Binder1 july 20, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 1 No. 152

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

NEWS

S’EAST BEATS

Fake voter cards flood Yobe

MISS AKWA IBOM, Iheoma Nnadi, EMERGES MBGN 2014

Ojukwu was too lazy to write his memoirs, says ex-aide

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

Why my husband won’t take another wife

Olori Kadijat

Sassy cutout dresses Why many Nigerian marriages don’t last

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Banks lobby CBN to restore N100 ATM fee

Chijioke Iremeka

here are strong indications that commercial banks are lobbing the Central Bank of Nigeria to restore

the N100 ATM service fee, which was earlier suspended by the apex bank in a bid to reduce the financial burden imposed on the customers. Before the CBN’s suspen-

sion of the service charge, bank customers were made to pay N100 ATM maintenance fee for a single cash withdrawal from a machine belonging to another bank. New Telegraph on Sun-

day learnt that banks had been groaning under the burden of maintaining the ATMs without commensurate charge on customers and had given hints to CBN to consider restoring it.

Giving an insight into the lobby, the Chief Executive Officer, Automated Information Services Ltd, Dr. Bowo Olateru-Olagbegi, told our correspondent that he had credible information

that the new CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was under intense pressure to restore the charge suspended by his predecessor, MalCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NO RIFT IN PDP - MU’AZU Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has described the rumour of a rift within the National Working Committee of the party as “mischievous and an attempt by the opposition” to cause disaffection in the party ahead of the August

9 governorship election in Osun State. Mu’azu in a statement by his Special Adviser on ICT, Mr. Akin Oyegoke, yesterday said in spite of the ‘antics of detractors’, PDP is set to record another convincing victory in Osun State as it did in Ekiti State. He noted that the overCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

new lgs: Low turnout mars Ekiti referendum Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Uche Ekwunife; ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd); traditional ruler of Nri, HRM, Eze Obidiegwu Onyesoh; and Ukiwe’s wife, Amina, shortly after Ukiwe’s conferment with the title of Aka Ji Ofo Ndi Igbo by the monarch at his palace in Nri, Anambra State, yesterday.

ow turnout of people, outright boycott by some communities and quarrel over the location of headquarters on Saturday characterised the referendum organised by the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) on the proposed creation of 18 new local governments in the state. In Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, apathy of people to the exercise was evident, just as few people came out in Ikere, another major town in the state.

For instance, in Ado Ward 11, where at least people from 15 polling units were to vote, only CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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HELEN PAUL WRITES: Why many Nigerian marriages don’t last

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

NO RIFT IN PDP - MU’AZU C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1

whelming reception the people of the state gave to the party’s governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore, during his door-to-door campaign was a pointer to PDP’s likely success in the forthcoming election. “The rumour is the handiwork of the opposition to distract us from campaigning in Osun State and to also change our focus in our quest to regain all the losses of the PDP. You can see the numerous achievements the PDP has recorded so far since I assumed office as chairman. I want to promise you one thing, we will not stop, we will not be deterred but we will continue to work for the interest of all Nigerians,” he said. He advised the opposition to change its tactics and support President Goodluck Jonathan in his determination to transform Nigeria. “Our party is moving from C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1

118 people came out. The Supervisor, Mr Akinluyi Alabi, told newsmen who witnessed the exercise at St Thomas Primary School, Irona, that it was peaceful. At St Georges Primary School, only 66 people came out for the exercise. Commenting on the exercise, the SIEC Chairman, Mrs Cecilia Adelusi, confirmed that there was no voting in Ilasa, Osi and Igbole, as the people blocked the roads and prevented the exercise from holding. Mrs Adelusi said her attempt to enter Osi and Igbole to monitor the exercise was aborted by the people who did not allow her vehicle to enter the towns. C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1

lam Lamido Sanusi, to enable them to deploy more machines. “The N100 ATM service charge is coming back. What the CBN did was to reduce the burden on the customers and allowed the banks to pay the charges as part of their services to the customers due to the fact that the customers are already subjected to other service charges, including COT. “CBN is the regulator and when it gives a directive, you obey first and then complain and lobby. That’s what the banks are doing, especially now that the new CBN governor has a banking background and understands their plight. If they don’t generate income from the ATM, they will get it from other charges, such as excess COT. “Top banks are mounting pressure on the CBN to reserve it. Their argument is that the N100 was a bit convenient for customers to pay

strength to strength as you can see. The PDP is the only political party still standing strong, has never changed its name, has remained one and the only party with a viable national spread. “Before I came in as chairman, some aggrieved party members left the party for one or two reasons, but now, the story has changed. “We welcome them back to the party and I wish to call on all our members to remain united and prepare for the general elections in 2015. Look at our victory in Ekiti State where the sitting governor congratulated our candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose, and accepted defeat because of the overwhelming support Ekiti people gave to the PDP.” Mu’azu also reminded those describing him as ‘brutal’ to see beyond themselves and put Nigeria first. Mu’azu said the PDP was committed to efforts by well-meaning Nigerians and institutions to en-

L-R: Country Manager, Verve International, Oremeyi Akah; Head, Corporate Communications of Sahara Group, Mr. Bethel Obioma; Head, Communications, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mrs. Uchenna Mojekwu and Country Head, Enactus Nigeria, Mrs. Adesuwa Ifedi, after a press briefing on the 2014 edition of the Enactus Nigeria National Competition for tertiary Institution students in Lagos

sure that the forthcoming elections in Osun State is peaceful, orderly and rancour-free. He called on the people

of Osun State to support the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies during the exercise and reminded

them to participate in the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards. While urging PDP members to intensify their door-

to-door campaigns for the party, Muazu told them to continue to spread Jonathan’s singular message of peace, unity and stability.

New LGs: Low turnout mars Ekiti referendum Apart from the areas mentioned by the SIEC boss, the exercise did not hold also in Afao, Are, Iworoko in Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government Area. Also, the exercise did not hold in Ire (Oye Local Government), Agbado in Gboyin Local Government Area among others. In Ijero, the traditional ruler, Oba Adebayo Adewole, had to make public announcement that the people were not pleased with the government’s action, saying his people demanded for Ijero North and South local governments. The same scenario happened in Erinmope, where

the people said they were opposed to the exercise due to the location of the council headquarters in IgogoEkiti. However, the exercise recorded an appreciable turnout of people in Iyin and Igbemo both in Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government Area. In Ikere-Ekiti, the Commissioner for Integration, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Funminiyi Afuye, said the issue was beyond politics. According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that is opposed to the referendum, needed

not to support it. “Whoever is opposed to the referendum should go out and test his popularity with the people. The wishes of the people can be expressed at any time and on any subject. This is the policy of the APC government and we are implementing it to the letter. We are still in government until October 15 this year,” Afuye said. Meanwhile, the PDP, in a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, in AdoEkiti on Saturday, blamed the poor turnout of people on the insincerity of the outgoing government. He said that most of the

supposed beneficial communities knew abnitio that the whole process of creating the LCDAs was shrouded in controversy as a result of the contentiousconstitutional validity of the exercise. Apart from this, Oluwawole stressed that the people decided not to participate because they discovered that the creation of the LCDAs in the twilight of the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was roundly defeated in last month’s governorship election in the state was a vengeful mission to set one community against the other for not voting for

him. The PDP spokesman also said the attitude of the Ekiti people could be linked to the utterances of some notable members of the APC that Fayemi should use all power at his disposal to set political landmines for the incoming PDP government of Mr Ayo Fayose. According to him some also distanced themselves from the whole exercise due to fear of molestation and possible attacks by thugs who were brought to Ekiti State by the leadership of the APC to boost security for the EKSIEC and attack members of any opposition party or community.

Banks lobby CBN to restore N100 ATM fee than joining a long queue in the banking halls. They argued that the customers were willing to pay and never complained. CBN decided to reduce the burden on the customers,” he said. Olateru-Olagbegi said it costs money to deploy and maintain ATMs, saying these were eating into the banks’ profits. He said this meant the deployment of fewer ATMs, noting that when the device is turned into an income generating infrastructure, more of it would be deployed. An employee of a leading bank in the country told New Telegraph on Sunday that most banks are losing revenue due to the cancellation of the fee. He said they were spending their resources on ATM inter-bank settlement and maintenance, which is the resultant effect of excess COT because the banks have to recoup that money in one

way or the other. New Telegraph on Sunday’s efforts to obtain comments from a number of banks failed as several calls put across to their officials were not responded to. They did not also respond to text messages sent to their phones. It was the same with CBN spokesman, Isaac Okoroafor. However, CBN’s Consumer Protection Department, which responded, said it was not aware of such a plan. “Such information does not exist in this department, and since it is not contained in any circular within this section, it didn’t emanate from the Consumer Protection Department,” the email said. An ex-President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Managing Director, Maxifund Investment and Securities Plc., Okechukwu Unegbu,

said there is nothing wrong with the policy if the banks are lobbying CBN to return the N100 service charge. He said that everywhere such services are conducted in the world, certain charges are paid to enable them to maintain the machines. The ex-bank chief said, “I don’t envy the banks. These facilities are expensive to maintain. They are electronic service providers and the owners pay rent where they are installed, pay for installation and security among others. I don’t see anything wrong in it, more especially, when the CBN wants to stop COT charges. “I wonder why they removed it in the first place. I have no issues with this but my quarrel is with the banks that still charge COT on that after charging N100 service fee. But I believe that the fee should be a cost recovery and not another means of

milking the customers further.” In the same manner, a professor of Political Economy and a director at Lagos Business School, Pat Utomi, said he was aware of such policy, saying that such fees are being charged all over the world for ATM transactions. He said, “Last week in the United States, I used two banks ATM, which are not my banks, and the machines charged me $3 for each of the transactions. So, the service fee is universal. But what is charged depends on how much per a unit of transaction for the shared bank structure. “If the both banks have a shared platform, then, the cost would come to nothing. So, there is nothing wrong in it coming back.” Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who specialises on monetary policy, Mr. Emeka Ngige, urged the CBN not to

succumb to pressures from the banks to restore the N100 fee, as such services are what the banks should render to the customers. He noted that the banks are already making money from a number of sources from the same customers. The Executive Secretary, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria and Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Surveyors, Mr. Akin Oyegbola, the removal of the fee on the customers would make the bank to be on their toes to improve their business, rather than embarking on armchair banking. “They have made their money. Let them go and look for other legal businesses they can do and make money. I want the CBN to maintain status quo despite the pressures from the commercial banks,” he added.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Bamidele Babalola Damaturu

ake voter cards are now being printed in Yobe State by politicians, with a view to circulating them when the registration of voters begins in September. An investigation conducted by New Telegraph on Sunday revealed that the cards were being printed at a business centre in the state capital, damaturu. A man who was seen with one of the cards told our correspondent that politicians and other people seeking to open bank accounts had been flooding the centre to get the fake document. A close look at the card reveals that it looks exactly like the original. It would take a thorough scrutiny of the real card to detect the flaws in the fake one. On enquiry, the manager of the business center who did not give his name told our correspondent that he has been issuing them to people seeking to open bank accounts and others wishing to use it for other purposes. When contacted, an official of a popular second generation bank who does not want to be named said

News

Fake voter cards flood Yobe that although a voter card was one of the documents required for the opening of an account, it was not its responsibility to ascertain the genuineness of the docu-

ment. But a member of the All Progressives Congress, AlhajiIbraim Hamed, accused the Peoples Democratic Party of printing the fake

voter cards to rig the 2015 elections, warning that this would be vehemently resisted. Denying the accusation, a PDP chieftain in the state,

Alhaji Lawan Karasuwa, said his party does not need to print fake voter cards before taking over the state from APC. He said the APC had failed the people

of the state. When contacted, the Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Marcus Danladi, said his command would investigate the matter.

L-R: Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Ishola Adekumbi; Students Union leaders in the state and Governor Ibikunle Amosun, when the governor observed the Iftar (breaking of fast) with representatives of Students of Higher Institutions, at Government House, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta…on Friday

I’ve not received notice of impeachment - Al-Makura Miss Akwa Ibom emerges MBGN 2014 Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

asarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, yesterday said he had not received any notice of impeachment from the state house of assembly. The governor, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Abdulhameed Kwarra, on the telephone said he was not a corrupt leader, as the house of assembly insinuated in its allegations against him. The governor said that he had not been served a notice of impeachment as Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended was clear on the right process required for such purpose.

kwa Ibom State Governor Godswiill Akpabio has identified disloyalty, impatience and lack of integrity as the bane of Nigerian politics. Akpabio, who stated this on Friday when some elders and stakeholders of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State led by Dr. Akpan Micah Umoh, a member representing the constituency in the National Assembly paid him a courtesy call at Governor’s Office, Uyo, lamented that these factors had permeated the polity. He lauded Obong Obot Etukafia, a one-time Commissioner for Finance for

He said that it was not correct to assume that he was served the notice by substituted means, as stated by the Clerk of the house of assembly, Ego Abashe, on Tuesday. “As I speak to you, it is not true at all to assume or claim that the governor has received the impeachment notice from the house of assembly,” the aide said. According to him, there was no record anywhere that the state house of assembly had secured an order from a court of competent jurisdiction to servea notice of impeachment on him. He stated that inasmuch as the governor would not like to join issues with the house of assembly in the media, he would comply with the relevant section of

the the constitution on the matter. Responding to a question on whether the governor would forward a defence to the house, Kwarra said Al-Makura was not under any obligation to respond to ‘mere allegations’ published in newspapers, insisting that he is not a corrupt leader. Effort to speak with House committee chairman on Information and Security, Mohammed Baba Ibaku(PDP, Udege/ Loko Constituency), were unsuccessful as several calls put through his mobile phone proved abortive. Abashe declined to comment when our correspondent called him on the telephone, insisting that it was not a working day.

-year-old Miss Akwa Ibom, Iheoma Nnadi, on Friday night emerged winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2014 pageant, carting away a cash prize of N3 million and a brand new car, amongst other prizes. The event, which was held at Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, produced Miss Edo as first runner-up, while the second runner was Miss Osun, Endurance Akpoyibo. Other awards presented at the pageant were Miss Photogenic, which went to Erica Nlewedim of Kogi; Chinyere Adogu of Kwara won Miss Charismatic; Miss Delta, Fortune Woko, clinched Best Traditional Costume; Miss Gombe, Precious John, got MBGN

Model; and Miss Amity went to Queen Celestine of Edo State. Miss Edo, Kwara, Osun, Akwa Ibom and Abuja made the list of the top first five, who were among the 30 contestants that participated in the pageant. Delivering a welcome address, Governor Seriake Dickson, represented by Deputy Governor Gboribiogha John Jonah, expressed delight that Bayelsa was hosting the event for the second successive year, an indication that the state is peaceful and open for investors and tourists. Dickson, who noted that efforts were being put in place to diversify the state’s economy through tourism and other sectors, said operating a mono-

lithic economy hinged on oil revenue was no longer sustainable. He also urged young girls across the country to show interest in the pageant in order to enhance their status in life and expressed the belief that next year’s edition would be more competitive. In her remarks, Director General of the State Tourism development Agency, Mrs. Ebizi NdiomuBrown, announced that in next year’s edition of the MBGN, the audience would be given an opportunity to participate in determining who wears the crown. The highpoint of the ceremony was the crowning of MBGN 2014 by the outgoing beauty queen, Miss Anna Ebiere Banner.

Akpabio identifies bane of Nigerian politics the legendary speech he made during his town hall meeting/tour of the Federal Constituency, recalling that during his political heyday, many people upheld politics of integrity unlike now that it is lacking. The governor, who called for “politics of integrity in our state,” however, described Umoh as a humble person and hailed him for his effective representation at the National Assembly, saying that if he were not, the political movers in the area would not have accompanied him

on the courtesy visit. Akpabio pledged to support legislators gunning for second and third term to enhance quality legislation, robust debate and deepened democracy, stressing “You are doing well at the National Assembly. We want somebody to sustain our representation at the National Assembly and infrastructure in Akwa Ibom. One good turn deserves another.” He advised aspirants to allow other sons of the area to go on consultation, stating, “Allow other sons of Ikot

Abasi Federal Constituency to consult me and others.” Ufikairo Efet, a one-time chairman of Eastern Obolo observed that Umoh has represented them well in the House and has properly keyed into PDP manifesto, stressing the need to support him for a second term. Obong Richard Umoren, a former chairman of Mkpat Enin, lauded the governor for his hard work in the ‘infrastructural renaissance’ of the state, and described Umoh as a wonderful and humble person. He called

for support for his second term bid. Obong Obot Etukafia, an elder statesman, noted that they knew Umoh’s academic and performance credentials and asked the governor to support his bid. Earlier, Umoh had listed his achievements to include effective representation at the National Assembly; establishment of three small-scale industries in Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo; provision of solar street lights; establishment of offices in the three

local government areas; reconstruction of bridge of no return with six bunkers; extension of electricity to ALSCON in Ikot Abasi; employment of 20 staff in the three offices of the federal constituency; and empowerment of more than 20 persons, among others. Umoh said based on his excellent performance credentials, he decided to go for a second term to deepen his representation in the House of Representatives, requesting the Governor to support his ambition.

Moments

L-R: General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Engineer Adebola Shabi; Director, Supply Chain, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Cephas Afebuameh; former Guinness Nigeria Managing Director and Chairman of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Keith Richards, during the 2014 Tree Planting Day organized by LASEPA in partnership with Guinness Nigeria Plc, held at the Guinness Nigeria Plc, Ogba Brewery, Lagos

L-R: Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), Mrs. Tanwa Koya; Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Shebioba; Board member, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun and another member, Engr. Bimbo Onafowokan, at the town hall meeting on water supply and sanitation by the commission, in Lagos…on Friday

Commissioner, Lagos State Scout Council, Chief Joseph Tawose (first from left) receiving the keys of a four bedroom chalet donated by Senator Dr. Bode Olajumoke (third from left) while from left, Chief Commissioner of Scout in Nigeria, Olori Omo Oba Olusoga Sofolahan, Mrs. Remi Olajumoke and Chief Administrative Officer, Lagos State Emergency Agency, Mr. Khalidson Ademola all watch at the Lagos State Scout International Training Centre, Ibeshe, Ikorodu

Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson (middle) and some girls undergoing ICT training at the 1000 girls training programme in Abuja …on Thursday

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

L-R: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; Inspector Yusuf Zakari and Deputy Supretendent of Police, Isah Hamisu, during the decoration of Inspector Zakari as the governor’s Aide-de-camp, in Ilorin…on Friday

L-R: Divisional Head, Retail Banking of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Olu Akanmu; Retail Channels Director, Misys, Mr. Alex Bray and Chairman, The Asian Banker, Mr. Emmanuel Daniel, at the West Africa International Retail Banking Dialogue in Lagos…on Thursday

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, Dr. Francis Faduyile; former Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, and Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Lagos State House of Assembly, Suru Avoseh, during the association’s 54th Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference in Lagos... on Thursday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Ex-Official, Civil Liberty Organisation, Mr. Styvn Obodoekwe; Publicity Secretary, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, and Financial Secretary, Mr. Mike Gbarale, at a press conference on the state of the nation in Port Harcourt …on Thursday

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

L-R: Assistant Controller General of Prisons, Enugu State, Mr. J. Komolafe; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Executive Director, Capio, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku, and Controller of Prisons, Enugu State, Mr Aloy Uchenwa, during the inauguration of Borehole built by Carmelites Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO), in Enugu State…on Friday

L-R: Host Minister, Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church, Mushin Assembly, Lagos, Revd. Imoh John; General Secretary of mission, Apostle Elijah Phillips, and Pastor Aniebet George, during the sendforth of Apostle Phillips who was the pioneer Minister of the Church in Mushin (now based at Mission Headquarters, Calabar) in Lagos… on Saturday

L-R: Head, Plant, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Abuja, Tijani Iliyasu; Head, Number Plate Production, Assistant Corps Marshal, Hyginus Foumsuk and Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, during the Commissioning of National Vehicle Identification Scheme Plant in Abuja…on Friday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Director-General, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Abdulkadir Musa and Chairman, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Solomon Nyagba, during the formal presentation of the Draft Competition and Consumer Protection Policy to ministries, extra-ministerial agencies, in Abuja

Moments

L–R: Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce of Silverbird Television and Mr. John Momoh of Channels Television, shortly after the signing of the media partnership MOU between the Bayelsa State Government and Channels Television, AIT, NTA and Silverbird Television, during the maiden edition of Bayelsa State Investment & Economic Forum in Yenagoa…on Friday

L-R: Members of People with disabilities, Mr. Monday Emoghavwe, Mr. Israel Akpan and Ms Chika Chime, at a forum hosted by the Strategic team on the new disability Bill in Abuja…on Thursday

L-R: Parish Chairman, Christian Mother Organisation (CMO), Saint Matthew Catholic Church, Amukoko, Lagos, Sir Valentine Anyanwun; Adoration Chapel Unveiler, Mr. Joseph Orji; Parish Priest, Reverend Father Emmanuel Sikuku Likoko, and Chairman of the occasion, Sir Boniface Amandikwa, during the commissioning of the Church’s Adoration Chapel, at the church premises, in Lagos…on Saturday PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Chairman Board of Trustees, Godswill Orphanage, Kogi State, Mr. Paul Etu; Sponsor, Melody Shelters Orphanages Talent Hunt, Prince Tonye Princewill and Propretress, Godswill Orphanage, Mrs. Elizabeth Okpanachi (Winners of Melody Shelters Talent Hunt), during Princewill inspection tour of the Orphanage in Kogi State…on Friday

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

News

Ihenacho decries poor quality projects in Imo Steve Uzoechi

A OWERRI

governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho has expressed displeasure over alleged poor quality and substandard projects currently being executed by the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led administration. Iheanacho who bared his mind during a media chat with newsmen in Owerri, Imo State, condemned what has been tagged in political circles as ‘China Projects’ in the state. Though the former Minister of Interior commended Okorocha’s effort at lifting the infrastructural status of the state, he however decried what he alleged as ‘total disregard to due process and procedures as well unquenchable appetite for cheap labour’ pointing out that such tendencies have negatively impacted the governor’s original vision for the state. Said he: “It worries me that someone who enjoys the mandate of the people would visit the people with visibly poor quality and substandard projects that collapse even when constructions are still ongoing. As the rains wash away the roads, other infrastructures such as buildings are collapsing almost on a daily basis.”

He said that this sad but unfortunate development could be simply attributed to the governor’s total disregard for due process and unquenchable appetite for cheap labour. A governor should represent good quality and appreciable senses of taste, to enable him bequeath to the people quality infrastructural projects expected to stand the test of time.” According to Ihenacho, that is exactly the difference between Late Chief Sam Mbakwe’s projects and most of what we have today. Mbakwe’s projects, he maintained, are still solid and useful to Imo state more than 20 years after he left office. The former Interior Minister also viewed the huge resources being spent by the current administration on infrastructural projects as ‘wasted fund’ considering the likelihood of an incoming administration revisiting same projects. Insisting that Imo deserves the best in governance, Ihenacho promised to change the ugly trend by engaging only competent and capable contractors in executing infrastructural projects if elected next governor of the state in 2015. “My bond with Imo people is to rekindle their confidence in the governance of their state which obviously has taken flight under the present administration. I am committed to giving them the best in

governance which they truly deserve. Their common wealth will ultimately work for them as we shall deliver quality projects that will stand the test of time. Only capable and competent contractors will be engaged to achieve this objective”, he said. Commenting, the Commissioner for Information, Chief Theodore Ekechi said that government was embarking on projects according to priority, needs and availability of funds and not by anybody’s political timing. “How many projects did the PDP-led government complete in the last 12 years? This still shows that they have learnt nothing from their woes since they are still unable to differentiate politics from development. We have more than

enough projects to show for our efforts. So many projects are going up, so many have also been completed such that they have lost count and have now settled for counting yetto-be completed projects. We are not interested in any undue distraction as we forge ahead in our infrastructural makeover of Imo state.” Ekechi however agreed that some projects have failed but made no issue of it saying, “We are not ashamed to say that some roads have failed; we are not ashamed to say that some projects have failed. What we are saying is that the people that derailed the projects must be held accountable and made to face the full force of the law.

2015 presidency: NCYCA urges Saraki to run Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

group under the aegis of North-Central Youths Consultative Assembly (NCYCA) has urged former Kwara State Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki to contest next year’s presidential election on the ticket of the All Progressive Congress, APC. Arising from its meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the group said Senator Saraki has the requisite credentials to rule the country and should be allowed to do so. In a communique at the end of its meeting jointly signed by its National Chairman Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar and Secretary Comrade David Audu, the group canvassed the need for the next president to come from the North Central, adding that NCYCA has perused his pedigree and is qualified to run.

It stated that Senator Saraki’s tenure as governor of Kwara State saw monumental achievements in the area of agriculture and infrastructural development among other sectors that made the state stand tall among other states in the country, and hailed him for successful piloting of the affairs of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum where he served as its chairman. It said: “Saraki has variously proven that he is the bridge between the various religious and sectional divides that threaten the very existence of our troubled nation. His vast network of friends and contacts across the nation is a rare but much needed quality of a leader at this peculiar period of our great nation,” The group stated that with the gradual growth of the country’s democratic process, the nation needs a true democrat that would steer the ship into actualization of the dreams of the past heroes.

Nyako can’t reject deputy’s resignation –SAN

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Garba Pwul, has said that Adamawa State former governor, retired Vice Adm. Murtala Nyako, has no powers in law to reject his deputy’s resignation from office. Pwul, who made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the law does not provide for acceptance or rejection when a letter of resignation is tendered. It would be recalled that Nyako had rejected his deputy’s resignation, prior to his impeachment. Pwul said in 1965 the Supreme Court held that ``when a person tenders a letter of resignation, that is the end of the relationship, no one has the power to say I reject the resignation.” He said: “You cannot compel him to work against his

will, so when the letter of resignation is received, it takes immediate effect so no one can say it was rejected or it was accepted. “The same principle applies in employer and employee relationship; once the employee tenders his letter of resignation that is the end of the relationship. “If there is any other matter against him, you can only go to court to enforce anything; you cannot keep him and tell him to work.” Pwul said it did not matter where the resignation was submitted but as far as the former deputy governor had resigned, it was not negotiable according to the law. He expressed satisfaction that Nyako and the APC had challenged the impeachment in court saying that it was a sign of the people’s believe in the judiciary.

Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji (r), being honoured with the prestigious John Calvin Award by Rev. Ibeabuchi Agwu, Moderator, South Central Synod on behalf of the church, during the opening ceremony of the 18th Annual Synod at St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church of Nigeria Umuahia…yesterday

Panel submits final report on Fulani/Tiv clashes Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he committee on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building constituted by the Benue State government to look into the crisis between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers has submitted its final report to Governor Gabriel Suswam. Briefing newsmen at government house on behalf of the committee’s chairman Gen. Atom Kpera (rtd) after submitting the report at the

weekend, a member of the committee, Senator Joseph Kennedy Waku said the committee recommended that both the federal and state governments should compensate Tiv victims and assist them rebuilt their homes destroyed by the Fulani insurgents. Senator Waku who regretted the negative consequences caused Tiv farmers, most of who are still taking refuge in the camps, said the committee also resolved that all the Internally Displaced Persons

(IDPs) should be given the necessary assistance and encouragement to return to the ancestral homes. He announced that machinery has been put in place check the influx of aliens whose intent is to unleash terror on the people with a view to apprehending and handing same to security operatives for necessary action, stressing that Fulani people already coexisting with indigenes are free to dwell in the state and assured them of government’s protection.

“Constitutionally, they are entitled to move freely but we have also made a recommendation that those Fulani people that were already here in the state are known, and if anyone some some strange faces among them, they should immediately report to the security operatives for necessary action”, Wake stated. Waku maintained a white paper, for which governor Suswam had set a committee, is being expected and is to submit its report within a period of one month.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

News

BPE boss urges patience over power crisis T

‘Police promote 81,079 in a year’

Musa Pam Jos

…As new power investor seeks review of national electricity tariff

he Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has urged Nigerians to be patient with government in its affort at increasing power supply in the country. Dikki spoke with journalists in Lagos, against the backdrop of complaints that the power sector has not recorded sufficient difference even after it has been handed over to private investors. This came as a major investor in the nation’s new Electricity Distribution Companies yesterday described the graduated increase in MultiYear Tariff Order (MYTO) as a serious disincentive to the Federal Government electrification programme. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the power sector was handed over to private investors on November 1, 2013 with the aim of improving electricity

supply to boost socio-economic development. “The major headache we have is that of the supply of gas, to fire our plants. So the issue is not for the people to get angry with the distribution companies who don’t have the power. “The major problem we have for power supply now is not the private sector investors who have taken over the distribution and generation companies. The investors are just trying to manage what the system generates and make sure they rationalise it, so that every part of the distribution companies have some measure of light. “So, I want people to understand that the distribution companies are not to blame; it is the power they receive that they distribute. The generating companies also are constraint by a lack of gas supply which the government is addressing.

“Some of the National Integrated Power Project plants that the constructions have been completed cannot be piped because there is no gas supply. “If today we have sufficient gas to fire 6,000 megawatts, Nigerians will see the fundamental different between when these companies were not privatised and now,” the BPE chief said. Meanwhile, the company boss, who preferred anonymity, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that the power sector needed more incentives than the subsisting increase of between one and five per cent. He said unlike the previous privatisation programmes of government, Nigerians needed time to buy into the innovative unbundling of the power sector than inundating them with higher tariff.

“For instance, the public believes that electricity supply ought to have been improved before increasing tariff. “But electricity consumers are impatient and want to see regular power rather than being bothered with the issues relating to power generation, transmission and distribution,” he said. He said another concern was the recent right given to conduct baseline studies to validate or invalidate established Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) loss levels. He recalled that 25 per cent was assumed in the MYTO, while 30 per cent and 40 per cent in the Request for Proposal (RFP). “Frankly, government should not think of reviewing electricity tariff when capacity generation is also low, all we have to do is to try and improve on capacity generation,” he said.

he Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has said about 81,079 officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have been promoted within the last year. Abubakar disclosed this yesterday at the graduation ceremony of 46 officers, who attended the Strategic Leadership and Command Course 2014 at the Police Staff College Jos. Abubakar, who was represented by DIG, Training Department, Force Headquarters, Atiku Yusuf, said that out of the number promoted, 6, 710 are from senior inspector to assistant superintendent of police cadre while 74, 369 were from corporal to inspector cadre. He said that the promotion embarked upon by the NPF in the last one year was aimed at motivating the officers and men to do more in the face of the security challenges facing the country.

Amawbia community hails Obiano Tony Okafor awka

L-R: Founder, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Mountain of Mercy, Orile-Agege, Lagos, Pastor Elijah Ajayi; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and Senior Pastor, CAC Mountain of Mercy, Harrisburg, USA, Pastor Sunday Ajayi, during a solidarity visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo…yesterday

FG lauded over extradition of Nyanya bombing mastermind T he Grand Alliance Against Terrorism (GAAT), yesterday commended the Federal Government for the successful extradition of the co-mastermind of Nyanya Bus Terminal bombing, Mr. Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche. The Secretary General of the organisation, Mr. Ariyo Atoye, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, said that the action would help in closing up on sponsors of terrorism in the country.

The group said the extradition of Ogwuche was a significant step forward in the fight against insurgency, describing it was a strong attestation to the commitment of our security agencies to defeat the act of terror. “We wish to commend our security agencies working day and night to battle insurgency to a halt. We are proud of their efforts and the enormous sacrifice they are making to ensure peace and stability in our nation,” Atoye said.

He said the organisation applauded the doggedness of the Federal Government towards securing the extradition of Ogwuche. Atoye also commended the cooperation of the government of Sudan, saying that a concerted regional and global effort was needed to end the activities of terrorism in Nigeria. “We, however, appeal to the judiciary to speed up the trial and ensure that justice is served to the country, especially the families of Nige-

rians who were killed in the Nyanya bombing. We are also demanding for quick dispensation of justice in the trial of Senator Ali Ndume over terrorism. “We urge the Judiciary to be resolute at this trying time and support this fight holistically,” he said. Atoye appealed to the troubled parents of the abducted Chibok School Girls to be wary of interest groups, individuals and politicians wishing to use their ordeal to score political points.

He warned that the force will not tolerate corruption, indolence and indiscipline, and advised that all officers and men live up to expectation on be shown the way out of the force. He also warned that hence forth, any officer that failed to pass his promotion examination and any training course would be discharged from the force. The police boss explained that the training of the 46 participants became necessary in view of the security challenges of the nation and the need to meet up with the international standard of policing in the country. While assuring the officers and men of improved welfare, the IGP urged the graduates to go and put to practice the training they acquired during the eight weeks course in the college. Earlier, the college commandant, AIG Mark Idafwo, described the graduates as highly disciplined officers who have much to offer the citizens of the country in terms of crime control and prevention.

nambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has been commended for exemplary leadership style in which he has embraced all the 177 communities in the state in the citing of projects. The commendation was made by the PresidentGeneral of Amawbia Town Union, Anene Maduka, a pharmacist, who led a delegation of Amawbia community to a welcome and solidarity visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Maduka said the people were delighted to have Obiano living among them, since the Governor’s Lodge is located in the community. He said, “Your unbiased, focused and goal-oriented leadership style has manifested within this short period in office. “We note the ideas that drive your economic development blueprint and are proud of the distinction which the results will surely show for Anambra State. We are particularly elated by your determined strides to ensure adequate security in the state. “As a demonstration of this statement, our town made a pledge of N300, 000 at the inaugural Security Summit Dinner in support of the vision.” Furthermore, Maduka said the entire citizens of the town trooped out to welcome the governor to his residence at the lodge, which was part of Obu Okpaligwe in the ancient days. “You are the first execu-

tive governor in immediate memory that this town has accorded the honour of a welcome visit. The reason is not far-fetched. “There is something in your star that has guided our instinct to embrace you as a brother. Your election was the first time that all our three wards voted overwhelmingly for one candidate. “This feat had never been accomplished before by any political party or candidate and clearly speaks volume of the trust and confidence our town has in you. It shows the un-negotiated love our people had for you even before your ascendancy as governor of Anambra State,” he added. The president-general observed that the governor had shown from his first steps in office that there was no need for agitation on the part of the people, stressing that when a leadership has professed clear-headedness, it is simply greed on the part of the people to resort to violence.

CHANGE OF NAME ADEEYO I formerly known and addressed as Mercy Adeeyo (Miss) now wish to be known and address as Mercy Williams (Mrs.). All former documents remain valid. General public please take note ADEBOWALE I formerly known and addressed as Adebowale Sodiq Olawale now wish to be known and addressed as Adebowale Tunde Sodiq. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 13, 2014

News

Police, students clash over arrest Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

here was commotion on Saturday when students of Federal College of Agriculture, Adabeji, Apata, Ibadan clashed with police in front of the school, leading to a heavy traffic snarl on both ends of the Ibadan/Abeokuta Road in the state capital. According to some eyewitnesses, the students were demanding the release of their colleague who was arrested by the police earlier in the day. New Telegraph on Sunday’s investigation revealed that some students of the institution had mounted a road block around their Bora Hostel located some kilometres from the school, begging for money from motorists in preparation for ‘Bora Week’ celebration.

One of the students who refused to be named said the police approached the group on the road to put a stop to the act, which led to the arrest of one of them. According to him, “I am a member of the school’s ‘Man O War’ group and we were having our morning training when some students ran into the school from Bora Hostel. They said that the police arrested Boluwatife. He is aspiring for a students’ union position in the school. They said some students ran away when they saw the police but Bolu did not, leading to his arrest and detention,” he said. The student further explained that around 9.30 a.m, several students were mobilised. They all went to the Apata Police Station to secure the release of Boluwatife but they were told to come back at 10 a.m.

Borno to provide psycho-social support to insurgency victims Ahmed Miringa

MAIDUGURI

orno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF), Human Right, National Emergency Management Authourity (NEMA), and other stakeholders are to provide psycho-social support and protection services to vulnerable groups in the state. Speaking during a oneday sensitisation workshop organised by the Ministry at the Women Development Centre, Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Inna Galadima

said the services will be provided to vulnerable groups (women, children and disable persons) in 12 selected local governments of the state. She said Bama, Biu, Konduga, Kaga, MMC, Gwoza, Damboa, Chibok, Mafa, Ngala, Hawul and Jare local government areas were carefully selected as the most affected councils by the ongoing insurgency. “It is our belief that they have suffered the adverse experiences of emergency situation more than the remaining local government areas”. The commissioner said that she appreciated the prompt attention of UNICEF in the area of trauma support through the Psycho-social Support

and Protection services in the selected local government areas which the insurgency affected most. In his Goodwill message at the occasion, the state Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai who was represented by the Director of Chieftaincy Affairs, Zanna Hassan Boguma said though men and boys are affected by the crisis, women and girls suffer more, as they are forcefully married, turned to sex slaves and servants by their abductees. He said the Boko Haram terrorists have hold the entire country of 170 million people to ransom by kidnapping children and scaring others away from education and their settlements. “It is time for the Federal Government to act, as it is its responsibility to protect lives and property.” In his presentation, the UNICEF representative, Dr. Alfred Mutiti said

UNICEF has trained 55 volunteer workers in psycho-social support and protection to be deployed to the 27 communities of the 12 selected local government areas for the victims of the insurgency. Mutiti said displaced persons, especially women and children needs the psycho-social support services in order to rebuild their traumatised lives, adding that the insurgency has led to the destruction of social institutions responsible for the development of children. Responding on behalf of the local government chairmen, the re presentative of the chairman Hawul Local Government Area, Alhaji Idris Lawan said that the local government areas were ready to partner with the state government, UNICEF and other stakeholders in providing psycho-social services to the insurgency victims.

NDDC trains 135 youths on oil spillage management Wale Elegbede

I L-R: General Manager, Marketing, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Ola Ijimakin; Operation Director, Mr. Abiola Adebayo Fidson; Best Pupil of Egan Community Primary School, Master Joshua Johnson and Finance Director, Mr. Olatunde Olanipekun, during the presentation of certificates to the best primary six pupils from public and privates schools in Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Delta and Anambra States, at the Astymin Brilliance Rewards in Lagos…yesterday . PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Aregbesola launches 30 school buses

overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has launched 30 new civilian buses for pupils of public schools in the state, to ease their movement to and from school. This is coming a day after the landmark commissioning of 100 units of hand-held ultrasound scanners, four units of 3D colour Doppler scan machines and the release of N370 million welfare scheme for women empowerment, Presenting buses tagged “Omoluabi Scholar Bus,” Aregbesola said if the government’s quest for enduring socio-economic progress is to be achieved, government’s commitment to education and the future of the children cannot be superficial. The governor said his administration embarked on this laudable programme

because it’s dangerous to play politics with the education of children. He said that the realisation of the importance of education and development of human capacity building prompted his government to create the best possible environment for the development of their total person. He described the provision of buses for transporting the students as another proof of government’s focused attention to education. “The buses we are rolling out today for the use of our High School students are another solid proofs of the importance and undivided attention our government genuinely accords education. “With the O’Scholar Buses, the culture of punctuality will be further deepened in our students. They will be encouraged to get ready in time

for the bus and in so doing get to school on time. “And while on the bus to or from school, or travelling to and from school events, they will have the time to further bond together, reflect on their works and exchange useful ideas. “One of the unique characteristics of our administration’s prog rammes is that they ensure the empowerment of the people. This explains why no single household in all of the state is without positive testimonies of the impacts of our programmes on them,” Aregbesola said. He added that the buses will provide comfort and ease for students and parents and create employment for those, who will be driving the buses. In her remark, the Deputy Governor, who is also the

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomorri, noted that the provision of the buses is another demonstration of government’s commitment to providing quality and qualitative education for the children. She charged the students to make the best use of the buses and maximise the opportunities the buses afford them. The Managing Director of Sterling Bank PLC, represented by Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, Regional Business Executive, South-West (2), said the bank finds it profitable to partner government in providing the buses. Adeyemi noted that Sterling Bank will continue to partner with government in realising its noble programmes, and enjoined all the stakeholders to make judicious use of the scholar buses to benefit of all.

n its bid to control the damage caused by frequent oil spills in the Niger Delta environment, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has commenced the training of 135 youths on management and remediation of the area to enable them acquire skills for effective clean up the affected areas. Speaking while declaring open a workshop titled, ‘First Oil Spill Management and Environmental Remediation Training’ organised by the NDDC in Akwa Ibom State, the Managing Director of NDDC, Bassey Dan-Abia who was represented by his Special Assistant on Youth, Sports, Culture, Conflict Resolution and Women Affairs, George Turnah, urged the participants to take everything they will be taught serious. According to the NDDC boss, the training was necessitated by the growing need for home-grown professionals who can attend to the needs of the society especially oil spillage which is a predominant occurrence in the region. He noted that the training, which is the first in the series of Oil Spillage Management Training, has a total of 135 train-

ees drawn from the nine member states that make up the NDDC, will provide strategic support, advice and specialised skills to the participants. While affirming the commission’s resolve to consolidate on building the capacity of youths in line with his three points agenda for development in the Niger Delta region, Dan-Abia stressed that time has passed when Niger Deltans will depend on other people to take up oil spill cleaning jobs which youths in the area can do better if effectively trained. In his address, the Director Mosilo Global Services Limited, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia, who is the consultant facilitating the training, advised the trainees to be of good conduct and take advantage of every learning opportunity that may arise within the training period, adding that his company will engage those who show excellence in character and learning. Siasia explained that the seven-days training will include classroom and practical sessions with resource persons drawn from relevant sectors such as health, safety and environment, engineering as well as legal practitioners with expertise in the oil, gas and allied sector.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 13, 2014

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SUNDAY, JUly 20, 2014

Nigeria’s dismal electricity score in Africa

recent report which revealed that Nigeria has the highest number of citizens without electricity in Africa is not only alarming but ridiculous. The report which is a joint venture by sustainable energy charity, Ashden, also indicates that Nigeria accounts for about 10 per cent of the 1.3 billion Africans without electricity. It is a shame that almost 54 years after independence, Nigeria which currently ranks as the largest economy in Africa and hopes to be among the foremost 20 economies in the world by 2020, has 10 per cent of the 1.3 billion Africans without electricity. We recall that sometime ago, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, made a stunningly disclosure that of Nigeria’s 170 million largely pauperised and traumatised population, as much as 120 million citizens are without electricity supply. According to him, 30 million households across the expansive country have yet to be connected to the national grid while a significant number of the entire population have no access to good quality and uninterrupted electricity supply. It is absurd and highly scandalous that as at 2006, due to the unprecedented system collapse witnessed in the troubled power sector, more than 60 million generators were imported into the country while almost N1.6 trillion was expended on fueling the generators. It is worrisome that over the years, successive administrations have failed to meet power generation and supply targets in spite of increasing demand for electricity supply by domestic and industrial consumers, as well as the huge budgetary allocations.

