Binder2 nov 23,2014

SUNDAY SATURDAY

Sunday, November 23, 2014

FG TO INCREASE FUEL PRICE NEXT YEAR }Cuts subsidy by half }7

how we can SACK okorocha, by imo guber aspirantS

Vol. 1 No. 278

says female hunter

}7

}5

WHY I’M OPPOSED TO president JONATHAN’S RE-ELECTION

BY PROF. TAM DAVID-WEST

COUNT ME OUT OF MARRIAGE FOR NOW – ELVINA IBRU }18

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

YOUR days ARE numbered,

SOLDIERS, DSS INVADE APC’S LAGOS DATA CENTRE

}6

/newtelegraph

BOKO HARAM MY FOOT

}8

INSECURITY: SOUTHERNERS SELL OFF HOUSES IN KADUNA

Sanctity of Truth

} 32

No plan to arrest Tambuwal, say NSA, IG lI’m not scared - Speaker lResign, Na’abba tells Tambuwal

Emmanuel Onani, Phillip Nyam and Ibraheem Musa

N

ational Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.),

and the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, yesterday refuted reports in some newspapers (not New Telegraph), that they had ordered the arrest of the Speaker of the House

of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal.

The purported arrest order, the reports had suggested, was in response to the forceful entry into the House by some members in

solidarity with Tambuwal.

The speaker had recalled the House from break to an emergency session to deliberate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of the state of emer-

gency imposed on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

However, a statement signed by the Director of Special Duties in the NSA’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Ebonyi PDP aspirants to Jonathan: Call Elechi to order

} 14

2

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Contents | 23.11.14 BODY & SOUL

‘Why I won’t marry’ Double standards in Nigeria are part of the reasons the delectable Elvina Ibru doesn’t want to marry

}18

POLITICS

Ekiti and return of dark days Two legislative actions in Ekiti State within one week may plunge the Fountain of Knowledge into chaos as they have become subjects of litigations

}31

BUSINESS

The hard times are here All indices of an economy in trouble have manifested in the Nigerian economy, this is even as there is no indication that the recent measure announced by government to prop up the economy will stop the hardship to come

}23

FAITH

Extravagant grace Attributing his emergence to extravagant grace, new superintendent of the Assemblies of God’s Church, Chidi Okoroafor, says prayer prepares the future

}51

SPORT

‘Eagles failure, a blessing’ Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 African Nations Cup is a blessing in disguise for the fortune of Nigerian sports, says Gov. Uduaghan

}59

Editorial

Time to make our democracy work

W

hen will Nigerians, as a people learn from history? That is if they are ready to learn at all. Or when will Nigerians allow their past and present to play a pivotal role in shaping their future.

No doubt, a country that fails to learn from history or allows history to shape the destiny of its people is merely flying the kite of its destruction.

Today, Nigeria is a nation where nothing works. And, because many things are wrong with our politics and democracy.

The way we play politics in this part of the world, is not only wrong but has also continued to raise questions as to whether we are a people who have plans for the future. Obviously, it is like the country has a separate definition for politics and democracy, different from what operates in other climes that have internalised the rule and tenets of democracy. In Nigeria, politics is bad. Because we play it badly. It is either a do-or-die; or winners take all.

Unlike in Nigeria, it is however obvious that in countries such as America, Germany, Canada and China, as well as Britain, our Colonial Masters and from where it is believed that Nigeria derived her political teeth, politics never wears such toga of retrogression and monumental failure as it is here.

In other countries, where democracy is truly entrenched, politics is all about service and serving the nation and the people. In all they do it is the country first and other things will fall in. That is why a one-time American President, John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” This is logical enough, since Kennedy might have drunk from inspirations of what leadership entails. That is lacking in our political class and the reverse is the case in this part of the world, where politicians see politics as a profession and where to amass wealth, and see themselves as demigods. To many of them, they are only doing the us a favour. In most cases they are above the law, while the people should serve them rather than serving the people. Everything is upside and down.

Of course, that is the unfortunate situation in which the country finds itself fiftyfour years after independence without a ray of hope that such political shenanigan will soon evaporate from our body polity.

It is shocking to see the deviance manner and lack of decorum with which our political class, either for lack of proper political education, democratic ignorance, or worst still wants of ideals, goes about commissioning projects their government executed. They have either forgotten that the money used

in building the road, water, bridge, health centre of hospital, or schools is the people’s money. One thing they failed to understanding is that not democracy could work under such fiat. It unimaginable to see how our politicians go about governance despite their frequent visits to advanced countries where democracy is working.

One wonders however where our presidents, governors, ministers, local government chairmen derived this absurdity. It is not uncommon nowadays for our governors and president to waste several millions of naira on ceremonies just to commission a mere borehole projects. When one cannot reason beyond his horizon, it is definite that he will become a victim of his own sermon.

To say the least, borehole is a common phenomenon in every home. How many house owners have we seen rolling out the drums and calling his friends to commission their borehole projects, like our governors are doing today. The extent to which our governors are carrying this shame is worrisome. Nigerians, today provide their own electricity, water, security due to the failure of the government. In other countries of the world it is taken for granted that provision infrastructure such as functional roads, hospital, electricity, education and health services are the responsibilities of the government.

Indeed, these are provided with dispatch and without fanfare of any kind. Just last year, the President was at the Sagamu intersection with all the retinue of his ministers, governors and other party stalwarts to flag-off the reconstruction projects of LagosIbadan Expressway. While the carnival was going the programme was been beamed on live television programme with several millions of naira going down the drain. The irony is that today, the road remains a death trap on which Nigerians have been killed or maimed.

It is appalling to see how the people’s money entrusted in their care are been wasted on mundane things, when suffering stares the people on the face. The system has been so debased that the psyche of people has been bastardised to an extent that demanding for one’s rights is like wasting the little right left.

Our governors and president are all ardent watchers of CNN, BBC, CCTVN, AlJasera. Have they for one day seen President Barrak Obama of America or Cameron, British Prime Minister inaugurating water, road, school or electricity projects in their countries for their people? This is the only country such ludicrous practice would play out as if it is a norm.

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

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

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

Asst. Editor, News & Politics n Biyi Adegoroye

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Ag. Sales/Circulation Manager n Uchey Okezie

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

Telegraph Adam&Eve

3

SUNDAY NEW TELEGRAPH

23 NOVEMBER, 2014

s Aham

i Kumb Age. 23 Height: 5.7ft Occupation: Medical Anatomist Phone number: 0813 841 9767 E-mail: ahams4christ2007@yahoo.com

Height: 5.9 Contact: adekunbiteemah@gmail.com.

Occupation: Beauty and spa therapist Hobbies: Reading, singing and swimming

Telegraph Adam&Eve is a page for the young, lively, sexy, cute and daring male and female.

If you fit the bill, send your profile, snazziest high resolution image, phone number and email to: julietbumah@gmail.com; editor.body-soul@newtelegraphonline.com or our corporate head office, No 1A, Ajumobi Close, Off ACME Road, Ikeja. Enquiries: +234 (0)811-675-9770.

4

SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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5

The Sunday Magazine SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014

I don’t fear Boko Haram –Ladi, female hunter

Ibrahim Abdul,

T Yola

hey may be known as the weaker sex but in the battle to flush out Boko Haram from Nigerian territory, they stand equal with their male counterparts. Fearless, pretty and bold, the female hunters of Adamawa State fear neither man nor woman. To them, the common enemy is not their gender but Boko Haram.

Ladi is a dark-skinned young lady in her 20s. Looking at her, you would hardly believe that she possesses the boldness to confront members of the terrorist sect. In fact, you would pass her off as a young man due to her masculine features but she is in all respects a lady. She smiles as the reporter gapes at her, wondering whether he is seeing double.

But she told Sunday New Telegraph that she was motivated by the desire to join in the effort to save her nation from the rampaging terrorists. She is not alone, our correspondent gathered, as there are a number of female hunters engaged in the Civilian Joint Task Force.

They are all part of a civilian vigilante coalition known as Ibn Fadlallah’s forces.

Barely literate and armed with dane guns as well as bows and arrows, they risk lives helping the armed forces to hunt members of the sect in the jungles of the North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

Asked why she mustered the courage to join the effort, Ladi replied: “Boko Haram’s days are numbered. We are not afraid and we are ever ready to fight them.

“Me, fear death? Never. This is because I believe that we shall all taste it someday,’’ said Ladi, with boldness etched on her face.

Ladi, like other male volunteers was optimistic that, with support and motivation they would succeed.

“I can assure you that, with support, encouragement and assistance we can play our own role in fighting the monster called Boko Haram.

“We need support from government and individuals to cater for our families,” she added, brandishing her dane gun.

Ladi and her colleagues say they dare to confront the insurgents with the inferior weapons in their hands, vowing that, “If you are committed and have faith in God, you will succeed. We know they (Boko Haram) are using sophisticated weapons, but that will not deter us from facing them squarely.

“They thought we would be afraid; never!

One can kill a snake with his or her little stick; commitment, resilience and above all faith are the key factors,” she concluded.

Though she is married, she declined to disclose personal details for security reasons.

Ladi is part of the large army of hunters and CJTF which battled Boko Haram after it tried to install Amirs (leaders) in Maiha, a town in Adamawa State. They foiled the move and killed several members of the sect. The civilian force also helped the armed forces to liberate some of the captured towns.

After Boko Haram annexed Adamawa’s second largest city, Mubi, and renamed it

Ladi

‘Madinatul Islam,’ meaning the City of Islam, it also captured Maiha in an offensive that claimed the lives of several soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel while others fled. The attack on Mubi resulted in hundreds of thousands fleeing the city for fear of further attacks.

The insurgents overran the army barracks situated within the town, killed several residents, destroyed shops, churches and valuables worth billions of naira as the Nigerian troops detailed to the areas were alleged to have fled upon sighting the insurgents.

The activities of the insurgents in the state became a thing of concern, following their annexation of five local government areas of Machika, Madagali, Mubi North and South, Maiha and some parts of Hong and Gombi local government areas.

Disturbed by this development, the state government, traditional rulers and some top politicians in the state came up with the idea to employ the services of ‘Yan Baka’ and ‘Yan Tauri’ (local hunters) and CJTF to fight the insurgents.

Sources told our correspondent that testimonies from fleeing soldiers involved in the fight against the insurgents alleged that Boko Haram employed ‘mystical powers’ to overwhelm the Nigerian troops. They also alleged that it was one of the factors that made the soldiers to flee from the insurgents.

“When we fired our guns at the insurgents, they did not die because they had mystical powers (voodoo) and kept advancing towards us. So we had no options but to flee from them,” one of the soldiers said.

A state government official involved in the recruitment of the hunters and CJTF told our correspondent that it was in order to

Me, fear death? Never. Boko Haram’s days are numbered.

We are not afraid. We are ever ready to fight them

stem the tide that the idea of drafting the local hunters allegedly versed in the use of voodoo powers came up.

“We are in doubt about the sincerity of Nigerian soldiers in the whole operation, and we sense complicity as what is happening.

It could not have been possible without any form of collusion, so we began to think of other options,” said a community leader in Mubi, AbdurRahman Kwacham.

Afterwards, the civilian force was mobilised to tackle the insurgents.

Ibn Fadlalallah’s army of local hunters, vigilantes and CJTF members were said to have been mobilised by creating alliances with towns to fortify and defend themselves against Boko Haram.

“These brave warriors have promised to liberate the North-East from Boko Haram.

They are preparing and engaging in combat in Adamawa and Borno. All brave citizens have been invited to join the legions,” said a community leader who didn’t want to be named.

In the first operation, the local hunters and vigilante group were reported to have overwhelmed the insurgents. They confronted the militants in their hundreds, killing dozens of the extremists and recapturing the town. They also vowed to repel any further attacks. A Maiha resident, Mallam

Sani Pella, said that before the attack on the insurgents, he saw about 10 truckloads of the local fighters heading towards Maiha.

Another resident of the area, who affirmed that about 75 insurgents were killed in the battle, said there was no member of the Boko Haram sect anywhere in Maiha town as they had all retreated to Mubi, following the crushing defeat they suffered.

Insiders say that as Boko Haram rushes to capture more territory, its forces are spread out thin; with as few as between 30 and 100 men holding a town. It is actually rather easy with determined effort to recover the towns and villages from them as local resistance forces have commenced, they added.

Residents said the local hunters were stationed in some areas for four days, mapping out strategies on how to recapture Mubi before they finally took on the insurgents.

However, the recapture of the towns by the civilian force elicited jubilation, with residents chanting songs of victory to God. Startling Revelations There claims that the insurgents had been hypnotised by the local hunters and easily fell into the hands of the civilian force.

Expressing their willingness to take the battle against terror to the hideouts of the insurgents, Adamawa State Coordinator of Civilian JTF, Alhaji Bako Ali Goni, said they were not afraid of death.

“Every soul must test death and, therefore, we are not afraid,” he told our correspondent. He maintained that his group had vowed to go after the terrorists and members of his group are optimistic that with their sticks (Gora in Hausa) and other local arms, they would flush out the insurgents from their hideouts if the Federal Government gives them the go-ahead.

6

SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Insecurity: Southerners sell off properties in Kaduna Ibraheem Musa

T Kaduna

he property market in Kaduna may be heading for a slump as Southerners have begun selling their houses quietly, owing to the general insecurity in the North.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that the development followed fears over the likely spillover of the Boko Haram insurgency to Kaduna.

There are also fears that the bloody violence that trailed the 2011 presidential election may be repeated in 2015. In the deadly riots, a number of people, especially youth corps members, were killed in some Northern cities while many properties were destroyed.

Fearing a bloody backlash arising from the next presidential election, investigations revealed that Southerners in Kaduna had been selling off their properties and relocating to other parts of the country.

Confirming the development, the state Chairperson of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Hajiya Fatima Olowokore, said the phenomenon began about three years ago with a rise in the spate of bombings in the North.

“As the 2015 elections approach, more people are selling off their properties; and they are mostly southerners,” she added.

Though Kaduna has been relatively peaceful, the state

of insecurity in other parts of the state and the North in general is affecting not just the sale of houses but the renting of properties as well, Olowokere said.

“You know that Kaduna is somehow divided into the Muslim-dominated North and the Christiandominated South. In the South, for example, a client will give instructions that his property should not be rented out to a Muslim. Likewise, in Tudun Wada which is a Muslimpopulated area, a property owner will tell you not to give their house or shop to a Christian,” she said.

According to her, this measure is to safeguard the property in times of riots.

“This is because when the mob comes, they will only recognise the tenant and not the property owner. They may damage the house or shop if the occupant is not living where his people are in the majority,” she added.

Olowokere, however, pointed out that in spite of the glut of landed properties in the Kaduna market, their prices remain high “because clients are asking for ridiculously high prices.”

She explained that that is why there are no buyers.

Corroborating the NIEVES chairperson’s views, Mr. Timothy Idzi, a client services executive with Emeka Orji Partnership, an estate management firm in Kaduna, however, said that the prices of properties range from place to place within the metropolis.

Idzi said that while properties in Government Reserved Areas such as Barnawa and Narayi High Cost as well as Kaduna North Local Government Area are still expensive, “there is a drop in prices in high population density areas like Angwan Television, Narayi and so on.”

According to him, the state of insecurity has not only affected the prices of properties and rents but the cost of land as well.

“The value of land in some areas has dropped because people are relocating from those places,” he said, adding that the cost

of land in new layouts is higher than what it used to be.

Speaking to Sunday New Telegraph, Alhaji AbdulRahaman Ahmed, a manager with Kaduna-based Mohammed and Co. Estate Firm, said the property business had really declined in the last two years.

AbdulRahman said his firm had not sold any property in recent times because “there are no buyers, even though there are many houses on sale.”

He would not confirm whether the properties on sale belong to Southerners.

Dismissing the report of Southerners selling off their properties ahead of the 2015 elections, the Eze Ndigbo of Kaduna State, Igwe Sylvanus Aneke, described it as “mere speculation.”

According to Aneke, a few people may have put up their houses on sale, “but that is not the general trend.”

He said Igbos living in Kaduna never sat down and decided as a group to leave the city.

“We have been here in the last 40 years. There is nothing that is happening now that is worse than what happened before. In fact,

we have seen worse things and we have not left. Why should we leave now?” he asked rhetorically.

The monarch, who described Kaduna as very peaceful, however, prayed that the security situation in the country would improve quickly.

Speaking through his Personal Assistant, the President General of Yoruba Community of the Northern States, Chief AbdulGaniyu Oguntoyibo, said, “There is nothing like that.”

He said that Yorubas are not strangers in Kaduna, adding that they have the rights of indigenes in the state.

Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda (left), displaying the nomination form, after the Presentation by the Chairman, National Assembly screening committee,, Mr Hamidu Muhamud, to contest for 2015 South Senatorial District Seat in Bauchi …yesterday

No plan to arrest Tambuwal, say NSA, IG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

office, Col. Bello Fadile (retd), described the reports as false, even as it warned the public against being “hoodwinked by propaganda of desperate politicians.”

The statement reads: “It has come to our notice the news making round that the National Security Adviser (NSA) after consultation with the Vice President, has ordered the arrest of Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

“We want to use this medium to categorically state that there is no iota of truth in the allegations being peddled by mischief makers, who are hell bent to tarnish the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Presidency.

“As a matter of fact, the NSA has been out of the country since Wednesday, to pursue more pressing national security issues.

“We also want to use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that while the laws must be allowed to take their natural course, the NSA will

not abdicate his foremost responsibility of advising the President and CommanderIn-Chief of the Armed Force appropriately, on how to effectively maintain and sustain peace, as well as our territorial integrity.

“The ONSA will also want to advise the general public to be very vigilant and not be hoodwinked by propaganda of desperate politicians, who are willing to sacrifice the security, unity, peace and stability of the country on the altar of selfish political gains.

“The ONSA will once again emphasise the fact that it will not tolerate inflammatory and unguarded utterances...capable of jeopardising the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.”

A separate statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, reads in part: “The InspectorGeneral of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, has denied issuing any arrest order on any particular person involved in the attack on policemen, or the disturbance of public

peace, at the premises of the National Assembly, Abuja on Thursday, November 20, 2014. Rather, it lies with the investigating police officers to determine whom to invite, quiz and prosecute as the case may be.”

However, Tambuwal in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, said he was ready to honour any invitation from the security agencies.

Tambuwal said that as a law abiding citizen without immunity against arrest and prosecution except privileges as may be provided by the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act, he would be “available, ready and willing to answer any lawful invitation from any of the security agencies on any matter for which they may require his attention.”

He expressed dismay at the “unprofessional conduct of the Nigeria Police in the attempt to stop him from accessing the House of Representatives chambers on the 20th November 2014 to pre-

side over the Special Session of the House on the State of Emergency Extension requested by Mr. President, for which he had recalled members from their working recess.”

The speaker also described as ‘most disgraceful’ the statement later issued by the force in which it claimed that upon arrival at the National Assembly, Tambuwal and a motley crowd broke a security cordon, assaulted the police and evaded due process.

The All Progressives Congress also joined the fray, advising security agencies to back off any plan to arrest the speaker, saying it could trigger a crisis that would be fatal for the nation’s democracy.

In a statement issued yesterday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the federal government would be pouring petrol on a naked fired by arresting the speaker, following the failed attempt to prevent him from

accessing the National Assembly to preside over the affairs of the House of Representatives on Thursday, and also in an apparent attempt to halt the current move to impeach the President.

“Published reports have corroborated what we know: That the plan on Thursday was to prevent Tambuwal from entering the National Assembly to pave the way for his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, who had already been allowed into the House, to preside over the removal of the speaker. Were it not so, why would the police even try to seize the mace from the Sergeant-at-arms, as reported? Why would the police detain the Sergeant-at-arms for his refusal? What is the business of the police with the mace, which is the House’s symbol of authority?” it said Meanwhile, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba, has called on Tabuwal to resign and seek for reelection to the speakership.

Na’abba, who made this known in an interview with BBC Hausa Service monitored in Kaduna yesterday, said that that remains the only panacea for peace in the lower legislative chamber.

The former speaker said that the House of Representatives would still be in turmoil when the legislators reconvene if Tambawal remains the Speaker, as “his supporters will not allow him to be impeached and those who are opposed to him will not relent.”

According to the former Speaker, Tambuwal should resign his position and when nominations are called, he should indicate interest and if he has the backing of majority of the legislators, he can still return as the speaker.

Na’abba pointed out that Tambuwal should have even resigned when he defected to the APC, adding that he could have re-contested his position instead of putting the House of Representatives in a very tight position.

7

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

FG to raise fuel price next year

F

uel prices are expected to go up next year, as the federal government plans to cut subsidies on petroleum products by half in the 2015 budget.

This follows sharp falls in global crude prices, spurred the government to revise its 2015 budget downwards, data from the revised budget seen by Reuters showed on Friday.

President Goodluck Jona-

than submitted the revised budget figures to the National Assembly last week, proposing to spend N458.68 billion ($2.59 bln) on petrol subsidy in 2015, down from N971.14 billion presented for 2014.

It also assumed further cuts to petrol subsidies in 2016 to N408.68 billion and N371.18 billion for 2017.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has proposed lowering the as-

sumed benchmark oil price for the country’s 2015 budget to $73 per barrel from the $78 proposed in September, after global crude prices collapsed.

Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters on Thursday that declines in the price of oil, which has lost almost 30 percent since July, would impact Africa’s largest economy and top oil producer, requiring the government to cut non-essential spending

and raise more revenues.

Nigeria tried to end subsidy in 2012 in efforts to cut government spending and encourage badly needed investment in local refining, doubling the price of a litre of petrol overnight to about 150 naira ($0.93) from about 65 naira.

The move angered citizens, who see cheap petrol prices as the only benefit they derive from living in an oil-rich country, and led

to eight days of nationwide strikes. The government later reinstated part of the subsidy to end the strikes.

The budget proposals assumed an exchange rate of 162 naira to the U.S. dollar for 2015, weaker than 160 naira assumed for 2014. It expects the naira to weaken further to 163.50 in 2016, reaching 165 in 2017.

The naira has come under pressure in the past two

News

months, losing almost 11 percent this year, from falling oil prices, which have weakened appetites for assets in Africa’s biggest economy and chief oil exporter.

The currency shed 0.76 percent on Friday to close at a record low of 177.45 naira against the greenback, despite the central bank intervening for a fifth day with dollar sales to prop it up, dealers said.

15 die in Enugu crash Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

N

o fewer than 15 people died yesterday in a ghastly motor accident that occurred at the Oji River axis of the old Enugu-Onitsha expressway in Enugu State.

Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident disclosed that the command has evacuated the 15 dead bodies.

The police image maker explained that the accident occurred when the driver of a truck lost control of the break.

Amaraizu added that the truck ran into a Siena Bus that was conveying people to an unknown destination, killing no fewer than 15 people.

He stated that the driver of the truck has been arrested and that the command has commenced investigation into the grisly circumstance.

Nigeria needs selfless leader - Soyinka Tony Okuyeme

L-R: Council member, Nigeria Society for the Blind (NSB), Otunba Adeboye Ogunlaja; Council member, Lanre Adebayo; Managing Director/ CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola; Chairman, NSB, Mrs. Biola Agbaje; Vice Chairman, Fola Osibo and member, Mrs. Arit Tunde-Imoyo, at the presentation of a N7.5m cheque by the Standard Chartered Bank in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Enugu PDP SEC members petition PDP leadership over Ajah’s actions Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

T

he crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State took yet another dimension yesterday as 12 members of the 14-man State Working Committee (SWC), petitioned the national leadership of the party over alleged misconduct by the deputy chairman of the party, Elder David Ajah, accusing him of taking strange decisions in respect of the disputed ward congress elections of the party in the state.

In the war tearing the party apart in the state, Aja is claiming to be the chairman of the party while those loyal to Governor Sullivan Chime who are in majority have Chief Ikeje Asogwa as their state chairman.

The 12 members frowned at alleged “untoward act of conspiracy and gross misconduct exhibited by Ajah to undermine the interest of the party in the state and

bring it into disrepute.”

In the petition signed by 12 members and addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, the State PDP officials distanced themselves from all the actions taken

by Ajah in respect of the non-conduct of the Ward Congresses of the Party on November 1, 2014, stating that his decisions were strange and unilateral and do not have the backing of the State Working Committee of the party.

They maintained that no Ward Congress of the PDP took place in Enugu State on November 1, 2014 as scheduled in the party’s time-table of activities leading to the primaries due to non arrival of the electoral materials and members of the National Ward Electoral Committee to the state party secretariat at 1 Chime Lane, G.R.A, Enugu for the coordination and commencement of the exercise.

The members informed the National Leadership of the Party that all the mem-

bers of the Committee, except Elder David Ajah, were present all day at the State Party Secretariat, Enugu for the coordination of the exercise on 1st November, 2014, which did not take place.

They also expressed dismay “that Elder David Ajah to the chagrin of the members of the State Working Committee (SWC) and other members of our great Party, unilaterally addressed the press and made radio announcements to the effect that he purportedly led the State PDP Executives to what he called ‘successful Ward Congresses in 266 Wards of Enugu State’ (when infact there are only 260 Electoral Wards in the State), without any approval or deliberation on the matter by the State Working Committee of the Party”.

They accused Ajah of playing the script of an interested member of the Party in the State by unilaterally and unlawfully taking party decisions, without

adhering to the PDP Constitution, which empowers the State Working Committee to undertake the day-today administration of the Party in the State on behalf of the State Executive Committee (SEC).

They also revealed in the letter that “the PDP registers fundamentally needed for the Ward Congresses, were under the custody of our Ward Chairmen in all the 260 electoral wards in the state throughout Saturday, November 1, 2014, as they waited in vain for the congresses that never took place”.

They requested the national leadership of the party to call Ajah to order and also take appropriate action to ensure that proper Ward Congresses are conducted in Enugu State in accordance with the party constitution and guidelines, in order not to encourage impunity, illegality and insubordination in the administration of the party at any level.

N

obel Laureate, Prof.

Wole Soyinka, yesterday said that for Nigeria to get out of its present quagmire, it needs a leader who is indifferent to material acquisition.

He also said such a leader must not be afraid to take decisions in terms of vision for the society and should also not be alienated from the people.

Soyinka spoke as guest at a book chat, Memory as muse, at this year’s Ake Art and Book Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He said Nigeria needs leaders in the mould of Julius Nyerere of Tanzania who lived on pension after leaving office.

He, however, warned that Nigerians must not look for perfection in mortals.

“Talking specifically about Nigeria, looking seriously at the various leaders we have had, we will need a leader who is genuinely indifferent to material acquisition. In other words, leaders of the like of Nyerere who lived on pension after leaving office,” he said.

Aspirant sues EFCC over closure of office Wale Elegbede

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governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Hon. Kayode Amusan, has sued the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the sealing off of his campaign office located at the Oke Ilewo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Also joined as a co-defendant in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, is the Federal Government and the owner of the said property, Mr. Felix Oriyomi Ewulo.

In his statement of claim, Amusan, a PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, said sometime in November 2012, he bought the property in dispute from the fourth defendant, Ewulo, for a sum of N30million and immediately took possession of the property, a bungalow located at 19A, Gbadebo Street, GRA, Oke Ilewo in Abeokuta.

Amusan added that in May 2013, he commenced the renovation of the said property for the purpose of converting it to its campaign office for the forthcoming 2015 governorship election.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Fashola: NJC lacks power to regulate number of judges in states

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Muritala Ayinla agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has said that judges appointed in Lagos have no reason to be corrupt as his administration is committed to provision of official vehicles and homes for it judges.

Fashola, who also queried the power of the National Judicial Commission to determine the number of judges to be appointed by the state government, said the state who is responsible for welfare of the judges should determine the number of judges it wants in accordance with the Constitu-

tion for timely dispensation of justice.

Speaking shortly after swearing-in the four newly appointed High Court judges at the Lagos State Secretariat, Fashola described the ratification of judges needed by the state by the commission as unlawful and un constitutional. The governor added that access to justice would not be guaranteed if the commission continues to limit the numbers of appointed judges without consideration for the population of the state and ability of the state to cater for their welfare.

He said:”In a federation, who should determine the number of judges that the

states need? Is it the state that needs them or a national agency? I think it is a matter of serious consideration. My recent look of the Constitution did not suggest to me that it is the within the ambit of any agency to determine for us the number of judges we can appoint. This is because the question of welfare and remuneration of judges are matters well within our control. All our judges in the state now own their own houses and it will not be different with the newly swornin judges.”

Fashola also lamented that most Nigerian judges could not attend International Bar Association Conference in

Tokyo, where they could learn from global issues that were discussed.

He also queried why the judges in the country need to seek permission of the Chief Judge of the federation before travelling out of the country, describing this as a lacuna in the constitution which must be addressed.

“Who is the employer of the state High Court Judge? Is it the National Judicial Commission or the State Judicial Commissions?” he asked.

The newly appointed judges are: Justice Iyabo Akinkungbe; Justice Iyabode Sonaike; Justice Jubril Bashua and Abdulfattah Lawal. They were all given officials cars.

On his part, the Lagos Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Ade Ipaye said the appointment of the judges was met with much expectation by the public and others. He said the powers confer on Judges of the High Court were very wide, as they extended to all matters between persons or between government or authority and any person in Nigeria.

Ipaye stated that recent vacancies in the Lagos State Judiciary had necessitated the search and intensive screening of suitable quali-

Imo 2015: PDP gov aspirants urged to unite P

L-R: Deputy Director, Industrial Skills Training Centre, Mr. James Abimbola; Lady Mechanic, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor- Ekperuoh and National President, Motor Mechs and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), Chief Sulaiman Oseni, at the Association’s 2014 Symposium/Awards in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Shema accused of courting APC aspirant Muhammad Kabir, Kano

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s political campaigns get tougher ahead of the 2015 elections, the governor of Katsina State Ibrahim Shema has been accused of hobnobbing with the All Progressive Congress, at the expense of some aspirants in his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

According to a group, Vanguards for Good Governance which made the allegation, Shema’s failure to have a good working relationship with aspirants on the platform of the PDP in the state and his recent close interaction with the opposition party, APC, in the state is capable of causing great danger for the party.

In a chat with media men in Kano at the weekend, the National Coordinator of the group, Sharfaddeen Muhammad argued that Shema’s open hatred for a particular gubernatorial

aspirant of PDP, Abdullahi Umar Tsauri, popularly called Tata, has influenced the governor to be involved in such anti-party activity.

The group called on Shema to leave Tata to exercise his constitutional rights, especially in view of what the aspirant has been doing in the area of eradicating poverty amongst the citizenry in the state.

