Binder1 june 20,2014 by Newtelegraphonline

Saturday Edition

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Saturday, JUNE 21, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 123

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FRANK OKONTA

IFEOMA OKEKE MY BOOBS AREN’T THE BEST PART OF ME P.19

NZEOGWU WAS SO STERN WE CALLED HIM ‘MAJOR’ IN SCHOOL P.13

EMIR OF ASKIRA WHY NORTH-EAST IS HOTBED OF INSURGENCY P.45

All tense as Ekiti voters go to poll

Nyako meets Atiku, Ribadu over impeachment attempt Ndubuisi Ugah and Ibrahim Abdul Lagos/Yola

lTinubu: Security forces under instruction to obstruct process lHe represents a bad product in Yorubaland, says Fayose l18 parties for governorship - REC Wale Elegbede Adesina Wahab Ndubuisi Ugah Ado-Ekiti/Lagos

mid a tense atmosphere, voters in Ekiti State will today cast their

ballot in the state’s governorship election. The election was preceded by very divisive campaigns which occasionally turned violent, prompting the heavy security deployments witnessed across the state. About 126 security oper-

atives comprising soldiers, policemen and civil defence corps have been deployed in the state to maintain law and order before and after the election. Security has been a major point of contention in the days preceding the election

with the All Progressives Congress (APC) claiming the state has been militarised. National leader of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, also deplored the security measures which, according to him, was con-

ceived to tilt the scale in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party. “The security forces are under instruction to obstruct the process and intimidate those who stand for Kayode Fayemi. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

n a frantic effort aimed at resolving the impeachment attempt on him, Adamawa State Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, yesterday explored others means of resolving the impeachment attempt by visiting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to draft him into the peace effort. Nyako, who was at Atiku’s Asokoro residence in Abuja, was accompanied by the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu. It was also gathered that the Chairperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Hon. Binta Koji, was present at the meeting. The New Telegraph gathered that as soon as the governor arrived Atiku’s residence, the trio immediately went into a closed-door meeting. Sources at the meeting also stated that Atiku committed himself to meeting the members of the state legislature yesterday evening, to try and persuade them to drop the impeachment bid. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Some of the soldiers at INEC office, Ado-Ekiti…yesterday.

Geoffrey Ekenna

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday in Lagos, described Ekiti State, where an election is holding today as a war zone. Smarting from the brushes of its leaders and governors with security agents dur-

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

APC: Ekiti is a war zone

l Military gave me 20 minutes to leave or be shot - Amaechi ing the grand rally of its candidate in the election, Governor Kayode Fayemi, the National Chairman of

the party, Chief John Oyegun, yesterday in Lagos, said that his party would not accept any election not

conducted in line with constitutional provision. Oyegun, who was flanked by the gov-

ernor of Rivers State, Chief Rotimi Amaechi; former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki; the

} BRAZIL 2014: EAGLES AND BOSNIA IN SWIM-OR-SINK DUEL

See free 8-page sport pullout inside

SPSPLASH RT

ARGENTINA TARGET THE SCALP OF STUBBORN IRAN

p.28

BOATENG BROTHERS CLASH AS GHANA-GERMANY MATCH LOOMS

p.29

FREE

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/sport

EAGLES NEED TACTICAL DISCIPLINE TO BEAT BOSNIA – BABANGIDA }p.27

I’M READY TO

...dreams early goal against Bosnia

p.25, 26 &31

21 JUNE 2014

SERENA SIZZLES AHEAD OF WIMBLEDON }p.32

NIGERIA VS BOSNIA: THE PLAYERS’ BATTLE CRY }p.30

IWORIMA EYES COMMONWEALTH GAMES SLOT }p.27

National Publicity DIE FOR EAGLES Secretary, Alhaji Lai – EMENIKE I Mohammed, among CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

USA CAN SEND PORTUGAL HOME, SAYS KLINSMANN }p.28

n the Super Eagles today, one man is noted for his determination to always be on the score sheet for the team. He is very aggressive upfront and remains the number one striker of the team. He is Emmanuel Emenike. Many Nigerians rely on the Fenerbache of Turkey striker to deliver goals for the country at crucial situations. In the decisive World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, Nigeria came back from one goal down to beat Ethiopia 2-1. Emenike scored white colours of Nigeria. It intoxicates me on the both goals. pitch and I want to die there fighting for results. At the last edition of the Nations Cup, which “It is an honour to be playing for Nigeria Nigeria won in South Africa, Emenike was on because the country is blessed with so many target four times despite missing the final match talented players all over the world. I believe I due to injury. am lucky to be in the position I am. That is why It is generally believed that on a good day, I am fighting hard to do more for the team. Emenike is the man to do the magic for Nigeria. “I want to score more and more and possibly Interestingly, the striker is not thinking that way emerge the highest scorer of all time for the naand in an exclusive interview with New Tele- tional team. You can see I still have a long way graph, Emenike believes he is yet to kick off his to go. My wish is to score two or three goals in career in the Eagles. every match I play for my country. He stressed that he was yet to reach the mark “The truth is I am aware Nigerians appreciate where everyone will know how well he desires me, but I am yet to get there. I am working hard scoring goals and hitting the target for Nigeria. to do much more. By the time we have better In his 24 appearances for Nigeria, Emenike understanding in our team; I will score more has scored nine goals for the country, but the goals for the Eagles. “ striker feels this is not enough to match his asThe striker says his goal-scoring feat is a result pirations. of the work rate of the entire team. He argued The Fenerbache forward said; “My role on the that one person cannot just nick a goal easily pitch is to score goals and so when I do that I am CONTINUE ON PAGE 27 happy playing my role well. I love the green and

BOSNIAN PLAYERS NIGERIA MUST WATCH – IROHA }p.27

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Content 21.06.14 MY STYLE

All That Flowers

Floral prints have been and always will be a hot trend especially when it comes to women’s fashion. Get creative. Blaze a trail in a floral print.

}15

SHOWBIZ

Tonye Garrick’s Riveting Tale Rising pop singer Tonye Garrick speaks about an impressive career that straddles music, fashion, interior decor and wellness.

}17

STARTUPS

Baking Imagination

Inspired by his background as a fashion designer, Emmanuel Oluwaseun Oke bakes cake that takes various forms and shapes from bikini-clad mannequins to storey-building.

}22

SHORT STORY

From Ghana With Love This week’s romance thriller highlights the length a man can travel in search of love.

}34

SPORT

All tense as Ekiti voters go to poll CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

PDP has raided the public treasury and is pouring the people’s money to buy the election for someone the people don’t want. Adding insult to injury, the minister of state for defence has moved to Ekiti where he is brandishing every tool at his disposal to thwart the will of the people.” But the state’s chapter of the PDP has urged voters not to be scared of turning out to vote in today’s governorship poll, insisting that the heavy security presence would ensure peaceful conduct of the exercise. The state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Makunjuola Ogundipe, told News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview that there was no reason for any law-abiding voter to be afraid. “Any voter without sinister reason has no need to be afraid. We do not need people from other states to infiltrate Ekiti and cause problems. The security presence will ensure that Ekiti residents vote for the candidate of their choice at the poll and not outsiders,” he said. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Alhaji Halilu Pai, yesterday said 18 political parties, would be fielding candidates for the governorship election.

Seeking Redemption

Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike heavily criticised for a lacklustre performance in the national team’s first match against Iran promises a better outing in today’s match where he dreams an early goal.

}25

TRAVEL

Abuja Blues

Conceived as a city of unity with contemporary trappings, the Federal Capital Territory is home to some landmark attractions. But that seems to be where the tourist potential ends as it’s yet a long walk to being a centre of attraction.

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Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti ven on the eve of an election when the strain of campaign ought to have tempered animosities, the contending political in today’s governorship election in Ekiti are pulling no punches. The first salvo was fired by APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. “Ekiti is not high political drama because of the scheduled election,” he said in a commentary titled, All Eyes on Ekiti. “It is suspenseful because everyone knows the despot of Abuja seeks to hijack the people’s will. Thus, there shall be a contest within the contest. Can the will of the people withstand the arbitrary, undemocratic power and pull of the Aso Villa monarch and his court jesters? That is the question on everyone’s mind. So, it might as well be brought into the open.” He accused the security person-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

others, said that the experience of the party leaders in the hands of security agents on Wednesday, which forced them to travel by road from Ekiti to Lagos in the night was a sign that the Peoples Democratic Party has perfected plans to win the election at all cost. Also, Amaechi, who said that his life was endangered by the military men, who stopped and threatened to shoot him, stated that he was shocked at the treatment given to him by agents of the Federal Government. Oyegun, who said he

The major contenders, according to him, are the incumbent governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) Ayo Fayose and Labour Party’s Opeyemi Bamidele. It was also gathered that 29 foreign and local observer groups have been accredited for monitoring. Pai, who confirmed that about 603 additional polling units had been created, raising the total number to 2,798 also confirmed that all sensitive materials had been distributed to the 16 local government areas of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, an assistant superintendent of police, said about 12,000 mobile police officers had been deployed in the state in addition to the regular officers as well as 26 sniffer dogs. This figure is in addition to another 15,000 NSCDC personnel deployed in the state as confirmed by the Commandant General of the corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin. Also deployed was a surveillance equipped camera vehicle which could cover a large land mass. Babayemi, who announced a restriction in movement on Saturday between 6 a.m. and 8p.m.,

said the heavy security presence was in the interest of residents of the state. It was also noted that 732,166 voters were registered to vote in Saturday’s election. A breakdown of the figure made available to NAN by INEC indicated that there are 371,419 female voters, comprising 51 per cent of the voting population. Male voters also totalled 360,747, representing 49 per cent of the total voting population in the election involving 177 wards. And in a bid to galvanise the people, Fayemi has appealed to the electorate in the state to come out en masse to vote for the candidate of their choice. The governor, who made the appeal yesterday in his broadcast to the people of the state on the exercise, said accreditation would hold from 8a.m. to noon, after which voting would commence. The governor, who is seeking second term in office, reminded voters that the election provided an opportunity for them to exercise their inalienable right to choose their leaders without intimidation or coercion. “The people should be allowed to freely choose the type of leader they want in line with electoral principles rather than coercing them,” he said. In the same vein, the In-

APC: Ekiti is a war zone

had told President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the impunity in Ekiti, warned that the Federal Government was overreaching itself in the way the election in Ekiti is being conducted. Amaechi said: “If you watch well, you will see that civilians in power are sharing power with the military. If you want to close an airport, it is not the military that closes an airport, it is NCAA. I was told by the military that the airport is closed and there were four airport vehicles, four airport

vehicles on the runway.” Amaechi added, “I landed safely at the Akure airport and we were received by three policemen who were to take us to Ekiti. The boundary between Ekiti and Ondo is about four kilometres of thick forest and I saw about 15 soldiers carrying guns. I thought they saw me but they all cocked their guns and took position, and I still wasn’t afraid because I thought they were doing routine search. But even as a governor, they shouldn’t even search me. But if they

The squabbling continues nel deployed in the state as being under an instruction to “obstruct the process and intimidate those who stand for Fayemi”, adding that the PDP has “raided the public treasury and is pouring the people’s money to buy the election for someone the people don’t want. “Ayo Fayose can do little good because he has little good in him. Any good he has done, has been by accident. During his tenure as governor, he covered the state in a blanket of suppression, intimidation, violence and blood. Where Fayemi is a statesman, this man is sinister.” In reaction, former governor Ayo Fayose, who spoke through the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation’s head of media, Chief

dependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured physically challenged persons of adequate security during the governorship election in the state. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of INEC in the state, Mr. Taiwo Gbadegesin, said in an interview with the NAN in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, that the commission was conscious of the peculiar condition of that category of Nigerians and would make sure they perform their civic responsibility. The spokesman said the commission had embarked on a sensitisation programme since February to educate residents, particularly rural dwellers, on the need to ensure a peaceful election. INEC, he added, had met members of the traditional institution as well as other stakeholders to enlighten them on the need for a peaceful poll. “We are very much optimistic that we will not have any problem,” he said. According to him, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, has given the assurance that journalists and other stakeholders will have maximum security. “We want to appeal to our people not to panic in view of the presence of security personnel in town; they are to protect us,” he said.

Gboyega Aribisogan, said PDP and Fayose were not moved by Tinubu’s statement. “We hope that Tinubu would allow Ekiti people to decide on his stooge who has performed poorly and below expectation. In as much as we would not like to bandy words with Tinubu, we want to say that Lagos State that he governed for eight years is in pains of debts that he and the stooge he planted in office plunged it. “Lagos, which is the pride of the nation has suffered under Tinubu’s yoke and his gang of blood suckers. That we have discovered his stooge early in Ekiti and have resolved to reject him on Saturday speaks volume of Tinubu’s frustration. “Tinubu represents a bad prod-

uct in Yorubaland and a bad product would only sell for a while before people would find out and reject it. In Ekiti we have seen what he and gang of blood suckers have been able to achieve. Four years ago, Ekiti had no debt overhang, today, it is writhing in pains of N37 billion debt and we want Tinubu and his stooge to tell us what they spent the money on. “Four years ago, Ekiti State had three universities, today it is left with one badly-funded and poorlyrun university. “It is foolish for him to compare his stooge with Fayose, the architect of modern Ekiti,” Aribisogan said. Tinubu was just as unsparing in his commentary with regard to Opeyemi Bamidele, his for-

wanted to search me, I was willing to be searched.” Then five minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, my people got back to them and asked ‘what is going on? Why can’t we go?’ and other vehicles were passing. Then they said, ‘we are on order not to allow Governor Amaechi to get into Ekiti.” Amaechi further said, “I stayed there for upwards of 30 minutes to one hour and I said to myself, these are soldiers and they are carrying guns and you are in a bush.”

mer acolyte and contestant in today’s poll. “Sadly, Labour Party’s Bamidele has let unbridled ambition get the better of him. Had he waited to gain the requisite experience and knowledge, perhaps he could have become a decent candidate in time. But that would have been years from now. That time has yet to come. At the moment, he is like unripe fruit picked much too early from the tree. We all know what happens when you eat such a thing. It is bitter to the mouth and hard on the stomach. The people of Ekiti do not need this.” When contacted for their reaction, Bamidele’s media assistant, Mr Ahmed Salami, said his principal and party would rather not comment on the matter. “We have no time for such things now. We know that our victory is sure and we are concentrating on that,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Eminent Nigerians mourn as Arisekola-Alao is buried Ndubuisi Ugah, Sola Adeyemo and Temitope Ogunbanke

minent Nigerians from all walks of life yesterday converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to pay their last respect to the remains of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao, which were buried amid tears by family members, friends and associates. The corpse of Arisekola-Alao, who died in a London Hospital on June 18, was brought to Adamasingba Stadium at exactly 10.05.a.m. in an Ebony casket for prayer. Until his death, Arisekola-Alao was Deputy President-General of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). After the prayer led by Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheik Haruna Suara, the corpse was taken to his Oluwokekere House, Basorun residence in Ibadan, for interment. The event, however, attracted eminent personalities including President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of State for Defense, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan and Chairman of Federal Road Maintenance agency (FERMA), Mr. Jide Adeniyi, respectively were also there. Also present were the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, Industrialist, Chief

l Tambuwal, Babatope extol his virtues Kola Daisi; businessman, Oba Otudeko; former Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Musilu Smith, Prince Ladigbolu, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin, wife of the former Oyo state governor, Chief Kemi Alao-Akala, among many others. Others included the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, who was represented by one of the Oyo Kingmakers, High Chief Lamidi Oyewale (the Samu of Oyo), while the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade was represented by High Chief Eddy Oyewole. Also, former ArchBishop of Ibadan, Alaba Job; Primate Ola Makinde and wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, also attended. Speaking at the occasion, Ajimobi described Arisekola-Alao’s exceptional philanthropist in sponsoring 89 persons to Lesser Hajj (Ummurah) last year, as unequal. The governor, who extolled the virtues of the late religious leader, described him as a philanthropist of philanthropists, who served the poor and also helped the rich during his lifetime. “He was the Nelson Mandela of our race. Lesson from his death is that you make a name by what you take, but you make a life by what you give." Aare was to the Nigerian masses what the late President Nelson Mandela was to the South Africans. He served the poor and helped the rich. He came to serve humanity and served them to his very last. “He was accommodat-

ing, spiritual, religious and intelligent. He had been serving the poor from the age of 19. He was the greatest philanthropist of our time. Aare gave everything he had for the benefit of the people,” he added. National Missioner, Ansar-u-deen Society of Nigeria, Malam Abdurahaman Ahmad, implored the rich to emulate the philanthropic virtues of Arisekola-Alao. “Arisekola-Alao was generous, friendly and accommodating to all and sundry, especially the downtrodden. We are all here to mourn one another. When we heard that Arisekola was dead, we disbelieved, thinking how possible it could be. Though he was not an angel, it appeared to many of us as a fiction, but we thank God for his life,” he said. Ahmad recalled a day he and Dr. Kamil Oloso went to Arisekola-Alao to demand for a favour, where he said: “You people should stop cheating me. If at all you are cheating me by falsely collecting money from me, try and do it lightly because certain day, you will not see me to cheat me again. His words have come to pass now. He was spending N10m everyday of Ramadan periods.” Many marketers and traders in Ibadan shut their shops in honour of the philanthropist and notable Islamic cleric just as the Adamasingba area, where the prayers were said, was jamparked with vehicles and security men, who were controlling human and vehicular traffic as well as maintaining the peace while the three-hour

programme lasted. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal and a Former Minister of Transport and Aviation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, have described the death of Arisekola-Alao as a great to the nation. Tambuwal in a statement issued in Abuja, by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, described the deceased as a man of conviction who dedicated the large part of his life to the promotion of religious harmony in the country. He said the late Arisekola-Alao used his wealth to promote education of the under privileged, and also used his position as the Baba Addini to ensure spiritual upliftment of the people of Oyo State in particular and the South-West in general. Equally, Babatope described his death as a man, who was deeply religious without being a religious fundamentalist and a religious fanatic. Babatope in a statement made available to New Telegraph, said: “The news of Arisekola’s death has completely devastated me. Alhaji Arisekola Alao was a good man. He was deeply religious without being a religious fundamentalist and a religious fanatic. “Arisekola was frank and very open in his comments on men, matters and events of our national life. He was very generous in rendering assistance to all those who require his help. Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao was my inlaw. He will for long be remembered.”

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR, SATURDAY:

NDUBUISI UGAH

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

The Week Ahead Ekiti governorship election holds today The Ekiti State governorship election will hold today. The three main contestants for the coveted position are Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and incumbent governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party (LP).

Varsity honours Geidam, SSS DG today The governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam and the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Ekpeyong Ita, will today be awarded with first degrees and conferment of honorary degrees by Nigeria Turkish Nile University, at the second convocation ceremony of the institution. A statement signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Huseyin Sert, said the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike and Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, would be the special guest of honour and guest of honour respectively.

2014 Ogidi Day celebration holds today Former Health Minister, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, will today lead other eminent personalities from across the country to this year’s Ogidi Day holding in Ogidi, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Lambo, who is the chairman of the occasion, will be joined by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade as royal father of the day, while Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, will be the guest of honour.

Ministry of Science and Tech summit holds June 22 The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has announced that the 13th National Council on Science and Technology will hold from June 22 to 27 at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Opposite Government House Minna, Niger State. A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, said the theme of the event is “Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges in its Implementation at the Grassroots”.

NSA security conference begins June 23 President Goodluck Jonathan will declare open this year’s international conference on security and development challenges of pastoralists in West and Central Africa, scheduled to hold at Hotel Seventeen, Lafia Road, off Tafawa Balewa Way, Kaduna on June 23 to 24. The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which is the organisers of the event, said the theme is “The Role of Pastoralists in Preventing Insurgency and Conflicts for Enhanced national Security”.

FG to receive $227m Abacha’s loot June 25 The Federal Government will receive $227 million (about N37 billion) from the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein being part of looted funds recovered from the family of late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. The Principality of Liechtenstein is a small country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria to the East of Switzerland. It is one of the oldest jurisdictions in offshore assets. A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, in Abuja, said President Goodluck Jonathan will constitute an inter-ministerial committee to ensure the proper utilisation of the funds.

Court hears INEC’s suit on Oladipo June 25

L-R: Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Olabode George, at the Fidau prayers for the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao, in Ibadan …yesterday

Justice Chukwujekwu Anieke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 25 for the hearing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) preliminary objection in the suit against the non-recognition of Prof. Wale Oladipo as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The date was fixed because the PDP leadership had not produced any court order to that effect, as advised.

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

YENAGOA Kidnapped mother-in-law of Bayelsa Speaker freed N EWS I N BRIEF

The kidnapped mother-in-law of the Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assemly, Mrs Ogboro Orumo, has been released by her abductors after 20 days in captivity. Orumo was kidnapped by gunmen at her Seibiri family compound in Korokorosei community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area on May 30. A statement signed yesterday by Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, said the 86-years-old woman was found at Abua waterside in Rivers State where she was left by her abductors.

ADO-EKITI Ex-Oni’s COS denies dumping PDP for APC

Mr. Segun Ilori, a former Chief of Staff to the Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, has debunked report by national daily (not New Telegraph) that he has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. He said: “That report was a figment of the writer’s imagination.” Ilori, who reacted to the newspaper report in a release issued yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, said he remained committed to the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda. He said: “I am a member of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) and a strong believer in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, therefore I can never join the APC.

IKEJA Ex-NEMA boss tasks states on disaster management

The immediate-past Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Audu Bida, yesterday urged all state governments to give adequate attention to disaster management, in order to effectively control disasters in the country. Bida made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, where he commended the Lagos State government over its recent training of local responders in emergency and disaster management, at the grassroots level.

Presidential c’ttee on Chibok girls insists 219 students still missing CONFIRMATION Report affirms that abducted female students are still missing Anule Emmanuel

T Abuja

he Presidential FactFinding Committee on the abduction female students from Government Girls Secondary Chibok, Borno State yesterday presented its report to President Goodluck Jonathan with a confirmation that about 219 students still remained unaccounted for as at yesterday. Chairman of the committee, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo (rtd.), while presenting the report, said contrary to doubts earlier expressed that no students were missing, there was mass abduction on the night of April 14, at GGSS by members of the Boko Haram sect. He confirmed to the President that during the siege on the school, 119 students escaped from the premises before the insurgents took way their mates. Sabo explained that a total of 276 students were actually abducted by the sect. He noted that out of the number, 57 escaped and have since been reunited with their families. “Mr President, the committee here wishes to lay to rest any residual doubt whether or not any student was abducted at Chibok.

he United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has congratulates the newly elected National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), who emerged victorious from the recently concluded

There was mass abduction on the night of April 14, 2014. During the siege on the school, 119 students escaped from the school premises, before the insurgents took away their classmates. “A total number of 276 students were, thus, abducted. As of today, 57 of the abducted students have been reunited with their families after escaping along the zig-zag transport route taken by the insurgents, or by bolting to safety when the insurgents laid-by for a rest. Sadly, 219 students remain unaccounted for,” he said. Sabo told Jonathan that the committee received the full co-operation of all the stakeholders, adding that: “In addition to nominating three representatives who participated actively in the

proceedings of the committee, the state government also facilitated access to a number of stakeholders.” “Indeed, the committee interacted with persons and groups considered relevant to the realisation of our fact-finding mandate. The singular exception was a senator from Borno State who, after agreeing to an appointment with the committee, turned around to avoid the meeting, on the excuse that he had another appointment, and would thereafter be unavailable for another one month, or so. “Not that his non-appearance has materially, or in any way, affected the outcome of the committee’s findings. But the senator’s avoidance of an interface with the committee may well speak to a motive not too difficult to

discern,” he said. The committee chairman noted that the report covered the six terms of reference that guided the its work. President Jonathan had on the May 6, inaugurated the committee where he stated it was neither a judicial, nor an administrative panel of inquiry. The President on that day, also stated that the committee’s work was not a substitute for on-going efforts by the security and intelligence agencies to secure freedom for the schoolgirls. The committee was also mandated to mobilise the surrounding communities and general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and support, as well as articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue effort.

Ihejirika tasks retired military officers on insurgency Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubike Ihejirika (rtd.), has called on retired military officers from the northern part of the country to avail the Nigerian military of their experiences with a view to winning the war against terrorism in the country. Ihejirika’s call came on a day business tycoon, Chief Arthur Eze, described former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar as the father of democracy in Nigeria, considering how he handed over power to a democratically elected civilian regime in May 1999. Ihejirika and Eze spoke yesterday in Abuja, at the public presentation of “The Pursuit of Providence”, a biography of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar, written by Mr. Madu Onuora, the Abuja Bureau Chief of Guardian newspapers.

Ihejirika, while speaking on the issue of insurgency in the country, said: “We all need to join hands, avoid making statements that are capable of fuelling violence, no matter what may have brought about making such statement, because there is nothing better than peace.” He insisted that it was only through the support of such ex-service men that the current security challenges could be brought to a halt. The former COAS advised retired officers making inflammatory statements to desist from doing so. On his part, Eze, who launched the book with N10million, said Abubakar deserved to be regarded as the father of democracy in Nigeria. According to him, despite intense pressure from friends and associates, Abubakar resisted the temptation to continue in office or even transmute to a civilian president but chose to nurture a democratic process which so far, have proved very successful.

Work resumes as LUTH suspends strike M

edical services resumed today at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba as the doctors and other workers; yesterday suspended their action that brought healthcare delivery services to a halt at the nation’s foremost health institution. The health workers under the auspices of Joint House unions and the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LUTH branch, had embarked on an indefinite strike since June 2 to press home their demands. Confirming the strike suspension, President of the Association, Dr. Omojowolo Olubunmi and spokesperson of the Joint House unions, Kehinde Adegoke, said with the new development, all workers were expected to return to work today. Olubunmi said the decision to suspend the strike was taken after ARD’s President Goodluck Jonathan (left), receiving the report of the Presidential Fact-finding Committee emergency meeting where on the abducted female students of Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State from the the members unanimouscommittee’s Chairman, Brig-General Sabo Ibrahim (rtd.), in Abuja…yesterday ly agreed to suspend the PHOTO:TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN strike based on positive

response from the hospital management on most of their demands including the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Federal Ministry of Health, LUTH Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Elders of the profession and other wellmeaning Nigerians. Reviewing progress made by ARD on its demands, he said the association was able to achieve more than 50 per cent reduction in hospital fees for minor surgical procedures “The hospital has also issued a letter on tenure of residency training to reflect August 2013 circular, and a commitment to implement immediately the expected circular from the Federal Government on the subject matter. Also, a list of new resident doctors in all outstanding departments and employment of house officers have been released. The management will also kick start a new close User Group (CUG) means of communication within the hospital", he said.

APC UK chapter hails emergence of Odigie-Oyegun, others

National Convention of the party in Abuja. The chapter in a statement expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the maiden national convention was achieved by its leadership. Equally, the emergence of Odigie-Oyegun as pio-

neer substantive national chairman, who was favoured for his ideological purity, is a morale-booster within the entire membership of the chapter. The chairman of the chapter, Alhaji Garba Sani, who pledged his loyalty and support as well as that

of the entire UK chapter, stated that Odigie-Oyegun represented the ideals of the party and the aspiration of its members. He noted that his credentials as a democrat, the role he played in the days of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Na-

tional Democratic Coalition (NADECO) respectively spoke volumes. Odigie-Oyegun’s ideals were aptly captured in his speech after his emergence when the chief asserted that; “…for us to succeed, dear brothers and sisters, we must pledge this

night to work together as a team. We must embrace the ideals of unity, oneness and harmony, and the spirit of give and take. We must learn to let go of past grudges and previous grievances and move forward together as members of the same family".

Why Dangote Cement is creating awareness on quality angote Cement has ex- cause of the abysmal level D plained that its current of knowledge among arenlightenment on several tisans, block makers, maradio stations across the country is to educate and inform the public on the benefits of using quality cement, especially the new Dangote 42.5 3X Cement in their construction works. Director, Sales and Marketing, South South Region of Dangote Cement, Chux Mogbolu, said the public awareness became necessary as research has shown that most cement users in Nigeria cannot differentiate between the various grades of cement and their uses hence the application of lower cement grade where higher grade cement is should have been used. Mogbolu who spoke during a radio programme on Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Asaba, said be-

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sons and other craftsmen in the building industry, use of 32.5 grade cement in block making and house building has resulted in several cases of building collapse. Describing the qualities of the new 42.5 cement grade, he said that the grinding is better and smoother which makes it to expel pockets of air therefore preventing cracks in pillars, beams and other areas where it is used. Dangote Cement 42.5 3X public awareness campaign, he stated is more of a corporate social responsibility project, as the company is concerned with the spate of building collapse and the resulting loss of lives and properties.

IKEJA 'Why growth of SMEs is hindered'

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Executive Secretary of Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mr. Eke Ubiji, has said lack of information and access to funds are affecting small businesses in Nigeria. Ubiji made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos yesterday. He said SMEs’ poor access to development funds and lack of information on various government and industrial policies were scuttling the efforts of members of the association. “There are so many information on the economy, interest rates and so on that are on so many companies and government’s Website which are highly beneficial to business owners.

19,514

FCT Boko Haram: Iwu warns leaders against blame game

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Maurice Iwu yesterday appealed to leaders of political parties and other Nigerians to stop blaming one another and join forces in the fight against insurgency. Iwu made the call while receiving an award conferred on him by African Students Union Parliament (ASUP). He also advised Nigerians to support the military and desist from criticising security agents. According to him, it was time every Nigerian come together to fight the insurgents who he contended are mercenaries from other countries sent to destroy Nigeria.

The total number of refugees in India at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

140

The approximate litres of water required to produce a cup of coffee. Source: Unesco.org

FCT FG pledges N24m to fight piracy

The Federal Government has pledged to provide N24 million to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to boost its campaign against piracy and illicit maritime activities in Africa. A statement issued yesterday in Abuja, by the Deputy Director, Press, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mrs Yetunde Sonaike, said the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, made the pledged when he paid a courtesy visit on the IMO SecretaryGeneral, Koji Sekimizuat, in London. The minister, who was attending the ongoing 112th Council Session of the IMO in Londan, expressed federal government’s appreciation for the organisation’s technical cooperation and assistance.

35kph

The speed of Theo Walcot (the second fastest time for a footballer). Source: Goal.com

Nyako meets Atiku, Ribadu over impeachment attempt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Soccer fans holding anti boko haram banner at the on-going world cup in Brazil...recently

Umeh visits Ojukwu’s tomb, insists APGA will capture South East in 2015 Uwakwe Abugu

N Awka

ational Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, on Thursday took his Appeal Court victory celebration to the tomb of the late leader of the party, Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and vowed that the party would capture the South East states come 2015 general election. The APGA chairman also announced that by November this year, APGA will organise a collective burial rites for all Igbo killed during the Nigeria-Biafra war, saying the spirits of those compatriots would help give victory to the party during the 2015 elections. Lamenting the preponderance of legal battles

Fixes November 2014 for burial of slain Igbo during Biafra war l CNPP scribe congratulates him l

strewn on his way as the national chairman of the party in the past seven years, Umeh declared that he had remained the most challenged party in the country, stating that it had not been easy, and therefore, whoever would subsequently step into his shoes would have to work to sustain the spirit of resilience needed to steer the ship of the party. Although he did not make reference to speculations fast gaining ground in the state that he plans to vie for the senatorial seat of Anambra Central senatorial zone, currently occupied by Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC), it is clear that his victory at the Appeal Court

over his rival, Chief Maxi Okwu, had paved the way for him to get APGA ticket for the election unfettered. Besides, Umeh also spoke of the determination of APGA to work hard, given a free and fair election atmosphere, to share elective positions with the APC in Lagos State in view of the large population of Ndigbo in that South West state. Speaking to journalists at Ojukwu’s residence where he had gone to dedicate his victory to the former Biafran leader, Umeh boasted that the party would sweep all the legislative positions in the state during next year’s election, a development that would march the APGA’s machinery against the formi-

dable Uba political dynasty in the South senatorial zone of the state, where former presidential aide, Dr. Andy Uba, is currently representing the zone in the senate. The APGA chairman also decried the action of the Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, who won his election on the platform of APGA but defected to the APC, accusing him of betraying the party that provided him the opportunity to run for election into that exalted office of governor. At the tomb of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Umeh symbolically invoked the late leader’s spirit by calling him, in a poetic rendition of exploits of great warriors, naming all his chieftaincy titles, names and the several feats he had achieved before his passage, and he announced it clearly that “I have come to take power from Ikemba."

“Where this fails, we hope that the former Vice President will ask his loyalists to withdraw their signatures. Once he does that, the impeachment process will collapse because the requisite number for it to continue would have been lost,” a source close to the meeting said. Members of the assembly had levelled 26 impeachable allegations of “gross misconduct” against Nyako and Ngilari. The Speaker of the assembly, Ahmadu Fintiri, who had directed the Clerk of the assembly to serve the governor and his deputy with the impeachment notice, had raised 20 allegations against Nyako and six against Ngilari. Some of the allegations against Nyako included diversion of N2.3 billion workers’ salary for September and October 2011, and illegal deductions and diversion of N142 million emoluments of workers in May 2014. The governor was also alleged to have squandered N4.8 billion and N7.1 billion in 2012 and 2013 respectively, through the office of the secretary to the government against budgetary approvals. The lawmakers also accused the deputy governor of diverting N50 million released to him by the ministry of finance to acquire licence for the exploration of solid minerals in 2008. They also accused Bala of misleading Nyako to invest in mineral exploration that turned out to be a white elephant project. They claimed that the deputy governor was involved in extra-budgetary expenditure to the tune of N397 million as overhead cost in 2013. However, startling revelations have emerged alleging that some chieftains

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the master mind of the impeachment process. Speaking in Yola, the state Secretary of the party, Mr. A.T Shehu, said they were spurred by the maladministration being entrenched by the Nyako’s administration to move for his impeachment in order to save state from total collapse. “People are disenchanted by the bad leadership being promoted by Nyako’s administration. And as patriotic citizens we will not fold our arms to watch few individuals running the state aground which inform our action to initiate the impeachment moves. “Governor Murtala Nyako despite collecting huge sum of money amounting hundreds of billions of naira in his seven year stewardship and yet the state is grappling to meet-up with basic infrastructural facilities," he said. Also commenting in a telephone conference, a former governorship aspirant of the party, who challenged Nyako at the 2011 PDP primaries, Dr. Umar Ardo, said the PDP stakeholders within and outside the state were behind the move to impeach Nyako and his deputy. “I supported the impeachment of the governor and the deputy, and even before the move I have made that position very clear. “They (members of the state Assembly) have contacted me and I am sure that they have consulted others stakeholders and I told them my condition for supporting it and I am satisfied with the process. “I actually told them as my condition that both the governor and the deputy should go. Because if they have to remove the governor, they should also remove the deputy governor," he said.

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BWARI NCC arrests three iIlegal SIM card dealers N EWS I N BRIEF

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has arrested three illegal SIM card dealers in Bwari, Abuja, as part of its efforts to check illegal SIM card sales and insecurity in the country. NCC, Assistant Director, Law Enforcement Unit, Salisu Abdu, said the suspects had been handed over to the police. Salisu said the commission had since 2012 advised operators and all dealers across the country to stop selling registered SIM cards. “We are here for the continuation of our exercise to stop illegal SIM card registration in Nigeria.”

4.86m

BIRNIN KEBBI

OTA Covenant varsity to graduate over 1,000 students

The Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State is to graduate about 1,000 students at its nineth convocation ceremony scheduled to hold from June 25 to 29. The university made this known in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Igban. In the statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the university said the ceremony would be tagged: “The Release of the Eagles.” It said the immediate past Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade, would deliver a keynote address at the occasion. According to the university, the address would have the theme: “Rethinking the Concept of National Transformation: The Role of Higher Education Institutions”.

The total population of Norway (representing 0.07% of world’s population) in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

NLNG signs N2bn pack with universities

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, yesterday signed N2 billion Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with six Nigerian universities to develop their engineering education capacity. The Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, said at the signing ceremony in Abuja, that the MoA was for the implementation of phase one of its University Support Programme. The MoA was signed with representatives of the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, University of Port Harcourt, University of Maiduguri, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

76%

The proportion of deaths due to diabetes in people under 60 years of age in Africa region in 2013. Source: Idp.com

1.76m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Croatia in 2011. Source: Itu.int

L-R: Former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar, during a meeting in Abuja…yesterday

Amaechi's impeachment claim fallacious – PDP

Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has debunked the allegation by the Amaechi administration of plotting to impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi, saying ‘it’s fallacious’. The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, had in a statement on Thursday, accused the party of plotting to impeach Amaechi, which the PDP described as “untrue and an issue not yet contemplated by the party.” The party denied claims that there was an attempt to attack Amaechi as alleged by the commissioner, stating: “The (PDP) has a responsible corporate organisation of Nigeria has seen no reason to take such uncivilised action on the governor.” It warned the commissioner to stop peddling lies and insulting the President,

Dr Goodluck Jonathan with the aim of achieving selfish and unpopular ambition, stressing that if she does not desist from carrying out such act of calumny and misrepresentation of fact on the President and the PDP, it would have no other option than to engage the Rivers State Government accordingly. The PDP, in a statement by Mr. Jerry Needam, Special Adviser, Media to the state PDP Chairman Chief Felix Obuah, wondered why a government that claims to have a clean hand, without even an iota of corruption, should be

expressing fears of possible impeachment of its principal head, the governor. The party emphasised that at no time had it conceived, nurtured and expressed such intention to impeach the Governor, neither does it intend to attack him in whatever guise. “The PDP is presently concerned with a more serious issue of repositioning the party for the coming elections to enable it win and liberate the state from the mess it has been thrown into by the heavily funded All Progressives Congress (APC). “Understandably, the

state government and the governor must be confused and seem to have set out to also confuse and divert the people’s attention from core issues of corruption and financial recklessness characterising the Amaechi administration including the current crisis rocking the state Judiciary, which he (the governor) has stubbornly trampled on the relevant constitutional provisions by disrespecting the directive of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) on the appointment of a Chief Judge for the state,” the statement stated.

Ndigbo calls for restructuring of Nigeria FAIR DEAL Ndigbo restates call for the restructuring of Nigeria to address imbalance Leo Sobechi Enugu

rominent Igbo sons and daughters yesterday restated the need for the restructuring of the country along the six geopolitical zones, stressing that that remains the best way to achieve the devolution of power from the Federal Government to the federating units. The call was part of the resolutions reached at a special summit involving Igbo Elders and Civil Society leaders under the auspices of Ndigbo Consultative Assembly held in Enugu. Some of the eminent dignitaries that attended the summit include the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, who served as the chairman of the occasion; second republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Rear Admiral, Ndubuisi Kanu retd; former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Enwo Gary Igariwey; Deputy Leader of

South East delegation to the confab, Prof. Obiora Ike. Others include former Senate Chairman on Aviation, Senator Anyim Ude; former Military Administrator of Imo State, Capt. James Aneke; former Finance Minister, Dr. Chu S. P. C. Okongwu; Prof. Ben Obumselu, Dr. Uma Elieazu, Secretary General, Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, Amb. Uma Nwachukwu, Dr. Obi Onubogu, Igwe Amb. Lawrence Agubuzo, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Chief Maria Okwor and Chief Ezeofor, among others. The summit commended the delegates for finding time to update the summit on their activities at the national conference stressing that they deserve the support of all stakeholders so as to encourage them “to serve us in the best possible way”. The meeting observed that there were still many issues left to be trashed at the confab, it behooves Ndigbo to be more careful in their utterances and actions since according to them “the strength of a man lies in what he does”. “We also resolved to commend the delegates for their unity of purpose in whatever they have achieved so far; the road is very challenging and exciting. A lot more work is expected to be done,” the communique stated in part.

