Binder1 july 27,2014

Sunday Edition

Sanctity of Truth Sunday, July 27, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 159

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I’ll get a hubby in six weeks

Again, Obiano floors Ngige, Nwoye, Obidigbo Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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nambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, yesterday floored the governorship candidates of the All Progressives

Congress, Dr. Chris Ngige; Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Nwoye; and Dr. Chike Obidigbo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance at the Court of Appeal, Enugu.

It was in respect of four separate appeals filed by Ngige, Nwoye and Obidig-

bo against the declaration of the Anambra State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that Obiano won the November 16 and 17, 2013 governorship election in the state on APGA’s platform.

The Court of Appeal, however, dismissed the four peti-

tions for lack of merit.

Judgment was delivered

by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, who was the chairman of the five-man panel that heard the appeals against the pronouncement of the tribunal. He declared that the appeal court would

consider the decisions taken by the panel without giving details of the grounds of appeal and the arguments canvassed by the counsel to the appellants and respondents alike.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Fantastic ways to rock blazers

Joint account has done havoc to families -Banke David

PDP wants to kill Buhari –Aregbesola lAPC trying to divert attention from UK probe –PDP lTiming of bomb attack suspicious, says Saraki Onyekachi Eze, Biodun Oyeleye and Adeolu Adeyemo

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he war of words over Wednesday’s bomb attack on ex-head of

state, Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, heightened yesterday, as Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, alleged that it was the outcome of a desperate attempt by the Peoples Democratic

Party to kill the All Progressives Congress chieftain.

APC governor had on Friday said President Goodluck Jonathan should be held responsible for the attack on Buhari.

Also along the same line, a former governor of Kwara State and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki, urged security agencies to investigate whether the dead-

ly attack was targeted at Buhari over his recent criticism of the presidency or if it was an happenstance.

Scores of people were feared dead after separate blasts

News

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Eid-el-Fitri: Jonathan, Mark, others admonish Muslims }2

Life 10 healing secrets most doctors won’t talk about }13

Osun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, acknowledging cheers from his supporters in Iwo during a house-to-house campaign...yesterday.

Igbo leader: No replacement for Ojukwu yet }39 –Okoye

Adefuye, Kalu laud Jonathan’s transformation agenda }3

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

Eid-el-Fitri: Jonathan, Mark, others admonish Muslims Anule Emmanuel, Chukwu David and Sola Adeyemo

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igerian Muslims have been advised to demonstrate the lessons learnt from the 30-day Ramadan fast.

Among those who gave the admonition in separate messages were President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President, David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode fayemi; a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-

Akala; and Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade.

The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, called on Muslims in the country and other Nigerians to take advantage of the teachings of Islamic in push-

ing for justice, equity, fairness and the love for one another as this year’s Eid-el-Fitri is celebrated.

He congratulated Nigerian Muslims for successfully undertaken the purifying Ramadan fast. He lamented the activities of extremists and terrorists in the country

National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh (left) and other members of the party in a jubilant mood, after the Court of Appeal, Enugu upheld Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano’s election...yesterday.

PDP wants to kill Buhari –Aregbesola CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

in Kaduna, which targeted an outspoken cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, and Buhari’s convoy.

The governor, who made the accusation in a press conference held in Osogbo, argued that PDP wanted Buhari eliminated at all cost because “he is a politician whose custody of power is being threatened by the PDP Government.”

He said, “PDP is being threatened by the personality of Buhari in politics and that is why they wanted to kill him. Let them sue me for what I have said. I am ready to bear the consequences.”

Speaking through the Director General of his campaign organisation, Senator Sola Adeyeye, the governor said that there was no way Buhari could have been targeted by Muslims or Christians for a bomb attack when he had not offended them.

He argued that if the bomb blast were the handiwork of Boko Haram, they would have claimed responsibility for the act.

“If everybody keeps quiet, this is the time for us to speak out regardless of where you come from, which political party you belong to. The explosion is not from Boko Haram and not from the Muslims and Christians but from the powers that be and the APC will do its best to resist this,” he warned.

The state governor while commenting on the spate of killings now rocking political circles, blamed PDP for the situation. He warned mem-

bers of the party to desist from perpetrating violence all in the name of wanting to win the forthcoming elections at all cost.

The APC Governorship candidate maintained that violence begets violence and if care is not taken and his members are being attacked frequently, they could be pushed to the wall and be forced to retaliate because nobody has the monopoly of thuggery.

“Let me tell you, if the thing goes out of hand, the security protecting them also could be victims of violence. That is why we are appealing to the security agencies and the powers that be to speedily take a bold step that will discourage violence in the society,” he stated.

Aregbesola also warned the national leadership of the party to caution members of its Osun State chapter on their alleged involvement in acts of violence at various political campaigns in the state.

He warned that if not checkmated, APC members may be forced to defend themselves.

The governor alleged that the PDP in the state had been attacking APC members at different campaigns and maintained that if the security agents refuse to act fast on this, ”we are ready to die in hundreds and we will do all we could to see that our members are not molested.”

In a statement he personally signed, Saraki said, “These bombings must once again be condemned by one and all, as evil doers have again demonstrated that they will leave no sacred stone unturned in their quest to disrupt the live-

lihoods of a peace-loving and God fearing nation like ours.

“In this regard, we must respond with the full force of our military, and utilise all social and political tools at our disposal to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime against humanity to justice.

“I join the Nigerian public in calling for an independent and thorough investigation into whether this attack against a respected statesman like General Buhari was an happenstance, or if it is connected to his recent statements that condemn the blatant impunity exhibited by this current administration.

“As we steer through these difficult times as a great nation of resilient hearts and minds, may Allah in his infinite mercies continue to grant us peace, and keep us all safe.”

However, PDP fired back in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in Abuja, saying that security agencies must investigate whether alleged internal crisis within the APC had anything to do with the bomb attack on Buhari.

It noted that now that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the assassination attempt, security agencies should also ascertain whether the attack was a set up by the APC to divert attention from the international probe into its possible link with Boko Haram.

It expressed shock and disappointment at the “hasty attempts” by APC leaders to indict the Presidency and PDP while exonerating themselves from the attack.

“Nigerians now ... ask, was

the attack a setup aimed at scoring some political points?

If indeed it was an assassination attempt, was it engineered by internal frictions and crisis of ambition within the APC? Has it to do with some other presidential aspirants in the APC seeing General Buhari as a threat and an obstacle to their ambitions?

“Or could it be APC’s desperate strategy of trying to disentangle itself from the internationally acknowledged link with terrorists and possibly undermine the planned probe of their involvement by the United Kingdom?

“These questions have become completely pertinent considering the fact that General Buhari poses no threat whatsoever to any candidate that the PDP might project.

He lost three times to our great party in presidential elections and will lose the fourth time if he emerges the candidate of the APC. Our advice to APC is that they might as well consider looking inwards if they believe it was an assassination attempt,” the PDP said.

It described as unfortunate the statement credited to APC governors on the Kaduna bomb blast, which it described as failed image laundering and an attempt to exonerate the party of spate of insurgency in Nigeria.

“Nigerians will recall that when the news of the attack broke out, the PDP took the high moral ground of condemning the development and sympathised with General Muhammadu Buhari while at the same time calling for a thorough investigation to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.”

during the period.

“As we celebrate Eid-el-Fitri, it is my hope and prayer that Ramadan’s spiritual lessons and the Holy Prophet’s teachings of piety, love, justice, fairness, equity, peaceful coexistence with others, tolerance, honesty and dedication to duty will remain with us all for the benefit and greater glory of our dear nation.

“May the lessons and blessings of the Holy Month also permeate into us all, and positively influence our attitudes towards our fellow countrymen and women, irrespective of their religion or places of origin; and promote greater commitment to the peace, unity and stability of the nation.

“Although the observance of the Holy Month was sadly tainted in parts of the country with the continuing atrocities of extremists and terrorists in our midst, I urge all patriotic Nigerians to remain strong and resolute in defence of freedom, unity, law and order, peace, security and progress of the nation,” he stated.

In his message, Mark congratulated Muslims for the successful completion of the fasting and prayers, which he said the nation desires most at this trying period.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, he said, “The prevailing situation does not call for a blame game but collective action of all citizens against the terrorists. We should have confidence in our security operatives and encourage them to do more.

“The unfolding scenario clearly indicates that the terrorists have declared an open war on every body and there seems to be no safe haven any more. This is a challenge we must unite to tackle. One way out of this quagmire is to have a common approach against terrorists irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliation. What is paramount now is our collective survival as a people and nation. This is our fatherland. We have a collective responsibility to protect our common destiny.”

Mark also lamented that the over 200 Chibok secondary school girls abducted by Boko Haram more than three months ago were still being held in captivity and gave the assurance that they would soon be freed.

Tambuwal, in a Sallah message by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, urged Muslims in the country to use the period of the Eid-elFitr to reflect on their spiritual lives as individuals and how they can contribute more meaningfully towards the unity, stability and progress of Nigeria.

He also urged Nigerians to be conscious of their health by strictly adhering to instructions issued by medical practitioners, saying the outbreak of the Ebola virus in neighbouring countries is a source for concern.

He said that despite the serious security challenges confronting the nation, the determination of Nigerians to see their country return to peace had never been in doubt. He called on leaders at all levels to close ranks and work for the unity and progress of the nation.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, the Ekiti State governor felicitated with Muslim faithful in the country and all over the world and noted that the 30-day spiritual exercise had drawn the faithful closer to Allah.

He urged them to keep on practising the lessons learnt from the holy month in their relationship with God and fellow human beings.

Lamenting the recent killings of scores of Nigerians in terror attacks in Kaduna and Kano, Fayemi said the prayer of the faithful is needed more than ever for God’s guidance for Nigeria’s leaders to have the right approach towards ending the activities of the insurgents.

He condemned the attack on a former head of State and leader of the All Progressives Congress, Maj-Gen. General Mohammadu Buhari, noting that had the terrorists succeeded in killing the former presidential candidate, the incident would have precipitated a chain of reactions.

Alao-Akala and Ajagungbade urged Muslims to continue in the pursuance of peace for national development.

Alao-Akala urged Muslims nationwide not to return to their sins, having pleaded for forgiveness in the last 30 days through fasting and prayers.

“Our Muslim brothers all over the world have in the last 30 days dedicated themselves to God seeking forgiveness of their sins through fasting and prayer.

“It is my utmost belief that you all will not desist from the good spirit and deeds displayed during the month of Ramadan,” he said.

The former governor said that he believed that the nation was also considered in their prayers, more so at this period that the nation is bedeviled by insecurity.

In his message, the Soun described the Ramadan fast as an important occasion, saying it was a period of sober reflection, humility and atonement of sins.

The monarch urged Nigerians to reconcile with themselves to end the spate of abductions, killings, violence and other social vices ravaging the land.

“Having come a long way, we should use Eid-el-fitri to pursue peace to engender growth and development “Let us support, cooperate and pray for our leaders so that Almighty God will guide them in governing the nation with His fear,” he said, while wishing Nigerians happy celebrations and God’s protection.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

News

Adefuye, Kalu laud Jonathan’s transformation agenda

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igeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ade Adefuye; and a former two-term Governor of Abia State and Chairman of SLOK Holdings, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, on Friday commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, de-

scribing it as ‘foundational’ and ‘tangible’.

They spoke while undertaking an extensive press and policy tour ahead of the U.S.-Africa Political and Business summits in Washington D.C. at a meeting hosted and convened with Adefuye and corporate and policy leaders at Kalu’s

APC accuses INEC of hoarding permanent voter cards Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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ll Progressives Congress in Osun State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state of hoarding Permanent Voters Cards in Ilesa, the hometown of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in order to oust APC from the seat of power in the August 9th, governorship election in the state.

Director General of Aregbesola Re-election Campaign, Prof. Sola Adeyeye, who made the accusation at a press conference in Osogbo, argued that shortage of PVCs was intentionally being done by the commission to make Aregbesola lose his ward and local government in the coming election.

He, however, vowed that APC members would resist INEC’s alleged attempt to perpetrate fraud in the forthcoming election in the state.

Adeyeye advised INEC should shift the election date if it does not have enough materials to conduct the poll on August 9.

“Let them postpone the election, if they are not ready for it because all the electoral materials that could lead to the conduct of credible election in the state should be adequately provided,” he stated.

Commenting on the death of one person in Friday’s bloody clash between PDP and APC supporters in Ilesa, Adeyeye said the victim was a die-hard supporter of Aregbesola who christened his child few days ago.

He, however, accused the PDP of killing the APC supporter and called on security agents to caution the opposition party or risk the wrath of the masses.

In his reaction, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, debunked Adeyeye’s claim, saying there was no way INEC could deliberately hoard PVCs. He expressed disappointment at the outburst and maintained that all necessary arrangements were being put in place by the commission to ensure the conduct of a credible governorship election.

He gave the assurance that there would be no electoral flaws at the end of the exercise as all electoral process

would be followed by the commission.

In a statement by the state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, the party charged the police to hold the APC responsible for any act of violence in the state before, during and after the August 9 election.

He said the APC was bent on tormenting trouble, adding that its threats should not be taken lightly. He also urged the Federal Government and security agencies to give adequate protection to the people.

The party’s Director of Publicity in the state, Prince Diran Odeyemi, in a separate statement, accused a newspaper (not New Telegraph) of twisting the facts of the clash.

Giving the party’s account, Odeyemi said, “The campaign train of Peoples Democratic Party came under attack at its Ilesa rally shortly after its gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming August 9 election in Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and other PDP party leaders paid a courtesy visit to Owa Adimula of Ijesaland, HRM Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, in his palace.

“The DSS officers attached to Senator Omisore were injured in the attack. Also, the vehicle conveying the party chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, was badly smashed though both Omisore and other party chiefs escaped unhurt.

“The attack was allegedly led by the ‘State Boys’, a group of political thugs working for the All Progressives Congress. It was actually the APC supporters that instigated the violence.

Since the commencement of our rallies, we have not recorded any violence or breach of the peace. You will recall that Aregbesola had said at different campaign fora that Osun would march on blood if he fails to win the August 9 governorship poll.

“Out of desperation to win at all costs, Aregbesola had on four occasions called on voters to go to polling booths with charms and weapons and that they should also confront soldiers in defending their votes. So, what happened in Ilesa on Friday may be a signpost of their planned violence before, during and after August 9, 2014.”

residence in Potomac, Maryland, USA. In what was deemed a highly fruitful and collaborative gathering, Nigeria’s trajectory and indeed the reputational challenges hindering it, coupled with Jonathan’s ‘foundational’ Transformation Agenda’ were discussed at length.

Adefuye reaffirmed his commitment to assuring American audiences that Nigeria remains “Africa’s leading investment destination.”

As previously documented at an African Policy Breakfast Summit held by the United States Congress, the ambassador reiterated that “there were no references to the U.S. as a failed state or pariah state when Osama Bin-Laden attacked

the twin towers or when the nation was battling Iran over the detention of American citizens under Ronald Reagan.”

He added, “Nigeria is battling insurgency, yes.

However, our nation, besmirched today from a reputational standpoint, remains undeterred in its track towards great prosperity on the world stage, in its deservedly lead role.”

Shifting gears in the extensive conversation, Kalu noted that more simply must be done to refresh western audiences to the opportunities abundant in ever-liberalising Nigeria.

“Our nation is as open to malleability and evolution as any geopolitical actor. The onus is on the U.S.

government to incentivise or promote a robust depiction of business prospects in West Africa, as opposed to inundating intrepid investors with the sensationalistic, tragic undertakings of a misguided militant cabal.

“In light of an economy newly-rebased, an influx of integration from the BRIC community and an infrastructural renaissance, in part achieved through the labours of the ‘Transformative Agenda’, we must envision the U.S.-Africa Summit as a dynamic opportunity for Nigeria to realign the bilateral relationship and encourage free enterprise,” the former governor stated.

Kalu called on President Jonathan to host a meeting in Abuja with what he

referred to as the ‘N9’, comprising the BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and the MINT bloc of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey.

Kalu called for an amalgamation between the esteemed blocs.

“These nine countries should convene after the U.S.-Africa Summit as these nations hold the potential to dramatically re-shape our contemporary global economy,” he added.

Kalu closed in remarking that “…the world is changing; yet American foreign policy with regard to Africa has not. I call on President Obama to lead a business delegation to Nigeria and see first-hand the new opportunities that abound.”

President of Nigeria Computer Society, Prof. David O. Adewunmi (middle), with the former President, Mr. Damola Aladekomo (right), during the presentation of Special Recognition Award to ex-Anambra governor, Mr. Peter Obi (left), as part of activities marking the 25th National Conference in Enugu...yesterday.

Again, Obiano floors Ngige, Nwoye, Obidigbo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The court also awarded N50,000 cost against the appellant in each case.

While Ngige and Nwoye were seeking a declaration voiding Obiano’s election, Obidigbo claimed in his petition at the lower tribunal that he was actually the candidate of the party for the election.

Reading the first judgment on appeal number one filed by Ngige, Justice Garba stated that the four appeals were heard on July 17 and went on to pronounce that the 11 grounds upon which the appellant canvassed his case were resolved in favour of Obiano, the Independent National Electoral Commission and APGA. He therefore declared that Ngige’s appeal lacked merit and stood dismissed, adding, ”The decision of the lower tribunal in its judgment delivered on June 4, 2014 on this matter is hereby upheld.”

The other four members of

the panel concurred with the decision.

On Nwoye’s petition, which he used 13 grounds to canvass at the appeal court, Justice Ejembi Eko, who read the lead judgment, said only ground three was resolved in favour of the petitioner. He dismissed the petition for lack of merit and also awarded N50,000 cost in favour of the respondent. Again, the other judges agreed with the judgment.

While delivering judgment in the PDP’s appeal against the judgment of the lower tribunal, Justice I.O. Akeju explained that out of the four issues canvassed by the party at appeal, two were resolved in its favour. The court said the remaining two points decided in favour of Obiano and others were the crux of the matter and therefore the appeal was also dismissed with cost and the three other panelists concurred.

On Obidigbo’s case at the appeal court, Justice Tijjani Abubakar, who read the lead judgment, stated

that only three issues out of those canvassed by the APGA chieftain survived the preliminary objection stage. He declared that even those issues were resolved in favour of the respondent and dismissed the appeal.

National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who was in court along with

a crowd of party faithful, said, “We had always known from the way we won the election that these appeals were headed to nowhere.

“The judgments today have made it clear that these appellants were merely making a noise and we thank God for what happened today at the Court of Appeal.”

Computer society lauds Obi

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he Nigeria Computer Society, made up of many affiliate computer organisations, has singled a former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, as the man to be emulated by Nigerian leaders if they are serious in making Nigeria ICT-compliant.

They made this known through their President, Prof. David O. Adewunmi, during their 25th Annual Conference which concluded yesterday at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu with a Special Recognition Award to Obi for what they termed his “massive and revolutionary deployment of ICT in Anam-

bra State.”

While regretting the lacklustre attitude of some people towards ICT, Adewunmi described it as the future of the world, which must be embraced by all countries or organisations desirous of competing with the rest of the world. He said this can be achieved by equipping the people with the knowledge and competence to function in the digital era.

Adewunmi, who recalled that Obi rejected the award when he was the governor, saying he preferred honours after he had served his term, enumerated the reasons that made him qualify for it.

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Moments

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole (left) and Chief Imam of Benin/ Chairman, League of Imams, Mallam Abdul-Fattah Enabulele, during a courtesy visit by the League of Imams to the governor in Benin…on Friday

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle), acknowledging cheers from women party members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state after observing the IFTAR (breaking of fast) with them at Government House, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta.

L-R: Former Vice Chairman, Rivers East Senatorial District of the defunct Action Congress (AC), Chief lmam Eberi; former Rivers State Acting Chairman of the defunct Action Congress, Elder G.P.I Tuboinemi and PDP governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, during a reconciliation meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently

L-R: Chaplain, St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy Apo, Abuja, Rev. Fr. Innocent Jooji; President, Ladies of St. Mulumba, Chief Pat Nwachukwu; Emeritus Abuja Sub council, Moses Braimah; and Supreme Knight, Chief Anthony Onuh, at the Seventh Annual Memorial Lecture of the Founder, Rev.Fr. Anselm Ojefua, in Abuja…yuesterday

JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

L-R: Leader, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, Col. Favor Timileyin (rtd); Women Leader, Shomolu, Alhaja Idowu Akinsanya; Party Leader, Chief Mukaila Sanni and Governorship Aspirant, Lagos State, Mr. Adedeji Doherty, during a Ramadan Prayer with the members of Lagos branch of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP in Lagos…yesterday

L-R: Director, Agro and Agro Allied Department Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Dr. Moyo Jolaoso; Director General/ CEO, RMRDC, Dr. Hussaini Ibrahim; and Board Chairman, Beijing Sanglianh Technica Development Centre, China, Mr. Lu Wei, at the Stakeholders Meeting on Technical Cooperation between Nigeria and Chinese in Abuja...on Thursday

L-R: Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Etete Peters; Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Lady Valerie Ebe; Health Director, Imabridge Africa, Christine Charington; PDP National Vice Chairman, South East, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) and Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Steve Oru, at the Inauguration of Community Health Centre, donated by Imabridge Africa to Owot Uta, Ibesikpo LGA, Akwa Ibom…yesterday

Miss Adebanke Kuyinu; Head, Business Support Group, Globacom, Mr. Yomi Ogunbamowo; Head of VAS, Globacom, Nagasai Viswanath; Head of Data, Globacom, Mr. Segun Adeyemo; and Miss Ijeoma Ngodo at the launch of a special tariff tagged Glo Ringa which offers all prepaid customers 11k per second on Glo-to-Glo calls in Lagos…on Tuesday

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

L-R: Managing Editor, Human Resources Guide Magazine, Mr. Napoleon Omomila; Managing Director, Crown Agent Nigeria, Dr. Mark Abani; and Director General, Research Institute for African Development, Prof. Simeon Nnah, during the 2014 Annual Summit entitled: The Challenges, Opportunities and Implications of Social Media to Employee Engagement, Productivity Learning and Development in Lagos… on Friday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu State Council, Mr. Louis Dilibe; Zonal Secretary, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), South-East, Ms Ozioma Okereke and Chairperson, Abia State Chapter, Ms Beatrice Odoemena, at Enugu State NAWOJ Elections …on Friday

L-R: Managing Director, Rave TV, Mrs. Agatha Amata; Channel Manager, Mr. Victor Idiong; and Head, Technicals, Mr. Benedict Alli, during a media parley on the forth-coming launch of her state-of-the –art Rave TV studio in Lagos…on Thursday. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Rivers Command, Mr. Mike Longe; Mr. Vincent Ekoko and Controller of Prisons, Rivers Command, Mr. Patrick Ondoma, during the decoration of newly promoted Officers in Port Harcourt …on Friday

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Moments

L-R: Ex-Super Eagles Goalie/ARS Technical Adviser, Peter Rufai; Regional Operations Director, Airtel, Lagos, Femi Oshinlaja; Olympic Gold Medalist/ARS Technical Adviser, Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah; and Vice President, Brand/Marketing, Airtel, ObinnaAniche, at the Match Fixtures Draw for ARS 4 National Finals in Lagos …on Friday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Eagle and Gold International, Mr Edwin Okafor; Deputy Director, Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), Mr Bona Kusuma and Director, ITPC, Mr. Pontas Tobing, at the news conference on the forth coming Indonesian trad expo, in Lagos

L-R: Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips; Head Judge, Lagos State Judiciary, Justice Funmilayo Atilade and Justice Opeyemi Oke, during the inauguration ceremony for the in-coming members of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMCD) Governing Council and Valedictory cocktail in honour of the out-going Chief Judge of Lagos State, at the LMCD, High Court of Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Stephens Adebayo; Vice Chairperson, Membership Services Committee, Mrs. Ethel Agbeyegbe; President of NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele; and Chairman, Board of Fellows, Mr. Tamuno-koko, at the induction ceremony for 101 new members of NIPR, held in Lagos

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

Ngige advocates special grants for states ravaged by Boko Haram Tony Okafor

F AWKA

ormer Governor of Anambra State and Senator representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, Dr Chris Ngige, has advised the federal government to set up special grants for the three states ravaged by Boko-Haram.

Ngige spoke in Awka, Anambra State capital, during the inauguration of the new state executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by one Barr Emeka Ibe, said the fund will assist in revamping the development of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

He said that with the attack on the former Head of the State, Gen Mohammadu Buhari, it had become clear

that Buhari was maligned as having connection with the insurgents unnecessarily by the powers that be.

He asked Ndigbo to stop deceiving themselves by thinking that they could all belong to one political party as being canvassed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), adding that members of the party were blind.

He said that opposition politics was an essential ingredient in any political system, describing APGA style of politics as trader’s politics, adding “we cannot have all our eggs in one basket. We are going to have an APC government in this state and that is what we have seen the APGA people have not seen because they are blind”.

“Your party, the APC is suffering persecution in the hands of people who have

derailed, but we do not mind because those people have failed to give the people what they want. Unemployment is now an affliction and a cankerworm in the country, we are inaugurating you today to be the disciple and apostles of (APC) not only in this state but beyond”.

“We are doing a pyramid from the top to the bottom because we are desirous to hunt for votes, we are not desirous to rig election or to bring Army and Police to come and disperse voters” Ngige said.

Others who spokes in the same vein included the Na-

tional Auditor of APC, Chief George Muoghalu, the deputy National women leader Chief Mrs. Tina Adike, the National Vice Chairman of the party in the south east, Emma Enukwu among others.

The new state chairman of the party, Emeka Ibe, on

behalf of the new executive, said the moment to bridge the gaps that divide everybody was now. He said that the state must be liberated, while assuring that they would not disappoint APC in any way with people like Ngige, Muoghalu and others around them.

Alaafin leaves for cultural festival in Brazil Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

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laafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, 111, is leading some eminent traditional rulers and personalities that will participate in a cultural seminar holding in Brazil between 28th July and 1st August this year.

Oba Adeyemi, accompanied by an entourage of 30 persons drawn from among his traditional cabinet and other eminent personalities, on Friday, left the country to deliver papers at the event which is the 1st Brazil-Nigeria International Seminar for Preservation of Shared Cultural Heritage.

Intimating the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi about the trip through a letter dated 23rd July, 2013; Oba Adeyemi disclosed that the programme is being held

in the State of Bahia in Brazil in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.

“The seminar is intended to promote the common cultural and historical legacies and the discussion of strategies for asset protection. It will also show the importance of the Oyo Yoruba traditions which have evolved in Brazil as a result of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade”, the letter read inter alia.

The monarch recalled that Sango, the third Alaafin of Oyo alongside his predecessors remain sacred deities in Oyo Yoruba tradition and history in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, most especially, Brazil.

According to the letter, the four-day events will include meeting with government authorities, visitation to ancient places, cultural presentation, papers’ presentation and document approval among others.

Group sensitises women against malaria

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n continuation of its annual “War against Malaria,” the Islamic Counseling Initiatives of Nigeria (ICIN), a Jos-based community Non Governmental Organisation, has embarked on community campaign with this year’s theme tagged “Keep the Environment Clean.”

Presenting a sensitisation lecture at the event a community health expert Dr. Amina Muhammad of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), said the scourge of malaria is so alarming, such that it is vital to sensitise all persons on it.

Dr. Muhammad said the disease has affected half of the world population, with percent of it in Africa, adding that currently, four countries of the world, Nigeria inclusive, are on the lead with 50 percent records of the deadly disease.

Flagging off the programme which was held at Anguwan Rogo community, ICIN President/ coordinator Hajiya Fatima Suleiman, said the organisation in conjunction with NASCO Group of Companies, chose the community due to its vast population.

L-R: Senator Mudasiru Hussain; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam, during a prayer session for Governor Aregbesola’s re-election on his visit to Ife-Odan town…on Friday

Benue Deputy Gov seeks end to Fulani/Tiv crisis Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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enue State Deputy, Chief Steven Lawani has called for end to frequent hostilities, senseless killings and wanton destruction of properties prevalent among neighboring communities in the country.

Lawani stated this while presenting relief materials to scores of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the recent Tiv/Fulani and Jukun crises in Jato -Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of the state.

Lawani assured the displaced persons that adequate security measures have been put in place by security agencies to ensure safety of lives and property in the affected communities to facilitate their return to their abode to live normal lives.

He said he was personally touched by the plight of the victims of the conflicts, adding that the relief materials were his modest contributions aimed at bringing suc-

cour to people in the affected communities.

He charged the people especially the youths to eschew acts that will endanger peace and inflame hostilities in the area.

Items donated included bags of rice, beans corn,

Indomie noodles, seasonings and household items like mattresses, blankets, buckets, sleeping mats, detergents and a host of others.

Receiving the Items on behalf of victims, the Priest of St. Michael Parish Jato Aka, Rev. Fr. Vincent Akputu applaud-

ed the kind gesture of Lawani and described it as a practical demonstration of love for humanity, adding that it was a clear indication of good leadership and statesmanship to the people, and urged well meaning individuals in the society to emulate the gesture.

Moro, Ortom hail Suswam’s wife over poverty eradication initiatives Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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he Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro has commended the wife of Benue State Governor, Mrs. Dooshima Suswam for her contribution to poverty eradication through the provision of employment opportunities for the downtrodden in the state.

Similarly, his counterpart Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom has also poured encomiums on the governor’s wife for cueing

into the programme of the federal government to tackle the growing wave of unemployment in the country.

Moro who spoke in Makurdi, weekend during the passing out of over 177 graduands of Sev-Av Foundation, Mrs. Suswam’s arts and craft skills acquisition non-governmental organisation, said, the governor’s wife has brought fulfillment to several lives in the face of large unemployment in the country.

The minister who urged the graduands to appreciate the Mrs. Suswam’s ges-

ture, which he said, is more enduring, described it as unprecedented empowerment in the state, and appealed to both the state and Federal Government governments to encourage her efforts.

In his remarks, Ortom who also expressed delight at the initiatives noted that the gesture will further encourage the graduands to become self reliant. He urged them to approach their work with confidence, stressing that from small beginning; they could grow to become industrialists.

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Ebola: Cremation of body safest burial method – Expert Appolonia Adeyemi and Muritala Ayinla

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s both the Federal Government and Lagos State Government sort out issues of burial for the late Liberian who died from Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos on Friday with the Liberian Embassy, a medical expert, Bayo Onajole, has said the cremation of the victim’s body would be the most appropriate mode of burial to prevent the spread of the virus.

Onajole, a public health physician with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)/College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi Araba, told New Telegraph on Sunday that cremating the body at a temperature of between 3,000 and 5,000 degrees centigrade would be the most appropriate as “the body of the Ebola victim would burn to ashes.

He added that the ash itself would be sterile and cannot spread infections.

According to Onajole, who is a former chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians, Lagos State branch, sterile burial is what should be conducted for anyone that dies from EVD. In conducting such a burial, he said certain chemicals will be used to ensure that any of the Ebola virus within the body is completely destroyed. Hence, he reasoned that the possibility of Ebola virus spreading in the environment is nil.

According to him, the same chemicals will also ensure that the body and the environment for the burial are totally disinfected.

In addition, he said officials carrying out the burial “must be properly gowned,” a condition which the Director of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Prof.

Abdulsalam Nasidi, said Nigeria was fully prepared for the virus.

Nasidi told New Telegraph on Sunday that materials required including chemicals and gowns (kits) that would be worn by officials conducting the burial have been acquired.Highlighting the impact a conventional burial for an EVD victim could have, Onajole said if the traditional burial is conducted, “the body of a victim of an EVD could infect surface water, deep soil water as well as spread infection in the environment.”

In a telephone interview, Mr. Tubosun Ogunbanwo, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, declined comment on the burial of the late Liberian victim of Ebola, saying there is no need to create unnecessary panic among members of the public.“What is important for the public to know now is to maintain personal and environmental hygiene,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has confirmed on Friday that it would conduct a ‘controlled’ burial for the corpse of the Liberian victim of the EVD to avert the spread Ebola.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who stated this, said after properly and safely disposing the body of the victim, the state government would also sanitise the environment of the facility where the victim died.

He added that it would also embark on contact trac-

Group passes vote of confidence in Jonathan, Orji

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socio-cultural organisation, Abia South Peoples Assembly (ASPA) has pledged its continued loyalty and support to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State.

The group said in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Aba that Governor Orji deserved the vote of confidence because of “his unparallel commitment to equity which has successfully laid the foundation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to formally and legitimately zone the next seat of governor of the state in 2015 to Abia South,” In the seven-point communiqué, ASPA also commended the “leadership of

the PDP in the state for its wisdom and magnanimity in zoning the governorship seat to Abia South in 2015, adding that they will join their Abia Central kinsmen to urge the governor to run for Abia Central senatorial seat in 2015.

The communiqué, signed by its Coordinator, Don Ubani, deputy Coordinator, Chinwe Nwanganga and Secretary, Uwaoma Olewengwa, the group further reaffirmed its absolute confidence and support to the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan in the running of the country.

ASPA assured the leadership of PDP and Abia people in general that whoever emerges as the party’s gubernatorial candidate from Abia South shall be acceptable to all.

ing of all the possible contacts the man might have had on the airplane.

Idris said the government would get the manifest of the passengers of the flight and subject those who had possible close contact with the man to monitoring in order to know if anyone of them develops EVD symptoms.

Idris said, “The man died overnight and ever since then, we have been trying our best possible to contain the spread of the diseases.

We need to sanitise. We need to treat and dispose the body properly. Those are the things we are working on right now. There other process and procedure we

need to follow. Which we are processing right now and we are doing it in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health staff.

“First and foremost, his body needs to be properly disposed, there are issues involving diplomatic relations. We need to get consent from the Liberia government, which the Federal Ministry for Health is doing right now.

But we have to deal with the body and how to sanitise and ensure that the virus is killed and prevented from spreading. These are the issues we handling right now. That is the latest we can give you now.”

News

Flood ravages farmland in Jos Buhari Bello JOS

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heavy rainfall that lasted for over six hours has ravaged Jos East Local Government Area destroying over 100 farmlands also washed away parts of Fobur, Angware and Rinji Angware roads presently under construction.

While the downpour that washed away most of the farmlands, it also increased water level at streams and rivers, even as it destroying crops like maize, vegetable and other cash crops worth thousands of naira.

The Chairman of the Local Government Council, Brig. Gen. Samuel Atu Abok (retd), who carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the damage in the areas affected, expressed shock and deep concern over the incident, and lamented the dilemma

the farmers affected are facing more so that the disaster occurred in the midst of the rainy season when farming activities are at their peak.

The chairman appealed to the National and State Emergency Agencies to come to the aid of the farmers, he equally urged the construction firm handling the FoburAngware Road to provide box culverts, drainages and to protect arms of the road to prevent residents of the local government from being cut off from the township as a result of the heavy downpour being experienced in the area.

He also advised farmers in the local government area to avoid farming close to rivers and major streams to forestall future occurrences and promised that his council will look into the situation with the aim of providing succour to the affected farmers.

L-R: Head, Customer Feedback and Collaboration, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs. Nwaonna Olujie; Chairman, Global Appliance Limited, Chief Alex Akinyele and Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Gurunooria G. Sridhar, at the Binatone Raffle Draw entitled “Score Amazing Goals” in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Constituents want lawmaker recalled Charles Onyekwere

O ABAKALIKI

ver 300 aggrieved communities of Ikwo-North constituency of Ebonyi State yesterday stormed Abakaliki the state capital, demanding the immediate recall of member representing them at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Nwali.

The delegation also passed a vote of no confidence on him, adding that all necessary arrangements have been concluded to ensure he does not represent the good people of IkwoNorth at the hallowed chamber any longer.

This recall followed the July 21, 2014 purported impeachment of the speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the leader of the

team, Apostle Emma Mbam who spoke, expressed dismay over the shameful involvement of their son, who is the Majority Leader of the House and Chairman, rules and business before the saga took place.

Mbam stated that necessary documents have been perfected and processed for the submission to the state independent National Elec-

toral commission INEC for action.

He added that there was no going back on the processes, adding that Hon. Nwali did not consult anybody before embarking on the impeachment of the speaker.

Mbam said: “The disgraced meted on Governor Martin Elechi is unacceptable, because he

(Nwazunku) knew that the governor hails from Ikwo North Local Government Area and who he represents in the House of Assembly. He would have consulted him before involving himself in the impeachment.

He was silent until we heard about it and found out he was involved,” he said.

20 pupils bag awards at school graduation Esther Odili

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ver 20 pupils of River of Life Royal Schools located Wasimi on LagosIbadan Expressway got various awards yesterday at the of the graduation and matriculation ceremony of the school.

Master Oyekola Eden bagged the awards for Overall Best Student and Best Science Student, to receive the

Dr. (Rev) John C. Ogu trophy in honour of the founder of the school, while Inem Elizabeth got the award for Best Arts pupil.

Two pupils of the school, Daniel Okafor and Eshemokai Okeshesimi received the recognition awards for their superlative performances in BECE examinations for 20112012 and 2012-2013 respectively.

Speaking during the event,

the school principal, Mr. Akobundu Matthew said, the school will protect jealously the philosophy, legacy and vision of the founder, Rev. Ogu, who died last year, to make the school one of the best in the country.

He called on parents and well-wishers of the school to support it morally and materially, since the school charges one the lowest fees in the country.

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News

Akpabio : I didn’t threaten to kill anybody Tony Anichebe

G UYO

overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has flayed reports in the media insinuating that he threatened to kill some governorship aspirants in the state, describing them as another smear campaign by his traducers.

Reacting to the reports through his Chief Press Secretary, Pastor Anietie Ukpe, and Akpabio expressed shock at comments made by the Nigeria Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam (SAN), in a letter to the Secretary to Government, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and published in newspapers and on the internet.

Governor Akpabio noted

…tasks indigenes on development that as a Christian, Assam should be conversant with the story of Absalom, the rebellious son of King David, adding that he simply used the illustration to caution his political sons with a rebellious spirit, not to seek the destruction of their father in order to achieve their ambition like Absalom tried to.

Akpabio regretted that, Assam would resort to a deliberate misrepresentation of his comments during the ground breaking ceremony for the permanent Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), and noted that, he did so out of mischief and to shed crocodile tears and

curry public sympathy.

While reiterating his commitment to a peaceful transition, Akpabio expressed confidence that God will answer the collective prayers of the people of Akwa Ibom State for His will to be done again in 2015.

He subsequently advised politicians to engage in constructive ideas, “which is what will build the society and desist from destructive pronouncements meant to incite people, create disaffection and fan the embers of disunity”. He expressed concern that politicians rather strive to curry favour and advance selfish and narrow political objectives.

Meanwhile, Akpabio has enjoined Akwa-Ibom Concerned Professionals operating outside the state to take a critical look at the banking industry with the view to assisting in establishing a financial institution to be owned by the state.

Akpabio who made the call yesterday when the Akwa- Ibom Concerned Professionals, Lagos led

by Mr. Udeme Ufot paid a courtesy call on him at Government House, Uyo, said that the Cooperative Development Bank earlier owned by the state government was acquired as a result of the banking reforms.

Akpabio further called

on the professionals to assist government in the industrialisation of the state, pledging that “professionals would be given responsibility irrespective of their political affiliation”.

Other area he wants professionals to venture into was the establishment of a newspaper where they can tell their stories and have a voice in the country, saying the best that best thing the state government has done in the last seven years was to move the state forward by providing infrastructural foundation.

Akpabio, who described the visit of the professionals to the state as a glorious return, said the avalanche

of criticisms of government from the professionals some years ago have gingered the administration to complete numerous projects adjudged today as world class.

Earlier, the leader of the group, Mr. Ufot, who commended Akpabio for the quality of infrastructure provided in the state, explained that for the sustenance of the “uncommon transformation of the state, the aspirant who has the required credentials should be the right successor for the governor.

Ufot pledged the support of the professionals to the Akpabio administration and appreciated the governor for giving three of the professionals opportunity to serve in the state.

Two robbery suspects shot dead Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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L-R: Operations Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Abiola Adebayo; Winner of the MyAstymin World Cup Predict and Win Contest, Mr. Opeyemi Adediran; Finance Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Olatunde Olanipekun and General Manager, Marketing, Mr. Ola Ijimakin, during the final prize presentation of the Astymin World Cup Predict and Win contest at Fidson Head Office, Lagos…yesterday

How soldiers killed my sons — El Zakzaky Ibraheem Musa KADUNA

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he leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El Zakzaky, yesterday accused soldiers of killing three of his sons in an unprovoked attack on a procession in Zaria, Kaduna State organised by the sect on Friday.

Giving his own side of the story at a press conference at his Gellwau residence in Zaria, the Islamic leader who alleged that it was soldiers that attacked his members while they were on a peaceful procession to mark Qudds Day, denied media reports of a clash between the sect and soldiers.

Sheikh El Zakzaky said the procession was moving smoothly when “all of a sudden, soldiers appeared from nowhere and started shooting at people.”

According to him, the sporadic shooting continued till Friday night. However, a spokesman for the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, Lt. Hashim Abdullahi, alleged that “the convoy of soldiers that was held up in the traffic congestion created by the procession was fired at from within the procession.”

He added, “Nine persons were killed while two soldiers were wounded, apart from wounded civilians.

The incident is being investigated.”

For his part, El Zakzaky said many people were

killed by the soldiers, adding that “it was during the shooting that one of my sons, Mahmood, a student of Al Mustapha University, Beirut, who came home at the beginning of this Ramadan for holiday, was killed.”

According to the Shite leader, Mahmood was shot in the abdomen and bled to death on his way to hospital. he said that after the shooting, the soldiers arrested several persons, including three of his children, Ahmad, Hameed and Ali. Although there were taken alive and well, he said the police later told the family that “they were taken to military hospital in Basawa.”

He stated, “When we demanded that they should give them back to us, they said they would take them to Shika, ABUTH.” The sheikh further alleged that his two sons were murdered after they were arrested by the soldiers, DDING that soldiers also killed three more people yesterday morning while they were passing by Hussainiyya area of Zaria.

Said he: “So far, 35 people have been killed. Out of the 35, we have 19 corpses and they have the rest. We wanted to have a funeral for all of them sometime today (yesterday), but because they (soldiers) mounted a roadblock, it was not possible to collect the remaining corpses for ABUTH.”

detachment of soldiers on security duty along the boundary areas of Ayegunle-Ugboshi-Aiyeteju in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State have reportedly killed suspected armed robbers.

Another suspect who sustained gunshot wounds at Ikpeshi near Auchi Town in Etsako West council area of the state is currently in police custody.

It was gathered that the robbery suspect met their waterloo on Friday when they allegedly embarked on a robbery operation on a businessman, who operates cold room complexes for frozen foods at Ibillo community in the Edo and at Idoani in Ondo State.

The businessman was said to have been attacked

severally by gunmen who often trailed him from Ibillo market through the Aiyegunle-Ugboshi-Aiyeteju communities to Ondo State.

The businessman had alerted the soldiers of his plight, making them to mount surveillance on the area until the unsuspecting robbery suspects were caught in the act.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Noble Uwoh when contacted yesterday confirmed the incident, describing them as suspected armed robbers and kidnappers.

According to him, while some of the suspects escaped, one of them was later arrested who confessed to the crime. The suspect said that they were wanted for kidnapping one Balogun who does business in the area.

Aspirant identifies women as good leaders Wale Elegbede

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gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor said the involvement of higher proportion of women in politics would be the panacea to dearth of leadership in the country.

Speaking at a fundraising dinner organised on her behalf in Lagos, Okafor said that the answer to the leadership problems in the country was women, noting that women bring values into nation building.

She said that her aspiration depicts change for the all categories of people in

Imo, adding that “the country is in dire need of a new kind of leadership and women bring in a sense of compassion, love, peace and ability to resolve conflict. When we bring these to the table, we can then come up with better politics for our dear country.”