According to Muhammad, Shema’s undemocratic posture in handling the affairs of PDP was the main reason why the party was losing grip in the state. “But with the coming of Tata, people are hopeful that PDP can retain power in the state.

This is somebody who believes in fair play in party politics,” he observed.

Muhammad further alleged that the governor was undermining internal democracy within PDP, apart from suppressing the party machinery- an action he said was very unbecoming in a genuine political practice.

Oyo NUT chair slumps, dies Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan

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hairman, Oyo State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Kayode Kolawole over the weekend slumped and died at the Owena area of Osun State on his way from an official assignment in Abuja.

The Ibadan-born NUT leader who was in his early 50’s, was returning from Abuja to Ibadan on an official assignment when he had a stopover at Ilesa to avoid night travel.

According to his Personal Assistant, Tayo Kolawole, who spoke with Sunday New Telegraph yesterday, “he slept in Ilesa and woke up, and slumped and before he could be rushed to a hospital, he had given up the ghost.”

Kolawole was elected Chairman of the union in February this year for a

four-year term. Survived by a wife and three children, he will be buried within this week.

In its reaction to the untimely death, the NonAcademic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Oyo State Schools and Colleges branch, its Chairman, Mr. Samson Adeleye, said the death was an irreparable loss.

NASU said, “The news of his death was so unbelievable. However, in as much as death is inevitable and the way to eternity, it is not how many years one spends on earth, but how well it is spent. We glorify the Lord for the life well spent by the deceased chairman.’’

The union expressed the heartfelt condolence of its members to NUT and the deceased family, praying that God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

fied candidates to fill the positions, saying was what led to the appointment of the new judges. Earlier, Chief Judge of Lagos State, Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, said the appointment of the four new judges brought to 54 the total number of judges in Lagos State, comprising 39 female and 15 male.

Atilade appealed to the state government to appoint more judges as the number of cases in court were overwhelming. This, the chief judge added would guarantee access to justice.

eoples Democratic Party governorship aspirants in Imo State have been advised to come together and back a single candidate to ensure victory for the party in 2015.

A statement by a coalition of Imo PDP governorship aspirants on Friday titled, ‘Imo Governorship 2015 and the Controversial PDP Delegates’ Election,’ decried the resort to media warfare by some aspirants over certain misgivings they have with the November 1 delegates’ election.

The statement acknowledged that the election was fraught with ‘serious irregularities’ in Imo State and across the country, with some aspirants being accused of fraudulently hijacking the process.

“Fingers point to Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as having influenced most of the delegates’ votes in his favour.

These wild conjectures by fellow governorship aspirants is however without credible evidential backing other than suspicions

of political out-manoeuvre and backhand. If there is an atom of truth to this by implication it infers that the PDP leadership in Imo State is equally culpable whether directly or indirectly.

“Nonetheless wise and experienced politicians in most other states have taken the part of reason and roundtable democracy to resolve the issues while 11 of the aspirants in Imo in a publication in Daily Sun of Thursday 20th November have taken to media war against themselves – the party, PDP, further heating up the already oven-baked polity. Remarkably, some of the matured and more calculative aspirants in Imo like Jerry Chukwueke, Chief Chuka Odom and Martin Agbaso may have quietly towed the part of constructive engagement with the party leadership to put their foot down that the right thing is done to ensure that PDP produces the best candidate that will be acceptable to all through a free and fair process.

Excitement as PDP clears Imoke’s former aide for Reps election

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here was excitement in some parts of Cross River State over the weekend as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party Screening Committee cleared Dr Alex Egbona, the immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Liyel Imoke to contest the Abi/ Yakurr Local Federal Constituency primaries of the party.

Most of his supporters went into wild jubilation when news of his clearance was broken. From Ugep to Ekureku, and even up to Itighidi, people celebrated the clearance as if he had already won the election.

Some of the supporters said they had to celebrate because his clearance was

an indication that he was on his way to winning the election. They said the rescheduled ward congress in the state would also be in his favour, as it was during the first exercise.

In his reaction, Egbona told journalists in Calabar that with his clearance and subsequent issuance of certificate of fitness by the party, the battle was almost won. On the screening exercise, Egbona said it was a seamless encounter.

He said: “the screening was very successful.

Of course I did not expect anything less because I have paid my dues as a loyal party man and I am eminently qualified for the office I am seeking to occupy.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Soldiers, DSS invade APC’s Lagos data centre Temitope Ogunbanke

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Vandalised office equipment at the All Progressives Congress Lagos data centre after yesterday’s invasion by security agents

Ekiti: Speakers insist on Omiri’s leadership Tunde Oyesina, ABUJA

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he Conference of Speakers yesterday said it still recognises Dr. Adewale Omirin as the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly because the mode of his impeachment was illegal and unconstitutional.

Chairman of the conference, Hon. Sam Ikon, stated this in Abuja while addressing journalists at an interactive session between Civil Society Organisations and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly on ‘Constitution Amendment Bills awaiting passage,’ organised by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.

Ikon stated that there is nowhere in the world where a lesser number can outweigh the higher number. He added that the conference is not partial and sentimental, adding that a new speaker would have been recognised if the im-

peachment of Omirin had followed due process.

Also speaking, Omirin accused Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of nursing ‘deep hatred’ for him and other members of the House of Assembly who are from the All Progressives Coongress.

Omirin, who said he was still the legally recognised Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, having been elected by members of the House, stated that seven members did not have the constitutional power to impeach him because such a number did not constitute two thirds majority.

He further stated that if returning to Ekiti State would not be conducive to them, they would legislate from outside the state.

He added that he had earlier promised Fayose that he and other APC members would work with him to move the state forward, “but it seems the governor is not ready for the progress of the state

from his behaviour.”

Ikon had earlier given the assurance that the conference would ensure that the interest of the people is protected in ratifying the resolutions of the National Assembly in the ongoing constitution review.

“Having learnt from previous exercises, we are resolute to join in bringing about a people-oriented Constitution for the development of our country. May I therefore urge my colleagues in the state houses of assembly that we take this exercise with the seriousness it de-

serves. Never again should we be seen to have denied the people of the opportunity of strengthening an institution. The interest of our people and their well being must be paramount while playing our role of ratifying the resolutions of the National Assembly. In other words, the outcome must reflect the overall interest of our people,” he added.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, expressed the importance of the interactive session.

Taraba gets new SSG, COS Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

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ew Taraba State Acting Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, has approved the appointment of Gibong Timothy Kataps as Secretary to the State Government. A state-

ment issued yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Danbaba Suntai, Hassan Mijinyawa, also announced the appointment of Mallam Aminu Jika as Chief of Staff Government House.

According to the statement, the SSG will be sworn in on Monday.

ll Progressives Congress has strongly condemned yesterday’s invasion of its data centre in Ikeja, Lagos by soldiers and the agents of the Directorate of State Security, calling it perhaps the worst political scandal in Nigeria’s history.

APC in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the invasion can only be likened to the Watergate Scandal that led to the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon in 1974, as a result of the June 17, 1972, break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the attempted cover-up of its involvement by the Republican Nixon Administration.

It described the invasion as another act of impunity, “now a trademark of the Jonathan-led presidency which is being edged on by the hawks in the Peoples Democratic Party.”

It stated that the invasion of its offices is an attempt

by Jonathan and the PDP to suppress the opposition, get details of its membership with the intention of using it to rig the 2015 elections and also to destroy the spirit of democracy.

It therefore called for an independent enquiry to fish out those who ordered the needless and unprovoked attack on the offices of the APC and ensure that they face very serious consequences, irrespective of their status.

Also addressing a press conference yesterday at the data centre, the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said the manner in which the

facility was invaded had shown PDP’s desperation for power in 2015.

Igbokwe said the party would do everything possible to recover the vital documents taken away by the security agents, adding that it would also go to court to seek for damages for all the vital documents and properties destroyed during the invasion.

Giving details of the invasion, the party said in the early hours of Saturday morning, a combined team of the DSS and OP-MESA stormed the centre and arrested 25 APC data agents and three security guards. “‘In what was a Gestapolike operation, the APC membership data centre located at Number 10, Bola Ajibola Street, off Allen Avenue in Ikeja, came under siege between the hours of 5:30am and 7:30am on Saturday. An operation of terror and brigandage was unleashed on a legitimate operation of a leading national party.

They came without a search warrant for the premises. Over 50 security operatives drafted from Abuja operations blocked the two major street entrances to the APC data entry centre, pulled down the gates and spent over two hours ransacking and vandalising the centre. “‘More than a dozen computers were destroyed.

The server was also vandalised along with other equipment in the building. Just like the Watergate scandal in the USA, the state-sponsored security operatives apparently acting at the behest of the ruling PDP government turned the office upside down, and pulled out and vandalised everything in sight,” the party said.

Ekiti saga, rape on democracy – Ogun Obanikoro pledges to liberate Lagos from Tinubu Yekeen Nurudeen, Abuja

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ormer President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Babatunde Ogun, has described the two recent political incidents where policemen tear- gased civil servants and legislators at the National Assembly and the ‘impeachment’ of the Ekiti State House of Assembly’s Speaker by seven lawmakers as a rape on the nation’s democracy.

Reacting to the incidents,

Ogun said that politicians should act with decorum

and stop activities that can put the nation under tension.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, Ogun condemned the behaviour of the police, who applied force in stopping the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from entering the National Assembly Complex last Thursday.

He berated the police for their failure to give consideration to the safety ofworkers in the Assembly before firing tear gas.

The fromer union leader Ogun, who commended the intervention of the Senate President David Mark by shutting of

the National Assembly, called on the legislators, especially the Senate to ensure that the “unholy” action of the police did go not unchecked. “ The police ought to be non-partisan and perform their sacred duty of maintaining law and order but not causing chaos as seen at the National Assembly on Thursday,” he said On the impeachment of Honourable Adewale Omirin as the Speaker of the Ekiti House of Assembly, the union leader condemned the action, describing the impeachment as not only unconstitutional but also “illogical, unethical and a show of shame.”

Wole Elegbede

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ormer Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has said that he is in the best position to wrest power from the claws of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Lagos.

He also said he remains the only person who can demystify former governor of the state and APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Addressing party leaders and supporters at the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in Lagos, where he announced his intention to contest the governorship election, Obanikoro said that it was time for all of them to be united and un-

derstand that they were all fighting one opponent - the APC. He said: “It is time to liberate Lagos from Bola Tinubu, the emperor of Bourdillon.

It is time for Tinubu to go.

This state has been ruled by him and his cronies for over 16 years without any change.”

Obanikoro averred further that only a person who had experience in governance could improve the fortunes of the state and not new entrants.

“Experience can never be purchased aside. This state has been ruled by one man for the past 16 years and I can tell you that only those who have served in government can make any mean-

ingful change.

“Those who don’t have experience cannot make a meaningful change; they will only go there to start learning governance and we don’t need an apprentice governor in Lagos. See the quantum debt incurred by the APC in this state. Only one person can win and fix Lagos and that is Obanikoro,” he said.

Dispelling insinuations that he is a violent man, Obanikoro stated that he had never been found wanting since he joined active partisan politics.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Tunji Shelle, assured that the primaries would be free and fair.

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O

Ngozi Edwin

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPINION Kalu: Abia PDP mischief

n September 14, 2014, the office of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State took a full-page advertorial in THE NATION ON SUNDAY of the same date. The specious publication entitled ‘DISCLAIMER’ was signed by a certain Uchechi Ogbuka, State Publicity Secretary, PDP, Abia State!

In the preposterous and laughable advertorial, the local PDP leadership declared inconsequentially that Kalu ‘claims’ to be a member of the party which, according to them, is not true hence the invidious necessity for the said publication. A boy still in his mother’s diapers knows that Kalu is a founding and staunch member of the PDP. In any case, it is not the responsibility of the provincial arm of any party to confer or ‘disclaim’ membership on anyone.

It should interest the grass roots ignoramuses to know that the only organ of the party that has such powers is the National Executive Committee (NEC). Because of their vicious recklessness and idiocy, these peripheral party officials arrogate authority that is clearly above their benefactors to themselves. This kind of lawlessness arising from ignorance about the country’s constitutional provisions and party guidelines is why Nigeria’s party structures are still wobbling instead of being deepened.

Where were Ogbuka and his limping chairman when the foundations for the PDP were being laid? What does their consciousness tell them about Kalu’s irrefutable membership of the ruling party? Can they in all sincerity and fear of God boldly tell anyone that Kalu is not a member of the PDP? Except the marines, no person can listen to such blatancy of a lie. I am sure Ogbuka and his physically-challenged chairman know the truth but the exigency of stomach infrastructure will becloud their deformed senses of propriety and honesty. This kind of tomfoolery is understandable in the hate circumstance that Kalu has found himself fuelled by those who are afraid of his towering personality and bursting profile in and out of the PDP. If some of these theatricals are not thrown up to destabilise Kalu, the fear is that he

has the capacity, potentiality and clout to take over the party machinery in the state.

One of the submissions in the circuitous advertorial is that Kalu has dual membership of two political parties in Nigeria which is unconstitutional. “Chief Orji Uzor Kalu is the founder and financier of Peoples Progressive Party (PPA), a duly registered political party.”

It has never been in contention that Kalu solely founded and financed the PPA on whose platform Gov. T. A. Orji of Abia State and former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikeddy Ohakim, won their elections before re-defection to the PDP. Subsequently, Kalu also quit the PPA and relinquished his leadership of the party and other appurtenances of authority and control in the party. He also publicly renounced his relationship with the PPA and returned to the PDP. Even while his membership of the PPA lasted, most people knew that his soul was with the PDP! This was massively publicised.

So, for anyone to advertise his ignorance and declare that Kalu is still a member of the PPA is to criminalise him for petty reasons!

If the right-thinking members of the PDP at its national headquarters believed this cockand-bull story by the Abia PDP clowns, they would not have issued the senatorial nomination form to Kalu which had since been returned to the national secretariat. Interestingly, going by the party’s hierarchical structure, the advertorial fiasco is a nullity, null, void and of no effect whatsoever. It amounts to stupidity for one to cut his nose and spite his face which is exactly what the advertorial has achieved.

Another rationalisation for the advertorial borders on Kalu’s avid and vehement backing of President Goodluck Jonathan’s forthcoming re-election. Apparently, the local PDP warlords are not happy with the superlative support of President Jonathan’s government and his politics. The implication and fear are that if the trend continues, Kalu may end up hijacking the PDP structure in Abia. Whoever knows Kalu very well will tell you for free that such closeness to the President could sway the tide of local politics in Abia, Therefore, the Abia PDP needs to thoughtlessly do something to interject that cordiality! I hope that these people

remember the constitutional provisions on freedom of association as enshrined in Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The hollowness of the vacuous advertorial in question is further captured thus: “We do not mind if he (Kalu) decides to support President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s legitimate quest for a second term, what we find objectionable is the juxtaposition of his photograph with that of Mr. President (sic) with whom he does not share the same party platform.” Nobody can mind Kalu’s decision to vehemently throw his weight and resources behind the President. As already pointed out, if Kalu was not a member of the PDP despite grass roots wildcat protestations in their deviancy and futility, the gentle and reasonable men in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, would not have issued a senatorial nomination form to Kalu which had since been duly filled, returned and of course accepted. What is left is for Kalu to mobilise and actualise his plan. The only thing that can stop Kalu is if the PDP insists on its controversial, divisive and undemocratic agreement with governors over the forthcoming polls. As a law-abiding member of the party and responsible Nigerian, Kalu will submit to the party which is supreme in these matters. Otherwise the coast is clear for Kalu to give his people quality representation at the upper legislative chamber unlike the current charade of representational timidity and concomitant passiveness. Abia deserves some vibrancy at the National Assembly — which is the objective of Kalu.

Yet another brainwave: “As a matter of fact, Chief Orji Uzor kalu’s (sic) name is not in any membership register in proper custody.” Who defines ‘proper custody’: the dispassionate

If some of these theatricals are not thrown up to destabilise Kalu, the fear is that he has the capacity, potentiality and clout to take over the party machinery in the state

national secretariat of the party or some jaundiced and vindictive local champions? Even if you have grouses about an imaginary enemy, there is still need for articulation, thoughtfulness and coordination of combative strategies.

Engaging in kamikaze free for all smacks of insanity and since two persons cannot be mad at the same time Kalu has chosen the path of propriety even in the face of unwarranted attacks and provocative delinquencies which aim at discrediting and disclaiming him by persons he brought to limelight and a few others on inevitable messengerial assignations — all ungrateful and indirect beneficiaries of Kalu’ worst political miscalculation in the history of mankind.

Since Kalu went to the national headquarters of the PDP and took pictures with the national chairman and other executives of the party present on the occasion, which was massively published by newspapers because of its unassailable newsy value, Kalu’s detractors have been rattled, distraught and embarrassed beyond comprehension, let alone measure.

Futile efforts had expectedly been made by oppositional forces in Abia PDP to diminish the invaluable picture which removed the veil of mass deception and malicious publications like the subject of this clarification. In all, the ingratitude jesting about, time will tell who the villain is ultimately.

Finally, the lugubrious advertorial declares thus: “Be that as it may, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (sic) has no met any of the basic requirements for a returnee.” As I had pointed out here and elsewhere, it is not the duty of the local arm of the PDP to prescribe conditions and requirements for returning members of the party. It is the responsibility of the National Executive Committee of the party. No other organ has such statutory powers.

If anyone deserves ‘wise counsel,’ it is not Dr. Kalu but all those who sponsored the vexatious advertorial and similar mischievous jobs that are interminable. At the opportune time, annalists, analysts and historians will chronicle this persecution of a benefactor by his beneficiaries.

•Edwin, a lawyer, wrote from Abuja

2014 World Quality Day and Nigerian economy (II) T he media are awash everyday reporting on quality failures while the power of the consumer has also risen, with over 60% of customers reading online reviews before making a purchase decision. There is really nowhere for businesses to hide these days. Quality failure is no longer acceptable.

Over 90 companies are already certified to ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Standards in Nigeria. The controversy on acceptable cement standards for construction works in Nigeria is a case in point. Every day we read, listen or view from our news media “Synagogue building collapse’, fake products worth millions of naira destroyed”, “discovery of 70,000 ghost pensioners”, “power outages and lack of motorable roads, including absence of railways are stifling growth and foreign investments in the agricultural sector” and the Boko Haram insurgency are all issues of quality failure in our national life. Corruption is our albatross!

No wonder, there is ongoing nationwide consultations on formulating Nigeria National Quality Policy NQP. The NQP is organized through the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments, the Standards Organization Nigeria SON and the European Union - funded National Quality Infrastructure Project executed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO. The consultations captioned, “The Springboard to Global Competitive-

ness is packaged to prepare a national quality policy to support the creation of key systems and institutions to improve the competitiveness of the Nigerian economy and also ensure the global acceptance of products and services from Nigeria. When launched it may become mandatory for organizations and Nigerians accept quality as a way of life to enable our country join the World Supply Chain, by World Trade Organization WTO removing technical trade barriers against Nigeria.

In August 2014, during the inauguration of the steering committee of National Quality Policy, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga said, “The European Union yesterday released 12 million euro to support the enhancement of the National quality infrastructure, with a view to improving quality, safety, integrity and marketability of Nigerian goods and services… and to remove technical barriers. This is the first time in Nigeria we are having a holistic industrial

Quality Infrastructure is a system of institutions which jointly ensure that products and services meet predefined specifications. Most importantly

revolution plan. The project has a life span of four years. This is the only way we can diversify our economy… We want to ensure a regular survey, identify the gap today and prepare for the future” He continued, “For 50 years Nigeria got away without proper standardization that is why Nigeria is what it is today. We still have not been able to export our goods into other countries, our biggest obstacles is meeting with international standards”.

In the same event Dr. Patrick Kormawa, UNIDO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS said, “…Nigeria lacks an international recognised quality infrastructure in order to ensure safety, integrity and marketability of goods and services”. In another forum, Dr. David MacRae, European Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS said, “The EU attaches a great importance to the diversification of Nigeria’s oil economy, the role of the private sector in the creation of employment and the improvement of the living conditions of all it citizens. The support brought by the EU, in team with UNIDO to help improve Nigeria’s quality infrastructure, is one good step in that direction”.

Quality Infrastructure is a system of institutions which jointly ensure that products and services meet predefined specifications. Most importantly, it aims at providing technical support to companies so they can improve their production processes and at ensuring compliance with regulations or international

requirements. Quality Infrastructure refers “to all aspects of metrology, standardization, testing, quality management, certification and accreditation that have a bearing on conformity assessment...”

Accreditation which is one of the quality infrastructure institutions is granted to countries by the International Accreditation Forum IAF, the regulatory arm of International Organization for Standardization ISO. In Africa only five countries have been so accredited thus; South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Kenya and Mauritius. The process of getting Nigeria accredited is what the National Quality Policy all about. Accreditation is an independent service undertaken in the public interest to establish trust (value), quality and safety of goods and services by businesses and consumers, governments and its agencies and other stakeholders from production to the distribution chain in the local and the global markets. It assesses the competence of the other quality institutions and guarantees the quality of products and services to the customer or consumer. A good example of the benefits of accreditation from United Kingdom Accreditation Services UKAS is re-produced below.

Read on.

•Mazi Colman Obasi is a Quality Management Practitioner and President of Association Systems management Consultants.

Cell: 08033353229, 07041056041, Email: mazicolmanobasi@gmail.com

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Sunday Mail NOVEMBER 23, 2014

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.

The need for a strong judiciary Dear Editor, It’s time to call those in the corridors of power in Nigeria to question. Watching events as it unfold in Nigeria, I’m amazed at the level of decadence and political brigandage occasioned by those who should know better. It’s time for character regeneration and appropriate punishment to whoever that deviates outside acceptable norms. We need to put the right people with the right culture of professional competence in managerial positions. From professional standpoint, It’s obvious that Nigerian Police Force do not apply the basic techniques of modern Public Relations for law enforcement and to some of the legislators, what type of brand are you projecting? Remember a brand is a mixture of attributes, tangible and intangible, which creates value and influence. What value have you now created by scaling the gate and fence to gain access to the hallow chamber of the National Assembly like a common criminal. What influence is your action now to other Nigerians, particularly the youths and outside world. We need a strong and independent judicial system made up of people with impeccable character.

It’s a time for sober reflection. May God help us!

Godfrey Osakwe Asaba, Delta State Ocean gateway: Looming danger on pedestrian walkway on Ahmadu Bello Way bridge, Lagos. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

MTN and data bundle scam Dear Editor, I was swindled and have been very angry since then. MTN swindled me. I stopped using their Internet Service for over a year now. I rather activate enough data on either my Glo or Etisalat and to the other phone via hot spot.

I received a message from them.

The message is “Surprise!!! Get 4.5GB Data for only N2,500 to browse, chat, download all day, all night. Text 120 to 131 to activate”.

This afternoon after dropping my children at home and in haste to go for Friday prayers, I forgot my phone with Glo line at home. Since my calls are diverted to the MTN, I decided there was no need returning home for it. At about 5pm while in the office, I needed to use the Internet so, i remembered that message from MTN. I picked my phone and sent 120 to 131.

Then came a terribly annoying text message. “ Y’ello! Welcome to MTN Smartphone Bundle. You have 4.5GB (1.5GB Day & 3GB Night) valid for 30 days. Text 2 to 131 to check bal & dial *559*2# to view extra data”. Why didn’t they explain all the detail before asking me to subscribe? This is Aminu Muhammad Abuja

TA Orji yet to show literary credibility Dear Editor Of all the Nigerian governors with English/Literary Studies background, only Abia governor, TA Orji, has distanced himself from the kindred spirit.

Niger state governor, Babangida Aliyu, had English Education as his first degree, and he has always supported literature. Governor Chibuike Amaechi and former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, studied English and Literary Studies at Uniport, and you can see the effect in their support for literary activities in Nigeria. TA Orji graduated from the same English department Achebe and Soyinka graduated from at University of Ibadan, and he has rather made himself a flat character when it comes to the scribbled world.

Henry Akubuiro Lagos

Kwara 2015: Kudos to Ahmed Dear Editor, The presence of the major contenders in the presidential race under the All Progressives Congress viz. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at the formal declaration by the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulfatah Ahmed, to run for a second term in 2015 is undoubtedly perceivable as a commendable beginning of the establishment of politics of co-rivalry in Nigeria. It is also an indicator of the importance of the north-central state in the contention for power between the two major political parties in Nigeria.

A similar occurrence had been at the recent declaration for presidency by the Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where a sitting governor had declared that it did not matter if he did not emerge as the presidential flagbearer of the APC; as the main issue was to unite and take over power, come 2015.

At Ahmed’s declaration in Kwara, it was a show of solidarity as the event was fully graced by the serving governors of Sokoto, Kano, Rivers, Edo, including the erstwhile governor of Ekiti State.

In his speech at the occasion and amidst hailing and accolades from a large crowd, Governor Ahmed humbly thanked stakeholders and his supporters for their unflinching solidarity. He stressed that they were not present for him but for their faith in Kwara and his dispensation’s proven capacity.

While emphasising his establishment of a government of continuity, he mentioned a number of achievements of his administration viz. provision of jobs for 10,200 youths; N700 million in a microcredit scheme for 14,000 small businesses; expanded education free to secondary school level and the rehabilitation of hundreds of classrooms; remodelling, modernisation and equipping of hospitals in Ilorin, Offa, Share, Omu-Aran and Kaiama leading to provision of healthcare for about 85,000 Kwarans, which has earned the state global recognition, including the OEC prize in Paris, France.

Others are the connection of 400 communities to PHCN and the provision of potable water within 800 metres’ radius in the state; completion of key inherited projects in the state’s senatorial districts and the provision of N215million in revolving microcredit to 170 outgrower farmers across the state.

He was quick to deliver that stressing on the achievements of his administration did not imply self- aggrandisement but was to let the people assess the accountabilty of the dispensation and its dire intention to do more, while promising that by 2015 all homes would be availed pipe-borne water through the ongoing reticulation project.

He thanked the APC party leader in the state and Senator of the Federal Republic, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, for his endorsement and his trust in him, while reaffirming his belief in the political structure laid down by the Turakin Ilorin. This, he said, had given hope to the hopeless and democratised access to political power exemplified by his attainment of gubernatorial position despite being a son of a humble police officer.

Segun Ojomo Ilorin, Kwara State

On the crisis in Ekiti State and the House of Reps Dear Editor It appears this is the strategy of a few misguided elements to use instruments of authority to terrorise the people to gain political advantage at all costs! Is this not similar to what is being played out in NASS? The hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob?

You must know how some public officials act over-zealously out of sycophancy even without the knowledge of their bosses. Even during Gen. Sani Abacha’s tenure, Major Almustapha (his Chief Security Officer) and Gen. Gwarzo (his National Security Adviser) did many notorious things on their own which Gen. Abacha did not specifically instruct and which he knew nothing about. It is not in President Goodluck Jonathan’s character to employ violence. Someone very senior in the Presidency or in the security agencies is outdoing himself in the hope of pleasing the President. The President himself has been attending the Honorary International Investment Council meeting in London. He is a peacemaker and a peaceful man. I am sure he will intervene in both Ekiti State and in the House of Representatives.

Egheomhanre Eyieyien Benin City, Edo State

Nigeria police and Tambuwal Dear Editor, Those who fought for the independence of Nigeria put everything on the line. We did more than scaling fences before we were able to stop military. If some people think risking their lives, jumping fences is part of what will save Nigeria democracy, they have my support. Police have no business at the National Assembly. Let our elected Representatives deal with the issue at hand politically not through the use of security. Meanwhile, Tambuwal needs protection from police at this point in time more than ever.

The fifth columnists or members of his party may assassinate him and blame the act on GEJ. It is possible, these people who have been defending Bokoharam can do it.

Therefore, the President must review his strategy on how to deal with this Tambuwal matter.

Oludare Ogunlana Abeokuta, Ogun State

12

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Moment

L-R: Director, Pensions Administration, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Adenike Falade; Regional Head, Lagos & South-West, Credit Direct Limited (CDL), Mr. Abiodun Adigun; Managing Director, Mr. Akinwande Ademosu; Commissioner for Education, Lagos, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye; Permanent Secretary, Teachers Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO), Otunba Nurudeen Ojora-Adejiyan and Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Lagos Chapter, Chief Kayode Owoyemi, at the presentation of a bus by CDL to TEPO in Lagos…Friday

L-R: First National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC), Mr. Omotayo Bamidele; National President, Mr. Victor Arimah and National Secretary, Mr.Umar Usman, at the 9th Conference of the association, entitled, ”Technical/Vocational Practice, A Panacea To Youth Unrest and National Development” in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Jamila Shuara and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Ernest Nwapa, shortly after the opening of the 4th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content, at the Banquet hall, Government House, Yenagoa

L-R: Principal, Government Secondary School, Chibok, Hajiya Asabe Kwambula; National Programme Officer, Education, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Ms Ngozi Amanze and Coordinating Marshal, FCT Chapter, Exam Ethics Marshals International, Mr. Salihu Yahaya, during the distribution of safe school kits to schools in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in Abuja …on Friday

L-R: Head, Domestic Services, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LASUTH), Mr. Olayinka Scott; Chairman, LASUTH Governing Board, Dr. Olatunde Williams and Deputy Director, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mr. Abiodun Ayege at LASUTH 9th Health Attendants Conference with the theme, ”Dynamics Of Health Care Service Environment: Health Attendants In Focus” in Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Former Minister of Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Chairman, Lagos State People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd) and Secretary-General, Lagos State PDP, Hon. Wahab Owokoniran, at Obanikoro’s declaration of governorship ambition in Lagos…on Friday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Public Relations Officer, Office of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Col. Aminu Iliyasu; Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye and Chief of Staff, Directorate of Army Public Relations, at a news conference on Army Officers Conference in Abuja…on Friday

L-R: Niger State PDP Governorship aspirant, Umar Mohammed Nasko; Benue State PDP Governorship aspirant, Sam Ode; Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, and Chairman Niger State PDP, Musa Ma’ali, during Nasko’s formal declaration for the 2015 Niger State governorship election in Minna…on Thursday

13

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Moment The union between Dr. Olufemi Oni and Miss Ehi Igbinedion, daughter of former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion was officially announced recently at the Abuja residence of Sir Gabriel Igbinedion in the presence of the Igbinedion family and High Chief Samuel Oni family from Egosi-Ile Kwara State. The event was graced by many personalities and diplomats.

Here are some of the photographs from the event.

