Binder1 saturday april 12, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

Saturday Edition

Sanctity of Truth Saturday, APRIL 12, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 53

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FUNKE AKINDELE Reconciliation

tale with ex, a ruse p.22

BOB-MANUEL

CYNTHIA MORGAN

FROM POLITICS BACK TO BOX OFFICE p.21

THE LADY WHO BLEW P-SQUARE’S JUDE OKOYE’S MIND p.34

Again, Jonathan mocks APC’s ‘progressives’ claim lM’uazu: We warned them to stop poaching lLai Mohammed: President has lost the argument

Nigeria needs restructuring and more states - Lekwot p.2 VAT COLLECTION: S’COURT DISMISSES LAGOS’ SUIT AGAINST FG p.2

President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President, David Mark and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu (background right), during the South-East PDP rally in Enugu …yesterday

DAYS AFTER AVERTED AIR MISHAP, LADOJA ESCAPES ROAD CRASH p.7

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2014

Content 12.04.14 AIRWAVES Screen Lethargy

TV columnist, Eve Banigo, writes about how a decline in quality of drama series is forcing viewers to look elsewhere.

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INSTYLE

Chic and Flattering

Short, flirty skirts are the rave and suit almost all body types

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SHOWBIZ

BAFTA Kid

Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner Chiwetel Ejiofor hits town for Half of a Yellow Sun’s premiere.

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TRAVEL&TOURISM Prepping for Easter

Lagos unveils a three-fold fiesta aimed at making the Easter an “unforgettable” one for residents.

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My Weekend

Away from PR

CEO of Pauline Fredericks and Co., Yemi Odusote, talks about how a bit of indulgence helps set him in the mood for work

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SPORT

Wig and Boots Meet Lola Ogunbote, a Nigerian-born British lawyer who played for West Ham’s female team.

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VAT collection: S’Court dismisses Lagos’ suit against FG Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Supreme Court yesterday struck out the appeal filed by the Lagos State government challenging the federal government’s power to assess and collect taxes on supply of all goods and services within its constitutionally-defined jurisdiction. In a judgement by the full panel of the apex court, Justice Dattijo Mohammed upheld the preliminary objection filed by the federal government and hence dismissed the suit on the grounds that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain such.

The Supreme Court maintained that rather than appeal the earlier rejection of the suit at the high court and Court of Appeal, the plaintiff approached the apex court with similar reliefs, asking the court to invoke its original jurisdiction and hear the matter. The court however described the suit as “an abuse of court process in the extreme,” adding that the action of the plaintiff amounted to “forum shopping”. Having declined jurisdiction to hear the suit, the Supreme Court held that it was not necessary to determine the issues raised by the plaintiff in the suit. CO NT INU E D on PAGE 9

Leo Sobechi and Temitope Ogunbanke Enugu/Lagos

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday mocked the opposition party’s claim to having a “progressive” outlook, insisting that the unity, focus and internal democracy offered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) make it the only political party capable of giving Nigerians a promising future. But the interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the president has “lost the argument”, adding that “when one loses an argument, he becomes abusive”. The president, who spoke to a mammoth crowd of PDP faithful at the “Unity Rally” organised by the SouthEast Zone of the party at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, said that PDP was more democratic because it would not cancel ward congresses across the states (a veiled reference to APC’s controversial ward congress last week) without considering the wish of its members. He commended PDP leaders and faithful at

Jonathan mocks APC’s ‘progressives’ claim various levels in the zone for their “resilience, dedication and hard work,” adding that he would never disappoint the zone for their continued support. “This time around it would be total; I must commend the governors of the South-East because there is no problem in the party in the zone. South-East is a PDP zone; if you see the number of PDP senators in the zone you will see that any other person in government is PDP. We have been magnanimous enough; this time around it would be total,” the president added. He observed that security challenges facing various parts of the country have been minimal in the South-East due to the “support and total commitment of the South-East to this administration”. Arguing that the PDP is the only political platform in Nigeria that respects the people’s voice and where decisions are taken based on the majority and popu-

lar vote, President Jonathan declared: “We are not like one party in this country where one man or a group of people determine how the party is run. “The national chairman of the PDP or any of its governors can’t cancel a ward congress of the party just like that and with impunity. I as the president don’t even have the powers to do so, but it is happening in a political party in this country. “One party tags itself progressives, but where are they progressing to? It is only in such progressive party that you find an exgovernor determining who gets what and how.” The Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, stated that the essence of the unity rally was simply to ask the president to contest for a second term in office and also to ask him not to say no to the people’s request. In their separate speeches, PDP Board of Trustees, (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony An-

enih, Senate President, Senator David Mark and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, urged the president to remain focused and undaunted by criticisms of his programmes, saying such should actually strengthen him. National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu M’uazu, noted that the initial spate of defections from PDP was a sign of good things to come adding that “we warned them to stop poaching because if we start we would not stop,” in allusion to the defection of a member of House of Representatives from Imo State, Mr. Ezenwa Onyebuchi, from All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP. In an interview with New Telegraph, Mohammed said the PDP lacked any moral right to seek reelection in the 2015 general elections. “What Mr. President should tell Nigerians is what has PDP done in 15 years? It has been 15 years of waste,” Mohammed added.

Nigeria needs restructuring and more states - Zamani Lekwot Louis Achi, Onwuka Nzeshi and Ndubuisi Ugah Abuja/Lagos

former military governor of Rivers State and a delegate at the ongoing National Conference, MajorGeneral Zamani Lekwot (rtd.), has called for the restructuring of the country in order to address the socioeconomic and political challenges which the existing structure has created. Lekwot, who spoke with the New Telegraph in Abuja, said: “Some people have expressed positions to have the country restructured. I align myself with this position. This is because what the British did in 1914 was without consultation. “No one is blaming them because at that time there were problems too. But more importantly, having stayed together for this long, this con-

ference should be used to correct the inherent mistakes.” On state creation, Lekwot said the creation of states would enhance grassroots development and reposition the nation as a strong entity to reckon with in the comity of nations globally. “By creating new states with new local governments and constituencies, you bring government closer to the people. If you give everyone the opportunity to participate in governance, the problem of minorities will be substantially addressed. Of course, as I have said, the virtue of equity and justice in governance must be sincerely practised in order to assure all and sundry that their fair shares will be passed to them,” he said. On the recurring clashes of Fulani herdsmen and communities in parts of the country, Lekwot dispelled the notion that such clashes occur mostly between the

herdsmen and the minorities. “The clashes with the Fulani herdsmen are not restricted to the ethnic minorities. You will recall that the week the president visited Katsina, something happened. The Katsina people are not minorities. So the security people are handling it. I don’t have enough data to give you a specific answer. “But clearly what the government needs to do is to be more proactive as far as surveillance is concerned. This is because through good intelligence network likely attacks can be preempted. I read in the paper today that the Camerounians arrested some arms catches from terrorists on their way into Nigeria. This means that liaison with neighbouring countries could help us.” While decrying the state of insecurity in the country, Lekwot said: “I am worried because the system is not

working. Law enforcement is zero. The security threat disturbs everybody. I therefore look forward to outcome of this conference contributing to the solution. Our borders are porous. Arms are entering the country uncontrolled. Terrorists cross the porous borders at will. So, we have to rise and protect the integrity of the country.” As a way out, he commended the present security network, noting that the federal government does not need to call up reserves to quash the insurgency in some trouble spots across the country. “There is no state of emergency. The current security people if properly armed and trained can do the job. Now doing that job is not their responsibility alone. The civil population must supply them with information to help them do the job,” he said. - SEE INTERVIEW ON PAGE 46

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Gunmen overrun Suswam’s village Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

unmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen on Thursday, launched another attack in three villages, one of which is Governor Gabriel Suswam in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing two people in the process. The villages raided included Chembe, Ifer and TseGundu near Anyiin around Anawah settlement in Ukemberagya/Tswarev wards of the local government. The gunmen had stormed the area at about 7:48 p.m. and started shooting sporadically into the air for several hours, leaving scores of people wounded and many others missing. According to a victim of the attack, who is also a Senior Special Assistance to Suswam on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Joseph Anawah, the insurgents numbering about 100, used different routes to invade the villages. Anawah alleged that: “One group came through

zz Kill two, scores wounded zz Police foil bank robbery in Makurdi

the Ikpa-Tse Gundu road to attack Chembe village, while the other group emerged from a farm route and bursted at Achive compound where they mounted a road block along AnyiinWukari road where the attacks were executed.” He also hinted that massive looting of household items and other items belonging to the Tiv farmers, followed the shooting, which lasted till 2 a.m. yesterday. The governor’s aide stated that the farmers, who were rendered homeless as a result of previous attacks on the communities by the herdsmen, had just returned to their villages to cultivate their farmlands, following a peace accord that was reached to end the fighting, only for them to be caught off-guard by the insurgents. Anawah, who disclosed that despite the military presence in the area, alleged that the killings continued unabated as the soldiers

stood and watched the insurgents kill the people. He sued for the swift intervention of the federal government and other well meaning individuals and organisations end the crisis in order to save the state and nation from imminent famine following the displacement of farmers who rely mostly on their farms to feed themselves. Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Daniel Ezeala, who linked the attack in Logo to a robbery incident, which led to the killing of a commercial motorcyclist, denied that the soldiers deployed to the area deserted the place when the said robbers struck. Meanwhile, the police yesterday foiled a robbery attack on the Makurdi branch of a new generation bank located within the south core of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. The robbers, numbering about six, were said to have

stormed the bank at about 2:15p.m. and started shooting sporadically to scare away staff of the bank and students of the university to enable them carry out its operation. The students and staff of the university, New Telegraph gathered, were said to have scampered for their lives as they misconstrued the alleged robbery for an attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Joseph DZerkaan Fanafa and Ezeala confirmed the incident, but said the robbers did not succeed, following the swift intervention of a detachment of riot policemen to the scene of the incident. Although, an undisclosed amount of money was reported to have been carted away but when contacted, an official of the bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity, refused giving details of the amount carted away.

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR, SATURDAY:

NDUBUISI UGAH

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

The Week Ahead

Court hears Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge toll suit April 14 A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed April 14 to hear a motion for stay of its judgment on the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge toll. The motion was filed by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye. A human rights activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, had filed a suit on November 26, 2012, against the Lagos State Government. He challenged the collection of toll on the LekkiIkoyi Bridge by the state government.

Monarch’s suit on fraud holds April 14 Justice V. Agishi has fixed April 14 for hearing on the bail application involving a traditional ruler, Nze Obi IV, Cornelius Nwoga, who was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly perpetrating a N2million fraud.

Imo NAWOJ to hold elections April 16 The Imo State chapter of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) is to conduct elections into its offices on April 16. The Chairperson of the Electoral Committee, Ms Juliet Dim, announced this in a statement on Friday in Owerri. Dim urged aspirants to ensure that they campaigned for votes in accordance with the constitution of the association. She also advised them to give quality representation if elected. The committee chairman called on the members of the association to come out to elect members of the new executive committee of their choice.

APC chieftain defects to PDP April 18 A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Chief Olufemi Adekanmbi, will officially announce his defection from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on April 18 alongside his supporters in the 18 local government areas of the state. Adekanmbi was the House of Representatives candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for Owo/Ose Constituency in the 2011 general election.

AREHF seminar holds April 22 Africa Real Estate and Housing Finance Academy (AREHF) will hold a five-day seminar on Africa perspective on real estate and housing finance at the National Banking College, Accra, Ghana on April 22 to 26.

NERC fixes April 23 for EOIs submission The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fixed April 23 for all Expressions of Interest (EOI) to be submitted to the commission in respect of technical, commercial and contractual framework on gas to power in Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (left), and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, during Kalu’s visit to the governor at Government House, Sokoto…yesterday

Kalu: I remain a founding member of PDP

he former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday described as false the speculation that he was coming to Enugu State to rejoin the PDP, whereas he did that in January 2012 when the party’s then Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, told

Nigerians that he was one of their own. According to a source close to him, Kalu said: “I am a member of the PDP and I think President Jonathan is coming to Enugu to receive new members. As you may be aware, am not new in the party. I love our party and

wish us well at Enugu.” Kalu also stated that even though he may be coming for the political rally, which President Goodluck Jonathan also witnessed, he was not coming to be inducted as a new member but as a faithful party member to cheer up the party.

The former governor said his happiness was hinged on the fact that history will absorb him as a foundational member of the party, not as the new crop of PDP members in Abia masquerading as leaders of the party whose thought is only to pull him down.

Hayford Alile lecture holds April 24 Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms. Evelyn Oputu, will be delivering a lecture, titled: ‘Innovating for Market Distinctiveness’ at this year’s Hayford Alile Foundation annual lecture on April 24 at the Julius Berger Hall, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

NCS ‘Hands-on’ workshop holds April 28 Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering (OAU, Ile-Ife) will hold a five-day ‘Hands-on Workshop’ on Cloud Computing with Open Nebula from April 28 to May 2 at the Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

GOMBE

APC congress: Police warn politicians

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Gombe State Police Command has warned politicians to control their supporters and steer clear of trouble ahead of today’s congress of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State. In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, said the command would not hesitate to use all legal means to deal with anyone who tries to disrupt the congress or cause any trouble before, during and after the congress.

OSOGBO

IKEJA

CIIN President hails GDP rebasing

The President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Kayode Lawal, has said that the nation’s new Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will improve the rating of its insurance industry internationally. Lawal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday in Lagos that the industry would begin to get better recognition in the global reinsurance businesses. “This rebasing is just a nomenclature. If your total volume is N10 million and you convert it to Cedes it becomes 100 million Cedes, it has not changed the status of the economy,” he said.

APC-USA endorse Aregbesola, Fayemi The All Progressives Congress (APC), United States of America (USA) chapter has endorsed Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) for another four years in office. The group at the end of its national general meeting in Connecticut, USA, evaluated the performances of the two governors and concluded that the duo have performed excellently well in office and have earned another term in office to continue their good works and also complete some of the projects they started.

North moves to resolve herdsmen, farmers crisis Dan Atori Minna

ith the planned meeting between the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Miyetti Allah Fulani Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, the north is set to tackle the incessant crises between herdsmen and farmers in the region. Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who is also the chair of the forum, on Thursday commenced talks with leaders of the state’s chapter of Miyetti Allah in Minna, as a fore-runner to a larger meeting which will be called by the forum next week. During the meeting,

“members of the forum and leaders of the Fulani Cattle breeders Association will fashion out strategies to address the disturbing state of insecurity in the region and proffer practical and enduring solutions.” Specifically, Miyetti Allah was expected to work closely with governors to unmask criminals, who masquerade as cattle breeders to inflict mayhem on innocent citizens. “The objective of the parley between northern governors and Miyetti Allah is to engender the restoration of the most desired peaceful co-existence, unity and development in the entire region,” according to a statement by Aliyu’s spokesman, Danladi Ndayebo.

Ekiti aspirants demand refund of nomination fee Onyekachi Eze Abuja

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right), congratulating the new commissioner of Trade, Industry and Investment, Barr. Kemela Okara, after his swearing-in ceremony, at the Government House, Yenagoa…yesterday

Fitch affirms Nigeria ‘BB-’, stable outlook Ayodele Aminu Washinton DC

itch Ratings, one of the leading global rating agencies, yesterday affirmed Nigeria’s long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at ‘BB-’ and ‘BB’, respectively. It also noted that the country’s outlooks were stable. “The issue ratings on Nigeria’s senior unsecured foreign and local currency bonds have also been affirmed at ‘BB-’ and ‘BB’, respectively. The agency has also affirmed Nigeria’s Short-term foreign currency IDR at ‘B’ and Country Ceiling at ‘BB’’; Fitch stated in a report obtained by New Telegraph yesterday. These new ratings, however, is contrary to Standard & Poor’s, which revised its outlook on Nigeria’s sovereign credit to negative from credit watch some 16 days ago, citing “continued infighting within the ruling party (Peoples

� Wants CBN autonomy retained

Democratic Party), which has heightened political and institutional risks.” It nonetheless, affirmed its ‘BB-’ long-term sovereign credit rating on Nigeria In justifying its ratings, Fitch listed key rating drivers such as the nation’s foreign exchange and foreign reserves, which agency insist are stabilising after the shock of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s suspension on February , 20, 2014. Fitch noted: “Demand for FX in the official auction reverted to normal levels in March and CBN intervention in the inter-bank market has fallen away. The inter-bank naira/US dollar rate has strengthened from its lows although it remains outside the upper limit of the N155 plus or minus 3 percent band. “Official reserves rose in March, helped by an increase in the ECA fiscal buffer (Excess Crude Account). Although reserves have fallen

appreciably over the past year, they remain in line with ‘BB’ category peer medians at a Fitch projected 4.6 months current account payments (CXP) at end 2014, although weaker than similarly rated oil exporters (Angola and Gabon).” Besides, Fitch stated that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has continued the gradual tightening of liquidity seen over the past year, with an increase in the private sector cash reserve requirement to 15 per cent. Inflation, it also noted , fell to a new low of 7.7 per cent in February, within the target range of 6 percent - 9 percent. Fitch said it believes that as an institution, the CBN has been strengthened in recent years and should retain its autonomy over monetary and financial policy, notwithstanding the suspension of Sanusi. The rating agency observed also that Nigeria has a tight budget, assumed a con-

servative oil price of USD77.5/ bl and a more realistic oil production assumption of 2.39mb/d. While it maintains that production shortfalls are likely to continue, allowing further drawing on the ECA, it said that the Federal Government aim to increase the ECA this year. “The budget envisages a fall in revenue and spending, although the latter will be achieved mainly through a more realistic assessment of capital spending capacity,” it added. Other factors listed by Fitch to support the affirmation of its rating include Nigeria’s low debt burden, which after the recent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) re-basing is just 12.6 per cent of GDP (general government) at end2013, is well below medians throughout the rating scale. Fitch said its debt sustainability analysis shows Nigeria’s debt ratio would remain well below the ‘BB’ median in any plausible scenario.

ours after they have agreed to sheath their swords and work with the party’s governorship candidate to win the June 21 election, 16 governorship aspirants from Ekiti State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) once again returned to the negotiation table, this time demanding for the refund of the money they

paid to obtain the party’s nomination forms. They also want to be compensated for participating in the party’s primary held last March Each of the aspirants paid N1 million to obtain the Expression of Interest (EOI) and N10 million for the nomination form. The three female aspirants however, paid N1 million only in line with the party’s policy to encourage women to aspire to elective positions.

Aggrieved ex-militants drag Kuku, Amnesty office to court Chris Ejim Yenagoa

cores of aggrieved former militant youths from Bayelsa and Delta states yesterday filed a suit before the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, seeking an order compelling the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Amnesty Implementation Committee, Mr. Kingsley Kuku and the Amnesty Committee to honour an agreement reached with the Federal Government for their inclusion in the Amnesty programme. The suit, numbered FHC/ YNG/123/2014 filed before the Justice Lambo Akanbi, claimed that the aggrieved ex-militants were former

militants that had accepted Amnesty under the Third Phase and surrendered their weapons to the Federal Government through the Amnesty Office in 2011 under the Peace Initiative of the Federal Government. The aggrieved ex-militants, including Asenekiri Oyinle, Angiama-Owei, John Government, John Sawyer, Trydy Okpeke, Dollar Motor, Slebi Ayowei, Bombra Angese, Richman Oyindoubra claimed that the Amnesty Committee erred by refusing to include them in the ongoing Amnesty programme after series of resolutions from meetings with the past and present National Security Advisers to the President, late General Owei Azazi and Col. Dasuki Sambo, respectively.

Aliyu zones 2015 guber slot to Niger North

OYE

Minna

iger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has said the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be given to a PDP member from Niger North senatorial district, stating that the party will be fair and just to all the aspirants gunning for the slot. Aliyu gave the assurance in Kontagora yesterday, at the inauguration of the Kontagora Township Road, street lights and 110 kilometres of road projects constructed in the 11 wards of the local government area. While the Kontagora road and township light projects cost the government over N1.9billion, the 110 kilometre road projects were executed at over N710million. The projects

were inaugurated by the Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora Alhaji Saidu Namaska. Aliyu assured all the aspirants that the slot is not for sale to the highest bidder just as he maintained that the PDP will not buy votes during the election proper. He said the right of the people to make their choice freely would be respected. The governor, however, advised the people of Kontagora and Borgu emirates which make up the Niger North senatorial district to be wary of people going round the communities seeking their support just because they have money. “I warn you to be wary of some people who want to buy you because their parents are rich, examine those seeking your votes and see their contributions to the state before taking a decision,” Aliyu said.

Dickson, Obiano swear in new commissioners

he Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Willie Obiano, yesterday sworn in 27 new commissioners, to further oil the wheel of governance. While Dickson sworn in eight new commissioners with the re-organisation of some of the ministries to reinvigorate the machinery of government to deliver on its mandate to the people of the state, Obiano sworn in 19 commissioners and 10 Special Advisers. The new Bayelsa State commissioners are Mr. Kemasuode Wodu (AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner of Justice), Dr. Ayibatonye Owei (Health), Mr. Kemela Okara (Trade, Industry and Investment) and Mr. Iniruo Wills (Environment). Others are Chief Martin Agbede for the newly created Ministry of Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Inditimi Komonibo for Science, Technology and Manpower Development, Chief Jim Ogbolo Partner-Edward for the new Ministry of Power and Hon. Ebikitin Diongoli for Sports Develop-

ment. Meanwhile, Obiano said he was confident that the commissioners and the special advisers would deliver, and warned that anyone found wanting would be relieved of his position. The commissioners are: Dr. Chinedu Emeka, Water and Public Utilities; Callistus Ilozumba, Works; Mrs. Azuka Enemuo, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Chief Tony Nnacheta, Sports; Prof. Kate Emenugha, Education. Others are: Anali Chude, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Mr. Gregory Obi, Finance; Mrs Florence Chinwuba, Housing; Prof. Solomon Chukwu, Economic Planning and Budget; and Ifeatu Onyejeme, Trade and Commerce. Also sworn in are: Ricky Chukwumelu, Women Affairs; Chukwuma Mbonu, Transport; Anthony Onyima, Information; Evaristus Ubah, Environment; and Stella Onuorah, Land. The others are: Norbert Obi, Special Duties; Dr Josephat Akabuike, Health; Nnamdi Meko; Agriculture; and Osita Obinwankwo, Science and Technology.

FCT

Two die in road accident

� Says ‘we will not sell to highest bidder’ Dan Atori

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

NEWS IN BRIE F

The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Mr Joseph Olusola, yesterday confirmed Thursday’s road accident that claimed two lives in Oye. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that two men died in the multiple accidents along Oye - Ilupeju road that involved an articulated truck and five cars. The unit commander said six men were victims of the accident. He said the driver and conductor of the articulated vehicle died on the spot, and that the four seriously injured men were rushed to a nearby hospital.

IBADAN

Kwankwaso bags award Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State will be conferred with “Mother’s of the Earth International Award of Excellence for Peace and Youth Development”. Receiving a delegation from the NGO at Aminu Kano Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, Kwankwaso expressed delight that the organisation found him worthy for the award. “I want to assure you that all the reasons you looked at and gave me this award will be critically assessed so that we will do more, so that next time I can be worthy of the award again,” he said.

Ajimobi okays N100m loans to artisans Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has approved an additional N100 million interest-free loan for members of the state chapter of Tradesmen and Artisans Association of Nigeria. He gave the approval while speaking at a special prayer for the sustenance of peace and progress in the state, organised by the association at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan yesterday. The governor said the decision to add to the N50 million earlier approved for the association was based on the expanded membership of the association.

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru,; Managing Director and Chief Executive, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Mr Dharnesh Gordhon; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Adenekan, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Ganiyu O. Olatunde, during a coutesy visit by the management of Nestle to the governor in Ogun State…yesterday

Poly lecturers threaten ‘mass protest’ next week � FG renews commitment to resolve education crises

triking polytechnic lecturers will embark on a ‘massive protest’ in Abuja, next week, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, has said. This is as the Federal Government yesterday renewed its commitment to resolve all issues in the education sector, and called for sacrifice from stakeholders. But an online news medium, the Premium Times was quoted as saying that Asomugha disclosed this on Political Platform, a radio programme on Ray Power FM, yesterday, where he expressed the union’s frustration at the federal government’s handling of the sixmonth-old strike. The union president said

320,000 The total number of internet users in Yemen in 2007. (Source: Blatantworld.com)

the last meeting between the government and the striking lecturers was held on March 26 in Abuja. He said the government team was led by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Nwogu, while the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, also attended. ASUP had earlier rejected the mediation by Wogu, accusing him of frustrating the negotiation process. Asomugha said ASUP made “further concessions” at the last meeting including agreeing to a two-installment payment of the agreed salaries and allowances; and the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee to review the other contentious issues. The meeting agreed that

the government delegation would brief President Goodluck Jonathan and come up with a “Memorandum of Understanding” that will be signed by both parties “this week”, the apparently frustrated polytechnic lecturer said. He said ASUP was concerned that since the March 26 meeting, the government had not gotten back to the lecturers. “It is almost three weeks now,” he said. Asomugha said the planned protest would involve market women, students, lecturers and labour unions who are all concerned with how the federal government was treating polytechnic education in Nigeria. He did not state the day of the protest. He, however, said the union was still seeking an amicable

solution to the strike and had written to the Senate President, David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to intervene in the strike. Meanwhile, Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who stated this in Abuja, at a meeting with members of the Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Education, said government had not compromised the future of education. “We are not happy that our children are not in school; we want people to know that these are problems that have accumulated over the years. It is, therefore, impossible to solve these problems overnight. So, what we all need is sacrifice from all stakeholders to move the sector forward,” he said.

377m

N18.2m

The number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions of the Americas in 2012.

The IGR realized from road taxes of Zamfara State in 2012.

(Source: Itu.int)

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics)

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

LOKOJA Kogi First Lady distributes food items N EWS I N BRIEF

The wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Halima Wada, yesterday distributed food items to 100 widows, orphans and disabled persons in the state. Acting on her project named Food Outreach for Widows, Orphans and Disabled (FOWOD), the first lady flagged-off the third phase of FOWOD through her pet project, Kogi Women Empowerment Network (KOWEN), in Kabba Bunnu Local Government Area of the state.

OGBOMOSO

CALABAR

Olumba lauds Jonathan on Anti-Gay Bill

Recreation Club holds event

The Ogbomoso Recreation Club (ORC) is to mark its 25th anniversary today with The Spiritual Leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star Worldwide, Olumba a series of activities. In a statement by the Social Secretary, Olumba Obu, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for signing into law the Adebayo Babatunde, the event will kick off with a Golf Tournament at 7a.m. This anti-gay prohibition bill. is to be teed off by the President of the Obu made the commendation yesterday Club, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, the in Calabar, while speaking to Journalists on preparations for a special programme, immediate past governor of Oyo State. According to Babatunde, this “will “Salt of the Earth”, which is slated for be followed by the commissioning of Monday. projects signifying the completion of He said: “It is necessary at this point to the original master plan of the club, convey the gratitude to President Goodwhile a book chronicling the evolution luck Jonathan for endorsing the anti-gay of the club over the last 25 years will be law against unwarranted pressure from presented to the public.” advanced nations.”

N469.9m

The IGR realized from other revenue sources of Taraba State in 2010. (Source: National Bureau of Statistics)

63.1%

The percentage of male internet users of Poland in 2012. (Source: Itu.int)

3.63m

The total number of internet users in Greece in 2008. (Source: blatantworld.com)

Senate Leader harps on unity, warns against ethnicism Clement James Calabar

he Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, has implored Nigerians not to allow ethnic cleavages over-cloud the oneness of Nigeria, noting that ethnicity is not the basis of the country’s union. Ndoma-Egba made this appeal on Thursday, while declaring open the maiden Law week of the Ikom branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State. Speaking through a Calabar-based legal practitioner, Utum Eteng, the Senate Leader said: “Ethnicity should not be the basis of our union as it is getting endemic. Though

our tongues and languages may differ, but in brotherhood we stand.” Ndoma-Egba, who described the theme of the event, “Ethnic nationalities and the Nigerian nation: the way forward”, as very apt, said it is coming at a time when Nigeria is working towards consolidating her unity. “The theme is very apt as it coming at a time when we are witnessing the convergence of more than 400 great Nigerians in Abuja to chat the way forward for Nigeria,” Ndoma disclosed. While calling on Nigerians to always emphasise only those things that unite the people, he solicited their support to help the Jonathan administration move the country forward.

Allegations against AlisonMadueke diversionary –NANS Mojeed Alabi

T Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (second left), presenting the key of an Ambulance to the Co-ordinator, Primary Healthcare in Odigbo Local Government, Pastor Felix Olatunde (left), at the distribution of Ambulances to 5 Local Government Areas for Primary Healthcare Service, in Akure…yesterday. With them is Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju (second left) and others

APC congress: Why I paid for candidates’ nominations –Amosun CONGRESS Ogun governor justifies monetary gratification for aspirants Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

head of the local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has justified why he paid the nomination fees of aspirants to various party positions at the wards and local governments in the state. Amosun spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting of the APC in Abeokuta, where he

stressed that the measure was taken in the best interest and unity of the party. There are 236 wards and 20 local government areas in the state. At least, 26 offices in each ward were filled in last Saturday’s ward congresses, while 25 officers are due to be elected in each local government today. Based on the party’s guidelines for congresses, aspirants for ward chairman were required to pay N10,000 each to obtain nomination forms while aspirants for other offices were charged N2,000. Aspirants for local government chairmanship will pay N25,000 each while other offices will pay N10,000. New Telegraph gathered

that the governor’s sponsorship deal had been generating disquiet within the state chapter of APC as aggrieved members claimed that his action was targeted at scheming them out of party positions. Already, the National Assembly Caucus of the party, whose members are believed to be loyalists of former Governor Olusegun Osoba, has continued to protest certain irregularities in the conduct of the ward congresses. The party’s Senators and House of Representatives members boycotted Thursday’s stakeholders’ meeting where members of the State Congress Committee (SCC) met with the governor, his deputy, Mr. Segun Adese-

gun, and party chieftains. But addressing the gathering of party chieftains, Amosun expressed optimism that the APC will retain the state in next elections, adding that the turnout for the ward congresses was an indication. He commended the leadership of the party at the national and state levels for the machinery put in place to ensure a credible exercise. He said: “For me as a leader and as the governor, I will do everything within my power to make sure that we come together. If not for that, why will I go and obtain forms? It is because I want us to unite and that’s why I said I would obtain form for everybody.

he leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has condemned the latest allegation of financial recklessness levelled against the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, describing it a diversion to pull her down, which it claimed is discouraging many excellent professional Nigerians from participating in the nation’s building efforts. NANS, during a press briefing by its National President, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, in Lagos yesterday, said it was surprising at the ways and manner Nigerians constantly raise spurious allegations against their leaders with a view to forcing them dance to their tunes, or merely to make themselves heard in

the society. He added that all sorts of such allegations are expected especially with the 2015 general elections fast approaching. Gbadebo, who insisted that the body was not absolving the minister of wrong doing, said every public figure has got a thin line of demarcation between his or her private and official life. He said the allegation that she uses jet for her private matters would be very difficult for the accusers to prove because “you cannot totally separate this woman from her family members and when you see a family member around her using official facility, we begin to probe. But if she should drop dead tomorrow in the course of serving Nigeria, will her family not be the first contact to be called to action?”

Strike: Adefulire appeals to health workers

agos State Deputy Governor, Hon. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, has made a passionate appeal to workers in the health sector to shelve any plan to embark on an industrial strike, reminding them that the interest of their patients should be upper most on their minds. Orelope-Adefulire said in the course of asking for better working condition and improved welfare, medical practitioners should always respect

their oath, which she noted is to save lives and such lives, she advised must not be lost on the basis of industrial dispute. “There are always issues between employers and employees but we must continually engage ourselves in dialogue with a view to agreeing on some of the grey areas; the sanctity of life especially, those lives in our care must be uppermost in our minds, regardless of our grievances”, the deputy governor admonished.”

Ladoja escapes death in road accident Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ive days after he cheated death in an averted air crash from Ibadan to Abuja, former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, yesterday escaped death by the whiskers when a loaded bus veered off its lane and directly hit the vehicle in which he was travelling to Saki in the Oke Ogun area of the state. The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, but presently the leader of Accord Party (AP) in the state had on Monday cheated death same way when an Overland aircraft he was travelling in, had its windshield broken around Niger State, and the pilot had to detour to Lagos to land.

New Telegraph learnt from a very reliable source yesterday evening that Ladoja was travelling to Oke Ogun area of the state, when along Moniya/ Iseyin Road, an on-coming bus driver lost control when a front tyre of the vehicle got removed, and it veered into the bush before veering back to the road and hitting the car in which Ladoja was. According to the source, which confided in New Telegraph, “Oga was travelling to Oke Ogun area when around 11 a.m., along Iseyin Road, a commercial bus rammed directly into his car, damaging it badly. Fortunately, however, Oga escaped unhurt. His driver was also not injured. He is now in a stable condition”, the source said.

Omisore faults Aregbesola’s educational policy Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has condemned the educational policy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, describing it as mere noise and propaganda. Omisore argued that the policy was faulty going by the 2013 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), where the state placed 23rd.

Speaking through his Director of Media and Strategy, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, Omisore said the policy was the worst going by the results of 2013 WASSCE. “The position of Osun State prior to PDP era in 2013 was 26th, but with serious commitment to the educational sector backed with good policy under PDP, the result improved in 2005, Osun State was up to 20th position and by 2009, was 14th with approximately 70.8 per cent general improvement in the sector which did not leave the teachers behind,” said Omisore.

Terrorism: British govt pledges support for Nigeria Police Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

he British Government has pledged its full assistance and mutual collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force in its resolve at tackling the crimes of terrorism, kidnapping, piracy and other related crimes in the country. The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, who made the pledge in Abuja, explained that the gesture was part of the British Government’s contribution to the ongoing efforts at addressing the current security challenges in Nigeria. Pocock spoke at the

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Force Headquarters, Abuja during a courtesy visit he paid to the Inspector-General of Police, (IG), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar. The High Commissioner, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a CSP, further assured that the British Government would assist the Nigeria Police in the areas of capacity building. Responding, Abubakar pledged the commitment of the Force to mutual sharing of intelligence as may be dictated by the security and law enforcement needs of both countries.

OMU-ARAN CBN: Banks in Omu-Aran to re-open soon

NEWS IN BRIE F

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said commercial banks in Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, closed to customers in May 2013, might be re-opened soon. The state’s branch Controller of the apex bank, Mr. Monday Olotewo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ilorin that the latest commitment by the Omu-Aran community was laudable. NAN recalls that series of robbery attacks between January and May 2013, led to the indefinite closure of more than three commercial banks in the town.

IKEJA Board hands over NLNG entries

The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature will on April 15, hand over the entries received for the 2014 edition of the prize to the Prof. Charity Angya-led panel of judges. A statement by the Senior Media Relations Officer, Nigeria LNG Limited, AnneMarie Palmer-Ikuku, said entries for the prize for literary criticism would also be handed over at the event. The statement stressed that the handover ceremony, which will hold at 10a.m. at the Sapphire Suite of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, will afford journalists the opportunity to interview/ interact with the Advisory Board, the Panel of Judges and the NLNG team.

76.6%

The percentage of male internet users of Ireland in 2012. Source: Itu.int

CALABAR

Imoke assures youths of support

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to youth empowerment and wealth creation initiative of the Federal Government. Speaking while receiving the Supervising Minister for Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs, Architect Darius Ishaku, shortly after the graduation ceremony of the first batch of 100 graduates of the Niger Delta Skill Acquisition Centre (Phone and Ipad Assembling plant component), in Calabar, Imoke said his administration was willing to create the enabling environment to allow youths acquire the necessary skill in various areas.

1.57m

The total number of internet users of Lebanon in 2007. Source: blatantworld.com

42%

The percentage of households with access at home in Europe in 2005. Source: Itu.int

Insecurity: IG demands logistics support from states SECURITY IG appeals to governors to come to the aid of the police Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, has urged state governors to place premium on providing logistics support for the Nigeria Police in order to combat security challenges in the country. Abubakar, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police

in charge of Zone 2, Mamman Tsafe, spoke in Abeokuta on Thursday, during the inauguration of an ultra-modern secretariat built by the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Ogun State branch. In attendance were the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, his wife, Amaka; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who was represented by the Onijaiye of Ijaiye, Oba Nafiu Adeyemi, and POWA National President represented by Mrs. Toyin Akano. Speaking on the development, the IG noted that the security situation aggra-

vated by the Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the country could have been curtailed if governors were more committed to providing required support for security agencies. He stressed the need for Nigerians to improve on their level of security consciousness towards curbing violent crimes in the country. He commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, for providing patrol vehicles and other logistics to enhance effective policing in both states. Abubakar said: “I call on

other governors to give the police the required support so that we will have the peace we are having in the state. In fact, if all governors are committed, all this insurgent situations will be taken care of seriously. “I commend their level of security consciousness but they only need to improve on it and that will make their abodes safer,” he said. The IG described the 1,000-seater capacity secretariat of POWA as a “commendable feat”, adding that the edifice attested to the commitment of members of the public to the welfare of policemen.

L-R: Emir of Lapai in Niger State, Alhaji Umar Bago Tafida; Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Sa’idu Namaska; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Usman and Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, at the inauguration of Kontagora township roads and street lights in Kontogora…yesterday

NEWS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

FCT Nigerian author wins NFC’s award

N EWS I N BRIEF

A Nigerian author, Mr. Jonathan Okeremute, has won the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) competition on children’s animation and film project in script writing. A statement issued in Abuja, by the NFC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Brian Etuk, said the winning entry was entitled: “One Hundred Feathers”. The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reported that the project, which was initiated by NFC, has the mandate of providing the lead in the production of animation films that will take care of the positive entertainment needs of the Nigerian child.

5.46m

The total number of internet users of Chile in 2008. (Source: blatantworld.com)

HARARE

Netherlands invites Zimbabwe for ITTM

The Netherlands has invited Zimbabwe to attend this year’s International Travel and Tourism Market (ITTM), which is slated to hold between April 15 and 20 at the Maliveld, The Hague. In a letter of invitation to the chief executive of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Mr. Karikoga Kaseke, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, Gera Sneller, expressed her desire to see greater cooperation between Zimbabwe and Netherlands in areas of mutual interest.