The power sector had for many years been dominated by a powerful and corrupt cartel that always frustrated efforts to deal decisively with the rot in the system. It is unfortunate that while importers of generators and their collaborators in government have been laughing to the banks through corrupt enrichment, millions of electricity consumers have been denied unhindered access to electricity supply. We recall that the much-orchestrated promise by the short-lived slow-wheeled Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration to ensure power generation peaked at 10,000 megawatts by December 31, 2009 was not fulfilled after all. Also, the promise by the Minister of State for Power, Hajia Zainaib Ibrahim Kuchi, that power generation would hit 10,000 megawatts by the end of 2014 may not materialise due to government’s past broken promises in this regard. Kuchi’s promise that electricity supply will stabilise between 17 and 18 hours is ludicrous and laughable. President Jonathan administration’s

promise that the privatisation of power plants would increase power supply to over 5,500 megawatts by the end of 2013 and 10,000 megawatts by the end of 2014 looks bleak. The epileptic electricity supply across the country since the Federal Government handed over the N480 billion PHCN assets to private investors is an indication that there is no light yet at the end of the tunnel for electricity consumers. Instead of settling down to provide improved service, the new investors had the audacity to demand for increase in electricity tariffs. There is no indication that the new investors can perform better than the defunct PHCN, judging by reported cases of blackout despite increase in electricity tariffs. Apart from the huge funds being expended on fuelling generators, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) once disclosed that the in-house installed power generating capacity of its members stood at 5,150 megawatts, representing an average of monthly expenditure of N2 million on gas and diesel. For how long can MAN and others sustain such enormous operational costs? It is for this reason that many bluechip manufacturing companies have since relocated to neighbouring countries with favourable operating environment. This situation has also led to the loss of several jobs and untimely demise of many breadwinners. We implore the government to deal decisively with erring investors no matter how highly placed to serve as a deterrent to others. The Dr. Sam Amadi-led Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

should be alive to its responsibility by protecting the interests of electricity consumers instead of bowing to pressure from the highly influential private investors. Indiscriminate demand by the investors for increased tariffs without corresponding improvement in service delivery should be resisted by electricity consumers. Unlike the regime of impunity witnessed in the PHCN era electricity consumers can now sue operators in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) for breach of agreement, criminal activities and poor service delivery. We believe that if properly enforced, this law will sanitise the electricity market. In the past, there was a law that prevented the deceased PHCN from being sued by electricity consumers for poor services. It is noteworthy that NERC is also empowered to convict the new investors that perform below expectations. If government successfully fixes the power sector which is the main engine that drives the economy, the overall development of the country will be guaranteed. Improved electricity supply and the provision of enabling environment by government will also encourage local and foreign entrepreneurs to invest massively in the critical sectors of the economy. We believe that when the economy is booming due to regular electricity supply, the graduates roaming the streets in search of employment, as well as those youths engaged in insurgency and other forms of criminality will be gainfully employed. GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC SULEIMAN BISALA Managing Editor, North 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.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

OPINION

More mothers, less murderers Emmanuel Ade Badejo

Women in the image of God t is impossible, to jettison the role of mothers in the rehabilitation of any society for they are the very first to mould every life. It is for this reason that a regular reappraisal of the challenges facing womanhood must be part of every sane society. The sad metaphor of the 250 or so Chibok girls, by whose kidnapping Nigeria has been held to ransom stands as an indicator of the multilevel victimisation of womanhood in many societies for past years. Why for example did Boko Haram attack a girls’ school rather than a boys’ institution? Among the analyses made so far is that by abducting girls, Boko Haram wants to leave Nigerians in no doubt about its desire to usurp the country’s very identity and future which the feminine gender somehow represents. We could accept or reject this reasoning but the fact is that every one of the girls now in captivity is a potential mother of a family, community or nation. That is why the details of Pope John Paul II’s treatise on the challenges facing womanhood in our times ought to be proposed as motivation to prevent further damage to the dignity and destiny of womanhood in the best interest of everyone. The pope’s Apostolic Letter, ‘Mulieris Dignitatem’, of 1988 on the dignity and the vocation of women reiterated that the woman, just like the man, is created in the image and likeness of God.

The Pope emphasised the unity of the two in the same, common humanity. Women in the mind of Jesus The account of original sin in the book of Genesis clearly indicates the separate roles played by man and woman in the episode of the fall of the first man and woman. It thus seems to show the woman as the aggressor, the one who was first affected by sin. However, the entire attitude of Jesus Christ to women showed him as a promoter of the true dignity of women and of the vocation corresponding to that unity. (John. 8:8ff). His attitude differed from that of His contemporaries and made even His disciples to wonder (John. 4:27). The Pharisee in whose house the sinful woman anointed Jesus’ feet with perfumed oil even said to himself, “If this man were a prophet he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him for she is a sinner.” (Lk. 7:39). Put these and similar episodes together with the emphatic choice of a virgin of Nazareth to be the mother of Jesus and all insinuation of lesser dignity of women in Christianity should evaporate. In brief, Jesus’ words and action always expressed the honour and respect due to women. Ultimately, he even made them guardians of the Gospel message and first witnesses of His resurrection (Mt. 28:1-10, Lk. 24: 8-11, Jn. 20:16-18). Women in the travails of time It is in this regard that Christians today must act to eliminate all obstacles to the apprecia-

tion of the dignity and honor due to women and so to enable them to play that quintessential role of witnessing to the gospel of Christ in the world. In contrast to these aspirations, the same pope, however, lamented in a letter he addressed to women in 1995 that: “Women’s dignity has often been unacknowledged and their prerogatives misrepresented; they have often been relegated to the margins of society and even reduced to servitude. This has prevented women from truly being themselves and it has resulted in a spiritual impoverishment of humanity. The truth is that the hedonistic and commercial orientation of our society has made almost every sin committed against women a legitimate adventure. Women trafficking, inducement to prostitution and intimidation at work often flourish unabated in many parts of our world. Even in conditions where women should enjoy abundant compassion and sympathy, such is not forthcoming.” For example, one would expect that a widow, having lost the closest person to her, would receive compassion and sympathy from any community. Widows, instead, often have to go through inhuman mourning rites, disinheritance, forced marriages, impoverishments, discrimination, stress-related health problems and the like. The powers of womanhood It is important to do everything possible to recover the huge potential of womanhood to restore human sanity. Many developmental organizations have proved that innovations,

conflict resolution and peace building efforts often succeed more when driven by women groups. This is also true in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition, disease and so on. Women are also better disposed to respond to life-sustaining activities and prolife programmes. Just as well! Did the Creator himself not entrust every human life to women in a special way? “A woman is strong because of her awareness of this entrusting, strong because of the fact that ‘God entrusts the human being to her’ always and in every way, even in the situations of social discrimination in which she may find herself. This awareness and this fundamental vocation speak to women of the dignity which they receive from God himself, and this makes them ‘strong’ and ‘strengthens’ their vocation (MD, no 30). Thus our society needs the “perfect woman, and the perfect mother” who can turn our current woes to gold and our tribulation to jubilation. “If you knew the gift of God” (John. 4:10), Jesus said to the Samaritan woman. If only women too knew the gift, the strength and the grace which God, the creator has given exclusively to them to “redeem” the world perhaps they would deploy those powers in our day to be more mothers than murderers wherever they are found. We all merely save our own lives by helping them do just that. •Bishop Emmanuel Ade Badejo is the Catholic Bishop of Oyo and Chairman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria Directorate of Communications

Aturu: Tribute to an uncommon fighter

Denja Yaqub he first time we met was sometime in 1988 soon after his national service in Niger State. The National Youth Service Corps compulsory programme for young graduates prepares them for the challenges of our society away from the infatuations of the academic environment where dreams are generated and views of the reality of society are mostly in conflict with the facts of the decadence of our own society. Mr. Bamidele Francis Aturu, without any organisational promptings, had just volunteered himself to the movement when he took a very courageous decision to deepen the struggle against military dictatorship in Nigeria by rejecting an award of excellence as the Best Youth Corper in Niger State, North-Central Nigeria in 1988. Aturu did not only reject the award, he also refused to have a handshake with the Military Governor of Niger State, Col. Lawan Gwadabe. This threw Comrade Aturu up as one of the best of a generation of activists determined to change our society for the better. The circumstance and method adopted by Aturu in that incident could easily mistake him for an anarchist who would singularly dare the devil to make a strong point. This was an individual, acting on his own instincts, but speaking on behalf of millions of Nigerians excruciatingly groaning under deepening hardships imposed on them by a very tiny club of military officers. These were people who had seized the state at gun point, mismanaging our collective resources as directed by neoliberal institutions who thought the absence of democracy in a potentially resourceful state is an opportunity to slide anti-people policies down our throats. Aturu may have acted alone in Minna, but almost immediately connected with the revolutionary community to chart a collective process for a long drawn, painstaking struggle for a society decent enough to respect everyone’s rights, including the fundamental right to choose who governs us.

He became a strong member of the Socialist Congress of Nigeria; together with other comrades formed the Democratic Alternative, a front mass organisation of Marxists, to mobilise Nigerians against military dictatorship. Chima Ubani, another of our finest who died in an accident during the struggle against the deregulation of the petroleum sector of the Nigerian economy, was pioneer General Secretary. From that moment, until his death at dawn on Wednesday July 9, 2014 after a very brief illness at his residence just as he was preparing to leave for the National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Aturu was part of several organisations and also took part in almost all protests against anti-people policies, including the Structural Adjustment Programme which was sneaked in by the International Monetary Fund, during the Ibrahim Babangida military dictatorship. He was a member of Campaign for Democracy, United Action for Democracy, Civil Liberties Organisation and actively participated in street barricades against military dictatorships. If his action in Minna in 1988 displayed the fearlessness in him, his effective mobilising capabilities and confrontations with armed security agents during these protests brought the undaunting courage, honesty and commitment to our collective struggle he was richly endowed with. Aturu was a man of unequalled courage. Unknown to so many people, Aturu, the son of a police officer, was a private in the Nigerian Army. He deserted the army to give himself formal education, culminating in his legal practice. Aturu first studied Physics at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, South-West Nigeria. He decided to return to school soon after his youth service to study law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and since the completion of his law degree, which included a master’s degree in law, he worked with the chambers of Prof. Itse Sagay and Co. Prof. Sagay, himself another committed change agent, testified to Aturu’s honesty and com-

mitment to the struggle. He left Prof. Sagay’s chambers to establish his own with a vision to ‘serve the cause of social justice by effectively and competently using the law in spite of its limitations; to defend the underprivileged, the dispossesed, the oppressed and the abused against the rich and the powerful; to be a leading voice in the struggle against all forms of discrimination and undue privileges’. These were the vision and mission of his law chamber from the outset as stated on the chambers’ website. To emphasise his commitment and disposition of his law practice to serve the poor and underprivileged, he stated clearly that “in pursuit of this vision/mission, we will not accept a brief simply on account that it is lucrative or reject a poor prospective client simply on account of inability to pay, if we are convinced that he or she is truly unable to pay our fee.” He made his chamber a part of the movement and accessible to the underprivileged. His law firm is part of the legal team of the entire labour movement in Nigeria. He was an incontrovertible authority on labour laws in Nigeria and authored several papers, articles and a book on labour laws. His book, Nigeria Labour Laws, published in 2008 remains the most popular compendium referred to by academics, labour activists, lawyers and judges. Trade union organisers, popularly known as ‘pocket lawyers’, because of their mastery of aspects of the Nigerian labour and trade union laws relating to workers’ rights to form and belong to trade unions, have been deeply enriched by Aturu’s book and writings. He also made a powerful presentation at the annual Kolagbodi Foundation lecture series in collaboration with the Fredrick Ebert Stiftung (Fredrick Ebert Foundation), which was published in 2010 titled: Nigerian labour movement and the making of an authentic constitutional framework for the development of Nigeria’. Aturu had a very strong and resourceful presence at the Nigeria Labour Congress, not only as one of the leading counsel but also as external researcher and facilitator at the annual Rain and Harmattan schools organised

by the Education and Training Department of NLC. He also represented NLC, Africa’s largest labour centre, at the National Labour Advisory Council, a tripartite team with representatives from labour, employers and government, charged with the responsibility of reviewing labour laws. Bamidele Aturu was a combination of high intellect, honesty, transparency, humility, purposeful energy, dependable and a committed youngman to the struggle for a better society. His presence at a meeting during the prodemocracy struggles reassured comrades of a rancor-free meeting as he was always intervening on contentious issues that raised nerves among comrades. And he provided good leadership during mobilisations for mass actions against the military across the country. He was not known to attend meetings he considered wasteful or that may not end with pro-people resolutions. This is why he rejected his nomination to participate in the ongoing National Conference/Dialogue organised by the Federal Government to provide solutions to our national crisis, which has been deepened by lack of good governance, and corruption evidently more prevalent under the administration of the organisers of the conference. Aturu rejected his nomination, knowing where the conference is destined, just like previous ones. We all owe the likes of Bamidele Aturu. We must reunite, reorganise and renew our collective selfless commitment to the struggle to make Nigeria, and indeed humanity, better. The circumstance of his passing should remind us all that only our contributions to humanity make the valiant in us. Death, as inevitable as it is, does not make the worth of our living useless if people make their lives useful to the society. Bamidele Francis Aturu, our own BF, is dead but he continues to live FOREVER in us all if we step up our capacity to organise for a better society for humanity. •Denja Yaqub is an Assistant Secretary at the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress and was a close friend of Bamidele Aturu.

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Of Nigerien, Chadian criminals in Lagos and Ogun Dear Editor I would like to thank the police for their successful arrest of some Nigerien and Chadian armed robbers who have been tormenting us in Magodo, Isheri and River Valley Estate in Ojodu area of Lagos and Ogun states in the past few months. The activities of these people have been very disturbing. They come in various guises. Not too long ago, one of them was arrested for beheading a woman after strangling her son at a bush path in Ofada area of Ogun State. In like manner, the police arrested the suspected killers. Also, I want to inform you that the menace of these people has become common in Ibafo, Aseese and Mowe areas of Ogun State. Residents of these areas are subjected torobbery attacks, usually at night. In June, they killed a security supervisor at Aseese, Ogun State by driving a big nail into his skull after their bullets could not penetrate his body. On many occasions, they have waylaid motorists on the long bridge on LagosIbadan Expressway. We also appreciate the presence of men of the Quick Response Squad of the Ogun State Police Command, who daily patrol the long bridge in two vehicles. These criminals usually target broken-down vehicles on the bridge by emerging from their hideouts under the bridge to attack occupants of such vehicles. Kudos to the policemen from Ibafo Division who have not only cleared the hideouts but also patrol the area to stave off any attack. The communities located in the area want to see these criminals apprehended and prosecuted. Shola Giwa Mowe, Ogun State

…..STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Immunisation should be encouraged

Outages in Mile 12

Dear Editor, Immunisation is a scientific means of helping people, particularly children, to resist deadly or killer diseases. Through scientific research, scientists have succeeded in getting vaccines or chemical substances which can be injected into a person’s body to act as protection against diseases. Most parents are ignorant of the importance of immunisation to their children even as the government tries to bring it to their doorsteps through different approaches. Many parents hide their children when they see immunisation officials in their vicinity. They prevent their children from taking vaccines and this has led to an increase in diseases like whooping cough, measles, chicken pox and the like, which could result in death, if not quickly attended to. However, immunisation saves parents from losing their children prematurely to deadly but preventable diseases. The convenience which inoculation enables parents to enjoy is almost incalculable as vaccinated children grow up into healthy adults. I urge readers to support this call for change by being actively involved in Community Development Council meetings. Chukwutem Ogwu Opebi, Lagos State

Dear Editor, On behalf of the residents of Mile 12 and environs in Lagos State, I write to inform the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company that for some months now, we have been experiencing outages. Whenever there is supply, the voltage is usually low. I want to use this medium to notify you that the outages in my area have become regular. Electricity is paramount to the daily activities one engages in. Since the current transformation in the power sector, we have experienced a decline in IKEDC’s services. Although complaints have been made to the office in charge of our district, instead of taking proactive measures to solve this problem, its officials react by bringing huge bills for services not rendered to the people. However, the Community Development Council has urged IKEDC to look into this issue as fast as they can, in order not to incur the wrath of the youths of the community. Esther Odili Owode, Ikorodu, Lagos

Upgrade minimum wage Dear Editor Please tell our leaders to make the basic salary more than what they give their little children for snacks. A man with one child can’t survive with N18,000 after paying N3,000 as house rent; N3,200 as estimated electricity bill for one room; and N8,000 on transport. How much is left for him to feed his wife and child? God is watching you all. Evang. Utieyi Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Irregular power supply in Ajegunle Dear Editor, Due to the irregular power supply and the unreliabDue to irregular power supply and the unreliability of distribution companies (DISCOs), Nigerians have recorded immense losses in terms of business and other areas where power supply is essential. The cost of living is worrisome as residents of Ajegunle community in Ilupeju, Lagos State attribute the high cost of living to irregular poor power supply. The DISCOs give all sorts of excuses for inadequate power supply, ranging from faulty transformers to lack of funds to carry out repairs and maintenance on facilities. Most of the businesses have inflated the prices of their goods and services, blaming it on poor power supply.

For example, the cost of barbing is N200 when there is power supply and N300 when there is none. Sachet water now sells for N10 instead of N5 due to the power issue; because the sellers claim they use generators to ice the bags of water. Despite all this, the community still remains optimistic that the issue surrounding poor power supply can be resolved. I urge the Federal Government and also the community leaders to deploy every resource available in tackling the problem of poor power supply in our community. Abike Olubade Mushin, Lagos

Life

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The Nigerian millionaire who wants to negotiate with Boko Haram

Kalu

hen Orji Uzor Kalu, jet-setting Nigerian businessman and controversial politician is in Abuja, he usually spends most of his time at his sprawling mansion which is located a few minutes’ drive away from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, the official residence of Nigeria’s President. It’s easily one of the most glamorous homes in Nigeria, and even comes with its own church. The house is a Mecca of sorts. Highflying politicians, senior executives at his conglomerate, diplomats, private bankers and hangers-on typically have to wait for hours to get an audience with the man. When I meet him on a crisp afternoon in May, he’s relaxing his frame on a couch in the dining room, chatting with senior executives from one of his companies. Orji Uzor Kalu is as eccentric as he is charismatic. When I enter his dining room, he sizes me up quizzically for seconds, and then spontaneously welcomes me heartily to his home in my local dialect before offering a seat directly opposite him. In less than a minute of meeting him, he immediately switches to discuss the state of Nigerian affairs. He had only returned from London a night before, and on his arrival, a group of Journalists at the International Airport in Lagos had asked him to comment on Nigeria’s security situation. He loses all reticence when he talks about Nigerian affairs, and Kalu, who has always had a predilection for uttering provocative statements, had declared that Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan could become the country’s last president. He is a newsmaker, and sure enough his statement had made it to the front pages of some of Nigeria’s major newspapers on this day. “There was a time when news of bombing and terrorism was synonymous to coun-

tries like Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. Nigeria is now at that point. We are now like those countries. This is what we have become. If care is not taken, Goodluck Jonathan would be the last president we’ve had in this country. Jonathan might become to Nigeria what Mikhail Gorbachev was to the Union Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) when he presided over the disintegration of USSR. If we don’t take time and collaborate with foreign countries to end the war the insurgents are waging against the country, Nigeria as we know it might just cease to be,” he says. Over the last few years, Nigeria has had to contend with its worst security challenge in its recent history. Boko Haram, a dreaded Islamic sect which plans to institute an Islamic state in Nigeria among other warped objectives, has embarked on a series of terror attacks on hapless Nigerians. Kalu believes the Nigerian government is not handling the current security crisis properly and has severally urged the government to negotiate with the terrorists. Last year, he offered to negotiate with the Boko Haram sect on behalf of the Nigerian government. He believes he could have been able to strike a compromise with the terrorists and stop the bloodshed. The Nigerian government barely considered his offer. The government has declared on several occasions that it would never negotiate with terrorists, a decision Kalu believes is ill-advised. “It’s sad enough that lives are being lost – precious lives that could build our country. And we’re losing them to terrorism. This is what we have become. Apart from the thousands of lives that have been lost, the damage on our economy is irreparable. Businesses are shying away from Nigeria and jobs are being lost,” he says.

He should know. Orji Uzor Kalu, 53, is one of the wealthiest men in Nigeria and runs one of West Africa’s largest companies, Slok Holding – a $2.5 billion (annual revenues) conglomerate that has interests in everything from shipping, manufacturing and energy distribution, to insurance, property, banking and the media. Slok Holding employs more than 3,000 people in Nigeria, Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, and the Gambia. He owns 93% of the conglomerate, an asset that puts him in the league of the wealthiest businessmen in Nigeria. Kalu is not involved in the day-to-day management of his companies, but still maintains his position as Chairman of the group. He now spends the vast majority of his time as a commercial diplomat in his own private capacity, helping to support business promotion between Nigeria and other countries, while persuading foreign businesses to invest in Nigeria. Later this evening, he is hosting a group of international businessmen and Abuja-based foreign diplomats to a dinner at his home to discuss commercial relations among other issues. And as we chat, we walk around his expansive residence as he selects wine and discusses with his Chefs on food selection for his evening soiree. “All these foreign companies are eager to do business in this country, but when they turn their TV on and they see all the bad news of insurgency, it’s a deal breaker. So I feel a sense of responsibility as a successful businessman to sell my country as an attractive investment destination.” Kalu was born on April 21, 1960, a few months before Nigeria gained her independence. At the age of 19, after he got suspended from the University of Maiduguri for spearheading a series of student riots, he took a $35 loan from his mother and started trading in Palm oil and fish. He would buy his goods cheaply from Nigeria’s eastern region, and sell at double or triple the price in the Northern states. As his trading business prospered, he expanded his business horizons, venturing into the sale of furniture and importing commodities like rice, sugar, flour, cement and aluminum roofing along with fellow tycoons Mike Adenuga and Aliko Dangote, who are his close friends. By the time he was 22, in 1982; he was already a multi-millionaire and was enjoying a rising national profile as one of Nigeria’s most successful young businessmen. In Nigeria, more than anywhere else, success begets success, and before long the young, ambitious businessman had ingratiated himself with top-ranking military officials who were ruling the country at the time. Nigeria was under military rule for the better part of the 80s. Leveraging on his connections within the military, Kalu

cornered a series of lucrative state contracts, chief among them being a contract for the supply of arms and ammunition for Nigeria’s defense forces and law enforcement agencies. He cleaned out with deals like this and promptly reinvested his money in commercial and residential real estate across Nigeria and expanding his trading business from Nigeria to other countries in West and Central Africa. When Ibrahim Babangida came into power in 1985 as President, he began to encourage Nigerian businessmen and indigenous companies to participate actively in the upstream petroleum industry. “I saw an opportunity in the marine service sector. In those days it was extremely difficult to spot an indigenous vessel on Nigerian waters. I don’t think there was a Nigerian vessel back in those days- in the mid 80s, and even with all the foreign vessels that were on our waters, there was still a deficit of vessels. At that time, market focus had begun to drive and consummate the upstream oil and gas industry into deeper waters and it was clear that there was an increased need for more operational service vessels,” he says. In 1987, Kalu, drawing from his own personal funds and loans from the banks, launched Slok Shipping to service the marine sector. “We started off with crew and patrol vessels. They are smaller vessels that take personnel to offshore drilling sites, and we grew from there.” Today, Slok Shipping operates much larger Offshore Support Vessels – Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) and Multi-Purpose Support Vessels (MPSVs). PSVs are deepsea vessels designed primarily to transport supplies and equipment to and from offshore oil and gas support production platforms, offshore drilling rigs and other types of offshore vessels and installations. MPSVs on the other hand provide a diverse range of supply and maintenance functions in the offshore oil-field services industry. These vessels are not cheap. According to Kalu, they could cost anywhere from $30 million – $50 million, depending on their size, components and capabilities. Slok Shipping has 21 of these vessels, making the company the largest operator of Offshore Support Vessels in Nigeria, and one of the largest in Africa. It’s a capital intensive business, but as Kalu says, the rewards are worth it. “Usually if you can get 75-80% utilization per annum, which we do, you can recoup your investments in six years.” It’s a rewarding business, and Slok’s shipping business alone contributes a healthy nine-figure sum to the group’s annual bottom-line. Slok Shipping is now the largest CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Life

Breaking the Nigerian Higher Education Code (3)

Akanimo Odon Phd hy should we still have polytechnics in Nigeria when OND and HND holders are mostly seen as second-class graduates? Why can’t polytechnics be given some progressive university rights and privileges if they can address the issue of limited higher education supply in the country? Why does Ghana now run a University College system in which lower or new institutions are mentored or accredited by older and more established ones until they meet up certain criteria? Might the take-over by strategic investment from the private sector of our polytechnics be an answer to this super coded pot? That is actually the theme of my next article but I thought I should set you off on a brain course while I articulate my thoughts for the theme of this article. I will be trying to talk about the disconnect from national priorities in which no higher institution offers courses and programmes in areas that the country desperately needs. My thoughts now gathered……. let’s do this. I have just been watching the movie titled ‘Source Code’ starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Quite an interesting ride and it seems to reiterate some concerns of mine while carefully assessing the state of Nigeria’s higher education. There is a tendency to come back to the same place of sheer confusion even with minute or groundbreaking changes in the status quo, if the source of the problem has not been altered and addressed. So taking off with an issue earlier identified as a crippling challenge, this is an attempt to establish some drivers, challenges and opportunities to address disconnect from national priorities. Not too long ago, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria instituted the formation of eight new universities in the country. Alas, there was an outcry from several quarters. The current federal universities and polytechnics have not been sufficiently funded and then there is the addition of eight new ones. How will they be funded? How will they run?

Jonathan

These were the concerns and very valid they were, especially when funding has been a perpetual basis for the tug of war between the Nigerian academic society and the federal government. From where I sit, there is a flip side to this argument, however irresponsible it might have seemed. It has been established that there is a supply-demand imbalance in the provision of higher education in Nigeria so the provision of new avenues of meeting the demand in higher education is obviously a positive step. That it is a step backed up by a concrete strategy is something entirely different. If not, what we would end up with is academic strike actions, shutdown of universities, interrupted academic sessions etc. The only difference would be that the Federal Government would have eight more universities on their neck and over 100,000 students with studies halted and careers seized for no cause of their own. You really need to look for the movie ‘Source Code’ and watch it. It hints at a vicious cycle even though a groundbreaking change of eight new universities was introduced into the equation. However, was

the source adequately altered? So let’s backtrack a little. The institutions that have suffered from lack of effective funding are the Federal Government-funded institutions. So the formation of eight new universities by the Federal Government alludes to potentially similar situations five years down the line. On the other hand, private higher institutions do not have the issues of funding expectations from the government and as much as possible are exempt from persistent strikes and institutional disruptions except for internal restructuring or regulatory compliance reasons. However, we have also established that even private institutions also suffer from low quality of education, insufficient academic personnel (that they have to depend on federal universities who are also struggling) and even insufficient funding. So whether private or public, funding is a leveler. An even stronger leveler is the seeming lack of innovation and disconnect from national demand priorities. So I thought through this and quickly came up with a list of expertise areas in high de-

were encouraged to apply for the fund. Last year, six indigenous shipping firms were selected by the Ministry of Transport to benefit from the fund after meeting certain criteria. Slok Holding, which applied for the fund and met all the criteria, was not shortlisted for the fund. One of Kalu’s Personal Assistants believes Slok’s exclusion from the shortlist was suspect. “You know in Nigeria, there is always one form of maneuvering or the other. The companies that were shortlisted to benefit from the fund cannot match us in terms of asset base or technical capacity. But that’s one of the challenges of doing business in this market. At times, there is no such thing as meritocracy,” the assistant says. Even though the Transport ministry shortlisted 6 companies for the fund last year, not a single cent has been disbursed to shipping firms since its inception. In January this year, the fund’s value surpassed $300 million, but very little has been said about the fund or its beneficiaries. There has been a delay and secrecy surrounding the disbursement of the fund. An analyst in the shipping industry who pleaded anonymity believes that top ranking officials in the Transport ministry and NIMASA could be earning millions of dollars monthly in interest from the fund in a personal capacity, hence the delay. In Nigeria, these things do happen. A lot. “This is the problem with Nigeria – corruption. The whole system is so corrupt that even a fund that is supposed to be used to develop a sector is being manipulated by a few persons to enrich themselves,” Kalu says. It’s an interesting statement coming from a man whose critics have accused of corruption and gross mismanagement of government funds in the past. Kalu, a veteran politician,

was Governor of Abia state, a large state in Nigeria’s south eastern region from 1999 – 2007 after winning free and fair democratic elections. Indigenes say he looted the state’s treasury without remorse and left the state worse-off than he found it. He denies he was ever corrupt and even points out that he is perhaps the only governor in the history of Nigeria who left political office a poorer man. “When I left Government house in 2007, I was poorer than when I got in,” he insists. There might be some truth to this. While he was governor of Abia state for 8 years, Kalu famously had a falling-out with Nigeria’s President at the time, General Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo responded by exercising his powers as president to close down some of Kalu’s flourishing businesses. The former president revoked the license of Hallmark Bank, a successful commercial bank in which Kalu held a 70% stake, and he closed down Slok Air, a domestic commercial airline that he owned. Obasanjo’s vendetta on Kalu’s businesses affected his fortunes significantly. “Obasanjo could have been a great president, but he was petty. Rather than supporting businesses to grow, he was going around closing businesses of people he felt had different political ideals from him, depriving thousands of people of their jobs just to settle personal scores. He frustrated my businesses so much that by the time I left office in 2007, I had lost tens of millions of dollars.” But Kalu has since bounced back and reorganized his businesses. Apart from his shipping business, Slok Holding owns a controlling stake in First International Bank, a commercial bank with operations in Libe-

mand in country and yet there is no supply for. Think about maritime. Over 700 ships coming into Nigerian waters yearly and I seem to know of just one institution in Oron, Akwa Ibom State that functions, whether fully or partially, as a maritime institution. I hear they are a few others now barely scratching the surface in terms of international standards in content and delivery. Oh yes, the extensive unexplored non-oil minerals in the country and a seeming push to open up the Nigerian mining sector, yet an incredible burden or halted progress due to lack of specialist subject matter graduates. Information technology is a big one and the use of computers and application of software an economic game changer. I know every Nigerian university offers computer science but how many offer software engineering or IT Enterprise Management? Two different things, you know. Find out and you just might realise that the very few or many IT young gurus we have either taught themselves core software programming, learnt the trade through liaisons with established IT firms or just went to a foreign institution. My elder brother is a case in point. He taught himself everything he knows about software engineering and landed a huge job in Australia where he now lives with his family. The energy and power sector is the hottest sector at the moment. With the national privatisation strategy in place and the formation of power distribution, transmission and generation outfits, one thing remains an issue of imminent challenge. It is human capital. Which of our graduates will man these energy operations? Which higher institution is currently thinking about developing energy and power programmes fit for industry? I am not talking about theoretical courses with impractical jargons like studying a course in zoology without ever seeing animals or the organisms you are studying except for visual representations on the pages of a textbook. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

‘Why I want to negotiate with Boko Haram’

CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 12

shipping company in Nigeria, both in terms of revenues and service fleet. The company operates in marine transport service involving offshore support and deep sea transportation within the Nigerian waterways. Slok Shipping owns, operates, and manages its own fleet and its clients include a good number of international and indigenous oil companies, many of whom sign multiyear contracts. But the business is not without its challenges. “The cost of capital in Nigeria is a major challenge. It’s crazy. In Nigeria you take a bank loan and you have to repay to the tune of 21% in interest, and I’m competing with foreign companies that are getting loans at a 6% interest rate. It’s not healthy for business,” he says. And Kalu believes the government is not helping matters. In 2003, the Nigerian government established the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), a fund that aims to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity by providing financial assistance to Nigerian operators in the domestic coastal shipping. According to the Coastal and inland shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003, the beneficiaries of the fund will be Nigerian citizens and shipping companies wholly owned by Nigerians. The CVFF is managed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Transportation through one of its agencies, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). It is funded primarily through a 2% surcharge of the contract sum performed by any vessel engaged in coastal trading and monies generated through fines, tariff, and fees for licenses and waivers. Indigenous shipping firms

ria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, DR Congo and Guinea. He runs a thriving trading and manufacturing outfit that manufactures and sells automotive batteries, aluminum roofing sheets, razor barbed wires, tyres, matches and candles across West Africa. Another of Slok’s subsidiary companies markets and sells petroleum products across Africa. In the media, he owns The Sun Newspaper, a Nigerian newspaper with a penchant for ‘British Tabloid’ styled journalism. He founded it in 2003, and it’s now one of the highest-circulating daily newspapers. Late last year – ten years after founding The Sun, he launched New Telegraph, which aims to be a more serious, politically-minded news daily. It’s already doing well in the marketplace, with daily circulation exceeding more than 50,000. A few pundits believe his new media venture is a part of a well-orchestrated machinery aimed at shaping the national agenda in lieu of his presumed presidential ambitions. “It’s purely business,” he says. “The newspaper business in Nigeria could be lucrative if well-run. But more importantly, The Telegraph aims to offer an objective coverage of political, social, and cultural issues and set the agenda for some of those pertinent discussions we should be having about our country and its future.” On whether or not that future involves him becoming President of Nigeria at some point, Kalu, a staunch catholic, remains evasive. We are still talking and strolling around the house when we reach the building in the compound that serves as his family church. He makes a sign of the cross and leads me into the place of worship. Culled from Forbes.com

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Life

Low libido? Try camel’s milk, fish sperm potions

as your love life lost its spark? Too tired after long days at work? Or maybe you suspect your partner’s eye has been wandering? Zainab Usman, from Northern Nigeria, says she has the solution for all these problems. Walking through a room lined with jars, bottles and gourds, perfumed air trailing in her wake, she ticks off each remedy on delicately manicured fingers. Out come a stream of names that sound like a cross between children’s sweets and street slang for class A drugs. There is the ‘wonder wand’, a vial of peppercorn-sized pills that promise to enhance intimate experiences. Zuman mata, which translates as ‘woman’s honey’ in Hausa language, is guaranteed to “keep a man coming back.” Or how about tsumi, a herb and camel’s milk concoction that Usman has nicknamed ‘cocaine’, which, if its

effects match up to the claims, is best taken only if the user has several days spare to recover? This is the world of kayan mata (‘women’s things’), a fivecentury-old practice in Northern Nigeria and neighbouring Niger aimed at keeping married couples’ love lives lubricated, so to speak. Handed down the generations by women, the creams, scrubs, perfumes and tablets are made using local herbs and roots that grow in the arid north. Traditionally meant to prepare a bride for marriage and ensure social stability by keeping couples happily married, they are growing in popularity. Men have their own version, called maganin maza (‘men’s potions’), which includes chilliinfused foods. Neither country particularly needs a helping hand in the sex department: 11,000 babies are born every day in Nigeria, the world’s eighth most populous country, while Niger has the world’s highest birth rate. But the centuries-old kayan mata is one of the few times when sex is openly discussed amid an otherwise decidedly oldfashioned approach to discussing physical intimacy and its consequences. “In the north, girls start learning about it at a very young age,” said Usman, whose female in-laws presented her with a kayan mata gift box on the eve of her wedding. It accompanied the equally traditional gara – a gift of kitchen utensils as the couple started a new home. “The south is a good market for me because it’s still new here, although I’m not sure Lagosians are ready for this,” says Usman, who has started selling her wares in

Lagos, hundreds of miles south of her home city of Sokoto. As two giggling friends visit Usman, a third hovers disapprovingly nearby, though not so far as to be out of earshot. “Do you have ones that uplift breasts?” the first friend asks. “Of course,” replies Usman, pouring a thick liquid into a tiny jar. For good measure, she adds a green powder called danagadas (“the one from Agadez” – a city in Niger’s Sahara desert). “I can’t use this one very much, I’d be too tired,” she adds. What happens, one of the women wants to know, if you stop taking the herbs? “Your husband will notice a massive difference straight away,” Usman says, snapping her fingers. The two friends look at each other and fall about laughing. “You guys are making me feel uncomfortable,” Usman says, a hint of reproach in her voice. “I’m trying to help you. It’s not a big deal – women have been using this for ages.” The ingredients of kayan mata have changed little over 500 years except, perhaps, that dried camel’s milk is now preferred to fresh as the goods travel longer distances. Typically, products have a base of rice, honey, millet and tiger nuts. Fish sperm and manatee fat are sometimes thrown in. Key, though, are the roots of the desert-growing jujube, baobab and catchthorn trees, which have long been used medicinally across the Sahara. Some herbs are so localised English translations are hard to come by. “There’s no reason to suppose that there’s not some interesting ethnopharmacology behind the use of these remedies,” says James Moffatt, a

senior lecturer at St George’s hospital, University of London. Nevertheless some may be placebos similar to the western perception that oysters are aphrodisiacs, he says. “If dim lights, mood music and a plate of molluscs do it for one culture, why not camel milk and dates for another?” Business is certainly booming. In the labyrinthine streets of Wuse market in the capital Abuja, Umar Mohammed, 56, sits in his booth surrounded by imitation gold jewellery, intriguingly named fake perfumes, sequinned headscarves and incense burners. But at a word from two visiting customers, he springs into life and throws open a cupboard full of the familiar vials and powders. “Why didn’t you say (what you wanted) right away?” after two elderly women in hijabs spend 15 minutes apparently poring over a single stick of incense. He tries to sell them a dust-covered box of products whose extraordinary price is justified, he says, as it came from Malaysia. “When a woman uses these products, she will look and smell like a flower, which is how it should be.” Culled from theguardian.com

Breaking the Nigerian Higher Education Code (3) CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 13

Not quite sure that is practicable in the power sector. We might need to develop a new national policy for health and safety resulting from power accidents – electric shocks more precisely. God forbid! Some research and information sources reckon that over 25,000 graduates are currently needed to feed available jobs in the Nigerian power sector. Sounds to me that a private or federal higher institution should be making some contacts on how to develop innovative power sector driven programmes after reading this piece. It also sounds to me like some foreign university with already strong expertise in power and energy programmes should be developing plans to invest in the setting up of incountry power and energy programmes or facilities, whether independently or in strategic partnerships. Oh wait a minute, many foreign universities depend on their agents to supply them international students and very few think about strategic engagement activities that, interestingly, would drive more revenues than tuition fees from student trickles. I do think there is need to redefine the agency portfolio but that is a topic for another day. It even sounds to me like some private investor who is interested in the education sector but doesn’t quite know what to do with his free funds, has just got an epiphany. Epiphanies are good but I maintain that credence to management expertise in the set up is crucial if he or she decides to proceed. So I recently designed a partnership framework for a state government in Nigeria and hosted some senior management personnel in the UK on a study tour and they met with different UK Higher institutions. Mid-way in the study tour, they came across a UK university with an amazing solar training

facility but with a dual purpose: practical training on the production of solar panels, but also supply of solar panels for the university’s use. When the head of the group was told the price to set up the solar training facility, she was shocked at how potentially low it was and requested for one right there. So in some cases, it is not even a question of funding, it is an understanding of the necessity and potential, both of which strategic insights and innovation should drive. And in cases, where funding is an issue, could this be navigated efficiently within the boundaries of sustainability? Now let me attempt to break it down even further. Did you know that one of the most reputable institutions in Nigeria in terms of the quality of higher education, content developed and delivered and the competence of its graduates within the oil and gas sector, is the Petroleum Training Institute? An even highly reputable institution within this sector is the Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt. A close look at these institutions reveals something quite interesting. These are institutions sponsored and funded by a petroleum-based government corporation and a private oil and gas operator. Why might this institutional set-up be least likely to have challenges of funding and the maintenance of international competitiveness in the quality and delivery of content? The answer is not rocket science. Both sponsoring organisations have a vested interest in the graduates and the organisational and subject matter framework of the institution is quite niche. It is an institution for petroleum. So a rhetorical question, if I may ask. If this private oil and gas operator had funds to invest in education (which they obviously had, seeing that they did invest), but had the issue or push of setting up a full private university with oil and non-oil and gas courses (of no relevance to them) or nothing, might they have invested? So the question to the authorities that are and the investors that would like to

be is, should there be a push for new universities or a push for centres of excellence strategic to meet demands in country? So might an investor be interested in setting up a relevant subject matter department within an established university as against setting up a full university? Might the non-availability of that engagement framework be limiting potential investment into Nigeria’s higher education? If the answer is yes, might there be a need to have more strategic investor engagement framework in Nigeria’s higher education? So not long ago, I had a meeting with a Human Resource executive of one of the biggest manufacturing outfits in Nigeria and soon I realised that over 80 per cent of their profits comes from a particular product, which is a specialty process currently driven by expatriate competencies. When he mentioned that they were in the process of setting up an academy leading to a university and he asked me what my advice would be, I thought for a minute and said, “I would set up a faculty or centre of excellence with expertise in developing competence in local graduates around the core product of the company, seeing that they struggle from human capital and lose money from the hiring of expatriates.” He looked at me and nodded that it was exactly what they were going to do. So in conclusion, if I was advising the President at the time of the setting up the eight new universities, I might have advised differently. I might have said something along the lines of ‘might it not be best to set up strategic subject matter universities or centres of excellence meeting national demand areas and positioned in geopolitical zones close to peculiar resources base and knowledge deficiencies, with an open investor framework for engagement with industry for practical and economic sustainability?’. But then again, I am not the adviser to the President. I am just a concerned citizen with a line of thought attempting to decipher a code.

Sanctity of Truth

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Why my husband won’t take another wife

Olori Kadijat

Sassy cutout dresses Why many Nigerian marriages don’t last

Body&Soul

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

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NEW

Contents 20.07.2014 COVER

-Olori Kadijat

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BEAUTY Lip balms are smooth and glossy - and they contain a bounty of antioxidants. T h e y moisturise your lips and make them feel great!