L-R The bride Ehi; the Esama of Benin, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion and the mother of the bride, Eki Igbinedion

Sir Gabriel Igbinedion showering blessing son the groom and his family

Chief Oskwe Agbontaen [l] with a former Information Minister, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro

DG National Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Dayo Keshi; with the parents of the bride, Lucky Igbinedion and wife Eki

Sir Omorogbe and wife

Parents of the groom High Chief Samuel Oni and his wife, Theresa, with the bride, Ehi (c)

The father of the groom, High Chief Samuel Oni and the father of the bride, Lucky Igbinedion

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore [r] in a handshake with Sierra Leonian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Maj Gen. Nelson Williams, with Sir Gabriel Igbinedion [c]

14

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

2015: Ebonyi PDP aspirants petition Jonathan, Mu’azu

U

Biyi Adegoroye

nless President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, intervenes, the fortunes of the Ebonyi State chapter of the party in the 2015 elections may wane, stakeholders in the state have warned.

In a comprehensive nine-page petition addressed to President Jonathan and Mu’azu by the Forum of Ebonyi State PDP aspirants and key stakeholders, the group said it is intimating the national leadership of the party of the serial breach of party constitution, violation and disregard of party guidelines, abuse of due process, intimidation and harassment of party faithful in the state by the State Executive Committee (SEC) of PDP and the state governor, Martin Elechi.

A copy of the signed petition by the stakeholders which was made available to the Sunday New Tele-

graph, decried the sole selection of some aspirants and intimidation of the rest by the governor, urging the president and the national chairman to urgently intervene, save and liberate the people of Ebonyi State from primitive tyranny.

“Your Excellency is invited to note that Ebonyi, a traditional PDP state; winning and retaining most electoral seats since 1999, has been facing gradual erosion of strength since 2007 because of acts as the present.”

Highlighting areas of constitutional violation, abuse of due process and disregard of party guidelines by the governor, the forum pinpointed the appointment of the gubernatorial candidate, appointment of National Assembly/state assembly candidates, appointment of a new state party chairman, activities of Ebonyi Youth Assembly and the governor ’s directive to impeach the state deputy governor, among others, as some serial breaches puncturing peace and progress in the state chapter.

On the selection of the governorship candidate of the party for the 2015 election, the forum said, “Without recourse to true consultation and participation of critical stakeholders of the party, including but not limited to governorship aspirants, party elders and National Assembly Caucus, State Assembly Caucus and the Traditional Institution, the governor assembled a hand-picked group comprised mainly of family members, kitchen cabinet and official aides and unilaterally announced the former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, as the consensus governorship candidate of the party in Ebonyi State.

“Thereafter, people in elective and appointive offices were compelled under duress to endorse pre-prepared adoption resolutions and press statements out of fear of grave negative repercussions of not doing so. We wish to inform Your Excellency that not only has no consensus been achieved in the gubernatorial contest in Ebonyi PDP; there

was no attempt at consensus building by the governor,” it said.

Similarly, the forum accused the governor of convening a meeting weeks before the ward congress and announcing at the said meeting, the allocation of the National Assembly and State Assembly seats to his cohorts, including his brother-in-law, Chief Chris Nwankwo.

They said Nwankwo was given the senatorial ticket together with another sitting senator, with the third one not returning as the governor plans to take his seat.

“For House of Representatives, the governor decreed that four out of the six members will not return and directed the state party chairman to resign and pick a form for one of the House of Representatives constituencies.

On the State Assembly, the Governor decreed that 18 out of 24 members will not return.

“In other to actualise the above directive, the governor used his cousin who is the state youth leader of the party, Mr. Chinedu

Ogah, to manipulate the sole of nomination forms for the three-man Ad-hoc delegates without regard to the acting chairman.”

While commending the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for ensuring that the Special Delegates Congress held in the state on November 1 was not truncated, the stakeholders averred that the President’s effort to enthrone credible electoral process would have been a mirage if party members are not allowed to participate in internal party processes in accordance with the party’s principles and guidelines.

Giving its perspective on the status of the congresses so far in the state, the forum said it accepted the result of the Special Congresses held on November 1 as declared by the Alhaji Babayo-led Committee, saying that the outcome of the congress was a true reflection of the exercise in the field.

On the Special Local Government Congress of November 8, the stakeholders said, “Contrary

to the deceptive propaganda of the Ebonyi State Government, the Local Government Congress was successfully held in Ebonyi State on 8th November, 2014 albeit under very difficult conditions created deliberately by the Governor and his Chief thug, Chinedu Ogah.”

The forum said it is graciously praying the president to, firstly, “Direct the immediate proscription of the Ebonyi Youth Assembly (EYA) before it transforms to an insurgent group capable of destabilising the South-East Zone; “Direct the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) to provide adequate police security to all those contesting elections in Ebonyi State to forestall mortal attacks and assassinations by this cult group.”

The group’s third plea to President Jonathan is for a request that, “the governor and the party leadership in Ebonyi State to give maximum cooperation to the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party to peacefully conclude the ongoing primaries in the state.”

15

Fashion

Sassy flirty skirts 22-43

Bed, Work & Life

And Killjoy comes calling!

20

Body Soul SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Why I’m not interested in marriage -Elvina Ibru

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SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

heart y m m o r f t h g Strai

ning. pound that mor eir school com th g rin te en es. rred from y the school fe ildren were ba y levy he was yet to pa rm. It is the Christmas part lled to say his ch t ca gh nd ou ie th fr I a . o, 49 id sa te ol he lf, ho sc se e few days ag m Pg. nning of th to school hi gi n re be e ild th ch s at hi es He took school fe my children’s later “Juliet, I paid at would hold e. m e istmas party th & Din pay,” he told hr to C a ch d r hi se fo w fu Wine e, re ild I that n and electiv Naira per ch tio ? nd ia vy sa oc le ou ss y A rt th r t pa Christmas d to pay eigh Parent Teache 1 rents were aske rious other levies, including marter He said that pa va s failed to meet to n ho k w tio e di in os ad r th in d D as an w y levy this year. That school fees.

Christmas part alongside the od to pay the ri ?

E pe ly c al ifi Re tivities each ec each pupil paid d. sp ol compoun ere given a a curricular ac w tr ho s ex sc nt r e re he th pa ot ng l id ri ng for a ra te yi ve en pa se He sa t to om no n fr r fo tio ed school s in addi ildren barr g pupils from hristmas partie up had their ch a school barrin of schools hold C t ar os he m ld . at es ou th I had thought time I w I know such levi s Disease scare. , this is the first nts into paying ru er re Vi ev pa a aces r ol ow ei H Eb th e n. s’ th io sess cause of ho ‘haras school which pl e to be pupils w nd schedule be for the term. A hi ts be ui l rs el w pu d y rl te party. It used la lof ric l ic year star with scho o em up j ad g ol ac tin 5 ho ee sc /1 a m e 14 d. th in voke The 20 to get interested Ofad ve its license re , he was going ould be more F which he sent party should ha ok ‘cause’ page ol bo as that schools w ce ho tm sc Fa is e a hr th C en of ed to op ntion on iculars a premium atte censed, I was too. He threaten ort. I demanded for the part in pp as su l w ta nd to ie in fr My ntly’. d. I was ed to ‘talk urge thing, he adde tely. to say we need to do the right ia d ed lle m ca im he t r, os te earge alm e mat had contacted via text messa enquiries on th ade the initial ion whom they bla. xt message. at m a te I bl uc r a a te Ed bl nd af ... of se y ts er to da or A ommission asked him for your eff C d u e an th yo g k hich om tin an fr w ee th , ol m se in school lly. A scho t a respon I was in a kids were back e: they had go . I disagree tota e ed. m ol th at ca ho d ig sc ge st an sa in ve y es Pg. 50 in ck og m The should be tter of apol ren were ba vy le ild le a ch y nt s rt se hi pa ng d at as yi ha th pa tm d ol r is fie ho fte hr tis sc C A e sa s. ng th nt as yi r, re w lie e r not pa gyp pa k got a redress. H e wee l in an effort to es from class, fo monly of th To him, he had L Hero te on school fe tutorials’ com arp practices al ol da sh to ho in sc up ed r e lv fte ar vo ‘a ho es for hools are in bars pupils, w e teachers. Is nts still pay fe Many other sc with s with the sam fees, some pare ol ol ho ho sc sc e m gh oose eggs sa hi e g th e by d h se criminally ni T en which are orga ning in their the gold called ‘lessons’ ey are complai th d le an ... ? ho al w ng in a ni for O this not crim le are complai ft unchallenged paid their , just few peop ation that is le in ho w om ls ab Unfortunately pi an pu r at Gags will ba y e sages say th Gags why a school they fail to pa wardrobes. Th . Yeah, that is und because on po iti m ad co tr a ol es ho year becom tering the sc ol fees from en letter sent to orner complete scho er an apology ook C ov g tin .

My C lollies la vy bi le ju y rt is e e pa !

H re . as ic ca ol tm I n l ho is u al sc hr C in y, f wall for Fruit r Art ildren are back Nigerians. hang it on his Colou My friend’s ch lem with many ‘frame’ it and ob ld pr e ou k th R sh in is e cl H at d . ol s. Th back an him by the scho the other parent rselves on the ft him, so also we clap, slap ou onster. , ed lv so is The fight has le m le m immediate prob orphoses into Frankincense As long as our etam m m le ob pr e th glasses, while Sunday...enjoy!

Juliet It’s a beautiful

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49

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Contents 23.11.2014 COVER

I don’t want to be skinny because I would look sick.

I used to weigh 210kg, now I weigh 105kg, so I have a little more to go. I will be very happy if I can get to 100kg or 98kg

-Elvina Ibru

} 18-19

Source

FASHION

There are those skirts that scream sexy because of their flirty style.

Whether they come in mini, skater, A-line, pleated, pencil or midi, these skirts are really flirty and sexy

: ww

w.hello

kids.co

m

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor)

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent)

} 22&43

Wole Adepoju Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent)

BEAUTY Before you do your lip makeup, ensure that they are a blank canvas for the coats

} 21

Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics)

MY PASSION My style is very trendy. I do a little of everything that is in vogue and I am quite stylish. I love smart casual dressing with the occasional blazer or suit

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

Associates

} 17

GLAM DUDES Oxford shoe, often referred to as the most elegant type of men’s shoe, is as versatile as it is timeless

} 44

BED, WORK & LIFE “I had a very rough past. No one asked me to quit. I did myself. I did because I had had enough of that life, I did because I wanted to have my own family, I wanted to make something honest out of my life

} 20

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

17

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

I love wristwatches - Anthony Monjaro

Anthony Monjaro was born Anthony Akposheri, but uses the stage name, Monjaro because another Nollywood actor bears his full name. He came to Nollywood limelight when he acted as the captain in the blockbuster movie, ‘Last flight to Abuja’. In this interview with VANESSA OKWARA, Monjaro talks about his life Tell us briefly about your childhood and career?

I am from Ughelli North, Delta State. I come from a large family -six sisters and one younger brother. I was born in London, came back when I was young and got my secondary education here in Nigeria and then went back to further my education.

I completed a degree in multimedia and film production at Thames Valley University. I also have a diploma in performing arts from Goldsmith College, an arm of the. University of London. I came back to Nigeria to become a full time actor in 2012.

Monjaro sounds strange. Is it a family name?

Monjaro is a stage name I created, my real is Anthony Akposheri. But another Nollywood actor also bears Tony Akposheri.

I decided to change it but I wanted something African. I adopted Monjaro from Kilimanjaro Mountain because of my height. I just tweaked it a little. I decided to have a stage name for distinction.

What movies brought you out to the limelight?

I have been fortunate to be involved in great TV series and films but the two projects that people recognize me the most is ‘Last Flight to Abuja’ where I played the role of a captain and then recently I’m in ‘Lekki wives’.

What’s been happening to you and your acting career?

My career has been great. I featured in the African popular daytime TV soap ‘Tinsel’ for six months and have gone on to star in a few other popular TV dramas.

I

have been fortunate to be a part of some great projects like ‘Gidi Up’, a few Afriwood Films by Mnet and recently a few films outside Nigeria -one in Manchester, UK and two in the United States. I am currently working on a TV series with Soji Ogunaike and ‘Lekki wives’ Season 3; the final season will be filming from December 8. I’m looking forward to being ‘Crazy Victor’ one more time.

Aside acting, are there other creative ventures you are into?

At the moment, I am still putting together my production company and looking forward to producing my first project. I have great plans and I can’t wait to get it off the ground.

What inspires your acting?

I get inspired by great actors with great stories and the scripts.

I am a big sucker for a fab-

M y mo

ulous storyline and great dialogue.

Describe your style.

My style is very trendy. I do a little of everything that is in vogue and I am quite stylish. I love smart casual dressing with the occasional blazer or suit.

If you are going for a red carpet event, how long does it take for you to dress up?

It doesn’t take me too long. I know what goes with what and already know what I want to rock before I leave the house. But usually, I like to play it safe with a suit or smart casual.

Which is your favourite perfume?

My favourite perfume changes with time. Right now I am rocking Tom Ford.

Ford Tom

ing What’s your r o ck I am favourite watch label?

That will have to be Krieg Bowman. I own and wear one. Really, I am not about name though, I love watches for what they look like, not who made it.

What’s the most expensive item you have?

Well at the moment, it will have to be my car. It’s a Mercedes sports. I haven’t bought my house yet...

What is your passion?

It’s got to be films, the whole processing from start to finish. I am very passionate about what I do.

Taking a peek into your wardrobe, what kind of fashion items are we likely to see?

Yo u will defi-

s t ex p

ensive

pos se

ssion

nitely see lot of suits. Suits work best for me.

What fashion item are you fetish about?

That will have to be my watch. I consider it an accessory. I cannot go out without wearing a wristwatch; therefore it is part of my fashion fetish.

What fashion item you cannot be caught wearing?

I don’t know yet... from the top of my head I will have to say a skirt or a dress.

Who are your role models?

I have a few, but the one that stands out has to be Al Pacino. He is an amazing actor; my favourite film of his will have to be ‘Scents of a Woman’.

Who is your favourite designer, local and international?

My favourite Nigerian designer is Tayo Gabriel, while on the International scene, it will have to be Sanc.

If you were not acting, what other profession would you have liked to be in and why?

I will be into Web and graphic design because that is my next passion; I did a combined degree at university in Multimedia computer and film production.

What do you like and dislike in a woman?

Nagging. I can’t stand a nagging woman.

Are you in a relationship?

Aaaah! That is my private business. But safe to say I am not searching.

Do you have tattoos? If yes, can we know locations?

No, like my body the way it is -tattoo free.

What is your life philosophy?

Work hard and put the Lord in all you do and trust me, He will bless your hustle.

If you are to make a wish, what are the three most important heart desires you will like fulfilled?

My first wish will be to build a film studio of international standard. Second wish will be to bring in artistes not just from Africa but from America and all over the world as well and the third wish will be to leave a legacy; my work and knowledge to upcoming artistes that will come after me.

These are my wishes but also my goals and purpose in life.

18

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Why I’m not interested in Elvina, daughter of billionaire businessman, Olorogun Michael Ibru, has all it takes for a celibate to have a rethink.

Unfortunately, the amiable light-skinned beauty is not disposed to getting married. She spoke extensively with WOLE ADEPOJU on life as the daughter of a money bag, her school days, her six-year old son, Elisha, and sundry issues You were recently given an award. Can you please tell us about it?

Okay. It’s from the Faculty of Arts and Humanity, UNILAG (University of Lagos), in recognition of my contribution towards the progress of youths and the arts.

What are your contributions to the arts?

(Laughs) To be honest, I don’t know how to blow my own horn. In a nutshell, I just believe in the youth and when you have the opportunity to help a young person that is trying to grow, you learn to lend a helping hand. That’s how I live my daily life. If I can help, I help. If I can’t, I can’t.

How long have you been on radio and what is it like?

It’s been just one year. I love it and I look forward to going to work every day. Generally, the profession I’m in, entertainment, is something I love. I think that to be able to do it well, you really need to love it; even though the people outside think you just have fun every day. It’s actually not an easy sector to be in, especially for women, but I love it. And starting work at Classic FM just adds another notch to my belt, so to speak. I was surprised the other day, about a week ago, I received a letter from Exquisite magazine; it nominated me for Outstanding Female OAP of the Year. It was shocking because I never imagined that after just one year, I would be noticed at all. Although, I’m very happy and even if I don’t win, it’s an honour being nominated.

I understand you have a background in broadcasting. But what informed your decision to go to Classic FM? The decision was formed for me. Before I started at Classic FM, I had a little bit of radio experience but not in this form.

I worked with BBC in England but it was a different style of work, it was not as a radio presenter. It was more like a radio actor. We had scripts. It was a show for children so everything was scripted for you. I would go in with another fellow and we’d do a little act together. So, it was a different kind of experience but I enjoyed it. The M.D of Megaletrics (owners of Classic FM, Beat FM and Naija FM) had been telling me for years to come and do radio. I had seen OAPs in action, and it’s not easy.

Especially, as one would have to operate – I’m very afraid of modern technology, anything that is more than texting and receiving texts on the phone is a problem for me. I had been a friend to Olisa and Dare, when he used to be an OAP. He called someone from the production department to put down my voice so they could listen to it. I went through a series of interviews and they wrote me a letter of appointment.

I trained for about three weeks, and officially started on August 1, 2013.

From what you said, I think you enjoy it, but are there are aspects you consider challenging?

Are there really any challenges? There are no challenges. The only thing that might have been a challenge is the idea of working for someone because I have owned my business for many years. I’m

used to being the big boss, (mild laughter) you know, madam at the top, so to speak.

At the beginning, I never thought I would be able to operate machines, the Internet, and answer phone calls. It’s multi-tasking, but after a while, it just becomes second nature. The working hours for me are fine.

I work from 9pm to midnight.

Did you impose the working arrangement and time belt?

When I was asked to start, Queen Adiva had left. She used to do the Mellow Magic slot. When she left (she’s still at Classic but only works on Sunday), they were looking for an OAP to fill in that slot. When they told me about it, I loved it because I love the hours.

Every worker looks forward to the pay day.

Do you?

Of course! Who does not? Of course, I do.

I don’t just work because I like to work; I work to earn a living.

So what goals have you set for yourself as an OAP at this point?

One must always strive to get better. Like I said, I have only been there one year, so I listen to other OAPs that I think are brilliant and I strive to always be a better OAP. It’s so funny that everything I have done, people have always pushed me into it.

Maybe I don’t believe in myself as much as people believe in me. My sisters have been disturbing for years that I should start a talk show. I believe that being an OAP is giving me a lot of practice in the way of speaking, communicating with a large audience. So, I’m now seriously putting together a talk show. I can’t say much about it yet because it’s not something I have confirmed. But I do have a good idea for a talk show that will be very different and very interesting.

Are there OAPs you admire?

I love Afrologic; Olisa, my boss; Chuko, the person that trained me. Of course, I learn from him. There are a lot of things he does that I do subconsciously. I love Bukky and Shawz, Osam, OTB on Naija FM, OJB from Wazobia, I.K and Wildchild too. It’s like I’m talking about people in sister stations, but seriously I really admire and look up to them.

I have listened to you on radio and I believe you know your onions. So many people are following you. What do you think is responsible for this large number of fans in a short space of time? Don’t you think it’s because you are an Ibru?

(Emotion laden voice)I think maybe because I am open. I’m not a person that thinks too highly of herself. (Back to normal mode) I’m not someone that hides. On my birthday, I told listeners to ask me any question and I would answer. I try not to do anything that I would be ashamed of or would have reason to be ashamed of in the future. I feel I’m a friendly person - I don’t look down on anybody. I think people feel that way about me.

So, what do you think is your selling point?

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

marriage -Elvina Ibru My openness. I don’t say: ‘Oh I cannot talk like this’ or ‘I’m too good for that.’ I like to break it down a lot. I dey burst enter my pidgin sometimes. I’m true to who I am, where I am from.I no dey try to do like Obodo Oyinbo person. I be Urhobo girl, I’m proud to be a Nigerian. So, maybe those things subconsciously come out and it might be why people want to listen to me, I don’t know.

wanted to get married. Maybe in 10 years, one thing fit enter my head, oh girl, time don reach to marry, to have a companion o, but honestly, I have never been for marriage. Please do not misquote me. I’m not saying this to young girls out there because I know I’m a role model of sorts. I’m not saying marriage is not a good thing.

If it’s for you, please go ahead but it’s not for me, at least not for now.

As a single mother, especially one that is fond of her child, how do you cope with working day and night?

(Cuts in) Hey! My Elisha, my Oga at the top. (Laughs). Elisha is a very understanding guy. Let’s put it that way first. He understands what mummy does and that she has to go out and work. I don’t spend as much time with him as I would like, but I do make sure that Saturdays and Sundays are his time, particularly Sundays.

Sometimes on Saturdays, I might have events and so on, if it’s something that is okay for children, I would have him with me and I have him with me as much as possible during the weekends. During the week, I have an office in Apapa, and I go to the office in the morning and try to spend time with him when he comes back from school. After an hour, I head to the restaurant and then to Classic FM. We talk about everything. Even though he’s only six, he acts like an old man. I think he’s a re-incarnation of my dad, even though my dad is still alive. You know my brothers and sisters live in the same yard; he’s surrounded by love. He gets enough love.

So, how do you cope without a companion?

I have a companion, but it’s just that there is no certificate.

Don’t you think the fact you guys don’t live with his dad is having an effect on him?

No, because his dad and I are best of friends. His dad lives in Port Harcourt.

He tries to come here as much as possible; if not, Elisha goes to him. And fortunately, his dad got married in December to a very wonderful girl. She’s a fantastic person and Elisha loves her. We get along very well. Sometimes, when we sit like a family, people get confused because they wonder how I can be so close to my ex and his wife.

I think life is too short to concern yourself with worthless things. If I quarrel with my ex and his wife, who suffers? It’s my son. I’m just happy about the wife God has given him because my mind is at rest.

But why did you not get married to Elisha’s father?

I have never wanted to get married.

Why? I no know o. Maybe if I dey America, dem for don carry me go therapist. I really don’t know. May be it has to do with my polygamous background. I don’t know.

Maybe it has to do with other marriages that I see because I have a few female friends and when you go to lunch with them, 10 people around the table and they don’t have good things to say about their husbands. If every woman is complaining about her husband, what’s the point?

To be honest, I don’t think marriage is a fair institution in this country. Until we put aside the double standards, I’m not in the mood. I love Elisha’s father so much, but as much as he asked me, I was never interested.

There’s a coincidence here. Your elder sister has a child just like you and she’s not married. Why? I think you would be better off asking her. She’s not me and I’m not her. I believe if she meets Mr. Right, she will get married. But if I meet Mr. Right, right, right, I don’t want to get married. I have never

Could that companion of yours be a married person?

Lailai! I beg o. I take God beg you o. He’s very single.

Could it then be that you like going out with younger people like some are saying?

Is anything wrong with dating younger people? You see what I mean by double standards in this country? If it’s a 60 year old man that is getting married to a 30year old, nobody has any issues with it.

‘Oh congratulations,’ they will even be praising him, ‘oh boy, you are a bad guy.’

But when a 60-year old woman comes out tomorrow to say she wants to marry a 30year old, then you hear people go like, ‘Hey, Jezebel. We need to stop this nonsense in this country.’ Once two people are matured and they are consenting, as far as I’m concerned, there is nothing wrong with them having a relationship. And besides, you asked if my guy was married and I said no. Most men in my age group are married, so, is it better that I should go and meet somebody else’s husband or I should go out with a younger guy?

In Nigeria, I think we need to start living and let people live. Let us focus on things that are important. We should be thinking about why old men are marrying nine, 10year olds and giving them belle (getting them pregnant) and VVF (Vesico-Vaginal Fistula), instead of thinking about two consenting homosexuals. I’m very open about these views.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an Ibru?

Advantages. Well, education. You get the best. I come from a privileged background, we were never spoilt, but we had things to push us forward in life at our disposal.

Disadvantages. I know this might sound strange but it’s the fact. People don’t take us seriously. You asked me earlier whether I look forward to pay day. Why won’t I look forward to pay day? Because I’m an Ibru? Ultimately, my father doesn’t come and drop one Ghana-must-go of money at my door step every Wednesday or every Sunday for that matter. I have been working since I was 17 years old. I started working at 17 when I was in school. My mother died when I was 17 and I come from a polygamous home. Put two plus two together. And my mum was the first wife. They say when the cat is away rats comes out to play. Make anything of that.

Are there things you would want to change about you, physically?

Honestly, I want this big Ikebe and belle to go. (General laughter) I would love to be darker. I love dark skin. If one would be allowed to be superfluous now, I have always wanted to be very petite.

How were you able to lose your plus size

figure to this?

I’m not at my goal yet.

When I get there, I will tell you. I still want to lose a few more kilogrammes. I don’t want to be skinny because I would look sick. I used to weigh 210kg, now I weigh 105kg, so I have a little more to go. I will be very happy if I can get to 100kg or 98kg.

20

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

And Killjoy comes calling!

D

ave draws the papers towards him and gives the doctor an inquisitive stare. His heart beats wildly. Without looking at the laboratory result, he raises his eyebrow. Why bother himself looking at the paper while the doctor sits opposite him with that grim look?

Whatever is wrong with Kathryn, he wants to know, no matter how bad.

“Spill it doc,” he says dryly and clears his throat.

The doctor stares at him grimly and asks, “How long have you been married?”

That question throws Dave off balance.

“Em...er...we’re getting married,” he replies, wondering if he had said anything at all.

“Oh good,” the doctor says, his face breaking into smiles, adding, “Then do that immediately and come register for antenatal.”

Dave stares at the doctor.

“Antenatal? That means she is pregnant?” Dave asks, confused.

The doctor nods and says, “She’s nine weeks gone. We’re changing her drugs immediately. Fever and pregnancy are not the best of friends. She needs a lot of rest...”

Dave’s mind dashes in different directions.

Pregnant? How? For who? Him? Could Kathryn have cheated with that sonofabitch Ben? Nine weeks!

“Mr...?” the doctor inquires.

“Dave...I’m Dave,” he tells him, shaking off his thought.

“Er....doctor, don’t say anything about this to her...I want to break the news to her myself,” he says.

“Oh, no problem. I remember when my wife, then my girlfriend became pregnant for the first time. That was over 50 years ago. We were in school then. I was in my first semester in the university. I’m sure I had that expression on my face when I visited home and she gave me the news. It wasn’t funny our parents insisted we get married. She stopped going to school and didn’t continue with her education till I finished school. I need to go on ward rounds,” the doctor says, standing up. **** Two days later, Kathryn is back in her house. She’s lying on the divan.

“Me, nine weeks pregnant? Am I dreaming? But I didn’t miss my monthly cycle. How come? Just a quick in and out done out of extreme passion and now this?” Kathryn mutters to herself.

She remembers the only time this pregnancy could have occurred and smiles.

Just a nick and now this!

It has happened. She can take care of her child whatever happen.

She is still not feeling very strong. Is this what pregnant women go through?

Yet they pass that route again and again!

“Thank you Mama Mia,” she says to no one and closes her eyes.

This new ‘status’ needs getting used to. As she drifts off to sleep, the clanking of pots and spoons jars her awake.

After a while, she sleeps off. **** Dave clears the last dirt in the kitchen sink. The food prepared for him two days ago was rotten. No one ate it. There

were more pressing issues. He was practically in the hospital with Kathryn those two nights. She is pregnant, less than three months into the relationship and they have played safe all this while!

He rues over the whole thing. Then he remembers, those few minutes madness without the sheath!

“Oh my lawd!” He exclaims and a pot falls out of his hands.

“That must be it! The baby is mine.”

He takes the food he bought out of the ‘eat out’ packs and serves them in two plates.

He carries them to the dinette.

Kathryn is sleeping.

“My darling,” he calls out gently.

Kathryn’s eyes flutter open.

“Food is ready,” he says, adding, “Lemme help you up.”

She allows herself to be helped to the table.

After the meal, Dave looks into her eyes and says, “Many times, we look for

gold where it isn’t. I observed you that night in the club before I came over to sit beside you. I was lonely and having watched you, I thought you were too.

“Since I met you, you have given me joy, joy and more joy. However, I need you to tell me something.”

Kathryn sits up. She wonders what is amiss.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how to ask this question without sounding harsh, but ask, I must. Has er...er...Ben or any other man been with you since we met?”

It’s finally out!

Kathryn sighs audibly.

“I had a very rough past. No one asked me to quit. I did myself. I did because I had had enough of that life, I did because I wanted to have my own family, I wanted to make something honest out of my life. I did because I got tired of having dealings with too many strange men. I was hoping to have a man that will be mine and I will be his forever. We

met when I was searching for that man.

“Now to answer your question, no other man has been with me since we met.”

Dave’s face lit up. You can see his relief.

“Thank you so much,” he says.

“One thing though,” Kathryn says and asks, “Where is your wife?”

“I have no wife. I have never been married. I was looking for a wife before I met you and I stopped looking immediately I set my eyes on you,” he replies.

“Are you telling me all these because of the baby in my womb?” Kathryn asks.

“No dear, I fell in love with you the day I met you. The baby is an additional blessing. We are meant for each other, that I know,” he replies.

He then stands, pulling her up with him. He takes her to the divan. As she sits, he pulls a little box from his pocket, opens it and picks the dainty ring therein.

With one knee on the floor, he pops the million dollar question, “Will you marry me?”

The surprise on Kathryn’s face is better imagined.

Her eyes move from the ring to him and back to the ring. Then, without warning, tears course down her cheeks.

“Yes, I will marry you” she says tearfully.

Dave slips the ring onto her finger, kisses the finger, then her lips and her tummy.

“Don’t cry baby. I will never stop loving you. Lemme clear the table, just take a rest. We have a lot to talk about,” he says and moves to the dinette.

Kathryn sits, transfixed. She looks at the beautiful, shinny ring and kisses it.

Then the tears come flooding down again.

The bell chimes as she makes to get up, Dave pops his head out of the kitchen.

“I’ll get it,” he says and moves to the door.

A man is behind the security man.

“Good evening sir. Aunty madam has a visitor,” the security man says, making way for the other man.

“Good evening. You’re Kathryn’s uncle I suppose. I’ve seen you leave her house before. We never get to meet though. I have wanted to meet you. I’d like to see Kathryn. I’m sorry I called but her phone was switched off,” the man says.

“Who are you?” Dave asks.

He says, “My name’s Ben. I’m a very good friend of Kathryn...” Dave cuts him off.

“Kathryn is sleeping. I wouldn’t want anybody to wake her up,” he says curtly and all but slams the door in Ben’s face.

Kathryn does not know who Dave spoke to at the door, but the fire in his eyes warns that something is terribly wrong.

“My baby,” she begins but Dave thunders, “Who is this Ben? What business do you have with him? Why did you tell him I am your uncle?”