12.57m

The total number of internet users of Egypt in 2008. (Source: blatantworld.com)

AKURE

Ondo gives deadline for residents’ card

The Ondo State Government has fixed January 2015 as deadline for the acquisition of residents’ card. The Chairman, Civic Data Centre in the state, Mr. Tunde Yadeka, said this while distributing 850 resident cards to pregnant women at Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area. Yadeka said the cards would be distributed to pregnant women to checkmate the influx of other women from the neighbouring states.

30m

The total number of internet users of Russia in 2007. (Source: blatantworld.com)

Ward congress: Oyo CPC alleges marginalisation by APC zz Threatens to boycott other congresses Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ne of the parties in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), led by its former governorship candidate, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, has alleged gross margialisation in the last Saturday’s ward congress, and has vowed to boycott subsequent congresses if the anomaly was not corrected by Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Shittu, who said this yesterday in Ibadan, at a press conference distributed copies of two letters the party had written to the governor to express its displeasure, but which enjoyed no re-

sponse at all. The first letter was dated April 4, while the second was dated April 7, 2014. In the two, signed by Shittu as state leader and Sulaiman Oyaremi as state chairman, the governor was told that contrary to his earlier promise that: “All legacy parties must be fairly and equitably represented in the composition of the party’s executives; that no section of APC membership, whether so-called elders or leaders own the APC to the exclusion of other members, many elders of the APC in 19 local governments of the state have boasted that their campaign to marginalise CPC stems from a purportedly secret instruction from Your Excellency.”

Mob lynch woman ‘kidnapper’ in Ilorin Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

L-R: Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke; Governor Willie Obiano and the state Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, during the signing of the 2014 Budget at the Government House, Awka...yesterday

‘Reject blood suckers, paralytic elements in 2015,’ Braithwaite urges Nigerians Temitope Ogunbanke

zz Faults Nigeria’s GDP rating in Africa

ers, rats and mosquitoes that have now become elephants in public offices. Also speaking, the Conveners of the one day dialogue tagged: ‘Towards a People’s oriented agenda for the National Confab,’ President of CD, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and Executive Director of GECORN, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, urged Nigerians to insist that the National Conference recommendations be subjected to a referendum to enable the implementation of the outcome by successive governments. The activists noted that Nigerians cannot continue to waste the resources of the country for national engagements of this nature and

n elder statesman and former presidential candidate of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, yesterday warned that there would be no 2015 general elections until Nigeria is reconfigured and a brand new and acceptable constitution by the Nigerians is produced. Speaking at one day national stakeholders’ forum for the 2014 National Conference, organised by Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GENCON) in Lagos yesterday, Braithwaite charged Nigerians to deal with ‘blood suck-

therefore, they must hold the government accountable for the spending for the conference and that the outcome must contribute concretely to nation building. But Braithwaite, in his keynote address faulted the recent result of the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria released by federal government, which showed that the Nigerian economy is the best in Africa and has overtaken South Africa’s as the biggest on the continent. “The problems of Nigeria at the moment are manifold and although some people might see these problems as something they might trivialise. But I can tell you that there are certain people in this country, who

are still ready to make sacrifice in other to solve the problems so that the young generation and the coming generation will have a better country. “In 1978 when we formed the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) you we recall that we are the only party who have two mottos; one is that; ‘We are going to take our destiny in our hands together’ and the second one is that, we said; ‘We want to wipe out all rats and mosquitoes.’ Many people did not understand our motto at that time and they laugh at it. But now, it is becoming clear to them that what we are saying and what we are still saying is that, unless we deal with the blood suckers; the paralytic elements and political blood suckers, we are not going anywhere.

mob yesterday lynched a middle-aged woman suspected to be a kidnapper, after she allegedly snatched a toddler from her mother. However, unconfirmed reports also claimed that the woman had been found with eight toddlers before she was nabbed by some members of the public. An eyewitness narrated that the woman, whose identity could not be ascertained, was rounded up by some youths, who later and descended on her; beating her to a pulp and set her ablaze. The incident occurred along the popular Emir’s

Road, at a point not far from Opo-Malu junction and, caused panic among residents, shop owners, commuters and pedestrians some of whom immediately closed their shops. The suspect was about to be set ablaze, when a team of policemen from ‘A’ Division of the state command came to the scene though it was too late as the woman had been so beaten that she could not survive. It was gathered that the woman died on the way to the hospital, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ambrose Aisabor, who confirmed that some people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

CSOs seek release detained journalists in Egypt Temitope Ogunbanke

ivil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria want immediate release of three Al Jazeera (Mohammed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohammed) journalists along with five Egyptian students held since 2013 for belonging to or assisting a banned terrorist organisation in reference to the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo. The CSOs in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Femi Falana (West African Bar Association), Dr. Joe Okei-

Odumakin (Campaign for Democracy), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi (Gender and Constitution Reform Network, GECORN), Abiodun Ayansiji (United Action for Democracy) and G.G Darah (Journalist) called for all charges against the journalists to be dropped and they should be acquitted. “We condemn in strong terms the continued detention of the journalists. We believe that their trial, which resumed on April 10, 2014, is vindictive and an attempt to subdue the voices of innocent citizens in the conduct of legitimate work.

Companies & Stock

SEGUN EDWARDS

12 APRIL 2014

African Alliance Insurance: Seeking a turnaround in profit drop

frican Alliance Insurance was expected to achieve a turnaround in its 2013 operations despite that the company closed the third quarter with a lower profit figure than it posted in the second quarter. Its third quarter witnessed slow down in revenue growth, while costs grew generally, which caused a decline in profit margin. Despite the drop in profit in the third quarter, the loss shielding company was confident of a major recovery in 2013 from a loss position in the preceding year. Its turnaround was propelled by a surge in underwriting profit, which multiplied more than four times at the end of the third quarter over the corresponding period in the preceding year. Net underwriting income grew by 76.7 per cent to N4.43 billion in the third quarter over the corresponding quarter in 2012. This is a slow down from the growth rate of 93 per cent the company achieved in the second quarter. Based on the third quarter growth rate, the company is

Alphonse Okpor... MD African Alliance Insurance

expected to earn N6.3 billion in net premium income at the end of 2013. The company’s after tax profit dropped from N811 million in the second quarter to 764 million in the third quarter. It however remains a big turnaround from the loss of over N50 million in the corresponding period in 2012. Based on the third quar-

John Holt cuts cost but losses persist

ohn Holt has since ended its 2012/13 operations last September but only its first quarter ended December 2012 result, which has just been released, is available to give any idea how the company has faired . The first quarter interim result, showed some progress in cutting costs but losses are persisting. The conglomerate has faced the problem of falling sales revenue in recent years and any profits have come from sale of assets. At the end of the first quarter, the company earned N667 million in sales revenue, which is an improvement of 9.0 per cent over the corresponding period in the preceding year. If the first quarter growth rate has been maintained to full year, its turnover is expected to come to about N2.9 billion for John Holt in 2013. This will be a weak reversal of the rapidly declining trend in sales revenue,

which has been on over the past five years. Sales revenue has dropped from close to N21 billion in 2008 to N2.76 billion in 2011. Improving turnover and declining costs are the right trends for the company and the extent the trends have been sustained will determine its turnaround prospects for 2013. But it rising cost of products sold has been a major problem for the company even when there was a significant moderation in the first quarter. Compared to the increase of 9.0 per cent in sales revenue during the period, cost of sales increased by 1.2 per cent to N485 million. Cost of goods sold therefore declined further as a percentage of turnover at 73.7 per cent at the end of December 2012 against almost 78 per cent in the corresponding period in 2011. This permitted a rise of almost 35 per cent in gross profit to N182 million.

John Holt Plc Year

2012

2011

Turnover

N2,764b

N5,993m N10,263m

N18,453m N20,881m

After Tax 424 Profit – Nm

[1,944]

[10]

[2,144]

390

EPS – N

[4.02]

[0.03]

[5.51]

1.00

1.09

Dividend per 5 Share -K

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

olaedwards@yahoo.com 08111813095

2010

2009

2008

ter growth rate, the company was expected to post an after tax profit of N1.1 billion for the 2013 financial year ended December31. Profit margin declined in the third, as premium income slowed down and operating expenses accelerated during the period. Net profit margin declined from 28 per cent in

the second quarter to 17.2 per cent in the third. This is still a major recovery from a loss margin the company recorded in the preceding year. The profit drop in the third quarter follows accelerated growth in major operating expenses during the period. Expenses grew at a faster pace than they did in the second quarter. Total underwriting expenses rose by 48 per cent in the third quarter compared with 31.8 per cent in the second quarter. That caused a considerable slow down in the growth of underwriting profit from 472.8 per cent in the second quarter to 325.7 per cent in the third. Net insurance claims grew by 30.3 per cent in the third quarter against 20.1 per cent in the second. The same applies to administrative and other expenses, which accelerated at 24.6 per cent from 16.6 per cent over the same period. While administrative expenses grew marginally at 3.9 per cent in the second quarter, it expanded by 32 per cent in the third quarter.

RenCap upgrades Lafarge -WAPCO to ‘Buy’

tockbroking firm, Renaissance Capital, at the weekend upgraded its rating of Nigerian cement maker Lafarge WAPCO to buy (from hold) on the back of new capital outlays the firm promised to embark upon. “Lafarge WAPCO’s announced a new significant clinker investment programme during its recent analyst forum in Lagos the investment firm says changes its investment case in the stock,” Oyindamola Olanrewaju, an analyst at RenCap, said. Roy Mutooni, also an analyst at RenCap, noted that they believed that the investment Lafarge had promised will give the firm a chance to robustly take part in Nigeria’s cement

market in the medium term. “It (investment) will also underpin stronger turnover growth and maintaining 17-20 per cent market share, while improving profitability,” Mutooni wrote in the same note. The cement manufacturers is a unit of Lafarge SA, the world’s biggest cement and building materials maker, with operations in 64 countries. Lafarge WAPCO has three plants in Sagamu and Ewekoro. It currently produces 4.5 million metric tonnes, WAPCO states on its website. The firm plans to increase production of cement to assist Nigeria’s attainment of affordable housing for all

AfDB president, Otti, others for 2014 Africa CEO parley

resident, Africa Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka, will be speaking at the ‘2014 Africa CEO Round-table and Conference on Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (AR-CSR™)’ as a keynote speaker when the event kicks off in Calabar, the Cross River State capital from June 19 to 20. The event, which is the fourth in the series, will focus on financial inclusion with the theme:

‘The Intersection: Financial Inclusion, Economic Sustainability and Social Benefit.’ Speaking alongside Kaberuka at the occasion are the Managing Director/CEO Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Alex Otti; a macro-economic expert, Mr. Ayo Teriba; Mr. William Derban of Fidelity Bank Ghana and Henrietta Onwuegbuzie of Lagos Business School, Mr. Duncan Onyango of Acumen Africa, Kenya and Mr. Andrew Niven of PWc.

Zenith Bank issues US500m Eurobond at 6.5% interest rate

igeria’s major financial institution, Zenith Bank Plc has issued its debut USD500 million 5-yeear senior unsecured Eurobonds which has a coupon payment of 6.25 per cent return to investors. Analysts have said that the proceeds will serve as financing to the power sector, oil and gas and other project loans. Meanwhile, the yield at inception was 6.5 per cent, slightly below the high 6 per cent area initially announced, and the equivalent z-spread over UST 485 bps. It is believed that the bank have taken advantage of a favourable window of opportunity in global capital markets characterised by a further compression in emerging market Eurobond spreads (EMBI+ spread at 314 bps on 10 April vs a yearly high of 397 bps on 3 Feb) and a move lower in US Treasury rates earlier this month (5-y at 1.59% on 10 April vs 1.79% on 3 April).

VAT collection: S’Court dismisses Lagos’ suit against FG C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 2

“It is accordingly unnecessary to delve into the issues having declined jurisdiction. The preliminary objections raised against the competence of the plaintiff ’s suit succeeds and the plaintiff ’s suit is hereby struck out,” Justice Mohammed stated. Lagos state had approached the court seeking among other reliefs, a declaration of the court to abolish the Value Added Tax VAT Act, which it said infringed on its power to assess and collect taxes on the supply of goods and services within its territory. The attorney-general of Lagos State had insisted that the Supreme Court ought to nullify the VAT Act and grant its reliefs, which according to the brief of argument, includes a declaration that the VAT Act is outside the legislative competence of the National Assembly and is therefore unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever. Reacting to the judgement, counsel to the federal government, Adedara Adedeji, applauded the apex court for upholding its preliminary objection by dismissing the suit.

Who is a better home maker - Man or Woman? p.12

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10-month-old baby abandoned at Lagos Secretariat Muritala Ayinla

Two die as LG boss, 15 others escape death in road accident Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

driver and his assistance in the employ of Dangote Group late on Thursday lost their lives in a multiple accident that occurred in Oye-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State. In the accident, the Caretaker Chairman of the LG, Mr. Akindele Ogungbuyi and 15 others narrowly escaped death. The deceased were working with Dangote Cement Factory in Obajana, Kogi State. Eyewitnesses said the Dangote cement truck, which was heavily loaded with the commodity, had brake failure while descending the hilly section of Ilupeju-Ekiti, a town close to Oye-Ekiti. In the process it was learnt that the driver and his partner who were both Hausa lost control of the vehicle. It was gathered that when the two men realised the danger that lay ahead, they raised the alarm

here was confusion yesterday at the Lagos Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, when a 10-month-old boy suspected to be suffering from Down Syndrome was abandoned at the parking lot extension near Bagaultha Kaltho Press Centre. Despite the CCTV cameras mounted in some strategic places within the secretariat, nobody could identify who sneaked into the secretariat and abandoned the baby as the time of filling this report. The baby was said to have been sleeping when her mother laid him on bare ground behind a car parked under a tree near the Press Centre, a stone’s throw from the popular Round House which houses the office of the Deputy Governor of the state. A passer-by alerted who saw the baby alerted some workers at the secretariat around 3:25pm. Two women were immediately sent to the scene by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) to take care of the baby. It was also gathered that one of the passersby lent her scarf to cover the baby before the arrival of WAPA officials. Meanwhile, the ministry has promised that the state government would take proper care of the baby. The Director of Child Development Department in the ministry, Mrs. Alabi Fadiaro, who chided the mother for abandoning her baby, said the child would be put in the state’s special home centre in Ketu, adding that adequate care would be given to him to ensure he is comfortable and healthy. Fadiaro expressed worry at the rate babies were being abandoned by their mothers, saying that the state government runs a home where such babies are catered for. She said: “I can assure you that the child will go to a convenient and comfortable home where he will be treated by professionals.” Urging mothers of children

An official of the ministry carrying the baby

and alerted other drivers and pedestrians that the brake of their truck had failed. But despite the alarm raised by driver and his assistance, the truck which was on high speed, rammed into two vehicles in front of it resulting in collision of no fewer than seven vehicles. It was learnt that in the process, the truck along with its load of cement, eventually ended up in a ditch where the driver and his partner died on the spot. Their corpses were immediately evacuated and deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, while those that were injured were moved to the General Hospital, Oye-Ekiti, where they are recuperating. The Oye Local Government chairman, Akindele Ogungbuyi, who escaped by the whiskers, blamed the truck driver for driving on top speed. He therefore cautioned road users in the area to maintain minimum speed limit whenever they are passing through the town.

Again, taskforce arrests 186 hoodlums in Oshodi Muritala Ayinla o fewer than 186 suspected hoodlums and vagabonds were yesterday arrested by the officials of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) for terrorising residents and pedestrians at Oshodi area of Lagos. Among those arrested in yesterday’s early morning raid were 33 underage children, a mother with five of her children, among others. New Telegraph gathered that the taskforce officials numbering about 150 and fully armed with guns stormed the area with Black Maria around 12:30am and arrested 206 suspects. After screening, 20 hoodlums were released while the remaining 186 suspects were conveyed to Alausa in Black Maria. A pregnant lady and 117 suspected hoodlums were arrested last week by the state taskforce. The taskforce Chairman, CSP Bayo Sulaiman, expressed shock

N The baby

suffering from Down syndrome to approach the state government or visit its facilities, she said such children could turn out to be skilled in one aspect or the other if given special care and attention. “Every child needs a home, every child wants a mother and a father in her life. I don’t know why the mother of this child should abandon him. There are some facilities where you can take your child to in Lagos State on a daily basis and he will receive care free of charge. People have been benefitting from this service. Nobody knows what can become of this child tomorrow.” “Our special home is in Ketu, with professionals there who manage such conditions, so the child will go there and will ben-

PHOTOS: MURITALA AYINLA

efit from the facilities available. Mothers who have such children should know that abandonment is not the right attitude; there is always ability in disability. I know that if the necessary facilities are in place, these children will thrive and become something. “I want to advice such mothers to come forward, opportunities are there for their children on a daily basis to have the care and then go home, every child needs the bond of their biological mothers. So when they come, it’s like a day school run for them, they are taken care of in the day and then in the evening, they can take them home. The mother who abandoned this boy perhaps did not know where to go, but that is not the best option”.

that those arrested were new set of hoodlums different from those arrested last week. He wondered where people who had nothing to do in Oshodi other than to constitute nuisance were coming from, saying despite frequent raid by his men in the area, the hoodlums never cease to make Oshodi their homes. He said: “After we arrested some last week, we decided to do a followup and the exercise is continuous. These are new sets of people.” Sulaiman vowed that government would not allow Oshodi to go back to its former state where hoodlums had their abode, adding that the taskforce would ensure the place was safe for Lagosians. “We will continue to monitor Oshodi. Mothers should take care of their children and don’t allow them to get back to the streets again,” he said. Sulaiman added that all the suspected hoodlums would be charged to court, except the minor.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Camillus Nnaji

hen Chikodili Ezechukwu fell ill in 2009, a local hospital in Ondo State where his family resides diagnosed and treated him of malaria. But after a while, it dawned on his father, Mr. Christian Ezechukwu, a native of Ebonyi State that Chikodili’s ailment was beyond malaria. “He was not breathing normal and when he breaths, it was with serious labour,” Christian said. The boy’s family took his case to Ondo General Hospital from where they were referred to another teaching hospital, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH). Chikaodili, who is now 19-yearold, told our correspondent that it was at ESUTH that he was diagnosed of “non-communicable disease.” The cost implication of moving from one hospital to another affected the resources of the family. “I sold my shops, land and other valuable properties to pay hospital expenses. At a stage, the family resources could no longer sustain us in Ebony and we had to return to Ondo,” Christian said. In Ondo, the ailment worsened and Chikaodili was taken to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile Ife where he was admitted for about three months in 2008. At the OAUTH, it

STREET DIARY

‘I want to go for surgery in India against doctor’s advice’

The cordinator and trustee of Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF), Pastor Onyebuchi Aba with the ailing Chikaodili Ezechukwu

was discovered that Chikodili had a heart disease. It was learnt that further check at a medical centre called Biket revealed that he had a “two dimensional Echocardiography.” In other words, he had “a two dimensional valve abnormality or a primary car-

diomyopathy problem on the right ventricle with tricuspid annular dilation,” according to the medical report dated September 20, 2010 and signed by D. A.D Adenle ,Chief Medical Director of Biket. The report further suggested that the boy would need surgery

to reduce the “tricuspid valve abnormality.” By this time, Chikaodili had started experiencing heavy pains, laboured breathing and protruding tummy. But despite this condition, his father said Chikaodili’s still completed his secondary school education. OAUTH suggested that the best option was for the boy to visit a hospital in India. One of the hospitals contacted gave Chikaodili N6m bill. Help came the way of the boy through Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF), a Non-Governmental Organisation set up by a former Super Eagles captain Kanu Nwankwo to cater for children and adults having heart related defects. Coordinator and Trustee of KHF, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, said, “When I saw this boy for the first time, I was afraid. I thought his tummy will explode. We referred him to India and he was invited.” According to an email sent by Dr. Harider Sigh of Fortis Hospital, New Dehli India, Chikaodili’s case was “an isolated tricuspid valve replacement. All he needs is investigation in terms of echocardiography, cardiac abnormalities and

other related heart investigations” and the bill according to Abia, was N2.5million. KHF however facilitated his travel to India in 2013 where according to Abia, the doctors drained 16 litres of fluid from his system which reduced his tummy. However, Abia revealed that the doctors refused surgical treatment on the ground that Chikaodili’s valve had already gone very bad due to late detection and could die if he had surgery. Rather, they suggested that his case should only be managed. When the boy got back to Nigeria, he said he was still having pains. In June 2013, Chikaodili’s father took him to the venue of screening organised by KHF to mark the world’s Heart Day at St. Leo Catholic Church, Lagos. It was learnt that when the doctors invited by KHF from Vikram Hospital, India, re-evaluated Chikaodili, they also warned that surgical operation could put his life at risk. But Chiakodili said he wanted the surgery to relieve him of the pains. “I want to go back to India for surgical operation. I will be fine,” he said.

New Igbo calendar begins as Okocha bags title Camillus Nnaji With agency report

is Royal Highness, Eze- Nri Obidiegwu Onyesoh, has performed the official ‘Igu Aro’ festival to usher in the New Year and also presented the New Year Igbo Calendar. According to a statement on Friday, the Eze began by blessing the Igbo nation and assured them that their long years of suffering would soon come to an end. He also prayed for rich harvests in the coming year and distributed yam seeds to farmers and to the representatives of different parts of the Igbo nation who travelled all over the world to participate in the annual event. ‘Nr’i refers to Igbo traditional system of worshiping God (Chukwu), cleansing the earth of abominations and taboos and settling of disputes between warring Igbo communities. Eze-Nri is the custodian of Igbo culture, tradition and keeper of ‘Ofo Ndigbo’ in the ancestral home land. He introduces the native markets days ‘Aro’ in Igbo land, ‘ozo’ tittles which are used to assuage the ego of accomplishers

Cross section of participants cheering the ceremony

who are initiated and installed by Nri priests. Eze-Nri introduces yam and coco yam to Igbo agricultural cycle as well as currency (means of buying and selling) Ego Ayo (cowries). Professor M.A. Onwuejogwu described Nri in his book “Nri kingdom and hegemony” as the patriarch of Ndigbo.” From Nnewi, the bus builder, manufacturer of motorcycles, tricycles, spare parts and acces-

sories, Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma bagged the tittle OkpuzuNdigbo. Dr. Ogom Ezeanyaeche, Director, 8 Senses for Women, who was selected for her far reaching inventions and healing powers, bagged the title Anyanwu Ututu of Igbo land while Engineer, Ifeoma Nwawulu, was given the Adaejijemba of the Igbo nation. Chief Emma Okocha was crowned the Onyeamuma Ndigbo

Eze- Nri Obidiegwu Onyesoh

by the Royal Majesty. The monarch said that Emma Okocha’s title was well thought of, as all his predictions through his writings were divinely inspired, and they always come to pass. The monarch, who observed that “Okocha has always been there, for the Igbo nation,” added, “When I was invited to the State of Virginia on July 21, 2011 as the royal traditional father to commemorate the ground breaking exhibit at

Shenandoah Valley, which concluded that most of the blacks found in present day Virginia, North Carolina, Washington DC, were descendants of Igbo slaves, I was thrilled to see him. “With this elevation, Onyeamuma Ndigbo will no longer shake hands with naked fingers, and his staff of office is not only sacrosanct, he is now a citizen of Nri and a member of my royal cabinet.”

Voices

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Street Diary

Who is a better homemaker – man or woman? Woman is better placed to manage the home

Although the man and the woman have unique roles in the management of the home but the woman is mostly available to run the home. Because the woman stays more at home she has the time to run the home. That applies if the woman is not working. But if you look at it from biblical perspective, then we can say the woman is more tuned to actually manage the home than the man. When you consider the house chores like cleaning, cooking and general home-setting, you will find out that the woman is more tended to better home management. But there are also the areas where the man is more efficient.

Wale Babatunde - medical laboratory scientist

Woman is a perfect home I think it is the woman. She works hard at making the home perfect because she knows that the future of her children depends on it. It is rare to see a man do such.

Jumoke Adekanye – unemployed graduate Both should be

I think it’s both of them. A woman needs humility and patience while the man needs to drop his ego and learn to say ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘please,’ and also stop being a dictator. If these things are lacking, the home can never be made.

Ibukun Oluwakayode

Both need to work together

Both the man and woman are needed to contribute one hundred percent input to make a better home. I don’t think it is only one party that can make it better because you can’t do without the other party.

Cynthia Felix - Student

Women are perfect homemakers

Women are the better home maker because they are closer to the children than the men.

Women put in more than men

The man might be the breadwinner but the woman doesn’t only give birth to children she nurtures and cares for both the kids and the husband too. In some cases, women also contribute their financial quota and still play their roles at home.

Joy Ayara – Corps member

Women are the bedrock of the family

I will admit that the woman is the homemaker because she is the bedrock of the family in a primary way. It is the innate nature of women to put home on a sound footing.

Elekede Gafar - Student, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State

Woman is a better homemaker

Man is physically stronger than woman. But woman’s intrinsic biological makeup has made her excel as the homemaker. She would be impregnated, carried and delivered the child, and then breastfed the baby. Her gentle, caring and self-sacrificing temperament is best suited to bringing up children and looking after the home. A man may be a good homemaker but a woman is a better homemaker and the secret is in her DNA.

Obabiyi Aishah -Winner, World Muslimah

Women are better homemakers

The women are better homemakers. In as much as some men prefer their wives to be housewives, the women will always do more. They take care of the children, clean the house, they know what is in the house or not. They are better home makers no doubt about that.

Chidi Nwoke – self employed

The woman everywhere

Women make the home homely

One thing you must know is that there is no home without a woman. If your home is filled with immediate family, friends and whosoever and there is neither a wife and/nor woman, it will not be homely. A divorce relationship explains this better because when the woman is out of the house both the man and other family members are on their own, even the children go astray.

Yes, indeed the woman does a lot of work in the family. She is everywhere even where the man could not think of. Women mostly save for the rainy day than men in the family, when a family works, then the woman is active.

Henrietta Obi - student

Richard Ovemeso - local government employee

Woman is more domestic inclined than man

It is the woman because she is basically more domestic. The man can’t be as domestic as the woman. When we talk about home, it’s basically how domestic and comfortable a house can be.

It’s a joint effort

I know my mummy does a lot in the house but that is not to say my daddy does not do his part. I think both of them usually cooperate and that is why the family is moving forward, bills and other provisions are made in the house.

George Abara - Student

Henry Udueni –Journalist

Abayomi Onafuye

compiled by

Mojeed Alabi, Camilius Nnaji, ELIJAH EDA SAMUEL, Olushola Ricketts and Victoria Ewoh

Instyle Short, attentiongrabbing skater skirts p.16 Travel Easter Fiesta backons p.39

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C o n v e r s at i o n

Backstage with the Amatas The Amatas’ imprint looms large in the Nigerian movie industry. Nearly all the movies which members of this dynasty have produced, directed or starred in have become, arguably, industry benchmarks. Sony Neme recounts an interesting time spent with a few members of the Amata family

Fred

t all began with John Amata and his wife, Joy. Between then and now there are three generations of actors, directors and producers. All have played, or are playing a crucial role in Nigeria’s film and theatre industry. Zack known as “lord of the Amata theatre family” leads the pack in the middle generation. Others in this segment are Mena, Fred, Agatha, Ruke and Eloho. Not only have they etched their names on the sand of time, but their children are already making bold statements. Leading this set of the third generation is Jeta, Viefe and Orezi. Interestingly, they have remained relevant within their areas of strength Zack is currently running a community theatre initiative, the Niger Delta Peace Project. The aim of the project is to use radio and television drama series to constructively criticize the government and get it to work on the squalid poverty and environmental pollution in the Niger Delta. Using theatre as a way of empowering people is a new experience for Zack, that has along with the rest of his family, is more used to big film and theatre productions. The dynasty’s patriarch, John, was a famous Nigerian playwright and actor in his own right. He died in 1997. He was an active member of the NCNC where he reputedly

left in unsavoury circumstances. His wife Joy, an actress until her demise recently, enjoyed the accolades her children get as they carve their own niche in the entertainment industry. The tall, elegant “lady of the theatre family” is Mena. Mena played key roles in several drama plays that were written by her late father and staged in Switzerland in the 1970s and 1980s. She occasionally starred in Nigerian video films and presented a local television programme Bon Apetit, where famous actors and actresses teach viewers how to prepare local dishes. Next in line is the reserved Ruke who used to act but is now concentrating on, as he puts it, his “stronger qualities as a film director”. The “baby” of the theatre family is Eloho, who had a fleeting moment of fame starring in two videos: Fire and the Glory and Glamour Boys. She, however, says: “Acting for me is make-believe and I hate pretence. I’m also a bit shy, so maybe that’s why I didn’t develop my acting potential.” Jeta, Zack’s first son, is spearheading the third generation of Amatas. With a degree in dramatic arts, he was his father’s student at university. “Seeing my late grandfather with his strong acting qualities influenced me to become an actor,” says Jeta, with his trade-

mark hair locks. “As a kid, I watched him in stage plays and he also taught me some tricks of the trade. So despite my father’s warnings that Nigerian actors are always poor, I turned to acting.” His younger brother, Viefe, 16, is Nigeria’s youngest film editor. Fred’s son, six-year-old Oreva, is already in the family business - he has starred in two films. It is love that keeps them in the industry as acting and film-making for most is not that lucrative in Nigeria. “For Nigerian actors and actresses, it’s a plain life with fame but without money,” says Zack, born on August 21, 1974. Fred believes there is an abundance of talent in the industry despite the lack of necessary modern equipment and poor quality of some of the works produced. Jeta agrees: “Some of the Nigerian works are appallingly mediocre. Scripts are poorly written, acting and directing are wooden.” Zack, however, thinks the industry is going through “teething problems”. He believes that “there’s a future in the industry in Nigeria as only the grain can withstand the test of the audience, the chaff will be blown away.” For the Amatas though, they look certain to be the grain. Some of the films they have worked on including Son of the Devil, No More Food for the Gods and Glamour Boys have either won honours or nomi-

nations in various Nigerian movie awards. Ruke says: “I believe we the Amatas will be making a much more powerful statement in the industry in the very near future.” Their mother agrees: “They are trying to use acting to change people’s lives positively and I feel very, very proud about this.” The Amatas have been a regular fixture with regard to Nigerian movies to such an extent that viewers tend to forget the clock has been ticking. For instance, many were surprised when Fred hosted the cream of the society to a star-studded fiftieth birthday last year. In an interview at his Surulere, Lagos, residence, Fred said, “We have watched the industry evolve through the years, yet certain challenges remain. It is still as exciting and as challenging as it was 30 years ago.” For the theatre arts graduate of the University of Jos it was a celebration of talents and passion which have both driven his career and attitude to life basically. “I was on stage performing a short story with notable names in the industry. The second event was football, a passion that only those close to me are aware of as I belong to five veteran soccer clubs in Lagos. So I led a team of actors, directors, comedians, and radio CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

WEEKEND | CONVERSATION

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2014

A life in cinema C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

and television personalities to challenge a team that was made up of 1994 cup Super Eagles that includes Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Peter Rufai and a host of others. These are people I play regularly with in the All Stars Club. It is going to be a repeat of the Copa Lagos. Though we were beaten 7-3 and I scored two of the three goals.” The short play had some of the biggest names in the industry on stage. It was a dance drama and he was the lead dancer. “My state governor honoured me as the special guest with top government functionaries in attendance.” On the three generations of the Amata dynasty, and his 30 years on stage and screen, he said: “It makes me feel good being a member of the second generation of the Amata dynasty. Jeta, Zack Amata’s son, is leading the third generation of the dynasty. In 1956/57 my dad was on the first ever coloured film short on 35mm in Africa - a film titled Freedom. That film set the pace for what the Amatas would become today because every Amata that was born subsequently grew up watching daddy (John Amata) on the big screen.” He grew up in an era of cinemas. “Then the biggest name on the screen was John Wayne, and cowboy films held sway. All the young boys loved John because of his acting prowess, but I was busy watching John Amata, my father in Freedom. The film became a celebration as it was translated into 130 languages and it was screened in cinemas across the world. Between when I was six and 18 I watched Freedom more than 1000 times. Each time, it was always a thing of joy to see my father as we hailed him ‘Mutanda’, his name in the film.” When he graduated in 1986 it didn’t pay to be a theatre practitioner as the biggest names in the industry then barely scraped by to survive. “I have an aunt who used to mock me by asking, ‘you go study theatre arts, you go drink garri’ (loosely meaning, he would starve having studied a course not deemed lucrative). So with such on my mind, as soon as I finished school and was deployed to serve in Lagos, I started making all necessary contacts to work at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I ended up posting me to Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). Here I was, a graduate of theatre arts posted to the NTA and my greatest passion was the arts. “What else could I have needed to express myself ? Then I started rubbing shoulders with the biggest in the industry such as Sadiq Daba, Enebeli Elebuwa, and Ifeanyi Anyafulu (who gave me my first break ever). There was also Andy Amenechi. By 1987. I was directing soap for national television. It was unheard of as at then. I started with Ripples produced by Zeb Ejiro, the great Sheikh of Nollywood. I was associate producer and director in 1986 and I was directing from ’87 till ’91. Mathias Obayagbon who was my assistant took over from me before Chico Ejiro who was his assistant stepped into the shoes. Jeta, who never enrolled to read theatre arts ended up reading it under his father, Zack Amata who also lectured me and a host of other Amatas.

He is presently blazing the trail of the new generations of the Nollywood industry at international level.” On the N3 billion federal government grant for Nollywood he said: “Nollywood is in evolution, and whatever we do now will affect its next process of the evolution of Nollywood, which has become a relevant factor in the country’s economy. It has earned its place as an industry that can be invested in, and can solicit for investment. To support that growth

Earning his Stripes

Jeta’s movies 2013 Road to Redemption - Director, Writer, Producer 2011 Black November - Director, Writer, Producer 2010 Inale - Director, Writer, Producer 2009 Queen Amina - Director, Writer, Producer 2008 Mary Slessor - Director, Writer, Producer 2007 Game of Life - Director, Writer, Producer 2006 The Amazing Grace - Director, Writer, Producer 2005 Last Game - Director, Writer, Producer 2005 Ultimate Crisis - Director, Writer, Producer 2005 Wheel of Change - Director, Writer, Producer 2004 The Alexa Affair - Director, Writer, Producer 2004 Queen 2 - Director, Writer, Producer 2004 Queen - Director, Writer, Producer 2003 Dangerous Desire - Director, Writer, Producer 2003 Love Entangle - Director, Writer, Producer 2003 Unconditional Love - Director, Writer, Producer 2002 Tears of a Woman - Director, Writer, Producer 2002 Black Mamba - Director, Writer, Producer 2001 Mutanda - Director, writer, producer Awards/Nominations } Verona International African } Abuja International Film Festival, Film Festival, Best Film, Black Best Short, Mary Slessor, 2009 November, 2011 } SIMA Awards, Best Director, The } Verona International African Film Amazing Grace, 2008 Festival, Audience Award, Black } Screen Nations Awards, Best West November, 2011 African Film, The Amazing Grace, } Monaco International Film Festival, 2007 Most Entertaining Film, Inale, 2011 } Nigeria Movie Awards NMA, Best } Copenhagen Nollywood Festival, Director (Nominated), The AmazBest Film, Black November, 2011 ing Grace, 2007 } American Black Film Festival (ABFF), } Nigeria Movie Awards NMA, Best Best Director (Nominated), Black Picture (Nominated), The Amazing November, 2011 Grace, 2007 } American Black Film Festival (ABFF), } Nigeria Movie Awards NMA, Best Best Picture (Nominated), Black NoCinematography, The Amazing vember, 2011 Grace, 2007 } American Black Film Festival (ABFF), } African Academy Movie Awards Best Screenplay, Black November , AMAA, Best Director (Nominated), 2011 The Amazing Grace, 2006 } Nigerian Entertainment Awards, } African Academy Movie Awards Best Film, Inale, 2011 AMAA, Best Cinematography, The } African Academy Movie Awards Amazing Grace, 2006 AAMA, Best Nigerian Film (Nomi- } African Academy Movie Awards nated), Inale, 2011 AMAA, Best Picture (Nominated), } NFVSB Awards Nigeria, Best Film, The Amazing Grace, 2006 Inale, 2010 } African Academy Movie Awards } Abuja International Film Festival, AMAA, Best Screenplay (NominatAudience Awards, Mary Slessor , ed), The Amazing Grace, 2006 2009

that emerged in the absence of structures, I suggest that government should find a way of dealing with the guilds. It is the guilds, no matter what anybody has against them, that will bring about needed structuring of the industry. It is the way we have to focus on for a better Nollywood that is regulated and accountable.” His advice to youngsters who

want a career in Nollywood is that “you must be talented in what you want to become. But talent is not enough. You must have managerial acumen and behavioural pattern on personal competences. You must be conscious of what happens within you and your environment. Though there is also the x-factor; you could be fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time to

Jeta

participate in the right production at a particular time of need, because you may have the best performance at the wrong time, at the right place in a wrong production. We did Amazing Grace and it turned out one of the biggest films coming out of Africa.” The eulogies heaped on Jeta are just fitting tributes to a talent that blossomed ahead of its time. He produced and directed his first film at the age of 21, making it no surprise when he began to rise in the world of film and entertainment. His work first went global when he produced a documentary film for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2003 using his film Game of Life as footage for the documentary. He holds 53 nominations and 10 wins for film awards in Africa, Europe and the United States, and is considered one of the most successful filmmakers to come out of West Africa. Jeta’s film, The Amazing Grace, which won the Best West African Film Award in the 2006 Screen Nations Awards UK, holds the honour of being the first Nigerian film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. It is the only Nigerian Film that has had a western release and it can also be found in American stores and on websites such as Netflix. Jeta has also earned recognition for such movies as Inale and Mary Slessor. His film, Black November, was premiered at the United Nations during the General Assembly in 2012 and was also screened at the Kennedy Center as well as the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The film was said to have inspired the sponsoring of a bi-partisan resolution on the Niger Delta of Nigeria members of the 112th United States Congress. He had screenings of his documentary, Into the Delta on the situation of the Niger Delta in nine universities in the U.S., including, NYU, George Washington University, UCLA and Cornell. He has worked with the likes of Academy Award winner Kim Basinger, Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke, music superstars Akon and Wyclef Jean. Jeta is married to Nigerian actress, Mbong Amata, and they have a daughter together, Veno.

