Binder1 saturday 19 july, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

Saturday Edition

Sanctity of Truth Saturday, JULY 19, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 151

UDOM EMMANUEL No big deal leaving Zenith Bank to serve Akwa Ibom Govt. P.14

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SENI-OBILEYE We’re creating biggest networking platform for lawyers P.13

OMISORE APC will lose in all LGs in Osun P.47

Tinubu: FG using impeachment plots to witch-hunt opposition

l Says plan is to jail Nyako for treason l Claim is laughable, says PDP

Ndubuisi Ugah ational Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has attributed the removal of Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, to what he called the “unbridled ambition” of President Goodluck Jonathan. He also accused the president of implementing “selective judgment” against those who oppose his administration’s policies and programmes, noting that the trend could push the country into a “fascist enclave”. Tinubu, who stated this in a statement issued by his media office in Lagos, said Nyako’s removal had shown implicitly that anyone who opposed President Jonathan’s style of government would be dealt with. “Nigeria’s constitution suffers violence. Democra-

cy has been setback. Under the constitution, a governor can only be impeached for “gross misconduct.” For the PDP, Nyako’s crime was not the false allegations contained in the articles of impeachment. To them, his gross-misconduct was leaving the reactionary PDP to join the progressive APC. “His misdeed was to exercise his constitutional right of freedom of association and political expression by leaving their corrupt assemblage and joining the party that just may represent the best hope of rescuing Nigeria from its present descent into authoritarian darkness,” he said. The former Lagos State governor, whose statement entitled: “As Tyranny Descends on Adamawa, Democracy Suffers,” said Nyako’s greatest sin was his “temerity to speak truth to power albeit in a courageous way.” “On two different oc-

casions, he gave an unvarnished insight into the Boko Haram menace and the insecurity engulfing Northern Nigeria. At the Institute of Peace in Washington DC this year, when he visited with other Northern governors, he placed the blame for the Boko Haran insurgency on the Jonathan presidency. “He then followed this up with a detailed letter to the forum of the Northern governors in which he accused the Jonathan-led government of genocide against the North. This rattled and unsettled the government. This kangaroo impeachment is government’s way of punishing Nyako. The plan is to use the contents of the letter he wrote to the Northern governors as a basis to try him for treasonable felony and eventually sentence him to life imprisonment. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Al-Makura: Police arrest 22 protesters in Lafia l Emir of Lafia moves to save governor Cheke Emmanuel & Cephas Iorhemen Lafia/Makurdi

he Nasarawa State Police Command yesterday said it had arrested 22 people in Lafia, following violent protest by some groups over the impeachment notice served on Governor

ANITA JOSEPH: I’ve been naked for too long... It’s outdated P.17

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Umaru Al-Makura. The commissioner of police in the state, Mr Ibrahim Idris, confirmed the arrest at a news briefing on behalf of the state joint security committee. Idris, who said no life was lost, said two persons sustained varying degrees of injuries and were hospitalised in Lafia. He explained that a locally-made pistol, some

ammunition, knives and dangerous weapons were recovered from the suspects. According to him, five shops and a residential apartment were vandalised while a vehicle was burnt by the hoodlums. The commissioner said a man claiming to a police personnel was among those arrested, adding that the security opera-

}Reprieve for nigeria as fifa lifts ban p.55 }only a reputable person will succeed me - Lamido p.6

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

Content 19.07.14 INSTYLE

Rocking the Ramadan

Modesty may be the underlining theme this holy month of Ramadan, but you could still be stylish while retaining that prudish outlook.

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SHOWBIZ

Nomoreloss Returns

After hits like Iyawo Asiko and Ololufe, Solomon Muyiwa Osinuga went into hibernation. The artiste better known as Nomoreloss speaks on that absence and his new album.

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THE ARTS

Conversations on Nollywood

Film critic, Didi Cheeka, writes that movies from Nigeria risk being dragged completely into academia and festival fringes, completely alienated from new movie buffs.

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SPORT

Commonwealth Dreams Nigerian sprinter Divine Oduduru has put his disappointing performance at the IAAF Junior Championship 2012 behind him and is hopeful of a better outing at the Commonwealth Games.

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CHEF’S CORNER

In Search of Female Chefs Executive chef of Southern Sun Ikoyi, Stanley Mwangi, has voiced concern about the diminishing rank of female chefs in Nigeria and speaks of how the situation could be changed.

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TRAVEL

Kano’s Lost Allure

Kano’s fame as a centre of commerce and history is the reason the state holds a special allure for many visitors. But lately, several unsavory incidents have put both its commerce and tourism on the reverse gear.

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Vincent Eboigbe Lagos

ecretary-General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev. Samuel Ikpea, has denied allegations by some members that they were fleeced of huge sums of money during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Some members said they paid between N300, 000 and N350, 000 as fee to the club to prosecute their trip to Brazil, yet they were shabbily treated during their stay in the South American country. They specifically complained about sub-standard hotel accommodation and shoddy transport arrangements. The members went fur-

‘FG plans to try Nyako for treason’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Nyako’s frank, if roughedged, letter concerning the security situation apparently infuriated the monarch of Aso Villa, who has become so arrogant as to believe no opposition against him is justified, thus he has the liberty to impose his brand of injustice to crush those who oppose him.” Tinubu said it’s ironic that “in impeaching Governor Nyako, the PDP used the constitution to abuse the

constitution and democracy,” adding that his removal “must be seen completely as a political move to punish him and deter others from leaving the PDP.” Nyako was removed by the Adamawa State House of Assembly legislators after he was indicted by a panel set up by the state’s acting chief judge. The speaker of the assembly has since been sworn in as acting governor. But the APC leading light also denounced the premise

for the legislators’ action. “A view of the alleged charges against him reveals that his purported wrongdoings revert to when he was still in the PDP, some dating back three years. “His actions were known to the House of Assembly then. While he still adhered to the PDP, there was no talk of misconduct. Upon leaving the PDP, his actions suddenly became the meat for impeachment,” he said. The PDP in Lagos has

however described Tinubu’s statement as “laughable”. “Nyako was impeached for gross misconduct. PDP, is not vindictive, records show that even sitting PDP governors had been impeached. APC, has become a party of offenders who are only in opposition to avoid punishment. Nigerians are wiser. Anyone guilty must face the law. APC, is just recruiting enemies for Nigeria,” Taofik Gani, the party’s ublicity secretary in Lagos said.

Scores feared dead as Boko Haram attacks Damboa town Ahmed Mirina Maiduguri

arely two weeks after Boko Haram insurgents attacked Damboa town in Borno State, scores of people are feared dead, following an attack on the town by the sect, who were said to have had a field day without any resistance from the police and soldiers. According to reports by an official of a local vigilante, who said he spoke with some of these men in the village, the gunmen swarmed the village around 5am and began to kill and burn people’s houses.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tives were on the trail of four people alleged to be masterminds the crisis. Idris, who said the situation had been brought under control, urged the people to always be vigilant and pursue peace. He warned those peddling rumours that were capable of aggravating the current security situation in the state to desist. “We have been getting information that people in and around Lafia have started to flee their home sbased on media reports,” Idris said. It was also learnt that

He said only a handful of youths from the group known as Civilian-JTF and some few vigilante officials were available in Damboa to protect the people, following the desertion of the town by soldiers since the attack on security formations there about two weeks ago. Attempts by soldiers to return to Damboa military base allegedly failed as the gunmen took over the highway and continued to ambush the soldiers, forcing them to return to Maiduguri on two occasions. Abbas Gava said: “Since the attack Dam-

boa has neither police nor soldiers. It is only the vigilantes that are there and we know their limitations. The casualty could be very high because my contacts in Damboa said they are still picking and piling the corpses, but many houses, nearly half of what remains of the town has been burnt.” Meanwhile, refugees from Damboa who fled to Maiduguri were led by an elder in Damboa, Alhaji Kaumi Damboa, to the Shehu of Borno’s palace to lodge their complaints which the monarch promised to send to the higher authority A senior personnel of

the security outfit who asked not to be identified, confirmed the attack to New Telegraph on Saturday, but added that there were “no details on extent of damage or casualty yet”. Eyewitnesses have told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that half the town was burnt down, including the main market. One resident said the attack was launched on Thursday night and lasted until the early hours. Damboa, 85 kilometres from the state capital, Maiduguri, is now said to be deserted as many people have fled to neighbouring towns.

Police arrest 22 in Lafia there were moves to stage a planned pro-Al-Makura protest in Keana Local Government Area of the state. Similarly, social and economic activities in Lafia were grounded, while movements were restricted in most parts of the state following plot to remove Al-Makura. New Telegrapgh on Saturday gathered that most business activities that typically gave Lafia, the state capital, its bustling nature have been forced to a halt for fear of the un-

known. Meanwhile, the Emir of Lafia, Dr. Mustapha Agwai, has launched a peace pact between members of the state House of Assembly and Al-Makura as part of efforts towards dousing the growing tension in the state. The intervention of the paramount ruler was said to be yielding positive results as indications emerged that the planned impeachment may be vacated. Some p ro t e s t e r s comprising politicians,

youths, women as well as non-indigenes among various other groups, were at the emir’s palace in Lafia with placards, which carried solidarity messages demanding the emir ’s intervention between the lawmakers and the embattled governor. Addressing the crowd, Agwai implored the people against taking law into their hands to perpetrate evil, but continue to abide by the law as traditional rulers were doing everything possible to end the impasse.

World Cup: We didn’t short-change members, Football Supporters Club scribe insists

ther to state that given the fact that the club got funds from the federal government and other sponsors, they should have felt this in the arrangements that were made on their behalf. But Ikpea claim that the money the club got from the government and from various sponsors could not have been enough to cover the expenses of over 300 members at the price of N312 000 per ticket, their accommodation and transportation, adding that the money, at any rate, did not get to the club on time

which also informed the decision to travel in batches. He also argued that because of the World Cup, costs in Brazil had tripled and that given all these constraints the club did all it could to ensure members were properly taken care of. “I don’t know what they mean by shoddy arrangements. We got our visas early enough and so we were able to commence arrangements early enough so as to take care of everything,” said Ikpea. “Of course members

had to pay some money and we know that N300,000 is much, but given the expenses involved in travelling to Brazil, we went out to source for funds to subsidise what members paid. We got N50m from the government, it was not hidden, we also got money from sponsors, some gave us N10m, others N5m, but all together the money we got was not up to N100m. Again we did not get the money in lump sum or on time.

“Out of this amount we had to take over 300 people to Brazil at the rate of N312,000 a ticket. You do the calculation, and that did not include accommodation and other logistics for the same number of people. To make matters worse costs in Brazil had gone up astronomically. There were occasions we were on the road for up to 37 hours. Now when you put all these expenses together, you will realise that we were fair to members.”

Ikpea also dismissed the claim that the club used the opportunity of the World Cup to take non-members to Brazil having collected money from such people. He said that the Supporters Club is a very large organisation with chapters all over the country making it difficult for all members to know one another, insisting that the so-called unknown faces that were part of the trip to Brazil were actually club members. See interview on page 23

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Boko Haram: ACF warns against issuing ID cards to northerners lSays South-East investments in north amounts to N45trn caution ACF warns of grave consequences over ID issuance to northerners in the South East Ibraheem Musa

T Kaduna

he Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned that the decision of some eastern state governments to issue identity cards to residents of northern extraction could endanger the multi-billion naira investments of Igbo businessmen in the north. Addressing members of the South-South and South-East Arewa Coalition, who paid a visit on the Forum yesterday, the Deputy Secretary-General of ACF, Mr. Abubakar Umar, said statistics available indicated that Igbos’ investments in Kaduna, Kano, and Jos alone amounted to over N45 tril-

lion. Umar said with such huge investments in just three states of the north, easterners have no reason to maltreat northerners doing businesses in the east. The deputy Secretary General warned that “If the table turns round, it could be disastrous as these investments may suffer for it.” He explained that Yoruba and Igbo people in Jos lost N480 billion and N410 billion investments respectively during the 2011 post-election violence. The South-South also lost N970 billion in the same crisis, he added. Umar, however, said: “We are praying for understanding among the entire Nigerians to accept themselves wherever they live to earn legitimate means of livelihood.” Some northerners doing business in Imo State were allegedly being registered by the state government by issuing them with identity cards owing

to the Boko Haram insurgency that was ravaging the country. However, ACF expressed the fear that if the north should embark on similar development by identifying the Igbo in the northern region, it could cause crisis that may lead to undeserved division of Nigerians along ethnoreligious lines. Although the Forum said there was nothing wrong with issuance of identity cards, it, however, said targeting a segment of the community was worrisome. “Everybody deserves such identity cards if it is done in good faith,” ACF noted. Umar also said: “He expect the Igbo to treat our kinsmen, our brothers and sisters in the East as Kings and Queens in view of the fact that they (Igbo) have more investments in the north than in the East. “Take Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, for example, Igbo occupy over

73 per cent of the land, so these are some of the reasons why they should be everybody’s keepers in their place.” Earlier, the leader of the Coalition, Mallam Awwal Yusuf, had told ACF that northerners were doing business under fear in the East, and called on the Forum to intervene because, “every trader or Muslim from the north is considered Boko Haram.” Yusuf said the Arewa Coalition had gone to court on the issue of identity card in order to be freed from undue molestation in the hands of the people in the area. “We are so embarrassed with this issue of identity cards, why should it be only traders or Muslims from the north that should be identified. We have taken the case to a court in Enugu, and we are aware that the state Governor, Mr. Sulivan Chime, is ready to help us by sending his lawyer to stand for us,” Yusuf said.

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR, SATURDAY:

NDUBUISI UGAH

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

The Week Ahead Deeper Life’s special crusade holds today A special crusade being organised by the Deeper Life Bible Church will begin on July 19 in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. The General Overseer, Pastor William Kumuyi, is expected to preside over the programme.

Fast Track summit comes up today The House on the Rock will hold its Fast Track parley-a womanto-woman meeting involving career, business and life today at the Rock Cathedral, Lekki, Lagos by 10a.m. Co-pastor, House on the Rock, Ifeanyi Adefarasin, said HR Director and Employability Coach, Oracle Sub-Saharan Africa, Folake Adeniyi-Adeleye, will be the special guest of honour.

Optometrists AGM ends July 20 The 38th annual general meeting (AGM)/scientific conference of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), which started on July 16 will end on July 20 in Asaba, the Delta State capital. A statement by the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dr. Isaac Ejebe, said members who have distinguished themselves in the profession would receive the award of Fellow of the Nigerian Optometric Association (FNOA) during the gala/award nite today.

Army zonal screening exercise holds July 21 The Nigerian Army has called on candidates that participated in the pre-screening examination to enter their application number in the result checker on the portal to find out if they were successful in the examination. A statement issued by the Chief od Adminiatration (Army), Maj.-Gen. GA Wahab, said successful candidates should attend the zonal screening exercise at designated screening centres for their states from July 21. The statement also advised candidates, who were not successful in the exercise to stay away from the designated screening centres as those who flout the instruction would be arrested.

SON ultimatum to mobile phone dealers expires July 23 The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued a sevenday ultimatum, which will expire on July 23 to mobile phone dealers to get rid of unwholesome activities carried out by some unscrupulous dealers and importers of mobile phones at the Lagos computer village in Ikeja. The organisation noted that the ultimatum was expected to be complied with as SON would not tolerate the sale of sub-standard and fake products in the market.

ANAN holds workshop July 30

Speaker, House of Representative, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwa (left), and Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada, during the governor's visit in Abuja...yesterday

Obama, Cameron, others blame Putin for Malaysia airline crash

nited States President Barack Obama has accused Russia of supplying arms to the separatist rebels which blasted flight MH17 out of the sky over Ukraine, killing 298 passengers on board. The US president's intervention came after British Prime Minister David Cameron warned that those responsible for the missile attack would pay, as the number of Britons thought to have been killed increased to 10. Obama said Russia had provided “a steady flow of

support' for the rebels - including anti-arms aircraft”. His remarks came after the UK’s representative at the UN, Ambassador Peter Wilson, blamed “the senseless violence of armed separatists and with those who have supported, equipped and advised them” for the attack. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, added that it cannot be ruled out that Russian personnel helped in the downing of the flight. Obama, speaking from the White House, said: “Evidence indicated that

the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area controlled by Russianbacked separatists inside of Ukraine.” He added: “We know these separatists have received a steady flow of support from Russia.” The remarks came after Cameron promised to go after those responsible for the atrocity. He said those behind the missile attack needed to be ‘brought to account’, adding: “It cannot be allowed to stand.” Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk

urged Western leaders to “bring justice to those who brought down the flight.” He said world leaders needed to realised there was 'a war in the heart of Europe' taking place, amid growing fury at Moscow's backing the pro-Russian separatists suspected of carrying out the assault. But Russian president Vladimir Putin called for a ceasefire between pro-Russian gangs in control of the area around Donetsk and the Ukrainian government. He said what was happening in Ukraine was "awful - it's a tragedy".

The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) will hold a three-day workshop on accountants-in-training (AIT) scheme and information communication technology (ICT) at the Nigerian College of Accountancy, Permanent Site, Kwall, Bassa Local Government Area, near Jos, Plateau State from July 30 to August 1. The event organised by ANAN, which is a postgraduate professional college, would help participants interact and assess their respective work place experiences.

Lagos CJ, Philips, retires July 26 Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, will retire on July 26. The date also coincides with her 65th birthday celebration.

Oando closes $1.65bn acquisition July 31 Oando Energy Resources (OER) has said it will conclude its acquisition of Nigerian oil and gas business ConocoPhilips by July 31. The company said it had entered into an agreement to extend the outside date for completion of ConocoPhilips to July 31.

Entry for NLNG scholarship scheme ends July 31 The management of Nigeria LNG Limited has said entry for interested first year undergraduates in Nigerian universities to apply for the 2014/15 NLNG scholarship award will close on July 31. The company stated that the purpose of the award is to promote academic excellence amongst university undergraduates in the country. The company, therefore, noted that only qualified applicants will be short-listed for the selection test.

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

FCT

DEPOWA set to build capacity of Adedoja mourns late youths, women former Oyo SSG

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) yesterday established a skills acquisition centre for unemployed women and youths in the country. Laying the foundation stone for the centre in Abuja, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said it would help in the fight against crime. Badeh urged the association to ensure that the project was completed in good time. The CDS pledged to support DEPOWA to ensure early completion of the project. He advised that the beneficiaries of the centre should not be limited only to the barrack community, saying the benefits should be extended to other interested Nigerians residing outside the barracks to learn a trade.

231.9

The number of newspaper journalists per 1m of Republic of Congo in 2005. Source: Blatantworld.com

UMUAHIA

IBADAN

Former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has described the death of former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Dr. Dejo Raimi, as a great loss to Oyo State and Nigeria at large. Adedoja, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, in a statement made available to New Telegraph, said: “The death of Chief Dejo Raimi was a great loss. During his life time, he was known as a dictionary of Nigeria politics because he was always current in the social and political events across the country in spite of his age.” Raimi died on Sunday morning at age 81, and he has been buried according to Islamic rites.

324,220

The total area (in sq. km) of Norway. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

Ogbulafor denies membership of governorship c’ttee

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, has denied being a member and chairman of the purported Abia State 2015 Governorship Screening Committee. A statement signed by Ogbulafor in Abuja, yesterday described as malicious, the unverified report which alleged that he was the chairman of the committee constituted by Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia to screen governorship aspirants. “I am not aware of any screening panel constituted by Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State to screen governorship aspirants in the state to succeed him in 2015," he said.

7.6m

The number of people with diabetes (20-79 years) in Germany in 2013. Source: Idp.com

APGA is politically malnourished, Okorocha tells Umeh POPULARITY Imo State governor dismisses APGA's chances in 2015 Steve Uzoechi Owerri

he Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday described the recent remarks allegedly credited to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, that his party would sack him next year, as a politically malnourished statement. He said the party was incapable of winning any competitive election. Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said since he left APGA to join other notable progressives in the country to form APC, Umeh had granted 16 interviews and nine press conferences all centred on him. Onwuemeodo said: “Chief Umeh knows that APGA is just existing at the moment but not living; and

the party’s lackluster status is not only in Imo State, but generally. The party has become politically malnourished and can neither bark nor bite because the man who was both the propeller and the engine block of the party, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has gone.” He also added that Umeh’s APGA had run several elections in the state since its formation without winning even a councillorship seat, until Okorocha came in 2011 and brought a lot of good fortunes to the party. “And he left with his ‘good fortune’ to the APC. That is the headache of the party’s national chairman,” he said. Condemning Umeh’s fixation on the state, Onwuemeodo said: “It is also interesting to note that Umeh would not talk about winning his senatorial zone in Anambra State for APGA in 2015 which APC is enjoying in the person of Senator Chris Ngige, and he won’t boast of winning Enugu State close to his home state for APGA or even Ebonyi and Abia states, but always talking about Imo State as if APGA was formed because of Imo State.”

Igbo-Eze community agog as Ferotex boss buries mother today Uwakwe Abugu Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi (right), and the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Dr. Sokonte Davies, during a courtesy visit by the committee to Government House, Port Harcourt…recently

NNPC will continue to dialogue with Senate over unremitted $262m – GMD Ndubuisi Ugah

with agency reports

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it will continue to dialogue with the National Assembly over its directive that the corporation should refund $262 million to the Federation Account. The disclosure came on a day the Federal Government said it had commenced the rehabilitation of pipelines from the NNPC refinery in Port Harcourt to its depot in Enugu State. But NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, said the naira equivalent of the unremitted amount was N41.9 billion. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Alegbe as saying that the corporation’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr. Andrew

l FG begins reactivation of Enugu depot

Yakubu, stated this at a capacity building workshop organised for media practitioners in Uyo. The statement said that the money was the sum the corporation could have expended on holding strategic reserves and maintenance of pipelines. It added that the Senate Committee on Finance that probed the allegation of non-remittance of $49.8 billion said NNPC could not satisfactorily defend it. It, however, said there was no adequate provision for funding from the Petroleum Support Fund as the extra expenditures on holding offshore strategic reserves. The statement said this was expected to guard against supply shocks in case of emergency and were not captured in the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template.

“What we are simply saying is that if we have to do this job, then this is the real and true situation of doing it. Let us know if I should be punished for being the supplier of last resort because if we decide to withdraw the strategic storage, we cannot withstand energy crisis in this country,” it said. The statement stated that the senate in its wisdom looked at it and said if the cost of holding the strategic storage was not captured in the PPPRA template it could not be paid for. “If we don’t do it and if I did not do it last year, I don’t think I will be here talking to you,’’ the statement quoted Yakubu as saying. The same Senate will also summon me and ask me why there are no petroleum products. “The only person who can function as a supplier of last

resort without holding strategic reserve is a magician. It is left for them to judge. I cannot judge myself and if we state it clearly that we incurred this much and it is verifiable because it is there. “We will then continue to engage and explain to make this fact clear,” the statement said. Meanwhile, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Pipeline Matters (South East), Mr. Linus Mgbakogu, made this known in an interview with the NAN in Enugu yesterday. Mbakogu said the move to rehabilitate the depot followed government’s avowed commitment to make petroleum products available to Nigerians at the official price. He said work was in progress at the pipeline locations in host communities ,adding that measures were in place to check incessant vandalism.

Enugu

ll roads will today lead to Umuagama community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State as the remains of a woman leader, Mrs. Theresa Oyimaja OshabaOnuh, will be interred in her country home. The late OshabaOnuh is the mother of a Port Harcourt-based, business mogul, Mr. Festus OshabaOnuh who hails from Enugu. Signs that the event would come off as one of the most outstanding crowdpulling events in the local council area started manifesting three days ago with much elaborate preparations like clearing of events venue and mobilisation of various stakeholder groups in the locality, making the Umuagama community upbeat for the celebration of the great woman leader who had touched the lives of the people positively through her quiet philanthropy. Festus, the businessman, whose mother passed on recently, is the chairman of Ferotex Group of Companies, and the group’s Ferotex Construction Company (FCC) Limited, an indigenous engineering and construction firm in the country, has within 10 years of its emergence in the construction sphere, made a

clear outstanding mark. In Enugu State where the FCC Limited actually horned its skills in road construction, it has completed well over 30 roads most of them in Nsukka urban area and beyond while some were executed in Enugu metropolis. In the area of building construction, Ferotex Company Nig. Ltd, the building arm of the Ferotex Group, has been recognised as one of the finest and foremost builders in Nigeria. The company said to have started more than 10 years ago with a vision of expanding and becoming one of the biggest construction companies in Africa, specialising in residential buildings, apartments, and such other prestigious projects. Born 92 years ago (1922 to 2014), the late OshabaOnuh (nee Ogilija), was a beacon of hope for the less-privileged in her community, due to the succour she brought regularly in their time of need.

Late OshabaOnuh

Senate snubs Jonathan’s N160bn loan request

he Senate yesterday proceeded on two months annual recess without considering the request by President Goodluck Jonathan to take a foreign loan of $1billion to finance the fight against the outlawed Boko Haram insurgents. Jonathan had on Wednesday written to the two chambers of the National Assembly seeking permission to borrow $1billion (N160 billion) external loan to combat Boko Haram. The President wrote to Senate President David Mark on the need to upgrade arms and ammunition for the nation’s Armed Forces to fortify them in the fight against insurgency. However, the upper

chamber did not list the item on its order paper yesterday and had adjourned sittings to September, which is contrary to its procedures and conventions, where executive communications are usually given immediate attention, our correspondent reports. The red chamber conducted other legislative businesses including passage of bills and consideration of some reports without making any reference to the request before adjourning plenary till Tuesday, September 16. Since 2011, the Federal Government has spent not less than N1 trillion annually on defence and security sectors, all aimed at tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ajudua loses appeal in $8.39m fraud trial A lleged serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua, yesterday lost his bid to stop his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ishaya Bamaiyi, of about $8.39million between November 2004 and June 2005. The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal today dismissed Ajudua’s application challenging the competence of the charge and the jurisdiction of the Lagos High Court. Ajudua was arraigned before Justice Atinuke Ipaye of the Lagos High Court on a 14-count charge that bordered on obtaining by false pretence. Justice Ipaye dismissed the Objection. Dissatisfied,

Ajudua subsequently appeal against the decision of the trial court. At the hearing of the appeal he filed against the ruling of the Lagos State High Court dismissing his application, Ajudua contended that the lower court erred in law when it held that he could be tried under the repealed Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 1995. Ajudua’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, submitted in the Appellant’s Brief of Argument and Appellant’s Reply Brief of Argument dated May 13 and June 11 respectively, that at the time Bamaiyi petitioned the EFCC over the alleged offence in 2006, the law upon which the 14-count charge was framed was no longer in existence.

Lawyer tasks National Conference delegates on resource control Tony Okafor Awka

s the National Conference reconvenes on August 4, a constitutional lawyer in Anambra State, Mr. Okoli Akirika, has urged the delegates to reconsider their resolve to shift issues of principle of derivation and resource control back to the presidency. Speaking with the New Telegraph on Saturday in his office in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Akirika noted that issues of derivation and devolution were the major purpose for setting up the conference, stressing that shifting such issues back to any other quarters would amount to postponing the evil day. He contended that it was the long reign of the military in the country that dislodged issues of devolution and

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derivation in the country’s constitutional. He added that premilitary constitution gave adequate recognition to the principles of derivation and resource control where he said that regions were incharge of resources in their domain up to 50 per cent. He noted that it was when the military came to power that it began to extend the exclusive list and narrowing down the concurrent and residual lists in the constitution. Akirika, who was a commissioner in the immediate past administration of Mr. Peter Obi, also advocated part-time legislature in Nigeria, saying the quantum of resources spent in maintaining the legislative organ of government was so enormous that the country should start thinking on how to reduce the cost now.

KADUNA Kaduna begins erosion control projects in six LGAs

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UMUAHIA NURTW president calls for release of Nwakodo

The Kaduna State Government has embarked on various projects to mitigate the effect of erosion on communities across the state. The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Kasimu Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kaduna yesterday that the projects cut across six local government areas. He said the focus was on the construction of drainage and planting of trees in the affected communities located in Zaria, Ikara, Kaduna South, Igabi, Jemaa and Kauru Local Government Areas. “We have distributed the funds to the six local government areas, contractors are on site and are completely mobilised. Drainage will be constructed and trees will be planted where it is needed to control the erosion,” he said.

President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yasin, has appealed to kidnappers of the union's National Secretary, Mr Sunny Nwakodo, to release him. Yasin made the appeal in an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday. Nwakodo, who is also the Chairman of the Abia State branch of NURTW, was said to have been kidnapped on Tuesday in the state while returning home. The NURTW president said: “I want to appeal to the kidnappers to please, for the sake of his family, whoever is involved for whatever, should release him so that he can be with his family.”

1/5

8.5m

The size of the banking business sector in 2013 when compared to its 2007 size. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

LOKOJA Group endorses Umeh as Senator

The Forum of Deputy Chairmen of Local Government Areas in Anambra Central senatorial district has endorsed the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, to vie for the senate seat of the zone in the 2015 general election. The resolution to this effect was reached at the July session of the forum's monthly meeting held in Awka yesterday The Deputy Chairman of Awka North local government area, Dr. Ikechukwu Offorkansi, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said they reached the resolution having considered the charismatic qualities of Umeh as the national chairman of APGA.

The number of people with diabetes (20-79 years) in Indonesia in 2013. Source: Idp.com

22.3 The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Brazil in 2012. Source: Itu.int

Gunmen kill five, injure one in Kaduna village INSURGENCY

Kaduna suffers another attack as a village is invaded by suspected insurgents Ibraheem Musa

A Kaduna

bout 24 days after suspected gunmen descended on several villages in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State and killed scores of people, five people were again killed in Fadan Kashi village in the early hours of yesterday, while one person sustained injuries.

Fadan Karshi was among seven communities in the local government that were attacked by gunmen on June 6, where about 200 allegedly lost their lives. However, police had put the death toll at 38. A 24-hour curfew was imposed in the entire local government at that time to forestall further killings. However, in spite of the curfew, the killings continued in remote villages. Governor Muktar Yero had promised to bring the culprits to book while appealing for calm. Renewed attacks continued yesterday at Fadan Karshi, as gunmen invaded the community, according

to a resident of the area. The source said the marauders moved from one house to another and shot sporadically, leaving five people dead while several others are currently displaced. According to him, many of the people who left Fadan Karshi during the previous attacks, had started returning home before yesterday’s attack happened. “Just few days ago, some of them returned only for this attack to take place again. The gunmen came with sophisticated weapons, shooting and chanting. The other person that was injured is now receiving treatment at the hospital,”

the resident said. Chairman of the Local Government Area, Emmanuel Adamu Dan-Zaria, who confirmed the incident, described the latest attack as unfortunate. “We are still confused about what is happening in our local government. Not up to a month that about 200 people were killed with over 27,000 people displaced, five people have now been killed today (yesterday) morning with a lot of people displaced again,” he lamented. Efforts to get the comments of the spokesman for the state Police Command, Mr. Aminu Lawan, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), proved abortive.

L-R: National President, Nigerian Army Wives Association, Mrs. Felly Minmah; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and National President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Mary Badeh, at the foundation laying ceremony of DEPOWA skills acquisition centre in Abuja…yesterday

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IBADAN Don't miss Night of Majesty, Muslims urged

N EWS I N BRIEF

KADUNA

VICTORIA ISLAND Microfinance bank, PATH 2 partner on health scheme

Agency alerts communities on impending flood

The Chairman Oyo State Pilgrim Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugberu, yesterday urged Muslims not to miss the blessings of the Night of Majesty (Lailatul-qadri) so as to prepare for their hereafter. Akewugberu gave the advice yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ibadan. He said the night of majesty was a night of blessing within the last 10 days of Ramadan. “Only God knows who will inherit whatever you have in this world but the supplication you made in that night of majesty will be what you prepare for yourself and meet in the hereafter,” he said. The cleric also advised Muslims to endeavour to perform It'kaf.

The Infinity Microfinance Bank yesterday said it was collaborating with Partnership for Transforming Health System 2 (PATH 2) for effective and sustainable penetration of Micro Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) in the country. A statement by its Managing Director, Mrs Clara Oloniniyi, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos, commended the efforts of PATH 2 in providing MHIS to Nigerians in the rural areas. “Most times, microfinance banking faces a high rate of unrecoverable loans because some of the customers become suddenly ill on ordinary course of business. With the MHIS, such shortcomings will be eradicated,” the statement said.

The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has alerted residents of impending floods envisaged to affect some parts of the state. The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Ishaku Makama, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Kaduna, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The statement said the Nigeria Metrological Services Agency (NIMET) had predicted serious flooding in some local government areas of the state. It listed the local governments to be affected to include Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Sabon Gari, Soba and Zaria.

79.58%

75%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in France in 2011. Source: Itu.int

The percentage of global water withdrawals for energy production of all industrial water withdrawals in 2010. Source: Unesco.org

The number of men per 100 women above 60 years old in Algeria in 2012. Source: Un.org

Only credible personality will succeed me in 2015 – Lamido ELECTION Jigawa State governor outlines qualities of his successor Dahiru Suleiman

Dutse

n what appears as an inroad into the character and personality of who will succeed him in 2015, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State yesterday said his successor must have a track record of being a sincere and determined personality, who would be ready to sacrifice for the growth and development of the state. Speaking during a rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for stalwarts and stakeholders among others in Dutse, Lamido said: “Only a reputable personality with track record, acceptable to all and sundry, will be allowed to succeed me.” He also enjoined all PDP stakeholders in the state to strive hard in ensuring that only a credible personality emerged as next governor

in the state. “The election of whoever becomes a governor in Jigawa State is the primary responsibility of the indigenes. Therefore, electorate have the right to elect whoever they wish to govern them, but in the process we must guide against selfish interest in gunning for the best hand. “It is our conviction and prayer to have a true and committed person with track records of expertise in all field of human endeavors worthy of emulation to emerge as our next leader," said Governor Lamido. The governor said that his successor should be ready to preserve all relevant legacies his administration had built over the years. “We would ensure that whoever is taking over from us, will continue on the good work we planted for the progress and development of both the people and Jigawa State. “The preservation of our legacies is a must to whoever coming on board as our next governor, as well as committed, hard working, sincere, and have the fear of God," he said.

Quacks in public relations practice to face litigation – NIPR Appolonia Adeyemi

D L-R: Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Enugu State, Mr. Nathaniel Ubong; representative of Enugu State governor, Mr. Chime Richard and representative of the Commandant, Nigerian Army 82 Garrison, Capt. Umar Garba, at the NSCDC 2014 security summit in Enugu…yesterday

JNC tackles TUC, NLC over strike notice Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

he Joint Public Service Negotiating Committee in Ekiti State is now at war with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over a seven-day ultimatum given the state government to pay monies deducted from the salaries of public servants in the last four months. A statement issued in Ado-Ekiti by JNC and signed by its Chairman, Oladipupo Johnson and Secretary, Oladele Blessing, yesterday asked Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay all deductions from April, May and June salaries of all workers in the state to avert crisis. Also speaking with journalists on the matter, the JNC chairman said the ultimatum commenced from July 17, 2014, adding that the body had the right to call workers out for

industrial action under the Trade Union Act, contrary to the claims by the two labour centres. The JNC said: “As a result of the hardship being experienced by workers as a result of the non-payment of gratuities to retirees and non-remittance of cooperative and union deductions, the union under the leadership of JNC, hereby give the state government a seven-day within which all these must be paid failing which the entire workforce will embark on indefinite strike.” However, the Chairman, Ekiti State chapter of the TUC, Comrade Kolawole Olaiya, who condemned the ultimatum, said the JNC lacked the power to declare industrial action without recourse to TUC and NLC. Olaiya said normal procedures and laid down principles had not been followed as provided by law, which he said had vitiated the entire process and right to call for workers to

down tools. Also, the NLC Chairman, Ayodeji Aluko, said: “If there is going to be any strike, all procedures must be followed. They can only embark on strike after all negotiations have failed, but this is not the case in this matter. So, to us in NLC, the strike is illegal. “Before you can declare

industrial strike, the employers and the employees must meet. You have to even go to the Ministry of Labour after which you give the government a notice of 21 days, follow by 14 days, another seven days and ended with three days ultimatums, before you embark on strike if your demands are not met.”

etermined to weed out quacks from public relations practice in the country, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has advised those in the practice be licensed or face litigation. Also, he called on both public and private organisations to beware leaving their business in the hands of unlicensed persons in view of the damage that it may cause them. President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, who made the call in Lagos yesterday, said weeding out quacks from public relations practice has become necessary as way to prevent fraudsters from taking over the system as well as to sanitise it. He spoke at a ceremony where the NIPR inducted

101 public relations professionals into its fold. The theme of the induction and orientation is “Identifying Opportunities in Public Relations for Self-Reliance and National Development”. Oladele said: “This is not an era we can allow quackery in the in the practice of reputation management, information management and relationship management.” “Those who apply will be allowed to do so but those who did not apply for the window of opportunity and do not regularise nor professionalise themselves, will face it”. Highlighting the dangers in inherent in fraudsters operating in a system, Oladele stressed, “if you build on quackery, you already know what disaster the ‘419ers’ and fraudsters are doing to this nation.”

Reps commend Amaechi over monorail project

he House of Representatives’ Committee on Land Transport has lauded Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi for revolutionising the transport sector of the state with the construction of the Rivers Monorail and numerous achievements in other sectors. A member of the committee, Mr. Peter Edeh, described the monorail as a project that redefines the state’s transport sector, when he and other members of the committee led by its Deputy Chairman,

Dr. Sokonte Davieson, paid a courtesy call on Amaechi at Government House, Port Harcourt, Thursday. Edeh said the Monorail project was a brilliant idea with advanced technology and commended the governor for the initiative. “We came here primarily to look at the railway project of the ministry of transport. We also know that your monorail project is an advanced technology compared to the one we have come to look at. It is the truth. From the beginning of the project to where it is intended to ter-

minate, I know that it is an area that is prone to traffic congestion and if you could reduce the travel time to 15 minutes as it is estimated, for you to go all the way from there down to the terminals, I think that would save lots and lots of man-hours." Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Sokonte Davies also congratulated Amaechi for his development strides in Rivers State while intimating the governor on the committee’s presence in the state to assess the level of work done in the ongoing railway proj-

ect across the country. Responding, Amaechi thanked them for the visit and expressed hope that the trains would start working soon but expressed the need for alternative transport system needing advanced technology. “Let me thank you for the privilege of having to host you. I hope that we will get the trains running and when they say they would refurbish the old ones, I wonder, but it is better than nothing, because technology has advanced beyond it," he said.

Thugs assault journalists at Suswam’s declaration for Senate Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ournalists in Benue State, who accompanied Governor Gabriel Suswam on Thursday, for his formal declaration to contest next year's senatorial election were beaten mercilessly by hefty-looking PDP thugs and other security operatives as they were beaten mercilessly. The drama, which took place at the Adikpo Comprehensive College (ACC) in Kwande Local Government area, venue of the declaration, occurred in the presence of Suswam and his Deputy, Chief Steven Lawani. The security operatives and thugs numbering over 50 who claimed they were “doing their job as directed,” assaulted journalists using horsewhips, sticks and gun butts to chase them away from the venue. Leader of the thugs (names withheld), who led his men in the attack accosted the state chairman of correspondents, Mr. Sun-

day Ogli, who was nursing injuries he sustained from an accident and his colleagues and pushed them away from the venue when they wanted to move closer to the podium. However, the timely intervention of the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, saved the situation from escalation, as he pleaded with the angry journalists to be calm with a promise to take up the matter with the touts. “Gentlemen, I plead with you to be calm I am more pained than you people. What has happened to you is very unfortunate. You are here for me and the governor and not for those thugs. I will personally prevail on them to come and apologise to you people to avoid a repeat of what happened, I am indeed sorry for what happened," said Akwaya. The state government is having a frosty relationship with correspondents, a situation that compelled them to issue a statement boycotting government activities.

Borno to re-open public schools after Ramadan T

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HADEJIA Firm rehabilitates 30 fertiliser supply stores

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The Jigawa State Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO) said yesterday that it had rehabilitated 30 agricultural stores to enhance its outreach in rural communities. Its General Manager, Alhaji Hassan Girbobo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia, Jigawa. Girbobo, who said the projects were executed in the last three years, said some of the projects were located in Gujungu, Bulangu and Kanya-Babale. He said the company had also planned to set up 60 sales outlets in the 27 local government areas of the state in enhancing farmers' access to inputs. “This is part of the drive to expand the scope of the supply channels and enhance farmer access to quality inputs,” he said.

FCT Board assures Abuja residents of potable water

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board has assured Abuja residents that the water supplied by the board is potable. The acting director of the board gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja yesterday. Adebayo said the board was always conscious to treat raw water properly before supplying residents. NAN reports that Adebayo’s assurance followed the concern expressed by some Abuja residents that the refuse carried by floods from the surrounding settlements could pollute the water in Usuma Dam.

