Binder1 nov29, 2014

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Saturday, November 29, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 284

Sanctity of Truth

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Nollywood star, Ebube Nwagbo, speaks on life, career and marriage } 19

3,000 PDP ASPIRANTS scramble for 991 SeAts

lParty rakes N3.6 billion in today’s House of Assembly primaries

NEWS

SCORES KILLED IN KANO MOSQUE BLAST }6

jail igp now, tambuwal tells court }5

l21 Governors set to stamp authority Ayodele Ojo and Onyekachi Eze Lagos/Abuja

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he battle for the 2015 elections effectively starts today as more than 3,000 aspirants scramble for the

991 tickets of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 36-state Houses of Assembly.

The ruling party has raked about N3.6 billion from the sales of forms to the House of Assembly aspirants.

Thousands of delegates will determine the fate of the aspirants who have paid N1.2 million for both the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to participate in today’s PDP primary elections across the state.

The 21 PDP governors will in the primaries stamp their authorities in their respective states as delegates file out to elect the party’s standard bearers for the February 28, 2015 House of Assembly election.

No fewer than 800 as-

pirants are contesting in today’s PDP primaries for the 243 Assembly seats in Benue (31), Jigawa (30), Kaduna (34), Kano (42), Katsina (34), Lagos (40) and Oyo (32).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Kwankwaso: Jonathan seeking third term

}5

Two of my children not mine, says Femi Kuti }6

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Contents | 29.11.14 INSTYLE

SHOWBIZ

Pump it Up With an elegant outfit and right attitude, you could take your style to new heights with gorgeous ankle strap platform pumps

}16 Simply Lolo On air she is simply Lolo 1, giving listeners the impression she is Igbo. But Wazobia FM’s Omotunde Adebowale-David is actually a Yoruba lady. She speaks about career and why Nigerians should be more united

}21

THE ARTS

A Surreal Collage Nigerian artist Kainebi Osahenye returns to the Lagos exhibition circuit with a series of new works at the National Museum that speak to our humanity

}18

INVESTIGATIONS

NAFDAC Troubles

The lingering issue over poor working conditions and unpaid allowances are taking a huge toll on the image and operations of the National agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control

}24

SPORT

Bickering Eagles Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has denied having frosty relationship with any of his national teammates, but he was quick to add that he was not in the team to make personal friends anyway

}25

TOURISM

Carnival Frenzy For one week, visitors to Port Harcourt would be seeing a different side of the Garden City beyond oil and feisty politicking as the Rivers State government preps for the annual carnival dubbed CARNIRIV

}40 Plus: Street Diary 10 | Love&Living 35 | Faceoff 48

Comment

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Sad day for democracy

here was pandemonium at the National Assembly as policemen and SSS operatives stopped the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, from entering the premises on Thursday, 20 November 2014.

Amid a hail of tear-gas, Tambuwal was forcibly taken into the complex by angry lawmakers protesting the action of the security personnel. The speaker trekked from the gates to the main complex, a distance of over 500 metres. Senate president, David Mark and several senators and many Honourable members were also delayed for hours at the gate before they finally entered the assembly.

However, The Nigeria Police Force has said the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was blocked from entering the National Assembly, Thursday, 20th of November, 2014, so as to forestall the breakdown of law and order based on an intelligence report of the invasion of the National Assembly by hoodlums. In a statement by CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, the Police said it promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Political melodrama will not cease from occurring in the country, as politicians deliberately circumvent the constitution. The police siege on the National Assembly was an affront on the Legislature, the third arm of government. If indeed the police wanted to forestall hoodlums from wreaking havoc in the parliament, they would have properly and duly communicated that to the leadership of the National Assembly. Not even the Senate President was spared the embarrassment of being held hostage by the police. With the benefit of hindsight, it was apparent that the Speaker of the House of Representative was the target of the police. When he cross-carpeted from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Inspector General of Police promptly withdrew his orderlies without recourse to the law courts. If the House would meet after Mr. Speaker’s defection, to deliberate on the emergency rule in North-Eastern Nigeria.

To ensure that the House did to not meet, the police concocted a alibi for its unconstitutionality.

We have said repeatedly and we are emphasising again, that political intimidation and violence has no place in a constitutional democracy. If indeed the Speaker breached the law in anyway, the law courts

can be approached for a cogent, legal and vivid interpretation of any section of the constitution that is in dispute. Also, if the government had perceived that the outcome of the deliberation on the emergency rule would be unfavourably, in a democracy, it ought to have lobbied the parliamentarians to see reasons with it, instead of instigating the police against the National Assembly. The sad episode at the National Assembly is a clear case of hand of Esau, voice of Jacob, this kind of impunity and executive recklessness must be condemned and jettisoned.

There are lots of issues that should present engage the attention of the government. From unemployment and poverty to addressing infrastructural deficits, diversification of the mono-cultural base of the economy, general insecurity, corruption as well as conduct a transparent election in 2015 amongst a host of other pressing national challenges.

The President of the country is the father of the nation, if anything untoward happens, he would directly be held responsible, therefore, he must check overzealous government officials. The role of the police is what happened in Rivers State, Edo State, Ekiti State and now at the National Assembly is awful, despicable and unwarranted. If the police is to rein in now, it will not only continue to constitute a mortification to itself and the public, but a clog in the wheel of sustainable democratic culture in the country.

At this age and time, in the annals of this country, we should not still be talking about this rudimentary aspect of politics.

Decorum and decency should be part and parcel of our politics, not unnecessary armtwisting and atrocious manipulations to score cheap political points. At any given time, in the affairs and management of this nation, the overriding interest of the country is always paramount. Nigeria is now 54, and we have over the years seen how things are done in other civilised parts of the world and we cannot be an exception to the rule. Again, what transpired will be aired to the whole world and once again, Nigeria would be a laughing stock amongst the comity of nations. This is indeed a very sad and sobering national matter.

The parliament of any country is always held in high esteem and the desecration by the police is an offensive. At the same time, the ugly scene displayed by some lawmakers is condemnable. We hope that such signals will not come on again. A word is enough for the wise.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief n Eric Osagie Deputy Managing Directors n Gabriel Akinadewo

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

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Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

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Telegraph Adam&Eve

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

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Dammy Stage name: “SLIM PRINCE.” Mobile: +234 903 840 5003

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Tunde Oyesina

S Abuja

peaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday through a motion ex parte asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Sulaiman Abba, to come and show cause why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying court order.

The court, however, asked the Speaker to put the IGP on notice and consequently fixed December 3 for hearing of the suit.

The court also fixed December 1 to determine whether five persons who intend to join as co-defendants in the suit filed by Tambuwal can do so.

In the suit against the IGP, Tambuwal through his counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led eight other SANs and 69 lawyers had brought a motion ex parte praying the court directing the IGP to appear in person to show why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying the order of court which earlier directed that status quo be maintained.

The plaintiff alleged that the IGP against the order of the court on November 20 denied Tambuwal access to the National Assembly to perform his official functions.

He further submitted that the IGP on November 26 while appearing before the House Committee on

News

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

5

Jail the Inspector-General, Tambuwal tells court Police Affairs refused to recognise Tambuwal as the speaker of the House.

He, however, noted that President Goodluck Jonathan had on three occasions via different correspondence recognised Tambuwal as the speaker contrary to the actions of the IGP. Delivering a short ruling, the trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed, asked the plaintiff to put the IGP on notice and at the same time serve him all the applications.

The court premised the ruling on the ground that the IGP is already a party in the subsisting suit and ‎as such joined issues.

In the subsisting suit, the chairmen of Nembe and Tambuwal Local Government Councils in Sokoto State, Bala Konkani and Sambo Bello Modo respectively, through their counsel, O.I Olorundare, SAN, brought a motion to be joined as co-defendants.

Also, three members of the Sokoto state house of assembly, Abdulsamad Ibrahim Dasuki (Tambuwal East constituency), Suleiman Hanse (Tambuwal West Constituency) and Shuaib Umar (Nembe constituency) through their

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), being welcomed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, during a courtesy visit to his palace, in Ile-Ife, Osun State…yesterday

counsel, Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN, brought application to be joined as co-defendants.

Other defendants in the suit did not oppose the application for “joinder”.

After listening to all parties in the suit, the court fixed December 1 for ruling.

Tambuwal had earlier approached the court

challenging the withdrawal of his security aides by the IGP on the wake of his defection to the All Progressives Congress APC. Tambuwal also wants the court to stop the PDP members in the House of Representatives from declaring his seat vacant as

the speaker.

The court in its ruling had asked parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit.

At the last adjourned date, Tambuwal brought an application seeking to amend his originating summons. The amend-

ment is with regard to whether the IGP or PDP has the power to interpret the constitution.

Also at the last adjourned date, Tambuwal withdrew the suit filed by Dr. Tunji Abayomi challenging the constitutionality of withdrawing his (Tambuwal’s) aides.

Kwankwaso: Jonathan seeking third term in office Johnchuks Onuanyim, Abuja.

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overnor of Kano State and All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday stated that by agreeing to run for presidency in 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking for third term in office.

Kwankwaso, who spoke at the National Secretariat of his party in Abuja where he came to return his completed presidential nomination form, urged Nigerians to resist Jonathan at the poll in next year’s election.

Kwankwaso, a two-time governor and former Minister of Defence, lamented the decay in government at the federal level and regretted that Nigerians were being killed on a daily.

Addressing the members of the APC National Working Committee led by its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Kwankwaso stated that Nigerians were ready to resist Peoples Democratic Party

at the poll.

He said, “Mr. Chairman, Nigerians are ready for change. People are very angry; people believe they are suffering and l am happy this is democracy because Mr. Chairman, it has time limit.

“As far as we are concerned, this government is having a second term in office. They had about two years before this four years.

If you add the two, they cannot be four years and l have searched the constitution many times from A-Z, I have not seen anything more than eight years. l don’t know how we are going to manage it and some people have gone to court.

But we are taking them to the public court which is where we specialise on.

“Mr. Chairman, l believe people will not accept anything more than second term. Anything more than second term is illegal, it is not acceptable and Nigerians will make sure at primary or secondary (elections) they are thrown out of power. In our party we

Kwankwaso

believe in democracy, but in their party they printed only one presidential form, which is against democratic tenets.”

Also, he enumerated the assistance the Kano State government has been giving to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) because of Boko Haram insurgency.

Kwankwaso, who came

in company with the former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu, and other supporters, stated that if nominated as APC presidential candidate, “we will attract votes from Peoples Democratic Party and its supporters.”

He stated that in 2011, he defeated an incumbent party in Kano State to be-

come governor on the platform of PDP and that he has what it takes to defeat an incumbent party at the federal level.

When asked by reporters if his chances would not be affected by Buhari’s aspiration, who is also from the same geopolitical zone with him, he said, “No, I don’t think so. I believe that Nigerians, especially in my zone, know me and they know other aspirants that come from that zone. l am sure at the end of the day they will vote for the right aspirant that will become the candidate of our party.”

In his response, Odigie-Oyegun commended Kwankwaso for his forthrightness and deeming it fit to collect and return the presidential form.

Odigie-Oyegun stated that the return of his presidential nomination form had completed the circle of collection and return of the party’s presidential and nomination forms.

Other aspirants that had collected and returned their nomination forms were for-

mer Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Military Head of State, retired General Muhammadu Buhari and the Publisher of the Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah. Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, was also rumoured to have collected the party’s presidential nomination form.

Odigie-Oyegun, who praised the Kano State governor for all his good works in the state and his political credentials, promised that the party would provide a level playing field for the aspirants.

He told Kwakwanso that if it was the will of God, he would emerge as the presidential candidate of the party.

The APC national chairman stated that the party would give Nigerians human-friendly manifesto and stated that each of the presidential aspirant cleared would be made to sign an undertaken to follow the manifesto religiously if elected president.

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

35 killed as three blasts rock Kano Central Mosque Ahmed Miringa, Muhammed Kabir.

Anule Emmanuel and Onyekachi Eze

l Another averted in Maiduguri l Jonathan condemns attacks l My heart bleeds –Atiku l PDP postpones House of Assembly primaries in Kano

he Kano State Police Command yesterday confirmed that 35 Muslim faithful were killed when three bomb blasts rocked the Kano Central Mosque, immediately the Chief Imam of the Mosque, Professor Sani Zahradeen, said ‘Allahu Akbar’, signalling the start of the prayers.

The first bomb, which exploded outside the mosque, had sent worshippers scampering for safety not knowing that the second and the third bombs were within reach, thereby killing many of them.

Confirming the figure, Mr. Samuel Lemu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said 35 people were killed and 150 injured in the attacks.

But as the bomb blasts occurred almost at the same time, there were sporadic gunshots that trailed the entire area.

Already, all the state General Hospitals along

Murtala Muhammad, Nasarawa, and the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital were filled up with dead bodies, as the city was again thrown into another round of mourning.

Following the gravity of the bomb blasts, youths in their 100s took to the streets in protest, stoning policemen and smashing government installations.

The youth, who apprehended somebody they suspected were said to have lynched him, and his corpse set aflame immediately.

However, the timely intervention of the police quelled the protests, as the sitting-in Spokesman for the state command, Mr. Mustapha Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “We have taken care of the rioting youths and already we have cordoned off the entire place and for now calm has returned to the city as people go about their businesses.”

Mustapha, who declined

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to give the actual casualty figure said: “We are still taking stock of the actual number of persons that are dead that is why we cannot give accurate figures now.”

In the same vein, another bomb blast was yesterday averted in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, when the Police Anti-Bomb Squad (PABS), defused some improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted near Jumaat mosque in the Gamboru market area of the Maiduguri metropolis.

A Civilian JTF, Audu Boyi, said there were two IEDs planted on the road near a Jumaat mosue adjacent the market.

A trader, Idi Usman, said: “The civilian JTF immediately called the Anti-Bomb Squad and the army, they cordoned off the area and detonated the bombs. They detonated the first bomb but the impact suddenly ignited a second one which nobody knew was there. We are happy nobody was affected.”

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the bomb attacks.

The President in a statement extended his heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Kano State over the heinous attacks.

Also, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned yesterday’s bomb blasts at the Kano Central Mosque as well as previous bomb blasts in Kontagora, Niger State and Maiduguri.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed shock over the bomb attacks, describing them as “very painful.”

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement said the party was grief-stricken when it received the news of the gruesome attacks “especially considering that the victims were harmless Nigerians who were at the mosque to offer prayers and express their allegiance and love for the Almighty God.”

Kalu: Diezani’s election, well-deserved l Naira slumps further as oil prices slide

F

ormer Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has described the election of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, as President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as well-deserved.

Kalu noted that the minister's election is an acknowledgement of her positive contributions to the international oil body while she held sway as Alternate President.

Kalu, in a goodwill message signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, said: “It is with joy that I felicitate with you on your recent election as the first female President of OPEC. Your election is a testimony not only to your expertise but also the aggressive innovations you have continued to pursue in the oil and gas industry. It is indeed, a very well-deserved honour!

I wish you the best as you steer the ship of the international oil body.”

The former governor, however, called for the quick passage of the Petro-

leum Industry Bill (PIB), while acknowledging the transformation agenda of the present administration in the oil and gas industry especially with the implementation of local content.

Meanwhile, the naira headed for its worst monthly drop in almost six years against the dollar and Nigerian stocks retreated for the fifth month as oil prices tumbled.

The currency of Africa’s largest oil producer fell two per cent to 178.45 per dollar as of 1:39 p.m in Lagos, a record low on a closing basis. The naira weakened 7.2 per cent this month, the most among the 24 African currencies tracked by Bloomberg and worst month since December 2008. The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index declined 0.4 per cent to extend losses this month to 7.9 per cent.

The 12-nation Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) kept output targets unchanged even after the steepest oil slump since the global recession.

The Week Ahead Suit to stop PDP’s convention comes up today A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed today for hearing of arguments in an application to stop national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fixed for December 10 and 11.

The court fixed the date after declining an ex parte application argued on behalf of Aliyu Ayuba Gubrin, a House of Representatives aspirant from Adamawa State by Lilian Ojimma, seeking an interim order against the national convention.

Instead, the court asked the plaintiff to put the ruling party on notice on the pendency of the suit and adjourned the case to November 20 for arguments on the motion on notice seeking to stop the PDP from holding its convention.

EPU marks Ewu Day today

L-R: Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha; the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and his wife, Ebelechukwu, at the presentation of N1.9billion cheques to mission schools in the state…yesterday

Two of my children not mine, says Femi Kuti Ndubuisi Ugah with agency reports

F

emi Anikulapo Kuti, the son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, has opened up on a recent revelation he made concerning the paternity of two of his children.

Femi, who is a father of five, discovered after a DNA test that two children he had raised as his own were not really his after all.

The Afrobeat king, who is the first born son of Fela Kuti, told an online news portal, Encomium, in a recent interview – few days to his

birthday, that: “I did a DNA test and was told two of the children are not mine. The first two – a boy and a girl.

It is very serious. I never knew somebody could give you what is not yours. I’ve three boys now. I can’t father children when I was tricked to believe I am their father.”

Femi, who had one child, Made, from his former wife, Funke, and the rest from two other women, said in spite of how blessed he has been, he still regrets that he is not the father of two of his five children.

He said out of his alleged five children: Made, Afolabi,

Dupe, Tosin and Ayomide, two of them, Dupe and Tosin (a boy and a girl) had been discovered not to be his biological children, according to a recent DNA test.

Femi also confessed that he was disappointed and pained that a woman could actually give someone what does not belong to him.

Because of the betrayal, it was gathered, he was said to have returned the two children, Dupe and Tosin, to their mothers.

Funke, his ex-wife, gave birth to his first child and son, Made, who Femi treasures so much. And Bisi

Ajala gave birth to Ayomide and one other child that the DNA test recently proved not to be Femi’s.

The third woman’s name was not revealed.

Despite this, the maverick Afrobeat king is said to have finished work on his next album which will be released soon.

Meanwhile, reports were rife recently that Femi was spotted during this year’s annual Felabration event with Funke.

Femi and Funke Kuti were married for about 10 years and have a son together, Made Kuti.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, will be the special guest of honour today, when Ewu Progressive Union (EPU), Ewu Ekiti, mark its seventh Ewu Day, which is geared towards raising N100million for the developmental projects in the town, at St. Boniface Catholic Primary School, Ewu Ekiti, at 10a.m.

A statement issued by the organisers said Mr. Segun Oshikolu will be the chairman of the occasion, while the chief launcher will be Shola Omotosho. The chief host will be the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, B.O.A. Adetutu Ajayi.

Bells Yearly Parents seminar to be held December 3 The second yearly parents' seminar of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, earlier scheduled for November 19, will now hold on December 3.

A statement signed by the second Vice-Chairman of Bells University Parents Forum (BUPF), Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, revealed that the seminar, which will be facilitated by selected discussants, is aimed at educating and providing new approaches to parents as regards their commitment to their children.

The theme of the seminar is ‘Challenges of the Growing Use and Abuse of Drugs in Tertiary Institutions’, to be delivered by the former company Medical Adviser, Cadbury Nigeria Plc and National Coordinator of Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), Dr. Adedokun Adedeji.

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Why Atiku will emerge as APC presidential candidate –Aide

T Abuja

he Campaign Organisation of the former VicePresident, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said the reasons why Atiku will emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the February 14, 2015 election is because the contest was between him and other aspirants.

Atiku alongside former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Governor of Kano State and former Minister of Defence, Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Publisher of the Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah are all angling for the presidential ticket of the party.

In the same vein, a governorship aspirant under the platform of the APC in Lagos State, Dr. Leke Pitan, has said Atiku’s political aspiration to contest the presidential election should not make Nigerians see him as a bad man or an unduly combative person.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the Director of Media and Publicity for the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mal-

lam Garba Shehu, said the former vice-president had done the needful by reaching out to delegates and stakeholders of the party.

Shehu said: “Due to realities on ground the contest has been narrowed between him and others given his reach and acceptability in the party. We have made great strides. It was formally four aspirants, but it has been reduced to two man race and Atiku is currently leading. By December 10, Atiku will win."

Meanwhile, Pitan, while defending Atiku’s insistence to contest for the exalted position, said the former vice-president’s ambition should not be subsumed by the presidential aspiration of Buhari.

Fielding questions with Saturday New Telegraph in Lagos, Pitan said: “The fact that Atiku is not stepping down for Buhari does not mean that he is combative or a bad man.”

“There is a lot more to the number of aspirants jostling for a particular position in a party. This is a practice that definitely contributes to deepening democracy,” he said.

UYO

FCT

JUSUN calls off proposed strike 12 aspirants jostle for PDP The Judiciary Staff Association of Nigeria governorship ticket

…Ex-VP not a combative person –Pitan Dominik Umosen and Johnchuks Onuanyim

News

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS IN BRIEF

(JUSUN) yesterday called off its proposed strike billed to commence on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Director on Information of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Soji Oye, the agreement to shelve the strike was reached on Thursday, at the end of the meeting between the Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and the leadership of the Union and other relevant Stakeholders.

The Union had threatened to go on strike based on the non implementation of the subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on January 13, 2014 regarding Sections 81 (3), 121 (3) and 162 (9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

6.5m

The total population of Libya in 2012.

Source: Un.org

About 12 aspirants are jostling for the governorship ticket of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State.

The aspirants are in last minutes preparations ahead of the primary election slated for December 8.

Aside from a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Udom Emmanuel, who is banking on Governor Godswill Akpabio’s support to pick the party’s ticket, other aspirants are expecting a level playing field during the primary election.

Other contenders in the race are – Benjamin Okoko, Nsima Ekere, Prof. Richard King, Ekpenyong Ntekim, Okpolupm Etteh, Senator Helen Esuene, Patrick Ekpout, Envoy Assam Assam (SAN), Effiong Abia, Bishop Sam Akpan, and Mr. Larry Esin.

2%

The percentage share of Oil and Gas sector to Nigeria’s capital importation in 2009.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

FCT UPP presidential candidate to emerge Dec 11

The founder and national Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie has disclosed that plans were in advanced stage for the Presidential candidate of the party and his running mate for the 2015 presidential elections to emerge on December 11.

Okorie, who disclosed this yesterday in an interview with some journalists in Abuja, said though several qualified contenders were already jostling for the ticket, acceptable candidate would eventually emerge out of the many aspirants to stand as the party's flag bearer.

He stated that whoever would emerge as the presidential candidate of the UPP would certa inly come from the Igbo extraction.

F

ormer acting Governor of Adamawa State and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, has recalled that the good days he spent in office as a transitional governor was full of good memories and never ever forgettable as he considered those days as fulfilled days of great achievement.

He said this was evident in the records which shows that the days though few really touched the lives of the people in a most significance ways that has even beaten his imaginations.

Fintiri, who was apparently reacting to the fallout of the suppose by-election that ought to have taken place on September 25, 2015, but was cancelled by a seating court in Abuja,

which brought Bala Nggilari as substantive governor of the state being the then deputy to ousted Governor Murtala Nyako, said his 90 days in the Dougeri Government House was a most welcomed period in his life.

According to him, “I wish any one that is there to put his best to see that our state is better than I met it.”

Fintiri, who said this while fielding questions with journalists, after he visited the state's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat, said: “Initially we were invited by the party hierarchy especially those that want to contest and re-contest. I felt as a loyal party man to show my solidarity to my colleagues that are going to contest, as a group, and as people we want to see how we will move our party forward."

L-R: Chairman, Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Anselm Ojezua; wife of the former Minister of State for Works, Mrs. Joy Ogiemwonyi; her husband, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at the decamping of Ogiemwonyi from the PDP to the APC in Benin City… yesterday

PVC: You must re-register, INEC tells Fashola

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Muritala Ayinla he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday failed to distribute Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) at the polling unit where the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; his wife, Abimbola and some members of his family are expected to collect their PVCs. Saturday New Telegraph gathered that some INEC ad hoc staff at the Ward G3, State Junior Secondary School located on Itolo Street Surulere, where the

l ...Fails to distribute cards in Fashola’s ward

governor and his wife used to vote, had pasted poster to notify voters that the commission would not be distributing PVC at the ward.

The notice pasted at the entrance of the school read: “We regret to inform you that those who registered in this polling unit do not have permanent voters’ cards. Please come back between 3rd and 8th December 2014 for fresh registration.”

Fashola had arrived at

I didn’t aspire for deputy governor’s post in 1979 –Ita-Giwa

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ormer Presidential Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has denied media reports, which allegedly accused her of fighting the leadership of the party in Cross River State because she was keen at becoming the deputy governor to one of the aspirants and that she was part

of the defunct Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s administration.

In a statement made available to journalists, ItaGiwa refuted the claims, saying she was not part of the Shagari regime and that even if she were, there are politicians who served then that are still active and vibrant till now.

According to her, during Shagari’s regime, “I didn’t

1.6

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Angola in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

Fintiri: My 90 days in office as Adamawa governor eventful Ndubuisi Ugah

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even dreamt of being a politician.”

She added that after the feat she had attained politically as a Senator and as Deputy Minority Leader in the Upper House and served as Special Advisers to two great former Presidents, it would have been more appropriate if I clamour to be a governor and not a deputy gover-

nor and that the course she is pursuing is to fight all forms of injustice, disrespect to elders and the unending threats to end the political lives of some people. She said that one can be politically active without elective positions.

She advised that politicians should be ready to survive outside elective politics the way she is doing.

his polling unit at about 2:05p.m. to see the notice pasted on the gate, but left the ward disappointedly like other voters in the area.

However, the commission said the voters, who had registered in the ward will have to register afresh between December 3 and 8.

Explaining the reason for the botched exercise in the ward, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola blamed the development on loss of data, arising from the crash of their computing system.

He said: “Yes, some of the data captured during the registration in 2010 crashed. This was the reason we lost about 1.4 million data for voters. We are embarking on fresh registration for them and others who were unable to register in the 2010 registration.”

Fashola had expressed scepticism over INEC’s preparedness for the 2015 elections, describing the situation as a collusion or

inefficiency on the part of INEC ahead of the polls.

Briefing journalists on the development, Fashola said INEC, with the latest development has decided to thread the path of destruction, reiterating that the commission is not ready for the 2015 election.

Wondering what might have gone wrong with the INEC's data, Fashola said: “It’s a shameful path, this is my polling unit, this is where I voted, year after year. This is where I was registered. When INEC said they were ready to do distribution of voters cards, they said it was November 7 and 9, later they said they were not going to do all and that the balance will happen between November 28 and 30.

“So, Surulere was in the balance that was supposed to happen. So we are here today being 28th and this is the notice they surreptitiously came to put here at night. We can't collect our PVC,” he added.

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29 NOVEMBER 2014

ALAGBADO Dokpesi quits as DAAR Communications chair

N EWS I N BRIEF

After 20 years in the saddle, Founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, yesterday stepped down as chairman of the group.

The News Express learnt that he would be handing over to his son, Raymond Dokpesi Jr., until now Executive Director in charge of Special Projects at DAAR. A marine engineer and politician, Dokpesi forayed into media entrepreneurship in 1994 with Nigeria’s first private independent radio station, Raypower 100.5FM, which pioneered 24-hour broadcasting in Africa’s largest economy.

The company grew rapidly, launching a global satellite television station called Africa Independent Television (AIT) in December 1996.

9

The number of people in refugeelike situation in Sri Lanka at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

ILORIN Aspirants accuse Kwara PDP of bias

OKOTA Overcomers Church convention holds Dec 3

The Overcomers Church World Outreach, Okota, Lagos, will hold its Overcomers Faith Convention, with the theme, ‘Abundance of Rain’, from December 3 to 7, at the church’s headquarters. A statement issued by the organisers stated that the morning session will start from December 4 to 6, with Bishop and Mrs. N.E. Moses as host. It also added that Rev. Simeon Okeke, Bishop Mike Laju, Bishop Tom Samson and Bishop David King were some of the prominent clerics to attend the event. The event will also start at 5.30p.m., while the Sunday event will be held at 9a.m.

Twelve out of the 13 governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State yesterday accused the party’s leadership of bias in the race towards their primaries slated for December 8, 2014.

The allegations came as the state police command claimed to have uncovered plans by some people to disrupt the gubernatorial primaries in the state and warned of the dire consequences of such plans.

The aspirants made their fears known at a parley organised by the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Garba Salihu.

$88bn

The estimated amount of financial support for renewable energy globally in 2012.

Source: Unesco.org

€107.6m

The amount of money realized from TV rights by Tottheham in 2013-2014 season.

Source: Goal.com

Jonathan: South-West loss of House Speakership haunts me REGRET

The president has lamented the loss of the speakership of the House of Representatives by the South-West.

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Anule Emmanuel resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the inability of the South-West geo-political zone to produce the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011 in line with the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has continued to haunt him.

The president, who stated this at the Yoruba Unity

Summit, organised by the Yoruba Unity Forum, at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, blamed the failure of the zone to get the post on individual interests of some politicians in the region.

President Jonathan had departed Abuja, yesterday for Osun State, where he attended the event before proceeding to Lagos for another conference.

Speaking during the Yuruba summit, the President called on the need for equity in appointments encouraged by the zoning formula of the PDP. “I always say it, One of the problems I faced in the National Assembly is that I felt the right thing should be done because our party, the PDP has a formula. We have six geo-political zone

in the country and when the president emerges from one of the geo-political zones, the vice president emerges from another geopolitical zone, the rest core offices, the senate president, the speaker, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the chairman of the party must come from different geo-political zones.

“The idea is that, whenever we are distributing board positions and some of these appointments, these people sit to take decisions. Whenever we are appointing ministers, all these people sit to take decisions. In that case, we want all the geo-political zones to be in the inner caucus that take critical decisions.

“The last time, it was

difficult for me because I insisted that the south west must get the speaker.

Of course, I couldn't go through with it because some of us within the south west didn't want it based on some personal reasons.

I am still suffering from that till today. That is one of the reasons that the leaders said, this time around, we must work collectively so that whatever position is zoned to the south west, we should get that position.

People should not rob it from us,” he said.

President Jonathan, who stressed his belief in the unity of the country, appreciated the efforts of the Yoruba people alongside others, adding that government would continue to do more for the South-West.