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elevision drama series have always been immensely popular. Whether shown on a daily, or weekly basis, or a duration of thirty minutes or one hour, they’re always something to look forward to, with all the suspense, humour and, in some cases, gore they come with. However, there’s been a noticeable decline of television series in Nigeria. The ones shown these days are uninteresting, and not consistent. This just makes you wonder, what happened to the good old days of Odd World, Taxi Driver, as well as the hilarious Fuji House of Commotion. We’ve been left to resort to other ways of entertaining ourselves. This can account for the growing popularity of foreign tv series. These programmes are watched by almost everyone these days, and they are quite a variety of them, to suit the viewers’ tastes. From supernatural horror, to comedy, to political drama, it’s almost like a mini-heaven. Another reason why these shows enjoy huge viewership is the accessibility. With good internet, you could download any of your favourite series from websites like 02tvseries.com, You could also buy a compact disc and watch an entire season! Awesome, I tell you. As a lover of the good things, I watch quite a number of these shows. The mind-blowing ones. The so-funny-I-could-dielaughing ones. The gory ones. Some people might already be ardent fans like me, but it still doesn’t hurt to share. And I solemnly promise not drop any spoilers....so here goes!!! Hannibal: I’ve become quite the fan of this psychotic thriller series, based on the fictitious character, Hannibal Lecter, in the novel series by Thomas Harris. Hannibal Lecter (played by Mad Mikelsen) is a surgeon, turned psychiatrist, and I do say

Airwaves

with eve banigo

What’s trending... he does an awesome job with his patients. There is a dark side to this almost perfect man,with great culinary skillsn fine tastes in music and art, and impeccable suits. I dare say I haven’t watched Hannibal prepare a single dish my mouth didn’t water for. Will Graham, a man with serial killer tendencies, who wanders in the minds of serial killers to figure out how they commit their crimes, works with the FBI to catch the perpetrators. Will is quit disturbed, having frequent hallucinations, and plagued with guilt of a certain murder, was referred to Dr. Hannibal. Hannibal seems to take particular interest in him, albeit with ulterior motives. Each episode brings a fascinating crime scene, weird perpetrators, and lots of gore. If your insides do not churn at seeing copious amounts of blood, and you enjoy thrill, this is the show for you. I particularly enjoy it, from Hannibal’s cunning, to Will’s dangerous yet extremely brilliant mind. House of cards: House of cards is a political drama. First adapted from the BBC version with the same name, it’s based on the novel written by Michael Dobbs. Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is a former Majority whipfor the USA, who served South Carolina’s 5th District. After being passed up for appointment as Secretary of State, Frank slowly begins to plan his revenge tothose who betrayed him. Some see him as a dark,cunning man filled with rage, but then again, it’s

what makes it the way it is. Besides, what’s a politician lacking ruthlessness? Although, this isn’t quite my thing, I’d be damned if I didn’t admit it’s terrific. So terrific that

President Obama would not have them tweet spoilers to ruin his beloved show. The Following: When I first spied the title, I honestly thought thought it’d be some crap show about social networking and media. Yeah, I know, I’m silly. Curiousity piqued one day, and since then I have been hooked. It is a psychological thriller which tells us the story of a brilliant psychotic killer, who somehow, has managed to communicate with other active serial killers. He starts up a cult of believers, following his every command. FBI agent, Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon). Tries to re-captrure the serial killer. Just started with it recently , but the episodes so far have been envouraging. Nothing like a little suspense here and there. How I met your Mother: Awesome. Hilarious. Lengthy.

This particular television series portrays the life of five friends, Barney; the quintessential philanderer, Lily; school teacher and lover of Marshall ; Robin; Lily’s best friend, Ted; Barney’s best man and professor, Marshall;Lawyet and Lily’s lover. Entire story is narrated by Ted, whom, in the show, istelling his children how he met their mother. Twists and turns in the series, first Robin and Ted seem the almost perfect,inseparable lovers. Next, the story takes a different turn entirely. Between weddings, drunken nights, trips, and trysts, I found myself caught up in this show. I found it quite unrealistic at the point where Robin and Barney started a romance...I’m like “hey, this is supposed to be his best friend”... Not like it can’t totally happen in reality, but then again, Ted’s attitude towards everything, is not quite what you’d expect. Show’s quite lengthy too, we’re kept in suspense, waiting to see who the actual “Mother” is, and how she and Ted met. But I admit, it’s a hilarious show.

The audience as judge

t was yet another night of tension, nerves and feverish excitement on the Nigerian Idols season 4 musical talent show. After the initial selections were made, thirty lucky auditioneers made it to the next stage. This is the group stage. But of course, it doesn’t end there. They were divided into three groups, which consisted of ten persons. In other to make it to the final stage, they would have to be amongst top three in their various groups. Quite a feat, I must say. The decision on who makes top three lies solely in the hands of the audience; they get to vote whoever they feel like, or their favorite performer. If majority of the viewers “feel” you, you’re going in top three. Quite silly, if I may say. The show gave credence to my last statement; the viewers’ choices totally shocked the judges. The best performers didn’t make it through.

This isn’t implying that those who did aren’t any good, but obviously, some will be better than others in a competition. Nex2, Xohani, and Ms Oge were the three contestants who got to the finals. The shock on the judges’ faces was almost palpable as Illrhymz, the host announced the names. Honestly, entrusting such power to the audience isn’t the wisest thing to do, considering the fact this is a reality talent show, where judgement made should be done with persons possessing the right skills for the job. The judges would have been the best to do this job, exactly at this stage where the final twelve for the competition would be determined. They’re professionals in their field, they look out for things such as pitch control, tone, the things the normal viewer would miss. It’s a good thing to make the viewers feel like

a part of the show by making their opinions count, but this shouldn’t be done at the expense of making the right choices. Dede Mabiaku, one of the judges on the show, urged the viewers to vote fairly and wisely, but that’s quite something to ask. These are people with family, friends, colleagues, and classmates even, that might be on the show. Loyalty and support, in their own opinion, come before incredible perfomances. These people would fight tooth and nail to get their favourites to the top, so Dede’s plea would change little or nothing. Anyway, I was entertained during the short period it aired, the judges were excellent, as usual. I almost can’t wait for the group three performances to see who gets through, and who doesn’t. Let’s hope this time, the viewers make their decisions - as Dede said - “fairly and wisely”.

Oge, Nex 2, Xolani scale through Nigerian Idol hurdle

hree contestants, Miss Oge, Nex 2, and Xolani emerged as the second set of contestants to make it to the top 12 spot in the on-going Nigerian Idol reality TV show. The show which is now in its fourth year running saw other contestant falling on the road side. For the successful contestants, it was all smiles all the way. According to Xoani, “being in the top 12 is like a new level

of grace. I am so happy. I feel like jumping. This is a brand new opportunity for me to show myself and I am really grateful for the turnout and the votes.” Expressing her excitement, Miss Oge disclosed that the journey so far has taught her a lot. “I have grown in confidence because I never had the chance to perform on such a big stage before, so initially, I was shy and

didn’t know how to work my stage act but now I’m gaining more confidence and I’m learning a lot.” Nex2, could not hide his joy at scaling through. He said “I want to say a big thank you to Etisalat for making such a show and giving people like me a chance to showcase my innate talent” The results of the second voting stage

left judges Dare, Nneka, and Dede acutely aware that the Nigerian public are the ones who make the final decision. With 10 more contestants in the top 30 group to sing for the world to judge their talents, the decision on the last three contestants to move to the next stage is left for viewers to decide. - Moses Kadiri

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

‘Colour-blocking stuff not for me’ Azeez Eletu, chief executive officer of E Concepts, an artiste and event management company discusses the philosophy that underpins his style with ANGELA DAVIES Define your style

I can define my personal style as looking gorgeous and at the same time giving the true meaning and definition of fashion by my glamorous outfits. What determines your style?

My outfit is determined by the event I am to attend. I dress corporate when attending a corporate event and social for a social gathering. That means my outfit actually commensurate with a particular kind of event. What kind of clothes make up a larger part of your wardrobe?

My corporate and well-designed native outfits. They are simple but define who I am and blend well with my complexion. Your style signature

It is looking awesome always. Your favourite piece of clothing

My favourite pieces of clothing are my suits and blazers. They bring out the uniqueness and confidence in me to approach any kind of high class personality. What kind of cloth won’t you be caught wearing?

I can never be caught wearing colour-blocking clothes, the new tight trousers guys wear these days. Fashion accessories you cannot do without

They are my tiny gold chains, bracelets and my belt to match my shoe.

Short, flirty attention-grabbing skater skirts Angela Davies

he trendy skater skirt is usually short, versatile, flirty but flattering. It is suitable for any kind of body type as it is fitted at the waist, flares out and gives the appearance of a small waist hence giving a stylish feel and edge to the skirt. The versatile look of skater skirt could be classic, sweet or sexy. They look chic and flattery especially in shorter length and bright colours. This classic staple comes in an endless array of fabrics, colours and styles so you can always find one that suits your style. So depending on your style, you could wear skater skirts designed with floral, plain, leather or even lovely Ankara fabric and you will still stand out.

The trick to wearing the skater skirt right is to tuck in the top which could be a casual top, blouse or shirt for that silhouette and also shows off the fitted waistband of the skirt for a slimmer look. You could also team it up with a skinny belt to complete the look if you so desire. For a more corporate look, you could jazz up your look with a blazer. Although, there are different styles of skater skirt, you should select the right one that will flatter your figure and make you the cynosure of all eyes at that event. Then harmonize your outfit with a pair of sleek pumps or platform high heel shoes and accessories. To be a diva with an awesome look, you must be bold and have sexy straight toned legs to wear this attention-grabbing outfit.

Most expensive fashion item you have ever bought?

They include my suit, shirt and shoes. Signature perfume Hugo Boss and Tous in Heaven Best designer

I love Pa u l Smith a n d P o l o Ralph. But locally, I like Aret Clothing. They design all my native and contemporary wears. Best colours

My best colours are green, red, ash and purple. Shoes you love to wear

I love any stunning looking shoe that compliments my outfit especially in black colour. Dapper...Eletu dresses as the occasion demands and seldom fails to use his D’ltye perfume, Tous in Heaven (Inset) preferred

INSTYLE

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Accessories to live for

Stylish sunglasses for men of style

Facts

Sunglasses no longer simply protect your eyes against the scorching sun; they have become as important as wearing your shoes, writes ANGELA DAVIES

Nigerian born international model, Oluchi Onweagba, worked for Victoria’s Secret in print walking for seven consecutive years in the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

unglasses are an essential part of every man’s sartorial wardrobe. The shape of your face should however determine the style of frame you will wear. With the scorching sun which adversely affects the eyes, wearing a pair of stylish sunglasses which does not only fit but also flatters your face shape is vital. So, whether you are wearing it for the purpose of fashion or protecting your eyes, you should select stylish sunglasses that best flatter your face shape whether it is round, oblong, oval, square or heart shaped for that stylish look. There are various lively, fascinating and modish styles of frame to select from to compliment your personal style.

Eletu

The low-waist baggy pants originated in the prisons of Los Angeles, as inmates were not allowed to wear belts.

It’s commonplace to see women and girls in short hair. But decades ago, if a woman spotted short hair, she was considered to be an unfaithful wife. Cuff links came into existence in the 19th century because men wore shirts with starched collars and cuffs. Since the shirts were so stiff, manufacturers thought that a sleeve fastener would be easier to push through the material than a button. The solution provided was a metal chain or link to fasten the cuffs, and the cuff-link was born.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

Mai Atafo’s inspired menswear for women

ward winning Nigerian designer, Mai Atafo, made the menswear for women popular in Nigeria. The tailored outfit which consists mainly of a jacket, shirt, bow tie and slimfitted trouser is a mesmerizing outfit to wear to special occasions. Well, this week we give you the task of choosing who you think wore the Mai Atafo’s inspired menswear for women outfit better between exBig Brother contestant and television presenter, Vimbai Mutinhiri and Olohi Osakioduwa. The two delectable ladies showed up on the red carpet at the African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) 2014 dressed in the outfit. Mutinhiri was dazzling in her black slim fitted black trouser, bow tie, black shirt and shimmering jacket with black trimming at the collar, sleeve and false pockets. She paired it with black peep toe pumps that showed off her well polished toes. She harmonized her look with side parted bob hairstyle with moderate make up. On her part, Osakioduwa wore a maroon velvet jacket with black lapel, false pockets, black slim fitted trouser, black bow tie and white long sleeve crisp shirt. She styled her look with nude peep toe pumps, gold earrings and light make up. Osakioduwa

Mutinhiri

THE ARTS

Literature At the Abuja Writers Forum, writers explore touchy social issues p.20

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Idubor returns with Rebirth

“I wanted to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Africa without hurting my religious beliefs.”

A coming exhibition of works by Roland Idubor scheduled to hold at the Lagos-based Nike Art Gallery underscores the artist’s philosophical yearnings, write TONY OKUYEME and AGOZINO AGOZINO

or some artists, the main goal is to go beyond mere creative gestures and explore the element of forms, shapes and colours. That is the impression one gets upon encountering Roland Idubor, son of the legendary Benin sculptor, Felix Idubor. His late father was one of the pioneer sculptors in Nigeria. But does his rich background account for Roland’s deep philosophical view of life? As curiosity propelled one to pry deeper into the mind of this soft-spoken artist, one realized where he is coming from. Now a minister of the gospel, a published author, a poet and a multitalented artist, he has sure seen it all. With such talents and abilities one would be tempted to ask where he has been all the while. “The greatest and the most tedious journey in life any man will ever embark upon is the journey of self-discovery,” he said. He has been on this journey but not without results. Roland trained directly under his father and became an associate sculptor with his father’s gallery in Benin (reputedly the first privately owned Gallery in West Africa) before he was 20. He left Nigeria in the late ‘80s for Italy, to explore the European art scene, but ended up in the school of commerce, Pietro De Giorgio in the Abruzzo State of Italy. Before then he got admission into the school of arts in the same region but turned it down because he felt there wasn’t much to learn anymore at the level he had attained at that time. After school, he journeyed to Japan where he lived for a while. As he looked back at those days he recalls that there was a void in his life that he needed to fill, hence the restlessness. Not too long afterwards he realized he was yearning for inner fulfillment that could only be derived from knowing the “truth about

Idubor

oneself, nature and the creator”. When he became a Christian that restlessness eased. Born into what he called an idolatrous background posed a challenge to his art. “I wanted to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Africa without hurting my religious beliefs. Today as a Christian I address social and spiritual issues with my creations and God has helped me to discover the lines of demarcation and that took a long while to accomplish. The link between a man’s creation and his source of inspiration, whether negative or positive cannot be over emphasized.” Idubor held his first group exhibition here in Nigeria in 2000 titled Legacy at the Lagos Country Club. From 2001-2003 he held se-

Hair-Do (2008)

Female Pastime

Art community celebrates the Macleods

he Nike Art Gallery in Lagos has concluded arraignment to host Lagos-based artist, Mrs. Josephine Oboh-Macleod, and her Scottish husband, Norman Core. According to the managing director of the gallery, Mrs. Oyenike Okundaye, the couples are being celebrated for their contribution to the growth of creativity in Nigeria and also to thank God for their twins born recently.

The programme which was earlier scheduled for March but postponed due to logistic reasons will now hold Saturday, April 12. The venue of the event is the popular Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos, starting from 2pm. Apart from the mini art exhibition being organised as part of the programme, also slated to entertain guests as part of the thrill are the Nike Cultural Troupe, as well

as talks and commendation on the works of the couple. Mrs Josephine Oboh-Macleod, who holds the chieftaincy title of Adolor of Emu Kingdom, is widely travelled studio artist and art promoter. She started her active art career in 1990, when she returned to Nigeria and established her furniture making factory, which later dovetailed into career and involvement in arts, especially visual arts.

ries of group exhibitions, but his first solo exhibition titled, Celebrating Womanhood, was in 2004 at the Ikoyi Club 1938. Then he took his trade to Ghana where he received immediate acceptance by Ghanaian art enthusiasts. His works are currently displayed at The Artist Alliance, the biggest gallery in Ghana and his works were acquired in celebration of the Ghanaian 50th independence celebration. One of his proud moments in Ghana was when the wife of the then vice president of Ghana collected one of his works. His first international exhibition was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Ghana by late 2004. He was also one of the two Nigerian visual artists invited to exhibit alongside Ghanaian artists at the “We Two Together” exhibition under the auspices of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana. The other Nigerian is the bead artist, Jimoh Braimoh. One of his most exciting moments according to the artist was when he was commissioned by Coca Cola Nigeria Plc to produce the giant-sized dummy replica of the World Cup trophy during the World Cup Tour of Nigeria, as he recalls they doubted if it was possible to get a perfect replica locally in Nigeria, and were glad when FIFA officials endorsed the final product. “I work mainly with Chief Nike Davies Okundaye, a great promoter of the arts and the artists. She is the only agent I have in Nigeria. And I am satisfied that whoever wants any of my works goes to her. My style is unique. I try to revisit the original art form of ancient Africa with a touch of modernity.” Concerning his upcoming exhibition, “Rebirth,” he says Lagosians will be thrilled to see a wide variety of his works and the result of his growth experience for the past 10 years in his search for self-discovery. The exhibition will be held at the Nike Art Centre from April 26, and it will run for one full week.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

THE ARTS

Okey Ndibe’s Foreign Gods, Inc.: Of moral absolutism and fallen gods Continuing our conversation on Literature and Criticism, here is IKHIDE IKHELOA’s masterful Piece on Okey Ndibe’s Foreign Gods, Inc.

here is a particularly farcical, definitely quixotic misadventure that Professor Wole Soyinka narrates in his memoir, You Must Set Forth at Dawn. In the late seventies, convinced that the Ori Olokun, a bronze artifact needed to be rescued from Brazil and returned home to Nigeria, Soyinka set about the “rescue” with hilarious results. He goes to Brazil and manages to bring home what turns out to be a fake, clay replica of the real deal. The real Ori Olokun was cooling its heels, under lock and key, in an air-conditioned museum in London. The farce is entertainingly re-narrated by Matt Steinglass in this brutal but entertaining review of Soyinka’s memoir. Foreign Gods, Inc., Okey Ndibe’s new thriller of a fiction relives the farce in reverse. This time, Ike Uzondu, the protagonist, a highly educated Nigerian immigrant living a life he detests as a near-bankrupt, somewhat alcoholic cab driver in New York decides to go to his ancestral home in Nigeria, steal the totem of the god Ngene, “that ancient god of war named after a moody mud-colored river” and return to America in triumph where presumably Mark Gruels an art dealer would willingly pay a huge sum of money for it. Things do not end well, but you will have to read the book, you will enjoy this well-paced thriller. It is good writing and anyone that has followed Ndibe will not be disappointed. In Foreign Gods, Inc. Ndibe proves to be a master story-teller. Good for him. On the Internet, and everywhere the written word resides, Ndibe rules the waves of Nigerian social commentary. A superb writer with a keen social conscience, his scathing essays drive Nigeria’s thieving ruling class up the walls of their stolen mansions. Whenever he visits Nigeria, it is unusual that he is not accosted by the goons of the ruling class du jour. Few know however that Ndibe is also a fiction writer who has one novel, Arrows of Rain under his belt. You should read Foreign Gods, Inc.; it is an important, engaging, and fun addition to literature. There are many reasons to like Foreign Gods, Inc. From the

REVIEW first page, Ndibe employs many literary tricks to hold the reader’s fickle attention to the end. A great first chapter sprints confidently into the second and so on to create a well-paced book that managed to keep my attention away from the neediness of social media. Ndibe has a fine mind, and a social conscience; from Babylon to Africa, Ndibe’s voice rises to a roar of rage at his ancestors’ condition. Ndibe is Achebe’s Obierika, endlessly thinking about these things, he interrogates both the material and the spiritual, what some might call superstition. And he does it with the grace of someone imbued with enough self-confidence to defend his ancestors’ dignity and eroding way of life. Foreign Gods, Inc. functions as social commentary, and examines, in a counter-intuitive way, the role of the African intellectual in the mess that is today’s Africa. Think about it, Soyinka wanted to return the Ori Olokun from its air-conditioned vault to a life of certain destitution where museums can be filthy, empty rooms attended to by termites; Ike wanted to return home to steal an artifact and sell to the white man. To hell with moral absolutism. Man must wack. The

farce lives. For Ndibe’s Foreign Gods, Inc., the subtext is greed, we are selling our gods, no, we have sold our gods. His rage is coolly turned on Nigeria. We see a Nigeria ravaged by rank consumerism and organized religion, especially the new Christianity of “prosperity” churches. Her people, poor and rich, are thus united by a crushing poverty – of spirit and ideas (see “healing mystery lake video”). Ndibe weeps over a dying world and seems helpless as alien gods and thieving pastors rifle through the remains of a yard sale from hell. The new religion teaches us to think only in black and white, light and darkness. Ndibe chronicles the devastation. The pastor is not a man of God but a man of fraud. 419 pastors have infected Nigeria. His analysis of the devastation wreaked on Nigeria by the new Christianity is worth the price of the book. He also riffs on the Babylon that is the protagonist’s America. Culture shocks peek out of the civil, unctuous airs of Manhattan. The high rises bow to greed. This is also a story about identity and belonging, a novel about our America, their America. “And then there was Derek Jeter pitching some credit card. Ike had dozed off. He startled awake as a sports reporter screeched about the Yankees’ tie-breaking home run in the second game of a split doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.” (Kindle Locations

263-264). Ndibe knows his America. Foreign Gods, Inc. is about a duel between Africa (Ike Uzondu) and the West (Mark Gruels). The Vampire strike the Empire. Or not. Numerous confrontations in the book heightened a luscious, ever present tension. All through the myriad drama, the book manages not to be drowned by the prattle of too many characters. Also, Ndibe captures, perhaps unwittingly the trademark superciliousness of the self-absorbed African writer bereft of a moral filter. He addresses many conventional issues that preoccupy African writers; the indignity of destitution, corruption, misogyny, women and children as chattel, the ravages of drug trafficking, patriarchy, capitalism, consumerism, the banality of our dreams, etc. Still, for the most part, funny, well-crafted lines jostle with important history. He chronicles with a war-weary eye the corruption in the land. My favorite lines advertise the gentrification going in Nigeria’s rural areas: “The house behind seemed to stand on heels and peer into his mother’s backyard. Zinc-roofed concrete houses stood where mud houses used to be. Several buildings sported satellite dishes or television antennas.” (Kindle Locations 1238-1239). Nice. Yes, Ndibe pens beautiful prose; he writes memorable lines like this: “The last scene he remembered was the clarity of the dawn sky in Amsterdam, a wide blue dome with no cloud puffs in sight. As the plane ascended, he looked out the window at the immensity of the sky. Then, casting his eyes down, he saw the vast mat of the landscape, the streets of Amsterdam marked off by geometric patterns amid marshes and expanses of green. Seen from the heights, the rugged beauty of the unfurled scene seemed unbearable, and he shut his eyes.” (Kindle Locations 1005-1008) Nice. The book is a touching tale told with uncommon dignity, coolly narrated with a matter-of-fact but engaging cadence. Ndibe writes about an era in America when folks still walked into a travel agency and bought an air ticket, a time of emails and whatnot. Ndibe knows America with all its grittiness. The dialogue is great, you want to eavesdrop on a deadly serious account of a journey that is gripping in parts. Even though, the trademark superciliousness of the African writer towards West colors the book, however this time it is turned inwards also. We are making progress. It would be interesting to study Ndibe’s Foreign Gods Inc. side by

side with Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah and reconcile their perspectives on race, America and relationships. The books do complement each other in the interesting conversations on African-American and African relationships. The marriage of convenience (for the coveted green card) between Ike and Bernita, the African American was the War of the Roses with lots of sex and drinking in the numerous intermissions. Like Americanah, Foreign Gods, Inc. is about class; touching is the class difference between Ike and Bernita, the marriage a perverse symbiotic relationship, each in the marriage for different reasons. Like Americanah, Foreign Gods, Inc. also examines the tensions between Nigerians in the Diaspora and Nigerians at home. To Ndibe’s credit, he does spare the reader another conversation on the politics of hair. Ike’s world is grim and filled with the grit of despair, of “creditors… disconcerting mail: late-payment reminders, disconnection warnings, cancellation threats, repossession notices, eviction slips… an ever-present frowsy smell… a commingling of spilled liquor, urine, cigarette smoke, perfumes, and the rich, leafy scent of marijuana.” (Kindle Locations 577585). You can smell America. You can also smell the eaves of Ndibe’s earth, “…memories of the nights during childhood when he could not sleep unless cuddled up against her body, which reeked of smoky wood, warm like sun-baked clay.” (Kindle Locations 662-663). Anxieties, identities, issues clashing in powerful paragraphs. Ike is living a life of seedy desperation, on the edge of a capitalist nightmare, sourcing for funds as hustlers would say in Nigeria, feeding twin monsters, American style capitalism, and that Nigerian scourge called the extended family system. Like Obi in No Longer at Ease, the end will be inglorious. Foreign Gods, Inc. is not a perfect book, of course, says the cliché. The editing is not the best. Ndibe is a master of words, however, in a few places, the editing clamps restraints on him, it is as if he is communicating in a different voice, you can barely recognize him. Thanks to the editing, with Nigerian words much is lost in translation. We need indigenous Nigerian editors in these Western publishing houses, they don’t quite get us. It can be irritating; Nigerian terms are italicized and eroticized, it is a wonder there is no glossary explaining Kalu Mazi. Foreign Gods Inc. is burdened c on t in u e s on pa g e 2 0

20 THE ARTS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Writers tackle touchy Nigerian issues Elvis Iyorngurum

et against the background of the ongoing National Conference, it was more than a coincidence that the March 29 edition of the Guest Writer Session, the flagship event of the Abuja Writers’ Forum (AWF), took on touchy Nigerian issues. Zainab Sule got proceedings going with one of her new singles, Fire Down Below. It was a good teaser to set the mood for an encounter with fun and excitement and it was evident her performance was enthralling as the audience sat transfixed. The sobering highpoint of the evening came when Lagos-based Olayinka Oyegbile, a widely travelled and award-winning journalist, read from his book, Home Away from Home. He described the book in a recent interview as “my offering to making Nigeria a great nation as some of the ones I have visited”. Though the book is solely about the history of the Ogbomosho people in Jos, the scope turns out to be far beyond that. It actually tells the sorry story of the collapse of the inter-ethnic harmony that existed among Nigerians who had lived together in peace for so many years. The book chronicles the arrival of Ogbomosho people in Jos, their settlement there over the centuries, the peace, love and unity they enjoyed as they lived with, did business and mingled with the indigenes other settler-tribes. He recalled that in his days as a little child in Jos, his family, a Christian family bonded so well with their Muslim neighbours that they’d sometimes follow them to the mosque and

L-R: Samson, Sule and Oyegbile take questions from the audience.

the friends would also follow them to church. Oyegbile decried that such a scenario is impossible in the city today, with the incessant religious and tribal fights that have erupted over the years, claiming thousands of lives and reducing the city into a theatre of violence. According to Oyegbile, his father got to Jos before the amalgamation in 1914 that gave birth to Nigeria. At the time he left Ogbomosho, the father, he said, was too young to pay tax. He settled in Jos, worked there for decades and paid his taxes to the Plateau state government. By the time he returned to Ogbomosho, he was too old to pay any taxes. In spite of his father’s loyalty to Plateau State however, Oyegbile said if he wants a scholarship, he’d have to go and apply for it in Oyo State. This, he said, often makes him wonder if indeed

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

by a structural flaw; there is a confused timeline of events. In one instance, in Ike’s village, a group is watching a 1991 game NBA championship game between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. It seems unlikely that even in the remotest of Nigerian villages, this would be happening in 2006. One can only surmise that the manuscript was first conceived in the nineties, with the plots and characters and ambience evolving to meet a fast changing world (emails, cell phones etc.). In another example, the pastor rides around in a Peugeot 504. In the late 2000’s it seems unlikely for a prosperity pastor to own that model, he would have had to search far and wide to locate one. Attempts to make the story more contemporary are thus subverted and ambushed by traces of (ancient) history. The world is moving too fast for our writers, it is not their fault. Books are struggling with the interactive and addictive nature of social media. And losing. A book is so 20th century: You cannot swipe, LOL, LIKE, CLICK, talk to a book. A book knows it all. A book lectures. Like a 20th century headmaster. In the 21st century, the book is a dying sage on the stage. Long live the Internet.

we are ready to live as one nation. The audience had earlier savoured poems from Iruesiri Samson Kukogho’s debut collection What Can Words Do? Samson said of the title of his collection, that he derived it from the importance that words play in our daily lives as humans. “I have seen words start and also end war; words have broken marriages and mended broken hearts,” he said. The question of what words can do, he said, is to bring to the consciousness of the reader, the importance of the words we speak and is one that everyone should ask themself often so as to guard their choice of words when they speak to others as they have the potential to hurt and heal, give life and also kill. From the themes Samson explores in the poems in his collec-

PHOTO: Jubilee Uzomah

tion, it is obvious that he is motivated by true-life experiences and is also driven to add his voice to issues of social justice and the general enhancement of society. His voice rails against rape, violence against women and social disorders. His passion for the family institution is also clearly depicted. “Society is being torn apart because families are collapsing,” he lamented. Later while responding to questions, Samson expressed his gratitude to his father whom he said had a tremendous positive influence on his reading culture. He said his father was a very rigid man and forced him to read a lot of books from his well-stocked library and though it was quite a burden for him as a child, he is grateful today because it laid the foundation for his present appreciation for the

Okey Ndibe’s Foreign Gods, Inc.: Of moral absolutism and fallen gods Finally, Ndibe will have to contend with many readers who will undoubtedly ask legitimate questions about the heavy presence of Chinua Achebe’s ghost between the sheets of Foreign Gods, Inc. Ndibe’s unpretentious prose highlights effectively, in my view, the utter banality of life for many immigrants in the West. But then there are transitions in the prose that offer strong whiffs of Achebe’s many works of fiction: “Look at this,” his uncle had said, pulling up his undershirt to expose a gash in his belly. Osuakwu paused, running his fingers along the singed, darkened scar. “First, the white man forced me to go to Burma to fight in a war that had nothing to do with me. It was a quarrel between different white brothers. And then the white man gave me this as payment.” (Kindle Locations 1000-1003) Chapter 10 has strong echoes of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God. Scholars may have a field day interpreting this. Again, the language reminds one eerily of Achebe. Characters like Unoka,

Uchendu, Okonkwo, Obierika, etc. seem to make loud cameo appearances in the book’s characters. There is even an interpreter that is ridiculed by “a proud loquacious oaf.” Chapter 14 suffers immensely from Achebe’s spirit, it is as if one is reading passages knighted by a composite influence of Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, and A Man of the People; here, Ndibe is Achebe with a cell phone. Like Achebe’s books, here, there is a surplus of parables and tales. It is as if you are reading Achebe, so many parallels. Osuakwu is Ike’s uncle. Uchendu was Okonkwo’s uncle. The beauty of spirituality of the Igbo is captured, but one hears Arrow of God. In the conversation between Ike and Big Ed, the Jamaican immigrant, one is reminded of Uchendu’s admonition of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart. What do I think? Foreign Gods, Inc. is a great outing that will be remembered and defined by its relationship with virtually all of Chinua Achebe’s works of fiction, and not always in a good way. Devotees of Achebe will see his spirit

literary arts, his writing prowess and the quality of his intellect. After the writers did their bit, Zainab Sule took her turn with a set of enthralling songs. The Unijos graduate of Mathematics and web designer proved why she is referred to as Nigeria’s queen of soft rock. After he performance, a member of the audience sought to know how long she took to perfect her handling of the guitar. She said she started playing the instrument in 2001 when she was a student at the University of Jos. She said she did a lot of online study on how to play the guitar which has paid off with her ability today. Zainab’s sounds have been referred to as a “mixture of Tracy Chapman and Avril Lavigne, mixed with a touch of soul”. Maiden graduates of the AWF Creative Writing Workshop Advanced Set collected their certificates, while some members of the audience won free books from a raffle-draw, and the three guests were given mementoes. The Guest Writer Session, which started in June 2008, holds at the Nanet Suites located at the Central Business District in Abuja, and runs from 4-7pm on the last Saturday of every month. The Abuja Writers’ Forum is a community of writers and book lovers. The forum creates opportunities for writers to develop their skills, helps in promoting and celebrating established and upcoming writers and also developing the book culture among Nigerians. Activities of the forum are free and open to members of the public. Iyorngurum is a poet, writer, editor and the secretary of the Abuja Writers’ Forum.

everywhere. Ndibe made a strategic decision, it seems, some would say, a strategic mistake to be heavily influenced by Achebe’s works. Achebe is everywhere, delete the cellphones and the emails and you almost find yourself chanting, “Kotma of the ashy buttocks.” And so, Foreign Gods, Inc. will be important for at least one reason that Ndibe probably never envisioned, its relationship with Achebe’s works. Scholars will spend countless hours debating at what point an influence gets acknowledged. There is no science to this; it is a matter of personal judgment. It should have been a simple fix, Ndibe should have openly acknowledged Achebe’s influence in the book and given him some credit – upfront. Achebe does get a nod in the “acknowledgments” section but only in a vague, “he was my mentor, and I love him so, sense.” An upfront acknowledgment would have been sufficient for me. Still it did not rob me of the fun of reading about “buttocks” in Foreign Gods Inc. and chuckling about the court messengers in Things Fall Apart being ridiculed by the prisoners: “Kotma of the ash buttocks, He is fit to be a slave. The white man has no sense, He is fit to be a slave.” I have said my own.

Chiwetel Ejiofor Awaiting Half of a Yellow Sun premiere p.22 Funke Akindele In no one’s arms yet p.22

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Bob-Manuel Udokwu: A return from politics to box office R eflecting on the election that produced the Willie Obiano administration, Udokwu said with the eyes of a thespian, he saw some symbolic things in the Anambra 2013 governorship poll. “The symbolism there was that the people had become more mature; people are growing politically and in consciousness. And so, it is interesting that the election was conducted without any fracas in any place, the citizenry turned out, the election of November 16 was not conclusive but then it was peaceful. There was no violence anywhere and even at that, the one of November 30 was also peaceful. People turned out, performed their civic responsibility and, of course, the result was duly announced.” The Ogidi-born actor noted that Anambra State “as the light of the nation, keeps showing people the way forward”. He believes the “election has become a benchmark” inspite of any shortcomings. “It is an example that Nigeria needs peace for the process of developing our democracy. It is not a winner-takes-it-all thing; it is politics without bitterness. Again, it should be underscored that there was no violence. These are some of the things people should learn, that when you win, you win with dignity and magnanimity and when you lose, you also lose with dignity”. While pleading that electoral battles should not be a do-or-die affair, Udokwu whose other credit includes being host of Gulder Ultimate Search expressed the hope that because it was maturing politically, Nigeria would overtime be like the developed world where people win and lose election and then the country continues to move forward. “The chase is and should be for service and service for the progress of the nation,” he declared. He disclosed that though he had done so many movies with political themes, there was none he could easily point out as fore-

Actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu denounces self-righteous criticism of Nollywood movies and reminisces on his time as senior special assistant on creative media to former governor of Anambra State Mr Peter Obi in an interview with LEO SOBECHI

shadowing the Anambra election. “But I think that acting is a mirror of life. So, what we do in the movies is part of what happens in real life. It also serves as source of learning. People should watch these films not just for entertainment and enlightenment; but they also have to learn from the experiences being portrayed in them.” On the criticism that Nollywood was replete with fetishism, Udokwu argued that though the negative traits may not be part of what should be learnt, “it is the undercurrents of what happens in real life”. He said: “It is not about negativism. You see, the African person cannot run away from the roots; all the religions we have in Africa are alien to us. I am well educated; I am a Christian, but you see, part of the problem we

have in this country is living under false pretence - hypocritical lifestyle. You would see somebody who says he professes Christianity today and he denies the paganism of our ancestors. But then, in the middle of the night when things they cannot explain happen, you find them going to dark corners to consult with those who do their own services at night.” The actor maintained that “you cannot run away from that; otherwise, the traditional healers would have been wiped out”. For instance he indicated that “some people would have bone issues, arthritis issues, fertility issues, you find that despite the fact that there are modern medical institutions that can heal them, but they still go to the native ones”. “The Yorubas will never go away from drinking agboo (liquid extracted

from boiled herbs). And they say that when they take those roots, they feel better. The whiteman invented aeroplane, but you and I know they say witches fly at night. Do they have wings? Are they birds? We should not run away from the truth about who we are. The thing is, take those things that are good for you and leave the bad ones outside. Electricity is good but when you see naked wires and go ahead to touch them with bare hands, you get electrocuted. Or at the simple case scenario, you would experience some shock and may not die out of it.” Remonstrating against pretentious behaviours, the actor said: “What I find objectionable is when people deny their history. When did Christianity and Islam come into this country? The dates are there in our history books. We studied these things even in secondary schools. So why do we deny our past, our ancestry?” He disclosed that some of these (pretentious) people still take traditional titles. “Is it that you reject with the right hand but accept with the left? We need to be objective about who we are and then strike a balance between our colonial heritage and our heritage as African people. Like the great Marcus Garvey said, ‘A people without a sense and knowledge of their history, are like trees without roots.’” he added. On two things he would like Governor Willy Obiano to take as priorities in Anambra State, Udokwu said: “There should not be any slowing down of the pace of the Peter Obi administration. And there should be much more innovations as a futuristic government. These are the first two things I could set as an agenda for the administration.”