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The black and white suit has become so popular this season that men are ditching the traditional dark wedding suits for them

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ON SU

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JULY

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FASHION

Cutout dresses, even if they have really small cuts, are not always appropriate for every occasion. Avoid wearing them to formal ceremonies or work; rock them for a hot date or a high fashion event

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor)

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent) Wole Adepoju

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ACCESSORIES

Tote bags are a fashionable and functional accessory women love to carry. Women even take them to parties and to work since they are convenient and spacious

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

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ld sh ou art do ha ir ing sm me an d ds do ear sa le ry hile ki ld w o. w el ou ird re w ha s, je too, tie sh just sh oe or this black ies and oose, comfy ch be d or irr m al an cess s. you ed to casu oes, ac r style kids ne e clothe in g in sh hateve at the n in th m bl e W r th ve fu sc ra to th ki be ha e la em er to ar shop Ik geth d m ough s nt s om en Biw pa re kiddie put to ’ en an y one bid to eir kids that sk from r in a e for th ing ta ave a othe te attir harrow nts he g forre opriay. It is a ost pa lookinr lives e e appr ei m the rm partplete, kids are of th they ar t. of te n com f. The e tim e than nmen e whe of relie ving thospher e enviro Thos s sigh d to ha nt atm e sam in style.ns ci ou t war differe it in th fun io n co e mos o th in a to, albe to have fa sh up in outd y used want al re ad to turn der to e onese t or Thes styl They are wan le in e s. w ho g thempossib lleaguethe entir se amon way and colved in ch oo d glamr mates invo es to polisheve be ess. yl ei y st th likel the ho lo u oc ra l will ping pre se ve nsidere kids w ssy. Yo co shop ere ar could r thos per-cla ur kidsd fo Th You ady t all ups for yo rty an . . /l from leman and ac sual the pa d such gent ess up art cae life of ing an d withe to dr d do sm be th fun danc tructe d mad e coul love to have t deconstiku’ an and th who want to outfi tin, ‘a shiki’, still itional iffon, sa ’, ‘Dan Trad ara, ch -South es Ank ‘South so styl into are al . likes nsider em to co st re m the Ju keep acto ber in char are kids If you r ter. g fo go intradithe n a l o i t k, loo r th ei

Juliet

Nothing has changed about my husband being an Oba, as regards attention and privacy, because we still sleep together, eat together and do many other things together. So nothing has changed

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I’m into oil and gas business. My family went abroad for summer and home is boring. So, I came out to catch some fun,” he says. Kathryn feels like a bucket of cold water has been poured on her head. “Oh no! Married!

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Helen Paul

Stanlee Ohikhuare

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Accessories

Tote bags: Amazing work carry-all Vanessa Okwara

oday the contemporary woman needs a bag that can carry her whole world if need be and still look fashionable. Iphone, iPad, keys, makeup bag, water bottle, wallet, headphones—the checklist of items in our handbags seems to be forever growing. For that, we need the ultimate work carry-all and tote bags seem to do the magic. Tote bags are a fashionable and functional accessory women love to carry. Women even take them to parties and to work since they are convenient and spacious. They are no longer just practical bags but they are also stylish and elegant. Many designers today are producing tote bags that are exquisite yet practical. When shopping for tote bag this season, it is important to take into consideration, what purpose it will serve. Since the word ‘tote’ means ‘to carry’, it stands to reason that the tote bag is usually on the larger side and is built to be durable and hold a variety of items. Tote bags are made from sturdy materials and usually boast of thick handles for easy grasping and comfortable wear. A tote bag falls into the category of handheld bags An important feature to look out for when shopping for a tote is the handle. Some totes are made with thick leather handles for durability, while others have short handles made of the same material as the body of the bag. Totes may also come with long straps for wearing across the chest, or slings for shoulder wear. Some totes may offer detachable straps or handles too. In all, totes are designed with the fashionable lady in mind. These are women who want to remain trendy while carrying a designer bag made for durability and functionality.

Body&Soul

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Why my husband won’t Kadijat Oluwatosin Taylor, wife of the traditional head of Kobape land in Ogun State, Oba Olufemi Taylor, is very enterprising and passionate about her role as an Olori. The imposing building in the heart of Abeokuta which houses her multi million Naira investment, Khadtay Stop Centre, is an evidence of how industrious the woman is. The amiable socialite talks about her life as the wife of a monarch, business and other interesting issues in this interview with WOLE ADEPOJU Were you born into a royal family? I’m from a royal family and my father is Chief Niyi Adegbenro. He’s from Ogun State and my mother - Deaconess Mobolaji Adegbenro- is from Ondo State. How did your husband get to the throne? My husband is from Ago Iba - the Taylors. My husband happens to be the first Kabiyesi from Kobape. We did not expect my husband to become an Oba but we accepted it and thanked God when it came. We thank the Alake of Egbaland too. When they wanted to enthrone a king at Kobape, everybody was mentioning my husband’s name. My husband was still in service then. So, he had to retire to ascend the throne and we thank God for His faithfulness. As someone from a royal background, what was your growing up like? My growing up was fine. I grew up both in Abeokuta and Ibadan. I went to Sacred Heart Primary School in Abeokuta and St Ann’s Secondary School in Ibadan. I am from a polygamous home, because my father is a Muslim. My father is a wonderful and caring father just like my mother; but he’s a disciplinarian. In my family, you won’t know who is the mother of this or that child. There is love in my family and that was the way my father built his home. So, growing up was really good. Was it your childhood ambition to be a business woman? I’d say I’ve always been a business minded person because I could remember during my secondary and university days, I used to buy and sell things. I used to go to Itoku to buy Tie and Dye to sell. It was not that I actually set out to go into business though I had always cherished going into business when I had money. So, it just happened that when I got married, my husband suggested I should go into business so that I would have time for the children. I thank God for where I am today. I actually studied Laboratory Technology in school, but I never worked with the certificate. How did you meet your husband? Was it love at first sight? (Laughs) I’ll not want to go into the details but I met him through a friend/ Immediately he saw me, he said, ‘Look here, I want to marry you’. We actually courted for about three years before we eventually got married. My husband has been a very wonderful person. He’s a brother, father, friend; I can’t mention all his qualities, in fact, he’s my life. Your outfit, Khadtay Stop Centre, is a flourishing multimillion naira business. What is the secret of its success? To God be the glory. I’d say it’s my competence because when you are competent and you know what you are doing, you will cer-

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Body&Soul

take another wife -Olori Kadijat

tainly get there. I’d say you also need to be focused and have a mind of your own. The help of God and my husband have also been factors. Every marriage goes through troubled times. What would you say has kept your marriage going? Trust and communication are very important in a marriage and they have helped sustain my marriage. When we are not sure about something, we call each other and talk about it. It has been helpful. I can’t remember ever keeping malice or something like that with my husband over any issue. I’ve been married for about 20 years now. I love my husband and he loves me; my children are happy. Basically, I think trust and being straightforward are the keys. At a relatively young age, you had two children in the university amidst other successes. How do you feel? Most times when I wake up in the morning I sing praises. When I look at myself, I just sing praises (singing praises). You see, I always find it difficult to know how to express my feelings because I find it hard to comprehend all the good things God is doing in my life. My children are making me happy, my husband is making me happy. I just believe its grace. (Getting emotional) When I think about all the good things God is doing in my life, I feel there may be something I’m doing to make God happy, especially when my husband became a king. I thank God for His grace upon my life and my family. How do you cope with the task of being an Olori and a business woman? Yes, before going to my place of work, I have to cook what my husband will eat before he goes to the palace. I close latest 6pm or 7pm to go and cook for my husband. I make sure I take care of my children and I make sure I do all that is expected of me. It’s really not an easy task but God has been faithful. What are the things that have changed about you since you became an Olori? Some things have actually and really changed about me. As Olori, I need to be very careful. I cannot go out anyhow and I really need to watch my mode of dressing. Basically, you are a public figure and you need to lead by example. What about your social life? I still socialise; I still go to parties but with so much care because I am now a leader and a sort of role model to some people. Has the position of your husband as a king deprived you of desired attention and privacy? My husband used to be a Customs officer, so I’m used to his busy schedule. He has worked in many states. There were times he would not come home in one month or two. I’m used to his tight schedule. Aside that, nothing has changed about my husband being an Oba, as regards attention and privacy, because we still sleep together, eat together and do many other things together. So nothing has changed.

Tradition permits an Oba to marry more than one wife. Are you not scared that your husband may take another wife? (Laughs) I’m not scared because I know he can’t. He has a policy and he has promised me that I should not worry that he’s not going to take another wife. There are so many Obas now who have only one wife. So he’s not going to take another wife. It’s not in vogue anymore. (Laughs) I am the only Olori of Kobape. How do you cope with women coming around your husband? I’m not scared and I’m 100 per cent confident that I am going to be the only Olori of Kobape. How stylish are you? I’m a fashionable person. I dress very decently and you know that is part of what I sell. So I’m fashionable. I wear jeans, I wear iro and buba and other attires and there is nothing I put on that you will not appreciate on me. What kind of food do you like most? I love beans, moin moin… things that are made with beans. As a role model, what advice do you have for the younger ones? I would advise them to be focused, be determined and be Godly because, those are the things that will make them succeed.

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Body&Soul with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

chibumah@yahoo.com

I’ll get a hubby in six weeks (2)

athryn’s mind dances around different issues as she cruises towards the Third Mainland Bridge. She wonders if she should revive a dormant relationship or seek a fresh one. By the time she drives into the parking lot of a building, her mind is made up. Too many vehicles in the parking lot and along the road. She scans the area for a parking space. “The devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know,” her mind tells her. “Really.” A little voice says. She noses the car to an empty space, parks very well and walks to the entrance of the building. The bouncers at the door give her more than a perfunctory check. People are taking more precautionary measures these days. The security challenge in Nigeria has assumed a nationwide dimension. The big metal door swings open and as she walks in, heavy music envelopes her. The club is in full swing! It seems as if every available space on the dance floor is occupied. She weaves through the dancers to the VIP section. The catcalls help boost her confidence. Really, her appearance is a ‘killer ’ this night. She finds a space in a corner and sits, hoping no one will come to claim the seat later. There are three other empty seats beside her. A waiter comes to take her order and leaves. A man dancing with a little girl in a corner winks at her and she gives him a cold look. He even has a wedding band on his finger. He definitely is a player. More like the proverbial man that is carrying an elephant on his head and trying to pinch a grasshopper with his toes. The waiter pours her drink -Cognac on the rocks. “Thanks,” she mutters and sips. She opens her wallet, pulls out a few bills and pays for the drink. A man seated a few tables away is looking at her with interest. She sizes him up with the corner of her eyes and creates a folder in her brain for him. He doesn’t look like he belongs in such an environment. Welldressed, cool, passably handsome, but there’s something ‘quiet’ about his mien. She names him, ‘Amobi’ (one whose mind is not easily known). She steals a glance at the dude sitting at a table opposite hers. Hmmmmmmmmmmm! Cool, calm and looks like he sleeps on beds laid with dollar notes. The only snag is that too many babes are looking his way. The man

looks her way again and looks away. It’s obvious he’s interested. She shifts to have a better view of him. “Hi, mind if I share this table with you?” Kathryn turns and behold, a man is sliding into a seat beside her. She has been carried away by the thought of the two gentlemen. “Oh, no problem,” she says quietly, looking the newcomer over. “I’m Dave. May I know you?” “Kathy,” she says absent minded. “Beautiful name for a beautiful lady. Kathy. Tell me, what is a beautiful lady like you doing all alone in a club on a Friday night?” he asks. “I came looking for a husband. I will therefore appreciate if you leave me alone and take your ugly face somewhere else,” she says in her mind. “I came with some friends,” she says aloud. “Ugh. Man or woman?” Dave asks. “Friends, I said,” she replies him cooly. “Oh ok. No quarrel. Will keep you company till your friends are here then,” he says and signals a waiter. “Which spirit do you have in your glass? Women who drink spirit are confident,” he says. He pays for a full bottle of XO. “Hmmmmmmmm, that’s class,” Kathryn says under her breath and

takes a closer look at him. Not bad. She looks the way of ‘Amobi’ and the dude and catches them looking at her. The waiter returns with their drinks and she gets more friendly with the man beside her. They chat and later dance for some minutes. The man loves music. It is very obvious. Kathryn wonders what else he loves. Good life, maybe. “Where are your friends? They are taking so long,” Dave says. “Yeah. Didn’t expect them to keep me here for so long,” she lies barefaced. Dave isn’t looking at her face, so doesn’t notice the worry line that flickers across her face. “Mind if I take you home. That’s if your friends don’t turn up. I can drop you off on my way home,” he offers. “Thanks, but I have my car,” she replies him. “Oh good. So what does a beautiful woman like you do for a living?” He asks. “I’m a marketer. I’m actually into business. I travel abroad to buy vintage products for sale,” she replies. “That’s good. I’m into oil and gas

business. My family went abroad for summer and home is boring. So, I came out to catch some fun,” he says. Kathryn feels like a bucket of cold water has been poured on her head. “Oh no! Married! Why is it that the day I’m looking for a husband is the day mad people are looking for wives? Such a cool, loaded guy taken for good?” She sips her drink and her eyes dart to ‘Amobi’ and cool dude. Cool dude is no longer there. Amobi is in deep conversation with a lady. “But really, do I expect to get a husband in a club? Kathryn, wake up from slumber. Every guy here is here to catch fun and take a lose lady home,” she chides herself. She checks her time, a few minutes past 3am. “I’ll be leaving soon,” she tells her companion. “At past 3am? You can’t leave at this time. It’s too dangerous,” Dave says. “I must leave. Can’t stay till morning,” she says. They argue and agree that Dave will drive behind her until she gets home. They dance some more and leave for home. ****** What happens later? The story continues next Sunday.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Make your lips smile, balm them!

Biwom Iklaki

e all hate dry, cracked, chapped and chaffed lips just as much as the next person. Besides being uncomfortable, they are also prone to tear and can turn into unsightly sores. As painful and unsightly as these sores are, they could also affect our appetites, and love life. Lip balms are smooth and glossy - and they contain a bounty of antioxidants. They moisturize your lips and make them feel great! Most lip balms contain Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Beeswax, as well as Organic Aloe, Sea buckthorn and Rosehip extracts. These ingredients

moisturise and protect, making your lips excellent for facing the elements. They have a light texture, and come in unique flavours made from the real stuff - steam-distilled essential oils. Some have artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. You can apply lip balms to your lips anytime, anywhere as they come in cute little tubes and bottles. Because of how small they are packaged, they can fit in your smallest clutch or purse and are a perfect companion for those dry days or when in an air-conditioned environment. They can also double up as moisturisers for cuticles and other small dry patches in a pinch.

utout dress trend is new fresh and gaining more popularity as ladies become more daring. It is seen on celebs that are bold and wish

to show off their sexy bodies without being too vulgar. Cutouts, done right, can be cute and sassy. Done wrong, it can put you in immediate danger of a wardrobe malfunction. It could be a really daunting

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

trend at the beginning if you are not used to exposing a lot of flesh. However, it is a matter of showing it off in a really subtle way -not enough to make you feel uncomfortable. Cutout dresses can be super fun,

flirty and sexy without being vulgar if worn in the right way and for appropriate occasions. The trick is not to overdo it. Choose just one area of your body to expose. Too much skin on display brings you

on the verge of vulgarity. Choose an area that you are confident with. It could be your mid riff, shoulders or sides. Cutout dresses, even if they have really small cuts, are not always ap-

propriate for every occasion. Avoid wearing them for formal ceremony or work; rock them for a hot date or a high fashion event such as award nights or album launch.

Sassy cutout dresses

Vanessa Okwara

Body&Soul

Hardball Conference: Why Northern delegates planned a walk out p.28

biyi adegoroye, ASSISTANT Editor, Politics biyi.fire@yahoo.com

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Tel: 08033024007

JULY 20, 2014

Interview 'APC has learnt its lessons from Ekiti' p.27

Politics ON SUNDAY

Adamawa latest: Over 20 jostle to succeed Nyako Against the recent impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, IBRAHIM ABDUL writes that despite the possibility of a legal action challenging the impeachment, over 20 governorship aspirants are jostling to succeed Nyako

rue to all expectations, the clash of the titans of Adamawa State politics has since consumed former Governor Murtala Nyako, following his removal and the controversial resignation of his deputy, Barrister Bala James Ngilari. Though he was sacked based on a 20-count charge of corruption and abuse of office, of which he failed to defend himself, but vows to challenge the legality of the impeachment in court, the next political battle in the state is who succeeds Nyako ? And already, political pundits are of the opinion that history may repeat itself, leading to the emergence of a green horn as the occupant of Dougirei Government House, Yola. This is because not less than 20 political heavyweights are eyeing the governorship position from the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress. Within the three months when elections must be conducted, barring any legal hurdles, however, there are indications that they may be forced to align with the candidates of the two parties that may emerge after the primaries of the respective parties. During the impeachment saga, Nyako proved that he is a tough Admiral, and as is wont of seasoned soldiers, he gave notice that he would rather go down fighting than succumb to the cold option of surrender. A retired Vice Admiral of the Nigerian Navy, Nyako maintained a dignified defiance as the noose of impeachment steadily but menacingly tightened round his neck. Bravely, Nyako, who spurned certain conditions laid out before him, became defiant and elected to go down with his head high rather than bow before the lawmakers. Be that as it may, Nyako was finally removed while his deputy was tricked and cornered to resign in a controversial circumstance. Less than 24 hours after his removal, embattled Ngilari said he did not tender his resignation to the governor but rather he was asked to address it to the speaker. Reports had earlier indicated that the resignation letter read on the floor of the House by then Speaker, Umaru Fintiri, who is now the Acting Governor of the state was obtained under duress. Confirming the development, Ngillari in a telephone interview said that the deputy speaker (who now the acting speaker), Kwamoti Laori, visited his official residence and ordered him to re-write and tender his resignation. In his words, “The truth is that I have not

Nyako

Marwa

Ribadu

Zwingina

sent any letter of resignation to the governor up till now, because the deputy speaker of the House only came to my house, asking me to tender my resignation. He asked me to address the letter to the Speaker of the House which I did. He further said that, “when the Deputy Speaker met and asked me to write the resignation, I wrote it to the governor, but later on they came and said that I should change it and addressed it to the Speaker. So,

with this, I didn’t resign,” he said. When asked whether he signed the letter under duress, Ngilari rhetorically replied that what he did was to simply send the resignation to the speaker as requested. This discrepancy has buoyed Nyako to call for the reinstatement of his deputy as the governor of the state. Nyako, in a statement by his Director of Press, Mallam Ahmad Sajo, said: “We wish to state categorically that Section

306 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended requires that the deputy resigned not to the House of Assembly, but to the governor.” As at the time the supposed resignation was said to have been tendered in the House, Nyako was the governor of Adamawa State, and “no such letter was written to him; none was received by him; and none was approved by CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Analysis

NDDC: Agent of growth or cash cow? (2) In the concluding part of the assessment of Niger Delta Development Commission’s performance as against it request for over N300billion for 2014, for its activities in the nine states, BABATOPE OKEOWO in Akure and TONY ANICHEBE in Uyo in this report write that the commission still has a long way to go

ore than 14 years after its creation, opinion leaders in Akwa Ibom State said the commission has not lived up to its reason for existence. Their position was informed by the litany of abandoned and low quality projects which have become the hallmarks of the commission in the state. Before the assumption of duty by the current management of the NDDC, the presidency had directed the commission to concentrate on the completion of old projects and avoid award of new contracts. Akwa Ibom State tops the lists of the states with abandoned projects which littered virtually all the nooks and crannies of the state. They include the hostel project at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital to road projects in Essien Udim, Ika, Ibiono Ibom and Esit Eket Local Government Areas of the state. Others are over 30km Nsasak Junction – Oron Road and several interstate roads that were abandoned after pouring laterite and stone base by the contractors. A former Speaker of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly, who pleaded Anonymity, described the NDDC as a complete failure and urged the Federal Government to quickly do away with the Interventionist Agency. The Ex-speaker further berated the Agency for being a pipe through which politicians are given political patronages, stressing that what the state has received in terms of projects from the NDDC is far less than what was budgeted for the state for its contribution to the national coffers. He wants the commission to be scrapped and the funds being wasted be returned to the treasury of various state governments to enhance their capacity, and to deliver quality projects to the people. He said that most projects undertaken by NDDC in some communities have no direct relationship with their needs. In the same vein, a former senator from the state also describe the Agency as an avenue to waste public funds stressing that for the Agency to do mini bore holes usually done in private homes for communities at exorbitant rates amounts to ripping the people of tax payers money and like the Ex-speaker believed that the commission have failed in their mandate to help cushion the effect of oil exploration in the region. A youth leader in Eket Local Government Area Mr. Jospeh Etuk Udo and a dealer in Building materials described NDDC as a nightmare and a bad dream which needed the prayers of all Niger Deltans to bring good omen. According to him, NDDC has since lost its focus and had shortchanged the people of the Niger Delta region “Go round virtually all the communities in the state and see the poor quality projects been executed by the NDDC, worse still most of them have been abandoned and taken over by weeds yet every year monies running into Billions are received by the management in the name of executing projects in the Niger Delta region. Even in my community here at Okon Eket, the small road project they undertook have been abandoned after pouring stone base on some parts of the road.

Scorecard in Ondo State

Some stakeholders in Ondo State have said that the NDDC has the capacity to perform far better than it has done, if the funds allocated to it are released as at when due and managed ef-

Senator Henshaw

NDDC Managing Director, Dan Abia

fectively. In the past four years, three different commissioners have represented Ondo State on the board of commission. They included Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, Mr. Dele Omogbehin and Hon Benson Amuwa. The trio are of the opinion that the commission has impacted on the lives of their mandate areas. Although the tenure of Enikuomehin was cut short following the scandal that rocked the commission and led to the dissolution of the board, he said his tenure was a glorious period in the annals of the commission. Similarly, Omogbehin who completed the tenure said the commission impacted on the lives of the people. Amuwa who just resumed into the office rolled out programmes that would be of benefit of the people. Enikuomehin said 10 live changing projects were initiated and completed during his tenure. They included solar powered street lights in different parts of Ilaje, Eseodo and Akure, the state capital, road construction and dredging of canals and road projects. He said the NDDC also executed projects worth about N18 billion between 2012 and 2013 in various parts of Ondo State, mostly in the riverine Ilaje and Ese Odo Local Government areas, which are the core mandate areas of the commission. Omogbemi said 90 per cent of the projects were located within the mandate areas while the remaining 10 per cent were in other areas of the state. According to him, the projects were awarded between 2012 and 2013, which was his own tenure adding that most projects had been completed while others were about 85 per cent completed. The projects listed to have been executed are 132KVA sub power station at Igbokoda, Omotosho Power Transmission Project, upgrading of Igbokoda Electricity, land reclamation projects at Agba, construction of Ugbonla internal roads, and construction of Jonathan Avenue at Igbotako. Others are laboratory/ science blocks at Oyenusi Grammar School, Ode-Irele and Aquinas College Akure, construction of 1,000 capacity hostel at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, and construction of Kiribo -Ugbotu road in Ese-odo Local Government. Statistics released by the commission also listed Arogbo Shoreline protection project,

Agadagba Obon/Arogbo road and bridge, construction of modern civic centre at Odonla, construction of modern hall at Ayetoro and Comprehensive health centre, distribution and installations of new transformers at Igbokoda, Okitipupa and Akure among other projects that are ready for unveiling. He attributed the success recorded by the commission in the Niger Delta region to President Jonathan’s support and determination to make the region a paradise of sort through life impacting projects. Omogbemi said the Igbokoda sub-power station costs over N500 million while Omotosho /Igbokoda Power Transmission Project costs N6.2 billion including compensations paid to land owners where the project traverses. The former NDDC representative said with the upgrading of Igbokoda electricity and installation of sub-power station in the area, incessant power outage will soon be over in Ilaje and Ese-odo local governments. Amuwa on his own promised to make road construction and provision of portable drinkable water his priority. The lawyer promised an open office where the people could visit him anytime and make enquiries about activities of the commission in the state, and warned contractors handling the commission’s works, but failed to execute such in accordance with the terms of such contracts to stay away from him and be ready to face the wrath of the law.

NDDC reacts

Before the House of Representatives passed the over N300 billion budget of the commission last week, NDDC board chairman, Senator Ewa Henshaw told the National Assembly that the commission was going through some challenges. They include 4, 000 uncompleted ones of such worth trillions of naira at present scattered all over the nine oil producing states under the supervision of the commission. He also disclosed that the commission was yet to receive the over N500 billion from the federal government being the shortfall in the fund released to it in the past few years. Besides, Many multinational oil companies are yet to redeem their obligations to the commission running to about N77 billion. Besides the above, the commission is said

to be grappling with the challenge of meeting its contractual obligations to many of its contractors to some trillions of naira. Henshaw, however, said that the commission had concluded plans to partner with multi-national oil companies and other corporate organisations in Nigeria towards the execution of its developmental projects in the region. He explained that the essence of the partnership initiative was to eliminate incidences of abandoned projects from the records of the commission. Other problems confronting the NDDC were captured when the board and management of the commission recently retired to Le-Meridien Hotel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the purpose of re-focusing the agency for better service delivery to its stakeholders in the Nigeria oil producing region. At the retreat, Ewa-Henshaw noted that the Bureau of Public Service Reform had in 2013, observed that the commission has a large pool of capable personnel, who are constrained by poor leadership, weak institutional system and a culture of impurity. He warned members of staff of the commission that it would no longer be business as usual, as the board is on to sanitise the agency. “I believe that it is now time to tell ourselves some home truths. It can no longer be business as usual; substantial and immediate changes for the better must take place. We must root out impurity from NDDC,” he said. The visibly worried chairman said he was hopeful that the three-day retreat would reorientate the minds of members of NDDC family and re-focus their attention to address the image problem of the commission pleading with its staff to adopt a more positive attitude and a greater commitment to achieve the goals of the commission. To the Managing Director, Barr. Bassey Dan Abia, there is no gain-saying that the commission had lost focus but he also resolved the challenge of getting the commission back on track is a collective one, and the 2014 retreat was the commission’s first step at getting back on track. Abia made it clear that the priority of the current board was to re-position it for better service He said: “Prosperity will not forgive some of us if we just want to dance in the comfort zone so that we don’t offend some people. There is poor image and perception from the general public, mainly because of our stakeholders’ engagement process much is not all encompassing. The people of the Niger Delta have not quite received the value they expect from NDDC.” Dan Abia said, the quality of some of the infrastructure projects undertaken by the commission fell below acceptable standards and this had made the people of region to differentiate the commission’s projects from other well delivered projects. Towards forestalling this embarrassing experience, the board and management of the NDDC resolved to partner with some credible and trusted multi-national firms and established organisations in the country for infrastructural development, healthcare delivery and power generation among other priority project areas. He expressed optimism that the current arrangement would solve 80 percent of the problems hampering the developmental efforts of the intervention agency in the oil-rich region. While the commission may have identified its challenges, the fact remains that other constraints like weaknesses in the management systems and procedures, corruption, defects in the organisational structure; defective quality control system for contracts executed and outright misappropriation of fund must be addressed. Otherwise, the commission might be more of a cash cow than an agency for infrastructural development.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Politics / Column

When the media honoured hardworking Senators

ince the return to democracy in Nigeria in 1999, and the subsequent restoration of the Legislature, which was non-existent in the prolonged years of military dictatorship, the media never conferred merit award on the members of the either chambers of the National Assembly. This does not mean, though, that none of the lawmakers excelled in their legislative and representative functions between 1999 and 2013. However, societies keep witnessing innovations from men of ideas, who are in leadership positions at one time or another. It is such men and their innovative ideas that bring about positive changes that continue to move humanity and society from lower levels to higher levels of development. And obviously, these changes make the difference between the primitive or undeveloped and modern or advanced societies. On Wednesday July 16, 2014, the Senate Press Corps, led by Prince Cosmas Ekpunobi decided to honour five selected Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who brought intellectualism, commitment, resilience and hard-work to bear on the art of legislation, with awards of excellence. That was the first of its kind in the history of the Senate in the last 15 years of this democratic governance. Ekpunobi, in his speech at the Chelsea Hotel, venue of the award, made it explicitly clear that the choice of the lawmakers for the honour was based on a thorough and independent research carried out on the activities of the legislators in their various senatorial districts, coupled with the empirical data available to the Corps from observable contributions of the politicians during plenary

From the Chukwu David chukwudavid68@yahoo.com

sessions. The selected Senators, who received the award are the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (Cross River Central); the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang (Akwa-Ibom NorthEast), Senator Aisha Alhassan (Taraba North), Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) and Senator Domingo Obende (Edo North), who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory. Ndoma-Egba was conferred with the Senate Press Corps Award of Parliamentary Leadership Excellence, 2014. He was the first serving Senator in this democracy to attain the pinnacle of legal practice of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN). He has embarked on many empowerment programmes and attracted numerous developmental projects to his constituents, including road, health facilities, electricity, schools and others. The politician has nine bills standing in his name and sponsored and co-sponsored many motions. Also, the Corps honoured Senator Ita Enang with the Award of Parliamentary Activism, 2014. Enang served as a member of the House

of Representatives for 12 years before coming to the Senate in 2011. He is known to be vocal in Senate sessions, and always articulating his views even when he tends to stand alone on a matter. His vibrancy always comes to full manifestation whenever there is a contentious constitutional issue to trash out in the Senate. From available information, he has done a lot back home in terms of attracting developmental projects to his people. Senator Aisha Alhassan received the Grassroots Parliamentarian Award, 2014. She is very active in the Chamber and never allows anybody to drown her voice when making her points on any issue she is convinced about. Though a first timer in the Senate, the politician is said to have touched many lives positively in her senatorial district. Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi is no doubt an active lawmaker, who stands tall whenever he is contributing to issues in the Red Chamber. He has sponsored five bills and four motions from 2011 when he was elected to the Senate to date. Adetunmbi was the one who raised the alarm on the dangers of bankruptcy in the states and also brought the issue of de-

teriorating inequality in Nigeria to the Senate. He was conferred with the Parliamentary Intellectualism Award, 2014. The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi graced the occasion specifically because of Adetunmbi. Senator Domingo Obende was conferred with the Award of People Friendly Parliamentarian of the year 2014. He is the sponsor of the highly commended and contentious Same Sex Prohibition Bill 2011, which has since been passed and signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. He has also sponsored 12 other bills and 22 motions. Obende, has drawn the attention of the Senate to the serious issues of unemployment in the country, the menace of human trafficking and many other legislative efforts, designed to make Nigeria and Nigerians better. The last but not the least of the awardees is the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa. Those who know him closely say that he is a unique Nigerian, who does not allow tribe, ethnicity and religion to affect his relationship with people of different background. He has always been described as very humble and humane in dealing with people of lower cadre in public service. With the acceptance given to this novel initiative by the Senate leadership and people from outside the National Assembly, it is possible that it might become an annual event. The President of the Senate, David Mark, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and others all honoured and approved of the award initiative. They commended the Press Corps that they did it without based on merit and without asking the recipients to pay any money to receive the honour.

Reps’ partnership on same sex marriage with ACP

hen President Goodluck Jonathan assented to the bill banning gay marriage and same-sex partnerships in Nigeria in January this year, the issue sparked international condemnation. The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013 which was unanimously passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, according to Jonathan is “consistent with the attitudes of most people towards homosexuality in Nigeria.” After signing the bill, Presidential Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati released a statement affirming that "More than 90 percent of Nigerians are opposed to same sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our cultural and religious beliefs as a people". Following this, Nigeria was criticised and even threatened by several western countries. Even before the President assented, Amnesty International kicked against the bill and urged Jonathan to reject itl, calling it "discriminatory" and warning of "catastrophic" consequences for Nigeria's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and British Foreign Secretary William Hague all criticised President Jonathan for signing the law. The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle had threatened that the United States will scale down its support for HIV/AIDS and anti-malaria programmes in response to the Federal Government’s position on the gay rights issue. This law has been described as harsh by supporters of gay marriage who even argued that since the anti-same sex marriage law took effect in January, it has already had a dire impact on the availability of HIV and AIDS treatment and prevention services in the West African nation. According to this line of argument, prevention and treatment outreach efforts have decreased by as much as 70 percent in

From the

GreenChamber

Philip Nyam some Nigerian states. This is according to a survey conducted by the Initiative for Equal Rights, and reported by the blog Erasing 76 Crimes. The Economists argued that the law, which prescribes lengthy jail terms for anyone who is part of a same-sex marriage, has already prompted hospitals to "routinely" turn away gay Nigerians, while other HIV-positive Nigerians simply avoid going to government-run health care facilities because they fear being ousted and endangered by "unsympathetic" health care practitioners. Angered by the law, the European Parliament (EP) went a step further and adopted a resolution on March 12, 2014 to commence consultation aimed at suspending Nigeria and Uganda from the Cotonou Partnership Agreement over the passage of legislation by both countries. Fortunately, Nigeria was also being hailed by some international organisations as the African Caribbean and Pacific (APC) Parliamentary Assembly rose in support of Nigeria. The resolution of the EP against Nigeria and Uganda was eventually brought to the attention of the ACP group of states at its 35th session in Strasbourg, France from 14th to 19th March, 2014, by the head of Ugandan delegation. The ACP acted proactively and issued a proclamation condemning the EP for daring to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affair. That

ternyam@gmail.com resolution was instructive and very unambiguous because Nigeria is a sovereign state and no Nigerian government has ever attempted to compel or lobby any country to reverse a law legally and constitutionally enacted by its legislative arm. Additionally, the APC expressed solidarity with the Parliaments of Nigeria and Uganda as well as called on the European Union to appreciate democratic choices made by these countries and to delink cultural preference from the need to address developmental and poverty issues. The House of Representatives is very conscious of this and in its avowed commitment towards stemming the nauseating immorality that has become the lot of mankind in the name of same sex marriage and homosexuality.in solidarity with the APC, the House of Representatives last Thursday endorsed the APC Parliamentary Assembly resolution condemning EP planned suspension of Nigeria and Uganda from the Cotonou Partnership Agreement for criminalising homosexuality. The House consequently urged the executive arm of government to remain steadfast and unwavering in the legislative oversight on the implementation of the same sex prohibition act. It also advised the Federal Government not to bow to pressure from any quarter seeking for the repeal of the act. This is a commendable move by the House. Personally, I feel that the penalty of 14 years

imprisonment for anybody who engages in same sex marriage and a penalty of 10 years for anybody witnessing same sex union or participating in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans gender or inter sex activities or operating bars, organisation or societies promoting same sex union provide by the act is even lenient. That is not to say gay individuals do not have the right of choice but such choices must not deviate from the purpose of humanity. The two constitutionally recognized religions in Nigeria, Christianity and Islam do not permit gay unions. Even traditional religions are averse to gay practices so one wonders why a Nigerian or an African would be campaigning for gay rights. If these individuals are giving the right to contract gay marriages, we may soon legalise sexual relationship with wild animals and before long human being will start getting married to dogs, goats, chicken and all manner of things. I must also commend the executive arm of government led by President Jonathan for calling the bluff of the so called powerful nations. The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to be firm especially on issues that bordered on the real essence of creation and humanity. I think the House should not stop at just advising the executive to be steadfast in implementing this very important piece of legislation but the individual legislators should make it a point of duty to take the campaign to their various constituencies. They should embark on aggressive enlightenment campaigns in their constituencies by organising town hall meetings and village square engagements. In fact, it will not be too much for the lawmakers to fund the translation of the act into local languages for the consumption of those who cannot communicate in English. Let the whole world know that Nigeria cannot be part of the madness call gay rights.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics

Insurgency: Now that the battle line is drawn

ne thing which is not in doubt at the moment is the agitation and indeed, hope from a large section of Nigerians that sooner or later, the over 200 schoolgirls now in captivity of members of the Islamic Boko Haram for about three months would gain their freedom and once again live a normal life. Government itself is perturbed by the ugly development and continues to receive some bashing from both local and international stakeholders regarding the abduction of the girls and the need to intensify efforts at ensuring their safety as well as curb the excesses of terrorists. During their recent meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, members of the National Council of State, (NCS) comprising former Heads of States and Presidents, Governors of the 36 states of the federation, service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, and the National Security Adviser, the concern about the dimension of the current insecurity took a center stage. In fact, President Jonathan's confirmation in Abuja that no fewer than 12,000 persons have been killed and about 8,000 crippled since the insurgency broke out in 2002 should worry the sane minds. This has yet been described in many quarters as a conservative figure, considering multiple attacks on innocent citizens particularly in the North-East and bomb explosions including the nation's capital where hundreds have been left dead. Former Defence Minister, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (retd) who also sounded very disturbed by the excesses of the sect, did not hide his feelings in urging President Jonathan to explore all arsenals that would end the menace immediately. Danjuma who was inaugurated as chairman of the Victims

ith barely three weeks to the August 9 governorship election in Osun State, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is already feeling the heat. Ironically, the heat is coming from the All Progressive Congress (APC), the party in power in the state. In the past, it is the opposition party that usually raise eyebrow on the activities of the electoral umpire. But this time, the reverse is the case. First, APC has alleged that the commission was denying its members permanent voter's card, which will be used during the election. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of APC, had in a statement last week, said INEC has resorted to asking those who daily throng its offices in Osun, which party they belong to, alleging further that almost all those who have identified themselves as APC members had been told their PVCs were not ready. “This is nothing but systematic rigging from source”, Mohammed added. Again, APC has gone to court asking it to restrain the Federal Government from deploying armed forces to Osun State “for the purpose of supervising, monitoring or regulating the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled for August 9.” Also, at its sitting last Wednesday, the House of Representatives gave Prof. Jega 48 hours to appear before its Committee on Electoral Matters to answer allegation of haphazard distribution of permanent voters' cards. The mover of the motion, Yakub Balogun, a member of APC representing Lagos Island II federal constituency of Lagos State expressed worry that “the haphazard distribution of permanent voters’ cards may lead to disenfranchisement of eligible voters, which violates the spirit and letters of Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).”

Anule Emmanuel emmyanule@yahoo.com Support Fund ((VSF) among other prominent Nigerians to find succour for numerous citizens affected by activities of the sect, also told the President a painful truth, that the insurgency currently were having an upper hand. The Federal Government therefore has a

big challenge which it must confront headlong to bring back the needed peace in the country. Considering the assurances from the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) in response to Danjuma's expressed displeasure and several other Nigerians, a long over-due battle line may have

already been drawn with the insurgents. Hear the NSA out during the inauguration, "But there are some very hard choices that would have to be made. We have so been more concern about the lives of a few versus the condition of a few million. The decision has to be made soon. We do realise that the time has come to draw a line." It is important to state the point here too that in as much as the decision to raise funds that would be deployed to taking care of several citizens affected by acts of terror perpetrated by the Boko Haram is welcome, the focus must be on ending the insurgency in itself with extended efforts to bringing back even hundreds of innocent girls whose whereabout remains a mirage almost 100 days after.

Malala: Confusion over a meeting

espite conflicting statements since the girls were abducted in Chibok, no one has really given clear information about there really location. It was the Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh who for the first time on May 26, announced that the military had identified specially where the girls are being kept by the Islamist extremists but cannot free them by force. But even in his disclosure would not disclose the exact location where they believe the girls are being held. What Nigerians do know at the moment is that the girls are in a forest called Sambisa. No one is yet to visit this seemingly fearful forest. On Monday, Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani school pupil and education activist from the town of Mingora who had stood up to the Taliban and defended her right

to education, and had been shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012, but survived met with President Jonathan. During the meeting, the teenager had made a passionate appeal to the President to at least meet with the parents of the abducted since visiting Sambisa and rescuing the girls at the moment is proving difficult. What is interesting in the whole drama that followed the scheduled meeting between the parents and the President which was on the instance of the Pakistani activist is the blame game that has come between Mr. President's handlers and members of the Bring Back our girls campaigners group. I had wondered why the President's aides would go the extent of arranging vehicles to convey the parents at a venue

they were believed to have been gathered without proper knowledge of the intrigues that later threw up. If a teenage girl Malala could get the acceptance of the President for such a planned meeting, it was important to do the ground work both on the side of the presidential aides and the Bring Back our Girls campaign group if the whole arrangement had been genuine in the first instance. But now that President Jonathan has rescheduled and agreed to meet with the parents with formal invitations sent to them, all hands must be on deck to save another round of embarrassment to the presidency. A meeting between the parents and the President will definitely assist in unraveling some key facts about the Chibok abduction and assuage their pains.

INEC and APC's landmines in Osun

INECDiary Onyekachi Eze

These allegations are weighty, and if INEC fails to provide satisfactory explainations, they might affect the crediility of the governorship poll as well as impede the conduct of next year's general election. And as for the suit instituted by APC against the deployment of armed personnel to Osun State before or during the conduct of the election, determination of the matter before the poll is important for the interpretation of section 217(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The recent posturing of APC is a surprise to many. Before the redeployment of Segun Agabeja to Osun State to replace Ambassador Rufus Akuje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state who will be on his annual leave until after the election, INEC preparation for the poll was believed to be smooth sailing. As a matter of fact, the distribution of PVCs to registered electorate in Osun State started since March 7, 2014 and there was no complaint of "haphazard distribution". According to Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, the distribution in the state was simultaneous with that of Ekiti where election was held last month.

ezekatchy@yahoo.co.uk

As Idowu further explained, uncollected PVCs at of the polling units were taken to the respective local government office of the commission in the state for subsequent issuance to legitimate holders, and presentation of political party membership card is not a condition for the issuance/collection of PVC. It is however, believed that INEC is capable of defending its actions as it concerns the preparations for the Osun governorship election. But the question waiting for answer is, at what point did APC discover that INEC’s preparations for the poll were shoddy? If one can hazard a guess, it is since the assumption of office, three weeks ago of the acting REC, Segun Agbaje. Until his redeployment to Osun, Agbaje was INEC REC in Kogi State. His movement to Osun was based on allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that Ambassador Akuje was a partisan and has sympathy for APC. The party's sustained agitation, which culminated in an order from the court restraining him from conducting the August 9 poll, led to Akuje's forced leave. Is APC suspecting that Agbaje is working for PDP?

