Binder1 july 26,2014

Saturday Edition

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Saturday, JULY 26, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 158

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PRESH No problem between Kcee and me P.17

SHINA PELLER I’m creating magic in the nightlife industry P.19

IGALI We will wrestle for gold in Glasgow P.25

FG confirms Ebola outbreak as Liberian dies of virus in Lagos Appolinia Adeyemi and Muritala Ayinla

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t has been anxious moments in Lagos as a Liberian suspected to have contracted the Ebola Virus died in a private hospital yesterday.

His death has heightened tension across the state as nobody could confirm whether the dead patient identified as Mr. Patrick Sawyer, had had contact with anyone in the state.

Sawyer, said to have arrived in Lagos via a flight from Monrovia on Sunday July 20, at 4pm, allegedly died late on Thursday, thus confirming the presence of the Ebola virus in the state.

A source at First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos, where the suspect was undergoing treatment said the 40-year old Liberian, who worked with a West African organisation “was initially reCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

L-R: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-AdefulIre and President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport on his arrival for a one-day visit to Lagos …yesterday

CONVERSATION

NDIDI OBIOHA

Soldiers arrest Kaduna blast suspect disguised as a woman l Don’t ‘over-dramatise’ security challenges, Presidency tells critics Onyekachi Eze, Emmanuel Onani Abuja

S Men shouldn’t do blinks; it’s not just their thing P.13

ecurity operatives yesterday arrested a man said to be involved with Wednesday’s bomb blast in which former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, was a presumed target. The twin blast killed about 70 people and also damaged vehicles in the

convoy of the All Progressives Congress leader.

Also yesterday, the presidency frowned on what it termed the “over-dramatizing” of the country’s security problems.

Special Adviser on Political affairs to the president, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, noted that what is required at this time is unity of all Nigerians irrespective of political or tribal affiliations.

“I have to commiserate

with General Buhari and Sheik Dahiru Bauchi and also condole the families of those who lost their lives during that incident.

I also condole with all those who lost their lives over the past years as a result of the security challenges we are facing in the country.

“I want to also state that in a season like this the usual thing is what has become the popular culture of blame game. I don’t think anybody in this country

would be associated with thing in any way or form.

Therefore, those who want to trivialise these issues, personalize them or attribute it to this government or the leadership of this government in any form, directly or indirectly, should desist from that.

“This government is committed to the security of this nation; it is committed to lasting peace in this CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

}Two killed as PDP, APC supporters clash in osun p.6

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NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

Content 26.07.14 INSTYLE

Going Plaids

Long written off as a conservative anachronism, the plaid suit is presently enjoying a trendy revival particularly given the versatility it’s seeing lately as men increasingly find some creative combination for them.

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SHOWBIZ

Out of the Shadows

Winning the Amstel Malta Box Office contest has given Bhaira Mcwizu’s acting career a huge boost. The actress, back from a two-year break, talks about her latest projects, losing her privacy and her kind of man.

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THE ARTS Itinerant Art

Ademola Akintola’s art exhibition that closes tomorrow at Terra Kulture, in Lagos, is a distillation of experiences glimpsed through 40 years of travel.

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IDEAS & BRANDS Agencies’ Debts

Advertising agencies’ huge indebtedness to media organisations is a very touchy issue that never fails to raise tempers.

Chief executive officer of Mediapro Consulting, Taiwo Osunsanya, sheds light on the malaise.

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TRAVEL

Away from the Bustle

Every hotel often prides as offering the best of services. But it’s usually how such rhetoric is matched with action that makes the difference. At Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel in Port Harcourt this buzzword is complemented by an idyllic environment.

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CHEF’S CORNER Taste of Africa

The need to promote indigenous food culture is the inspiration behind the Taste of Africa Food Festival scheduled for Abuja in September.

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Nasarawa CJ sets up probe panel on Al-Makura Cheke Emmanuel Lafia

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he Nasarawa State Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman U. DiKko, yesterday constituted a seven-man panel of investigation to probe the 16 allegations levelled against the state Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, by the state House of Assembly.

Members of the panel included Mohammed Sabo Keana, Rev. Dr. Joel Galadima (Rtd), Alhaji Adbu Usman, Samuel Chaku and Mohammad Sani Usman and Pastor David Chaga, and Yusuf Shehu Usman as chairman.

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly had on July 14 resolved to serve a notice of impeachment on Al-Makura over allega-

tions of gross misconduct, abuse of oath of office and violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The state legislators had left for Abuja shortly after passing a motion to serve the notice, and returned to the House last Wednesday and directed the state chief Judge to inaugurate a seven-man panel of investigation to probe the allegations against the governor.

Inaugurating the panel at the conference hall of the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Lafia, the state capital, Justice Dikko urged members of the panel to carry out their duties in line with the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He said, ‘By virtue of the powers conferred on

me by Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and the letter from the honourable speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly with reference NSHA/ MM/166 /VOL/ 1/38 dated the 23rd July, 2014 requesting me to appoint a seven-man panel to investigate the governor over I hereby appoint you.“ The chief judge said that members of the panel are non-partisan and would submit their report to the speaker of the state House of Assembly in 14 days.

Dikko urged members of the panel to be just and fair to all parties in the discharge of their duties, as according to him, “no proceedings or determination of the panel or of the House of Assembly or

FG confirms Ebola outbreak as Liberian dies of virus in Lagos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sponding to treatment, but plans were made to fly him back to his country when the situation worsened.”

The source added that Sawyer was in Nigeria for a conference, but remained in the hospital throughout the conference.

However, doctors at the hospital said Sawyer was quarantined before his death and that the hospital vicinity had cordoned off with 30 other people also being tested for possible contact with the deadly virus.

When contacted, the special adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, said she was heading for a meeting on the issue, saying the government would brief journalists on the latest development.

But, apparently to douse

the apprehension in the state, the Director of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi, said the federal government would support Lagos State to prevent the disease from spreading.

“The federal government is here to support the state government to ensure that the case is nipped in the bud. The federal government has deployed 14 of us in Lagos. And we will be supporting the state with the required technical input, to ensure that any suspected cases of Ebola are nipped in the bud,” he said, warning that dead bodies are even more dangerous in cases of Ebola Virus.

But despite the anxiety fuelled largely by the fact that doctors in public health facilities are on strike, striking doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medi-

cal Association (NMA), in Lagos State said they would not suspend the ongoing strike because of EVD. The Chairman of NMA, Dr. Tope Ojo, told New Telegraph on Saturday that the ongoing strike was not called because of Ebola and would not be called off because of the virus.

“We are not on strike because of Ebola. It was never part of our demands.

It wasn’t our fault,” he said and urged the public to ask the government why they signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and backed out.

However, the federal government has officially announced the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.

The Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said Sawyer died “despite specialised barrier nursing care provided for him in a

Don’t ‘over-dramatise’ security challenges, Presidency tells critics CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

country and Mr. President is deeply committed to bringing stability in our political environment.

“We should not over dramatise these issues. All of us must come together; we have collective responsibility to protect and defend our country. This is not a time for politicising issues.

Security matters are not for politicians. There are people who have been trained and who are responsible for security. We cannot do their job for them; they should be allowed to do their job.”

Alkali urged critics to

refrain from actions and utterances that might weaken the institutions of government, “especially security agencies who are doing very well in containing the situation.”

On 2015 general elections, he said President Jonathan’s transformation agenda is a process that needs time to mature, adding that it’s reason PDP should triumph in the elections.

Alkali who assumed office as National Coordinator of Goodluck Support Group, charged members to remain committed and re-double their efforts to

any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court.”

Friday’s development had been preceded by several days of intrigues particularly with the governor and his aides insisting he has yet to be served with the impeachment notice. There were also some protests by supporters of the governor against the legislators’ action. Last week, one such protest culminated in the arrest of 22 people in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Although the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, said no life was lost, he added that two persons suffered severe injury during the protest that also resulted vandalising of five shops and a vehicle.

win votes and friends for the president and PDP. “You must also know that the challenges we faced in 2011 elections aredifferent today. The times are different; the variables are different; and the environment is different. Therefore, a careful assessment towards the road to victory in 2015 would require different applications and strategies,” Alkali added.

Speaking on the arrest of the suspect, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said in a statement on its website, that he was arrested by troops on patrol of the Kawo

area, shortly after he allegedly executed the act, and attempted to “fizzle into a crowd,” to evade arrest.

He was said to be “clad in female garb” to deflect attention. “Troops are holding a man suspected to be connected with the explosion targeted at General Buhari on Wednesday.

“The young man who was apprehended by military patrol team that swooped on the area immediately after the explosion, had disguised as a woman with a brazier affixed to his chest.

“The suspect was ar-

rested while trying to fizzle into a crowd of onlookers when the patrol team arrived the scene.

“He is currently being interrogated by security agencies in a bid to ascertain his links.”

Minimah

Lagos hospital, First Consultant Specialist Hospital, he passed away in the early hours of the day” (Friday).

On efforts being taken to curb the spread, Chukwu said all the passengers that the patient came in contact with had been traced and were being investigated.

“In line with the international health regulations and in keeping with international best practice, all ports of entry in Nigeria including airports, seaports and land boarders are placed on Red alert, my staff are positioned in all these locations.

“All the government tertiary health institutions in Nigeria have been equipped to handle any emergency that may arise from the disease. There are also drugs and medical consumables presently pre-positioned while we are working with all the states of the federation, especially those with ports of entry to mitigate the situation.”

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has also called on all Nigerians to be vigilant and to imbibe improved personal hygiene and also report any suspected case to the nearest medical facility.

He added that an emergency operation centre has been established and gave the following details: 08023210923, 08097979595, and 07067352220. Emails can be sent onebolainfo@ health.gov.ng - Additional report by Comfort Chukwu, Obinna Odoh and Tosin Omoniyi

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

21 Adamawa council chairmen, councillors defect to PDP l APC, lawyer blame assembly over delay in notifying INEC defection With the change of guard in Government House, other elected government officials have defected to PDP Ibrahim Abdul

I

Yola

ndications emerged yesterday that all the 21 local government area chairmen, councillors and development area administrators in Adamawa State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the removal of Admiral Murtala Nyako rtd as governor of the state.

The chairmen, who joined Nyako in declaring for the All Progressives Congress (APC) had yesterday announced their defection to the PDP in the state in line with the directive of the state’s acting governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Fintiri had spent most part of last Thursday, trying to convince the 21 local government area chairmen and 50 development area administrators to join the PDP. Also yesterday, the state chapter of the APC berated the state House of Assembly for the delay in notifying the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on the resolutions of the assembly, which led to the removal of Nyako as governor.

INEC’s chairman, Attahiru Jega, had said the electoral body had not been formerly notified of the impeachment.

But the spokesman of the council chairmen and chairman of Michika Local Government Area, Mr. Van-

di Favanza, told Fintiri of their readiness to support his government in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to the electorate in the state.

“We are here to announce our defection and declare our support and readiness towards moving the state forward,” Favanza has said.

While responding, the acting governor thanked the chairmen and councillors as well as the development area administrators for their resolve to dump APC, promising to do his best to correct the wrongs of the past in order to enhance development of the state.

He said his administration was working with all the stakeholders in the state with the aim of charting a viable alternative towards the enhancement of the welfare of all the people of the state, while stating that his administration would welcome genuine advice from all stakeholders.

But in a swift reaction, the state chairperson of APC, Mr. Binta Masi Garba, said the party was not rattled by the defection, stating that the move would only make the party stronger.

“You know in politics no permanent friend, neither permanent enemy but permanent interest. So, it’s not surprising to hear that they choice to defect because they were threatened with impeachment and dissolution by the acting governor as part of PDP desperation to get power.

“But I will assure you that, the electorate are watching the betrayal scenario with kin interest. They only mortgaged their rights and political conscience.

“So we are not disturbed;

perturbed or rattled.APC will definitely continue to wax stronger,” the party chairperson stated.

In another development, the PDP while receiving the defectors, set some conditions for the 21 local government chairmen and 36 areas administrators who had expressed willingness to defect from APC to go publicly and denounced their APC membership The state chairman of the party, Chief Joel Madaki, who received the 21 council chairmen, said the PDP was willing to accept them if they could follow due process.

He said: “It is imperative for you all to go back to your individual wards and re-validate your PDP membership card.”

Madaki also advised them to publicly renounce their APC membership in the media so that constitutional lapses would be averted.

Earlier, the chairman of Michika Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Vandi Favanza, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, pledged unalloyed support and wiliness to meet with the conditions given “We are not strangers in PDP, because it’s the party that gave us the mandate we are enjoying today we will do anything to work for the interest of the party,” he said.

On his part, Gombi Local Government Area chairman, Mr. Rufai Umar, expressed the fear that the PDP executives at their local government level may not accept them, due to political difference that had earlier ensued.

Meanwhile, the APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Phineas Padio, told journalists in Yola, that the assem-

bly’s action was a deliberate act and it pointed clearly the house selfish agenda to simply remove Nyako and his deputy so as to dip their hands in the state treasury.

“The lawmakers who are now major beneficiaries of the removal of the governor and his deputy are very busy maximising the opportunity they have to loot the treasury the way they want.

“You can see how immediately after taking over power they scrapped the state human development programmes put in place

by Nyako so as to divert all the money budgeted for the programmes,” Padio said.

Also speaking, a constitutional lawyer, Mr. Sunday Wugira, who threatened to drag the assembly to court if it failed to notify INEC by Monday, said the delay by the assembly was unfortunate.

“It is serious dereliction of duty on the side of the assembly,” Wugira said.

Wugira said he had submitted a letter to the assembly asking for the certified true copy of the proceedings of that day should the assembly fail to performed it function to communicate to INEC, he would do it as a concern citizen.

“As a responsible citizen it is our duty to do that. By the time we fold our arms and allow irresponsibility to continue we will be the greatest casualties of the irresponsibility,” Wugira said.

When contacted, the Chairman of the assembly Committee on Information, Mr Adamu Kamale, had confirmed that the lawmakers were yet to notify the electoral body, saying the assembly would soon communicate to INEC.

NEWS

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NEWS EDITOR, SATURDAY:

NDUBUISI UGAH

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

The Week Ahead NSCIA begins moon sighting today The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has informed Muslim faithful that its national moon sighting committee will begin the search for the new moon, which signals the end of the current Ramadan fasting and the beginning of another midnight today.

In a statement by its Secretary–General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the new astronomic moon would be born few minutes before midnight on Saturday and it could be sighted in Nigeria on Sunday with optical instruments or with some difficulties with naked eyes.

The Council, which apologised to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria for the unusual confusion that trailed the commencement of the holy month, despite efforts made to avoiding such, said once the committee sighted and confirmed the new moon, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar (111), would announce the end of fasting and the Salah.

INEC distributes PVCs in Osun today The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has said it will distribute Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to those who were registered during the recent continuous voters’ registration exercise from today till tomorrow.

The commission also stated that it would stop the distribution of PVCs on August 4 to concentrate on the governorship election.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, said the move was to enable the commission and the electorate have enough time before the election date.

Women group holds medical outreach today A group, Arise Women Group will today stage a medical outreach programme at Ikeja Local Government Area, Ikeja at 11a.m. A team of medical practitioners would give free consultations, treatment and health talks on disease conditions such as malaria, pneumonia, diabetes and hypertension among others.

Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Fitri July 28 The Federal Government has declared July 28 and 29 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitri celebration. A statement issued by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, enjoined Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan for the nation to benefit from.

The minister also appealed to all Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the holidays to reflect on the imperative of peace and nation building.

JIBWIS conducts wedding for 50 couples July 30 Katsina State branch of Jam’atul Izalatul Bidia Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) has concluded plans to organise mass wedding for 50 bachelors and their heartthrobs on July 30.

The chairman of the group, Sheik Yakub Hassan, during women Tasfir at Abbattoir Islamiyya School in Kaduna, said the gesture marked another milestone in the humanitarian activities of the group.

He added that the mass wedding was aimed at assisting the under-privileged men and women to have spouses.

NMS holds speech, prize-giving day July 30

L-R: Special Adviser on Public Health, Lagos State, Dr. Yewande Adeshina; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and his counterpart in the health ministry, Dr. Jide Idris, at a press conference briefing on the update on Ebola virus disease at the Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat, Lagos …yesterday

The annual speech and prize giving day of the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, Kaduna State will hold on July 30 at the Ogundeke Hall by 9a.m., while the Passing-Out-Parade (POP), in honour of this year’s graduating candidates of the school will hold on August 2 at RSM Kumasi parade ground by 8.30a.m.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, is expected to be the reviewing officer at the POP, while Dr. A.M. Adeyanju, of the national Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, will be the guest speaker at the speech and prize giving event.

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NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

JOS Creating 19 more states not viable, says Lar

N EWS I N BRIEF

A member representing Langtang North and South Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Beni Lar, has said there is no need for the creation of new states as being canvassed by the National conference as most states cannot generate income to sustain themselves.

Lar, who stated this yesterday in Jos, said the creation was not viable since the 36 states were currently depending on the Federal Allocation.

According to her, the issue of creating 19 more states is un-called for because of the reality on the ground.

“All those clamouring for the creation of new states, right now, I don’t think it is viable because you have to look at the reality on the ground. How are the new states maintaining themselves?” she said.

12.86m The total population of Senegal (rep. 0.19% of world’s population) in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

FCT

UMUAHIA Abia allays fear over fuel scarcity

Following threats by the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN), Aba branch to shut their outlets if the imposition of a chairman is not reversed, the Abia State Government yesterday allayed the fear of any possible fuel scarcity in the state.

IPMAN had through one of its affiliates, the Ukwa Ngwa Indigenous Petroleum Marketers Forum (UNIPMAF) threatened to cut supply in protest of the removal of the elected chairman, Mr. Gilbert Nwoke and replacing him with Bobby Ugochukwu Dick, but Chief of Staff to the state Governor, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, has said such a thing will not happen.

Amosu commends officers of helicopter crash

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, on Friday commended the courageous behaviour of the officers who survived the Helicopter crash in Borno State.

A statement posted on Defence headquarters website: defenceinfo.mil.ng., quoted Amosu as saying this when he received the officers who survived the air crash in Maiduguri.

He thanked God for sparing the lives of the officers and commiserated with them on the loss of their colleague in the flight.

The CAS assured them of government’s support and that of the Nigerian Air Force to the bereaved family.

2bn

The projected number of people estimated to be vulnerable to flood disaster due to rising populations in flood-prone lands, climate change, deforestation, loss of wetlands and rising sea levels.

Source: Unesco.org

3.397m The number of air travel passengers of the international wing of Lagos airport in 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Adamawa police rescue stolen baby in Abia Ibrahim Abdul

T Yola

he Adamawa State Police Command has rescued an infant stolen from the cottage hospital of Mayo Belwa Local Government Area barely two weeks ago.

Reports said the baby was stolen on July 15 in Aba, Abia State.

Confirming this, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Haa Micheal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who stood in for the Commissioner of Police, A. J Abakasanga, said the command received a report over the abduction of a day-old infant at the Mayo Belwa Cottage Hospital.

He said the report prompted the command to swing into action leading to the arrest of a 21-year-old girl, Chinwendu Mbogu, who confessed abducting the infant leading to the

rescue of the infant in far away Aba in Abia State.

Michael said the baby had since been reunited with her family.

The command also paraded a 72-year-old man, Baba Adamu Idirisa, who was alleged to have defiled a 7-year-old girl, when she went to buy provision in his store and had “unnatural sex with her”.

He added that the man would soon be charged to court.

Also paraded was a 20-year-old man, Shehu Nalaide, who confessed robbing people at Barkin Sajo, while a 29-year-old man, Abdulaziz Ahmadu and 30-year-old, Abubakar Salihu, were paraded for robbery and theft of cars.

The police alleged that the duo usually drugged their victims using yoghurt before stealing cars just as the command displayed a starlet car stolen by them.

Akinwunmi: Nigerians yet to benefit from rebased economy Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

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Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr, Andrew Yakubu (left) and President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Otis Anyaeji, shortly after their recent admission into the class of fellows by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering in Lagos

ALSCON’s machines, structures still intact – NCP FALSEHOOD NCP allays fears over balkanazation of Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria

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he National Council on Privatisation (NCP)’s Factfinding Committee on Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) has said the allegation of asset stripping against UC Rusal–owners of the company is untrue as ALSCON’s machines and structures were intact.

Speaking after an assessment tour of the multi-million naira plant in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Chairman of the committee, Mr. Emmanuel Amadi, said what was construed as asset stripping was the disposal of scraps, non-liquid assets, faulty and inactive equipment and their parts by UC Rusal.

BPE Head of Public

Communications, Chigbo Anichebe, in a statement, said Amadi named these as: spent anode butts, anode stems and yokes, aluminum metal pads, cathode and anode busbar, coke and pitch for anode production and cathode bars.

Amadi, who led two other members of the NCP; Mohammed Abubakar and Benson Upah, on the visit expressed displeasure over the closure of the plant and urged the management to quickly develop and submit to the government, a business plan with timelines to keep the plant functional.

He called for industrial harmony between the management of ALSCON and the workforce, as its absence could jeopardise smooth operations of the company.

The chairman, while appealing to the management of the company to re-

consider recalling some of the sacked union officials revealed that the committee would immediately present the report of its findings to the NCP to take the next action.

Earlier, the Managing Director of UC Rusal, Dmitriy Zaviyalov, had informed the committee members that the falling prices of aluminium metals in the global market and lack of gas supply to the company were hampering the operations of the plant.

He said that between 2007 and 2012, Rusal had invested N24.54 billion into the plant but due to teething problems, it suspended production in March 2013.

The MD added that since takeover, it utilised only 11 per cent of its production capacity and that during the period, it experienced six disruptions of gas supply.

Zaviyalov said management decided to sell the plant’s scraps and non-liquid assets to get additional income for survival, especially payment of staff salaries and supplying five megawatts of power to the company’s host community.

he Federal Government yesterday accepted that the rebasing of the national economy has not brought much to the lives of most Nigerians.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who spoke on the disparity assured Nigerians that the country would evolve a new growth model to unlock the huge potential of the nation’s agricultural lands.

Akinwumi, who made the remark in a keynote address at the first convocation ceremony of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, said in spite of the country being ranked among the fastest growing economies, the achievement has not included a vast majority of citizens as millions feel alienated and hear about the growth numbers.

The minister agreed that though the country’s GDP annual growth rate aver-

aged 6.21 per cent, above the average for the rest of Africa, there still exists a huge paradox that would be addressed with the right policies.

“Today, Nigeria is the fourth fastest growing economy in the world, and we are now the largest economy in Africa. The growth in Nigeria, as in most of the countries in Africa is not inclusive, Nigeria’s rural economies harbour the greatest share of those being left behind or excluded.

There is no doubt in my mind, therefore, that we need a new growth model that stimulates share posterity, creates job for millions of our rural youth and unlock the huge potentials of lands,” he said.

Adesina, who said the country’s Growth Domestic Product (GDP) annual growth rate stood at 6.21 per cent from 2015 until this year, said there was need to stop treating agriculture as a development programme but rather as a business in order to unlock its potentials.

IG sets up panel on Kaduna bombing Emmanuel Onani

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he Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has set up a panel of investigation into Wednesday's bomb explosions in Kaduna State, which left scores dead and many injured.

Abubakar also ordered state and zonal commands of the Police, especially terror-prone states, to beefup security, with a view to forestalling future attacks.

A former Head of State, Maj.Gen. Muhammad Bu-

hari (retd.), and an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, escaped the latest Kaduna twin bomb attacks, which occurred at separate locations, unhurt.

A statement signed yesterday, by the Force Public Rations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said the investigative team, which is expected to collaborate with other security agencies, in a determined effort to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to justice, will be

head by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Legal Unit, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

Mba said 39 people died from the attacks, while 37 others were currently nursing varying degrees of injuries.

Other members of the team include: DCP Chris Ezike of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS), DCP Dan Mallam of the Monitoring Unit, DCP Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi of the Interpol Unit, and others.

Akpabio’s wife blames Nigeria’s woes on declining family values MORAL Wane in morals blamed on women

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ife of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, has said most of Nigeria’s social problems are traceable to the loss of moral values at the family level.

The governor’s wife was speaking to executive members of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), when they paid a courtesy visit to her earlier yesterday at Government House, Uyo. She said: “Some of the challenges we are facing as a country today is because we have lost our family values. We have neglected our children for too long, that is why they sometimes rebel. I

believe that God is not happy with us as mothers because we indulge our children too much. Every problem should not be on the head of the president. We have to do our own part as mothers, wives and sisters at home. We must not forget that when the family is not stable, the society cannot be stable.”

Akpabio commended NAOWA for its interest in the welfare of its members who had lost their husbands to wars and the ongoing insurgency in the country and urged them to always protect the welfare of widows in their midst.

She also identified with its noble charity service to widows and vulnerable children, saying she is always passionate about issues concerning the vulnerable groups in the nation because of her experience with such.

Oyedepo justifies church’s investment in education Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

C

hancellor of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Bishop David Oyedepo, yesterday justified his church’s huge investment in the education sector, stating that it was part of the church’s commitment to nation building.

Oyedepo, who is founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide (aka Winners’ Chapel), said this during the university’s maiden convocation, where he stated that he was committed to the vision of raising a crop of visionary leaders to assist in solving the country’s under development challenges.

He described the investment as visionary, destiny-

preserved move aimed at rescuing the nation from the jaw of poverty, saying the vision of Landmark University is to raise and release value-creating, new generation leaders who shall be equipped with relevant skills and good character to become change in repositioning the nation.

“The investment of our church in education is therefore a visionary move aimed, in the case of Landmark University, at prosecuting an agricultural revolution as a solution to the nation’s food challenges.

“We are releasing these set of pathfinders also as highly employable graduates having been specially equipped as productive human resources entities."

Gaidam queries commissioner, perm sec over trip to Saudi Arabia Bamidele Babalola Damaturu

F

ollowing media reports of how some officials of Yobe State Government embarked on lesser hajj to Saudi Arabia, despite the lean purse of the state, the state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has instructed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Babagoni Machina, to issue queries to some of the affected officials.

Though they are still in Saudi Arabia, the New Telegraph gathered that those affected were the commissioners for Women Affairs, Rural Development, Education and Agriculture. Also affected were the permanent secretaries in the ministries of Information, Agriculture, Health and Justice.

According to a reliable

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source at the office of the SSG, the affected officials were asked to give reasons why disciplinary actions should not be taken against them for embarking on an unauthorised journey.

The source also said that on reading the story in New Telegraph, the governor was livid with anger and he, according to the source, instructed the SSG to recall them home.

However, an aide of the Commissioner for Information, who did not want his name mentioned, said that his boss had returned to the country in obedience to the governor’s directives.

When asked whether his boss has been going to the office, he said his boss was still in Kano waiting for the arrival of the governor from Saudi Arabia.

MALAMMADORI Council to rehabilitate cemeteries with N11m

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Malammadori Local Government Council in Jigawa State has awarded contract worth N11 million for the rehabilitation of cemeteries in the area.

The Sole Administrator of the council, Alhaji Lawan Abdu, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Malammadori yesterday.

He said the contract included the construction of perimeter fencing round cemeteries and the provision of manual water pumps.

59.8%

UYO NUT lauds Akpabio for employing 5,000 teachers

The Akwa Ibom wing of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has lauded Governor Godswill Akpabio for recruiting 5,000 teachers into the service.

The state Chairman of NUT, Mr. Etim Ukpong, made the commendation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo. He said the teachers were grateful for the prompt implementation of the Teachers Enhancement Allowance (TEA) of 27.5 per cent in the state.

“These sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State have been serving the state diligently since last year without salaries,” Ukpong said.

The projected rise in the number of people living with diabetes in the South and Central America by 2035.

Source: Idp.com

5

FCT NAN, UNESCO partner on literacy in Northern Nigeria

The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ima Niboro, said on Friday that the agency would work closely with UNESCO to promote literacy in Northern Nigeria.

Niboro stated this when the Regional Representative of UNESCO, Prof. Hassana Alidon, and the Executive Secretary, National Mass Education Commission, Mr. Jibrin Paiko, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The issue of education, especially school enrolment was a very serious one in this country. Nigeria in the world has the highest number of children out of school; Nigerian has 10 million children out of school.

5%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Iraq in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

21 The life expectancy (in years) of male population at 60 years in Belgium in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

APGA felicitates with Muslims on Eid-el-Fitri celebration Johnchuks Onuanyim and Umar Danladi Ado

A

Abuja/Sokoto

s Muslim faithful in Nigeria join the rest of the world to mark the Eid-el-Fitri celebration, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has called for peace as Muslims celebrate.

Equally, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone10, Sokoto, Alhaji Bala Hassan and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Yamel, said security agents have been mobilised to ensure a hitchfree sallah celebration.

Umeh, who described as barbaric and unholy the recent bomb blasts in Kaduna

…As FRSC, Police, NSCDC deploy personnel, patrol vehicles for Sallah

State, which killed about 82 Nigerians, called on Muslims in the country to use this period of Eid el Fitri to soberly reflect on the mood of the nation.

He said it was more painful that the perpetrators of such heinous crimes against humanity could carry out such action during the month of Ramadan.

The APGA national chairman in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the present barrage of bombs detonating in the northern part of Nigeria, constituted a grave sense of worry and concern among the innocent citizens of this country.

“I urge our Muslim brothers and sisters to in the spirit of Ramadan embrace peace which is what the Holy Prophet Mohammed advocated,” he said.

He called on those “be-

hind these dangerous acts against humanity” to have a re-think and return to the path of religious and social rectitude.

He said: “The perpetrators of these acts are not thinking of the consequences of their actions against God and humanity. The damage they have done to human race were irreparable and condemnable.

“The Boko-Haram sect does not belong to any religious organisation since every religion in the world clearly condemn murder of fellow human being in any form, shape or ramification.”

In the same vein, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday deployed 15,000 operatives and 800 patrol vehicles across the highways to ensure freeflow of traffic throughout the

Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The commission also deployed 60 patrol motorcycles, 52 ambulances and six heavy duty tow trucks in the highways.

In a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Jonas Agwu, in Abuja, FRSC stated that aside the massive deployment of personnel and logistics for a week-long patrol beginning from yesterday, the FRSC had established nine “Help Areas’’ in some critical road corridors.

It stated that the help were located on Hawa Kibo, Akwanga, Gwagwalada, Lokoja, Ore, Egbeda, Mowe, Oghere and Kakau highways.

On his part, Hassan said sensitive security measures had been put in place to ensure hitch-free celebration.

Chief Imam of Zaria, Mallam Muhammad Sani-Aliyu (middle), leading the funeral prayer for the former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, at the Emir of Zazzau's palace in Zaria, Kaduna State…on Thursday

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BPE boss urges workers to pray for Nigeria N EWS I N BRIEF

The Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Dikki, has urged the Christian and Muslim communities in the bureau not to relent in their prayers for the nation and the bureau.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the BPE’s Head of Public Communications, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, in Abuja yesterday.

“I want to remind you that Nigeria is going through trying times which require the prayers of all religious denominations. Anybody could be a victim, given the random nature of the attacks and it requires the collective prayers of all faiths,” it said.

669

ETSAKO WEST

LAFIA

FCT

Commission warns staff against truancy

The Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Ishaku Abari, has warned council workers against truancy and nonchalant attitude to work.

Abari gave the warning in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia yesterday.

“The action becomes necessary following series of complaints from the general public concerning local government workers' attitude to work, as well as high rate of truancy and lateness to duties,” he said.

The number of air travel passengers of the international wing of Calabar airport in 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Effect of oil spill worries community

Oil spill caused by bunkering has polluted farmlands and the only river in Egonu community in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, according to the residents.

The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) oil thieves vandalised pipelines passing through the area, leading to the oil spill that polluted the river.

A resident of the area, Mr. Isah Musa, who revealed that farmers crops had been destroyed, said: “We woke up early this morning to discover that oil is floating on our river and this must have affected the aquatic animals in the river.”

73.7%

The urban population percentage of Bulgaria in 2012.

Source: Un.org

$2.29trn The nominal GDP of Italy (World Bank) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Ekhomu: Bomb attack on Buhari intended to destabilise Nigeria lPolice to deploy plain-clothed officers in Onitsha Isioma Madike with agency reports

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he botched assassination attempt by suspected Boko Haram members in Kaduna State on former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has been described as an attempt by the sect to plunge Nigeria into widespread politicoethno-religious violence.

This came as the Anambra State Police Command said yesterday that it had concluded plans to deploy hundreds of plain-clothed officers in Onitsha with a view to fishing out criminals and elements wanted by law enforcement agencies.

Reacting to the two bomb attempts on Buhari and on an Islamic cleric, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, where over 80 persons were killed, a security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, said the choice of the targets by the terrorists was calculated.

“Had any of the two assassination attempts succeeded, the concomitant violent reaction by

citizens would have been widespread and deadly,” he said.

He said the action was capable of triggering violent conflict between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) supporters.

“It could also engineer resentment between Christians and Muslims as well as between youths and security officials because of the perceived inability of the security agencies to prevent incessant killings in Nigeria,” the security expert said.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha, that the move was a proactive step to check criminal syndicate incubation.

NAN reports that hoodlums and miscreants dislodged from the highways, streets and major black spots in Onitsha, were now carrying out their activities in neighbourhoods by breaking shops, malls and apartments.

Army retires Abacha’s CSO, Al-Mustapha

T L-R: Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbeshola; Director General, Economic Policy, CBN, Mrs. Sarah Alade; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godwill Akpabio and his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, during the signing ceremony of MOU between CBN and some State Governments on Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) in Abuja...Thursday

Jonathan’s wife calls for urgent access to cervical cancer treatment CURE Nigeria First Lady raises hope for cervical cancer cure in Africa

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he First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, yesterday said there was need to urgently address the issue of universal access to cervical cancer prevention and treatment in Africa.

She said this at the 8th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer conference in Africa in Windhoek, Namibia.

Mrs. Jonathan, who presented the Nigerian position at the conference, said the Federal Government had procured and distributed diagnostic and treatment equipment to 12 federal hospitals in its effort to end the scourge.

“For the first time in Africa, Nigeria has also introduced residency training in clinical Medical Physics in 2012 for cancer care en-

hancement. This arose from the technical cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency for the conduct of the activity.

“Nigeria is also in technical partnership with the agency, to procure Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine equipment for 10 of our hospitals,” she said.

The objective of this, according to her, is to ensure improved access to early cancer diagnosis and treatment.

She explained that currently two hospitals, including the National Hospital Abuja and University College Hospital, Ibadan, offer nuclear medicine diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

The first lady added that efforts were ongoing so that by the year 2016, the number of Hospitals that could provide nuclear medicine services would be increased to 10.

She said subsequently, those with radiation therapy would be increased to 11.

Mrs Jonathan also advocated for the inclusion of Cancer Screening into reg-

ular family planning, and maternal health services.

The first lady further called for improved access to HPV Vaccines by girls between the ages of nine and 15 years.

Others are increased awareness of, and improved access to family planning and pre and post screening

counselling, to prepare the women for the outcome of cancer screening.

“Many of our women are not adequately informed about this disease and others are too poor to access care on time. This results in the tragedy of preventable deaths and devastation to the family,” Jonathan said.

he Nigerian Army has approved the voluntary retirement of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha.

An online news portal, Blueprint reliably gathered that Al-Mustapha’s retirement finally laid to rest the controversy surrounding his return to service and purported promotion to the rank of Brigadier General in 2013 after he was freed from prison.

The Blueprint gathered that the Army Council gave the approval of Al-Mustapha’s retirement based on the extant laws and condition of service in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Sources said the Army Council, which approves promotion and retirement of officers of the Nigerian

Army based on Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS), approved the retirement last week.

“Al-Mustapha’s retirement was approved by the Army Council and backdated to June 2013. This means, he served the Nigerian Army for 33 years. It is a voluntary retirement,” the source said.

“Even though, by law AlMustapha was still in service when he was released from prison, he knew that by condition of service he no longer fitted in the army.”

The Blueprint had exclusively reported in July on why Al-Mustapha had to quit the army based on HTACOS. Even though the army confirmed this, Blueprint’s investigation indicated that Al-Mustapha could not continue in the army.

APC, PDP clash claims two in Osun Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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wo unidentified middle-aged men were yesterday shot dead in a clash that ensued between the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore in Ilesha.

The incident, which took place at Irojo area of the town, saw the support-

ers from the two political camps shooting sporadically into the air to scare one another but in the process, the deceased were shot in the chests and gave up the ghost immediately.

As at the time of filing in this report, the identity of the shot persons were yet to be identified and the political circle they belong remains unknown, but the development has created tension in the area as residents and inhabitants of the place vacated their abodes while passersby abandoned their vehicles

and ran for safety.

Investigations further revealed that other dangerous weapons were freely used and displayed by the supporters of the two political camps in order to have an edge against one another in a battle that lasted hours.

In the process, several persons reportedly injured with charms and machetes and had been taken to various hospitals in the town for medical attention while the shot ones had been taken to a hospital mortuary.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations

Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Folasade Odoro, confirmed the incident and assured that the police would get to the root of the matter.

Also, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Ayo Olowo, confirmed the death but maintained that normalcy had since returned to the town.

“The death came as a result of bloody clash which ensued between supporters of Omisore and those of Aregbesola in Ilesa,” he said.

Military campaign not against Gaza people – Israeli envoy Louis Achi Abuja

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s United States Secretary of State embarks on a diplomatic mission to Egypt, the Isreali ambassador to Nigeria, Uriel Palti, has stated that his country current military offensive was not targeted at Gaza people but at Hamas insurgents.

In reference to the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents by the Federal Government, Palti said he was aware of the efforts Nigeria was deploying to fight the insurgency and that just like Nigerians the Isrealis craved to live in peace.

“I stand to be contradicted. As the representative of Israel in Nigeria, I know the amount of efforts in terms of human and material resources the government is putting up to tackle the menace of Boko Haram in the country.

“Just like the people of Nigeria, the citizens of Israel want to live in peace and away from the stronghold of terror,” he said.

In an article authored by the ambassador obtained

by New Telegraph Saturday, Palti declared that it was not possible for any nation to fold its arms and watch terrorists kidnap its children or sit back and watch rockets rain down on its citizens or gape at jihadists burrowing tunnels under its borders?

“The answer is in the negative. That is why we were left with no other choice than to embark on the ongoing military operations in the Gaza,” he stated.

According to the ambassador, a reservist Major of the Isreali Defence Force, “For years, the citizens of Israel have been the victims of unrelenting attacks perpetuated by a murderous terrorists group.

I am committed to Omisore’s victory- Fayose l SDP candidate vows to clinch guber poll Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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kiti State governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has said he is committed to the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Fayose’s statement came on a day the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi, expressed his readiness for the poll, saying his untainted career as a former civil servant, the goodwill he enjoyed among the populace and the Almighty God would ensure his victory.

But Fayose, while speaking through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said he was confident of Omisore’s victory in the poll.

The governor-elect was reacting to some postings

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in the social media that he was no longer supporting Omisore for some reasons.

“We all know the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its media propaganda and falsehood. Nigerians know that their leaders thrive on lies and that did not work for them in Ekiti State and will not work for them in Osun State or anywhere in the South-West and the country as a whole.

“They have engaged their fifth columnists again in Osun State to spread rumours and falsehood. They ought to know that they need to change their style.

Their tissues of lies can no longer hold again.

“I am strongly committed and same for the entire leadership of our great party, the PDP to Senator Omisore's cause in Osun and we are winning. The APC is already jittery and that is why they want to hold on to straw when they are drowning,”

YENAGOA Stop blackmailing Dickson over 2016 election

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A group, the Grassroots Connect for Restoration (GrassCore), has warned opposition politicians against alleged blackmail of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, with frivolous claims on secret meetings with opposition party leaders and N26million bribe to INEC officials over the conduct of 2016 governorship election in the state.

The group described the allegation as laughable and a desperate attempt by antidevelopment forces to destroy the existing relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Dickson.

The group stated that though the race for 2016 had not begun, the decision by Dickson to seek re-election was based on performance and loyalty to the PDP and above all, the Almighty God.

ASABA Utuama tasks contractors on projects

The Commissioner representing Ughelli South, Udu, Uvwie and Urhobos in Warri, on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Mr. Festus Utuama, has tasked contractors handling various projects in his areas to speed up with their jobs to enable the constituents to enjoy the work of the interventionist agency.

Speaking during the inspection of projects at Edjophe community market and Ogoni community Town Hall in Ughelli South Local Government Area, the board member urged contractors to complete their projects within the specified period.

3.1%

The annual population growth rate of Afghanistan in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

7

CALABAR Army trains 67 NSCDC personnel on weapon handling

The Nigerian Army on Friday completed a one-month training for 67 personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on weapon handling.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the training, which started on June 24 and ended yesterday, was conducted at 146 Battalion, Eburutu Barracks, Calabar.

