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Fashion

Wrapper Redefined 22&43

Bed, Work & Life

Mothers and in-laws 20

Body Soul SUNDAY, JUNE 07, 2015

Nigeria’s fabulous

ROBBERY RIDDLE

first family

WOMAN: My husband is not an armed robber HUSBAND: No, I raid filling stations, ATM galleries POLICE: He belongs to trans-border gang }6

REPS war Gbajabiamila

Lawan

l Inside story of how Gbajabiamila floored Dogara by 154-3 votes at APC’s Reps Speakership primaries l Defeated candidate blasts Oyegun, Tinubu, banks on PDP Reps }5 }5 & 42

Buhari, Osinbajo to publish assets soon }9 SENATE PRESIDENCY

Northern elders dump Saraki, back Lawan }9

G7 SUMMIT

President off to Germany today }9

APGA ELECTION

TANKERS FROM HELL l36 houses, 70 shops burnt in fresh Lagos tanker fire

Oye emerges national chairman, Labaran Maku is secretary

}Jubilation as Nyako returns to Adamawa

}8,9

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 07.06.15 BODY & SOUL

Fascinating 1st family The man who fought until he won the Presidency comes with a family that captures our attention like no other-a gorgeous wife, beautiful kids and grandkids

}18

POLITICS

Seven-day scorecard After one week in office, some of the 20 governors sworn in recently have hit the ground running while others are yet to design their policy direction

}31

BUSINESS

Unresolved Devaluation of the naira, challenging economic situation unresolved as CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, marks one year in office

}23

FAITH

Without a Pastor In the heart of Lekki, Lagos, a church where no one is called ‘Pastor’ thrives

}42

SPORT

LIFE

Saved by FBI Nigeria’s ex-international star, Justice Adokiye Aimesiamaka, is full of commendations for the FBI who he said saved the face of world football by bursting the FIFA cabal

}60 Onitsha tanker fire Survivors of Onitsha tanker fire incident narrate tales of woe

}41

SUNDAY

Editorial

L

Challenges for Arase

ike a bolt from the blues, Mr. Solomon Arase was appointed the 17th Inspector-General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the unexpected sack of Suleiman Abba. The career of his predecessor was summarily truncated less than eight months in the saddle, making him about the IGP with the shortest tenure in the history of the force Since it came at the twilight of the then President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration which is was preparing its handover notes, not a few Nigerians found the retirement ill-timed. Since Abba had about four years before his retirement, no one expected that he would not lead the force, at least till the terminal date of the current administration.

However, given the fact that the appointment of the IGP is purely political and at the behest of the President and the confirmation of the Senate, one was not taken aback by the sack.

While one may not attempt to dissect the legality or otherwise of the sack, one fact that cannot be taken away in the contemporary Nigeria is the fact that there is a task before Arase. One undeniable fact is that the Nigeria Police needs serious attention if it must align with local and globally acceptable standards. Without ignoring the fact that Arase’s tenure might be short, depending on the disposition of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the new number one police officer has a daunting task ahead of him.

It is in this regard that it has become imperative for the force and government to dissect the police’s policy environment and its operational and intelligence capabilities.

As far as the latter is concerned, the IGP must focus on human capital development, especially since the human person drives every system. For this reason, the quality of officers, their competence and capabilities need serious attention.

Modern policing has gone beyond the number of policemen - even though it remains a herculean task to determine the strength of the force in the first place. Contemporary police is driven by officers and men who are honed in operational, intelligence and administrative duties. There lies the issue of skill acquisition, training and orientation of officers and men of the force.

Beyond the ritualistic promotion of officers and men is the imperativeness for the officers to attend courses which will prepare them for the promotion and attendant responsibilities. Officers promoted to

the rank of Superintendent of Police, Chief Superintendent, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy and Commissioners et cetera must as a necessity have attended leadership and management courses befitting of their ranks. An officer who is ignorant of methods of leading people and organisation is a disaster waiting to happen if appointed into such position of a Divisional Police Officer or even a Unit Commander in the Mobile Police. The case is even worse when a Squadron Commander is appointed on the basis of other consideration except the fact that he has attended crisis management and crowd control courses with rich modules of interfacing with members of the public within the ambit of the law, while dealing with outlaws. The force today is fraught with cases of corruption, human rights abuse and deviation from established policing norms, and the consequences are “accidental discharge,” which is actually an issue of indiscretion or overreaction which often snowball into conflagrations in some developed countries.

Arase must monitor police performance though the various commands, departments and directorates. The anti-corruption unit, the X-Squad must be strengthened to deal with officers and men with penchant for trading professionalism and justice for pecuniary reward.

Equally germane is the need to the strengthen the intelligence department of the police for modern policing and utilisation of scientific investigation methods, which make possible irrefutable evidence, critical in linking the crime with the criminal and securing justice at the courts. A networking system with the International Police Organisation for exchange of modern investigation technologies, case studies and programmes are critical success factors.

Police administration, must as a matter of priority, look at the current deficient recruitment patterns and raise the educational level, monitor officers and men, reward exceptional conduct and performance and punish deviants in the system.

The police should also move from era of general duties to specialization in any of the core departments for this indeed is the shape of modern policing.

Irrespective of how long his tenure would last he is due for retirement, Arase must bring to the fore his expertise, experience with the successive IGPs whom he had served as Principal Staff Officer and his persona to give the force a direction. Only this way can he write his name in gold.

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Editor n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

Asst. Editor, News & Politics n Biyi Adegoroye

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 7 JUNE, 2015

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SUNDAY 7 JUNE, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

SPECIALonREPORT The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jeremiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murray Bruce

Peter Nwaoboshi

Biodun Olujimi

Dino Melaye

Monsurat Sunmonu

Bayero Usman Nafada

Bala ibn Na’Allah

Isiaka A. Adeleke

Abubakar Danladi

Adeola Olamilekan

Binta Masi Garba

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim

Mustapha Bukar

Duro Samuel Faseyi

Fatimat O. Raji-Rasaki

Shehu Sani

Mustapha Bukar

Philip Aruwa I Gyunka

Buhari Abdulfatai

Suleiman O. Hunkuyi

Osinakachukwu Ideozu

Danjuma La’ah

Bassey Albert Akpan

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Mohammed A. Ohiare

Nelson Asuquo Effiong

Achonu A. Nneji

Sabo Mohammed

David Umaru

Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi

Barau I Jibrin

Nnaemeka Anyanwu

Clifford A. Ordia

John Enoh Owan

Mathew A. Urhoghide

Utazi Godfrey Chukwuka

Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi

Gbolahan Dada

Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

Francis A. Alimikhena

Olaka Johnson Nwogu

Ogba Joseph Obinna

Tijjani Yahaya Kaura

Donald Alasoadura

Rose Okoji Oko

Yele Omogunwa

Ogola Foster

Gershom H. Bassey

Suleiman M. Nazif

Malam Ali Wakili

Abdullahi A. Gumel

Marafa Bashir Abba

Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdulrahman Abubakar

Salihu Hussain Egye

Mohammed Garba

Ighoyota Amori

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Ahmadu Abubakar

Mohammed Hasan

Isah Hamma Misau

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Muhammad Ubali Shitu

On June 9, 2015, the eighth Senate of the National Assembly will be inaugurated. Of the 109 Senators who will be taking their seats, 75, representing 68 per cent will be fresh in the upper chamber.

Who are these fresh Senators? What are their backgrounds and antecedents? What quality of debate and contributions are we likely to see from them?

These and more will be the kernel of a special report by New Telegraph on that day. The report presents a unique opportunity for family, friends and associates of these fresh Senators to felicitate with them.

For enquiries and participation: Call Biodun: 0802-301-5582, Taiwo: 0803-304-2915, Onwuka: 0803-733-9843, David: 0810-759-1663

5

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 7 JUNE, 2015

News

Tankers from hell: Tanker drivers leave trail of destruction Muritala Ayinla, Paul Ogbuokiri, Stanley Ihedigbo and Chijioke Iremeka

T

anker drivers continued their reign of terror yesterday, as a truck conveying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit‎ on Egbe-Idimu Road, skidded off the road and exploded, injuring scores and destroying 36 houses and 70 shops.

The incident was the third in one week, coming after a deadly tanker accident on May 31 in Onitsha, Anambra State and another on June 2 in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State. No fewer than 69 persons were feared dead and 30 injured in the Onitsha incident while 14 persons were injured; three buildings and 44 shops were destroyed and 14 injured in the Iyana Ipaja inferno.

Eyewitness accounts said

lScores injured, 70 shops, 36 houses burnt in Lagos yesterday’s accident occurred around midnight when the drivers of two fuel-laden trucks were trying to outrun each other. When they got to a sharp bend, one of the drivers lost control of his truck while the other one went through and zoomed off.

Residents numbering over 2,000 in the densely populated area escaped death by a whisker as they were alerted to immediately vacate their homes. As they speedily evacuated from their homes, the upturned tanker was spilling its content on the road and into the adjoining drains. Within minutes, there was an explosion and a stampede as houses, shops, vehicles and tricycles went up in flames.

When Sunday Telegraph visited the scene, hundreds of residents were seen lamenting their losses. Their

mood was that of sadness as they said they virtually picked nothing from the burning houses and shops.

The Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency and officers of the Rapid Respond Squad had a hectic time managing the crowd of onlookers, which thronged the scene.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph, Mr. Wakil Hamzat, 55, said he saw the tanker when it lost control and fell into a drain.

He said: “I was coming from the area where the accident occurred. Immediately the tanker somersaulted, spilling its contents on the road, something told me that the tanker could explode. So, I ran to wake my family and other neighbours before it exploded.

The fuel flowed through the drains with speed and in a matter of minutes, it exploded and the fire spread from one house to the other.

“We were throwing our children to the other side of the street through a hole to enable them to escape being caught by the fire. Some of our children sustained injuries but we thank God that nobody died in the incident.

But we don’t have anything on us again. Our properties and other valuables perished in the fire. Some of our children were lost in the confusion caused by the inferno,” he lamented.

Another resident, Mrs. Adamo Yusuf, who operated a restaurant at Idimu Bus Stop, told our correspondents that she had lost houses and shops to the fire.

“I had just left one of the shops but my children and

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), his deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (4th right); MD/Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph, Funke Egbemode (3rd right); General Manager, Bond fm, Alhaja Sherifat Ahmed (2nd right), Head of News, City fm, Mr. Samson Akindele (right), Chamberlain Usoh of Channels Television (left); Editor, Business Day, Mr. Philip Isakpa (3rd left) and Assistant Director of News, FRCN, Mr. Fulani Olufemi (4th left) during a media parley with the governor in Lagos on Thursday.

maids were still there preparing to close when the incident occurred. Some of the girls sustained injuries.

While trying to scale the fence to the other street, two of the girls broke their legs and hands. I appeal to the government to assist us by providing succour. I took a loan of about N1.5 million to refurbish my shops two weeks ago,” she said.

Mr. Kayode Sanusi, a father of three children resident at No. 15 Ejigbo Road, said they were woken up from sleep by a loud noise and shouts of “fire, fire, fire.”

He said, “Before I know what was happening my house was on fire. I had to quickly wake my wife up, pick our children and escaped the raging inferno through the fence of the next house. I was not able to pick a pin from my room till the house was burnt down,” he said.

Mr. Adele Hassan, the landlord of No. 19 Ejigbo Road, said the incident woke him and his tenants from sleep at about 12.30a.m.

“I thank God that when we heard of the incident, everybody in my compound woke up and fled before the fire got to my house and destroyed my source of livelihood. I’m a retired civil servant. If the state government can help by rebuilding our houses for us, it will be acceptable to the victims,” he said.

Mrs. Patience Oshan, a mother of six and resident of No. 260 Ikotun Road, also appealed to

well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid, as the situation had thrown her into confusion.

The Onisemo-Elemo of Idimu, High Chief Moruf Ojugbele, thanked God that no death was recorded in the incident.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who visited the scene, vowed to meet with tanker drivers in the state on the need to comply with the Lagos Road Traffic Law and safety regulations.

“This is another unfortunate incident happening within one week. Unfortunate in the sense that we are beginning to lose a lot of our assets and properties to fire. I have been briefed that there were two tanker drivers actually competing on the road as at midnight as well as a commercial bus driver. As a result, the tanker driver lost control at the bend and you could see that the contents went as far as five streets. We’ve lost close to 34 houses and 70 shops. We do not want this to repeat itself again.

“We have said it before, we need to address our tanker drivers and start to enforce our traffic laws.

I have directed that we will meet with the union of tanker drivers on Monday morning and we must make a pronouncement relating to the usage of our roads. I commiserate with all the people here. I appeal for calm. We will do immediate relief. We will take an enumeration and see in what ways we can address your pain. We will do everything in our power to help them get back to their normal lives again,” Ambode stated.

Reps speakership: How Gbajabiamila floored Dogara 154-3 Johnchuks Onuanyim, Abuja

B

y a sleight of hand and deft political manouevre, the battle for who becomes the Speaker of the House of Representatives took an interesting turn yesterday, with the former Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, flooring his opponent, Yakubu Dogara, by a landslide figure of 154 – 3 to clinch the All Progressives Congress nod for the seat.

It was at the party’s primaries in Abuja to pick the candidate for Tuesday’s election for the nation’s Number Four position, where Gbajabiamila mustered the overwhelming support of his colleagues.

After getting Mohammed Mongonu to step down and accept the position of deputy speaker, Gbajabiamila For the 8th National Assembly, the All Progressives Congress Members-Elect

yesterday elected Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as candidate of the party for Speakership Ina controversial circumstance.

In the same vein Hon. Mohammed Mongonu was elected candidate for the Deputy Speakership for the party, Gbajabiamila defeated Yakubu Dogara with 154 votes against 3 votes for Dogara.

The meeting called by the APC leadership almost ended in fiasco yesterday as some members resisted the move by the party leaders to pick a consensus candidate for the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The meeting began on a shaky note when members belonging to different camps openly fought each other in a bid to ensure their candidate of choice emerges as the party’s choice for the Speakership.

Shouts of “no, no, no” rent the air as protesting members voiced their displeasure with the directive.

However, without any explanations, loyalists of both candidates threw caution to the winds and started shouting at each other.

It took the intervention of the party chairman to save the day as he reminded the warring parties that journalists were watching the proceedings. Journalists were thereafter asked to vacate the hall as the meeting went into a closed door session.

Around 2p.m, APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, came out of the venue and announced to waiting journalists that the party had decided to conduct a mock election to pick its candidate.

According to Mohammed, the party took the option of picking a specific candidate to avoid giving the impression of having a divided

house and a disunited party where indiscipline reigns.

However, the decision of the party to conduct the mock election did not go down well with Dogara’s camp, which kicked against it.

His supporters alleged that the party leaders did not tell them ahead that such a mock election would be held and therefore, majority of them were not present at the event.

But the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, announced that 183 members out of the 213 members elected on the platform of the party signed the attendance register before the meeting commenced. A total of 30 members did not attend the meeting at all.

The party leaders’ insistence on conducting the mock election did not go down well with Dogara’s group which stormed out of the venue while accus-

ing the party leaders of bias.

Led by Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member from Kano who stepped down in support of Dogara, his supporters accused the party leaders of being unfair to them. They accused Odigie-Oyegun and the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, of leaking the secret of the mock election to Gbajabiamila’s camp, thereby giving him an edge to mobilise his supporters to be present at the event while Dogara’s backers were absent.

However, after the departure of Dogara and some members, the election was held.

In conducting the election, the attendance register at the event was used in calling out members. As they answered to their names, they were asked to collect a ballot paper, cast their votes in secret and drop same into a box. At the end of the voting, Gbajabiamila emerged

victorious with 154 votes, Dogara had three while four were voided.

The attendance register at the event was signed by 183 members out of the 213 members elected on the platform of the party.

The result showed that aside from the 30 members who didn’t show up, 22 of those who attended did not participate in the voting.

Gbajabiamila in his acceptance speech thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him and promised to provide the much needed leadership they sought for as the Eighth Assembly kicks off.

Meanwhile, Dogara in a statement titled: ‘Our Stand on the Illegality perpetrated by leadership of the All Progressives Congress,’ gave a hint that he would go into an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party and other parties to produce the next speaker.

6

SUNDAY

The Sunday Magazine SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Police threatened to ATM PIN–Suspect’s M

Juliana Francis and Taiwo Jimoh

any suspected armed robbers had been taken to the office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos State for questioning, but nobody had heard of a woman and her two kids being taken there.

But a housewife, Mrs. Onyinye Anamelechi, says she can’t forget how she, her husband and her two kids were taken into a place she called ‘SARS torture chamber.’

According to her, she and her two boys aged five and one, were forced to watch as police tortured her husband. The policemen kept asking, “Where is the money! Where is the money!”

She said that when her husband, Victor Anamelechi, repeatedly denied knowing what they were talking about, the policemen started hitting him.

She recounted that her husband was arrested just as he was coming out from GTB Amuwo Odofin, where he went to cash money for their use.

Her husband was picked by SARS men and taken to their home at Bashorun Ogundairo Estate, an upscale residential estate in Amuwo Odofin.

When they got to his home, they met Onyinye and her two kids, who watched in fear as the armed policemen yelled at Anamelechi, saying: “Where’s the money! Where’s the money!”

Onyinye said: “My husband told them that he didn’t have money. When my husband said he didn’t have any money, they asked for his ATM PIN. He refused to give it out. One of them placed a gun against the head of my five-year-old son, threatening to shoot him unless my husband gives them his PIN or account number. This happened on December 15, 2014. But till date, my son still wakes up in the middle of the night, shaking and screaming, “Mummy gun!

Mummy gun!”

Scared that the policemen would shoot and kill his son, Anamelechi bowed to the demands of the policemen.

He was said to have been taken to the bank on three different occasions by the policemen, where a total sum of N7.7 million was cashed and taken by the squad.

The family and lawyer of the Anamelechis’ were said to have gone to the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), after the stay of the suspect in SARS custody became too long, without him being charged to court.

Onyinye said Anamelechi was accosted by SARS operatives as he was coming out of a bank, where he had gone to withdraw some money. Onyinye said she later heard from SARS men that Anamelechi was being held for robbery. She, however, believed he was being held on trumped-up charges.

Onyinye said her husband had been in the custody of the policemen since December 15, 2014. and wondered why he had not been charged to court since then.

She said, “Some minutes after my hus-

Mrs. Onyinye Anamelechi and her children. Inset: Her husband, Victor

band left home for the bank, I started calling his phone, but he wasn’t picking. I’d not dropped the phone I used in calling him when some unidentified men in mufti walked into our home.

“The manner they barged into our home shocked me. I couldn’t recognise any of them. They were with my husband. They were asking my husband, ‘where’s the money! Where’s the money!’ The way they were asking, ‘where is the money,’ I thought they were armed robbers. When they noticed that I was not saying anything, one of them started beating me. At the same time, they started searching every part of our house. I didn’t understand.”

Onyinye said that some important documents were retrieved and taken away by the SARS operatives without any Warrant of Arrest or Search Warrant.

“They took my husband’s laptop, ipad, phones and my jewelleries,” said Onyinye.

She further said that after the operatives had taken whatever they wanted from the apartment, everybody in the house was arrested.

Aside from her, the kids and husband, her brother-in-law and her course mate who came to pay them a visit were also arrested.

She recalled: “The two vehicles parked in our compound - Acura MDX and Toyota

Corolla - were taken away. They also took our dogs away. They took us to their station at Ikeja. When we got there, they insisted they wanted to know my husband’s bank account and his ATM PIN. They said he was arrested for armed robbery.

“The first time they went to the bank and came back, they locked him up in the male cell at the command, while I and my children were detained in the female section of the cell. My children and I spent two weeks in the cell. Whenever it rained, we wouldn’t feel comfortable. Sometimes at night, my kids would wake me, crying for their father.”

Anamelechi’s wife said that SARS cell is not a place for human beings, adding that inmates defecate and bath without proper sanitation.

“It was inside the cell I had a miscarriage at night. I almost lost my life. While I was crying in pains, my children were also crying. On the second night of our detention, I had a miscarriage in the cell and the whole place was filled with blood. Within three days there, my children and I almost died as we were always hungry,” she stated.

Onyinye said that on December 29, 2014, the cries of her kids attracted the attention of a senior police officer at SARS, who came to the cell and ordered that the woman and

her kids be released immediately. “We were released the following day.”

When she was released, she got permission from one of SARS operatives, named Hassan, to go home and get a change of clothes for her kids.

Speaking like one still in shock as she recollected the event of that day, she said: “When I got home, eight heavily armed policemen, led by the same Sergeant Abdulraman who arrested my husband, stormed the house with three vehicles. For reason I can’t fathom, they started beating me mercilessly. Sergeant Abdulraman and his men removed all our furniture, fittings and household items.

They destroyed the items they couldn’t remove, confiscated my ATM card and also forced me to disclose my PIN at gun point.

The following day, when I went to my bank, I discovered that my account had been emptied.”

On February 23, 2015, Anamelechi’s younger brother, Azunna, got a call from the SARS operatives.

They ordered him to bring the keys to his brother’s shop at Alaba International Market, whereAnamelechi was selling generators.

Azunna took the keys to SARS and he was arrested and brought to Alaba Market in handcuffs. The policemen took away all the

7

Sunday Telegraph, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

The Sunday Magazine

The SARS operatives made my life and those of my family members unbearable! They subjected us to absolute fear. It was as a result of this incident that my husband’s mother died

shoot my child over wife generators in the shop and detained Azunna for four days.

Onyinye said: “The SARS operatives made my life and those of my family members unbearable! They subjected us to absolute fear. It was as a result of this incident that my husband’s mother died.”

The national coordinator of NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma, urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to look into Anamelechi’s plight and get him out of police detention, since SARS had refused to charge him to court.

“My children have stopped going to school since their dad was detained. We cannot go into our apartment anymore. The place has been sealed up. Since we had no place to sleep, we have relocated to our village.”

M

The suspects

We use police uniforms for robberies

r. Victor Anamelechi, 45, is being held for armed robbery by SARS operatives in Ikeja Anamelechi, unaware that his wife, Onyinye, had been speaking to journalists, confessed to being an armed robber He said that he and his gang members usually dressed in police uniforms to rob filling stations. The gang also specialised in attacking ATM galleries, he said.

Anamelechi, who has a shop at Alaba International Market, where he sells generators, said that most people believed him to be a genuine trader.

SARS operatives accused him of organising most major bank robberies in Ogun, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Anambra states.

A police source said: “His gang operates with two AK-47 rifles. The gang coordinated trans-border bank robberies in Benin Republic, Togo and Mali, where they realised huge sums of money. He met his waterloo after SARS operatives led by the Officer in Charge of SARS, SP Abba Kyari, rounded up about seven members of his gang and recovered their operational rifles, ammunition and vehicles.”

Recalling how he was arrested, Anamelechi said that SARS operatives trailed and arrested a gang member, Nnamdi, at Igando area, after the gang’s last operation in Benin Republic. In that robbery, they attacked a bank and carted away millions.

“The police arrested Nnamdi and he led them to me. Nnamdi called me, saying I should meet him at Apple Junction in Amuwo Odofin. When I got there, I discovered that he was with the police. They apprehended me,” he said.

It was further gathered that during a search of his apartment, some residents said they were shocked that Anamelechi is a suspected armed robber.

A resident, who described Anamelechi as one of the respected members in the estate, added: “He’s a highly respected

person in this estate. He and members of his family drive around the estate in exotic cars. We heard he is a trader. I respect this man. I’ve always wanted to be like him. I was extremely shocked when I saw policemen bring him in handcuffs to his house.

“I wondered what he could have done wrong. I later learnt he is an armed robber. Ever since that incident, I have stopped paying much respect to rich people who drive expensive cars in the area.”

Singing in SARS, Anamelechi said he was forced into robbery by poverty.

According to him, he joined a robbery gang in 2010 when things were very difficult for him and his family. He said that things were so tough, that he could barely feed his wife and kids.

Anamelechi said: “I usually go to Alaba Market to look for job. I was making absolutely nothing. I became confused. I had a friend who told me there was a way out from poverty. He introduced me to his gang. The gang had just locally made guns.

They used to sneak into fillings stations at night and break into safes. Robbing filling stations is easy. Most fillings station operators usually don’t go home with their daily sales. The gang would go at night, burgle the place and cart away all the money in the office.

“When I joined, I met Alhaji, Dabo and Akin in the gang. Our targets were usually busy fillings stations on Badagry Expressway, LASU-Igando Road, Lagos-Abeokuta Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and Ikorodu Road. I started making money.

I enrolled my children in good schools and opened a small business for my wife.

People in my area at Shibiri, in Ajangbadi area, didn’t know what I was doing. They thought fortune had smiled on me. After a while, some of the filling station owners started employing armed security guards and that made our operations difficult.”

Anamelechi confessed that at a point, Debo introduced the gang to one Nnamdi who had two AK47 rifles. Anamelechi said

he didn’t know how Nnamdi got the rifles.

He, however, remembered that Nnamdi told him that he was a member of an armed robbery gang. Nnamdi had also boasted that no member of his gang had ever being killed. Nnamdi’s bragging impressed everyone in Anamelechi’s gang.

“We adopted him into our gang. He suggested we should buy police uniforms so that when we visit any filling station, the armed guards would think we were policemen on routine patrol. We bought police uniforms and started using it to rob. We robbed a lot of filling stations. Once we got to any filling station, we would tie up the guards before embarking on the operation.”

The news that some policemen used to rob filling station travelled wide. Soon, once any filling station security guard that saw policemen coming would fear the worst and do everything to stop them from entering their premises.

Anamelechi said that the gang had to change tactics after filling station operations became difficult. The gang met, brainstormed and came up with the idea of attacking ATM galleries across states.

He said: “Our first ATM and fast food outlet robbery was in Ogun State. We realised N400, 000 from the operation.

The second operation was at a bank in Okene, Kogi State. We were, however, still trying to open the vault at the Okene robbery, when our burner got spoilt. We stopped working and returned to Lagos.”

Anamelechi said that before the gang attacked any bank, they would mount surveillance on the place to ascertain the number of policemen or guards watching over it.

“If the coast is clear, we would strike!” he said.

He noted that in the gang’s biggest operation in Ogun State, they got well over N15 million from the ATM vault. On that same day, the gang attacked a filling station and disappeared with N3.5 million.

“We also robbed banks in Akwa Ibom, Port Harcourt, Onitsha. Anytime we went

on operation, my role was to open the vaults. I use a special metal to open the lock of the vaults. Even if it the vault has a special code, I would open it! I bought three vehicles from the loots; two for me and one for my wife. I also built a house at Amuwo Odofin. I opened a big shop in Alaba Market.”

A police source said: “Controversy is currently trailing Anamelechi’s arrest. A nongovernmental organisation is mounting pressure on the police to free Anamelechi and other members of his gang.The NGO wants the police authorities to release Anamelechi unconditionally as he is a law abiding businessman who was arrested illegally by police.”

Some traders at Alaba Market, Lagos, where he has a shop, claimed they rarely saw him in the market.

A trader, identified as Charles Mba, said he only knows Azunna. “I was shocked when the police came and sealed up their shop with members of the task force,” said Mba. The market task force chairman for the electronics section of the market also denied knowing Anamelechi.

His words: “The incident is unfortunate.

We don’t condone crime in this market.

Buying and selling of stolen goods are not allowed. It’s not acceptable. Whoever is caught would be handed over to the police.

On the day the police came to the market, they booked their arrival and told us their mission. When I looked at the case, I knew it was a bad one. We assisted them and they parked all the goods in the man’s shop.

“One thing is that I don’t know this guy.

This market is very big. I can’t know everybody that trades here. I’m familiar with those who come to my office and those who are popular in the market.

Our chairman usually calls for general meetings. He used to advise the traders to keep away from crime. He used to tell them that if police arrest them, we would not come for them.”

8

SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

I did not steal a penny, says Nyako Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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ormer governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako has declared that his detractors have failed, insisting that he is innocent of allegations of money laundering leveled against him which culminated in his impeachment.

“Let me say it categorically, I did not steal a penny from the purse of the state.

I used the resources of the state judiciously, leading to

the feat of serious developmental strides in the state,” he told journalists shortly after his arrival in the state from self exile.

He said that he did not go on self exile due to the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, claiming that he was not afraid of honouring the anti-graft agency’s invitation since he has no skeleton in his cupboard.

He said he deemed it right to leave the country following two attempts on his life.

“I must reiterate here that

I did not leave this country for the fear of EFCC but I left for the safety of dear life following two failed attempts to assassinate me,” said Nyako, who was grilled by the EFCC over alleged N15 billion money laundering last week.

When asked whether some of his subordinates were responsible for the theft of public funds Nyako said: “I can only speak for myself, but I must tell you I did not steal a dime from Adamawa State. I don’t have a single dollar outside

Nigeria. Apart from the single house I have overseas, I don’t have even a plot of land anywhere outside Nigeria. If I have stolen money, I would have stashed it away in foreign vaults.”

Nyako, who expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria, said that he has been vindicated as even International Organisations have started pointing accusing fingers at the service chiefs for committing war crimes.

Meanwhile, his arrival in Yola was greeted by wild jubilations yesterday when he was received by thousands of his supporters across the state who came to the airport to welcome him.

Upon arrival in the state, Nyako drove straight in a convoy of motorcades to the Specialist Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Yola, to commiserate with the victims of Thursday’s bomb blast.

Addressing a crowd of supporters who besieged his residence, Nyako

thanked them for the show of support and solidarity, stating that he had been vindicated in view of what had so far happened since then up to the defeat of Goodluck Jonathan.

“We advised them (Jonathan’s administration) but they took offence and they have seen the result. I want to thank the people of Adamawa for their contribution in voting PDP out. We now need to support big brother Buhari who is reliable and can deliver,” Nyako said.

Govs condole with Obasanjo erving and former governors, traditional rulers and captains of industry yesterday visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo to condole with him on the death of his younger sister, Madam Adunni Eweje.

Madam Eweje, who died on May 19 at the age of 76, was buried yesterday at the Baptist Church cemetery, Quarry Road, Abeokuta.

Shortly after the funeral service held at Owu Baptist Church, Totoro, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, eminent personalities turned the home of the former president to a Mecca of sorts to commiserate with him.

The dignitaries include Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; his Oyo State counterpart, Senator

Abiola Ajimobi, and former governors of Osun and Oyo States, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Also present were the Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin, newly elected president of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, and former National Auditor of Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode Mustapha.

Others include Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Senator Andy Uba; Senator Dipo Odujinrin; Otunba Adekunle Ojora; Elder Joju Fadairo; Prince Dapo Abiodun and Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson.

In his message at the church service, Amosun described Obasanjo’s late sister as a pillar of support to the former president and himself.

Governor Fayose, in his response, commended Babalola for his efforts towards the development of the state, saying the state identified with the vision of ABUAD. He urged all the participants to speak in support of nation building, and promised to create an enabling environment for the private institution to thrive further, noting that ABUAD had become a trailblazer in many areas.

The governor charged the law community to always preach obedience to the rule of law, saying his travails would not have been tougher if the APC lawmakers had followed the rule of law.

Fayose said his preoccupation was to protect the interest of the common man, saying he remained a professor of politics owing to his ability to relate harmoniously with the common people.

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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L-R: Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Akwa Ibom State, Obong Paul Ekpo; Governor Udom Emmanuel and former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Don Etim, during the burial of his elder brother, late Ken Etim, at Ikot Ekpene…Yesterday

Anyanwu, others for women’s summit

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ll is set for the second Women in Journalism Conference (WiJ2015), the yearly global gathering of women journalists and media professionals, scheduled to hold at the MUSON Centre in Lagos on Thursday July 2, 2015.

Themed ‘Truth and Objectivity in the Digital Age,’ the 2015 Conference boasts of a retinue of speakers and panellists, with the Keynote Speech to be delivered by international journalist, Ms. Zain Verjee.

Leading the over 500 women journalists expected at the Conference are recipient of the IWMF Courage in Journalism Award and Winner of the CPJ Press Freedom Award, Senator Chris Anyanwu (MFR); power interviewer Kadaria Ahmed, ThisDay Editor, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu; Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph, Funke Egbemode; and veteran journalist and trainer, Bimbo Oloyede.

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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egal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has described Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, as an energetic, courageous, fearless and popular politician.

Speaking at a dinner in honour of Nigerian Association of Law Teachers after its 48th Annual Conference which took place at ABUAD at the weekend, Aare Babalola noted that the governor ‘kept hope alive even under the most unwelcome, harassing and unhealthy

Fayose, a fearless, courageous politician - Afe Babalola environment.”

He described the governor’s victory in all the 16 local governments both in the governorship and presidential elections, as well as all the seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and state Assembly as a rare feat.

According to a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, the

legal icon who disclosed that he always choose his words carefully, said the governor had made it possible for Ekiti to again put on the toga of a political king in the country.

He noted that ABUAD would continue to contribute to the development of the state, saying the institution would soon become an industrial hub in Nigeria with a provision of land by the state government.

FGAI wants Seventh NASS to refund N4 billion Chukwu David Abuja

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riends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative, a parliamentary watchdog as well as non-governmental organization, yesterday, demanded that the members of the Seventh National Assembly be made to refund the N4 billion expended on the aborted Fourth Alteration Bill to the 1999 Constitution.

Alternatively, FGAI requested President Muhammadu Buhari to direct that the lawmakers who were part of the immediate past National Assembly be made to forfeit their severance allowances for costing the country so much money in a futile review exercise.

The executive director of the advocacy group, Mr. George Orji, who made this request in a statement issued in Abuja, noted that the failure of the constitu-

tion amendment exercise was precipitated by the shoddy, negligent and unserious attitude of the lawmaker, arguing that they should pay for their failure.

His words: “Now that the Seventh National Assembly has formally wound down all its legislative activities and adjourned sine die, it follows therefore that the processes for the fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution has now died a natural death.

“The constitution amendment process started way back in 2011, shortly after the pronouncement of the Seventh National Assembly and it was not until early this year that the constitution amendment committees of both chambers of the parliament submitted the document to the then President Goodluck Jonathan for his assent.

“It is also history that Jonathan raised about 10 objections against the doc-

ument and subsequently withheld his assent to the amendment. One of the very fundamental objections the former President alleged was that contrary to the provisions of Section 9 of the constitution, which prescribed absolute majority of 4/5 of National Assembly members and 2/3 of State Assemblies, the National Assembly members used voice vote to approve the constitution alteration.

9

SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, Sunday Telegraph,

News

Buhari, Osinbajo set for Aso Rock

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Anule Emmanuel enovation work on the offices and official residences of President Muhammadu Buhari and ViceProfessor Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja have been completed by a consortium led by construction giant, Julius Berger Plc. Barring any changes, the President and his deputy will move into their quarters this week.

President, VP’s quarters, offices ready An employee of Julius Berger, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed to Sunday Telegraph yesterday that work had been completed on the President’s office and residential quarters.

The source said the construction giant is working on the physical structure, including changing tiles, broken glasses, toilets and

other household fittings.

“It is not only Berger that is doing the work. There are other companies that are replacing items such as fridges, air-conditioners that are not working well.

As far as Julius Berger is concerned, I can tell you that we have concluded our job,” he added.

He explained further that what is remaining is the

renovation of the office for the Vice President.

“Even at the Vice-President’s office, we hope to conclude early this week.

We have renovated both the old and new wings of the Vice-President’s residence at Aguda House.”

When our correspondent contacted the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public-

ity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on the current situation, he simply said, “If both apartments are ready, there will actually be no reason for them staying away. I believe the processes are on.”

Since they took their oaths of office and allegiance, Buhari and Osinbajo have yet to move into the Presidential Villa.

The two leaders have been moving in and out of the Presidential Villa since

their inauguration.

While Buhari is still operating from Defence House in Maitama, Abuja, the vice-president continues to live in a private apartment somewhere in Abuja.

Both ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Namadi Sambo did not pack out completely from Aso Rock in good time to allow Julius Berger commence renovation on time.

Buhari off to Germany for G7 summit today Anuke Emmanuel

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resident Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for Germany where he is expected to participate in the G7 Summit holding in Bavaria.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, yesterday said the invitation was extended to Buhari by German Chancellor Angela Merkel even before he was sworn in on May 29.

“The invitation is a clear indication of the international community’s willingness to cooperate with

L-R: Wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and sister-in-law of the deceased, Bola; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi and son of the deceased, Kunle, during the funeral service in honour of Obasanjo’s younger sister, Mrs. Oluwola Adunni Obasanjo-Eweje, in Abeokuta...yesterday.

Buhari, Osinbajo to declare assets soon Anule Emmanuel

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he presidency yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo will soon make the assets public as declared before the Code of Conduct Bureau.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in fulfilment of one of their campaign promises, they declared their assets.

He said they would be released to the public upon the completion of their verification by the CCB. The statement said “It is hoped that this process will be completed before the expiry of the 100-day deadline within which they said they would do this.

“The duly completed forms by both the President and the Vice-President were submitted to the CCB on May 28, a clear day ahead of their inauguration.”

The presidency explained that this clarification was warranted by the need to explain some suggestions that the President and VicePresident may not, after all, declare their assets publicly.

“While such public display of concern is appreciated and valued, it must be said that it is a little precipitate.

“As required by law, the declaration and submission of documents to the CCB

have been made, but there still remains the aspect of verification which the bureau will have to conduct to authenticate the submissions made to it.

“In the circumstances, it is only after this verification exercise, and not before, that the declaration can be said to have been made and validated; and only after this, will the details be released to the public.

“There is no question at all that the President and

the Vice-President are committed to public declaration of their assets within the 100 days that they pledged during the presidential campaign.

“The President and the Vice-President wish to thank Nigerians for their show of concern, and for the confidence they have shown in their leaders’ integrity, as evidenced by the high pedestal of uprightness and expectations on which they have placed them.”

Oye, Maku emerge APGA leaders

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ll Progressives Grand Alliance yesterday elected Dr. Victor Ikechukwu Oye, from Anambra State as its national chairman.

Oye is a former Special Adviser on Special Duties to ex-Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu.

A former Minister of Information and APGA governorship candidate in the

April 11, 2015 for Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku, emerged as the new national secretary.

They were elected at the party’s National Convention held in Awka, Anambra State. The convention, which used voice-votes to ratify the election of the officers, also approved the appointment of Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, as

Leader and Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees. In his speech, Obiano called on the new APGA leaders to work hard to improve the party’s popularity.

In his acceptance speech, Oye commended his predecessor, Chief Victor Umeh, for his steadfastness and pledged that his leadership would reconcile all genuine aggrieved members.

the new government of Nigeria,” he said.

He added that Buhari would not participate in the main meetings, since Nigeria is not a member of the G7.

“He is in a group of seven other heads of state who were called in as guests. He will equally be holding key side meetings with some of the seven heads of state who will be convened at the summit.

“The international community is obviously acknowledging Nigeria’s significant role in global affairs, especially with the recent change in government,” he added.

Northern elders dump Saraki, back Lawan Philip Nyam Abuja

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here are indications that Northern Elders and Youths have dropped Senator Bukola Saraki in favour of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position of Senate President of the Eighth Assembly.

In a statement yesterday by its interim coordinator, Mohammed Idris, the group said it decided to support Lawan because he is most suited for the job.

“After careful consideration of all the candidates vying for the Senate presidency, we’ve come to the conclusion that Senator Ahmed Lawan is the right candidate in view of his pedigree and antecedents.

“We’ve taken stock of the leading candidates and the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to have a corruptionfree leadership in the Senate, and have come to the conclusion that in view of the antecedents of the other contender and his covert issues with the authorities over allegations of corruption.

“We want someone without any baggage of corruption charges and other illicit acts. Besides, Lawan’s

political astuteness, his honesty and wide appeal across board are positive attributes that recommends him to all Nigerians and his election as the President of the Senate will be a befitting reward for the NorthEast for the electoral values it brought the APC in the recently concluded 2015 general elections.

Coordinator, Concerned Northern Professionals, Junaid Mohammed, told Sunday Telegraph on the telephone that: “The North will not accept a situation where one section of the country, that is,Yorubas, will occupy three main positions. They cannot be vice-president, speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate president.

“Whether or not not Senator Bukola Saraki is from Kwara in North-Central is immaterial.

He is a Yoruba man; let him even come from Saudi Arabia, he remains a Yoruba man. He cannot be Senate president. And if the APC manipulates the process to throw him up as Senate president, that will be t:he beginning of turbulence in the Senate until the right thing is done. For us in the North, Saraki is unacceptable.”

10

SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

OPINION

After $20bn squander mania in power sector, what next?

TS on Sunday tunsul2@gmail.com 08050498544 (sms only)

I

n his first speech to the nation after being sworn in last Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari, inadvertently, opened a Pandora’s box when he gave a figure to the staggering amount of money government has so far spent to provide stable power for Nigerians.

According to Buhari, a breathtaking $20 billion (please note dollars not naira!) has been sunk in the power sector since the return to democracy some 16 years ago!

The President’s exact words: “No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerians’ poor economic performance over the years than the power situation. It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less. Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply and distribution and close on $20billion expanded since 1999 have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go on. Careful studies are under way( during this transition) to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians.”