Colour drains from Kathryn’s face... ************ What a day for Ben to show up! How did they manage the situation? Let’s find out next Sunday.

Send your observations to the email above.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

&

Get luscious lips Vanessa Okwara

E

veryone is enthralled by the beauty of that rosy, sexy pout that is prevalent among most celebrities. The luscious full lips mesmerise and bring out the loveliness of the whole face. Attractive lips make the face look lovely and gorgeous. Most people want those luscious lips that attract attention and get the men swooning. Well, not everyone is lucky to have fuller, bigger, pouts right from birth like Angelina Jolie. There are a variety of both short and long term methods to improve lip fullness, shape, and volume.

One fast way to get bigger and fuller looking lips naturally is by taking proper care of your lips and the use of the perfect makeup for your lips.

Before you do your lip makeup, ensure that they are a blank canvas for the coats. You must make the lips clean and ready for the makeup that will give you that full lip you have always wanted.

• Exfoliate your lips once a week to remove impuri-

ties from lips and give it a lighter tone. Dark lips tend to look smaller and when you exfoliate, it becomes fair, giving it a bigger look.

Sugar scrub is an excellent cleanser for removing dirt and dead skin from lips, giving it a glowing look.

This scrub makes lips look clean, fuller and pink.

• Massages are great lip exercise for increasing the circulation of the blood and improving the texture of the muscles of your lips.

• Moisturising is also an important step to get good looking lips. Lack of moisture in lips can make it dry, rough and small while moisture in lips can make it look bigger. Apply olive oil to provide Vitamin E to lip. Apply honey to lips for 20 minutes daily. This will make your lips to absorb water from honey and make it look big.

• Apply a nude or white eye pencil to your cupid’s bow only (the “M” shape right above

your upper lip) and blend lightly.

• Wearing a dramatic red or pink lipstick will instantly make lips look fuller and more prominent. Increase this effect by using lipstick and lip liner together. Make sure that the liner and lipstick are within one or two shades of each other, and fully blend the colours together to avoid creating an unflattering border around your lips.

•Apply lipstick or lipgloss first and then follow with a lip liner. This will reduce the intensity of the liner slightly and create a more natural look.

• Avoid dark colored lipsticks or glosses that can actually make your lips look smaller. Stick with pink or red shades that are only a few shades deeper than your natural lips.

Body&Soul

22

kirts remain an all-time favourite item of clothing worldwide, closely trailing behind dresses in popularity. Interestingly, skirts have been around since the evolution of mankind. The rectangular pieces of animal skin or leaves interwoven together were the initial basic form of skirts.

Skirts have evolved over time and have become a wardrobe staple for every woman. The popularity of skirts can be attributed to its versatility – you could wear a skirt to a strictly formal occasion such as a business dinner, a semi-formal occasion such as end of year company party or even to a casual movie and night out with friends. Paired with different tops and accessories, you can achieve different looks with the same skirt.

Skirts come in different styles: Aline, straight or pencil, circular, flared, wrap, umbrella, dirndl, gored, pleated, gathered, fishtail, asymmetrical hem, midi and mini and so many others. Each skirt name is determined by its cut.

There are those skirts that scream sexy because of their flirty style.

Whether they come in mini, skater, A-line, pleated, pencil or midi form, these skirts are really flirty and sexy as they accentuate the curves of a woman’s body. Flippy, flirty skirts bring out the girly part of a woman as they have a way of taking years off your age, making you look young and sensual.

Skirts such as pleats or skater will give a sashay swing to your step.

These breezy bottoms in metallic, tweeds or bright cheerful colours have an effortless elegance that’s sure to sway you in their direction.

Skirts made with lace, chiffon and sheer material are the biggest in giving you that sexy-girly appeal that is so endearing.

Skirts can give women an attractive, feminine look if they are worn right. The occasion normally dictates the prints and colours. Go ahead and bring out the girlish side of you as you try out these sexy flirty skirts.

S

Vanesa Okwara

Sassy flirty skirts

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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23

SundayBusiness SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014

News Nigerian Ports: Cargo throughput up 12.5% in Q3 p.24

Transport

Hard times are here, experts warn

Ashok Leyland pledges enhanced after-sales p.25

Interview Providing water to C’Riverians, not a child’s play –Etowa p.27

Housing Low awareness hampers incentives for real estate investors p.28

Jonathan

Paul Ogbuokiri

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Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ll the indices of an economy in trouble have manifested in the Nigerian economy: the naira on Monday fall to all time low, exchanging at N174 to the dollar while the oil price had declined to $79 per barrel. On Wednesday, data from the Nigerian Stock Exchange indicate that foreign investors sold off their stocks valued at N101.2bn ($583.6m) in October, a strong indication of dwindling confidence in the market which is barely recovering from the 2008 market collapse.

Experts say this was in reaction to the drop in the oil price and rapid depreciation of the value of the naira.

The foreign investors, which accounted for 87.5 per cent of the N1.25trn of stock market transactions in the first 10 months of this year, took out some N676.7bn in that period - 14.9 per cent more than they invested.

The main share index on Wednesday fell 2.15 per cent to 34,145 points, accelerating losses on the bourse to 15.5 per cent so far this year.

Top decliners, Dangote Cement, which accounts for a third of market capitalisation, Oando and Transcorp were all down five per cent each.

Foreign investors increased the pace of outflows in August, selling out of the relatively liquid banking, consumer and oil sectors as the price of Brent crude, the benchmark against which Nigeria’s oil is priced, dropped.

Reuters in a report on Thursday noted that the plunge in the oil price has put the naira under intense pressure and dampened appetite for assets in Africa’s biggest economy and chief oil exporter.

Okonjo-Iweala

She said the Federal Government was keeping an eye on the development, noting that this was why it come up with a multipronged strategic response to mitigate the adverse effects of global oil price fall on the economy and reassure investors The Central Bank of Nigeria has intervened repeatedly to try to prop up the naira, but the value of the naira against other currencies according to New Telegraph depreciated to an all-time low, exchanging at N180 to a dollar at the unofficial market.

The currency closed at 173.48 against the dollar at the official market on Wednesday, increasing losses to 8.5 per cent so far this year, as dollar supply dried up and the central bank made no fresh intervention, dealers said.

Last Sunday, the Federal Government announced measures aimed at cushioning the impact of the dwindling revenue on the economy.

The responses, according to the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the mix of measures are designed to boost non-oil revenues further, plug loopholes and waste and cut unnecessary expenditures in order to cope with the situation.

According to the New Telegraph report last Monday, Okonjo-Iweala said the government’s responses to the oil price fall are coming after a careful analysis of the situation. She said the Economic Management Team approved a $5 per barrel reduction in the 2015 budget benchmark price for oil from $78 to $73 per barrel.

She said, “As part of the response, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Budget 2015 proposal to the National Assembly have been revised.

“Government is now proposing a benchmark of $73 dollars per barrel to the National Assembly compared to the earlier proposed benchmark of $78 “Given the nature of the oil market, we needed to see the extent and trend of the oil price in order to take the right measures.

Okonjo-Iweala said government to tackle the crisis by making Nigerians pay tax on luxury goods.

The other measures, according to her, are a reduction in public expenditures and international travels by public servants.

She, however, assured that the EMT was “on top of the situation” to proffer measures that would help to ensure that the “common man” does not feel the impact of the oil price decline.

She recalled that in the last three years, the Executive in its discussions on the national budgets with the National Assembly, had consistently advocated prudence and a low budget benchmark to encourage more savings.

She said even though the drop in oil prices was a serious challenge, it was also an opC ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 24

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/News

Nigerian Ports: Cargo throughput up 12.5% in Q3

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Paul Ogbuokiri argo Throughput handled at the Nigerian Ports stood at 22,324,223 million metric tonnes, showing an increase of 12.5 per cent over 19,849,258metric tonnes achieved in 2013.

Data released by the Nigerian Ports Authority on Thursday gave a breakdown of the cargo handled by the ports in the review period as follows; General Cargo was 4,218,379, metric tons, an increase of 41.7 per cent over 2,977,347 metric tons in 2013.

Dry Bulk Cargo stood at 2,600,222 metric tons, a marginal increase of 0.6 percent over 2,585,902 metric tons in 2013.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment stood at 5,140,321 metric tons, a growth of 5.8 per cent over 4,859,453 metric tons in 2013. Refined Petroleum products stood at 5, 241,813 metric tons, indicating an increase of 9.1 per cent over 4,804,184 metric tons in 2013.

Laden Container Throughput was 277,694 TEUs, showing a growth of 3 per cent over 269,625 TEUs achieved in 2013 and Empty Container Throughput was 217,080 TEUs, indicating an increase of 9.5 per cent over 198,167 TEUs in 2013.

Similarly, in the third quarter of 2014, a total of 1,405 oceans going vessels called at all Nigerian Ports as against a total of 1,366 vessels that called at the same period in 2013 representing an increase of 2.9 per

L-R: Group Head, Corporate Banking, First Bank Plc, Kano, Aishat Bello; Deputy Country Head, Deutsche Bank, Mrs Adeola Azeez; Executive Director, Iviory Banking, Heritage Banking Limited, Mrs. Mary Akpobome; Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Sarah Alade; Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs Bola Adesola and Executive Director, Citibank, Mrs. Nneka Enwereji, at the first Female Bankers’ Conference in Lagos.

Photo:Suleiman Husaini

cent The total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of all ocean going vessels in the third quarter 2014 amounted to 38,047,705metric tons representing an increase of 9.8 per cent increase over the GRT of 34,640,530 Metric tons in the same period of 2013.

In the period under review, Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 10,105,002Metric tons, showing an increase of 9.0 per cent over 9,263,180 gross tons achieved in 2013. A total of 397vessels were handled in the period under review.

Tin can Island Port recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 13,076,324 indicating an increase of 16.8 per cent over 11,197,355 gross tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. A total number of 475 ocean going vessels were handled within the period.

Hard times are here, experts warn CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 23

portunity for the country to refocus efforts towards the non-oil sectors in preparation for a future with less oil revenue.

As part of the efforts to reduce expenditure, she said international travel within the public service would be severely curtailed, adding however, that critical infrastructure projects would not be affected because they were key to economic growth, development and job creation.

She said the Federal Government was keeping an eye on the development, noting that this was why it came up with a multipronged strategic response to mitigate the adverse effects of global oil price fall on the economy and reassure investors.

Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company and renowned economist, Mr. Bismark Rewane, described the move by government as proactive. He, however, said he was yet to see how that would stop the continuous fall of the oil prices.

“The action of government shows that it is alive to its duties. But I think we should be thinking of a long term measure rather than a short term one because nobody knows how far the drop will go.

“The expenditure pattern needs to be closely watched and reviewed to cut excesses because until there is a rebound, the economy cannot be able to sustain any excess.

“More attention should now be paid to the productive sector of the economy. That is to say that government’s budgets should favour the capital side more. If more goes to capital, the economy would be able to reproduce itself and be able to withstand the shock of oil price fall,” he said.

He further said that it is good that government has come to terms with the situation, saying Nigerians must equally come to terms with it for the nation to survive.

He called for the massive production of goods and services in the country as the country’s revenue from oil can no longer sustain the high appetite for imported

goods.

Meanwhile, the President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Lucky Eiyes Ameiwero, has reiterated his call on the Federal Government, to beam its searchlight on customs revenue. He said huge sums of the revenue due to government had been going into the pockets of Customs officers, agents and importers. He alleged that the three connive to rob government of it due revenue from imports.

He challenged government to use revenue consultants to collect its revenue in the ports and approved border stations in the country, and leave men of the Customs Service to handle the responsibility of checking smuggling.

“Customs as it in many parts of the world carries out the function of enforcing government fiscal policies while revenue consultants collect revenue for government. If that is done in this period of austerity in the country, government revenue from customs duties would double, if not triple.

“While the austerity is necessary for us to come to terms with the fact that oil revenue, which is the mainstay of the economy is going down rapidly, government does not need to fret over how to keep the economy running. It has not exhausted all its revenue sources. All it needs to do is gather a team of experts from all fields to proffer a workable approach on how these untapped revenues could be harnessed and brought to the public treasury,” he said.

President, Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, said workers would not allow any measure that would translate to suffering for Nigerians. He said Nigerian workers had made enough sacrifices already and would not take any more.

He warned government to desist from introducing any measures that would translate to any form of hardship to the people.

“We want a good economy but it does not mean calling on workers to sacrifice. Those in government should sacrifice because

that is where the much talked corruption is taking place. What we want government to do is to create more jobs and make the economy more productive,” he said.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that despite Nigeria’s rating as Africa’s biggest economy, the United Nations institutions, UNDP, UNESCO and WHO rate health, education and social service facilities very low; saying they are almost non-existent for the mass of the population.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that despite the hype about rising activities in the agricultural sector, Nigeria has yet capable to be of feeding its people. Power supply remains epileptic despite the privatisation of the sector. The country still imports fuel since after the collapse of the refineries during the military era. Graduate and youth unemployment has reached 50 per cent.

No new industries are being built. Despite the National Automotive Policy announced last year by the government, the country still imports 99.9 per cent of the vehicles it needs from South Africa, Europe, America and the Asian Tigers.

Nigeria spends not less $11bn annually on food imports alone. Nigeria’s total import bill as at Wednesday November 19, 2004, was N568407.88m, while it exported N1579906.60m worth of goods. The imports were mainly: industrial supplies (32 per cent of total); transport equipment and parts (23 per cent); capital goods (24 per cent); food and beverage (11 per cent); and consumer goods. Main import partners are: China (17 per cent of total), Albania (11.3 per cent), United States (7.5 per cent), France and Belgium.

Former President, National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Nzekwe, said he expects the situation to degenerate to full austerity measures as introduced by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s Administration. He said at different times in the life of the Nigerian economy it had had austerity measures aimed at keeping the economy stable in a time of dwindling oil prices.

He regretted that the country have to pass through this road anytime there is drop in the oil prices, saying there is the urgent need for the economy to be diversified, otherwise, it will continue to experience shocks.

“If the mangers of the economy do not work hard now to diversify the revenue base of the economy, in the nearest feature our economy will totally collapse and we will experience a condition worse that what the post 1986 Structural Adjustment Programme of General Ibrahim Babangida Administration.

“I think we should be praying that the falling oil price does not continue the non-oil sector has not been developed and cannot sustain the economy,” he said Head of Department of Economics, Imo State University, Prof Chiemeka Mgbemere, told Sunday New Telegraph that the issue is not the introduction of austerity measures, but government’aiscipline itself and insure that profligacy stops.

According to him, the problem of Nigeria is corruption and profligacy not low revenue. “A situation where government is spending as much as 70 per cent of its budget on recurrent expenditure amounts to warewardness. Government does not really want to invest the oil revenues in capital projects that will diversify the economy.

“If our oil revenue is being invested wisely will not be experiencing shocks whenever there is a drop in oil prices and unless that is done will continue to suffer any drop in oil price,” he said He urged government to ensure that the Nigeria have stable electricity supply, roads and rail system working efficiently. Let people be empowered to be employers of labour through SMEs. According to foreign medical trips should be classified as luxury and heavily taxed.

However health infrastructure should be provided while training should be provided to medical workers in the country on use hitech medical equipments that hand most of the serious ailment that cannot be handled in the country today.

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Transport

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014

Ashok Leyland pledges enhanced after-sales

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Stories by Paul Ogbuokiri shok Leyland Nigeria Limited, country representative of Ashok Leyland India, has announced a plan to fortify its services in Nigeria, with the introduction of total transport solution and end-to-end support for customers to improve the operating economics of the brand during its life cycle.

Country Manager, Ashok Leyland Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nujum Riyaz, gave the hint at the opening of the company’s new office location in Ikeja. He stated that modern technological advancement in vehicles including new engine and fuel systems’ design have raised the consciousness of customers as well as demand for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) service with effective aftermarket support.

He said: “Our way forward therefore would be total transport solution to customers as well as end-to-end support to improve the operating economics of Ashok Leyland vehicle during its life cycle.”

Ashok Leyland is introducing a standardised uniform experience for customers to alleviate their apprehensions about dealer outlets and similarly enhance the identical feel of every dealership outlet with uniform processes across all the touch points in the country, Mr. Riyaz said.

Currently, most state government transport corporations including the Lagos State BRT and some independent waste disposal companies and construction firms use Ashok Leyland buses and trucks for their different applications.

Riyaz said the newly commissioned office which includes a spare parts distribution centre for its network nationwide would ensure uninterrupted supply of genuine spare parts throughout the life cycle of its products sold in Nigeria.

According to him, these services would be extended to all Ashok Leyland workshops and they will be stocked adequately with spare parts, manufacturer trained technicians and comfortable customers’

Ashok-Leyland-Nissan-NV200-MPV

lounges to align with standard practices across dealerships.

A robust brand with comprehensive range of modular and scalable services based on ‘end-to-end’ solution approach, Ashok Leyland has carved a niche for itself in many key trucking hubs worldwide.

Ashok Leyland however seeks to replicate the brand achievements in Nigeria where it promises to commence intensive customer-programme-based ‘train the

Our way forward therefore would be total transport solution to customers as well as end-to-end support to improve the operating economics of Ashok Leyland vehicle during its life cycle

trainer philosophy’ and fleet management system to ensure increased operational efficiency and fleet uptime.

“With this special focus on the customer, Ashok Leyland has set new benchmarks in the aftermarket division,” Mr. Riyaz assured.

He said the differentiating factor among competitions would be measured on after sales service with quality of service delivery as technology platforms are getting unified with respect to performance and comfort.

Also noting that increasing customer awareness and technological advancement prompted this reaction, Riyaz said: Ashok Leyland will equip all service networks with special tools and other sophisticated equipment to ensure best service delivery to customers.

“At Ashok Leyland, we have a robust system to ensure customers get the best and our customers are always assured that they have taken the right decision in their choice,” Mr. Riyaz affirmed.

New environmental lead for GM Africa

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ENERAL Motors South Africa (GMSA) World Facilities Group Lead, Ncedisa Mzuzu, has been promoted to Group Environmental Manager for GM Africa and recently took up her new role.

Identified as a rising young leader within General Motors Company, Mzuzu, a qualified environmental engineer, has taken on the challenge to manage Environmental activities within GM Operations across South Africa, East Africa and North Africa.

East London-born Mzuzu, 37, said environmental legislation was a relatively new field in Africa, and a constantly changing one requiring diverse skills, making her new role a “great new challenge”.

Her vision for her new role was to “generate an understanding of Africa as one continent, where we have an integrated and consistent environmental management system that is adaptable to diverse and constantly changing legislation,” she said.

“Environmental management brings together people with diverse skills in systems,

compliance, engineering, and I hope to give the environmental engineers in the various facilities the opportunity to network and learn from each other. By harnessing the skills and strengths that we have across the continent, I would like to see us drive continuous improvement and strengthen overall compliance,” Mzuzu said. She attributes her career advancement to simply getting on with the job and “always trying to give of your best”.

She said her growth in the still largely maledominated auto industry was testament to GMSA’s commitment to opening up opportunities for women in management, particularly in technical and engineering fields.

Mzuzu joined GM in 2008 as environmental engineer for the Struandale plant and was promoted in August 2013 to World Facilities Group Lead for South Africa, responsible for environmental management as well as the essential services to keep production lines running and ensure sustainable operations.

These included utilities, capital projects, maintenance, fire safety, fleet/motorised equipment, housekeeping and industrial

cleaning.

She widened her exposure to environmental legislation on the continent through an assignment to provide environmental engineering support to GM East Africa in 2011, where she successfully helped her counterparts at the Kenya plant to prepare for a company environmental audit in which they received a clean bill of health.

Identified as a young leader within the company, she was invited by former GM International (GMI) President and Vice-President Global Manufacturing Tim Lee to represent South Africa at the annual Leadership Faceto-Face conference in Shanghai, China as an observer last year. There she had the opportunity to participate in high-level global strategy sessions and network with both upcoming talent and top executives from all the countries falling under GMIO. In her new position she reports directly to Cheng Ge, Director, Environmental Safety and Industry Hygiene for GMIO and locally to Clayton Whitaker, GMSA General Manager and Manufacturing Operations.

KIA sponsors 2014 Nigerian Fashion Week

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n a move to strengthen its position as the leading automobile industry with diversified promotions for brand management and strategic alliance, KIA Motors Nigeria has announced a partnership agreement with the Legendary Gold Limited on her forthcoming Nigerian Fashion Week. The deals give the Kia the right to be the official sponsor of the 2014 edition of Nigerian Fashion Week.

The auto maker is partnering the Legendary Gold limited to bring to the public, renowned international and local designers from the 19th to 21st of November, 2014 to the Lagos Oriental Hotel.

It said the partnership is aimed at staging an elaborate cross-promotional effort, focusing on fashion for promoting, nurturing and representing the best of fashion and design talents in the country and its affiliation with the international trend. Associating with this event fits perfectly with Kia’s marketing and brand strategy, as it offers a seamless automobile experience to its customers and aim to provide the best mobility for the finest fashion design talents and other stake holders in Nigeria and promote their riveting collections by being the official car of the event.

Sunday New Telegraph learnt that with the triumph of each succeeding chapter of the fashion week and a phenomenal platform to exchange ideas and experience for designers both local and international, the event continues to grow exponentially every year.

The Nigeria Fashion Week is the biggest fashion event in Nigeria with reputable national and international partners and collaborators. It has been a huge platform for manufacturers of garments, fabrics, fashion accessories, hair and beauty products to display their outstanding capabilities. Annually, it brings stakeholders in the fashion, beauty and hair industries together with the goal of creating a vibrant market by linking manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and the end users.

This edition of Nigerian Fashion Week is put together by Legendary Gold Limited in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment, Culture & Tourism, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the World Fashion Organisation.

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he Equities market failed to sustain the momentum garnered in the previous week as the NSEASI declined by 4.11% Week-on-Week (WoW). Also, the market cap settled at NGN11.241trn to drag the index level to 33,926.18pts. In the course of the week, only 18 stocks appreciated while 51 stocks declined, putting market breadth at 0.35x (as against 1.82x in the prior week).

Latest market transaction data released by the NSE showed a 67% decline in total market transactions in the month of October, with foreign participation declining by c.33% while domestic participation dropped c.93%. We attribute this to the heightened risks in the country’s economic and political space which has dampened investor’s expectations for the market, despite its relative attractiveness.

Given the persistent drop in oil prices and consequent depletion of the country’s external reserve, combined with the sustained depreciation of the Naira there has been no positive news inflow to drive the market in recent weeks.

However, we are of the opinion that the outcome of the MPC and OPEC meetings scheduled to hold next week will directly impact Nigeria’s economic strength as well as sentiments regarding investing in Nigeria.

Economic Update: Ahead of MPC meeting In a recently released statement, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, noted the need to brace up for the tough times ahead by reviewing government expenditures and blocking all revenue leakages. As part of adaptive measures geared towards weathering the storm, the Federal Government made a few initial proposals, including; • Increase in non-oil revenue through luxury good tax on items • Cut in benchmark oil price to USD73pb from USD78pb for the 2015 Budget.

• Systematic reduction in government spending to cover critical expenditures only There are also indications that Federal allocations (FAAC) to states may remain lean as government continues to cut down on its expenditure in the light of current realities. We believe the above measures, though reactionary given the pass-through effects of falling oil prices on key economic indicators, may be ineffective at slowing the pace of depletion in external reserves.

Moreover, the approach does not provide a medium to long term solution.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will be meeting on the 24th – 25th November, 2014 to determine policy directions on key monetary variables. In our view, key considerations for the committee will include amongst others; declining oil prices and the pass through effect on exchange rate, external reserves and general price levels.

We are constrained to reason that amongst other considerations of the MPC, the need to salvage the declining currency as well as defend the reserves against further diminution will be pivotal. Hence, further tightening measures are expected. The committee in our view would be left with few options which can be played out on a scenario basis as highlighted below. a. Retain all rates (MPR at 12%, Private and Public Sector deposit at 15% and 75% respectively) at their current levels while further exploring other measures of containing the demand pressure for Dollar at the official window.

We think this has a 22% probability. b. The second option (with a probability of 13%) is to devalue the Naira officially by shifting the band from the current NGN/USD 155±3% to reduce the pressure on the reserves. c. Increase the CRR on private sector deposit from the current 15% while retaining that of public sector at 75% to reduce the speculative activities of the banks with dollar. This, we attach a probability of 65%.

Fixed Income: Market Moderation …as Investors await MPC The impact of reduced market liquidity in the system was felt through the week as all rates increased in the NIBOR space on all trading days save for Friday, to peg WtD average change at 0.37%. The CALL pegged rate at 10.50%, while the 1M, 3M, and 6M tenors were 13.22%, 13.82%, and 14.75% respectively. OBB and OVN rates closed at 10.21% and 10.46% for the week.

Trading on T-Bills showed greater sell sentiments as WtD changes on the 1M, 2M, 3M, 6M, 9M, and 12M were 3.10%, 2.18%, 2.31%, 1.89%, 1.55%, and 0.96% in that order. While yields pegged at 12.43%, 12.51%, 12.72%, 12.99%, 13.17%, and 13.64% in that order. Average WtD change was 2.00% on all short term bonds, while long term bonds had an average

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cautious Trading Ahead of MPC… …as Naira continues downslide

change of -1.72%.

Pressures against the Naira increased during the week, as the naira pared 3.45% against the greenback. We expect increased liquidity with the maturity of various T-Bills in the weeks coming.

Banking Sector: MPC to determine trade direction The banking sector traded with a level of volatility during the week, as the activities of both position and profit-takers caused oscillations in prices. The MERI-Bank Index however closed 0.65% higher for the week, bringing MtD and YtD returns to –6.60% and –19.16% in that order.

Top gainers for the week were UBN, ACCESS, GUARANTY, UBA, ZENITHBANK and STANBIC with respective gains of 3.47%, 1.95%, 1.21%, 0.92%, 0.72% and 0.71%, while STERLNBANK and UNITYBNK closed flat for the week, staying at NGN2.30 and NGN0.50 in that order.

Also, there were seven banks which closed with lower prices relative to the previous week.

DIAMONDBK, WEMABANK, FIDELITYBK, FCMB, SKYEBANK, ETI and FBNH declined WoW with corresponding losses of 9.84%, 7.07%, 4.49%, 4.41%, 3.89%, 0.87% and 0.43%.

Trading activities are expected to be largely dependent on the outcome of the MPC meeting, which we expect to involve an increase in CRR (public or private). Consequently, we expect to bank stocks to be pressured in the coming week.

Industrial Goods Sector: Cement stocks under fire The Industrial goods sector was overwhelmed by negative sentiments as the sector index shed -7.78% during the week. 5 stocks depreciated in share value, while only 3 recorded price gains.

CUTIX emerged the major gainer for the week as the stock closed the week 14.18% up at NGN1.53. BERGER and PORTPAINT were the other gainers, with price appreciations of 9.00% and 1.82% respectively.

The cement stocks failed to sustain last week’s momentum as sell sentiments over-turned

the bargain hunting trend from last week.

ASHAKACEM declined by 9.81% to drag share price to NGN22.89. DANGCEM was not immune to the general negative mood in the market as the stock dipped 8.21% to NGN189.00.

WAPCO and CCNN also shed 2.50% and 2.09% accordingly just as CAP, the chemical and paints market leader, lost 1.6% during the weeks trading.

Considering that key stocks in the sector historically enjoy foreign investment bias, we envisage a sustenance of the current bearish trend in the sector as most foreign investors continue to sell their holdings in the stocks and flee for safety due to the country’s heightened political and economic uncertainties.

Consumer Goods: DANGFLOUR declares NGN41.27bn revenue Sector benchmark index pared by 4.18% after the bullish run in the previous week, as investor’s bearish sentiments pulled down the prices of almost all the heavy weights in the sectors.

Huge losses were noticed on the likes of FLOURMILL (-20.70%), CADBURY (-9.74%), UNILEVER (7.56%), NESTLE (-5.02%) and NB (-4.42%) WoW. CHAMPION led the gainers with an 18.39% gain for the week, and was joined by PZ and 7UP which appreciated by 0.91% and 0.11% respectively. DANGFLOUR, INTBREW, NNFM, and GUINNESS however traded flat during the week.

Dangote flour Mills (DANGFLOUR) released its Q3:2014 result, which showed a significant growth in turnover of 37.74% (2014: 41.27bn vs 2013:29.96bn), which however didn’t transmit to its profit after tax. Bottom-line declined by 15.35%, as both operating expenses and finance costs increased by 11.81% and 21.07% accordingly.

The mood in the Conglomerates space was also sour, as both UACN and AGLEVENT declined 6.52% and 7.56% W-o-W. We expect sector performance to continue to be driven by attractive prices.

Oil and Gas Sector: Negative return performance across board The oil and gas sector was unable to sustain the significant gain it recorded in the previous week, as sector’s index level dipped 4.87% W-oW. Also, the sector’s breadth favoured decliners as no stock appreciated in price.

MOBIL recorded the highest loss of 9.75% WoW. This was closely followed by TOTAL and OANDO with price declines of 7.30% and 7.02% respectively. ETERNA and SEPLAT continued their losing streak, compounding their respective losses further by 6.85% and 2.30%.

FO however declined marginally, with a 0.49% decline in price.

Although we note that there are negative sentiments on the horizon which may trigger a further sell off in the Nigerian equities market, we are upbeat that the sector will rebound in the coming week given that they are fundamentally justified with significant upside potentials at their current prices. Hence, we envisage that astute investors will take positions to enjoy first-mover advantage.

Insurance Sector: Sector succumbs to sell pressure The insurance sector declined by 4.95% WoW just as market breadth skewed towards decliners with two stocks appreciating in price against five stocks that declined.

The price gainers for the week were WAPIC and AIICO, with price appreciations of 13.11% and 3.66% respectively. Investors took position in WAPIC on the back of its recently released Q3:2014 financial scorecards which saw topline and bottom-line growth of 25% and 46% respectively.

On the flip side, NEM, CONTINSURE, ROYALEX, MANSARD, and MBENEFIT, shed 19.74%, 8.25%, 5.66%, 4.67% and 1.96% in that order. The price decline by NEM was not unconnected to profit taking after the significant 19.92% gain it recorded in the previous week.

However, CUSTODYINS closed flat despite the substantial gain of 19.92% it also posted in the previous week.

In the light of the above, we expect the sector to close positive in the coming week as we envisage major counters, notably CUSTODYINS and MANSARD, to gain alongside other counters that shed this week. Also, we preach cautious trading on WAPIC in the coming week as investors might likely take profit given the significant price appreciation it recorded this week.