“I do not want to just win elections. I want to win the hearts of a people long impoverished and denied of the basics of life, namely; water, healthcare, food security, the kind of stuff you find at the bottom of the pyramid. We need real change” she said.

According to her, there was a desperate call for change.

“Youths are clamouring for

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

SUNDAY, JUly 27, 2014

Frustrating fight against corruption

he Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke recently withdrew the N446.3bn theft charges instituted against Mohammed Abacha, a son of former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha. The Federal Government in February this year accused Abacha of unlawfully receiving about N446.3bn allegedly stolen from government’s coffers between 1995 and 1998. But Adoke, acting for the Federal Government, last Wednesday, asked Justice Mamman Kolo of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to strike out the charges on the grounds of “fresh facts” that just emerged concerning the case.

It is important to note that efforts to arraign Abacha on two previous occasions were unsuccessful because of his repeated absence from court. But he was present in court last Wednesday when the private prosecuting counsel, Mr. Daniel Enwelum informed the court of Adoke’s instruction to discontinue the case. Applying for the withdrawal of the case, Enwelum said, “I have been instructed by the AGF and Minister of Justice to withdraw the charges as presently filed before this court, because there are fresh facts and documents available to him. In this circumstance, he instructed me to file a notice of withdrawal without prejudice to future cause of action to be taken by his (AGF’s) office. In

the light of that, I have filed a notice of withdrawal dated June 17, 2014. I humbly apply to withdraw the charges accordingly.” Abacha’s lawyer, Abdullahi Haruna, did not oppose the application for withdrawal. Justice Kolo subsequently, in a ruling on the application, made an order striking out the charges against the accused person.

In the now struck-off nine-count charge, the Federal Government had accused Abacha of “dishonestly receiving stolen property” and “voluntarily assisting in concealing money”.

The charge replaced a previous one of 121 counts, in which Mohammed was charged along with Atiku Bagudu.

The government has now excluded Bagudu from the fresh charge, leaving only Mohammed. According to the new charge, marked CR.21-24/2008, the stolen money allegedly received

by Abacha, which he was accused of concealing included 141,100,000 and $384,353,000 made up of cash and travellers cheques.

Corruption has now become a vicious cycle what late Afro- beat exponent, Fela, called paddy-paddy government; looting with style, stealing and protecting the interests of rogues and pen robbers

This is certainly how not to fight corruption especially in Nigeria, because it creates the impression that corruption is welcome. Increasingly, the body language of the present administration suggests that corruption is no longer a big issue in Nigeria. From the controversy over purchase of bullet proof cars by the Aviation Ministry, the alleged disappearance of $20 million from NNPC’s coffers, several corruption cases appear to have been swept under the carpet. For instance, investigations into the activities of the petroleum resources ministry have stalled while Ekit governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose who was being investigated for alleged corruption charges was not only fielded as PDP candidate, he has now been declared winner in the Ekiti gubernatorial election, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has quickly announced suspension of the case sighting the immunity clause even when he is yet to be sworn into office. Should the EFCC not have been in the forefront of legally challenging his legibility to contest?

The obvious message is that corruption is permissible in Nigeria if one has the right connections. The administration is creating the impression that there are two sets of laws in the country, one for the rich and the other for the poor. When the poor steal, they

are imprisoned with hard labour, but the rich not only get a pat on the back but are told to go and enjoy their loot.

This unethical behavior has made us butt of jokes in the world, earning Nigerians scorn, disdain, disrespect and contempt. No wonder, Nigeria has been classified as a country of anything is possible.

Corruption remains a major cause of underdevelopment and stagnation, as it stalls growth and development, kills the innate capacity of the people, makes poverty and unemployment widespread and ensures backwardness. That corruption exists in very high places is merely stating the obvious. Corruption has now become a vicious cycle what late Afro- beat exponent, Fela, called paddy-paddy government; looting with style, stealing and protecting the interests of rogues and pen robbers.

No wonder both EFCC and ICPC have been rendered functionally impotent. Both anti-corruption agencies have become toothless bull dogs that keep barking but lack the capacity to bite when it matters. They are used to harass and intimidate perceived enemies of the government, and this is not how to fight corruption. The uncomfortable truth is that if we do not fight corruption properly, it will turn around to fight us in a devastating way sooner than later. The ominous signs are already here.

GABRIEL AKINADEWO Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Deputy Managing Director/DEIC YEMI AJAYI Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday JULIET BUMAH Deputy Editor (Sunday) LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIYI ADEGOROYE Assistant Editor, News & Politics TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

OPINION

Osun and march towards agric self-sufficiency

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Adegoke Koleoso.

efore assuming power, Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, had a clear idea of what he intended to do about the daunting political saddle. Although his programme remained in abeyance till 2010, no thanks to electoral manipulation and the consequent legal struggle, he immediately settled down to govern with proven results and dexterity because he had the programmes well thought out.

In his ‘green book’ titled My Pact, a campaign document he published in 2006, a year away from the contest for the governorship election, Aregbesola on page four under the subtitle: Banish Hunger, detailed his plan for the agricultural sector instructively.

He said, “Every farmer shall sell his or her produce and be prosperous. The labour of the farmers shall no longer be in vain because we shall provide support and assistance to farmers in finding and exploiting profitable markets for their harvest. We do not presently grow enough food in the state to feed us round the year and this should concern the government that cares for its people...”

Assuming the office after protracted litigation, therefore, the first advocacy Aregbesola

embarked upon was the acquisition of 30,000 hectares of government’s unencumbered land across the 30 local government areas, including an area council through a team he constituted on the platform of Osun Rural Enterprises and Agricultural Program (O-REAP).

The team went round all villages and farm settlements established by the Western region under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and identified the vacant land; challenges facing the farmers; and critical areas that begged for the intervention of the government. And when the report was submitted,the government according to one of the handlers of the project, Dr. Charles Akinola, found out that the neglect which other sectors suffered actually worsted the agricultural sector.

In his submission, the Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr. Wale Adedoyin, said one of the issues that mattered to Gov. Aregbesola was how to stimulate the interest of youths in modern farming, noting that that was the reason why the state government sponsored 40 young farmers to Germany for intensive training in modern agriculture and 96 secondary schools assisted in arable crop production, fisheries and livestock production systems since 2013.

The government also established O-REAP

Youth Academy as a deliberate effort towards giving youths a sustainable career in modern agriculture methods. 1,606 OYES Cadets have been trained in enhanced agricultural methods at the newly established O-REAP Youth Academy located in the nine federal constituencies for increased food production.

Crucial among the challenges faced by the bourgeoning government was the deplorable state of roads to some of the villages; roads which truncated easy transportation of farmers’ products to o the markets; lack of social amenities and markets for proper buying and selling of farm produce. However, within 100 days in office, the governor had ordered the construction of some roads, rehabilitation of some and grading of others: The roads completed were Iwo-Pataara (12km), Esa-Oke-Esa-Odo Farm Settlement Road 5km, Mokore Farm Settlement Road (17.8km), Orile-Owu-Ago-Owu Farm Settlement-Ogedengbe Road (30km), IdirokoAkinleye Farm Settlement Road (10.8km), Farmers Plank Sellers, Ido-Osun Road Network (5.5km) and Alaguntan Forest Reserve Road (20km).

Also completed are QIIP Farm Road, Kuta (9km), Okinni-Igbokiti-O-Fish Farm (9.8km), Reclamation of Olufi Market, grading of Iyanfoworogi-Orisunbare-Ajobo Junction

and Aba Opa (10km), Fashina-AgbagbaAdekanye-Osu Express Road (5.5km) while several other are on-going. In the course of fixing rural roads, not less than 150 roads had been fixed.

Some of the farmers who interacted freely with enquirers at Alaguntan, Idiroko and Iyafoworogi,expressed their satisfaction with the state of roads leading to those villages from major towns and cities, affirming that the roads had made the conveyance of their farm produce to the cities for markets easier.

Mr. Yinusa Ayanfunto from Alaguntan lauded the effort of the government in fixing the road, saying his village had been neglected for a long time: “We are conveying our produce to the markets now with ease and the cost of transportation now is cheap, because the motorists cannot tell us that our roads are not motorable.”

Besides, Mr. Festus Omoeri, a plantain farmer in Mokore located in Orile Owu said the attention of the government on the farm settlements has further stimulated his interest in farming, noting that he has started making huge proceeds from plantain now that he could afford to move his produce to the market without hitch.

TO BE CONTINUED

Dickson: Breaking the jinx of re-election

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George Fente ayelsa, a state with about two million population, equivalent to countries like Botswana and Mali does not need introduction. It occupies a very strategic spot in the geo-political equation in the Nigerian configuration. Those who may underestimate the state or take its tiny population for granted may receive a shocker, given the relics of its historical struggle, right from the days of the early resistance movement against colonial incursion to the days of 12 days Isaac Adaka Boro, down to the recent activities of militancy have remained an interesting feature of the people.

So the question of expressing surprise at the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as president of Nigeria should not arise.

Despite the sophisticated and republican nature of its politics, one thing you cannot take away from them is the unity of purpose they have displayed over their son’s administration.

They would not need the biblical Balm of Gilead to heal its differences, once a common interest is placed on the table.

So you don’t need to be told by a spiritual surgeon or wear a pair of military binoculars to view the corporate unity the Ijaw people have woven around President Jonathan.

However, back to the local politics of the state, it is a tale of intrigues, not different from Nigerian politics of who takes over and who gets what and where.

One common feature about the state is the politics of re-election of the governor of the state. It has always been characterised by highwire intrigues and blackmail erected against the incumbent.

Interestingly, opposition parties are not the real problem of re-election, rather the problem always lies within the rank and file of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party that has been in the saddle of governance since the restoration of democracy in 1999.

Contrary to what is obtainable in advanced democracies where the incumbent enjoys the benefit of first in the line-up, in Bayelsa State, the re-election of any incumbent within the ruling party is like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

For instance, when the first democratically elected governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, sought for re-election in 2003, he was almost over run by the power

brokers at the time.

If Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha will be frank about what he went through, one would doubt if he would allow an incumbent governor who would later become his colleague in the league of former governors to be subjected to what he passed through in the very hands of his own political party leaders.

When Chief Alamieyeseigha was eventually re-elected, he was impeached two years into his second term in 2005.

Given the huge resources wasted on lobbying party officials during the re-election bid and the attempt to ward off political foes and detractors, it becomes a nightmare that one will not allow it to visit one’s worst enemy.

When Dr. Goodluck Jonathan eventually took over the baton of governance following the impeachment and exit of Chief Alamieyeseigha, Jonathan was faced with the reality of seeking elective position of governor in 2006 and 2007.

Though he got the ticket of the ruling PDP, the harrowing experience he went through will remain evergreen in his memory. To the glory of God, Dr. Jonathan was nominated and elevated as vice presidential candidate to the late Umaru Yar’ Adua.

Only recently, former Governor Timipre Sylva who was seeking re-election could not realise it. He has his own story to tell.

A vast majority of the people of the state are wondering whether it is a spell on the state.

The common denominator that everyone seems to point at is poor performance on the part of the governors and politics of mischief and greed on the part of the citizens.

From which ever side of the coin you view the problem, one indisputable fact steering at the faces of Bayelsans is that resources which would have been used for the general uplift of the people are being wasted on frivolities and politics of vendetta and that of re-election.

Certainly, you do not need a professor of mathematics to compute the huge resources wasted on re-election bid.

The question that is begging for an answer is why can’t the people of Bayelsa State, for once avoid this worn path, come together and give the incumbent governor the benefit of doubt to continue particularly when there are concrete indices of performance?

Why can’t we break this jinx which has become more or less a spell as some people may assume?

The answer is simple. We cannot afford the

luxury to waste our scarce resources in fighting ourselves.

This is where the people of Bayelsa State must view any attempt by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson to seek re-election as a golden opportunity to break the jinx associated with re-election.

It is a sad commentary that huge resources that could have fixed several critical sectors in the state have been wasted on electoral matters of re-election.

The Peoples Democratic Party should as a matter of fact take stock of the transformation taking place under the administration of Governor Dickson.

If performance index is a yard stick to measure re-election, then a peep into the performance profile of Governor Dickson does not require any further debate in the state.

For example, in the area of education, when Dickson came on board, the education sector was in a state of comatose. The indices in terms of enrolment in schools and performance in the WAEC/NECO/JAMB was not cheering news and in fact a serious concern.

Infrastructure in schools were in a state of dilapidation, lack of sitting desks, ill motivated and poorly trained teachers.

It was so embarrassing that in some schools in the rural areas; only one teacher served as headmaster and same time the teacher.

Moreover, the governor was not comfortable with the placement of the state in the bracket of educationally less developed states, a tag that we have been hearing over 17 years ago when the state was created.

It was against this background, when Governor Dickson declared a state of emergency in the area of education, it was greeted with general applause.

Governor Dickson, who is popularly described by many in the state as ‘Talk na do Governor’, which literarily means ‘Action Governor’, swung into action.

This is what Dennis Alemu surmised, as “The sturdy political will to entrench functional education delivery in Bayelsa State has become an article of faith in the restoration project.”

The government commenced the building and equipping of schools, engaging qualified teachers backed by training and retraining of the teachers, provision of educational inputs such as laboratories, libraries, ICT halls, among others to enhance learning.

Apart from sending thousands of Bayelsa State students to pursue foreign programmes in undergraduates and graduate studies, the government has set aside N7 billion for this purpose.

So far, 400 schools have either being built or comprehensively renovated. Model boarding schools have been built in all the three senatorial districts of the state.

Also, within a short period he took over as governor, several courses at the state owned Niger Delta University that were unaccredited have been accredited by the national university commission based on the life-line the governor provided for the school.

In a few years to come, Bayelsa State will come top in terms of human capital development.

In other areas of infrastructural development, the governor has endeared himself to the people through people oriented projects like the first ever flyover built in the state.

In the health sector, there is a massive rehabilitation of hospitals across the state. In the business of hospitality, government is doing everything possible to make Bayelsa State a tourism destination by accelerating the construction and completion of the only five star hotel in the Yenagoa metropolis.

A visitor to the state who expressed delight at the unprecedented spate of development said, “Bayelsa is wearing a look indeed, an evidence of a serious government at work.”

This sterling performance in just barely over two years deserves the commendation of all the good people of Bayelsa State, not minding their political divide.

This uncommon government of restoration is a pride to the ruling PDP and indeed a beautiful bride to market at any election.

Therefore, any right thinking Bayelsa man or woman who has the development of the state at heart should rally round the governor and shun negative and despicable acts that would draw back the hand of development that had already been set on the desk.

Any body acting contrary to this should be treated as enemy number one of the state, a state that had suffered several development setbacks as a result of politics of bitterness.

The governor for his part should not rest on his laurels but resist the temptations of praise singers and concentrate on taking the state to the promise land.

•George Fente is an elder statesman in Bayelsa State

Letters Editor to the

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

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

NAN and Levick contract Dear Editor, Does the News Agency of Nigeria have the power to enter into a contract on behalf of the government of Nigeria?

I raised this question recently and thought my lawyer friends would help. But thanks to Google, I have been able to access the Act establishing the News Agency of Nigeria. If we go by the provisions of this Act, the Levick contract is ILLEGAL and any monies paid by the government in respect of that contract has the makings of an act of fraud. The functions of NAN as enshrined in the Act are: News Agency of Nigeria Act 1. Establishment of News Agency of Nigeria (1) There is hereby established a body to be known as the News Agency of Nigeria (hereafter in this Act referred to as “the Agency”).

(2) The Agency shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

2. Objects, etc., of the Agency (I) The objects of the Agency shall be to-(a) seek, obtain and otherwise receive through subscription, payment, exchange or other means, international, regional, local and other news, news material and news features; (b) distribute such news, news material and news features to subscribers against payment either in the form of fees or news exchange or on such other terms as may be agreed; (c) engage in commercial enterprises that are ancillary to the objects of the agency or which in the opinion of the Board can be advantageously carried on by the Agency; [1992 No. 87.] (d) present complete, objective and impartial information, news or news material or features on any matter of public or national interest within and outside the Federation; and (e) report truthfully and fairly, without prejudice to public and national interest, the views of all sections of the population of the Federation. [1992 No. 87.]

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (I) of this section, the Agency shall have a monopoly-(a) of the sale, distribution in Nigeria, of news, information, economic and financial data and any other service or product of any foreign news agency to be marketed in Nigeria; and (b) any equipment used pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection.

Ikem Okuhu Lagos

Bad roads in Mushin Dear Editor, One of the greatest challenges Nigeria has faced and is still facing is bad roads. Taking a look at Post Office Road in Mushin, Lagos State, we find the roads are so bad that this has made living in the community so difficult. A bus driver recently said the road has been like that for quite some time now and it affects residents in terms of transportation. This is because vehicles can’t enter the street so their owners would have to park at their own risk somewhere and take a long walk home. Also, sometimes when it rains, the street is flooded and this affects the health of residents.

There is also the need for good drainage in the area.

Abike Olubade Mushin, Lagos

DAUL PURPOSE: Securing tomorrow while asleep.

Mimiko, address flood, security in Ore Dear Editor, Allow me to bring to the notice of Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the serious challenges we are facing at Ore, a popular commercial town in Ondo State. It will surprise many Nigerians to know that the town has no drainage system, pipe-borne water or security.

In the last two weeks, almost all the streets in the town were flooded, and houses were almost swept away. My house and those of many of my neighours located on Zacchaeus Street, around First Bank and adjacent to Civil Defence office were soaked in the flood for three days after the rain subsided. Also affected were Rainbow, Ajegunle and Government Field areas of Ore. None of us could sleep in our homes.

My investigation showed that the problem was caused by poor town planning system and the absence of drainage. We hardly have government presence here, and people build houses without recourse to law and regulations.

In the same manner, we do not have pipe-borne water. People have to resort to digging wells for water supply, and this comes at a great price because of the rocky nature and topography of the town. Our local government is practically nonexistent. in the last six years, there has been no elected local government executive in the Ondo State.

We understand that the local government caretaker committees merely get funds sufficient to pay workers’ salaries every month, with additional N1 million that goes into imprest. This leaves few capital projects being designed and executed for the councils by the state government. This is very disturbing as people in the state capital can hardly understand the needs of the towns in the outskirts.

Also disturbing is the issue of security. Not only are criminals hanging on road sides to attack motorists whose vehicles break down, school children are hardly safe any longer because they are at risk of being snatched by ritualists.. Many parents now take their children to school and personally return there to take them at closing hours.

Kindly bring these issues to the attention of the governor before things get out of hand. We deserve basic amenities and security, and the time to provide them is now.

Dr. Rufus Enikanoselu, Ajegunle, Ore, Ondo State

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

What does Buhari think?

Dear Editor, It is interesting to see that in the eyes of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and members of his party, the ‘clueless’, weak’, ‘inept’ and ‘trainee president’, Goodluck Jonathan, has become a monster and a dictator whose actions, will ‘imperil’ democracy and ‘plunge Nigeria into anarchy’. Why does Buhari think so? Is it because his party lost the Ekiti governorship election and is afraid it may lose in Osun? Is it because one APC governor has been impeached and another is battling to save his job? If the General feels Nigeria is sliding into anarchy, why did he not present his case at the Council of State meeting last week? Why was he the only former head of state absent? Did he attempt to make his position known to the President thereafter? Was the general out of the country when a Northern youth group asked southerners to leave the North? Why didn’t he speak up or is the impeachment of a governor, who was given ample opportunity to defend himself of allegations against him but chose not to, potentially more threatening to our unity than the statement of the Northern youth group? Where was the general or he didn’t hear about it?

Nnamdi Okosieme Lagos

Harassment by Enugu State Police Command Dear Editor, I would like to use this medium to inform the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that his men on Abakaliki Road inside GRA Enugu are making life miserable for Igbo people. I left Lagos and got to the South-East and we were stopped at a number of checkpoints. All the appointments I had could not be met. A police woman among them called me a prostitute and used terrible words on me that I had to tell her to retract such ugly words. I told her I took serious exception to such gutter words being thrown at my person. The reason for calling me a prostitute was because I was facing my laptop while she was talking to my driver. We were detained by this woman and her colleagues and we had travelled to Enugu to fight the baby factory menace, which the same police claim to be fighting. This fight has earned me the tag of ‘a prostitute’. I wonder what other crime they will put on me today. Please help before they frame me up. I am a law abiding citizen.

Mary Ikoku Access Media Ltd Lagos

10 healing secrets that most doctors won’t talk about p.13

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Police Equipment Fund could have stopped Boko Haram insurgency –Ewulum He was among the people that came up with the Police Equipment Fund, initiative aimed at raising funds to support the police by Dr. Godson Ewulum in this interview with AHAOMA KANU AND CHINEDU EKEJA recalls how the initiative could have helped in preventing Boko Haram insurgency in the first place How do you feel as a father about the menace of Boko Haram in the country especially as it affects the abduction of the over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State who have been held captive for over 100 days?

You see, one doesn’t need to be a father to feel the pains of the menace of Boko Haram in this country because either as a father, a brother, a friend or as a Nigerian, one knows that it is devastating. It is torturous, painful and in fact totally unacceptable. And the funny thing is that as these girls pass their hundred days in captivity, people are there, Nigerians are in their comforts places not really concerned about the issue. In fact sometimes, when I look at Nigerians and the way they care, I would be amazed. It is an indication of total failure of governance; it is a total failure of patriotism; and it is disunity extraordinary. They have left the issue and they are talking about how they will go to the polls next year. The parties are here claiming to be more qualified than the other while claiming to do better. Nigerians should be wise enough this time around to unite and say, we are not going to the polls again until the girls are found. Let them vote themselves in unless we find the Chibok girls; we won’t do anything about election. Why are they talking about 2015 when there is a problem at hand? Let these girls come out first and they will start to talk about whom to vote and whom

Life 12

not to vote.

In 2007, you were among those that started the Police Equipment Fund, what inspired the idea back then even as there were no Boko Haram activities of or did you envisage such thing coming to be a feature in Ewulum today’s security challenges?

Look, if you know this country very well or have been following the trend of events, you will find out that albinitio, the police were not properly equipped. People keep complaining that police don’t do this and that, but I am telling you that if you know them or what obtains there in like I have the privilege of knowing, you will understand that they are not well equipped and they find it difficult to do their job. That is why you find them take bribe or do some things out of order, it is circumstances that subject them to such experience. If a police man is well equipped, well clothed, well housed, fairly knowledgeable or educated and trained, then you will find out that there is a limit to how he can conceive in his mind to go and take bribe. Crime will be minimized, because, they will just go out and do what they are supposed to do feeling fulfilled that they have the arms, they have the necessary wherewithal to work for the society. That is why at the time I saw all these things, I felt it was necessary to put up a fund by equipping the police adequately. Look my friend, if you equip the police or the army adequately, not just in terms of weaponry, you are sure to get a good result, as they said, better soup is made with good money.

What were those plans you had for the police that you wanted to implement using the Police Equipment Fund initiative?

Getting police equipped does not mean arms alone; weaponry is different though it is a part of the plans. But we also have good training, good feeding, accommodation, workshops and all that in the plan. That is why we said at the time that the public would be carried along.

For instance, there is no way you will ask any Nigerian to make a commitment, just like they do levy you when you go to the airport that they will not respond positively. We wanted them to support the police with say 50kobo, N10 or so. For example in buying your fuel instead of paying N10 naira for your petrol you might pay N10 naira 50 kobo, then the 50kobo on top will now be your contribution for the police empowerment. When all these are done, you make With members of the police Equipment Fund deligation to China in 2006 sure that you collect the money,

handle them and make sure it is used for the purpose for which it was raised.

You see, the police on their own are not helping themselves, because they know what transpired; some of the police officers then, the IG or the Attorney General and the rest of them, instead of fighting the people who were responsible for the destruction of Police Equipment, they were siding them because either they collected one car, one item or some other things and that is what forestalled the case up till now in the supreme court.

Now with bomb explosion everyday and everywhere, like the one that just happened in Kaduna killing over 80 people, how exactly do you feel about the initiative?

That initiative, like I told you was, paying off before it got messed up and I fought for it to make sure it did not just go down like that so anybody that is involved is brought to book and here you are asking me how I feel. I feel bad. Or do you expect me to come up with a solution when they are going to America, paying billions of naira to do all sort of things. Let me tell you, to run the police successfully requires intelligence; no amount of weapon can succeed without intelligence. At the moment, weapon is supportive to intelligent, but they would not hear about that instead they will be saying bring America, bring Canada, bring Pakistan, bring Israel. By the time you talk about billions, trillions that will be involved, you will be surprised. Even when the vigilante group, Bakassi, were invited into Anambra state they used the locals who knew the nooks and crannies of the communities and with the sound intelligence they had, they succeeded at a time before they derailed when politicians came into the matter.

Who should be held responsible for the failure of the Police Equipment Fund initiative?

The case is still in the court so I will not contemptuously say this or that person is responsible, but you all know that the case is in the court being tried so if I say anything now it will amount to contempt of court. Until the case is decided, I cannot speak about it but you all know who are in the court on the matter I won’t have anything to say, so until then.

The security in Nigeria today is very bad; do you have any planes to resuscitate the initiative now that it is most needed?

You know that if it is something I can do or any one person can do individually, I will do it. I think so many of us would like do it. But the only thing we can do as individual is give necessary information, whenever you find something going on wrong; you contact the police because they cannot be everywhere. But most importantly, I think we need to have the listening ear of the authority.

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10 healing secrets most doctors won’t talk about L Shallots

et’s face it, when it comes to medicine, some of us tend to be a little arrogant about our geewhiz technology and gleaming high-tech medical facilities. Obviously, there are some things that western doctors do extraordinarily well, like treating trauma patients for instance. Where western medicine tends to fail is in the treatment of chronic disease. We’ve got a pill for just about everything these days, and although those treatments may be very good when it comes to relieving symptoms, too often the root cause of chronic disease is ignored. Centuries of wisdom are available to us which can greatly enhance our ability to treat chronic disease, and not just “manage” it with drugs. A lot of traditional treatments from disciplines such as Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine are finally starting to receive some of the recognition they deserve here in the west.

Celebrity doctors like TV’s Dr. Oz are helping to spread the news about age-old treatments that are great alternatives to our traditional western treatments which often involve surgery or potentially dangerous drugs. Here are a few traditional treatments that some people are using with great success, and very little or no risk to their health. It should be noted that we are not doctors, and this should not be treated as medical advice. We are merely passing along information that might be interesting and educational.

1. Curcumin Alzheimer’s disease is probably one of the most feared diseases in the world.

Not many people are comfortable with the idea of losing so much of their cognitive capabilities, memory loss, forgetting who loved ones are, and eventual death.

Curcumin also goes by the name turmeric, and is found in foods like curry. In India, where curry is used by a large percentage of the population, Alzheimer’s is rare compared to western countries. Inflammation, which is now being identified as a cause for many chronic illnesses, is reduced in the brain by curcumin, helping to ward off Alzheimer’s, and perhaps other risks related to inflammation as well.

2. Pomegranate Juice Image Credit This one may be beneficial when it comes to preventing heart disease. Researchers discovered that atherosclerosis in lab animals was reduced by 30 percent when they were given pomegranate juice.

Other research revealed that it also helped to promote nitric oxide production in the heart. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax, which promotes healthy blood flow.

3. Vitamin E Medical research has found that vitamin E may actually help slow the aging process. A study conducted at the University

Leafy vegetables

of Florida showed that older people who took vitamin E supplements and exercised regularly actually decreased specific markers present in their blood which are known to be signs of aging. The study participants also benefited by a significant drop in their blood pressure levels.

4. Shallots Supermarkets these days are filled with processed foods that are contributing to numerous health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and probably many more. An easy way to add some genuinely beneficial foods to your diet is by buying or increasing your use of onions. Just about any type of onion will offer certain health benefits, but the real champion of the onion family is the shallot. The shallot has the highest antioxidant content and may also be beneficial in fighting liver cancer.

5. Fish Oil We’ve heard a lot about the benefits of fish oil in recent years, and more discoveries are being made all the time. One particularly important use for fish oil may be to help with the treatment of lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that may cause life-threatening complications involving the lungs, kidneys and circulatory system.

Fish oil may help lupus sufferers reduce flare-ups without the use of potentially harmful steroids.

6. Vitamin K Among vitamins, vitamin K certainly appears to be one of the lesser-known vitamins of the bunch. New discoveries may be starting to change that, however.

Research indicates that vitamin K may be helpful in preventing heart attacks.

Vitamin K can be found in found in leafy green vegetables, and is also available in supplement form. Unlike other vitamins like C, which are water soluble, vitamin K is fat soluble, which means it’s probably a good idea to take supplements with food that contains some fat.

7. Think Zinc Many people notice that they have white spots underneath their fingernails. This is often thought to be an indication of a calcium deficiency, but in reality it is far more likely to be indicative of a zinc deficiency. Zinc is necessary for a great number of bodily functions, and a serious zinc deficiency can cause problems including impaired healing, skin problems, hair loss, night blindness and even behavioral problems to name just a few. Zinc supplements are readily available, making it easy to address any deficiency and likely clear up any health problems caused by lack of this essential mineral.

8. Low Sugar Lies A number of food manufacturers, particularly those that produce breakfast cereals are always keenly aware of how the pub-

lic perceives their brand. With increased interest in eating healthier and avoiding sugar, manufacturers have started introducing “low sugar” versions of some of their most popular products. Researchers who tested a number of these new “healthier” versions discovered that most of them contained the same calories, fat and carbohydrates as the original versions. The conclusions was that the “low sugar” versions offered no nutritional benefit over the original versions.

9. Wonderful Water Alcohol is something that’s Pomegranate and juice actually considered to be healthful as long as it is consumed sensibly. Still, there are those occasions when things get a little out-of-hand, and the hangover is often the result that plagues people the day after. A main contributor to this unpleasant condition is probably dehydration, which alcohol promotes. Drinking a good amount of water before bedtime may help reduce or eliminate the symptoms of hangover, and may eliminate the need for over-the-counter pain killers which carry their own set of risks.

10. Antibiotics Alternatives The overuse of antibiotics has created problems with “superbugs” that have gradually developed resistance to drugs we have used to cure Vitamins infection for decades. Some experts worry that we are on the verge of a new age of “superbugs” that could claim many lives due to our inability to combat them. Beyond the dangers of overuse, antibiotics also come with other unintended consequences such as their inability to separate the good bugs from the bad bugs, which results in the destruction of beneficial bacteria along with harmful bacteria. Essential oils may be a viable alternative to antibiotics for some infections.

Research on lab animals has shown that ear infections were eliminated 81 percent of the time when treated with essential oils Culled from Oddorwhat. com Water

Life

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Network of Patriots and Protectors of Nigeria Posterity 11, NUN Street, Maitama Houses NSITF Estate, Abuja FCT.

Fellow Nigerians,

Emefiele, CBN recapitalisation of Bureaux De Change and the unanswered questions

W

ith respect to the new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy to increase the minimum capital requirement for Bureau de Change (BDC) operators from N10 million to N35 million as well as raising the cautionary fee among other new regulations is an exercise that is not only perceived as haunting genuine operators but has, with the recent moves by some operators to oblige to the orders of the policy, exposed those particular operators and culprits to which the CBN is bent on ridding from the industry.

The CBN had among other allegations, claimed that the need for the new policy arose from some observations the apex bank has made over the years concerning the industry. Some of the practices listed include observing an, “avalanche of rent-seeking operators interested in widening margins and profits from the foreign exchange market, regardless of prevailing official and interbank rates leading to weak and ineffective operational structure, resulting in the subsector completely abandoning the objectives for its establishment; depletion of the country’s foreign reserves caused by large number of BDCs; potential financing of unauthorized transactions with foreign exchange procured from the CBN Window and the gradual dollarization of the Nigerian economy with attendant adverse consequences on the conduct of monetary policy and subtle subversion of cashless policy initiative.

Some clarifications need to be made on the allegations that the CBN have heaped on BDC operators hence their new approach. The CBN made all these assertions and blames BDC operators for causing these malpractices without making any concerted effort to weed out the legally licensed operators from the black market operator who have no interest in the way and manner BDCs are run according to international standards.

Mr. Governor, the announcement on the new modification was made on June 3 and a deadline of July 31st have been set leaving BDC operators with a little over a month to cough out N70million of which N35million will be deposited at the CBN. We have gotten information that about 200 alleged members and none members of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCOM) have since started complying with this worrisome policy by paying the N35m fee as stipulated by the CBN. This payment by these persons goes a long way to reveal the unscrupulous characters that have been bastardizing the industry and painting ABCON in negative light.

I make it bold to state equivocally that no BDC buying and selling here in Nigeria can boast of making more than 3-4 Kobo per dollar sold at most and this is after the harsh conditions the BDCs operate under not to mention the ever changing policies that happens so often that it unsettles the FOREX market.

The licensed BDCs, after buying FOREX most times from banks and finance companies at high interest rates and under atrocious COTs and other charges, pay staff, manage their offices, pays rent along with other miscellaneous expenditures including making returns to the CBN; find it very hard to make a living under these circumstances.

Now asking BDCs operators to cough out N35m as cautionary fee is simply unjustified, misplaced, extremely targeted at displacing genuine and hardworking Nigerians that struggle to make an honest living. In other climes, before such a decision is reached, the players are called and enlightened on how the issue should be worked out. But only in Nigeria will the CBN come out over night and state an amount and a policy without really clarifying how the fee to be paid was reached.

How moral is it for the CBN and your humble self, coming from a commercial bank and as a person who knows the under dealings inherent in the banks, make such a monstrosity as a policy? What are the real intentions of this decision and what do you hope to achieve?

If the CBN has good intentions to sanitize the industry then some support has to be given to BDCs that have been credibly operating since 1966 -1996. You can introduce a sort of classification of these BDCs and then commence this new policy with the new BDCs that would be seeking license to operate. You cannot just come and make a policy and expect BDCs that have been operating for years to go and rob a bank and deposit N35m with the CBN as cautionary fee without any concrete spelt out procedures and cautions that this money is being asked in the first place. Should BDC’s go public with IPOs or the likes to raise money when they fund their businesses without any kind of support from CBN? What are those cautions that CBN is demanding these fees? What are the modalities? What are the guidelines around this fee? What constitutes a BDC losing its cautionary fee? What are the CBN rules that will insure that the reasons being given today about that has given rise to the new policy will not be repeated in future? How will the CBN checkmate the activities of those unscrupulous elements in the industry it wishes to get rid of by introducing this policy?

Also, the CBN has the moral burden on their shoulders to prove to Nigerians and the world that it is also coming to Equity with clean hands by explaining to the BDCs and Nigerians how the cautionary fee of $20,000 deposited by over 3500 BDC licensed operators amounting to $70,000,000 and which is being kept in an account with JP Morgan Chase in New York is being managed. Who is collecting the interest accruing to these monies in that account?

Is CBN trading with the money? Why did the CBN not refund the monies to their respective owners as stipulated in the law in acquiring a license? Can your regime in the CBN launch an investigation into this issue and invite forensic auditors to get to the roots of the matter before going ahead and asking for another N35m each again?

Mr. Governor, we are asking these questions because we have a right to know what is going on in the nation’s apex bank. The BDC have a right to have to a full knowledge and spelt out cautions for which the CBN is demanding every time that they deposit money for. Why can’t the CBN prefer Bank Guaranty which will be in conformity with the cash-lite policy?

Why is the CBN giving a new account for the monies to be paid in cash against the monetary policy of the CBN? Is there a calculated plan to also accumulate funds that will be a no go area? Is this new policy

targeted at ripping off the ‘Mallams, the generic alias given to BDC operators who are assumed to be illiterate and unschooled, from the industry? Does the new policy have an ethnic agenda to cause more hardship for a certain part of the country? What assurances is the CBN giving to Nigerians to convince them that this policy is not a rape of the people? Why will the CBN give a policy and rush up a deadline only for it to extend when Nigerians cried out? Is the CBN now an institution that all aspects of a policy is given serious thoughts to in brainstorming sections before it goes to press with its decision; why did the CBN announce at first that the monies will be kept in a none interest yielding account in the first place only to recant and reverse itself some few days later? Do we have a CBN Governor that acts before he thinks?

Do we have a Governor that does not sum up his homework before passing his books to the public?

Mr. Governor, we believe that the CBN is an institution that regulates financial activities in the country but when our hallowed institution and the bankers bank start dishonoring agreements; when our most revered bank with supreme status starts holding up peoples monies to the tune of $70,000,000 in a foreign account for upwards of 10 years; when symptoms of suspected under dealings rears up its head, it is our duty to speak out and protect this our institution against the hawks, the wolves and the sharks that we know are there wanting to use the chambers of our great institution for selfish ends. We speak out and ask the Governor to provide answers to the many issues we have raised. We will not relent, we will not get tired, we will not succumb to policies that are anti-people; policies that are not explained; policies that are open ended; policies that seek to weaken the system rather than consolidate it; policies that are manufactured in laboratories which has an ethnic DNA in its system. We shall always and demand the investigation of $70,000,000 being held in a JP Morgan Chase account in New York by the CBN and demand that the Governor tell us who has been benefitting from the interest that account has yielded over the years and why the people that these monies ought to have been refunded to should not be compensated.

We will go all the way to make out country better; to make our CBN more transparent; to make our CBN Governor more accountable. We will go to Nigerians; we will go to the National Assembly which have being on hand in all fairness to defend the oppressed masses. We will get an answer to what is happening in this country so that people will decide their fate.

We will want the CBN to produce the names of the BDCs suspected of funding terrorism as alleged and let the culprits face the book.

We have learnt that it is wise not to ignore anything.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Edward Egbabare

Director Network of Patriots and Protectors of Nigeria Posterity.

Sanctity of Truth

ON SUNDAY

Page 15, JULY 27, 2014

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

I’ll get a hubby in six weeks Fantastic ways to rock blazers

Joint account has done havoc to families -Banke David

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heart y m from t h g i Stra

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e& Win GRAP

H ON

SUND

TELE

27, 20

If you don’t feel like spending money at the salon to get your e ye b r o w s shaped, learn how to do it yourself

FASHION

Blazers can make the petite woman look very mature in a way that few other clothing items can. The trick is to make sure that the blazer hugs and accents your curves very well

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T h e Fedora has made a big comeback and is trending e v e n among the youths

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ul

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent) Wole Adepoju

ACCESSORIES

Pearls are available in a variety of shapes - from round and semi-round to pear and oval the diversity of a pearl makes it the perfect accessory for you

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

Associates

BED, WORK & LIFE of flesh

} 20

Helen Paul

Stanlee Ohikhuare

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nutrients r of essential be m nu In a es rtain cultures. y. It provid delicacy in ce Only men are enpart of poultr a ce oi ed er ch a id is ns is co izzard fowl. moderation. It Igboland e gizzard of a when eaten in en are not allowed to eat th e that there is no ‘boy’ in m to om w ed , rr nd cu st oc Igbola a delicacy. It ju an’ in Igbo culture. gizzard if a titled to such ife keeps the a ‘m w e ed th er , id an ns m co by boy is e of an Igbo as a day old ba wl is prepared in the hous . eaty’ part of fo nd a ou n served the ‘m ukwu (hip ar t he is no an is m So, w e, e iv Th . us cl e woman the bony rvant in ‘man’, male se e gizzard that is denied th e. The woman’s portion is th us ly ho e on t th no in It is killed ts it, knowother animals eat attached to it. the woman ea hich may If . nd la the fowl and bo m Ig rs (w y strands of t gizzard in d of her accuse or bone) with tin sacrilege for a woman to ea ng on the moo and some tubers of yam di en a ep is D it , n. si r ck he co Indeed r e fo e liv e on e will at fine of on ingly or not, sh women), she may ‘pay’ a zzard. w llo ho eats the gi fe e includ to a woman w am of gizzard which I en pp ha ill w gr e a kilo me what even more. at ‘our o, I bought m en able to tell ey told me th No one has be ed that delicacy years ag the house. It was then th house. ni in e After being de in the presence of the men ard of the fowl killed in th the fowl she preate gizz d of d e ar th an zz g gi ed e tin ar th ea ep e oman at pr against women s, saying the w an whose wife culture’ is only ory was told of an Igbo m siting. The men went bonker en that when they m st who came vi But then, the d told his kins and custom they sband’s people ge. The woman’s husban w hu la r t he ha r w fo ey d crile pare d ob the committed a sa spective homes, they coul uding his wife, could eat cl re r in , ei ne yo an e, m return to th my wife”. t that in his ho ed’ deemed fit, bu d his speech with, “I love tale that the woman had ‘ti de e en th e ith w n w to gizzard. H men went to embers try Of course, the taken over his senses. ght because m fli n ke d ta an s r ha he re love igns. their brot any homes whe ttling peace re ndles some of the There are so m ition. In such homes, unse ha e sh w ho ad about t account to be true to tr Pastor Banke David talks inion that join y others op e th of , so on al me. She is In this editi this and man rienced in a ho her thought on problems expe ible in every home. Read as smay not be fe . on iti ed is in th blessed. nday, remain Until next Su

Initially, my parents and his were opposed to the relationship due to our tribal differences. I remember that his mother asked him if there were no Igbo girls he could get married to

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Bod

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Body&Soul

JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Accessories

Glamorous Pearls

Vanessa Okwara

N

othing screams class and refinement quite like Pearls. Whether as necklaces, bracelets, rings or earrings, this precious gemstone is sure to lend charm and sophistication to your simplest outfits. They are timeless pieces that are passed from one generation to the next. Pearls are jewellery that can never go out of style.

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17

Body&Soul

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Joint account has done havoc She has a way with children, having started teaching them way back in her growing up years. But after dumping teaching for banking, she soon discovered that something was missing in her life. Today, she is having fun not just teaching pupils but giving Christian education to a growing flock in Aba, Abia State with her husband. Meet Banke David, proprietor of Kings Kids Kindergarten and Pastor at Christ Riches Church in this interview with TAI ANYANWU How did you get into teaching?

During my years at the University of Lagos, I had the opportunity to teach at my local church’s Sunday School; and later taught during summer holiday lessons, both in Nigeria and internationally. I discovered that teaching comes to me naturally; but then I saw it more of a hobby, not a career. However, after my national service, I taught at the University of Lagos International School.

I also had a similar stint at my alma mater, Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, Lagos. At the first school where I taught, I found it very easy to bond with children and they loved me so much. When I was leaving the school, the principal promised to sponsor my post graduate diploma in education, but I de-

clined. Later on, I went to Methodist Girls High School

where I taught chemistry and mathematics. There, most of the kids loved me and wrote an essay, describing me as their best teacher. The principal of the school, Mrs. Seyinboren, had to call me and tell me to go and practise teaching, pointing out that it was my calling. I refused; because I like to be convinced about whatever I am to do. I rather joined the banking sector and worked there for five years; but I felt a void in me. So, I had to do some soul searching and several persons insisted that teaching was my calling. That’s how I became an educationist. I had to go and study education and here I am today.

Why do many Nigerians travel overseas nowadays to acquire education?

Aren’t there good

schools locally that can compete with the standards obtainable in those foreign schools?

There are many mushroom schools springing up without requisite facilities; and government seems not to doing much to maintain standards in the educational sector. But this is not to say that there are no schools in Nigeria that meet the standard in terms of facilities and quality of resource persons which those schools abroad parade. Nigerians actually don’t need to travel overseas for the purpose of acquiring education at any level. One only needs to do some searching and you will realise that there are many schools with great standards and even better standards than is obtainable overseas.

It is said that standard of education in Nigeria is falling. As an educationist, how can this falling standard be corrected?