Obiano names committee for Akunyili’s burial Uwakwe Abugu Awka

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has set up an ad hoc committee for the funeral ceremony of the former Minister of Information, and one-time Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Control and Administration (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili, who died in an Indian hospital recently. The committee, which will be responsible for the state government’s involvement and participation in the burial of Akunyili is chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Oseloka Obaze. It was also gathered that the committee would work

closely with the Akunyili family, who have fixed August 28 for the burial of the former NAFDAC Director General at her husband’s country-home at Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area. Other members of the committee, which held its inaugural meeting on June 18 include; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Joe Asike; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs. Azuka Enemuo; Commissioner for Education; Dr. Victoria Chikwelu, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Prof. Kate Omenugha; and Special Assistant to the Governor on Events, Mr. Chido Obidiegwu, and Mrs Dorothy Nwakaego Okafor.

Adamawa varsity lecturers commence indefinite strike Ibrahim Abdul Yola

ecturers of Adamawa State University (ADSU) Mubi have embarked on indefinite strike action over sack of 24 lecturers by the university’s

management. Chairman of the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Mr. Molem Ishaku, stated this yesterday in Yola. Ishaku said the strike was based on the directive of the union's National Ex-

ecutive Council, adding that the management had resorted to victimising lecturers over their involvement in the recent ASUU nationwide strike. He said 24 lecturers were sacked by the management, while five others were queried.

Ishaku said the national representatives of the union met the management of the university on Monday and demanded a recall of all the sacked lecturers and the withdrawal of the queries to the other five. He said only 10 of the sacked lecturers were re-

called, while queries issued to the others were yet to be vacated by the management. Reacting to ASUU's claim, the institution’s Information and Protocol Officer, Mr. Delmond Benson, denied that academic activities in the university had been grounded.

Three Nigerians emerge finalists in Soyinka Prize for Literature Tony Okuyeme

hree Nigerians have emerged finalists of the 2014 edition of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. They are Othuke Ominibohs, Akin Bello and Toyin Abiodun. The award is a biennial event staged to recognize the best literary work produced by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation in 2005 to promote literary excellence in Africa and has since become the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Announcing the short list at a press conference held at The Motor Boat Club, Lagos on Thursday, founder of Lumina Foundation and originator of the prize, Dr. Ogochukwu Promise said that from the initial long list of 10, Othuke Ominibohs for his entry, Odufa, Toyin Abio-

dun (The Trials of Afonja) and Akin Bello, (Egbon of Lagos); were shortlisted as the last three standing for the coveted Prize. The 10 emerged from the 163 entries the judges received from 17 African countries, with the highest number of 128 having come from Nigeria. The fifth edition of the Prize is being sponsored by national telecommunications carrier, Globacom. In his remark, Globacom’s Head of Corporate Sales, Mr. Kamaldeen Shonibare said, “Our management decided to throw its weight behind this prize as a mark of honour for one of the world’s biggest literary giants, Professor Wole Soynika. Our deeply cherished Professor Soyinka is a huge inspiration to literature in Africa. He symbolises excellence, which is what Globacom stands for".

Court adjourns hearing of Igbo deportees' suit to Oct 15

Federal High Court in Lagos yesteriday adjourned hearing in a suit filed by seven Igbo deportees challenging alleged breach of their fundamental rights to October 15. The plaintiffs are Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu. They have sued the Lagos State Government on behalf of 76 others for infringing on their fundamental rights. The plaintiffs filed the suit through their lawyer, Mr Ugo Ugwunnadi. Joined as respondents in the suit are the Attorney-

General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the case could not be heard at the resumed date due to a notice of preliminary objection filed by the AttorneyGeneral of Lagos State. The objection was dated June 17 and served on counsel to the plaintiffs in court. Since the application was not yet ripe for hearing, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajjumogoia, fixed Octeber 15 for mention. The judge also ordered hearing notices to be issued to the police before the next adjourned date.

Awosika Foundation set to offer succour to sickle cell patients Kayode Olanrewaju

he Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation (TAHF), a non-governmental, non-profit and service oriented organisation, has pledged its readiness to provide succour to those living with sickle cell anaemia. This was part of its thrust, as Nigerians joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s United Nations World Sickle Cell Day, a day declared by the United Nations for governments and non-governmental organisations all over the world to ensure good living for those living with sickle cell anaemia. Established 2000, the foundation has gone a long way in catering for children and adults living with sickle cell anaemia, as part of

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its vision to offer succour to persons living with sickle cell anaemia and the poor that have health challenges. According to the foundation’s Executive Secretary, Ebere Oluoha, TAHF since its establishment 14 years ago, has contributed immensely towards ensuring that the health of those living with sickle cell anaemia is properly managed and at the same time give them the much desired psychological boost. Speaking at a forum organised by the foundation to commemorate this year’s Sickle Cell Day, the Chairman of the foundation, Mr. Sule Ozenua, said: “Through such efforts, most children born with sickle cell condition now grow up to live a relatively healthy and productive life.”

DUTSE NSCDC arrests two for stealing in Jigawa

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa State yesterday said it had arrested two persons, Kabiru Iliya, 19, and Inuwa Lawal, 24, for allegedly stealing 14 crates of assorted soft drink. The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr. Muhammad Gidado, stated this to journalists in Dutse. Gidado said the suspects were arrested in Marakawa quarters in Ringim Local Government Area of the state. He said the suspects, both attendants of Maishinkafa Store, Ringim, were arrested following complaints by the shop owner to men of the command in the area.

GOMBE OGBA Dankwambo appoints new HoS Afolabi Andu, others listed The appointment of Mallam Aliyu M Kamara for UK awards as the new Head of Civil Service in Gombe State has been approved by Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe. The appointment which was conveyed in a letter yesterday and made available to newsmen was signed by Alhaji Abubakar Sulei Bage, Secretary to Gombe State Government (SSG). A renowned educationist and pioneer Registrar of the Gombe State University, Mallam Aliyu M Kamara, was appointed after almost a year’s vacancy in the office. Kamara, whose record under the civil service spans over two decades and which begun from the defunct Bauchi State, was until his appointment, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Education.

11.2%

The percentage of households with internet access at home in developing countries in 2007. Source: Itu.int

A public relations and brands expert, Mr. Afolabi Adewale Andu, has been named among the 100 outstanding Nigerians for the Nigerian Centenary Awards (NCA) in United Kingdom. A statement from the organisers said the event, which is billed to hold on June 27 at the Waltham Forest Town Hall, London, was in commemoration of Nigeria’s Centenary anniversary. According to NCA – UK, the award is in recognition of some Nigerians, who in the last 100 years have contributed to the promotion of Nigeria. Andu, who holds an MBA in Business Administration, has over 25 years experience in Public Relations through his corporate vehicle Visage PR in UK.

8.3bn

The projected total population of the world by 2030. Source: Unesco.org

2.5m

The total population of Accra, Ghana in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

Julius Berger begins preliminary work on Second Niger Bridge CONSTRUCTION After much delays, work has started on the Second Niger Bridge

reliminary works have commenced on the construction of the long awaited Second River Niger Bridge in Anambra State. The Chairman of the construction firm - Julius Berger, AVM Nurudeen Imam (rtd.), said this in Abuja, at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Imam said the company successfully entered the Public Private Partnership (PPP) market and was selected as preferred bidder for the second River Niger Bridge project. The chairman stated that the firm also inaugurated the

Lekki-Ikoyi (Admiralty-Alexander) Link Bridge, West Africa’s first cable bridge. He said the construction firm has completed works on some other major and impressive projects. Imam identified the projects as Procter and Gamble Baby Care Expansion Facility; the Central Bank of Nigeria branch office in Lagos; the Bonny River Terminal Airstrip and the Lagos Oando Jetty. “We have also completed the Uyo-Abak road and several phases of the Uyo Government House as a direct result of our positive performance and partnership. The lifespan of these projects continue to be prolonged through award of extensions,” he said. Imam told the shareholders that the company was diversifying and delving

into other business areas as a deliberate policy objective. “In this respect, project identification and prospective business potentials in the power, oil and gas as well as the private sector, are currently under due diligence,” he said. The chairman said: “In 2013, we continued to nurture the development of the Julius Berger group of companies as a means of supporting provision of integrated construction solutions. Prime Tech Design and Engineering and Julius Berger Medical Services, both in initial years of existence, have made progress in their structural and recruitment processes.” On the business results for the 2013 financial year, the chairman told the shareholders that the group turnover rose by 5.5

per cent from N201.6 billion to N212.7 billion. He said this reflected ``the financial and strategic progress of Julius Barger and its subsidiaries.’’ Imam said there was a 31.4 per cent increase in profit before tax from N12.3 billion to N16.2 billion for the trading year. The chairman said the company’s Board of Directors recommended an increased dividend of N2. 70k per ordinary share, resulting in gross dividend payment of N3. 24billion. He said this represented an improvement over that of 2012 fiscal year which was N2.50 per ordinary share. “The board is also pleased to recommend a bonus issue of one new ordinary share for every 10 existing ordinary shares already held,” Imam added.

L-R: Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.); former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada; Chief launcher, Chief Arthur Eze and former Chief of Air Staff, Marshal Mohammed Umar (rtd.), at a book presentation, entitled: ‘The pursuit of Providence’, a biography of Umar in Abuja …yesterday

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IKEJA Ex-EKO TODAY staff gets new exco

The former employees of the defunct Lagos State Government-owned tabloid, EKO TODAY, under the auspices of Staff Association of Defunct Lagos Horizon Publishing Company Limited, on June 17 elected an executive to accelerate their efforts to claim their terminal benefits from the state government. During the event, Mr. Olusegun Ojo, emerged the chairman of the association, while Mrs. Bola Akintola became the vice-chairman. Others elected are, Mrs Yemi Adetunji Secretary, Mr. Olusesan Osifuye, treasurer, Mr. John Oyetunde, association’s liaison officer and Mr. Yunusa Adeniyi-Akee, ex-officio member.

N EWS I N BRIEF

MAZA MAZA

FCT Niger Delta ministry inaugurates anti-corruption unit

The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs yesterday in Abuja, inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU). The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Malam Mohammed Bashar, said the ACTU was important for the ministry to effectively deliver on its mission. He said the mission of promoting sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta region could only be achieved through prudent and transparent management of resources. “The inauguration of the ACTU of the ministry is, therefore, important in promoting core values like transparency, accountability, integrity and sustainability,” he said.

Owu Mgbidi 2014 holds tomorrow

The 2014 Mgbidi Peoples Union (MPU), Lagos branch will hold its Owu Mgbidi (Festival of Peace) tomorrow at Hope Bay College, along Old Ojo Road, Maza Maza, Lagos by 2p.m. The President of the union and organising committee, Messrs Innocent Nwafor Francis and Chikezie Onunaku, urged all Imo State sons and daughters to attend en masse. The guest of honour is Dr. John C. Nwaosu, the Ezekwesiri of Mushin, Lagos.

Shell to pay N7.5 bn damages for oil spills WE ERRED Shell has accepted responsibility for 2008 oil spills in Bodo Community area of Niger Delta

Adeola Yusuf United Kingdom Court on Friday consented to Shell’s bid to pay N7.5 billion damages over the 2008 oil spills in Bodo Community of the Niger Delta. This came as the Country Chair for Shell in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu declared that his company had accepted full responsibility for the “two deeply regrettable operational spills” in Bodo community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, six years ago. Sunmonu, who doubles as Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development

Company (SPDC) confirmed that his company is willing to “compensate fairly and quickly those who have been genuinely affected and to clean up all areas where oil has been spilled from our facilities.” A senior English judge, Mr Justice Akenhead, who delivered a preliminary ruling in a case brought by Bodo community, limited the scope of the litigation to an assessment of actual damages sustained as a result of the operational spills. Shell, New Telegraph gathered, had offered to pay damages of N7.5 billion for the spill, a move, which was rejected by the representatives of the community. Justice Akenhead accepted that the Nigerian Oil Pipelines Act provides a comprehensive and complete regime for compensation for oil spills. This decision limits the scope of the litigation to an assessment of actual damages sustained as a result

of the operational spills. Shell, it would be recalled, had offered to pay damages of N7.5 billion for the spill, a move, which was rejected by the representatives of the community. Meanwhile, the Judge dismissed the attempts of the community’s UK legal representatives to add a range of additional claims over and above the compensation due under the clear Nigerian statutory regime. The issue of liability for environmental damage caused by oil theft and criminality was also addressed. The Judge found that the Oil Pipelines Act does not hold pipeline operators responsible for damage caused by oil theft. He did identify rare, “theoretical” but “difficult to prove” exceptions, for example in the event a pipeline operator knew the time and location of a planned attack by criminals and decided not to inform the police. He also accepted

that no compensation is payable for oil spilled as a result of illegal oil refining. The Judge further recognised the significant jurisdictional problems that arise when claims relating to Nigerian land are brought in England rather than in the Nigerian courts that have jurisdiction in relation to such land. These issues will need to be addressed during the main trial next year. Sunmonu, however, said in a statement by Shell’s spokesperson in Nigeria, Mr. Precious Okolobo: “From the outset, we’ve accepted responsibility for the two deeply regrettable operational spills in Bodo. We want to compensate fairly and quickly those who have been genuinely affected and to clean up all areas where oil has been spilled from our facilities, including the many parts of Bodo which have been severely impacted by oil theft, illegal refining and sabotage activities.

CNPP queries FG’s procedure to repatriate Abacha loot Leo Sobechi

he Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has challenged the propriety of the deal announced by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, that Nigeria will on June 25 receive the sum of €167 million from the government of the principality of Liechtenstein. The minister had explained that the Federal Government decided to withdraw the N100 billion charges against Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, son of late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abachi, to ease the return of the N36.32 billion. But the CNPP in a statement signed by its acting national publicity secretary, Mr. Austin Ibok, said it was outraged that:

“President Goodluck Jonathan is flushing down the drain N100 billion, in fact N413.68 billion for the 2015 presidential election.” The CNPP contended that “if Mohammed Abacha is still in the opposition will President Jonathan wave N100 billion or to be exact N413.68 billion? Wondering if adds up arithmetically to flush away N100 billion to ease the return of N36.32 billion?” Following this, the CNPP then queried: “Is it not the same government that pronounced publicly that they are recovering N446 billion from Mohammed Abacha? Is it only the Abachas that looted and siphoned our commonwealth abroad? Is the Jonathan administration not aware of the favourable international laws for the recovery of looted funds?”

EFCC closes case in Lagos Speaker’s trial

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday closed its case at a Federal High Court in Lagos in the money laundering trial of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji. Ikuforiji is standing trial alongside his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, on an amended 56-count charge bordering on money laundering. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the case which was initially scheduled for the prosecution to call its third witness, did not go on as earlier planned. The prosecutor, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), informed the court of EFCC’s readiness to close its case. He said having reviewed the case of the prosecution against the accused so far,

he was of the opinion that the prosecution should close its case at this stage. In his response, the defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said he had not been informed of the position, adding that he had come “fully prepared” for the case. Following the consent of both prosecuting and defence counsel, Justice Ibrahim Buba, adjourned the case to July 7 for hearing of a no-case submission filed by the defence counsel. NAN reports that in all, the EFCC called two witnesses against the speaker and his aide. The witnesses are Adebayo Adeniyi, an investigating police officer with the EFCC and Mr. Adewale Olatunji, a former Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the assembly.

BATNF empowers 60 unemployed graduates

B L-R: Enogie of Obazuwa, Edun Akenzua; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and grandson of Capt. Herbert Sutherland Walker, Dr. Adrian Mark Walker, at the return of two looted Benin Bronzes during the invasion of Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British, in Benin … yesterday

1.3bn

The number of people that still lack access to electricity worldwide in 2011. Source: Unwater.org

95%

The percentage of people without access to electricity is located in subSahara Africa and developing Asia. Source: Unesco.org

1.3m

The number of internally displaced persons in Iraq at the beginning of 2013. Unhcr.org.uk

ritish American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in fulfillment of its mandate trained over 60 unemployed graduates under its Start-Up Ogun Youth Enterprise TrainingYoung Farmers’ Version which is designed to empower the youths in the area of entrepreneurship. Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs. Oluwasoromidayo George, said the foundation had identified the agrarian status of the state and decided to invest in the agricultural value chain, including investment in agriculture-based entrepreneurship for jobless youths, in fulfillment of BAT’s corporate social investment. George said the training,

empowerment and mentorship on agriculture-based enterprise was designed to foster creativity and innovativeness in business idea development and business networking promotion geared towards the creation of both direct and indirect jobs as well as the wealth creation. “It is my pleasure to inform you that the one-week training programme which keyed into the ‘Start-Up Ogun’ programme of the state government, had successfully trained 60 youths of the state in acquiring requisite skills in developing their entrepreneurship skills, foster creativity and innovativeness in business idea development, promoting networking and opportunity sharing among participants.

SEGUN EDWARDS olaedwards@yahoo.com 08111813095

Companies & Stock

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Julius Berger must cut cost to Access Bank: Profit falls on prevent lose profit the second year flat revenue, rising cost

espite the delay on budget issues and the slow rate of capital projects releases, Julius Berger had achieved reasonable growth in revenue in the first quarter. The construction giant, however needs to keep cost under control failure which may a more rapid drop in profit may be expected in the current financial year. Its activities saw a sharp slowdown in revenue growth and a profit decline in 2013. This year, turnover is headed for a decline at current growth rate. This could lead to a more rapid drop in profit unless the company takes effective steps to cut down administrative expenses. Growth as much as 20 per cent in turnover produced only a 5.2 per cent improvement in net profit for Julius Berger at the end of the first quarter. The critical weight on the bottom line is administrative cost that has significantly increased its share of turnover since last year. At the end of the first quarter, administrative expenses grew by more than 160 per cent. It accounts for the difference between a 120 per cent jump in gross profit and only a 26.8 per cent increase in operating profit. The company’s first quarter operations ended with a turnover of N47.69 billion. This is a reasonable increase of 20.3 per cent over the first quarter figure in the preceding year. If the first quarter growth rate is maintained

Wolfgang Goetsch MD JB

to full year however, turnover is expected to be in the region of N195.2 billion for Julius Berger in 2014. This will be a decline of 8.2 per cent from the turnover figure of N212.74 billion the company posted in 2013. Revenue growth is likely to

step up in the in subsequent quarters, as capital projects disbursements increase. Turnover growth decelerated sharply from 20.4 per cent in 2012 to 5.5 per cent in 2013. The growth in 2012 was partly a recovery from a drop in 2011. The company needs to step up revenue growth to enable it manage the effect of rising cost on the bottom line. The company reported an after tax profit of N1.31 billion in the first quarter, which is a moderate increase of 4.8 per cent over the corresponding figure last year. Based on the first quarter growth rate, net profit is projected at N5.7 billion for the company at the end of 2014. This will be a drop of 27.4 per cent from the net profit figure of N7.85 billion posted in 2013. The company’s after tax profit had slipped by 2.0 per cent in 2013 from the peak earnings record of N8.01 billion in 2012. Earnings records show a pattern of rise and fall in profit and the current year looks like one of a major drop.

IFC offers $9.5m financing for Abuja Jabi Lake shopping mall

he International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a $9.5 million investment in Jabi Lake Mall to support demand for modern business infrastructure and retail space in Abuja, Nigeria. The project according to the corporation will help create about 350 construction jobs and 900 long-term, retail-sector jobs. The $120 million Jabi Lake Shopping Mall is being built on five hectares of land on the Jabi Lake waterfront at Jabi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Once complete, it will be Nigeria’s largest shopping mall with over 30,000 square meters of shopping space. The project’s primary sponsor is the Actis Africa Real Estate Fund 2. Duval Properties is the joint venture partner alongside Actis. Ms. Amanda Jean Baptiste, Director, Actis Africa Real Estate Fund 2, said, “Investing in the Jabi Lake Mall demonstrates Actis’s commitment to developing world-class retail destinations and adding to the domestic infrastructure in Nigeria, as well as our support for the growing demands of a rapidly changing economy. Our partnership with

IFC will help us draw on their expertise in international best practice in the environmental and social aspects of the project that affect property development.” Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, said, “Our investment is part of IFC’s strategy to help strengthen business infrastructure, contribute to economic growth, and increase job opportunities in Nigeria. Actis is a strong partner in this regard, that can also transfer best modern retail practices” Jabi Lake Mall will be the largest retail development of international standard in Abuja and create links to the local economy throughout its construction and operation. It will create new sales channels for Nigerian retailers, including local small and medium enterprises. Its construction will provide business opportunities for local suppliers of food, construction materials and services, and will serve as a catalyst for urban development in the area around the mall. Construction began on the project in late 2013 and is expected to be completed in 2015. IFC, a member of the World

ccess Bank’s growing trend in revenue and profit halted in 2013 and the bank could not hold back its principal costs from rising. That eroded profit margin and caused a decline in profit against an exceptional growth in the preceding year. The major revenue line, interest income declined in the year and exclusively accounted for the overall earnings constraint. A saving grace came from a windfall in net write back in loan loss expense, which provided a good measure of stability for the bottom line. Gross income of the bank closed flat at N206.79 billion in 2013 compared to a big leap of 52.2 per cent in the preceding year. The slow down was anticipated, as the actual figure is just 0.7 per cent below our forecast figure of N208.2 billion gross income for the bank in 2013.The slow down is in line with the general pattern of earnings in the banking sector in the year. The main revenue line, interest income declined by 12 per cent to N145.96 billion during the year, which was roughly countered by improved performance of non-interest earnings. The contribution of interest income to gross earnings therefore declined from 80 per cent in 2012 to 70.6 per cent in 2013. There was a strong growth of 73 per cent in other income and a 30 per cent improvement in feebased earnings. The improved performance in non-interest income enabled the bank to keep gross earnings from declining. A 12 per cent decline in interest in-

Herbert Wigwe MD

come against a 33 per cent rise in the bank’s net loans and advances is however a bad signal. The bank posted a net profit of N36.30 billion for its 2013 operations, which is a decline of 8.0% from its peak profit figure of N39.33 billion in 2012. As is the case with revenue, the profit weakness was also anticipated based on the interims. The actual profit figure is 5.5 per cent below our net profit forecast of N38.4 billion for Access Bank in 2013. A decline in profit against a flat growth in gross earnings shifts attention to the general cost behaviour of the bank during the year. The bank devoted increased proportions of its revenue to two major expenditure heads during the year. The first is operating cost, which rose by 18% against the flat growth in revenue.

Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. It is working with private enterprises in more than 100 countries, using its capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.

Nigeria’s mobile money transactions hit N271b -CBN

inancial transactions in Nigeria’s mobile money payment has hit a total value of N271 billion ($1.7b) for 25 million transactions the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said. Ex Deputy Governor of the apex bank Mr. Tunde Lemo, who disclosed this while speaking at an event organized by Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the agency responsible for maintaining Nigeria’s financial system stability said the development is a confirmation of a growing adoption rate of alternative payment services in the country. According to Lemo, this shows

an increase in mobile money transaction when compared with the figure posted in August 2013, which amounted to N10.1 billion ($61.9 million) for 1.6 million transactions. Lemo made this known while speaking at an event organized by Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the agency responsible for maintaining Nigeria’s financial system stability. The apex bank of Nigeria, issued a regulatory frame work for the operation of mobile payment services in the country in 2009, to reduce the Number of unbanked Nigerians. As at 2013 the apex bank granted licenses to 15 non-

banking operators and 6 banks. The Cash-Lite policy of the CBN was introduce in a bid to modernize Nigeria’s payment system; reduce the cost of banking services, drive financial inclusion, improve effectiveness of monetary policy, reduce the high security and safety risks, reduce high subsidy, foster transparency and curb corruption and ultimately meet the federal government’s Vision 2020. The main Factor responsible for lack of traction of mobile money operations is inadequate capital investment on the part of mobile money operators.

Should couple pick each others call? p.12

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Police have detained my husband for almost two years, woman cries out

ivian Onwuegbuchi, mother of four and full time housewife had enjoyed having the husband around and helping with raising the children and upkeep of the home but two years on that bliss has been denied her and the children with the husband allegedly arrested and kept away by the Anambra Police Command. Her husband, Uche, was a manager with Henry and Henry Limited, Green Plaza, Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos. He left home in the early hours of December 20, 2012, for his office with the promise of returning home in the evening to the warm embrace of his wife and children but ever since the family had waited in vain for the return of their breadwinner. After waiting endlessly for the return of her husband, the next day, she cried to a friend, Chukwudi, who lives in the same Akesan area to report the disappearance of Uche the previous night. Then a search was mounted for Uche and it was in the course of this search she learnt what happened to her husband. According to what she found out, Uche after work in the accompany with four of his friends went to a bar in Akesan, Igando area of Lagos while there some men suspected to be security men stormed the bar and whisked Uche away. Accustomed by others at the bar, the security operatives were said to have identified themselves as policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Anambra Police Command, Awka and that they were under instruction to arrest and bring Uche to Anambra to answer for certain crime, which they did not disclose to the friends at the time of his arrest. According to her, on getting to Chukwudi’s resident, she met some other people including one Ernest whose brother, Chinedu, was also among those arrested at the bar and he had just returned from Igando Police Station where they had gone to make enquiry about Uche and his four other friends. “They told me that when they heard that some policemen were at the bar to arrest my husband and his friends, they quickly dashed to the place. But when they got there, the policemen had already left with my husband and his friends. So, they now went to Igando Police Station,’’ narrated Vivian. Chukwudi, she continued, ‘‘later called one of his friends, Reginald, who lives in China. I learnt that Reginald has contacts among the police in Awka and he assured us that he would get in touch with his contacts. “Reginald now called back and informed us that a policeman identified as Promise confirmed that he led a team of policemen to Lagos to arrest my husband and his friends at Akesan on December 20. He told us that he urged the policeman to free Uche but he turned down the request and switched off his phone.’’ But that was not the end, as according to her, “when Reginald returned to Nigeria on December 30, 2012, he sent for me and Chukwudi. When we got to him, he called Promise again, the man who led the team, which arrested my husband and his friends, on the phone and handed over the phone

Two years on, the whereabouts of Uche Onwuegbuchi who was last seen on December 20, 2012 by the wife, Vivian and children, is yet to be known as Vivian narrates to CAMILLUS NNAJI, the arrest of her husband by a team of policemen from a bar in Lagos, as alleged kidnapper and whisked to Awka, Anambra State and the mystery surrounding it. to me. “Promise then asked me what my name is, where my husband’s works and how many children I have for him. After answering his questions, he told me that Uche is a notorious kidnapper and that I should forget about him and looks after my children. After saying this, he switched off his phone.’’ Not relenting, she continued the search and release of her husband, as she informed that “on January 9, 2013, I got Promise number and called him to know the whereabouts of my husband but again he said I should forget about him and take care of my children.’’ She denied that her husband is not a criminal or kidnapper as alleged by the police rather she expressed the belief that her husband may have been set up and framed by a man, she called one Mr. Eloe, a soldier living at the Ojo Military Cantonment as a result of a misunderstanding he had with the husband in front of his (Uche’s) shop at Green Plaza by Alaba International Market. “Eloe had accused Uche of vandalising his car which he (Uzoka) parked in front of Uche’s sales office. Unfortunately, when Uche wanted to make way for his customers, he sought the assistance of some his friends and they pushed Eloe’s car away from where it was parked. This infuriated Eloe who had pressed criminal charges of stealing and vandalisation of his car against my husband,” disclosed Vivian. On further action taken by her since to secure the release of her husband, the sad mother of four said she wrote a petition to the military authorities, but in their report, the military absolved Eloe of any complicity in the case. Not satisfied, she cried out for help, insisting that “all I want is justice in this matter. Let the civil society, human right organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations come to my aid. My husband is not a kidnapper; he does not even sleep outside his home. He hardly travels. How then was he called a kidnapper? This is a case of human life, we need him back; his children are asking me questions. Please help me find him.” She also disclosed that she had sent a similar petition, which was addressed to the Inspector General of Police to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police. The CP, according to her, had forwarded the letter to the Area Commander but she regretted that

My children have been asking after their father for almost two years now and I have not been able to give them any definite answer

the police had yet to make available their findings on her husband’s whereabouts.’’ Perplexed and sadden by this development, Vivian said she and her children are suffering and in pains since the disappearance of her husband as she revealed that they had since been ejected from their home and now depends on charity and the children out of school as there is no money to look after them. “I have been ejected from our house by the landlord. I cannot pay my children’s school fees. It’s been difficult since he went missing. We have depended on my mother. But how far can we go there?” More worrisome for her is the fact that she cannot even explain to her children the where about of their father who have persistently asked after him. “My children have been asking after their father for almost two years now and I have not been able to g i v e t h e m a n y definite answer because I don’t precisely know where my husband is,’’ she said, explaining the dilemma of even telling the last child about the father as she was pregnant with him when the father was taken away. “I was pregnant with our fourth child when the gunmen took him away. The baby will soon clock two, what do I tell him if he asks after his father? How can I cope with four children? My husband is not a kidnapper. He hardly travels out of Lagos. We have not seen him for almost two years now. This is why I am appealing to Nigerians to prevail on the police to release him if Onwuegbuchi he is in their custody.”

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

STREET DIARY

Fake EFCC officials jailed 10 years

EFCC boss, Ibrahim Lamorde

Lateef Ibrahim ABUJA

ustice O. A. Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced two persons -Abdulmalik Suleiman a.k.a Ndanussa Bello and Adabenege Abdulaziz a.k.a Comrade Patrick Ugo- to 10 years imprisonment for impersonation, conspiracy, forgery and attempting to obtain money by false pretences. The convicts were arraigned on May 2009, on 11 counts of attempting to defraud one John Bernand

Yusuf of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Abuja by pretending to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The convicts, according to a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, had asked Yusuf to pay N500, 000 in order for them to destroy a petition allegedly written against him. Yusuf consequently reported the matter to the EFCC and was asked to play along with the convicts. It was at the point of collecting the cash that Suleiman was ap-

Ethnic crisis averted in Lagos Isioma Madike

n implosion of Yoruba and Hausa ethnic nationalities were averted yesterday by the prompt intervention of the Nigeria Police Force in Idiaraba community, Lagos. It started at midnight when some hoodlums, who has been terrorising the volatile neighbourhood, decided to unleash mayhem on the hapless residents. According to residents of the area, the suspected criminals, who specialise in duping and raping innocent dwellers of the quarter, were irked by the community’s youths resolve to invite the police to help fish them out. They were said to have descended on one Mr. Aliu Ismail suspected to be one of the youth leaders of the community when the plan leaked to them. “They intercepted Ismail and when his mother, Memunat, got wind of her son’s beaten, she rushed to scene to plead with them, but was instead dealt with as well. “As that was going on, some rumour mongers went to town to broadcast that an Hausa man had been killed. “Knowing the implication of such a rumour, we quickly put a call through to the police from the Mushin Division, who responded promptly to mount proper surveillance in the area. “But for their timely response,

the volatile neighbourhood would have been on flames by now,” said Shobowale Ayoade, one of the community leaders in the area. Ayoade’s assertion was corroborated by his Hausa counterpart in the community, Mr. Muzani Bala. Bala added, however, that they were able to chase the hoodlums away with the assistance of the men of the Nigerian Police from Mushin station. “The police ransacked the area and confiscated some fake dollars recovered from the suspected criminals’ hideouts,” he said. A Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) from Mushin Police Station, Mr. Akeem Adedeji, who led the anti-crime police squad to the scene, said two people were arrested from the community. He said: “These criminals have been a torn in the flesh of Idiaraba community. No day passes without a complaint from the leaders and youths of the area. “We gathered that the hoodlums usually trick their victims into parting with huge sums of their hard earned money after hypnotising them with charms. “In fact, it was so humiliating and pathetic to see women, most of them mothers confessed of having been raped in the processes. “So, when we got the distress call from their leaders, we had to move in quickly to avert what could have snowballed into ethnic crisis within the community.”

prehended while Adabenege was arrested after further investigation. Justice Adeniyi found the first accused person guilty on nine of the 11 counts, while the second accused was found guilty on five of the counts. On counts one and two, the accused persons were found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine for conspiracy and attempting to obtain by false pretences. The first accused was sentenced to two years without option of fine on count three, four, five, seven, eight and nine. The second accused was sentenced to two years without an option of fine on counts six and 10, while they were both sentenced to one year imprisonment for impersonation. The sentences are to run concurrently. One of the counts reads: “That you Abdulmalik Suleiman and Adabegene S. Abdulaziz sometime in March 2008, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, did agree between yourselves to obtain the sum of N500,000 from one John Bernard Yusuf of National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Abuja under the false pretence that you were staff of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Driver charged with break-in, N250, 000 theft

50-year-old commercial bus driver, Azeez Fatai, who allegedly broke into a room and stole N250, 000, was on Friday charged before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. A resident of Safejo area of Ajegunle in Apapa, Fatai is being tried for stealing. The prosecutor, Friday Inedu, told the court that the accused unlawfully entered one Mr. Waheed Ajose’s room at 3, Raimi Street, Safejo in Ajegunle on May 5 at 8.10pm and stole N250, 000. “The accused unlawfully entered the complainant’s room and stole his N250, 000 which was kept in the room.” According to Cpl. Inedu, the accused was apprehended with the help of neighbours, who handed him over to the police. He said the offence contravened Sections 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Police parade vigilante, five others for robbery Ugo Willies GOMBE

he Gombe State Police Command has paraded a local vigilante and an agent of the Gombe State Agency for Community and Social Development Project also known as ward marshals along with four others for suspected robbery operations. According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, who paraded the suspects before newsmen, the vigilante and his marshal colleague were arrested along with four others and a pistol was found in their possession in Pantami area of Gombe metropolis. The police spokesman said armed policemen while on surveillance in the area arrested the suspects who were accused of perpetrating different crimes within Gombe and environs. However, the vigilante and marshal had confessed to possessing the pistol but claimed that it was meant for their own security. The other four suspects confessed to have committed the offence to which they were arrested. The PPRO said they would soon be charged to court. The PPRO also paraded two other suspects who were arrested with fake currencies in N1, 000 notes valued at about N100, 000. They were accused of spending the money in markets within

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo

Gombe. In a separate development, the chairperson of the Police Officers Wives Association in the state, Hajiya Hauwa Kudu, has distributed working tools and food items to about 50 widows who lost their husbands in service. The tools include, sewing machine, grinding machine, knitting machine, 10 wrappers each and food items such as bags of rice, beans, sugar, cartons of cooking oil, spaghettis as well as some other valuables. While speaking to the beneficiaries, the chairperson of the association tasked the widows to make use of the materials and other food items given them for the benefit of their families and also to be self-reliant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 stipulates three years imprisonment for stealing. Fatai, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence. The Senior Magistrate, Mr Adeyemi Amos, in his ruling, granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum. He said that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. Further hearing in the case was adjourned to July 2.

I stole N150, 000 but later misplaced it –Accused Glory Titty

26-year-old man, Obanibi Olawale, on Tuesday admitted before an Abule Egba Magistrates’ Court under Ikeja magisterial district, Lagos, that he stole the sum of N 150,000 but later misplaced the money. According to the charge sheet, Olawale had on May 21, 2014, at No 115 Igbogila, Ipaja, Lagos State, stolen the said amount belonging to one Mrs. Fadiya Folashade. The prosecutor, W.R. Williams, said by this act, “Olawale has committed an offence punishable under Section 278 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.” When the charge was read to him, Olawale pleaded guilty. He said he misplaced the money and urged the court to allow him repay it in installment. When asked how much he was willing to be paying every month, he told the court that he would be paying N10, 000 at the end of every month. But when the view of the complainant was sought, she agreed with the installment payment but asked the accused to increase the monthly payment to N20, 000. The magistrate, Mr. Tajudeen Elias, asked Olawale to sign an undertaken to be paying N20, 000 at the end of every month.

Voices

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Street Diary

Should couple pick each other’s call? It depends on the people involved

Well, it depends on the people involved and the understanding between them as well. My husband doesn’t like picking my calls and I don’t like picking his too. I only pick his calls when it is someone I know and I’m in the mood to talk to the person.

(Nonye Mbagwu, banker)

Picking calls denotes lack of trust

I don’t pick his calls because everyone is entitled to privacy except where it is expedient that the call be picked by the other spouse. I don’t pick my husband’s calls and I don’t expect him to pick mine except when the phone has rang for a longtime and he just has to pick to tell the person that I would call back when I am disposed to do so. Picking calls denotes lack of trust.

(Bernadette Bristol, HR personnel)

It is not a big deal

What are they hiding? I don’t see anything wrong with it so far as they are married they can pick each other’s calls if they like. It is not a big deal anyone can pick anybody call as far as no one is doing any shady deal.

(Mobolaji Adetokunbo, auditor) I can pick my wife’s calls

What would make me not to pick her calls? Of course, I ought to pick my spouse calls. What is she hiding because there is suppose to be trust in the union? As long as I am not cheating on her, I am free and I believe she is not either so there should be freedom of everything. But if she says she does not like it then there must be something fishy.

(Olurunsogo Oyepeju, lawyer)

We can pick each other’s calls

(Thelma Omone O’khaz, actress)

Yes, since the both of them have nothing to hide, they are spouse because they love and trust each other, so there should be nothing hidden about it. If I pick my wife’s call it does not mean I have something in mind or suspect her but trying to assist her when she’s not there and I expect her to do same since I have a clear conscience.

Couple should pick each other’s call

There is nothing wrong with it

It is not ideal

No, they shouldn’t pick each other’s calls because the person on the line doesn’t want to speak to no other but the owner of the line.

It’s good for couples to pick each other’s call. You have full right to answer his or her call because in marriage I don’t think any secret should exist between the couple. But because of what is happening in the society now, some wise couples do not pick their partners call just to avoid what may destroy their marriage.

(Jane Okwara, businesswoman)

My wife should not pick my calls

No way, things should not be done that way. We are of different thoughts and characters. Why would I pick my wife’s calls, these means there is no longer trust in our relationship and it can destroy it?

(Jesukeye Jide Abraham, businessman) compiled by

ANGELA DAVIES, ABIMBOLA SODEKE AND TEMITOPE SOBOWALE

(Esan Bright Silver, cinematographer)

Well, I don’t have any issue with it as it does not matter who picks whose calls. Like me I don’t go about with my phone I leave it in the house anybody who hears it ring will pick and deliver the message. I think it has to do with individual family rules and motives behind it, if you know your wife or husband’s kind of job and who calls him or her you should know which calls to pick and which not to pick. So to me, it has to do with initiatives.

(Kristiana Onuoha, farmer)

I don’t see anything wrong with it

If one person is not there, for instance if the husband is taking his bath and the phone is near his wife there is nothing wrong with she picking the call for him and vice versa or if one person is driving and a call comes in the other can pick up to tell the person calling that his wife or her husband is not in a position to pick up or should call back later.

(Yemi Nyela Olus, journalist)

It depends...

Well, I will say they should and should not. They can base on the caller’s relationship with either the wife or husband who is picking the call and the owner of the phone. But also they should not pick each other’s calls because it shows the spouses do not trust each other.

(Abejide Temitayo, Computer Engineer) Not by compulsion

Well, to me it depends and it should not be a necessary or compulsory thing to do in a relationship, so I will say yes/no but I will choose no, because, it is not all calls that should be picked by a spouse there might be a matter of confidentiality attached to some calls.

(Ayoade Oluwafemi, communicator)

She has no right to pick my calls

If am not around, my fiancé can pick my calls but if am around she has no right to do so. My phone is my private belonging not a relation or family tool. It is meant for my personal use, so she has no right to pick my calls, she can only pick it when I tell her.

(Olayinka Opeyemi, banker)

My man has no right to it

My guy should not pick my calls, it is my privacy and not his. My phone is a part of me, moreover am just his girl and not his wife.