Wonderful talk; but I think that he needs to go beyond the usual rhetoric and take drastic action against those that, directly or indirectly, contributed to the sad situation in which the nation finds its self today – where generators are still the order of the day, despite this huge financial outlay.

The importance of stable power supply cannot be over- emphasised. It is the key to unlocking the potential of millions of Nigerians, especially in the informal sector of the

economy. Undoubtedly, this will go a long way to reduce unemployment across the land.

Millions of people who would have taken to tailoring, running barbing saloons and cold rooms and so on are handicapped by the lack of stable public power supply.

Incidentally, we all know that having a generator is no longer a guarantee for one to be able to generate his or her own power because of the prevailing fuel crisis in the land.

So we have found ourselves in a situation where there is no stable public power supply and no fuel to power generators, thereby crippling not only the above-mentioned businesses but even banks and telecoms companies.

For the first time that I know of, banks were forced to close early – not because they ran out of money or the threat of armed robbers’ attack; but because they virtually ran out of diesel to power their generators! Ditto for the telecoms companies that sent text messages, warning of an impending shut-down of their services if the situation did not improve.

Luckily, the situation, although still not back to normal, has vastly improved, thus allowing the companies to remain in business.

Granted it is not only in the power sector that funds have been expended on without any corresponding improvement, but perhaps after petroleum products, it is the one sector whose poor performance impacts on virtually every person across the country.

Years ago, the late Afro beat musician, Fela Ransome-Kuti released a song which he titled Authority Stealing in which he alluded to the fact that while armed robbers can only steal a certain amount of money, those that sit in officers have the ability to do more damage with their pens because they can steal billions!

Going further, the radical musician also pointed out that, however, when it comes to punishment; while the armed robber could be sentenced to long years in prison or even sentenced to death, the ‘pen robber’ ,whose action

affects more people, often walks away free, courtesy of the ‘big loot’ he must have stolen.

I am citing the Authority Stealing song, because I believe only a proper probe of what happened to the $20 billion spent on the power sector will go a long way in curbing Authority Stealing and ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of handling public funds do so judiciously with the good of the wider populace at the back of their minds. And not for personal aggrandisement.

It is so sad that the efforts of Nigerians, years ago, to ensure the nation enjoys some stability in power supply, is going to waste because of the actions of some self-serving public officials.

Late in 1967, my father left his job in the United Kingdom to return to his country of birth because it was embarking on its largest public works programme at that time – the Kainji Dam. Although the project, to dam the River Niger at Kainji in Niger State was started in 1964, about three years before my father joined, he was still full of pride to have been part of such a huge project (which eventually cost about $209 million).

Even though the original plan to have a generating capacity of 960 megawatts (1,290,000 hp); never materialised because only 8 of its 12 turbines were installed, reducing the capacity to 760 megawatts (1,020,000 hp), the power it produced was still enough to meet the electricity needs of most of the country at that time. And still had some leftover to sell to neighbouring Republic of Niger.

And now 47 years later and even with the addition of other hydro-electric power stations such as Jebba Dam (built in 1985) and Shiroro Dam (1990) and the gas powered plants like the 1320 MW capacity Egbin Power station and others like it, Nigeria is still groping in darkness which is a very big shame.

Incidentally, all these power plants were built before the advent of democracy and any dis-

cerning Nigerian living in the country at this time will remember that the public power supply was much better than what we have had under the democratic dispensation which has seen more money thrown at the problem with lesser results.

From 1999 till 2007, it was Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the helm of affairs. The former military ruler curiously made the late Chief Bola Ige his Minster of Mines and Power.

And beyond the first six months of his time of office when there was a noticeable improvement in public power supply, the former Governor of Oyo State was categorically unable to make any appreciable difference in the sector.

After eight years of promises of improved power, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took over in 2007 and rather than continuing from where his predecessor stopped in his quest to give the nation power, the new president first started by probing the power sector.

By the time this was over, the former governor of Katsina State opted for a different approach to solve the power conundrum. He was still on this project when he sadly passed away to be replaced by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Like his predecessors, Jonathan promised to tackle the power issue and bring smiles to the faces of millions of his compatriots. But in the end, the nation appeared worse off, at least power-wise, than at any stage of the Peoples Democratic Party’s 16-year rule.

However, while agreeing with Buhari when he said: “Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians”, I strongly believe that if he does not find out why $20 billion failed to improve the sector, there will be no guarantees that anything he tries now will not end up the way it has always ended up under successive administrations before him – just more darkness!

Ambode hits the ground running!

Ayo Badmus

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he 14th governor of Lagos state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has confirmed the steady gait and mien expected of an accomplished administrator in his first few days in office. A flurry of activities reveals the determined intent to implement a partway to consolidate the future of the complex metropolis.

The inaugural address on Friday, May, 29 clearly heralded what Lagosians are to expect. The speech in effect outlined a social contract between the Ambode administration and the people of the state.

An outline of the obligations of the two is essential in view of the economic downturn which Ambode was intellectually honest enough to admit. Nevertheless, he pointed out that the foundations of the state are strong. This is because of the template that was sensibly put together by former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999. The social contract, in Ambode’s view, sensibly spells out that-” we are not citizens until we become responsible tax payers”. This means that the new governor wants to establish a tax payers’ democracy, which is actually the real form of democracy in the modern world. On the part of the government in reciprocating the input of the tax payers, he was emphatic that “You will surely get a transparent and incorruptible government that will give you good value for your taxes paid”.

With the rights and obligations spelt out, the governor then outlined the fundamental driving forces with which to propel the state

development plan (2012-2025). The plan is structured under four pillars; (1) Social development and security; (2) Infrastructural development; (3) Economic Development and (4) Sustainable Environment. The message here is that Lagos will have to be positioned to meet the aspirations of an economic powerhouse anchored on social justice.

To do so Ambode will incorporate some new structures within the context of keeping a lid on the cost of the machinery of government. A business friendly Lagos for example, will be propelled with the new office of Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global) which will be located in the Governor’s office.

The rationale for this is straight forward. It is a way of creating the enabling environment to bring job creating business into Lagos state as a one stop shop. As the Governor pointed out, “We want you to fly into Lagos, start your business, find your way; live, work and enjoy in Lagos.” This innovation is crucial if the metropolis is not to face a demographic time bomb. Jobs will have to be created for the youth and Lagos Global will be a key mechanism to do so. Here Ambode is already walking the talk. He very cannily sold the Lagos Global project to the visiting President of Namibia, Dr. Hage Geingob stating that when looking for investment, Lagos should be the first place of call. This is an indication that the new governor is going to double up as chief marketing officer for a business friendly Lagos. The new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, speaks for itself. In addition there will be the Office of civic engagement in the office of the deputy governor to promote

inclusion which means consolidating social cohesion and promoting social solidarity. It is important to reiterate that the new structures will be incorporated within existing formats.

Ambode’s vast experience in the public sector means that he is aware of the key role of effectively deploying key personnel. This is indicated in his first appointments to strategic posts. Those chosen come in with an array of proven expertise and integrity. A pointer to what is to come. On offer, we have for example, a renaissance man in Tunji Bello as the secretary to the state government. Bello’s background combines degrees in political science and law as well as an edifying career in the media and a vigorous immersion into public service administration since he was appointed commissioner for environment in 2011 by former Governor Babatunde Fashola and having previously been appointed a commissioner in 2003 by Bola Tinubu.

The other appointments are on the same lines. The new chief of staff Samuel Ojo is an accomplished administrator who knows the department backwards having been permanent secretary there. There are also immense possibilities with the appointment of Habib Adamson Aruna as the chief press secretary.

This is an indication that the presentation of policy is crucial. Governor Ambode is going to initiate a lot of path breaking innovations.

However, it is crucial for the public to key into this new development. For this reason the appointment of the highly regarded, well connected former editor of Sunday Independent and lately Managing Editor Upshotreports, is rather inspired, combining as he does the pro-

fessional acumen reflected in having climbed through the ranks with intellectual rigour.

There is also the accomplished Abiodun Bamgboye as the principal private secretary.

Overall, the conventional wisdom is that there is a buzz in Alausa, the seat of government that one of their own is the helmsman.

In his first official interaction with the civil service Ambode while stressing the new work ethic, early resumption and so forth stressed that the welfare of the civil service will be paramount. Very much stating the obvious since this is his own turf. It will also be on Ambode’s part, leadership by example.

This is already indicated with the Governor deciding to operate from Ikeja closer to the secretariat so that he can resume at 8 a.m. as well.

The air of expectation has been justified by for example the thoughtful manner in which the new governor promised succour to the victims of the tanker fire explosion. This demonstrated his responsiveness to the plight of the citizens, and is an indication of what is to follow. Quick off the mark, he made a firm commitment that he will ensure that all those who lost properties will get back to their normal business life.

It is morning yet in Lagos state. Ambode has started on the good foot. Early days yes, however, if morning shows the day, the indications are that there are promising times ahead in Lagos state under an administrator whose problem solving resolve cannot be questioned.

•Ayo Badmus, a public affairs analyst, lives in Ayobo, Ipaja, Lagos

11

Sunday Mail JUNE 7, 2015

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

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

My message to Buhari Dear Editor, I would like to first of all congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for his doggedness and steadfast aspiration in becoming the President of Nigeria. Through the power in the votes of Nigerians, you are the President of Nigeria and Nigerians are hopeful.

Your Excellency, I would like to tell you that this country called Nigeria has suffered enough and Nigerians are looking up to you for that desired change. If you disappoint them Sir, they will also disappoint you real good in 2019.

The struggle to fix Nigeria is one that calls for the involvement of all. We are aware that Nigeria, for a long time, has been damaged by some callous people who want to have everything to themselves. Your Excellency, I would advise that you strengthen all institutions by giving them a free hand to do their jobs. Within the next six months of taking over leadership, please swing into action by putting things in the right perspective. We must make Nigerians believe that there are laws in this country.

I must warn also that those who go against the law will fight you back real hard. So, get set for all manner of distractions. Traps will be set here and there and he should be careful not to fall into any of them. He should also be quick to tell Nigerians the true situations of things and not for us to grumble before he talks. I wish him all the best as he takes over the mantle of leadership.

Boniface Ekene Apapa, Lagos

Buhari will do it again!

Dear Editor, We’ve heard Buhari’s speech but that is not enough. He needs to interpret and translate it into action. Like it is said, “Action speaks louder than words.” Truly, I’m overwhelmed and so captivated by his inaugural speech, but I cannot thank him now for what he will do since they are yet to be done.

Well, I am so optimistic that he will do it and it is my earnest prayer and wish that he does all to the best of his possibilities and Nigeria’s resources. He did it before and he can do it again because we want it again. May the Almighty Allah who chose him when we needed him most be with him, guide and lead him well. Amen. Lots of thanks to Goodluck Jonathan for the statesmanship. It’s worthy of emulation. Buhari, indeed, I’m so happy for you. Long live Nigeria and Nigerians, long live Buhari! May Allah give you the support, strength and wisdom to rescue Nigeria from the economic and socio-political quagmire. “‘Ours is to plough, not to plunder.”

Zekeri Isah Kogi State.

Parents and teachers as role models Dear Editor, Parents and teachers should serve as role models to children. Moral decadence, negligence and negative behaviour of parents as well as teachers affect children in our society.

Parents and teachers should live up to expectations in order to guide the children well. As we celebrate yet another Children’s Day in Nigeria, let us join hands to contribute positively to the growth and development of the Nigerian child. It takes a village to raise a child.

Omajo Glory Abuja

Capital punishment for rapists

Dear Editor, I wish Nigeria can execute one sex offender, just the same way China’s top court ordered the execution of a primary school teacher found guilty of raping and sexually abusing 26 girls. Report has it that Li Jishun committed the crimes between 2011 and 2012 while teaching at a village school in Gansu province. I believe there are some school teachers and lecturers that preyed on pupils and students, who are young and timid into this offence committed by this Chinese.

Such people are a serious threat to society. There should be provision for laws that will spell out capital punishment for anyone found guilty of such an offence.

Maggy Adakpo, China

The dignity of motherhood... at Ijora, Lagos.

Truck drivers’ menace Dear Editor, It’s so unfortunate that truck drivers regularly terrorise Nigerians without any serious effort by government to curb their lawlessness. I find it so ridiculous that truck drivers feel they can run about the way they like, as if they are above the law. Imagine how one truck driver snuffed life out of over 80 people in Onitsha, Anambra State in one fell swoop some days ago. Few days later, it was a fuel truck that caused devastation and agony for residents of Iyana Ipaja. We recall with anguish a number of road accidents caused by truck drivers, with the attendant loss of lifes and property. When you travel on the nation’s highways, you will find carcasses of burnt trucks. Many trucks on Nigerian roads are not well-maintained. As such, they constitute a real threat to lives and property. Governments at the three levels must come together to deal with this problem in a stern manner. We cannot afford to continue to lose lives and property as if we are animals.

Freeborn Amadi Port Harcourt, Rivers State

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Irresponsible use of social media Dear Editor, I recall that in his inauguration speech, President Muhammadu Buhari urged Nigerians to use their strong right to free speech with great responsibility. Since then, what we have seen is the reverse. People with dubious intentions have raised false allegations against Mr. President and his family, all in a bid to weaken his resolve to fight corruption.

Of course, we all know that corruption fights back. Buhari once said that if Nigerians don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. Now, we see agents of corrupt characters posting false claims about wristwatches, billion naira properties and all manner of claims. A lady even claimed that Buhari’s daughter got her thrown out of a boutique in Abuja around 3a.m! Imagine such falsehood. Why would people indulge in destructive conduct and expect the nation to change?

Ade Kolawole Lagos

I am for everybody and I am for nobody Dear Editor, Political parties are platforms to assume office after which politicians work as one. Buhari is not APC’s pet.

He is our President. If he construct roads, they will not be used by APC members alone. I feel there is a need for some people to get this into their brains. He wasn’t some people’s choice during the elections. Inasmuch as we owe him loyalty, he owes us good governance too. We will always remind him of his campaign promises since he is

deemed exceptional. Have we ever wondered why some APC states won in the presidential and lost in governorship/state assembly and vice versa? I am so impressed with this statement made by Buhari on the day of his inauguration: “I am for everybody and I am for nobody.”

God bless Nigeria and I wish other Nigerian leaders would learn from this statement.

Deborah James Enugu

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Moments

Emmanuel, son of President, Imo State Traditional Council, HRM Cletus Ilomuaya, got married to the flesh of his flesh, beautiful Jennifa, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja on Saturday

Mr. Emmanuel Ilomuaya and his wife, Jennifa, during their wedding ceremony at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja...on Saturday

L-R: Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; the new couple, Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Ilomuaya; Mrs. Nwosu; Chief Mrs. Ilomuaya and President, Imo State Traditional Council, HRH Cletus Ilomuaya

L-R: HRH, Cletus Ilomuaya; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; former INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihediora and his wife, Lady Ebere

The couple and the bride’s parents

L-R: Former Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim and HRH Cletus Ilomuaya

L-R: Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; Chief Mrs. Ilomuaya and her husband, HRH Cletus Ilomuaya

L-R: Mother of the groom, Chief Mrs. Ilomuaya; Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Ilomuaya, and father of the groom, HRH Cletus Ilomuaya

L-R: The couple with Bride’s maids and Groom’s men

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015

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SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Congratulations!

His Execellency, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Executive Governor, Enugu State

My family and I wish to congratulate Your Excellency, Dave Umahi on your election as the Executive Governor of Enugu State.

This is a true attestation of your ability by the people of Enugu State to take the state to the next level. We wish you a successful tenure in office.

Signed

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, MON Chairman,

Slok Shipping

SUNDAY

Fashion

Wrapper Redefined 22&43

Bed, Work & Life

Mothers and in-laws 20

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Body Soul SUNDAY, JUNE 07, 2015

Nigeria’s fabulous

first family

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Body&Soul

y heart m m o r f Straight

ed to rape? ht, the reason al stigma attach ap on the wrist when caug ci so e th males of ul mindf got a sl defenseless fe r way as a naed that rapists testosterone on unwilling, ri ou e or w m d co t ha no I still let their prayed should monumental. What with t of its ore ‘sick’ men e sort I usually ere , in the twiligh ast week was th k me why? The calamities w nker accident in Onitsha, m ors et al.

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These are by th se in rape cases, especially ra State had recorded, at least, ct 18, the new law nnot be prosdi ra om nt fr co ts ul of ad ea de s cr e a co ca ises here that Lago violence. Of th the alarming in ian law recogn that rape cases o, I read somew pe cases and other sexual While the Niger ensual sex at age 11, meaning e age of 11! been ly ed rt po Few weeks ag ra re th ns 20 d 12,1 comes al sex at lows co ders ha old daughter service as Senate al tively if you allow consensu lot, 5,834 offen if my 11-year s. ec be in community ve eff ill ge lo w ga ed e n ut en sh itio ec to od an ac st d m aske wer to a what my re ate’s non-cu flo g r st e he rin th n r de ve de on gi w un s t e’ I’m that sh punishmen offenders got d y and tells me 3,083 of these East) sponsore rvices home one da x at 11? That’s child abuse! se an sentences. ity un m u, (APGA Imo m w co se l an in ua t ny ns A en se is m on hr sh C C their puni 2015. Meanoman, Senator se. y and February And a fellow w ll! erts in the Hou between Januar of 140 had been recorded bi by sexual perv , “It is indeed a tic is ith w av at d es re an m ke . ch na tin su ic while, the ers Register that her bill was of her parting gift to the publ ate Sex Offend vernment I had thought id sa e sh in the Lagos St n go e he th w k r.” by ac hambe as opened I was taken ab in the Upper C This register w of my mission t en o. lm t ag lfi s ha fu th W on cases. six m us. st the reported May God help These were ju t unreported en Juliet w at th s se y ca were es ili m about the man fa r ei th ctims and because the vi

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Contents 07.06.2015 COVER President Buhari is known to have a softer side and this usually reflects when he is around his immediate family

} 18-19

BEAUTY

The multiple ear-piercing trend strikes the perfect balance between feminine and tough demeanor

} 21

GLAM DUDES Smart casuals are appropriate for that afternoon birthday party and get together with friends

} 44

FASHION The wrapper is a fun, even chic dressing as both the young and elderly ladies have redefined it in look...

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor) Wole Adepoju (Snr. Correspondent) Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent)

} 22&43

Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent) Abiola Alaba Peters

MY PASSION I have been harassed severally by my female fans

} 17

Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics) Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 julietbumah@gmail.com chibumah@yahoo.com

Associates

BED, WORK & LIFE “ H e y, a responsible woman doesn’t behave like a sex-starved bitch.

You have to rein in your feelings.

Announcing your pleasure t h r o u g h screaming places you among the bad girls”

} 20

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

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Body&Soul

I’m looking for a wife – Harrysong Highly talented but humble singer, song writer and Five Star Music recording star, Harrysong aka Mr. Songz, has a great sense of humour. No doubt, one of Nigeria’s acts whose songs are currently enjoying great rotation on the airwaves, the Beta Pikin, Kolombo and Ofeshe crooner has a voice that get even reluctant dancers on the dance floor. ABIOLA ALABA PETERS caught up with the energetic performer who recently renewed his endorsement deal with one of Africa’s telecommunications companies in his Omole residence. He shares his life, music and challenges How has the second quarter of year been for you?

It’s been great, and fun because I have one of the banging songs now, Ofeshe. I have been very busy, recording, performing in shows, travelling and lots more. God has been good all the way.

How have you been accepted outside Nigeria. Where is your largest fan base?

The funniest thing is that I am accepted both here in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

Sometimes, I am even surprised by the love I get from my fans. When I am on stage performing, you see them screaming, they want to touch me and all that. I love my fans because they love me even more.

What is the craziest thing a fan has ever done to you?

(Laughing) I have been harassed severally by my female fans. One has even gone as far as wanting to kiss me on stage. Some want me to take off my shirt; they have their different ways of showing me love.

How do you handle your female fans?

I try as much as I can to reciprocate their love, because we need these people in our career, no matter what. Without our female fans, we can’t get anywhere.

So, how do you appreciate them?

I love and appreciate them the little way I can. I give them gifts sometimes.

You said some of your fans ask you to take off your shirt on stage. Do you oblige them?

Well, I used to, but not anymore. We are growing and we need to stop some childish acts. I think I really don’t need to do that all the time to please my fans, although, sometimes, I just do it to spice up the show, but I have stopped.

Is that why you guys always flaunt it on social media?

My brother, it feels good to look good oo!! You know, sometimes when you have the body, you will want to flaunt it, but because of maturity, it is best you do it the right way.

By doing that, don’t you think you are projecting a wrong image to the public?

Not really, it all depends on how you do it, don’t overdo things. When you want to flaunt your body on social media or anywhere, you need to take caution and do it with some sense of maturity.

What’s the most challenging thing you ever faced as an artiste?

I use to have challenges when I was still coming up, but let me not lie to you, I don’t think I have any challenges now, though the sounds can be a little bit confusing. It takes only the men to handle it because the music business is not for boys, it’s for men.

Being talented is not enough.

Do you see any of the younger artistes as a threat?

No, not at all. When you know what you have, you should be able to trust what you have to always deliver you anytime and with God by your side, you are on top.

Is Harrysong into a relationship for now?

Hmmm! It is not very easy to play love life now my brother, but we can’t do without it you know. You want to meet a woman and tell her you love her without giving her attention? It’s going to be hard for her to keep faith in that relationship.

Is not that I won’t love to be in a relationship, but I don’t have that time now, I am very busy. I don’t want to torment any girl emotionally, not because I don’t love her, but because I don’t have the quality time to spend with her.

So since you don’t have a girlfriend now, how do you cope sexually?

I don’t have a girlfriend now and sexually, I just cope because I have to cope, when I am ready for a relationship, I will create time for it.

You are an adult, don’t you think, you need to start building a family?

Yeah. But that doesn’t mean you have to punish somebody’s daughter. I can be very busy that I even forget to eat. My mind will be on music and business for two to three months and a lady will just be in your house eating and sleeping....No na...she is human.

So you can stay for months without sex, say three months and even more?

Yes! I can stay for three months without sex. Sometimes when we travel, we are busier than when we are in Nigeria.

When we travelled to Europe, I only sleep for two hours a day and you know the timing are not the same. When it’s day here in Nigeria, its morning there and before you know it, you are called that you are going on stage in the next 30 minutes and when I am back home in Nigeria, system is bad.

For a whole week, I may not eat. So you see, getting a girl that can cope without seeing you for sometimes is kind of hard because every woman loves quality time and attention.

So when precisely, are you planning to settle down?

Just give me five years, (LAUGHS) but if I see a lady that can tolerate my busy schedule, I will marry her to fulfill my late

father’s wish; I am looking for a wifey o (LAUGHS).

see, one person can’t take the credit, you can’t say you did all.

Despite all your busy schedule, how do you find time to relax?

No time ooo. I don’t really have that time to relax. When I sleep by 10pm, I must wake up when it’s 4am, so, relaxing is sometimes out of it.

Explain your bond with Kcee Kcee is a very wonderful guy. He used to be a fan back when I was still coming up. He came around with E-Money when I used to perform at Ojez. They would spray me money and all and I would follow them to their house. So after that, we became like family and this is us today, I give glory to God.

If Harrysong was not doing music, what else would you have been doing?

It still would be MUSIC! I can’t find myself doing any other thing. If I wasn’t doing music, I will be doing music. If you take me write exam now, I won’t be able to do anything aside music, music is all I do and will always do.

Some say you write songs for Kcee and other Five Star artistes?

Well, Harrysong is a writer. Five Star Music, as you see, has a lot of people working here.

One person cannot say I’m a better artiste than the other. For instance, I am recording my album and we have everybody inside the studio, everybody tries to contribute to the growth of others; that is one thing that makes Five Star Music. So you

Do you have any regrets in life?

Well, it has to be the death of my mother; I wish she was alive to see what I have become. I wish I could take her out for shopping so she could reap the fruit of her labour and know what it feels like to have a successful child.

What does fashion mean to you?

My favourite colours are black and white; my wardrobe is filled with black and white. I am not a designer freak, when I go to a place to buy something and I see that what I like suits me, I pay for it. Sometimes I don’t look at the design, I just look at the price and if it is okay, I pay.

Any words for your fans?

Oh my fans, I love you guys so dearly, you are the reason why I am still here, thank you all for your love and support, I can’t thank you guys enough. God will continue to bless you all.

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s Vanessa Okwara

T

he inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as the fourth elected President of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic on May 29, 2015 was received with joy across Nigeria. Buhari is the first opposition figure to win a presidential poll in Nigeria since independence in 1960.

There is so much hope in the hearts of Nigerians that this new President will definitely turn the country around for the better.

His regime as a former head of state witnessed an unprecedented clampdown on indiscipline, corruption and corrupt people. Even his sworn foes agree he has an extremely inflexible stand and an incorrigible will against corruption. President Buhari’s reputation as a strict leader that abhors corruption precedes him and it is hoped that he will bring the sledge hammer heavily down on corrupt practices and salvage a nation on the brink of collapse.

His election as the country’s new president heralded a new face in our delicate democracy and the shouts of change couldn’t have been more apt as Nigerians wait to see the new President deliver the dividends of democracy to a people starved of good governance for a long time. Aside his stern demeanour, President Buhari is also known to have a softer side and this usually reflects when he is around his immediate family -especially his grandchildren. In this edition, we

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Body&Soul

fabulous first family

take a look at the personalities that make up Nigeria’s newest first family.

Suave Muhammadu Buhari With a svelte figure to be envied by younger men, President Buhari is simply a handsome man at age 72. One of his nicknames is Dogo dan Daura which means the ‘Tall One from Daura.’

Although President Buhari is reputed to be a very strict man, reports from close friends and relatives reveal he is not as stern as he really looks. His soft side can be seen especially when he’s around his grandchildren. In an interview with Premium Times, his fifth daughter, Halima Buhari Sheriff says her father loves cracking jokes and is very caring. “He’s very sensitive towards our feelings. He doesn’t coerce us to do anything we don’t want to do unlike the image people have about him being stern. At home he has a very soft side. He is very caring towards us, plays and spends more time with his grandchildren than his own children. He gives them all sorts of traditional nicknames”. Also, in an interview with This Day Newspaper, his wife, Aisha Buhari also described her husband as a familyoriented person who has a very close relationship with his children, grandchildren and very caring and protective of his family. Buhari is also an incurable romantic.

Although his religion gives him the right to marry more than one wife, yet he chose to be with one wife at a time. He got married to his first wife, late Hajiya Safinatu in 1971 and the marriage produced five kids: Zulaiha (now late), Fatima, Musa (now late), Hadiza and Safinatu. As the First Lady of Nigeria when Buhari was head of state, Hajiya Safinatu was not in the spotlight. In 1988, Buhari and his first wife Safinatu were divorced and on 14 January 2006, Safinatu Buhari, the former first lady, died from complications of diabetes. In December 1989, Buhari got married to Hajiya

Aisha Halilu, a Fulani lady from Adamawa State, reportedly a cousin of one of his friends. Mrs. Aisha Buhari also has five children for Buhari: four girls and a boy. They are Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zahra and Amina. Aisha is the only wife of the President.

Fabulous looking Aisha Buhari Born to the family of Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu, the first Minister of Defence, Mrs. Aisha Buhari attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. She also has a diploma in Physiotherapy and Beauty Therapy.

She is an alumnus of the Carlton Institute of London and the Academie Esthetique Beauty Institute of France in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she got her post-graduate diploma in Cosmetology and Beauty Therapy. She also has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs & Strategic Studies from Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Aisha Buhari is a beautiful woman no doubt and has graciously passed on the look-good genes to her daughters and son. She is very stylish and urbane in her dressing and knows how to pick colours that complement her beautiful light skin. During the inauguration, she was pictured wearing a beautiful Cartier Baignoire Folle 18-Carat White Gold Diamond Ladies Watch which price has become a subject of controversy. The first lady is known as a woman who dresses conservatively but tastefully with a touch of her culture reflected and English mode of dressing thrown in between. She will be performing the duties of Nigeria’s First Lady albeit in a more conservative manner than her predeces-

sors.

Delectable children and grandchildren President Buhari is known as a quiet man who is very reserved and protective of his family. But during the campaign, pictures of him, his wife, children and grandchildren showed up on social media and the Internet went agog by the sheer beauty radiating from members of his family. He was also pictured with his grandchildren whom he reportedly adores with a passion. There were lovely pictures of his stunning daughters both from his first marriage and the ones from Aisha.

Stunning Zahra and handsome Yusuf Particularly of intere s t

were the pictures of Aisha’s son and daughter, Yusuf and Zahra. The daughter’s pictures first trickled into the Internet shortly before the presidential election and went viral. Kim Kardashian may have broken the Internet with her nude pictures but Zahra Buhari simply won the hearts of many Nigerians and invariably votes for her father through her cute dressing and alluring beauty. Zahra, who is based in the UK studying Microbiology at the University of Surrey and in her fourth year, was in the full glare of Twitter stalkers and admirers who couldn’t stop buzzing about her beauty.

Twitter practically went up in flames with the emergence of photos of Yusuf.

He bears a striking similarity to his father and appears to also have his jovial humour. The girls kept asking why the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress hid him for so long. They even said he would have also earned more votes for his father like his sister did.

From the comments garnered from various sections of the country, it is obvious Nigerians definitely prefer to be identified with this first family and hope their looks and beauty will somehow mesh into the new government their father, President Buhari, is forging for a new Nigeria.

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Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

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Mothers and in-laws

etting knocked up before saying ‘I do’ is a huge taboo in Sam’s place but he didn’t tell me...not quite true. He did tell me very late...yeah, very late.

He’s still interested though. Just that he’ll have a lot of convincing to do. His mother will go bonkers, his siblings too.

Sam is angry and happy at the same time. The little life growing inside me places him among the men, but coming earlier than expected, when he’s yet to decide on me, makes him mad.

He can’t think of me getting rid of the yet to be noticed bump or even denying responsibility. He knows he’s been the sole tiller between my legs the past eight months since he talked marriage with me.

I couldn’t have dared his wrath... not exactly his...more of his village or is it his family’s deity?

He took me through an oath which, by the way, reminds me of the tale of Okija Shrine in Anambra State.

“Once you agree to marry us, you’ve automatically sworn to an oath. You must have no other man beside me or the gods of our land will come after you. I don’t need to know about it,” he told me then.

I had rued it. Do I love him? I think I could manage him. Society demands that a woman has to get a husband, a ‘cover’, before she is regarded as responsible.

Though I disagree totally with that phallic-minded thought, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to have a man run the ‘manly’ errands in the home. Why should I climb on a stool, unsteadily, to change an electric bulb when a man could do that effortlessly? Why get up in the dead of night to turn the generator on or off, depending on the vagaries of the PHCN, when he is snoring close to you on the bed? For such little errands and more, the man is handy.

The prospect of Sam being a ‘cover’ becomes very attractive.

Now don’t tell me that stuff about a man helping to keep the bed warm and making me moan with pleasure at nights. What are the sex toys for?

Those malleable ‘males’ make me moan uncontrollably without the he-goat grunts and smell which put me off most times...and wait for this, I can have them anytime I want without complain!

“Hey, a responsible woman doesn’t behave like a sex-starved bitch. You have to rein in your feelings. Announcing your pleasure through screaming places you among the bad girls,” he had once said during sex.

Of course I paid him no attention, but screamed to high heavens. But I had worried at his dated behavior.

Which man doesn’t understand that the big O makes a woman scream senselessly? Only Sam doesn’t know, it would appear.

I still accepted his ‘let’s live together forever ’ offer. A man has other uses apart from the bedroom.

I should have known that if he’s so dated in his thinking, his mother could be worse.

I learnt that firsthand.

“My daughter, is it that you couldn’t get more piece of cloth to cover your nakedness?” Her mother had asked the day he introduced me to her. We had gone to his village to attend his cousin’s wedding.

I felt uncomfortable. I was actually wearing my longest gown. Mama should have seen me in my micro minis!

The next day was worse. I was looking and feeling like a goddess in my clingy, low cleavage and back baring dress. I had twirled in front of the mirror for minutes in the room, admiring my drop dead shape and body fitting dress before making my grand entry into the sitting room where mama was waiting for Sam to take us to the wedding venue.

“What? Hope you’re not stepping out of this house in that thing that barely covers your nakedness?” she had asked, killing my gait immediately.

I had shot Sam a dart of a look.

“Mama! That’s what fashionable women wear in the cities,” he had told his mother in a patronising tone.

“Fashionable women indeed! I wish my arthritis-numbed knees could allow me. I would have turned that dress into something wearable,” she had replied.

I was grateful for that arthritis.

Let it hold her knees perpetually!

I could imagine her dragging me by my ears back to the room. She looks the type that could follow with a slap or more.

“Mama was a notable seamstress.

She made clothes for notable members of the community in those days,” Sam had said.

Mama beamed from ear to ear. It was as if Sam had tickled her with those words.

“I made clothes for many fashionable women. I mean responsible fashionable women. There was a style I copied from Nelly, a popular musician then. I made it for Madam Cash and all her club members wanted the same style. For two weeks, my apprentices and I didn’t rest. We sewed into the nights. The women were very happy...Sam wasn’t born then. His grandfather had come to my father then to ask for my hand in marriage on behalf of his son -your father...”

Sam cut her off. He and other members of the family had heard that story more than 100 times. It’s one of her favourites. She could talk for the next five hours if he allowed her.

“Mama, we will be late to the wedding if we don’t leave immediately,” Sam said, turning to the door.

“Okay o,” she said, her eyes darting all over Kim.

“Oh leave Kim alone. She’s okay in what she’s wearing,” he said.

“Ohooo...I didn’t know I’d live to see the day that young women will ‘shelf’ their nakedness for the world to see. That is why many women remain on the shelf for life,” she said, looking with distaste at Kim. Kim shakes herself back to the present. After all is said and done, does she really wants to get married? To her, marriage could be cumbersome. She didn’t know her mother. She died few months after her birth and no one knew her father. Her grandmother told her very little about her mother. The most information she gleaned from family members was that her mother, Kimberly, was a rebel who left home at 16 years and came back with lot of cash and a protruding belly. She died three months after having her baby. The six months she lived at home before passing on at the age of 21, she said no word about the man responsible for her pregnancy.

Today, 28 years later, she’s pregnant out of wedlock but the good thing is that the man responsible wants her and the pregnancy. But does she really want him?

Sam’s brothers’ wives are great companions. They all look the docile wives who are all afraid of their mother in-law. She could feel they love her fashionable dresses but are too afraid of their mother in-law and their equally dated husbands.

They were all married the ‘proper’ way -before pregnancy - according to them.

Pregnancy before marriage was usually discussed in whispers and solved with shotgun (quickie) nuptials in Sam’s community.

That’s what he’s thinking of but first, he has to convince his mother to give her blessing to their marriage. Throwing the pregnancy into the mix is a big issue.

Kim smiles. She ain’t gonna have any shotgun nuptials. She’s gonna take her time in planning a grand wedding whether the pregnancy is visible to the world or not and no mother in-law is gonna tell her what to do!

Today, they are going to see mama and she’ll make sure she’s wearing her bum shorts and crop top when they see her. “What are those things you’re throwing into the suitcase?

Shorts and minis? Where are you going to wear them? Do you realise we are going to the village to see mama?

Please, pack wearable things...” Sam began but I cut him off.

“Look, I ain’t gonna be another woman because I want your momma to approve of me. If you want me as a wife, then we go see her on my terms or we don’t. I’m not desperate to get married...so make your choice!” ******* Dear readers, you are right. We’ve started on a journey with Sam and Kim. How compelling can their story be? You won’t know if you don’t keep a date with me here on Sundays.

•Send your observations to the email above.

21

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Body&Soul

Multiple earrings: Art of adornment

Vanessa Okwara

M

ost ladies got acquainted with the delicate ear adornments as a baby or young girl. As she grows into womanhood, the urge to express her individuality grows, giving rise to her own fashion sense and equally, the desire to have double or multiple piercings.

Wearing double or multiple ear piercing is generally a personal decision. This look is ubertrendy right now! Some place their earrings in a mix’n’match style, while others like to create more elaborate designs.

The multiple ear-piercing trend strikes the perfect balance between feminine and tough demeanor.

Piercings have always added a little edginess to your overall appearance and double or multiple piercing of the ears is no different.

For major impact, consider studding your ear

up with gold, pearls and diamonds. Take your time, find the right pieces for the right spots, and invest in quality pieces that can be in your mix for years to come. If you keep everything delicate and subtle, it allows you to do more without looking cluttered.

If you have multiple holes, it is stylish to have a good statement piece and let the other jewelry compliment it. Remember that just because it’s ‘pretty’ doesn’t mean it will necessarily look good. Let your jewelry tell a story.

Although ear piercings are more common and can be less risky than other body piercings, they can still cause complications if not handled safely. Many of the problems arising from ear piercing result from poor care after the piercing. For anyone thinking about getting their ears pierced, dermatologists urge people to follow these steps to avoid infection: • Always wash your hands before touching

newly pierced ears.

• Leave the earrings in your ears for six weeks or more – even at night.

Removing the starter earrings too early may cause the piercings to close.

• Regularly wash your ears with soap and water.

Carefully do this at least once a day to avoid infection.

• Twist the earrings a few times daily. This will help keep the pierced holes open. Rotate the earring twice daily to prevent it from adhering to the ear.

• Use specially formulated ear care antiseptic when cleansing. You may use isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol on your ears. Using a cotton ball or pad dipped in rubbing alcohol, gently clean the skin around the piercings twice a day to keep away germs and prevent scabbing. You may also apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly around the opening.

• After piercing your ears, keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t

get sore, red or puffy and that the holes don’t ooze yellowish liquid. If any of this occurs and doesn’t go away quickly, see a dermatologist, as you may have an infection.

• Try not to sleep on your side during the healing process; you’re likely to wake up with a throbbing red ear if you do.

Body&Soul

Wrapper Redefined

SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

22, 43

23

SundayBusiness SUNDAY

SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

News

Hayat Kimya unveils Molfix Diaper in Nigeria

p.27

Brands X-raying IMC under new Govt p.28

Interview

Housing: govt must partner investors - Sparklight boss p.25

Market&Mall

Nigerians are going back to old school attire – Bead maker p.30

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Unresolved issues as Emefiele marks first year L

Paul Ogbuokiri ast Tuesday, June 3, Mr. Godwin Emefiele clocked one year in office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. This was a position he assumed at the end of the tenure of Lamido Sanusi, which expired on May 31, 2014.

On his appointment as CBN’s 11th governor, the former Zenith Bank Plc. chief executive listed a 10-point economic blueprint that would guide his tenure at the central bank. Among them were to pursue a gradual reduction in key interest rates and include the unemployment rate in monetary decisions; Maintain exchange rate stability and bolster foreign exchange reserves; Strengthen risk-bases supervision mechanism of Nigerian banks to ensure banking system stability; Build sector-specific expertise in banking supervision to reflect loan concentration of the banking industry; Abolish fees associated with limits on deposits; and Introduce a variety of financial instruments to boost specific enterprise areas in agriculture, manufacturing, health, and oil and gas.

He also outlined his plan to establish Secured Transaction an National Collateral Registry as well as to establish a National Credit Scoring System that will improve access to information on borrowers and assist lenders to make good credit decisions; Build resilient financial infrastructure that serves the needs of the lower end of the market; Renew advocacy for the creation of commercial courts for quick adjudications on loan and related offences.

But shortly after he assumed office the price of crude oil started nose-diving, leading to serious pressure on the exchange rate of the naira. But the CBN continued to defend the naira with foreign reserves. Sources close to the central bank on Tuesday said the regulator, in the last one year, burned over 20 per cent of its reserves -- $28 million a day - in defence of a currency that has remained under unrelenting pressure because of a basic lack of petro-dollars.

In mid-January, reserves stood at $34.5 billion.

To add salt to injury, the poor state of the economy was made worse by the 2015 elec- Emefiele tions. This was a development, experts say, that caused massive divestment of international investors’ funds from high yield government A drop in forex inflows will securities. Another issue was increasing the demand for forex and round-tripping between continue to put immense the official and parallel markets.

The spread between parallel and official rates pressure on reserves and affect widened to levels last seen in December 2009 the ability of the central bank and early January 2010. The gap between the official spot rate and the parallel cash rate rose to continue to support the to N9.1, from a low of N2.94 in March, they currency said.

In a swift reaction to save the economy, the central bank devalued the naira in November and raised the benchmark interest rate to 13 per cent.

The CBN that month also banned the use of of 12.43 pm on Tuesday in Lagos, its lowest dollars purchased at its twice-weekly auctions on record. for the importation of items, including elecAnalysts projected the success of measures tronics, telecommunication equipment and implemented by the CBN to safeguard the generators. value of the Naira.

The naira has slumped 16 per cent against the Safeguarding the value of the currency and dollar on the interbank market in the last six the country’s external reserves were at the months, the most among 24 African countries forefront of the Monetary Policy Committee’s tracked by Bloomberg. It traded at N192.45 at considerations at its November meeting, when

it devalued the Naira.

The committee undertook to tighten monetary conditions by utilising instruments it believed to be most potent in addressing excess liquidity in the banking system.