There is the need to have a body that would ensure effective monitoring, with a viewing to sustaining prescribed standard of education and related policies.

It’s not as if government does not have organs that monitor schools but there is a need for effective monitoring. We need to clamp down on sub-standard schools.

It is not enough to open a school because others are prospering in it. You need to possess a vision in addition to having the calling for training children.

You also need qualified resource persons to help in making the vision a reality; you need a conducive and strategic location for learning. Location of industry is very vital in business success.

You also need to get the right teaching aid and equipment that will help you achieve your vision. The ability to know what your customers want is also relevant. You could like something and your customers might not like the same thing; that might turn out to become a problem. Customer satisfaction is primary in business. When you know your target market and you satisfy it, it will help you to succeed in business. Finally, you have to carve a niche for yourself by doing something different. If you do things the way others do, you won’t stand out, and you have to think ahead of your competitors.

What plans do have for your school in the next five years?

Beginning from next year, we intend to put up a world class edifice, at the permanent sight of King Kids Kindergarten otherwise known as Sun Rise International School here in Aba. It will be a world class college, and none will be like it here in Aba. We plan to employ an

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Body&Soul

to families -Banke David expatriate as its administrator and ensure that we have the right calibre of staff working with us. We are going to be doing so many different things like upgrading our curriculum with subjects like leadership skills, creative thinking and purpose/destiny. The reason why Nigeria is bad today is because we don’t have good leaders. We need to teach our children leadership skills; and inculcate creative thinking in them. Many people fail in life because they don’t know how to handle problems but when you start from the cradle to teach children how to solve problems independently they must surely succeed. Just watch out because we are going to have a breed of children that will stand before their generation and solve any challenge. I actually got my licence as a school proprietress in New York in 2008; and we have been providing quality service in the area of education since then.

Could you let us in on your love life and how you met your husband?

I am married to Pastor Obiechina Chinedu David, Senior Pastor of Christ Riches Church, Aba. I met my husband 18years ago. Funny enough, I met him here in Aba when I was working in Diamond Bank. I was posted from Lagos to Aba branch; as a result, I started worshipping with Peculiar Peoples Church, where Bishop Goddy Okafor is minister in-charge. It was in the church that I met my husband.

Tell us, was it love at first sight for you?

Well it depends on what you mean by love at first sight. But immediately I saw him, I loved him as a person. He is quite good to look at; he is handsome and everyone likes to associate with him. But if you meant if I fell in love with him at first sight, I would say ‘no’.

The love grew gradually and over time.

his wife and will not treat you shabbily.

ally crippled lots of families.

Was he romantic about his proposal?

Yes, my husband was very romantic.

He usually recorded love songs for me when we were courting.

Does he call you a special name?

He calls me sweetheart and I also call him sweetheart. It is when he is angry with me that he calls me by my name - Banke.

How are you coping with the challenges that come with marital life?

After we got married, everyone accepted me as his wife. I had to learn how to cook all the Igbo soups. Cooking was one of my hobbies and his family members wondered how a Yourba lady knew how to cook Igbo soups, even better than some Igbo ladies.

You run a church. Is that true?

Yes as a child, God actually showed me I was going to be a minister but I did not understand it. When I finished my national service, I took out time to pray and fast for three days.

During this programme, on the third day, God showed me a revelation. I saw a man talking to me in the market square, and there was so much noise that I couldn’t hear him, so I told the crowd to shut up and instantly I woke up. The meaning of that revelation came to me that God was trying to tell me what He wants from me but there are too many distractions around me.

So I asked God to forgive me and told Him to unveil to me what He wants of me. Well, it has not been easy combining them but the joy of the lord has been my strength.

Do you find it easy handling your business and the home front?

It has actually not been easy but I have a very understanding husband who helps me on the business front. He comes to the school to teach the children Bible instructions, making sure they are brought up in the way of the Lord.

So, we work together as a team. I also make sure I do my house chores before coming to the school.

I also live the school early enough to face the h o m e front.

How can the unmarried make a happy home?

To make a happy home, the bedrock must be love. No matter what

What was

Or do you mean that you played hard to get?

(Laughs) I was not an easy catch because we were not in any relationship.

Initially, we were just friends. We usually met to talk about everything under the sun. We were just good friends, he did not catch me and I did not catch him.

You are a Yoruba lady and he is Igbo.

Did both parents accept your proposal easily?

Well, I attended Christ Embassy as a youth and Pastor Chris usually says in Christ there is neither Greek nor Gentile. So when it comes to Christ you can relate with anybody, not minding his tribe or country. Initially, my parents and his were opposed to the relationship due to our tribal differences. I remember that his mother asked him if there were no Igbo girls he could get married to. For my own part, I have a father who is openminded because he lived overseas.

He relates with anyone, and his own interest was that the man must be a Christian. But my mom wanted to be sure, so she asked me if I knew what I was doing. She later found out that my husband loves God and she accepted him.

What did you love most about your husband when he proposed to you?

My husband is very tall and handsome. This made me to be physically attracted to him. But I won’t encourage anyone to judge by physical appearance when choosing a husband. Look for the love of God in him, is he a God-fearing man? Any man that loves God will love

growing up like?

I grew up in the university community because my father was a professor, but now retired. He lectured physics at the University of Lagos; my mother is also an educationist. She retired as a principal; right now, she is the proprietress of a school in Lagos, even at 75. Growing up was fun, I made friends with other kids whose parents were lecturers. My dad taught us the principles of hard work because he was a principled man, and a man of integrity. My mom was a loving woman who brought us up with the fear of the Lord. I grew up to

know that a good name is better than riches. I never tried to veer off from what my parents taught me, even when I was away from home. It is important to train up a child in the way of the Lord so that when he/she is old, he/she will not depart from it.

Do you operate a joint account with your husband?

No. It does not work for us. The only thing we do is if we want to get something together, he brings from his account and I bring from mine. Whatever I have belongs to him as well as his.

Operating the same account has actu-

you are doing in life, if it’s not based on love, it is lust. Your motive must be driven by love. Another virtue is forgiveness. Why most marriages crash today is because spouses don’t forgive each other of their wrongs. There should be understanding between husband and wife. You should seek to understand and not seek to be understood. Don’t always think your husband should understand you; learn to understand him.

Always learn to submit to your husband, whether he is right or wrong. Finally, patience is an ingredient to make a happy home. Always learn to take it.

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Body&Soul with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

chibumah@yahoo.com

I’ll get a hubby in six weeks (3)

T

he drive home is short and exciting. Kathryn likes speeding when the road is clear. There are very few other vehicles on the road. Buoyed by the alcohol in her system, she speeds her heart out.

Dave pulls up beside her at a point and signals her to go easy on the throttle. She laughs, pouts her lips at him and reduces her speed anyway.

Ikeja never sleeps. They meet more vehicles on the road and Kathryn slows down some more.

At the gate to her street, she talks briefly with the securitymen and they let her and her visitor in.

“He’s coming back immediately,” she tells them as she drives in.

Kathryn parks her car inside her compound and Dave drives in after her, parks and alights.

“Are you not going home?”

She asks, surprise in her voice.

“I can’t,” Dave replies, adding, “No one will open the gate for me at this time. It’ll be suicidal for me to sit outside my estate gate at 4am.”

As Kathryn mulls over his statement, he asks, “Won’t you invite me in? Anyway, if you don’t feel comfortable, having a gentleman spend some hours in your home, I’ll sit in the car.”

“Oh no, you can come in,” she tells him.

She doesn’t want her neighbours to see a man sleeping in a car -a wonder on wheels.

“Oh thanks. I promise not to eat you up,” he says.

Kathryn leads the way into her tastefully furnished threebedroom apartment.

She had looked forward to sleeping in her birthday suit after a cold shower. With a strange man around, she will find that difficult to achieve. She kicks off her shoes.

“You’ve got great taste,” Dave says, looking around the sitting room approvingly.

“Thanks,” Kathryn replies, longing for her bed. She is weary, no point wasting her time with a married man. She needs male company, but she wants an unattached man.

“Can I have a glass of water?” Dave asks.

Kathryn feels like shouting at him, but says instead,”Oh sure.”

She drags herself into the kitchen and reappears, bearing a glass and a little bottled water in a tray.

“Thanks,” he says, looking into her eyes as she places the tray gently on the centre table.

He downs the water in a few gulps and asks for more.

“OMG! Is this what his wife goes through?” Kathryn asks herself.

She tells her visitor, “I’m really tired and will like to sleep. You can help yourself. That is the kitchen. When you’re through, the room to your left is the guest room, in case you don’t feel comfortable on the divan. Right now, I’m gonna snatch some sleep.

Just tap my door when you’re leaving and I’ll come let you out. I’ll have to call the security post for you to be

allowed to drive out.”

She picks her bag and keys and wobbles to her room on the right.

Inside, she locks herself in, flops on the bed and is asleep the next moment. ***** Dave looks around him for the umpteenth time and concludes that Kathryn has got good taste. She has two framed pictures on the wall -a personal and a groupie. The groupie looks like a family picture -father, mother, two sons and two daughters.

He moves into the kitchen. Everything is clean and organised. He opens the fridge, picks two small bottles of water and walks back to the sitting room.

Kathryn is beautiful and mature.

She is confident. These are what he desires in a woman. Then, she is doing well for herself...that is a plus.

He picks his shoes and car key and moves to the guest room.

Hmmmmmmmm...tastefully furnished.

He moves to the bathroom. This

lady must have lodged in very good hotels. Everything a visitor needs is there -clean towels, new toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, shaving kits... you name it.

He picks a toothbrush, brushes his teeth, takes a shower and moves to the bed. Clean, comfortable sheets.

“It is obvious there’s no man in her life. Who is she? Why would such a beautiful, comfortable woman be all alone? Only a woman without a man around her would go to a club alone. She never made a single call and never behaved like she was expecting someone while at the club.

So why did she lie that she was there with friends? She sounds nice also...”

Dave’s mind searches for answers to these questions and more.

As he tosses and turns on the bed, he realises that he has fallen in love with the strange woman.

Love? Yes! He has never felt this way before about a woman and the feeling is sweet. It can only be love.

“At almost 42, I should be thinking

of marriage. Kathryn is just the kind of woman I need in my life,” he mumbles and regrets lying to her that he is married and that his family are holidaying abroad. He’s been scaring women away with that tale.

The truth is, he is lonely and needs a woman to take care of him.

He thinks of Kathryn and feels so happy and relaxed.

It’s a few minutes before 5am. He should leave in the next 30 minutes. He shuts his eyes to relax for a while and sleep overwhelms him.

He dreams of living in a beautiful house with Kathryn. They have children and are living in peace... ****** Kathryn wakes with a start.

It’s past 7am! She’s still in her club attire. She jumps out of bed and pulls off her dress. As she makes for the bathroom, she remembers that she has a guest.

She shouts and closes the door of the bathroom.

She’s in her room and the door is secured anyway.

She wonders why the man hasn’t gone. There’s no way he could have gone. She has the key of the front door with her...unless he breaks the door.

What if he is an armed robber? What if he’s lurking behind the door, waiting to attack her once she opens her room door? What if he’s a rapist?

Fear clutches her heart.

“Why did I allow him in? I could have left him in his car outside. But why did I allow him to drive home with me?”

She steels herself, whoever he is, she can take care of herself.

In her years of being a professional escort, she had been in grave danger a lot of times. She had travelled many times to different countries with strange men who were only interested in her body and the pleasure she gave them. Very few of them were nice. They paid so much and had to exact their pound of flesh. But that was before she turned a new leaf.

She has left that life and left the name she was known by then. She also left her area of operation and moved into a new locality, all in an effort to obliterate her past.

She is now Kathryn, a new person, seeking a new life, wanting to get married to a loving man.

After her bath, she wears a nice Tshirt over shorts, picks a pen knife from a drawer and moves to the door.

There, she stands for some minutes and listens, no sound. She turns the lock noiselessly and gently opens the door, expecting the stranger to rush her.

Dear readers, it’s getting exciting once again. What happens next? Join me here on Sunday!

Send your observations to chibumah@yahoo.com

21

JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Get the perfect eyebrows Vanessa Okwara

I

t’s almost impossible to look polished when you have, unkempt brows. Brows not only frame the eyes, a wellgroomed pair adds instant polish to your look.

If you don’t feel like spending money at the salon to get your eyebrows shaped, learn how to do it yourself.

Bring out the natural shape and beauty of your

brows by following this guide:

Step 1 Gather your tools: A brow pencil to fill in sparse areas, an eyebrow brush, slanted-tip metal tweezers and grooming scissors.

Step 2 Map out brows. To find your natural brow shape and thickness, let brows grow out for a

month. Then, hold the brush against the side of your nose so its tip rests on your forehead.

Your brows should begin where the edge of the bristles lands.

Next, align the brush with the outside edge of your iris. Where the brush meets your brow is your arch.

Finally, hold the brush diagonally from your nostril to the outer corner of your eye and up

to your brow. The point where the brush intersects with the brow is where the brow should end. Repeat the same procedure for the other eyebrow.

Step 3 Trim: Using the brow brush, sweep brows up toward your forehead.

Then use brow scissors to snip just the very ends of any long hairs and repeat brushing downward.

Trimming the hair before

tweezing will reveal the brow shape and remove the weight and bulk so that you can create an ideal shape. With grooming scissors, snip strands of hair longer than your natural brow line. Brush hairs back to their natural position.

Step 4 Tweeze: Standing about a foot from the mirror, pluck one row of hair on the bottom of brows, going from

nose to arch, to temple.

Always pluck in the direction of hair growth to prevent ingrown hairs.

Then pluck stray hairs along lids. Don’t pluck hair above brows -that can alter your natural shape. Using a brow pencil, fill in colour within the brows in direction of hair growth.

Following this steps will help you get the eyebrows that fit the shape of your face perfectly.

22 JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

starts with choosing the right cut for your figure. For instance, blazers can make the petite woman look very mature in a way that few other clothing items do. The trick is to make sure that the blazer hugs and accents your curves very well.

The beautiful thing about this fashion item is that you can use just one blazer to create different styles from the clothes in your wardrobe. You can use your blazer to create professional, dressy, or casual looks. Are you going for a job interview? A blazer will immediately make you feel more in control, with its strong, sharp shoulders.

Stepping out for a hot date?

That same blazer can add a tough, not-trying-too-hard edge to your pretty floral dress. Do you want to make an impression at a cocktail

43

he blazer is a super-chic fashion item that can be used to create a broad variety of looks. The best thing about blazers is that they work in almost any environment and have the ability to instantly change the tone of your outfit to perfectly suit the occasion.

Wearing a blazer the right way

T

Vanessa Okwara

party? Simply add a sleek blazer to any sparkly or skintight dress to instantly tone down the flashy factor. Pair it with a killer pair of spiked stilettos and a sleek clutch and you’ve got a glamorous but sophisticated look worth toasting.

Blazers definitely look great with skirts, skinnies, loose tops, maxi dresses and skirts or styled with jeans and tank top. All you need to do is to accessories your ensemble with lovely high-heeled sandals, wedges or pumps and you are ready to rock your world.

The secret to styling with blazers is to know how to get the most use out of what you have in your wardrobe. Every female should have at least one blazer in her wardrobe. It is indeed one important fashion item every lady should own and if you don’t have one, it’s time to go shopping!

Fantastic ways to rock blazers

Body&Soul

Hardball ‘Insurgency should not be seen solely as security issue’ p.28

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

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Tel: 08033024007

JULY 27, 2014

Interview 'Why northern governors resist return of mission schools' p.27

23

Politics ON SUNDAY

Oyo 2015 and renewed battle for Agodi House W

ith the 2015 elections around the corner, factors that will shape which direction the pendulum of Oyo State politics will swing have begun to manifest very speedily. The two major political parties, All Progressives Congress, and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, have been taunting each other with a show of strength and test of popularity, particularly in the state.

The victory of Mr. Ayodele Fayose of the PDP in Ekiti State in the June 21, 2014 governorship election, has been raised the stakes for the state not only in Ekiti, but also in the entire South-West, particularly as the Osun State governorship election holds early next month.

The PDP lost the zone in the 2011 elections to the then Action Congress of Nigeria, which later fused into APC. But its gladiators have expressed the strong resolve to recapture it in the 2015 elections.

Hence, when Fayose stormed Ibadan, the Oyo State capital penultimate Wednesday, he was received by many of the chieftains of the party at a rally apparently staged to rattle the APC-led administration. The morale of the PDP in Ekiti buoyed the spirit of the SouthWest gladiators into moving from one state to another in the guise of a 'Thank-You-Visit’ by the governor-elect.

The Ibadan rally was a clear indication that the PDP was ready to test its popularity ahead of the 2015 governorship poll with the series of aspirants showcasing their capability and readiness to the electorate.

It was also a wake-up message to the Abiola Ajimobi-led state government that the former house of commotion, which lost the 2011 election owing to intra-party squabbles, is now united, consolidated and more than ever ready to bury the hatchet to ensure that the ruling APC is kicked out of the Agodi Government House in next year's election.

The acrimony which earlier surrounded the party's State Executive Council appeared to have been put to rest as the Yinka Taiwo-led team of the mainstream PDP took charge at the rally. Like an emperor taking charge of his kingdom, Fayose read the Riot Act to all aggrieved members of the party, who might constitute a cog in the wheel of victory of the party in Oyo. he asked them to leave if they so wished, else they would be dealt with, irrespective of their personality.

To drive home his point in the presence of the governorship aspirants like the immediate governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; Seyi Makinde; Prof. Soji Adejumo; Femi Babalola; former deputy to Alao-Akala, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi; former Senate Leader, Kolawole Teslim Folarin; and a former Sports Minister, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, the governor-elect recalled his face- off with the party in the past, when he had to leave it for the Labour Party.

As the battle for the governorship position in Oyo State hots up, SOLA ADEYEMO examines how the three prominent parties will battle for the Agodi House, and the equations which will determine the course of events

Ajimobi

Akala

Ladoja

He said, “The other time I was fighting the party, I didn't stay inside to fight. So, whoever is aggrieved for whatever reason is allowed to leave; but, to think you can claim to be in the party and be working against it will be met with stiff sanctions. Nobody is bigger than the PDP." He thanked the party's supporters for their solidarity with him in his struggle to become the first person to defeat two incumbent governors at different times, stressing that what happened in Ekiti could be replicated in other states in the region with unity of purpose.

“I was called a murderer, yes; they said I stole money and I was having cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yes. But, the people of Ekiti said they want me because of my connection with the grass roots," Fayose boasted.

He used the occasion to tell Ajimobi to prepare to pack out of the Government Secretariat by 2015, stating that: "The game is up for governments of deceit in the South-West.”

The scathing statement, however, did not go unchallenged as the APC in Oyo gave it back to Fayose and all other governorship aspirants who disparaged the party in their

talks during the rally. APC said that the people of Oyo State were too sophisticated for the pedestrian politics being played by Fayose, and warned him to concentrate his energy on his Ekiti people because Oyo would be too hot for his kind of politics.

“We have watched Fayose’s flippancy getting worse by the day since his alleged victory in Ekiti. We do not have any qualms with his riding on a roller coaster of this supposed victory and talking down on everybody, while telling them that he is the newest thing to happen to South- West politics. We only warn him that that brand of murky politics which saw him grandstanding and riding roughshod over everybody will not work in Oyo State.

We are a people who do not allow foreign generals lord it over us,” the APC said.

Chief Ishola Filani, Yinka Omilani, Senator Brimoh Yusuf, Chief Bamidele Dada, Engr.

Seyi Makinde, Prof. Soji Adejumo had met with Fayose at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan.

In his submission at the caucus meeting, Gbolarumi had identified ego problem as the bane of Oyo PDP. To him, the solution lies in identifying the true leader of the party and the need for consensus building among all party men and women, in such a way that every member will be satisfied with whatever is given to him.

Former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Asimiyu Alarape, and the only voice still talking about harmonisation of the executive council in the party in the state, told the people not to be carried away by the Ekiti State experience in the recent election. To him, Ekiti is homogeneous, whereas Oyo State is heterogeneous. What worked in Ekiti may not work in Oyo because of its zones, he warned.

He said APC was gone in Oyo State, but that PDP should close ranks to defeat it and form the next government.

"Nobody is an island. Nobody can win

PDP’s damage control efforts

On the eve of the rally, the big wigs of the party like Alao-Akala, Elder Wole Oyelese, Buruji Kashamu, Yinka Taiwo, Gbolarumi, Bola Doherty, Bose Adedibu (wife of the late 'Garrison Commander of Oyo politics, Lamidi Adedibu)', Dr. Saka Balogun (former Chief of Staff), South-West PDP Caretaker Chairman,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24

JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Analysis

Issues around Enugu East senatorial contest

I

Leo Sobechi n 1999, former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, mesmerised both the Peoples Democratic Party, the Alliance for Democracy and voters in Enugu East Senatorial District to represent the zone in the Senate. The charismatic former employee of Shell and chairman of Links International Limited disappointed those who wanted to deny him a place in the emerging Fourth Republic by planting a dummy in AD. When the election held, the implausible happened: without producing even a single member of the state house of assembly or of the House of Representatives, the AD candidate, Chief Geoffrey Nnaji (Nwak’ibie) won.

As was to be later discovered, Jim decided on fielding Nnaji in AD against the PDP candidate for the Senate seat, Chief Kenechukwu Nnamani, after a stiff contest at the party primaries. In the end, his gamble paid off and he did not waste words or lose sleep as Nnaji surrendered his laurel by renouncing his return as winner of the election. Jim had his way after a ‘bye election’.

Ever since that epic battle replete with intrigues, the contest for Enugu East Senatorial seat has always been keen and gripping. In 2003 when Nnamani took a second shot at the Senate seat, he had to curry the support of the state government machinery commanded by the Ebeano Apostle, Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. Ken did not only win the election effortlessly, but he went on also to become the President of the Senate. Intriguingly, both Nwobodo and Senator Nnamani hail from the same Amechi in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state. However, the same way Senator Nnamani was used by Governor Nnamani to supplant Nwobodo in 2003 was how the governor deployed his Ebeano political machinery in stopping the president of the Senate in 2007. With that, Ebeano went to the Senate after his eight years as governor of Enugu State! Such was the swing of the pendulum that in 2011, in an apparent display

Chime

of political supremacy and quiet irony, incumbent Governor Sullivan Chime acceded to the 'clamour' by the people of Nike by propping up Hon. Gilbert Nnaji, then of the House of Representatives to take Chimaroke’s place in the Senate. The Nike people had claimed that they were short changed by Nwobodo in 1999 from producing the senator in the person of Chief Agbo Nike (now late). The choice of Nnaji, who was a member of the House of Representatives, was to achieve two aims.

First, being a member of the Ebeano family, he was an interesting figure to be used against his former master, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.

Secondly, the fact that Nnaji hailed from Nike provided a perfect alibi that a rotation of the Senate seat among constituent communities was afoot. What was more, his ascension from being a two-term chairman of Enugu East Local Government to the Green chamber at the National Assembly enabled him to acquire the

Nnamani

much needed funds to prosecute the electoral battle against Chimaroke Nnamani. That was in 2011.

As 2015 turns the corner, the race for who represents Enugu East Senatorial district in the Senate is currently generating intense passion.

As with everything PDP, the popular political platform in Enugu State, all eyes are trained in the direction of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Lady Ifeoma Nwobodo. Two main considerations weigh in her favour and endear her to the leadership of PDP in the state. Apart from being a seasoned accountant who has demonstrated a keen political sense of managing the Sullivan administration, Nwobodo is married to Justice Nwobodo from Obe in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state. The plea of rotation sits pretty on her and she represents a potential voting bloc, the women! Those who support Nwobodo’s ambition argue that if Princess

Peace Nnaji could be helped with all her obvious shortcomings to go to the House of Representatives, it would be a great boon to women in politics if Ifeomadin’iru, as Nwobodo is now stylishly addressed, is supported to the Senate. The women contend that since they have been voting PDP all this while, giving one of theirs a Senate seat would be enough encouragement.

But there is the ex-Governor Nnamani challenge. Words that the former Enugu State governor, who was in the Senate from 2007 through 2011, wants to try his luck again for a return to the Senate started making the rounds, when he claimed to have returned to the PDP. His effort to break the jinx against a second term berth in the Senate through his inchoate People for Democratic Change platform hit the rocks in 2011. But while the Ebeano apostle dreamed of another seat at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, most Nkanu people complained that his was a naked display of greed for power. Though Nnamani hinted that his aspiration was to demonstrate that Nkanuland has qualified men to represent it, there was a faint allusion to the plot to hand over the ticket to a woman married from elsewhere. Those who oppose his ambition insist that nobody has gone to the Senate for two terms in the zone. They also maintain that after serving Enugu State for two terms as governor and representing Enugu East as senator, “Ebeano should look for other pastimes.”

Other commentators like Nana Ogbodo believe that Chimaroke’s years as governor diminished the excellent leadership pedigree of Nkanu people. And so with all these negative sentiments mounting against the immediate past senator, Lady Nwobodo appeared good to go for the Senate!

But while supporters of Lady Nwobodo designed victory songs and emblazoned glorious posters in her praise, the news that former Minister of Information, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., had joined the fray broke out!

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Akala, Ladoja and Ajimobi's battle for Agodi House C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

election on his or own. Let us do what is needed in all our respective 33 local government councils. We are going to remain in PDP, fight within and get the result for the party,” he counselled.

In her contribution, Alhaja Bosede Adedibu said God would use Fayose to help Oyo achieve success too, noting that "in unity we stand, divided we fall.”

She added, "Let's seek a solution and drop individual ambitions first by building a strong, virile and united Oyo PDP.” At the rally held at the Watershed Event Centre, Old-Ife Road, Ibadan, the PDP Chairman, Yinka Taiwo, described the event as “a historic gathering, a victory gathering and the beginning of many new things to come.” He said as the chairman of the chapter of the PDP, he was overjoyed by a fresh air (the election of Fayose), that has begun to blow in the SouthWest political landscape.

Taiwo said the victory of Fayose in Ekiti eight years after his exit underscored the fact that PDP still occupied an important place in the hearts of Nigerians. “The problem is not about the people not loving us; it is about us not loving one another. And to continue the reclamation of the South-West for the PDP, I say without fear of immodesty, that we need to be united. As you all know, the drive to reclaim the South-West which was and still is a stronghold of the PDP in Nigeria, will continue on August 9, in Osun State.

He said, “Together, we must liberate our

people and bring genuine development to the states of the region again. Together, we must make our people happy again and to achieve that, not only do we need one another, we must forget our differences and build the party in the South-West,” Taiwo said gleefully.

One after the other, the governorship aspirants, who threatened to kick out Ajimobi, spoke on the need for the party to reclaim the South-West region from the APC. It was, however, apparent that Alao-Akala stole the day going by the accolades he got from his supporters who thronged the venue.

Even as the PDP says it will defeat the APC in the 2015 election, many of Ajimobi's former allies have also bared their anger at his administration, with many of them dumping the party for opposition parties. Among them is Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (representing Oyo South Senatorial District), who has defected to the Accord Party of Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

Also, the senator representing Oyo Central, Ayoade Adeseun, who recently dumped the APC and has returned to the PDP, promised to contest against Ajimobi. Adeseun was a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, but had a face-off with his Ogbomoso kinsman, Alao-Akala, and worked against his second term by defecting to the ACN, and secured the Senate seat.

However, the two are now jolly fellows in the PDP. Lanlehin, who was to contest the governorship election with Ajimobi in 2011, fell

out with him shortly after the poll. He had alleged that Ajimobi was too dictatorial and was not used to taking counsel from others, hence he dumped the party.

APC spits fire

The APC leadership would, however, not allow any attack on the party go unchallenged, as it has responded to Lanlehin's comments about the governor. The party, in a statement issued in Ibadan by its State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, said that Lanlehin was behaving true to type by his recent action of dumping the APC for Accord Party - a move it said would continue to haunt him for as long as he remained in politics.

The party said Lanlehin has exhibited his penchant for speaking from both sides of his mouth, wondering that at what point did he discover APC as lacking in ideology when he had claimed he was never a member of the party in the first instance.

"If the senator, who has never spent a single term with any political party since he started his political career, now thinks he can worm himself into the people's heart and gain political recognition by attacking APC and Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the media after committing the political suicide of leaving the APC, then he should be told in plain language that he is merely deceiving himself,” APC said.

With the current defection of the two senators from the APC, and the third from Oyo North senatorial district, Senator Hosea Agboola being a member of the PDP, the APC

has no senator from the state in the National Assembly.

Not left out in the war against the APC's continued existence in Oyo is the Accord Party which also shares members of the House of Assembly with the APC. Ladoja is bent on contesting the governorship election with Ajimobi by next year, with the collapse of the alliance with the Ajimobi government.

Another threat to the APC is the defection of some former APC chieftains to the LP. Among them are Chief Sarafadeen Alli, a former SSG in Ladoja's administration and former boss of Odu'a Investment Company Limited until his recent resignation. Others are a former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Kazeem Adedeji, and a former Special Adviser on Transport, Yemi Aderibigbe.

All of them dumped the APC a few months ago to receive Governor Olusegun Mimiko in Ibadan during the inauguration of the party's secretariat in the state Beside the foregoing, the trio have their various baggages. Senator Rashidi Ladoja who was impeached from office in 2006, but won at the Supreme Court, eventually lost his second term bid to his deputy, Adebayo AlaoAkala. He consequently formed Accord Party in anger against the PDP that betrayed him.

Ladoja is bent on having his second term bid realised on the platform of the party, having failed in 2011. He had to face EFCC’s prosecution in a case of financial mismanagement.

The case is yet to be dispensed with.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

25

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Politics / Column

Okadigbo's empowerment programme in Anambra

O

ne of the fulcrums of democracy is separation of powers among the three arms of government as enshrined in the Constitution. Authors of the Constitution in democratic societies of the world designed this division of functions to avoid conflict of power in governance.

In developed democracies, this principle is strictly adhered to, but some political scholars prefer to talk about fusion of powers where the three arms of government have to cooperate, collaborate and complement one another in order to deliver meaningful, impactful governance to the citizenry.

Again, in an evolving democracy like Nigeria, with manifest indices of underdevelopment--unemployment, diseases, poor infrastructural facilities and abject poverty-- the concept and practice of separation of powers tend to be in abeyance because the citizens do not understand it.

As a matter of fact, they not only expect the members of the Legislature to directly or indirectly create employment for them, they also want the parliamentarians to use their personal funds to provide social amenities for them as well as give them money for their various needs. To avoid blackmail at elections, lawmakers have no option than to embrace this culture.

In this spirit of complementary governance, Senator Margery Chuba Okadigbo, last week embarked on empowerment Programme in Anambra North Senatorial District, which she represents in the Senate in the last three years. To this effect, over 700 constituents from the area were given cars, motorcycles, deep freezers, clippers, generators, blenders and grants to start small scale businesses.

In her remarks, Senator Okadigbo explained that the major objective of the programme was to make the people self-

A

lthough, the opinion of Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, may not be sought when the High Court in Lagos decides on the case instituted by the All Progressive Congress against the deployment of soldiers in Osun State during the governorship election next month, that may not stop him from expressing his views on the contentious matter.

Jega, at an interactive session with news managers in Abuja, last week, lent his support to the deployment of soldiers by the Federal Government during elections, saying they provide security to officials of the commission and voters on Election Day. The INEC chairman, who described himself as students of politics and military rule, and had even published papers on militarisation, denied that the electoral process in Ekiti Election was militarised.

"Yes, there was heavy security presence, but I don't think it can be conceived as militarization," Jega asserted.

This may be a new dimension to the argument. Ekiti State was the third the Federal Government deployed military personnel in the conduct of elections. Before then, armed personnel were used in the conduct of Edo, Ondo and Anambra State elections. The elections were won by the now defunct, Action Congress of Nigeria, which later fused with three other political parties to form APC), the Labour Party (LP) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) respectively. Perhaps, the furor over military presence in Ekiti State on June 21 may be because the election was won by the candidate of the Peoples

From the Chukwu David chukwudavid68@yahoo.com

employed and reduce their dependence on government and private individuals for survival. She further said that she was determined to make her constituents begin to create wealth themselves instead of being economically helpless and dependent.

The politician instituted the scheme specifically to complement what the executive arm of government was doing in the areas of socio-infrastructural development in the state, by helping the people to be more productive and live better.

Precisely, on July 18, 2014, the President of Senate, Senator David Mark was in Anambra to formally launch the scheme and witness the handing over of the empowerment items to the beneficiaries

by Senator Okadigbo. Mark, who was overwhelmed and highly elated by Okadigbo’s commitment to the welfare of her constituents, commended the Senator for her determination to fight poverty amongst her people and make them players in the local economy instead of parasites.

In addition to the empowerment equipment which was distributed, Okadigbo has also placed 500 other constituents on monthly allowances to enable them survive and feel the impact of democracy.

The second phase of the programme will

give opportunity to other constituents who were not given items in the first phase to also benefit from their magnanimous lawmaker.

At the distribution of the items, over 30 traditional rulers from Anambra North came to witness the event. The paramount Ruler of Umunya Kingdom in Oyi Local Government. Igwe Kris Onyekwuluje, who was at the occasion, said that the people were witnessing such an event for the first time in the history of the constituency. He described Okadigbo as “a worthy representative of the people.”

Therefore, he called on other politicians to emulate her noble legacy and assist the people who he said, were suffering for lack of attention from those in positions of power.

The regent of Awkuzu kingdom in Anambra North, Owelle Peter Emenaka, towed the same line just as the traditional ruler of Ogbunike, Senator Okadigbo’s hometown, (Igwe John Umenyiora), who had earlier on conferred a chieftaincy title on the Senate President, described Senator Okadigbo as an asset to the people of Anambra State in particular and Nigeria in general. He added that crime would reduce if politicians could faithfully respect the ‘’social contract’’ they have with the people.

Senator Okadigbo also distributed am-

bulance vehicles to Health Centres in Anambra North. She had earlier built classroom blocks in various parts of the seven local government areas in her senatorial district and given jobs to about 40 graduates from the area.

Also, Executive Secretary of Okadigbo Foundation, Dr. James Okoroma said, "for Senator Okadigbo, the future is bright as long as she continues to ‘’carry the people along’’. She has demonstrated that women are not docile in politics and governance as some people erroneously believe. In fact, Okadigbo has empirically confirmed the saying that 'what men can do, women can do also, and in some cases, they even do better'.

Thrilled by the Senator's bold strides, David Mark said: "Undoubtedly, Okadigbo has re-drawn the map of Anambra North politics with the giant steps she has taken. She has also endeared herself to the people and made them see her as a politician who can be trusted. Mark made this clear in his remarks when he appealed to the people to continue to vote for Senator Okadigbo since she had proven that she is a grassroots politician and shown that she would always give them effective representation in the National Assembly.

Although it can be argued that it is not the core mandate of the legislature to venture into this kind of endeavour, the peculiar nature of our democracy and level of development has made it almost imperative for the complementary governance to continue until we are fully mature as a nation. It is only when we get to the point where each arm judiciously executes its statutory functions for the maximum benefit of the greatest number of the citizens that the members of the parliament can be free from unnecessary pressure from the electorate.

Between Jega and use of soldiers in elections

INECDiary Onyekachi Eze

Democratic Party.

The INEC Chairman’s position differs markedly from that of the APC and other political groups. The party has filed a case in court seeking to restrain the Federal Government from deploying soldiers for the purpose of supervising the conduct of August 9 governorship election in Osun State.

Dr. Olapade Agoro, former presidential candidate of now deregistered National Action Council also believes that deploying the military to supervise the electoral process denies democracy its real virtue, which is to allow the people free choice to choose their leader. In the same way, Kemi Okenyodo, executive director of CLEEN Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, said military deployment during elections impedes the development of the Nigeria Police, which is statutorily mandated to maintain internal security in the country.

The use of armed personnel in elections security in Nigeria started in 2012 during

ezekatchy@yahoo.co.uk

the conduct of Edo State governorship election, following the loss of lives in the pre-electioneering crisis in the state. And the success of these men in maintaining law and order in the state must have informed the extension to other states, thereby seemingly making it a tradition.

To INEC and other election stakeholders who witnessed the unfortunate incident that led to the death of over 13 National Youth Service Corps members who were on election duty in the North East in 2011, military presence on Election Day is acceptable whole heartedly, if it will guarantee security of lives of INEC officials and the voters. Anybody who is in the shoes of Prof. Jega will therefore, welcome the decision to deploy the military on the day of the election.

The political climate in the country is always a real cause for concern. Statements by politicians during electioneering campaigns are inflamatory and often cause tension, heighten fears and apprehension on the electorate. Some of them could not

come out to exercise their franchise for fear of being attacked by political thugs.

Since a tough situation needs tough measure to overcome, one can rightly understand why government has resorted to that. Since armed personnel (especially soldiers) are being deployed to supervise the conduct of elections, incidences of electoral violence, intimidation by armed political thugs and ballot box snatching have reduced. These are some of the benefits.

The use of the military in election is however, neither here nor there. Except in Ekiti State, which witnessed large turnout of voters, voter apathy characterised the three previous elections. These may not be blamed entirely on military presence since there are other factors, but the presence of soldiers on the day of election is enough to scare voters away from the polling units.

That is why there is need for a meeting point. While the use of armed personnel in the conduct of election is alien in advanced democracies, electioneering campaigns in those countries are issue based and are devoid of inflammatory statements. Politicians conduct themselves with respect and decorum.

Those kicking against military deployment in the conduct of elections should equally advise our politicians to borrow a leaf from other democracies and ceased from over-heating the polity by their conduct and statements. In this way, the military could be restricted to their constitutional duty.

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Politics

When FEC paid tribute to the repertoire of the oil industry

I

t is usually a great honour and a challenge to be asked to pay tribute to outstanding personalities that have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers. Finding the right words to express one’s view about the exit of a loved one is usually difficult, because at such moments, emotions run high.

It was indeed not different last Wednesday when members of the Federal Executive Council devoted a special time at their weekly meeting at the Presidential Villa to pay their last respect to one of their own and former Petroleum Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman who died at age 76.

Dr. Lukman was the fourth person to be paid such high honour in death by Nigeria's highest executive policy making body since President Goodluck Jonathan took over the mantle of leadership. The first time council under Jonathan paid such respect for the dead was after the death of former President Umaru Yar'Adua in May, 2010.

In December 2012, following the unfortunate helicopter crash involving the former governor of Kaduna State Patrick Yakowa and General Andrew Azazi, council held the second valedictory session were members poured in tributes to the two eminent Nigerians.

Again on June 11, FEC devoted special time for a valedictory session in honour of former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, and Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akumyili who had died while treating cancer in far away India.

At the 30 minutes solemn ceremony for late Dr. Lukman, presided over by President Jonathan, the ceremony saw outpouring of condolences and glowing tributes from ministers who expressed many of the personal experiences quite unique of how humane the globally reckoned oil industry Nigerian Ambassador lived his life in service to his father land. Commencing the session, MinC O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 4

Young, well-spoken and blessed with some measure of federal connections, the former Information Minister connects with the youth.

It is partly because of this bonding with young people that raised attention to the ensuing battle for the PDP’s Senate ticket in the zone.

There is, however, apprehension in certain quarters that Nweke Jnr. may after all be a joker thrown up by the former governor to deny Chime the opportunity of fielding his preferred candidate for the ticket.

Again, some elements within the senatorial zone regard Ozalla, from which Nweke Jnr. Hails, as not belonging to the core Nkanu land, which shares the Senate seat with Nike people. Others express the fear that should Nweke Jnr., a former director-general of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, clinch the PDP ticket, any candidate from the Nkanu mainland on the opposition platform would beat him.

Yet, despite these narrow sentimental considerations, the fact of his impressive credentials and global connections continue to win him the admiration of a cross-section of the social strata. For instance, not long ago, he was invited to join the membership of the Global Agenda Council on Africa for 2014/2016 by the World Economic Forum. Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, Klaus Schwab, who invited him to the influential council, said he “is one of the world’s most relevant and knowledgeable thought leaders in the field.”

In the letter of adoption dated June 3, 2014, Schwab stressed that “Nweke’s expertise would be instrumental in helping the Council collaboratively develop pertinent insights and solutions to address the global challenge.

“As a council member,” the letter added, “Nweke will meet virtually with other council members throughout the Council term,

Anule Emmanuel emmyanule@yahoo.com ister of Petroleum, Mrs. Allison Diezani Madueke, said: "We lost a venerable son, who served as OPEC president twice. He also served and as Secretary General of OPEC. He was indeed renowned and respected throughout in the oil and Gas world. He was a very forthright and humorous gentleman.

He was a living compendium of the history of the Nigerian extractive industry's sector.

Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke was the next to contribute.

Hear said; "I wish to recall that as a divisional general manager in the NNPC, Dr. Lukman was the last minister that I served before I left that great organisation sometime in 1999. He was such a wonderful repertoire of information and influence. In the comity of ministers of petroleum globally, Dr. Lukman was a diplomat with very firm character, a Nigerian who was very proud to flaunt his ‘Nigerianess’ especially in his outlook. Dr. Lukman would literally float like a butterfly and when it was time to position Nigeria appropriately and extract the gains due to this country, he would sting like a bee.

"Domestically, he wielded such great influence; he was indeed a friend across divides.

I think, the contributions that he has made in the sector have formed some of the building blocks of what we see today as a sector that is sustaining the economy of this great country, a true Nigerian, a citizen of the world.

In the words of Abba Moro, Minister of Interior said: "Dr. Lukman devoted his

public service life to the entire service of this country in the international. In the oil and gas industry, he got a niche for himself and Nigeria and served very meritoriously a country that he so loved. Unfortunately at this time sir, as Nigeria particularly, the leadership of this country would rely on the wise counsel of statesmen like Lukman, he cold hands of death have passed him away.

Dr. Akiwunmi Adesina took his turn, stating that: “ Dr. Lukman was clearly an outstanding Nigerian. I did not know him personally, I didn't have to. His work and outstanding performance made him known to all of us. Dr. Lukman was synonymous to OPEC and for many of us, OPEC was indeed synonymous to OPEC. To have attained this level of international reputation, clearly comes from a distinct intellect, experience and uncommon dedication.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ayim Pius Ayim also did not hide his feelings on the death. "Your Excellency, accept my condolence on this great loss to our nation. He had mentored many young Nigerians of which I am one. He was thorough in all that he has to do and indeed wise in every step that he took. He was kind and indeed godly. No doubt Nigeria has lost one of its finest statesmen.

President Jonathan concluded with the session where he poured kind word on late Lukman. In his early days, he schooled in the Federal College and made a first class in mining engineering- of course, the first

Nigerian to achieve that level of excellence.

For that reason, the university later on honoured him with honorary doctorate degree.

President Jonathan said: "He worked in Austria and Norway before coming to Nigeria to work and later became Managing Director Nigerian Mining Corporation in Jos. We appreciated his achievement by including him in the list of our centenary honours. He is among Nigerians that have impact in the first 100 years in our journey as a nation. My first interaction with Dr. Lukman was when I was a deputy governor in Bayelsa State. I had a robust relationship with him. Though he was a highly placed person but operated at a very low level of respect and related with all Nigerians. He was a gentle with amiable character. These are the kind of persons we need in Nigeria.

I also worked with him when I was the Vice President to late President Yar'Adua.

Initially when we started the government, the late President was the Minister of Energy. Under the Minister of Energy, we had the Minister of State Petroleum and Minister of State Power, but that didn't work quite well. So Lukman was brought in as the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Odein Ajimogobia was his Minister of State. Even then, Lukman showed exemplary character.

He was very calm, focused and showed that he was someone who knew his onions. He was a father figure to cabinet members. He was much older than most of us. Lukman was advanced in age, but the country still needs his services, we know death must come to all of us, we are mere mortals. But when it comes, it matters, even at very relatively advanced age, there are some people you will not want to lose, Dr. Lukman is one of such," he added.