Ebola: Fashola gives N76m to First Consultant, others Appolonia Adeyemi and Muritala Ayinla

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agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday presented N50 million to First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, where the Liberian-American, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, had died after being discovered to have acquired the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

He also presented N26 million to all the 13 casualties and survivors in the state to enable them carry on with their lives.

The governor, who described the gesture as a support to the heroes and heroines of Ebola-Free Nigeria, said the gesture was not a compensation but an act of showing compassion for a group highly patriotic Nigerians who rescued the nation from a deadly epidemic at their own expense.

Represented by the Com-

missioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, at a joint media conference in Alausa, Ikeja, which had in attendance Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed and Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr. Taofik Folami, Fashola commended the survivors for the roles played in the containment of EVD. He explained that each of the 13 survivors and relatives of the dead victims would get N2 million each while the First Consultant would get N50 million.

He described the outbreak and the eventual containment of the Ebola in the state and the country as phenomenon.

“We cannot compensate them fully for their losses,the Research Core Group on Ebola will add to the body of knowledge on Ebola Virus Diseases," he said.

DSS fails to produce detained APC staff in court

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Akeem Nafiu he Department of State Security (DSS) has defiled the order of Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which directed it to produce the five staff of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were detained by its operatives following a search on the parties data centre in Lagos.

Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Augustine Onuchukwu, Ebun Ilori, and Esther Enemy were arrested last Saturday after the DSS operatives, accompanied by police officers, raided a building which the APC said was its data office on Allen Avenue, Lagos.

Justice Yunusa had on Wednesday ordered the DSS and the Nigeria Police to produce the detainees in

court yesterday.

However, the detained staff were yesterday not in court, while there was also no representative of the Nigeria Police.

Peter Okerinmodun, counsel to the SSS, said the agency was unaware of the court's order, despite the applicants' lawyer providing a proof of service to his employer.

“My appearance today is from what I read in newspapers. One newspaper said the matter came up at Ikeja (high court),” Okerinmodu said, in response to a question from the judge on why he was in court.

“I made contact with (DSS) headquarters to ascertain the authenticity.

They said there was no service on them. Even as at this morning, nobody has confirmed. So, I was not briefed,” he said.

INEC orders inquest into 2011 polls Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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Governor of Kano State and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (left), and the party’s Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, during Kwankwaso’s submission of his presidential nomination form in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

ess than three months to the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set up a committee to investigate the conduct of the 2011 general elections.

Particularly, the commission is worried that a total of 19 of the elections it conducted three years ago have been nullified by the courts for non compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) as well as for corruption by some INEC staff.

INEC chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, who inaugurated the committee yesterday, said the purpose was to identify the staff behind the nullification to ensure they did not play key roles in the 2015 general elections.

The committee, which has Abdulrahamn Madaki, former deputy secretary in INEC, was given sevenpoint term of reference.

The bulletin released by the commission listed the terms of reference to include: to examine the circumstances that led to the nullification of the elections.

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Bonga oil spill: Fishermen laud $3.96bn compensation order

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he Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN) yesterday commended the House of Representatives for recommending a $3.96 billion compensation for the December 2011 spill from Bonga oil fields.

The House Committee on Environment had on Wednesday endorsed a compensation of $3.96 billion recommended by National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).

The House directed Shell to compensate the communities impacted by the oil spill from Bonga fields operated by Shell Nigeria Production and Exploration Company (SNEPCO).

Director at NOSDRA, Dr. Idris Musa, was quoted as saying that some 40,000 barrels of oil spilled into the Atlantic Ocean and pol-

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luted the waters, compelling fishermen to suspend fishing.

Reacting to the development, Coordinator of the fishing group in the Niger Delta, Rev. Samuel Ayadi, said yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State that the recommendation was a welcome development.

He commended NOSDRA for their painstaking efforts in conducting studies on the spill incident and making their report a basis for the House Committee to arrive at a conclusion.

He said the decision of the House had rekindled the hope of fishermen affected by the spill.

He recalled that some 6,000 members of the association were compelled to suspend fishing activities for more than three months to pave way for clean up activities.

JOS 'Plateau needs courageous leader to succeed Jang'

NEWS IN BRIEF

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Dr. Haruna Dabin, has said the state needs a courageous and determined leader who will succeed governor Jonah Jang after the 2015 general elections.

Dabin, who was the immediate past chairman of the PDP in the state, said this yesterday in Jos, when he visited the party’s secretariat to solicit the support of the party faithful.

Addressing party officials, Dabin said leadership was a thing of trust, stressing that the state needed a courageous person like Jang to serve with conviction and determination to succeed him.

N77.3m

The IGR realized from road taxes sources in Kwara State in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

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OGUTA LOKOJA APC clears three aspirants Supreme Court strikes out CPC’s for Ohaji/Egbema, others appeal against Wada The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Ojika Justus, Ozoema Donatus and Goddy Obodo, to contest for the party’s ticket for the Ohaji/ Egbema, Oguta/Oru West federal constituency election in Imo State.

Justus stated this to some journalists in Abuja, while speaking on his reason to contest for the House of Representatives election.

He said: “As an oil producing area, the level of unemployment in the constituency shouldn't be so if the people had had fair representation. One of my priorities is to empower women and youths. I am coming to salvage my constituency from the poor and bad leadership of past leaders.”

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed an appeal filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) challenging the election of the Kogi State governor, Idris Wada.

In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court held that since the CPC which filed the appeal had merged with the other political parties to become the All Progressive Congress (APC), it ceased to be a political party and therefore could not file or sustain the appeal.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Tanko Muhammad held that the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the CPC on July 31, 2013 signalled the death of CPC.

68

The sex ratio of men to 100 women in the above 60 years age group in Burkina Faso in 2012.

Source: Un.org

102m

The number of mobilecellular subscriptions of developed countries in 2007.

Source: Itu.int

Acquisition: AXA pays N43.14bn for 77% stake in Mansard Sunday Ojeme

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lobal leader in insurance and asset management business, AXA, has concluded the acquisition of one of Nigeria’s leading underwriting firms, Mansard Insurance Plc. The deal matured with AXA’s 100 per cent acquisition of Assur Africa Holdings (AAH), which holds a 77 per cent stake in Mansard Insurance (Mansard).

Under the terms of agreement, the total cash consideration payable will amount to Euro 198 million (N43.14 billion).

In a statement issued on Friday, AXA said it would include the acquired operations within its Mediterranean and Latin American Region.

This transaction will allow AXA to enter the highly attractive Nigerian market through a very reputable local company, led by a talented management team.

Moreover, Mansard will be able to capitalize on AXA’s extended distribution

knowledge, unique product skills and actuarial knowhow, to accelerate further its development and leverage its competitive advantages.

The closing of the transaction is expected before the end of 2014.

“This acquisition is a unique opportunity for AXA to enter the largest African economy with leading positions in all business lines and to get exposure to the fast-growing Nigerian retail insurance market.

AXA will benefit locally from the knowledge of an experienced and successful management team and from a profitable platform. Thus, this transaction represents a further step in our acceleration strategy, which is at the heart of our Ambition AXA plan, and is in line with our belief that insurance is instrumental to foster economic development, by providing communities with protection and risk management expertise,” said Denis Duverne, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AXA.

L-R: Justice Lambo Akanbi; the representative of President Goodluck Jonathan; Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta and Justice Roseline Bozimo (rtd.), at the inauguration of Federal High Court Complex in Asaba…yesterday

I quit my job to salvage Kwara, says ex-FCC chair SACRIFICE I quit my plum job for the good of my people and state

Oshiomhole flays Jonathan, PDP over austerity policy Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday flayed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the introduction of a harsh austerity measures as an economic policy.

He urged Nigerians to deploy their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a strong weapon to vote out President Jonathan in the

2015 presidential elections for foisting the dangerous policy against the wishes and expectations of millions of citizens of the country.

Oshiomhole stated this at the formal declaration of the former PDP chieftain and ex-Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogienwonyi, during a rally at the Urhokpota hall in Benin, the state capital. At the rally, there were over 2,000 supporters including top Benin palace chiefs and Chief Arala Osula, Igbo women and several others.

He challenged the PDP

to account to Nigerians what it did with the huge sales made from oil at the international market and wondered why the government then did not ask the citizens to tighten their belts for such mistakes.

He lamented that the PDP through its leaders in the state was responsible for the devastating Queen Ede gully erosion, the dangerous Auchi erosion menace and that recorded in some communities in Esanland, which is the stronghold of the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.

Biodun Oyeleye

A Ilorin

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Prof.

Shuaib AbdulRaheem, has said the reason he quitted his plum job as chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) is because he wants to improve upon the socio-political and economic fortunes of the state.

AbdulRaheem, who spoke with journalists in Ilorin, also dismissed insinuations that he had used his tenure as boss of the FCC to empower only Ilorin indigenes, just as he described as wrong the impression being created of him as a desperate politician.

Many of his followers had expressed concern that by resigning from the FCC job, Oba, as he is fondly

called was rejecting certainty for uncertainty.

“I don't care what other aspirants do as I have my own focus but if there is any move towards impunity then all law-abiding citizens must protest it because the best thing will be for PDP to win this state. I pray that God will guide the leadership of the party to do the right things,” he said.

The former FCC chairman also confirmed some federal lawmakers had shown a similar concern but insisted that his decision was a sacrifice for the overall benefit of the state.

AbdulRaheem, who was a former vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), promised the residents that he would not steal public money if elected.

“There is a lot of rot in this state which men of conscience must rise up to cor-

rect and so I can't sit in my office in Abuja and allow that rot to continue. I must be ready to sacrifice my position to salvage the rot. My leaving the FCC will not affect the interest of Kwara because the FCC is not a job generating agency; it is a supervisory agency and my role is a coordinating one,” he said.

The former FCC boss promised to ensure proper autonomy for the local government system if elected, saying his administration would not operate any form of joint account with councils in the state but only perform a supervisory role for them.

The former FCC boss also explained that the major reason he parted ways with the Bukola Saraki political group was not due to personal quarrel but a disagreement between them on how to run the state.

Voices Would you allow your son to marry a much older spouse? p.12

Street Diary SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

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Gunned down in service to fatherland Last August when Ugwuoke Onyinyechi Edith, 25, was mobilised for the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps scheme after studying Theatre Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, she had high hopes. However, when the agents of death, disguised as armed robbers struck at a bank in Ikere-Ekiti on Monday afternoon, her dreams and those of her parents were aborted. ADESINA WAHAB, reports.

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he came from a humble background as attested to by some of her colleagues.

25-year-old Ugwuoke Onyinyechi Edith, who studied Theatre Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, was also a staunch Catholic who engrossed herself in the activities of the church. With call up number EK/14B/1523, she was expectant that she would exit the scheme next July.

After her three-week orientation camp experience, she was sent to Ikere-Ekiti for her primary assignment and had been dutiful all through.

Her aged and poor parents had looked forward to a life of great promise for their daughter who, according to friends, had funded her education through a community cooperative loan. "She had been refunding part of the loan with some of her allowances as a corps member. Now the whole dream of living above poverty by getting higher education on credit has been defeated by her cruel death," said a colleague of hers, who identified herself simply as Shade.

According to Shade, who gave an account of how Onyinyechi was killed, she said as a member of the Nigerian Catholic Corps Member Fellowship, the deceased was going to the fellowship's Family House in Ikere where she hoped to secure accommodation for a Catholic corps member who recently left the Orientation Camp, when she met her untimely death.

“She was a member of the Catholic Corps Member Fellowship's Help Mission and the group is involved in assisting people from all walks of life. She had boarded a motorbike with another person, going to the Ikere office of the fellowship when they heard gunshots from different directions and decided to scamper to safety.

“When Onyinyechi and others heard the sporadic gunshots, the bike man hastily dropped them by the roadside and zoomed off, not even waiting for his fares. She and

others had no option other than to run for safety. She took a route she thought was safe and it was on the opposite direction of where some of the gunshots were coming.

“Onyinyechi ran towards the bank premises, not knowing that the place was being robbed and hid herself under a Hilux Van with two others, who were also trying to escape.

“The robbery operation lasted for about 15 minutes with sporadic shootings from different directions, suddenly, her phone rang and the robbers, apparently vexed by this, found her out and dragged her out of her hiding place and shot her at close range. I think on her chest,” Shade said, fighting tears streaming down their face.

She described the late Onyinyiche as a very down-to-earth and kind lady, who was always greeting everyone that came her way with warm smiles.

“If you stay with her for few hours, you would find her charming and she was always ready to help. She was actually on a help mission when she met her cruel death. She wanted to help a new corps member on an accommodation issue. She had boarded a bike going to the Nigerian Catholic Corps Member Fellowship family house where she resides in company with a new corps member just posted to Ikere-Ekiti, in order to secure accommodation for him.

The new corps member has been in shock since Onyinyechi was shot.

Her death is just too painful to us, members of the NYSC Batch B,” another lady who identified herself simply as Joy, said while she sobbed.

The Ekiti State Co-odinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Ibe Tobias Chibube, said Oyinyechi's death had thrown the state NYSC secretariat into deep mourning.

“That girl's death is really painful. We can't understand why such should happen to her. Her parents are too old to even travel down for her corpse from the village. Her sister who came for her body couldn't

Onyinyechi

"Onyinyechi ran towards the bank premises, not knowing that the place was being robbed and hid herself under a Hilux Van with two others, who were also trying to escape"

even raise money for keeping her corpse in the morgue before the next day when she would be buried. It took the effort of the Ekiti State Government which generously sponsored all the burial expenses including transport expenses to get her corpse down to her village in Enugu.

“My advice to the government is to work more on providing security for these banks and other business offices. Bank robbery is becoming too alarming in several parts of the state of recent. Our security operatives should work hard on this,” he said.

It was not only Onyinyechi that met her untimely death during the robbery operation of November 24, two policemen and a man were also killed.

The Divisional Crime Officer in Ikere-Ekiti Police Station, ASP Itua, who had less than three months to retire from service, was shot dead right in his office.

An eyewitness said, “The man had a very bad fate. He just had three months to retire from the police, it was after they finished him and succeeded in scaring all other policemen that they went for the police armoury in the office and emptied it.”

A policewoman sergeant, who was popularly called Mama Joel, was also shot dead while trying to scale the fence of the police station.

An employee of Ikere Local Government, Mr. Olabode Kosemate, was also shot dead right in front of his house at Odo-oro area

of Ikere-Ekiti.

“The man, an employee of the Ikere Local Government Area, was just returning from his office when he saw the police van with which the armed men escaped from the scene of the crime. The vehicle was parked in front of the man's house and he didn't suspect anything since it was a police van but when the gunmen alighted from the vehicle, they shot him and left the van there and walked away into the bush,” an eyewitness said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, has said that the command is working on certain “clues” that will assist in unravelling those behind the bank robbery.

Lakanu said with the clues being worked on “such a thing would never happen in Ekiti again."

He said: "We are working on those clues and very soon such a thing would never happen again.

Our men are out, they have been going round the town, we are ready to confront them and we are working round the clock.”

The police boss attributed the current rate of armed robbery in banks to the Yuletide season, adding that “but our men are on the ground.

“Not that we did not prepare, we actually prepared but it is always like that. We are not ruling out internal connivance which we are looking at very seriously, but we are not focusing on First Bank alone, we are focusing on other banks as well.”

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29 NOVEMBER 2014

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2015: Nsukka United USA cautions Enugu North Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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An accident scene

PHOTO: YNAIJA.COM

FRSC launches ‘Operation Fluidity’ in Lagos

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Camillus Nnaji agos/Ogun Zonal Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a programme tagged: ‘Operation Fluidity’ along the LagosIbadan Expressway to ensure outright elimination of Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) or its reduction to the barest minimum.

FRSC in a statement signed by its zonal commander, Assistant Corps Marshal Godwin Ogagaoghene, on Friday in Lagos, said the exercise would ensure that crashed or broken down vehicles causing obstruction on the road were removed within five minutes of occurrence.

The programme also includes public education on safety tips, rescue services, stakeholders’ meetings and motor vehicle administration.

As part of efforts aimed at ensuring that travellers and other road users do not face

incessant hardship on the road, Ogagaogbene added the FRSC was also proposing a Road Safety Fund to enable it to procure equipment that would assist the commission in doing its work.

He said the equipment would be funded by stakeholders such as the FRSC, Julius Berger PLC, Redeem Christian Church of God, ASCON Oil, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ogere heavy truck division and Deeper Life Bible Church -all along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor.

He said: “The corps through the exercise, operation fluidity, would ensure the expressway is free of any broken down vehicles causing obstructions within five minutes of the occurrence. There will be public enlightenment, highway patrol, rescue services, motor vehicle administration and stakeholders’ engagement.”

The zonal commander stated that the operation had become

Ex-commissioner decries underdevelopment in Awka Tony Okafor Awka

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ormer Commissioner for Agriculture in Anambra State, Mr. Goddy Ezeanagu, has lamented what he called the level of underdevelopment in Awka North and South local governments of the state.

Ezenagwu, who said this after the rescheduled ward congress at Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area, attributed the situation to poor representation in the past.

The chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who is currently vying for the House of Representatives

seat for Awka North, said the constituency, which also accommodates the seat of government did not have the basic infrastructure which should have been there if the representatives at the National Assembly from the area made judicious use of their constituency allowances.

Ezenagwu, who described the conduct of the ward congress as successful, promised purposeful representation aimed at giving the people what was due to them.

He reiterated the support of APGA for President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the alliance would give APGA leverage in getting fair share of what would be due to them at the federal level.

necessary after the FRSC had analysed the traffic inflow and outflow on the road.

“We carried out a seven-day traffic count from September 14 -20, 2014 on the expressway.

The result reveals that a total of 651,283 vehicles transverse Ibadan-Lagos side of the road, while 570,440 were recorded at Lagos-Ibadan side. This gives a total of 1,221,723 vehicles plying the road within one week,” Ogagaoghene said.

he people of Nsukka senatorial zone of Enugu State residing in the United States of America (USA) have cautioned the people of the zone against internal conflicts that could jeopardize the current process of ceding the governorship seat to the area come 2015.

Operating under the umbrella of Nsukka United USA, the indigenes expressed appreciation to Governor Sullivan Chime for showing a practical political will in keeping the promise of rotating the governorship to the Enugu North Zone of the state in the spirit of fairness to all sections of the state.

In a statement made available to journalists in Enugu, the group said: “Ndi Nsukka must not take this singular opportunity for granted, or allow internal conflicts to negate the significance of the exalted position in question.”

In a tacit approval of the choice of the consensus governorship candidate made by Governor Sullivan Chime and stakeholders for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the emergence of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the group said in its statement yesterday, “We commend Governor Chime for the path he took to greater honour to tap a great son of Nsukka. It is one thing for a

Police arrest man for stealing clothes in Kwara Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

A

middle-aged man has been arrested by the police in Kwara State over his role in the burgling of a shop where several bundles of different clothes were carted away.

The suspect, who was identified as Akinola Obafemi, claimed that he was deceived by his girlfriend, who called him in the middle of the night to ask for his assistance because she was purportedly stranded on the Jebba-Mokwa Highway.

According to Obafemi, the lady, whose whereabouts is now a mystery, had told him that the vehicle conveying her with her goods had broken down around Oke-Oyi area of Ilorin the state capital and asked him to come and pick her with his Mercedes Benz.

He said it was while returning from the trip and policemen accosted him that he discovered he was conveying stolen goods.

Obafemi, who told Saturday New Telegraph that efforts to locate the woman friend since his arrest had been unsuccessful, claimed the woman had always resisted the idea of taking him to her shop purportedly located around Airport Road all through the period of their relationship.

But the police version of the incident said the suspect was nabbed at

4a.m. while on patrol at Elekoyangan area and that when his vehicle was searched, items stolen from a shop owned by one Omolara Salami at OkeOyi area were recovered from him.

It was gathered that the suspect was given a wild chase and several shots were fired at his car before he eventually stopped.

Some of the items recovered from the suspect include 135 new bundles of Ankara, eight new bundles of Guinea Brocade, nine bundles of Lace materials, two bundles of Kampala and two bundles of New Galila.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Salihu Garba, said the suspect would be charged to court soon.

Kwara State Governor, Ahmed

Enugu State Governor, Chime

man to say that he will do something, but it is a bigger deal for him to fight to see it through.”

Among officials of the group who issued the statement on behalf of others were Eddy C. Agbo, Isaac Ike, Bernard Ugwu, Sir Linus Eze, Mrs Eunice Urama and Sir Ik Asadu.

In commending the governor for his exemplary leadership in piloting the 2015 processes maturely, they urged all stakeholders to embrace reconciliation and look towards visionary leadership in the coming dispensation in the state.

The group stated, “In zoning the next governorship candidate to Nsukka, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has followed through with its principle of equity, justice and fairness.

“Nsukka United USA is aware of the rancour this has generated amongst various stakeholders in Enugu State, but we urge all hands to be on deck to ensure that the best the candidate from Enugu North emerges.

“Nsukka United USA also recognises that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have also zoned its governorship position to Enugu North senatorial zone. We urge the parties to ensure that a credible Nsukka man or woman emerges as governor.

“Clearly, Enugu people are yearning for an acceleration of the new breed of leadership that is taking hold in our state – true visionary leaders who are builders of a new dawn, working with imagination, insight and boldness. They present a challenge that calls for the best in people and should unite us all around a shared sense of purpose.

“We are encouraged by the fact that there are strong Nsukka candidates who are social innovators and change agents, who see the big picture and think strategically. Their eyes are on the horizon, not just on the near at hand, but with big ideas, great leadership qualities and test hands to lead even and accelerate the development of our state.”

Voices

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

12

Would you allow your son to marry a much older spouse?

It's against my tradition

I don’t have any problem with that Yes, that is not a problem to me as far as I am concern since there is real love between them. But the age difference shouldn’t be more than two - three years. If they are compatible with each other, why should I be an obstacle to the union?

– Olalere Oladele, engineer

Age is just a number

To me, age is just a number when it comes to love, but the difference between them shouldn’t be more than two -five years and she must be willing to be submissive to him not minding the age difference.

– Philomena Jackson, businesswoman

She must not disrespect my son Yes, if the spouse satisfies certain criteria, such as; she must have the fear of God at heart, she must love my son for who he is and not for what he has or what she imagines he may have, and she must be ready to see my son as the head of the home irrespective of the age difference. This means that under no circumstance should age cause disagreement in the marriage.

– Ados Mumoh, clergy

I won’t because women mature faster than men No, it’s supposed to be the other way round - older men for younger ladies. Culturally, it is unAfrican, women have limited productive years and mature faster than men hence much disparity will be noticed in handling marital issues.

– Adefuye Linus, lecturer

I will respect the choice of my son This life has got to a stage where we can no longer decide for our children. We just have to accept and respect their choice. If my son thinks that is the right choice for him then why not?

As a typical Yoruba person that idea can never be welcomed because, according to tradition, the husband ought to be older than the wife and not the other way round.

– Mrs. Tocsin, banker

I won't

– J. O. Ayilara, engineer

I won’t decide for my son

Yes, I can allow him because what really matter in any marriage is love and if her stature is okay then there is no big deal. I am not the one to choose for him as far as he is satisfied and it is the will of God then he can proceed.

–Olayioye Femi, teacher

I will not No, I will not, because even when a man and a woman of the same age get married the woman grows older than the man on the long run and not to talk of a woman older than her husband. Age will later tell on her than the man.

– Ayo Oni, medical practitioner

I wouldn’t agree to such an idea because biblically it's not proper. Looking at creation, God created man first and from him he took out the woman. So, why will my son marry a woman older than him? Also it wouldn’t give the man his real right in the home because we women can be sometimes too naughty and nagging.

– Ojo Oluwakemi, businesswoman

Only if the age difference is not much I would only allow that if the age gap is not more than two or three years.

– Kolawole, banker

Humanly speaking, it is not advisable but only God who knows the best. But age should not be a barrier to any relationship.

Matured ladies are better experienced Well, it’s possible by me, if they both, particularly the woman in question, are ready to comply with each other in terms of submitting and respecting one each other’s opinion. You can’t really tell where you find true love and also matured ladies are usually more experienced than the younger ones.

– Adetayo Adewuyi, businessman

civil servant

It is not biblical

It's no advisable

– Kajeyale Tope, medical practitioner

It can become an issue in future and it is better to avoid it now. I won't support the idea. No, I won't.

– Ameh Obadan,

Women no longer respect men Impossible! I will not grant that, knowing that women of nowadays are not respectful.

The woman will just turn my son into something else. Love is not everything when it comes to marriage, so prevention is better than cure.

compiled by

– Mrs. Ayobami, nurse

JOHN EDU, AYILARA DADA AND TOPE DADA

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

WeekendDelight 13

C o n v e r s at i o n

Instyle Slim-fit Ankara prints trousers p.15

The Arts

Surging collage that speaks to our humanity p.18

TV & Radio

Reviewing Pepsi’s Top 10 chart p.43

Love&Living ‘I got pregnant for my brother-in-law p.38

Peter

FaTomilola

I have always wanted to be a herbalist Peter Fatomilola best known for his ability to interpret the role of an Ifa (oracle) priest starred as Papa Ajasco, the comic lead character in the popular Wale Adenuga’s television series of the same title. Though the veteran actor who is proud to be called a ‘traditionalist’or ‘herbalist’ was already a celebrated actor, he still went back to the university to study the rudiments of the Theatre Arts and later became a dramatic arts instructor at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he reflects on his life.

PREPARING FOR THE STAGE I have interest in becoming an artiste and a performer very young. I will say endurance and being focused brought me so much success in the art. I was able to endure and as a matter of fact every man must learn how to endure. If you are studying law in the university you must be able to endure all the impediments to become a fantastic lawyer.

Theatre for me started when I was a child. I remember when we used to stage plays in primary school. I loved to play prominent roles and that graduated to my secondary school days. In 1967 at the Ife City College, I led the Ife City Dramatic Society to a competition, Oranmiyan Festival of Arts. We performed a play entitled Oro Ikoko and I played the role of Atitebi. The late Professor Ola Rotimi was the chairman at the occasion and he took interest in me. He asked for my details that day and that was how he groomed me to become who I am today. My first major movie was the role I played in Rere Run, a Yoruba movie. I acted as a labour leader who struggled with the government for the interest of the masses and the role won me a lot of fans. The film was written by Dejo Okewumi and directed

by Ola Rotimi.

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL The people who trained me are educated people. The late Professor Ola Rotimi was the first person to bring me up on stage in 1968. He later left me in the hands of Profes-

FATOMILOLA

sor Wole Soyinka and the knowledge I gained from both of them before I proceeded to the University of Ife in 1977 to read Drama was helpful. I was already a super actor before my sojourn in the university; Ola Rotimi had turned me to a super actor. I had spent like 14 years as an actor before I entered the university. It was under Wole Soyinka I had to go read Drama and I was among the first set of students that opened the School of Drama in the now ObafemiAwolowo University. Soyinka wanted students who were under him to know theatre theoretically and practically.

Soyinka was my boss and I was his student.

He taught me criticism in theatre and writing. So, the first set of students were later

appointed as instructors; those who would imbibe drama into students. When you open a laboratory and you have no lab assistants, the laboratory is as good as useless.

LIFE AS PAPA AJASCO The owner of the company, Wale Adenuga, is a younger friend of mine when I was under Ola Rotimi and Wole Soyinka. He knew me well because he was born in Ife and used to visit our centre, Ori Olokun. But he didn’t leave me after his university education. So, when he wanted to start Papa Ajasco he contacted me; he told me that he had studied me CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Weekend Delight

| Conversation

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

‘I was already a teenager before I enrolled in school’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 3

well and I was the best person who could interpret the role to his satisfaction.

We shot the first episode in 1983; 10 years later I joined him to shoot Binta My Daughter and I acted Papa Ajasco there too. Any other Papa Ajasco came after me. I also joined him in Super Story before I

opted out due to the distance of coming to Lagos from Ife. I am from Ifishin in Ido/ Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, but Ife is the home of culture and centre of civilisation. I cannot stay in Lagos because of money; Lagos cannot give me any satisfaction. What we have in Lagos is money; no culture, no morals. I’ve been living in Ife for over 40 years. Also, you will agree with me that everything must end someday. I had to leave the stage; my father left the stage for me and I would leave it for my children too or the younger ones. God created us that way. The way late Chief ObafemiAwolowo left the stage for politicians the same way I would leave it for the younger artistes.

PLAYING HERBALIST IN MOVIES I have no problem with my role as Ifa priest or herbalist in Nigerian movies because that was my background and who I am. The father, late Chief Abraham Ojo Fatomilola, was the head of the herbalists in my town.

We call that ‘Oluawo’ or ‘AgbaAwo.’ In fact, I only wanted to study Ifa and always around my father because it was great fun with him. When people brought goats, sheep, ducks, chickens etc, my father would take the parts he needed and instruct us to roast the other parts. But my mother was determined to make sure I had education. I was already a teenager before I started school.

So after the death of our father a brother of mine succeeded him.

Right now, Peter Fatomilola is the ‘Oluawo’ of Ifishin Ekiti; I got that position since May this year. So, this should tell you that all what I say in movies are not acting or fake and many people also see me as someone knowledgeable in that area. At 9, I could interpret the OduIfa very well. I am a practising herbalist today, but people that know me long ago still know that I can play comical roles.

LIVING AS AN INSTRUCTOR AND ACTING Since I have been working in the university before the establishment of the department it was not easy for the university authorities to control my movement because I was already part of the theatre department. The department was like my baby and I was treated like a father. So, I inform the authorities whenever I needed to pick other engagement and there was no time they didn’t approve it. And they also knew it will help the school in a way or the other because it is like sending me for a workshop or seminar at no cost. They expected that I will bring back to the school and the classrooms what I had learnt.

Lagos cannot give me any satisfaction. What we have in Lagos is money; no culture, no morals. I’ve been living in Ife for over 40 years

ATTACK ON TRADITIONAL AFRICA RELIGION Ifa is knowledge; it is not ‘Orisa.’ The man that brought Ifa to this world is Orisa (deity) and that is Orunmila. Bible is the combination of two religions: ifa and the Qur’an. The same way people study the bible knowledge from primary education to university and Islamic Knowledge, they should study Ifa too. Why are they running from Ifa? It is knowledge. Any Yoruba descent that runs away from Ifa, we call them bastard because they prefer to acquire other knowledge and kill their father’s own. People that bring in those knowledge I call them intruders. I studied Ifa as a child and I studied the Bible in school and I discovered that both are saying the same thing. I later studied the Qur’an too and I saw that Islam is also preaching the same message. The three religions are interwoven; the only difference is the language and the practice. I am Peter, which means I am a Christian too. Some people are novice.