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Chiwetel Ejiofor, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve others to storm Lagos as Half of A Yellow Sun premieres

scar nominee and BAFTA winning actor, Chiwetel finally sealed the conviction was the movie after it was Ejiofor, would make a trip to Lagos for Half of A screened. Here’s a movie that would make any Nigerian Yellow Sun after his enviable feat. At a gathering domiciled anywhere across the globe proud. Yewande was recently was a moment of tears, clap, back-slapping greatly applauded by the select few, among whom were and photography as select group of people made up of Kunle Afolayan, Toni Kan, Steve Ayorinde, Samuel Olatunji, mainly movie industry pundits converged for the screening Niran Adedokun and respected script writer Tunde Babaof the $10 million movie, Half of A Yellow Sun. One of the lola (writer of ‘The Meeting’, ‘The Assignment’ and ‘Last high points of the session was the emotion-laden moment Flight to Abuja’). of tears as Yewande Sadiku, the executive producer who raised over $10 million for the movie recalled how excruciating it was to raise that kind of money. “I never believed it could take me about six years to raise that kind of money, I am an investment banker by profession, part of my specialty is raising money for people. I have headed a team that raised $1 billion for a corporate organization. I could not believe that raising money for a project that I want to do personally would take this long. Somehow people do not believe it could be done and a lot of people do not believe in the movie industry too. There were many times I broke down with tears in my car especially when someone had promised to make a commitment and all of a sudden you can’t reach the person anymore or the person stops picking your calls or replying SMS. Somehow my husband and I sold everything we had and we got one or two people to also put down part of the money and borrowed the remaining money from banks.” Tears flowed and momentarily wormed Yewande into peoples’ hearts, but what Chiwetel, Genevive and Onyeka

E-BRIEFS Jaywon and Nnenna prepare for Funke Akindele ‘unforgettable’ Easter show s Easter approaches, Jaywon is putting final touches on his elaborate refutes new rehearsals to join forces with the Nnenna & Friends team and a diverse blend of multi-talented entertainers for a mega and unforlover tale gettable Easter Show. According to Nnenna, “We’re really doing our very

ctress Funke Akindele has dispelled recent claim by a celebrity journal that she has found love again. Akindele, a Glo Ambassador swiftly rested the claim through a press release issued by her publicist, Mr. Biodun Kupoluyi. The statement disclosed that the actress has a good finance base to get herself whatever she desires. However, Funke confirmed that she has moved into her own apartment in Lekki, Lagos, adding that she paid for the property “through her sweat”. She also refuted the story that there are moves to reconcile her and her estranged husband.

Flavour N’abania drops new video

best to ensure that all guests get the top-notch family entertainment they deserve this Easter Sunday. Jaywon, Papa Ajasco & Company, N-Stars, The Oshadipe Twins, Acapella, Mc Prince, Universal Crew, Desmond Osarobe, wapTV’s Omonla are really looking forward to entertaining you all.” Organisers say the expected 3,000 guests would also receive gifts and prizes from Indomie Noodles, Ribena Fruit Drinks, Bigi Sausages, Leo Smart, Street Kitchen, Toasties Bread Chips, Aquarite Water, Beloxxi Biscuits and other trusted family-oriented corporate bodies who have partnered with the organisers to make the event truly colourful and memorable. The Nnenna & Friends Easter Show takes place on Sunday, April 20, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, from 2pm to 5pm. The event would also be recorded and broadcast on wapTV (StarTimes Channel 116) across Africa with a Live Online Stream available on www.thewaptv.net.

Little wonder Toni Kan remarked that Half of A Yellow Sun should be a must watch for every Nigerian. “You must go and watch it because it is a valuable piece of Nigeria’s cinema history. It will teach and touch you in many ways and with 2015 approaching and rabble-rousers banging on the drums of war, this love story set in the time of war will give you perspectives. War is evil but love conquers all. When I read the novel, I was upset that it had been marketed, mostly, as a book about the Biafran war; it was not. It was a love story set in a time of war. At the core of Half of A Yellow Sun is love, lust, loss and the healing power of forgiveness.” The movie which would be screened in Nigeria, Australia, US, UK, Middle East and Portugal features Chiwetel Ejiofor, British actress, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Nollywood acts, Genevieve Nnaji, Zack Orji, Wale Ojo, OC Ukeje, and veteran singer Onyeka Onwenu. The movie is directed by Nigerian playwright, Biyi Bandele. The premiere holds in Nigeria on April 12, while it would be released across cinemas in Nigeria from April 25. Arinze Ejiofor, a doctor and a Nigerian highlife musician is Chiwetel’s father. In 1988 he passed on after a motor accident that involved him and Chiwetel who was only 11years old and got scars from the crash. One of the titles of late Arinze’s album is Nna Anyi Bi Na Enu Igwe.

Jaywon

lavour N’abania has just released a video for the anticipated single, Black is Beautiful. The new video from his Blessed album was directed by Trademark Pictures. The video coincides with the period when the world is beginning to truly see and accept the beauty in being black. Unlike his usual highlife style, Flavour is surrounded by all ladies in this reggae video. This goes to prove how effervescent he is with his craft and why he’ll remain on top of his game for a long time to come.

Julius Agwu celebrates birthday with special kids

ast Monday, Julius Agwu turned 41. But unlike the festivities that greeted his fortieth birthday last year, the humour merchant celebrated it in a low key. He chose to take love to special children at the Heart of Gold Hospice, Surulere, Lagos. Some of those who accompanied him there are Pastor Paul Emmanuel, Wando Priscilla Onumodu, David Sikpa, Onome Igbeyi, Theresa Agwu, Dj Makobi, Godwin, Wunmi Brown, Benjamin (of Emechael Photography), Chaste Inegbedion, among others.

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Where’s Grace Egbagbe?

ormer NTA director and top society lady, Barrister Grace Egbagbe, has scampered off the social radar again. But to where? Your guess is as good as ours. This is definitely not her first time she’d take a break, but the last time her name echoed, it did for a wrong reason. She was alleged to have been at the centre of the brouhaha involving a former minister and his aristocratic wife. The vivacious mother of two who has become a regular guest at high octane events for decades has obviously mellowed. She would saunter into functions in charm and grace (well, no pun intended) after alighting from her toy, BMW X6 while her successive hobnobs with the high and mighty reflected her nobility.

Atiku’s son’s wedding brings Nigeria’s who’s who to Dubai

t Atiku Abubakar’s son, Abba’s wedding, Dubai played host to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Senator David Mark, former governor Ali Modu Sheriff, some APC party chieftains as well as some state governors. The highly colourful gig held at the prestigious Conrad Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as Abba said the marriage vows to Mariyana Silver. The former vice president described the day as one of the most significant in his life, just as he congratulated Mariyana for “pinning down Abba”. Also present were Senator Ahmed Barata, former Senators Musa Adede and Rufa’i Hanga, Mrs Aishatu Buhari, the wife of former head of state, General Muham-

Rasaq Okoya’s daughter set to wed Alao Akala’s heir on Easter Sunday

madu Buhari, Governor Murtala Nyako, represented by his chief of staff, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abba and the secretary to the Borno State government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda. Other high profile guests included the wife of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hajiya Amina, that of Governor Nyako, Hajiya Zainab; the wife of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau as well as the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmed Fintiri, who was accompanied by six members of the House. The groom’s family’s main event is scheduled to hold today in Atiku’s hometown in Jada, Adamawa State.

adiza Okoya, daughter of business mogul, Chief Rasaq Okoya, will wed her beau, Olamiju Akala, the heir to former Governor of Oyo State Adebayo Alao Akala on April 20. The Nikkai (Islamic wedding) and court wedding will take place inside the Okoya’s expansive estate, in Ajah,Lagos. The couple had their introduction on January 12. Hadiza is the only child from a union between Chief Okoya and his former Liberian wife.

A monarch’s ten years of bountiful reign

he entire city of Itori town in Ogun State recently went agog for the weeklong festivities commemorating Oba Abdulfatai Akamo’s 10 years coronation anniversary. The ceremonies which attracted different personalities from different walks of life who came to felicitate with the monarch will linger in peoples’ minds. The event reached its climax when the rich display of culture and tradition was staged while also blessing a few illustrious individuals with chieftaincy titles. But in the monarch’s assessment, “the charity works preceding the anniversary remains my best moment.” For the monarch, nothing can be more fulfilling and satisfying as identifying with the under-privileged and putting smiles on their gloomy faces through his Oba Akamo Great Expectation Foundation, his brainchild. The charity train led by the first class monarch in company of his

wives and some of his chiefs kicked off at the Juvenile Remand Home in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the traditional ruler assisted by others donated cash, food and other household items. “On a daily basis, I attend to many people who come to my palace for one assistance or the other. It will be a sin to pretend as if some people don’t go to bed hungry because some of us are a bit privileged and we don’t expect government to do everything. That’s why I deemed it right not just to host my friends who will come back tomorrow to appreciate me, but to also celebrate the less-privileged we can find around us,” the monarch noted. Oba Akamo’s gesture continued as he doled out some tool of trades and also gave out start-up capital to some indigent persons in his domain. One of the beneficiaries who had lost hope in fending for her children

since her husband died was among the beneficiaries. For over 20 minutes he knelt down praying for Oba Akamo. “Since my husband died seven months ago, my three children and I have been living at the mercy of our neighbors. At times, my first child sneaks out to go and beg for alms in Ifo just to keep us alive. I don’t know how Kabiyesi (Akamo) learnt about my predicament, because I don’t stay around his palace, neither have I ever come in contact with him. It came as a surprise to me when they brought this refrigerator into my house. I can’t help but cry. How on earth would I have been able to gather money to purchase this? The yoke of poverty has broken in my life as I will make good use of this precious gift. I don’t need to beg before I and my children eat and can never beg again,” Basirat Kareem shared her tale in tears.

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Cynthia Morgan:

Another star foretold Cynthia Morgan sings and dances in a way that is mesmerizing. It wasn’t a surprise then to learn that P-Square’s Jude Okoye has been blown over completely, signing her on his Northside Inc label. Morgan shares her enigmatic story with LANRE ODUKOYA

IN THE BEGINNING

It’s actually been a long time singing for me. I started when I was just part of the children choir in Benin, Edo State where I come from. My mom was a top gospel vocalist. She owned a band and I was her backup singer when I was 15 years old and I played the talking drum for her as well. Fortunately, I started recording demo tracks for my family. Professionally, at 17 I started dropping materials and one of the first I had was the one that featured General Pype in 2008. HONING THE TALKING DRUM SKILLS

I actually didn’t learn how to play the talking drum from anyone as a matter of fact. My mom is a big gospel act and she has most of the instruments at home including the talking drum. I just got fond of picking and playing the talking drum. In just a matter of time I became good at it. Shortly after, I became a talking drummer for my mom. It was just a flair. EXPOSURE TO OTHER GENRES

Actually, when I was growing up, I was exposed to other genres of music because I grew up in a family where there were a whole lot of uncles around me who had different kinds of mindset. So, through them I was exposed to different genres of music; some of them loved reggae, pop, rap and my mom was equally a singer. I picked the music elements from all of these experiences that make me possess a broad understanding of music. MEDICINE FOR MUSIC

I was actually supposed to study medicine in school as the only child of my mom. She wanted me to go back to school after my secondary education. At that point I was supposed to write my SAT when I was done with my high school. But music took over because I told my mom that I wanted to do music first and I promised her that I’m still going back to school someday which I’m yet to do. LEARNING THE ROPES INFORMALLY

No, I didn’t do any crash programme or study music in school. Mu-

sic is something that I grew up with and it just comes to me. It’s not that I went to music school to learn this or that. Music is just my God-given talent. THE WESTERN INFLUENCE

The Western influence on my career came because I have a lot of role models outside the country because when I was growing up, I never listened much to Nigerian songs apart from Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Lagbaja. Lots of the Western influence came from America, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Rihana and Bob Marley. LIVING IN AMERICA

When I grew up to an extent, I went out of the country to the United States and came back not too long after. I went when I was fully grown, precisely at 19. REPORTOIRE

I have lots of songs at the moment, but only three videos are out there already. Videos make singles, so if I drop a video, that’s one done with. AS A LIVE PERFORMER

Yes, I can do live performance because that’s practically where I honed my skills. I’m a daughter of someone who plays live music and I was a band member. It’s a whole master craft on live music for me. MEETING WITH P-SQUARE

I had the first collaboration with Jybo, that actually brought me to limelight in 2010 when I was 19. It was titled Run Their Mouth and that was a massive song. The P-Square brothers were actually fans of mine, so they went on air and said they were looking for Cynthia Morgan, they really loved my her music and so on. I didn’t know them and we’ve never met at that time, but they were my huge fans. Finally, I got to meet them in Atlanta, United States, in 2012 and when I met Paul, we kept going on and on. He’d say to me: “we love your sound and think you should come out really big. Nobody can actually compete with you when among the females in the industry, you can do this.” So, we became family friends, they became interested in my career and they’d show me support in the little way they can. Jude was also there to support because then, I was already with a record label. Jude was ready to support my career and he’d tell me: “I think this is the video you should shoot and this is the single you should put out first.” It was just a normal relationship until it became, “I want to work

FA CUP: WENGER WANTS MISFIRING ARSENAL TO SHOW CLASS

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Nigeria can break q’final jinx -Keshi

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NFF under severe attack Oneya, Galadima, Obaseki call for

Anichebe returns for Tottenham clash

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caution over Keshi feud

says both sides should be mindful of the impact of their action with only two wo former chairmen of the Nigeria months to the championship. Football Association and a former “I think that as an employee Keshi vice president of the body, namely should respect his employers and the Dominic Oneya, Ibrahim Galadima employers on their part should also and Oyuki Obaseki respectively, have give their coach the required supwarned the football house against any port, after all that is what they always further escalation in the seemingly unclaim,” Galadima says. ending feud with Super Eagles coach, “It is not in our best interest for there Stephen Keshi. to be any altercation between the head The three administrators of the technical crew and who at different times the federation now that occupied the top poeverybody should be sitions in the Glass pulling in one direcHouse argued tion ahead of the that this is the Mundial.” time to ‘bury He continues: the hatchet’ “It is also not right and pull in one for the coach not direction with to release his list; if the World Cup there are reasons he barely 60 days away. can’t do that he should “I had the chance of be able to sit down with Galadima leading the Super Eagles to the the federation and an acceptWorld Cup in 2002 and I also had the able solution worked out between both same problem. I had my own share of parties. Not to release the list and not to this kind of crisis, so the NFF should let his employers know what his challearn to handle it. They should sort it lenges are is not the right thing to do.” out other than that I have nothing furObaseki who is also a former Nigeria ther to add,” says Oneya. Premier League Chairman also spoke Although Galadima who took over on the matter. The man who midwifed from Oneya as NFA boss, says he the professional league in the country has to know what actually transbelieves there is no feud as such. pired between both parties to “Look, if they continue like this and do be able to make objective CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 comments, he however,

Vincent Eboigbe

Utaka, Drogba clash in Turkey

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I’ll pick Nigeria over England any day

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NPFL officiating tickles Maude

hairman of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Ahmed Maude, believes that there is improvement in the level of officiating in the Glo Premier League. Maude noted that there have been noticeable improvements in the competition that’s only a few weeks old, adding that the association will not rest on their laurels as they will strive to sustain their improved performance. The Chairman credited the series of seminars and training programs organized before the resumption of the League as factors that have brought about the recent improvements. “I think our series of training and seminars are finally paying off.” “But that is not to say that we will go to sleep, we intend to sustain this and even improve on it. I will attribute this to improvements in the commitment of the League Management Company (LMC), they have improved the welfare package of referees, which is laudable. “LMC has promised to review match officials’ welfare packages by the mid-season. These are the incentives that we have been clamouring for and I’m optimistic that it will only get better.”

Creek war: Nembe host Bayelsa Utd

t has been duded the creek war, but the glamour that comes with matches that involve Bayelsa teams would be missing, as Nembe football club host their bitter rivals, Bayelsa United. The colour and razzmatazz, which precede this encounter, will be missed by fans of both sides.

A win for the Bayelsa United will boost their position on the league table, while Nembe that sit at the bottom of the table would want to record their first win of the season. Aware of the importance of the key game, Comrade Lucky Gospel Ewa, Chairman of Bayelsa State FA has declared his association will put extra measures in

place to ensure a successful and hitch-free game. Ewa dispelled insinuations of a possible volatile clash. “There will be no problems contrary to peoples insinuations”, the FA boss assured. “The two teams are from Bayelsa State. It will be a fair match, there’s no reason to anticipate trouble this time around.

Heartland ’ll get over poor home run - Efugh

Abdul Aruna of Kano Pillars being challenged by Fortune Chukudi of Bayelsa United at the last Super 4 in Abuja

Akwa stake top spot in Aba n the last three seasons the city of Aba, had been a good hunting ground for Akwa United Football Club of Uyo. The team had done well anytime they visited Aba, but Sunday will be a tough test for the league leaders. Reasons are not far-fetched why the duel could go either way. Akwa United are the current leaders in the League and have shown consistency since the league started, while Enyimba had been struggling to keep their head up. Enyimba had lost at their home twice this year, which gives any serious team the confidence to go to Aba for maximum points but this might be their greatest weapon against teams that take them for granted. This encounter surely will be worth the while for fans of both teams as they would be entertained beyond their expectations.

Before now, fans of both teams start pre match propaganda days before and climax it with different shades and colour. Both teams are expected to do battle in Omoku, in Rivers state, the adopted home of Nembe instead of their traditional ground, Samson Siasia Stadium due to construction work that is on going at the stadium.

While resurgent Enyimba under coach Coach Imama Amapakabo is hoping to find the winning formula, Coach Patrick Udoh will unleash the deadliest of his attacking force on the twotime African champions.

DAY 6 FIXTURES Dolphins vs Rangers Giwa vs Abia Warriors Nasarawa vs crown Sunshine vs Warri Wolves Nembe vs Bayelsa utd El Kanemi vs Lobi Gombe vs sharks Kaduna vs Heartland NPFL DAY 5 RESULTS Sharks 0 - 0 Dolphins Akwa Utd 2 - 0 Nembe City Taraba 1 - 0 Enyimba Lobi Stars 1 - 0 Kaduna Utd Heartland 0 - 0 Nasarawa Utd Warri Wolves 2 - 0 Giwa Bayelsa Utd 1 - 1 El-Kanemi Crown 1 - 0 Gombe Utd Abia Warriors 0 - 0 Kano Pillars Rangers 0 - 0 Sunshine

Bosso wants Abia Warriors to keep up form

oach of Abia Warriors Ladan Bosso says he hopes his highriding team maintains the tempo they began the new season with. Abia Warrior entered the record books on the weekend when they defeated local rivals Enyimba at home for the first time in six years. “It’s a great start to the season for us. Winning two matches from three. The main thing now is to sustain this tempo for the remainder of the season,” an elated

Bosso said. “I know we have the quality in our playing staff, so I don’t have doubt we can do it and pick a continental ticket at the end of the season.” Abia Warriors are making their debut in the top flight. Ladan Bosso, who is on a monthly salary of 1.5 million Naira, led Bayelsa United to finish third last season, but dumped the Yenagoa side for Abia Warriors just before the new season got underway.

eartland captain Chinedu Efugh has backed his team to get over a poor start to the new season, which has seen them draw their three home games. The Naze Millionaires were last weekend held to a goalless draw by Nasarawa United and both players and officials of the club cannot explain the reason for the poor run at home. Chinedu said they would work extra hard to overcome the poor form, which had made the start of the season a living hell for them. “We’re currently struggling to stay afloat, but I’m optimistic, we shall overcome. Can you imagine us playing three home matches and dropping points in all the matches, it is unheard of in the history of Heartland.” We shall bounce back and reclaim our rightful place in the league and nothing shall take us back.”

Efugh

Gombe Utd target continental ticket Charles Ogundiya

espite Gombe United 1-0 loss away to Crown FC of Ibadan over the weekend, the team’s target for the season still remains a continental ticket. Speaking with New Telegraph, the chairman of the team, Musa Auwalu, said the team’s target this

season is a continental ticket. “We are targeting one of the continental tickets this season and the only way to do that is to make the players comfortable and feel like professionals that they are,” he said. Despite occupying the bottom half of the league table, the chairman said; “If you look at the team this season, it is stronger than what

we had last season; all that remains is for the players to gel. “We recruited some new players at the beginning of the season; the technical crew just needs to get the right combination and the team will be up there. We just need to get two good results away from home and make good in our home matches.”

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Nigeria can break q’final jinx -Keshi

Emmanuel Tobi

ith no African team having ever progre sse d beyond the quarter final stage, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has maintained that Nigeria can break this jinx at the World Cup in Brazil. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon (Italia 1990), Teranga Lions of Senegal (Korea-Japan 2002) and Black Stars

of Ghana (South Africa 2010) are the three African countries to have reached the quarter final stage of the FIFA World Cup. The Eagles failed to win a game in their last two World Cup appearances and haven’t made the second round since 1998, but the ‘Big Boss’ as Keshi is fondly called is not bothered about such dismal record. “I’m an optimistic person. I rarely think

Golden League: Chase for N2m jackpot begins in Abuja Charles Ogundiya

Super Eagles player, Emmanuel Emenike, Ugenyi Onazi and Mikel Obi celebrate in a recent match.

about negativity,” said the 52-year old gaffer. “We still have a lot of work to do. Our plan is to progress game by game, until the end of the tournament.” Keshi who qualified Togo for their World Cup debut only

to be replaced by Otto Pfister for the 2006 tournament in Germany stressed that he has learnt from his mistakes, expressing optimism for a great outing in Brazil. “Even when it goes bad I still think it is good,” Keshi says. “There must always be

a lesson to learn to make my future better.” The Super Eagles, with Keshi as captain at USA 1994 World Cup, were few minutes away from the quarter final before Italy overturned a 1-0 deficit to knock Nigeria out of the tournament.

Pacman seeking revenge – live on DStv’s SuperSport

anny Pacquiao’s search for redemption continues this weekend when he seeks to avenge his defeat against unbeaten Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas. The tournament will be broadcast live on SS6/SS6HD from 3am on Sunday. Their first fight was neck and neck, with Pacman appearing to narrowly win, but the judges

thought differently and awarded the fight to the American. As a consequence, Bradley hasn’t been wholly accepted as a legitimate champion while Pacman (55-5-2, 38 KOs) has continued to enjoy great popularity, notwithstanding his shattering knockout defeat to Jean Manuel Marquez in his next fight. The turn of events has irritated

Bradley who went on to win two more major fights, against Ruslan Provodnikov and Marquez, but continues to be disrespected. “Bring the best,” an uptight Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) said this week. “I’m sick of it. Everybody that fights me makes excuses. The first time around, he made excuses. This time around, hopefully, he’ll take his butt-whooping

like a man. I fight the best, that’s what gets me up. I don’t care about records, accolades or what you’ve done in the past, what matters is April 12.” This fight is vital for Pacman in context of his future. Another loss would almost certainly relegate him from the elite level and condemn potential fights against Floyd Mayweather jnr and Marquez.

he tartan track of Abuja national stadium will experience influx of athletes on Saturday (today), as the chase for the Athletic Federation of Nigeria Golden League N2,000,000 jackpot begins. The event is the first leg in the Golden League series, and subsequent editions will be spread across other cities in the country such as Ilorin, Akure, Kaduna, Benin City and Port Harcourt. The Golden League events for women are 100/200m, 400m, 1,500m, 3000m/3000m steeple chase, 400m hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay. The promotional events (women) include 100 hurdles, hammer/discus, triple jump and race walk. For the male, competition will be in the 100/200m, 400m, 5,000m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdle, triple jump, high jump, javelin, shot put, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, while the promotional events are 800m, hammer/discus, 3000m steeple chase and race walk. The first four athletes in each of the events will automatically qualify for the next leg of the Golden league, while the remaining four will qualify from the All-comers events which will take place in the morning of event day. To qualify for the jackpot, an athlete must win in all legs of Golden League and must participate at the Golden League Final.

Oneya, Galadima, Obaseki call for caution over Keshi feud CONTINUED from PAGE 25

well at the World Cup by getting to the semi final for instance we will applaud them, if they fail we will blame them. That has always been my position,” Obaseki points out. “Having said that I don’t think we should make heavy weather of the so called feud. There is really no such thing between the NFF and Keshi; I speak to Keshi often just the same way I speak to Aminu Maigari. Keshi is an employee of the Federation and both have to work together. “Again, I think that both parties should be left alone to focus on their respective functions. There is too much talk about their differences and I think that is a huge distraction ahead of the World Cup.” The Federation and Keshi have had an uneasy relationship almost from the beginning and this may not be altogether unexpected. Keshi is a strong personality, the sort that will not be easily emasculated

or cowed. NFF on the other hand tends to historically favour a coach it can ‘push around.’ So the stage was set from the beginning for a rocky relationship. In spite of this however, matters did not come to a head until the Nations Cup in South Africa in 2013. The Federation had hatched a plan to sack Keshi and the quarter final encounter against Cote d’Ivoire was to provide the perfect opportunity, but the Eagles won against all odds and NFF’s calculations. The plan not only went up in smoke, it also became public knowledge as Keshi resigned soon afterwards. The scandal was huge but papered over sufficiently enough for Nigeria to still go ahead and win the championship, further strengthening Keshi’s position in the reckoning of Nigerians. As this played out in South Africa, NFF pushing its sack agenda needed somebody within the playing staff to help realise

Oneya

its aim. The obvious choice at the time was Ikechukwu Uche; the Villarreal forward was disenchanted having not been playing regularly and was thus a willing tool. He started to criticise the tactics of Keshi, was ‘talking too much’ according to an insider. He even granted an interview in South Africa further attacking Keshi’s style. This is the genesis of Uche’s problem with Keshi. NFF knows it. Uche knows. Keshi knows it.

So when the latter said recently “anybody who fights the Super Eagles fights me and I will fight him” that is what he was apparently referring to. NFF feeling a moral obligation towards Uche is trying to push for his inclusion in the World Cup team, but is not too vehement about it. Uche himself is quiet because he knows what went down during the Nations Cup. The Big Boss himself has made his position clear, although he couches everything under Uche’s ‘tactical indiscipline.’ As if all this was not enough, other issues have also crept into the mix further souring the relationship. After the CHAN competition, Super Eagles who placed third were hosted by President Goodluck Jonathan but Keshi was not in the party. He had travelled to the United States. NFF felt slighted by this action. Again, on March 25 Keshi was expected to meet with his bosses

in Abuja, but the man was in Lagos meeting with sports editors. Again NFF was peeved. The latest issue to have tested the already frosty relationship between these seeming strange bed fellows was that of the release of the list for the World Cup. While the football house expected to have got the list already, Keshi insists he will not be stampeded into releasing the list, also taking umbrage with the 35-man squad that was being bandied about. In the clearest admission yet that there was no love lost between Keshi and NFF, President Alhaji Maigari said Keshi was bigger than the federation. But in a move that will hopefully put paid to all the infighting, the coach had a meeting with the federation on Tuesday where the football authorities pledged that only Keshi will decide which players make the World Cup list, while also announcing plans to pay the coaches’ salaries to date.

Ighalo

it-again Victor Anichebe is ready for West Bromwich Albion’s final challenge of staying in the Premier League. The Baggies striker missed the 3-3 draw against Cardiff after pulling his hamstring during the final moments of Albion’s defeat at Hull. He was back on the bench for last weekend’s victory at Norwich but Pepe Mel opted against bringing him on, knowing he still wasn’t quite 100 per cent. But the ex-Everton man is back up to speed with his fitness and

eal Betis are determined to make a deal happen for on-loan Sunderland midfielder Alfred N’Diaye. The Evening Chronicle says the deal includes a £3.3m option to make the deal permanent, but if Betis are relegated both that fee and N’Diaye’s wages would be problematic. However the 24-year-old is highly rated by Betis, and the club is understood to be determined to find a way to make the move happen.

Betis keen on N’Diaye stay

rsene Wenger has called on his players to produce a big performance to ensure Arsenal reach the FA Cup final. The Gunners have been in poor form in the league, with just one win from their previous six games. But in the FA Cup, Wenger’s men have beaten Tottenham, Coventry City, Liverpool and Everton to progress to the last four of the oldest cup competition in world football. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s semi final, where Arsenal will face Sky Bet Championship side Wigan, Wenger said: “When results are not (going) as well, you can always think you can improve. “There is no perfect team and we will always try to improve our squad and our team.

FA Cup: Wenger wants misfiring Arsenal to show class

“This season we lost key players at big important moments, but we have to just focus on finishing as well as we can. “We are in a position where we can still do very well until the end of the season, that is what we want. “It is not about next season, it is about this season.”

Global Football Special

intends finishing the campaign on a high. Joseph Yobo will be looking forward to helping his club, Norwich, get result against fellow strugglers, Fulham, when the two clubs meet today. The coach that brought him back to England, Chris Houghton, was sacked after their last weekend home loss and the Nigerian will be keen to impress the new man in charge. Though Yobo has been impressive in his eight games for Norwich he will hope his efforts are rewarded with his club beating the drop. It remains to be seen if victor Moses will play a part in Liverpool’s clash with Man City on Sunday. He has managed just three games in the last two months in Red shirt. Osaze Odemwingie will hope to redeem himself after falling short in Stoke’s 3-0 loss to Chel-

• Osaze, Ameobi clash

Anichebe returns for Tottenham

Anichebe

EAGLES FOCUS

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www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

NEW TELEGRAPH

etafe host Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a pivotal La Liga derby that could have big implications for both the title and relegation fights. Cosmin Contra’s Getafe go into the game mired in the relegation zone following a disappointing 1-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Elche last weekend. And the gloom at Coliseum Alfonso Perez may soon be heightened by an Atletico side who head La Liga following a superb season so far that has seen them lose just three league games. However, Diego Simeone’s men have not beaten Getafe away from home

Getafe, face red-hot Atletico in Madrid derby

udi Garcia has not given up hope of guiding Roma to the Serie A title this season. Roma are eight points adrift of league leaders Juventus with six matches remaining after last weekend’s 3-1 triumph at Cagliari. The Rome-based outfit have won six games in succession, scoring 16 goals in the process. Juve, who are away to Udinese on Monday, are in the drivers seat to claim a third consecutive Scudetto crown but Garcia is still dreaming of silverware ahead of Roma’s clash with Atlanta at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. “We are advancing, step by step, so we can stun our opponents,” said Roma coach Garcia, who will be without striker Mattia Destro following his ban for punching Cagliari’s Davide Astori. Roma and Juventus go head-to-head on May 9; a match that could determine the title. Third-placed Napoli will be keeping a close eye on proceedings over the weekend.

Roma dream Serie A title

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

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

P 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32

Pts 79 78 76 59 53 50 49 41 40 40 38 36 36 35 34 33 31 31 30 22 Team P Pts Munich 29 78 Dortmund 29 58 Schalke 04 29 55 M’gladbach 29 48 Leverkusen 29 48 Wolfsburg 29 47 Mainz 05 29 44 Augsburg 29 42 Hoffenheim 29 37 Herthar 29 37 Frankfurt 29 35 Bremen 29 33 Hannover 29 29 Freiburg 29 29 Stuttgart 29 27 Hamburg 29 27 Nürnberg 29 26 Braunschweig 29 25

BUNDESLIGA

Team Atlético Barcelona Real Bilbao Sevilla Sociedad Villarreal Valencia Levante Espanyol Málaga Vallecano Celta Vigo Elche Granada Osasuna Valladolid Getafe Almería Betis

LA LIGA

PREMIER LEAGUE

P TEAM P Pts 1 Liverpool 33 74 2 Chelsea 33 72 3 Man City 31 70 4 Arsenal 33 64 5 Everton 32 63 6 Tottenham 33 59 7 Man Utd 33 57 8 Southampton 33 48 9 Newcastle 33 46 10 Stoke 33 40 11 West Ham 33 37 12 Hull 33 36 13 Aston Villa 32 34 14 C/ Palace 32 34 15 Swansea 33 33 16 West Brom 32 32 17 Norwich 33 32 18 Fulham 33 27 19 Cardiff 33 26 20 Sunderland 31 25

28 SPORT NEW TELEGRAP 12 apr

Bundesliga Saturday Mainz v Bremen M’gladbach v Stuttgart Hannover v Hamburger Freiburg v Braunschweig Wolfsburg v Nürnberg Bayern v Dortmund Sunday Leverkusen v Hertha Hoffenheim v Augsburg

La Liga Saturday Celta Vigo v Sociedad Villarreal v Levante Granada v Barcelona Real Madrid v Almería Sunday Betis v Sevilla Valencia v Elche Getafe v Atlético Espanyol v Vallecano

Owen

Liverpool have won all four home meetings with fellow members of the top seven so far this season, scoring 14 and conceding just once. Man City have only won one of their previous 16 Barclays Premier League matches at Anfield (D5 L10), with that win coming back in May 2003. This game sees the meeting between the two highest scoring sides in the Premier League this season – Liverpool (90) and Man City (84). Only three sides have scored more Premier League goals in a season than Liverpool have this term (90), including Man City in their title-winning campaign in 2011-12 (93). This game will see the two players with the most goals from dead ball situations in the Premier League this season (free kicks + penalties) – StevenGerrard (12) and Yaya Toure (10). Gerrard has also provided the most assists from dead ball situations this season in the Premier League (7).

MATCH FACTS

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that as part of its effort to connect with its fans globally, NBA teams will play five preseason games in four countries this October as part of NBA Global Games 2014. As part of the schedule, five teams - the Nets, Cavaliers, Heat, Sacramento, San Antonio Spurs - will play a series of games in five cities.

Heat

SPORT BRIEFLY

ichael Owen hailed Brendan Rodgers for masterminding Liverpool’s title charge - then roared: My heart says they’ll win it. The Reds, who face Manchester City in a crunch clash at Anfield on Sunday, top the Premier League by two points with just five games left of the season. Owen’s Kop allegiances are strong but he admitted: “I can’t

pick a winner. Whatever happens between City and Liverpool, I still think more points will be dropped. Chelsea have got an outside chance too. “My heart says Liverpool and I hope they win it. But regardless if they do, it’s great to see them back at the top of their game again. It’s great to see Anfield rocking.

Caroline Wozniacki has not had as much success on the court as she may have liked in recent years, and perhaps she is looking to go down a new path; she was spotted acting as caddy for fiancé Rory McIlroy in Augusta at the Masters par-three tournament.

Wozniacki

“Lots of teams have got good players but Brendan Rodgers has managed to tweak formations and get the best out of them. “Not many teams go with two strikers up front for fear of having a weakened midfield. Half the time they put a striker out on the left wing in a position they don’t really enjoy or are not used to.”

Liverpool will win Premier League- Owen

iverpool and Manchester City go head to head at Anfield this weekend in a match billed as a showdown for the Premier League title. Chelsea may have something to say about that — sitting between the two sides in the table — but if either side can win on Sunday, they will be in pole position to clinch the title. “Whoever wins between Liverpool and Manchester City goes on to win the title,” said Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender who is now a pundit on Sky Sports. “The momentum they would have, I would think, would be unstoppable”. Liverpool are two points clear of Chelsea at the top and four ahead of City, though Manuel Pellegrini’s side have two games in hand. Captain Steven Gerrard said victory over City will give them a golden chance to win the title for the first time since 1990, but he is trying to stay calm. “If you said to me now: ‘beat Manchester City and you get the Premier League title’, I think the answer to your question will be ‘Yes’ but all it will give us is three points and there will be four huge games after that,” he said. Liverpool go into the match on the back of nine straight wins while City — who could be boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero — have won four of their past five.

Liverpool, City trade tackles in title decider Team Liverpool Liverpool Man City Man Utd Man City Southon Chelsea Arsenal

Pts 84 76 64 55 50 50 48 46 46 45 45 41 39 38 32 27 27 25 24 20

Team Juventus Torino Verona Fiorentina Inter Milan Napoli Bundesliga Pos.Player Goals Team 1 Lewandowski 17 Dortmund 1 Mario Mandžukic17 Bayern Munich 3 Adrian Ramos 16 Hertha Berlin 3 Josip Drmic 16 Nürnberg 5 Raffael 15 M’gladbach 6 Stefan Kießling 14 Leverkusen

Serie A No Player Goals 1 Carlos Tévez 18 1 Ciro Immobile 18 3 Luca Toni 16 4 Giuseppe Rossi 14 4 Rodrigo Palacio 14 Gonzalo Higuaín 14

La Liga No Player Goals Team 1 C. Ronaldo 28 Real Madrid 2 Diego Costa 25 Atlético 2 Lionel Messi 25 Barcelona 4 Karim Benzema 17 Real Madrid 4 Alexis Sánchez 17 Barcelona 6 Antoine Griezmann 15 Sociedad

EPL No Player Goals 1 Luis Suarez 29 2 Daniel Sturridge 20 3 Yaya Touré 18 4 Wayne Rooney 15 4 Sergio Agüero 15 4 Jay Rodriguez 15 7 Eden Hazard 14 8 Olivier Giroud 13

TOP SCORERS

P 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32

SERIA A

No. Team 1 Juventus 2 Roma 3 Napoli 4 Fiorentina 5 Intern 6 Parma 7 Lazio 8 Atalanta 9 Verona 10 Torino 11 Milan 12 Sampdoria 13 Genoa 14 Udinese 15 Cagliari 16 Chievo 17 Bologna 18 Livorno 19 Sassuolo 20 Catania

undesliga champions FC Bayern München are eyeing a league double over Borussia Dortmund The Bavarians will be hoping to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season, which they suffered in Augsburg last weekend Sascha Mölders’ 31st-minute strike sent the majority of the sell-out 30,660 crowd into raptures and with Bayern unable to breach the hosts’ defences in the hour of play remaining to them, the freshly-minted champions headed home from their western Bavarian neighbours with the long-forgotten taste of league defeat in their mouths.

Bayern eye Dortmund double on the rebound

e Parisien is reporting that Marseille plan to sell up to three high-profile players to league rivals Monaco at the end of the season. Players like Mathieu Valbuena, Steve Mandanda and Nicolas N’Koulou are all expected to leave in the summer, and interestingly all three players are on Monaco’s radar. And with Marseille chairman Vincent Labrune convinced their league rivals will pay top dollar for the trio, he is hoping to see his star players make a switch to Stade Louis II. According to Le Parisien, Labrune has been in contact with agent Jorge Mendes, who has close ties to Monaco leaders. Marseille fans won’t be happy to hear about their chairman’s plans, but the club needs money in order to rebuild the squad and they just want to sell to the highest bidder.