It is good to be good while passing through this earthly journey. If the eulogies that came with his death from council members are anything to go by, then they are worth emulating.

Issues around Enugu East senatorial contest We need a man who will continue to see Enugu as his constituency and not that he comes from a section of it; who would conceive development beyond the parochialism of clan sentiment as well as in person at the Summit on the Global Agenda, the world’s largest brainstorming exclusively reserved for Global Agenda Council Members.” Schwab added that Nweke was expected to submit his views on what world leaders should be watching out for and thinking about for 2015, remarking that his contribution will form the basis of the Global Agenda Outlook, one of the World Economic Forum’s flagship publications. As DG of NESG, Nweke Jnr. was involved in the successful hosting of WEF in Abuja from May 7 - 9, 2014. A hitch-free conference was also organised for the visiting foreign dignitaries, including Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, and more than 1,000 captains of industry and opinion moulders from around the world.

There were suggestions that about pledges of $68 billion were secured during the threeday world event to support growth and development in Africa, including Nigeria. On September 18, 2015 Nweke Jnr. will clock 50.

In 2009 when he assumed the leadership of NESG, Nweke Jnr. introduced the Presidential Policy Dialogue and ensured that the recommendations from the annual Nigerian Economic Summit are considered by the Federal Executive Council. Sources say that it was in a bid to improve the advocacy influence

of NESG that he initiated a programme of tracking the effectiveness of the Nigerian legislature. It is believed that his four-year’ stint as minister at different ministries equipped Nweke Jnr. for legislative assignment.

And so given that Lady Nwobodo is also well read and possesses demonstrable leadership abilities, the contest for the Enugu East ticket will fit its billing. Right from 1999, the zone has proved true to type that the sunshine of effective and visible representation in Enugu State rises in the East. As such, discounting any feeble fight for a second term ticket at the Senate which the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Nnaji may put up, Nweke Jnr. constitutes a major challenge to Ifeoma Nwobodo’s journey to the Senate in 2015. Whether therefore Lady Nwobodo or Nweke Jnr. eventually picks the PDP ticket, Enugu East would have a bright candidate. Though a possible line up comprising former old Enugu State Governor and ex-National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, for the North; Lady Ifeoma Nwobodo, for the East; and Chime, for the West, there is no ruling out the surprises that attend free and fair contests. If not, it is politically correct to have a woman represent Enugu East in the Senate and have the zone set the pace once again in its liberal politics.

One interesting insight to the forthcoming battle for Enugu East is that it is being made to look as a referendum on Ebeano politics and Chime’s style. The general perception among Enugu people is the Chime has distributed social amenities and infrastructure evenly among the various sections of the state.

Some sources are of the firm belief that the search for Chime's successor will also impact

on the Enugu East senatorial contest.

In an interview with New Telegraph on Sunday, the Director of Tropical Watch, a non-governmental agency tracking good governance, Nana Ogbodo, said the fact that Enugu people are enamoured with Chime’s style, will affect their voting behaviour in 2015. Stressing the general focus on Chime's administration, Ogbodo noted, “We need a man who will continue to see Enugu as his constituency and not that he comes from a section of it; who would conceive development beyond the parochialism of clan sentiment; who would appreciate that peace is the necessary pedestal for development. A man who would employ silent dignity to win what verbal pugilism often loses. A cosmopolitan figure that would not push us back to those anachronistic prejudices that divide instead of uniting us. Democracy has served as a validating index for the Wawa man.”

Such a sentiment would readily tilt the pendulum in Lady Nwobodo’s favour.

But then, a lot depends on how far Chime and Deputy President of Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, go in resolving their parallel positions on the mode of selecting PDP candidates for the various elective offices. To perfect his decision that the governorship slot in 2015 should go to Enugu North, would Chime be prevailed upon to allow Ekweremadu and his Ebeano group to nominate the candidate for Enugu East or be asked to drop his ambition to run for the Senate? Where would the usual intrigues that define Enugu East politics as regards the Senate seat affect the expected showdown between Nweke Jnr. and Nwobodo? The next two months would provide the correct answer to the puzzle!

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Politics /National Conference

Bagobiri: Why Northern governors resist return of mission schools Bishop Joseph Bagobiri is of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State and a delegate of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) at the ongoing National Conference. In this interview, the cleric tells ONWUKA NZESHI that the schools which used to be citadels of learning and character building are now shadows of themselves.

According to Bagobiri, the schools are crying to be returned to their owners but there appears to be a conspiracy among the northern political elite not to return these schools as several states in the Southern part of Nigeria have done

W

hat is your view on the recommendation of the conference that schools set up by the missionaries and other voluntary agencies but were later taken over by the government be returned to their original owners?

It was a very positive recommendation.

It is in the right direction because the takeover of those schools was an act of injustice done to their owners. We are quite happy that in many parts of Nigeria, these schools that were taken over through a military fiat have been returned to their former owners. Not only that, a lot of money was set aside for the rehabilitation of such schools. But in other parts of Nigeria, particularly in the northern parts and when I talk about the northern parts again, I am referring to Kaduna State, these schools have not been returned.

Since they were taken over, their character was substantially changed; the names that they used to bear which were Christian names were changed to names that are anything but Christian. This made us to have the feeling that these schools were taken over with some very evil motives in the whole exercise. But I am quite happy that during the conference a committee recommended that the schools should be returned.

But during the debate, there seemed to be some resistance from some delegates from the North on the move to return these schools to their owners.

How do you feel about these voices of dissent?

Yes. We also saw how a group of persons came up during the conference and were against the return of these schools. Some were even saying that there were compensations paid to the owners which some of us denied because in our own particular case in Kaduna State, there was no compensation. Initially government considered the option of compensation but later on said the schools were run on charitable grounds and therefore they were not going to be compensated. So as the situation is for a good number of areas, that these schools were taken over in Northern Nigeria, no compensation has been paid and there seem to be nothing like some positive steps and measures being taken in order to return these schools. But we still believe it was an act of injustice and that these schools should not only be returned but money should be made available for their rehabilitation to bring them to their former state before they were taken over by the government. Most of them are in a very bad shape today and even if they are given back to the mission there is very little we can do with them in that condition.

Your position on the issue of compensation was quite different from the views

of a former Governor of the old North Western State, Usman Farouk and a former Minister of Education, Prof. Jubril Aminu. Why is there some confusion about whether compensation was paid or not?

Yes. I was able to speak with the former governor of old North-Western State to get his perspective on the matter, but he was talking of his particular area which I am not in a position to either confirm or not but I am talking to you from my particular experience in Kaduna State. Many of the schools were taken over and the records are there to show that there were no compensations paid to their owners.

That was why I was not happy when they made the kind of general statements that compensations were made. Actually in our own case, there was nothing like that.

The reasons why these schools were taken over has also been a source of controversy. Is it true that these schools were taken over because they were abandoned by their owners during the civil war?

It is s not true. We have to make a distinction between private schools and voluntary agencies schools. If they say that some Igbo people who ran private schools abandoned these schools during the civil war, there could be some elements of truth in that but the church never leaves a particular place. The church as an institution remains and we can say that either in Kaduna State or anywhere the schools that were established by the churches were not abandoned by anybody but were forcefully taken over and up till today they still cry out to e returned to their owners as an act of justice.

Now, I was worried about those who were saying that the missions or churches should now freely give the schools to the government. This is not the way to address a case of injustice. When an act of injustice has been done, what one expects is to take a part towards redressing that unjust act that has been done. You don't just tell the person who has been treated unfairly that "why not just hand over these schools to us at this point". I think that is not the correct approach. So I feel the schools are still crying to be returned to their owners and that is our position on the matter.

In the course of the debate, you said that the church is still paying ground rent for the lands occupied by these mission schools

many years after their takeover by government. Why is the church doing this?

It is true. In Kaduna, a good number of the schools the Catholic Church still pays the ground rent because some of the schools also had residential quarters for the missionaries. If you remember what happened when they were taken over was that government would cut off the school and leave the residential areas to the missions. For example, the Archbishop's residence in Kaduna was carved out and then Saint John's College which is now Rimi College was taken over. That area that housed the Archbishop and other clergy was carved out and kept as residence for the missionaries. So to pay for that portion of the land, you have to pay for all of it and that is what we have been doing. We don't just pay for the residence but the entire piece of land.

How many of such schools do you have in Kaduna?

They should be almost 13 schools. If we are to talk of primary schools, we will be talking about fifteen schools. But as for secondary schools, boys and girls secondary schools, we should be talking of something in the region of seven to ten.

Primary schools that were established by the miss i o n

were found in almost every part of Kaduna so you will talk of over 25 to 30 primary schools that were taken over.

Those calling for the return of schools to the missions usually talk about the kind of morals the schools impacted on society in their early days. Are you also basing your campaign on the premise that the takeover has brought about moral decadence and impacted negatively on the society?

Definitely, mission schools were a powerful force, n only for academic excellence but also for the building of people morally, particularly those who passed through these schools. Mission schools were known for balancing education and good moral upbringing for those who passed through such schools. In doing so, they were contributing not in a small way to the moral growth and development of our own society. That was quite clear during that period; a good number of our youths restrained themselves from most of the kind of anti-social behavior that we see being practiced today. Most of the breakdown of morality in our society has a lot to do with the takeover of the schools.

It is our sincere feelCONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Bgobiri

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / Hardball

‘Insurgency should not be Hon. Abdulrahman Abba Terab, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Bama/ federal constituency of Borno State in the House of Representatives, spoke to journalists on the activities of Boko Haram, the abducted Chibok girls and proffered solution on how to redress the deplorable state of the North-East region regarded as the hotbed of Boko Haram. PHILIP NYAM was there and produces this report

A

s someone who is from Borno State, can you give us an insight into how Boko Haram came to be?

It started in Kanama, Yobe State where it was known as Talibans. It was not even known as Boko Haram. Before then, most of the members were normal adherents of Islam who were youths who mobilised themselves as youth groups. They gathered in the Deribe Mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State. So, they were ordinary youths carrying out their activities until extreme views took the centre stage. It was the extreme views that took over the group that launched it in Kanama in 2002, during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was also when Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim was governor of the state. But it was dealt with then. But later on, between 2006 to 2008 and then 2009, it blossomed.

Before then, they held their preaching as normal Islamic groups everywhere in Maiduguri. For those who were frequent visitors to Maiduguri, you may have seen some of them preaching; it was not thought to be harmful. Be that as it may, some State Security agents felt that their leader then, Sheik Muhammed Yusuf, should be questioned about his activities. The SSS took him down to Abuja for questioning on about three different occasions but each time, they released him. It was clear the group gained some form of popularity after arrest and questioning of their leader. That became the epicenter of the entire affair. Of course, the major war was launched in 2009, where during the battle, Yusuf Muhammed died and his second in command, Abubakar Shekau took over. So, that is what those of us who are from there know about this group.

It’s been almost three months since the school girls were abducted in Chibok. The Boko Haram is now seeking for swap deal with 70 of their members. What is the way out?

First of all, I would like to say that the abduction of these girls is a security issue.

In one way or the other, I believe there are efforts to bring these girls back. Now, a lot of efforts are being made. I am not actually privy to some of the information as to why the exchange did not take place but I know that steps are being taken. When it come to the issue of whether there should be a swap or not, very recently in the United States, we have seen a prisoners swap between the US government and the Taliban of Afghanistan; we have seen various swaps between the Israeli government and the Palestinian prisoners. Of course, if you go down history lane, you see a lot of swaps. So it all depends on what you hope to achieve. I want to believe that at this point in time, the lives of the over 200 abducted Chibok girls is very important and very dear to this country and I believe they should be treated as precious.

How would you assess the psychology of Borno and other states vis-a-vis when Boko Haram started and now that it has become violent?

Generally, there was a misunderstanding from the onset. It has been misunderstood because even our neighboring states did not understand what was going on. But we have evolved over a period of time. The en-

Terab

tire community is infested with insurgents and you do not know who you are talking to. We have moved from the era where everybody is scared to report what has taken place because of repercussion. We have now got to a stage where the community has taken the security on itself and so the era of lack of information is over. We have now taken it upon ourselves that the time has come to stem this insurgency. To that extent the communities, especially in Borno State, have moved ahead. Government must play a vital role. But all things will have to be on the table because like I said, it is an ideological issue. So while adopting all the neces-

sary security issues, you must also look at the social aspect of it and the ideological aspect. Like I mentioned recently in one of my motion, it should not be seen from only a security point of view. It must be taken holistically and I believe that is a key factor that is missing in the implementation of the state of emergency. We have to look at areas where the society must be allowed to get back to itself while you are handling the security issues. That is the only thing that gives confidence. As long as people do not live where they are used to; and as long as the basic ingredients of livelihood are missing; you are still under fear under threat and

under psychological war. That is the reason why we are harping on the issue of rebuilding, rehabilitation and reconciliation. That has to move along with the security efforts so that whenever the efforts are put in place, we return to a state of normalcy.

Giving the achievements recorded by the civilian JTF in Borno State, would say Nigeria is now ripe for community and state?

The issue here is that of nomenclature.

Even before the civilian JTF came on board, the issue of state police has been in the front burner in the country. But for those of us who are now confronted with this security

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Politics / Hardball

seen solely as security issue’ challenge, I always try to avoid the politics of nomenclatures but would rather look at the substance of how it is been done or what should be done. To me, community policing and not state police should be key now; because you can still have a state in Nigeria. But what is important is community security and this has worked in Borno State. I said in the US some time ago that some of us who have been confronted with this challenge should be congratulated and celebrated because in the history of the fight against terrorism, especially our two similitudes, which is Pakistan and Afghanistan, till now have not reached the stage we have reached in community security. So long as the people of the community do not believe that this thing should be stopped, it will not be stemmed. This thing (insurgency) started in 2002 in Yobe State and by 2011, we are having community policing. It means within a spate of three years we have found a solution. That is why we believe that Borno State should be congratulated because we have given a clue to what we think is the solution to what we think is a global threat.

You recently sponsored a motion on the creation of refugees camps in the country. How feasible and desirable is this?

First of all, you need to go there and see the situation of the Nigerian citizens who have been chased out of their places to areas alien to them. Without necessary support- shelter, food, health care.

The people of Borno by nature are very conservative and you will be surprised to hear that there are people who live in Borno but have never visited Maiduguri and may not have known anybody in Maiduguri. Then if the person is a man, he can probably sleep on the street but the same cannot be said for a woman who was chased out of her place; whose husband was killed and every male child that is of age was lost in that battle. Then you see children and women trekking 60 to 100 kilometers to Maiduguri. They come to a place they do not know anyone and the lucky ones are taken to some primary and secondary schools for shelter. I must commend the efforts of NEMA because it is an emergency relief agency. It provides relief material, but going forward, the mandate is truncated. There are agencies that are expected to take over after the emergency processes are completed and that is the National Refugees Commission.

Beyond having an agency to deal with the situation, these people are Nigerians who deserve every basic necessity of life. I remember that sometime in 2004, there was a crisis in Chad and a lot of refugees were pushed into Nigeria and the government took over and provided camping for these people until the crisis was resolved.

So, where do our morals stand with our own citizens? We have read reports of some of these women giving birth without medical attention under the trees. The belief is that we can provide a standard camp where there is food supply, medical personnel and officials to look after people. We believe the nation has the responsibility to take care of them. Some people have asked what if they are attacked and I said you could not protect them from been chased out of their houses; are you saying you can’t provide for them when they come into our midst? I believe we have a responsibility on our shoulders and I am happy my colleagues supported me.

A state of emergency has been extended

Terab

twice in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe yet the spate of killing continues. What’s your take?

What is the meaning of State of Emergency? State of emergency gives government and its agencies the ability to operate in unusual circumstances. But for anything that you have to build you need a tool. So, the State of Emergency declared is a tool. It gives the military the ability

to perform certain operations in certain areas. I represent three local governments with a population of between 450,000 and 650,000. We have only one barracks in Bama, which is the 212 Battalion with just about 200 officers. In a normal situation, when there is an attack, the military will have to get the express approval of Mr. President being the Commander-inChief for them to move out of their bar-

racks to conduct any kind of operation at any given time. Somebody is in Bama, and 200 or so kilometres away from Ngala there is an attack, you want to tell me they have to look for the president wherever he is for him to give approval for the soldiers to come out? With the State of Emergency, it means as it is currently, they can roam around. At least we have some units in Gamboru Ngala; we have some units in parts of Kala-Belge; we have some units on the shore of Lake Chad which are not barracks. But without the State of Emergency, it means they should only be in their designated barracks, and not only that, they cannot respond. Even if the person is bringing the attack to their doorsteps, they have to get the express approval of Mr. President. No matter how weak we think our security agencies are, go round and check most of these attacks, unfortunately 80 per cent of the attacks are not being reported, they don't come and attack in the presence of our forces. That means there is a semblance that in the presence of our security men things don't happen. If that is the case, it means the need for them to run around and even get more personnel is imperative at this moment. The people we elected into the National Assembly do not have a military to execute a war. It is the Federal Government led by the president that directs the military. Unfortunately, anything outside that is political or out of lack of understanding. In most of our communities, the civilian JTF were formed with the help of the security agencies. So, these are the reasons why we felt there is need for emergency. It does not affect the political structure in the states. However, it was unanimous decision of the House.

Bagobiri: Why northern governors resist return of mission schools C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 7

ing that the church is still doing her best in the few schools it has opened since the takeover of the early mission schools.

But we believe that with the return of schools again, we would see a return to the kind of sanity that was found among our young people before the takeover.

The church will always give the area of moral upbringing of our young people, a significant place in the whole endeavor of running of schools. So those who are of the opinion that the takeover of mission schools has greatly affected the moral development of our society have really had a strong point. For us to regain the good things of the past, the schools should be returned because they play a significant role in the returning of our moral rectitude as a people.

It appears that while state governments in the southern parts of Nigeria ate willingly returning the mission schools, there is resistance up here in the north. What do you think is responsible for this resistance here?

I cannot tell why this reluctance has continued in the north as against what we have seen happening in the southern parts. But it will not be unrelated with the kind of religious divide that we have in the North. Most of the people who are in governance may not be sympathizers to the efforts that the church is making and that largely contributes to the reluctance in the handover of these schools.

Apart from that, I cannot really explain

the reason for the resistance. Even the Northern Governors Forum at one of their meetings some years ago, came up with that recommendation that schools which were taken over by government should be returned to their former owners on order to revamp education within northern Nigeria. But it was only a statement that was made. When they returned to their various states, there has been no serious commitment to the return of the schools.

Many factors may be contributing to such reluctance. One of them may be the religious divide, the fear that probably the religion that owns these schools may become much stronger and very influential in the area of education. But I don't see that as a reason. The important thing is to salvage our educational system which is becoming a matter of concern to many people. We are not talking about revamping the educational system in terms of academics but in terms of the total growth and development of the individual person.

Now let's go back to the conference.

What were your expectations at the beginning of this conference?

My first expectation was that the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria should not be something we should negotiate or give up. The other thing is to come up with recommendations and ideas that will go towards building a new Nigeria that is grounded on the principles of equality, justice and fairness to all citizens, a country where no one is discriminated against

either on the basis of his religion or his own ethnicity. In order to achieve this, we believe that the constitution will have some roles to play. Our constitution is the law that moderates our lives as citizens of this country. As beautiful as it is, some of us are insisting that it should be made to bring about oneness that is based on fairness. We have noticed that there has been a lack of commitment in enforcing some of the things that we have in the constitution and so we want to see that the beautiful things recommended in the constitution that should guide and moderate our lives are enforced so that the kind of social balance we desire for this nation will be achieved. We also want to see a situation where all Nigerians would see themselves as equal stakeholders and would be proud to call Nigeria, our own country.

Do you think that this conference has met your expectations?

I am quite happy with the recommendations that have been made from the various committees at this conference and then from the general discussions at the plenary. If a good number of these recommendations are implemented, definitely these objectives that we have set for ourselves will be realised with time in our society. One cannot but commend all the efforts that have been made during this very conference, and what we would be praying for at the end of it is the will to implement the decisions and putting into reality the numerous recommendations that have been made.

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Politics / National

‘Oyo deserves more than sheepish imitation of Lagos’ F

Sola Adeyemo ormer Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. David Olusoji Adejumo, is one governorship aspirants in the state on the platform of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who believes that the state deserves more that the current level of infrastructural development it has.

Adejumo, has therefore thrown in his heart to make the difference and stop what he described as a sheepish imitation of Lagos, because the state should be original in designing its policies and programmes in agreement with its peculiarities. And he said given his competence and political experience, he has what it takes to transform the state.

Oyo beautification programme

He is one person who is not against beautification of Ibadan metropolis. In fact, he said: “No right thinking person would like to live in a dirty environment. What I am saying is that one must plan one's beautification project in accordance with the reality on the ground.

These people trading on the streets were not provided with alternatives before their stalls and shops were demolished. Do you want to send them to poverty and the women among them as old as they are to prostitution? What arrangements were made before sending them out of streets trading? Those are the questions which I am raising. There are many ways you can handle issues. You don’t have to do what they are doing in Lagos and Osun States sheepishly. Do it your own way. This would make Oyo State approach a unique one and confirm our pace setter status.

Forest of horror incident

One issue that disturbs his mind is security as manifested in government’s handling of the Soka forest of horror incident. “It is one episode that is very unfortunate. People said that they are hearing some voices underground. We have no equipment to detect that. I have not seen government going out of its way to say ‘we want to know every bit of it as regards Soka matter.’ I once said charity begins at home. I expected the First Lady to start her prayer programme with the liberation of people on Soka problem. That is why I was against the rally organised by the wife of the governor on the abducted Chibok Girls.

He said nobody has done much on the Soka episode. “Why pray at Adamasingba Stadium for Chibok when the problem on our face was left un-addressed? I am not unmindful of what government has done in Chibok.

Why can’t we capture our own raw data on the Soka problem and do our best possible to avoid a recurrence? United States of America said that it was not going to give us its data on the Chibok problem. We should also go the extra mile on the Soka kidnap den in Ibadan.

We have it on record that the state government has a hand in the creation of Soka. The public is waiting to hear the outcome and it must not be swept under the carpet.”

Women in politics

I personally have a soft spot for women because I know the huge responsibilities on their shoulders. And I personally agree that no man can succeed absolutely without the support of a woman. If a man succeeds in any endeavour in life, it is the woman behind him. They are a profound and paramount

agents of success and failure, depending on how you mange them. If you manage them well, you will be successful, and vice versa. As a governor, If you manage the woman beside you very well, you will be the best governor on earth. Honestly, for personal reasons I will prefer a woman as my deputy governor. It is indeed a good idea to have a woman as a deputy governor.

six weeks of commissioning it. Go and find out. It was right in the front of Ministry of Environment. There were also complaints on the Mokola Bridge. I was told that he used iron rods and I asked a structural engineer on whether it could survive for 20 years.

The engineer told me that such could happen if there is no heavy machinery passing on it on regular basis.

Divisions in the PDP

Way forward for Oyo

You are very correct to say that we have factions and with two parallel secretariats .I belong to the Dandaru secretariat group which was produced by our congress held at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium. I am not saying that everything is perfect about the group to which I belong. I am happy to inform you that the conflicts are being resolved by the leadership of the party. Even when the harmonisation was announced to have been effected, a group claimed that it was sidelined and that its interest was not taken care of. Let me assure you that the issue is being addressed by the leadership of the party and we are gradually coming together. But let me tell you that no party is in a state of constant equilibrium.

Even the APC which is in power in the state is having its internal problems unresolved.

That is the challenge and I am reassuring you that we will put our house in order before the elections. We have realised that we have a common enemy, whether your secretariat is at Dandaru or Yemetu and that common enemy is Governor Ajimobi of the APC.

I believe we can achieve much in the next nine years, if we have the dedication, commitment and the political will to get all these challenges addressed. Governments at all levels must, as a matter of urgency, pursue Vision 2020 and set all machineries in motion towards the attainment and fulfillment of this laudable vision. What our nation requires today are men and women who have the moral stature and who can provide all- round education for its citizens.

View on Ajimobi

I am racking my brain. Yes, on a very serious note, he has added and expanded some roads.

But I hope that he did those roads well. This is because that Bodija Bridge cracked within

Prof Adejumo

How Akala, Ladoja and Ajimobi will battle for Agodi House C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 4

Alao-Akala stabbed his boss in the back through the impeachment but both of them have now made up, and might team up to fight Ajimobi to a standstill in the next election. Alao-Akala is also having a similar EFCC case hanging on his neck, though he is bent on having his second term too.

Much as the PDP still basks in the euphoria of its victory in Ekiti and its conciliatory moves in the South-West, it must contend with the incumbency powers of Ajimobi, and antics of Ladoja, even as all of them hope to benefit from LP which is perceived as a poll splitter.

The Presidency’s angle

For its part, the Presidency has been making inroads into Oyo State. President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state early in the year was a pointer to this. Jonathan, after a short delay, visited the Olubadan on the monarch's 100th birthday celebration, Whatever the angst of the Ibadan elites against Ajimobi, a major cushion he had always relied on to appease them was the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao. A very close ally of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Arisekola was a very strong backbone of the governor, but his sudden demise on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 was a big blow to the 2015 second term agenda of the governor.

Aside this, the unreported information was that the President's private visit to the Alaafin was to seal an arrangement on how Oyo State would be delivered to the PDP in next year's elections. However, the Alaafin refused to allow anybody, including the governor or Arisekola, to be part of the meeting as he took the President into another private closet where only the duo had a tete-a-tete for about 40 minutes before departing.

Arisekola-Alao, the avuncular solicitor and advocate, who shortly before his death, sang a song at a public function, confirming the need for the return of the governor for a second term, irrespective of any opposition, however, died before the election period itself. The teeth are removed and the buccal cavity has collapsed, so says a Yoruba adage, provided it aptly fits the instant situation.

Ajimobi on slippery ground

One knotty issue that will also determine how the political situation will be for Ajimobi by 2015 is the controversial Apete Bridge in Iddo Local Government area of Ibadan. The bridge which collapsed during the August 26, 2011 flood has claimed many lives. Scores of people of the area were swept away during the rainstorm. The government responded by awarding the contract for the reconstruction of the bridge but three years after, the bridge has not been completed. Recently, over 10 people were reported to have been

swept off again on the makeshift bridge put in place by the contractor for the use of Ijokodo and Apete, Awotan residents.

The recent disaster caused a row between the people of the area and the government, forcing Ajimobi to supply luxury buses to convey residents of the area free-of-charge from some points to Apete through another route. The palliative cooled some nerves, but to many others, completing the bridge was the answer.

A great signal in the battle against Ajimobi was the impeachment notice against the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu. With the PDP now having nine members, Accord Party has five, and six of the 18 members from the APC holding secret meetings with them, soaring the number to 20, there are indications that the ruling party in the state is standing on slippery ground. The governor could be the next target.

With the current alliance between the AP and the PDP, which has cleared the coast for impeachment of the Speaker and the fact that PDP has two senators as against AP’s one, as well as the groundswell of anger over the human and material and human resources lost in the last three years, as a result of the collapse of Apete Bridge and consequent flooding in the Ibadan, the possibility that APC will return to its winning ways in 2015 might be a ruse.

News Truck drivers blame Apapa gridlock on APMT p.34

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Sunday Tranport How Nwosu emerged AAAN president p.33

31

Business AZUBIKE NNADOZIE, ASSISTANT EDITOR, SUNDAY

azubike.nnadozie@newtelegraphonline.com

ON SUNDAY

Auto policy: Customs may not refund 35% excess levy Paul Ogbuokiri and Chijioke Iremeka

A

joint meeting of the two main associations of freight agents in Nigeria (Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders) on Tuesday in Lagos threatened to withdraw their services from the ports and approved border stations in the country if the Federal Government fails to refund the 35 per cent excess levy on imported vehicles collected by the Nigeria Customs Service before the Federal Government suspend full

implementation of the policy till January 1, 2015.

President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, and his counterpart at NAGAFF had said before the meeting that the Nigeria Customs Service has said that the full implementation of the policy would start on January 1, 2015.

They said that as a result, the extra 35 per cent levy collected must be refunded to the importers.

They also said that the suspension of the full implementation of the new automotive policy by the Federal Government on July 1 implies a reversal to status quo, that is return to the 20 per cent duty.

But the Public Relations Offi-

cer of TCIP Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Christen Osunkwo, said that those clamouring that Customs should refund the monies collected are mischievous as the agency does not store revenue.

“We only collect revenues for other agencies of government. It is only the Customs Duty that we pay into the Federation Account.

Others go to the accounts of the government agencies they are meant for, like the National Automotive Council.”

However, Nweke told New Telegraph on Sunday that they had dropped their demand on return to 20 per cent duty, but would

want NCS to consider refunding the extra 35 per cent it collected from importers.

He said that if Customs does not have the power to refund the money, whoever it is that havse the power should consider doing so.

“The important thing is that we will not bring down our country but the right thing needs to be done, so that public good will not be jeopardized,” he added.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that on Wednesday that most importers were no longer coming forward to clear their vehicles.

Most of the Customs officers incharge of the vehicle seats, who insisted on speaking on condition

of anonymity, said that the 35 per cent duty was scaring importers away.

“They have practically abandoned their vehicles here. When the policy was introduced about three months ago, there was a serious rush by the importers to clear their vehicles. The situation has changed, they are no longer coming,” he said.

In the three months (April to June) the new tariff was in force, the revenue of Tin Can Island Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria’s main Roll-onRoll off port recorded its highest revenue in the year. In April, it collected N26.4bn; May, N26.5bn and in June, N26.7bn was collected by the command.

Meanwhile, there are indications that some importers have started suspending orders for the importation of used vehicles through the Lagos seaports, in apparent reacCONTINUED ON PAG34

INSIDE

Imo: N16bn Heartland Gateway International Market gets boost L-R; Group Head, Coral Banking, Heritage Bank, George Oko-Oboh; Executive Secretary/ CEO – National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas and Executive Director, Heritage Bank, Niyi Adeseun during the launch of the NHIS Mobile Health Insurance Scheme in Lagos…on Wednesday

pg 37

Nigeria, U.S. sign MoU on electric power

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he governments of the United States and Nigeria have agreed to work together to increase access to and availability of electricity in Nigeria. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Thursday to coordinate the implementation and support of institutional reforms, privatisation, and regulation of the power sector.

This coming on the heels of

Power Africa launched last year by the U.S. President Barack Obama which is aimed at bringing the combined expertise of 12 U.S. government agencies to partner with the private and public sectors to significantly increase the amount of electricity available in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.

A statement by the Public Affairs section of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, Public Affairs Section, said that Power

Africa supports the strengthening of the energy sector through credit enhancement, grants, technical assistance, and investment promotion efforts. “Power Africa is working to mobilise affordable and long-term financing for capital and operational expenditure requirements to generation and distribution companies to accelerate electricity market development,” the statement adds.

Minister of Power Professor

Chinedu Nebo, signed the MOU on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, while U.S. Ambassador James F. Entwistle signed on behalf of the government of the United States.

Ambassador Entwistle stated that Nigeria is well-positioned to reap the rewards of this increased focus on the energy sector. He said, “It is our expectation that CONTINUED ON PAG34

Sonata 2015 wins insurance award

pg 32

SundayTransport 32

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

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNRDAY

JULY 27, 2014

Sonata 2015 wins insurance award

The 2015 Sonata was named a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+, when equipped with optional forward collision warning, by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Available with a host of active safety features such as Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a Lane Departure Warning System and rear parking sensors, the 2015 Sonata brings a new level of safety and refinement to the midsize sedan category. Sonata joins the 2015 Genesis in earning the highest honour from IIHS. “The TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation recognises stateof-the-art safety,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund. “The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is not only engineered to protect people when crashes happen, but with its optional forward collision warning system rated basic in our tests, this car can help drivers avoid some of the most common kinds of collisions altogether.”

IIHS rates vehicles in a moderate overlap front crash, small overlap front crash, side impact and rollover test, and evaluates seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impact collisions. Additionally, IIHS evaluates available front crash prevention systems that aim to prevent a crash or lessen its severity. Winners of the award must earn good ratings for occupants’ protection in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, no less than acceptable in the small overlap test, and at least a basic rating for front crash prevention.

“Occupant safety is at the forefront of Hyundai design and engineering,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Corporate and Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Sonata’s recognition reinforces our dedication to occupant safety, and integrating our accident prevention technologies makes the 2015 Sonata one of the safest midsize sedans on the market today.”

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that Sonata’s suite of safety features aims to help prevent accidents and maximise the safety of its occupants in the event of a collision. The 2015 Sonata is equipped with standard Electronic Stability Con-

trol, Vehicle Stability Management, Traction Control, ABS and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with individual tire pressure indicator help the vehicle maintain traction in all weather conditions.

The secret code of lines on the road They mean something, all those strange coloured markings on the road... knowing what they mean will make you a better, safer driver.

A young pedestrian was recently killed in a crosswalk, crossing on WALK when a car completely failed to even slow down at the red light, turned right into the crosswalk and had no way of stopping in time once she became visible.

A court case is currently underway where a woman is suing another driver, whom she rear-ended, because ‘nobody stops at this 4-way stop’.

Perhaps the road markings and signs are some kind of complex code to transmit messages?

There are complicated road usage guides, designed to smooth traffic and avert accidents and for the most part, these work. There are left-turn lanes, walk signals, advanced turn lights, double yellow lines and solid white lines. Every licensed driver is supposed to know what these all mean. There are tests. Every driver sees others who either don’t remember or never knew what these mean. Every day that puts other people’s lives

Auto Clinic and property at risk.

Every car is forbidden from entering an intersection if that car cannot exit the intersection before the light turns red. Granted, this is a judgement call on the part of every driver... but every single day cars, sometimes many of them, are ‘stuck’ in intersections they should not have entered in the first place. “Entering” the intersection, by the way, means passing the stop line, entering the designated crosswalk area, or passing the end of the sidewalk/curb or block. Surprising to most drivers, this includes T-intersections, where cars can only enter the road, not cross it. This rule means that long lines of rush hour traffic are not to barricade cars in at side streets while they try to merge into traffic. Drivers are supposed to know this, and are not supposed to barricade intersections with their cars even when there are no cars waiting to enter.

Double yellow lines are not to be crossed. Not to pass bicycles. Not to move around stationary (or illegally parked) vehicles. Not to make u-turns. And absolutely not to turn left, no not even ‘if you always do it’ nor even ‘if you live here.’ Certainly not because the only alter-

native is going around the block once. Double-yellow means ‘stay on your side of the road’ and doesn’t come with room for each individual driver’s privisos for ‘why they don’t mean me.’

Solid white lines mean ‘stay in your lane.’ Yes, even if if means slowing down for a bike. Yes, even if you’d rather be in the other lane. Yes, even if it means going all the way around the block and trying again. Solid white lines do not mean ‘unless I don’t feel like it.’ The most common usage across North America is between the road and the shoulder. That means ‘no passing on the right.’ Not ‘unless you’re in a hurry.’ No passing doesn’t mean ‘except you.’

In many jurisdictions, it is legal to turn on a red light.

Usually this means turning right from a 2-way road onto a two-way road, but it is legal, too, to turn left on a red light from a 1- or 2-way road onto a 1-way road. Of course, it is important to remember that the other rule still applies: At every stop sign and red light the first completely non-optional action that every single driver (yes, even of bicycles) must follow is: COME TO A COMPLETE STOP Source: Ask.com

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Sunday Transport

Coscharis-Ford searches for Nigeria toughest Driver

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oscharis Motors Ltd, a foremost Nigerian automobile dealer with the support of one of its foreign partners, Ford Motor Company, is set to bring fun and adventure to the Nigerian automobile arena by organising the first ever automobile driver challenge.

It is aimed at producing the toughest driver in Nigeria, who will represent her market (Nigeria) at the forthcoming Ranger Odyssey holding in Namibia in September this year.

The tournament, tagged ‘Ranger Odyssey 2014 Qualifier’, with the slogan: ‘Are YOU tough enough’? is a screening exercise that will bring together the young, authentic, adventurous, outgoing, freespirited as well as hardworking and sporty individuals. The contest would be among the bold and adaptable Nigerian drivers from all walks of life, in a dogged challenge to test their ability and dexterity to handle the Ford Ranger pickup in tough and adventurous terrains.

It will also include elements of competition where participants

would test their 4x4 driving and mechanical skills, endurance, courage, stamina, perseverance and resilience against the worst that nature could offer.

The Group Managing Director of Coscharis Motors Limited, Mr. Josiah Samuel, said, “The main emphasis of Ranger Odyssey 2014 will tilt more towards testing human endurance and adaptability combined with the fierce ruggedness that comes with the Ford Ranger brand.

“The winner of the tournament, male or female, must be one who best exudes the characteristic Built-Ford-Tough slogan of the Ranger. This individual

will join other 19 winners from other sub-Saharan Africa markets to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Ford Ranger Odyssey 2014 in Namibia, where he or she stands a chance to win the use of a brand new Ford Ranger for one year, plus fuel up to N75,000 per month.”

The General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Services, Coscharis Motors Limited, Mr. Abiona Babarinde, while speaking further on the programme said that qualified Nigerians would be invited to enter for the competition this month while the actual screening exercise would take place on August 2, 2014 at the company’s

ultra-modern track facility at the Group Head Office on Lekki-Ekpe Expressway, Awoyaya, Lagos.

In order to qualify for the contest, participants will need to complete an entry form that will include a personal bio, photo and motivation as to why he/she should be selected to represent Nigeria in the 2014 Odyssey. A screening team will test the contestants’ off-road and 4x4 ability in a Ranger. Contestants will also need to be evaluated and assessed against a set of criteria to ensure they have what it takes to win the Odyssey competition.

The minimum entry criteria that would be considered are:

Each entrant will need to have a valid driver’s licence; entrants must be between the ages of 21-40 and may be either male or female; entrants must be in possession of a valid international passport; no person should enter the competition if they have any medical condition which may prevent them from being able to participate in the competition and/or which may prevent them from being able to participate in the challenges during the course of the competition or if they have any medical condition which may be aggravated by travelling through places with intense weather conditions and rough terrain.

Why marketing is a battlefield - Oyeyemi Azubike Nnadozie

T

he much awaited book on marketing, ‘Kill or Get Killed: The Marketing Killer Instinct’, written

by General Manager, Consumer Marketing of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi, has finally hit the Nigerian market.

At an elaborate Sponsor’s Gala held in Lagos at the weekend, the author who expressed joy as he officially unveiled his work expressed gratitude to all who contributed in making the book a reality. According to him, marketing is a jungle, a battlefield where only the fittest survive.

The book, which has been described by analysts as the first marketing book of its kind, written by an African for Africa, consists of masterfully written case studies depicting a multitude of brands fighting for market space, mind share and the dynamics that shape success or failure in different African markets. Of particular note is the effort the author has made to identify the key differentiating factors affecting or determining mode of operation in the African environment, excluding South Africa and Africa north of the Sahara; which have fundamentally different tendencies in terms of culture, human psychology, climate and history.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; representative of Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Azizat Tijani; and HR Director, Airtel Nigeria, Jibril Saba sharing a moment of laughter during the unveiling of Airtel Touching Lives CSR programme held in Lagos…on Thursday

How Nwosu emerged AAAN president Azubike Nnadozie

T

he 41st Annual General Meeting of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria may have come and gone but the intrigues that characterised the emergence of the Chief Executive Officer of TBWA Advertising, Kelechi Nwosu, as president will linger for some time.

Nwosu’s landslide victory over the Managing Director of Noah’s Ark, Lanre Adisa, was a shock to many as the 41st election of the association was actually termed the ‘real’ election. Nwosu, who was elected president of the 41-year-old AAAN has promised to consolidate on the achievements of the body, push APCON reforms and deepen the association’s relationship with government.

Nwosu, whose vision for the association revolves around respect, value and professionalism believes that as the market

becomes more dynamic, the association needs to be on a good stead to do more business with government.

Prior to the nerve racking contest, the AGM commenced with an international seminar with the theme: ‘Political advertising, perception building and voters’ education’.

The paper was delivered by Bill Clinton’s Political Adviser, Craig Smith, and the well attended seminar had the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, and other prominent Nigerians such as outgoing Zenith Bank Chairman, Sir Steve Omojafor, in attendance.

The manifesto evening saw serious politicking, between those classified as ‘new generation agencies’, under which Adisa’s Noah’s Ark falls, and old generation where TBWA/Concept is.

It was obvious that Nwosu would win but after both contestants’ presentations, members

began to have a change of heart.

Nwosu too was becoming very apprehensive as Adisa’s hopes of winning the election were rising. However, the election day drama, which led to Nwosu’s landslide over Adisa, with 35 against 15 votes, ensured that the status quo was maintained.

With a determination to build the creative industry and attract government trust, Nwosu said if anybody wants to build a reputation and get value, he or she has to show some skills and prove that he or she has some capability.

“This will open doors. We need more business coming to us and one of the strong things my administration has promised to do and I hope to accomplish it is to embark on a strong campaign for the government on probono,” he said in his victory speech.

On the reforms, Nwosu said his administration would “lobby people to let them know about

the reforms and they should abide by them. We have to talk to our people to believe in the reforms as we can’t wait for APCON to push it for us.”

Also interested in empowering AAPN’s members, numbering over 80, Nwosu also promised to make professionalism his focal point. he promised to energise the committees, particularly the one on training and development.

“We need our training to be more often and more qualitative and get revenue from there. We are looking towards starting the training academy in the next 12 months. We need to plan for the academy and not just jump into it given the experience we have had in the past.

“I also will look at improving the capability, leadership and professionalism of the secretariat so that we have better training for the secretariat as the engine room of the association,” he added.

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Commerce

Truck drivers blame Apapa gridlock on APMT

C

Paul Oguokiri ontainer truck drivers grounded operational activities at the Lagos Ports Complex for several hours last week, alleging that APMT is the cause of the delay experienced at the port because of its obsolete equipment.

The aggrieved drivers also called on the Federal Government to monitor the excesses of APMT because, according to them, the terminal operator lacks manpower efficiency.

Some of the placards they displayed read: ‘APMT has failed Nigerians’; ‘APMT must go before we work again’; ‘APMT equipment are all obsolete’; ‘We are tired of APMT’s activities’; ‘Compared to other terminals like TICT, Ports and Cargo, APMT is not functioning well’.

Giving an insight into their actions, the drivers lamented that the delay experienced at the port

overtime came as a result of the use of poor infrastructure on the part of the terminal operator to take care of containers due to exit the terminal.

The aggrieved drivers also lampooned leaders of all the haulage associations for failing to carry them along.

Apart from the bad roads connecting the port, the drivers told reporters that APMT poses a serious threat to port operations.

Addressing journalists, one of the drivers and a member of Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners, Comrade Ohaeri Frank, stressed the need for the Federal Government to send APMT away.

According to him, a similar incident had occurred in South Africa and Ghana, which sent APMT packing.

He alleged that most of the equipment at the terminal had collapsed and that an individual is assigned to handle four machines. He said this slows down the pace of lifting containers from the port.

“APMT is killing the industry

and that is why we want them to go. It takes three days for a truck to load. They are the ones causing the traffic on the roads apart from the bad roads.

“APMT has no workers; they have no machines and it is only one of the machines that is working. All the congestion experience at Apapa port is caused by AP Mollier,” he added.

According to him, vehicles will go into the port to load for eight hours and will not be able to, noting that in such instances, this results to congestion at the terminal and the outer roads.

“They don’t have manpower, they don’t have facilities and I can tell you that one person operates four machines at the same time.

“Though we have challenges of bad roads but the situation at the terminal alone is the cause of the problem.