They don’t know what religion is all about.

Ifa like Islam and Christianity is my religion.

I can’t throw it away and I can’t condemn Christianity and Islam as well. I was born into an Ifa family and bred in that direction.

We worship the same God but in different ways and languages LIFE IN OAU AND AFTER I don’t miss being an instructor in OAU because people from other institutions still call me to speak on culture, languages, drama, among others and I enjoy it. I am presently preparing to go to Adekunle Ajasin University on December 10 to speak to the students over there. I started off as a member of the University of Ife theatre known as the Ori Olokun Players in 1967. It was later changed to the University of Ife Theatre in 1973 and during the 1977/1978 session, the Department of Dramatic Arts was established. Our activities as Ori Olokun Players and University of Ife Theatre made the university authorities to introduce a department that would centre on the dramatic arts. I retired as a principal actor at the institution eight years ago.

LIVING A DREAM Fulfilment to me is recognition and fame; money is nothing. I would say I am fulfilled if fulfilment is not based on wealth alone.

The recognition I have all over the world is more than money to me and I am proud of myself. One that is not proud of who he or she is should not live. I have no regrets. I am the only child of my mother (Elizabeth Fatomilola) of about 32 children of my father and I am alive and healthy. I am not better that the people who have passed on. Today, I have more than a dozen children as well as grandchildren of about a dozen too. I know how many graduates I have produced. Also, I have people who have passed through me. The likes of Dr. Ahmed Yerima, Yemi Shodimu, Olumide Bakare, Becky of Wale Adenuga, etc were my students. I have also contributed to the progress of some of them in life. That makes me proud and whenever I see them I feel fulfilled. My wish is for all the students that passed through my department to be greater than me.

ESTABLISHING OLUMODU CULTURAL STUDIO That is my company where I teach my apprentice how to dramatise Yoruba oral literature, Ifa, traditional medicine in Yoruba land, etc. At age 15, I was already registered alongside other herbalists in Ife. I have the certificate of the Agboniregun. I know about Ifa and the use of herbs too well. If I am not doing what I am doing now I would probably just remain a farmer and I still farm till date. I could still recall that Wale Adenuga used to come to the farm to check me those days. People around me know I am a serious farmer.

DECLINE IN STAGE PERFORMANCE We cannot point finger to anyone for the decline in stage act because it gave birth to the movies. But people now believe that funding a stage play is tough due to the money involved. You need a lot of money to actually do stage performance; it is less expensive to shoot movies.

ASSESSING EMERGING ARTISTS I will tell you that I only have confidence in my own children, the ones who are trailing my way. Two of my children featured in my production, though we are yet to put it out for the public. One of my sons, Oladosu, studied drama and language at OAU and he featured in my movie which I am yet to release. He is a broadcaster, an artiste and a producer. My daughter, Olaitan, also featured in the movie and I still have some who are doing well. But my word of advice to the younger ones is that they should try to endure and do the job for the love before money comes in.

Instyle

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

15

fashion etiquette Slim-fit Ankara print trousers

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Angela Davies frican fabrics especially the Ankara print have come a long way. In recent times, Ankara print which comes in varied exciting colours and patterns are used by fashionistas to make beautiful slim-fit trousers.

This style may look simple yet comfortable and trendy. It is an infusion of African and Western style as women of style pair their Ankara print bottom with a plain top in different styles for a bubbly appeal. The Ankara print slim fitted bottom could be worn to informal events like movie or music premiere, opening of a fashion shop or even a birthday party depending on how you choose to accessories the outfit.

Tips • The best way to wear Ankara print slim fitted bottom is to pair it with a plain top so that the print can shine. To make the print bottom shine, it is ideal to choose a plain top in at least one of the colour in the print.

• You could also opt to pair it with a universal coloured top like black, white or neutral.

• Depending on the fashion statement you intend to make at the event, you could decide to tuck-in or leave your top un-tucked. To leave your shirt untucked, the length of the top should not go beyond your hips.

• You could also play with colours by picking one of the colours on the Ankara print and use it to accessorize your look.

• Shoes for this outfit could range from wedge, strappy heel sandals, flat sandal, pumps and open toe depending on the event and your personal style.

However, to wear this fashionable slim fitted print bottom, your choice of Ankara fabric design and colour should complement your complexion and also depict your style. So take a jive at this outfit and make your own fashion statement.

Never use belt with suspenders

S

uspenders are a fashion accessory for men that offer both function and style. They hold up pants, making them functional. They also complement a variety of looks, thus, making a fashion statement.

Suspenders provide more support than belts do. They are fairly easy to put on, but you need to make sure that they are adjusted securely enough to prevent them from slipping off your shoulders.

Whether you choose to wear a Y or X style suspender, you should never wear a belt and suspender together. Suspenders make a belt unnecessary, so wearing one would be an overkill. Additionally, wearing a belt with suspenders is also considered a fashion faux pas.

16

Instyle

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Elegant ankle strap platform pumps Ankle strap platform pumps are gorgeous shoes that would add that extra elegance and edge to your outfit for that special event. ANGELA DAVIES writes.

W

ith an elegant outfit and right attitude, you could take your style to new heights with gorgeous ankle strap platform pumps. These cute shoes which essentially features ankle strap with buckle fastening, round or almond toe, padded insole and slim high heels are a timeless shoe that will add sophistication to your outfit and overall look.

The strap could be single or double. It could also be thin or wide, your choice depends on your style. Elegant ankle strap platform heels are perfect for weddings, special occasions and a night out even as they add some sexy extra inches from below.

They come in various exciting fabrics, colours and styles. These shoes are versatile and can be worn to any event and whether outfit you choose to pair it with.

For a casual event, you could pair your ankle strap pumps with skinny jeans, pant or pencil skirt with a lovely top. And for an evening outing, you would standout when you pair an elegant mini or little black dress with a pair of shimmery ankle strap pumps.

So flaunt your ankle strap pumps and let your feet shine in your outfit. These pumps have a no hold bars appeal to them so you can have fun with them.

Instyle

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

A queen's wardrobe She may be a beauty queen, but light-skinned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Universe, Celestine Osem, is not fussy about what she wears. For her, even a denim and tank top will do, writes ANGELA DAVIES. How would you define your style?

My style is simple and comfortable.

What determines the kind of outfit you wear?

The event I am attending determines that. If there is a dress code, I dress to suit the event and if there is no dress code, I dress in what I feel comfortable in.

What kinds of outfits take up the most space in your wardrobe?

I love jeans a lot. But then because of the whole beauty pageant thing I have to add gowns to my wardrobe. So, I would say gowns, lots of jeans and tank tops.

If you had to flaunt any part of your body, what would that be?

It has to be my legs. They are long, pretty and smooth.

Is there a particular style of outfit you would rather not be seen wearing?

Really, I don’t know. I have never thought about it. However, I wear almost any kind of outfit outside my house including bum shorts.

Fashion accessories you cannot do without?

I love all kind of shoes. I love pumps, stilettos, wedge and flats.

I am not a fan of sandals but I love slippers too.

What is the most expensive fashion item ever bought?

A pair of designer shoes.

Who is your fashion role model?

I have to go with Beyonce be-

Beauty

Facts The Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) is the premier fashion industry association in Nigeria, whose purpose is to promote fashion design in Nigeria’s cultural, social and traditional life. It was founded January 10, 1989.

cause I love her style. She wears anything and it just suits her.

Also, she is comfortable in whatever she wears.

Signature perfume It is Coco Channel's Madamoselle. It was a gift from my dad at first and then I ended up liking the fragrance. Although I love different perfumes but that is my favourite.

Best colour That will be blue. The colour is just cool.

Best designer I have different designers in Nigeria but my personal designer has been Paolo Sisiano. He knows what suits my colour and figure.

Christian Dior was a strong believer in psychics and would visit one to determine which day would be best to show his latest collection

If you were a fashion accessory what do you think it would be?

I would like to be earrings because ladies wear it all the time.

Earrings have a way of framing the face.

How do you love your hair?

I love to fix different types of gorgeous weave-ons which I style in different ways to suit my face.

The bra strap clasp was invented by Mark Twain.

How do you like your make-up?

I like it light and natural most times. But then, if I have to go to events and I am wearing a simple dress, then, my make-up has to be dramatic to complement the dress.

Before she became a fashion designer, Vera Wang dreamed of becoming an Olympic figure skater.

If you have to go on a dinner date with a style icon who would that be?

I will go with Angelina Jolie.

She is a super stylish woman.

Honey: Your beauty saviour

H

oney is a natural sweetener with moisturizing benefits. If you have a bottle of natural honey, then, it is time to put it to good use in your beauty routine.

So, here are some benefits of using honey when it comes to beauty.

Moisturizes skin - When you skin feels dry, you should make a one ingredient moisturizing mask by spreading one teaspoon of pure honey on your face. Allow to stay for 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

Exfoliate dead skin – To achieve this result, add granulated sugar to honey for your body or facial scrub.

Combine two tablespoons of granulated sugar to two tablespoons of honey to create a paste. Then, rub the paste on your skin in a circular motion and rinse with warm water.

Clean pores – When combined wWith olive or coconut oil, honey becomes a killer makeup remover and

Mixture of sugar and honey

cleanser. Just rub a few drops of the olive oil and honey mixture into your skin to unclog pores and leave for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and wipe with a clean towel.

Hair Conditioner - You should mix one tablespoon pure honey with two tablespoons coconut oil. Apply thoroughly to the bottom of damp hair, starting at the ends and work-

ing up. Allow to sit for 15 minutes, and rinse well. The nutrients in pure honey gives dull hair shine while the coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft to condition and smooth the cuticle and give your strands the luster you crave.

Fade scars - Mix one teaspoon pure honey with one teaspoon or olive oil.

Apply to the affected area, and massage with the tips of your fingers in a circular motion for one to two minutes. Repeat daily. Honey is said to lighten skin, and its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds help to decrease the appearances of scars and increase healing and tissue rejuvenation.

Acne treatment - Apply a dab of pure honey to affected areas, and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Honey contains antibacterial and antifungal properties that prevent bacteria that could lead to breakouts.

17

The Arts SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

18

Surging collage that speaks to our humanity Nigerian artist Kainebi Osahenye returns to the Lagos exhibition circuit with a series of new creations on display in a freshly renovated gallery space at the National Museum Lagos, writes TONY OKUYEME

T

itled, “Shifting Currents”, the exhibition which opened on November 16, shows Kainebi Osahenye’s creative use of flattened aluminium to produce an immersive installation titled “Redemption”, a departure from his traditional mode of representation.

Known for working across a variety of mediums which include painting, drawing, installation, sculpture and collage, Osahenye has yet again departed from his traditional mode of representation, as he is offering in this exhibition an immersive installation titled, “Redemption”. And as a complement to “Redemption”, he is displaying a series of works on photographic collage under the title, “The Eye Series”. The works on display can be divided into these two categories, although they share an affinity – Redemption (an installation) and the photo-collage series.

The exhibition also marks a transformation of some of Osahenye’s thematic concerns, having painted eyes and used burnt cans as assemblage materials since his “Trashing” exhibition of 2009. This installation signifies the first time he is combining photography with his assemblage and also breaking beyond the rigidity of the frame. The piece “Redemption” comprises several hundreds of flattened aluminium cans that are installed on the wall and collapses on the floor in an all immersive room environment.

“The elements on the floor are loosely laid and could be treaded on, inviting viewer participation. These objects have been burned to varying degrees allowing for variations in their residue. By subjecting the material to burning, the elements take on a distinct materiality that simultaneously contrast discolouration and refinement, and renewal, damnation and release/free-

dom. This contrasting polarity describes the work’s fluid nature and its ability to bend and flow through passages of meaning,” he noted.

Thematically “Redemption” deals with a spiritual yearning that Osahenye observes within his environment.

With regard to “The Eyes Series”, he said: “Seemingly random, yet thoughtfully, I employed eyes cut-out from photographs across the entire surface. From the centre of the three sides of the work are eyes that stare mysteriously. They give the work a mystifying aura. Using directional lines arranged like spokes diverging from three central points, holds the piece in a magical way. I have also used cut-out red aluminium strips that are fashioned into cross-like symbols indicating a spiritual undertone.

“Drawing on the concept of Christianity, Redemption represents a sanctuary populated by ‘believers’ who are corrupted (worldly) and appear in submission for a change.

They desire to be redeemed.

Osahenye...some of his works (above)

"Collectively, the poetic sensibility in the works' assemblage, reveal a certain kind of beauty”

Likewise, they are analogous to Nigerians seeking redemption.

Collectively, the poetic sensibility in the works' assemblage, reveal a certain kind of beauty.”

According to him, eyes as a motif to engage the deeper realities of life have been of interest to him. “The eyes are generated from the photographs that I commission. They are digitally manipulated and printed in their thousands. The process of making it is painstakingly slow.

This methodology tests one’s tenacity. In many ways I can build an attitude of survival as one en-

gages with this activity.”

The activity of taking something that seems so familiar and re-activating it to assume something that can trigger curiosity and contemplation (in the viewer) is also an attraction for him.

“I am interested in the accumulation of this element; its clustered, layered and repetitive mode, to raise questions about crowdedness, about beauty and ugliness.

As an artist that lives and works in Lagos, One is exposed to this kind of experience. Also, the way the work is made can enhance the experience of looking. And ‘looking’ is significant to the Lagos experience.

“The work for me is activated when the viewer who walks into the space to experience this great assembly of eyes is enveloped so that he loses sight of who he is momentarily and to question and ponder how we view others and perhaps the world around us. The build-up of these eyes, in their harmony… even in their distress, could become one monumental eye that point to our humanity,” he said.

The exhibition, “Shifting Currents”, runs till December 10.

Rape saga: Stephanie Okereke cries out, try the accused not me

p.20

Lolo 1: Why I have an Igbo pseudonym despite being Yoruba

p.21

ShowBiz SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

Ebube Nwagbo: I won't bow to pressure to marry Vivacious actress, Ebube Nwagbo, has made the headlines for a while on account of her alleged romance with singer, KCee. Beyond the scandals, the pretty actress speaks to LANRE ODUKOYA about what really makes her thick.

What's been happening to your acting career and business?

I have been extremely busy with work and business, it has been a very busy year, but that is not to say that I am complaining. I thank God for every bit of it shuttling within Lagos and Asaba where most of the movies are shot is not easy aside the international trips I embark on based on my hair and accessories business. It's been a fruitful 2014 so far.

Your movie titled ‘Smile Again’ which was recently released showed your versatility, did you buy the script or is it based on a personal life experience?

The script idea came after a movie I saw even though it had nothing to do with the storyline. I wanted to relate the script with the happenings in our society and of course as a strong believer of love and God's miraculous ways of doing things, I was convinced I can invest in it aside using it to pass a message to everyone. It's a family story, a movie everybody can sit and watch.

It preaches God's love for us and why we need to be hopeful regardless of our present situation. It’s been released into the market already and still doing well.

How have you been able to sustain your Posh Hair brand which has successfully flooded the main stores of Trade Fair, Lagos Island, big saloons and more within such a short time of entry?

It has been God and pure hard work. I believe the brand became a household name in the market because I also ensure I give our customers worth of their money without having them to break a bank. There are loads of hair brands out there in the market but Posh Hair cuts across for every class of person. I think that’s one of my trade secrets, there is always something for everyone, and it makes you stand above the crowd in style.

What about your new brand of hair (Posh Divo) which we learnt is set to hit the market in a couple of days, what differentiates it from your Posh Panash, Posh Brazilian, Peruvian, virgin and the rest?

Posh Divo is the latest addition to my Posh Empire as I love to call it. It is 100 per cent Brazilian Virgin Hair and comes in different short lengths in a pack. It is different varieties all

packed in one pack for the value of one. That is it is different from other Posh products.

You recently won a fashion & style award beating some of your colleagues to it, what inspires your dress sense and what are the three most important items you can't do without?

I love to put on whatever suits me and I advise everyone to please do the same. I know and understand my body type and structure and as such ensure that I dress according to them. I can never be caught in an outfit am not comfortable in. The first rule in fashion is making sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing. You should wear the outfit and not the other way round like most ladies. I am not particular about following trends or big names, as long as what am wearing suits me and my hour glass figure is not disfigured, I’m good to go. And my most three inseparable items, I can’t do without my lip gloss, Sunglasses and of course my smile!

Won’t it be safe to say you are on relationship break as you've refused to be linked to anyone since the last public affair you had involving your ex, KCee? Well, I wouldn't call it a break candidly; let’s just say I have decided to channel my time and energy into becoming a better person aside expanding my business and career.

There's been couple of wedding ceremonies and unfortunately breakups in the entertainment industry, what's your take on marriage and how soon do you intend to toe that part?

Marriage is sacred. And nobody goes into it with the intention of it breaking down the next minute. Everybody wants the 'happily ever after' kind of romance including me. So, it has to be done rightly and at the right time with the right person. I realise why most marriages fail is because of societal pressures. People have age tag for we women especially expecting us to automatically become ‘Mrs. Somebody’ even if it entails suffering and pains. Life has advanced beyond that, for me the main thing is to be happy and proud with our decisions in life because the people who mislead you will be the first to laugh at you when the chips are down.

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Showbiz

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Rape saga: Stephanie Okereke cries out, try the accused not me

L

ike a case of giving a bad name to a dog to hang it, a famous actress is now at the mercy of entertainment bloggers and the media, battling to save a name she had toiled hard enough to build. Nollywood star, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, has reacted to the recent news of her relative’s arrest for alleged rape with a plea to the media to stop sensationalising the matter for selfish gains.

The actress’ relative, Prince Daniel Okereke, was recently arrested for allegedly raping a University of Lagos undergraduate, Arionla. The 22-year-old lady told the police that Okereke had lured her to his Mende, Maryland, Lagos, residence and raped her repeatedly.

But instead of the news to centre solely on the infamous act and its perpetrator, Stephanie’s name has been incessantly used to drive traffic to the story.

In a statement released to the media, the Imo State born actress explained that she is devastated and distraught to hear about the allegation against Okereke and also condemned the act while insisting that

she is 100 per cent against rape.

“Indeed, the irony is not lost on me. I have spent my lifelong career advocating and living my conviction that women around the world should be able to live free of violence, sexual harassment or any form of abuse against their persons… So, again, it is indeed heart breaking for me to receive and deal with news alleging a family member of mine is an alleged perpetrator of sexual violence against a woman. I am devastated,” Stephanie says.

She also pleads with the media to stop mentioning her name in reference to the case, stating that an alleged transgression of her relative is not hers.

“For the Nigerian press and blogs; I call on you to please report this case in an ethical manner. I am a married woman living my life. The alleged transgression of my relative does not make it mine… Some members of the press and blogs have turned me into the accused; using my name for sensational headlines and putting my images in their stories. This is a form of victimisation of me as a woman; it is unethical and extremely

Stephanie

Daniel

hurtful. I am not the alleged accused. I therefore please ask all bloggers and the media who have placed my pictures and name to this story to refrain from further using me to sensationalise this story,” the statement reads in part.

Meanwhile, from Stephanie’s constituency, film director emerging a social commentator, Charles Novia shared his sentiment in her colleague’s travail in a post that partly reads; “Reading the statement, I could not help but feel pity and admiration for Stephanie. Indeed, it is a harrowing experience to have a family member accused of such a despicable and heinous crime

Much ado about K1's unusual concert

E-BRIEFS

Flavour, Tiwa Savage headline concert in Togo E

arlier this month in Lome, Togo, some of Nigeria’s finest artistes including Flavour, Tiwa Savage, Bracket and Chidinma joined forces with some other indigenous Togolese artistes to stage a charity concert to raise funds to support the initiatives of Foundation Jacqueline Amivi Aka (J.A.A). The massive concert which held at Stade De kegue in Lome was very well attended by music enthusiasts. The Nigerian artistes, who have become the toast of the African continent in recent times, did not fail to thrill on stage.

The Foundation Jacqueline Amivi Aka (J.A.A) was established to cater for various needs of certain cadres of people in the Togolese society, some of which are; to support women’s income generative activities allowing them to improve on their social condition, strengthen women’s autonomy by developing their entrepreneurship and also to promote women’s rights. It helps guarantee access to healthcare for mothers and children, promotes children’s rights, and ensures education for girls and deprived children.

The foundation also encourages excellence among the youth and raises young people to appreciate effort and charge them to be responsible while strengthening their civic sense. Besides these, the foundation provides training to people regarding production and management techniques of their income generative activities, supports the initiatives of environmental protection, educates people on dangers of STI/ STD/ AIDS and promotes family values.

and it is even more traumatic to be linked with the accused as if by being related by blood, she is culpable too in the crime.

Using recent templates in entertainment, one should ask if Brandy Norwood was culpable when Ray J leaked the sex videos of Kim Kardashian a few years ago? Or some other examples I cannot remember at present. The truth is that in law, each one is judged by their own actions and Stephanie is not in any way under the limelight for a crime which she knew nothing of. For that, I wholly sympathise with her and pray for comfort for her and other members of her family at this trying period”

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K1

enultimate Friday, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, played host to high octane guests who thronged the prestigious venue to watch their superstar singers perform live. And expectedly, they thanked God it’s Friday. The showbiz stars that enchanted the audience include King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (the host), Tuface Idibia, Pa. Victor Olaiya, Obesere, Saheed Osupa and the mega show was anchored by Ali Baba. But while the show was going on, surprisingly, as though the funfair wasn’t engaging enough, the side talks that rented the air was Pasuma’s absence at the show. As this sparked off a sublime controversy, a camp maintains that the host, K1, deliberately spited Pasuma by refusing to invite him to be part of an event that should literally unify the warring fuji family. Pasuma had hitherto ignored the wedding invitation of K1’s daughters earlier in the year and delisted himself from the K1led Arabambi family to assume lordship going solo with a new alias, Oganla of Fuji (the Fuji music big boss). It’s believed that K1 took his pound of flesh on Pasuma by shunning him while inviting the most controversial fuji duo, Obesere and Saheed Osupa who rivalled him over the lordship of fuji music.

At last, K1 was able to prove his supremacy with an electrifying outing that wowed even the most troublesome duo while making the show the convergence of the biggest spenders in town.

Pasuma

Wizkid and the crush on Chidinma

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tarboy Records C.E.O., Ayo Balogun a.k.a.

Wizkid, is trespassing again. Not long after he brokered peace with his on and off girlfriend, Tania Omotayo, and claiming to be head over heels in love with the light-skinned teenager, he has come out again to wow all with his confession of a crush on Chidinma Ekile, the KORA award-winning singer. Well, it seems Wizkid hasn’t had time to read about what Chidinma confessed that she wants in a man that will be her knight in shining armour.

Chidinma

Wizkid

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Showbiz

21

Lolo 1: Why I have an Igbo pseudonym despite being Yoruba Ebony hued and vivacious On-Air-Personality, Omotunde Adebowale-David, popularly known as Lolo 1 thrills listeners with her lovely voice on Wazobia FM. The famous comedienne speaks about her career among other issues with ANGELA DAVIES.

Why do you call yourself Lolo 1 when you are not an Igbo?

Well, I just know that Nigeria is one and there is unity in everything. I am a Yoruba girl, so why can’t I have a little Igbo part of me? So, I am just being Nigerian.

How do people react when you introduce yourself as Omotunde aka Lolo 1?

That’s what really sells and stands me out. People are shocked, they say this is Lolo and she is Yoruba, I will like to know this woman. So, it is always a good thing.

What are the challenges of being an On-Air-Personality?

It is not easy. It is even harder now that we have started Wazobia Television. I have to wake up as early as 4am. I think everything is about discipline and what you want to achieve in life. If you really know that this is something you want to do, then, your body will just tune itself to it.

There is a price for hard work and there is no price for it than hard work. I think I have been doing this job for like 11 years but I have worked with Wazobia for six years.

What stands you out as an OAP? I think I am an excessively humorous person. I am a very entertaining person, very in tune with counselling and people just gravitate towards it and it works with me perfectly.

How do you joggle roles as a wife, mother and a broadcaster?

I set priorities. There are priorities to everything. A woman cannot just be limited to one thing; we are multitasks naturally the way God has made us. The most important thing is to set your priorities and know how to run your home and you are fine.

How is your daily life like?

Once I wake up, I pray and take my bath. If I am by myself, I get into my work schedule and I am off to work.

If I am at home, of course I wake up; attend to the kids and the day starts from there.

What informed the Oga Madam Live on Stage show?

Oga Madam L ive on Stage is my comedy side where I do stand-up comedy, drama, skit and everything. Three years ago, I decided to start a stage comedy skit show to see if people will like it, and a lot of people like the show. So, we have been doing it three years running. I have done two in London, I am going to be doing the third edition in May in London and I am going to be doing the first edition in America soon. Next year, I am going to be doing a tour with Oga Madam live on stage.

What makes you proud to be a woman?

I love being a woman because we are natural multitaskers. God has given us the soft side of Him so that means we can feel more than the men can. As I am doing my job, I could be empathic, sympathetic, understanding and that is being beautiful about being a woman.

What does it take to attract listeners to a radio programme?

There is nothing it takes than been yourself, original and creative. People want to listen to something they have never heard before. So, if you have regurgitated piece why would I listen to you if I have heard it somewhere else?

Sometimes OAPs call each other derogatory names while on air. Is it a strategy to attract listeners to their programme?

Everybody has their own style of what they do. Some On-Air-Personalities thrive on arguments and listeners like it. Some are very sarcastic and listeners like it. Some are very strong and listeners like it. Some are very humorous and listeners like it. Some are very intelligent and listeners like it. So, radio

is like a plethora of many things. It is like a pot of soup with assorted ingredients but it depends on what you want to eat out of it.

What has life taught you?

Life has taught me that it is an endless circle. What goes round always comes around.

If you have the chance to change something about yourself, what would that be?

I want to be natural like Nicki Minaj. I like her shape even though she bought it. I wish I had that naturally, a shape I do not have to go under the knife to get.

What excites you about life?

Life makes me happy. People make me happy. Every time I see the difference that there is in every individual’s face, I am just amazed at how people could be so different and yet we are still humans.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

I think now I am evolving because style evolves. Before I will tell you that I like comfortable and simple outfits but now I like to dress my body the way that I think suits me.

And sometimes, fashion can be pain. Fashion can be pain if you want to wear a dress that is very tight or something that shows your entire body, that means you have to put yourself together and that putting yourself together is where the work is.

How do you relax?

I read books a lot. I like Christian romance a lot. I like thrillers and I also like to watch series. I dance, I sing and I am at home with water.

You have lost some weight. What is the secret?

I have started to exercise. Everybody that knows me, know that I have dropped tones of weight.

And I think it is good to have a healthy lifestyle. I don’t diet but I live a healthy lifestyle. I make better health choices.

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Showbiz

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Tunji Shotimirin: I’m not done yet with entertainment The movie, Head Gone, recently had its premiere; what role did you play?

The premiere of the movie took place last Saturday at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, and I was there to see it. I can’t really remember my role, but I know that they say I am one of the people whose head decided to go another way.

I was a policeman who became mad after forcibly collecting some money from a motorist.

How would you rate the movie?

I think that depends on people’s interpretation, but if you look at the collection of people that were gathered together to make the film you would agree with me that the storyline must be impressive to convince such people. The film is a reflection of the society; how things have really gone bad and the effects on people emotionally, psychologically and mentally. The lesson the film is trying to project is that Nigeria will be a better place if we could only organise and plan things appropriately. Quite a number of us have been out of the country before and we see how things are being done. We can replicate those things here too in the medical sector, agriculture and on the political terrain. Things are really bad right now and that is what the film tries to explain. Though I didn’t have the grace to hold the entire script, but I am convinced that it would make an impact. The various characters were also able to project those things well.

Has there been any change in your status?

I still am a performing artist, actor, musician, comedian, stage director and a broadcaster. I also work in the University of Lagos as a lecturer in the department of creative arts. Those are basically the things I do and I am still doing for a living. I’ve been doing this since 1980 here in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

You started out as an artist; what informed your decision to be a lecturer?

I didn’t decide I was going to be a lecturer; it just happened. I found myself working within the university environment. I worked at the University of Ibadan Performing Company, and also in the University of Lagos. I just found myself as a professional actor who then metamorphosed into teaching. So as a professional the university thought with my knowledge I would be able to impact some information.

The university believed that I could share my knowledge and impact due to the position I was able to attain in my career. That was how I found myself teaching and that was in the early '90s.

How do you ensure that all your professional commitments progress seamlessly?

It is because I have a very profound training in the University of Ibadan. I was trained as a perform-

Actor and university lecturer, Tunji Shotimirin is one of the stars in the new comedy movie, Head Gone, directed by Lanre Fasasi (Baba Dee) and his brother Sound Sultan. He speaks with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS and DADA TEMITOPE. ing artist with specialization in all areas of the theatre. I specialized in music, dance, drama, among others. I have mastered a way to blend all these various artistic expressions and all are interrelated too.

As a teacher too you have to write seminar papers, so everything is still within the framework of the art. I have really prepared myself for the challenges, so it doesn’t come as a surprise to me. I don’t need to consult anyone to do any of the things I do. Once you have a sound training it prepares you for the eventualities. I can even apply any aspect of the art to support whatever argument I am making.

So sometimes it’s really difficult for me to answer how I am combining all what I do together.

"We have people among the younger generation who are very brilliant. But we also have some who are drifting"

You will finally leave the stage soon; do you have confidence in the ability of the younger artistes?

No, it is not over for me. I am not done with entertainment. The irony is that the older you are in this industry the more knowledgeable you are.

So I cannot say that one is done or through with the practice. In my assessment of the present generation of artists, there are some of them who are doing well. All what they need is some encouragement. They are innovative and it is always good to listen to them because they are still fresh with ideas. Their ideas at times might appear not to be deep enough like what we used to have, but there are ways we can make them work.