The NSCDC personnel were trained on stripling and assembling of G3 and AK47 rifles, description of G3 rifle, arms maintenance and shooting positions, among others.

Speaking at the end of the programme, Cross River State Commandant of NSCDC, Dr. Benito Eze, said the training was organised to prepare the corps on combat readiness.

2.534m The total population of Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

173,481

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Malawi in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

‘Why Idomas have not produced governor since 1976’ JINX Idomas urged to look to zoning as the only means to produce a

Cephas Iorhemen

A Makurdi

s the 2015 governorship election in Benue State to decide who will succeed the incumbent Governor Gabriel Suswam draws nearer, more facts have emerged as to why the Idoma have not realised their dreams of producing a governor since the creation of the state in 1976.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, a former Minister of State for Education, Prof. Jerry Agada, linked the inability of the Idomas

to produce governor in the state to their weak numerical strength which he affirmed cannot be compared to that of the Tivs.

Agada said since democratic principles were predicated on figures, the Idoma people would continue to have it tough in wooing the Tiv nation to concede the governorship position to them, until the rotational principle being canvassed at the National Conference was taken into consideration.

“You need not ask why the Idoma people have not been able to produce governor until now, is it not a game of the majority that we have been playing? Democracy, they will tell you goes by the game of number, and if you compel the population of zone C where the Idoma hold sway to that of zones A and B controlled by the Tivs, don't you think

that the majority will always have their way?

“So it's not a question of zone C getting something wrong or lack of proper coordination among them, it's a question of our number and that is why we are saying if it’s done by rotation to zones A,B and C, then one can have an assurance that yes, it can turn to you, but if it is not done, definitely zones A and B will always defeat zone C. “So it's not a question of we in zone C have done something wrong or not getting our act together, even if we get all acts together, if every Dick, Tom and Harry in zone C put their votes together it will still not work out that is why we are appealing for understanding,” Agada said.

He dispelled claims that the Idoma people are banking on the state Deputy

Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, who is also contesting the election to break jinx.

“The question of Lawani, as for me, I don't want to zero it down to an individual but let it go to zone C, and once that is done, it behoves on our people to say this is our candidate, that time Lawani or any other person can be. So we are agitating not because Lawani is there, it’s because we want the right thing to be done,” he said.

Agada, who was also a former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), urged the Idoma not to relent in their agitation for power shift, expressed optimism that the 2015 governorship race in the state would be interesting as none of intended contestants had indicated readiness to withdraw from the contest for now.

Borno releases N100m to Boko Haram victims Ahmed Miring Maiduguri

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he Borno State Government has approved the sum of N100 million to assist the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Askira Uba Local Government Area of the state.

The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha, who stated this when he visited the area, said the amount was to assist the victims of insurgency in the affected areas, adding that the sum of N250,000

each would be given to the families of those who lost their lives in the insurgency to facilitate their burial arrangements and other immediate problems.

He said Governor Kashim Shettima, had set up a committee headed by himself, the caretaker chairman Askira/Uba local area, members of the state House of Assembly representing Askira/Uba, the Commissioner for Information and the Special Adviser to Shettima on Health among other members.

Wife of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio (right), presenting a souvenir to the wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs. Felly Minimah, during the latter’s visit to Government House, Uyo…yesterday

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FCT Agency acquires modern facilities to boost predictions

N EWS I N BRIEF

IBADAN

The Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr John Shamonda, has said the agency has acquired modern facilities crucial for flood prediction and risk management.

Shamonda told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja that the acquisition of the equipment was made possible by funding from the Ecological Fund provided by the Federal Government.

According to him, the government provided funding that enabled the agency to replace the equipment that were destroyed, damaged and washed away during the 2012 flood.

71,738

The total number of internet users in Maldives in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

IKEJA

UI holds Ramadan lecture Ijaw group kicks against IG's today tenure extension This year’s edition of the annual Ramadan lecture of the University of Ibadan (UI) will today hold at the institution’s Central Mosque on the campus.

The lecture, which will be delivered by a German-trained expert in alternative medicine, Mallam Yusuf Issa, will address the theme: ‘Prevention and Control of Terminal Diseases’.

The event, which is billed to commence by 10am will be chaired by the Chairman of the university’s Muslim Community and ViceChancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin.

The Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to elongate the tenure of incumbent Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, who is statutorily due for retirement soon.

In a statement by Comrade Joseph Evah, the group stated that those lobbying to extend Abubakar’s tenure are enemies of progress, adding that the president should not allow blackmailers to rubbish his spirit of patriotism.

He said: “Let him go home as stipulated by law. Let him join Babangida, Gowon, Buhari, Abubakar, Gwarzo, Atiku, Shagari and use their powerful influence to stop the heartless killings in the North."

30.99

90%

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions The percentage of used water neither per 100 inhabitants of Bulgaria in 2011. collected nor treated in developing countries.

Source: Itu.int Source: Unesco.org

Nobody can tamper with electoral materials in Ekiti –INEC Adesina Wahab and Gabriel Choba

F

Ado-Ekiti Ughelli

ollowing allegations that some politicians plan to tamper with the electoral materials used in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given the assurance that it won't sabotage the efforts of the party to get justice at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

Similarly, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, at the weekend, vowed that it would resist any form of rigging by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming council polls slated for October 25.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Halilu Pai, who spoke in a telephone interview yesterday, said all the materials used for the conduct of the election would be safeguarded for all parties to have access to them to advance their cases.

Pai was reacting to a report allegedly credited to the Minister of State for Works, Mr. Adedayo Adeyeye, through his politi-

l APC vows to resist rigging in council polls cal group, the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), that some politicians were raising funds to bribe INEC officials to tamper with the electoral materials to advance their matter before the election tribunal.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was among the 17 candidates defeated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Ayo

Fayose, is challenging the victory of the governorelect at the tribunal.

Shortly after the commencement of the trial, the Justice Mohammed Siraj-led tribunal gave an order that empowered the APC to inspect all materials used for the election.

But Pai, who foreclosed the possibility of those materials being tampered with, said he had contacted security agencies and that the INEC warehouse

was now under police surveillance.

Pai said: “There is no cause for alarm. Immediately we got wind of the petition filed by APC, we contacted the police and the State Security Service to beef up security around our warehouse.

“And I want to tell you now that the place is under serious security watch.

There is no reason to fear whether those materials will be tampered with."

Cross-section of the graduating pupils of Midtop International School, Ikorodu, Lagos State with their teachers, during an event…recently

APC governors: Hold Jonathan responsible for bomb attack on Buhari Ndubuisi Ugah

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan should be held responsible for the attempt on the life of one

of its national leaders and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari.

But in a swift reaction, the Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) has described as frivolous, non-nonchalant and gross rudeness the position of the APC governors over the attack on Buhari's convoy.

The governors, in a statement titled: ‘PGF Condemns Attempt on Buhari, Holds Jonathan Responsible’, noted that the incident happened two days after Buhari urged Jonathan to stop waging war on Nigerians but to devote more time to the war on terrorism.

The governors, who condemned the attack, added that, “the double bomb explosions in Kaduna, the loss of innocent lives and what was clearly an attempt to assassinate former Head of State and leader of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari”, were not coincidences.

Midtop school proprietor counsels parents on training of pupils Mojeed Alabi

F

ollowing alleged abandonment of responsibilities by parents towards their children’s upbringing, the Proprietor of Midtop International School, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Mr. Osundairo Kehinde, has requested parents to collaborate with teachers and school owners to ensure that their children are offered adequate and comprehensive education.

Osundairo, in an interview with New Telegraph, said his school had observed with dismay how parents fail to monitor their wards, especially after school periods.

He stated that many of the kids were fond of taking back to school their assignments unattended to, “simply because their parents failed to closely monitor them and work with them at home.”

The school proprietor, who studied Petroleum Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before opting for a postgraduate diploma programme

in education, said the business of establishing a school shouldn’t be for the purpose of material gain only.

“Like a true religious centre, schools are meant to be run by those called by God and who have a clear vision on how to build a solid foundation for the innocent kids,” he said.

He said: “When we noticed that parents of our kids were abandoning their responsibilities of providing adequate guide for their kids, we designed a parents’ interaction book which provides spaces for both the parents and the teachers to append their signatures after carrying out specific tasks. Since this was introduced and with continued enlightenment activities through our constant parents’-teachers’ forum, things have greatly improved.”

Meanwhile, the school will today hold its seventh prize-giving day and graduation ceremony, which, according to Osundairo, will feature series of activities including cultural display, public speaking competition, among other presentations.

INEC fixes Niger senatorial bye-election for August 16 Dan Atori MINNA

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it would conduct the Niger State East senatorial bye-election to fill the vacant seat left by late Senator Awaisu Kuta next month.

Briefing stakeholders on the proposed time-table and schedule of activities for the election at INEC's headquarters in Minna, the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Mr. Emmanuel Onucheye, said notice would be made not later than 14 days before August 16.

He said: “The National Assembly informed the commission of Kuta's death on July 17 and we all know that the tenure of the current Assembly expires in 11 months' time (June 2015).

“And Section 76 of the 1999 Constitution mandates the commission to conduct bye-election to fill this vacant seat within one month, from the date of formal notification (Section 79, 1999 Constitution).”

Onucheye added that “as a result, the state office has proposed August 16 for the bye-election. We called for this meeting because we need to inform you that, we cannot make moves until the Senate writes us. They (Senate) wrote us on the 17th of July but it reached my table on the 20th.”

The REC, however, assured stakeholders that voters would use the temporary voters' card during the bye-election because the distribution of the permanent voters' card had not got to Niger State.

Bayelsa to demolish properties encroaching on govt lands Chris Ejim Yenagoa

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he Bayelsa State Government says is ready to demolish any property that encroaches on government land without any compensation and also prepare for legal action should the case arise.

Addressing a cross section of journalists during his weekly projects tour in the state, the Com-

missioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ewhujakpor, said that every land acquired by the state government will be protected at all costs through the court of law and other legal means.

He said the reason they are carrying out proper monitoring is to ensure that no building or projects collapse under the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson.

SEGUN EDWARDS olaedwards@yahoo.com 08111813095

Companies & Stock

9

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

26 JULY 2014

Niger Insurance: Growing revenue, RenCap backs Diamond Bank’s $310m rights issue losing profit for second year

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iger Insurance continued its revenue growth for the second year in 2013 but slided on the path of profitability also for the second time of the same period. The company achieved a reasonable growth in both underwriting profit and investment income in the year but operating cost claimed a lot more revenues during the year.

Its management led by new CEO Dauda Adedeji, is keeping the company profitable but the downward trend sustained in the past two years isn’t giving the investing public much confidence on the insurance company.

The company recovered from two years of losses in 2011 and posted a net profit of N2.29 billion in the year. Its profit figure fell to N776 million in 2012 and declined further to N627 million at the end of 2013. The downward movement can be said to be better than the losses posted by AIICO Insurance and WAPIC Insurance in 2013.

The declining profit record of the company is despite the improving revenue performance seen in the past two years. The company closed the 2013 operations with a net premium income of N9.66 billion, which is an increase of 18.8 per cent over the figure in 2012. This is a sustained improvement in revenue since 2012.

Net underwriting income improved by 17.5 per cent to N10.31 billion over the review period.

Claims expenses grew ahead of revenue and therefore represented one of the factors that accounted for the decline in profit during the year. At N3.73 billion, net claims expenses rose by 27.2 per cent in 2013 compared to the 18.8 per cent improvement in net premium income. The company devoted 38.6 per cent of net premium income

Dauda Adedeji... MD, Niger Insurance

for net claims expenses in 2013, up from 36 per cent in 2012.

A decline of 22.5 per cent in underwriting expenses countered the effect of the increased claims expenses on revenue. This resulted in a moderate increase of 5.1 per cent in total underwriting expenses, which amounted to N5.55 billion at the end of the year. This permitted a strong growth of 36.5 per cent in underwriting profit, which came to N4.76 billion for the year.

The improvement in underwriting profit was supported by the tripling of investment income in the year. Investment income grew by 202.3 per cent during the year to about N668 million. The robust net fair value gains on investment

property of over N1.15 billion in the preceding year virtually dried up last year and other operating income dropped by 18.5 per cent.

Management expenses, the second major expenditure head that hit the bottom line in the year, grew by 42.5 per cent to N4.69 billion, while share of net premium income grew from 40.5 per cent in 2012 to 48.5 per cent in 2013. The absence of impairment on trade receivables in the year against N610 million in the preceding year moderated the impact of management expenses and enabled a marginal improvement of 1.8 per cent in pre-tax profit, which amounted to N716 million for the year.

Growing revenue and falling profit means the company is losing profit margin. Net profit margin declined from 9.5 per cent in 2012 to 6.5 per cent in 2013.

The company earned 8.0 kobo per share in 2013, a decline from 10 kobo per share in 2012. Earnings per share has therefore declined with profit for the second year from the five-year peak of 40 kobo in 2011. The company paid a dividend of 2.5 kobo for the 2011 operations and improved to 3 kobo at the end of 2012. No dividend has been proposed for the 2013 trading. Net assets per share amounted to N1.06 in 2013, improving from 95 kobo at the end of 2012.

F

inancial solutions firm Renaissance Capital (RenCap) has recommended Diamond Bank’s rights issue to qualifying investors citing the bank’s steady rising growth that the firm says makes Diamond Bank the potential next tier 1 bank.

The details of the rights issue, expected to open on 30 July and close 26 August, was released by Diamond Bank on13 June. The bank is looking to issue 8,685,145,863 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at NGN5.80/share with which it plans to raise NGN50.4bn ($310mn) to improve its capital adequacy ratio and support business growth.

RenCap described the shares issue as “a step in the right direction”

by Diamond (bank) which it called the fastest-growing Nigerian bank over the past three years. “(we) recommend qualifying investors should take up their (the bank’s) rights” the financial services firm said.

According to RenCap’s research, Diamond bank grew total assets by 155 percent between FY10 and FY13 and is now the largest tier 2 bank by assets with a 6.1 percent market share, vs 3.7 percent in FY10, and potentially the next tier 1 bank.

The firm applauded the bank for such impressive growth despite its capital constraints and recording two consecutive years of 23 percent RoE in FY12 and FY13. “What this bank needs at this stage in its cycle is capital to support the next phase of its strategic growth plan, in our view” RenCap added.

As explained by RenCap, Diamond Bank seeks to issue 60 percent of current shares (50 percent if convertibles are included). The rights issue is at a 14 percent dis-

Berger Paints faces five-down-year in earnings

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erger Paints has failed to maintain a record of stable growth in revenue and profit in the past five years and the trend of earnings instability is continuing in the current year. The paintmaker‘s main challenge is inability to grow sales revenue, which is undermining its profit capacity.

Its management led by Mr. Tor Nygard, a Norwegian electrical engineer, has not been able to match the 2010 revenue and profit highs over the past three years. He isn’t likely to upturn the trend even in the current year with likely declines in turnover and profit.

The company ended its second quarter operations with sales revenue of about N1.23 billion. This is an increase of only 1.2 per cent over the corresponding figure in the preceding year. It is however a step up in the growth rate from the turnover figure of about N590 million the company reported in the first quarter.

The full year revenue outlook of the company has therefore improved with projected sales revenue of N2.68 billion. This is still indicating a slight decline from the turnover of N2.71 billion the com-

Tor Nygard... MD, Berger Paints

pany recorded at the end of 2013.

Revenue performance has been weak for Berger Paints in the past five years, which reflects fierce competition in the marketplace.

The company managed to grow sales revenue by about 8.0 per cent last year after two years of declining sales. Sales revenue has therefore remained below the N2.76 billion the company earned in 2010.

Profit performance has followed the trend in sales revenue.

A year-on-year improvement of

about 6.0 per cent to N107 million was recorded in after tax profit in the second quarter. Based on the second quarter growth rate, full year net profit is projected at N230 million for Berger Paints at the end of 2014. That will mean a decline from the profit figure of about N250 million the company reported in 2013.

Berger Paints had grown aftertax profit by about 39 per cent in 2013 after a two-year profit fall.

Profit went down in 2011 from the company’s peak record of about N440 million in 2010 and further to N180 million in 2012. The recovery move made in 2013 now looks unsustainable in the current year.

Earnings growth may step up further in the second half of the year, which could improve the full year profit outlook.

Profit margin improved slightly from 8.3 per cent in the second quarter of last year to 8.7 per cent this year. This is also better than the 8.1 per cent recorded in the first quarter. Profit margin however is down from the 9.2 per cent level at the end of 2013. Profit margin is in no way near the five-year peak record of 16 per cent achieved in

2010.

The slight gain in profit margin in the second quarter was made possible by a decline in cost of sales against the marginal improvement in sales revenue. Cost of products sold declined by 9.3 per cent to N675 million against the corresponding figure in 2013. The decline enabled an increase of 17.6 per cent in gross profit during the same period. Gross profit margin grew from 38.7 per cent in June last year to 45 per cent this year.

Another favourable cost behaviour came from selling and distribution expenses, which declined by 10.7 per cent to N67 million.

An improvement of 13 per cent in other operating income also helped the bottom line during the review period.

Administrative expenses however rose well ahead of revenue at 18% to N413 million and claimed much of the cost savings made.

The same applies to finance cost, which multiplied from N3.4 million to N14 million over the period.

A fall of 27.2 per cent in investment income to N38.6 million reinforced the pressure on the company’s earnings during the period.

count to the current market price, a 9 percent discount to RenCap’s computed theoretical ex-rights price of NGN6.36 using the qualification price (NGN6.7), and 30 percent discount to their revised TP. The firm estimated the post-money P/B using the theoretical ex-rights price, at 0.72x. The issue is at a ratio of three for every five shares currently held. At the rights price, the deal is priced at 0.65x fully diluted FY13 BVPS, which is a 63 percent premium to tier 2 peers trading at an average FY13 P/B of 0.4x.

Forecast changes by RenCap, which it said it carried out following discussions with management, has a loan growth of 20 percent in FY14E expected to be maintained over the next two years to 2016E. Diamond Bank’s deposit growth will also be coming in higher at 2530 percent over the same period.

We think Diamond can sustainably deliver 20% RoE (Return on Equity) in three-to-five years, RenCap stated.

Renaissance Capital is a leading emerging and frontier markets investment bank with operations in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa.

Nigeria gets first free-to-air digital Tv platform

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omputer Warehouse Group (CWG) has partnered with world-leading satellite operator, SES, to launch Nigeria’s first free-to-air (FTA) DTH digital TV platform, to quicken digital migration for local and international broadcasters and allow them to reach millions of homes in West Africa quickly and economically.

The platform was launched on the SES’s ASTRA 2F satellite at 28.2° East. It will begin service in the last quarter of the year and should provide growth opportunities to local and international broadcasters across the region.

It will also allow for end-to-end contribution, ground and space services to local, regional, national and international TV broadcasters across West Africa.

The launch of the new broadcasting experience via satellite will enhance picture quality and coverage to millions of household, as well as those in remote parts of the region.

SES will deliver the space segment and specific ground services while CWG will provide high operational standards as an SES partner.

The 28.2 degrees East orbital position is SES’s prime orbital position for West Africa and its FTA reach is one of the highest in the region. Today, SES already transmits 28 FTA channels at the 28.2 degrees East neighbourhood.

Nigerian-based Computer Warehouse Group Plc was named a World Economic Forum Global Growth Company (WEF-GGC) at the 2014 WEF Africa.

Will you let your spouse know how much you spend on your relatives? p.12

Street DIARY NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

26 JULY 2014

www.newtelegraphonline.com/streetdiary

Our ordeal in the hands of hoodlums –Ijegun residents Residents of Fin Niger Estate and Abule Ado area of Lagos are still living in fear, following the killing of a barber, Oluwajuwon Olawepo, by hoodlums who invaded the area on July 15.

The residents narrate their experiences to TAIWO JIMOH, who visited the area.

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uly 15 was like any normal day for residents of Fin Niger Estate in Ijegun and those of Abule Ado area, a community near Satellite Town area of Lagos. Artisans, petty traders, okada riders and a host of others had settled for business while residents who transact their businesses outside the community had left for their places of work.

It was learnt that the peaceful atmosphere in the area in the early hour of that day suddenly gave way to insanity as about 30 men armed with various weapons such as guns, knives and cutlasses invaded the area.

Street Diary learnt that within a twinkle of an eye, traders abandoned their wares while shop and stall owners hurriedly locked up their shops and ran for their safety.

In the melee, a 23-year-old barber, Oluwajuwon Olawepo, was hit by the bullet allegedly fired by one of the hoodlums, killing him on the spot.

An okada rider who wished to be identified simply as Oluwole, blamed a 66-year-old man, Lateef Olarinde, as the architect of the crisis that engulfed the area.

According to him, Olarinde allegedly led the hoodlums to invade the area under the pretence that okada riders and stall owners had repeatedly ignored his directive for them to vacate the estate.

He said, “Every Friday, they come to the area in large number to extort us. Each okada rider and stall owners pay them N200 yet they are never satisfied. When they invaded the area, they unleashed mayhem and beat us up. They were about 30 in number.

“When we tried to resist them, they brought out guns and started shooting indiscriminately. We all

ran away and those who have shops in the area hurriedly shut their shops. It was while Oluwajuwon was trying to lock up his shop that a stray bullet hit him on the chest. The police are aware of his (Olarinde’s) activities in the area and they don’t want to do anything.

“People have written so many petitions against him. There was a time he claimed to be the Baale of the area but the state government had disowned him through a letter dated April 11, 2011.”

The okada rider, who was injured on the head when the hoodlums invaded the area, alleged that one of Olaride’s boys hit his head with a big stone.

He added, “I was at Abule-Ado Junction when the hoodlums invaded the area. Immediately we saw everybody ran away. But one of them caught up with me and hit my head with a big stone. An okada fell on my leg and I fainted. I was rushed to the hospital and my head was stitched.

“They killed an innocent boy in the process. We are not land speculators. We go about our normal business and we don’t expect anybody to come and disturb.

“He (Olarinde) claimed to be the owner of all the land from AbuleAdo to Alakija but this is none of our business. They have been terrorising us for long. I have been living in this area since 1980 and I know a lot about this area. They should allow us to live in peace.”

Every Friday, they come to the area in large number to extort us. Each okada rider and stall owners pay them N200 yet they are never satisfied

On his part, a prince in the area, Olayiwola Yinus Liadi, asked the Lagos State Government to declare if Olarinde had been installed as the monarch of the area without the knowledge of the indigenes.

He said, “I called one of my uncles to ask what really happened and he explained that he (Olarinde) has been claiming to be the owner of this territory and has been parading himself as the king of this area. The last time I checked, I know Jagun owns Ijegun and Ibasaland and there is no sub-village in Ijegun.

The Oguntedos are stranger, they are like tenants on this land, they have stayed over a decade here.

“History has it that the Oguntedos in those days used to pay what we call ‘Isakole’ (allegiance fee) to our own ancestral parents. So, I don’t see reasons why their children will start claiming ownership. They were at Satellite Primary School area at a time and later they were moved to the present Oguntedo. If you check the houses there (at Oguntedo), they looks like Government

10

Residential Area (GRA) and this is because the government relocated them there and compensated them with that land.

“I don’t see why a stranger will come to someone’s land and claim right of ownership. This is not the first time they will send hoodlums and rascals to come and disturb us and whenever they are coming, they don’t just come with bottles and sticks, they come with guns.

“The last time they came, someone lost his life, an innocent boy, a barber that was just standing in front of his shop was hit by a stray bullet from these same people. This is getting out of hand, it is now becoming unbearable. This type of incident didn’t happen during the time of the late king because they are scared of him. He knew their history and they are scared of fomenting any trouble.

But immediately he died, they started this crisis.”

Asking the state government to set the record straight, he said although Olarinde had been arrested by the police, he expressed the fear that he might be released soon to foment trouble in the area again.

He added, “We want the government to put him in his place. If he is a king, the council of elders should come and declared him so, probably the government has sold us out by giving them our own portion of land. We have the general survey plan of Ijegun and Ibasa.

“Ijegun starts from Ile-Epo down to Alakija, and when you get to Abule-Ado, there is water serving as the boundary to Ibasa. I don’t see why someone will come and take a portion of our land and start claiming ownership or posing as the king of the land. Recently they started selling our properties.

We want the government to come and put a stop to the entire crisis.

Enough is enough. Innocent lives are at stake.”

A lotto operator in the area who wished to be identified simply as Dele, also appealed to the state government to come to their rescue before the hoodlums invade the area again.

“The last time they came, they stole our money, handsets and whatever they could lay their hands on. We are now afraid to go work for fear that they may attack us again. They have resisted our movement and this is not the first time they will invade us,” he said.

A stall owner who identified herself as Mama Christy, also appealed to the hoodlums to return her money, goods and handsets they stole.

Mama Christy, who sells gin and beer, said, “I was surprised that this could still happen in modern time.

They took my goods, handsets and wounded a lot of people last week.

They should return my goods and money because this is the only means of livelihood I have.”

It was learnt that Olarinde is being detained at the Special-Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja. But when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, did not pick her call.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

STREET DIARY

11

‘We robbed Senator Omisore’s home, raped maid’

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Juliana Francis

he Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, has arrested three members of the five man-gang who stormed Senator Iyiola Omisore’s home, robbed and raped his housemaid.

The robbers have been identified as Chadians and confessed that they specialised in breaking into choice homes of prominent men in the Lagos metropolis.

They were five men that went for the operation at Omisore’s home and each took turn at raping the maid, said to be about 17-year-old.

The suspects who are in the custody of SARS are; Mohammed Musa, Ibrahim Mohammed and Jitto Saleh. One Mohammed Saleh is said to still be at large. Two guns, five iron cutters, one chisel, one cutlass, assorted charms, one iron bar and one dagger, said to be poisonous, were recovered from them.

The senator’s house, 11, Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, was robbed on June 18, 2014, at 2am.

A police source said: “Five of them raped the housemaid. Following a tip-off we went to Ikoyi and found them in a big building occupied by Nigeriens and Chadians. It was not an uncompleted building. The building does not seem to belong to anybody and they have been living there for over 10 years. The first Chadian, who brought others to the building, had died.

“When we got there, we pretended to be seeking for accommodation. One of them who suspected we might be policemen was the first to escape, followed by others. We however got one who was performing ablution.

Mohammed Musa, Ibraham Mohammed and Jitto Saleh

“When we got to the station, he advised us to rush down to MoweIbafo, which was where they reside and the place we can get other members of the gang. According to him, they only stay at the big house at Ikoyi just to rob residents of Ikoyi and Victoria Island, after which they go back to Mowe.

“True to his words, when we got to Mowe-Ibafo, they had all deserted the place. We decided to lay ambush until the following morning. At 8am, they started returning to their residence. There were four of them. They were wearing military berets and one was even

‘After I travelled to my village to marry my second wife, I returned and couldn’t get another job’ in military trousers.

“As we moved in, one sighted us and took off. Others rushed into their apartment and locked the door. We broke down the door.

When the house was searched, we found two locally-made guns, a dagger which one of them told us was poisonous, military vest and horsewhip. They said that it was one Saidu that used to give them information on where to rob.”

Recalling how they robbed Omisore’s home, they confessed to have used iron cutters to cut the security wire.

According to them, they tied the two security men attached to the house and posted a gang member, Mohammed Musa, to watch over the tied guards. They also used iron cutters to cut the window,

entered the house and raped the housemaid who was the only person in the main house.

They later moved to the Senator’s room, ransacked it and carted away valuables yet to be estimated.

Omisore’s laundryman, who was at the boys’ quarter, knew robbers had gained access into the house and alerted the Ikoyi Police Station.

A police source said: “The police responded promptly. While the robbers were escaping, the police shot one of them in the leg and got him arrested. But others escaped.”

The arrested robber later took the Officer-in-Charge of SARS, Abba Kyarri and his men to Epe Road, Lekki, where the other suspects were arrested. They now took police to another hideout at Ibafo where exchange of gunfire took place. One of the robbers sustained wound and later died on the way to the hospital, while Jitto Saleh was arrested.

Ibrahim Abdullah, 27, said: “I was working as a security man in Anthony Village. After I travelled to my village to marry my second wife, I returned and couldn’t get another job. I went to stay with Mohammed Musa at Lekki. It was Mohammed who took us there when I told him I did not have money and that I needed a job.

“We left from Obalende and hid in the flowerbed till about 2pm. Mohammed Saleh, after cutting the wire gained access into the building. After carrying out surveillance, he asked us to come in.

“We tied the two security guards with rope. We asked Mohammed to be watching them.

We took some clothes and shoes because the man was not in the house. We collected one phone and watch.”

Mohammed Musa, 26, said that he was trying to escape when police shot him in his leg.

Lagos police allegedly torture man to death Taiwo Jimoh

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28-year-old man, Olayode Ayoade, in Orile Agege area of Lagos State has been allegedly tortured to death by men of the Elere Divisional Police station.

New Telegraph on Saturday gathered that the victim was picked up at his residence at 14, Ajayi Ibe Street in Orile Agege area of the state on Thursday.

The anti-crime patrol team of the station was said to have gone on patrol of the community and saw the deceased and his friends drinking in front of their house.

The policemen, who stormed the area in a Volkswagen bus around 10am, reportedly queried the victim and his friends and subsequently arrested three of them while others ran away.

Ayoade and his friends were allegedly detained at the police cell.

The deceased friend’s, Ismail Adeniji, who spoke to our correspondent said, “Immediately they were taken to the police station, I went there to see if can secure their bail. When I got there, I was asked to write a statement.

“After I had written the state-

ment, I saw Ayoade who told me how he was being tortured and beaten by the policemen who insisted on knowing what he does for a living.

“He told me that he was tied to the ceiling fan of the station and was continuously beaten. He said he had lost his strength and thereafter slumped. I and three other policemen rushed him to a private hospital at Elere.

“While at the hospital, the chief medical doctor asked the two policemen what they did to him, they told the doctor that it was the drink he took that weakened him.

It was learnt that Ayoade was later admitted and placed on drip while the policemen reportedly left the hospital immediately they brought him in.

Kazeem Oyolola, who is also Ayoade’s friend, told our correspondent that when Adeniji went to the station to bail the deceased, he was also arrested, adding, “this was what prompted me to go there (police station).

Oyolola said, “When I got to the station, one of the policemen identified as Festus told me to go bring N2 million for the release of the arrested boys. But I begged him to take N45, 000 and

he told me the money would not be enough for them to share with the divisional police officer and the team who went on the operation. This was the situation on Thursday before the news of Ayoade’s death filtered into the community around 1 am on Friday.”

New Telegraph on Saturday gathered that the youth of the area stormed the station to protest against the death of their friends.

The DPO of the station on sighting the boys came out of

his office and persuaded them saying he was not aware of the operation.

When our correspondent visited the area some residents were seen in group discussing the alleged extra-judicial killing of Ayoade.

It was learnt that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the morgue of the Military Hospital, Yaba.

When the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, was contacted, her phone rang out.

Manko

New Telegraph employee bags award Camillus Nnaji

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entre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has awarded the Deputy News Editor of New Telegraph, Mr. Joseph Onyekwere, as the ‘Most Supportive Print Media Journalist’ in recognition of his support for people living with disability through his writing.

Handing over the award in Lagos, the Executive Director,

CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, described Onyekwere as a very sound professional who had over the years used the print medium to support the cause of peopleliving with disabilities, adding that Onyekwere was chosen based on merit.

Others awardees were, Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye (Senior Advocate of Lagosians with disabilities award), South West (Disability service award), Mr. Fabian Anawo (Disability award radio)

and Disability award (TV) presented to Silverbird Television in recognition of the station’s support and coverage of disability issues.

The event which marked the annual stakeholders’ conference organised by CCD, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and various ministries in Lagos was used to review the implementation of the Special Peoples Law of Lagos State 2011.

Voices

12

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

Street Diary

Will you let your spouse know how much you spend on your relatives?

No, I won’t

No, I won't allow that because it might lead to misunderstanding. I don't want anything that will disturb the peace in my home. What God has joined together not even family issues or whatever can put asunder, so let me secretly protect the image of my family and that of my relatives too.

(Chris Anoke, businessman)

When necessary

Why not, if she loves me and the understanding is there. Although there are times when it might not be necessary in order to avoid trouble in the house and also to prevent my wife from nagging, I don't want an uncomfortable house.

(Ndubuisi Okoro, civil servant) It is not her business

It's not necessary because it is your personal or family affair, so just deal with it in a mature way as discussing it with your spouse will only cause disunity in your home. So I don't think it is necessary discussing it with her, it's not her business.

(Osahon Osazuwa, civil servant) Of course, I will

Yes, I will for the sake of honesty and trust.

(Gold Ayomiposi, lawyer)

Not necessary

I don't think it is necessary for her to know

(Kelvin Iferomi)

Yes but not the amount

I will not let my spouse know the amount but she will know I'm spending on my relatives or that I give them things.

(Boluwatife Akintunde, unemployed graduate) She will definitely know but not the amount

No! She will definitely know that I am spending on my relatives but I will not declare the amount to her.

(Chibuzor Atasie, unemployed graduate)

It could lead to a serious problem

Why not, if she is open – minded but if I realise she has a problem with it then I will not let her know again because things like that could be a serious issue in the long run.

(Seyi Osoneye, musician)

I may not reveal all my spending

I might not let her in on all spending but she must know some. The implication of telling her is that she would require same for her family too or even more. It is natural for her to do so and it will tell on my pocket.

(Osinachi Jude)

I don’t disclose it to my spouse

I cannot allow my spouse to know how much I spend on my family because he might feel I am using part of the money he gives for the upkeep of the house.

(Bukola Apata, clearing agent) It depends

For me, It depends on if he's an understanding person or not.

(Bukky Abdul, graduate)

I feel it is ideal to let him know

Of course, I can tell my spouse about me getting things for my relatives since I have nothing to hide. I, as a person will not want my husband to hear about it from any of my relatives without me telling him.

So, I feel it is ideal to let him know.

(Aliya Umaru, business woman)

If my spouse is the understanding type

It depends on the kind of understanding I have with my spouse. If he is the type that does not like my relatives then I have no choice than to keep my mouth shut so as to avoid trouble. All I just have to do is to warn my relatives not to let my spouse know anything. But I feel it is right to let your spouse know.

(Ogbomo Deborah, student)

I can’t tell my wife

No, I can’t tell my wife because that will stir up trouble again. Once she knows how much I am giving to my relatives or the things I give to them, she will start asking for the same for her relatives.

(Banji Shabeye, teacher)

I will never do such a thing

It is unimaginable because culturally, it is wrong and emotionally it is bad, especially for a man. It is wrong because your in-law knows how much you earn and once you say something in the house and your wife does not believe, the next thing is to call your employer for confirmation, which means that you wouldn't have a say in your house. One wouldn't be free because they will be watching your steps closely.

(Minna Vincent, businessman)

There is nothing wrong if my wife knows...

I believe it should be an open discussion because there is nothing wrong if my spouse knows how much I spend on my relatives. It's a good idea as it even endears closeness and love, because none of you are hiding anything from each other. There should be no secret, so that peace and love can reign.

(Adeyemo Adetayo, computer technologist) I won’t hide it from him

When people talk about issues like this I become sad because it shouldn’t be a big deal or a secret. This money is your money and you have the right to spend it on your relatives because they are your family. This kind of information should not be hidden at all from each other. As for me, I won't hide it, it should be an open topic.

(Madina Yahaya, student)

It should be handled with caution

This kind of situation can be very critical but it all depends on the family and also the financial status of the family. If my spouse is financially buoyant I won't need to bother him with such information but if my spouse is not financially buoyant I might need to inform him because money issues can be a very big problem.

(Samah Olufunbi, journalist) compiled by

OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, victoria ewoh, TEMITOPE SOBOWALE, GLORY TITTY AND ABIMBOLA SODEKE

Instyle

The pocket square is the single most defining accessory for classic men’s fashion p.16

Travel

Escape the oil city’s hustle and bustle at Le Meridien Oyeyi place Hotel p.39

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C o n v e r s at i o n

‘Why go plain when you can add some sparkle to your life?’

Chief executive officer of Enthyst Events and Styling, Ndidi Obioha, flaunts an uncommon style and inspires trends. The lady of style speaks with LANRE ODUKOYA about her business, fashion, marriage and sundry issues.

STRADDLING THREE WORLDS Her startling feat in floating and soaring with ventures comprising event management and planning, styling and fashion “klinik” make her a somewhat jack of all trade and master of all. To Obioha, proving herself has often seemed like an effortless stroll. How does she juggle roles in these intricately-linked enterprises? “My events business is still very solid and it’s my first calling. Everything I put my hand in is driven by passion, first and foremost. So, with passion in everything I get involved with, it’s almost very easy to joggle all my ventures because somehow, they are all intertwined or related. I do events; the world is an event and an outing. It now depends on what type of event you are attending and you dress to suit that particular occasion. Is it a daytime or night event? How glamorous is the event designed to be? This means you need to wear the right kind of outfit which is where ‘styling’ comes in. I style my guests, clients and people who just look forward to attending events. The event business gave birth to the styling. I wear certain things to events and I get people blown away asking, ‘oh, my God! Where did you get this? Could you please get this for us?’ And I love to see people look good because I look good too.

That metamorphosed into the styling part of my business and the fashion klinik.

What we run here (Lekki, Phase One office) is the one called fashion klinik. People have frequently asked: ‘why fashion klinik?’ To me, it’s just doing away with the traditional names like boutique, salon and all the mundane. Klinik in the sense that when you come here to buy an outfit, you’d find items to solve all your worries about any kind of outing you want to make. Here are items solving what to put on your feet, crystallized shoes even, what to adorn your neck with, accessories for your wrist to create the wow-feeling, purses, handbags, hats for Sunday church services, dresses and so on. The stylists we have in the klinik are like the doctors who help you decide the right ensemble for the way you love to look. We launched the Lekki office in March, but the Dolphin Estate office has been on for four years while the events business is seven years already.”

Ndidi Obioha

THE TIME FACTOR The scale of these ventures make them all seem impossible to manage under a single business portfolio, but Obioha discerns which is most timeconsuming and perfectly draws the line. After a short but deep sigh, she remarked: “The fashion klinik takes

more of my time because I’m a fashion collector. I work with four different designers in Dubai; it was three Lebanese designers and we just added one. It makes me travel quite often, I enjoy it though. As for events planning and management, I can deliver this in my sleep and that is being very modest. It’s the truth because it feels like what’s in one’s blood. What makes us different as an events-consulting company is that when it comes to conceptualisation and defining briefs for events, we practically stand out. We’ve got very creative minds on our team and I’m also a very creative person.

I don’t even need to see my clients; all I need is to talk to them sometimes so as to define, conceptualise, coordinate and implement the event in question. You can decide to stage a birthday party today but with a different motive. You may well say: ‘I just want people to see the different side of me’. We examine your personality and come up with something out of the box for you.”

FAR-REACHING WINGS Logistics, time and distance are no barriers for Obioha. “We go everywhere. It’s just a matter of planning my schedule well. My major new collections come in three times a year. As long as I’m able to schedule my trip around that time, everything is as a tea party.

At other times, trips that I make abroad are just to re-stock. The major launch of our new collections happens around November to December, March to April, July-August. We have what guides us for the collections we bring in at these periods.”

FASCINATION TO WATER Obioha finds water so enchanting that she wouldn’t mind staging all events on luxury boats. Her admiration for aquatic splendour is legendary. But recent mishaps may well have dampened this fascination. “What has slowed us down in achieving more of successful events on water is being able to find the right kind of boat to use. The few boats we used back then and a few other times after the major Valentine ball and boat cruise we did seven years ago is no longer functional. And it’s the one that can make us achieve that kind of concept. This is one of the things holding us back. But it’s something I have a mad passion about. I totally love the whole idea of having a swell time on water. I think some people are looking into bringing in luxury boats and the moment we get what we’re looking for, we’re good to go.”

FAVOURITE PLACE OF RICH LIFESTYLE Though she has made appearance in some famous countries around the world, CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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WEEKEND | CONVERSATION

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

‘I totally love the whole idea of having a swell time on water’ CONTINUED FROM PAG E 1 3

there’s something about Abu Dhabi she finds unparalleled. “I love Dubai totally and it’s because of how versatile it is. The freedom it gives, the hospitality of the people and because I’m a ‘shopaholic’, I’m able to fulfil all my desires whenever I’m in Dubai,” she said.