“We insist that they should leave Nigeria because in South Africa they were chased back to their country because of incompetence.

In Ghana, they did something similar,” he added.

A driver who simply identified himself as Yahaya lamented that the terminal operator is killing the economy of the country because the concessionaire lacks infrastructure that could ease traffic gridlock and congestion at the port.

But a statement by APMT’s Media Adviser, Bolaji Akinola, said the gridlock was as a result of the bad roads leading into and out of Apapa.

The statement quoted the Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Neil Fletcher, as saying that trucking operations resumed at the port last week after the meeting with the operators who had suspended work because of the challenges faced on the road.

It reiterated that the company had made ‘huge investment in plants and modern container handling equipment,” adding that the development has led to the delivery of large volumes of cargo by the terminal.

“At present, we operate with 22 (RTGs) Rubber Tyre Gantry cranes, 17 reach stackers & empty container handlers and 75 terminal trucks.

L-R: Executive Director, Maritime Safety & Shipping Development, Capt Bala Agaba; Director, Shipping Development, Capt Warriedi Enisuoh; and Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, during a press conference organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency at Eko Hotel, Lagos…..on Wednesday

Glo slashes international call tariff

Edwin Usoboh

M

obile telecommunications service provider, Globacom, has dropped the cost of making international calls to as low as 10k per second, the lowest in the country.

Globacom on Thursday announced a new regime of International Direct Dialling (IDD) packs, which has now made it possible for prepaid subscribers on the network to call top international destinations like the United States, United Kingdom, India and China at the most affordable rates.

One of the new packs is called Combo Pack 1, which comes at a

rental rate of N100 with bundled airtime of N100 and a call rate of 14k per second to United States, Canada, India, China and United Kingdom (fixed lines only). The package comes with seven days validity for the bundled airtime.

Combo Pack 2 has a 15-day validity for the bundled airtime at a rental rate of N200 with bundled airtime of N200 and a call rate of 13k per second for calls to United States, Canada, India, China and fixed lines only in the United Kingdom.

The network advised subscribers who prefer this option to dial *170*24# for the Pack.

The Combo Pack 3 has a rental rate of N500 with N500 bundled

airtime, while calls to United States, Canada, India, China and United Kingdom (Fixed lines only) are fixed at 10k per second. It has 30 days validity for the bundled airtime..

Speaking on the offer, the Chief Commercial Director, Globacom, Mr. Ajay Mathur, said the company was delighted to launch the Combo IDD Packs as they offered customers attractive rates to call specific countries as applicable.

“The new IDD Packs will make international calls cheaper for our esteemed subscribers as they offer the most competitive rates for international calls “Cost effective communica-

tion is imperative now that the world is truly a global village with people either living, working or vacationing in various part of the world. Globacom has consistently brought innovation and quality service delivery to its subscribers since the company rolled out in 2003. The IDD package is not an exemption.”

He described the new IDD packs as the easiest and best means of making international calls, and called on subscribers on the Globacom network to take advantage of the new IDD rates which are as low as 10k per second. Mathur added that the offer is permanent and without any time limit.

Auto policy: Customs may not refund 35% excess levy C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

tion to the new policy.

One of the importers based at Berger Car Market, Chief Chuma Ilo, told New Telegraph on Sunday that they had no choice than to stop importation from Lagos seaports because the levy on imported cars had made the business unattractive.

He said the fact that the policy would now begin on January 1, 2015 does not make much difference because it is just five months away, especially as importers have not started building assembly plants in the country.

Emeka Agbamuche, also an auto dealer at Berger Market, said that they may start to look for other ways of ensuring that they survive the situation as importation of vehicles through the seaports is no longer profitable.

“This Nigeria belongs to all of us; the 35 per cent duty is too much. The prices of cars will continue to go up because we are not producing cars in this country. It is the people who will suffer,” he said.

Another auto dealer, John Ogbonna, said, “The landing cost of the vehicles has gone up because of the new tariff. You don’t expect me to sell the vehicles for the same amount I used to. Let me tell you, when the demand is high and the local companies cannot match the demand with supply, It’s then that we will know how expensive these made-in-Nigeria cars would be.

“The policy is good for the economy, but it can only be done when Nigeria is ready to put the right mechanism in place to control the prices of locally manufactured vehicles. Nigeria lacks control of so many things, which is my major fear with this policy. Nevertheless, that will not stop the importation of used cars in Nigeria, I must say,” he said.

The auto importers and their agents had at the peak of their opposition against the policy, called for its suspension and ‘candid review’.

They had argued that since local alternatives were not available before the policy started, it would amount to paying more for the same product. For instance, an imported new car that sells for N1.5m has become N2.55m and fairly-used that cost N700,000 would become N1.190m.

It is estimated that 11 million Nigerians can afford to buy cars (used or new).

Nigeria, U.S. sign MoU on electric power C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

our joint effort will improve the lives of countless Nigerians and serve as a role model for other African countries whose implementation of energy sector reform is nascent.”

Also present at the ceremony were the Ministry of Power’s Permanent Secretary Ambassador Godknows Ighalli, USAID Mission Director Michael T. Harvey, and other senior officials.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Interview

CBN should stop allocating forex to BDCs – Unegbu Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu is the Managing Director, Maxifund Investment and Securities Plc; former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Citizen Bank; and ex-President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He tells CHIJIOKE IREMEKA that the plan by the Federal Government to borrow $1bn to fight insurgency loan will affect the 2014 budget.

like Adamawa, Borno and others might not take off due to insecurity, as those areas are deserted. This, in turn, brings economic activities in those areas to stagnancy.

Thus, uncertainty of events would affect the operability of the budget, but as for quantum leap, the budget would remain unaffected.

Two months ago, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi okonjoIweala, told the Banker magazine that Nigeria would maintain a tight budget despite the insurgency. Now the Federal Government is seeking a $1bn loan fight Boko Haram. Will that affect the Minister’s position? ell, Nigeria has some modicum of policies and economic ratings from international agencies.

So, a number of international organisations would like to support Nigeria because they know Nigeria will pay and that is why Nigerian bonds abroad sell well.

W

Where will this money come from?

Where the money will come from is not what we should bother our heads with. To answer your question on its effects on the budget, I don’t think such an amount has been provided for in the budget as well as other contingencies.

However, you would realise that the National Assembly can give the President the go-ahead to borrow because the purpose for which the money is being borrowed is for a national emergency. So, anything you can do to kill insurgency in Nigeria is welcome because you and I are on longer comfortable anymore in this country. Everywhere we go, we are almost searched naked because of the activities of insurgents. But the problem here is that we do not have good intelligence. The action they are taking now is apparently too late. But all the same, it is better late than never. Borrowing for me, is good. I support it and I know every right-thinking Nigerian would.

Another problem here is that most international organisations have known us as the country that we borrow for one thing and spend it on another. Instead of using it for the purpose for which it was borrowed, they divert it into their own pockets. I hope it is not going to be the same with this $1bn. I’m looking at what was done with the disaster relief fund. When the flood damaged houses in the country, all of us contributed money but how it was used is what I can’t say.

Those affected people are still crying till today as many of them have not been rehabilitated. I hope it won’t go the same way because I’m worried about the borrowings we make in this country.

If this borrowing leads to a supplementary budget, hasn’t it affected the national budget?

It will not affect our budget. That was what I explained, except our contingencies are higher than $1bn. But I tell you, all the President needs to do is to go to the National Assembly and get authorisation to borrow under emergency circumstances. It can only affect the budget if I its operation. Some projects that are meant for certain communities

You said Nigerian bonds sell out at the international market. What are the reasons and what are its implications for the economy?

Like I said, Nigeria has good ratings abroad and international organisations are willing to lend to and support Nigeria because Nigeria would not default. When you get bonds, it helps you to develop your system. But there is a problem with the international rating agencies like Fitch, Standards and Poor, among others. In some cases, they rate a country or company higher than the realities on the ground. Nigeria at the moment is rated positively by international rating agencies and that is why our bonds have good buys. But as a person, I don’t believe in the ratings because they can rate you high today and tomorrow, you are down the drain.

They rated Enron as a superstar company and after that, it went under. They have given us good ratings and because of that Nigeria’s bonds are trading well on the international bonds markets. But the President wouldn’t wait for the rise and fall in the bonds, he will take the loan and may issue a bond later. As long as we have good ratings in the international market, our bonds will continue to trade well. At the same time, security issues affect the rating of a country.

Right now, the northern part of Nigeria is a no-go area for international business. So, that would have affected the authenticity of the ratings too.

Also, that is the area one can make quick money because they say ‘in the bad time, the fortune tellers and native doctors make their fortunes’. This is when the risk takers can come in and make their money and disappear again.

Your state, Imo, for instance, took an N18.5bn bond for certain projects, which have not materialized. What do you have to say about this?

This is where most people have failed in bond taking. Before you take a bond, you must have analysed the environment, where you are going to invest the bonds and must take a bond for projects that would finance themselves. As an investment expert, the first thing is to analyse and process the previous debt portfolio of the state and look at the areas that need urgent attention. A bond used to finance education is a bond you can always realise. Education is key to development and any country that does not have a good education system will never develop. This is because education is the fulcrum that challenges the mind and brain and gives you the opportunity to embark on successful projects.

Ohakim’s administration took that bond but didn’t use it for anything good. The Rochas’ administration said it was going to cancel it but I’m not sure if it did that. Part of it was used for the dredging of Nworie River, which is blocked today.

All the projects they mentioned in the bond never took place.

In my state, for instance, free education has come to stay, but when there is free education in a state and most parents still take their children to private schools, then, there is something wrong with that educational system. You have to find out what the problem is. So, bond is a good source of development fund. Most of the things done in Lagos State were done with well deployed bonds. You can see it in roads, rail and others.

These are the projects that repay themselves. Lagos has been successful in bond operations and it is easy for the lenders to give them because they have not defaulted. If I’m elected as the governor, this will be my approach, making the bond viable.

Is it wise for a state to take a bond greater than its annual revenue?

Yes, if the project will repay itself. For instance, if I have a capital base, I can use it for equity loan to do business. The loan might be higher than my equity. So, once the bank sees my equity and the viability of the project that I have, they will be willing to lend me because money will be coming out every day to service the account. More so, I accused our governments of not knowing about public finance. They look at commercial finance each time they want to embark on projects, but your revenue is your equity and there is what is called trading with equity. In equity, if you have zero equity, nobody wants to look at you but if you have equity of N100, and you want to borrow from a bank, it can lend you N200 because it knows that, at least, the N100 will come back, irrespective of any other thing.

So, the bank is now looking at where you are putting the money, whether it will be able to service that N200 loan.

On the Imo State bond, does it mean that the Ohakim administration was not properly advised when it floated the bond?

Yes, I was supposed to be part of that but some of us who are capital market experts advised against it. However, others who okayed it didn’t consider its viability and returns.

They did that for their pockets. In fact, some people went to court to challenge it and I supported them. They took that bond but there were no projects on the ground to create value in the state. They said the bond was for a wonder lake at Oguta. But the first thing for them to have done was to provide a good legal environment and enablement for the private sector to come in.

Once the private sector moves in there, you would have created a number of jobs, which will generate income for the state, through taxation and the state is blessed. But in our time, when politicians take decisions, they are not based on economic viability as a consideration but their self-aggrandizement.

So, several parties to that bond earned their money but the result of that N18.5bn is not seen or felt anywhere. I will conclude that they used more to create less or zero. One of their people asked for my advice and I gave them, but later I heard that the government greased their palms and they gave their endorsement.

All over the world, BDC operators, source foreign currencies from visitors coming into the country and foreign investors but here, CBN allocates money to them and this is why we are facing the problem

By next month, AMCON would have concluded the sale of three rescued banks. What would be the aftermath of this one-off sale?

Well, it’s unfortunate that those who came in to drive the new merger policy didn’t handle it well.

CO NTINUED O N PAGE 36

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JULY 27 , 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Commerce

Success Nuggets

Victor Okwudiri MS only) (08037674300 S

A

da, a young graduate, was the first child of her family. With six siblings born to poor parents, she had to face the harsh realities of life

so early.

Having graduated from the university, she needed a job so badly to assist her parents and siblings in the battle for survival.

One day, she saw an advertisement for a vacancy in a company. She applied. On the day of the interview for the job, she saw other persons who had applied for the job. They went in one after the other for the interview session. When it was her turn, she walked in confidently, believing that the whole thing was about ‘what you know’. She met more than she anticipated.

Sitting opposite the door, as Ada stepped into the interview room, was Mr. Preye. He looked stern initially, but after the interview questions, he broke the formality, as he started pacing forth and back the room. The next thing he said was, “Young lady, do you really want this job?” She replied in the affirmative.

He then told her the condition - to meet him in a given hotel at 5pm the next day. He told her bluntly that sex was the ultimate price for the job. Ada went home that day worried.

Throughout the day she went for the interview, Ada seemed lost in thought.

“Should I do it? Should I not do it? It is wrong. Yes, I know, but my family; if I don’t make use of this opportunity, my parents may die of the burden of these sufferings, and my siblings may drop out of school.”

Such was the battle going on in Ada’s heart.

The next day, Mr. Preye waited. “It appears this one is different,” he said, as it almost clocked 5:00pm. He had barely finished soliloquising about Ada, when he heard a reluctant knock on the door. When he opened the door, he was shocked. It was Ada. He, however, tried to hide his feelings, as he let her in. When she sat down, he started.

“Young lady, your invitation here was part of the job test. I never intended to do anything immoral with you. I was only looking for someone of character to whom I could entrust the affairs of the company, as I intend relocating to another country. All the other candidates for the job failed the test. I was almost rejoicing that I had finally found the principled person I was looking for when I heard you knock.”

Ada broke down and started crying. Just then, Mr. Preye excused her, asking her to leave the key to the door with the reception on her way out.

LESSON 1. Your self-worth is more important than your net worth.

Ada truly needed a source of income to help her family. The job, obviously, would have boosted her net worth, but at the expense of her self-worth - which is, her character; the dignity of her womanhood. The priority she placed on building a net worth, at the expense of her self-worth, backfired.

2. Your values affect your value (rating).

Mr. Preye was almost sure Ada was the right person of character for the job until

The parable of compromise she gave him reasons to question her values.

Then, her value dropped in his eyes.

3. If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.

Ada didn’t have a stance on the issue of sexual morality and chastity. If she did, she did not make it known, either by words or by refusing to honour Mr. Preye’s ‘unholy invitation’. It was no surprise she fell for his ‘gimmick’.

4. Character is credit The worst form of bankruptcy is character bankruptcy, not that of money. This is because, if people can trust you, they can give you money or avenues to make money, just like Mr. Preye was going to give Ada the job, which would have been an opportunity for her to earn money. He, however, could not give her the opportunity because her questionable character probably made him feel that if she could compromise her virtue for the job (money), she could betray him or jeopardise his company’s interest for a more tempting pecuniary gain.

5. If you compromise your character for anything, you may lose both that thing and your character Ada compromised character for the job.

What did she get at last? She not only lost her character, she lost the job. What is even worse is that if she meets Mr. Preye tomorrow on her way to a bigger opportunity, he may still judge her with his impression of her character of ‘today’. That is what I call the ‘ripple effect of character’.

6. What you cannot get by the help of God

or by merit, you do not need.

Ada thought she needed that job so badly, the reason she gave up her dignity or tried ‘to help God’. Her failure to get that job is proof that she did not need it in the first place, because, after all, she and her family just had to survive; and they would, without the job.

7. What you OBTAIN the wrong way, you may only SUSTAIN the wrong way.

Had Ada secured that job, Mr. Preye might have kept asking her to do the same thing again and again, if she must remain on the job.

The reason is simple: whatever is gotten from a source is, more often than not, sustained by that source. For instance, if a fruit is disconnected from the tree from where it sprang up, it either dries up or begins to decay.

8. Life is like a game of football. We are players, and there are observers and analysts.

Ada did not know that there was more to the whole drama that played out in the employment process. She did not know that she was being observed and her character weighed.

You might have heard people say, “it doesn’t matter what people think or say about you.” That is not true; at least, not all the time. Friend, even if you do not believe there is a God watching from above, there are people watching. They may not speak until the time for commendation or recommendation comes. Be careful.

VICTOR OKWUDIRI is a leadership facilitator and his daily devotional, ‘The KISS Devotional’, circulates both in Africa and Europe.

CBN should stop allocating forex to BDCs – Unegbu CO NT INU ED F R O M PAGE 35

When you are the managing director of a bank, you have so much to take care of yourself but the greed in us will make us go above our needs and start looking for wants. God has given us all that we need but our wants are insatiable. The sale of the bank is in order because those rescued banks have many customers with billions of naira deposits at risk. When they are sold, customers’ deposits are unaffected but investors will lose their investment, while the banks remain alive.

Those shareholders, whether major or ordinary, have lost all their investments in the rescued banks. Those who took over the banks didn’t see the need to run the institutions profitably. They didn’t know that the business is not for friendship. The initial signals that the banks would crash came on board when they started giving loans carelessly to friends and directors who borrowed for white elephants. Some banks were lucky to scale the hurdles but others weren’t.

So, when AMCON sells them, new investors will come in, and perhaps, learn from the mistakes of others. I don’t see anything wrong with the sale of the banks. With that, there won’t be loss of jobs and depositors wouldn’t cry. Already, the old investors are no more shareholders in those banks because AMCON restored the banks with tax payers’ money. And those people who have capital in the banks have lost them too.

But like I said, when you invest in a business, you are taking a risk. If it succeeds, fine; if not, you cry. They may have reaped the benefits in the past when the bank was booming and some may have recovered their investments too.

As a shareholder in Enterprise Bank, how do you feel losing your investment in that bank?

It’s part of the risks of an investor. I used to be a capital holder in Citizens Bank, one of the banks that formed Enterprise Bank and I lost it. If I see the new team and have confidence in them I may re-invest.

But how would the investors of acquired banks manage the issues of share devaluation and re-arrangement?

Nobody is talking about that. What you should be concerned about is that the bank doesn’t go down the drain because that would have mean outright loss of total investment. You only talk about devaluation when the company is still in existence. It’s only that time you can talk about valuation and devaluation. And it’s right. If you and I managed to save your bank because it has to lower performance, that has affected its quality. You don’t expect me to value your shares with that of a healthy and strong bank.

If the company is not doing well, you can do share re-arrangement. When acquired, the shareholders will not lose but their share quality might drop. But when the company is liquidated, it’s a closed case. Spring Bank and others would have been liquidated, but AMCON bought them, but it didn’t acquire the liabilities of the shareholders. So, they took it with assets, believing that the bank would pay back when they sell it. The acquiring bank will pay the customers’ deposits in full.

Thursday, July 31 is the deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria to BDCs to recapitalise with N35 million. What is your take on this CBN directive?

We are all guilty - the CBN, banks and BDC operators. CBN has all the knowledge in this world to do certain things. When the business of BDC came up initially, banks were

not interested in BDCs but CBN started allocating dollars to BDCs. Then, all the banks formed their own BDC companies. And why should that be? It’s like all the banks having micro-finance banks. With this, the CBN is killing that sector of the economy, by allowing the conventional banks with such financial muscle to come into the business. It’s not right. I haven’t seen it happen anywhere in the world. CBN shouldn’t allocate foreign currencies to BDCs. All over the world, BDC operators source foreign currencies from visitors coming into the country and foreign investors but here, CBN allocates money to them and this is why we are facing this problem.

CBN had seen the deficiency, and I personally do not believe, I may be wrong, that raising the capital would solve the problem.

They must look at a way of solving the problem by bringing out operational modules that would protect the economy from the unwholesome activities of the BDCs. BDCs exist all over the world, they have shops here and there and they are under control. What they do is to get security around them that people would not rob them.

They can buy a certain limit of foreign currencies. I would have thought that CBN would stop allocating dollars to BDCs and bring operational procedure for them to assess whatever they have done, either from oil companies or visitors and tourists. By so doing, you would eliminate those ones on the street.

But when they started allocating funds to BDCs, it became an all-comers market and veritable means of money laundering today, even when there is a policy to check them.

I wonder if the CBN has been able to monitor those institutions. I have not confirmed this, but I learnt that some CBN directors

have set up their own BDCs, owning more than one BDC. That is why I suggest that any BDC whose director’s name appears in more than one BDC, should be closed. That is what should have been done.

CBN said it was going to tackle unemployment, which is correct but I believe you don’t solve a problem by creating another one. You don’t throw away the baby and the bath water at the same time. So, there are issues we need to examine properly. That’s one of the greatest failures of our economy. Look at it and check the broad nature in us to use it to make policies that will stand.

When I was heading an institution, I had a paper that I divided into institution and advice. I try to find out your interest in every area. Sometimes, I find out that one might have given a good advice but one’s interest influenced the advice. So, I try to modulate it to achieve the same goal.

This is what people don’t want to do. Anybody that gives objective criticism in the office deserves to be killed and that is why our organisations are dying. Oceanic Bank had that problem because people were telling the CEO that she was good; without telling her the endemic problem of certain actions in the bank. She lived in that euphoria until she crashed.

They should stop allocating funds to BDCs. Let them scramble for business. I don’t know which country does it in the world? It’s not the best practice. They stated funding them to the tune of $250, 000, later went down to $100, 000 to $50, 000 and right now $15, 000 per week.

I don’t think that it is necessary. Don’t kill them, allow them to use their staff to look for foreign currencies to sell and buy but for the purpose of money laundering and others, CBN must control them.

MARKETS&MALLS

37

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JULY 27, 2014

Tel: 08027790557, 08037613380

Imo: N16bn Heartland Gateway International Market gets boost

Steve Uzoechi

M OWERRI

ore Igbo traders and professionals in Lagos State on Friday expressed serious interest to partner Graceland Channels Limited to build a modern international market at Mgbidi in Oru West Council Area of Imo State.

This came less than one month after some traders, under the auspices of the Imo State Towns Development Association, Lagos State and the Traders Rights Protection Initiative, Lagos indicated interest to partner the developer to build the market, known as Heartland Gateway International Market.

The market will sit on the 28.097 hectares of land along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway by Oguta Junction. When fully completed, the market will have 10,000 shops in addition to expandable modular lock-up shops, aerated open stalls, banking halls and subletable office spaces, warehouses, school for children, clinic and pharmacy, fire station, parking space for cars and articulated vehicles, full utility centre among other common features.

Speaking when they visited the project site, the Igbo traders, under the auspices of the Lagos State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said they were impressed with what they saw on ground, especially the serenity of the environment.

According to the president of the Lagos branch of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mr. Fabian Onwughalu, the market project became attractive to Igbo in Lagos because of the sufferings they had been going through, developing other people’s lands in order to earn a living.

Onwughalu said, “Ndigbo have developed many states and regions in Nigeria. But despite our huge investments, we are insulted by our hosts in many places in Nigeria. I think with this kind of project in the heart of Igboland, those insults will be a thing of the past and many parts of Igboland will witness more development.”

He recalled that they had personally developed several huge markets in Lagos State including refilling swamps to the benefit of their hosts.

While commending the initiators of the project, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo chief promised on behalf of the Igbo traders and professionals in Lagos to coordinate other Igbo traders across the nation to participate in the market venture and make it worthwhile.

Earlier in his speech, the developer of the project and Chief Executive Officer of Graceland Channels Limited, Pastor Nat Omoruyi, told the traders that apart from the 10,000 shops, there would be 3000 housing units that would be built in the town to solve the housing problems of traders.

The developer stated that the Imo State government had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Graceland Channels Limited to design, build, manage, operate and otherwise hold assets of and title to all property of the project.

The market, he said, was envisaged

as a multi-purpose commercial and business service centre, which would serve as a key destination for Imo State and Nigeria in general, adding that the market project would reflect standards of similar facilities in China, UK or any European or American country.

Omoruyi stated that the Heartland International Gateway Market would be the most modern mega mall integrated and organised market and biggest marketplace of international standard in Sub-Saharan Africa to serve the sub region and beyond.

When fully operational, the developer said that the market would generate in excess ofN500 million in volume of trade and business transactions daily. He stated that apart

from creating more than 20,000 jobs for the unemployed, the ripple effect of business activities would positively affect the economy of Nigeria and other African countries within the sub region.

Omoruyi stated that the market would be constructed at an estimated cost of N16,200,000,000 over a two-year period, explaining that within the next one year, the first phase of the market - 5000 units would be completed, while the remaining 5000 units would be completed in the following year.

He expressed happiness that the traders had now joined other off-takers of the market project to ensure the project kicks off as planned.

The promoter of the project, Dr. Meckson Okoro, of M.I. Okoro & Associates stated that his firm and the Graceland Channels Limited have secured the partnership of three banks - First Bank, Fidelity and Keystone - to coordinate the financiacontribution to be done by traders and other stakeholders.

He said the prospective shop owners would have to pick expression of interest forms and give firm commitment of the type of space they need and pay at least 30 percent of the total cost of the space they desire which ranges from N1.8million to N3million.

Okoro thanked the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for making the initiative possible, promising not to disappoint.

Heartland Gateway Market, Owerri, Imo State

Lagos market inferno: Traders count losses Paul Ogbuokiri

O

ver the years, Lagos has had more than its fair share of fire disasters involving markets in the state that a new one seemingly would not generate much anxiety except for those directly affected.

No fewer than 150 shops were razed, recently at the Trinity Spare Parts Market in Ajegunle area of Lagos.

Another fire outbreak gutted the popular rice and vegetable oil market in Daleko, near Mushin on Sunday. The fire which started in the middle of the night when traders had left for their various homes, razed about 120 shops stocked with wares as a result which valuables worth hundreds of millions were destroyed.

Though the timely intervention of men of Lagos State Fire Services prevented the fire from causing further damages, but many affected traders are now

counting their losses.

When New Telegraph on Sunday visited the market on Monday, several distraught traders were seen recounting their bitter experiences, even as they thanked God that the incident did not happen during the day when a disastrous stampede was more likely on account of the fact that Daleko market is usually busy with heavy human traffic at such time.

A trader popularly called Mama Segun, was seen angrily stamping her feet on the ground as she lamented the loss of the loan she obtained through her LAPO and invested in her business just the weekend before the incident. ‘’What will I tell the company now? I feel like committing suicide.

Well, only God knows the best’’ she said resignedly.

Another trader, Alhaji Segun Onitiri, was heard shouting: ‘’Heh! I’m finished o!! What will I say to my bank ? My

children have just resumed school”.

Yet, another trader, Madam Ngozi Okpara, said she had planned to re-stock her shop last Monday and left the whole money for this purpose in the shop. She burst into tears as she lamented in Igbo: ‘’Chimeee, efuolam, Onye ge nyerem aka O…” (My God o, who will help me now).

Sympathisers were seen everywhere helping the traders in clearing the debris and rubble from the razed shops.

The traffic situation at the market was tight as people trooped in and out to catch a glimpse of the scene.

Meanwhile, during her visit to console the traders, Iyaloja General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, she assured them that arrangements are already in place to arrest such happening in market places. She prayed that such will never happen again and also urged the trad-

ers to cooperate with the state government, who, she said, will soon commence enumeration and assessment of damages.

Folasade advised traders to desist from blocking the road with their wares and vehicles as this will always hinder rescue efforts during emergencies.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who also visited the scene, assured that the State government will soon commence enumeration and assessment in order to ascertain the extent of damages and to assuage traders of their losses. Osanyintolu assured that an emergency management committee will be set up in various markets in the State to forestall such occurrences.

Both Osanyintolu and Ojo said the incident was likely to have been caused by electrical upsurge in one of the shops.

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Earnings season in full flow

T

he Nigerian equities market recorded a Week-on-Week (WoW) decline of 1.41% to peg the index level at 42,285.85pts and YtD returns at 2.31%.

During the week, results of 27 companies were released, 2 of which declared dividends (CILEASING: NGN0.04k, 2013FY; STANBIC: NGN1.10k, 2014 Interim) translating to dividend yields of 7.69% and 3.78% respectively (based on 25-July close prices).

FO, NPFMCRFBK, ASHAKACEM, TRANSCORP and DNMEYER were the top gainers in the week advancing by 16.98%, 16.67%, 12.24%, 10.69% and 8.62% respectively while AIRSERVICE, CUTIX, NEIMETH, CUSTODYINS and FIDSON declined by 8.98%, 8.63%, 8.33%, 7.94% and 7.69% in that order.

We expect more companies to post their results next week, and so maintain our earlier position that H1 numbers will be the major driver of market returns.

Banking Sector: Earnings performance tempers

The sector was lacklustre during the week, with only 6 banks advancing against 8 decliners, with UNITYBNK staying flat to push the sector’s Ytd return to 2.22%. The major gainers this week were STANBIC (6.71%) - riding on positive earnings result and attractive interim dividend proposal, DIAMONDBK (6.01%), and GUARANTY (3.33%), while the foremost decliners were SKYEBANK (-5.88%), STERLNBNK (-5.04%) - affected by Q2:2014 earnings decline, and FBNH (-4.28%).

There were six banks which released Q2:2014 numbers during the week including ZENITHBANK, STANBIC, FCMB, UBN, UBA and STERLNBNK. ZENITHBANK released its H1:2014 results during the week, in which the bank recorded a fair performance. The bank grew top and bottom line by 8% each, with gross earnings growing to NGN184.43bn (Q2:2013; NGN171.02bn), and earnings to NGN47.45bn (Q2:2013; NGN43.83bn). Though this result may be fair in comparison to the other banks which have released earnings results so far, we consider this result to be good, and a positive indicator of the potential of the bank for FY2014.

STANBIC recorded top and bottom line growths of 13% to NGN61.48bn (Q2:2013; NGN54.51bn) and 56% to NGN15.90bn (Q2:2013; NGN10.19bn) respectively, and proposed an interim dividend of NGN1.10.

FCMB’s result was comparatively less impressive, as the bank recorded top and bottom line growths of 10% to NGN69.62bn (Q2:2013; NGN63.29bn) and 3% to NGN9.58bn (Q2:2013; NGN9.28bn) respectively.

UBA, UBN and STERLNBNK were the only banks to release results this week that registered earnings declines. UBN recorded top and bottom line declines of 12% to NGN49.59bn (Q2:2013; 56.16bn) and 33% to NGN6.34bn (Q2:2013; 9.39bn). STERLNBNK on the other hand recorded a gross earnings growth of 16.35% to NGN48.70 (Q2:2013; 41.86bn), while earnings declined by 6.66% to NGN5.53bn (Q2:2013; 5.92bn). UBA grew gross earnings by 8.7% to NGN138.32bn (Q2:2013; NGN138.32bn) while its bottom line reduced by 19.6% to NGN22.86 (Q2:2013; NGN28.41bn).

We maintain our position on the impact we expect that earnings season will have on the sector. As more results are expected next week we expect sector to return positive.

Industrial Goods: Half year numbers push individual stock gains

It was a markedly subdued week for the Industrial goods sector as only 3 stocks recorded gains. Coincidentally, the three companies with positive WtD returns also released their half year scorecards in the course of the week.

CCNN which recorded the most gains (20.08%) posted a 7% increase in revenue while PAT grew by 91% driven by reduction

…equities market shed 1.41% in operating expenses and financial charges of 44% and 30% accordingly.

PORTPAINT bounced back after two consecutive weeks of negative returns to gain 6.10% in the week. We attribute the renewed interest in the stock to its recently released half year numbers which reflected a 113.69% growth in PAT though revenue grew by only 6.34%. The substantial increment in PAT was largely due to a 70.1% growth in other income, and also 10.9% reduction in administrative expenses.

CAP sustained its gains from last week with a 2.24% increase in share price following impressive half year results showing 16.16% turnover growth coupled with a 20.43% increase In PAT. The company’s Return on Equity and Return on Assets also advanced to 119.57% and 49.51% respectively.

ASHAKACEM reversed the previous week’s gains, as the stock closed at NGN30.27, 8.36% down from the previous week’s closing price. DANGCEM continued on a downward trend as the ticker shed 3.35% to close the week’s trade at NGN232.05.

In spite of BERGER’s good half year numbers (released last week) the stock failed to garner any momentum, and closed the week 4.44% down.

Overall, our Meri – IND index slid 3.05% WtD. We expect result releases from major cement companies such as DANGCEM and WAPCO to determine the mood of the market next week.

Consumer goods: Poor Q2 earnings numbers depress returns.

Sentiments on sector stocks was negative in the week as 11 stocks closed negative vs. 2 that gained. The sector’s losers list was topped by CHAMPION (-9.64%), UNILEVER (-7.14%) VITAFOAM (-5.25%), FLOURMILL (-5.00%) and DANGFLOUR (-4.99%), while PZ and NB gained 1.30% and 1.36% respectively to close as the only gainers in the sector for the week.

We think the sector’s performance for the week may not be unconnected to the disappointing earnings numbers released by some of the big players in the sector during the course of the week. Q2:2014 earnings scorecards showed that CADBURY (Revenue and PAT declines of -12% &–50% respectively), UNILEVER (Revenue and PAT declines of 1.31% and 46.57 % respectively) and INTBREW (Revenue growth 6.36% and

PAT decline of -9.53 %) recorded unimpressive performances. Although, sector heavy weight NB (Revenue growth 5.74% and PAT growth 15.53%) was able to sustain a positive top and bottom line growth.

We expect earnings releases by other key players in the sector to drive returns in the coming week.

Oil and Gas: SEPLAT records 49% decline in earnings

Owing to 45 days of operational downtime, SEPLAT’s oil production dipped to 20,961b/d during the first half compared to 22,737b/d in the same period in 2013. On the back of the aforementioned challenges, turnover declined by 7.43% to USD388mn vs. USD419mn in H1:2013. Also, increases of 101% and 188% in finance charges and OPEX respectively saw earnings dip by 48.57% to USD156mn (vs.

USD303mn during the same period in 2013).

SEPLAT share price shed 3.84% for the week to close at NGN675.04 against NGN702 the previous week. OANDO was the only gainer in the industry for the week returning 1.88% to close at NGN25.47.

After the positive sentiment of the previous week that continued during the first trading day of the week, TOTAL and MOBIL lost for two consecutive trading days to close the week in the negative territory. TOTAL and MOBIL shed 1.97% and 0.50% to close the week at NGN176.45 and NGN161.41 respectively.

ETERNA and FO were the top industry laggards, declining by 9.30% and 9.24% respectively, while MRS lost 0.70%. We expect the inflow on H1 numbers to be the major industry drivers in the coming week, as expectations of impressive numbers might cause a rebound in the share price of TOTAL, MOBIL and FO.

Agric Sector: PRESCO commissions NGN2bn bio-gas plant

During the past week, most of the agricultural sector stocks remained flat except for LIVESTOCK and PRESCO which gained 1.31% and 0.03% respectively to peg the sector’s WtD return at 0.02%. LIVESTOCK gains may be attributed to the H1:2014 result which hit the market at the end of last week.

On Monday, 21st of July 2014, PRESCO commissioned its NGN2billion bio-gas plant, which was co-funded by the CBN through a PAIF (Power and Aviation Intervention Fund) NGN1billion loan. This is expected to reduce the company’s dependence on fossil fuels for

its energy, through the utilization of waste generated from its activities.

Our valuations for the sector stocks remain unchanged. We expect consolidation on Q1:2014 results for both PRESCO and OKOMUOIL due to higher Crude Palm Oil prices (compared to same period last year) even though the decline of the price rubber may constitute a drag on OKOMUOIL’s revenue growth.

Insurance Sector: Aligning with market’s negative mood

The insurance sector closed the week on a negative note, as the sector’s index dipped by -1.18%. The major contributors to this were MANSARD, PRESTIGE, ROYALEX and CONTINSURE which shed 4.5%, 3.7%, 1.9% and 1.7% in that order. Three stocks – CUSTODYINS, NEM and AIICO—however witnessed price appreciation of 2.9%, 2.5% and 1.3% during the week. These gains were however unable to push the sector’s index to the positive zone.

OASISINS released its H1:2014 result which showed gains of 18% and 270.2% in Gross Premium (GP) and Profit after Tax (PAT) respectively. SOVRENINS, in its Q1:2014 result grew its GP by 21% but PAT declined by 84.6%. LINKASSURE, in its 2013FY result, grew GP and PAT by 25.8% and 775.5%. These results however did not translate to a change in price for any of these stocks, which still trade at NGN0.50. As more earnings releases (both 2013FY and quarterly results) are expected in coming weeks, we are upbeat on stocks which have a good history of positive performance.

Our top picks in the sector remain CONTINSURE and CUSTODYINS based on fundamental justifications, as well as investors’ sentiments.

Healthcare Sector: PHARMDEKO leads gainers with 14.7%

The health sector traded relatively flat for the week, as its index closed lower by a marginal -0.01%. Despite the overall negative mood in the sector and market in general, PHARMDEKO topped the sector’s gainers’ chart for the week with a 14.7% gain to close at NGN1.72. FIDSON was the only other gainer in the industry for the week, as its price appreciated by 0.63%.

The sector’s losers for the week were led by EVANSMED with 12.3% decline in price, to close at NGN2.06, which represents a 46.5% decline in returns thus far in the year. It was followed by MAYBAKER and NEIMETH with 2.9% and 2.4% decline respectively. The remaining five stocks in the sector traded flat for the week.

We remain upbeat about the sector’s potentials in general, and as we await quarterly results from companies, we foresee a push in share prices of fundamentally good stocks e.g. FIDSON and GLAXOSMITH. Services Sector: Sector closes 5.65% down The services sector shed 5.65% during the week as measured by our Mer-SER index as 3 stocks recorded price gains, while 8 stocks declined in value.

IKEJAHOTEL returned to the positive zone for the first time this month gaining 6.67% to close at NGN0.80. Other top gainers included REDSTAREX (2.25% to close at NGN5.00) and CAVERTON (2.24% to close at NGN6.85).

TRANSCORP emerged a laggard having shed 6.77% during the week despite an impressive half year earnings release, which reflected a 39.17% growth in turnover coupled with a 50.38% increase in PAT. TRANSEXPR shed -4.85% to close at NGN1.96. This may not be unrelated to the company’s recently released half year scorecard in which it posted a 49.77% decline in PAT, though revenue grew by 1.82%. The massive decline in PAT was fuelled by a 12.66% increase in administrative expenses.

South-East

39

BEATS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JULY 27, 2014

Igbo leader: No replacement for Ojukwu yet –Okoye Chief Michael Ozue Okoye is the traditional prime minister of Igboland and was a chairman of Onitsha Local Government in the old Eastern Region. The Onowu (Regent) of Awkuzu Community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State spoke with ONAH ONAH on the controversy over who becomes the Igbo leader with the demise of Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Okoye

Ojukwu

A

s the traditional prime minister of the Igbo nation, are you comfortable with the fact that after more than three years, Ndigbo have not found a suitable leader to replace Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu?

The answer is that the Igbo are still mourning their leader. Until we finish the mourning, there is no vacant position of Igbo leader. That is the tradition of our people.

Some prominent Igbo leaders are laying

claim to the crown. Are you aware of this?

As the prime minister of Igbo land, I do know that the only person who has the singular authority to crown an Igbo leader is the Adama Nri and no other person. Besides, the selection of an Igbo leader is not done in secret, because at the end of the mourning of our departed hero, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the Ohaneze, which is the highest Igbo socio-cultural organisation, and all other stakeholders would come together and look for a suitable qualified Igbo

man to ascend the throne.

The Igbo traditional stool is not just like every other throne whereby a traditional ruler is at liberty to crown anybody that meets his expectation or who can be honored with such a title as his community may deem fit. In this case, there are agelong traditional rules and customs that are not open to every Igbo community because the traditional Igbo institution is not an allcomer's affair.

Let me make it clearer to you. The only person to crown anybody after selection

by Igbo stakeholders is Igwe S.O Mbanefo, who is the Adama Nri. This is because Nri people are the custodian of Igbo tradition and culture. But even in Nri, no other Igwe has the powers except the Adama. That is why we say, “Efesie Nri, Nri Efe Adama,” meaning that after paying homage to Nri, then Nri also pay homage to Adama.

What then is your duty as the traditional prime minister of Igbo land?

My duty is to ensure that the leader of our great nation does not make any mistake that would portray the nation in bad light. It is also my duty as the traditional prime minister to declare the seat of the Igbo leader vacant, but after due consultation with stakeholders, as I said. Let me state that I have also been the traditional prime minister of my town, Awkuzu, for 38

years so I am experienced in all the customs and traditions of the Igbo people. In my community, I have worked with three traditional rulers that ruled my town since 1976 even before I was crowned the Onowu of Igbo land. I would like the Nigerian public to know that there are no controversies over the position of Igbo leader because Igbos are in unity. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is aware of what the tradition requires and cannot play with their tradition. You should also know that before Ojukwu, we had several leaders but they were mostly recognised in their respective states - the likes of Michael Okpara; Mbonu Ejike; Owelle Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa); Akweke Nwafor Orizu; K.O Mbadiwe; among others.

What has impressed you most about the national conference?

I am overwhelmed by the contributions of all the delegates. They have made wonderful contributions and it is now left for the National Assembly to make them into a workable instrument in Nigeria. I also want to appeal to Ndigbo to give President Goodluck Jonathan another chance because he has done very well, even in the face of the insurgency in the country. I also know that a lot of people are criticising him, but even Jesus Christ had opposition during his own time. That is what makes democracy work anywhere in the world.

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

South-East

Umeh sets his sights on the Senate Tony Okafor AWKA

N

ational Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh during his 52nd birthday on July 19 at a parley organised by a group under the Anambra Solidarity Movement used the opportunity to officially declare his intention to run for Anambra Central Senatorial District in next year’s elections.

The seat is currently being occupied by Dr. Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress.

Ngige defeated the late former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, in 2011.

But at his 52nd birthday, Umeh vowed to wrest the position from Ngige who is yet to declare his interest for re-election.

He accused senators from the state of working at cross-purposes with the APGA state administration, because according to him they are from other political parties.

He said his three reasons for showing interest in the Senate are to advance the APGA cause; give Ndigbo a voice in the National Assembly; and to form the desired synergy between federal lawmakers from the state and the Anambra State Government for the benefit of the people.

The birthday turned political rally was attended by a large number of prominent politicians, traditional rulers, clergymen and other dignitaries.

Before the birthday declaration, Umeh had won several battles in his quest to keep APGA intact as a credible platform for elective positions, particularly in the South-East.

On Wednesday June 18, 2014, Umeh literally affixed another feather to his ‘tall’ red cap when the Court of Appeal in Abuja set aside the judgment of Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court also in Abuja, which had earlier sacked Umeh’s National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

The court held that the first respondent to the case, Maxi Okwu, had no locus standi to have instituted the suit, having been expelled from the party. It berated Justice Kafarati for assuming jurisdiction in the matter when he lacked the power to have decided on it in the first place.

In allowing the 12 grounds raised by Umeh and Shinkafi, the appellate court in a unanimous decision held that the respondent (Maxi Okwu) did not have the locus standi to institute the action, having ceased to be a member of APGA after he was expelled by the party.

Justice T.Y Hassan, who read the lead judgment, said, “The appeal is against a Federal High Court delivered on January 15th which had dissolved the entire leadership of APGA elected in 2011 the party. On whether the appellants complied with the provisions of the APGA constitution I hold that they substantially complied with the said constitution.

He said, “I also uphold all the 12 grounds of appeal brought by the appellants. The trial judge, Abdul Kafarati, should not have assumed jurisdiction on it when there is a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal Enugu Division.”

The court also upheld the APGA convention conducted in February 10th, 2011 as having complied with the provisions of the APGA constitution, adding that Justice Kafarati had no jurisdiction on the matter as there was a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal Enugu Division which had nullified the decision of the Enugu State High Court presided over by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezurike.

Basking in the euphoria of the victory, Umeh stormed the tomb of the late leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the next day to dedicate the victory.