But regardless of how new an idea is it is still necessary to reconnect it

with the old because new ideas do not last. Tuface for instance saw the need to collaborate with Olaiya because he cannot continue to the same things all the time. I’m not condemning what they do and I will never. Art is not about age, but how imaginative one is. So we have people among the younger generation who are very brilliant. But we also have some who are drifting; that is the way I’m going to put it.

And this applies to all areas. When you will listen to people who read news at times and how they mispronounce and misinform people you feel sorry for the profession.

That is awful; the important thing is to have proper training.

What has kept you going in the industry?

I tried to re-create, but I still feel I have not done anything. Though quite a number of people will think I have done a lot, I have a number of projects I want to do in stage directing, comedy, solo-performance, dance and music. I am yet to do them because I am into a lot of things. So these are things I feel people like us still need to improve on. I see a lot of young people, but they need to challenge me more with what they do. A few of them have really challenged me, but some have lost it at the surface.

Most celebrities have quite succeeded in their marriage work; what would you say about that?

Some people impose unnecessary problem on themselves by celebrating some aspect of their lives in public. You don’t need that, especially your private life.

Announcing and posting pictures of your private lives on social media networks are not really necessary. Also, I believe that the issue of relationship should be kept personal; it should be something you should keep within the family. I think what is important is to make sure that you couples are happy.

When you start to make children also keep them away from public because once any little thing goes wrong the media will blow it out of reach. We all have issues, but if you allow your issue to get to the public you will pay for it.

What is your assessment of the entertainment industry?

We are getting there and entertainment is wide in Nigeria.

If it is handled well it could fetch the country and individuals more money. It is however important that we discipline ourselves. We should know that despite whatever we have achieved in the entertainment industry we need to discipline ourselves. If we don’t discipline ourselves we will continue to experience what we are facing in football in other sectors too. In entertainment we are doing well, but we should not be carried away with the glamour. We should not abuse it and throw caution and professionalism to the wind.

Showbiz

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

... a finger on the city’s pulse

CONFLUENCE Bukky Wright begins campaign for House of Representatives seat

LANRE ODUKOYA

Peter Obafemi, part ways with new wife

I

n two years, so much has happened in the life of Ekiti State former Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial aspirant, Peter Obafemi. He was in fierce battle in Gov. Ayo Fayose for the governorship ticket, but lost to the latter after the June 21 primary.

But this downturn was preceded by a colourful season in the gentleman’s life: he took a second shot at marriage in 2013 and savoured the bliss until lately. Married to an epitome of beauty, Ololade, who had a boy with him sometime in October, 2013. Sadly, the centre is no longer holding for these beautiful lovers, which explains why the duo has parted ways. We gathered reliably that the mother of one has returned to her parents’ home in G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos. Concerned parties are prevailing on the couple to sheath swords and return to each other’s arms, but it’s got no finish line yet apparently. The cause of the marital squabble has not been ascertained yet.

S

hunning all the knocks on the influx of entertainers running for political offices, actress Bukky Wright has jumped on the bandwagon days after Dayo Adeneye (D1 of the Kennis Music fame) declared intention to run for the House of Assembly seat in Ogun State. The actress is aspiring to become a member of the Federal House of Representatives. She intends to actualize this ambition under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP), the political party to which former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, recently defected along with his teeming followers. Osoba, a heavyweight in the politics of the state pulled out of the All Progressives Congress over irreconcilable differences with the state's governor, Ibikunle Amosun. Wright is seeking to become a member of the lower chamber representing Abeokuta South Federal Constituency specifically. Posters announcing her ambition just hit town which equally parades the pictures of Aremo Olusegun Osoba, indicating an endorsement of sort. She is hopeful her popularity, combined with the political structure of the Akinrogun of Egbaland would draw some goodwill sufficient to earn her victory.

23

Austere times hit Stella Oduah’s oil firm

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hichever way you look at it, doing business while in public office with access to public funds is never the same with managing a business outside access to power. Is it not curious that a few months after Stella Oduah, the former aviation minister quit office, it’s no longer business as usual in her company, Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Ltd? As you read this, employees of the said company have yet to receive some months salaries, it is claimed. The staff are at loss as to why this would be happening to them knowing the kind of clout their employer once had not too long ago. Oduah was dropped as a minister presumably due to her role in the controversial purchase of two BMW cars estimated at N225 million by a parastatal under the ministry of aviation over which she presided.

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Abdulmumin Jibrin, Maryam Augie wed in grand style

A

ll the glitz of Eden was brought home last Monday when the House of Representatives committee chairman on finance, Abdulmumin Jibrin and Maryam Augie tied the knots at the Emir’s palace, Argungu, Kebbi State. Who else would choose a Monday to wed? Interestingly so, it was Maryam’s birthday. And there was a birthday dinner for the winsome bride later that day in Abu-

ja. Maryam is the daughter of Justice Amina Augie and this should foretell the quality of guests to throng the fairytale wedding. The pair waltzed across the reception hall like two royal scions at the threshold of their dreams. There was a surplus of the best edibles and drinks money could buy at shindig where I Go Die, Banky W and Waje performed to everyone's delight.

Investigations SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH 29 NOVEMBER 2014

24

NAFDAC corporate headquarter, Abuja

NAFDAC: One trouble too many

T

he National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been in the news lately, though, for the wrong reasons. On October 28, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the umbrella union, which NAFDAC belongs to, gave a seven-day ultimatum to its management to address their welfare issues or face the consequences.

That was not the first. Several of such threats had been given in the past with little or no result. The management, investigations revealed, had always ignored the workers, believing it would be able to cow them to submission or break the ranks of the union members.

Incidentally, that did not happen in the latest case as the staff made good their threat and embarked on a total strike on November 12. By the following day, the union had succeeded in shutting down the premises against management and the general public nationwide, thereby paralysing all activities in the drug house.

Chairman of the area council of MHWUN, Comrade Stephen Ibe, who spoke with this reporter on why his members declared the strike, accused the management of NAFDAC of insensitive. He said that the union

The lingering issues over poor working conditions and unpaid allowances are threatening to rubbish the management of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The workers, operating under the umbrella union of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), on November 13, shut down its offices across the country. ISIOMA MADIKE, who has been following the crises in the drug house, reports that the face-off in the agency has been one too many in recent times

Isioma madike

INVESTIGATIONS Editor isioma.madike@newtelegraphonline.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Isah leading other staff in a protest

gave sufficient time to the management to address all their grievances, but that it failed to exploit such opportunity.

“Management instead, pretended as if nothing was happening. For this reason, we had no choice than to padlock the premises of the organisation to all transactions throughout the federation including the sea and airport until our demands are met. We have had series of meetings with all the stakeholders since last year’s March but to no avail. Therefore, the union had no choice than to declare indefinite strike at the time it did,” Ibe said.

The issues at stake, Ibe said, included a return to Research and Allied Institute Salary Structure (CONRAISS), instead of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), payment of 13th month salary, arrears and other entitlements. The union, Ibe said, also demanded that staff with Higher National Diploma (HND), be made to enjoy similar rights with the degree holders.

The other demands listed had to do with an upward review of Job Specific Allowances by National Salaries, Incomes and Wages and the immediate implementation of Skipping by NAFDAC management as directed in a circular, HCSF/EPO/EIR/63755/ T1/192, dated November 4, 2013. Ibe said the circular was issued following a judgment of the National Industrial Court’s in favour of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

Others were implementation of all outstanding promotion’s arrears from 2012 to 2014, full payment of eight months pension arrears from May to December 2012 for 2012 set of NAFDAC’s employees. The workers also asked NAFDAC’s management to account for Good Manufacturing CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

FREE

Sport Splash 25

League

Are top scorers one season wonder? p.26

Super Eagles

Eagles can’t be strong without solid league, says Boardman p.26

EPL

Man City battle Steely Saints at St. Mary's p.28

Interview

I started playing for Calabar Rovers while in Class Three – Etta Egbe p.30

Ogenyi Onazi in action for Nigeria at the AFCON qualifiers

Onazi's bombshell:

I’m not fighting anybody in Eagles S

Ajibade Olusesan

The Team

Vincent EboigbelAssistant Editor Ajibade Olusesan l Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing

uper Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has denied having frosty relationship with any of his national teammates but he was quick to add that he was not in the team to make personal friends anyway.

There have been reports of disunity in the team as players have been accused of nursing grudges against one another. Onazi’s spat with Mikel Obi during the Africa Nations Cup qualifying match against Congo in Pointe Noire also fuelled speculations that there may be no love lost between the two midfielders.

But in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the player denied having any problems with any of his teammates saying: “Well, I can’t say anything about that because I have come into the national team to do my thing. I am here to play football and to do it

to the best of my ability. I cannot say I have a friend in the national team because I have not come to camp to make friends. But I personally relate with my colleagues well, on professional level and if anybody has issues with me or with any other persons I cannot say.”

Eagles failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup after playing a 2-2 draw with South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom last week when they needed a win.

And the player said that they were devastated that despite their efforts they could not make the cut for the Equatorial Guinea, party.

“We are very sad that we could not qualify for the championship. I personally wanted to see the team in Equatorial Guinea but in football nothing is certain.

It is a big blow to us that as African champions we see full won’t be there but we have to look forward now, we have to look at how we are not going to make such interview on page 27 mistakes again,” he said.

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Sport

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Nigerian League Rendezvous

Are top scorers one season wonder?

Stories by Charles Ogundiya

Past top scorers (since 1990) 1990 Ishaya Jatau (Iwuanyanwu Nationale) 1991 Richard Ojomo (Bendel United) 1992 Arthur Moses (Super Stores) 1993 Tony Nwigwe (Iwuanyanwu Nationale) 1994 Olumide Harris (Shooting Stars) 1995 Ben Agadah (Gombe United) 1996 Peter Anyiolobi (Enyimba) 1997 Paul Kpoughoul (Jasper United/BCC Lions) 1998 Hassan Minda (Gombe United) 1999 Emmanuel Agbo (Iwuanyanwu Nationale) 2000 Peter Ijeh (Julius Berger) 2001 Uche Okereke (Enugu Rangers) 2002 Joetex Frimpong (El-Kanemi)

Victor Ezeji (Dolphins), 2003 Chibuzor Ozurumba (Iwuanyanwu) Endurance Idahor (Julius Berger) 2004 Kabiru Alausa (Berger) 2005 Timothy Anjembe (Lobi Stars)

Joseph Akpala (Insurance) Charles Omokaro (Sharks) 2006 Ibenebu Ikechukwu (El Kanemi) 2007 Ameh Aruwa (Kaduna United) 2008 Abubakar Babale (Wikki Tourist/Sunshine) 2009 Akarandut Orok (Akwa United) 2010 Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars) 2011 Jude Aneke (Kaduna United) 2012 Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes) 2013 Victor Namo (Nasarawa United) 2014 Mfon Udoh (Enyimba)

T

o say that strikers in the 2013/2014 in the Nigeria Professional Football league have been prolific is stating the obvious. But the question is can the players maintain the momentum next season?

More players for the first time in recent years recorded double digits goals with Enyimba’s striker, Mfon Udoh, the league top scorer, scoring an unprecedented 23 goals in a single season.

The duo of Gbolahan Salami and Ighodaro Osaguona started the top scorer’s battle before the emergence of Udoh and Dolphins’ striker, Emem Eduok, who ended the season with 20 goals.

In recent seasons, the top scorers have mostly turned out to be a one-season hot-shot and it is left to be seen if the just concluded season will be different.

Apart from a player like Ahmed Musa who has moved on to greater heights after his goal-scoring exploit during the 2009/2010 league season where he emerged the top scorer, other players have gone into oblivion.

Speaking with our correspondent, former internation-

al, Edema Fuludu, said Nigerians should take current record scorer, Udoh, serious as he has shown over two seasons that he is a goal poacher.

“Often the top scorers have not been able to replicate their performance consistently, but player like Mfon Udoh should be taken seriously.

17 goals 12 goals 10 goals 13 goals 14 goals 12 goals 9 goals 16 goals 14goals 14 goals 14 goals 13 goals 16 goals 12 goals 13 goals 12 goals 10 goals 10 goals 14 goals 17 goals 18 goals 20 goals 17 goals 18 goals 23 goals

“He has shown over two seasons that he has what it takes to be a good goal scorer in the league. Last season he recorded 15 goals and now he has scored 23 goals. If he can score between 15 and 20 next season, then he can be relied on to get the goals every time,” Fuludu said.

League top scorer, Enyimba's Mfon Udoh (r) against Chidiebere Okolie of Dolphins

Wanted! A psychologist for Pillars

L

eague champion, Kano Pillars, have said the team will be employing a psychologist ahead of the new season as the team prepare for another shot at the league trophy.

After winning three consecutive titles, the media officer of the club, Idris Malikawa, told our correspondent that there was the need to psyche the players up for a new challenge next season.

“With three consecutive victories in the league, there is need for a new challenge and another target for the players.

“We want to set another record

next season by winning all the available trophies in the land, so the management has resolved to get a psychologist for the team who will psyche them up for the challenges ahead,” he said.

The club will be facing Enyimba for the season opener: Charity Cup. They will also be campaigning in three different competitions next season.

The team will be defending their league title while also hoping to win the CAF Champions League for the first time next season. They will also be competing for the Federation Cup, a trophy that has eluded the team for a long time.

NEWS

Eagles can’t be strong without solid league, says Boardman Vincent Eboigbe

A

former green Eagles defender, Kenneth Boardman, has said that Nigerian football will continue to flounder unless the league, which is the foundation of everything else, is put in a solid footing.

Boardman who flew into the country from his United States of America base on Tuesday likened the situation to driving a Rolls Royce on a dilapidated road, saying that the car will eventually break down.

“We have been saying the same thing over the years but nothing has changed, the same thing keeps recurring,” Boardman said.

“We need to go back to the fundamentals which is the league.

Our league is down and we need to urgently revive it. Most countries build through their leagues, but we build from top down instead of from down up. You can’t drive a Rolls Royce on a bad road, you need to build the road first or the car will break down.”

“I am not against bringing in players from Europe, but the league has to be strong such that

there is a dynamic mix.”

The ex-Rangers star who was also a board member of the Enugubased side, said having this kind of mix will ensure the best are selected for the national team. According to him, those who are not disciplined or hungry enough to play can then be shown the way out.

Given this scenario, Boardman refused to put the blame of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the Nations Cup on Stephen Keshi, insisting that the full picture must be looked at and taken into consideration.

“Keshi has done well. Like I said it is about appreciating the situation in a holistic manner. You hire a coach and set goals for him, the question to ask is did he meet the target? You don’t just sack or condemn a coach based on one isolated outcome. Although I think we should have won against South Africa to qualify for the Nations Cup, but as an ex player I know that those things can happen. It is so easy for fans to say ‘sack him’ but those who employed him know what parameters to judge him by,” added Boardman.

Stone to leave Dolphins

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L-R: General Manager, Seven-Up, Ikeja Plant, Mr. Dele Abioye, former Super Eagles captain, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha and Head of Marketing, Norden Thurston, at the Pepsi co-sponsored Corporate Elite that took place last Sunday

ormer ABS midfielder, Evbuomwan Stone, has said he will be leaving Dolphins this season for a new challenge elsewhere. Stone joined Dolphins at the beginning of the current season, but found first team opportunity hard to come by in the just concluded season.

“I had a wonderful stay at Dolphins, but I wasn't fulfilled due to lack of playing time and that is not too good for me as a young player who is aspiring to make a statement in football.

"I can count the number of times I played for Dolphins this season, I trained so hard, I was always ready to give my best but it seems the coach didn't have me in his plans despite the fact that he treated me as a son,” he said.

COPA Lagos: Enyimba captain calls for fans' support Charles Ogundiya

A

head of the fourth edition of the upcoming beach soccer tournament, COPA Lagos, captain of Enyimba of Aba, Chinedu Udoji, has called on teeming fans of the club to storm the venue of the competition to support the Federation Cup champion.

According to Udoji the presence of fans during matches

has contributed immensely to their success especially when playing in Lagos.

“We are always at home whenever we play in Lagos and I am using this opportunity to call on our fans to come out and support us during the COPA Lagos also.

“Copa Lagos is a great opportunity for fans to see their favourite club play on sand,” Udoji said.

The tournament that is

scheduled to hold at the Eko Atlantic Beach from December 12 to 14 will see Enyimba FC play against Stationery Stores, Pepsi Team and the FC Barcelona beach soccer team.

Udoji stated further that, "Copa Lagos will afford everybody the opportunity to relax in a good atmosphere.

We need our supporters and I am sure they will come out in their numbers to cheer us to victory."

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Nigerians expected you guys to beat South Africa and qualify for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup after beating Congo in Pointe Noire but you sadly disappointed, what happened?

It is so sad we couldn’t win the game because honestly we wanted so badly to win. We had a lot of chances to kill off the game but we did not convert them.

The South Africans utilised their own chances and they got a draw, as you can see they had just two clear-cut chances and they scored from that and got what they wanted. It is really sad, it is like a tragedy because we are the African champions and we will not be at the Nations Cup to defend our title. I really don’t know what to tell Nigerians because this a real blow to us.

What lessons can be gleaned from that South African team; they seem to play good football?

Yes, they have a very good team and they are making a lot of movement, on and off the ball. If we all are moving the way we are supposed to move then it becomes easy. It is difficult when some people are moving and some other guys are not moving, football is a collective game, we all have to do our bit.

What do you think NFF should do to rebuild the team now?

Well, they have a new management and I know they would want to come up with new ideas.

It is their job and I think it is up to them to come up with a good idea that will help the team.

What is playing under Keshi like for you?

Well, Keshi is like a father to me and I respect him a lot. He gave some of us the break in the national team. He likes young players who have passion for football, he will give his players equal opportunity to play if they are good. It is a great pleasure playing under him.

There are reports that there is division in the Super Eagles, can you confirm that?

Well, I can’t say anything about that because I came to the national team to do my thing. I am here to play football and to do it to the

27

We are very sad that we could not qualify for the championship. I personally wanted to see the team there but in football nothing is certain

Onazi bombshell:

I am not in the Eagles to make friends - Onazi

What were the players thinking about before the match and what was the feeling afterwards?

Honestly, everyone was sad about the whole thing, they just did not want to talk to anybody because what do they have to say.

What do you have to tell Nigerians about why you failed to win the match? It is unfortunate we had this terrible match and it is one of the saddest days in my career because we really wanted to go out there and play in the Nations Cup. But what really went wrong in that match because some people have accused the players of lack of commitment?

I cannot say this is what really happened in the match. Honestly I can only speak for myself because I was determined to go out there and do my best. I think other guys can come out and give their own reasons, maybe they were not fit, I don’t know.

Sport

Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, in an exclusive interview with Ajibade Olusesan shortly after the national team failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Nations Cup expressed disappointment in the inability of the team to make the cut to the tournament slated to hold in Equatorial Guinea next year. best of my ability. I cannot say I have a friend in the national team because I am not there to make friends. But I personally relate with my colleagues well, on a professional level and if anybody has issues with me or with any other persons I cannot say.

Talking about your club, you have not been playing regularly for Lazio what is the problem?

Well, it is a new management, a new technical crew and when they started the league I was still injured from the World Cup and it was not easy for me to get back into the team just like that. And again, when I come to the national team to play it is also difficult to start games. Like I said, I will have to keep working hard to make sure that I keep helping my team.

But don’t you think Nigeria’s absence at the Nations Cup is going to affect the careers of the players?

Like I said, we are very sad that we could not qualify for the championship. I personally wanted to see the team there but in football nothing is certain. It is a big blow to us as players that as African champions we won’t be there, but we have to look forward

now, we have to look at how we are not going to make such mistakes again.

When we won the tournament the last time, it was a big boost for me, because I went back to my club with pride and everybody respected me. Something like that is huge and it is unfortunate we won’t be able to go there and do our thing.

What did winning the Nations Cup mean to you and what does not going to Equatorial Guinea portend?

Winning the Nations Cup is certainly one of my greatest achievements since I started playing football and I’m happy I got the opportunity through God’s grace to feature in the greatest competition on the continent. The country was in search of the title that had eluded them for a while and we managed to bring it back home and now we are not going to repeat that, which is very sad.

For me, I thought we would have gone there to prove that what we achieved back then was not a fluke, that we have the capacity to do it over and over again.

You have been linked with several Premier League sides, there was even suggestion that you were close to joining Chelsea during your youth days. What happened?

I am still a Lazio player and as you know I have just signed an extension to my contract at the club and I am happy I took that decision. So, if I have to move, then I will have to sit down and look at the best option for me, but definitely it is not now. Talking about the Chelsea deal, Emmanuel Sani and I were there, but things did not work out, we were very close to joining Tottenham too. All the same I thank God how things went, I have to tell you that many clubs wanted us but we eventually settled for Lazio.

You are also reputedly good with music, what does it mean to you?

I’m a good gospel musician and I play instruments and my favourite is the keyboard. Music to me is life and if I am not playing football then it has to be music, it is one of the things I do if I am not thinking about football.

Ibrahimovic

chalke will look to bounce back from their UEFA Champions League humiliation when they host Mainz on Saturday.

Roberto Di Matteo's side was thrashed 5-0 in front of their home fans by Chelsea on Tuesday - a stark reminder of just how much work the Italian has to do at the Veltins Arena.

Schalke dropped to third in Group G as a result and now need to win in Maribor - and hope Sporting Lisbon lose at Chelsea - on matchday six to progress.

S

Schalke, Bayern aim to bounce back from Euro setbacks

aris Saint-Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to recapture his best form for the visit of Nice, as a win could send his side top of Ligue 1.

The Sweden captain was on target for Laurent Blanc's men in the 3-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Ajax on Tuesday, but has not found the net in league action since August after spending time on the sidelines with a heel problem.

Blanc's men are one point behind leaders Marseille going into the weekend and are the form side after eight consecutive wins in all competition.

And Ibrahimovic feels the goal against his former club Ajax will help his confidence.

He told PSG's official website: "I think the goal is good for the confidence.

"I need to get back to my best form because I haven't played for two months. I'm not 100% and it shows. I can do better, but I will soon be back to my best."

Leaders Marseille face a tricky encounter at home to Nantes on Friday knowing that anything less than a win could see them surrender top spot.

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PSG, Marseille contest top spot

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

NEW TELEGRAPH

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oma host Inter on Sunday, with Rudi Garcia's men aiming to keep pace with league leaders Juventus.

There are three points separating secondplaced Roma and defending champions Juve atop the Serie A table approaching week 13.

Totti

side hascertainly been doing it the hard way in recent matches.

As well as staging the Bayern comeback, which revived their fading hopes of reaching the last 16, City fell behind early on in their last Premier League game at home to Swansea and needed goals from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure to claim victory.

They also trailed 1-0 and 2-1 at Queen Park Rangers earlier this month before Aguero rescued a point seven minutes from time, three days after the debacle of a 2-1 home defeat by CSKA Moscow in which City finished with nine men.

Ronald Koeman's second-placed Southampton saw their run of four consecutive

Roma seek to stay in touch with Juve

ith Premier League leaders Chelsea in top form, Manchester City will be hoping their Champions League win over Bayern Munich boosts confidence and re-ignites their title defence when they visit high-flying Southampton on Sunday.

Third-placed City have fallen eight points behind unbeaten leaders Chelsea after 12 games and face a tough test against a Saints side defying the critics who said they would struggle.

City's Sergio Aguero struck twice in the last five minutes to complete his hat-trick and secure a 3-2 victory at home to 10-man Bayern on Tuesday and Manuel Pellegrini's

City battle steely saints

a Liga leaders Real Madrid can set a new club record of 16 consecutive victories in all competitions when they visit Malaga on Saturday.

Wednesday's 1-0 UEFA Cham-

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Real out to break club record at Malaga

wins end with a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Monday but should be confident on home turf where they have won five and drawn one of six home league games -- scoring 17 and conceding just one.

Manchester United, after a troubled start to Louis van Gaal's reign, have quietly moved up to fourth, their improvement underlined by a 2-1 win at Arsenal on Sunday. United host Hull City on Saturday with Van Gaal remaining cautious.

"It is only one victory. We have to confirm that with victories in the next two home games. Then we can say, okay, we have the spirit now and we will go looking at upstairs and not downstairs," he said.

Global Football Special

Mertesacker

efender Per Mertesacker has called on Arsenal to show their Barclays Premier League challenge is very much 'alive' when they head to West Brom for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.

The Gunners produced a muchimproved, composed display to beat Champions League Group D leaders Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, reaching the last 16 of Europe's elite with a match to spare.

Mertesacker, though, believes the Germans' own domestic struggles in the Bundesliga - with Jurgen Klopp's side in the bottom three despite their fine European form - show focus must quickly turn towards getting things right at The Hawthorns.

Arsenal are eighth in the top flight after a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United last time out.

Mertesacker said: "We were very convincing (against Dortmund). Everyone had to learn.

"We have to show character and that is what makes me really happy for the next few games, because we have to sharpen up in the Premier League as well. Saturday is a good chance to show to everyone that we are still alive."

Mertesacker eyes fight back at West Brom D

28 Sport SATURDAY N 29 nove

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said Thursday he would sell his mansion in one of the Philippine capital’s swankiest areas after his neighbors complained of his visitors wearing shabby clothing.

Pacquiao told Agence France-Presse that as a “man of the masses”, he is not finicky with his visitors, even if they are wearing “just shorts and slippers”.

The boxer’s rags-to-riches story, from being a fish vendor in his hometown to winning world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, has made him wildly popular in the Philippines.

Ronaldo

Manny Pacquiao

NO TEAM P PTS 1 R'Madrid 12 30 2 Barcelona 12 28 3 Atletico 12 26 4 Valencia 12 24 5 Sevilla 12 23 6 Málaga 12 21 7 Celta Vigo 12 20 8 Villarreal 12 18 9 Bilbao 12 15 10 Getafe 12 14 11 Vallecano 12 14 12 Eibar 12 13 13 Levante 12 12 14 Espanyol 12 11 15 Granada 12 11 16 Sociedad 12 10 17 Almería 12 10 18 Deportivo 12 10 19 Elche 12 10 20 Córdoba 12 7

La Liga

P PTS 12 32 12 26 12 24 12 19 12 19 12 18 12 18 12 17 12 17 12 17 12 15 12 14 12 13 12 13 12 12 12 12 12 11 12 10 12 10 12 8

PREMIER LEAGUE

NO TEAM 1 Chelsea 2 Souton 3 Man City 4 Man Utd 5 Newcastle 6 West Ham 7 Swansea 8 Arsenal 9 Everton 10 Tottenham 11 Stoke 12 Liverpool 13 West Brom 14 Sunderland 15 C’ Palace 16 Aston Villa 17 Hull 18 Leicester 19 Burnley 20 QPR

Newly-crowned Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted that it's "tough" to maintain a relationship with popstar girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.

Long-distance problems have caused the couple, who began dating back in 2007, to briefly split up, but the pair have rekindled their relationship.

"It's not been easy - she lives in LA, I live in Monaco and I'm travelling a lot for work," the Daily Mail quotes Hamilton as saying.

NO TEAM P PTS 1 Bayern 12 30 2 Wolfsburg 12 23 3 Mö’gladbach 12 20 4 Leverkusen 12 20 5 Hannover 12 19 6 Augsburg 12 18 7 Schalke 12 17 8 Hoffenheim 12 17 9 Mainz 12 16 10 Paderborn 12 16 11 Köln 12 15 12 Frankfurt 12 15 13 Berlin 12 14 14 Freiburg 12 12 15 Hamburger 12 12 16 Dortmund 12 11 17 Bremen 12 10 18 Stuttgart 12 9

Bundesliga

P PTS 12 31 12 28 12 22 12 21 12 20 12 19 12 18 12 18 12 17 12 16 12 15 12 14 12 14 12 13 12 12 12 11 12 10 12 9 12 8 12 6

TABLE

Phillip Hughes was the victim of a "freakish" injury that left him with little chance of survival, Australia team doctor Peter Brukner has said.

Brukner said Hughes, 25, died as a result of a vertebral artery dissection, which caused a "massive bleed" on the brain.

"Vertebral artery dissection is incredibly rare," Brukner told media at St Vincent's hospital in Sydney.

"There is only one previous example caused by a cricket ball."

Hughes was struck on the top of the neck by a short-pitched delivery on Tuesday while playing in a domestic match and died in St Vincent's hospital on Thursday having never regained consciousness.

SPORT BRIEFLY

toke City defender Ryan Shawcross has insisted that he and his teammates are not scared of facing Liverpool and Manchester United in the coming days.

The Potters will take on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and then face United at Old Trafford in the Premier League later.

On paper, the trips should be daunting for a Stoke side many believe could be sucked into a relegation battle as the season progresses.

However, Mark Hughes’s team have got the better of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane this campaign, two results that Shawcross claims will give them inspiration against Liverpool and United.

“There’s some big fixtures coming and we can’t wait,” The Stoke Sentinel quotes the 27-year-old centre-back as saying. “It’s all about picking up points at this time of the year and pushing ourselves further up the table. We’ve got a tough run now but we’ve seemed to do better against the bigger teams.

"In the past we may have gone to those grounds with a lot of fear but this time I think we will go there with confidence because of the way we’ve beaten some of the big boys away from home.

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NO TEAM 1 Juventus 2 Roma 3 Napoli 4 Sampdoria 5 Genoa 6 Lazio 7 Milan 8 Udinese 9 Inter 10 Fiorentina 11 Sassuolo 12 Verona 13 Palermo 14 Empoli 15 Torino 16 Cagliari 17 Atalanta 18 Chievo 19 Cesena 20 Parma

Serie A

initiative. We did not control the ball well towards the end and we were punished for it.

"It was very difficult to play the ball on the ground in this cold but we are not looking for excuses. Unfortunately this little incident happened and nobody expected it."

pions League win over Basel was their 15th successive triumph, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting his 26th goal of the campaign to seal top spot in Group B. Real have twice achieved 15 straight wins in the past - in the 1960-61 season under Miguel Munoz and in 2011-12 when Jose Mourinho was at the helm.