Healthcare Sector: WHO-certified companies to gear towards product pre-qualification The Meri-health index outperformed NSEASI for the week, advancing by 1.90% to peg the YtD return -23.27%. The industry giant (GLAXOSMITH) was the only counter that closed positive for the week, appreciating in price by 1.96%. This was sufficient to drive the sector’s index into the green zone. MAYBAKER and PHARMADEKO lost 7.74% and 4.84% respectively just as other counters closed flat, thus putting sector’s breadth at 0.5x.

The positive sentiments on GLAXOSMITH may not be unrelated to attractiveness of the stock at its current price. The counter has lost 23.53% YtD just as it trades at a significant discount of 27.2% from its year-high price of NGN71.44. At its current price (NGN52), the counter portends 21.31% upside potentials for investors based on our fundamental valuation.

Our outlook for the industry is mixed, however, we expect the new factories constructed in line with WHO good manufacturing practice to boost the industry’s revenue and earnings in 2015 and beyond. Hence, we expect astute investors to take position in expectation.

Services Sector: RTBRISCOE reverses 2-week losing streak to top chart The services sector ended the week in the negative territory with only one stock gaining, against three stocks that declined to peg sector breadth at 0.33x.

RTBRISCOE was the sole gainer, appreciating by 17.39% after a two-week losing streak which saw the stock’s value decline by 24.17%.

On the flip side, CAVERTON declined the most by 13.35%, followed by ACADEMY, ABCTRANS, TRANSCORP, IKEJAHOTEL and NAHCO which pared by 7.41%, 6.45%, 5.83%, 1.63% and 0.64%. All other sector stocks traded flat.

Whilst we acknowledge the fundamental growth potentials of the services sector on the back of the nation’s favourable demographics, we note also the general mood in the market and its consequent impact on the sector. And so thus, we do not expect a lot of positive activity in the coming weeks.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/interview

Providing water to C’Riverians, not a child’s play –Etowa How has it been providing water for the people of Cross River State?

The Cross River State Water Board Ltd, as it is called today, came into being over 100 years ago. If I should go down memory lane, the Calabar water scheme is the oldest in the country. It was constructed before 1890 by the colonial masters, seconded by the Badagry water scheme. So Calabar as the first capital of Nigeria had the first potable water supply system in Nigeria.

Cross River State Water Board Limited inherited that scheme. First, it was managed

by Eastern Nigeria Ministry of Works in Enugu at that time and then when SouthEastern State was created, the Ministry of Works, South-Eastern State (later Cross River State) took over the scheme; and the water board was a small division in the ministry of works. It operated like that up to 1975 when it was made autonomous and called Cross River State Water Board. It was established at that time with Cross River State edict no 13 of 1975. So ever since, the water board has remained an autonomous water agency operating that old Calabar scheme and then a ring of boreholes were drilled. They acquired old CALCEMCO in Essien Town, Calabar. That is where we had these old water schemes, then by 1975 when it became autonomous, we now tried to acquire where we are now and drilled a number of boreholes to back up the entire scheme. The borehole system and the surface water system from Essien town springs made up the Calabar water supply system serving the whole of Calabar and as the town continued to expand, we started drilling boreholes here and there, opening substations. So we had Ikot Effanga where we have another sub-station; we got a place at Mbukpa by Edgerly Girls Secondary School. We opened a sub-station there and then scattered boreholes all over the town.

In Atimbo we had a borehole there; Ekpo Abasi we had some boreholes and so on.

That is for Calabar. What about the rest of the state?

We run the scheme up to Obanliku where we have the Obudu Cattle Ranch and the other side to Yala where Ekpoma is the headquarters, all that is in Cross River.

So just as we have the scheme in Calabar, we have other schemes across the state.

We have what we call Ugep-Ediba water supply scheme. Across the river from Ediba we have Itigidi, from Itigidi we have Obubra Water scheme, we have Ikom, we have Obudu and Ogoja. Those are areas where we have been operating. Those other schemes came up in the early 60’s and the late Colonel Onogu when he was in power during the Biafran time commissioned those schemes - that is Itigidi, Obubra, Obudu, Ikom and Ogoja schemes. So those systems have been in operation in their various capacities and we have managed the systems like that up till the late 80’s. We saw that these systems had become aged and the population in the state had grown so much beyond their capacity and so the cry for expansion became much.

What about the funding?

Government at a time went out to look for money to build new water supply systems to match with the teeming population of Cross River State and that took us to African Development Bank. By 1992, the Cross River State Government signed a loan $116 million with the federal government and the federal government signed that loan with ADB and then lent it to Cross River

Managing Director, Cross River Water Board Limited and Commissioner for Water Resources, Elemi Etowa, speaks on the challenges of providing potable water to the people of the state. CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reports

Etowa

It operated like that up to 1975 when it was made autonomous and called Cross River State Water Board. It was established at that time with Cross River State edict no 13 of 1975 State Government. Cross River State Water Board Limited was appointed as the implementing agency of that loan, that is 1992. That loan was meant to develop new water supply systems in Calabar, Akamkpa and then Ugep, Ediba. We could not draw down on that loan because of the conditions attached to the drawdown. It was a loan that had to be paid back. So one of the conditions was that we had to go commercial to be able to generate revenue to pay back the loan. It took us time and we had to go through one stage of restructuring to the other. The second condition was that the loan came with the counterpart fund component - counterpart fund is the money that will come out from Cross River State government to show commitment that we will use the money judiciously for the purpose for which it was meant. That was why it attracted that counterpart component. So between 1992 and 1998, no government was able to come up with enough money to take care of the counterpart component of that loan. We could not draw down and by 1998, political activities started and so on and by 29th May 1999 the civilian administration came into existence where Mr. Donald Duke became the governor of this state and when they came, their programmes gave us a sigh of relief in the water board. It happened that Duke was the one who signed this loan in 1992 as the state commissioner for finance under Governor Clement Ebri.

He also became the same person who came and implemented the project. So he took it as a big challenge. He made bold to release counterpart funds for that project and the various components of the ADB contracts.

So between 1999 and 2003, the water board was bubbling with a beehive of activities in terms of construction works for the three urban ADB funded water supply projects.

Calabar, the largest, has a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters capacity per day; Akamkpa, 10,000 cubic meters capacity per day; UgepEdiba 48,000 cubic meters capacity per day.

Before then, the old Calabar scheme had been rehabilitated to a capacity of 25,000 cubic meters per day, so we combined both and got Calabar a large capacity of 105,000 cubic meters per day. Ediba, we rehabilitated the old one of 2,000 cubic meter and it became 50,000 cubic meter capacity per day. The other schemes which were commissioned in the 60s were still functional so we had these ones added to that one and between 1999 and 2003, the contractors completed the ADB works and we started what we call technical commissioning.

What about the billing system?

It is the good governance policies that have created the enabling environment for investors to come to Cross River State. That was why we were able to bring in these development partners who have been with us from 2003 up to this time; that is about 11 years now. We have managed the system together and by this arrangement, we also became the first water company in this country to go into what we call universal metering. This is very important. Universal metering means we meter every customer that is connected to our water, just like you have NEPA meter, you have water meter in your compound so when we bring your bill, the bill is exactly what you consume.

We read your meter and do the calculation from the last reading to the present reading to enable us to know your consumption for the month. Even Abuja has not got to that stage of universal metering but we

are doing it here. It is also the first and only, because we remain the only water company in this country that is operating with PHCN as a stand-by facility. Here, PHCN is on stand-by. We also use generators to operate for us to be able to maintain 24/7 service delivery. We depend on our generators not on PHCN and because we depend on our generators the production cost is very high. But we are not charging that high cost and it takes N350 to produce one cubic meter of water. But what we are charging is N150 and N120 depending on the category. So that is how we have functioned from 1999 to date.

I want you to explain the cubic meter of water for the common people on the street.

When I say we charge N150 per cubic meter of water, which is your water rate, a drum has a capacity of 200-220 litres. One drum, like the drums used in storing diesel, has a capacity of 200 litres and if you fill it to the brim, it contains 220 litres. One cubic meter is equivalent to 1000 litres and I say one drum is 200 litres, so 1000 litres when divided by 200, is five good drums.

So one cubic meter is equivalent to five drums and that is what we sell for N150 as treated water. We give it to you inside your kitchen; you use it for domestic chores without having to send your children to buy from private boreholes or ‘meruwa’ with tins of water where you don’t know the source of such water. We are giving you treated water in your house, in your bathroom, your shower, everything. Five drums for N150, N120 in some places. Can you imagine how much you will pay for a 15-litre bucket if you go to a private borehole to get water?

Can we have an estimate of what it costs you to run these generators every week?

We use generators every day, every week.

It costs us five times the cost of using PHCN to run the system and that was why we ran into this challenge. We are charging N150 per cubic meter but it costs us N350 to produce what we are selling at the rate of N150. So the revenue that comes in cannot really produce what we need. We are not breaking even, that is the challenge we are having. Water is supposed to be seen as an economic good, no longer as a social service but our water rates are still flowing under the social service status. If we want to treat it as an economic good, then we should be charging N350 for one cubic meter of water which is just the production cost. So, using diesel is about five times the cost of using PHCN to produce water.

Apart from the problem of power what other hiccups do you have trying to supply water 24/7?

This is the only state in the federation that meters every customer. If we don’t have the meter in the store and you are applying for a domestic connection, we process it and hold on to it until we are able to buy meters so that every of our consumer is metered. You are billed as per your consumption as read from the meter. So here in the state, we do what we call universal metering. One of the biggest challenges that we are facing today is that we have a lot of illegal activities, illegal connections even with the cheap water rate we are charging.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Housing

Low awareness hampersincentives for real estate investors

Amen Estate, Lekki

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Chijioke Iremeka wareness of pockets of tax exemptions available to the Estate Investment Trust (REIT), which is a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) that enables investors to pool their resources to form, own and manage portfolios of real estate properties in Nigeria, could provide the required boost to the sector,” says Akintola Williams Deloitte.

Modeled after mutual funds, REITs are companies that own or finance incomeproducing real estate, which provide the investors with different and suitable income streams, diversification and long term capital appreciation for purpose of real estate development.

REITs are tied to almost all the aspects of the economy, including apartments, hospitals, hotels, industrial facilities, infrastructure, nursing homes, offices, shopping malls, storage centres and students housing among others.

According to Deloitte, awareness on the tax exemption to REITs would do a great job in the country’s real estate sector, as it would help the developers to pool their resources together to raise funds through stock and finance their businesses without being taxed.

The Managing Partner, Cowries Securities Enterprises, Emeka Ibeneme, said coming together of several companies to form REITs would make them benefit from the scheme since the President Goodluck Jonathan, had given a waiver on since 2010, but lamented that a number of estate developers are ignorant of the development.

He said, “If they would capitalise on this policy, they would build houses that would have a positive effect on the economy as the availability of homes for offices and residential would reduce the high rents paid in the country. This is the more reason we have to let them know about this because it would change the lot of many Nigerians.

“Though some of them may be aware, and decide not to go into such partnership for one reason or the other, but I tell you, those countries that make use of REITs are better off than Nigeria, when it comes to real estate development.”

An estate developer, Adeola Ogunbiyi, said he is not aware of such a policy and

If they would capitalise on this policy, they would build houses that would have a positive effect on the economy as the availability of homes for offices and residential would reduce the high rents paid in the country

has not bothered about it because many policies in the country are mere formalities and don’t work for common Nigerians.

“I am an independent real estate developer and I do my business in the little way I can. The business is not easy but if you scale through, you will laugh. Many people have come into the business because there is increasing demand for houses. Whatever be the case, if the REIT is working, I will find out how it works, may be, I could give it a try,” he added.

However, in 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued the first set of guidelines for the registration and issuance of the requirements for the operation of REIT in Nigeria as detailed in the Investment and Securities Act. Sequel to this, the first REIT, the N50 billion Union Homes Hybrid Real Estate Investment Trust was launched in September 2008 but Nigerians are yet to tap into it to balance or close up the housing deficits in the country, even as US has over 40, 000 REITs. This policy, according to a real estate developer, tax and financial audit firm, Treasure Consult, offers the benefits of real estate ownership without the attendant expenses or difficulties of being a landlord.

The Chief Executive Officer, Treasure Consult, Joseph Akpan, said, “REITs are beneficial in a number of countries across the world, especially in the area of providing a reduced risky investment options in real estate to both small and big investors, regular and dependable income to the unit

holders and attraction of massive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the real estate sector of these countries.”

He noted that many are not aware of such tax exemption and perhaps, its awareness would help to balance the country’s housing deficits, especially when the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said government needs to build 200 estates in the next five years to close the gap of housing deficits in the country.

The first of such tax exemption is the tax waiver issued through the Debt Management Office (DMO) in 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, who approved a waiver of taxes on all categories of bonds, Federal, sub-national, corporate and supra-national bonds, mortgagebacked securities and asset-backed securities, which is the case with REIT’s securities among others.

Also, Section 154 of the Investment and Securities (IAS), 2007 Act empowers SEC to approve, register and regulate collective investment schemes in Nigeria, including those that are administered as REITs. Hence, the range of taxes covered by the approval, include those prescribed under the Personal Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax and the Capital Gains Tax Act, which stakeholders in real estate should acquaint themselves with, as only 30 per cent of Nigerians stakeholders are aware of this.

More so, SEC’s Rules and Regulations, 2011, contain both rules of general and specific applications governing the operation of collective investment schemes in Nigeria. As an investment scheme, REITs/REICs can either be publicly traded on the stock exchange or owned by private investors.

To qualify as a REIT and obtain the tax exemption on real estate, the companies must invest, at least, 75 per cent of the total assets in real estate assets (typically investment properties from which rental income is earned) and in government securities.

REITs to derive, at least, 75 per cent of gross incomes from rents and mortgages and even so, 90-95 per cent of this gross income must come from rents, interest and capital gains on other securities Furthermore, the companies must pay dividends on, at least, between 90 and

95 per cent of taxable income. Not more than 50 per cent of shares are held by five or fewer individuals, while the company will be managed by a Board of Directors or Trustees and have a minimum of 100 shareholders.

The Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) are liable to Companies Income Tax (CIT) at the rate of 30 per cent. This implies that the dividends of publicly traded REIT securities are exempted from withholding taxes in the hands of the investors.

Value Added Tax and Capital Gains Tax on sales of these units or securities are also not applicable. This exemption does not preclude the SPVs from paying CIT at 30 per cent of their taxable income.

However, incomes derived from investments in government securities and corporate bonds are deducted before arriving at the taxable incomes for CIT purposes in line with the ‘CIT exemption of profits order, 2011.’ Also, regarding the investment properties of the REITs, capital allowance is claimable as they are ‘in use’ for the generation of the business profits. This enables further relief on the computed taxable profits for CIT purposes for a period of 10 years on each of the investment property.

Upon the sale of these assets, however, balancing charge is expected to be computed to compensate for this capital allowance claimed on the asset earlier in its useful life. Even then, sales of investment assets do not occur until after tens of years of the asset’s existence.

Where under the requirements of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), these assets are stated at fair values, these fair values act as boost to the profit or loss accounts and the net assets of the SPVs without necessarily attracting immediate cash tax payments.

Furthermore, any foreign loans obtained to fund the REIT’s investments can be structured to gain full advantage of the tax exemptions on foreign loans. There are graduated scales of percentage tax exemptions on interest payments on foreign loans where they satisfy certain grace and repayment periods requirements.

Also, 100 per cent tax exemption is allowed where the grace period of the loan is not less than two years and the total repayment period for the loans, including the grace period, is above seven years.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sunday/ Business

Lessons from my biggest hit so far Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

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fortnight ago, I started sharing the story of what I consider my greatest hit so far in 2014 (The KISS Devotional Story), via a topic I captioned ‘Between Quality and Time.’

Beyond the story, I think it is wise to draw vital lessons for success from that experience. Here we go.

Knowledge Knowledge gives one an edge.

In any field of endeavour you want to launch into, try to acquire some basic knowledge. Overtime, experience can take care of the rest, but you should know at least a little.

Before I set out to publish my maiden book, ‘The KISS Devotional,’ I knew virtually nothing about the publishing process. Honestly, if I knew, I might have set out earlier than I did with the publishing venture, knowing that it could be demanding, especially where one does not have his own printing press.

One of the greatest men that ever traversed this earth was Jesus Christ.

Of the 33 years He lived, He used 30 years to prepare himself, especially

in the area of knowledge acquisition, as records have it that even at age twelve, He sat with scholars, engaging them in intellectual discourse.

What was the result? The only three years He used for his venture birthed a global movement called ‘Christianity;’ which has continued to thrive, even after 2000 years of His departure from the earth.

Friend, the greatest tool of success and the greatest source of wealth is knowledge. That is because knowledge sharpens one’s edge.

Planning/preparation “It is better to prepare for an opportunity you will never have than to have one you were never prepared for.” That was what my mentor, Rev. Don Uzodinma, Ph.D told me some time ago.

Though I had always dreamt of being an author, and had for some time had the idea of compiling the daily devotionals I sent online into a book (hard copy), I did not set out a plan as to how to translate those fantasies into reality, with definite time targets for each stage of implementation.

Friend, preparation goes beyond wishful thinking. It involves calculations, projections and, if I may add, feasibility studies.

If you must be successful, you must plan. If you fail to plan, you have simply planned to fail.

Time management Time is about one of the most important variables in the pursuit of success. Everything we achieve

Honestly, if I knew, I might have set out earlier than I did with the publishing venture, knowing that it could be demanding, especially where one does not have his own printing press in life is achieved within the frame of time. The difference between two people (or, one of the ways to differentiate between two people) is in the use to which they put their time.

We all have 24 hours a day. However, our productivity within the 24 hours allocated to each of us differs.

From my book publishing adventure, I have learnt that being behind schedule can bring one under undue pressure, which can affect one’s chances of success. My pieces of advice, therefore, are as follows: n always be ahead of time or, at least, on time; n always work with reasonable speed (‘speed with accuracy’ should be the watchword); n Always finish on time (or before time, if it is allowed).

This piece continues next week.

Have a great week.

Call for leadership The Big Picture Julian Atufunwa 08032810713 (SMS only)

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f you have followed global events in recent times, especially from 2013 till date, you will note that great leaders and heroes of our times are departing to the great beyond. People like John Ogu, Nelson Mandela, Myles Munroes etc. It then should serve as a wakeup call to the youths of today that the long awaited future is upon us.

It is time to take positions in our sphere of influence to impact positively on our generation. God designed every human being to be a leader. You are made to be fruitful, to subdue, to multiply, to replenish and live a life of dominion. That, to me, is a call to leadership. You are born to influence and inspire your world just as we discussed last week.

You don’t have to occupy a position before you start leading. Leadership is influence. Leadership is defined as the ability to inspire and influence people to achieve worthwhile goals.

It’s about time to unleash what you already possess on the inside.

Cost of leadership Obviously, the cost of leadership is quite high. It takes Discipline: Leaders don’t do what they want to do, they do what they need to do. It’s a non-negotiable price to pay. Lead-

ers control their appetite for (a) food - They don’t eat everything. They know they need to keep fit for their assignment. They control their appetite for (b) Sex - You sell your future if you don’t control your appetite for sex. Leaders control their appetite for (c) money - They don’t allow greed.

They fight it because money is a tool, not a treasure. Money should be used to touch people’s lives. If you want to differentiate a leader from mere men, give him lots of money. They mind their association - your friends are a reflection of your future, your friends determine your future.

Leaders bring their emotions under control. They control their actions.

Another cost of leadership is selfsacrifice. Leaders are always willing to die for the cause. They love people genuinely and are willing to give themselves, being aware of the fact that to have your life, you have to give it out.

Qualities of leaders Leaders have vision: Leaders have a clear picture of where they are going. The greatest gift God gave to man is not sight but vision. Vision is a mental picture of a preferable future. Like the architectural sketches of a house before building, they see their destination in their heart before setting out.

Leaders initiate change: Leaders don’t leave things the way they met them. They change them. They don’t settle for the status quo, they move to excellence. People resist change but to a leader it’s inevitable.

Leaders have sense of divine timing: Leaders know what to do per time like the sons of Issachar. Leaders are sensitive to timing. Right things

Vision is a mental picture of a preferable future are done at the right time. Leaders don’t move when God is behind, they move when God moves.

Leaders focus on what is important: Everything can’t take priority in your life. Leaders focus on their goals and don’t pay attentions to trivial matters like gossip.

Leaders have positive attitudes: Leaders maintain a positive attitude in everything. They regard challenges as building blocks for great achievements. Leaders are optimistic people and love being surrounded by positive people.

Leaders have character/integrity: When wealth is lost nothing is lost, when health is lost something is lost but when integrity/character is lost, all is lost. Skill may open door for you but lack of character will shut it.

Leaders have commitment: Commitment is higher than involvement, you can be involved but not committed. Leaders stand at their duty post and give their very best.

Leaders are learners: Leaders look for better ways to do things. Leaders read a lot and are knowledgeable.

Leaders connect with people: Leaders are sensitive to the needs of their people. They connect with people’s hearts before they ask for their hands. They pay attention to their emotions.

Finally, everything rises and falls on leadership. To succeed in leadership, there are laws you must obey. Let’s meet next week. I promise it will be

080395121535 (SMS only)

Don’t toy with NASS security

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he headlines changed as this week was wearing down. It moved from the incessant bombings in the North-East to a rather unfortunate incident involving the Nigerian National Assembly and members of the Security Forces.

We have been witnessing pockets of such lawlessness in some of the states in the country like Rivers State and Edo State but no one ever imagined that the Nigeria Police Force, the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and the military would one day invade the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, in a bid to either prevent it from holding its constitutionally empowered legislative session to arrest the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

By the time the teargas sprayed in the area by the security operatives had dispersed, the National Assembly was shut.

If there is any greater threat to the security of Nigeria, it is the unbridled use of naked force by security operatives against such institutions of state like the National Assembly. At a time the country is obviously not winning the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East of Nigeria, what the Nigerian security units should not do is present signs that they have no respect for such state institutions as the country’s assembly of lawmakers.

For the avoidance of doubt, there were no indications that there was going to be any form of violence or actions capable of causing breakdown of law and order before this incident. It was clear the action was a preemptive one designed to prevent the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, who recently defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress, from chairing the sitting of the house that day.

If Nigerians are to be called upon to be vigilant at any time, this is the most critical time. I say this because most of us aware of the insensitivities of a number of citizens of this

country to the onslaught of Boko Haram in the North. Those of us living in the South and some parts of North-West and North-Central who have not seen the bombs going off in their neighbourhoods have managed to stay aloof.

Empathy and proximity are next door neighbours and when it happens in distant places, we somehow have a way of feeling: “It is not our portion.”

But an invasion of the Nigerian National Assembly by security operatives is clearly everyone’s portion and calls for increased vigilance by one and all so that whatever is left of the current democracy would be saved from further denudation.

We must do all that is possible to preserve the sovereignty of Nigeria and it begins with ensuring that everyone, from civilian to military, respects constitutionally and democratically established institutions. Those in the senior cadres of the army must resist the temptation to be seen to be fighting on one side of political divide.

The legislative houses in Nigeria as in any other country should be held sacred. Whether at state or national level, there must be every effort to protect them. And this task rests with the security forces in the country, who from recent developments, have failed to live up to expectations to the extent of the provisions of their constitutional mandate.

Nigeria is at war with Boko Haram. We cannot afford to have to have institutions and agencies of state fighting the state itself.

Those in the senior cadres of the army must resist the temptation to be seen to be fighting on one side of political divide

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

31

Politics SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014

The Sunday Interview

God forbid!

If Jonathan pays me N1m a day, I’ll not work for him p.32-33

Interview

Ogunye: Nigerian politicians are no democrats p.35 Plateau needs turnaround in 2015, says Miri p.37

Fayose

Omirin

Ekiti and return of dark ages Within one week, two major events occurred in Ekiti State, pitching Governor Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party against the leadership of the All Progressives Congress-dominated House of Assembly. BIYI ADEGOROYE and ADESINA WAHAB examine the situation and its ability to plunge the state into chaos

W Biyi Adegoroye biyi.fire@yahoo.com 08033024007 © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

hen Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, was inaugurated on October 16, this year, most people prayed that political gladiators in the state would allow peace to reign. The prayer and anxieties were borne out of the fact that the House of Assembly was (and it is still) dominated by the APC, whereas the governor is of the PDP. Ordinarily, the political differences of the actors would not have been any serious issue going by the peaceful conduct and acceptability of the June 21 governorship poll that brought Fayose into office.

However, with events in the state about five weeks before Fayose’s inauguration, people with discerning mind fore-knew that Fayose would be sitting on a keg of gun powder. soon thereafter The major political action that heightened tension and gave a clue to what to expect was the fallout from the eligibility suit filed by a group, the E-11 and Citizens Popular Party against Fayose. The suit was filed after the election of Fayose- a move

believed to have been designed to scuttle his swearing in.

The development led to a series of events including the murder of Fayose’s loyalist, Chief Omolafe Aderiye and the imposition of curfew on Ado-Ekiti.

While the suit was being heard by Justice Olusegun Ogunremi, his courtroom was invaded by some people on September 22 and there was also the allegation that Justice John Adeyeye was manhandled by some people three days later.

In the camp of the PDP, the suit was one way the APC hopes to regain control of the state through the back door. Also, the PDP accused the APC of wanting a situation whereby Fayose would not be inaugurated and Omirin, as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, would be inaugurated as acting governor of the state.

Also, the APC members in the Assembly, who did not defect to the PDP like six of their counterparts did on Fayose’s inauguration day, alleged that the governor was planning to descend on them. Omi-

rin did not attend Fayose’s inauguration.

With the mindsets from both sides, it was not surprising that the relationship between the state legislature and the executive was anything but cordial right from the onset.

The situation came to head on Tuesday, November 11 when the Assembly refused to approve the list of caretaker chairmen and commissioner-nominees sent by the governor. The lawmakers, however, approved the request by the governor for the state to borrow N2 billion from the funds set aside for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In the argument of the Omirin, three commissioner nominees did not provide their curriculum vitae to the lawmakers for perusal.

This was faulted by the nominees Owoseni Ajayi (Justice Commissioner), Toyin Ojo (Finances) and Kayode Osho (Works), who said they complied with all the instructions given them by the lawmakers.

The no love lost relationship between the two arms of government was further aggravated on Monday November 17 when the PDP members in the House of sat, appointed Dele Olugbemi (Ikole Two) as the protem Speaker and approved the lists of commissioners and caretaker chairmen in the absence of the APC members.

Omirin and his colleagues said they were outside the state when the sitting took place CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014

The Sunday

God forbid!

If Jonathan pays me N1m a day, I’ll not work for him Former Petroleum Minister and professor of virology, Tam David-West, in this interview with SOLA ADEYEMO, x-rays the level of corruption in the country, collapse of the refineries and the nation’s politics ahead of the 2015 elections

The state of refineries in Nigeria, in spite of regular investment in its maintenance annually, is worrisome. What is your view on this?

Whenever I talk about the oil industry in Nigeria, my blood boils. This is not only because I am a former Petroleum Minister and an Ijaw man, and the fact that we have a lot of oil revenue in the riverine area, but because it is a national disgrace. Why? All this talk about Nigeria diversifying for decades is a ruse. We are diversifying nothing. Oil still remains the jugular of the economy. Oil makes at least 80 per cent of our annual budget; oil makes at least 90 per cent of our foreign currency receipts. So, any government that is mismanaging the oil business in Nigeria is a useless government and has no right to be there.

This is because the country depends on oil.

And I am ashamed that President Goodluck Jonathan should know better. I just saw in the paper yesterday that the Chairman of the National Planning Commission said that the fall in oil money would not affect Nigeria. That is the most stupid thing to say; very stupid. I said it was a stupid language and I stand by it. Such should not come from a member of the National Planning Commission, let alone its chairman. The oil industry has not been so badly managed in the history of Nigeria. It is the worst managed under Jonathan. And whatever I tell you, I stake my honour in it. In terms of veracity, you can verify whatever I say because I have documents for all I am saying. When Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar was in government, he talked about the miserable condition of our economy. In 1996, I made

a study of the refineries, and I wrote an article titled: ‘The Sabotage Theory of the Nigerian Refineries: Breakdown.’ Vanguard published it and I still have a copy. Every time they say the refineries had broken down, my study showed that the most vital aspect of the refineries broke down. So, I asked one of the officers in that industry whether there was an epidemic that was making the refineries to break down always. Not all the Nigerian refineries are working up to 40 per cent of their installed capacity. Not even 30 per cent. And when I said that, I mean, many of these Nigerians are so lazy. I said if the refineries are breaking down, why can’t we repair them? I don’t think it needs a lot of expertise, but in case you cannot repair it through the local manpower, at least the people who built it are there. Bring the companies; after all, there was not so much of a security challenge then. Assure them of security and it is just a simple thing and commonsensical.

But they would not do that because they are gaining from it. People in government are gaining from the breakdown of refineries. And they have formed this unholy fraternity between the companies and the crooks in the system. Many of them glory in being called the ‘oil mafia’ as if it is a compliment. The refineries can be repaired, but they know that if they repair them, they will not be able to import fuel. And that is why they have continued to import fuel at exaggerated prices with the so-called oil subsidy that does not exist.

They are making millions and trillions of money at the expense of the common man in Nigeria.

And I continue to say it today, tomorrow that

David-West

may God punish all corrupt politicians in Nigeria; punish them; put them in hell fire because the poor people in Nigeria are suffering. They say we have about 170 million people in Nigeria or 165 million. The President was not even sure of the figure. But in every country, in America, Britain and even Nigeria, the poor people are more in number than the rich people. God loves poor people so much He created so many of them.

So, any government that is not taking care of the plight of the poor man is working against God and God will punish them. Now, the socalled petroleum subsidy does not exist. I have been writing about it. Gani Fawehinmi said it does not exist; Gen. Mohammadu Buhari said it does not exist. I have written so many pamphlets about it. I had challenged Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to come out and engage me in a public debate.

Let them bring out the figure. To my calculation, petroleum should not cost more than N40 per litre. A professor of petroleum who was in this University of Ibadan is now in Texas. He wrote from Texas and said that a litre of petrol should not cost more than N35; yet the government is selling at N97. This N97 is even absolutely a political figure because it was done by fiat. They never sat down to calculate it. But for the fact that the oil subsidy protest threatened Jonathan, you know their plan was to make a litre of oil N140 or thereabout. They just hurriedly reduced it to N97. That means that over N100 they were taking from us was illegal. There is no petroleum subsidy. Trillions of Naira have been stolen and they are still telling us we should be funding. Nigeria is the only country in the world that makes provision for corruption and fraud in its annual budget. Every year, they budget about N1 trillion for oil subsidy.

What is your view on the instability of oil price in the global market?