A 100 basis point increase in the Monetary Policy Ratio with a 500bp escalation in the Cash Reserve Requirement on private sector deposits was expected to bring about orderly behaviour among lenders and ensure that funds are deployed to more productive sectors.

This opinion was shared by Kunle Ezun, an analyst with Ecobank Transnational Inc in Lagos, in an interview with Reuters. He said: “A drop in forex inflows will continue to put immense pressure on reserves and affect the ability of the central bank to continue to support the currency.”

To further save the economy from collapse under the weight of falling oil revenue, CBN in the twilight of 2014, decided to bar comC ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 24

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business/ News

Unresolved issues as Emefiele marks first year CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 23

mercial banks from holding any part of their funds in United States dollars at the close of each business day as it stepped up efforts to reduce pressure on the naira.

However, the CBN had to review the policy twice later, pegging the exposure at 0.1 per cent and after much persuasion, went ahead to move the limit to 0.5 per cent.

In addition, the regulator, in November last year, went ahead to devalue the naira as it moved the midpoint of the official window of the foreign exchange market from N155 to N168 to one U.S dollar. This means that the naira will exchange between N168 and N174 to the dollar at the foreign exchange market.

The explanation given was that official devaluation of the naira became inevitable as a result of reduction in government revenue from oil production and sales. The devaluation will increase the volume of naira available to the Federation Account and to various levels of government to prosecute their local programmes.

Also, in its bid to calm the strong volatility observed in the forex market, as well as save the naira from further depreciation, the CBN increased the weekly supply of dollars to Bureau De Change operators from $15,000 per BDC, to $30,000 per BDC. The banking sector regulator said the move was also part of measures to deepen the BDCs segment. The policy took effect from Wednesday, January 28, 2015 auction.

It was against this backdrop that JP Morgan analysts placed Nigeria on a negative watch for three to five months following reservations over the country’s foreign exchange position and the bond market which was described as illiquid.

Determined to carry on with its rescue mission, the CBN, which realised that domiciliary transactions are used for round tripping by Deposit Money Banks, directed that DMBs submit details of domiciliary account holders, including name, account number and balances as at January 29, 2015.

It also required banks to present the total balance of all domiciliary accounts as at the same date, list of corporate domiciliary account holders and their balances, list of individual domiciliary account holders and their balances, list of public sector institutions domiciliary account holders and their balances as well as the mode of lodgement to the account transactions (either cash or by wire transfer). Domiciliary deposits were equivalent to 21 per cent of the N17 trillion or $19.5 billion deposits in the Nigerian banking system as at half year 2014, according to data from investment firm, Renaissance Capital.

Also, the central bank took steps to check the fresh risk facing the DMBs —non-performing loans - and it gave the lenders the go-ahead to publish the names of their bad debtors in the newspapers if they fail to pay.

Assessing the various interventionist moves of Emefiele-led management of CBN, the head of African research at Standard Chartered, Razia Khan, said the apex bank has fared well so far.

She said, “So far, so good. The special auctions for the interbank FX market appear to have helped. There will always be some panic, but the CBN has at least exerted some influence on the pace of depreciationamal Another analyst that gave the CBN a pass mark is a research associate with BGL Plc, Mr. Olufemi Ademola. He be-

Central Bank of Nigeria, headquarters, Abuja lieves certain contradictions are affecting the implementations of some of the policies rolled out by the CBN. Ademola believes the modest appreciation of crude oil price in recent times will go a long way in boosting the nation’s buffers. He said, “Although the foreign reserves level has gone down to $32.66 billion, the fact that oil price is recovering means that there may still be an opportunity to grow the reserves. In addition, the expectation of a reversal of capital to the country after the elections may also sustain a strong level of the reserves. However, a continuous haemorrhaging of the foreign reserves limits the capability of the CBN to defend the naira and in the long run, floating of the exchange rate will be the most appropriate action to take.”

Also commenting on the potency of the CBN’s rescue arrangement, Khan said stakeholders were still studying the approach being used by the apex bank. “It is not known what the CBN’s ‘line in the sand’ is. If it wants to send a strong message that it will support the NGN, it might be willing to draw down reserves to much lower levels. The problem is, as FX reserves come under greater pressure, more market participants are likely to start doubting that the current level of FX can be sustained. Given this, the best strategy might be for the CBN to try to control the pace of the depreciation, rather than to fight it entirely,” the Standard Chartered chief said.

The BGL official further stressed the need for the CBN to adjust the official midpoint managed float to give room for appropriate controls. He said, “Unfortunately, no country (using an exchange rate peg) has ever won a currency war. Therefore, if the exchange rate volatility continues, the most likely action of the CBN would be to

So far, so good. The special auctions for the interbank FX market appear to have helped. There will always be some panic, but the CBN has at least exerted some influence on the pace of depreciation

adjust the official mid-point managed float and allow a corridor to cover all the market segments.

“However, if as stated by the CBN, the outlook for the Naira is stable (appropriately valued) and that the volatility is time-bound, there may not be a need to do anything until that outlook changes.”

Managing Director of Apple Financial Services Company Limited, Mr. Samson Iwara, said that though Emefiele’s policies may have finally halted the free fall of the naira, there is yet no indication that the economy has returned to the path of growth. He urged the CBN chief to commence the implementation of his blueprint.

Speaking on Thursday, Tola Odukoya, a research analyst and chief executive of Lagos-based Dunn Loren Merrifield Asset Management Limited, told Sunday Telegraph, on phone that Emefiele’s avowed determination to reduce rates

“won 50 per cent of my support because he has decided to be pro-growth.”

He said the Dunn Loren Merrifield group consistently criticised the Sanusi Lamido-led management’s high rates which left the Nigerian economy worse off.

“What Nigeria needs, which Emefiele has gotten right, are policies that support domestic growth and job creation, which can only come from the small and medium scale enterprises which require cheap funds to blossom. This is because the big players can always negotiate their lending rates with the banks or even get money at single digit from abroad, a luxury not open to the small players that create the mass of jobs. “ The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Balmoral International Limited, Niyi Adegbenro, praised the CBN chief for saving the economy at a very critical period. He said it was a time the inflow of foreign exchange reduced by almost half, followed quickly by elections that unofficially cost the country about $5 billion.

Speaking to Sunday Telegraph,, he praised Emefiele for successfully launching a centralised biometric identification system for the banking industry tagged ‘Bank Verification Number.’

He said it “will help the banking industry in various ways like reducing identity theft, fishing out blacklisted customers, etc.”

He also lauded the release of the commemorative N100 banknote unveiled recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, which is in circulation, as well as restoring the independent operation of the apex bank, which under Sanusi’s era was believed to be oliticised.

“He also needs commendation for his ability to avoid the murky waters of Nigerian politics,” he said.

25

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Business/ Interview

Housing: Govt must partner investors - Sparklight boss Mr. Segun Adedayo Olabode is the new Executive Director, Sparklight Property Development Company. In this interview with DAYO AYEYEMI, he speaks on plans to list the company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and produce more affordable homes for Nigerians What added value are you bringing into Sparklight Property Development Company as its new executive director?

Sparklight Property is a household name in the real estate industry. My goal is to take it to the next level. As you are aware, the company was founded over two decades ago by Chief Toyin Adeyinka as a family business but as a result of the current vision new investors have come on board. The Board today is made up of people of diverse background. Our short term goal is to get the company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange within the next two years.

Of course we have created a niche for ourselves in the area of affordable housing and we want to improve on this based on our slogan: ‘Striving to do better than yesterday.’ Much of my career has been in this industry, ranging from construction management, project funding and financial management to investment appraisal.

My background as a chartered accountant and business administrator put me in a better position to achieve the set goals.

What are the things on ground to show that you are ready to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange?

One of our ultimate goals is to get listed on the NSE as I pointed out earlier and we have started putting things in place to achieve this goal. For instance, a private placement was recently done by the company and this led to the company having new shareholders. We have also constituted a new board of directors and management team from diverse backgrounds, renowned people and experts with sound character. We also have a very strong corporate governance in place.

These are some of the steps that have been taken in ensuring that Sparklight Property is taken into the public domain whereby the company will metamorphose to a public business. Also, on the issue of our financial reporting, we have complied with the Financial Reporting Council regulation; we now have our financials in line with the guidelines. We are now IFRS-compliant.

You talked about providing affordable housing which many developers talk about but at the end of the day you find out that what is termed affordable is out of the reach of those who need it. What class of people do you target in your affordable housing scheme?

Our target is the working class. What we mean is that, as long as you are working, Sparklight believes that you are entitled to own a home. Even if a person is a low income earner, he can still key into any of our schemes. We have been doing this over the years and have built quite a number of estates.

There is a wide deficit in housing provision which the federal, states and local governments cannot meet. There is therefore a need for government to partner

The governments need to create a conducive environment for the private sector to overcome these challenges in the three areas enumerated with private investors to provide affordable housing. Sparklight in its efforts to provide affordable housing has over the years been partnering the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to achieve these objectives. FMBN is the government mortgage bank which gives people the opportunity to own their homes at an affordable price. When compared to other commercial banks’ loans, which also provide mortgage facilities for as high as 24 per cent interest rate, the FMBN is more affordable because its interest rate is six per cent at tenure of over 20 to 30 years, depending on the age of the applicant.

With this, you can have a house and pay a token on monthly basis as if you are paying rent while the house belongs to you. We are not only giving you a product, we are also creating for you the ability to pay for your house through the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme.

Aside from the provision of low rate mortgages, Sparklight Property is affiliated with other real estate-related companies which make up Sparklight Group.

The synergy has given us advantage over other real estate firms to deliver our houses with cost reduction strategy thereby making our houses affordable to our customers. That is what makes us different.

The housing deficit in the country is large so we should be looking at mass housing. What are the challenges limiting this?

Before I talk about the challenges, I want to state that in Gateway Sparklight Estate, Magboro in Ogun State, we have done the phase one and we are rounding up on phase 2. When completed, it is going to house more than 800 family dwellings. We recently commissioned Rockview Estate in Abeokuta. We have also built Kings Court Phases one to four in Abuja and we have done houses in different areas in Lagos State.

We just started a development in the Lekki axis known as Sparklight Grace Court Estate and in line with our vision it will still be affordable. Now, when I talk about affordable housing, anyone can have the opportunity of owning a house in Lekki axis at affordable price.

Having said that, there are three basic challenges that a private developer faces in providing affordable housing; the first is the difficulty in acquiring land. The Land Use Act does not encourage developers, which is why our company part-

Olabode ners with the government. However, it is still not easy to get government land. So, land acquisition is a big challenge. Gateway Sparklight Estate is a Public-Private Partnership with the Ogun State Government and, also the Rockview estate with the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

The second challenge is funding. For a developer to sell houses to the public at affordable prices and breakeven, such a developer will need to source for cheep funds which is very hard to come by. If you go to the commercial banks today to get project funds for projects that are long term, most banks can only give you within 24 months and of course the interest rate can wipe out any business within a short term. So, funding projects is a big challenge because of huge interest rates.

Sparklight is partnering the FMBN which provides Estate Development Loan (EDL) with 10 per cent interest rate.

But there was an embargo on it which has recently been lifted. So, if we have this, it will in a way, bring down the burden to a large extent.

The third challenge I will like to talk about is the cost of construction which is mainly cost of materials and labour.

On the cost of materials, there is need for the government to invest in research and development to boost locally made materials thereby bringing down the cost of building considerably rather than relying on importation which has affected our economy badly.

On the issue of labour, if properly addressed, real estate development and construction industry can be used to solve the problem of unemployment. We have a lot of unemployment in the nation, but we lack skilled manpower which is why some construction companies go

to neighbouring countries to source for manpower. But here in Sparklight, what we do is train our artisans at our institute. The Adeyinka Technical Institute, Lapeleke in Ogun State was founded on this basis and it is a tuition free training centre. The bricklayers, masons, welder and so on are trained but there is a limit to what we can do as a private organisation.

Therefore, the governments need to create a conducive environment for the private sector to overcome these challenges in the three areas enumerated.

How can the ignorance about the NHF be resolved?

Of course, there is ongoing awareness which should continue. A lot of people are contributing because of the regulation that any company that has a certain number of staff must contribute to the fund but many people are not aware of the benefits And that is what we are talking about, we need to work in conjunction with the PMBs and the FMBN to sensitise people by informing them that they can easily access the fund and it is the cheapest in the country as of today.

Where would you want to see this company in the next five years?

In the next five years, Sparklight as an indigenous company is going to be in a place where you and I will be proud of. All the stakeholders including our customers will be satisfied and be better served. We also want to touch communities because we have a social responsibility to them. Five years down the line, we are going to be one of the real estate companies listed on the NSE and everyone will have access to us.

26

SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Market mood closes blue

T

he preceding week ended with a peaceful transition of power to the new President, however this national milestone did not permeate the equities market, as the market recorded three days of negative outing of the five trading days in a week. The NSEASI declined by 1.88% WoW to peg the YtD return at –2.86%.

Similarly, volume and value of transactions declined by 72.1% and 79.4% respectively WoW. Market breadth (0.55x) tilted in favour of decliners as 27 stocks advanced, as against 49 decliners in the week COSTAIN emerged as the top gainer for the week with a 12.77% gain, trailed by BETAGLAS (10.08%), BERGER (10.00%), PORTPAINT (9.62%), and HONYFLOUR (6.99%). On the contrary, NPFMCRFBK trimmed by 15.56% to top the losers’ chart for the week. Other decliners were NASCON, TOTAL, JOSBREW, and FO which pared by 12.50%, 10.89%, 9.38%, and 9.18% in that order.

We credit the negative market mood to higher profit taking activities, over bargain hunting due to investors’ wariness in the absence of a clear direction of investment related policies by the new administration. Although, we anticipate some level of position taking in fundamentally justified stocks that are trading below the target prices in the coming week, we advise investors to tread cautiously.

Also, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved the Par Value Rule and submitted same to the National Council of NSE. The Rule states that “notwithstanding stocks par value, the price of every share listed on the exchange shall be determined by the market, save that no share shall trade below a price floor of one Kobo per unit (NGN0.01)”. This implies that the value of stocks currently trading at a fair value of NGN0.50, might wane further, if the market perceive such stocks to be overvalued at that price. We expect investors to react to this policy pronouncement in the coming weeks.

In this report, we review events in the economy, laying emphasis on performance of different segments of the financial market, while presenting our expectations for the week ahead.

Economic Round up: National Assembly passed 49 bills in 10mins.

The fall in global crude oil prices, remain at the center of global economic issues, as oil exporting countries remain adamant about maintaining their production level in order to retain their market share. This resulted in the fall in the global oil price by 52% from above USD100pb price level in September 2014 to January 2015, when it recorded an all-time 5 year low price of USD48pb. In the last two months, oil traded at an average price of USD65pb, which could be partially credited to the drop in supply from the Middle East.

In line with our expectation, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its just concluded 167th conference in Vienna, extended its campaign to restrain rival producers by continuing to pump oil into the global market. The 12 member countries agreed to retain combined daily production target at 30mbpd. In our opinion, we anticipate further pressure on crude oil prices, as Iran intends to increase production by 1mbpd within months of lifting sanction.

Based on our expectation, we believe the new administration would have to explore other nonoil revenue generating measures to run the affairs of the economy, as the resurgence in global oil price above USD100pb does not seem imminient. Consequently, we expect a slow in economic activities for the new government.

The newly elected government resumed office this week, following its inauguration in the previous week. Sequel to the president’s manifesto to end the insurgency in the north-eastern region, President Muhammadu Buhari held a meeting with the presidents of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The purpose of the meeting was for the member country to adopt formidable strategies to bring an end to the Boko Haram menace affecting those countries. However, while the nation awaits the president to release its ministerial list, the senate approved the president’s bill to nominate 15 special advisers. This was approved alongside 48 other bills, within a record time of 10 minutes, as the house of assembly members boycott protocols required to pass a bill into law.

Fixed Income Brief: Subsisting liquidity pares NIBOR by 1.16% Yields on Treasury Bills declined by 1.18% on the

…as bears triumph

average, as the 1M, 2M, 3M, 6M, 9M, and 12M instruments pegged yields at 10.65%, 11.39%, 11.52%, 13.48%, 14.36%, and 14.41% respectively. Also, TBills instrument worth NGN115.85bn was auctioned at the Primary Market Auction (PMA) held during the week for the 91-day (NGN17.85bn), 182-day (NGN18bn), and 364-day (NGN80bn) tenors, with their respective stop rates at 9.79%, 12.70%, and 12.99%.

Money market rates trimmed in the week on the back of subsisting liquidity levels, which prompted a mop up of about NGN140bn during the week through Open Market Operations. Average NIBOR halted at 14.29% (-1.16%).

The Bond market witnessed bullish sentiments in the week, as demand outweighed supply on the overall, to peg the Meri-Bond index level (which measures the change in price) at 787.18 (+0.10%) WoW. This may not be unconnected to the liquidity levels noted in the week.

The Naira relaxed its resilience against the dollar, depreciating by 0.27% WoW to peg mid-price at NGN198.41/USD. This we envisage was precipitated on the recent decision of OPEC member states to retain current output levels, which is an indicator of possible pressures on the country’s foreign reserves, as well as the local currency.

Agric sector…OKOMUOIL leads with 3.05% Bearish mood permeated the sector for the week as a sole stock appreciated in share price against two stocks that declined. This pegged the sector breadth at 0.50x. Our MERI AGRI sector index also trimmed by 2.16% WtD to drag the YtD return to 27.30%.

OKOMUOIL consolidated on previous week’s positive momentum to emerging as the only price gainer for the week, as it appreciated by 3.05% to drive its market price to NGN30.40. On the flip side, LIVESTOCK (-6.25%) and PRESCO (-4.83%) both declined in values, pushing their share prices to NGN2.25 and NGN34.50 respectively while ELLAHLAKES and FTNCOCOA traded flat.

The positive mood that the sector has enjoyed in past weeks appeared to have stemmed, as a result of profit taking on most of the counters. Also, the general bearish sentiment in the equities market may have taken a toll on the sector. We anticipate resurgence in the coming week, as investors take

advantage of stocks that have shed substantial prices.

Banking Sector: Profit taking supervened in the sector Most banking stocks witnessed sell pressure during the week which was in line with the general market sentiment. The sector performance as measured by MERI-BNK index recorded 4.72% loss WtD, to settle year to date return at 9.15%.

There were only 2 gainers, led by WEMABANK, while all other sector stocks declined.

WEMABANK led the advancers with price appreciation of 6.25% to NGN1.02. The ticker was trailed by ETI which saw marginal price appreciations of 0.79% to NGN21.70 in the week. On the flip side, UNITYBNK has continued to top the list following the company’s share reconstruction, as it declined by 9.09% to settle at NGN2.60. The ticker was followed by ZENITHBANK (6.86%), SKYEBANK (5.82%), GUARANTY (5.01%), and UBA (4.63%).

In the absence of any positive news flows, we advise investors to trade cautiously whilst engaging in bargain-hunting in stocks that are fundamentally justified, especially now that most stocks have shed prices substantially.

Consumer Goods: VONO returns 105.88% QtD The sector index recorded gains in most days of the week, despite the general negative market mood. Sector performance as measured by NSEFBT10 showed a marginal WtD return of 0.08%. Outstandingly, VONO continues to amass gains following the news of merger with VITAOAM, recording a Week on Week (WoW) return of 3.55%.

HONYFLOUR emerged the top gainer for the week, appreciating by 6.99% to its market price WoW. Other counters on the gainers’ chart were 7UP, UACN, DANGFLOUR, DANGSUGAR, NESTLE, PZ, UNILEVER, GUINNESS and INTBREW with respective WoW gains of 0.84%, 1.21%, 1.94%, 1.38%, 2.24%, 3.55%, 0.07%, 1.11%, 1.23% and 0.05%.

NASCON, however recorded the highest decline in value with a loss of 12.50% WoW. Other decliners in the week were CADBURY, FLOURMILL, VITAFOAM, NB, and CHAMPION recording WoW declines in value of 0.25%, 1.41%, 0.19%,

1.41%, and 2.22% respectively.

INTBREW released 2015FY result, which showed 11.7% growth in Revenue and 7.55% decline in earnings. Despite the drop in earnings, the company has proposed a dividend of NGN0.25/ share.

Given the pockets of gains accumulated during the week, we anticipate some profit taking activities in the coming week. Therefore, we advise some decerning investors to take advantage of fundamentally justified stocks.

Healthcare Sector: MERI-HLTH index returns 0.22% WtD The Meri-Health index outperformed the market, appreciating by 0.22% Week to Date (WtD) to settle the Year to Date return at 9.55%. Sector breadth pegged at 0.67x, in favour of decliners, as two stocks appreciated against three stocks which shed points, while all other counters closed flat.

The three counters that witnessed price decline this week consolidated on each of their previous week’s performances. MAYBAKER emerged the most hit for the week, declining by 5.56% to peg price at NGN1.53. FIDSON and EVANSMED followed closely declining by 3.07% and 2.78% respectively. Conversely, NEIMETH beheld price appreciation in the week, advancing by 6.67% WoW to NGN1.28. Also on the gainers’ chart was GLAXOSMITH the industry giant which appreciated by a trifling 0.25% at the close of today’s trading, this was sufficient to sway the sector to a positive weekly performance of 0.22%.

The sector maintained previous week’s drab mood, in spite of the positive WtD performance as more stocks decline as against gainers. In the absence of any positive news in the market, we expect this negative mood to persist. However, we expect some discerning investors to take advantage of stocks trading below their fundamentally justified prices.

Insurance Sector: Profit taking drag sector’s performance.

Market activities on insurance stocks swung in the direction of the general equities market, with a lone stock appreciating in value during the week, while 4 stocks suffered significant declines. The sector performance as measured by the NSEINS10 index recorded a 2.13% WtD loss, to peg the YtD return at -2.61%.

With 5.66% losses apiece, INTENEGINS and CONTINSURE emerged the sector’s top losers to settle market prices at NGN0.50 and NGN1.00 correspondingly. Other counters featured on the losers’ chart were WAPIC and MANSARD with respective losses of 5.66% and 4.33%. On the flip side, NEM augmented previous week’s gain by 3.70% to upsurge price to NGN0.84 from NGN0.81 recorded in the prior week. All other counters traded flat during the week.

Unity Kapital Assurance Plc. released its 2014FY and Q1:2015 financial results during the week, growing Year on Year (YoY) Gross Premium Earned (GPE) in both periods by 4.49%% and 1.23% respectively. While 2014FY YoY earnings after tax pared by 46.41%, a significant upsurge of 282% was recorded in Q1:2015. Equity Assurance Plc. also released its Q1:2015 scorecard, growing both top and bottom line by 5.65% and 157.20% respectively.

Considering the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of a minimum par value of NGN0.01, we believe once implemented by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), most insurance stocks trading at current market value of NGN0.50 will suffer significant price cut if investors’ perceive them to be overvalued at their current prices.

However, we anticipate position taking in some fundamentally justified stocks that have shed points during the last trading days.

Industrial goods: DANGCEM drags sector index The industrial goods sector had a relatively balanced week, with most counters consolidating on their market prices. The sector index started the month with a WtD return of -1.37% as measured by our Meri-industrial index. While a lone stock declined in value, 3 stocks appreciated and 2 traded flat.

PORTPAINT emerged the sector’s top performer for the week, gaining 9.62% to close at NGN3.99.

WAPCO and ASHAKACEM trailed, gaining 1.02% and 0.33% WoW to close at NGN99.00 and NGN21.75 respectively. CAP and PAINTCOM all traded flat during the week. DANGCEM, however declined by 1.67%.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Ten points to greatness (7) Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only) So far, we have considered the following points: • You are not too small to make an impact; • You are not too old to make an impact; • The future is now; • Stardom does not make stars.

Stars make it to stardom; • Great things often start small; and • Your self-worth is more important than your net worth.

Now the seventh point.

7. Your background is no excuse for your back to be on the ground.

Many great people today did not have it easy. Examples abound of people who rose from oblivion to the pavilion of success, and people who rose from a fall of shame to the hall of fame.

Barrack Obama, by virtue of his office as the President of the United States of America, is arguably the most influential person in the world today. However, he had a background that many wouldn’t have been proud of. It is said that he was not raised in a regular family setting of a father and mother, as his

father was an African migrant. Given the circumstances of his birth and upbringing, some could have considered him an ‘illegitimate child’, but, today, he is about the Number One citizen of the world. In any case, let me use this medium to state emphatically that there are no illegitimate children; only illegitimate parents.

Helen Keller, blind and deaf, despite what people will call her ‘disability’, became a graduate. However, there are people with speech ability, but cannot make error-free simple sentences in English language, and do not bother about that.

There are people with a pair of eyes, but cannot read and do not bother about that. All some people do with their eyes is watch television. Little wonder they have not caught any vision for their lives. Just in case you are a television addict, I want you to know that addiction to television can make you live in illusion. I, therefore, charge you to break free from that addiction to television and catch a vision for your life. It might interest you to note that, one day, Helen Keller was asked what she considered worse than blindness, and her response was, “To have sight without vision.” What a word!

Victor Moses is a common name in the football terrain in Nigeria and around the world. People celebrate him as a star today, but some may not know that he lost his parents when he was quite young. Faced with the same experience, some people may consider it a stumbling

block, but it turned out a stepping stone for Victor Moses. Let me say this at this juncture: our experiences are not as powerful as how we react or respond to them. Of course, there is a difference between reaction and response. Some of the differences are as follows: a) while reaction is predicated on a precedent action, response is an independent action of sorts; b) while reaction is targeted at and limited to what happened, response focuses on the big picture; c) while reaction looks at the immediate, response looks at the ultimate.

Friend, learn to respond rather than react to issues. In any case, if you believe in revenge, I want you to know that the highest revenge is massive success.

Space may fail me to talk in details about our own Cobhams Asuquo, the singing sensation and music producer, and Yinka Ayefele, the man who, though physically ‘confined’ to a wheel chair, has a picture of him boldly displayed at some time on a billboard along Lagos-Ibadan Express Road, Lagos, with the inscription “Africa’s Largest Gospel Export”. What of Nick Vijucic. He had no limbs, but is motivational speaker, who inspires many around the world.

Friend, it occurred to me that what we call “Impossible” might as well be saying to us “I’m possible”. As the then Bank PHB stated it, “Impossibility is nothing”.

Personality type/temperament (3) The Big Picture

lent job, no matter how hard you try.

He is not wicked. it is just his nature to set unrealistic standards that neither you nor he can attain. The benefit of understanding personality types are enormous, but we need to Julian Atufunwa pause for a while.

08032810713 (SMS only) In the previous weeks, we did mention that we have four major personality types namely: •Sanguine e have been discussing •Choleric personality types for •Melancholic about three weeks. The •Phlegmatic essence of this topic is: We have talked about the sanguine To foster good relationship with and choleric. Now, lets find out co-workers,business associates, about the melancholic personality. team members, etc because every Melancholic persons are introverts. day we deal with different types of They loves spending time alone, as people. being with people drains their enTo assign tasks appropriately to ergy. They do not mind being in the team members background. They are perfectionists.

For effective communication and They have a pattern of how things better understanding as to why should be done and are prone to people behave the way they do. despair if not done that way. MelanExample: cholics rarely take compliments beWisdom should tell a manager or cause they do not believe their task team leader not to assign a melacan be perfect enough. Also, they set cholic or phlegmatic team member the task of public speaking because high standards for themselves and others. They get critical when these they may not deliver an excellent standards are not met. result, unlike sanguine or choleric Melancholics love routines, norms personalities that are natural oraand can abide by rules and laws. tors.

They are not likely to give in to othA sales person with a new proder people’s view. They make logical, uct should understand different personality types when dealing with careful and calculated plans before customers because we all do not see they set out to execute them.

They are more accurate with things the way they are but we see details and information. Melancholthings the way we are.

As am employer, if you do not un- ics choose friends carefully. It takes them a lot of time to build close rederstand your melancholic boss or lationships and they tend to be loyal manager, you may get discouraged to their friends afterwards. or frustrated. This is because as a perfectionist, it is unlikely for him to Melancholics are highly emotional. accept that you can deliver an excel- They can express their pleasure or

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displeasure with tears. They can easily get hurt but are never aggressive.

They get back at people by making them feel guilty. They are not talkative but can talk too much when they are with people they consider perfect enough to share their ideas and thoughts with. They are good thinkers and do well as writers, poets, scientists etc.

They hold on to grudges for a long time and sulk until they get revenge.

THEIR STRENGTHS Melancholics are highly economical and they spend meticulously.

They are deeply analytical and can generate great ideas.

They are geniuses and can be very creative due to their ability to think.

They can’t stand people’s tears and can be selfless in services to mankind.

WEAKNESSES They keep scores of wrongs, can be moody and depressed.

They are prone to low self-esteem.

Melancholics hate change; they love routine.

They are stubborn because they believe that their carefully selected views are the best.

They are pessimistic and critical in nature. They are frugal and most times hoard things. They can also be stingy.

Melancholics are possessive because they believe that what they have is not easy to come by. Examples of melancholics are Abraham Lincoln, Prophet Jeremiah.

Finally, keep a date with us next week for the conclusion of this series. It promises to be interesting and educative.

SundayBusiness

Hayat Kimya unveils Molfix Diaper in Nigeria Paul Ogbuokiri

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ayat Kimya, a leading manufacturer of home care, hygiene products and fifth largest branded diapers producer in the world, as well as the number one fastest-growing company in this category officially unveiled the Molfix diaper brand recently.

They also announced a plan to start production in Nigeria in the next five years.

The unveiling of the Molfix baby diaper brand took place during the sales meeting and gala dinner in Lagos for distributors across the country. Hayat Kimya plans to reach 30 per cent market share in Nigeria over the next three years. Nigeria will be positioned as a production centre for West and Central Africa.

Hayat Kimya’s investment in the Nigerian market will make them a key player in the FMCG sector, and is expected to improve the balance of trade in Nigeria’s favour by increasing the goods and services available for exportation.

Hayat Kimya is a strong establishment in the regions in which they operate, with approximately 14,000 employees and their 22 manufacturing sites, a US$3 billion revenue, and US$4 billion in assets.

Headquartered in Turkey, Hayat Kimya manufactures in Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Iran, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia Herzegovinia and Russia.

Hayat Kimya CEO, Mr. Avni Kiğılı, speaking on the company’s entry into the Nigerian market, said, “Nigeria is the key to West Africa and has a huge potential as a market, especially with a dynamic young population. We are committed to bringing high quality hygiene and home care products to the Nigerian market, and would like our distributors to be a key part of that vision. We will make Nigeria the production hub for West and Central Africa, and support the Nigerian economy by providing employment opportunities.”

Kiğılı also said, “In every market that Hayat Kimya operates, we ensure that our distinctive operating ethos is felt. We invest highly in our brands, quality assurance, qualified human resource talent, and the best business partners. This way, we accomplish our aim to make our brands market leaders even at tough, volatile economic and political times. We will to bring these same hallmarks of success and good business operations and invest the Nigerian market.”

Matrix Energy delivers 104m PMS in May

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atrix Energy Limited has been trucking out over 12 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit and Associated Gas Oil on daily basis since NUPENG called off its strike on May 25, 2015. It is currently expecting another cargo of 22,000 metric of tonnes of PMS and 18,000 metric tonnes of Diesel this week.

The company in a statement in Lagos distanced itself from the charge that oil marketers were responsible for the oil scarcity which brought the economy to a halt for weeks, a few weeks back.

Matrix, which owns a state of the art oil terminal in Warri said it imported 101 million litres PMS - petrol in popular parlance) in the month of May 2015 alone and trucked out over 104 million litres of the product.

DMD/Chief Operating Officer of Matrix, Loqman Salam-Alada said, “We currently store and distribute AGO from four depots namely Matrix Depot, Warri, Bluefin Energy Depot, Warri, OBAT Oil Depot, Lagos and Capital oil Depot, Lagos.”

He alleged that NUPENG caused the problem as it gave instructions to marketers to shut down operations and forced them to do so. According to him, the union blocked Matrix’s Warri oil supply terminal with four trucks. “But after calling off strike, we have been working round the clock supplying products to outlets in the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones of the country.

“Although marketers, including us generally, are faced with the challenge of nonpayment of Over Recovery/Subsidy by Debt Management Office/Federal Ministry of Finance, non-availability of U.S dollars to pay down on matured LC/Imports which limits the opening banks ability to pay the confirming banks and constant threat of Naira devaluation is another challenge. It has been extremely difficult to get LCs issued and confirmed in the past few months and this majorly accounts for the ongoing scarcity in the market,” he said.

SUNDAY

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BRANDS SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

X-raying IMC under new govt The Beginning The journey actually began in 1928 with the berth of West African Publicity Limited.

An offshoot of UAC, the company was set up to cater for the marketing activities of the colonial masters in both Nigeria and West Africa.This company was later to transform to a full-fledged advertising firm in 1929 known as Lintas with two other subsidiaries - Afromedia, the outdoor medium and Pearl/ Dean, the cinema arm. The firms then were headed by expatriates.

But by1970, Rosabel Advertising and Insight Communication, sprang up.

To ensure sanity, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the regulating body in the practice of advertising and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the watchdog for public relations practice, started operations in the1990s.

However, advertising and public relations, both major parts of the IMC, have witnessed growth. Trade associations such as the Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAN), Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), among others, have since sprung up and thousands of jobs created.

According to experts, the worth of the industry is not less than N1 trillion.

Democracy and the sector Interestingly, the IMC sector all over the world thrives better under a democratic dispensation. But, the same could not be said of Nigeria, at least going past experience.

Outdoor practitioners under the OAAN body will not forget in a hurry when the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agencies (LASAA) under Bola Tinubu, as Lagos State governor, came on board.

Indeed, the formation of LASAA in 2006 by the Lagos State Government was the genesis of the downward trend of the industry that employs over 30,000 workers with no fewer than 150 registered corporate members of OAAN. It is on record that billboards worth millions of naira were destroyed by LASAA in a bid to instil sanity into the outdoor environment.

No sooner had LASAA berthed than other states set up similar outdoor regulatory agencies such as Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OGSAA); the Ekiti State Signage Agency, (EKSAA) Kwara State counterparts, KWASAA and the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA) amongst others, in many parts of the country.

Also, the appointment of the Minister of Information, without being immodest, has not been in the interest of the sector. The segment and bodies such as APCON and NIPR are under the supervision of the ministry. Experts are of the opinion that the appointment of non-professionals to handle the ministry and the neglect of professionals in the industry have led to the failure of most government policies such as the famous ‘Heart of Africa’ project under late Prof Dora Akunyili, as Minister of Information.

Furthermore, the unprecedented delay in the appointment of a new chairman of APCON after the expiration of the tenure of Lolu Akinwunmi as chairman, attested to how the sector fared under a democratic setting. Professionals such as Udeme Ufot eventually emerge as the current chairman of APCON. The immediate Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, allegedly appointed Prince Ngozi Emioma, who is not a member of the fellows of the advertising profession against

Nigeria’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) sector, comprising advertising, public relations among others, has become a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product estimated at N1trn. But, how far will the segment fare under the present political dispensation? DELE ALAO asks

President Buhari

known precedence. This created a big problem that threw a spanner in the wheel of APCON. Way forward As the nation begins a new democratic journey, many stakeholders have expressed their views on how they want the sector to fare.

Specifically, they want the appointment of a core professional as the Minister of Information.

The Chief Executive Officer, Noah Ark Advertising, Mr. Lanre Adisa, said that government would do well by initiating policies that supports the engagement of professionals in its activities.

He said: “One would love to see someone who is a visionary lead the sector. By that, I mean someone that can take us further not just play politics without portfolio. That is a very important thing so that whatever it is that we have as a community, we can make it at the other end.

“But more importantly, government is a big spender anywhere in the world. So, we would love government to allow for a playing ground where professionals are consulted on areas that have to do with the issue of communication not only in campaigns alone. All the parastatals and government agencies need

Ufot

to communicate. So, it is important that there are government policies that allow professional organisations or agencies to manage government communication in whatever sphere,” he added.

Former Director-General, Ekiti State Bureau of Strategic Communication and former Head of Corporate Communications, Skye Bank, Kayode Akinyemi, also said the new government should appoint a qualified and tested communications practitioner as the minister of information.

“My advice for President Muhammadu Buhari is to appoint a qualified, experienced and tested communications practitioner as the minister of information. Beyond this, I would like to advise the administration to set up a Bureau of Strategic Marketing Communications headed by a director general with the responsibility to formulate strategic marketing communications activities around the overall political strategy of the government. With this in place, marketing communications will become an integral part of the administration.

“Campaigns will be initiated, executed and monitored on quarterly and yearly basis for the four-year period using both convectional and unconventional media vehicles and new media as well. This will enable the Nigerian

populace know what the government is doing from time to time in one hand and for the government to get feedback from the people on regular basis, while also appraising the marketing communication plans on the other hand, with a view to knowing whether plans are working and where changes and modifications are required.”

Also, OAAN President, Charles Chijide, at a recent media chat, said that since the various platforms in the industry were used by the ruling government to realise their political ambitions, “the new government is not likely to forget the industry in a hurry.”

The OAAN boss, who noted that despite the huge profit-making potential of this over N120 billion sector, said that it was still bogged down by an array of issues that had continued to hinder its growth.

To address these, Chijide said that the trade body would visit the President after he must have settled down in office to discuss areas of interests between the government and the outdoor advertising sector.

Given these scenarios, the kind of person appointed as the minister of information and various communications policies of the new administration would, to a large extent, determine the state of the sector, at least in the next four years.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Nigerian Breweries plans L N14.5m radio show A

SundayBusiness/Brands

Lumia 640 XL hits Nigerian market

Dele Alao

ll is now set for the maiden edition of Life Continental Lager Beer’s progress booster radio show.

Life Continental Lager Beer, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc., initiated the N14.5 million worth talent enhancement and empowerment competition to encourage and enhance the dreams of budding and talented businessmen and women within the South-East.

While inaugurating the innovative entrepreneurial talent hunt radio show in Onitsha, Anambra State, the Marketing Manager (Lager & Stout), NB Plc, Emma Agu, said the radio show was meant to re-launch and reinvigorate Life Continental Lager Beer in the South-East market where it pioneered regional brewing and has main-

tained leadership of the region’s booming market.

He said: “The project is Life Beer’s own way of reconnecting and rejuvenating the illustrious and enterprising spirit the average Igbo is known for. Progress Booster is not just coming to recognise the undying adventurous spirit of the Igbo and the average will to not just survive, but succeed in everything he/she does, the project is a celebration of the of the essential Igbo spirit of industry will to succeed, enterprise and passion in the world of business.”

Agu added that the invention of progress booster

by Life Continental Lager Beer was a reinforcement of the heritage embedded in the Life Continental Lager Beer, its essence, connection and affinity with the people and heritage of the South-East.

“Life Continental Lager Beer defines the Igbo in ev-

ery Igbo consumer. That’s our beer. It was Life Beer that gave the Igbo the sense of ownership for the first in Nigeria’s brewing history.

Every Igbo beer consumer and aspiring beer consumers has a heritage tied to Life Continental Lager Beer.

It is the beer that has taken care of the needs of the Igbo from time immemorial,” he said.

According to him, young, ambitious and entrepreneurial youths from the South-East, aged 18 and above with great business ideas are qualified to enter the competition.

“The respective business ideas would be assessed by a body of panellists comprising of successful businessmen drawn from various sectors of the socioeconomic landscape of the South-East. Winning ideas chosen would be invited to the Radio show to have a time with the panellists to have the opportunity of

picking their brains and learning tips and tricks to increase their chances of making their business ideas successful,” he said.

Also speaking, Senior Brand Manager, Stout and Life Lager, Funso Ayeni, noted that the progress booster was designed to rejuvenate and celebrate the quintessential Igbo spirit and culture that places emphasis on change, individualism and competitiveness as essential ingredients of industry, enterprise and the will to succeed and excel in any field of endeavour, no matter how Herculean the challenges are.

“Entries deemed good enough by a panel of business moguls will be entitled to win a cash prize of N250, 000 every week as well as an extra N250, 000 at the end of every quarter if the said business idea is the best and most profitable in a particular quarter,” Ayeni said.

umia 640 XL from the stable of Microsoft has made a debut in the Nigerian market.

The newest offering, according to a statement, is the latest device to join the Lumia portfolio.

The Head of Marketing, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, West Africa, Olumide Balogun, said the Lumia 640 XL offers more personal computing and increased productivity through seamlessly integrated Microsoft Office experiences, OneDrive storage and fast 4G connectivity.

“The Lumia 640 XL will upgrade to and benefit from Windows 10 as it becomes available later this year. People are looking

for a device, which brings them more flexibility to switch easily between work and play, without breaking the bank. The Lumia 640 XL keeps people prepared for anything, with the full range of Microsoft experiences, Office and OneDrive – that Lumia users have come to expect straight out of the box, fast 4G connectivity, a superb 5.7” HD screen and long lasting battery,” Balogun said.

He added: “As the age-old demand for ‘more for less’ extends to the smartphone market, the Lumia 640 XL presents a strong option for those customers who want the increased productivity a smart device offers without sacrificing affordability.”