INDUSTRY IN DIRE NEED OF PURPOSEBUILT VENUES There has been an increased yearning for more purpose-built venues in the major cities across the country. Same explains why stakeholders have decried lack of these facilities after having got tired of the famousbut-no-longer exciting ones that dot Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt mainly. Obioha also thinks it’s time more venues emerged to actualise great event concepts as obtainable in some major cities of the world. “I do agree and it’s the truth. I keep praying that every day that we have more purpose-built venues in Nigeria because we’re totally restricted. In fact, I won’t say in Nigeria, I’d say in Lagos because one of the most beautiful venues I have ever seen in Nigeria, you won’t believe is not in Lagos. It’s actually in Ibadan. So, I wish Lagos would open up more so that people will also be more willing to invest. It’s been tents everywhere and it has become tiring. We’re very restricted now based on the type and the number of venues we have around. It’s regrettably a major restriction,” she lamented.

EVOLVING WITH CRYSTALISED ACCESSORIES Obioha has got a somewhat compelling signature and her poise leaves many wondering why fleeting life should pass without moments o f gasp-inducing sparkles. She is the question and equally, the answer. This gem lives in a million blings and plies her trade along the line. She is growing a sub-fashion industry themed on knitting crystals on nearly every item, from telephone pouch to bible cover and to footwears, she just doesn’t believe anyone has a business looking bland. “The truth is that these crystals have always been around especially in the Middle East. It’s just that Nigerians are not too adventurous especially when it comes to fashion. What I did was to re-invent the trend. Some people have carried crystallized accessories, but for me it’s how you project something to the people. The way I’ve projected it over the years made it a lot more acceptable to the Nigerian woman. So, people are beginning to embrace the crystals and I have a known fetish for blings any time any day. I love the sparkles. Why go plain when you can add some sparkles to your life? The only things you find around me are crystallized and that’s because it brings me joy. We tried to push this culture out there and the acceptance has been phenomenal. When I see Nigerian women in these blings on the red carpet at functions, that glow is just stunning. It gives you some confidence. That’s the story of how I embraced blings from the outset, it’s always been there as a matter of fact.”

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD It’s now a trite saying that not all that glitters last, but Obioha’s position seeks to reverse the order. “Oh, our crystallized items do really last. The quality of the crystallized items like our slippers is super. We have people who have worn our slippers for the last four years and still have them. We go as far as crystallizing other things, not just what you’re wearing.” She went ahead to show this reporter many other riveting items superbly crystallized like tooth-pick holders, card holders, umbrellas, tissue holders, office organizers, flasks, calculators and a few other items. “These things speak of your style as a person even in your home.

For some people, style doesn’t end at what you just wear; it’s everything around and about you. Why should I have a sad leatherlooking thing on my table when I can have them all crystallized? I don’t encourage the men to do blings because it’s not actually their thing. If I man would do it, it has to be very moderate whereas women can go all out. That’s the next level we’re taking the business to.”

Obioha... bling queen and some of her creations below

“I don’t encourage the men to do blings because it’s not actually their thing.”

QUALITY CRYSTALS ONLY SOURCED ABROAD Sadly so, as captivating as the crystals appear, they’re all imported. She explained why she must travel abroad to source the crystallized goods. “For me, quality is very important. The quality and finishing of the crystals that I use and the ones I sell is premium and it cannot be compromised.

We still have the major challenge of quality workforce in Nigeria. Maybe until we get that right, one would be able to source locally-processed items. When you are talking about production, you don’t ever want to jeopardize the quality your stuffs are known for.”

TRANSITING FROM THE BANK TO THE RED CARPET

Obioha recalls how she strolled out of the conservative world of banking to the gleaming spotlight on the red carpet. “Wow! This is an incredible question no one had ever asked me. I guess it’s the kind of business I do. The fact that I’m an event consultant. In packaging an event, you would definitely attend that event because you’re the planner and you need to see how things turn out. That is the simplest answer I can offer you now. Our kind of business puts one out there.”

17 SPLENDID YEARS OF MARRIAGE A successful marriage is one thing she’s profoundly grateful to God for. There’s no gainsaying that celebrity marriages don’t

tend to last. “The truth is that I give God the glory for every achievement I’ve made. It’s the same reason I say to women, a family that prays together stays together. Secondly, my husband is my friend first and foremost before being my lover and husband. He’s my body and my everything, because of that, there’s no restriction in our relationship. There’s a smooth flow of communication. And those are the key things to marriage. God, prayers, friendship and communication and every other thing follows. Many people still say that my husband and I are still the same way we were when we were dating. That’s because we kept everything open and alive in marriage for 17 years. And I can say that he’s a much better man than when we married. He’s being my greatest fan and supporter in everything. I tell a few friends of mine that every time I dress to go out, I style other persons; my husband styles me. And he never gets it wrong. When I wear something, he vets it and tells me whether to change or proceed in it. He’s 95 percent right. We’ve grown to

bond better.” In the course of the conversation, her husband strolled into the office and as she made to give a warm embrace, said with tongue-in-cheek: “Sweetheart, I’d been speaking to Lanre about how badly you’ve treated me these past 17 years.” We couldn’t all help but burst out laughing.

MOTHERHOOD This aspect of Obioha’s life is as interesting as many fairytales of motherhood we grew up to hear. Blessed with two biological children, Obioha’s life is coloured by three beautiful kids, one of which she adopted. But the sweetness of the story is sullied by sickle cell anaemia which one of the kids has been living with. “Motherhood is so beautiful, but it becomes more challenging when you have a child who is a sickle cell patient. I’ve got two boys and a girl and one of my sons is the one with sickle cell anaemia. But I think God has been amazing, because my children see the love between their dad and I - they embrace it. What you do around your children matters. When a man treats a woman right, your son will grow up to treat his wife right.”

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

15

How to pull off the plaid suit

T

Angela Davies he plaid suit is presently enjoying a trendy revival that creates a distinctive style and outstanding versatility.

Any man who wears a plaid suit will surely look dapper and distinguished. The jacket matches the pants, so all you have to do is pick a subtle shirt, complementing tie and pair of shoes, add a few details and you are ready to attend that important event.

For a sophisticated look, the pattern should be subtle and trendy. However, trendier looks can be achieved from bolder patterns. The distinctive look of plaid suits screams sartorial sophistication especially when the colours complement your complexion.

If you do not want to wear a complete plaid suit, the jacket and pants could be mixed and matched to create a stylish look for just about any event.

For instance, you could pair a bold-plaid blazer with solid trousers or jeans for an informal event. You could also wear plaid trousers with a simple solid shirt and blazer. If it is a three-piece plaid suit, you could also wear the waist coat with the trouser and do away with the jacket.

However you decide to wear plaid pattern depends on the occasion, your style and the fashion statement you want to make. But it's important to choose plaids in colours that complement your complexion to stand out.

So if you are thinking of adding a plaid suit to your wardrobe, you should know that a subtle pattern projects timelessness and distinction while a bolder pattern will appear trendier.

Note that when it comes to plaids, you need to pull it off well so that you don’t look like a young man in your grandfather’s suit.

Bold, comfort and appealing For audacious Nollywood actress, Adunni Ade, her style is boundless, ranging from the revealing, hugging to conservative outfits.

However, the underlying themes are looking good and comfort, she tells ANGELA DAVIES How would you define your style?

My style is wearing anything that looks good on me whether it be revealing or not as long as I am looking beautiful in it and feeling comfortable, I am going to rock it.

What determines the kind of outfit you wear?

It depends on the kind of event. However, I have to look elegant all the time.

What kinds of outfit do you love to wear?

You could catch me wearing anything. You could catch me wear something revealing and you could also catch me wearing something conservative. So in my wardrobe you will find outfits ranging from revealing, sexy, short to conservative.

What kind of outfit will you not be caught wearing?

I never say never. You could catch me wearing anything as long as I am looking good and comfortable.

Best designer I am a shoe fanatic. I wear a lot of Steve Madden shoes. I love to wear stilettos all day long. Stilettos just do something to me and the higher the heel, the better.

I love to strut in good shoes.

Signature perfume I don’t stick to one. I do Prada, Versace, Chanel Chance, Burberry and Cleo.

Is there a fashion accessory you cannot do without?

My wristwatch because I love to have it on at all times.

Even when I am sleeping, I wear my wristwatch.

Most expensive fashion item ever bought A pair of shoes.

How do you love your hair?

I wear my hair simple. My hair is pretty long so I always style it up because of the heat in Nigeria.

Best colour That will be royal blue and purple.

Do you have any style icon?

I don’t really have a style icon. I just stick to my own style and sense. I don’t copy anybody.

How do you love your makeup?

I like it nice and simple. Sometimes, I like it dramatic if it is for an event but on a normal day, just nice and simple.

Ade

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INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

Accessories to live for

Pocket square

Facts

For every man of style, the pocket square is the single most defining accessory for that classic look. It gives that suave look as well as adds style to your dressing, writes ANGELA DAVIES.

At just 15, Tumisola Ladega is the creative director of the fashion label, Tumila.

She has showcased her designs at major Fashion weeks like the African Fashion Week, London and Mercedes Benz, New York.

She was also a finalist at the GTBank British Council Lagos Fashion and Design Week Young Designer Entrepreneur Awards 2013.

D

ress handkerchiefs or pocket squares, as they are often called is an essential accessory when wearing a suit. They are basically handkerchiefs folded to fit into the breast pocket to add that final touch to an elegant dressing.

Most often they are made of silk to add that glitzy look.

However, some pocket squares also come in cotton or linen fabrics. Your choice depends on your style.

Pocket squares come in an array of colours, fabrics and patterns for the man of style to choose from. There is no set rule for choosing a pocket square, however, a pocket square should simply complement your shirt, suit and tie, but does not have to match them. If it looks right and feels right, gladly attend your event.

However, you also need to put the occasion you are attending into consideration. For example, if it is for the office, it is better to use one with a plain fabric, while you can go with a fabric with patterns for a special event. You should not just put a pocket square into your breast pocket. It should be well folded to add a touch of class and elegance. There are countless ways to fold your pocket square for that trendy look.

You can go with the straight or classic square fold which shows a small part of it peeking out of your suit pocket. You can also opt for the puff fold which puffs out of the pocket.

There is also the point fold in which the pocket square comes out of the pocket in a triangular shape. Also, there is the one corner fold which makes a small peak of fabric coming out your pocket.

Whichever fabric, colour or fold you choose for that event, ensure it complements your suit and gives that suave look.

Ankara was formerly known as Dutch wax print, Real English wax, Guaranteed Dutch java and Veritable Dutch Hollandia. It was originally manufactured by the Dutch for the Indonesian textile market. But these prints garnered significantly more interest in West Africa than in Indonesia.

Stiletto high heel shoes were designed by Roger Emanuel in 1954. The word “stiletto” came from the Latin word that means “stake” or “small knife”.

FASHION ETIQUETTE

Rightsizing your necktie

Mascara is a cosmetic applied to the eyelashes to make the lashes thicker, longer, and darker.

W

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

hen it comes to wearing a necktie, you would notice different lengths. While some wear it short, others wear it long and some take it to the extreme. However, the question is how long should a man’s necktie be? No matter the fashion revamp, there are some fashion norms that are basic.

As a general rule for all neckties, the widest part of your tie should hang roughly at the same height as your belt buckle or the waistband of your trouser, with the tie's tip extending slightly below it.

So in essence, the proper length for a necktie is to have the tip end around your belt buckle or slightly below.

Blue satin long sleeve blouse and pleated skirt

T

Moka

wo stylish ladies, Toke Makinwa and Makida Moka rocked the same outfit but at different occasions. The outfit in contention is a blue satin long sleeve blouse and pleated skirt designed by an Italian-Nigerian design label called, Niquara Couture from its debut collection.

On-air-personality, Makinwa rocked the blue satin long sleeve blouse and pleated skirt to the Miliki Private Lounge for the Fashpa Day Out on Saturday, July 12.

Makinwa did not tuck-in her blouse and the pleated skirt which ended above her knees flaunted her toned legs. However, she coordinated her look with a grey bead necklace, matching drop earrings, orange handbag and a pair of black high heel strappy sandals that flaunt her well polished nails.

She completed her look spotting long wavy locks and light make up.

On her part, model, Moka was the first to rock the outfit when she wore it to the Gidi Up season 2 premiere held at The Palms, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, June 21. Moka pushed up the sleeves and tucked-in the blouse which flattered her slim silhouette. She then accentuated her look with a silver statement necklace, wristwatch and twotone navy blue and light blue pointy toe shoes. She completed her look with beautifully done smokey eye, light pink lipstick and a long braided ponytail hairstyle.

So who do you think rocked this blue satin long sleeve blouse and pleated skirt better? Makinwa or Moka?

Makinwa

Bhaira Mcwizu I can't complain...I knew fame would take away my privacy p.20 P-Square: An empire in need of a messiah p.18

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Presh: KCee and I never fought Precious John otherwise known as Presh of the defunct KC PRESH group is back on the grind after his break up with KC whose fame soared with the hit song, Limpopo. The Akwa Ibom State born singer spoke to LANRE ODUKOYA about the lull in his career after the split, family and his two singles.

You made a comeback to music about two months ago; why did you feel it’s the right time?

Well, it’s not like I have been totally quiet. I did drop a song about a year ago, but I just didn’t stay to promote it. I had to travel out of the country for almost one year. I went to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and UK, so when I got back home I knew that I had to study the market before pushing out anything. That’s exactly what I’ve done. Trust me, there’s a master plan and it will all start falling in place systematically.

Let’s talk about your new single, International Lady.

What prompted this?

Well, the new song is inspired by what I see happening around me on a regular basis. The song, International Lady, simply talks about a professional lady who really knows her worth and what she wants. The video was shot and directed by Sesan and we went a different route with the concept and since its release, the response has been awesome.

You recently signed a deal with Eric Manny Records.

What did they offer you?

Eric Manny is my boss and family. We’ve known for quite a while, so we got talking and he said to me, 'let’s do business and make money'. And that’s how it began. I’m not going to disclose the offer to you, but you can tell it’s a good and mouth-watering deal. We have a great and cordial relationship, my boss is a boss that listens and carries people along.

Now that you are back, do you think you have what it takes to really take over the music industry?

As a matter of fact it’s a complete yes.

What do you consider your selling point?

What stands me out is my vocal ability and my style. What people are listening to right now is just an introduction, this is just a start of a long journey. By the time you listen to other songs I’ll be dropping in the coming months, you’ll be thrilled. Going forward, I’ll be dropping more videos and evergreen songs.

People tend to compare you with KCEE, do you see him as a competitor?

Not at all. I’m on my lane and he’s on his lane too just like every other artiste. It’s a big market so there’s really no reason for competition at all.

What’s your relationship with KCEE at the moment?

Our relationship is still very cordial. I remember I was on a radio show on his birthday recently, and I gave him a shout out on air, we are still really good.

But what really went wrong, why did you guys part ways?

Nothing went wrong, we just had an agreement to pursue solo careers. So keep your fingers crossed; we just might come back.

Are you working on something together already?

Not at the moment.

How did music begin for you?

It’s a funny story. It’s actually a girl that got me into music. She said I had a froglike voice when I was singing for someone. At first I got angry and wanted to beat her up. So I joined the church choir and I remember they put me at the back. I just used to make sounds, because what I did back then wasn’t singing compared to what I know now. So I began to focus and build my vocal strength. I joined a group of six guys called The Genesis, and one day KCEE came on board. He had this kind of reggae feel to his kind of songs while we were used to the pure gospel and

R&B stuff. We thought it was a good mix, so we came together and anytime we performed in church it was always electrifying.

Do you do anything else apart from music?

No, all I do is music.

If music had not worked out for you, what else would you have done?

It would have definitely worked out, because music is all I know. As a child growing up I always wanted to do music, though at some point I admired accountants because they always looked prim and proper in their suits, but I knew deep down that accounting wasn’t for me.

What was your childhood like?

I grew up in the ghetto, in Ajegunle (a Lagos suburb) to be precise. My mum used to make fufu and I used to help her sell and distribute.

I did more of supplying, not hawking.

How did your parents react when you started music?

My dad wasn’t happy at first, but when we became popular and started making money, everything changed.

Would you say you are fulfilled with what you’ve achieved so far?

N o , not yet.

There’s a higher place I’m going. It’s been my dream to be one of the people that will nurture new artistes to stardom. When I’m able to sit back and look at over 15 acts on top of their game through me, then we can start talking of fulfilment. I want to be able to help people and impact the society.

Are you married?

No, I’m not. I’m not even in a relationship. All I see and think about now is my music.

How would you describe your dream woman?

Well, my dream woman has to be pretty, humble, have a sense of humour and not too uptight, you know.

She has to be a balance of good and bad.

Not too holy and not too spoilt so we can both be spontaneous and do crazy "Keep your fingers crossed; we just might come back," Presh says things together.

17

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SHOWBIZ TODAY

LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445 lanreodukoya@gmail.com

Square-Ville: An empire in need of a messiah

T

he P-Square empire is still on fire, literarily, and there’s not enough move to salvage it yet.

When a fight broke between the twins, Peter and Paul, a couple of months back forcing Peter to demand that their assets be shared, it took the concerted efforts of well meaning individuals to calm the raging storm. The rift spilled to Jude who tends to favour Paul in nearly all the domestic fracas they’ve had occasion to resolve.

Apparently to keep their business running, they feigned peace and claimed that all that was reported were misconstrued by fans and the press. But what exactly is the lifespan of a lie? Last week, Jude got married to ex-beauty queen, Ifeoma, in Anambra State amid pomp but Peter did not attend the wedding graced by nearly all the major hip-hop singers. Peter has just succeeded in avenging Jude’s boycott of his November 2013 wedding to Lola Omotayo in Lagos. While Jude’s wedding was going on, Peter was busy posting photos of himself back in their Lagos studio with his hero’s younger brother, Jermain Jackson to whom he played host. It got so

bad that Peter uploaded his sons and wife’s photo with a screaming caption: "this is the only family I have". This bad blood in the family is being contained mainly for business and the ominous signs are here that the end of the group is nigh. The genesis of the family discord began with their mom who reportedly vowed that Omotayo would never marry her son, Peter. But it came to pass. Issues of tribal intolerance and social class might have played a role in the fight showing no signs of abating soon. One would not also discount the role of age difference in the lingering saga as Omotayo is way older than Peter and even their eldest, Jude. Omotayo is Yoruba and have a somewhat elite background unlike the Okoyes.

On the other hand, Omotayo’s family was said to have grudgingly consented to the dalliance after the young woman has had a child with Peter. And when Jude would paddle the destiny of his brothers after their mother had passed on, he decided to honour her last wish - Omotayo won’t be family.

As their fate stands, fans of these entertainment celebs are

Square-Ville: The Okoyes' palatial fortress at Omole Phase I, Lagos

Peter

Jude

prevailing on them to remember their humble beginning and all the sacrifice they made to build the enviable brand. A fan said: "No matter what happens they will always be brothers, they cannot change that one fact. Peter

C

Pallbearers with Ajanaku's remains

Tope Alabi, Paul Play, Bola Are shun Ireti Ajanaku’s burial

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should also realize that Jude is his elder brother and might have good reasons to take certain decision, and as a mark of respect, he should not pay him back exactly the same way. Again, Jude should also understand that Peter is his

Adora Oleh quits MTN Project Fame stage for Bolanle Olukanni

E-BRIEFS

any controversies surrounded the death of Prophet Iretiola Elijah Ajanaku, founder of the Christ Revival Victory Chapel International ever since he was reported dead on Saturday, August 17, 2013, as it took quite a while for his family and church members to believe that he was really dead. The prophet was buried penultimate Thursday. After the church service, guests present and family members proceeded to the late prophet’s house where

Paul

the corpse was laid to rest.

Popular gospel singers, Tope Alabi, Evang. Bola Are and even Paul Play (who claimed the deceased while alive healed him of a life threatening kidney disorder) amongst others, who were always around the late prophet when he was alive were missing at the burial. For the better part of last year, late Ajanaku was involved in a messy media war with Tope Alabi.. He had lashed out the singer for no longer attending his church along with her husband.

o-host of Moments with Mo, Bolanle Olukanni, has replaced Adora Oleh as the new co-host for MTN Project Fame West Africa alongside Joseph Benjamin. Last Monday, MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 7 kicked off in grand style with the opening gala which held on the July 19. It was a phenomenal event full of glitz, glamour, and suspense. The event which also served as the audition finals for the 18 contestants unfolded with Kaffy and her Imagneto Dance Company thrilling everyone with amazing dance steps. This event would serve as monument in the lives of the top 18 contestants who had beaten thousands of other talented contestants to get to this stage. Not only making it to this stage, but also performing on the same stage with legendary Congolese singer – Awilo and our very own Tiwa Savage. As talented and as gifted as they

younger one, and learn to bear it all." Cheerless as all these may sound, P-Square, a rugged and riveting brand after over a decade of chummy-yummy bond is at the mercy of a messiah that is to come.

are the competitive part of the show required that a selected number of them eventually make it into the Academy.

Understandably, expectations were just as high as the tension. The brilliant lighting effects coupled with the impeccable setting of the stage fuelled the excitement of the members of the audience. The event was Olukanni graced by MTN CEO, Michael Ikpoki; CMO Usoro Usoro; Ecobank managing director, Jibril Aku, media personalities such as broadcaster, Adesuwa Onyenokwe, actor Olu Jacobs, and many other captains of industry. Worthy of note also was the presence of MTN Project Fame alumni – Ayoola, Olawale, Immaculate, Tolu, Oyinkansade, Madonna, Monica, and many others. The night started off on a light note, with comedian Seyi Law who took the centre stage to crack the audience up with hilarious jokes and ushered everyone into the business of the day. Oleh

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'I'm creating magic in the nightlife industry' Shina Peller, son of late Professor Abiola Peller, insists he is not too far off from the magical art that brought his father immense fame and fortune in the '70s.

The proprietor of Lagos-based Quilox tells OLUSHOLA RICKETTS why running a nightclub is akin to pulling a few tricks from the hat and the reason his club had to take a break.

frustrate a businessman. Electricity too is a big problem as running cost for generators are very high. If there was stable electricity it would have a large impact in the success of a business. Also, sometimes the customers do not make it any easier.

How do you deal with customers, particularly with the alleged strict policy of the club's VIP Section?

Many problems that reduce the lifespan of nightclubs in Nigeria stem from the customers too. Imagine a customer coming to the club to dictate to the club management how it should be run, forgetting that the club has a standard? The VIP area has a criteria and also a capacity of people the building can contain, but Nigerian customers do not care.

Everyone wants to be there without meeting the criteria. I see it like wanting to drive a Rolls Royce at the price of a Toyota. Also, I expect customers to be financially prepared when going out to have fun. Imagine when a customer tells us that he would send someone the next day to pay for his drinks. Most of them don't even know it is wrong simply because they are well known in the society, but it is not right. It kills the business.

There is also the issue of customers dressing inappropriately, such as customers wearing slippers to the club. There is no nightclub in a developed society that allows such, but some people here just want to do things their own way. When we insist on some things, people should not blame us because we have invested so much in this business.

Apart from running Quilox, what are the other things you do?

I have other businesses that I do also. I am into oil and gas and building and construction too. I have a company called Aquila Building Projects. We build and do outright sales and I am still working on other things by the side. The club business is just a way to expand what I do because I have passion for it. I think the kind of advice I will give to anyone is for them to venture into a business they have passion for because it makes things easier. I really love entertainment and it is the drive that made me establish Quilox.

You have a keen interest in the entertainment industry. Did you study anything related to arts at school?

No, I actually have a bachelors degree in chemical engineering and a masters in business administration with specialization in human resources.

What inspired you to open a night club?

Quilox is a dream project of mine that I conceived out of an obvious need for a place with style, luxury and class for high end customers who value and desire such a social gathering for relaxing and networking. I travel a lot and I have seen how nightclubs are run in other countries. I noticed that we are behind in Nigeria and the standard is poor here. So, I decided to replicate what I had seen in other places, hoping to make a big impact and here we are today. Also, the nightclub business in Nigeria is profitable, though it entails a lot of operational cost.

To run a nightclub, you should be ready to spend money to put things in place. If you put what a business requires it would definitely yield a bountiful result.

What are the selling points of Quilox?

Before I started Quilox, I visited other clubs in developed countries. I searched for the 10 best nightclubs in the world and I decided to see with my eyes how some of them were being operated. It was one of the reasons it took me so long to put Quilox together. The whole project started in 2011 and it took over two years before we came on board. Quilox is a purposebuilt nightclub; it is not a house or an office that was renovated to accommodate a club by breaking some walls and installing sound and light. We knew what we wanted from the beginning. And the location (Victoria Island, Lagos) is one of the factors that make Quilox unique. It was a deliberate strategy as we wanted to be in the heart of the city. Also, Quilox is more than a nightclub, it is actually an experience of a lifestyle. Apart from the club, we just opened a restaurant too. We were meant to commence the restaurant when the club reopens on August 1, but I decided to test run it and be sure that we are ready.

We serve continental and African dishes at the restaurant. We also have a karaoke section too that will also start operation immediately the club is re-opened.

What keeps you motivated?

I would say the control of making my ideas and visions come to pass and seeing

the success is a constant source of motivation for me. Though from experience, it is not easy to be successful in any business.

You have to be resilient and understand your customers' wants. I have travelled quite a bit and visited some of the best clubs in the world. My exposure to these world class clubs is a motivation for me to be successful in the nightlife business.

Quilox is just six months in operation; why did you decide to shut down for a month and during Ramadan?

From the beginning, Quilox was designed to take a month break every year.

We take the break to look back at the past months, correct our mistakes and try to update the nightclub system. I feel more comfortable to take that break during Ramadan period as I want people to be focused this period. Also, I grew up knowing the importance of Ramadan.

It is a month that is meant to draw you closer to God. Although everyone is a sinner, I try as much as possible to stay away from sin, especially during the holy month. You will also notice that people are normally on their best behaviour during the holy period. People stay away from sins as much as possible. It is good that these people taste the sweetness of faith even if just for a month. It means they will refer back to Ramadan if their lives become better in the future. We should not undermine the importance of the holy month, as it is a unique month that has the

‘Imagine when a customer tells us that he would send someone the next day to pay for his drinks'

What is responsible for the short lifespan of most night clubs in Nigeria?

This is only applicable to nightclubs in Nigeria as far as I know. In different parts of the world, there are always rules and regulations. In Nigeria, it is a different story.

Also, if a brand is not well managed, the defects will show. Look at Quilox for example, we are only six months old and we decided to do some maintenance. Things don't have to get ruined before you react. We could have decided not to do anything, but we see reasons to put some things in place to serve people better. In every business you do, there should be a maintenance plan.

The same thing applies to all other businesses too, not just nightclubs. But a lot of people who are in the nightclub business do not understand this and get carried away.

ability to change people. This is not observed in Quilox alone, clubs in some Muslim countries also do not operate during Ramadan period. I thank God for giving me the wisdom and courage to take that decision because I know how much we have lost to the break, but we are not disturbed. We are re-opening August 1.

What memories do you have of your late father?

While growing up, I learnt from my late father that I should take life simple.

I miss my dad almost every day because he was my closest friend. Though we had some issues then - you don't expect him to stomach things we did wrong. He was playful and funny. When you have a father with such qualities, you will definitely miss him when he is no more.

What are the challenges running a night club?

We have many challenges. I believe there should be some sort of encouragement from the government, but it is not forthcoming. This is not about Quilox or the nightclub industry alone; I am speaking from the entrepreneurial view. If you have an entrepreneur that is introducing a business that will create jobs and generate revenue for the government, I expect the government to give such person all the necessary support. Building Quilox came with many obstacles. To get approval for some minor things proved to be a lengthy and tedious task. Most of these things could

Your father was known for his magic art; do you have any future plans to follow in his footsteps?

Well, what I am doing now is some kind of magic too. I am creating magic in the nightlife industry. Magic is an art of entertainment and the two are directly linked. Every child of my dad knows how to do magic as an art of entertainment. We used to assist him on stage when he was on tour during our holidays. At present, I have a brother that is into magic as a profession. His name is Zeeto Peller and I am sure in a short while he would be able to replicate daddy's greatness.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

is important, I give it depth. So for me, it is not just about coming to do a film, it’s about what value it will add to the society, how I'm helping the younger ones and if that scene is necessary to the film itself.

What excites me about my career When I have done a job and people say to me: 'I watched that film and I laughed, you made me happy, you touched my life'.

When people say those simple but appreciative things, I say to myself, 'alright I have done my job, thank you, God'.

If not acting...

I think I would have read law. Well, my mother was a barrister and I used to go to court with her. I just liked the fact that you are able to reason and change lives.

However, I studied philosophy at the Lagos State University.

Handling male fans I try to be as courteous as possible. For me, it is a man and woman thing so even if I am not famous, they will still disturb me.

So I have to look for a way to balance it so that no party is offended.

Being woman, nothing compares A woman possesses special characteristics. She is genuine, faithful, domesticated and strong. She is able to smile even when in difficulty. A woman is a pillar of strength and I am glad that God gave me that nature.

Sacrifice for stardom I knew that there will be no privacy once you become famous so I cannot complain. I have no issues whatsoever. I was raised up in a family where I have been taught this principle that if you are going into the kitchen, you will expect that there is going to be heat there, so don’t be surprised and don’t complain.

Bhaira Mcwizu: I can't complain...I knew fame would take away my privacy Bhaira Mcwizu's profile has been on the rise since she won the third season of Amstel Malta Box Office. She has riveted fans in many film outings and stage play in these past years. She speaks about her career in this interview with ANGELA DAVIES. My two-year hiatus I took two years break because I had to go and do other things that were important and personal to me.

Winning AMBO and shooting movies I have been busy working since I won the Amstel Malta Box Office, AMBO season three. However, I have not been in the industry for like two years but I came back this year and I have been working. Just recently I was busy preparing for a stage play to commemorate Wole Soyinka’s eightieth birthday and also preparing for the Lion and the Jewel play where I played Sidi. It was staged at Terra Kulture and Freedom Park, in Victoria Island and Lagos Island, respectively.

Assessing Nollywood I will simply say that there has been a lot of improvement in Nollywood. What I met when I started and what is happening in Nollywood now is incredible. More

money has been pumped into the industry and there are also other investment with the risk of making better and quality movies. I am happy to be a part of Nollywood because the industry keeps getting bigger and better with each passing day.

Most challenging role so far They are actually two challenging roles so far. The first is in the film titled, The Visit, which I acted in with KOGA Studios last year December and currently, in the movie Tales of Eve. Both scripts were really challenging. For instance, in The Visit, I became a totally different person on set.

I played the role of a frigid woman who acts as if she knows it all, however as the film unfolds; you will discover who she really is. That role was challenging because I had to pretend to be something else all my life and then suddenly something happens one day that changes everything.

Then in Tales of Eve, I had to play the role

of a teenage girl who later developed into a matured person. All of that transformation is very challenging and quite tasking.

Nothing else apart from acting At the moment none, but I do intend to go into filmmaking. That is what I am interested in doing aside acting.

Roles I will never take That will be any role that does not make meaning. Even ordinary kissing scene, if it does not add any substance to the film, then I don’t think it is necessary. So as I read the script over and over again, I look for scenes that are not important.

If I consider a scene not important, I take it out and if it

Looking good I am trying to rest well, do what I love to do and have my time for myself.

When you are working, you hardly have time for yourself. So, I try to find time to rest and be in touch with myself.

Growing up It was wonderful. I had great parents who allowed us to explore our talents and be yourself. But they were strict, it was a Christian upbringing.

So we had both the comfort of good living and, of course, strict upbringing just mixed together.

Greatest fear in life I trust in God always, I believe in His grace so whatever concerns I have, I just turn it over to God and I find out that I am able to surmount those challenges. So, I don’t really have any gripping fear so to speak.

Life philosophy Live free and forgive easily.

Define your style It is glamorous, vintage, sexy and smart.

Being a perfect make I don’t think I have anything to change about myself.

Man of dream My ideal man should be confident, sexy, rich, nice looking and understanding.

Wedding bell It will be very soon and everyone will be invited.

... a finger on the city’s pulse

CONFLUENCE

Femi Otedola’s Disc-Jockey daughter graduates

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Gladys Ndubuisi Kanu slows the roll

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mong the matriarchs of high society, Gladys Ndubuisi Kanu, holds a pride of place, especially in the style department. Gladys is the wife of former military governor of Imo and Lagos states and a leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu. She is known to have an intimidating collection of Ascot hats that has made many, particularly women, green with envy. However, late-

ly, Gladys has been forced to adopt a more modest lifestyle.

After a glorious stint spanning several decades in social circles, it seems that the irrepressible forces of nature have combined to make her slow her roll. In the days when she held sway, no party was complete without her. She and her friends ruled the society scene, dictating its pulse at will and never letting up in fashion whenever it mattered. For now though, there is that inevitable stepping aside that occurs when once dominant birds have been knocked off their perch.

KSA and his wife pray for their daughter

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LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445

n this generation of smart phones, internet, fast cars, clubbing and parties, it’s awe-inspiring to find a teenager who's barely 14 with lofty ideas and a positive mindset already making great strides. Ayeronwi Oluwatosin is a talented girl with laudable ambitions of being a world class fashion stylist, painter, celebrity and an entrepreneur. That Tosin, as she’s fondly called at home and in school is indeed a girl of many parts cannot be gainsaid. Young in age, but not in candour, she’s fun loving, intelligent and focused. The little angel in a recent fashion outing wowed guests when she noted: “I love fashion as it is, because I feel it’s a way you express yourself, culture and what you love. And I find fashion as a way of getting away from idle people; it makes me happy as person to be able to do stuffs I love”. Like every other industry, the fashion industry is growing at a rather fast pace. Of this, little Tosin said: “I feel it’s blowing up, people are stepping out of their comfort

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Tosin Ayeronwi, a star at 14

he lines are falling in pleasant places for oil baron, Femi Otedola. Just a few weeks after his wealth soared by incredible proportion through his multimillion dollar deal in diesel, his daughter Ifeoluwa Florence Otedola, better known by her showbiz moniker, DJ Cuppy, graduated from Kings College in London last Wednesday.

The beautiful lady graduated with a second-class upper degree in business Otedola and wife cheering their daughter management.

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ACROSS 1. CABOOSE 5. SIN 7. ROT 8. NAN 9. ZOO DOWN 1. CANOPUS 2. BANNER 3. OOZE 4. EROTIC 5. STOP

10. TAPS 11. PEER 12. BI 16. AC 17. BUBA 18. YELL

22. OBI 23. BET 24. EGO 25. YEN 26. NUMERIC

6. NET 13. PLASTIC 14. SALOON 15. LUMBER 19. EDEN

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King Sunny Ade gives daughter’s hand in marriage

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ne of the beautiful daughters of Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade, held her traditional marriage in Ondo State last Saturday. The occasion drew only close family members as it was designed to be a parlourparty. The king of beats must have employed that moment to rest after marathon shows he’d been hired to do these past several weeks. The music icon was pictured praying profoundly for the daughter’s marriage to be one of bliss and pleasant testimonies. As one of his best days, KSA was dancing round his palatial home in Ondo State where the wedding held.

zone doing what they love, incorporating ankara designs, and I can see myself growing with the trend too”.

A visit to her studio where she designs at her parents’ home in Lekki, Lagos unveils yet another creative part of Tosin. She draws and she’s quite good at it too, her drawings cut across still, life to abstract and to drawings that are simply astonishing and would only be interpreted by her. Her words partly read: “Each drawing represents my personality, I'm a teenager, so I always try to incorporate designs that people would love to wear, designs that are fun and entertaining. I pick designs that are honest to my nature about what I do, I also like sophisticated designs that stand out, it makes you look modern and trendy.” The budding painter expressed another exciting inclination: “I love painting, it’s also a way I express myself. It means different things to different people, I just love the way it feels, and when you paint you are able to express yourself.”

UNIBEN final year student wins 2014 Miss Global Nigeria

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iss Global Nigeria season 5 climaxed last Thursday in gleeful spectacle at BeniGold on Victoria Island, Lagos, with a final year student of international studies and diplomacy at the University of Benin, Faith Eriata, beating others to clinch the 2014 Miss Global Nigeria crown. The new queen who hails from Edo State walked tall among 16 other leggy contestants to win the crown in a colourful event attended by guests drawn from across various walks of life. The event got to its peak when five of the 16 contestants were picked for special talent where Faith performed her recorded singles. Others that held the audience spellbound were Korra Obiddi whose captivating ballet dance wowed the guests; 18-year-old Rhema Thadeus who did justice to Frank Edward's track, Beautiful, with her expertise on guitar. Another contestant, Feyishayo Ajimati, reinvented some wonderful dance steps to the track, Baby Pull Over by KCEE while Sandra Ebitonmo displayed an art of gele-tying in just five minutes on stage. Faith, who'll be referred to as Miss Global Nigeria 5 will be representing the nation at the Best Model of the World show slated to hold in Alicante, Spain, this October. The 24-year-old is an entrepreneur who has her fingers in many pies just to earn a living and pay her tuition fees. As MGN 5, she has won an official car, a modelling contract as she preps for a week-long holiday to Abu Dhabi with her chaperone, Faith Irabor. The new queen is perfecting her pet project alongside her runners-up Stephanie Nmukoro (first runnerup), Aminat Okoya (second runner-up), Sandra Ebitonmo (thrid runner-up) and Abiola Awoderu who emerged as Miss Photogenic at the pageant.

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Diary of an itinerant artist Ademola Akintola's art exhibition featuring experiences glimpsed through 40 years of travel are steeped in existentialist themes, writes TONY OKUYEME.

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K-based Nigerian painter Ademola Akintola makes a bold return with a solo art exhibition showcasing works which include figural and abstract contents that highlight his experience in Market women several countries he visited during his nearly 40 years of travel. The art exhibition titled, “The Diary of an Artist” opened on Saturday, July 19, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, and runs till July 27.

Besides being an artist, Akintola says he is also "a pastor in the United Kingdom". At 62, and with over seven solo, five group exhibitions and seven residencies in Europe and the U.S, Akintola still does not think he missed any formal training after his secondary school education. "No regret not taking the Yabatech admission,” he says. “I realised that styles and skills are not something you are taught in the classroom. These are natural things you improve on as you keep painting and drawing."

Some of the 25 works he is showcasing in “The Diary of an Artist” exhibition go beyond his exploration of expression in figural content, abstract impressionism paintings and mixed media.

Some of the works include Symbols (Resin on board), Dancing All Night Long and Wing of Dreams series (metal mixed media on board) as well as Flowers (acrylic on board), Roots Metal (foil relief on board), among others.

A fine artist of repute, experience, creativity, Akintola has a calmness and kindness that strikes you immediately. He prefers to describe himself as an artist who likes "to be individual" in expression, while his art is "contemporary realism". According to him, the abstract form in his work "is issue-based”.

As an artist in the Diaspora, Akintola recalls his encounter with "underlining racism”, during a solo show he had at Busi- Boat ness Centre, London, in 1996 where "nearly everyone who visited liked his works. But a lady's remark that "we are not ready for this" bothered him.

Although he has, according to him, been visiting Nigeria nearly every year since he left the country, he hopes this current solo show, Diary of an Artist, would "re-establish his art in Nigeria”.

Setting out at 18 from Nigeria to travel the whole of Africa (it took five years), Akintola is a visual artist who has always gone his own way just for adventure’s sake. He says of that epic journey, “I wanted to know the world around me, the African environment that was different from my own culture. And, I wanted to prove that I could survive with just my art, painting, selling and gaining confidence.”

Akintola turned down a place at art college in order to make an immediate start to his career as an artist. At the beginning he supported himself by teaching in an elementary school. “I used illustration to teach – not realising that their teacher always peeked through the window to see how I was doing it.” The impact of his work went beyond the classroom walls. He said: “When I was in Mali, sometimes I would paint and people would come to watch, even illiterates. And though my work was not figurative, I knew I could communicate and they could absorb certain information anyway.”

In 1990, Akintola moved permanently to the UK after completing a number of residencies and found that resources here were more readily available. “In Nigeria you cannot find the right materials to work with immediately – here I’ll go to an art shop and spend! And now my wife will say, 'Oh – you’ve been out to buy your toys again.'”

Akintola’s theme has remained constant, not affected by the impact that the huge differences between Nigeria and the UK have made on him. “I think the most important thing about my work is that I project certain things within the spirit of a man." Fulani (inset: Akintola)

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REFLECTION

Tethered by Tattered Tradition, Loosed by The News Timothy Akinleye

Once again the Gospel Message Upon me its light beams Its Good News resting on my restless mind Calming the winds that latch against my soul.

This Good News in its constancy With gentle power and mighty grace The scale from my opened eyes removed Turning my mind from darkness to Light Throwing open the Treasure House of His Power And the endless stream of His mercy Which from His Sanctuary flows.

Having cleansed me from all unrighteousness Makes partaker of me the Saintly inheritance by faith For in His Light my mind is liberated Blindfolding ruse of old tradition The ungodly scheming of men and gods of this age But thanks to the light of the Spirit Who hath bestowed on me A measure of new paradigm shift For what is life without control?