Agbaje, at a Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue with the people of the state, has added his voice in defence of the distribution of PVCs. According to the REC, about 742,000 (or 61. 83 per cent) out of 1. 2 million PVCs available for the people of the state, have been collected, and denied that “the issue of whether INEC is asking people which party they belong to does not hold water". He said more PVCs were still being expected from INEC headquarters. INEC should understand that the conduct of Osun election is like the proverbial fly that perched in the scrotum; hit it you burst the scrotum, leave it spoils the scrotum! Every action it takes might be attacked by the two main political parties in the contest. That is why the commission should tread softly in its conduct of the August 9 poll. The issue of deployment of security personnel will not be a matter for discourse in this piece since the case is already before a court. But suffice it to say that this is one of the beauties of democracy. Soldiers and other security personnel, have since the 2012 governorship election in Edo State, been part of the conduct of elections in Nigeria. The interpretation of section 217 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) will help in developing the nation's electoral process. The development in Osun State, in a way, is good to put INEC on its toes. The commission should not use its latest performance in Ekiti as a benchmark for preparations for other elections. As there are differences in the nature of elections, so should INEC be dynamic in its preparations. There should be no complacency.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Politics

APC has learnt its lessons from Ekiti, says Mohammed National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed in this interaction with newsmen in Kwara State explained why the party is insistent on challenging the recent polls in Ekiti State, saying that having learnt its lesson in the Ekiti incident, the APC will not sleep over its fortunes in the upcoming election in Osun state. BIODUN OYELEYE reports

hat is your take on the recent governorship election in Ekiti where your party lost to the PDP? It is quite unfortunate. We say this because we go into politics to serve. We go into politics to campaign and make promises, and one would expect that if you campaign on certain issues and you are able to keep your promises that you should be rewarded by the electorate but the situation in Ekiti State is so puzzling and baffling because not even the PDP has said that Kayode Fayemi lost because he failed to keep his campaign promises. As a matter of fact, they all admitted that in terms of infrastructures development, in terms of education policies, in terms of social welfare programmes he performed very well but they said he did not ‘connect’ with the people. What is the definition of connection? As a matter of fact, what they are saying is that he didn’t put money in the pockets very well, that is why I said the loss in Ekiti is a loss to democracy, because when you feel in future that you don’t need to make campaign promises to become governor, I don’t need to perform when I get there for re-election, all I need to do is to play truant be on the street with the boys, be at beer parlours and drink with them and then dole out money meant for infrastructures and development. One particular case pains me and that is the issue of arguments that teachers voted against Fayemi because he asked them to go and be re-trained and do competency test. The truth of the matter is that today none of the people in this living room can teach his/her secondary school sons or daughters in Mathematics or Physics because they might not have the skills or knowledge. Re-training of teachers was a standard practice in the good old days when people now say we won’t vote for you because you asked us to go and do competency test. What you are saying then is that you don’t vote for me and I lose election and the next governor says don’t bother about competency test what would be the fate of school children in 10 year’s time? And they are going to compete with other children from other states and globally. I think this is what I believe that the media should look into. We would be happy if we lose election because we have not performed; that is the essence of democracy. It is a process where you reward those who have kept to electoral promises and remove those who have not but here you have punished those who kept to

their electoral promises and rewarded those who promise nothing and of course like we said and we keep repeating that election is a process it is not a destination it is not a one single event what happens on the road is as important as what happens on the election day. I thank the media that co-operated with us when we started fighting instances of constitutional breaches and electoral malpractices. You see when you don’t allow a governor into a state and physically prevented him from joining the campaign of a colleague can you say the process is free and fair? When you deny the aircraft of another governor from taking off; when you close the airport simply because the opposition aircrafts are at the airport. I remembered at an interview somebody asked me what the governor was coming to do in Ekiti. And I asked this, how would you feel when Nigeria went to play in Brazil if the Brazilian authorities had refused our fans access into Brazil? Yes they were not going to play on the field but their presence at the stadium is very important to those who are going to play when we go to campaign. When you see yourself surrounded by 14 other governors, they give you confidence they give the people of that state clear impression that ‘oh, this party is a national party.’ Apart from constitutional implications, we had an election where all leaders of opposition were arrested on the eve of the election and during the election it does not matter if there was no physical snuffing of ballots papers or snatching of ballot boxes. The election was not free and it was not fair. An election where media men were deported in their own country! These are issues we should raise. lt is not about APC, it is about Nigeria because what is going to happen when APC gets to the federal level and forms the government, would they also decide to prevent the opposition, the PDP governors from entering their states to campaign or shut the airports? These are the issues about building democracy; it is not just about the casting of votes and we would continue to say this. And we want to sound a note of warning that they took us by surprise in Ekiti State but we would start shouting from now about militarisation, and because we are a very peaceful party that was why we said we are going to challenge these issues in court which many people mistook and said we contradicted ourselves that why did we congratulate Ayo Fayose and later said we are going to court? We are going to court to ensure that in future

The election was not free and it was not fair. An election where media men were deported in their own country! These are issues we should raise such issues are not repeated. We would have learnt no lesson if this goes unchallenged They would be emboldened to do worse in Osun State . The issue of Ekiti is important; it can’t die like that. It would become a reference point in political science and sociology in future. Do you share the view that the Federal Government seems determined to get almost everywhere militarised? The president has abused his powers to subvert democracy. You see, we are not afraid. He who is not prepared to lose election does not deserve the joy of victory. It is a level playing field. You are the President and the Commander- In- Chief but using that power in preventing people from moving in and out of a place is wrong. The happening in Edo State today is an abuse of power. We have the police giving cover to seven dissident members against about 16 or so members. They are holding court and saying they are going to impeach the Speaker. What is happening in Rivers State today started a long time ago. The police commissioner became the defacto governor and as we speak five dissident legislators are meeting; they are in court and they still want to remove the governor. The President should build up democratic institutions and should not be the one to abuse his power to subvert democracy, because when he does so it is wrong. We can give instances. Girls are missing in Chibok, our soldiers were not deployed there but of course the Vice President said election in Ekiti and Osun States would be war and he has not retracted that statement and unfortunately the presidency is the one that has the police and the military at its command. It is this massive abuse of power under this presidency that we are complaining of, this country has never been so divided along religious and ethnic lines. Everything that our founding fathers did to bring us together this man has destroyed

Mohammed

them our leaders introduced the concept of NYSC to make us know one another to make me serve in a state outside my own, people travelled and many did not return after service but settled where they serve. Today how many are willing to serve outside their states? Our founding fathers introduced the Federal Character system to allow for balanced spread of presence. But today, we have a President that is bent on dividing us and making us know that we are different and using the pulpit to divide us, using our electricity to divide us. So when we say he is destroying all the institutions that make a good democracy and we would continue to say so because it is dangerous. That is why I have been citing examples of what have been happening. A week ago, some people from Niger Delta said if Jonathan is not allowed to run, they would block and blow up all the pipelines. They were speaking on behalf of the president and nobody put them on check. Asari Dokubo said the same thing but let anything come from our side they would say we are violent, that we are promoting Boko Haram. A president should be seen as symbol of unity but this president is a symbol of disunity. When the merger talk started, many believed a strong team had emerged but with the loss of Ekiti, the crisis in Edo and Adamawa States, do you still consider APC a strong party? As we speak, we remain the strongest and most popular party in Nigeria. We feel the pulse of Nigerians and we know they are yearning for a change. We know Nigerians are tired of PDP. However, what can we do in the face of a president who is so obsessed with re-election that he is willing to destroy democratic institutions for it? We would be the first to concede if we lose in a free and fair election. I have painted the situation in Ekiti State to you. Can anybody say the process was free and fair? I took on the international community and said if what happened in Ekiti happens in their countries; would they describe it as free and fair? Talking about Edo State because we don’t control the police, they decided to support seven dissident legislators against the majority. Does that mean we have lost popularity? Media men have a duty to educate Nigerians. We have a duty to set the agenda. What does it take for anybody who controls the army, police and federal purse to subvert democracy? Thirty-seven thousand soldiers and policemen were deployed to Ekiti State. Is it a war CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Hardball

Conference: Why Northern delegates Former member of the House of Representatives and a senior lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Haruna Yerima, is a delegate at the National Conference. Yerima who hails from Borno State was one of those who spearheaded the botched moves by Northern delegates to stage a walk out from the conference following the adoption of a recommendation on the creation of 18 new states, recognising states as the federating units in Nigeria and delisting the 774 local government from the Constitution. He spoke with ONWUKA NZECHI

Yerima

hy are the northern delegates so aggrieved about the recommendations for the creation of more states and removal of local governments from the constitution? The problem is with those that are leading this conference. I am talking about the officials of the conference, particularly the chairman and his deputy. The procedure that has been adopted for voting on the recommendations of the committees is completely wrong. There is a technical problem. For us coming from the National Assembly, you find out that what they are doing is completely immature as far as the rules of debate and procedure of debate are concerned. First, if you are considering a committee's report, what you do is to go on considering the recommendations of the committee one by one.

What has been happening is that they do not read the recommendations of the committees word by word to determine if they are accepted or rejected. What they have been doing is to go for amendments and leave the main recommendations of the committees. For instance, where a recommendation has no proposed amendment, even if it is wrong, it is skipped and it is assumed to have been agreed upon. This is wrong. Penultimate week, there were speculations that northern delegates were planning to stage a walkout because your attempts to get the leadership to upturn decisions on states creation and the delisting of local government areas from the constitution failed. Is that plan still in the offing? The rumour is correct. In fact it is perfect. I was one of the proponents of the walkout, simply

because the procedures have not been followed to the letter. If we want to determine 70 per cent on some of these sensitive issues we have to vote on them. Where their sense of judgment has been called to question the officials are bound to revisit those issues and subject them to physical voting. But they refused to do that. If you don't want these things to be revisited, why are we here? We should stage a walkout. But then, some people said it will be wrong for us to walk out of the conference. They argued that it would not be good for the security of this country and that if we walk out, it will send some dangerous signals to the people of the North and this could trigger more tension in the polity. So the idea was dropped. What is your next move? We wrote two letters to the leadership lay-

ing these complaints. We are waiting for their response before we decide on the next line of action. What are the contents of these letters? I don't have the letters with me here; they are with the leadership of the conference. During one of the sessions, a delegate from the North accused the leadership of bias against delegates from the zone. Do you hold a similar opinion? I share the idea. I said the same thing that the leadership, particularly the vice chairman, has not been fair to delegates from the North. Last Thursday, the leadership especially the vice chairman refused to recognise most of the northern delegates that had wanted to raise points of order or information or points of correction. Even though some of these things like point of

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Politics / Hardball

planned a walk out, by Yerima information, observation are not recognised in parliamentary sessions, we made effort to use them to get the attention of the leadership but we were rebuffed. I have been telling them to do away with some of these interventions but they refused. Last Thursday, I had to shout on this local government issue but they refused to recoganise me; they shut out Prof Alwalu Yadudu, Dr. Junaid and Engr Buba Galadima. So it was a grand design to stifle those that are really vocal from the North. They didn't allow us to speak, even to make simple observations. Things they were allowing other delegates to do; we were prevented from doing. Some people believe that Northern delegates are bad losers; that you always call for a review of anything whenever you lose. Don't you think that the reactions of some of you lend credence to this perception? We are not talking about losers and winners in this case. Tell me where the North has lost and we refused to accept. How about the decision on the scrapping of pilgrims welfare board? That was not about the North, it was about religion. Both Muslims and Christians from all over the country in this conference did not accept the scrapping of Pilgrims Welfare Board. So it was not about the North; it was about religion. Any Christian that performs pilgrimage needs a coordinating body, any Muslim that goes to hajj needs a coordinating body. Saudi Arabia does not arrange pilgrimage with individuals, they do not recognise individuals. If you scrap this board, who is going to talk with the governments of Israel and Saudi Arabia? Both Muslims and Christians collectively rose against the scrapping of pilgrims’ welfare board. Would Northern delegates consider this conference a failure if at the end of the day the leadership refuses to rescind its decisions on some of the issues you are seeking a review? Right from day one, I did say that this conference was going to fail or nothing serious will come out of it. First of all, when you are talking about legality, to a large extent, the national conference is illegal. We are only playing an advisory role to the President; we cannot make laws. Nothing is going to be made a law unless it goes to the National Assembly to amend the constitution and accommodate some of our decisions. Nobody here is going to amend the constitution even if we approve total resource control. President Jonathan cannot implement the recommendations of the conference today or tomorrow, they must be made part of the constitution for him to be able to do that. The process of amending a constitution takes a very long time; it is cumbersome. It involves the Senate and House of Representatives as well as all the state houses of assembly in the federation. This is not the first time a conference of this nature would be held. Government gets confused at the end on what to do with the report. This effort will amount largely to nothing. Northern delegates have been accused of coming to the conference with an agenda not to allow any change in the polity but to maintain the status quo. Is this impression about the North correct? I think it will be unfair to the Northern delegates to say that we came to the conference just to maintain the status quo. . It is certainly not true. I was on the Committee for Devolution of Powers and we made some changes; we made some recommendations. What we said about status quo was on 13 percent derivation. The Committee on Devolution of Power was not peopled by only delegates

Yerima

The proponents of scrapping of local governments were not proposing it in good faith from the North. The committee was constituted by delegates across the nation including the South-South. We said status quo remains for 13 percent derivation simply because it is difficult to add and difficult to subtract. We agreed that the sleeping dog should be allowed to sleep. Why did the committee take the decision when in 2005 a similar conference had pegged it at 18 percent? Who implemented it? Why didn't the Presi-

dent implement it? This is the question you should ask. If you give them 100 percent, the President cannot wake up tomorrow and give them that 100 percent simply because he is from the South-South. The 18 percent was not implemented despite the fact that there was a President and there was a National Assembly. Have you asked why the constitution was not amended to accommodate it at that time? What do Northern delegates have against state creation? Nothing. To some extent we don't have any grudge against state creation. But when it is clumsy and when it is based on some form of primordial loyalty and not about the development of this country the development of the people, I will oppose it. But not all Northerners went against the decision on creation of states. Even in the 18 new states they proposed, a sizeable number of them are located in the North and they were proposed by Northerners. So why are you saying that Northern delegates were against state creation? How about the case of local governments? We are against the decision on local government and we did that on the basis of rational thinking and rational deduction. You are talking about government nearer to the people and local government is the only form of government that the common man sees at his own level. So why scrap it? And the main reason for anybody to talk about scrapping local governments is because the state government or governors precisely have not been giving the councils their money. Instead of us to look at the financial management, how we can get the local governments to receive their money directly from the Federal Government and block the leakages, we are talking about scrapping local governments. The proponents of scrapping of local governments were not proposing it in good faith. Their argument was that there are more local governments in the North than in the South, so if we are not going to agree to the jerking up of 13 percent derivation in the constitution; they would retaliate by scrapping local governments so that they can no longer get money from the federal government. By that you decrease the amount of money that is coming to the North. But the recommendation was not for the scrapping of local governments, but that they should no longer be considered as

federating units but should be the business of states to create and manage. Don't you see... (Cuts in)? I don't want to go into this argument on federalism because most people have warped ideas of what federalism is all about. People use the term true federalism when in the real sense there is nothing like true federalism. Even in America if you look at their history you would find out that each and every President had his own concept of federalism. They kept on adjusting. So which one is true federalism? The crux of the matter is that they are saying that the activities of local governments should be left to the states. Fine and good. Nobody is quarreling against that. Where the problem lies is that they are calling for the stoppage of money the Federal Government gives to local governments. Is the money still not going to be channeled to states? That is where the contradiction is. We are saying this because state governors created what they called joint local government/ state accounts and they have been refusing to give local governments their own funds. That is the bone of contention. And now you are saying that the local governments should be given to them completely. You also want to give them the money that ought to go to local governments to run the affairs of these councils. What type of reasoning is that? The recommendation is not that the local government money should be given to states rather the conference simply said that the Federal Government should stop giving subventions to local government. There are speculations that having lost out at the conference on some of these issues, the North is plotting to use its majority in the National Assembly to frustrate the conference report when it is eventually submitted to the National Assembly. How involved are you in this new plot? I am not in the National Assembly and I know that nobody can control the National Assembly. I believe the National Assembly is up to the task. Northern delegates cannot control the National Assembly. The National Assembly is a legal institution. Here we are illegal to some extent. The lawmakers are much more mature in terms of laws and looking at issues concerning this country. They are going to sift the chaff from the grains of all these warped recommendations.

APC has learnt its lessons from Ekiti, says Mohammed C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 7

situation? That is the situation. Media men should cry out. The people who are being shot and intimidated are Nigerians like you; the people whose rights are being abused are Nigerians like you and they are using your own institutions. Let me give you an example. We went to Ekiti by air, landed in Akure and we went by road to Ekiti and planned to get back by air but when we got back to Akure airport, military trucks denied us access to the tarmac. Is that democracy? You don’t shut the airport at will because opposition is using the airport. These are issues you should take up; they are very important because it is dangerous. They don’t even know the danger we were exposed to because we had to travel by road at night. We left Ekiti by 9pm and got to Lagos at 1.00am. If Nigerians make a free choice and reject us, we would applaud them, go back to the drawing board and would restrategise but don’t use federal institutions to subvert democracy. Are you taking a position that military should

no longer be deployed during elections? The law is very clear; the Electoral Act says soldiers have no business in election except to keep the peace when invited by INEC. Police that are allowed to be at the polling unit must not be armed. What happened in Ekiti was that soldiers were armed to the teeth and they were arresting and beating people; they showed it on television, I am not manufacturing the story, it was reported in papers and some of your colleagues were forced to return to Kwara State from Ekiti. The House of Representatives is debating the issue. The Federal Government recently declared that some politicians are linked to Boko Haram. Could it be a way of targeting key opposition leaders? That is what the government has been doing, demonisation of APC. It is more than a way of targeting key opposition leaders; it is demonisation of APC to look as if we are promoters of Boko Haram. We have always asked the government ‘who are these politicians? Expose them.’ I just put a call through to Bauchi to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the story they don’t even know about it. I

can tell you authoritatively nobody in APC except Rivers State has APC membership card only Rivers State was allowed to proceed from the temporary membership card to permanent card, but on that issue am still waiting to get reports from Bauchi. Election is coming up in Osun State next month. What have you learnt in Ekiti that you would want to guard against in Osun? Number one, no two states are the same. The condition varies from state to state. It would be foolhardy for anybody to attempt to rig election in Osun and we want to warn PDP and President Jonathan not to even attempt it. I won’t say more than that. There are two factions in Ogun State, the National Assembly members are also battling Governor Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo state what is APC leadership doing to settle differences among its members? We have set up a committee led by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to look into these entire crises. Yes, we agree that we have some aggrieved members in some states politics like life is prone to crisis. I can assure you we would effect an amicable settlement.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / National

Ohaneze youth council advises Igbos against heavy investment in the North Uwakwe Abugu

T Enugu

he Ohanaeze Youth Council, the youth wing of the pan-Igbo cultural association- Ohanaeze Ndigbo- has warned Igbo people residing in Northern Nigeria not to invest much of their wealth in big businesses in the states where they reside in view of the ravaging insurgency shaking the nation to its foundations. The Ohanaeze youth wing has also warned operatives of Boko Haram perpetrating the said insurgency to desist from further attacks on Igbos, especially their penchant for humiliating South-East people in Borno State, saying “we warn those killing Igbos in those parts of the country to desist from that dastardly act because we are capable of doing what they are doing”. The warnings and words of advice were dropped at the weekend by the Secretary of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okwunnabuike Emmanuel, in an interview with New Telegraph on Sunday following the group’s launching of Ohanaeze Youth

Council chapters in the 19 Northern states in the country. Okwunnabuike who spoke on behalf of the national President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzo, spoke of the inauguration of the Taraba State chapter of the council and how the delegation counseled Ndigbo in the state to be vigilant in the face of the growing insurgency. Emmanuel who led the delegation to Jalingo, the Taraba state capital was in the company of the state president of the council in Ebonyi state, Mazi Alex Okemmiri, and he told our reporter yesterday that Igbo youth leaders from seven Northern states joined the delegation in Taraba. According to him, “the youth leaders who joined us in Jalingo came from Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Niger and three other states and we intend to institute the state chapters in the 19 Northern states and later in the 36 states of the country. “We advised our people there not to continue to invest heavily in the states in the North but to begin to think home now and invest more in the South East since this insurgency is shaking the country to its foundation”, he stated.

President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Inwo-Igariwey

Adamawa: Over 20 jostle for Nyako's job C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

him. It should therefore be known that in the eyes of the law, the deputy governor has not resigned. Barrister Bala James Ngilari is still the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State.” He said this clarification was necessary to avert another subversion of the constitution, since the other processes relating to the impeachment saga have all been in contravention of the constitution and the law. Nyako said “that the continued abuse of the constitution and the law of the land will spell doom for our democracy.”

Battle to succeed Nyako

Ironically, with the underground politicking while the impeachment process lasted now over, the battle of political wits within and among the parties in the state is manifest. The fight is literally opened to the two major parties and the minor ones who may align and realign in that regard for the political battle so as to who takes over the affairs as chief executive of the state. Contenders for the position in the PDP fold include Ngilari; a former Senate Services Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Girei; a political scientist and activist, Dr. Umar Ardo; ex-Director General of Chief Moshood Abiola’s ‘Hope '93’ campaign organisation, Dr. Jonathan Zwingina; and a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo. Others are a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa; the son of the immediate national chairman of PDP, Awwal Tukur; ex-Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong; a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Markus Gundiri; as well as Fintiri. In the APC, names like that of former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the first son of the impeached governor, Commodore Abdul'Aziz Nyako (retd.); an ex-DirectorGeneral of the National Boundary Commis-

sion, Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo; Boss Gida Mustapha; Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar; and former secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, who is regarded as the political son of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Abdulrazak Namdas Analysts like Usman Garba Santuraki and Mr. David Molomo believe that the battle must be fought first at the intra-party level, before the inter-party muscle flexing among the candidates of the two major political parties, on the one hand, and their godfathers on the other hand. According to Molomo, while in the PDP for instance, Tukur is said to be goading his son, and a former Minister of Health, Prof. Jibril Aminu, is prodding his political son, Idi Hong, the likes of Zwingina, Marwa, Girei, Ardo and Modibbo are political heavyweights in their own right. Similarly, he said, there is going to be muscle-flexing between Atiku's camp and that of Nyako, who want make sure that their trusted men get the reins of power in the state. “With exception of Nyako’s son, all the others are camping with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Thus, for Atiku to align with any of his political sons will be an uphill task as all want to receive the political blessings of the former vice president, who, in political circles in Adamawa State is nickednamed ‘political bulldozer’,” Molomo noted. Santuraki, however, argued that the emergence of Nyako's successor will be determined by the contributions of each of the contenders to their respective parties and the state, in terms of party loyalty as well as youth and women empowerment programmes. Also vital are the positions they have held in the state and how they were able to reach out to the grass roots. That, however, is contingent on the outcome of the legal battle currently proposed by the APC and Nyako against the legislators and the PDP.

The 20-point charge against Nyako 1. Fraudulent diversion of N2.3 Billion worker’s salaries for September and October 2011. 2. Illegal deductions and diversion of the sum of N142 million in May 2014. 3. Diversion of N120 million public funds to sponsor fictitious visits of General Muhammadu Buhari to the state. 4. Extra-budgetary expenditure of N1, 740, 785 on fictitious special assistants and another N166, 230, 536.88 on personal assistants in 2013. 5. Fraudulent award of contract of over N8 Billion through SNECOU Group of Companies Ltd allegedly to siphon public funds without delivering any service to the people of the state. 6. Corrupt siphoning of the sum of N300 million public funds through a company, Hydrosources Resources Ltd in the name of Mubi By-pass without mobilising to site or any construction carried out long after collecting the N300 million from Adamawa state funds. 7. Gross violation of the oath of office by outrageous patronage and dominance of family and friends in the discharge of government such as MGDs office, the SPPU and ministry of Health. 8. Gross violation of section 120 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and gross misappropriation and diversion of internally generated revenue for personal use. 9. Squandering the sum of N4, 805, 216, 538 and N7, 114, 590.85 in 2012 and 2013 respectively through the office of the SSG against budgetary approvals. 10. Expenditures of exorbitant sum of N2.5 billion as other miscellaneous expenses through the internal affairs and special services units. 11. Extra budgetary procurement of fertiliser and diversion of proceeds from the sales of same from 2007 to date.

12. The MDGs office managed by the governor’s close relations has squandered N220 million and N786, 644.94 unbudgeted funds in 2013 for the implementation of MDGs programme. 13. Diversion of over N400 million out of the N500 million federal government intervention funds for flood victims in 2011. 14. Diversion of government funds through illegal importation of hospital equipment to the tune of N156 million while the state still owes the contractor and illegal acquisition of containerized mobile workshop for vocational training centers. 15. Corruption and extra budgetary award of contracts for the construction of Army Barracks road, Mayo Belwa Road; Pella to Maiha Road; Gombi to Ga’anda to Fotta Road; Rumde to Yolde Pate Road; construction of Mubi Bypass, contrary to section 120 (2), (3) and (4) of the construction of the Federal Republic of Nigerian 1999. 16. Squandering of N1 billion Adamawa German Hospital, managed by close a relation to the governor. 17. Shoddy conception and operation of Adamawa German Hospital, managed by close relation to the governor. 18. Abuse of office and violation of Adamawa state law by the appointment of his wife, Dr. Halima Nyako as chairman, Adamawa State Action committee on Aids, (SACA) contrary to SACA Law. 19. Over-bearing strangulation of the local government areas and extortion of local government funds in the name of joint account projects and security challenges in Mubi and other parts of the state. 20. Alleged of corrupt practices.

News Infrastructure Bank’s 2013 PBT hits N875m p.34

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www.newtelegraphonline.com/politics

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JULY 20, 2014

Sunday Transport Ford reveals African vision at first ‘Go Further’ Event p.37

Business AZUBIKE NNADOZIE, ASSISTANT EDITOR, SUNDAY

azubike.nnadozie@newtelegraphonline.com

ON SUNDAY

Kola Aluko Foundation to back young entrepreneurs T

Paul Ogbuokiri he Kola Aluko Foundation has promised to provide young Nigerian entrepreneurs mentorship and a platform for them to grow. Owned by one of Nigeria’s leading entrepreneurs, Kola Aluko, the foundation is a philanthropic project he established in 2013 to inspire, mentor and

support ‘future’ African leaders. According to Aluko, the announcement of the foundation’s philanthropy coincides with a reception to open the Nigerian Centenary Photography Exhibition to be held at Bonhams, the world-famous auctioneers in London, and hosted by the Kola Aluko Foundation. The exhibition, which the foundation is sponsoring in cel-

ebration of Nigeria’s Centenary, showcases what Bonhams describes as “an astonishing collection of photography documenting Nigeria’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.” The show and its related educational programme are the first in a series of major cultural events to be supported by the Aluko Foundation, designed to encourage a deeper understanding of

Nigeria and the 54 countries on the African continent. “This unique collection of photographs,” says Aluko, “showcases the wealth of artistic talent in Nigeria over the last 100 years. We hope that this exhibition will inspire young Africans to pursue their talents and achieve success on a global scale.” The exhibition is dedicated to J.D.Okhai Ojeikere, one of Nige-

ria’s most lauded photographers and a leader in his field. The Kola Aluko Foundation believes that every story of individual leadership has the power to inspire and affect change. In addition he explains, “The Kola Aluko Foundation is passionate about identifying and nurturing talented young African adults across all fields of endeavour to help them evolve into the new generation of leaders. In doing so, we hope that the young people we engage with will not only develop into leaders, but also become inspirational role models for others.” Notably, youth organisations from all over the UK have been invited to visit the exhibition throughout its run. A highlight of the evening will be a donation to the Foundation by Sesu Tilley-Gyado, the awardwinning British-Nigerian artist and entrepreneur. “By featuring this young leader and her out-

INSIDE

L-R: South Africa Brand Ambassador, Dr. Zweli Mkhize; Chairman, Nigeria South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSAAC), Mr. Folusho Philips; Guest Speaker, Deji Haastrup; and Director, NSAAC, Giwa Osagie, at the July 2014 Edition of NSAAC Breakfast Forum in Lagos …yesterday

Nigeria’s insurance industry, one of most attractive in Africa –Fola Daniel

Chijioke Iremeka he Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Fola Daniel, has said that Nigeria is one the most attractive insurance markets in Africa. He wondered why most insurance companies in the country are failing to deliver value on investments, say the industry is challenged by low insurance penetration occasioned by low income level of prospective consumers,

poor insurance education, religious and cultural taboos, which are beyond the operators’ control. Fola Daniel who at the interactive session between NAICOM and shareholders of quoted insurance companies in Lagos on Tuesday, said despite these challenges, the market remains attractive, which is evident in the fact that some insurance companies, playing in the same market always declare yearly profits and pay dividends to their shareholders. He said for the companies to survive, pricing of risk is very

critical to insurance underwriting. He also stated that how well an insurance company performs on a particular risk depends largely on how it’ is able to appropriately price the risk. “If you are one of such companies that offer prices that are not commensurate with the risk you are taking, there is no way such a company would make profit. No company will make profit and pay dividends if it writes business for almost free, give rebates and gratis but pays huge claims on risk it collected little or no premium on,” he said.

According to him, investment decisions are part of the strategies that boost the business activities of other companies, saying that insurance companies are expected to generate income from investment of premium received from policyholders and urged them to invest in ventures that would guarantee returns on investment. “Companies that do this are the ones succeeding. But majority would rather invest as much as N5 billion in failing subsidCONTINUED ON PAG34

Why funding should be increased for MAN Oron – Ebong pg 35

Telecom industry would drive Cash-lite policy faster than banks, says Olateru-Olagbeji pg 32

SundayTransport 32

PAUL OGBUOKIRI, paulogbuokiri@gmail.com 0802-779-0557, 08037613380

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNRDAY

JULY 20, 2014

Nigeria to produce S’African APCs for police

s the Federal Government moves to develop its new auto policy, the Nigeria Police is soon to get locally produced Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for its Police Mobile Force. The assembly is the outcome of a joint venture between a South African compa-

ny, DCD Protected Mobility, and a Nigerian firm, Mekahog, according to international defence publication, IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly. The brand will be named after a mythical figure, Ikri. The company has already unveiled the

mine-protected patrol vehicle. The Ikri has been developed by DCD Protected Mobility and Nigeria’s Mekahog in close co-operation with the NPF. It is based on DCD’s Springbuck protected all-terrain APC, which has been in service with the NPF since 2006.

While DCD did not say when Ikri production would begin, it said that it is poised to establish a military vehicle maintenance and repair facility in Nigeria in collaboration with Mekahog. This will be followed by the commencement of local assembly of ‘completely knocked down’ Ikri kits and then complete assembly of the vehicles. Mekahog was established in 1993 as an engineering, construction and procurement company and has since diversified into security and defence equipment. Compared to the basic Springbuck the Ikri offers better protection, mobility and crew comfort, according to DCD. It has B6 level ballistic protection (capable of stopping a 7.62 x 51 mm round at 10m),which can be upgraded to B7. Together with careful interior design,its V-shaped armoured hull protects the crew against a TM57 anti-tank mine or similar charge anywhere under the vehicle or two mines under any wheel, according to DCD. Specific upgrades for the Ikri include improved ballistic protection of the front grille, an armour enclosure around external airconditioner components,enclosed reservoirs for the air brakes, and protective plates for the axles. The mobility upgrade includes a 145 kW turbo-charged six-cylinder MWM diesel, a six-speed automatic transmission, improved engine cooling, a 200 litre diesel tank, APS brakes and an upgraded suspension that provides both better off- road mobility and greater crew comfort. Other improvements include side doors for the driver and co-driver, revised driver controls, new flip-up seats for the ten passengers to ease access and egress, improved air-conditioning ducting for greater air flow, and dark-tinted windows to reduce heat in the cabin and to make it difficult to see how many people are in the vehicle.

Auto Clinic Car seat safety: A How-To Guide Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for all children. Child restraints, or car seats, reduce the risk of injury by 71 per cent to 82 per cent and reduce the risk of death by 28 per cent in comparison to children in seat belts alone. Booster seats reduce the risk of nonfatal injuries by 45 per cent among 4 to 8 year olds. All vehicle occupants need to be properly restrained by seat belts or child safety seats to prevent injury in case of a sudden stop, swerve or crash. Seat belts and car seats contact the strongest parts of the body, spread crash forces over a wide area, help the body slow down and protect the brain and spinal cord. Did you know that three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly? Before you install your car seat, be sure to read both the car seat instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Also consider having an expert check the seat. The best car seat is one that: Fits your child, fits the vehicle; and you will use correctly every trip! Research tells us that safety belts and car seats are the most effective devices in preventing serious injuries and deaths in vehicle crashes. AAA believes that closing loopholes in existing state laws and educating the public

about proper car seat and restraint use are essential to preventing child passenger injuries and deaths. Traveling with children? Involve your children early on when planning a road trip, which will help keep their interest during the trip. Show them your route on a map and let them help decide places to stop including landmarks, hotels, and restaurants. During your trip, give your children a map so they can see where you are and how far you have until you reach your destination. This will help with the “are we there yet” question. Keep children interested and involved in your road trip with a ready selection of cards, maps, family games, sing-along CDs and activity books — especially ones with references to your destination. This will help keep them occupied and create more interaction among family members. As everyone knows, children can be a distraction in the car. If there is another adult passenger, it is best to let them handle most of the interactions with the children. When choosing activities for children in vehicle it is important to remember that loose items in the car can be thrown or become missiles in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Be sure to secure loose items including

DVD players, laptops, iPads, purses, CDs, umbrellas, holiday gifts, etc. in either the trunk, in a console or under a cargo net. Only provide children with soft toys and games to play with in the car. Get proper rest. Set aside time to pack your clothes, load your vehicle and get a full night’s sleep for you and your family so you can all set out fresh and rested. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drowsy drivers are a factor in nearly 17 percent of fatal crashes, with one in ten drivers admitting to falling asleep behind the wheel at least once this past year. Buckle up, and make sure all passengers are secured properly with safety belts and age-appropriate child safety seats before you head out on your trip. According to experts on highway traffic safety, three out of four safety seats are not installed correctly. It is important to remember that laws often provide the minimum protection; for maximum protection you should follow best practice recommendations. Try to do most of your traveling during daylight hours, when visibility is best. If you find yourself driving into the glare of a rising or setting sun, consider taking a break until lighting conditions improve. www.SafeSeats4Kids.aaa.com

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Sunday Transport

Ford reveals African vision at first ‘Go Further’ Event

Stories by Paul Ogbuokiri ord Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) on Friday showed off four new models that are destined for African shores, and detailed its future plans for the SubSaharan Africa (SSA) region at its first African Go Further event held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Go Further is Ford’s brand promise and the name of product events it has held in Australia, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. The inaugural South African Go Further event marks the first time it is hosted on the African continent. With nearly 1,000 media, stake-

Railway workers suspend strike

he Joint Central Working Committee of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of Nigerian Railway Corporation has temporarily suspended ultimatum to begin their nationwide industrial action which was to commence on the July 28, 2014 at the end of the 21 days given to the management of the Corporation within which it was expected to actualize all the staff legitimate welfare demands of the Unions as contained in their letter to the NRC management on the June 30, 2014. In a statement by the Secretary General of the NUR, Comrade Segun Esan, the workers unions, said that the action is in clear demonstration of the Unions’ commitment to industrial peace and unflinching respect to the Board of the Corporation which has promised to help in actualizing the unions’ legitimate demands before the management. The statement quoted the President General of SSA, Comrade Mohammed Yunusa as saying, “we have temporarily put our industrial action on hold and have respectfully given the Board one month time space counting from July 30 so that the Board Chairman could have enough time to help in resolving our articulated demands that have been lying before the management for over a year now.” Comrade Raphael Okoro, President General of NUR, added that the union’s decision to suspend the strike temporarily was reached in a 3-day meetings convened by the NRC Board Chairman between the management of the Corporation and the representatives of the two in-house unions believing that the intervention of the Board would amicably realize the demands as expected by the workers. “Our Chairman is an honorable man who respects his words. We strongly believe him and out of great regards we have for him, we have decided to suspend the strike temporarily so as to allow him and his equally respectable Board members work things out for our workers. The truth is that Railway workers are suffering but our joy is that we have a Board that has conscience and has promised to pull us out of the woods. We are waiting”.

holders, suppliers and VIPs in attendance, Jeff Nemeth, President and CEO for the Sub Saharan Region, outlined the company’s vision for driving growth in existing markets on the continent as well as entering new ones. “South Africa remains our engine of growth for the continent, and moving forward, Sub-Saharan Africa will be a key market for Ford,” says Nemeth. “Our vision is to become the first choice for mobility in Africa, and our event today underscores our commitment to serve customers throughout Africa.” The next two years will see an unprecedented expansion of Ford’s vehicle and technology line-up in the Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) region. In total, 17 vehicles will be launched or refreshed, including the new Focus, Fusion, Ranger XL-Plus, Transit and Tourneo Connect - which will be on show for the first time at Go Further - and of course, Mustang. SYNC® connectivity will fea-

ture in many of the new vehicles. SYNC with AppLink will bring voice commands to select smartphone applications, and SYNC 2 will offer a new, interactive version of SYNC boasting a touch screen as well as voice command functionality. EcoBoost drivetrain options will also be expanded. EcoBoost is a turbo direct-injection technology that significantly improves power and fuel economy while reducing emissions. Globally, EcoBoost is offered in 80 percent of Ford’s nameplates, and 30 percent of vehicles available in South Africa. By the end of 2015 this will increase to 33 per cent in South Africa and 55% in SSA. “Our products are more than just nameplates,” adds Nemeth. “The smart technologies, high safety, design and quality of engineering in Ford products are what people want and value. EcoBoost engines will power the new wave of modern vehicles, and SYNC connectivity will feature in 70

percent of our line-up by the end of 2015.” Fusion to lead the charge for smart, connected motoring The Ford Fusion offers the best of all the technologies from Ford and will go on sale in South Africa in early 2015. Fusion comes with EcoBoost petrol engines, and will be the technology flagship for Ford in SSA, offering SYNC 2, Active Park Assist, Active City Stop, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, Rear View Camera, and Lane-Keeping System. In addition, Ford’s awardwinning rear inflatable seat belt safety system will debut on the Fusion. “With Fusion, consumers will get to experience the leading technologies Ford has developed over the last few years,” says Nemeth. “A smart family car that boasts innovative active and passive safety features, connected technologies, and environmentally-friendly en-

gines.” New Focus makes the best even better. The world’s best-selling car* - the Ford Focus - is also one of the highlights. First announced in February this year, the new Focus makes its African debut at the Go Further event. Going on sale next year, the new Focus will feature an all-EcoBoost engine lineup, as well as a host of new safety and driver-assist technologies. “In 2015 Focus will be updated to include the latest technologies we have on offer, giving buyers more reasons to consider the world’s best-selling passenger car,” says Nemeth. Mustang to cement commitment to One Ford Ford’s iconic Mustang performance model is also on show at Go Further. The all-new Mustang, which will be available with both an EcoBoost engine as well as its hallmark V8 powertrain, will go on sale in South Africa and SSA markets next year.

Calisthenics in performance at the inauguration of KIA ultramodern showroom Victoria Island Lagos

KIA set to roll out Made-in-Nigeria cars

IA Motors Corporation, the Korean manufacturers of KIA automobiles, on Wednesday announced its plan to roll out in September, the first set of made-in-Nigeria KIA vehicles from a state-of-the-art plant in Lagos. The automaker’s Africa & Middle East Manager, Mr. Homer Kim, said this at a ceremony to inaugurate the Kia ultramodern showroom in Lagos. KIA’s decision to establish a local plant in Nigeria follows the Federal Government’s proclamation of a modified National Automotive Policy that seeks to revolutionise Nigeria’s automotive industry and steadily discourage the importation of fully built-up vehicles. KIA Motors Corporation had in February inked a treaty with Dana Motors Limited, local KIA representatives, to restructure an existing short-term obligation to align with long-term investment in assets development – a scenario

that culminated in the provision of technical knowhow and setting up machinery for the local plant. Kim said the plant would immediately begin to assemble select KIA models, including A, B &C segment Rio, Cerato and Optima because of the huge KIA model line-up and by mid-2015 commence the full scale production of the entire KIA range. “We will immediately begin to assemble few models including KIA Rio, Cerato and Optima because of the huge model line-up of KIA and by mid-2015, ceteris paribus (all things being equal), the entire KIA range will be made locally. This in essence implies that, not a single KIA model will be imported into Nigeria from Korea,” he added. Also speaking on the occasion, Dana Motors Limited Managing Director, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani said the dealership was proud to be associated with the Korean automaker and seeks to replicate KIA outstanding qualities in Ni-

geria. Dana Motors was appointed KIA representatives in 2002 and within a relatively short time, positioned the brand as one of Nigeria’s foremost automobile brands and best-selling passenger car. Hathiramani reiterated the company’s commitment to the success of the investment, adding, “We will continue to introduce convincing marketing communications techniques that will help raise KIA’s profile and brand identity, while also creating positive perceptions for KIA products through high-profile sponsorship deals.” This strategy is aimed at changing the perception of customers about KIA not only as an automobile but a manufacturer of cars of great quality and design, the Dana Motors CEO assured. He commended KIA’s resilience and candour from a mere bicycles and motorcycles manufacturer 50 years to a world-class manufacturer of cars in rapid succession

that resulted in broad range of models available in the global market. “Today, KIA Motors Corporation has become a genuine global force in the automotive world and its brand slogan – ‘The Power to Surprise’ represents the company’s global commitment to surpassing customers’ expectations through continuous automotive innovation,” said Hathiramani. He also said trainings and skill acquisition for local technicians had begun and efforts were on to acquaint the trainees with KIA’s constantly improving technology. He said KIA plant in Nigeria would immediately indigenise some KIA parts such as windscreen, alloy wheel, batteries, fabric, headlights, tyres and get them standardised in Korea, while its long-term goal is to export cars from Nigeria to neighbouring ECOWAS and Central African Republic.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Commerce

Infrastructure Bank’s 2013 PBT hits N875m

•To construct N49.5bn 27-storey tower

he Infrastructure Bank Plc has recorded a profit before tax (PBT) of N875 million in 2013 compared with N82 million achieved in 2012. The bank’s Chairman, Alhaji Lamis Dikko, who stated this at its third Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently in Lagos, noted that the figure showed an increase of N793 million. Dikko said the bank’s total expenses in 2013 stood at N757 million as against the N586m recorded in 2012. He attributed the growth to the bank’s strength of transaction advisory offering, ‘one-off capital cost’ and well managed operational cost. According to him, the bank remained optimistic on the economic outlook, adding that all the indicators projected continuous growth trend of the past decade. Dikko also said that Nigeria had continued to attract high level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

in spite of the nation’s security challenges. He also said that the Federal Government’s reforms and investment in the energy, agriculture and manufacturing sector were expected to lead to significant job creation in the country. Dikko added that the reforms and investment would further drive high growth rate in industrial and agricultural sector of the economy. He also added that the key enabler for the growth was the provision of improved and increased infrastructure. Dikko said the mandate to act as an advisor and fund arranger to the Federal Government showcased the bank’s potential in serving as a partner of choice for both the public and private sectors. Also the Managing Director of the bank, Adekunle Oyinloye, said the bank’s profit impacted positively in its current earnings per share of 54 kobo in 2013 compared

with 20 kobo recorded in 2012. Oyinloye said a key highlight of the year under review was the increase momentum in the transaction advisory and fund arranging business that represented tangible evidence of the bank competitive advantages. He also said the continued demand for infrastructure assets nationwide and the need for the delivery though alternative financing method through its project opportunities, supports the belief that the current trend is sustainable. “The micro economic environment remains stable and promising. Inflation at single digit and falling while real GDP is projected to continue to grow at a rate of seven per cent driven largely by agriculture, trade and services,” he added. Meanwhile, Dikko says the bank has concluded arrangements to build a 27-storey multi-purpose ‘Infrastructure Tower’ estimated

to cost $300 million (N49.5 billion) in Abuja. Dikko said on the sideline of the AGM that the bank would invest $10 million (N1.65 billion) on the project. Dikko said the ‘one-stop building’, to be situated in the bank’s headquarters, in the Central Business District of Abuja, would accommodate hotels, offices, shopping malls, residential flats and a parking bay. He said the project to be financed through the bank’s special purpose vehicle would take two years to be executed. Dikko said, “The idea is that you can live your life without going out of the premises. The project is expected to be concluded in two years once we do the financial closing. “But, what we do not have control over is the on-going negotiation and discussion to close the deal for the financing. “Well, there will be investors because the project is going to be on by a special purpose vehicle while Infrastructure Bank will only be an investor.” He added that the bank had entered into negotiations with a Chinese bank for funding, adding that the bank was willing to provide the $300m required for the project. Dikko said that although the project was still at the negotiation stage, the bank had received a principle agreement with the Chinese bank.