( A w o y e m i Opeoluwa, business woman) It is not advisable

Well, it depends on the love and trust they have for each other. In a real Christian home where there is no suspicion, it is advisable. But in a different setting it is not advisable because the network can be very funny at times reasons been that when you call a number that is stored on your phone and the next thing is for you to hear strange voices and this has caused much havoc to most homes.

(Ajayi Olusegun, civil servant)

Instyle Plastic footwear to brave the rains p.15 Love & Living I got my husband fired so he could be ambitious p.35

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C o n v e r s at i o n

‘Nzeogwu was stern... We called him Major even in school’ The ideal time for the interview should have been in the morning, but Chief Frank Okonta would not have any of that; he would not be hurried. “I’m not a young man anymore, I take my time to get up and get going these days,” he says matter-of-factly. Even when the stage was finally set, he still won’t talk until after taking the reporter around the entire gallery, an enlightening tour as it turned out. “I don’t just talk,” he says. ”As a journalist you need to see the works I have here to know even the kinds of questions to ask.” Okonta discusses sundry issues like his involvement in sports, his long friendship with Fela as well as with late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. He spoke with VINCENT EBOIGBE The money in the gallery It’s not in money. I don’t have billions, but in the things that I like I will consider myself a billionaire because I manage to get everything that I like. I don’t equate it with money. Some people like to buy beautiful cars and I also used to; but I don’t anymore. There is some money in art, there is no law that says artists can’t have money, but it is sad to say that many artists have a wretched mentality. When they have little money, they’d begin to have more children or wives and as far as I’m concerned those are not the things that will enhance your life. I’m 74 now, in August I will be 75, so I don’t really place too much emphasis on those things. Even when I was in sports, while others used their money to buy bicycles and things, I saw my estacode (foreign travel allowance) as something to use in enjoying myself. I would buy brandy and so when we went on tours everybody usually came to my room.

“Some people like to buy beautiful cars and I also used to; but I don’t anymore.” OKONTA

Prospect for the arts It is faring well. I was at an art and fashion exhibition recently and what I saw was encouraging. People are spending a bit of their money to buy art. Look at that work (pointing to a piece on the wall) where the artist used ink on paper to create that design. At first glance you are likely to think it is Ankara that was cut and placed inside the glass. But it is ink on paper, look at the thinking and patience that went into that work. Art is faring well, you know Nigerian art has been there a long time, there is no museum in the world where you won’t find our art. Getting Nigerian artifacts abroad back home Yes, there are efforts in that regard. I belong to a top-notch organisation that is also involved. You know white people marvel at our arts, they wonder how people they thought CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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‘Fela never counted his money; he gave it out freely’ used to call him Major. Even if you had one leg you must come out for physical training, even if you were one-eyed. It was a tough Irish school. So you can understand why it was no surprise that when I was at the Nigeria Olympics Committee I took the disabled athletes to Australia for the Olympics. I was also in boxing and cycling. Even the Ndigbo leader that died recently, Raph Uwechue I met him at school. I was in Ogwashi-Uku for his burial. I was actually posted to sports; a lot of people who knew me and knew I was interested in sports wanted me to get involved. So that was how I was brought in. People like (Tony) Ikhazoboh were all there back then. I practically spent all my time at the stadium, but luckily I was never called at anytime that any of my children was sick. I lived in 1004 (a state-owned residential apartment for senior civil servants in Victoria Island, Lagos, now sold to private investors) then and their school was also in 1004, so it was easy for the maids to take care of them. I was mostly away.

CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 1 3

did not go to school could produce such beautiful works of art. There is hope that some of those artifacts will be brought back given some time. Collecting and selling art works I have some (Ben) Enwonwu produced in 1949. I have sold three of my Enwonwu in auctions abroad. I sold one in America and I got a bit of money from it, the other two I sold in London. But when you get that kind of money you don’t go and buy a car; you have children, grand children and relations to think of. Again, depending on interest of the buyer I can sell an art work at the same price I bought it, say N50 000; I can sell the same art work for far more if the person buying wants to show they have money. I even sometimes sell and get paid in installments especially if the buyer shows real interest and cannot afford to pay once. The people I sell my work to are those that not just looking to resell in a short time; these are people who appreciate art. I sell to Chief (Rasheed) Gbadamosi. Some people have even come to my gallery and say to me ‘Chief Okonta why don’t you create some awareness about your work and do flyers’, and I would say: ‘what money am I looking for now at my age?’ In praise of Nigerian art Government is doing something. I am an honorary adviser to the minister of tourism, Chief Edem Duke, but I have not been too active because I’ve been ill for a while. He comes across as one person that can really do much for the arts, he has travelled all over the world and knows what to do. I think things will improve with time. If you look at our art, it is different from the rest of the world. It is unique and I mean both old and contemporary. The whiteman doesn’t paint like we do, the British man doesn’t paint like this (again, pointing to a painting on the wall), neither does the Russian man. Our art is unique. That also explains the enduring interest. Not long ago some Americans came here and wanted me to come over to the United States for an exhibition and I told them I was not very strong. I’m here enjoying myself talking to you and that is a good thing for me. Materials used for paintings There is nothing you cannot use really. You can see clay work, you can see iron work, paper work, etc in my gallery here. There is nothing you cannot do with art. Indeed some artists have even used dung. Chris Ofili, for instance, and that was what catapulted him to fame. Perspectives from the homefront My wife is an architect, and you know they are also in that mould, but because of the passion I have for arts she sometimes says I am ‘crazy’; that only a crazy man will spend huge money to buy some of the art work I put money in. She used to say that in my love life my mother came first followed by sports, art and then herself in a distant fourth. When my mother died she said she moved to number three and then when I left sports she became number two. But because I’m no longer young she says I have more time for her now and she has finally moved to number one position. If not for the fact that I’m no longer young and not too strong, for instance, I’d be in Brazil now watching the World Cup. My wife has been involved, she actually designed this place. Children’s involvement My daughter was an artist; she’s the one the gallery is named after, although I did the naming when she was still alive.

Nkem in student costum

I noticed from when she was young that she liked drawing, so I encouraged her and she studied here and went abroad to do her masters. You can see some of her works on the wall. My children do whatever they like, one is a lawyer, another is into business management, one is into oil, works with Oando. So they all do whatever they like. Navigating father’s insistence he studied medicine My father was a nurse. I lived in hospital quarters early in my life. My father wanted me to be a doctor and you know that those days you don’t argue with your father. He was a medical person and wanted his children to follow his footsteps, but I was just not cut out for that. Of course, I could not tell him that, you don’t argue with your father those days. So I went to the United Kingdom and studied broadcasting. When I came back I couldn’t tell him, I had to enlist my mother’s help. But for a long time I was not in contact with them because of the war. However, when my sister who studied nursing to the highest level heard I have been conferred with a honorary Doctorate degree she was happy. She said when my father hears people call ‘Doctor Okonta’ he would wonder which Okonta is this, but when he gets to know that it is Frank Chukwuma Okonta, that his son is a ‘Doctor’ after all, he will rest easy wherever he is. My dad died in 1975. Broadcasting career I started in radio and it was interesting. We were like brothers. I met many great people like Ambassador Segun Olusola who was boss. I spent about a year and a half and it was an interesting time. Long association with Fela Fela and I were good friends. We met in England, he got there before me. We happened to have married into the same

family; his first wife and my first wife were first cousins. When I came back the first place I went to was the Shrine. I left my luggage in my sister’s house and went to the Shrine. Fela was a good man, he gave his money away freely, he never used to count the money; he just gave it away. With the kind of money he had, Fela could have built four houses in Ikoyi. Anytime he was going for an outing the boys were always around and he was ever ready to accommodate. He loved people, above all he loved music. Fela could play. He was a master - composition, arrangement - he was great. He was a poet, you can see that all the things he was singing about are all coming to pass. Funding for exhibitions I get sponsorships for my exhibitions. I got sponsorship from the United Nations sometime ago. The government also sponsors my exhibitions. In fact I get most of my sponsorships from the government. So in this regard I can say the government is trying, but as you know their priority is not art. Involvement in sports I went to St. John’s Boys, Kaduna, and if you went to that school you would have to be involved in sports in some way. That was the school that Kaduna Nzeogwu went to and Nwobosi too. Those were the people who organised the first coup in this country. When I met (Gen. Ibrahim) Babangida, he said ‘you St John’s Boys... I learnt a lot of things from those boys’. Even Olusegun Obasanjo in the book he wrote on Nzeogwu got in touch with me, he mentioned me in the book. Nzeogwu was about three years my senior but I was friendly with him. He was from Okpanam near my town, Ibusa, about three or four miles apart. Nzeogwu was stern, he was in charge of games and even back then we

Poor administration as bane of sports development I think that a lot of those in charge now are not as dedicated. There was one experience then about one man who was a member of the board in boxing. He came one day and asked for allowance and I told him I didn’t know anything about that and that maybe he should go and ask the people who put him in the board. His response was ‘what am I doing here if there is no money’. We never saw him again. A lot of them are like that, no dedication or passion, it is just about pecuniary consideration. I was a civil servant, I depended on my money. I was a member of the board, became second vice chairman, first vice chairman, acting chairman before becoming chairman. So you could say I knew the ropes because I had passed through the rung. It was only in cycling that didn’t happen. There was so much politics; people saying ‘Chief give us money to help you get elected’; that they know people in the north, had relationships with people in the east and that they were the kings of Yoruba, all because of election into sports. But I always told them I didn’t have money to do any of those things and that I was a civil servant who was not there because he was hungry. Even if I had money was that the best way to spend it, fighting for election into sport? Membership of Vision 2010 I was a member of the Vision 2010 Committee representing sports. We were supposed to chart the way forward for the various sectors of the economy. People like Segun Olusola were also there representing arts and tourism. I was friendly with the secretary and we tried to do some things, but that experiment fell by the way. I tell you once a new administration comes in all whatever they are doing now will also be abandoned. That has been the Nigerian way, but I do have hope that the country will get out of the rot with time. We have some of the most brilliant people you can find anywhere in the world, we have abundant mineral resources. I think we don’t have to get stuck in the past. We have to soldier on. Unwinding There is hardly any sporting event that I don’t watch. I leave here (gallery) at about 3:30pm to 4:00pm and all I do is watch television. I pay my DStv subscription yearly and I watch sports competitions, there are no boxing tournaments that I don’t follow. They start as late as 2:00am and end at 5:0 am and as old as I am I wake up to watch. I wake up around I:30am to make sure I don’t miss them - tennis, athletics; I watch all the championships. Of course, my work at the gallery is a way of relaxing for me.

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Blaze a trail with floral prints F Angela Davies

loral prints have been and always will be a hot trend especially when it comes to women’s fashion. Floral prints go from super-subtle to super-loud; however, the key to looking alluring in floral print is not to wear it from head to toe.

Here are some tips to styling floral printed piece of clothing. Floral pant, skirt and shorts Floral bottoms can look very fashionable when paired with a top in at least one colour shade from the print. So you can wear floral bottoms with smart peplum tops, denim top, tunic, sleeveless, inner and classy blazer depending on your style and the occasion. If you want to tone down the prints and colours of your floral bottom, you can accessorize your outfit with pieces that have darker and deeper colours. To flatter your figure, tuck in your top and cinch your waist with a skinny belt. Floral blazer - This should be worn with a colour shade from the blazer be it a skirt, trouser or a dress. Floral dress - Floral print dresses are staples of every fashionable woman’s wardrobe. Such printed dresses usually offer more colour and visual interest than solid-colour dresses. As

a result, women must choose their fashion accessories carefully to create a look that is put-together without being visually overwhelming. Style your floral print dress with high-heeled sandals. When paired with a jacket, floral print dresses can be worn to the office especially when paired with pumps. One way to add pop and contrast to a dress, while adding definition to a look, is by wearing a belt. However, choose a belt that matches one of the colours in your dress. When it comes to ornaments, simple jewellery is always a good choice. When selecting earrings, simple silver or gold studs are ideal. Also choose simple bangle bracelets for a sophisticated look. Remember with floral prints, you can create a casual, evening or corporate look. How you choose to combine your outfits and accessories when wearing your floral is what is more important.

Africa-themed dresses are my favourite Ex-beauty queen, Uduak Okon, is the chief executive officer of D’uanri Royal Models and Ushers. She tells ANGELA DAVIES that her roots play a huge part in her dress sense. Define your personal style My personal style in a few words is simple but elegant. What determines the kind of outfit you wear? What determines the kind of outfit I wear depends on the nature of the occasion. What kind of outfits make up a larger part of your wardrobe? My African attire in different styles. It depicts true beauty, elegance and projects African descents. Favourite piece of clothing My favourite piece will be my gowns. I love gorgeously shaped gowns. It gives me that elegance and angelic look. Where do you consider the sexiest part of your body? That will be my eyes. They are an illumination to my whole body. Most expensive fashion item you have ever bought That was a gown. Clothing item you will never be caught wearing That has to do with bump short. It has to do with my upbringing and it doesn’t make me comfortable. Fashions accessories you cannot do without as a woman? My shoes and hand bags. Are you a fashion freak? I don’t follow fashion trend but I wear dresses that make me feel comfortable. What kind of earrings appeals to you? I love drop earrings a lot. Signature perfume No specific label. But I’m always comfortable with old spice cologne because of its soft and natural fragrance. It also wears on all day long. How do you love your make up? I love moderate and natural make-up. Best designer Judith Creation designs my dresses. She knows what suits and flatters my figure. Who is your style icon? Although I admire Opral Benson and women who wear Africathemed attires, I am my own style icon because I create my styles. Best colour I love blush pink and purple. What kind of shoes do you love to wear? I love high heel shoes. They are my all-time favourite.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Accessories to live for

Plastic footwear for the rain As the rains get more intense, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to preserve those shoes you love so much. ANGELA DAVIES highlights a few alternatives like trendy plastic or candy jelly shoes that are just as trendy for the rains.

he rains are here again. Aside worrying about their hair, many women also worry about their elegant shoes getting damaged by the rains. Well, you can preserve those shoes you love so much on a rainy day by opting to wear candy jelly rain shoes or plastics shoes which can withstand the rain as well as muddy water. The candy jelly shoes are good-looking, durable, comfortable and, above all, water-proof. It comes in varied colours, designs, sizes and it is affordable. You can find shoes that strap on, slip on and have either closed or open toes. Some come in heel and wedge designs so you that you can choose the type that suits your style. Many of the styles include a strip of plastic cushioning on the top of the sole to provide more comfort for your feet. The plastic shoes come in a versatile range of perforated rubber plastic materials to provide the utmost comfort in the rains. Some look like real shoes, especially the ones that come in black colours. It is interesting to know that there are designs with buckle, colourful straps with floral or bow motifs which make it fascinating to wear without fear of ruining them. These plastic shoes come in sassy variety of colours like black, purple, pink and brown. So why not wear these plastic footwears and safeguard your trendy shoes.

BEAUTY

Achieve flawless skin with foundation

Spanning over 20 years in the fashion scene, Ade Bakare is a household name to most London and Nigerian high society women. He is known for his elegant evening gowns, exquisite dresses and lush wedding gowns. He started his line in London, making clothes for boutiques in the UK and France.

he right foundation will even out your skin tone and give you the appearance of flawless skin. However, you have to look for the perfect shade, take your time to apply it the right way otherwise you would sure look like a clown.

The perfect colour of foundation gives a flawless skin

Tips on how to achieve a flawless skin Find your perfect colour: You should test foundation on your jawline but make sure it is done during daylight or in a well-lighted place. The colour is correct if it disappears without blending. Decide on a medium: Foundation comes in an array of forms and textures like loose powders, compact powders, creams, liquids, and aerosols. So you need to decide and determine which one will look the most realistic on your skin. Decide which tool to use: There are three basic means of applying foundation which include your fingers, a sponge and a brush. However, putting on your makeup with your fingers allows for better blending, while applying it with a brush helps keep the spread of acne to a minimum. Cleanse and apply moisturizer to your entire face: For the perfect picture, make sure your skin is clean and moisturized. This will protect your skin, making the makeup appear more natural. Then, wait five minutes before you apply foundation to let moisturizer sink in. Dab on your foundation: Irrespective of whether your foundation is a liquid, cream, or powder, it should be applied first in the centre of your face. Add a few dabs to either cheek near your nose, chin, and a bit on your forehead.

Facts

Blend your foundation: Use your tool of choice to blend your foundation around your face. There should be no noticeable lines where your foundation starts or ends as it should blend smoothly into your neck and hairline. Keep your foundation from being too thick by spreading it out if not your face will look cakey and fake, rather than airbrushed and lustrous. Apply concealer to difficult areas: If you notice that acne, dark spots, or under-eye circles are still very visible, take a second run through with your foundation to touch up these areas. Then, use a concealer brush to dab on foundation more heavily on these spots and ensure it blends well. Finish with luminous powder: Complete your makeup by setting your foundation with powder. New translucent, matte powder helps keep your foundation from sliding around while preventing oil build-up from showing through.

If you want your perfume to stay longer, apply it directly on your skin rather than spraying it on your clothes.

Since Coco Chanel introduced it in 1926, the little black dress has become the epitome of timeless fashion.

Shoes all over the world were identical until the 19th century, when left and right footed shoes were first made in Philadelphia.

D’Banj: In desperate grapple for relevance p.18 Ifeoma Okeke: My boobs aren’t the best part of me p.19

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Charming, adventurous, riveting…That’s Tonye Garrick Tonye Nkiruka Garrick, a rising Nigerian pop singer flaunts an impressive resume not only in music, her first love, but in fashion, interior décor and as a health instructor. She shares her multi-hued story in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA WHY I HAVE NO ALBUM YET I’ve only been back from the US a little over a year and I’m in the studio currently working on my album alongside other things. RELATIONSHIP WITH FLYTIME MUSIC I’m not a signed artiste under Flytime, but they do deal with my promotions. I’m currently an independent artist. WORKS ON AIR I have released two singles, Insane and Wait for Me both of which have had a lot of airplay, and they have done well so far but this year we are taking things to a new level. DEBUT VIDEO I am very excited about shooting this video, Wait for Me. It’s way overdue and I am just so grateful that we are at this stage. It’s hard to properly identify an artist when there are no proper visuals available and I believe this will take my musical career to the next level. NOT AN EASY ROAD If I tell you I thought this career choice is going to be a walk in the park, I would be lying. My life has had so many ups and downs in the last few years, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The other day, another female artist said to me, you haven’t been through the music hustle until you are completely frustrated in Lagos. But you will know exactly when things start to turn around. I believe I am at that stage now where things are finally turning around. NIGERIAN FEMALE SINGERS We have a lot of talented female artists, but we tend to listen to others and forget why we started singing in the first place. Everyone believes that the female artists in Nigeria all sound the same and try to mimic each other. We need to start learning to embrace our differences and use it to our advantage. The industry right now is crafted for the men because they know how to bond together. Women don’t like to empower each other. Instead we look for way to bring each other down. We need to uplift each other and understand that everyone’s time is different and that each of us will eventually get to our destination. EYE ON COLLABORATION Yes, I definitely have some plans on collaborating with good singers. I would love to collaborate with Flavour, Davido, Selebobo, Seyi Shay, Waje and many more. BEFORE MUSIC I had a dual degree in international business and fashion merchandising. I always chased my dream as a musician on the side, but I worked at Deloitte Consulting as business analyst. I just couldn’t imagine doing that for the rest of my life.

PARENTS’ REACTION TO CAREER CHOICE My mother has always been supersupportive of everything I have done. I cry when I think about how much she has sacrificed for me and I cannot wait to return the favour. My father on the other hand encourages me sometimes, but I know he is not happy with the decisions I have made. I just pray one day, he will understand. SINGING IN NIGERIA I had lots of friends and family encouraging me to move back home. Once I got here, Flytime really helped open a lot of doors for me. I still feel like the Nigerian music industry is fairly new and there are so many opportunities still available. FIRST LOVE Fashion and Interior Design was my first fantasy. I’m passionate about anything fashion related. I had a side gig with FAB magazine writing their Interior Design and Destination style section, which I created for the magazine. I still want Fashion and Interior Design/décor to play a huge part in my musical career and my life once I’ve established myself as a household name. My friends and family will also tell you I’m super passionate about health and fitness. I’m a certified Body Combat and Turbokick instructor. Yes! I know I’m a Jill of all trade, master of all). You can check out my instagram; TonyeMusique where I upload different workouts and healthy recipes. HONING THE SKILLS OF POWERDRESSING A couple of things, I believe, are responsible for my knack for fashion dexterity. Like I said earlier, I studied fashion merchandising. I also lived in Paris for a while, but I think the main reason has to be my mother. You know people always say their mothers anyway, but mine used to be a fashion killer. She grew up in Paris as well, so she was heavily influenced by Parisian style. MEN’S ADVANCES I handle the advances as they come especially in Lagos. Men always make advances, but I don’t need to respond if it’s not genuine. CHILDHOOD MEMORIES I had a fantastic childhood. My father was a diplomat and because of that, I lived in and experienced so many different countries and cultures I could only have dreamed about. I’m pretty sure this also contributed to me wanting to become a singer. WHY I’M IN MUSIC I’m doing this to share my life and my experiences. To let people know that you don’t have to be a lawyer, doctor or an engineer to be successful. To tell aspiring singers and other types of artists that they don’t need to be embarrassed about what they have chosen to do. There are so many other incredible career choices and if we just embrace who we are, the sky is the limit. So many people have inspired me to become who I am today and I only hope I can also inspire others.

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D’banj in desperate grapple for relevance

hat Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D’Banj has traversed the world and made commensurate fame and fortune is not in doubt, but that his newly advertised The Lee Family from the singer’s DB records will see the light of day is. Last week when D’Banj turned 34, a birthday which coincided with brazen actress, Tonto Dike’s, he decided to unveil his new music squad comprising four other artistes including himself. Some of the acts who made the five-man squad are his younger brother, KaySwitch (KasSwitch Lee), Tonto Dike (PokoLee), MossKrisLee, RalphKrissLee and the helmsman of the Lee Temple who’d love to be addressed as BangaLee - The White Lion. His decision to sign Tonto Dike became a matter on the lips of entertainment buffs: what kind of label owner signs a singer with no impressive history of work? To many, D’Banj simply wants to continue to spark controversies to remain relevant and so desired a character who’d pull it off almost effortlessly. Sometime last year, D’Banj made frantic effort to talk Olamide into joining his team by enticing the younger artiste to America - his first trip to that country - but the smart street general wouldn’t budge. He’d rather float his Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL) gang. KaySwitch in a collaborative work with Olamide and Wizkid also took a

swipe on Davido, former MoHits president, Don Jazzy’s anointed songster. While D’Banj’s lucrative oil and agriculture business boom, the GOOD Music sign on continues to struggle to remain relevant in an industry where his former partner, Don Jazzy, is faring well. Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records’ sign on, Tiwa Savage won the Best Female Act at the

But as the downslide of fame back home hit harder on BangaLee, his fame on the global scale soared. He’s still famed as Africa’s biggest music export, thanks to the Kanye West deal. But for a star singer whose career path is strewn with hits, it’s ironic that you would probably need a digital diary to recall the last time he made a hit?

Don Jazzy speaks on Dorobucci

E-BRIEFS

Julius Agwu preps for Crack Your Ribs in London

usic producer and the president of Mavin Entertainment, Don Jazzy, has reacted to claims that Dorobucci is an occult word. The beat-maker through his Instagram page cleared the air days after a BBM message had been in circulation stating that Dorobucci song is just the Mavin’s way of getting the world to worship their god. “Lol ok, some very sad people have been sending this around. Eyaa pele. It’s things like this that make me so sure all that Illuminati crap about some Yankee artistes is just BS. Lol. Oh well.#Mavin,” Don Jazzy said.

he ninth edition of Crack Ya Ribs, a comedy concert by Julius Agwu is scheduled to take place in London on August 24. Billed to hold at Hackney Empire Theatre, the event will parade some of the finest comedians and musicians from Africa. Already confirmed to bring the roof down are two prominent London based disc jockeys, DJ Abass and DJ Osa Jatt. There will be many surprises at this year ’s edition of the event as the organizers have promised to set a new record for comedy concert. In the next couple of days, the organizers will release the list of entertainers for this year ’s event. Over the years, Crack Ya Ribs has grown to be one of Africa’s biggest comedy concerts. It has been held in different cities across the world such as Atlanta, Texas, Glasgow, M a n c h e s t e r, Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and London.

recently concluded MTV Awards. Whatever has gone wrong with D’Banj’s creative factory that has led many to now call him a fluke. Those calling him out must as well have noticed that he had barely lifted the collaborations he has been involved with. The most recent being Oritsefemi’s adaptation of Fela Anikulapo’s song, Double Wahala, which featured D’Banj.

Tuface’s here with The Ascension

n Saturday, June 14, Innocent Idibia otherwise known as Tuface,held a listening session for his sixth album, THE ASCENSION. The star-studded event took place at Ariz Bar and Grill in Victoria Island, Lagos. Top players in the music industry were given the opportunity to listen and give feedback about the songs from the highly anticipated album. Showbiz personalities such as Kenny Ogungbe, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Olisa Adibua of Beat FM, Kwame of Nigezie and Ayeni Adekunle were amongst the VIP guests present at the private pre-release listening session. The event was hosted by Andre Blaze. Tuface spoke passionately about the album as he expressed gratitude to all the guests who took time out to listen to the yetto-be-released songs.

showbiz

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Ifeoma Okeke: My boobs aren’t the best part of me Busty and daring. These are attributes that best define Nollywood actress, Ifeoma Okeke. She talks about her career and NGO with ANGELA DAVIES.

What was your first movie? I started acting in 1998 and my first movie was Yogo Pampam. I played the part of an extra. The movie was produced by Nkem Owoh. He was the one who brought me into Nollywood because we normally do our Legion work in his office then. He was always telling me that I was a funny person so I should come into the industry. He was so serious that he told my mum and as they say, the rest is history. What has been your greatest challenge since you started acting? When I started acting, my aunts and uncles did not support the idea. Then they felt that everyone who acts was either a prostitute or a dropout. They put their feet down that I must not go into acting. But my dad against all odd said something that I will never forget. He told them that if it was other people’s children that were prostitutes, they would watch their movies. He advised them to allow me to go into acting. That is why I can never disappoint him. He has been very supportive. Has that impression changed over the years? Yes, it has changed. Today, they are the first ones to buy the newspapers to read about me, buy films I feature in and also proudly tell people that I am their daughter. Which role in a movie would you say have caused you so much embarrassment since your acting career? It was the role I acted in the movie, Prostitute, which was produced by Kingsley Ogoro and directed by Fred Amata and Uzor Kuwenchi years ago. I was in the choir in my church, SS Molumba and David then. Immediately the film was released, a member of my church said I could not be in the choir again because of my role in the movie. She embarrassed me but thanks to a reverend father then who told her that I was only acting. Her argument was that because I was one of the best counsellors in the church I should not have acted in that kind of movie. For me, that was really embarrassing, castigating me in the presence of people in church because of a movie role. In most of your movies, you act comic roles. Is that where your talent lies? I can take up any role but I guess my comic roles are more prominent. Comedy is very hard; you can imagine when you are acting and everybody around is laughing

except you. So, it is just difficult. Many actresses have one business or the other they do besides acting. What is yours? I am into events and I run a non-governmental organization called Purple Campaign which creates awareness against violence. It is four years this year while my event company is eight years now. I normally do my Purple Campaign event either in May or June but this year it is going to be different. This year, we want to take our time to put all my events so that we will have just one massive event which will hold here in Lagos. It will hold in Lagos because I was born and bred here. I understand Lagos and Lagos understands me. What informed Purple Campaign and what is it all about? Purple stands for royalty and it stands for violence as well. We are only saying, “say yes to royalty and no to violence”. I have a friend that was raped and she is going to be 35 this year. When she told me her story, it

was something touching. I just wanted to be a voice to people that cannot voice out. And in Nigeria when you come out and say you have been raped, people just stigmatize you. So I choose to be a shoulder to somebody that needed a shoulder to cry on. And I wanted to be an ear for somebody that wants to be listened to. Where do you consider the favourite part of your body? My face and voice. These two keep me going. It’s a surprise you didn’t say your boobs given that you’re very busty. When you have something, you don’t need to be noisy about it. I remember those days when I joined Nollywood, they would tell me, “Ify if you’ve got it, flaunt it.” So I used to be one of those ladies who flaunt what they have got. But today, people who want to flaunt it are more than those who actually flaunt it. So we said we should hide ours. So what kind of clothes do you love to wear? I have became a role model now because I empower youths. The younger ones easily emulate what they see so I just have to start living by example. I used to wear sleeveless outfits and flaunt my cleavage; but how can I tell those who look up to me that they are naked when I am the master in being naked? That is basically why you see me these days cover up as much as I can. But that does not mean that once in a while if I want to show some cleavage I can’t. My dressing depends on the occasion. If there’s one thing you would never do in your career, what would that be? That would be going naked. I would never act nude because I am an African woman. I am a proud African woman at that. Who are your role models? I love Joke Sylva so much. I also like Clarion Chukwurah, Eucharia Anunobi and Sandra Achum they encouraged me a lot. When I started acting along with Nkechi Achum, Sandra Achum’s younger sister, Sandra told me some words that have kept me going. And for my young fellows like Grace Amah and Empress Njamah they are wonderful actors. Jennifer Eliogu is also one person that I admire. She is deep but she is wonderful and my respect to all of them. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? There is this adage in Igbo that says, “When you wake up is your morning and there are sometimes that your evening is sweet”. So they should not be in a hurry. There are plenty stars up there. So if you believe there is no other version of you out there then believe that is you. There is no other Ifeoma Okeke in Nollywood, you cannot replace me and I cannot replace you. What I can act, you can act too. When it is your time, nothing can hold you back. Destiny can only be delayed but it can never be denied.

Having become a youth ambassador, Okeke says she’s less inclined to flaunt her show some cleavage once in a while, she says.

cleavage. But that does not mean I can’t

20 SHOWBIZ

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

A toast to Nollywood’s expectant mothers Toyin Aimaku

Damilola Adegbite and Chris Attoh

Camera, Light, Action! Here’s a toast to some of the Nollywood stunners who grace the cover of celebrity journals for the right or wrong reasons, praised or bashed, the very special ones who have since resumed the 9-month course among their peers. It’s amazing how these actresses survive a whirlwind of controversies which had drowned the marriages of others and left many on the verge of break up. Bloodied but unbowed, these thespians have managed to balance the dynamics of being ‘stars,’ happy ‘housewives’ and consequently, ‘expectant mothers’. LANRE ODUKOYA reports. NUELLA NJUBIGBO Nuella Njubigbo, a young actress in her late 20s got married to famous movie director, Tchidi Chikere in March after a celebrated romance. What made theirs somewhat controversial was Chikere’s first shot at marriage which already produced three kids. Fans and some industry stakeholders had lambasted Njubigbo for straying into the arms of a man who had such number of kids at her prime. She braved the odds and a few weeks back, news filtered in that she’s already carrying their first child. She’s reportedly in her first trimester. TOYIN AIMAKHU Vastly talented Yoruba actress, brazen and full of mischief, Toyin Aimaku is married to Niyi Johnson, an actor starred in popular soap opera, Tinsel. Toyin has featured in several Yoruba movies and she’s still one of the most sought after. She denied the tale of pregnancy recently with the claim that her dress style only suggested the wrong impression. However, she’s got an unarguable baby bump, swollen legs and faces yet she chose not to disclose the obvious.

Nuella Njubigbo and Tchidi Chikere

UCHE JOMBO Vivacious actress and producer, Uche Jombo is married to an American, Kenny Roderiguez. A first timer, Uche Jombo who is equally heavy still manages to combine it with shooting movies. She recently wrapped up her latest flick, ‘Oge’s Sister’ directed by a colleague, Desmond Elliot. She is expected to join her husband in the US and have a quiet delivery/child christening like they did with their wedding in 2012. NSE ETIM IKPE Banker-turned actress, Akwa Ibom State born is pregnant and has joined her university lecturer hubby in the UK. The actress, another first-timer might be in her second trimester and seems determined to enjoy her pregnancy period which explains why she has been off the scene and only tweeting occasionally. She is expected to make her husband, Clifford Sule, (who already has a 13-year-old son) a father again sometime in late August or early September.

Uche Jombo

MERCY JOHNSON One of the highest paid Nollywood actors, Mercy Johnson, is pregnant with baby number two and she has gone on the social media to disclose the new found joy with photos of her bump. She’s one of the luckiest to have survived one of the most controversial weddings in 2011. She’s married to Prince Odianose Okojie who had kids and was reportedly married to another woman. Mercy Johnson is at advanced stage of the pregnancy and she’s still taking movie roles. She was pregnant with the first baby in the United States when she acted in the comic flick, Baby Oku. DAMILOLA ADEGBITE Damilola Adegbite crossed the border to Gold Coast- Ghana to find herself love, Chris Attoh, who is also one of the most celebrated actors in that country. The actress whose April 12 wedding was postponed because of her state is expected to leave the country soon to begin preparations for the birth of their first child likely to be delivered later in October in either the UK or the U.S.

Mercy Johnson

...As Kefee’s remains arrive Nigeria

Nse Ikpe-Etim

he remains of late singer, Irikefe Momoh (nee Obareki) with the showbiz moniker, Kefee, has arrived Nigeria ahead of the burial expected to hold later in the month. The body which was flown into the country on Tuesday was conveyed to the family at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, at 4pm via a Delta Airline aircraft. The body was received by a few family members

discreetly. However, it was not confirmed if Teddy Don-Momoh, husband of the late singer arrived with the body. Teddy was with his late wife in the US before she passed away. Kefee died on Friday, June 13 2014 after being in a coma for 15 days. And a statement released by her UK manager confirmed that the singer died of lungs failure as against pre-eclampsia that was widely reported.

... a finger on the city’s pulse

CONFLUENCE

Ike Uche

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ACROSS 1. GENERAL 5. CAB 7. IJU 8. AIM 9. ALB DOWN 1. GUANACO 2. NUMBER 3. ROAD 4. LIBIDO 5. CURB

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10. IGBO 11. AVER 12. AD 16. AT 17. BAAL 18. ZERO 6. BAT 13. ENLARGE 14. BAOBAB 15. SAGAMU 19. EASE

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22. BOA 23. AIR 24. SPA 25. PIE 26. BUNKURE 20. WARM 21. NAP

Kalu Uche

Football siblings, Kalu and Ikechukwu Uche shrug off World Cup miss

SOLUTIONS TO CROSS WORD PUZZLE N U M B E R

LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445

igeria again lost the chance to rule the world when it inched really close to winning the recently concluded Mr. World held at the Riviera International Conference Centre, Torbay, UK, with Nigeria’s representative, Emmanuel Ikubese, taking the second position. Ikubese who is an actor with notable role in MTV series, Shuga, clinched the silver prize of the first runner up while Denmark’s Nicklas Pedersen came first. Ikubese thereafter took to Twitter to express his gratitude to God for giving him the opportunity to represent his fatherland. He’s particularly happy for being the most stylish contestant among 46 others. The last time Nigeria came this close to winning Mr. World was in 2010 when the then Mr. Nigeria, Kenneth Okolie came third.

And the man died

Nigeria in another Mr. World near-miss

G U A N A C O

SHOWBIZ

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

E N L A R G E

ut-of-favour national football team player, Ikechukwu Uche and elder brother, Kalu, may have shrugged off the disappointments of their World Cup miss. They were recently spotted partying all night at popular Lagos leisure spot, Club Papas. Both players were dropped from the country’s World Cup squad by coach, Stephen Keshi, on reasons of form and indiscipline. Keshi claimed Ikechukwu seldom played to instructions while Kalu was overlooked based on recent form. Ironically, the two brothers gave Keshi his first win as a national team handler in a 2 - 0 win over Zambia. Ikechukwu’s exclusion particularly generated a bit of outrage based on his current rating backed with remarkable statistics at the national level. Keshi had stuck to his gun. The World Cup is on and the brothers bear no sign of disappointment whatsoever, at least judging by the way they carried on at Club Papas on Saturday, June 14. According to witnesses, they arrived with a couple of friends before midnight and stayed till very early on Sunday morning. They came across as very much at ease, danced, chatted and generally mingled with fellow celebrities and fans. And they had the company of fellow night crawlers like tuface Idibia and wife, Annie, singer Olamide, MTV MAMA winner Davido, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Basketmouth, Olisa Adibua, comedian AY, among others.

illionaire businessman, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, passed on last Wednesday in a London hospital after a prolonged battle with colon cancer. The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, aged 69, is survived by wives, children and grandchildren. He was reportedly responding to treatments under intensive care until suddenly when he suffered a relapse. Since the news of his death broke, his Ikolaba, Ibadan, mansion has expectedly become a Mecca of sorts. The businessman would be remembered particularly for three things: philanthropy, roles in late Gen. Sanni Abacha’s reign and dalliance with late Ibadan enfant terrible, Lamidi Adedibu, who died in 2008. His philanthropy was legendary. A Yoruba veteran actor said to have been fairly close to him was once a host of the businessman who sensed he had some health problem and probed. The actor confessed he was suffering a terminal ailment and right there, Arisekola reportedly called his doctor, arranged for the man to be flown to the US for medical attention free of charge. He repeated this twice after there seemed to be some complication after the first surgical operation. He was hugely generous to people regardless of their creed. But as he had a cup full of milk on one hand, he had a horse whip on the other. The University of Ibadan will not also forget in a hurry how the man led late General Sanni Abacha to the school during his reign. He was nearly mobbed by the irate students on whose skin the heat of Abacha’s tyranny was burning. Arisekola’s vast riches and influence must have bonded him to the late Ibadan politician, Lamidi Adedibu. They were a tag team and hardly ever quarrelled. Adedibu called the shots politically in Ibadan but many times, not without the understanding of his friend, Arisekola. Alas, Aare Musulumi’s death signals the end of an era of philanthropy and viselike grip on power.

Where’s Moji Dokpesi?

ojisola Dokpesi, the vivacious wife of Daar Communications owner, Dr. Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi, is at present hibernating. The generous business woman and socialite withdrew from the social circuit almost at the time her hubby took a younger wife, Tosin Odukoya-Dokpesi. Apparently, the latter who’s a senior broadcaster on Africa Independent Television (AIT) is less of a socialite, though they are both Ijebus from Ogun State. Insiders insist these wonderful ladies keep each other at bay understandably. While Tosin calls the shots at AIT, Moji concentrates on her business and as the eldest wife (apart from Dokpesi’s Caucasian wife with whom he has a son) looks after Dokpesi, plans his schedules and takes care of their kids who are now grownups. Before now, like fin to fishes, Moji clung to Dokpesi and they mostly attended events together.

Arisekola Alao

StartUps NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

21 JUNE 2014

‘I wasn’t demoralised even though the lady who gave me my first baking job wasn’t happy with the quality’ What does it entail to be in cake-baking business and how has it been like since you started? The business is good and I really love the business. I always tell people the business is prosperous even when they get discouraged over patronage and acknowledgement from would be customers. There is money in the business when your service is of good quality. Of course it is a knowledge-based business and there will certainly be patronage from the customers for quality baked products, this I can say with a lot of conviction.

Emmanuel Oluwaseun Oke, is a cake baker of repute, who plies his trade with the name Da Cake Master. In this interview, he tells SEGUN EDWARDS how his background as a fashion designer influenced his baking skill.