When superstition has robbed my brains The very rudder of my life And to the gods and principalities ascribe all causes Thus dance I to the senseless tunes of primitive tradition This marvellous light to the contrary now instructs: The earth to me the Lord hath given To subdue, to plough and to tame.

The world of superstition is false, I am the image of God and Him only deserves my worship.

Being guided by the Spirit I have a firmer grip on Time Better interpretation of its timely strokes The ageless tik-tok rhythm That nudges me closer to Destiny.

Oh hail this precious gift from God Exchangeable asset Oh how my heartbeats remind me Money is measured in the currency of time.

To every man, like rains Time gives opportunity and chance on equal measure And those who cherish it Will eat the fruits thereof Time and money are inseparable bed-fellows Tame them and they serve and enrich you For knowledge is power and learning is the key Money as servant is ready ever be To be invested, to be nurtured as seed To grow and blossom like the cedar of Lebanon And bear many more children For he who eats his Capital will lose his State For a king without a court is without a kingdom.

And when your wealth is come Resist the wasting spirit of wasteful feasting Where fools their sweat in glasses poured For friends and foes alike to drink Once more making slaves of themselves To callous leaders devoid of the fear of God Who plot to overthrow their Maker And in the process loose their souls Having gained the world they never owned. © Timothy 2007

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23

Ending media debts is everybody’s responsibility – Osunsanya

Taiwo Osunsanya, chief executive officer of Mediapro Consulting Limited, a media buying agency based in Lagos is an advertising practitioner who has worked on many high profile accounts. In this interview with Kingsley Ogbonna, he advises all stakeholders to join hands and solve advertising agencies’ high indebtedness to media organizations

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ne issue that has been of concern to many in the media profession is the huge debt being owed media organizations by advertising agencies.

The figure is really high and there are fears that many media organization may fold up if a solution is not found soon. Advertising agencies and media organizations have in the past tried to resolve the problem without a headway even as some media organizations have blacklisted a number of media buying agencies for not settling their debts as at when due.

The talk in town has been that many media buying agencies collect money upfront and pay into fixed account to yield interest for them, a claim that has been refuted repeatedly by the agencies involved stating that their clients (advertisers) do not release money on time to run media campaigns.

Even as the blame game continues, Taiwo Osunsanya, the chief executive officer of Mediapro, a media buying agencies based in Lagos has called for caution stating that in as much as nobody likes to owe, there was a strong need for all stakeholders involved to find a lasting solution to the problem. “The media industry is fraught with a plethora of challenges chief of which is the issue of media debts which keep pilling up by the day. The media debt problem in the industry would only be solved if all the stakeholders’ that is clients, media, Advertising practitioners and clients are jointly determined to see an end to it.” Putting an end to it, he said, will ensure that everybody is happy.

He said that media buying in Nigeria, which is relatively young, has improved tremendously in the last few years saying that professionals now heavily rely on data to achieve their campaign objectives. “The media buying profession is getting interesting and more professional than it was when I first joined the industry in 1987. Then, we used to use the rule of the thumb in planning media but today as it were, we are more data focused, we now use “Media Star” to plan the media hence increasing the level of professionalism and competition.”

Looking at the number of professional media buying companies operating in the country at present, Osunsanya advised those hoping to open shop not to be frightened saying that the space is really there for them to operate in more especially as the country’s economy is opening up by the day. He however advised that the new entrants must dare to be different. “Yes, obviously there is room for new entrants provided you have carved out a niche for yourself.”

Mediapro, he continued, was set up to make the difference in the media buying business saying that part of the reason the company has been doing well was because

“it takes the media heat off our various clients including the potential ones who are yet to join our clientele list. We are professional in our approach in buying media space that delivers result for clients. I, as the chief executive officer, deploy very rich background and media clout which gives us an advantage. media is one area of the advertising practice that is very dynamic and never static. New media ideas are coming up almost on a daily basis and for me, this is very interesting. More so, in my almost 28 years of unbroken advertising practice, I had always been a media man. That is what almost everyone in the industry know me with and the area which I have comparative advantage, hence there is a need for me to be focused.”

While projecting into the future, he had this to say about his company: “Mediapro Consulting Limited in the next five years would have gone global, buying media not just in Nigeria but in the entire universe, this we are currently doing but on a small scale for now”. He also hinted that he plans to diversify into the digital media platforms in the immediate future saying that foreign affiliation is the main thing for any foresighted company in the integrated Marketing Communications world to go into because of the many benefits derivable from it.

Born 50 years ago, Osunsanya, a 1989 Master’s degree holder in mass communication (with specialization in public relations and advertising) of the University of Lagos attended Agunbiade Victory High school, Abeokuta from 1977 to 1982 from where he proceeded to Federal School of Arts and Science, Victoria Island, in Lagos for his higher school certificate. He cut his teeth early enough in the profession having served with Reads and Mark, an advertising agency based in Enugu.

“With my youth corps’ experience coupled with my sound academic background, I was employed with the then Grant Advertising on Bode Thomas, Surulere, where I spent just a very few months before proceeding to the newly formed LTC Advertising Ltd in Ilupeju where I was privileged to work with Ade Akinde in the media department of the then fledging Agency. I left LTC as acting head of department to set up Campaign Palace in December 1993 as a co-director cum business owner. We (my colleagues and I) later left Campaign Palace to set up The Nucleus Company in Ilupeju where I was executive director in charge of media and new business development. On April, 2002 by the grace of God, I finally set up Mediapro Consulting Limited (a Media Independent outfit in Anthony Village before we moved to our present Ilupeju location.”

Osunsanya

24 IDEAS & BRANDS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

MDA 8: Excitement as eight finalists emerge from Port Harcourt auditions

I

t was a battle of talents as hundreds of contestants took to the dance floor to compete for slots at the Maltina Dance All (MDA) season eight regional audition held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The atmosphere at the Atrium Event Centre, venue of the two-day auditions was electrifying as the dancers - both young and old - trooped in to showcase their skills.

The first day - which was the general session - was set aside for dancers from age categories; 5 - 12, 13 – 19, 20 - 29 and 30 and above, to compete for prizes ranging from Home Theatres, 22-inch flat screen television sets and 5.5KVA power generating sets.

In the 5-12 age category, six-year old Precious Binyebo emerged winner and carted home the grandprize of a brand-new generating set while Dike James 11 and Stanley Eze 12 who emerged first and second-runners up respectively went home with a home-theatre and LCD TV Set. The 13-19 age category saw Daniel Uche 18, emerge overall winner while Amarachi Clement 19 and Kelsi Dide 18 emerged first and second-runners up respectively.

For the 20 - 29 age category, Wilfred Utere 20, came out tops while Sunny Onyeka 23 and Jones Samson, emerged first and secondrunners up respectively. In the 30 and above age category, which was extremely exciting, Mr. Perry Dan, a 53 year old photographer, emerged winner while Ndubuisi

Agu 32 and Mrs. Numa Becky, emerged first and second-runners up respectively.

At the end of a very difficult selection process which was held on the second day, eight dancers were selected by the judges to proceed to the next stage of the highly competitive activation platform that is reputed for producing some of Nigeria’s best dancers.

They are: Vincent Osanebi 21, Ebi Williams 22, Sunny Onyeka 23, Richard Emmauel 18, Wilfred Utere 20, Ukeme Akpan 23, Uzodinma Calistus 19 and Kelsi Dide 18. The next step is for the eight contestants to participate with their families at their homes and if they are selected and pass the medical tests they will finally qualify to enter the popular MDA Academy.

The judges, Muyiwa Osinaike, Bimbo Obafunwa and Ukalina Opuwari, described the auditions as the best ever. Muyiwa Osinaike said “It has been a very interesting and entertaining 2-day audition here in Port-Harcourt. I’ve been here for about four times but this has been the best ever. There was so much energy and talent that the selection process was more difficult than usual. But at the end of the day we were able to pick the best eight dancers. I am so impressed with the showing in Port-Harcourt. They showed us that they are really passionate and deeply interested in dance. We saw exceptional talents here. We are hoping to see the same or even

Airtel introduces Awoof, a lower denomination recharge

A

irtel Nigeria has introduced a special N50 denominated recharge, which offers the most talk-time and SMS for N50, thus empowering our valued customers and making it possible for them to enjoy and benefit from every naira they spend.

The value pack, which is christened ‘Awoof Recharge’, is loaded with six minutes talktime and six SMS. It further addresses the need for an even lower denomination recharge option by offering its prepaid customers six minutes voice calls and six SMS to Airtel Network for just N50.

It is also in line with the consistent bold steps taken by the Telco to continue building and strengthening its relationship with customers by offering affordable, innovative and quality products and services.

Unveiling the product in Lagos, today, the Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa explained that ‘Awoof Recharge’ is another testament of the company’s avowed promise of providing innovative and affordable services to Nigerians.

He said: “As part of our commitment to meet the ever-growing demands of telecoms consumers, we make constant effort to design services that provide supreme value to our customers. The new offering launched today is value for money and presents a convenient and cost effective option for our customers to connect with loved ones. The user gets maximum

value from every naira spent” According to him, “Awoof recharge is an innovative and revolutionary product which re-inforces Airtel’s commitment to ensuring everyone who needs to make a phone call or send SMS can do so regardless of social standing.“ “At Airtel, we always listen to our consumers and we will continue to do our utmost to meet and even exceed their expectations. By providing value for money airtime packs, we are empowering individuals, families and businesses across this great nation to stay mobile and enjoy the exciting Airtel offers,” he said.

‘Awoof Recharge’ is available in e-pins and physical recharge cards across Nigeria and can be used by any pre-paid user.

better at the Lagos auditions”.

Assistant Brand Manager Maltina, Diekoye Oyeyinka stressed that Maltina Dance All is about sharing happiness. He said, “MDA has been a very tangible platform to convey the Maltina brand message over the years. The excitement and the happiness expressed by everybody here is a reflection of what the Maltina brand is about and is in sync with this year’s MDA theme, Rhythm of Happiness’.

The MDA is also a strong plat-

form that brings families together. It’s all about bonding, sharing and caring. The energy, talent and excitement displayed by the dancers in Port-Harcourt were impressive. What we have witnessed today shows that PortHarcourt people love to dance and they are proud about it. They have made a huge statement about that today.”

Considering the fact that five out of the last seven overall winning families in the MDA family dance show emerged from Port

Harcourt, the auditions in the oil rich city, as expected was highly competitive and intense. After a gruelling auditioning process, the eight dancers now stand a chance to compete for the grand prize of 10 million naira and the title of Nigeria’s number one dance family.

The first and second runners up will also get N3 million and N1 million respectively.

The Lagos auditions would hold at the National Theatre on July 24th- 26th and Abuja – Nicon Luxury Hotel on August 1 – 2.

L-R: General Manager in charge Consumer Products Division, L’Oreal Central West Africa, Sekou Coulibaly, Head of Education, Titilola Igri-Offor and the Group Brand Manager, Ogbemi Kesiena at the launch of Dark & Lovely Braids and Weaves in Lagos, recently.

Associated Discount House rating improves: Vows to continue delivering quality service

F

oremost independent credit rating firm in Nigeria, Agusto & Co, has upgraded Associated Discount House Limited (ADH) ratings from Bbb+ to A-. According to a report issued by the rating agency, the upward review was due to ADH’s strong capitalization, good liquidity profile, good asset quality, good profitability and stable management. The current A- rating reinforces the good financial condition of ADH, as well as its experienced and strong capacity to meet obligations on timely ba-

sis.

The report further stated that ADH’s track record of financial performance has improved consistently over the past three years with Net Earnings growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34% over the period and profitability indicators trending upwards during this period. Pre-tax ROE and Pretax ROA have averaged 20% and 1.7% respectively, over the three-year period. During the year ended December 31, 2013 Pre-tax profit increased by 38% to

N1.8 billion and ROA improved to 2.1%.

Managing Director/CEO of ADH, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, said that the years of relentless quality service is paying off and is being notice by all. “This rating confirms the excellent work of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of ADH towards repositioning the company as a foremost financial service institution in Nigeria delivering value to its clientele and ensuring good return on investments for its shareholders.”

… Appoints Gbenga Rotimi legal director

A

irtel Nigeria has announced the appointment of Gbenga Rotimi as Director of legal affairs and company secretary. Rotimi’s appointment takes effect immediately and he will be responsible for all company secretariat, board and legal matters for Airtel Nigeria.

The new director joins Airtel with over 20 years professional experience covering legal and commercial roles across the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia with exten-

sive Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) industry experience.

Prior to his appointment, Rotimi was the lead consultant at the M1 Group; a holding company with diverse worldwide international interests in telecommunications, real estate, retail, energy, power generation, financial asset management and aviation.

Speaking on the new appointment, the chief executive officer and managing director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, said Rotimi’s appointment is a glowing

testimony of the company’s efforts at providing strong platforms for Nigerian talents in line with its vision of becoming the employer of choice for exceptionally talented Nigerians.

“Airtel Nigeria is committed to providing talented Nigerians with the required opportunities to realize their full potentials and become corporate leaders and role models in the society. We are passionate about our people and local talents and we will continue to increase our investments in people development,” he said.

Rotimi was also previously Group Director, Commercial, Legal and Regulatory affairs at Helios Towers Africa and Chief Commercial and Regulatory Officer, Helios Towers Nigeria where he was responsible for General Management for The Federal Capital Territory and Northern Nigeria. He was also Opportunity Consultant at the Hewlett-Packard Company for Europe, Middle East and Africa based in the UK responsible for the delivery of ICT solutions to multinational clients.

Mourinho: Chelsea will dominate for 10 years

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Ronaldo is generous, funny, says girlfriend

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26 JULY 2014

Dolphins, Kano Pillars tie highlights resumption

}p.26

Impeachment not the best solution –Akinwunmi

}p.27 Nigeria’s Ifeoma Christi Nwoye, pins her Indian opponent to the mat at the last Commonwealth Games in 2010

Igali

We will wrestle for gold in Glasgow – Igali

Breaking NFF’s cycle of crisis

}p.30

}p.31

DueprocessabusedinMaigari’s impeachment,says Gara-Gombe }p.27 Top Nigerian performers at the CommonWealth Games }p.27

Nadal showers girlfriend with kisses during Spanish get-away

}p.32

26 SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

Nigerian League Rendezvous with charles Ogundiya

charlesog2001@yahoo.com, charles.ogundiya@newtelegraphonline.com

08098042287

Dolphins, Kano Pillars tie highlights resumption

D

olphins and Kano Pillars game on Sunday will be the highlight of the resumption of the second half of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Dolphins will be hoping to halt defending champion Kano Pillars’ 10-match unbeaten run with a victory inside the Liberation Stadium, Port-Harcourt, on Sunday.

Pillars, currently leading the league table, tasted defeat last against Lobi Stars in one of the week nine matches, and victory away to Dolphins will draw the

team closer to another title.

The Okey Emordi-led team won the league in the last two seasons and is hoping to win another trophy this term to make it a hat-trick.

In another match of the day, Sunshine Stars will be home to Nembe City, currently sitting last on the league table.

Speaking with our correspondent, Sunshine Stars coach, Henry Abiodun, said his boys were ready to get back to winning ways as the team targets one of the continental slots for next year.

Magbisa is league’s youngest player

N

embe City player, Wisdom Magbisa, aged 16, is currently the youngest player in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

The youngster, who is an SS1 student of Community Secondary School, Sagbama, joined the Bayelsa State-based club last year, a few months before sitting for the West African Examination Council’s Junior Secondary School Certificate examinations.

Speaking with League Rendezvous, Magbisa expressed delight at being given the opportunity of playing in the Nigerian top flight, and alongside a number of players he had only recently seen strutting their stuff on television.

“I feel happy and privileged to be playing with some of these players that are old enough to be my father and some that I grew up watching on television,” he said. “Now I have the opportunity to play with them and against them.”

Revealing how he has been able to combine the day-to-day demands of professional football with his academic pursuits, Magbisa said: “In the morning I go to school and when I get back in the afternoon I head to the training ground. Then at night, it is time to review all I learnt from school.

“I assured my parents that I would continue to focus on my studies, despite my involvement in football, and they agreed to give me their total support.”

The last of his parents’ 11 children, Magbisa is already one of his family’s top earners, and as a result of this unexpected status, the teenager now gets more respect from family members, as well as his from his schoolmates.

“My parents relate to me with more respect nowadays,” he said.

“Even my siblings show me a little more respect especially now that I am contributing towards the upkeep of our home.

“My peers at school also do the same, but nothing has changed in the way we relate to one another. We are all still close friends despite my new status,” added Magbisa, who cites Nigerian winger, Ejike Uzoenyi, and Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi, as his role models.

MATCHDAY 20 fixtures FC Taraba VS Gombe Utd Warri Wolves VS Kaduna Utd Lobi stars VS Heartland Bayelsa Utd VS Crown FC Sunshine VS Nembe City Giwa FC VS Enyimba Akwa Utd VS Sharks Abia Warriors VS Nasarawa Utd Rangers VS El-Kanemi Dolphins FC VS Kano Pillars

Glo league table Rank

Team

P

W

harks of Port-Harcourt coach, GbengaOgunbote, said there was need for his boys to start the second half of the season on a winning note.

Sharks ended the first half on a bad note, losing three matches consecutively, to close the first half fourth on the league table despite leading the table for some weeks.

Speaking on phone to League Rendezvous, the former Sunshine Stars coach said it was important to get a victory against Akwa United in their week 20 match on Sunday.

D

L

GF

GA

Pts

GD

1

Kano Pillars

19

9

7

3

30

19

34

11

2

Nasarawa Utd

19

9

4

6

20

15

31

5

3

Abia Warriors

19

9

3

7

26

19

30

7

4

Sharks FC

19

8

6

5

22

17

30

5

5

Enyimba

19

8

5

6

18

12

29

6

6

Giwa FC

19

8

4

7

19

16

28

3

7

Warri Wolves

19

8

4

7

21

19

28

2

8

Akwa Utd

19

8

4

7

18

18

28

0

9

Dolphins

19

7

6

6

21

16

27

5

10

Heartland

19

6

9

4

18

15

27

3

11

Sunshine Stars

19

6

9

4

27

25

27

2

12

El-Kanemi

19

7

5

7

23

17

26

6

13

Lobi Stars

19

8

1

10

21

25

25

-4

14

Taraba

19

8

1

10

13

19

25

-6

15

Rangers

19

7

3

9

24

23

24

1

16

Bayelsa Utd

19

7

3

9

24

30

24

-6

17

Crown FC

19

7

3

9

16

23

24

-7

18

Kaduna Utd

19

6

3

10

16

23

21

-7

19

Gombe Utd

19

5

5

9

21

23

20

-2

20

Nembe City

19

3

7

9

9

33

16

-24

Ogunbote targets Akwa United victory

S

Magbisa

Shagari Mohamed of Kano Pillars (r) vies for the ball against a Bayelsa United player during the first half of the season

“We lost 2-1 at home to Akwa United on the last day of the first half of the season, now we have the opportunity to pay them back at their home.

“It was unfortunate we had such a bad run towards the end of the first half, but we are ready to return to the summit of the league starting with a victory against Akwa United on Sunday,” he said.

He further said that the technical crew has strengthened the team with some new players in other to achieve results.

Unuanel commends league writers

K

wara United head coach, Samson Unuanel, during the week heaped accolades on journalists covering the Nigerian Professional Football League, claiming the fearless attitude of league writers has helped in improving the Nigerian top flight.

Regardless of his high praises, Unuanel still called on league writers to also focus more attention on the country’s lower divisions, precisely the Nigeria National League and the Nationwide National League.

“Looking back at what has happened to Nigerian football in the last three

years, one must be bold to say we are moving gradually to the promised land, thanks to our fearless journalists,” said Unuanel.

“Fearlessly you have exposed the bad eggs in the Nigeria Premier League. Now we can boldly say if you have a good team, you can go to any venue in the country and pick a win or a draw.”

He however added: “I want to make a passionate appeal to sport writers that they should look into the lower leagues, so that all the leagues can grow together in the country.”

Salami targets hotshot award

W

arri Wolves striker, Gbolahan Salami, has stated that his main target this season was to finish as the top scorer of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Currently on eight goals, the player who is often compared with Italian striker, Mario Balotelli, owing to his unpredictability both on and off the pitch, said he had not been closer than he currently is to winning the league’s hotshot award.

On his good run of form since joining Warri Wolves at the start of the season from Shooting Stars, Salami cited the strong bond felt by players of the Warri-based side as a reason for this development.

“The team understands what I want and they have been playing to my strength which has given me the opportunity to express myself better in front of goal,” said the Nigerian international.

“I have never had it so good and I am looking forward to winning the top scorer award at the end of this season.”

He added: “I am not giving any target, but at the end of the season, with the help of God and my team-mates, I will emerge as the season’s top scorer.”

The striker will have another opportunity to add to his tally on Sunday when Warri Wolves take on Kaduna United at the Warri City Stadium.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

SPORT

27

Due process abused in Maigari’s impeachment, says Gara-Gombe Ajibade Olusesan

Says members signatures were forged

former board member of the Nigeria Football Association, Shuaibu GaraGombe, has alleged that procedures for the removal of Aminu Maigari as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation was fraught with irregularities and that the decision should not stand.

The embattled administrator was Thursday “dismissed” from the executive board of the NFF and his vice, Mike Umeh, installed as president in acting capacity.

But in an interview with our correspondent, Gara-Gombe said he was stunned by the gross abuse of due process by elements that wanted Maigari out, insisting that if the decision was allowed to stand, it would come back to haunt Nigerian football.

He alleged that criminal activity was perpetrated to legitimise the process, and accused some members of forging the signature of another member of the board.

“The impeachment of Maig-

A

ari might not work because due process was not followed. The statutes of NFF clearly provided the process of impeachment of the president and it was not followed at all. In fact, one of the members of the board whose signature was put on the paper has come out to say that he was not a party to the impeachment. He has said that his signature was forged.

“I am not saying that Maigari cannot be impeached, but don’t let us abuse the rules in our despera-

have not been able to prove it. NFF had a congress last year where the account of the past year was expected to be reviewed and projections made for the coming year, but the last AGM in Warri passed the financial statement in just three minutes, the fastest in history and the same congress has now said Maigari misappropriated funds.

It does not make sense at all. Can Maigari alone steal money, how about the so-called small cabal in the board? Are they not still there?

Why are they still on the board if those allegations are truly real,” Gara-Gombe querried.

Impeachment not the best solution –Akinwunmi

Judo set to regain lost glory, says Oshodi

A

fter some years of playing minnows on the big stage, Nigerian judo is now rear to go and to take the international circuit by storm. To this end, a blueprint is being put together to ensure that the sport takes its preeminent position not just among Nigeria’s elite sports, but to also launch the country into global limelight.

President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF, Dr. Musa Oshodi spoke of the federation’s ambitious plan during an interactive session with sports journalists. Dr Oshodi who was elected after the impeachment of Mr. Timothy Nsirim said it was sad that Nigerian judo had recently slipped off global reckoning and from among the elite sports in the country.

According to him “Our judo has a very rich history. Without trying to be boastful, Nigeria had always been a powerhouse on the continent and even a major player on the world stage by qualifying for the Olympic Games. You should also remember that the country was among the top ten judo nations of the world in the late 80s by virtue of Majemite Omagbaluwaje’s performance at the World Championships in Belgrade in 1989” He continued. “For a country that was among the top ten in the world in 1989, it is sad that today we cannot say we are among the top 50 in the world”. Oshodi put the blame of the decline in the fortunes of the sport on the leadership of the federation.

The medical doctor who is the first judoka to head the judo federation since its inception in1972, said the country was blessed with a lot of talents that could rule the continent and hold their own against the very best in the world, adding that what has been missing was leadership .

He promised that his board would provide the leadership to put the country among the best judo nations in the world. “We have developed a road map which would revolutionise our judo.

Apart from exposing our judokas to regular competitions locally and internationally, we will also invest massively in the education of the technical personnel, the coaches, and the referees.

“Then we will also make our presence felt in the international judo politics by getting Nigerians into key organs of the African Judo Union and International Judo Federation, he said.”

tion. However, the impeachment is still subject to ratification by the NFF Congress and even then, Maigari can challenge the process because there was a criminal offence which has rubbished the whole process,” he said.

He said the allegation of misappropriation of money levelled against Maigari has not been substantiated, saying that it was a ploy to call “dog a bad name in other to hang it”.

“They said Maigari misappropriated NFF money, same thing they used against Ibrahim Galadima and Sani Lulu, but they

Vincent Eboigbe

C

hairman of Lagos State Football Association, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, is of the opinion that impeachment is not the best option to navigate the latest crisis Nigerian football is mired in.

Alhaji Aminu Maigari was on Thursday expelled as president of the Nigeria Football Federation by the board with his erstwhile deputy, Mike Umeh, installed as president pending election on August 26.

Before his impeachment on Thursday, Maigari and his board were also sent packing by the congress convened by Lawrence Katken who had earlier been appointed by sports minister, Tammy Danagogo, in the wake of the court injunction that first restrained the NFF board from running football in the country.

Maigari only got some reprieve after FIFA insisted on his reinstatement, with the world football governing body slamming a suspension on Nigeria to ensure compliance with the directive. But the beleaguered administrator hardly had time to enjoy his triumph before the board meeting struck on Thursday.

Musa celebrates a goal at the last World Cup

Top Nigerian performers at C’Wealth Games Fatai Ayinla won three boxing medals (one gold, two silver), one at each of the three Commonwealth Games he attended, while Modupe Oshikoya won three medals at the ‘74 Games.

TOP NIGERIAN PERFORMERS AT C’WEALTH GAME 1966 Kingston, Jamaica Boxing (Welterweight)

Nojim Maiyegun

Bronze

Boxing (Light Middleweight)

Nojim Maiyegun

Bronze

High jump men

Samuel Igun

Silver

Triple jump men

Samuel Igun

Gold

Boxing (Light Heavyweight)

Fatai Ayinla

Silver

1970 Edinburgh, Scotland Boxing (Light Heavyweight)

Fatai Ayinla

Gold

1974 Christchurch, New Zealand Boxing (Heavyweight)

Fatai Ayinla

Silver

100 m hurdles women

Modupe Oshikoya

Bronze

Long jump

Modupe Oshikoya

Gold

Pentathlon

Modupe Oshikoya

Silver

1990 Auckland, New Zealand Judo men (Lightweight)

Majemite Omagbaluwaje

Silver

Judo men (Open)

Majemite Omagbaluwaje

Bronze

2002 Manchester, England Wrestling (Freestyle 84kg)

Sinivie Boltic

Bronze

2010 Delhi, India Wrestling freestyle men (96kg)

Sinvie Boltic

Gold

Mimiko backs maiden school tourney Charles Ogundiya

T

he maiden edition of the Ore National Under-14 Soccer Championship has received the backing of the Ondo state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

The soccer championship designed to engage the pupils of the town during the long school vacation, is scheduled to hold in mid August.

Making this known was the chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Pastor Felix Olatunde. The local government would host the event. Olatunde said the governor was delighted with the youth soccer championship, which was the first of its kind in the history of the town.

And Akinwunmi, who is a member of the congress, insisted that the impeachment further muddies the already troubled water.

“This crisis I must confess is needless and unnecessary. We can sort out whatever the issues are through other avenues; impeaching Maigari for me is not a solution. There are better options,” said Akinwunmi.

He argued that since Maigari was alleged to have misappropriated funds the appropriate thing would be to give him the chance to defend himself, noting that not having the full details of the Thursday meeting in Abuja, makes it difficult for him to make enlightened comments.

“The law I know is that when an allegation is made, an opportunity is also provided for the person involved to defend himself, I don’t know if that happened. An accused is deemed innocent until proven guilty,” Akinwunmi noted.

“I’m not a member of the board and wasn’t at the meeting and so can’t comment fully. But there will be a congress where the decision will be ratified and only after then will I be in a position to know what truly happened.”

rik Lamela has promised Tottenham fans will start to see the real him this season after starring in their 3-2 preseason friendly victory over Toronto.

The forward endured a miserable, injury-hit debut season in the Premier League, making just three starts as he failed to justify his £30 million price tag after moving from Roma in what was a club-record fee for Spurs.

“It’s something I would like todo [carry his pre-season form into the upcoming campaign], but I have to continue to work,” said Lamela. “As the season progresses I will continue to get better.

“I felt like I was able to play a good 45 minutes. Overall I think the team did really well and I’m happy with the performance.

“I had an unfortunate injury last season that kept me out of play for quite some time. In the same way, it’s helped me emotionally and morally to get better and work harder towards this season.”

E

Lamela: I will come good this season

Lamela

ajibade.olusesan@newtelegraphonline.com

ajibade oluSesan

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

NEW TELEGRAPH

J Chelsea’s falling short during the last campaign.

‘We respect our opponents and their ambitions, because they have the same ambitions as us, but we want to win the Premier League and we are ready for that,’ he finished by summarising the challenge ahead.

Mourinho understands that Chelsea are one of six teams, in

rendan Rodgers has underlined Philippe Coutinho’s importance to Liverpool, describing the Brazilian as the “brain” in his Reds side.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who was not part of Brazil’s World Cup squad, starred in the Reds’s 1-0 preseason defeat by Roma in Boston on Wednesday.

Coutinho is facing stiff competi-

B

Coutinho the brain of Liverpool, says Rodgers

ose Mourinho is targeting success next season, and he is hoping to inspire period of dominance by Chelsea which could last for ten years.

‘This season we think we are going to be stronger, the younger players are more experienced, they are stable and better adapted to fighting for titles,’ said the Portuguese tactician as he contemplated

back in the transfer window so far, as they have completed some of the most notable business deals so far. A £50 million sale of David Luiz appears a master-stroke following the Brazilian’s World Cup capitulation, and the big money signings of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa are two of the most high-profile to have been conducted this year.

Ranocchia: Inter not afraid of anyone

his opinion, that can win the title.

Alongside Arsenal and Tottenham in London, Mourinho sees Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool as the Blues’ major rivals. However, he is confident that his side can overcome all of them, and that they can establish themselves as the country’s best by doing so.

Chelsea have certainly not held

Mourinho: Chelsea will dominate for 10 years

SOUNDING OFF

Global Football Special

I

P

SV Eindhoven defender Jeffrey Bruma is backing their bid for Manchester City’s Karim Rekik.

PSV are keen to take Rekik on-loan for an-

Bruma backs PSV over Rekik chase

Valencia, Spurs,

nterest in Hoffenheim attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino is hotting up as Arsenal join Inter Milan in the race for the 22-year-old’s signature, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

The Brazilian had an impressive season in the Bundesliga in 2013/14, scoring 16 goals and providing 10 assists from the No.10 role and this has attracted plenty of interest.

Inter are keen on bringing Firmino to the San Siro, but with limited funds have asked Hoffenheim if the South American could be taken on-loan for 12 months with an option to buy next summer.

Arsenal set to challenge Inter for Bundesliga star

alatasaray coach Cesare Prandelli is counting on Wesley Sneijder this season.

The Dutchman has been linked with Manchester United and AS Monaco this summer.

Indeed, Sneijder admitted he’d “find it difficult” to turn down Louis van Gaal should United come calling.

However, Prandelli insists he has no plans to part with the midfielder.

“Sneijder is a very important player for us,” he declared.

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‘Galatasaray won’t lose Sneijder’

TRANSFERS

28 SPORT NEW TELEGRAP 26 JUL

B

Ogogo Unbeaten middleweight boxer Anthony Ogogo believes British boxing fans are the most passionate in the world.

The London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist outclassed and stopped Wayne Reed earlier this month to extend his unbeaten professional record to seven fights.

Ogogo, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, said the reaction he received from the fight was evidence of Britain’s love for the sport.

Ogogo blogged on Sportlobster.com: “Your messages of support and goodwill are hugely appreciated.

“It is safe to say we have the best fans in the world here in Britain.”

Tom Watson has hinted that he may be forced to leave Tiger Woods out of his 12man US Ryder Cup team for this autumn’s continental match-up at Gleneagles, unless the 38 year old plays himself into the FedEx Cup playoffs.

The comments were made following Woods’ 69th-place finish at last week’s Open - his worst finish in a Major in which he has played all four rounds.

Ronaldo

Hamilton may not be putting the Buddha into Budapest this weekend, but he could be tempted to seek divine assistance if luck goes against him in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes Formula One driver needs a win to cut into teammate Nico Rosberg’s 14-point championship lead after 10 of the 19 races, and Hungary offers the perfect opportunity.

SPORT BRIEFLY

I rina Shayk is clearly smitten with her footballer boyfriend Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Russian model, 28, reckons 29-year-old Cristiano is an amazing guy and acts nothing like people would expect him to when he’s around his family and friends.

‘People who love him, know a different side of him,’ says Irina.

‘He’s generous, he’s funny. He’s just perfect, that’s why I am with him.’

Irina has been dating Real Madrid star Cristiano who’s dad to four-year-old son Cristiano Jr - since the beginning of 2010.

Despite being happy in her long-term relationship, Irina is very coy about whether she a n d h e r man will b e walki n g

down the aisle anytime soon.

‘I am trying to concentrate on books,’ Irina said.

‘I love Dostoyevsky, he’s my favourite writer. I love Pushkin. I don’t know what people are saying.’

Ronaldo is generous, funny, says girlfriend

more in our legs,” he told reporters.

“We have to do well against the big teams, but I think the new players will help us – they have integrated really well.

“We’ve got a great group here.

“Who are we afraid of in the League? No one. A team like Inter have to think about the Scudetto.

“We shouldn’t fear anyone. The League is long, but we are Inter.”

Tiger Wood

Reus

orussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Marco Reus could return to training in two or three weeks’ time.

Reus suffered a partial tear of the ligament in his left ankle in Germany’s World Cup warm-up match against Armenia last month.

The injury forced Reus to miss Germany’s successful campaign in Brazil as Joachim Low’s men claimed their fourth world title.

Dortmund forward Reus had been expected to be un-

available for three months.

However, Klopp has now suggested that the 25-year-old’s comeback may be much earlier than anticipated.

“It’s always a good feeling to see the guys running again. This is great.

So far, the healing process has been optimal,” Klopp told Bild.

“Maybe Marco can get into the team training again in two or three weeks.”

Reus set to resume training - Klopp

Coutinho

A ndrea Ranocchia claims that Inter are not afraid of anyone going into the new season.

The Nerazzurri go into the upcoming campaign with new additions Nemanja Vidic and Yann M’Vila amongst the squad.

And the captain has insisted that a team of their stature has to think of winning titles.

“We worked well at training ground Pinzolo, but now we have to put something

Hamilton

oke tops new research by Millward Brown assessing the performance of World Cup sponsors and their competitors before and after the tournament.

The research was undertaken by Millward Brown’s Consumer Neuroscience practice and designed to measure the instinctive feelings of consumers towards the World Cup and brands, using the speed of reaction to questions as a critical test of the linkage between brand and event.

Online tests undertaken by more than 5,000 consumers in the UK and Brazil both before and after the tournament reveal that the soft drinks brand was not only the most recognised sponsor in both markets, but also the fastest to be recalled.

Coke was recognised as an event sponsor after the world cup by 81% of consumers in the UK and a staggering 92% in Brazil, with consumers associating the brand with the tournament 52% faster than average in Brazil and 34% faster than average in the UK. This research also highlights that while non-sponsor brands and those with an association with other football competitions scored highly before the event, after the tournament they were outscored by official sponsors Visa and Adidas.

Before the tournament both Nike and Champions League sponsor MasterCard were more strongly associated with the World Cup in both markets but this was reversed by the time the second wave of research had taken place.

Visa also massively boosted consumer positivity towards its brand with its sponsorship activity rising by 300% in the UK, while MasterCard’s emotional bond, which was initially higher in both markets decreased as the tournament went on.

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World Cup sponsors triumph over hangers on

Blatter

tion for places following the arrival of England international Adam Lallana, whilst there are reports that the Reds want Marco Reus.

But the Liverpool manager was quick to praise Coutinho after the friendly loss.

“Coutinho is the brain in our team, the continuity player,” said Rodgers. “He might not score many goals, but he’s a wonderful reference for the team.

“He is the one that gets the team ticking, gets the movement in front of the ball. He goes and gets on the ball. He’s a fantastic talent for such a young player and he’s still gaining his fitness.

“He makes the crowd get off their seat. For someone so small, he’s very tough and robust. He’s a wonderful technician that has a great idea, tactically, of the game.”

abriel Obertan and Hatem Ben Arfa are up for sale at Newcastle United.

The Evening Chronicle says both were snubbed for Newcastle’s New Zealand tour - and are looking for new employers.

Ben Arfa and Obertan have fallen out with Toon manager Alan Pardew in recent months.

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Newcastle offload Obertan, Ben Arfa

steban Cambiasso is weighing up a return to Spain.

The released Inter Milan midfielder has courted interest from West Ham United, QPR and Tottenham in England.

However, Valencia have also made contact with the former Real Madrid man.

Cambiasso is keen on testing himself in England, but the 33 yearold is yet to field any concrete contract offers from interested Premier League clubs.

Valencia, under new owner Peter Lim, now boast the spending power to compete with Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs.

E

West Ham fight over Cambiasso

W

est Ham are considering a move for Monaco striker Lacina Traore as boss Sam Allardyce has concerns over Andy Carroll’s fitness.

Carroll picked up an ankle injury on the club’s tour of New Zealand and Allardyce is understood to have serious concerns over the former Newcastle striker’s long-term fitness, following injury problems last season that restricted him to just 16 appearances.

The Daily Mail has now suggested the Hammers have reignited their

interest in 23-year-old Traore, having missed out on the forward in January as he chose to join Everton on loan instead.

Hammers ponder Traore raid

eter Crouch has welcomed new Stoke City signing Bojan Krkic.

The former Barcelona striker joined the Potters.

Former England international Crouch told the Daily Star: “It is a fantastic signing for us and he is a player we are all looking forward to working with.

“He is a top quality creative player. Maybe we have lacked players like that in recent seasons, so it’s exciting.

“Some of the football we played last season was fantastic and with players like Bojan here, I’m sure we will see more of that.”

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Crouch welcomes Stoke swoop for Krkic

other season after last term’s success.

Former Chelsea defender Bruma declared: “We have almost daily contact. Of course, I always tell him to come back .

“It will be an advantage, because we are responding well together.”

Signs are, however, that City boss Manuel Pellegrini will include Rekik in his first team squad this season as he prepares to sell Micah Richards.

PH ON SATURDAY LY 2014

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30 SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

Breaking NFF’s cycle of crisis

...Things must be done properly Vincent Eboigbe

O

I

Vincent Eboigbe

t has become a pattern. Every four years Nigerian football experiences an upheaval that threatens to send it to the abyss. The latest in these periodic fits is that which recently engulfed the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation just days after the team arrived from the World Cup in Brazil.

Given the squabbles about money, which in no small measure, affected the team in Brazil, the unending spat between the federation and Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, coupled with the allegations of misappropriation of funds leveled against Maigari and his co-travellers, government, it seemed, had had enough and decided to move against the board.

The sequence- a court injunction followed

by Ministry’s of Sports interference, FIFA’s suspension, government involvement and finally the lifting of the suspension by FIFAevokes a feeling of de javu. It also played, out almost to the letter, in the removal of Sani Lulu as the president of NFF in August 2010, after the World Cup in South Africa.

Lulu was also alleged to have misappropriated funds. Indeed Lulu, like Maigari, took all the state FA chairmen to South Africa with an eye on his re-election. He was also accused of taking his wives and children to the World Cup. But his retort then was that he could take his family to South Africa if he so desired so long as it was not with the federation’s money.

Lulu, however, could not escape the sword of Damocles just like Ibrahim Galadima before him in 2006. Then Nigeria did not even qualify for the World Cup in Germany, and the avalanche of angst directed at Galadima and his board drowned them. Galadima’s illtimed statement that qualifying for the World Cup was not Super Eagles’ birthright did not help his cause.

As things stand now, Maigari’s board has been reinstated after Mrs Ibiakpo Baribote who instituted the case against NFF was persuaded to withdraw it. That was one of the conditions given by FIFA to lift the suspension. The other was bringing back Maigari and company.

The swiftness with which the ministry moved after the court injunction to appoint Lawrence Katken to oversee football in the country and also call a congress which then proceeded to sack the NFF board, hinted at a puppeteer pulling the strings from somewhere. Apparently, one of the dancers to the tune was Mrs Baribote, whose husband, Victor Rumsom Baribote, had been banned from football for 15 years and was also removed from his position as chairman of Nigeria Premier League.

Interestingly, the court in Jos could not sit a second time because of the judiciary workers’ strike, but was still somehow able to meet and quash the injunction in a move reminiscent of what Fela calls government magic.