L-R: Acting Company Secretary, The Infrastructure Bank, Mrs Jumoke Delano; Chairman Board of Directors, The Infrastructure Bank, Alhaji Lamis Dikko and Executive Director, Finance/Administration, The Infrastructure Bank, Mr. Taiwo Dauda at the third Annual General Meeting of The Infrastructure Bank Plc in Lagos…..on Thursday

CRS: Airtel to empower underprivileged Nigerians

irtel Nigeria has announced a major CSR intervention, Airtel Touching Lives, to enrich Nigerians and provide succour to underprivileged members of the society According to the telco, the initiative marks a significant milestone in the history of its CSR interventions in the country. It noted that the programme was a responsive CSR intervention targeted at providing timely aid to underprivileged Nigerians. The programme seeks to identify underprivileged persons with specific challenges, pains and struggles, with the ultimate objective of providing the needed help to empower and enrich the lives of

these individuals. Speaking at the unveiling of the programme on Wednesday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, described it as a timely, deliberate and responsive CSR initiative aimed at empowering underprivileged Nigerians and tackling the various challenges confronting millions of people. He underlined Airtel’s commitment to the programme, saying the company is devoted to enriching the lives of Nigerians especially the underprivileged people. “At Airtel, we are passionate about the people we serve and the Nigerian society. Airtel Touching Lives provides a platform for the

underprivileged in our society to be identified, heard and also cared for. “It is our commitment to connect with millions of Nigerians, alleviate their suffering and bring smile to their faces,” he said. The Airtel CEO also explained that the company primarily embarked on the initiative because of its interest in the general well-being of Nigerians, especially people with special needs. He added that the project is one of the vehicles by which the company complements the developmental efforts of various governments. Also speaking on the project, Airtel’s Director of Corporate Com-

munications and CSR, Mr. Emeka Oparah, expressed the readiness of the telecommunications operator to contribute to the efforts of government, non-governmental organisations and individuals who are highly-spirited like Airtel Nigeria in humanitarian causes. “Touching Lives is one of the philanthropic gestures of Airtel Nigeria, designed to connect and alleviate the suffering of helpless people across the country. This initiative underscores our determination to enrich lives and contribute to humanity.” The programme allows Nigerians to nominate disadvantaged persons who are in need of care or special interventions.

‘Nigeria’s insurance industry, one of most attractive in Africa’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

iaries that would never yield dividends and thus, no return on investment. The situation is made worse because these subsidiaries, which are not insurance-related, are outside the regulatory purview of the NAICOM,” he said. NAICOM has tried to arrest this development, he noted, by putting a limit of not more than, 25 per cent investment of shareholders’ funds in non-insurance entities, adding that the issuance of policy on credit and bloated premium is unhealthy practice. “Until the directives by NAICOM for strict compliance to the ‘No Premium, No Cover’ policy by insurance operators in 2013, majority of insurance firms wrote business on credit. In most cases, these premiums are never collected and this had a negative impact on the bottom-line of these companies,” he said. The NAICOM boss noted that the situations where companies bloated their premium income just to be seen to be doing well, but only to report a loss at the end of the day is not reconcilable or a situation, where a company reports a gross premium income of N12bn, for instance, but goes ahead to report a loss of N4bn? He said, “It is because the gross premium as reported is a fraud, and thus, nonexistent. The management and underwriting expenses constitute a major obstacle preventing most insurance companies from making profit. The management and underwriting expenses of insurance companies in Nigeria are about the highest in the world and I wonder why it is so. “In most cases, the gross premium incomes of some insurance companies are almost always eaten up by acquisition and maintenance cost which, unfortunately, are largely unreceipted.”

Foundation to back entrepreneurs C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

this young leader and her outstanding contributions to date, the Foundation hopes to show its commitment to and acknowledgement of an exemplary individual representing Africa’s talented youth,” says Aluko. Central to the Foundation’s vision is the belief that leadership is above all a mind-set and that large-scale social impact always starts with the individual.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Business

Why funding should be increased for MAN Oron – Ebong Since the funds available to the academy is not enough, what is your advise to the management of MAN Oron? Judicious use of available funds. The funds available to the academy should be put to judicious use that will stand the test of time. You know oil is our main mainstay of our economy and the United States of America has stopped buying our oil. If our oil sales drops, every other area will be affected. Funds may not pour in forever so we need to plan ahead. If source of funding from the federation account begins to dwindle all sectors of our national life will be affected including MAN Oron. So if they have one kobo now, it should be used judiciously.

Chief Nseyen Ebong is a former Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN)Oron, in this interview with PAUL OGBUOKIRI, calls for increased funding for MAN Oron, saying it is a pre-requisite for improvement in the standard of maritime training in Nigeria

There appears to be a wide disconnect between the maritime sector in Nigeria and the nation’s oil industry. What is your view about the oil industry support to maritime training in Nigeria? The oil and maritime industries are supposed to operate a symbiotic relationship as it is done in other countries. But in Nigeria, it is completely different. The people in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) don’t want to hear anything about maritime training. Sometimes, if you call them they will warn you not to call their numbers again. A former Minister of Transport during my days as Rector of MAN made efforts for us to meet the then Managing Director of NNPC on the need to collaborate in the interest of our country. The MD of NNPC (whose name I won’t mention here) told the then Transport Minister that he is having a brain blockage over our discussion and planned meeting with him. He, the (MD of NNPC) felt too big to relate with a minister and frustrated our efforts, these characters in NNPC are a major setback to the Cabotage regime in Nigeria. I like to put on record, the support we have received from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), they identified and supported the academy when I was there. Their gesture is worth emulating.

What is your view about funding of MAN Oron and what cause the NIMASA Act was not there. The new NIMASA prospects do you see for the institution? Act that provided 5 percent for MAN Oron came into y view about funding of the Maritime Acad- force in 2007. emy of Nigeria, has not changed. Worthy of commendation for that is Hon Emeka IheI am yet to see any deliberate effort on the dioha, the Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Reprepart of the Federal Government to fund that sentatives who then as Chairman House Committee on institution and I stand to be corrected. Marine Transport stamped his feet on the ground that Having said that, I want to commend the incumbent the academy must get minimum of 5 percent statutory Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and funding from NIMASA. Ihedioha played a major role. Safety Agency(NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi. Since the establishment of NIMASA, he has proven to be What is your view about the Nigerian Maritime Univerthe best DG in terms of commitment to funding MAN, sity? Oron. On the maritime university, I would like to say that NiThe money that has been given to MAN Oron in the last geria with the size of its population and vast maritime three years is about twice what we got in 10 years when domain deserves up to three or more maritime universities Do you think government officials in other areas of our I was there as Rector. The Rector should make judicious but my problem still goes down to funding. I don’t want a national life are doing enough to advance maritime use of the funds. The money may not be there in future. situation where we will have another institution suffering training and education? I heard that the five percent statutory fund due to the under funding like MAN Oron. It is very unfortunate that most people working for govacademy as provided in sub section 2b under 16 of the I fear that we should not have a series of poorly equipped, ernment are ignorant about the sensitive role maritime NIMASA Act 2007 is released as and when due, give and underfunded and understaffed maritime academies and plays in the economy. Those at the budget office are also take after a few administrative delays. He has done well universities all over the country. part of the problem. They are proud of their ignorance and that credit must be given to him. I cant avoid making the comparison, I heard that NIMA- about the importance of maritime training to the economy For funding support of the academy, I must commend SA is asking for about N162bn for the university and ship- of a coastal and crude oil exporting country. If I have my Patrick Akpobolokemi because he is also on a hot seat as yard over a period of five years. This is mouth watering way, I will recommend the sack of the people at the budget DG NIMASA. He has his own challenges in that office and to me. Nobody has ever talked about that kind of money office, they are part of our economic problems. for him to give attention to that academy as I have seen , for MAN Oron. If that kind of money had been given to During my days as Rector, I encountered a senator who he truly deserves commendation. that academy, it would have since been ranked amongst knew nothing about the relevance of maritime training Having spent 26 years of my life in that academy, with 8 the best 10 maritime training institutions in the world. and was not willing to learn. All he was concerned about years as CEO to build it, I monitor what goes on there on If government decides to put in that amount in maritime was for chief executives to appear before him and masa daily basis. Nobody can suggest to me to forget about training, a sizable part of it should be given to MAN,Oron. sage his ego. With characters like these, how do we move that academy. Should anyone come to say that to me, I It is not too much for us as a maritime country to have forward as a country? can throw him or her out of my house or office. I will more than one fully equipped tertiary institutions offering Some years back, when we took some of our ex cadets to keep thinking about the academy till the end of the world. training in maritime. Malaysia to serve on board Malaysian vessels, I recalled I will also want to advise the Rector to use the funds It is a good thing that the maritime university is taking somebody dedicated half page of a national newspaper judiciously. When I started as Rector of Maritime Academy off but we should also remember that the need to turn to lampoon me for Nigeria’s predicament in not having of Nigeria, we didn’t have any money, we started with MAN Oron into a university has been there over the years. vessels in Nigeria for our cadets. The writer was blind to nothing. In 2003, N100 million was allocated the fact that Nigerian Maritime industry is in to the academy for capital projects. You know doldrums. I heard that NIMASA is asking for about N162bn for the what? Of the N100 million not a dime was reIn 1985 when the Nigeria National Shipping leased to the academy. Can you believe that? In Line (NNSL) had about 21 ships the Malaysian university and shipyard over a period of five years. This International 2004 another N100 million was appropriated to Shipping Corporation (MISC) had MAN Oron for capital projects, again not one is mouth watering to me. Nobody has ever talked about just seven ships while by 1997, NNSL died with kobo was released. zero ships while MISC’s fleet grew to 151 ships. that kind of money for MAN Oron This happened for two years and there Malaysia moved from seven ships to 151 while was no five percent from NIMASA then beNigeria moved from 21 to zero ships.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 13, 2014

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Business

Telecoms sector’ll help cash-lite policy, says Olateru-Olagbeji Dr. Bowo Olateru-Olagbegi is the Chief Executive Officer, Automated Information Services Ltd, a third party credit and debit card processor (ICT firm). In this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, says telecom industry would drive the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Cash-lite policy faster than banks. With the latest CBN’s cash-lite policy, do you think that local card manufacturers and processors have the capacity to match demand with supply? hen you look at the trust of the policy, it justifies the direction we are going. The policy itself would help to eradicate many things in the system. In terms of the direction, we really have to thank the CBN for that initiative, especially as we aspire to be among the biggest economies of the world in the 20:20. That’s one initiate that would help us achieve it fast. To answer your questions, the CBN has graduated the cause of card in the system. The system has been there for long but the CBN has boosted it with its cash-lite policy. When we talk about cashless, it’s not all about card, there are other things or transaction that are card-less, including mobile phones, internet; and POS among others you can transact with. I believe the system is ready to fly and would advance the cause of our cashless Nigeria.

Card is pivotal to this policy, how would card transactions help the cash-lite policy without supporting infrastructure in the country? A lot could be done with card system. You can drive royalty programmes with card. It has multi-dimensional functions. Now, let’s look at mobile spectrum and level of mobile phones penetration. The telecom industry would drive card and cashless policy more effectively than the banks because they have better penetration. It would be faster with telecoms because of their infrastructures. In Kenya, for instance, their mobile banking is better than Nigeria because they have a programme with telecom companies, which drives the policy. But it’s not the same here, yet there are more people using mobile phones than banks’ customers. If the telecom companies are allowed to drive this, it would go a long way because it would bring those, who do not have bank accounts but have phones to the policy. I don’t know the challenges that we have in Nigeria which prevented the telecom companies from driving the cashless system. Kenya is a major success story of telecom as the carrier of the project. I believe with time, Nigeria will do the same. Are of belief that the telecom industry in Nigeria would do better than the banks because of the spread of mobile phones? The telecoms

already have the networks of customer, which the policy would leverage on. It’s just building on that platform provided by the sector. They are already familiar with terrain, if they are allowed; it would affect a number of things. For me, banks would go and make money from the CBN but the telecom would do better because they will see the importance or value of that service. They would bring in a number of people that the banks won’t be able to get because they are better spread, especially in the rural areas. As a third party card processing organisation, what are major challenges with account reconciliation on card transactions? Yes, we are into card third party processor or otherwise, say, Information Communications and Technology (ICT) firm. When you transact with card, there is a relationship between the two banks. The process of debiting and crediting across the channels is essentially what we do. Now, majority of the challenges we had initially are doused now. Like every new project, there were some teething challenges. People use their card to defraud others in transactions. If the telephone is not functioning well, it can disrupt the transactions. Once the network is bad, the speed at which the transaction goes is reduced and this a major challenge. So, we deployed backup so that when phone network is bad, there will be a backup to allow the transactions go through but fraudulent people took advantage. But like I said, it’s getting better. Recently, the CBN ordered banks to destroy customers’ debit cards trapped in another bank’s ATM for security reasons, what is the possibility of the trapped cards being tempered with by bank’s officials? That policy came as a result of peculiarity of Nigerian terrain. The policy is done to checkmate fraud and limit the damage, which that card would have done to the holder. So, once a card is trapped, is better you apply for another one. There are so many issues with that, because a lot of people are not careful with their codes. CBN sometime, stopped N100 ATM service charge paid by customers for withdrawing from another bank network, do you think this policy is an overture to bring it back? I think what the CBN did was to reduce the burden on the customers and get the bank to pay that as part of their services to the customers because customers are subjected to other service charges. As a result, CBN took it away from the customers. But I know that N100ATM service charge is coming back. The new CBN governor might reverse it because there are speculations that it would be reversed. I won’t be sur-

prised if that is revised. You seemed very assertive about this, what are your reasons? Like I said, top banks are pressurising the CBN to reserves it. With the N100, the customers were willing to pay and that was a bit convenient than for someone to go and queue in the bank. I don’t think customers ever complained. The CBN just decided to do that to reduce the burden on the customers. Is it then right to say that CBN has gradually brought back this policy with its latest policy on trapped ATM card because, for a trapped card, the holder has to cough out N1000 and above? I don’t think that was a direct implication of the policy because there is no charge on it. The N100 was a transactional charge based on transaction you made but when you pay for your card, it’s a one-off thing and not transactional charge. If it were a transactional charge, then, you would say, CBN may have returned it. Then, fear of paying N100 made customers transact within their branch network until it harmonised, by its removal. Don’t you think this is a return to status quo as the fear of paying N1000 to replace a card would force customers back to their banks, thereby de-marketing banks with few branches? Well, that is a way to look at it. This means that the banks have to deploy more ATM because if I’m a bank customer, I would only look for banks that have the facilities to open an account with, this may be an indirect consequence to that policy but I don’t think that was the motive. I know there are certain policies that have impending or un-intending consequences. So, banks that have less ATM may lose customers without realising it. More so, CBN is the regulator and when it says a thing, you obey first and then complain and lobby. That’s what the banks are trying to do, especially now that new CBN governor has banking background and understands their plights. The N100 ATM service charge is coming back because it costs money to deploy ATM and its maintenance is not cheap. It eats on the banks’ profits. ATM should be an income generating infrastructure. If you turn it into an income generator, more ATM would be deployed. So, instead of becoming expenditure, it would be net income generator. Don’t forget that if the ATM didn’t work, you have to go into the crowed banking hall, which has defeated the purpose of the cashless policy in place. Even, ATM for me still dispenses cash. Next phase should be the promotion of POS terminals, where there is no usage of card or cash at all. It would be a transactional thing. Card to card and there won’t be any cash withdrawn. This is where we should be going now. When you get to the market and there are POS terminals, what do you need cash for? You get cash from buyer and put in the bank. Why don’t pay into your account directly with card at the POS terminals? This should be the next policy trust to minimise ATM transactions and encourage POS transactions. Let the merchants be given incentives to deploy POS terminals so that there would be higher acceptance of POS terminals. A number of cell phones can be converted to POS terminal right now, which I believe would really help in terms of phasing out cash transactions for the CBN’s cashless policy to stand. As a reconciliatory between two transacting banks, what will it cost when a First Bank cardholder withdraws cash from Zenith’s ATM? It doesn’t cost any money. It’s a paperless transaction that debits or credits you. There is no manual intervention in that automated transactions. You already paid a one-off cost in deploying the infrastructure. The truth is that it doesn’t cost anything. The efficiency is strategic to reduction in cost. It leads to operational efficiency, reduction in cost and more vibrant and resilient economy, which is why other countries produce at a cheaper rate than Nigeria. The N100 charged is for maintenance and nothing else. ATM cost close to N500, 000 and you have to constantly maintain it. It depreciates. It doesn’t last for life. You can replace them and all with but it doesn’t cost anything as in the case of MTN calling Glo.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Business

POWER PLATFORM Pre-paid maintenance fee is a fraud – electricity consumers xxxxxxxx

Chijioke Iremeka lectricity consumers across the country are groaning over the payment of maintenance fee on their pre-paid meters, despite its cancellation by National Electricity Regulation Commission. According to them, the payment of maintenance fee should cover the meter servicing and repairs but this is not the case, as officials of electricity distribution companies still collect huge amounts of money from consumers to repair their meters. Anyone who refuses to pay would have his meter packed and subjected to crazy estimated bills. The experience of Fatima Ogunbiyi gives more insight to this: “A friend of mine saw hell from electricity workers recently. His prepaid meter developed a fault and he couldn’t load credit. He reported to the officials and he was asked to bring N30, 000 to get it repaired privately. Obviously, no receipt! “He refused and insisted that he was not supposed to pay anything since he had been paying meter maintenance fee. He insisted that everything must be done officially. The officials did not argue with him. Instead, they removed the meter and sent it to the maintenance department. Meanwhile, he was put on ‘estimated billing’ of N35, 000 a month, despite his average power usage below N15, 000. “The argument of the officials was that people tend to use more electricity, when they are on a fixed tariff. What about the meter? They said they had ordered for spare parts from the company headquarters. “After three months of waiting for the spare parts, which never came, he had paid N105, 000 on estimated bill, so he climbed down from his high horse and paid N25, 000 under the table with ‘abeg,’ and the meter was fixed within 24 hours. This is the precarious situation we find ourselves in Nigeria, when we want to do the right thing. Our institutions have encouraged so much rot in the system.” Another consumer, George Obi, said he bought a N5, 000 pre-paid card for his electricity meter in November, last year, and officials of his DISCO collected a maintenance fee of N2, 300 from him. They only gave him a card of N2, 700 and when it got exhausted, he went again to buy N5, 000 worth of units. Again they collected maintenance fee of N2300 without fixing his meter, leaving him wondering why such exploitation. The rest are complaints from electricity consumers in the coun-

Power sub stations

try, who spoke to New Telegraph on Sunday directly and through social media. The complainants seek government and PHCN’s intervention in the matters: Why this day light robbery? George Obi I went to buy a N5,000 pre-paid card for my electricity meter in November, last year, they collected a maintenance fee of N2,300 from me and they only gave me a card of units worth N2,700. When my card got exhausted and I went again to buy a N5,000 pre-paid card, again they collected a maintenance fee of N2300. I feel very bad because nothing has gone wrong with my meter that I would be asked to pay a fee again and again when there is no problem. Why this daylight robbery? And everybody is keeping silent. Nobody wants to talk about it. When will this stealing stop? The system is rotten Johnson Peters It has been published in the papers that the so-called maintenance fee charged by DISCOs on pre-paid meters is fraudulent. The best thing is for us to start exposing these fraudulent acts in newspapers and other means. I paid N1, 250 last year August but never paid again since then. We Nigerians prefer to pay a bribe than to fight for our rights to prevail over wrongdoing. Report to NERC Omo-Agege Hi Dearest Customers/Consum-

ers of Electricity, yes it is true that the ‘Meter Maintenance Fee’ abbreviated MMF has been removed or stopped by the National Electricity Regulation Commission. For DISCOs to continue to charge it is not fair and bad. Let NERC know about this; if possible, we need to engage the services of a lawyer to this effect, so that moneyn already collected would be paid back to the humble and faithful consumers. Report the culprits Bernard Ugwu It is too bad for us Nigerians to be paying that kind of money. Three weeks ago, they vandalised our amoured cable at the transformer and we were asked to pay between N3, 000 and N4, 000, depending on the house. So, what are we talking about here? Nigeria can never go anywhere with the way things are going every day. So, let us report these culprits. Lagos Electricity Supply: Please Light Candle Mercy Egbokhari Lagos electricity is just terrible. The number of times you have a blackout is more than the number of times you have electricity. I’m currently out of power. Right now, I’m using my generator and that is what most people do. Thinking of relocating to Lagos? Need regular power supply? Buy a generator for your electricity needs. This is not just a ‘Lagos problem’. The poor electricity situation is nationwide.

Jos DISCO CEO is wrong Eddy Igwe Sometime ago, PHCN asked Nigerians to stop contributing money for the purchase of transformers. This followed allegations that PHCN staff collect money from communities with bad transformers and promise that they will help them purchase new ones. But this statement is purely hypocritical and you and I know that if you fail to contribute, electricity officials are ready to abandon a whole community in total blackout for years. They don’t care. So, the Chief Executive Officer of Jos Electricity Distribution Zone, Mrs. Osuhor, who said that the DISCO never initiated such contributions is trying to confuse the poor masses. We know what is happening. In fact, they have made it a standard practice in Nigeria that people contribute money to replace a bad transformer or to get a new one, and handover to the DISCO. I can’t count the number of autonomous communities that have contributed money for the purchase of transformers. My community did that too. Everything she said there amounts to paying lip service to the issues. Letter to Power Platform from Awka: ‘Waste to power conversion desirable’ Dr. Joe Okeke is a Nigerian from Ugbeneakodu Community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. He trained in Italy in five different

areas of Engineering, Ceramics, Environment, Food Tech, Green Tech and Renewable Energy and majored in Photovoltaic. He says in this piece that waste to power conversion to generate energy is suitable for Nigerians. The technology is very simple. Biomass technology is a technology of converting wastes like corn stall, rice husk, kernel shell, saw dust, wooden chips, coconut shells and all agricultural leftovers to energy. The mechanical aspect of fabricating biomass is very easy and can be perfected by all fabricators. Steel metal of simple gauge is used for the construction. Our local fabricators can master the art within three to four months of practical operation. Benefits: It is the cheapest power technology that can put a final stop to power failure in Nigeria; clean our environment; create jobs for all Nigerians; open up export markets; and increase revenue generation. I recommend the technology without reserve to all Nigerians. And I do hope that the National Energy Research Centres in Nsukka, Sokoto, Bauchi and Lagos under my co-ordination are qualified to actualise 24 hours power supply to all Nigerians through this new technology under the auspices of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Got any funny experience with power supply or other power-related issues within your vicinity? Send your complaints to Power Platform via: sundayplatform@ newtelegraphonline.com

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Equities return 0.14%

he Nigerian equities market rebounded from the previous week’s decline, as the NSE All Share Index (NSEASI) advanced by 0.14% Week on Week (WoW) to close at 42,891.85pts. This gain propelled the Year to Date (YtD) return to 3.78%. Volume of transactions declined by 2.99% while value advanced by 2.63% and market capitalization settled at NGN14.16tn. MOBIL, WEMABANK, NPFMCRFBK, WAPCO and MANSARD were the top gainers for the week advancing by 20.16%, 13.27%, and 12.24%, 6.23% and 5.95% respectively. The top five losers for the week were OANDO, COSTAIN, RTBRISCOE, JBERGER and NIGERINS declining by 10.68%, 8.03%, 7.89%, 7.42% and 7.41% in that order. The major H1:2014 results released during the week were from WEMABANK and LIVESTOCK. WEMABANK grew its top and bottom line by 22% and 290% respectively, while LIVESTOCK reported 24.19% and 31.92% growth in that order. We maintain our position that the inflow of H1 numbers in the coming weeks will be the major driver of market returns. Banking: Earnings releases so far are above expectation The banking sector was largely positive this week as 9 stocks advanced against 4 decliners, while UNITYBNK and ACCESS remained flat to bring the sector’s return to 1.30% WoW. The top gainers for the week were WEMABANK (13.27%), SKYEBANK (3.98%), and UBA (2.68%), while the major decliners were UBN (-4.35%), FIDELITYBK (-3.00%), and ETI (-2.15%). WEMABNK released its H1:2014 results this week in which the bank recorded a good performance. The bank posted an impressive 22% growth in top line supported by a 33% growth in interest income which contributed 85% to the top line. Also, there was an impressive YoY growth of 290% in earnings recorded - NGN1.5bn (vs. Q2:2014: NGN0.372bn). The stock was rewarded for this fantastic growth; hence, the WoW return of 13.27%. There seems to be general positive sentiments that is currently moving the sector as the banks which have released results so far have performed beyond expectation; hence, position taking may ensue before the release of more earnings result in the coming week and beyond. Industrial Goods Sector: Sector records gains in spite of DANGCEM The industrial goods sector closed the week positive having gained 0.15% as measured by our Meri-IND index. WAPCO gained the most as its share price appreciated by 6.23% on the back of the company’s annual general meeting held last week during which shareholders approved the proposed consolidation of its Nigerian and South African businesses as well as an increase in its authorized capital from NGN2.29bn to NGN5bn. ASHAKACEM continued to enjoy positive investor sentiments although at a lower level compared to the previous week. The stock gained 1.47% to close at NGN33.03. DANGCEM trended south for the second consecutive week shedding 0.39% to drag the share price further down to NGN240.05. We attribute the recent downturn of DANGCEM to profit taking by investors, although we envisage a reversal in the short to medium term on the back of expectations of the market leader’s half year numbers. PAINTCOM emerged as the highest gainer in the paints sub sector following Friday’s 5.00% gains which took the share price to NGN1.47 up from NGN1.40 at the beginning of the week. CAP sustained last week’s upward trend with a 2.82% increase in share price while BERGER’s share price remained at NGN9.00 for the 5th successive week. BERGER released its half year scorecard on Friday showing a 1.21% increase in revenue

…as investors gear up for H1 numbers

and a 6.51% growth in profit after tax from H1:2013. The company also recorded improvements in its cost management as Costto-sales ratio declined to 54.96% from 61.28% even as Net margin settled at 8.74% up from 8.31% in the corresponding period last year. We expect positive trading in the coming weeks, which will likely be driven by expectations of, and subsequent release of more impressive Q2:2014 results. Consumer goods: Sector index up 0.59% The NGSEFB10 index which tracks the performance of the top ten stocks in the consumer goods space appreciated 0.58% this week, indicating an overall bullish sentiment on the sector for the week. Sector performance was driven largely by gains posted by PZ (4.76%), UNILEVER (2.47%), NESTLE (1.35%) and NB (0.68%). GUINNESS (NGN198.02) dipped 3.40% topping the decliners for the week, whilst 7UP, DANGFLOUR and FLOURMILL followed suit with 2.44%, 0.99% and 0.17% losses respectively. Our top picks for the sector include VITAFOAM (NGN4.38) and HONYFLOUR (NGN4.30) with 40.40% and 36.58% upside potentials respectively. On the back of 2014H1 result expectation, our recommendations for dividend investors include NESTLE, NB, GUINNESS and INTBREW given their sound dividend payout history. Oil and Gas: Interim dividend expectation favours TOTAL and MOBIL Investors awaiting interim dividend declaration from two of the industry giants, swung into action this week. Impressive first quarter

earnings and Q2 expectation from MOBIL, and anticipation that TOTAL will maintain its 2013 interim dividend action were the major drivers of investors’ position taking on the counters. High level of demand by investors looking to share in MOBIL’s impressive Q1 earnings pushed the counter to top the industry’s positive return performance chart for the week, gaining 20.16% to close at NGN162.22. In the same vein, TOTAL also witnessed some rally on the expectation that the company’s corporate action (interim dividend) will be in line with 2013. TOTAL witnessed a price appreciation of 5.23% WoW to close at NGN180.00. FO was the other gainer in industry for the week advancing by 1.68% to close at NGN238.00. Industry underperformers for the week were OANDO, CONOIL, ETERNA and MRS, each shedding 10.68%, 5.00%, 3.37% and 1.19% to close at NGN25.00, NGN62.32, NGN4.30 and NGN62.43 respectively. While our valuation indicates that both TOTAL and MOBIL are fully valued, we do not rule out the possibilities of further price gyration as position taking continues. Agric: PRESCO dominates trade, sheds 1.47% WtD The agricultural sector shed 0.80% in the week as PRESCO dominated trade to close 0.16% down at NGN38.00. Volume traded was 397.66% higher than it was last week. OKOMUOIL, on the other hand, gained a marginal 0.03% on Thursday to close at NGN33.01 for the week after trading flat on 10 consecutive trading days. LIVESTOCK gained 0.33% to close at NGN3.06 for the week as volume

traded climbed 7.95% over the previous week. Q2:2014 results for the company was better than Q1:2014 as the company posted Sales and earnings growth of 24.19% and 31.92% respectively (vs. 19.99% and 16.37% in Q1). The impressive results may be responsible for the 0.33% gain on Friday. We maintain our position that OKOMUOIL is currently fairly priced by the market. PRESCO and LIVESTOCK are however trading above our estimated fundamentally justified prices. Insurance Sector: LAWUNION posts +266.6% growth in Q1:2014 PAT Following last week’s loss, the insurance sector rebounded with 1.04% gains, driven largely by respective 5.95%, 4.65% and 2.16% gains posted by MANSARD, WAPIC and CUSTODYINS. On the converse, NIGERINS topped the losers’ chart during the week, shedding the NGN0.04 it gained last week, as it closed at NGN0.50. Other top losers for the week were AIICO and ROYALEX with losses of 2.44% and 1.85% in that order. SOVRENINS released its 2013FY result with top-line and bottom-line declines of 0.9% and 76.5% respectively. LAWUNION also released its 2013FY results, where Profit after Tax grew by an astounding 136.3% despite the 6.6% decline in Gross Premium Earned. It also released its Q1:2014 results, where top line grew by 15.8% and bottom line by 266.6%. CONTINSURE witnessed volatility in price movement during the week, as Emerging Capital announced its planned divestment of c.50% of the company’s shares. However, following the Managing Director’s reassurance of the investing public about the expected continued positive performance from the company, the stock gained 0.88% and closed the week at NGN1.15. Healthcare Sector: MAYBAKER tops losers’ chart There was a noticeable calm in trading activities in the healthcare sector during the week, as the index closed 0.02% lower. The decline in the sector’s index did not pose a great danger on the sector’s return performance thus far as MtD, QtD and YtD returns however remain positive at 7.65%, 7.65% and 1.31% in that order. Top gainers for the week were FIDSON, NEIMETH and EVANSMED, which appreciated by 5.33%, 2.48% and 1.73% respectively. Industry laggards conversely were MAYBAKER and GLAXOSMITH with losses of 1.13% and 0.01% respectively. The remaining five companies in the sector traded flat for the week. The ongoing doctors’ strike which has spanned 18 days, seems to have reached a deadlock, given the unyielding positions at which the government and the doctors currently stand. We however maintain our positive outlook for the healthcare sector on the NSE, to be driven majorly by FIDSON and GLAXOSMITH. Services Sector: Last day of trading reverse week-long somber mood The mood in the sector appeared subdued the greater part of the week until Friday when positive investors’ sentiments drove the sector into the positive zone to peg WoW gains at 1.33% as measured by our MER-Services index. TRANSEXPR led the gainers list with a 4.57% increase in share price followed by CAVERTON and UPL which gained 3.55% and 2.13% TRANSCORP which was headed south as at Thursday, gained 2.25% on the last trading day of the week thus, driving the stock’s closing price to NGN5.91 (1.90% increase WtD). RT BRISCOE led the losers list with a 7.89% price decline along with ABCTRANS and IKEJAHOTEL which shed -2.22% and -1.32% in that order.

South-East

BEATS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JULY 20, 2014

Ojukwu was too lazy to write his memoirs, says ex-aide From working inside the mobile Radio Biafra during the civil war to traversing the African continent and being present the day Nigeria’s Prof. Wole Soyinka received his Nobel Prize in 1986, veteran journalist and speechwriter, CD Aguombah, sure has a story to tell. In a chat with AHAOMA KANU, he recalls his work with the late Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu

et’s start with a brief introduction of your formative years and what inspired you to go into journalism? My name is Chineme Dede Agoumbah CD. I chose to use CD because from the part of the South-East where I am from, we call an elderly man ‘De’. So I chose to use the term ‘De’ but I always use it in small letters to look like a French name; but it is not French. It is my native Dede. You had a very exemplary journalism career. What inspired you to go into the profession after graduating from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka? I lived with an elderly brother who read voraciously and inculcated reading in me. I read a lot of newspapers right from elementary school. Then in primary school, my peers did not know much about newspapers but I was reading them a lot; they were accessible to me because my brother bought them. So when I saw the articles of writers, I wanted to be like those who write. I will say that is where the inspiration came from - my reading of newspapers from childhood. You said earlier that you had interest in reading newspapers. Which newspapers were very prominent then and what was the competition among them like? There was no competition; it was just that Azikiwe’s West African Pilot dominated. He had a chain of newspapers - West African Pilot; The Guardian in Port Harcourt; The Southern Defender based in Ibadan; The Comet in Kano. Azikiwe was the most outstanding proprietor of newspapers. There were not many newspapers as we have them now and also, there are facilities now. Everything has been computerised and is internet based. But in those days, it was more of typesetting and even handpicking of the types to set. At that that time too, typesetting was by lead; now those things have disappeared. Did the colonial rulers have any influence on the press and Nigerian journalists, especially the print media? Well they did. For example, Daily Times was not Nigerianised fully; there was the influence of white ownership even though Nigerians were at the top. It was more of equity sharing between Nigerians and the British but Azikiwe’s papers were purely Azikiwe’s. Awolowo owned the Tribune. Apart from Tribune, no other paper in the 60s is still in operation to this day. But after the civil war, we started seeing some new papers like The Guardian, PUNCH, Star and so on. Some papers come and go. There was an old paper owned by Awolowo and the Action Group, Daily Express, but all these have disappeared. Post Express, another post-war newspaper owned by Sonny Odogwu and which was based in Lagos, has also disappeared. These days, you have newspa-

pers owned by younger people like ThisDay owned by Nduka Obaiagbena. When the colonial masters left Daily Times, there were indigenous managing directors like Babatunde Jose. What impact did they make on Daily Times then on taking up the leadership mantle? Were there clear differences in their operations as compared to when the British were still in charge? There was and Babatunde Jose grew from the ladder; he did not just come from the top. He was like all of us; he was a correspondent at one time, then editor and grew progressively until he got to the position of managing director. And you know whoever is on top tries to make the best. So he built the newspaper well in spite of the fact that the whites started it in terms of development of the paper. And with improvement in technology, he raised the standards and took initiatives that were unprecedented. Talking about his impact in terms of content and being a Nigerian that knew what Nigerians wanted, was there new content he brought into Daily Times then? Every institution undergoes changes and every establishment goes through change. He brought changes. The Daily Times of Pa Jose’s period could not have been the Daily Times of five or 10 years back. He brought a lot of influence to bear on the paper. After graduation, which media house did you work for at first? After school, because of my admiration for Kwame Nkrumah, I relocated to Ghana. I worked briefly in a company in Lagos before going to Ghana. I lived in Ghana until Nkrumah was ousted. After Nkrumah’s fall, I left Ghana and returned

to Nigeria; this was in 1966. When I came back, I went to teach at the Anglican Grammar School now Ibeku High School, Umuahia. I left teaching and went to work in an advertising company in Port Harcourt and was there when the war started. When the war started, all of us went to war. So most industries and establishments were closed, leaving everyone to be war-conscious. During the course of the war, what part did you play? I worked in Radio Biafra and Cyprian Ekwensi was in charge then. There have been several accounts of Radio Biafra moving from place to place. How was it like working in that condition? Biafra had tough technicians and many of them came with their experience and expertise. They came from different radio stations and I would say that the Igbo dominated many of these

establishments. As Biafra was moving, we were shifting everything to wherever our headquarters was. Radio Biafra was installed in a moving van. If the place we were situated in was in danger of falling, we moved out immediately. Before the enemies would come to Umuahia, the van would move to Owerri. The radio house was in a moving van and the broadcaster only had to play his music or broadcast his news. So there was no way you could get him. At times, the van would be sheltered under a palm tree so if the enemy planes came and hovered, it could not see the van. One of the popular broadcasters then was the late Okoko Ndem. How would you describe working with him? I was in the news section; we wrote the news and they read the news. In Biafra too, there was the magazine publication. We were in Radio Biafra, some were in the Ministry of Information. In fact, what we were using in Biafra was carried over from Nigeria. There was no change of profession unless you volCONTINUED ON PAGE 40

Aguombah

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

South-East

Ojukwu was too lazy to write his memoirs, says ex-aide was called to collect the Nobel, there was a great ovation and unteered to join the army and went to the war front. Many did you know that he is a very powerful speaker and delivered and never returned. Initially, young people went out of sheer a speech that thrilled everybody. There was excitement; even enthusiasm and patriotism and as time went on and people the whites were happy for Nigeria and Africa. The following were dying, there was the fear of enlisting, to the extent that day, we attended a musical concert and were entertained with classical music; they played Handel all the way. many were conscripted. You also worked for the Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuAfter the war, how did you cope with your career? After the war, I got employed by a newspaper known as The Ojukwu as a media consultant. How did that happen? Spotlight based in Enugu and later worked in The Renaissance In 2000, I was in my house when one of my friends, Dr. Okey before joining Daily Star where Ekwensi again was the manag- Emordi, sent a message that I should come for an urgent discusing director. It was more of a government-owned newspaper sion. I travelled to Enugu and saw him and he told me that we and that is why if you ask me today I would continue saying should go and visit Ojukwu. When we went there and Ojukwu that government does not have any business owning news- saw me he said that I was the man they havde been looking papers. They don’t bring money unlike the private-owned pa- for and told me to sit down. Then he told me that I was going pers. Government newspapers are controlled by civil servants. to work for him and asked me if I was willing and I said yes. While working at The Renaissance, you were on the forHe then asked me how old I was and I told him and he then eign desk. How was journalism and what opportunities asked me to start the next day but I asked him to give me a did it bring to you then? week for prepare myself and then resume. I did that and for While working on the foreign desk, I had the opportunity the first one month, we were living in a hotel. He said that he of meeting several African heads of state. I was a guest of the saw me as an ideas man and that he would not be directing us late Mobutu Sese Seko for six weeks and he made me tour but rather we would be directing ourselves. I was writing his his country. I must tell you that Congo is a very big country speeches and his briefs. One day, I asked him if he had written in terms of land mass. The distance from Lagos to Kinshasha his memoirs and he said ‘no’ and I was surprised. He told me is the same distance it will take you to go from Kinshasha to he was kind of a lazy writer and expected people like me to do Lumumbashi. Lumumbashi is in what used to be Katanga or that. We started with the project though we could not complete during the colonial period, Elizabethville. It takes one 1000 it because there were days you would come to him and he miles. As his guest, I toured his country and was taken to places would tell you that he was not ready for the long interviews. in his private jet. Mobutu wanted me to know his country and I did. Whenever you talk about crisis in Congo, my mind I remember Dele Giwa very well. would go to such areas where the crisis happens. Then, after Whenever we went for press the independence of Mozambique, I was there and saw the conferences, he was one of those new leader then, Samora Machel. I also met Kenneth Kaunda in Zambia and met Augustinho Neto before he became presiwho showed off as being associated dent. He was going to be president when I met him because with our rulers. He was kind of they were fighting a civil war in Angola. In fact, I travelled arrogant. with Augustinho Neto from Lourenço Marques which later became Maputo to Lagos. He invited me to come to Angola after their independence which he said then would be in two weeks’ time. But unfortunately, their independence started with a civil war. The Portuguese disappeared and Angolans fortified themselves. You also travelled across Europe during the cold war era and visited the then Soviet Union. Can you describe that visit? I visited the Soviet Union two times and they saw me more oasf a communist. Probably I was doing some good articles about them and that was the trend then; if you wrote good articles about a country or a government, they would like you. The USSR was another vast country. I visited some republics; they had about 15 republics which later split into the countries we have now. As a journalist then, accepting these invitations as a guest of governments and writing good articles about them must have affected objectivity in the sense that you could be critical of these governments that were inviting you? You see, then in USSR, everything came from one source, which was the government. I saw people queuing up to buy bread. For example, if you brought a wristwatch into the Soviet Union, there was a fixed price for it and that price was the same across the country. It was only in the open markets that you could buy fruits. My being a government guest did not affect my writing; I wrote about what I saw. Yes, they took me round and I wrote what I saw. I went to the farms and talked to the farmers. Every government would want you to see the best they are giving; nobody would take you to the slums or ghettos. During IBB’s regime when a letter bomb killed Newswatch Editor, Dele Giwa, how did it affect the newsroom? First, under Buhari, people were shivering. I remember Dele Giwa very well. Whenever we went for press conferences, he was one of those who showed off as being associated with our rulers. He was kind of arrogant. Most journalists were not really shaken by his death, I must tell you the truth, but naturally, nobody feels happy when a colleague dies in that manner. I remember our paper then giving a black space as its editorial without anything written there and so many papers did that as a way of mourning. You also covered the historic moment when Prof Wole Soyinka was given the Nobel Prize in Sweden. How was it like? The whole country rejoiced and everybody was happy. I flew to Sweden then on the same plane with Tony Momoh and the Daily Times crew; I remember Dele Cole and others. We went as a family and we were very happy. We were put in a hotel but in my usual nature, I didn’t stay in that Aguombah hotel. I went to stay in another hotel. When Wole Soyinka C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 9

He was kind of a lazy writer and at a stage we forgot about the project. He told me about his life and even some incidents that happened in his military career that were kept secret. There was an incident he told me which led to a row between him and Maimalari which was physical. What kind of a man was he like then and what was working with him in his later years like? Mark you, there is one point you people don’t think about, age matters; age mellows a man. At the time he became the military governor of the East, he was 33 years. And you know how a man of that age would be; they are always boisterous. I am not saying Ojukwu was then. Then as the head of state of Biafra, he was carrying a big load; the pressure on him was too much, there was no sleep for him. After the war, his life was threatened and he left Biafra and went on exile. By the time I worked for him, he was a calm, meticulous man that had a high sense of reasoning as well as being cheerful. Did he ever express regret about the role he played during the war, especially in some decisions he took? You see most of those decisions were on the spur of the moment and were mandated by events that happened in real time. Also, he relied on the judgment of some people he trusted. For example, one of the greatest influences on him was his uncle, CC Mojekwu, who took a great interest in him. If you think of the war he fought and some of the decisions he took, you can attribute them to Mojekwu; they gave him several pieces of advice and he relied on some of them as experienced people. But some of these things were done for a selfish interest. What reasons did he give for not writing a memoir? He told me that he lost all his documents, all his books and diaries and his house was even burnt down. He asked me that at his age then where did I expect him to start from. So that was why he said he was leaving it to us to do it. So how far did you go with fulfilling his wish of writing the book? Yes I got somewhere but nine years ago I stopped. Why did you stop? When he died two years ago, did that not give you the zeal to finish it? So many people came to me and tried to finish the work but I am not the kind of person that works like that; I look at quality. I still have in mind to finish the book. I need to do more research, talk to more people to get more details so to do a good job. Don’t you think his death would affect the progress of the book? There are people in his life that you can talk to; a journalist interviewed his former wife, Njideka, in The Nation Newspaper in 2008. These are some of the materials that would be part of the research work. I am making plans to get across to the family and also his wife, Bianca, so they can open up his library and also give information that would help and get these done. You have written two biographies, The Lord’s Vineyard and Akanu Ibiam. Why do you prefer writing this genre of literature? I enjoy reading biographies and it would surprise you to know that I don’t read fiction. Most of my books are nonfiction and in biographies you get more of good language. I visited Akanu Ibiam after the war had ended and he was living in Colliery Avenue in Enugu in 1976. While we were chatting, I told him that I would like to write about him and he asked if I could. I said yes. He then told me that so many people had come to him promising to write about him but ended up not doing anything. After the discussion, I forgot about the project but started collecting my facts and details. It was in 1993 that I woke up and started working on the book and it was like magic; I could wake up, start working on the book till the next morning before even taking my bath. That was how these started. Looking at Nigeria and governance today, did you ever think that we would still be in the state we are by now? No and it is very sad. Corruption has really dealt with this country and it starts from the leaders. You see a man that becomes a governor or chairman or parliamentarian and within a short time in office he buys the whole buildings on a street. It is very terrible. Also, the civil service is worse than it used to be; budgets were meant for working but now it is different. You see a civil servant that earns salary owning properties that you know he cannot afford. Someone engages in looting of money, he is arrested, taken to court and is freed and that is the last you hear about the case. Corruption will continue to grow with this trend. Are journalists doing enough to check this trend? They are not and I would say that journalists are also corrupt; they now go into places and start demanding for money and this is sad. It cannot stop because we don’t have institutions that are daring enough.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Abuja Beats

29 Kuje inmates get ministerial pardon A

Poll links ‘close family relatives’ to child rape

Johnchuks Onuanyim

Yekeen Nurudeen, Abuja

or 29 inmates of Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, last Thursday was their lucky day as they regained freedom following a pardon granted them by the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed. The inmates were convicted by various courts within the Federal Capital Territory judicial district for different offences with an option of fine. They had been serving in Kuje Medium Security Prison and Suleja Prison. However, the minister, who was represented at the ceremony at Kuje Prison by the General Counsel of the FCT Administration, Ima Okpongete, said the clemency was purposely designed to signpost the Ramadan season. According to Mohammed, the gesture was in tandem with the disposition of his administration to impact positively on the welfare of the people, particularly the less privileged. The minister said he decided to grant the convicts amnesty by offsetting their various fines because he believed that many of them could still be reformed and contribute positively to societal development. He enjoined the beneficiaries of the gesture to permanently keep away from crime, so as not to find themselves in prison again. According to him, their freedom represents their last chance to chart a new path of orderliness, civility and good conduct as responsible members of the society. The prisoners were convicted with varying amounts of fines, ranging from N55,000 to N3,000. However, due to their lowly economic backgrounds, they were unable to pay the fines and had to be committed to prison. The minister took the decision to grant amnesty to the prisoners following his recent inspection of the prisons to ascertain the condition of inmates as well as facilities on ground. In approving the unconditional release of

FCT Minister

the convicts, the minister offset a total of N543, 500, being the combined fines of the 29 affected prisoners. He also presented the sum of N10,000 to each of them to enable them to transport themselves home. A breakdown of the amount shows that 10 prisoners whose combined fines totalled N149,500 were released from Medium Security Prison, Kuje, while 19 others whose total fines amounted to N316,000 were released from Suleja Prison. The Controller of Prisons, FCT Command, Gwagwalada Abuja, Mallam K.O Yusuf, in a special letter of appreciation to the minister thanked him for the kind gesture, which he described as special Ramadan gift for the

affected inmates. He thanked the minister for the cordial relationship existing between the FCTA and the Nigerian Prison Service. In his own remarks, the Deputy Controller of Prisons in charge of Kuje Prison, Mallam Musa Tanko, who spoke on behalf of the Prison Service, Kuje and the inmates, also thanked the minister. He particularly praised Mohammed for giving each of the pardoned inmates the sum of N10,000, stressing that it would help them to start free life afresh. He urged the ex-inmates to ensure that they were leaving the prison confines for life. Also present at the event was the Director, Advisory Services, FCT, Mr. Abdullahi Kuyambana.