LOKOJA JAMB flays NSCDC for invading Lokoja office

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday criticised the invasion of its Lokoja office in Kogi State by officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). A statement issued to journalists in Bwari by the Head of Public Relations of JAMB, Mr. Fabian Gabriel, noted that the attack came on the heels of NSCDC denouncing SPYTEC, to be duly registered with it and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a private security outfit engaged by JAMB. The statement said: “The private security outfit named SPYTEC, engaged to protect JAMB office and environs was duly registered with Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC) and NSCDC.”

MTN to pay N15m tax owed Plateau revenue SETTLEMENT Plateau State N15m richer as MTN settles debt Musa Pam

T Jos

he North Regional Trade Marketing office of MTN located in Jos, the Plateau State capital has agreed to make payment of all outstanding tax totalling N15,914,954,74 owed the state Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) within seven days. The PSIRS had sealed off the MTN office for refusing to pay the tax outstanding

to the state Fielding questions from journalists in Jos yesterday, Chairman of the revenue service, Mr. Samuel Pam, said after a meeting with officials of MTN Regional Office in Jos and the Commissioner for Information, the MTN agreed to pay the outstanding tax within seven days. “The meeting came to the resolution that within seven days from today MTN have given us their word that because of the nature of the paper work they are going to pay the outstanding liability, and we on our part gave them our word that since they have given the state this commitment we are also going to unsealed their business premise.

It was regrettable that we have to come to the extent of sealing their business premises because we had exhausted all moral considerations that the service have put up to ensure that this liabilities is paid and this led to unpleasant relationship,” he said. Pam also stated that the misunderstanding between MTN and the state have been resolved, following MTN’s acceptance to pay the said amount within seven days, a development which he said prompted the revenue service to unseal the their business premises. He added that the state and MTN had resolved to work together in unity to curtail future misunderstanding.

he Borno State Government yesterday said it would re-open all public schools after the Ramadan fast. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that the schools were shut on March 14, following series of attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on schools in neighbouring Yobe State. The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Inuwa Kubo, told NAN in Maiduguri, that the government had put in place machinery for the re-opening of the schools. “Only schools located in safe environments will be re-opened, while students whose schools were located in unsafe environment will be transferred to safer areas. “You will recall that public schools were closed down in the wake of attacks on schools by suspected insurgents in March. You also recall that final year students were left in the schools to sit for their NECO/SSCE examinations. “The situation led to mass transfer of final year students from schools located in different parts of the state to ei-

ther the capital or some few locations considered safe. “So, the few schools available were made examination centres to accommodate all the final year students.” He said since the NECO/SSCE would soon be concluded, the government was making arrangement to re-open the schools to other students after the examination. “The NECO/SSCE examinations will end in a couple of days and we hope to re-open the schools immediately so that the students can complete their studies,” Kubo said. He said since the state was still faced with the Boko Haram insurgency, only schools located in Maiduguri and Biu headquarters of Biu Local Government Area, would be re-opened. “We are going to move all the students to schools in either Maiduguri or Biu which are the only safe locations we have now. This means that we have to adjust some schools infrastructure to accommodate the transferred students.”

Kunle Olayeni

NSCDC boss canvasses decentralisation of Nigeria Police

Abeokuta

ommandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, yesterday called for the decentralisation of the Nigerian Police to ensure more effective security in the country. Abolurin, who spoke while delivering the 2014

distinguished lecture of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), AgoIwoye, Ogun State, also canvassed the re-introduction of Option A4 system to forestall electoral violence in the nation’s polity. He maintained that the

Pam, however, said the state believed on the word of MTN to pay the tax within seven days, saying since MTN is a corporate body and their word is their bond and called on it not to betray the agreement so as not to allowed the repeat of the situation. He, however, warned that if MTN failed to keep its word, the revenue service would sealing off the business premises of MTN again. Meanwhile, Pam has warned all tax defaulters in the state to pay up their debt or face the full wrath of the law, saying the revenue service was making effort to ensure that it closed the gap between the tax payers and the state.

Chairman, Board of Directors, Ashaka Cement Plc, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga (left), presenting a key to a beneficiary, Danladi Jibir, of one of the 55 houses built by the company at Ladde-Bage village in Funakaye Local Government Area, Gombe State…recently

weaknesses of the Option A4 system are much better than the strengths of the current Electoral Act. In his lecture titled, “Prevention and management of electoral violence in Nigeria,” the NSCDC boss observed that electoral violence had often blighted the nation’s democracy and its leaders’

legitimacy. Abolurin blamed the causes of electoral violence in the country on poverty, unemployment, corruption, proliferation of small arms and ineffectiveness of security outfits, especially the police. While saying the NSCDC remained a stakeholder in rebranding the

country through peaceful coexistence and rancourfree electoral process, the commandant-general called for the restructuring of the police force. According to him, the centralised control of the police by the Federal Government contributes to the laissez-faire attitude of the police.

Abolurin said: “The police have a crucial role of ensuring law and order in any society. To do this effectively however, it must be well trained, structured, equipped and motivated. The Nigerian Police likewise need to be restructured, re-equipped and motivated to play its role in ensuring the consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy."

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FCT Commission announces 2014 Hajj fare

N EWS I N BRIEF

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), yesterday announced a minimum of N693, 636.77 as the 2014 Hajj fare for intending pilgrims in the country. This is contained in a statement signed by its Head of Media, Mr. Uba Mana, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. President Goodluck Jonathan, according to the statement, had approved an exchange rate of N150 to $1 for 2014 Hajj transactions. “The minimum fare for southern departure zones with $750 BTA is N693, 636.77 while that of northern zones is N686, 061.77. The medium fare for southern departure zones with $1,000 BTA is N731, 136.77 while that of the northern zones is N723, 561.77.

The percentage of male population above 60 years old in Algeria in 2012. Source: Un.org

MAKURDI PDP chieftain makes case for monarchs

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Benue State, Dr. Eugene Aliegba, has stressed the need for traditional rulers in the state to be insulated from partisan politics for peace to prevail. Aliegba, who stated this during an interview with journalists in Makurdi, said the involvement of traditional rulers in deciding who succeeds the incumbent governor was breeding tension and as such, should be completely ostracised from the political scheme of things. He warned that the trimming down of PDP governorship aspirants could cause bad blood among members of the party.

1.3%

The percentage rise of passengers air travel between 2012 and 2013. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

YOLA Ramadan: JIBWIS to support orphans nationwide

A group, Jamaatul Izalatul Bidiah Wa Iqamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), yesterday said it would support about 500,000 orphans nationwide with foodstuff and clothes. The National Chairman of the organisation, Shiekh Bala Lau, who made this known in an interview with journalists in Yola, Adamawa State, said the gesture was part of JIBWIS efforts to ensure that the orphans and other needy members of the society have a sense of belonging in this period of Ramadan. “If all Muslims that visited to mosques to pray will contribute N100 each we would have a reasonable amount to help the orphans and other needy people in the society,” Lau said.

$1.26bn

The overall company’s loss of Northrop Grumman in arms sales in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

Obiano inspects projects in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi INFRASTRUCTURE Anambra State governor promises to build more basic amenities for the people

etermined to boost the level of infrastructure in the state, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has inspected some projects in parts of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi. The governor gave the contractors handling the various projects including the three shopping malls in three cities a maximum of 10 months’ deadline to complete the job. Some of the projects include, the Onitsha shopping mall, which houses mega projects like international hotel, shopping mall and convention centre and has a capacity to accommodate 5,000 persons. The premises also houses Radison Blu, an adjoining hotel project. Speaking after inspecting the projects, Obiano said he had exacted commitment from the contractor handling the projects that they would be completed in 10 months’ time. He revealed that the projects would have been ready in three months’ time but could not due to shoddy

performance of the previous contractor, which led to the revocation of the contract and generation of certificates and full mobilisation of the new contractor, Mr. Emejulu, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Akiota Works Limited to take over and deliver the projects on time. The governor described the outlook of the projects as very good, pointed out that, when completed, the edifice would compare to Shoprite in Enugu and Lagos. “We are going to bring

to the state a new shopping experience quite different to the business environment they are used to. The event centre will attract functions from neighbouring states in particular,” he said. Giving further assurance, the governor said: “The entire place will be very important in SouthEast zone. We have 40 apartment buildings coming up. I thank my predecessor for having the vision to start the project and we are definitely going to complete it in a record time.”

Speaking to journalists, Emejulu said the original plan of the contract was to have about 90 rooms, but following adjustments made by authorities of Radisson Blu, the number of rooms increased to 150 rooms. He said the project was at the seventh floor stage, adding that the job would be ready in January, 2015. According to him, government has shown enough zeal to carry out the projects and fully mobilised his firm for the contract as agreed.

NTDC DG pledges support for Osun Osogbo festival Andrew Iro Okungbowa

he Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has pledged the support of the corporation towards a successful hosting of this year’s Osun Osogbo festival. The DG made this commitment in Abuja, while receiving in audience the festival advisory committee led by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Larooye (11). She said the national tourism body was set to collaborate with the organisers of the yearly cultural tourism event in attraction attention to the Festival as it formed part of the domestic tourism agenda of NTDC. “But by the grace of God, NTDC shall make a statement in this year edition of Osun Osogbo festival, exploring the opportunity of the festival to further preach the gospel of domestic tourism, which remains a viable weapon to promote tourism in Nigeria and create wealth and employment at the grassroots, to reduce urban migration, promote unity

Derivation: Arewa group asks southerners to relocate home

ollowing disagreements arising from debates on how Nigeria should be governed, which dominated proceedings at the National Conference, the Arewa Youth Development Foundation (AYDF), yesterday insisted that

L-R: Commandant, Police College Jos, Plateau State, Mr. Mark Idakwo; representative of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Atiku Kafur and Mr. Kabiru Dandibi, during the graduation ceremony of Strategic Leadership and Command Course One in Jos…yesterday

Makurdi

Group urges Saraki to join 2015 presidential race

group under the aegis of North Central Youths Consultative Assembly (NCYCA), has urged the former Kwara State Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, to contest the 2015 presidential election. Arising from its meet-

ing in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the group said Saraki had the requisite credentials to rule the country and should be allowed to rule describing him as “a leader, who is a youth at heart and full of action.”

Cephas Iorhemen

In a communique at the end of its meeting jointly signed by its National Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar and Secretary, Comrade David Audu, canvassed the need for the next president to come from the North Cen-

tral, adding that NCYCA had perused the pedigree and he is qualified to run. It stated that Saraki's tenure as governor of Kwara State saw monumental achievements in the area of agriculture and infrastructural develop-

and encourage integration of culture within Nigeria,” Mbanefo said. Furthermore, she assured the people of the full participation of the corporation in the festival, adding that, “we are not just coming to distribute fliers and souvenirs, but we will be fully involved.” To ensure that this comes to fruition, she on the spot constituted a committee of the corporation, which she charged with working with the festival advisory council so as to realise the objective of the people and ensure that the tourism corporation is fully represented at every aspect of the festival. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Osun Osogbo Festival Advisory Council, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, commended the NTDC DG for her commitment to the development and promotion of domestic since she assumed office over a year ago. Also, Buraimoh expressed delight over Mbanefo support for the festival even as he assured her that the festival advisory council accepted her offer and was ready to work with the tourism corporation towards the successful execution of the festival.

ment that made the state one of the model states in the country. The group hailed him for successfully piloting the affairs of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), where he served as its chairman.

southerners should relocate from the northern part of the country. Delegates at the conference have been at loggerheads over the vexed issue of resource control and how to share the nation’s oil wealth. It was also gathered that Northern delegates even suggested an increments in derivation for northern states, calling for them to get an automatic five per cent of oil revenue. Southern delegates on the other hand want to see a return to the original 1957/58 agreement entered into at independence whereby federating units took charge of all the resources within their domain and kept 50 per cent of it. Earlier this month, several Northern Delegates’ Forum delegates threatened to pull out of the seminar in protest at what they termed biased and one-sided decisions. At one of the plenary sessions, the debate got more heated when the AYDF called on southerners in the north to relocate to their respective states to make room for northerner, who would be returning home. AYDF National President, Aliyu Usman and its Secretary, Alfred Solomon, made the call for all southerners to relocate within two weeks, during a visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi II, in his palace.

SEGUN EDWARDS olaedwards@yahoo.com 08111813095

Companies & Stock

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19 JULY 2014

Can 7-Up improve profit this year?

-Up Bottling Company was listed last year as one of the few companies on the high growth track for the 2013/14 financial year. Projection on the company, based on third quarter earnings figures expected a leap of 170 per cent in net profit at the end of the year. The food drinks company has done better than that though with a revised profit figure for 2013, the profit advance amounted to 153.3 per cent. By earnings per share, the bottling Company is now one of the leading companies listed on the Nigerian bourse by earnings per share. It closed its 2013/14 operations with a turnover of N77.89 billion. This is an increase of 21.5 per cent over the 2013 sales revenue figure of N64.09 billion. This is just 2.7 per cent above our sales revenue projection of N75.8 billion for the company in 2014. It is also an accelerated growth compared with the improvement of 7.1 per cent in turnover the company recorded in the

preceding year. The company has maintained a record of continuing growth in sales revenue over the past five years. Its net profit amounted to N6.43 billion at the end of its 2013/14 financial year, representing a leap of 153.3 per cent from the revised net profit of N2.86 billion for the prior year. It is 14.8 per cent ahead of our projected full year net profit of N5.6 billion for the company for the year. It is also an accelerated growth from the 51.2 per cent growth in profit achieved in 2013.

This forecast performance followed an accelerated growth in profit in the last quarter, made possible by a significant gain in profit margin. Net profit margin went up from 5.5 per cent at the end of the third quarter to 8.3 per cent at full year. This lifted profit performance in the final quarter. Of the company’s net profit figure of N6.43 billion for the year, N2.51 billion or 39 per cent was earned in the final quarter. The company’s outstanding profit growth in the year follows

Unity Bank cuts cost to lift profit, turnaround U

nity Bank finished its second quarter operations with a significantly improved earnings posting. Its revenue failed to grow during the period and the bank’s management, has extracted an increased proportion of profit from each naira earnings. Cost management effort paid off in two major areas for the bank at the end of the second quarter. The new strength in profit raises hopes for a big turnaround for the bank that closed 2013 with a big loss. The bank closed its second quarter operations in June with a gross income of N30.85 billion, which represents only a marginal improvement of 2.2 per cent over the corresponding figure in 2013. Its full year gross earnings projection is put at N62.70 billion at the end of 2014. This indicates that revenue growth is expected to be flat this year against the N62.83 billion gross income the bank posted in 2013. The strength of the bank in the current year is the ability to cut down on key operating cost elements to stretch out profit margin. Major cost cutting has happened in two key lines so far in the year. These are interest expenses and operating cost. Interest expenses dipped 15.4 per cent to N8.56 billion in the second quarter over the corresponding figure last year. This remedied the inability of the bank to grow interest income during the period. Interest income improved marginally by 2.4 per cent in the second quarter. The decline in interest expenses raised net interest income by 15.1 per cent to N16.44

MD, Unity Bank, Semenitari

billion during the review period. The second area of cost cutting success is total operating expenses, which declined by 10.1 per cent to N13.78 billion year-on-year at the end of the second quarter. That has lowered the bank’s operating cost margin from 50.8 per cent in the second quarter of last year to 44.6 per cent in the current year. With the decline, the bank’s op-

erating cost margin has fallen in line with the average banking industry numbers. Other favourable developments that helped the bank’s bottom line in the second quarter include an increase of 16.9 per cent in other operating income to N1.94 billion and a rise of 38.6 per cent in foreign exchange income to N122 million. Some drawbacks also include a decline of 5.6 per cent in fees and commissions and a rise of 70 per cent in credit loss provisions- which came to N612 million at the end of the second quarter. Provision for loan loss expenses however needs to be watched in view of the unexpected surge in the second half of last year. While provision for credit losses was N360 million at the end of the second quarter of last year, the full year figure was N21.59 billion. That equally overturned the bank’s bottom line position from a net profit of N3.70 billion in the second quarter of last year to a loss of N22.58 billion at full year.

MD, 7-up, Sunil Sawhney

both the accelerated growth in sales revenue and a major improvement in profit margin. Net profit margin went up from 4.5 per cent in 2013 to 8.3 per cent at the end of the 2014 financial year in March. Two major cost moderations accounted for the improvement in profit margin during the year. These are cost of sales and sell-

ing/distribution expenses, both of which moderated relative to sales revenue. Major developments in the balance sheet during the year are in respect of restructuring and cut down of loans and borrowings. The company has cut down its long-term borrowings by 71.3 per cent to N1.43 billion. It has also cut down its shortterm debts by 89.2 per cent to N1.5 billion while it has raised bank overdraft by 60.2 per cent to N1.34 billion. The company earned N10.04 per share in 2014, rising from N4.45 per share in 2013. The rise has placed it among the highest earning companies listed on the NSE by earnings per share. The rapid growth in earnings per share has spurred share price appreciation in the stock market. The company is consistent with dividend payment to shareholders. It paid a cash dividend of N2.20 per share in 2013, improving from N2.00 per share in 2012.

CBN to hold rates at 12 percent

head of its Monetary Policy Committee meeting next week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been predicted to most probably leave the country’s lending rates unchanged at 12 per cent, for the 17th time in a row. The new CBN governor Godwin Emefiele will be presiding over the first MPC meeting since his assumption of office on Tuesday next week and a poll by Reuters disclosed that foreign investors and analysts have expressed the position that the new leadership of the apex bank would want to balance controlling inflation and support the Naira with fostering growth. According to Reuters, the former managing director of Zenith Bank struck a dovish tone on rates two days after taking office in June, saying he would seek a gradual reduction in borrowing costs, which have been stuck at 12 percent since late 2011. The 12 per cent rates is adjudged to be much higher than

5.75 percent in South Africa, which Nigeria overtook to become Africa’s largest economy earlier this year, and 8.50 percent in Kenya. The Reuters poll noted that Investors perceived the new CBN helmsman comments to mark a reversal of the hawkish policies implemented by his predecessor Lamido Sanusi that were credited with curbing inflation and supporting the currency, and sold bonds and the Naira. “Emefiele has laid out plans to cut rates in the medium term (but) we do not see any chance of this happening at July’s MPC, much less as inflation continues to creep up ahead of elections,” said Alan Cameron, Londonbased economist at Nigerian stockbroker CSL. Inflation in Africa’s biggest economy rose to a 10-month high of 8.2 percent in June, closer to the CBN’s upper limit of 9 percent, after rising for four straight months this year on higher food prices and excess liquidity.

Nigeria remains indecisive on subsidy removal

ecision makers are said to remain split on whether or not to completely eliminate the fuel subsidy regime. Commissioners for finance from the 36 states of the federation met earlier in the nation’s capital under the umbrella of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and moved for the removal of the subsidy. They had, three months earlier, written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan demanding an end to the regime as it was, in their opinion, not in the interest of the nation for it to continue. Chairman of the Forum of the

Commissioners of Finance, Mr Timothy Odah, said their position was final and they had briefed their respective state governors. He indicated this to journalists after the meeting. The commissioners believe the subsidy regime has been characterized by corruption and fraud from oil companies who delivered far less than what they were paid for. In his words: “The report of the committee set up three months ago is being awaited and we still stand on the removal of the subsidy as it will be of much benefit to the states because what we have now is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Can you work in your in-law’s firm? p.12

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Why I celebrated my birthday the unusual way –Ogah W

Leo Sobechi

hen the President of Chyboy Foundation, Ikuku Chinedu Ogah, recently turned 38 years of age, workers at his Chyboy Motors, Chyboy Farms and St. Martin’s Group of Schools had thought the birthday boy would throw a party to mark the occasion. But Ogah had a different plan. He went to Senator Emmanuel Onwe, a former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Darlington Okereke and former Chairman of Ikwo West Development Centre, Matthew Nkwede and asked them to be part of his entourage to Ebonyi country side so as to appreciate the contrast between rural community and urban life. The gray areas between unrestricted rural existence and congested race for survival in the city, they thought, would make a good sightseeing for the birthday boy. How wrong they were! In a long convoy of cars and buses, the mass of Ogah’s staff, friends, well-wishers and journalists went easterly to Ikwo, on the outskirts of Ebonyi State. Those who thought it was actually a tour of rural countryside were not altogether wrong. However, it was not long before it dawned on them that the agenda of the tour was a different ball game. Ogah’s plan was to use his birthday to reach out to the less privileged members of the society at the countryside. As the convoy snaked through a blend of asphalted and earthen roads, development projects including five transformers, four boreholes, town halls and bridges constructed by Ogah were commissioned. At Alike Ikwo where he donated 200 bags of cement to Ndufu Alike Development Union, (NADU) for the construction of a civic centre, Ogah told the people that “what we are trying to do is to replicate what Governor Martin Nwancho Elechi is doing by providing critical social amenities to various towns and villages.” While pleading with the people to pursue peace and love for one another, Ogah asked NADU to name the centre as Martin Elechi Ultra-Modern Civic Centre, saying that would serve as a reminder of the governor’s integrated rural development policy. The celebrant advised the people not to allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous politicians as another election draws near. He said that allowing Governor Elechi to represent them at the Senate in 2015 will be a good way to thank him for his good works. In his remark, Okereke who represented Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives noted that what Ogah did could be described as true leadership. “Though he is not in government, Ogah has decided to associate with his people and help in developing the community; everybody has indeed benefitted from his generosity,” Okereke stated. Later at Ndiagu Amagu, Ogah’s home town, a medical fair was held and all the people were enrolled to the National Health Insurance Scheme. Besides, wheelchairs, sewing machines, motorcycles and wrappers were distributed to deserving indigenes.

Senator Onwe (left) and Ogah (right)

Ogah said his foundation was sponsoring 68 undergraduates in various universities, adding that during the last police recruitment he was able to secure places for 215 Ebonyi indigenes. “We also constructed 200 houses for widows; we also executed rural electricity projects and offered scholarships to first degree holders to pursue further education,” he declared. Wheelchairs In an interaction and Motorcycle with journalists, Ogah donated by Ogah explained why he decided to embark on the projects and reach out to the people. “We are created by God and in God’s image. So, we should always remember that we are visitors to the world. What matters in life is the impact we make especially the legacies we leave behind. That is why I deem it necessary to say that if God made it possible for us to have little, we should share and give a sense of belonging to the less privileged,” he said. Ogah said that among those who received handouts are those “who don’t have anybody to look after them,” adding that is the reason why he always try to “celebrate with the downtrodden and reaching out to the unreached.” He said that since one would either return home in life or in death, one should try to touch the lives of the people back home. “We find it conducive to always come back home because that is where we started. That is why we also deem it necessary to

Politics of this brand is the one I subscribe to, not politics of selfish commitment to your private pocket and your own party empower the people. The dream came few months ago,” he added, pointing out that he could not put a monetary estimate to what he did since the intention was “to put smiles on the faces of rural dwellers.” Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Senator Onwe, who commissioned the projects, said of Ogah and his philanthropic activities: “He came, he saw and I believe; he conquered! How did he conquer? He

has used whatever was available to benefit those who are not fortunate enough. We saw the wheelchairs, wrappers, money and the motorcycles. We have come here, we have eaten and those of us that think we are the pride of society, we tend to lock ourselves in air-conditioned rooms, drink our Champagne and forget that there are people like those people Chinedu Ogah tried to reach out to.” Onwe said the whole essence of what Ogah did came spontaneously from a willing heart and from someone that was neither in government nor in position of authority. He said: “It is like nothing, wherever we went to people and they poured out on the street. Politics of this brand is the one I subscribe to, not politics of selfish commitment to your private pocket and your own party. And he is not even a member of government; he is not a commissioner, he is not a member of the House of Assembly or National Assembly; does not have appointment of any kind, he is a party official. “But yes, he is in a position to derive some benefits and he has decided to have that benefits trickle down to the rest of the society. I applaud him for that. I am not a frivolous person, so the reason that brought me out to be with him today is precisely because I knew projects will be around not for making noise but real genuine projects to benefit the people.”

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

STREET DIARY

Cocoa merchants win levy war against C’River govt Clement James Calabar

he Cross River State Government has backed down on its earlier directive to Cocoa merchants in the state to pay N5,000 as “non-compliance levy” per ton of cocoa shipped out of the state from ports other than the Calabar seaport. Following a demonstration by cocoa merchants on Thursday in Ikom against the government’s directive and a court judgment on the issue in favour of the merchants, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. James Aniyom, on Friday withdrew the order through a text message he sent to the Director

of Produce Inspection. The message, which was forwarded to journalists reads; “Director of Produce please commence the immediate grading of cocoa and allow merchants lift their produce. The non-compliance levy has been suspended till the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday.” With this directive, the merchants will be allowed to ship their cocoa through any port of their choice without any payment whatsoever. It would be recalled that the cocoa merchants had, in 2013, taken the state government to the state high court for its alleged refusal to issue evacuation papers for onward shipment of coca and to withdraw its non-compliance levy of N5,000 per ton of cocoa

exported through other ports. The case lingered until March 6, 2014 when Justice Bassey E. Ikpeme of the high court decided in favour of the merchants. However, government was alleged to have refused the court order and continued collecting the levy; a situation which the state Chairman of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr. Alphonsus Nana, feared could further delay shipping the produce, affect output this season and cause the state cocoa sector to collapse. This fear led to the mobilisation of cocoa producers in Ikom, the hub of the produce, to embark on street protest on Thursday, which has now forced the state government to withdraw the order.

he Federal Government has said it will appeal against the decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja rejecting its application to extradite one Kingsley Edegbe to the Netherlands for trial over alleged human trafficking. Executive Secretary of National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, made this known to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. “We were so disappointed at the judgment and we intend to appeal against it because we think it is something we need to test. We are strongly of the view the judge did not appropriately look at the implication of Nigeria’s participation in the trafficking in person’s protocol and being party to the convention and the protocol. “We want to test that on appeal and hopefully we should get a reversal. Nigeria is bound by the provisions of the transnational organised crime convention which makes it clear that all state parties should cooperate in regard to extradition and mutual legal assistance,” she said. Jedy-Agba argued that Nigeria had domesticated the convention in several ways, including through the ICPC Act, EFCC Act and the laws establishing NAPTIP and NDLEA. On prosecution of human trafficking offenders, the NAPTIP boss said over 240 convictions had been secured by the agency since its establishment in 2003. In the past one year, she said NAPTIP initiated 314 trafficking investigations, completed 43 prosecutions and achieved 42 convictions. On the protection of victims of trafficking, she said the federal government was collaborating with relevant agencies from several countries to ensure the return and reintegration of Nigerian victims. She said Nigeria was working closely with the U.S. government to develop “an appropriate policy” that provides support for voluntary returnees and those stranded abroad because of trafficking. “A memo has been sent to Mr President for his attention

Cocoa merchants

PHOTO: WCF

251 killed in 651 accidents in 6 months in Jos zone - FRSC

President Jonathan

FG insists on extradition of Nigerian child trafficker to Netherlands and consideration on this issue. Hopefully, within the next few weeks, we will see a presidential committee set up to look into this issue and ensure that we have something which is holistic,” she said. Jedy-Agba applauded the contributions of her predecessors at NAPTIP and other government agencies for being one of this year’s recipients of the 2014 Anti- Trafficking Hero award by the U.S government. “This award will certainly not blind me to the huge task of tackling the most insidious crimes of our generation. My vision is to get the whole of government and the whole of society to respond in a holistic manner, consistent with the mercurial nature and evil dynamics of the crime,” she said. The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria described human trafficking as “modern-day slavery” which affects virtually every country, including the United States. “In 2014, there were between 21 and 29 million people living as modern-day slaves. That figure is staggering. Countries around the world are doing a lot to put an end to trafficking in persons

and 116 countries have already enacted laws to prohibit all forms of trafficking.” He praised Jedy-Agba for working tirelessly, since her appointment as head of NAPTIP in 2011, to advance an amended Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Bill at the National assembly. NAN learnt that the bill would impose prison terms the traffickers, as opposed to fines. The U.S ambassador expressed delight that the amended TIP bill was passed by the Nigerian Senate in March and was awaiting passage in the House. The 2014 US TIP report lists Nigeria as “Tier 2” country whose government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but are making “significant efforts” to do so. The report which was published last month said Nigeria was `` a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking. Jedy-Agba spoke at a reception in honour of her award as 2014 Anti Trafficking Hero by the U.S government.

he Jos Zonal Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it recorded 251 deaths in 651 accidents between January and June this year. The zone comprises the three north-central states of Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa. The Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO), Mr. Yakubu Attah, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Friday. Attah said that more than 1,815 people were injured in the accidents that involved 2,973 victims. “We find the figures unacceptable and have intensified our public enlightenment activities alongside advocacy and greater enforcement of traffic laws to check the trend,” he said. The ZCO said the zone had flagged off a special intervention patrol operation on major roads within its command to check speeding, drunk driving and other factors largely responsible for the accidents. “Our aggressive measures would bring in all stakeholders in the quest for safe roads; we want all Nigerians to see them-

Accident scene

selves as being part of these efforts,” he said. The FRSC official warned that no offender would be spared “no matter how highly placed.” Attah also warned commercial motorists, especially those not officially registered, against operating illegal motor parks, saying that the command would deal severely with anyone caught. He urged officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to monitor activities of their members who pick passengers along the roads. The commanding officer also advised commuters to always board vehicles at recognised motor parks for their safety. Besides, he cautioned motorists against high speeding, overloading and other acts of recklessness, especially during this rainy season. Attah advised commuters to protest against such recklessness in their own interest and report recalcitrant drivers to the corps.

Voices

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Street Diary

Can you work in your in–law’s firm? Yes, I can!

The work environment is a professional field and I can work with any professional even if it is my in-law. The real issue is if I won’t have issues working with my in-law, but if he is a professional, we will just know our bounds.

(Niyi Omobulejo, video director) It depends on the character, attitude…

I can work in my inlaw’s place but it depends on the type of position I am being offered. And also, the character and attitude of my in-law matters. If I am respected and have good relationship I will work, otherwise I will not.

(Seun Lawson, graduate)

I will, if the prospect is good

If my in-law is the owner of a well - established firm and I see it as a good working environment for me with a good salary, I will.

(Adebola Olufowokan, fashion designer) Yes, if I don’t have to be submissive to him

First of all, it depends on the person in question, if he/ she is my junior and also the position I am offered in the organization. If I am there to help manage the business or something that doesn’t require so much submission then it is fine by me.

(Gift Chapi, journalist)

I don’t see anything wrong with it

I don’t see anything wrong in working with my in-law because work is work and family issue is at home. Besides, we may not be working in the same department.

(Taiwo

Fajemirokun,

I will

It's not bad; I will. It's only pride that could hinder such because I don't see any problem in that.

(Ogechi Awoji, student)

As a woman, yes…

As a woman, yes! But as a man, I cannot because majority of the inlaws will feel like they are the ones feeding the families of such men.

(Dasola Alaba, runs a salon)

It is a wise decision not to

I don't like working under someone because I love and believe in self – employment. I can't tolerate any form of insult from anybody, my in – law inconclusive. It is not a wise decision if you ask me because I hate embarrassment.

(Godstime Oberiafo, clergy)

It is not good for the man

It is not good for a man and I don't like the idea. But since I am a lady I can.

(Jumoke Tinuola, works in fashion shop) Why not?

Why not? Everybody must pay some bills. People that think I shouldn't work there when there are no other options should provide me and my family food to eat. If there is another option I will definitely prefer not to work under my in-law.

(Sola Olukiran, CEO, Blackbridge Entertainment) If it is avoidable

It depends on our relationship and the character of my in-law. But to be sincere, I would avoid it if I can.

(Daphne Akatugba, works with a communication company) It is safer to work for one’s in - law

Why not, as long as we all know our boundaries and get along together, it is a wise choice to make. Working in my in-law's organisation is safer for me compared to other jobs because my in-law can't get wake up one morning and tender sack letter to his in-law which any other organisation can do without thinking twice. Also, my in-law will pay me well and promote me frequently and when necessary compared to other organisation, so why shouldn't I work in my in-law's organisation if need be?

(Miss Nwakego Steven, political scientist)

I can’t

I can’t work in my in law's company even though I am a woman. I can’t because I wouldn't want unnecessary familiarity with my in-law and it won't make me have my private life and earn the necessary respect.

(Queen Johnson) It is wrong

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

(Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele, textile designer)

There is nothing wrong with it

I don't see anything wrong with it because everyone needs good life and without money you are nobody. As a woman it does not mean anything because it is better than staying at home and doing nothing. It doesn't count as far as you have a job and you are being paid.

(Mrs. Lillian Emmanuel, businesswoman) I can’t

I love my privacy, so I can't work in my in-law’s organisation. I want a place where I can be neutral and where I will be treated more like a worker rather than a family member. One has to be careful working in an in-law’s organisation in order not to offend the members of the family.

(Emeka Osuji, computer technologist)

It could be burdensome

Working in my in-law’s organisation would be a heavy workload because one would be working to satisfy one’s inlaw to avoid trouble. Well, I see it as inconveniencing as one can't complain or contribute to some issues. I see it also as being lazy because there are other firms in which one can work and be very successful and happy.

(Mabel Ebu, student) compiled by

OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, victoria ewoh, SOBOWALE, GLORY TITTY, ABIMBOLA SODEKE and adebola adekunle

Instyle Bracelet-styled wristwatches are beautiful pieces of jewelry p.16 Travel In 2015, Sheraton scores Four Points in Ikot Ekpene p.39

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C o n v e r s at i o n

‘We want to create the biggest networking platform for lawyers’ Mobola Seni-Obileye is the daughter of the late former chief judge of Oyo State, Justice Timothy Adebayo Ayorinde. She recently launched thelearnedfriends, an initiative run with her partner, Juwon Okunowo, which she hopes would become the biggest social networking platform for the law community. She spoke with Joseph Onyekwere

ow did this initiative come about? Seni-Obileye responded by saying the initiative was borne out of the understanding that the entire world was going digital, and that the legal community was not going to be left behind. “We realized that globally the legal community has moved online and Nigeria is yet to catch up, though we are catching up but we are not where we supposed to be. There is a bit of lag from where we ought to be. So we came together with some of our founding father and came up with this initiative - how do we take the legal community online in Nigeria? What are the gaps in the industry and how do we fix it? So from brainstorming and talking to lawyers and journalists and students, we were able to put this together and come up with this initiative,” she stated. Speaking more on the mission of the initiative and the timeframe to get it achieved, she explained that the platform is meant to run forever just as other social networking platforms. She said: “No timeframe! This is going to go on forever. It is going to get bigger than what you are seeing right now. It has different phases. What do we intend to achieve? We want to create the biggest platform that the legal community can interact online and go there, create their profile and invite friends, your own publications, issues that you are passionate about; you discuss them there and invite your friends. “We have kicked off with the social networking platform which enables you go there, create a profile and invite your friends to join you. It’s growing. We have an e-library coming up there which is going to be resources for lawyers and law students. We have a link for career development, education resources across the country and outside of the country. So it’s going to be a one-stop shop for the legal community, so to speak. So one of higher

first thing you do when you get to the office in the morning is to sign in to the learned friends because every resource you require that will assist you in performing better would be there. So for time frame, it would be endless. It will get bigger and massive. We have partnered outside here as well. By the end of this year, we will take it outside of Nigeria.” According to her, thelearnedfriends is conceived as a global brand. She said that the intention of the creators of the platform is to make it the biggest social networking site for lawyers in the world. “On the landing page, we feature people in the industry who have made impact. So every week we have a profile so someone there, those we want to celebrate. It is not just about the big names alone, but students as well, those reputed to have topped their class. There is something for everybody and for the business class, there is opportunity to talk to your target market. We have people that sell legal books, the wig and the gown and so on. There is an opportunity for them to advertise. There is something for everybody. Like I said, it’s going to be a one-stop shop,” she emphasized. Highlighting the various unique features of the platform, Seni-Obileye said it has chat options, news sections as well as blog links. Her words: “You can create a blog and discuss issues that are related to you. You can put up publications. We have a link there that can link you to related sites such as the federal high court, NBA sites and others. We have the chat feature so that when you are in the office, you can chat with your friends no matter where they are. You put up your pictures or videos. It is like the regular social media networking site. So you can be there and do everything you want to do. We also post up industry and legal news regularly so you can be abreast of what is going on. We also post events and the current news in the country as well. Also, we have IT-related news, new resources, new apps, new technologies that would assist you as a lawyer, as a journalist and as a student. We have all of that in the site. “We have two features that would excite non-lawyers and those who are not in the legal profession. You can advertise your business or your services on there. Secondly, we have a feature that is coming up called ask a lawyer. It is going to be one of the resources on the site. It is a free legal advice. You might have issues with your landlord, you go there and state what the matter is and there are lawyers who are there to answer you. And it is free. It is open to the public and the world” she explained that the site is starting

Seni-Obileye

“From a branding point of view, if you go to the site, you will experience the time, quality and effort and attention that we have given in putting it together.” in phases with the intention now being to cover Nigeria and gradually expand to other West African states. “We are starting it in phases. First of all, we are covering Nigeria. Then we expand to West Africa and from there, we take it to the world. We advertise our site on relevant online platforms. We have a Twitter channel, Facebook channel, a BBM channel and Linkedin as well. So these a few of

the biggest players in the industry. So we have presence there to create awareness about our brand. And these platforms are not limited to Nigeria, it covers the world. “Also, we have a few partners especially in education. Not all of them are indigenous companies. So those are some of our partners. And then, we cover events as well. From a branding point of view, if you go to the site, you will experience the time, quality and effort and attention that we have given in putting it together. I don’t think anybody has gone in without giving us a call to express excitement,” she enthused. She stated that there has been a lot of research and brainstorming behind the background before the partners decided to get the site running. She added that the partners have been going to schools to support their programmes with the intention of attracting people to the site. She said: “There has been a lot of thinking and research that has CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

WEEKEND | CONVERSATION

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

‘No big deal leaving the boardroom for public service’ The public service is often an unfamiliar turf for executives accustomed to the private sector work ethic. Not so for Udom Emmanuel, secretary to the Akwa Ibom State government who insists it’s all about human relations. Laurence Ani writes

s an executive director with Zenith Bank, Udom Emmanuel would normally have a predictable schedule for Monday morning. His secretary would likely be feeding him documents to prep him for one of those meetings that hold in the swanky confines of boardrooms where executives pore over financial details amid sips of coffee. But there was a contrasting scenario at his Uyo, Akwa Ibom, residence, last Monday. He had received a call about what seemed like a prelude to a crisis in Eket, also in Akwa Ibom, where youths were spoiling for a showdown with ExxonMobil over an oil spill. The reason for this sudden change in work schedule is because Emmanuel has left his job as a banker for the public service since being appointed as the secretary to the Akwa Ibom State government few months back. So it was his duty to represent the state at a town hall meeting brokered with the community. He was nonetheless upbeat at the prospect of attending what looked certain to be a raucous affair. “If you cannot run a kiosk, you cannot run a multinational,” he said in response to the suggestion that having a private sector background makes him unsuitable for the public service job he has taken. “Why I have not experienced so much difference between the two worlds is because I’m always guided by the principles of purpose which also is driven by focus. That would help ensure you’re a result-oriented person. Anywhere you go what you meet are still the basic aims of management. Whether the man and material you’re given to manage is categorized under public or private, that capacity should be evident and you should be able to harness them and ensure you achieve results. Having built that capacity over the years, it’s really not a strange world.” Emmanuel says there’s really no fuss about moving to public service from the private sector because they’re both about managing people and managing resources to achieve certain goals. “In life

Emmanuel... says he’s a ‘true Ibibio son’

they tell you what gets measured, gets rewarded. In the private sector, there is a clear unit of measurement; but in the public sector the parameters are not so defined. In the private sector your reward system is based on results because there are already clear expectations. However, the principles are the same. What would close the gap is shared values which is like culture. There is however a wide gap between the attitude of the human capital in both experiences. The only way we can close that gap is to close the gap of culture - service culture, delivery culture, attitude generally. They say your attitude can determine your altitude.”

Although he concedes that the transition would entail some changes, he disagrees it won’t be to an extent there is a disorientation. “Moving from a private sector-driven corporate organisation to the public sector, the changes would be in terms of what you do, which are the nitty-gritty of the job content and the responsibility profile. But in terms of what shapes your basic attributes as a human resource manager performance-driven human being, it shouldn’t be so much.” There is however another reason Emmanuel is unfazed by the troubleshooting mission to Eket that Monday morning. It was more or less a homecoming.