Guinness unveils Africa’s largest Orijinal drum

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orried by the onslaught from Ace Root in the natural herbs drink market, Guinness Nigeria Plc has unveiled what it described as Africa’s largest Orijinal drum.

Ace Root, the herbal bitter drink from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, according to observers, has posed a serious threat to Orijin.

At the unveiling, Portfolio Director, Larger and RTD, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Ms. Eyitemi Taire, said: “The largest African drum is another landmark in our journey as a business and eulogising Orijin as the original drink for Africans.

A drum announces the presence of the royals and the revered; it represents everything African. It is the single identifier that cuts across all African cultures.

It represents the vibrancy,

energy, uniqueness, and interconnectivity of Africans, which perfectly reflects the essentials of the brand’s originality. We recognise the value of our culture and will do everything possible to keep our heritage.

Orijin connects with our people at this level just in the same way a drum connects. Wherever there is a drum, there is celebration.

And wherever there is celebration, you can be sure there is Orijin, the drink of tradition.

“This drum is representative of both traditional and modern cultures that abide in Africa. We have high hopes that this drum will stand as an inspiration to Orijin lovers nationwide.

We are proud of our achievement here today.

The drum is clearly the largest and that underscores the ingenuity of Africans.”

L-R: Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mrs. Abimbola Izu, both of Skye Bank, Snr. Analyst, Client Service, Quadrant PR, Aniwura Peacemaker-Dada, and Associate Director, Client Services Centrespread, Bola Akanbi at the launch of Skye Bank “Smart” thematic campaign

Unilever unfolds new Omo pack size

LASACO Properties launches biggest board

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Dele Alao ASACO Properties has launched a billboard, described as the biggest in Nigeria and West Africa.

At the unveiling of the multi-billion naira billboard located at the brink of the Third Mainland Bridge at Iyana Oworo, Lagos, the managing director of the company, Olumide Jayeiola, said it would bring huge investments into the country.

He said that the billboard, which was brought in from China, ranks as number three in the world. He described it as an advertiser’s

dream.

Jaiyeola noted that coming from investors’ perspectives, LASACO Properties is a real estate and investment company, which is not limited to properties alone.

The billboard, the managing director said, encompasses any venture that will bring investment return.

He, however, noted the risk and challenges encountered in bringing the board into the country.

Jaiyeola said while the Nigerian Customs posed the major problem, power was also a challenge.

He said: “Nigerian Customs was one of the prob-

lems we had in bringing it in. If Nigerian investors will go all the way to bring in investment and it is the Nigerian government that is killing the business, then that is not so good for the country.

“The fees we were to pay were skyrocketed by the Customs and there was the problem of power to make the board function. But in the end, we surmounted all the problems.”

Also, Managing Director, LASACO Insurance, Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, said the billboard sits strategically on a peninsula of the Lagoon.

He described the board as a joint venture between LASACO Properties and Media Views.

“The advert was put there 12 years ago but has become small now with the entry of this new mega board.

Throughout the period of 12 years, there was no idle time on it.

The billboard has become a landmark used to describe traffic by radio presenters for inland mainland and island on the Third Mainland Bridge. We assisted them at that time by introducing them to Ibile Holdings, which is our majority shareholder,” he said.

nilever Nigeria Plc has introduced a new 100 gram pack of its detergent brand, Omo Fast Action, to the Nigerian market.

Category Manager for Fabrics Cleaning, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Ibironke Ugbaja, said the launch of the new pack was in response to the growing market demand for Omo Fast Action in more affordable offerings.

“We appreciate the fact that a good number of consumers run tight budgets and therefore may not be able to readily purchase Omo Fast Action in its bigger offerings. This new 100 gram will make the superior stain removing power of

Omo Fast Action detergent available to many more Nigerians,” she said.

Also, Brand Manager for Omo, Sarah Adoki, said the new size offers a high value proposition that should appeal to a wide range of consumers and for a wide range of purposes.

She said: “Whether you’re on a budget, have a few items for cleaning or even going on a short trip, the 100 gram pack offers the same high quality Omo Fast Action, the fastest tough stain remover in the market.

And at only N50 a pack, it’s a great bargain for everyone – quite frankly, the best N50 you will spend on detergent in the market today.”

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Markets&Mall SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Perishable items crash in Kano markets

Nigerians are going back to old school attire – Bead maker

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A

rices of perishable goods in Kano State markets have crashed due to excessive hot weather.

Some of the sellers told journalists in Kano that they had no option but to cut down the prices to avoid wastage.

According Malam Sani Usman, a trader at Yankaba market, the weather had not been friendly to the commodities, adding that sellers had no facilities to keep them for long periods.

He added that only way to avoid wastage was to sell the commodities below their prices.

Another vendor, Malam Baballe Ali, said he had been operating at a loss due to the hot weather.

Meanwhile, a measure of fresh pepper is sold for N250 as against N500 due to the weather, while the same quantity of fresh tomatoes goes for N150 as against N250.

Stanley Ihedigbo n entrepreneur and bead maker in Ejigbo Market, Lagos State, Mrs. Nnenna Abia, has said that Nigerians, especially youths are going back to olden days’ attires.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph,, the graduate of Mathematics and Statistics from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, who is into bead designing and costume jewelries in the market, said that Nigerians are wearing African Print like the old school attires made from Ankara than

imported clothes.

On what motivated her going to go into bead production, she said that it is the joy of making her fellow women look good and gorgeous, and also the love of combining colours to bring out the beauty in people through clothing materials.

Govt to blame for fake products

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hairman, General Electrical Dealers Association in Alaba International Market, Chief Uche Igwe has said that the government should be blamed for the thriving business of piracy in the country.

He said in a recent interview with Sunday Telegraph, that the government agencies are there to stop the influx of the pirated products into the country as the fake products are not produced in the country or Alaba International Market.

“There are no factories in Alaba where pirated products are produced. Is it Alaba traders that bring those pirated goods through the borders to Nigeria? How can you crucify a trader who bought goods he wants to sell and does not know whether it is a pirated product or not? Who are those people loading and bringing the containers from the borders?”

He further said, “I think the blame for the influx of fake goods and pirated products in the market should go to the government. What is the Standard Organization of Nigeria doing to stop those goods from coming into Nigeria?”

He said that the presence of fake and pirated products everywhere in Nigeria is the fault of government whom officials of its agencies collude with the fakers to either allow them produce or import the fake products.

Beeds

Agony, pains of Iyana Ipaja Market fire victims

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or some years, Mr. Ikechukwu Awan has been selling different kinds of phones, cameras and electronic products at Iyana Ipaja market in Alimosho, Lagos.

He was among the victims of the recent fire incident in the market, which ensued after a tanker fell from the bridge and spilled its contents on the road.

He said that few months ago, he invited an insurance company to insure his shop worth over N5 million. He said the firm was not able to do that because it described the location of the shop as “uninsurable.”

He recalled that the firm said an insurable location must have an arcade, adequate security and a fire service station.

According to Awan, who had been operating the shop for over four years, the incident occurred after they had finished their daily business.

He said he had closed for the

day and gone home only to be informed by his wife that a friend had called to say he should rush down to his shop.

He said he raced down to the shop and on getting to the market, he saw hoodlums looting his wares, which were yet untouched by the inferno.

He commended Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for visiting the scene not less than four hours after it took place.

He addedthat the governor promised that before 48 hours, his administration would get back to the fire victims and within that given time, state officials were around attending to them.

He appealed to the governor to rebuild the burnt structures.

Another electronics dealer, Achebesi Nwabudi, told Sunday Telegraph, that his shop with goods worth over N10 million was razed by the fire.

The entrepreneur, who is also into bags, shoes, necklaces and production of hats, said the challenges facing her line of business are not unique to it.

She listed these to include unstable power supply and inaccessible roads.

She lamented that she spends much buying fuel for her generator every day, adding that in a week she spends over N2000, because some time she works late in the night to meet customers’ orders.

Abia urged President Muhammadu Buhari to put in place programmes that would support small scale businesses in the country and generate jobs for unemployed youths. ”Some youths actually told me that they would like to start something with little money than search for jobs that are not available in the country. If government can put in place a fund from which youths can access a little fund to start something for themselves, it will be better ,” she said.

She further said that she is not aware of any intervention fund for small scale business in the country that is accessible to the real people that need it, adding that she has trained many young people in her line business.

She advised that those desiring to go into beads making to have the passion for seeing others look good.

Anambra state government to relocate Onitsha main market

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he Anambra state government is set to build a new international market through a private public partnership (PPP) arrangement. Speaking with SoutheastNigeria.com, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima said the project will be located at Ogbunike, near Onitsha.

The project will be handled by the West African International trade Centre. It is noteworthy to mention that this project is one the direct investments into Anambra state by the Willie Obiano administration.

The new market will also have a section dedicated for pharmaceutical Onitsha main market

products to meet standards set by the World Health Organisation.

Chief Onyima explained that the new project had become necessary as the old Onitsha market lacked space to further expansion due to its peculiar location. The Onitsha main market is listed as one of the biggest markets in West Africa and can rightfully be described as her commercial power house.

SUNDAY

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The Sunday Interview

Wali: Buhari’s anticorruption war will collapse under weak agencies p.32, 33

Interview

I saw hell under Jang, says Pauline Tallen p.34 ‘Buhari justified for relocating army command’ p.39

Governor Ikpeazu driving a tractor during the commencement of road rehabilitation in Aba

New governors’ seven-day scorecards As the new governors gave policy directions, IGBEAKU ORJI, IBRAHEEM MUSA, IBRAHIM ABDUL, DOMINIC ADEWOLE and EMMANUEL MASHA x-ray their activities in the first one week in office

Biyi Adegoroye Assistant Editor biyi.fire@yahoo.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

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pon their inaugurations about a week ago, a number of states in the federation have witnessed an upsurge in activities. While some of the 20 new governors have made various appointments, not a few of them have lamented the level of decadence and heavy debt profile they inherited.

Since the policy focus and initial passion with which they kicked off their activities may form the yardstick for measuring their success in the next 100 days and more, their activities this past

one week have attracted great attentions.

Sen. Muhammadu Jibrilla, on assumption of office as the governor of Adamawa State, started by reversing the decision of his predecessor, Mr. James Ngillari. He reinstated the sacked DirectorGeneral of the Adamawa State Bureau of Public Procurement, Alhaji Abba Umar.

Umar said he was sacked for his audacity to query some illicit transactions including the purchase of 50 Hilux vans and two bulletproof Sports Utility Vehicles at the cost of N580 million. Governor Jibrilla also directed the immediate reopening of some major roads in the state capital that had been blocked for the past two years.

The governor said the measure followed consultation between the governor and heads of security agencies in the state, stating that, the measure was to address “the pathetic plight of road users.” He also approved the dissolution of all boards and parastatals with the exception of the Christian and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, constitutional statutory boards and commissions.

Ikpeazu’s road rehabilitation Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu swung into action on June 1, 2015, precisely five days

after his inauguration, stating that he could not afford to fail. Ikpeazu flagged off the rehabilitation of seven deplorable roads by personally driving a truck in Aba, the hub of commerce in the state, on his first official day in office.

The roads in the commercial city were in deplorable state and had been completely neglected by the former administration. The roads totaling 18.2 kilometers include the five and half kilometers Ukwu-mango by Faulks Road, the one and half kilometre Kamalu Road, the one and half kilometre Ukaegbu Road, and the about two kilometre Umuocham Road. Others are the six kilometer Old Express by Samek Road, one and half kilometre Umuola Road, and 700 meters Ehere Road.

On the second day, June 2, 2015, he also inspected the 34 kilometre Ozu Abam-Ndi Oji –Ndi Okereke-Arochukwu Road in Abia North Senatorial District, started but could not be completed by the administration of Theodore Orji. Governor Ikpeazu promised to complete the road before the end of the year.

The following day, he addressed the people of the state in his first broadcast where he outlined the policy pillars of his administration. He said CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

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SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 S

The Sunday

Wali: Buhari’s anti-c will collapse under w

Wali

One week into the new administration in Nigeria, expectations are high that President Muhammadu Buhari, known for his toughness and integrity, will wield the magic wand to end insecurity and corruption. But a former National President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Chief Okey Wali tells ONWUKA NZESHI that beyond being a strong personality, Buhari has many rivers to cross before he will be able to address the problems The elections are over and the battle has shifted to the tribunals and courts. Do you think that the judiciary is ready to play the role of an impartial arbiter and give justice to those who are aggrieved about the outcome of the last elections?

I think that the judiciary is ready because long before the elections, the Election Tribunals had been constituted and sworn - in and induction courses were organised for them.

Remember the charge by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, guiding them and advising them on how they should go about it. He told them to do their best within the time limit of 180 days.

So, by and large, they are ready. The problem is that there are usually challenges. I have always said that the Election Tribunal is a special type of court and in a class of its own.

But you know it is still going to deal with the larger problem of the state of our judi-

ciary vis- a -vis computerisation, digitalisation and other technological advancements.

The absence of these technological advancements means that the process will be very slow. Judges are still going to deal with the issue of taking down notes in long hands. I am not aware that the record keeping system has improved, but within those limits, I believe that both the bar and the bench are ready to cope at least the way we have been

coping in the past.

While setting up the tribunals, the Chief Justice of the Federation warned judiciary not to allow itself to be used to scuttle our democracy. How does this statement resonate with you?

Well, it does resonate very well with me because you know, we’ve had issues in the past where people had used the courts to delay the process.

But I think that we’ve all learnt our lessons because there was this recent scare in Rivers State

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Interview

corruption war weak agencies where the opposition, APC went to different high courts seeking an injunction to stop the inauguration of the governor- elect at that time. They went to several courts - there were attempts to obtain this injunction in Owerri, Kano, Lagos, Abuja and even Port Harcourt. But all the courts refused to grant such an injunction.

So, I think our judges are very much aware of the danger and harm that can be done to the system if they didn’t stand up. I think that we should commend the attitude of the judicial officers. Elections have come and gone; you have gone to the tribunal; why do you want to stall the inauguration of the person who was elected as governor? Those were some of the things that happened in the past but from the recent happenings, you can see that the attitude of the judiciary is changing.

You can see that they went to five different courts and all five, at different times and in different cities, declined to grant their wish to stop the inauguration of a governor- elect. It shows that the judicial officers are conscious of their responsibilities to the system.

With this new attitude, do you still foresee a situation where lawyers employ gimmicks and legal technicalities to waste time at the tribunals and courts?

Well, I have never ever accepted responsibility on behalf of the bar for delays in courts.

Why do I say so? Let us tell ourselves the basic truth. The number one problem we have with our courts is that we are technologically backward. Our courts do not belong to this century. Then the other issue that has to do with the other courts is the issue of preparations, investigations and all of that. But with the tribunals now, I have always said that every judge must be in charge of his court.

If you are in charge of you court, you will determine how you run your court and how the business of the court is conducted. No lawyer, no matter how highly placed can dictate to a judge how he should run his court.

So if a judge is confident of himself and is in charge of his court, there will be no problem.

If it is a tribunal, you have two or three judges sitting at the same time and they should be able to run the court as they desire. If any lawyer is dissatisfied let him go on appeal on any issue but I don’t accept that lawyers will come and give them guidelines on what they should do.

Even now, objections to a case, by the Electoral Act, can only be taken along with the substantive case. We no longer have to run one objection to the Court of Appeal and come back again to the starting point. The rule now is that whatever you have, bury it in the substantive case and all that is to fasttrack the early determination of petitions.

For about one year, the courts in Rivers State were under lock and key due to the disagreement between the state government and the NJC over the appointment of a Chief Judge for the state. What was the implication of that showdown on justice dispensation?

Well, that was a tragedy. You see, the problem was between the NJC and the then governor (Amaechi) was not about the strike; it was about the appointment of a Chief Judge.

The process is clear. The State Judicial Service

Commission would recommend to the NJC and they’ve always recommended two persons. Usually, the decision of the State Judicial Service Commission has inputs from the Attorney General of the State and invariably the governors always have some influence over what happens there. So when the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission came up with two names, the NJC based on its own set criteria is at liberty to choose one of those two names. If a state submitted two names, all it means is that any of them would do.

After screening the two candidates that were sent in, based on the NJC criteria, the NJC recommended the second candidate.

Usually you have the preferred (first) and reserve (second) candidates. NJC recommended the reserve candidate (Justice Okocha) to the governor for appointment. Rather than take that name to the State House of Assembly for confirmation, the governor disagreed with the decision of the NJC and went to court. So that stalled the appointment and subsequently the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Rivers State went on strike.

What made many people uncomfortable about the strike was that there was really no basis for that strike. You know, there is this talk about when the witch cries at night and the baby dies in the morning, it is the witch that must have been responsible for the death. They were on strike for about a year; on June 9, it will be one year, but they were getting their salaries every month. So you don’t need a soothsayer to know where the dictations were coming from. Who was preparing the vouchers? Who was approving the payments? The judiciary in Rivers State was shut and the gates of all the courts were locked. So who were the people preparing the vouchers and salaries were paid to everybody? The judiciary staff were on strike for one year and nobody was negotiating with them. So, it was obvious where these things were coming from and that was a big shame.

We thank God that the new Governor of Rivers State, in the course of the electioneering campaigns met with legal professionals and promised that if he gets elected, he would follow the NJC recommendation and appoint a Chief Judge for Rivers State within twenty 24 hours of becoming governor. He kept his word. It didn’t even take one hour because he appointed the Acting Chief Judge while delivering his acceptance speech during his inauguration. On Monday morning, he swore in both the Acting Chief Judge and the Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal. So, we are indeed very happy and grateful to His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike for keeping faith with the bar and for rescuing the judiciary of Rivers State.

You see, the state cannot be said to be functional without a judiciary. It couldn’t have been said to have functioned without the judiciary. So it is in recognition of that fact that first things first that he restored the judiciary in Rivers State.

I can tell you, it was a good day in Port Harcourt. Lawyers were very happy. You know, people even forget that it is not only about lawyers returning to business... We felt the pinch more because the judges, magistrates and civil servants were being paid but we, lawyers had no jobs to do. But it was even beyond that; the shutdown of the judiciary

had impacts on every one up to the litigants.

Can you imagine someone awaiting trial, remanded in prison custody for one year?

What about people detained by the police?

Even though the police got “magnanimous” and people were getting bailed from police stations anyhow. If they didn’t do that you couldn’t have blamed them. Where would they have kept all those people in one year of no court in the whole state?

What about the probate administration?

There are people who live on what they get from approvals from the Probate Department - the survivors of bread winners that had gone and had left instructions on the payment of allowances and school fees to these beneficiaries. They couldn’t access such funds in one year. What about those who have died and kept wills? The wills couldn’t be administered because you couldn’t get letter of administration because the judiciary was shut down for one year. The magnitude of the impact can only just be imagined; you can’t just quantify the level of damage this shut down has done to the system.

Even economically speaking, people forget the relevance of the judiciary. Look, nobody wants to invest in an economy where the judicial system is not functional because as an investor, there are bound to be disputes and one of the key signals to look out for is how to resolve them. How do you resolve disputes arising from your business in a place where you don’t have the judiciary? So a lot of damage has been done to the state by that singular act of shutting down the courts for one year. We are indeed grateful to Governor Wake that we are back to work; the judiciary is back to work in Rivers State.

Governor Wike has accused the NBA in Rivers State of docility. He said that the bar did nothing while the siege on the judiciary was on. Why did lawyers in the state decide not to mount any pressure on the state government to open the courts?

Yes, Governor Wike said so at the swearing- in ceremony of the Chief Judge and I agree with him totally and completely. The bar didn’t do well in Rivers State. The bar was fragmented; you had some people supporting one person while some other people were supporting the other person.

You lawyers should protect the law. But how on earth were you to take sides on such a matter?

Well, naturally as lawyers we never agree on issues. People are bound to disagree but what hurt most at that point was that no matter the side that one took, one would had expected that people would take sides with the intention of resolving the matter. At the national level, I was the President of the bar and I did all that we could do to reach out to the sides and see whether we could resolve the matter amicably, but it didn’t work. There is no way you can expect us from Abuja to go to Port Harcourt and start shouting on the streets or braking done kind if trouble..

The local bar ought to have done something positive to resolve this matter. We have five branches of NBA in Rivers State and they all didn’t do anything, as far as I am concerned, throughout one year of shutting the courts in Rivers State. I think that was a shame. I

hope that we have learnt our lessons. Like they say, never again will the bar stand idly by and watch thus kind if a thing happen to the judiciary.

What do you think really happened? Were the lawyers bought over?

Well, I don’t want to go that far. Like I said to you, lawyers are prone to disagree on issues. Some said NJC was right; some said NJC had no right to do what they did in the matter. May be politics and other issues influenced these positions. As it were even if the opposition party didn’t have any interest in what was going on, the fact that the government in power was doing something that was unpopular, they were bound to cash on it and be seen to be on the popular side. Of course, the governor today is not just a lawyer; he is a member of the body of benchers. Naturally, he is somebody you should expect would support what the NJC has done.

The NBA at the national level spoke severally in favour of the NJC because we’ve always been part of the NJC and whatever decisions that are made by the NJC. We have a responsibility to stand by what the NJC had done and we did stand by its recommendations. But on ground, we had issues with the branches. I think this should be a warning to all branches of the NBA not to meddle on the politics of the states where they operate.

There was a situation where a Chief Judge was being recommended from outside the state to come and be the Chief Judge in a particular state. The report we got at the NJC was that all five branches of the NBA endorsed the decision. Meanwhile, the judges in the state wrote a protest letter to the NBA. It was like ‘how on earth do you have all the judges in your state, you don’t think any of them is qualified to be the Chief Judge unless and until the person the governor is bringing from outside your state?

Something was wrong somewhere. It is either that the judges there were all very bad or that the bar is so bad that it would rather do whatever the government wanted. I have always said that I don’t hold brief for judges, but I have always said that if a judge is too bad to be there, then get rid of him.

I don’t believe in skipping people in appointments. We are a very orderly profession and we adhere to seniority a lot. If you have the most senior judge, let him become the Chief Judge. If he is not good enough to be Chief Judge, retire him and appoint the next person. If he is not good enough to be Chief Judge, is he good enough to be a judge?

Which is a bigger responsibility? Chief Judge is an administrative function; judge has powers over life and death. Do you leave a man who is not good enough to be Chief Judge to have powers over life and death? It doesn’t make sense. I have always said that if a man is not good enough to head a place, then he is not good enough to be a part of that place.

It doesn’t matter if he is a male or female.

Get rid of such a person and get the next competent person to take over. Don’t keep anybody and pick juniors to leapfrog their seniors to hold administrative positions. I never believed that that is right.

Was seniority part of the crisis in the case of Rivers State?

It wasn’t really the issue. What happened in Rivers State was that Justice Agumagu had moved on to the Customary Court of Appeal as President and Justice Okocha who also had the chance to go to the Customary Court of Appeal elected to remain in the state high court. There is no argument that somebody will come and tell me that the High Court and Customary Court of Appeal is the same thing. You don’t go to Customary Court of Appeal and come back to be Chief Judge. The argument they put up was that the constitution requires you to have 10 years experience to be a Chief Judge. But that’s just a baseline.

In addition to that baseline, the NJC has set criteria. If I know you and have your records to be competent; if I have your records that CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

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Politics

I saw hell under Jang, says Pauline Tallen Dame Pauline Tallen, a former Minister of Science and Technology and one-time Deputy Governor of Plateau State in this interview with MUSA PAM, speaks about her experience with her former boss, now Senator-elect Jonah Jang and how arrogance led to the crash of the Peoples Democratic Party. She also says Nigerians will be shocked by President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership Your last campaign slogan was ‘With God Change is Possible.’ What inspired that prophetic statement especially with the historic transition from one democratically elected government to another?

It was clearly an inspiration because of what I went through as a Deputy Governor.

Things were not done right and I could not just stand it. I played my role as an adviser because the role of a deputy is to advise the Governor to ensure that the right thing is done, to ensure that we fulfill our mandate because during our campaign, we made promises to people; we promised them good governance but when we came into office, what I saw was different and I was pained.

My heart bled because the person of Jonah Jang that I envisaged was not what came out when we were in office. I believe that a God-fearing person must be fair and just.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; it’s not just to say you are a pastor or a man of God. It must be practical. I have never seen God, but I see God in you. I see God in the Muslim, I see God in the pagan, and I see God in every child of God. God created us in his image; the love of your neighbour is the love of God. If I love you I won’t hurt you or raise a finger against you. There will be no corruption when there is love because corruption is the absence of love; it is greed, insatiable greed. You accumulate wealth that you don’t even need, those 10 generations after you will not even need, people must learn to be content; people must learn to have love. It is the absence of love that creates conflict. Fairness and justice are the ingredients of good governance and if that is done, there will be peace.

You worked tirelessly for PDP, prior to becoming the Deputy Governor. Why did you fall out with Jang?

Well, it is nothing but injustice. Everything was just one-sided. I advised him but he did not listen. He personalised governance. Thank God the Deputy Governor that came after me has seen it clearly. Today, I am vindicated; everybody on the Plateau knows what Ignatius Longjang went through under Jang. So those that thought it was Pauline that was rather ambitious or that Pauline didn’t want to work with Jang have now seen it clearly. For one thing, I am not a person that keeps quiet when things are going wrong. I don’t pretend. I will not say yes when I know something is wrong and he knows that. He even said that was what endeared me to him ever since I was a commissioner, but unfortunately when we came into office, he changed. He was not the Jang I knew and I told him not once or twice but several times. I looked into his eyes and said ‘Mr. Governor, I am getting scared. This is not the Jang I knew before we started our campaign.’ The fear of God must be the cardinal point in governance and once that is absent and the people cry out to God, something must happen. And I thank God for what Jang did to me, the hard time I went through strengthened me, it brought me closer to my God. He made me redundant. If you remember initially when we came into office, I was to take charge of

the Ministry of Education. I set out agenda; I have a soft spot by my training. I love to give the best to our children because education is the greatest asset you can give a child. I am the first woman on the Plateau to set up the first modern nursery and primary school in Shendam. When I was a minister in 1999, my first set of students came to pay me a visit from the Law School. I was in tears of joy. I am a fulfilled person because I have invested in human beings and neglecting education is criminal, it is deadly for the state. My heart bleeds that Plateau used to stand out in education. After Kwara then in northern Nigeria, Plateau used to come second, but it is a shame that today Plateau is last, so sad.

When you came out for governorship race, you were accused of disloyalty to the governor.

Why did you contest the seat while you were the deputy governor?

Well, thank God the records are there, same as some of the elders committee that screened us, that were appointed to reach out to all interest groups in the state. It was like a screening committee and the seven of us were screened. I did not come out single-handedly on my own to say that I must be a governor. Though I have the right to come out and contest, when he refused to work with me, when he refused to cooperate for us to work together, he decided to go. I mean we practically worked with Jang for just one year. I went through hell but I give God the glory because everything that I said came to light after I left office. He did the same with his deputy governor in his second tenure, and the man too had the same right to contest but you all are living witnesses to what he did to Longjang, the same thing that happened to me happened to my successor.

The ticket of governor and deputy is a joint ticket. Jang is simply first among equals. Politics is about interest, so since he refused to work with me, he betrayed the trust and his pastors are all alive.

When he pleaded with me to be his deputy governor, he begged me that he will do only one term of four years and the second tenure will be for me.

It is on record. If I play the cassette of our campaign, you will hear it. He said it all through our campaign. So it is not that I was doing anything unusual but I would have been patient but he frustrated me; he refused to work with me. And it was not just me, we have founding members of PDP like the

Director-General of our campaign, former governor Fidelis Tapgun; former Minister of Sports Damishi Sango; Engr. Jimmy Cheto; Architect Pam Dung Gyang who was to be my deputy; John Alkali; Danladi Atto also came out.

The elders intervened that seven of us should come out against one man. They advised that we speak with one voice and we held a meeting and we were all against the bad leadership of Jonah Jang. The elders agreed that a committee be put in place to sample public opinion and screen the seven of us and whoever emerged would be presented as the consensus candidate; that all would support. I am proud to say that the Chairman of the Elders Committee, Alhassan Shuaibu is still alive, deputised by Senator Dangin, late Deputy Governor Micheal Botmang was a member, Bagudu Hirse etc, they worked tirelessly for six weeks. We all signed the document that we would team up with whoever emerged and support him.

And after three weeks, they called us that I emerged the consensus candidate. You know the normal gang up against women.

Tapgun was the eldest at the meeting, he responded on behalf of all that they would respect the outcome but along the line Jang played his tricks and divided us, promising them tickets in 2015. The same Jang that could not keep to his promise betrayed all of them again. I am vindicated. This is not my battle; it was the Lord’s battle and he has won it for me. Simon Lalong, the current governor, is a child of necessity. Even if Jang didn’t like all the qualified aspirants from the southern zone of the state, he could have just given it to his deputy, Ignatius Longjang, who is from the southern zone. But he refused and felt the whole of Plateau State’s 53 nationalities must be subservient to his tribe Berom.

Is this fair? If we were selfish, all these southern people wanted to contest with him in 2007 but I stood and pleaded with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the then president. He is alive and can testify to this that I vowed and went on my knees pleading with him to give the ticket to Jang and I have no regret for the good thing I did then.

God is a God of justice; this is nothing but retributive justice.

You came out for the southern senatorial ticket in the last election, but you were denied the CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Tallen

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015

Politics

‘The bar erred in Rivers State’

cratically elected government; we are in a democracy and not in a military dictatorship where you can arrest and detain anybody anyhow you like. The courts are there for anybody to express his rights. If they pick on you unfairly, you can fight it in court. Nobody should worry about indiscriminate arrests and detention in the current dispensation except you have reasons to believe you may have gone wrong somewhere. People should sleep well because the courts are there for anyone who is oppressed. That was why we were not sleeping in Rivers State when the courts were shut down. As long as the courts are open, if anybody picks on you, go to court and protect your rights. All we need to do is to pray that the judiciary continues on thus path of rectitude and doing what is right. That is why they say that judiciary is the last hope of the common man. So long as we have a strong judiciary, nobody should be worried about whether somebody wants to pick on you or not.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

you are corrupt; if I gave your records that you cannot function as a Chief Judge, you think because you are 10 years old as a judge, I must make you a Chief Judge? One of the guidelines NJC has put is thus issue of if you have chosen to go to the Customary Court of Appeal to head that arm of the judiciary, don’t look backwards if there is an opening in the State High Court.

Look at what happened in Rivers Statethe state made Agumagu its first choice and Okocha, second. NJC said that Agumagu has gone to the Customary Court if Appeal and should remain there but Okocha who is the most senior in the High Court should become the Chief Judge.

The point must be made that Rivers State was not a test case, it was not the first time NJC had done that. Even when Osun State appointed the President of a Customary Court of Appeal as Acting Chief Judge, NJC did not recognise her. The rule says that once you have gone to the Customary Court of Appeal, remain where you are, and don’t look back.

Even as Acting Chief Judge then, great woman, Justice Aloma Mukthar put her foot down and insisted that the rule of the NJC must be kept and Osun State took it in good faith. They looked for the most senior Chief Judge at the High Court and she was appointed Chief Judge. But when we now came to Rivers State, maybe we had too much wisdom and resources to fight, do we decided to fight.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the fight against corruption a cardinal point of his electioneering campaign. Now that he is on the saddle, what do you think agencies like the EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau should be doing to help him actualize his dreams about stamping out corruption from Nigeria?

Well, these agencies have been functioning. The EFCC for instance has been functioning and I know that they have put up this argument which nobody has faulted - that they have had the highest number of convictions in the recent past since it was established. What the President needs to do is to reorganise these places and fund them appropriately. Like the judiciary, the anti- corruption agencies too have this problem of funding. Capacity is not acquired only be reading books.

I will give you an example with the police. Would you blame the Nigeria Police if they are not doing well? They are illequipped. They are under- funded. They are under- paid, under- remunerated whether in terms of salaries or allowances.

No motivation.

Look, if there is a crime scene here today, what the security agencies would come here to do will be to pick up samples and go for forensic checks. When they had the 77 bombing in the United Kingdom, within 24 hours, the police knew who they were looking for. They were not doing blind investigation. How were they able to do that?

The CCTV cameras were in place; samples had been picked up from the crime scene and they have a fingerprint databank. So from the crime scene, you can pick fingerprints, take it to the databank and know who you are looking for. Those things are not here. How do you expect our police to function optimally?

You and I know what happens in Nigeria.

What do they do? May God help you if you are found around this place when there is a murder case here. They will pick you up.

When they beat you enough and you confess what you did not do, then they bring you to court; you become the accused and you are prosecuted. They first say you are a suspect and if you can free yourself then you don’t get to court. But if you can’t free yourself, you become an accused and you

Wali

are brought to court the next day without evidence and no investigation.

EFCC is quite guilty of that because they do trials on television and on the pages of newspapers. They announce that they have arrested you in relation to a crime when they’ve not done their investigations and they don’t have the materials to prosecute the man. When the man comes to court, there is adjournment and then they say the courts are delaying matters.

The judge can only give judgment in a case based on the amount of evidence placed before him or her. So there is investigation, there is prosecution, there is defence and there is the judge. If investigation is shallow, prosecution will shallow and judgment will equally be shallow.

Our laws are so archaic. We have been having the National Assembly for some years now and we still have laws that are as old as a hundred years. Look at the pension fraud trial. You bring a man and the judge gave him a slap on the wrist and there was a public outcry. What does the law say about the offence and the sentence?

Did you expect the judge to give him more punishment than the law prescribed for that offence? The man was tried under the Penal Code: what does the Penal Code say?

These are laws that are as old as a hundred years. We are still applying laws that were made in the 1940s. They can’t work.

So it’s a cocktail of problems that should be dealt with holistically if we must make progress. Thank God, the Seventh Assembly has just passed the Criminal Justice Act and that law will do a lot of good to advance our criminal justice system.

You see, it’s good for us to be optimistic about President Buhari. The man means well. We all know him for who he is. But people must know that this is a different system. The system has to work for his anti- corruption fight to succeed.

In other countries line the United States of America, when you see a first time Senator like Obama becoming the President of the country, it is because the system there

works. It doesn’t really matter who is the President, what should matter more is whether we have a functional system.

We should build strong institutions and not strong personalities. Do we have a functional EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau? Do they have the capacity to carry out thorough investigations? It is not about us having a strong President. This is a democratically elected President and he has to work with the system and according to the laws of the land. So we need to get the National Assembly to strengthen the system. We need to review our laws and equip the institutions to make them functional.

How do you see the failure of President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo to publish their assets declaration?

Well, they have not done anything unconstitutional as far as I am concerned. I like to talk law. Politics is a different thing from law. The electioneering campaign is about promises; governance is about realities and delivering what you promised while campaigning. I don’t know their reasons for not declaring their assets publicly but so long as they have done what Section 140 of the constitution expects them to do.

The law says you should declare your assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau and they’ve complied with the law. The other one is the promise they made to you. If you think they have failed you and have not fulfilled their promise, you know what to do. Maybe you start ticking off your records to show how well they are keeping their campaign promises. But in terms of law, they have complied with the law of the land.

In the past, we saw governments witch -hunting their opponents in the name of fighting corruption. Do you see the new government being fair to all in its anticorruption crusade?

Well, people have had some reservations but for me I believe that this is a demo-

What would you advise Buhari to do in order to write his name in gold in this second coming?

The first time he came, he was General Buhari and now he us President Buhari.

Even he recognizes the difference hence he said he wants to be addressed simply as President. You know, there are some statements people make that we need to study properly. Some people believe that statement was made carelessly. I believe that the change in designation shows that the man appreciates the fact that this is not the era of command and obey. Now there is a democracy and he has chosen to be a different person and behave differently.

For me, this is a great opportunity for him to leave lasting legacies. There is a lot of work to be done. Globally, the economy is down due to fluctuations in the price of oil. This will definitely affect the projects on ground but I think that with determination, a lot can still be done. He promised us Naira/ Dollar parity but I don’t know whether that is achievable but it will be nice to see it happen.

The greatest problem we have in this country today is insecurity. If he can deal with it, his name will be written in gold; the economy is in trouble, public power supply is epileptic in spite of the reforms and huge investments right from the days of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. So fixing the power sector is a big challenge and Nigerians will be eternally grateful to anyone who can fix it. There is really no one issue that you can say this is really the issue that you can tackle in order to be a great leader.

Insecurity and bad economy are linked because if there is good economy; a lot of security challenges could be addressed.

Although there can be no justification for criminality, some of the criminal elements went into crime because they are idle.

Don’t forget that I was once abducted and the boys who abducted me told me they were jobless and were doing kidnapping to survive. They said they were involved in criminality not by choice but because they finished school and had nothing to do. These were well spoken young boys.

They spoke fluent English that was almost better than mine and you could not but admit that they actually went to school.

Like, I said, there can be no justification for criminality but chances are that if the economy were running well, it could minimize criminality in the system.

It’s a huge challenge but I believe that there is something called burden of leadership. If a man has put himself forward to lead a country, then he must be ready shoulder the responsibilities. I believe that President Buhari, having been Head of State before recognizes what is called burden of leadership and is equal to the task.

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Politics

I saw hell under Jang, says Pauline Tallen C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

waiver to contest by PDP. What actually happened?

I am thanking God and them for the denial.

It turned out for my good. You see, when your hand is clean and you are right with your God, he will direct your path. The situation between me and Jang and the national chairman of the party and former President Goodluck Jonathan is nothing but an act of God. I was a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP. It was the motion that I moved that brought Jang back into PDP when he left the party and contested under ANPP if you can remember. Jang is the first person that brought Muhammadu Buhari into Jos in 2003, but he forgot. Today he is saying Buhari is a Muslim. Didn’t he know that Buhari was a Muslim when he went out and contested

Obaze

under him? Secondly, what they did to me is like the story of the Israelites and Pharaoh.

God hardened their hearts in order to get me out of the mess of PDP. I was founding member of PDP in 1998, a minister under the party and suddenly the governor felt the party belonged to him, the state chairman and the national chairman of the party due to massive corruption, they denied me the ticket.

So when this thing happened, I smiled and prayed to my God because I know all powers come from God. I consulted my religious leaders, I went to Abuja and met Cardinal John Onaiyekan, sought his prayers and discussed with him. He said I should remain steadfast and at a point, he said what is the difference between PDP and APC that I have to worry and insist on staying in PDP? So

the final straw that broke the camel’s back, it was so prophetic. My late Bishop of Shendam, who hardly talked. Nice gentleman.

May his soul rest in peace. He hardly called but when he saw your missed call, he would respond. Bishop Damang surprisingly called me and gave me three advice. It was like a riot act he read to me. He said ‘Dame, you know my heart beats for what Jang did to you in 2011. You won your election, but you were denied. You went to tribunal you were denied; now you stoop to conquer and allow peace to reign by contesting for Senate so that there will be no controversy since Jang is adamant on handing over to GNS, his boy.

He wants everything to be in his family.”

So Bishop Damang advised me that with what they had done to me in PDP, I had no reason to be there. He said “Lalong is my son,

you should embrace Lalong and handover your structures to him and support him,” that he has prayed and that if I supported APC and Lalong, he would surely emerge victorious as governor. I can say this before God and man. The bishop is dead, I cannot lie on a dead man, but God used my bishop to advise me and I quickly called my Senior Bishop, the Arch Bishop of Jos, I said, “Look I am scared.” He did not stop there. He said I should support APC, support Lalong and support Buhari, that Buhari would be the president. He said that and I followed everything he said and believe you me, everything has come to pass. So again, I can tell you that this is the hand of God. It is not about Buhari, it is not about APC, it is about God making a statement in Nigeria; because the leadership of PDP played God and God has humbled them, the leadership thought money was everything, they shared money; they think is all about stomach infrastructure when we are talking about positive change to this country. And Nigerians prayed, we prayed both Christians and Muslims, traditional religions and God heard the cry of the masses. Power comes from God. You were the National Adviser, Women Campaign Team to Mrs. Aisha Buhari. You were with the First Lady campaigning from one state to the other. What has endeared you to the first family?

I could see a true Nigerian in Buhari who refused to give up despite all odds; he remained steadfast believing that God would one day answer him. He believed in the Project Nigeria. You can see that this is a man that is so humble; he is a contented man and I am proud to say that his wife is a perfect match to him. Mrs. Aisha Buhari is such a humble woman, a kind-hearted mother. If you see how she treats us members of her campaign team, we are like one family, like sisters. If you saw us sitting together you would not know that she is the wife of the President. She doesn’t take power or life as anything serious; she was of course the wife of the Head of State, and that could have made her even proud or something but she is such a humble woman, so contented and you can see a woman that is from a well brought up home and disciplined and she follows the dictates of her husband, and we are seeing a clear and transparent leadership. It is a new dawn for Nigeria new hope, new things that Nigerians have never seen before about to happen and it is God making a statement. God allowed this to happen so that those killing lives about bringing religion into politics will be shocked, they will be shocked because the man Buhari is not a religious bigot. A true child of God should not shout about religion but his day-to -day interaction with people will tell.

Anybody that brings religion into politics is a liar, there is no sincerity about it because a politician wants everybody’s vote, and a politician wants a pagan’s vote, a Christian’s vote, a Muslim’s vote.

So why now talk about religion?