At the tomb, he said, “The great leader of his people, the great lion, Ikemba Nnewi, our father, we have come. Your children whom you left behind are here to thank you once

Umeh

more for your patronage and guidance in the struggle to keep Ndigbo as one indivisible entity under our great party, APGA.” Addressing journalists after paying obeisance to the late leader of the party, Umeh explained why he was in the habit of paying visits to Ojukwu’s tomb each time he obtained victory in the course of advancing the APGA cause.

He said, “Now all those who have followed my activities as chairman of APGA would know that I draw my inspiration from God Almighty. But I get more inspired in this world through the life of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who was my boss for five years.

He was the leader of APGA for five years and I was the national chairman of the party under him for five years. If there is anybody who can claim to have gone through tutelage of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, I am the one, because we fought so many battles under his cover.

“I knew his resilience. I knew his noncompromising spirit in standing for the truth. When he departed in 2012, our party was thrown into several challenges. I had to paddle the canoe. I had to lead the party in his absence.

“I always fired on when I remembered how he urged all of us to fire on when the party faced severe challenges in Nigeria “We have not looked backwards. And with that spirit, with which he urged all of us to fire on, I have continued to confront our challenges and the result is just there for you to see. It has been outstanding success all the way. Anytime I go to bed, I dream the battle we fought together. Our adversaries were shouting and roaring like lions and like a lamb I continued, and we won severally. All the court battles against me, I won all of them.

The case at the Court of Appeal Enugu Division, I won. I came here and reported to him as I used to do. They attacked us again at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, and I won again. With my victory at the Court of Appeal yesterday, our victory in APGA became consolidated.

“Two strong judgments of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, on July 18, 2013, and Abuja Division on June 18, 2014, the two judgments are like rocks of Gibraltar. The leadership of our party can no longer be shaken.

With that, we are now prepared to lead our party to the next elections in 2015.

“We were able to make waves in crisis and

without crisis in the next eight months, I will tell you that APGA will surprise Nigerians.

We will garner more victories across the country. What I am only asking is that those who have constituted themselves as cogs in the wheel of progress should have a rethink.

The party is big and is there for everybody, not only the chairman. The wars they waged against me were unfounded. If we were not doing well, we could see with them.

Under our leadership, we have resisted all kinds of intimidation towards this party. We have led this party to very difficult victories.

“So, if they allow us as we prepare for the next election, I will tell you that we will leave very strong legacy for the party in winning elections. First of all, our catchment area which is the South-East, we will do everything to win everywhere. We will take the victory beyond the South-East. We are going to Lagos. We are going to the North. Wherever we can win, we will make sure we win. By the last count next year, I am sure that APGA will have not less than six governors. APGA will have not less than 30 Senators and may be, over 20 or 30 members of House of Representatives. This is the target we have set for ourselves. We seek the cooperation of everybody.

“The current governor of Anambra State has shown so much enthusiasm in driving the party to greater heights. We are going to work with him without looking back, to promote this party across Nigeria. So, having come here today, I have come to recharge my authority at the mausoleum of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Having talked to him, he listened to me and also told me, ‘Ride on and go and get the victories’. I have to report to him at the end of the day that we have delivered more places to APGA,” Umeh stated.

The APGA national chairman on the occasion vowed to advance the party’s political territory beyond Anambra State where it had held sway for eight years now.

He noted, “The party is there for everybody.

The party has only one leadership, consolidated and affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

Nobody can say he is claiming to be chairman of APGA or anything under this party again. They are free to come back to the party if they desire to use the party for anything.

But we want to make it clear that discipline will be our watchword. Rascality cannot be condoned by this party. We will do everything to encourage everybody.

“We will guarantee everybody fairness.

Those who want to take over from us as leaders of the party should go and prepare.

We will do our Congresses and National Convention before we hand over. During the convention, people who want to be chairman of APGA will be free to contest. This present ambush to the leadership of APGA to force me out is what God has said no to. And you can see that God has said no to it.

“I think they should stop this senseless war against the leadership of the party. If you are the chairman of APGA, you will know that the job is not easy. Anybody who is telling you that if he becomes chairman of APGA, he will do wonders, laugh at the person. I know what it takes to run this party. I know the sacrifices that I have made. I know the risks that I have taken. I know the challenges that I have faced. But I have remained resilient. That is why it is working. Anybody who will take over from me should go and prepare himself for assaults. I don’t know the chairman who can be attacked the way that I have been attacked for the past seven years who will survive. We are going to show you that God is my authority.”

Umeh began leading APGA shortly after the 2003 governorship election when certain people in APGA wanted to trade off the victory of the party in that year’s poll which was won by the immediate governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi. He was denied victory, following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Ngige, who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, as the winner.

The court battle to reclaim that mandate lasted for nearly three years.

At a stage when it somewhat became unattractive to continue to prosecute the matter, the leadership of APGA then approached Ngige and pledged their solidarity to him, thereby jettisoning the governorship challenge. But Umeh as the APGA national treasurer then, like a victor sprang up and took over the mantle of leadership of the party and diligently pursued the APGA court case to the end. Shortly after that, the party in 2006 ratified him as the national chairman.

He was returned in 2011 at a national convention in Awka , the Anambra State capital.

Since then, APGA has grown like the Biblical mustard seed. When Umeh assumed the leadership of the party, the party had no single elected officer, even as local government councillor.

But after a while, APGA became a creed of some sorts in the South-East. Today, the party is on the verge of completing a 12-year reign at the helm of affairs in Anambra State.

The state has more than a score of legislators elected on the platform of APGA in both the House of Assembly and the National of Assembly.

It was under Victor Umeh that APGA forayed into Imo State and produced the state governor in the person of Owelle Rochas Okorocha and over half of the members of the state house of assembly and a senatorial seat. The rest is now history.

Since the leadership of Umeh, APGA has become the most sought political platform for elective positions in Anambra State, and somehow in the South-East.

As the late nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, put it: in any organisation that people belong and they don’t quarrel, two things are possible, it’s either their members are saints or fools.

APGA has had it fair share of the quarrel or crisis, they call it. This ranged from verbal war, court case, egocentrism among members.

Most people believe that the recent Abuja Court of Appeal judgment is a welcome development for every member of APGA, and should be used as a veritable vehicle to redress all forms of injustice in the fold to ensure that the party is properly positioned for future elections.

But is anybody listening? Time will tell.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Abuja Beats

Abuja Beats

Purify your faith, Cardinal Onayekan urges Nigerians Yekeen Nurudeen

T

he Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said that the security challenges facing the country require a lot of actions.

He noted that one of such angles is for Nigerians to purify the kind of faith they claim to have towards God. Onaiyekan stated this in Abuja during the public p r e sent a tion o f a

book titled: ‘Lord Grant Me Faith’, authored by Rev. Fr. Christopher Inegbenoghu.

He noted that impure faith being professed by Nigerians affects their daily lives and how they relate with one another.

“Everybody claims to believe in God, but we can see that when this faith is not pure, when it is not deep, it may not have a positive impact on the way we live our lives,” he said.

Speaking earlier at the event, the author enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the reading culture as a way of strengthening their faith.

He la-

mented that Nigerians were permitting a culture of preventing printed works from thriving.

“We have a culture today that what is in print, we really do not bend down to look at. So, the first call I have for Nigerians who pick this book is, make use of the book. Nigerians should imbibe the culture of reading and let’s apply what we have read to our lives,” he advised.

He said he was inspired to write the book by the zeal and faith he observed in some African and Latin American countries as well as the peaceful coexistence in Western countries, which is in essence, the fruit of faith.

The cleric said there was a clarion call on all Christians to look back and meaning of faith is see what the to peoples’ lives.

He lamented that the w o r l d was d e c o rated with different beliefs and systems that try to crash the Christian faith and none of them was able to provide an answer to human curiosity and answer the question for the pursuit of happiness.

Video fashion berths in Abuja Amadi Nnamdi

V

ideo Fashion, a platform that seeks to bring together designers, beauticians, fashion enthusiasts and influential personalities in Abuja to a unique fashion show has been unveiled in Abuja.

Speaking at an enlightenment programme in Abuja, the Concept Director of Strictly Naija Entertainment, organisers of the show, Victor Chukwueke, said, “The goal of the event is to provide a platform for creative designers to display their art as well as create equal opportunities for models to showcase their talent.

“Video fashion is an apt event to create awareness about the African fashion and textile industry thus promoting the use of ethical and sustainable textiles.

The show is also an effort to bring together the best talents in Nigeria and showcase them to the world.”

Mathias Gabadi, an Abuja-based model, expressed delight at the advent of VF to Abuja, noting that the fashion industry in the nation’s capital is still nascent.

“We don’t really have as much shows and sponsorship that we need but it is

a gradual process. We will get there,” he said Another model, Ifeoma Isabel Ekwuchi, described the show as an awesome event.

She extolled the innovative efforts of the organisers in putting up the event just as urged she participants to use the opportunity to establish contacts for further shows in Abuja.

Pro-Jonathan group donates to orphanage Yekeen Nurudeen

T

he Grassroots Campaign Team, which is rooting for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and vice-President Namadi Sambo last week donated gift items to orphans at City Refuge Orphanage, Durumi, Abuja as part of its outreach programme.

The group, which said it is working for the re-eelection of Jonathan and vice-President Namadi Sambo, donated food stuff, groceries, detergents as well as toiletries to the orphanage.

While making the donation, the group’s National Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Rabana, said it chose the place because chil-

dren are among the vulnerable members of the society.

Rabana urged Nigerians to support the transformation agenda of the President.

He also called on government to take the welfare of children more seriously.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Ugandan Film officials understudy Nigeria’s Censors’ Board

Patricia Bala, DG, Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board

Amadi Nnamdi

A

s part of plans to develop and restructure the film regulatory mechanism in Uganda, a three-member team of film officials from the East African country has visited Nigeria to understudy the operations of the Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board and its regulatory framework.

The team was welcomed to Abuja by the NFVCB management.

After taking briefings from top functionaries of Nigeria’s apex movie regulatory agency, they were made to observe mock field operations within FCT, in order to understand monitoring and enforcement operations.

Among places they visited were registered and licensed movie distribution outlets within the city.

Addressing the visitors, the NFVCB Acting Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Caesar Kagho, noted that the agency had taken practical steps to strengthen strategic bilateral relationships with Ghanaian and Ugandan film authorities.

He said in one of such moves, the president of the Ghana Cinematographic Exhibition Board of Control was last week given a comprehensive list of films approved by the board.

The document contained approvals spanning the first half of this year from January to June 2014.

He explained that the initiative was part of the agenda to checkmate cross-border trafficking of illegal movies, adding that a breakdown of the 306 film titles which were sent to the Ghanaian agency showed 25 films for January; 66 for February; 74 for March; 44 for April; 35 for May; and 62 for June.

These initiatives, according to him, are in line with the board’s efforts towards developing the Nigerian film industry and Africa in general.

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Abuja Beats

Please save my life, cries accident victim

Omego Geofrey Chisolum is a civil engineer working with a private firm in Abuja. May 25, 2014 is a day he would not forget in a hurry. A day his life changed from good to bad. He was knocked down by a vehicle and has since been bedridden. He shares his ordeal with OBINNA ODOH, lamenting the strike by medical doctors which has halted his treatment at the Federal Staff Hospital, Abuja

Chisolum

What is the cause of your sickness and how did it happen?

On the 25th of May, 2014, I was on my way to work on a friend’s car when suddenly one of the car’s tyres burst. We were so lucky nothing bad happened to us because God being so kind my colleague who was driving was able to control the car. It stopped in the middle of the road.

So we both came down from the car to see how we could replace the bad tyre.

As he (my colleague) was trying put a caution sign to warn vehicles coming from behind that our car was stuck there, I was busy removing the bad tyre to replace it with the spare one. Suddenly, a KIA car coming from behind hit my colleague and headed towards me.

Before I could think up anything the car was already on me. It hit me directly and scrubbed me on the car I was working on. As a result of that, I sustained several injuries (bruises) all over my body. My waist, my left leg, my right arm were fractured. My urinary bladder was damaged because my stomach was seriously hit by the car.

How were you rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment?

The experience was a story to me because I was unconscious at the time of the accident. But as I was told that it was an FRSC team on patrol that came to our rescue. They took us to Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi, Abuja. The accident happened around 3pm and when we got to the hospital, seeing my condition, the doctors did not bother to ask for a card. They immediately swung into action and started treatment. But before that I was referred to the X- ray section for a scan after which I was taken to the theatre. My stomach was seriously swollen as a result of the injury to my bladder. I was operated on and after that they fixed an oxygen tube on me because my breath wasn’t normal. Also,

a catheter was fixed to allow me pass urine.

What was the condition of the driver of the vehicle that injured you? Did he run away?

Well, they said that he stopped but my condition wasn’t such that would afford me the opportunity of knowing what was going on How about now, does he visit and assist you?

He’s been coming to see me since the ugly incident.

Seeing your condition reveals that you are not close to getting well. Why are you at home instead of the hospital?

I am here at home not because I’m healed but because of the doctors’ strike. In fact I am still in serious pain but because I can’t afford the bill of private hospitals after all we spent in Jabi.

I am waiting at home for the strike to be called off so that I can return to hospital for treatment.

the commencement of the nationwide strike embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Medical Association.

In fact, the hospital management discharged all the patients at the same time. The strange thing is that nobody was considered at all, no matter how critical your case/condition was. Even people at the point of death were discharged and we were left with no option than to move to private hospitals for those who could afford the cost. But for some of us who could not, we retired to our homes.

By the time I was discharged, I was still in serious pain. By then I was just operated on my hand. I mean July 1, 2014 when the strike commenced proper. Also, my leg had just been operated upon when I was asked by the hospital management to go. And I queried, what for? Go to where in this condition?

When I cannot sit down, stand up or walk or even eat food! The experience was a complete tragedy and was awful to me.

But the doctors spoke up to us and exonerated themselves of the cause of the strike. They said that government had failed to tackle the plight of medical doctors. When I saw others going, we decided to hire a hospital ambulance that conveyed me home because that was the only option.

Are you being attended to here by any medical doctor?

No, they asked me to go to a private hospital if I needed any assistance.

What was your experience like before the doctors’ strike?

Well, before the strike doctors were very friendly and attended to us as and when due. Even in a critical condition when we called for their attention they would respond promptly. You could imagine even in the middle of the night when doctors are called upon, they usually complied without hesitation. Their prompt actions contributed to my quick recovery at the time of the accident.

Within one month of my admission I was able to regain consciousness.

How about now that they are on strike?

The strike was what led to my coming home and the experience is nothing to write home about. I was discharged from the hospital prematurely when I was still in serious pain. Though I didn’t know the cause of the strike. But as soon as I saw many people on admission being discharged and people who came to the hospital for fresh admission being asked to go that was when it dawned on me that I was in danger. They discharged me on July 2, 2014, a day after

Why don’t you go to a private hospital and cry out loud for financial assistance from well-meaning Nigerians instead of remaining at home?

I don’t even know where go to for help or how to go about that. But I thought that the strike would not last till now and the amount we have spent on treatment in the hospital has taken everything in my hand. For as long as I stayed in the hospital, I paid N5000 for bed space; for the drugs that came according to doctor’s prescription, at first my brother was buying drugs worth N10,000 every day. So the total amount we spent in the hospital was over N1 million and yet I cannot sit, stand or walk. My not going to a private hospital is not because I don’t want to but because I am financially handicapped.

What are your health challenges now?

Well, I thank God I am still alive now but still in deep pain. What do you expect me to say when I cannot walk, sit or stand up?

What can you tell good people of this country in respect to your condition?

Frankly speaking, I need financial assistance from God fearing and good people of Nigeria so as to proceed to a private hospital since the hope of the doctors’ strike ending is not forthcoming. Please and please, if you care to save my life or know anybody who will assist me please do not hesitate to do so.

No amount is too small.

Also I want to use this opportunity to beg government to as a matter of urgency and because of the plight of the people of Nigeria to resolve any issues with the doctors so that they can go back to the hospitals. Health is not an issue to play with or drag for so long because the more you delay the more people die.

Finally, I want the doctors to see their profession first as one that saves lives. They should look more to the welfare of the people they serve.

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Body&Soul

Timeless Fedora

Vanessa Okwara

B

ack in the 50s, a gentleman was rarely seen with-

out a hat. Then, Fedora, placed straight on his head, shading his eyes, or rakishly tilted to one side, aided in making a fashion statement.

Today, the Fedora has not lost its allure. The hats represent class, style, and sophistication. They give an air of power and prestige to the men who wear them.

They are a fantastic way to add a little culture

to your look as well as a practical way to protect you from the sun and other elements.

These days, the Fedora has made a big comeback and is trending even among the youths.

A Fedora is a felt hat most commonly worn by men, but women also rock this trend. The Fedora can be made from straw or cotton material.

It is typically creased lengthwise down the crown and ‘pinched’ in the front on both sides.

The crease of the crown, the pinch at the front, and the snap of the brim make the Fedora the most expressive and personal hat shape.

The Fedora is a traditionally serious hat, but with a few adjustments, it can be suitable for both formal and casual occasions. When wearing a Fe-

dora with formal attire, position it straight and centered on your head; the brim should be parallel with your eyebrows and perpendicular to the bridge of your nose.

To sport your Fedora as a casual accessory, wear a graphic T-shirt and your favourite pair of jeans.

Throw on some canvas, sneakers or sandals.

Class it up by throwing on a nice suit jacket and tilt the Fedora to one side or try tipping it upward and exposing part of your forehead.

You can also wear it with slim-fit cotton shirts, straight leg trousers and lightweight blazers. Finish the look with suede shoes and circular sunglasses and you are ready to wow on the red carpet.

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Hidden past can ruin present future

A

s Jenny walked confidently into the church office in her beautiful black skirt suit and nude pumps, her face radiating so much innocence, it would be hard to think this lady had once lived the life of a prostitute.

She is currently the head Usher in her church, Secretary of the prayer band and now engaged to the handsome youth pastor, Victor. She has indeed been able to transform her life from what it used to be when she was living far away in Jos, Plateau State.

Back then, you cannot say she was a prostitute exactly, at least she was not standing on the streets of Jos as a street hooker; she was classier than that. She and her friends were what you could call professional lady escorts or ‘Aristos’ in the local parlance. She lived a double life where she was a student in the

University of Jos in the day and at nights she was seen at the luxury hotels in town. Most of these hotels had the phone numbers of their lady escorts and would call them if they had important ‘clients’ that needed their services.

When she graduated, she was posted to Port Harcourt for her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). It was at the NYSC camp that she repented, gave her life to Christ and decided to live a clean life. She got a job in Port Harcourt immediately after her service.

She joined her present church where she’s now serving God to the best of her ability.

A year later, she started dating Victor, the youth pastor and they fell madly in love with each other. He was everything she desired in a man God fearing, hardworking, caring and very devoted to her. She didn’t know

how to tell him about her past in Jos. She thought he would not love her again or even want to marry her. She decided not to tell him about it.

At least Jos and Port Harcourt seem miles’ apart and with the recent

ing full circle as her past came running to meet her present. Guess who she ushered into the church one Sunday morning?

The manager of one of the hotels she visited frequently with her numerous men friends! It was

Life has a way of coming full circle as her past came running to meet her present. Guess who she ushered into the church one Sunday morning? The manager of one of the hotels she visited frequently with her numerous men friends! insurgency in the Northern part of the country by Boko Haram, the chances of Victor ever travelling to Jos seems rather slim.

So there is no way he will ever find out about the dirty life she lived back in her school days.

Life has a way of com-

even more of a shock when he was introduced as Victor ’s cousin living in Jos. The grim look on the face of Victor’s cousin told her she was in big trouble! She knew he was going to open the can of worms of her sordid lifestyle in Jos to her fiancé.

C NNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

She has been introduced as his fiancée.

How is she going to face Victor when he comes out to confront her with this truth? She just doesn’t know how to tackle this dilemma!

Well, Jenny should have thought of the consequences of keeping such a secret from her fiancé from the very first day, don’t you think? Everyone has a few secrets and makes mistakes from time to time. Nobody is perfect and people should not be judged by their past life so far they have repented and forsaken it.

All the same, it serves to tell your partner about your past because it helps you find healing and it also aids your partner to understand you better. A good partner will help you to heal and not judge you based on your past.

Opening up about your past can help to bring a greater bond between the two of you; if love truly exists in that relationship.

That does not mean you should tell every Tom, Dick and Harry that crosses your path about your past. This should only be exclusive to the

person you want to spend the rest of your life with. If there have been issues of rape, prostitution, a child outside wedlock, previous marriage, abortion etc; it will be best to talk about these things with your partner before marriage so that they can be fully aware of everything in your past. If they can’t accept you with your past, then they might not also tolerate you in their future when they eventually find out about it, don’t you think so?

Again, if your partner is going to hear anything negative about you, let it come from you first and not from an outsider. Don’t give bad belle people the privilege to destroy your happiness.

If you are struggling with an issue from the past and you know you have a strong, loving relationship with your partner, don’t be afraid to tell him/her. Yes, it will be very hard to bring up those past hurts and feelings, but the reward at the end is usually gratifying. Go ahead; let those worms out before they totally destroy everything you have built!

For Maya, Nadine: An ode to contemporary literary matriarchs

A

s a lover of literature, my heart is bleeding with pain. As a human, I am so concerned regarding the state of the world and what we prioritize. Tucked somewhere on the inside pages of most newspaper is the news of the death of Nobel laureate, Nadine Gordimer. Coming a few weeks after the death of Maya Angelou, it is indeed a double blow to the world of literature and feminism, as two of its brightest stars have been dimmed by death.

However, my pain does not come from the actual deaths of this matriarchs of literature, for they both lived fulfilled lives and died, as the cliché goes, at ‘ripe old ages.’ However, that they both died and only got passing mention in the electronic news media and their individual obituary tucked in some inside pages shows the value our world places on intellectuals and their place in the society.

These two deserve headline news on the front page of the newspapers across the world for what they represented while alive and for their contribution to the human endeavour. Maya Angelou and Nadine Gordimer were champions for the cause of the subalterns; both racial and gendered. Maya, particularly with the seminal book, ‘I know why the caged bird sings’, helped show the world that poetry is not just the preserve of white skinned writers, but flows in the blood of the black race. She used her writing to canvass the cause

of the oppressed woman and fight for her rights. She showed the beauty in the black race, not in isolation, but as part of humanity in general and brought sweet music to the soul of many. Maya spread joy, not only through her poetry, but as a singer, dancer and all round artistic performer. She forced culture into the political terrain when she recited her now world famous poem, ‘On the Pulse of Morning,’ at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993. It was the first time since 1961, that poetry, literature and any sort of cultural activity would be a part of the hallowed American ceremony of presidential inauguration. This follows years of activism for equality that brought her in contact with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Her inspirational grass to grace story, from a life of poverty and prostitution to literary celebrity is one for the big screen and her death, a loss to the literary world.

While Maya helped shine the light on

the black race, Nadine blurred the line of the racial debate with her book and showing that to make the world a better place, everyone must stand for right and justice, irrespective of their skin colour. I remember my introduction to her through the book, The Conservationist.

I was convinced that the book had to be written by a black woman as a result of the poignancy and frankness with which she addressed and condemned the apartheid issue in the novel.

I make no claim to literary sainthood, I was ignorant until 1991 when she won the Nobel Prize for literature as the first, and to date, the only African female writer, that she was in fact a white South African. The scales fell off my eyes and I knew, that throughout the world, there could only be two kinds of people irrespective of their race or ethnic group -good and bad.

Her quest for making new female literary voices from Africa heard and published moved her to reject the Orange Prize, which is reserved for female

novelists. She has had her time, she reasoned and it was only fair to give up and coming writers a chance at the spotlight, which such award brings.

No wonder her Nobel Prize citation states that “through her magnificent epic writing, she has been of very great benefit to humanity.”

Now you know why it is indeed sad that these two individuals will make their exit from the world and only a muted acknowledgement follows. I wonder why this is so. Is it still a case of literature and cultural matters not being appreciated world over or the fact that the world is so enmeshed in crisis and conflict that we are too busy to pay attention to the positives around us? I mean, why bother with two old women when hundreds of young Palestinian kids are being killed in Gaza? When it was the death of three Israeli teenagers that sparked the trouble in the first place? When airplanes are disappearing without trace and those ones not disappearing are being shot down from the sky? I am not even talking about the fact that no one is talking of the Ebola virus slowly decimating Western Africa or the fact that the Chibok girls are yet to be found.

Indeed, the whole world is upside down, but amidst all the badness, Maya Angelou and Nadine Gordimer stood for and wrote of a world where the human life is valued. For this, I celebrate their fulfilled literary lives.

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Body&Soul

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Wole Adepoju 08085003746

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Gov Seriake Dickson’s tourism drive pays off

T

he election of a former House of Representatives member, Seriake Dickson, as Bayelsa State governor did not come without challenges, as critics took turns to lash out at him.

While some were of the

opinion that Dickson’s closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan would make him exhibit a lukewarm attitude - since he would be untouchable – some others opposed him for reasons best known to them. There were those

What is Johnny Okosun up to?

L

ight-skinned and stoutly built Johnny Okosun, at a time, was the toast of many big boys and babes on the Island part of Lagos. The reason was because he had deep pockets. Also, he was a factor at high octane parties due to his fat purse. But all these became a thing of the past when he was hunted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

One thing led to the other and he had to sell some of his properties. He eventually moved with his actress wife back to his country home in Edo State.

Ever since, little or nothing has been heard about this dude, whom many believed was living on the fast lane. However, sources told Celeb Lounge that Johnny was recently sighted on the Island in the company of some people who are known to be into real estate.

There are rumours that he might be planning to acquire a property.

who believed in him based on his antecedents.

Dickson has been able to prove his diehard critics wrong.

He has shown that he was prepared for the task of being a governor. Through his performance, he has won many of his hitherto opponents, especially the masses, to his side.

A typical example of where his magic wand lies is evident in the tourism sector. Dickson has not only been able to make this sector attractive and lucrative to the state government and the residents, he has also set the pace for his counterparts to follow. With a high level of commitment to transform tourism in Bayelsa State, the governor has proven to be a visionary leader with a direction. Also, with the daughter of the late Gen. Charles Ndiomu, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, as the director-general of Bayelsa State Tourism Agency, the people of the state have benefited immensely from the ongoing transformation in the tourism sector in the state.

Dickson realised that the state boasts of ame-

nities that can attract tourism and boost the fortunes of the state.

Avenues to make the state accessible to the larger society were earnestly explored and the result was the hosting of world class events that attracted tourists to the state. In the last one year, a number of such events were held to the advantage of the people of Bayelsa.

The International Jazz Festival, Africa Movie Academy Awards, International Fashion Show and most recently, the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, to mention a few, held in the state.

“Business is looking up. More people lodge in our hotels during these events and we make more money,” a hotelier in Yenagoa, the state capital, told Celeb Lounge recently. He is not alone in his appreciation of the governor’s effort at turning the state into a tourism destination. Taxi drivers and local food sellers in Yenagoa are calling for more of these events. According to them, they make good fortune when visitors flood the city during these events.

Mike Adenuga’s protégé, Lamex hits 50

I

t’s been a torrent of congratulatory messages for Alhaji Olanrewaju Mohammed, a protégé of billionaire, Dr. Mike Adenuga. Mohammed hit the golden age of 50 some days ago. As part of his birthday celebration, the socialite with flourishing business concerns has since jetted out to Saudi Arabia, alongside over 20 of his friends to observe prayers at the Lesser Hajj.

After the first leg of the party in Dubai, Mohammed, who is widely known as Lamex, will stage the second and final leg in Lagos, come August, when the birthday train would have landed in Nigeria. As a philanthropist, Lamex had earlier visited orphanages and homes of the less privileged to share the joy of his special birthday anniversary with them.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to put together an event befitting a socialite of his standing, frontline Fuji singer, K1 D Ultimate, who is a close ally of the businessman as well as one of his praise singers, has been contracted to do a recording in honour of his friend. The musical piece, which K1 finished recording a few days ago, Celeb Lounge learnt, will be part of the souvenirs that will be distributed at the party in August.

Stoutly-built, Lagos-born Mohammed is the owner of upscale hotel, R & A, on Allen Avenue in the Centre of Excellence and a chain of other businesses ranging from oil and gas to real estate, haulage, construction and many others.

Another hurdle for Gbemi Saraki G

bemi, the beautiful daughter of the late strongman of Kwara politics, Chief Olusola Saraki, could be comfortably referred to as one of the powerful gladiators in the politics of the same state. The light-skinned politician came into public consciousness back in 1999, when she contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives.

After that, she stepped up and secured a seat for herself as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Towards the 2011 elections, Gbemi, with the consent of her father, signified interest to take over the man-

tle of leadership from her elder brother, Bukola, who was the governor. The move did not go down well with majority of the people of the state. A new political party, Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria, was founded for her since she could not actualise her dream on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Gbemi eventually lost to Abdul Fatah Ahmed and the rest, as they say, is history.

Gbemi has since returned to PDP where many feel she will fill the vacuum left by the death of her late father and the defection of her elder brother to the All Progressives Congress. True to what many envisaged, she’s been accorded the position of a leader, with the state chairman of the party, Iyiola Oyedepo, being her person. But the situation on ground has made it look like Gbemi has a hurdle to scale to be able to call the shots and occupy a leadership position in the party.

An evidence of the fact that she might be losing relevance is how she lost out in the scheming for a ministerial appointment recently. Just like the likes of Yinka Aluko and Yahyah Oloriegbe were hopeful of the ministerial appointment, so also was Gbemi. Many had thought she was the one to beat, but the tune changed when one woman, also seen as a power broker in the state, Hajia Muniat Shagaya, backed the candidature of Abubakar Suleman, who was eventually picked.

Sources in the know revealed to Celeb Lounge that all the hopefuls pull many strings but were eventually made to settle for Shagaya’s candidate. At the moment, Gbemi faces the challenge of regaining her place as a leader in the state, against Shagaya, who has the ears of the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

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paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com; 08072709777

Tosin Adeyanju gathers more support E

arly in life, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju started showing traits of one who would want to go into a leadership position to make things work. Ever since he graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he has not looked back in contributing to the development of the society, especially, to youth-oriented causes.

Tosin is the Executive Director of ‘Conscience Nigeria’ and a protocol officer of ‘Goodluck Support Group’. This Kogi State-born politician, who is also known as Kaakaki, due to his outspokenness, has since signified interest to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, come 2015. Information filtering in to Celeb Lounge is that Tosin looks like the man to beat in the contest, not only because of his capacity as the Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, and his influence, but his popularity that is soaring by the day. Tosin wants to represent Kabba Bunu/Ijinnu Federal Constituency.

GOS anointed for guber ambition T

o say that the man who represents the largest senatorial district in Lagos State –Lagos West - in the Senate, Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, is interested in becoming the governor of Lagos State is stating the obvious.

Every activity of t h i s politician points to the fact that he is bent o n achieving his ambition.

H a v i n g served as a local government chairman and member of the House of Representatives, GOS as he is fondly called, made a move to take over the mantle of leadership from the then governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. However, like other interested candidates, he got a shocker as

a preferred candidate in the person of Babatunde Fashola was presented to the public.

But unlike most other aspirants who left the party for other platforms, the leadership of the Action Congress, which was then the ruling party in Lagos, could not afford to lose this astute politician because of his grass roots strength. Hence, he was pacified with a senatorial ticket.

Time has rolled by and another opportunity for governorship hopefuls to flex their muscles is here. Again, GOS is among the aspirants.

Ahead of many aspirants, Solomon had set up a campaign office. As it is, it’s being speculated that the light-skinned politician is not being favoured by the powers that be in the ruling party in the state, the All Progressive Congress. But the man is believed to be banking on his political clout and grass roots appeal to actualise his dream.

Also, it is being speculated that the smooth talking politician might go all out and prosecute hisgovernorship ambition on the platform of another party if he’s denied the APC ticket.

GOS, according to information at the disposal of Celeb Lounge, has also taken his case before God. Sources said that GOS has since pitched his tent with a gifted prophet in Lagos. He was said to have been spotted recently at the Sunday service of the church situated somewhere around Ojodu, Lagos, where he was specially anointed in the full glare of the church. The man of God in question is Prophet Adebisi of C.M.C.M.

with Helen Paul

Why people don’t get favour D

uring last year’s Christmas and fight to earn respect. In the Yoruba New Year festivities, I decided movie industry, for instance, I realised to make my staff happy by that many of the ladies fight over the giving them a surprise bonus of N50, title ‘aunty’. For a new actress to excel 000 each. Of course, they were not among them, she needs to call many expecting this because their salaries people ‘aunty’, whether she is older or had already been paid, so they were not. This development has caused unsurprised. Some were even close to necessary rancour in the industry. God tears of joy, raining prayers on me. I uses the foolish things of this world to felt really fulfilled to have done this. confuse the ‘wise’.

Such a thing is not a barrier to me But something shocking happened.

One of them, after I handed the sur- because I have learned from childhood prise envelope to him, said something not to underrate people. That little that really shocked me to the marrows. child you underrate today could be in I felt like retrieving the envelope from a position to assist you tomorrow. He/ him –but I controlled myself. she might also be the link for you to “Thank you Ma, but don’t forget that get a life-changing favour. Such is life.

I learnt you N1000 this morning. Can God will not come down from heaven I have it now?” That was his response to help you. He sends angels in the after counting the money I handed form of your fellow human beings, but over to him. some people, as a result of their pride, “Oh, ok. I forgot. Have it,” I respond- greed and lack of humility, have dised as I gave him a N1,000 note. He tanced themselves from their angels. collected the money and left my office, In my debut article, I explained my but I blamed myself for including him humble beginning as a studio recepin the list of staff that got the bonus. tionist, and how favour located me as a If you ask me, it result of my hard was my most emwork and humilGod will not come down barrassing moity. It will interment. est you to know from heaven to help Many people lathat when some you. He sends angels in ment today that people who knew me then see me favour is eludthe form of your fellow ing them, not today, instead of requesting for the knowing that it human beings, but some is a result of their favour they need people, as a result of their from me, you will unpalatable attitudes, most times hear them saying pride, greed and lack of orchestrated by words like, “After all, we knew you greed, pride and humility, have distanced when you started lack of humility. themselves from their The boy in quesnah, when you tion has since didn’t have fame angels or money…” What been fired from has that got to do my company. I with the assisdidn’t have to think twice on that decision because tance you want from me? Such words he was less productive in the company, can make someone who has plans to and now, he has shown greed and lack assist you change his mind. of manners.

The truth is that God has used me Favour is very important to human to assist people financially and othsurvival. We all pray and are in dire erwise, and it has nothing to do with need of favour in our endeavours. But whether I knew them before or not, some people’s attitudes deprive them or because they know my beginning. of getting it. Unfortunately, such peo- For instance, if you want me to do a ple assume they have spiritual prob- free show for you, there is no need to lems. They accuse that step-mother remind me that you knew when I was or the old woman in their village of a receptionist. barring their progress, not realising I have used my personal experiences that their destiny is in their hands. The as reference points in this article so earlier you work on that bad attitude that you can have a clear picture of what I’m trying to explain. of yours, the better.

I’m not saying there are no wicked God has continued to show His colospeople who use supernatural means sal supremacy to us by coding certain to hinder people from getting favours things from us. Nobody knows the day and progressing in life, but most of the he will make it in life, or through the cases are self-inflicted. channel or person it will come to fruiI always tell people around me that tion. You don’t need a soothsayer to humility is the easiest key to success. tell you that you must not underrate Being humble doesn’t take away any- people. If you want people to respect thing from you, but it adds a lot. The you, respect them first, and what you benefits of humility are unquantifi- get in return is their respect. That is able. When you satisfy people with hu- why it is widely said that respect is mility, it is a smooth way to get favour reciprocal. from them. I have seen people who

DIY on the GO

48

Body&Soul

Knot your turban at home from peeping beneath the famous hair accessory, first set a cap to your head in a secure manner.

2. Place the turban’s strip across the top of your head, leaving about seven to nine inches hanging by the neck, before your face.

3. Place the palm of one hand on top of your head to make sure the fabric does not move before you start to wrap.

4. With the other hand, pull the front part of the fabric over to the right side, pulling tightly as you go around your head.

5. Repeat the process to make a second wrap, this time wrapping slightly lower to make the right side look lower than the left side.

6. Do another wrap, this time placing the wrap in a manner that the tilt is on

Abimbola Sodeke

A

headwear that is composed of a large, long cloth and wound on the head in a fashionable manner – that is a turban. The art of tying it is what gives it a unique attraction.

Turban started as a customary headwear mostly worn by men from the Arabian Peninsula, some parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, but today, it has become a fashion accessory used by both men and women.

Turban is an attractive hair accessory that comes in different colours and the technique of tying it is easy to learn.

These tips will help you become an expert turban wrapper in no time.

1. To keep hair tendrils

JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Tied with ankara

the head’s rear with the high side placed atop the last wrap done. Simply repeat the process, folding from left to right around the head on vertical axis.

7. Continue until you are able to cover the whole head, leaving ends long enough to be tucked in underneath the lowest wrap.

For a more sophisticated and attractive touch to your turban, tilt it back after wrapping. To properly wrap a turban, you will have to place the tilts low over the face at the start, so that you are able to give the hair piece a traditional look once tilted back after the final step.

Note: Wrapping a turban takes some practice, but with these tips, you can soon become an expert turban wrapper.

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2 8

6 3

1

4 9

7

JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

The Reds and their benefits (2)

Ibukunoluwa Kayode

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any people seem to indulge in wine without knowing the potent ben-

efits they stand at every moderate sips. Though every wine grape possess its own health benefits but I am sorry to report to you white wine lovers

49

Wine & Dine

that red wine wins the contest every time. Since the skins are used in the process of fermentation the benefits gets absorbed into the red wine.

Red grape wines do not only serve as refreshment but also promote relaxation and helps foster good mood. The benefit of red wine increases the

Body&Soul

body ability to absorb calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc.

However, here are beneficial information’s on each mineral found in red grape wines.

Flavonoids and bioflavonoids: this mineral property according to research serves as antii n f l a m m a t o r y, antioxidant and anti-allergy ability in the blood

stream.

Tannins: this mineral gives wine its bitter, dry taste, which are found in the skin and seeds of the grapes. They are pro-

anthocyanidins (often referred to as OPC’s).

Tannins work like antioxidants, prevent hardening of the arteries and inhibit the growth of plaque on the teeth. But, often winemakers go to great lengths to reduce the number of tannins in wine. Press Wine, on the other hand, is extremely high in tannins because the winemakers do not deseed the grapes, but instead press and break the seeds during wine making.

Quercetin: is another pigment in red grapes.

Found in apples, green onions and green tea.

Quercetin works as an anti-inflammatory, an antihistamine and an antioxidant almost like the flavonoids.

Home made chicken and leek pizza Biwom Iklaki

O

ur love for junk food is a struggle we face daily. The day we win this fight is when most of us will be at our healthiest! However, in the interim, the statistics of obese and overweight people keeps rising. The saddest part of this plague is that it has also eaten into our children. They are victims of their times. The age of the computer is not kind to its youths who seldom find the time away from schoolwork and studying.

When they do, their idea of recreation can be found in the app store, more video games! All about their lives is indoors. No time for physical fitness activities or exercise.

There are ways to help this situation. One of which is to curtail the ‘fastfood’ trend. That way, you are aware of, and thereby able to control what goes into your tummies. Next time you crave a pizza, for instance, here is what you do: GET: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter.

3 large leeks, white and tender green portions only, sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick and separated into rings.

2 cups shredded, skinless, roasted chicken (from 2 legs).

1/2 pound Fontina cheese, shredded (2 cups).

1/3 cup spicy oil-cured olives, pitted and coarsely chopped.

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature.

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil.

(You can always shake up the ingredients to suit your preference).

PREPARATION: Preheat the oven to 500°.

Generously oil a large baking sheet. Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the leeks and cook over mod-

erate heat until just softened but still bright green -about five minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Stir in the chicken, half of the Fontina and the olives and season with salt and pepper.

On a lightly floured surface, roll or stretch the dough to a rough 14-inch round. Transfer the dough

to a rimless cookie sheet, or to the oiled baking sheet.

Spread the chicken and leek mixture on the pizza, leaving a one-inch border of dough. Brush the border with the olive oil. Sprinkle the remaining Fontina over the top and season with pepper.

Slide the pizza onto the hot stone, if using, and

bake for about 10 minutes on the stone or 16 minutes on the baking sheet, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Transfer the pizza to a rack and let cool slightly before serving.

Serve hot with warm milk or tea. A crisp Sauvignon Blanc will work better for adults.

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

Biwom Iklaki

W

e all know that boys will be boys, but that is no excuse when it comes to making sure they are groomed. Sometimes, they still have to look dressed up and spiffy.

That’s why it’s important for that young man to have the right choice of boys dress suits to keep him looking stylish, yet comfortable at family and school events. These occasions may not come around too often, but it is important that when they do, he does not come out lacking in any way, least of all, style! Let’s face it, sometimes that comfortable hoodie and pants set just won’t do. That’s why it’s important to find a dress up outfit that really suits him.

Whether it’s a family affair, a graduation or a special party, a good-looking choice in boys dress suits is crucial for that young man of the house. You can decide on the classic 3-piece suit (in black, navy, beige or brown) or just a pair of well-tailored pants, a crisp white, skyblue or stripped shirt in light shades. With these few pieces and a couple of bow ties or long ties, he is covered for any occasion. It is smart to also have a pair of dressing shoes handy.

The trick is to get the tailoring of the suit right.

Too big and he looks like he is drowning in his clothes. Too small and he looks like he is hanging from a clothes hanger, plus he will wear it for only a few weeks and promptly outgrow them.

The suits can be in cot-

ton and polyester, that will have him looking fine indeed. These suits can have coordinating jackets, pants and button up vests in solid colours that coordinate beautifully with a striped cotton shirt. A clip on tie adds that special dressy touch that’s just right. It won’t hurt, if you can, to get him a nice Rolex-like watch to complete the elegant and debonair look. You and he will thank you in future when you browse through the family albums.

When it comes to dressing up that boy in dressy outfits, spare nothing!

Here, some of the graduating pupils (boys) of Newland Elementary School, Aviation Estate, off Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, show off their grad suits.

PHOTOS: GODWIN IREKHE

Boys in Suit

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Celebrating Emmanuel Enoidem @ 50

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Victoria Ibanga uietly, he has made an impressive impact in a disciplined career and lifestyle, which has seen him through the thick and thin of the business of daily life. The seemingly quiet and serious demeanor, oftentimes misconstrued, belie the determined mentality those close to him are familiar with. Embedded in these characteristics are overwhelming passion and determination for whatever course he sets his eyes on. These qualities combined with an exceptional intelligence have been the guiding principle that has shaped his beliefs and vision in life.

His name may not ring a bell to many in the country today, but, Emmanuel Enoidem, a lawyer, teacher, politician and leader back home, in the now famous Akwa Ibom state where he holds sway, is a household name. His name is synonymous with every idea that represents his principal, Chief Godswill Akpabio, a man who has come to be known in modern Nigeria as the “uncommon transformer.” Enoidem, a former Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal and currently Commissioner for Special Duties who oversees major projects in the Akpabioled administration, can conveniently be described as a student of history under the tutelage of the grand master (Godswill Akpabio) whom he describes as “the greatest leader of our time.” And perhaps, it may not after all, be wrong to say he is a walking history of the ideals of the now famous uncommon transformation agenda, having risen from a humble family background to become a force to reckon with in the current political dispensation in the state.