“I’m a true Ibibio son from Eket senatorial district. My grandfather was one of the major early days merchants with G.B. Ollivant.” Indeed, his optimism was justified. The simmering unrest was nipped in the bud after several hours meeting with elders and youths of the community. He attributes the successful negotiation to the level of trust Governor Godswill Akpabio has built with the frenzied infrastructural development he has carried out across the state. “The present government has invested a lot on education, free education and free healthcare for women and children.” You may wonder whether he is sufficiently primed for the insufferable bureaucracy of the public service, but there is no doubt that he has a background that prepared him for the boardroom. “Over the years I’ve had the basic training that I believe an educated person should have,” he said, pointing out that there’s a difference between going to school and being trained. “I started this training with Pricewaterhousecoopers, one of the best consulting firms in the world. From there I got exposed to financial services across Africa and Europe.” On why there hasn’t yet been an influx of investors despite the huge investment on infrastructure and relative peace in the state, he said: “Investors are coming. Investment is not like a hundred metre dash; it goes through stages and processes. There is our port development. On the average it takes five to seven years to develop a good deep sea port like ours. You don’t build something that is enduring overnight. When the president visits the state he would do a groundbreaking ceremony of a major methanol plant. This is an investment worth $1.8 billion. Having paid much attention to infrastructure and human capacity development, the basic and urgent need now is industrialization and employment for the teeming youths that are willing and able to work.” The interview held a few days before Emmanuel’s birthday, but there was no air of anticipation at his residence. “I hardly celebrate my birthdays. I would rather spend the day with the less privileged if I have the time.” Born July 11, 1966, the secretary to the Akwa Ibom State government describes himself as a “God-fearing” family man. “My wife’s name is Martha. I have four children - two girls and two boys. I come from a family of six. My mother is late but my father is still alive; he just turned 85 on May 27. The yeas my mother did not live are compensated for by my father’s long life.”

‘We can handle the traffic the site will generate’ CONTINUED FROM PAG E 1 3

gone into it. This is about six weeks since we actually commenced operation. We have been to events such as book launch. We have been to some of the tertiary institutions to support some of their events. We go to the courts and as the lawyers are coming in; we tell them about the site and pass the fliers. So we have a team out there doing advertising. So we have been running fully for six weeks now. But from inception to now, it’s been over a year.” The entrepreneur explained that the site has attracted over 500 users at this point

“We go to the courts and as the lawyers are coming in; we tell them about the site and pass the fliers.” while the only coverage area has just been Lagos. “So, you can imagine because I told you we are taking it in phases. For the next

three weeks, it would be like the pilot one, in order to understand what our users want because we take their feedback to make us better since we are serving them,” she quipped. What is the cost implication for advertisers who may want to patronize the site? Seni-Obileye said it’s quite affordable. “We have three options for you. We have the billboard, the campaign and the classified. At this time, we are also running a promo such that for every month you paid, you get a month free. It’s kind of a product penetration strategy,” she stated, adding that the firm has enough back room staff with sufficient IT skill to cope with the challenges that may arise in running the site.

“We have our in-house programmers - full time and part time. We also have IT partners both locally and internationally. So we have the in-house resources to handle the task. We can handle the traffic that is going to come on in this site. We are really excited about it. Apart from being a lawyer, she has a background that gave her a sufficient drill her for the new challenge as an entrepreneur. “I have been in marketing and advertising for seven years and I have owned my own advertising firm for seven years and it was grown from inception. Right now, we have over 30 full staff and the contract staff runs into thousands.”

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

You could rock the Ramadan on a modest note

Angela Davies slam has its set values and uniqueness especially when it comes to women's fashion. However, the vital key is that your dressing should be modest as a Muslim woman. So, in this Holy month of Ramadan, no matter where you decide to go, it is appropriate to dress modestly in stylish outfits like abaya, jilbab, kaftan, long skirts and tops as well as other outfits that cover up appropriately. Importantly, you should not forget to adorn the hijab which makes the Muslim woman’s dressing complete.

TIPS • You should wear proper hijab. Hijab should be plain, simple in design and should give maximum coverage. Not a single hair should be revealed and the neck must be covered. Plain colours such as black, brown, dark blue and white are best. Your hijab should flatter your face shape as well. • Clothes like skinny jeans, seethrough clothes and tight t-shirts and tops should be avoided during this period. • Whether you wear jeans or plain trouser, you should wear a long top that falls below the hips. • Make-up should be light or totally avoided. If you must wear make-up, en-

sure it is light. You can use shiny lip gloss and eye shadow. However, you also have the choice of staying away from make-up until after the fasting period. • You can step out in style in adorable and exquisite abaya attire. Abaya is a traditional Muslim clothing trend. It is extremely stylish and has a timeless elegance. They are usually clothes that cover from head to toe, leaving only the face and hands bare. It comes in fabrics like chiffon, silk and silk chiffon with distinct embroidery designs. Some ladies wear jeans or plain trouser underneath. • There are also beautiful jilbab that could be finished off with a cute belt around the waist. The modern and contemporary jilbabs are designed for the urban Muslim woman on the go. • You can also opt for comfortable maxi skirts with tops or maxi dress with elastic waist that creates subtle pleats and a very feminine silhouette and accessorise to suit any occasion. Bear in mind that modesty should be your watchword throughout this Holy month of Ramadan.

The disc jockey's style There are absolutely no pretensions about Jimmy Adewale Amu's style; they are simple and casual. Amu, who goes by the showbiz moniker, DJ Jimmy Jatt, speaks about his dress sense. ANGELA DAVIES writes. Define your style My style is just me. In as much as I follow trend, I don’t let the trend dictate what I wear. I have a way of mixing and matching my things to suit me. What determines what you wear? I wear what I feel comfortable in. Sometimes, the event determines what I wear. Your style signature It is my cap. I have gotten so used to it that it is like going out without my pants. What is that clothing item you will never be caught wearing? That will be an agbada. Maybe at the time it was designed it made sense but right now for an average hustling guy it makes no sense. Signature perfume I don’t just use one type of perfume. For instance, the one I use on my wrist or neck is going to be different from the one I use on my body. Most expensive fashion item you have ever bought I think it is a Frank Muller wristwatch. What is that fashion item you cannot do without? I can really do without my cap, but I guess I am too attached to it. Best designer I don’t go out to look for a particular designer when I want to buy things. However, by coincidence I noticed that I wear a whole lot of Gucci things. Best colour I like red but whether it works for my clothing I really don’t know. Nevertheless, I always manage to spot something red somewhere when I dress. However, I will never wear a red suit. What do you consider a fashion faux? Today, anything is allowed in fashion as long as you can pull it off. People say you don’t wear face cap on suit but I have been wearing it for ages. People say you don’t wear sneakers on a proper suit and a lot of artistes do it. I think it is how you are able to pull it off that DJ Jimmy Jatt really matters.

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Accessories to live for

Bracelet-styled wristwatches Bracelet-styled wristwatches are beautiful, trendy and versatile pieces of jewellery that could be worn with just any kind of outfit for that elegant look, writes ANGELA DAVIES.

he bracelet-styled wristwatch is a smart choice for women who cannot easily make up their mind between wearing a wrist watch and a bracelet. These watches give you the look of a bracelet and the convenience of a watch both in one. Just as the name suggests, they are watches that have a bracelet style, which makes them easy to slip on and off, but they still can be used as a functional watch. These stylish and trendy watches can be worn with different types of outfits. For an evening event, you can add sparkle and style to your outfits with an elegant gold bracelet-styled watch. For an informal event, you could adorn silver bracelet-styled watch for that stylish look. You could also opt for colourful bracelet styled watch mixed with pearls or diamond studs depending on the occasion. These watches come in an endless array of colours like gold, silver, white, pink, while some are mixed with pearls and diamond studs for a glitzier look. They also come in different shapes as well as styles like bangles, cuff and linked chain. The type of bracelet styled watch you choose to adorn your wrist with depends on your style.

Facts Lola Faturoti, NigerianAmerican designer, had her first introduction to the fashion world with her grandmother who was a designer of traditional Nigerian clothing. She got more of a global perspective on the fashion world through her mother who travelled a lot when Lola was young and brought her back different styles of clothing from around the world.

The earliest known shoes are sandals that date back to approximately 7,000 B.C.

Throughout the different eras, women applied colour to their faces by many different means. In Cleopatra‘s time, berries and other natural ingredients were used to enhance the face.

A person’s social rank and profession in the Medieval Ages was represented by the colour of their clothing. The nobility wore red, peasants wore brown and grey, merchants and bankers wore green.

BEAUTY

Make-up tips for an evening outing A re you thinking of how to achieve that radiant, glamorous effect with your make-up for your evening outing? Then you should think of an evening make-up that is chic, inspiring and sophisticated. Before applying your make-up for the evening, you have to consider the occasion. If it is a red carpet event, your make up should have that "wow" effect. Even if it is a cocktail event or a date with a male friend, your make-up should also speak volume.

TIPS • For a glam look, you should go for makeup colours that suit your complexion. So, to accentuate your beauty, use a natural base. Go for liquid foundation and powder to even out and soften your skin tone. Then, using a large brush, apply an illuminator over your whole face to obtain a silky, luminous effect. • Highlight your cheekbones with an amber-coloured blusher. Then apply a hint of blusher on the contours of your face for a chiselled look. • The eyes are important to evening makeup so they should be sexy. Hence, choose dark colour eye shadows such as deep grey, brown or black. Also, go for light-reflecting shadows to add shimmer. Then apply black pencil under your eye. Add a little eye shadow under the eye, at the level of the lashes. Finish off your eye make-up by applying black mascara to give depth and intensity to your appealing eyes. • Show off your blush as they help put

some glow in your face. However, whichever type you choose, ensure the shade matches your skin tone. • Red is the colour of romance. Red lips are the classic sexy look; so choose and wear red lipstick shade that you are comfortable with. You could opt for matte red as matte lipsticks last long. You could also decide to try a glossy red lipstick as it adds a sophisticated touch to your lips. Also, you could wear a glossy red lipstick as a stand-alone colour, or layer it over a matte shade for extra-long wear. • Wear a remarkable perfume - It is ideal to wear a lovely fragrance for your outing. However, the fragrance should not be harsh or nauseating.

Different shades of red lipsticks

Ibinabo Fiberisima Announces December wedding date p.18 Nomoreloss 'I didn't want to sing anymore at a point' p.20

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ANITA JOSEPH: I've been naked for too long... it's outdated Brazen actress, Anita Joseph is a constant newsmaker. She achieves this through her provocative dress sense and the manner she interprets movie roles. She speaks with ANGELA DAVIES on her movie and singing career, and latter day aversion for tattoos and nudity. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO LATELY? I have been doing a lot of movies. YOU HAVE ADDED ON SOME WEIGHT; IS THERE AN EXPLANATION TO THAT? I should say I have been careless with my diet. Lately I have not been working on my body such as exercising or going to the gym. I don’t have the time to do so because of work. ON DEATHS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY I know we will all die someday but when people die at an early age, it hurts even when you are not close to the person or people. Igbo people say that when it happens to another person it will be like it has happened to the body of a tree. So what I am trying to say is that even when you are not close to the person or people who die, you will still feel the pain because they are human beings and our colleagues so it is very painful I must admit. PRAYER FOR THE INDUSTRY I would p r a y that God should take absolute control in the entert a i n m e n t indust r y . The industry needs serious prayers a n d everybody needs prayer a s well. Daring...Joseph says she now "covers herself and still looks good" as the picture top right shows

ON PERCEPTION THAT SHE IS WEIRD Yes, I know, but I think it is because of my look. Sometimes when people see you, they think you are bad because you do very wild hairstyles and you wear sexy and revealing clothes. But they don’t really know you inside. People who do not know me usually conclude that Anita Joseph in that movie is who she is in real life but that is not true. In the movie Azonto Classic, I played the role of a stripper with Funke Akindele and some other actors and people who have seen the movie think that, that is the real Anita. In real life, I don’t drink or smoke, my life is just calm but in movies I do. However, if you watch closely, you will know that it is fake. After puffing cigarettes on set, I will go back home having headache. ATTITUDE TO ROMANCE ROLES I play every of my role very well. In as much as acting is all about pretence, I still make it look real. So when you are watching any of my romance movies at home, you will feel the romance as well. WHO I’D LIKE TO BE PAIRED WITH ON MOVIE SET I can be paired with anybody. As long as he is a good actor, I am going to deliver my role well. Even if the actor is an up-and-coming or if he started acting that same day we are shooting, I don’t care. What I want to know is that he can deliver the role with me. Role delivery is very important. When it comes to kissing, we don’t really do tongue to tongue, we fake but we make it look very authentic. BEST ACTOR I’VE KISSED ON A MOVIE SET I will not say his name maybe off the record. I am shy; also I don’t want the person to know. ROLE I WOULD NEVER TAKE That will be when you tell me to bare it all. I can do short and bikini like acting, but going on pants and bra is a no-no. FORAY INTO MOVIE PRODUCTION I intend to produce my own movies, but not now because I have a lot of things I am doing right now. Even my music career is on hold as well. But movie has taken a better part of me I must say. THE KIND OF HUSBAND I WANT I don’t want a very rich man because if he is very rich, I will not see him at home. I want a rich guy but I don’t want him extremely rich. I want a man that I will always see at home. I want to be able to call

him and he will answer my phone call and tell me, ‘babe I am coming home’ and not that he is in a meeting and has another meeting that will stay into the night. I want a comfortable guy but he has to be dark. I don’t like fair guys. The wedding bell will ring very soon. MY STYLE I wear anything that suits me at that particular time and it depends on the occasion too. Today I am covered from head to toe. It is good to be covered; I have been naked for too long. Being naked is outdated. NOW THAT NUDITY IS OVERRATED I flaunt good body. I am covered and I still look good. FRESH DISLIKE FOR TATOOS I don’t like tattoos anymore because they are very addictive. When you do one, you would want to do more. But I thank God that I have been able to overcome adding more tattoos to my body because it is actually a bad spirit. With tattoos, it is like there is a spirit inside you that is telling you to add more. I had on my arm before, I have on my neck and the last one I wanted to do was around my hip area but I had to caution myself. HOW I UNWIND I don’t go out much. It is not as if I don’t club or party but it is once in a while. MOST STRIKING PRAYER POINT I pray for God’s wisdom. If I have wisdom, I will have more money because I will have the wisdom to apply to make more money. GREATEST FEAR Failure is my greatest fear. I love succeeding in everything I do. I don’t ever want to fail.

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LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445 lanreodukoya@gmail.com

Ebenezer Obey becomes university don

vangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi has been decorated as an Emeritus Professor of Music at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. The singer was recently honoured at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel hall of the institution by the vice chancellor, Professor Saburi Adejin Adesanya. The well deserved honour came the way of the maestro 52 years after founding his band, Ebenezer Obey and His International Brothers, when he was barely18 years old. Tenacious Obey didn’t sink wit h t he t ide of failure that characterised his debut album dubbed, E wa wo o h u n oju mi ri, his

E-BRIEFS

narrative of a true life experience of a robber electrocuted at a scene of crime in 1963 released by Decca Music. His fame soared with the marvellous acceptance of another album titled, Olo mi gbo temi; a love song that became an anthem of sort from house to house in the 1960s. From that point on, he once confessed: “everything I touched became gold.” His invaluable contributions with I.K. Dairo, who played with Ojoge Daniel but came up with his own innovation (guitar and accordion) popularised juju music and made it gain more prominence over Agidigbo and Kokoma which were the rave of that era. In appreciation, Obey reportedly presented musical instrument worth millions of Naira to the department as part of his promise and commitment to the citadel of learning. Dignitaries who witnessed the event include the Alake of Egbaland, Aremu Gbadebo, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho, and former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s wife, Bola Obasanjo. Also present were Tony Okoroji, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, Demola Dada, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Hon. Adejare, Barrister Segun Odumela and music producer, Laolu Akins. The singer promised to serve with his “heart and might”.

Ibinabo shrugs off Ibu’s gripe, announces December wedding date

Juliet Ibrahim debuts music video featuring General Pype

resident of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberisima, is a happy woman nonetheless. The lady who was recently lambasted by a male colleague, the comic actor, John Okafor a.k.a. Mr. Ibu, seems to have shrugged off the banters and went ahead to announce her wedding expected to hold sometime in December. Isn’t that another brilliant way of shutting up a critic? Mr. Ibu had called out Ibinabo in the press recently and advised the first female president of the guild never to consider running for a second term in office. While the world was expecting a counter-reaction, Ibinabo, a single mother of three wittily trivialised it with the announcement of a fairytale wedding that is to hold later in the year.

hanaian artiste Juliet Ibrahim has released the visuals for her song, her debut effort titled, It’s Over Now. The video features Nigeria’s dancehall artiste, General Pype. The actress who has been in the news recently with the confirmation of her split from her pilot husband dropped this new song which may be exposing the untold details of her divorce. With the three minutes and 55 seconds visual and acoustic symphony, she’s proven that hers will not be a fluke after all.

Sumbo Ajaba on Tuface Idibia’s first son, Nino

It’s Jude Okoye again!

he love bug had bitten Jude Okoye, the eldest of the Okoye brothers and that explains why he frequently visits the social media recently with hilarious posts. He was on Instagram again to crack fans and followers up when he posted the message. “My dear future children, look at your mum and take all you need from her looks. Don’t pay much attention to my face o, especially my nose because if you do, oh, well, ask ‘Kermit’ the tea drinking frog.” The expectant dad is impatiently awaiting the arrival of his heir/heiress to stage another talk of the town marriage with his fiancée, Ifeoma.

umbo Ajaba, one of the women who have kids with Tuface made a salient remark the industry wouldn’t like to ignore. Ajaba who is now married to Pastor David Adeoye watched her son, Nino Idibia perform to the admiration of an elated audience and applauded the boy who is fast becoming a singer. Ajaba posted the video on Fac eb o ok a nd it sparked off interesting comments when some admirers linked the boy’s impressive talent to genes he share with

his dad. Ajaba swiftly rejected the part of Tuface he’d never wish her son share on Facebook. “I shared a video of Nino’s performance and many were quick to associate his love for music and such talent to his genes. I can’t rule that out, but truth be told parents, just as good characteristics can be passed down, so are negative characteristics. ActivateTheRightG e n esInYourC h i ld.” Ajaba has two sons, Nino and Zion with Tuface Idibia out of wedlock.

Gospel exponent, Ben Olofinsawo out with Incomparable God G

ospel act, Benjamin Olofinsawo has released his debut music album dubbed, Incomparable God. In the body of works is a praise medley, a splendid fusion of traditional numbers and well composed songs was unveiled to music lovers penultimate Sunday at a special service held at The Salvation Kingdom of Almighty Ipaja, Lagos. The five-track album which features salsa, funk, two worship tracks and a praise medley is produced by Topkeys Productions.

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'I didn't want to sing anymore at a point' With hit songs like Iyawo Asiko and Ololufe, Solomon Muyiwa Osinuga popularly known as Nomoreloss won himself several fans. But it was a long, painstaking walk to fame, he tells OLUSHOLA RICKETTS

You’ve been off the screen for so long. What is the reason behind the break? I think every artistes need to go for a break from time to time. I decided to run my own production and management company. But music for me is what I love to do. Whether for commercial purpose or not, I enjoy singing. I do a show, Nomoreloss Live at Ikeja, Lagos. I used to do it every week, but it is now every fourth night because of the amount of people we have to carter for every week. The platform is not a paying one and there is no gate fee attached to it. It is just about showing your skills; It is for all upcoming artistes, comedians, entertainers, etc. You have a new album; what has it been like? I released an album a couple of weeks ago. It is about 13 tracks and my third album. The whole idea behind the album was just to show a bit of me and what I was thinking at a time. It is just to satisfy people who have been waiting for me. The project was in the bag for too long; I just felt I should let it go. On the album, the song Ojuri is the most profound for me. I spoke a lot about things that were very personal to me. Things like my struggle with music, family, acceptance of the music eventually. It was a kind of sound that was coming from a very dark place. I nearly lost my father last year to cancer and writing the song was very particular to him. This is my gift to him. There is also a track titled Kini. People said I am going gospel. We pray every time, but once we get the breakthrough, we forget about God. For me, it was just the thank you song for allowing me to write songs again because at a point I didn’t feel like writing again; I just felt like producing other people and mentoring. But it is always there; You still want to add values to people no matter how little it could be. I dropped

the album to continue to add value. For my next album I am looking forward to working with the likes Sound Sultan, Mode 9, Ruggedman. I am basically going back to the people we started together. I would also give some up and coming artistes opportunity to showcase their talent.

thinking of doing a remix because I never shut a video for it. People still asked why I didn’t shoot the video, but I was not ready then. Music is something you must be committed to and I am a perfectionist. I like to know I am ready before I embark on any project.

So how were you able to convince your parents to accept the fact you had settled for music as a career? First, I don’t think we should blame our parents much. With what we hear about musicians; the nightlife, women, alcohol, drugs etc, I don’t think any parent who wants his kid to be a musician, especially when you’ve vested in him to pursue a degree. Now I understand better, but at a time, I didn’t get it because all I just wanted was for them to support what I was doing. When you see that your kid is constant with what he wants to do, you might want to reluctantly support, especially if you’ve not really heard anything negative about him. I think the breaking point was after I lost my mum because I became closer to my dad. I think that was the point they said, 'okay, let's support him'. My dad is now my greatest fan. He listens to my music before any other person and he would tell me if it is nice or not. I think it is very hard for parents to accept, but it influences your music when they finally do . You become more careful about what you are singing because you know your parents are listening and you have the word of caution in your head that they might just want to play it to the ears of their friends.

How would compare the industry now and then? You cannot compare. There’ve been so many changes negatively, though we have some positivity things too. If you watch the television there is so much drive about selling everything that has to do with sex. It was never like this then; you can actually watch a Christy Essien and she didn’t have to take her top off. Then, you will feel the essence of an African woman. But it is now about nudity, getting high, sex, making money, etc. Most people want to be popular, but they do not understand the responsibilities that come with being popular or a celebrity. They are in a rush and it is not really their fault. Back in the days we have custodians or gate keepers that will tell you the way it should be done. But now, there is no one guiding anyone. One positive thing is that this generation of artistes bond. Others were not like that; it was that selfish trend of me alone, but this generation knows the power of bonding and they are using it effectively. They also know the power of social media and they drive the process. If it is just one thing they know, they know it to the very end. Content wise, if you heard one song, it is like you’ve heard all songs. And the reason is because nobody experiments anymore. Everybody wants it fast and you cannot blame some people because it is all about timing. If you wait too long and time passes you by, people will turn their back against you. It has been a sad case where you have musicians who have written great songs but suddenly turn around to start something that is beyond their standard and it becomes a success over night. Such people then wondered the need to put in so much hard work writing lyrics when they can just enter the studio and do something crazy. But I think that it is still a matter of why you want stardom. I don’t think it means anything more than money to many. They want it quick and nothing more. So,tragedy...Arisekola-Alao's content wise, we havewife, lost Alhaja it somewhere. Double Jelilat, Even radiodied stations are baddays rightafter now. used to be heavy in a car crash herThey husband's death censorship; they were things you could say on radio and things you couldn’t say. Even on television there were things you could say, but it like free for all now.

How would you describe your kind of music? Defining my music is a bit difficult. I love all sorts of sound. Music is all about your mood and I like any music that catches my mood. It could be pop, reggae, rnb. But I am a great fan of reggae. I think I am still trying to achieve a combination of different genres but with a distinct sound that makes the music me. A lot of people can quickly identify my songs through my lyrics. Some people say I am too deep, but I believe that songs should carry a bit of you or your essence. When you sing, it should reflect clearly what you are talking about. What businesses do you do away from music? Every other thing I do is still related to entertainment in a way or the other. I run a management agency for upcoming artistes and I do events as well. I write, do a bit of blogging and motivational speaking. Do you have one work you cherish most? It would be a song called All The Time, though the song is not the most popular. A lot of people would rather refer to songs like Ololufe, Iyawo Asiko, Let Them Say, but this one was very particular for me. My maternal grandmother used to sing it and I decided that I was going to sing something like that for her. She was shocked to see me using her local dialect to sing. It has also been one of the most requested songs from my album. I am already

What's the tale behind your reported rift with Eedris Abdulkareem last year? If a regular person had a discussion it would be nothing, but when two people who are supposed to be musicians have a discussion, then it is something. Eedris is not an issue I would like to talk about again; he is a person of his own and I respect him a lot. It is just that the issue is not meant to be, but I would always wish him well. People are watching anything we do and it was a shame that it got that far. It was an episode I regretted because it was not a place I would have loved to be.

20 SHOWBIZ

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

I’m producing my movie to clinch the lead role – Banke Akinwunmi

Burgeoning actress, Banke Akinwunmi is an interviewer's delight. Sultry yet courteous, the promising act in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA talks about discerning the raunchy note in men's compliments and turning down sex-for-role offers. Seldom does one find actors swinging roles effortlessly from the Yoruba film industry to Nollywood. How did you get this done? I am a well co-ordinated person. I have a chart of where I am going to be every hour. So, if I have an appointment on a Yoruba language set, I do it and if it is on an English language set, I make sure I get there in time too. I also try to factor in a contingency plan for all of my productions, so if there is any challenge during a job, the contingency plan comes into play. At present, I am here attending this event, but I know you won’t find me here in an hour because by then, I would be on location. I understand how to manage time effectively and I’m literate enough in my art. You’ve barely spent four years in the movie industry and you want to produce yours, are you sure you are ready for this? The truth of the matter is that very few people want to feature you as lead character if you are not involved financially with the production or you don’t have the connection. If you don’t have access to all these things, why not do your own thing? If you have to move on and act as the lead in a movie, you have to produce your own movie. So that’s basically why you are producing? It is and it is also all about a forward movement. Many will argue that you don’t have to produce a movie to be the lead character; what do you think? They might say that, but they are not in the industry. I am part of the industry and I know what I am saying. By producing my own movie I will have a lifeline. You just have to find your way around it. Did you get into acting just to be popular? I have always wanted to be an actress from when I was younger. It has always been my passion. I remember that when I was quite younger I always interpret roles alone, but I knew it from then that I would be an actress when I grow up. What is the storyline of the movie you are producing? Basically, it is about trust. It is about trusting nobody, trusting yourself and nobody else. Does the story reflect a personal experience? Not really, it is just something that I thought about and turned it into a movie script. You shuttle between Nigeria and America quite often, do you have a business there? I have my personal business outside the movie industry and I have to travel to get supplies. Not for romance? When I travel it is for my business. How about this business of yours? Glitters and Glamour is the name of my company and we have a clothing line. I am also about to produce my own line of body cream. Are you about to produce another skin whitening cream? It is going to be a range of product so that people can pick what they want. If you are dark complexioned and you want to look fair and if it is the other way round, there are products for that. We also have a range of products which will take care of wrinkles and other blemishes. You have a clothing line, you are about to produce a movie and your body cream project is there, how do you raise the funds for these projects? I started my business when I was in the university and I have done well for myself. I think it is time to expand the business and I am only using the capital I have. Who are the actresses you admire in the movie industry? I like Bukky Wright.

Why did you single her out? I think she is very mature, very cool and I like the way she acts. Pretty faces attract a horde of men, do you agree with this? It is a normal thing. If you are beautiful men will always come and if you are fair and pretty, they will come in double fold. So how have you been handling them? I handle them maturely. You’re gorgeous with a sustainable income flow. Is being single a personal choice? It’s solely because I have a man in my life and I can’t double date. Often times when these men come I tell them that I’m taken and they will find a better person. So they m o s t times don’t have a choice but to move on. Who is this lucky man in your life? It won’t be proper for me to be discussing my affairs on the pages of newspaper. I have to respect the man in my life. What is the most striking part of your body which you think men just can’t resist? I know I have an attractive and enticing body, but I would say my butt is quite enchanting. My boobs are also another part of my body for which I have been complimented. How often do men give you compliments like, ‘hello dear, you have a nice butt’? They don’t talk to me like that. They say things like, ‘hi, you have a nice shape’ and I naturally know they mean my butt. Have you experienced sexual harassment in the movie industry? Yes, I have experienced it. Would you like to share your experience? It is just normal in the industry. I have experienced it more than once. I just feel that is what they do in the industry. So how did you manage the situation? I turn them down. They often come with the line that if you want to play a lead role you will have to get down with them. Has any director or producer badged into your hotel room without your consent? It does not happen like that because most times they come to you on location and tell you if you want a bigger role they can influence it. But I tell them 'if you can’t cast me on merit let me go away'. That is the kind of person I am.

... a finger on the city’s pulse

CONFLUENCE

he facelift on Senator Ganiu Olanrewaju Solomon’s office on Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, is an audible testament to his determination to run for governorship in Lagos in 2015. For now, he pitches his tent with the All Progressives Party (APC) where the one calls the shots seems to favour a retired civil servant, Akinwunmi Ambode. The representative of Lagos West senatorial district has already got wind of the possible anointing and in whose favour it is swinging, but he’s bent on giving it a fight to the finish. His angst is that he was prevailed on by the party, then Action Congress to step down for a preferred candidate who emerged winner at a primary staged in 2007. Eight years have gone past and Solomon’s governorship ambition is beaming with more steam. So, he’s curiously prepping for the primary which he insists must “for the first time be free and fair”. He has begun the ground work to the fulfilment of his dream, but it doesn’t seem like much might change. Inadvertently, Solomon might be going the way of a few co-travellers like Opeyemi Bamidele in taking a stand against his party leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu whose word remains sword in Lagos politics.

he general overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi has denied a story published by Encomium Weekly that he banned the use of iPads and iPhones in his church. He released a statement to that effect on his Facebook page. The statement reads: “There was never a time as referred to in the article, when Pastor W.F. Kumuyi made this statement or 'BANNED' the use of mobile de-

GOS

vices in the church. As much as every Christ-loving believer is encouraged to give God his/her full attention when in church or in any other place, where the Word of God is being taught, this story is HIGHLY MISCHIEVOUS and MISLEADING. There is no doubt that technology has its place in the spread of the gospel message as well as believers’ development where such is put into proper use but its misuse or abuse is not encouraged. "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: FOR ALL MEN HAVE NOT FAITH. But the Lord is faithful, WHO SHALL STABLISH YOU, and KEEP YOU FROM EVIL. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3." Oduah

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ACROSS 1. ADULATE 5. LAP 7. LEO 8. RIB 9. LED DOWN 1. ABRIDGE 2. UNBENT 3. AXLE 4. ELDERS 5. LOSS

LANRE ODUKOYA - 08059296445

Kumuyi dispels tale of ban on iPad-carrying members

Kumuyi

Obanikoro, Bode George in fist of fury

For GOS, there's no relenting on Lagos guber ambition

A B R I D G E

SHOWBIZ

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

10. EASY 11. DENT 12. OR 16. AT 17. FUSS 18. DRUM

22. EGO 23. EDE 24. DON 25. CUE 26. TRANSIT

6. PUT 13. DESSERT 14. LAMENT 15. DURESS 19. RODE

20. COLA 21. APC

ormer senator, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Bode George, are back at opposing sides on who the party's candidate should be in the next gubernatorial election in Lagos State. George is said to favour Jimmy Agbaje, the cerebral pharmacist who fiercely competed against Gov. Raji Fashola in 2007, but Obanikoro has also renewed his ambition for the same seat. Meanwhile, George is believed to have "sold" the Agbaje candidacy to key figures within the party at the state and national level, including the Presidency as one with the proper image to help wrest power from APC in the state. Informed sources insist that despite the perception that it would be a shoo-in if Agbaje declares interest, Obanikoro is giving his ambition more wings everywhere that matters. And his increasing involvement in attempts to dislodge the rival APC in South-west states. His visible presence in the landslide success at Ekiti State may have particularly endeared him more to the powers that be. Those in the know revealed that while George relies on the massive followership garnered by Agbaje in the robust contest he lost to incumbent Fashola, and the clean image he has maintained since then to push his candidature, Obanikoro is currently utilising what is described as a three-prong campaign: In-depth operational knowledge of the opposition, experience in politics at strategic levels and current positions and on-going successes. Interestingly so, observers of the renewed fight claim, the minister appears to be getting the upper hand. If Obanikoro finally has his way, it would be the second time he’d outwit George who lost Lanre Towry-Coker’s ministerial nomination to him (Obanikoro) for which the presidency has compensated him twice through his wife, Roli.

George

Agbaje

Obanikoro

Stella Oduah, Margery Okadigbo tie on senatorial ambition

ormer minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, we gathered will contest for a seat in the senate in 2015. Oduah, who was dropped from the cabinet early this year after the controversial purchase of bullet-proof cars, will contest for the Anambra North slot on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, she will first have to dislodge the incumbent senator, Mrs Margery Okadigbo ─ widow of Dr. Chuba Okadigbo ─ who fought all the way to the Supreme Court before she could take her seat in 2013, two years after her election. Oduah, who comes from Akili-Ozizor in Ogbaru LGA is believed to enjoy the backing of the PDP hierarchy and is not expected to find it difficult to get the party’s nomination. The oil and gas entrepreneur was a key figure in the campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 with her Neighbour-2-Neighbour initiative. She was subsequently made minister of aviation where she developed a roadmap for the remodelling and renovation of the nation’s 22 airports. However, she ran into a storm last year over the purchase of two BMW armoured cars for N255 million by the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). It was believed to be overly inflated and the controversy eventually led to her ouster from the cabinet. The purchase was said to have breached due process, according to a Senate report, and there was also a public outcry over the necessity of such expenditure in the first place. But Oduah insists she did not commit any fraud. Okadigbo

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19 JULY 2014

Towncriers attempts to deliver unique consumer experience with Fun on Wheels Towncriers, an experiential marketing company last weekend at the Ojez Restaurant, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos unveiled its all-in-one mobile entertainment platform which it christened Fun On Wheels. The company beamed the final of the World Cup live to more that 500 people that gathered at the restaurant, writes KINGSLEY OGBONNA.

oved by the need to provide a unique ambience for brand owners to plug into a platform that fits into their consumer engagement strategy, Towncriers Limited, one of the leading experiential and brand activation companies in Nigeria last weekend unveiled its Fun On Wheel, an allin-one mobile entertainment platform. The event, which was held at the popular Ojez Restaurant inside the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, attracted no fewer than 500 hundred people. They had a taste of what the platform provides as they where thrilled by the beaming of the live broadcast of the 2014 FIFA World Cup through the Fun On Wheel platform. Towncriers Limited which commenced business in 2000, is a member of the International Special Events Society (ISES) with an impressive roster of clients which include Blue Chip and Multinational Organisations. Mr. Kayode Olagesin, the managing director of the company said that the platform was customized as part of his company’s innovative moves to help its various clients deliver seamlessly wonderful customer experience saying that it was meant to challenge the conventional ways of delivering experience to target audience. He added that the Fun On Wheel could fit into any platform that the client wants in other to deliver on experience on their brands. “It could be a theatre, it could be a club, it could be a cinema and even a sports bar”, he added. Why Fun On Wheels? If you look at what has been happening with road shows applications that we have, you will notice that we have the conventional rig which offers you performance space whether on top or in front of the wheel. It provides music and

The display van that beamed the final match of the World Cup to fans at the National Stadium in Lagos

live theatre, and entertainment to attract the audience and then you convey your brand message. That’s all it can do and that particular environment is limited. Now, the innovation that we are bringing in here is a unique platform that offers both sight and sound and allows you to turn that performances into a variety of channels. So, we call it Fun On Wheel and it can be anything that you want it to be. It can be a theatre, in which case you have a live drama and use the platform to communicate your brand message and do whatever you want with it. In another instance, you can turn it to a club as you will find out tonight. It can be a cinema, we can partner with Nollywood and carry Nollywood premier and beam it around the country, using this platform. It can be a Sports Bar as we have it right now watching the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, it can be UEFA Champions League, it can be Premier League, it can be anything. Just as we have turned this environment into a Sports Bar. So, it provides all-in-one entertainment mobile platform. So, we are saying that whatever your consumer engagement strategy, we have a platform that fits perfectly into it. Maltina for instance sponsors comedy, it means that we can partner with Maltina and take comedy to all nooks and cranny of Nigeria with this platform. It means we can partner with any other brand that sponsors sports and take the entertainment contents to different part of Nigeria and that is what we

FUNONWHEELS CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT PLATFORM What • Funonwheels is an innovative way to ‘wow’ consumers and deliver an awesome experience. • It is the first of its kind, all-in-one mobile entertainment and engagement platform. • This versatile, purpose built platform offers great flexibility at a cost effective rate. • It can adapt to a variety of consumer passion points, music, sports, movies, comedy, dance, clubbing etc. • Align it with your consumer engagement strategy and turn it into whatever you want - Cinema, Club, Sports Bar, Theater, Classroom, etc. • Funonwheels is not a mobile display LED screen, it is an experience delivering platform Features • Hydraulic lifted 5.12 X 2.304m (11.80m2) LED screen that enhances

are saying that in this environment, the conventional rigs that we have been using for many years now are outdated and we need to move on to the next level. Advertising is about one way communication and with experiential marketing, there must been some level of engagement with the consumers so that we can generate some levels of feedback. The Uniqueness What is unique about this is that if we wanted to do it the conven-

viewing for a larger audience. • 12ft x 16ft collapsible stage that fits into a bag less than a quarter of its full expanded size. • Light weight but durable height adjustable truss with low energy consumption LED lights • In-built, low fuel consumption, ultra silent 17 KVA Generator with provision for alternate energy source • Scalable, powerful public address system that can be expanded to suit the occasion • Optional Video Coverage with simultaneous audience viewing capacity • All above features fitted in a brand new 10 ton truck that is ready to hit the road. • Other side of the truck is fitted with a light box for static advertising display • All of these fantastic features to deliver a spectacular experience at an unbelievable price.

tional way, for a normal telescreen, you will take it to the activation point and configure and then start to set the panel. It may take you up to four hours to do that; you will go and rent a generator, PA System and the likes. It may take you a whole day to be able to have the entire thing put together. But Fun on Wheel comes with in-built generator, sounds, lights, and the likes. You can play DVD of different formats and it becomes entirely interactive. If the campaign is targeted at students, you can

take it to different campuses and deliver your message seamlessly with this platform. If the message is targeted at older audience, you can take it to motor parks, Markets and the rest, and put the message across to them in there. If you want to go to the lower class people, who normally hang out in bars, we can take it to that environment and also deliver whatever message you want to put across. In this era of experience, it goes beyond engaging and interacting with consumers but deliver an experience that brings a connection between the brand and the consumers. And that is the platform that we offer with Fun On Wheels. It is a platform that entertains and provides entertainment to the targets at whatever level. We can turn any environment into a classroom if we have an educational material like the ones being deployed by the NGOs. We can take this around Nigeria talking to the people on different topics like HIV AIDS or whatever topic it is. Even for the farmers. Government is talking about farmers’ education now and we can use the platform to talk about new farming techniques, in any language and present it in such a way and manner that they will understand. Don’t forget that what we do with out of home is really about tracking the consumer and delivering your message to them. For instance today on the night of World Cup final, a lot of people who want to hang out with friends in good environment and watch the match. This means that you have a captive audience and whatever message you pass on to them is spot on. We offer you speed, convenience and many more at a very attractive rate. Maintenance We have acquired this and we have the competence to handle the maintenance. This technology is not new in Nigeria. But what is new is the way and manner that we have deployed it. And that is why our focus is not on the platform. Our focus is on the experience that we deliver through the platform because that is the experience that the consumer is interested in. And that experience is what makes consumers to connect with a brand. With this, we can do more than four shows in a day moving from one city to another because it does not take time to set up the platform. So it is versatile and cost-effective. We brought this one in and have the capacity to bring other ones in depending on what the market dictates.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

ENCOUNTER

Supporters Club did not rip off members – Rev Ikpea Members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club allege that besides being fleeced of huge sums of money, they were also treated shabbily at the recent World Cup in Brazil, but SecretaryGeneral, Rev. Samuel Ikpea, tells VINCENT EBOIGBE that the allegations are not true. Some members of the Supporter Club bemoaned what they described as shoddy arrangements in terms of accommodation, transportation and other logistics during the just ended World Cup in Brazil. What really happened? I don’t know what they mean by shoddy arrangements. We got our visas early enough and arrangements also commenced early enough. As you are aware, the Supporters Club is a non-governmental organisation and before the commencement of the competition, we went out to source for funds. We were fortunate enough to get support from the federal government and as you may know, the release of such money is not an automatic thing. There are processes for funds from the government to be released. We also got money from our sponsor, Globacom but again, we did not get it in lump sum; it was given to us piecemeal. Another thing we have to know is that Brazil is a very expensive place and the fact that the World Cup was taking place there meant costs tripled. We took over 300 members to Brazil so what do you think N70m or N80m could have achieved, given that we had to buy tickets for each member at N312,000 and that was the least amount we got a ticket for. So members had to pay some amount to the club to subsidise it, as usual, and this comes in categories; for instance, the number of years a member has been with the club determines to what degree they are subsidised. Also, if you are travelling in large number and you did not pay in time, you won’t get any consideration for that; this informed our travelling in batches. There was accommodation for everyone when we got to Brazil, even when the chairman and the deputy in the newlylaunched supporters club in Brazil did not really take care of things the way they were supposed to. But we also had a plan B, we had a committee in place and as soon as they landed in Brazil, they swung into action and made adequate arrangements for members, so I don’t know what they meant by poor accommodation. Members also bickered that their return tickets were booked for June 29 and July 1 and that they were not notified of this fact until Saturday, June 28, when their flights were scheduled for the next day. Again, especially for those who were to travel on June 29, it meant they could not watch Nigeria’s last 16 match against France on June 30. Why was that? I can’t give you a very direct answer on that. There was a committee responsible for that. But if you are booking a ticket, you inform the airline of your return date and if it is a promo ticket, they will also tell you how long it will last, there are conditions attached. I can tell you that most people did not get a copy of their tickets because it was a group thing. We got to Brazil before we started to sort out some of those things. For instance, I did not get mine, but they used my name to trace everyone’s ticket and we were issued boarding pass. When we were coming back, it was a day to my departure that the committee called to notify me that I was travelling on July 3, so I did not even have time to do anything. So what I’m saying is that when the executive members come back, we are going to sit down and look into why some tickets were booked for June 29, some for July 1 and yet others for July 3. I did not discuss with the airline so I can’t say if the tickets could have been

rescheduled, but we will discuss all that in our executive meeting and ascertain why members were not told of their return date. Was the Club convinced that the Super Eagles would not progress beyond the group stage, hence the tickets were not rescheduled to cover the last 16 match against France? For those of us who travelled to Brazil, we believed Nigeria will advance beyond the group stage to the quarter final, semifinal and even play in the finals; that was our belief. We were that confident, so it is not correct to accuse us of not giving Nigeria any chance of advancing from the group stage. Members said they paid between N300 000 and N350 000 and that the club also got money from the government and its private sponsors and so expected better treatment… We know that N300 000 is much, and as you know, we are a non-governmental organisation and we go out to source for funds; if the money is not enough, it is difficult to augment what members have paid. We got N50m from the government, it is not a hidden thing, what we got from Globacom and other sponsors, N10 here N5m there, were not hidden and I can tell you the sum total was not up to N100m. Now, if you are travelling with over 300 people at the rate of N312 000 a ticket, you do the maths. And this is not inclusive of accommodation and other logistics for the same number of people in costly Brazil. We had to pay for transport for members and sometimes we were on the road for as much as 37 hours. Now, when you put all this together you can arrive at a conclusion whether the club was fair to members or not. It was also alleged that several unknown faces were seen posing as club members and that the executive used the opportunity of the World Cup to include non-members, collect money from them and give them visas. How do you respond to this? I must say that is not true. Supporters Club is big. We have chapters all over the place: we have in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ogun, Abia, Bayelsa indeed all over the country. And they are all a part of the club, so when we are travelling members from various chapters also apply to go with us; so those making this allegation cannot tell me that they know all the members from the various chapters. The people they may know are just a handful, maybe the chairmen, secretaries who come to Lagos often, but for the ordinary members who don’t come to Lagos regularly, how can they possibly know them? So it is difficult for everybody to be known. It is only the secretary, president-

Another thing we have to know is that Brazil is a very expensive place and the fact that the World Cup was taking place there meant costs tripled

Ikpea

general or treasurer who can say who the members are. The only other people who were with us were members of the media and over 15 of them were on the trip to Brazil. Are you then going to say that the media are not part of the Supporters Club? Are the Journalists strange faces? No, they are not. So I can tell you categorically that there is no truth in that claim. I want to challenge the people making these allegations, if they think that I can’t give them all the details as the secretary of the club, to go to the airline and get the full details of all our transactions. They can get the comprehensive list from the Ethiopian Airlines and if they can find anyone who is not a member of the club, let them come out with it. It is a challenge I’m throwing to them. Is there truth is the claim that there were altercations among your members relating to your election, that some of the factions clashed while away in Brazil? It is difficult to lead human beings because they are of different background. If you are leading say, 20 to 30 people you are still likely to have some aggrieved ones among them, but this is not beyond our control. Now to the issue of election, in the Supporters Club there are no appointive posts, all our positions are contested for through election. You will recall that we were supposed to hold our election in 2012, but some members were aggrieved and went to court, the court ruled that status quo be maintained and that is why we are still there. But this, please note, has brought indiscipline, unruliness and a lot of other vices to the club. The leadership of the club is notrespected as it ought to be because you have various factions and members are loyal to different leaders. It is factional politics all the way such that even when you try to do anything positive another faction will read sinister meanings into it, but we have also said that this cannot continue. Some people

think there is something special I’m enjoying as secretary, that I don’t want to leave that position, but I have decided that I’m leaving this post to contest as the national chairman. It is not by appointment like I said earlier, if the people say they want me to God be the glory if they say they don’t want me to God also be the glory. After the election, when we have the proper executive in place then we will be able to check the indiscipline, the factions and put things in proper shape so that we can have unified Nigeria Supporters Club. Supporters Clubs’ drums and trumpets were conspicuously missing during Super Eagles’ matches at the World Cup. Do you think this affected the team? Yes I think it did. If you are used to something and suddenly it is no longer there it can affect you. We are known for our drums and trumpets in the club, but this time they were absent. This mistake, because it was a mistake, can be attributed to both the club and the Nigeria Football Federation. The NFF should have known about FIFA’s position with regard to bringing in drums for this competition. They liaise with FIFA, so if there was any law forbidden bringing in drums, then we should have been notified early. On our part maybe we should have contacted NFF to let them know we were bringing in our usual instruments so that we would know how to respond in case they say we could not take our drums. But all this never took place and by the time we got to Brazil it was too late there was nothing we could do at that time. We could not rush back home to start preparing afresh. FIFA knows us, they have given us award in the past as best supporters club, they know we are not violent. So if we had approached them through NFF, they would have found a way to accommodate us with our drums and trumpets. This is a lesson for the future.