Marseille trio linked with Monaco switch

since 2008 - a sequence they will need to remedy to make sure they retain pole position in an enthralling three-way title race with holders Barcelona and rivals Real Madrid. Both Barca and Real also face sides fighting for their top-flight lives, with Gerardo Martino’s defending champions taking on a Granada side sitting just three points above the drop zone, having lost three consecutive games.

Serena and Venus Williams are not part of the Fed Cup roster submitted by U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez for a World Group playoff against France on April 19-20. Instead, Fernandez’s roster announced on Wednesday includes 18th-ranked Sloane Stephens, No. 42 Madison Keys, No. 49 Varvara Lepchenko and No. 57 Christina McHale.

Williams

Serie A Saturday Sassuolo v Cagliari Roma v Atalanta Sunday Bologna v Parma Livorno v Chievo Napoli v Lazio Sampdoria v Inter Torino v Genoa Verona v Fiorentina

ohn Utaka will come face to face with Ivorian legend, Didier Drogba, when his club, Sivasspor, hosts Galatasaray this weekend in the Turkish Super lig. Utaka has found his form at Sivasspor, the former Lens striker even scored when his team lost 4-3 to Taiye Taiwo’s Bursasspor last weekend and he will be called upon once again when more illustrious Gala arrive at Eylül Stadium. Utaka has managed five goals this term but that can’t be compared to Drogba’s 10 goals. Super eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona, is expected to feature when his Keyserispor confront Keyserispor today.

Utaka, Drogba clash in Turkey

EPL Saturday C/Palace v Aston Villa Fulham v Norwich Soton v Cardiff Stoke v Newcastle Sunderland v Everton West Brom v Tottenham Sunday Liverpool v Man City Swansea v Chelsea

FIXTURES

ormer Flying Eagles captain, Odion Ighalo, and his Granada club could be at the mercy of Barcelona’s anger when they host the champions at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes today. Barcelona were eliminated from UEFA Champions League on Wednesday by Atletico Madrid and the Blagruana will be looking for an immediate reaction when they play against Granada. Ighalo might play a part in this one after he was overlooked for the 4-1 loss at Malaga. He has played just 11 times this term due to injury and has managed one goal so far. Ike Uche may not feature for Villarreal when they play against Levante this weekend. The player copped injury before their last weekend’s 1-0 loss at Atletico and it is not clear as at press time if the former Getafe striker will be fit for the tie.

Ighalo faces Barca backlash

sea last weekend when the Potters host Newcastle. Osaze’s inspiring run was halted by the Blues but his coach will count on the Nigerian to wreck the troubled Magpies who has PH ON SATURDAY ril 2014

SPORT

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

‘Female basketball players marketable’

GO LEWIS, GO! Scherzinger shows support for Hamilton

tar women’s basketball player Skylar Diggins, a Nike model and a guest interviewer for ESPN, can now add fashion icon to her list of assets. The 23-year-old South Bend, Indiana native earned the title of all-time scoring leader at Notre Dame and was drafted third overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock. All this despite once being told female basketball players were not marketable. And while she’s famous for sweating it out in her jersey on the court, Skylar says she has a penchant for looking glamorous when the occasion calls for it. ‘Most of my life is spent in athletic gear,’ she explained. ‘So I love it when I really get to be all glammed up.’ The athlete cites Diane von Furstenberg in particular as a favorite designer of hers. ‘I feel like I am the model she’s making her dresses for,’ she said. The five-foot-nine player gets called ‘Wonder Woman’ on the court for her sheer strength, a factor she says likes to emphasize when getting dressed. ‘I have an athletic body type, and that’s the look I’m kind of going for,’ she said. ‘I just stay, obviously, really fit and eat really clean, so it shows in my muscle tone.’ In the wake of all her recent success, she’s fully aware of how far she has come and how influential she has been, especially for other young female athletes. Indeed, Skylar revealed that when she tried to play basketball with older boys at the age of five, ‘they didn’t pass me the ball at first, so I didn’t have a chance to show them what I got.

Lifestyle

fter being delivered an excellent car by Mercedes mechanics at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton can also count on the support of an A-list star. Girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger was watching the Brit as he took place at the in-season testing, just days after triumphing at the same track. There has been a blanket ban in recent years but the rules have been relaxed this year, with Bahrain the first of four post-race tests. After dominating the race on Sunday, Mercedes again proved to be too good for the rest of the field. Nico Rosberg, second in the Grand Prix behind Hamilton, topped proceedings. Scherzinger is often spotted in the paddock at races cheering her partner on, throughout the many relationship troubles, though it is rare to see her at a testing event. Despite his win over Rosberg, Hamilton is still 11 points behind his team-mate as he aims for a second world championship.

Hamilton and girlfriend

Nasri, Kompany, others enjoy Timberlake concert

anchester City may be feeling the pressure as they prepare to take on Liverpool on Sunday, but their players certainly aren’t showing it. Manuel Pellegrini’s side go into the ‘title decider’ at Anfield knowing that if they avoid defeat they are the huge favourites to win the Premier League once again. And some of their key stars were taking time away from football to enjoy Justin Timberlake’s concert in Manchester. Samir Nasri posted a picture to his Instagram account with Fernandinho and Martin Demichelis, along with the trio’s partners.

Diggins

David Silva and partner

Makurdi celebrates maiden Polo tourney

olo is on the verge of making a grand entry in Benue State, if plans by the Makurdi Polo Club are anything to go by. Captain of the newly inaugurated Makurdi polo club, William Suswan who dropped this hint, said plans are at advance stage for the historic introduction of the noble game in Benue. Suswan who led a delegation of Makurdi Polo Club officials to the recently concluded Niger Delta Polo festival in Port Harcourt, disclosed that the inaugural Makurdi polo tournament that enjoys the full backing of the state government, royalties and the business community, is billed later in the year. According to the polo captain, the club enjoys the personal support of Governor Gabriel Suswan who is a great lover of horses and enthusiast of the game of kings, and the grand patronage of Tor Tiv (IV), HRH Alfred AkoweTorkulo and Oche Idoma (IV) HRH Agabaldu Elias Ikoyi Obekpa. With great sons of Benue like the Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Chive Kaave and Tarkimbri Suswan Oscar joining others

WITH

Chimaobi Uchendu

princehench@yahoo.com

08092747532

greats as the President and Chairman of the club respectively, polo are guaranteed to strive in Benue and Suswan could not agree more. “We are looking an appropriate space in the crowded calendar of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) to pick a suitable period for grand event that has been the rave of the state for months. “We want to particularly thank the NPF under the leadership of Francis Ogboro that has accepted our request for affiliation and has already seconded one of its officials, Alhaji Sule Umar to advise us on the logistics and other technical aspect of polo management.” Construction work on the Makurdi Polo Ground nestling off Otukpo Road in the capital city, is going according to plan, while the entire state is bustling with expectation for what would be the biggest sporting festival since the

Hot Chase…. Polo players chase after the ball at a recent polo tournament. Makurdi, the Benue State Capital is wearing new looks ahead of their inaugural polo tournament.

creation of the state decades ago. “The festival will also help unveil our new facilities that would Club House, Stables, paddocks and a well groom Playing Turf that would be one of the best polo pitches in the country.” “As part of the festival there will also be a Charity and auction to help raise vital funds for further development of our ground and promotion of the game of polo across the state and beyond,” Suswan Added. “The inaugural tournament would be a fantastic opportunity for people to find out more about the noble sport and see some of the most

talented players that this country has to offer,” he enthused. Some of the great polo aficionados who have already signed on to the forthcoming Makurdi polo extravaganza include Dawule Baba, Senator Hadi Sirika, Honourable Aliyu Wadada, Mohammed Babangida, Bello Buba, Jamilu Mohammed and Mike Ogolo, among others. “So far, we are training hard to package battle ready teams from Makurdi that would compete for honours against top teams from Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Katsina, Bauchi, Yola, Abuja, Zaria Jos and Port Hacourt,” he pointed out.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

SPORT

I’ll pick Nigeria over England any day – Ogunbote, Nigeria-born Briton

When did you start playing football?

I have been playing football since I was like four or five years old. The first time I discovered football was on television; my daddy was flicking through the channels and I just saw it on television. In my mind I ‘said so women also play football.’ I went into the garden got my ball and boots and started practicing; since then I have been playing football.

Lola Ogunbote is a Nigeria-born Briton who started playing football at the age of four. A lawyer by profession, the former West Ham Women’s Football Club player in this interview with CHARLES OGUNDIYA, talks about her football and legal career in England and her ambition to represent Nigeria’s Super Falcons. Excerpts:

How did your parents receive your decision to play football?

My parents were not so enthusiastic about it. For them it wasn’t appropriate for a lady to be doing what they termed men’s sport, but being in UK really helped a lot because people are a lot more liberal, more receptive, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I had the confidence to say this is what I really wanted to do. Before then I was playing but they were not aware, after a while however they became more supportive. But why football when there were several sports you could have picked?

I think for me it came naturally, it wasn’t something I found difficult to do. You know some people have to train very hard before getting it done, but for me it wasn’t like that, maybe that’s the way God intended it. I found football very easy, it was a natural ability for me and because of that I enjoyed it more, and also wanted to play more. It was just natural for me.

How were you able to combine playing football and your studies?

I guess one reason I was able to succeed in both was that I told myself that if I continued playing football and my grades dropped, then my parent will associate the falling grades to football. Since I didn’t want anything to affect my playing football I had to put in extra effort. I said to myself ‘I must be extra good in my grades so that nobody will say Lola is failing because of football.’ What I did was to0 create time for my studies. We trained twice a week, we had games once in a week, what I did was the hours I spent in playing football I doubled

If the opportunity comes now and you are to choose between England and Nigeria, which one will you pick?

Honestly, it is not a difficult thing to do. I am a Nigerian, despite the fact that I was born over there. I will always choose Nigeria ahead of England; I will really love to play for Nigeria one day. I am saying that because the Nigerian team has the capacity to move forward, to develop and make impact in the game. They have been successful so far on the continent, but they can do better at the world scene. England too is a good side, but the difference here in Nigeria is that it’s all about your talent, while in England you learn the rudiments from a young age. You have the opportunity to learn. Both teams have their pros and cons, but as a Nigerian, I will be more comfortable playing for my country. Assuming you are invited to the national team will you drop your law career to pursue international football?

At this time in my career I am quite settled, and I believe it is now a good time to explore any national team opportunity that comes because I don’t have any more studying to do. I’m through with my degree, I’ve done my Masters, completed my Law school, unless I want to go for my PhD, and I don’t think I am going for that now. So I can afford to play for the national team now; in fact the organisation I work for is very flexible, we can arrange for leave for me to attend national team invitations and still go back to work anytime I am through.

Lola Ogunbote with a colleague at 2012 Olympics

Can you tell us about your career so far professionally?

I started with West Ham women’s team when I was 16; I won the player of the year with them before moving to Essex County Women Football Club which is at the County level. I played for them for three seasons and we were runners up for the County Cup. After Essex County, I went back to school to study law and I was playing for my school football team. The team used to travel around the country to play against other university teams; in fact the university where I schooled, University of Hertfordshire, was where the Arsenal Ladies also trained. We played together and shared a lot together as a team. Later I had to take time out for surgery and other issues before returning to the game to play for a women team, Shenarswood Women FC. Currently I play for my law firm which has a football team and we play against other law firms and that has been going on now for a year and half.

have loved to pursue my international career I had to make a very difficult decision.

What do you think you can bring into the Nigeria national team, the Super Falcons?

After playing the game at the top level in England, I think I can bring something special into the team. The players in the team currently are very good technically, but my experience will put me in good stead to compete favourably with them if I get the opportunity. I can learn from the team as much as they would from me.

Ogunbote

for my studies. If I knew I was going to play for four hours then I must spend eight hours minimum for my studies. With that I was able to make good use of my time, and my game was going on as well as my studies.

Have you had offers to play for a top team in England or outside since you resumed playing fully?

What makes Arsenal Women so successful in England?

They have the mindset that they will win, and anytime they are on the field of play that winning mentality is always present no matter the team they are playing against, from the coaches to the players; that has been the spirit. When anyone joins them they automatically pick up the same mind set. The success really comes down to efforts and dedication of the players to the game. Also they have the best facilities in the country. Have there been invitations to any national teams, either in England or Nigeria

Ogunbote

where you are from?

I have never had any invitations and the reason is not far-fetched. At 23 I went to law school, later I had my injury, and during this period, when my mates were making waves I was out of the game. In as much as I would

Yes, there are about seven clubs asking me to come and play for them, but the reason I chose to play for my law firm was to balance my work, life and hobbies. If I decide to play for another club it might affect the professional career I spent years building; the only way to continue in my career and to fulfill my passion for football is to play for my law firm. If you must know, we are in a league that has 22 other law firms competing for honours. It is not just for fun, it is a big league sponsored by private organisations like the normal league; we play every Monday, in fact before coming to Nigeria we just won the league. Although it is not as competitive as a normal league, but that is the sacrifice I need to make to develop my legal career.

32 SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Countdown to Fifa World Cup HISTORY

1986: The year of Diego Maradona same devastating form to send out Enzo Scifo and his gang. It 986 was the year of Diego Ar- was clear there was no stopping mando Maradona, arguably the little giant. the most naturally talented Try as Germany did in the player ever. final they could not stop history When most players were find- in motion. In a typical fashion, ing it difficult coping with the high Germany fought back from two altitude of Mexico, Maradona was goal deficit, and Maradona had to gliding all over the field, seeming- dig deep into his limitless bag of ly unaffected. Yet the world was tricks, flicking that looping pass not told to expect him largely due to Jorge Burruchaga to score the to his not too impressive debut in final goal. Jose Luis Brown and Spain four years before. Jorge Valdano had put Argentina But Maradona completely ahead. Karl Heinz Rummenigge dominated the championship, and Rudi Voeller leveled for Gerliterally taking it by the scruff of many. the neck. Nothing could be taken Maradona ended up with from him; this was the year of the five goals, one behind Gary Diego. No one Lineker who was ever played When most players the highest goal football with so scorer in Mexico much skill and were finding it in 1986. flair. Everything difficult coping Italy hosted he did on the with the high the 1990 fiesta, field smacked but this edition of nothing but altitude of Mexico, was not a particgenius. He was Maradona was ularly memorable the quintessen- gliding all over the or thrilling World tial ball player. Cup. That sublime He scored field, seemingly edge of the last the equaliser unaffected two tournaments against Italy in was missing. The the group stage. final two teams But it was against England in the were Argentina and Germany quarter final that the magic actu- in a replay of the final in Mexico. ally began. His first goal against It is a testimony to the genius the Three Lions was the ‘Hand of of Diego Maradona that he was God.’ But his second is perhaps still able to drag that rather pethe greatest goal in all history. destrian Argentina side to the Picking up the ball near his own final. However, in one of the half with that ‘divine’ left foot, most uninspiring final matches Maradona started that mazy run. ever, Germany were awarded a By the time the ball nestled in disputed penalty which was perPeter Shilton’s net five, six Eng- fectly tucked away by Andreas lish defenders were left sprawl- Brehme. At the end of proceeding on the turf. It was beauty, ings, it was the great German artistry, magic all rolled together. skipper Lothar Matheaus who Against Belgium in the semi fi- lifted the trophy to take their tally nal, Maradona reenacted the to three. Vincent Eboigbe

Edin Dzeko

Messi

Dejagah

Mikel

Eagles out to surprise the world Ifeanyi Ibeh

he farthest the Super Eagles have gone at the World Cup was the Round of 16, in 1994 and 1998 respectively. But they have failed to fly past the group stage in their last two World Cup appearances and have not won a game since beating Bulgaria 1-0 at France ’98. That was 16 years ago, and eight games have since been played by the Super Eagles without much to cheer about since Victor Ikpeba’s solitary strike against the Bulgarians. But they look set to end their winless streak in Brazil 2014, where they will be up against Iran, BosniaHerzegovina and Argentina. Stephen Keshi, who captained the Eagles at their maiden World Cup appearance in 1994, has transformed the side since taking over from Samson Siasia, and led the team to success at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations. His selection policy may at times be controversial, but it has most of the time paid off with opponents finding it tough to defeat the Super Eagles. But despite the transformation that has taken place since Keshi’s arrival, one problem that has remained has been that posed by an overbearing football federation. Off-the-field issues have followed the team and Keshi, who has sometimes gone months without pay, but that is a no issue as far as the Nigerian public are concerned as they expect the Super Eagles to make it to the last-eight in Brazil irrespective of the fact that some of the stars of the Nations Cup success, most notably John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, have fallen out of favour at their re-

spective European clubs. But with players like Emmanuel Emenike, Kenneth Omeruo and Ogenyi Onazi enjoying game time at their various clubs, and with one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Vincent Enyeama, manning the posts, it is understandable why the Nigerian public are expecting something better than a Round of 16 showing in Brazil. And a place in the quarterfinals is an achievable feat for Keshi’s side as, take away the Argentinians, the Super Eagles should be able to overcome the Iranians and Bosnians and secure a berth into the Round of 16 where they will come up against one of the trio of France, Switzerland and Ecuador. They will however need to get off to a good start against Iran, who have failed to progress from the group stage in their three previous World Cup appearances, and place pressure on their other Group F rivals. The Iranians only conceded twice in eight matches during the final qualifying phase, but they are expected to ship in a lot of goals in Brazil and the Super Eagles will do well to set the ball rolling with a flurry of goals against the side managed by former Real Madrid and Portugal coach, Carlos Queiroz, before coming up against the Bosnians on June 21. The Bosnians, making their debut World Cup appearance, will look to continue from where they left off GROUP F FIXTURES 15 June Argentina vs Bosnia 16 June Iran vs Nigeria 21 June Argentina vs Iran 21 June Nigeria vs Bosnia 25 June Nigeria vs Argentina 25 June Bosnia vs Iran

in the qualifiers, where their tally of 30 goals was the fourth highest in European qualifying, with 18 of those goals coming from the strike duo of Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic. But they have a suspect backline that, despite the presence of Asmir Begovic in goal, has proven to be the team’s weak spot, most recently in March’s 2-0 defeat to Egypt in a friendly match played in Austria.

FACT BOX ARGENTINA FIFA ranking: 6 Appearances: 17 Best Ever Finish: Winners (1978, 1986) Key players: Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero Captain: Lionel Messi Manager: Alejandro Sabella BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FIFA ranking: 25 Appearances: 1 Best Ever Finish: Maiden Appearance Key players: Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic Captain: Emir Spahic Manager: Safet Susic

IRAN FIFA ranking: 37 Appearances: 4 Best Finish: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2006) Key players: Javad Nekounam and Ashkan Dejagah Captain: Javad Nekounam Manager: Carlos Queiroz NIGERIA FIFA ranking: 45 Appearances: 5 Best Ever Finish: Last 16 (1994, 1998) Key players: Vincent Enyeama and John Obi Mikel Captain: Joseph Yobo Manager: Stephen Keshi

VERDICT: Iran will crash out without winning a game, while Argentina and Nigeria finish first and second respectively ahead of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Maradona

SHOWBIZ

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

with you and sign you on from your record label”. It was a very big surprise because we never discussed that and never knew it would come to that. All of a sudden, my ex-boss called me and said that Jude wanted to sign me on and he’s really serious about it. He told me Jude wanted me to come back from America, have a meeting with him and start something really fast. I was startled because Jude is a very big critic in the industry and I remembered that during one of our discussions, he’d said that he wasn’t going to sign on any artiste after the issue with May D. So, calling me for this kind of deal was like a miracle, we went for the meeting and before we knew it, we had started working. That’s how it all started. The involvement is for them to be both my record label and management.

I have preference for Clarence Peters and I’ve worked with him on two of my videos already and definitely, Jude Okoye, who also co-directed my last video, Sesan, Mombusa and other nice guys. OTHER THRILLS

I know it sounds so vain, but I love shopping, hanging out with friends and having fun. Basically, my life is all about music. It’s either I’m writing songs, listening to or arguing about music, watching music videos and traveling. FAVOURITE DOMESTIC CHORES

I love cooking very much. And my favourite cuisine is pounded yam and egusi soup. I pound the yam myself and my grandma taught me all that.

IN THE PIPELINE

We’re working on an album and by the grace of God, we would be dropping it before the end of the year. We have a couple of songs and videos we’re putting together already. You know it’s a male dominated industry and one has to work really hard, even four times better to reach where one desires. GOOD ENOUGH FOR RIVALRY

Actually, I know I’m good and it’s not all about being the biggest artiste or best singer. I think it’s about favour because if you want to assess fairly, you’d realize that the top acts are not actually the best singers, so to speak. We’re all just lucky to be enjoying God’s blessings. I’m actually not in competition with the female acts; I’m in competition with the industry which comprises both the male and the female. I want to rise to the top and stay there. ASSEMBLING COSTUMES INSPIRATION FOR LYRICS

Writing songs for me is very sacred. I write my songs as they come, maybe from what I heard, the stories about what people are going through in their daily lives, adventures, personal experiences and so on. I work round the clock, so when I pick up my pen to write songs, it might be from the prompting of a beat my producer sends to me or at other times, I may just write a song already and take it to the studio. And when I get to the producer, I sing and engage him to get a beat to it. When I pick a pen and a paper, I just don’t know how it happens; it just keeps streaming in because I’m very weird when it comes to imagination.

DEALING WITH A SWARM OF MEN

I grew up with men and didn’t really have enough girls around me. My grandma was probably the only female I had around, so when guys start their games, I already know the tactics already and I see it as something that must come your way as a lady. It’s actually one of my hobbies to joke over guys intentions and it’s very natural for me to make things happen and we’d just become platonic friends before you know it. The ones who keep bugging me also remain on friend zone.

GUTS FOR THE LEWD PHOTOSHOOT

First of all, what we’re doing is called showbusiness. It must entertain. It’s normal when you’re like a model or an artiste, it’s your job to make people want to come and watch you. I don’t see it as a big deal, never worried about answers to “Oh my God! How did she get to do the pictures or snap nude?” We’re all professionals. My photographer is a professional, my stylist is and we are just working to create something different. A STAR FROM CRADLE

The only thing I can tell from my childhood is that right from birth I’d been a very special child. Everybody says that. I was just distinct talent-wise. For instance, in school when we had different functions requiring cultural dances, singing, choir ministration and so on, if there were nine functions, I would be part of eight. I was a leader in nearly everything and if I didn’t get to perform in one outing, it would be that my rehearsal collided with that engagement. I’ve been a star from childhood and it’s one of the things that groomed me to become who I am today.

LOVE LIFE

I’m not in a relationship for now; basically I’m focusing on my career. Of course, there’s room for a man who understands me and desires to hang around me and supporting my dream. But for now, I want to concentrate on my career. Even my boss would say “the reason I don’t like females is that they come and after a short time, they’re telling you they want to marry and they’d start having issues”. MUSIC PRODUCERS EYED FOR JOBS

Well, in Nigeria I think the producers I’d love to work with are D’Tunes, Don Jazzy, Mastercraft and a couple of other great guys. For music video productions,

I have a very crazy manager, Joy Tongo, from my first label and she was my label executive before I signed the pact with Jude Okoye. She is very creative and I have a stylist who is also very good, his styles are amazing. We come together to rub minds on how my costumes should look, even when I’m not ready to shoot, he’d just piece up the stuff and say, “I think this would look good on Cynthia”. Ultimately, it’s just a collaborative work. MOST DAUNTING INDUSTRY TASK

Well, it’s difficult being a female in the music industry here in Nigeria because every step, every day for a female singer is more difficult like promotion of songs, endorsement and so on. You must have a dragon soul to stand tall. Basically, getting a recording label as a female when I was very young was really tough. And some Nigerian recording labels have funny ways of dealing with their artistes. They would make you promises of heaven on earth and at the end, you’d be left almost flat-footed. You get a lot of gregarious people in the industry and it made it difficult for me to find the first serious person to work with. And you’d also agree with me that more male songs are played at pubs, on air and so on. BEST FEMALE ACTS IN NIGERIA

I like Tiwa Savage, Waje and Omawumi. WORKS ON AIR

Don’t Break My Heart video is enjoying massive airplay already and it was directed by Clarence Peters which is a love story told in rural locale. The other one is Lead Me On is something pretty urban and it’s been compared to Beyonce’s Drunken Love, even though my video is doper than that.

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Doyin takes a plunge into the noodles market Dele Alao

new entrant into the instant noodles market, Doyin Instant Noodles, from the stable of Doyin Investment Limited, is set to capture between 25 per cent and 35 per cent of market share by 2015. The company stated this recently during the unveiling of the new product. The chairman and chief executive officer, Doyin Group, Prince Samuel Adedoyin, who was represented by the company’s finance controller, Mr. Stephen Daramola, said: “We looked into the market and the consumption pattern of all classes of Nigerians in the area of foods, we realized the opportunity in instant noodles as food item that is generally consumed by all classes of people. We value the health of our consumers, so we developed our instant noodle products to be rich in vitamins, carbohydrates and other nutri-

tional values that will make our products to stand out”. The industrialist noted that the conceptualization of a tasty noodle with mass appeal started last year. “The idea of Doyin Instant Noodles to join our stream of Products started barely a year ago and to the glory of God we are here today to launch it into the market,” he said. Speaking on the launch of Doyin Instant which comes in Chicken Flavour, the company’s marketing manager, Mr. Biodun Awoyemi, noted that the newly launched product stemmed from thorough research and consumer dynamics in Nigeria’s fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sub-sector. “Initially, the perception in the market is that there is a ceiling in terms of taste of noodles. But, here we have been able to research into the noodles market and we discovered that if the noodles is delicious and its aroma is a bit stronger, the product comes out better,” he said. Awoyemi added that, Doyin Instant Noodles. Which comes

Fayrouz takes the search for best style team to campuses

ollowing the launch of the maiden edition of Fayrouz L’Original last year, with the ‘Party for the Originals’; Nigerian Breweries Plc, handlers of the brand, has announced the search for the best fashion & lifestyle team in Nigeria. The brewery giant in a statement stated that the Fayrouz L’Original Expression show has been put together to discover and promote young and talented fashion-forward undergraduates in universities across Nigeria. The competition, will see teams of four young creative including a Fashion Designer, Make-Up Artiste, Photographer and a Model, come together to create original ensembles. These teams will battle for the prize money of $20,000 and fashion opportunities of a lifetime. The exercise, which began last week, features various prominent individuals who have over the years carved a niche for themselves in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle industry.

Meanwhile, organisers of the competition have selected a few individuals, who have made mark in the industry as judges and mentors during the competition. The list include; Mai Atafo of Mai Atafo Inspired, Kunbi Oyelese of April By Kunbi, Warebi Martha of Catwalk Productions and Nobel Afrik. Art Direction will be done by Omoyemi Akerele (Style House Files). Online judges who will also select the final 10 contending teams throughout the competition include the Orange Culture, Gozel Green, Kate Williams, among others. Meanwhile, guideline released for participants indicates that registered teams will participate in tasks that will be given every week throughout the various phases of the competition. It has also been stated that a regional show for the final 10 teams will be held in Enugu, while the grand finale to select the final team, will take place in July in Lagos.

L-R: Senior Head of Sales, Doyin Instant Noodles, Mr. Duru Nnamdi; Head of Sales, Mr. Godfrey Ogbitebu; Finance Controller, Mr. Stephen Daramola and Marketing Manager, Mr. Biodun Awoyemi, at the launch of Doyin Instant Noodles in Lagos

in 100g is manufactured to global quality Standard for food products and spiced with the Unique Chicken flavour, is different from others on the market Shelf. “We are therefore introducing Doyin Instant Noodles, starting with 100gm sachets. The product can stand out with its unique, inviting, appealing and strong aroma. Apart from that, we have ensured that it does not

match or stick and it is delicious. It is produced in terms of taste for class A, but positioned for the Mass Market. Its exotic spices are blended in a way to give the noodle a mouth watering goodness which people are asking for,” The company’s senior head of sale, Mr. Duru Nnamdi, observed that with the introduction of premium quality Doyin Instant

Noodles, the noodles market will never be the same again. “In the last one month, our distributors have expressed delights on the new product. In terms of quality content and the packaging Doyin Noodles hold the ace. It is packaged in a colourful red and yellow outer carton, containing forty sachets of 100gm. The pack can compete well with others,” Duru said.

O2 challenges advertising practitioners

he Oxygen Advertising Academy has called on advertising practitioners and corporate bodies to give back to the industry, as a means of developing it. Founder of the institution popularly called O2 Academy, Mr. Ozoemena Mbanefo, said this recently at the firm’s fifth year anniversary. He said that if professionals come together to train more people in advertising, it would go a long way in promoting capacity in the industry and moving it forward. He explained that it was for such a purpose that the academy was established to offer free coaching to every young person with a passion for advertising. According to him, the O2 Academy is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) based hands-on creative training school, designed to bring every day workplace experience of an advertising agency to the young people by a team of seasoned professionals.

This he also noted is with a view to selflessly grow new admen and revolutionise the ad world. Mbanefo, who is a senior manager at 141 Worldwide, a creative firm, said he, along with fellow admen, established the free coaching academy to train greenhorns in advertising practice for free. He said: “02 Academy was inspired by what I suffered in my first few months in the ad industry. I joined my first ad agency a complete novice in the practice of advertising, though I had a degree in mass communication and zeal to create great advertising, I was reduced to running errands for my colleagues. I was on the verge of losing steam and confidence in my abilities when help came. That was when I vowed that I must help young talents have a smooth sailing career in the advertising industry.” He stated that making it free is their way of giving back to humanity, and that it has attracted more than 20 industry experts who

share the same belief of selfless service. “These wonderful individuals lecture at O2 Academy without collecting a fee. Nevertheless, we are still sourcing for brand sponsorship to enable us get a bigger space, better facilities and tools that will aid this initiative, “ he said. On how students are recruited, Mbanefo said: “They undergo a selection process through an online test. We usually send a viral message for the interested candidates to apply and we select the ones with creative talents.” He also said that the single minded objective of the initiative is to use the platform to promote capacity building and free mentorship in the advertising industry. This, he noted, would help uplift and heighten advertising standards in the country to compete and play at the global level, as well as create new employment opportunities for upcoming industry leaders.

True Confession: “This pregnancy doesn’t belong to my husband” p.38 Wedding Traditions Shooting the Bride: China p.38

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12 APRIL 2014

‘How affair with a woman saved me and my husband’ Sometimes, marriage becomes a long and boring journey, and we are left in a dilemma on how to put the spark back. For this writer, it took the romance of a fellow woman to regain her lost passion for her man.

he minutes ticked by as I waited for my husband Erik to get home from work. He was late. Panic began to set in. Where was he? There was a good reason for my nerves. This, I had promised myself, was to be the day I told him everything. I was going to confess about what I had been up to for the past three months. I couldn’t bear the deceit any more, the guilt I felt as I spun another yarn about another girly weekend away or an afternoon spent ‘interviewing’ someone for my next book. But if this sounds like a cliched tale of infidelity, it’s not. Yes, I had been cheating on my husband — but it wasn’t with another man, it was with a woman. And as a 40-year-old mother-of-three, I had never so much as had a teenage crush on a female friend before, let alone a physical relationship. I knew, as I nervously anticipated Erik’s return, that what I had to confess could ruin everything. But what I could never have anticipated was that his reaction would transform our marriage — for the better. Erik and I had first met in 2001, when I had flown to Florida for a friend’s wedding. Bruised by a recent acrimonious divorce — ironically, my first marriage had crumbled after eight years because of my husband’s adultery — romance was the last thing I was looking for. I expected it to be no more than a holiday fling, but after I flew back to London we talked for hours every day on the phone and exchanged lengthy emails. It became apparent this was the beginning of something serious. The next month, Erik came to visit me at my home in Chelsea, where my two sons from my first marriage, Henry and Matthew, then seven and four, took to him instantly. After conducting a long-distance relationship, flying back and forth for nearly a year, in 2002 I took the drastic step of moving my family to Florida. The boys settled in well, though. They loved having a man about the house again. When I found out I was pregnant just days after our arrival in the U.S., I was delighted that our new blended family was soon to become complete. Erik then raised the subject of marriage but I shied away — still stung by my divorce. I gave birth to Lily in 2002, and two years later I finally agreed to make our union official. Two days before Christmas, we promised to

Love Confession forsake all others in a small church ceremony in front of 50 of our closest friends. I meant it: after being on the receiving end of an adulterous spouse myself, I passionately believed in fidelity. In 2008, we moved to Vermont for Erik’s work, close to the Canadian border. I thought I would love our new home, but while the children settled into their schools, I had to find new friends. Much as I loved my husband, I craved the kind of feminine friendship most women take for granted. Gradually, I grew more and more bored and depressed. Erik tried to be sympathetic, but, as I told him, a man could never understand how I felt. I lost interest in everything but my writing. Erik was as loving in bed as ever, but our passion was missing. Then, out of the blue, I got an email from an old colleague (we’d worked together in TV news) who’d moved to Montreal, less than two hours away. I didn’t know Freya that well, but she was also British and far from home, so when she suggested we meet up, I jumped at the chance. We clicked straight away. With Freya, I didn’t have to spell out why I felt the way I did, as I had to with Erik. She simply understood. Exhilarated to have finally made a friend, we began meeting up every few weeks for coffee or lunch. Then Freya invited me to a party with some of her friends. We both drank far too much, and at some point in the evening I can only hazily remember, Freya kissed me, and, caught up in the moment, I kissed her back. The next morning, we both laughed it off, blaming it on the alcohol. But in my quieter moments, my mind kept returning to that kiss. Not long afterwards, we met up at the cinema to see a chick flick that Erik hadn’t been interested in. In the darkness, I was startled when Freya leaned in and kissed me again — but I found myself responding. I was curious — I’d never done this sort of thing before — but it also felt surprisingly natural. I forgot I was kissing a woman. Because it was a woman, not a man, it was easy to convince myself I wasn’t being unfaithful. I still loved Erik, but being with Freya made me feel like my old self again. Over the next month, we grew even closer, talking almost every day on the phone, texting constantly and visiting each other’s homes. Erik seemed delighted I’d found an ally at last, and my heart twinged with guilt when he told me how much he liked her. Things came to a head when Freya and I went to New York together one weekend for her birthday. We shared a twin room — ostensibly to save money, but I can’t deny the thought that something else might happen crossed my mind. That evening she flirted outrageously with me over dinner. When we went back to the hotel, after

nearly two bottles of wine, she started to kiss me. I put all thoughts of Erik aside and fell into her bed. At first, I was nervous. I’d had plenty of experience with men, but I was a novice with women. I can only compare it with trying snowboarding for the first time after years as an alpine skier. The next morning, I felt embarrassed but exhilarated, as if I’d passed some kind of test. Back home, when Erik asked me how the weekend had gone, I fibbed and told him we’d spent so much time shopping, we’d both fallen asleep early. Again, I told myself that it wasn’t infidelity. In truth, it was as if the forbidden novelty of sex with a woman had flipped a switch inside me. I felt sensuous and alive. Erik soon noticed the change in me, commenting how much more passionate I seemed. Ironically, my guilty secret seemed to be bringing us closer — first in bed, and then, by turn, everywhere else. There was no denying that the desire it had reawoken in me was breathing new life into my mar-

riage, and, despite everything, that it was my husband who I truly loved. It seems this phenomenon is not unusual. A recent study of women who had been unfaithful revealed that a third felt their transgression had improved their sexual relationship with their husband. Although Freya and I carried on seeing each other, we only slept together twice more. The lies began to weigh more heavily on my mind. Slipping back into the house one evening, after another illicit phone call, I glimpsed Erik, framed by the living room door, between my two boys on the sofa. It was like seeing a snapshot of what I had to lose. I might be able to convince myself a fling with a woman didn’t count, but I couldn’t deny I was betraying his trust. So one evening, when Erik returned home from work, I was waiting for him. ‘I slept with Freya,’ I blurted out before he had even got through the door. To my astonishment, he replied: ‘I know.’ c o n t i n u e s o n pa g e 3 8

MODEL OF THE DAY Name: Praise E-mail: praisebenny@ yahoo.com

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36 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Love Songs

Love News

Every Day I Love You

Married couples separated by German language test

ichael Guhle met the love of his life on the beach of a little fishing village in Vietnam. Thi An Nguyen was selling freshly cooked mussels and fruit to the German tourist and they immediately clicked. Soon the Berlin nursing home worker was saving up all of his money and vacation days to visit Nguyen. Marriage was supposed to bring them together. Instead, it was the beginning of a long ordeal apart. Germany blocked Nguyen from entering the country after she flunked the language test that Germany requires aspiring immigrants to pass — even those married to Germans. “I thought marrying the person you love and living together was a human right,” Guhle said in his modest two-

room apartment on the outskirts of Berlin. “Apparently this is not the case in Germany.” Germany adopted German language regulations for prospective immigrants in 2007. Most EU countries — including France, Italy, Spain and Sweden — do not require foreign spouses to pass mandatory language tests before they join their partners in Europe. Austria, Britain and the Netherlands are among countries that require language tests before foreign spouses can enter the country, but experts say Germany’s test is the toughest. The European Commission has criticized the law in Germany, saying it may violate European treaties. And a legal challenge to the European Court

of Justice is expected to be heard this month. As things stand, however, binational couples like Guhle and his wife face costly and daunting challenges. Germany defends the law as a way to prevent forced marriages and to help immigrants integrate more easily. Critics maintain the law discriminates against the uneducated and poor. Most agree immigrants should learn German, but opponents of the law say that could be done more quickly, cheaply and easily in Germany. Courtesy: news.yahoo.com

Woman arrested for calling 911 for Sex

aria Montanez-Colon, 58, was arrested in Punta Gorda, Florida, for misuse of the 911 system she said was the only way to get an officer she thought was “sexy” back to her home. The calls began on Friday night after 6 p.m. when Ms. Montanez-Colon’s first 911 conversation began with her telling the dispatcher, “There’s no emergency.” She then indicated that she wanted a Corvette back from her stepson, a car she had signed over to him following her husband’s death. The Smoking Gun reported that when police officer Justin Davoult arrived at Montanez-Colon’s home, the woman was intoxicated. She made several advances towards the officer and informed him that it had been years since she had sex. Police said that Montanez-Colon told the officer she wanted to have sex with him and grabbed his arms

Life Experience

Love Crime

and tried to rub his chest. Lieutenant Joe King of the Punta Gorda Police Department told WBBH NBC 2, “She got away from the questions and tried to get a little personal with our officer in which, you know, he

BOYZONE

had no part of.” Officer Davoult warned her about misusing the 911 system and gave her a card with the police department’s non-emergency phone number that she could use for such matters. Not taking that warning to heart, less than an hour later Montanez-Colon called 911 again. She told the dispatcher that she was mad that the original officer turned her down and she wanted to see another. Davoult returned to meet another officer at the caller’s home and Montanez-Colon admitted she knew that she shouldn’t have called 911 but had no other way to get officer Davoult to return to her house. Police arrested Montanez-Colon for misusing 911. Her neighbors say that Montanez-Colon is not dangerous and rather than jail time, she needs help to treat her alcohol addiction. Source: news.yahoo.com

I don’t know, but I believe That some things are meant to be And that you’ll make a better me Everyday I love you I never thought that dreams came true But you showed me that they do You know that I learn something new Everyday I love you ‘Cos I believe that destiny Is out of our control (don’t you know that I do) And you’ll never live until you love With all your heart and soul.