It is between you and God. It is not about Buhari; it is not about APC; it is about God making a statement in Nigeria. God has humbled PDP.

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Politics C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

the growth of the state would be anchored on manufacturing, trade and commerce, agriculture, infrastructure and environment. The same day, he dissolved the state executive council left behind by his predecessor and appointed some advisers, assistants, Secretary to State Government and a Chief Press Secretary.

One week on, Ikpeazu still operates from the Governor’s Lodge in Aba. No reason has been given for this, but many believe he wants to give his office and lodge in Umuahia a face lift before moving in. Also, the governor has allowed the transition committee he inherited from the former administration to continue to run the local government administration in the state.

In his broadcast to the people of the state, Ikpeazu said his idea of a new Abia State will be defined on the time-honoured values of performance, ownership, innovation, commitment and integrity. In addition to the five key growth pillars, the governor promised to pay particular attention to infrastructure.

“Our manufacturing programme will focus on re-igniting the brand ‘Made in Aba’ and make Abians once more to be proud of their products.”

He also promised to tackle waste management in the commercial city of Aba with aggression. “Our major streets, especially in Aba have been taken over by refuse. In the New Abia, this will no longer be tolerated. Commencing tomorrow, we will start a massive intervention on domestic waste management.”

Apart from waste management, road construction and rehabilitation will be a major thrust of the 100 days plan of the government.

“We will begin the simultaneous rehabilitation of 10 major roads in our state and you have our commitment to deliver them to the highest standards possible,” he said, while promising to give security, job creation and agriculture priority attention Umahi ‘s business unusual Besides the appointments of Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service, Chief of Staff, Chief Press Secretary and Principal Secretary, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, has identified war on corruption, discipline and commitment to peoples’ welfare as the focus of his administration.

Against the backdrop of the political climate which preceded his election, he has continued his interactive sessions with all stakeholders including political leaders, religious organisations, contractors, labour, students and the various permanent secretaries and directors, where he harped on accountability, transparency and synergy in the pursuit of set goals and objectives.

Umahi, who stressed that all must be ready to make sacrifice for the development of the state, assured them that he holds no malice against anyone. He stated that there will be no discrimination at all. The consultations were designed to ensure a bottom-up approach to leadership, wherein the people would make input into government’s programmes and policies.

According to his Press Secretary, Aja Akpuru Aja, it is not going to be business as usual. For instance, the state government is deepening its internally generated revenue drive. Each local government and local authority has been told to garner N5 million to government’s coffers every month. Umahi wants to achieve this through what he called “differentiated tax regime in the state to assist the informal sector to contribute to its development.”

Besides that, Umahi has met all the contractors handling various projects for the state government to determine the progress of work, evaluate them, looking at cost effectiveness and juxtaposed that with the state’s dwindling resources. The governor disclosed that the state would cut its projects according to its revenue and ruled out incurring any debt from any bank to execute any project.

In tandem with his “Divine Mandate,” Umahi, who had also visited the Ebonyi State University and interacted with students and lecturers, has instituted a seven-day prayer for the state as a basis for its spiritual rejuvenation, to galvanise everyone to key into

New governors’ seven-day scorecards

Okowa

El-Rufai

Jibrilla

Umahi

his mission. He also reversed the last-minute appointments of 16 permanent secretaries by his predecessor.

Okowa’s three bills Though his inauguration was greeted with the disappearance of the Accountant General of the State and his inability to gain access to his office on his first day at work, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, hit the ground running by sending three bills to the state legislature.

The three executive bills are the Delta State Contributory Health Commission Bill (2015), the Technical and Vocational Education Board Bill (2015) and the Asaba Capital Development Agency Bill (2015) to the state’s House of Assembly.

The bills, the governor envisaged would, as a matter of urgency, rapidly boost educational growth, create wealth and employment in the state. He also appointed Chief Ovie Agas, a former House of Assembly member as the Secretary to the State Government and set up quick-win strategies and long-term plans, to reflect his administration’s strong conviction that government focus and action were needed to stem the tide of rising educational decadence and accelerate technical and vocational education by converting and equipping some existing institutions for same purpose in the state.

Okowa equally terminated the appointments of hundreds of persons that were hurriedly employed few days to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan departure, on the grounds that it was fraught with sharp practices ranging from abuse of office to sale of jobs slots Okowa unveiled his agenda which is conamed SMART - an acronymn for Strategic wealth creation projects, Meaningful peace building platforms, Agriculture reforms and accelerated growth, Relevant health and education policies and Transformed environment through urban renewal.

Besides that, Okowa has formally received the report of the 98-man transition committee, headed by Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, which he inaugurated to midwife a smooth handing over process.

El-Rufai dissolves boards Barely 24 hours after inauguration, Governor Nassir El-Rufai of Kaduna State hosted Malian President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

A day earlier, Keita had attended the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, before stopping over in Kaduna to visit El-Rufai. At the event, Keita reiterated his country’s commitment in strengthening Nigeria-Mali relationship. He also expressed delight for being the first President to visit El-Rufai as governor.

On June 1, El-Rufai had reported at Sir

Kashim Ibrahim House, the seat of power, to assume duty as governor. Immediately, the governor started meeting with permanent secretaries and heads of parastatals, especially to shed light on former Governor Muktar Yero’s handover notes. Significantly, the former governor had barred any government official from meeting with the El Rufai’s Transition Committee. Yaro’s government merely prepared handover notes and dumped them on the Transition Committee. The meeting, according to a source, lasted beyond midnight and the governor actually retired home by 2a.m on Tuesday. Later in the day, the meetings continued up till the early hours of Wednesday.

On Wednesday afternoon, El-Rufai sacked all the political appointees of the Yero administration and dissolved the boards of all parastatals and agencies in the state government.

The announcement which was contained in a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal Abbas, stated that the sole administrators of all the 23 local government areas, and the secretaries of the development areas appointed by previous administrations were also sacked.

At last, Rivers gets Chief Judge Right from his swearing in on May 29, by the Bayelsa State Chief Judge, Justice Kate CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

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Politics

Revisiting Anenih’s exit from PDP BoT chair Nicholas Ikejiani

T

he news of the stepping down of Chief Tony Anenih from the position of Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came as a bit of surprise. Though the PDP has been engulfed in post-election recriminations, with many calling for the resignation of members of the National Working Committee, no such call was directed at the Board of Trustees. Anyway, since the BoT is merely an advisory body, it could not have been considered blameworthy for the electoral woes of the party. Consequently, whatever could have been responsible for Anenih’s resignation is better left to reside in the past.

However, it is significant to state that Anenih will go down in history as the first person to hold that exalted office of BoT chairman on two different occasions. Under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s Presidency, he was Chairman from 2004 to 2007. During Obasanjo’s first tenure, the constitution of the party was amended to provide for former Presidents, elected on the platform of the PDP, after leaving office, to transit to BoT Chairman. In the event that a former President was not available or willing to assume that position, a former National Chairman or any illustrious leader of the party was to be considered. This was the basis on which Obasanjo took over the office of BoT Chairman in 2007.

It will be recalled that the manner of Obasanjo’s emergence as BoT Chairman was rather dramatic, inelegant and unnecessary. He virtually snatched it from Anenih in a couplike manner. If only he had not been misled, he would have known that Anenih would not have held on to that office in defiance of the party’s constitution. Besides, the Iyasele (Prime Minister) of Esanland and Uromiborn political strategist would not have flexed muscle with the occupant of the high office of president over the BoT chairmanship. Indeed, Anenih had already scheduled a meeting of the BoT and prepared all necessary documents in readiness to hand over to Obasanjo.

But Obasanjo inexplicably turned desperate in a bid to dislodge Anenih from the position.

He succeeded all the same.

As fate would have it, Anenih was effortlessly and gloriously re-elected to the same position of BoT Chairman in 2013, thus giving him a special niche in the history of the party.

Anenih’s uniqueness in Nigerian politics transcends the mere historical fact of his double chairmanship of the PDP BoT. He has consistently demonstrated, throughout his political career, an uncommon political intelligence and sagacity. Starting from his foray into politics in the Second Republic to his emergence as Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria in the old Bendel State, he was always focused, strategic and pragmatic. It was not, therefore, surprising that under his leadership, the NPN candidate, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, won the governorship election, defeating an incumbent governor, the late Prof.

Ambrose Alli, of the Unity Party of Nigeria, in the process. Anenih’s understanding of the political terrain, willingness to accommodate diverse opinions, capacity to manage men and materials, understanding of the complexity of forces at play and his willingness to serve, combined to mark him out as a leader of men.

Anenih’s rise to the pinnacle of Nigerian politics was the result of his eminent leadership and management attributes. He became the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party at a difficult time in the history of Nigeria. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election led to a national crisis, which tasked the ingenuity and courage of frontline leaders like Anenih. It was, indeed, obvious that the military did not want to relinquish power in the face of pressure and high expectations from the general public. It was a difficult time to be a politician, more so a leader of a political party. It is to Anenih’s credit that he led the struggle for the actualisa-

Anenih

tion of the presidential election results, until the military, under the late Gen. Sani Abacha, dismantled the democratic process and took over the reins of power.

In the interregnum between the dismantling of democracy in 1994 and its return in 1998, Anenih was quietly engaged in political activities, largely within the context of the political association called the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). He worked closely with the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; and had, at a point in time around 1992, operated as the National Coordinator of Yar’Adua’s Presidential Campaign Organisation. This was a task he creditably handled and which earned him the respect of Yar’Adua who then referred to him as ‘Leader.’ That was how Anenih came to be referred to till date as ‘Leader.’ Anenih was also a coordinator of Obasanjo’s presidential campaign in 1998, leading to his emergence as president in 1999. He served as Deputy

National Coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2002/2003. Back to the PDM, the movement became a major force in the return of democratic rule in 1999, with Anenih as one of its leaders, after the demise of Gen. Yar’Adua. His reliability, capacity for effective organisation, ability to build bridges and his negotiating acumen, propelled him to the forefront of PDP leadership as well as further consolidated his sobriquet of ‘Leader.’

He became a close confidant of Presidents Obasanjo, the late Umaru Yar’Adua and then Goodluck Jonathan.

Anenih, in the saddle as Minister of Works, Chairman of BoT and out of office, carried out numerous assignments, negotiations and mediations on behalf of these Presidents and the party, thus also earning him the epithet of ‘Mr. Fix It.’ His services were truly remarkable and the frontiers of his contacts limitless.

His house was a Mecca for all political leaders from all parts of the country and, indeed, from all political parties. He used his position as BoT Chairman of PDP to settle disputes across the country, attract members to the party and to dissuade many aggrieved members from leaving the Party. He was simply and clearly the most relentless and effective peace maker and party builder. He has always been effective without being obstructive. When five governors threatened to leave the PDP, which threat they carried out, Anenih had been forthrightly frank when he announced to the world that the aggrieved governors were not completely wrong as they had some genuine grievances. Some PDP leaders had attacked him for his position and tried to insert a wedge between him and Jonathan.

As National Adviser to the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Anenih, who is about 82 years old, offered advice and

deployed his wealth of experience to bolster Jonathan’s re-election bid. The enterprise, for some explicable and understandable reasons, including among others, a monumental betrayal by many strategic party stalwarts, did not yield a positive result. On May 20, 2015, he stepped down from the position, which he had wanted President Jonathan to step into in order for him to have a platform for political relevance in the PDP administration.

As of now, Jonathan would appear not to be interested in the BoT chair as the Board had, at its Monday, May 25, 2015 meeting in Abuja, appointed former Minister of Defence and one-time Acting National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello, as its acting Chairman. His nomination for the position was reportedly done by Anenih.

Having stepped down from the position of PDP BoT chair amid pomp and ceremony, Anenih is, today, arguably a colossus in Nigerian politics. He has demonstrated a graceful and honourable way of bowing out of politics. That was after he had ensured victory for Jonathan and the PDP in his Edo State in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Jonathan won in the state with over 60 per cent of the votes while the PDP won two senatorial seats and five out of nine House of Representatives seats. Anenih would surely remain in the forefront of great leaders who have fought for democracy and helped to deepen its roots in Nigeria in the last four decades. With his resignation, the PDP is surely going to lose the active participation, in its administration, of one of its greatest assets. But, knowing Anenih, position or not, he will continue to offer his patriotic and loyal services to his country and his party. *Ikejiani sent this piece from Port Harcourt, Rivers State

New governors’ seven-day scorecards C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 7

Abiri, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said that the state stopped working more than a year ago. Immediately, he promised to revive it by “erecting landmark of progress; restore hope, build infrastructure.”

Wike had seized the opportunity to proclaim hope for the people of the state, while blaming former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the situation on ground. He described Amaechi as the biggest beneficiary of the rule of law turned into rascality in the state, but that with his inauguration, impunity had been thrown to the wind.

It was at the Liberation Stadium that Wike swung into action, by launching Operation Zero Pothole. From the stadium, he led guests and engineers to some of the bad spots that he felt needed urgent attention.

He equally announced Justice Daisy Okocha as the acting Chief Judge, and Justice Christy Gabriel Nwankwo as the acting president, Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal.

Wike also promised to make his priority the abandoned Trans-Kalabari Road, and the Unity Road, and promised to dualize Ahoada-Omoku Road, Sapkenwa Road, and Oyigbo-Afam Road, just as he promised to speed up the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy to deserving house-owners.

During their swearing-in, he urged them to resist the temptation of using their positions to victimize others, just as he advised them carry everybody along.

On June 1, two days after Wike was swornin, he proscribed the last Rivers State House of Assembly and inaugurated the new one based on the powers conferred on him by Section 105 of the Nigerian constitution as amended. The new lawmakers used the occasion to elect Hon. Ikuinyi Awaji Ibani from Andoni Constituency as Speaker, and Hon. Marshal Stanley-Uwom from Abua/Odual Constituency as Deputy Speaker.

Wike

On his fifth day in office, Wike held a meeting with sanitation service providers and directed them to remove the heaps of wastes across Port Harcourt, following the strike over the failure of the past government to pay them their four months arrears. He promised to pay their outstanding fees.

He has also met with petroleum tanker owners on how to stop the indiscriminate parking along Aba Road, Port Harcourt to

forestall any fire disaster in the area. The governor said the move was aimed at protecting members of the public from unexpected fire accidents since the petroleum tankers drivers park along residential and office areas.

In the days and years to come, it remains to be seen whether the variegated initial activities of the governors will be sustained for development, or a flash in the pan.

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Politics

‘Buhari justified for relocating army command’ Chief Anselm Njoku is an All Progressives Congress chieftain and Chairman, Ndigbo United Association, a political pressure group of all parties. The former state Ex-Officio and leader of South-East Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, who has defected to APC tells CHIJIOKE IREMEKA that the leaderships of PDP in Lagos has sacrificed party interest for personal interest How do you see President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to move the command headquarters of the war on terror to Maiduguri?

When there is an unusual situation, an unusual measure and solution would be made to resolve it. Boko Haram is alien to Nigeria. Nigeria is not a terrorist country but Boko Haram has made Nigeria a terrorist country. Their base is in Maiduguri and therefore, I don’t see anything wrong with Buhari moving the command headquarters to Maiduguri to fight Boko Haram head on.

The President has made a very clever and intelligent move, apparently because he has military background. So, you have to use unusual solution to an unusual problem. It’s a good tactical approach to the issue. If the Command moves to Maiduguri that means, the Nigerian amoury and personnel are in Maiduguri and I don’t see Boko Haram surviving in that place again. As a military man, he has what it takes to fight it headlong. That is a very good and intelligent move.

One expected that the emergence of Buhari would have put paid to Boko Haram’s activities. On the contrary, the latest suicide bomber shouted ‘Sai Buhari’ and killed over five persons in the North. What interpretation would you give to this?

This shows that Buhari has been vindicated that he is not behind Boko Haram.

The Islamic extremist group tends to use anything attractive to attract common Nigerians to operate, where they are. They have also known that Nigerians came out massively to vote for Buhari and that is the slogan that would be mentioned and people will converge. So, it is one vindication that he is not part of Boko Haram and he has also said that command headquarter should be moved to Maiduguri. These show that he is out for the insurgence. So, the Boko Haram is also clever. They want to use what you like to attract you because in the North, when you ‘Sai Buhari’ is mentioned, everybody rushes out because Buhari is the choice in the North. If the group has its way, it can also kill Buhari. These are the people, who have come out to fight Nigeria and I think Buhari now understands them and knows how best to fight them and that why he moved the war to their doorstep. So,’ Sai Buhari’ was a tactics to attract ordinary Nigerians.

What is really happening to PDP Lagos State, especially as the attempt to remove the Chairman?

I used to be an executive member of PDP Lagos State and I know that these are the people of unserious mindedness. They are only after money - from the highest leadership to the lowest are after money. They are not determined to win any election in the state. I want to tell that the election that PDP won in Lagos was my making. I was the leader of Igbos in PDP Lagos and

I founded South-East PDP Forum for the party after, which I founded Ndigbo United Association, which I’m the president. The association brought Igbos of diverse political interest together for one goal. Prior to that time, we had visited PDP and APC leaderships and said we want to partner with any of them that can concede some slots for us because of our population and intellectuals as well as our contributions to the state.

Unfortunately, APC couldn’t give us any slot but the PDP gave us four slots, three House of Representatives and one House of Assembly. We won all. We won AmowoOdofin, Ajeromi Ifelodun, and Oshodi-Isolo House of Rep and also won House of Assembly Oshodi-Isolo, given to us by PDP. PDP gave us these slots and we have used these slots to show that the Igbos are serious in Lagos. Due to the fact that PDP conceded these to us, we also used that platform to ensure that they won in the said areas. But the PDP Chairman in the state did not do anything. All the money given to him was embezzled by their so-called leaders. We brought out our own money to ensure that our people and theirs won election. As it is now, PDP in Lagos can never beat APC in this state. Now, there will be local government election, and PDP cannot even win anyone because we have withdrawn our support. The leaders of PDP in Lagos are not determined to succeed but to embezzle and unserious people. They are not prepared to win; they are after money and not after the interest of the party that they represent.

PDP is extinguished in Lagos as far as I’m concern.

But you used to be a strongman of PDP in Lagos State. What made you move to APC? As soon as I saw that PDP leadership, murdered PDP in Lagos, I told my people that I will leave before the governorship election. We all moved to APC because PDP has been murdered. And we wouldn’t want to be part of the burial because in our tradition, if you murder somebody, it’s that person that murdered someone that will bury him.

You cannot murder somebody and I will go and bury, except the person died a natural death, then you can ask everybody to be part of it. So, when they murdered PDP, I said I could not be part of the burial. So I called my people and they said they won’t be part of the burial too. So, we moved. They are thieves and are all interested in money.

What is your take on the position of the House of Representatives, which refused to clear Petroleum Minister, Shell, NNPC and others of their corruption scandals?

The House has wound up, and it’s left for the incoming House to do that. If the Oil Minister has committed anything, she should be brought to book. At the same time, she will be given time to defend herself. If she was able to do that, fine, if not, she will

Njoku

The President has made a very clever and intelligent move, apparantly because he has military background face the music. The fact that the House of Rep has done what they did is not the end of the matter, the incoming one will continue from there. But I call for high level of objectivity in the probe. I want to trust that with somebody like Buhari, the man of zero tolerant to corruption, the matter will not leave any stone unturned.

There are all indications that Buhari is most likely to be the head of Petroleum Ministry in his cabinet, how do you react to this?

This is not the first time the President of Nigeria is assuming the position of Petroleum Minister. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo did it but what we are advocating is that, if he going to be the Minister of Petroleum; there should absolute transparency. So, with the character of Buhari, he, being there is for proper watch. He wants to know exactly what goes into it. He wants to see how best to sanitise the sector and rid it of prevalent.

But if the corruption continues, it means that he would be seen as being part of that corruption because he is the one heading the Ministry. But I want to say unequivocally that the kind of man we know Buhari to be, if that ministry is under his control, corruption will run away from the ministry and if you try it, you have finished yourself. I think

it is the better way to checkmate the cartel in the oil industry. So, let it be under him. I support it so that we can now say kudos or shame to the administration. So if he puts these sensitive sectors under him, and monitors it properly, we wouldn’t have problems again. We should allow him a chance so that life will be prosperous for everybody in the country.

What do you think of Governor of Rivers State’s plan to probe into 18 months expenditures of the predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi-led administration?

Well, every government will always want to probe its predecessor, but let’s not say it’s aimed at a bad disposition. Let the public know what the problem is. What I wouldn’t like is when the new government is determined to victimise somebody or fight war of vendetta. There must be no vendetta in governance. If it were to be Wike, I will not start by probing, I will start by using the resources that I’m going to meet on the ground to start work. Probe, sometimes are not necessary. It’s your performance that would let people know that the previous government was corrupt. But let the probe be free and fair and not to maim.

How would you react to Governor Ayo Fayose’s action of writing Buhari over appointment of ministerial nominee from Ekiti?

No, he wasn’t writing for appointment, he was saying that he should be allowed to appoint a minister from his state. The 1999 constitution of Nigerian provided that there will be one minister, each from the 36 states of federation and Abuja. The constitution has it that each zone must have a zonal minister. So, to me, if I were in the shoes of Buhari, I will honour Fayose’s request. If Buhari does that, it shows that he is not an APC President, rather the President of the whole Nigeria.

40

SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics

And Buhari begins at full speed Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

A

Anule Emmanuel

s Nigerians’ expectations of the new government increase, President Muhammadu Buhari last Monday hit the ground running with his administration’s quest to tackle many problems stalling the country’s growth.

Like Henry Ward Beecher, an American congregationalist clergyman and social reformer, once wrote and clearly too, “We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started,” President Buhari knew that first impression matters.

What followed the inauguration ceremony at the Eagle Square was all merriment. The brand new President hosted guests and friends to a gala night where he thanked supporters and re-assured Nigerians of his government’s readiness to face headlong, the task ahead. Of course, his face all through the gatherings, beginning with an earlier luncheon for visiting Heads of States and Presidents depicted that of someone full of anxiety as if to say, ‘I cannot wait’.

After a few appointments and came the meeting between the President and the service chiefs. In attendance was former President Goodluck Jonathan’s National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The

agenda was obvious and last Tuesday, President Buhari visited Niamey, Niger Republic for talks with that country’s government on how they could better corporate with Nigeria in ending the insurgency.

After talks with Niger’s President Issoufou Mahamadou, President confirmed that the Nigerian Army which had earned a good reputation across the world remains a vir-

ile fighting force. He said “I am four days in office today and we have already started the process of ending the insurgency.” The President also paid a visit to Chad on the same mission sought security support from members of the Chad Basin Commission.

He has since returned to the country where the insurgency, which has regained a new ferocity has claimed over 15,000 people and

displaced over a millions is a source of serious concern, While he was on the foreign trip to the two African countries, his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo took time to visit Anambra State where he condoled with relations of victims of the unfortunate fuel tanker accident and sympathised with the government and people of Anambra State over the tragic incident.

Waiting for Osinbajo’s chaplain

T

he usual practice at the Aso Chapel in the presidential villa is that every President or Vice takes over the leadership of the worship center with his spiritual guardian. The chaplain is the officiating priest or pastor at every service.

The Chapel, a Christian worship centre was built and established by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his eight-year tenure in Aso Rock. He also had a Chaplain, first it was Professor Yusuf Obaje and later Rev. William Okoye. They both provided spiritual leadership to the former leader and worshipers at the center particularly on Sundays and at different religious functions in the villa.

When President Goodluck Jonathan took over the leadership of the country, as a Christian and having been in charge of the Chapel as Vice President under late President Umaru Yar’Adua, he continued and later replaced Reverend Okoye with Obiona Owuzurumba who served until his exit on May 29 this year.

Now, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has taken over the Aso Rock chapel, moreso as a pastor himself. But the joke making the rounds in the villa now is that all workers in the Vice President’s wing should be prepared to attend compulsory Praise and Worship sessions every morning, beginning from Monday.

A senior Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Professor Osinbajo may not need a spiritual guardian like former presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan. No one, however, knows if he would serve as chaplain himself.

Considering what Professor Osinbajo did at the National Christian Centre on Sunday during the 2015 presidential thanksgiving and inauguration interdenominational church service, no one is left in doubt that the pastor will do it his own way at the Chapel this time around.

When he was invited by the organisers of

the service alongside his wife, Dolapo to address the congregation for the first time in his official capacity, he did not.

Rather, Vice President Osinbajo spoke as a pastor, apparently because he was in a familiar terrain. He started by singing four thanksgiving songs in four different Nigerian languages to the admiration of the congregation and the clergymen present.

Thereafter, he proceeded into prophetic declarations on former President Jonathan and his family. It was indeed a prayer galore. Many people who still expected that he would formerly address the crowd on governance issues waited in vain. He surprisingly concluded with a loud, “In Jesus’ mighty name I pray.”

What the Vice President will bring into the Aso chaplaincy cannot be different. But, maybe, he would need an assistant when his schedule of office becomes heavier to take much of his time.

Seventh Senate’s last-minute activities From the

Red Chamber chukwudavid68@yahoo.com

Chukwu David

L

ooking at the activities of the Seventh Senate in the last one month, one will be right to conclude that the Upper Chamber was more active, diligent and patriotic in carrying out its constitutional functions at the tail end of its four-year life span than the rest of the period of its existence. This has actually, provoked public criticism. The Senate is instead, accused of eye service and mischief.

Irrespective of public opinion about the nation’s highest legislative House, the Senate has recorded some impressive achievements in the past one month. Notable amongst them is the resolution of the crisis between the Federal Government under the immediate past President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the independent oil markers, over alleged non-payment of fuel subsidy.

The crisis, which subjected Nigerians to untold hardship as a result of the lingering fuel scarcity, which hit the nation in the past four months had defied efforts of the executive arm to pacify the striking fuel marketers and other sub units of the labour union that joined them in solidarity.

Since February 2015, Nigerians have been witnessing acute shortages of petrol across the country. The situation was tougher in Abuja and Lagos because they are the only two cities selling at the controlled price of N97 par litre.

Other cities across the federation sell between N120 and N150 above, and this made supply of petrol to be regular and without much queues at the filling stations.

The subsidy crisis had to persist because the Federal Government said that it actually paid the marketers some huge amount as part payment but they insisted that government must clear off whatever was left before assumption of office by the new administration. The fear of the marketers was the uncertainty of the

policy of the new government in respect of subsidy. So, they refused to call of the strike and Nigerians continued to groan in pains.

This situation got the Senate agitated and on Wednesday, May 21, 2015, the Upper Chamber mandated its committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) to expeditiously investigate the remote and immediate causes of the current fuel crisis and report back to the Chamber on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 for necessary action.

The directive was a product of a motion brought to the floor of the Senate by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi, who raised a point of order to make personal explanation on the fuel scarcity in the country and the consequent negative effects on the Nigerian people.

Senator Ningi was given the opportunity to make his personal explanation. He expressed his frustration over the lingering fuel scarcity in the country and prayed the Red Chamber to pay serious attention to the ugly situation which was creating immense hardship for Nigerians, and intervene with a view to preferring a lasting solution to the problem.

Consequently, the Joint the executive to the House while representatives of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria; Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Road Transport Owners were also invited to respond to queries from the lawmakers on the impasse in the oil sector.

The good news that came out of the whole episode was that the Senators, beyond the widest imagination of Nigerians were able to broker truce between the Federal Government and the aggrieved stakeholders in the oil industry, resulting in the instantaneous end to the industrial action. Since then, fuel is being supplied to filling stations but what analysts describe as sabotage by marketers, through hoarding of the product still cause scarcity in the system. However, there is hope that this will be over with time.

Again, the Senate also on Wednesday last week, in one sitting, adopted 46 bills which were passed and transmitted to it by the House of Representatives for concurrence.

Mark

These added to the 77 bills earlier passed by the Senate, bringing the total number of bills passed by the Seventh Senate to 123. In addition to expeditious passage of these bills, Senate was also seen, considering and concluding debates on many reports on sundry issues of national interest in the last days of its existence.

The last Senate took much flanks for the rush passage of the bills, but the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senate Ita Enang explained that what transpired between the House of Representatives in respect of the bills was what is known in parliamentary parlance as legislative reciprocity.

He maintained that the Senate did not breach any law in doing so.

According to Ita Enang, what the Senate did was to suspend Order 79 (1) of the Senate standing order which provides that a bill should pass through first, second and third reading so that the bills could be collected passed as having gone through the prescribe legislative processes. He also said that what they did was within acceptable legislative practice and the law.

“In 2011, we had the same problem. I chaired the Rules and Business Committee

in the House of Representatives. We adopted a special procedure which as that we will have to shorten and abridge the process of considering bills that came from the Senate. And the Senate also adopted the same motion on the floor of the Senate and passed the same bills.

“In 2015, when we got to a limited legislative time, we had to meet with the House of Representatives and agree on the same procedure on the basis of legislative reciprocity. And the procedure was, since you have considered the first reading of the bills, second reading of the bills and third reading of the bills, considered them in Committee of whole; they were all gazetted and published, did public hearing and considered all, let us take and adopt your bills in a summary process and you accept and adopt our bills in the same manner. Therefore we were not wrong in what we adopted.

“The Constitution said that we shall consider and pass bills. It is we the legislators who have set for ourselves the standing orders, saying that bills shall receive three readings on three different days unless the Rules and Business Committee and resolution of the House so directs. Now, we brought a motion before the floor; and the motion was that it should suspend Order 79 (1) which requires first, second and third reading to be done on three different days.

When you suspend a particular order, it is no more applicable. And then we also urged the Senate to deem that the bills listed in the order paper are read a first, second and third time and duly passed, the content of same having to be reflected on the votes and proceedings as passed by the Senate. That also was passed and agreed to. I will pray and urge the public to accept that there is nothing that is wrong. It was the appropriate legislative process and no injury has been caused to any of the laws; no injury has been caused to the public”.

The Seventh Senate has come and gone but the record of its activities lives on for posterity to judge. It is also a lesson for the incoming 8th Senate, which will be inaugurated on Tuesday June 9, 2015 and subsequent assemblies to study and pick legacies worthy of emulation and jettison attributes that are not progressive and not in the best interest of the country.

Life SUNDAY

41

SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Sad end for globe-trotting French tourist Uchenna Inya

F

ABAKALIKI

or 52-year-old Frenchman, Nagna Devis, and his wife, travelling to different countries was a hobby to which they put in much passion.

The couple had toured a number of African countries and decided to come to Nigeria to savour the beauty of its rural landscape.

They chose to visit Ebonyi State in South-East Nigeria. Unfortunately, their globe-trotting was rudely terminated as they were waylaid by suspected bandits in Ozara forest of Abaomege, Onicha Local Government, Ebonyi State on Tuesday June 2, 2015.

The bandits stole their money and took some of their belongings.

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, while discussing the incident in a meeting with staff and students of the state university, said the tourists got to the area at night from where they hoped to connect Calabar, Cross River State to continue their journey. He said they stopped over at a point and set up a tent in the bush to have a rest.

“As they were having their rest, gunmen stormed the area and shot them. The gunmen took €1,160 and N13,000 from them.

“Sadly enough, they shot and killed the husband of the woman. The corpse has been deposited in the mortuary. The wife was so devastated. What we did was to put her in a hotel and gave her some money,” he said.

He described the incident as unfortunate and warned that anywhere there is cultism and other violent crimes, the council chairman and development centre coordinator will be sacked.

“All these cases of robbery and violent crimes are a by-product of cultism,” he declared.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Dikko Maigari, said Denis was shot in the leg and cut with machetes on different parts of his body, until he lost consciousness and later died on the spot.

He said 32 suspects were in the early hours of Wednesday arrested in connection with the incident and that they were already being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the state police command for further interrogation and prosecution, where necessary.

The commissioner of police, who described the victims as tourists who had travelled through several countries to get to Nigeria, confirmed the amount said to have been stolen from them by the hoodlums.

He said the wife of the victim who reported the incident to the police divi-

As fate could have it, they didn’t report their presence to any law enforcement agents around, but decided to look for a place that was naturally endowed with shelter, a place with trees. So, they went two kilometres off the road to pass the night in a location near the bush sion in the area said she would be able to identify the people who killed her husband if she saw them.

“We got the report yesterday from the DPO of Onicha LGA about the French nationals, a couple. They were tourists who left their country on December 2014 and arrived Nigeria through Badagry on May 3.

“They passed through Abeokuta, Benin, Onitsha, Enugu to Ebonyi with their vehicle which has one door with a caravan on it. They were passing through Ebonyi to Calabar when the incident happened.

“They arrived Abomega in the night and decided to spend the night there.

According to the deceased’s wife, her husband had complained that he was tired and secondly it was night.

“As fate could have it, they didn’t report their presence to any law enforcement agents around, but decided to look for a place that was naturally endowed with shelter, a place with trees. So, they went two kilometres off the road to pass the night in a location near the bush.

“They found a location where we have a quarry site and decided to camp there.

Unfortunately, I believe that as they were going there, they were seen. According to the wife of the deceased, while they were at the location, a motorcyclist together with a man asked to know who they were.

“Unless investigation proves otherwise, we are thinking that the motorcyclist was the informant to the hoodlums.

An hour after he left, three people came into the car and by then they had already erected their tent on top of the vehicle.”

Dikko who noted that the Nigeria Police Forcee headquarters and the French Embassy had already been communicated over the incident added the deceased was shot by the hoodlums during an argument as they further inflicted machete

Gov. Umahi

cuts on him.

He stated that arrangements were on to transfer his body from a mortuary in Enugu State to France.

Meanwhile, the place where the incident occurred has been deserted by the locals, following the massive arrests by security agents.

One of the stakeholders of the community, Ogbuefi Nnabuife, told Sunday Telegraph, that the stakeholders of the area had been meeting since the incident occurred to douse tension in the area.

He condemned the incident and advised the police to stop the massive arrests of the people. He expressed worry that the people were no longer sleeping in their houses since the incident occurred.

“Most of our people, especially the youths, no longer sleep in their houses.

Policemen have been going round arresting people and this may trigger off a crisis in the community because innocent persons are being arrested indiscriminately.

“I want to advise the police to avoid the arrests. We have started looking into the matter and we are ready to hand over those responsible for the dastardly act to the police if we discover them for necessary action because we are not happy about the incident. We must assist the police to unravel the incident but the police should also help us by at least stopping these arrests for now.

“Yesterday they loaded over 30 persons into their Hilux vans. These are innocent people,” he claimed.

Another stakeholder in the area, Chief Onyema Ejike, lamented that violent crimes had been on the rise in the area and blamed it on cultism. He said it was worrisome that almost every youth in the community belongs to one cult group or the other.

He said, “Although Abaomege was a haven for criminals, crimes have been reduced to the barest minimum. But since cult activities by our youths came in, we have not been having it so good. If you don’t hear that two cult groups clashed and shot two persons, you will hear that somebody has been robbed at gunpoint or kidnapped by gunmen.

“The situation is so worrisome that foreigners who were on a tourist visit and decided to have a rest in the night could be so attacked and one of them was shot dead. This has never happened in our history and it has given us a bad name both in the country and the international community.

“Look at what we are passing through now because of this condemnable act. We no longer sleep very well because you don’t know whether you will be arrested. Policemen are going round arresting people and it is the worst trauma elders like us are currently passing through,” he said.

42

Pamela Eboh Awka

W

hen the cock crowed to herald the dawn of Sunday May 31, 2015, people in their different tentacles, shades, houses and mansions woke up from bed to herald another holy day of the week and above all the last day of the month of May for the year.

Christians went to church with a joyful heart of being alive to witness yet another end to another month. They had high hopes of heralding the month of June as the year gradually skid into the second quarter. Alas, such hope for some was brutally cut short when a fuel tanker burst into flames at Asaba Park in Onitsha, Anambra State after ramming into the busy facility.

No fewer than 80 people were said to have died while about 30 others sustained varying degrees of injury. The injured were rushed to Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, where they are hoping on God for speedy recovery.

One of such individuals is a commercial bus driver, Mr. Chukwudi Nwanga, who had part of his head, hands and legs burnt in the deadly fire.

The driver, who is the bread winner and ledest member of his family usually plied the route between Upper Iweka, Onitsha and Asaba daily.

Narrating his experience to Sunday Telegraph,, Chuwkwudi said he was at the park sitting inside his vehicle and waiting in line for his turn when the tanker skidded into the park and caught fire.

According to him, he made an effort to escape with the vehicle but could not and nobody came to his aid while he was struggling.

His words, “I was sitting inside my vehicle when the fire broke out. I was screaming and calling for help but nobody could come to my aid as everybody was running away. I couldn’t run immediately because I wanted to rescue my vehicle which was my only source of livelihood.

“All my family members depend on me for survival as I’m the first child. Unfortunately, I could not rescue the vehicle until the fire got to me. I managed to escape by God’s grace but the vehicle got burnt.

“As I talk to you now, I don’t know where I will start from when I leave the hospital. I don’t have a dime on me and here I am being told to buy certain drugs for my treatment. Where will I get the money? I can’t afford the drugs. I’m just relying on God,” he lamented.

That may be the dirty twist in the entire scenario as Governor Willie Obiano had earlier during his visit to the scene on the day of the disaster promised to shoulder the victims’ hospital bills.

However, information gathered by Sunday Telegraph, was that the 40-foot tanker was descending from Army Barracks side of the Onitsha - Enugu Expressway when it lost control and skidded into the Asaba motor park, destroying mainly commuter buses parked inside the park and two motorcycles.

Obiano, who immediately rushed to the scene of the accident, wept on seeing the number of fatalities. He also sympathised with relations of the victims and promised that the state would assist the surviving victims.

According to the Nigerian Red Cross Society Chairman in Anambra State, Prof. Peter Emeka Katchy, no fewer than 69 persons were burnt to death on the spot while 30 others were injured. The dead were deposited at Toronto hospital and Onitsha General Hospital as Borromeo Hospital, according to securitymen who spoke to Sunday Telegraph,, could not accept the corpses brought to their hospital on the excuse that they were

Sunday Telegraph,, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Life

Tales of woe trail Onitsha tanker fire

Scene-of-the-inferno

burnt beyond recognition.

Death left behind the blackness of anguish on the faces of over 5,000 people that gathered at the scene as they wailed uncontrollably.

According to the Medical Director of Toronto Hospital, Dr. Emeka Eze, some of the survivors are currently receiving treatment with special care to ensure they are not infected; hence visitations to the victims are restricted.

When Sunday Telegraph, visited the scene of the incident on Tuesday, officials of the Federal Road Safety Coperation, FRSC, Nigerian Red Cross as well as soldiers were still removing charred corpses and vehicles as directed by the governor.

It was also learnt that two newspaper vendors and two circulation officers, all members of Onitsha Newspaper Distribution and Directors Association, lost their lives in the inferno.

Confirming the demise of their members, the group’s Vice-Chairman, Emmanuel Uwakwe, gave their identities as Ifeanyi Nzekwe, Ifeoma, Local Man (nick name) and one new member of the association, whose name he could not remember.

Uwakwe who looked withdrawn said the pains and agony cannot be quantified with anything.

However, some families may have been relieved on one side as according to the vice chairman of Nigerian Red Cross society in Anambra state, Prof Peter Katchy, two days after the fire, 57 persons had been identified by their families, while 13 had yet to be identified.

This was corroborated by Eze, who said that those recognised by their family members were identified through the ornaments on them. One woman was

Burnt vehicle at the scene of the incident

identified by the baby she was carrying, he added.

He however said that for records, the hospital would not be able to release any corpse to relations or discharge any patient unless a written note is sent by the state Ministry of Health for clearance.

The Red Cross volunteers have not rested on their laurels either as they continue to move from Onitsha to Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi where pathologists have commenced the process of forensic analysis.

While some are mourning their losses, Miss Nkiruka Ezeh, a native of Nkanu in Enugu State said she was still searching for her sister, Nkechi Ezeh, who left their Awada residence on the fateful day to Asaba, Delta State and never returned.

She said her sister had gone to see their in-law, one Ogbonna Igwe, a motor parts dealer on that day but was yet to return home or be found dead or alive.

Nkiru who wailed uncontrollably as she narrated her ordeal said that not even their in-law had seen her at Asaba while all calls put across to her phone

reached a dead end.

For a trader at Mgbuka spare parts market, Onitsha, Mr. Amechi Alor, who came in company with other distant relations at the hospital to see one of their own, Chukwudi Nwanga, the story is different as his nephew is alive and receiving treatment at Toronto Hospital.

At the moment, the scene of the accident has become a tourist attraction of some sort as residents and visitors troop to the place daily for a first-hand view since the incident took place.

As sad as it may be for the many lives lost, there is also a financial loss as the office of the transport union was razed down in the inferno. Twelve newly constructed toilets which were built by the Federal Ministry of Works on the premises were also destroyed.

As people continue to mourn and count their losses, it remains to be seen if Obiano’s ban on long trucks and petrol tankers and other heavy duty trucks from plying the roads in Anambra State during the day would be heeded.

one are the days when the word, ‘wrapper’, meant George fabric, (for the Igbos), laces or Ankara in buba (for the Yorubas and Hausas). The phrase, ‘woman wrapper’ (a term used to refer to a clingy child or a spineless/cheating man), was regarded as an insult then.