With all the web of intrigues and confusion that entangle the game in the country, how can it be freed from the shackles that hold it down?

A former FIFA instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde, who knows a thing about the workings of the world football governing body, said the only way out of the cycle of crisis that periodically befall football in the country was to play by FIFA rules.

“It may not be fair for anybody to blame FIFA for insisting that its statutes be strictly adhered to. The only way to avoid these crises is to do the right thing. Once we do that we will avoid these problems,” counselled Onigbinde.

“Lifting of the suspension is nothing to be happy about. So long as the underlying issues that trigger the crisis are not resolved they will recur and the cycle will

Super Eagles players, Victor Moses, Ogenyi Onazi and Emmanuel Emenike at the last World Cup in Brazil

continue. Let me ask you: how many of our clubs are run democratically and source their funds independently? They are just parastatals. Which government gives money to the Yoruba Club or Lagos Tennis Club, for instance? That is what FIFA expects. Again how many of the state associations are run democratically? And yet these state chairmen gather in Abuja to elect the board of the NFF. So you see that the board is an illegality from the outset.

“Interestingly, you ask the government that puts in so much money to run football not to have a say in how the game is run.

When government tries to have a say it becomes interference, but when it is bringing out money it is not. I have also said that we should accept the ban, for say, a period of two years, to put proper structures in place and run the game properly.”

A former chief Justice of Rivers State, Adokiye Amiesimaka, said Nigeria needed to have a means of conflict resolution similar to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Switzerland. The process was initiated in 2012 and Amiesimaka was chairman of the committee that drew up the framework for establishing the Nigerian CAS. Nothing however has been heard of the project since 2012, and the former Nigeria international believes that having a Nigerian equivalent of CAS is a way of avoiding these crises among other solutions.

“First the report of the committee of which I was privileged to be chairman that was tasked by the Nigeria Olympic Committee to prepare the legal framework/guidelines for the setting up of the equivalent of CAS in Nigeria has been submitted since May 25, 2012, so government can establish it within a few days, so that sports-related disputes in every sport in Nigeria can be referred to it exclusively,” Amiesimaka advised.

“If that is done, our civil court may only

It may not be fair for anybody to blame FIFA for insisting that its statutes be strictly adhered to. The only way to avoid these crises is to do the right thing. Once we do that we will avoid these problems

step in, as is the practice in Switzerland with CAS, on grounds of public policy, fair hearing, and jurisdiction. Also congress of the football governing body should amend its statutes and voluntarily submit to the jurisdiction of the independent body. Congress of every other sport has reportedly agreed to do so.”

Amiesimaka went further to state that: “Congress of the football governing body in Nigeria should also include a clause in its statutes that will compel the body to account periodically for any public funds that it may receive and that failure to do so would be sufficient ground to dissolve the board. It then becomes a simple case of ‘don’t take public funds if you won’t account for it.’

“The NFAAct 2004 before the National Assembly for amendment for many years now may be repealed and the football governing body in Nigeria incorporated under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act as a body limited by guarantee, and allowed to be run in accordance with FIFA-approved statutes.”

A former NFA chairman, Ibrahim Galadima, was unusually reluctant to volunteer any opinions or proffer solutions as he had suffered the same fate back in 2006. He maintained that whatever he said could be misunderstood.

“I have been involved in this kind of situation before, so I’d rather not make any comments as whatever I say may be misconstrued.

I’d rather Nigerians make their own evaluations and conclusions. But I wish Nigeria football well, we are praying that the game comes of this latest crisis,” was all Galadima would say.

Howbeit, a former vice president of NFF, Chief Oyuki Obaseki, was not so reticent.

He noted that Nigeria needs to learn lessons from mistakes in the past, stating that the fact that government funds football is not a valid reason to interfere in the running of the game.

He also pointed at the greed of people who don’t have any passion for football, but sees it as an avenue to steal and are prepared to go to any length to get onto the board. Tied to this is the resulting lack of continuity.

“Many African nations, smaller than Nigeria, have learnt to avoid this kind of crisis.

But we have refused to learn from past mistakes. Yes government spends its money to fund the game, but the same government has accepted FIFA’s statutes so why not respect them,” Obaseki queries.

“Everybody wants to get in not because they have the passion, but because they want to steal. Our people are not good, they are just horrible and they will keep ganging up to pull down, not for any other reason but for their own selfish interest.”

n July 3, a court in Jos, Plateau State, sacked the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, setting in motion a chain of events that culminated in the suspension of Nigeria from all football activities by the game’s world governing body FIFA. After some horse trading, the suspension was lifted, but what still astounds watchers of the Nigerian football scene is the decision by the supervising ministry of sports to beat the well-worn path of using court injunction and impeachment as means of removing the NFF board, given the consequences - big brother FIFA is always watching after all.

The ministry over-tipped its hands in its haste to get rid of president of NFF Aminu Maigari. Whatever the infractions of the man and his board, there were other ways to handle the issue without putting Nigerian football through all the hassles of recent week.

Election into the board of the NFF is scheduled for next month, so the ministry could have waited until then to put its plan of removing Maigari into action. The ministry could have waited for one more month and spared everybody the trouble. Interestingly, on Thursday the ministry showed its hands again. The board at its first meeting after the suspension was lifted expelled Maigari with his erstwhile deputy, Mike Umeh now to act as president until August 26 when election will be held.

That was for the particular instance, but going forward a way must be found to make the federation accountable. The football house gets so much money yet practically renders no account for the huge sums of money. For instance, for the World Cup, NFF got $1m from FIFA as preparatory cost, will get $9m as second round losers.

And because of the role of football as a rallying force in the country, government puts a lot of money into football; now when the funds that accrue from various sponsors like Globacom, Guinness, Cadbury, Peak Milk and sundry others are factored in, then you can begin to imagine how much money is involved.

So it becomes imperative to find a mechanism that will compel accountability. Getting so much money without a corresponding accountability not only gives room for corruption, it actually encourages it as all manner of people without passion for the game jostle to jump onto the gravy train.

The communiqué issued after the vote of no confidence passed on Maigari on Thursday only further serves to buttress this point: “After exhaustive deliberations on the uncalled-for secrecy surrounding all financial dealings of the NFF and failure to call meetings of the Executive Committee for the past eight months, during which so many weighty decisions on Nigeria football had been taken by a small cabal within the Board, the Executive Committee passed a vote of no confidence in the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.”

Maigari

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

How comfortable are you about Nigeria chances at the Commonwealth Games?

I’m going to be quite positive about our chances. When you’re in the heat of battle you don’t want to go back to what you could have done better. You want to encourage your athletes to go out and give their best, and if there are miracles, then miracles should happen.

The target of the National Sports Commission is to return from Glasgow with about 15 gold medals. Our best effort has been 11 gold medals. I do feel that we have the athletes that can achieve this target. The hope is to improve and that is the prayer. Now how that is going to translate into medals, and how well we will do, nobody will know until the end of the games.

But I just want everyone to be positive, encourage our athletes to go out and perform miracles. Encourage them to surpass our best at the Commonwealth Games. I hope that the new talent that we have in the national team is enough to give us the number of medals we expect from them.

Four years ago, at the Commonwealth Games in India, wrestling accounted for a large percentage of Nigeria’s total medals haul. As a result, so many people are looking up to wrestling to lead the way once again in Glasgow.

How confident are you about the wrestling team’s chances at the Games?

Wrestling is one of the core six sports in Nigeria and so there are expectations, and rightfully so, of the wrestling team in Glasgow. I do believe that we have the talent in our athletes to do well, we have the hunger in our athletes to do well, and I am hoping that we are going to do well. Now to give you specifics on whether we would be able to match our achievements from four years ago is not what I can say.

Four years ago, even though we didn’t go for a training tour, we were in a training camp in Nigeria for six months. And with my team, specifically, I had a deal with the former Director General of the NSC (Dr Patrick Ekeji) which made it possible for us to even commence training three months before the six months camping exercise, so we had very good preparations.

A lot of the countries we would be competing against are not sleeping; they are not waiting for Nigeria. I know the efforts India and Canada, two of our fiercest rivals in the Commonwealth, have been making in the last six months, so I cannot now tell you how many medals we would end up winning in Glasgow. I know we will win medals, but it will depend on a lot of factors on the day for us to know how many gold, how many silver or how many bronze we would win.

The wrestling team was in Romania for a training tour, along with teams from Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. How will do you think this camp can improve their skills ahead of the Games?

The aim of training tours is for your athletes to get the necessary experience and to get them acquainted with different styles, so it doesn’t matter if it’s for one week, three months or six months. One week can make you achieve the desired goal. For this specifically, I wanted my athletes to get a bit more conversant with the Bulgarians because we have not trained with them in a long time, especially this group of wrestlers. The Romanians were also there and, fortunately, the Polish team also came.

If you recall, Blessing Oburududu lost to a Polish girl at the 2012 Olympics but in Romania, Blessing beat her in all the trial bouts they had. That is the sort of confidence you want to give to your athletes before a major event.

There is a kid the Bulgarians are touting to be the next big thing in wrestling; he was there in Romania, but Amas Daniel was constantly taking him to the cleaners to the point that this kid refused to show up for training on one of the evenings because he was that mad. And that is what I want from my athletes.

Time was short, and hopefully we will be able to improve on it next time. But I was pleased with their attitude towards training, the discipline they showed, and the excitement they have towards the Commonwealth Games. That is what you want to see and we got all that during this tour.

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Nigeria’s Talaram Mamman (in red) during an international event

r o f e l t s e r w l l i w e W i l a g I – w o g s a l G n go l d i Dr Daniel Igali, a former Olympic and Commonwealth Games wrestling champion, in this interview with Ifeanyi Ibeh, takes a look at Team Nigeria’s chances at the on-going Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, and expresses optimism at Nigeria’s chances of winning medals in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling events. Excerpts...

Nigeria’s Blessing Oburududu pins down Canada’s Justine Bouchard

What has changed between when the E.K. Clark Wrestling Championship took place in Delta State and now?

E.K. Clark was the trials for the Commonwealth Games, and I think it was important we had it in the open rather than in a closed situation. That way no athlete came out to say he or she was robbed. The winners of the E.K. Clark were the champions in their weight class, but we still gave opportunities for the silver and bronze medallists to wrestle against each other and then face off with the gold medallists for the slot in the national team, which I thought was good.

The standard I saw then was what I expected to see at the time. You wouldn’t want to see athletes two months from the Games to be in top shape. They were in relatively okay shape and we have had about three weeks in Nigeria to brush them up to the standard we want. With what I saw of them in Romania, a lot of them are very sharp. There are one or two wrestlers with slight injuries, but we still have nearly a week in Glasgow before the competition begins.

One thing I liked about the camp in Romania was the fact that while the girls were in Brasov with the Romanian and Polish girls, the boys were in Bucharest with the Romanian and Bulgarian teams. And it was a good ex-

perience for them, as they are getting close to the level we want for the Games.

This is the taper period for the wrestlers, where you have them in that frame of mind to compete, but also that they are not tired anymore; you bring down the load of training, but their sharpness has to be increased so that they can be ready to compete in another six to seven days, and I think they are there. I am monitoring their progress everyday so that we are not caught unawares.

What level of motivation did you receive from Nigerians ahead of the Games?

The president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee would be able to shed more light on the level of motivation Team Nigeria received ahead of the Games, but I can only speak for wrestling. I don’t want to include the National Sports Commission in this category because I feel that is their job, but aside from them, the Bayelsa State government has been number one in that regard. During the last Olympics the Governor sent close to N10 million to the athletes in Germany, and not just the wrestlers but others who were there including the weightlifting and table tennis teams. Even in Bayelsa, when he comes back from a trip the wrestlers would go with their drums to receive him and I know what he

gives them. It is a normal thing that he does maybe because of his background as a former wrestler. He specifically came to Abuja to see the wrestlers and promised that he was going to be in Glasgow to cheer them up. So I had planned to arrive in Glasgow on the 28th ahead of the start of the wrestling event on the 29th, but he is already there in Glasgow for the Games and has directed that I come over immediately.

I am overjoyed by the zeal he has shown and I just hope the wrestlers will repay his enthusiasm. He has told me in private a number of times that he wants to be the chief motivator of the team and I am hoping that motivation will go very far in lifting our athletes’ spirits.

What about the recent changes to the rules of the sport. How conversant are our wrestlers regarding these changes to the rules?

You know this year, for the first time in our history we now have a Grade-1 referee in Usman Yusuf. This means that if he remains a Grade-1 referee for another year he can officiate at the World Championships and at the 2016 Olympics.

We brought him to camp and he was with us for over a week just to ensure that the athletes were updated on the new rules. So I am not too worried about the athletes not knowing the new rules yet. I think they are up to date regarding the rules.

Away from the Commonwealth Games, are you still nursing the ambition of getting elected into the bureau of the wrestling world body, FILA? I fully intend to contest the elections to the FILA bureau. I think the watershed will be the Commonwealth Games. There are 44 wrestling nations there and it is very likely that the Commonwealth family will adopt me as their candidate. I also intend to have a lot of rapport with most of the FILA agents who will be there. I also plan to go to the Junior World Championships in early August, in Croatia to meet with some of the other federation presidents who will also be voting. Crucially, at the World Championships this year, I plan to be there five days before the tourney to do a lot of lobbying.

I think it is important in sporting cycles to have people in such positions. It is something I feel is important for Nigeria, Africa and Canada. It is not going to be a walk in the park so I intend to do a lot of my lobbying, most especially at this Commonwealth Games I need to get my act together.

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Rory Mcllroy celebrates with new girlfriend

Lifestyle

R

ory McIlroy looks to be celebrating his Open victory by spending some quality time with rumoured new love interest Sasha Gale.

The 25-year-old has been spotted with Gale while out in Belfast as the Sun reports that the pair have been seeing each other.

The news may come as a shock to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki who was engaged to McIlroy before he decided to end their relationship shortly before winning the Open.

The 23-year-old receptionist is from Lisburn, County Antrim, a city just the other side of Belfast from where the golf star grew up.

Gale boasts on Twitter that ‘being small is a blessing - I call it travel sized.’

Her height means she may not suffer the same fate as 5ft 10in Wozniacki, who said she had to wear flat shoes while going out with 5ft 8in McIlroy.

The Sun reported that McIlroy took former air stewardess Miss Gale out for a high-class meal at Chelsea Wine Bar in South Belfast to celebrate his victory in the Open last weekend.

A source told the paper the couple got together after meeting five weeks ago and their ‘romance is blossoming’.

Courtesy The Sun

Gotze and girlfriend Brommel after their mud bath

Gotze’s post-World Cup partying continues

M

Gale

ario Gotze and Andre Schurrle are still reaping the rewards that come with winning the World Cup. The Germany internationals both played important roles for Joachim Low’s side as they claimed glory in Brazil, Schurrle with goals in the second round and semi-final and Gotze with the winner in the final.

Bayern Munich attacker Gotze’s travels have taken him to Formentera in Spain where he enjoyed a mud bath with lingerie model girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel.

Gotze is more renowned for his silky skills on the pitch, but Pep Guardiola will be encouraged to see he is willing to get dirty too.

The 22-year-old wore a black Nike cap while Brommel carried a football.

He had previously been spotted celebrating in Ibiza after rounding off a memorable summer of international duty at Germany’s homecoming in Berlin.

Schurrle, meanwhile, aped his Germany colleague by holidaying on a private yacht in Ibiza.

Courtesy: Dailymail

Sagna keeps cool with dip in the sea

A Nadal’s girlfriend Perello Inset: Nadal with the beauty

Nadal showers bikini-clad girlfriend with kisses during Spanish get-away

T

hey’ve been together for over eight years, but you’d be forgiven for thinking tennis ace Rafael Nadal and girlfriend Xisca Perello had just started dating.

The affectionate duo put on an amorous display as they soaked up the sun on a luxurious boat in Ibiza, Spain on Sunday.

In between ocean dips and sunbathing sessions, Nadal showered his girlfriend with kisses and cuddles.

Following her dip, Xisca enjoyed

an al fresco shower, layering up in soapy suds to wash away the sea water.

Nadal began dating Xisca in 2005 after they grew up together in their hometown of Palma de Majorca on the coast of Spain.

In 2011, the tennis star told Harper’s Bazaar about his deep love for Xisca.’She is a lovely person, I feel great with her and [she] is probably the woman of my life,’ he said.

Courtesy: Dailymail

s his new Manchester City team-mates were preparing to face Sporting Kansas City in the sweltering heat, Bacary Sagna was still enjoying a sunshine break.

The right back, who joined the Premier League champions from Arsenal this summer, was relaxing 1,600 miles away in Miami with wife Ludivine.

Sagna has been on an extended holiday since France crashed out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals to Germany, He spent eight years at Arsenal before agreeing to join City on a deal worth £150,000 a week.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side took on Sporting Kansas Wednesday before friendlies against AC Milan and Liverpool next week.

The Blues jetted out to America following a short spell in Scotland where they lost to Dundee before beating Hearts.

Courtesy: Dailymail

Sagna and wife Ludivine

StartUps

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26 JULY 2014

Financial discipline necessary in aluminium fabrication business – Rasak

Wasiu Rasak, is the propietor of Wasraq Aluminium System, an aluminium fabrication outfit. He tells SEGUN EDWARDS in this interview that aluminium fabrication is a modern interior decoration that has replaced the old way of beautifying homes all over the globe.

Could you tell us what aluminium fabrication is all about?

Aluminium fabrication is all about fabricating of aluminium product into different shapes and designs mostly windows and doors and office partitioning and other useful things in the living environment or interior decorations. It is used as glass windows and door frames.

So, when would you say the use of aluminium fabrication started as a departure from the normal windows and doors?

We do have the normal windows and doors before and this started in the late 1960s and early 1970s outside the country when it was invented for interior decoration. But it came up in Nigeria in the 1980s even then, it was purchased majorly by the privileged or rich people but it became rampant from the early 1990s. It was not affordable for everybody until the later part of 1990. But now, everybody has embraced it as the preferred option for internal beautification or interior decoration in most cases. Whenever you want your interior to be beautiful, the best option is aluminium fabrication.

If you look back, how long would you say you have been engaged in aluminium fabrication?

I have been in this business for a long time. It is not less than 15 years and I have trained not less than eight apprentices and at the moment. I have about 26 undergoing training now.

For a new person, what are the basic requirements?

The major requirement is basic education, at least the secondary school education. The business also requires honesty on the part of the entrepreneur, because the truth is that the business requires reasonable capital consumption. Honesty, sincerity and openness are the key components for any entrepreneur in the business to be entrusted with client’s funds as he or she kicks off in the business. This is so because a client may be required to give his fund to you to get his job done so, the person should be financially disciplined. That is why for us, we stipulate the secondary school certificate, a stipulated fund to be deposited by the trainee as cost of training, as well as the identification of the trainee, which include the uniform that would show that an individual is a trainee undergoing training in the organisation.

For me, I emphasise discipline because I cannot afford to train someone who is unscrupulous to be ambassador of my organisation.

What is the duration of training?

The duration of training explicitly is three years for a person certified to have the minimum academic requirement. He or she must undergo a full three years training, which include various orientations. Three years is a sufficient period of training for a would-be entrepreneur. It is the best, anything less than that may not augur well.

What is the basic knowledge expected to be imparted on the trainee in the process of training?

A trainee would undergo training on measurement, how to couple aluminium, how to interact with customer, which is a very essential aspect of the training and carriage or building the right image for the person towards engaging customers.

Anybody that is coming into the business must trained to be up and doing because the business is not for a lazy person as it is expected of him to meet the demand of the clients and must properly be giving the orientation to deliver on promise to clients.

This is seen in the rigorous process of the business that sometimes entails working extra hours particularly, when there is a job outside our location. At times, we get jobs outside the state we are located. In other words, we get jobs from states within the country or at times outside Nigeria, in some neighbouring countries. So you have to complete a customer’s job within a limited time or within agreed period. This will earn a fabricator the respect of a client.

How do you source raw materials for the fabrication?

We source material within the country and in some cases outside the country but the best materials for aluminium fabrication is in Nigeria. We have Nigerian made aluminium, they are the best like the Nigerian cable product. The Nigerian made aluminium is the best. Some are still imported, but aluminium manufactured here are the best as far as a lot of us are concerned.

How do you go through the process of fabricating from the raw material?

Before we could fabricate, the only one we get, we get in length, that is the raw material. The material comes in length, the length comes in a kind of measurement so. We now form it to any design and we use our tools to do this. We use drilling machine, milling machine, cutting machine and some other machines too to form any design you want. It is our own duty, that is why we call it fabricating, which is my own part of the job.

You said you go as far as working outside

Rasak and some items he produced

I emphasise discipline because I cannot afford to train someone who is unscrupulous to be ambassador of my organisation the country, can you expatiate on this?

We work as far as other countries in the West Africa sub-region because what we have shown that in Nigeria, we are more advanced than other neighbouring countries in this job. So, they are attracted to what we do here that is why they patronise us. Some of the jobs take us outside the shores of Nigeria for two, three weeks depending on the duration of the work, after the client has made arrangement for the transportation of the raw materials to the destination.

If you are going to fix the interior of an average building construction, how long does it take?

It depends on the client. In other words, it depends on how the owner wants his job. It may be for period of two, three weeks or more than that. On our part, we are always ready because we have the required capacity in terms of power supply. We have our own power generator. Duration will always depend on the client. If the specified is agreed, we are always ready to meet his demand if it is feasible.

After the training, what are the requirement in terms of capital and other things to kick-start the business that a new entrant will need?

What the trainee needs after training, are the tools, the milling machine, the cutting machine, we have different types of machines.

The most important factor is to have a good corporate outlet that will portray his business as reliable and a workshop for fabrication, but in all it is a capital intensive business.

Short Story NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

Writer in focus:

MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU

08131161840

26 JULY 2014

T

34

One cold, stormy night

he afternoon was bright and warm like the hot embrace of a first love.

And in the farmhouse one could almost feel the summer heat sinking into the bones. Despite, the summer heat had a romantic feel, as the whispers of the landscape were vented through the serenade of the small birds that cared to fly around chirping nothing but sweet nothings.

The flock was peaceful like oases surrounded by desert sands, and the magic associated with a fair weather was beginning to fill the air. The day was on fire because passionate Mother Nature had taken her clothes off to strut her stuff against the skyline, and tease the hovering spirits of dead cowboys in spacesuits. The sun was nude and handsome as a sexy white angel and the gypsy clouds burned like crystal balls pregnant with romantic destinies.

Birds were reckless in the way they flew, making the tame sky tremble with wild passion.

The serenaded horizon was like an orange flame to gaze on. And from one angle it looked as beautiful as a mouth-organ. It was about this time that Diana came out and sat in the veranda of the farmhouse for fresh air. She placed her beloved female pet dog, Rain, on her lap and started playing her harmonica.

Playing the harmonica was one of the things Diana did to keep her mind away from wandering intermittently back to the past when she and her former husband Mark lived together in New York before the acrimonious divorce that tore their intimate lives apart.

After the divorce three years ago, she had gone back to her father’s farm in rural California to get away from all the heartache that had sprung from the separation.

She had bought her pet Boston Terrier while still with Mark.

She recalled the past, as the tears struggled to return to paint her eyes.

They had quarreled over Mark’s persistent extra-marital affairs. And in anger she had thrown things at him, including their beautiful enlarged wedding photograph that hung on the wall of the living room.

She was mad at him when he called her a frigid bitch.

The genesis of their constant quarrels was marital sex. Mark had not been the male version of a nymphomaniac, but really she had not done her best to satisfy his sexual demands.

Diana did not like sex that much. She was not a hero in bed. In fact she could go many weeks and months without sex.

Even years.

Before they wedded in the cathedral, she had dismissed the thought of what she was going to do if Mark eventually got fed up with her acting like a natural nun and starving him of sex. She had married her husband because she loved him, not because she wanted to have sex with him. But because love and sex go together in married life and it looked as though continence was part of her DNA, it didn’t take too long for the last straw to break the camel’s back.

“I can’t stand your frigid attitude anymore,” Mark had angrily shouted at her that night as he returned home late again.

It had become his habit to come back after midnight for some time. He was apparently spending quality time in the arms of another woman. “We’ve gone six months without sex and you’re driving me to the wall,” he had said.

“But I’m still the woman for you, I still love you,” she had replied and added,

ing to pray. She’d cried and her eyes had burned like the altar lamp. She had fallen asleep in front of the family altar amid tears, and she hadn’t even known when Mark returned.

At the end of the legal battle, Diana was devastated but glad that the judge had given her custody of their daughter, Melanie.

Without custody of Melanie, Diana may have been pushed to take her own life because the divorce was too strong a blow for her to absorb. Now she was back to being single and lonely, back to being a desperate spinster searching for Mr. Right.

Worse still, she had lost the one true love that made her world go round.

“You do know that when I’m in the mood I really give it to you.”

“Oh, that’s just once a year, and this is our fifth year of marriage. Making love to you is like wearing winter jackets, and that’s seasonal,” Mark sneered.

“But you do love it when we cuddle every night under the blanket when it rains and listen to the heartbeat of the rain, even though we don’t make love.”

“That’s just one of the facades about this marriage. You can’t do it so you hide under the blanket on a cold night and pretend to do it.”

“But I do touch you there, Mark. And I do hear you moan when I touch you there.”

“Stop being silly, Diana. Touching me there is not the same thing as doing it.

Touching a basketball is not the same thing as dropping it in the basket. The difference is in the thrill. You get high when you jump to put the ball in the basket, but you don’t get high by just touching the ball.

Can’t you act like a real married woman for once?”

“Is that why you are sleeping around, Mark? You don’t remember your marriage vows anymore?

“Face it, Diana, you’re just a frigid bitch.”

That was the last thing Mark had said before hell broke loose. She’d used everything in the living room to hit him at that moment, particularly the photographs on the wall – the beloved wedding pictures.

If there was anything Diana hated being called, it was being called a frigid bitch.

It was not that she didn’t know she had problems having sex with her husband or with any other man for that matter, it was just that she hated being told that to her face, especially when she was considering seeing a marriage counselor to help her get over her dislike for sex inside or outside marriage.

But her plans to see the marriage counselor had come too late.

“Can’t stay anymore,” she heard Mark

If there was anything Diana hated being called, it was being called a frigid bitch

saying after the fight. “I’m in love with another woman and I’ll be filing for divorce.”

Diana tried everything, but nothing on earth could stop Mark from leaving her.

Not even the memories of the good times they had together.

During those last days they spent together, Diana spent her evenings lighting special candles on the altar in the house.

As she waited till late hours every night for her husband to return home from work, she knelt down praying to Jesus and imploring the Virgin Mary so that her husband would not leave her. And every time she gazed at the candlelight, the flame reminded her of how she and her husband had been on fire when they first met.

It seemed as though the Madonna with a sword in her heart empathized with Diana in her moment of excruciating pain.

Only those who have ever been heartbroken or lost a loved one know exactly how it feels to lose a battle for love, Diana thought.

Diana had knelt before the altar and closed her eyes to pray on the eve of the judgment. But as she closed her eyes she kept visualizing images of the good times she and Mark had had together. She couldn’t close her eyes without seeing those pictures of their first kiss and their passionate lovemaking on their wedding night, much less praying.

After trying severally in vain to close her eyes to pray without visualizing passionate pictures, she had given up try-

****************************************** Diana listened to the melody she was blowing out of the harmonica. It did not make much sense to her. Instead, the music coming out of the harmonica seemed to be echoing the painful sound of her love life.

She recalled Mark’s words: “You are not a hero in bed.” And all the pain crept back again. Diana put down the harmonica.

The dog sitting on her lap looked up at her. Then it made a low rumble as though in anger about the way the music had stopped. Rain adjusted itself slightly on Diana’s lap and began to relax all its weight on her as though it was about to take a nap. Melanie came out to meet her mum on the veranda.

“Mummy, why do women love their dogs more than their men?” the little girl asked her. Melanie was just nine years old and like all little girls and boys, she asked endless questions and sought endless answers.

Diana was stunned at the question her little girl asked, but she managed to find humour in it. She smiled at her and replied: “Women love their dogs more than their men because their dogs never leave them.” She paraphrased: “Dogs never walk away.”

“But what if their dogs get lost?” the child asked again. “Men get lost more often than dogs,” Diana replied jocularly.

Diana laughed while the little girl just looked at her unconvinced. She was not really prepared for her daughter’s next words: “Mummy, let’s go back to New York.”

Diana was petrified by her daughter’s words. She wondered what had inspired her desire to want to go back to New York now. The thought had occurred to her before that her daughter might not be entirely happy with the way they’d relocated to the farmhouse. She certainly must be missing her friends, school, and life in the city.

Melanie was born out of wedlock – two years before Diana and Mark tied the knot.

In one night of passion on Val’s day of 1996, Diana and Mark had forgotten to use protection. They had thrown caution to the winds and unleashed their violent carnal desires. Diana herself had not had sex for about nine months until that day she lay in Mark’s arms.

Their affair had just begun but the chemistry between them was so strong that Diana found herself wanting Mark more than she wanted any other man.

Mark had looked so sexy when she first met him at a supermarket fourteen days before. They had talked about things each other liked and found out that they had many things in common. For instance, they both loved art, poetry, nature and long romantic walks. They both also enjoyed watching horses run. to be continued

L ve&Lv ng

Life Experience:

'A married woman is now my husband's second wife' p.36

Dear Love Doctor, 'My ex-boyfriend disappointed me by marrying another girl' p.37 NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

ireto007@yahoo.com 0813 116 1840

www.newtelegraphonline.com/loveliving

‘My husband impregnated my daughter' Love Confession A father ought to be a guardian of family values. However, in this story, the lives of a mother and her children are destroyed when dad decides to commit incest.

M

y name is Nike and I have come to the conclusion that this world is a terrible place to live in, because of the terrible things men do. But it is said that the evil a man does, lives after him. When I was about to get married 20 years ago, my parents insisted on having a thorough investigation of the family of my husband-to-be. They told me that it was extremely important that they knew his background.

According to my father, the background of my husband-tobe would determine the kind of husband and father he would be in future.

Unfortunately, I did not feel that all that investigation was very necessary. I thought that my parents were just being old fashioned, over-suspicious and paranoid concerning my groom’s background. So I told them not to bother themselves with any investigation because I was determined to marry John, investigation or no investigation.

My parents finally consented to my choice and our wedding took place in December of the same year and started a new life with Jerry. I had my first daughter, Precious, 10 months after our wedding and another daughter five years later.

I pampered my daughters and gave them the best of everything because I knew that they deserved the best. I put them in good private schools right from nursery to tertiary level.

My first daughter, Precious, got admission to the university at the age of 17 and we were really glad for her. And I showered all my love on her father because I thought he was the greatest gentleman in the whole world.

How wrong I was!

The snake under the green

MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU

grass will always show itself at the right time.

My two daughters were very close to their father, especially my first daughter, Precious.

Sometimes I even thought that my daughters loved their father more than I, their own mother.

But I dismissed the closeness of my first daughter to her father as mere childishness. I never knew that there was more to it than meets the eye.

There was a time I was sent on a course overseas which lasted for three months and I left my daughters with their father. Of course, their father was supposed to take care of them. But a few weeks after I returned to the country and to my family, my first daughter, Precious developed morning sickness and started vomiting. We rushed her to the hospital where the doctor confirmed that she was pregnant.

All efforts to make Precious reveal the father of her pregnancy was rebuffed until my mother, her grandmother, came from the village and persuaded her to tell the truth. That was how she said that her father was the one that impregnated her. According to my daughter, her father had deflowered her when she was 15years old and had been sleeping with her for the past four years. She said he failed to use a condom the last time, which resulted in her being pregnant.

Right now, am still trying to come to terms with what has happened. I found out that there is a history of incest in my husband’s family. I heard that his brothers have also slept with their own daughters and that their own father slept with their sisters. What a horrible family of incestuous people!

Now I regret not letting my parents investigate my husband’s family thoroughly.

I’ve moved out with my two daughters and my husband has been arrested and will be charged to court for incest. But for me and my daughters, the damage has been done and our lives will never remain the same.

Now I have to raise a child from incest.

I advise anyone about to get married to thoroughly investigate the background of his or her partner in order to avoid problems in future.

That is the lesson to learn from my predicament.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

26 JULY 2014

MODEL OF THE WEEK Name: SUSAN Tel: 08108546319

If you want to be our next model, please send your photos to: ireto007@yahoo.com Call: 0703 102 8714, 0813 116 1840

35

36 LOVE&LIVING

Love News

M

arried life certainly agrees with Jessica Simpson.

Ever since the singer tied the knot with former NFL journeyman Eric Johnson at California's San Ysidro Ranch earlier this month she’s been seriously snap happy, sharing special family moments with her fans on social media.

First, the blonde beauty uploaded two shots with her man - the first was a poignant picture with Eric smiling and a radiant Jessica pouting accompanied with the sweet caption: ‘I love this man, our marriage, and everything in between.’

But it was a complete change of pace for their second snap with the pair poking their tongues out as Jess wrote "Yummy."

The couple recently returned from their honeymoon in the presidential suite at the swanky Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort in Mexico and it appears the motherof-two is still reminiscing about

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

'I love this man, our marriage, and everything in between' their milestone holiday.

In the past, the stunner has spoken openly about her deep love for Eric. "He definitely makes me very happy. He brings out a lot of light in me and makes me very comfortable being who I am. It’s nice to be with somebody who praises you for the right reasons," Jess explained.

Meanwhile, the Texas-born stunner squashed fevered speculation over whether she would have another baby on Sunday after sharing a snap on Instagram in which she posed with a friend's cute newborn.

The make-up free mother-oftwo insisted she does not want to add to her brood in the caption she posted along with the heartmelting photograph.

M

y name is Josephine and I hail from Ogun State. I’m tall, slim, fair and beautiful. I grew up in Lagos and Akin was my first love.

We lived in the same compound when I was a teenager and we grew so fond of each other that we promised each other to get married when we were older and had completed our education.

My parents were poor and they couldn't afford to send me to the university.

I barely managed to obtain an NCE and got work as a high school teacher with it.

Akin, on the other hand, was able to successfully go to the university and he made good his promise to marry me after he had gotten a job with the civil service in his state of origin.

The first three years of our marriage were blissful. However, in the fourth year of our marriage, I began to hear rumours that my husband was a chronic flirt.

Finally, his adulterous ways got exposed in August this year when my husband

marwoman in way.

He told her to claim that the pregnancy belongs to her husband but the woman insisted that she loves my husband and that he must accept responsibility for the pregnancy and marry her as a second wife.

Can you imagine that the woman packed her things out of her husband's

house and wanted to come and live with I and my husband as my man's second wife?

My husband begged her to let him rent a house for her outside, but she insisted on living with us under the same roof.

Now the little money my husband earns from his work, he has to divide it and give part of it to the married woman for her upkeep.

I and my children are now suffering as a result and I have to try to get a loan from my cooperative society to help me with my restaurant business. I'm just tired of my husband and his adulterous relationships.

A married woman is now my husband's second wife all because of his randy lifestyle.

I'm thinking of leaving my husband and going away with my children so that I can have my peace of mind.

Odd News

S

With my face above the water My feet can't touch the ground, Touch the ground, and it feels like I can see the sands on the horizon Every time you are not around I'm slowly drifting (drifting away) Wave after wave, wave after wave I'm slowly drifting (drifting away) And it feels like I'm drowning Pulling against the stream Pulling against the x2

I'm slowly drifting, drifting away Wave after wave, wave after wave I'm slowly drifting (drifting away) And it feels like I'm drowning Pulling against the stream Pulling against the waves.

Love Poem

After venturing onto the island for dinner the pair returned to the marina to rejoin the super yacht "Lady in Blue".

Pictures taken that night appear to capture the moment the local photographer attempted to snap a picture of the world famous star.

"She flew at him screaming gibberish", one witness told Italian media, "before being dragged away by her own bodyguards."

The fashion icon’s ‘nails had damaged his left eye’, Mr Di Giovanni told Italian newspaper La Repubblica at the time.

He said: "First she hit with her bag, screaming at me and then she tried to slap me.

"I managed to avoid her – but her nails still got my eye.

"For a few seconds I could not see a thing.

I could hear that her bodyguards and her boyfriend were trying to drag her away."

He said his eye was damaged and did not recover for three days, a claim that he said was backed up by doctors.

Mr. Di Giovanni’s lawyer confirmed his client had settled with Miss Campbell but declined to say how much she had paid. Angelo Pajno said: ‘My client has withdrawn his complaint and dropped the civil case, but will appear as a witness

at the criminal trial.'

A lawyer for Miss Campbell, Francesca Getty, said that the photographer had now withdrawn his claim.

She said: ‘We maintain that our client will be absolved and we hope to demonstrate exactly the dynamic on the island that night.’

The fashion legend was not planning to attend any of the trial hearings, she added.

Under Italian law she is not obliged to attend court, although judges can look more favourably on accused that show respect to the court by taking part.

In 2009 the Streatham-born model admitted attacking police at Heathrow in a row over lost luggage.

She also pleaded guilty to assaulting her maid in 2007.

Courtesy: Daily Mail.

KATIYND JENKINS

Heart In My Hands If you said you were cold.

I would wrap my arms around you.

If you said you were thirsty I would give you the ocean blue.

I would give you anything the moon, the stars, the sunset too.

This heart in my hands I hold out to you.

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

Romantic Jokes

Naomi Campbell pays undisclosed damages to Italian photographer after alleged attack upermodel Naomi Campbell has paid undisclosed damages to an Italian photographer after an alleged attack that put him in hospital.

The settlement was revealed as the 44-year-old went on trial for the alleged assault on Gaetano Di Giovanni, who she is accused of battering and scratching after he took pictures of her with her billionaire ex-boyfriend.

Mr Di Giovanni claimed his face was scratched and bruised after Miss Campbell allegedly slapped him and hit him with her handbag, damaging his left eye with her nails.

The model, known for her temper, denies the allegations and has claimed she was besieged by paparazzi while on holiday in the picture-perfect Aeolian islands, off the coast of Sicily.

The incident took place on the Mediterranean paradise island of Lipari in July 2009 when Miss Campbell was on holiday with her ex-boyfriend, Vladimir Doronin, a Russian mogul.

The pair had arrived on the island on a 120 foot mega yacht belonging to billionaire playboy friend, Mikhail Prokhorov, after spending several days in the south of France.

Waves

I wish I could make it easy Easy to love me, love me But still I reach, to find a way I'm stuck here in between I'm looking for the right words to say

'A married woman is now my husband's second wife' put a r i e d the family

MR. PROBZ.

Wave after wave, wave after wave I'm slowly drifting (drifting away)

Courtesy: Daily Mail.

Life Experience

Love Songs

THREE EGGS

Never before had Sue looked in the box that her husband Fred kept under their bed. The box had been there for the past 20 years of their marriage but she had never invaded his privacy. One day, while cleaning, she decided to take a look in the box. She didn't figure it was anything he was hiding since she could have looked at it any other time but hadn't. In the box she found 3 eggs and 10 thousand dollars. This seemed very strange so she went to Fred and asked, "Why are there 3 eggs in a box under our bed?"

He replied, "Well, every time I was unfaithful to you, I put an egg in the box." Sue was surprised and hurt that he had been unfaithful but she consoled herself with the fact that they had been married for over 20 years and he had only been unfaithful 3 times.

"But where did the 10 thousand dollars come from?" she asked.

"Every time I got a dozen, I sold it."

Words of Wisdom:

Love with your body and soul

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

LOVE&LIVING

37

Love Education

Relationships & Love Advice

'My ex-boyfriend disappointed me by marrying another girl' T

What is the meaning of Cuddle? o cuddle means to hold someone close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection. "he cuddles the baby close"

Dear Love Doctor,

My former guy disappointed me after two years of relationship and married another girl. But since then, l feel cheated and ashamed of myself. And I said to myself that I would never date any guy again until l see my rightful husband.

Please am l right in the decision I have taken? Please tell me what to do.

From Chisom.

BB PIN: 7A76870A. Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Chisom, It's not right to hold an extreme opinion on men just because one man disappointed you. All men are not the same, so if one man disappointed you, another man could well turn out to be your knight in shining armour.

How would you see your rightful hus-

Blackberry Connection Simi needs a boyfriend to love, not for money. BB PIN: 2736407C. 07060979050.

• Connect with Mike on WhatsApp or BlackBerry Pin: 7ab29e22 or 21978F71 for details on how to send your BlackBerry request.

• Call Mike on 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641 to link up and for direct hookup.

band without dating anyone?

It is proper to have courtship before marriage. If you jump into marriage blindly without courtship, you may be embarking on a dangerous journey, which you would later regret. Therefore, try to put the past behind you and remain positive and focused.