Abuja produces 199 tonnes of waste yearly -Minister Yekeen Nurudeen, Abuja

inister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, has stated that 199,425 tonnes of domestic as well as industrial waste were moved from the nation’s capital, Abuja, as at December 2012. The minister statsed this while receiving a delegation of the Botswana Defence Command and Staff College, Course 7 that visited the FCT Administration on a study tour last Thursday. Represented on the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu, the minister further noted that 18 companies are engaged in daily collection of waste in Abuja. He told the visitors that the FCT has been sub-divided into 21 lots, in addition to 35 housing estates to ensure effective waste

collection. This was as he also explained that the FCTA had awarded contracts for three Waste Transfer Stations at Mpape, Kubwa and Gudu districts. According to him, the construction of perimeter fencing of the 90.8 hectares Waste Disposal Site at Goza had been concluded, with 35 per cent completion of Transfer Station Project and 60 per cent completion of the Perimeter Fencing. The minister said there are additional three waste transfer stations being planned for Kuje and Nyanya/Karu to complement the ongoing three others. On strategies for development, the minister said his administration opted for private sector infrastructure finance called the Abuja Land Swap Initiative. He stated that the initiative had given

birth to 15 private sector enabled projects, providing infrastructure in two sector centres and eight districts in the Phase IV (South) of the Federal Capital City. The minister emphasised that development in this area was based on contractual agreement with 15 Private Investors on the basis of the Land-for-Infrastructure Swap Framework. His words: “The total land area for the development is 4,283.2 hectares and projected to require a minimum of $3.8 Billion private sector capital. “The distance of this area is averagely 20 minutes from the City center and 15 minutes from the Airport.” Speaking earlier, the head of the delegation, Brig. Shadrack Mokoi, thanked the minister for the warm reception accorded the team.

survey carried out by an independent opinion pollster, NOIPolls, on child rape in the country has shown that close family relatives are involved in the act. The survey result also showed that child rape is prevalent to 67 per cent. The NOIPolls, which is the second special edition for 2014, was carried out in partnership with the Stand to End Rape Initiative. The result, which was made available to the media by the survey group, said, “NOIPolls worked in partnership with the Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER) to provide more information on the subject matter and to support all causes geared towards ending the rape of minors in the country. “Topline results have revealed that almost 7 in 10 Adult Nigerians (67%) think there is a high prevalence of child rape in the country while 3 in 10 (31%) personally know of a victim of child rape in their local communities. “Furthermore, almost 4 in 10 (36%) Adult Nigerians, representing the majority, claim that most often the offenders involved in the incident of child rape are close family relatives and neighbors (33%). “Also, almost half (49%) of those that personally know a victim claim they involved children aged between 7-12 years of age and, 78% of this group mentioned these cases were reported to local police authority. “Further findings revealed that majority of adult Nigerians want the perpetrators to receive a sentence of at least 14 years in prison and also advocate enforcement of severe punishment for offenders as a way of eradicating the incidence of child rape in Nigeria. It is important to note that legal practitioners had previously argued that weak legal sanctions and enforcement in rape cases is one of the reasons why there is a low rate of rape persecution cases in Nigeria.” Child rape is one of the most traumatising forms of violence against children, usually committed by a person in a position of power and trust in the child’s life. While several cases are officially reported to the appropriate authorities in Nigeria, most people believe the majority of rape cases go unreported mainly because parents want to protect their children from potential stigmatisation and embarrassment. Other findings on child rape revealed that 2004 witnessed the reportage of child rape cases in Kano State; 2005 further witnessed a rise in such cases that escalated to an alarming rate in 2007. Furthermore, within two months in 2008, over 100 cases involving under age victims were reported to the police, prompting an alarm raised about the development in the state. In Lagos, the state police command revealed that it recorded 678 cases of rape between March 2012 and March 2013[2] and with an undisclosed number of the victims being under age.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Abuja Beats

My male friends introduced me to mobile phone repair -Ifeyinwa

What spurred you into GSM repair? How do you feel doing this work which is popular with men? Well, what led me into the work were interest and the desire to be independent. When I finished my secondary school studies, I just wanted to do something on my own. I never wanted to be going up and down since my parents were not financially viable. As a result of this, my chance of getting beyond secondary education was not there so l acted fast. It is said that the type of friends you keep will determine how far you will go or what you will do in life. And my case is different because since my childhood my friends have been male friends. I don’t blend very well with my fellow women. So, after I left secondary school, the friends I had then were into GSM repair and introduced me to it. They said that as a lady with strong determination, I would do well in GSM repairs. So with their encouragement, I did not hesitate in embracing it because I wanted to do something different from what others were doing. So that was how l started the training. As I talk to you now, those people are no more into the work now. Let me just say that l don’t know their whereabouts now. I thank God because my initial intention was that if eventually I start this work I would use whatever I get to augment what I was getting from my parents for my education. But it happened that after my training my parents were unable to send me to a tertiary institution so l decided to stand on my own. But the place l was at the time was demolished. It was after the demolition that I left the place for a better one. I found this work rewarding and satisfactory because nothing to me is more rewarding as seeing someone l worked for smiling and saying thank you when l finish their work. So after that first training l discovered that there are phones l can’t repair; so that led me into further training. This second training led me into software because initially I was into hardware only. I was trained in two different places for several months and that was what gave me the proficiency l have today. After the second training, I decided to look for a better place and that was how l came to settle in Banex. Were you not in any way intimidated when you started this? At first it was hellish. People would walk up to me and say all kinds of insulting things. Some would ask me questions: What are you doing here? Even when I assure them that I can repair their sets, some would still go ahead to collect their phones from me and assume that l cannot repair them. Some would say that how can a lady want to repair their phone? Please, give me back my phone and let me look for somebody who will not damage my set. But despite all that l didn’t give up at all. Rather, I rather continued because l believe nothing good comes easy. But I cherish the work so much and can’t be deterred or intimidated. Where did you learn the work and how much time did you spend learning it? I learnt the work here in Abuja but in two different places. The first place was Utako market and the second was Banex Plaza. l spent three months at either place. To learn this work is not difficult as what it requires are determination and commitment. Also, it is not the kind of work they push somebody to go and learn. This work demands thoroughness

Ifeyinwa Okonkwo, a part-time student of Agric Economics at the University of Abuja, is also a mobile phone technician. She gives insight into her vocation in this interview with OBINNA ODOH

will definitely enhance my work. It is not as if we have them in this country and can’t afford the money. The problem is that they are not in the market at all. It is because we don’t have those equipment that is why I often check the Internet for information. But the information we get from the Internet, sometimes when you apply them they don’t work but sometimes they do work. Can you admit applicants wishing to learn this work from you? Yes. But my serious challenge now is space. As you can see, this place is so tight that you hardly relax yourself how much more admitting people. But I am still working towards that. I am searching for a more spacious place and when that is done l will begin to admit apprentices. A lot of people have been coming with the intention of learning the work; even some of my friends but the space constraint couldn’t allow me to admit them. I am looking for a more convenient place that can accommodate people before I will start to admit applicants.

Okonkwo

Like how much do you think it will cost somebody to learn this work? Not really much. As l received, so will I give. I was trained in this work for free and I will do a similar thing. Do you mean to train people free of charge? No. I didn’t mean that l would not collect money at all; but as my masters did not lay emphasis on money l will do the same thing. My first master was not interested in money but in seeing a lady doing GSM repairs. l will collect money but not much, especially from ladies who may have interest in this job. The same thing goes for men too who may wish to learn it. My interest is in commitment and not the money. Once the person shows deep commitment that is enough by me to train him/her. before you can excel in it. What are your areas of specialisation? I specialise in the repair of hardware of all GSM like all kinds of Blackberry, Nokia, Tecno, Samsung, etc; all kinds of Android phones; and all kinds of iPads. I can fix any kind of phones provided its GSM, iPads and etc. But here in this shop l have my brother who specialises in software. So whatever fault your GSM or iPads develop, once it gets here we have all it takes to restore any faulty phones or iPads to make such function again. Which year did you complete the training? I finished the training by 2006 that was about eight years now and since then l’ve been working on my own. Even this work has availed me the opportunity of getting ahead with my education. And I do it with ease, l mean my sponsorship in school. Which school is that? What are you studying? I am at University of Abuja studying Agric Economics on part-time. How much do you pay as your rent? The amount l pay annually for this small space which accommodates only this small table is N250,000. Can somebody who is not educated

learn and master this vocation? Yes. Though to a large extent as education is needed in all disciplines to excel. But any average person with strong determination can cope. So it is not necessarily a matter of education but interest and determination. Why I believe so much in education is because sometimes when a job appears too difficult to handle I would google it to get ideas from other sources. In many instances, this was how I got solutions from others who surmounted similar problems. So you need to know how to read and write before you can do well in this work. I started after my secondary school and l did well then. Now, I’m doing well, courtesy of education. How much do you make daily? And how much do you take home after the day’s expenses? At least daily, by God’s grace l make between N5000 and above. But after the day’s expenses l go home with at least N3000, depending on the day’s work. But at least every day I’m certain to go home with N3000 after paying for the spare parts and other expenses. What are your challenges in this job? The most difficult challenge l’m facing is equipment. There are equipment that can be used to detect problems in GSMs, iPads, etc and I don’t have them. l know that if I can lay my hands on them they

How much do you intend to collect from applicants? At least, l will start with N30,000 only but that depends on commitment. As I have been stressing, this work is meant for serious minded people. What can you tell other ladies roaming the streets several years in search of jobs? The advice l have for them is they should start from somewhere. It’s a good thing to get a government job but it’s not a wise thing for one to sit down for several years looking for it. A woman should have something doing to sustain herself. You know how women’s need are many and it is not wise for a lady whether married or not to be 100 per cent dependent on a man. Whether he is your husband or not, that is the only thing that will give you respect and allow others to respect you too. Remember that nothing is as satisfactory to human dignity as independence and freedom. Mind you, responsible men love women who contribute to the house’s needs, no matter how small. People do give me a lot of respect not necessarily because I am rich but the fact that I am making my own contribution to the development and wellbeing of our society. It will be good if not better that all human beings engage in work that will earn someone something, no matter how little.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Classic black and white suit Vanessa Okwara

black and white suit gives a man an instant eminent look. Men’s monochrome suit is the most suitable for men’s fashion these days. The black and white suit has become so popular this season that men are ditching the traditional dark wedding suits for them. Most men rock this monochrome trend in a smooth manner. The fact that the two-tone looks elegant on any man makes this a hot choice of the season for the red carpet, fashion events, dinner and other occasions. The black and white suit

is specifically a fashion statements and not a business suit. So it is important to know you don’t wear such to a business dinner but to events where a high sense of fashion is appreciated. When wearing the monochrome suits, make sure it is tailored to your shoulders and tapered at the waist. The monochromatic combination is incredibly arresting and works best with or without a tie, depending on the occasion. In accessorizing m o n o chrome suits,

stick to black for the accessories or with shoes that have the same black and white combination. You can try a dotted pocket square and dark or white dress shirts as well, depending on occasion and preference. These colours can be blended with any combination of patterns on the dress shirt a n d

make your black and white suit look refreshing each time.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Graduation party-inspired Biwom Iklaki

any parents are scrambling from one kiddies shop to the other in a bid to put together the appropriate attire for their kids’ end of term party. It is a harrowing task that when complete, most parents heave a sigh of relief. The kids are looking forward to having the time of their lives in a different atmosphere than they are used to, albeit in the same environment. They want to have fun in style. Those who are already fashion conscious among them want to turn up in the most glam way possible in order to outdo their mates and colleagues. These ones will likely be involved in the entire style shopping process. There are several styles to choose from. You could consider the polished gentleman/lady for those kids who love to dress up and act all upper-classy. You could do smart casuals for your kids who love to be the life of the party and still want to have fun dancing and such. Traditional outfit deconstructed with Ankara, chiffon, satin, ‘atiku’ and made into ‘South-South’, ‘Danshiki’, and the likes are also styles to consider. Just remember to keep the kids in character. If you are going for the traditional look, their

shoes, jewellery and hairdo should mirror this too, while kids doing smart casual and black tie should wear same in shoes, accessories and hairdo. Whatever style you choose, just remember that the kids need to be comfy enough to have fun in the clothes.

A Global deluge and the Politics of natural disasters

oah must be building an ark end of the day, government is made somewhere on earth. And up of humans (albeit corrupt ones with if you doubt me, how else bigger and fuller tummies than the avdo you explain the bizarre erage humans) and so do not have the flooding we have been having. You answer to all problems, particularly to are forgiven if you think I am talking natural disasters. of Apete, Ibadan flood or the flood in And if you think Nigeria is the only Idemili LGA, Anambra State, because country where every event, natural or it is after all the month of July and otherwise is politicised, then you will as it is with previous years, Nigerian have to guess again because the flood streets are flooded due to the poor of Manitoba is bringing out the beast drainage system. in Canadian politicians. Opposition However, just to prove that globalisa- party leaders, Justin Trudeau of the tion is not just an economic concept but Liberal Party (LP) and Thomas Mulextends into the world of the weather, cair of the National Democratic Party I am actually talking of the flooding in (NDP) were on their way to visit the the provinces of Manitoba and Brit- flooded area when they were stopped ish Colombia. This is coming exactly a by government officials for ‘safety reayear after Alberta and Toronto, Ontar- sons.’ No amount of protest changed io were flooded and three years after the situation. these provinces experienced what is What no one was telling is that the generally termed here ‘an act of God.’ ruling Progressive Conservatives did Watching the news as it played out, not want any of the opposition to score I began a self examination of some of social points by appearing to be more the things I have held as world truths empathetic to the flood victims than in the past. As I said above, in Nigeria, Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And every mishap is traceable to some ne- so, where was Stephen Harper? He glect on the part of governmental au- was busy flipping burger for his rich chums at a horse show thorities and agencies in Alberta and smiling but here, I am talking of areas with some of Perhaps the change for the cameras while the most sophisticated his people drowned in we seek should drainage systems and Manitoba. You know, emergency response actually start with something like Goodluck Jonathan serving programmes in the peppersoup to PDP world and yet, they us because at the fail to deal adequately members in Abuja inend of the day, with this disaster. No I stead of visiting Ibadan rephrase, their sophis- government is flood victims. ticated programmes All element of credibility was further and equipment were made up of humans taken away from the simply overwhelmed (albeit corrupt by the things that were action when the Prime out of their hands to ones with bigger Minister’s aid accused control. Even the best the opposition leaders, laid plans is always and fuller tummies particularly Thomas with its own flaws and than the average Mulcair, of politicisCanadian response ing the grief of the victims. I had to scratch agencies are finding humans) and so do this out the hard way. my head for the right Credit where due, the not have the answer word to describe the Mayor of Brandon, to all problems, government’s action. Shari Decter Hirst, and Especially as there other officials of the particularly to was no ‘safety concern’ major cities of Manitowhen the Prime Minisba are working round natural disasters ter eventually pulled off his apron and took the clock to ensure the impact on the residents are minimised his jet to the same region to ‘show supto bearable level but still, there seem port to the victims.’ No doubt, all the to be no amount of sophistication that politicians in the world are cast in the can make the water level go down. At same mold and just operating in difthe end of the day, we are all humans ferent regions of the world. However, the human spirit is a beauafter all and as such must accept our tiful thing and the stories of commulimitations. Which brings me back to my self nity support, particularly in the case examination. Perhaps, we blame the of the woman and her three children government too much for some of our who died in Anambra’s flood, shows problems. Perhaps we need to look at that at the end of the day, your friends the things we, as a people, can do for are those who stand by you in times of ourselves to make our lives better. trouble. Just don’t expect that friend to Perhaps the change we seek should be a politician unless there are cameras actually start with us because at the in sight.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

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Wole Adepoju 08085003746

Myke Ikoku’s ambition gathers momentum

ometime ago, there stories that the chairman of All Season Plaza and Hotel, Evangelist Myke Ikoku, was being wooed by his people in Imo State to go and represent them in the lower chamber of the National Assembly. But some say Ikoku developed interest in partisan politics when he was made the chairman of Imo Tourism Corporation by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim. However, the philanthropist has kept faith with his ambition, it seems. Information at our disposal has it that Ikoku is presently giving so much attention to his political ambition ahead of any other thing because the 2015 elections are fast approaching. The UNILAG graduate is expected to run on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Ikoku, who is hopeful of representing the people of Njaba, Isu, Nwagele and Nkwerre Federal Constituency, started business very early in life and made a headway at age 21. Today, the small business has metamorphosed into a conglomerate. Among businesses he presides over are Whyte Petroleum, Obiron Investment and Obionachi Industries Limited. Ikoku came into public consciousness when he floated Myke Records, even though little or nothing is being heard about the entertainment outfit.

Cynthia Adeyemi withdraws into shell

hose who have religiously followed happenings on the social scene would have noticed that certain people are no more given to social engagements like before. This set of people are the ones who make parties bubble. One of such people is beautiful fashion expert, Princess Cyn-

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Bimbo Oshin’s distinct virtue

rontline actress, Bimbo Oshin, and Ola Ibironke of Dudu Heritage fame fell in love years back. Before long, the relationship became a union of a sort since it was blessed with a child. Bimbo has reportedly had a child for Ibironke again. What is of interest and at the same t i m e makes Bimbo a distinct actress is how she has stood b y

her man in times of trouble, against what her peers in the movie world are known for. Some Nollywood actresses have serious appetite for comfort that they cannot compromise. Bimbo’s hubby was once the toast of wave making musicians and his movies and music distribution outfit in New Jersey, United States was flourishing. Things have not been the same for the Ijesha-born dude for a number of years now but Bimbo has stuck to her lover. A tale broke out recently that Bimbo was ejected from their Dolphin Estate home and that she contemplated joining her partner in Ibadan. What has, however, been like a source of concern to Bimbo’s associates and people is how she’s said to have been incommunicado since she gave birth. Celeb Lounge checked with a number of her people and it was the same tale - that she could not be reached.

Fayose woos OGD

thia Adeyemi, who appears to have slowed down on social engagements. Not much is heard of her now, unlike when she used to be in the news regularly. Princess, who runs a fashion outfit in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos, became more popular when she separated from her royal-blooded hubby from Oyo kingdom, Adeyemi. The media feasted so much on the story then. At a time, she was speculated to be seeing Biodun Durosimi-Etti, just as she was also accused of pimping beautiful actress, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, to men of high calibre. The light skinned and influential mother of three, according to those who should know, is said to have been busy with this or that while she is now so choosy about attending social functions.

he governorship election in Ekiti State may have come and gone, but the impact it made is one of the things we are living with today. Part of what the election left behind is making the governor-elect a beautiful bride and rallying point for Peoples Democratic Party members in other states. A PDP rally was held few days ago in Lagos and the man to watch at the event was no other than Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Peter Ayodele Fayose. As the PDP man of the moment, it was learnt that Fayose, penultimate Wednesday, paid a visit to immediate governor of Ogun State,

Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who has since pitched his tent with the Labour Party. Fayose’s train, according to sources, moved from the Ijebu home of the PDP top shot, Buruji Kasamu, with him to visit Daniel at his Sagamu, Ogun State mansion. Fayose, it was learnt, pleaded with Daniel to reconsider his stand and return to the ruling party. The governor-elect was said to have told Daniel that LP would not do him any good. Celeb Lounge was further informed that Kasamu and Fayose gave Daniel two months to make up his mind.

Kunle Afolayan breaks new ground with Figurine

unle Afolayan, son of late popular actor, Adeyemi Afolayan, a.k.a Ade Love, was raised in the acting terrain and his future in the same terrain looked bright when he began to feature in movies. Due to the acting prowess displayed by Kunle in the popular movie, Saworo Ide, by Main Frame Productions, many believed the sky would be his stepping stone as an actor. But, Kunle dared to be different and toed the path of production, and today, the former banker has set a new pace as a prolific film maker. To his credit are blockbusters like Phone Swap, Figurine and Irapada. In the same manner he set the pace as a film maker, the award winning actor has broken new ground as he returned with his film, Figurine,

in a book form. The film’s story is now being told in a scholarly book titled, ‘Auteuring Nollywood: Critical perspectives on THE FIGURINE’. It will be unveiled at Muson Centre come 31st of this month. While former Minister of National Planning and respected patriarch of arts, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, is billed to chair the ceremony, Nollywood stars, allied film professionals, academics, top government functionaries among other important personalities are expected to grace the event. Edited by Dr. Adeshina Afolayan of the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan, the book’s foreword was written by Prof. Jonathan Haynes of Long Island University, USA, and a notable scholar on Nollywood.

Contributors to the 455page book include Dr. Sola Osofisan, Dr. Dele Layiwola, Dr. Chukwuma Okoye, Jane Thorburn, Matthew H. Brown, Gideon Tanimonure, A.G.A Bello, Foluke Ogunleye and Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi. An ‘Afterword’ on ‘NeoNollywood and its Other’ by the prolific scholar, Dr. Onookome Okome. It is also provided in the book in addition to series of interviews with key actors and technicians that featured in the film. The reviewers that will do justice to the intellectual content in the book are the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba, and Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, who is the Director of Nollywood Study Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

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THINKING ALOUD

paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com; 08072709777

Kazeem Bello-Osagie pampers self with Wonder on Wheels

arrister-at-law, Kazeem, who comes from the popular Bello-Osagie family, may not carry a face that is familiar to everyone across the society. But this is certainly not in the business world where the young man is daily carving a niche for himself as a force to reckon with. Determined to make a mark, Kazeem started out as a big time player in the transport sector. Upon making an impact, he decided to spread his tentacles, hence, he delved into courier business, real estate and marketing of solar products. This hardworking young man who is in the league of Lagos big boys is at the helm of affairs at Qua Vadis Logistics in Lekki. Perhaps, bearing in mind the saying that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, the dude, sources say, recently treated himself to a brand new 2014 edition of Range Rover. The sociable dude is said to have since become the toast of his pals with the black new wonder on wheels he now cruises around town.

Funke-Treasure becomes GM, Radio Nigeria One

hings are looking up for celebrated broadcast journalist Funke-Treasure Durodola as she has been appointed General Manager of Radio One (103. 5 FM) situated in Ikeja, Lagos. Her appointment took effect on June 4, 2014. Her mandate as the new GM of Radio One is to re-engineer the station in the area of programming. This includes transforming it into an all-news, alltalk, and all-sports radio station. Under Durodola’s watch, Radio One will now broadcast in English language and its popular pidgin variant in Nigeria. In addition, the station will also relocate from its present base at the FRCN Training School in Ikeja to the Broadcasting House, its original home. “My goal, as I take over the mantle of leadership from Mrs. Sherifat Ahmed, the erstwhile General Manager, is to make Radio One the favourite station of that format in Lagos in terms of audience reach and market share,” says Durodola, who lately completed a Masters Programme in Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, South Africa. “In my 19 years as a broadcast journalist I have gained experience in key areas of broadcasting, such as news and programme presentation, production, news gathering, feature reporting, corporate development and media enterprise.” Durodola has also had ample international exposure and training in programming, broadcast journalism, media man-

agement and media training. She has also won national and international awards, including being a category finalist at the CNN/ Multichoice Afr i c a Journalism Awards in 2007 and earning the NMMA Radio Production of the Year with a 13 week series on street c h i l dren.

with Helen Paul

Why many Nigerian marriages don’t last I

n my last article, much emphasis was laid on men who have special ‘anointing’ in beating their wives. I advised that rather than waste their energy beating that defenceless woman, they should engage a boxing trainer, who can take them to the rings to fight and make money. Expectedly, I have received torrents of messages on the article.

While many saluted my courage for at least speaking the ‘truth’, some did not hesitate to knock my head. They ignorantly felt I was being biased. That is not the case. In subsequent articles, women will get their own strokes too. The article generated mixed reactions. Some men felt I was too ‘harsh’ on them. Equally, some of them sent me mails, explaining the challenges in their marriages, why they beat their wives and said they look forward to the concluding part of the topic this week. Like I said last week, wife battering and domestic violence is a big crime, which shouldn’t be compromised. Honestly, it is a topic we can discuss till thy kingdom come, but for the sake of time and space, I will not bore you with stories. I will go straight to the points. Many marriages (let me safely say in Nigeria) don’t stand the test of time due to a lot of factors. If you are faced with one or two (or more) of these factors, and you cannot handle them with maturity, your marriage is very likely to die prematurely or be riddled with serial battering. Many people don’t really know what they want in their partner or marriage. If you fall into this category, it is a big problem because you will be forced to compare your partner with his peers, mostly likely those that are more successful than him/her in certain endeavours. If you nurse this feeling within you, it slowly reduces the genuine love you have for him/her, and it could likely lead to confrontation someday. I have heard a lot of ladies complain that their man is not caring; he is not this, he is not that. They compare him with the guy next door. You only talk about the sweet things the other guy does, but I’m sure you will not want your man to emulate the bad things the same guy is fond of! You must love your partner for who he is, but this is missing in most relationships. Women should be careful of the friends they keep. Some friends don’t genuinely want that your marriage to work, so they will persuade you to be more demanding to your husband. They will deceive you that ‘if he truly loves you, he should buy you this and that.’ And foolishly, some wives will yield to the advice of their friends and turn their husbands to ATM

machine or ‘Father Christmas.’ You have the right to request things from your husband, but it should be in a reasonable way. Don’t force him to buy the Brazilian hair and other things he cannot afford. On the other hand, some men get silly advises from friends to be more authoritative on their wives, and in the process, make her more or less like a slave in the house. Most wives don’t have a say in their homes because the man always want his decision to stand; whether right or wrong. Some men are also egocentric, to the extent that they are not comfortable when their wives work, particularly when she is earning more than them. But the truth is that women are hardworking than men now. This is purely an issue of low selfesteem on the part of the man and he urgently needs to work on it. I have got to realise that after marriage, many couples no longer see each other as friends. Immediately after marriage, the man becomes more commanding and keeps to himself, unlike before when he does most things together with his partner. Some women on their part would also assume that after all, they have got the ring from him, so they began to show their ‘real colours.’ In some cases too, partners fail to know one another better before they jump into marriage. I always tell people around me that nobody is bad in a relationship; both the man and woman are just like politicians trying to ensure that they live fine. But for this not to result to hiccups, friendship is important because a true friend won’t dwell on your mistakes. Love is not authoritative, love is not domineering. Love is humble and not easily angered. If you don’t love yourself, you can’t love your spouse. Whenever there is divorce, our society is always quick in pointing fingers at the women, while the men are left off the hook. I have been privy to a lot of divorce cases that are being caused by men –they are the guiltiest in most cases. I could go on and on to discuss this issue, but before resting my case, there is need to talk about the influence of family, particularly mother-in-laws in failed marriages. Some mother-in-laws accuse wives whenever they felt their son is not doing something right. If he’s not giving them money or gift items as expected, they would blame it on the wife. Some of them will not even be comfortable when the wife is richer than their son. And in the process, they poison his mind. I’m sure many ladies reading this will have different tales to share about their motherin-laws.

I have heard a lot of ladies complain that their man is not caring; he is not this, he is not that. They compare him with the guy next door...You only talk about the sweet things the other guy does, but I’m sure you will not want your man to emulate the bad things the same guy is fond of ! You must love your partner for who he is, but this is missing in most relationships

Body&Soul

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JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Brighten your home with wallpaper Abimbola Sodeke

can devote your weekend to it. Learn how to fix your wall papers.

allpaper has been in existence since the 90s. It comes in a variety of colours, styles and textures. Wallpaper, when fixed properly, makes your home exceptionally decorative and can determine the mood of a room. It has different patterns you can choose from. You can opt for bold colours and patterns, lines, flowers or other shapes which help to brighten the house/room. Fixing the wallpaper can be a task but you

• Make sure there are no pictures, nail and other wall decorations on the area you want to paste the wallpaper. • Check for blemishes to be sure the wall has no holes and cracks. • Prepare the wall surface by scraping all roughness on the wall, giving it a smooth surface. • Measure and cut the wallpaper to prevent too much seam after work. • Immerse the wallpaper in water. You need

to put off all form of electricity to avoid electric shock. • Activate the adhesive to ensure that the paper set well on the wall. • Lightly mark the wall with pencil and ruler, measuring the length and height of the wall and paper. • Hang the first piece. • Check the corners for wrinkles. • Smooth out the wallpaper. • Hang the remaining pieces. • Trim the edges and press the seams together.

Items Needed • Wallpaper • Screwdriver • Adhesive • Fine-grit sandpaper • Water • Bleach • Household cleaner • Stain killer/primer • Paint brush • Measuring tape • Pencil • Carpenter level • Wallpaper paste • Wallpaper brush • Razor blade • Seam roller • Sponge

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

The Reds and their benefits (1) tains over 400 healthpromoting substances including tannins, phenols, flavonoids, bioflavonoids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and polyphenols like quercetin, resveratrol, OPCs and catechins. These all work to raise the level of HDL (good) cholesterol and lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body. Also, red wines are infused with antioxidants to help reduce free radi-

Ibukunoluwa Kayode

glass or two of wine a day is good for our health. Studies confirm that a moderate intake of wine, especially the reds, is good for healthy living.

The chemical makeup of the grape skin, not necessarily the alcohol, account for most of its benefits. Alcohol is the by-product of fermentation; when taken in moderation, it is also beneficial to health.

Red wine contains natural minerals that help in lowering the risk of heart attack and disease, cholesterol in the blood and even some types of cancer. The alcohol in the wine helps to raise the good

cholesterol and inhibit the formation of blood clots called vasodilation -opening of the blood vessels and increasing blood flow. The grape is very nutritious and its best part is the skin. The skin con-

cals t h a t c a u s e damages to the skin cells and help slow down aging. Here are the minerals found in red grape wines and their benefits. Resveratrol: This is found in the skin of grapes. Resveratrol is

Potato Salad a la Germans Biwom Iklaki

he German machines did it penultimate weekend! What no European team has ever done on South American soil. They broke a jinx. A European team won the World Cup hosted by the South Americans, Brazil. Wow! In honour of this great feat, we are doing a German-inspired meal -Potato salad a la German Machine! It is a beautiful, filling and hearty meal with German flavours. Warm enough for one of

those rainy evenings.

INGREDIENTS • 4 large potatoes • 4 slices bacon • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour • 2 tablespoons white sugar • 1/3 cup water • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar • 1/2 cup chopped spring onions • Salt and pepper to taste PREPARATION Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender but

still firm, maybe 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop. Arrange bacon in a large wok. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Save bacon fat. Add the flour, sugar, water and vinegar to wok and cook in saved bacon fat over medium heat until dressing is thick. Add bacon, potatoes and spring onions to wok and stir until coated. Cook until heated and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

the antibody produced by grape when fighting disease, fungi or injury. It repairs cells, reduces inflammation, and acts as antioxidants in reversing the aging process. The mineral does not only combats the free radicals, it repairs damaged cells also. The best way to absorb Resveratrol in humans is through the mouth.

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

GLOBAL fashion

New York over throws London!

Biwom Iklaki with Agency report

or many decades, London was seen as the Top Global Fashion Capital of the world. However, a global trends monitor -Global Language Monitor - reports that this most coveted title has been taken over by New York. It is an absolute big deal because, the report also states that the gap between New York and Paris is 0.05%! Fourth on the list is Los Angeles. New York is the capital of many things but now fashion? Anna Wintour must be shaking excitedly in her pretty Louboutins! Since it is believed that a tree is only as strong as its weakest branch, one will not get a true picture of the runways or New York fashion houses; neither will we explore the high fashion of the city as found in the several A-list parties, weddings, charities or premiers. Rather, we will explore the street fashion as obtainable in New York. Perhaps, one will understand how this city managed to steal the title of ‘fashion capital’ from London! This definitely needs some getting used to, but then again, as we know of fashion, one minute you are ‘in’ and the next you are ‘out’. So, you may not even need to get used to this idea. Whatever the case, it does not hurt to learn a little and shake it up a bit to get your unique personal style.

News Primate Ayodele calls for prayers p53

Sermon Why God is misunderstood p.56

TAI ANYANWU, titus.anyanwu@newtelegraphonline.com titusanyanwu.2012@gmail.com 0706 438 0029

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/faith

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JULY 20, 2014

Sermon Arise, take what belongs to you p.58

Faith ON SUNDAY

Bus evangelists: Preachers or merchants?

Bus preachers

Tai Anyanwu any years ago, when Molue, the yellow commercial buses, were the predominant means of commuting within the Lagos metropolis, preaching in these vehicles was done without restrictions. But with the coming on board of Lagbuses and other species of mass transit vehicles, some level of restrictions have been placed on preaching in buses by relevant authorities. That is not to say that preaching in these vehicles has been eliminated. Anyone who patronised the yellow buses plying the Obalende-Ikeja route will admit that itinerant bus preachers are as strong, assertive and relevant as over. They are devising various styles and attention grabbing methods to take the gospel to commuters, who are often deluged with several cares and needs as they go about their businesses for survival. One of such was this unidentified female itinerant preacher who captured the attention of our Correspondent the other day. She had a rechargeable radio/ CD player, which served as her public address system firmly tied around her waist. And over her head was a phone that doubled as a microphone. Ss commuters took their seats in an Ikeja bound yellow bus, she mingled with them and took a seat near the bus entrance. As the bus driver negotiated the Obalende round-about and began to ascend the Third Mainland Bridge, she rose from her seat, and adjusting the improvised megaphone, the lady preacher warmly welcomed everyone into the bus in the name of Jesus.

Without really waiting for any response, she sank into serious prayers that touched areas of individual needs with an insight of one who is familiar with the problems of the common man in Nigeria. Pausing to assess the efficacy of her attention grabbing methods, she proceeded to preach the gospel of salvation with deep insight on scripture. Intermittently, the bus evangelist raised questions, tried to elicit answers and lead her listeners to respond with ‘amen’ to her prayers. And trust Nigerians, we are not always economical with ‘amen’. It does not matter whether you are Christians, Muslims or an atheist. We are ready to listen to people who are ready to pray for us. From the way they responded to the preacher, it was apparent that the commuters enjoyed every bit of her evangelism. She ended the session with heartfelt prayers, but just before she took her seat, the lady evangelist remarked: “The Bible says that labourers are few and that we should pray the God of harvest to send down labourers to his vineyard. “Why I’m I saying this,” she asked no one in particular. She proceeded to give the answer to her question. “I am not going to Ikeja; you are the one that is going to Ikeja. I come into the bus for the purpose of preaching the gospel so that people who are going up and down and all they are thinking of is daily bread[u1] . “We know that they need more than daily bread. They need word of God. This is the reason why I am in this bus to preach,” she explained. Continuing, she said: “And I want you to know we do bus evangelism with transport fare. There is no way I will enter more 12 buses in a day, to preach without paying transports fare.

“Each time I enter a bus to preach, I pay N100, N250, N150, N300 or N350. Sometimes conduct will tell me ‘Madam I no send you ooo. If you preach you go pay;’ because they no wan hear say na preaching I dey preach.” With that explanation, the bus evangelist added; “That is the reason why God is calling on you to become a partner in the progress, so that N100, N150 to support bus evangelism will not be a hindrance to this work. “We depend on you; you may not be able to preach but you are an instrument in his hand of God and He will surely make a way for you.” All said and done, some people dropped some money into her hands and she received that thankfully and prayerfully. At the same time, some commuters murmured that bus preaching is the latest occupation for some gospellers who have carefully decided to make a living by extorting money from gullible Nigerians. They argued that Nigeria would accept prayers from anyone - fake or real, due to harsh economic climate that is prevalent in the country. A commuter, Tola Okelola, noted that the Obalende-Ikeja route has become the favourite of these itinerant bus preachers, who impress their listeners with fantastic prayer points and sound preaching of the word. But what he could not understand was why they must end up asking for arms from the commuters. “I am confused; but I’m not surprised because the economic condition in Nigeria compels the average Nigerian to expect anything at any time. Preaching and prayers should not be paid for anyway,” he said.

Faith

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Interview

Vox pop

Should General Overseers serve for life? Leadership crisis within some Pentecostal churches has become a major phenomenon. There is a view that at the centre of the bickering is the quest for who controls the huge income accruable to churches. Hence, the question whether or not General Overseers should have a tenure of office after which they step aside or they should serve for life. TAI ANYANWU sought the news of some clerics on this contentious topic Pastor Shola Odubiyi: It depends on the ministry. For instance, there are some ministries that at the top of it the pioneer person may have to remain until may be he has grown so old that he can’t physically cope again. He would have nurtured it to a certain stage where somebody else now takes over and it will be easy. Some of us who are old-time Christians believe that if some churches have the kind of leadership that some churches have, they possibly would have done better than they are doing today. Tenure can adversely affect churches because some churches that operate tenures aren’t making waves as they should. On the other hand, we have such crisis in churches because the church is a subset of the world. What I mean is that people in the church comprised people that came from the world. And in most cases, this worldliness and carnality have not left us. So, it affects the way we handle things and act in church. For example, somebody who is very greedy and has not put that under, when he gets to the church and he becomes a leader, that will reflect. What I would say is that like somebody said, the world is getting churchy while the church is getting worldly. This kind of thing is not going to change until Jesus returns because modernisation is increasing, civilisation is increasing and worldliness will continue to increase. If there can be a very strong structure, it might help. Let me give you an example, one of the things that helped Foursquare was that they built their structure around these white people (foreigners). They gave them a very strong structure that enables people in the church to know what to do even when the man at the top is not around.