And three points at La Rosaleda would give the bulk of Carlo Ancelotti’s team that claimed La Decima - a 10th European title in May another prestigious entry into Real's catalogue of phenomenal achievements.

Javi Gracia's Malaga were enjoying a purple patch of their own, five consecutive La Liga wins having fired them up the standings, before Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid beat them 3-1 in the capital last weekend - a game that saw both team finish with 10 men as Samuel and Gabi each collected a pair of bookings.

Lewis Hamilton

der manager Carlo Ancelotti, something which Manchester United, along with Chelsea, have been keeping tabs on.

Varane signed a deal until 2020 recently, however, with Sergio Ramos and Pepe ahead of him in the pecking-order, the French international could be tempted to move on, particularly after he hinted he is unsettled at the European champions.

It remains to be seen if United would be willing to meet Real Madrid’s asking price of around £30 million, but Louis van Gaal is certainly a keen suitor

Varane

'Stoke not scared of Liverpool'

Roma stayed within a win of Juve after Adem Ljajic and Radja Nainggolan helped overhaul Atalanta 2-1 last week.

Since then, Roma have travelled to Moscow, where they conceded in the 90th minute to draw 1-1 at CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

The last-gasp equaliser did not sit well with Roma captain Francesco Totti, who opened the scoring in Russia.

"It was like getting punched by Mike Tyson, because I really did not expect that goal right at the end," Totti told Sky Sport Italia.

"We played a good first half but being a big team means coming here and taking the

Phillip Hughes

anchester United are keen to bring Real Madrid centreback Raphael Varane to the Premier League amidst continued speculation that he is unsettled at the Bernabeu, according to the Daily Star.

Los Blancos snapped up Varane from French side Lens in 2011, beating Sir Alex Ferguson, manager at Manchester United at the time, to his signature.

Varane has gone on to establish himself as one of the most complete defenders in world football, despite his young age.

The French international has failed at times to play much un-

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Man United step up Varane chase

The big home defeat went against the trend of Di Matteo's short time in charge of Schalke - that being wins at home and losses on the road.

Di Matteo had led Schalke to three straight home wins before the Chelsea loss, but is yet to pick up a point on his travels.

So the coach - who led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2012 - will surely welcome another home fixture, with this one coming against the ninth-placed Mainz, who have not won in four.

Schalke sit seventh themselves and are only three points adrift of third.

Leaders Bayern Munich were also beaten in Europe's premier club competition on Tuesday, conceding twice in the last five minutes to lose 3-2 at Manchester City.

The rare defeat is sure to leave Pep Guardiola's men angry ahead of their visit to the German capital to face Hertha Berlin.

Premier League Saturday West Brom v Arsenal Burnley v Aston Villa Liverpool v Stoke Man Utd v Hull QPR v Leicester Swansea v Palace West Ham v Newcastle Sunderland v Chelsea Sunday Southampton v Man City Tottenham v Everton

Bundesliga Saturday Leverkusen v Köln Augsburg v Hamburger Schalke v Mainz 05 Hertha BSC v Bayern Bremen v Paderborn Hoffenheim v Hannover Sunday Wolfsburg v Mö’gladbach Frankfurt v Dortmund

Serie A Saturday Sassuolo v Verona Chievo v Lazio Cagliari v Fiorentina Cesena v Genoa Empoli v Atalanta Milan v Udinese Palermo v Parma Juventus v Torino Roma v Inter Milan

FIXTURES La Liga Saturday Getafe v Bilbao Espanyol v Levante Málaga v Real Madrid Celta Vigo v Eibar Sunday Atletico v Deportivo Sevilla v Granada Córdoba v Villarreal Valencia v Barcelona

Moya

iguel Angel Moya’s impressive form for Atletico Madrid has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top teams, particularly Serie A giants Inter.

Italian newspaper Tuttosport claims the Italians are casting admiring glances at the 30-year-old goalkeeper, who only joined Los Rojiblancos in the summer from Getafe for a reported €3m.

The San Siro outfit is continuing contract negotiations with current first-choice stopper Samir Handanovic, who is understood to have received offers from other clubs, but see Moya as the ideal replacement should the Slovenian choose to leave.

It is believed that Inter would be willing to pay up to €10m for the Majorca-born player and it is a figure that could well tempt the Atleti hierarchy, although boss Diego Simeone would be in no mood to see him depart the Vicente Calderon.

The Argentine has made Moya his No 1 this season at the expense of Jan Oblak, who may be loaned out during the January transfer window.

Inter planning Moya raid M

NEW TELEGRAPH emBER 2014

Sport

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I

Vincent Eboigbe n 1984, national team coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, went to Cote d’Ivoire for the African Nations Cup with young and largely inexperienced players.

Henry Nwosu, Clement Temile, Humphrey Edobor, Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Yisa Shofoluwe, Paul Okoku etc. were talented players that took the continent by storm. It took an equally talented but more experienced Cameroon to stop that Green Eagles side in the final match.

Those were outfield players, but even in the goalkeeping department the story was no less riveting. Etta Egbe was one of the Nigerian goalkeepers in that championship. The others were Peter Rufai and Patrick Okala.

Thirty years after, Egbe still rues that miss to the Indomitable Lions inspired by Theophile Abega, Roger Milla, Gregoire M’bida, Ernest Ebongue and others.

“I was disappointed when we couldn’t lift the Nations Cup in 1984. We got so close but it was not to be. We did our best but Cameroon that year had a great side,” recalls Egbe with a tinge of wistfulness.

He however adds that it was not entirely sad memory all the way as another Eagles side was able to lift the AFCON title away from home exactly 10 years later.

“I still took some consolation from the fact that what we did was a building process; although those of us that started it couldn’t end it, those that came behind ended it with huge success,” he says.

Like most kids from that era when football was driven largely from the schools and the neighbourhoods, Egbe started out at a very young age in primary school in Lagos.

And one way of addressing the seeming talent gap in the country today is to recreate the template that was so successful in throwing up talents from very early ages and from the grassroots in the past.

“Football started for me in the grassroots at my elementary school, St George’s Primary School in Falomo. After that, I went back to Calabar where I attended Hope Waddell. After secondary school, I never looked back, my career sprang up from there. I started manning the post for Calabar Rovers when I was in Class Three,” Egbe says.

“That is the way it was those days, that is the way players were discovered and I believe that is the way to go if we hope to be able to produce great players

A coach is as good as his last result.

Keshi took an exam and he failed, there is no other name for failure

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

I started playing for Calabar Rovers while in Class Three – Etta Egbe again. Howbeit, I don’t want to believe we don’t produce talents anymore. One of the problems is that the time for players to properly blend in the national team these days is so short. Again, when they get out there and begin to make dollars they tend to get carried away and lose focus.

“I am a member of the technical crew of the U-15 national team and that is where am coming from that developmental angle. I want us to go back to the U-13, U-15 and U-17. If we go back to the grassroots, we won’t be having this problem of paucity in producing good players whether in the goalkeeping department or in the other areas.”

Football has become such a big business that its finest exponents are among the noveau riches and even the average among the lot still live the good life. Many of the gifted Nigerian players of yore did not make a fraction of what these latter day players are raking in weekly in their European clubs, but Egbe, who took up coaching after retire-

Etta Egbe

ment, also coaching his former club Calabar Rovers at some point, is not in the least bothered.

“We did our best during our time. We were just dedicated to the game, we were not thinking of the financial angle. Some people had to open the door and we did that. There are no regrets at all,” Egbe retorts philosophically.

“Let me also add that one reason we are struggling in the game now is that football has somewhat moved from its natural abode. Football was for those of us in the barracks, ghettos, naturally endowed players who just loved the game and enjoyed playing, but today you see a minister buying four pairs of boots for his son to play football. You can’t force it, it has to come naturally.”

Most of the players from Egbe’s generation, who never had the privilege of huge earnings from football, have fallen on bad time, with many of them just managing to survive.

But Egbe refuses to blame sports authorities or the government as some people often do especially on the welfare of retired footballers. He insists

that even footballers have the responsibility to fend for themselves.

Given this scenario, the retired goalkeeper counsels active players to strive to make plans for when they will retire from the game since football is a timebound sport.

“Footballers come footballers go. You won’t ask Calabar Rovers for instance to be talking about Etta Egbe now because he was their goalkeeper decades ago. Should Rovers use their resources to take care of me now when the team has active players to think of? Your time came and now it is time for others.

“It is a lesson for the young players, they have to prepare themselves for the rainy day, they have to acquire a certain level of education so that tomorrow when they retire from the game they will have something to fall back on.”

Interestingly, only last Sunday, some old players were honoured during the Federation Cup final between Enyimba and Dolphins in Lagos. This for Egbe is something to be excited about especially the fact that former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, who was wheeled into the Teslim Balogun venue of the final match, was one of those honoured.

“I am happy that Fregene was honoured. I had the opportunity to contest the number one shirt with him in the Green Eagles in 1983 when he was brought back 20 years after he first played for the national team,” Egbe recalls.

“When he came in he called me and said ‘young man, I am just here for celebration, this is your opportunity take it. I am here to direct you.’ He gave me good advice that helped me in my career.”

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup in 2015. The fact of the defending champions missing out of the competition after having won it in 2013 in South Africa is a piece of detail that rankles the Nigerian football fan.

Egbe sees this failure as not only a manifestation of some of the deep-seated issues in the Nigerian game, he also attributes it to the endless in-fighting in the football federation.

Egbe notes: “The truth is that when there is an unsettled house, there cannot be progress. When the parents in a house are fighting, there cannot be peace among the children as they will equally be affected.”

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Lifestyle

Camila

Sanchez accused of texting former Miss Chile

“If you don’t do wild things t’s turning out to be a few days to forget for Ar- while you’re senal star Alexis Sanchez.

After failing to help his side beat Manchester young, you’ll have United in their Premier League encounter last nothing to smile Saturday, the forward has now been accused of about when texting a former Miss Chile behind his girlfriend’s you’re old. " back.

– Unknown

I

Camila Andrade claims the 25-year-old’s messages include holiday snaps and invitations to dine with him.

Andrade has explained how she turned down the £30 million signing when he invited her out to dinner during Chile’s World Cup preparation this summer before he was pictured on a romantic beach holiday in Mexico with his current girlfriend Laia Grassi.

MailOnline has been unable to verify whether Miss Andrade can support her claims and attempts to contact Sanchez for comment have failed to elicit a response.

In reports which have made headlines across the media in Chile, Miss Andrade, 23, told an interviewer in her home country how he asked her out earlier this year.

She said: "Alexis invited me out for a meal while he was back in Chile preparing for the World Cup. "I was between boyfriends at the time and it was the first time that he’d asked if we could meet up." Stories courtesy Dailymail

Rodriguez unveils range of underwear

Sport

31

C

olombian midfielder James Rodriguez fulfilled one of his dreams this summer when he left Monaco to join Real Madrid, joining stars like Cristiano Ronaldo.

And the World Cup star has now also joined the Portuguese World Player of the Year in the world of fashion, after launching his own range of underwear.

The Real playmaker, who scored his seventh goal for the European champions last weekend, modelled the J10 branded underwear after teaming up with Colombian brand Bronzini.

The Colombian star rose to prominence with a succession of excellent displays at the World Cup He follows David Beckham and Ronaldo as galacticos who have moved into the world of fashion.

Ronaldo has produced two selections of underwear, and followed it up with a range of men's shirts earlier this month.

Rodriguez, who moved to Real in a deal worth £63million following a superb tournament in Brazil over the summer, has become one of the world's most marketable players.

He was also rewarded for his excellent international displays with a place on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, although he is not expected to seriously challenge club-mate Ronaldo or Lionel Messi for the top award.

James

Murray gets engaged

B

ritish No 1 and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is engaged to Kim Sears, his girlfriend of more than nine years.

Murray's representatives have confirmed the engagement of 27-year-old Murray and Sears, aged 26, but have not released any details or where the proposal took place.

Sussex-born Miss Sears, who has an English Literature degree, met Murray at the US Open in 2005.

Her father is player-turned-coach Nigel Sears.

Murray is in the Philippines to play in the International Premier Tennis League.

But he gave no indication of his big news, instead tweeting: 'Off to the Philippines for the first time today, should be a fun trip... Anyone got some suggestions for first time tourists in Manila?'

Alice

Pennant's wife dazzles in new Instagram photo

I

t would be a huge understatement to say that Alice Goodwin, who is married to ex Arsenal, Liverpool and Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant, is fond of revealing clothes.

The busty British glamour model treats her Instagram followers to photos of herself rocking very little on a daily basis.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool WAG looks fantastic yet again in her latest Instagram offering.

Goodwin married Pennant in 2014 after the England international left Lara Murphy.

The model attended Newcastle-underLyme School and later Keele University

studying English and Education before she was discovered by talent scouts from Daily Star while sunbathing on Bournemouth beach As well as appearing in the Daily Star, she has also modeled for various men's magazines including Zoo Weekly, Nuts and Maxim.

In 2009, she was voted Zoo Weekly's hottest topless babe of the year.

Murray and Sears

32

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Take two for the price of one.

Read the International New York Times in every Monday Edition of the New Telegraph

Nigeria’s authoritative Newspaper in Business and Politics

www.newtelegraphonline.com

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Investigations

33

Former Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 4

Practice (GMPS) fund. GMP is a payment that drug manufacturers outside the country are paying for inspection.

Apart from these demands, they equally accused the management of purchasing brand new 20 Peugeot 508 cars for N200 million for some directors in Abuja and Lagos. This was in spite of the agency’s claims of not having enough fund to address the workers’ demands.

The chairman said that officials in all the agency’s offices across the country were in full compliance with the strike, even as they vacated their various duty posts. He also confirmed that the union locked up NAFDAC operational offices at Seme, Idi-Iroko, Apapa and at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) in Lagos.

“At this time of talking with you, we have not heard anything from the management and this is sad. We intend to continue with strike until all our demands are met. We want to let the management of NAFDAC, Ministry of Health, Wages and Salary Commission and the Federal Government know that the union had waited a long time and could no longer wait,” he said.

Also speaking, the Secretary to MHWUN, NAFDAC chapter, Anzaku Peter, said in a separate interview with this reporter that NAFDAC was losing about N120 million weekly because of the strike. “I can tell you authoritatively that the organisation lost on weekly basis, over N120 million from the nation’s Ports alone. So, you can imagine what would have happened at the other formations of the agency,” Peter added.

Before now, the workers had been embroiled in a cold war with the management over poor handling of their allowances and other welfare issues. They had quarelled with their Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, over his purported spending of N25 million on last year’s Christmas party when most of the workers’ vital allowances were yet to be paid.

Investigations revealed that the said Christmas party took place at the premises of the organisation at Oshodi, Lagos, on December 13. It generated controversies as majority of the workers kicked against it, arguing that if some of the mandatory allowances of the workers were yet to be paid it was unwise to spend such a huge amount on a party that lasted for only four hours.

Of particular interest to the aggrieved workers was the vexed issue of 13th month allowance, which the management, according to them, had refused to pay. Because of this, majority of the workers was said to have boycotted the party. Insider

Workers in a war mood

Orhii

sources put the initial budget for the party at N16 million, which eventually went up to N25 million.

It was gathered that the agency had been paying its employees 13th month allowances since the days of the former DG, late Prof. Dora Akunyili. She was said to have introduced the package to motivate the workers since most of them were sometimes called to duty at odd hours of the day. “Instead of paying the money in full, it was staggered and some people are not yet paid as l speak to you,” lamented a worker, who craved anonymity.

Another contentious subject concerned the Human Resources department, which the union accused of engaging the services of a popular Ibadan-based gospel musician, who collected unspecified millions for his short services. The head of the department was said to have travelled outside the country for two weeks immediately after the party, whereas “majority of us were denied relevant and professional training by the same department,” said another worker, who refused his name in print.

There were other issues that created a gulf between the DG and the workers. One of such was the alleged nonchalant attitude of the Human Resources department to the union’s

Akunyili

Staff claims have been reduced to whom you know and which bottom you can pass

demand. It was alleged that the head of the department blocked all forms of communication channel between the union and the DG. Thereafter, the workers, according to sources, approached NAFDAC’s Governing Council chairman, Prof.

John Ibu Igede, to help broker a truce between them and the DG. Igede, it was gathered, agreed to mediate and scheduled a meeting with the union and the ad-hoc Committee of the council at the conference room at the agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on January 13.

The meeting, which was said to be stormy, opened yet another can of worms on the crisis. At the meeting, the union presented a nine-page document that summarised the workers’ grievances. In the document, the union frowned at the agency’s failure to pay the first 28 days allowances for newly employed members of staff, which had been denied to those employed in 2009 and 2012. Selective staff training to “some favoured staffers” equally cropped up.

The union also complained that workshops, seminars and conferences of local and international status were not distributed on nominal roll and there was no fair share in its attendance. They did not stop at that.

But quarreled with management’s poor handling of staff claims, which

they alleged had been “reduced to whom you know and which button you can press before you get what rightly belongs to you.”

Aside that, there was equally the GMP issue for overseas training, which the union said was no longer given to staff before embarking on trips. According to the workers, “we now pay for our visa fees at the embassies, while refunding could take between six to eight months after such trip.” They also said that some staff had gone on training locally without financial backings by the management; a practice the union leadership insisted was putting the agency into disrepute.

They were not happy with the management as well because most of the technologists, who had acquired additional certificates in the agency, according to them, were not converted to regulatory officers even as the yearly long service/merit awards, which ought to take place at the end of the year party, had become selective.

“All those that were supposed to benefit were often excluded. The Director Admin/HR, Mrs. Oni, used her power to remove Long Service Award from the awards ceremony despite the agreement and approval of the DG and the workers,” the union alleged.

The Chairman of MHWUN, Comrade Ibrahim Isah, noted that the union channeled the workers’ grievances to the Governing Council of the agency with the hope that something favourable would come out of the deliberation. But that, he said, was not to be.

However, a top management staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused the Directorate of Administration and Human Resources of the agency, for not taking as a priority the welfare of the staff despite the fact that it generated close to N700million monthly. According to the source, the Directorate, in most cases, failed to properly brief the DG. “Akunyili always fought for the welfare of the staff and she initiated some of these allowances that the management are now finding difficult to pay. If the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) accruing to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

34

Investigations

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Importers of fake drugs sponsored crises – DG C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

agency every month is anything to go by, it would have no difficulty meeting up with the staff welfare demand,” the source added.

However, the management of NAFDAC has been reacting to the heap of allegations by the workers.

For instance, the Director of Special Duties of the Agency, Alhaji Abubakar Jimoh, is putting a lie to the numerous allegations against the DG. He said that the allegations were mere fantasies of some jobless elements being used to destroy the DG and the agency.

“The 13th month allowance was just largesse and a special privilege, but not mandatory. Since NAFDAC started, it has been a tradition. We have religiously kept to it and made sure that it is paid. Going by the numerical strength of the staff of NAFDAC, what we did was that in that cognisance and the rising challenges, like provision of infrastructural amenities that have to compete with the IGR. We are not funded by the government; so, we rely on the IGR. To that extent, it was staggered so that other sectors will not suffer,” Jimoh said.

Jimoh added that the union was taken into confidence when the payment of allowance was staggered.

“Therefore, there is nothing unusual about it. The onus is on us to protect the public health; the issue of 13th month allowances is secondary,” he explained.

Ibe

He called what is happening in the agency, a political colouration, noting that all the allegations lacked merit and substance. “The agency cannot be distracted from the clear mandate Mr. President has given the DG. We cannot be diverted; the management is ready to key into the transformation agenda and we have a blue print that will make the agency to get to the next level of its assignment.

“What you are talking about is the hangover of the second term politics that failed. Those mischievous people, who wanted to use it as a big issue to stop the second coming of the DG, have failed. I am dismissing all this allegation and rumour with a wave of the hand because it is a hangover of the second term politics and l think it ought to have ended now with the second coming of the DG,” he said.

Jimoh explained that the DG has a lot of other welfare packages for the staff, which he hopes to bring into reality very soon. “I also want to tell you that there are other packages that have been worked out Some of the contentious cars bought for directors

NAFDAC under my leadership has built workers capacity through training more than any other DG

for the staff welfare. International and capacity training is also there, which a lot of money will go into.

We are saying that we cannot leave that at the detriment of the 13th month allowance. We make sure that everything is balanced.”

He said that the DG had a comprehensive welfare package, which he intended to unfold before the workers embarked on the strike.

According to him, the issue of allowances had two dimensions, the internal and the external. Jimoh explained that the internal dimension, which was within the purview of the management, was being attended to.

For the external angle, this concerns dealing with the Salary and Wages Commission, according to him, “will soon be sorted out since the commission only requires little time to update the records.” He, however, said that the workers’ action was unpatriotic, insisting that the DG had achieved a lot that ought to be celebrated.

On the issue of the new 20 Peugeot 508 bought by the DG for

some directors, Jimoh noted that some of the vehicles that the majority of the directors were using were old and no longer good for the tedious job they do. “This accounted for the procurement of new ones to achieve the desired goals and objective of the agency,” he said.

He, nonetheless, appealed to the workers to make patriotism their maxim, “so that we can collectively bail out the country from drug and food counterfeiters.”

But Orhii, while reacting to the accusations levelled against the agency, threatened to “cure the cause of the strike” by stopping all training programmes for NAFDAC workers. He explained that the unpaid allowances emanated from claims from travels for trainings. He said that NAFDAC, under his leadership, had built the capacity of its workers through local and foreign trainings more than under any other former director general.

“Unfortunately, that has become one of my flaws, because sometimes I over-approved this training opportunities and when workers come back, there is usually no enough money to meet their claims immediately. Maybe, the workers have abused this privilege,” he said.

He added: “I can just cancel all training opportunities, both within and outside the country. Unfortunately, it is not those who have not travelled or benefitted from such trainings that are fuelling these crises. Rather, it is those, who have travelled that are laying hold to claims and unpaid allowances.”

Orhii also disclosed that the recent strike embarked upon by his workers could have been mastermind by fake drug importers. “I have every reason to believe that the strike was propaganda as issues raised date back years. Knowing that November and December are very busy periods for NAFDAC, people would naturally try to smuggle counterfeit products for the festive season,” he said.

The DG appears to have found support in an insider source, who stated that the industrial action was capable of giving the “agents of deaths the leeway to operate; they could wreak havoc within a short period of freedom.”

In like manner, an operator in the pharmaceutical industry, who craved anonymity, pleaded for speedy resolution of the crises. “Even when workers were not on strike, these people were outwitting NAFDAC officers. One can only imagine what their calculations would be in a crisis situation,” the pharmacist said.

However, due to the intervention of the permanent secretary in the ministry of health and other wellmeaning Nigerians, the workers agreed to suspend the strike to pave the way for further delibrations with the authorities concerned. It is hope that these meaningful intervention would eventually save the drug Another banner by house from imminent the striking staff collapse.

Dear Love Doctor, ‘My relative wants to sleep with me!'

p.37

L ve&Lv ng

Life Experience 'I got beaten up at a restaurant because of her!' p.36

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

35

'I fell in love with a prostitute'

Confession Some people view prostitutes as undesirable elements, and simply can't imagine marrying a prostitute, even if she's willing to change.

However, in this story, one man's experience shows that prostitutes are human too.

I

don’t want to disclose my name so that people who are close to me won’t be able to detect my identity. All I can say is that I’m married to a former prostitute whom I met in Benin. But I did it for love.

I grew up in Lagos and after I graduated from Yaba College of Technology in the 90s, life was very hard for me. I walked about looking for a job all

over Lagos until my feet were sore. I submitted so many job applications to many different companies and banks that I lost count.

Sometimes I would write an aptitude test and pass, but still I wouldn’t get the job. I would be invited for an interview, but somehow, something always went wrong along the way to prevent me from getting the job that I badly needed to help my family and keep body and soul together.

After three years of searching for a job in Lagos in vain, I was invited for an interview by a company based in Benin City. One of their officers had already assured me that they were going to offer me the job.

The man had even collected some money from me as a bribe.

So, I travelled to Benin City with the little money I could borrow from friends with the expectation that when I resumed work at the company, I would repay the money.

But to my greatest shock, I travelled to Benin City and was turned down by the company.

After that incident, I made up my mind to commit suicide. But

"It was while I was crying and thinking of my life that a girl walked up to me and asked what the matter was"

I didn’t know which method I should use to kill myself. So I sat at a bus stop weeping from 7pm to 10 pm.

It was while I was crying and thinking of my life that a girl walked up to me and asked what the matter was. I poured out my story to her amidst tears. And she asked me whether I had a place to sleep in Benin that night.

I told her that I had nowhere to sleep and had no money to return to Lagos because I had placed all my hope in the man who had promised me the job.

She comforted me and invited me to sleep in her place that night.

Esther took me to her room in a brothel and we slept there together that night.

Before we slept together that night, she told me she felt like smoking and that she couldn't sleep without lighting a stick of cigarette. And as she smoked, she told me her own pathetic story of how she was forced into prostitution because her parents died when she was five years old and her extended family members

abandoned her and her siblings.

I took pity on her too, and realized that I wasn’t the only one who had serious problems in the world. That was how I fell in love with her. From that moment, I and Esther started our friendship and promised to stand by each other forever.

Esther was one of the sexiest women I had ever been with, and I enjoyed every moment of being with her - and still do up to this moment.

We got married five years ago, and I must confess that she is really a good and faithful wife. I now know that when people say that a prostitute can never change, it is not true.

Prostitutes are the best wives to have because they have seen the world, so when they decide to change, they change permanently.

That is why my wife always tells women that there is no amount of money she hasn’t seen before, which a man would now give her to make her unfaithful to me.

36

Love&Living

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Love News

Love Songs

Hawaii Five-0 star Autumn Reeser 'divorcing husband Jesse Warren' after two sons, five-year marriage

A

utumn Reeser has reportedly filed for divorce from her husband of five years, Jesse Warren.

According to TMZ, the 34-year-old actress cited the celeb favourite 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason behind their split.

The Midnight Masquerade star is requesting joint legal and physical custody of their two sons - Finneus, 3, and Dashiell, 1.

However, Reeser - whose net worth is $3M - does not want to pay the 36-year-old writerdirector spousal support.

The California-born couple

Be My Lover La da da dee da da da da...

Looking back on all the time we spent together You oughta know by now If you want to be my lover, want to be my lover Go ahead and take your time, boy you gotta feel secure Before I make you mine, baby, you have to be sure You want to be my lover Want to be my lover, want to be my lover

likely met while attending UCLA. And while Autumn is a pretty successful actress, Jesse's last project was directing Crackle webseries The Bannen Way back in 2010.

Last month, the Hawaii Five-0 actress reunited with her co-star from The O.C. Rachel Bilson - while shooting the fourth season finale of The CW's Hart of Dixie.

Reeser will next play Amanda Weil in the 13-episode first season of alien children series The Whispers, premiering 'midseason' next year on ABC.

La da da dee da da da da La da da dee da da da da A ha ye heyee, want to be my lover I hear what you say, I see what you do I know everything I need to know about you And I want you to know that it's telling me You want to be my lover La da da dee da da da da A ha ye heyee, want to be my lover Be my lover, be my lover I know you want to be my lover I know you want to be mine La da da dee da da da da...

A ha ye heyee, want to be my lover...

Courtesy: Daily Mail.

Life Experience

'I got beaten up at a restaurant because of her!'

I was blinded by your love, I couldn't see any other thing besides you, And now your love is killing me

M

y name is Bola. I work in Lagos. Five years ago during the time I was courting my wife, I had a nasty experience, which almost made me quit the relationship with the woman who is now my wife. Then, she was still my girlfriend and I used to take her out to different restaurants or eateries from time to time. Sometimes I took her to Mr Biggs or any other good restaurant or joint that I felt was conducive enough for love birds like us.

My birthday is June 7.

And I was used to marking it in a low-key romantic way just for two, that is, I and my girlfriend. So, on the night of June 7 that year, I took my girlfriend to a pepper-soup joint to celebrate just for the two of us. People were trooping in and out of the peppersoup joint as usual. And we were enjoying our meal and drinks when suddenly, one guy walked up to our table and told my girlfriend to return his phone (GSM). I was shocked and wondered what business my girlfriend had with the boy, not to mention holding his phone. But the boy started insisting that my girlfriend should return his phone and started creating a scene at the joint.

I asked my girlfriend whether she knew the guy, but she couldn't give me a straightforward answer. Before I knew what was happening, the boy walked away from our table and returned five minutes later with four other boys. They broke a bottle on my head and forcefully took my phone and my girlfriend's phone away from us and left. I went home with a bleeding head that night.

When I demanded for an explanation from my girlfriend, she said that the boy in question had approached her some weeks ago and asked her to go out with him. And that he had bought a phone for her in order for her to accept to date him. She said she had

La Bouche

"And we were enjoying our meal and drinks when suddenly, one guy walked up to our table and told my girlfriend to return his phone"

refused to date him and that the boy asked her to return the phone he gave her since she had refused to go out with him. But she had refused to return the phone. That was the cause of all the trouble. I told her that her foolishness and greed caused everything. What was still doing with a guy's phone after she had refused to date him?

She begged me to forgive her but I reported the matter to her mother and her parents were very disappointed with her and seriously scolded her. Afterwards, they begged me to still go ahead and marry her, because she had promised that it would never happen again. It was only by the grace of God that I managed to forgive her and marry her after that nasty experience.

I must confess Girl, yes, I want to be your lover Take a chance, my love is like no other On the dance floor getting down Hold tight, I'll never let you down My love is definitely the key Like Boyz II Men I'm on bended knee Loving you, not like your brother, aw yeah I want to be your lover.

Love Poem

Craig

My Love For You My love for you is as cool as the ocean as we walked through the waves with love and devotion my love for you is not as complex it’s not just your looks or the great sex it’s your personality that shines to me being with you shows what love can be I look at the picture that you sent me knowing your waiting makes me happy all the times we’ve spent together I just hope the good times can last forever and ever I never want anyone to tear us apart a piece of you will always be in my heart…

*Send your love poems along with your name and number to ireto007@yahoo.