24 the arts

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Off Nollywood: The search for a new audience

l Screenings and conversations on A Hundred Years of War

o begin with an aside: "Hey Didi, have you met Alessandro Jedlowski?" an American friend wrote me. "He sees the same "othering" evident in the way foreignproduced documentaries tell one story about Nollywood..." I'd written about European researchers, titling themselves "Nollywood experts/ researchers on Nollywood" (due, probably to a post-colonial hangover) and constructing the way films and filmmakers from Nigeria - even those not connected with Nollywood - are seen outside. I had read Jedlowski's essay (and sent him mine) which I found really interesting. So, just before Nigeria met Argentina at the World Cup, I sat with Jedlowski in an office at the University of Lagos. In town for an international symposium on Nollywood's distribution framework - too many meaningless, repetitive symposia on Nollywood - Jedlowski had missed the intense debate around Camerounian filmmaker, Bekolo's Les Saignantes, screened by Lagos Film Society. As we moved from the implication of the audience's response to Les Saignantes' stylized fight scene (Bekolo had written of how classical Hollywood narrative has called a particular spectatorship into being), to how a regime of truth, viz., the monolithic narrative of Nollywood has been produced by the hegemonic discourse on Nigeria's movie industry, I began to consider the need for an international off-Nollywood convention as a narrative challenge to the narrative hegemony of international Nollywood research - to project a different story about Nigeria's alternative film narrative. This need had called forth the creation of a new film space, an arthouse cinema - for underneath Nollywood's mainstream narrative molecular processes have been developing a dynamic and a vitality that are directly in opposition to the official image. It is this leitmotif that underlie the desire for the formation of a film space in Lagos - a cinema center with a cinematheque. Nollywood's dominant narrative had called forth a particular type of movie-maker and researcher whose knowledge of film culture is quite limited, who is not interested in what has been done in the medium but only in what they are doing. And this limited range shows in the movies and in the research. The danger is that movies from Nigeria risk being dragged completely into academia and festival fringes, completely alienated from new filmgoers daily being called forth by shifting demographics and taste. The idea behind the Lagos Film Society is an institution dedicated to finding, nurturing and celebrating African filmmaking, offering filmmakers and film lovers a platform to survey a range of works from across and beyond the continent as well as make a renewed Nigerian contribution to World Cinema. The idea is to build a film hub, a place of exchange between filmmakers, film experts, filmgoers, and film critics to explore cultural diversity, dialogue through cinema, as well as promote it by present-

REVIEW ing it in its diversity. With a yearround programme of screenings, workshops and events, the aim is to provide a dynamic, wellequipped space for filmmakers, audiences and their communities to meet and start conversations, to learn and exchange ideas, and above all enjoy the fullness of cinema and participate in the world of film. The film space will collaborate with international cultural institutions to display the finest of recent works and retrospectives and present a forum for auteur films which are not represented in the main commercial market in Nigeria. Within the framework of its objectives, the cinema centre will partner international arthouse distributors/ film societies to acquire and release new auteur-driven titles across theatres in Lagos as well as other theatres around Nigeria. In addition, it will promote auteur-driven Nigerian-produced films at international festivals and film markets and strive to promote Nigerian arthouse cinema around the world. The space will also launch a film journal dedicated to covering African and world cinema, with a particular focus on non-mainstream films and filmmakers overlooked by mainstream cinema distribution. The journal will be a forum for the study, critique, and discussion of film, by people who are seriously passionate about film, as well as offer insightful and fresh commentary on the latest film releases, and classic motion pictures. The format includes film reviews, features and commentary, interviews, reports on industry trends, international film festival coverage, and firsthand film news. Almost at once, the space finds itself grappling with the question of what film can accomplish in the context of a globalised political crisis. To perch itself onto the global political-cultural space, LFS is organizing, this July, screenings and conversations themed around war's unwomanly, uninfant face. This screening has a global political significance. A hundred years ago, on 28 July, Austria declared war on Serbia. The next day, across the Danube, Belgrade came under bombardment by Austrian artillery divisions. WW1 had begun. Aptly titled A Hundred Years Of War, the films in this end of season screening adopts an anti-war stance - without actually showing war. With WW1, to reference the opening movie, John Pilger's The War You Don't See, began the insidious manipulation of the citizenry using the media, to get them buy into the war effort. “Why do so many journalists beat the drums of war, regardless of the lies of government, and how are crimes of war justified?” asks John Pilger, in this powerful and timely investigation into the media’s role in war. In this film - which begins classic Pilger-style: Wikileaks video clip of blood-drunk US troops in an Apache gunship high on their indiscriminate slaughter of Iraqi civilian bystanders - John Pilger traces the beginning of war-journalism-

Sleeve of the screening's theme movie

The danger is that movies from Nigeria risk being dragged completely into academia and festival fringes, completely alienated from new filmgoers as-state-propaganda to WW1 when then American President Woodrow Wilson set up the Committe on Public Information to "sell the war to the masses." At some point, Pilger questions BBC World Affairs Commentator Rageh Omaar about his role - during the invasion of Iraq - as an embedded journalist in British advance on Basra. "I didn't really do my job properly," Omaar says. Forbidden Games by René Clément is a tragic beauty, a tragilyrical indictment of the horrors of war. As WW2 rages, a delicately beautiful child, Paulette, and her companion, Michel plays a forbidden game of death in the woods, oblivious of the mass slaughter surrounding them. Here's how American film critic, Pauline Kael described Forbidden Game: "This is perhaps the greatest war film since La Grande Illusion... Forbidden Games is one of that small body of film experiences that does not leave you quite the same." It really does not leave you. How the years go by: how long ago was I an aspiring film student in search of cinema?

Still, I was at the office of the director of Goethe-Institut Nigeria, Marc-Andre Schmachtel, when this strange half-familiar, almost gypsy-sounding guitar began playing from a movie I'd almost forgot... This film is as beautiful and powerful an anti-war movie as they come. It is perhaps a testimony to the triumph of vulgarity that this film was a commercial failure in France and the US, and screened in Cannes as a fringe programme in its initial release. There's a haunting piece by Julian Okot Bitek that reads in your head as you watch Komona in Kim Nguyen's War Witch. It's titled The Things We Carried. "We walked. We walked everywhere... We carried AK47s slung over our shoulders with leather belts... We carried thoughts of our families and the good times we'd known at home... We also knew our families were dead because we'd seen them dead before leaving... We carried pain in our hearts and in our shoulders. We carried what remained of our own selves. We carried guilt. We carried the burden of having taken part in the hurting; for kicking the one boy until he was dead; for taking turns at stepping on another dead boy's head - we had to do it in the company of menacing faces and sharply bayonated guns waving each of us to take our turns. We carried our hurt selves, our defiled selves, our stained selves, the selves that had been raped over and everywhere there was an opening. We carried the innocence that remained of our bodies..." The lines and the film both evoke Chibok and its missing girls. But this is Congo and it's a war the world wants to forget for its trail of blood leads directly

to our living rooms, to our modern electronic gadgets: TV remote control, laptop, mobile phones etc. Beyond a certain point, things get confusing: the point you begin to feel sorry for a perpetrator. There's that moment in a child's life when he goes from being a victim to being a perpetrator. Just before that point you feel sorry for him, and beyond that point you hate him; just before the crossing point, he's innocent. And then, he becomes a monster and it's over for him. War robs children of that most precious, irretrievable, essential ingredient of childhood: innocence, that period before the cross-over point. "Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones... It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck." And yet... Newton Aduaka's Ezra confronts this dilemma, presents you with a search for that moment when a child stops being a child. How do you forgive this monsterchild? In a way, I'm reminded of the cross-examination of Dmitri the night after the murder of his father in Dostoyevski's The Brothers Karamazov. How will this boy ever find his way back to himself, to society? More: what kind of society fashions this hell for children? Rwanda - twenty years after. In Kivu Ruhorahoza's Grey Matter, we make a return. Why is it necessary to make a return? Again and again filmmakers return to this subject matter, putting it before us as if fascinated by it - probably to rouse us from our thoughtless indifference? What is the look of memory? How do you put on the screen memories of the dying sights and sounds of hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children? This film - viewed in context with the situation in Congo - indirectly invites to move beyond the movie frame and confront the social and political milieu within which it is being seen. After the invasion of Congo, the political and national context in which stories are produced and received must come into focus. How, for instance, do you construct a cinematic remembrance of Rwanda without the memory being tainted by Congo? No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka, by Callum Macrae is an investigative documentary about the final weeks of the Sri Lankan Civil War. The documentary covers the period from September 2008 until the end of the war in 2009 in which thousands of Tamil people were killed by shelling and extrajudicial executions by the Sri Lankan Army including Balachandran Prabhakaran, the 12-year-old son of the slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. With No Fire Zone, we are back where we started: the need to revisit the ways in which we respond journalistically to the reality around us. Filmmaking, particularly of the investigative journalistic style, is about asking questions, about shaking the framework of our reality. A Hundred Years Of War is supported by the Goethe-Institut Nigeria and British Council. Cheeka curates Lagos Film Society

Barca: We’ll stand by Suarez

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Hurray! AS league RETURNS

}p.26

Madrid retain status as sport’s most valuable team}p.27

World Cup collapse: Don’t weep for Brazil!}p.30 Serena holidays in Novigrad }p.32

My dream is a C’wealth Games medal - Oduduru }p.31

26 SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

Nigerian League Rendezvous with charles Ogundiya

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

08098042287

Hurray! The league is back A fter a month-long break, due to the World Cup, followers of the Nigerian League now have cause to celebrate following the resumption of league football in the country. The Nigeria National League was the first to resume on Wednesday with the elite division, the Glo Nigeria Premier League, taking centre stage on

Sunday with two matches. The Premier League had initially been scheduled to resume on Saturday, but owing to the involvement of some of the elite division sides in the round of 16 matches of this season’s Federations Cup, only two matches will take place on Sunday. They are the matches between FC Taraba and Gombe United, in Jalingo, and that in Warri be-

tween Warri Wolves and Kaduna United. This was disclosed to New Telegraph by the League Management Company’s chief operating officer, Salihu Abubakar, who further said that clubs that progress to the quarter finals of the Federations Cup will play their Match Day 20 games on Wednesday, August 13, adding that the league organisers “have taken these steps to avoid

any major fixture disruptions in the remaining half of the 2013-14 season.” Despite the fear of an impending FIFA hammer, owing to the recent dissolution of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, fans are enthusiastic about the return of league action in the country with some of them looking forward to watching live matches once again.

Ikhana returns from retirement again

League duel between Sharks and Rangers during the first half of the season

Shooting Stars launch air freshener

espite playing in the country’s second division, the Nigeria National League, Shooting Stars of Ibadan continue to impress their numerous fans with innovations, even as they continue to pursue their quest for promotion to the Nigeria Premier League. The former African Cup Winners’ Cup champions, during the week launched an air freshener bearing the club’s logo to the amazement of fans who thronged the Lekan Salami Stadium for the NNL encounter between their darling team and Stationery Stores of Lagos, a game the Oluyole Warriors won 3-0. During the first half of the encounter against the Lagos-based Stores, Shooting Stars also came up with another first, kitting the club’s ball boys with raincoats to ward off the rains as the Heavens opened up during the encounter against arguably the most followed club side in Lagos. It was definitely an innovative move worthy of emulation.

Kogi United shift focus to NNL

fter their defeat in the 2014 Federations Cup by Dolphins, players of Kogi United FC have resolved to focus their attention on the Nigeria National League, where they are hoping to finish the campaign on a high note. Captain of the Confluence State club, Abiodun Afolabi, noted that the team’s exit from the Federations Cup could yet be a blessing in disguise as it would afford them the opportunity to focus their efforts on the NNL. “It’s unfortunate we couldn’t go further than we did in the Federations Cup as we had planned to do better in it, but we just have to look ahead to the league,” he said. “We can now focus our attention on the league, and may be our Federations Cup failure will help us to get something special at the end of the season. “We are still in a good position to gain promotion, and I believe we can be among the promoted teams to the Premier League. We believe we can, but we are not desperate,” added Afolabi.

t is now common knowledge within football circles that former Nigeria international and Super Falcons coach, Kadiri Ikhana, is out of retirement (again) after his declaration last year that he was through with Nigerian football. Ikhana, a member of the victorious 1980 African Cup of Nations Green Eagles team, last handled Nasarawa United where he announced his second retirement before pitching tents with Giwa FC of Jos. The romance was shortlived though as he failed to lead out the club in a single game before embarking on his second missionary journey to Enyimba of Aba where he had previously coached just over a decade ago. Ikhana guided Enyimba to win their first Champions League trophy in 2003, and the club is hoping he can revive it’s fortune this time around by leading them to Africa’s top club competition next season.

MATCHDAY 20 fixtures FC Taraba VS Gombe Utd Warri Wolves VS Kaduna Utd Lobi stars (P/P) Heartland Bayelsa Utd (P/P) Crown FC Sunshine (P/P) Nembe City Giwa FC (P/P) Enyimba Akwa Utd (P/P) Sharks Abia Warriors (P/P) Nasarawa Utd Rangers (P/P) El-Kanemi Dolphins FC (P/P) Kano Pillars

Shooting Stars are already making attempts to be independent of government sponsorship as replica jerseys of the club are already on sale at various shops and outlets in Ibadan and neighbouring towns and cities.

Glo league table Rank

Team

Pts

Kano Pillars

Nasarawa Utd

Abia Warriors

Sharks FC

Enyimba

Giwa FC

Warri Wolves

Akwa Utd

Dolphins

Heartland

Sunshine Stars

El-Kanemi

Lobi Stars

-4

Taraba

-6

Rangers

Bayelsa Utd

-6

Crown FC

-7

Kaduna Utd

-7

Gombe Utd

-2

Nembe City

-24

Afolabi

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

African Championship beckons for karatekas Charles Ogundiya

igerian karatekas’ dream of competing with some of the best on the continent will soon be realised with 60 of them scheduled to take part in the African Cup, coming up in Dakar, Senegal from 10th to 16th of August.

Ejidike

Speaking to New Telegraph on Saturday, president of the Nigeria Karate Federation, Agu Ejidike, said his board was ready to reposition the sport in Nigeria and will stop at nothing to achieve this. “Since our board came in last year we have been doing a lot, starting with different national tournaments. We also had an international coaching course recently with the aim of upgrading our coaches’ knowledge and bringing it to international standards. “We also had our national trials in Ilorin recently where the federation selected some karatekas who will represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup in Dakar, Senegal, in August,” he said. The Pillar of Sports in Nigeria added that all the karatekas were currently preparing in their various locations before converging at a yet to be disclosed venue at the end of the month for final preparations ahead of the competition in Dakar.

He urged other state governors to emulate Ahmed because the game requires the support of state governors. The DSS gaffer, who said he had never been beaten 3-0 before, added that the World Cup break affected his wards. “If they keep up with the tempo of what I saw today (Wednesday), they will surely gain promotion to the Glo Premier League. “The governor is supporting the team, they are well motivated and that is why the players are playing with all their hearts,” Jato said.

Ozil

Madrid retain status as sport’s most valuable team

panish Liga football club Real Madrid have retained their title as the world’s most valuable sports team, with football again dominating the upper echelons of Forbes’ annual study as American football’s NFL continues to account for the majority of entries in the top 50. Real have been handed a valuation of $3.44bn (€2.53bn), up slightly from last year’s mark of $3.3bn, while English Premier League club Manchester United ($2.81bn) slipped another place to third after having over $300m wiped from their valuation. This allowed Barcelona ($3.2bn) to move into second position through an increase of $600m – a development that means that football clubs continue to lock out the top three positions. Forbes stressed the fact that NFL and Major League Baseball teams play and do business on a national scale, while Europe’s top football clubs operate on a global basis, as a key factor in Real, Barcelona and United’s positioning. Indeed, German Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich were the biggest mover in the top 10, jumping five spots to No.7 with a value of $1.85bn after claiming their fifth UEFA Champions League title in 2013. The remainder of the top 10 was made

u p o f MLB’s N e w Y o r k Yankees ($2.5bn), the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys ($2.3bn) and the Yankees’ fellow baseball team Los Angeles Dodgers ($2bn). NFL teams the New England Patriots ($1.8bn), Washington Redskins ($1.7bn) and New York Giants ($1.55bn) complete the top 10. NFL teams make up the bulk of the top 50 with only the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars failing to make the cut out of the league’s 32 franchises. Forbes said the average team in the top 50 is worth $1.34bn, up eight per cent over last year. There are 38 teams worth $1bn versus 33 last year. Minimum entry for the top 50 was $856m, the valuation of Italian Serie A football club AC Milan, compared to $586m four years ago.

Ozil to pay for surgeries of 23 Brazilian children

DSS coach praises Ahmed for Kwara United support

espite his club’s heavy loss to Kwara United FC of Ilorin on Wednesday, in a week 19 encounter of the Nigeria National League, coach of DSS FC of Kaduna, Ishaya Jato, has hailed the huge support given to the club by the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed. Kwara United whitewashed DSS 5-0 with both Adeshina Gata and John Chukwudi scoring a brace each, and debutant Jimoh Ahmed getting the other goal. Jato said Ahmed’s support to the Afonja Warriors was a big motivating factor that will keep a team like Kwara United going and challenging for promotion.

SPORT

Ronaldo

rior to the World Cup, Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil promised to sponsor the surgeries of 11 Brazilian children in need as part of the BigShoe charity campaign. But now that Germany has won the World Cup, Ozil has announced that he will sponsor the surgeries of 23 children one for every member of the German squad to show his thanks for the host nation’s hospitality throughout the tournament. The day after arriving back in Berlin with the World Cup trophy, Ozil declared his intentions via his Facebook page . He wrote: Dear fans, Prior to the #WorldCup I supported the surgery of eleven sick children. Since the victory of the #WorldCup is not only due to eleven players but to our whole team, I will now raise the number to 23. This is my personal thank-you for the hospitality of the people of Brazil. Each player on the German team is expected to receive a bonus of €300,000 ($405,778) for winning the country’s fourth World Cup title. So it seems Ozil, who became the most expensive German player of all time when he moved from Real Madrid to Arsenal last summer, will be reinvesting at least some of his prize money into the country that hosted one of the greatest moments of his life. It also might help make up for the fact that Germany beat Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals.

imbabwe could launch an ambitious bid to host the 2034 World Cup despite their unstable economy, according to a report by Ventures. Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality min-

Zimbabwe consider World Cup bid

overnment says it has no problem with a letter from FIFA, requesting the GFA to provide clarity on the establishment of a commission to investigate Ghana’s poor show the just ended World Cup finals in Brazil. According to Youth and Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga, the letter is “perfectly legitimate.” “It’s perfectly legitimate for FIFA to write to the local FA to request for information... and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Mr. Ayariga stated on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Thursday July 17, 2014. The Sports Ministry set up a three-member Committee to investigate matters of player indiscipline and some poor decisions by the management team, and a general poor performance in the tournament. But the decision of President John Mahama to upgrade the Committee to a Commission of Inquiry - giving it the powers of a High Court- has given the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) cause to worry, prompting a letter to the Ghana FA on Wednesday demanding clarification.

Govt welcomes FIFA’s letter to GFA

akistan’s football team is set to tour India for a two-match series, officials said on Thursday, as the two nations resume their rivalry after a nineyear hiatus. The last time the two sides met was in 2005 when India toured Pakistan for a three-match series, which ended with one match apiece and a draw, though the hosts scored more goals. Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said the team will play both matches in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. “We have been making all-out efforts to revive football ties with India and hope that these matches will prove to be a landmark in the sports relations of the two countries,” Lodhi said.

Pakistan footballers to tour India

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NEW TELEGRAPH

B from all football related activities for biting Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay’s group stage clash with Italy. “We accept that we are all humans and that we have our imperfections. We try to learn from when we make mistakes,” said Zubizarreta. “Our history is full of bad

days as well as good days. Luis Suarez will be a star at Barcelona although Barcelona is more important than one player.” Suarez has yet to be presented at the Nou Camp due to the ban, which Barca are appealing against. “Luis Suarez is a Barcelona player but aside from that we

here have been reports that the Reds are looking to sell Daniel Agger as Rodgers addresses the defensive frailties that cost his side the Premier League title last season. Agger took over from Jamie Carragher as vicecaptain following the latter’s retirement but he endured a stop-start 2013-14 campaign. The 29-year-old wore the armband on Wednesday evening during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by his former club

atrick Kluivert claims Louis van Gaal will be targeting the Premier League title with Manchester United this season. The former top striker worked with Van Gaal as a player at Ajax, Barcelona and the Netherlands national side, and was appointed as Holland’s assistant manager in 2012. Van Gaal was formally announced at the Premier League side on Thursday afternoon, and Kluivert believes the 62-year-old will have his sights firmly set on finishing top of the table next season. “He’s a great coach and I know he’s looking forward to taking over at Man-

chester United,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “It will be a difficult year, but I know he can do it. He can work well with the squad. “He’s absolutely going for the Premier League title. A club like Manchester United always have to go for the title and that’s what he wants in his first year. “They also need to get back into the Champions League. “Van Gaal is a great tactician and he wants to win matches,” Kluivert continued. “He likes to play offensive and

Rodgers: ‘ Van Gaal targeting Premier Agger is League title in first season’ important P

arcelona sports director Andoni Zubizarreta has defended new signing, Luis Suarez over his World Cup biting scandal. Suarez joined the club in a five-year-deal last week from Liverpool despite receiving a nine-match international ban and a four-month suspension

razilian midfielder Sandro has been withdrawn from Tottenham’s squad for the pre-season tour of the United States and Canada because of a virus, the Barclays Premier League club confirmed.

Sandro ruled out of Spurs tour

have been told by our lawyers to be discreet,” said Zubizarreta. Zubizarreta added that signing a defender before the end of the transfer window remained a priority for the club. They have brought in keepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo but have yet to sign a defender.

Barca: We wIll stand by Suarez

Global Football Special

underland boss Gus Poyet is confident of persuading fellow countryman Cristian Rodriguez to head to Wearside, as he looks to bolster his attacking options at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland chase Madrid winger

SV Mainz 05 have completed the signing of ex-Panathinaikos goalkeeper, Stefanos Kapino, on a four-year deal. The Greece International joined the Bundesliga side on Thursday when they began their pre-season training. Coach, Kasper Hjul-

Kapino joins Mainz

toke are holding talks with Liverpool about the permanent signing of winger Oussama Assaidi, Sky sources understand. The Moroccan spent last season on loan at Stoke, scoring five goals in 25 appearances, and manager Mark Hughes is hoping to bring him back to the Britannia Stadium. Reports suggested that Liverpool’s original valuation was too high for the Potters, but they are thought to have agreed a fee in the region of £4.5m which could eventually rise to £7m.

Stoke discuss Assaidi deal

ull boss Steve Bruce is ready to make another bid for Sheffield United defender Harry Maguire and is hopeful of doing a deal. Highly-rated central defender has been on Bruce’s radar for the last 12 months and he would like to get him on board well before the new season gets underway. The Blades will not roll over though and have already rejected one bid of £1.75million, but Bruce will not be deterred and has confirmed they will be going back with an improved offer.

Hull step up Maguire chase

TRANSFERS

28 SPORT NEW TELEGRAP 19 JUL

Brondby in a preseason friendly. Rodgers said on liverpoolfc. com: “Daniel is one of a number of excellent players that we have playing at the back. He has been unfortunate in the time that I’ve been at the club because the big issue for Dan has been his availability.

A O ne FIFA agent has backed Antonio Conte in his decision to not continue with Juventus, calling it a mark of his ‘professionalism’. The 44-year-old parted ways with the Bianconeri in just the second day of pre-season, to be replaced quickly by Massimiliano

Williams Serena Williams, whose Wimbledon campaign ended with her in tears and on the verge of fainting, is enduring a “difficult period” in her life, her French coach says. The world No.1 was knocked out in the third round of the singles at the All England Club before retiring from her doubles, and being led off the court by sister Venus with her problems attributed to a “viral illness”. Although her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, refused to discuss the American’s current mood, he did admit that the 32-year-old was facing a series of challenges in a season where she has yet to get beyond the fourth round at any of the Grand Slams.

Kimi Raikkonen will contest this weekend’s German grand prix. After bruising his ankle and knee with a 47G impact at the start of the British grand prix, the Finn sat out Ferrari’s post-race Silverstone test. But the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 said the 34-year-old is fighting fit for Hockenheim. “Kimi Raikkonen will be at the wheel of his F14-T in the German grand prix” the Maranello based team confirmed.

Like most of the golfing world, Adam Scott is pleased to see Tiger Woods back at this week’s British Open. But the Australian world No 1 says the American legend has his work cut out if he wants to reclaim golf’s top ranking. ‘’It’s good that he’s back playing,’’ Scott said ahead of the event at Royal Liverpool. The championship started on Thursday.

Allegri. Rumours have focused on the reasons behind the split, but one FIFA agent says even in the surprise, the motivations may be honest. “Obviously it was a surprise, absolutely I did not expect it,” Egidio Robertazzo said.

W orld Cup runners-up Argentina have sent their compatriot Pope Francis, a die-hard football fan, a jersey signed by the team, midfielder Maximiliano Rodriguez said on Wednesday on Twitter. The player posted a picture of himself holding up the sky blue and white jersey alongside national hero Lionel Messi, winner of the Golden Ball award for best player at the World Cup. “This is the present the team sent to our Pope Francis!” Rodriguez wrote. Francis is known as a lifelong football fan and card-carrying member of Argentine club San Lorenzo. But the Vatican’s chief of ceremonies, Guillermo Karcher, said the pope had refrained from watching Sunday’s World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro -- in which Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany in extra time -- as “a matter of neutrality.”

Argentina give Pope Francis signed jersey

Spurs have headed across the Atlantic for matches against Major League Soccer sides the Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC, where they should face former striker Jermain Defoe, and the Chicago Fire as new manager Mauricio Pochettino looks to assess the squad ahead of his first season at White Hart Lane. However, Sandro - who has been linked with a move away to Italian side Napoli and Russia’s Zenit St Petersburg - did not travel, while defender Vlad Chiriches will also remain in London for treatment on a back problem. A statement on the club’s official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com, read: “Vlad Chiriches and Sandro have been withdrawn from the travelling party for the pre-season tour of the United States and Canada.

Raikkonen

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‘Conte did well to resign’

go with me as team captain. “We can say it brings more responsibility. I’m ready and I’m glad the coach and club have chosen me for the role. I want to continue with what [Zanetti] has done.

aron Ramsey’s season was disrupted in part by injury, but he still produced a stunning return of 16 goals in 34 appearances. And Ramsey wants to hit the ground now so he can start the season firing on all cylinders. “It’s always important to get a good pre-season in you,” Ramsey told the club’s official website. “Over the years, the players that have missed out on pre-season are always playing catchup when they come back during the season. It definitely helps players to get off to a good start. I want to

keep on working on my game. Hopefully I can keep improving and get better and better “It feels really good [to be back]. It’s good to get back into the swing of things again before the season

I’ll be even better next term -Ramsey

attractive football as well though. He won’t disappoint the Manchester United fans.”

Tiger Woods

ndrea Ranocchia has spoken of his pride at taking over the Inter captaincy from club legend Javier Zanetti. The Italian was confirmed as the new skipper recently following Zanetti’s retirement at the end of last season having spent 19 seasons with the Italian giants. Ranocchia made his bow as captain on Wednesday in a 6-1 friendly win over Trentino with

Inter shortly heading to the United States for the International Champions Cup. Ahead of his first season as skipper at San Siro, Ranocchia is eager to help guide the club back to the top of Serie A. “I don’t know if I’m predestined for anything. I’ve always believed in these colours,” he said. “I want to raise a few trophies seeing how the coach and club have decided to

New Inter captain eager to emulate Zanetti

ister, Walter Mzembi, is quoted as saying: “I spoke to FIFA president Sepp Blatter during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and he told me that it was possible for Zimbabwe to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup as long as we keep on having such big dreams and vision. “If we are to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup this is the right time to start marketing our country as a safe tourist destination. Nothing can stop us.” He added: “Our idea is to have Harare as the host city but in collaboration with other major cities in the region like Maputo, Johannesburg, Gaborone and Lusaka. All these cities are within a one-and-a-half hour flight of each other and this would be in the spirit of our regional solidarity.”

uventus’ change in Coach has reportedly brought about a new list of objectives in the summer transfer window. The Bianconeri had been in talks with Juan Manuel Iturbe, Patrice Evra and Alvaro Morata before Antonio Conte’s departure on Tuesday evening. Whilst negotiations for Iturbe broke down and he has since signed for Roma, the Gazzetta dello Sport are running the line that talks with both Evra and Morata’s representatives remain on course.

Juve back for Jovetic, Lamela

mand is pleased to have brought in such a young talent who he believes will be fighting against the other two young keepers in the squad for a first team place

dem Ljajic’s agent has insisted that Juan Iturbe’s arrival at Roma won’t force his client out. Rumours appeared in the Italian Press on Wednesday that the Serbia international could be sold just a year after joining the Giallorossi following the Verona playmaker’s arrival. However, the 22-year-old’s representative has insisted that rumours of a departure are premature. “The player will stay at Roma. Iturbe’s arrival doesn’t change anything, he has a contract with Roma and he has embraced this cause,” Fali Ramadani said “Milan were after him in the past. I don’t know anything about Inter.”

Agent: Ljajic going nowhere

C Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has confirmed that the club has submitted a bid for Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu. Jeremy Mathieu’s future at Valencia has come under immense speculations this season as he has been linked with Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona. The Catalan club has however confirmed their bid for the French defender as they look to add depth to their backline. Mathieu joined Valencia in 2009 after producing some wonderful performances for Toulouse in Ligue 1. The 30-year-old became a regular in their starting line-up from next season and hasn’t looked back.

Barcelona confirm bid for Valencia defender

The 28-year-old left winger is keen to leave Atletico Madrid, according to marca.com, with Poyet hoping the offer of regular firstteam football will be enough to convince the player to switch to the Premier League. The former PSG and Porto star started every game for Uruguay in Brazil this summer, and has 77 caps for his country.

PH ON SATURDAY LY 2014

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

World Cup collapse:

p e e w Don’t ! l i z a r for B

Vincent Eboigbe

razil had it coming. That 7-1 massacre by Germany in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup and the equally devastating 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third place match, are the manifestations of a deep seated problem. The losses are just the coup de grace. The truth is Brazil are simply unrecognisable these days. Brazil’s style used to be distinct, it was quite obvious to even the most casual follower of the game – that free flowing allout attack approach that abhorred strictures of any form. But over the years there has been a gradual abandonment of that traditional Brazilian flair that so enchanted the world down the decades. The shift in philosophy can be traced to 1982 when Brazil paraded a team at the World Cup in Spain that had purists purring because of its delightful football. Failing to win the World Cup in Spain, in spite of the talent in that side, was seen as a disaster back home in Brazil. There was a huge soul-searching similar to the Maracanazo (when Brazil lost in the World Cup finals to Uruguay at the Maracana). The thinking among some was if you had such a great side and still fell short why bother to play beautiful football. And so the ground was laid for the shift in philosophy. The trouble with this kind of reasoning is that football is not a precise science where great talents must necessarily translate to ultimate success. Unfortunately there were coaches who began to push for change in how Brazil played. Wanderley Luxemburgo was one of such coaches. Felipe Scolari to a large extent is another. Although Scolari won the World Cup in 2002, the destruction of the Brazil way was not that total then. The Selecao in 2002 still had creative midfielders like Ronaldinho, Rivaldo not to mention the inimitable Ronaldo in attack. But in 2014, it was clear the damage was total. Never before had Brazil conceded as many as 12 goals in a World Cup until playing at home in 2014, never before had they lost two matches at home in a row the last time being 1940. The last time they conceded over six goals in a match was in 1920 to Uruguay. These are just a sample of the dubious records created by the Selecao of 2014. Who were the midfielders Brazil could boast of in 2014? Fernadinho, Paulinho, Ramires etc. These were mere enforcers, players who were more comfortable ‘jamming’ opponents rather than creating chances. Brazil became more adept at trying to stop opponents instead of playing their brand of football that was attack conscious. Hitherto the emphasis was to hold onto the ball, denying opponents access to the ball. It is when opponents can have time on the ball that they can create chances. Yes Brazil of old suffered losses, but they were few and the reason was simple: opponents concentrate so much energy and effort trying to keep Brazil at bay that they had little left for anything else. When Tostao, Gerson, Rivelino and Pele

Clockwise from top: Fernandinho, Hulk, Ramires and Paulinho...sample of the kind of midfielders Brazil parade these days

wove their magic in Mexico in 1970, no team could stand in the way of that awesome attacking arsenal. Would Scolari have picked a Tostao or Gerson in his squad? It is doubtful. Yet these fabulously talented guys were the engines of that all-time 1970 team. Gerson particularly was a smallish guy who could be anonymous for long spells only to spark into life in one moment of magic. The Brazil coaches of yore would rather wait for that one moment rather than pick players like Hulk who just hulked all over the place. Tele Santana was one of the greatest exponents of that emphasis, and he would have rolled over seven times as Germany rolled all over Brazil in the semi final in Belo Horizonte. His wards, Socrates, Zico, Falcao, Eder were similarly magical in Spain 1982. They steamrolled opponents with their non-stop, effortless attacks. Socrates just seemed to stroll, yet waves upon waves of attack flowed from those magical boots. Even the defenders could easily pass for creative players: Junior, Leandro, Lusinho, Jose Oscar etc. would forage forward as if they were midfielders. In 1994, Romario, Bebeto, Dunga and Leonardo continued the tradition just as Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo did in in 2002. Although the signs of the slide were becoming more obvious at this time, these great players still managed to mask them with their individual brilliance. By 2014 however, the centre had caved in, and what Brazil could parade were players who were unworthy of that famous yellow shirt. Interestingly, the kind of players that made Brazil a dreaded opponent in time past are still very much available, but the emphasis has shifted away from them. That is the crux of the matter. That is why Brazil have fallen from their Olympian heights. To find their rhythm again, Brazil must go back to their roots. They cannot hope to beat the Europeans in their own game. Witness how David Luiz headed the ball straight at Daley Blind for the Netherlands’ second goal in the third place match on Saturday. Brazil great, Zico captured it quite aptly: “We should thank him (Scolari) and thank (assistant coach Carlos Alberto) Parreira too. But we need to choose new people with new thoughts about how to play the Brazilian way.” The emphasis is on the Brazilian way. Nigeria also made the same mistake over the years. Traditionally a wing playing team, the nation moved away over the years from its roots, so much so that a team that once had wing wizards like Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Humphrey Edobor, Friday Elaho, Clement Temile, Tarila Okorowanta, Benji Nzeakor, Ndubuisi Okosieme, just to name a few, is finding it difficult producing wingers worthy of the name. That is what happens when teams abandon their natural groove. The well-known variant of the headline of this story is don’t weep for me Argentina, but it can be adapted for this piece. Interestingly, Brazil’s neighbours from across the border, Argentina only last Sunday, lost the World Cup finals match to Germany on the home soil of their bitter rivals Brazil. Had things turned out differently that would have been the deepest cut of all for Brazil!