In recent times, however, the wrap-

G

Biwom Iklaki

per is a fun, even chic dressing as both the young and elderly ladies have redefined it in look, style and types.

You could tell the maidens apart from the married ladies in the past, just by how they dressed. If a material was picked for ‘Asoebi”, the young and single ladies would turn up in dresses and skirt styles that flaunted their best assets, while the married women would simply make ‘wrapper’. As a

matter of fact, some people often referred to Ankara as ‘wrapper material’.

The tune has changed and everyone is dancing very sexily to it. The young, old, single, married and everybody in between seem to favour this style.

Though you could find people wearing dresses and skirts in contemporary styles, they also make their tops in said styles and simply wrap the lower part as wrapper. Young brides too are

fond of this style to mark their initiation to ‘womanhood’.

Your wrapper could also tell a lot about your style, simply by the details you add to the blouse or wrapper. Beadwork, sequins, appliques and many more additions that make yours stand out. Choose yours with care as the fabrics also have a say in elevating your swag.

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Body&Soul

Weekend smart casuals

S

Vanessa Okwara

ometimes dressing up can be such a bore and you can’t wait for the weekend so you can be free from the stuffy clothes you have worn all week. It’s all right to look good in your expensive suits, shirt and tie to impress your clients and co-workers on week days, but as the weekend draws near, you can’t wait to get off these formal clothes, dress down and get funky.

There are different kinds of clothes and shoes that are best worn during the weekend as you go out to spend time with friends and loved ones. Smart casuals are appropriate for that afternoon birthday party, get together with old friends or a night out dancing with your significant other at the club. This is the time to put on your favourite Polo, T-shirts, shorts, jersey, jeans and sport jackets. If it’s an evening event that is

semi-formal, you can dress down your blazer by ditching the tie and wearing a Polo or T-shirt instead. You can also fly a shirt over a trouser or jeans with a few buttons open at the top to give it a casual appearance. The essence is to make sure you are comfortable and not feeling uptight in your clothes.

Getting the appropriate footwear to go with your casual clothes during the weekend is also very important. Moccasins, loafers, boots and sneakers all come to bear and give you the comfy feeling as you go for a stroll or dig it out on the dance floor. Make sure to get your right size as you don’t want to have blisters on your feet.

In all, just make sure you are comfortable in your clothes and shoes during the weekend to enjoy all the fun and freedom you have denied yourself all through the week.

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Body&Soul

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Learn the basic rules of dating

nome, an undergraduate in the University of Port Harcourt, sent me an E-mail bemoaning her apparent lack of luck in getting a boyfriend that sticks with her for a considerable long time.

She wrote:

Dear Aunty Vanessa, I love reading your column and will like you to advise me on what to do concerning my relationships.

Why is it that when I meet a guy, after a few dates, he suddenly leaves me, breaking my heart? I am scared to date again for fear of being heartbroken all over again. What can I do?

Thanks, Sincerely, Onome Before I answer Onome’s questions, let me just say that I’ve observed with keen interest the dating mannerisms of our youngsters and discovered that most of them just date for the heck of it. Some enter into relationships either out of peer pressure that borders on the need to ‘belong’ or simply think they are of age to have sex. Others go into it without any reason at all, only to come out with their hearts shred into pieces by the sharks they had the misfortune to date. While dating is a fun and useful experience, it is not advisable to go out with anyone just to have a date, or to enter a relationship because you do not want to be alone. Whatever reasons yours may be, if you belong to the same category as Onome who had her heart torn out of the rib cage; then it’s time

I

CONNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

to learn the basics.

Do you feel like you are lost and doomed in this whole dating business? Stop feeling sorry for yourself!

You just neglected to learn the rules when you first started. If you feel unsuccessful and dissatisfied with your dating patterns, then it is time for you to take a few steps back to see where things went wrong. The first rule in dating is to ask yourself questions! What are you really looking for in a lover? What are your needs and desires? What qualities are you looking out for in a partner and what other qualities are you willing to compromise and accept?

It pays to know what you want before you start dating. It is also

It is essential that you observe your actions and decisions, making sure that you do not continue to date certain type of people in the name of dating

important to know what you are willing to give to the other person in return. What qualities are important to you? What are your morals and beliefs? How do you show affection and how do you expect it to be reciprocated? These are questions necessary to ask yourself before you start dating again.

Equally, look and act your best. Everyone wants someone to love them for ‘real’. They want others to see them for who they really are inside.

In reality, dating doesn’t quite work that way. Everyone doesn’t have to be a supermodel or bodybuilder.

But, if they are horribly crabby or smell like the bus conductor that has not taken his bath in days, then it is unrealistic for them to expect others to hunt for the ‘real them’ inside either. There may be more to a book than the cover – but the cover convinces people to read it in the first place or leave it on the shelf.

It is essential that you observe your actions and decisions, making sure that you do not continue to date certain type of people in the name of dating. For instance, in the E-mail Onome sent, I observed she kept at-

tracting the same kind of men who do not fit into her ideal man, and neither does she fit into their idea of an ideal woman. But she could save herself the trouble by knowing her kind man. Another important dating rule you need to tuck into your pocket is to break up a date that does not fit into your ideal partner before it gets too serious.

Most dating fails because people don’t read the signs. Once you have realised that those dates will not lead to your dream relationship, obviously the person is not your dream mate, and it will be best if you stop seeing each other to prevent any misleading expectations.

Continuing to date someone just because you entered a comfort zone or do not want to hurt their feelings will only hold you back from meeting who you are really meant to be with, not to mention wasting of precious time for both you and your dates.

Your first love will most likely not be your last. Even if you are looking for the ‘one and only’, you will most likely sift through many to find them.

Tracking down your soul mate through the dating process requires patience; so do not feel frustrated or hopeless if you do not find him or her within a given time. Just go with the flow and not be too rigid.

Keep it simple, be social and before you know it, you will come across the person that will answer all the love questions your heart yearns an answer for.

•Send your views to the email above!

Fuji T’o Bam is a bam concept

n my high school days, there was just one area of divergence in my close circle of friends -Fuji music.

While there were those who jumped up and down to the rap music of MC Hammer and sang along to ‘OPP’ as a way of validating their coolness and relevance to the high society, I never towed that line. I could sing Kollington Ayinla’s ‘Ijo Yoyo’ from side A to B (apologies to the Internet generation who may not know the joy of listening to a cassette or LP and then flipping over), danced to Wasiu Ayinde Barrister (later Mashal and now K1) and then rock steady to Abass Obesere’s ‘Magic Moment’. I loved indigenous music as much as I loved the foreign ones and yet no one could doubt my ‘coolness.’ As lead speaker for my school’s debating team, an Executive of the Press Club and a prefect, you cannot fault any claim I make to the cool class even if you do not agree with my taste in music.

From that early stage, I knew that to preserve our cultural heritage, we must preserve its artefacts including music and for me, Fuji music represented that. There were those who even try to link it with religion but I cannot for the life of me explain that and I will not try now. What is exciting me presently is the fact that there are those who agree with me that we need to revive our indigenous music and have established a talent contest called ‘Fuji t’o bam’.

My excitement stem from the fact that they have taken the talent contest concept and applied it to a traditional

music genre, something I have advocated on this pages in the past. There is nothing wrong in having music contest to discover new talents; what I objected to is the fact that we have just copied a model from elsewhere and there is no attempt to even adapt it to our environment. I see Nigerians struggling to sing foreign songs on the talent shows, I see them imitating international pop stars when they perform and I simply bow my head in shame. There is no way you can beat an original. Simply put, a copy is what it is, copy. Our only path to rectifying this anomaly is to take the concept and apply it to our local setting and that exactly is what Fuji t’o bam is accomplishing.

Traditional music is being given its own pride of place with its own show.

I don’t think a Fuji musician will be allowed into the live shows of X Factor, Nigerian Idol or Nigeria’s Got Talent. Yet, I ask what is Nigerian in the concept, borrowed from Messrs Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller, that we feed it to the nation? Those talent shows are Nigerian in name only and foreign in concept and content. Fuji t’o bam, on the other hand, is Nigerian from conception to actualisation.

The music is as Nigerian as any music will get, the audience will definitely be the hard core followers who will be Nigerians and judging from the interested generated, it is certainly having the desired appeal.

There are those who will argue that the music genre of Fuji is for touts and the dropouts. Flawed as this argument is, I will engage it briefly. If the music

I see Nigerians struggling to sing foreign songs on the talent shows, I see them imitating international pop stars when they perform and I simply bow my head in shame. There is no way you can beat an original

gets them out of the park and gives them hope, then has it not achieved something? Must everyone work in a bank to be fulfilled and satisfied or have a sense of accomplishment? My alma mater, Jibril Martins Memorial Grammar School, still holds Abass Akande Obesere as a distinguished alumnus. Adewale Ayuba represents one of the most inspirational individuals that I know and don’t even get me started on contributions of Wasiu Ayinde and Kollington Ayinla to humanitarian endeavours. We seek education to be accomplished in various fields and these men, with the aid of Fuji, are accomplished.

That is why I must also commend the corporate sponsor, Nigerian Breweries, through its brand, Goldberg, for taking what may appear to be a leap of faith in the direction of indigenous music. The next step will be to ensure a wider television audience. Unlike those who pay huge sum to bring us a foreign franchised talent show, they have shown that we can still get value for money by investing in an indigenous cultural product. What is more, Fuji music has the capacity to attract people who are professionals and not even of the Yoruba stock.

Can anyone still recall Sunny T, the Igbo speaking Fuji musician? Or the Policeman, Askari to’n ko Fuji? They did not consider Fuji music to be for the illiterates and I think we shouldn’t too. I still listen to all quality music including fuji and I think we all need to support it.

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Multiple troubles for Buruji Kashamu W aking up to toe the line of business early in life and going all out to chase his dreams certainly has paid off for Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State-born Prince Kashamu Buruji who has for many years retained a position on the list of richest sons of Ijebu land. Darkskinned and beefy Buruji is also rated above many money bags within and beyond the state on account of his generosity to all and sundry. As a philanthropist, he has made his mark while his spending ability on the social scene is second to none - he spares no cost in enjoying his wealth. One thing that also has been known as his trademark is his non-sentimental disposition in his financial dealings and his shrewdness as a businessman.

His crossing over from the business world to the political arena of his state ended up like a thing that has never happened as he hit the political scene like a colossus and became a factor to reckon with in no time. This was made possible by the huge amounts of money he spread around. Becoming one of the most talked about in the politics of Ogun State, he also became established even more than those who had been on the scene before him. He displaced Peoples Democratic Party heavyweights in Ogun State, so much that he was delegated to oversee the party’s affairs in the South-West. Little did he know he was headed for his waterloo when he stood up against former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The money bag had waded through his crisis with Obasanjo even as he went ahead to contest election into the Senate and came out victorious. Although his principal, ex-President Goodluck

Lanre Folawiyo over the moon

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anre, son of the late philanthropist of note cum business mogul, Alhaji Iyanda Folawiyo, is Folawiyo currently in a good mood. He has every reason to be thankful to his creator. This Lagos big boy, over a decade ago, lost his amiable wife, Fadeke, to the cold hands of death, leaving a child behind. Lanre, for many years, took solace in their son as he remained single.

Lanre eventually decided to give marriage another shot 10 years after his late wife’s demise and his move was applauded because it was considered to have been long overdue. Lanre and his new partner have been in frenzy as God recently added to them a baby.

Genny Adeosun smiles again

T

here is no gainsaying the fact that life becomes so tasking when a loving spouse passes away because there will certainly be a vacuum to fill. The same fate, we could say, befell Genny, wife of late highly connected personality, Chief Wole

Jonathan, lost the most exalted seat in the country, Kashamu had barely finished celebrating his victory at the polls and becoming a senator-elect when trouble reared its ugly head.

Kashamu, who is alleged to have changed his name from Esho Jinadu, has been battling against the request of the United States for Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, to extradite him to the U.S to face charges for alleged offences committed many years ago.

Kashamu, who has consistently pleaded his innocence, was rescued by the court some days ago when security operatives swooped on his Lekki, Lagos abode to arrest and extradite him; but another move has since been initiated. The thrust of the story is that the embattled politician may have found himself in yet another crisis if information at the disposal of Celeb Lounge is anything to go by. Dependable sources revealed moves may have been initiated by certain family members of the original owner of Oshopey Plaza on Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos from Kashamu. These family members were not happy with the way Kashamu acquired the property. The late original owner of the imposing edifice on highbrow Allen Avenue, who was a friend of Kashamu’s, was said to have sought financial assistance from the politician. He sought Kashamu’s help when he could not repay a loan for which he used the property as collateral. Kashamu allegedly took over the edifice when his late friend could not write off his debt at the said time; even though he was said to have paid up to a level.

Adeosun, when he passed on to the great beyond few years ago. The dark-skinned and stylish widow withdrew into her shell.

However, the widow and the entire household of the deceased recently had a great reason to come alive again and be happy. The family of Adeosun and that of the founder of Guiding Light Assembly, Pastor Wale Adefarasin, became one through the coming together of their children in matrimony. Daughter of the Adeosuns, Yewande Abimbola Hadijat, and Emmanuel Ademola Adefarasin were pronounced husband and wife. The wedding, which was no less of a high society shindig, was held at The Imperial, LeAdeosun kki, and the prescribed colour for the day, orange and gold, added colour to the glamorous event.

Jennifer Atiku-Abubakar breezes through

F

ormer vice president and erstwhile presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, no doubt, belongs in the league of the articulate as well as powerful politicians in the country. Another thing he has been able to do very well is to separate his public life from his private life. That

is why some will readily regard him as a very organised personality. Despite being a husband to women from different ethnic groups, he has been able to balance everything to the advantage of his home front.

His organisational ability, many may say, is what has rubbed off on his wives who know how to maneuver between public and private lives. One of the wives, an Igbo woman, Jennifer, who has since been renamed Jamila, prefers to stay in the background, leaving the senior wife to be the face of the wives in public. However, the pretty lady who resides in the United States doesn’t hesitate to give her best whenever the opportunity presents itself to attend public functions. The light skinned woman, who was called to the Bar some months back, surfaced at the gala night held as part of the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Jennifer looked splendid in a native attire.

Binta Garba overshadowed

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arketing graduate of Kaduna Polytechnic, Binta Masi Garba, is one of the lucky few in the political world who did not labour for too long before things started happening in their favour. Since the former advert executive of New Nigerian Newspapers gave an elective post a shot in 1999 and was lucky to secure a seat in the House of Representatives, she has not looked back.

The Adamawa-born politician served three terms in the House of Representatives, representing two different states - Kaduna and later Adamawa. Binta was elected to

represent Adamawa North in the senate for the Eighth Assembly. Perhaps, based on her experience, exposure and expertise In the legislative business, Garba emerged as the only female senator from the North.

She signified interest in becoming the first female Senate President. Her aspiration expectedly was well received and many, especially female folks, were ready to go with her. At a time, over 20 female groups threw their weight behind her and her journey looked well as it appeared gender equality was about becoming more effective. The whole scenario changed when the real gladiators stepped in, thereby leaving Binta and her aspiration to be overshad owed by the Binta presence of her male colleagues.

Celebration galore for Otunba Onakoya

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appy days are indeed here for industrious socialite son of Ogun State, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, who is popularly known as Debasco. This is because his birthday and an award of honour are drawing near. For his socio–political contribution, the National Association of Ogun State Students has deemed it necessary to bestow an award of honour

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Body&Soul

Thinking

on Otunba Onakoya. In a letter of commendation to the socialite, the group h i g h lighted his positive input in the past towards Onakoya the empowerment of a vibrant student movement as part of qualities that made him worthy of the honour. Debasco, a close associate of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, has decided to throw a bash for his birthday on July 13 in addition to the well-deserved award of distinction for leadership excellence.

Bola Dare buries mum

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ounder of Mother Theresa Orphanage in the Federal Capital City, Abuja, politician cum socialite, Yeye Bola Bola Dare Dare, has lost her mother.

That is no news again. Though her party, the Peoples Democratic Party, ended up with a bad outing at the last elections, the information at the moment is that she has buried her mother in an elaborate party.

She bid her mother, Anthonia Remilekun, farewell in a manner that had the trappings expected of a woman of her caliber. All roads led to an event centre on Billings Way, Oregun, Lagos, where the train had moved to hold the reception. With Yinka Ayefele on the band stand to add spice to the day, guests who were treated to great meals and exotic drinks danced to melodious tunes. Senator Iyiola Omosore and some other important personalities were in attendance. However, it was obvious that being a close person to former first lady, Patience Jonathan, the party would have been more elaborate but for the election loss.

Frank Nweke’s fresh move

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nugu Stateb o r n dude, F r a n k Nweke, is one young man who has it good in his own right. He was a minNweke ister and later got another federal appointment. Tables, however, turned against him when the immediate past government relieved him of his appointment.

But having tasted power, he made moves to take his destiny in his own hands and signified his interest in an elective office.

Nweke Jr set his eyes on a senatorial seat in a district in Enugu State, made strategic campaigns but all that did not fetch him the desired result. Information making the

Aloud

paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com

rounds in some quarters, however, has it that Frank might be relying on a SouthWest powerful politician to pave way for him in the recently inaugurated government since he belongs to the list of loyal boys of the said powerful politician.

Alao-Akala’s ‘quiet’ 65th birthday

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ast Wednesday, former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, marked his 65th birthday very ‘quietly’ as promised.

True to his promise, a Alao-Akala couple of days earlier, only a few of his friends were in attendance; they totalled about 2,000 guests only.

His Opadoyin Villa in Ogbomoso, Oyo State turned a Mecca of sorts. Relations, associates, politicians, Christian and Muslim clerics and others milled around the sprawling compound and held him up for about seven hours.

As early as 8a.m, the excited ‘birthday boy,’ who was already seated with friends under a canopy, savoured the praises and songs from a musical band while greeting guests at intervals. He later cut a cake and the guests had a lot to eat and drink.

Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were the host’s running mate in the April election, Chief Sarafadeen Alli; the Labour Party’s Oyo State Chairman, Gbenga Olayemi; former Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Rasaq Gbadegesin; Prof. Soji Adejumo; Mr. Wale Ohu; and Hon. Felix Akande (former Ogbomoso LG boss).

At 4.03 pm., the exhausted ‘birthday boy’ sauntered into the ‘Iya Alaro House,’ one of the numerous buildings in the complex to meet some journalists that had come to pay him a visit. He said: “Ah, eyin oniroyin, (you journalists), I am too happy today. There is nothing left for me than to just thank God because I am too fortunate. God has been very kind to me. Without being immodest, I can say that I have enjoyed life to the fullest. You can see me (pointing) in that picture on the wall as a police officer and Personal Assistant to Chief Adewusi, the then Inspector General of Police, in a warm handshake with former President Shehu Shagari. See how handsome I was. Without being arrogant, I can say that I have been fortunate. If the former President should see me now and see this photograph, he would marvel. It is all by the grace of God, I tell you.

“If I flash my mind back to those we attended the same primary and secondary schools with, those whom we joined the Nigeria Police with, and I reminisce on my mother who nurtured me to adulthood and I consider where I am today, I am always compelled to give thanks to The Almighty God for sparing my life.

He has been so wonderful to me.

“If we should go further, there is no way the story of Nigeria will be told without Oyo State and there is no way Oyo State will be mentioned that my name will not be mentioned. Is that not enough to thank my God? To those of you following me, I want you to be patient because I know our future will be better.”

) 0807 270 9777

with Helen Paul

I

Choose right

’m sure that relationship is what that he had every chance to turn his will first come to your mind af- own miserable fortunes around, but ter seeing the title of this article. messed it up with his desire for an Well, if you’re thinking in that di- unnecessary material thing. I’m not rection, then you’re wrong. I’m not saying it was a bad idea to buy a car, here to talk about choosing right but was it the first thing he needed or wrong in a relationship today. I at that point in time? Absolutely no! may consider it in subsequent ediMany people fall into the category tions anyway, but for this week, it of this cobbler. They have made the is something different. wrong decisions at some point in Many people are struggling to their career, and it is having huge make it today simply because they adverse effects on them. The truth failed a simple test of how to choose is that in this part of the world, peoright. In secondary school, I remem- ple want to be seen and respected ber that we were taught scale of outside, and as a result of that live preference in Economics and how above their means. our needs can be differentiated from Everybody wants to be respectour wants. I love that topic so much ed, and that is why someone who because it really helped in mould- doesn’t have a stable source of ing me on the path of success. The income will prefer to buy a car reverse is the case for many people. rather than invest the money in a A lot of people have made the small-scale business. No amount is grave mistake of choosing the right too small to start a business. With thing at the wrong time or vice ver- N20,000, you can start a recharge sa. And because sometimes, oppor- card business and with good savtunity comes but once, such peo- ings, you will marvel at the outple may not have another chance come. to make amends. A miserable life While I was in my first year at beckons. the University of Lagos, event orIt reminds me of a cobbler who ganisers usually called on some of was squatting with his friend in a us to add colour to their events by one-room apartment. Things were clapping. They would then pay us. so tight for him and business was I had already developed a saving not really moving, culture then, so all so understandably, my money went A lot of people have into my account. his friend agreed that he could stay But my friends made the grave with him pending would prefer to the time his busiat Yaba to mistake of choosing stop ness would pick up. buys jeans, tops The prayer of and other fashion the right thing at this cobbler was accessories. answered one day Wow, I have the wrong time when he got a conmany stories to or vice versa. And tract to make shoes share here but for all the workers will not perbecause sometimes, time in a big factory. mit me this week.

After delivering I promise that opportunity the job, he made a next week’s edireasonable finantion will be more comes but once, cial gain. What loaded. But before was supposed to I drop my pen, I such people may be a turning point would like to get not have another in the life of this your advice on an poor cobbler endissue. I have this chance to make ed up adding to his friend at the Unimisery. The reason versity of Lagos amends is not far-fetched who assumed the – he didn’t choose status of a ‘big right. girl’ in school. She I’m sure you’ll expect the cob- was one of those who would buy bler to rent his own apartment. He N250,000 Brazilian hair with her didn’t. Instead, he used the money money, while I was saving. At some to buy a car and was still squatting point, she and her friends laughed with his friend. Perhaps, the friend that I was starving myself. was angered by the cobbler’s foolNow that we are out of school, I ishness, so he chased him out of his have floated a company with my apartment. The cobbler ended up savings, and the girl wants me to migrating from one friend’s house employ her. Is it possible? How can to the other, and could not also I satisfy her with a salary? I had maintain the car he bought. always known that after school, I Let me fast-forward the story: As wouldn’t be in the labour market, you’re reading this article, this cob- so I saved a lot and started a launbler has yet to rent an apartment of dry business. Now, she wants to his own after about three years, and join me. the car he bought is nowhere to be Please, is it wise for me to employ found. I don’t pity him. The truth is such a person?

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Wine & Dine

Relaxing sweet wine Ibukunoluwa Kayode

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sweet note of Dessert wine can deliciously relax the palate. Crushed from both white and red grapes, it is a unique category of wine made sweet by harvesting grapes late when they have started to shrivel and lose some of the water content, while leaving sugar behind. They are also made of frozen grape wines, which separate the grape’s inmate sugars from the water pellets prior to pressing and fortifications. Also, fermentation is halted before all of the sugar is converted to alcohol. Dessert wine us considered a sweet wine that can be taken before and after a meal.

Dessert wines are sweet rich wines that lush the palate with smooth lingering experience with a burst of fruity undertone flavours. Lovers of sweeter drinks can indulge in this wine. They can be served as a table wine and as a party refreshment.

Keep in mind that sweet Dessert wines are best paired with confections that are only as sweet. Try Riesling with apple pie or crisp fruit torte, cheesecake and white chocolate-based desserts to enjoy a relaxing moment; the lingering experience is unforgettable.

Since the sweetness of Dessert wine limits it’s food pairing, one can get optimum satisfaction when it is paired with chocolate puddings, chocolates, nutty desserts, semi- sweet chocolates and caramels. And it is better served chilled.

Guilt free dessert

Biwom Iklaki

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orking out and losing weight is a very exciting thing. To get to this point, your meals and exercise must be in sync. The last few weeks, we have been preoccupied with exploring healthy meals. Today, we look at healthy desserts that work for both weight watchers and your average dessert connoisseur.

Fruit medley Basically, your favourite fruits mixed with two dollops or more of fat free yogurt and served chilled or semi frozen. Try raspberries, strawberries, apples, blue berries and kiwi.

Fruits and toast Oats are adorable and fabulous for your tummy.

They do wonders in there and help in blasting belly fat. Besides, breakfast, you could incorporate them into your desserts and other meals. In this dessert, toast ½ a cup lightly with about 10 almonds and coconut shavings. Layer in a glass with your fat free yogurt and blue berries as you would in layering your tiramisu. Blue berries are a great source of antioxidants, so this dessert will look great on your skin.

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RazzleDazzle

Body&Soul Abiola Alaba Peters

with

08062622328

Edwin Usoboh 08028101185

10 Nigerian male celebrities with more than one baby mama No doubt, having babies out of wedlock is no longer a big deal in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

It has become a way of life. Although the likes of Ice Prince, MayD, Olamide, Davido, Wizkid, Brymo are all proud fathers with no legal wives, Sunday Telegraph, ABIOLA ALABA PETERS brings to you, a list of 10 top male celebrities who have kids from more than one baby mama.

9ice - Two baby mamas and one ex-wife Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on Youths, Abolore Akande, has children from three different women. The Gongo Aso crooner and his fianceé, Olasunkanmi Ajala, welcomed their first child together, a baby girl, in 2014.

The baby is 9ice’s fourth. His first son, Zion, was born while he was married to his ex-wife, Toni Payne, in 2008. He also had a set of twin girls with his then-girlfriend, Victoria ‘Vicky” Godis, soon after and now a new baby girl, making him a proud baby daddy of four kids from three baby mamas.

know.

JJC- Three baby mamas Award-winning and multi-talented producer cum musician, JJC, unbelievably has three baby mamas and three grown up kids.Just like Oritse Femi, JJC, who is also known as Mr. Skillz, isn’t sure of marrying any of them.

Born Abdul Rasheed Bello, he earlier said that he’s not ready to settle down any time soon.

Flavour - Two baby mamas Beautiful former MBGN, Anna Ebiere Banna, is pregnant for the current highlife king, Flavour Na’abania.

Flavour will have two children from two Nigerian ex-beauty queens. He welcomed a child with Sandra Okagbue in September 2014. No doubt Flavour has his eyes on beauty queens.

Obafemi Martins - Three baby mamas Nigerian soccer star popularly referred to as ‘Obagoal’ isn’t exempted from this list as he is one of the proud ‘Unmarried’ lebrity fathers in Nigeria

c e today.

Obafemi has three sons with three different women and he isn’t married to any of them. He welcomed his last son with Balotelli’s sister, Abigail Barwuah, and they live together, at least from what we

IK Ogbonna-Two baby mamas The actor and model, IK Ogbonna, and his gorgeous girlfriend, Sonia Moralez, are expecting a child together. The Colombian beauty is already eight months gone in her pregnancy.

The talented actor already has a beautiful daughter who’s barely three years old with another woman.

The identity of IK’s first baby mama had been hidden from the public due to reasons best known to him, until he started showing her off on his Instagram page.

Oritse Femi - Two baby mamas Afrobeat singer, Oritse Femi, who rose to fame since the release of his re-make of Fela Kuti’s ‘Double Wahala’ song, is a proud father of two beautiful daughters who are between 9 and 10 with two different baby mamas.

Oritse Femi has said it many times that he has no plans whatsoever to marry any of the mothers of his daughters. According to him, he’s got a fiancee and they are planning to get married soon.

Oritse Femi is an ingrate -Manager

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opular hit maker, Oritse Femi, is at war with his manager, Yusuf Adebola Adepitan aka Danku.

Oritse Femi had filed a petition against Danku with the Nigeria Police Force, claiming “threat to life, fraudulent activities, and conspiracy” against his person and calling for an immediate arrest of his Ex-manager.

In the petition filed on May 22 to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, it was alleged that Danku went away with a 2014 model E Vogue Range Rover SUV, belonging to Oritse Femi and millions of naira.

When Sunday Telegraph contacted Danku via his mobile phone, he confirmed the rift between him and his former artiste and partner. According to him, the feud

was as a result of Femi’s alleged nonchalant attitude towards his career.

“Oriste Femi is a lair, he’s an ingrate, after all I did for him, he thought the best way to reward me for my efforts was to set me up.

I have read and heard all his allegations, presently, I am not in town, but I have contacted my lawyer. I never stole his money, not even a dime. Let me also remind you, my brother, that the alleged SUV he said I made away with was the one he had an accident with last year December and it was badly damaged. So tell me which SUV is he talking about?” Danku told our correspondent exclusively.

All efforts to reach Oritse Femi were futile as at the time of filing this report.

2Face Idibia - Two baby mamas, one wife On February 14, 2012, celebrated artiste, Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Face Idibia, proposed to his then long time girlfriend, A n n i e Macaulay. Many thought he was in for a big trouble. This was because at the time he begged the up and coming actress, Annie, for her hand in marriage, one of his baby mamas, Pero Adeniyi, was actually pregnant for the multiple awardwinning artiste.

Pero Adeniyi later delivered her third child, a cute baby boy, for the Benue Stateborn music star. As at then, another of his baby mamas, Sumbo Ajaba, who is currently married, already had two children for the singer.

After their glamourous wedding to Annie, who had a child for him before he proposed, his wife added another lovely baby girl to the Idibia family. This made the ‘Ihe Neme’ crooner a proud father of seven kids from three different women.

Tee Blizz- One Baby Mama, one wife Tiwa Savage’s manager turned husband, Tee Billz, already had two children with ex-

girlfriend before he got married to the sensational singer.

According to information, the ex-lovers were not married but reportedly dated for a couple of years and the romance resulted in two beautiful girls.

Tee Blizz has also promised to be a dotting father to his girls as he expects another bundle of joy from wife, Tiwa, who is due to deliver in a couple of months.

Pasuma - Five baby mamas Popular Fuji musician, Alabi Pasuma, has been linked with several women, both Nollywood actresses and top socialites.

Though the talented and handsome composer has not officially tied the knot with any woman, he is said to have up to 12 children from five different women.

Kwam 1 Award winning Fuji maestro, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, is referred to as the father of many generations with over 20 children from different women.

When asked how many children he’s got, he would not specify. He would rather say he’s been blessed with children.

According to Ayinde Marshal, lslam does not allow counting of children. He’s legally married to two women, Fatiah

and Titi Marshal.

Preye bows out of Nigerian Idol 5

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he on-going Season Five of the Nigerian Idol TV reality show is living up to expectation as another top contender, Preye, was given the boot at the weekend.

Show presenter, Illryhmz, who appeared to have a rather tasking job of announcing the name of the evicted contestant, broke the news about Preye’s eviction to the audience and the celebrity judges - the trio of Dede Mabiaku, Darey ‘Art’ Alade and Yinka Davies.

While silence fell upon a section of the OMG Dream Studios, venue of the show, it was a great relief for the three surviving contestants - K-Peace, Dolu and Nex2.

Preye’s eviction was unforeseen, at least at this stage, judging by the fact that she had always polled enough votes coupled with heart-warming performances to scale through previous hurdles. It is, however, believed that her eviction might not be unconnected with the rather average performance she put up the previous week.

During the top 4 show, her rendition of Janet Jackson’s ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ did

not sit too well with the judges.

Until her elimination, the beautiful, big and bold Bayelsa-born Preye was considered a top seed for the prize.

Top on the chart of her memorable moments on the show was during the Top 5 gala when she performed KCee’s ‘Limpopo’ and got a standing ovation from the judges. Among them was Cool FM’s Mannie, who was on the show that night as a guest judge.

Preye said about her eviction: “I wasn’t expected to leave at this point in time. I don’t know what went wrong. Somebody had to go, I guess, and I happened to be the one. There is so much I am taking away from here that I was never exposed to. It would hurt, but life goes on. I have learnt so much from the competition.”

Nigerian Idol focuses on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new SUV, a recording deal worth N7.5 million with South-Africa’s Universal Music label and some high-end devices.

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Safe teens don’t do drugs (2) Areola Samuel

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s Kamio walked past several school mates, he suddenly remembered he must first get back to the school lockers. He had something he must pick before the Safe Schools official got there!

And as Kamio walked into the locker room, he suddenly came to a standstill.

Right in front of his school locker were the Safe Schools officers and their dogs sniffing at his locker.

“You are early today Kamio. We will like to ask you a few questions,” one of the officers said.

Kamio never did wait to answer any of their questions as he turned around and swiftly made for the door at the far end of the hall.

STOP! STOP! STOP! The officers cried after him with their dogs loose and running after Kamio.

‘Suspect is running down the Blue house hallway!’ one of the Safe Schools officers cried.

There was a little drama as people blocking the hall way splintered in different direc-

tions not knowing what they were running away from.

Screams, confusion and more creams was all that could be witnessed at the moment.

But then, Kamio was bound to run out of luck as it presently happened.

“Hold it right there, Kamio!” An officer was standing with his palm spread ahead of him as he stood firmly in front of Kamio.

The chase was over but then what was the offence and who was the offender?

It was in the Safe Schools office, two Safe Schools officers were seated on the only padded bench found in the office.

Another female officer was seated at a table facing Kamio who was also seated at the table.

“I am leading the questioning, Kamio,” the female officer and the most friendly looking of the three officers said.

“Please. I’m not saying anything,” Kamio replied, trying to look and sound tough.

He reminded himself that villains in the movies he had watched always looked and

Cross word puzzle

Celebrations!!!

acted tough.

The officer then spoke, “That is your right, Kamio.

But let me remind you of your situation.

“We want to give you a chance to talk before this goes any further. I’m going to give you a chance to cooperate before you’re charged.

This is bad, Kamio. But it CAN get even worse. You want to wait an extra year to pass out of school? You think about!”

“Fine. Who cares? My life stinks anyway. What do you want to know?” Kamio asked.

“The principal has agreed not to expel you -if you tell us how you got these pills,” the officer said.

“You could lose your certificate. This could wreck your college plans, any career plans you had. You are about to be charged with multiple counts of theft, possession and distribution of controlled substances.

“This is a serious offense already and not to think that you led us on a merry chase through half the school compound. It took our special dog to sniff out those pills in your locker.

“I also want to tell you that Jeanine Righi is 4! we received a very solid tip She is a fun, lovable, smart and caring. She loves Dora the explorer and that you were dealing with being a princess. Her mom and dad wish her a favour-filled and blessed prescription drugs at school’. year. Happy birthday cute Jeanine!

Painkillers, mostly. How did it start?” ...To be Why are pirates called pirates?

What goes through towns, up and continued Ans: Cause they arrrrr. over hills, but doesn’t move?

Gags

What do prisoners use to call each other?

Ans: Cell phones.

Where do snowmen keep their money?

Ans: In snow banks.

What washes up on very small beaches?

Ans: Microwaves!

Ans: The road!

Why was there thunder and lightning in the lab?

Ans: The scientists were brainstorming!

Why did Tony go out with a prune?

Ans: Because he couldn’t find a date!

What did the little mountain say to the big mountain?

Ans: Hi Cliff!

MOYIN & FRIENDS

LITTLE LINDER

By Ayo Oyerinde

08034407393

By eei

In the heart of Lekki

SUNDAY

Faith 51

SUNDAY JUNE 7 , 2015

Sermon The Holy Trinity is family p.57

Interveiw

Lagos church where there is no ‘pastor’

Oritsejafor, others caused Jonathan’s downfall – Apostle Attamaojo p.53

News Martins condemns attacks on Northern Christians p.54

Victoria Fellowship Church building

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Tai Anyanwu

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

s one turns into Alma Beach Estate in upscale Lekki area of Lagos State, the noise from traffic on the ever-busy Lekki-Epe Expressway recedes into oblivion.

The first turn to the left and then another turn right reveals an exquisite edifice where members of Victoria Fellowship Church worship.

The church is distinct in many ways. Incidentally, it has operated without a pastor for decades in Nigeria. It is also not into growing branches.

When Roving Reporter visited the place, it was learnt that the church emphasises a self-styled evangelism that is designed to attract people to Christ through the strength of character of its members.

At this moment, you might be wondering what kind of church this might be and how it could survive for several decades without a pastor. Rather, the church elects a ‘chairman’ periodically to steer its affairs.

Current Chairman of the Church Council, Eddy Atumonyogo, sheds light on the issue: “Victoria Fellowship Church is an international and interdenominational church. We don’t have a pastor per se. Then of course, we are people that love God.” Every year, an election is conducted to choose members of the council to run the church for one year.

“At the end of one year, we do another election to produce a new council. But each council has two terms of one year. After two terms you cannot contest for the same post again,” he pointed out.

We want to, through our lifestyle evangelism, bring people to Christ. Through our lifestyle in the work place and market place, we try to model Christ and bring people to him

Asked how the activities of Victoria Fellowship differ from those of other churches, Atumonyogo said: “Most of our activities are based on supporting missions. Since we don’t have a pastor to pay, we only pay our staff and those that run the church. The rest goes to missions.

“Over 60 per cent of the church’s income goes towards mission organisations, charitable organisations and that is how we do it in this church.”

The vision and mission of the church, he added, “is to bring men to the saving knowledge of Christ and through them, make Christ known to the unsaved.

“So we want to, through our lifestyle evangelism, bring people to Christ. Through our lifestyle in the work place and market place, we try to model Christ and bring people to him.”

But what is the place of spiritual leadership within the concept operated by the unique church? The fellowship’s chairman explains: “When we say that we are lay-men, it is not that we don’t have ordained pastors.

But some of the people in this place are also people that have been pastors in various churches. For example, I am the chairman of the church council. I was a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for 10 years.

“I planted international parishes for them.

But when God revealed to me that my next stage of mission activities is more of supporting missions, l said to myself: let me be in this place as an ordinary member.”

Five years after, Atomonyogo was elected as the church council chairman. He explained that many other people in the fellowship also had similar and deep experiences with God. “God brings them here as lay people and then at the appropriate time, He puts them in positions of authority just for His church.

“And we have a Pastoral Council. This is composed of nine people that give spiritual direction to the church. The chairman of council is a member, and then eight other people, so they are pastors of the church.

They give spiritual direction to the church while the council is responsible for the running of the church,” Atumonyogo asserted.

Incidentally, Victoria Fellowship did not deliberately embrace a popular denominational system of having a church head for some reasons.

“This church was started by foreigners, people that were Christians in their own country. When they came to Nigeria, because they CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Faith

What ethnic group makes the best husband/wife?

• Ijeoma Monday Damisa nywhere, as far as there is love and God is in it. The Bible says marriage is honourable and the bed undefiled. The Bible also says in Gen 2:18: “It is not good for a man to be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” God did not say He would bring the helper from Imo, Edo or Ondo State. Marriage is a union between two different people (tribes), coming together as one because of Love. Love is of God and anyone that loves is born of God (1John 4:7-8). Love also conquers all. God Himself is against discrimination Gen 2:24; “Therefore shall a man leave his father n mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh, whether Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba but all that matter is love and understanding in the marriage.

That is why the Bible say a wise woman uses her hands to build her home while the foolish one will use her own hands to destroy her own home. Onyeka Onwuenu sang it in her song - One Love; keep us together.

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•Paul Onyenankeya or me, marriage is all about choosing a life partner. Looking at the scriptures, it is not written that one should get married in a particular tribe. It is all about love and listening to God’s directions.Tribe is not what we need in marriage. The most important thing we need in marriage is what that person possesses – character, attitude, maturity, mental maturity etc. For those who believe in tribal issues, sometimes it is not their fault. It is how they are being trained for. I use myself for instance I was asked to get married from my village but I refused I got married from another place because I know what marriage is all about and what I want.

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•Eromosele Nelson do women are the best, full of respect.

Apart from their traditions, they are very nice thank you.

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G

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•Kehinde Yemi-Oladunjoye t’s choice, no special place or ethnic group

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•Pastor Ade Olorunishola ou can marry from any tribe if (1) if it is the will of God; 2. If there is mutual love between the two parties; 3.

It depends on how matured both parties are and another thing is that understanding is the main matter.

Y •Faith Okafor ove is not about tribe. It is where someone can have a rest of mind and happiness. For instance, I am a victim of tribal discrimination in my choice of spouse. I believe one would end up making the wrong choice if he or she is force to get married to a person that he don’t love. People should forget about tribalism and focused on the people they love.

L •Saint Emma enerally speaking, no ethnic group is the best and none is the worst to get a spouse. We all have our various choices and purposes in getting a spouse. So it all depends on what you want, who you want, where you want it and how you want it.

•Adetutu Agbabiaka Ade ribe ke? No tribe is perfect. One can marry from any tribe because marriage goes beyond it. One can marry from any tribe so far the man or woman is honest, of good character, matured, Godly, respectful, intelligent, caring etc.

•Morso gbo is the best tribe to marry from. If you do not know, an Igbo man will do anything to satisfy both wife and in-laws.

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•Cherry Bless Odeh he best tribe is love. It is the only language that turns everything around

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• Gabrial EBhodaghe ll tribe are good, but, is where God says is your destiny

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•Ihionkhan Richard: Esan •Amarachukwu ona Izu-Ogbodo: Igbo is it.