Move on with the hope of finding another man who will treat you right and marry you.

synonyms: hug, embrace, clasp, hold tight, hold in one's arms, fold in one's arms More embrace, hug, caress, pet, fondle; informal: smooch; snuggle, nestle, curl, nuzzle, lie close; burrow against, huddle against; snug down, lie or sit close.

"Rebecca cuddled up to Mum"

If you want daily love tips or advice, download The Color of Love Guide on your iPad and iPhone. Search for ‘Color of Love’ on your Apple App store now and download the App.

NOUN A prolonged and affectionate hug: he just wanted a comforting kiss and a cuddle.

informal ingratiate oneself with. "they start cuddling up to the Liberals for support"

*Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com If you’re in a crisis, call for help: 07031028714,

08131161840 or 08023700641. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08023700641. Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com

Courtesy: Wikipedia

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

A girl is asking all men: "Does love truly exist?" Call her via 07068202281. *Call Mike: 07031028714 to send questions or issues.

SEXUAL COMMUNICATION

Diabetes and Sex

D

iabetes can cause loss of sex drive in men and women Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to complications. In some cases, sexual performance can be affected by diabetes.

Up to 50% of men and 25% of women may experience some kind of sexual problems or a loss of sexual desire as a result of diabetes.

"I am a diabetic man, what kind of problems could diabetes cause to my sex life?"

For men, diabetes can cause damage to the nervous system over a sustained period of time, also known as diabetic neuropathy. One aspect of this is the potential for diabetes to damage the erectile tissue leaving it impossible for a man to achieve or maintain an erection.

Almost 1 in 3 men with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction can be the way in which men discover that they have diabetes.

However, through strict management if the disease through diet, exercise, pills and insulin injections, minor sexual problems usually recede and it is possible for the man to achieve an erection.

If you’re in a new relationship, it may be tempting not to tell your partner about your diabetes and you may find yourself taking great pains to hide your diabetes. However, your diabetes will emerge sooner or later so it’s best to be open where possible.

If your partner is reassuring, you may have found yourself a great life partner.

38 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

Lovers in Court

True Confession From Overseas

'My husband is adulterous'

'I don't know who fathered my child'

I

must first tell you about my history of infertility, which consumed my thirties and ultimately destroyed my marriage.

I married a marvellous man when I was 29 and moved overseas to live with him as he had his own very successful business in Europe. For seven long years we tried everything to have a child, culminating in four IVF attempts over a period of two years.

When number four did not work I simply gave up — my mind simply refused to contemplate doing it again.

Ultimately this destroyed our relationship as he wanted to keep on going — money was no object but physically and emotionally I had had it.

We separated and for three years I went completely and utterly mad. I worked for an airline and the opportunities to meet men were endless … and boy, did I take advantage of that.

At the age of 41 I was beginning to get very homesick and decided to return to Australia.

Our life plans change as we get older and mine changed irrevocably when a routine blood test to determine thyroid levels confirmed pregnancy at age 41

Abimbola Sodeke

and a bit ... not only was I pregnant, I was 12 weeks pregnant!

It was not until I heard my baby's heartbeat at a hastily arranged scan that I truly believed my own personal miracle had occurred. = Within two weeks I was on a plane bound for home. The downside to my being able to have a child was the fact that I had, and still have, no idea who the father is.

I worked out that I was seeing three different people in the space of three weeks around the time of possible conception.

I have elected to tell none of these men about my child and hope and pray that I have done the right thing by my son, who is now an adorable four-yearold who loves his mummy and Thomas the Tank Engine in equal measure!

My son will no doubt ask many dif-

A

ficult questions. I just hope I have the words and commonsense to deal with whatever he throws at me.

The temptation to lie to him is strong but I hope that the grounding I have given him and will continue to give him will be enough to make him understand and not hate me for denying him a father.

I am not egotistical enough to believe that I am going to be all things to him — I just want to do the best I can.

Isn't that all parents can do?

Courtesy: ninems

Horns of Jealousy: Japan J

Wedding Traditions

apanese ceremonies were traditionally held in Shinto Shrines. The bride is painted pure white from head to toe, declaring she is a maiden. She also wears a white kimono and an elaborate head piece.

During the ceremony, the bride wears a white hood to hide her "horns of jealousy" that she feels toward her mother-in-law and to display her resolve to become a gentle, obedient wife. To symbolize their union, the couple drinks sake together, becoming husband and wife once they take the first sip.

Brides have quite a few costume changes during the reception, first changing into a red kimono and then later into a Western-style dress.

Courtesy: Business Insider.

Inspiration

'I lost hope and thought that we’ll get divorced soon... But then I decided to act on it' - Brad Pitt shares the following sweet words on his relationship with Angelina Jolie

“M

y wife got sick. She was constantly nervous because of problems at work, personal life, her failures and problems with children.

She has lost 30 pounds and weighed about 90 pounds in her 35 years. She got very skinny, and was constantly crying.

"She was not a happy woman. She had suffered from continuing headaches, heart pain and jammed nerves in her back and ribs.

"She did not sleep well, falling asleep only in the morning and got tired very quickly during the day.

Our relationship was on the verge of break up.

"Her beauty was leaving her somewhere, she had bags under her eyes, she was poking her head, and stopped taking care of herself. She refused to shoot the films and rejected any role.

"I lost hope and thought that we’ll get divorced soon…But then I decided to act on it.

After all I’ve got the most beautiful woman on the earth.

"She is the idol of more than half of men and women on earth, and I was the one allowed to fall asleep next to her and to hug her shoulders.

"I began to pamper her with flowers, kisses and compliments. I surprised her and pleased her every minute. I gave her lots of gifts and lived just for her. I spoke in public only about her. I incorporated all themes in her direction. I praised her in front of her own and our mutual friends.

"You won’t believe it, but she blossomed. She became even better than before. She gained weight, was no longer nervous and she loved me even more than ever.

"I had no clue that she can love that much. And then I realized one thing: The woman is the reflection of her man.

If you love her to the point of madness, she will become it."

housewife in Lagos, Idayat Abubakar, has filed a divorce suit against her husband, Morufu Akinbinuomo, pleading with the court to dissolve their 15-year-old marriage.

She claims that her husband is uncaring, irresponsible, and a womanizer.

She said: "Despite the fact that we have three children in this marriage, my husband is still adulterous and sleeps about with anything in skirt. I am fed up and not enjoying this marriage anymore.

"When I came to the court to lay my complains, the court president and his executives advised me and my husband and gave us a date for mediation. We went on the set date, thinking my husband would change, but he didn't."

However, after the mediation, Abubakar had a rethink about divorcing her husband, but according to her, he did something which made her take the children and leave the house.

"Morufu sold all the property in the house and left the house to live with another woman who he claimed was carrying his baby. That was why I left the house," she said.

However, her husband, Akinbinuomo, told the court that he intentionally did that to his wife to teach her certain things about life, adding that all the allegations she had made against him were false except for that he was a womanizer or adulterous and nothing more.

In his ruling, the court president stated that "since the two parties can no longer live together in peace and love; and since the court cannot force two adults to live together, the marriage is hereby dissolved."

The court declared that Akinbinuomo would be responsible for the upkeep of the children. He was ordered to give their mother five thousand naira monthly per child, including money for their school fees.

However, the medical expenses of the children would be a joint responsibility.

Divorce Jokes What is Marriage?

Marriage is the process of finding out what kind of man your wife would have preferred.

Custody Case A man and his young wife were in divorce court, but the custody of their children posed a problem.

The mother gets up and says to the judge that since she brought the children into this world, she should retain custody of them. The man also wanted custody of his children, so the judge asked for his justification.

After a long silence, the man slowly rose from his chair and replied, "Your Honor, when I put a dollar in a vending machine and a Coke comes out, does the Coke belong to me or the machine?"

Travel&Tourism ON SATURDAY Destination

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/travel

Travel Personality Katsina: Home of Our food culture hospitality in need of has changed, says attention p.42 Dantata p.40

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

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

26 JULY 2014

39

HOSPITALITY

Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel

Away from the hustle and bustle of the oil city

Every hotel prides itself as offering the best of service. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA writes that it's usually how such rhetoric is matched with action that makes the difference as a visit to Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel shows.

P

ORT Harcourt–based Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel offers beauty and excitement encased in a luxuriating and effervescent environment in the calm and quiet GRA Phase 11 end of the oil rich city where it is shielded from the sometimes troubled waters of the city, allowing guests within experience a cherishing moment.

Accommodation The highbrow hotel, which is in a distinct class in the city and the hideout of the rich patrons and business travellers to the city, offers 86 guest rooms of different categories with each class amply fitted and wearing a blend of contemporary and African décor and featuring a measure of distinct facilities and amenities.

The different room categories include - Deluxe City View, featuring study area, in-room tea/coffee amenities, mini-bar, king-sized double beds and free access to "Triple A" fitness centre; Deluxe Polo View – featuring study area, in-room tea/coffee amenities, mini-bar, 24-hour room service and free access to "Triple A" fitness centre; Exquisite Suite City View - featuring large separate sitting/dining room, in room tea/coffee amenities, three points bathroom, 40" HD LCD screens plus DVD player and Diplomatic Suite featuring two separate deluxe rooms, large separate sitting/dining room, in-room tea/coffee amenities, three points bathroom and 40" HD LCD screens plus DVD player.

There is also a Presidential Suite, which is luxuriantly fitted and features, amenities such as large separate sitting/dining room, jacuzzi, kitchenette, polo view, high speed internet for a fee, study area (Computer, printer and scanner),

in-room tea/coffee amenities, three points bathroom and 40" HD LCD screens and DVD player.

Hotel facade

Conference facilities The hotel is well positioned as business travellers’ hotel offering perfect business and conference facilities for different business and social events. The facilities include Akuma, Okpoma and Rivers meeting rooms, all fitted with classy amenities such as special lighting, audio visual services and high speed Internet services.

There is also a business centre offering secretarial and complementary services for the business and conference end of the hotel.

Dining/wining Guests can explore an array of continental and African dishes in the plush and serene restaurant of the hotel. Ororo restaurant classic dining experience – breakfast, lunch and dinner while choice wines and cocktails offering await you at the bar section of the restaurant. You also enjoy a good view of the environment while enjoying your meal.

Leisure The hotel offers a whole range of leisure and entertainment activities for the patrons. The swimming pool presents guests a sufficient relaxing moment, lounging and savouring of the natural environment.

You can also enjoy special leisure and holiday packages at the hotel, especially during festive periods with a lot of incentives and discount.

Wellness Enjoy trendy fitness and wellness services at the fitness centre, gymnasium and spa, which are fully equipped with such facilities as weights, treadmills, treatment and sauna rooms.

You can also enjoy the game of polo and horse riding from the polo club located within a shouting distance of the hotel as well as the game of squash, tennis, yoga and aerobics.

One of the classic bedrooms

Ororo Restaurant...beckons

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS BENEFITS

FESTAC, LAGOS

PARKVIEW ESTATE, IKOYI, LAGOS

LAGOS

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

40 TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

CHEF’S CORNER

Taste of Africa Food Festival takes centre stage Ann Adinkwuye speaks with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on the motivation for the planned Taste of Africa Food Festival scheduled for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in September

T

HE need to promote African and Nigerian food culture has continued to take the centre stage in the travel and tourism industry with many events and activities centred on the theme. In June the National Institute for Tourism and Hospitality (NIHOTOUR) debuted with the Nigerian Culture and Food Exhibition in Abuja.

Just a few months after, Ver – Annies Concept Limited is cooking another broth, which perhaps in nature, content and dimension opens a new vista in the hospitality sector and agriculture value chain. Tagged Taste of Africa Food Festival, it is scheduled to hold in Abuja from September 2 - 6 with the theme, "African Premier Food Culture Exhibition."

Ann Adinkwuye who is the arrowhead of the food expo, said the aim of the food fair is to create a common platform for showcasing African food – both in their raw and cooked forms with a view to attracting tourists to savour the wide variety of food that the continent boasts and create market value for them.

The need to celebrate and promote African food, she said, is very important, especially given the emphasis now on global cuisine. According to her, with the vast and rich variety of African food and given the good soil as well as the agrarian nature of the continent, African food should be visible at the world stage. She is using the event to draw attention to the continent and also highlight the need to invest in the hospitality and allied sectors.

This food expo first made its debut in 2012 and was envisaged

as a yearly event, but somehow the project could not fly in 2013 due to what Adinkwuye described as teething challenges, necessitating the project team decision to put it on hold and go back to the drawing board to re-strategise and develop a new concept and mode of execution for the project. ‘‘We realised that there is not enough platform to showcase Africa foods,’’ she said. ‘‘We know that we have quite a diverse food variety in Africa so we decided to create this platform and countries which were at the event liked it, so we decided to make it a bigger event and attract more investors,’’ recalled Adinkwuye.

She is optimistic that Africa could improve its economy with agriculture because ‘‘we not only have the soil but the food variety.

This will generate wealth for Africa and also export our foods and recipes to the world and when we do people would look forward to it ’’. She adds that this can only happen when the awareness about African food culture is created.

This year's event, she said, has been repackaged and improved on, and promises to be exciting, fulfilling and colourful with over 200 professional exhibitors from different African countries, companies, government ministries and agencies as well as individuals and related bodies who are part of the agriculture and food value chain attending.

She outlined the different activities lined up for the exhibition to include a formal opening ceremony and pre–exhibition dinner,

Participants at the last food fair organised by Adinkwuye (inset)

BACKGROUND Delta State–born Adinkwuye is a native of Ogwashi Uku and a graduate of electrical and electronics engineering from Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State. ‘‘I love food and everybody that knows me calls me ‘the taste of Africa'. I like real African food and not the junk or fast foods. I love real Nigerian food, my best soup is equsi soup because it looks colourful, it tastes well and that makes one really want to eat. I want to eat tasty and good foods. ‘‘The fact that I really love food and I did a lot of research and discovered that nobody was interested in food festival and also adding activities to it that people would benefit from that made me to create this platform. ‘‘I am happy doing it but it takes me a whole lot, almost everything. I spend all my time and money doing this, but I am hoping that our sponsors and supporters would help us make it better and possible for us to realise our aim.’’

World Cup: Brazil records 1m visitors BRAZIL may not have claimed the trophy at the recent FIFA World Cup 2014 hosted by it, but it sure has reasons to celebrate as the nation’s economy received a boost with one million foreign visitors recorded, outstripping the 600,000 estimate.

A report from the country’s ministry of tourism has revealed that tourists from over 203 countries visited with 61 percent of the figure visiting for the first time. The ministry said this is good course for celebration and something to build on as the country has shown the world it has the capacity to host the world successfully.

“Brazil showed to the world that we are ready to host an event of this magnitude. We now have the challenge of changing the interest in business shown by foreign visitors into benefits for the population, generating employment and

income,” said the minister of tourism, Vinicius Lages.

A total of 3.4 million people attended matches at the stadium, the second highest number of attendees during a World Cup while a total number of five million guests visited the Fan Fests. The airport also recorded an influx of 16.7 million passengers and the number of delay rates said to be lower than the international average record.

Among the items that scored the highest points with visitors were hospitality and cuisine, with 98 percent and 93 percent approval rates, respectively. The report also shows that the World Cup brought about benefits for more than the 12 host cities. Foreign tourists who stayed in the country on average for 13 days were said to have visited 378 Brazilian municipalities.

scheduled to hold on September 2 at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel while the exhibition itself would hold at the Old Parade Ground in Area 10 between September 3 – 6.

It would also feature children's cooking competition with Indomie noodle, adult cooking competition, wine-tasting and eating competition. The public should also look forward to the all states cooking competition holding at the Art and Craft Market and it is open to all with any interested participant required to register with one thousand naira.

The star prize for the cooking competition is a brand new car alongside cash and different gift items and souvenirs for the different categories of participants.

A grand closing ceremony, she said, is also in the offing for September 6 with a concert featuring a number of the popular artistes on the continent and gala night at a venue yet to be decided.

To drum up support for the events and create awareness, a pre–event road show is bill for August 27 in Abuja with all the major sponsors and supporters of the event on the train. She said the event this year would be a blockbuster and people-orientated as it would feature a variety of activities that would benefit the public

such as free food, barbeque, suya and drinks on offer by the various sponsors and exhibitors. ‘‘This will make it a grand celebration. People should look forward to supporting it and attending because without their presence the exhibitors would not be encouraged. We need to see it as a yearly event that people would want to attend because it would help and inspire the exhibitors knowing that they can have exposure all over the world.’’

Adinkwuye noted that ‘‘people should look out for new products because it is an outlet for people to see new things and have new experiences."

"This platform will help the youth because they need to be educated and told that they don’t have to wait endlessly for jobs.

With agriculture they can find their feet and level in life,’’ she pointed, stressing that emphasis is now on processing, packaging and preserving our agricultural and foods products.

The expo, according to her, enjoys the support of the ministries of trade and Investment, agriculture and tourism as well as the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, among others. Her commitment, she said, is bringing African’s foods and recipes to the international market.

TRAVEL BEATS African cities missing out of the world’s top 20 most visited cities NO Africa country city made the list of the global top 20 most visited cities of the 2014 MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index with London topping list and followed by, Bangkok, Paris, Singapore and Dubai.

London recorded (18.69m), Bangkok (16.42m) and Paris (15.57m) while Dubai had 11.95m and Riyadh 5.59m visitors. Others on the revered list are New York (11.81m), Istanbul (11.40m), Kuala Lumpur (10.81m), Hong Kong (8.84m), Seoul (8.63m), Barcelona (7.37m), Amsterdam (7.23m), Milan (6.82m), Rome

(6.79m), Taipei (6.29m), Shanghai (6.09m), Vienna (6.05m), Riyadh (5.59m), Tokyo (5.38m) and Lima (5.11m).

“The index points to a continued strong demand and interest in air travel, both for business and personal travel,” said Ann Cairns, president of International Markets,

MasterCard. “The recognition of this year’s top international destinations reinforces the continued importance of cities as business, cultural and economic hubs,” she added.

Now in its fourth year, the index provides a ranking of the 132 most travelled cities from around the world.

Nike Lake Resort conference offer NIKE Lake Resort, Abakpa–Nike, Enugu, is offering event and conference planners special discounted offers on its conference facilities between August and October.

The package is inclusive of rooms with single occupancy, a minimum of two nights stay alongside complimentary meals and drinks and other enticing incentives.

TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

41

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

Our food culture has changed, says Dantata Dr. Munzali Dantata, the director-general of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), at the recent Nigerian food cultural fair organised by the institute in Abuja, speaks to ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on the most defining legacy of his eight years as helmsman of the tourism institute.

What informed the hosting of the Nigerian food and culture fair by the training institute?

It is a centenary event and most people think that the centenary is over with the January event but that is not so as it is a year event. So, 2014 is a centenary year. It is direct response to the President’s call for people to celebrate Nigeria.

At the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) we are a capacity-building organisation and among our major students are cooks and waiters and so we decided to give an account of 100 years of food culture and hospitality. That became our theme and we tried to bring together the whole family, that is, the various sub-sectors – those in agriculture, transportation, hospitality.

How successful would you say it has been?

I regard this exhibition and colloquium as a huge success for the simple reason that we were able to bring together the companies that we had here. We have had not less than 20 exhibitors and the numbers could have been more if not because of the postponement that we had. The original date we had was the date used for the World Economic Forum hosted by the country in Abuja.

Nigeria is growing but it is just a matter of controlling the growth. The landscape of Nigeria has transformed and a lot of that transformation has also been in our sector as traced in my paper.

Some of us who are as old as we are knew when our mothers were cooking with big pots on stones and I am not talking about the rural areas but the cities because I grew up in Kano.

We have also seen that our food culture has changed and the eating habit of the people because when I was young we didn’t eat rice daily but we had our local delicacy called tuwo but now rice has taken over and the government is even worried because half of this rice is imported.

So how do we control the transformation of our diet? At least let us appreciate what we have instead of appreciating someone else’s and government is picking the bill. So we believe that we in the tourism sector can be a catalyst in bringing about awareness of the richness of our food, how we can sustain it and even export it like the Chinese are exporting their food.

How would you describe your eight years tenure at NIHOTOUR? The eight years that I have spent in NIHOTOUR has been very eventful. I will like to thank the minister (Chief Femi Fani-Kayode – former minister of tourism) for inviting me to this job because this singular invitation has afforded me the opportunity to have served in both the public and private sectors and both at the top level.

After eight years in NIHOTOUR, I would say without sounding immodest that I have come, I have seen and I have conquered. I am not just talking about NIHOTOUR alone but the industry as a whole because it is almost 30 years when I started this journey, around 1987 and that is exactly 27 years when I opened a travel agency, called Allstates in Kano and that was the beginning of my journey.

So after 27 years and the last eight years in government service, I feel that I have achieved in the industry. With my departure from NIHOTOUR I would look at it as a semi-retirement. First of all, I am going on sabbatical as I want to take one year off and I assure you that I want to remain in the academic line which I came into by accident.

Government brought me into academic line by appointing me as DG of NIHOTOUR and also government brought me into contact with the hos-

pitality sector because I was more with the travel as a travel agent and tour operator but now I enjoy the two worlds.

What legacies would you want to be remembered for when you finally exit NIHOTOUR? I will like to say that as I am exiting NIHOTOUR you may be aware that NIHOTOUR has been promoted by government to become a regulating agency. I came into NIHOTOUR as a training institute but I am exiting NIHOTOUR as a regulating agency.

In case you don’t appreciate the full implication of that, NIIHOTOUR is being elevated to become what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is to the banks. CBN is a regulator to the banks because it decides interest rates and the rules, among others.

Now that there are a lot of hospitality and travel schools in the country, NIHOTOUR shouldn’t continue to do what it has been doing over the last 30 years but rather it should be the one regulating training even though it would still retain its training function. But essentially, it should act as a regulator.

Government is trying to pay more attention to technical training and there is a national board for technical training, which has developed the National Occupation Standard, which seeks to standardise training in all the professions.

So NIHOTOUR was selected for what they called the sector’s skill council for the hospitality industry. NIHOTOUR is recognised by the highest educational regulator in this country, the Ministry of Education through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), as the regulator for the hospitality industry.

My own task in the few months I have left in NIHOTOUR is to see to the conclusion of this new development for us to commence work on the new policy. There is going to be about six regulators in the new system with hospitality and tourism under NIHOTOUR. Perhaps NIHOTOUR may even decide not to train again because if we have our hands full with the regulating the industry then we may as well allow others to just carry on with the training while we concentrate fully on this new function.

How fulfilled are you?

I am going out enriched and with a balanced experience of what travel and tourism is in the public and private sectors. So, I will like to be a consultant and academic after my sabbatical. I may possibly lecture in my own institute which I wish to establish or in a university or even in any other institution anywhere in Nigeria.

I will like to continue to contribute but not in active business. My business is still there, which I had to resign from when I joined NIHOTOUR. I am looking at the next level of taking Nigeria travel and tourism to a greater height.

‘I am going out enriched and with a balanced experience of what travel and tourism is in both the public and private sectors. So, I will like to be a consultant and academic after my sabbatical'

Dantata

42 TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

Katsina: Home of hospitality in need of attention

The city gate

DESTINATION Forget the official moniker announcing it as "home of hospitality," there is a still a huge ground to cover for Katsina State to be truly seen as such, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA

K

ATSINA should ordinarily command attention because of its rich history and culture as one of the most popular seven Hausa kingdoms and later emirate during the pre-colonial and northern protectorate era.

As one of the youngest states in the country, some measures of development have been achieved by the state in terms of its economic, human and infrastructural strides. It also boasts a rich cultural material besides its historical antecedents, which should attract a lot of interest and attention.

No doubt, its people are quite hospitable and peaceful as you may discover of the state, particularly the capital city, Katsina, which despite its seemingly metropolitan outlook still exudes a certain laidback disposition. The same is also true of other major towns in the state such as Daura and Funtua. To amplify this inclination of the people, the state refers to itself as the "home of hospitality". Given this status, it ought to hold a lot of fascination for many, with economic and social life on high note round the year and with the necessary facilities in place to promote this culture.

But the sad discovery is that the reverse is the case with its tourism industry yet to attract the attention and interest required of it to rise to the occasion as a "home of hospitality". There is real dearth of leisure facilities while the few existing ones, such as the Jibia Tourist Resort is in dire need of makeover.

To live up to its billing both the state government and the public would need

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University

to pay more attention to the state. Investment in the right leisure and tourism infrastructure is needed while the promotion of leisure and entertainment activities has to been engineered. However, there must be a creative way of doing this without breaching the Sharia code.

Governor Shema and his tourism team, especially the tourism and history bureau should do more to attract investment and activities to its tourism industry. Its yearly Durbar celebration which used to attract pockets of foreign and local visitors have over the years lost its allure as a result of poor development and the current security challenges in parts of Nigeria's north.

Background The state was created on September 23, 1989, from the old Kaduna State during the administration of General Ibrahim Gadamosi Babaginda with katsina as its capital.

It has 12 local government areas with Katsina, Daura, Funtua, Bakori, Dutsi, Jibia,

Bakori and Zango as some of the major towns of the state. It consists of two emirates, which were part of the seven Hausa Kingdoms with Katsina believed to have been founded by Kumayo. Katsina was a prominent city of learning and commerce during the trans–Sahara trade era.

Spanning a landmass of 24,971 square kilometres, the state is bordered by Kano and Jigawa on its eastern flank, Zamfara in the west, Kaduna in the south and Niger Republic in the north. The people are traditionally farmers and there is also a number of economic and commercial activities.

Samples of tourist attractions Jibia Holiday Resort: Located in Jibia, some distance away from Katsina city, a town leading to Niger Republic, it is home to a modern resort boasting a number of leisure facilities and traditional huts with a river running its course across the resort.

Just by the side is a local market where various items and local products are on

sale. It is patronized by both Nigerians and Nigeriens from across the Benin Republic border. Camel is one of the most popular items of trade here.

Katsina city walls/gates: The city gates and walls are defensive and protective walls and gates round the city. Built over 900 years ago, the city gates, which are seven have over the years been remodeled and renovated and today they form part of the attractions of the city.

Emir's palace: The emir's palace in Katsina holds an attraction for visitors to the city. The architecture is a reflection of northern Nigeria’s traditional design concept. It houses a number of artifacts ranging from the people’s art and craft. Visitors to the city are allowed a tour of the palace grounds while the expansive complex hosts the traditional Durbar celebration and other public events. The present emir is Abdulmumin Kabir Usman, who ascended the throne in 2008.

Gobarau Minaret: This is one of the most compelling attractions in the city.

Built about 300 years ago, it encompasses a mosque, private living quarters and other sections. It is believed that it once served as a watch post during wars. Rising to a height of 50 feet, the minaret is a blend of Hausa and Muslim architectural design concept. Besides its religious significance, it also served as a learning place given the fact that Katsina then was a learning centre.

Structure wise, Gobarau minaret has a complex and intriguing multiple–storey structure and you have to meander through the building when touring the facility. Originally built as the central Mosque of Katsina town, it served also as a school.

Today, it still serves as a sort of observatory as it affords visitors a bird's eye or aerial view of the city.

City market: Located opposite the minaret, just some walking distance, it is the traditional city market where the people swarm for business. Local blacksmith hold sway here and animal husbandry market is also in full swing particularly goats and

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JUly 2014

camels on display.

Katsina Teachers College: It is the oldest and most revered institutions in northern Nigeria with a rich history and tradition. Built in 1922, it still retains most of its red–baked mud structures and produced many rulers of the country from the north. The roll call includes Sir Ahmadu Bello, Murtala Mohammed and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. It was declared a historic monument on April 23, 1959.

Emir of Daura's palace: Daura is one of the most important emirates of the state with Daura town as centre to the development of the state. It houses a number of attractions with rich history and culture for a visitor to experience. The emir's palace is one of the places to visit to explore the culture and tradition of the people. The emir of Daura is Umar Farouk dan Umar and he was turbaned in 2007.

Kusugu wall: It is one of the most outstanding attractions in the town and a must see for any visitor to the town because its history and existence is intricately intertwined with that of Daura town. Daura is believed to have been founded by Bayajidda and according to legend, he trekked across the Sahara to Daura and was said to have been the one brave enough to kill the snake (Sarki) by the wall side, which over the years prevented the people from fetching water from the wall.

For this act of bravery, the queen of the town, Magajiya Daurama offered him her hand in marriage.

Today a wooden shelter is built over the wall with the sword believed to have been used by Bayajidda in killing the snake on display alongside some art works. A tour guide is on hand to take you through the rich history of the town and wall.

National Museum: Located in Katsina city within the same precincts as the Katsina Teachers' College, the museum which is under the National Commission for Museums and Monuments houses a number of archaeological art works and other artifacts of great historical and cultural importance as they signpost various developments within the state, the then northern region and Nigeria.

It was established in 1921 and declared an ancient historical monument and a national museum in 1989.

Festivals/Durbar The Durbar, horse parade and a rich display of the aristocratic and cultural wealth of the people with a splash of socio-religious importance, it celebration dates back to hundreds of years to when the northern emirates used horses in warfare. Today the Durbar has become a festival celebrated in honour of visiting heads of state and at the climax of the two yearly Muslim festivals - Id-el Fitri (commemorating the end of the holy month of Ramadan) and Id-el Kabir (commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice of a ram instead of his son).

It is today one of the most followed event in the city, as it attracts a number of tourists with care and consideration taken by the organizing committee in ensuring that the

TRAVEL&TOURISM

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TOUR package

Katsina airport

tourism aspect of the festival is highlighted and provision made for visiting tourists.

Some of the visitors are allowed to hold a session with the emir in the palace and led on a guided tour of the palace.

Jaci Fishing Festival Jaci is a tiny village in the Mani local government area with a major waterway popularly known as Fadamar Jaci. This spot hosts a fishing festival dating back to the era of the former emir of Muhammadu Dikko, who was also a former district head of Mani. Celebrated yearly, it is a local festival which needs a state and even national flavour so as to attract followers.

Kallon Kuwa Named after Kallon Kuwa, which in local Hausa parlance means "viewing for all," it is an age group celebration of the youth held after the harvest period. The festival dates to 1935 and takes place annually in various villages in the state, including Shinkafi, Dankanjiba, Dutsen Safe and Rimin Guza.

It is a happy expression of a successful cropping and harvest season and a celebration of the coming of "Kaka" - a time of prosperity in terms of abundant food and increased economic and social activities. It is a time of leisure, entertainment and the promotion of culture after a long period of farming.

Also, it is the time of the year when marriages are celebrated as youths use the period to choose their brides. One of the most important activities is the staging of a dramatic piece depicting the Hausa traditional form of authority, which emphasizes the role of the Sarki (king) as the political head of the community as well as the custodian of the people's culture.

Traditional wrestling, boxing, singing and dancing also take place.

Educational institution Katsina State plays host to a number of institutions of various levels with a number of them of historical and cultural significance to the development of the state

Durbar is always a crowd favourite as this scene from a past event shows

and country. The list includes the following: Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University, Katsina; the Federal University; Katsina Islamic University); Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina; Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma; Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal Studies, Daura and the College of Administration in Funtua town. Others are the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Katsina; the School of Health Technology (with campuses in Kankia and Daura towns) and the Health Auxiliary Training School, Funtua.

Dining/wining You are not likely to have your regular highbrow eateries in most parts of the state to dine out. But you are sure to have a good treat in any of the local spots where, of course, the local delicacies form part of the food set. However in Katsina city you can enjoy good environment and meal from such restaurants as the Katsina City Restaurant on IBB Way, Kofar Kaura with a pocket of fast food spots across the city.

Hotels Home of hospitality quite alright but pity if you are looking for a five-star hotel or resort because you have to look further as you are not likely to come across such starrated facilities yet anywhere in the state. But you can sure look forward to some nice and decent accommodation in the capital. Liyafa Palace Hotel, located off IBB Way, tops the list of highly priced hotels because it offers some luxury and comfortable rooms and swanky environment.

There is also katsina Motel but certainly not in the same class as Liyafa Palace Hotel. It is a state-owned facility located on Muhammed Bashir road.

Airport Katsina city has an airport though it is not open to regular or scheduled commercial flight. But it records a few chartered and non-regular flights. The state also has a good network of roads linking all the parts together and one can be sure of a good ride as you journey from one end to another.

WITH the commencement of flight to Bebi Airstrip, tourists can now enjoy a seamless trip to Obudu Mountain Resort from any of the major cities across the country where there is flight to Calabar or do a charter flight.

We serve you a sample tour package for your fancied holiday to the exotic resort Exotic Three days/two nights (Fridays – Sundays) Package includes: • Air fare • Transfer (to and from Bebi Airstrip) • Accommodation • Breakfast and Dinner Activities Includes: • Cable Car Ride • Water Parks • Canopy Walk • Cultural Dance display N39, 550 Single per day Dominion Six days/five nights (Sundays – Fridays) Package includes: • Air fare • Transfer (to and from Bebi Airstrip) • Accommodation • Breakfast and Dinner Activities Includes: • Cable Car Ride • Water Parks • Canopy Walk • Cultural Dance display N32, 500 Single per day Nature’s Glow Eight days/seven nights (Fridays – Fridays / Sundays – Sundays) Package includes: • Air fare • Transfer (to and from Bebi Airstrip) • Accommodation • Breakfast and Dinner Activities Includes: • Cable Car Ride • Water Parks • Canopy Walk • Cultural Dance display N30, 625 Single per day Reflection 10 days/nine nights (Fridays – Sundays) Package includes: • Air fare • Transfer (to and from Bebi Airstrip) • Accommodation • Breakfast and Dinner Activities Includes: • Cable Car Ride • Water Parks • Canopy Walk • Cultural Dance display N29, 500 Single per day

TRAVEL TIPS Tips on engaging with travellers in a personalized way to enhance customer experience Today’s travellers are trendy, mobile and technology-inclined and want to stay in touch with the world and their businesses.

Here are some tips for tour operators and travel management companies on how best to enhance the travel experience of the travellers by introducing personalized touches to your services, as gleaned from Eye for Travel's webinar on the opportunities for engagement with connected travellers.

Stage 1: Dreaming At this point, travellers are beginning their research into what they want to do and where they want to go.

It is very likely that they will land on your company’s profile and check out your website, assessing you against several of your competitors.

What they expect from you: A solid company profile. First of all, you need to have a functional website, which provides all the information they need from you. They need to feel that you are a legitimate and reputable company.

Good reviews. Travellers want to see that you are professional enough to have glowing reviews on TripAdvisor, your site, Facebook - wherever they find you.

to be continued

My Weekend NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

26 JULY 2014

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I can go out at 2am to catch fun – Giwa Toun Giwa, the founder of the Third Age Initiative for the Elderly Rights and Welfare, tells SEGUN EDWARDS that philanthropy runs in her family, as she derives relaxation from looking after the aged.

T

oun Giwa is a woman that always has a knack for rendering service to humanity. She attributes this to her stint in journalism when she uncovered an investigative story wrote in 1990 on how human parts are sold.

Giwa recalls how she collaborated with her colleague at the defunct Prime People weekly magazine to work on a scoop that human parts were available for sale at the popular Jankara Market on Lagos Island.

Narrating her experience of the ground breaking revelation, which drove her into philanthropic venture, the Post-graduate Diploma in Journalism graduate says, “We actually got to Jankara Market but didn’t get any result until somebody suggested that we go to the General Hospital’s mortuary.

Giwa, who attributes her success in investigative journalism to her being a thoroughbred Lagosian and a doctor’s wife adds, “I knew where to go. I went into the hospital first and told a doctor that I needed a death certificate for someone and he gave it to me, may be because I’m a doctor’s wife. Of course, I knew what to tell him.

“Surprisingly, he didn’t even ask me where the corpse was and he gave me the death certificate at a price. This was the first stage but the story was not used because we found out the doctor was close to the editor.

But this led to the success we recorded in the subsequent human parts’ story we succeeded in doing.”

Despite some measures of frustrations, she recounts that she made a breakthrough at the mortuary close to the General Hospital on Broad Street where somebody agreed to sell human part to her.

“We paid for the body part and he said it was going to be a hand and we said alright.

We paid for the body part at the mortuary and he asked us to follow him or meet him at Ayan Cemetery. When we got to the cemetery, he gave us human hand, which I put in the booth of my car and took to the office. A photographer took the photograph and the story was published but our by-lines were not published with the story because of the foreseeable problem from the authority. The editor just put by ‘our reporters’ as the bylines.”

The 53-year-old humanitarian campaigner, who has come a long way as a private person now runs a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Third Age Initiative for the Elderly Rights and Welfare, which takes care of people from 60 years and above.

According to her, Third Age, addresses issues relating to life after retirement, a period which she says, is when people think about what they need to do with their lives saying.

“It is a period when someone would say I’m not going to work 9am to 5pm any more, or I’m not active any more. So, the project is for 60-year-old and above, their welfare and rights,” she adds.

Giwa, who runs her pet project along an Abuja-based furniture outfit, Nitreazure International, says she devotes lots of time to her relaxation through many approaches.

She describes herself as “an arty person,” adding, “arty in the sense that I like the cinema. It doesn’t have to be a cinema it could be a film. I like drink, I like to go out to eat and the best way to know me is to know that I’m

a Tom boy. I’m a Tom boy in the sense that I’m a trousers person. Two, I don’t want to know about the price of the meat in the market like every other woman knows.

“I don’t even like the market. Once you know that I’m a Tom boy, you can begin to know where I’m coming from I’m somebody who doesn’t mind getting up at 2am and going out to do anything anywhere as long as it is nothing illegal.

“If you are close to me and say ‘look, I‘ve got a party somewhere tomorrow at this place, I’ll try to be there. So, I hang on at any time. I will go out of my way to help anyone as long as it moves things forward. I used to be a member of Ikoyi Club, which provides easy relaxation. You can swim if you want stuffs like that. But I appreciate little things. I will get together with two or three people. I don’t care if they are young people, I don’t even care if it’s a child as Iong as I will derive joy from it even if the period is short.

“I like interesting people, I like to talk to people, hear where they are coming from. This is how I wind down.”

One of the ways she derives relaxation, according to her, is to attend social events at weekends, when invitations are extended to her.

During such occasions, Giwa wears the popular Yoruba attire -buba and iro- with elaborate head gear known as ‘gele,’ despite her preference for trousers.

She says, “I’m not a head gear person but I suffer it if I have to and if there is a wedding on a Saturday. I love big head gear; you will find my head gear as the biggest in any social function I attend. I would go and try to have fun. But like I said, I’m a Tom boy. So, I’m most comfortable in a pair of trousers. I wear buba and iro if I have to.

But believe me, I will start removing it from the staircase, that’s the kind of person I am.

I’m a trousers person basically.”

On the specifically way she relaxes on weekend, she says, “I create my own recreation most of the time. I call on a couple of people, get a bottle of wine or a bottle of something, hang out to watch a film or read.

I love to read. I can be reading a receipt from a supermarket if I don’t have anything to read and make something out of it. “l like watching film on a laptop, on a phone. I like to meet people as well and I like to travel a lot. But now, I don’t have time to do that because I‘m trying to lay a couple of foundations. I’m a Rotarian as well

I like interesting people, I like to talk to people, hear where they are coming from.

This is how I wind down

Giwa: ‘I’m not a head-gear person; but I suffer it if i have’

and to be a good Rotarian, you have to be dedicated, your time, your talent and your treasure have to be used.

She however reveals that she hardly have preference for any particular or special menu during weekend as she says she is not the type that consumes a lot in terms of food.

“I’m not a food person. I don’t even like the market. So, I don’t stick to a particular menu. If my husband wants Amala, he can have it but I don’t dictate exactly. I’m an easy-going person in terms of food and that has helped me with my figure as well. I check calories but I don’t sacrifice calories on the altar of enjoyment, I do not. Most times, I eat what I like,” she explains.

Giwa, who says journalism and philanthropy have always been in her blood adds that she takes after her mum, who despite her background as a banker had a stint as a broadcaster with radio and television organisations. “I think that was where I picked the interest in journalism before I went to the university,” she says.

Giwa, a one-time House of Representatives aspirant on Lagos Island on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

says her NGO has recorded some modest achievements since it commences in 2004.

According to her, her background inspires her to go into humanitarian service.

“As I grew up with my grandmother, an educationist, Mrs. Abigail Majekodunmi Randle, she would go up and down the streets to look for children who weren’t in school and she would want to know why they were not there.

“If it had to do with money, she would offer to buy them uniforms and books and personally take them to the schools herself.

She encouraged a lot of Lagos Island indigent dwellers to get education. I think I got it from there. My mum too is along that line.

I cannot name how many people my mum sent to school. I guess that has been in the fabrics of my being.”