How long have you been in the business and how did you start? I started the business four years ago and I took it up from my one of my brothers who owned the business because he is a trained baker. I took over the business when he travelled abroad to seek greener pastures like they will put it, though he is happy seeing the progress I have made with the venture particularly the peculiarity and the creativity that I have added to the business. But I will like to state specifically that I did not learn the business under anybody, rather I will describe my coming into this business as a result of the zeal in me. What inspired you into the business since you said you didn’t acquire any formal training in cake baking? I will say a major factor that drove me into the business was the issue of survival by that I mean the situation of unemployment in the country because after the completion of my polytechnics education I took to modelling. I was a model but because the earnings from that endeavours were not satisfactory there was the need to look elsewhere and this business came handy. This was how I embraced the business against my initial resolve not to have anything to do with it when my brother extended the invitation to me to join him earlier. From then on, the inspiration came over me and the passion for the business in me rose. The advantage of my fashion designing background has also become an added input in terms of creativity in the industry, in the area of cutting of customised cakes, carving of cake shapes as well as trimming of cake designs with various concepts. In some cases, I baked cakes in the various looks, like human image and other objects. My academic background as a Business Administration graduate also had its positive impact on my success strides. Could you recall when you baked your first cake and how much you charged the customer? I rendered my first service in cake baking four years ago, with a modest charge of N17, 000. Although I had my focus fixed on high charges for my services and I was not ready to bring my charges down, rather I encouraged my customers by assuring them of good and quality service. My first job was the cake I baked for a popular Yoruba film actress, Ayo Adesanya, who I met on the internet and added to the list of my friends on my Blackberry. It was the occasion of her daddy’s birthday anniversary, however she wasn’t very satisfied with the quality of job I did then but I didn’t allow the situation to demoralise me. But despite her disappointment, she is always complimenting my business through her positive testimonies about my outfit. How much did you start with? I can’t really recall the exact amount again but I can say that I started off with about N45, 000, which was the money that I spent in purchasing the mixer and a mini oven that I commenced with. Other than those main tools

whatever I needed then I got from others in the business. For instance, I converted some of my siblings into cake bakers and they are all doing fine. They are now on their own and are doing fine in the business. Their businesses are situated in Surulere, they are Seyi Cake, who is also called the Cake Boss; Olatunji Cake; Derby Cake and Olufemi Cake and Samson Cake, all of us are doing fine in the industry. How much do you think is required for a new entrant into the business with the present economic realities? I don’t want to sound emphatic on the issue of capital requirement but a new entrant would need about N100, 000 to commence business conveniently with in view of the current economic realities. But with the right skill and the focus to catch a sizable market share, any new entrant wishing to compete favourably could raise the bar above the N100, 000. This is because the business requires a reasonable level of capital for any visionary cake baker to be able to meet clients’ expectations. If you have money you can invest as much as you want but for those who are thinking of a moderate outfit, N100, 000 would be okay for them. Have you trained other hands in this business? Yes, I have trained more than 250 people operating in the industry today. And they were from various parts of the country. We train people for just six weeks and we ensure the knowledge is well imparted, but that is the official training duration.

I have baked for celebrities like the Fuji music act, Pasuma Wonder, Tuface Idibia and lots more

that my service speaks for itself. There is competition in the industry that has seen service providers in the industry highlighting their newest innovations on the internet for the purpose of attracting patronage from customers, in some instances, competitors allege or accuse one another of duplication of designs without proper acknowledgment. This has happened to on several occasions, but I view it as rivalry that keeps one on one’s toes towards achieving greater things. But I want to add that some of these accusations are not healthy.

Oke’s cakes take different shapes like the one in the form of a bikini-clad mannequin (above left), inspired by his fashion background, and the house-shaped cake (above right)

What do you mean by official duration? Our six weeks is six weeks. But if anybody feels he or she desires more time to learn it can be extended. However, more often, the trainees are always eager to commence on their own after the training. How much does a trainee pay for the six weeks training? We have varying fees for the different types of training. We have training for the cost of N85, 000; we have another for a fee of N75, 000. However, we do offer discount during promo, which we offer three times in a year. The first promo ran in January, another is ongoing in this June, while the third comes up in December. Any trainee that offered to come for training would be expected to pay a slashed fee of N50, 000. How are you dealing with competition in the industry? I have competitors in the industry, while I also have the people I look up to but the major impact I have made is

What are you doing differently to attract patronage in the industry? I design cakes in various and even weird designs to the extent that some of my designs are seen as obscene like baked cakes designs in human nudity, and other awesome outlooks, all of these stand me out from other service providers in the industry. Although I do all this to meet the requests of my customers, most of whom are young people who like what is trending. That does not mean I don’t get patronage from older people as patronage for my cakes cut across all ages and classes of people. I bake for all members of the society, low, the upper class, celebrities and politicians in the society. In a nutshell, I do the will of my customers in the way I design my cakes. I bake for that music act called St. Janet, who is known for her awesome lyrics. How far have you travelled in doing this business? Two, three years ago I didn’t think I would be where I am today because I never thought the business would take this far. Today, I have worked for a lot of top people who have gone a long way to promote my services as well as boosting my patronage. I have baked for celebrities like the Fuji music act, Pasuma Wonder, Tuface Idibia and lots more, I baked their various celebration cakes for several occasions. I have also travelled across the length and breadth of the country.

Ideas&Brands ON SATURDAY

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

With KINGSLEY OGBONNA

www.newtelegraphonline.com/weekend

kingchudy@yahoo.com; 09091809827

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

21 JUNE 2014

Days of monolithic PR agencies are over, says Mediacraft boss John Ehiguese, the current Vice President of Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) and the Chief Executive Officer of Mediacraft Associates Limited, can be described as a thoroughbred PR practitioner. In the last 10 years, he has handled high-profile PR accounts in including Starcomms, Mobil and Nigerian Breweries among many others. In this interview with KINGSLEY OGBONNA, he bares his mind on various issues affecting PR practice in Nigeria. Ehiguese

The industry in recent times The PR industry in Nigeria is growing, though, not as fast as I would wish it to grow, but then, it is growing. Opportunities are being created for new businesses; there is also an opportunity to raise the level of practice especially with the flow of foreign direct investment into the economy. What you find is that the corporate organizations that are coming into Nigeria to do business are increasingly finding a need to get professional PR support and so to that extent, there are new opportunities being created. One of the evidence of that is the proliferation of PR consultants all over the place. So there is growth in that area. With regard to the quality of work that we are doing, when you benchmark against international standards, I am not too sure that we are there yet. But the good news is that we really do not have a choice but to raise the bar in terms of the quality of work that we do because there is no longer a Nigerian standard. The world is now a global village especially with the advent of the internet. Industry readiness for the opportunities There are obvious challenges though. The regulatory environment is not as effective as it should be. For now PR in Nigeria is still an all comers’ affair. That needs to be dealt with. There is the issue of capacity. There is a clear dearth of well trained hands, especially at middle management level of PR business. And because there are no barriers to entry, what you find is that most of the good people would rather work for themselves. So you have a high turnover of middle level people who are leaving to go and set up their own practice. There is also of course the environmental factor. Though it is not peculiar to PR but businesses generally, you know: the infra-

structure deficit in Nigeria, the high cost of doing business, power, transportation and all others. Then there is also the ethical question. Some sections of the media are not very ethical and that affect the way we work. Those are negatives. On the positive side, we have quite a number of people who are willing to take up the challenge to rise up to the occasion as it were and make the most of the opportunities that are coming. So I would say, if you ask me ‘are you ready?’, I would say yes and no but yes largely regardless of the challenges. In any case, survival in Nigeria in its ordinary form is about overcoming all kinds of challenges any way. So we are ready. The role of NIPR and PRCAN NIPR is statutorily empowered by law to set standards and regulate standards of PR practice in Nigeria. But I regret to say that I don’t think the NIPR has been able to carry out this function effectively. We have the PRCAN, which is the association of PR consultants in Nigeria of which I am presently the Vice President. PRCAN was created by a Bye-law of NIPR. NIPR has an inherent anomaly. It is both a professional association and a trade union. That is at the heart of the challenges of its ineffectiveness. If you look at medicine for example, you have the Nigerian Medical Council, you have the Nigerian Medical Association. If you look at even advertising, you have APCON and you have AAAN. But in the case of Public Relations, you don’t have that. So what we are trying to do with PRCAN is to make PRCAN a professional association, if you like the trade union of PR practitioners who are actually hands on professionals who know where the shoe pinches and who are better positioned to regulate through a regime of self regulation, PR practice in Nigeria. That is what we are trying to do with PRCAN

so that NIPR can remain as a standards organization that sets the standards. To that extent what we are trying to do with PRCAN is to try and get as many of actual PR practitioners to be in the fold and to begin to regulate ourselves to increase the level of capacity building, to enforce globally accepted best practices and generally grow the level that we do this business. It is not going to happen over night. Right now we have close to 50 members of PRCAN and we are encouraging more to join. We are going to set up chapters across the country, it is not only those in Lagos that it is meant for, even though Lagos is the media hub, so naturally most of the practitioners are here, but we also have practitioners in Abuja, PortHarcourt and so on. So we are expanding the scope to bring in more people. In terms of regulation, there is a lot that needs to be done, but we are aware that the best place to begin this is self regulation and so we are making effort to put this in place. Process of selecting President of NIPR That is the kind of things we are talking about. APCON is a professional association which is affiliated to the Ministry of Information and so to that extent, the Ministry of Information oversees the activities of APCON and therefore appoints its Chairman. In the case of NIPR, the President is elected.

There is a clear dearth of well trained hands, especially at middle management level of PR business

This is where I have a problem. Why should NIPR be different? The same way that APCON is under the Ministry, NIPR is also under the Ministry. I believe this difference is because NIPR is perceived both as a Trade Association and a professional body. That is why you have this issue. That again is the manifestation of this anomaly I talked about which needs to be streamlined. Ordinarily, if you are appointing the head of APCON, you should also appoint the head of NIPR so that the Trade Union can be the one that elect its leader as AAAN does. That is the way it should be. NIPR is neither here nor there or it is both ways if you like and that is a reflection of what I am talking about. Volume of PR business The volume of business of PR in Nigeria is not dwindling. What makes it look as though the business is going down is that we have many players now and the business is spread through. We no longer have monolithic PR agencies that are extremely big and have all the big accounts. There are more businesses coming to PR but because agencies are springing up almost by the day and people don’t necessarily get briefs for the right reasons, it will appear as if the business is nose diving. I think that aggregately, PR billings are growing. There is a higher demand for PR. Because of competitive pressure brands are being forced to take a second look at their marketing budget and allocate resources across all the marketing communications elements in a more cost effective way. If you look at it from that perspective, you find that in theory, PR should be a major beneficiary of this kind of redistribution of financial resources because, naira for naira, PR is more cost effective that all the other elements. C O N T I N U E S O N PA G E 2 4

24 Ideas & Brands

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Pepsi excites youth market with soccer Kingsley Ogbonna

ith high level of competition in the market place, brands are finding it increasingly important every year to deploy campaign themes that aptly capture the interests of their target markets. These dictate the direction of the brands’ activities throughout the year in their quests to continue to be relevant in the market place. Subsequently, all brand activities are directed towards the campaign theme and the execution of the themes must as a matter of necessity include exciting customer experience programmes that give consumers a sense of belonging which guarantees long lasting consumer loyalty. Brand experts also posited that any brand’s campaign theme need not be vague, but must be executable and have the flair of excitement embedded in it with strong connection to the target market. For a brand that plays in the youth market, it must build its campaign theme on three unique platforms namely, entertainment, sports and digital interactive experiences. Pepsi seems to understand this and as part of activities to activate its 2014 global campaign theme Live For Now in Nigeria, it is creating fun and excitement among youth in seven cities across the country through its Pepsi Street Soccer. Six cities including Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Aba, and Ilorin have hosted the tournament and the grand finale holds this weekend in Lagos. At the Aba event of the Pepsi Street Soccer which was held last weekend, the government of Abia State expressed excitement at the organisation and quality of play exhibited by the players and promised to support the tournament. The State’s Commissioner of Sports, Honourable David Chigbu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Ogbonna Izima, said: “I am happy to witness this grassroots

L-R (standing): General Manager, Seven-up Bottling Company, Aba, Mr. Victor Oladele, representative of the Abia State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Elder Ogbonna Izima who is also the permanent secretary of the ministry, Key Account Manager, SBC, Lagos, Mrs. Patricia Odia-Iletogun and Marketing Manager, SBC, Owerri, Mr. Prince Akoma, with the victorious Concord FC team that won half a million Naira, in the Pepsi Street Cup Tournament in Aba on Saturday.

activity, which has added more life to a business environment like Aba and brought a much needed relaxation to the city. When I get back to the Ministry, we will develop what we have seen here and partner with Pepsi/SBC on how to grow the tournament and spread it to the hinterlands of Abia because it is quite obvious people love it.” The General Manager, Sevenup Bottling Company, Aba, Mr. Victor Oladele, said unity and love was what Pepsi was sharing everywhere it goes and Pepsi Street Cup Tournament was just one of the many ways that Pepsi has been refreshing the world. The highly competitive Pepsi Street Cup tourney at the Enyimba City saw Royal Star overcome Dan Football Club through penalty shootout to take the third place, while Chidex FC came second after they succumbed to the

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

So to that extent, we see more people moving budget to PR as against other elements of marketing and also moving money now to digital which in a way is a subset of PR. So there is an increase but like I said aggregately. In terms of what each person is getting it is not so big. Don’t also forget that a lot of PR budget now is also going to digital. People are spending much more on social media because it has become apparent that you cannot ignore social media. The whole channel of communication has changed. We have a predominantly young population in Nigeria and they are very active online. Broad band is improving; internet penetration is growing, so you cannot ignore that channel. So a lot of budget is also going there and when you put all of these together you will see that PR business is growing. It is left for us as practitioners and professionals in the business to see how we can grow our share of this business. Pitch fee We are working on that in PRCAN. Like I said it is a gradual process. The advertising people who are enjoying pitch fees today didn’t get there over night,

superior firepower of Concord FC by 2-0. Concord FC carted home a whooping half a million Naira, while the first runner-up, Chidex FC got N 250,000 and the second runner-up, Royal Star, received N150,000 for its effort in the tourney which featured 110 teams. At the Port Harcourt edition two weeks back, it rewarded soccer enthusiasts who stormed Elekahia Stadium to enjoy and be part of the game with cash and other freebies. The morning rain could not stop soccer lovers who trooped to the stadium as early as 7:00am in their numbers to either showcase their talents or cheer their teams to victory. The 5-a-side street tournament which attracted 144 teams from Port-Harcourt and its environs saw Spartan Soccer Academy, Abuloma dancing home with half a million naira after defeating OZ

Boys FC 3-0 at the final. OZ Boys FC got N250,000 while the third placed team Family Love FC went home with N150,000 in a game that ended through penalty kicks. Speaking with journalists, the Marketing Manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Port-Harcourt, Mr. Ben Ejiogu said Pepsi decided to sponsor the tournament to provide platform to showcase raw football talents in the country and also to promote soccer at the grassroots. Pepsi has been involved in the game of football for so many years that most of the people playing in the national team today were at one time products of Pepsi Football Academy, including Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie and so many in this country,” he said. Football has been a strong driver of growth for the group with its global beverages and

snacks brands activating robust programmes along this line for years. The global activation started earlier this year in New York with the unveiling of 19 of the world’s greatest players spanning five continents and close to 20 countries. The stars will unite with the company to inspire fans the world over to live for Now in 2014. The list of the 19 global players include: Brazilian defender, David Luiz, Manchester United goal poacher, Robin Van Persie; Spanish star, Sergio Ramos; four-time footballer of the year, Leo Messi. Others are Argentinean international striker, Sergio Aguero; Jack Wilshere of Britain; Juan Cuadrado of Colombia; and Clint Dempsey of United States of America. Tarik Elyounoussi (Norway), Maynor Figueroa (Honduras), Mario Gomez (Germany), Vincent Kompany (Belgium), Kemar Laurence (Jamaica), Victor Moses (Nigeria), Petr Osaze Odemwingie (Nigeria), Oribe Peralta (Mexico), Andriy Pyatov (Ukraine) Mohammed Salah (Egypt), and Gylfi Por Sigurosson (Iceland) are other football stars. The players are expected to feature in the series of global television commercials and activities in by the company in 2014. A selection of the players will also feature on limited edition, eye-catching packaging and point of sale in select countries across the globe. “The company has had a tremendous relationship with football, going back nearly 15 years. For this, our latest incarnation, we have brought together our most impressive football roster yet, comprising of players who embody our brand spirit and excite and electrify us every time they step on the pitch. Our players know how to live for the moment and throughout the year we will be collaborating with them to bring our fans exciting and engaging content, products and experiences – bringing fans closer to the game they love”, was the way Kristin Patrick, Pepsi Global Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Global Beverages, captured the exciting moment.

‘PR agencies must raise the bar’ it took a while and it took a conscious and consistent effort on their part to a level where client were forced to acknowledge that there is a need for that. We have started the process at PRCAN level. I think some time in the future we will get to a level where we can actually persuade clients to pay pitch fees because it takes a lot to pitch, it takes a huge amount of investment for a major pitch and the least you can do is to give some kind of compensation to the people that lose out. So I agree with you that there should be pitch fee. We would have to do it. No one will do it for us. Unfortunately, the level of awareness of how PR work and what PR is and respect for PR on the client side is not quite as high as it should be. That is an issue. But we can do better as we get more international clients that understand the value of PR; I see that situation changing gradually. FG engagement of foreign PR firms Our effort to enlighten the government of Nigeria on the need to make use of PR professionals we have here is

on going. We have a campaign under PRCAN by which we are reaching out to the public sector especially and getting them to patronize PR professionals in Nigeria. We have what we call, ‘Engage a PRCAN Agency’ campaign. We have run that in a couple of newspapers. The idea is to publish the list of registered PRCAN members and encourage corporate organizations, both public and private, to only patronize these registered members who are perceived to be professional organizations who are within the fold of PRCAN and bound by the standards of practice that we work with. Impact of the internet It has tremendous impact on PR. In fact I would say that the internet has completely disrupted our lives in unimaginable ways and this is just the beginning. In terms of media of communication there has been also a disruption with the entry of social media which has redefined the media space. For example, whereas in the traditional media, you have the editor as the gate

keeper, with the advent of the internet, I don’t have to report to any editor. I can send my stories direct to the people without anybody vetting it. So you have the user generated content, you have the audience dictating the agenda. Whereas in the past information was just consumed, you watch television, listen to radio or read newspapers. These days, you don’t just consume it, you use it on the internet; you can like, unlike or share and it is the sharing part that is most important. What that means is that it gives you more power as an audience; you can decide what to share and who to share with. So the paradigm has really changed. You also have to consider when you talk about social media, the impact of mobile. Mobile is the dominant force around the world today, as we speak, there are over five billion mobile phones around the world. This is the first point of contact for a lot of people who are looking for information. There is no corporate PR plan or project today that does not have a social media component.

ARGENTINA TARGET THE SCALP OF STUBBORN IRAN

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BOATENG BROTHERS CLASH AS GHANA-GERMANY MATCH LOOMS

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USA CAN SEND PORTUGAL HOME, SAYS KLINSMANN }p.28

EAGLES NEED TACTICAL DISCIPLINE TO BEAT BOSNIA – BABANGIDA }p.27

I’M READY TO DIE FOR EAGLES – EMENIKE

SERENA SIZZLES AHEAD OF WIMBLEDON }p.32

NIGERIA VS BOSNIA: THE PLAYERS’ BATTLE CRY }p.30

IWORIMA EYES COMMONWEALTH GAMES SLOT }p.27

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

...dreams early goal against Bosnia

white colours of Nigeria. It intoxicates me on the pitch and I want to die there fighting for results. “It is an honour to be playing for Nigeria because the country is blessed with so many talented players all over the world. I believe I am lucky to be in the position I am. That is why I am fighting hard to do more for the team. “I want to score more and more and possibly emerge the highest scorer of all time for the national team. You can see I still have a long way to go. My wish is to score two or three goals in every match I play for my country. “The truth is I am aware Nigerians appreciate me, but I am yet to get there. I am working hard to do much more. By the time we have better understanding in our team; I will score more goals for the Eagles. “ The striker says his goal-scoring feat is a result of the work rate of the entire team. He argued that one person cannot just nick a goal easily CONTINUE ON PAGE 27

BOSNIAN PLAYERS NIGERIA MUST WATCH – IROHA }p.27

26 SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

LEAGUEMANIA WITH CHIMAOBI UCHENDU princehench@yahoo.com

08114495359, 08092747532

‘Tornadoes’ promotion dream intact’

PLAYER FOCUS Julius Ubido is one of the few naturally talented footballers still playing in the Nigerian league. He is not just the longest serving player in Heartland FC currently, but has done so with unmistakable loyalty, playing actively in the last eight seasons. If he had not desperately yearned for a move outside the shores of Nigeria like some of his mates, it is partly because he feels so much at home with the club and people in Owerri which has made it possible for him to marry and settle down there. The marriage has produced a baby girl. “Despite our difficulties at the first stanza of the league, Heartland FC will surely be among the first two teams by the end of the league season.” he said. Name: Julius Ubido Club: Heartland FC, Owerri Position: Midfielder Jersey no. 26 Age: 26years Height: 1.8m Nationality: Nigerian Former Clubs: Lobi Stars FC, Makurdi and Ranchers Bees FC Kaduna. Inspiration: Watching video tapes of Sunday Oliseh and Austin J.J. Okocha. Honours: Super Four Trophy 2009, CAF Champions League Silver 2009, FA Cup 2011 and 2012, Charity Cup 2011 and 2012, Super Four Trophy 2012.

League action between Enyimba and Nasarawa United, in Aba recently

SUCCESSIVE TITLE DEFENCE

Pillars aim to emulate Enyimba, Heartland

ano Pillars returned to the summit, last weekend after defeating Dolphins in a rescheduled match, putting them in good position to retain the league title they won last season. They are aiming to emulate Enyimba International of Aba and Heartland of Owerri, that had previously won the league crown three consecutive times Enyimba were the last club to achieve this feat, when they won the league in 2001, 2002 and 2003. While Heartland remain the only club to have won the top flight four times successively in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 when they were known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Pillars top striker, Gambo Mo-

hammed said it is achievable because they are in familiar terrain. He said finishing top of the table after the first stanza is a statement of intent from the champions to make it third successive win of the top flight. But Gambo is also aware that there are rival clubs hot on their heels for the title this season. “I am happy that we have done well in the first round after starting slowly. At a point we were in the bottom four, but we have recovered and are now where we are supposed to be,” he said “Now we will be very prepared for the second round and I know the other clubs will be prepared for us as well. It won’t be an easy second round because all the clubs will want to win the league or stay in the league.

Bayelsa teams return to Yenagoa before end of the season

he self-banishment of Bayelsa football teams to ither locations soil will soon come to an end as the contractors handling the redevelopment of the sports complex; Money Michelle sports Development Company has hinted that the materials to complete the job would arrive Nigeria at the end of the month. Ebi Egbe, of Money Michelle group told leaguemania that his company had planned to finish the job before the commencement of the current season, but for the late release of funds to complete the project. Meanwhile, contractors han-

… contractors, commissioner in war of words dling other projects in the state have threatened the Commissioner for Sports Development, Ebikitin Diongoli over his comments that contractors were using sub standard materials to execute projects at the Bayelsa State Football Academy, Angalabiri and the Sports Academy, Asoama. The commissioner who was on an inspection visit to project sites in Sagbama local government area was dismayed at the attitude of the contractors towards execution of vital projects. Rather than show remorse,

the contractors were rude as the commissioner, had observed that the roof of the sports hall of the Sports Academy had caved-in. Sports Ministry officials informed our correspondent that the threat calls to the commissioner came shortly after the visit which was aimed at ascertaining the level of job performance by the contractors. Several of the contractors were alleged to have collected over 80 percent of the contract value without doing anything tangible on ground.

“But I’m confident and I’m assuring our fans that we will do our best to make sure we win the league again.” Kano Pillars finished top of the Glo Premier League after the first round of 19 matches with 34 points, three ahead of secondplaced Nasarawa United. Should Kano Pillars succeed in winning the league title this season, they will become the first club in 11 years to win the top flight three times on the bounce.

NO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

LEAGUE TABLE TEAM Pld Pillars 18 Nasarawa 19 Abia 19 Sharks 19 Enyimba 19 Giwa 19 Wolves 19 Akwa 19 Dolphins 18 Heartland 19 Sunshine 19 Warriors 19 Lobi 19 Taraba 19 Rangers 19 Bayelsa 19 Crown FC 19 Kaduna 19 Gombe 19 Nembe 19

Pts 31 31 30 30 29 28 28 28 27 27 27 26 25 25 24 24 24 21 20 16

iger Tornadoes coach, Hamza Azeez, has said his side’s promotion agenda to the elite league was very much on course. The Minna-based side finished third on 29 points, six points adrift the Nigeria National League (NNL) Division A leaders, Wikki Tourists heading into the break for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Azeez said his side was taking the promotion campaign seriously and had mapped out detailed programme that will see to its realisation. “Of course, we’re still chasing promotion to the Premier League, as far as we’re concerned the battle for its realisation has just started. “We’re steadily working on programmes that will help us to achieve the laudable dream. “We’ve a crop of quality players who have vowed to deliver the promotion ticket no matter what it takes”, Azeez said. “We’re doing a lot that will see us win more points on the road as well as the home ground, we quite understand the difficulty posed to the promotion dream if we can’t go all out to win matches. “The sole reliance on home victories will be inadequate to make the dream come true, so once the league resumes we must break the away win jinx and follow it up from there.

Nasarawa United shun transfer market

asarawa United technical adviser, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, has said his side will not witness many additions to its strength for the second term campaign. The Lafia-based side finished second in the 20-team Nigeria topflight league on 31 points, three points behind leaders, Kano Pillars, at the conclusion of the first stanza. Ganaru said his players performed creditably well in the first round finishing strongly on the second spot which makes it professionally unnecessary to introduce new players to the existing squad. “When we resume from the break, the crew will sit down to identify the areas of urgent need, but I think we won’t be requiring many new hands, maybe one or two experienced attackers will be adequate,” Ganaru said. “We have one quality attacker from Abidjan-based side, Asec Mimosas, and he is certain to resume with us in the second stanza. “The team performed creditably well in the first stanza so we’ll avoid doing anything that will disrupt the cohesion and understanding already achieved in the team. “The players now understand themselves and the belief level is very high that they can win the league shield.”

SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

The Bosnian players Nigeria must watch – Iroha

ormer Super Eagles defender, Ben Iroha, feels the Super Eagles will need to be on their toes and pay special attention to BosniaHerzegovina midfielder, Miralem Pjanic, tonight when they take on the Blue Dragons in their second group stage match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Super Eagles head into today’s game against the Bosnians on the back of an unimpressive goalless draw against Iran. The Bosnians, meanwhile, lost 2-1 to Argentina in their opening game but had the Argentines on the back foot for most parts of the second half, especially toward the end when they pressed forward in search of an equaliser, and Iroha feels that is the Bosnian side the Super Eagles will be up against tonight at the Arena Pantanal, in Cuiaba, and not the side that showed too much respect to Lionel Messi and company in the first half of their loss to the Argentines. “I expect the Bosnians to play with two in the centre of the attack this time around, just like they did towards the end of the game against Argentina, when they brought in Vedad Ibisevic and deployed a 4-4-2 formation which changed to a 4-24 when they went forward,” said Iroha. “It was successful against Argentina and, with someone like (Miralem) Pjanic running the show from the midfield, giving passes and dishing out tackles, they were very dangerous.” Pjanic, who plays for Italian Serie A side, AS Roma, plays a pivotal role for the Bosnians, and with his good passing and dribbling skills, Iroha feels the Super Eagles’ technical crew need to pay special attention to the 24-year-old. “Pjanic should be closed down at all

times. He must not be given room to find the attackers,” continued Iroha. “But in doing so, his markers must be made aware that he is very skilful and can easily get away from them, thus leaving the defence exposed. “He is also dangerous from set pieces so we should avoid committing fouls close to our vital area. “(Edin) Dzeko and Ibisevic are dangerous players who can sometimes come deep in order to drag their markers away and create space for their teammates to exploit, but it is Pjanic who has the job of finding these spaces and delivering the killer balls, so he needs to be keenly watched,” stressed Iroha, who played at both the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

Vedad Ibisevic

SAMBA NOTES FROM BRAZIL Compiled by Adekunle Salami

Eagles need tactical discipline to beat Bosnia – Babangida

ormer Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida, has called on the Super Eagles to be more tactically disciplined ahead of the decider against Bosnia on Saturday at the on-going FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The Super Eagles failed to break the defence of the Iranians in their opening game, ending it in a goalless draw. But as they get set to take on the Blue Dragons, Babangida, a member of Nigeria’s team to the 1998 World Cup, has called on the players to be more purposeful. The FC Taraba general manager, who is of the opinion that the Bosnians will be more attacking football oriented than the ultra-defensive Iranians, said: “The Iran we met were defensive minded; they frustrated the players all through the 90 minutes of the game. “Bosnia will not defend against us with ten men behind the ball like Iran did;

Babangida

they will surely give us space to express ourselves and I really want the players to be more disciplined,” he said. Speaking further he said: “The players will need to be disciplined tactically throughout the 90 minutes of the game against Bosnia. In the game against Iran, after playing for the first 20minutes, and failing to score, everything changed tactically with the team which should not be the case against Bosnia. If we can do that, we will get the result we need on Saturday.”

I’m ready to die for Eagles – Emenike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

except on rare occasions. “Football is a team game. If I score it is a goal for Nigeria and not just Emenike. I always tell people that I cannot achieve results alone for Nigeria. Some people will hold on to the ball pass it around before the final pass gets to me. It also takes time for us to do this often. “Our team is getting better everyday but at the World Cup we know there is need to up our game to compete keenly with the rest of the world.” Against Iran, Emenike was not in sparkling form as he struggled from one position to the other looking for opening to hit the target.

He said, “It was a tough match for all of us because the opposition decided to sit back. They do not have the kind of ambition we have and so a draw is good for them. I tried my best, but we just could not make it happen “Against Bosnia, it is a must win. We expect that Bosnia will also attack and the match will be more interesting and open game. Our target is to score first to put them under pressure while we have more opportunities to score more. It is going to be a tough match.” In the colours of Fernabache, Emenike was on target 12 times for the Turkish team and he says he could have done better but for injury.

“Injury slowed me down last season. When I returned from injury, it took me time to find my rhythm but that again is part of the game. I look forward to a better season especially with the experience from the World Cup,” he noted. The forward is still aspiring to play in top leagues like Spain, England or Germany in the future. “I will love to play in Spain or England because many of the greatest players in the world are currently there. You will have plenty to learn in various ways and learning makes one a better person on any field. I am not in haste about this, I will continue to work hard and take my time to realise my ambition,” Emenike said.

Iworima eyes Commonwealth Games slot Charles Ogundiya CALABAR

A Otonye Iworima, competing at the Delhi 2010 C’wealth Games

former Commonwealth Games triple jump silver medallist, Otonye Iworima, has informed New Telegraph of her intention to fight for a place in the Nigerian team to Glasgow, Scotland, for next month’s Games, after making a comeback from a three-year injuryinduced absence from athletics.

Emenike

Speaking to our correspondent in Calabar during the All Nigeria/Cross River State Athletics Championship, Iworima said she is looking forward to qualifying and also re-enacting her performance the last time she competed at the Games. The 38 year old athlete won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and said she has overcome the hamstring injury that took her away from track and field for such a long time. “I am glad to be back after three years,” she said. “For the Commonwealth Games, let us just say I want to go. I have been training hard and hopefully I can re-enact my 2006 form.” Iworima last competed for Nigeria at a major event at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, where she came third jumping a time of 13.53m.

Night market in Brazil Brazil runs 24 hours. Most of the big cities are alive round the clock. In Sao Paulo, taxis, trains and some buses operate 24 hours. Of course, clubs and some eateries too are open 24 hours. However, there is a market that is not open for 24 hours but for only five hours. The five hours are between 1am and 6am. The place is called Fagriga market and a variety of things, ranging from foodstuff to household items and cloths, are on sale there. It is strange but real. The security is also massive within and around the market area. Some Nigerians are already visiting the market to buy things at cheaper rates. Sorry Nigeria! Brazilians are very sympathetic to the plight of Nigeria here at the ongoing World Cup. People here are not mourning the ouster of Spain, Cameroun and Australia, but are rather showing sympathy over Nigeria’s poor performance in the first game. Brazilians support the Super Eagles overwhelmingly at trainings, and did the same during the first match against Iran. Most Nigerians here are now getting used to hear Brazilians telling them “sorry, what happened?” The drab encounter against Iran is still a big subject here and so I have to also pass it on. Sorry Nigeria! It is hoped that “sorry Nigeria” could turn to “up Nigeria” if the Eagles can pick the three points against Bosnia today. Brazil and South Africa If an average football fan is asked to state the similarities between Brazil and South Africa, the first thing is to mention the World Cup; that the Brazilians took over the hosting from South Africa. A non-football fan could also say that in the two countries, things are working almost perfectly in all areas. But for very observant people like yours sincerely, it is clear to note that the shapes of the ladies are similar. Four years ago, I wrote about the traditional curves in the mid-section of the average South African lady especially at the rear. Here in Brazil, the situation is the same. Brazilians ladies are heavily endowed at the back with big hips. This is one similarity that I can easily remember as an observant visitor to both countries. The average lady here is heavy in the “defensive” area but they carry it well. Chei...

Cahill happy to sign off with goal

Fellaini

hen Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini is on the pitch, he’s very easy to spot. His glorious dark flowing afro is noticeable during play. But if the Red Devils have their way in Brazil, we may be living through the final few weeks of one of soccer’s best hairdos. Speaking to Belgian outlet Sporza, Fellaini said that should Belgium triumph in the World Cup Final on July 13 at the Maracana, he’ll cut off his famous locks. “If we win the World Cup, I cut my hair off,” he said. “Am I sure? Yes, absolutely. We have a deal.” This isn’t the first time Fellaini has wagered the future of his hairstyle on a big tournament. He has said in the past that if he ever wins the Champions League, the afro will go. Unfortunately, the three clubs he’s played for during his career — Standard Liege, Everton and Manchester United — have not come close to winning the big prize for European clubs.

Fellaini to cut famous hair if Belgium win World Cup

ajibade.olusesan@newtelegraphonline.com

AJIBADE OLUSESAN

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

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fter stuttering in the early stages of in their opening match, Argentina’s attack will need to use all their talent to find a way to break through Iran’s stubborn defense in their second Group F game. Lionel Messi’s remarks earlier this week about the team’s tactics in the first match sparked speculation that Argentina’s captain wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with coach Alejandro Sabella. Whatever formation Argentina use against Iran on Saturday, the South Americans will need to be patient against a lineup that held Nigeria to a 0-0 draw in first match. Messi said Argentina made too many mistakes against BosniaHerzegovina despite winning 2-1, starting the match with two attackers instead of three and playing a 5-3-2 formation in the first half. Messi prefers a 4-3-3 and Argentine media reports said he and other players insisted at halftime that Sabella needed to change tactics. The coach made the change and speculation emerged there was a growing rift between Messi and Sabella. But other players sought to downplay any serious disagreement between the pair. A win for Argentina against Iran will give the South Americans a firm grip on Group H, but

TODAY’S MATCHES Argentina vs Iran 5pm Germany vs Ghana 8pm Nigeria vs Bosnia 11pm

ortugal goalkeeper Beto said his nation’s 4-0 loss to Germany at the World Cup was not a ‘shame’ on Paulo Bento’s squad. A Thomas Muller hat-trick put a significant dent in Portugal’s hopes of qualifying out of Group G in Brazil, with Bento’s men forced to battle for over a half with 10 men after Pepe’s brain snap. Sevilla shot-stopper Beto said he and his team-mates were not ashamed of their efforts against a clinical German outfit.

taged Portugal but the custodian did not want to further lament on decisions. “The ref had influence but that can’t be an excuse. We discussed what happened against Germany to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Portugal not ashamed of Germany whitewash - Beto

Iran’s defense is a potential impediment. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz wasn’t happy with his team being labelled as defensive, saying the result against Nigeria was a fair reflection of the game. He also said his players deserved “sympathy and respect” for performing on the biggest stage despite the impact of economic sanctions on the country — which made it difficult to arrange friendlies. Queiroz said his Iranian squad was ready to face Argentina at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte.

Argentina target scalp of stubborn Iran

he first week of the World Cup has exposed signs of an identity crisis in Argentina, with coach Alejandro Sabella and captain Lionel Messi presenting different visions of how the team should play. Sabella talks about being flexible and adjusting the formation depending on the opponent, while Messi says Argentina — being the football power that they are — should stick to their attacking style regardless of who they plays. The difference in perspective was underscored by Messi’s thinly-veiled criticism of how Sabella lined up the team in Argentina’s opening 2-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group F. The coach fielded a cautious formation with five defenders, three midfielders and two strikers, before switching in the second half to the 4-3-3 system that Messi prefers. One by one, other Argentina players have come out siding with Messi, saying they also believe in a threeman attack, while denying that there’s a rift between the players and the coach.

Messi, coach’s rift over tactics deepens

Global Football Special A

rsenal are joining the race for Barcelona

Arsenal join race for Sanchez

tevan Jovetic’s agent has said Inter Milan have not made an offer to Manchester City for his client. Fali Ramadani said: “Inter after Stevan? I can say that there is nothing at

Jovetic dismisses Inter link

den Hazard has been urged to hand in a transfer request at Chelsea by Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc. ‘Hazard is a top player, but I think Chelsea want to keep him. A lot of players are going to be mentioned, but we have already got our priority, David Luiz,’ said Blanc. ‘Some players will ask to leave, we’ll have to see. For the moment, that’s not the case. We’re going to bring in some players, one or two, of great quality.

PSG give condition for Hazard raid

l Arabi manager Dan Petrescu has claimed Barcelona star Xavi Hernández has agreed to join his side. The former Chelsea defender insists the Spain international has already signed a pre-contract agreement with the Qatari club. The midfielder has spent his entire career with the Catalan giants but it seems his time at the Nou Camp is coming to an end with Al Arabi seemingly in the driving seat to sign him. Xavi is a player who will be sorely missed by Barcelona as he, as much as anyone, symbolised the golden era of success for the club.

Xavi set to join Al-Arabi

TRANSFERS

28 SPORT NEW TELEGRAP 21 JUN

Cahill

nited States coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, believes his side can beat Portugal and send Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates packing from the World Cup. US won their first game and could seal a passage to the next round on Sunday if they can shock Portugal who were hammered 4-0 by Germany Klinsmann knows it will be hard against the Iberians but that the game is what

Murray Former British number one Tim Henman believes Andy Murray is hitting form at the right time for Wimbledon – but Novak Djokovic will still take the title. Following back surgery and split from coach Ivan Lendl, Murray has yet to win a tournament this year but Henman feels he is hitting form at the right time after making the semi-finals of the French Open earlier this month.

After months of uncertainty, Rory McIlroy said he will play for Ireland when golf returns to the Olympic Games in 2016. The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland was eligible to play for Ireland or England. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” said the U.S. Open and Masters champion. “I don’t know whether it’s been because the World Cup has been in Brazil and I’ve been thinking a couple of years down the line. Thinking about all the times that I played as an amateur for Ireland and as a boy and everything; I think for me it’s the right decision to play for Ireland, so I’m going to play for Ireland in 2016.

doubt Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi was busier than his Nigerian opposite number, Vincent Enyeama, but the rest of Team Melli looked supremely drilled tactically. Up top, Reza Ghoochannejhad worked tirelessly and, despite failing to hit the net, scored 7.53 in the Castrol Index, outperforming several bigger – though not longer! – names including a certain Lionel Messi. The 26-year-old voiced his delight at the point gained in an interview with FIFA: “It was a tough match. We knew they were a physically strong team, but that didn’t stop us putting in a good performance. We pressed them constantly and our tactics nullified their game.”