•Bumi Allao f one wants to go into marriage, one needs to watch and pray very well because marriage is not something one can rush into. It is not something you choose for yourself. You allow God to direct you.

You may have a particular idea of the person in mind for instance tall, short, fair, beautiful, sexy etc. But may not be the one God has prepared for you. One can get married to any tribe if it is the will of God and chosen for you by God because it is only God that chooses. Before I use to think I can marry from any tribe but when I prayed to God he chose for me.

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•Olabisi Ha milton ll tribes are good, as far as you blend well with their traditions.

•Yewande Ajayi person can get married to any tribe depending on your own perception. It depends on what you think and feel about that person. I believe it is a personal thing. I can get married to any tribe. I believe it is not good to be tribalistic because at a point one may need an help from any person being tribalistic can limit you to some certain things. For example, if you don’t like the Igbo people, you won’t want to move closer to your boss if your boss is an Igbo man; because you have that tribal issue with Igbos. Let everyone be united.

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•Monday Ojo In fact, one should marry from one’s tribe and the same belief as yours.

One of the reasons is that your children can speak your language and know more about your customs and traditions.

If you marry from afar, it can grow into extinction

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Compiled by Josephine Damisa and Nzerem Amaka

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Faith

Oritsejafor, others caused Jonathan’s downfall – Apostle Attamaojo Your ministry is indeed doing well here in Kubwa, Abuja. What is the secret?

The reason is the burden that God gave me.

And that is the mission to go to places where the gospel has not reached. It has been my heart cry and for many years, I have been going from community to community. I have a burden, especially for Kogi State, my place of birth, where I have been visiting those who are going through challenges. I go to the villages, orphanages and to Islamic brethren that are dying ignorantly. I came from the same background, and would not like to see anybody die there. It is wrong to say “we are serving the same God.” If you die in that religion, you go to hell. Nobody comes to God except through Jesus.

Why are you so particular about souls in Igala area of Kogi State?

Yes, that is the reason I am forming an Association of Igala Brethren, to take us back to the land. There are altars that control the land that need to be broken before Igala can burst out fully. We are calling the group together to go back and deliver the land to the Lord Jesus Christ. And the best way to do it is by coming together. We are trying our best to make the body strong and united.

When will you commence the deliverance and how do you intend to achieve that?

This December, we are targeting a particular local government to break their altar where the Attah of Igala had placed a curse. I believe that the curse cannot be broken until there is unity among Igala brethren. We have fathers in the land but everybody is fighting for themselves. Today, people believe in their stomachs. They believe that whatever God gives them is for themselves and their families. And the people of the land are suffering. My people say when somebody’s head is busy, you come back to barb it at home. In other words, one day you must come back home. But if the home is not okay, where are you going to stay?

General Overseer of Jesus Revival Outreach, Abuja, Apostle Abraham Attamaojo, shares his burden for soul winning and why Jonathan failed to win a second term. He spoke with TAI ANYANWU So then, fuel in the vehicle is the passion for the zeal. We are looking for those with like passion and zeal to come together with one mind, one spirit and one accord. To the glory of God, we will bring our Muslim brethren and the pagans into the light. All will begin to feel love and unity. They cannot be convinced about love and the saving knowledge of Christ without seeing the concrete love between us and signs of what we are carrying as Christians. But we have to first extend that to ourselves as Christians.

Aren’t you deterred by the robust belief of your Muslim brethren in their faith?

I just heard yesterday that a woman went back to Islam because a pastor became confused and could not compose himself, work or ask God for another direction. This time around, you need a brother who understands what they carry, and can help us regain what we have lost. That pastor may have been pushing people forth and back, as many do today. That will only make baby Christians go back to Islam. After one has brought people to the light, ignorance could easily send them back to darkness. In this unity, we begin to know what we carry as

But there are people that may be rejected if the home front is not okay. And won’t that be because there is no call?

Yes, there is a call, the grace is there but there is a besetting foundation. When I was coming to Abuja, God said to me, ‘Go back to my Jerusalem.’ And I had to go back to my Jerusalem and worked under Christian Fellowship of Nigeria (CFN) not because of the pay; but because I wanted my community to be free from that bondage. I served there for sometime without collecting a salary. To the glory of God, many Muslim brethren gave their lives to Christ; idol worshippers repented; and there was revival in the land. I am in touch with other brethren in other states. We must take over the land and there must be unity. I believe God that we will take over the land by His grace.

Could you be more specific about the disunity in Igala land?

Before we can reach out to our Muslim brethren, we must know our stand as Christians. We are not building Igala brethren, we are building Igala Christian brethren.

It is the Igala Christian brethren that will bring the whole of Igala to the knowledge of Christ. But without unity, we cannot get there. If, for instance, I go to Islamic brethren and I say to them that Jesus is Lord and that best way to go to God is to know Jesus, they will say no, it can’t be. They will say you can reach God anywhere you are. Now, there is division among us. And these are people with the hearts to serve God, but the passion and the zeal are not there. Zeal is like a vehicle that takes you to places but a vehicle without fuel cannot go far.

Attamaojo

Christians and we contribute our individual talents and appreciate the grace upon us.

The Holy Spirit is the one that empowers us, not the degree we have or our level of sophistication. I know that inside of you there is the Holy Spirit. He can produce a lot and that cannot be allowed to die. When I started, I could not speak in English, cannot read then I encountered the Holy Ghost and began to speak. The Holy Ghost brightened me, now I can read. I went back to school because God wanted me to know wisdom required to approach people properly. There are people that don’t have strength to do a thing on their own. They look unto other people to help them. If we tell such people that they cannot make it, you make them give up hope. So they need to be encouraged to discover and develop their gifts. We want to go back to Igala land and encourage those who care but are not learned. We will send them to school and when they come out they will utilise that knowledge in the work of the vineyard. Some them who have benefitted from such scholarships are already extending hands into the cause of mission. By the time we are able to invest in them to a certain level, the church will

not suffer because it is a seed. When a seed grows to a certain level, it will spring forth.

Would you like to tell about the crisis and killings currently going in North Central Nigeria?

Sincerely, the whole thing is happening because of the inability of our spiritual leaders to stand. Somebody asked me about Papa Ayo, and look at what is happening. We asked someone from Maiduguri, somebody from Benue State, from Delta and other places why these people who are leaders in the land allow the crises. Believe me, the reason is spiritual, not physical. If it was handled spiritually, what we are facing now wouldn’t have happened. Unfortunately, these things will continue until we realise our mistake. The mistake is that everybody feels they are on their own. Every man that is genuinely called by God is called to pay a price. And if this price is not paid we can’t win the prize. Many have failed because, today, many leaders are more interested in building personal empires because they want to generate money for themselves. If we can come together and cry unto God, this land will be delivered. The bloodshed and whatever will stop; and this is what is hindering Nigeria’s progress. In Islam, people come together in unity, they don’t want to know whether you are from one state, country or another. As long as Muslims are concerned, they can go to any length together. But in Christendom, some leaders believe they have more members, are more influential or better connected and then unity is lacking. For instance, before the just concluded elections, we went a forum where I discovered that 10,000 pastors were praying against their colleagues. How can the house stand?

Our fathers have to wake up if this land must be delivered. We believe that God will raise new generals for us in Christendom.

Three years ago, God revealed to me that many Christian leaders had deviated and that He was going to raise new generals to champion his work. And if you want to know, many have become too familiar with God and can no longer be remorseful or confess their sins. The Bible says pride goes before a fall.

How does it make you feel that a Muslim has come into power and Nigerians are now so afraid because he is adjudged to be an incorruptible man who does not condone wrong doing?

It is a very big slap. One thing about Muslims is that they believe in helping one another. Many will benefit from Muhammadu Buhari’s administration simply because Muslims like to prove the existence of love and in the spirit of Muslim brotherhood. This is primarily because they want to win Christians by so doing. Everyone, no matter how big or small, will be a partaker of Buhari’s dividends of democracy.

But there is one thing to note. And that is that they can go to any length to keep the presidency within the Muslim brotherhood.

That is what we Christians failed to do. Yes, he may have good intentions for the country, but the reason why (President Goodluck) Jonathan lost was because Christian leaders failed to talk to him, because they were benefiting from the former president. They failed to rebuke him and Christians are going to surfer it all the same.

Sunday Telegraph,, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

54

Faith

Martins condemns attacks on Northern Christians

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Tai Anyanwu

he Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan See, His Grace, Adewale Martins, has condemned all forms of attacks against Christians in Northern Nigeria, including hostilities

by Hausa/Fulani herdsmen, and the loss of lives and property.

The Catholic archbishop frowned on the attacks, which he described as “a recurring issue over the years” during a press conference in Lagos to mark his birthday.

Archbishop Martins, however, expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari, as a man of conscience, would put a stop to the perennial persecution of Northern Christians.

The cleric also urged Nigerians to hold Buhari to his promise that he would be fair and equitable to all.

He said: “About attacks on Christians in the North, it has been a recurring issue; it has been a recurring matter, unfortunately. And that is why one will continue to encourage government and indeed to demand from government that they should ensure that peoples of all religion are able to practice their religions wherever they may find themselves.

“It is the right of every single Nigerian to live wherever he wants to live, to practice his religion wherever he wants and to pursue economic sustenance wherever he wishes so that we want to charge the government to pay particular attention to this aspect with regards to the practice of religion.”

Martins regretted that in the best of times, Christians in northern Nigeria have difficulties with getting land to build their churches in some parts of the north.

“We are being told that, indeed, there are regulations and laws that are there without being expressed but they are there and they are skewed against Christians.

“That is why one is

happy that the present president has told us that he belongs to everybody and he belongs to nobody.

That means whether you are Christian or Muslim, whether you are northerner or southerner, whatever it is as a group, he belongs to you.

“And therefore, no one should claim him for his side or her side; it is not good that we claim him for ourselves whether religious group, political group or any other,” the Archbishop warned.

He charged Nigerians to hold the president to his promise to deal with all Nigerians irrespective of religion and ethnic group.

He insisted: “I think we should hold him to that promise that he has made.

And I believe that he is a man of conscience and he will ensure that he put into action that which he has said with regard that he will be fair and equitable to everybody.”

Martins also urged the President not to hesitate in sanitising the nation by reintroducing the War Against Indiscipline. He described the policy as the hallmark of the former military leader’s regime in 1983-1985.

He added that the president should end the regime of recycling old hands and engagement of political jobbers. He urged Buhari to appoint only credible and competent professionals to oversee the various ministries, departments and agencies of government.

The president should also overhaul of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, resuscitate the power sector to enable Nigeria to grow her economy, cut down on cost of governance by downsizing ministries; empower the security agencies; and ensure all-round development.

Martins condemned the referendum in Ireland on gay marriage, saying: ““The people of Ireland obviously have been thinking about it what they consider appropriate but the

ECWA trains 700 on agric

T

he Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Railway Local Church Council (LCC), Bauchi, says it has trained 700 members in new techniques to improve their agricultural production.

The LCC Overseer, Rev. Shuaibu Byal, told newsmen in Bauchi on Thursday that the training was conducted during the LCC’s two-day revival service at ECWA II, Bauchi.

Byal said the members were trained in new ways of cultivating soya beans, sesame and groundnuts

with assurance of high productivity.

He added that the members were also trained on how to effectively construct and manage fish and poultry farms.

He said the training was crucial particularly since iot has started raining and planting will soon commence.

According to him, the training is borne out of the need to empower and equip members with the necessary skills to enable them engage in best agricultural practices.

fact is that I believe that matters of morality are not matters that are subject to a referendum or vote.

“That there is a majority that vote for something immoral doesn’t make that thing become morally right.

And that there are so many

who vote for a position that runs contrary to what we believe is God’s position on the matter does not make it God’s position or the position of scriptures.

So matters of morality are not subject to majority vote.

“For this reason, I do not

accept or believe that procedure is the right one and in taking a decision such as gay marriage or same sex union. I think we should not even call it gay marriage because to my own estimation, the definition of marriage as I understand

it does not include man and man and woman and woman. So we can only call it same union rather than marriage as such, but as I said that is not the procedure to follow in coming to a conclusion on moral matters,” he declared.

L-R: Metropolitan Grand Knight, KSM, Lagos Metropolitan Council, Charles Mbelede; Catholic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Rt Rev. Ayo-Maria; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins; National President, Papal Knights and Medalists, Sir Patrick Ikemefuna and Chancellor, Knight of St. Mulumba, Lagos Metropolitan Council, James Famure, after an annual press briefing to mark Archbishop Martins’s Birthday in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Lagos church where there is no ‘pastor’ CO N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 5 1

were not really fitting in properly in some of the churches, they came together and started meeting as a fellowship.

“Most of those people come in here, stay two or three years and they go back to their country. They are either ambassadors and diplomats and all that. The church has a council. Over time, some Nigerians started joining them. Then over the years, it became the culture of the church and it is working,” he stated.

Mission activities of the fellowship are aimed strictly at supporting existing missionary organisations that have the reach and are already established.

“We support the Navigators, Capro. We support those mission organisations working up North; and who are able to reach rural people in the North,” he said.

Similarly, the fellowship supports mission activities in West Africa, the Arab world and also does welfare for the poor.

“We just had a medical outreach to a community where the downtrodden live here in Lagos. Free eye checks, free eye glasses and preaching the gospel were part of our activities in that community welfare package. That is what we do mostly.

“Anywhere we hear about distressed Nigerians, we are interested in going there; and bringing succour so that people will know that Jesus cares. So, you see us going to where the Chibok displaced people are staying in Eleko, Lagos State; just to show the love of God and share material things to them,” he stated.

But in spite of its track record of

service to God and humanity, Victoria Fellowship Church is hardly known.

Atumonyogo explained: “Yes, because Christ says when you do your alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

“When you do things and you don’t blow your trumpet, you give glory to God. When you do things for God and you are blowing your trumpet, you are taking the glory. So our church is not interested in taking the glory that belongs to God.” He added: “But God said let your light shine before men. So, by shining our light out there in the market place, people get to know. The will know that okay this is where we worship and our pastor. Then they begin to know about the church and how we run it. Maybe it will spread; but for us to spread it like that. God has not asked us.”

The chairman emphasised that Victoria Fellowship is indeed open to everybody.

“You can see that the church is open to everybody. We have the very affluent, we have the downtrodden. Even we have an outreach in the evenings. If you come here in the evening it is a different congregation,” he said.

Sunday Telegraph, learnt that a separate fellowship had been created for those that cannot speak English language.

According to the chairman, those who speak Yoruba, Igbo and other languages they could speak come from areas around the Bar Beach and poor areas within Lekki and Lagos Island neighbourhood.

“We just started by giving some welfare to them. They come here for

welfare, collect money. We listen to them, help them support their small businesses and we now decided to teach them the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we started an evening class for them and their children. So it is a combination of things.

“Some of them have children who are out of school. We counsel them, put them in school, give them scholarship and we do all kind of things.

We teach them crafts so that we can get them off welfare.

“We teach them how do small business. At times, we train them properly and get them to start businesses.

So, in the evenings, they come for their own service and their class.”

Atuminyogo also explained that the church does not have branches and does not have any interest in getting into such.

“This is because we don’t want to be distracted from what God has asked us to do. This church has been in existence since 1960s.”

Reacting to a question about the election of President Muhammadu Buhari, he said: “We are all change agents. Change is not going to happen through the church alone.

“If you change your area of influence, if everybody changes in his or her own little corner, Nigeria will be a changed place. Yes, it is good for our political heads to lead by example. If they leave good examples, it sends out a very powerful statement.

“But they cannot just be the ones that will change the whole thing.

Everybody has to change his own little corner. Just like bringing light.

If everybody carries their own light everywhere, there will be lights,” he added.

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Faith

Reach out for the Light Mystery ofAnxiety Bishop

John Ogbansiegbe

0803 341 6327

B

e ready for His coming. Time is very short and your soul is in danger of hellfire, with sin in your life. If you are willing and ready, our Lord Jesus Christ is more willing than you are. He is standing on the door of your heart knocking. He is stretching out His hands unto you to give you the light of life in His hands.

Awake now, reach out for that light.

The above scripture is a divine scriptural alert to remind the true believers in Christ that we are in the last day sand therefore should be ready for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The last days began in the days of Saint Paul, the first century. We are now in the last of the last days. In a football match, it will be called “The Injury Time,” a time when the full time of play comes to

an end, and spectators are tensed up as they anticipate the referees final whistle.

The whole signs given to the church as what would herald the second coming of Christ have all been fulfilled in this our generation. Very soon, He that will come will come. Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? The day of ll days is very much near.

If you became born-again last year, you are one year older. Each new day draws every man closer to his grave or closer to the second coming of the Lord. If Saint Paul was talking about spiritual sleep then, what about now? The church of our generation is truly in spiritual slumber, distracted and unready. I echo with Saint Paul: “it is high time we awake for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

The challenge before every believer is to keep their light burning, to shine for our Lord Jesus Christ like never before and to continue shinning.

This was truly the word of God stated thus: “Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to trodden under foot of men; ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid neither do men

The church of our generation is truly in spiritual slumber, distracted and unready

light a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven – Matthew5:13-16.

Indeed, many believers in our world today are spiritually asleep. They are asleep because of worldliness and worldly entanglements. They are asleep because of sin, evil habits, compromise, conformity with worldly standards and misplaced spiritual priorities. They are asleep because of the impurity of their hearts, misuse inclination to vanity and false or erroneous doctrines.

Are you spiritually asleep or are you actively awake? You cannot be asleep and active at the same time. The time of sleep is naturally a time of inactivity and rest. The Holy Ghost is telling you now to examine your spiritual status. He is asking you now: “Are you asleep or awake? Are you marking time or march-

ing forward? Time is very short. This is why the Spirit of God said to the church even till now “I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot, I will slew thee out of my mouth” – Revelation 3:15 and 16.

As far as God is concerned, there should not be any idle position about this matter. It is either you are cold or hot, it is either you are asleep or awake and active in the service of the Lord.

Anything that preoccupies your heart outside the things of God, hinders your spiritual growth, reduces your zeal for the service of God, makes the work of God burdensome to you, is certainly not from God. These are the fruits and the manifestations of the works of darkness.

This is indeed, the time to shine for our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the time to shine in truth and righteousness; this is the time to shine in purity, love and service to God and humanity. To this end, the word of God declares thus: Wherefore he saith, awake thou that sleepest; and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light.” – Ephesians5:14.

See that thou walk circumspect not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil” _ Ephesians5:15-16.

The error of water baptism the of

Oracles God

Frank Oboden Olomukoro frankolomukoro@yahoo.com

0703 362 1866

T

his is an area of scripture that has not only been assaulted, but where many people put up blind argument for lack of scriptural knowledge. Matthew 28:19 says: ”Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Ghost.“ However, in Acts 2:38, Apostle Peter told them to be baptised “IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.” Is there any conflict between these two statements? None, of course! The Lord Jesus commissioned us to baptise in the NAME (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost bear a common NAME. Needless to say that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are TITLES, common nouns and not proper names of God. Every father has a name, every son has a name, and every spirit has a name. In John 17: 6-26, the Lord Jesus said in His prayers: I have manifested your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world and I have declared to them your NAME. So what is that name? The Bible will answer for itself. Note that on the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost came first (Acts 2:4) before Peter opened his mouth to say anything. So all that Peter said in his sermon on that day was inspired by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth. The fact that the lot fell on Peter to make this declaration was also not an accident. The Lord had already given him (Peter) the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19). So, it was Peter who opened the door of the kingdom to the Jews on how to be born again on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38-42) and to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:34-48).

The name of the FATHER, SON AND

HOLY GHOST is unequivocally the LORD JESUS CHRIST as Peter led by the Holy Spirit declared. The Lord backed Peter with authority and result for what he preached on that day of Pentecost.

Three thousand souls were baptised the same day (Acts 2:42). Now, did the apostles do what Jesus told them not to do? If they did, they disobeyed and GOD will never honour disobedience. If He would, He would have honoured King Saul over the Amalekites .When God says anything, He’s got to keep his words.

He’s sovereign.

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost Very well, we all know that authority does not go with a title or an office but a NAME. A cheque can only be cashed in the bank with the proper name of the issuer, not his office or title as a manager, teacher, father, son, pastor, for example.

Jesus said: “I give you authority over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:17). In my name (Jesus Christ), you will cast out devils (mark 16:16) “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ” (Phil 2:9-10).

Don’t hold prejudice, if you do, God can’t talk to you. For once, look into the Bible and set aside the doctrines and traditions of your church. Tradition is not

the same as the Word of God. Some put up an argument: Does it make any difference if I baptise this way - Father, Son and Holy Ghost - or that way in the name of Jesus Christ? It certainly does and as I have said, the NAME Jesus carries authority while the TITLES of father, son and Holy Ghost are ceremonial, without authority.

How father, son, and Holy Ghost Baptism evolved The Baptism in the Name of Jesus according to history was changed by the Catholic Church.

• The Britanica encyclopedia, 11thedition, volume 3, pages 365-366 says: ”The baptism formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words father, son and Holy Ghost by the Catholic Church in the fourth century. Everywhere in the oldest source it states that baptism took place in the name of Jesus Christ.”

The Canny Encyclopedia of Religion on Page 53 states: “The church always baptised in the name of the Lord until the development of the trinity doctrine in the third century. The term ‘TRINITY’ was originated by Tertullian, a Roman Catholic Church father. Not one place in the Bible was trinity ever mentioned. You find it and show it to me. There is no such thing or word. It is not of God. Its Catholic error and you Protestants, Pentecostals and evangelicals bowed to it.”

• HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF

RELIGION, volume 2, page 377-378, volume 2, page389 “Christian baptism was administered using the words “in the name of Jesus.” The use of trinity formula of any sort was suggested in the early church history. Baptism was always in the name of the Lord Jesus until the time of Justin Martyr when triune formula was used.”

• Dictionary of the Bible by Scribbnervolume 1, page 241: “The original form of words were in the name of Jesus Christ, or Lord Jesus. Baptism into the trinity was a later development.”

• Yes, if there were three Gods, you might very well baptise (immerse three times) for a father and a son, and the Holy Ghost as you may have been baptised but the revelation given to Peter was that there is one God and his name is LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you baptise for one God and only one. That was why Peter baptised for one God and only one.

That was why Peter baptised the way he did at Pentecost. He had to be true to the revelation, which was: “Let the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same JESUS, whom ye have crucified both LORD AND CHRIST.” There he is: ‘THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.’ There is not one person in the whole of the scripture that was baptised using the name of the father, son and Holy Ghost. How were you baptised? If in the triune, you got to be re-baptised.

Give me a call for counselling now.

Mount of Glory celebrates Children’s Day Esther Albert

Y

oungsters at Mount of Glory Christ Apostolic Church had pleasurable moments during the celebration of Children’s Day by the church in Lagos recently.

The church organised some activities designed to pass knowledge and teach Godly virtues to children. The church’s General Overseer, Prophet Samuel Olo-

runtola, explained that raising kids in an environment where corruption is prevalent puts an enormous demand on parents and guardians. He said they must rise up to the task and help their wards learn and understand how to lead a Godly life.

“Our children are our mirror in this church. Therefore, there is the need for us to guide and teach them the right things to do and to make them feel happy in the

Lord,” the GO said.

He emphasised that children “are the future of their parents,” adding that good parents should protect and guide their children in the right way.

A coordinator of children in the church, Ayodele Durodola, told Sunday Telegraph that putting together the Children Day’s celebration wasn’t easy. He said it took quite some effort to arrive at a package that was apt in the

sense of passing knowledge and at the same time ensure that kids had fun on their day.

“The devil tried to prevent the programme from holding. While we were rehearsing for the programme, a young boy discovered a naked cable and he was used by the devil to touch other children around him. To the glory of God, we were able to overcome the devil and hold the programme successfully,” he said.

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SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Faith

What a pity Taming your Emotions Bishop

Lawrence Osagie 0806 325 0667 www.powerlineministriesinc.org mail:powerlineministries@mail.com

M

any people in our generation and time are still wasting the grace of God upon them because they are talking to people they have no business talking to. Some have lost the grace of eternity because of wrong and evil relationships. Satan came to eve and asked her a question and before you know it she was swept off the line.

Now listen to me. When you begin to fellowship with some individuals, I know what is going to happen to you.

There are individuals who are anointed to destroy and unfortunately they do not wear horn that makes them look like evil.

Some of them are people that you confide in. Otherwise many single sisters who died in the course of abortion should still be living to fulfil their life dreams. Their untimely and tragic end started the day one sweet-tongued guy said to them: ’I love you.’

I am certain that God wants to use this medium to expose you to the many tricks

of the wicked and you have to pay attention to the thoughts that will be dropping into your inner mind as you read this article. Adam and Eve were in the centre of God’s will, enjoying every element of grace and favour when the lost it. They both wasted the grace of God that was bestowed on mankind. What a pity!

Man was made a perfect image and likeness of God both in glory and in honour. But Adam and Eve lost that opportunity and plunged the entire human race to the doom and agony we are experiencing in this world. May you never waste the grace of God upon you in Jesus name?

Not long after the first parents lost the glorious life in the Garden of Ede, we were introduced to the story of Abel and his brother Cain, both children of Adam and Eve. After harvest, Cain decided to give God offering and Abel too.

When Abel gave, God approved his offering because they were the best of his harvest; but that of Cain was rejected.

And Cain, obsessed with anger, envy and bitterness, murdered his own brother in cold blood. He became the first murderer in history and incurred the wrath of God. He became a fugitive and a vagabond.

He is another waster of grace.

It is not a good story that Abel, even though he was doing well, lost his life in such a gruesome and tragic circumstance.

But it is a lesson we have to learn from to be careful of friends and relations who are outwardly jealous and envious in nature else become a victim of their evil

After harvest, Cain decided to give God offering and Abel too.

When Abel gave, God approved his offering because they were the best of his harvest; but that of Cain was rejected

antecedents.

We have discussed Lot as one who found grace, because he followed a man who God has favoured. Lot was prosperous as Abraham was prospering. Everything he did ended up in good harvest and prosperity.

He had flocks and herdsmen attending to his animal farm. He became rich much so that his herdsmen begun quarrelling with Abraham’s men. And Abraham said to him: “It is not wise for hired labours to make us have issues; look up the land and chose where you love most and move on with your men.

I expected Lot to look back and see what grace has done for him and seek Abraham’s counsel on how best to handle the situation than outright separation. The problem is that when the deceitfulness of riches gets into the head, you

can never think straight. He made his choice and opted to leave. That decision landed him in Sodom and Gomorrah.

The eventual destruction of that city and its inhabitants spelt doom for him, even though he obtained grace from the Lord to escape, his wife never made it.

The angels leading him had told him where best to escape to – on top of the mountain – but Lot, again, wasted that opportunity by choosing the plain.

“And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, ‘arise; take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought them forth, and set him without the city.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither sty thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

And Lot saith to them, oh, not so, my Lord: behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: o let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”

Encounter with power through prayer & fasting The Voice of Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo

7747546-8 (SMS only)

W

e are in the last days, which are the days of the manifestation of God’s power. This is when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of God before the arrival of Christ. It is also an era where the power of resurrection shall be in manifestation more than ever before. Furthermore, in these last days, the redeemed of the Lord shall be manifesting the messianic order of anointing (Mark 9:29; Acts 2:1620; Psalms 110:1-3; Revelation 11:15; Philippians 3:10; Acts 14:11).

How do we encounter this power? v Through a desperate desire: From scriptures, ‘desperation’ is interpreted as a thirst, a crave, a longing and a panting (Psalm 63:1-2; Isaiah 44:3-4; Isaiah 41:17-18). v Through the prayer altar: Empowerment answers to demand, not wishes and that is why the altar of prayer is the altar of empowerment.

Jesus said: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13).

We must recognize that empowerment is impossible without prayer. It is through prayers that we move from power to great power. For instance, when the apostles prayed in Acts 1:14 and Acts 2:1-4, they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. However, when

they prayed again in Acts 4:32-33, they were re-empowered into the realm of great power (Luke 3:21-22, 9:28-35, 43). Likewise, we can pray for the release of God’s power on our lives for greater exploits. v Through fasting: We discover from scriptures that fasting is primarily ordained for spiritual empowerment, not for making requests. In other words, fasting empowers us to be in command of our needs (Isaiah 58:6). It is important to understand that though we pray to be empowered, we need fasting to walk in power. That’s why Jesus said, “When ye fast… when thou fast…” Fasting is a matter of ‘When’ not ‘If’. That means fasting must be our lifestyle and must be scheduled, just like prayer, in order to walk in the reality of empowerment (Matthew 6:16-17).

It is also important to note that fasting and prayer enhances our access to the Word which actually empowers us. For instance, it was a Word encounter that empowered Jacob into realms of exploits (Isaiah 58:8, 10; Isaiah 9:8; Romans 1:16). That is why no Word-lazy believer is a candidate for empowerment. Therefore, we must always pray to God to open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of His law (Psalms 119:18; Jeremiah 33:3).Everyone who desires to walk in power must subscribe to the demand of fasting. For instance, Jesus fasted for 40 days and the Bible records that He returned in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). Moses also fasted for 40 days twice. As a result, he was a spirit being in human form.

That was why he said: The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken (Deuteronomy 18:15; see also

had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees.

Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a Exodus 7:1). He was Christ in a figure river that could not be passed over and carried the messianic anointing (Ezekiel 47:1-5).‘River’ in the above (Exodus 24:18, 34:28). Similarly, Paul scripture connotes the Holy Spirit the apostle also prayed and fasted or anointing. That was the realm often. He said: …in watchings often… of immeasurable anointing under in fastings often… (2 Corinthians which Christ operated. Remember, 11:27; see also 2 Corinthians 6:5). As Jesus was anointed without measure a result, he was a man imbued with and that is God’s target for us. This God’s power. No wonder it was said is why it is wisdom to take spiritual concerning him: …The gods are come responsibility in order to increase down to us in the likeness of men our levels of empowerment to com(Acts 14:11). mand dominion over situations and Unfortunately, many people do not circumstances in our lives (Proverbs crave for empowerment because they 24:10; John 3:34, 7:37-39). believe that they are already empowHowever, dominion over situations ered. In addition, it is important to and circumstances in our lives begins understand that empowerment is in with being born again. Are you born levels and we understand from scrip- again? To be born again means to tures that we can grow from one level accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour of power to an overflowing realm. As and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do it is written: Afterward he brought me so by saying this prayer: “Lord Jesus, again unto the door of the house; and, I come to You today. I am a sinner. behold, waters issued out from under Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me the threshold of the house eastward: with Your precious Blood. Deliver for the forefront of the house stood me from sin and Satan to serve the toward the east, and the waters came Living God. Today, I accept You as down from under from the right side my Lord and Saviour. Thank You of the house, at the south side of the Jesus for saving me! Now I know I altar. Then brought he me out of the am born again!” way of the gate northward, and led me For further reading, please get my about the way without unto the utter books: Anointing For Breakthrough, gate by the way that looketh eastward; Understanding the Anointing, and, behold, there ran out waters on Anointing For Exploits, Release of the right side. And when the man that Power.

Many people do not crave for empowerment because they believe that they are already empowered

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Faith

The Holy Trinity is family Firm Faith:

have compared God the Father to the Sun, God the Son to the light it gives and God the Holy Spirit to the heat it produces.

Right Reason Most Rev.

Emmanuel A. Badejo fradebadejo@yahoo.

0803 949 4219 (SMS only)

Most ancient mystery The feast of the Holy Trinity, celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost, revisits the mystery of God manifested in three persons of immense power, splendour and love as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Holy Trinity is indeed the central mystery of the Christian faith. That is why Christians are baptized not in their own names but in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

Consequently, it is worthwhile to seek understanding, about on the self revelation of God, one-in-three, bequeathed to us by Jesus Christ who himself told his disciples in the Great Mandate: “Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19). A famous formula by which Christians bless themselves has been in the Church since the earliest times. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”, as St. Paul proves repeatedly (2Cor. 13:13, Eph. 4: 4-6). Jesus said in the gospels “I and the Father are one”, “the Spirit of the Lord has been given to me” Clearly, the Trinity is inseparable, though distinct in each person. In illuminating that mystery, some teachers

Unity and love of the family The entire Creed of the Church demonstrates that God is best known as communion, unity service and family.

Saint Paul, writing to the Philippians, described the Son of God yielding his glory to serve man’s salvation out of love (Phil 2: 5ff). In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Trinity closely relates to family life. “The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. In the procreation and education of children it reflects the Father’s work of creation . it is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ....

The relationships within the family bring an affinity of feelings, affections and interests, arising above all from the members’ respect for one another” (CCC 2205-2206). Little wonder that at this time of great challenges for family life, many people and institutions strive to restore its appreciation in the hearts of many who may be tempted by relativism and modern, selfish, consumerist ideologies. The Holy Trinity is a big reminder that there is a divine element in family relationships.

Commitment from Africa and Europe This same awareness of the family is shared well beyond the shores of Africa.

Representatives of Catholic Bishops of Europe and Africa recently pledged to redouble their efforts in evangelization

Our hearts are broken, when we notice young children, orphaned, abused, without education through a more focused family pastoral care in all their dioceses. They also resolved to promote the vision of the Christian family in their faithful and in every person of good will. The bishops expressed this in their final message at the end of a seminar jointly organized by the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in Mumemo, Mozambique from May 28-31, 2015. They expressed their strong desire to “let the light of Christ shine, by increasing our pastoral care of the family, by preparing our youth for Holy Matrimony, by accompanying our families with or without children, with spiritual support, by taking care of the elderly and not forgetting the divorced in whatever circumstances.”

Bitter-sweet family realities The Bishops, though keeping their overall message positive, highlighted some of the challenges they saw in the way of the family. “Our hearts are broken, when we notice young children, orphaned, abused, without education, many of whom live alone on the streets, and teenagers lured into violence, crime, prostitution, etc. We hear of so many mothers, who desperately see no future for their unborn child, and so resort to abortion. What a pain this must be! But joyfully, we also see the Holy Spirit at

work, in so many families that live a life of selflessness and sacrifice, being generously open to new life, and giving themselves without conditions to other family members, and in that way really finding fulfillment in themselves. This is what Jesus says to such people: “…

Whosoever loses his life for my sake will find it…”(Mt. 10.38-39), and again: “No greater love has anyone than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15.13). We hear of so many good initiatives that support families in their daily burdens and circumstances. In Africa especially, the bonds of family members are very strong. We admire the vitality of living faith-communities, and the presence of so many young people. In Europe, we rejoice over the many new religious movements that have arisen in recent years, that explicitly embrace family life, and are bringing about a new spring and élan to this wonderful creation of God, the human family. We cannot but rejoice in these good signs”.

Worthwhile effort on the Family It could be tempting to pay much more attention to bread and butter issues of today than to the realities of the traditional family. But a married couple from Kenya, participating along with other lay people at the Mozambique consultations, strongly appealed to the Church and governments to do more in confronting the challenges facing the traditional family by preparing social and pastoral agents to accompany married couples in their journey of life. The benefits of such efforts on the sanity of society, they said, cannot be overstated.

Their testimony proves the Bishops’ consultations right for indeed, he who feels it, knows it.

There shall be a recovery Insight Rev.

Femi Akinola

www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

T

here are many believers today who are in great anguish and lamentation because they’ve been robbed of something precious. Maybe you are there and you have been crying to God, saying, ‘Lord, where is Your face’.

I came to tell you with every authority that is bestowed on me as an agent of God that there shall be a restoration because you are recovering all that the enemy has stolen from you in Jesus name. I want you to look back and begin to recount all that you have been robbed of; perhaps it was stolen while you were still in the womb or after you were given birth to; the time notwithstanding because in the realm of the spirit, time and space does not matter, it may be a hundred years ago the enemy stole from your fathers or when you were much younger, it doesn’t matter.

This precious thing could be your star, glory, your health or employment opportunity, it does not matter who is responsible for your initial loss but the Lord instructed me, after waiting on Him for hours; He said, “tell my people that I will restore to them if they so desire it”. So if you are desperate to recover all that you have lost, then shout this

loud “there shall be a recovery”. All that God wants you to do is just to believe because nothing is impossible with God, Luke 1:37.

The scripture gave the three-fold mission of the devil, which started from the Garden of Eden. When you do nothing about the recovery of what the enemy has stolen, then you remain hopeless.

May you not be hopeless in Jesus name.

In Gen 1:30, the Bible tells us that after God had created everything, He saw that it was wonderful.

This also brings into reality that in the beginning your health, marriage, finance, education, etc, was perfect and everything about you was excellent.

But in the third chapter of the book of Genesis, the devil came into the scene.

I don’t know the events that transpired that particular day or time that allowed the enemy to invade your life, career, business, finance or marriage, but I know the Lord of hosts will spoil their camp and you will possess your possession again in Jesus name.

When Samson fell into the trap of his enemies, they took his eyes and everything away from him. But one day he said, “God I want it back”. Esau, on the other hand, was not determined to fight and get back what was rightfully his and he did not get it back (Gen 25:33).

Are you determined and prepared to recover it? Surely, you will in Jesus name.

What is that precious or valuable thing that has been stolen from you? This invariably is responsible for the hardship, failure, disappointment and breakdown you are passing through. I am here to declare the word of God to you, if only you believe, then today shall be your

When Samson fell into the trap of his enemies, they took his eyes and everything away from him. But one day he said, “God I want it back day of recovery. The devil is a thief and a robber too. After he has stolen from you, he still wants to kill you. Come with me to I Samuel 30:1-4, 8; “And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire… David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

God gave David a threefold recovery command, “Pursue, overtake and recover all” to counter and discredit the devil’s threefold destructive mission.

The enemies have stolen something from you at a particular time of your life and now you are struggling, be ready you will get it back in Jesus name. You know what you have been crying for from year to year and it seems God is late or far from you; this is a word of assurance from the Lord that your help is on the way and I prophesy that your tears are turning to testimonies today

in the name of Jesus. So, weep no more, because you will get it back. The same people that laughed at you yesterday will come back to celebrate with you because better is the end of a thing than the beginning.

This year, I want to implore you to approach your situation just as David did because without the help of God, life will be difficult. Say today I will pursue, overtake and recover all my lost virtue in the name of Jesus. Psalm 18:37 says, “I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn until they were consumed”.

Using sacrificial giving to your Maker to fight on your behalf cannot be overemphasized in the pursuit of your recovery. All that have been stolen from you, you would get them back. Let me hear you say today I shall recover it all.

You just have to pursue, overtake and recover in Jesus name.

You may want to pray these prayers •My head, hear the voice of your Maker and co-operate with my recovery.

•In the battle of life, I refuse to be a loser.

•Every enemy pursuing me because of my star, receive triangular attack and die.

•I receive the anointing to recover all that has been stolen.

•My Father, my Father, empower me to fight and take back what has been stolen. …in Jesus name.

58

Faith

SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Cleric counsels Buhari on choice of ministers, aides Adesina Wahab

A Ado-Ekiti

President Buhari

s Nigerians eagerly await the constitution of the federal cabinet by President Muhammaud Buhari, a cleric, Prophet Moses Kasali, has urged him not to choose those that would taint his image by engaging in corrupt practices.

Speaking during an inter-

He has to tackle corruption headlong.

We are in a deep mess as far as corruption is concerned and we just have to get out of it if we really want to progress as a nation

view in Ado-Ekiti, Kasali, the General Overseer of the Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministry, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State, said that the President should not taint his image by appointing people of questionable character into office.

He noted that the incorruptible image of Buhari would be dented if he run government in company of corrupt persons, because “evil communication cor-

rupts good manner.”

“He has to tackle corruption headlong. We are in a deep mess as far as corruption is concerned and we just have to get out of it if we really want to progress as a nation. Corruption has affected all sectors and has crippled those sectors. We have got to this level because we have lost our spiritual bearing.

Many people are religious but not godly.

“Even the morals taught us by our parents, we have thrown them overboard. Our parents taught us to be good citizens in the society and our cultural values too and we must redefine ourselves. If there is the fear of God in us, then we will be better for it.

“Buhari has the good name and potential that can move the nation forward but it is a pity that he is surrounded by the wrong people. I have a very great fear for the incoming government.

“Wrong advisers do put our leaders in trouble. If you are good but you are surrounded by wrong people, it going to be difficult for you to perform.

Buhari would have been our messiah, but this issue of being surrounded by the wrong people may be a hindrance.

“In the spirit, I saw a very big ship and a general piloting the ship and a lot of people rushing to enter and those people want Buhari to see them as friends and supporters. The situation threatened the safety of the ship and the Holy Spirit told me that is what is going to happen if Nigerians do not pray for the administration.

It is not yet time for celebration but for us to pray for his success. God has fulfilled his promise for Buhari and Buhari would want to fulfill his own promise for Nigerians, but those around him may be the problem.

“He must do a thorough but unbiased surgical operation in that aspect. If he faces those who went away with our resources, he won’t achieve anything because he can’t arrest A and leave B. He must be fair and decisive,” he said.

On what the President should do to be able to achieve the aim of repositioning the country in the face of possible opposition from some quarters, Kasali urged him to be ready to make himself a sacrifice for Nigeria.