Obong

Rev. Obong N. Obong, Minister-in-charge, Presbyterian Church, Duke Town Cathedral, Calabar I think the Spirit of God directs the leadership of each church on how best to run the church of the Lord Jesus Christ under their care. The structure that is good for one church may not be good for the other. The circumstances are different. I may be speaking based on my background as a member of the Presbyterian Church, which may not be good for the background of other churches. And that is why I feel that church leaders should return to God and to the scriptures and let them be led by the Spirit of God according to the scriptures. They should run the church the way it should be run. In my own background, no one dies on the throne, because no one owns the church. But there are some people who run it that way. In the Presbyterian Church, after six years the person steps down and it should be a person who is close to retirement. After six years he retires from the office, and then nobody dies there. It is wrong. Yes; that is it. Pastor Nneoma Amaefula, Assemblies of God Church It depends on the vision of establishing a church. Majority of what they are having now is not necessarily kingdomoriented; but it is 100 per cent business and personal oriented. Such orientation and mindset, you know a business man will want to die in his business. But if it is kingdom oriented, actually there is a time that a man gets tired. If you don’t get tired by reason of the vision, you get tired by reason of age and there is nothing anybody can do about it. And the truth is that there should be a time to cease the magnitude of work that somebody does. Even if you don’t want to slow down, age will slow you down. So at such times, there should be consideration and that is why, where and when the real motive or objective of setting up that church begins to come in place. If it is kingdom-oriented, definitely before such a time comes, the person will begin to think of the continuity of the vision. But since more often than not, what we see is like a family thing; and of course being that there are people who have contributed a lot and when the man is trying to get old they begin to raise eyebrows. What is going to happen next? Trouble will begin to shoot out everywhere because they know that once the man is not there, the next family person takes over because it is a family business. But if actually it is kingdom-oriented as per goal and objective, there should be a time that a man, before he goes to rest with his fathers, should be allowed to step down and to watch, advise and counsel. The church will now be left in the hands of younger people to take care of. The problem we used to have, and that is the fear

Anyanwu

of these GOs and even some other people is, if I step aside as it were what happens? That is the fear. I have had raw encounters with different kinds of people within the time we retired and now, and I have come to draw a conclusion that people are not who they present themselves as. That is where we are having the problem. There is nothing wrong in a GO doing his work but getting to a time when he will rest and watch things being done. Of course, there is a Biblical backing. At each time God was through with a prophet, God had always initiated a handover. When Elijah was to go, he was asked to recruit Elisha, and he did. When Moses was to go, he recruited Joshua and so many instances like that. And of course one of the reasons Moses father-in-law, Jethro, counselled him was because was because age was no longer in Moses’ favour. And the things that one’s head can carry when he is younger are not the same as he would be able to handle when the person begins to grow older. God has always been a God of continuity and He wouldn’t want any vision He gives to die. God’s vision does not die with a generation otherwise it cannot be God.

Osagie

Amaefula

Odubiyi

Bishop Lawrence Osagie, General Overseer, Powerline Church The issue of tenure depends on the denomination and the direction from God to them. You have these ministries whose founders have died and then their constitution stipulates how the position should be filled. An organisation like Assemblies of God is an international organisation that has their rules and regulations that must be followed in filling vacant positions. Such positions in such an organisation are not meant to be an everlasting tenure. They are there for some specific number of years and a particular age, they are made to let go so that others would come in. But in filling such positions, they have their own rules and regulations they must follow, which are also Biblical rules and scriptural steps for ascending positions of leadership. But for independent ministries where the founders are still alive, until they die or unless the man feels that he has done enough and he wants somebody to succeed him while he is still alive, he prepares the person who will succeed him and thereafter puts a plan in place that would ensure that the ministry continues to thrive even after he is gone. For example, the issue of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Akindayomi was the founder. Before his death, he had already chosen a successor for the ministry and you see that that successor had taken the ministry from the level where the founder left it to a greater level. And there are other ministries whose founders are led by God to transfer the mantle of leadership to either his son or wife, as the case may be. There are no hard and fast rules about this. It depends on what God is saying to each organisation per time. It is true that leadership crisis has been recorded in some churches. The truth is that ascendancy into position of church leadership is not supposed to cause any problem. Where you find a problem, it is not of God, it is the flesh that is at work. It is people who have turned the ministry into a political field and that is why you see people fight for position. Because unless God gives it to you, you can’t do that work. Where you see fighting and bickering, the people are not listening to God, they are not hearing the voice of God. They are hearing the voice of their flesh. If God is in it, everybody must calm down and be willing to seek the face of God and hear from God; and then take counsel from other people that are interested in the work that they are doing. When you find that people are not willing to listen and they are not ready to be led by others, then you find the flesh at work. God will always have a leader for His work. The work of God can never be left in vacuum. God will always have a Joshua waiting for the departure of Moses. God will always have an Elisha that is waiting for the departure of Elijah. There is always somebody on the hangar waiting; God can never be taken unawares by anything, including death. So God prepares people for His work. It is the work of God; it is not the work of man. It is not a business, it is a spiritual thing; and people must come out of the flesh and allow God be God. If they say they love God then they must not fight over the work of Him whom they love. These people who fight I question their love for the kingdom and their love for God in their hearts. Orderliness should reign in the church of God. God is a God of order.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Faith

Primate Ayodele calls for prayers

Tai Anyanwu

ounder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called for prayers to save Nigeria from being plunged into a religious war. Ayodele, who released a series of predictions at the launch of his book titled, ‘Warnings to the nations, a collection of divine signals for year 2014 -2015’, explained that the messages were received while he was fasting and praying during the Lenten season between April 3 and 17. Speaking at a news conference in lagos, he said, “In today’s world, religious intolerance, agnosticism, disregard for divine will of God among other things have all conspired to distance many souls from Jehovah. “In Nigeria, we need to pray and also rebuke religious war or crisis because the kind of religious war I foresee will spell doom for Nigeria. We need to also pray and rebuke political battles in our country. I foresee terrible disturbance fuelled by political office-seekers.” Ayodele insisted that fervent prayers must be offered for the country to be able to deal with the challenges ahead. His words: “In the year 2014 to 2015, Nigeria needs prayers to combat the challenges facing the progress of our nation. Our security agencies and government need to take steps to curb the challenges facing the nation. Our economy will face problems and challenges of unemployment. 2014-2015 are years that the country will face challenges from the international community.” He, however, noted that government would take steps to avert the impending doom and struggle to forge ahead economically.

“But there will be protests and counter-protests against the government. The judiciary will face severe challenges and also the political parties. “There will be mutiny in the military, and of course, I foresee fresh military reforms and reorganisation. I foresee commanders changing roles,” the prophet added. He said the government would take many steps to bring comfort to the citizenry, and struggle to entrench a

credible political culture but added that many ‘strange things’ would accompany the 2015 polls in the country. “The Spirit of God says we must fervently pray in Nigeria towards and during the 2015 polls. The political parties must be careful so that the kind of crisis we have in the western world will not come into our own country. Killing will be so rampant and there will be no regard for the rule of law in the country,” he warned.

According to the Primate, in 2015, elections would be conducted but the polls would not hold in some states because of violence. “Members of the State Security Service will be deployed in large numbers during the polls. Security operatives will form part of the monitoring team. INEC will try to detect fraudulent acts during the elections,” he stated. Ayodele advised President Goodluck Jonathan to consult God more in order to have trouble-free re-elections. “Outside him, who else can do better? I am not here to endorse any leader but Nigeria is at a cross roads. PDP has no better candidate outside Jonathan. He will contest and win the election in 2015; but there will be trouble. “I foresee a political revolution that will happen in the nearest future in the country. Nigerians will be suffering and our economy will be nothing to write home about. Let us pray for the peace of the country as government will not get so many things right,” he said. He also advised the Emir of Kano, Mohammadu Sanusi II to avoid any clash with the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, and to also avoid mixing politics with his role. “I foresee a change in the formation of Nigeria, education, communication and oil and gas sectors. Our democracy and power sharing formula will cause a lot of trouble for the government and the unity of the country,” he declared. He insisted that a national prayer by special prayer ministers must be done and that government must adhere to divine instructions for the country to enjoy peace.

I’ve a divine mandate to deliver 7,000 babies – Chris Okafor T he senior pastor of Liberation City Church Worldwide, Dr. Chris Okafor, says he has a divine mandate to deliver 7,000 babies to women seeking the fruit of the womb. The ‘Oracle of God’, as Okafor is popularly called by his church members, said God gave him the mandate to release over 7,000 children to their mothers in this month of July, when his church is set to organise a threeday power-packed programme with the theme ‘Harvest of Babies’. He says that during the programme, God will empower him to minister to barren women across the globe. Giving an insight into the basis of the programme, the cleric said God revealed to him a warehouse, where over 7,000 children were shut in chains. He also said he had a vision of women who were supposed to be mothers to these children, but for one reason or the other they were prevented from getting them. He said that God told him, “I will use you to break the warehouse and

also use you to deliver those women and hand over their children to them.” The programme will take place between July 23 and 25. The first day of the programme is the last Friday of July which coincidentally is the International Night of Prophesy and Solution, according to Okafor. He said it would be an opportunity for people to make a request to God. Meanwhile, Okafor has challenged Nigerian youths to find ways of contributing meaningful to the development of the nation. He stated that as every day is a day of glory, they must make sure they use each day. He advised them to be law abiding citizens of the nation and be good ambassadors of Nigeria. The church recently launched ‘The Liberation Television’, as part of its campaign to win one billion souls for the kingdom of God.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Faith

Understanding the miracle power of love!

The Voice of

Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo

Phone: 7747546-8; E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

ast week, we discussed the three vital forces of life, proofs of being in love and the midst of the year. Also, it was established that the love of God is fundamentally a choice, but that choice must be empowered by the Holy Spirit for maximum and sustainable delivery. When your love for God graduates into marriage, you become a Kingdom first lady, and you are enthroned to command the supernatural. In continuation of the teaching this week, we must first understand that love is the greatest spiritual asset of every believer. It is what defines your worth in the race of life, because that is your connectivity to divinity. Divinity is full of wonders, and love is our connectivity to divinity! Every certified lover of God is a living wonder on earth. It is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath pre-

pared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9). That is what makes love the master key to a world of wonders. When you are truly grounded in the love of Christ, you become supernaturally connected to divinity. That is what guarantees your dominion. Love is the greatest of all spiritual virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). So, without this virtue at work in your life, you will remain spiritually poor, beggarly, and the struggles of your life will continue. Love is your spiritual connectivity to God; that is why it is the platform for the flow and operation of signs and wonders. What is Love in this Context? If you don’t know what love is, you will not know when it is at work in you. •Love can be defined as a God-first Lifestyle: That simply means, God having the first place in all your considerations. The ‘God-first lifestyle’ is loving God with all your heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:36-40).

When you make room for God first, you become a man and a woman wondered at. • It is a Kingdom priority lifestyle: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). What Jesus meant was, “Seek ye first the advancement, promotion and expansion of the Kingdom – in righteousness not faking it, and all these things that others are dying to get, shall be added unto you.” Jesus said, “Upon love hangs the whole commandment.” So, when the law of love is fulfilled, the blessings of Deuteronomy 28:1-12 flows natural into your life. • Love is identifying with Jesus: Love is publicly identifying with Christ and His Word, wherever you find yourself (Mark 8:38). When you are truly in love with God, you will identify with Him publicly. •It is placing God above all else, including self: A large crowd was travelling with Jesus, and suddenly He turned

and said: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26-27). That means, whosoever does not love Me more than he loves his father, mother, children and his own life, is not truly in love and is not fit to be My disciple. When you come to the point where you place God above all else – including self, you are set to be released as a wonder to your world. • Love is loving what God loves: God’s greatest love is the salvation of souls (2 Peter 3:9). When you are truly in love, you are never ashamed of telling people about Jesus. Friend, the power to access the love of God is for those saved. You are saved by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus Christ 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. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan, to serve the Living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus 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 — Born To Win and Walking In The Miraculous. 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., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11.30 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.

Ransom for your next level

or your star to come out of obscurity, for your situation to change, there is a ransom you need to take you to the next level. If you would be celebrated; for your voice to be heard in your generation, there is something you need, it is called a ransom. For you to turn your captivity around, what you need is with you. In other words, God does not expect you neither will He ask you to go and get a loan for ransom. What is a ransom? A ransom is anything or a sum of money demanded or paid for the release of somebody who is being held prisoner. It is a payment or a payoff made in exchange for something that is considered precious. A ransom is what you give to bail yourself from existing or imminent shame. “And the lord commended the

unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:18 Why did Jesus make this comment? He did because He realized that those who are outside the Christian faith know what to do when they are in trouble or when they must get what they want. Dan. 11:32 (the Bible says “those that know their God…” When you take a ransom in your hand, you will declare on it all that you don’t want to see again in your life and you command into your life all that you desire to see. This is exactly what Jesus did; He was made a ransom for us. Matt. 20:28 “Even the Son of Man came… to give His life as a ransom for many”. Leviticus 16:20-23, gives us a true picture of a ransom; the sacrificial lamb has to bear on itself the

iniquities, pain, grief, sickness and disease of all the children of Israel. Job 33:21-25, 28. How? By the ransom of your hand, you have what it takes to deliver you from shame/trouble. All that is required to save your soul from perishing is in your hands. God expects you to take form what you have, what He has blessed you with and offer a sacrifice to bail yourself from any shame you are experiencing now. Prov 13:8; but the Bible says, “…the poor hearest not rebuke”. This means some people will refuse to take the drastic step of finding a ransom and hence, will remain in their sorry state. You have confessed so much that you have become confused. Woman, you are looking for the fruit of the womb, there is a ransom. Have you been diagnosed of any terminal sickness or in search of a husband, promotion or you need a change of level? Then you must get a ransom. Carry the Kingdom on your head, do things in the Kingdom and begin to carry dangerous steps for the Kingdom. Until you settle God, life will not settle you. Are you troubled by the spirit of death? There is a ransom to bail you out. Psalm 49:6-7: nobody is ready to help you. No matter how rich your brother or uncle is, no one is ready to give a ransom

for you. Life will not give to you what you want, you are the one who will have to go for it and this you can get by a ransom. Miracles do not just happen; they are made to happen (Matt 11:12). There is so much in the hand of God to give to everyone but you have to get it by wisdom, violence and tact. You can determine your economic future, but you are so greedy. If God releases blessings to you without you giving to Him first, that means He will be breaking His own ‘economic principle’ (Gen. 22:14-16) Sacrifice is a weapon to stop the scourge of delay in your life when you begin to take dangerous steps and move for God. He told Abraham, if you love me, then give me your son, your only son whom you so much love. This he did and God became his Jehovah – Jireh; God, the provider; the God that is ever present in time of need. He would ever be available at all times when the challenges of life comes, He is there as your supplier. He can also be there as anything you want Him to be but He needs to trust you. For how long would you continue to work like an elephant and eat like ant? The day you are ready for God is the day you will know that this God is a Living God. What is in God’s hand is bigger that what is in your hand. It

is not enough for you to pray. You must locate a ransom to get it. God has given you a good thing, you are holding on to the good that He has given to you but He is saying ‘bring the good and let me hand you the better’. Until you are ready to release that which you have; which you see as so little and inconsequential, you cannot get the better in the hands of God. PRAY THESE PRAYERS • Any problem tying me down to one spot, your end has come. • I shall not miss my day of glory • Angels of darkness blocking my prayers, clear away by the blood • I remove my head from family collective captivity • Tragedy of almost there but never there by fire • Oh Lord add value to my life, and flesh to my skeleton, and butter my bread • Enemy of my new song catch fire • My step must shine and shine for ever …in Jesus name I know you have been blessed. Write and share your testimonies, comments, etc. Rev’d Femi Akinola – The Hebrews International, Lekki, Lagos

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Faith

Fruit of the womb (4) A nd Moses stretched out his hand over the Sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were A wall unto them of their tight hand, and on their left (Exodus 14: 12, 22) All That Night I read my Bible from Genesis to Revelation from time to time. Each time I read it, I notice a lot of new things I didn’t know I came across in my previous readings. On one of such occasions, I was disturbed over those on admission whom I felt had over-stayed. We admit people who have problems in the church premises. Sometimes, we have as many as 20 patients who have demonic or mental problems. Initially, within two weeks or thereabout, the patients were healed and discharged and others admitted. This particular time in question, two months had passed and nobody was discharged. I became worried and started praying alone, asking God to heal them very fast. One day, a car came to pick me to a hotel where a sister was praying and fasting. I was told the Holy Spirit had a message for me. I went with the vehicle and the Holy Spirit spoke through the vessel to me. I was asked to open to Exodus 14:21 which I did. I was

told to underline all that night and I did. The Holy Spirit then told me that the miracle of Moses dividing the Red Sea was not done in an instant or in a moment. It took God all the night, may be from 6p.m. to 6a.m. or 7p.m. to 7a.m. the following morning - about 12 hours. Whether it is one minute, one hour, 12 hours, 24 hours or one year it is a miracle! The Holy Spirit then asked me why I was worried and would not do any other thing or offer other any other prayers except the healing and discharging of the patients whom I said were “overdue” for healing. The Lord asked me to give Him time to work, and referred me to an incident that occurred earlier in my ministry, which I will narrate in the next two paragraphs. A Christian woman had a mental problem and was brought in for prayers. In the process of prayers, demons and native doctors manifested through her. They were commanded to reverse all they had done to her and leave her. The demons and native doctors complied and she became all right and sane immediately. It was a remarkable miracle and we all praised the Lord. She was taken away the same day. After about two weeks, she was brought back again in chains with the same problem. We prayed again, and the demons and native doctors who claimed they reinforced manifested and reversed what they did to her. She became sane and healed the same

POWER IN THE WORD with

Banke David

Tel: 08034156014

ho is a leader and what does it take to be a good leader? What are the principles guiding the operations of a good leader? According to Webster’s comprehensive dictionary, a leader is one who leads or conducts; a guide; a commander. One who leads or occupies a chief position. Chambers dictionary says a leader is one who leads or goes first, preceding others, the head of a party. W English says a leader is a person who rules or guides or inspires others. According to the above-mentioned definitions and doing a summative analysis, a leader should provide guidance functions; rulership functions, occupy a chief place, rank first, precede others, and be a head and an inspiration to others. Wow, what an awesome combination! This goes to show that leadership is no mean task and should not be coveted without adequate readiness for keeping to the rules. In our contemporary African

society, we have a whole lot of people occupying leadership positions, without being an inspiration and example in deed to the general populace. There is a general apathy towards right conduct, transparency, morality, ethics and integrity. Leaders seem to feel they are above all rules and should not keep the law. They are the lawmakers and yet still the breakers of the same law! Why then in Africa are we in a haste to occupy leadership positions without fulfilling the requisite demands of leadership? We seem keen to enjoy the benefits that accrue from leadership without readiness for simple work ethics, transparency and integrity! We all know that ‘uneasy lies the head that wears the crown’, as leadership demands sacrifice, probity, a keen sense of justice, transparency and readiness to give account among other qualities. Who then is a good leader and what qualities should he possess? 1. A good leader puts the needs of his followers first above personal needs.

day and was taken back. In about another two weeks’ time, she was brought back in a worse condition. The Holy Spirit then directed that I should place her on admission in the church, which we did. When the Holy Spirit reminded me of this incident, he asked me what happened each time I prayed and I explained. He then told me that He wanted me to learn a lesson of giving time to treat and heal people. I should not be in a hurry. I must be very patient. Since then, I have not been in a hurry to get quick answers from God. I have learnt to give God enough time to work “all that night.” Whenever the answer comes, I discover, people still call it ‘a miracle’. If a woman takes in immediately or the next year, she calls it ‘a miracle’. If she takes in three, six or 10 years’ time after prayers, people still call it a MIRACLE. I have come to appreciate Hebrews 6:12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them Who through faith and patience inherit the promise. Without faith, no man can please God (Hebrew 11:6). You must ask in faith, believing that God must answer you, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 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 1:6-8). The first thing I tell anybody who comes for prayers and deliv-

WORD OF LIFE by

Bishop Moses Kat tey Tel: 08087707486, Email: moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

erance is that he must be patient. Give God time to work. Trust God and wait for Him. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith has always rebuked doubt. “And he said unto them, why are ye so Fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:40) Then He said unto them, O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets (men of God) have spoken (John 20:27) O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Matthew 16:8)” In education, it is often said that any child can learn anything, no matter how difficult, provided he is given enough time and enough encouragement. These accord with the word of God. All you need is enough encouragement and time, and you will experience Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. What will you do if you know you will have a baby latest next year? What preparations will you make? If you do not have doubt and slowness of heart, start making all such preparations. Do not put on a mourning look or clothes. A woman said that she would never put on bright clothes again until she gives birth to a baby. She

was mourning secretly and I was told. If you have also secretly taken decisions, the Lord will bring you into His presence and bless you when you act according to Genesis 4:1-14. “And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed:….Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:1,14).” Except for the purposes of repentance, mourning, depression, lack of Joy and Peace are not fruit of the Spirit, but works of the flesh. Mourning and a depressed outlook depict a lack of trust and faith in God. They depict doubts and fear! There is a law in the scripture. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25) In faith begin to prepare for your baby. Never get discouraged or fearful. What you cannot get naturally or by medical treatment or by any other means, you will get by a MIRACLE in Jesus name.

Leadership principles 2. A good leader seeks to understand his people and does not seek to be understood. 3. A good leader is willing to lay down his life for a good cause. 4. A good leader has good interpersonal skills and gets along with all kinds of people. 5. A good leader has good problem-solving skills and can think of ways of getting his people out of a fix. 6. A good leader has the ability to sympathise and show empathy. 7. A good leader will speak words of encouragement to his people and thus bring out the leader in them. 8. A good leader should have a compelling vision for others to follow. 9. A good leader leads by example - ‘Do as I do’ not do as I say. 10. A good leader has large doses of integrity, work ethics, values like- transparency, honesty, sacrifice, equity, justice, fair-play and the like. What more can I say? Going by this list, a good leader is rare to find and not many would qualify for leadership positions, if these are the set benchmarks! For change to occur in any nation, we must, first of all, change our idea or notion of leadership. In Africa and Nigeria in particular, people are eager to occupy leadership positions in governance in order to get rich quick

by embezzlement. A true leader will sacrifice all and is ready to give his all in order to satisfy his followers rather than selfaggrandizement. A true leader realises that his exalted position is a calling and views the office as an opportunity to serve and not an opportunity to steal and enrich himself. He realises that he will give account to God, and therefore does all to satisfy his people and leave a legacy after him. In developed nations, government officials have a listing of all their assets before and after assuming office; as the office is not seen as an excuse to enrich their pockets. Apart from this, there is a sense of duty and loyalty to their nation and they feel privileged to serve, as not many can aspire to these exalted positions. This is because there are strict codes of conduct and moral expectations for public office-holders, especially the office of the President. For instance, a man with more than one wife cannot rule in such civilised nations. On the contrary, here in Nigeria, people who had stolen millions, have had glaring court cases and had committed all manner of atrocities are still welcome to the government. WHAT A MISNOMER! How then do we expect a change in the affairs of our nation, when there are no moral standards for people who aspire for office? What manner of examples are those at the helm of affairs laying for others to follow? Such matters

are treated with levity whereas a good leader should be better than his followers in all regards! All the blame for failure in our national affairs cannot be laid solely on the government. The followers are guilty also. We take and give bribes, falsify figures, get to work late and here we are pointing the finger! The Bible in Matthew 7: 3-5 says we should first of all remove the log in our own eyes before we can see clearly to remove the speck in our brothers’ eyes. Let us call a spade a spade. We are guilty also! In conclusion, however, anyone aspiring for public office or leadership positions should be above bar, a shining example in conduct, morality, character, financial accountability or forever hold his peace! (This is my take!) The long-desired change we hope and pray for can only take place when we shine as light, for the dark world to see and copy! Remember, darkness only thrives when good people remain silent! Arise to make a change! Make a difference in your generation by shunning evil, bribery, corruption and other societal vices. No matter the position you occupy, whether you are a government official, a cleric, an administrator or a layman,Stand for truth, stand for justice, Stand for integrity! BE A GOOD LEADER, LEAD BY EXAMPLE! (To be concluded next week) Banke David writes from Aba in Abia State.

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Faith

Why God is misunderstood

THE ORACLES OF GOD by

Frank Oboden Olomukoro

frankolomukoro@yahoo.com, 07033621866

MYSTERY OF ANXIETY

hy will a God-seeking people get to the point of misunderstanding the very God they are seeking? Consider the Pharisees! Why will a godly man or woman, in his or her sincere quest to know God still fall out of favour with God? Uzzah answers that question. 1 Chronicles 13. You may want to know why the Pharisees, Scribes and Saduccees who sat on the seat of Moses (Matthew 23:3), the custodians of the law, were not able to identify their expected Messiah when He came on the scene until the very Messiah indicted them, their traditions (Matthew 15:3) and their sign seeking generation (Matthew 12:38-42) with these words: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Matthew. 23:27. Oh, how one can be religious, and still not be saved? Oh, how one can be sincere but yet sincerely wrong. This is possible when one operates outside the confines of the word of God. God can be misunderstood when you don’t find your balance in the Bible. Jesus Christ was clear in His reasoning with the Pharisees when he said in Mark 12:24: Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? “And where there is no vision, the people perish but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverb 29:17. Most people,

professing Christianity, lack scriptural depth for sheer laziness to the personal study of the word of God to show themselves approved as children of God that needeth not to be ashamed. 1 Timothy. 2:15. Others are shallow-minded, depending solely on what others tell them and prefer to stand on other people’s opinions than striving to know the will of God. Still, others are just content that they belong to a church, so whatever is said and done, they bother less whether it is the will of God or not. The Lord roundly indicted the Jews in Luke 19:42-44 when He wept and lamented over them for not knowing the day of God’s visitation in their time. “If thou hadst known even thou, at least in this day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes…. Because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. It is the same spiritual gloom and plague the people of this generation are in. God has visited our generation through the remarkable ministry of William Marrion Branham in response of the Holy Spirit to the prophecies of the scriptures in Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 17:30, Revelation 10:7, and Matthew 25:1-13. But alas, it is spurned; it is overlooked; it is despised; it is even branded a cult, for lack of understanding. It is not about the person, it is about God and His word. They are looking for someone else, someone in their own estimation, not in God’s estimations by scriptural promises. The worldwide ministry has

with

Bishop John Ogbansie gbe

o be relaxed means to ease or release oneself from any form of tension and anxiety. To be relaxed means to be of a peaceful and settled mind. It means to be free from any emotional stress. To be relaxed means to be in a state of or mood of recreation. To be relaxed, also, is the same as to rest. There must be a reliance on something; in other words, any person that wants to rest must rest on something. For the time being, God is telling you to rest, rely and relax on the reality and consciousness of the fact that He is in control. You cannot rely, rest and relax on the knowledge of God’s potency and power without first reposing absolute trust and confidence in Him as the Almighty Jehovah Omnipotent Al-Shadai, who is

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in control of the whole universe. In the same vein, the word ‘trust’ refers to total reliance, unwavering steadfastness in the ability, power and potency of the Almighty God. This is also the quality of reposing absolute confidence in the God of all possibilities. When a man realises his impotence and inabilities, he relies and relaxes on the omnipotence and super abilities of God. Man’s frailty was divinely planted in man by God. Indeed, many things in this world are moving many people in different remarkable respects. Many people are truly disturbed and destabilised by the challenges of life. But there are people that have remained firm, unshakable and unmoved, because they believe God for many things which God can do. Above all, their

been the culmination of many other Bible prophecies and a continuation of the Acts of the Holy Spirit in this end-time. This midnight ministry was spoken of in the scriptures to prepare the people for the second coming of Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist came on board, rather than embrace him, they asked: “Who art thou? Are you the one to come?” They eventually abandoned him until he was beheaded. The greatest prophet born by a woman ended with the hangman. Some will insinuate that that was because he backslid; that that happened because he veered off from his calling and so he died such a horrible death. No! You judge by the scriptures prayerful for God’s mercy to reveal His purposes and plan. Theology can never reveal God. The letters of the scriptures can never unveil God either. It has to be God interpreting His word and giving it to you by revelation. The church of the Lord is built on Revelation not by organisation. Matthew 16:18. Pentecostalism turned its back on the prophet messenger sent to our generation. The simple personal opinion of foremost Pentecostal leaders has swayed many wouldbe sincere truth-seeking believers away from believing and identifying with God’s move in our end time. The stumbling block to most people for failing to identify God’s point-man for their day is because of the lack of understanding in the face of unfolding prophetic scriptures. There are usually three pulls to God’s operations - the evangelical campaign, the ministration of the gift of the spirit and

the revealing of the word of God. Once this is understood, you will appreciate God’s purposes and plans. It is these three pulls or stages that characterised the ministries of our Lord Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul, William Marion Branham and other scripturally based servants of God. The first pull - the evangelical campaign - comes with signs and wonders and miracles to attract attention before the message is given. Like T.L. Osborn said, “So, He (God) sent forth a particular sign to attract attention to make this wayward generation stop and look and ponder and search and think.” In Matthew 4:23-25… and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And there followed him great multitudes of people… The Gospel attracts the people’s attention. The Lord Jesus was hailed as a prophet for the great supernatural feats associated with His ministry. In Acts 4:8-12, for the healing of a cripple from birth, the people of Lystra lifted up their voice in the Lycaonia speech, that Barnabas was their Jupiter god, while they called Paul their main mercurial god. Why? They misunderstood God’s work, thereby ascribing deity to mortal men because they presumed it was the visit of their gods in human form. Branham attracted support from Pentecostal churches, Orthodox denominations and the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship during his worldwide healing revival in the first pull. Same applause followed the second pull when the gift of discernment was

operational by God through a mortal vessel. The third pull is usually the nut cracker, when God is turned down by the same people who enjoyed the benefits of His miracles, signs and wonders. The Lord Jesus was deserted by his disciples for teachings and doctrines considered extreme, confusing and erroneous John 6:48-71. Paul in II Timothy 4:10-11 said: “All men have forsaken me, only Luke is with me.” Why? At the third pull, through the abundance of the revelation given to him (I Cor. 12:7), many unlearned and unstable wrested with it. They considered his teachings hard to be understood and got destroyed. Why? They misunderstood God. William Branham was deserted in the latter part of his ministry by the same Pentecostals who initially supported him - the third pull. They branded him a fallen angel and backslider when he began to reveal the mysteries for which God ordained him. “In the days of the voice (preaching) of the 7th Angel (Laodicean church age, this generation) when he shall begin to sound (proclaim, unveil the hidden manner, the mystery hidden in all ages) the mystery of God should be finished. Revelation 10:7. This day this scripture (prophecy) is fulfilled. Luke 4:18. The message is stored and left in the hands of the minority wise virgins who alone are attracted to his remarkable rapturing faith preparatory ministry. It is not compulsory that you believe but give it the benefit of doubt and make your enquiries. However, do not ascribe God’s work to the devil. It becomes blasphemy.

Relax your mind minds are peaceful, relaxed and settled, because they live in the consciousness of the fact that God is forever in control. Instead of being worried about their problems, they rejoice always in the Lord. Instead of thinking about the gloom and doom around them, they think about the glorious future ahead of them. They meditate and revitalise themselves in the word of God, and his promises which are yea and amen. They get strengthened, renewed, empowered, energized and ironfied as they ruminate on the promises of God. In Act 16:27-28, thejJailor of Paul’s prison wanted to kill himself when he saw the whole door wide open with no chains in the hands of the prisoners. He concluded that he was finished, because the penalty which awaited him was public disgrace, and public execution. He decided to commit suicide. As he attempted to kill himself, St. Paul shouted at him and the Bible records

thus: “But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, do thyself no harm for we all are here.” Many people are harming themselves in one way or the other because of the vain things of this world. Don’t conclude yet. Man’s conclusion is God’s preamble. Many have attempted to commit suicide, many are deliberately living in solitude and frustration, many have also become disgruntled and developed a negative psychological attitude to life. Many Christian believers have also backslidden from faith. At this juncture, may I echo with the voice of St. Paul to tell you “Do yourself no harm for God is still in full control?” Do you feel so disappointed and abandoned by everybody? Do yourself no harm. Surely there is an end; your expectation shall not be cut short – Proverbs 23:18. The word of God also says, “God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent; hath he said and shall not do it? Or hath he spoken and shall

he not make it good?” – Number 23:19. Relax your mind, God is in control, and he declares to you concerning those tears on your eyes, “In his favour is life, weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning” Psalm 30:5b. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he, Therefore they shall come singing in the heights of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd, and their soul shall be as watered garden, and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgins rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together, for I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrows.” – Jeremiah 31:11- 13. God has considered your situation, and he is not silent about it. He has a wonderful plan m for you. He wants to give you a total divine turn around.

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against forces of evil, anti-peace and relaxation. The manifestations differ in the lives of individuals. To some, it may come in the form of premature death. Some people you never imagined would die in your family will begin to die. This will therefore amount to postponing your fixed programmes and also lead to unplanned expenses that may eventually destabilise your programme. In most cases, the trials come through our businesses or place of work. At the moment you are into a relationship, you may begin to have business failures, frustrations and disappointments. You can even buy what people need without seeing them, and even when you sell them the payment will suffer some untold agonies. Others also encounter job termination or demotion. Too many people, however, encounter cases of sexual abuse, sickness, affliction of all sorts, criticism, accusations, deprivation of rights, police and court cases and family crisis. Some strong Christians even at this period of time do encounter spiritual backsliding and begin to slack in their faith. Their manner of attending church activities would change and go down drastically. Others don’t even think of going to church anymore.

DIVINE WORD by

Pastor Vero Ezeh Tel: 08033378287

ake an attempt: Living a life of aimlessness and worthlessness is a big minus to any individual. It is ethically right for us as individuals to xray our lives and know the root cause of our problems. Don’t just conclude that everything happening to you is right and ordained of God. The ‘I-know-it-all’ and ‘it-doesn’t–matter mentality’ have blurred the vision of many people and placed them in a state of bewilderment. Until you wake up from your stupor of ignorance, life’s reality may remain a mirage. Never wait until something terrible happens before you act. Delay is a dangerous enemy and leads to a destructive end. You must have to make an attempt; even if you fail, try again. There was an unbearable drought and hardship that struck Israel as a nation in the days of King David. “Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, it is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the King called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites); and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.

Faith

The trials of excellence

n the book of Psalms chapter 34:7 -10, 19-20 the Bible records: The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O, fear the lord, ye his saints for there is no want to them that fear him, the young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing…. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken.” It is always said that nothing good comes easily. When you find your right partner, prepare to also find your right trouble. It is the trials of it. It comes to make you feel bitter, un-assured, unrealistic and unserious. It is the trouble of the two persons. It comes directly to challenge your vision and the authenticity of your message. It is a satanic device to discourage and destroy your vision. The trials force you to think, if at all, if God spoke to you. It comes to make you complain, murmur and doubt God. The moment you find your right partner, get ready to wage a war

Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, what shall I do for you? And wherewith shall I make the atonement that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, we will have no silver or gold of Saul, nor his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, what ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the King, the man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel. Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And he said, I will give them.” (2 Samuel 21:1-6). The famine lasted uncontrollably for three years nonstop. David as the king was in a state of disaster, confusion and perplexity. He was emotionally traumatised and disorganised that he lost the test of good leadership. He knew that if nothing was done, the aftermath of it would be drastically disastrous. Then he made a move by opting for a change. Until you move, God may not move. Until you refuse to accept ‘no’ for an answer, there will be no good result. That incident was so humiliating and insulting that the only way to

Very many Christians also fall into illicit sex, impregnating women or getting pregnant and aborting unwanted babies. These are the challenges that confront a marital relationship. And when you encounter them and are not strong in faith, you will begin to doubt the credibility of God’s direction. It is important, therefore, to note that every divine direction has divine instructions guiding it. God does not function in error or in ignorance. He plans His programmes before He brings them out for implementation. All you have as a responsibility is to find out what guides whatever direction He gives you. The enemy does not want you to inherit the blessing of a divine marriage. This is why He comes in different ways with different attacks. He attacks your divine relationship so as to make you begin to feel better against each other, suspect each other, quarrel with each other and be fed-up with each other. He comes with a broken relationship, disengagement, divorce and remarriage. Why is Satan interested in our relationships, in our marriages and in our homes? This is because marriage is the first institution through which God fought against him. It is his greatest enemy. This means that when a family is at peace, the

Word of FAITH byby Apostle Clement Apostle Clement Ogbonna Ogbonna apostleofgraceinwof2010@gmail com, apostleofgraceinwo clementogbonnaya2007@yahoo.com Tel: 08036774737 .

society will be at peace. The problem of every family is a negative reaction against the society. The devil knows this typical truth. He does not rest in his fight against marriages. This satanic attack begins the moment a man opens his mouth and proposes to a lady. It comes by force when the lady accepts it. Some of these attacks account for some unnecessarily long engagements and courtships that lead to sin against the Holy Spirit in a relationship. To overcome these trials, we need to be prayerful. Partners should set apart a day in every week for their prayers and fasting; equip themselves with God’s word and encourage themselves. We should also engage our trusted friends and relations into praying for us. This is because every relationship is declared a battle ground. You do not need to ‘spiritualise this idea’. I tried to think and behave like you, but I came to realise that marriage is better experienced than read. While into a relationship, see the book of Ephesians chapter 6:10-

18 as your backbone. Pray ceaselessly and you will be victorious. Psalms Chapter 34 as referred to at the beginning of this chapter is God’s firm promise to us only if we make righteousness our food, and prayer our drinking water. Don’t stop praying about your relationship, partner, destinies, lives, family, marriage, home and in-laws until death do you part. This is an urgent message for a loving and successful relationship and marriage. Adhere to it and you will see your marriage as an enjoyable one and not an enduring one. We encountered our own troubles and trials, which came as sickness, death, police cases, armed robbery attack, stealing and others. It is inevitable. Expect it! And handle it prayerfully. You are born to overcome. You are born to win. Fear not for God is with you; and would uphold you with His righteous hands. Worship with us @ World of Faith International Church, 69 Ohanku Road, Aba.

You are a divine package avert the insult was by positive result. Any life endeavour without evidence is worthless and meaningless. David went to God for enquiry. He did not go to the devil and his cohorts, neither any deity nor juju for a solution. I would like to ask you, whom or where do you go to in the time of adversity? David enquired from the LORD in whose hand lies the solution to every problem. I perceive God said to him, “Now that you have woken up from your sleep, I will reveal to you the brain behind your calamity.” The secret things belong unto the LORD our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of the law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Child of destiny, it is high time you left your comfort zone of ‘it-doesn’t-matter’, when there are dozens of matters. Instead of dying in silence and wasting away, make a righteous attempt. “For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their father. (For we are of but yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow).” (Job.8:8-9). God said to King David: It is because of Saul and his bloody house that this misfortune has befallen Israel. May you never encounter bad predecessors in life. I mean those who will only leave bad legacies for you to inherit. Such bad legacies could be debt, trouble, cases e.t.c. There are mean men and women who mess up their environments before leaving office. How did

this problem happen? King Saul in his zeal slew the Gibeonites who had entered a ‘Covenant of Safety’ with the children of Israel in the days of Joshua. “And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and Ai, they did work, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon year assess, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry moldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, we came from afar country: now therefore make ye a league with us. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them (Joshua 9:3-15). A covenant must be adhered to. By this league, Israel and the Gibeonites roped themselves. In line with this, David asked the remnant of the Gibeonites what could be done to appease them and pacify God’s anger. In response, the Gibeonites said to David that they required no gold and silver from the house of Saul. Not even killing of any person in Israel, but that seven male heads roll from the house of Saul: though tight to David but right before God, David complied with their terms. King David in keeping with his covenant relationship with Jonathan spared

Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. Their love for each other lasted till death. For this purpose, seven men were presented to the Gibeonites whom they publicly hung or executed. This method is not to be used in this day or era because it is barbaric in nature of which the grace of God through Christ has lifted. There are diversities of gifts of God to the body of Christ for the betterment and freedom of mankind. David now went to Jabeshgilead and brought the bones of Saul and his sons alongside the other seven got all buried in the field of no more remembrance. “And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul; all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-Shan, and came to Jabesh, burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (Samuel 31:11-13) The Bible says that God was entreated for the land. In other words, the battle of drought and scarcity was won in the land.2nd Samuel 21:13-14 will give you a better account of how the problem ceased. Don’t just fold your hands and watch things go wrong in your life because of ignorance and stupidity. If you can only know the truth as enshrined in the word of God, the truth will set you free from bondage. You Can Worship With Us @ Christain Pentecostal Mission, 27/35 C.p.m. By 168 Port-Harcourt Road Aba, Abia State.

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Faith

The Seeds of by Greatness Apostle Clement

Arise, take what belongs to you

iracles are all happening around you but until you violently rise in your spirit and take what belongs to you and stop the devil from stealing from you anymore. Until you begin to dominate your thought, dominate your mind and everything about you, you cannot dominate anything. I look in the mirror of the word of God and accept what God says about me. You are the one who must succeed yourself first. For you to be able to exercise dominion, you must realise that there are two major kingdoms that are warring against each other – the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God. You cannot use the principles of the kingdom of the world in the kingdom of God. The will of God cannot take you to a place where the grace of God cannot sustain you. If you are operating in His will, it will not take you to a point where the grace of God will not be made available. You cannot attach yourself to an exceeding wonderful and excessive great God and be

bankrupt. Work with the principles of the kingdom to get kingdom result. Any person who obtains result in Christendom today is a person who has turned his back to the things of the world and has faced the son of God. God only relates to persons who faced him. There must be interactions. Search your house, search your heart, tell God to try your heart and see if there be iniquity in your life. That is self-judgment, soul searching. Do it and do not allow anybody to do it for you. Your mind could be contaminated and get you want to get in touch with a Holy God. No! The number one principle of dominating your world in your daily life is the rule of faith. The Bible says, lay aside every weight that easily besets you. For this is the number one rule you need to bear in your heart if you intend to dominate your world, and achieve greatness. Look at every man that has dominated his world in the scripture; they were people who manifested the life of faith. Without the ingredient of faith in your life, nothing can

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lory be to God in the Highest. Appreciating God for His blessings all year round. Our existence is by His Grace and our sound living is by His wonders. May His name be praised forever. Thanking God for your feedback and pray that your requests shall be granted and your testimonies astounding in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen. During my recent voyage at the upper room with the Holy Spirit and the ministering angels, the message received from the throne of grace was alarming and earthshaking – who and where are the righteous to save mankind? Their duties must be pleasant to the Almighty God. They must be willing to stand in the gap and save divine investments for the thoughts of man is becoming increasingly evil daily. This brings to fore our teaching today – CITY WITHOUT PEOPLE. DIVINE WORD <And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? And the Lord said, because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous. I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me, and if not, I will know.