Iran have nothing to lose

t is s a f e to say t h a t the crowd at this past Monday’s Iran-Nigeria game at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba were not exactly bowled over by the spectacle. After all, the match yielded the sole goalless draw of the first round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ group-stage action. There is no

Beto

Ghoochannejhad:

“We didn’t shame our country, that’s too strong. What we tried simply didn’t come off and everything that could’ve gone wrong did go wrong,” he said. “We always try to honour the crest on our chest, we’ll do it this World Cup, until the last drop of sweat.” Beto agreed with his coach Bento - who lambasted referee Milorad Mazic in the post-match - that the refereeing disadvan-

Mcllory

SPORT BRIEFLY

World Cup is made of. “We believe we can go to Manaus and beat [Portugal],” the ever optimistic Klinsmann said. “It’s a difficult situation for them now after that 4-0 defeat. They are now with their backs against the wall,” Klinsmann told reporters during a press conference. “It makes it even more difficult to get a result, but that’s what Klinsmann you want.”

We can send Portugal home - Klinsmann

rotherly love will be forgotten on Saturday when Germany’s Jerome Boateng faces his sibling once more at a World Cup with Ghana’s Kevin-Prince Boateng predicting a ‘fight to the death’. The half-brothers were both born in Berlin to separate moth- e r s , but in 2009, Schalke’s KevinPrince, 27, opted to play for the country of his father. This is not the first time the brothers have played each other at a World Cup. In South Africa, they set a record by becoming the first brothers to play against each other at a World Cup finals.A nervous Germany needed Mesut Ozil’s second-half goal to seal a 1-0 win over Ghana in Johannesburg after a shock defeat to Serbia as both sides reached the knock stages. Germany will move to the verge of qualification for the last 16 of the

World Cup if they can defeat Ghana in Fortaleza. The three-time winners eased past Portugal on Monday evening, and the four-goal margin of victory means that they are almost assured of top spot if they beat Ghana, providing that USA don’t win their final two games. Coach Joachim Low is unlikely to make any alterations to a team that comprehensively overcome their main rivals in the group, and Thomas Muller will be eager to add to his hat-trick after taking an early lead in the race for the golden boot. Competing in their third World Cup, Ghana have never failed to reach the knockout stages, but boss Akwasi Appiah will be aware that his team cannot afford defeat if they are to continue that streak.

Boateng brothers clash as Ghana-Germany match looms

The Boateng brothers, Germany’s Jerome (left) and Ghana’s Kevin-Prince (extreme right), set to clash

Andrew Flintoff has been named in Lancashire’s T20 Blast squad for their home match with Northants on Friday. He has not been selected in the starting XI at Old Trafford but has been added to the squad as cover. The 36-year-old, who quit the sport in 2010, has been training with the county and played in a second XI game against Leicestershire earlier this month.

Flintoff

im Cahill has described his volleyed goal against Holland as one of the proudest moments of his career – but also claimed that he “scores like that every day in the garden”. The Australian’s glorious first-half effort at the Estádio Beira-Rio on Wednesday has been mentioned in the same breath as Marco van Basten’s memorable volley for Holland in the European Championship final in 1988 and is an early contender for goal of the tournament in Brazil. “I score goals like that every day in the garden, so to do it on the biggest stage in the world makes me very proud,” Cahill said. “That goal is right up there, it is just the way it went in. You think of Van Basten and [Robin] van Persie and players like that, but people only ever expect me to score headers, regardless of some of the goals I have scored in my career. There’s the thought that Brazil is the home of football and I am sure that goal resonated around the world, so this is a goal that me, my family and friends can share for ever.”

apoli are still in discussions with Liverpool about a permanent deal for keeper Pepe Reina, with Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce monitoring his situation. Reina, who has been with the Reds for nine years, fell down the pecking order following the arrival of Simon Mignolet from Sunderland last summer. He still has two years remaining on his contract at Anfield and Brendan Rodgers is keen to move him on permanently.

Galatasaray, Fenerbahce fight over Reina

C Barcelona have announced the capture of Sevilla FC’s UEFA Europa League-winning captain Ivan Rakitić for a fee reported to be in the region of €20m. Currently on international duty with Croatia, who began their FIFA World Cup bid with a 3-1 defeat by Brazil on Thursday, Rakitić has agreed a five-year contract with the Blaugrana and recently appointed coach Luis Enrique. Midfielder Denis Suárez, 20, will be loaned the other way for the next two seasons as a makeweight.

the moment between the Nerazzurri and Jovetic. No contact? I say it again: there is nothing.” Jovetic, who cost City 22 million pounds last summer, spent much of his debut season in England on the sidelines and was often fourth-choice striker, behind Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo.

Barcelona snap up Rakitić from Sevilla

forward Alexis Sanchez, according to reports this morning. The Chilean has been in sensational form for his nation at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. However his future with Barcelona has been cast into doubt recently after a campaign in which he was not a regular for the Catalan side. The 25-year-old, who is said to be interesting Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool, would be a costly addition but could represent the perfect follow-up to the signature of Mesut Ozil last summer.

PH ON SATURDAY NE 2014

SPORT

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Nigeria Vs Bosnia THE PLAYERS’ BATTLE CRY Stephen Keshi “It is a must win situation for us. We have our challenges, but we have also worked so hard to give this game our best shot to enable us get the result we wanted. After the game against Iran we have done so much work to fashion a strategy to get goals and that is what we intend to do against Bosnia. Like I said earlier we are going all out for our last two games but the first task is against Bosnia.”

Belgium goal is to top Group H -Hazard Eden Hazard is one star who is expected to carry Belgium’s ambitions on his young shoulders at the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. The Chelsea may not have shone as brightly in their first match against Algeria, he however, is looking forward to winning their second game against Russia on Sunday to consolidate on Group H leadership.

“E Joseph Yobo “The Bosnia match is important for us with the situation we find ourselves. It is also a decider for the two sides and that makes it very dicey, but we are going to rise up to the task. Bosnia are a great side; we know this is a big match for us to compensate for the disappointment of the first match. I am confident of victory.”

Dan Amokachi “There are no easy games at the World Cup. It is the biggest stage and we have the capacity to play any team

here in Brazil. Our focus is the strategy to beat Bosnia and we have done so much work to achieve that on Saturday.”

Shola Ameobi “We need tactical discipline to overcome this opposition and we have been working on that and better understanding upfront because we need goals to control the game and make it easier for us. It is going to be a tough game and our target is to get the three points no matter the situation.”

Mikel Obi “Bosnia lost their first match just as we did not win either, and so I expect a better contest because the two teams need to score and win. We did our best against Iran, but we were simply unlucky but this time we are going to put in more effort especially in the attack. I believe we are going to come good, because we want to play in the next stage of the competition.” Ejike Uzoenyi “It is a very difficult task for us, but victory is not impossible. If I have the opportunity, I will do my best for the team and Nigeria. We want to move on to the second round of the World Cup and it is a must win for us.”

Osaze Odemwinge “The situation is still in our hands and I believe that a win against Bosnia could earn us a second round ticket because we already have a draw. It is a massive one for us especially because we know the implication of a win this time. This is the second match and the competition is getting tougher on a daily basis.” Keneth Omeruo “This is the most crucial math for us in the competition. It is like fighting for our lives and we want to stay alive in the competition. We are aware of some big names in the Bosnia team and that makes the encounter dicey for us, but we intend to overcome the challenge and get the three points.”

den can be one of the five best players in the world. He has everything he needs.” Marc Wilmots’ words were hardly the kind of guarded, moderate comments one associates with prematch press conferences. They also are in sync with the overall tone of a coach anxious to play down talk of a ‘golden generation’ and predictions that his team could challenge for the Trophy. Wilmots would doubtless insist that an extraordinary player deserves extraordinary praise, and he is not the first to describe Hazard in such terms. Jose Mourinho might have mixed compliments with criticism last season, but it should not be forgotten that he described Chelsea’s player of the year as “probably the best young footballer in the world”. Yet while some of the game’s other rising stars would glow with satisfaction at hearing such remarks, Hazard comes close to grimacing. Indeed, having been informed of Wilmots’ latest eulogy, the Belgium star’s immediate reaction was to declare himself unworthy. “Seriously? He s a i d

that?” said Hazard. “Well, I never like to talk about myself in that way because, to be honest, I don’t think I deserve it at the moment. To be thought of as one of the best five in the world, I would need to score more goals for a start. I would really need to score almost every game because that that is what the best players in the world - like Messi and Ronaldo - do every season. These are the guys everyone else has to aim for. It’s nice of the coach to say such things, but I wouldn’t say the same.” Wilmots’ praise might have been most memorable, but he also provided advice. Hazard, he said, had a responsibility to “release the handbrake and go”. By the player’s own admission, that was a challenge he failed to grasp in the match against Algeria, falling short of unleashing his full, awesome potential. Though an unselfish assist for the winning goal was both important and impressive, it proved the unrivalled highlight of a largely subdued performance. Hazard knows that better will be required. “I didn’t find it easy,” he admitted. “It was difficult for all the midfielders and forwards, especially in the first half, to find the space to show what we can do. But when Marouane [Fellaini] scored the equaliser, the game opened up more and we were able to show a little more of what we can bring as individuals and as a team. Hopefully you will see more of that kind of football from us in the games ahead. “I can definitely play better and we can also play better as a group. But this was just a start for us, and we have won our first game, which we always felt would be the most important one. There’s not much more we could ask. You know at a tournament like this that if you win the first game, you have a great chance of going through. Now we are in a good position at the top of the group and we want to do everything we can to stay there.”

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Eagles, Dragons in swim or sink duel

igeria must beat Bosnia-Herzegovina today to stand a chance of progressing into the next round of the World Cup. The match promises to be interesting because the Balkans too must win to keep their place in the tournament after they lost their opening match 2-1 to Group F leaders, Argentina. If the Bosnians lose, they are out of the World Cup and if Nigeria draw, their chances become even dicier which makes the encounter a winner-takes-all affair. The high expectations of Nigerians were dashed as the Super Eagles played a dour goalless draw with the Iranian national team on Monday. Most Nigerian fans expected their team to run over the Asians and gain the three points at stake to get their campaign on a sound footing. But the Nigerian players could not breach Iran’s defence even once and had to be satisfied with only one point. Although Eagles had 70 per cent ball possession, they could not translate this to goals. The Super Eagles started the game on fire with players dashing forward to flood the Iranian box. Iran were clearly nervous and struggled to match the intense start by Nigeria. However, after that reasonably dominant 10 minute opening period by the African champions, Iran regrouped, calmed their nerves and got back to what they do best: being a tight and well organised defensive unit. As Iran regrouped and dropped deeper into their own half, the Super Eagles struggled to find any imaginative spark. Failed cross after failed cross followed, as out of 29 attempts into the box, the Nigerians only managed to locate a green shirt on two occasions. The lack of Plan B was evident in that match and that cannot be repeated against a tactical and offensive side like Bosnia. Coach Stephen Keshi asked his players not to keep thinking about the disappointing draw any more. The main question is whether Nigeria will be able to breach the defence of Bosnia-Herzegovina which restricted a team like Argentina to 2 goals only. Even Lionel Messi found it difficult to hit the penalty box more than once or twice. The Nigerian coach had hinted about a possible change of tactics and players for this tie, but some of the regulars will still keep their places on the starting lineup. Emmanuel Emenike is still the best option up front and his combination with Shola Ameobi might work this time. Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi will battle with Miralem Pjanic in the middle of the pack and the form and performance of the Nigerian duo might determine the outcome of the match. Injury has taken its toll on the Nigerian team after defender Godfrey Oboabona limped off in the match against Iran, and Keshi will have to keep faith with Joseph Yobo and Kenneth Omeruo’s partnership in the heart of the defence while Juwon Oshaniwa, who took the place of injured Elderson Echiejile, will have to up his game against the Blue Dragons. Bosnia-Herzegovina should be happy about the way they performed against Ar-

gentina. A 2-1 defeat against one of the top contenders of the World Cup was impressive. Vedad Ibisevic scored against Argentina and made it interestingly close in the last few minutes. Coach Safet Susic seems to be pretty hopeful about his team’s chances in the Nigeria match. He believes that his players have it in them to take the team to the next round. The coach has said the plain truth because the team has enough potential to trouble any team in the world. With Ibasevic and Edin Dzeko Bosnia can boast of having some of the best strikers in the tournament, and Pjanic proved once again that he’s one of the best creative midfielders on the planet with a majestic al performance against Argentina. The two teams have not met at any levels, but they will hopefully serve a thrilling encounter; that will be a departure from what played out in the drab draw with Iran, because Eagles and the Dragons are attacking and adventurous sides, but the ultimate goal for both of them is victory.

NIGERIA

COACHES Bosnia coach, Safet Susic “0-0 is a good result for us. The most important thing is that neither of the teams won, which means that with four points we can go into the next round of the World Cup. “So, we have a chance provided you do not lose any of the remaining two group games. Nothing is yet known. Everything is in our hands.”

Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi ‘’Let’s not give up hope. ‘I’m not God. I can’t give anybody any assurance. Even the best coaches in the world can’t give assurance on any match. What I will do is to go back and prepare the team hoping that they play better than what they played today.

KEY PLAYERS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

John Mikel Obi: He was named the Man-of –theMatch in the Iran game, but the Chelsea midfielder needs to do much more in this tie. He must drive the team from his midfield position. If Mikel delivers, Eagles could nick this one despite the odds against them.

Edin Dzeko: He was somewhat quiet against Argentina, but the Manchester City star is expected to blossom against Nigeria as his side adopts attacking approach to the tie. He scored 10 of the 30 goals that landed the Balkans in the World Cup, and he will be desperate to quickly open his goal scoring records the world’s biggest stage.

Kenneth Omeruo: The Chelsea defender must be at alert throughout the encounter to stop Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic. The youngster surely will be busy as the Bosnians are expected to go all out and he must work hard to form an understanding with Joseph Yobo in the heart of the defence as he has lost his defence partner, Godfrey Oboabona, to injury.

Vedad Ibisevic: The German-based star came off the bench to score a historic goal against Argentina. He became the first Bosnian to score at the World Cup, and he will be keen to continue the fairy tale when his side meets Nigeria today. There are indications that he could be handed a starting shirt against Nigeria which will give him more time on the pitch to further show his abilities.

Emmanuel Emenike Goals are expected in this match and Emenike is expected to play a huge role in this one. He failed to sparkle against Iran, he was reduced to just two off-target shots. Although he will be desperate for better services from his midfielders in the tie, he must dig deep to conjure goals for the team.

Miralem Pjanic: Bosnia competed favourably with Argentina for ball possession in their first game, and the Roma star was the architect of that show. He controlled things in the middle of the pack, he is the creative force for Bosnia, and Eagles must stop this diminutive midfielder to cut the supply for Dzeko and Ibisevic in the attack. It will be interesting to see how the former Lyon player battle with Mikel Obi for the soul of the match.

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Serena sizzles ahead of Wimbledon

he is set to dominate the tennis courts once again at Wimbledon. While she has been training for the tournament, the tennis ace made sure to treat herself to a rare night out on Sunday evening. The 32-year-old was spotted paying a visit to the club du jour, The Chiltern Firehouse, as she stopped by to enjoy dinner. The former number one seed looked chic as she teamed a white blazer with ripped skinny jeans and a plain white top. She added height to her look with two-tone stiletto heels and

Lifestyle

held onto a small black bag whilst clutching onto her mobile phone. The tennis champion let her natural beauty shine through as she opted to wear minimal make-up for the outing and she also sported a simple pale pink manicure on the night. Her wavy weave was left flowing over her shoulders and she accessorised with a large band and a heart shaped necklace. Serena is sure to be training hard following a rather disappointing performance at the French Open last month.

BEHOLD THE BEAUTY!

Klitschko holidays with knockout fiancee, Panettiere

Serena

usinessman and avid Polo ambassador, Alhaji Nasiru Dan, has admitted that it takes enormous resources to be able to play the game of Polo but insisted that talent and passion must be the underlying factor. “In polo, what matters is your talent and not the number of horses that you have. If you have one thousand horses for example and do not have the skills to play, you get the groom to ride the horse for you; and you take care of the horse and the groom as well”. He further said that most wealthy men in the Polo family do not play active Polo but support talented youngsters to excel. “In Port Harcourt Polo Club as well as other polo clubs, we have people like Abu Kari, who is a polo patron and has horses (but doesn’t play polo). He sponsors young men from less privileged backgrounds to play polo. He pays for their accommodation, logistics and allowances. He even takes care of the horses. So there are many Nigerians like him who do that. Even in Port Harcourt whenever we want to go for a tournament, we have grooms who are supposed to take care of the horses however, we covert them to players. We sponsor them to play polo with us irrespective of the person’s status in the society,

ladimir Klitschko has taken a break from punching people in the face to take a holiday with his fiance Hayden Panettiere. The couple are currently on a getaway in St Tropez and are wiling away the sunfilled days by chilling on a yacht and taking dips in the warm waters. Whilst Klitschko is well renowned for his boxing prowess, his fiancee is best

known for her starring role in TV series Heroes, where she played a cheerleader with superpowers. Klitschko’s older brother Vitali is, of course, a former heavyweight world champion himself, but has retired from the sport to become a politician in his native Ukraine. Wladimir is still active in the sport, most recently defeating Australian challenger Alex Leapai in April to retain his championship belts.

Who will hand over the World Cup

upermodel Gisele Bundchen will present the World Cup to the winners in Brazil, according to reports. The Boston Globe claims the 33-yearold will replace Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, who has been criticised for spending public money on hosting the tournament. FIFA president Sepp Blatter handed the trophy to Spain captain Iker Casillas in South Africa in 2010. But with his popularity also low amid allegations of corruption inside football’s governing body, Bundchen will reportedly step in when the competition closes at the Maracana Stadium in Rio on July 13. The Brazilian beauty is married to NFL star Tom Brady and has recently been named as the new face of Chanel No.5.

Talent is all it takes to play Polo - Nasiru Dan because whenever you are on top of that horse, you are equal to every other player”. On why he choose Polo of all sports that are popular in Nigeria, Nasiru said:“Polo is not widespread in Africa, but I choose to get involved in the sport for a lot reasons. I have passion for the game and I have a lot of friends who play the game actively. Many of them encouraged me to play polo. The likes of Tony Esojeh, Sulieman Abubakar, Ahmed Kaita and many others all over the country who are members of the Port Harcourt Polo Club as well as patrons. He further asked other sporting associations to emulate the peace that exists among the members. He said no meaningful development can be achieved in a hostile environment, hence the advice. “The unity that exists when there is a polo tournament is one of the things that encouraged me to join polo. During the crises in Rivers State when militancy was at its peak, say from 2006 through 2010, people still came to play polo from various parts of the countryYobe, Jigawa, Adamawa, Maiduguri, Kano, Sokoto, Jos and others.

WITH

CHIMAOBI UCHENDU

princehench@yahoo.com

08092747532

People come together to play and we are happy as one family. One thing that makes Port Harcourt’s polo tournament unique is that we give them the best accommodation and entertainment. We bring the best artistes; the likes of 2face,

Action at the last Lagos Polo tournament

Ice Prince, Timaya, etc to perform at the tournament. Nasiru commended the Nigerian Police Force for her contribution to the development of Polo in Nigeria. He specifically praised CSP Aliyu Abubakar for using his personal resources to develop the game and asked other corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to emulate him. “The Nigeria Police team is

one of the best teams in Nigeria, even though I do understand they do not have budget. CSP Aliyu Abubakar, is so passionate about the sport and the police service that whenever there is a polo tournament, he contributes via sponsorship from his own pocket. This is one of the things I would like to advice the Nigerian Police on. They should encourage the team more. When you look at armed forces in Nigeria, the Nigeria Police is the only institution that has a proper team that participates in every tournament and they just don’t participate in tournaments; they win a lot of trophies. And I have had the privilege of managing one of the best polo tournaments in Nigeria consistently for four years. I know what they go through in terms of transportation and logistics. I know the budget of the Nigeria Police is small compared to what is obtainable in other parts of the world, but can they can lend a helping hand. If the Nigeria Police properly fund their team, other security agents like the army, navy might want to create their own team”.

Ideas & Brands

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Competition for pay-TV market deepens with Consat’s entry To deepen the competition in the pay-TV market through cutting-edge content, a Nigerian-owned business, Continental Satellite Limited, has unveiled a new brand, Consat, writes DELE ALAO

he chief executive officer of Continental Satellite Limited, Mr. Mayokun Okunola, is upbeat about Consat’s entry into the country’s pay-TV market. “Continental Satellite Limited, established in 2012, is a privately owned digital satellite television company with its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. The company launches the newest entrant into the pay-tv satellite service market in Nigeria under the brand name, Consat. As one the most important entrants into the Pay TV market in Africa gave its cutting edge technology, Consat comes with affordable price and high quality channels for the rapidly growing, choice conscious African family homes. Consat aims to be the platform of choice by providing over 10 free channels for local and international content enabling customers to stay informed and be entertained,” Mayokun said. The new brand offers MPEG4 digital compression technology broadcasting of over 50 channels with a view to reaching over 100 channels in 2015. It also offers over 10 quality TV channels to the viewers without subscription necessary, Mayokun said the company is focused on ensuring the growth of the Nigerian enter-

tainment industry by delivering the best in Nigerian culture, music, entertainment and lifestyle to a worldwide audience. He said: “We have invested in a telenovela channel through a third-party partner for the women who love novella entertainment. Over 10 free channels including international news channels, home grown entertainment, State TV channels, and terrestrial channels. Channels across all major categories include news, general entertainment, movies, music, sports, kiddies, documentary, religion and home grown channels.” He said the pay-TV is coming to offer the middle-income, choice-conscious average Nigeria family home a new choice that will respect their yearning for better content, quality pictures and true pay-TV experience. “We have made Consat the best choice for the middle-income, choice-conscious average Nigerian family home,” he said. He said to ensure that Nigeria Pay-TV subscribers enjoy the value for their money, content is key. “Content is key to this industry. All the investment would not be fully maximized if new providers are not able to air compelling and relevant con-

Sona Agro introduces corny multi-cereal bar

ona Agro Allied Foods Limited (SAAFL), a subsidiary of Sona Group of Companies, has introduced a nutritious snack, Corny, a multi-cereal bar into the Nigerian market as part of the company’s vision to provide quality and affordable food products to Nigerians. Managing director of Sona Agro Allied Foods Limited, Mr. Murugesan, said: “Corny bar has the unique combination of cornflake and oats topped with dry fruits. It contains carbohydrate, protein, minerals and fibre and therefore is a wholesome snack that provides energy to keep one going. It can be served as a breakfast or a healthy snack for those on the move. The product comes in pack size of 20 grams for individual and soft pack of six for family. A 30 gram pack is affordable compared to imported cereal bars which cost twice or more than Corny.” Corny is reputedly the first multi-cereal bar to be pro-

duced in Nigeria and is targeted at children and adults who are looking for healthy and nutritious snacks as an alternative to chips, pastries, rolls and chocolate bricks. “The need of the hour is to be health conscious and look for snacks that help us balance our active life with our nutrition needs. Corny is produced and packed to international standard using German technology.” Murugesan added. SAAFL has state of the art factory for biscuits with European and Asian plant and machinery at Ijoko Road, Sango Ota, Ogun State. The plant operations is managed by local and expatriates and manufactures biscuits, corn-puff, cream wafers and other products. The key brands are Sona Aktive, Sona Malty and Sona Snowy in biscuit category, Cheese Bite in corn-puff category and Golden Fairy Vanilla in cream wafer category.

tent. It would be an unfair start. We need a fair start. These issues need to be discussed by the stakeholders and other content providers in the industry so that we can find an amicable solution,” he added. Okunola said the company has made subscription very competitive so that families could have access to the services. He said the subscription fee is N4000. Consat provides direct-tohome digital multi-channel television services to subscribers with access to multiple

programming that transmits directly to subscribers’ homes or businesses via high-powered geosynchronous satellites. The platform is home to some of the world’s most popular brands, including SKY News, Fox, Nickelodeon, MTV and Extreme Sports. The platform also plans to build and offer Consat branded channels with yet to be revealed unique proposition. “Nigerians have come to expect diversity in terms of what they watch and listen to. We are a nation that attracts the

attention of people around the world; content providers like us are expected to provide the best in information and entertainment content that showcases why Nigeria is so important to the world. Consat will definitely resonate with viewers, especially working professionals seeking international exposure,” he said. The company is optimistic it’s bringing a vast wealth of experience from the telecommunications and broadcast industry that is invaluable to satellite services business.

L-R: Chukwuoti Jephtha, Romanus Nnamani, Stephen Ajayi, Chinonyerem Eleleme, all winners of the Legend Extra Stout Unique Dubai Shopping experience; Marketing Manager, Legend, Gulder and Life- Nigerian Breweries Plc. Emmanuel Agu, Emmanuel Ogunje, Anchuku John, Olusegun Ogunbiade and Peter Boniface, other winners of the Legend Extra Stout Unique Dubai Shopping experience at the Ibis City Hotel in Dubai.

Legend Extra Stout fetes winners in Dubai L egend Extra Stout, brewed by Nigerian Breweries Plc., has taken another set of winners in the on-going Real Deal consumer promo to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, for an all-expenses paid shopping experience. The second set of the lucky consumers who emerged winners at the Enugu draws, a fortnight ago were on Monday, June 9, flown to Dubai where the brand treated them to fun and excitement in addition to shopping for items worth N1 million in one of Dubai’s biggest malls. On their arrival in Dubai the winners were treated to a whole day of desert safari. There they visited different exciting spots. Their first stop was at the Falcon spot where they learnt a few things about the falcon from an expert fal-

coner who also entertained them with exciting displays. Next was the Sunset photo Spot where they had fun running up and down the dunes, taking personal photographs and watching the sun set in the middle of the Arabian Desert. The fun later moved to the Camel Spot where the winners enjoyed an exciting camel ride. They capped off the day’s adventure at the Bedouin-style camp being entertained by a belly dancer while they enjoyed a three course Arabian dinner. The next day, they embarked on the unique shopping experience at one of Dubai’s biggest shopping malls. One after the other the winners raced through some sections of the shopping mall, in 60 seconds, picking the range of items they could lay their hands on. The lucky winners expressed

delight with their new but unique experience in Dubai and also expressed satisfaction with the items they picked. Olusegun Ogunbiade, a carpenter who emerged a winner from Port Harcourt described the entire Dubai experience as enlightening. He thanked Legend Extra Stout for changing his perception of life generally through the Dubai trip. He said: “Legend has elevated my thinking; I now have a better estimation of myself. Something I never imagined will come within my reach, Legend has made possible free of charge. It has been VIP treatment right from my base in Port Harcourt down to Dubai”. The Legend Dubai promo is currently on its third and final phase. Legend Extra Stout is also giving out instant airtime said to be worth N300 million.

Short Story NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

21 JUNE 2014

Writer in focus:

MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU

From Ghana with love

ndrew’s cell phone rang at exactly 10pm that night. It was a Friday night. He had been working late at the office and was just about to leave for home when he received the phone call from Chika his bosom friend. “Thank God it’s Friday,” Chika yelled over the phone. “My man, you really need to relax sometimes and stop working too hard. So meet me at the club.” “Oh, so today is Friday,” said Andrew. His job was apparently so full of stress that he had obviously forgotten that a new weekend had arrived. “My brother, you’re right, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. I’ll be with you at the club within the next thirty minutes.” Thirty minutes later, the two friends met at their favorite club located around Ikeja, in Lagos, Nigeria. “There are so many beautiful girls here tonight,” Chika said. “And I expect you to pick any one of them and have fun. Who knows, you might just find your missing rib.” Andrew simply sighed in disbelief at what Chika had said. What kind of responsible man ever picked a wife from a nightclub of all places? Good girls never went to nightclubs, only bad girls did. Andrew laughed it off and went towards the bar to order a drink. “Good evening sir, how is work?” said the barman. “I’m cool,” Andrew answered. “Just serve me the usual.” The barman understood, and immediately served Andrew a shot of brandy. He had taken only a sip from the glass when he smelled perfume and heard the soft sounds of high heels approaching. He looked over his shoulder to see the approaching female, and at that instant their eyes met. She was tall, slender, and had shiny brown skin. To Andrew, she was the perfect hot chocolate beauty. She took his breath away. Without thinking, Andrew stretched out his hand. The handshake made her smile, and her lovely smile was the green light that Andrew needed to go ahead and chat her up. “Baby, I’m lonely tonight, and I need someone like you for company,” he said to her. “I will only keep you company on one condition,” she said. “Okay what’s your condition?” “My condition is that you don’t get drunk.” “Of course, I won’t,” Andrew said. “I’m not like that.” That was how they got talking and sat together. She told him her name was Angela and that she hailed from Benin city. “You are really the Angela of the angels. That’s why you look as beautiful as an angel,” Andrew complimented her. “You’re also a hot, handsome man,” Angela complimented him back. “You look just as hot as the brandy in your glass.” As they talked, Chika walked up to them. He was surprised to see Andrew chatting so heartily with a strange woman. “I can see that you’ve met someone special,” he said. “I and my girlfriend have been waiting for you. But since you’re busy, let me leave you to enjoy yourself.” Chika exchanged pleasantries with Angela before leaving them alone. Angela and Andrew talked and danced, and danced and talked, for a long time that night. And even though the dance floor

was filled with people, Angela and Andrew danced as though they were the only ones on the floor. By 2am they were feeling a bit fatigued. “Let’s go to my place and rest and talk some more,” Andrew suggested. Angela agreed and they left to spend the rest of the night at Andrew’s place. The night was cold as they lay in bed together. And as Andrew held Angela in his arms, Angela said to him: “Let me tell you my love story.” “It’s a sad one.” “Five years ago, I was married to a South African man and we lived in a beautiful house in Johannesburg. My husband was a perfect gentleman. He was the most loving, caring and romantic man I had ever met, and those moments I spent with him were my happiest moments. I practically lived in Heaven. “Unfortunately, my husband later fell ill and I lost him to cancer.” “Oh, that’s terrible, my love,” said Andrew. Your heart must have been broken. How have you been faring ever since?” He asked. “At best, I have lived like a fugitive, and at worst, like a destitute,” she said. “After my husband’s death, I had nobody to care for me. I was jobless and broke, so I kept moving from place to place. And even though I had nowhere to go, I headed anywhere. “I left South Africa for Kenya three months after my husband’s death. Penni-

All Angela wanted from him was his heart. And at that very moment, he wished he could cut open his heart with a knife and send it to her in a parcel less in Kenya, I relocated to Cameroun and then to Nigeria with the hope of working in one of the oil companies here and making some money. “But I have not found any respite here in Nigeria, and I’ve had to work as a prostitute in different clubs like this to feed myself and stay alive.” Andrew was touched and almost moved to tears when he heard Angela’s story. He drew her close without saying anything, as if trying to comfort her with his body rather than with words. There was silence in the bedroom for a couple of minutes as she buried her head in his chest and wept. “Sometimes I feel like committing suicide, but my religion prevents me from doing so,” she said, as she tried to prevent her hot tears from falling on his hairy chest.

“I also have a sad love story,” he said. “The only woman I have ever loved left me for another man. I would have committed suicide a long time ago if I didn’t have self control. That’s why I go to nightclubs to drown my sorrows.” That night, Andrew comforted Angela and comforted himself too. He told her that they could stay together as a couple and live happily ever after. “This is an opportunity for us,” he said. “We have both experienced heartbreaks in the past. Now, we can both give each other joy.” Soon afterwards, they made love and fell asleep in each other’s arms. Andrew woke up with a headache at eight the following morning, and Angela was nowhere to be found. How could she have left him like that? he thought. Was he dreaming? He looked around his bedroom in a confused state of mind. Somehow, maybe out of instinct, he looked at the reading table on the other side of his bed and saw a white sheet of paper on top of the table. Angela had left a note for him. The note read: Andrew, sorry I lied. I’m not from Benin city, I’m from Ghana, but everything else that I told you about me is true. If you’re really sure that you love me, meet me in Accra, Ghana, next Saturday. Make sure you fly with Ghana Airways. I love you. Andrew knew that this was his chance of a lifetime to be with somebody who actually loved him for who he really was on the inside. All Angela wanted from him was his heart. And at that very moment, he wished he could cut open his heart with a knife and send it to her in a parcel. He called his drycleaner to come and pick up his favorite black suit for cleaning. The drycleaner returned the suit in a very clean condition just in time for Andrew to make the trip. Andrew wasted no time in booking a flight to Accra with Ghana Airways. The following weekend, his friend Chika drove him down to the Muritala Mohammed Airport, where he boarded the Ghana Airways plane with a song in his heart. He had missed Angela blindly during the past week and he couldn’t wait to see her again and hold her in his arms. Andrew was still humming to himself in a low tone, oblivious of the other passengers also boarding the plane, when one of the air hostesses gently tapped him on the shoulder from behind. Andrew felt irritated by the tap on the shoulder. He didn’t like his thoughts to be so rudely interrupted while he was fantasizing about Angela. He reluctantly turned around to attend to the Air Hostess, and was shocked at who he saw. Andrew almost screamed in surprise when he saw that the air hostess who had tapped him was Angela. “But you didn’t tell me you were an air hostess,” he blurted out. “And you too didn’t tell me you look so handsome in a suit,” Angela retorted. They embraced each other passionately. And after Andrew had released his tight grip on her, Angela said to him: “Welcome on board, my sweetheart. Welcome on board my heart. We are now on our way to heaven, and this flight is going to last forever.” As the plane took off that moment, both lovers knew that they were going to spend the rest of their lives forever in each other’s arms.

L ve&Lv ng

Life Experience:

‘I caught my husband cheating, but I never told him’ p.36

Wedding Traditions: Wearing of wedding rings on the foot: Hindu, India p.38 NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/loveliving

Love Confession Falling in love with and getting married to somebody usually involves taking that person’s problems as our own and doing what we can to make him/her happy. In this story, a wife interferes with her husband’s job out of love for him.

met my husband, John, when I started work as a secretary at a large shopping centre. He was one of the mall maintenance workers, responsible for fixing anything that went wrong and helping out where there was any electrical or equipment problem. He was great at his job and a happy, sincere guy. As soon as we met it was instant attraction and it didn’t take long for us to realise it was love. I moved in with him in his Oshodi apartment and we wedded four months later. Our marriage was fantastic and I loved my job. The only problem was that John wasn’t happy at work. He dreamt of opening his own big supermarket business that would compete with Shoprite, and working for himself. But he didn’t believe in himself enough to actually do it. With his friendly personality and the way he could fix anything, I knew his business would be successful if only he made effort to get the capital to start the business. I tried to convince John to start his business at the slightest opportunity he got, but John wasn’t convinced. Although he really wanted to work for himself, he just didn’t have the confidence in himself. It was as though he felt he wasn’t intelligent or smart enough to manage a big business of his own. It didn’t help that his other shopping centre maintenance worker colleague, Kayode, was lazy and always made sure John was blamed for anything that went wrong. John regularly came home and told me he’d been blamed for some sloppy work that Kayode had done. John was getting more and more upset with his job, but he still didn’t believe he could make his own business work. It got me so upset seeing my wonderful partner so unhappy and losing confidence by the day. Then, John came home and told me the Maintenance Manager position in the shopping centre was vacant because the man had resigned and both John and Kayode were applying to fill the vacancy. When I found out at work that Kayode had got the promotion instead of John, I snapped. Kayode was rude to work with, mean and such a terrible worker. I just couldn’t believe he had been promoted ahead of John. Still, John wouldn’t quit the job. He

Although he really wanted to work for himself, he just didn’t have the confidence in himself

MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU ireto007@yahoo.com 0813 116 1840

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

21 JUNE 2014

‘I got my husband sacked’ remained there even under Kayode’s supervision. So I finally took things into my own hands. I knew the only way John was going to leave his job was if he was sacked, so I decided I’d make sure it happened. It happened one night. John and Kayode had been helping solve a problem in the store and had gone home for the day. I was doing some overtime in the office late that night. So I sneaked out of the office and went to the part of the shopping centre where my partner, John, and Kayode had been doing their work. I made sure no one was looking when I grabbed some of their expensive tools and equipment and dragged them to the outside of the shopping centre through the back in order to make it look like the tools hadn’t been properly put away. I tried very much to create the impression that John or Kayode hadn’t locked their work tools away carefully, and had left them out in the open with the risk of being stolen. After that, I walked up to the Manager of the shopping centre and told him that John and Kayode had always been careless with their job. I showed him their expensive work tools which were lying outside and left him alone to reach his own conclusion. The next morning, the manager called John and Kayode into his office to ask them to explain their carelessness. Kayode immediately put all the blame on John and said he knew nothing about the tools being left outside. The Manager gave both of them a query and told them to respond to it within the next 24 hours. My dear John was furious. He had never been given a query before in his working life because he had always put in his best in all the companies he had worked in. My husband really felt demoralized and discouraged about the ways things had turned out. All he had expected from the Manager was encouragement, commendation and promotion. But now he was getting the exact opposite. It was finally too much for John. He was so furious that, once again, he was going to take the blame for something he didn’t do. So he quit on the spot and walked out. As soon as I got home from work that day, I found John at home on the phone trying to reach out to his network of friends and clients to advertise his new business which he would soon be starting. It has now been six months and John’s business has taken off and he’s doing really well. The customers have been really pleased with the quality of his work and love having him around to chat with too! John is now the happiest I’ve ever known him and he’s so successful now at his new supermarket business that I’m beginning to envy him. Although I would never tell him the truth, I know getting John sacked was the best thing I have ever done for him. He’s happy, confident and it has done no harm to his bank account either! Even though his supermarket may not be as big as Shoprite or KFC or other big shopping centres, it has certainly given John an opportunity to be self-employed and maximize his potential. Your say: Would you interfere with your partner’s job if it was for his/her own good? Tell us.

MODEL OF THE WEEK Name: Kemi Tel: +234 806 495 1667

If you want to be our next model, please send your photos to: ireto007@yahoo.com Call: 0703 102 8714, 0813 116

36 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Love News

American rapper Eve weds British entrepreneur

ve and Maximillion Cooper are now man and wife. The Grammy-winning rapper and the British entrepreneur tied the knot on Saturday in Ibiza, Spain. Eve, 35, revealed that they she would get married after this year’s Gumball 3000, the 3,000-mile international motor rally founded by Cooper. “I’m so happy to make Eve my wife,” Cooper told E! News following their nuptials. “The whole experience has been amazing and we are both so happy to have tied the knot. “We met on the 2010 Gumball 3000 rally so it only seemed right to have the wedding at the finish of this year’s rally in Ibiza, which was the final stop on this year’ event,” he said. “We couldn’t be happier to celebrate such a special day with all our family and friends.” The Let Me Blow Your Mind singer wore a

custom wedding dress by Alice Temperley down the aisle. “It’s so beautiful,” Eve told E! News of her relationship before her nuptials. “It’s so different than anything I thought I would have ever wanted, but it’s perfect.” The rapper is now officially a stepmom to Cooper’s four children from a previous relationship. “I have four kids now — that’s nuts!” she exclaimed. “But I have to say they are the coolest, sweetest kids. I got really lucky. They’re really independent and just very cool. It’s really fun hanging with them.” As for whether more kids are in her future, Eve replied: “It’s whatever God wants to give me, but I think with the four, two more is just enough.” Courtesy: Yahoo.