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

First senior victory in Calabar I felt very happy for a day like that in Calabar. That is what I had always dreamt of. I am grateful to my coaches for winning the 200 metres in Calabar. They did a wonderful job teaching me what I needed to know in the sport, instilling in me discipline. They constantly advised me to be focused and to keep working hard and that I had what it took to go far in athletics. Taking over from stars like Olushoji Fashuba, Uchenna Emedolu, Deji Aliu and others My ultimate reference point is Usain Bolt. I am looking forward to achieving even greater feats than he has attained in sprints. I also want to advise Nigeria not to give up on the male athletes as they have a lot to give in the future. On a personal level, I am going to make the country proud. The future of athletics in Nigeria is bright; the men are coming, and hopefully we can achieve what great stars like Fasuba, Emedolu and Aliu achieved in Nigerian colours. Commonwealth Games expectation With focus, determination, discipline and above all God on my side, I know something good will come out of my taking part in the Glasgow Games. In fact, getting to the level where I’m already representing my country as a young man is in itself a huge achievement.

Oduduru (left) running towards the finishing line in a recent meet

Oduduru (middle) with his 100m medal at the African Youth Athletics Championship in Warri in 2013

My dream is a Commonwealth Games medal – Oduduru

Divine Oduduru won the 200 metres at the All-Nigeria Trials in Calabar in June, ahead of established sprinters like Obinna Metu and Ogho Ohene Egwero, signaling the emergence of a new star. The youngster, who is part of Team Nigeria’s contingent to the Commonwealth Games, is excitedly looking forward to the experience. He also dreams of competing against his hero, Usain Bolt, someday. He spoke with CHARLES OGUNDIYA. Excerpts:

Experience at the IAAF World Junior Championship in 2012 in 2012 My failure to win a medal at the championship was due to inexperience. That was my first outing outside the country and my focus was to get to the finish line ahead of everybody. I was completely unaware of the people around me, all I was thinking of was the finish line. Somebody had beaten the gun and we were supposed to move back to the starting block, but I kept running even when the gun was fired a second time up to the fifth time to stop me. It was when I got to the finishing line that I realised everyone was still at the starting point. I had to go back and the race started immediately again. I wasn’t given time to catch my breath which I think was unfair. I was supposed to be given time to rest a little before starting the race all over. However, that is in the past and I’ve learnt from it. There will be mistakes, but the thing is not to allow them to hold one down. I have been able to correct that mistake and I am sure it will not repeat itself. Foray into athletics It all started in primary school, but it was nothing serious at that time. I was the senior boy and there was a competition where I was to represent my school. I ran the race and won, but I was disqualified because I ran out of my lane. I cried and somehow lost interest in athletics. But then I moved to Sapele and I started running again; there was no competition we took part in that I did not win. When I got to Junior Secondary School it became part of me and all through my secondary school. I was still in secondary school in 2013 when I represented Nigeria at the first African Youth Athletics Championship in Warri where I won the gold medals in 100m and 200m. Afterwards, I was privileged to go to Ukraine for the IAAF World

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Youth Championship the same year and I placed 6th in 200m. I believe I have the talent and I am ready to give it all I have. It is what God has placed in me and I only need to work hard to fully realise my potential. Why athletics My first coach, Raymond Agoro, helped develop my interest in athletics; he gave me a lot of insight and confidence. Whenever he took us out for inter-house sports, he would say that I have what it takes to succeed in sprints. He usually told me that I needed to train harder and to go for competitions. That was how it all started. He nurtured my interest in the sport. Future expectations All the people making waves in athletics today are humans, they didn’t drop from outer space -Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell - are like the rest of us. Today, the world makes reference to them in athletics and my belief is that I’m going to get there very soon. Look at Bolt, this is a guy who is so disciplined and focused, he always gives his best anytime he gets on the track; he doesn’t allow defeats to weigh him down, he comes out better after every defeat. I remember one of his interviews after he lost during the Olympics trials where he said; ‘Now I know, I am not the fastest man, I got to work harder.’ Thereafter he showed the world that he was still the greatest. I am learning a lot from him every day. Dream of competing against Bolt Wow! It will be a big deal for me to stand beside him on the same track. When that day comes, I will cherish it for the rest of my life. Greatest moment I still have my career ahead of me so I can’t be talking about greatest moments just yet. Disappointments I will say what gives me a sense of disappointment is people looking down on me, ‘saying can anything good come from him?’ People disparaging your work can be discouraging, it can kill the spirit. But when I look at it that I am not doing it for anyone, that I am doing it because I have a passion and love for it, I forget about people trying to discourage me and focus on my future. As long as God has not given up on me, then I don’t care about what people say. Support needed to get to the top I will say the country needs to invest more in young athletes. Not only in terms of funds, but also by way of providing us with state-ofthe-art equipment that will help us stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world. They should commit more funds into our training. Sometimes we train on empty stomachs, trek long distances after training; the federation is trying but it cannot do it all alone, we need more support from the National Sports Commission like they are doing for football. We are suffering seriously and we need them to come to our aid. Education I have not stopped my education, I want to combine it with my career. It is education first. I know one day my career in athletics will be over and I will have to fall back on my education. I will still have to continue my schooling.

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Van der Vaart puts World Cup absence behind

Lifestyle

Serena Williams holidays in Novigrad

ormer Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has put his sadness at missing out on the World Cup through injury behind him, by hiring a boat with his girlfriend Sabia Boulahrouz in St Tropez. The pair, who have been dating since September 2013 after Rafael split with his ex-wife Sylvie, enjoyed themselves in the sun in the south of France. Sabia is the former wife of Rafael’s Holland team-mate Khalid Boulahrouz, who recently signed a one-year deal with Dutch side Feyenoord after leaving Brondby. Rafael and Sabia were pictured basking in the sunshine in St Tropez, before the Hamburg playmaker demonstrated his flawless technique with some perfectly executed dives. Van der Vaart was expected to be named in Louis van Gaal’s 23man squad for the World Cup until he was forced into pulling out of Holland’s preliminary squad due to a calf injury. Courtesy: Daily Mail

merican tennis star Serena Williams has been spotted soaking up the sun in the Croatian town of Novigrad after withdrawing from Wimbledon. She may have been hoping to have a quiet holiday but that was not to be the case after the local city council posted the fact that she was there on their official website, apparently incredibly proud that the tennis legend chose this spot for her holiday. The website said that she had apparently decided it was the perfect place to visit “to relax and to prepare for US Open”. Serena Williams had apparently been invited to Novigrad by her long time tennis hitting partner Sasa Bajin, who has family in Novigrad. She is not the only sporting personality to unwind in the area. Manchester City’s junior football team are also heading to Novigrad to start their preparations for the next season. Courtesy: Daily Mail

Giroud voted most sexy player at the World Cup

ccording to a poll carried out by serencontrer.com, Olivier Giroud was the sexiest footballer at the World Cup, having received 37 percent of all the votes cast between the 19th and 24th June. Courtesy: Daily Mail

Sanchez hits the beach with girlfriend before Arsenal training

The other results are below: Olivier Giroud (France) 37% Robin Van Persie (Netherlands) 18% Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 18% Neymar (Brazil) 9% Lionel Messi (Argentina) 5% Gerard Piqué (Spain) 4% Karim Benzema (France) 4% Sergio Ramos (Spain) 2% Eden Hazard (Belgium) 2% Mario Balotelli (Italy) 1%

ew Arsenal signing Alexis Sanchez is enjoying some well-deserved time off before linking up with the Gunners for pre-season. Arsene Wenger decided to splash in the region of £30million on the Chilean from Barcelona last week as they attempt to bridge the gap between themselves and the Premier League’s top sides. It is hoped Sanchez will provide the goals to make it so, but for now he’s content on the beach with girlfriend Laia Grassi. That’s a way to make friends: Grassi posted a picture of herself in an Arsenal shirt last week. Courtesy: Daily Mail

Sanchez and girlfriend, Grassi

Serene Williams soaking up the sun in Croatia

Mario Gotze, ready to score again!

StartUps NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

19 JULY 2014

Horticulture business not for the lazy – Egunma Stanley Egunma, is the proprietor of Stanley Horticulture and Gardens on Agidingbi Road in Ikeja. He speaks to SEGUN EDWARDS about the fascination of gardening as well as what it takes to be successful in the business. Could you tell us what horticulture business entails? Horticulture or gardening business is a venture majorly aimed at providing service to beautifying the environment as well as making the human environment clean. The business is lucrative and can be compared to a gold mine at some times but the horticulturist must a hardworking person. A lazy or lackadaisical person may not be successful in the business. Anybody that is lazy should forget about making success in horticulture and gardening. You cannot afford not to ensure the cleanliness of your garden because the customers will be attracted to your garden by the way you arrange your plants, the way you arrange your environment for the plants to be attractive, the way you usher them into your garden so, you need to work towards achieving success in this regard. You have to be hardworking at the initial stage of the business; it is like working very hard planting and expecting to harvest at a later date. You don’t expect to commence the business and start selling or expecting customers immediately. Another major hurdle of horticulture is that it is not easy to have every plant of flowers as soon as you kick-off the business. It would take some couple of seasons before you gather a significant number of plants. Let us put the average period for a horticulturist to assemble a reasonable number of plants at eight years. That is when you can meet customers’ demands for various flowers which you must be able to make available. What number of plants is expected to be assembled by a horticulturist for the garden to be attractive to customers who will patronise the business? There are millions of plants available for assemblage when you are into horticulture. For me, I have thousands of plants in my garden already and you can see that the length of my garden is extending from where I started from to such a long distance from where I started, it is not a day’s job. So what is usually the source of gathering the various plants that grow up to these flowers? The way I get my plants is that I started with just some numbers of plants of course, I bought some of the flowers from their infant stages and along the line I bought some and evacuated them to have such flower in large quantity. So, I evacuated for plant-

ing, and while I did that I got invitations from private individuals to assist them in putting their garden in order and from there I take some of the flower infants that I don’t have the fund to acquire or I don’t have in my collections here in my farm. As a horticulturist, immediately I see new plants in the process of helping to assist people maintain their gardens, I collect such plants. Is it the same thing as having seedlings? No it is not all the plants that are referred to or come up as seedlings, many are called seedlings, and others are cut from the body of matured flowers and nursed to full blown flowers. So when I help maintain people’s gardens and I see a new or expensive plants that I don’t have, I would cut them out and gather them in a safe bag and put them in place with some quantity of water to preserve them until the completion of my maintenance jobs after which I would bring such various plants to my garden here to nurture to maturity levels. By so doing, I extend the collections of flowers in my farm and that is another avenue of sourcing for the various collections of flowers that I have at present in my farm. Would say you have a standard garden that can meet the demand of customers for flowers? Yes, I can say I have a standard garden that can meet the demand of customers that come for flowers, which hitherto was no possible. I can confidently say I can meet customers’ demand with available flowers here because the garden has extended significantly from where I started. Before now, I wasn’t able to meet customers’ demand because I didn’t have a lot of the flowers then. How many flowers can you say you have available for customers if you are to count

I am an agent of development to the environment rather than constituting nuisance as claimed by government

Some flowers nurtured by Egunma (inset)

them one by one? I Have up to two thousand different flowers in my farm right now that if I start calling their names one after the other, we won’t get away from here for a long time. As you can see, my garden has really extended from when I started. Can you name few of them that are in constant demand? For instance, I have the Christmas Tree, which real name is Twinger, people love the flower by using it to commemorate the Christmas season, it is used for decoration of homes during the Christmas. People use different lights on it. Apart from that, it is a green plant so, it is usually fascinating to people because of its greenness, people love the flower. I have the West Indies, which is used to decorate the environment because of its manoeuvrable nature, as it can be twisted to various shapes, it can be used to write names, images and so on. It is in high demand in the horticulture market and people are always looking for it. I also have the Mother-In-Law tug, it has various colours like yellow, green, this (pointing to the flower) is the dark one which is very appealing to people who cherish gardening. It is loved by the people, especially people from corporate offices because it has long life span and it is an indoor flower. It is embraced by lover of flowers because it can survive both indoor and outdoor and it expands to a multitude inside the flower verse. How often do customers come to buy flowers from you? They come every other day but people visit this garden everyday, even when some of them come to make enquiries about flowers, it is could funny at times they come in their numbers. For instance, the scene was unbearable to my spouse who got irritated by human traffic when she was present, as they came for enquiries. As a horticulturist, would you say you make enough returns from the business? It has not been very rosy, particularly with government, whose agents posed some obstacles to the business over the is-

sues of my stay here. This has made it difficult as they whisked away a lot of my wares. They said it is illegal for me to occupy this place and I should not display my flowers here. The issue went as far as the court, which acceded to the position that I am an agent of development to the environment rather than constituting nuisance as claimed by government. It was the decision of the court that has given my business continued existence here. The authority of the school who are my immediate landlord equally supported my existence with the position that the piece of land which I occupy and help to beautify would become a dump site for refuse, if I am ejected. So, that was the saving grace for my business. That didn’t come without a price anyway because I was detained for three months before the court ruled in my favour. If any new person wishes to start the business, what does it requires? Although I have a different background in terms of training, because I trained as furniture maker but I was compelled to come into this business because I had the exposure from my father who worked with the Edo Palm Producing Company. However, anybody that wants to come into the business must have access to water apart from the training which will enable him to have knowledge about plants. The person must have access to land and as things have changed. With as little as N20, 000 one can start the business. This is in addition to the things I mentioned earlier. What is the duration of acquiring training about the business, the duration and cost of acquiring training? If I want to train anybody, the person will pay N20, 000 for at least six months duration, during which I would impart knowledge about names of various flower and the process of nurturing flowers from their infancies. He will also be taught how to maintain the flowers before engaging in selling. A trainee, who wants to be very proficient on the business, will be trained for a whole year.

My Weekend

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

19 JULY 2014

Madubuike

I do aerobics for hours on Saturdays, says Madubuike Mr. Emeka Madubuike, CEO, Compass Investments and Securities Limited, a firm of stockbrokers who is also the chairman of the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), says he socialises through religious and culture-based clientele which he built for his business over time. SEGUN EDWARDS writes.

f there is a search for who is passionate about the Nigerian capital market development, Emeka Madubuike should veritably qualify as foremost among members of stock market community. Irrespective of being an operator in the market, he has demonstrated through his relentless efforts at finding a lasting solution to problems bedevilling the market since the 2008 crisis that saw investors lose close to N10 trillion of their investments in the huge melt down of stock prices. One such efforts led to the founding of the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), an umbrella body of CEOs of brokerage companies, with the major aim of restoring lost confidence to the market.

And today, he says that one of his many efforts has paid off a great deal. Although he does not belong to any social club or society, which he could have relied upon for succour from the devastating effect of the colossal loss suffered by all participants in the market including himself six years ago, he says his membership of religious and cultural societies has been instructive a great deal to the steadying of his business to date. He says, “I don’t belong to any social club though I am a member of Rotary, I have not been an active person in the scheme of things owing to the demand of my job as chairman of the umbrella body of CEOs of Stockbroking Houses, ASHON, which makes me a very busy

person apart from being a CEO of my firm. “But I belong to religious and cultural society of my church and town. In fact, this has impacted positively to my stockbroking business and my attachment to these two major societies has enabled me to have a significant clientele base and I can say I run a religious and culturalbased clientele for my business and it proved a worthwhile experience for me. “Also what I could liken to having any social association is my membership of my estate residents association as the current chairman of one of the zones of Magodo Residents Association, which is one of the six zones of residents association in the estates, through this I can say I socialise.” He is also the type that focuses on recreation in his effort to keep fit against the backlog of the week long executive marathon meetings and thought-consuming stock transactions. He said, “I get engaged in physical exercise, specifically in aerobics every weekend and I make sure that I get sufficient rest when I’m not attending any event at weekends. I do aerobics for hours on Saturday and I use this to straighten up and keep fit after the week long sitting down in the office and various meetings. Beside the exercise, like I said I try to get enough sleep whenever I’m not engaged with any social activity on weekends.” Madubuike, who claims to be a great lover of sporting activities, recounts his participation in some sports in his growing up days. Explaining with some nostalgia, he says, “I used to play football when I was young but, not anymore because I’m no more active as I used to be in the game in the past. I was also actively involved in table tennis, until I had a road accident which resulted in a fractured shoulder. This forced me to discontinue because the sport requires twisting of the hand. So, I had to stop.” The near six feet athletic-built CEO reiterates his love for sports, particularly football which he says he watches with analytical view stating, “But up till now, I’m a soccer freak in terms of watching good football. Although I’m not a fan of any football club, I’m attracted by the football pattern of clubs like Arsenal Football Club in the English Premier League, Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga, and Borussia Dortmond, in the German Bundesliga. I equally take interest in watching tennis and I take interest in watching Roger Federer.” He emphasises his non-partisanship for any sporting club further stating, “I’m not a fan of any of the three clubs. I only like watching their tactical approach to the game as well as the free flow pattern which I see as good football, and I watch the game of football with a very strong analytical mind because of my involvement in the past. I also show a lot of interest in some indoor games like scrabble and table tennis.” Aside from his interest in sport, he says he does not shy away from attending social functions on weekends. On such occasion, he cherishes to dress in his Igbo traditional attires to depict and identify with fellow tribesmen and associates. His response is emphatic as he says, “Why not, on weekend I dress to match whatever occasion there is because you have families, friends, there are going to be all kinds of engagements, parties, birthdays, house warming, child’s dedication, weddings, church activities so, you just have to dress to match the occasion. “A lot of time I prefer my main traditional attire, not kaftans, because I’m from a certain part of the country I dress like that so that I try to identify myself

I eat food, provided it is food. I take all kinds of foods that are well prepared, provided it is food with the people where I come from.” Madubuike is however not the type who attaches importance to any special menu for his weekend as he only gives preference to any good meal. “I don’t have any special type of menu or food. I eat food, provided it is food. I take all kinds of foods that are well prepared, provided it is food. I don’t have preference for any particular kind of food but, one of the things I like doing is that I eat a lot of fruits.” Asked to give advice to CEOs who hardly create time for relaxation, he goes scriptural saying, “Life does not consist in the abundance that we possess. Life is more than your achievements. It is more than your possessions. There is a lot more that is required and if we get that understanding, we will know that the time, the talent, the treasures that we have, essentially don’t belong to us. All of these belong to God and we are supposed to glorify God.” On his projections for the capital market in the next five years from the recovery so far recorded, he declares, “I think the capital market cannot be divorced from the economy and all that I think we need to do in our economy is to properly implement a lot of beautiful government’s plans and ideas. A lot of good policies are been reeled out but because of lack of implementation, there have been little or nothing to cheer. “If these policies are implemented to the letter, Nigeria is going to be a very great entity. The economy will also bloom because every day we talk about potential. So, what we just need is a set of people to just unlock those potential but this is has not happened.” He expresses the desire to be a stockbroker if he ever has another opportunity to choose a career for himself, saying he has never regretted his decision to be a professional stockbroker. He said, “That kind of thought has never crossed my mind, I believe that where ever I am is a divine calling and of course there is no guarantee that things would ever be rosy. Life is, as somebody described it, is a series of problems and problems are opportunities and we to look at them from that point of view. So, for me, wherever I am, I look up to God for his guidance in all I do.” His legacy as the chairman of ASHON and for the entire capital market community in Nigeria, he says entails making sure that the nation gets an organised market that is transparent and accountable. Madubuike says, “We have try to put in place an arrangement whereby the capital market community will have a common front to be able to push issues that will be in the interest, not just the stockbroking but for the entire market because like you know stockbrokers in the capital market are like the frontline operators. “This is what we have tried to do, just to organise ourselves in such a way that will make the desired contributions to the development of the capital market. We have been part of all the reforms in the capital market because as a trade group, we operate through the capital market committee and the committee is driven by several sub-committees. “Since 2009, 2010, we have been part of all the committees that have looked at every aspects of the market and we are still part of the ongoing reforms, even the 10 years master plan for the market.”

L ve&Lv ng

Dear Love Doctor, 'She refuses to introduce me to her parents' p.37 Life Experience:

'I put my fingernails in my colleagues' lunch' p.38

MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

Love Confession

'I married him because he can't get me pregnant' Two people usually enter into marriage with the intention of having children. However, in this story, one woman with a dark secret from her past, sees her man's infertility as the perfect reason to spend the rest of her life with him.

We can fly together because we’re birds of the same feather

y story is peculiar, but please don’t judge me because all I need is your prayers and sympathy. Two weeks before our wedding, George told me that he had low sperm count and might never be able to impregnate me. “Maryann,“ he said, “I might never be able to get you pregnant. But do you love me enough to still marry me?” George said he loved me and that I was free cancel the wedding on account of his revelation. I decided to go ahead with the wedding. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I too, was infertile. I just couldn’t tell him that I had a fertility problem too. I regret the way I led my life in the past, having all those terrible abortions as a student then in Uniport. I remember the white men and other oil workers that had gotten me pregnant. I remember how one particular man had told me to keep the pregnancy because he needed a child and was ready to marry me. But I’d refused because I didn’t want any child that would tie me down. I wanted to rock life. I remember the last abortion I had and how the doctor had told me never to have another abortion, otherwise I would damage my womb. That doctor had even told me not to come to his clinic for abortion again. I had

Odd News

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completely ignored his advice and gotten pregnant again. And because I was scared of going back to his clinic for an abortion, I went to a roadside medicine hawker. The medicine hawker gave me some medicine and said it would get rid of the pregnancy. I took the drugs and after five days I had a terrible stomach ache. I fainted on the sixth day and was rushed to another hospital only to be told that my womb was rotten because the fetus had died in my womb. The doctor said he had to remove my womb to save my life. From that day onwards, my life became haunted by the shadow of infertility because I was told that I may never be able to have a child in my life. My husband has low sperm count and tells me he married me because I’m more fertile than he is. How ironic it sounds! George says my "healthy" womb might increase his low chances of having a child in future. But unknown to him, I’m just as infertile or impotent as he is. I married my husband because we’re birds of the same feather. I didn’t want to marry a virile or fertile man so that I wouldn’t be called a barren woman if I couldn’t bear him a child. I married George for selfish reasons, so that I could hide under his condition of low sperm count to claim that if not for his condition, I would have borne him up to six children. But I feel so guilty. How wicked of me to marry George just to use his infertility as a cover for my own barrenness! The truth is that we’re both infertile and I should have let him marry a fertile girl with a healthy womb. Who knows, God might have blessed him with a child through her. We’ve been married for 12 years now and George will forever think that he alone is the cause of our childlessness. He’ll never know that I’m equally to blame since I also have fertility problems of my own. But I will never tell him.

19 JULY 2014

MODEL OF THE WEEK Name: Linda Tel: 0706 687 1775

If you want to be our next model, please send your photos to: ireto007@yahoo.com Call: 0703 102 8714, 0813 116 1840

Millionaire helping pregnant women flee UK to avoid babies taken into care

multi-millionaire is helping pregnant women whose babies are deemed at risk to flee the UK. Ian Joseph has spent over £30,000 helping 200 to avoid having their newborns taken away by social services. He pays for their fares to a new life and offers them free legal advice, even paying for lawyers in some cases. Around 50 have fled to Ireland on his money while another 150 went to France, Spain and Italy. Forced adoption opponent Mr Joseph, who runs a language business and has a law degree,

has defended his decision to fund their escape, despite many already having children in care. He said: “Social services have moved away from giving families support and are now too quick to take children away. “I know what I do is controversial. People ask how I know the people I’ve helped don’t go on to do something wicked, but my reply is that even killers are entitled to lawyers. “These woman are entitled to a fair chance to keep their children if they have not been convicted of any crime of cruelty and aren’t on drink or drugs.”

The dad of seven set up a website and receives “around a thousand” calls a year from mothers. Britain is the only EU country allowing forced adoption. Last year, 1,860 children were adopted without parental consent. Mr Joseph, 82, featured in a documentary advising a woman called Mary with previous mental health issues who has two children in care and is expecting another. Mary, who now raises her child in France, said: “The social services here are helpful and supportive, the opposite of the UK.” Mr Joseph says he ploughs

through piles of documents before agreeing to help. He said: “Adoption shouldn’t go ahead if a mother is begging to get her child back. They should be given a fair chance. “Social services used to only take children away if a parent was convicted of cruelty. Now social workers are feared and hated. But one GP who works with social ¬services said: “People think they are right to help a mother but they do not have all the background to a case. Courtesy: yahoo

36 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Love News

Love Songs

Female Yahoo executive sued for sexual harassment

high-level female executive at Yahoo Inc has been named in a lawsuit filed by a woman who worked under her, accusing her former boss of sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Maria Zhang, a senior director of engineering at Yahoo Mobile, has been sued by Nan Shi, who was employed as a principal software engineer from February 2013, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in Santa Clara Superior Court in San Jose, California. The complaint alleges that Zhang coerced Shi to have "oral and digital sex" with her on multiple occasions in Sunnyvale and told her she would have a "bright future" at Yahoo if she had relations with Zhang. Shi is seeking monetary as well as punitive damages. The lawsuit also names Yahoo as a defendant. Officials at the tech company have come to Zhang’s

defense in response to the allegations outlined in Shi’s complaint. "There is absolutely no basis or truth to the allegations against Maria Zhang. Maria is an exemplary Yahoo executive and we intend to fight vigorously to clear her name," a Yahoo representative said in an email. Zhang founded her own mobile company, Alike, which was acquired by Yahoo in 2013. She also worked at Microsoft and Zillow before joining Yahoo, according to her LinkedIn profile. In the complaint, Shi accuses Zhang of unfairly downgrading her performance reviews for the second and third quarters of 2013. According to court documents, the company's human resources personnel refused to conduct an investigation when Shi complained about her direct supervisor's unwelcome advances. Instead, according to the

Feel So Close I feel so close to you right now It's a force field I wear my heart upon my sleeve, like a big deal Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall And there's no stopping us right now I feel so close to you right now (dance beat plays) x3

complaint, Shi was put on unpaid leave and eventually fired. A native of Beijing, China, Shi graduated from Ohio University with a degree in computer science. Shi's complaint states she first crossed paths with Zhang when she went to work for her start-up in Seattle. When Yahoo bought the company last year, both women moved to California. According to Shi, Zhang told her to stay in a temporary Yahoo housing unit in Sunnyvale. The lawsuit cited by San Jose Mercury News goes on to say that Zhang 'coerced' her subordinate into having oral and digital sex with her and threatened to take away 'her job, stocks and future' if she rejected her advances. Court documents allege the Yahoo executive forced her

subordinate to work grueling hours and write work emails in her off-time, 'sometimes right after sex.' In an interview with Mercury News, Shi described how Zhang allegedly surprised her one morning as she slept on the coach in their shared apartment, crawled under the blanket without any clothes and began kissing and hugging her. "I woke up and got scared," the woman told the paper. "I was shocked." In April, Silicon Valley Business Journal celebrated Zhang as one of Women of Influence of 2014. Her profile stated that "she is passionate about supporting women", and "she actively mentors other women engineers." Courtesy: Yahoo

‘I put my fingernails in my colleagues' lunch'

was so excited when I started my first professional job at a human resources company. All my previous jobs were temporary positions in hospitality that entailed long hours, low pay and a lot of stressful customers. So I was ecstatic, to say the least, to be finally working in a professional environment with professional colleagues. My role was administration support and office manager. My first week was great. Everyone was so friendly and easy going. Within a few months I had mastered all my tasks and responsibilities and I was effectively running the office. My role required me to offer administrative support right down to menial tasks such as maintaining the stock of staff consumables like tea, coffee and toilet paper. At first I was happy to do this as it was part of my job but as the months went by I started to notice how fussy and petty the staff became. At first they started to comment on the way I would do certain tasks, so I would change to suit them. The next thing they said was that the tea I was serving wasn't good enough. Then they started complaining about the toilet paper I was buying and right down to the office stationery paper being 'too dirty' for them. I couldn't believe the complaints I was hearing. These people were giving me more stress than my past customers in hospitality. Everything I did or bought, there was something wrong with it. Later, I had to organize the annual office End of Year party. I had heard about the disaster of last year's event from the previous office assistant. She was so traumatised on the day that she actually had to be sent home because she couldn't stop crying. At first I thought the story may have been slightly exaggerated and I laughed it off. But on the day of my planned event I came to realise it was not far from the truth at all. I had organised a huge feast for the staff. It looked great and I didn't think anyone could find any fault with it. Well, to start with, my brand of orange juice was too sweet and

CALVIN HARRIS

Life Experience

the fried rice w a s not tasty. To top it off certain staff members decided to have a little tantrum because the meat pies I had organised didn't contain enough meat and they refused to eat. I thought that they were being totally ridiculous and petty to be making such a big deal about it. According to them, I had not provided good food. So the five staff members who had their little fit about the food requested that I go and buy them chicken and salads in a fast food restaurant as they couldn't eat any of the other food varieties I had organised. At first I found it funny that they actually expected me to leave the office to buy them something else after all that I had organized. After all, this was a party that management had paid for as a reward for staff and at the end of the day I still had so much work to catch up on after I organised the event. But much to my surprise my manager asked me to buy the additional salads and chicken for the staff. I couldn't believe it. I was fuming. The assistant who organized the party last year could see my frustration and gave me a sympathetic look. So, off I went to buy their chicken and salads. The whole time I was in my car driving to the eatery I was fuming. You

could practically see the steam coming out of my ears. I was so frustrated and angry that people could be so petty and immature. And I started questioning what job I hadn't gotten myself into. I had never, ever worked with such ridiculous people and I was not used to such petty behaviour from staff. Customers yes, but not staff. Well, I bought their silly chicken and salads and was still reeling with anger when I saw my manicure kit on the passenger side floor. I opened the manicure set and a wicked thought came to mind. I started clipping my toenails and fingernails and then cut them into tiny little pieces. I had no polish on so my nail clippings were natural looking. I then sprinkled the clippings in each of the salads. I mixed them around and you could not tell the difference. I couldn't believe what I had just done but I felt so satisfied, as much as I hate to admit it. I brought the salad back and their sad little faces lit up as soon as they saw their food. One of them made a remark that now they could 'finally eat some decent food'. Whatever remorse I'd had flew out the window once I heard that snide remark. They started eating their chicken and salads eagerly, and slowly but surely a little smile started creeping on my face. The other assistant noticed me smirking and asked me what I was smiling at. I quickly stopped and just replied that I was happy with the turnout and that everyone looked to be enjoying themselves. My manager agreed and commended me on a job well done. Everyone chimed in and thanked me for my efforts. I was left to clean up but couldn't have been happier. As I went to collect the empty salad containers not a morsel of food remained. The salad must have been tasty. I am a pretty quiet person and normally very mindful of work rules and ethics. But I believe I was pushed over the edge. I had never dealt with such demanding and particular people and didn't know how to handle it. I would never do something like that again.

I feel so close to you right now It's a force field I wear my heart upon my sleeve, like a big deal Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall And there's no stopping us right now I feel so close to you right now (dance beat plays) And there's no stopping us right now And there's no stopping us right now And there's no stopping us right now I feel so close to you right now.......

Love Poem

Oladimeji Francis

oladimejifrancis07@gmail.com

My Lush Dream When I was little, I had a lush dream, That one day when I grow up I will find and marry a Queen. She'd sit by my side, Up there on our throne, With princes and princesses So we're never alone. I can honestly say, My dream has come true And you'd never believe Just how much I love you. I may not be king And you may not be queen yet But together we're perfect Just like in my dream.

*Send your love poems along with your name and number to ireto007@yahoo.com

Romantic Jokes

Haunted From The Grave

An old man and woman were married for years even though they hated each other. When they had a confrontation, screams and yelling could be heard deep into the night. A constant statement was heard by the neighbours who feared the man the most. "When I die I will dig my way up and out of the grave to come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!" They believed he practiced black magic and was responsible for missing cats and dogs, and strange sounds at all hours. He was feared and enjoyed the respect it garnished. He died abruptly under strange circumstances and the funeral had a closed casket. After the burial, the wife went straight to the local bar and began to party as if there was no tomorrow. The gaiety of her actions were becoming extreme while her neighbors approached in a group to ask these questions: Are you not afraid? Concerned? Worried? that this man who practiced black magic and stated when he died he would dig his way up and out of the grave to come back and haunt you for the rest of your life? The wife put down her drink and said, "Let the jerk dig. I had him buried upside down."

Words of Wisdom:

Love with your body and soul

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

LOVE&LIVING

Relationships & Love Advice

Love Education

'She refuses to introduce me to her parents'

What is Infertility?

Love Doctor’s Advice:

Dear Love Doctor, My girlfriend and I have been dating for over a year now. Within the first two months I introduced her to my parents and later on my entire family. But she never talked about hers nor did I know where her house was. I asked if her parents knew she was dating me and she said no. I don't know why she refuses to introduce me to her parents. I feel like quitting the relationship now. What do I do? From Thomas.

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Dear Thomas, Don't be too quick to think that your girl may be playing games or playing on your intelligence if she is yet to introduce you to her parents. She may be thinking that the time is not yet ripe. She may also not be taking the relationship as seriously as you do. If she doesn't view her relationship with you as a serious relationship, she wouldn't want to introduce you to her parents. Again, she might be scared of her parents seeing her with a man if her parents are very strict. She may also not be in good relationship with her parents to

be bold enough to introduce you to them. So you really need to investigate to know why she is acting the way she does. Have a serious discussion with her now to ascertain the true cause. After that, you will know the next step to take. Good luck! If you want daily love tips or advice, download The Color of Love Guide on your iPad and iPhone. Search for ‘Color of Love’ on your Apple App store now and download the App. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com If you’re in a crisis, call for help: 07031028714, 08131161840 or 08023700641. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08023700641. Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com

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FERTILITY If you have fertility problems like fibroid, low sperm count, or want a male child or baby sex selection, call Love Doctor 07025350586; 08122352054.

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he World Health Organization defines infertility as follows: “Infertility is the inability to conceive a child. A couple may be considered infertile if, after two years of regular sexual intercourse, without contraception, the woman has not become pregnant (and there is no other reason, such as breastfeeding or postpartum amenorrhoea). Primary infertility is infertility in a couple who have never had a child. Secondary infertility is failure to conceive following a previous pregnancy. Infertility may be caused by infection in the man or woman, but often there is no obvious underlying cause.” Female infertility For a woman to conceive, certain things have to happen: intercourse must take place around the time when an egg is released from her ovary; the systems that produce eggs and sperm have to be working at optimum levels; and her hormones must be balanced. Some women are infertile because their ovaries do not mature and release eggs. Problems affecting women include endometriosis or damage to the fallopian tubes (which may have been caused by infections such as chlamydia). Other factors that can affect a woman's chances of conceiving include being over or underweight, or her age as female fertility declines sharply after the age of 35. Sometimes it can be a combination of factors, and sometimes a clear cause is never established. Common causes of infertility of females include: • ovulation problems (e.g. polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, the leading reason why women present to fertility clinics due to anovulatory infertility. • tubal blockage • Pelvic inflammatory disease • age-related factors • uterine problems • previous tubal ligation • endometriosis • advanced maternal age Specific male causes The main cause of male infertility is low semen quality. Another possible cause is a low sperm count. Infertility associated with viable, but immotile sperm may be caused by primary ciliary dyskinesia. Combined infertility In some cases, both the man and woman may be infertile or sub-fertile, and the couple's infertility arises from the combination of these conditions. In other cases, the cause is suspected to be immunological or genetic; it may be that each partner is independently fertile but the couple cannot conceive together without assistance. Courtesy: Wikipedia

38 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Lovers in Court

True Confession From Overseas

'I am not the father of that child'

'I fed my husband soap'

ight after night it happened. His "nights out with the boys" went on seven times a week. My husband would come staggering in after a hard night at the local, no excuses, just demands for his evening meal. Always it was ready, warmed up, ready to eat. This went on for years until I had had enough and figured out a way to pay him back. At first I left his dinner in the oven until it was dried out. He didn't seem to notice. So I tried putting it in the fridge, serving it ice cold — still he ate it. Then I turned to curries — I would put five chillies and three heaped teaspoons of curry powder in his meal,

he'd just sweat more and his eyes would water. Finally, in desperation, I thought I had the best weapon. I cooked his favourite meal — grilled sausages with gravy, mashed potato with cheese on top and greens. I went one step further though and substituted yellow soap for the cheese. As I grated it over the meal, it melted over the top of the mashed potato and if I hadn't known what it was, I could have eaten it myself. The anticipation of seeing his face when he had his first mouthful was almost more than I could handle. Finally the car lights came up the driveway, the meal was on the table ready to eat. I sat opposite him, so I could get a good view of his expression. But after eating it, all he said was,

Abimbola Sodeke

A "What a great meal!" I left the house early the next morning — I didn't wait around to see or hear the outcome, but I bet it was a smooth ride out on bubbles and froth! We've been married for 46 years. He doesn't drink alcohol any more. Courtesy: ninems

SEXUAL COMMUNICATION

Can having sex early in pregnancy cause miscarriage? I've had sex several times since I discovered I was pregnant. I've been experiencing some spotting, much like a light period. This morning I woke up and used the restroom and it was all blood. I've been experiencing minor cramps as well. Is this a sign of miscarriage? From Ada. Answer: Spotting can happen after sex and is normal. Your cervix can become irritated which could be responsible for your light bleeding after having sex. Sex does not cause a miscarriage but it can sometimes increase the chances if you are a high risk. Sometimes the doctor will say no intercourse or no orgasm as a precaution (when that's the case). Anytime you have bright red bleeding especially with cramps, you need to go see a doctor immediately. Those are warning signs and you don't want to mess around with it. It doesn't mean miscarriage but it's better to be safe than sorry. It could be a case of a weak cervix which some women have.

Wedding Traditions

Cajun Broom Dance

ajuns are a group of people largely residing in southern Louisiana, a region rich with the history of several cultures. Descended from the Acadians, French settlers from Atlantic Canada, today they celebrate a diverse and vibrant culture unlike any other. During the 17th and 18th centuries, French settlers emigrated to modern-day Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Here they founded communities in the region that came to be known as Acadia. This French colony thrived for over a century. In 1754, France went to war with Great Britain in North America over lucrative fishing and fur-trapping efforts, a conflict known as the Seven Years' War. This conflict ended in defeat for the French with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. France was forced to give up their rights to their colonies in North America as a term of that treaty. During the war the

Acadians were exiled from the land they'd occupied for over a century, a process known as the Great Disturbance. The exiled Acadians resettled in many locations including the British North American colonies, France, England, the Caribbean and for some, a Spanish colony known as Louisiana. The Cajun people developed interesting traditions to compensate for the fact they were often isolated from the rest of the world. Since it could take weeks for a religious official to visit an area, betrothed Cajun couples would ceremoniously jump over a broom, signifying their marriage. The broom has continued to play an important role in Cajun wedding ceremonies. Older unmarried siblings of both the bride and groom dance with a broom at the reception, mocking their single state. The single ladies dancing with the broom simply say they are dancing with Mr. Broomstick.

26-year-old student, Uche Ogwulehi, has pleaded with a Lagos customary court to dissolve her union with her husband, Chukwuma Ezindu, and make him take responsibility for the child she has for him. Ogwulehi claimed that there was no more love in the marriage and that she and her husband had been separated for four years. According to her, Ezindu did not care for her and her child. Ogwulehi told the court that her problems with her husband started when she went for ante-natal at a hospital and didn't know the day was a public holiday. "My husband dropped me at the park where I took bus to the hospital. On getting there, I discovered it was a public holiday, so I went to visit my mum. While I was there, it started raining, so I could not leave on time. Suddenly, my husband called to ask if I was there but I told my mother to tell him i wasn't there. "When i got home that night, I knelt to beg him to forgive me. I told him that I did what I did because I was scared. He just told me to get up. I could not sleep that night because i didn't know what his next action would be, until the next morning when he took me back to my parents' home without even allowing me to dress properly before leaving the house. "A week later, I gave birth and the water that was supposed to come out of a woman's private part was coming out of my nose and mouth. My daddy called him to bring the baby's things but he told my daddy to go and buy new ones because he wasn't going to come with the items I left in his house. "Since then we have been separated for four years and I have not set my eyes on him until today in court. Even when the child was born, he didn't come to check on us," she narrated. However, her husband, Ezindu, accused her of betraying his trust and having a child through an extra-marital affair. "If I didn't love her, I would not have spent money to marry her. But all I know is that I don't want any child with her. In 2008 after we did our traditional marriage, she went back to school. She didn't come home for about four months. Then one day, she called me to tell me she was sick but didn't know what exactly was wrong with her. I told her to go to the hospital and afterwards she was confirmed pregnant. "We hid it from my family because my mother was sick and our white wedding preparation was on. So we had to do the wedding after which I registered her for ante-natal. "While she was still pregnant and attending antenatal, she packed her bags herself and left home claiming that she had seen someone else to marry. "That child isn't my child. I don't know where she got the pregnancy from," Ezindu said.