Love Poem

It’s a touch when I feel bad It’s a smile when I get mad All the little things I am Everyday I love you Everyday I love you more Everyday I love you ‘Cos I believe that destiny Is out of our control (don’t you know that I do) And you’ll never live until you love With all your heart and soul If I asked would you say yes? Together we’re the very best I know that I am truly blessed Everyday I love you And I’ll give you my best Everyday I love you.

Saint

Thoughts from the Heart I’ve seen love lift people up and carry them through pain. I’ve then wished I could be a part of that pain, ...just to experience the love. Sometimes the simplicity of a single glance can create an emotion of extreme complexity.

Romantic Jokes

Though love doesn’t come in small portions, Sometimes it’s the heart that just takes in a little at a time. It’s amazing how love can make the size of one’s heart greatly exceed the size of one’s body. Send your poems with your name to ireto007@yahoo.com, call 08131161840

Fence of Love

A couple celebrates their 30th anniversary by re-walking their first walk together. They come to the fence against which they first made love. The husband says, “Come on, for old time’s sake.” The wife agrees and they both undress. Afterwards, the husband says, “You’re even better than you were 30 years ago.” His wife replies, “That fence wasn’t electrified 30 years ago!”

Words of Wisdom: Hold on to your love.

‘I lost my virginity to my best friend’s boyfriend’

’ve never told anyone more than a vague account of my “first time” if the topic of virginity comes up. I was young, 15. We were drunk. It wasn’t very magical. If pressed for more details, I would lie and say I lost it to a boyfriend. In the beginning of High School my best friend and co-conspirator was Mary*. Mary and I did absolutely everything together, including a lot of firsts. Particularly a lot of reckless firsts. We got drunk for the first time together, smoked pot and tried various other substances for the first time together. She was even there the night of my first kiss, and then again in the front seat when I was in the back seat giving my first blowjob. I adored Mary. Then Mary started dating Malcolm*, and our two-some evolved into a three-some. I was always hanging out with Mary,

I was stuck in the middle of their drama, trying to assuage both sides and now so was he, so we got to know each other pretty well. I would even sneak him into my house when Mary spent the night and he would sleep between us, sneaking out early in the morning. Mary lost her virginity to Malcolm. She called me that night to let me know. We did everything together, and I was sad that we now had this seemingly huge disparity between us. Of course I was a little jealous of Mary. I was certainly attracted to Malcolm, and I desperately longed for teenage love. But what I really wanted was my own boyfriend.

Their relationship was pretty tumultuous -- it got to the point where one week they were dating and the next week they were broken up. I could barely keep track. Malcolm would call or text me sometimes late at night when Mary wouldn’t answer his calls. I was stuck in the middle of their drama, trying to assuage both sides. I didn’t want them to be fighting. I preferred when we could all hang out happily together. I don’t remember exactly how I ended up on his mattress that night, with him offering to massage my back. Our flirtation had started casually enough and evolved into a very frustrating temptation that I started to encourage. Malcolm and Mary had recently broken up again. He had probably called me to talk about his distress, and I had probably gone to his house under the

pretenses of continuing my counseling in person. I can’t plead total innocence on possible scenarios involving me hanging out with my best friend’s boyfriend alone in his room while drinking alcohol. It didn’t “just happen.” I was complicit in my deceit. After everything, I was in a sort of a daze, thinking about what had just happened. I wasn’t a virgin anymore. I don’t remember it hurting. I don’t think there was any blood. I lost my virginity to my best friend’s boyfriend. I didn’t feel more mature. I felt dirty. I felt vacant. They were back together a few days later. I don’t remember how she found out. It didn’t matter. She was betrayed, and we had our own messy break-up. I was ashamed, c o n t i n u e s o n pa g e 3 7

LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

SEXUAL COMMUNICATION

Relationships & Love Advice

“I’m heartbroken because my man has gone back to his wife” Dear Love Doctor, I am now heartbroken and an emotional wreck after my lover man recently returned to his wife. We had been living together for the past five years after he left his wife in Lagos and came to live in Abuja. Last November, he said he was tired of living away from his family and that he wants to reconcile with his wife and children and live once again like a responsible family man. I’ve been feeling so heartbroken since he left. What do I do now? Love Doctor’s Advice:

He was never yours in the first instance, so you should have known that you were shooting yourself in the foot when you decided to live with another woman’s man. Put yourself in the shoes of that man’s wife. Would you like someone else to do to you what you did to her? The truth is that what goes around, comes around. Therefore, we should do to others what we want to be done to us. Through your living with that man, his family must have suffered a great deal, not to mention the psychological trauma and heartbreak

c o n t i n u e D F R O M pa g e 3 6

am ashamed for how disrespectful I was to my friend, and also to myself. We eventually reconciled. Reflecting back on our friendship, I have since come to understand I didn’t just want to be like Mary, I wanted to be Mary. I betrayed her friendship for something as insignificant as sex, because in a twisted way I thought it made me more like her. I don’t want to say losing my virginity wasn’t a big deal, but the sex aspect isn’t what makes me cringe. It’s the manner in which it came about, and that I should’ve known better. I did know better. I only recently told one of my friends. For the first time I ac-

his wife went through. You have to admit that through your actions, you caused his family a lot of pain, directly or indirectly. And if a man now chooses to do what is right by returning to his family and living responsibly as a married family man once again, the best you can do is to encourage him. You shouldn’t constitute a barrier to his doing what is right. We should all learn to make responsible choices in life and take responsibility for our actions. The choice to date or cohabit with a married person will always be wrong. We should not lose our morality or values all in the name of love. It is simply not right. Although you may feel heartbroken at the moment, you just need to move on with your life and forget him. 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 or Chris 08023913619. Visit www.romancestory.org

tually uttered the words “I lost my virginity to my best-friend’s boyfriend.” I was incredibly relieved to finally be able to own up to my past. Astonishingly, my friend replied, “I did too.” I don’t think it makes us bad people. Adolescence is wrought with challenges and hard decisions and bad decisions, and we learn from them. In the nearly 10 years since, I have grown up a great deal and I have a lot more respect for my friends and myself. I like to think I’ve learned to be much more responsible and independent. I have lost touch with Mary, but I still miss her and think about our friendship from time to time. I wish her the best, and hope to catch up with her someday. Courtesy: xo.com

6 steps to asking for what you want in bed

ood Sex is the product of good communication. Discussing sex with your spouse will not only increase your intimacy, but it will also improve sex. And you can talk about the kind of sex you’d like to have without fighting. 1. Think before you talk.

Before you broach the subject of sex with your spouse, consider your spouse’s feelings and think specifically about what you truly desire. Make a list if you have to. 2. Set the mood

Obviously, you should pick a time and place (your home is probably best) where the two of you can be alone and free from distractions. For instance, you could light a few candles, run a bath for you and your spouse, and then start kissing him or her to get sex started. In this way, you are communicating without saying a word. 3. Be positive

Instead of telling your partner the things he or she does during sex that you don’t like, tell them what they do to pleasure you. For example, you could say, “You drive me

wild when you nibble on my ear before sex,” instead of, “I hate it when you lick my belly during sex.” If you keep telling your spouse about the stuff you like, eventually he or she will focus on a repertoire of those things. 4. Give explicit directions.

Tell him or her exactly what you’d like done to you. Be very specific. Whisper something like, “Look into my eyes as you unbutton my shirt. Kiss me and run your finger down my torso. Begin to touch my breasts…” 5. Use your hands.

Sometimes, you don’t even have to talk. You can simply use your hands to direct your spouse along your body and into the positions you’d like. This show and tell could even be a game for the two of you 6. Employ positive reinforcement.

When your spouse does something you enjoy while having sex, tell him or her. Moan, groan, or simply say, “That was great…” or “I love it when you do that…” Speak up because a pat on the back, a round of applause, and a “You’re wonderful” always set up a person for continued success. We all want to get those applause again and again. Courtesy: Newlyweds.about.

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38 LOVE&LIVING

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

True Confession from Overseas

“This pregnancy doesn’t belong to my husband”

y husband and I have been married for seven years now. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and having kids really changed our relationship. I kept working after the birth of our 3 year old daughter, Ashley, and then went back to work with the same company after our second daughter arrived 12 months later. I never realised how hard having two little girls so close in age would be on our relationship. Although I really love my husband, I felt so lost and confused when I went back to work just 12 weeks after our second daughter was born. The only thing that really got me through was my boss, Byron. He was so caring and kind. He always complimented me on my clothes and had something nice to say to me every day. My husband, Alex, seemed to forget that I was a person in my own right and only complimented me on what a good mum I was

or how well I managed the girls. Suddenly in a space of 12 months, Alex no longer saw me as his lover, only the mother to his children. The more time my boss Byron and I spent together, the more I began to feel attracted to him. I knew that he was feeling the same way and although he was married with young kids of his own, he made it clear that he would like to be more than friends. I felt so tired and confused. My husband didn’t seem to want me anymore and yet this attractive, clever man did. Although I rejected Byron’s physical advances, I must admit I encouraged the flirting and fun we had together. It was liberating to feel like a sexy woman again and I didn’t want that feeling to end even though I knew it was wrong. I value my wedding vows and I always made sure that our mucking around stopped short of me doing anything physical.

Although I rejected Byron’s physical advances, I must admit I encouraged the flirting Then one morning after I’d fought with Alex about how much I’d been spending on clothes, I started crying when Byron told me how nice I was looking. He sat me on his desk and started comforting me. Before I knew it, Byron had

raised my skirt and was having sex with me. We didn’t make love, it was just sex. I didn’t try to stop him. I just lay there the whole time wishing it was over. Afterwards as I straightened my clothes, Byron told me how much he’d enjoyed himself, but I just felt numb. I thought having an affair would make me feel like an attractive, desirable woman again but instead it just made me feel more weary and tired of my life. Although it hasn’t happened again, I have paid a high price for my sin. Byron wouldn’t stop pestering

Two-year-old saves mum’s life with 999 call

iley Henry told an ambulance controller his mummy was “sleeping” when Dana Henry collapsed at home in Leicestershire. *Paramedics said Dana Henry might not be alive if it wasn’t for her son. A two-year-old boy saved his sick mother’s life by dialling 999 and calling an ambulance to his house. When Riley Ward spotted that his mother had collapsed, he remembered what his parents had told him and called the emergency number. The youngster, who had not long before started to talk, told the operator “mummy’s asleep”. East Midlands Ambulance Service decided the call needed to be taken seriously and sent paramedics to the house in Barrow-uponSoar in Leicestershire. They found Ms Henry passed out and took her straight to hospital where it was discovered she had a large blood clot and dangerous bleed on her ovary. She received treatment and made a full recovery, but paramedics said it was only because of Riley that she had been saved. On Monday, ambulance service officials rewarded the two-year-old with an award for his brave actions, saying they believe he is their youngest ever caller. His mother Ms Henry said she had woken on the morning of February 5 with abdominal pains and collapsed after making a cup of tea. “All I remember is the room getting smaller and smaller and then I opened my eyes when I heard a police officer trying to kick my door down,” she said. “When I gained consciousness I could see that Riley was sat on his toy box looking out of the window at the flashing blue lights. “I managed to get up and open the door, but then collapsed again. “My head was blurred but I knew I didn’t

Odd news

have to worry about Riley because I could hear him laughing in the kitchen with the police officer and an ambulance assistant.” Paul Staples, who was the first paramedic to arrive at the house, said: “When control radio come through and tell you a child has dialled 999 you are immediately concerned for both the child and the patient. “His family must be so proud of his actions;

Wedding Traditions:

Shooting the Bride: China

he Yugur people (an ethnic minority group in China) have a custom of the groom shooting three arrows (that don’t have arrowheads) at his bride. He then breaks the arrows and the bow during the wedding ceremony, symbolizing that they will love and live with each other forever. Courtesy: weddingsinthesky.blogspot.com

he is a really brave little boy.” Ms Henry said the surgeon told her she would have been “very poorly” if she hadn’t gone into hospital. She said: “I would never have rang 999 for myself on that day. I would have kept taking pain killers and hoping the pain would go away. “It really scared me because if I didn’t pass out and Riley didn’t ring the ambulance, I may not be here today.” The 27-year-old, who lives with her partner Rob Ward, said: “Rob was just as surprised as I was when we realised Riley had dialled 999, we had drilled it into both of our children since they were old enough to understand numbers. “They know that if mummy and daddy are poorly and they can’t wake us up they should dial 999. “It made me really proud that Riley knew what to do. We knew he remembered 999, but were so shocked that he was able to put it into action. “He is mummy’s little hero.” Sorce: sky.com

me after that and when I realised I was pregnant again, I had no choice but to leave the job I loved. No matter how I did the math, I knew the baby was Byron’s. I’m lucky that my husband trusts me absolutely and has never taken the time to work out there’s no way this baby could be his. So now I’m 7 months pregnant and at home full time. In two month’s time I’m going to be a mum to three kids under three, have no job and be carrying an incredible burden of guilt. Instead of improving my self-esteem, I’ve destroyed it. All of my stupidity has made me realise that I love my husband so much and never want him to find out what I’ve done. All I can think is what sort of wife does this to the man she loves? (Names have been changed). Your say: Have you experienced a similar situation? How did you deal with it? Tell us your story. Courtesy: ninemsn.com Call Mike:+234-703 102 8714 if you have a story. c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 3 5

‘How affair with a woman saved me and my husband’ He had guessed, he said, the moment he first saw the two of us together. Apparently, the chemistry between us was blindingly obvious. Erik had also realised the change in me was down to her — that she was, in whatever way, exactly what I had needed. “I’m just glad you’ve told me”’ he said, ‘so I don’t have to pretend not to know any more.’ Would Erik have been angrier, felt threatened, got jealous, if my affair had been with a man? He has conceded as much himself. In that moment I understood that it’s not the sexual element of an affair that destroys a marriage, but the lies and deception that go with it. I had also been short-changing my husband. I had assumed Erik couldn’t understand how I felt, without ever giving him the chance to prove me wrong. Now here was the evidence that he knew me better than perhaps I even knew myself. When Freya told her husband, unlike Erik he was livid. We agreed to stop seeing each other. Though I missed her, I knew we’d given each other what we needed. I had regained the adventurous edge I’d had when Erik and I met, and with it my willingness to step outside my comfort zone, to make new friends, to take chances. Ten years of marriage had made me lazy. Thanks to Freya, I realised the joy that comes in opening yourself up again to new experiences, however unexpected. The past two years have been the most satisfying of our marriage. We have a new closeness, both in and out of bed, and communicate better than ever before. My affair, however ill-judged, enriched our marriage, instead of ending it. Courtesy: dailymail.co.uk

Travel&Tourism ON SATURDAY NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/travel

Destination A splash of Lagos’ triple heritage festival p.42

Chef’s Corner Delightsome treats at Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort p.41

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, EDITOR, TRAVEL AND TOURISM

HOSPITALITY

Planet One Hospitality:

It is about spoiling yourself a little bit at the hotel, which specialises in luxurious offerings as it is offering heavily discounted rooms with breakfast inconclusive for guests. Good food, drinks and live entertainment packages with special spa treat to the bargain. Maltina Laugh Out Loud shows:

It will be the best of comic and entertainment acts as the Maltina Laugh Out Loud features two enterprising Nigerian comic merchants in its annual activation show. At the Lagos end, AY Live is on showcase while at the Ibadan axis, Gbenga Adeyinka’s Laffmattaz will be on display. Both shows are billed for Easter Sunday, April 20, respectively. The AY Live show is at Eko Hotel and Suites and is expected to parade a galaxy of Nigerian stars such as I Go Die, Gordon, Elenu, Akpororo, Helen Paul, Osama, Shina Peters, Funny Bone, Pencil, Ajebo, J. Martins, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Kcee, Oritshe Femi, Harry Song and a host of others. At the Ibadan show, Laffmattaz would feature about 32 artistes with such leading names as Ali Baba, Tu Face Idiba, Julius Agwu, M. I. Laffup, 9ice, Okey Bakkasi and other known names in the field of entertainment.

Coconut Residence, Gambia

12 APRIL 2014

Ghana’s Royal Senchi Resort for Abuja Bantaba

Andrew Iro Okungbowa

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HOSPITALITY BITS

Easter fiesta beckons

s Easter fiesta beckons, many of the leisure spots and hospitality homes across the country are beginning to wear new colours and churn out different enthralling and colourful leisure packages for the delight of their various patrons. With the suffusing blend of the endless adventure reels, Good Friday to Easter Monday sure hold a lot of frolicking and memorable experiences and feel for fun seekers across the belt. Here are samples of leisure spots to savour:

andrew.okungbowa@newtelegraphonline.com

Le Meridien Ibom Hotel Golf Resort

Ayo Bankole Centre:

The Surulere based centre for arts and cultural expression built in memory of the late Nigerian musical icon, Ayo Bankole with his scion, Ayo Bankole jnr holding court at the classic art and event home, would thrill patrons and fun seekers with entertaining musical renditions ranging from the Nigerian melodies to contemporary pieces with jazz gyration featuring. IBB Square:

The Makurdi communal event centre is certainly one of the spots in the Benue State capital city for leisure buffs and others to harvest fun this Easter period as event planners of all sorts are storming the square with different entertainment packages featuring a host of Nigerian acts from among the local crowd to national stars.

among others Easter Brunch – a blend of African and continental dishes accompanied with sparkling wine and other drinks and live entertainment at the Grand African Ballroom while the kiddie corner offers the kids different options ranging from bouncy castle, face painting and gifts. Raffle draw entails giveaway spa treatment for two, one night stay for two and a family Sunday Brunch ticket while the rooms are heavily discounted with breakfast inconclusive. Lagos Sheraton Hotel:

It is also a family affair at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel with special treats awaiting the entire family, these include special offers on rooms, lavish deluxe buffet and live entertainment at the poolside.

InterContinental Lagos:

Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort:

It is a family affair at this posh luxurious hospitality outfit in Lagos as it is offering a delightsome treat for the whole family featuring

The theme of the hotel’s Easter package is “taste the unexpected,” and it entails discounted room rates, buffet breakfast for two, unlimited golf, free internet access and a treat at the gymnasium, pool and the Elyzee five star club while the family is also specially provided for. Coconut Residence:

The Gambia based Coconut Residence, a boutique hotel, offers choice options of three nights in one of the best suites, welcome drink, complimentary fruit platter in the room and complimentary breakfast. It is a special Easter treat spanning April 31. Planet One Hospitality

THE growing list of foreign participants at Abuja Banataba has been swelled with the Royal Senchi Resort, Ghana signing up to attend the travel trade exhibition, which is schedule to hold on April 25 at Abuja Sheraton Hotel. The resort has within its short existence shot to the top as Ghana’s most sought after resort by royalties and world leaders among lovers of the luxury suited resort. It serene and naturally appealing location as well as well apportioned facilities have made it easily the leader in the pack. The management is hoping to use its presence at the one day exhibition and award ceremony event to announce and present its captivating product to the Nigerian market.

Marriott International Acquires Protea MARRIOTT International has finally completed its acquisition of the South Africa hotel brand, Protea Hospitality Group. With this recent buy over, it has shoot to the top as the leading and largest international hotel chain in Africa. With its acquisition of the 116 hotels of Protea, the America’s brand now has over 160 hotels with a total room numbers put at 23, 000 thereby becoming the largest hotel company in Africa and Middle East. Marriott now operates more than 4,000 hotels in 79 countries. At the same time, Marriott said that its pipeline of new hotels in the Middle East and Africa, including Protea’s pipeline, is now more than 65 hotels and 14,300 rooms, including more than 20 hotels and 3,000 rooms in Sub-Saharan Africa. Marriott’s new Protea portfolio consists of 10,148 rooms in seven African countries including South Africa. The company now manages, franchises and leases hotels across the Protea Hotels brand (103 hotels), comprising a full and diverse range of outstanding hotels and resorts.

Nigerians ranked third biggest spenders in UK A newly released report has placed Nigerian tourists as the third biggest foreign spenders in the United Kingdom with shoppers from the West Africa region said to account for four percent of shopping figures recorded in February. The average spend of Nigerians was put at £628 per transaction, behind the Middle East Arabs, which was up by 31 percent and Chinese up by 23 percent. The findings, which were conducted by a finance company, Global Blue, stated that despite a spending fall of eight percent in the month under review, Nigerian visitors still shot ahead of Russians who previously spent an average of 669 pounds per transaction. Global Blue, which conducted the analysis, said, spending by Russians, who also accounted for an average of four percent of UK shopping, fell from 17 percent in February 2014.

40 TRAVEL&TOURISM

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TRAVEL PERSONALITY

JORGE ERAZO: ‘I like giving service, mentoring and leading people’ Ecuadorian-born hospitality expert, Jorge Erazo, is an interesting character with passion to serve and deliver service to the people. In a chat with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, he speaks of the motivation that underpinned his 16-year career

ORN in Ecuador where he spent his early childhood Erazo grew up in America, a prism through which he interrogated the world. Warm and soft spoken, Erazo’s first love was the world of finance and business as he started out earning a degree in accounting, but later went on to earn a degree in hospitality and hotel management, all in America, which almost became his adopted country. Why the hospitality sector?

One would had expected that with his training, he should be calling the shots in the business world. Not for Erazo. As he progressed in life and career, he discovered his latent potential hence the romance with the hospitality sector. ‘‘Well, it is about whom you are really, I found that I was always happy and enjoyed hosting people. In my house and in my business, I was taking care of people and serving people. I have a degree in Accounting, I wanted to go into business, financial sector, I still like that but I cannot just stay on the desk for too long. ‘‘I have to be moving, interacting and talking with people, taking care of people, not just guests but internal. I like to develop people, I like to lead people, I like to mentor people and I like to manage,’’ he declares. This led to his jettisoning the financial industry but strangely for the aviation sector where for seven years he worked as a flight attendant with three different airlines in Brazil, Paraguay and Ecuador. But, why this somewhat strange move, you sought to know? ‘‘I decided to be a flight attendant because you are taking care of many things, most important is the safety and security. Serving the passengers and assisting them,’’ he says of his motivation. One would had expected him to continue on this line but again, he soon left it for another sector, this time the hospitality sector, where he seems to have found his niche. ‘‘I said, well I think I want to get into some serious thing and that is when I started working for hotels. It is a very rewarding thing, you have to be happy about it and its challenging; you have to feel that it is something that you are accomplishing. You also have to look for progression, career progression,’’ reveals Erazo of his move to the hospitality sector. He started out in 1990 working for different restaurants and later core hotels nicking a stint with big hotel chains such

as Marriott, Starwood and Hilton. But it was actually at Marriot that he worked the most and for longer years. ‘‘I worked for different hotels such as Marriott Starwood and Hilton, but I made Marriott my permanent employer v e r y quickly because of the var ious opportunities that they offered. I found out that it is a place where I can grow my career very quickly and I worked with them for eleven years at seven different hotels including the corporate office in the south east region,’’ discloses the hospitality expert. Your discovery as you talk with him is his vast knowledge about the sector and his attention to detail. This is indeed a plus for a man who reveals that he is an all rounder as he has at different time worked in the different sections of the hotel, including serving as a waiter. Perhaps, the only area he cannot function effectively by his own admission is that of engineering. Therefore, with his hands-on knowledge and experience, it is pretty difficult for you to see him sitting around, waiting for his staff to fix things; rather he is always on the move engaging with the staff and guests and making sure that everyone is on top of the game. A move to Europe

Having risen to such remarkable height

in Marriot where he rose to the second in command as an assistant (deputy) general manager and seen most of America, he decided it was time to move on and experience other cultures. He moved over to Dolce Hotels and Resorts, an American hospitality brand but owned by Italians. ‘‘I moved over to Spain. I represented them all throughout Europe but I was based in Barcelona. So I was travelling often, I was back in sales and marketing because that is where they needed me and it helped that I had experience in America,’’ informs Erazo of his Europe move. Nigeria move

A restless soul that he is, he didn’t stick too long with his European tour as he was again bitten by the bug to explore Africa. So in 2012, he got a call to visit Lagos on exploratory tour. It was meant to last for two weeks at the first instance but after just one week, Erazo decided on a long haul romance with Nigeria.

MY BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

ell, from all the places that I have lived, I think that they were all great at the moment that I lived there. I had lived in New York, I was 20 years old then but as an adult I will never live in New York now because it is not my kind of life and it is not something that I will love to. I lived in Atlanta, Georgia, I loved it and when I was 20 it would had be very boring. I lived in Barcelona, I lived in London. In London summer time is beautiful but winter can be very depressing. But I think they were all great for me way back. You know that I grew up in South America; it was a great place to grow and learn. I think I was very fortunate to have grown in different environments because it opened your mind and there is no one

great single university that can give you that vast experience and knowledge. Growing up, my earliest teenage years was in Ecuador and then I moved to Montana, it is right at the border with Canada, a very, very cold country but beautiful. After graduation I moved to Miami, New York, where I started work as a flight attendant. Now I am in Nigeria and it has got its own challenges but also has its beauty. It wouldn’t be this unique without all these challenges. There is some beauty in some of the challenges, the people, it is amazing... Well outside Lagos, I have travelled to Ibadan, which is not quite far from here. That is the only other place that I know and I think it is a smaller version of Lagos without the ocean unfortunately.

His first port of call was with a hotel management outfit in Lagos called Fahrenheit as the director of operations. Nigeria hospitality sector

“I think it is still a very young industry; there is a lot to learn from those who are providing the services. The population in Nigeria is on the high side as more and more people are exposed to very high international brands here. “But it comes down to the human capital, talents, not having enough qualified hands, that is the major differences you can see but the intention, willingness to learn and provide service is there and that is why I actually decided to stay back in Nigeria because the people are really hospitable and that is what is very important. “Lagos if you compare it not just within Nigeria but to the rest of Africa, the growth in this city, is not comparable because others are saturated but Lagos is not yet saturated. It requires more and more right venues for meetings and accommodation; it is a natural demand from the market.” Regrets

“No disappointment really, but it’s just the challenge that it is going to take time to overcome because things in Nigeria take, sometimes too long, to happen. Opening a new product, coming out with solutions, getting results, getting an email response takes too long.” Fulfilment

“Absolutely, it’s been a journey, a beautiful journey, all these many countries, all these many cultures. I think I am really fortunate to have related with people from different backgrounds. So, it is rewarding and I don’t think it has ended. “I still have ambitions and I want to stay in Nigeria for a very long time, I am interested also in continuing growing and learning and I am very happy. If I have to do it again then I will do it.”

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TRAVEL&TOURISM

CHEF’S CORNER

BACKGROUND

Delightsome treats at Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort Andrew Iro Okungbowa

*Food and beverage manager. The Westin Grand Frankfurt, Germany – May 2010 – August 2013

*Consigliere Finivest Group, Milan, Italy – January 2006 – December 2006 *Assistant to the general manager in charge of food and beverage, Hotel Deidesheimer HOF, Germany – August 2004 – December 2005

Vista Restaurant: Intercontinental and Nigerian Kitchen, daily Buffet with live-cooking station and theme buffets. Marina Club Restaurant: Mediterranean and Grill, seating on two levels, (inside and outside with view over the River). Birdtable: BBQ and Tapas at the poolside.

*Restaurant manager, Romantik Hotel, Arminius, Bad Salzuflen, Germany – September 2003 – January 2004 *Bar administrator, Principe Di Savoia, Dorchester Group, Milan, Italy – August 2003 – January 2004

Favourite food

Afang, ogbono and edikangikong soups, grilled catfish and croaker, boneless grilled chicken, T-bone steak and peppercorn fillet.

*Assistant maitre and chef de rang, Quality Cruise Services, Monte Carlo, Monaco – February 2003 – August 2003

Favourite Nigerian food by foreign guests

Jollof rice, chicken and beef suya, spicy chicken, grilled spicy croaker and plantain chips.

*Butler and personal assistant, HRH Al Maktoum (royal family of Dubai) – September 2002 – February 2003

Favourite continental food by Nigerian guests

*Bar supervisor, The Berkeley. Savoy Group, London – June 2000 – August 2002 *Speaks English and German fluently and basics in Arabic, French and Italian. *Member, Nigerian food and beverage council – 2013

AWARDS Starwood Hotel and Resorts – president award – 2013 Christoph

taste and unique aromas. Difficult to describe in words but undeniably appealing to the senses; traditional and various local cuisines of Africa Saturdays: Seafood – Deep sea in the jun-

gle, international and regional fishes and seafood in mouth-watering variations, inspired by the best cuisines around the world with contemporary finishing. Sundays: Family meal time – Brunch – After a week of adventure you can muster up quite an appetite and thirst. Fortunately, we have plenty of potions to satisfy your desires.

IHA – Junior management champion Bavarian certificate of achievement 1 and 2 Bavarian youth championship 2000 German apprentice of the year 2000

‘The people make the difference’

Very dedicated about quality and freshness of the food, flavours and taste are unique in the world. hotel compound and try successfully in delivery our service. Challenges of working in Nigeria It is a daily exhilarating challenge to drive this huge food and beverage division with all the opportunities and possibilities. Logistics is one of our major challenges as well as keeping up to 100 food and beverages employees motivated and on track. We are glad to work on a “Garden of Eden” within this 170 hectares

*Joined Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort in August 2013

*Restaurant and room service manager, Sheraton Munich Arabellapark, Germany – January 2007 – January 2009

Restaurant types

Porterhouse steak and fillet steak, as well as king prawns, éclair and signature dishes as well as eye-openers with zobo at breakfast. At Vista, the collections on offer from Tuesday night to Sunday are wide rich options from across the world: Tuesdays: Pan Asian – We offer you a culinary exploration of crossover Asian cuisine tradition ranging from China, the Asian continent to the sizzling soup of the Philippines. Wednesdays: Mediterranean – One of the most famous spots for delicacies from Southern European to the Levantinian coast beckons. Thursdays: Middle Eastern – Fresh, wholesome, healthy and well – flavoured are the dishes on parade from Lebanon to Spain. Fridays: African night – Discover the secrets of the African continent with tantalizing

*Born in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany

* Assistant food and beverage manager, The Westin Grand Munich Arabellapark, Germany – January 2009 – April 2010

INING and wining at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort is a delightsome experience as the array of restaurants and bars of the upscale luxury hotel is primed to treat guests to a blend of culinary taste of different colours. The resort’s food and beverage director, Seitz Christoph, takes you on excursion of the many options on parade.

Nigeria food culture and tradition

Impression of Nigeria

It is a beauty and a pride, and I recognized why: The people make the difference. I never regret coming here and I enjoy it a lot. I can tell you many stories about Nigeria. Sourcing for materials

It’s very difficult in terms of logistics (especially in this kind of remote area) but thanks to the

Akwa Ibom State Government (AKSG) which has invested a lot in infrastructure and abilities, we are looking forward. Sourcing is a challenge, especially to drive a hotel on five star (European) level, because the economy and demands are still different in this country.

if I buy spicy croakers on a street stand, hot fresh and wrapped in paper, it is just a joy.

ative. Intercontinental dishes and tastes are difficult to train (same for me with Nigerian dishes).

Relaxation

Most preferred destination

It depends on the mood. Rum and cigar or a nice conversation, playing golf or other sports.

Every destination is special and beautiful and a lifetime experience. For instance, the Savoy in London is not to compare with The Westin in Munich, a five-star cruising vessel and the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo.

Nigerian food skilled at cooking

None so far.

Preferred Nigerian food

Working with Nigerians chefs

There is not a specific Nigerian dish I love the taste. For instance,

The chefs are willing to learn, adapt very quickly and are cre-

TRAVEL&TOURISM

DESTINATION Besides being an economic hub, Lagos is a potpourri of some sort when it comes to leisure and entertainment and everything. It is not surprising then that days leading to the Easter holiday, the city and its people are at the verge of celebrating a triple communal feast, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA

N Lagos, it is celebration time as the state government is casting aside the worries that come with being a megacity for some days to hold a communal fiesta for the city and its millions of residents. It is a re-enactment of its annual cultural tourism feast, which since making its debut a little less than a decade ago has become a yearly avenue for the people of the state to congregate and experience the cultural heritage of the state as well as the simmering contemporary content of its leisure industry. Titled Lagos’ triple heritage festival by this reporter, the three-in-one fiesta is a labyrinth consisting of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF), Lagos Water Regatta and Lagos Carnival. Usually it begins with the Lagos Black Heritage Festival and climax with the Lagos Carnival. Years back the governor of the state when formally instituting the triple celebration, declared that they would form part of the tourism calendar of the state. The feast hold in the month of April during the Easter festivities with the belief that it would in the years ahead become a must see celebration inspired by the state government’s desire to create a platform for the people of the state to remain in the state to celebrate the feast. Besides, he further said the Easter period should be one of the most exciting and colourful moments for the Lagos destination to come alive. Heralded by celebrations of different nature while the leisure and entertainment merchants scattered across the city play the good hosts with the state government showing the lead. LBHF

In the last couple of years, LBHF has evolved and developed into its own by having a series of thematic expressions, which have helped to fo-

Eyo masquerade on display

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

A splash of Lagos’ triple cus and give direction to the event. With this, people actually are kept abreast of the content and body of entertainment and events to expect as the festival unfolded. Last year the theme was “The Black in the Mediterranean Blue,” which saw a collaboration between Nigeria and Italy. In line with this development, one would have expected a continuation along that line; however, there is a break this year as a new focus is on the offing. Slated to begin on April 14, the focus is on music and with Prof. Wole Soyinka serving as the festival consultant, expect to see an elevation of the musical form particularly indigenous forms. Billed for the Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos, part of the focus of the musical presentations would be on the traditional and folk formats while tributes would also be paid to some of the Nigerian pioneers with late elder statesman, Steve Rhodes taking the front role. Also, the theme would seek to draw the attention of Nigerian musical talents and performers to the Nigerian idioms and tradition as opposed to the western idioms and mood that rule the scene. This fact was underscored by Soyinka in a statement about the festival thus: “Summatively, LBHF plans to open the eyes (and ears!) of aspiring musicians to the vastly unexplored possibilities of the musical forms right in their own backyards, as an option to the largely imitative trend currently pursued by a new generation of musicians. Innovative African music, we propose, should not end with afrobeat.”