Romantic Jokes

Insomnia

A man went to the doctor complaining of insomnia. The doctor gave him a thorough examination, found absolutely nothing physically wrong with him, and then told him, "Listen, if you ever expect to cure your insomnia, you just have to stop taking your trouble to bed with you." "I know," said the man, "but I can’t. My wife refuses to sleep alone."

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Relationships & Love Advice

‘My relative wants to sleep with me!'

Dear Love Doctor, My name is Joy. I have this distant relative and it's like we are attracted to each other. Now he is talking about making love to me, even though we've kissed.

I can't accede to his request, but I don't know what to do.

Please advise me.

Women SEEKING relationship/ marriage ♥ Chinasa, 41, a single mother of one, from Imo, in PH, needs a loving, Christian man for marriage. +234 9094061656.

♥ Chii wants a sincere Pentecostal Christian man of God from Owerri/Mbaise, of 40-48 years for marriage. He must be a graduate, tall, never been married and willing to relocate.

08142060051. ♥ Busola, 27, graduate, responsible and homely, needs a graduate, working man of 32-50 years for marriage. 07068263247.

D o c t o r ’s

Dear Joy, You say he is a distant relation, but you didn't say how distantly you relate with him. Therefore, one may not be able to correctly assess the position of your blood relationship with him. In some cultures, you may or may not be allowed to marry. It depends on your culture and on the way both of you are related.

The best thing to do is to discuss it with your parents.

Ask them whether your culture permits or forbids your having a relationship with him. Their answer will tell you which way to go.

Good luck.

H♥♥K UP...find your heart’s desire

♥ An Igala woman, a civil servant, graduate, masters student, needs a honest and gainfully employed Igala man for marriage.

08053528041.

From Joy. Love Advice:

♥ God's Time, 29, Igbo, orphan, final year student, needs a serious, educated truthful, humble, Christian widower, not a divorcee, of 35-38 years for marriage. 08169279907.

MEN LOOKING FOR RELATIONSHIP/ MARRIAGE ♥ Osas, 49, widower, from Edo, works in Abuja, with grown up children, wants a mature Bini or Ishan lady of not less than 36 years for marriage.

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Odd News

How becoming a vegetarian can CURE diabetes: Plant-based diets improve blood sugar levels, scientists claim

S

Love&Living

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

witching to a vegetarian diet could help reverse diabetes, a new study claims.

Millions of people battling the killer disease could improve their blood sugar levels by eradicating meat from their weekly shop.

Scientists believe removing animal fats could help cure the condition, leaving patients free from the disease.

They said changes to diet could be used as an alternative treatment for type 2 diabetes.

An analysis of previous studies revealed removing animal fats from diet helps improve insulin sensitivity.

Eating a vegetable-based diet reduced levels of a key blood-protein called glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).

For people with diabetes, the higher the HbA1c in their blood, the greater the risk of developing diabetes-related complications such as nerve damage, eye problems, and heart disease.

The study found a vegan or vegetarian diet lowered HbA1c by an average of 0.4 percentage points, and up

to 0.7 points.

This is comparable to the effects of drugs given to help patients with diabetes control their blood-sugar levels, researchers said.

'A diet change beats a pill,' said dietitian Susan Levin, one of the study's authors.

'A plant-based diet improves blood sugar, body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol all at the same time, something no drug can do.'

Dr Neal Barnard, of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, added: 'Plant-based diets work in a different way than "conventional" diabetes diets.

'We now know that type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance. Getting the animal fat — and fats in general — out of the diet helps repair insulin's ability to function.'

He told the Daily Express: 'We tell patients they can eat as much as they want – and as much whole wheat pasta, whole grains, and brown rice

as they want – as long as they're not eating -animal products or lots of added oils.

'The diet is simple and clear, and it's easier than ever to follow. With a plant-based diet, we could help tackle the disease once and for all.'

He said the 'side effects' are beneficial, people lose weight, blood pressure improves and cholesterol levels drop.

And he added 'best of all', vegan diets remove the tedious routine of taking medication and injecting insulin.

Across the world, 347 million people have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization. They predict it will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030.

The condition occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to take sugar out of the bloodstream,

37

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or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

Over time diabetes can lead to raised blood sugar levels, which causes damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

This damage can lead to blindness, amputation, heart disease, kidney failure and stroke.

As part of the new study, researchers analysed the dietary patterns of 255 adults with type 2 diabetes in the U.S, Brazil, and the Czech Republic.

They found people who ate low-fat vegan diet, or a diet of egg and dairy products but no meat, lowered HbA1c by an average of 0.4 percentage points and up to 0.7 points in some studies.

This is comparable to the same effect of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, drugs given to patients that help control their blood-glucose levels by preventing the digestion of carbohydrate, they said.

Writing in the report, the researchers said: 'Vegetarian (including vegan) diets have benefits for cardiovascular health, hypertension, body weight, and plasma lipids, and also provide nutritional advantages compared with omnivorous diets.'

A vegetarian diet also contains fewer calories, therefore helping patients manage their weight, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Plant-based diets tend to be higher in fibre, which slows the rate sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, researchers added.

38

Love&Living

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

True Story

‘I got pregnant for my brother-in-law'

W

hen I first met Rob, I thought my older sister, Clare, was so lucky to be with a guy like him; he was handsome, kind and so sweet to her.

Being the baby sister, I was only 19 when I first met him and he was 27 just like Clare. I idolised him but I never felt anything else for him except for admiration and when he married my sister I welcomed him into the family just as much as everyone else did.

Everyone loved Rob. Three years into their marriage, my sister got pregnant and they had a baby boy named Chris and they couldn't have been more overjoyed but that's when things began to go sour.

Clare developed post-natal depression and became increasingly difficult to be around. We knew it was a mental condition and we all tried to be there for her but Rob bared the brunt of it.

She was angry all the time and started throwing temper tantrums. She became so violent that she once threw Rob's computer out the window then tossed a kitchen knife at him telling him to get out of her face. Nothing helped, medication, therapy, she just kept getting worse.

I was over at their house all the time, I loved my sister but I could see the strain it was putting on their relationship. I was a shy, introverted girl and had never had

a boyfriend. Maybe the odd kiss but I was a little awkward, I never had the confidence Clare had.

One night, I was trying to calm Clare down from one of her terrible tirades when she screamed at me, 'Shut up Teresa! I don't care what you think! You know, you should spend some time taking care of yourself rather than hanging around here. How are you ever going to get a boyfriend looking like that? You're just ugly!'

I couldn't take any more of her abuse and ran outside, Rob chased me as he saw that she had struck a chord with me, I couldn't help it as tears rolled down my face. I didn't know what was wrong with me! It was true, maybe I was ugly, and maybe I will never meet a guy who would want me.

I raced into my car but Rob was right behind me. He got into the passenger seat as I slammed the door. He tried to comfort me and tell me she didn't mean what she said.

I don't know how it happened but he put his arm over me, trying to comfort me and I looked at him and that was it. I felt something and I knew he did too. He's touch just made my skin heat up and I couldn't control myself. He lent down and kissed me and I kissed him back.

He had been needing affection and he wasn't getting it from Clare and I knew he always had a soft spot for me but I never

"I don't know how it happened but he put his arm over me, trying to comfort me and I looked at him and that was it"

knew in this way. But it was so intense, my desire for him was so wrong but so uncontrollable.

He told me that I was a beautiful and sweet girl and that any man would be lucky to have me.

He just made me feel so good about myself. I couldn't help it.

We started an affair and even-

tually we fell in love. Clare started getting worse and Rob lost it when Clare dropped boiling water onto Chris when he was two, sustaining 2nd degree burns.

Rob decided to leave her then and fought for sole custody of Chris. He wanted me to leave with him but how could I do this?

She was my sister. Three weeks later I found out I was pregnant.

When I told Rob, he was overjoyed but also worried about the effect it would have on Clare.

My family would never believe I would have had a one night stand and after much consideration, I told my parents the truth. They went ballistic. They couldn't believe what I had done, especially to their favourite daughter. I was always second best, no one's favourite.

They refused to talk to me and barred me from their house.

I knew what I had done was so wrong but I couldn't help who I fell in love with.

Rob won custody over Chris and we left. I was so sorry for my sister but I had a baby to think

about now and Clare never showed any motherly affection to Chris. She needed to be taken care of and I knew my parents would do that but she wasn't fit to be a mother.

I loved Chris and would care for him as if he was my own. I gave birth to a daughter, Sophia and Rob and I were so happy. But I wasn't sure how we were going to tell Sophia one day that Rob was both her father and her uncle.

It's been 6 years since we've left and my family still refuses to speak to me. Clare never got better and was institutionalised with manic depression.

I secretly visit her sometimes, she never knew what happened with Rob, only that he left but I think somewhere deep down, she knew. I wanted to tell her I was sorry but I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth.

I will always live with the guilt that if Rob hadn't left with me, she may have gotten better...

Courtesy: msn.com

SEXUAL COMMUNICATION

Women above 50: 7 ways to improve your sex life continued from last week

Wedding Traditions

The Touching Dance: British Columbia

T

he Lillooet Indians, from what is now British Columbia, had a ritual called “the touching dance.” And it is by far the sweetest and sanest marriage tradition according to some. The people dance, and unmarried girls wear a sash. A man grabs hold of it if he wants to marry her. If she doesn’t want

to marry him, she takes it away from him, and he was to go away. When the dance ends, the chief calls out the names of the couples still attached. If the girl had allowed the man to keep hold of her sash until the end, they were then considered married.

Courtesy: list.com

5. Think your sex life could be better? Talk it through Talking about sex is the same as talking about other challenging issues in a relationship. “It’s always better to try to communicate with the ‘I’ words rather than the ‘You’ words,” Dr. Gass says. “Try to describe your personal reaction and your personal feelings about certain situations instead of making accusations. Pick a neutral time and place and talk about a goal of making sex enjoyable for both of you.”

6. Take a walk—and do it regularly When you gain weight as you age, it can be tough to feel attractive — or to believe that others find you attractive, even when they do. Dr. Gass acknowledges that it’s not always easy for people at midlife to lose a lot of weight. Instead, she encourages women to focus on physical activity. “If you go out and exercise, you’ll feel better about yourself even though you may not lose a lot of weight,” Dr. Gass says. What exercise does she recommend most for women over 50? Walking — at a brisk pace, if possible.

7. Try something different Medical conditions can limit sexual activity. This is where individuals and couples can get creative. Try different sexual positions to make intercourse more comfortable, or try alternatives to intercourse such as massage, different types of lubricants and sexual toys. And don’t get discouraged if you do not agree on everything; try to find something you both accept as fun or interesting to try.

Travel &Tourism SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

Travel Personality

39

HOSPITALITY

Karikoga Kaseke: Africans need to cooperate for tourism to thrive p.42

Destination

Treasure base of the nation entices with CARNIRIV 2014 p.40

Facade of the hotel

Knightsbridge Hotel excites with quality facilities ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA who was at the new wing of Knightsbridge Hotel reports on the promise of the hospitality outfit.

E

mina Crescent, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, is fast becoming a home for hospitality business. One of the hotels located at this serene residential neighbourhood is Knightsbridge Hotel.

For the middle range hotel, business has been good. That could be glimpsed from the fact that it has within a few years of operation added a new wing to its existing

"The main focus of the hotel with its array of sleek facilities, is catering for corporate guests, business and leisure travellers"

structure. The new wing which is now the toast of many of the hotel’s patrons comes with all the glitz and facilities expected of such outfit.

With this development, the hotel management has given hint of its ambition to increase its share of the Lagos hospitality market.

Indeed, since opening the new wing, the place has been experiencing a flurry of activities, especially at weekends.

The hotel now boasts over 57 rooms and suites with the new wing accounting for over 37 rooms of different categories.

These are superior rooms and executive suites – all equipped with modern leisure amenities. There is also a penthouse in the threestorey facility.

Other facilities include boutique, a bar, with a VIP section for private and exclusive use with a capacity of over 20 patrons. There is also the business lounge, which

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS

FESTAC, LAGOS

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ABA LAGOS

ABA

incorporates a restaurant as well.

It is plush and of a high taste with dishes and drinks ranging from continental to African on offer.

The hotel’s kitchen caters to both outdoor and indoor catering while the laundry, a commercial one, is designed with the public in mind.

Its conference facility is now top notch with the multiple hall, fitted with modern facilities has a capacity for over 120. It hosts functions ranging from annual general meetings, retreats, workshops, seminars to training sessions. It has a private entry and exit, rest rooms and operational facilities.

The main focus of the hotel with its array of sleek facilities, is catering for corporate guests, business and leisure travellers.

The cosy and largely secure environment is also a strong point, which has made it a first choice for many of its clients.

B E N E F I TS There are lots of benefits to derive as one of our partner hotels. For enquiries and details on how to join the programme, please contact Andrew Iro Okungbowa: 08023152195 (sms only), e-mail: iroandy@ymail.com or Chinyere Opara: 08063768131 (sms only) e-mail angela_curtis-2@live.com

40 Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

DESTINATION In a few days’ time the Garden City -Port Harcourtwould host CARNIRIV 2014 edition as Rivers State government and people invite the world to explore the rich offerings of their communal feast. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA previews the one-week celebration.

F

or tourists and connoisseurs of Nigeria’s rare cultural performances with a rich blend of contemporary entertainment, this perhaps is the best season to visit the country and partake in the rich and colourful bouquet of communal fiesta as the muse makes the round of the cities and localities.

What many will like to describe as Nigeria’s carnival race -it is an open and wide field- officially kicked start last week with the Abuja Carnival, which ran for four days at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a number of states in the country and FCT itself showcasing their various unique and enticing cultural beauties.

With the flood gate now opened, states across the country are now in a hot chase of some sorts to impress and entertain the world with the best entertaining cultural packages. Rivers State is one of the few states now on the starting block, as it is about to rev to the highest height with this year’s edition of The Port Harcourt Carnival otherwise known as CARNIRIV, a yearly feast in the tourism calendar of the state.

A precursor of RIVIFEST, which first made it way to the public scene in 1998 but rested after some years of presentations only to be revived, repackaged and remodelled into its present stage, which is a real celebration of the finest cultural elements from the ‘Treasure base of the nations,’ as the state has Christened itself.

CARNIRIV 2014 runs between December 12 – 20 at various centres in Port Harcourt, the capital city, which is also known as ‘the garden city.’ Different cultural activities, musical, beauty pageant and kiddies celebrations among others have been lined up for the pleasure of the people.

For many familiar with the high wired politics, which has encircled the entire state in recent time, threatening to tear apart its soul and kindred spirit, CARNIRIV is a welcome and well deserve break for the people and government, as the organisers of the event, Dr. Samuel Achibi Dede, the director general of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA) alongside his team and the chief host, governor Rotimi Amaechi, promised a swell and memorable moment – entertainment sans politics.

For the state government, CARNIRIV is its biggest tourism export hence no effort is being spared at making it attain a global recognisation with the best of elements – materials and personnel from across the state, nation and the world employed to give vent to the colourful and exciting theatrics that ‘The Port

Scenes from previous edition

Treasure base of the nation entices with CARNIRIV 2014 Harcourt Carnival’ has become over the last few years.

Tagged ‘One people One love,’ CARNIRIV 2014 promises to be a fun moment with all the people of the state combining all their cultural elements and entertainment forces to showcase what Dede called “a world class showpiece.” And it is instructive to note that it is the last for Amaechi who has showed unalloyed commitment to the revival of the carnival by bringing it to the level it is today.

Welcome to the dance of our people, welcome to Rivers of possibilities For Amaechi, it is yet another moment to harvest fun and bask in the

L-R: Amaechi, a guest and Dede at a previous edition

best of offerings from the treasure base of the nation, as he gave a vivid description of what to expect during the gathering of the tribes: ‘‘Over the next six days we will let our feet and our hearts do the talking.

Yes we will dance. We will celebrate our uniqueness and our heritage.

Over the next few days Port Harcourt will be one big theatre.

“Our streets, a giant stage where our designers and dancers will tell the story of our past, sing the songs of our present and light the path to our future.

“At the Ekere - you will understand why we are called the state of a thousand masquerades. They will perform ancient dances and modern ones too.

They will come from Omuma, Oyigbo, Okrika, Ndoni, Andoni and everywhere the Rivers man dwells.

“At the Egelege - one wrestling champion will join other champions from all our local councils and they will wrestle as our forebears once did, till the champion of champions emerges. Over the next few days, our local musicians will be joined by musicians from Jamaica and America, from all over the world where the black man has ever stepped.

“They will sing in our local patios and in theirs too; most of all, they will sing of the blessing of our joint heritage. At the International Aquatic Festival, we will display our war canoes and ceremonial gigs and vessels that once carried our kings and queens across perilous seas. Today, they will parade in a regatta of our pride and heroic past.

“It is good to be from Rivers State.

I salute you band presidents, and band leaders, I salute you all those who have climbed on the local government floats, and on very stage.

“Everyone who will climb into a costume and the costumier who made them. I salute every dancer and singer and every poet. You are our story tellers and Carniriv is our story,” so proclaimed governor Amaechi, as he beckons the word to Port Harcourt.

“I am the President, Treasure Base Band. Welcome to the dance of our people. Welcome to Rivers of possibilities,” concluded Rotimi in his poetic proclamation.

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Travel & Tourism

41

It is a unique carnival this year – Dede Just like the governor who is thrilled by the prospect of this year’s event, the man who heads the team cooking the carnival broth that is to be served in different bouquets, Sam Dede, is also upbeat, as he informed that the carnival theme this year is well thought out, making the carnival a unique and must see celebration for everyone.

“Our theme is well thought out because it denoted the unity of our people, diverse as we are in creed, and culture and faith and opinion – we celebrate our oneness as people of the greatest city in Nigeria – calm, peaceful, fun filled and original.

Besides, Dede revealed that part of what makes it unique and attractive, are some of the innovations being introduced this year. This includes unveiling state-of-the-art performance stage. “It is 150 feet of architectural masterpiece with many outstanding features. Also, we have packaged the different activities of the carnival into sub brands for commercial exploitation. Unlike in previous editions, we have fully democratised the carnival to encourage business participation from interested corporate bodies and multi-national organisations in order to make it a commercially attractive and economically viable carnival brand.”

“The pageant, slated for December 12, is a special event to herald the carnival and introduce the beauty of Port Harcourt and indeed Nigeria to the world. I will also like to add that successful participants and fans alike are set to go home with unique prizes and gifts as a token of appreciation from the organisers. And there are more surprises that can’t be revealed now,” he added.

The carnival, he said is geared towards empowering the power, hence opportunity is given to everyone to demonstrate their proficiency in whatever endowments they profess.

Aside the local artistes reaping heavily from it, he added that local artisans would also laugh all the way to the bank at the end of it all.

“Again, all carnival costumes are made by local designers and costumiers based in Port Harcourt and membership of the bands is free. We give out cash awards and other prizes to participants to encourage them to grow. For instance, the 2013 designer is currently undergoing a capacity building training in South Africa. Evidently, the carnival serves in mobilising the people to share ideals, celebrate what is common between us, bond and connect with one another,” Dede said.

Schedule of events Miss Carniriv 2014: The beauty pageant, which is making a debut this year would kick-start the main activities for the Port Harcourt Carnival and it is billed to hold on December 12.

Kids Carnival: It's an all kids affair as children from all over the state take to the streets from Elekahia playground and terminate at the Liberation Stadium (Elekahia).

International Heritage Parade: This involves the 23 local government areas' contingents who would strike the entertainment chord as they showcase energetic and colourful dances and masquerade performances.

Troupes from Malaysia and South Africa are expected to add colours to the parade.

International Aquatic Fiesta: It is the moment of boat regatta, a rich display of colours and artistry on water.

Expect to witness an enthralling event as this is one of the cultural performances for which the state is known.

Hosh Jam: A musical concert, which is a flash back to old Garden City, which then was the toast of many for its rich and entertaining night life. A display of the '60s and '70s pasttime would be on showcase on this night as top highlife exponents in West Africa in concert with musicians from the Diaspora are expected to make it a night to remember.

Reggae 360: It is reggae time for lovers of pulsating music to interface and enjoy the vibes and nerve-racking sounds from some of their favourites artistes.

Garden City Free Style Parade: This is the climax of

the six-day festivities as the carnival bands and others embark on street procession through designated routes and end at the stadium with a resounding performance.

World Peace Concert: This signals the end of the carnival as artistes from across the country and the globe gather to celebrate world peace through music.

Other events includes – Ekere: Rhythm of the tribes, CARNIRIV Praise Jam, BAMFEST – Black African Music Festival and Dance of the Fireflies.

Highlights Sunday, December 14 l Kids Carnival l Opening Ceremony Monday, December 15 l Praise Jam Tuesday, December 16 l Ekere l Hosh Jam Wednesday, December 17 l International Aquatic Fiesta l Egelege l Ekere l Bamfest Thursday, December 18 l Ekere l Reggae 360 Friday, December 19 l International Heritage Parade Saturday, December 20 Garden City Parade Sunday, December 21 World Peace Concert

Port Harcourt Tourist Beach

Tourist attractions While in the Garden City, take time off to explore some of its tourist attractions in order to experience the fullness of the city.

Port Harcourt Tourist Beach: It's an artificially created sandy beach along Kolabi Creek east of the old township. It is a tourist centre with a number of leisure spots such as bush-bar and restaurant offering local delicacies, a jetty for boat cruises, a wildlife display, museum and games room, among others.

Isaac Boro Garden Park: A leisure park with rich history where one can relax and sample some of the best offerings of the city.

Isaka Holiday Resort: A theme park stretching across 23

hectares island, about one mile from the city. Good ground for exploring nature’s best.

Port Harcourt Zoological Garden: Offers wildlife sanctuary with a number of flora and fauna to feast on. The Trans–Amadi axis sanctuary was not looking its best at the last visit, but it sure presents something to nature’s seekers.

Wali Cultural Centre: Good for relaxation with some nice spots to unwind at night.

Mile 1 Market: A local market where you could possibly buy most of your personal items. It is an amazing scenery to behold as you feast on the locals haggling and carrying on with their daily engagement in an exciting and co-

lourful manner.

Dining out You could also enjoy dining out in many of the local and modern eateries. The list includes - Mr Bigg's on some of the street corners, Eastern Gardens Chinese Restaurant on Aggrey Road, Chicken Calypso Fast Food and Restaurant, Portofino Food and Beverage on the Aba Expressway, Bouvati Fast Foods on Old Aba Road, Kilimanjaro on Aba Expressway (opposite GRA Junction), Piazza is located in Royal Residence Hotel, Off Tombia Street, GRA Phase I, Bakers Palace on 130 Abuloma Road, Ice cream Bar on 2, Estate Road, Woji, Stella’s Bar is located on 14 Ndahbros Street, Nkpoju Village, Trans Amadi.

42 Travel & Tourism TRAVEL PERSONALITY What is your impression of this first attempt at rebranding Sanganai/Hlanganai as African premier business platform?

I think the overall impression is that we have done fairly well, not very well but not poorly. I think we have just done above average in terms of what we have done in this edition of rebranding.

We brought in 80 buyers and had over 34 buyers who cancelled and if the Ebola issue has not hit us because of own our reporters who wrote that there are cases of Ebola in Zimbabwe, and people were scared we could have had a better performance. But anyway, at the end of the day we are very happy with what we have achieved as we have given value to our exhibitors because most of them were very happy with the businesses that they have conducted.

We will bring in excess of 150 buyers for next year. We will still continue to maintain the minimum number of meetings, we want to raise it from 15 to 20 next year for each buyer and that will give more value to our exhibitors.

We have given ourselves three years to really go through that process and after three years we should be very perfect in every aspect of our Sanganai. We have improved tremendously but there are still some areas we think require some improvements but by the third year I think we should be spot on.

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

KARIKOGA KASEKE: Africans need to cooperate for tourism to thrive Karikoga Kaseke is the chief executive of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), a body charged with the promotion and marketing of Zimbabwe’s tourism. He speaks with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA at the close of a three-day travel exhibition -Sanganai/Hlanganani- organised yearly in Harare by ZTA on the attempt at rebranding the expo, the success story of ZTA, tourism in Zimbabwe and the need for Africa countries to unite among other issues.

(NTDC), have been trying to put Africa together but with a lot of difficulties.

We won’t give up and tire until we succeed because we need to really work together as Africans for the benefits of our people. Just imagine when a region like Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) is using one visa that will be good, that will be a good starting point.

Then we go to East Africa block where we have five countries and three of them are already on uni-visa. Then we go to West Africa, that is the way we should start but it will take a lot of time, it may not be during our life time but some starting points should be established.

There are no adverse implications for any of the countries There is no implication, Nigeria will take more of the hit in West Africa and this is the issue as we must try not to think along those lines because the moment we do we won’t get anywhere.

We must think positively and we must not think of who will benefit more and who will benefit less. We must look at facilitating travel within our regions. The key word is facilitating foreign tourists within our regions. For example, in West Africa, definitely Nigeria will get the biggest share and so what? After all, Nigeria has got the biggest population.

What implication does it have on Ghana or any other West Africa country?

It won’t have any. If the focus is on facilitating travel within that region, I think those issues of who benefit more will be addressed.

The future of Zimbabwe’s tourism looks bright The future looks bright if only we maintain the current peace and tranquillity in the country. Because as you know where there is political upheaval or where there is no peace, tourism will not thrive. So, tourism thrives only in a peaceful environment and we hope that the peaceful environment would remain for us and once that happens we expect our tourism to grow.

We are currently at 1.8 million, a drop from 2.4 million and we need to go back to 2.4 million and gradually start moving up.

The only thing that will affect a drop in our tourism arrivals is the political environment and the political environment has been good and so I think we will recover that 2.4 million.

We are looking at certain markets in Africa, which should really add value to our industry, Nigeria being one of the countries we are looking at in Africa as our source market. South Africa is the biggest source market for us and we believe that it will remain our biggest source market in the nearest future.

Challenges facing the industry Zimbabwe is facing a lot of challenges at the moment, for example, you talk of infrastructural development. If you talk of infrastructural development within the tourism industry itself, our projection is saying that in Harare, the capital city, we need by 2020, 3, 000 more rooms. We are simply saying that if we don’t add 3, 000 rooms by 2020 we will be doomed.

Because at the rate our tourism is growing, you know our major tourism resort, which is Victoria Falls, we need 5, 000 more rooms by 2020 and if we don’t put those more rooms by 2020 we will be doomed. This is the biggest challenge that we are having from the tourism point of view as we need to develop tourism infrastructure.

Of course, some of those things that we are calling challenges may not be challenges themselves. For example, we are having Sanganai in this hotel (Rainbow Towers); it is not a convention centre because there are no proper convention facilities that we should be using for our Sanganai.

We need to have a proper convention centre in Harare, a proper convention

Kaseke...CEO of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority

We are looking at certain markets in Africa, which should really add value to our industry, Nigeria being one of the countries we are looking at in Africa as our source market

centre in Vic Falls and maybe if we start with those two cities then we can move to other cities but we don’t have a proper convention centre where people can display their products in the right manner.

We are just using the opening space in this international conference centre.

Though it is working for us, there is certainly constraint in terms of facilities.

Convention centres are not normally built by the private sector, they are built by local authorities or the central government itself. So we need either the local authority in the city of Harare or the government itself to put up a convention centre.

Africa countries need to work together to grow the continent as a single destination But we are also looking at in terms of cooperating with other regional blocks like East Africa community, and ECOWAS. We need to cooperate as Africans for the benefit of our tourism, we must work as one, as Africans. We, me and your former director general (Otunba Segun Runsewe) of your tourism parastatal, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation

I have made success of ZTA When I joined ZTA in 2005, to be honest with you, I am not trying to beat my own drum because it has not worked but I am being honest with you, no one knew about this organisation. That was my pre- occupation during the first year, trying to make this organisation visible because you can’t have a tourism authority that is not noticeable, that is not known by its own people.

I think that I have successfully achieved that within a year and ZTA is probably the most known entity in this country today.

That is from publicity point of view but when you look at the real work we have to do a major restructuring of this organisation, which I have done successfully.

Just imagine then there were only two marketing people, one for domestic and the other for international and you think you can achieve much. In the marketing division, we have divided it and we now have a director for marketing but under the director of marketing there are four departments.

One in charge of domestic marketing, one in charge of Europe and America and one in charge of Africa and Middle East and one in charge of China, Asia and the Pacific. So, we have divided the whole markets including the domestic and under each we have marketing managers.

Because then marketing was not taken seriously and they didn’t have any performance goals but now they have got performance goals and I think that we are doing far much better now than then when I inherited this organisation.

TV & Radio with Angela Davies

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

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This weekend OGTV

Pepsi Top 10 music chart show

P

epsi top 10 music chart show is a weekly musical video countdown that brings the freshest videos.

The show is hosted by bubbly duo of Nigerian media personality and actress Eku Edewor and rapper, Chukie Edozien, the Pepsi brand ambassador who goes by the moniker, Lynxxx.

The programme airs at different times on local stations as well as DSTV on Saturdays and Sundays.

The 30 minutes programme is jam packed with trending Nigeria musical videos, celebrity guests’ artistes, vibrant in-house DJ Nana, captivating studio audience as well as audience talent competition. Not to mention the lovely dance steps of both hosts.

Last week, Edewor commenced the video countdown starting from number 10 as usual with Diaspora Woman a new video by 2Face featuring Fally Ipupa. The number nine video on the chart show was Don Gordon by Burna Boy while the number eight spot was occupied by Baby Hello by Wande Coal. Happy Day by Patoranking filled the seventh position while Let’s Live Together by Kush featuring Flavour and Morell occupied the sixth spot. As a reminder, there is a quick playback of all the videos played so far.

Then, it gets to the segment where the hosts get up-close and personal with different celebrity artiste on every show. The guest artiste for the last show was Iyanya. The audience was excited at the mention of his name as he came up the stage shaking hands with some fans. He had a chit-chat with Edewor on issues ranging from his music down to how he maintains his physique before answering questions from the audience. As a rule every invited artiste must perform, so he took to the stage and performed his latest song, and the audience jumped with excitement as he wind his waist.

The countdown then continued with the number five video, Ejeajo by P-Square featuring T.I. Video number four was Sanko by Timaya while video number three was Loke Loke by

Sean Tizzle featuring 9ice.