‘I caught my husband cheating, but I never told him’

eing married for almost forty years is regarded as a huge achievement, something many people envy. If they only knew the truth about my relationship. Tony and I are the textbook case of childhood sweethearts. We met in the middle of high school and have not left each other’s side since. We married young and started a family, having the first of four children at only eighteen. We started a small business together and worked extremely hard, watching it grow steadily. Our one business quickly turned in to two, then three; before we knew it we owned an entire franchise accumulating wealth beyond our wildest dreams. We purchased a beautiful family house, put our children through private schools and enjoyed overseas holidays twice a year. Although we co-owned the business, it was all in Tony’s name - that is just the way things were in those days. I had to pinch myself sometimes reflecting over the amazing life Tony and I had made from ourselves, considering we both came from little. Until one day I received a call at home. Almost immediately the woman began sobbing down the line gasping for air. “Sarah?” she finally said. “I have been having an affair with your

Odd News

esearchers at Northwestern University have found evidence for a massive reservoir of water deep within the Earth’s mantle. The reservoir, which is said to be three times the volume of the oceans on the surface, is contained within highly-pressurized rock known as ringwoodite. The scientists hope that their findings, recently published in the journal Science, can shed light on where Earth’s oceans came from. THREE TIMES THE VOLUME OF THE OCEANS ON EARTH’S SURFACE The team, led by mineralogist Steven Jacobsen, used an array of 2000 seismometers to study how

Life Experience

husband Tony. I didn’t know he had a wife and children - I broke it off as soon as I found out. I am so sorry. I think you have the right to know.” I almost dropped the receiver. I contemplated for a brief moment trying to organise my racing mind. Holding back the tears I said sternly: “If there is one thing you can do for me, do not let Tony know you rang.” I hung up and I never heard from her again. Although I was devastated beyond belief at Tony’s betrayal, when I put my children to sleep that night, I thought of a reality far worse. Having to confront Tony, leave our family home, penniless and heartbroken. Not to mention the years in court fighting over the custody of our children and assets. I wasn’t materialistic but I wasn’t ready to let go of everything I had

With the advice of a close friend who was a solicitor and summoning all my courage, I decided to stay worked so hard for. I realised I could lose everything - not just my cheating husband. With the advice of a close friend who was a solicitor and summoning all my courage, I decided to stay mainly for my children, to preserve the life that they so enjoyed and deserved. I have never breathed a single word to Tony about the call I received that day. I do not know if their relationship stopped there or continued. I don’t know if he has had other affairs since, I suspect he has. Over the years things between my husband and I remain strained on my end. I find I can’t enjoy his company and I have no interest in being intimate with him. However, every time I think of his affair almost thirty years ago I remind myself this is the decision I made and the life I choose to live. I don’t have a loyal husband but I have more than I could have ever asked for.

Scientists discover massive ocean of water 400 miles underground

seismic waves generated by earthquakes move through the Earth’s interior. The waves’ speed changed depending on the type of rock they pass through, and wet ringwoodite has a particular effect on wave velocity. Jacobsen was able to reproduce wet ringwoodite in his lab, and the group’s findings matched what he observed in the lab. As it turns out, ringwoodite, under the extreme heat and pressure of the mantle, bleeds water. That water would then become trapped in the transition zone at between roughly 200 and 400 miles underground. The new research lends credence to theories that our oceans originated

on Earth. However, more tests will need to be conducted moving forward. Jacobsen’s team could only verify that the reservoir exists below the continental United States, so it’s unclear how far this “ocean” extends. Source: Science, New Scientist

Love Songs

NICKI MINAJ

Your Love

[Chorus:] Shawty, Imma only tell you this once, you’re the illest (Bah ba dah dah oh) And for your lovin’ I’m a Die Hard like Bruce Willis (Bah ba dah dah oh) You got spark, you, you got spunk You, you got something all the girls want You’re like a candy store And I’m a toddler You got me wantin’ more and mo mo more of Your love, your love (yeah, yeah) [x4] Your love, your love [x4] [Verse 1:] Yo (yo) He the type to pop tags and be cocking the brim Might breeze through The Ave, might stop at the gym And he keep a du rag, keep the wave on swim Wa-wa-waves on swim so they hate on him Anyway I think I met him sometime before In a different life or where I record I mean he was Adam, I think I was Eve But my vision ends with the apple on the tree ‘S’ on my chest cause I’m ready to save him Ready to give up on anybody that plays him And I think I love him, I love him just like I raised him When he call me mama, lil mama, I call him baby.

Love Poem

Chloe

Whispering Our Love Come A Little Closer Honey, Come a little closer, let me whisper in your ear. Let me tell it to you softly, So that no one else will hear. What I have to say is private, and is .......... *Send your love poems along with your name and number to ireto007@yahoo.com

Romantic Jokes

Best Friend

Mark was passing by the bar on the way home from work when he sees his good friend Tom gulping down one shot after another. Fearing the worst, Mark charged into the bar and confronted Tom. “Tom what’s going on?” Mark asked. “It’s my wife Beckie,” Tom replied. “She ran off with my best friend!” “Hey wait a second! Said Mark “Aren’t I your best friend?” “Not anymore,” Tom said with a happy smile. “He is!”

Words of Wisdom: Love never fails

Relationships & Love Advice

Dear Love Doctor, I am a single mother and there is this man that I have been dating for the past three years who said he’s a divorcee. He’s has been helping me financially to take care of my son and doing so many necessary things for me. But up till now he has not proposed to me. Instead, he always calls me his wife to be. From Ruth, BB PIN: 328D8812. From Kenny. Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Ruth, don’t be in too much of a hurry to make a man propose to you, because in so doing, you’re portraying yourself as desperate. If he calls you his wife to be, give him time to make up his mind and don’t press him into it. However, I don’t think that man actually wants to marry you. He is likely playing with your emotions and intelligence. However, if you feel very insecure in the relationship and need answers fast, have a serious discussion with him to know his plans for you, if any. Or leave him and find a better man. Good luck. If you want daily love tips or advice, download The Color of Love Guide on your iPad and iPhone. Search for ‘Color of Love’ on your Apple App store now and

Oluwatosin, 24, in Lagos, needs a guy from 28 to 35 years for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage. 07039818016, BB Pin: 218AF48D. • Connect with Mike on WhatsApp or BlackBerry Pin: 7ab29e22 or 21978F71 for details on how to send your BlackBerry request. • Call Mike on 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641 to link up and for direct hookup.

download the App. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com If you’re in a crisis, call for help: 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08023700641. Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com

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Love Education

‘My man doesn’t want to propose to me’

Blackberry Connection

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

♥ Ebube, 43, 5.5ft, chocolate, in Enugu, business man in Lagos, needs a woman of 34-37 years for marriage. 09032233402. ♥ Jona, 37, 6ft, works in Lagos, needs a working or business woman of 42-48 years, single mother, divorcee, or widow for a romantic relationship. 07061300755. ♥ Uche, works in Lagos, needs a matured working/business woman or widow for companionship. 08131161840. ♥ Ibrahim, 40, 6ft, senior civil servant, in Lagos, needs a loving and caring woman for marriage. 08034296228.

Lovers’ Answers Game: The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love, and choose your lover from the top 3 answers. Ifunanya from Ebonyi, via 08184605693, is asking all men: “Must sex be the number one priority in a relationship?” *Call Mike: 07031028714 to send questions or issues.

What is sexual abuse?

exual abuse refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually they don’t want to do. It can also refer to behavior that impacts a person’s ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs, including oral sex, rape or restricting access to birth control and condoms. It is important to know that just because the victim “didn’t say no,” doesn’t mean that they meant “yes.” When someone does not resist an unwanted sexual advance, it doesn’t mean that they consented. Sometimes physically resisting can put a victim at a bigger risk for further physical or sexual abuse. Some think that if the victim didn’t resist, that it doesn’t count as abuse. That’s not true. It still is. This myth is hurtful because it makes it more difficult for the victim to speak out and more likely that they will blame themselves. Whether they were intoxicated or felt pressured, intimidated or obligated to act a certain way, it’s never the victim’s fault.

Some examples of sexual assault and abuse are: Unwanted kissing or touching. Unwanted rough or violent sexual activity. Rape or attempted rape. Refusing to use condoms or restricting someone’s access to birth control. Keeping someone from protecting themselves from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexual contact with someone who is very drunk, drugged, unconscious or otherwise unable to give a clear and informed “yes” or “no.” Threatening someone into unwanted sexual activity. Repeatedly pressuring someone to have sex or perform sexual acts. Repeatedly using sexual insults toward someone. Keep in Mind Everyone has the right to decide what they do or don’t want to do sexually. Not all sexual assaults are violent “attacks.” Most victims of sexual assault know the assailant. Both men and women can be victims of sexual abuse. Both men and women

can be perpetrators of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse can occur in same-sex and oppositesex relationships. Sexual abuse can occur between two people who have been sexual with each other before, including people who are married or dating. Sexual activity in a relationship should be fun! Get our tips for navigating sex and healthy relationships. What to Do If you have been sexually assaulted, first get to a safe place away from the attacker. You may be scared, angry and confused, but remember the abuse was in no way your fault. You have options. You can: Contact Someone You Trust. Many people feel fear, guilt, anger, shame and/or shock after they have been sexually assaulted. Having someone there to support you as you deal with these emotions can make a big difference. It may be helpful to speak with a counselor, someone at a sexual assault hotline or a support group. Get more tips for building a support system. Report What Happened to the Police. If you do decide to report what happened, you will have a stronger case if you do not alter or destroy any evidence. This means don’t shower, wash your hair or body, comb your hair or change your clothes, even if that is hard to do. If you are nervous about going to the police station, it may help to bring a friend with you. There may also be sexual assault advocates in your area who can assist you and answer your questions. Go to an Emergency Room or Health Clinic. It is very important for you to seek health care as soon as you can after being assaulted. You will be treated for any injuries and offered medications to help prevent pregnancy and STIs. Remember there is always help. For more information or to find out about available resources in your area, chat with an advocate. Courtesy: loveisrespect. org

Sexual abuse can occur between two people who have been sexual with each other before, including people who are married or dating

38 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

True Confession From Overseas

‘I peed in his perfume’

hen I was at uni, I was just about to turn 21 and my best friend Pete asked me to move into a share house with him and his mate Ben, because their other housemate was leaving. I was a bit hesitant because, until that point, it had been an all-boy household. But Pete convinced me that Ben, who I didn’t know very well, had three sisters and was used to living with girls. So I decided to move in. For the first few months it was great. But after a while I began to notice that Ben was actually really lazy, never doing the dishes, always leaving mess around, and finishing the last of the milk without replacing it, despite the fact that we lived across the road from a convenience store. He was always bringing girls back to the house and letting them help themselves to what was in the fridge as well as my shampoo and cosmetics in the bathroom. Afterwards, he’d strut around the house bragging about what a stud he was, thinking it was hysterically funny. When we went back to college, Pete was not around as much, which was fine as we were all busy studying. But the less Pete was around, the worse Ben got. He’d play music at top volume when he’d come home at 2am with random girls, knowing I had to work at 7.00am, or when we were studying for exams because it was “the only way” he could concentrate. When I confronted him about it, he tried to pull me onto his lap and bat his eyelashes at me, all coy and flirty. I was furious. It was then I realised that he wasn’t “used to living with girls” — he was used to having three sisters and a mum to do everything for him. I thought things would get better when Carla moved in. We had a spare room out the back and I thought another girl would restore the balance. But it made things worse because Ben and Carla hooked up. Now I had two inconsiderate people in the house. When Pete went away for a college trip for two months, things grew worse still. Carla was a waitress and often had to work late on weekends. After a while, Ben was back to his old habits with the random girls — he would go down to the local pub on a Saturday night, pick up some girl, bring her back to our house, sleep with her (rather noisily) and then send her on her way before Carla got home from work around 1am. I was absolutely disgusted. Carla was still my friend, and I couldn’t believe he was blatantly cheating on her. And he’d still strut around the house in his boxer shorts, dabbing himself with Calvin Klein Obsession and calling himself “the lady killer”. It all came to a head one day when I came home from work and Ben and Carla were at it in the bath with the door open. I had to walk past the bathroom to get to the rest of the house, so without looking I pulled the door closed — what else could I do? But they got really angry at me and started yelling about how I was really inconsiderate and rude. Even Carla started yelling at me — I couldn’t believe it. I told them they should be more discreet, looking pointedly at Ben, and then Carla started screaming that I was just jealous of her and what they had. Well, that was it. I decided right then and there that I couldn’t handle this anymore without Pete around, so I packed everything into my room, gave them two months’ rent and went back to my folks’ place.

I was absolutely disgusted. Carla was still my friend, and I couldn’t believe he was blatantly cheating on her I was so angry. I called my mum and ranted to her and saying how horrible Ben was, how he was cheating on Carla and how she had turned on me. I even told her about the perfumed strut he’d do around the house before and after he cheated on Carla. To that, my mum said, “He’s just an idiot, sweetheart. People are like that. You should piss in his per-

fume — that would teach him eh?” Of course my sweet old mum was just saying this as a joke to make me laugh. But the more I thought about it, the better an idea it seemed. I was laughing to myself every time I thought about it. But I knew that, as funny as it was, I didn’t think I could really go through with it. A week later I had to go and get my stuff. When I got there I went into the kitchen to get a set of crystal champagne flutes my aunt had given me for my 21st. In my hasty packing earlier, I’d forgotten to put them in my room. I looked on the shelf in the cupboard and they weren’t there. I asked Ben where they were and he said “If you leave things lying around, they tend to get broken, you know?” Then he and Carla left for a romantic lunch. I was absolutely furious. He had purposely broken my 21st birthday present just because he was such a jerk. My brother turned up then to help me pack my things in the car. I was so mad when he got there. It was then that it occurred to me that I could go through with peeing in his perfume! That would teach him every time he did his big strut! So I made my brother keep watch at the front door, I went into Ben’s room and picked up his big bottle of Obsession. I went to the laundry, grabbed the little jug we used to fill up the iron, and took it to the bathroom. Standing over the kitchen sink, I poured out half the bottle of Obsession and poured in the contents of the jug, which earlier in the day had been a glass of water that I had consumed. I started to panic when it went all cloudy, but it soon settled down and looked completely normal. I put the bottle back in Ben’s room, packed my things and left. I still keep in touch with Pete, and I know that he is still mates with Ben. Ben and Carla split up long ago, but as far as I know, to this day neither of them is the wiser. I can only assume that until the bottle was empty, Ben was wearing my pee as cologne! Courtesy: ninems.com

Wedding Traditions

‘My wife and her mother want to kill me’ Stories by Abimbola Sodeke

r. Emmanuel Nwubube has pleaded with a Lagos Customary Court to dissolve his union with his wife, Gloria, claiming that she is troublesome. “My wife’s problem is too much. She and her mother trouble me a lot. They fight me always and I am getting frustrated. In fact their problem is too much for me to bear,” he said. Nwubube told the court that his wife’s mother came to live with them in their one room apartment and ever since he has had no peace from them. “I never married this lady who claimed to be my wife. She was my lover and she got pregnant for me by accident. I had to accept her with the child, and we were living peacefully before her mother came to spoil everything. “I bought a half bag of rice and gaari and other items, and within two weeks everything was gone. When I asked what happened to the items they started fighting me, “ he narrated. But Gloria claimed that all the allegations against her were false. She insisted that she still loves her husband but that she would leave if he insists. “My baby is still small. If he insist I go, I will leave, but not until the child grows a little, because I don’t have anywhere to go for now,” she said. The court president, P. A. Williams, advised the couple not to dissolve their union. He said the issue is a minor one which could be settled amicably. He told the couple to come with two members of their family each on the adjourned date of June 19.

Husband and wife reconcile in court

Wearing of wedding rings on the foot: Hindu, India I n most wedding ceremonies, rings are placed on fingers during the exchange of vows – but Hindu couples take a very different approach. Hindu

Lovers in Court

brides traditionally wear their wedding ring on their left foot. Courtesy: eharmony.com

r Christopher Akinawo recently asked a Lagos court to dissolve his marriage of over 40 years which had produced five children. Akinawo had told the court that his wife was troublesome and a threat to his life. He claimed that she never stood by him when he had nothing, but instead, acted wickedly towards him. “When I had nothing, this woman rubbished me and told me I was poor. She compared my house with a boys’ quarters and even left the house in order to flirt freely,” he said. “She travelled to Ghana to engage in prostitution, leaving her children behind,” he added. However, his wife, Tinuke, denied traveling to Ghana for prostitution. She said she traveled with aim of making a better life for her family and maintained that she was still in love with her husband. “It is true I traveled to Ghana but it wasn’t for prostitution, but for a better life. I didn’t forget home. I came back home because I still love my husband. I was selling sachet water in Ghana to cater for the children’s education and I was sending money to them,” she said. “My second daughter actually came to Ghana and saw me selling sachet water. Now my children are grown and comfortable and I don’t want to suffer in vain. “Please help me beg my husband to forgive me in anyway I have offended him”, she urged the court. The court president, P. A. Williams pleaded with Mr. Akinawo to forgive his wife and take her back. Mr. Akinawo reconciled with his wife in court.

Travel&Tourism ON SATURDAY Destination ABUJA: Still a long walk to centre of attraction p.42

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/travel

Travel Personality ‘I have no regrets dumping banking for travel business’ p.40

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

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

21 JUNE 2014

HOSPITALITY

The splendour of Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort

The facade

The exterior splendour of the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, is dwarfed only by the surreal feel of its interior

HE environment is simply magical; luscious and luxuriating green is what first catches your imagination as you drive through the sometimes lonely pathway of Nwaniba Village into the well – manicured landscape of the resort, which is nestled against tropical forested area. With a welcoming ambience, warm and inviting, Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort on the outskirts of Uyo is well laid out like a spread sheet on 145 hectares spiced with palms trees, golfing grounds and natural vegetation. The ambience of the resort exudes paradise like beauty and bliss as well as a natural beauty and picturesque setting that any visitor would find irresistible. Beyond its peaceful and natural setting, your discovery is that the resort features sophisticated and well – apportioned facilities with attention to detail, ample space to explore and a number of services and offerings delivered in an exciting and practiced professional manner by the associates (staff). Rooms Its boast 163 rooms, suites and chalets. The rooms are enchanting, exquisitely and stylishly furnished and fitted to give the visitor an alluring experience of a life time; featuring among others mini bar and refrigerator, comfy bed that is heavily laced, flat screen LCD television with cable channels, tea/coffee making material, reading lamp, private balcony with exciting view, iron/ironing board and internet access. Cafe A standard business centre equipped with basic facilities catering for the business needs of the guests. Wellness/fitness It features a dedicated fitness centre, which is fitted with variety of modern fitness facilities to enhance wellness and

The hotel’s reception

help the guest maintained required health regime and physical fitness. Sports Besides the lush 18 - hole golf course, the hotel also offers other sports enthusiasts the opportunity to explore their sporting capabilities with the provision of outdoor pool, outdoor tennis court, squash court, massage treatments, planned poolside activities, tennis lessons, golf lessons, karaoke, aerobic classes Dining/wining It is always a pleasure to dine and wine at any of the hotel’s restaurants, especially during special offers and theme nights. The options include Vista Restaurant, Rising Sun, Rotunda Bar, The Akwa Ikpa Cafe, and Terrace to Swimming Bar. The Marina Club presents a different proposal with a life of its own and romantic flavours. Conference The hotel also promotes conference tourism with a range of conference facilities including banqueting or conference hall, eight function rooms and private meeting or dining room, all fully equipped. The hotel also offers an outdoor patio for receptions of up to 500 people while all meeting rooms feature high speed internet access points. Golf It is home to an enchanting golf facilities – a 18 – hole golf course spanning, 6,361metre with enriching and luscious greens spiced

Cushy...a standard bedroom

Golf course

by palm trees. It is also has an attractive club house - De Terrace Golf with a welcoming ambience where variety of services are available with ideal setting for relaxation. It plays hosts to Le Meridien Golf Open series alongside other competition. Other services/facilities Parking facility , airport transportation (Charge), private helicopter service, car rental service, Le Méridien Sparkling, wheelchair access, emergency back-up generators, sig-

nature breakfast + eye openers, bellmen/ porters, ice machine, shoe shine service, welcome drinks, boat trips, concierge service, tour/excursion service, laundry/valet service, 24-hour room serve/security. Ownership Owned by the Akwa Ibom State government but managed by Le Meridien - a member of Starwood, an international management chain, the resort started operation in 2007.

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS BENEFITS

FESTAC, LAGOS

PARKVIEW ESTATE, IKOYI, LAGOS

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

40 TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

CHEF’S CORNER

A taste of Africa’s culinary diversity Andrew Iro Okungbowa

OR your chef delight this week, we bring you savoury recipes from Africa, one from Morocco and the second from Zimbabwe with the hope that you would try out these recipes and experience the rich culinary diversity of Africa. Moroccan honey cookies

500g (12oz) sweet paste (mixture of sugar, margarine and zest of lime) 400g (10oz) cake crumbles 350g mixed fruit jam 100ml (3oz) natural honey 200g (6oz) mixed fruit of choice Preparation Rub the sweet paste on a grease pan Put the cake crumbles in a whisking bowl Add the jam and mixed thoroughly Add honey and the mixed fruit Mixed thoroughly till it forms a sticky paste Remove and spread on a pan Refrigerate overnight Bake at 180c for 45 minutes Cool on a rack and cut into square segments Served cold (It is believed to be a stable and popular delicacy in Rabat)

Zimbabwean bean salad Two garlic cloves (crushed) Two table spoon (30ml) vegetable oil Two table spoon (30mg0 dark brown sugar Two table spoon (30ml) vinegar Quarter table spoon (1.25mg) dried basil 200g (60z) canned bake beans (drained) 200g (6oz) butter beans (drained) 200g (6oz) green beans (drained) One small onion (chopped) Three green bell peppers (chopped) Salt Pepper (to taste) Preparation Combine first five ingredients with salt and pepper to taste in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, simmer for five minutes. Combine remaining ingredients in a serving bowl. Pour hot dressing over vegetable mixture, mixed thoroughly. Cover and leave to marinate at room temperature for 24 hours, then chill before serving

(Courtesy of Abuja Digest)

NIHOTOUR host food fair

n June 24, Abuja would have a sizzling experience as the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) stage an international food fair at the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC). Tagged “Nigerian food and cultural fair,” it is a two day exhibition attracting the exposition of the different cuisines from across the country. Various operators, products and services providers, eateries, students and other stakeholders in the Nigerian food sector are expected at the fair that would also attract a touch of international flavour as continental dishes would also be on showcase. According to the institute’s board chairman, Mr. Kanayo O. Kanayo, the event which was designed as part of the centenary initiative of the school would among others bring to the fore the place of Nigerian food, adding that from his wide travels, Africa is blessed with enormous food species, but Nigeria is even more blessed with amazing food varieties. While promising that the vision of NIHOTOUR was to leverage the government’s transformation programme, using the rich Nigerian food culture as launch pad, he promised that with other stakeholders, the school would ensure that Nigerian food get a global recognition. He said with the diverse and rich menu of the country, what was required was a colourful and presentable packaging for the global community to recognise and appreciate. Speaking on the two-day international food fair also, the directorgeneral of the institute, Dr. Munzali Dantata, said the event is in line with its core mandate, tagging the theme as “One Hundred Years of Food, Culture and Hospitality in Nigeria in commemoration of the Nigerian Centenary.’’ According to Dantata, “as you are aware, hotels, restaurants, airlines and hospitality businesses serve food and beverages in the course of their normal business, which make them an integral member of the food industry,

at the end of the value chain.’’ He noted that the fair will provide a platform for different organisations in the food sector to promote their brands and that the occasion will equally bring together professionals and experts from across various sectors to deliver papers on topical issues of the food industry and hospitality industry. “The food landscape has gone through dramatic transformation over the last one hundred years. The eating habits of Nigerians have changed. The fair supports the agricultural transformation agenda and the transformation agenda as a whole, which were launched by the Federal Government in 2011 with the aim of transforming the Nigerian economy, to modernise it as well as meet the needs of the Nigerian people,” said Dantata. He also noted that the planning and execution of the event will focus on best international standards and practices, taking into consideration, cultural values, customs and traditions of Nigerians to ensure that the target audience and participants are well informed, entertained and educated.

Dantata

TRAVEL BEATS Brazil 2014: NTDC drums support for Super Eagles, markets Nigeria’s tourism At the ongoing World Cup in Brazil, it is not only Nigeria’s football artistry that is on showcase, there are efforts to highlight the country’s tourism potential with the director-general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, at the frontline. This followed a recent pact by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and NTDC to jointly promote and market Nigeria’s tourism products and potential within and outside the country. With this, NTDC has endorsed NFF as its sports tourism partner for domestic and international sports tourism and granted NFF reasonable rights to branding of NTDC events. It would as well publicize NFF during NTDC tourism events and promote sports tourism at all local and international football matches, starting with the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil. According to Mbanefo, Brazil 2014 affords the country the opportunity to reach out to the world. ‘‘The whole world’s attention is already focused

Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, flanked by the former Super Eagles’ captain and ex-international footballer, Kanu Nwankwo (left) and striker, Shola Ameobi, in Brazil. on Brazil and it is a great conglomeration of people. Our aim is to achieve maximal growth in our domestic tourism and what other way can that be achieved than for us to market that which is ours. Tell the world about our story, our fascinating story. What we have in Nigeria, majority of the country in the world don’t have half of it,” she said. “We want Nigerians in the Diaspora and the others to know that Nigeria

is the place to be. As the nerve centre of the tourism sector, we have to redefine our strategy bearing in mind the development and promotion of domestic tourism. We are the ultimate beneficiaries of domestic tourism. The well-being of domestic tourism is the wellbeing of our cash in the bank. As domestic operations blossom, our coast of operation and cash flow also blossom.”

...FCC lauds Mbanefo’s one year in office FROM the Federal Character Commission (FCC) has come commendation for the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Director General, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo for her achievements in office in the last one year. A federal commissioner at the FCC, Dr. Iboko Imo Iboko, described the activities of the NTDC’s helmswoman as a progressive phenomenon, with a capacity to promote Nigerian tourism and create wealth for the people at the grassroots in the country. He gave this commendation during the one-day workshop for chief executive officers, directors of human resources and administrators of ministerial departments and agencies (MDAs), held at the

Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium, Ministry of Justice, Abuja. “The activities of Sally Mbanefo within the first year in office clearly showed that she evidently understood the concept of tourism development and promotion with reference to development of economy and empowerment of the people of a nation,’’ he said, adding that ‘‘her approach to achieving the domestic tourism development and promotion in Nigeria is apt, especially with the visit to traditional rulers, who are the custodian of our culture and heritage, domestic tourism promoters, tourist sites in the six geopolitical zones in the country with the aim of knowing their state and developing one site per zone.’’

Booking firm launches low-cost airlines list AN Australian airline booking portal, WhichAirline, has revealed the names of the 15 all lowcost airlines in the world, following a recent research. The popular Ryanair, easyJet, WizzAir and Indigo made the list with the average fares starting from $44. The list include: 1. Firefly (Malaysia) $44; 2. VivaAerobus (Mexico) $69; 3. Air Asia (Malaysia) $72; 4.

SpiceJet (India) $76; 5. FastJet (Tanzania) $77; 6. Onur Air (Turkey) $81; 7. Atlasjet (Turkey) $91; 8. Tigerair (Singapore) $91.50; 9. Pegasus Airlines (Tukey) $94; 10. Ryanair (Ireland) $95; 11. IndiGo Air (India) $99; 12. Peach (Japan) $102; 13. Wizz Air (Hungary) $102.50; 14. Jetstar (Australia) $112 and 15. Allegiant Air (US) $114.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

TRAVEL PERSONALITY Not everyone understands the intricacies and finest details of tour business in Nigeria as does Chikezie Osuagwu who in this chat with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA speaks of his over two decades experience in promoting Nigeria and other destinations.

TRAVEL&TOURISM

I have no regrets dumping banking for travel business — Osuagwu

HIKEZIE Osuagwu of CGSK Partnership and Development and CGSK Travel and Tours didn’t set out from the beginning to be a tour operator. No doubt he enjoyed travelling, something he says he grew up with from childhood but when he realised that he was somewhat destine to travel this path he didn’t falter. Even though he could had long given up but in his words, he “hung on to it” and today booming with smile and satisfaction, elated Osuagwu who is fondly referred to by many in the travel business, especially his numerous clients as ‘Chief of Enjoyment’ (COE), tells you that it has been a positively rewarding journey. His eye is still on height yet to be conquered though. Growing up If there was anything fascinating to Osuagwu, it was the joy and excitement of hitching a ride with his father when he was growing up. This was when his father was a sales man with of one of the big conglomerates in the country on his incessant and numerous journeys across the country, particularly the eastern part of the country. “Right from my childhood I have always been a traveller. My father was a travelling salesman and he worked for one of the big conglomerates in Nigeria. He was always travelling and in some of the occasions he would take me around to the eastern part of Nigeria,” he recounts. Osuagwu reminiscences thus: “We travelled to Makurdi, Enugu, Jos and Port Harcourt and I saw the beauty of our landscapes, of our cities. I am talking about so many years ago, over 30, 40 years ago when we were in a kind of a rustic state, where people loved people and people accommodated people.” This interest never weaned even when he got into the university- Federal University of Technology, Owerri, where he studied project management - rather it got ignited the more with him signing up for Rotract Club, which also afforded him the opportunity and privilege to travel with his colleagues to different parts of Imo State and across the country. “When I got into the university, I developed that interest for travelling. I had friends and I would organise trips for all of us and we would go to Oguta Lake, have fun and return in the evening. Sometimes we would go to Enugu... moving around and organising shows. “I wasn’t particularly a very good student but I really enjoyed myself while I was in school. I was above average and not a first class type but I really enjoyed myself. So, the school went through me while I also went through the school. I really, really had fun while I was in the university and today I am happy to say that it wasn’t real bad at all, he recalls of his enterprising days.”

Ephesus, Turkey

Osuagwu

Project Spectrum As fate would have it after graduation he worked for a company, which gave him the opportunity to organise seminars and conferences for the staff. This exposed him to another aspect of travel business, which later he would pursue full time. At a point, he reveals that he moved on to work with a bank but after a short stint, he realised that banking was not for him. “I just walked out of the bank because I couldn’t just keep myself in one place either counting money or keeping records. I really, really wanted to move around. So, I set up my company, a tourism service company, my first company in 1993 then called Project Spectrum. With Project Spectrum in Lagos, he started his engagement with the world of travel. He organised seminars, conferences and workshops for banks and other organisations but this time with a difference as he introduced the leisure aspect into the packages. Rather than having four, five days of intellectual work, he would have just two or three days for brainstorming sessions and the remaining days were devoted to leisure activities as he took the people on tour different attractions packed full with fun. The people thoroughly enjoyed it and so, Project Spectrum became almost a household name and the envy of many in the travel industry. As his influence grew, he decided to extend his scope and this time, he introduced boat cruise packages. But as confessed by him, he got his hands burnt and bankrupted because it was a complete failure due to no fault of his but the Nigerian environment.

“It was something that I learnt from another country and I wanted to practice it in Nigeria. I lost money and basically we went bankrupt but I had support from my girlfriend then but now my wife and my late friend, Dr. Ayo Daramola, who also encouraged me by saying ‘hang in there.’ Those were his words and they still resonate in my heart today,” recounts Osuagwu. Going to Ghana Picking up the pieces of his life, Osuagwu teamed up with another company to start a training programme, which he admitted was rewarding. But at a point, he discovered that people’s interest as a destination was on the decline and so, he moved to Ghana, promoting his training cum tour, which he says caught on with people. “We developed the Ghana angle and I realised that I was even missing a lot not marketing other destinations,” he says. Following this discovery and the success of the Ghana deal, “we moved to Kenya, Benin Republic and Togo. But we had problem with these two countries because of the language. And somewhere along the line we got an agency in South Africa, which asked us to come and do a programme in South Africa,” he adds. South Africa “And that was the catch and so we started getting involved with South Africa and this was in year 2000 when we started sending people to South Africa. The country was just coming out of apartheid and opening up to people to come around. We then set up an office in Abuja and I was coordinating Lagos and Abuja,” says Osuagwu of his next big move.

Cheetah Park in Livingstone, Zambia

This opened a new vista for him in the travel business as he grew two other companies – CGSK Partnership and Development and CGSK Travel and Tours with bases in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos and then a representative office in Johannesburg, South Africa. Today Osuagwu is one of the top five trade partners of South Africa Tourism Authority in Nigeria. He is highly respected and sought after for the rising profile of his companies. “South Africa is our biggest destination and we have been marketing South Africa for about 14 years. We have marketed South Africa creditably well and I know the place like the palms on my hands,” he says. Nigeria tourism While he is impressed with the progress that country like South Africa has made with their tourism and proud to be an ambassador of some sort for South Africa tourism, Osuagwu regrets that Nigeria is not on the same page with countries, which have made giant strides in tourism world. “There is no enabling environment,” for tourism to thrive in the country even as he recounts some of the challenges being faced by his company in marketing Nigeria. Apart from Cross River State and now Akwa Ibom State, not even Abuja where he operates from most times can boost of truly develop tourist destinations which are marketable. Therefore, he calls for a concerted effort to create and develop destinations for the country as that is the only way that people can be attracted to the industry. “All our historical sites and artefacts should be preserved, developed and promoted to tourists,” he cries. Also, Osuagwu advocates capacity building for the industry. “Build the capacity of our people to develop tourism. NIHOTOUR is there, it is a training agency set up by Nigeria government and what is it doing in terms of this development? Young Nigerians should tap into this industry and develop themselves. We just have to develop this industry ourselves and nobody else will but government has to lay the foundation for us.” My travel delight “Where else but South Africa? I found it very fascinating because the people are prepared, capable and able. Tourism in South Africa is wonderful - from the food - that is one thing I enjoy so much whenever I travel anywhere and then the destinations,” he says. He adds, “They’ve got numerous things for everybody to explore, so many things. For me, it is Durban and why I say Durban, it is not that I don’t love Cape Town, it is unique, exciting and wonderful while Johannesburg is hot, great and beautiful but Durban for me makes me feel cool. “I don’t like cold so much. They call Durban the warmest coast, so all through the year I feel excited about Durban, the landscape of Durban, the sea, the beaches, the night life. I know South Africa like the back of my palms but where I enjoy so much is Durban and its environs because Durban is just a city. So the Kwazulu Natal Province is actually the place for me.

With masquraders in Owerri, Imo State

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ABUJA: Still a long walk to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, is a city with its own character and rhythm conceived as a city of unity for the country with a modern outlook. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA highlights some of its tourism offerings with the conclusion that it is yet a long walk to the centre of attraction.

Background HE journey making Abuja the new Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria started with the signing of a decree on February 4, 1976, following a recommendation by the committee, which settled for the new land that would later be called the “Centre of Unity”. The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) was then set up to midwife the development and promotion of the new city. The city, as it were, is sandwiched by Kaduna State on its north, Nasarawa State to its south-east, Kogi State to its southwest and Niger to the west. The 1979 masterplan of the city, pictured a well laid out and apportioned city with identifiable characters and elements of contemporary city befitting the status of Nigeria as a modern and growing nation. Going by the plan, development of the new city was to be in four phases. Phase one consists of the Central Business District, the Three Arms Zone (Presidency, National Assembly and Supreme Court as well as the Maitama, Wuse, Garki and Asokoro residential and business districts and also has five districts, namely, Central, Asokoro, Garki, Wuse and Maitama. Phase two has five districts, namely, Kado, Durumi, Gudu, Utako and Jabi, while Phase three also has five districts, which are Mabushi, Katampe, Wuye and Gwarimpa. The city also comprises five suburban districts. These are Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Nyanya, Karu and Jukwoyi while along the long stretch or corridors of the Airport Road are satellite towns, namely Lugbe, Chika, Kuchigworo and Pyakassa. Other satellite towns are Idu, Mpape, Karimu, Gwagwa, Dei-Dei. The city formally became a functional capital city of Nigeria in December 20, 1991, when former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida moved his administration from Lagos to the new city, thus began the long walk to Abuja, which ever since has witnessed frenetic development to bring it up to speed as a deserving and truly federal capital. Administratively, the Federal Capital Territory is conceived as a mayoralty system even though it is not so in practice currently. However, it has six area councils with subdivisions and each council headed by local government council and the various subdivisions by traditional rulers. A minister is appointed for the city by the president while the Senate makes laws for the city and it is represented by a senator as well. But Abuja has become a mixed grill and far from what the original master plan envisaged with development of the city almost a mishmash and subsequent administrations struggling to restore it to the original master plan. This has so far proved a difficult task to realize. Abuja’s five districts Abuja’s five districts consist of the Central district, which is sandwiched between Aso Rock and houses a number of government and private offices; Garki is the southwestern part of the city and plays host to businesses while Wuse to the north-west also host businesses and the main market in the city while Maitama to the north of the city is seen as the exclusive abode of the rich and mighty and also home to foreign embassies. Then there is Aso Rock, which is at the eastern flank of the city and home to the political class and government.