Dramatic presentations

A body of theatre work would also form part of the offerings for the festival with at least two dramatic presentations on the card. One of them is entitled “Do Your Own Thing” and it promises to be entertaining with the cast made of some notable and experienced thespians just as the second presentation.

adjudged good enough would then progress to the painting session to interpret their literary works into an art form. A gala night to celebrate the creation of the children is billed for Friday, April 18 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The winning works of the children would be on display while prizes and certificates sponsored by Dia-

Painting competition and exhibition

Essentially targeted at the children, the painting competition and exhibition, which is in its third season and titled “The Vision of the Child” would feature school children from across the primary and secondary schools in Lagos. Designed to showcase and encourage the creative ferment and talent of the children, the festival would run in two different stages. The first stage would be that of creative writing with the children expected to churn out either poem or essay on the topic of the art exhibition. Tagged a mini artistic decathlon, those whose literary creation are Holloway Disu... Commissioner for tourism

PROFILE zz Capital city – Ikeja zz Covers a landmass of 3, 577 sq kilometres zz Created on May 27, 1967 zz Has five divisions – Ikeja, Epe, Badagry, Mushin and Ikorodu zz 20 local government councils with 37 local government development areas (LCDAs)

Lagos Carnival king and queen

TRAVEL&TOURISM

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heritage festival mond Bank would be presented to the participating children and winners. Lagos Water Regatta

This is the second leg of the triple events, which would see the aquatic splendour of Lagos come alive. Holding on Easter Sunday, April, 20, the coastline of Lagos would be enlivened as colour-

fully attired boats take to the scene to entertain with their different cultural floats. About 20 coastal communities in Lagos alongside others are expected to take part in the water related leisure event. It would be a display of not only the aquatic splendour for which Lagos is known, but also the dramatics and skillful showpiece of the people who hardly had the time throughout the year to display their stock in trade but for this occasion. The starting block is the Oyinkan Abayomi Drive end of the Lagos lagoon. Lagos Carnival

This is the third and final leg of the threelegged communal events and it would be a befitting end to the entire feast. It would be preceded on Saturday, April 19 by the carnival queen beauty pageant. It would be an interesting and creative celebration moving from the colourful water regatta parade on Sunday to a land affair on Easter Monday as the street carnival makes its way through some streets in Lagos to terminate at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) for a grand celebration. Lagos water regatta

National Arts Theatre

Destination Lagos comes alive ith the triple celebrations, destination Lagos should come alive W with a number of the various tourist sites across the state set and ready to thrill visitors to a mixed offering of relaxation and entertainment. Here is a sample of some of the places to explore for memorable experiences: Lekki Conservation Centre

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), is a bastion of natural haven where one enjoy the bliss of nature, explore the fauna and flora resources of the centre, a family picnic and the appeal of the environment, which presently is undergoing a makeover by the Lagos State government.

is Nigeria’s Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who actually is one of the souls and moving icons behind the park. While there you can also take out some time to explore the environment, which is historically rich and throws up a lot of images and symbolism of the old Lagos. One of the elements within sight is the Brazilian Quarters, the settlement of returnees from Europe shortly after the slave trade era. Kalakuta Republic Museum

Houses artifacts that are a telling revelation of the life and time of the late afrobeat music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. It is a new set up located at the Mushin end of the city. Afrikan Shrine

National Arts Theatre

The National Arts Theatre was conceived as Nigeria’s prime art centre. Though it has lost its sheen over the years however it is a very popular spot in the city to savour some fun. Live theatre and film shows are some of the events on showcase while the expansive landscape lend itself to family picnic and many would resort to the popular abe igi spot – for special local delicacies and drinks. Elegushi, Eleko, Alpha, Lekki, Mayigun, Kuramo and Bar beaches

The coastline of Lagos offers opportunities for fun seekers to harvest a number of water-related leisure and some of the spots to savour include the Bar beach, Kuramo beach, Elegushi beach, Akodo beach, Eleko beach, Lekki and Mayigun beaches. Silverbird cinemas

The Lagos Island-based Silverbird Cinemas is a multi–media centre with outlets for screening films, shopping and eateries. It sure provides a good leisure spot for people. Freedom Park

It Is one of the newest spots in Lagos for harvesting fun of a different kind as it is devoted to the art and literary ferment of the land. Amid the sometimes intellectual sessions that hold at the Broad Street, Lagos –based park, which historically was a former colonial prison yard but transformed to its present status, one can enjoy a mix of leisure package ranging from music, dining and wining. On a good day you may be lucky enough to behold some of the famous faces that visit the park. One of such

On the flip side and on the other side of the city is Afrikan Shrine, the musical theatre for afrobeat music in Nigeria. A creation of Fela’s children – Femi and Kuti - who take turn to entertain the crowd of afrobeat music buffs that throng the shrine regularly to enjoy the music and the other elements that come with it. Nike Art Centre

The Lekki-based Nike Art Centre presents a captivating picture of contemporary gallery and leisure home. Owned by Nike Okundaye, an art and textile designer who helped popularize the adire – batik fabric, the centre houses her works and those of her acolytes. It is also a good educational facility where school children and tourists and others visit on a regularly basis to explore the different offerings and observe the matron of the house give vent to her creative ferment. La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort

Located in Ikegun Village, Ibeju – Lekki end of Lagos, it is one of the unique attractions of Lagos. It enjoys a natural enclave stretched out along the Atlantic Ocean, which gives it a unique character. Its heavy use of Africa motif and a blend of sophisticated elements make it an exciting resort to experience the warm hospitality of Nigeria. Whispering Palms

Just like La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, the Iworo Village resort along the Badagry end of the city is also a natural enclave with a good mix of facilities and services to explore amidst its Africa warmth and pull.

My Weekend

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12 APRIL 2014

I watch EPL for eight hours on Saturdays –Odusote Y emi Odusote is a goal-getter. His passion for what he does, according to him, is the major reason why he continues to thrive as a public relations expert. Although PR comes with a lot of challenges, Odusote still finds time to relax at every available opportunity. Besides, public relations, he says, creates avenues for relaxation while mixing with clients and people. He says, “It is not far from the truth that you have to be thinking all the time about ideas of how to attract clients all the time. So, you don’t sit down and shut down. In as much as it is the business of public relations it is also human relations. You are in the business of meeting people, so you are constantly mobile, going from one conference to another, attending one dinner or lunch, within or outside the country. “And sometimes you have occasion where you have to make presentation and

Odusote

Yemi Odusote, President and CEO Pauline Fredericks and Co., a public relations company, in this interview with SEGUN EDWARDS says PR is not an all-comer affair. you have to work all night. You work with your team to ensure the document ready. So, for us in the business of PR may be I should say there is hardly time to really devote to relaxation but may be I should say that everything about relaxation is woven into the business.” Asked how he relaxes and spends his weekend, he says PR practitioners would most probably not agree they have

weekend. “There is hardly a weekend, except Sunday may be when you have to devote time to worship, even then, there is always an event to attend even when you are not in charge you would want to be there to see or learn one thing that could be useful to your business,” Odusote adds. The 46-year-old PR practitioner however agrees that once in a while he enjoys weekends at home. He says, “Some Sundays are quiet and on such occasions one can shut down at home and just relax with the family. “Some of us have children who are schooling outside Lagos. Since my children are not around I will just use the opportunity to relax at home. Sometimes on Saturdays, I relax at home when there is quietness since the children are away in school and madam has to attend one social event or the other. You know women cannot do without that. So, I have time to relax at home and at the same prepare for the week ahead.” If there is weekend to spend, Odusote says his weekend starts on Friday. He says, “I can have a night out at the club, drink moderately, dance to good music, and meet friends who I discuss business with. This will most times add value to whatever you do in your business, then you can get back home the same night, even though late.” He explains that he wakes up from bed around 12noon and looks forward always as football enthusiast, to watch the English Premier League “this I do from 12noon to 8pm.” He relishes his status as a member of Ikoyi Club 1938, and Ibadan Golf Club, although he says he hardly have time to be at either of the two clubs because of the distance between his residence and the clubs. Odusote lives on the mainland while Ikoyi is on the Island and the golf club is in Ibadan, Oyo State. “The only time I go to Ikoyi Club is when I am on the Island. Whenever I go to the club, I stay there till around 10pm. By then the traffic would have abated,” he adds. Asked about the kind of menu he likes to eat on weekend, Odusote says he takes special pride in his native delicacy, egusi Ijebu (melon soup), which he describes as “my special delicacy which I like to take with pounded yam or eba.” “I eat the menu whenever I have the opportunity. Sometimes my wife asks me what I prefer for dinner and my response may be ‘anything.’ But if you ask me what my preferred or favourite menu is, I will say egusi soup and eba, either on weekend or any other time. If they give me, I will eat it, if not; I don’t force them at home to give me a particular food.” On Sundays, he prefers to put on native at-

tire like kaftan and a sandal which goes with native cap. But on Saturdays, he likes to wear T-shirt and jeans. “I have dogs as pets, so every Saturday morning I take a walk with my dogs and bring them back home. This takes like one hour. I don’t have to run; exercise is not about running or whatever, even if you walk, you can be in a good frame in terms of good health. I walk my dogs and bring them back home on Saturday morning,” Odusote says. If asked to choose where he prefers to spend weekends outside his home, he says he can spend his weekends anywhere as long as he has access to watch English Premier League, adding, “I don’t watch German Bundesliga and Italian League. All I want to see is the English football games.” Odusote describes himself as a regular person, a moderate person, who has passion for what he does and wants to succeed. He views success as a relative issue, seeing his endeavour in the PR world as having yielded the desired success. He says. He works very hard because hard work is the only path to success. “Like I said, I want to be a successful person. This is why I keep thinking and planning every day and moving in the right circle of people who can help me achieve the success I desire. I also depend on God, but of course God will not come down. So, one has to make effort, make the right moves, essentially one has to strive, which is what I do,” he points out. Odusote’s sojourn in PR started with when he was employed at Phillips Consultants. Thereafter, he co-founded Soul Communications, a PR firm in 2005. From there, he started his own PR outfit, known as Pauline Fredericks, which he runs for three years. According to him, he plans to make the outfit bigger, takes it to a higher level and registers is presence in other parts of the African continent. Asked how he has fared in the business in view of the tough business environment, he says “Public Relations is not a business of carry your bag and knock at doors and announce to people that I am into PR. “It’s a business of IQ /ideas, of effective planning and execution and also business of results. If you put those three together, you can arrive at the conclusion that it is business of quality people around you. We have about 30 registered outfits involved in PR campaigns. If you look at that it is a lot of communication. “Beyond these 30, we also have mushrooms outfits, we have non-professional who are not registered, just doing it on the sides. We also have media personnel dabbling into the business and because some clients in their own myopic way think public relations is about media relations, they patronised them.”

Milestones Tribute for Obahiagbon at 54 p.54 Faceoff APC and PDP in bitter spat over Lagos Housing Scheme p.48

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OPENING SHOT

allocation and others are treated. But I believe that the president’s speech has provided the roadmap we need to guide us. Insecurity remains a recurrent theme at this conference. As a retired soldier what’s your take on insecurity in the country today?

“By creating new states with new local governments and constituencies, you bring government closer to the people.”

Nigeria should be restructured – Gen. Lekwot

Retired Major-General Zamani Lekwot was military governor of Rivers State from July 1975 till July 1978 in the General Murtala Muhammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo regime. A delegate to the ongoing National Conference in Abuja, he spoke with Louis Achi and Onwuka Nzeshi on key national issues What’s a general doing at the national conference?

sented in terms of percentage here?

A general is senior citizen like everybody else who has done his best for the country during his prime. Consequently he has something out of his experience to contribute along with others in other to make Nigeria a better place for its children.

I cannot complain because I was nominated on the platform of Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers (RANAO). There are other officers, senior generals who have come in under different platforms. So, to that extent we cannot complain because even the military as a profession is a small fraction of the total population. The few of us that are here are here to contribute the best we can from our own experience on behalf of ourselves and the military that are still in service that are not represented here.

But soldiers are seen as revolutionaries whereas this structure of this conference is perceived to lean towards moderation…

(Cuts in) That statement is not true. The revolutionaries are civilians, usually political scientists. A soldier is trained to defend his country during peace and war by putting his life on the line in order to protect the integrity of the country so that future generations can have a better country to live in. Given the role soldiers have played in the history of this country do you feel your constituency is properly repre-

This is third week of the conference. What is your general assessment of the progress so far?

I believe that having gotten over the voting percentage controversy as you can see, things are going on smoothly. But that is not to say that all will be smooth sailing all along. I am waiting to see how the other major issues like state creation, form of government, resource control, revenue

As an elder who saw Nigeria even before independence when things were working, I am worried because the system is not working. Law enforcement is zero. The security threat disturbs everybody. I therefore look forward to outcome of this conference contributing to the solution. Our borders are porous. Arms are entering the country uncontrolled. Terrorists cross the porous borders at will. So we have to rise and protect the integrity of the country. Should government call up reservists to help out?

No, no. no. There is no state of emergency. The current security people if properly armed and trained can do the job. Now doing that job is not their responsibility alone. The civil population must supply them with information to help them do the job. There are speculations that foreign mercenaries are playing a role in all these?

Well, I have no evidence to say yes; neither can I say no. But then no neighbour can wake up and start destroying his neighbour. But, also, this could mean that some people must have been importing mercenaries. What the government should do is to sharpen its security devices in other to get hold of those behind this and to device a means of stopping the infiltration. Another issue that has featured here today is the incessant clashes of the Fulani herdsmen with Northern ethnic minorities. What should be done to contain this?

The clashes with the Fulani herdsmen are not restricted to the ethnic minorities. You will recall that the week the president visited Katsina, something happened. The Katsina people are not minorities. So the security people are handling it. I don’t have enough data to give you a specific answer. But clearly what the government needs to do is to be more proactive as far as surveillance is concerned. This is because through good intelligence network likely attacks can be preempted. I read in the paper today that the Camerounians arrested some arms catchments from terrorists on their way into Nigeria. This means that liaison with neighbouring countries could help us. It seems that a consensus is surfacing at this conference over the need to restructure Nigeria. What’s your position?

I have noted that too. Some people have expressed positions to have the country restructured. I align myself with this position. This is because what the British did in 1914 was without consultation. No one is blaming them because at that time, there were problems too. But more importantly, having stayed together for this long, this conference should be used to correct the inherent mistakes. What about the issue of creation of new states and local councils?

By creating new states with new local governments and constituencies, you bring government closer to the people. If you give everyone the opportunity to participate in governance, the problem of minorities will be substantially addressed. Of course, as I have said, the virtue of equity and justice in governance must be sincerely practised in order to assure all and sundry that their fair shares will be passed to them.

46 POLITICS THE SATURDAY INTERVIEW

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2014

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE MEETS LAI MOHAMMED

APC governors weren’t barred from sending delegates to Conference – Lai Mohammed When President Goodluck Jonathan announced his decision to convene a National Conference, APC kicked against it but many people were surprised when the party’s governors sent delegates to the conference. Isn’t that a contradiction?

APC is a political party and any decision of our party is binding on party members. As a political party, we said we do not believe in the National Conference; as a political party we said the conference would achieve nothing because the convener is insincere. That the entire thing is diversionary and that it is not the kind of National Conference we have in mind. The kind of National Conference we have in mind is the one the outcome of which would be subjected to national referendum not the type that would be subjected to the National Assembly for confirmation. Now there is nothing that has happened between when we said it and now for us to change our mind. Therefore APC as a party did not sent representative to the conference because we don’t believe in it. We however recognised that our governors or the states where which our governors presides over, they don’t preside over only APC members, there are PDP members in those state also. There are people who don’t hold any political opinion in those states. Our governors are not governors of APC members; they are governors of the whole state. So we give them the liberty to say; Look, you are elected on the platform of APC but you are governing the whole state. If the wish of your people in your state is to participate, we will not debar you from doing so. So, you can see that we have not shifted our position but we have shown that we have gone beyond the level of partisanship. We might have won the election on the platform of APC but not everybody in our states is members of APC, therefore if they want to go for the National Conference, make your choice. Even whatever people are saying, the conference supposes to be a conference of ethnic nationalities; it is a conference of the people and not conference of a political parties. Our governors sending people from their states to the

Interim National Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, speaks with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE about why he is convinced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would fail in the 2015 general elections, and why it’s wromg to prevent legislators from moving to a party of their choice conference that has not change the position of our party at all. We still don’t believe in it and we won’t go there. Some people are of the view that the major reason why APC governors changed gear and decided to send delegates to the conference was for the purpose of 2015 general elections. Is that correct?

Even if it were so, what is wrong in that? We set up a small committee to weigh the strategy and they said APC is right in its decision; however we advised that you allow your governors to send people to the conference because not everybody in your state is APC members. It’s curious the APC is just coming out with a road map many months after its registration?

When the merger was approved that APC be registered as a political party, the question uppermost in the mind of Nigerians is tell us what

you stand for; for us to say what we are going to do differently from the PDP. Many people will even say there is no different between you and the PDP. We took all those criticisms in good faith and went back to the drawing board to improve on the manifesto we earlier submitted to INEC for registration. It is not that we didn’t have a mani-

festo before but the manifesto we had was a manifesto that we needed to satisfy the requirement of the law. So, we now took time to engage expert in every areas, including embarking on nationwide survey to find out precisely what Nigerians want and to find out precisely what is it that Nigerians are not happy about in this government. What is it that they want in a new government? We now came up with our roadmap. So, today if you ask us what do we stand for? We can tell you in a very lucid definitive manner, what we stand for. Our roadmap is APC commitment to the people of Nigeria; to create jobs, fight corruption, improve the welfare of every Nigerians and make our nation greater. In everything we do, it must pass one test: that is whatever our policy is, it must create more jobs for our people and it must be in the overall interest of the average Nigerian and our youths. Our roadmap is to create jobs, fight corruption, to give Nigerians qualitative and comprehensive education, revamp agriculture, to bring comprehensive free medical care, it is for what is call a social policy in housing that would make income no longer a barrier to holding houses, it is on how to manage our natural resources and how we are going to guarantee security and peace in our country. So, if anybody today asks us what do you stand for? We simply refer the fellow to our website: www.anewnigeria.ng Shortly after APC released its roadmap, PDP came out to criticise the roadmap. What is your take on this?

When we released our roadmap, the PDP said they had gone through the roadmap and that there was nothing there. They called it “Janjaweed ideology”, and whatever. We are asking PDP to please come out with their

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2014

roadmap or let them refer us to the website where we can find their own roadmap. We have told Nigerians where we can find our own and we have asked every Nigerians to please go there and that is what people call a draft roadmap. If you have any suggestion state it; if you have any criticism, outline them before we go formally to adopt it at our national convention. But for anybody who can read, anybody with modicum of small intelligence to go through the roadmap and say there is nothing there, then such a person does not deserve to be listened to. We are ready to engage people intellectually but when people have anything to say and they wave with one statement the product of many hours of intellectualism, that kind of political party should not be listened to by Nigerians. How do you see the recent statement by President Jonathan that APC will fail in 2015?

Most of the utterances coming out from President Jonathan in the last couple of days are not presidential. Those are not the kind of message you expect to hear from a president. Have you ever heard President Obama describing the Republican Party as combination of gases in a container? This thing diminishes the presidency. If Lai Mohammed said so, it is okay. Lai Mohamed is not the president of Nigeria and he is not elected by anybody. However, we are not going to join issues with Mr. President. Our answer to everything Mr. President has said is the APC Roadmap. How is it an answer? Today, four out of every 10 Nigerians are unemployed. Today 50 per cent of our youths are unemployed. Today, we are not secured in our homes. Today our educational system has gone beyond the drain. Today, we have no health care system. Today corruption has reached its highest height; over 20 billion dollars cannot be accounted for. That 20 billion dollars could have given Nigerians 20,000 megawatts of electricity. It would have given us a minimum of 20,000 kilometres of roads. It would have paid 160,000 teachers for 100 years. That is the kind of corruption under his watch. So, these are what we are saying that we are going to fight. We are saying that under our watch when we win at the centre, no Nigerian we go to bed hungry. Today, 100 million Nigerians earn less than a dollar a day. Today, an average Nigerian does not earn enough money to pay for his transportation and housing let alone pay for medicals. Today, half of Nigerians are on self medication. I see them on the streets; those women that sell agbo (herbs). That is how many Nigerians cure themselves. This is the score card of Jonathan to Nigerians. Not that Lai Mohammed or APC manufactured them; they are there on the streets, everybody see them every day. You are in my office, what do you hear? The sound of generator. I am sure it is the same thing in your office. What Mr. President should tell Nigerians is what has PDP done in 15 years? It has been 15 years of waste. So, our answer would always remain APC Roadmap because we do not only have a road man, we also went and interviewed and conducted a massive survey and I tell you today that 60 per cent of Nigerians says the government is going in a wrong direction, 55 per cent of Nigerians says that this man is doing a bad job fighting corruption, 75 per cent of Nigerians says this man is doing bad job in creating jobs. Nigerians

INTERVIEW POLITICS THE SATURDAY

‘APC is not an Islamic party’ are not happy about the state of our security. This is a president of a country where 49 innocent Nigerians were murdered; he has not even spend one day to visit them and commiserate with them. He has been junketing all over Nigeria asking for votes. This is a president of a country who is so afraid that he cannot go to another part of his own country and he is now talking about APC being a combination of gas in a container. This is not presidential. But you see when one loses an argument, he becomes abusive. Are you saying the president has lost the argument?

He has lost the argument. The facts are there. Ten million Nigerians of school age are out of school today. Our educational system is failing and half of our children who complete primary school cannot read and more than 10 million children of primary school did not attend school. That is his score card. Another issue the PDP is raising against APC is that APC is an Islamic party given that many of the party leaders are Muslims?

No party in Nigeria can succeed or survive by leaning on one religion or the other. Nigeria is too diverse and too complex. What has happened is that because PDP has had no answer to our success, they started to use the basis of emotion, sentiment, ethnicity and religion. I am from the former ACN and I can tell you that when they asked ACN to bring nine members to be part of APC interim executives before we held the congress, five of the nominees were Christians, four were Muslims. When APGA was asked to nominate six people, they couldn’t find one single Muslim. Despite all these, today there are 35 members on the national interim executive council of the party, 18 are Muslims and 17 are Christians. Does that denote an Islamic party? Secondly, they talked about Buhari and Tinubu, they are not members of our executives; they don’t hold any office. Should we now say because Tinubu is a Muslim, he must not join our party or because Buhari is a Muslim, he must not join our party. They have forgotten that the likes of Tam DavidWest, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator George Akume, are also in our party. Are they now saying there are better Christians in the PDP than in the APC? They are very insincere. One day, for instance, I took a newspaper and I saw the president, his wife, the chief of staff, secretary to the federal government and Tony Anenih, all attending a church service. These are all top shots of the PDP; but that is not

enough for me to say PDP is a Christian party. God is not interested in whether you are a Christian or Muslim; God is interested in whether you are keeping the promise you made to the people or not. But I will say that our party is the most balanced in terms of religion and ethnicity, and we are not going to engage anybody in any useless debate. We are going to engage people to challenge us on the basis of APC Roadmap. When we make rules we made it for Muslims and Christians. How do you see the PDP’s electoral quest in Ekiti and Osun?

If they will win through free and fair election, we would accept it. What we will not accept is rigging. If tomorrow elections are held in Ekiti and it is free and fair, we are democrats. But don’t forget that the hallmark of democracy is the right of people not just to choose their leaders but to reject them when they are not performing. So, if it is free and fair, we will have absolutely no issue. Do you see PDP winning South-West in 2015?

I will tell you that the people of South-West will resist any rigging; let them take note now. Because they have seen eight years of locust when they are under PDP in Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, they have seen the difference now. Less than three years of APC in those states, the people in those states know the difference. Is it Ekiti State that pay stipends to the elderly and widows, or Osun State that employed 20, 000 people in the first month of its government or Oyo State that has turned the capital from the dirtiest in the country to one of the best, or is it Edo that has turned the entire state into one construction camp. People are not stupid. It is people who have stated and witnessed and tasted good governance that would resist rigging. What is your hope about 2015 elections?

We are very fearful that PDP would want to introduce a lot of foul means but they would be resisted.

is why when Labaran Maku and OkonjoIweala come out and read figures, Nigerians are laughing that the GDP is growing by six per cent; but is the economy growing? There is difference between growth and development. If the economy is good people will notice it on the street. Today Ph.D holders are applying to be drivers. Today we import rice, wheat and milk. So, how would anybody vote for them? Do you have confidence in INEC to conduct credible elections in 2015?

No. But unfortunately people are not focusing enough on two other agencies without whom rigging is not possible: that is the police, military and the State Security Service (SSS). We are not focusing enough on them. Every electoral irregularity and malpractices has the implicit support of the security and that is why we must start campaigning against this. You cannot steal the ballot boxes if the police are not in support. You cannot stuff ballot boxes if the police are not in support. You cannot disenfranchise people if police are not in support. We are going to open serious campaign against anybody that would make election not free and fair. This country belongs to all of us, not the police, not the military, not PDP. It belongs to all of us. When is APC likely to start its own campaign?

We are going to start our unity rally very soon too. Mr. President is still embarking on unity rally; we are also going to have our own freedom rallies. We are going to have rallies everywhere and we are also going to welcome defectors. We are going to welcome those he has sacked from government. When five governors defected to APC and 37 PDP lawmakers also followed suit many people saw it as good development for APC; but the return of the lawmakers to seems to have changed the calculation.

How many governors went back to PDP? How many federal lawmakers went back to PDP? If 37 people went to APC and five went back to PDP, is that enough to say there has been a reversal. Do you know how many members of House of Representatives have come to APC? I could have been worried if 10, 15, 20 went back. But even then, I would still say that we still have a net profit. Because all it means is that instead of 37, I have gained 32 from zero. Is that not a net profit? They have lost 32 for crying out loud, that is what it means. So, who has lost? The man that gained 32 or the man that lost 32?

How would they be resisted?

Nigerians after 15 years of joblessness, no power, corruption taken to high heaven, would not vote for PDP. I can assure you this. Tell me one thing that you think PDP has done that would make anybody to vote for it, either in the South-West, South-South or the South-East. Tell me about any Nigerian who would vote for PDP when we say one out of every four Nigerians cannot get a job. We are saying that half of our youths cannot find job. I did not manufacture the statistics. I know that there is no family today that does not have budget for diesel or petrol. We are living it every day. That

But the calculation then was that at the first defection APC was having the majority in the House, but the later defection has made PDP to have upper edge in the House.

Yes, I agree with you. But I am saying that as it is today, who has lost in the House of Representatives? Is it APC or PDP? Whose number has increased in the House of Representatives today? Whose number has increased in the Senate today? In the Senate, a party won 11 senators who said they are not going back to the PDP and the Senate president said, “no, we won’t accept”. The man has already made up his mind.

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President wants to use Obanikoro to capture Lagos –Oyewuwo Alhaji Fatai Oyewuwo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) believes that the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, is too ambitious and any attempt by him to capture Lagos through back door will fail. He spoke with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE. Some people allege that Governor Babatunde Fashola was right to accuse the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro of invading the state with soldiers to disrupt the ongoing Ilubirin Housing projects on the Lagos Island. What is your take on this?

Obanikoro has to be very careful. They have been using Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe and now the President wants to use Obanikoro to bring Lagos down. I don’t see him doing anything extra-ordinary beyond what those two people have done. Obanikoro sometimes said, ‘Fashola is my man, he is my brother, I cannot run him down,’ but no sooner that he got the ministerial appointment, he came to Lagos Island with soldiers. Is that the type of job given to him? Was he asked to be harassing people and prevent them from working and earning their daily bread? Well, he has to satisfy his master; I think that is what he is doing.

the gun when he was not given the slot and he left the party. He got to the Senate with Alliance for Democracy’s ticket and on getting there; he changed overnight and started this crisis. He is a young man that I like; that aside if he has been patience, he is a good material. But PDP didn’t make Obanikoro, we made him. So whatever he is doing there, he is at least using our experience and the background we gave to him. If not for because of our agitation, they didn’t want any Lagosian to be a minister. Fashola said it the other time that the only minister they gave us only few weeks ago was Obanikoro. Is that a good thing when the constitution says a person should be taken from each state? The PDP-led government didn’t do

Is this a replay of the pre-2007 election power tussle between former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, over federal and state governments roads in Lagos.

The episode is being repeated. It is like rigmarole. What was the outcome of Ogunlewe’s action and where is Ogunlewe today? Can he clamour to be governor again? That is their ultimate. All of them want to be the governor of Lagos State yet on Election Day you find them wanting. They are nowhere. Ogunlewe is from Ikorodu and despite that he could not deliver the area during last election because nobody wanted him. That is the message they gave him at home. So, we thank God they are seeing their result now. As a senior Lagos citizen, what advise do you have for Obanikoro over his recent actions?

I see Obanikoro as being a little bit over ambitious. When he started politics, he was made chairman of Lagos Island Local Government. After seeing his potential, Tinubu made him the Commissioner for Home Affairs. That is not enough credential for him to become a governor. There is a line that he should toe but he jumped

Obanikoro will come back to APC if APC wins at the centre in 2015 election

Ojo

that. The person they picked is an Edo man. PDP’s tenure will soon end and if at the end of this administration, APC comes into power in 2015 as we were praying; Obanikoro will attempt to come back to us. Are you insinuating that Obanikoro may defect to APC after 2015 if PDP loses at the centre?

He will attempt to come back to APC. What gave you that confidence?

I know them and their precedence. People like that will come back; they will lobby overnight. They will be PDP in day time but APC at night. Some of them are so blinded that they want to be in the winning team all the time; they want ‘Any Government In Power’ (AGIP). Obanikoro is a member of AGIP. So you believe Obanikoro will still return to APC.

Obanikoro will come back to APC if APC wins at the centre in 2015 election because he will not want to be a minister for one year and lose out in 2015. So, he will come and lobby. He has started it gradually. When his house in Ikoyi caught fire, Fashola was there to commiserate with him despite the fact that they don’t belong to the same party. That is the kind of friendship we cultivate. We don’t discriminate. Musiliu will come back; I know he will come back. Look at Rashidi Shitta-Bey now; he is back in APC. There is no amount of thing Shitta-Bey didn’t do to become governor in Lagos State, he couldn’t get it. Look at my friend, Rafiu Jafojo; he is also back in APC. I know them; they cannot wait for too long. People say the only thing that can’t be hidden for too long are three: the sun, the moon and the truth. Many of the PDP defectors have been coming and they will still come. Look at how PDP was boasting because they have money to flaunt. They are asking those who defected from

PDP to come back to take their places. Why are they asking them to come and take their places? Because they are losing gradually, they will not want to lose anybody. How prepared is APC for 2015 elections, especially in Lagos State, where PDP is threatening to take over?

Anytime we have new dispensation coming up, individuals and political parties have their ways of selling their party to the populace. And it is a known gimmick that in Lagos State the dominant party is the progressives’ party; other parties are just coming behind. They can make noise; we will allow them to make the noise and eventually at the poll, the citizens know what they want; they know where to go and the outcome is always in our favour. It is an open secret. What we have done in the past is the testimony for us; we don’t even need to say too much to sell ourselves; it is the citizens who are selling the party themselves. It is their party. It is what our people want that we do. Do you foresee the battle for Fashola’s successor tearing APC apart before 2015?

As far as our party is concerned, there is discipline and internal democracy. We have one thing that we should be proud of in this party, anybody who leaves our party because he was not chosen will return. They always return and say that where they were was better than where they went to. But many of those who left AD, AC or ACN in Lagos like Ogunlewe, Obanikoro and many others have not returned?

All those you are talking about are the products of our party, whom we trained. PDP has nobody; it always takes from whom we have trained. The Yoruba adage says ‘if a woman does not try two husbands, she will not know the one who is preferable’. That is exactly what is happening. Even those who have not retuned are underground feeling the pinch of not returning. Everybody wants to be in the winning team So you believe that PDP has nobody to challenge APC candidate in Lagos in 2015?

I don’t see anybody. They keep changing them. Musiliu Obanikoro was PDP governorship candidate in 2007 and they brought Ade Dosunmu in 2011 and now they are even confused. When Obanikoro knew he could not come again, he quickly lobbied for ministerial job. No sooner he got the ministerial job, he now wants to capture Lagos through the back door but that is not going to happen.

FACEOFF | POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Obanikoro wants the best for Lagos –Apena The Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Chief Ola Apena told WALE ELEGBEDE that people want to give the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro a bad name over the Ilubirin issue. Governor Babatunde Fashola accused the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, of invading the Ilubirin housing scheme the Lagos State Government is building, allegedly for the masses with soldiers. What do you have to say on this?

I am amused that they said they are building housing for the masses, which in itself is a political lie because there is no housing for the masses in Lagos State. This present government in Lagos will not build any housing for the masses. Obanikoro is the minister of state for defence. The issue in question is strictly between Federal Inland Waterways and Lagos State. Obanikoro didn’t write the Nigerian Constitution that gives the right for the management of coastal line to federal authority. The law has been there even before Obanikoro assumed office. The law is so specific that for you to do anything along the coastal line you must get the concurrent of the Federal Inland Waterways and a comprehensive environmental impact and assessment must be done. We don’t want Tsunami in our land. Governance is about people’s welfare. You don’t just because some individuals want to apportion some lands to themselves violate laws at will. If anybody wants to build housing for the masses, we have mass of lands along Epe, Badagry axis. The Lagos East district is almost having 40 per cent of the land mass in the state, what have they done with those lands? I know a lot of people who work in Chevron, Lekki axis and they live in Epe because once upon a time, a local government chairman built a housing estate in Epe and that is where they are living. A government that is pro-people and already talking about over-stretching of its infrastructure should be thinking of urban-rural drift, not choking the city. What type of planning is that? Lagos is choked already. Why can’t they think of appropriate ways of decongesting Lagos?

Are you justifying the invasion of the Ilubirin housing scheme?

I am not justifying anything; I am only telling you that Obanikoro has nothing to do with the invasion. It is just to give dog a bad name so that they can hang it. They are having constitutional issues not personality issue and they should face it. Maybe they felt that Obanikoro wants to run for governorship and they feel threatened already. That is their stock in trade, they are full of propaganda and they know that their time is up in Lagos and the South West. But the allegation is that Obanikoro, as a minister, is working against the interest of Lagos State?

How can Obanikoro work against the interest of Lagos? Have they forgotten that Obanikoro is a bonafide Lagosian. Obanikoro even knows what is good for Lagos and its resident than all those people talking. He is a true son of the soil and can’t work against his fatherland. At least he is not from Iragbiji and

has no birth link with Osun State, so he couldn’t have work against the interest of Lagos. He knows that what you suppose to do today, if you don’t get it right, it will have a negative effect tomorrow. Some of these natural disasters in some countries are man-made, so we have to be conscious of what we are doing. What is your reaction to the notion that Obanikoro is being used by President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP to destabilised Lagos ahead of the 2015 elections?

In politics, every political party has

its strategy. The Lagos PDP contested an election at the local government level, brazenly, they didn’t even allow the returning officers designated to announce the results do their jobs. Justice Adeyinka of LASIEC took over their jobs and just said APC had won all the 57 local governments without even reeling out the figures of the results. So, who is using who? When you want to take over what belongs to me and trample on my territory and I say no, does that mean someone is using me? These people are so good with the tool of propaganda but people are already seeing through the lines. So, nobody is using anybody in Lagos. Some members of the APC said the recent issue might be the re-enactment of Tinubu-Ogunlewe episode.

They can say what they like but we are into politics. We deploy every legitimate tool that would help advance the course of your party, as long as those things are legitimate within the ambit of the law. This Ilubirin thing we are talking about, go and ask them what the law says and if they have complied with it. What is the size of Ilubirin that they want to sand filled and build houses for the masses? When (former governor Lateef ) Jakande was building housing for the masses, he went to virgin lands in Abesan, Isolo and others and built thousands of blocks of flats and at the end the day he delivered up to 60,000 three-bedroom room to individuals who bought it at the rate of N6, 000 then. What kind of housing are they building for the masses? If you look at the place now, what they partitioned for the housing is a small fraction of the whole land. At the end of the day, it won’t even get to the masses. Which masses can buy their flats that go for six million naira? The question is, are they there legally? The answer is no. But some of them said APC chieftains were responsible for the emergence of a minister from Lagos.

We want to thank them for their unsolicited support. We know what is better for us. Did you know that there was a time they were proposing that one of them should be made a minister? That effort was thwarted by us and one of us finally emerged. They should help us to get more ministers through their effort. The APC said after 2015, the likes of Obanikoro would return to their party after they must have won the presidential election?

That is a pipe-dream and you are entitled to dream. I dreamt last night, sometimes I found myself in Europe, sometimes in America and when I wake up, I found myself in Nigeria and it then occurs to me that I have not travelled. You can build castles in your dream. PDP will win Lagos and the presidency resoundingly in 2015. Yes, he used to be one of them but what God has plan for Obanikoro would happen without the influence of anybody, including the APC.

Lagos is choked already. Why can’t they think of appropriate ways of decongesting Lagos?