SUNDAY

Sport 59

SUNDAY, JUNE 07, 2015

Tennis

French open: Serena wins 20th grand slam title p.61

Adokiye: Blatter is the ‘most corrupt of them all’ •Says FBI probe has saved football

Golf

Nigeria fast developing in golf, says Iwere

I want to take a different view, Blatter, yes on paper he would seem to have done a lot for Africa...And I think the motive behind that is for him to cement his position as head of this cabal.

This cabal that has actually dragged our football back

p.61

Football

African FA presidents divided over FIFA’s scandal p.60

U-20 W/Cup

Garba: Flying Eagles will subdue Hungary p.61

F

Dapo Sotuminu

Deputy Editor, Sports Dapo Sotuminu daposotu@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ormer Nigeria international soccer star, Adokiye Aimesiamaka, has blasted the president of the world football governing body, FIFA, Joseph Sepp Blatter, calling him the ‘most corrupt of them all.’

He stressed that so much has been said about the FIFA’s president being an innocent leader who had no knowledge of the shady deals perpetuated by his Executive Committee members whose unholy activities have been busted by the United States through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI. “I can say here authoritatively that Blatter himself is the most

corrupt of them all as he has been in-charge at FIFA in the past 17 years, he cannot claim to be ignorant of all the corruptions in the organisation. He must have been party to all that has been happening.

“Blatter used Africa, Asia and Concacaf to solidify his position in FIFA. CAF under Issa Hayatou has about 54 member national associations under his authority.

The same thing applies to Sepp Blatter, he doesn’t have 209 countries under his control but 209 member association countries.

Having made that point we must be clear of where we stand now.

The FBI investigation does not have anything to do with how FIFA associations are run, but with everything on how FIFA is

run within FIFA and the corruption of its executive members, so let get that straight.”

Adokiye noted that: “It is true that through the impact of Blatter Africa got five slots to play in the World Cup finals, but this is not the important thing. What if Africa has every member association participates in the World Cup finals I don’t think this is an improvement. The truth is that so many of the African member national associations are in the World Cup to participate in what they see as a jamboree. They are not motivated to improve and develop their national associations and football in their respective countries.

“I want to take a different view, Blatter, yes on paper he would seem to have done a lot for Africa. And I think the motive behind that is for him to cement his position as head of this cabal. This cabal that has actually dragged our football back.

“Let me go on to make this point, FIFA itself is not created by law. FIFA has its headquarters in Switzerland and has not been created by law but it is recognised by Swiss Law. FIFA is an international NGO (NonGovernmental Organisation) the richest of them all. The association has been incorporated in the company register of Switzerland under Article 60 FF of the Swiss Civil Code. So FIFA is recognized

by Swiss Law and it is subject to that country’s law so how does

this impact on us here in Nigeria that is where the fraud lies. We do not have a football body here in Nigeria, it’s a fraud. The group called the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, does not exist. Its’ Article 1 says, it is a private body that is being run in accordance with laws of Nigeria, which we know is not true.

“Sepp Blatter’s FIFA condones that because as I said earlier he needs Nigeria and other countries to keep his position. What we need to do to have a proper football governing body in Nigeria, is just as FIFA has done in Switzerland, to incorporate this body we call the NFF under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act at the Corporate Affairs Commission. And then file a FIFA approved Statutes as Articles and Memorandum of Association. That is what we need to do. In that case it would not be created by an Act of the National Assembly which is wrong. It would be recognized by Nigerian Law, as any duly incorporated body would be. That is the point, we seems to be making a lot of mistakes about. We are talking about FIFA, let us talk about the NFF in Nigeria.”

The former Sharks of Port Harcourt player added that some of these national associations that are crying racism and prejudice on the crackdown of the fraud in FIFA have a lot of things to hide.

I commend the FBI and the Swiss government for the investigation going on.

“We do not have a football governing body in Nigeria because there is none that has been so properly incorporated. We are not talking about the NFF Act, no, that is not it. That is why we have been having challenges with FIFA. We must make this point now, before the question of FIFA’s integrity comes to fore.

FIFA would not listen to you if you are not a member of this NFF that does not exist. Because Blatter’s FIFA is gaining from the fact that this so called NFF would take its money and government money and do whatever they like with it, and nobody here can ask any question. These are technical details that we must come to terms with.” continues on Page 60

60

SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sport

African FA presidents divided over FIFA’s scandal

T

he news came as a shock to everyone, not least in Africa. This was a prime time slot and so it had maximum coverage. The reaction across the continent was mixed, as it tends to be with football politics. Make no mistake, though, all around Africa Football Association bosses have been saying the same thing: Blatter’s departure is a machination of western governments.

Africa was Blatter’s stronghold; all 54 nations gave the Swiss their vote in last week’s election. And as soon as the 79-year old was re-elected, he was surrounded

by African delegates, who highfived him and slapped him on the back. Last Tuesday the Zambia FA president, Kalusha Bwalya, called it “a sad day for football” but described Blatter’s decision to quit as an “honourable gesture.”

The president of the Ghanaian FA, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who is widely thought to be among the favourites to succeed the head of African football, Issa Hayatou, when he leaves his post, could not get away from the fact that this was something instigated by the west. “Last week’s arrests were intended to create a certain effect,” he said in Ghana. “The US wanted to highlight FIFA as a corrupt institution and FIFA officials, including all of us, as corrupt people and to get the world’s attention. And they succeeded.”

So now that Blatter has announced that he is stepping down, will his huge support with Africa wane? Well, it depends on what happens now, according to the Nigeria FA president, Amaju Pinnick: “Mr. Blatter has neither been indicted nor arrested.

Should he be indicted or arrested,

he will immediately lose our support.”

But as ever, there was humour, too. South Africa’s colourful sports minister, Fikile Mbalula, tweeted: “Whatever happens to Sepp Blatter, I’m available to be the next Fifa president.”

The candidates from Africa who have been mentioned as possible CAF options include Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya and Ghana’s Kwesi Nyantakyi. But both men have been silent on the matter.

Incumbent CAF boss Issa Hayatou is widely thought to be not interested in leading FIFA, where his biggest in Blatter may yet need him in the coming months leading to the elections in late December or early next year.

Blatter and Warner sandwished former Nigeria president Jonathan Goodluck

The seven FIFA chiefs arrested in Switzerland

S

even FIFA officials were arrested on May 27 in police raids in Switzerland connected to a U.S. corruption probe. Here’s a look at those who were detained.

JEFFREY WEBB, Cayman Islands He is a vice-president and an executive committee member of FIFA, as well as the president of CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North America, the Caribbean and Central America. The 50-yearold Webb is also an executive committee member for the Caribbean Football Union and the president of the Cayman Islands Football Association. He is a lawyer and banker in the Cayman Islands, and has been mentioned by FIFA President

Sepp Blatter as his possible successor as president at the world governing body. Webb became CONCACAF president after replacing Jack Warner, who resigned amid corruption allegations in 2011. Warner also resigned from his FIFA vicepresidency at the time.

EUGENIO FIGUEREDO, Uruguay He is a vice-president and an executive committee member of FIFA, as well as a former president of CONMEBOL, soccer’s governing body in South America. He was CONMEBOL’s vicepresident for nearly a decade, and is also a former president of the Uruguayan soccer federation. The 83-year-old Figueredo was ahead of South American soccer since 2013, after former president Nicolas Leoz resigned

Adokiye: Blatter is the ‘most corrupt of them all’ continued from Page 59

He said it is wrong for the Nigerian football governing body, called the NFF which does not exist, to say that they are beyond reproach, government cannot do this and we can’t be investigated, it’s all big fraud. How it should happen is this, we should be properly incorporated as a football governing body so that it would be subject to Nigerian Law and not created by Nigerian Law. Once that is done and the Articles and Memorandum of Association are properly registered, we now know the details of what you are about, what you can do and what you cannot do under the Nigerian Law. “In Switzerland, FIFA is subject to Swiss Law. Switzerland has for some time given FIFA a lot of leeway, as the country is the haven of a lot of international organizations. For Switzerland to get FIFA to have its headquarters in the country FIFA gets a lot of concessions. As they say when move a little gets to push, the Swiss government takes action.

“If there is any evidence of criminality in Switzerland against FIFA, the Swiss government would take action. If there is any evidence of criminality in the United States, the US government would take action. And if there is evidence of criminality in Nigeria, our government should take action. But first and foremost, is the body purportedly running our football duly registered and incorporated? It is not. Now, these persons that are purporting to run our football are aware of all these and FIFA would only listen to them and won’t listen to any so called third party. You are a third party if your role is not captured with the Statutes of the Nigeria football governing body. All you need to do not to be a third party is for your role to be encapsulated in the Statutes of the football governing body. This, we have deliberately refused to do, despite several warnings to that effect.

The lesson we can learn is this, FIFA and by implication its affiliate member national associations

are all subject to law. To do this properly you need to do the fundamental by getting the member associations properly incorporated in their respective countries.

That would make them subject to national law.”

Adokiye stated that the situation in Nigeria is even worse because not only is the so called NFF not duly incorporated, it is existing on government subvention and statutory allocation of funds. “Every month we break the law by giving this body that does not exist our public funds.

We should not just talk about FIFA alone, there is a lot that is wrong with the world body and it would never be the same again after the ongoing investigations.

The good thing about it all is that, with Sepp Blatter out of the way and the coming of the reformed international football governing body, our football body in Nigeria would be a more responsible one.

What we have now is absolutely reckless and irresponsible and we do not need that,” says the former Chief Justice of River State.

citing health problems while under investigation for corruption.

His tenure at CONMEBOL ended last year and he was eventually appointed a chairman of the World Cup organizing committee for FIFA. A former athlete, salesman and sports journalist, Figueredo was the president of the Uruguayan federation from 1997-2006. He was accused of benefiting his own club, Huracan Buceo, and last year a Uruguayan judge requested an investigation into Figueredo after accusations of wrongdoing related to television deals.

JOSE MARIA MARIN, Brazil He was the president of the Brazilian soccer confederation from 2012 until April. He remains a vice-president. He was the president of the 2014 World Cup organizing committee and is a member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournament at the 2016 Rio Games. The 83-yearold Marin, a career politician, made headlines in 2012 when he was captured by TV cameras putting a winner’s medal in his pocket during an under-18 championship. Marin was never accused of any wrongdoing by organizers and said the medal was given to him. He took over the Brazilian confederation from embattled official Ricardo Teixeira, whose contentious 23-year stint in charge of the sport in Brazil ended amid allegations that he took kickbacks from former FIFA marketing partner ISL in the 1990s.

A former lawyer and player for Brazilian club Sao Paulo, Marin became Sao Paulo state governor in 1982 and ran for Sao Paulo mayor in 2000. He presided over the Sao Paulo state soccer federation for nearly five years in the 1980s, and was Brazil’s chief of delegation at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The newly built headquarters of the Brazilian confederation in Rio de Janeiro is named after Marin.

EDUARDO LI, Costa Rica He is a member-elect of the FIFA executive committee and a member of CONCACAF’s executive committee. He has

been the president of the Costa Rica soccer federation since 2007. A civil engineer and son of Chinese immigrants, Li became involved in football in 2004 after buying the franchise of a first-division club. He has been credited with some of the recent successes of Costa Rica, including the national team’s appearance in the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Costa Rica authorities have already opened an investigation against Li. JULIO ROCHA, Nicaragua He is a FIFA development officer, and a former president of the Central American Football Union and the Nicaraguan soccer federation. The 64-year-old Rocha was head of Nicaraguan soccer for nearly three decades before leaving in 2012, when FIFA hired him to be in charge of the sport’s development in Mexico and Central America.

He was criticized locally for not promoting significant improvement to Nicaraguan soccer despite his several years as head of the federation, as well as for taking six years to build a local stadium estimated to cost $32 million, of which $1.2 million came from FIFA. RAFAEL ESQUIVEL, Venezuela He is a vice-president of CONMEBOL and the president of the Venezuelan soccer federation since 1988. The 68-year-old official, a former player, has faced numerous allegations of wrongdoing in his administration but has never been found guilty. In 2005, FIFA threatened to leave Venezuela out of the 2006 World Cup qualifying tournament because of an internal dispute between federation members. Some of them went to court, which is against FIFA regulations, putting the national team’s participation in doubt.

The dispute was settled after the lawsuits were dropped.

COSTAS TAKKAS, Britain He is an assistant to CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, and the former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association.

61

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

Sport / News

Fire scare at Falcons’ hotel in Winnipeg Emmanuel Tobi Canada

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here was a mild drama at the camp of Nigeria’s Super Falcons around 9pm Friday night (3am Nigeria time) as fire broke out at their Hilton Winnipeg Airport Suites.

Sunday Telegraph can report that the fire which was later put off by the fire service station almost caused big pandemonium as players and officials of the Falcons were forced to evacuate their hotel rooms with some of them not fully dressed up.

Team striker, Desire Oparanozie recalling the experience on her instagram page said, “We all ran out of the hotel because of fire incident, and to the surprise of everyone, some ran out in pants and singlets. Thank God for the early intervention of the fire fighters. The evacuation was so damn funny but thank God we have put it behind us because our focus is on our first game against Sweden on Monday.”

Earlier, world football governing body, FIFA, officially welcomed the Nigerian team delegation to the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The reception was held at the team’s Hilton Winnipeg Airport Suites lodge where players and officials did their accreditation for the World Cup and were put through the Code of Conduct on and off the pitch during the competition.

Nigerians in Winnipeg welcome Falcons

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he Nigerian community in Winnipeg rolled out the red carpet and the drums to welcome the national women’s soccer team from Nigeria at the airport.

Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale said over the celebratory trilling and singing from the expat Nigerian crowd: “I wasn’t expecting this.” On the arrivals escalator, her teammates laughed and smiled, pulling out their cellphones and tablets to record the Friendly Manitoba welcome. Dozens of young female soccer players with signs and flags cheered for the team as players such as Ohale autographed their soccer balls.

Members of Winnipeg’s Nigerian community kept playing, singing and dancing.

“I am here today to give support to our girls and to let them know we are behind them,” said Sister Eucharia Mgbeadichie, who played soccer growing up in Nigeria.

Today, she belongs to the order of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus and remains a big soccer fan. She’s proud of the Nigerian women’s team - a soccer powerhouse that has dominated women’s football in Africa, winning nine African Women’s Championship titles since the biennial event began in 1998. Now she wants them to win a World Cup.

French open: Serena wins 20th grand slam title

O

vercoming a midmatch lull and a third-set deficit, Serena Williams won her third French Open title and 20th major singles trophy by beating 13th-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-2 on Saturday.

After double-faulting away a two-break lead in the second set, then starting poorly in the third, the No. 1-seeded Williams took the last six games and added to her championships on the red clay of Roland Garros in 2002 and 2013.

Those go alongside six each from the U.S. Open and Australian Open, and five from Wimbledon.

“When I was a little girl, in California, my father and my mother wanted me to play tennis. And now I’m here, with 20 Grand Slam titles,” Williams said in French. “This is very special for me. I haven’t always played very well here, but I’m really happy to win the 20th here.”

She stretched her Grand Slam winning streak to 21 matches, following titles at the U.S. Open last September and Australian Open in January.

Only two women in the cen-

tury-plus history of Grand Slam tennis have won more major titles than the 33-year-old American: Margaret Smith Court with 24, and Steffi Graf with 22.

She is the first woman since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to win the Australian Open and

French Open back-to-back and will head to the grass courts of Wimbledon this month with a chance to extend a bid to do just about the only thing she hasn’t accomplished: win a calendaryear Grand Slam.

Williams claimed her 20th Grand Slam singles title with her win over Safarova in the French capital

Germany bribed Saudi Arabia, others to secure World Cup 2006

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he German government allegedly sent Saudi Arabia a shipment of rocket propelled grenades in order to secure their vote for the 2006 World Cup. It was claimed that the then chancellor Gerhard Schroder had his administration persuaded by the German FA to send the weapons over to the Middle East country in 2000 so that they would swing their vote from Morocco.

Their vote helped tip the decision in Germany’s favour as they defeated South Africa by a score of 12/11 and won the verdict to host the tournament six years later.

Die Zeit claim that the RPG shipment was part of an effort from German politicians and businessmen to persuade key members of of FIFA’s executive committee to give them the vote.

Elsewhere, German firms Volkswagen and Bayer gave their word for higher investment in Thailand and South Korea and Daimler invested £73m in South Korean motor giants Hyundai.

The news is just the latest twist in what has already become a muddy affair with deep lying roots in corruption and cloak and dagger behaviour.

Togo coach blasts

Garba: Flying Eagles will subdue Hungary Adebayor E

T

he chief coach of the Flying Eagles, Manu Garba, has assured Nigerians that his wards would beat their opponent from Hungary in Sunday’s crucial group game in the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Garba stated that, his boy’s overwhelming victory against Korea has given them extra confidence to subdue the Hungarians who are also top contenders in the group.

A win or a draw today against second-placed side Hungary will send the Flying Eagles through to the knockout stage of the 2015 World Cup in New Zealand.

“Our win against Korea has motivated the team after we lost our first game to Brazil on Monday at the Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth.

“We want to at least finish sec-

ond in our group and so we want the maximum points against Hungary. We came here to win every game because we want to win the World Cup. We don’t want to go back home early, we want to be the last team to leave New Zealand,” said Garba.

The Nigerian coach however admitted that his boys would play against a well organised Hungarian team, who finished fourth in an Under-19 European Championship they hosted last year.

“Even as we wish to win this match, we have to say Hungary are a good side but they cannot afford to stay back in defence against us as they did against Brazil because we have one of the best attackers in this competition,” Garba said.

Kick-off time for today’s showdown will be 5pm local, which

S

Keshi: Why I dropped Mikel from Chad game

uper Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, has explained the reasons behind the dropping of Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, from the squad that would battle Chad in the June 13 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for the Ahamdu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

Keshi denied reports that Mikel was dropped because of a strained relationship with the Chelsea star.

“I decided not to bring Mikel because right now I don’t need him for this game. Mikel and I spoke.

We talked about it and agreed that we shall talk for the September game and he said no problem.”

The coach also spoke on the exclusion of goalkeeper Austin Ejide from the list of players for the

cracker against Chad. He said it would be unwise to bring in two top class goalkeepers now when we have only one game against Chad. So bringing in two foreignbased goalkeepers is uncalled for, I think I would rather give room to two local goalkeepers to go with team captain Vincent Enyeama.

He noted: “If it were to be two games, I would have invited two foreign-based goalkeepers. That actually informed my exclusion of Mikel and Austin Ejide. So, with these three goalkeepers in camp it should be okay for the game.

If we do not give them the room and opportunity to grow, when

will be 6am same day in Nigeria.

The Flying Eagles coach also predicted that an African team will win this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Ghana made history in 2009 when they became the first African team to win the U20 World Cup, while Nigeria have reached the championship game twice, in 1989 and 2005.

The Black Satellites of Ghana and Mali are already through to the knockout rounds of the tournament in New Zealand, while Nigeria and Senegal are still in with a chance of progressing.

“Ghana and Mali have been fantastic,” saluted the Nigeria U20 coach. We are just picking up.

But we are most likely to get two African teams in the semi-finals and God’s willing, the trophy will return to Africa.”

will they become Ejide or Vincent Enyeama or Emmanuel Okala,” Keshi stated.

Keshi

mmanuel Adebayor has been blasted for his lack of discipline by new Togo coach Tom Saintfiet after reporting late for international duty.

Togo face their first Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this weekend, but their skipper was late to report after undergoing highprofile family problems.

The Tottenham striker has uploaded a series of Facebook posts accusing his family of stealing from him and taking advantage of his wealth.

Spurs granted his compassionate leave towards the end of last season.

“I saw him on Wednesday and Friday but he is not at the hotel. He is among the important players for the team but I cannot work with them when they are not in the squad. They should have the same discipline as others,” Saintfiet said.

Liberia are the opposition when Togo kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2017 AFCON finals next weekend.

Saintfiet revealed two other Togo players, Kossi Agassa from Stade de Reims and Floyd Ayite from Bastia, had also failed to show for the preparations.

“To me, discipline is very important in life,” he added. “And that’s what I am already trying to impregnate in the team. Discipline is important both for the players and the staff. Discipline is everything to me. All players must be proud to be selected and accept the rules. I want each player to know it’s special to be selected for his country.”

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Sunday Telegraph, JUNE 7, 2015

62

NewsExtra Uwakwe Abugu

P Enugu

olitical stakeholders in Enugu State yesterday reaffirmed their confidence in Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and gave him overwhelming approval to constitute his cabinet from amongst politicians and professionals he would personally choose after assessing their credentials.

He assuaged the anxiety of the people, who have been in suspense over absence of appointments so far by the new administration, when he announced that as soon as the House of Assembly is inaugurated

Ugwuanyi reads Riot Act over laxity, plans panel on revenue tomorrow, he would send a request for approval of his would-be advisers to the legislators to be followed by list of commissioners.

The stakeholders included senators-elect, House of Representatives-elects, incoming stage assembly members , former ambassadors, chieftains of ten People’s Democratic Party, opinion leaders from communities, traditional rulers.

Ugwuanyi , who is said to have been under intense lobbies for political appointments from several quarters also used the opportunity of the well-attended meeting in Enugu yesterday to read the riot act against public servants and political appointees who would be given to laxity in doing government business.

After a prolonged dis-

course during which various stakeholders made their contributions as to what should be done in the area of key appointments, direction of government policy and other issues, the governor received the people’s affirmations through voice votes, especially as majority of the people wanted him to use his own discretion to appoint all those who would work in

his administration.

Ugwuanyi, who led the political leaders and other stakeholders at the old Governor’ s Lodge also informed them that in view of the drastic reduction in the revenue accruing from the federation account to the state, he will shortly set up an economic committee that would offer advice and propagate government drive to harness other sources of income that could be available to the state.

He told them that the

move was quite necessary in view of the fact that Enugu state is top from the bottom among other states in the country in the quantum of revenue received from the federation account.

To fight corruption and plug leakages in the system, Ugwuanyi announced that he will soon reconstitute the state Tenders’ Board that would take charge of all government contracts, asserting that the governor’s office would not take charge of award of contracts in the state.

Elumelu tasks youths on entrepreneurship

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L-R: Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Anambra Chapter, Prof. Peter Katchy; Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Board, Chief Paul Odenigbo and South-East Zonal Co-Ordinator of National Emergency Management Agency, Mr James Eze, during their visit to the scene of the fuel tanker accident in Upper Iweka Area of Onitsha

Boko Haram: Over 900 IDPs in Edo Cajetan Mmuta, Benin

M

ore than 900 victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of the country are now taking refuge at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Edo State.

The victims are being harboured in a forest camp near one of the riverine communities in the Edo South senatorial district.

Although the location of the IDPs’ camp is kept secret for security reasons, it was gathered that the camp is run by one of the faithbased organisations in the state, International Christian Centre for Missions.

The camp before the arrival of the 900 IDPs has at least 400 indigent persons in its care. Most victims at the camp include nursing mothers and their young ones of about four months old, and teenagers as well as few adults who ran out of their homes in the wake of the raging insurgency in the northern part of the country.

Others are men, women and children whose families

were killed and homes set ablaze by the insurgents. Investigation showed that the victims are in dire need of assistance as the managers of the camp disclosed that the facility which was mainly for the needy have been providing food and shelter for the IDPs since 2013.

Speaking on the plight of the victims, the Overseer of the camp, Solomon Folorunsho said the IDPs were brought to the facility from Bornu and Adamawa states, through Jos, the Plateau State capital.

According to him, the centre is a place for mission work and discipleship and also to care for children who are in need from different parts of Nigeria. It has been in existence since 1992, catering for children from different villages who have been abused, oppressed and are orphans in the society.

One of the victims, Tani Philemon, said that she was abducted by the insurgent from her home, in Gwoza Local Government Area of Bornu State, but escaped miraculously after several

days of fasting.

Miss Grace James, 17, said that she and her family fed on raw maize while on the run, after they were attacked and their home destroyed by the insurgents.

She said, “We kept running for our lives, feeding on fresh uncooked maize .

When we got to a big stream through which we crossed into Bornu, we saw many dead bodies floating on the stream. But, finally, we got to Bornu and later to Jos. It was in Jos that we heard about a camp in Benin.”

AUN donates medicine to bomb victims

T

he management team of the American University of Nigeria was at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, last Friday to sympathise with the victims of last Thursday bomb blast at Jimeta Modern Market.

A consignment of different types of medicines, including antibiotics, was donated by the AUN delegation, led

by Vice President Byron Bullock, who represented President Margee Ensign.

The Director of AUN

Clinic, Philip Eappen, said some of the medical provisions were diverted from the university’s clinic on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Bullock told FMC’s Head of Clinical Services, Mr. Bemi Kala, that the visit was to commiserate with the victims support to assist in their treatment. As at the time of the visit, the number of injured could not be immediately ascertained.

Victims were placed in an improvised ward normally

used as labor room.

Mr. Kala said the very severe cases were brought from the Specialist Hospital in Jimeta and that some of them needed urgent surgery.

The Deputy Head of Clinic Services, Dr. Abdulfatai Salawu and other clinical staff were present when the AUN delegation which included the immediate past President of the Student Government Association, Mr. Joseph Oladimeji during the visit.

hairman Heirs Holdings, Tony O. Elumelu has encouraged Nigerian youths to secure their future by cultivating the attitude of learning, collaboration and entrepreneurship.

This was the highlight of his address during the postgraduate graduation ceremony of Babcock University in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State recently.

In the address titled “Employee, Employer, and Empowerer: Pathways to Success and Impact in an Uncertain World,” he said that the advice was based on his own experience on the way to success.

Elumelu also spoke on how to create opportunities through entrepreneurship, stating that “entrepreneurship is how we become masters of our destiny and tackle the serious challenge or ill that poverty and mass unemployment pose to the stability of our societies and economies.”

He shared some learning

that shaped him for future leadership, saying his mentor Ebitimi Banigo helped him to develop his strategic thinking and to channel his ideas into concrete actions.

He further told the graduates to always look beyond religion and ethnicity in whatever they do.

“Do not allow your religion, ethnicity or nationality to become the chains that limit your vision, your network and your ambition. Rather, use them as bridges to expand your world by embracing their common principles of humanity, solidarity, charity, honesty and the search for the common good,” he said.

Elumelu’s address at Babcock University follows a series of international speaking engagements which saw him speak on the transformative power of entrepreneurship at the Oxford Africa Conference, Oxford University, the White House and Georgetown University, Washington DC.

Foundation seeks support for Buhari, Ambode

T

he executive and members of Eko Foundation, a non-political, socio cultural outfit have congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, his deputy Idiat Adebule and other respective state governors on their sweeping victories at the 2015 polls.

The foundation, led by its founding Chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Damola, President, Professor Wole Smith and Secretary, Mr. Tayo Sasanya, also congratulated the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress, for their zeal and dogged determination to rescue the

entire teeming masses from the poverty perpetuated by Peoples Democratic Party.

In a statement signed on behalf of the foundation

by Aramide Tola Noibi, the group lamented that the PDP mismanaged the fortunes of the country and held it by the jugular for so long.

It commended the dogged efforts of APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu along with other dynamic chieftains of the party for their unrelenting zeal in such regards, and advised the teeming populace to fervently assist the new governments carry out the much-desired change in the nation.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2015

News

APC: Only regional collaboration can end Boko Haram

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

T

he All Progressives Congress yesterday stated that only regional collaboration can solve the Boko Haram insurgency currently ravaging the northern part of the country.

The party, therefore, commended the President, Muhammadu Buhari for seeking international assistance to fight the insurgents, who have killed over 60 persons since the inauguration of the Buhari administration on May 29.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed stated that the action of the President was in right direction, stating that he should be praised

rather than pilloried for his efforts.

Speaking about the regional nature of the terrorist group, the party said, ‘’Boko Haram, which started as a Nigerian problem, has now assumed a regional dimension, affecting many countries in West Africa. Therefore, any solution to the crisis, if it is to endure, must be regional in nature, with Nigeria taking the lead.”

It stated that terrorism as a global phenomenon could not be solved alone by superpower, United States, which was why “even in our days in opposition, we advocated a regional solution to the crisis.’’

The party said President Buhari’s trip to Niger and Chad, two of the countries

worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, showed that he understood the regional dimension that the insurgency had assumed, and that for any effort by Nigeria to yield positive results, it must seek the cooperation of its neighbouring countries.

It urged the President not to relent in his efforts to forge a regional front against the terrorists, despite the misguided criticism emanating from certain quarters. ‘’It is baffling that some opposition politicians wanted Nigeria to go it alone against Boko Haram, even as the terrorist group has taken its battle beyond the shores of Nigeria, to such countries as Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It is common

knowledge that the terrorists use these countries as launch pads for their attacks against Nigeria, and vice versa, and that they routinely engage in crossboundary raids. ‘’It is common knowledge that Boko Haram’s tentacles have spread as far as Mali, the home base of the Movement for the Unity and Jihad in West Africa, a splinter group of the Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. It is no longer a secret that Boko Haram has now affiliated itself to the Islamic State, seeing itself as the West African chapter of the terror group. How then can Nigeria effectively deal with Boko Haram without seeking the assistance of other concerned countries?’’ APC queried

The party reminded critics of the President’s trips to Chad and Niger that even the United States sought and has continued to seek a global coalition against Al-Qaida and Islamic State, despite the country’s enormous military, economic and political powers.

APC said it was particularly delighted that President Buhari has continued to insist that the Nigerian Army is capable of leading the fight against Boko Haram, meaning that while there is nothing wrong in seeking the cooperation of

Be agents of change, Buhari tells NYSC members

Alhassan Yusuf Bauchi

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has charged this year’s Batch ‘A’ members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed in different part of the country to be agents of change by contributing their quota to national development.

President Buhari, who said this in a message read on his behalf by the Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Muhammad Abdullahi, said the corps members should regard themselves as responsible citizens, whose contributions to nation-building cannot be over-emphasised.

Speaking to about 2,410 corps members at Mangu Local Government Area in Jakatai village of Pla-

L-R: National Chairman, All Progressive Grand Alliance, Dr. Okechukwu Oye; National Secretary, Mr. Labaran Maku and Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Uche Okagbuo, at the National Convention of the party in Awka, Anambra State …yesterday

Benue Assembly gets Speaker, as Ortom denies bribery allegation Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

A

chieftain of the All Progressive Congress and member representing Ushongo Local Government Area, Hon. Terkimbir Ikyange, has been elected Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.

Ikyange defeated his People’s Democratic Party rival, Hon. Dominic Ucha from Tiev constituency in Vandeikya Local Government by scoring 17 votes to Ucha’s 13 in the election. The election came just as the state governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom denied allegations of bribery and

intimidation of non-APC members in the House.

Also, Hon. James Okefe Ejembi of the PDP representing Okpokwu constituency was elected Deputy Speaker after beating his colleague, Hon. Joseph Ojobo representing Ogbadibo constituency, also of the PDP with 16 against 14 votes.

The present House is dominated by the PDP which has 15 members, while the APC has 14 members and Labor Party, LP one member.

Speaking while swearing-in the members, the new Speaker promised to work in harmony with the executive arm of govern-

ment and lawmakers to ensure a vibrant legislature that would not be driven by the executive powers.

Earlier while inaugurating the Eighth Assembly, Governor Ortom congratulated the lawmakers for the victories and charged them to operate within the principle of separation of powers which he said is required for administrative convenience. He advised them against using their platform to cause war amongst the three arms of government.

Ortom debunked allegations of bribing and threatening the lives of PDP members in the House as insinuated, saying as

a man who fears God, he has no such intention, just as he said he has sealed a covenant with the people not to disappoint them.

“It’s time for healing.

Those who lost the elections should note that, that is not the end as they still have opportunities in the future. It is not acceptable that Benue is one of the poorest states in the country given the huge endowments of the state,” he said.

After resuming office, the speaker administered oath of allegiance and oath of membership on other members of the Assembly.

Other House leadership positions said to be party affairs are yet to be decided.

Nigeria’s neighbours, the country has no business hiring mercenaries to lead the battle. ‘’That vote of confidence in our military is the first step in the efforts of the Buhari administration to restore the glory of the once-globally-acclaimed Nigerian military through morale boosting measures that will include arming and kitting the troops effectively and caring about their welfare so that they can more effectively tackle the terrorists,’’ it said.

teau State, he urged them to comport themselves as responsible citizens.

He said the corps members should realise that the aim of the programme is to address youth employment, insecurity and other social vices prevalent amongst the youths.

He also charged them to be positive change agents, who will properly articulate and harness the human and material resources of the country.

“The true change that we desire must start with every one of us, especially you the Nigerian youths.

We must all embrace attitudinal change. We must exercise self and personal discipline and the courage to do the right thing at the right time and in the right place”.

Al-Makura reads Riot Act to civil servants

Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

G

overnor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has expressed dismay over the attitude of some civil servants in the state who abandon their duty posts and only appear at month end to collect salaries without commensurate service delivery.

He stated that government would not condone any act of insubordination and truancy, warning that henceforth, any civil servant caught violating civil service rules would be viewed as saboteur of government efforts and would be sanctioned accordingly.

A statement signed by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur and made available to Sunday Telegraph stated that a

quarterly evaluation would be introduced to access performance of civil servants working in all ministries and parastatals in the state.

Al-Makura disclosed that government would conduct internal census in all ministries and parastatals to ensure compliance with its directives and strict adherence to civil service rules and regulations.

The statement read in parts:’’ In order to ensure zero tolerance for such criminal behaviour, government will establish a desk officer to handle crime related matters in the civil service.

“And also for administrative convenience and to reduce cost of governance, the state government is presently working to see how ministries, parastatals and departments will work more efficiently without duplication or conflict of roles’’

SPORT Adokiye: Blatter is the ‘most corrupt of them all’

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Oritsejafor, others caused Jonathan’s downfall – Apostle Attamaojo }53

The return of roadblocks I

was to continue with the fifth tranche of my discourse on defections or carpet crossing today. However, the directive by Solomon Arase, the new IGP, abolishing road blocks has brought to the fore, in clear historical perspectives, the thrust of my sermon on the mount of the Nigerian Project of November 9, 2014, titled, ‘The return of road blocks.’ Its relevance today gives it the cutting edge currency and urgency, such as to qualify for repetition. Suleiman Abba was then the IGP. Nigerians should therefore follow this abolitionist stance and paradigm shift of Arase.

“Roadblock” is defined as something that blocks or obstructs a road; an obstacle, or impediment. The Germans call it “Absperrung”, the French, “Barrage Routier”, and the Russians, “ŌnoknocT”. A roadblock is a sign of negativism not progressivism.

It inhibits, restricts, conscripts, interfers and obstructs. It is preferable to have a freeway than a clogged way; freedom and liberty, to limitation and hindrance. Enid Blyton, in his “Galiano’s Circus,” once illuminated on obstacles, thus: “the best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping stones. Laugh at them, tread on them, and then let them lead you to something better”. But contrary to Enid’s postulations, the Nigeria Police road obstacles cannot be used as any stepping stones. They cannot be laughed at. They cannot be treaded upon.

They cannot lead us to anything better.

Nigerian roadblocks only lead to pains, pangs, anger, frustration, exasperation and disillusionment. When M.D, Abubakar, the erstwhile Inspector-General of Police came on the scene few years, back, the first notable step he took was to abolish and dismantle road blocks. Nigerians hailed him for giving us back our freedoms, our liberties, to move freely, unmolested, unharassed along Nigerian roads. The applause was not without reason. Nigerians had bellyached, for many years, over the excessive abuse to which the Soldiers, Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) members and Customs Officials who barricaded the roads had subjected roadblocks to.

Nigerians were stopped on highways, searched delayed, “detained” and abused for hours under the scorching sun, or heavy down pour of rain, with the refrain question, “Wetin you carry”, “Let us have your particulars,” which was later corrupted to “give us your Petty Kolas”.

No matter how legally compliant with all vehicle, road and personal particulars you had been, you were sure to be denied of your liberty and freedom of movement, until you were forced to part with “Petty Kola,” having not “passed” the test of “Particulars”.

They demanded for everything under the sun: Driver’s Licence, Vehicle licence, Vehicle Insurance, Road Worthiness Certificate, EMR, Caution Sign, Fire Extinguishers, Wheel Spanners, Spare Tyre, Plate Number without mud stains, even if it was a wet muddy day due to rains! There is the joke about a Police Officer who saw the engine of the Volkswagen in the booth compartment and promptly accused the car owner of stealing the engine, not knowing that a Volkswagen engine is actually fixed at the

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) booth of the car usually meant for luggage in other normal cars.

Such was the harrowing experience of road commuters, especially traders and business men, that Nigerians hailed M.D. Abubakar for dismantling them. I had heard it as a rumor that road blocks had reemerged. I did not believe it. Why would the new Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba CFR, only just confirmed last week, reintroduce, an obstacle that inhibits the free movement of honest road users? I had preferred flying, to road journeys, in the last one year, or thereabout. You cannot blame me. My horrific experience of terror, anguish, dehumanization and near death in the hands of kidnappers for three September 12, 2013, had made me prefer flying to road travels.

Considering the chest-beating, grandstanding, brinkmanship and loquacious boasts of my kidnappers that they controlled foot paths, forest paths, creeks and highways in Nigeria and that police check points meant nothing to them as they usually “wasted” Police officers found at them, I felt it was safer and more reasonable to fly than to travel by road. However, I was jolted black to reality about the reintroduction of roadblocks on Wednesday, the 5th of November, 2014, when I travelled to Uyo from Benin City, through Owerri and Umuahia.

I had gone to deliver the New Legal Year Lecture organized by The Akwa Ibom State Judiciary, titled “An appraisal of the Akwa Ibom State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009”. I had left Benin at about 1 pm, intending to get to Uyo before nightfall. This was not to be, as I encountered roadblocks almost every five kilometers from Benin, through Abudu, Agbor, Asaba and Onitsha, through Oba Oraifite, Okija, Ihiala, Uli, Mgbidi, Awomama, to Owerri.

By the time my driver and I were ex-

tricating ourselves from the roadblocks between Mbaise and Umuahia, dusk had unkindly descended on us. You can imagine passing through one of the worst, gully-laden, erosionravaged roads I have ever seen in my life, between the University town of Umudike and Ikot Ekpene, at night! It was hell on earth. Trailers, Lorries, and Cars fought, meandered and snaked through the valleys, hills and canyons that passed for a road.

As expected, some broke down right in the middle of the road, thus preventing other commuters from going forward or backwards. A lorry had to be used to tow off the road, an 18 seater bus that could not make the Journey through the muddy, erosion-ravaged road. Mercifully, we got to Uyo at about 9 pm. The journey back the following Thursday, 6th, November, after the Lectue, was no less breath taking.

I had decided to change my route, by going from Uyo to Port Harcourt and then through Elele, Ibiama, Kaima bridge, to Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Jesse, Oghara and then Benin. The roadblocks were everywhere. It was so sickening, so perplexing.

The irony is that whenever they found your papers and particulars correct and complete, these road managers, whether Police, customs, FRSC, or Soldiers, would simply salute you at attention, and demand for gratification: “Oga, your boys dey here oo”. Looking at their angry, frustrated and pitiful sight, you are forced to part with some money. Suleiman Abba CFR, are you listening to this sermon on Sunday from Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb, “The Nigerian Project”? Remove and dismantle all road blocks immediately.

They serve no useful purpose. They expose Police Officers and other Security Personnel to hoodlums who simply gun them down when attempting to pass through them, for an operation. Road-

BUSY BODY

blocks are conduit pipers of bribery and corruption. They are instruments of manipulation, coercion and terror.

They are a dangerous hindrance to road users. They take away our freedoms of movement and dignity to human person.

They delay Nigerians and make them miss important appointment. They subject the security personnel manning them to great risks of being run over by motorists whose brakes fail, or who deliberately run through them when they are carrying contraband.

Please, Suleiman Abba CFR, do this for Nigerians. Remove all roadblocks. Rather, introduce motorized highway patrols that enable many officers and men in different units to patrol from one end of the road to another. I beg of you, even as I congratulate you on your confirmation as the substantive IGP. AND NOW THIS: The elevation of Eric Osagie as the Managing Director/Editor in Chief of Sun Newspapers has not come to any Nigerian as a surprise. It had been long overdue.

Urbane, workaholic, sartorial, mercurial, brilliant, humorous and intellectually grounded, this prose stylist and literary giant of s connoisseur has carved a niche for himself as one of the most engaging and unputdownable.

Columnists of this era.

When I was in the kidnappers gulag for 21 days in 2013, in most horrific and horrendous circumstances, he wrote an open letter to my captors to free me unhurt and unharmed. He described me as a friend of the masses, defender of the poor and voice of the voiceless who had frontally fought and conquered poverty from very humble beginnings, to arrive at the lofty heights God has put me . This message resonated with the blood hounds.

They said so. Congrats, Erico, as I fondly call him.

AND THIS: Funke Egbemode has also earned the position of MD/Editor-in-Chief of the Telegraph group. A no-nonsense woman of high acumen, intellect and perhaps one of the greatest satirists ever to emerge on the shores of Nigerian journalism, Funke is a master story teller. She easily reminds me of John Grisham or Jeffery Archer. Welcome on board, woman of great courage.

• Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

By Aliu Eroje

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488), Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: EMEKA MADUNAGU.