Tourist attractions The Three Arms Zone: The “Three Arms Zone” is the magnificent seat of power of Nigeria, housing the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock), National Assembly and the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Other than the Presidential Villa, tourists are allowed access into the complex to explore and experience the space and even witness proceedings at the National Assembly, but it has to be conducted with the necessary approval obtained. NNPC Towers: It is the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the cash cow of the nation as oil it is main stay. Located in the Central Business District of the city, it is one of the high rise and architecturally pleasing and attractive buildings in the city. ECOWAS Building: Located on Yakubu Gowon Crescent in Asokoro district, the ECOWAS Building is another magnificence building to explore in the city. It is of particular interest for students of history and politics because it houses the secretariat of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS0 with Nigeria as member alongside other Africa countries within the western region. National Christian Centre: An amazing and architectural masterpiece is ecumenical centre for all the Christians in the country to hold worship and other functions. It is located on the Central Business District, a few distances from the National Mosque and the Central Bank of Nigeria building. National Mosque: Just like the National Christian Centre, is another beautiful attraction and dedicated for use by Muslims across the nation. It comes alive on Fridays during the Jumna prayers and any other festival and holiday period. It is opened to the public. Abuja International Conference Centre: Is a national event centre of international standard and quality with fantastic amenities and structure as well as landscape that is beautiful and enticing. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Building: Situated in the Central Business District of the city, the headquarters of the CBN is one of the aesthetically inviting buildings within the city to view while exploring the beauty of the city. Millennium Park: Is an expanse luscious and luxuriating open garden, very attractive and inviting and has become one of the most popular and sought after in the city by both individuals and families to catch fun and enjoy themselves, especially during festive and public holidays. Parties and picnics are allowed here apart from private and organized events. Silverbird Cinema: Is also another spot in the city to harvest fun and see the latest movies from all corners of the world and savour the beautiful landscape of the centre. Arts and Craft Village: Located in Wuse area, adjacent Abuja Sheraton, the art and craft village built with indigenous and traditional material exhibits all the gamut of Nigeria art and craft. Apart from viewing the exhibits on display you can also buy any of them for use and as souvenirs. Jabi Lake: This is one of the defining attractions of not just Jabi District but Abuja as whole because it has over the years become a place for leisure activities of different kinds, especially water related in the city. And it is the home of the boat regatta of the annual Abuja Carnival. Abuja Wonderland and Park: It is

Aso Rock

Zuma rock

Abuja three arms zone

National Church of Nigeria, Abuja

Abuja’s sought after theme park for both adult and children to catch fun and is well apportioned with different facilities for relaxation. The rocky landscape of the park makes it a wonderful place to explore. It is located a few distances from the National Stadium. Abuja National Children Park and Zoological Garden: Is Abuja’s flagship theme park for eco tourism with a naturally attractive landscape and offers opportunity for people to explore and savour some natural elements. Located at the foot of Aso Rock in Murtala Mohammed Expressway, it is a good ground for relaxation. Julie Useni Park: Is one of the privately run eco-tourism spots in the city and offers different options in flora and fauna alongside refreshment and relaxation spots within the park. Zuma Rock: Is unarguably one of Nigeria’s most recognized and appealing natural landscapes. Just within the border of Abuja, it is actually part of Suleja, Niger State however, it is a sight to be explored by visitors to Abuja as well. Nigeria Tourist Village: Located opposite the Zuma Rock, the tourist village is a privately run tourist spot where visitors are exposed to the culture and tradition of

National Mosque, Abuja

Nigeria with huts and buildings from the different cultural sections of the country and within this space visitors are treated to the various aspects of the culture they so hungered for. Arts and craft are also on display just as theatrical performances ranging from dance and music are put on display regularly. IBB International Golf Course: One of the best 18 hole golf courses in the country, the centre is not only dedicated to sport tourism but also to leisure tourism as it offers different colourful and attractive leisure options to the public. Abuja city parks: Abuja from its inception was populated by an amazing numbers of well – manicured and lush gardens and green, all dedicated as leisure and relaxation spots by the city dwellers and visitors but over time, just like everything else, many of them were abandoned and turned into different use but of recent a number of them have be reclaimed and put into their original use. So when next in the city, go for outdoors by visiting of the city’s parks within the corner to have some groove moments. Aso Rock: This defines and gives character to Abuja and adopted as the base of power – Aso Villa or Aso Rock. It is also a

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TRAVEL&TOURISM

centre of attraction Abuja Traditional material

Wonderland Park, Abuja

Art and craft village

Ceddi plaza

NCC building

long stretch rock, which serves as a backdrop for the city and ranges about 936 metres above the sea level and it is regarded as the largest rock in the city. Katampe Hill: Regarded as the centre of the country and the main reason, which lend credence to the choice of Abuja as the centre of unity and the new capital of the country. With its awesome and overwhelming rocky plains and height, reaching to the heaven, one would had expected this spot to have been developed and promoted as the best ever attraction in the country with national pride but your discovery is that the site is still in its rustic stage but interestingly, it still attracts visit because of its natural beauty. Abuja Amusement Park: Situated on Bumbuna Street, Zone 1, Wuse area of the city offers good spot for fun and relaxation by people of all ages during the week. Maitama Amusement Park: Is another major spot for people in the city to enjoy the ambience of a theme park and relax. Eagle Square: Is a defining event enclave in Abuja built by the federal government for housing state related events. Abuja carnival is hosted yearly at this square. Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre: Located in Kwali area of the city is one of the finest

Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja

home for traditional art and craft with specialization in pottery work. A cottage and tourism village ought to have been created in Kwali to further develop and promote this art to a commercial level but this has not been done over the years. Ushafa Pottery Centre: Got global recognisation when President Bill Clinton visited the craft centre during his official visit to the country during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. But like everything else, the people and government of the region have so far failed to take advantage of this to develop the village itself and the craft centre to an attractive tourist location for visitors. Usama Dam: An expanse dam with beautiful landscape, not only provide water for the city but has a potential for tourism with residents and visitors to the city making the site an exciting place to visit and have fun but unfortunately not much has been done by way of facilities to make the location more attractive for the people. Culinary experience Abuja is dotted with a number of eateries of different sorts where one can have a good feel of both continental and local

delicacies with quite amazing numbers of them located in the street corners and gardens. Some of the high brow hotels such as Transport Hilton, Abuja Sheraton, Rockview, Hotel Rosebud, Savannah Suites and Chelsea hotels’ restaurants offer savoury meals as well as such eateries as Shagalinku, Chopsticks, Wakkis, Jevinik, Dome restaurant, Southern Fried Chicken, GT Plaza, Mama Cass, and Clubhouse. Night life The city also offers a vibrant and bustling night life with a number of spots to explore and experience rich and colourful excitement. Some of them include hotels with good night club. Transcorp Hilton Hotel’s Capital Bar is top on the list, then there is Kesthern Ressor, Blakes Resort and Nightclub, Octagon Night Club and Bolingo Bar as well as the Dome. Shopping Abuja boasts different types of shopping outlets ranging from the traditional market space and modern shopping mall. You can sample any of these – Wuse Market, Garki Market, Amigo Supermarket, Grand Square and Grand towers mall, Shoprite and Ceddi Plaza.

TRAVEL TIPS

Planning a family holiday PLANNING a family vacation or holiday could be problematic and sometimes disastrous if not well planned and executed. But if well packaged with all the elements in place it could turn out a most enjoyable and memorable boding adventure for the family. Here are some tips to consider: Pick the right destination: Picking the right destination is a key to a successful and adventurous family holiday. Many things come to play in this regard, but ensure that you pick a destination or itinerary where there is something for every member of the family. Also make sure that the itinerary is a bit tasking and creative, something that takes the members out of their comfort zone and engage in something that is not second nature to them or could sometime find discomforting. For instance, if you are the type that is always afraid or fearful then bungee jumping, rock or conquering height could do the trick. Don’t be stereotypical: Be adventurous and creative by not sticking to what you are familiar with or be coloured by your parents choices. Rather let your wife and children have a say in the itinerary and together come out with something that has a bit of everyone; that is something that would appear to the husband, wife and children. Good restaurant: Look out for a destination with rich and variety food, sometimes authentic and home cooking is good for the family. If everything else is good but the food is bad it would most certainly ruin the fun. Try everything: The fun in vacation is exploring new experience and the key to this is by trying everything on the itinerary. Especially when it comes to food let common sense prevail and have the sense for taste and when it doesn’t taste right or feel good then politely decline. What to pack: It is always good to understand the nature of the destination and itinerary lined up as this would help you to pack the right clothing, shoes, personal effect, especially for the children. It is always good to ask your tour operator for guide or read about the place. What is most important?: Always remember that for a family vacation, bonding is the most important factor, so look out for the destination that can allow for this and itinerary that is to heavily choked but allows for time to relax, rest and be together as a family without any intrusion into your private space. Budget: The size of the budget does not often determine the fun. Always remember that after the vacation normal life resumes, so be prudent about your travel budget. With low budget you could actually have a rich and exciting vacation. Ask your tour operator for friendly group or family rates.

Tour package

Six nights in Johannesburg and Durban A seven-day (six nights) tour of Johannesburg and Durban cities could be an exciting one for the family and individual to explore the many tourism offerings of the “Rainbow Nation”, with a post-Mandela sentiment to the bargain. Possible itinerary include a stay at a threestar hotel offering buffet breakfast, spa voucher, dinner, shopping and excursion of Johannesburg, Soweto, Mandela’s home and the lion park while in Durban you can explore the magical Zulu city beginning with the Ushaka Marine World Centre. Details of stay include two nights at Johannesburg/Pretoria and four nights at Durban, return ticket (economy), visa/ travel advisory and airport transfers with rates from $4,105 for a couple. Courtesy: CGSK Tours; inf0@cgskng.com; 08036241234 | 08063905663

My Weekend

odwin Ehigiamusoe, the founder and CEO of Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO), a microfinance bank which has become a model for all microfinance in the country today, looks gentlemanly in all ramifications without any doubt. This resonates in his soft approach to doing things, including talking. He states this without mincing words saying, “I am a homely person. When not doing LAPO, I spend a great time with my family. I have a great wife, Ngozi.” He however craves relaxation, notwithstanding his very tight schedules with a lot of interest in watching his most cherished football, particularly when he watches his club, Arsenal Football Club of England. Though, to him his most cherished way of having relaxation is when he sees clients who benefit from his bank relate their success stories to him. He states thus: “I think the issue about relaxation has to also do with what makes you feel good, I think the first thing for me is actually seeing clients engaging the businesses, and talking to them when they relate experiences about their businesses and what they also actually benefit and in between my engagement I find time to relax with the family.” He says he equally enjoys watching football, particularly watching his loved soccer outfit, Arsenal, which his son initiated him into. However, his son has embraced another club because of shortcomings associated with the club. “My son introduced me to Arsenal and when the Emirate guys were shying away from winning laurels, he left me for Manchester United. I am too committed and too old to ‘port’, so I am a Gunner for life as they would say,” he adds. He confesses that he has yet to don his club jersey as his commitment to the club but says his undying love the club can always be attested to by his children and those close to him. The astute grassroots banker says, he equally looks forward to watching his darling team play someday either at the Emirate or elsewhere. “I have not had the opportunity of doing that, but I think I look forward to have the opportunity which I think would be marvellous,” he says. Owing to the demand of his official responsibility as a chief executive, Ehijgiamusoe, says he shuttles between Benin, Edo State, where the head office of the bank is located and Lagos but says he still ensures that he relaxes sufficiently. Besides, he also ensures that he keeps fit with regular fitness walks. He says, “I’ve not been around in Lagos for a very long time but if I’m in Lagos it is usually quiet and I use the opportunity to rest and usually for me I just do some walking around and all that but in Benin, Edo State, which is my home, it’s a different thing because I have relations and I have relationships. So, weekend can actually be a bit very busy especially when you add Sunday, which is usually full of various religious activities.” His life on the social front he says is on a very key note. “I don’t think I’m more of that side though I would not also say that I shy away from all activities, yes I do especially when they are organised by people that I have a lot of respect for or I have love for,” he says when asked to comment on his social life. Surprisingly, for someone of his ilk, he enthuses he has love for Fela Anikulapo’s music saying, “Well, I think people of my age would not go into serious love for a particular music but I enjoy Fela Anikulapo’s music.” On whether he craves a particular mode of dressing when he is not at his duty post, he says he does not have any special way of dressing apart from wearing what suits him as a gentleman and gives him convenience.

I think people of my age would not go into serious love for a particular music but I enjoy Fela Anikulapo’s music

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I derive relaxation from lifting small entrepreneurs -Ehigiamusoe Mr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, MD/CEO, Lapo Microfinance Bank, has earned himself the sobriquet, Social Reformer, for his ideology of lifting the underprivileged from poverty. This, he has been engaged with, for almost two decades through micro-financing provisions. He tells SEGUN EDWARDS what relaxation means to him. Ehigiamusoe will also not crave such specialities like consuming any special menu on his weekend when he relaxes. He says, “No, I don’t have special meal. I think the reason is that I do a lot of moving around not just only internationally even within the country. I remember when we were building Lapo and at the same time also engaged in building a network of nonprofit microfinance institution in the 1990s, and thereafter I spend most times moving around outside and within the country so, I’m at home with any good food.” To the Lapo CEO, he gives a lot of attention to his health through regular exercise to keep fit, against the norm that characterises the disposition of my CEOs in developing environments like Nigeria. “Yes, I do, before now I to do a lot of jogging but now I try as much as possible to do about two kilometres of walking every morning in my estate. My wife does hers every other day. I try as much as possible to do that often times and that has been quite helpful,” he says. Ehigiamusoe, whose love for the alleviation of poverty crusade for the low income people has seen him engaged in several col-

Ehigiamusoe

laborations with world’s notable financial institutions like International Finance Corporation (IFC), points out that to date, his dream has resulted in growing of over one million small businesses in Nigeria and he is still forging ahead. According to him, his ideology to lift low income people out of poverty commenced from his moderate childhood background through his educational life. Narrating his background, he says, “I grew up a normal person and my father was a farmer who also en-

gaged in some ministering in the vineyard. I had a very quick succession of education in terms of primary, secondary and university. In my university days, I organised people for workshops around issues of how we could enhance the conditions of low income people and this continued even after I left the university. I had the opportunity in 1980, when I completed my third year of engaging in vacation job in the cooperative department of the civil service and that made a lot of impact on me with a lot of cooperative societies. Thereafter, I joined the civil service of the then Bendel State and I went into the cooperative movement because I was quite enthusiastic about that. “I did a lot of learning and self-development in cooperative movement and I had the opportunity of attending a one year postgraduate programme in cooperative studies.” According to him, his primary mission as a being is to engender transformation of low level people in the society by providing soft accessible loans, saying despite his microfinance bank, Lapo, being adjudged number one in the industry, he will not be tempted to transform the bank into a full blown commercial bank. Going into commercial banking, he notes, will defeat his life ambition of identifying with the low income people, whom he aims to assist conquer the scourge of poverty. “Improving lives to us is hinged on the fact that we strongly believe in the power of credit in transforming lives. We believe that access to affordable credit is a very solid escalator that you can fall back upon. And therefore, as long as we provide a range of financial services on affordable terms, or that bring about transformation or improvement in the lives of our clients, then we are achieving our goals,” he says. Ehigiamusoe adds, “Anything could happen and that will depend on the dynamics in the institution and also in the sector. But if you ask me at this moment what do I think, I think my aspiration, that may change, I don’t know, is not to become a commercial entity that probably behaving in a manner that excludes the low income people, I would rather remain a big financial institution that will continue to provide microfinance services.” He holds Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, Master’s degree in Development Studies and a diploma in Cooperative Management. He has attended several capacity enhancing courses in local and international institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Lagos Business School, IESE Business School, Barcelona and INSEAD Business School (Singapore campus). Ehigiamusoe plays a major role in the development of microfinance in Nigeria and consults for a number of local and international microfinance institutions. He won the Model Entrepreneur Award-Nigeria in 2008 and the Schwab Foundation’s Outstanding Social Entrepreneur in Africa Award in 2010. He is author of Understanding NGOs (1998); Poverty and Microfinance in Nigeria (2000); Issues in Microfinance: enhancing financial inclusion (2011).

Corruption fuels insurgency, says Ezugwu p.47 Echoes from APC Convention p.48

POLITICS ON SATURDAY

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Why North-East has become hotbed of insurgency, by emir who escaped death On Friday, May 30, 2014, a convoy conveying the emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Akirana; the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza and the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Fimta, who died, was attacked by suspected Boko Haram gunmen. Emir of Askira who is also a delegate to the ongoing National Conference, speaks to ONWUKA NZESHI on insecurity in the North East and the ordeal of living under a state of emergency slammed by the FG over a year ago Your Majesty, welcome back to the conference. We thank God that you survived the ugly incident that claimed the life of one of your colleagues the Emir of Gwoza. Please kindly share your experience with us? About two or three weeks before this incident, these our so called people, the Boko Haram attacked one of the districts in my area and they succeeded in killing about twenty four persons.. I had to report to government for assistance and having done that, as a leader, I had to go back home to condole and commiserate with them. So that was what took me home on Wednesday and by Thursday, I was in those villages to assure them of government’ s protection. And urged that they shouldn’t leave their domain because they don’t have any other place than there, especially since it is farming period. I told them that if they leave now, by the time they come back, they would have lost out completely this year. So having done that, we decided to go to Gombe to be part and parcel of the burial ceremony of the late Emir of Gombe, who was Avery close friend to my late father and even myself. As was reported, three of us were in the same car- the late Emir of Gwoza; myself the Emir of Askira and my counterpart, the Emir of Uba. Immediately after leaving Garkida, which is a border town between Borno and Adamawa States, on our way to Biu to meet with the Emir of Biu, we were ambushed by these so called Boko Haram people. From nowhere, they started shooting. They were about 40 in number and their target was our own car. Three of us were in the car with some of our convoy behind and in front. Because of the fire power, the engine of the car we were traveling in went off and the driver could not start it again. At that point, we saw that they were closing in on us and at that time, the only option we had was to either stay in the car for them to come and meet us and do whatever they wanted to do or take our chances by going out of the car. I bolted out of the car and most of the cars engaged their the reverse gears. I was lucky that one of the cars following us , I jumped inside it and that was how we reversed. But as were reversing, the Emir of Uba who was on the other side of the car was lucky to also take off. He bolted out of the car and went into the bush and that was how he escaped. But as I was going, I saw them closing in on the late Emir of Gwoza and then I knew only a miracle could save him. Unfortunately, they rounded him up, killed him, burnt the car and killed two of the policemen who were trying to save him. So that was exactly what happened. We went back to the Army Post around Garkida area and reported the matter. After one hour or so, we managed to recover the CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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Nigerian Soldiers

‘We do not know the identities of insurgents’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

corpse of the late Emir of Gwoza where they abandoned it. There were about three or four gun shot wounds on him, but the body was intact where they abandoned it. So we took the corpse but the car was burnt, two of the police officers were killed and my siren car, they shot one of the policemen on his side but luckily, he was rushed to Biu initially before he was taken to Gombe. Right now, he is on admission at the medical centre in Gombe. Since this incident took place, describe the state of security in your area? We have been under severe attacks in that part of the country. If you know the geography of that area, Askira shares borders with Sambisa where the Chibok girls were abducted; likewise Gwoza. So we are almost around the same axis of the attack. It has been tough; it has been very tough, my township, Askira which is the headquarters of Askira Emirate, has been attacked about three times. They have been ravaging all the villages around the area, killing and maiming people. We made reports but so far, not much has been done. But we pray that something would be done so that our people would be safe. Why do you think traditional rulers are targetted by the Boko Haram? Well, I wouldn’t say there is any evidence to that effect but the fact is that the cars were about 20 traveling in a convoy and they selected only our car; about 20 cars were travelling and there were cars ahead of us but they didn’t shoot at any of those cars. They attacked only the car

that we were in. So it’s a common sense thing if there were about 20 cars and only one particular one was shot at certainly, it wasn’t a mistake. It was a deliberate attempt to get those of us in the car. Why are these militants attacking royal fathers who are religious leaders and custodians of the culture of the people? Well, they’ve said it a couple of times that their next targets are the government officials and royal fathers. The late Emir of Gwiza who was killed ; his area is the most attacked area within Borno State. While we were in the car before the incident, he was telling us about the problems he has been having and he said that Gwoza town alone, excluding the villages, has been attacked about 21 times. He also said that there is no road leading to Gwoza on either side of Borno and Adamawa States because the insurgents decided to bomb all the bridges. So there is no other way in and out on either side of it. Do you feel intimidated by this? No. No. Your Majesty, many Nigerians are surprised that in spite of the state of emergency and massive deployment of troops to the three states, these attacks do still occur. What is responsible for this situation? As I said earlier, these people are well armed and Nigerians have seen them operating. I don’t know the depth of the Nigerian Armed Forces but certainly these people are well-armed and I think that government has to take more drastic action to curtail what they are doing

Government has to take more drastic action to curtail what they are doing because they are almost everywhere and when they attack, they don’t attack in one or twos, they come in 40s and 50s. They are all armed with submachine guns.

indigene of that area who is involved in these attacks. So they are foreigners ? Honestly, I can’t say . Are there issues agitating the minds of your people that could lure some of them into collaborating in these attacks ? Well over a period of one or two years, the Nigeria Armed Forces has managed to push them and confine them to that axis. Initially, they were every where in the North but so far, they managed to push and confined them within Sambisa Forest and as I said, we share borders with Sambisa. May be this is the reason we are witnessing these attacks more often.

because they are almost everywhere and when they attack, they don’t attack in one or twos, they come in 40s and 50s. They are all armed with submachine guns.

Can’t troops be deployed to that forest? That is a question for the security forces to answer.

How do these people get these weapons? Are they really Nigerians? Ah, well I am not an expert in this area so I wouldn’t know where they are getting these arms. Honestly, I cannot say much about it.

What have traditional rulers resolved to do now that they have become targets? Ours is to try and ... It’s just prayers and try to talk to our people so that they can be more vigilant and defend their communities. Unfortunately by the Nigerian Laws and the Constitution, citizens are not allowed to carry arms. So there s a limit to how much our people can defend themselves. Our prayer is to always call on the government to see what it can do to defend us because it is the constitutional responsibility of government to protect lives and property of the people across the country.

As a traditional ruler in that area, don’t you think you should know whether these people are from the locality or foreigners? Do they enjoy the support of the local people? In my area, Askira, so far nobody has been identified to be part and parcel of it. I cannot say for other areas but as far as my kingdom is concerned, there is no

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Corruption fuels insurgency, says Ezugwu Why is CNPP not in the Confab? Well, thank you for this question. You see, in Nigeria, as everyone knows, certain people do not like the truth to be told. If you watch the antecedents of the people in the CNPP, including the former Executive governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; myself, Osita Okechukwu and the rest of us other people in the hierarchy of CNPP in the secretariat, the government categorised them as anti-government because they have been vocal on day-to-day issues. But l try to make people understand that CNPP, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, is not an opposition party. It is an umbrella organization of all the registered political parties in Nigeria. There was a time when we were rotating our meetings from one party office to the other. We did meet in the PDP office; we did meet in the ANPP office; and we did meet in the Labour Party office. So for one to have manipulated a most important organization like CNPP out of the Conference came as a very, very big surprise to me too. I am happy that the media is able to find out and to pin-point why no single person from CNPP is in the conference. That is to tell you what the Conference would not come out with anything significant because most of the people who are there shouldn’t be there in the first place. For instance, about two people have died already. Some people are there sleeping and some people are there because of the allowances. I know the conference should have been a good forum for Nigerians to discuss about Nigeria, but the caliber of some delegates l see in the Conference is very demoralising. They selected some political parties individually but as an umbrella organization of all the political parties in this country, we should have been written to or told to know if would be interested or be represented. Other organizations are there and here we are talking about the existence and democracy of Nigeria and the major platform for political organizations was not represented. So that would tell you the kind of mistakes or oversights we are determined to make in this country. Could this non-recognition have resulted from the de-registration of some political parties? No. It is not because of that. The de-registered political parties are still in court and until the court decides... Okay, for the fun of the argument, what is the rationale of deregistering political parties and registering new ones? That is to tell you that people in the helm of affairs in this country are just there because they are making money and having the power to say you can die today, you will die tomorrow and you will live because l don’t see the reason why some political parties that were already re g i s t e re d ; which completed all the formalities and rules and regulations and INEC now coming up to say that they are deregistering them and, at the same time, the same INEC is registering new political parties. What is the rationale? Talking about CNPP, it is still intact. Alhaji Balarabe

Eze William Ezugwu, the traditional ruler of Ogbozarra 111 in Opi Kingdom, Nsukka, Enugu State is the General-Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP. He explained to JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM why the CNPP shunned the National Conference and the international rally against insurgency, re-emphasising that corruption is the major cause of insurgency in the country. Musa is still the chairman of CNPP, l am still the Secretary General of CNPP and for example, the tragedy that happened during the Immigration job recruitment exercise, CNPP lent their voices and it is likely that CNPP will now address other serious issues and protest peacefully if their demand is not met. So, CNPP is still very, very intact. What would have been its position is already well-known. If CNPP was invited to the confab, what would they have gone with? If CNPP were to be invited, there wouldn’t have been any controversy about their position. On the issue of formation of political parties, it would have come in and the de-registration of political parties and INEC would also come in. All these things would come in and like other people are suggesting, any person CNPP is sending to Confab would know that he is going there because of Nigerians and not because of sectionalism and whatever we are bringing on the table to be discussed would be totally for the interest of Nigeria and not on the interest of a section of a country or a tribe. So, CNPP would have been the best belt in terms of being neutral to be at the Confab, but unfortunately we are not there. What is the position of CNPP on the abduction of over 200 school girls and the acceptance of America’s intervention by the

federal government? Well, if you are talking about sovereignty of the nation and we cannot secure the people, where is the sovereignty? When you refer to sovereignty of a nation, it is only when the nation can guide itself; can be able to protect her citizens. I don’t think if there is any day in this country we don’t hear cases of killings, kidnappings and so on. Not one, two or three persons. So, for the Chibok thing we are talking about the abducted girls, my take as a person is that the WAEC officials came out to advised the state government that it was not conducive or safe for them to sit for the exam in that particular town and from what we heard again it was said that the governor said it was safe. They had wanted to relocate them to the state capital which is Maduguiri but they said no. All these things call for thorough investigation by the federal government and whereby it is found as true that the WAEC had already told them that it was unsafe to have the exam in that place and the so called Chief Security Officer of the state did not listen, government should know what to do. Also of importance is the fact that l don’t believe that any governor of a state is the chief security officer of that state, therefore that money given to them for security is a waste. How many of them can command the Brigade Commander in their state? How many of them can command the Commissioner of Police in their State or the Director of State Security or is the Chief Security Officer of the State a guy name? To me it is a guy name because what hap-

pened in Rivers State gave a clue to this. Where the Commissioner of Police cannot take order from the State governor; where the state CP will barricade the state governor from passing and you people call them the Chief Security Officer of the State. Comparing it to the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the nation, he can hire and fire any Chief of Staff of the security agencies because he appointed them. It is not when you appoint Commissioner of Police and post him to Port Harcourt and you say the governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state and therefore the CP should take order from him. It has never happened and we are see it everyday. Therefore, with what is happening in the North East zone today, this partial state of emergency should not be. You could recall what happened in Plateau State when Joshua Dariye was governor, state of emergency was declared there and after sometime he went back. So, to me l believe that total state of emergency should have been imposed in those states and after the elected governors can go back. Not tagging them the chief security officer of the state whereas they are securing nothing. For the Americans as you mentioned and our sovereignty to me I don’t see anything wrong in it because the security system of this country has collapsed and we are still talking about sovereignty. We are in a time, if you sleep and wake-up you thank God. What is the root cause of insecurity that is now rocking the nation. The root cause of insecurity, to my mind, is bad governance; 2. Unemployment; 3. Corruption. In fact corruption is number one. Come to think of how many people that pass out of higher institutions every year, where do they go for work in a country where people don’t steal in millions but in billions and trillions and nothing is being done to them. These are monies that would have made the unemployed fully employed. There is no good industry working in this country today because there is no power and if you don’t have industry how do you solve unemployment issues. How many people work in government ministries? It is the private enterprises that you can get people been employed in thousands. For example, like Dangote, he is the highest employer of labour and after this, you might get something like Julius Berger. So, these are kinds of institutions that you can get in a country and you now talk of solving unemployment problems. But today what do you see, scandals of corruption. If he is not a state governor, he is a minister and they are immune of the corruption acts. Today, most of the people in EFCC are fat-belly because they negotiate with the corrupt suspects. If you are a governor of a state, why wouldn’t you carry the whole money because you have seen others that went to EFFC, came back and keep enjoying their money and probably go to the Senate. As far as corrupt people are immune in this country, you can never get it right in terms of security because these are young boys that should be gainfully employed. So after staying for sometime in their houses roaming about, the next option for them would be to take to crime. But if they were busy; if they were employed that everyday they leave their houses and go to work, no matter how much they are being paid, they would be satisfied that they are doing something. Not when few individuals have cornered the money and economy of this country into their private pockets and purses and we see this on daily bases.

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Echoes from Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

he National Convention of All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abuja, Friday, June 13 may have come and gone, but reverberations therefrom continue to ring bell in the ears of many political enthusiasts across the country. At the convention which produced the substantive executives of the party, several party leaders dusted up and flung verbal darts heavily fortified with messages, innuendos and clear-cut attacks on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). These are highpoints of what some of the party’s leaders said.

We must set forth at dawn –Oyegun

Tinubu

Buhari

But for us to succeed, dear brothers and sisters, we must pledge this night to work together as a team. We must embrace the ideals of unity, oneness and harmony, and the spirit of give and take. We must learn to let go of past grudges and previous grievances and move forward together as members of the same family. And so tonight, I call for the healing of rifts and the smoothening of cracks. I call for forgiveness of offences and injuries. I call for unity in our great party. I call for our collective embrace of a common vision. I call for a commitment to work hand in hand to accomplish the task before us. If we fail in our task due to disunity and acrimony, it is not only ourselves we would have let down. We would have betrayed the hopes and aspirations of longsuffering Nigerians. And we must never lose sight of the fact that the collective destiny of the Nigerian people is far more important than our individual or group interests, ambitions or grievances. Because the road ahead of us is long and hard, we must heed the wise advice of our esteemed Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka that “we must set forth at dawn.” And so, whereas tonight we party to celebrate the successful conclusion of the National Convention of our Party, early tomorrow morning, we must rise with the dawn and set forth on our patriotic mission to set Nigerians free, and usher in the New Nigeria of our dreams.” Whether or not those offended and aggrieved before, during and after the party’s convention will heed his clarion call to set forth at dawn together with him is a matter of time.

We must respect internal democracy, says Okorocha

Atiku

The die is cast and the eagle is landing. We are gather here tonight for the love of our nation, we are gather here this night for the love of democracy, we are gather here this night to move Nigeria forward. Let us also say that this is the first party in the history of mankind that started with 16 governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To you my colleagues, I doff my hat and appreciate all you have done in making sure we have a party of our own. Let me say to all of us again that only two years ago we seated here most of us were members of PDP but 15 years after our nation has gone through a traumatising

government. There are more problems in our nation than we had in the past civil war. Today Nigerians are yearning for change, today, Nigerians are tired of the ways things are being done in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that’s why today Nigerians are gathered here in their thousands to bring out change as APC means change. And change must come if Nigeria must be better. I also want to remind all of us that when this change cometh, Nigerians are then asking what will be the different between APC and other parties. It is true that Nigerian political parties are not built on ideologies but one thing is simple and different. The difference is that the way we conduct ourselves, the way we have respect for internal democracy makes us a different party in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, our party must respect and observe the internal democracy so that it would guarantee us true leadership in the future. Again, today, we have been accused of many things by the ruling party. Some say APC is an Hausa party, some say APC is a Yoruba party, some say APC is an Igbo party, some say APC is a Muslim party, some say APC is a Christian party. Let me announce to all of you Nigerians say that APC is a Nigerian party to better the life of Nigerian citizens. 2015 our victory has been signed, sealed and deliver and I want to once again reassure all of us that the APC governors which today I represent is speaking with one voice.

Hunger is killing Nigerians – Amaechi

I just want to stress one item; no change comes easily. If you think we are going to sit in our houses and PDP will come and give us our rights, you are wasting your time. It means that there will be struggle for power, it means PDP will use their institutions against us. They will use the police, they will use the military. We have to defend our votes. If you vote and they announce that you have won and you go home, they will rig you out. If you want to win you must be there. When they announce the votes, everybody has a telephone now, right? Immediately push it to the social media so that we will know the number of votes. We must organise our people. Hunger is killing Nigerians. Few Nigerians are going with $20billion dollars and hundred and seventy million Nigerians are dying of poverty. So we need to defend our votes, we need to be able vote for whoever we choose. We should tactically as from today choose who will represent us a president, vice president just as we choose today who would be the National Chairman of APC. You agree to that? You agree to defend your votes? You agree to sleep at the polling booths? If they bring their guns let them kill us. Let me tell you one thing about revolution; there’s no successful revolution without struggle. So you will join me and join others who are here this evening to go for this struggle. God will help us and deliver us from the hands of PDP.

We want free and fair elec-

tions- Onu

This is the first party in the history of Nigeria when parties gave up their own identities in order to form a dominant party in Nigeria. This is also the first time that it is happening in Africa. This means Nigeria has people who are patriotic, who are determined to make sure that change come to our country. How many of us are happy with the way Nigeria is today? Is there anybody here who is happy about the way Nigeria is? Is there anybody here who is happy with the level of unemployment? Is there anybody who is happy with the level of insecurity? Is there anybody who is happy with the level of corruption in the country? This is why APC came into existence. We are asking Nigerians to look around the Eagle Square. These are great Nigerians whose interest is to bring change to our country. We want our economy to grow and at the same time for jobs to be created. We want to have free and fair elections in Nigeria. In Africa if other countries can conduct free and fair elections, why can’t Nigeria? We want to be sure that in our country because of the resources that God has given to us that no man, no woman would go to bed hungry. We want to be sure that in our country there would be no home, no house, no family that there would be somebody who cannot read and write. Nigeria has enough resources to bring development and that all Nigerians are look at. This is the essence of our party. And we call on INEC and other institutions that are responsible for our elections either pre or post to ensure that there will be free and fair elections. From next week, we want free and fair election in Ekiti State, in August this year we want free and fair election in Osun State and next year we want free and fair elections in Nigeria. This is needed because we are ready to move into Aso Rock Villa. We want to produce the next president of Nigeria.

Nigerians have come together for APC-Sheriff

Today we are making a history. In my life time of politics I have never seen a convention like this. From what we see here today, you will see that Nigerians have come together for APC. It is very rare for opposition parties to come together with the interest to form a one united party. Today, APC is here, therefore, from the turnout of the convention it is very clear that the purpose is very clear. I therefore wish each and every member of our party from the 36 states of Nigeria a happy convention.

Ours is common sense revolution- Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

It is a pride for me and I’m greatly elated to be here today at this convention, I’m part of history. Tonight is a history-making night. History is being made from the formation of our party. They said it is not possible; we will not go together, we will not exist, today we are existing. Congratulations Nigerians. We gathered here because of our love for our country, we are here not because of our personal desires and our wishes to occupy offices.

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APC Convention All of you here, you have been here since morning, you have been going through accreditation, you have been going through proceedings, you travelled far and wide from all nook and cranny of Nigeria. You become part of a common sense revolution. And that common sense revolution is to fight insecurity, mismanagement, hopelessness and abduction of our children. Failure of a government, a question is the buck stops on the desk of the president. For our children, 250 of them to still be in captivity is a shame to all of us. Are you going to continue with that? Are you ready for that change? There is this great storm and is arriving tonight. That storm is not a storm of disaster but it is a storm of positive change and that change is APC. A positive change for a better, united Nigeria. They threatened to polarise us, to divide us, tell them no, it is not possible. Hunger knows no religion, does it? Poverty knows no religion. They tried to brand us in the name as mischiefs. They don’t have positive ideas to govern, they have emotional lies to govern. That is why they make excuses, they make distinctions between religions. We are the children of the same father. The blood that is running in our veins is the same blood. You cannot use incompetency to deceive Nigerians. We know their party. If they are not lying to us why should you gather our pension funds and report that billions are missing and up till now, there is no report. Are you ready to continue with that? They say barrels of crude oil are missing, are you ready to continue with that? Again, our youths are very hungry, and are unemployed. They gathered them in the National Stadium, picked their pockets. Are they not racketeers? They took money from unemployed youths instead of creating jobs, instead of giving them free forms, instead of helping them to lessen the burden of their parents. Are you ready to continue with that? That’s why we gathered here tonight. We are here to give Nigerians hope. For a change has come, what they say is impossible as a merger of parties is now possible. With brooms in our hands, let me see your broom, it’s a broom of revolution to sweep failure, corruption, insecurity, to bring hope back.

Onu

With broom in our hands and God on our side we will sweep them away. We are here to put together the next generations of officers that will manage our party. That’s all. Education will be free. We want to change Nigeria, we want to unbundle. We want to release Nigeria from captivity of corruption, abuse of power and ineptitude. Common sense revolution has come. Security, economy, employment, change for hope, better health care and hopelessness vanished. Sweep them away.

PDP has no business in office in 2015-Atiku Abubakar

Tonight is going to be the birth of an alternative party for the people of this country who want change, for the people of this country who want good governance, for the people of this country who want better security, for the people of this country who want employment particularly for the youth, for the people of this country who want to see a better future for their children. Today, Nigerians you have got the opportunity to change a government that is corrupt, that is inept, that is weak and has no clue. In 2011, I stood in this Square and I told Nigerians that they were about to elect a government that is not having any clue on governance of this country. Today we are seeing that prophesy. Fellow Nigerians, tonight, you have got every reason to change this government. This government has no business in office after 2015. I will be in the vanguard to make sure that this change takes place. Distinguished party members, tonight, we must be different from PDP. Tonight, we must show that we are a democratic party. Tonight, we must show that we place this country and Nigerians before anything. We are not going to show that we are either from the North or from the South. We are nothing but Nigerians. Fellow Nigerians, today I call on all our party members to make sure that our party becomes the party that will win elections next year.

Buhari: Next year will be another watershed

It is better we hand over this party from interim management to substantive management; to people that are really politicians at the various level of the polity. It is therefore important that this day

Sheriff

is strategic to the development of APC. We are very legal because we don’t want anybody for any reason to put spanner into our work, therefore it is very important that whoever emerges today to lead the party from the chairman downward they have got the trust of Nigerians to hold close to their hearts between them, God and the rest of us Nigerians. We hope this group will be strictly monitored by the council of elders hopefully to be led by those who have created this party, APC. What is the objective of APC? Fundamentally, security and prosperity. We know the condition we are in this country. No matter what you have if you can’t sleep in your N100million house with both eyes closed, what is the use of the money? What is the use of your beautiful house? If your children cannot go to school and come back safely, what is the use of life itself? If you can’t go home for Christmas, New Year and Sallah because you can be abducted and money will be demanded from you, what is the use of that government? A government is supposed to secure and manage a nation. This government has failed. And our fundamental objective in APC is to secure and manage this country. I want you to conscientiously choose the people that will hold this party so that we move together to primaries where you can choose those that will hold this country politically from councillors to the presidency. Remember next year will be another watershed in Nigeria political system. What is the position of infrastructure in 1999? What is the position today? How much money have we earned? What happened to the hearing conducted by the National Assembly on Power Holding Company of Nigeria, petroleum industry, pension fund? Has anybody been jailed for stealing billions of naira? People must get trust and must hold it and must be accountable. APC is about security, prosperity. We have taken all the pains from 2005 to 2007 and 2011, we have resolved to make sure that this country that we have built is not completely destroy by people. Enough destruction has been done. Stand firm, vote for APC let’s get this country moving again.

Amaechi

Okorocha

Oyegun

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Humility is key to success, says Dawodu T

Dominik Umosen

here is a huge lesson in the exciting seventy years of veteran journalist, Pa Fortunatus Dawodu for especially chicken-hearted individuals who crack easily under challenging situations and frustrating circumstances, even to the extreme of considering suicide. For example, not very many people can absorb news of the loss of their employment with similar equanimity and dignity as he did when he was fired from the Voice of Nigeria, VON,- four days to the resumption of his children’s school. In a story which was to under-pin a sensational platform for his exciting life, a few days after the bad news from the VON, providence beckoned with a bigger favour four days after in the form of immediate engagement by Radio France International as a correspondent in the sub-region. From an all-time low, sunken and devastated spirit a few days back, the grand old veteran who marked his seventieth birthday on Sunday, June 16 sorrounded by his children and family was besides himself with joy in this new realisation that the blessings of God are always sufficient for those who place their trust in him. ‘As a parent, you can imagine how I must have felt, receiving y sack letter about four days to the resumption y children from holidays. It was my first major challenge in life and I was still in this sullen mood when the offer from Radio France came a few days after,’ the veteran with several international caps told New Telegraph in Lagos. From one emotional extreme to the other, Dawodu is emphatic that if he were to rationalize life in one word for a beginner, he would emphasize himself hoarse with the advice that humility remains the greatest virtue any man could cultivate.’ It is the key to success’, he said, stressing that ‘I have been humbled by all the experiences I have had in life’, including the shocker h e had when he discovered that a muslim country, Tunisia, houses some Christian landmarks like the resting place of St Francis of Assisi. For someone whose foray into journalism started as a sensational prank, Pa Dawodu eventually grew in the profession

beyond his childhood dream , including covering the 1980 and 84 editions of the African Cup of Nations; the 2003 All Africa Games and mediation efforts by the defunct Organisation of African Unity, OAU, now African Union, which eventually ended over 30 years of civil war in Chad ‘There were memorable events in my career, like the protracted civil war in Chad which was fought by about 39 armed factions. There was a particular occasion when we could have been killed when our position was attacked and over-run by rebels barely 20 minutes after a detachment of the OAU Peace-Keeping Force in Chad left the area,’ Dawodu recalled wistfully. Before he could conclude this nostalgic recap of his glorious years in active journalism, a call from an old colleague in Sierra Leone, rang through. And soon after, both friends were hollering away rapidly, as if intent on recapturing the magic of their younger days on professional missions. ‘For example, a ride in the Hercules C-130 Transport plane was a fun experience. And landing or taking-off wit soldiers from rough terrains was even greater fun, moreso because I was young. We had fine officers in the military, including retired Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga wo commanded the OAU Peace-Keeping Force in Chad and late Gen Rufus Kupolati who commanded ECOMOG’, he said. Describing war as a terrible experience, Dawodu stressed that his intricate experience of war reporting garnered throughout his coverage of the long-drawn Chadian civil war, convinced him that war should be the last option in the resolution of conflicts. He disclosed how he was devastated to discover that the hotel receptionist who had been delivering groceries to him for year, was actually the local commander of a notorious armed rebel group ‘It was while she was adjusting her wrapper to give me change that the barrel of a sub-machine pistol jutted out. Even though the lady tried to make joke of the situation, I was so scared that I could no longer wait for the balance of my money’, .he recounted part of experiences in then war-weary Chad. Not many people are aware of the fact Dawodu’s uncompromising devotion to pristine Catholicism, even at seventy, is a

reminder of his younger days as a seminarian. Venturing into journalism, he recalled, was the climax of a youthful prank he experiment with after leaving the seminary, even inventing a persona the word ‘virus’ as a persona. Upon his return to the country in 1972 following the death of his father, an uncle provided the gift of a transistor radio which rekindled his interest in music which was strongly promoted by Radio Cameroun. An invitation by the French Section of VON during the visit to the country subsequently provided a platform for the actualization of a broadcasting career that was to prepare him for his illustrious commissions by foreign media organizations. Some concerned uncles and aunties may have succeeded in pressurizing him to drop the childhood fantasy of glorifying the persona of a virus, as he ill- Dawodu advisedly sought to. But from every indication, the single-minded determination of this ‘virus’ to evolve into a professional sensation appears to have been achieved over four decades after an ordinary transistor radio first fired a passion that was to translate into fame and fortune for the accomplished broadcaster. This veteran journalist does requires neither prompting nor persuasion to reaffirm that ‘journalism remains the best profession, if you have the brain and the urge to keep discovering. Because of the opportunities the profession provides, it you to unfathomable heights’, he said, recalling, wistfully, that but for such opportunities, it might not have been possible to witness the iconic church in Tunisia. Try as hard this reporter did to draw the veteran broadcaster into discussing the country and its current socio-political challenges, he proved remarkably unyielding. According to him, ‘I do not

want to go into politics because someone might deliberately misread it’. But notwithstanding, Pa Dawodu was categorical about the fact that ‘there is no doubt about the fact that the country is in a serious trouble. But with levelheadedness, we can pull through our challenges. We must prune our greed and selfishness. Nigeria has to work very hard, one way or the other. It should not be considered frustrating to impose hard work on the citizens’. So long as such hard work and tough choices are geared towards liberating the country from her current challenges, it should not be considered frustrating. ‘Many countries went through similar experience. Chad, for example, went through 30 years of civil war but no street in the country still bears the scars. There is even stable electricity supply now in the country’, the veteran journalist said.