Besides, he is an intellectual who stands head and shoulders above many of his contemporaries in his state and the nation as a whole. Perhaps, if he had remained in the teaching profession, he would have belonged to the league of legal revolutionaries, carving a niche for himself as a lecturer and even as he is doing as a politician and among the progressive. An ardent believer in the equality of men and women, his achievements are exemplified in the numerous empowerment programmes he has instituted, which are aimed at integrating the youth into the mainstream of governance in his Local Government Area (LGA) and beyond.

Like his principal, he strongly believes in the power of education, a belief that has opened doors and brought him to the limelight. In an interview he granted when he was the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, he said, “Nothing compares to education in the world. Free education is one sign-post of this administration – a hallmark achievement of this administration. You can imagine the multiplier effect of free education in terms of the number of people in Akwa Ibom state whose minds would be liberated as well as the number of parents who would be relieved of the burden of training their children.”

Continuing, he said, “The awareness on education has been brought to the front-burner.

It is not just free education, for the mere sake of it, we have put infrastructure in place that would support that policy, for instance, the e-library, which is second to none in Africa would provide services that you can stay in Uyo and access information in any part of the world within the library.”

Emman, as he is fondly called by his friends, credits his success to God and he minces no words in saying, “I believe in God. Nothing is impossible when you trust in God. The Bible says we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us,” adding “in Law, a lawyer knows a little bit of everything, I draw inspiration from axiomatic expression both from the Bible and from my legal profession” Born on July 27, 1964, to the large family of late Chief Moses and Deaconess Esther Enoidem, in Utu-Ikot Eboro village in Etim- Ekpo Local Government Area. He started his primary education in Government school, Utu

Life

Sustainable Waste Management in Africa

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Dr. Akanimo Odon

Nsekhe/ Utu Ikot Eboro and completed it in 1976 at Primary School, Afaha-Obo, Ukanafun LGA where he bagged a distinction. Also, He attended the Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, Utu Etim Ekpo, where he created an indelible academic record, having graduated with Grade 1 in 1981.

In furtherance of his education, he gained admission in 1984 to study Law in Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. He graduated in 1988 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, and was called to the Bar in 1989.

He started his practice as Legal Adviser, MAMSER, Benin City and later joined Victor Oviosun & Co. also in Benin City. He left Benin City in 1990 to Akwa Ibom state to work with Dr. Aquaowo Essien and Co. in pursuance of his private legal practice. In 1992, he founded Enoidem & Associates to further his practice and also dramatically joined the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom state both as a student ( Master’s degree in Law ) and lecturer ( Assistant lecturer) in the Department of Public Law, teaching courses like Contract, Labour Law, Evidence, Commercial Law, Administrative Law, Criminal Law etc, between 1992 and 2002. He had been a private legal practitioner for 18 years before his appointment on August 6, 2007, under this dispensation.

Between 1997 and 1998, he served as the executive Chairman of Etim-Ekpo LGA during the Abacha era. In 2001, he joined the Exco of the party as Akwa Ibom State Treasurer of People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) a position he held till 2007. In 2007 at the advent of the Akpabio administration, the party forwarded his name as its nominee for the position of member of the State Executive Council and he became the pioneer Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal and has been behind the major projects in the state.

Also, in 2007, he was a member of Elections planning Committee for PDP as well as the moderator of the gubernatorial campaign.

Based on his loyalty, popularity, and contributions to his party, he was appointed in 2011 as the Secretary-General of Godswill Akpabio’s Campaign Organization, a re-election bid that produced the Governor for second term in office.

Barr. Enoidem whose outstanding public service record has also attracted recognition, honours, accolades and even more responsibilities to him is married to Anne and they are blessed with three lovely children, Godswill, Baye-Abasi and Blessing.

Rightly, he has lived an eventful, but memorable and meaningful life. Unfortunately, lives are hard to fit into a newspaper article, no matter how much space is allotted. It is no surprise, therefore, that as he clocks 50 on July 27, 2014, he can without qualms, but with a coy smile and nostalgia say,” I have indeed done everything through Christ who strengthens me,’ one of his favourite Bible quotes.

51

aste and its management is arguably the most crucial environmental challenge facing all African states and therefore the need for sustainable waste management approaches cannot be overemphasized. This has arisen out of the realisation that the wastefulness of our industrial society is compromising the ability of nature to sustain our needs and the needs of future generations. In a developing continent like Africa, where development of infrastructure, facilities, products and the delivery of services is increasing rapidly, this becomes crucial and a need to understand what to do with generated wastes as a result of these developments, becomes vital.

There is no doubt that there are laid down waste management policies at governmental levels in several African states but these are at best general without due considerations of applications and or adaptations to fit the current needs. We have seen the enormous piles of wastes in different parts of Nigeria, Ghana and several other African countries and the use of landfill sites abound as one of the only interventions to waste management in several of these countries. In a global era where climate change is one of the most important topics of discourse, these landfills have raised serious concerns with regards the toxic emissions into the atmosphere, the pollution of the watertable and the subsequent negative impact on the health and well-being of communities around these sites. Africa is already inundated with several health crises that this is pushing the boundaries.

The issues of waste management in Africa is somewhat a complex one as there are different issues contributing to the present state of play. These issues include the disconnect between Federal and State government and the local government authorities, whose role it has inherently been to manage waste generated; the issues of finance and funding for waste management projects; an understanding of global and newer models of sustainable waste management to mention but a few.

Given recent advances in waste management practices, whether it be municipal solid waste (MSW), commercial and industrial (C&I), clinical, construction or food waste, there are a number of robust, scaleable technologies that can be deployed to turn waste into a resource. Such technologies span waste sorting and commodity recovery facilities right through to highly efficient energy from waste plants whereby mixed wastestreams can be used to generate renewable heat and power for local communities.

Policy drivers including the EU Landfill Directive and the EU Waste Incineration Directive as well as local fiscal incentives for renewable heat and power generation has positioned Europe as market leaders in waste management whereby significant investment has been made in developing sustainable solutions for waste disposal at local and regional scales.

In several cases, these models would require high investment drives, high

technical capacities and a resolution for a multi-partnership working platform for things to progress. However, with improved technologies, there is now the availability of low cost waste management solutions i.e. simple waste to energy plants, which can be deployed to cater for waste.

Therefore, a strategic adjustment of the way things work could significantly alter the way wastes are being generated and consequently managed. For instance, there is an economic trend that shows that Africa is becoming a global economic player with the economic growth in different African countries, the growth in private industries and subsequently increase in wastes. If private companies could deploy low cost solutions within their facilities such that they manage their waste, generate energy in the process while still showing themselves as being environmentally friendly, then this would significantly improve the situation of things. Also, if local and state governments understood the process of engagements and models of articulation of agreements to drive foreign or private sector investment into sustainable waste management projects, this would also increase the opportunities to tackle this huge environmental menace.

There is a need therefore for capacity building and knowledge transfer in the form of training to equip decision makers in whether government of industry on the options and help available to deal with wastes in a sustainable way.

One of such programmes has recently been designed for West Africa by one of the most reputable environmental centres in Europe, the Lancaster Environment Centre of Lancaster University UK in partnership with Stopford Projects UK Limited and a West African coordination by Envirofly Consulting Limited. This is an International Executive Master class certified by Lancaster University and accredited by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management.

This International Executive Master class Certificate in Sustainable Waste Management with a title of ‘Energy and Fuels from Waste (EFFW)’ is a practical course developed with the intention of exposing participants to a Zero Waste ideology with the objective of exposing participants to sustainable waste management models and environmental management principles from international waste management experts. The course will also empower participants with vital information, resource and knowledge on how their waste can be managed from a fuel and energy generation perspective.

The course would assess different waste management policies and frameworks available in Europe and how these could be adapted for African States. Finally, participants would benefit from a comprehensive review of the financial, business, consultancy and project development opportunities and support available.

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Faith

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Interview

Cash-lite policy presents new challenges for churches

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

T

Tai Anyanwu he Central Bank of Nigeria’s nationwide application of its Cash-lite policy has forced a number of churches across the country to deploy Pointof-Sale terminals in their auditoriums, to forestall the possible loss of funds arising from the policy.

In the CBN’s circular dated April 20, 2011, and signed by the Director, Currency Operations Department, Muhammad Nda, the new policy on cash-based transactions, which stipulates a ‘cash handling charge’ on daily cash withdrawals or cash deposits that exceed N500, 000 for individuals and N3, 000, 000 for corporate bodies is aimed at reducing the amount of physical cash circulating in the economy and encouraging more electronicbased transactions.

According to the circular, the chief reasons for the introduction of the new policy include the desire to drive development and modernisation of the country’s payment system in line with Nigeria’s vision of becoming among the top 20 economies by 20:2020 and curbing certain negative consequences associated with the high usage of physical cash in the economy, including high cost of cash along the value chain - CBN and the banks to corporations and traders.

Also, in the apex bank’s circular to all banks, cash-in-transit (CIT) companies, payment system service providers, switches, card acquirers, issuers and processors, titled, “Industry Policy On Retail Cash Collection And Lodgement (IITP/C/001),”cash encourages robberies and other cash-related crimes, which amounts to financial loss, including fire incident and flooding.

Based on this, the CBN made the policy clear in its Cash-less Lagos that only CIT licensed companies are allowed to provide cash pick-up services and banks will cease CIT lodgment services rendered to merchantcustomers in Lagos State from December 31, 2011, adding that any bank that contravenes this policy would be sanctioned. Also, the CBN directed that third party cheques above N150, 000 shall not be eligible for encashment over the counter.

This policy, according to CBN’s directives, applies to all accounts with exception to government revenue generation account, Primary Mortgage Institutions, microfinance banks and embassies. The commercial banks were, therefore, advised to work with their corporate customers to arrange for suitable e-collection options, while the policy thrives.

The policy, therefore, stipulates that if an individual withdraws N450, 000 over the counter, and N150, 000 from the ATM on the same day, the total amount withdrawn by the customer is N600, 000, and the service charges will apply on N100, 000, the amount above the daily free limit. The limit also applies to cash brought through CIT compa-

Anyanwu

Osagie

nies, as the CIT companies only serve as a means of transportation.

Based on these, some Christian leaders expressed reservations that churches might suffer dwindling revenue in the collection of offerings, tithes and donations.

New Telegraph on Sunday found out that some churches are already compliant with the new fiscal policy, but there are worries that the ceiling on physical cash that can be moved to the tune of N3 million naira; and imposes a tax of N100, 000 on every extra N1, 000, 000 transaction.

When the Public Relations Officer of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Demola Akinola, was contacted to confirm whether or not his organisation had instructed member churches to comply with the new policy, he declined, insisting that he was attending a convention.

However, the Media Manager of Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Church, Pastor Louis Chidi, said his church had no choice than to comply. He pointed out that the Bible enjoins Christians to obey government policy, particularly those that are not inimical to the faith.

“The policy is welcome; though government did not give the people enough awareness.

“The whole thing took them by surprise. Up till now, many have not embraced the policy,” he said.

For his part, Pastor Tony Oghre of World Evangelism Bible Church said the POS system of gathering tithes and offerings in churches would work out in the end just like the internet did.

“The only problem with the POS is that when you put in your PIN, sometimes the server is down and also one or two things.

“Of course it can be discouraging and once it is voluntarily given, people can turn off easily.

“That is normally the problem most likely people will be having when it comes to this kind of thing.

“If it is to give an offering most times you go there and the thing is not working. Once the church closes, you go home. Of course, that will be a loss of income for the church because tithes and offering are sources of income to churches.

“Until it is standardised and functional, it definitely will have an impact on the income of the church.

“I see it as a policy meant to stifle evangelism, because those doing evangelism need the funds to print tracts, banners and fliers. The policy will put them in a strait jacket. It is targeted at the church.”

Managing Director, Fina Trust Micro Finance Bank, Deji Popoola, noted that the world had become a global village. As such, whatever is that obtainable in advanced countries must automatically cascade to developing economies.

“Most economies of the world right now are de-emphasising a cash-based economy and they are focused more on e-banking; and whether we like it or not in Nigeria as well, we must truly look forward to a situation where we can do more of our businesses on an e-

CAN President, Ayo Oritshejafor

banking or e-commerce basis,” he said.

The Managing Consultant of Macfen Technologies and Resources Management Group, Samuel Adebayo Adetifa, concurred.

“It is more advantageous to the nation’s economy. It reduces corruption and illicit trade on money or cash and it conserves the hardearned currency of the Nigerian government,” he said.

The financial expert explained that drug money and other illicit cash transactions could be easily traced under the fiscal regime.

He, however, said that POS machine does not necessarily have to be used in the collection of tithes and offerings and donations in churches adding that cheques could be used instead.

Adetifa explained that the imposition of N100, 000 tax on cash transaction in excess of N3m was only applicable to expenses made by such organisations.

“It is the spending that is restricted to N3m, not income. So it has no effect on income,” he added.

According to him, the cash-lite policy would in no way lead to loss of income to the churches.

“It would only promote accountability on the part of the administrators of the churches as to what they do with the money, if they go through the bank,” he said.

New Telegraph on Sunday, however, learnt that some churches could use cheques or online banking as standard model of collecting tithes and offerings.

“In my branch, we have made it as a very strong policy that any offering or tithe beyond N5, 000 should be paid into the bank. We have been practising that for some time now,” said Rev Izuchukwu Chukwudebelu of Assemblies of God Church, FESTAC Town, Lagos.

Some church leaders would rather not consider the use of POS machines in gathering tithes and offerings.

They insisted that the POS system was contrary to scriptural process and requirement for giving offerings to the Almighty God. “The nature of the church at present is such that I cannot practise it. This is because you will have to think about constraints that it will take everybody to be going through the process of going to stand on the line to be attended to through the POS process. Time will not allow me do to that.

“And then the rest of it is the scriptural way by which people bring their offerings and gifts before the altar of God. And that one, we will not compromise because the process is not just about the money, it is in the way you give it,” Bishop Lawrence Osagie of Powerline Bible Church pointed out.

According to him, the scripture requires that one who brings an offering to God should do it cheerfully and also celebrate it through singing and dancing so that the spiritual implication would be experienced.

He added, “Faith is not a mechanical thing.

Faith is not a place where man’s idea and know-how are brought in. When you begin

to make man’s idea run a spiritual exercise, it becomes mechanical and God is driven away from the place.

“The Spirit of God is the one that guides everything that God says so that the praises of God and the glory of God will be what the people will experience that will bring them the blessing that God has.

“But when we begin to now allow government to run the church, it ceases to have the flavour of heaven. It becomes a man’s set up just like a political party. And it must not be; the Spirit of God must be in control. “ He added that there were things that could be done spontaneously by the instructions of the Holy Spirit.

“And that will not be mortgaged by any political agenda and things that people do to make a name for themselves which will not even last.

“Even in the biggest nations of the world where technology has become common place, they don’t force churches to use ATM and POS machines as a replacement for the celebration of giving which must be a private thing, a personal thing between individuals and their God,” he protested.

The GO frowned at the policy and alleged that it was a satanic strategy to frustrate the work of God in Nigeria.

His words: “It is not even a matter of losing income. You see there is a system that Satan is using to frustrate the work of God in this country; and that system is what I call double taxation.

“Somebody who is coming with his offering to God is someone who has already paid tax to the government. Now he brings a token to God and you want to take part of it.

“You are the one who is controlling and drilling the oil that God put in the country; you are the one that is exploiting the gold, you are the one who is exploiting the silver, the outcome of all those things we are not seeing it reflecting anywhere.

“There are no lights, no good roads, nothing here; no security and then the poor people who want to serve God so that God can give them a life you also want to dip your finger into it. And in the end, your corrupt officials will take these things and eat and swallow them and then go and die of whatever kind of diseases they die from.

“And then people don’t understand why things happen to them the way they happen to them; because you don’t touch what you are not supposed to touch. We have been fighting this double taxation thing it for a long time. It will not succeed,” he stressed.

Concurring, Rev Izuchukwu said that though characteristically, Nigerian policies were usually very hot at the beginning.

“But after sometime even the policy formulators are the ones that will abuse it. So let’s observe to see because Nigeria has not changed and we are not alien. We have been here for close to 50 years and have known what the system is all about,” he added.

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Faith

Trinity House marks fourth anniversary celebration

“C

Chijioke Iremeka elebrating Our Great God: The Best Is Yet To Come,” was the theme of the Victoria Island, Lagos-based Trinity House’s fourth anniversary celebration last weekend. With Psalm 149, which says, “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in congregation of saints,” the house called on worshippers to celebrate God in His sanctuary.

In the same spirit of thanksgiving and celebration, the 5000-seating capacity Trinity House was filled to the brim as worshippers thronged the auditorium to celebrate God with thanksgiving for His increase in the land and protection of the church and members.

The four-day event, which ran from Wednesday and to Sunday, witnessed different activities, including sports, educational and musical activities, which drew many gospel artistes such as Mid-Night Crew.

As one would expect in a thanksgiving service, it was an outpouring of testimonies from worshippers and the immediate communities, which were visited by Renaissance Foundation, an aspect of the church, saddled with the responsibility of caring for the needy and lost souls.

Of course, the youth and children departments were not left out, as they were given opportunities to display their talents in drama, choreography and musical

contest among others.

One of the officiating ushers in her gorgeous apparel, Miss Doris Oparaji, said the church had impacted her life. She said, “God has really blessed me in Trinity House. Coming from a Catholic background, my spirit man was never grown this way but God has done it here.

“Then, I hardly read the Bible but today, I can read and preach the Word of God. My first experience wasn’t too rosy but the Spirit of God empowered me.

“A time came when I had to stay at home almost a year without going to church, but a friend invited me to Trinity House, while they were still at Civic Centre. Since then, I have seen God work His wonders in me. So, there is God in Trinity House.’

Another special member of the church is Belo Ajani, a sound engineer, fondly called Alfa. He is a Muslim turned Christian.

He said, “I don’t know how I became a Christian. I don’t know how it happened but I know it was God at work. This is not a decision that anyone can make easily, except the Spirit of God convinces the person. Today, I’m Christian but I still wonder how it happened.

“To tell you how the conversion took place, the Pastor-In-Charge, Ituah Ighodalo, usually calls me Pastor Alfa or Paul the Apostle. But in everything, I’m now part of this church.

“Pastor Ituah is a true man of God and God is working with him. I started working with them as a Muslim in the midst of a Christian technical crew and by the time I knew it, I was already transformed.

CO N T I N U E D O N PAG E 5 4

Pastor Ituah and his wife, Ibidunmi Ighodalo

Chief Opral Benson; Pastor Ituah with his wife, Ibidunmi Ighodalo and the Regent of Okeigbo Princess Fasawe

Pastor Ituah and Apostle Wale Oladiyum of Clam

Pastor Ituah with other members of the church preparing to cut the anniversary cake

Ven. Lanre Ogunmuluyi of St. Lukes Anglican Church, Okeigbo; Chief (Mrs) D. Fagunwa and the Regent of Okeigbo Princess Fasawe

Some of the church members being ushered in

Guests at the event

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Trinity House marks fourth anniversary celebration CO N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 53

Pastor Ituah cutting the anniversary cake with some members and guests

Hon. Jumoke Okoyo Thomas; Pastor’s wife, Ibidunmi Ighodalo and Mr Tunde Ajayi

Happy and excited members

The welfare department of the church, headed by Mrs. Bolaji Osime (middle)

Chairman, anniversary organising committee, Bayo Rotimi with his family

Here we are today, celebrating the incredible God.” Afolabi Oke is a member of the Anniversary Organising Committee and says he is thankful to God for the anniversary and for God’s increase and protection. He added that the programme went the way he anticipated.

Speaking on the celebration, Ighodalo said, “We are thanking and celebrating God because a lot of Christians don’t celebrate God. Most people go to God demanding but we are here to celebrate Him. We love Him and appreciate Him. “We appreciate Him because He is our King and God, who created us.

Anytime you see a king, you celebrate that king. We are celebrating Him because He made us. We are His creation, made for His pleasures and that is why we are celebrating Him. “We celebrate Him because He kept us alive. Anybody who is alive should celebrate God. We are celebrating Him because He made the earth to yield its increase. We celebrate Him because if we don’t, He can make us regret for not celebrating Him. We celebrate Him, so that, there will be joyous events in our lives.”

As part of the reasons to celebrate God in His Sanctuary, Ighodalo said there was a time in the church, when there was absolutely no money to work with because he was in the habit of spending on the needy.

According to him, he was cautioned by one of his committee members, Bayo Rotimi, but he didn’t listen. He insisted that he was doing the work of God, and that God he works for will not let him down.

So, at a point, the church couldn’t pay the workers’ salaries, and he went home thinking. But he heard a voice, saying, “Why don’t you ask God when you said there is nothing impossible for Him to do?” Somewhere along the line, God used an unknown person to quell the storm.

According to him, he got a call from

someone, who linked him to the man, but he was hesitant to go, saying, at most, the man would give him N1,000.

But on the contrary, when he received an envelope, which he described as a ‘very flat’ one from the stranger, who said he had heard of his great works and had decided to support him. Lo and behold, it was a cheque of N50 million and he worshipped the Lord, calling Him ‘the incredible God’.

He exclaimed, “God has been so grateful to us. I know how we started and how challenging it was. So, to look round to see what God has done, in terms of the answers to prayers, the increase, the congregation, health and protections, it’s a very emotional moment.

“We are grateful to God and Nigerians should continue to celebrate the Lord. I wouldn’t want to look back in the past. All that we went through worked for our good. In the challenging moment, when you trust God, He will turn the test into testimonies.

“He will bring something out of it. For Joseph to get to the palace, he passed through Potiphar’s house, prison and then, to the palace. So, we thank God for everything that we went through and forever, we will serve Him. “In this anniversary, we want Christians to serve the Lord and the best way to serve God is to be useful to man, helping to change our communities as well as making life better for every person.

“But the major challenge we have in Nigeria is that a lot of us are selfish.

We don’t think of the common man but for us at Trinity House, we are looking beyond to what should be good for the commonality of every man.

“The Bible said that everywhere Jesus went, he was doing good to people. When you give to poor, you lend to the Lord and He will pay you back. We should love our neighbours as ourselves.

“Everybody needs one form of help or the other at a given point in time in life. We hope to see a world without the poor.”

L-R Pastor Ituah, Victor Olu and Bayo Rotimi after Saturday programme

Mr. Felix Uwajeh; member of Omike Chief-in-Council and Mr. Dare Ajayi

Pastor Ituah, exchanging pleasantries with Minister Robert Omole as others watch on

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THE ORACLES Laodicea: The age of prosperity OF GOD by

Frank Oboden Olomukoro

R

frankolomukoro@yahoo.com, 07033621866

evelation 3:17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

We are living in a period when the prophecies of the scriptures are being fulfilled very rapidly.

Events are made clear by prophecies. The times are exciting to those who know the Biblical signs and prophecies of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is particularly sobering to see these prophecies unfolding right before our very eyes.

Laodicea is the last of the seven church age dispensations from the first, the Ephesian church age, that Apostle Paul was the angel messenger. It is a dispensation of the 2000 years Gentile period during which time God is busy electing His Gentile bride while the Jews remain spiritually blind.

The significant characteristic of the age is material prosperity.

Today, prosperity is the highpoint of ministration by pastors of churches. The emphasis and drive for material wealth and prosperity is so pronounced and profound that the spiritual condition of the churches will be in a miserable and wretched state.

We are witnesses to this fact that churches, ministries and fellowships are super rich in worldly goods but spiritually bankrupt and empty. Prosperity and material wealth has been swapped for spirituality and evidence of God’s presence in the church.

This is a very significant sign before the rapture takes place.

The Laodicean church is saying, “I am rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing.” That was her self-estimate - “I am rich,” which means that she is wealthy in the things of this world. Now, I don’t suggest that a rich person cannot be spiritual, but we all know that the word of God says very few are. It is the poor that predominate in the body of the true church. Now then, if the church becomes full of wealth, we know only one thing, ‘Ichabod’, has been written over her portals! You can’t deny that, for that is the word.

Now don’t forget that this is the last age because Israel has gone back to Palestine. Do you know that religion today is known as ‘big business’? Money has poured into the church until different denominations own stocks and bonds, factories, oil wells and insurance companies. It is an absolute fact that they are plac-

ing business managers in the churches to take care of finances. Is this what God desires?

Did His word not teach us in the book of Acts 6:3 that seven men full of the Holy Ghost and faith served the Lord in business matters? You can surely see why God said “You say you are wealthy; I never said so, rather you are lukewarm, spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.”

They have poured money into welfare and retirement funds.

Now this sounds good, but it has become a snare to the ministers; for if they decide to leave their group for more light or the love of God, their positions are lost to them. It is an absolute fact. There are radio programmes, television programmes and numerous church endeavours that are costing millions and millions of dollars. Wealth pours and pours into the church, the membership increases along with the money, yet the work is not being done as it was done when there was no money because men rested solely on the ability given them by the Holy Ghost.

There are paid preachers, paid assistants, paid ministers of music and education, paid choirs, paid custodians, programmes and entertainment, all costing great sums; but for all that, the power of the Holy Ghost is decreasing in them. Yes, the church is rich, but the power is not there. God

Discover nuggets for dominating your world

S

peaking the language of the world will cause the things of the world to happen to you. When you speak the language of the kingdom of God, things of the kingdom will happen to you too. That is the difference and it is also the reason why you should not allow people to manipulate you. Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place where he will come into an inheritance, obeyed and went out, that is faith, acting on what you have received. He did not just receive prophesy but worked towards it.

Faith is what differentiates the successful from the failure.

You must for once step out in faith and have an experience with God; you must step out from the crowd so that you can experience God for yourself.

When you are acting by faith, people will call you a fool but God will call you the wise.

Faith refuses to come under pressure. One thing about faith is that it gets you excited at every level of development and puts you in a position where you approach and get everything.

I expect you to get angry at the devil, and say you devil

have dominated me enough, in my health, finances, business, job, relationship, but now I am taking over control in all areas. Stand your and establish yourself in the life of faith and everything you bowed to before will come bowing down to you. Refuse to be under, rise up in faith and stay in dominion.

I am convince that the reason God is leading us to share this perspective is because the time has come for us to rise up from where you are now and begin to dominate everything that dominated you before. God wants us to exercise control over our destiny. That is why the first gift he gave to man was dominion! God gave man authority and power over everything he created. Man was put in charge of the works of God’s hand. If God put man in charge, man is in charge; simple!

But the biggest problem of man and many believers for that matter is that they find it difficult to believe what God has said. We cannot convince ourselves that God can do for us what he has said.

Until we begin to look into the unknown, the realm of the supernatural, which can only be accessed through faith, we can never dominate our world.

Faith remains the first step toward exercising authority and control over our destinies and the circumstances of life. By faith the men of old obtained good report.

And God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. – Romans 12:3. The faith you need to get a good report and dominate your world, is already given to you by God. Another very important ingredient that will make you a giant killer on the face of the earth is righteousness i.e. right standing with God; it means those things that are morally proper, and things that are right in the sight of God. You cannot live anyhow and expect God to be on your side.

The bible says “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar in Lebanon.” Living a life of righteousness is your greatest assurance of experiencing the power and glory of God. God’s ways are pure and perfect. You cannot live a life of compromise and expect God to bend backward to meet you, oh no! The foundation of righteousness is accepting the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary. We are not made acceptable to God by our own

moves by His Spirit, not by the amount of money or talent in the church. Everywhere, there is the cry to make religion so attractive and appealing that the rich and cultured and all who have worldly prestige will come in and be active in the church. Can’t they understand that if wealth is the criterion of spirituality, then the world already has God, has all of God and the church has nothing?

While the Roman Catholic Church outwardly touts pious humility and seeming poverty, it is actually the richest corporation in the world, by virtue of its vast collection of treasures amassed over its nearly 2000 years history. While this is not evident publicly, it is patently true as one only needs to look through papal history to see this. The level of greed exhibited by Roman Catholicism in the design and execution of numerous unscriptural schemes to extort wealth of all forms, shapes and sizes from the then known world are almost impossible to believe if not for the fact that they are verifiable historical facts.

These fraudulent schemes over the ages, which are gargantuan in size, shape and scale are too numerous to list here. From the sale of indulgences, pardons to paying for prayers, paying to view ‘wonders’, paying for mass, paying for prayers for those in purgatory to be released,

massive acquisition of property to the AD 1000 ‘end of the world’ millennial scam.

The list of the criminal robbery of the people is literally endless. The reader is enjoined to read a sample list of these atrocities here - http:// www.biblotecapleyadesnet/ vatican/vatican_billions.htm.

Gold and silver traditionally have been the standard convertible wealth storage medium since the beginning of time. It is to be expected, therefore, that much of the Vatican’s treasures would be in gold. It is therefore no surprise when Lord James of Blackheath of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords in a speech to the House in 2010, mentioned that, “The total value of the Vatican Bank Reserves could claim to be more than the entire value of gold ever mined in the history of the world.”

The reader can watch the video here: http://www. youtube.com/watch?vg7gEjhnu2 Then what is wrong with these people of these last Laodicean days? They have shifted from the word of God. They are no longer fervent about it. They are lukewarm about it.

Frank Oboden Olomukoro is a minister at Christian Ministry of Reconciliation, Km 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (beside PUNCH Newspapers), Ogun State.

The Seeds of by Greatness Apostle Clement by Ogbonna Bishop Lawrence Osagie apostleofgraceinwo

Tel: 08063250667, mail:powerlineministries@mail.com, www.powerlineministriesinc.org

good works, because our self righteousness is like a filthy rag before God. However, our good begins to count; in fact God begins to look for our good works the moment we are born again. Does the scripture nit say “...because he loveth righteousness and hated iniquity, God even thy God has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

One vital ingredient of dominion and greatness is prayer. The Bible says in the book of James 5:

17-18, “Elias was a man subject to like passion as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

I invite you to fellowship with us at Powerline Bible Church, Glass House Odo-Olowu B/stop, Apapa Oshodi Express way Ijesha-Tedom Lagos Sundays @ 9.00am.

ThankGod Awaited Church holds Founder’s Day

T

he 8th Founder’s BirthDay anniversary of ThankGod Awaited liberation Ministry situated on Awolowo Way, Ikeja, has been slated on August 8th.

The thanksgiving service would commence at the church’s headquarter, No 91, Awolowo way by 9 am.

A statement issued by the General Supervisor of the church, Francis Otukwu said that the theme of

the event is, ‘God’s Kingdom had come.’

The Supervisor, we gather, would be ministering at the occasion.

Other side attractions include songs ministration, testimonies, and showing general appreciation to God Almighty for his mercies upon the church and it members.

The public is gladly invited to rejoice with the church.

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Forget the past and look forward

G

eoffrey Moss in his Golden quotes (1995) says: ‘Nothing succeeds like success. Your success will depend on your attitude to life.

The secret of success is constancy of purpose. Success comes when preparation meets opportunity.

Success requires hard work, training and discipline. If you can cope with these, opportunities are everywhere. Success is often a matter of hanging on longer, when others have given up. Search for better ways to do things and you will find success’.

One of the ways to approach the future is by forgetting the past. The past is always a hindrance to the future. Any person who wants to succeed in life should not dwell in the past because there is no future in it. The past always forms a thought of failure. When you consider your past failure and allow it dwell in your mind, you will not succeed in life. The thought of the past is one of the pitfalls that hindered many Israelites from entering the Promised Land. That you failed in your business, examination and interview in the ministry yesterday does not mean you will fail today or tomorrow. What you need to succeed in life is determination. Determination, they say, is the power of succeed in life. If you fall, rise up and allow the light of God shine on you. No great man today in the world was born great.

Every great man underwent different kinds of trials, temptations, persecutions and failures. But one important thing is that they always looked ahead to see what the future

held for them. The future holds a lot of good things in stock for any man who is determined to succeed. God told Moses in Exodus 14:15, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.”

God is interested in your moving forward! He instructed Lot and his family not to look back. The past brings fear and doubt if it embodies failure and sorrow. Look forward and do not turn back. Don’t let your inadequacies hinder you from reaching where you want to reach in life. Do not give a room to your past failures in your heart.

Give thanks to God in every situation and expect great changes tomorrow. Every day comes with too many problems, sorrows, difficulties, blessings, favours, successes and all other good things.

Tell yourself that you are created to be a part of God’s blessings. Meanwhile, have you not asked yourself why people greet “Good Morning” and “Good Afternoon” when it is noon and “Good Evening” when it is evening? These greetings anticipate good things. O, man of little faith, why do you greet “Good Morning” and still doubt that the morning will be good? Build your faith to the level that it will not see or acknowledge the failures of yesterday.

Yesterday is gone. Yesterday is a cancelled cheque; tomorrow is a promissory note, today is the only cash you have. Spend it wisely!

Footprints in the sands of time are not made sitting down. Rise up and do something meaningful and beneficial to people and God. The Bible says that Goodness

DIVINE WORD by

Pastor Vero Ezeh Tel: 08033378287

A

waste pipe is a channel through which contaminated and or polluted water passes.

There are those whose lives are encumbered by wastage, grief and sorrow. They bear the brunt of other people’s mistakes. Everything about them goes with nothing but self-pity, regret and inferiority complex. I pray that shouldn’t be your portion, and even if it was, a change has come.

You are no longer the very person they mistook you to be. You are a new divine package sent to illuminate as a light.

Refuse to be identified with a humiliating stigma. The battle between the Philistines and Israelites reduced Israel to a mere piece of bread and made them look stupid.

When the children of Israel saw that the battle was badly against them, they went and brought the Ark of God’s Covenant to the battle field. Indeed, the Ark of God’s covenant was dreaded by the Philistines as they got frozen with fear. “Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, what does the sound of this great noise in the camp of the

Hebrews means? Then they understood the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp! “ And they said” woe unto us! For such a thing has never happened before…” (1 Samuel 4:6-8).

They recollected how the God of the Hebrews mesmerised other nations in battle, including Egypt.

And because God’s anger was against His people, He spurred the Philistines to sum up courage and kit themselves like men against Israel.

“Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines that you do not become servants of the Hebrew as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men and fight! “vs. 9. May you never come to a point where God will lose interest in your works; it is a misnomer, it is abysmal. Nevertheless, the Philistines captured God’s Ark from them and brutally killed them, including the two sons of Eli - Hophni and Phinehas. What a tragedy? The news of that tragedy traumatised Eli and he died.

Tragedy will never knock at your door; neither will unpleasant news be within your reach.

and Mercy shall follow you. The word ‘Shall’ is a gerund verb indicating the future. In other words, God is interested in your tomorrow and not in your yesterday. In 1 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” Your old things are passed away and God is now interested in your new life.

Do not allow the devil to capitalise on your past and attack you and dispossess you of God’s blessings.

Your tomorrow is greater than your yesterday. Have you ever sat down to meditate on the promises of God for your tomorrow? Your tomorrow is bright and so, do not develop heart attack because of your yesterday. The Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever more. And He told Moses, “I am who I am.” In other words, He does not change. If your yesterday changed from good to bad and from bad to worst, there is a being who does not change and that is God! If someone disappointed you yesterday and you are thinking of giving up today, do not give up! There is a Being who does not disappoint. God Almighty is His Name! He is the same yesterday, today and forever more. He is who He is. If you look for Him, call on His name, you will be saved and hope will be given to your tomorrow. Do not allow the thought of yesterday’s failure to destabilise your relationship with God. Your tomorrow is a promissory cheque.

God signs the cheque and the bank of heaven has no right to reject it.

Go and cash it and the world will

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

hear about your greatness. God is real to only those who believe that with Him all things are possible.

The book of Hebrews Chapter 11:6 says: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

No one should entertain fear about tomorrow. Tomorrow is bright to those who believe it.

The Bible says it is impossible to please God without faith. It is also impossible for us to embrace the goodness and mercy of tomorrow without faith. No one who failed yesterday will like to move forward tomorrow without faith.

This is why it is pertinent to have faith, strong faith in God for positive changes tomorrow. The young must grow. No one will be a dwarf in the presence of God. God said in Jeremiah 29:11: “I know the plans I have for you; the plans of good and not of evil, to bring you to an expected end.”

The above statement implies that God is very much interested in your tomorrow. If your parents, brothers, sisters, relations or friends are not doing well in their business or families, tomorrow is a promissory cheque. There must be a positive change. The changes might

not come from them but from you because you are a covenant child.

You are in the class of God. God is a God of choice! He uses whomever He wants to change the situation of many people. God can decide to use you to bring peace, love, unity, recognition, blessings and salvation to your family, relations community or the society at large.

My tomorrow and your tomorrow are in God’s hands. No living person or Spirit can thwart His programme for our tomorrow. We are created to excel like Daniel and the three Hebrew men - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - excelled in Babylon. We are created to succeed. Therefore, we should not allow the thought of yesterday to stop us from looking forward.

“My tomorrow is bright” should be your daily confession. If others tried and failed, you will try and nothing can stop us from looking forward. “My tomorrow is bright” should be your daily confession.

If others tried and failed, you will try and succeed if you believe in the God of tomorrow. There is hope for the living dead. If your bones are dried up and are dead, they can live again. Your tomorrow is real and your today is a stepping stone to that tomorrow. Do not faint and do not give up. There is hope for the living dead.

You are not a waste pipe Many have been devastated due to awful events thereby making them waste pipes. Now hear this: The news of the captured Ark, the death of Eli and his two sons induced false labour in Phinehas’s wife. “ And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

(1 Samuel 4:19-22).

She travailed as the pangs of pain overtook her. The shock was so alarming that she was unconcerned about her new born baby.

Prior to her death, she named him ‘Ichabod’, meaning the glory has departed from Israel. What evil had the innocent baby committed that his life should be clothed with failure? Was he the architect of the family’s misfortune? From that time, everything about him became unglorified. He suffered loss, disfavour, failure, rejection and abandonment.

I declare minus you; * You will not refuse to bear the brunt of others’ mistakes * You will not refuse to be a victim of circumstance * You are not a waste pipe * You are not a waste paper basket * You are not a dust bin JABEZ: That was the condition in which Jabez also found himself and he roughed it out. “Now Jabez was more honourable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand might be with me, and that you keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

How could the pains his mother went through be named after him?

Jabez, she named him, because she bore him in sorrow. That attached excess luggage. Worthlessness is never your portion. What reduces and kills others will not come to your domain. You are a different entity all together, you are not like them.

JEPHTHAH: He also suffered from parental mistakes. Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead’s wife bare him sons, and his wife’s sons grew up, they thrust out Jephthah and said unto him, “Thou shall have

no inheritance in our father’s house, for thou art the son of a strange woman...”(Judges 11:1-11).

Jephathah’s illegitimate birth caused by his mother was a minus to him. His entire destiny had a tendency to be ruined by that singular act of his wayward mother. He was about to be identified as a waste pipe or thrash bin. But he stood his ground and was determined to excel, despite all odds. He went and developed his endowed divine deposit and emerged a hero. Those that said, “Away with him” turned around, sent and brought him back as their leader and a solution to their problem.

Many would have allowed self-pity to cripple and ruin their destiny. If you don’t encourage yourself, no man may encourage you. The Bible says, “and David encouraged himself in the LORD.” How and where you were born does not matter. What matters is the personality you are made of. Disbelieve their wrong belief about you. Come on; stand tall for you are not a waste pipe. You are an answer to many. May God from today give you results to remove your insults. There is a mark of greatness, favour, success, prosperity etc. upon you. Hence, the Bible says, “from now on, let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the mark of the lord Jesus” (Gal.6:7) Go ahead and celebrate yourself for you are not a waste pipe.

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MYSTERY OF ANXIETY with

“L

Bishop John Ogbansie gbe

et this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in a fashion of man, he humbled himself, unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow of things in heaven, and thing in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fa-

Tel:08033416327

ther,” – Philippians2:5-11.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God, the second person in the trinity, and the God incarnate. He is the uncreated creator, the unchanging changer, the word that was made flesh and dwelt among men. The word of God also described him as the express image of the God head bodily, and recorded thus: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature.

For by him all things were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions or principalities, or powers all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things and by him

Humility precedes exaltation all things consist. And he is the head of the body the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleases the father that in him should all the fullness dwell.”

Colossians 1:15-19.

The natural spiritual cum spiritual presumption and presupposition is that the principle of ‘Like father like son’ or ‘like master like servant’ should apply, enabling us to be like-minded with our Lord Jesus Christ. The conveyor and conductor of this mind of Christ is the Holy Spirit of God. This is why the word of God declares: “Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9b.

From this scripture, therefore, the mind of Christ is also the same as the Spirit of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ also instructed his disciples and said to them, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Matthew 11:29.

Fruit of the womb (5) …and do not give the devil an Opportunity (or a place, a door a Window…) in order that no advantage. Be taken of us by Satan; for we are not Ignorant of his schemes. Submit Therefore to God. Resist the devil and he Will flee from you. Resist him, firm in Your faith (Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 2:11; James 5:9; 1 Peter 5:9) Windows of the Devil There is normally a period of time when a woman is expected to give birth to children after marriage or after the last childbirth. If she does not, it becomes a source of concern to the couple. This period of time varies from person to person. When this time elapses, and there is no sign of pregnancy, or if there was a miscarriage, know that the couple is stepping into a period of warfare. The couple, especially the wife, needs to be on the alert and cautions.

When you are delivered or blessed, you must close all doors and windows against the devil to prevent it from coming back.

When an unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through the dry places, seeking Rest, and finding none, he saith, I will return Unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they ENTER IN and DWELL there: and The last state of that man is worse than The first (Luke 11:24-26).

How does the evil spirit enter in and dwell there? It is now clear: it is not once delivered, delivered forever. No. The battle, a tougher one, starts after deliverance or when you see signs of pregnancy.

Now the works of the flesh (and the Windows for the devil) are manifest, Which are these; adultery, fornication, Uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, Witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations.

Wrath, strife, seditions heresies, envying, Murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such Like: of the

which I tell you before, as I Have told you in time past; that they Which do such things shall not inherit The kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21) Each of these works of the flesh constitutes a window through which the devil comes in to steal, to kill and to destroy (John 10:10).

Each of them is a property of the devil and constitutes a magnet that attracts the devil. As long as you have any of these ‘windows’, ‘magnets’, or ‘properties of the devil’ in your life, the devil could stage a comeback fight.

Many examples can be cited to buttress the fact that the works of the flesh are windows for the devil. After a deliverance session, a woman took in and became pregnant. A few months later, she came crying because she had miscarried.

I asked her whether she had any dream or strange experience. She said ‘No’. I asked her whether she was depressed, provoked and very sad or quarrelled with any person. She admitted. That opened door to the devil.

Never feel depressed.

Never feel sad.

Never feel provoked.

Never feel bitter against anybody.

Never feel angry.

Reject evil thoughts or imaginations.

Never feel disobedient.

Never be unclean or impure.

Stop committing sin.

Never feel jealous.

Never take alcoholic drinks.

Never have your own factions or form cliques.

Never murmur or be a rumormonger.

Never be doubtful.

Never be worried.

Be sweet always.

Be obedient always.

Be good always.

Be clean always.

A lady lost her father and became very sad; she then saw her menses i.e. after having taken in.

Another woman took in but the husband was arrested by the police

(Operation Flush). She cried and wept bitterly and her menses appeared. A woman took in and then she was provoked and became very angry. She almost fought and her menses appeared. Many women have taken in but at the loss of her husband or loved ones, grief caused the pregnancy to be lost.

Another woman took in and was provoked by her husband. She became depressed and her menses appeared. A woman entertained evil and fearful thoughts after taking in then her menses appeared.

Bad dreams return after deliverance when one gets depressed, sorrowful, provoked, disobedient, and bitter or commits sin. Getting worried returns the evil spirit that was chased out. Getting worried for whatever reason is a tool of and window for the devil to operate. How then do we act?