She says of her family background, “I’m a great grandchild of Dr. John Randle and I heard he was a philanthropist. There is somewhere in a book I got from a library in the UK, where it was written that he saw the first male cancer patient. I guess that was where we all got the humanitarian interest from.”

Governor Amosun can’t be impeached, says APC lawmaker p.48 Delta will clone Indian ICT prowess, says Ofili p.52

POLITICS

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/politics

Executive runs the country with impunity –Senator Akume The National Conference recommendation that the Parliament in Nigeria should operate on part time basis was rejected by Minority Leader, Senator George Akume (APC, Benue North as CHUKWU DAVID reports kicked against the suggestion, saying part time representation would not be in the interest of Nigerians.

ON SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

26 JULY 2014

The third session of the 7th Senate ended in June 2014, what specific achievements would you say the Senate recorded in the last three years of its operations to make the democracy stronger?

In a typical democracy and guided by the constitution, the primary purpose of government is clearly spelt out - welfare of the people, protection of lives and property of the people etc. Against the backdrop of these very important constitutional provision, it appears that the Senate has not done much. But if you look at it critically, the Senate has passed the budget sent to us by the Executive, and most of the time, the Senate has worked extra hours to ensure the early passage of these budgets. These budgets have in most occasions been submitted late but the basic thing is that the Senate has done everything within its powers to ensure speedy passage of the budget which primarily supposed to focus on practical improvement of the welfare of the citizenry. And a legislature in a fledgeling democracy like ours, there is a limit to which we can go in ensuring compliance to that effect by the executive.

That apart, in the just ended third legislative session of the 7th Senate, we also decided to look at the Electoral Act in all its ramifications and these amendments sailed through before the end of the third session. The whole thing is intended to enhance the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and to ensure that we have credible free and fair elections because in any democracy where elections are flawed, that democracy is doomed. I don’t think we are doing very well in that area. Of course, the argument is that no matter the best law you have, if you do not have the will to implement the extant laws and the Constitution, then it is as good as if you have not started.

We have cried out on a number of occasions that certain things have been passed by the Senatewhether they are motions, results of investigations, privatization, fuel subsidy and so on; all these investigations were done in good faith and were in tandem with the provisions of the constitution, which is to ensure good governance. When people take government money with impunity and believe nothing would happen to them and really nothing happens to them, then where do we now get the money to provide for the welfare of the people and to even provide for the security of our people and the protection of their property as enshrined in the constitution? So, in talking about the performance of the Senate, I would want us not to make the mistake of saying oh! the legislature should have done this. We have to take a holistic assessment of what is going on. We have only one government, which is

45

divided into branches - Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.

All of us have a role as major institutions of government to play in ensuring that we grow our democracy, economy; ensure good governance, transparency in the running of government. Much remains to be done in these areas.

I commend my colleagues for trying their best but perhaps our best may not be the best. Again, all hands must be on deck to ensure that every machinery of government is properly run, appreciated and every arm of government is performing its own responsibility.

Don’t you think Nigerians may not agree with you in trying to exonerate the National Assembly from blame for failure of the executive arm to implement resolutions, laws and budgets passed by the Parliament because the same constitution gives you the power to enforce compliance on the executive?

The constitution empowers the legislature to carry out oversight functions and this is intended to ensure that what has been passed into law including appropriation is implemented in line with the document passed by the National Assembly. There has been impunity and there is no doubt about that. The executive is not doing what is right at all. Sometimes, only 25 per cent of the capital budget is implemented. We can collate information and advise government; we cannot take them to court. The last thing we could do is what? Impeach. Impeachment is loaded and in a democracy which is just taking its roots, it is, I believe correctly or wrongly, that it may not be the weapon to use at this stage. In advance democracies, there is no way government can treat budget with impunity and motions passed by the National Assembly with impunity. It is only in developing countries like Nigeria; not even in the whole developing countries. Some of these things can not be done in Ghana, South Africa, Botswana and Brazil. These are all developing economies. But here there is always a resort to primordial instincts. Everybody shouts ‘yes because they are after him because he is not part of them.’ That is one of the problems of plurality but again, in most of the federations the plural element is always present, even in the United States of America. But the bottom line is, what is good for the nation? What is good for the common man?

The issue here is a little bit different, we resort very quickly to religious sentiments to stir our irredentist movements, actively supported as it were by even the government. But I don’t want to lose faith in this our democracy and and in country. As a fledgling democracy, I believe we are coming up fine but with hitches here and there. It may not be the CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

46 THE SATURDAY INTERVIEW

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 4 5

best but then we are learning. Forget about the fact that we became independent in 1960; massive interruptions by the military did not prepare us to play a major role as a democratic nation with a rich tradition of democracy, with ethos and ethics of a democratic society. It was only in 1999 that we returned to democracy and for 15 uninterrupted years we are there. It may not be too democratic because the respect for the rule of law is so little and people believe that once you are in government you are Alpha and Omega; you could do anything and get away with it. People can decamp if they are threatened by anti-corruption agencies. They can decamp to the ruling party and they are protected.

That is our democracy. It is bereft of the rule of law. But I want Nigerians to have confidence that in a democracy you must have a credible opposition. They must always believe that tomorrow will be better than today. We have a democratic government. Some say it is a civilian government.

Whatever it is, I want to say this for emphasis, whatever it is, Nigerians should not lose faith in their democracy and in their country. I say this with all emphasis believing that we can learn from the history of other countries that started like us and today they are somewhere else. I want to urge Nigerians to support credible opposition and they should not allow government trample upon the opposition.

Opposition is important and an integral part of democracy. The truth is dictatorship is on the run throughout the world.

Whatever it is, we must have a credible opposition to challenge the current regime, to put them on their toes so that tomorrow, our people will really begin to reap the benefits of democracy. I am an unrepentant democrat. I have suffered quite a lot. I was part of the formation process of the PDP. At the end of every tunnel they say there is light. I want to appeal to Nigerians that there is always an alternative and the alternative is there for you to see.

That alternative is there and it is definite, it is legitimate, workable and acceptable and don’t look back.

The National Conference has just recommended a part time legislature for Nigeria perhaps in response to the apparent failure of the National Assembly to call the executive to order. What is your take on this?

I do not believe that part-time legislature is the answer to executive impunity.

It has nothing to do with that. If you look at the fact that the Constitution says 180 days. I think parliament sits for 181 days, remove Saturday and Sundays, basically, it is a full time job. If you remove Saturdays, Sundays and some public holidays, then you know that it is a full time job. If South Africans, Americans, Australians and India with a population of over one billion can do it, why can’t we do it in this country? It is really not a question of part-time legislature, it is a question of our coming together and deciding very decisively whether we belong to PDP or APC , what is good for Nigerians irrespective of political persuasion, regionalism, religion and ethnicity. That is the way we want to look at it.

Take note of one thing: those who are making this recommendations have been hand-picked by the President. Over 90 per cent of them are PDP members. Over 90 per cent of them cannot win elections.

They can say all kinds of things. I don’t want to challenge their intellectual capacities but I know surely that their recommendation for part-time legislature in Nigeria will not see the light of the day.

Many of them are intellectually inclined but again there is a difference between representing people and having the intellectual capacity to even mislead people. If we say yes, only intellectuals, the best in the world can handle the art, then America would have recruited all their presidents, secretaries, their heads of departments and so on to the Ivy League institutions in that country and only Cambridge and Oxford, as far as Britain is concerned would

Akume

‘Part-time legislature is not a solution’

have provided members of parliaments in that country. Let nobody be deceived.

We can stand our own anywhere without fear. I don’t want to say I am belittling people.There are some of these human beings who have stood elections and who are sitting down there, less than 50 per cent of them attend sittings but what I am saying is many of them have stood for elections, most of them have failed.

You are speaking on behalf of someone who appointed you. Sometimes there is a deliberate attempt to denigrate, embarrass, humiliate the National Assembly.

We are elected people. For quite sometime, I have refused to comment on this issues. If you want to talk about representative government, then you have to go for elections. If you are so good let them go and elect you to represent them; then you can speak with authority. But if you think that because you were defeated you come through the back door to put certain things before us, God bless you! When those things come before us we know what to say. As far as I am concerned, delegates at the National Confab goofed for recommending part-time legislature for the country and I believe very well that such a misplaced recommendation is unacceptable to majority of Nigerians and in particular, serving legislators in the country.

I do not believe that part-time legislature is the answer to executive impunity

You just talked about credible opposition, as the Minority Leader of the Senate, people are of the opinion that the voice of the opposition is not loud in the Senate in providing better and more credible way of doing things in the Red Chamber. What is your reaction to this?

There are Nigerians who may say the voice of the opposition may be low but that is not exactly true. Don’t forget that in a democracy, majority rules. You can say something, it may be the best, it can be blotted out; sometimes you may not even be featured. Sometimes you may not even be recognized to make your contributions.

Sometimes the cameras are carried away from where you are sitting. It is a typical Nigerian style of building our democracy, but time shall come when we shall overcome this. But you have been seeing on pages of newspapers what is being dished out from the opposition. We have taken a very strong stand on most of these issues.

Whether you like it or not, the issue of fuel subsidy was brought to bare on the Nigerian political scene by opposition. It is a scam; everybody knows that there is nothing like subsidy. Billions of Naira not budgeted for are being wasted on yearly basis under the cover of phony subsidy.

They take money from the treasury and apply it indiscriminately. It is not allowed by law. It is not allowed by the constitution. The Constitution is very clear that all federally collected revenues must be paid into the Federation Account and must be shared according to agreed formula but that is not what is happening. I believe we are doing well as opposition. We may have our say, they may have their way. But the truth is, we have

done so well. When we took up the matter of our stolen girls, people thought it was politics. What is politics about that.

We believe in the sanctity of human life.

Our responsibility as human beings and particularly for those of us who are in position of trust is to promote and protect lives. And so when we say we are not happy about certain things, it is not because of any other politics. When we highlight things, some of them may be distorted but I believe you cannot take opposition as it is today for granted. When some of their leaders speak, their views are distorted. When General Muhammadu Buhari said we must conduct credible elections he meant well because if we are not talking about credible elections, then what is democracy here? So when we talk I believe we speak from the point of view of patriots. I remember I was one of these who fought against Third Term because we believed then as we still believe, it was anti-democratic. It was unnecessary. We don’t have to believe in individuals, we have to build institutions that are sufficient to resist tyranny. I am happy, that the Inspector General of Police, IGP decided to overturn what Mbu tried to do. We are free as Nigerians, guided and protected by the law, to demonstrate. Those girls have not been brought back to us and so we should continue to protest. I have girls and boys. It hurts. As a government we cannot react to issues smartly. Elsewhere, one life is treated as if 100 people have died. That is not so in this country. Seventy-four people were killed in this country in a bomb blast here in Abuja, in the night, close to 300 kids, little girls, were taken away. The following day we were dancing Azonto! Then it is wonderful! It is good! If we condemn it, it is politics! It is a shame.

It is insensitivity of the highest order. The whole thing baffles the mind.

The APC appears to be losing the acceptance of Nigerians to the extent that many people are leaving the party for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Are you not worried by this development?

Well, building an opposition in a typical third world country is not easy.

Only highly principled persons can appreciate the difficulties and deficiency of opposition. Nigerians have received the APC with two hands. If you look at the number of people who have registered and those who have decamped from the other parties to us, it is a record. It shows the acceptability of the highest order. It is unprecedented. Nigerians must continue to have faith in the APC. I want to say that Nigerians must continue to be honest. Do you have confidence in what we have today? God! the first time in the history of this country, we have a war. Forget about the civil war and the circumstances that led to the civil war. Today the number of people we are losing on a daily basis, beats the mind.

We provided sufficient funds to ensure the lives of people are safe. University teachers were on strike for how many months? Just like what one Bishop said, she said when you go to vote, be guided by your conscience and not a politician but take note of some critical factors. A party that promises you education, good healthcare delivery system, electricity, the party that protects lives and property, vote for that party; not a party that has turned football pitches into hunting ground for grass-cutters and antelopes. If Nigerians think this is a government they want to support, goodluck, but we want our girls back before goodluck comes to Nigerians.

For me, I am a Nigerian from head to toe.

I love this country. I can’t stay outside for more than one month. I am always homesick. I can’t go anywhere. I lost two brothers and two cousins in one day in Port Harcourt during the civil war. I don’t forget this. This country is too big and too complex and we shouldn’t be toying with it. If we destroy this country, Somalia will be a child’s play. I have no where to run to. I love this nation. It has done so much for me. I come from a very humble background but see where I am today.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

2015: Ali, Nwaoboshi fight dirty over Delta North Dominic Adewole Asaba

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arely eight months to the 2015 general elections, glimmers of the drama that will rule partisan politics in the oil rich Delta state, have already started to unfold.

While the battle over who succeeds the incumbent, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan next year, rages, the wife of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs. Mariam Nneamaka Ali, and the chairman of the state chapter of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, have brought a bizarre dimension into the fight for the soul of Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.Their scuffle has spiraled into the theatre of the absurd where bestialities like hot slaps and fisticuffs form part of the bargain.

Alongside over 20 aggressive contenders from Delta North Senatorial District alone, both have not only indicated interest to succeed Gov Uduaghan , but also perfected the prevailing “pull-himdown” politics by celerating recriminations, accusations and counter-accusations of sponsoring “killer-squads”, especially in Ika axis of the state and dragging each other to court for character assassination and perfecting this unwholesome conspiracy game ahead of 2015.

For example, while Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, who happens to be a major contender in the race to succeed the Governor next year, savours the allure of the Delta North seat, the wife of the former national chairman of the party, Mrs. Ali, and the chairman of the ruling party in the state, Chief Nwaoboshi, engaged each other in a “do-or-die” political battle that peaked under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, especially during the 2007 general elections. At stake is who succeeds the incumbent senator.

The gladiators have not only thrown courtesy to the wind in the rat race but may have relapsed into the Hobbesian model, where intention without desperation provides the only option of getting there politically.

The duo of Nwaoboshi and Nneamaka did not only smash the umbrella which represents their party’s symbol, which supposedly binds them together, but also used the broken umbrella to poke each other at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting presided over by the leader of the party in the state, Governor Uduaghan. They went ahead to exchange blows and hurl unprintable invectives at each other, all in a desperate bid to “show-their-muscle” to the delight of participants at the event.

While Nwaoboshi received a full-dose of ‘Mama’ Ali’s punches, which (allegedly) arrived on his face and in form of multiple slaps, the ex-PDP national chair’s wife, got her fair share of insults, not only from Nwaoboshi, but also from his teeming loyalists who throng the party’s secretariat along Mariam Babangida Way, Off Okpanam Road, Asaba, to hear the party’s verdict on the forth-coming local government elections billed for October 25, this year, by the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) as they booed her repeatedly, calling her “failure.”

Trouble erupted following a heated argument over the sitting position of Mrs. Ali before the arrival of Governor Uduaghan for the formal presentation

Nwaoboshi (left) and Ali

The duo of Nwaoboshi and Nneamaka did not only smash the umbrella which represents their party’s symbol, which supposedly binds them together, but also used the broken umbrella to poke each other of vehicles to the 25 Local Government chairmen of the PDP, obviously ahead of the council polls.

Mrs. Alli was said to have sat on a chair reserved for the state’s deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama (SAN) before the party chairman (Nwaoboshi) asked her to vacate the seat.

But not knowing that he had just stepped on the tail of a viper, Mrs. Ali, who allegedly had positioned herself majestically on the seat, shouted him down, a tantrum that briefly threw the hall into pandemonium before the tension it generated was brought under control.

Nwaoboshi, who was visibly angry, later commented briefly on the incident, confirming that Mrs. Ali actually assaulted him with two dirty slaps on his face. He added that “I restrained myself from retaliating because I was properly brought up and I did not want to betray the confidence the party reposed in me. Hence, I sued for peace, thereby preventing the situation from degenerating further into physical combat by party supporters who had obviously taken sides.”

The reason for their no-love-lost relationship is not far-fetched; Nwaoboshi and Mrs. Alli, who belonged to the same camp within the party in the state, recently fell apart when the former declared for the Delta North Senatorial District’s seat, a position Mrs. Ali has eyed twice and failed.

She contested the senatorial seat in 2007 and 2011 respectively but lost to Senator Patrick Osakwe and the incumbent, Sena-

tor Okowa.

Coincidentally, the New Telegraph also recalls how Nwaoboshi’s emergence as the chairman of the party in the state was not outside Mrs. Ali’s making. He was a product of the crisis that pitched the wife of the national chairman and former Governor James Onanefe Ibori against each other.

Nwaoboshi was allegedly used to appease the crisis, but shortly after, “sacrificed his political camp on the altar of monetary gains.”

A PDP source told the New Telegraph that “when Nwaoboshi fell out with former Governor Ibori, and was chased out of the state empty handed, Mrs. Ali became a helper close at hand to him in Abuja, where he ran to. He actually received succour after his poitical empire in the state got shattered by the powers-that-be then.

So, observers are not surprised that Mrs. Ali is aggrieved that the ‘boy’ she shielded when he was politically stripped naked by Ibori, would suddenly betray her, allegedly for monetary gains. The poor woman was expecting him to be loyal politically to her till death do them part”, a reliable source in the party told New Telegraph.

The wife of the former national chairman contested for the position during the 2007 general election but lost woefully to Senator Osakwe who sat on the senatorial seat for 12 years before Okowa unseated him. She suffered the setbacks even with the ruling party’s flag in her hand because the two interested parties in the election – former President Obasanjo (who wanted to use Osakwe for his butched third term bid) and Ibori (who wanted to handover to Uduaghan, his cousin), worked for her failure in their ‘give-and-take’ politics. “You deliver Osakwe for me in Accord Party (AP) and I will, in turn, deliver Uduaghan for you as a successor” was the game plan.

Undetered by her woeful performance in 2007, Mrs. Ali joined the race again in 2011, but this time, the race had assumed a new twist. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to Uduaghan, developed interest in the seat. Okowa was one of those who helped Uduaghan to be where he is today. He collapsed his structure for Uduaghan when he was to engage the Governor in a run-up after the PDP pri-

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mary election in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state in 2007, when he declared to be Governor. He (Okowa) was said to have been prevailed upon by the powers-that-be in Abuja then to step-down for Uduaghan, since Ibori had fulfilled his own side of the deal that was orchestrated against Mrs. Ali, hence, the need for Governor Uduaghan to help him to realize his dream of becoming a Senator.

Unperturbed that major forces in electioneering decision-making in the state, especially in the ruling party, were against her, Mrs. Ali, picked the senatorial form. She soon lost woefully to Senator Okowa. Then, Nwaoboshi, who was the state chairman of the party was behind her. Because Nwaoboshi wanted Mrs. Ali to be the flag-bearer of the party for the Delta North Senatorial election, he took the battle for her to win to the Cenotaph, the venue of party’s Senatorial primaries, where he fought in vain, having disrupted the proceedings of the exercise.

But as the saying goes, “no permanent friend and enemy in politics”, Nwaoboshi and Uduaghan have become two jolly friends. While they are both working for the betterment of the party in the state, today, Mrs. Ali and his ‘son’ (Nwaoboshi) have become best of enemies.

Although, Okowa has not declared formally for the governorship race, his campaign billboards and posters have litered his Local Government Areas, even as his body language have shown that he has interest in the plum position.

If elections, on the other hand, are won by posters and billboards, Nwaoboshi’s senatorial campaign promises, which have already spelt ‘doom’ for Mrs. Ali, if she picks the form the third time, would have unseated Okowa like a court verdict, even before the election is conducted.

A PDP source, however revealed to the New Telegraph that, “Mrs. Ali is aggrieved that Nwaoboshi betrayed him.

The woman was expecting Nwaoboshi, being the state chairman of the party and his close ally, to quietly hand over the ticket of the PDP to her even if there are 50 persons vying for the seat. But she was disappointed to hear in Abuja that the reverse is the case, a he has started campaigning to occupy the seat without her blessing.”

The source continued, “you think it was the stakeholders’ meeting Madam came for? Let it be clear to you that what you people heard about the slap was the reason for her coming down from Abuja.

Or you think she didn’t know that that sit was reserved for the Governor and his deputy? That slap was to tell Nwaoboshi that you dare not bite the finger that has fed you. Also, to remind him that he is bitting more than he can chew and that if he has done it to others in the past ad nothing happened, this one may backfire.”

Meanwhile, Governor Uduaghan, the source said, has refused to be dragged into the raging war between mother and son.

Now the battle line has been drawn.

Deltans wait to see who will blink first between the chairman, who is now brandishing state powers and instead of shivering, has continued to roll out his blueprint for the development of a to those who care to listen in her domain – Oshimili South Local Government Area that harbours Asaba, the state capital, especially, to her foot-soldiers that the state chairman has stepped on a viper’s tail.

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26 JULY 2014

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Governor Amosun can’t be impeached, says APC lawmaker Hon. Akinpelu Aina, member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Ado-Odo/Ota I State Constituency, speaks to KUNLE OLAYENI on various issues, including the unity of the state legislators and relationship with the executive arm of government.

Aina

The seventh legislative assembly rose from the ashes of a deep division that existed under the immediate past administration. What is the situation like now?

I believe so far, so good. We have 26 members in the assembly who were elected on different platforms. APC, my party, has the highest number of legislators in the House of Assembly. Currently, there are 17 APC members in the House and based on this, we still control the highest number of seats in the state assembly. We also have members who were elected on the platform of other political parties but today as I speak with you, we still enjoy good, cordial relationship among ourselves in terms of our duties in the House. I think and I believe that things are still under observation But there was this attempt last year to remove the Speaker, which led to crisis in the House. Has normalcy ultimately returned?

On the issue of removal of Speaker, there was nothing of such. What happened was that some members were suspended; there was a process on ground to suspend some members for their unparliamentary conduct and, of course, the suspension took place. But they now revolted against that suspension. Whoever says that the Speaker was impeached is not saying the truth. It was after we left the chamber that some people forced their way into the hallowed chamber to sit without the mace. So, for me, the Speaker was never impeached not for a second.Well, with the intervention of the governor precisely, we were able to resolve things.

Are you sure the House is still one because we used to hear that it is sharply divided For me, that is best portrayed on the pages of newspapers. In the House, I’ve never seen a member come out boldly to say ‘you belong to these 13, I belong to another 13.’ We are still one. Agreed we were elected on different political platforms and from different political parties, but as far as I’m concerned the issue of division is not known to the House.

Speculations were rife last week about a grand plot to impeach the Speaker, which forced the Speaker to hold a secret meeting to nip the threat in the bud. How correct is that and do you foresee any kind of impeachment?

The issue of impeachment is something that, by the special grace of God, will never come up. Of course, there may be attempt to do such just as you have seen in other states but why the impeachment? Why do we want to impeach? Is it that we are not doing what we are supposed to do in the House? Is it that the Speaker is not leading us properly or is it that he’s not conducting every member properly? No! Sentiment apart, let’s be focused on our primary responsibility which is the art of law making and appropriation.

How would you say that your activities, particularly the bills you have passed as a House, have impacted on the lives of the people?

So far, so good, this seventh legislative assembly has done a lot when you talk of

bills being passed by the House members.

In fact, even we work more than the normal legislative days we are supposed to do. The records are there. Currently, I may not have the figures of all the bills passed but from my own health committee alone, we have been able to pass about three bills successfully. These include the SACA bill where we were able to give autonomy to the State Action Committee on AIDS, then the Anti-stigma Bill and the bill on the upgrading of the School of Nursing to a degree-awarding institution which would soon be passed. Talk of other bills as well, I know we’ve passed a reasonable number of bills which compared to the past legislative set, this House has really excelled. We’ve taken our job seriously.

Motions are being sponsored, bills, personal explanations and resolutions; I think to some extent we have done alot. These bills have created impact on the citizenry of the state.You seem to disagree that the division in the House is stalling developmental efforts. But why has the N19billion loan requested by Governor Ibikunle Amosun since February not As far as I’m concerned, the issue of the N19billion loan is just like the normal bills that we need to attend to. I don’t see the division as the major problem for not allowing the bill to scale through. At least, the bill is still on the Order Paper of the House; it has not been struck out. It’s as good as a normal bill being worked upon.

How would you critique the incumbent governor vis-à-vis the five cardinal programmes As an insider and a member of the state House of Assembly, I want to say without any fear or hesitation that in the area of the five cardinal programmes of the present administration which is being headed

by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, I believe he has got the required marks in the listed programmes. Let’s talk of infrastructure; he has performed excellently. Let’s talk of health, he has performed excellently.

I’m the chairman, House Committee on Health. Just recently, we launched the Community Health Based Insurance Scheme which of course will allow people at no cost at all. Then, look at the upgrading of all the health facilities in the state.

Throughout the three senatorial districts, there is a tremendous improvement in our health system. Look at the ambulances we bought to assist those who have accidents on our roads daily. When you talk of agriculture, you will agree with me that he bought some equipment for farmers in

The issue of impeachment is something that, by the special grace of God, will never come up

order to assist them in the course of their production. Talk of education, teachers’ salaries are being paid promptly. You can never see that the teachers are going on strike. Look at the level of renovation that is being embarked upon by this administration all over the state. Go to local government, you will see SUBEB reconstructing and renovating schools primary and secondary. Check on the records of the local governments, you see them putting up structures. Even members of the state House of Assembly facilitated projects.

I personally constructed a block of two classrooms and a lot of renovation as well.

So, this administration has touched more on schools that the past administration.

Then, look at the model schools we are putting up in order to engender standard.

But some critics are of the opinion that most of the projects embarked upon by the current administration are over-bloated in terms of cost. What is your take on that? For me, I think people are free to say whatever they want to say. But one thing you will not take out of this government is the quality of projects that is being done in the state.

And then you will agree with me that the person in question is an accountant by profession and for him to inflate the contracts, I think it’s not something he will embark upon in order not to violate the rules of his profession. If they are not too sure of what is on ground, they have the right to go to the ministry and confirm all this, bring their own assessors and see for themselves if really the contracts are being inflated or not. So, the issue of over-bloated project cost does not arise. You know this is the time of politics and people must say something about you.

Ogun West, with the highest number of industries, lays the golden egg for the state in terms of internally-generated revenue. Yet the state of roads in that place, particularly Agbara and Igbesa axis, is appalling. What do you say to this?

I quite agree with you that we are the hen that lays the golden egg and that is particularly Ado-Odo/Ota local government, not the entire Ogun West. In this Ado-Odo/Ota local government, we have Ota and Agbara as the major industrial areas and you agree with me that work has commenced in Ota. Hitherto, you see the way trailers are falling on our roads causing damages, traffic jams, etc but here we are now. You made mention of the N19billion loan, if the government could access it today, I can assure you that work would commence in other parts of the area. It is said that one thousand miles start with a step. We know that we met on ground before was nothing to write home about when you talk of Ado-Odo/Ota local government and even the entire Yewaland. But we have started from somewhere and with a step – that is Ota.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

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We can’t rule out impeachment of Amosun – Hazzan

What is the situation now in the Ogun State House of Assembly?

There is no doubt that the House is apparently divided into pro-Amosun and antiAmosun by the perception of the populace.

But we just believe that it is more of those who believe in what is right and those who believe in what is not What about the last attempt to remove the Speaker, last year? Has normalcy finally returned to the House?

As at that time, there was a plan by the Speaker and some members to suspend some of our people. Of course, I was one of them. Whatever the reasons are, it was that we left the chamber without taking a bow and possibly if there would be proceedings by which any disciplinary action will be taken, first is to ensure that such person is given fair hearing. Of course, we have a committee in the House called the Committee for Ethics and Privileges, where such matters should be discussed. Rather, it was brought to the hallowed chamber for summary announcement. The announcement was not by due process. Even if the committee finds a member guilty, it is still subject to deliberation on the floor and voting where majority will now decide whether such a report or decision should be upheld or jettisoned. But that didn’t happen. And of course when you employ an unconventional means of getting things done, you would definitely get a fight back and that was what led to the imbroglio at that time.

Thank God it was resolved somehow but of course when action, reaction became very tough, some voices of reason came in and intervened and that was why we had the respite we had.

But there were speculations last week that there was a grand plot to impeach the Speaker again. How correct is this?

Before, some few people who have asked me this same question, I say it’s a scam. Because if someone is plotting to do the removal of the leadership of the House and you now have to get the information from those who are going to be affected and they are now saying such and such amount of money was offered to us and such and such other benefits are being brandished at us, all of that I see as a deliberate attempt to ensure that their paymaster is able to match those revelation or deploy it as it were so that they can make some money for themselves. It’s not unusual in this clime where there are situations like this but I can categorically tell you that it’s a scam. And if anybody has been scammed in the process, goodluck! For us, whatever we have to do, we would do it when we have to do it. We don’t have to even go on the pages of newspapers to do any announcement.

So, what is the status of the N19billion loan request by the governor?

The documents we asked for that will get us to be informed adequately and to determine the necessity or otherwise of this request have not been provided. Some of us have reasons to believe that the state is servicing debts with local government funds and we asked for the disbursement of funds from the federation to local governments till date, which is even a provision of the law, has not been provided till date.

We also asked: how much are we actually paying as salaries in Ogun State for all civil servants and public office holders so that we would be able to tell if what comes in from Abuja... IGR; by the time we start committing substantial amount of our revenue to debt repayment, we would still be able to pay salaries.

Hon. Remmy Hazzan, former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Odogbolu State Constituency, was elected on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 but later defected to the Labour Party (LP) in the wake of the crisis that engulfed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. He speaks with KUNLE OLAYENI on the stand-off between the G15 and G11 cleavages in the House.

How much are we paying as salaries today?

We have not still been told! Can we do a blind approval in the name of loyalty or whatever anybody calls it? The day they bring those documents, we would do our own due diligence and determine whether the N19billion is deserving of any approval or not. So, it’s a stalemate; that’s why it is still pending.

We learnt that it is because of the division in the House where you have G13 in two camps; that’s why the loan request has not been passed?

Don’t forget that we did our approval, even with this same division, sometimes in March last year. The division did not affect that approval because as at that time we got a fair conviction that it was deserving. But this time around, we have our fears that the state will be plunged into a condition of distress if we are not careful of the kind of approval we give out for this loan request from the government. That is just the situation. We are not convinced yet that this loan is really deserving of our situation to be approved. Until those things are done, we’ll just leave it as it is.

You are one of the lawmakers that are critical of the cost of projects being executed by the present administration. Are you justified in any way?

With the pricing of projects in the state, I am not and I insist, I would never be because if we are transiting from the costliest road in our state which was about n78million per kilometer, that was the Lalubu Road which is about the same six-lane road that this present government is doing.

I think prudence demands that if we are going to have any reason whatsoever to move beyond that pricing level, it should not be what would affect our finances. But many of us believe that it is fraud because when you do a pricing of that magnitude in a state that is not financially buoyant like Ogun State, it can only mean that whoever is giving approval to such is benefitting from it. And to worsen it, none of these contractors that are getting this N1.3billion kilometre road is an indigene. So, it helps to confirm that most of those contractors would help whoever to move their funds abroad and they would go there and do whateversharing that they want to do.

How would you appraise the incumbent governor vis-à-vis the five cardinal programmes of his administration?

Infrastructural development which was part of his cardinal programmes is about the only area where he has made a little bit of impact. However, at what cost? Because we

For us, whatever we have to do, we would do it when we have to do it. We don’t have to even go on the pages of newspapers to do any announcement

have discovered now that the cost of those projects has actually injured our present and future standing. So, it’s more like adding value one percent and taking away that value by 99 percent. In terms of affordable housing, I’m a housing expert, and when we say affordability is such that whatever will cost you to get the house should not be more than 33 percent equivalent of your monthly take-home. When you now ask a civil servant to come and buy a house at N27million, I don’t know what is affordability in that wise. I don’t know who are the policy makers in that government that are saying that is affordable housing. The last government did N900,000 in Laderin Estate; that’s by all standard is affordable even though many civil servants were still not able to pay.

Agricultural development, tell me what headway have we made? Education is even worse for our pupils in primary and secondary schools than it was.

We are building model schools, none of them is completed and at what cost. Each of the unit of the new state secretariat in Abeokuta cost N800million under OGD and one of those units is like two-time the size of those model schools and we are saying each of those model schools is N1.6billion.

Who is fooling who?

Educationally, we are taking one step forward and five steps backward because all the lofty ideas have turned out to be policy somersault.

All the monies we have spent on the model schools, if we had spent them to refurbish the existing schools, we would have been better off. None of those schools is likely to be commissioned before the end of this administration.

How have the activities of the House of Assembly impacted on the lives of the people in the last three

Hazzan

years?

One of the things that we have done is to stop further deceit because all of what have carried us along for some time has been deceitful. For example, the governor told us that he has been able to get a good bargain for loan at 13 percent. So, we have it on good authority that it’s between 20 and 27 percent that is being paid. Because he told us then that the loan he was getting, he was getting at a good rate that is as negotiable as that of the bond that the former government would have gotten. But it’s turning out now that it’s all deceit. At a point that we realised that it was deceitful, we insisted that no more; every information required must be on the table because if we had allowed that, our people would have been plunged further into another round of debt that would have further impoverished our people.

This is the era of impeachment of governors. What do we expect from the Ogun State House of Assembly?

My brother, nothing is off the table. Anything is possible. Nothing can be taken off the table; it’s not a question of necessity.

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North’s population is inflated – Igbo leader

Do you think anything good can come out of the ongoing national conference?

Some good things have started coming out of the national conference. One is that those who have been distracting the Federal Government do not have the time to do so again; they are now busy discussing national issues and they are beginning to have a different understanding about the Nigerian state because then you sit down in your home and you say this should be the way forward but now that people from different regions of the country are challenging themselves on national issues, they must have realized how difficult it is to govern Nigeria. So the polity has enjoyed relative peace which was not the case before the conference. But for the main purpose they were sent to the conference, we have a fundamental problem in this country.

The northern political elites want the status quo maintained because they believe the status quo given to them by the British and various military regimes that came from their area put them at an advantage over others.

So you also share the belief that the population of the North is inflated?

The true position of things is that the population of the north cannot be compared to that of the south. You can see that it took the CNN four days to get to Chibok; no building, no human beings! So where are these millions that they keep proclaiming during questionable census exercises? The north has low population to decide who becomes the President of this country. Their current population figure was based on falsified documents. Look at the last census that we conducted in 2006 that put the population of Lagos below that of Kano state, what nonsense? Where are those people? Lagos population alone triples that of Kano, I can tell you that authoritatively. You cannot rule a nation based on false demographic figures.

In the first republic election that was held in this country, the NPC got majority of the vote over the NCNC but they were denied the position because the NCNC got many constituencies that were awarded to them by the British and this is the same problem we are facing till today; why should a minority be claiming majority based on falsified

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

Chief Udoka Charles Udeogaranya, former Chairman, Lagos chapter of defunct African Renaissance Party (ARP), is currently the national president, Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN). He spoke to OLULSOLA RICKETS, on the ongoing national conference and why he thinks President Goodluck Jonathan deserves a second term.

document; we must do something about this As a former party chairman in Lagos, what is your comment about the agitation for a Christian governor in Lagos come 2015?

I will say it’s long overdue. When you have a state and some people feel they must continue to have people of their religious faith as number one citizen, it means that the others in that society are not worthy of recognition, this is wrong. Things must move round. It’s 15 years now and it has been an all-Muslim affair; this is not fair. If you look at the list of Lagos Commissioners, it is predominantly Muslims. Is that merit? Are they saying that the Muslims are more intelligent than the Christians? Here, commonsense should prevail so that the Christians will not feel marginalized in the state. In order to see that there is fairness in the polity, a Christian governor is desirable now. Both the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) should ensure that a Christian candidate emerges as the next governor of the state.

The indications are that President Goodluck Jonathan may seek a second term in office.

Does he deserve a second term based on his performance?

I will say yes to that and I will tell you why. From 1967, we have had 11 regimes.

When you put all these regimes together, none of them has achieved ten per cent of what Jonathan has achieved in one term.

Jonathan is the only President, as far as this country is concerned, that has given Nigerians the right to choose their leaders. He believes in the one-man, one-vote principle. We all saw what happened in Ekiti state. With all the noise of the APC, the Ekiti people went to the poll and elected their leader and the sit-

ting governor consented to defeat three hours later because it was a transparent process. The PDP candidate won in all the local governments. That is a way of telling you that Jonathan has done well. The Ndigbo, who only has trading as a source of livelihood, Obasanjo banned all the commodities they were importing, resulting in their resorting to Benin Republic and Togo to bring their goods through smuggling and so on. Today, Jonathan has unbanned those items even though he is pursuing the agenda that Nigeria should be producing. But because we are not yet producing, you cannot ban those that we are importing.

Apart from this, Jona- Udeogaranya than has repaired Lagos-Ore-Benin expressway, you can close your eyes and drive on that road now; ever since I was born, that road has not been motor able, but it’s happening now.

Also the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is also under construction and will soon be completed and will be a smooth sail and other several highways in this country. Apart from this, there is total freedom of speech under the Jonathan government; he is one President you can insult and will not file a libel suit against you. In the social media (face book, twitter etc), people insult him freely

(....Cuts in) But there was a recent clampdown on newspapers in the country. Is that part of the freedom of speech we are enjoying?

This is because we are in a war situation due to the Boko Haram conspiracy. So sometimes when you are in a war-like period, a lot of things may be compromised. But as soon as everything settles, things will be back to normal. Even the Speaker of the House of Representatives was recently searched. This may be due to the fact that the security agencies got information that something may be happening; it is all about security

Census of Northerners in Imo is falsehood taken too far, says Okorocha’s aide

Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state tells STEVE UZOECHI that the purported registration of Northerners in Imo state is falsehood taken too far, amongst sundry issues.

Comment on the security challenges in some parts of the country?

The situation is rather very disturbing, challenging and requires a very decisive action devoid of political sentiments. No serious nation plays politics with issues bordering on the security of its citizenry. One of the cardinal functions of a people-oriented government is the protection of lives and properties. A particular government would be failing in its responsibilities when citizens are being slaughtered like cows and there is no solution in sight.

It calls for concern and it calls for worry because at the end of the day, those being killed are Nigerians and it doesn’t matter which

political party, religious or ethnic group they treated as such.

As a matter of expediency, the Federal are from, what matters is that lives are being Government should leave no stone unturned wantonly destroyed.

What is expected of our leaders, at various in bringing to an end the inferno called Boko levels now, is concerted effort and harnessing Haram insurgency. of ideas towards halting or bringing The story Nigerians are yearning to hear is that the menace of Boko to an end this wanton destrucHaram has been brought to tion of lives and properties in various parts of the an end, any other story becountry.And our poside that is neither here litical leaders should nor there. not for any reason inject politics into The alleged registrathis ugly saga. It tion of Northerners may be Mr. A toin Imo, with a view day, tomorrow, it to issuing them may be Mr. B and with ID cards nobody knows seems to have who that Mr. B become a convowould be. luted issue. Respond This is not a to this?

The truth of the matquestion of who is right or who is wrong; ter is that when that false or that of PDP blaming allegation was raised, we reAPC or APC blaming PDP, acted promptly and it got wide Onwuemeodo after all, the Chibok girls are publicity. Even when the Senate was not members of any political party and deceived into discussing same issue on the majority of their distraught parents may not floor of the Senate, we also reacted promptly be members of any political party. So it is a and strongly. In all our reactions, we were not national problem and should be seen and only sincere but honest. If there was anything

like that, we would have owned up and gone ahead to defend it, but we denied it because there was no such thing in Imo. We saw it as a rumour taken too far; packaged and put on sale by opponents of the government of the day in Imo state, resident in Abuja.

So they also succeeded in deceiving the Senate into deliberating and passing a resolution on a matter that never existed in the state but only existed in the imagination of those behind it. And because we are sure of our stand, we challenged those behind the allegation to come out with their proofs because the burden of proof is always on the shoulder of the accuser.

We also challenged the Senate to show Nigerians the evidence of what they deliberated upon and passed resolution on, with a proviso that where they fail to prove their claims, they should be distinguished enough to apologize to Imo people and the government of the state for portraying us in very bad light before, not only Nigerians, but the international community.

And it might interest you to know that till date, neither the Senate nor the sponsors of the falsehood has been able to contradict our rebuttal. In other words, our honest denial remains unchallenged and we should therefore be believed.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

MILESTONES

51

Adeyemi: An octogenarian with passion for knowledge As Alhaji Ayo Adeyemi clocks 80 tomorrow, DOMINIK UMOSEN traces his history and writes that this iconic figure’s passion for knowledge explains why he is marking his birthday with publication of 11 books.