And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. And Abraham drew near and said, wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city, wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee, shall not the judge of all the earth do right? And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for the sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes, Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous, wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And He said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto Him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. And he said unto Him, Oh let not the Lore be angry, and I will speak, Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And He said, I will not do it, If I found thirty there.

be achieved. All things are possible to them that believe. Those who put their faith in God can never fail. Faith is simply trusting God and putting your confidence in God. That is all you need to begin to dominate your world. Some people want to feed first before they believe. Faith is not determined by how you feel, what you see or what you hear, but by the word of God. You want to experience the manifestation of the Spirit of God in your life? Therefore, faith is the only thing that will bring you to the realm of the supernatural and the manifestation of the spirit of God in your life. The Bible says without faith, you cannot please God. Faith is the only thing that can cause you to live the life of righteousness. Without faith, every other thing will dominate you. The Bible says that the just shall live by faith. We believe by faith and not by sight. Dominate your environment, believe in the God of the Bible and everything He says is true. Before anything can become a concrete reality in your life, it

by Ogbonna Bishop Lawrence Osagie apostleofgraceinwo

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must have been incubated in your spirit; it must have been there all along. Nothing comes into your hands by accident. Some people frame their life around poverty, failure etc instead of framing it in something that will promote them. For once in your life, take a positive step by framing your life into something that will promote you. Frame your health; frame your marriage to be successful, just have something that is Godly around your situation. Then wait and see the manifestation of these pictures that you have framed. You are your biggest problem. A man that is going on a journey and convinces himself even before he sets out, that he is not sure of the outcome of the journey, already has framed a wrong picture. As he thinketh in his heart, so shall it be unto him. Your faith

will make the world submit to you. It is your faith that will make the world acknowledge you. Your faith will make you the preferred person. Your faith will bring you out and make you number one. God wants you to be number one. God says, be the head not the tail, you are the first and not the last. If you choose to be something else, that is not God’s fault but yours. That is all you need to bring a change in your life. God is a God of totality; He is interested in every detail. In Hebrew 11:6, the Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him. By faith, Noah and his family were saved. They had immunity from the destruction that came against their nation, because they had faith in the Almighty God.”

City without people

And he said, behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once, Peradventure ten shall be found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. And the Lord went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned unto his place. (Genesis 18: 17, 20-33) END TIME TRAGEDY Abraham could still not find 10 righteous men in those cities and stopped bothering God for he knew that as merciful as God is, His anger is a consuming fire. Revelations of painstaking checks in our world today about the righteous to save our cities are highly depressing. Sadly enough, we are tilting towards Sodom and Gomorrah of old. DIVINE PLAN = Shall I Hide Anything From Abraham? – Abraham was righteous in his time that he understood the mind of God. Stopped the Angels sent by God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, delayed their journey in order to plead for God’s mercy for the people but was disappointed that he could not find 10 righteous people in the cities to avert the destruction. Pleaded from 50 to 10 men and with no headway, he allowed the Angels to go on their assignment and continued to pray until God could save one – Lot who also lost his wife owing to her worldliness and demonic sinful nature that had eaten deep into her blood

cells. Are you the Abraham of our time? Can you save your city and communities? Are you willing to become a useful vessel like Abraham to save our world? Are you righteous that God will hearken to your pleadings as Abraham’s? Will your life count so much to positively change this sinful world? Are you ready to be a willing tool to depopulate Hell this end-time? Are you the righteous one in your city that will stand in the gap and tell God to temper justice with mercy? Will you write your name in gold as Noah, Abraham and Gideon of your generation? Think, for time will tell and that time ticks away now. = Am But Dust and Ashes – Abraham saw he was dust and unworthy but pleaded that God should hear him and God hearken to his voice. For God to use you for His special assignment, you have to be meek and lowly in heart. God resist the proud but honour the humble, ready to become a willing tool for His special duties. Are you the one to be honoured? Know that God always has a substitute, nothing is vacant and there is no vacancy with Him. LIFELINE God will not waste His raw materials to create a failure. He made us in His own image and no matter our level of transgression, He is still willing to give us a second chance. God is still looking for good men in the cities of the world to save this generation from destruction and the time is now for the end is near.

Grievous sins more than what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah are being committed in the world today and God will not spare any sin however little or minute but still has grace for sinners now. Don’t you know that sodomy and gonorrhoea originated from Sodom and Gomorrah? Evil men with perverted minds sold to the devil have taken it to another dangerous stage now with gays and lesbians the world over promulgating laws legalising same sex marriage – what a great concern this end-time. It is more disheartening and damning that those who should show leadership qualities across the world are breaking God’s laws on marriage (male and female) with impunity by professing homosexuality and lesbianism openly and even tying its support to the release of aid to some countries – the end is near, know that it is suicidal and highly destructive to fall into the hands of an angry God. Devil is on the prowl. It is another plan from the pit of Hell to destroy generations – what happens to procreation if the laws of God are broken? God needs good people in our cities. Arise now and save our world. If you don’t, none will but know that God’s fury will be too hot to handle. Sin is prevalent now. Moral values are crumbling. Our world is crying for help and Nigeria is bleeding – Rise up now and save our world. God bless Nigeria. Jesus loves you. Run from sin and be Holy. See you on the judgement day. It is well.

Athletics Bolt, Farah headline cast at Commonwealth Games p.63

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JULY 20, 2014

Dapo Sotuminu, Deputy Sports Editor dapo.sotuminu@newtelegraphonline.com 08099400190, 08038154192

Joe Erico: Babatunde good for four World Cups F

Dapo Sotuminu

ormer Super Eagles goalkeeper and chief coach, Joe Erico, has declared that Super Eagles youngster, Michael Babatunde, is good enough to play for the national senior team in at least four editions of the FIFA World Cup. Erico told New Telegraph on Sunday in an exclusive interview in Lagos that, if well managed the Brazil 2014 World Cup debutant would go a long way in helping Nigeria record outstanding performances at future Mundial starting from the next edition which has been fixed for Russia in 2018. “Nigerians should say a big thank you to the Super Eagles chief coach, Steven Keshi, for taking the risk in not only including the player in his final list of 23 for the World Cup, but also having the courage to feature him in top games. “Keshi believed in Babatunde and the player did not disappoint, this would give other Nigerian coaches the confidence to play young players no matter the standard of the competition. He was simply outstanding. “He is a player for tomorrow, he was very lucky to have gotten the opportunity to be exposed at that level of the World Cup. Nigerians should be watchful not to allow any coach that comes t o morrow t o

Football Top 5 World Cup stars set to grace the Premier League p.60

Sp rt

throw him away with the claim that he is too young. We are very lucky to have arsenal of crude and inexperienced players presented at the World Cup. Ramon Azeez is another player in this category. Erico stressed that most of the countries that played at Brazil 2014 came with young and inexperienced players, and these set of players did well. For Joe Erico, the Nigerian team did well in Brazil and they should be commended and not condemned the way some Nigerian soccer fans have been doing. “The team did very well beyond expectations by my own reckoning. The Eagles got something out from where nothing was expected. It is no mean achievement to emerge one of the last two Africa teams standing in the knock-out stage of the World Cup. And if the team had been properly managed, they would have moved to the quarter final stage and even the semi-finals. “The fact that Argentina which played in the same group F with Nigeria went as far as playing in the grand final was enough signal to show that the Eagles could have gone farther than the second round.” He noted that the criticism that Keshi had a poor bench in the game against France is not tenable. “Keshi had four of his key players injured and there was nothing he could do at that moment other than to continue playing until the final whistle. That is football for you. Micheal Babatunde, Ogenyi Onazi, Juwon Oshaniwa and Ambrose Efe were all incapacitated. At that point there was no more magic. And that was what happened to the Nigerian team.”

Babatunde challenges for the ball at the World Cup. Inset: Joe Erico

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sport

2014 FIFA World Cup Finals Review

Top 5 World Cup Stars Set To Grace The Premier League

2014 FIFA World Cup: Best goals The 2014 FIFA World Cup featured plenty of goals. Tim Cahill (AUSTRALIA v Netherlands) More renowned for what he does with his head, Cahill produced a stunning equaliser in Australia’s 3-2 loss to the Dutch. With his side having just gone behind, Cahill lashed a Ryan McGowan pass - which came over his right shoulder in off the crossbar with a thunderous left-footed volley. James Rodriguez (COLOMBIA v Uruguay) Rodriguez, arguably the best player at the tournament, delivered with a special goal at the right time for Colombia. The Monaco attacking midfielder took down a headed pass with his chest before scoring with a stunning volley on the turn from 30 yards. Robin van Persie (NETHERLANDS v Spain) The Manchester United striker produced a moment of magic as his side thrashed Spain 5-1 in the group stages. On the end of a long Daley Blind pass, Van Persie surprisingly decided to header, beating Iker Casillas from 15 yards with a flying leap. David Luiz (BRAZIL v Colombia) As capable of the spectacular as he is the silly, it was the former for Luiz against Colombia. The Paris Saint-Germain defender stepped up to sidefoot a swerving and dipping, 35-yard free-kick past a helpless David Ospina. Lionel Messi (ARGENTINA v Iran) Messi may have scored four times in the group stages, but this was arguably his most important. Just as Iran looked as though they had frustrated Argentina into a 0-0 draw, Messi stepped up to curl in a delightful 25-yard winner.

Gervinho (IVORY COAST v Colombia) The Roma attacker showed some of the form he had in the Serie A with a fine individual goal. Gervinho cut in from the left, beating three markers, before composing himself and finishing to Ospina’s right, although the goalkeeper could have done better. Arjen Robben (NETHERLANDS v Spain) Given a chance to showcase his blistering pace, Robben started well behind Sergio Ramos in the chase of Ron Vlaar’s pace from defence. The Bayern Munich star got clear, left Casillas on the ground before hitting the top corner. Xherdan Shaqiri (SWITZERLAND v Honduras) It was the start of what would be a fine hat-trick from Shaqiri, and it was the pick of his three goals. The Bayern Munich attacker brushed off a couple of markers before firing in off goalkeeper Noel Valladares’ crossbar from 20 yards. James Rodriguez (COLOMBIA v Japan) Not quite as spectacular as his goal against Uruguay, but Rodriguez showed off his talent with the clincher in his team’s 4-1 thrashing of Japan. Played in behind, he took the last defender out of the game with quick feet before a delicate chipped finish. Mario Gotze (GERMANY v Argentina) He did not start the final, but Mario Gotze had the decisive say in winning it for Germany. The Bayern Munich man - on as an 88th-minute substitute conjoured up a strike worthy of settling the showpiece when he volleyed home deep into the second period of extra time to score the goal that gave his country a fourth World Cup.

All the 2014 FIFA World Awards! Golden Glove - Manuel Neuer Golden Ball - Lionel Messi Silver Ball - Thomas Muller Bronze Ball - Arjen Robben Golden Boot - James Rodriguez Silver Boot - Thomas Muller Bronze Boot - Neymar Jr Young Player of the W/C - Paul Pogba Fifa fair play trophy - Colombia Gold Winners - Germany Silver Winners - Argentina Bronze Winners - Holland Man of the match award for the final - Mario Gotze

One of the extra joys of the World Cup is that it invariably leads to an influx of tournament stars winging their way to the Premier League. These are the top five big names who have flown back from Brazil to either sign on the dotted line or flirt outrageously with an English football contract. 1) Sami Khedira (Germany > Arsenal or Chelsea) Since the climax of the World Cup, Khedira has been Premier League bound – his agent clearly wheeling and dealing the best deal possible for his player. It seems a deal has been agreed by Real Madrid and Arsenal but clearly the player isn’t ready to commit just yet, seemingly angling for a salary out of the Gunner’s reach £180,000 a week. That’s where his former manager Jose Mourinho will come into play, who has actively tried to high-jack the move. You can certainly see why

Hummels

Mourinho and Wenger are in the hunt for Khedira. His strength and unrelenting engine make a perfect fit for the Premier League. As has been said before, gone are the days of a Claude Makele who resolutely defends and focuses on little else – modern defencive midfielders increasingly initiate and roam forward on counter-attacks and Khedira did that expertly in Brazil. Personally we quite fancy him sandwiched in between Ozil and Aaron Ramsey. Arteta’s days may well be numbered. 2) Alexis Sanchez (Chile > Arsenal) Now this one is a done deal, with Sanchez already parading himself in an Arsenal jersey. A big money move (£31 million big ones) and a month in advance of the season… has someone put something in Arsene Wenger’s drink? It’s a strong indication from the Frenchman that the FA Cup win was a foundation for more success as opposed to a reason to rest on their laurels for 12 months. One of the biggest strengths of Sanchez is that he can play a myriad of positions – number 10, out and out striker or winger. Considering their complete

absence of pace in Arsenal’s side towards the end of last season, we would think he will start out on the wing – certainly the thought of both Sanchez and Wenger bombing forward on both wings is mouth-watering Indeed Sanchez has the edge on Walcott, with the Chilean showcasing at the Worlc Cup his impressive blend of mesmeric dribbling skills and defence splitting assists. The fact that most people deem Barcelona mad for letting him go tells you all you need to know about his star quality. 3) Mats Hummels (Germany > Manchester United) Despite the assured calm of Louis van Gaal on his first day at Old Trafford, there is still a crisis sitting in his inbox - zero quality central defenders. Will both Vidic and Rio Ferdinand leaving, only Phil Jones and Chris Smalling remain as notable centre-backs - and there is little argument that they are sub-standard replacements. Along with an interest in Ron Vlaarthe Aston Villa central defender who had a sublime

Khedira

World Cup - World Cup winner Mat Hummels is very much on van Gall’s radar. And who can blame him – the defender looked mighty impressive against France and Brazil in particular, and has been a talismanic presence in Dortmund’s back line for several years. What he lacks in pace (something exposed by Messi in the final) he makes up for in pinpoint ing and positionunending re l i s h i n g for blockshots. Oh a n d too – he scores notching u p two from setBrazil. pieces in Grabbing his signature – as-

sured by triggering a £29.5 million release clause - would be colossal for United. With a World Class defender in their ranks they can springboard from a top four focussed team to title contenders. 4) Enner Valenica (Ecuador > West Ham) Arguably this is the most interesting signing of all, primarily because most people - including us - had never heard of Enner Valencia until he slammed in a bullet header against England in a World Cup warm up match. The 25-yearold comes to the Hammers from Mexican outfit Pachuca where he has netted 18 goals in 23 games. And lest we forget, he scored three goals in Brazil - stat junkies may like to know he scored with 37.5% of his strikes on goal. Sam Allardyce has forked out approximately £12 million for the Ecuadorian, which is just a few million off the club record, so expectations will inevitably be high. Considering Valencia’s style of play - very physical with enorLoew mous leaps for headers (hence his nickname ‘Superman’) its perhaps no surprise that Allardyce came in for him. With both Valencia and big Andy Carroll up front we can expect long ball tactics to remain firmly in place at Upton Park. That said, Valenica is not a one trick pony – he possesses lots of pace and was originally a winger, so hoofing the ball to him will likely be a waste of his athletic talents. 5) Marcos Rojo (Argentina > Liverpool) Marcos Rojo has been on Liverpool’s radar for up to 18 months, and now he’ll be leaping off it after a very impressive display in the World Cup. Whilst the Argentines misfired upfront they were rock solid at the back – giving up just one goal (the winner in the final) during the entire knockout stage. Rojo’s mature, conservative and calm performances at left-back were instrumental. Both Sporting Lisbon, his current club, and Rojo’s agent have said they will be open to ‘attractive offers’ so it appears that if the money is right – about £10million - he’ll definitely be in a new shirt this year. Liverpool will have to fend off Juventus who have recently joined the chase, but the Merseyside team will be chomping at the bit to secure his signature - mainly because they leaked considerable amount of goals from left back last season. Neither Jose Enrique or Aly Cissokho proved convincing, often proving the weak link in a fantastic side. Rjo looks a very solid solution to that problem and whatsmore he brings versatility to the table – proving equally adept at playing centre half, a fine bonus for a brutal Premier League season where injuries are inevitable. With Liverpool’s hunger for the transfer and the influx of cold hard cash from the Suarez deal, we expect him to be clocking in for training at Melwood within weeks, if not days.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 20, 2014

Sport

2014 FIFA World Cup Finals Review

World Cup 2014 by the Numbers

he Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup finals ended last weekend as Germany defeated Argentina in Rio de Janeiro to take home the trophy. We look back at the tournament in numbers. 136 - Goals scored in the group stage; the best of any tournament since expanding to 32 teams and the best goals-per-game average since 1958 8 - Knockout games decided in extra time or by a penalty shoot-out; more than any tournament since expanding to 32 teams 35 - Goals scored in the knockout stages 10 - Red cards; less than any World Cup since 1986 with the record of 28 having been set in 2006 1 - Yellow cards shown for diving; the first one was handed out to Brazil midfielder Oscar in the third-place play-off 4 - Months Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was banned after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. He was also slapped with a nine-match ban from competitive international appearances 382 - Minutes that Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero went without conceding a goal in Brazil before Mario Gotze beat him in the final 24 - Fouls conceded by Brazil before they were shown their first yellow card in their 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia 401 - Seconds between Germany’s second and fifth goals versus Brazil in their 7-1 semi-final thrashing 30 - The amount of seconds it took United States captain Clint Dempsey to open the scoring against Ghana; the fifth fastest goal in World Cup history 6 - Goals scored by Colombia’s James Rodriguez, winner of the tournament’s Golden Boot. After a month of shocks, surprises and delights - most of them, amazingly, on the field - the 2014 World Cup came to an end on Sunday. It would be impossible to distill the entire tournament into a few cold, hard statistics but that doesn’t mean we won’t try. Here are a few of the figures that tell the story of Brazil 2014. 171: The number of goals scored at the 2014 World Cup. Tied for the most-ever at soccer’s premiere event, with France 1998. The leading scorer was Colombia’s James Rodriguez with six, followed by Germany’s Thomas Muller with five. Rodriguez became the first player to score in his first five career World Cup appearances since Peru’s Teofilo Cubillas in 1970 and 1978. 16: Goals scored by Miroslav Klose in four successive World Cups, making the German striker the most successful Cup scorer of all time, beating out Brazilian star Ronaldo. Klose made his mark on history with a goal against Brazil in the 2014 semifinal. The soft-spoken player counts Rihanna among his fans. 280 million: The number of Facebook interactions related to Sunday’s final of the 2014 World Cup. The figure set a record for a single sporting event on Facebook, beating out Super Bowl XLVII, which drew 245 million interactions. 5: The number of own goals scored at this World Cup. The only Cup that registered more was the 1998 tournament with six. Among this year’s own goals was the first goal of the tournament when Brazilian defender Marcello had to watch the ball deflect from his foot into the goal. 618,725: The number of tweets-perminute sent after the final whistle in the Germany-Argentina World Cup final. It was a new record for Twitter and beat the previous one - 580,166 tweets-per-minute - set during the Brazil-Germany semifinal.

32.1 million: The number of tweets sent out during the 2014 World Cup final match, making the game the mostdiscussed single sports event of all time on Twitter. 50: Number of hat-tricks scored in the history of the World Cup. Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri made it an even half-century with his three goals against Honduras in the group stage. Shaqiri also became the first player to score a World Cup hat trick entirely with his left foot since records started being kept back in 1966. 43: Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon became the oldest person to have played in a World Cup when he took the field in the 83rd minute of Columbia’s first-round game against Japan. Mondragon held onto Colombia’s 3-1 lead and claimed his place in World Cup history, beating Cameroon striker Roger Milla, who played for his country at 42. Milla still holds the record as the oldest goal scorer in a World Cup, having put one past Russia in 1994, his final tournament as a player. 34.65 million: The number of German viewers who watched their team win their fourth World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina. It was the highest-rated program on German TV since the record-

ing of audience data. An additional 12 million fans are estimated to have watched the game in massive public viewing venues across the country. $3 million: The amount - in cash - the government of Ghana flew in by plane to Brazil to pay World Cup appearance fees for their national soccer team, called the Black Stars. The team had refused to take the field for their final group match against Portugal before being paid. Ghana defender John Boye was photographed kissing his $100,000 share of the cash before the match. Ghana lost 2-1 to Portugal, and the Black Stars - and their bonuses caught the next flight home. $42,200: The cost of the official 2014 FIFA World Cup timepiece. Hublot produced 100 of the watches, officially called the Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde Chronograph but dubbed simply Soccer Bang. The top watch is made of 18-karat King Gold with a carbon fiber bezel. Hublot also produced 200 pieces in black ceramic for a more economical $26,300 per watch. One unique function allows wearers to track each 45-minute half of a soccer match as well as extra time. 24.7 million: The U.S. television audience for the June 22 group stage match between Team USA and Portugal, the

most-watched soccer match in U.S. television history. An average of 18.2 million viewers caught the game on ESPN, easily beating the previous record on a U.S. network for a soccer game – the 17.97 million that watched the Women’s World Cup final between USA and China on ABC back in 1999. An additional 6.5 million caught the match on Spanish-language network Univision. 198,208: The minimum number of World Cup tickets bought by Team USA fans, the largest contingent of foreign supporters who traveled to Brazil for this year’s tournament. FIFA’s official ticket sales tally is probably an underestimate as it does not include fans who picked up lastminute tickets and thousands who went without tickets but watched in Brazil at bars and other public viewing sites across the country. $1.68 billion: The minimum amount in lost productivity in the United States due to fans watching games during working hours, according to estimates by Captivate Network, who held an informal poll of 714 people across 15 major metropolitan centers. Team USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann famously asked, in an open letter, for US employers to give their workers the day off to watch USA play Germany in the final group match. $4,269: The amount won by a British gambler who bet around $8.50 - at 500 to one odds – on Irish site Paddy Power that Germany would thrash Brazil 7-1 in their semifinal match. The crazy bet paid off when Germany hit the target, and Brazil suffered the worst-ever defeat in its soccer history. Fellow betting site William Hill offered 1,000 to one odds on the same result, but no one took them up on it. In related gambling news, a Norwegian man took home some $3,330 after betting, at 175 to 1 odds, that Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez would bite someone at this year’s World Cup. The notorious Suarez came through, taking a chunk out of the shoulder of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a group match. 1 The number of points England scored in World Cup 2014. The tally is the lowestever for the nation that invented soccer. Brazil also marked the first time that England did not progress past the group stage of a World Cup since 1958.

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JULY 20, 2014

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Nigerian PGA Tour stars hail Tiger

FIFA World Cup

Nigeria: The story of our football (1) Fred Edoreh

he performance of the Super Eagles at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup did not meet the expectations of Nigerians but not many fans were really disappointed. For them, it was interesting that the team posted a good showing against Argentina in their last group game and France in the second round. They reason that the performance indicated a recovery for the national team in comparison with their outings in France ’98, Korea Japan 2002, Germany 2006 in which they did not qualify and South Africa 2010 in which they performed badly on African soil. There should have been a post mortem to analyse the performance of the team; to assess the suitability of the technical crew to continue or not; and to look at issues surrounding the organization and management of the affairs of the team in the build up to and during the competition. These should have followed a technical report by both Coach Stephen Keshi, the NFF Technical Committee to the NFF board and the NFF board to the government. Interestingly, but again not surprisingly, these have been overtaken by events which in themselves explain why Nigeria couldn’t go as far as Nigerians had thought possible. The Nigerian football family

may have relegated the necessity for the post mortem to the exigencies of its politics but Arsenal FC coach, Arsene Wenger, in a chat with the Daily Mirror of London, has aptly captured the malaise in Nigerian football and the reason the Eagles could not go beyond the second round. “I don’t think it’s purely down to quality. I think it comes down to organisational problems before the World Cup and during the World Cup…I think what hurt football fans was not that (they) did not reach the quarter-finals, it was the fact that (they) had no solidarity and they had problems that were exposed all over the world before the competition and that’s the main reason…Football is difficult enough when you are united but if you are not united at that stage then you have no chance,’’ Wenger said. If anyone is in doubt, the Nigerian football family already started to act out Wenger’s statement even before the conclusion of the World Cup. As the team and officials boarded in Brazil to return to Nigeria, a court injunction sacking the NFF leadership and the congress of Nigerian football was

WITH IFEANYI IBEH

HOLE IN ONE

already waiting for them in Abuja. It had been obtained from a Federal High Court in Jos by one Mrs. Ebiakpo Rumsom Baribote said to be the chairman of Nembe FC in the Nigerian professional football league. The interlocutory injunction ordered that the president of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, as well as its board and congress should seize to be. The court also ordered that the National Sports Commission should appoint a government official to take over the running of the NFF pending the determination of the Motion on Notice before it. To add to that, the president of the NFF was, immediately on arrival at the airport, taken by the state security service for questioning over alleged financial impropriety of funds provided for and deriving from the World Cup. Acting on the injunction, the Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Tammy Danagogo, promptly appointed a civil servant to take over the NFF as Acting Secretary General, notwithstanding the known fact that FIFA has always insisted that football conflicts should be redressed through its channels and up to the Court of Arbitration for Sports rather than at member country’s regular courts. To satisfy this, the appointed Acting Secretary General proceeded, ostensibly, to call a purported extra ordinary emergency congress of the NFF which resolved to impeach the NFF president and the board, also notwithstanding that the same court also ordered the congress of the NFF to seize to be and that FIFA had written to inform that it would not accept the interference of the court in the affairs of the NFF nor recognize the extra ordinary emergency congress so called and the resolutions therefrom since the procedure for calling a congress as stated in both FIFA and NFF statutes were not met. Interestingly, officials of the sports ministry, including the minister, a lawyer, were in attendance at the congress! T o c o ntinue ne x t wee k

ormer world number one, Tiger Woods, appears to be rediscovering his old self following his performance so far at the 143rd British Open. “He is looking like the Tiger we knew,” said Nigerian golfer, Oche Odoh, who is following Woods’ progress with keen interest. “He is a golfer a lot of us look up to and it’s good to see him playing this way.” Emos Korblah, who leads the Nigerian PGA Tour money list, added: “He is not looking like he has been injured and out of the game for so long. I am happy for him. The golfing world is happy for him.” Woods, playing in only his third competitive round since undergoing back surgery in March, confounded the critics who wrote off his chances by shooting a 69 on the opening day of the championship. On Thursday, the 14-times major winner made a poor start by bogeying the first two holes, but it was almost vintage Tiger on the back nine as he went storming through the field with five birdies in six holes from the 11th.

Sporting grey slacks and a white shirt with blue/grey flecks down the front, Woods got his round going when he holed out from off the green at the 11th. He then rattled in birdies at the 12th and 13th before dropping a stroke at the 14th following a hook off the tee into thick rough. The 38-year-old American bounced straight back by sinking a 12-footer at the next hole. A delicate chip to 12 inches from the cup at the 16th gave him another birdie before a long-range effort lipped out on 17. ‘’I knew I could do it. I’m telling you guys it was so important for me to play at Congressional,’’ he told reporters, referring to his two comeback rounds at the Quicken Loans National event in Maryland last month. ‘’It felt good to be back out there competing again. It wasn’t exactly the greatest of starts, bogeying the first two, and especially the second hole was a sloppy threeputt. ‘’Coming back after that start I had today, to fight myself back into the championship. I feel pretty good about it.’’

Tiger Woods

Noise galore at British Open

ritish Open organisers warned spectators about mobile phone use on Thursday after three-time champion Tiger Woods was distracted during his opening round 69 at Hoylake. Huge galleries followed the American’s every move but some could not resist taking cheeky snaps of the 38-year-old in action despite the R&A’s mobile phone policy being plastered on notice boards all over the course. Woods pleaded with fans to “keep them on silent” while organisers issued a statement calling for order. “We are delighted to have big crowds here enjoying the golf and I know there are many fans here who are experiencing the Open for the first time,” executive director of the championship Johnnie Cole-Hamilton said in a statement. “We urge them all to keep their

phones on silent and remind them that taking photographs during the championship days is not permitted.” Woods gesticulated at fans after twice being forced to back off his second shot at the 18th, before firing his ball into a green-side bunker from which he managed to get up and down to save par. This year’s Open features a complimentary wifi network covering every corner of the course, allowing fans to keep tabs on what is happening around the course on their smartphone screens and continue using sites such as Twitter. “I think that is a massive step forward in golf spectating,” R&A chief Peter Dawson. “However, the issue of how responsibly that is used is very important. I’m very confident that the golf fans will understand that they mustn’t disturb the players in front of them.”

JULY 20, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sport / News

Wenger won’t rule out Khedira transfer

rsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, won’t rule out the signing of Sami Khedira from Real Madrid but has admitted that captain Thomas Vermaelen could leave. The Gunners boss was speaking to the media following Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Boreham Wood in the club’s first pre-season friendly of the summer. He confirmed the club is actively looking for new signings, and refused to rule out signing Khedira from Madrid when pressed by reporters. ‘I can’t give you any names,’ he told them. ‘We are still active. Sometimes the players you want are available very late. You do the deals when they are possible.’ However, the Frenchman did appear to confirm one thing – that

Khedira

defender Vermaelen looks set to be on his way, with Wenger already eyeing up a possible replacement. ‘I cannot guarantee he’ll stay, but should he go I will bring another centre-back in for sure,’ he added. Arsenal are thought to be in the market for three more new players.

Ameobi linked with cashrich Chinese League

igeria international striker, Shola Ameobi, is being linked with a move to the cash-rich Chinese Super League. According to reports, Ameobi is the latest Premier League player to be courted by clubs in China. The 32-year-old, who was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, is currently a free agent after he was released by Newcastle United at the end of last season. Ameobi has also been linked

Osagie eighth in Diamond League, as he warms up for Commonwealth Games Dapo Sotuminu

ndrew Osagie was eighth in a time of 1:45.68 seconds in the Diamond League at Monaco Friday night when he was up against a world class field. For the 26-year-old former Leventhorpe School student, an 800m runner and member of Harlow Athletic Club, it was his last race before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next week, when he represents England. Olympic champion and worldrecord holder, David Rudisha, was unable to follow up his victory in last week’s Glasgow Diamond League as Nijel Amos stormed to first place in a world lead and meet record time of on one minute 42.45 seconds. Rudisha led until the latter stages of the race and recorded a season’s best of 1:42.98 but could not hold on and ended up fifth, with PierreAmbroise Bosse of France second in a national record 1:42.53 and Kenyan Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot was third. Osagie, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, can be well pleased with his performance in a very quick race, in which three others ran season’s bests, Afterwards, Osagie tweeted: “I know it probably didn’t look like it but I’m glad to be getting back to normal after a tough 3months.. now the fun begins!”

with a move to clubs like Hull City, Crystal Palace and Australia’s Sydney FC. It will be recalled that in February, Guangzhou R and F tried unsuccessfully to sign Ameobi as a replacement for Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Midfielder, Suso celebrates after scoring Liverpool’s equaliser against the League One side, Preston

Brazil to appoint new coach this week

razil will reveal the identity of their new coach on Tuesday, the Brazilian Football Confederation has announced. Luiz Felipe Scolari stood down this week after the hosts could only finish fourth at the World Cup, having been thrashed in their semi-final 7-1 by eventual winners Germany, and then beaten 3-0 by the Netherlands in the third-place play-off. The announcement comes on the back of the appointment on

Thursday of Gilmar Rinaldi as Brazil’s general co-ordinator, with responsibility for all levels of the national team. “The president of the CBF, Jose Maria Marin, will present the new coach of the Brazilian national team at a news conference at 11 am this Tuesday,” read a statement on the CBF’s website. Former boss Dunga, who was in charge of the Selecao from 2006 to 2010, is reportedly the front-runner for the post although former Corin-

Bolt, Farah headline cast at Commonwealth Games

Dapo Sotuminu

lympic champions, Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, lead a cast of the world’s leading athletes descending on Glasgow to compete in the Commonwealth Games starting in Scotland’s biggest city on Wednesday. World-record holders, decorated Olympians and novice participants make up the 6,500 athletes representing 70 Commonwealth nations who share the aim of claiming prizes in 261 medal events in 17 sports. Scotland hosts the 20th edition of the multi-sport event for the third time and instead of trying to emulate the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games, it will offer something quite different over 11 days of competition. Although the Games may not be held in the same regard as the Olympics or a world championship without superpowers such as the United States, China and Russia, there will be plenty of household names and fairytale stories. Six-times Olympic gold medallist Bolt will bring a dose of showmanship to the Hampden Park running track when the towering Jamaican attempts to win his first Commonwealth medal in the 4x100 metres relay. “I am available for relay duty if the selectors feel I can be an asset to the Jamaican team in Glasgow,” Bolt said. “I have received lots of requests, invitations and messages of support from my fans in Scotland who are looking forward to a great event.) England’s double Olympic and world champion, Farah, who is

thians boss Tite, Muricy Ramalho of Sao Paulo and another former boss in Vanderlei Luxemburgo are all thought to be in the reckoning. “We’ve talked about some things and we are in contact,” said Rinaldi as he was unveiled in his new post. “The most important thing is to define what we want and the profile of the person we want. “We must recognise that we need to change.” Carlos Alberto Parreira also left his post as technical director following the World Cup along with Scolari’s backroom staff.

West Brom coach rates Ideye high

W Usain Bolt

fit to take part in the 5,000m and 10,000m after recovering from abdominal pains, will join Bolt in Glasgow and the pair will be hoping to perform their customary ‘lightning bolt’ and ‘Mobot’ celebrations. “The Commonwealth Games is different from the Olympics,” the 31-year-old Farah said. “In terms of which countries are involved, you have everyone at the Olympics so it’s not going to

be the same, but at the same time it’s another title. “I am very excited to compete for England and go out there.” David Rudisha, Kenya’s Olympic 800 metres champion and world record holder, will return to Glasgow after romping to victory at the Diamond League meeting last week and New Zealand’s Olympic and world shot put champion Valerie Adams remains unbeaten in her last 53 competitions.

Arsenal’s Akpom is player to watch

play the ball to a teamhe 18 year old Nigeriamate, the youngster born striker, Chuba Akpom, pulled off a dev- Akpom performed a daring bit ilishly good trick in Arseof skill to get himself nal’s 2-0 friendly victory out of danger. over Boreham Wood in a He fakes a pass pre-season game played down the sideline beyesterday. fore dragging the ball in With his side a goal ahead, between the two defenders Akpom is being closed down by and running on to attempt a cross. two defenders but, rather than Class!

est Brom head coach, Alan Irvine, has said that signing Nigeria stay striker, Bron Ideye, at the weekend was a great achievement for the club towards a great season which starts in August. Irvine said: “Brown is a quality striker and I am looking forward to working with him. “He is a strong, quick, powerful player who likes to get in behind defences and has plenty of Champions League and international experience.” The club announced the record signing of the Super Eagles striker Ideye from Dynamo Kiev on Friday. The 25-year-old has signed a three-year contract, with an option for a fourth, and moves for an undisclosed fee in excess of that paid for Stephane Sessegnon when the midfielder moved from Sunderland last year. Ideye has been handed the number nine shirt at the Hawthorns and will join up with the squad when they return from a pre-season training camp in California. He scored 34 goals in three seasons in Ukraine, having previously played for Sochaux and Neuchatel Xamax after starting his career in his homeland with Ocean Boys. He has won 24 caps for Nigeria, scoring five times including in the semi-final as the Super Eagles won last year’s African Nations Cup. West Brom technical director Terry Burton added: “When I arrived at Albion the recruitment department flagged Brown up as the man at the top of their wish list.

SPORT

Erico : Babatunde good to play in four World Cups }59

Faith Bus Evangelists: Preachers or merchants?

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. 152

SUNDAY, jULY 20, 2014

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No; zoning does not detract from democracy

he argument about zoning as a means of achieving inclusive democracy in Nigeria has since become a convenient one. In my view, both pro and anti-zoning debaters tend often to proceed not from the angle of reason, reality and good conscience but from how the process affects their political fortunes at a given point in time. Recall the controversy that raged over Jonathan’s decision to contest the presidency on the platform of the ruling PDP: going by the party’s zoning arrangement, was he qualified to run? The debaters obviously did not take the reality of the situation at that time into consideration in making their cases. The zoning debate was brought to the fore again early last week when the Archbishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma publicly denounced the zoning arrangement in Enugu State where the PDP has zoned the governorship to Enugu North Senatorial District come 2015. The cleric described the arrangement as undemocratic, stressing that zoning denied the state the opportunity to field the best candidate for the governorship election. Expectedly, that comment sparked off a flurry of angry reactions from across the state, especially from Enugu North. But, beyond the cacophony of righteous anger, it has become necessary for us to interrogate zoning, to pause, ponder and ask: is zoning, going by Bishop Chukwuma’s postulation, actually antithetical to the principles of democracy? In a paper, Zoning, Rotation and The Power Struggle in Nigeria, which he posted on facebook in January 2011, Dr. Ifedi Andi Okwenna, an export company CEO wrote (permit me to quote him extensively): The principle of zoning and rotation of power is a philosophy of power sharing which is as old as man’s existence on earth and is believed to be older than democracy itself. It is on record that the system was practiced in Athens and Sparta in particular by the Greeks .The Roman Empire used it with great profit. Zoning and rotation principle is part of a democratic culture used to address the problems inherent in a polyglot society. It is another name for fair play, compromise and coexistence. It counters the negative impulse and tendency of a group of people to remain in office as long as possible and use the resources of the nation to service its narrow and parochial interests. It also offers itself as an antidote to a practice that engenders nepotism, promotes corruption and breeds inefficiency, which in turn stultifies growth and sustainable development. If power is allowed to systematically rotate between the various zones, the political space will not only widen, the process will definitely throw out capable leaders who can transform our country and move it to greater heights. The rotation principle on basis of zones would also strengthen loyalty to the nation because it would guarantee access to the highest offices of the land to all sections of the polity. But these cannot be realized if zoning and rotation does not make fairness, equity, and social justice the cardinal principle in which it is practiced. Zones must come as equals and take their turn on the basis of equality, accepting that what is good for the geese is also good for the gander. This argument is true for the nation as it is for states, senatorial districts, federal constituencies, local government areas,

Sunday

Notebook et al. Zoning was given practical expression in Nigeria as far back as 1979 when the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) zoned out offices to different parts of the country. Under that arrangement, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, an Igbo, was Vice President barely seven years after the bitter Nigerian Civil War. Had the military not struck in an ill-advised putsch, Ekwueme would probably have gone ahead to become President after Shagari, his principal with whom the Vice President worked so well. And that would have been the greatest gesture of reconciliation anywhere in Africa after such a bitter civil war. It is a matter of debate now whether the Buhari junta struck to stem corruption, as they claimed, or to prevent a perceived Igbo ascendancy so soon after a war in which they were perceived as the villain. Suffice it to say that since then, political positions, both elective and appointive, have been zoned in Nigeria at every level of government. In a plural society such as ours, where ethnic rivalry is frighteningly fierce and sub-ethnic groups don’t trust one another, zoning, as Okwenna has correctly argued, is the most practical means of engendering a sense of belonging among the people, eliciting their loyalty to, and support for, constituted authority and, ultimately maintaining peace and tranquility in a given political space. Democracy is not altogether a self-regulating process. It is guided by leadership, which determines the tenor of a democracy in the context of the cultural, ethnic and religious experiences of the people where it obtains. A visionary leadership is one which would often dispense with some of the classical ideals of democracy and fashion out workable models for its successful practice in a given environment, in the light of prevailing circumstances. That is why we run a presidential system of government but ours certainly does not function like the US model because our national experiences differ. That is why a Nigerian could win an election as mayor

MAMA LASISI

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Most Reverend Chukwuma

of a major city in Europe but a non-Yoruba aspiring to be chairman of Mushin local government, for instance, is laughed off as delusionary. Would democracy be endangered if, given the size of non-indigene population in say Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, leadership took steps to ensure that the chairman of that local government isn’t necessarily an ‘indigene?’ The assumption that zoning prevents the best from being thrown up for leadership is very a wrong one. Let’s face it, what certain parts of Nigeria lack are opportunities, not the ability or competence, to prove their mettle. I wager that there is no part of this country or, better still, Southern Nigeria, that cannot produce eligible governors, senators, House members and other categories of political office holders 10 times over at any given point in time. The problem is that those who had a head-start over others in education and or politics never want to give room for these others to advance politically or economically; they would rather keep everything

to themselves—forever. Which explains the oft-deadly competition for power in Nigeria as many more people from the hitherto ‘disadvantaged areas’ become more highly educated, experienced, affluent and, therefore, assertive. Archbishop Chukwuma takes umbrage at the PDP leadership in Enugu for zoning the governorship to Enugu North, come next year. The cleric says he can’t understand why somebody should sit down somewhere and decide who should contest an election and who should not. He insists this is undemocratic. Maybe. But, what if that system has served the state well? Enugu is easily one of the most peaceful and progressive states in this dispensation and certainly the most peaceful of the five Igbo states. Why so? Largely because right from its creation in 1991, its founding fathers had decided on what they called Triangular equilibrium, a power sharing arrangement whereby the three senatorial zones take turns to produce the state governor. In 1992, the late C.C Onoh, Okaome Ndigbo fought his fellow Enugu-West brothers Hyde Onuaguluchi and Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazua to a standstill to ensure that Dr. Okwy Nwodo from Enugu North was enthroned as first executive governor of the state. After Nwodo came Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu-East and now Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime from Enugu-West who will complete his eight-year tenure next year. All of us are witnesses to how Enugu State has flourished in Nigeria’s 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. So, why does it bother Bishop Chukwuma that the ruling PDP under Chime’s leadership has decided to continue with a tradition that has served the state well? Anambra Central and South had always called the shots in Anambra politics until Peter Obi persuaded his party to zone the governorship (visionary leadership) to Anambra North. And now we have the dynamic Willy Obiano from Aguleri (North) as governor. Orji Kalu (Abia West) handed over to Theodore Orji (Abia Central), and so on. In Chukwuma’s Delta State, his own place, Delta North is struggling to produce the state governor come next year. If somebody (Uduaghan) does not sit down somewhere (visionary, conscientious leadership) to make that zoning arrangement work, will a Delta North man become governor? Now, is democracy endangered if deliberate effort is made in Delta State to produce its next governor from Asaba or OgwashiUku? Or is the cleric’s opposition to zoning in Enugu more than meets the eye?

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By Aliu Eroje