The instability in the oil market in the world will affect us. I don’t care about the ignorant

thing the chairman of the National Planning said. It is commonsense that Nigeria depends about 90 per cent on oil; over 80 per cent of annual budget is oil; about 95 per cent of foreign earning is from oil. The price has come down and you are saying that it will not affect you. To me, it is a stupid thing to say. It will affect us, and it is common sense. Your budget is based on oil price. Every day, the BBC gives the oil price, and so I was amazed when the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance were debating it.

You don’t have to debate oil price. If they put a high oil price in their budget, and if the oil price falls, how will it not affect the revenue? During Buhari’s time, there was what they called low budget planning; low budget profile for oil price.

For instance, if the market is calling for $80 per barrel, we have to put out budget price at least at about $10 less to cushion us up. Oil price is volatile. If we have any major crisis in the world, oil price will definitely go up. So, the fall in oil price should cause us concern. And anybody managing the economy that doesn’t get that is a misfit. He or she must not only be a misfit but an enemy of the country. It must affect us. See, it is like getting a job and being paid N500 per month. I lost that job and got another where I am being paid N300 per month and I say that my living standard is still the same, and that I will not be affected. It is stupid.

Is the Petroleum Industry Bill a kind of panacea to this problem we are facing then?

Petroleum Industry Bill can be a panacea and can be a blessing if they manage it well. But right now in Nigeria, petroleum is a curse because of bad management. I have travelled the Black American and Gulf countries. If you see the way they manage their petroleum industry, you will marvel. A good example is Saudi Arabia which I visited many times because of a friend of mine.

There, education is free, health is free. There are secondary school campuses like the university

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y Interview Jonathan is handling it?

Corruption is the second name of Nigeria.

The surname of Nigeria is corruption. Various leaders had fought corruption but they didn’t win. Everybody knows that the major problem we have is corruption and the country cannot grow, cannot develop and cannot progress with corruption in its system. That is the paradox.

Jonathan is afraid of corruption, so he cannot fight corruption. He does not even know the definition of corruption. The other day, he said there is a difference between corruption and stealing. And he says he has a Ph.D. He cannot fight corruption since he doesn’t understand what it is really. The only person that can fight corruption in Nigeria is Buhari. We shall come to that later. Jonathan that allowed his petroleum minister to spend N12bn public fund for hiring plane? When I was a minister, you could not go anywhere but to take transport and when you were travelling, if Nigeria Airways covers where you were going, you must go with Nigeria Airways. I have worked Olusegun Obasanjo; I worked with Buhari; I worked with Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and I have seen that it is only Buhari that can fight corruption in Nigeria.

People in government are gaining from the breakdown of the refineries, and they have formed this unholy fraternity with the companies and the crooks in the system campuses. Another is Kuwait. They manage their petroleum so much with foresight that every time they sell oil, they have an account for the Kuwaitis of the future. Every day they sell oil, they put some millions of their money in reserve for the Kuwaitis of the future. They were so rich that they bought up Dorchester, an Island of London. They manage their oil very well. And you see what is so interesting in their case: the oil there belongs to a royal family and not to the country. Oil in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates all belong to royal families. The royal families are so empathetic that they use the oil which is exclusively their own for the people. There is a country in the Gulf where when someone marries and the wife is pregnant, they continue to invest in the unborn child. If they can do it there, why can’t we do it here? From Riyadh to Jeddah, they drove me at night one day and throughout the two-hour journey, it was light all through the highways. In some places, you even see light on the rocks. If they can do that, why can’t we do it here? It is because Nigeria is ruled by corrupt people and leaders who love themselves only.

The issue of corruption in Nigeria is now worrisome. How do you assess the way President

Is that why you are supporting him?

Yes, I said it in an interview recently that if my father is contesting against Buhari, I will tell my father that I will vote against him. I will tell him that you are a banker, but I am not saying that you steal, but leave politics to Buhari. Buhari is clean. He is the only leader that had challenged his opponents to prove that he is corrupt and they could not. Babangida arrested Buhari and locked him up for 40 months. His mother died while he was in detention. His brother died while he was in detention and Babangida was so sadistic and callous that he could not allow Buhari to go and give his last right as a Muslim. And when Babangida grudgingly released him, he asked him to tell the whole world about his corruption. He couldn’t. The other one was Obasanjo who set up Dr. Haroun Adamu’s commission to probe the Petroleum Trust Fund. After that, the probe failed to publish the report because it was so positive of Buhari.

Buhari asked Obasanjo to publish the probe of PTF, but he couldn’t. I also challenged him, but he couldn’t. Buhari is the only leader that can say that. Buhari has no house in Abuja. When he is in Abuja, he either stays with his friend or in a hotel. Here is a man that had been a petroleum minister, head of state, governor of Eastern State, which is about six states today.

My two books about him with foreward written by Abdulsalami Abubakar show that he is an extraordinary man. No one can match him in integrity. Anybody has the right to challenge him. But I challenged Wole Soyinka and others to a public debate about Buhari but they could not. They are afraid of him because he will fight corruption. During Buhari’s time, the exchange rate was $1.5 to N1. The naira was stronger than dollar. Today it is N170 to $1.

During Buhari’s time, it was N2 to one pound.

Today, it is N260 to one pound. When Buhari was made governor, a lot of states were owing workers salary. Federal Government owed six months salary. Plateau State was owing nine months’ salary. From Plateau, I went to Dodan Barracks and within few months, we paid the whole arrears of salaries. Buhari was so transparent that every month, Idiagbon would tell the country how much was made from petroleum; how much was spent and how much was going to be set aside. During his regime, we had over $50m in an extra account. Babangida came in and squandered it. I later asked my friend Abacha where they kept the money and he said ‘for arms.’ All the cries about $2.8 billion is a lie. No $2.8 billion was lost as some alleged. The Justice Irikefe Panel and Judicial Commission said no money like that existed. For 20 years, those who are crying have not been able to substantiate.

Does it, therefore, mean that EFCC, ICPC are mere toothless bulldogs?

Were they set up to work? EFCC was set up

to haunt Obasanjo’s enemies. I wrote a book: ‘Ethical Sanitiser or Inquisitor?’ Did EFCC ever arrest any of Obasanjo’s friends? It cannot work. And corruption could be easy to fight in Nigeria because the average Nigerian hates corruption. But the leaders like it because they gain from it. Why should a Nigerian senator earn more than American President? Is that not corruption for a Nigerian senator to earn more than Barack Obama? Without being immodest, I was earning less as a minister than as a professor. When I left Ibadan to be minister in 1984 under Buhari, my salary was N18,000 a year as a minister/consultant. Under Buhari, ministers were earning N16,000 a year. Under Buhari, the allowance a minister could spend was N200. If he spent above N200, he must account for it. They labelled Buhari an Islamic fundamentalist. I said, ‘Don’t worry, I am a Christian fundamentalist.’ To be a fundamentalist is different from being an extremist, but they are so stupid that they don’t even know the difference. A fundamentalist is a great adherent of a religion. Buhari is a faithful believer in the Quran. I challenged the CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor, whose plane was used to ferry the money. I said my father was a Catholic, but he did not steal money for over 100 years. Ajayi Crowther and my father were contemporaries.

Why should I follow somebody who is against my religion?

militants grew up to rig elections for the PDP. After rigging the elections, they dumped them and they became militants. Whether it is true or not, Jonathan led a delegation to Chad with Ali Modu Sheriff. Jonathan said that he did not take him along, yet he took a photograph with Sheriff. Jonathan is not serious. He is an Ijaw man like me, but he is not serious. I can’t support him as an Ijaw man, but I can support him if he is doing well. As Commander-in-Chief, he could not go to Chibok and over 200 girls have been abducted for over six months. He invited the parents to Abuja and gave them money. Is that the solution? I have never met Jonathan and I don’t want to meet him. If he is coming to my house, I will tell him I don’t want to see him. He is not serious in fighting the Boko Haram. When I was minister of petroleum, Jonathan was in secondary school. But if God has given you a position, you should thank God and do well. And you see, his wife is not helping the situation. She was busy fighting Governor Rotimi Amaechi. She had the audacity at a certain time to walk up to Amaechi where he was talking and snatched the microphone from the governor on the podium and went away. And nothing happened to her. That is bad. Anyone that cannot see what Amaechi has done in Rivers State is blinder than a bat.

Nyesom Wike that she is sponsoring cannot win Rivers State.

But the panel that probed Oritsejafor and Asari Dokubi has given them a clean bill of health…

They were cleared before they started. Asari Dokubo was living in my house. I used to give him pocket money. His mother and my mother are of the same father. The only result he has is O’Level. Two times he has been thrown out of university. He was thrown out of University of Port Harcourt and University of Calabar.

Where did he get those billions? He got them from militancy. He said he wanted to protect pipelines and gave the militants billions of naira contracts. I’m surprised that Nigeria is not South Africa. You smuggled money, hard currency out of the country to their country without declaring it. In fact, that alone should have made Jonathan to be indicted. You smuggled money into a country two times and you were caught and you are saying you are going to punish South Africa. The money was smuggled into the country and it was caught.

How are you going to do that?

What do you make of Aminu Tambuwal’s defection and the withdrawal of his security aides?

That is another case to shows that Jonathan is ignorant. If he is the President of Nigeria, he should know the Constitution of Nigeria. Tambuwal has the right to move to any party, and they cannot remove him. PDP has not got the two-third majority in the House. They have less than 200 members. The reaction of Jonathan to Tambuwal’s defection was so childish, mean and ignorant - childish because he behaved like a child that was hurt. Why didn’t he just brush the issue aside and get on with his business?

They have no power to do that. Which section of the Constitution empowers him to do that?

By removing his security details, Jonathan has made Tambuwal to have more sympathy. I’m not a card-carrying member of the APC, but I support them.

What if the APC decides not to choose him as the flag bearer?

He has said that. If APC decides they have a better person, he will work with the person. To him, it is not a matter of do-or-die.

But comparing Atiku Abubakar with Buhari, how comfortable will you be if Buhari is eventually not given the ticket?

I will feel very uncomfortable because Atiku knows very well he cannot with full conscience say that he can contest with Buhari. Politics is not just about talking and allocating money.

You must have an ethical part of you. Let us wait because the APC has said that the election process will be broad-based. Not few who have money can go there and think they can bribe them. Those of us who believe in Buhari will work for him. We will pray for him not because he gives us anything, and by the grace of God, we shall get the ticket. The God that loves Nigeria will choose a good leader for us.

What is the fate of Nigeria in the face of the socio-economic woes and insecurity occasioned by this Boko Haram insurgency?

That is the greatest indictment. I read it that America said they would not supply equipment to our Army again. That the ones supplied were not well used. The greater insurgency was Maitasine. Who stopped Maitasine?

Jonathan said he knows those sponsoring and supporting Boko Haram but he has not arrested any one of them. At a certain time, they said it was Buhari. Jonathan can stop Boko Haram if he wants to. Boko Haram and Niger Delta militancy have something in common. The

To some people, you are this hard on Jonathan because he has not invited you to give you a certain advisory role where you can be getting some pecuniary benefit. Is that correct?

God forbid! If Jonathan pays me N1m a day, I will not work for him. What will he give me that will match my name? I am not for stomach infrastructure. God has given me what I want and I am satisfied. Taking money from Jonathan is like taking money from the devil.

He can take all the money in the Nigerian mint, I will not take it. What position will he give that will attract me? A President that cannot pay N18, 000 minimum wage budgeted N2 billion for food in Aso Rock and for his deputy.

Are they digesting rock? We have never had it this bad!

Are you optimistic that the 2015 elections will hold in Nigeria?

Only God knows tomorrow. I think it will hold, but it can be turbulent if there is election rigging in 2015. Nigerians should be careful. If there is rigging and people are not allowed to express themselves freely through the ballot, Jonathan himself will not be able to contain what will happen. He will not be able to come out of Aso Rock. He has for years been celebrating independence at Aso Rock. He could not do it at the Eagle Square. If the election is rigged, the heat would be too much for him to bear. If they don’t want peaceful change, they will have violent change. America has said that Nigeria will break up by 2015. Nigeria will not break up. My prayer is that we should be together. Many people are working towards staying together, just as some are canvassing for a break-up. Whoever that does not CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics

Ekiti and return of dark ages C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

and faulted the action by their PDP counterparts. He said the seven PDP members who sat included the six APC members who defected to the PDP on inauguration day, namely Hons. Ajibola Samuel- Ekiti East II, Adeojo.

Alexander- Ekiti S’West II, Adeloye AdeyinkaIkole I, Israel Olowo Ajiboye, Fatunbi Olajide J. A -Moba II, Olugbemi Joseph Dele- Ikole II and Olayinka Modupe Abeni- Ado II. “We have heard of this reckless abuse of the Constitution from other states like stories in the movies, but today, before our very eyes, Governor Fayose provided seven members of PDP with 300 armed mobile policemen complete with armoured vehicles to conduct a plenary in the House of Assembly to approve the reconstitution of the council caretaker committees and confirmation of the commissionernominees without the 19 members of the All Progressives Congress in attendance.

“The prelude to today’s event was well established, details of which were published in the media. The first attempt was when they planned to storm the House with thugs to attack APC members with the aid of security agents to change the leadership of the House.

The plan was foiled when it leaked. The second attempt was planned at Spotless Hotel owned by Governor Fayose where top members, both in Ekiti and outside Ekiti, met to plan what was carried out this morning. The governor did a follow-up with threats and coercion, including freezing the accounts of the Assembly, cutting of electricity supply from the Speaker’s Lodge and stopping statutory votes for the Speaker’s upkeep and protocol.

“To demonstrate that police had interest and were active involved in this constitutional breach, they used their trucks to block entrances to the Assembly Complex, preventing members of APC who had one business or the other to do in the House of Assembly.

Electronics media were prevented from covering the sitting while selected print media reporters were allowed in.”

We in the APC) are law-abiding and responsible Nigerians. We have been playing our constitutional roles and we will continue doing that to lift Nigeria as a responsible member of the international community where the rule of law is supreme.”

Fayose, through Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, debunked Omirin’s claim.

He said he was not supposed to respond to “the lies aired” on a television purposely to misinform members of the public because the legislature is another arm of government and whatever they do in their chamber is their business and the executive arm has nothing to do with that.

He said: “If they removed their leaders and appointed new ones, that is their business.

However, to educate the public, no speaker was removed. There are 26 members in the House and the House standing order allows a quorum of nine members to sit and appoint speaker pro-tempore to preside.

“So, what transpired in the House is within the law. APC is only being hypocritical. In APC-controlled state of Edo, we all know what is happening there.

“For over a year now, the state governor has prevented the lawmakers from sitting. He said he was going to renovate the Assembly Complex and PDP lawmakers have been meeting in the dilapidated complex, while APC lawmakers are meeting at the Government House. Also another APC state of Rivers, the judiciary has been shut down for over a year too,” he said.

The move by the minority PDP lawmakers who sack on November 20, the Omirin-led leadership of the House has added insult to the injury. Omirin who was in Lagos along with his colleagues when his PDP counterparts ‘removed’ him from office said the action was illegal.

“The sitting was illegal. Seven members cannot form a quorum and it is only me as the speaker who can convene a sitting of the

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba

House,” he said. However, Olugbemi and another PDP lawmaker, Ajibola, said the sitting of the House was in order.

“We were 10 that sat and that are more than the required quorum of nine. The state has to move forward and we won’t allow anybody to hold us to ransom,” Ajibola said. He expressed worry over the group frequent relocation to Lagos instead of sitting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital to perform their constitutional duties.

To the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Idowu Faleye, the APC legislators only wanted to throw the state into chaos, an action, he said, should be condemned. He said that the Olugbemi-led PDP lawmakers had taken the expected steps needed to checkmate the opposition.

“The APC legislators have relocated to the Lagos home of their leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, planning how to destabilise Ekiti State.

They want to turn Ekiti State upside down, but the proactive measures taken by their colleagues who chose to stay back in the Assembly have saved the state from those who don’t wish anybody well.

“The action of the Hon Olugbemi-led House is a welcome development which should be commended by all true Ekiti sons and daughters. As a party, we expect a very robust and development oriented relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state with the present leadership of the House and Governor Fayose.”

Omirin, for his part has insisted that the impeachment is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. In his words: “I enjoy the mandate and support of the majority members of the House. By virtue of the law, I can only be impeached by 2/3 of members of the House- and that 18.It is impossible for seven members of the House to impeach me.”

Reacting to the development in Ekiti, APC, through its lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, described it as a clear brigandage, telling the governor to respect the doctrine of separation of powers in the interest of peace in the state. “We are further told that you encourage brigandage and hooliganism everywhere, preferring government of the unruly and the violent. Further, you encourage your loyalists in the House to disrespect the House leadership and its rules. You encourage minority members to sit regularly in total violation of the standing order of the House and the Constitution and under the protection and your own controlled security and unconstitutional use of arms, worse than the history of the past in our land.

Meanwhile, the APC has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to invalidate the impeachment of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin and to reverse the approval of the list of Commissioners by the seven-man House of Assembly In two separate suits filed on behalf of the APC and Omirin by their counsel, Chief Tunji Abayomi, the plaintiffs stated in affidavits in support that the actions taken on November 17 and 20 by the House was illegal, unconstitutional null and void.

According to the first suit initiated by Dr. Omiri and his deputy, Adetuyi Orisabomi, with number FHC/ABJ/CS/88514, the plaintiffs argued in a 13-point affidavit that having adjourned last week, the House could only reconvene at the instance of the Speaker.

Secondly, at the sittings where the list of commissioners sent to the House and the bill for the reconstitution of the local governments in the state on November 17 and that of November 20 when the leadership of the House was supposedly sacked, the members did not garner the mandatory 2/3 majority of members as prescribed by the rules of the House.

Joined as defendants in the first suit are Governor Fayose, who they said influenced and instigated the action, the Inspector-General of Police, The Nigeria Police and Ekiti State House of Assembly.

In the second suit supported by a 12-point affidavit, filed by the APC, which has as defendants all the seven legislators elected on the platform of the APC but who had defected to the PDP, the party is seeking an order declaring vacant their seats, following their defection. Joined as co-defendants in the second suit are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission. No date has been fixed for either of the cases.

Interestingly, Fayose has never hidden his support for the seven lawmakers and their current stance. At best, not a few politicians in the state believe that the state government cannot extricate itself from the heavy police presence at the House of Assembly a couple of days ago.

Hence, when Fayose recognised the ‘new leadership of the House,’ and frowned at the relocation of the APC lawmakers to Lagos, many political watchers saw the hands of Esau in the entire imbroglio.

However, Adelusi’s quick statement that the action was a reminiscence of the Edo legislative crises, where lawmakers have since relocated to Government House for its legislative duties, under the guise of an on-going renovation of the Legislative Chambers as a balancing act.

Like the gale of impeachments which were in vogue in Bayelsa, Plateau and even Ekiti states early at the dawn democracy, observers believe that the crises have just begun, and the courts must determine the legality or otherwise of the various actions.

‘Reactions to Tambuwal’s defection childish’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

allow peaceful and fair election in 2015 will not sleep. He would have murdered sleep.

Buhari recently said that there is nothing wrong if he chooses a Muslim like him to be his deputy. This has generated controversy.

Rev. Sunday Mbang, the former CAN President, said Christians should vote for Christians, and there was no cry over that then. The main issue is that they should bring concrete evidence that Buhari is corrupt, and not religious sentiments. No president can make Nigeria a Muslim or Christian state.

He will need 24 states to support him to do that and he cannot get that. If Buhari were a Christian and he is not disciplined, I would not have supported him. If Buhari is president, I tell you that the petrol price would come down within his first 100 days. He will not steal your money. The bottom line is that we should bring religion into politics and remove politics from religion. No religion will ask you to steal or kill. If the Muslim/ Muslim ticket is the will of God, let it be, and if Muslim/Christian ticket is His will, let it be also. But the beautiful thing about that is that Buhari has got the ticket. Like I said, that is my prayer. Buhari’s confidential secretary

is a Christian; two of his cooks are Christians.

His senior security officer is a Christian, his second driver is a Christian; his office cook is a Christian. Tunde Idiagbon’s widow is a born again Christian. If it turns out like that of Babagana Kingibe to Moshood Abiola and if God wants it like that, so be it.

The other time, they came up with another theory that Buhari is too old. He is not old.

He is still young. The President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe is older than Buhari.

In 2006, he was 96 years old. Zuma of South Africa is also older than Buhari. So, what are those talking of politics of age talking about?

Buhari will be 73 next year. I am older than him. The Constitution does not have an upper limit for age. They will not cross-check their facts before writing or talking. They have done everything to ensure that he does not contest but he is going to contest and by the grace of God, he will win. I don’t have Buhari’s phone number. I don’t need it to talk for him because I am convinced of his integrity.

When the vehicle of Buhari was attacked recently, some people said he planned it for political reasons…

Those who said that were idiots. How will he want himself bombed or killed? It was

Asari Dokubo that said it and he is a stupid boy, like I earlier told you. And Edwin Clark is also supporting Jonathan as if he could be more Ijaw than I am. At a certain time, I told him I am a full Ijaw man and that Clark is a ‘patch-patch’ Ijaw man. He sued me for libel asking for N800 million damages. He went to Abuja but the day the case was to be called, he said he didn’t want to continue with the case again. He knew that I know that he is a combination of Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri. I tell you, Clark is partly Urhobo, partly Itsekiri and partly Ijaw. I pray that God should give us good government. Nigerians should vote for their conscience. Anybody saying that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock is telling us that the election will be rigged.

Some people are saying that Buhari is a serial loser and that he will still lose the 2015 election…

Buhari has never lost election. Buhari was serially rigged out. He has never lost any transition election in Nigeria. When he went to the Supreme Court with Umaru Yar’Adua, three judges said Buhari was right; three said Yar’Adua was right. I hope he will not also be rigged out this time. If there is rigging this time, they can as well pack their things and go to Chad.

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Politics / Interview

Ogunye: Nigerian politicians are no democrats While the furore which greeted the defection of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and the consequent withdrawal of his police security details abate, Jiti Ogunye, a legal practitioner and human rights activist based in Lagos, in this interview with IBUKUN KAYODE, looks the issues and disposition of the average Nigerian politician How justifiable is the recent decampment of Tambuwal to APC without vacating his seat as a speaker?

The provision of law on decampment is very clear for federal legislators. By this, I’m referring to the provision of Section 68 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. It says that any member of the federal legislature sponsored by a political party who during a tenure of that legislative house defects from the party that sponsored him before he was elected to the house to another party should vacate the seat, provided that defection is not as a result of a merger of his own political party with another political party to which he has defected or arising from the division in the political party from which he is defecting.

For the entire Constitution, therefore, any legislator that defects from his party without reasons given or stipulated by the Constitution has a duty to vacate his seat. Relating this provision to the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Aminu Tambuwal, it becomes clear that ordinarily the consequence that is ought to follow his defection is the vacation of his seat and by implication once he vacates that seat, he has to resign as a Speaker. I said “ordinarily,” but what is the reason he is giving for his defection? He said there is a division in his political party I’m not a member of his party to know if there are crisis in his party but this is the reason he has adduced. Now, the pact of the rule of law is if what ought to be done is not being done, the person or authority who feels wronged by not doing of that which he expected should be done should go to court to say there is a dispute, that what ought to be done has not being done and so I am asking the court to give an order in my favour compelling the other person to do that which should be done.

In this case, once the Speaker defected and it was clear he didn’t have any intention to vacate his seat or resign as the speaker, what the PDP as a party that claimed it was aggrieved by its action ought to have done was to have gone to court to sue and compel him to vacate his seat and resign as the speaker. But unfortunately what the party controlling the Presidency did was to instruct the InspectorGeneral of Police to turn himself to a court of law and start interpreting the provisions of the Constitution and dishing out orders by withdrawal of security aids of the Speaker by the reasons of defection from the PDP that was illegal and unconstitutional. It is not expected that the PDP or the Presidency should take the law into their own hands or resort to self-help to vindicate them. What they should have done was to resort to judicial process to seek regress.

Now there is a larger issue here, because the defection of Tambuwal is not an isolated case before now he has being a defector he was in ANPP, defected to the PDP and they didn’t send him back to where he was coming from.

He was accommodated and they enjoyed the defection, but Tambuwal is not alone. An example of this is the Governor of Ogun State Ibikunle Amosun. He was an ANPP Senator; he was in the PDP, ACN and now he is in the APC. The Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi was in ANPP, PDP, and ACN and now is in the APC. The Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko was in AD, PDP where he was the Federal Minister, he was the Commissioner for Health under an AD government in Ondo State

he later found his way to Labour Party and from LP now defected to the PDP and he has being accommodated and celebrated. He was not the only one who defected. It was with the almost entire membership of the House of Assembly and the Speaker in Ondo State defected with him in which there was no faction or division in the LP. And as a fact the PDP did not condemn the defection they embraced it.

The point is that Nigeria politicians and their political postulation vacillation is a familiar affair. The reason they do this is because they are fixated on power, I call them power addicts, freaks. It is not about service, principles, ideology, commitment it’s about gunning for power at all cost and using the power for primitive accumulation of wealth. These are people who have no scruples, morality and ethics as far as they are concerned the end justified the means once they are able to get into power.

So you can understand why Tambuwal gunning to become gubernatorial candidate of Sokoto State would defect to APC perhaps he knows the party have upper hand in the next gubernatorial election. If politics are to be played right there will not be all these because it is an anomaly elsewhere. Defection or decampment does not come after an election it comes on the eve of an election because the object of it is seeking of power. In saner clams what Tambuwal did would be an aberration, impermissible and condemned by everybody in which he himself would feel the contrition and ashamed to retain his seat but our country has become a civil rule where everything goes.

It is better we start seeing these people for who they truly are, the orientation of the electorate has to change. We don’t need to be fixated on some people we don’t even know their portfolios to rule us; we should not say because someone is not a politician he would not be useful just like when Chief Gani Fawehinmi

was contesting back them and some people out rightly condemned it but now they wished he was still alive.

Is his case comparable to that of Governor Mimiko who defected from LP to PDP? They are the same thing that of the governor is even worse because he was elected by state wide, while Tambuwal was elected by his own federal constituency. The governor had a platform but without any shame, he defected because he is angling for post 2015, whether he is going to be a Minister or something which I feel it’s a political greed. Nothing is worse than the defection in Ondo State, with almost all the house defected along with him and we are talking about just Tambuwal’s constituency.

In terms of comparison, it is the same. I have heard some people argued that the defection of governor has no constitutional consequence because the constitution does not provide that the governor cannot be voted out of office or vacate his seat, and that therefore, that is permissible but for legislature that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. For me, it is double standard and hypocrisy for you to gainfully accept defectors from another political party seeing them as people who are doing the right thing and then condemn others who are defecting from your party.

Defection is constitutional but with a consequence, because you have made representation to the people. It is like you have made electoral mandate by false pretenses when you de- fect without doing the right thing.

You would never see this kind of defection in saner climes.

Just like when Hillary Clinton lost to Barak Obama in the last primaries in USA, she didn’t see that as an excuse to decamp from Democrats to the Republican Party.

What is your view on the imposition of candidates by Governors having people to succeed them?

I repeat these people

Ogunye

are not democrats, they are worse than military dictators. These people that call themselves democrats they want to leave and put their Chief of Staff because they have fleeced so much they want someone who can protect them and the show goes on. The Chief of Staff who has become a governor and watching the back of the previous governor protecting his interests, ensuring that he is not probed, what do you think he would do when he gets there?

He fleece his own and start looking for who will protect him too when he leaves. So it’s a vicious cycle. It has no place in democracy and it ought not to be tolerated but I keep saying that the electorate should be the one to decide for themselves that which they want.

It’s just that as citizens, we do not know the power we possess to stop all these imposition governance and dictators ride over us.

We can defeat an incumbent if the people are determined rather than blame their traducers for their tragedy, the Nigeria electorate should blame themselves for not being men and women enough to take their destiny in their hands and use their votes the way they want it used.

What is your position on current action of Senators who insist that their party must give them automatic ticket to the Senate?

If governors are being given automatic tickets and the President is being given same in the political party, why shouldn’t they say ‘give us automatic ticket’? What is good for the geese is also good for the gander, I will keep repeating it, these people are not democrats; they are power addicts. These people have formed a power cult and are waging a war on the people. It is not about if you work hard to justify the confidence reposed in you presumably by your constituency or not you must return. David Mark has being there since eternity and so many of them. Their constituencies are in turmoil. In Benue, people are being killed where David Mark hails from. Ordinarily, some of them should not even be in the Senate; they should just go home because they cannot even protect lives and property which is the basic duty of a government.

The Constitution says in Section 15 (5) that the security and welfare of the people is the primary responsibility of a government. So, they can’t even discharge on these basic duties and yet they insist on perpetrating themselves to power.

How would you rate the action of the government towards the release of the Chibok Girls?

For me you rate something that exists. I cannot see the action taken by the government. You want me to rate the action of the government towards the attack of defenseless and harmless demonstrators by the Boko Haram who are calling attention to the plight of the Chibok girls, in which the parents of some whom have died? And the government which gave an order that there shouldn’t be any protest in respect of the abduction of the girls in Abuja? And here is also the government that started out by denying that the people were ever abducted in the first place. There is nothing to rate because I have never seen this kind of callousness.

Some of us are sad because we were the part of people who fought selflessly to bring about this democracy and never knew this was what we were bringing about.

36

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / Column

Why Jonathan must intervene in Reps crisis Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

Anule Emmanuel

O

ne key element of any successful democracy is the absence of confrontation, needless friction and tension but the existence of a high spirit of sacrifice, compromise, and synergy among key players in the legislative and the executive arm of government.

These two arms of government desperately need each other for any meaningful growth to be recorded in the form of development

and provision of the dividends of democracy to the citizens.

Unfortunately however, mutual allegation of usurpation of constitutional powers and rights between the executive and legislature appears to be fast becoming a major feature of Nigeria’s current democratic experience. The effect no doubt is the fact that often times; such friction does slow down government business at both federal and state levels.

It is in this vein that the current crisis rocking the National Assembly indeed does not present a good signal for the polity. What is worrisome is the fact however that accusing fingers are being directed at the Presidency.

Since the defection of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Party, a move which had long been predicted, the struggle for su-

premacy in lower chamber between the two dominant parties continues to do more harm than good to the system.

The opposition APC for instance has already accused the President of complicity in the crisis. As far as the party is concerned, what is playing out is a sign of desperation from the President himself and his party, the PDP to win the 2015 elections.