At this juncture, the weekly audience talent competition followed. The battle was between Selena and GDK and both showcased their individual rapping skills. The countdown continued with the number two video Wake up by Flavour featuring Wande Coal and the video that clinched the number one spot for the week was Jaiye Ori Mi by Banky W. Unlike many music video countdown shows where different celebrities are invited week in and out to present the programme comfortably seated in armchair, the Pepsi top 10 chat show has no dull moment as the presenters present the show on their feet with so much fun, entertainment and style on a beautiful stage. They also carry the studio audience along as sometimes they pick someone from the audience to announce either the number 10 or one video as a way of giving them a sense of involvement, thus, making them know that they too matter in the show.

The show also creates a platform for aspiring young rappers and musicians to showcase their talents and also meet their favourite artiste.

Without doubts, the studio audience

is lively and obviously enjoying every bit of the show.

As much as the show is fun, entertaining and also a platform for young artiste to showcase their talent for about two minutes, I wonder why the winner of the audience talent competition cannot be picked immediately. Why ask fans to log onto the Facebook page and vote for who they think the winner is. The contestant with the most like and share uploaded video becomes the winner in readiness to join previous winners for the grand finale.

In my opinion, there may be unfairness. What if a contestant performs well but do not have enough fans or friends to like or share the video whereas the other contestants who did not perform well have thousands to like and share his or her video? Where does fairness come in here? Also, what are the criteria used to give positions to videos?

Nevertheless, if you want to be in tune with trending Nigeria music videos every week and also learn some dance moves from Eku Edewor, then, watch the Pepsi top 10 music chart on Saturday and Sundays.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

Wana Udobang

W

ana Udobang popularly known as Wana-Wana graduated from the University for The Creative Arts in England with a First Class in broadcast journalism. She joined Inspiration FM in February 2009 as a co-host with Dan Foster on the Breakfast Jam but later went solo with the evening shift.

Wana anchors popular segments on the afternoon drive like, the birthday show, Safe wheels driving tips and sharing life issues.

Wana is also a blogger, writer, poet, culture fanatic, chiffon lover and truth seeker. She enjoys photography, art, music, design and cooking. She dislikes lazy people.

TELEVISION

Saturday 7:00 Am News 7:30 Headliners / Koko Adliners 8:00 Royal Ladies/From The House 10:30 Agbeyewo Irohin 11:00 Treasure Hunt 11:30 Cac Ona Ajaye 12:00 Mid Day News/Linlin 12:30 Inside Out With Agatha 2:00 Oro Igbala 2:30 Trip Learn 4:00 Idahosa & You 5:00 Winning Ways 5:30 Arambara 6:00 Ayedaade 7:00 Together 7:30 Voice Of Victory 8:00 OGTV News 8:30 Social & Community New 9:00 Grace Villes 9:30 I Just Came Back 10:00 Webic 10:30 Getting Real With Phina

11:00 Asa Sunday 7:00 Am News 7:30 Headliners / Koko Inu Iwe 8:00 Glory To Glory 9:30 Tiwalasa 10:00 News For The Deaf/Drama 12:00 Mid Day News/Linlin 12:30 Govt On The Move 2:00 Ise Ilu 2:30 The New Realm 4:00 Civillian Barrack 5:00 Asiri Ihinrere 7:00 Agbara Jesu Wa Sibe 7:30 Beautiful Liar 8:00 OGTV News 8:30 Missioner On The Move 9:00 Prophet.Mo/Akoko Irapada 10:00 Midnight Cry 10:30 Ipile Aye By Elebuibon

AIT

Saturday 06:00 Turning Point 06:30 Cartoon 08:00 Infotech network 08:30 Destiny encounter 09:00 Cartoon 09:30 Chat with the professional 10:00 Time warp trio 10:30 Sports file 11:00 One cubed 11:30 700 club Nigeria 12:00 AIT reports 4:30 Dawn In The Creeks 5:00 Video Fashion 5:30 School hunters 6:00 Trends 6:30 True Nigerian 7:30 700 club Nigeria 8:00 AIT news hour 9:00 Oasis 9:30 Secrets and scandals 10:30 Views and tunes 11:00 Ojemba 11:30 One mic Sunday 07:00 Hour of salvation 08:00 Catholic Mass 10:30 Gospel Music 11:00 700 club int'l 12:00 The week in review 1:00 Impact 360 1:30 The Gender Agenda 2:00 Frontline 3:00 Mini jojo 4:00 World news 5:00 Personality, places & places 6:00 Hitlist N Cruzin 6:30 Dawn in the creeks 7:00 The valley between 8:00 AIT news hour 9:00 Tales of eve

RADIO

Independent radio (92.3 FM Benin) Saturday 6.00 Heartbeat News 6.30 Times Of Refreshing 7.00 Network News 8:30 Life Na Sense 9.00 Cupid 10.30 Politics Today (Live) 11.30 One Thing at a Time 12:00 News at Noon 2:00 World News Summary 4.00 Network News 6.00 Heartbeat News 7.00 Campus Life / Sms / Cards 10.35 Guys Are Talking

Sunday 6.00 Heartbeat News 7.30 Papers Review 10.00 News on the Hour 11.05 Hearts to Heart 12.00 News at Noon 1.00 World News 1.30 People Talk To People 3.00 News in Pidgin 5.30 I Salute Una/Sms/Cards 8.00 Igbo Tunes 9.00 Praise & Worship 10.00 Network News 10.35 Rock Me Slowly

EKO FM (89.75fm) Saturday 07:10 Divine connection 08:30 Weekenders sport 11:00 Eve 12:00 News summary 3:00 Top ten countdown 4:10 Woman tori 7:10 Voice of wisdom 9:00 World news 10:00 Radio party

Sunday 7:15 Morning news 8:10 Tunes this Sunday 10:00 News 12:05 Havin u in mind 3:05 Rhumba jamz 5:10 Make it happen 7:00 African news 8:30 Sunday night at the organ 9:10 Something for singles

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SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014

Politics 45

Interview

Fellow aspirant submitted my nomination form – Pitan p.47

FaceOff

Parties trade blame over Ibadan violence p.48-49

Politics

Obasanjo renews cold war with Jonathan p.50

My grouse with Jonathan, by Balewa Dr. Abduljhalil Tafawa Balewa is the son of First Republic Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Until his sudden withdrawal from the presidential race on Wednesday, he was poised to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket. In this interview with AYODELE OJO, he speaks on his ambition, adoption of President Jonathan as PDP’s sole presidential candidate Not long ago, you were in support of President Goodluck Jonathan. But today that seems to have changed. What went wrong?

What has changed are all the happenings in the country. If we don’t have a better direction in this country right now, we may lose our unity and the country. There are so many things going on; the Chibok girls issue has been on for more than seven months. It’s very important that we are able to have our fabrics intact.

And when you think of things like the National Assembly men scaling the fence to legislative complex to consider president’s request and papers missing from the lawyer’s office; the counsel prosecuting the case whether the president can or cannot run. All these things are very scary, and we need to reconsider some of these things.

I have absolutely nothing against the president as a person, I hope he knows that.

I supported him even during the last election, because I honestly and sincerely believe that nobody should be disqualified because of their religious belief, or ethnicity, or what part of Nigeria they come from. Every Nigerian born within the firmament of Nigeria is important, and should be able to rise to the highest office in the land.

These are my considerations, and so many groups came together saying the president should rescue the nation. For me, I feel it is a clarion call.

Are you saying the president has not been able to rescue the country?

I did not say that. What I’m saying is that a lot of people feel that the country is not doing as well as it could, and only if they see someone who can drive the state to a more safe and coherent birth.

So, what do you want to do differently from what the president has done so far?

We’ve been promised so long about power stability, we still don’t have it with the amount of money being spent. I think I can bring some rational and more favourable outcome to this, by improving our power supply through a unique cost.

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

What about security?

The type of insecurity that we have is a product of marginalisation, either that what should come to them is not coming to them or enough of it is not coming to them. If we have power, we will be able to engage in a better route of industrialisation.

If people have jobs, they will not have time to be rebellious, because the quality of life will be better. They are earning something, and that will make their lives better, they won’t want to jeopardise that. Nobody will be fighting for some idiotic reasons. That is one.

We need to also understand why these people are acting the way they are. I mean those who want to annex an entire state. If you look at the history of insurgency even in recent times, be it ISIS or Al Qaeda, there are people who have convinced them basically of what to do.

But they never get involved in the main actions.

Balewa

I want you to know that these people are just adherents by themselves, it has very little to do with religion; it has to do with somebody’s interpretation of religion. The major cause of this is poverty, arising from not being able to work, or not having any job.

The only thing, our government should be able to do is to provide jobs, not directly, because anytime the government provides work directly, we know that it will be totally inefficient, especially in an atmosphere like ours where ethnicity and religious affiliations matter, more than national patriotic thoughts.

Also, our educational system is really aberrant; everybody wants to go to university, we are not creating enough technical or vocational schools that will cost a lot less in investment for each person to be able to gain a skill that can

be used directly in society. When people go to universities, they come out without skills. We need to be able to create a skilled environment, through technical or vocational schools, and they will be able to supply the manpower that we need for development. We don’t have that.

What we have are lots of graduates who bring nothing to the environment right now.

As at today, are you still in the race, and have you been given your nomination forms?

I’m definitely in the race, not only have I been given my nomination form, I have filled and submitted it on time.

But at the initial stage, you held a meeting with CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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Politics

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

'Corruption fuels insecurity'

CONTINUED from PAGE 45

Chief Edwin Clark, at the end of which you stated that you were pulling out of the race. Why are you back in the race?

I think you might have been seeing something that did not happen.

One, I did not have any discussion with Dr. Edwin Clark. He was having a press conference, at the end of which I was asked if I had anything to say, to which I replied that it was not my press conference, but Clark’s.

Then they asked me about what Clark said, which was about the governors wanting to be senators, and the senators not wanting to leave their posts, and the Reps waiting till the last minute, before Aminu Tambuwal could pronounce his defection.

I said everything Clark said was true. That was all I was referring to, and nothing else. I want you to go and check and you will see that at no time did I boldly said I was withdrawing from the race.

Are you making consultations to get the PDP ticket, and what are your chances?

I am making every preparation that a reasonable person should make. I have been meeting with Nigerians of all walks. And talking about my chances; my chances are extremely good, and they are superlatively good, I am reaching out to 180 million Nigerians, as opposed to the tens of elected officials who cowed and said this was a superior race for one person.

A race for one person is not a race.

A race should be comparative; you need to be able to compare a competition between two or more people. If you take only one person in the race, then it’s actually no race.

All organs of the PDP, including the National Executive Committee (NEC) has adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate. Won’t this affect your chances?

I think the party organs may be swimming in ignorance of what the other members of the party and the delegates may be thinking. Until the time come, we will never know.

How many are they (NEC) compared to the rest of the party members within the PDP. It’s one man one vote; it’s the delegates, and from what I’m getting, I am in my vantage position; I’m telling you that they will be very surprised.

But looking at the party, the governors control the structure, and they have pledged their support for President Jonathan, how do you want to overcome this?

The governors only have one vote.

What you are saying is as if Nigerians are a flock of sheep. As if these delegates have no mind of their own.

I think there will be a very pleasant surprise coming down the line for all of you that feel that way.

Some party chieftains have questioned your ambition; with some saying it is the opposition that is funding you and Professor Duke Abiola, asking how you were able to pay N22 million for the form, when you know that the incumbent president will get the ticket.

I think that it is very condescending for anyone to think that because I’m a Balewa, I’m not supposed to be able to

afford N22 million? Is that what they are saying?

This is the same type of condescension I talk about as if we are all Almajiris. I paid my money by myself, and I don’t consider any other party, or compare any other party to the PDP. I have been a card carrying party member since 1998, and I remain solidly in PDP. And I think those saying things like that are engaged in anti-party.

This party is supposed to be the largest in Africa, and the peacock of all political parties in Africa, and the leader of all political parties that other parties in other countries, and within this country should be able to emulate.

Even party official said that those showing interest in the presidential ticket are being sponsored by the opposition.

Not many people in the upper echelon of the PDP can be referred to as Einsteins. Pronouncements like that is the peak of sycophancy. They redefine sycophancy. These are some of the things we are trying to get rid of in this country.

One wonders why you’ll still press on with you ambition, throwing out N22 million when they feel the ticket is a done deal for the president.

I’m not throwing anything out. I think if at all I am the only democrat in this race, and I’m trying to show each and every Nigerian that has an ambition that they should not be dampened. Democracy is supposed to be for the people and by the people.

And that is exactly what I’m promoting, and you will be shocked at how I have encouraged so many other people, and they feel like they have a say. They should; our people should have a say. This is not an autocracy, or theocracy. It’s a democracy. Not demo-crazy.

not a bad person, but the policies are not helping Nigerians.

We need to be able to make the Nigerian life the best in the world, or at least, one of the best in the world. I see that the Nigerian life is not really considered; with all the killings and kidnappings. I want to change that. I want every Nigerian to feel he or she is the very best God can create at that moment when he or she was created.

We should not have this defeatist idea that ‘e go better’. When will it get better? When we are 200 years old as a country? Let it happen now.

We have all the necessary resources and manpower. Every single state can develop to be an almost utopian state.

We have to pursue that. The fact that it has not been done, does not mean it cannot be done.

"We should not have this defeatist idea that ‘e go better’. When will it get better? When we are 200 years old as a country? Let it happen now"

Looking at the indices of government, how would you rate the Jonathan administration?

All that I’m saying is that Nigerians could get much better from government policies and programmes.

Too few people are benefitting, and too many are not benefitting. There is still serious poverty, because the rate of corruption in our country is very high. It’s that corruption that is fuelling insecurity, our lack of power, lack of industrialization, and lack of good quality of life for our citizens. We need to tackle that directly.

On December 10, what are your expectations, what do you think will play out? If you win, you proceed to the general election, if you lose, what will you do?

Not ‘if I win’. I know that I will win, but should the unusual happen, and I mean it, I’m a PDP stalwart, I really believe in my party, I am a party man,

I will follow the edict of the party, because that will be the edict of the general population. This goes all the way down to the local government chairmen, and councillors, and those are the closest to our people.

If they say no, my time is not spared, or my ideas are a little bit too advanced for them, then I will follow my party. I have no intention of leaving the PDP. But looking at other aspirants from the North, what will you say of Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sam Nda Isaiah?

Atiku and Buhari are good big brothers. However, the time is now that we will need someone that has access throughout the world, to be able to bring technology transfer, a new modern thinking. We cannot invest in will anymore. We need to be able to join the comity of nations, and be able to take our position as the largest black country in the world and Nigeria will remain among the comity of nations, and I don’t think there is anyone that is better qualified than I. Delegates’ elections within the parties usually involve so much money, how prepared are you for this?

Everyone asks me this question, but I have never asked anyone for a penny. Anyone willing to join my moving train is most welcomed. I don’t remember asking anyone for money, I have never had any contract in this country. I have never been known to embezzle anything, but I am still standing on two feet, and I’ll continue to do so.

Editor’s note: This interview was conducted on Tuesday before the withdrawal of Balewa from the presidential race

But based on the reality on the ground, do you see yourself defeating Jonathan for the PDP ticket on December 10?

I’m an eternal optimist. I must have an opportunity to make Nigerians know what I can do differently.

And I don’t see any reason I won’t be successful if given the opportunity.

Some critics said sometime ago you granted series of interviews where you endorsed President Jonathan, where you supported and praised him. Some wonder that maybe you did not get what you bargained for; hence you’re coming out to challenge him.

What did I fight him for? And like you said, they are critics. There are eternal critics who will always find fault with whatever you’ve done. I believe I am a promoter of real democracy; I’m not looking for anything, I have not asked for anything. I have worked very hard all my life to get what I want. And I don’t see why it should stop now.

If you feel that the president is not doing some things right and you have access to him, why didn’t you talk to him, instead of challenging him for the PDP ticket?

I’m a member of the PDP. And I’m a true believer in democracy. I have access, but there are so many people, you call them sycophants, who are crowding him up. The president is

Balewa

Politics

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Detractors giving me free publicity, says Obuh Now that you have been cleared, rate your chances in the PDP primaries, considering that there are about 18 aspirants jostling for the same ticket?

For me always, I will say the more the merrier, but the essential ingredient is what each of us is bringing to the table – what we are offering the people? What are your antecedents? What do people perceive you to be? I believe that each and every one of us has to answer to our names. How much of you do the people know? I think I stand a very good chance. The people of Delta State know me in and out of public service; they know what I stand for – good governance, diligence and service to the people. I believe that I have a very great chance of emerging as the candidate of the PDP on December 8.

Is there really a gang-up by aspirants against your ambition to rule Delta State?

It is very unfortunate because I thought everybody was going there to market themselves, in stead of going about spreading falsehoods, building animosity in communities that are supposed to be peaceful and united. Notwithstanding the fact that it may appear negative on the parts of those who conceived it, they have succeeded in making me more popular and giving me free publicity. Through the publications and communiques, people who were unable to raise even one issue against my suitability for the office I am seeking have done so. For me, that is good enough. I am fully qualified and ready to run the race. They did not say I am not qualified. I understand what Delta State is and I know what the people

Sir Tony Obuh, front-running Peoples Democratic Party, PDP aspirant in Delta, tells SONY NEME how he is prosecuting his dream of succeeding Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as governor. require and I know what it is to run a good government that can deliver service - they did not deny that. For me I am ready to run go.

Are you worried by the implications of this negative campaign?

I would be worried if the level is serious or significant. They have not said it is damaging to me. Indeed they levelled allegations about certain leaders trying to take possession of the state, as if to say they are condemning those leaders. Unfortunately these are people who have been in government, benefitted and are still benefiting from the same leaders that they tried to indict in that publication. I believe that they just did it momentarily because they thought they have something unifying them but in the course of time, as has already been proved, they will begin to find out that they have great differences between them as aspirants than with me as another aspirants in the race.

PDP in Delta State has a history of acrimonious primaries leading to defections.

Are you worried as the race enters its final stretch?

I have decided to build my tent within the PDP and for me that is where I will remain. Anybody who believes that he has

Obuh

something to offer to the people of Delta State on the platform of the PDP should be bold enough to run the primaries and if he loses let him donates whatever idea he has to the candidate that emerges so that we can build a strong and vibrant state of our dream. You don’t need to

47

run somewhere else as if you are desperate for power. If you believe in the party, you should be sufficiently patriotic to give whatever idea you have to whoever emerges. I will not encourage defection and I will seriously discourage anybody who wants to do that. But if they wish to go, whoever will emerge will emerge. For me, if God blesses me with the ticket of the PDP, let them go elsewhere to combine forces, but I intend to carry everybody along.

If you emerge the PDP candidate, will you extend the olive branch to opponents to remain in the party?

I have always said that nobody is a champion. I have always said that we should stay within the party and build a strong and vibrant political party so that we can continue to win elections. There is enough ground for everybody to contribute one way or the other.

There should be fair play. If you have a standard for approaching every community and for approaching every issue, you will be able to eliminate the level of mutual suspicion and antagonism between the various communities that exist in the state. For us, we are going to approach our developmental strategies on the basis of sincerity. We would as much as possible offer to the people of the state service that will make them understand that the state is serving them, not that there is discrimination in our practice within government. We are going to adopt an inclusive government where the interest of every community is represented.

'Fellow aspirant submitted my nomination form' How will you react to the invasion of the APC office in Lagos by the Department of State Service, DSS? The signal that the action portends, as far as I am concerned, is that of utmost desperation by the PDP; it shows the extent they are ready to go, including the use of coercive means and security forces. It also refocuses attention on the need to alert Nigerians to be on guard.

We should join hands to strongly condemn the action. They ought to have done sufficient investigations before. If voters cards were being cloned there as alleged, those responsible would have since been fished out. You do not need to be a rocket scientist, professor or genius to figure that out. You could accost suspects around a suspected location or mount roadblocks around the area or do stop and search. Most importantly, when you got there and did not find voters cards or any evidence of illegal activity, that should have served as a deterrent.

Again, you did not need to go there in a blaze of drama. After all, you are armed and those violated are not armed. You did not even need to vandalise anything.

When you vandalise, it makes data-recovery for even you very difficult. It is no different from getting to the scene of a alleged crime and tampering with possible evidence. It is either you are not intelligent enough for the job you are doing or you are deliberately being mischievous.

I want it on record that actions like these do not give the country a good image. It is no excuse to say that because you did not see a signboard, hence you did not know that it was a party office.

This creates the impression that you are not up to the sensitive job you are doing, in addition to belittling the person and therefore Nigeria. It also gives the impression that we still need a lot of help from abroad to rush our security agencies through the basics of deco-

Former commissioner and All Progressives Party, APC, governorship aspirant, Dr Leke Pitan, tells DOMINIK UMOSEN his disappointment with some actions by the Federal Government, including the invasion of an APC office in Lagos last week by operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS. rum. What happened was completely uncalled for, unwarranted and, to say the least, takes us several years back politically. For us as a party, we are going to add a corollary that should serve as a warning signal: we must go back and re-strategise. We must strengthen all the conditions for fair play, justice, internal democracy, adequate information and communication management between the party, members and aspirants are entrenched so that there is no reason for rancour. It is clear that what we have is what we can really give our members so we need to re-evaluate our internal processes. Also, we need to put out our best foot which the public can relate with so that they can continue to stand by us.

What has happened shows that we cannot just say that it does not matter, but it matters fatally.

Is it not ironical that despite condemning undue rivalry and desperation among governorship aspirants on the platform of your party in Lagos, presidential aspirants in the party appear to have lost confidence in any possibility of consensus?

Let me correct you there. Not stepping down does not mean being combative.

That you do not step down(like former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, not stepping down for former headof-state, Gen Muhammadu Buhafri), does not mean that you are a bad man, combative or cannot relate well with coaspirants. No! Atiku not stepping down for Buhari does not mean that he is a bad person. The party has not made it

a conditionality that one aspirant must step down for another. There is a lot more to the number of aspirants in a party jostling for a particular position. It is about deepening democracy. I tell you something: I instigated a move which is unprecedented in this country. Do you know that I returned my declaration of interest form to aspire for governorship through a coaspirant? I said help me submit mine since you were going to submit yours. And he did and returned acknowledgement.

That has never happened before. The man himself was surprised but he appreciated the statement I was making.

Along with the spirit of God, it struck him that this is the way the contest for leadership should be pursued. I never asked him to step down for me and he never asked me to step down for him.

This lesson must not be lost on Nigerians.

This is the new face of politics that we want to project.

This is the major lesson politicians at whatever level of aspiration in the country should appreciate. That you are competing should not make you enemies but merely competitors in a healthy contest.

Pitan

FaceOff SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH 29 NOVEMBER 2014

Would you agree with me that Oyo State has witnessed remarkable peace in the last three and a half years as against what was experienced in the preceding years before the inception of the APC? There has never been time that Oyo State was not peaceful. Even the last administration was peaceful. Only that we had little problems here and there. One cannot rule out such occurrences in politics.

But the APC administration said that they had never experienced violence, thuggery and all sorts until last Friday at Oke Ado in Ibadan.

That is not true. APC is full of propaganda and falsehood. They are liars. What are they talking about?

In the last three and a half years, immediately they came in, there was problem in this state which claimed lives of so many people at the Iwo Road interchange in Ibadan here.

Whether they like it or not, it happened during their administration.

And I want to say without any sense of contradiction that there had never been any loss of lives as much as what was witnessed that year on Iwo Road. Lives of innocent people were wasted. By and large, there are merely trying to put things in order because they were also part and parcel of the problems we witnessed in this state. And the recent happenings have already pointed in that direction. If they claim that the state has been peaceful in the last three and a half years, one may want to agree with that, but what happened at Oke Ado last Friday where they were trying to put themselves together for their campaign and all that, has come to show that it is the APC people that have been harbouring these trouble makers.

And because they want to elect their candidates and do their primaries, these hoodlums have themselves grouped among the various aspirants and they engaged one another, causing troubles, unleashing terror on the innocent people in Oyo State and particularly those in Ibadan.

In essence, you are absolving the Accord PDP and Labour party from this unrest?

Let us be factual. The APC leadership knows that they are their own problem. They know that there was no opposition that was involved in the problem. This is because their problem is as a result of scheming for positions among them and in the course of that, many of them are trying to outdo one another. They are actually the ones harbouring these miscreants and thugs among themselves. Because they are trying to outdo one another, it resulted in what happened at Oke Ado. A faction of one of the House of Representatives member and another camp that has a candidate for the same House of Representatives in the same federal constituency engaged eachother in the attack. We are politicians and we know what is going on. They cannot now come out and be accusing anybody. These thugs that they are mentioning are being harboured by these APC leaders. That is the truth. One of them who was linked with murder last year was released on the intervention of one the notable

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APC thugs caused Ibadan mayhem, says Accord Party Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, Publicity Secretary of the Accord Party in Oyo State and former commissioner for education, tells SOLA ADEYEMO, that the people of the state are tired of APC-led government in the state. people in government in that party.

So, what are they telling us? They like passing buck all the time.

Let me make it abundantly clear that Accord, the party I belong to is a disciplined party, a well-organised party, a peaceful party. And that is why you have not seen Accord linked with any act of violence. We believe in following the due process of law. If anybody does anything to us, we allow law enforcement agents to take control.

The incident that took place at that Oke Ado has nothing to do with our party at all. We were not having any rally; we were not having road show; we were not having any political meeting to have any cause to cross them. And on that day that the event happened, the APC people were waiting for the governor to come and address them.

Is it Accord people that would be waiting for Ajimobi? At least, people should be honest and be able to say the truth. I am disappointed in them that they could not admit their mistake and own up, and apologise to the people of Oyo State and look out for the persons behind the crisis.

But part of the claim of the APC was that some of the thugs being mentioned were given APC vests by you people in the opposition in order to disguise your involvement. What is your take on this?

I am telling you that it is a lie; a pathological lie; and absolute falsehood. It is absurd: absolutely absurd that a party of APC status will be engaging in this type of trivial and baseless allegation. We in Accord are very busy. We are busy preparing for our election, and so we don't have time for all such nonsense. You know we are at the stage of electing our candidates. That is enough for us to face, and that is what we are facing. Have you ever heard our aspirants fighting one another? No, that cannot happen. And we have not even started our campaign.

It is governor Ajimobi that has started c a m paigning all

Do they think the people of Oyo State are so unintelligent not to have known that APC is the architect of the mayhem that enveloped Ibadan from Friday to Sunday?

about. And so, how will that be our responsibility to go and attend APC rally? Of what interest will that be for us? Accord is a more serious party than to have chance for all such crises. And we are very resolute, we are determined and poised, we are convinced and we are sure that Accord is going to win the governorship election in Oyo State in 2015.

One of the properties destroyed at Bon Photo area of Ibadan on Sunday was the family house of Senator Ladoja. How did he react to it or how did your party see it?

They went ahead to burn Senator Ladoja's family house. Why burning his family house? That is to show you that APC people are very intolerant, but are just deceiving people.

The people of Oyo and the people of Ibadan know that Accord people would not have done what the APC are alleging that we did. Accord people will not go and

burn their national leader's family house. The family house of Ajimobi was never burnt. His own personal house was never burnt. That is to show that they are the ones causing these problems. But I must tell you that Accord Party will not be intimidated at all. We know the processes of dealing with such cases through legal processes.

We are not going to engage anybody in any free-for-all or illegal activities. You have never seen us going about with thugs or moving about with guns, cudgels, cutlasses and so on. We don't engage in violence in any of our campaigns or rallies. They are the ones carrying those people about and they know those behind the attacks. They should be bold enough to tell the truth.

You said that the Senator Ajimobi administration has been condemned roundly by many people in the state. In which areas has it been condemned by the people of Oyo? Okay, do you think that any of the people of the state will be happy at the kind of dirty politics that APC is playing? Do they think the people of Oyo State are so unintelligent not to have known that APC is the architect of the mayhem that enveloped Ibadan from Friday to Sunday? Do you think these thugs and hoodlums who are being celebrated about with their names being mentioned are not known by people? Do you think that the people whose means of livelihood have been taken away from them don't know what they are doing?

Do you think that the people whose schools are in deplorable state and whose children are learning in poor conditions are happy? Do you think the people of Oyo State want a kind of government that is so distanced away from them to continue to rule them? Do you think that the people of the state do not know that those running up and down now just want to deceive them into entering another round of punishment?

The people of Oyo State know what they want and I can assure you that the people of Oyo State are not ready for violence but to vote them out of the Government House through electoral process come 2015.

Adeniran

29 NOVEMBER 2014

There had been peace in Oyo State for over three years until when violence erupted resulting in loss of lives and property. What is your view on this?

You are right that the peace and security that the good people have been enjoying the beginning of our administration over three years ago was last week ruptured by some enemies of progress. On behalf of the executive team of the APC, as well as teeming populace of the peace-loving members and supporters of the party in Oyo State, I wish to acknowledge the fact that there has been a renewed threat to the reign of peace in Ibadan- the state capital in recent times. I wish to state the position of our party on the development as follows: First, the pocket of violence recorded in some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in the past few days is totally unacceptable, appalling and it stands condemned in all ramifications. The governor had traversed the nooks and crannies of the state on an official visit and he had planned to round it off with a visit to Ibadan South West Local Government Area last Friday but the opposition parties, who were apparently jolted by the wonderful reception accorded Senator Abiola Ajimobi at each of the 31 local government areas already visited before last Friday, attempted to discredit the tour by sponsoring the mayhem to coincide with the last day of the exercise.

Second, the Friday, 21st of November, 2014's violent unprovoked attacks on the citizenry at Oke-Ado Area of Ibadan and the ones recorded at Born Photo, Popo Yemoja, Idi Arere and environs on Sunday the 23rd of November, 2014, as well as the mayhem which ravaged Idikan, Opo Yeosa and environs on Tuesday the 25th of November, 2014 were a clear manifestation of the script which the opposition elements in the state had prepared for implementation with a view to creating a tense atmosphere ahead of the 2015 general elections and discrediting the ruling party which has received global applause for stamping out lawlessness, brigandage and indecent practices from the state ever since we came into power in May 2011.