Travel&Tourism ON SATURDAY Destination

Chef's Corner Kano: Centre of 'Nigerian female commerce, but tourism cooks should rise to in reverse gear p.42 the occasion' p.40

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

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

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

19 JULY 2014

HOSPITALITY Starwood Hotels and Resorts have continued to grow its presence in Nigeria as it takes on Four Points By Sheraton Ikot Ekpene. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA writes on the new hotel project scheduled to open in 2015.

ndeed, with the level of transformation taking place in Akwa Ibom State in terms of its infrastructure and service facilities renewal, it was only a matter of time before development caught the attention of investors. The state's tourism drive has particularly received a boost with the commitment of the Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration to infrastructural renewal. The road network, airport project and the Tropicana Resort and Emporium among others in Uyo are pointers to these developmental strides. There is also the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, which was opened in 2007, a first class resort and a golf course with top of the range facilities and regarded as one of the best around has also witnessed some kind of inputs from the state government in the last couple of years as the hotel, which was not fully equipped and operational at the time of its opening has now be fully furnished, fitted and on full scale operation. Now with the success of the resort and the transformation level in Uyo, the state government has now turned its attention to Ikot Ekpene, one of its major towns for the continuation of its infrastructure and service facilities development. And one of the areas of focus is the hospitality sector with a four-star hotel project on the cards. Given the global dimension of the hotel project, the state government has turned to Starwood Hotels and Resorts as the managers for the new project, thus leveraging on the existing relationship between the state government and Starwood as the international brand currently manages the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort. With this development, Starwood is also looking to strengthen its business operations and presence in the Nigerian hospitality as this new deal makes it the number 10 hotels under the group in Nigeria and the second in Akwa Ibom State for the brand. In all, Starwood has become the fastest growing and largest international brand in Nigeria. At the contract signing ceremony for the new project held in Government House, Uyo recently, the point of the transformation of the state and the gains were vividly highlighted by the Starwood president for Europe, Africa and Middle East, Mr. Michael Wale. ‘‘Looking back to when we first opened Le Meridien Ibom in 2007, we saw an opportunity in a city with limited infrastructure; today the state of Akwa Ibom has been transformed

Conceptual design of the hotel

In 2015, Sheraton scores Four Points in Ikot Ekpene

and modernised with new highways and a local airport, while the hotel was recently selected as an SPG Members’ Favourite.” Wale further explained that the success of the existing marriage between the state government and the brand was what informed this new relationship. “Our experience and shared successes with the government of Akwa Ibom leads us to believe that Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene is another milestone in the development of the state. And we embark on this second joint venture with great confidence.” Business hotel Going by the standard of Starwood, the new Four Points By Sheraton Ikot Ekpene is focused on the business traveller and it is designed to offer the best experience for the corporate world in different areas ranging from meetings, leisure, dining and other forms of entertainment. Therefore, it incorporates timeless design, uncomplicated comfort and a genuine and friendly approach to hospitality and service. The construction of the hotel project, which is handled by Renaissance Construction Group, is ongoing; a 12-storey building with work already at the seventh floor. With the project expected to be completed and commissioned on March

31, 2015, the hotel boast s145 guest rooms comprising 128 standard rooms, 16 suites and two presidential suites. It also features 814 square metres meeting and event space, a fitness centre and gymnasium, swimming pools, roof top cafe, an all-day dining restaurant, and a lobby bar, among others. It would also offer all of the brand’s defining elements, including the signature Four Points by Sheraton comfort bed and free bottled water in the room, complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas, breakfast with coffee and local beer with best brews, helping guests to start and end the day right. Ikot Ekpene For the sprawling but sleepy town of Ikot Ekpene, the hotel project on completion would no doubt be a defining landmark for the town and a reference point for the best of hospitality offerings. Located at the crossroad between two major highways with easy airport access, the hotel will be the first high-rise tower in the city as well as the first purpose-built internationally-branded hotel. Besides, the town’s cultural and historical heritage would bode well for the hotel as Ikot Ekpene is popular for its art, particularly its raffia craft, which inspired its reputation as the "raffia city". It is also one of the oldest cit-

ies in Akwa Ibom and interestingly, the hotel building is sited on the same location where the former Ikot Ekpene prison was located. Starwood brands in Nigeria “Nigeria remains to be an important growth market for Starwood and we see a significant opportunity in growing our mid-market brands in the country and throughout all of Africa,” said Bart Carnahan, Starwood Hotels and Resorts' senior vice president overseeing acquisitions and development in Europe, Africa and Middle East. “With one of the strongest pipelines in the Starwood portfolio, Four Points by Sheraton offers a compelling blend of comfort, style and affordability, making it an increasingly attractive choice for owners and developers across the world.” Of the 10 Starwood properties in Nigeria, five of the fully operational ones include: Sheraton Lagos Hotel; Sheraton Abuja Hotel; Four Points by Sheraton, Lekki, Lagos; Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort and Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel, Port Harcourt, while the other five in the pipeline are Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, Four Points by Sheraton Benin City, Edo State, Four Points by Sheraton Ibadan, Oyo State, Four Points by Sheraton Ikeja, Lagos and Le Meridien Ikoyi Towers.

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS BENEFITS

FESTAC, LAGOS

PARKVIEW ESTATE, IKOYI, LAGOS

LAGOS

There are lots of benefits to derive as one of our partner hotels. For enquiries and details on how to join the programme, please contact Andrew Iro Okungbowa: 08023152195 (sms only), e-mail: iroandy@ymail.com or Chinyere Opara: 08063768131 (sms only) e-mail angela_curtis-2@live.com

40 TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Mwangi

'Nigerian female cooks should rise to the occasion' OLUSHOLA RICKETTS met the executive chef of Southern Sun Ikoyi, Stanley Mwangi, recently and he voiced concern about the diminishing rank of female chefs in Nigeria and what being a cook entails.

he kitchen has traditionally been a women’s turf, but the men over the years have invaded that zone almost relegating women to the backroom while they enjoy the accolades as executive and sous chefs. In Nigeria it is a rarity seeing a lady cook claiming the podium in any of the highbrow hotels, restaurants and eateries. If there is one man who is not happy about this development it is the executive chef of Southern Sun Ikoyi, StanleyMwangi. He is an experienced chef who has been around for five years directing affairs at the kitchen of Southern Sun Ikoyi. Mwangi is not quite pleased that few Nigerian female cooks aspire to the top of the profession. "For the past five years now I have never seen an industrial training student who is a man in the kitchen of this hotel. I have seen two men and they

are doing something related to nutrition. I see mostly ladies, so I don’t understand how they never become chefs," lamented Kenyan–born Mwangi. However, he is working to change this development by encouraging female cooks under his watch to go beyond the backroom. ‘‘We have a lady who is junior chef; I am an executive. If she works very hard the way she is doing now and we continue to train her, she would become an executive chef. She is the one who supervises the real cooking now but we expect her to grow and leave the cooking soon." But what is responsible for this poor showing by female cooks? "I think the quality of the training is making them not to go far because it takes them a lot of time before they grow in the industry. With proper training, the student will grow rapidly," he said. "We don't cook; we set the recipes and give the people to cook. We also do the costing for it. Anybody can actually cook, but not everyone will be able to give a price for it. I look at the quality of the goat and cost it. I also calculate what we are getting out of the meat and from there I do the pricing. I also look at how we present it, the palate and follow up to know if the guests were happy or not." To achieve his dream of promoting Nigerian women cooks to the top level and

Dubai to build record-breaking mall BASKING in the gains of all its iconic record-breaking structures, Dubai is once more bent on stretching that record as it has concluded plans to build what it has termed the world’s biggest shopping mall which would feature, among others, climate controlled streets, world’s largest indoor theme and 100 hotels and apartments. Tagged "temperature–controlled pedestrian city," the new project spans 48 million square feet and will offer health resorts, theatres, a celebration street modelled on the Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona, Spain, and retail streets network stretching over four and a half miles. Like everything else in Dubai, the new mall project is to further enhance its tourism market by making it all year round destination. Part of its attraction is that the shop-

ping mall, which is to occupy eight million square feet would house below a glass dome which, as envisaged, would be opened during the winter months to allow for fresh air but closed during the summer. And as a shopping hub, over 180 million is estimated to visit yearly. According to the emirate’s ruler and vice president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bin Rashid Al Maktoun, ‘‘this project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region around us and we are determined to achieve our vision.’’ Also, he expressed the view that ‘‘the growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible". The city’s ruler also harped on the focus

CHEF’S CORNER

gerians are the friendliest people that I have ever worked with and they are open."

also give the men a high sense of belonging as well, Mwangi strives to relate freely with all his staff. He achieved this by interacting and teaching them the secrets of the profession. "All what I give might be what they have never seen before. In cooking, we don’t use books anymore. This is the time to come up with new things and we are using the basic ideas to create something new. So it makes them actually feel comfortable because you are like a teacher and a student will always be free with the teacher because he gives them something new. So I think it is just normal for us to blend well, and after they have learnt the job, it becomes easy for me too," he explained. As a black Kenyan, he added that it is easy interacting with his staff who are also blacks whereas, a situation which he said might not have been the case if he were white. "I am not a racist; I am just saying it the way it is. You don’t know what a Philippine has in mind; maybe he thinks that I am inferior to him. But here a black man takes you as a black brother. Infusion here has been the easiest I had ever done. Also, the way I work is not authoritative; I just infuse in people, teach them and move together with them. I am also proud to say that Ni-

Southern Sun Ikoyi offers world class menu Mwangi revealed that at Southern Sun Ikoyi they try to do more of continentals and incorporate more Nigerian food due to the fact that most of their guests are Nigerians. "We do a little Chinese also and food from outside. We expect people to feel that they are not left out. We import varieties from Kenya, South Africa and other countries to make sure we have food that is outside the box. Things that will make someone who is not from Nigeria to feel at home and for Nigerians who have travelled far and wide and need something different. "We also try to incorporate some continental foods that are popular but not available everywhere. Some people still visit some other places but eventually stick to our restaurant because they know what to get there as much as they want. We offer something diverse and everyone can easily find what applies to them or their taste buds and we also try to make sure our menu is not just all continental. We always tell people that if they want something, which is not on the menu they should let us know and we can prepare it for them. We also have some Indian items on the menu because some of our guests are Indians and are vegetarians as well."

TRAVEL BEATS

SAA partners One and Only Resort Le Saint Geran

Burj Khalifa, Dubai of making Dubai a year-round destination. ‘‘Our ambitions are higher than having seasonal tourism – tourism is key driver of our economy and we aim to make the UAE an attractive destination all year long. This is why we will start working on providing temperature–controlled environments during the summer months.’’

THE South African Airways (SAA) and Mauritius’ One and Only Resort Le Saint Geran have struck a deal geared at wooing Nigerian travel agencies to market Mauritius in the country. As part of this business partnership, SAA and the One and Only Resort recently put together a four night familiarization trip to Mauritius for travel agents in Nigeria. The trip was to acquaint the travel agents with the offerings of Mauritius with special focus on it exceptional natural luxury. SAA Nigeria country manager, Thobi Duma, said: “South African Airways is giving Nigerians additional option to explore and enjoy Mauritius with our daily flight from Johannesburg which provides perfect connectivity for the over-night flight from Lagos.” The airline offers daily overnight non-stop flight from Lagos to Johannesburg and a daily morning flight from Johannesburg to Sir Seewoosagur

Ramgoolam Airport in Mauritius. The flight from Johannesburg to Mauritius offers a convenient connection for passengers travelling from Lagos to experience the leisure wonders of country. While the resort’s director of sales for Africa, Rochelle van Rosenveldt, described the resort as the perfect place to relax and unwind in Mauritius. There’s only one place to feel, experience, enjoy and get soaked in the unique charm and unequalled luxury of the Island of Mauiritius – the One&Only Resort Le Saint Geran.” Some of the travel agents on the trip include Michael Otubu, managing director of BCD Travels Nigeria; Saleh Rabo, managing director of AllStates Travels; Chike Osuagwu, managing director of CGSK; Bankole Bernard, managing director of Finchglow Travels; Bolaji Mustapha, managing director of TTL Tours, Dada Oluwayomi, Tour Brokers International and Feyi of World N’ Traveland.

TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

Hajia Halima Njobdi Mohammed:

Agric has role in tourism Hajia Halima Njobdi Mohammed is the initiator of ‘No agric no deal’ and CEO of e-Foods Direct Nigeria, she is crusading for back to the land. She spoke to ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on the work path of her group.

ALL, sleeky and always dressed to the hilt, Hajia Halima Njobdi Mohammed is easily distinguished from the motley crowd. Not necessarily because of her physical attraction or dress sense but her crusade bordering on empowering Nigerians through the promotion of skill development especially on agriculture. She is simply loved and admired by the many people; especially the voiceless and powerless rural dwellers and youths across the country who through her engagements have brought succour their ways and restored confidence and hope in them. It was surprising to many of her admirers that a trained secretary who rose to the coveted position of a company secretary could strangely abandoned the gains and honour of her years of toil for the trenches to set up an NGO to crusade for the less privileged. “I ventured into a free skill training programme for the youth designed for the less privileged,” she says of her engagement after dumping the boardroom. However, it was in the course of empowering the youth that fate again drew her attention and her group to agriculture. “In the course of doing this, we decided to look into agriculture, which has been ignored and can be utilised for job creations for our youths,” she adds. To formalised and structure this new calling, they created a catching slogan – No agric, no deal. “So we came up with a slogan, ‘no agric, no deal’ and it looks like frightening words but you would agree with me that there is an Africa proverb that says the stomach controls the head. So, when a man is hungry what do you expect him to do? “When you are filled up you don’t fight, so ‘no agric, no deal’ is about creating jobs within the rural areas and in doing this, the rural areas would have development. Without activities going on within the rural areas where do you expect development? We don’t have any,” she says. According to her, what her group does is working with the Nigerian farmers in terms of looking at existing farm products with focus on processing; packaging and preserving these farm products both for internal consumption and for the export market. In the course of this task, her group had travelled round the world with sponsorship from the World Bank on exchange programmes where they were exposed to global best practice. Also, back home the USAID and other external donors have sponsored the group on a trip to the 774 local government councils of the country to understudy the people. She reveals that part of the refrain in all the visits to other parts of the world is that Nigeria and by extension Africa has the best soil in the world and yet the level of food importation remains alarmingly high. It is

BACKGROUND

Mohammed

to stem this tide that the group, she says decided to “pick what the people have as an asset that can be harnessed and packaged and produced. Not even looking at the internal but we are also looking at the export market to give value to these farmers.” Her Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Marhaba, under which 'no agric, no deal', operates is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and approved by the Federal Capital Territory agency for mass education, the Federal Ministry of Youth Affairs and Social Development. Also, the group works in partnership with the following: National Commission for Mass Literacy for Adult and Informal Education; Raw Material Research Development Council and with almost every section of the Federal Agriculture Ministry basically under the gender and horticultural departments. And member, West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme. Besides advocacy and skill acquisition, she reveals that the group also looks at areas of giving support to the government in a bid to realise the President’s transformation agenda on agriculture. She insists that part of their preachment is for everyone to be engaged in the agric sector at the different levels as this would help reduce unemployment and solve the food problem. “We are targeting right from primary school to the degree or no degree holders. Not necessarily just back to the farm but at least contributing to agriculture in different spheres of life. Some years ago we had groundnut pyramids, we had cocoa and everything that you can think of in large numbers. “Another way that we try to sensitise these youths that make them embrace this programme so much is that farming is no longer the same pain giving exercise that people pass through. You can go into mechanism farming now and you can still be in your office and do this. This went

well with our youths and it has been so encouraging,” she says of the methodology of her work. “We have a complete data of the 774 local government areas and what they produce and what they produce in large numbers that can be merged with the next state if not sufficient enough for production as one product. ‘‘We have worked so hard in having these templates and we are looking at the state governments which will embrace this programme because we are working basically on capacity building using existing farmers’ products,” Mohammed adds. While stressing that the group works on fruits and vegetables, she informs that they also disseminate knowledge, ICT, information on seasonal crops, when to plant and when not to plant, information on flooded areas and information that would help you reduce losses. “We also give them orientation and at the same time since we have completed templates on all the fruits and vegetables and states that want to benefit from this programme, we give them this package while we act as supervisors and monitoring agents for compliance all in a bid to create jobs within the rural areas,”she says. Mohammed describes the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, as “a man with a foresight who came with a vision," but she laments that “we talk so much on television and radio but nothing physically is going on. She recalls, “If you look at the effort that

Let’s reactivate the Operation Feed the Nation and let's keep things moving

“My parents are from Fufore in Adamawa State and I grew up in Kaduna. While growing up I travelled widely in Africa. During the course of my job too, I travelled extensively, not to Europe because I don’t like Europe. We are all happy people,’’ she reveals of her background. She worked for 16 years as a secretary then left to set up an NGO with the mission of “reactivating the secretariat profession, which is almost dead.” While tracking this mission, she got involved in transformation agenda of the agriculture ministry and since then she has never looked back. ‘‘It is not a fight, it is for everybody, for all Nigerians to go back to the farm, let’s reactivate the Operation Feed the Nation and let keep things moving,’’ she says of her campaign, adding, “In terms of nation building like this, I don’t think God just created me to get married, have children and died. ‘‘There must be a purpose for this, probably this is my calling because I don’t really know how I got myself involved and how I have come this far. They ask me from the World Bank and USAID how I got into it, I just found myself there and we are working,’’ she recalls of her project. “Sometimes when you start this interesting thing, it takes passion and consumes you as you keep on going and you are never tired. I am happy doing it and I am not stressed. We have a well-structured team, we are located at the local and state levels and in the six geo-political zones to see how agriculture will come up without a fight.”

the minister is putting in by now we should have had rural industries, small cluster groups with some of them doing real well.’’ As far as she and her group are concerned, “the only way we can help them (farmers) is to pick those things (farm produce), process and packaged them and then look for export potential.” Mohammed who has taken her crusade to tourism forum, adds, “agriculture has a big role to play in tourism because it provides food for the hotels. We are looking at processing, preservation and packaging. We have the best soil. If we can do this well, Sheraton and others will look at us.’’ She expresses delight that many “Nigerians tend to appreciate the fact that we are getting back to agriculture. The joy is that the message is being received where it is meant for but then government still has to discloses more in terms of encouragement.”

42 TRAVEL&TOURISM

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

Kano: Centre of commerce, but Kano's fame as a centre of commerce and history is the reason the state holds a special allure for many visitors. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA reports that recent events in the state appears to have put both its commerce and tourism on the reverse gear.

NCE famous for its pyramids and commercial influence as both centre of commerce and learning, especially from prehistoric to the colonial era and even postcolonial. Despite the total eclipse of the pyramids and perhaps other articles of trade and business, which made Kano the hub of commercial activities in the northern part of the country, it still succeeded in attracting attention. When it comes to tourism growth, which was one of the factors besides commerce that fuelled the interest of people in the state, Kano is one of the states in the country with immense tourism potential. These include its culture, tradition, people, and food to natural endowments as well as a beautiful landscape. The state capital, Kano, is for many the centre of focus as it is home to some of the most fascinating and compelling attractions of the state. With its array of attractions, the state over the years also succeeded in putting in place one of the most advanced tourism administration in the country, which saw to the development, promotion and marketing of its tourism not just across the country only to even the international community. One of the administrations of the state, which in the reckoning of many observers helped a great deal to put the state in the global tourism map, was that of the late commissioner of police, Audu Bako, which succeeded in laying a great foundation for the state and putting in place such landmarks infrastructure as Rock Castle Hotel in Tiga and the Tiga Dam and Bagauda Lake Hotel and Resort in Bagauda, at the outskirts of Kano. Down the line the vision was sustained but perhaps not with the same intensity and tempo. However, the state through its tourism board, which was well organized and effectively run and the transport and tourism ministry managed to keep the interest alive and attract huge following yearly to its many tourists sites. One of the yearly events in the city which signposted the growing influence of its tourism offerings was the durbar celebration and towards the end of the year. It was one celebration that many of the expatriates across the country looked forward to because of its rich cultural display and the super organisation behind it. Till date the durbar and many of the state attractions still hold its appeal for tourists, however feelers from the tourism administrators and even recent visits clearly indicate a reversal of sorts in the fortunes of the state's tourism. This sad development is however not unconnected to the introduction of Sharia in the state. Though the suspicion was tempered with assurances by tourism administrators, but the recent insecurity in the state occasioned by the spate of bombings seems to have deflated whatever tourism dreams was left in the state, especially with the Sabon Gari area, which is hub of social and night life in the city having its own fair share of the bombings. Samples of tourist attractions Dala hills: Standing atop Dala Hill, this affords one a bird's eye view of the sprawling city. It is a good location for picnic, relaxation and photo shoot. At the bottom of the hill is a complex for shopping and other activities.

Dala hill is said to be the first place of settlement by the original inhabitants of the city as down the hills you find vestiges of the old settlements. Besides Dala Hill, there are other historical sites that give better perspective to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape as well. Some of these include Goron Dutse, which is about two kilometres walk from Dala Hill. Others are Magwan in Nasarawa area, Panisau around the Kano airport and the famous Bompai. Accessing them is very easy as there are inbuilt stairways from the base to the top. On the flip side, such buildings as Gidan Murtala, Ado Bayero House, Fire Brigade House and the former Bank of the North building (Unity Bank) are also vantage locations to view the cityscape. These are high rise and tower buildings within the city. Tourist Village: Located on Bompai road, the tourist village is one of the foremost tourist locations in the city. It houses, among others, accommodation of different types, restaurant, playground, shop, theatre, bureau de change and camping ground. Expect to witness a lot of fun-filled activities at the village, which used to be popular with overland tourists from Europe. Gidan Makama House: Gidan Makama House once served as the palace of the emir of Kano but now houses a museum with array of art, craft and artefacts representing the history, political and religious heritage of the people. Kano City Wall/Gates: The city walls and gates are landmarks that also open a window to the past existence of the people. Although the original outlook of most of the city walls have been destroyed, what now stand are replicas of the preserved walls. Numbering about 15, the city walls once served as defensive forces with gates. The surviving city walls include those located

Citywall gate

Scenes from a previous durbar

DESTINATION

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso

Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II

at the Bayero University old campus road, where you come across Sabuwar Kofar, Dan Agundi, Kabuga, Dukawuya and Gadon Kaya. Other sites are Goron hill and Kofar Ruwa, while that of Kofar Nasarawa road presents a picture of the renovated wall. Gidan Rumfa: This is what the present palace of the emir is known by and it is an enchanting edifice on expansive landscape. Historically, the palace was built during the reign of Emir Muhammadu Rumfa in the 13th Century. It is a vast complex rich in splendour with a touch of aristocracy. It houses different sections and facilities as well as a mosque. Kano Central Mosque: Located within the emirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palace the mosque is another captivating landmark of the city. Built around the 15th Century, it has over the years undergone different phases of re-engineering. It has a masterpiece architectural design and faĂ§ade with a blend of Arabic flavour. Kurmi Market: Located within the city centre, it remains one of the commercial nerve centres of the city. It is an expansive market that a visitor would find intriguing to explore. Other markets to visit for souvenirs and other items include Rimi market, Gidan Makama Museum shop, Coral necklace mart, Pilgrims camp bazaar and Sabon gari market as well as Wambai market. Others are Dubai bazaar and Kwari international textile market. Tiga Dam/Rock Castle: Tiga dam is one of the biggest creations in Kano State. Located outside the city, it is one of the tourist sites with attractive scenery. Boat cruise and sport fishing are some of the water related activities that anyone visiting can enjoy. At the base of the dam is Rock Castle Hotel, which was built in the heydays of the state to house Queen Elizabeth and her entourage during her visit to Nigeria years back.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JUly 2014

tourism in reverse gear British Council Building: Located near Gidan Makama, the building which is about 400 years old was once used by a former emir of Kano, Muhammadu Rumfa. Rumfa College (Kano Middle School): Named after the founding emir of Kano, the school was established around 1927 and is one of the oldest and famous institutions in the city. It is reputed for producing a number of prominent Nigerians of northern extraction. The list includes two former heads of state – late General Murtala Muhammed and Sani Abacha. The First Church Building: Built by the Catholic Church in 1924, the church which situated in Fagge is still in use till date. Kano Zoological Garden: For a feel of wildlife experience, the place to visit is the Kano Zoological Garden. Audu Bako Botanical and Zoological Garden: This is also located within the city and offers visitors a rich bouquet of theme park and wilderness experience. Falgore Game Reserve: Is a wildlife enclave to savour the best of nature. It is located few kilometers away from the city and offers visitors a lot of captivating sceneries and safari experience. Rurum and Dansoshiya forest reserves are two of the other green zones to visit although they are located out of the city's confines. Kano Dying Pits: Are some of the renowned spots in the city to watch local artisans at work as they turn out clothing materials of different designs from the dye pit, which is believed to be as one as the city itself. Kofar Mata Dying Pit is one of the most popular of the pits. Durbar Festival The Durbar festival otherwise known as Hawan Sallah in the local parlance is one of the most colourful and fascinating festivals celebrated in the state. Although

BACKGROUND KANO State was created in 1967 out of the defunct Northern Region. Its landmass spans about 20,760 square kilometres; it lies in the tropical wet and dry climatic zones. It has 44 local government areas, which is the highest in the country. The state also has the highest population in the country. The state is a predominantly Hausa-Fulani and it consists of wooded savannah in the south and scrub vegetation in the north and is drained by the Kano-Chalewa-Hadejia river system. The state is bordered by Katsina State to the north-west, Jigawa State to the north-east, Bauchi State to the south-east and Kaduna State to the south-west. The capital of Kano State is Kano. Some of the important cities and towns include Kano, Dambatta, Gumei, Gwarzo, Hadeija, Karaye, Kazaye, Rano, Tiga and Ririvani.

it has its religious connotation it attracts huge following across the spectrum, particularly tourists who swarm the city during the festival using it as an occasion to explore many of the city’s rich tourist offerings. In content and design, it is a huge cultural event of horsemen on parade displaying the aristocratic culture of the people. The emir is usually the chief celebrant at the yearly celebration which holds at his palace ground. Minjibir Weaving Centre The centre is a showpiece of the rich art and craft of the people with a thriving industry. It is a sheer delight to watch the traditional weavers at work.

TRAVEL&TOURISM

Dawakin Tofa Pottery Here, rich pottery making is at its best. It is not just a traditional art but it is an art that defines the existence of the people of Dawakin as every home and family within this traditional enclave are dedicated to this art and it has become a major economic activity for the people. Kano State History Museum Housed at Gidan Dan Hausa house which was built in 1905, the building is rich in history with appealing traditional architectural of the people. It is a compelling building to visit to view the various historical materials on display. Kanawa International Market: A multi–billion naira project initiated by the state government under its Private–Public Partnership is a giant project, which is aimed at promoting commerce and tourism in the state. Challawa Dam: An ultra–modern dam with high technology is devoted to supply water for the city but is opened to public viewing. Industrial Estates: Challawa and Bompai are among some of the sprawling industrial estate located across the state with potential to boost the state commerce and tourism appeal. Koroso Dancers: This is one of the most entertaining troupes one can find in the state. It is a well-known group with international acclaim for its enchanting performances. Leisure Spots/Parks: A blend of leisure spots and parks exist within the city and its outskirts where visitors can also harvest fun. The list include Rurum Tourist Resort, which is outside of Kano city but is easily accessible; ROXY Amusement Park, Cooky Amusement Park and Hills and Valley Amusemtn Park in Dawakin Kudu.

TOUR package

Canada workshop This Workshop is for Aspiring Managers, Unit Heads, Team Leaders, Senior Managers, Decision Makers/Influencers, Policy Makers, Negotiators, Peace Keepers, Conflicts Managers/Mediators, Government functionaries and other related offices holders. Feedback from past participants may be provided on request. Objectives There are 12 Workshop Objectives which will be shared with interested participants. Through short lectures, discussions and team exercises, this workshop helps the participants acquire and apply management skills, competencies, a proven framework and practical tools. The focus is to incorporate the approach to the day-to-day behaviour of the participants. Based on real-life examples and case studies, the learning is practical and structured to be pertinent to the work of the participants. Methodology The workshop approach and course materials are based on the framework of a Fellow of the Harvard University. Some of the tools are registered under the trademark: Harvard University Global System. This value-creation and extraction framework comprises instruments to reduce complexity in management, policy formulation and negotiation. Participants who successfully complete this professional-development program will earn continuing education units (CEU) and a Certificate of Completion specifying they have attended the New Manager and Team Leader Workshop Leadership Skills, Competencies and Proven Decision-Making Instruments Applying Harvard University Global System Tools. Fee: $6,125 (Six Thousand, One Hundred and twenty-five United States Dollars or Nigerian Naira equivalent) per participant. (Includes: Return Ticket, Visa processing, Biometrics, Accommodation, Ground Transportation and Seminar/Workshop Tuition in Canada). Registration is open now and closes July 23. rosemary@grenbusiness.com; www. grenbusiness.com

TRAVEL TIPS Emir Palace

Kano mosque

Gidan Makam Museum. (Inset: Inside view of the Museum)

Some tourists at a durbar celebration

Kano dying pit

Visa-free travel for Nigerians AS travellers with the Nigerian passport there are some countries where entry visa is not a barrier and some where you get entry visa at the border post. Below are some of the countries with the conditions: Africa: The visa-free countries in Africa for Nigerian passport holders are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroun, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone and Togo. Countries and territories with conditions of access in the Americas: Barbados six months, Dominica - 21 days, Grenada - three months, Haiti - three months, Montserrat three months, Saint Kitts and Nevis - three months, Turks and Caicos Islands – 30 days. Asia: Azerbaijan – 30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$100, Bangladesh - 90 days visa issued on arrival for $50, Cambodia 30 days visa issued on arrival for US$ 20, Georgia visa issued upon arrival, Laos - 30 days visa issued on arrival for US$ 30, Maldives - 30 days, Macau - 30 days visa issued on arrival for 100 MOP and TimorLeste – 30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$30 Europe and others: Countries and territories conditions of access: Kosovo - 90 days, Oceania Cook Islands - 31 days, Fiji four months, Micronesia - 30 days, Nauru - 30 days, Niue - 30 days, Palau - 30 days, Samoa - 60 days, Tuvalu one month and Vanuatu - 30 days. (Courtesy: www.atqonline.com)

Short Story NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

Writer in focus:

MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU

08131161840

19 JULY 2014

The Gift of Gold

hat are we having for dinner?" Ada's husband asked her, as he relaxed on the couch in their living room watching football. "Jollof rice and plantain," she replied, almost as soon as he asked her. Odiaka was a man who didn't play with his stomach. He loved to eat good food and have a good rest. He never wanted anything that would negatively affect his health, so he tried to avoid stress and high blood pressure as much as he could. It was as though his senses had been dulled by the aroma coming from his wife's kitchen, so he didn't sense anything coming. Little did he know that what he was about to eat would be the last dinner to be prepared by his wife. Ada set the dining table and placed the food on the table. She looked at her husband's face and saw that he was very happy that she had cooked his favorite meal for dinner. But she couldn't tell him that she was looking at him for the last time before leaving him. Odiaka ate until his stomach was full, as usual. And then he sighed and got up from the table and went back to the couch. This time, it didn't take long before he became drowsy on the couch, then he finally decided to retire to the bedroom for the night. "Good night, my darling," he said to his wife, as he was about leaving the living room. "When are you going to join me in bed?" "Very soon, my husband," she replied. "I still need to wash the dishes and tidy the kitchen." Ada sat down on the couch despondently after her husband had gone to bed. She wasn't feeling sleepy, not because she wasn't tired, but because she was lost in thought. She was faced with a moral dilemma. Was it right for her to leave her husband, or was it right for her to leave him at this time? She asked herself whether her decision was wrong, or whether it was the timing of her decision that was wrong. How could she be thinking of leaving her husband, especially at this time when he was facing financial difficulties? Ada spent the night on the couch. But shortly before daybreak, she woke up looking resolute. She had decided to act, and she walked into the bedroom to find her husband still fast asleep. Although she wished she could hug and kiss her husband for the last time, she decided not to wake him up because doing that would break her spirit and prevent her from leaving. Ada packed her toiletries and some clothes in a suitcase. Then she left the bedroom and headed towards the front door of the house. After opening the front door, she suddenly remembered that she had to give something back to her husband. She left the front door half-open and went back to her husband's bedroom. Then she removed her gold wedding ring from her finger and dropped it on the bed beside her husband's sleeping frame. Within a few minutes, Ada was already on a bus headed to Eastern Nigeria. ***************************************** Odiaka woke up the next morning to find his wife's wedding ring beside him on the bed. He knew instantly that his wife had left him and he wished that the ground would open and swallow him. Odiaka wanted to call his elder brother on phone immediately but he could not remember where he had kept his cell phone. In his confused state of mind, he wanted to go out and look for his wife and bring

her back home immediately. He believed that she couldn't have gone far. However, the shock seemed to have turned his brain upside-down and he didn't even remember where he kept his car keys. Odiaka somehow finally found his phone and called his brother. "My wife has finally left me. I've always told her that she should not lose hope, because one day God will give us our own child. I've always told her that we should wait on the Lord, but she refused to listen to me," he cried. "Now, she's gone, what am I going to do?" Odiaka's brother, Samuel, listened to him on the phone like a father listens to a hurting child. He was sorry that Odiaka and his wife had been married for the past 13 years without a child. He was aware of their pains, and he knew that Ada had always been very unhappy over the situation. But there was nothing he could do about it, because he wasn't God who gives children. "Please take it easy," he said to his brother, Odiaka. "Come over to my place and we will call a family meeting to discuss how we can bring your wife back to you." Samuel did his best to comfort his brother. They called a family meeting where they decided to officially inform their in-laws that their daughter who had been given to their brother in marriage had left her husband, and that they wanted her back. ***************************************** When Ada arrived at the village, her mother welcomed her with open arms and her old father looked so glad to see her. But three days later, they sat her down and told her the truth. "Abandoning your marriage and running away from your husband is not the right thing to do," her mother told her. "No marriage is perfect, every marriage has its own peculiar problems, and you can never solve your problems by running away from them," she said. "You ought to be patient and carry your cross because God's time is the best. And the hand of God is in every situation that you're going through at the moment. So don't worry, put your trust in God and everything would be fine." "You must prepare to return to your husband's house," her father said in a very sober tone. "Your husband has told us his own side of the story. Besides, he insists that he still loves you and that he is not ready to marry a second wife. So there is no basis for you to leave your husband. We have told your husband to come here with his people in a fortnight to take you back." ***************************************** Ada could not stand the pressure from her parents to return to her husband's house, so she decided to run away from even her parents. Ada left the village and found her way across the border to Cameroun. She thought it was better she left Nigeria for a neighboring African country where no one could find her. What was the point in going back to a childless marriage? A childless marriage was a marriage without purpose, and there was no purpose in returning to such a marriage. In Cameroun, Ada had nowhere to stay. She only had a little money with her, so she could not afford to stay in a dignified hotel. She found a brothel somewhere close to the border and decided to lodge there for a while.

"But what would your husband think, if he found you living in a brothel among prostitutes? The owner of the brothel, a fat, huge dark-skinned woman, who herself had been a prostitute for many years, couldn't help but ask Ada some serious questions. "Madam, are you a prostitute? Are you actually aware that this place is a brothel? Why do you want to stay in this kind of place?" "Please let me just stay here for a few weeks or months until I can pick up the pieces of my life back together again, because I have nowhere else to stay," Ada pleaded with her. The woman didn't seem convinced. Her sixth sense seemed to tell her that Ada was a married woman running away from her marital problems. "You don't look like a prostitute to me," the woman said. "You must be a married woman and you don't belong here." "Yes I am, or rather, I was married," Ada said. "But my marriage doesn't or didn't give me joy." "But what would your husband think, if he found you living in a brothel among prostitutes? Don't you think he would never take you back as his wife again?" the woman said, still trying to make Ada see reason. But Ada saw things differently. "That's the point," she said. "I want my husband to think that I am now a prostitute so that he can forget about me. If he learns that I'm now a commercial sex worker, he would not like to take me back again. "So, what I'm doing now is for his own good. If I remain with him, we may die childless. But I just want him to forget about me so that he can move on with his life and marry a second wife who will bear him the children that I couldn't bear." After saying these words, Ada broke down in tears. The fat woman allowed Ada to live in the brothel without paying a dime. She knew the agony of a childless marriage because she had experienced it herself. Before going into prostitution, she had been married to a man for seven good years without being able to have a child. They had gone to the hospital for tests and the doctor had told her that her womb had been badly damaged by a sexually transmitted disease she had contracted in her youth. In the end, her hus-

band's relatives had asked her to go away. ***************************************** Ada had now spent about a year in the brothel and she was soon going to celebrate her birthday. Mercy, her friend and owner of the brothel, was organizing a big birthday party for her. On the morning of October 27, Ada's birthday, she received a parcel from a popular courier service. The content of the parcel was said to be a birthday gift for her. Ada opened the parcel and looked inside. It contained just a single item - a gold wedding ring. Yes, it was the same gold wedding ring she had left behind the day she left her husband. It had now been given to her as her birthday gift! "I sent it to you as your birthday gift because I still love you and can never forget you." Ada was surprised but glad to hear her husband's words once again. She never knew he was standing outside watching her through her window as she opened the parcel inside her room in the brothel. "Would you please let me come into your room," her husband pleaded. He had traveled to Cameroun in a last attempt to get her back. "Yes, please come over," Ada said to him. By this time, tears were streaming down her cheeks Odiaka and his wife embraced each other tightly the moment he entered the room. They held on to each other tightly and wept together. Then he said to her: "I gave you this gift of your gold wedding ring because you are my gold. You are the treasure of my life. You are the real gift of gold that God sent into my life. "This gift of a gold ring is only a symbol of what you actually are to me. That's why I bought it for you for our wedding in the first place. And that's why I'm giving it back to you again, to show you that you will always be my gift of gold and nothing can ever change that, not even the condition of our childlessness in marriage." "Please come back home with me, my love," Odiaka pleaded. "We can book an appointment with a fertility specialist to help us have our own child. At worst, we could even adopt a child. Have faith, because nothing is impossible with God." Mercy and Odiaka helped Ada pack her suitcases. Ada left the brothel that same day and accompanied her husband back home to Nigeria. Barely eighteen months after that day, Mercy and all the girls in her brothel rejoiced when they heard the news that Ada had given birth to a set of twins in Nigeria, after about fifteen years of marriage.

