olopade challenges Danagogo on NFF imbroglio

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A

LIFE Sanctity of Truth w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

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

VOL. 1 NO. 194

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014

N150

Ebola: Nigeria not free until affected countries are clear – Odubanjo }12

Selling coal to New Castle

lhaji Aliko Dangote is one businessman who hardly complains about systemic failures in Nigeria. Where other entrepreneurs would, for instance, rant and rail at erratic power supply, poor transportation infrastructure, insecurity et al, as reasons for their seeming lack of faith--and investments--in the economy, Dangote, the world’s 23rd richest man, would often demonstrate an abiding faith in the fatherland by investing heavily in every facet of the local economy. I have watched Dangote on international television practically cajoling investors at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and other important economic fora in the United and elsewhere, to discountenance ‘exaggerated’ reports about investment risks in Nigeria and come and invest and make money in the country. The President of Dangote Group of Companies is more likely to be seen stoically dealing with those well-known challenges that constantly confront the local business environment than perennially bellyaching and making politically incorrect statements about those challenges. To say that such unwavering belief (I hate the word patriotism) in the great potentials of his country has paid off for Dangote in ways and proportions that he himself probably never imagined is, of course, to belabour the obvious.

But, suffice it to say that when recently the nation’s foremost entrepreneur let us know how lack of gas to power his cement plant at Ibeshe, Ogun State, and the consequent daily expenditure of a whopping N250m on diesel to power the plant, were hurting business and profit, the stark implications for the economy of the lingering power supply crisis in the country became even more glaring to me. Speaking while conducting distributors of Dangote Cement on a facility tour of the Ibeshe plant, Alhaji Dangote lamented the non-availability of sufficient gas to run the 12 million-tonne capacity cement plant. “Our appeal to the Federal Government is to make sure that there is enough gas so that we can continue to generate our own power,” he was quoted in a recent report by New Telegraph as saying. “If you look at it, in the last six months, we have been using diesel to produce power. Our generators are made in such a way that if there is no gas, we have to use diesel and between diesel and low fuel oil, we are spending between N230 million and N250 million per day.

This isn’t really good news for Chinedu Nebo and his team. Although the hard-working minister of power has promised that the Jonathan Administration would double the nation’s current generation capacity by December this year, it is obvious that much still needs to be done before we can begin to experience an appreciable improvement in the power supply situation in the country. But, should Nebo and his team continue along the path of anti-corruption and probity, zero-tolerance for sabotage and courageous re-engineering and repositioning of the entire sub-sector that they have cut for themselves since coming on board in January last year, I’m positive that the narrative would sooner or later change for the better.

For me, however, the most distressing part of the Dangote story is the fact about importation of coal from South Africa by the group and other companies as a substitute for gas as energy source for industries. By way of reassurance to worried stakeholders at the facility tour, Dangote said: “I think by now, we have stabilized a bit; we are using coal, but by next year, we will fully be on coal so that we don’t go through this mess anymore.”

SUNDAY

NOTEBOOK

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

“The Jonathan administration has done well to concession the mines to foreign investors who were supposed to have established two coal-fired plants in the country by last year” Ordinarily, this should be good news since we have coal aplenty in the country. With high energy consumers like the Dangote group switching over to coal to power their plants, the moribund coal industry in the country would come alive again and become an active part of the usually profitable minerals sub-sector. But, this news isn’t exactly good one for the local economy because 100 per cent of this coal that Dangote has started to use as energy source and plans to use 100 per cent from next year to power at least the Ibeshe cement plant, is wholly imported from South Africa! And you ask, isn’t this like the proverbial selling coal to New Castle?

Selling coal to New Castle, according to WIKIPEDIA, is an idiom of British origin describing a foolhardy or pointless action. “It refers to the fact that historically, the economy of New Castle upon Tyne in north-eastern England was heavily dependent on the distribution and sale of coal—by the time of the first known recording of the phrase in 1538, 15,000 tonnes of coal were being exported annually from the area—and therefore any attempt to sell coal to Newcastle would be doomed to failure because of the economic principle of supply and demand,” explains the web-based encyclopedia.

That idiom may well not apply here---economic principles are often turned upside down in these parts. Or how else would you describe a country with estimated 3.1 billion metric tons and verifiable 391.42 million metric tons of one of the most bituminous coal reserves

MAMA LASISI

Dangote in the world importing coal from a less-coalendowed country like South Africa to power a mere industry-based plant!

It is true that the discovery of oil and the subsequent use of diesel to power industrial plants and locomotives drastically reduced global dependency on coal as source of energy.

But even some of the advanced economies of Europe, North America and Asia, as Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke herself once noted, have continued to successfully use coal as part of their national energy mix for electricity generation. Therefore, the total neglect of coal as a cheap, easily available source of energy by successive federal administrations in the country, especially from Babangida to Obasanjo, cannot be justified. It could only mean that these former leaders were either not smart enough to understand that coal (our coal) was still a viable source of clean energy or they had deliberately neglected the industry as part of the federal government’s unstated post-civil war economic warfare against the

South East where most of the coal is found.

Many still can’t understand why all the National Independent Power Projects (NIPP) under Obasanjo, were designed as gas-fed. Why should Dangote’s Obajana Cement Plant located in Kogi State with plenty of coal deposits be powered with gas located some 500 kilometres away in the Niger Delta? Couldn’t part of the $16b reportedly ‘wasted’ on the power projects

by Obasanjo have been deployed to set up a coal-fired power plant in Kogi or Benue from which the Obajana cement plant and heavy industries could have drawn power?

As a secondary school pupil in Umuabi/ Umuaga, Udi, Enugu State in the 80’s, I was always excited to sneak out of school during break time with other students to the old Enugu-Onitsha road to watch tens of trolleys mounted on cables (cable-car technology) delivering coal from Onyeama/Iva Valley Mines in Enugu to the Oji River coal-fed power plant, a very efficient power plant then. At that time, NEPA scarcely ‘took light’. I understand that under Obasanjo, the plant was completely dismantled? Why so?

Coal is located in Enugu, Kogi, Benue, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Delta, Plateau, Ebonyi, Gombe, Benue, Edo, Bauchi, Cross River and Adamawa States. That our coal is among the most bituminous in the world means it has low Sulphur content and burns very well. Experts say that apart from hydro, coal is the cheapest means of producing electricity. Indeed, it is estimated that a coal-fired plant costs about one-sixth of the cost of gas-fed plant. Could a sincere federal government not have taken this cost factor into consideration in deciding whether to build gas or coal-fired plants in these states with plenty of coal deposits instead of corralling the entire country into using one unreliable source of power? Whatever happened to that factor of production called nearness to the source of raw material as a determinant of where to site industries?

Apart from using it locally in power plants, we could also export our high quality coal and earn a lot of money. A post by oilgas in December 2012 and written by Chidi Orazulike lamented that while “the industry (in Nigeria) has been left to rot, to the detriment of the economy and anguish of Nigerians, a country like Australia earns about $18 billion yearly on royalties alone, not counting other form of taxes and huge benefits to their economy,” adding: “With her huge population and enormous energy demand, Nigeria already has a secured market for coal.”

The Jonathan administration has done well to concession the mines to foreign investors who were supposed to have established two coalfired plants in the country by last year. If these investors are not serious, we might as well let Dangote take over. After all, he would be the first major user of the power from such source.

It is anathema for us to import coal from South Africa to the detriment of our own mines.

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By Aliu Eroje