50 features

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

Fulani herdsman: Rustic life The life of a cattle breeder is driven by care for his cattle. LEO SOBECHI writes that this explains why the average Fulani man equates cattle with human beings. Additional report by KEHINDE JOSEPH.

ou see them shepherding their cows through bushes and forests. Most times, they encounter stiff resistance from farmers and natives who lament the destruction of crops by their cattle. But to the Fulani, the cow is like a human being and should be treated with equal respect and care. The life of a cattle breeder is one driven by the care of his cattle and where ever he can go to ensure that the animals are fed properly. And because the men are wont to be away from home for long, they take along their wives. Consequently home becomes where ever the search for grasses leads, which often far into the forests and thickets. The search for grazing land defies the Nigerian concern for state of origin. Going on the trail of the Fulani man reveals a sound logic that would be lost on those who do not feel what the herdsman feels. His argument sounds like “we are not interested in grasses; we have no business with ownership of land.” Could it be that the Fulani Daji (bush dependent/resident Fulani) is the true Nigerian whose only business is what he could give to his cow? (Much like; think of what you can do for your country and not just what the country can do for you?). It was so that at a time of growing perception of nomadic Fulani cattle-rearers as terrorists or invaders, New Telegraph on Saturday went in search of facts about the lives of the cattle-rearers in their abodes outside the city settings. At a Fulani settlement in Enugu State, where the artistry and architectural know how of herdsmen were on display, the cowherds revealed that they are too preoccupied with care for their cattle to make trouble with anybody. The leader of the Ungwa at the hillside off the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Alhaji Soun, told New Telegraph: “We have been here for 37 years without molestation; we do not build metal zinc houses like other people because if we do so Ngwo people, (the natives) will accuse us of claiming their land.” He said that the government of Enugu State sent a teacher to teach their children western education regretting that the lone teacher does not show up regularly. “What we expect of government is to send us good teachers for our children,” said the leader of the community, adding that only grown boys follow in shepherding the cows

It is the shanu (cow) that force us to move because we must ensure that they are feeling well

into the far off bush lands. The girls, he added, stay behind to join their mothers in doing household chores like fetching water and preparing ‘fura da nono’ (milk delicacy). Soun said it was from the hiilside abode that most of the herdsmen take off to other towns in South East including Nsukka, Uzo-Uwani, Adani, Aguobu-Owa, Affah, Agbani, Nkanu, Nachi, Ugwuoba, Amansea, Afikpo, Edda, Umuahia, Ohafia and to “wherever green shrubs could be found as food for our cattle.” “The cows are usually taken to the bush but here is our settlement; you can see our wives and children,” he added covering his mouth to hide kolanut-discoloured teeth. He said that some times their cows die to their utmost pain. “Cows die but not all the time, they are like human beings and we treat them as such. We often go to Dr. Bala (a veterinary doctor in Enugu) to get medicine for our cattle. Sickness comes more during the rainy season. Cow does not get hungry but that is the period they fall sick more often,” he explained. The cattle-rearer lamented that erosion had been affecting their settlement. Pointing at a makeshift enclosure, he said: “This house that doubles as classroom for our children has been affected by erosion as you can see.” Corroborating Soun’s accounts, another herdsman, Malam Audu, who took the reporter round the settlement, said there was a time when men and officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS) from the Enugu State Police Command formed the habit of invading the settlement on the ground that they were searching for criminals. He added that after some time the SARS team stopped coming when it was satisfied that the settlement was not a hideout for criminals or robbers. Audu stated that apart from that incident they had been residing in the hillside settlement without molestation, adding that because of their safety another settlement was develop across the expressway towards Abor in Udi Local Government Area. Another breeder, Ado Musa, told New Telegraph on Saturday that talk of finding a permanent grazing site for cattle might not work, arguing that when the grasses got exhausted, the need to move out arises. Musa noted that part of the reason to keep the cattle on the move was that after staying at a place, the dung and exhaustion of shrubs made it necessary to relocate. “It is the shanu (cow) that make us move because we must ensure that they are feeling well,” he declared. Alhaji Miyetti Allah Kautalhore is the national chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Plateau. Like a typical pastoral Fulani man, he said, “I

Fulani herdsman and his cattle

Fulani hut at Ungwa, Enugu State

came from Sokoto to Plateau State some years back but my father migrated to Nigeria from Arab state in the north part of Africa.” He accused politicians of causing incessant feud between the Fulanis and farmers in Plateau State, adding that “these people cause crises because they want to make money.” Kautalhore alleged that recently the fulanis’ camps were raided by some gunmen and “we lost about 604 cattle at Foron, Rangil and Gero. The cattle were taken to Vom in Jos South Local Government Area.” He added, “The stolen cattle in Rangil and Gero belonged to 10 of our members. Alhaji Inusa Adamu lost 125, Abubakar Maishanu lost 19, Dayi Abdullahi lost 62,

mangai Abdullahi, 50, Idrisa Mogurum lost 51, Rayo Nepa, 45, Saidu Fari lost 50, Mohammed Ibrahim, 43, Woda Tilde lost 35, Hebu, 15.” He denied that the Fulani in the state usually invite their kinsmen from neighbouring states to attack the indigenes. On the way out the incessant crisis, he urged the government to create a platform for the Fulani, their host community heads and government officials to meet regularly. “If government officials cannot enter the bush to look for the real Fulani, then there is a big mistake. There are many Fulani who can’t speak English. They should be brought to speak on their problem because they are the real people that are af-

FEATURES

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

driven by love for cows

Some herdsmen at a relaxation spot

Soun

Some Fulani children at Ungwa

The church rejects any plan to allocate grazing reserve to Fulanis in every state of the federation

A Fulani boy display the board used by their teacher to teach

fected. We want government to listen to us, all this meeting with agents are not the solution to the heinous problem,” Kautalhore added. He also advised the Fulani to be lawabiding, assuring them that the stolen cattle would be recovered by the law enforcement agents. I also urge journalists in the state that they should be fair in their reportage. When our cattle were stolen and some of us were killed, journalist in the state did not report it. They get their stories from those who attacked us and never approached us to get our own side of the story,” Kautalhore stated. At close range, the Fulani cattle breeder

comes out as very friendly and one wonders why the problem keep recurring. Analysts have said there must be a way of engaging the herdsmen to transform their free grazing style to much modern system. This could have informed the decision of the federal government to moot the idea of finding permanent grazing land for cattle breeders in every state of the federation. But the example offered by the Ngwo Fulani settlement in Enugu shows that bargains could be reached with communities to ensure that the herdsmen take routes away from farmlands. Alternatively, some analysts are of the opinion that farmers could be encouraged to raise ramparts around their farmlands to protect crops from cows so that peace could reign between Fulani herdsmen and natives. However, the federal government’s plan has been receiving negative reactions. For

instance the Ebonyi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) recently warned against plans by the federal government to establish grazing reserves to cattle breeders in every state of the country. The umbrella body of Christians noted that the plan could trigger unbridled agitations by other ethnic and trade groups which might lead to unimaginable let down of peace and unity of Nigeria. Ebonyi CAN’s stern opposition was contained in a statement signed by the state Chairman, Rev. Emmanuel Nshi, Reverend Scamb Nwokolo and Reverend Father, Felix-Uche Akam, Secretary and Director Legal and Public Affairs respectively. While stressing that such a proposal was likely to spark off agitations from other ethnic, professions, vocations and interest groups, CAN warned that the establishment of the reserves would create more problems than it was meant to solve. The association remarked that the presence of Fulani cattle rearers could also stir security threats to the host communities even as it added that “the church is worried by the incessant wave of violence ravaging the entire country particularly the recent attacks on farmers by Fulani cattle

rearers which have become commonplace in many states.” Ebonyi CAN also noted with dismay that the Fulani herdsmen were carrying arms and ammunition openly with impunity, adding that “this is a radical departure from the old tradition where Fulani herdsmen were renowned for their long sticks.” Part of the statement reads: “Ebonyi State chapter of CAN stands for any peaceful approach in addressing the recurring clashes between farmers and Fulani cattle rearers as long as human rights are not violated and the rights of other people to the use of their lands not infringed against. “The church is not at ease that despite overwhelming evidences of flagrant display of ammunitions as reported by many natives, not much has been done to tackle the issue. The church therefore categorically condemns and rejects any plan to allocate grazing reserve to Fulanis in every state of the federation because it amounts to marginalisation of other professions.” The association further warned that “we cannot solve problems by creating opportunity for additional friction as the move portrays,” reiterating that the presence of such well-armed Fulani cattle rearers can be a veritable source for security threats to their host communities “as occasional skirmishes are bound to happen.” Ebonyi CAN leadership however commended the efforts of the federal government to tackle the issue of insecurity in the country and praised the “courage and commitment of Nigeria soldiers” in the defence of corporate unity and sovereignty of the country.

Talking Point

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY

12 APRIL 2014

TRACE can prosecute over 200 traffic offences – Sangofadeji You started your career in road traffic management with the Federal Road Safety Commission. How has the journey been so far?

The journey has been very interesting, challenging and highly informing because what I’ve been able to see within the country in the last 27 years is the need for a renewed strength to be able to put what is wrong right, both institutional failures. And of course, basically you come to discover that human errors is the issue and that’s what actually drove me to write a book on human errors based on my experiences and so on. And the foundation is also very important because Wole Soyinka and Olu Agunloye gave the correct foundation and training for us and that is why we have FRSC as the lead agency and you also have some of us at the state level managing traffic. It’s a new development in the country and of course it is yielding results. Without all of these, only God knows what would have been the crash data level. Your agency clocks 10 years next year. How has it been so far?

The challenges have been very enormous because we’re coming from unknown to the known; that is at the time when people did not even know or understand why we should be there. And when you take all the challenges into consideration, you just find out human factor is the main challenge. Today, we say apart from equipment, apart from logistics, apart from human resources, it is the human factor that is giving a rise in the challenges. But the challenges are not insurmountable. It is one important thing for us to identify those challenges, which we have done, and that is giving us a roadmap to that. And now with the support of the government keying into the United Nations five pillars for reducing accidents before 2020, then definitely because the state is taking four out of those pillars – public enlightenment, road infrastructural development, post-crash exercises and, of course, massive education like we do in TRACE clubs. So, it’s taking the entire people into the safe corridor of driving on our roads and I think that is a good one for Ogun State. Ogun State is often described as the investment destination of choice meaning you have a lot of industries with attendant challenges of traffic caused by articulated vehicles. How have you been able to manage this?

Ayo Sangofadeji, corps commander and chief executive officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), has been a traffic manager for over 25 years. He speaks with KUNLE OLAYENI on the challenges of traffic management on Nigerian roads. or inputs are not there, then we’ll probably be talking about a crash data that is very frightening. But reduction in road traffic crashes is the aim and we will continue to do that. But, of course, we should not also forget that the despite number of vehicles we have, more are coming, those who get involved in crash are being repaired and returned to the streets. So, there is no time that it is depreciating but rising because of economic development. Over the years, you introduced TRACE clubs in secondary schools. Have you considered partnership with the ministry of education to ensure inclusion of traffic education in their curriculum?

Whatever we are doing now is in partnership with the ministry of education, science and technology. We do have the go-ahead to do what we are doing. They’ve partnered with us in the first two editions, they’re giving us the right to go into schools and, of course, we go beyond public schools now into private schools. Definitely the number of students coming for the next edition is going to be more than 3,000 that we had in the first instance. And again, the parent-teacher associations are also keying into this project because they are the owners of these children, they bring them to different schools and they are able to stand behind them and say we need this type of education for our children. So, they are partners in this particular project for 2014. There has been advocacy for the introduction of devices that limit speed. Do you think this would help reduce road crashes?

Yes, to a very large extent it will because speed is also a translation of how often a man can control the speed he’s undertaking, and the road on which

We do have synergy with not only the companies themselves but the employers of the drivers. The NURTW, RTEAN, truck owners association are working in conjunction with us and when you carry a renewed vigour of teaching them or reminding them of what they know which they are not doing, and coupled with the issue of penalty and deterrent, definitely we’re going to achieve a lot. But the most important thing is that we are in the right direction. If these stop-gap activities Sangofadeji

that is being done. When you travel on the road at 100 kilometres, in one second you cover 27 metres; so what is the thinking capability to be able to bring the vehicle to a stop? During rainy season, what is the state of his tyre? What is the nature of the road? How old is the vehicle and have those tyres expired? So, all of these combined make limiting devices for vehicular speed very important. What are the basic functions of your agency because it’s common to hear people accuse TRACE officials of overstepping their bounds in the discharge of duties?

It is ignorance in most cases and ignorance in law is not actually permissible. The Ogun State House of Assembly law established TRACE. There are more than 200 offences that TRACE can deal with. But the procedure and process is this: an offence must have been seen to have been committed and discovered as primary offence before you go to secondary offence. For instance, somebody who is driving while on the phone is seen to have committed an offence because he’s making a call while he’s not supposed to. The law says you should not make a call while you are driving. Now the primary offence is the call he’s making. When you stop him, TRACE has the right under the law to ask him for his driver’s licence, the vehicle licence, that is secondary offence. So, it is the process that is very important and the people need to get that and we have been saying that in the last nine years. What sort of measures are there to rein in some officials who might have

crossed the line?

Of course, there are departmental actions taken against them and many of them have gone through that. Some have even been dismissed. How do you think the deficiency in data collection can be corrected?

I think there should be a national policy which the lead agency in Nigeria, the FRSC, is trying to do with the driver’s licence. So we need to start from there. When offences are committed in terms of owning a driver’s licence, you could be traced through that particular data you supplied. So, definitely it would be very easy for us. Also registering the vehicles and getting correct addresses and so on would enable the enforcement agencies track those offenders. Once offences are committed and penalties are not executed, it gives a leeway for that person to repeat the same offence. Data is what helped the developed economies to be able to get at the root of these offences. For us in Ogun State, we believe so much in data and we are working towards that direction, that even if you are in Port Harcourt, the moment you are within the territory of Ogun State and your records have been captured for once, definitely when you commit an offence within the territory of Ogun State, you can still be reached for whatever it is. What do you intend to achieve through TRACE mayors?

Its aim is to galvanize the society to be able to police one another. And if they have the full knowledge of what traffic rules and regulation are, then they would be able to comply without any serious enforcement. We do not need anybody to run after us. It is abnormal when you post men to enforce traffic light. For me, it’s an abnormal situation and those who are beating the traffic lights are abnormal. Traffic light is part of training as a driver and you cannot graduate into having a licence without understanding what a traffic light is all about. So, if I have to police the traffic light, then it is an abnormal situation. What is your vision for TRACE?

I was the director of operations before I became the corps commander, so I was the first person transiting from the directorate level to the head of the corps. So, my vision is very fantastic. There is a future for TRACE in Ogun State. With the government’s support that is already in now and with this massive infrastructural development, it takes a new way, a dynamic approach to traffic management and which will make people imbibe proper road culture. The ultimate goal is to inculcate a renewed sense of culture in driving in the average driver in Ogun State. And, of course, for pedestrians to know that when they hit the road they should make use of the walkway.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

PERSPECTIVE

Sorry, the system is slow H

ave you ever queued in the bank, only to be told that “the system is slow?” The teller would probably be referring to the computer network and the software that enables the reading and updating of bank balances. But in a much larger dimension, there are a lot of things about our systems and processes in Nigeria that are slow. I often have the opportunity of visiting other countries in Africa and this gives me ample insight into the challenges that need to be overcome in our system: slow and sloppy healthcare delivery, snail paced dispensation of criminal justice, crawling state of road transport systems. But for now let’s stay with the banks. Whenever I am paid with a cheque to cash over the counter in Nigeria, I am full of anticipation of what the outcome might be. Do I have to take a mat to the bank? How long will it take to get into the bank, approach the counter and get the cheque cashed? These are

BUSINESS SENSE ALEX OGUNDADEGBE alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

the questions that go through my mind. I have had the chance to do some banking in Ghana and change some money in a bank in Kenya and I see systems that are a bit faster than ours. In fact a banker manager in Accra left his comfy office to personally collect cheques from people who were being kept waiting because of a slow system. A lengthy spiraling queue is bad for business in a bank anywhere in the world. It gets worse when you have people who believe they can straight to the counter and get served immediately at your waiting expense, the circumstances are simply perturbing. The ATM system as a remedy for freeing congested

k, I am going to be very cautious in this write up for fear of litigation. Recently, we have been inundated with news of the alleged rape involving popular fuji musician, Obesere, and a purported fan, he met through one Alhaja in Ibadan. As the story goes, he was paid a visit by this lady who after being introduced by his business partner, the Alhaja, and after enjoying themselves, was accused of raping the said lady. The lady made a report at the police station and promptly investigations commenced. We hear the lady did not really cooperate with the police and as such they came out with a clean bill of health for the musician. Obesere “baba to si be”, as he is fondly known by his fans, is my friend. I used to hang out with him in the same house. I used to wonder why the house was in perpetual darkness. He had his own private mosque and an expansive compound. We used to sit out there in the dark and discuss mostly his conquest with women. He used to call and invite me to his shows, where he would promise me Sodom and Gomorrah if I came. As a good Christian, I neither attended those shows nor the after parties. I have seen women throw themselves at him, both young and old. He is very popular especially amongst the street urchins. “Baba to si be” cannot appear in any bus stop in Lagos without being mobbed. We were once hit by a petrol tanker one night and he refused to come out of the car. When I asked him why, he said if he did they

banking halls and reducing the customers waiting time has failed us tremendously. These days you have queues at ATMs, bank entrances, bank exits, and bank counters. A lot of these queues move at snails pace and so there are clamours for seats in the banking halls, we seem to be going back to the age of the tally number and the ledger and guess who we blame? The system. At my customer care conferences we bandy the key phrases: The customer is king (so treat him like one), The customer is always right! A banker who attended one of the customer care sessions in Lagos challenged me on the viability of the second phrase,

drawing his objection from a slap he received from a customer in the line of duty The customer being always right draws its credence from the measure and quality of service he is entitled to. Not bad manners and certainly not violent behavior. So what can we do about reducing queues and waiting time without compromising the security in our banks? Well let’s seek answers from the customers’ point of view as well as that of the bank. An acquaintance told me after waiting for over an hour in a queue she got tired and since there were no seats, she looked for a secluded corner in the banking hall and sat on the floor! I don’t know the security implications of sitting on the floor but I dare say the action got her attention and she was whisked to the front for prompt service. I have personally watched another customer who felt he was delayed unnecessarily scream at the top of his voice. That

That Obesere rape case

EDGAR’s WORLD JOSEPH EDGAR josephsamsponedgar@gmail.com

will lynch the driver of the tanker and when the police came, they confirmed it. They begged him not to come out till they could spirit the other driver away. Obesere is fun to be with, an all round nice guy who really is on a mission. But that said, this case has thrown up a lot of questions in my mind. This is a very sensitive issue hence my fear as I write. But let me ask the question: if one is in a consensual relationship with an adult over a period, does that mean that there can be no rape if on this very one occasion the other partner says NO? This question is not limited to just this case, but a general question. If I love you and we have been at it for years and this particular night I don’t want it and I get forced; is that not rape? Secondly, if I go report and I am treated like less of a human being and ridiculed, would I go back to continue with the case? Won’t I just go home and lock myself up and lick my wounds? When is no really no? You see, most of us really do not know when a lady

means her NO and that is because our ladies have over the years said NO when they mean YES. So we continue applying pressure, believing that she would soon cave in and when you eventually get there, you suddenly realize that you may have just been guilty of rape. I have heard of cases when a gentleman takes NO at its face value and gets ridiculed by the same lady to her friends that the man was a fool. This issue is very delicate for both parties. We have to know when not to cross the line on both sides. The lady needs to say NO firmly and mean it, while the man needs to read his partner very well to be able to decipher when the NO means continue and when the NO means NO. Rape is evil. It kills and dehumanizes its victims, it should not be encouraged and should never be condoned. I have seen many victims who never get themselves back. I once had a friend who was abused by eight relatives when she was a teenager. She could not tell anybody for fear of be-

got the bankers’ attention he was also given prompt service. These two approaches appear too confrontational and attention grabbing in nature. Perhaps a couple of avoidance remedies are in order: Never go to the bank in Nigeria on a Monday Morning, a Friday or a day before a public holiday. Tell your clients you would prefer a money transfer to a cheque. Banks need to sit up. The CBN should stop fooling Nigerians about banking being cashless in Nigeria when we can not supply electricity to 70 per cent of the population. E banking requires electricity for it to be successful. You can straddle the queue, be the patient longsuffering customer and hope for the best, but even bankers believe in the time value of money. So why waste my time and blame it on the system? - Ogundadegbe is a farmer, teacher ,speaker. He can be reached at alexogundadegbe@gmail.com

ing killed. But she lived her life like she was the guilty party, blaming herself for everything. I am a strong advocate against rape. There are so many ready and willing females around, so why disturb that one person that can’t stand you. Why forcefully have carnal knowledge of someone when you can easily get thousands on the streets of Lagos freely and unhindered. As I was asking myself if I should write on this topic or not, I suddenly saw newspaper reports that Obesere has shot a video on the rape case with the pictures of both his accuser and the link person. If this is not illiteracy I do not know what is. What is he planning to achieve with this. The only thing that would be achieved would be money in his pockets. He has lost relevance to younger artists and this to him is a unique opportunity to rekindle his sagging career. Remember he built it on lewdness so this is up his street. But at whose expense? I think relevant authorities should step in and ban the distribution and sale of this CD and where that is not possible, stringent measures should be taken to get the ladies get a fair share of the sales since at least they still control their image rights. Kim Kardashian was paid $5m by the producers of her famed sex tape. So Obesere must do the same or cancel the idea. I have a sneaky feeling I know what transpired, and what I think transpired is very far from what Obesere is touting about and a little bit closer to the accuser’s position - but very far from rape.

54 MILESTONES

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

To my friend and brother, Obahiagbon, at 54 Sufuyan Ojeifo

felicitate with you, my friend and brother, on the occasion of your 54th birthday (April 12). I remember our social interactions and intellectual engagements while you were on tour of duty in the House of Representatives in Abuja from 2007 to 2011. Our friendship began with that chance meeting at the entrance of the White House, which accommodates the hallowed chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. I was tending to the Senate for THISDAY; and, in company with a journalist friend, Joses Sede, of The Observer, I had gone on “ward round” to news sources. Joses sighted you and wanted to exchange pleasantries with you. He felt strongly that I should be introduced to you and had taken it up himself to do so. Joses had hardly mentioned my name, when you embraced me warmly and declared how voraciously you have been reading my reports and analyses; and, how in your summation of my journalistic efforts, I have been “intervening and contravening in the politics of Edo State from Abuja”. Both of us began thenceforth to nurture a relationship that has survived expression of sympathies for different political cleavages. I remember how, towards the sunset of the sixth session of the National Assembly, you switched platform from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) now All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to ensure your political survival. You believed it was a good move. You justified it in a telephone conversation with me. But I was not comfortable with your decision, even though there was nothing I could do to make you to reverse it. I was aware that securing your seat in the House through the ACN platform was going to be a gargantuan task with Rasaq BelloOsagie, whom you defeated in 2007, effectively in charge of the structures for Oredo Federal Constituency in the ACN. I was sure you were not under any illusion that you would get the ticket by the snapping of your fingers or by force of your political reputation and influence. That you lost the bid for party nomination to a combination and conspiracy of factors was a matter of history. The import of that “short-circuiting” was that you left me in Abuja unceremoniously. I have since then missed the proximity to the source and ambience of intellectual inspiration typified by your ebullient presence. Now, you know how much I love those Latinate words, phrases, expressions and/ or maxims with which you spice up and deodorize your thoughts, answers and positions especially during interviews. You operate from the vantage position of a lawyer. Alas! All your verbal razzmatazz was terminated by your defeat at the primaries of your new party. But interestingly, it was not enough to stymie the flow of your usual bombasts in times of deep emotional outbursts. Your opponents had expected you to despair by their rejoicing but you had the right reaction for them such that

the entire political environment was filled with a large dose of comic relief for the utilitarian benefit of the winner and you, the loser. It is a painful reality that you are no longer in Abuja, at least for now, but everybody is agreed that while in the Lower Chamber, you defined a unique character for yourself, using the instrumentality of your swanky outfits. This, to me, accentuates the uniqueness in styling yourself the “son of Igodomigodo,” a sobriquet you adopted in 1999, when you were elected into the Edo State House of Assembly. This is the way you put it in my first interview with you in 2009: “I have deployed the nomenclature of Igodomigodo as a political sobriquet for 10 years now, particularly as a vehicular nexus with my culturicospiritual fons et origo and this emanated from an advertent primus mobilus to cosmopolitanise my genealogical matrix since it was not by accident that I originated from the land of Igodomigodo. “Igodomigodo was the original, first ever, and pristine name of the Binis. From Igodomigodo, we were known as Ile-Ubini before the transmogrification into modern day Bini or Benin...” You have never run short of big dictions or coinages that have defined your peculiar style. And when you “vibrate” you do not laugh. You look very serious as if you are possessed by some spirit. One thing I have not asked from you is whether you laugh any time you read yourself in the newspapers or listen to yourself on the television. Do you?

Obahiagbon

My friend and brother, Obahiagbon, you have become a prodigious verbal contortionist. You are imbued with the capacity to titillate your audience to no end. Let it continue to flow even in your present tour of duty as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Edo State. I hope you will share in your own tit-

illation if, in your moments of introspection on your 54th birthday, you take time to read or recollect your quotable quotes and near pedagogical pontifications. Happy birthday and many happy returns! * Ojeifo sent this piece from Abuja.

For Lady Anyadike, a final testimonial Tony Anyadike

eath is one thing that is inevitable. It will come when it will come and sometimes we may not have the premonition but signs that our loved ones may be experiencing the final moments of life. To me, my father, siblings and people who knew my mother very well, we knew she must die one day. As humans, we never wanted it to come. But it has come and the only thing left is to bid farewell to our beloved sister, wife, mother, aunty, grandmother, great grandmother, mother in law, in law, a friend to all and most of a lover of Christ. Lady Josephine Nwakaego Anyadike, nee Amadi was born 74 years ago into the Oshi eze royal family of Amadiohazimike Okorie, in Amawom, Owerri , Nchi ise, Owerri municipal area council. Imo state. Mama’s father, Bernard, was a builder, while his wife, Mama Nwaogazi, was a petty trader. They lived happily as husband and wife for a long time without an issue. At the point when his relations were going to bring another wife for him, since they considered his wife barren, Mama Nwaogazi took in and had Josephine and because of the circumstances surrounding her birth she was also called Nwakaego, meaning ‘’a child is more precious than money”. Mama was an only child for over eight years before her mother took in again and this time it was a boy. Our grandfather had a

way with names and each he gave was symbolic, depicting the mood he was in or situation prevalent. He called his first son Iheanacho, meaning “what we are looking for”. From then on they had five more children. As was with the trend then, most girls were denied education. Parents concentrated on domesticating their girls and getting them ready for marriage. Mama was a bit lucky as her parents enrolled her in Our Lady’s Primary School, Emekuku. She was there for six years and passed out with the Standard Six certificate. She got a job with Niger Chemist, Owerri soon after she left school. It was while she was working there that Papa met her in 1955 and they got married. This union produced 10 biological children and many others whom God gave to them in different circumstances, their trust was in God and they never for one day saw the burden as heavy, though not an easy one. Standard Six certificate was not the end of education for Mama as she hungered to improve herself, in between child bearing she enrolled into Domestic Science Training Institute, Uwani, Enugu. She graduated with a certificate in Home Economics and Crafts, in 1967. The year 1973 was very remarkable in our family history, Mama decided that since her children then were all weaned, to go into business. She made a career out of it. She was consummate in her dealings and that yielded a huge support base to the family. Upkeep and the training of our very large family was a light

burden on Papa because of her resourcefulness, she was a virtuous woman. She had no airs to her accomplishments as everything she owned belonged to God and Papa Joy, her husband. To her husband Okenze Christopher Anyadike, mama was the finest woman, as he called her” Phine” till death. She was his Treasurer, confidant, adviser, friend, sister and above all wife. Like Papa would always say, if not for a woman like Phine I could not have achieved all I did. She stood behind Papa like the rock of Gibraltar, together they achieved. To tell you how devoted she was to her husband, she chose to die on his birthday, March 15, and as if that was not enough, she is being buried in April, their golden jubilee anniversary date. This is more than just a mere coincidence, it has strong spiritual connect, and again let me tell you: today is the anniversary of the priestly ordination of Your Grace, A J V Obinna, which of course is a heavenly activity. She had her death ordered and God blessed it, that simply explains why it happened the way it did. Mama is a 4th Degree Lady of Saint Mulumba, she won all the awards for women in the church, from the Parish to the Diocese. Some of them are Nneoma, Ezinne, Golden Mother, Sweet Mother. Mama found beauty in every person, possibilities in problems, joy in worship and she could spend her day in the kitchen catering for her numerous children and guests. That was more like a daily portion, her pots were never cold and her stove was alight always.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SATURDAY 12 april 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Record entry for Okpekpe Road Race Charles Ogundiya

he second edition of the Okpekpe 10 kilometres Road Race slated to hold on May 3 in Edo State, continues to experience unprecedented influx of foreign athletes. The online registration hit per day for the month April has tallied 46,000 (approximately 800 visitors). The total hits for April added up to 194,000

Oscar Pistorius: I didn’t hear Reeva scream

O Chelsea face Atletico Madrid ...Bayern, Real in crunch tie

helsea have been drawn against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semifinal, while Real Madrid face holders Bayern Munich. The Blues, chasing a third final in seven seasons, visit the Vicente Calderon in the first leg on 22 April, with the return eight days later. Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is in his third season on loan at Atletico. Although the 21-year-old Belgian has yet to make a senior appearance for the Blues, he has established himself as Atletico’s first-choice stopper and helped the club win the Europa League in 2012. Atletico have a one-point lead at the top of La Liga and defeated Spanish rivals Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Nine-time winners Real are at home to holders Bayern in the first leg. Chelsea last met Atletico in the 2012 Super Cup and they were defeated 4-1 as Radamel Falcao scored a hat-trick in Monaco. “The atmosphere in Atletico’s Vicente Calderon will be thunderous and Chelsea will face a team as hungry and driven as their outstanding Argentine coach. It is a fierce test for Mourinho and Chelsea, but past history tells us they relish in the opportunity to get such a tough job done in the Champions League.” Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho won three of his four meetings with Diego Simeone’s Atletico when in charge of Real Madrid between May 2010 and June 2013. But Atletico have proved a force in Spain and in Europe this season. Los Rojiblancos are on course for a first league title since 1996 and, in addition to Barcelona, they have also knocked AC Milan and Porto out of the Champions League this season. In the other semi-final tie, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real must knock out last season’s winners Bayern if

they are to be crowned champions of Europe for a record 10th time. “If we want to win the Champions League, we have to beat everyone including Bayern,” said Ancelotti, a two-time Champions League winner when in charge of AC Milan. “The semifinals against Bayern will be very difficult, but it’s not easy for anyone to play Real Madrid either.”

UEFA clears Courtois to face Chelsea

EFA says that Chelsea cannot stop on-loan Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois facing his parent club should the two be drawn together in the Champions League. Atletico president Enrique Cerezo claimed this week that a clause existed in the loan agreement between the clubs prohibiting the Belgium international from playing should they meet, barring the payment of a large “penalty” sum which the financially troubled La Liga outfit could not afford to pay. This appeared to ensure that Courtois would not play should Chelsea and Atletico meet in either the semifinals or the final of this season’s competition. But European football’s ruling body released a statement on Friday morning, just ahead of the semifinal draw, saying that any such clauses were against the “integrity of sporting competition” and were “null, void and unenforceable” as far as UEFA was concerned.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE S/FINAL DRAW 22 April: A/ Madrid v Chelsea 23 April: Real Madrid v FC Bayern 29 April: FC Bayern v Real Madrid 30 April: Chelsea v Atletico Madrid

Liverpool sweep EPL awards

iverpool duo Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard have jointly been awarded the Barclays Premier League Player of the Month award for March, with Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers collecting the Manager of the Month award. The clean sweep for the Liverpool trio rewards a month in which the club won all five of their games to go top of the Premier League table, with Rodgers’ side scoring 18 goals as they

scar Pistorius has told his murder trial that girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp did not scream or shout as he grabbed a gun and fired shots that killed her. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said it was “improbable” that she would stand in the bathroom saying nothing while Mr Pistorius was just 3m (10ft) away shouting at her to call the police. Mr Pistorius said he could not explain but reiterated that no woman screamed. Mr Pistorius, 27, denies murder saying the killing was a terrible accident. He admits killing Ms Steenkamp but says he fired his gun after mistaking her for an intruder. He believed she had been in bed when he grabbed his gun, made his way to the bathroom and fired shots through the door. The prosecution says he killed her after an argument.

beat Southampton, Manchester United, Cardiff, Sunderland and Tottenham. Uruguay international Suarez bagged six goals in those five games, including a hat trick against the Bluebirds to cap an impressive 6-3 win, while club captain Gerrard scored fouls goals including two penalties at Old Trafford in a convincing 3-0 victory to put the Reds within touching distance of their first league title in 24 years.

Pistorius

(about 3,174 visitors) with the interesting aspect of the awareness being the scramble from foreign athletes to be part of the road race. The director of the race, Zak Amodu, revealed at a conference held in Lagos on Thursday, that: “Online registration has surpassed maiden edition. More foreign elite athletes are scrambling for last minutes invitations with no fewer than 11 foreign athletes willing to pay their way to compete at this year race, the online registration records an average of 800 hits per day with just three weeks to the commencement of the race.” He however observed that the total number of people that has filled the form online or downloaded the forms has been low.

Danagogo, Elegbeleye to grace Golden League Charles Ogundiya

igeria’s sports minister, Dr Tamuno Danagogo, and director general of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, are among the dignitaries expected to grace the first leg of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria Golden League which holds on Saturday in Abuja. Over 500 athletes from different states and athletics clubs across the country have registered their presence in the nation’s capital city with the sole aim of staking a claim to the N2, 000,000 jackpot up for grabs. Meanwhile, two of Nigeria’s elite athletes, Obinna Metu and Ogho-Oghene Egwero, will continue their rivalry as they both look forward to a thrilling race at the National Stadium, Abuja. Egwero said: “Well the truth is that I am not scared of anyone and I don’t think anyone is afraid of me. I will just have to do what I have to do in any race, even if I win or lose, I know things that have to be corrected. “Metu is my teammate and if I beat him or he beats me, it makes no difference, all we have to do is make a mark while at the international level.”

Europa semifinal draw: Benfica battle Juventus … Sevilla entertain Valencia

victory over Lyon by winning their second leg 2-1 in France on Thursday. Benfica, who beat Tottenham in this season’s last 16, are the only one of the four semifinalists never to have won either the Europa League or its predecessor, the Uefa Cup. The Portuguese Primeira Liga leaders beat Dutch side AZ to reach the last four. Valencia are facing La Liga rivals Sevilla in European competition for the first time, having come back from a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat Swiss champions Basel 5-3 on aggregate in their quarterfinal. Their opponents reached the last four with a 4-2 aggregate win over Porto.

erie A leaders Juventus will face last year’s Europa League finalists Benfica in this season’s semi-finals. Jorge Jesus’s side, beaten by Chelsea in the final last May, have been drawn at home in the first leg. Sevilla and Valencia will contest an all-Spanish semifinal in the other tie following Friday’s draw in Switzerland. The first legs will be on 24 April, and the return legs on 1 May, with the final to be played Tevez at the Juventus Stadium in Turin next month. That would mean home advantage in the final for Antonio Conte’s Juve side, who THE DRAW are eight points clear at the top of Serie A Benfica v Juventus and unbeaten in 12 Europa League matches, Sevilla v Valencia since a 4-1 defeat at Fulham in the last 16 in First legs, 24 April. March 2010. Second legs, 1 May. They secured a 3-1 aggregate quarter-final

TRAVEL

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

A SPLASH OF LAGOS’ TRIPLE HERITAGE FESTIVAL P.42

hose who contend that the North must be denied presidential power for at least a generation have propounded a two-fold argument to support their stance: Their first contention is based on the grounds that the North has held central power for over 37 of the 53 years of Nigerian independence and, therefore, disqualified from exercising such power again until southern Nigeria has had the opportunity to catch up. The second contention is that there will be war in the Niger Delta if President Jonathan is not gifted another four-year term; that the expensively disbanded militants will resume and dramatically escalate the campaign of terror to a degree where they will be bringing down commercial jets with RPGs, preventing a single petro-dollar from dropping into the federal coffers, thus crippling the economically monomyarian federation. Let us examine these contentions in turn. Only in 12 of the 37 years in which the North monopolised central government did the North exercise such power by means of the lawful consent of the Nigerian people through the ballot box: 1960-1966; 1979-1983 and 2007-2010. Some northern actors, who had the consent of neither southern nor northern Nigerian citizens, usurped power by unconstitutional means for about a quarter of a century. Those years of totalitarianism had equal outcomes for Nigeria, North and South, in terms of the multiplication of poverty, ignorance, disease, insecurity, decay and the incubation of corruption and hard graft. 1999 was the year that we, Nigerians, hit the default button. A new vista opened for us and our path to our future of promise and greatness was democracy, with the presumption that it would be practised with a conscious recognition of our diversity. When the default button was hit in 1999, it was envisaged that power would rest where the democratic wind landed it. Using the apparatus of democracy as a corrective instrument for historical power disparity at the federal level could not have percolated within the contemplation of Nigerians whose struggles and sacrifices led to the restoration of democracy and who were simply relieved to see the military ejected from the political space. The claim that only the North brought about the ruination of Nigeria is utter pabulum. If the South’s contention is that it should be given an equal opportunity to rape our country for as long and to the same criminal degree as the North has done, then it’s an argument that I am prepared to countenance, but only to the extent that this is brought about through running the gauntlet of coups d’état, as did the North. History has a way of delivering retrospective justice and restoring balance and equity in human affairs. It never fails. The Fourth Republic has delivered a sucker punch to the North, and it’s reeling from the blow. No sight is more pitiful than a technical knockout specialist lying spread-

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

N150

MEET LOLA OGUNBOTE, NIGERIAN-BORN LAWYER WHO PLAYED FOR WEST HAM P.27

2015: Why the north must be denied presidential power

BROADSIDE EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

eagled on the canvass. This defeated heavyweight of Nigerian power manipulation had little idea that it would be ambushed and suckered by its own favourite protégé, President Olusegun Obasanjo. The Fourth Republic started on a brilliant and confident footing for the region. Northern military autocrats had enacted a sub-literate military decree (absurdly termed the 1999 Constitution), setting out the legal architecture of the republic, ensuring that the post-civil war disequilibrium would be perpetuated to the particular detriment of the people of Southeastern Nigeria. The South-East came into the ring with its hands manacled behind its back, with just 5 states, 95 local government areas, 15 senatorial districts and 43 federal constituencies. Not a single department, agency or service branch was under the headship of an easterner. The North, on the other hand, came into the democratic game beefed up like a pugilist on steroids: 19 states out of 36 (add the FCT); 413 local government councils out of 774 (add the 6 in the FCT); 57 senatorial districts out of 109 (add the1 in the FCT); 189 federal constituencies out of 360 (add the 2 in the FCT). The chairman of the ruling party at the centre (Chief Solomon

LIPSTICK

Daushep Lar), the chief of the judicature (Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais), the speakership of the House of Representatives (Buhari/GhaliNa’aba), the National Security Adviser (Gen Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd)), the Chief of Defence Staff (Air Marshall Allamin Daggash), the Chief of Army Staff (Lt. Gen. V. S. L. Malu), the Chief of Air Staff (Air Marshall Isaac Alfa), the Comptroller-General of Customs (Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha), the Controller General of Prisons (Alhaji Ibrahim M. Jarma) were all northerners! And, of course, the sentinel that stood guard against any incursions into these incredible advantages was the vice presidency, occupied by the formidable PDM supremo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. As at 4th June 1999, the North was swinging, chest-thumping and giddy with overreaching favourable balance of power. The North was confident in the knowledge that in four short years, the status quo ante would be restored, and the North would swing right back to its familiar stomping ground – the marbled corridors of federal power. But, in Obasanjo, the North was confronted with a gorilla-size nemesis. He set about unravelling, in 8 years, 35 years of outright imperial dominance of the political power spectrum in

Nigeria – from the judiciary to the executive and their adjuncts. Obasanjo sucked the soul out of the North by restructuring and rebalancing the military. But by far the most aggressive anti-North act was his unilateral and illegal overthrow of the Vice President. By annexing the office of the vice presidency, Obasanjo neutered the North. And by installing as a president in 2007, a man with failing kidneys and ravaged by pericarditis, Obasanjo cynically skewered the North. In the life of the Fourth Republic thus far, the North has effectively held the presidency for 3 years and the vice presidency for 8. Obasanjo hit the North in the solar plexus. God delivered the uppercut. The North has found itself in an unfamiliar posture in the Nigerian power arena – prostrate, self-doubting, vulnerable and besieged. Seriously, the pressing question should move from what dictators did to our country and rest firmly on how we can entrench democracy and nurture its precepts. The emotive argument about the inequitable balance of the privileges of power which arose mainly through military coups is largely pointless and counterproductive at this point in our history. All Nigerian democrats must recognise the President’s constitutional right to run for re-election in 2015. He must be allowed to freely choose whether to exercise that right or not. If he chooses to run, then the judgment of the Nigerian people must be delivered unmediated, uninterrupted, undisrupted and un-manipulated. If war erupts in the Niger Delta, it would be Jonathan’s tragic legacy. History will note that at his ascent to the presidency, war erupted in the Northeast. And at his exit, war returned to the Niger Delta.

BY CHUKWUEMEKA EMENIKE

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