POLITICS

Aregbesola will lose every council in Osun p.47 Sheriff’s defection and 2015 p.52

ON SATURDAY

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

www.newtelegraphonline.com/politics Nigeria’s unity and stability have been mauled by the Boko Haram sect which kidnapped and detained over 200 school girls for over two months now. What are your views on this? The state of our national security is so worrisome and the government seems to have taken the matter very lightly at the onset and so the basic things that ought to be done were not done. Typical of Nigerian things, always going fire brigade approach; when the thing had gone out of hand everybody start running helter skelter. I remember very well that November 2012 when this party UPP was initially founded, the first proposal we made which was in the communiqué of our inaugural NEC meeting, was advising government to seek for the help of friendly nations who are well advanced in technology of combating terrorism. We said that but often, the problem we have in this country is that even when credible opposition offer suggestion, it is not considered because of where it is coming from. So when it was late, we started hearing about Britain coming in, America, Israel and all that. Their involvement at this stage is not impacting even though they may be doing something that may have a long-term effect but if the government had listened and acted earlier, we wouldn’t have gotten to the stage where we are. Having made that general comment, I will also blame the various state governments, especially where these things are occurring, for neglecting the ordinary citizens for whom they would have provided good leadership, provide for them in terms of jobs, in terms of education and other things and this situation would not have degenerated to the point where we are. We are looking at Chibok, the place where over 200 Nigerian girls, who are students, were abducted. Look at Chibok, they have only one secondary school in an entire local government area. What has been happening to others? And when the statistics of those kidnapped came out, it turned out that the majority of them are Christian girls, though Northerners. This means the attitude to education is yet to be imbibed by the Muslims even in their own place. There is crime everywhere quite alright. In fact, the type of criminals you have in the South are different from the type you have in the North. The ones you have in the South are arguably those who have already been reasonably educated but are unemployed. In the other area, you have people who are not educated at all, stark illiterates and therefore quite vulnerable to be manipulated; to be told that suicide is the way to go to heaven. Government must be primed to serve the people. That is the immediate and long-term solution to this. Some people have suggested that beyond the military action and the involvement of the international community, that government should also explore other options like involving the opposition parties and other diplomatic means of resolving the insecurity crises. What do you say about this problem? Well, I alluded to it that when opinion comes from the opposition, government considers more of the messenger than the message. It is an endemic problem in the country, this issue of insecurity and, therefore, should be a matter for everybody. A multi-party committee to address it from the political point of view, in addition to whatever measures government has put in place. There must be a synergy between all the various segments of the society to confront this matter. The traditional institution,

19 JULY 2014

Okorie

Our presidential candidate will be from South East – Chekwas Okorie Chief Chekwas Okorie, National Chairman of UnitedProgressives Party (UPP) and founder of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), spoke with YEKEEN NURUDEEN, about the security challenges facing the country; plans for electronic voting in 2015 as well as the UPP option for its presidential candidate from the South East. I don’t think, has been effectively involved because these traditional rulers that we have in abundance these days preside over some domains. There’s hardly a domain that does not have one traditional ruler or the other presiding. So if you engage them, they know the members of their community, they know the undesirable elements among them, they know when new faces enter their domain to report and all that. These things are not being done. I believe government should get more serious. My worry now is that election is around the corner and it appears the government is doing no more other thing than concentrate on winning the next election. So what becomes of Nigeria between now and when a new government whether this one won and continues or a new one comes in. Perhaps February next year, this serious issue of insecurity would be receiving less and less attention and that’s my greatest fear. And that might mean that the insurgents,

the criminals, may even have more space to function. Many Nigerians have even interpreted the insecurity as resistance to the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. Do you share this view? I wouldn’t reduce it to President Jonathan’s ambition but I would, rather, agree that inordinate ambition, whether legitimate or not, of politicians that have led to this unwholesome practices and blood-shedding to gain advantage. It is not President Jonathan’s affair only; many people also think even the opposition also wants to make the land ungovernable so that the President can be projected as incapable of providing good leadership. That’s the opinion of those in government today but those who are in opposition, some of them were in opposition but don’t share the idea; believe that it is Jonathan’s PDP plot to divert attention so

that when people are running helter skater for their safety, they will perfect their plans to perpetuate themselves in the office. All these speculations and suspicion will not solve the problem. Should government dialogue and grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram group? If they are not faceless. I don’t like people comparing the amnesty granted to Niger Delta militants to the members of Boko Haram. Those ones knew what they were fighting for and stated it: about their environment, the way things were taken away from their place and being neglected. They were assured of pardon and they were assured of addressing those problems. They were asked to come to Abuja, there were provided with aircraft. They all boarded hoping that nothing would happen to them and nothing happened to them. They had their meeting with late President Yar’Adua and the President gave them assurances which he kept and that brought about the relative calm in the area. Oil production, for instance, went up from mere 750000 barrels a day that it dropped to to what we now have which is close to three million barrels a day and that has also lifted the nation’s economy. In the case of Boko Haram, even when they are fighting, they cover their faces, they make demands that show that they are not prepared to discuss. Nobody can come in a country like this and say everybody must convert to Islam or nobody should go to school. Meanwhile, you are using equipment made by Western civilisation and technology. And nobody would say he is fighting a cause that is religious and you will be raping women, you will be killing innocent people, you will be setting markets ablaze and so on. There’s no genuine cause, no religious cause that can be fought along that line. These people answer all sorts of pseudo names, sometimes faceless, most times nameless. So who are you granting pardon to? And what are the terms under which the pardon will be given. The issue of amnesty is conditional; we will grant you this, you will CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

46 THE SATURDAY INTERVIEW

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

‘Electronic voting will stop rigging’ C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 4 5

drop your arms. Nobody is prepared to do that. Government, I’m sure, has even taken steps to see whether there could be avenue to dialogue but they have practically found nobody to dialogue with. All the people who claimed that they had contact with these people have turned out to be fake. APGA, the party you founded, has been enmeshed in leadership crisis for some time now. Are you worried by this development? I should be worried; it was not with joy and happiness that I had to surrender the certificate. I said it to INEC because I had the certificate of registration. And I said it, there, that it was with heavy heart that I was returning the certificate to the commission. In order to halt the leadership tussle, I also made a proclamation that I was going away with the spirit, the soul of the party and I was leaving for them the carcass. It has remained like that; we went ahead and founded another party. Let me tell you that founding political parties is not like building real estate where you build, you sell and you build more. It is not easy. People who have vision found political parties; people who contest for elections join political parties. These are two types of politicians. You can be an administrator, chairman, this and that, but to found a political party, you must have a certain vision and it is for that reason, that we are only four and we are the only one alive that founded two political parties in their life time. Chief Obafemi Awolowo founded two, Malam Aminu Kano founded two, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim founded two and myself, Chekwas Okorie founded two. If it is a comfort zone, if it is something people establish and started making money or to be comfortable, I can assure you that my Igbo people some of them would have found a thousand parties over night because of their entrepreneurial prowess. But this is one area that you go in to that is always selfless once you are pursuing a particular goal. When I founded APGA, it was for a purpose and the people who joined it saw it differently as a milk cow that they could milk and be fat. They conspired and they had resources. I didn’t found APGA in preparation for battle. But when it happened, eight years we were in court. We went to Supreme Court twice, three or four times at the Court of Appeal, 23 times at the Trial Court. At a point, I gave up and I said let me continue my vision elsewhere. That was what took me and my associates back to INEC and now these people are continue the fighting. But Nigerians are not asking necessary questions, especially the media because it was the media that have the responsibility of drawing the public attention to certain things that tend to distort the system. How come that Umeh is the one that is having issue with everyone? He had issues with me. He was nobody politically, no office. Nobody has ever heard about Umeh until I picked him up, appointed him everything and gave him relevance up till appointing him Treasurer. Now he conspired against me. The person who funded him to fight me was Peter Obi. Peter Obi equipped him with fangs and claws and he used his newly acquired fangs and claws to attack Peter Obi. Then the next person on line was Rochas Okorocha, the next person was Ifeanyi Uba and from Uba back to Peter Obi and now he is fighting Maxi Okwu. Even now he worked with Peter Obi to bring this Obiano and back in trenches with Peter Obi again even when Peter Obi is out of office. So why is it that questions are not being asked? How can you now be Saint Umeh? And all the people who have done one thing favoured you, one way or the other, are bruised in the process of doing you favour. Obiano will be next on the line. Whatever that is keeping Obiano now is that Obiano is sitting on the treasury and he is the one funding Umeh’s new onslaught. Now you get away from that, you go to the fact that this man has paraded himself as chairman

Okorie

of APGA for ten years now since 2004. This is about eleventh year: from December 2004 and this is 2014, call it ten years and the constitution of the party registered with INEC gave each person maximum of two terms of four years each. So constitutionally, his era had expired but the Judiciary is always relying on one technical ground or the other to perpetuate this man in office. And when does the Judiciary go technical? It is only when they are compromised and because the Judiciary has never delved into the substance of APGA leadership crisis from my own time till now; the same Judiciary has not been able to resolve the crisis by saying Umeh is the Chairman. But what is fed to the public all the time is that court has affirmed him chairman, Supreme Court has affirmed him chairman, Lower Court has affirmed him chairman. You ask the question, which sentence of any judicial officer said you are chairman, none till today, including the latest that he is celebrating. When the court goes technical, on technical ground they dismissed his opponent’s case without going to the stuff and that’s why none has been able to declare him chairman, even when we have been to Supreme Court before. The challenge again is to Supreme Court. This is the third time APGA leadership crisis is coming to Supreme Court. Can the Supreme Court, for once, resolve it being the last court in the land? Or will the Judiciary be encouraging perpetuity in office under the cover of technicality? I heard your party, at point, was planning an alliance with APGA; with this crisis, will the alliance still go ahead? The alliance is going ahead. Alliance is with human beings, it is not with inanimate objects. Maxi Okwu has his own faction that he is leading and I recognise that APGA is splitting down the line. He has his faction, from head to toe, of this country. What we are discussing is cooperation between UPP and his own APGA. Now, he is in the Supreme Court; that alliance is being slowed down. If the Supreme Court favours him, the alliance will be consummated; if it doesn’t favour him, himself and his people have a

ready accommodation in UPP. Whichever way you look at it, we have already decided to work together. The only grey area which is now being resolved is the issue of presidency because in UPP, we have decided that our Presidential candidate will come from South East geo-political zone. At a time, the two factions of APGA said they were adopting Jonathan but right now, the Maxi Okwu faction has, through series of interaction and dialogue, has now started seeing why that wouldn’t be a viable option because it is dangerous when you go and adopt a presidential candidate of another party without any form of memorandum of understanding or a written agreement. The danger is that you will kill your own party because right now the presidential election is coming up first. How do you now play out that commitment, very unholy commitment? You are campaigning for the president you have adopted for him to succeed and his election is on the 14 of February and two weeks after your own candidates your party is sponsoring will be facing election; governorship and house of assembly nationwide. How do you make the transition campaigning all the time for the presidential candidate of PDP and use two weeks for your own can for your own candidates? What about the bandwagon effect that comes with first election? People that you have already told that this is the symbol to vote, how do you turn them around in two weeks to now vote

How can you now be Saint Umeh? And all the people who have done one thing favoured you, one way or the other, are bruised in the process of doing you favour. Obiano will be next on the line

for your own candidates? So I see it as a very mischievous arrangement to compromise even your own candidates on the alter of selfishness. It simply means that they are going to be working for Jonathan for the presidential election of February 14 according to INEC timetable. How are they going to work for their own candidates for February 28, two weeks after? It doesn’t make sense and it is the worst form of betrayal by a political party to its own candidates. It is only a senseless person that will use such party to contest election. You might as well go and join PDP instead of staying in APGA and leadership of APGA are saying that they are campaigning for Jonathan for 2015 presidential election. For instance, the Mid Western Region wouldn’t have been created except for that coalition. It was NCNC that championed it. The creation of two regions out of two provinces: Benin and. Delta provinces. They were the two provinces that made up Mid Western Region. NCNC canvassed for it but it got the approval of the ruling party, NPC to order for a plebiscite. And the people of the area voted overwhelmingly in favour of creation of a new region. That was one of the benefits; one of the benefits was that Zik became the President and Commander -in- Chief while the leader of NPC became the Prime Minister and Chief Executive. In the second Republic, Zik did exactly the same thing. He went through the whole gamut of election and at the end of the day NPN could not form a comfortable government except it went into an accord. And that accord produced benefits to NPN. For instance, Mrs. Janet Akinrinade became a Minister in Foreign Affairs, Professor Ishaiah Audu became Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Paul Nnongo became Minister of Power and Steel; these are people from NPP. Professor Onyechukwu Madubuikwe became Minister of Education and late Right Honourable Umeh Ezeoke became Speaker. Without that type of alliance there was no way an Ibo man would have been Vice President in the person Dr. Alex Ekwueme and another man would become Speaker. But in the course of negotiation to form government those considerations are not sub-summed under political expediency. There’s everything to gain by standing on your own and negotiating later. Even your own political identity is protected, the ideology that you want to advance remains alive. But when everybody is absorbed in one octopus party you cannot be traced. I’m not the type to be sub-summed under that kind of amorphous organisation and I will not be able to express my own views. Let me give you one instance. Do you know that UPP can claim credit for the INEC endorsement of electronic voting system because it was UPP that began to canvass it right from the very first time we had our inaugural NEC meeting. Every opportunity we had, we canvassed it. We wrote the President. We wrote the Senate President. When we saw that these people were not even acknowledging our letters, we now did a memo which we sent to every member of House of Rep and every Senator. The entire four hundred and sixty something legislators had their memo direct from us. When it came to the debate, one of the Senators from the North just picked our memo and read everything because we itemised it to make it easy to understand. The benefits of electronic voting and how it will call for maximum participation by Nigerian electorate in order to say ,indeed, Nigerians have spoken after the election. So it was easy for the Senate to adopt it and went ahead to expunge Section 52 sub-section 2 of the Electoral Act that would restrain INEC from using electronic voting. This is the kind of things I always like seeing myself do. If I see something that will advance our democracy, I pursue it will all the energy in me and use the best practice without blackmailing anybody. I want a situation where Nigerians will be able to exercise their franchise.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

Your main opponent, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has been pulling large crowds at his campaign rallies and the photographs of these rallies are regularly in the media. Are you not frightened, with the prospect of losing the August 9 election to him? I won’t lose the election. The crowds you see at his rallies posted on Facebook and on the pages of newspapers are make-believe. They (APC) did just that in Ekiti and lost. I am not interested in renting some crowds from Lagos and moving them, including underaged children, from town to town to come and danceskelewu. I campaign where the votes are. The votes are in the polling units, wards, villages and towns, and that is where I have been going and campaigning. On August 9, these are the people who will vote, not Aregbesola’s crowd of dancers.

Politics

Aregbesola will lose every council in Osun Senator Iyiola Omisore is the Osun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Omisore, a former deputy governor, speaks on his chances in the August 9 election.

But the general belief is that the governor has performed. Aregbesola’s developmental efforts do not go beyond two or three local governments. Twenty seven local governments are virgins with no government presence at all. All the roads he claims he is doing are Federal Government roads, and he only wants an opportunity to make money. Imagine the poor state of the Iwo to Osogbo road, a major road in this state. We passed through it last night when we were coming; it was like a dungeon. How can a governor ignore that road for four years, and he wants to win election in this state? That is the most important road in this state. Instead, he is digging holes, claiming he has been building a bridge on the Ife-Ibadan expressway, a project which is of no value. So, the government is being driven by profit, not by service. A government must be driven by service and necessity. That is why there is mass rejection of this government. Could you please substantiate these allegations Look at two instances. Look at school uniform, which is being sold at N2,000 per pair. It is N500 in the market. Be that as it may, on an economic scale, the school uniform being sewn for students has deprived over a million people of jobs and income: tailors, cloth sellers, middlemen and women. The policy of government directly sewing uniforms and selling them to students is adversely affecting the economy of this state. That is why there is mass rejection of this government all over the state. But the belief is that the intervention was meant to help pupils and their parents. Look at his mega school. It collapsed just before commissioning. Look at schools in Iwo. Pupils went to school in hijab, choir dress, masquerade dress. The sanctity of the schools is being destroyed. And Osun State people are too wise. I learnt they call them Osungo in Lagos. We are not stupid at all. We will tell them we are not stupid on August 9. We will even tell them that we are wiser than Lagosians. APC has been deceiving the people of Lagos for the past 12 years but we reject them in this state. We are not stupid at all in Osun State; we know what we are doing. There is total, mass rejection of this government. The roads are bad everywhere; 95 per cent of those roads are bad. Completely bad. The picture you have painted is a very bad one. Are you saying there is a disconnect between the government and the people? Aregbesola’s projects are just on newspapers and television. How can you have a government which awarded contracts four years ago and up till today, they are not more than 10 per cent completed? When he came in, he awarded Osogbo to Kwara boundary for over twenty-something billion naira and he has stopped work on it. He awarded Gbongan Junction to Sekona (phase 1); the work has not been completed. The /Osogbo ring road, the work has stopped on site now. The construction was awarded to a Turkish company. Even the artisans, including the drivers, came from Turkey. The mechanics came from Turkey. So, there is capital flight and poverty in the land. But the average Osun worker is supporting his re-election. He has not paid salaries of teachers, civil servants, teachers and pensioners for some

lance. Osun is the second safest state in this country but they now bought helicopters for N4 billion, to be patrolling the state. This is money that can be used to pay pensioners for years. It would pay civil servants for two consecutive years. Sustainable or not, how much is the debt profile? What have they done with our money? Some people said your riding okada was to imitate Ekiti Governor-elect Ayo Fayose My vehicles got stuck and I just took okada from that point to my campaign venue. That is all. Fayose takes okada in Ado-Ekiti now and then. It was the only option available to me to get to my campaign venue. And I took it. I even take okada in Osogbo. They must find fault. I was passing and market people blocked me. I came down from the vehicle and had to address all of them. Even people going to church or coming from the mosque would stop me. It is very common. Some of the women would give me corn. It was their show of love and acceptance. And I always accept such graciously. On a particular occasion, I was passing by Sekona market and the people gave me corn, pepper, tomatoes and what have you. It is what they have. Fayose goes to the market in Ado Ekiti. If I am in Ede on a market day, the people would stop me. I have to stop and address them.

Omisore

time but he is trying to pay them quickly now. If they (Aregbesola and his cabinet) are not investors doing business with workers’ wages, would he just be paying them now? Where is the money coming from now? He is owing O-YES people he kept in bondage six months’ salary arrears but he has paid three months out of that now. Where is he getting money from, when he has not paid them for so long? Do you support the deployment of security agents during the election? We are aware of their plan to do propaganda and rig election through violence and thuggery. But luckily for us, there is security in this state, so there will be no room for thuggery and violence at all. It’s going to be a very peaceful election: one man, one vote. There is nothing to show that we have government in this state; all you have are the so-called ‘ongoing work.’ I am an engineer. What is the ongoing work? Just excavation. When you are doing construction work, excavation is less than five per cent of the job. Up till today, not a single tar on the road. All the roads he is doing are “ongoing’ and he has spent up to N100 billion. So, it is for profit basically, not for service. Look at Opon Imo. N8.4 billion has been withdrawn from circulation. If they don’t fine-tune it, they should return our money back to us. Withdrawn? O yes, it should be withdrawn because there is no basis for it. One, Mathematics is there but there is no single illustrative diagram, no single table, no single graph. You can’t teach Mathematics without graphs, log tables for geometric analysis. Not a single line in the whole Opon Imo. That is the first

Osun people have decided to shock him with this election. In fact, he is going to lose every local government in this state

fallacy. Two, the syllabuses of SS1 to SS3 are three. So, you are going to have failures in the next three years now. When you open History in Opon Imo, in Chapter 9, you have History of Mali as topic but the body of the chapter discusses the Songhai empire. That is a major problem we have with opon imo. Opon Imo has 17 subjects with 87 per cent errors. So, it is an albatross, an embarrassment for us. Opon Imo is a scam and this scam should be withdrawn from circulation. You have been going round the state. What are the specific demands that the people are making? One, they told me that they want the sewing of uniforms to stop. “Omisore, gba aso iya lorun wa; awa o fe mo (Omisore, rid us of the clothes of suffering. We don’t want it),” is the song everywhere. Two, the schools should be returned to their original owners, for those who want them back. We are going to run a people-oriented, peoplebased government. Workers’ salaries will be paid promptly. Professionals who are useful are going to be brought in to restore pride in the people. The people of Osun are visibly hungry and very angry with this government. There’s been some controversy over the debt profile of the state, but the Debt Management Office has said Osun State’s debt is sustainable. What is your take on this? How much is this sustainable debt? The government should come out with the debt portfolio of the state now. Any government can borrow money, but it is the right of the people to know how much has been borrowed and what it has been used for. The point is, what has he used the money for? There is nothing on the ground to show for it. You borrow money to do what? That is the problem. Even the allocation from Abuja, about N613 billion in the last three and a half years now cannot be accounted for with what is on the ground. The roads that are said to be ‘ongoing,’ the government has not done 60 per cent of those roads. They are not up to N200 billion in totality. So, where is our money? A state which cannot pay salaries can buy helicopters for N4 billion for surveil-

Should Nigerians expect war on August 9? I’m not from the streets. He is from the streets. I have a good pedigree. I’m from a good home, a comfortable home, and very good parents. I’m not from the street o. I’m just courageous and strong in my will…The governor has said it himself that he controls thugs now, the State Boys. He is saying it everywhere, openly. Look at what happened in Ekiti; all thugs were arrested. Let our votes count. It is too late for him and he must know that he can’t use violence to win election in Osun. The last election we had, they snatched ball boxes from polling units. That is what he is used to, but he will be shocked. Osun people have decided to shock him with this election. In fact, he is going to lose every local government in this state. Osun has 30 local governments. He is going to lose every local government. Go and mark it down today. Including where he comes from, Ilesa, East and West. Is he from Ilesa? Go to Ilesa and find out. He’s from Arigidi Akoko. The Ijesa know themselves. I’m an Ife-Ijesha man. We know ourselves very well. Are you saying that Governor Aregbesola is not from Ilesa? I don’t know. Go to Ilesa and find out. He may be Ijesa abroad. From what you have seen now of the ongoing projects, it means that you have a serious work to do if you are eventually elected as governor. Are you not worried that, given the state of the economy of Osun, you may not have the wherewithal to solve the people’s problems? And, what magic are you going to use? One, the projects that are ‘ongoing’ are Federal Government projects. I’m going to beg the Federal Government to take on the projects and pay for them. Being a sitting governor, I will have access to them. Two, all other problems are things he (Aregbesola) caused. I would just return the schools to their owners, allow school uniforms to be sewn by those who were sewing them before. Everybody will be free. There will be peace in the state immediately.

FaceOff NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

19 JULY 2014

Count us out of another verification, says NUT boss Primary school teachers in Benue State have just resumed from a protracted strike to compel the state government to pay them the new minimum wage. CEPHAS IOHERMEN reports the details of the Abuja agreement that ended the impasse. Eight months ago, primary school teachers in Benue State embarked on strike over the failure of the state government to pay them the new national minimum wage. Explain the issues involved? We went on strike because of nonimplementation of the minimum wage. The government paid all the workers except primary school teachers and all these while, we have been on strike on the basis that they have not paid to our sector. So last week, we dragged the Benue State Government to Abuja to meet with the national body declared the strike and we had a reasonable meeting with reasonable agreement because they said they were going to pay us the minimum wage as from January. So we accepted all the terms they brought to us and we have decided to suspend the strike. Okay, but now that the academic calendar has been truncated what is the union doing to put things right? You see, one of the considerations we had was the plight of the pupils and also that of our members. So for the period lost, we hope to bridge it up. Like we are resuming on July 7, I think that when the other people will be vacating, we will enter into vacation period so that we try to see how we can recover the lost period, so that’s exactly what we are going to do. As you resume on July 7, when do you hope to conduct your examinations for the terms that were lost? The Ministry of Education in the state is the one that is responsible to prepare the academic calendar. So the ministry is going to sit and adjust the calendar for us, it’s not for me to say today or tomorrow we are going to take examinations. They will come up with a calendar that will begin from 7th July and see how they are going to terminate it. May be, we will get a small break and resume with other people to gradually cover the lost period. So the calendar is not for me to prepare but the MOE. Assuming you call off the strike and government fails to pay you as promised, what will be the reaction of the union? We are not praying for that anyway because I know that the issue of strike is what has worried the Benue State Government as well, and so, reaching an agreement and coming back not to honour it at this critical period, I don’t think it’s going to be so. But if in any case it doesn’t bother the state government, we will still have an option.

In that agreement, was it stipulated that they are going to pay the N18,000 minimum wage? Yes, that is what has informed the suspension of the strike now. They are going to pay us. Our argument was that, pay us what you are paying to other workers and that was what made us to go on strike since October 2013 to date. So what the state government had agreed to pay us is the way they are paying other workers and not any other thing. You know, they had brought that wage they called minimum wage, we rejected it and that was why the strike had to continue. So what government has agreed to pay teachers is what they are paying other civil servants, and in our own case, it is through the Teaching Service Board (TSB) chat, that is how they are suppose to pay us. The TSB chat carries 27.5% and that is what we are going to take and nothing short of that. Are the teachers going to be paid before they fully resume work or how? The issue is that, you know in any trade disputes, once there is an agreement on ground, you don’t have to insist that give me this, because I believe that if government comes out with a statement that I am going to do this it will certainly do, and in labour laws, we have to give way and suspend the strike to allow government implement what they said they will do. And so we are resuming hoping that government will pay. We learnt that about 300 teachers died as a result of the protracted strike, but government came out and denied the claim. What is your reaction to this, and how many teachers actually died? You see, the issue of deaths is an issue that cannot be necessarily associated with strike, and there is no way Dr. Akwaya, the government spokesman, will say teachers have not died, who would not die? Teachers have been dying, politicians have been dying, but to say teachers have died because of the strike is what I said no. Actually, there will be problem, you know normally, for people not to be paid salaries for eight months of course, you know there must be hardship. It’s true that some people may die as a result of the hardship been experienced as a result of non- payment, but to say that the people have died because of strike I why I said no. The former Minister of Information Dr. Dora Akunyili and the Emir of Kano died not because there was a strike and so, teachers are dying not because they were on strike but because

Anya

There is no way Dr. Akwaya, the government spokesman, will say teachers have not died, who would not die? of hardship. Okay sir, is the union going to carry out a screening exercise before commencing payment? No. We have conducted various exercises to that effect so there is no need this time around. Anytime the government wants to know our number, we will avail them of it. But as for this particular exercise of the payment of our minimum wage, it will be ridiculous for government to talk of tasking us again to know the exact number of teachers on the payroll. We have done enough of the exercises. What is your advice to the teachers? The children are our own, and so as they come back they should forget about government and forget about everything and give the children their best. God gave us these children to look after them and shape them to become future leaders, and the little money we have, God will bless it and we will something tangible with it Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP chieftain and elder statesman in Benue State, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, was categorical that the non-payment of minimum wage to primary school teachers in Benue State resulted from bad advice to Governor

Gabriel Suswam by self-seeking bureaucrats, among other issues. He was very categorical about this. According to the elder citizen, without doubt, one can narrow the reason down to sychophancy and deliberately-bad advice allegedly given to the governor by self-seeking bureaucrats in the civil service. The over eightmonth strike embarked upon by primary school teachers in the state was due to planlessness, on the one hand, and the consequences of inexperience, on the other, on the part of the state government. The protracted industrial action by the teachers which has just been resolved, was unfortunate and could have been aavoided if the implementation of the national minimum wage policy was not faulty in conception and implementation. Do not forget that the elder statesman is a former member of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission ,RMAFC he is experienced and the caliber of people who should advise the governor on how to avoid embarrassing situations like these; the surest way out of the logjam is for the governor to go back to the drawing board and publicly apologize that an error was made that deserves to be corrected. To be more specific, if the national minimum wage was pegged at N18, 000, then it was only logical that only those who were earning less than N18,000 that should have benefitted. I advise the governor to go back to the drawing board, admit that an error was made and ensure that the salary of civil servants, which is too much, should be reviewed. The governor should always seek counsel from wise people on issues like these.

FACEOFF | POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

Govt has complied with the agreement–Akwaya

What were the details of the agreement that the Benue State government secured with striking primary school teachers in the state. The details of the agreement that the state government secured with striking primary school teachers in the state to end the eight-month-old strike gave primary school teachers in the state enough assurance to assured them sufficient assurance to suspend their eight-month-old strike. This assurance includes the implementation of their new national minimum wage . There is the assurance that government will not renege on its promise to keep faith with the truce it brokered with the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, to end the impasse. This was the agreement the state government signed with the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to end their eight monthsold strike over non-implementation of the minimum wage. Why did the government delay so much in arriving at this decision for the teachers to enable them to suspend their action? The state government has not delayed anything, an agreement has been signed, if the agreement was not signed, the schools wouldn’t have re-opened and teachers wouldn’t have returned to classes but that has been done, the schools have re-opened and teachers salaries have been paid. But I want to tell you that an agreement has been signed and the teachers are satisfied with the negotiation and have called off the strike and the government is ready to implement the content of the agreement by paying all salaries that were owed teachers; the eight months owed them have already been paid. So there is no delay, all agreements have been signed, if not the teachers wouldn’t have agreed to resume. As a spokesman for the government, how realistic is the agreement because out of eight months owed teachers, only two months have been paid. Is the government ready to keep faith with the terms enshrined in the agreement? Of course yes, because the teachers have resumed work and salaries have been paid them. The government has fully complied with the terms of the agreement; it is not a matter of willingness any longer. There is an agreement in place signed between teachers and government and government has complied with the terms already. Are you not aware that teachers have been paid? Are you not aware that they have been paid on the new rates as agreed upon? Are you not aware that schools have re-opened? These were all contained in the agreement and its has been implemented. What is your take on the allegation by critics that the permission recently granted Gov Suswam to obtain 11billion from the capital market by the state House of Assembly, to enable him to complete certain projects and pay striking teachers that have just resumed from strike, amounts to a disingenuous grant to enable the governor to prosecute his campaign for senate come 2015? What these people are saying is not true. You people should stop this campaign of mischief against the governor. These things are not good; if you want to know about the bond, in issue, let me tell you. The process of obtaining the bond is still on and a bond is not something like the money someone keeps in the bank and goes to withdraw anytime he likes. No. There are very stringent conditions that are laid-down before issuance of a bond and those conditions are so stringent that no single governor or presi-

Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Cletus Akwaya tells CEPHAS IOHERMEN that the state government will respect the agreement it secured from striking primary school teacher in the state because it is an honourable thing to do.

Akwaya

dent of Nigeria can afford to take a single money from it other than follow the due process. This is because the money is never released to the state government; it is obtained from the issuing house which is not a bank and the issuing house ensures that the money is applied on those projects specified because the bond money is not Nigerian

money; it is people’s money. If you know how a bond is specialised, the money that is given as bond is meant for officers who have invested if not, you cannot be repaid. So the state and the Nigerian Stock Exchange and all the parties involved do make sure that the bond is utilised for the purpose for which it was meant. And I want to tell you

that out of the 36 states of the federation, 19 states have taken the bond money from the capital market. And I also want to inform you that states like Lagos have taken N98 billion from the bond market. These are states that are 20 times more buoyant than Benue State. Rivers State has taken N50 billion, and I can go on and on to give you more figures on that. Again, Niger, Kebbi, Kano and other states, too, have taken the bond and, at the same time, Benue State. Can we also say all the other governors have taken the bond to fund their campaigns? So the governor is not taking the bond to fund his campaign for senate as alleged. There can not be anything like delay in implementation because if you understand the workings of government, you will appreciate the fact that you can not realistically spend more than the amount of money at your disposal. If the amount of money available to you as receipts or revenue falls short of your expected expenditure profile, you are most likely to fall into trouble. No responsible government would deliberately manouvre itself into such an irresponsible position. Even at the personal level, the person who goes about prosecuting his affairs so recklessly, sooner than later, discovers that he has manouvred himself into trouble. In simple language, that is called financial recklessness. There is no how there would not be crisis if your expenditure continues to outstrip revenue. At the international level, you will notice that it is not for nothing that multi-lateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund, IMF, advise member nations against uncontrolled expenditure. A rigorous regime of frugality is usually recommended as antidote like the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, that was recommended for this country some years ago. The same recommendation was made for countries like Portugal and Greece. Elsewhere, similar recommendations have triggered widespread social unrests. That is why I insist that whether as an individual or government, rules of financial etiquette demand that expenditure must always stay some comfortable distance behind revenue.

MILESTONES

Nnabuife appointed MD of Anambra Newspaper

agos-based journalist and public-policy analyst, Chuka I. Nnabuife, has been appointed the Managing Director of Anambra State Newspaper &Printing Corporation (ANPC) and Editor-in-Chief of the state’s paper, ‘National Light Newspaper.’ The appointment was made by Gov. Willie Obiano, along with that of a former Globacom executive officer and one-time leader of the association of Nigerian Students in United Kingdom, Mr. Chudi Nworah, as Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Services ,ABS. Both appointments became effective from July 1, 2014. Sir Nnabuife, was the General Editor of ‘New Nigerian Compass’ newspaper based in Lagos before the appointment. He retained this position as Editor (Weekend) of ‘The Nigerian Compass’ newspaper until March 2014. Also a consummate news and policy analyst on several national radio and television stations, Nnabuife writes the weekly back page column, ‘Catalysis’ in the ‘Nigerian Compass’. The Ihiala, Anambra State-born journalist holds a master of science degree from the

zz Nworah also MD of Anambra Broadcasting Services

School of Media & Communications, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos; Public Administration from the University of Calabar, Fine and Applied Arts in Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu and Journalism in International Institute of Journalism, Abuja. An associate member of the Chatered Institute of Nigerian Stockbrokers, he has also attended several certification courses on media, organised by the foreign ministries of the United States of America and Germany. A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) merit award winner (Osun State), 45-yearold Nnabuife, is also an award-winning journalist with over two-and-half-decade practice in print journalism as well as in public service as a former information officer in government ministry. He is the author of three books and chapter author of three other books. Also a published poet, filmmaker and exhibiting artist, multi-disciplinary Nnabuife once served as the Deputy Editor, Daily of ‘The Nigerian Compass’ as well as founding chief operation officer and Deputy Editor of the defunct

‘Starwatch Magazine’. His first exposure to journalism was in June 1987 as a intern in the Graphics section of the Programs Department Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Enugu (under the renowned Sunny Umelogu). Thereafter he became a guest artiste in (the old) Anambra Broadcasting Service, Television (ABS TV) while also contributing cartoons and literary reviews to Weekly Star newspaper, Enugu 1988 – 1991. He was a contributing illustrator and art reviewer for Osun Voice newspaper Osogbo, Osun State 1991 through 1992 until he joined the Information department staff of Osun State Ministry of Information and Culture, Osogbo where he worked 1992 – 1997 before relocating to Lagos where he became a freelance journalist for the defunct ‘Diet’ Newspaper. He was associate editor in the defunct Lagos-based social affairs magazines, ‘Grapevine’ and ‘Eminent People’ before being invited by the publisher of ‘Starwatch’ magazine, Mr. Pius Okugbere, to set up the paper.

50 Features

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

The home of arrested deities

ther than undiluted love for and genuine empathy with the real under-privileged, there is hardly anything else that could have inspired anyone to journey into an unfamiliar territory and, against all odds, insist on establishing an integrated rehabilitation home for those who, otherwise, might have waded through life in utter hopelessness. That is the story of Sister Martina Oforka, the serial stigmata from Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Area of Anambra State who capped her missionary zeal by founding the Divine Wounds Group of Schools, about a kilometre from the comprehensive spiritual home, both located in Umuagbedo Agu, a very remote part of Amachala community in Igbo-Eze North local government area of Enugu state. A visit to the home, which has successfully retraced what might have been the derailed lives and dreams of many orphans and indigent children, reveals an atmosphere of enigmas at work. First, is the physical appearance of the founder of the apostolate, Rev. Sister Oforka, a stigmata who manifests all the halos of stigmatism, especially during the symbolic agony of Easter, All Saints and All Souls Days observed as solemnities by Catholics worldwide. Particularly endearing is her missionary journey to a community that has remained so far removed from urbanisation that could have ameliorated the forgotten community’s depravity in terms of provision of modern amenities. According to Oforka, hailing from far away Oraifite, she never knew that part of Enugu state before. However, a peep into her life history could reveal her undying love for orphans. She was said to have lost her mother as a pupil and became a full-time orphan in 1990 when her father also died. Since then, wading through life’s rigours and relying on her religious vows in the Catholic Church, especially as she has been operating in the arena of religious austerity, her visage writes volumes of this state of affairs. When New Telegraph met her during the graduation ceremony of students in her group of schools, she wore a lean and hungry look, unlike most of her religious colleagues. The scars from her experiences of stigmata have hotch-potched her face with dark marks while austere religious observances have left her once robust cheeks sunken, as if receding into the cavity of her mouth. In the premises of the Divine Wounds ‘black marks’ Apostolate, which is home to her and her 56 orphaned inmates and about 20 other children who have found shelter in the home owing to the harsh circumstances of their respective lives before she rescued them, are other strange things making the environment sombre, especially to a first time visitor. For instance, as one approaches the entrance to the very modest spiritual house, a grim announcer and museum for arrested deities and charms, a powerful and pungent odour, nauseatingly unfriendly to the nostrils, hits your nostrils, even before their weird visage assaults your psyche. Yet, some dogs that complement the security apparatchik for the home would create a stir for the first time visitor. And last weekend when New Telegraph journeyed to the apostolate that has become a pilgrimage destination of sorts, the dogs did scare this reporter even as the host, Rev. Sister Oforka, spoke to them in a language they easily obeyed. A Harsh Experience On a Bad Road: Even the journey to the area from Enugu metropolis was a clear experience in stoic existence; a harsh experience on a terrible road to a forgotten community. The road is one of the worst this reporter has traversed in recent times. That may have accounted for a drawback instinct that came calling twice in the course of the trip when it appeared the journey could not continue as it continued to seem to stretch to the crack of gloom and despair, to borrow from Shakespeare. Clearly, at that point of frustration and trepidation,

Sister Martina Oforka bears the supposed marks of the crucified Christ on her body. But in spite of her own terrible physical suffering, she is committed to bringing joy to people everywhere who suffer. Uwakwe Abugu writes on the stigmata nun’s efforts to free people from spiritual bondage, rescue abandoned babies and provide a home for the homeless.

A scene of her experience of the stigma

Some of the deities ‘arrested’ in a museum

Some graduating inmates of the orphanage

a foreboding of the proverbial journey of no return, welled up in the subconscious, as the reporter struggled in a Toyota Carina car, trailing behind his guide, a retired school principal in Enugu State, Mr. Titus Omenma, who waded on in a more rugged utility vehicle. However, the tourist and the tour-guide, after successfully maneuvering the near-gullies; countless unsettling projectiles that jut into the road and over-grown grasses on the very bad and long road, the journey ended when the party hit the Divine Wounds Schools at about 5pm. Surprisingly, when the stigmata nun spoke to our

reporter on her austere missionary journey to that part of Enugu State, she appealed to the Igbo-Eze North council and Enugu State government to come to the aid of her group of schools in view of the humanitarian act of catering for the education of the 76 inmates of the apostolate but she did not say anything about the shame of the road that leads to that community which is home to her epic feat of humanitarianism that has planted joy in the hearts of several orphans. On that faithful Friday, the joy of eight orphaned children who have been inmates of that Apostolate knew no bounds as they

moved up the academic ladder at their Divine Wounds Schools in the community. One of them, Johnpaul Okonkwo, aged 13 and hails from Imo state, was said to have been picked up as an abandoned baby in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, and he wore his graduation gown, having rounded off his primary education as the school celebrated the orphans who have moved up on the academic ladder. Another child identified as Chidera, aged two, was said to have been abandoned by her mother who has been mentally challenged. She graduated from the nursery one session of the school, and for those who knew her life history, she was a cynosure of all eyes. Speaking to New Telegraph on the import of the occasion graced by a huge crowd of pilgrims and natives, she confirmed, as some of the pilgrims told us, that she has been performing miracles by virtue of her endowment in stigmatism. And she also said “it has been a fulfilling experience, picking up abandoned babies, orphans and the less-privileged and working to nurture them to greatness. According to her, “it gives me immense joy in the Lord when I rescue pregnant and unmarried young women at the point when they contemplate aborting their unborn babies. And I have always assured any of such victims that I would take care of her till she delivers. I will nurture the child after which I will hand the child over to the mother. She explained that there are over 70 inmates of her orphanage while the group of schools comprising nursery, primary and secondary schools have a population of over 200 pupils and students. Rev. Sister Oforka called on governments at all levels, especially in Enugu state, to come to the aid of the school in the provision of infrastructures, explaining that the curriculum of the school emphasizes skills acquisition in view of the social realities that stare the orphans in the face after graduation. Testimonies Of Miracles and Fighting Evils In Society: Commenting on the occasion and the activities of the Divine Wound Apostolate and its schools catering for the less-privileged, former secretary to Igbo-Eze North council area, Hon. Francis Ujah, who was a guest on the occasion, said: “I can tell you that we can see Jesus here in this our community. I say this because our sister has got most of the attributes of Jesus whom the Bible tells us went about doing good and relating with the wretched of the earth, and in this case, this is a young woman who has all the opportunities to live in the urban area and enjoy all the amenities of modern life but has chosen to quarantine herself in this very remote community in Enugu state to take care of those she did not know from Adam.” Hon. Ujah pointed to many salvage measures that the stigmata nun has undertaken to destroy deities that have kept many victims in bondage and also killing many. She talked about the case of one deity to which 45 cows have so far been sacrificed. Mr. Omenma, who was our tour guide, recalled his first meeting with the nun. He said: “My first contact with her was when I was a principal at Inyi Community in IgboEze North local government when she was crusading with some women to stop ritual killings which had claimed so many lives in that area.” The former school boss stated that apart from her awesome spiritual gifts which endow her with the power to perform miracles, she has embarked on very difficult missions to salvage those caught in the web of present day sinful acts of sexual immorality and the attendant abandonment of newborn babies or the sin of aborting unborn babies. Also within the premises of the apostolate, our reporter saw some aged persons. On inquiry it was discovered that the nun has also been handling some isolated cases of abandoned old people as well as cases of mentally challenged persons.