For one thing, the action of the police should be roundly condemned for the extreme act against the lawmakers. Attacking them with tear-gas at the premises of the National Assembly is an attack on democracy. Also condemnable was the desperation exhibited on Wednesday by the lawmakers themselves who scaled the gate, an ungentlemanly action by people in leadership positions.

President Goodluck Jonathan really needs to call the hierarchy of the police to order. Agreed

that the police had prior information about possible invasion of the National Assembly premises by hoodlums, there could have been a better way to manage the situation instead of the crude way both parties portrayed themselves in public.

Interestingly, Vice President ,Namadi Sambo met with the leadership of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the PDP at the Presidential Villa apparently to chart a way forward and to end the feud.

The principal officers led by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha included the House Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande, the Deputy leader, Leo Ogor and the Chief Whip, Honourable Ishaku Bawa. Before the chairman of the National Assembly, Senator David Mark re-opens the parliament, it is pertinent for President Jonathan to commence peace talks with the lawmakers in order to forestall further break down of law and order.

Two things that are awaiting the attention of the lawmakers are the Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTEFF) and the request by the President for the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states. These and other salient national issues must be addressed.

...and Mr. President is 57

H

ow time flies. One can remember this time last year when President Goodluck Jonathan clocked 56years. Although, the President had often said that he remains one person who does not celebrate birthdays, his well wishers, friends and family members have never allowed the event pass-by without marking it, at least on low key.

For the President, 2007 was the only time he formally celebrated birthday, at age 50.

But as early as 4: 45am, family members of the President and friends had gathered at one of the mini presidential parlours to offer special prayers in commemoration of his birthday.

President Jonathan may not be far away from the belief of Ralph Parlette, an academic with the University of Harvard that “real birthdays are not annual affairs. Real birthdays are the days when we have a new birth.”

No doubt, as revealed, he was taken unawares by family members with the celebration. The President, has said that the early hours of each day provides himself and his family the opportunity to exalt and praise God. He had woken up as early as 4am with the thought of meeting the Aso Rock Chaplain, Reverend Obioma Onwuizurumba and a few friends for the usual morning devotion.

But the celebration came and Mr. President was convinced to cut the birthday cake with a toast proposed by one of the clergies for long life, good health and prosperity as well as peace in the country.

37

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014

Politics / Interview

Plateau needs turnaround in 2015, says Miri At various times, Godfrey Miri was the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bayelsa, Kaduna, Ogun, Nasarawa and Gombe states. An accountant and one time Chairman, Board of Directors of defunct Lion Bank Plc, Miri recently joined the governorship race in Plateau State. He speaks with BUHARI BELLO on various issues in the state and his ambition Give us an insight into what motivated you to throw your hat into the governorship race in Plateau State?

As you are aware, constitutionally, there will be a vacancy in Rayfield, the seat of government, on May 29, 2015. Just like any other vacancies, it calls for applicants from politicians who will be screened through an electoral process by the people of Plateau State. It is in the light of this that I am presenting myself. I have taken the necessary forms from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). What really inspired me is not about me but about my concern for Plateau and the future of our children. All of us who are resident in Plateau know that since 2011, the peace hitherto enjoyed in our state known as the State of Peace and Tourism, has been breached.

Never in the history of Plateau State have we been so divided and polarised along tribal and religious lines. In any community where crisis are frequent, wanton destruction of live and properties are continual, religious intolerance and segregation are inculcated in the psyche of the majority of the citizenry. Distribution of the resources is based on tribal and religious affiliations. Therefore, anyone who is aspiring to govern the state and revive its socio-economic fortunes today, must first focus on restoring sustainable peace in such way that all residents so-exist and interact freely as citizens .

What will you describe as the consequences of prolonged crises in the State?

To the people of Plateau State, it has brought about complete collapse of the economy and led to a situation where abject poverty stares at the face of every family. Today, most of the industries have collapsed and a few viable ones have relocated out of Plateau. Our hospitality industry is almost in comatose. To make things worse, injustice has become the order of the day. The situation is such that we have challenges in all the sub-sectors of our economy, education, agriculture, health, public and social services, human capital development, infrastructures in rural areas and in the private sector which is the hub of wealth creation and employment. Governance is not about awarding contracts, but about people. The success of any government is measured by how well its policies and programmes have impacted on the living standards of its people.

How do you think that a smooth relationship and peaceful coexistence among Christians and Muslims who are now living in separate settlements in the state can be restored?

No meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of crises and tension. Plateau State has had its fair share of sectarian crises since 2003. Our state has been divided into social, religious and political zones. Distrust by neighbours, suspicion by friends, every relationship is being seen from the prisms of Christianity or Islam and tribal colonisation.

A once vibrant state christened “Home of Peace and Tourism” and blessed with near European climate, a haven and natural destination for different categories of Nigerians and foreigners is now being labeled as one of the high risk security states in the country.

We have good policies and programmes that will draw the wisdom of religious groups, traditional rulers, community leaders and key stakeholders to bring out strategies that will bind about 53 ethnic nationalities to fully warm up to each other by fully understanding each other’s social, religious and political boundaries. We shall go back to the past tradition where hamlet and ward heads, district heads monitored very rigorously strangers and visitors in their jurisdiction and take appropriate action.

a backyard farm that can produce vegetables and other legumes to reduce cost of living.

In the area of health, we are all witnesses to the colossal sums of the hard earned foreign currency that is being spent on medical tourism. We send our citizens to Indian hospitals with hardly any visible results. The same patients make second, third and fourth visits to the same Indian hospitals. We shall appoint team of consultation to upgrade our teaching hospitals with the same equipment and facilities that are available in India and Europe.

In other words, we shall equip our teaching hospitals with state of the art equipment’s to handle heart diseases, high blood pressure diabetes, prostate cancer and other common health challenges that traumatise our citizens on a daily basis. Our general and cottage hospitals will be renovated and upgraded. Some will be designated at zonal levels to specialise in different diseases to decongest the state specialist hospital and bring health services closer to the rural people. Doctors in special areas will be further trained abroad as consultants for these purposes.

Miri

We shall create and establish Ministry of Inter-Religious Affairs, which main function will be to ensure religious harmony between Christians and Muslims. An arm of this Ministry will handle the relationship between Fulani nomads and farmers such crises are anticipated, nipped in the bud and prevented from taking place from the beginning. No cost will be too much for us to ensure the peaceful Plateau that we once knew. Once there is a sustainable pace every other effort will naturally fall in line. I urge every ethnic and religious group to sheath their swords, bury the hatchet and offer the olive branch. I am here to promote reconciliation, cohesive communality and I will usher of a new era of unprecedented peace, unity and prosperity. I say here, let a eschew bitterness and re-establish trust to galvanize the Plateau dream.

What is your vision for Plateau State?

My vision is to have a Plateau State where all residents are living in peace and harmony and are economically transformed, and are living in a transformed environment. I see state as a hand with 17 fingers and each of these fingers must be nourished equally for the hand to be strong. Where only a few fingers are nourished and the rest are not, over time, the unnourished fingers will wither away thereby making the hand infective. This will definitely befall Plateau should we continue in our current ways. My mission is to pursue a peaceful co-existence and sustain it through good governance, transforming the citizens into an economically strong people in a socioeconomically transformed environment with access to every facility that make a good and healthy living.

Plateau State is endowed with abundant resources - enough for everybody to participate in. However, we need a leader who is decisive and just and fair to all for us to enjoy these benefits. The 2015 general election is not about tribe, it is not about religion. It is not about special interest groups, it is not about majority versus minority, it is about good leadership and it is about who has the experience to turn the economy of the state around.

I urge people of Plateau to ask the aspirants some vital questions regarding their contribution to the economy of the state, what he or she has invested in the future of Plateau State by a way of human capital development; what financial experience he or she has to manage the debt burden of the state and experience he or she has for the industrialisation state.

I make bold to state that I have the requisite experience to manage the dept burden of the state and the exposure and connections to attract investment and create Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, which create wealth and employment. Plateau State is the only state in Nigeria that does not have a company that get up to two billion naira contract per-annum from the Federal Government those depriving us of our national cake.

The education sector in the state has suffered a great neglect. How do you intend to reverse this?

It is very sad that Plateau of today is of the lowest index whereas in the 60’s and 70’s, we topped most states in the North. The examination results of our students in the SSSE are disgraceful such that parents are beginning to wonder whether or not to withdraw their wards from these schools. Worst still, our stateowned tertiary institutions have degenerated as a result of negligence and inadequate funding. This has led to incessant and prolonged strikes, without getting the desired attention.

The situation must be reversed by a declaration of an emergency in this sector. We shall appoint a high powered committee made up of university professors, members of Teachers/Parents Associations, education administrators, student bodies as well as lecturers to brainstorm and submit within a month of our administration. This will be followed by a feasible, realistic and implementable policies and programmes on how to upgrade educational standards in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

What about other sectors like agriculture and health?

We are of the belief that our famers are well educated on soil culture and therefore know the crops that do well in such soils. All that is needed is to provide them with modern inputs well researched seeds that triple output per hectare, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals that are necessary. In this regard, the state and local governments will collaborate and procure chemical fertilizer and tractors for farmers at subsidised rates to be made available not later than March of each year. The deputy governor will supervise this sector to give it the priority of our emphasis in agriculture. There will be a policy in organic manure (non-chemical) and every citizen in the state will be encouraged to be a farmer, particularly those in the urban centers. We will encourage urban families to own

The enviable tourism sector of the state is today in shambles. What is your plan for the sector and its dilapidated facilities?

The department to tourism and sports will be upgraded and designated into a Ministry of Sports and Tourism and be properly and adequately funded. The sports department of the ministry will be charge with two main responsibilities. To design an inter college sports competition to develop sports talents at early stage. The second area will be to develop talents of our teaming youth in football, basketball, and athletics among others that can compete internationally and earn fee or income for themselves. In the area of tourism, government hotels will be renovated and upgraded to international standards and privatized to ensure they are properly renovated.

Activities of private hotels will be monitored and be given all the encouragement they need. In other words, a policy would be made on the hospitality industry to ensure visitors get proper services and security. If properly encouraged by government the industry will bring in the needed foreign money into the state as well as providing employment for our people.

A very critical aspect of the tourism industry that has not been explored is theatre and film, in spite of the historical position as one of the first locations and sceneries of film production in the country. A new concept called “PLATEAUWOOD” would be developed and as a first step, a committee comprising theatre artists and playwrights with heavy input from the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Jos, Plateau State University, Bokkos and the National film institute (NFI) will be set up. It will come up with policies that will initiate film plays along the level of Nollywood, Kennywood, African Magic, plays based on the tradition and custom of plateau ethnic groups. It will also feature Ibo, Hausa, and Yoruba plays. This industry will provide vast employment opportunities to our graduate artists and other youths with acting talents.

What roles do you have for elders and other stakeholders in the state if elected?

Elders and stakeholders council will be established at the state level. As governor, I do not know it all neither do I have a monopoly of wisdom. I will officially sit down with my elders three times a year to receive words of wisdom and advice and to receive fatherly criticism. They will be elders that will see me in the face and tell me things as they are, instead of flattering me.

38

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics

Gaya, Ganduje, Kawu and the battle for Kano Government House

Kwankwaso

A

head of the 2015 elections, there are lots of intrigues and permutations on the choice of successors to outgoing governors in the different states across the country. In Kano State where Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is on the verge of completing his tenure, the question on the lips of many indigenes of the Centre of Commerce is who will succeed him?

With barely three months to the governorship election and a number of candidates from the various political parties have indicated interest in the race. However, everyone knows that the success of a gubernatorial candidate will depend on a number of factors particularly the political party to which he belongs, personality, financial resources and his programmes.

Going by the trend of politics in Kano State, the All Progressive Congress (APC) which is currently in power has a great chance of capitalizing on the incumbency factor to get one of its own into the hot seat when Kwankwaso quits the stage on May 29, 2015.

The major contenders that have purchased the nomination forms and declared their intentions to occupy the coveted seat include a former governor of the state, and a serving Senator, Alhaji Kabiru Gaya; Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sumaila Kawu and a former military governor of Kaduna State, General Lawan Jafaru Isa ( rtd).

Senator Gaya, who had ruled the state briefly during the ill-fated Third Republic, has never hidden his ambition to govern the state again. In his declaration statement, Gaya said that he remained the most experienced and qualified among all those in the race. He has been working for Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition, participating in most of the campaign tours

Ganduje

Kawu

As the battle to succeed Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso rages on, ONWUKA NZESHI looks at the chances of the contenders, especially those of the Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduj, Senator Kabiru Gaya, and Hon. Sumaila Kawu of the House of Representatives across the country.

Kawu is popular and enjoys mass support at the grassroots in the state. He is seen as one of the aspirants that could go far if given the opportunity to fly the party’s flag. However, his opponents have always cited his alleged low educational background as a disadvantage. But even in the face of this challenge, Kawu has remained undaunted in his closeness to the people and loyalty to the party.

Interestingly, one man who as neither obtained the nomination form nor openly declared his intention to succeed Kwankwaso is seen across the state as real man to beat. He is Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the serving deputy governor and a close confidant of Kwankwaso. Ganduje is staying away from the race for now allegedly in deference to an instruction from Kwankwaso that no member of his cabinet should venture into the race except when he gives the green light.

No doubt, Kwankwaso must be interested in who succeeds him and the feeling around the Government House, Kano is that the successor must emerge not just from the All Progressives Congress but from the Kwankwasiyya, the red - capped disciples of the incumbent governor of the state.

Even within this inner circle of the political family, many political analysts believe

that the search for Kwankwaso’s successor would eventually be narrowed down to those very close to him. Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the incumbent deputy governor of state. Those close to Kwanwaso have categorically said that Ganduje might just be his choice, having worked closely with him and having demonstrated the willingness to continue with the policies and programmes of the current government.

Ganduje is believed to be highly experienced on governance and administration having worked at the Federal Capital Development Authority for many years and thereafter served as Commissioner for Works in Kano State during the military era. He was Kwankwaso’s deputy from 1999 to 2003 and when they lost the 2003 elections and Kwankwaso was made the Minister of Defence, Ganduje did not mind serving as a Special Adviser to his boss.

Since he has been around for a long while, Ganduje is popular especially among the political elite, religious leaders, women and youth across the state. As a deputy governor, Ganduje has been overseeing the affairs of the 44 local government councils of the state. He is said to be in control of a formidable political structure with a grassroots appeal and could pull enough crowds were he to embark of electioneering campaigns.

Political pundits say that all that he needs to succeed in the gubernatorial race is the the ticket of his party and the support of his boss. Already, key members of the Kwankwaso cabinet have openly declared support for him, but Kwankwaso who prefers to keep his cards close to his chest is yet to openly support him or any of the other aspirants.

Besides those that have declared their intentions, there are a number of other serving officials of the state government who are believed to be nursing the same ambition but have not indicated their interest to join the race. They are said to be working behind the scene and waiting in the wings.

There are indications that the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Rabiu Suleman Bichi; Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport, Alhaji Abba Kabiru Yusuf; Commissioner of Finance Alhaji Abdullahi Mamu Gaya; Commissioner of Water Resources. Yunusa Adamu Dangoni; Commissioner for States Affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam may also be warming up for the race.

Indeed the race to Government House in Kano is as dicey as it can be, but when the push gets to the shove and the real men throw their hats into the ring, the likes of Ganduje may eventually show their strength of character and political sagacity in the contest for the coveted crown.

Life

39

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014

A

Ahaoma Kanu

fter securing a sponsorship deal with three corporate organisations for his debut movie which had A-list actors and actresses in Nollywood, Jacob was ready to walk the red carpet to stardom as a movie producer in the highly rated Nigeria film industry.

Three days after the movie premier in Lagos, Nigeria’s entertainment capital, he got the shock of his life when a friend called from Port Harcourt to congratulate him on his movie. Wait a minute-how did this dude get a movie that had not been released into the market. Simple, he bought it from a vendor hawking films in traffic.

Around the world in the entertainment industry, piracy is like a cancer, it is a film producer’s worst nightmare, a musician’s nemesis and an industry’s headache. With weak copyright infringement laws and government’s lacklustre attitude to protecting the intellectual properties of artistes, many practitioners have had more than a fair share of the malaise.

While assessing the performance of Nollywood in 2013, popular film producer, Teco Benson, said the industry might soon become extinct, and be ruined by the activities of pirates if nothing is done on time to check it. ““Piracy is like a cancer that has really affected the industry, which can ruin it if nothing is done in time. These people seem to have a cartel that is above the law. They have about 10 films or more in a single CD at a cheaper rate. And people are really buying because of the economic situation in the country,” he said.

“Pirates make us record a huge loss.

Producers and all others involved in the distribution channel are affected because soon after production, you will see it in a CD alongside 10 others for just N150. It’s not fair,” says Nollywood’s award winning actress Joke Silva.

A veteran of over 30 years in the industry, one prayer she is hopes to get answers to is a solution to the hydra-headed evil empire pirates have has created in the country; an illegal enterprise that rakes in billions of Naira off the sweat of someone else’s hard work.

With a new distribution strategy being introduced by a Hollywood film distribution company, help may have arrived- but not yet.

According to Reuters, Hollywood comedy actor Adam Sandler, in September, signed a deal to star in and produce four films that will be shown exclusively on the videostreaming service, Netflix. The new deal will see the four new movies made and released to its online subscribers with no plans to show them widely in theatres.

The move, experts say, has the potential to disrupt the chain that has fed Hollywood for decades. Film releases in the Hollywood go through the process of being presented in theatres and then through a rigid schedule of staggered releases on DVD, cable television and then online services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

But unlike America where a single cinema company, Regal Cinemas, operates 7,341 screens in 573 theatres in the United States, there are few big screens theatres in Nigeria, creating doubts if the innovation can help in curbing piracy.

President of the Eko International Film Festival, Mr. Hope Opara, sees a ray of hope in the introduction of online streaming in film releases but is concerned that at the level in which big screen is in the country, the impact of the technology will be negligible.

“Nigeria film industry cannot never be

Silverbird Galleria, Lagos

Will new Hollywood deal curb Nollywood’s piracy?

compared with the kind of platforms in developed countries but in this scenario, if we start having online platforms, the film makers will benefit more because of the nature of our country, considering the plight of pirates who are on the watch for any movie released. And we have about 60 screens in a country of over 150 million that is pathetic,” he said.

He believes that what should concern filmmakers by the deal brokered by Netflix is not the online streaming but the fact that the video streaming, company has expanded its horizon by delving into film production.

Film streaming has been there for many years where platforms like Netflix had to wait for 18 months before they can have the right to screen on line. Now they have started producing their own films and some film producers want to be premiering online. But I believe that film makers in Nigeria will be praying for such platforms. I am aware that Obi Emeyelu premiered ‘Onye ozi ‘on line and it was a huge success and Iroko TV is doing great on their platform. I will advise that more of these platforms be established since our billionaires don’t want to invest in the film industry that gave US/ Canada over $10 Billion last year,” he said.

With the latest rebasing Nigeria economy revealing Nigeria’s economy rising from its original figure of N42.4 trillion, or $269.5 billion to N80.2 trillion, or $509.9 billion, making it the 26th largest economy in the world and largest in Africa, edging out South Africa. Entertainment contributed 1.2 per cent to the new economy, a development that has now made the government to start taking the industry a little bit serious.

Veteran journalist and member of the

Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee, Mr. Shuaibu Husseini, worries online streaming of Nigeria films should be guided by contractual agreements which both parties should honour.

“Well the streaming of movies on line is not new at all. It is a well-established income generating stream for rights owners.

Streaming rights can be given before or after DVD release, depending on the commercial success of the movie especially theatrical success. So it is on even though it came with new media technology. So it’s an established channel of getting movies to the right prospects, ” he told Sunday New Telegraph in an interview.

But Olutumi Samuelson of the Silverbird Film Distribution, ranked among the lead ing proprietors of big screen in the country is of the opinion that film streaming will open a new vista in piracy.

“I don’t think this will curb piracy. We have smart television which are internet enabled which you can connect and watch a movie. You also have another device that can record as the film progresses. So if I download and store in a memory card, is this solving piracy or aiding it big time?

With this method, piracy is easier, even with a smart phone; you can download a movie and then burn it into a DVD. My brother, piracy is not a Nigerian thing, but a worldwide thing,” he said.

Unlike Netflix, which with 50 million subscribers ,has registered so many changes in the entertainment scene in United States, Nigeria movie streaming companies, like Iroko TV are yet to be appreciated in the country; their facebook page has 312,002 likes and their operates from London and New York respectively indicative of major-

ity of their service being offered to Nigerians in Diaspora. “What you have around are sites that stream Nollywood films and some films illegally-without the consent of the right owners and when this happens, nothing comes back in terms of revenue to the filmmaker. So the benefit of streaming in the distribution value chain cannot be quantified but it has to be done rights, with the consent of the right owner. Suffice to add that some right owners may choose to assign rights to streamers for a particular period of time in which case the filmmaker is paid once and for all for that period or he assigns the rights and returns are made as per rate of viewing,” Husseni said.

Another challenge film streaming faces in Nigeria is the inadequate internet bandwidth to progress uninterrupted streaming of movies to consumers.

“To me I don’t think it is not going to have any serious effect on the big screen.

If you try to watch a Nigerian movie online, you will be mindful of the megabits you are going to consume. It is almost at par with what you spend in the cinema.

Apart from that, we don’t have the super internet connection like is obtainable abroad. Also, if you stream a movie online, so many people will not have time to watch a movie online at home. I don’t think it can be possible here,” Samuelson said.

As Nollywood monitors the development in Hollywood, movie producers still have to contend with their falling revenues and the menace they face from piracy. Teco Benson caps it by revealing that the industry does not have any plan to curb the piracy issue but believes the industry have to come together and speak with one voice.

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Abuja Beats SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Two policemen arraigned for stealing colleague’s car

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Caleb Onwe or allegedly stealing a car belonging to one of their colleagues, two policemen have been arraigned at the Senior Magistrates’ Court, Karu Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The two policemen, Sunday Ibrahim and Zakari Abdulahi, were arraigned alongside the prime suspect Saidu Abdul for criminal conspiracy and car theft contrary to sections 93(2) and 287 of the Penal Code.

The car, a Honda Academy, with registration number BG 502 GWA belongs to a police officer, John Yiltie, of the City Gate Police Barracks, Abuja.

Yiltie told the court that he parked the car at the African Church premises in Durumi, Abuja on June 8, 2013, only to discover that it had been stolen when he returned to pick it.

He said he promptly reported the matter to Garki Police Station from where the matter was later transferred to the State Criminal

Investigation Department, FCT Command for further action.

The police officer told the court that bubble, however, bust on the suspects when the police commenced investigation into the matter.

The first set of suspects who were arrested include Luke Musa, Niyi Adedeji and Peter Aku. They were traced through a BlackBerry chat and other phone conversations.

In course of the investigation, Sunday Ibrahim, a police officer who was recently transferred from Kaduna Command to FCT Command, was named as an accomplice.

While being interrogated by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja, the policeman allegedly confessed that he did not steal the car but merely escorted the prime suspect, Saidu Ibrahim, with the car to Kaduna. At Kaduna, he continued, the N1.3 million car was sold to Abdulahi for N250,000.

When John Yiltie gave witness in court, the prime sus-

pect changed his initial plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty to the charge.

He pleaded for mercy and forgiveness.

The Magistrate, Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, in the light of the prime suspect’s plea, summarily tried and convicted him of the offence.

She sentenced him to one month imprisonment or a fine of N3,000.

The convict was lucky to have sympathetic people in the court that contributed and paid the fine for him to regain his freedom.

Meanwhile, the stolen car has been recovered and returned to the owner on bond while the two police officers were remanded in prison custody till the next adjourned date.

Suleiman-Abba

Group stages concert for insurgency victims Amadi Nnamdi

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s part of efforts geared towards alleviating the plight of victims of insurgency in the country, a group, Songs of Nigeria Festival, recently staged a charity concert in Abuja to raise funds for those affected by the activities of Boko Haram sect.

The Abuja International Conference Centre was lit up with music and smiles of different people who gathered at the venue in solidarity with the victims of insurgency.

The Heal the Nation Charity Concert had ‘Feeding Victims of Insurgency with Milk of Human Kindness’ as its theme.

According to the organisers, the concert was conceived out of the desire to complement efforts of the federal government and its agencies in alleviating the plight of the internally displaced persons as a result of the insurgency in NorthEast Nigeria.

It was indeed a memorable day of charity as participants including the organisers of the concert voluntarily doled out money and other items in charity to the needy.

While speaking on the concert, SONIFES National Coordinator, Chuks Akamadu, the event was put together to create a platform where Nigerians can be sensitized on government’s efforts at ending insurgency in the country and its attendant effects.

“We strongly believe that for us to really combat insurgency in this part of the world, there must be that people buy in. That is part of what we set out to achieve today and from the responses of various segments of the society here today it shows that they really gave their consent to this whole idea,” he said.

Akamadu added that Nigerians are now united against terror not because they think Boko Haram is against the government of

Nigeria, but because they think it is in the collective interest of the people of Nigeria for insurgency to become a thing of the past.

“Insurgency does not pay; it doesn’t pay the government or its people. It also does not pay Boko Haram. It takes our united effort to bring insurgency to a final end.

“From here we are taking this same message to the other geopolitical zones of Nigeria. We will not stop in getting the people’s buy-in to this whole process, because the government cannot fight insurgency and its attendant effect alone,” he added.

While speaking at the event, a former Executive Director of NTA, Mallam Yakubu Mohammed, chronicled the various crises that have bedeviled Nigeria and the healing policies of various administrations in the country.

He attributed the relative peace in the Niger Delta region to the implementation of the Amnesty programme initiated by late President

Umar Musa Yar’Adua.

On Boko Haram, Mohammed said, “The group has maintained a steady rate of attacks since 2011. To date, the Boko Haram scourge has remained protracted, debilitating and seemingly impervious to any form of healing or resolution.”

To reverse the trend and achieve healing and social equilibrium, Mohammed advised that “we must establish a proper value-system in our society- a value system that guarantees tolerance, dialogue, regard for others and refinement.”

The event featured musical performances and Poetic renditions as well as Comedy from Abuja-based artistes.

The high point of the event was the fund raising segment of the programme and the presentation of the relief materials to NEMA. NEMA also received an award from SONIFES for living up to expectation in the discharge of their functions.

Accountant in court over theft of employer’s car Caleb Onwe

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n Abuja Magistrates’ Court sitting at Karu has arraigned a 41-yearold accountant, Mrs. Sosanya Mary Adedimpe, for allegedly refusing to surrender her official car after resigning.

According to the prosecutor, Inspector Okara Albert, her action was a criminal breach of trust and cheating, contrary to sections 312 and 323 of the Penal Code Laws of Nigeria.

Albert informed the court that one Architect Melaye Moses who was the employer of Adebimpe brought a petition to the FCT Commissioner of Police, alleging that the accused disappeared with the official car attached to her as the accountant of his company.

He alleged that the accused resigned her appointment on September 8, 2014 and refused to hand over the official car to the appropriate authority, but rather disappeared with it to an unknown destination.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant’s petition moved the police to commence an immediate investigation which led to the arrest of the accused and subsequent recovery of the car, a black colour Toyota Corolla with registration number: RSH

817 AP. The accused, however, denied all the allegations against her and pleaded not guilty after her offences were read out to her.

She was granted bail in sum of N500,000 and two sureties of which one must be a civil servant living within the jurisdiction of the court.

The matter was adjourned till December 11,2014 for further hearing.

The matter was brought before Magistrate Sharon in first information Report with reference number CR/97/2014; and accordingly endorsed by the Investigating Police Officer Inspector Abba Alfred.

A mild drama however ensued immediately the accused stepped out of the court room and the court staff attempted to keep her in solitary confinement where accused persons who could not perfect their bail conditions are kept waiting for prison officials to take them to custody. Her defence counsel surprisingly behaved like a stranger to the age-long tradition of the court by challenging the authority of the court staff to confine the accused.

The defence counsel who was enraged, and did not want to speak to the press, created a scene in the court premises when he started shouting at the court staff.

Robbers cart away 290 cows in Gwagwalada Yekeen Nurudeen

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o fewer than 290 cows were reportedly carted away by some unknown gunmen last week in Kutunku community, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

Abuja Beats gathered that the incident occurred around 2am on Wednesday, when the robbers shot sporadically into the air, a development that scared residents of the community.

A source in the area stated that the bandits had been strategising on how to steal the cows before they finally succeeded.

It was also gathered that about 180 cows belonging to Justice Mwada Balami; and 80 cows belonging to the Secretary of Kuje Area Council (name not given) were carted away by the bandits during the operation.

It was learnt that about 30 cows belonging to Mr. Haruna Dan-Maraye Zaki, a butcher in Gwagwalada, were also among cows stolen by the gunmen.

When contacted, a source at the Gwagwalada police unit confirmed that one person was arrested and detained as a principal suspect regarding the stealing of Balami’s cows.

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Education on Sunday SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014

I hate reading in libraries

– Bowen varsity’s best graduating student

R-L: Eloke and his brother, Amaka

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Erekosima Lucy eniuses are born but not made.

They do not read excessively and have doses of eccentricity in their characters; because they are found where they are least expected and do what others may never attempt to do.

This aptly describes Olise Eloke, the best graduating student of Bowen University, who was the cynosure of all eyes at the ninth convocation ceremony of the private university, owned by the Baptist Church, and which is located in Iwo, Osun State.

The graduate of Department of Economics led the pack with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93 points out of the possible five.

Eloke, the last born of a family of five from Oliogo in Delta State, whose parents are medical doctors, is fondly called by her friends, as ‘Epitome of Brilliance,’ but one that could be mistaken for an unserious student.

Apart from the fact that she dislikes visiting or going to libraries to read, Eloke also engages in almost all student activities on the campus, either social or academics.

“My social life is cool as I watch movies often, read novels and I was a member of the electoral committee of my departmental students’ association both in my 300 and 400 Levels. But, I do not allow all those

things to distract me from my primary aim for coming to the university,” she said.

Eloke, who attended Aladumo High School, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, for her secondary school education, according to her parents, has been showing her academic brilliance since her early school days as she was always competing with her elder brothers in academics.

It was a double joy for the Olise family at the convocation ceremony when Eloke’s elder brother, Olise Amaka bagged First Class in Computer Information Technology (CIT), confirming the academic prowess of the family.

While expressing joy over her success and outstanding academic performance, Eloke said: “I was really not surprised because I saw it coming. I actually secured five points in my First Year results to prepare the ground for my academic stardom. I was convinced that I was going to finish with a First Class because I was determined to make my parents proud.”

On her pattern of reading, Eloke said: “I had no specific time for studying or reading. And neither do I have a specific reading habit. I did not like going to the library, but I always made sure I read whatever lecturers taught for the day. I also read before the next class and I totally avoided the habit of piling up notes.”