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hen the glowing rays of the morning sun surreptitiously surrenders to the blistering heat of tomorrow’s afternoon sun, as it might most likely do, neither the volume of his intellectual accomplishments at 80 nor the passage of time is likely to force Pa Ayo Adeyemi, writer, musician, publisher and founder of the Islamic Mission Organisation, IMO, to forget some brutally-harsh lessons of his childhood. Young Adeyemi had no way of knowing that the exit of his father at the age of 13 would turn his world upside, forcing him to learn that the impromptu departure of his father from this world opened the ugly possibilities that are readily permissible in the world of orphans.

The death of his father effectively knocked Adeyemi off the comfort zone he had always enjoyed as the only male child in the family. “Being the only male child of the family, I was like a king. But immediately my father died, it was as if darkness engulfed my whole world. My siblings and I were relocated to the village, where I was dumped in a farm by my uncle. No more schooling. I was flogged for any little thing,” Adeyemi recalled.

But this was not the blackest aspect of this unexpected midnight at noon for young Adeyemi. “Seriously, there were times I attempted to take my life. It was struggle here and there. That is why I did not have any (childhood), dream,” the renowned Islamic leader, who prefers driving himself to employing a driver, said.

Adeyemi’s captivating story is the stuff from which thrillers are made. After two foiled attempts to flee from the village, he eventually made it to Lagos but by the time he did, his former mates in primary school had passed out of secondary school. But in spite of this cruel trick played on him by fate, the young man nevertheless was determined to acquire education which, he reasoned and rightly, beheld all his hopes for a better life.

“I hawked eko (cold pap), and after sav-

ing some money, my sister got a school for me. I went for the test and passed. Whatever I made I saved. I continued (selling cold pap, newspaper-vending and selling medicine). I could not go to secondary school but through correspondence. I got my General Certificate of Education, GCE,” he added.

Against all odds, Adeyemi went ahead to equip himself intellectually in preparedness for the gritty battle of life which has since paid off handsomely. He qualified as an architectural technician who could draw and interpret building plans correctly, even going ahead to establish a construction company which, sooner than later, began to roll in mega bucks.

For someone who did not acquire much of formal education, Adeyemi’s mastery of not just religious but the entire gamut of philosophy, bears eloquent testimony to his insatiable appetite for knowledge. With 11 new books targeted at sharpening Islamic knowledge, especially young Muslims, Adeyemi could look back on his life with pride, satisfied that in spite of a huge hurdle placed in his way by fate, sheer doggedness and determination to excel made the difference.

Books commemorating the IMO founder’s 80th birthday, which falls due tomorrow, include ‘Why I am Proud to be a Muslim;’ ‘Why do Musims fast?’ ‘Abridged History of Prophet Mohammed;’ the ‘Concept of Prayer (Salat) in Islam’ and ‘What is Qadar or Predestination?’ Others include ‘Knowledge is Power;’ ‘All Roads to Arafat’ and ‘Act of Zakat.’

As a seasoned Islamic teacher who learnt at the feet of the masters, Adeyemi also discusses topics like ‘The Effects of Zakat;’ ‘Amount of Contribution’ and ‘General

Immediately my father died, it was as if darkness engulfed my whole world

Condition that makes Zakat Obligatory’ as well as ‘Nabiyyu or the Prophet of God’ and ‘Why I am proud to be a Muslim’ in his latest literary effort. In the book, ‘Why do Muslims fast?’ and ‘Special Recommended Prayer during the Ramadan Fasting’ are some of the topics that are beautifully rendered.

In the forward to the books which commemorate Adeyemi’s 80th birthday, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Ojo, Professor Ishaq Akintola, describes Adeyemi as a man whose passion for Islam knows no bounds.

According to Akintola, who is also the Director, Muslims Rights Concern (MURC), Adeyemi is not only commended for his contributions to the development of Islam in the country but also for clearing the air on some of the rumours peddled around himself on his disposition to some principles of the religion.

“Alhaji Adeyemi comes across as a man with great organisational skills. He is a greatly talented manager of men. He has successfully combined mastery of business integrity with musical wisdom. He has produced many enticing albums and his works linger on till today,” Akintola surmised.

More accolades, his admirers say, are bound to come Adeyemi’s way as he clocks the ripe old age of 80 tomorrow, especially at the birthday bash which the man plans for his well-wishers after Ramadan. Other activities designed to grace the occasion and burnish it with a befitting panache include a lecture and artistic performances.

Adeyemi, who embraced the Islamic faith in 1948, said, “I was born into Christianity but I embraced Islam in 1948. My father died in 1947 and then we were taken to Ilase, Ogun State. When I came back to Lagos in 1953, I continued with Islam even though I did not know anything about it then. I just fell in love with it and continued. In 1957, a friend introduced me to an Islamic organisation called Zumurratul Islamiyya Society which was a better organised society than what obtained in Lase.

“Something was just propelling me until 1953 when I met an Alfa (cleric) who was always on the road and each time I was passing through, I would stop and listen to him. Together, we formed an organisation called Islamic Preaching Society where I was the general secretary and he was the missioner. We approached the President of the Ansar-U-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Baruwa Eti, to be our president but he turned it down due to the policy of the organisation. However, he recommended Pa Ashimi who became our president. My ability to organise became sharpened and I had the opportunity to interact with a lot of great figures in major Islamic organisations at that time. In 1963, an Islamic cleric, Malam Ahmed Mintu, a former rector of a university in Pakistan, came to Nigeria and it was with him that I first saw a copy of the Holy Quran in English.

“From there, I buried myself into studying and made myself available to the man since he did not know much about Lagos.

When he left, they brought another man, Alhaji Quazeem Rasheed, who tutored me very well. When he left, he recommended I take charge of mission which I did for a while. It was the same Islamic Preaching Society that metamorphosed to Islamic Mission Organisation which I still head till date.”

When he eventually crosses the landmark age of 80 tomorrow, Adeyemi would have done so a fulfilled man who in spite of trials and tribulations braved all odds to make a more-than-modest mark in the sands of time.

52 politics

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

Delta will clone Indian ICT prowess, says Ofili As an aspirant to the state house of assembly, how has the experience been.

“The truth is that after a good battle, the gladiators went to sleep. Some of us did not get involved in government after we fought, while those who collaborated with the Abacha regime, became beneficiaries of what we fought for...

“The implication of not being involved is that when you leave the stage, you permit charlatans to take charge of governance.

They make political and economic decisions over you, and you have no say. So my advice to the youth who desire change is if you feel that you want change, you must get involved… Power never yields without a fight The youths must take their destiny in their hands in this country.

What significant role has your office played in the Delta Beyond oil campaign of the Uduaghan administration?

I like to say we have done well with the goals we set for ourselves. In 2013 the directorate embarked on some initiatives, one of which was an attempt to see how we can computerize our activities. If you recall, the state is perhaps one of the very first in this country that installed an enterprise system to monitor its financial system. I am talking about our financial system, including auditing and the budgetary system. All these were done before I came on board. So we are strengthening all that to the extent that all government activities are well automated in a way that it has been applauded by financial institutions across the world like the World Bank and its affiliate agencies. To cap our efforts, Delta State was last year inducted into the VIP cadre by the SAP (Systems Application Software), SAP is world leading software for enterprise resource planning (ERP). That induction made Delta State the only public sector in Africa that was so inducted. Out of the 10 in Africa, ours is the only government-run system. Basically, what it means is that SAP, from South Africa, looked into our records and operational modus and saw that it is optimized and it is running perfectly. That means we are a reference to both the public or private sectors.

That award was given to us in October last year. Besides that, the SAP product is an ongoing program that we intend to optimize while ensuring that we maximize investments in all sectors. Moving away from that, our other plans include ensuring that our goal of going beyond oil is achieved in record time. We often say in Delta State that ours is a sustainable economy beyond oil. That means we intend to build a technology based economy without oil; and build a 21st century economy. You can only achieve that with a knowledge based economy. That also means that we have to have people with requisite

In my quest to know why the preponderance of Indians in that field, I went to India and spent two months to study their system and found out why

Hon Sunny Ofili, accomplished journalist and former National Democracy Coalition, NADECO chieftain during the dark Abacha era, tells SONY NEME about the challenges of his role as Special Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Information and Communication Technology. knowledge to run that economy.

To do that means we may have to begin to train our children on the use of technology. It further means that we have to ensure that the technology is made available through a penetration of computers in our schools. And to ensure that is achieved we are building ICT labs in all our secondary schools. That way our children will have access to the computer, and they will be able to compete with kids from all over the world. The idea for me, when I came into this country to pick up this job, was for a laptop per child, which we have set out to achieve. But looking at the budgeting, it will be quiet tough to have a state provide a laptop per child. So we jettisoned that idea for now and adopted a system where each child in our school system has access to a computer. We are achieving this by building a laboratory in each school with about 40 to 45 computers. Same way science labs are used; each class will schedule the use of that ICT laboratory. That, in a way, also helps to achieve the one-laptop-per child dream. We have almost achieved that. And for those already installed, we offloaded the entire school curriculum into the computer. That way, the student can have access to their curriculum through the computers. That helps them to have access to self-revision without their teachers. We are collaborating with Zenith Bank to put up a huge ICT center here in Asaba that will be handed over to us any moment from now. It is a state of the art edifice that can comfortably take 200 people at a time, with access to digital library, research work and internet access, among other digital needs of our people.

This is a wholly-Zenith Bank contribution to the IT development in Delta State.

They came and declared their interest in our efforts a n d

want to be involved in ICT development in the state. We didn’t contribute a dime other than the land. So they build and transfer to us.

With its huge unemployment rate and attendant security issues, how is Delta using ICT to create jobs?

That is actually a major focus of the state.

One of the things, which I haven’t mentioned, is the ICT Park we are building in Asaba. Basically, the essence of that is to harness the talents of our youths and get them trained in different aspects of ICT. That will enable them to become self-reliant. If they are trained, they would not look for job anywhere but be employers of labour.

We got this idea from India, which is the software hub of the world that is presently worth $25 billion. India controls about 60 percent of the world market. The situation in India 20 years ago was similar to what we have in Nigeria now. Unemployment was rife and graduates roamed the streets without hope.

What the Indian government did was to identify the need and send young graduates to different parts of Europe and America to study different aspects of software programming. What happened was that as soon as they got trained, they got snapped up by foreign countries, especially companies in America and United Kingdom. I worked with most of them in the US; that was how I got to know.

In my quest to know why the preponderance of Indians in that field, I went to India and spent two months to study their system and found out why. I discovered that the Indian government created an agency known as Software Technology Parks of India, STPI. It is responsible for building ICT parks in every nook and cranny of India.

How are you replicating that here?

That is what we are trying to

achieve here which the World Bank has certified as a bankable project. They have been here on two occasions to access what we are doing, and the efficacy of our plans got a further boost when the Federal Government, through the NCC, chose the park as a host for digital institute which is almost like a federal university. The project is on and we have gotten some local computer companies to partner with us.

In the long run, what we have set out to achieve is like the silicon valley of Africa.

What we are building will serve the whole of the South-South and South –East geopolitical zones of this country specifically.

This will become a destination of choice for those desirous of building an ICT park for anyone who wants a plug-and-play environment in software development where you have all the choice.

Especially, when you have a redundant connectivity, redundant power supply and more as IT only functions better where you have redundancy. Redundancy is built into every infrastructure that we are building in multiples, so that when one aspect breaks down, another takes up its functions. When we are done, this place will employ over ten thousand people. It is a massive project that is located on about 20 acres.

What is the target completion date and when it is likely to be put into use?

The digital park will start functioning this year. The state government has put in everything needed to ensure that the environment is conducive to establish a functional ICT Park. The state is also establishing an incubation center and the response from the business community has been very encouraging. And we are encouraging businesses to take this advantage and move into Delta State as fast as they can because the offer is very attractive. Banks’interests to build a data center has been awesome because most of the data that most companies use in this country presently are hosted outside this country.

On the one-child-one-laptop project, why not go the Lagos State government way, by partnering with oil companies that are abound in the state?

Perhaps, that is an area we haven’t really tried enough because corporate organisations are supposed to be partners in the communities where they operate.

Zenith Bank have taken the lead over the years, and this year, we hope to take it a step further by inviting other corporate bodies to participate.

Is your push for massive youth employment the reason why some youths are exerting pressure on you to vie for a place in the state house of assembly?

When I made up my mind to come back home from the US, my aim was to effect some changes.

And anyone who knows my background and my pedigree knows that I will always have a bent for service. And being in government or anywhere you find yourself, your major goal should be service to humanity. That has always been my forte. During the Abacha days, those who knew my antecedent will recall my role in the defense of democracy. Most of us gave up our jobs in the US as we gathered daily to picket the Nigeria Embassy there. On a daily basis, I carried placard with people like Bola Tinubu, Wole Soyinka and others. Whatever that will make the polity better has always been part of me.

PERSPECTIVES

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

Lagos public servants anxiously await Akin Ambode

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Nelson Omotayo

s a civil servant in the Lagos State public service, I am, indeed, highly elated that one of us, namely Mr Akin Ambode, is a top contender in the race to succeed the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the latter’s tenure expires next year. I can testify that here at Alausa, expectations are quite high among civil servants on the possibility of one of us being elected to steer the ship of the Centre of Excellence from May 2015. Although I never had the opportunity of working directly with Mr Ambode, those who did, never cease to regale us with his humility, diligence, selflessness, industry and generosity. There are over 100, 000 public servants in Lagos State. These people live throughout the nooks and crannies of the state. They will most certainly be foot soldiers of Akin Ambode, broadcasting the good news of his qualities to all and sundry. Let us not also forget that each of the over 100,000 public servants in Lagos State have their relatives, dependents and friends on whom they will have a measure of influence. If Ambode succeeds in his gubernatorial ambition, this will be the first time that a full -fledged civil servant will be opportune to preside over the affairs of this mega city. Surely, it will be a historic moment; a hope fulfilled for many of us.There may be those outside the public service who have a stereotypical view of the civil servant as indolent, unimaginative, lacking in motivation and innovation. Mr Ambode’s profile completely demolishes this stale and archaic perception of the civil service. Ambode holds B.Sc and M.Sc degrees in Accounting from the University of Lagos with specialisation in Financial Management.

In addition to being a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), he is an alumnus of several prestigious international institutions including the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Boston, USA, Cranfield School of management, Cranfield, England, the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland as well as being a

Ambode

Hubert Humphrey Fellow in Accounting and Finance from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Ambode is thus not your run of the mill civil servant.

He holds his own ably among the best professionals in his field. It is thus not surprising that he brought several innovations to the management of Lagos state government finances such as the creation of the State Treasury Office (STO) when he was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and later Accountant General of the state.

Anyone who visits the Ministry of Finance can easily see the legacy of modernisation he left behind as an innovative and compassionate manager of men and resources.

Of course, many of those contesting for the APC ticket are also men of no mean repute. Senator Ganiyu Solomon was a successful Local Government Chairman before serving in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, was successful in private business and has provided effective and cohesive leadership to the House. Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the current Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure is a first class brain with immense experience in the State Executive Council dating back from the Tinubu years. Former Commissioner for Health in the Tinubu administration, Dr. Leke Pitan, was easily the shining star of that administration. The pedigree and quality of these aspirants will most likely force the other parties, especially the PDP, to also seek to field capable candidates and the ensuing keen contest will be in the best interest of Lagos State.

However, in terms of administrative experience and knowledge of the public service, Akin Ambode still stands above all others. This is vital because the morale, welfare and efficiency of the civil service can make the difference between success and failure for any administration. Akin Ambode knows the Lagos State civil service inside out. The working of government is no mystery to him. He started his public service career right from the foundation, which is the Local Government system. He served at various times as Assistant Treasurer to Badagry Local Government, Auditor to Shomolu Local Government, Council Treasurer to Alimosho Local Government and Council Treasurer to Mushin Local Government.

After about ten years making the rounds of Local Governments in Lagos State, he was appointed Auditor General of Local Government Councils in the state. Thereafter, he rose purely on merit to become Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and later Accountant General of Lagos State, a position her occupied from 2006 to 2012.

When Asiwaju Tinubu emerged as governor in 1999, he came straight from the private sector and had little knowledge of the public service.

It took him at least two years to adjust and understand the system. His successor, Babatunde Fashola could hit the ground running because he had been Chief of Staff and member of the State Executive Council within the system. Akin Ambode has an advantage over both of them because he grew within the system over 27 years. he knows its strengths and weaknesses and, more importantly, he has tremendous goodwill in the public service, which will do everything to ensure that one of them does not fail in the challenging task of governing Lagos.

I am one of those public servants eagerly praying for and awaiting Ambode’s emergence as Governor of the Centre of Excellence.

• Nelson Omotayo, a public servant, lives in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area.

53 Abubakar

The state police agenda Kenneth Ani

R

ecently, the electronic and print media were awash with the gloating faces of some members of the ongoing constitutional conference crowing jubilantly over the resolution reached by one of its committee’s approving the implementation of state police, whereby the states will be empowered to have its own police outside of the existing federal police structure.

In as much as the aforementioned issue of state police is not supposed to raise any dust in a normal and supposed federal structure, it has stirred up ceaseless controversies and heated debates amongst the contending interests, lending credence to the well-known fact that ours is a lop-sided federalism. In the opinion of this writer, the issue of state police, once more, underlines our penchant for putting the cart before the horse. The prevailing negativity, unfortunately, appeared to have overwhelmed a good number of men who over the years have built a credible reputation as sticklers for what can be described as due process or procedural standards. These men of credibility actually applauded the implementation of state police which they consider as the panacea for the deadly and deteriorating security challenges facing the country.

While these patriotic men cannot be overly blamed for their enthusiasm, my humble opinion and expectations are that rather than succumb to the prevailing culture of quick- fix solution, they would have continuously canvassed their albeit, unpopular opinions on matters of national interest and how to get it right, and needless to say that posterity and history shall vindicate them at last.

Can the state police really be the panacea for all that has gone wrong security- wise nationally? The honest assessment of the situation now and the past can only prove otherwise. The state police recommendation is akin to treating an ailment without a proper diagnosis and like scratching the surface without getting to the root. When a patch of new garment is used to stitch an old worn garment the result is already known. It can never be over- emphasized that the bug of stealing in high places popularly referred as corruption is at the root cause of the nations unending woes today

One cannot be wrong however to say that stealing in high places is institutionalized in the country

including the current and overwhelming security challenges bedeviling the country.

Without a shred of doubt, the state police will fail; as long as politics remains the biggest industry in Nigeria. In fact I make bold to say that it will fare worse than its federal counterpart, for like our dear country Nigeria, it will be built, structured and conceptualize on sinking sand without a solid foundation, and borne of desperation.

It is needless trying to investigate why the federal police and many other institutions in Nigeria failed, for the reasons are too glaring; too well known even to the sightless. The federal police structure as is currently operational did not fail on account of incompetence or otherwise. Its glaring short comings and many failings are a fall out of the years of stealing and the decadence and bankruptcy of the establishment. Rather than the implementation of the state police agenda at a time like this, the right and pragmatic thing to do is to courageously and assiduously strive with a stoic resolve and a modicum of honor and transparency to make political office less attractive in order to discourage the prevalent pernicious and ignoble culture of grasping and grabbing by political rulers and their cronies who see politics as a short cut to a stupendous wealth.

According to the Clinton’s, they left the White House after eight years broke and heavily in debt! Now, such a scenario was made possible by the system of checks and balances put in place by the Americans.

Were there no real check and balance in the American system and other countries with a credible political system, there sure would have been no marked difference between the Nigerian politician and those of other climes; talking of stealing of public funds.

In other climes people venture into politics to make a name and impact their generations and the unborn generation, and leave a positive mark for posterity and history, but in Nigeria the reverse is the case. One’s success politically is measured by the illegal and illegitimately acquired wealth from the treasury. And the heavens will not fall.

One cannot be wrong however to say that stealing in high places is institutionalized in the country. There lays the biggest challenge facing Nigeria today. State police for now is another idle distraction. Right now there is work to be done; real work, and only a committed frontal attack on stealing in high places and making political office and governance an unattractive vocation can right the many wrongs in Nigeria.

That is the resolution that the Confab delegates should gloat of and not the creation of state police. The creation of state police is another joker in the hands of the do- ordie political class. No to state police….. Not for the prevailing times, at least. For once, maybe we could do the right thing?

54 PERSPECTIVES

P

Honour among thieves

rovided with numerous tools for attack in his arsenal, the strategist who seeks to dominate his environment for victory, could resort to odious tactics to gain an edge over his opponents. Let us bear in mind that there is no such thing as a level playing field anywhere. Every person or organization seeking to sell a product, person or service uses what he has to get what he wants. So if you have the ability to hound and pound your competition to win, why not do it? Rogue marketing engages ostensibly in the pull him down syndrome by sending a variety of messages to the buyer, some direct, others indirect. The objective is to make the competition look undesirable and unattractive by engaging in mudslinging that splatters the image and makes the opponent have a tainted aura.

We have seen this activity reccur in our commodity market and our politics in recent times. Some years ago a leading noodle product was speculated to be harmful to children to the extent that there were rumours of children dying from its consumption. Ex-Governor Murtala Nyako. Former governor of Adamawa state is probably wondering what hit him. He might be just one in a series of covert operations being unfolded to the opposition in what has now become a strategy to take control of states via impeachment. Remove the head and the body is useless. The approach is ingenious. If it works, before long, we would have state governors all around the country being loyal to the biggest spender. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his associates in the All Progressive Congress (APC) have been screaming bloody murder; but shouting from the rooftops will not give the voting public any sympathy for APC , neither will such alarms win elections. What supporters desire from the APC is a strong virile party which would be able to counter any move made by the ruling

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BUSINESS SENSE ALEX OGUNDADEGBE alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

The dangerous interpretation here is that a governor does not really have to commit “impeachable offences” before he gets the boot Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not a moping, whining conglomerate of propagandists posing as angels!

The parties would do anything to be called the winner. The overwhelming tactic is splattering the competition as much as possible; make it look bad for them so that you appear to be the best alternative. The PDP has taken the lead of recruiting anyone to win. It is a no holds barred situation. All kinds of people of questionable character are billed to take public office. I heard a panelist on a TV continental morning show quip that the PDP is simply using a Machiavellian strategy to win. The 16thcentury philosophy is summarized in one statement: “The end justifies the means”. The philosophy was prominent among dictators and autocrats in the courts of monarchs in Europe. I simply wonder how that fits

into our burgeoning democracy.

Money is the name of the political game in Nigeria. For many of the so called politicians, the involvement in politics is really for what they can get out of it, not for what they can contribute. The so called dividends of democracy are in the form of new cars, houses, fat bank accounts and all expense paid trips aboard. On one of these trips to South Africa in 2012 a group of politicians were looking for where to invest money. A friend who was a journalist in Pretoria recounted how they bragged of having substantial amounts of dollars in the keep. Meanwhile these “politicians” really did not have any visible means of livelihood. Their mere membership of the political party they belonged to guaranteed them such monies!

The main political parties PDP and APC are awash with cash and it is this money factor that is being brandished as a reward for those who take part in impeachment. Let us forget the charade of “impeachable offences” leveled against Nyako. Most of them were committed before he decamped or defected to the APC. The defection, it seems, was the last straw. The dangerous interpretation here is that a governor does not really have to commit “impeachable offences” before he gets the boot. Fall out with your House of Assembly and then

you are on your way out. This is probably why a lot of governors have found it strategic to over look basic needs of the electorate and spend hard earned taxes on assembly members who ensure their continuity and to some extent, there success in office. We therefore see other ugly wrinkles and warts emerge in our politics, a trend where the biggest spender gets the most support and the future of the country is truncated by selfish interests.

How does a state and indeed a country develop when its leaders spend half their time bickering over who should lead and how much they are getting to boot? It is from activity like this that larger society gets its inspiration (or infection). If we can safely sum up our politicians as a bunch of money seeking maniacs who are only interested in what they can grab, why should larger society be any nobler?

Hold on a minute! Even among thieves there is honour, or at least there should be. Can nobody subscribe to purer and nobler motives? Right now politicians are using cash and ethnicity to win people to their sides. Loyalty is being bought and the electorate is being subjected to an onslaught of ethnocentric verbal exasperations which can only fan the flames of annoyance and distrust. Our leaders seemed to have failed us once again. The Confab ended in a deadlock over derivation. This means that the only strands that hold us together as a nation are resources. While our politicians and confab participants bicker over derivation and who is better to lead the country. Our finances have been hit by a rejection of our oil by the United States, one of the nation’s major customers. Meanwhile Boko Haram appears s to be gaining more ground than ever. The bickering parties ought to be able to agree on our collective security.

Surely, there is honour, even among thieves.

My favourite Nigerians

fter living in Nigeria all of my 45 years, I have come to the conclusion that we are a rare breed.

We have really contributed our own fair share of cuckolds to the world. Megalomaniacs and geniuses who have left us all gasping for breath. As I had nothing to write this week, despite the turmoil all over the world, with the downing of the Malaysian plane over Ukraine, Israel pulverizing Gaza, Boko Haram’s continuous onslaught on us and Tuface releasing a new album, I have decided to honour my favourite Nigerians which is my much loved waste of time.

The first on my list is Oby Ezekwesili.

Jumping on this “missing girls” wahala to finally get relevance is to say the least disingenuous. When the girls are later found where will she go from there? All hands should be on deck to work with government in resolving this matter and not to cause major distractions. Tweeting her purported arrest is self-seeking joo.

She is not yet at that level where her antics will cause our great security apparatus sleepless nights. She should go and sit down, we will find our girls one day.

The next is the area father himself, Charly Boy. When he is not trying hard to confuse us about his sexual orientation, he is busy leveraging on the popularity of social media to continue his quest for relevance, his father’s recent death and subsequent burial gave him the much needed platform to hug the limelight.

I tire o. Grabbing microphone from his governor because he did not want his father’s burial to be politicized. This was the height of political ignorance; such highly

EDGAR’S WORLD JOSEPH EDGAR

josephsamsponedgar@gmail.com venerable occasions are used worldwide to address issues that are close to the heart of the bereaved. Justice Oputa was known for jurisprudence, social justice and equity, what other platform would we have used to further push these issues that have continued to be trampled on in our society. I just laugh at the balding maestro. A genius no doubt, but his inability to see past his nose this time puts him on my list of infamy.

Femi Femi-Kayode has been ignoring me forever. When he had the Biancagate scandal, I wrote an article defending Bianca’s honour. I waited for his response and did not get any. When he came out again, with his bizarre tale of how a PDP top shot’s wife tried to seduce him, I fired again but true to form - no reply. He has come out again with his position on the Malaysian plane shot down in Ukraine.

I tried to read the article but the leftist and pedestrian attempt at logic put me off. I folded the paper and used it to buy

When the girls are later found where will she go from there? All hands should be on deck to work roasted corn, making sure the corn was strategically placed on his picture. So as I bit into the corn, I was biting his eyes.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come spiralling down into almost obscurity. The power has gone o. Now he is a major liability. We are close to the ground. In Shomolu, it is being whispered in hush tones, that the Asiwaju has lost it. How and why this happened I cannot explain.

I once met an Ife high chief, who himself, was very worried at Asiwaju’s vise-like grip on Yorubaland. He need not worry

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

again, it’s over. Ekiti is gone, Osun is shaking, Edo is neither here nor there.

The boys are rebelling, the other person in Ekiti refused to heed his call and decamped. The younger generation within the APC are calling for generational change. Asiwaju should step back and throw Fashola up. This, to me, is the only way he can still hold on to power. He needs Fashola’s brilliance and goodwill at the centre while still holding the reins from behind. He is a voter’s nightmare, can’t win any election at the centre, too regionalized. He is still my man o. I still pass in front of his house everyday and stop to salute his gateman as my mark of continued loyalty.

President Jonathan, the comeback kid.

They said he was weak. Who is weak now? Adamawa is gone, Nasarawa is shaking, Edo is shaking, Amaechi is doing state tour to reassure himself he is still in charge. The economy is now the largest in Africa, more Nigerians have left poverty, employment is going up and the Chibok girls’ location have been found. Me I done cross-carpet o.

No more APC for me. Obasanjo is quiet, Tinubu humbled, Nyako in the dustbin, who remain? Don jazzy? I am truly seeing a second term.

These are exciting times. Abeg, Bros Jonathan, I am available for any assignment you deem fit to give your humble servant. You can establish an agency to rehabilitate our girls from Edo who went to Italy for economic diplomacy for me to lead. I will really rehabilitate the girls ensuring that they are gainfully employed as ushers at all PDP functions.

Dallas Mavericks sign Aminu

TRANSFERS

QPR move for Mathieu Valbuena

Queens Park Rangers have reportedly joined the race to sign Marseille attacking midfielder Mathieu Valbuena.

The 29-year-old impressed during this summer’s World Cup with France, and was subsequently linked with moves to Premier League sides Arsenal and Liverpool.

French Publication L’Equipe reports that QPR have matched Dynamo Moscow’s £5.5m bid for Valbuena, although the player’s agent quickly played down talk of the diminutive midfielder making a move to Russia.

Valbuena, who joined Marseille in 2006, made 39 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit last season.

N

Ifeanyi Ibeh

igerian basketball star, AlFarouq Aminu, has been snapped up by the Dallas Mavericks of the American National Basketball Association (NBA).

Aminu spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans but became a free agent at the end of the season.

The Mavericks swapped the 23-year-old Nigerian forward for veteran forward, Rashard Lewis, when the team developed second thoughts about Lewis’ health.

Aminu, a Wake Forest University product, is a defensive specialist and is noted for his athleticism.

Lewis, on the other hand, is an aging 16-year veteran of the NBA they were hoping would add some strength to their offense with his perimeter shooting. The Mavericks had just signed Lewis to a one-year deal on July 15, but had to void the contract after it was discovered during a physical that he required a knee surgery.

Aminu will feature on a 2014 Mavericks squad backed by franchise player Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and the newly acquired Chandler Parsons.

Arsenal ‘offer Mario Balotelli for £7.9m plus Joel Campbell’

Arsenal have been handed the chance to sign Mario Balotelli for a fee of £7.9m plus Costa Rica’s World Cup star Joel Campbell.

Balotelli’s current club AC Milan are keen to move him on this summer.

He fell out of favour last season but is one of the club’s top earners.

Now the Gunners have been given the opportunity to land the Italy international in a cut-price deal – as long as they are willing to part company with emerging star Campbell, claims Italian newspaper Tuttosport.

Didier Drogba ‘belongs’ at Chelsea, says Jose Mourinho

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helsea boss Jose Mourinho says Didier Drogba “belongs” at the club as he considers resigning the striker.

The Ivorian, 36, won 10 trophies at Chelsea from 20042012 and is available on a free transfer from Galatasaray.

Mourinho said the club were thinking about a deal, but that the decision would be made “in a non-emotional way”.

“If I bring him back, and the decision has to be made soon, it is because as a player he has qualities to make the team stronger,” he said.

Drogba, who joined Chelsea from Marseille for £24m in July 2004, won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 26 JULY 2014

Al-Farouq Aminu (left) during an NBA game

Welsh athlete fails drugs test in Glasgow

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elsh 400m hurdler Rhys Williams is out of the Commonwealth Games after failing a drugs test at the Glasgow Grand Prix on July 11.

The Team Wales athletics cocaptain says he is “devastated” and denies knowingly taking any banned substance.

The 30-year-old son of former Wales and Lions rugby player JJ Williams tested positive for both his A and B samples.

He has been banned from all League Cups and a Champions League competition by UK Anti-Dopduring his spell at ing pending a hearing.

Stamford Bridge.

He left the club in 2012 after scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

After a brief spell at Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, Drogba joined Galatasaray in January 2013 and scored five goals in 13 league games as the Turkish club won the title.

The following season, the striker netted 10 times in 32 games as Galatasaray reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League - where they lost to Chelsea - and finished as runners-up to Fenerbahce in the Funke Oshonaike Turkish league.

“As a professional athlete, I have always supported and have been an advocate of clean sport,” said Williams, a European champion in 2012.

A Team Wales statement added: “The athlete has the opportunity to respond to the charges against him, and to have those charges determined at a full hearing before the National Anti-Doping Panel.”

Matt Newman, chief executive of Welsh Athletics said: “The B-sample was tested yesterday and that came back to match the A-sample results this

morning.

“What will now happen is we shall have the opportunity to go in front of an anti-doping panel but that’s not likely to happen until the autumn.

“In the interim period it’s really now for Rhys to gather together as much information as possible to make a case for the defence.”

Williams is the second Welsh athlete to miss the Games over alleged drug violations after 800m runner Gareth Warburton’s suspension.

C’wealth Games: Easy wins for ping-pongers Charles Ogundiya

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igeria on Friday continued its impressive run in the table tennis event of the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland with emphatic wins in the men’s and women’s team events.

The women team led

by Funke Oshonaike whipped Barbados 3-0 while the male team without two key players; Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri; also walloped Kiribati 3-0 to move on in the competition.

In the women’s doubles, the duo of Funke Oshonaike and Ganiyat Ogundele defeated Barbados’ Anthonette Riley and Sherrice Felix 3-0 while in the singles Ganiat Ogundele won her game 3-0 against Krystle Harvey.

Kiribati was no match for Nigeria in the men’s event as the team without experience of Toriola and Quadri cruised to an easy win.

Jide Ogidiolu combined with Bode Abiodun to wallop Kiribati’s duo of Teitua Beia and Choy Freddy 3-0 in the doubles.

Aminu’s agent, Raymond Brothers, confirmed the agreement. It’s a twoyear contract for the veteran minimum of $2.1 million, with a player option on the second season.

Aminu has career averages of 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans.

His best year was with the Pelicans in 2012-13, when he averaged career highs of 7.3 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Aminu, who featured at the 2012 Olympic Games for Nigeria, is a former eighth-overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft.

Fed Cup: NFF moves Enyimba, Giwa match to Abeokuta

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he Nigeria Football Federation has moved next Thursday’s Men Federation Cup semifinal clash between holders Enyimba FC and fellow Professional Football League side, Giwa FC to the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

Although there was a desire to ensure both semifinal matches are played at the same venue for reason of close monitoring and the probability of Supersport Television broadcasting both games live, officials have now decided to move one of the matches to ensure equidistance for both competing sides.

Ruth David, Head of Federation Cup unit, said; “We have now moved the match between Enyimba FC and Giwa FC to Abeokuta. Abuja, the venue picked earlier, is much closer to Jos, home of Giwa FC than it is to Aba, the base of Enyimba FC.” However, four–time champions Dolphins FC and Prime FC will still play at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, also on Thursday. Both matches kick off at 4pm.

There was also a change in the women’s event, with the match between Sunshine Queens and Nasarawa Amazons now to take place in Lokoja, on Friday. Rivers Angels and Delta Queens retain their FIFA Goal Project, Abuja venue for the same day.

FIXTURES MEN 31/07/2014 Dolphins

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Prime

(4pm)

Enyimba

Vs

Giwa

(4pm)

WOMEN 01/08/2014 Sunshine Queens

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Nasarawa

(4pm)

Rivers Angels

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Delta Queens

(4pm)

STREET DIARY

SPORT

Our ordeal in the hands of hoodlums –Ijegun residents

Dallas Mavericks sign Nigeria’s Aminu

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

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

SATURDAY, july 26, 2014

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A letter to America: Nigerians invite Obama T

he Nigerian story is not altogether a hopeless one; nor is her image entirely negative. Nigeria’s standing and role in the world are important. We Nigerians are the first to acknowledge that we have for too long performed far below our potential. We readily concede that we have disappointed some of the great expectations that we held out for ourselves in the course of the last half-century. Nigerians agree that the room for improvement is immensely large. Of no nation on earth had the world expected so much and saw so little by way of national progress. But the stark reality of Nigeria’s existence and place in the world can neither be ignored nor erased.

One in six Africans is a Nigerian. Three out of every five doctors of philosophy in Africa are Nigerians. Nigerians abroad remitted about $21 billion of legitimately earned income through official channels back home in 2013 – nearly equal the total of all remittances to sub-Saharan Africa. In 2006, the United States Census Bureau’s Community Survey showed that Nigerians in America were the highest educated racial or ethnic group, with about 37% educated to at least a bachelor’s degree level, compared to 17% for the entire country surpassing all population groups, including Whites and Asians.

American classrooms, hospitals, courtrooms, silver screen/theatres, laboratories, the silicon valley, football fields and basketball courts would be less enriched without Nigerian students and professors, doctors and lawyers, actors and actresses, scientists and IT wunderkinds, footballers and basketball players. In the cultural and social spectra of America, the contributions of Nigerians glow like a quartz crystal.

The Pulitzer Prize for journalism, the Booker Prize for Literature, the Nobel Prize for Literature, Grammys, Emmys, Olympic gold medals and World Cup and continental football trophies have all graced the shelves of some truly accomplished Nigerian individuals and teams.

Knighthoods and Damehoods have been conferred upon some of our distinguished heroes and heroines.

Nigeria has historically played leading roles in peacefinding and peacekeeping across the African continent. Much of the peace that prevails across the West African sub-region has been won through the sacrifice of Nigerian blood and treasure.

Nigeria played a most remarkable role in the liberation struggles in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and, of course, in that crown jewel of All African Struggles – the struggle and triumph against racial injustice in South Africa.

You see, Nigeria’s ugliness sits in sharp juxtaposition with its beauty, very much like any other nation on earth. This, then, is the paradoxical Nigeria that excites our love, pride and patriotism, as well as our despair, outrage and pessimism - as we hope, pray and work for the scales to weigh

times – hot or cold war.

Mr President, Nigerians have been as emotionally invested in your extraordinary quest and ascent in the American political arena as any other black souls on earth.

You are the pilgrim that reached the mountaintop of our dreams. Is it possible? Is it doable? Is it reachable? You answered these questions with seemingly effortless grace and dignity that have forever altered the realities and presumptions of world history.

Your footsteps on the Nigerian soil will be a mighty inspiration to us all. It will also inspire our children to dream even bigger, believe even more deeply in themselves, and aspire with even greater determination to reach their own mountaintops.

You could speak the bitter truth to Nigerian leaders, offer words of encouragement where deserved and condemn where inevitable. Politics is what it is, and Nigerians have, unquestionably, been atrociously ruled for over 5 decades by marplots and brigands; led into dissipation and paralysis. But, we, Nigerians, are what we are – adamant optimists who want to reach for the heavens and touch the stars. To shun us is to signal pariah status for Nigeria and unavoidably invite upon us even deeper suspicion, hesitation or outright rejection from other important world leaders.

Both Nigerians and the world are united in their belief that your unwillingness to make a state visit to Nigeria is a clear repudiation of the Nigerian people. Surely, this cannot be your intention, Mr President?

Africans, Mr President, are great storytellers and the Mother Continent has offered up some fabulous tales ever since the days of Lucy the Hominid, some multiple millennia ago. You, sir, are one of the greatest stories ever told. We Nigerians are inspired, proud and in awe of your story – a marvellous story with a rich African flavour.

Come, Mr President, and show our children that this great story is beyond a fable and that Amazing Grace is more than just a gospel song.

BROADSIDE EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

Obama

far more in favour of the beauty and great promise of our beloved country.

We do not breed only Boko Haram (Western Education is forbidden). We have, living in our blessed land, 99.99% devotees of Boko Halal (Western Education is permissible). Wouldn’t a visit from you be

just such a magnificent show of solidarity in these our days of strife and distress?

A friend in need is a friend indeed goes a thousand miles.

Nigeria has been a steadfast, dependable and fiercely loyal friend of the United States of America, both in peace and war

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Nigerian Capital Cities-1

KEY WORDS

JALINGO OSOGBO LOKOJA DAMATURU IBADAN AKURE

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ABEOKUTA KANO MINNA KATSINA ADO EKITI DUTSE IKEJA UMUAHIA ILORIN YOLA KADUNA CALABAR

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8

3

4 7

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9 10

D A M A T R U M U H I

O D K A T S I N A K A

S L A D O E K I T A N

O R U M U A H I A E I

G N K J A L I N G O K

B I E D B T D U T S E

C R J A E L U T I R J

A O B G O S O R U K A

L L M T K U N K U L L

A I A N U D A K O S O

B G J D T E K L T J Y

A

D

U

R

A

B

A

L

A

C

L N

M I

11

12 14 16

N N A

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S I B A

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16 Alternating current (abbr.)

Ship’s galley 17 Yoruba women blouse Transgress against God’s law 18 Shout 7 Decay 22 Igbo king 8 Baby’s food 23 Stake 9 Animal garden 24 Igbo money 10 Military’s bugle signal 25 Japanese currency 11 A noble 26 Pertaining to numbers 12 Indicating two 1 5

15 17

DOWN 1

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D A

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ACROSS

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2nd brightest star

14 Place where alcoholic is sold

2 A country’s flag

15 Heap together in disorder

3 Percolate slowly

19 A paradise

4 Satisfying sexual desire

20 Business

5 Cease

21 Reddish-brown

6 Remaining after all deductions 13 Credit cards collectively

See solution on page 21

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