Plan ahead. Act like a drama.

When provoked, laugh and know that it is from the devil and refuse to be provoked. In a drama, you are told not to react when provoked.

You are told to act sweet when you are supposed to be bitter. You can do the same thing in real life.

You can forgive - as in a drama.

You can be sweet - as in a drama.

You can control yourself - as in a drama You can abstain from drink - as in a drama.

You can live a holy life - as a drama.

You can obey - as in a drama.

You can have clean thoughts - as in a drama.

You can sing and not be depressed - as in a drama.

Act, act again, and act again and again, until it becomes possible.

Do this for one day and you will see that you can do it for two, three or four days. Act for one week and you will discover you can be good for one month, six months and one year, etc. Christianity however, is not a drama. It is a profession, but we can outwit the devil, by God’s grace profess good life.

I’m not encouraging hypocrisy by saying act! If you think you cannot

The mind of Christ is the mind of humility. It is the mind of power. It is the mind of holiness, purity and righteousness.

It is the mind of obedience and submission to the will of God. It is the mind of selflessness. It is the mind of sacrifice. It is the mind of love. It is the mind of peace. It is the mind of glory. It is the very mind of divine communion, correspondence and divine intimacy with the Almighty God. It is robbery for a mere mortal to claim or pretend to be equal with God; an act which has always been visited with God’s wrath because it is unbearable to God. But God condoned it, because in reality, He was equal to God. He stripped Himself of the divine splendour, majesty and glory as God. He assumed a dual nature of God and man.

He did not only take up the form of a servant, but deliberately made Himself to be made in

the fleshy likeness of sinful man.

He descended from heaven and humbly assumed and occupied the two fundamental estates of humiliation: he became a sinful man with the mortal flesh and blood and as a man, he became a servant. Oh, what a mind! A man of sorrow, acquainted with grief, who had no place to lay His head. But in all, the lowest state of his humiliation was dying on the cross in obedience to the will of His father for the total emancipation and salvation of humanity. God therefore considered him meritoriously worthy of exaltation and glorification, and gave him as a trophy, a name which is above all names; that is that at the name of JESUS CHRIST, every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and of things on earth and of things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father.

WORD OF LIFE by

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

exhibit a type of good behaviour, and you know you can exhibit it in a drama, you can also do so now.

Many have followed this advice ‘Act’, and have been able to overcome sins. Many have learnt to be self-controlled by this therapy of Acting. Try it and see the result. …For this purpose the Son of God was Manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (1John 3:80) Which of the works of the devil in your life can Jesus not destroy?

Which of the inlets of the devil or doors of the devil can Jesus not block? Which of them can resist the power of God? God needs your consent. God gives power to keep away from sin and Satan gives power to Sin. Whose power is greater in your life?

Do some sins resist or overpower the power of God? Why then do you allow these sins to remain in your life? Sins retained by you will remain untouched by the power of God. Is this the best you can be?

Who do you blame for committing sin? Is it God or yourself?

It is for your good that Windows and Properties of the devil are removed from your life.

Because sentences against evil Work is not executed speedily, Therefore the heart of the sons Of men is fully set in them to do Evil.

Though a sinner do evil an Hundred times, and his days be Prolonged, yet surely know that it shall be Well with them that fear god which fear Before Him.(Ecclesiastics 8:11,12).

This word is true and divine: Because God does not punish sinners instantly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But though a man sins a hundred times, and still lives, I know very well that

those who will not live better off, unlike the wicked, who will not enjoyable, peaceful good livestheir days shall pass away as quickly as shadows because they don’t fear God (Living Bible).

One of the ways a woman or man is punished for getting involved in the works of the flesh, apart from the fact that the ‘wages of sin is death’, is that it covers the door for complete miracle and consistent testimony.

The testimony does not last. The highest you can earn by living a sinful life is inferior miracles. An inferior (sinful) Christian life earns inferior miracles. A superior Christian life, good Christian attributes or non-hypocritical Christian life brings about lasting, superior and great miracles, not testimonies.

It is for your good that the windows for the devil in your life be closed. If you give a thought to this for a moment, the Holy Spirit will reveal to you or bring to your mind the ‘windows’ or ‘doors’ for the devil. He has identified them in your life. Confess and stop them.

He that covereth his sins shall not Proper; but whoso CONFESSETH And FORSAKETH THEM shall Have mercy (Miracle) Proverbs 28:13.

“Forsaking” is a more important thing to do than just confessing. You close these doors and windows by confessing your sins and forsaking them. Can’t you do something at least for the sake of getting the fruit of the womb, and to retain your deliverance and miracles? Simple prayers, Bible reading and systematic Bible study cum meditation facilitate the experience of your deliverance and miracles.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY JULY 27, 2014

Faith

Understanding the miracle power of love! (2)

The Voice of

Dominion by

E

Bishop David Oyedepo

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

xceeding grace to you, in the name of Jesus Christ! We commenced our teaching series three weeks ago. In the first week, I told you that love is our connectivity to divinity, which confers dominion on our lives. Love for God is the master key to a supernatural walk.

Apart from that, we learnt that divine visitation means divine encounters. Zion is the dwelling place of the Almighty, and anyone who is alive spiritually will have an encounter with this living God (Psalms 132:1314). We saw what qualifies us for divine encounters and the three categories of love recognised in the scriptures.

In the second week, we learnt about three vital forces of life and the proofs of being in love. Last week, we looked at love as the greatest spiritual asset of every believer and what love is in our context.

This week, I shall be concluding the teaching series by looking at

how great this virtue of love is, and giving as a proof our love.

How great is this Virtue of Love?

The Bible calls love the greatest. It is greater than faith and hope. Love will always deliver what faith cannot deliver (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Love is failure-proof: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love never fails, because God is love; that is what makes love a failure-proof virtue.

Love makes you indestructible: Whatever will destroy a certified and genuine lover, will have to destroy God first. Fire cannot destroy Him, because He is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 9:3). God is the fire that consumes fire, so when you walk in His love, you become indestructible!

Love makes you fearless: Fear is what makes a prey of believers.

It is what opens the door to our

tormentors, and robs you of your God-ordained victory. But when the love of God overwhelms you, you become fearless (1 John 4:18-20). When your love is perfect, fear is eradicated. Fearlessness is the platform for supernatural victory in the battles of life (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Love guarantees instant answers to prayers: Every anointed lover enjoys the blessedness of instant answers to prayers (1 John 3:22-23). So, love is the commandment that qualifies you for supernatural additions of what God knows you need (1 Kings 3:13).

Love is a booster of supernatural intelligence: When you are in love, you access the realms of surpassing intelligence and mental prowess. Through love, you have access to ultimate wisdom that the world cannot stop (Proverbs 8:15-16).

When you are connected to divinity, the virtues of divinity begin to have natural expressions in your life. I am talking about God – the only wise God. So, when you con-

nect to His surpassing wisdom, you tap into His fountain of wisdom, and love is what connects you to God’s Wisdom.

Every lover of God is supernaturally joyful: One of the great virtues of this love is supernatural Joy. If you are not joyful, you are not in love.

Joy is what enhances your joy access to revelation, divine strength and health (Isaiah 12:3; Nehemiah 8:10).

It engenders supernatural breakthroughs: As you perfect your love for God, you will begin to command unlimited breakthroughs naturally (Deuteronomy 28:1-12).

Giving: Our proof of love We prove the sincerity of our love by our giving. If you are not a giver, you are not a lover (1 John 3:17-18).

The love of God is a giving love. You don’t increase by what you keep; you increase by what you give. So, you are not blessing anyone by your giving, you are simply refreshing the person for God to bless you. When the love of God overwhelms you, giving

becomes a natural lifestyle.

Friend, the power to access spiritual gifts is available, if you are saved. You get saved by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life.

If you are set for it, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.

I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am a child of God!” Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books — Walking In The Supernatural and Walking In Wisdom.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Behold! I come quickly

“B

ehold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev 22:7) Read also Rev 22:12; Rev 22:20.

Each of these scripture points to the same issue. For a single chapter to emphasise on a particular issue, it simply tells us that this is an issue that calls for attention.

Without mincing words, He said, ‘Behold I come quickly’. This is a timely message for this generation because the Church (the body of Christ) all over the world is becoming a sleeping giant. The Church of God is neither what it used to be nor what it ought to be.

What we have now is the slumbering pulpit which has in turn resulted into a sleeping pew. A lot of our pulpits now are sleeping, fast asleep and it is no longer joke that the vibrancy and impact which used to emanate from the pulpit is fast being eroded. What

comes from many pulpits today is what the people love to hear.

If you are in a church where you are only hearing what you like to hear, then let me humbly say that you are in the wrong place.

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” Matt 25:6 “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” I Thess 5:6 The times in which we live can be likened to the night. So many are busy sleeping this time, many cannot even tell whether or not they are ready for the coming of the Lamb. The Bridegroom is coming, are you ready to meet Him or are you busy in the land of slumber? My prayer for you is that you will not sleep the sleep of death in the name of Jesus.

You cannot afford to be caught unawares. The warning in the Bible is to draw attention to the

importance of this subject-matter.

The term, ‘behold’ is a wake-up call.

“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb 10:37 This is a timely message for the Church and body of Christ.

The zeal we used to have has waned. Believers are fast losing focus, given to earthly affairs at the expense of eternity. It is very surprising to discover that what believers ought and used to cherish dearly as their tenets have now become of less importance to their faith.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt 6:33 Our order of priorities today has shifted from what the scriptures teach. All that we are after are personal benefits for physical gains, rather than the Kingdom. Our approach to life and the things of God has shown that we are not ready for the coming of the Groom.

Who is this personality coming?

Before you can live prepared for the coming of this King, there is a need for you to know Him. It is obvious that the Church of God does not know Him; no wonder we are not enthusiastic about His coming. Follow me that we may know more about this soon coming King. * He is the Truth. There is no lie

in Him. Whenever He speaks, there is no lie (John14:1-6, Heb4:13). Many believers today live a life of deception, devoid of truth and have turned the church to a gambling centre. * He is the Gateway to Heaven (Jn 14:6); the Coming King is the Door; there is no other door to heaven. Every other door leads to destruction. He gave up His life for you because He wants you to get to heaven by all means and this is why He sacrificed himself according to John 10:11. * He is the Coming Judge (Acts 17:31); God has given Him all the power to judge the whole world. The day is coming that whether you like it or not, you and I will stand before the throne and give account of our deeds. This same Jesus whom many people have refused as Saviour today will be their Judge on that day. On the Day of Judgment, every man will be judged based on his deeds. * He was the Lamb who has become the Lion of Judah (Rev 5:5-6). While He sojourned on earth, He was called the Lamb but He shall return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Be prepared!

Don’t be deceived that Jesus is not coming again. Already, many have backslidden due to affection and affinity with the cares of the world. Would you be in the camp of this mass fall-

ing away?

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” II Thess 2:3 Now is the time to return to your first love with greater zeal for the things of God. The same zeal and longing in you when you first received Him into your life as Saviour and even greater is required of you in preparing for His coming. And if you are yet to yield your life to Him, that is you have not accepted Him into your life, then you certainly are not prepared for His coming.

This is the best time as you accept His open invitation to be with Him in glory.

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...”

I Cor 15:52-58 Take that step of faith today and you will be glad you did.

I know you have been blessed.

Write and share your testimonies, comments, etc., through; info@thehebrewsng.com.

Hotlines – 01-7903163, 08085845864.

You can also listen to my messages on our podcast at www. thehebrewsng.com/podcast.

Rev’d Femi Akinola – The Hebrews International, Lekki, Lagos

ADVERTISE YOUR CHURCH EVENTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMMES, CONVENTIONS AND OTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES ON THESE PAGES. CONTACT: TAI ON 07064380029

Commonwealth Games Okagbare begins quest for gold p.60

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/sport

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

JULY 27, 2014

Football Taiwo’s work permit cancelled in Turkey p.63

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

59

Sp rt

Sani Lulu: Maigari is getting divine punishment F

Dapo Sotuminu ormer president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Sani Lulu, who was removed in controversial circumstances after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa in what was tagged a civilian coup masterminded by Alhaji Aminu Maigari told New Telegraph on Sunday in an exclusive interview that the impeached NFF president is getting God’s punishment for the action taken against him four years ago.

Lulu stated that, some Nigerians have been saying that, Maigari’s removal was the same scenario with my ouster from office in 2010. “It wasn’t the same; Aminu was removed on allegation of corruption and financial misappropriation and other corruption charges, while I was removed for doing nothing. Some people just wanted me out. Most of the people who planned my removal have already been punished by God. “I didn’t steal

Lulu

money, instead I left N2.6billion in the NFF account, but Maigari and his board came afterwards to say they met an empty treasury. It was shocking that the federal government did not set up an investigative panel to check this out.

“I didn’t spend money to get to that position, so there was no reason for me to loot government money, God is my witness. I didn’t steal any money and those who removed me knew it. Instead I was the one who spent my money on the Nigeria Football Federation. In 2007 and 2008, I spent N40million from my personal account for Nigeria to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Korea 2007 and compete at the 2008 Nations Cup and I have not been refunded up till today.

That time, government said they don’t have money and we should go out to source for funds to execute the World Cup, so I paid for all the camping both home and abroad and all the allowances paid to the team. Please go and check records. Government said they were only keen on spending money on the Super Eagles and I said no, Nigeria must participate in the 2007 U-17 World Cup, as I was in the NFF to develop all the seven national soccer teams equally.

“Even at the Nations Cup in Ghana, Nigerians abandoned the Super Eagles in the hands of Sani Lulu after we lost to the Black Stars and played a draw against Cote d’Ivoire. They thought we won’t qualify for the quarter-finals, but God did it and we scaled through. Check records, government did not give us money for the quarter finals, I had to rush back home to Nigeria to withdraw N30 million from my personal account to take care of the funds needed for the remaining part of the Nations Cup. What then did I do wrong to be removed illegally; I know God will fight this matter. Because I know that anybody who loves his country must not fight the system that was why I resorted to taking my case to CAS but I withdrew it eventually.”

He said he is happy that that plotted his removal are being accused of stealing and have been impeached and expelled from the NFF board. “As far as I am concerned the government is fully involved in the entire issue so also the Nigerian people especially when it has to do with corruption charges.

“I am in support of the fight against corruption and if we collectively fight this scourge in our society, Nigeria will be better for it. What is happening to Aminu Maigari is a punishment from God. When I said I left N2.6 billion in the NFF account, they ran back to the media to say they didn’t see any money. It is shocking Nigerians didn’t take up the matter to find out if Sani Lulu was telling the truth. Our God does not sleep. You don’t destroy people just because you want to make your name.

Maigari thought he has destroyed me but he never knew it was the country that he destroyed.”

He added that: “For Maigari, there was an allegation of corruption, but I was not removed because of corruption. You should ask the people who removed me if I was corrupt while in office or not. My own was a different setting, it was a coup. And even after my removal I kept shouting on top of my voice that I was not corrupt.

“Only God will judge, I am still waiting for what He will do. I am innocent and still waiting for the final clearance from the court, as the matter is still in court and I don’t know why Nigerian football administrators are like this.

The case in court at the moment bothers on the team bus I bought for the Super Eagles, as they said it was refurbished and not a brand new as budgeted for, but six years after the purchase, the Eagles are still using the same bus. If it was not brand new would it have been durable as it is?

The former NFF president stressed that the other issue was on the Eagles’ hotel in South Africa which I was alleged to have misappropriated million of dollars to book for the team ahead of the 2010 World Cup. This was very strange, because we did not pay anything for the hotel as it was given free of charge by FIFA to Nigeria and also to all participating countries.

“I am happy government is already aware of this my issue and they are working on it. Honestly, if you ask me I don’t know what is wrong with the Glass House in Abuja, maybe you journalists can tell us.

“Maigari was the Chairman Finance Committee of my board, yet he accused me wrongly. I have been talking on this matter in the last four years, I made paid adCONTINUED ON PAGE 60

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JULY 27, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sport

Okagbare begins quest for gold

T

he current Nigerian best athlete, Blessing Okagbare, will today begin her quest to win precious Commonwealth gold medals in her top events which include the women’s 100metres which flags off today at the Hampden Park Stadium.

She would be running in Heat 5 on Lane The semi-finals and final of the race come up on Monday July 28 at the Hampden Park Stadium.

Another Nigerian women sprint sensation who would be competing in today’s 100metres Heat is Gloria Asumnu. The American-born sprint star who will run in Heat 1 on lane 7 may spring surprises in Glasgow as Nigeria hopeful in the event, Blessing Okagbare seem not to be in her best character, as she may not have completed her recuperation from a minor injury sustained some weeks back.

Justinah Sule is the third Nigerian sprinter registered to compete in the women’s 100metres. She will run in Heat 4 on Lane 3.

The US-based Nigerian star runner will also be competing in the 200metres and the Long Jump events. Okagbare has vowed to win the Long Jump women’s gold with the hope of taking after athletics legend Modupe Oshinkoya who was the first and only Nigerian athlete to have won the Long Jump gold medal at the Games. This was achieved in 1974 at the Games held in Christchurch, New Zealand.

She will also help the Nigeria 4x100metres women’s relay strongly.

In weightlifting Nigeria’s Chika Amalaha equalled the Commonwealth Games snatch record of 82kg with ease in her

very first lift on Friday, before going on to set a new record of 85kg and a new Games best total of 196kg.

It denied gold to Dika Toua (PNG), who had been the first woman to compete in weightlifting at the

Olymp i c s when she opened the tournament at Sydney 2000.

The Melbourne 2 0 0 6 Commonwealth Games silver medallist was forced to attempt 115kg to win in her final clean

Sani Lulu: Maigari is getting God’s punishment CONTINUE from PAGE 59

verts and some other means to tell Nigerians that I am innocent of all charges; I don’t want to say more at this point, Nigerians should judge by themselves.

“All I can say now is that, ‘there is God ooo, there is God ooo.’ God will touch the hearts of our leaders to address the injustice that was meted out to me. That was the title of the letter I sent to Mr President. I know the government is on the right track and they will address my issue accordingly. I was so consistent telling who care to listen that I am innocent, Nigerians should have read in-between the lines, but nobody came out to say that there was a point this man was making. This man couldn’t just be crying like this if he is not innocent. I begged for a probe panel to be set up by the federal government to look into the entire issue but those who wanted me out were bent on getting rid of me.

“The NFF vacated the impeachment charges against me when the case was in court, but I have not been told why they did that. Even you the journalists should ask the question why they vacated the impeachment charges, while the case was in court because they knew I was going to win my case in the Court of Arbitration (CAS). We have 170million Nigerians but it is only Sani Lulu that has been crying out that, the NFF’s plot was illegal. I didn’t do anything. I am not there again, if there are any corruption charges against me, they should bring them to the public.

Lulu said he gave his life to Nigeria when he served as NFF president, but Nigerians dumped him when he needed their supports. ‘But I know God will touch the minds of everybody to see the truth. I am still waiting for what God would do, He will do a lot.

I am sure. It was God that put me there in the first place as I was a nobody in Nigeria before I became NFF president; it was the same God that said I should take a rest in 2010.

‘They told me to resign and I said for what, I can’t resign until they tell me what I did, but nobody said anything until they planned the coup against me. I am happy somebody kept reminding me that, what goes around comes around. I have no other country but Nigeria, I love my country dearly. I was born a Nigerian and I will die a Nigerian, so I must continuously look for ways to better my country that is my dream. And I have always said it that I will use the game of football to better the lot of Nigeria. That was my vision when I was the president of the NFF I don’t know if they have changed that now.’

He said if the court says he should return to his office as NFF president after judgment is given, he would gladly go back as he was illegally and forcefully removed in the first place. He said he is ready to accept anything God provides for him.

“My prayer is that God touch the minds of our leaders to do justice to my matter. For four years the judge has not given a ruling, and I believe that any time he is going to do so, it is God that would direct him. I will be vindicated, ”Sani Lulu said.

and jerk, but had to settle for Silver again. She did, however, set a new Commonwealth record of 111kg in the clean and jerk.

Dimitris Minasidis (CYP) claimed Cyprus’s first ever medal in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, winning the Gold medal in the Men’s 62kg event.

Weightlifting became the eighth sport in which Cyprus have won a medal, and the fifth in which they have won Gold.

Sudesh Peiris (SRI) took the Silver medal, his second in this event after claiming the Bronze medal at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. PEIRIS became the fourth athlete to win multiple medals in this event.

Vaipava Ioane (SAM) claimed the Bronze medal, the ninth by Samoa at the Commonwealth Games, seven of which have been won in weightlifting.

Across an action-packed programme of sports yesterday, 29 gold medals were won my various athletes who distinguished themselves in the brand new Mixed Team Relay Triathlon event and the more excitement at Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Bolt out of 100m, in for 4x100m relay

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ix-time Olympic champion, Usain Bolt, has been ruled out of the 100metres race at the Commonwealth Games, as his country Jamaica did not register him for the race that made him the fastest man on earth.

Bolt it was disclosed will run in the heats of the 4x100m relay at the Commonwealth Games after arriving in Glasgow on Saturday.

There was speculation the Jamaican might choose to race in just the final as he continues to chase top form after an injury-hit start to the season.

The 27-year-old is taking part in his first Commonwealth Games after missing the 2006 and 2010 events.

The relay heats get under way at Hampden Park on Friday, 1 August.

Bolt, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, also said he would stay in the athletes’ village during his time in Glasgow.

“It makes me feel more relaxed,” he said, after flying from Jamaica to Glasgow via a stop-off in London. “I will stay in my room most of time.”

He has pledged to “entertain” the Commonwealth Games audiences in Glasgow.

Upon arrival on Saturday, he took part in his first media conference where he dealt with questions ranging from his

views on Scottish Independence and the Israel-Palestinian war - he said he knew too little about either to comment - to whether he would wear a kilt (“red is not my colour”) and what his motivation was in coming to Glasgow when he had ruled himself out of the 100m and 200m sprints for which he holds the world records.

The reason, he explained, was that injury had deprived him of competing in the Jamaican sprint trials and so he did not wish to now deprive a compatriot of a Games place, but that he had always wanted to take part in the Commonwealth Games - an event he has not graced due to injury in the past.

Table Tennis: Enitan-Oshodi wants to avoid Singapore

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he president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Waheed EnitanOshodi, has said loudly that, he would not want Team Nigerian players to face any of the top seeded players from Singapore until the finals of the Singles event both in the male and female categories.

Enitan-Oshodi said Singapore has four top seeded Chinese players who have naturalised to compete for the nation, and at the moment they belong to the league of the best players across the globe.

The Table Tennis boss noted that, the

Nigerian players are slowly catching up to the speed of the competition because of the failure to embark on planned international training tour which was aimed to prepare them for the big challenges of the Commonwealth Games.

“We are going to try our best not to return empty handed the way it was at the last edition of the Games in New Delhi.”

He stated that the players have been well motivated to win valuable medals in Glasgow and they have also promised not to disappoint.

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Sport

Photos from the opening ceremony of the 2014 commonwealth games

A general view as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive

Queen Elizabeth II walks with Prince Imran the CGF president

The Pipes and Drums of the Scottish Regiments perform during the opening ceremony

Singer Susan Boyle performs Mull of Kintyre with Pianist Kennedy Aitchison during the opening ceremony

Dancer

Dancers perform with a Loch Ness Monster

The RAF Red Arrows fly over Celtic Park during the opening ceremony

Singer Rod Stawart performs during the opening ceremony at the Celtic Park

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JULY 27, 2014

E-mail: ifeanyiandrewibeh@gmail.com Tel: 08085973490

Nigeria: The story of our football (1)

WITH IFEANYI IBEH

Fowler responsible for my form – Runsewe

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he result was that FIFA placed Nigeria on suspension from its activities, giving till July 15 and later 17 for the NFF to be returned to status quo or, else, face further ban. The first casualty was the national women U-20 team billed for the women junior World Cup in Canada.

They were to receive their travel tickets from FIFA to proceed to Canada for the competition but were duly denied.

The sports minister insists that FIFA may not have been properly briefed on the happenings and informed that a team had been constituted to so brief FIFA to enable it understand why and how the actions were taken and why they should lift the suspension.

There were also some notable football aficionados who argued that FIFA must respect the laws of Nigeria and the authority of its regular courts to adjudicate over all matters notwithstanding FIFA statutes and regulations. On the flipside, some others point out that FIFA is a voluntary organization in which subscribing member national associations were free to join and as such be conducted by its statutes and regulations and where they cannot, they are also free to unsubscribe and play their own football outside the environment of FIFA. Two kobo no dey cause quarrel for two people except if one wants to eat his cake and also have it.

But, what is the problem? The sports minister offered in an interview with State House correspondents that it is all about the politics of leadership of the NFF. He explained that it is election time into the board of the NFF, billed for this August, and as is the nature of power struggle “these things happen.” He offered further that the Maigari led board had set up an electoral process that would ensure his return and that the stakeholders do not want him back, and that is why they have called the congress to pass a vote of no confidence on him and re-constitute another electoral committee that would ensure a level playing ground. The minister knows all this, so to speak.

Interestingly, it has turned out to be same of same, a game of

whims as against a process system that has continued to leave Nigerian football the worst for it.

It is recalled that the elections into the board of the Nigerian football federation in the past decade and half has been as ridiculously dramatic as this. The second tenure election of Ibrahim Galadima was as comic as anything from the theatre of the absurd. Matters came to a head where Galadima fixed the venue for the election in his home state of Kano while another group fixed another venue in Abuja.

Galadima won in Kano but was eventually removed, no thanks to the low feelings that trailed the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. In came Sani Lulu and he was also forcibly removed in a board coup led by Maigari, no thanks also to the poor performance of the Super Eagles at the 2010 World Cup. In all of these, no proper election was held and if Lulu had any misgivings for which to seek redress, he had a case of financial impropriety hung over him. Now, it is Maigari and it is election time.

He has been or is being removed not through due process and the state department is already talking about financial impropriety around him. It is such a musical chair in Nigerian football with no consensus among the stakeholders as to what is the defining instrument for engagement in Nigerian football. This situation manifests in its worst form in the existence of over fifty suits and counter suits relating to the control of the NFF and the Nigerian professional football league.

To be clear, the Jos injunction obtained by Mrs Baribote was based on an earlier judgment obtained by the National Association of Nigerian Footballers from the court of Justice Abang in September 2010 nullifying the board of the NFF on the ground that the Maigari election as conducted with the instrument of the NFF Statute was not conducted in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Football Association Act, 2004, as amended, which judgment was further affirmed by the court of Justice Okorowa in January 2012

pronouncing the NFF illegal.

The problem had been that while FIFA Statute insists on noninterference of government in the affairs of its member associations, the establishing act of Nigerian football known to the judiciary had placed the association as a parastatal of the National Sports Commission/Sports Ministry, by which the minister of sports is the final authority and is expected to appoint a secretary general for the association who will act with executive powers over the chairman. To meet FIFA regulations, the football house through one of its congresses had drafted a substitute statute, now known as the NFF statute, in which it removed such clauses that prescribed government control of the football governing body. This statute was presented to and accepted by FIFA and forwarded as a bill to the National Assembly for passage as the guiding law of football administration in Nigeria. The bill has been in the National Assembly for as long as the current democratic dispensation but has not been passed into law.

The situation presents all members of the Nigerian football family the leeway to operate and invoke any of the two documents that might be convenient for them in pursuance of whatever they seek - power, rights, contract and other forms of patronage - in Nigerian football. It is simply a recipe for anarchy and that is what we have in Nigerian football. In this regard, we have seen twists and turns over the legal statuses of the management bodies of the Nigerian professional football league by which the courts have ousted various regimes of the NFL, the NPL etc and their successive bodies.

To hem in this disorder, the former sports minister adopted a political approach to the problem by appealing to many aggrieved stakeholders in Nigerian football to sheath their swords and bring their matters out of court. To achieve this, several agreements were reached to provide some relief and accommodation for several disputants but whether these have been met remains a matter of conjecture. to be continue next week

HOLE IN ONE

ormer Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has credited his current ranking as the top amateur golfer at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, to the encouragement he got from American golfer, Rickie Fowler.

Twenty five-year-old Fowler is one of the most respected players on the professional tour and, before turning pro in 2009, was the number one ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008.

He is yet to win a major championship but was awarded the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year honours in 2010. He has also not won on the tour this year but finished joint second at both the US Open and the Open Championship.

“My secret is just commitment to the game. Whatever I find myself doing I try to give my all to it and that is the same with this. But I will credit more of my present form to inspiration from Rickie Fowler, who was joint runner-up at last week’s British Open at the Royal Liverpool,” said Runsewe.

Runsewe added that a recent meeting with Fowler in the United States offered a chance for the former world number one ranked amateur to give some remarks about his game that has seen the trajectory of his performance on the rise.

“I have respect for professional golfers, both at home here in Nigeria and abroad, but I can say specifically that Rickie has made some impact in my game of late,” continued Runsewe. “I have also become a huge fan of him too.”

The former NTDC boss also said there are quite a lot of development in the world of golf that he is presently working on with the aim of developing the local golf scene; something he feels can help a lot of amateur golfers improve on their game.

“I am presently working with a private team of researchers in the game and we are doing a study across developed golf communities in South Africa, the Unites States and Scotland,” disclosed Runsewe who, passionately, noted: “I am ready to use my knowledge and findings to benefit the country.”

Prime Metro Matchplay Debuts in Ikeja

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roperty firm, Prime Metro Limited has expanded the matchplay competitions options on the calendar of the Ikeja Golf Club with the launch of the Prime Metro Challenge Cup, which recently flagged off in Lagos.

Former captain of the Ikeja Golf Club and Chairman of Prime Metro Properties, Awa Ibrahim, disclosed that his passion for golf drove him continually to find creative ways to grow the game.

“It is a priviledge for us at Prime Metro to get into this level of support for a game that has so much to offer the society,” said Ibrahim.

“We believe our bit of support will not only stimulate necessary growth in the game but will also inspire some measure of corporate backing form not only indigenous firms but from all who benefit from doing business in Nigeria” The Prime Metro Challenge Cup, would be rounded off later in the year with the last team standing at the end of the knockout series earning a two-week all-expense paid trip to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, or a yet to be disclosed city in Europe, alongside the Prime Metro Challenge Cup Trophy.

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Sport / News

Taiwo’s work permit cancelled Okagbare draws inspiration

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he Turkish Federation has informed the authorities to cancel the work permit of Nigerian defender, Taye Taiwo following irregularities in his transfer to Bursaspor from AC Milan, according to match-

Taye Taiwo celebrates a goal for Bursaspor

ing press reports in France and Turkey.

The reason behind the left back missing the last two games played by Bursaspor in the Europa League has now become clearer, as he is not permitted to represent the club in official competitions.

Technically, Taye Taiwo’s contract which was due to expire at the end of the 2015 - 2016 season has become inactive, meaning he can join a new team as a free agent.

Even before this information was made public, the 29 - year - old had been discussing with the higher - ups at Bursaspor for his contract to be mutually terminated.

The Bronze Ball winner at the Fifa Under 20s staged in Holland 9 years ago is reportedly on the radar of Saint-étienne and a couple of teams in England.

Ighalo talks up Watford move

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dinese striker Odion Ighalo has revealed he is close to sealing a loan move to Watford.

Watford are keen to bolster their attacking options and are ready to use their affiliation with Udinese to bring the Nigerian to Vicarage Road.

Ighalo, who joined Udinese from Norwegian club Lyn in 2008, has spent the last four seasons on loan at Granada and Udinese are thought to be willing to loan him again next season.

The 25-year-old has confirmed talks are on-going about a move to Watford and that it is the player ’s dream to play in England.

“I am in talks with Watford and I believe we are in final negotiations,” Ighalo told Sky Sports. “I am hopeful that those talks will go well and that the move will be finalised very soon.

“It has always been my dream

Hull City boss thrilled with Aluko’s form

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ull City boss Steve Bruce is delighted with the preseason form of Nigerian forward Sone Aluko.

As well as enjoying a 90-minute run-out in the City’s 1-1 draw with North Ferriby on Monday, Aluko scored one and set up another for Yannick Sagbo during the Tigers’ 2-0 win at York two days later.

“Sone looked bright again at York,” said Bruce to the Hull Daily Mail. “He’s worked extremely hard all summer. He’s not had much time off. He worked in a training camp that we set up for him (in Portugal) and it was vitally important both for him and Robbie Brady.

“There’s no kid gloves anymore. Touch wood, he looks as good as I’ve seen him. I’ve known him a long time and he looks great at the moment.

“We just have to hope it stays that way because we all know what he’s capable of.”

to play in England and I am looking forward to playing for Watford.

“The Watford fans may not know a lot about me, but I promise to give my all and help them achieve their goal of getting back to the Premier League.”

from Bolt’s parents Emmanuel Tobi

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Blessing Okagbare flanked by the parents of Usain Bolt

igeria queen of the tracks, Blessing Okagbare, is poised for a great outing at the Commonwealth Games when the track and field events begin today after spending time out with the parents of reigning 100m and 200m world champion, Usain Bolt, on Friday.

The Nigerian and African champion, who is competing in her first Commonwealth Games, expressed gratitude to the parents of the Jamaican sprinter who came to support their son.

“What a blissful moment to start my day yesterday. I cannot be

Anichebe on target for Baggies

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igerian striker, Victor Anichebe, scored an astonishing goal for West Bromwich Albion in their 3-1 win over Sacramento Republic on Saturday in the English Premier League club’s latest pre-season friendly.

Saido Berahino, on 13 minutes, and Youssouf Mulumbu, on the half-hour mark, were the other scorers for the Baggies in the win over the American club side.

Anichebe’s goal on 62 minutes

exemplified power and precision as he fired unerringly from 25 yards to make it 3-0 before the hosts scored their consolation goal 10 minutes later.

It was the Nigerian’s second goal of his club’s pre-season build-up and underlines his status as a striker in form ahead of the start of the Premier League season on August 16.

The 26-year-old and his teammates will now head back to Eng-

Commonwealth Games:

FG pledges $7,000 for gold medallists

Ifeanyi Ibeh

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he Federal Government has pledged to reward handsomely any athlete who wins medals at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Under the arrangement, any gold medallists will go home with $7,000; silver medallists will get $4,000, while bronze medallists will go home with $3,000.

Announcing the financial package, during an interactive session with the country’s athletes and officials at the Games Village, on Friday night, Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, said the financial gesture was government’s way of motivating the athletes to victory.

“This financial reward is designed to motivate all of you to win more medals for Nigeria,” said Danagogo. “We are proud of the medal we have won (in weightlifting) and we are expecting more from all of you.”

He added: “Let me assure you that the government is ready to do more for all of you if you win more medals for the country.”

In addition to the $7,000 Chika Amalaha has earned for her weightlifting gold medal, Danagogo announced an additional $1,000 for breaking the Commonwealth record.

more honoured to be recognized by these wonderful parents of a great athlete, Usain Bolt. It is a such a blessing,” said Okagbare, who also took time to take some photographs with Bolt’s parents.

The 25-year-old Olympic and World Championships medallist is expected to take part in the women’s 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 x 100 metres events.

Okagbare became the first Nigerian athlete in twelve years to win a medal at the World Athletics Championship after leaping a distance of 6.99m to win silver at the 2013 Championship where she also finished third in the women’s 200 metres final.

Team Nigeria’s first gold medallist at the Glasgow Games Chika Amahala with sports minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo and former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd)

While reassuring the athletes of government’s commitment towards their welfare and success at the Games, the minister said the entire nation is looking up to them to win medals for the country.

“I can tell you that President Goodluck Jonathan has done

everything possible for all of you to succeed in this tournament. The expectations of Mr President and the rest of Nigeria is that you all win medals for us. We are proud of you and will give you all the necessary support that you need to succeed,” he said.

land to complete their pre-season build-up with a game against former European champions Nottingham Forest next Saturday.

Anichebe

Winifred grabs weightlifting silver Ifeanyi Ibeh

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igeria on Saturday increased its medal haul at the on-going Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, to three after Ndidi Winifred won silver in the women’s 58kg weightlifting event.

Winifred started the day with a third place finish in the Snatch after lifting a modest 90kg but she came into her element in the Clean and Jerk where she went into a headto-head race with eventual winner, Zoe Smith of England.

Winifred, after lifting 110kg in her first attempt in the Clean and Jerk, failed to lift 115kg. Smith was however successful at 115kg, and with the prospect of ending the competition without a medal looming, Winifred made a last gasp attempt at lifting 116kg which she succeeded in doing, setting a new games record in the process.

Winifred’s joy was however shortlived as Smith, at her very next attempt, lifted 118kg to set a new Commonwealth record and grab the gold medal from the Nigerian.

It was Nigeria’s third medal of the Games, and all have come in weightlifting.

Nkechi Opara had won bronze on the opening day of the weightlifting event in the 48kg category on Thursday. A day later, Chika Amalaha won Nigeria’s first gold in the women 53kg weightlifting event.

Nigeria topped the weightlifting medal charts four years ago with five gold, four silver and five bronze followed by Samoa (3, 0, 0) and India (2, 2, 4).

SPORT

Commonwealth Games : FG pledges $7,000 for gold medalists

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

VOL. 1 NO. 159

SUNDAY, jULY 27, 2014

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Impeachment as a battle axe

he July 15 impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa should have made me happy.

Nyako ought not to have been a governor in the first instance. Personally, as early as February 22 2010, I argued in my column in the Peoples Daily that he should be sacked.

The man was a product of Obasanjo’s ‘do or die’ politics that produced an ‘election like event’ in 2007. That exercise was certified by international observers as the worst election in human history. Even the chief beneficiary of the massive heist of the people’s right to choose their leaders, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was embarrassed at the scale of the of the robbery. He said so at his inauguration and promised to reform the electoral system.

Adamawa is a special example of how the robbery was conceived and executed.

By the second term of Obasanjo’s tenure, the relationship between him and his Vice, Atiku Abubakar was so bad that they often threw decorum to the dogs and traded words in the public. For whatever reason, Obasanjo’s unforgiving spirit was out to wreak havoc on Atiku. All Atiku’s personal aides were sacked – including his driver and ADC. Obasanjo wanted him sacked too but could not get the legislative and/ or judicial support.

To Adamawa he went, looking for ways to scatter the political base of Atiku who was clearly a rugged fighter and a thorn in his flesh. He brought a Yoruba woman married to an Adamawa man to represent Atiku in the Senate. With the collaboration of Prof Jibril Aminu, a plan was hatched to ensure that he did not name a successor to Boni Haruna who was faithful to him all through his travails with Obasanjo.

Murtala Nyako came handy.

There was no primary election to make him a PDP gubernatorial aspirant. On the appointed day, anti-riot policemen went to Lamido Cinema – venue of the primaries in Yola and chased away all the contestants.

Nyako did not bother to go there as he was already in Abuja to collect his certificate of return as PDP candidate. He was declared winner of an election that did not take place.

A man who raped democracy in the closet of his party had no compunction raping it again in the open market square. That was how Nyako won the highly fraudulent election of 2007 to become governor of Adamawa.

As usual, there was a long-drawn judicial challenge. In February 2008, the Election Petition Appeal tribunal found the governor guilty of all the 16 allegations against him and nullified his election The House Speaker James Barka was sworn in as Acting Governor. A fresh election was run and Nyako was reelected with a landslide victory. Soon after, the House initiated moves to impeach him but was dissuaded after the personal intervention of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The relationship improved, and in March 2010, the PDP dominated Adamawa State House of Assembly passed a vote of confidence in Governor Nyako describing him as a “messiah” to the people of the state.

All through his travails, Nyako had one dependable ally – the PDP. The party stood stoutly by him, ensuring that his government was ‘stabilised’. Even when the legislators saw that the man was going the wrong way, the PDP called the ‘renegade’

law makers to order.

Supported by the biggest political party in Africa to run his own show in his own way, Nyako started showing his true colours. He fought all the big names in the firmament of Adamawa politics. First victim was Prof Jibril Aminu, his friend, philosopher and fund raiser in his bid to be governor. He frustrated him out of the Senate. Then he turned against my former boss, Bamanga Tukur who went on to become the national chairman of the PDP regardless of his opposition. To Atiku Abubakar, his old foe, there was no love lost. When Atiku contested the PDP party primaries in 2011, he did everything, including kidnapping the Adamawa state delegates to the National Convention and denying Atiku access to them. His man then was Goodluck Jonathan.

Nyako as governor secured for his selfish ends the institutions of state. The executive was his own with the ministries grouped and shared out to his wives who were mandated to supervise the commissioners. In the governor’s office, his son a serving Naval Officer called the shots. He tried to emasculate the judiciary by denying the state of a substantive Chief Judge in the past four years. The governor had little patience with the legislature. At a point he sent armed anti-riot policemen to chase away the legislators from the hallowed chambers of the House. They did not only chase the law makers away, they locked the place and brought the key to him.

Murtala Hamman-Yero Nyako the man from Mayo Belwa preferred and rejoiced in his nickname of “baba mai mangoro” as governor of Adamawa state. His style of governance was decidedly medieval, leaving no room for dissent, accountability, let alone checks and balances. As earlier observed, the PDP had no issues with that.

His problem started when Alhaji Bamanga Tukur nursed the ambition and was pro-

MAMA LASISI

Jonathan

moted by Goodluck Jonathan to be National Chairman of PDP. Under the influence of Nyako, the PDP governors in the North East organised a primary contest in Bauchi where Bamanga’s performance was rather abysmal – he came last. In the typical PDP family way of doing things, Bamanga after failing in the primaries miraculously emerged National Chairman without opposition. The secret of the tussle between Bamanga and Nyako was the contest for the Adamawa governor’s office come 2015.

Bamanga wanted his son there; Nyako said no it was the turn of his own son.

When Bamanga had an upper hand in the PDP power tussle, Nyako became uncomfortable. And even though Bamanga’s days at the helm of the party were an unmitigated disaster, Nyako had long before Bamanga’s forced exit started looking for an alternative platform. He found the APC.

The APC in Adamawa were not comfortable with him and deserted the party to join the PDP and plan for his down fall.

His fall makes me sad to the extent that it is not based on any principles of good governance. The acting governor of the state who as speaker actively facilitated Nyako’s removal triumphantly announced to his party men that he had by impeaching Nyako recovered the party’s ‘stolen mandate.’

The constitutional provision for removing elected officers from their offices does not specify the offences. It only talks about ‘gross misconduct’. This is indeed open ended. To the acting governor of Adamawa, deserting the PDP is an act of ‘gross misconduct’ deserving of removal from office. This is rather sad because when in 2010, some of us were advocating for Nyako’s sack on grounds of non- accountability and bad governance, the PDP-dominated House passed a special resolution calling him a ‘messiah’! The same reasons we were calling for his sack were the ones used to remove him from office today.

Check out your facts - they were the things he did five years ago while a messiah in the ‘PDP family.’

It is becoming clear by the day that the PDP is not only placing itself above the law but making itself the law. People who belong there get away with anything.

Look at Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa, another PDP product. He left the party in 2010 because it would not give him the governorship slot. He then used his immense popular goodwill to defeat the PDP at the gubernatorial race even when the party has control of the house. As governor, his performance is stellar. Drive from Karu Local government on the border with FCT to Kadarko on the border with Benue and you will see what this man is doing with primary education. He has made primary education free and is building wonderful structures for them. Teachers are paid regularly. Any northern governor that gives education priority is my man. Educational backwardness in the north is the biggest problem of the north; the biggest problem of Nigeria.

When you get down to Benue where the PDP is in charge, primary schools have been closed for the past nine months, teachers there have not been paid for that period and the school football fields where they are not overgrown by weeds are used for farming yams. The governor there is a PDP man and so is the House. This impeachment battle axe dangling over Al Makura’s head is no threat to him.

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By Aliu Eroje