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n Nigeria these days, ritual killing and other horrible social vices are on the increase, as dens of kidnappers and ritual killers are being discovered in many states of the federation. Operators of the nefarious trade employ various veiled tactics of baiting their victims before capturing them, killing them and making use of some parts of their bodies. Among such tactics are kidnapping of innocent people who board vehicles, and also the use of ‘mad’ people to snare unsuspecting victims into their net. A similar scenario played itself out in April 2014 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when a commercial motorcyclist, popularly called ‘okada man’ allegedly disappeared into the Soka Forest along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, thus igniting protest and crisis. Invasion of the forest by friends and relations of the said okada man, whom they alleged pulled a call to one of them regarding his precarious condition in the forest led to the discovery of the destitute being camped in a warehouse, as well as corpses and skeletons of many people flung around the forest. The place was tagged a den of kidnappers owing to discovery of many items including wears, household utensils, documents, handbags, travelling bags and the rest, stuffed in some metal containers. The large expanse of land which had been taken over by weeds was being used by some construction companies which had been engaged by the state government many years ago as a construction site. They were engaged to construct the Ogunpa channelisation to control flood in Ibadan. They abandoned the project for one reason or the other and the place became a haven for unscrupulous elements. Another version of the story later had it that the state government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi had used the site to rehabilitate the destitute taken off the streets of Ibadan as part of the administration’s urban renewal policy aimed at keeping the metropolis clean. Claims and counter-claims had been recorded until when the state government ordered demolition of the entire structure in the forest in order to douse tension arising from the discovery. No sooner had a bulldozer started clearing the place and demolished part of the controversial warehouse where about eight ailing destitute had been rescued with two found dead than an order came that the demolition should stop. The driver of the bulldozer was told that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Indabawa, had ordered that the demolition must stop forthwith, and so activities ceased while security operatives kept vigil over the area. Shortly after, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, David Omojola, visited the site on behalf of the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, claiming that the Federal Government was interested in the development and that something would be done to unearth all mysteries in the matter. Few days after, a team of medical doctors from the University College Hospital, led by Dr. Eze Nwon, with police detectives from Abuja, visited the forest and carried out some forensic works on the site, picking all relevant items which they took away for forensic analysis. For almost three months, all activities regarding the demolition thus stopped, leaving everybody to guess what could happen next. Residents of the Soka area continued to live in fear until last Saturday when they were informed that the state government was ready to build a model school on a 19acre part of the forest. Bulldozers crawled in and the whole place was levelled including the partlydemolished warehouse, which had earlier been ordered to be left as it was. When New Telegraph on Saturday visited the site on Wednesday, construction engineers were seen working with bricklayers and other technicians digging the foundations for the model school. Several loads of sand, gravel and blocks had been dumped on the site. However, both the site engineer (a woman) and other work-

Features

Soka: The changing face of Ibadan ‘evil’ forest

The infamous Soka Forest along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has paved the way for a model school. But while the residents are happy about government’s plan to turn the kidnappers’ den into a learning centre, they are also worried that the school may not be meant for the masses. SOLA ADEYEMO writes.

The evil forest is paving way for a model school planned for this site. Inset: Baale of Soka

Shrivelled skulls: Evidence of what was once a forest of horrors

ers spoken to refused to respond, as they implored that all inquiries must be directed to the seat of government at the secretariat, Ibadan. A walk round the cleared site revealed a gory sight of the relics of the carcasses discovered in the site. In April, skeletons of many people who had died or had been killed in the forest and buried in shallow graves were exhumed as the bulldozers were clearing the forest. An eyewitness said, “These skeletons you are seeing all about are not among those given mass burial by the state environmental officers. These were exhumed as the caterpillars were working on the bushes. It means that many had been killed and buried in shallow graves aside the ones seen on the ground that time. Hundreds of people must have lost their lives in this forest before the discovery itself,” he said, refusing to disclose his names. When the traditional leader of the Soka community, Baale Isiaka Bello Olupoju, was asked to speak on the development in his domain, he confirmed that the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Busari Adebisi and the Caretaker Chairman of the Oluyole Local Government, Mr. Alesinloye, had contacted him on the government plan to site a modern model secondary school in the area with

The type of school they are currently building is for the children of the elite and the rich ones hostel facilities. Expressing gladness at the gesture, the Baale said, “When I was told this, I saw it as a welcome development for us in this area. With the 19 acre cleared now, miscreants can no longer hide here. People of unscrupulous character no longer have a chance of operating here. “I thank Governor Abiola Ajimobi for this step. This will expose us to more socioeconomic advantages when completed. However, we want the governor to do more for us by building a grammar school and primary school for the common students which they can afford. The type of school they are currently building is for the children of the elite and the rich ones. So, we need the type with school fees, our common students can afford to pay. “Aside this, we want our governor to clear more of this land because it is more than 200 acres. We want our governor to please build a hospital and market for us

in the remaining vacant parcels of land. We don’t have any government primary school around here. Likewise, we don’t have hospital and market. We need all these, and so we are using this opportunity to plead with his excellency to do this for us,” the community leader appealed. With the siting of the model school in the formerly bushy kidnappers’ den, Soka area is normally expected to enjoy a better social now expected attraction and patronage. But when asked if landlords in the community would not capitalise on the opening up of the busy area, thereby increasing rent in the area to the detriment of the have-nots, Olupoju said, “I will never allow anybody to inflict such harsh condition on anybody here. I will monitor and ensure no landlord victimises any tenant. “I was a tenant for 22 years and so I know what it takes to be a tenant. We shall not allow such to happen here. But Governor Ajimobi should please clear the remaining parts of the bush because it extends to the Toll Gate. If the bushes are cleared, many developmental projects like this model school would also be sited for the benefit of the masses,” he said. Since he was at the site when the clearing of the forest was being done, and no journalist was alerted of it until the whole place had been bulldozed, Baale Olupoju, who was accompanied by a traditional chief, Alhaji Asimiyu Olayinka (the Bobagunwa of Faruku, Soka), was asked whether any underground tunnel or dungeon as was earlier alleged was discovered, but he retorted that “there is no tunnel here at all. The information was just a rumour by some people.” Responding to the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said, “The government decided to build one of our model secondary schools at the place to open it up and make the place more accessible.” With the development, rows over kidnappers’ activities in the forest have been laid to rest.

52 politics

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Sheriff’s defection and 2015 Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

s the 2015 general elections draw nearer, the political atmosphere in Borno state has taken a new dimension, with embattled Governor Kashim Shettima and his former political boss, predecessor and former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff dusting up their unending battle to control the state which has since been battered by insurgency. The situation took a dramatic change when Senator Ali Modu Sheriff decided to switch his loyalty from the high-pitched All Progressive Congress (APC) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to what he described as injustice meted out to him and his supporters and candidate at the last convention of APC that produced the current party national leadership. Former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff , on Monday, 13t,h July 2014, stormed Maiduguri International Airport at exactly 1L35 pm. He arrived aboard a private aircraft and was immediately received by wellwishers and loyalists in their thousands, including both PDP supporters and APC factions. In a great show of aplomb, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff drove from the Maiduguri International Airports through Mai Doki Roundabout to his residence, amidst chants and revelry by thousands of supporters chanting Change, while others rent the air with reverberating shouts of power. In an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri later, Sheriff said that he was in town to meet and consult with his people preparatory to his formal defection to the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP. The two-time governor stated that he was dumping the APC for PDP to salvage the people of Borno from what he described “Shettima`s family government”, adding that he is determined to usher in another person who will carry every one along to move Borno state forward, not just family members and a close circle of cronies as is the case now. According to him, he entrusted the people of the state in the hands of governor Kashim Shettima, but to his dismay, Shettima betrayed him and the people of the state, alleging that Gov. Shettima is running a government of friends and family. According to the former governor ,who prides himself as a king-maker, he came back to rescue the state from what he described as “Shettima’s bad governance”. When asked why he was leaving the party he built, Sheriff said he built ANPP in the state and that when he was in politics, Shettima was still schooling, stressing that he joined politic 30 years ago and that he was the one who brought Shettima into politics as his commissioner and campaigned for his election as a governor. But he added that he was full of regrets because this successor betrayed the trust and confidence he and the people of the state bestowed on him. “ I joined politics over 30 years ago and I think that time Shettima was in school, I brought him into politics and entrusted him in the hand of the people but he betrayed me and the people of Borno state. Now, I am back to rescue the people of Borno”, Sheriff swaggered. The tree times Senator and twice governor, said he will find time to come to Borno and spend three months with a view to tour the 27 local government areas of the state and canvass support for the PDP in the state. Sheriff who came in accompanies of three APC members of House of Representative members Hon. Abdurrahaman

Sheriff

Terab representing Bama, Ngala-Kalabalge federal constituency. Hon. Isa Lawan Kangar, representing Guzamala, Kukawa Federal constituency and Hon. Peter Biye Gumtha, representing Damboa, Gwoza and Chibok Federal constituency, with some party supporters drove from the Airport to his residence in GRA.. Some of the party supporters were carrying Sheriff Posters and that of their preferred candidates with PDP symbols, Shouting PDP slogan Power, while others were chanting change. A PDP member Mallam Shuabu Idris said the defection of Former governor Ali Modu Sheriff is a welcome development as he is going inject new life into the PDP in the state and that with the presence of Senator Ali Sheriff PDP will form government in the state. A closed associate of Senator Ali Modu

Sheriff, who is also a Special Adviser to Governor Shettima, Alhaji Yusuf Adamu said Sheriff who mastered the political arithmetic of the state would really delivered the state for the PDP come 2015 InshaAllah. He said Sheriff have the political structure and would go round the nocks and cranies of the state to sell PDP to the people of the state. Another Sheriff`s supporter, Jibrin Musa said they have no choice than to move with sheriff to the PDP, adding that Shettima have been promising them that he would carry them along but they are tired of deception and are ready be with sheriff wherever he go. An APC supporter Abba Idi, said they thanked God that Sheriff have left the party because according to him, Sheriff has been are stumbling block preventing Shetimma from providing dividends’ of democracy to the people

of the state. He said it is now time for Shettima to work for the people of the state and that he is optimistic that Shettima will floor down Sheriff and his PDP, as PDP and Sheriff are no longer in vogue in the state. A Maiduguri resident Alhaji Maman Iliya said that he was even surprised that politicans in the state are engaging themselves in dirty politics, what people of the state are after is lasting people and not politicking. “ I wonder how these politicians would campaign in this era of insecurity and I don’t believe that people will even come out and vote. Instead of them to come out and find a lasting solution to the security challenges facing the state they are busy politicking. I don’t think election will even hold in the state with these increasing attacks on Borno villages, Alhaji Iliya said. A public commentator Alhaji Abdurrahaman said politicians are fighting over the control of the state, not minding the insecurity in the state. He said Shettima has the sympathy of the masses of the state, but many are complaining on the way and manner he was running his government. The staffs of the local government areas are complaining of non salary increment, while traders, contractors and some politicians are accusing him of not carrying them along. He said the way PDP and Jonathan are playing politics in the country is terrible, adding Sheriff with his knowledge of Borno politics coupled with the Federal Government might may unseat Governor Kashim Shettima come 2015 general elections. He said “ we all know the Maiduguri Airport was shut down for almost one month, this necessitated governor Shettima to travel to Kano on Monday 13th June 2014 by road, only for Sheriff to arrive Maiduguri same day via the same airport. So it is unfortunate the dimension our politics is taking.” It could be be recalled that Borno state have never be in the same party with the ruling national party accept in the aborted second republic where the ruling NPN won the state but the republic was terminated by a military coup By General Muhammadu Buhari on December 31st 1983. On whether Sheriffs defection will delivered Borno to the PDP only time will tell.

2015: The bomb ticks in Ogun Legislature The suspension of some legislators, Kunle Olayeni reports from Abeokuta, may have set off a ticking bomb in Ogun Legislature

gun State House of Assembly is not a stranger to strife. Being a microcosm of the complex, sophisticated political configuration of the state, the legislative arm catches the cold whenever contending gladiators sneeze in the polity. Since the return of democracy rule in 1999, lawmakers in the hallowed chamber have hardly succeeded in insulating themselves from the web of intrigues and permutations that often characterize the politics of the Gateway State. Even as the race towards 2015 hots up, a decisive battle for supremacy looms large on the state House of Assembly which though comfortably dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is deeply divided. With the impeachment saga in Adamawa State and threats of removal of more governors in opposition-controlled

states, any development that could upset the apple cart in any legislative set-up is bound to draw instant attention among political stakeholders. That is why the aura of suspense pervading the Ogun State House of Assembly is now generating keen interest in political circles. Already, a political group “The Rebuilders” has alerted of a plot by certain opposition figures to destabilize the 26 member House of Assembly through removal of the Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi, and his deputy, Tola Banjo. Apart from the impeachment plot, reports of imminent cross-carpeting among the legislators have added a fresh twist. From the ashes of the G-15 and G-11 dichotomy in the days of former Governor Gbenga Daniel’s administration, the present House of Assembly members were inaugurated in June 2011. The defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) won 17 seats; the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) had six and three members respectively. Three PDP legislators later defected to the ruling party, thus giving the APC a majority of 20 members. Subsequently, the feud within Ogun APC took its toll

on the party’s lawmakers as they were polarized along the camps of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and former Governor Olusegun Osoba. As a result of the crisis in the ruling party, a member of the House, Samson Onademuren, said recently in Abeokuta that 10 state legislators have concluded plan to dump the APC for PDP. Onademuren, representing Ijebu North East State Constituency, spoke during the defection of an APC member in the House of Representatives, Abiodun Akinlade, to the PDP. He was elected into the legislature in 2011 on the platform of APC but later found himself on the side of forces against Amosun. “I can tell you authoritatively that members of G-13 where I am the Secretary are ready to join the PDP. I have come as the Secretary of the G-13 members of the state House of Assembly to take the flag of the PDP, I want to say that all of us have decided to join the PDP,” Onademuren stated. Other members of the G-13 include Olufemi Allen-Taylor (Abeokuta South II), Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo (Ifo II), Oludaisi Elemide (Odeda), Remmy Hazzan (Odogbolu), John Obafemi (Remo North), Abiodun Akovoyon (Ipokia/Idiroko).

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What’s Jimi Agbaje waiting for? Agbaje

John Obi

ity Lagos State. With over N30 billion generated monthly as internal revenue, it prides itself as the business hub of Africa - richer than many well-run economies in the continent. Lagos remains the only state in Nigeria that can sustain itself without the federal allocation. Unfortunately, despite its huge financial portfolio, the state is shamefully suffering from financial avitaminosis (a disease associated with lack of financial vitamin). As the race to replace Governor Fashola gathers momentum, Lagosians deserve a leader with the right qualities to redirect the affairs of the state away from its elitistminded administration to a government that will cater for the common good of the generality of Lagosians. Leadership philosopher, Marx Landsberg, outlines the traits of this sought-after governor as vision, inspiration and momentum, while Plato adds the virtues of temperance, courage and wisdom. Lagosians need a leader that will make things actually work; one who will make Fashola’s assumed performance look like child’s play, yet have serious empathy for the poor. The outcome of the recently- concluded elections in Ekiti State has proven that any leader who disregards Abraham Marslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ in its order will end up like Kayode Fayemi. Having been born and ‘garried’ in Lagos, I dare say that one man stands out in the quest to take Lagos to the enviable height it deserves. This is a man who does not see political office as a treadmill but means to improve the wellbeing of the impoverished who constitute over 80 percent of the state’s population. Remarkably, this gentleman man has refused to defile himself with Lagos emperor’s portion of meat and, in so doing, has shown uncommon character in a system that celebrates mediocrity.

We live in a society where thieves are crowned kings, while good people are schemed out of governance

Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje needs no introduction. He is one who believes that leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. During the 2007 gubernatorial elections, this man rolled out the most impressive and persuasive campaign based on issues. His politics was free from mudslinging and use of uncouth language. He pioneered the use of social networking for political campaigns, with his vision for the state still resonating among Lagosians till date. To achieve the Lagos of our collective dream, we must fight the monster called corruption, which has today become both a religion and culture amongst our people. We therefore must not allow the next Governor in Lagos to be one handpicked by the ‘Emperors at Bourdillon’ who throw their weight around with monies stolen from the system. This will reduce waste and encourage a just and egalitarian society for all Lagosians irrespective of class or creed. We live in a society where thieves are crowned kings, while good people are schemed out of governance. If the wealth of Lagos is well-channeled, the state, in four years, should be competing with Dubai in terms of infrastructure. Sadly, what we have today is the opposite. Virtually all our roads are impassable, public schools grounded with ill-motivated teachers, health centers functioning as mere consulting clinics, poor traders constantly harassed by government officials like vultures in search of prey, and so on. Jimi Agbaje is a true son of Lagos State - a larger-than-life grassroots politician who has assumed the status of every political party’s ‘2015 beautiful bride’ in Lagos. And why not? Lagos needs a leader with experience, charisma and benevolence. And above all, one with the capable of checkmating the strong grip of a rapacious, thieving and vacillating class of politicians masquerading as leaders who have turned the state into their private estate. Agbaje should declare his intention to join the gubernatorial race. He must do so now! All it takes for evil men to thrive is for good people to sit back and do nothing. In Martin Luther King Jr’s word, “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressors, but must be demanded by the oppressed.” Agbaje is that true change we so dearly crave in Lagos. - Obi is a public affairs analyst

PERSPECTIVES

The downfall of a great man Dominik Umosen

o most indigenes of insurgencyshocked Adamawa State, the removal of Admiral Murtala Nyako as governor may have come as divine intervention grossly over-due but to retired educationist and former principal of ivy league Kings College, Lagos, Mr Agun, the controversial removal of the retired admiral by the state house of assembly refocuses attention on the proverbial transience of power. For those who may not be familiar with the man’s story, Agun is the former head teacher of the elite secondary school, who was needlessly humiliated and forced to ridicule his authority by naval ratings who publicly forced them to recant the disciplinary action slammed on Nyako’s errant son by the school authorities for gross indiscipline. At the former Chief of Naval Staff’s behest, the ratings, the former principal recalls, stormed the high-brow institution and forced him, alongside other members of the school’s disciplinary committee, to ‘publicly apologise for the embarrassment caused both the former CNS and his son’ who was awaiting punishment for serial delinquency. With his head bowed, alongside his humiliated colleagues, the principal was made to apologise to the students and to publicly deny that they ever contemplated disciplining the errant son of an unmistakably wayward big man. This story of the arrogance of power is familiar to the class that graduated between 1990/91. Agun is not the only victim of unbridled power who may have marveled at the sheer transience of power as dramatized by Nyako’s fall from grace, including the possibility of ordinary boys scouts and mere legislators successfully wrestling a battle-weary admiral into a pin fall. Late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, also has a similarly nasty experience to rue. As a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, AFRC, Nyako led the pack of military officers who successfully intimidated General Ibrahim Babangida, forcing the fox from Minna to trample on the wish of Nigerians by anulling the freest and fairest presidential election ever in the country. Alongside the Senate President, David Mark ,who was also a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, AFRC, Chief Abiola was steamrolled through the motions of campaigning and, when he eventually secured victory at the polls, despite the muslim-muslim ticket of Abiola and his running mate, Babagana Kingibe, these officers who equated their self-righteousness with national interest, ignominiously discountenanced the wish of Nigerians by directing Gen. Babangida to annul the wish of the people which ordinarily translates into the voice of God. Barely moments after members of the Adamawa State House Assembly overwhelmingly and enthusiastically kicked out the admiral who decided his fate when he melodramatically accused the Federal Government of manipulating the anti-insurgency offensive to commit genocide against the North, the Speaker, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, was sworn in as acting governor. Instead of tears and chants of solidarity, as would have been expected, most indigenes of Adamawa hailed the action of the Legislature, describing it as more belated than outrageous. The hollowness of Nyako’s hare-brained allegation was underlined by the fact that instead of solidarity, the former governor consistently drew jeers from serious-minded political leaders from that part of the, including retired Colonel Abubakar Umar, who dismissed Nyako as a huge disappointment. Others who pooh-poohed his genocide

false alarm include former water resources and health minister, Idi Hong, also an indigene of Adamawa. In an elaborate interview with this paper, Hong lampooned the claim, stressing he was surprised that in spite of its overwhelming need, the state legislature was vacillating on what he described as the pressing need to remove the disgraced admiral who is yet to be purged of his magisterial swagger. Equally curious was Nyako’s favoured combativeness which guaranteed uninterrupted wrangling with and alienation from other prominent indigenes of the state who would have rallied to his defence in perilous moments like these. Such partners in unending rows and disagreements included prominent indigenes like the former national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and former military governor of Lagos State, rtd Brigadier-General Mohammed Marwa, among other numerous names on so-called hate list. Only the ousted governor of Adamawa State himself can say why he refused to heed late Umaru Dikko’s advice to late Chief MKO Abiola to refrain from seeking a ride on the back of a tiger because doing so is fraught with the risk of ending up in the belly of the beast. That was even before the presumed winner of the June 1993 presidential election died in prison after declaring himself president. As a successful business tycoon, Chief Abiola adroitly leveraged on his powerful connections to achieve astounding political advantage, including victory in the 1993 presidential election. It is the leveraging on his formidable network of political connections that DDikko contemptuously referred to when he told Abiola, before in the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, that the country’s presidency was not for the highest bidder. For a fellow victim of Dikko’s elected grandeur of ethnic supremacy, it is dripping with supreme irony that ordinary boys scouts as legislators eventually and sensationally toppled an admiral who ought have been well-heeled in the strategy of grit and warfare. Even before ordinary boys scouts and legislators sent this great man crashing through the bramble of public ridicule, many Nigerians waited in vain for the humiliated admiral to say at least some words of comfort to parents of the over 65 students of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; victims of ethno-religious hatred who were killed one after the other in a manner most premeditated and gruesome. Until he was shoved out by boys scouts, Nyako neither chastised nor condemned the killers, eventually climaxing his self-ridicule with his false alarm of genocide. What a down fall for a great man.

Nyako

54 PERSPECTIVES

Bitter Lessons from Lahore

he visit of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girls’ education campaigner, to Nigeria, has brought out some very interesting angles to the #bring back out girls campaign and the attitude of political aids in the presidency in Nigeria. The stopover of such a high-profile girl’s rights campaigner in Nigeria has not only added pressure to the Nigerian government, which has been accused in the early days of the kidnapping of not doing enough, but has also made politicians in power to try and turn her visit into a gallery leaning project in which they seek to bask in the amiable lime light the 17 year old girl has created for her self. Unfortunately many of them have only got burnt by the exposure. Meanwhile a debate raged on Social Media about why the president had not earlier visited the rescued Chibok girls and the parents of the unrescued. The very lame excuse that appears to be coming from the Presidency is that the #bring back our girls campaigners prevented the most powerful man in Nigeria from visiting these rather harmless individuals who are going through the most harrowing experience in their lives. Again the weak under belly of the people who are around President Goodluck Jonathan begins to show here. Malala told the a gathering of activists and media in Abuja that “I could see tears in their eyes. They were hopeless. But they seem to have this hope in their hearts, and they were asking if they could meet the president. “ Are we saying it takes the intervention of 17 year old girls’ education campaigner for parents of victims of Chibok kidnapping to meet their president? This is awfully astonishing and demoralizing and someone ought to get flak for this! Malala also asked that the Nigerian government should dedicate more money to education and try to drastically reduce the hundreds of thousands of children who are out of

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

BUSINESS SENSE ALEX OGUNDADEGBE alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

There is a lot of merit in what such learning can do for a people. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was able to show people in the south western part of Nigeria how liberating education can be school throughout the country, not just in the area targeted by Boko Haram. Her request brings a deeper challenge to the authorities in charge of education. Do the youths who are joining terrorists groups, secret cults and gangs in Nigeria really know the danger they are letting themselves into? Are we doing enough to let people of the younger age bracket know the implications of taking up arms, killing people and requesting for change at gun point? Malala hails from Pakistan, a country that has long been known to harbor terrorists. The world’s most notorious terrorist, Osama Bin Ladin was killed by the United States in Pakistan. Malala was shot in the head by The Taliban,

(Islamic Militants,) for being outspoken about child education. Ironically, the life threatening ordeal that she faced has only made Malala stronger. Perhaps she patronizes the phrase “that which does not kill us only makes us stronger!” Rather than debate the inadequacies that underlie the government’s Public Relations in Nigeria and the #bring back our girls campaigners, it is pertinent for all of us to learn some bitter lessons from Lahore and the brave young lady who has turned an ordeal into a cause. The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting to bring down the state of Pakistan and impose hardline Islamist rule have created a strong hold for themselves in that country. There is violence everyday and Pakistan has had to step up intelligence and ensure that they are some steps ahead of the terrorist at all times. Bornu state where Boko Haram is fast gaining ground needs to be taken over by the Nigerian forces in a total state of emergency because what appears to be a foot hold today will turn out to be a strong hold if we allow it to persist. History tell us that Pakistan supported Islamists battling Soviet invaders in neighboring Afghanistan in the 1980s but some fighters turned their guns on the Pakistani state after it was pressed into siding with the United States in its “war on terror” following the Sept. 11,

2001, attacks on the United States. Nigeria’s war on Boko Haram must be holistic and all enhancing. Aside from boots on the ground in Bornu and Abuja and intelligence networks being strengthened all around the country, there has to be a nation wide educational campaign about the evils of terror in the mosques, churches and schools. There have been strong indications that a lot of the people fueling the ranks of Boko Haram are young people who have been indoctrinated to carry the fight to the Nigerian state. Nipping this in the bud would mean using an integrated approach to the problem by ensuring that all youths in the northern part of the country are compulsorily taken through Primary and Secondary school education. There is a lot of merit in what such learning can do for a people. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was able to show people in the south western part of Nigeria how liberating education can be. It would help reduce the propensity of indoctrination and broaden the thinking of the youths who are the target of this activity. Boko Haram is barely six years old we can not allow it to persist beyond the present generation or else Nigeria could turn out to be like Pakistan and Lagos would take the shade of Lahore; where security forces consistently fight groups of terrorists who are a threat to the peaceful existence of the nation. While listening to views about the Pakistani Child Activist’s visit in Abuja, I found out that many observers believe that Malala was rude to President Jonathan. I don’t think she was rude. Just a little bit assertive for her cause. If it takes a visit the visit of a 17 year old activist to make people in the presidency realize their mistakes, then so be it. One thing remains constant though: If there is a next time that such a kidnapping occurs in this dimension, God forbid, the presidency would know what to do.

A season of impeachments

ai, I have just been impeached o. Before I realized it, a committee was set up to look at my tenure as the president of Shomolu chapter of the bow tie club. I was accused of funding dissidents, my accounts were seized, phones tapped and official bike withdrawn, before you could say jack Robinson I was impeached and my deputy resigned. I was weak. How could this people forget everything I had done for them. I had helped secure financing from a micro finance bank for members who could not afford to buy their bow ties, I had sent them to visit the Oba of Shomolu, I had given their wives respite by making a law that all members should be restricted to just one girlfriend so that the wives would spend less on juju. Kai, these people are ungrateful o. See as they just disgrace me. The whole problem started when I criticized the national president. I did not understand the slow way he handled issues. We were receiving attacks from outsiders, they had kidnapped our women and turned them into wives. The Bow Tie club in all its history had never had it so bad and I felt as the president of the chapter, I had to sit up and do something. So I wrote a letter to the president accusing him of being slow in his handling of matters, I accused him of using the issues to play politics instead of facing the matter headlong. As a result, a lot of our members were crossing the carpet and dumping their bow ties and picking up the broom as

EDGAR’S WORLD JOSEPH EDGAR

josephsamsponedgar@gmail.com a sign of protest. Believing that I was on the side of truth, I came to Shomolu with pride and in expectation of a rousing welcome. But an impeachment process was thrown at me. Before I could galvanize support to ward off the impeachment, I was gone. Thrown into the garbage bin with the back of my loyalists turned against me. I find solace with my colleague Murtala Nyako of Adamawa. I have tried to put a call across to him so that we can exchange notes, but I hear he is presently in Chibok forest. Al Makura of Nasarawa has already sent a delegation to me for expert advice in his attempt at warding off his own downfall. I have advised him to stop eating in the morning, keep a safe distance from Bola Tinubu and, much more importantly, get Obasanjo involved. That to me is the only way he would avoid joining our club.

Something tells me that my impeachment and that of Nyako may not be the last as we trudge towards 2015 Impeachment is not the end of the world, you can ask Balarabe Musa who after his impeachment found time to grow more white beards. In civilian parlance, we impeach, but in military circles we topple. All na the same. Shagari, Shonekan and myself all meet at the old boys club to discuss life after office. Initially I resisted joining the club because I thought I could win my seat back and also because Shonekan and Shagari are kind of old. What common

issues will we be discussing. But when I saw my successor, her beauty, colour and panache I decided not to fight. I surrendered and even helped her write her welcome speech. I look forward to receiving Gov Fayemi and his beautiful wife in our fold. His seat is already waiting for him. We could do with some gentlemanliness in this club. I am also waiting for ogbeni in the State of Osun, he has been avoiding my calls; I don’t know why. He used to be my very good friend, drinking wine with me in Ede and also coming for my party to mark the 45th year anniversary of my circumcision. All of a sudden since my impeachment, he stopped taking my calls and even removed my picture from the State House toilet where it hung in all its majesty. I hear he has been telling people that he would not want me to give him negative vibes as he approaches the elections. Something tells me that my impeachment and that of Nyako may not be the last as we trudge towards 2015. My friends in Rivers, Kano should all be very prayerful. Even the comrade in Edo should go into serious prayers. I don’t even want them impeached because they will also in turn come to the impeachment club and impeach me where I have just been elected the president. Our club is nascent and only just finding its feet so I would not want anybody to come here and rock the boat. So my prayers are for them to maintain a stronghold in their states, win the elections and stay clear of this new club.

SPORT EXTRA

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

Flying Eagles whitewash Jay 1 Academy

igeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles, continues their preparation ahead the African Youth Championship, with another friendly match in Abuja on Friday. The boys smashed 11 goals past Jay 1 Academy of Abuja in a test game played at the Abuja National Stadium. Bernard Bulbwa and Abubakar Lawal each grabbed a brace with skipper Musa Muhammed, Ifeanyi Matthew, Ahmed

Toure puts an end to transfer speculation

Super Eagles celebrating a goal in their match against Argentina in Brazil

At last, FIFA lifts suspension on Nigeria zzAmadu missing as NFF takes over Glass House

Charles Ogundiya

IFA on Friday lifted the suspension that was imposed on the Nigeria Football Federation on July 9 on account of interference. In a letter signed by the world football governing body’s, Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, and addressed to the NFF president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the world body noted that the court proceedings and order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football that prompted the suspension have been withdrawn. The letter read further: “As statutory order has been reinstated at the NFF and the legitimate bodies

Amadu

reinstalled, FIFA has decided to lift the suspension as of today, Friday 18 July 2014. “The lifting of the suspension means that all rights of the NFF as a FIFA member as defined in ar-

Lahm retires from international football

ermany’s World Cup winning captain Philipp Lahm has retired from international football, according to reports. The Bayern Munich skipper, who guided his nation to World Cup glory less than a week ago, has made the surprise announcement over his future, according to German newspaper Bild. Lahm, just 30 years old, could realistically have

captained Joachim Low’s side at the next European Championship in 2016, as well as at the next World Cup. But Bild reports Lahm made his decision even before this summer’s tournament: ‘I told Jogi Low on Monday that I will resign. This decision came to me during last season.’ The right-back has 113 caps for his country, scoring five goals.

ticle 12 of the FIFA Statutes are reinstated.” Meanwhile, fresh crisis is brewing in Nigeria football as the whereabout of the Secretary General of the NFF, Musa Amadu, was said to be unknown. The federation’s scribe was declared missing in the early hours of Friday in Abuja and there were insinuations that he has been abducted by a faction opposed to the reinstatement of the current board of the NFF. Speaking to New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, a member of the board said: “We have been searching for the Secretary General, Musa Amadu, but we have it on good authority that he was kidnaped. “The intention was for him to be forced to make a statement that the Maigari led board has been impeached. There was plan to

Umar and Sulaiman Abubakar also getting on the score sheet in the one-sided match. The Flying Eagles are preparing for next month’s final African Youth Championship qualifier against Lesotho. The first leg will be played on August 16 in Nigeria, while the return match will be in Maseru a fortnight later. The overall winners will advance to the AYC to be hosted by Senegal in March next year.

have a press briefing this morning, but the man is not averred to the plan hence his incarceration.” It was further confirmed that there is plan to get rid of the board no matter what without incurring the wrath of world football governing body, FIFA, again by staging a bloodless coup to remove the board. Also, it was reported that the re-instated president of the NFF, Maigari, led five other board members of the NFF for the first time since the court order restraining them was vacated to the ‘glass house’, the secretariat of the NFF Maigari in company of executive board members Chris Green, Ahmed Kawu, Emeka Inyama and Suleiman Kwande arrived at about 11.50am in a convoy of three cars with government issued licence plates.

anchester City’s Ivoirian midfielder Yaya Touré says he will honour his contract with the Citizens, thereby putting an end to growing rumours about his imminent move from Etihad Stadium. “I want to say that I will always honour my contract and stay as long as possible and don’t think about all the speculation saying that I’m leaving,” Yaya told Sky Sports News on Friday. “For the fans, for all they have done for me and the club as well, I need to say it’s a big pleasure to stay and continue and try to enjoy the next season. “Everything is fine now. There was a lot of speculation about people sending me away and people were sending me everywhere.

Toure

“I think sometimes it can be disappointing and I need to do something for the fans because people love me and people want to hear about what is happening. So it’s important as well to keep them in a good way and let them know that the team are preparing well and we’ll try to do it again next year.” Under contract with City until June 2017, the 29-yearold midfielder and his agent, Dimitri Seluk had voiced their unhappiness about the way the former was treated by the club on several occasions, fuelling the rumours of an inevitable breakup between the two parties.

Walcott gets comeback date

rsenal winger, Theo Walcott, is expected to be back in full training at the end of August, according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger who made this revelation while given update on Walcott’s recovery. Walcott ruptured his knee ligaments during Arsenal FA Cup win over Tottenham back in January and was ruled out for the rest of the season as well as the

World Cup finals following surgery. Wenger told Arsenal.com that Theo is expected back in full training at the end of August and says it could be ‘very quick’ for him to be back in contention for the first team. “He’s progressing very well. He’s worked very hard during the summer and we expect him to be back in full training at the end of August, ” Wenger said.

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Some things we can save our money for, because it is hard-earned.

KEY WORDS

ISSUE QUID TANNER COIN CROWN PENNY PIECE FLORIN CORPER GUINEA SHILLING BUCK SOVEREIGN BOB DIME POUND SIX PENCE NICKEL

P V I O E C N E P X I

O N E E R I F L O Y W E Q U C U B O I U R D C P N K E U V R O T E

D G R S K B O R E T D

B N I E Y C E A D A K

P I N S H I L L I N G

O S G T Y U U E I Y N N G W E B O A N R J T C O M E K N E R E D S

A K O E U O P I S S U

E C

I L

18 19

ACROSS 1 Flatter excessively 5 Take in liquid with tongue 7 5th zodiac sign 8 Curved bone of chest 9 Directed 10 Free from discomfort 11 Slight progress 12 Introducing alternative

16 Indicating position 17 Needless bustle 18 Musical percussion instrument 22 ‘Money’ in Igbo language 23 Town in Osun state 24 University lecturer 25 Stimulus 26 Conveyance

15 17

DOWN 1

U R

14 16

10 11

4 7

Summarized version

14 Mourn deeply

2 Unbowed

15 Coercion

3 Shaft on which wheel turns

19 Chain for anchor

4 Of greater ages

20 A sweet carbonated soft drink

5 Deprivation

21 Nigeria Political Party

6 Place 13 Sweet food

See solution on page 21

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

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

SATURDAY, july 19, 2014

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My dream is a C’wealth Games medal - Oduduru

P.31

Nyako, hubris and political destiny M BROADSIDE any have succumbed to the irresistible impulse to dance and exult on the political grave of Admiral Murtala Nyako, the impeached Governor of Adamawa State. The streets of Yola spewed dust from the bare feet of thousands of jubilant citizens who were all too happy to witness the humiliating truncation of the reign of the Czar of Adamawa. For a principal beneficiary of almost all previous coups d’état in Nigeria, Nyako’s dethronement represents one of those rare moments of poetic justice in the public arena. However, a few others, particularly the garrulous band of political opportunists, led on this occasion, as on many previous occasions of national political drama, by the fire-ingesting Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, have invoked the hot ashes of Hades upon the head of President Goodluck Jonathan, the alleged progenitor of a gale of impeachments now set to sweep the nation. “And President Jonathan thinks that all will be well while he violates the constitution and the law...,” emotes Mallam el-Rufai. “It seems as though Nigeria is heading towards a one-party state,” laments Senator Bukola Saraki. But for sheer hot-headedness, the broadside from the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is jaw-dropping: “Having bastardised the army, the police, the courts, aviation and the electoral commission, he has now moved to the next level: impeachment. Every impeachment or threat of it in recent times has the imprint of President Jonathan.” Friends, I submit that these allegations are not only baseless but made with calculated malice beyond mere considerations of political advantage. In making these assertions, the antagonists of President Jonathan are fully aware that not a scintilla of supporting evidence is in existence. Therefore, inquiring into the probative quality of their claims is an exercise in absolute futility. Who cares for evidence in the current storm of political recklessness at the highest reaches of politics? Who cares that the emerging custom of substituting facts with opinions is more dangerous than the mischief for which a remedy is sought? It is now the trend that the more impetuous the utterances and the more inflammatory the charges, the larger the anticipated political profit – and that profit appears to be sought primarily from degrading the office and person of the president of the republic. The Chairman of APC has borrowed directly from the political playbook of Admiral Nyako, which has fructified into such a disaster. When shall these people learn? Nyako’s head rolled at the best of members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, whose disenchantment with the Czar’s regime exploded into unrestrained revolt. They bided their time, saw their perfect opportunity and struck. Carpe diem – they seized the day with the inflexible will and lusty ambition of Caesarean assassins! Neither the Presidency nor Jonathan had anything, directly or indirectly, to do with it. In response to the question as to his understanding of the greatest political facts of modern times, the vile (and yet I quote him) Otto von Bismarck gave the world a

EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

Nyako

famous insight that remains relevant today and in all political climes: “Politics is the art of the possible.” The Adamawa Assemblymen did not only study the art of politics but quickly graduated into maestros of its science, too. Anyone who has a modicum of understanding of the tragic politics of Adamawa under Nyako would not waste precious brain cells ruminating over what might or might not have been the role of Jonathan in the Adamawa revolution. Through grit and graft, the People’s Democratic Party won Adamawa State in the 2012 gubernatorial election – with Nyako as its flag bearer for a second term in office. Adamawa was only one of seven northern states that were under PDP gubernation, and one of only four that went for Jonathan in the 2011 presidential election. Nyako settled, or ought to have settled, in office with the awesome priorities and challenges of Adamawa people resting on his shoulders. Instead, he proceeded to draft a new idiosyncratic constitution for Adamawa, with only one chapter, one

section and one subsection – mediocrity, nourished by nepotism and breastfed by four First Ladies. Nyako ruthlessly decimated the loyal corps of the party in the state and humbled the chieftains and Adamawa elders, Muslims and Christians alike. He enthroned blatant Czardom, enacting a de facto totalitarianism in ostensibly democratic Adamawa. In 2013, giddy with hubris, he unilaterally gifted the state to APC, leaving in tatters the fortunes of the PDP and the Assemblymen as beggarly spectators. Earlier this year, Nyako wrote a notorious memorandum to his counterparts in 18 states in the North, prompting the following observations in this column on May 10, 2014: “Those in positions of leadership in our nation are placed on the challenging scales of good and evil. It is far easier to do something mighty and evil than it is do that which is noble, distinguished and good. From amalgamation through independence to this Fourth Republic, our union has been unique in the problems and

promises it presented and uniquely has its leaders been challenged. Catastrophically, however, the Nyakos of the North, greedy, venal and unenlightened as they were, held sway for far too long, thus bequeathing the republic with the products of their primitive and retarded ways. And the sharpest brunt has been borne by their own region. “In their old age and with the ugly evidence of their neglect and criminal misrule staring them in the face, some of them, such as Nyako, have grown increasingly apoplectic with rage and disappointment, as the North convulses in instability and spews the smoke from the fire of half a century of degradation. But the cowardly Nyako has not got the balls to lay the blame and responsibility where they belong. Why so do when there is a convenient peg on which to hang the ragged coat of a battered and regressing region? Blaming Jonathan, the presumptive nyamiri infidel from the East, will do just fine. A dangerous brew of lies, vague conspiracies, sub-literate invocation of perverted history and outright insults become the ingredients of their denial....” The PDP has rightly and justifiably seized back its trophy, albeit for a period of 90 days. The opportunity will soon, therefore, present itself for the two major parties to test their respective strengths in the election crucible where the good people of Adamawa State will deliver the only verdict that matters. Yes, President Jonathan might have saved Nyako from his wretched fate. But Nyako thought that he could fly without perching. Nyako was intoxicated with a heady cocktail of pride, power, ignorance and chauvinism. His imperial control of the levers of power in Adamawa blinded him to the complex and superior structures of power above his puny realm. That he, along with 35 other governors, were, unfortunately in our quadriplegic democracy, attached to the superstructure above with a steely umbilical was lost on him – a powerful evidence of pride and ignorance in tandem. In his hubristic carelessness, Nyako saw his little Adamawa as an empire. He consolidated power and arrogated to himself the authority of a Roman Catholic-style infallible magisterium - dispensing political patronage to a narrow circle of acolytes while leading Adamawa into irrecoverable rot. Absolute power corrupted and blinded him. The Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian, Barbara Tuchman wrote that we are less aware that power “breeds folly; that the power to command frequently causes failure to think; that the responsibility of power often fades as its exercise augments. The overall responsibility of power is to govern as reasonably as possible in the interest of the state and its citizens. A duty in that process is...to resist the insidious spell of wooden-headedness.” Nyako lacked the will to inject some grey matter into his wooden skull. Enoch Powell stated a universal truth when he said that “all political careers end in failure.” In meeting his irremediable political destiny, Nyako’s knees are sunk in the hot dunes of failure. And it was brought about by hubris incubated with a battery of ignorance and greed.

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