You mentioned opposition as the brain behind the attacks. Could you be specific?

Yes, the case of terror unleashed on the Oke-Ado community last Friday was the handiwork of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who sent a group of thugs on its payroll led by one 'Ekugbemi' to cause a breach of public peace and thereby preventing Governor Abiola Ajimobi from visiting the area which falls within Ibadan South West Local Government Council on the last day of his state-wide tour.

Eyewitness accounts have it that some miscreants loyal to Ekugbemi were the ones who started the trouble when one of them launched an assault on a commercial motorcyclist. This, the policemen on duty at the Liberty Stadium junction on Oke-Ado Road where the governor was expected to address some residents of the state, tried to checkmate when the sponsored thugs began to shoot spo-

FaceOff | Politics

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Opposition incited Ibadan violence – APC The Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Akin Oke, has raised the alarm that opposition parties comprising Peoples Democratic Party, Accord party and Labour Party have formed an alliance to unleash mayhem on Ibadan and some major towns in the state to discredit Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration ahead of the 2015 elections. He also tells SOLA ADEYEMO that APC could not be blamed for the violence that erupted in Ibadan last week. radically and killed a police officer while some other innocent members of the public sustained various degrees of injuries in the process.

I must say that we regret the circumstances which led to the death of the slain police officer while we condole with the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Kola Sodipo, and members of the state command. We also pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased and beseech God Almighty to watch over all that he left behind.

Who were the hoodlums you alleged the PDP used to disrupt the rally in which the governor was expected?

We gathered from a reliable source that the gang of political thugs which was fingered in the Oke-Ado violence engaged a rival group led by one 'Omo Alhaja' in a battle of wits on Friday after escaping from the scene of the OkeAdo incident and this was largely responsible for the supremacy tussle which led to the wanton destruction of property, as well as harassment of innocent residents of Born Photo, Idi Arere, Popo Yemoja and environs on Sunday the 23rd of November, 2014.

As if these were not enough, another group of street urchins identified as loyalists of some chieftains of the PDP in the state stormed Idikan area of Ibadan at the early hours of Tuesday the 25th of November, 2014 and began to forcefully open some warehouses, shops and residential building where they looted goods, unspecified amount of money among other

items before setting fire on some of these properties.

We make bold to state that the APC as party or any of its members cannot possibly employ the services of political thugs or miscreants for any reason whatsoever

How did you establish that the urchins you alleged carried out the attacks were sponsored by the PDP chieftains?

You see, we wonder how the opposition elements in the Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party and the Labour Party have been able to unite and organise themselves as to forming a formidable team of alarmists who dish out details of these ugly events even shortly before the attackers would commence their nefarious activities. If not that they are the sponsors, how would street urchins and political thugs be carrying out attacks on the one hand

49

and the opposition parties would be reporting it live in such a way to implicate some identified members of the APC even without any concrete evidence to prove their alleged involvement? This to us is suspicious.

But the opposition parties have alleged that the attackers were members of your party that are loyal to different chieftains in different camps within the party.

That is purely false. We make bold to state that the APC as party or any of its members cannot possibly employ the services of political thugs or miscreants for any reason whatsoever since we are the architect of the hitherto peaceful atmosphere which is being acknowledged globally.

We believe in peace and tranquillity as the essential ingredient of development as this is evident in the current fortune of Oyo State.

Therefore, we would not dabble in anything capable of truncating the peace of the land but rather, we shall continue to do all possible to consolidate on the attainment of the peace goal even if it means appealing to the agents of destruction to permanently sheathe their sword.

What then is your advice to the general public on this ugly development?

Our candid advice to the general public is to be vigilant as those causing mayhem in our society are no ghosts. They gather themselves before embarking on their nefarious activities and we are urging the people to always alert the security agents whenever they suspect that these political thugs are planning anything undesirable.

Oke

What words do you have for the Oyo State Police Command and the other security outfits?

We use this opportunity to commend the state command of the Nigeria Police, and the men of the Operation Burst, for the feat recorded so far in the area of adequate security for the residents of the state in the current dispensation. The swift response of the men of the Operation Burst has been commendable while we are also grateful to the authorities of the Nigeria Police, Army, NCDSC, Immigration, Customs and all other security agencies for their good professional conduct so far.

However, we urge the police and relevant security agents to carry out detailed investigation into the cases of violence unleashed on our people at Oke-Ado, Idi Arere, Born Photo, Popo Yemoja, Idikan among others in the last couple of days with a view to ascertaining the culprits as well as their sponsors and also ensure all of them are made to face the music.

We equally appeal to journalists, including the social media actors, to always resist the urge to broadcast or publish to favour a party in any political development. Rather, we urge the press to uphold the ethics of the profession especially as it involves objectivity and truthfulness.

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Politics

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Obasanjo renews cold

Last week, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo took a swipe at the Goodluck Jonathan administration and rated it below average. This week again, the former president continued the broadside against the president. In this report, ONWUKA NZESHI examines the verdict of the elder statesman, the response from the Presidency and the bearing of this crossfire on the forthcoming elections.

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo is one man who thrives in controversy. In and out of power, Obasanjo has remained a newsmaker because of what he does, what he says, how he says it as well as what time and forum he chooses to say it.

Apart from the peculiar air of selfesteem with which he moves around, he is endowed with what some people refer to as an uncommon native intelligence and sense of humour that many Nigerian stand-up comedians would envy.

By sheer providence, he remains the only one dead or alive who has steered the ship of the Nigerian state twice and in two different eras. First, he became the Head of State following the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed in the February 13, 1976 military coup. Obasanjo supervised a political transition programme that culminated in a general election. He voluntarily relinquished power to President Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979, and retired to his farm in Ota, Ogun State.

Thereafter, he assumed the role of an elder statesman and social critic.

He never spared any of his successors until 1999 when again, fate thrust upon his shoulders, the leadership of the country.

Obasanjo’s diatribe Since his last exit from power in 2007, Obasanjo has been in the news more for his comical rhetorics, scathing criticisms and sarcastic punches which he often throws at political friends and foes.

In his latest outing, the Balogun of Owu hit President Goodluck Jonathan below the belt when he dismissed the latter's performance in office as "below average", a poor rating by all standards. “I rate this current administration below average,” he said.

Obasanjo gave this damning verdict last Friday while addressing a group of writers at the Ake Arts and Book Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Realising that by pointing one finger at Jonathan, he (Obasanjo) also had at least three fingers pointing backwards, he quickly exonerated himself from the perceived shortcomings of the Jonathan administration like a father disowning his own son.

He said that rather than take blame for bringing Jonathan to power, Nigerians should be given credit for helping Jonathan, a man from one of the minority ethnic groups, to ascend the

highest office in the land.

Obasanjo also seized the opportunity to debunk the speculations that he deliberately imposed the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua on the nation as successor because he knew the man was sick and will be unable to rule the country. According to him, Yar’Adua provided concrete evidence that he was healthy and he (Obasanjo) also confirmed his state of fitness with medical experts.

These tales are as old as the power vacuum saga when Yar’Adua was incapacitated and Nigerians including Obasanjo demanded that Jonathan, then a vice president, should step into the shoes of the ailing ruler.

On the strength of that clamour, the National Assembly invoked the Doctrine of Necessity and Jonathan became Acting President and subsequently President when Yar’Adua eventually passed on to eternity.

The motivation Obviously, Obasanjo's current assessment of the Jonathan administration has its roots in politics. It cannot be divorced from President Jonathan's aspiration to seek a second term in office and the orchestrated plans by his political opponents within and outside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop him from contesting and winning the 2015 presidential elections. It is a renewal of the ferocious hostility which Obasanjo launched a year ago when he wrote the president a lengthy open letter criticizing the policies of the present administration particularly in relation to the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East region.

In the letter dated December 2, 2013, Obasanjo raised several issues about the Jonathan administration that portrayed it as ineffective and lacking in purposeful leadership.

Obasanjo was vehemently opposed

"Obasanjo and other critics of the current administration are not impressed with Jonathan's handling of the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency"

to the idea of President Jonathan seeking re-election because according to the former President, Jonathan had in 2011 committed himself to serve only one term given the circumstances of his ascension to the office.

Obasanjo and other critics of the current administration are not impressed with Jonathan's handling of the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency. In the past three and half years, this terrorist group which is hinged on radical Islamic creed, has terrorized and overran several towns in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

President Jonathan's declaration of a state of emergency in these states has not resolved the crisis of insecurity in the region.

Between December last year when Obasanjo wrote his famous letter and now, the challenge of insecurity has taken a worse shape. The Boko Haram fighters have become more emboldened with the kidnap of about 200 Chibok schoolgirls, the seizure of Nigerian territories and the declaration of these occupied territories as Caliphates and the imposition of Shariah laws on the inhabitants of these communities. Therefore, it would appear that Obasanjo's latest rating must have been based on this seeming overwhelming national security challenge.

Talk back In a swift response to Obasanjo's latest attack on Jonathan administration, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, disagreed with the "below average" rating and instead scored Jonathan high on almost every sphere of governance. Okupe described the comments credited to the former president as "untrue, misleading and clearly do not tally with the facts on the ground." According to him, Jonathan has performed better than all other previous leaders of

the country since 1960.

"In terms of performance and achievements, no administration since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from Britain has done as much as that of President Jonathan.

Every discerning and unbiased Nigerian will definitely attest to this fact as the evidence stare all of us in the face.

“We will show here that contrary to Chief Obasanjo’s position, the Federal Government under President Jonathan has performed excellently given the prevailing circumstances and resources available," Okupe said.

In a bid to further prove Obasanjo wrong, Okupe delved into the rigours of showcasing the achievements of the current regime on key aspects of national life. He reeled out in details what the administration had done in agriculture, aviation, power, roads, education, health and other sectors of the economy.

The Presidency stated that before the Jonathan administration came on board, Nigeria imported N500 billion worth of rice in 2011, but that a radical approach adopted by the administration changed the story.

"Today, Nigeria has reached an unprecedented 60 per cent sufficiency in rice production, a feat, which the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) recently described as capable of raising world rice output to a record high in the next 12 next months. Nigeria is already on its way to self-sufficiency in rice production as sizeable chunk of its 167 million populations are currently feeding on rice grown and processed locally.

"For the third year running, Nigeria has remained the number one destination of investors in Africa and one of the first 10 in the World. The Jonathan administration has reversed almost all of the negative economic ratings of Nigeria before he came on board and there are verifiable facts from the World Bank, Standard and

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

war with Jonathan Poors, Moody’s and Fitch about the Nigerian economy which has become the largest economy in Africa and the 26th largest in the World.

"Our economy now has great potential to grow better and be more impactful in the lives of ordinary Nigerians with the current efforts being made by the government to ensure inclusiveness through various interventionist policy programmes," Okupe said.

On the vexed issue of insurgency in the North East, the Presidency noted that while it is true that Nigeria has been faced with incidents of insurgency and terrorism especially in the last few years, it is also true the Jonathan administration has successfully contained the initial widespread and limitless activities of the insurgents which were prevalent in 12 states of the North including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

"While it is true that the present activities of the terrorists in the three North Eastern states have become more deadly in mindless killings, kidnappings and supposed territorial seizures. Government has made giant diplomatic strides with our neighbouring countries in order to checkmate the crisscrossing of the insurgents.

"In spite of this war however and in view of the other giant strides and achievements recorded in other sectors, it beats the imagination that anyone would say that President Jonathan has performed below average in office.

On the contrary, he has provided quality leadership and exemplary vision in transforming the Nigerian nation and giving hope to Africa’s most populous nation," the presidential aide said.

Second explosion Barely three days after this lengthy response, Obasanjo exploded again and this time, took a swipe at President Jonathan and his administration over what he described as the promotion of unbridled corruption and poor handling of the insurgency in the North East.

As in the previous attack, the former president chose the occasion of a book launch to launch his verbal missiles. Obasanjo dismissed the explanations of the Jonathan administration on the insurgency and blamed the government squarely for the escalation of the crisis.

"It is a gargantuan danger to the nation and to all Nigerians. President Jonathan's understanding of Boko Haram phenomenon suffered from wrong reading and wrong imputation. That is what led us to where we are today. It took even the President more than three years to appreci-

ate and understand that it is a terrible mix of poor education or lack of education, misinterpretation of what Quran teaches and stands for, poverty, unemployment, injustice, drug, gun trafficking, human trafficking, fallout from Libya, revenge, frustration, struggle against inequality, imitation of international terrorism leading to training and part of the absorption by international terrorists groups and general poor governance including corruption," Obasanjo said.

“Nigeria cannot continue to indulge in disdain of truth"

He alleged that the Jonathan administration had elevated corruption to an unenviable height, promoted incompetence and ethnic bigotry to an unprecedented level while neglecting the economy.

According to him, these developments, coupled with the non- investment in the oil and gas sector over a period of time and the crashing price of crude oil would have a lot of negative impacts on the economy.

He said: “Nigeria can-

not continue to indulge in disdain of truth, elevation of corruption and incompetence, reinforcement of failure, condonation of heinous crimes and celebration of mediocrity, tribal bigotry, fomenting violence and anti-democratic practices in states and National Assembly.

“Corruption in the National Assembly also includes what they call constituency projects, which they give to their agents to execute, but invariably, full payment is made with little or no job done.

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“In all these, if the executive is absolutely above board, the offending members of the National Assembly resort to subtle or open threat, intimidation and blackmail of the executive.

“For quite some time, the covered and hushed-up corruption has had its toll on the economy. We may have to borrow to pay salaries and allowances. Revenue allocation to states and local governments has already drastically reduced. Capital projects at all levels may have to be drastically cut or stopped.”

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29 NOVEMBER 2014

3,000 PDP aspirants scramble for 991 Seats CONTINUED from PAGE 1

(APC) is in control of some states, the stakes are still high. New Telegraph on Saturday’s findings show that about 700 aspirants are scrambling for the 229 PDP tickets in Zamfara (27), Ogun (26), Osun (26), Ekiti (16), Sokoto (30), Edo (24), Imo (27), Kwara (24) and Nasarawa (29).

More than 500 aspirants are contesting the 226 tickets in the nine-controlled PDP states of Delta (29), Ebonyi (24), Gombe (24), Kebbi (23), Kogi (25), Niger (27), Plateau (24), Taraba (24) and Ondo (26).

In Anambra State, delegates will determine the fate of more than 100 aspirants vying for the 30 PDP tickets for the State House of Assembly. Also in Enugu, the 24 tickets are being contested by over about 70 aspirants while several aspirants are participating in today’s primaries to select the 26 PDP flag bearers for the state legislature.

Even with the state of emergency in Adamawa State, about 80 aspirants are contesting to be the standard bearers for the 25-member House of Assembly while 28 candidates will emerge today for the Borno State House of Assembly and 24 candidates for the Yobe State House of Assembly.

About 100 aspirants will be scrambling for the 24 PDP tickets in the Abia State House of Assembly while several others are contesting for the 31 tickets for the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

In President Goodluck Jonathan’s Bayelsa State, the battle for the 24 PDP tickets for the House of Assembly has heated up the polity while there is apprehension in Rivers State among the over 100 aspirants for the 32 tickets for the Assembly.

Today’s primaries might also cause uproar in Cross River where political gladiators are literarily at war. Just on Monday, dynamite was thrown to the state party’s secretariat in Calabar before the rescheduled delegate election. Twenty-five PDP tickets are up for grab in the primaries holding across the state.

In the PDP-controlled states, and even others under the control of the opposition parties, the battle is intense.

In all the 36 states, the stakes are high as governors and political leaders struggle to maintain their political grip in their respective states.

The outcome of today’s election of the PDP flag bearers for the House of Assembly election will to a large extent determine the direction of subsequent National Assembly and governorship primaries of the PDP. There are a lot of horse trading and intrigues among the aspirants and their supporters to clinch the state legislative tickets today.

There have been allegations of planned imposition of aspirants, denial of clearance certificates, intimidation and muzzling in favour of preferred aspirants.

Some of the aggrieved aspirants have taken their cases to the PDP national headquarters in Abuja for audience with the party leadership for redress.

In almost all the states, most aspirants alleged they were short-changed by the screening committees who have been compromised.

Supporters of some Rivers State aspirants who protested at the PDP national secretariat yesterday, alleged that only 31 aspirants were given clearance certificates to contest the primary election.

"Even one of them was disqualified on the basis of the fact that he has no discharge NYSC certificate"

Mua'zu

Jang

Chime

Okoko

Ogor

One of the aspirants, Prince Nnamdi Obi, said they were told that they were doing “guided democracy” in Rivers State.

“Rivers State have 31 seats in the House of Assembly. That means there will be no primary on Saturday,” he said.

A foretaste of what is to expect at today’s primaries began during the November ward delegate congresses.

Most of the aspirants were unable to secure comfortable number of delegates leading to protests and petitions to the PDP national leadership. Even the Appeal Committees set up were unable to

redress the alleged injustice.

In some states, state executive, without reference to the national secretariat, published the delegates’ list, resulting in their dissolution by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

On Monday this week, National and state Assembly aspirants from Ondo State almost created a scene when they stormed the Wadata Plaza that houses the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. Some scaled the gate when they were denied entry by security personnel at the gate before they were attended to by the party’s national secretary, Prof.

Wale Oladipo.

Barrister Tolu Babaleye, a House of Representatives aspirant who also doubles as vice chairman, Ondo State PDP Aspirants’ Forum, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, told Oladipo that 48 House of Assembly aspirants from the state, were disqualified by Lucky Imasuen-led screening committee, to pave the way for the governor’s preferred aspirants to be adopted as sole candidates in their constituencies.

“Even one of them was disqualified on the basis of the fact that he has no discharged NYSC certificate when he is just an OND holder. For House of Representatives, we are 18 in number, for Senate, we are 12 who were denied,” Babaleye stated.

It was not until Thursday evening that clearance certificates were issued to them, but not until they had threatened to shut down the PDP national secretariat.

The Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegum Mimiko, joined PDP from Labour Party about two months ago.

The trouble in Ondo State chapter of the party is not yet over. The matter has been taken to court to determine which faction of the party will conduct today’s primary election.

Yesterday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the State Working committee (SWC) led by Ebenezer Alabi has not been dissolved and will conduct the primary.

The NWC had announced the replacement of the Alabi-led NWC with a caretaker committee headed

by Dare Adeleke that is loyal to Mimiko.

The PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, had on assumption of office early this year, promised a level playing field for all aspirants on the platform of the party.

News

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

Robbers kill two policemen, injure one in Nasarawa Cheke Emmanuel and Cajetan Mmuta

T

LAFIA and BENIN

wo policemen were yesterday, shot dead, while one was injured during an ambush by armed robbers on patrol along the Akwanga-Wamba road in Nasarawa State.

But in an irony of fate yesterday, operatives of the Edo State Police Command also killed two robbers along the Benin-Auchi expressway.

However, Saturday New Telegraph gathered that the corpses of the dead bodies have been deposited at the General Hospital at Akwanga, while the wounded policeman was rushed to Ola hospital, Akwanga for treatment.

Saturday New Telegraph leant that the robbers suspected to be Fulani gunmen had opened fire at the police patrol van to Wamba, the headquarters of Wamba Local Government Area of the state, at about 9a.m.

Saturday New Telegraph reported that the killing of the policemen on patrol brought to 13 the number of the officers killed in an ambush by robbers along the Akwanga-Wamba road.

An eye witness account,

Ebonyi indigenes in UK back Chukwu Temitope Dada

E

bonyi State indigenes resident in the United Kingdom and Europe have thrown their weight behind a former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in his bid to become the next governor of the state in 2015.

The residents under the aegis of Ebonyi Patriots UK (EPUK), noted that with Chukwu contesting the governorship seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they believed that he would champion the development of the state when he emerges as the governor.

President of the group, Dr. Otu Enwo, who said this in London, after a meeting organised by the group, added the indigenes were keen to ensure that the most qualified candidate emerges as the state governor.

“I think Ebonyi indigenes resident abroad are now interested in who governs them. We as enlightened Ebonyi citizens have realised that we have abundant roles to play in the development of our state and communities regardless of where we are," Chukwu noted.

gunmen were shot dead along the Benin -Auchi expressway during the officers routine patrol along the highway.

It was gathered that the

a police officer, who did not want his name in print said: “I was there when the incident took place, the armed robbers fired at the police patrol van at Bukuno along Wamba road and killed two policemen and stray bullets hit another police man on his chest."

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ogochukwu Theodore, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told our correspondent that the command was aware of the attack but said his men had been deployed to the area.

Meanwhile, the two

robbers were raiding motorists and others at about 5.30a.m. when they sighted the patrol team led by the officer in charge of the State Anti-Robbery Squad

(SARS) and opened fired on them in the process.

A statement made available to journalists in Benin City yesterday by the Police Public Relations Offi-

53

cer (PPRO), Noble Uwoh, a DSP, said the robbers had on sitting the patrol team “fired gun shots into their vehicle and there was exchange of gun battle.”

Why I joined Bauchi governorship race, by Ex-SGF, Yayale Mohammed Kawu BAUCHI

F

ormer Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, has said the need to uplift his home state (Bauchi) from the shackles of underdevelopment and infrastructural

decay informed his quest to join the governorship race of the state in 2015.

Ahmed, who said the goodies of life, exposure and dealing with challenges were not new things to him, insisted that he was contesting for the number one position under the platform of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I was convinced at my own level and volition that I can offer myself for the services of Bauchi State. I have offered and it is now left for the people to accept or decline, and in doing so I do not urge anybody to cause confusion,

controversy or violence,” he said.

The former SGF, who is also the Ajijyan Katagum, said at a press conference on Thursday in Bauchi, that he made wide consultations within and outside the state before finally declaring to contest for the governorship seat.

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54 Sport Extra

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29 NOVEMBER 2014

F'Eagles coach calls up 30 for AYC Ifeanyi Ibeh

C

oach of Nigeria’s U-20 national team, Manu Garba, has called up 30 players to the Flying Eagles as part of the team’s screening exercise ahead of next year’s African Youth Championship holding in Senegal.

The 30 players, who will train at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, in Kaduna, are made up of the core of the squad who qualified the team for the 2015 AYC as well as a number of players from the Nigeria Premier League.

Former U-17 stars, Dele Alampasu and Musa Muhammed, top the list of players called up by the Flying Eagles coach.

Some of the new call-ups include Enyimba of Aba star midfielder, Kingsley Sokari, who has already been capped for the Super Eagles, making his debut in the win over Ghana in an international friendly played at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, as well as Nasarawa United’s Tony Edjomariegwe and Sunshine Stars’ Musa Newman.

Jacob Njoku from Portuguese club FC Porto is the only overseas-based player invited.

A statement made available to New Telegraph, stated that the players are to report at the African Continental Hotel on Sokoto Road in Kaduna from Garba Sunday.

Mikel Obi contesting for the ball with an opponent

AFCON: Home-based blame pros for Eagles’ ouster

M

was found wanting.

“Although I won’t blame the coach, but he should have stamped his authority on the team and saved Nigeria from this humiliation,” added the player.

Asked if the home-based players would have performed better against the South Africans, the player replied that although football was not predictable, he was of the opinion that the outcome of the encounter in Uyo would have ended differently had the game been prosecuted by the homebased players.

He added that Keshi did not be-

Charles Ogundiya ore revelations continue to trail the ouster of the Super Eagles from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as a prominent home-based member of the team has accused some of the overseas-based players of not doing enough to help the team.

Speaking to New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, the player said the attitude of the overseas-based players before and during the game cost Nigeria a place in the tournament holding in Equatorial Guinea.

The player further stated that the team’s coach, Stephen Keshi, didn’t help matters with his attitude which made some of these overseas-based players untouchable.

“Some of them were bigger than the team and showed a lack of professionalism in their attitude. We would have won the game against South Africa, but indiscipline cost us dearly,” said the player.

“Some of them were not fit and yet they wanted to start every game and play the full 90 minutes. The coach too, who was supposed to instil discipline,

lieve in the home-based players; a situation he feels the former Super Eagles captain would now be regretting.

He said: “When you invite players to the national team just to fill the gap, then you are already courting failure.

Some of us played our hearts out in training just to be given the opportunity to justify our invitation, but the coach believes only in the foreign pros which is a big disadvantage.”

It would be recalled that the home based Super Eagles defeated South Africa 4-1 during the CHAN championship hosted by South Africa at the beginning of the year.

Udoh, Eduok, others for LBA award Charles Ogundiya

G

lo Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba, has been listed as one the players vying for the 2014 edition of the League Bloggers Awards Player of the Season.

The LBA on Friday released the shortlists of nominees vying for various awards in 16 categories.

Other players in the Player of

the Season category are Peter Ebimobowei (Bayelsa United), Emem Eduok (Dolphins) and Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba).

Warri Wolves’ duo of Gbolahan Salami and Azubuike Egwuekwe were listed in the Best National Team Player category alongside Dolphins’ Emem Eduok and Rangers’ Osaguona Ighodaro.

There is also the category for Manager of the Season.

KEY WORDS ABITIBI EDWARD CHAD CONSTANCE DISNA CHAPALA

ALBERT HOVSGOL CUITZEO FINGER BOLSENA LADOGA BOSTEN MANAGUA BALATON LEECH LANAO KOSSOU

A W D E R A B I T I B

R F G C E D U E V J A

D F I N G R T G F D L

H A N A N N O T A L A

O E Z T I U C J G N P

V A E S F H D I S N A

S N O N B A E R A D H

G O L A G U T A O O C S H H S O U O A S K N T T A E K L W F C Y D

I

F

G

B

H

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M H

C

E

N A G O D A L B E R T

E T

1

2

8 11

12

O

18 19 21

E L

22

25

ACROSS 1 5 7 8 9 10 11 12

Vibrate, (7).

Estrangement from God, (3).

Latvian unit of currency, (3). ___ Edo, Nollywood Superstar, (3).

Extinct bird, (3).

Tiny opening in the skin, (4).

Unattractive, (4).

Antisubmarine, abbr., (2).

17

DOWN 1 Nigerian newspaper, (7).

2 Able to be eaten, (6).

23

3 Move unsteadily, (4).

4 Go by, (6).

5 Point of light in night sky, (4).

26

16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

At a higher level, (2).

'Bring' in Hausa, (4).

Explosive projectile, (4).

Protective cover, (3).

Offer money at auction, (3).

S.E. Asian language, (3).

Rastafarianism 'God', (3).

Reduce to tiny bits, (7).

15 20

24

N A

6

13

14 16

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10

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9

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3

14 For community use, (6).

15 Large African tree, (6).

19 Solemn promise, (4).

20 Asian domesticated ox, (4).

21 British rule in India, (3).

6 Indicating refusal, (3).

13 Rod for spinning thread, (7).

B

razil legend Pele says he is not seriously ill, easing fears that his health deteriorated while being treated for a urinary tract infection.

The 74-year-old Pele used his official Twitter account to ease fears that his condition had worsened and that he had to stay in intensive care.

"I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine," he said. "I was not put into intensive care, I was simply relocated to a special room within the hospital for privacy purposes only."

Pele successfully underwent surgery to remove kidney stones on November 13, but he was readmitted to the hospital on Monday after being diagnosed with the urinary tract infection. The three-time World Cup winner has been hospitalised since then.

"I am blessed to receive your love and support, and thank God this is nothing serious," he said. "I am looking forward to spending the upcoming holidays with my family, and will start the new year with renewed health, with many international trips already planned! Thank you!"

Fears over Pele's health had grown after The Albert Einstein hospital released a statement earlier saying he had been transferred to a "special care" unit after his condition became unstable.

‘Hughes’ death will affect bowler Abbott’

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Lakes in the World-1

I’m fine, assures Pele

See solution on page 23

P

eople don't associate cricket with death and the shock loss of Phillip Hughes, against all rational expectation, will be the hardest thing for bowler Sean Abbott to deal with.

That's the warning from trauma experts sparing a thought for the 22-yearold Abbott.

Abbott's short-pitched delivery struck Hughes in the neck during a domestic match on Tuesday, with the impact of the blow

Hughes

bursting an artery in the batsman's neck that led to his death in a Sydney hospital two days later.

SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

29 NOVEMBER 2014

55

HOSPITALITY

SATURDAY

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

I’m not fighting anybody in Eagles – Onazi

Knightsbridge Hotel excites with quality facilities

P.39

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014.

N150

P.25

Aguero Deadly

faces rock-solid Saints B

Ajibade Olusesan

uoyed by his heroics against Bayern Munich in the Champions League midweek, Sergio Aguero can end the splendid run of Southampton when they host Manchester City on Sunday.

The Argentine international kept City’s Champions League hopes alive with a stunning hat-trick as Manuel Pellegrini’s team fought back from 2-1 to defeat 10man Bayern Munich 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

City are not doing quite well in the league, they are third on the table, eight points behind league leaders Chelsea

but Aguero has been in a league of his own so far this season.

The 25-yearold has scored the most goals in the EPL, with his haul of 12 one more than Chelsea ace, Diego Costa, who is second on the ladder.

He has 17 strikes in 18 appearances for City this term, with his five in the Champions League more than any other player in England.

Southampton have been the revelation of the season, despite losing their key

players including Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Coach Mauricio Pochettino last summer, the arrival of Ronald Koeman has ignited a fresh passion at the club and they are sitting second on the table one place ahead of the defending champions Man City after losing just twice this season. But their recent splendid run is under threat as they face in-form Aguero.

The Saints have the best defence in the EPL with only six goals conceded so far.

They have scored 24 goals and so they have what it takes to face Aguero in this crunch encounter.

However, the Argentine may not have offered any assists but his role is a goal scorer, the focal point of the team and he

consistently delivers.

His teammate, Samir Nasri, was effusive in his praise of his teammate, saying Kun as he is fondly called is on the same pedestal as compatriot, Lionel Messi. He said at the moment only Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Aguero.

“Ronaldo may be on another planet, but Sergio is up there with (Lionel) Messi and (Luis) Suarez. He always delivers in a difficult moment. I think I don't need to speak about his performance. The stats speak for themselves,” Nasri said.

"It's a big call to make, but from seeing him at close quarters, ability-wise he's in that bracket, without doubt,” Frank Lampard added.

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by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: Laurence ani.