Outrage trails Akwa Ibom Brazilian jamboree Tony Anichebe UYO

Governor Akpabio

he People’s Democratic Party, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday sent 31 chapter chairmen of the party to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. It was learnt that the chapter chairmen of the party on Monday besiege the Immigration Office in the Federal Secretariat, Uyo to seek international passports for their trip to Brazil. Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Mr. Linus Udofia, yesterday in Uyo, described the development as a façade in a society where poverty afflicts a greater percentage of the populace. He stated that Governor Akpabio, by this action, appears insen-

sitive to the plight of the people. “I think the man is trying to showcase the world that Akwa Ibom is well to do in the press, whereas a greater number of Akwa Ibom people are living in extreme poverty,” he said. The state former Commissioner of Information and member Akwa Ibom PDP Elders and Stakeholders, Engr. Ita Awak, said the move in sponsoring the 31 chapter chairmen of the party to Brazil is geared towards imposing his preferred aspirant on the people of the state. He regretted that it was unfortunate for Akwa Ibom people to keep quiet over the issue. He said, “The reckless way our Governor is spending our money to impose his stooge is alarming. “I am shocked that Akwa Ibom people are keeping quiet over this reckless spending of their re-

source. This is clearly the move by Akpabio to make the people he has been starving for many years to accept his stooge as his successor.” He stated that the tendency by Akpabio to install the present Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel as his successor, has started causing frictions and disunity in the once united party in the state. The state PDP chairman, Mr. Paul Ekpo, in a telephone interview with our correspondent said he has no answer to the question. “You can see I am relaxing in my house now and I must confess to you that I have no answer to your question”. Earlier the state commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said it is only the party chairman that can comment on the issue.

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Nigeria, we hate you!

ecessionists are at large. People agitating for the dismemberment of Nigeria! They want to put our dear country on a slab and carve her up into ugly shapes and sizes that you could not imagine would exist. The belief is: if our country is cut, the numerous problems that we face: lack of speedy development, marginalization and the absence of resource control would all be things of the past. This probably means the root of all agitations can be found in resources that ought to be given to the owners. In simple terms, we are talking about cash. Not so fast secessionists! One major question that must be asked is how do you intend to divide the country and who should decide and preside over how it would be divided? One succinct idea for the break up has been for the butchers to cut along the lines of the interlocking rivers: The Niger and the Benue. The resultant effect would be three major countries: Arewa, Biafra and Oduduwa! Only three out of three hundred have been represented in this equation. So what happens to the odd two hundred and something that remain? Do they just follow the leader in their environment and start the process of self determination and actualization all over again? It does not sound fair. Equity can not prevail in such a situation. So where or how can equity prevail? Perhaps that’s a question that would be answered by the men and women burning the resources of the nation in Abuja all in the name of a national conference. Speaking of the National Conference a document came from the Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement,(NDSDM) titled Niger Delta, the Economic Life of Nigeria, on Resource Ownership We Stand,” and was circulated to delegates. The NDSDM warned that if 100 per cent resource ownership was not achieved, it will secede from the country. It only

BUSINESS SENSE ALEX OGUNDADEGBE alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

One of the many questions I encountered this past week went this way: What is there to gain from Nigeria that you cannot gain from an Oduduwa nation state if created took a word from elderstateman former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader Chief Edwin Clark to quash this document. He described it as vicious. One fact remains true from the documents that have been floating around this conference not everybody wants to “go on with one Nigeria”, as was the dictum in the post civil war days. The only way to pacify many of the resource rich ethnic minorities is to increase the amount of allocations given to them. The greatest fear among the states that do not have much viable natural resource is where will the money for development come if this country is broken up? So the bitter truth about secession is that only a minority really want it, even though a lot of people are

talking about it! One of the many questions I encountered this past week went this way: What is there to gain from Nigeria that you cannot gain from an Oduduwa nation state if created? Free money from Abuja for your Governors and your Federal Lawmakers which does not and will never get down to you or the folks suffering on the streets of Ibadan, Akure, Abeokuta, Oshogbo, Ekiti, Ilorin etc? What is there to gain from Nigeria? A nation with polarized health, education and power sectors. Please, what is there to gain from Nigeria? I need to know... I had no answer to this question and I did not want to offer platitudes so I asked the questioner: “You think if we cut Nigeria up it will reduce thieving in governance? Forget that story! Those stealing in Abuja will also steal in Oduduwa, Biafra and Arewa. A thief is a thief no matter where he steals!” But he was not satisfied. So his advice came to me in a long monologue: “Continue with your Nigeria my brother, but you have failed to tell me any single thing you benefit as a Nigerian that you won’t benefit from a Yoruba nation. You’ve also by that self-denial failed or chosen not to believe (though it doesn’t stop it from being the truth) that a Yoruba Nation will not have a Fulani man as the D-G of its Ports, Army, Airports, Refinery and other

prime posts where the North determines who heads and who does not. A Yoruba nation will have its Police, Army, Education policy and Power arrangement which will be easily managed than the untoward situation they are suffering from now in Nigeria. The list is endless. But there is no need to elaborate more. When a dog perishes, it doesn’t perceive the smell of shit anymore”. I asked the speaker to tell me what he expects to gain from Nigeria. But he refused to answer. He was through with convincing me about secession and I was really not in the mood to convince him why Nigeria must remain as one. There have been many other debates over this issue at different forums that I have appeared this past week. On one occasion I actually took time to tell the questioners the beauty of the country Nigeria: her land mass, numerous cultures, her strength and richness and everyone who listened to my persuasive monologue agreed with everything I said. I must have sounded like a cracked record to those who keep hearing the over repeated statement: “this country is blessed!” Nigeria is so beautiful but why do we so hate her if she is that stunning? The answer can be found in the attitude of those who lead us at various categories of governance. My theory of governance in Nigeria today is that there are no good political parties. There are bad people in both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress(APC). But each party also has a few good men. These men are the ones who would help change our country for good. How will they do it? They have to work that out for themselves. Secession does not change people, neither does civil war. Such actions only make situations worse. We can not dismember Nigeria and hope all our problems would be solved.

For Coloured Girls - a review

et me go straight to the point. It was a waste of not only my time but my scarce resources. The only good thing about this outing was the fact that the market for theatre was ripe. The Eko Hotel hall was filled and I was delighted that Nigerians have begun to savour the delight and pleasure derived from a well produced play. Unfortunately, this particular play despite all the money behind it and stellar cast left a bitter taste in the mouth of almost everybody that attended. I was in a group of five and all but one slept off due to the compelling boredom that swept the room. The only person awake, kept awake because she has a thing for fashion and was trying to spot a trend from the Lagos fashionistas that converged in the hall. Who ever wrote - or is it produced - this cacophony must have woken up from a terrible hangover. How else can you explain putting a series of complex and winding monologues on stage for a Nigerian audience that would rather listen to Psquare nursery like songs than savour a well written Asa song. I just stared in amazement as the actresses although all very powerful in their individual presentations - went ahead to enjoy themselves at the expense of the audience. The lighting was dark and did not

EDGAR’s WORLD JOSEPH EDGAR

josephsamsponedgar@gmail.com do anything to assist us. The hall was too big and those of us at the back of the hall did not have the intimacy that is in a stage play. We could not connect with the actresses as we missed the facial expressions of the players. So to me especially, this was a long distance journey I could not connect to, and so I did the next best thing - slept off. There were flashes sha. Bikiya although very quiet at the beginning came out with a strong and memory-inducing performance. Funke Akindele impressed me because she showed very quickly that she can play in other genres apart from the one where she has made her name. She was on point with her delivery, her blocking and her stage presence was remarkable. She was a true diva. I hear the others tried but I missed the performances because I was deep asleep

She was on point with her delivery, her blocking and her stage presence was remarkable. She was a true diva and had journeyed to the deepest recess of the Chibok forest looking for our girls. The stage design was pedestrian and did not seem to convey whatever message they were trying to send. My friend Yemi was not sure if it was a contemporary play or that of history. The ages were flippantly crossed and twisted that he was left sucking at his fake cigar all

evening. This was his first play and I had hoped I would be able to finally win another convert, but instead I lost a soul and ended up buying him a drink to compensate him for his waste of time. Wole Oguntokun - that is his name; the purveyor of this tragedy - makes it a point of duty to introduce the play and at the end he also comes out to give his conclusions and introduce the cast and crew. He should not have bothered as the hall was near empty by the time he picked the microphone. By now it will be obvious that I did not enjoy the play. So that it would not look like I am a spoilsport or have “bad belle” for these people, let me say some nice things about the evening. I got free Baileys to drink, I met some old friends, I counted six Calabar folks, I saw the new Eko Hotel Signature Suites, I saw the new Bar Beach and I met Kaltung, the winner of one of these Big Brother shows. For Coloured Girls coloured my perception of adaptations. The play could have risen above the flat level it flew, if it had some drama an intertwining plot, suspense and a befitting climax. This would have justified all the publicity and razzmatazz around it. I drove out of the premises and into the Lagos night wishing it was Langbodo, the FESTAC 77 play I had just watched. Ciao!

52 FEATURES

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

The growing trend of sports The prediction by PricewaterhouseCoopers that Nigeria would have a 16 per cent compound annual increase in gross gambling revenues over the next five years is being given credibility by the growing numbers of Nigerians participating in sports betting. IFEANYI IBEH, CHARLES OGUNDIYA and MOJEED ALABI write on trend and its implication on the society.

avid Andrews (not real name) is in his late 30s, and had his university education in the United States. He works at an oil firm in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry where he earns close to a million naira monthly. Last month, when Real Madrid took on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final, he staked N250, 000 on the outcome of the game, predicting that the match would go into extra time, and that Real Madrid would emerge victorious. After 120 tension-filled minutes of football, Real Madrid won 4-1 and Andrews’ account with one of the online sports betting outfits operating in Nigeria was, 30 minutes after the game had been concluded, credited with the sum of N950,000, which he withdrew a few days later from his bank. Chris Thomas (not real name) also won big from the same game after staking N150,000 on Atletico Madrid leading at the end of the first half. He also staked an additional N200,000 on Atletico winning at the end of 90 minutes, and would have ended up winning millions but for Sergio Ramos’ last gasp equaliser which levelled up the game at 1-1 and took the match into extra-time. “I would have won up to N3 million but for the last minute equaliser by Real Madrid,” said Thomas, who works at a Lagos-based media house. “All the same, I was able to make enough gain because of the first half win. I went home with more than N840,000 after deducting the N350,000 I used in staking. I always look at a sure game and put huge amount of money on it, after which I take my mind off the game and wait for the final outcome.” Not everyone was as lucky as Messrs Andrews and Thomas though on that May 17 Champions League final as others, like Andrew’s work colleague and friend, Michael Paul (not real name) lost N120,000, even though he had bet on Real Madrid carrying the day. In Onuoha’s case, he had gone to his neighbourhood sports betting shop and placed a bet on Real Madrid winning the game at the end of 90 minutes which, as it turned out, didn’t materialise. Welcome to the world of sports betting where every day, since the advent of betting sites and shops a few years ago, people of all ages have been gambling millions of naira in the expectation of greater profits on highly popular sports such as football, tennis, boxing and basketball, right down to not so popular sports such as motor racing. With the sole purpose of providing sports lovers with the opportunity of predicting the outcome of sports events and laughing all the way to the bank at the end of the day, many sports betting companies and websites continue to spring up on a daily basis. And patrons regularly troop to affiliate shops, which are most times

My friends did it and were making a lot of money from it so I decided to do the same equipped with high definition television sets and quality satellite connection to afford clients the opportunity to watch matches for free and bet while a live sports event is on. In fact, proper packaging and Nigerians’ love for sports, as well as the average person’s craving sports, has given sports betting a strong platform in the country. But it’s not a trend that arose with the emergence of sports betting companies and websites, as there had been in existence pools agencies, some of which continue to exist till date. There are also the very popular lotto shops, otherwise known as Baba Ijebu. But the emergence of sports betting and the level of patronage they command make the pools and Baba Ijebu agencies appear to be child’s play. Unlike Baba Ijebu where a customer has to randomly pick out winners from a set of numbers, or pools, where the predictions are limited to betting on football games that would likely end in draws, patrons of sports betting companies have the options of betting on likely winners, losers, total goals, yellow cards, margins of victories, and scorers, among many other choices. Although it might appear there are huge differences between sports betting, pools betting and lotto, but the shocking realisation is that they have a whole lot in common than it appears especially as they all thrive on greed and luck. So while a lucky player might win hundreds of thousands of naira on a single

play, an unlucky one might lose his entire life’s savings in another. But regardless of the outcome, one thing winners and losers tend to have in common is that they always come back for more. But there are a lot of reasons why people gamble. For some it is the thrill of playing and the self-esteem that comes with being able to provide for family and friends, while for others it is their only shot at becoming millionaires. Some, like Andrews, however, do it because their friends also gamble. “I have been into sports betting right from my varsity days in the US,” adding, “My friends did it and were making a lot of money from it so I decided to do the same.” He added: “Sometimes I lost, but each loss only made me wiser and before long I was winning more than I was losing, and didn’t need my parents sending money from Nigeria for my upkeep.” Asked if he didn’t gamble excessively, he retorted: “I don’t think so, but truth was I was already taking care of my tuition fees, and my parents didn’t need to know about that. Imagine how they would have felt if they knew I was into gambling.” Many excessive gamblers are often in denial and sometimes have mixed feelings about it especially when it concerns their loved ones. They know they are causing problems for the people they love, but the urge to gamble seems too great to resist and so they continue. This was the opinion of Dr. Agozie Onyeabor, an American-based psychologist, in an interview with New Telegraph. “They sneak around to gamble, and lie to their loved ones. They are most times in debt and stop caring about things that should be important to them. Their selfesteem drops and they lose interest in their job,” he stated. “When their loved ones learn that their savings or property have been lost, as is most often the case, it can make the loved

ones feel betrayed. And when the love and support from their loved ones is no more, the gambler might become depressed and might even contemplate taking his life.” He added: “If the gambler is a parent, his children can feel forgotten and also suffer from depression because they feel they are the cause of the problem.” A visit to some of these sports betting shops however shows that gambling isn’t limited to adults as underage kids can be spotted placing bets. However, the new fad of involving in electronic sport betting by teenagers and especially school children has been linked to the waning moral values in the country and the abdication of responsibilities by parents by a Professor of Counselling and Criminal Justice, Oyesoji Aremu. Aremu, who lectures at the Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan and doubles as the Deputy Director (Academics) of the institution’s Distance Learning Centre, described the development as unhealthy for Nigeria’s future, while insisting that parents should be blamed for the path their children tow. In an interview with New Telegraph, the don said the fact that many parents had abandoned the responsibility of children training to the care of house maids and coupled with degeneracy in the larger Nigerian society, many wards engage in dangerous and risky deals without the knowledge of their parents. Aremu said the wrong use of technology too had added to the challenge of child abuse in our society, saying the high level of misuse of technology among Nigerians had instead of enhancing academic activities had rather heightened criminal activities among teenagers in the country. “Society begins with home and there is nothing else to expect from the children who are already misguided because their parents no longer have time for them than to take to what the larger society has im-

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

betting in Nigeria They (gamblers) are most times in debt and stop caring about things that should be important to them

posed on them. You can imagine a situation where parents only monitor their children via telephone conversations, how would you find out that the information you are being given is the truth? “That is why we have said that eparenting will surely lead to e-behaviour among the kids and the fact of the peer influences and peer pressure will definitely tell on them too. There is no gainsaying the fact that the world we have found ourselves today, children are on their own and so can engage in any activity that they are introduced to by their peers. It is thus primarily the responsibility of parents to guard, guide and monitor the activities of their children and very strictly too, so that they do not fall off the track,” Aremu stated. On what is likely to be the consequences of the new development, the university counsellor said the situation portends great danger for Nigeria, revealing that the impending criminal activities might be higher than being currently experienced. He said apart from distracting them from their education which could guarantee them an assured future, the tokens they presently receive from their gambling activities might lure them into bigger crimes, especially in their quest to raise more money to increase their stakes. Aremu added: “The consequences can easily be predicted. As long as these kids want to continue to make money in their gambling business, they would want to raise more money, and their stipends from their parents will definitely not be enough. The next could be that they would engage in picking pockets and may gradually degenerate to open robbery. “The get-rich-quick syndrome is a major challenge in our society and the problem stems from the value system being eroded in our society. The society no longer queries people’s sources of wealth and the fact that our crime fighting in-

stitutions are also corrupt shows that the children don’t feel threatened in their illegal conducts.” The lecturer, who is billed to launch his new book titled: Policing and Terrorism: Challenges and Issues in Intelligence, at the Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan next week, said stakeholders must rise against the challenges posed by the freedom currently being enjoyed by children. “It is illegal to accept bets from anyone under 18. We don’t condone such,” said Akin Alabi, CEO of NairaBet, one of the pioneer sports betting outfits in the country. “Our agents are aware of this and know their licenses will be taken away if found wanting in this regards.” Asked why he ventured into the sports betting business, Alabi revealed that his motivation wasn’t solely to make money, but also a way of giving back to society by taking people off the streets, especially those likely to get involved in some form of social vices. “It is another way of giving back to the society; it is not all about getting money from these customers as we are targeting fans to gain from supporting a team. It is not only by shouting while watching football or other sports as you are having it at the back of your mind that while supporting a team, you are getting something in return,” he said. Ekene Elijah, a Lagos-based pastor, however, insists it’s nothing other than another form of gambling which, in his opinion, is unholy, adding that people should be discouraged from patronising sports betting outfits. “To me, I think, betting on sports is unchristian and unholy. It is nothing other than gambling; a way of making quick money without working for it,” he said. Asked to cite a Bible passage condemning gambling, Elijah said: “There is no direct condemnation of gambling anywhere in the Bible, either in the Old or in the New Testament. But it is a moral question, especially when you consider the negative effects it has on personal and family values. If it was down to my decision, I would say it should be banned as I don’t think it is legal.” Sports betting operators however insist they are doing a legitimate job as they are duly registered by the government. “It’s a legal thing in Nigeria because we pay taxes to the federal and state governments, so banning us is out of the question” said an employee of Bet9ja, also a sports betting outfit, who craved anonymity. “The government gains a lot from us otherwise we wouldn’t be openly advertising our services on radio and television, even in newspapers and magazines.” According to projections made by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2013 in its second annual report on African gaming, Nigeria will over the next five years become Africa’s fastest-growing country for gambling. The detailed report, tagged ‘The Gambling Outlook 2013-17’, focussed on Africa’s three leading gambling destinations – Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. Predicting that Nigeria will be the biggest growth area, PwC said that the country would have a 16 per cent compound annual increase in gross gambling revenues over the next five years.

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54 SPORT EXTRA

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Susic: We can’t afford to lose to Nigeria S

hortly before departing Guaruja for Cuaiba, where they are expected to tackle Nigeria, in their second group game, head Coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina Safet Susic, spoke to the media about his team’s preparation. “Emir Spahic did not train today (Thursday), but it shouldn’t be a major con-

cern. He will most likely be ready for Nigeria. As far as Sejad Salihovic goes, I told him not to rush it, and to be fit and ready for the last match in the group.” Susic’s team needs at least a draw against Nigeria, after losing to Argentina in their first game to keep their World cup campaign alive and Susic

Mass retirement hit Spain after shock exit

A admitted they can’t afford to lose. “We cannot afford to lose to Nigeria; a tie still keeps us in the running, that is why we cannot afford to rush forward without a concrete approach and attack at all costs. We must play well, organised, and with a plan in mind, in order to get the win.”

Susic also added that he expects an open match, since the Nigerians need a win as well. “As far as the lineup is concerned, I will see. There is still time. We will most likely see a new player in the starting lineup.” Bosnia-Herzegovina take on Nigeria on Saturday in Cuaiba.

number of Spain’s experienced players are said to be considering their international future after Spain’s World Cup exit. A report in footballespana.com, said that Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez and Fernando Torres could all step away from the national team after Spain were knocked out of the tournament at the group stage with two defeats in two games. David Villa had already announced he would quit international football when Spain’s involvement in the competition came to an end. The report adds that the

Suarez expresses sympathy for Gerrard

Eagles must attack Bosnia to win—Ahmadu

Ahmadu

s the Super Eagles of Nigeria go into the make or mar Group F second game of the ongoing 2014 World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Nigeria Football Federation says the national team has no other option than to attack their opponents if they intend to remain in the championship. Secretary General of the federation, Musa Ahmadu told New Telegraph before departing for Brazil on Friday that with the barren draw against less fancied Iran, the Stephen Keshi side has no other option than to go all out to ensure total victory over Bosnia tonight.

He said the players already knew that only an outright victory against Bosnia will guarantee the team a place in the last 16 because on paper it is given that the debutants will defeat Iran in their last group match, while the same cannot be said of Nigeria against Argentina. “Already the players are aware that we are in a difficult position and the only way out is to go out there on Saturday to ensure we win against Bosnia because anything short of outright victory will not be a good story for Nigeria because it is given that Bosnia will beat Iran in their last match and there is no guarantee that we can beat Argentina” Ahmadu added. On the fears of many soccer fans that Nigeria may crash out just like former African champions, Cameroon, the general secretary said that people should not be comparing Nigeria and Cameroon because the two countries are quite different and that their fortunes cannot be the same.

atmosphere as Spain left Rio de Janeiro for Curitiba was akin to a funeral and the next training session that followed the Chile defeat took place with no laughter or jokes. It’s also said there was no intensity to the players’ movements and one unnamed player described the prospect of spending five more days in Brazil as ‘hell.’ Villa and Cesc Fabregas are both understood to feel they have been under-utilised by Vicente Del Bosque, with Villa not getting on the pitch at all and Fabregas has played only 12 minutes, as a substitute against the Netherlands.

uis Suarez has expressed his sympathy for Steven Gerrard after scoring two goals to consign England to a 2-1 defeat on Thursday. The Liverpool striker nodded home an Edinson Cavani cross in the first half before capitalising on an error from Gerrard to net an 88th minute-winner - despite undergoing keyhole surgery on his knee a matter of weeks ago. Wayne Rooney’s first ever World Cup goal afforded England a glimmer of hope in the second half but the joy was short-lived, with Gerrard cutting a forlorn figure as he trudged off the pitch at full-time. And Suarez admits he did not like seeing his clubmate so upset, having been comforted by the England captain after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Victor Moses in action recently

Begovic, Kolasinac eye birthday victories against Nigeria

A Begovic

head of Saturday’s game against Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Saed Kolasinac who turned 21 and Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic who turned 27 yesterday, have demanded victory over Nigeria as a birthday gift from their teammates. Both players are expected to be in action in the Saturday showdown, and defender Kolasinac told the local press a victory over Nigeria will be perfect as a gift.

“To win the next two games would be the best birthday present.” Kolasinac said His teammate and fellow birthday mate Begovic was a little cautious in demanding victory over Nigeria as a gift, saying a good result to keep their World Cup dream alive will be fine as a present from his teammates. “A victory won’t be too much to ask for, but I will prefer my teammates get me a result good enough to keep our World Cup

campaign going” Begovic jokingly said he wasn’t expect any birthday message from his Stoke City team mate and Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie until after the game. “Am not expecting a birthday message or gift from him until probably after the game, as close as we are, I am hoping he wishes me happy birthday after the game, but stopping him from scoring will also make my day fun-filled as well”

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014

Queiroz threatens to quit as Iran coach

I Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz opened the scoring with a header for Costa Rica. Italy 0-1 Costa Rica

NIGERIA VS BOSNIA KICK OFF 11:00PM

Keshi grows grey hairs over starting list

uper Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, has grown grey hairs over the starting line up for this evening’s all-important match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. The injury sustained by Godfrey Oboabona on June 12 against Iran ruled the defender out of this match and getting a good replacement for the Turkey based player is a big issue in the team. Joseph Yobo replaced Oboabona in Curitiba, but it is believed that the pace of the ageing defender may be too slow for strikers of Bosnia especially Edwin Dzeko of Manchester City. Another central defender, Azubuike Egwueke, is on the cards but he is so hard and could attract a penalty or red card to hurt the team. During the team’s last training in Campinas and the first training in Cuiaba, Keshi has been trying all options before him including trying out Efe Ambrose in the central role to pair Keneth Omeruo. The Chelsea player is also not fully fit. Our correspondent learnt reliably that the composition of the defence line has

been a big issue in camp as the technical crew has been holding series of meetings to debate the options. “There will be changes obviously but the coaches are yet to agree as to the role to be played by the players fighting for various positions in the defence. Sad enough the options are limited except there will be a change in position for one or two of the defenders. Keshi is not letting out his plans but he has been try-

ing out various options,” a camp source told our correspondent on Friday. The head coach is also thinking of a player to push the game upfront in the team. Ahmed Musa and Ramon Azeez might lose their first team shirts to Ejike Uzoenyi and Osaze Odemwinge respectively. Speaking ahead of the encounter, Keshi said, Nigeria had been condemned to win and the team has

been working hard on how to achieve that. “We know the implication of any other result except a win for the team. We are going to put in our best to get the three points needed to move on in the competition,” he said. The Super Eagles, it could be recalled are yet to win a World Cup match since their 1-0 victory over Bulgaria in the preliminary round of the France 1998 Mundial.

World Cup’s best but saddest stadium

nited States and Portugal’s crucial second Group G match will take place in the saddest World Cup stadium of all. It might also be the best. The Arena Amazonia is spectacular and beautiful and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. But the heartbreaking truth for the region it resides is that it should never have been built. Even on the scale of extraordinary spending that the Brazilian government has authorized for this tournament, $300 million isn’t chump change. That’s what it cost to land the arena where the U.S. will take on Portugal in the city on the

GETTING READY FOR BATTLE: Eagles in a recent training in Brazil

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE GOD TUTOR ANGEL DOG WARDEN ARMY

PRESERVER CUSTODIAN BODYGUARD CURATOR LIFEGUARD GUARDIAN WARDER SHEPHERD BOUNCER COAST GUARD VIGILANTE STRONG ARM MAN

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the former Real Madrid manager. Iran has faced economic sanctions by world powers for a number of years because of concerns about their development of nuclear technology and what it might be used for. With money in short supply Queiroz struggled to arrange warm-up matches for the team after leading them to their fourth finals by topping their qualifying group last year, with only Guinea venturing to Tehran in March and earning a 2-1 win. The Iranians held African champions Nigeria to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Group F opener on Monday. They face Argentina on Saturday before playing their last group game against Bosnia.

Arena Amazonia

Protecting yourself against any form of aggression, you’ll need to call on any of these-

KEY WORDS

ran coach Carlos Queiroz will step down after the World Cup because of a lack of government financial backing. The former Manchester United assistant manager has long bemoaned a lack of cash for the team, mainly caused by political restrictions placed on Iran. “Yes my connection will finish here at the World Cup,” confirmed Queiroz. “There was no support from the government, there has stopped being a genuine interest because of the financial situation.” The Mozambique-born coach has been Iran boss since 2011, but will not lead them at the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. “The dialogue has been cut off and I have already decided not to stay,” added

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16 Laos monetary unit 1 Miscellaneous 17 Ancient Semantic false god 5 Driver’s compartment 18 Naught 7 Lagos suburb 22 Tropical snake that squeezes prey 8 Direct a message 23 Atmosphere in open space 9 A long white robe worn by priests 24 Whirlpool both 10 Eastern Nigerian tribe 25 Baked food with pastry 11 Assert confidently 26 LGA in Kano state 12 Advertisement

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ACROSS

Animal resembling llama

14 Very large African tree

2 Figure used in counting

15 LGA in Ogun state

3 Hard track for vehicle use

19 Lack of difficulty

4 Sex drive

20 Tell of risk

5 Edging for lawn

21 Sleep lightly

6 Flying mammal 13 Broaden in Scope

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edge of the Amazon River. It’s great and all, with a gleaming curved roof and a bunch of smiling volunteers ready to help on game days and air conditioning in the enclosed parts and relatively cheap ice water in the other areas. Fans of England and Italy and Croatia and Cameroon have been impressed by the vantage point in even the furthest seats from the pitch. But it is also the dictionary definition of a “white elephant,” and once its fourth and final group game is completed next week it will take a conscious effort, careful planning, a ton of money and a minor miracle to stop it from crumbling into decay.

Calabar Trials: Mark Jelks dethrones favourites in 100m Charles Ogundiya CALABAR

merican based Mark Jelks became the new kid on the block at the All Nigeria Athletics championship going on in Calabar, Cross River State after defeating defending champion and title favourite,

Egwero Ogho-Oghene in the 100m finals of the championship, coasting home in 10.23s. Mark, who hails from Delta State, was excited winning the 100m ahead of veterans of the championship like Ogho Oghene and Obinna Metu while assuring that his next target is to win at the Commonwealth Games.

HOSPITALITY

Abuja: Still a long walk to centre of attraction

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

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

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014

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SPORT I’M READY TO DIE FOR EAGLES – EMENIKE

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God forbid that I should be proven right

hen the headlines screamed that 486 suspected Boko Haram terrorists had been arrested along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway last Sunday, I was not in the least surprised. Boko Haram is now seeking to deploy different strategic and tactical measures in their bid to dramatically escalate their campaign of terror. I pre-empted their intent in this column last Saturday – a piece I shall reproduce here presently. It’s scarcely believable that such a large convoy of men and a few women had embarked on that eastward journey with honourable intentions. There is no established pattern of such a movement by so large an assemblage of purported traders or casual jobseekers in the past. More chillingly, among those arrested was a top Boko Haram fugitive. Was that a mere coincidence? Could it also be a coincidence that the Abia situation evolved in just a matter of hours after an attempt to bomb a church in Owerri was averted by alert security agents? It was alleged that two or three out of the convoy of thirty-three buses escaped apprehension. As at this very moment, there is no public indication that they had been located and apprehended. That must remain a matter of great concern for the Nigerian people, particularly those from the region under threat. Public awareness must also be raised in respect of the possibility that last Sunday’s movement was a mere smokescreen designed to enshroud their real intention. Expectedly, pathetic apologists of terrorism and ethnic resentment have hugged the headlines, issuing limp condemnation of the governors of the south-eastern states for their purported role in the arrests that occurred. This ludicrous charge was made without any attempt to establish the nexus between the governors and the security operation that averted what could well have been a national debacle. The charge brazenly ignored the established truth that it was the alert and professional men of the 144th Battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed in Abia State that carried out the impressive operation. There is no evidence within the public domain that the governors played any role in the operation. Here is my take on that distraction: The infantile ranting of some rabble rousers who are attempting to politicise this very serious development and its implication for the fragile security of the southeast and the country at large should be treated with the disdainful ignominy it deserves. By accusing the governors of the five south-eastern states of instigating indiscriminate arrests of northerners engaged in legitimate business in the east, the apparent intention is to create mutual suspicion, stoke ethnic hatred and divert attention from the gravity of the matter. This is a very serious and complex security business which should be examined under the cold light of security considerations, unencumbered and uninfluenced by the heat of tribal politics and religious sentiments. In this connection, therefore, the tools of investigation must include clinical tests with the aim of establishing whether or not any of the suspects is infected with the blood virus, Lassa fever. The illiterate fulminations of people who are completely ignorant of the unfolding state of affairs should be treated with contempt. Last Saturday, this column carried an essay entitled, Boko Haram on the Cusp of Biological Warfare. Below is an excerpt. Borno State has brought upon this nation

BROADSIDE EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

Gov Nyako

two grave curses that have combined to dispatch the souls of many worthy and innocent compatriots to their premature graves. One, called Boko Haram, is manmade and the other, Lassa fever, is not manmade but might soon be manipulated into a national pandemic through the deliberate actions of evil men and their dishonourable collaborators. The nihilistic Islamo-fascists are heading to hell and they are determined to take all of us along with them. The ongoing war is not so much to Islamize Nigeria as it is to overthrow the administration of President Jonathan – failing which the cessation of Nigeria as a political entity will serve their purpose just as well. On this wicked path, therefore, they are prepared to deploy anything and everything to advance the goal of national damnation. The crude weaponization of biological agents such as Lassa fever is alleged to be within the grasp of Boko Haram. Don’t throw up your arms in exasperated disbelief just yet. The conventional wisdom that prevailed among Nigerians, in the pre-Boko Haram era, was that political action or militant resistance of a suicidal nature was not in the fundamental character of Nigerians. That wisdom held true until Boko Haram unleashed wanton murder and carnage by means of suicide bombing on our nation. Decent society was left wondering how a smelly bunch of young Kanuri losers could bring such dark clouds upon an otherwise peaceful nation. Nobody could have believed that Boko Haram’s atrocities would at this stage have claimed the lives of over 14,000 Nigerians and citizens of other nations, maimed thousands more and driven half a million to refugee status. Until casualty figures counted in multiple thousands have now become a tragic statistics not open to disputation. Boko Haram has now acquired the chilling notoriety of the being the most deadly terrorist

group on the face of the earth – surpassing the rate of butchery by Al-Qaeda. Nobody was quite prepared to believe that some senior and highly placed northern politicians and public figures sympathised with and might, in fact, be active sponsors of Boko Haram. Until retired Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako, the civilian governor of Adamawa State, came out openly to deny the existence of Boko Haram and called for northern Nigeria to prepare and rise up in arms against the establishment. He further accused President Jonathan of masking as Boko Haram his secret militia force specialised in black operations, and which has embarked on genocidal missions across northern Nigeria. Nobody could quite believe that Boko Haram could ever achieve the capacity to engage the Nigerian military and security forces head-on. Until military barracks and formations became victims of full frontal attacks and assailment in the hands of Boko Haram. Their hardware capabilities have been confirmed by Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno State to be superior to those of the federal military and security forces. They allegedly receive supplies and reinforcements by means of helicopter airdrops and trans-border shipments from Libya and elsewhere. If the prediction was ever put forward that the beasts would abduct nearly 300 innocent school girls and contrive to successfully hold them hostage for months, igniting the most negative profiling of Nigeria by the international media, such a brazen outrage would have been scarcely believable. That nightmare has now become a common article of history. These examples are common knowledge. I have deployed them to establish the argument that our presumptions and expectations in respect of virtually everything to do with Boko Haram had consistently ran contrary to the transpiration of the reality. They have defied logic and common sense because their core modus operandi is essentially a tribute to the grand patrons of illogic and stupidity. They have defied accurate predictions and thus nullified any vestige of proactive measures against them. We come now to the dark territory of terrifying and scarcely believable theories. Those of you that are movie buffs will recall that had production schedule ran without glitches, Arnold Schwarzenegger would have released in August, 2001, a fictional movie that was a near perfect replication of the monstrosity visited on New York by AlQaeda on September 11, 2001. As it turned out, reality mirrored art and overtook it. The movie was shelved, as the spectacle of 9/11 played to an audience of six billion specta-

tors. Schwarzenegger was a bankable box office draw at that time – but even he was not that spectacular. Suicide as a war strategy is the most dramatic form of self-immolation. One of the chilling conclusions that have been drawn by the experts who have studied the psychopathy of suicide “martyrs” is that taking with them as many lives as possible is amongst their top incentives – almost parallel to the “glamorization of martyrdom and its establishment as a gateway to rewards in the afterlife”. To them, the scales must weigh in favour of mass fatalities and memorability. What, then, could be more memorably fatal in the life of our nation than Boko Haram acquiring the ability to weaponize Lassa fever, as it is alleged they are scheming to do? What could be more tragically memorable than their being able to achieve such a dastardly feat with the active financial and logistical support of religious fiends who have aggressively pursued and acquired traditional thrones to provide them with the pluperfect alibi? Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease that kills about five thousand people annually, according to a conservative estimate by WHO and the Journal of Vector Borne Diseases. Clinically, Lassa fever infections are difficult to distinguish from other viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola and Marburg. But whilst internationally itinerant Nigerians might be exposed to the latter two, domiciled citizens are extremely vulnerable to the former. The Ivory Coast has reportedly declared a national health and safety emergency in respect of Ebola disease. The circumstances surrounding that outbreak are as yet undetermined. It will take nothing but the sacrifice of the worthless life of a would-be suicide bomber to unleash viral mayhem. The sophisticated science and technology involved in aerosolizing the virus will yield to the crude simplicity of volunteer carriers. They plan to get themselves deliberately infected and then embed themselves, as deadly weapons, in our schools, mosques, churches, market places, hospitals, airplanes, buses, trains, barracks, naval vessels, you name it. Suddenly, an innocuous sneeze or cough or a handshake turns into an unwitting contract with death. It will take less than one hundred human biological weapons to spread the deadly infection across the length and breadth of the nation. A plague will overwhelm our health system in a matter of days. The nation will be brought to its knees. The monkey has become too dangerous and softly-softly has proven inadequate as a tactical means of trapping it. If Boko Haram shows even the slightest inclination towards manipulating a naturally occurring viral disease as a means of diversifying their atrocities against the Nigerian people, then the security forces must be ordered to resort to extraordinary measures – and there are extraordinary measures that can be taken - with the greatest degree of awe and ferocity permissible under the law. Precipitation of a national pandemic will stimulate uncontrollable public panic and comprehensive national paralysis. Such a mortal threat must be avoided at all costs, even if it means bringing burning flames upon the heads of Boko Haram fighters and bringing their sponsors to the crucible of justice, no matter how elevated and deified their stations in society. And no matter what it takes to do so. The stakes are so high they touch cumulus.

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