“There is nothing unusual about me. I

sleep at the normal time one should sleep and I was not the type of student that believes in reading excessively during examinations and at nights because I read ahead of examinations. Indeed, examination periods to me, were like revision time for me.

I loved reading during the day, especially in the morning and then my evenings were mainly for relaxation.

“Fortunately, I liked reading in my room because it was usually very quiet and interesting in the morning and many people would have gone for lectures.”

On the challenges she faced as a student, Eloke said her only moment of regret was the time when a lecturer asked her to kneel down in front of the lecture hall just for challenging the lecturer that his answer to a question was not correct.

“I was in 200-Level then, but today I am happy that God has rewarded my hard work and diligence. I was not trying to show off, but to point the attention of the lecturer to the answer, which was different from the one he gave us.”

With her background in Sciences, Eloke said it was not difficult to find herself in Social Sciences, rather it was not only quite interesting, but it also brought about new challenges.

“It offered me a platform and unique opportunity to explore other courses such as Accounting and Statistics, and which

I found very interesting,” Eloke stressed.

Speaking on her future plans, she said after the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, she would pursue her higher degrees, and might likely settle for a lecturing job in the university.

“I have always dreamt and love it whenever I find myself in front of students in a classroom teaching,” she added.

Her parents, who expressed happiness over the success and academic brilliance of their children, however described such “feats as very rare to come by,” even as they lauded the university management for the high tone of discipline instilled in the students.

I had no specific time for studying or reading.

And neither do I have a specific reading habit. I did not like going to the library, but I always made sure I read whatever lecturers taught for the day

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Diamond Bank makes case for business education

Group gives free internet access to 25 schools

Education

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Kayode Olanrewaju o stem the rising tide of unemployment confronting the country, Diamond Bank has prescribed enhanced business education as a major recipe for fighting the scourge of unemployment.

According to the bank, such education would go a long way to boost the vocational and entrepreneurial skills in the country.

It declared this at the just concluded Employee Volunteering Programme (EVP), which was organised by the bank as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, aimed at building capacity for young and upcoming entrepreneurs and stimulating young adult

development, held at the Millennium School, Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos.

The Bank’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ayona Trimnell, pointed out that one of the surest ways to escape the pains of unemployment is for Nigerian youths to be fortified with the necessary business education that will enable his or her vocational skills find gainful expression in the economic production.

He said: “The youth population of Nigeria is over 60 per cent of the entire population, if this active population is empowered with business education and vocational skills, the economy will grow exponentially. There are many countries thriving on vocational skills and we should embrace

business education as a way to fine-tune the finished products from our vocational schools.”

Re-echoing Trimnell’s position, the Head of Human Capital Management, Chidinma Lawanson, noted that since only a small fraction of the population secures white collar jobs, there is need for the youths to be more creative and adventurous.

She charged the youths to be joy creators by creating employment for themselves and others by growing their skills into conglomerates, rather than being job seekers.

According to her, “many companies started by offering skill-based services gained from vocational education, which eventually grew to be-

come big and major employers of labour. Skilled people are pivotal to the growth of any economy; and therefore the people with such competencies should confidently put their skills to productive use to generate income for themselves and others.”

The Employee Volunteering Programme is an annual volunteer programme through which Diamond Bank staff provide financial literacy and entrepreneurial training to students of various skills acquisition centres in Lagos State.

The programme, which is in its second year, will see officials of the bank visiting four vocational training centres located in Ojodu, Ibeju Lekki, Egbeda and Oshodi areas of Lagos.

Juliana Francis

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mile Communications Nigeria Limited; a broadband internet service provider, has put smiles on the faces thousands of pupils in 25 secondary schools in Oyo State by providing them free internet access.

The computer and Internet facilities were commissioned by the communication outfit at Wesley College of Science, Ibadan, the state capital.

Lauding the communication outfit for the gesture, the state’s Education Commissioner, Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu, said the gesture was aimed at making the pupils computer compliant and literate.

According to him, the organisation has taken the lead in assisting students in the state to have access to vast knowledge through the internet technology.

He stressed that through such assistance, the state’s e-learning initiative which is being fine-tuned, would be fast-tracked towards making education easy and better.

Olaniyonu added that the provision of free Superfast Internet access together with router and monthly renewable data bundle 20GB to secondary schools within Ibadan metropolis would go a long way to improve and enrich lives using the power of technology.

UNIJOS inducts 307 science lab technologists Buhari Bello, UNIJOS

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Registrar of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Dr. Femi Kayode (2nd from left), during the award of PhD by the University of Ibadan (UI) during the convocation ceremony of the university. With him are Dr. Ben Emunemu -Associate Prof., Dept. of Educational Management, UI (left); Dr. F.S. Akinwumi, HOD Educational Management, UI, and Dr. T.M. Adewale, a lecturer at the Tai Solarin College Of Education, Omu-Ijebu.

ICT failure mars FUTO admission exercise

•Students threaten court action over plans to revoke admissions Steve Uzoechi, OWERRI

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his is not a good time for the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and some candidates seeking admission into the institution, following the confusion trailing the ongoing admission exercise in the institution.

The university authority has raised questions of credibility over conflicting results published on the FUTO website and printed by candidates.

Following the development, over 120 candidates that sat for the FUTO post-UTME screening exercise for 2014/2015 academic session, are at the verge of losing their admissions for reasons they insist border solely on the ‘inefficiency of

the university’s admission process.’

Some of the candidates who wrote the FUTO post-UTME told New Telegraph that they received SMS messages from the university congratulating and notifying them of the their results and as directed, they went ahead to print their results from the university website.

According to the candidates, the university authorities also forwarded their results to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), upon which JAMB issued them with admission letters.

On confirmation of their results, the university, the candidates alleged directed them to pay their acceptance fee of N40,000 each.

“It was after payment of the

acceptance fee that the university invited us for screening, at the end of which they told us that we have double results and as such our admissions have been cancelled,” they argued.

However, the University Admission Officer, Prof. Israel Ndukwe alleged that prior to the assumption of office of the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Cyril Asiabaka, admission racketeering had been a major problem in FUTO and for the ongoing admission exercise, candidates were notified from the beginning that at any point they are discovered to have double results, they would be deemed to have cheated.

He said: “This year, we decided to upload every result including that of candidates that got zero mark, unclassi-

fied results and even double results so they all get to know why they failed at any point they were screened out. They may have printed out their results from our website but you must know that the said test was written by about 12,299 candidates and if we screen them one after the other, we cannot conclude admissions in one year. So, what we do is isolate those that are deemed to have passed and screened them. If at any point, your result becomes doubtful, you lose the admission.”

Ndukwe did not rule out complicity of some staff in the process but said he handed the entire results and compact disc containing the results, so he could effectively check such excesses and that it was exactly what he was doing.

o fewer than 307 graduates of Science Laboratory Technology of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State have taken an oath of allegiance of the Nigerian Institutes of Scientist.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), Dr. Ighodalo Fororunso Ijagbone, who performed the oath taken ceremony on the fresh graduates, challenged them on professionalism.

He tasked the Federal Government on the needs to upgrade some of the dilapidated laboratory facilities especially in government-owned establishments and institutions.

Ijagbone, however, noted that the university has made its landmark contributions towards the development of science and technology in the country, particularly in the area of production of science laboratory technology.

VC UNIJOS Professor Hayward Mafuayi

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SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Regal Oxford shoes Vanessa Okwara

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guy’s shoe actually speaks. They say a lot about a man and his sense of style. A quality, polished pair of shoe is a good indication that he takes pride in his appearance.

One of the few dress shoes a man can wear to look effortlessly pulled together is a pair of Oxford shoes.

Oxford shoe, often referred to as the most elegant type of men’s shoe, is as versatile as it is timeless. Whether you’re suiting up for work or simply hanging out in

jeans and a sweater during the weekend, this shoe style will instantly upgrade any look.

An Oxford shoe is characterised by shoelace eyelet tabs that are attached under the vamp, a feature termed ‘closed lacing’ and sometimes perforations on the sides. They belong to the group of dress shoes called brogues as this style originated from Scotland.

Originally, Oxfords were plain, formal shoes, made of leather. They are considered to be a formal shoes. However, this does not hold true anymore as they come in

different shades, variations and more casual leathers.

Based on function and the dictates of fashion, Oxfords are now made from a variety of materials, including calf leather, patent leather, suede, and canvas. They are normally black or brown, and may be plain or patterned. There are so many styling options such as the cap toe, round toe, wholecut, and saddle or wingtip Oxfords. Whatever aesthetic the occasion calls for, from casual to formal, there is a pair of Oxfords that fits the bill.

Oxfords can be worn all-

year round and are an absolute staple in any decent footwear collection.

They can also be worn when you want to add a dash of sophistication to your casual dress options like chinos and a blazer.

So whatever style, colour and size of Oxford shoe you are looking for, chances are pretty good you’ll be able to find the right Oxford and get a regal look fit for a king!

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

“

Rejection wears clean undergarments sometimes

Oh Lord why me? Why did Akin treat me like this? After everything we have been to each other, I cannot believe he will break my heart and leave me for another woman,” Jennifer cried on the phone as she narrates her story.

According to her, she and Akin have been lovers for years. They grew up in the same neighborhood in a Lagos suburb. They met when they were attending the same JAMB classes and became childhood sweethearts. When they passed their JAMB and successfully enrolled into the university, they continued to keep in touch. She went to UNIILORIN while Akin attended the University of Abuja.

They loved each other so much and she kept rejecting the advances of many men who came for her hand in marriage because of the promises Akin made to her.

After they finished their NYSC, Akin got a job with an International NGO in Abuja while she stayed back in Lagos in search a job.

While waiting to receive good news from one of the job interviews she attended, she decided to pay Akin a surprise visit. When she called him to come and pick her up at the bus station when she arrived in Abuja, he berated her for not giving him enough notice about her visit which was so unlike him.

Throughout the weekend, Akin was restless and constantly on the phone with someone. When she asked who it

CONNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com was, he answered vaguely that it was someone from the office. When he went to the bathroom to take a shower, she quickly rushed to his phone to check who he was always talking with. She was surprised to discover that the phone was locked. When did Akin start locking his phone when she was around? What was he trying to hide from her, she wondered?

When it was time for her to go back to Lagos, Akin quietly sat her down and dropped the bombshell her instincts had been reeling in her subconscious all through the weekend.

“Jenny, there’s no other way I can break this news to you that will ease the pain; but it’s better you hear it from me than from another source. I met someone else here in Abuja and fell in love with her. I’m already making plans for the engagement. I wanted to come to Lagos to tell you but since you are already here, I can’t keep hiding it from you. We have known each other for a long time now and I hate hurting you, but it is over between us. I’m very

sorry’’ he said.

Jennifer was devastated! She cried and begged, but Akin was very firm in his decision to reject her and the love they shared. He took her to the bus station and she cried buckets of tears all the way back to Lagos. Jenny couldn’t imagine a life without Akin. How’s she going to handle this rejection from the love of her life?

Rejection indeed is a difficult pill to swallow. It’s even worse when it is coming from someone you consider very important in your life. The feeling could be equated to that of someone slicing a sharp knife through your heart.

Rejection tops the list of the greatest fears in life. It often triggers a dangerous dose of self-doubt and sometimes suicidal tendencies in some people.

Love rejected is the worst feeling ever.

It is the most difficult emotions to bear, especially when you’ve been in that relationship for a long time.

It’s alright; go ahead and sob your heart out. Tears can serve as healing therapy for matters of the heart. In-

stead of bottling all that emotions on the inside, let the tears flow to help you empty all that pain and frustration clogging your heart. These feelings are natural and not something you should be ashamed of. Rejection becomes a big issue when you go into denial and self pity based on another person’s rejection of your love.

But do you know that no matter how dirty rejection may look like, it can also come with clean undergarments? Yes, it really looks filthy right now, what this person has done to you; but bear in mind that behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. The clean garment underneath rejection signifies that the best is still in store for you.

Rejection does not mean you are less than worthy. It simply means that he/ she is not the right person for you. The journey to finding the RIGHT partner is fraught with rejections. In order to meet the right person, expect a myriad of NOs along the way.

The best way to deal with rejection is to look at the brighter side of it. You have just been granted an opportunity to seek someone else who will love you for real and be there for you no matter the waves that blow along the way.

So quit the pity party! Stop feeling sorry for yourself, raise your glasses and congratulate yourself for receiving another opportunity to choose the perfect person that will fit into your world.

Send your views to the email above!

Social media, leaked photos and the rise of celebrity culture

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o, Desire Luzinda has gone into hiding to escape being prosecuted under Uganda’s draconian laws that practically forbids any mention of nudity outside the bedroom. Yes, I know, you are asking who that is? Well, she is a Ugandan singer who had nude photographs leaked online by her Nigerian boyfriend as ‘revenge porn’ for some relationship/business -deal-goneawry saga.

Suddenly, this backstreet singer from Uganda is now all over the Internet that I cannot escape her and her photographs. She is trending everywhere on social media and getting interviews on BBC and other international news media as part of a campaign to clamp down on jealous boyfriends using the Internet as a way of getting back their pound of flesh from the ‘celebrity’ girlfriends.

All of these do not bother me. Seriously, and at the risk of drawing the ire of feminists from around the world, I am not bothered about someone who poses in questionable manner for photographs and then complains later about it being leaked. I will get to that shortly. What I am addressing, in fact, the only reason I have put aside more important matters (including grading my student’s essay) to talk about this is the fact that it has now become a Uganda vs Nigeria matter on social media. Suddenly, everyone has something negative to say about Nigerians and how they just take over every community they settle in.

The anti-Nigeria campaign is now so strong that I find some of the comments not only laughable, but also ridiculously bereft of any sort of intellect.

After playing big brother to Africa, sacrificing our soldiers in the war fields

of Liberia, South Africa and Congo, giving out our oil money to other less priviledged ‘African brothers’ in the name of solidarity, Nigeria is now getting negative vibes from the same African brothers; strange indeed.

What is also strange is that Franklin Ebiokeme, the Nigerian boyfriend who leaked the pictures, is in possession of a Ugandan passport, which makes him a Ugandan, not Nigerian. I have addressed the identity question in the past and until we all get past attaching good to a particular tribe or nationality, and talk about the issues surrounding what an individual has done, then progress will remain a foreign word in the African context. Where is African unity in all of these higi haga (copyright Patrick Obahiagbon)? Are we saying Ugandans don’t do any sort of evil? What of the

photos of the Hollywood celebrities and musicians leaked recently; was that also done by a Nigerian? Just when will we start addressing issues instead of individuals? A popular saying in Yoruba land states “what is bad is bad irrespective of who is doing it.” That is the case.

Whatever Mr. Ebikeme has done, if it is done with ulterior motives, is bad. No two ways about it.

However, it is that motive that I question. Are we sure we have not all been taken in by some big charade to make an unknown and struggling artiste an overnight celebrity? Apparently, Desire Luzinda is laughing in the photographs and happy to be photographed, so what changed? She even acknowledged the photos were hers (not that she could deny) but states she will not talk about it so as not to give credence to whoever

Seriously, and at the risk of drawing the ire of feminists from around the world, I am not bothered about someone who poses in questionable manner for photographs and then complains later about it being leaked

was circulating it, which means it is all about her. If you doubt my logic, then ponder this; how did Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson and Tulisa Constostavlos (of N-Dubz fame) come into the so called celebrity limelight? It is by releasing sex tapes and then coming out to disclaim it as being leaked by the jealous ex boyfriend. Today, Kim Kardashian is worth millions for doing nothing, Paris Hilton is just a air head seeking attention everywhere, same goes for Pamela Anderson and Tulisa, well she released a single soon after called ‘Young’ and the lyrics include a line stating she was just ‘being young and stupid.’ Needless to say, the single made it to number 1 on the charts in the UK. My point is, why make private moments public or preserved for public memory? Why, for instance, did Desire Luzinda not ask to photograph Franklin in return and now they can both release nude photos? Maybe, that is what all ladies should do, if a boyfriend ask for a nude picture, make sure you also have one of him on your phone.

Franklin has also said it was all a business deal and Luzinda, part of the business. The loan they obtained from the bank, which was the catalyst of the whole saga, has been paid off and Desire Luzinda is a known name, not just in Africa, but across the pond. My best guess is, she gets an endorsement for some silly product, or some feminist group picks her up as an ambassador for victims of revenge porn or she release an album detailing her ordeal in the hands of a jealous lover. In all, she smiles to the bank. To me, it is all simulacra.

46

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Ateke Tom, Patience Jonathan in cold war

A

ll eyes have been on Rivers State for over one year. This is as a result of the political differences which have pitched Governor Rotimi Amaechi, against President Goodluck Jonathan.

The crisis got so fierce that the former defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. Another interesting aspect of the matter had to do with the clashes between the governor and the former Commissioner of Police in the state, Joseph Mbu, and those between the governor and his former Chief of Staff, Nyesom Wike. The former CoS recently resigned from the Federal Executive Council to run for governor in his state. Wike’s ambition has split a former militant leader, Ateke Tom, and the wife of President Goodluck, Dame Patience. According to reliable sources, Ateke and Dame, who hail from the same Okrika community, are on parallel lines on who gets the PDP’s governorship ticket.

WhilePatience Jonathan is backing

Erelu Dosumu regains her groove

W

hite apparel-loving Lagos chief, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, is one woman who has been able to make herself a factor on the social scene. This might not be unconnected with her status and position in the society which makes everyone request her presence at their social gatherings. By honouring people, Erelu became a regular face at events.

By virtue of her signature all-white apparel, she’s sure easily noticed at events while her absence is conspicuously noticed too.

This explains why it was quick to be noticed when she withdrew from social engagements sometime ago. For several months, Erelu Dosumu was missing from the social radar. Different reasons were adduced for her action but they are unconfirmed tales. While some said she kept off the social scene because of age, others said her financial power had reduced. However, the gracefully aging ex-wife of money bag, Dehinde Fernandez, may have got her groove back as she’s been noticed in a few social gatherings in recent times, thereby putting paid to the tales trailing her.

Fashola makes case for Hamzat part from the presidency, which is the most cov-

A

eted seat, another elective post that is coming with so much intrigues and attracting attention is the governorship of Lagos State and primarily, who bears the flag of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.

Wike, those who are conversant with events in the state say that Ateke is against the former junior minister’s ambition because he hails from Ikwere, the same area as Amaechi. His reason is that an Ikwere man can’t lead the state after Amaechi had ruled for eight years. Ateke, it was learnt, was rooting for a former Minister of Transport, Abiye Sekibo until events took another turn.

Furthermore, Ateke, sources revealed, might signify interest to run for the governorship of the state if the President’s wife doesn’t soft-pedal on her support for Wike. Sources revealed that Ateke is poised to take on the first lady because he’s alleged to have once gone against his own wish and that of the leaders of Okrika community to pander to her wishes. Celeb Lounge was informed that Ateke visited the seat of power, Aso Rock, to see the President some days ago.

Though the subject of discussion was not made public, sources said it could not be far from the controversy.

Currently, a number of aspirants are jostling for the ticket. Among those regarded as real contenders is the Commissioner for Works, Dr. Femi Kadiri Hamzat. He, like a few other aspirants, has got brilliance, eloquence, and carriage but what stands as his edge is the interest of the outgoing governor in his candidature. As the governor who doubles as a leader of the party, it’s only natural that Fashola will have a say in who succeeds him. The gist is that he’s rooting for Hamzat.

Information from a reliable source has it that Hamzat is not favoured by the decision of the powers that be because of his loyalty which is believed to tilt more towards the governor. Though it is not confirmed, information reaching us is that negotiations are on to appoint Hamzat as the Secretary to the State Government. Hamzat, it was learnt, secured the trust and patronage of Fashola in 2011, when he was being prepared to take over from Fashola by some political leaders in the state.

Hamzat was said to have informed his boss of the development and that information paved way for the Fashola’s second term.

Zina Anumudu catches theside bug being known to be a supporting hand to

A

her husband as a director in their auto firm, Globe Motors Limited, Nkiru Anumudu is also known to be a leading fashion buff. Her flair for social life made her a registered face on the social scene. As if it runs in the family, Nkiru’s younger sister, Nona Adimora, is not only sociable, but influential in her own right in high society.

Daughter of Nkiru, Zina, may have also caught the bug of a socialite and a society face.

Zina started having a taste of the social world when she was accompanying her mother to events. But the beautiful girl who has come of age is now independent of her mother and as such, shows up at events on her own these days. This lady, who studied in the United States, is fast registering her presence on the social radar. Her beauty and background count for her as she’s become the toast of many.

Family deliberates on Lawal’s estate x-governor of Kwara State, late Mohammed La-

E

wal, will not be forgotten in the political history of the state for a very long time. Not because he did exceptionally well, but because of the battle he fought against the late political godfather of the state, Chief Olusola Saraki. The battle bordered on independence from the political grip of Saraki.

It’s been eight years since the naval officer turnedpolitician died, but what those who should know hinted us is that his numerous houses have suffered so much neglect.

However, as the eighth year remembrance was recently held, an insider in the family informed Celeb Lounge that how to take care of late Lawal’s estate was also a subject of discussion.

47

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Body&Soul

Thinking

Aloud

) 0807 270 9777

paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com

with Helen Paul

Keep on keeping on A

Paul and Peter in low celebration

T

he duo that makes up the popular musical group, P’Squre, Paul and Peter Okoye, are known to be rolling out drums when it’s time for celebration.

But in an unusual manner, the award-winning singers, days ago, celebrated their birthday in

a low key manner.

The duo, on their 34th birthday, it was learnt, did not invite anyone but decided to make it a family affair. Coincidentally, Peter and Lola’s wedding clocked one year a day to their birthday and the celebration was dedicated to them. Paul

and Peter had moved from their Omole home, Square Ville, to Lekki where their wives reside to enjoy the day. Peter’s wife, Lola, we were told, presented a special cake to her husband. The cake had an inscription, Kaka, which is what their son calls the father.

Tinubu, Muiz Banire meet again I t may not have been pronounced that National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and a former commissioner in Lagos State, Dr. Muiz Banire, have been on different pages due to some differences. The two parties have been matured and cautious in the way they handled their differences.

Banire, in recent times, has been the arrowhead of opposition to the handpicking of candidates by the leadership of APC. He’s been so vocal about it that it’s sending some signals to the public about his soured relationship with leaders of the party, particularly in Lagos State. Sources said Banire became rebellious to Tinubu because his alleged governorship hope was dashed. Banire, upon taking over the leadership of Lagos State grass roots politics from Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, through a popular and powerful bloc in the state, Mandate Group, was said to have been positioned to take over from Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola. He started work in earnest until things changed. Asiwaju, it was learnt, dashed his hope when he tabled reasons why his candidacy would no longer fly. Being a non-Christian is said to be one of the reasons that disqualified him and Akinwunmi Ambode came into the picture.

With his campaign against anointed candidates which is

indirectly targeted at the man at the helm of affairs fast gaining prominence, the leadership of APC recently held a meeting with governorship aspirants. At the meeting, Asiwaju was reported to have denied anointing any candidate. The latest information, according to inside sources, is that Tinubu and Banire may be gradually inching towards a compromise after the intervention of party elders and the laying down of cards on the table. The situation, we learnt, is now different and calm as they look like they are ready to allow peace to reign. Meanwhile, Asiwaju is believed to be treading cautiously with his estranged godson because of the bond they share and the fact that he’s privy to the sensitive workings of the party. On the other hand, Ambode, upon realising the potential damage that Banire’s moves could do to his aspiration and alleged endorsement, has been making efforts to reach out to the former commissioner. We were reliably informed that Ambode has been pleading with Banire as well as sending emissaries to him so he could support his candidature. Banire, it was learnt, is against the candidature of Ambode, even if they will settle for a Christian, because he believes the former accountant-general of Lagos State has got to the pinnacle of his career and there are lots of Christians in the system who have been loyal to the party.

s a little child, I usually heard people say that quitters don’t win, but I never knew or understood the true meaning of that parlance. The more I grew, not just in age, but with the numerous experiences life has taught me, I needed no soothsayer to tell me that it is only when you don’t give up that your lofty dreams can be achieved.

There are certain people who knew my very humble background. They knew the numerous challenges I faced.

It wasn’t really easy then because I was deserted, to the extent that I thought God Himself did not like me. At times, I wondered why God created me the way I was, not aware that He was preparing me for great success ahead. I had a terrible set of brownish teeth, and that made me feel inferior to my peers. I laughed with care so that my teeth wouldn’t be exposed. This is just a tip of the iceberg of the challenges I faced as a little girl. But within me, something kept telling me that all would be well.

Recently, Mr. Femi Adepoju, one of the very few persons who stood by me during those stormy periods, said, “Helen, do you know that whenever I see you on TV now, I don’t want to watch you because it forces tears out of my eyes when I remember what you went through.” Yes, he is right, and he is not the first person to tell me this.

The point I’m trying to make here is that no matter the situation you are in today or what people say about you, where you are going and the plan God has for you are the most important. No matter the situation, giving up should be the last thing you should consider.

The problem with most people who fail is that they give up easily when they are confronted with temporary defeat.

Before a baby begins to walk, he or she tries several times to stand up, but falls back to the ground. At times, even when the baby has managed to stand up, he or she would still fall to the ground after taking one or two steps.

But with resilience and a never-giveup spirit, the baby will not just walk, but gradually learn how to take faster steps. It is just a matter of time. That is why I always say that no condition is permanent.

Every successful person you see today has a story to tell. They have at one point or the other in their lives gone through ‘hell’ and turbulent periods that you won’t even pray for. That is why I pity people who pray that God should make them rich like this person or that person. The question is; can you withstand the problems such people had endured in the past? I’m sure the answer is ‘NO’.

No matter the situation you are in today or what people say about you, where you are going and the plan God has for you are the most important.

No matter the situation, giving up should be the last thing you should consider I’m currently doing my Ph.D in Theatre Arts at the University of Lagos; some people might be envious, but I’m sure they won’t pray for the humiliation and setbacks I had to endure before coming this far academically.

Before I got admission to UNILAG, I struggled to gain entry to the University of Ilorin. I actually gained the admission, but my mother could not afford the fees, so she ran from pillar to post sourcing for a loan from people.

As a result of this, everybody in the neighbourhood was aware that I had gained admission. My mother was particularly happy about this because she wanted me to be educated at all cost.

Unfortunately, by the time she sourced for the money and I travelled to Ilorin, I was told that admissions had closed. I wept profusely, and the shame of going back home swallowed me up. So I made up my mind not to return home. I didn’t even inform my Mum that the admission had closed before I got to school. If I did, she would have had a cardiac arrest.

Apparently confused on the next thing to do, I walked up to a male lecturer in the school and told him my predicament. He said there was nothing he could do about it. I even begged him to assist me enrol in a tutorial class – just to keep myself busy in Ilorin.

To cut the long story short, I missed the university admission, and did not inform my mother until I got admitted to UNILAG some years later. But I was attending dance classes with Theatre Arts students. Some of them even thought I was a student. Thank God I’m doing my Ph.D programme now. No pain, no gain.

Well, let me sign out with this inspirational rhyme. I hope you enjoy it: I was taught to fight, taught to win.

I never thought I could fail. No fight left or so it seems. No one wants you when you lose. Don’t give up; I know you can make it good.

48

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Miscellany Alley

Life is rich sometimes and painful at other times, but it is mostly full.

Let’s share our experiences on this page, after all, everyday is an opportunity to learn...send yours to julietbumah@gmail.com Children an d

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Lagos nike, Hussaina 45yrs Abuja

now r Fashion at men Bear Beay o u n o t ic e d t h know, those

us d? You Have t a b e a r e re s y n o n y m o . I o p s to e w k v t c a o lo r th s ones ds now much of woe full afro kwu? Lol. Bear the barber ’s Couple d recently howstening to ju d O n with usba ft with I hear can have li . S o I ith my h many men le w t n t e r u w v e r y fi n how fun yo ases in cou out. It noticed rd s . T h e y a re ve to be d t c i n a k n c o a che in se ll b e ey ha just to day becau th o s e fu t them too. Th w h ic h th e y d went, y r u k n e o c a b ft u a b a l s y y u ick e ly. It r ig h t, was m a s t h i s h ife. She iffe d n ic b a c k e d ju s t o c m o d o w n r a w g t h e re ued by his er men go mpooed o long s a re s h a e m th a t a s w o re not about being she could n . T h i s e a s y n d d in g w o u ld l tresses, the claime s m a l e o rg a e n u i n e a re te n a o r to tu a y n i e g is is h h h to a T T e . n t. k n e u ta le f t o r fe c ti o . Some ve be asnt an ine e a p b h t to to h . mig ew er way w n e s ts e story if ther th e ir ja at can go eith ty and unti c l a i m g t w i s t t o t h i l d re n th d d h n very ir a tren eirs in t e r e s t i a v e t h r e e c h e r a reirs in a thers keeps th th r a s h e i , w lp but o y y e l e e h s il h ’t u h r T alle e can ess w Serio n m in ! m O s y . y s n d d a a io n ma age e it w ndit a l re t t h a t o c e s s o f t h re istine co ugh, how they agine how n r e p m u s r g tho im h the p ry beg wonder You can only t fa c ia l h a ir. t h ro u g n ? T h i s s t o n o w ? t. a a th e h to ll a e y is r r th nough unde child estion: wh n posb r a v e e ity and it g e ts e t e u s o v o q h e th e is th c k to h dign do you , is th G o o d lu this trend wit P l e a s e eople, what ff o y P ! carr sible? ol grace old scho Fowler 39yrs think? dey, 33yrs Fabian Lara O tate S n Jos u Og

DIY on the GO

Esther Odili

F

ascinators are a fashion item which has been gaining popularity in recent years. One problem that many fashion lovers have is when to wear a fascinator and when they should wear a hat. Some people believe that the two are interchangeable, but this is simply not the case. There are times when you should wear a hat and times when a fascinator is acceptable. Fascinators are light decorative headpieces, usually set on a comb, clasp or hair band and ideally a frothy cocktail of beads, ribbons and feathers, while a hat is a full head covering which is used for fashion and protection. In the past, a hat was seen as an indicator of a person’s social standing. On the other hand, a fascinator is a fashion accessory, it does not offer protection and is worn to complement an outfit or make a statement.

The main benefit associated with hats is the protection which it offers, being a fashion accessory for certain events and its ability to hide certain issues you might have with your hair.

Fascinators are only fashion statements that are lighter than a hat and often easier to handle. The small nature of the fascinator also allows it to be complementary to women with a small frame.

Like a cocktail, they are usually worn perched on the top or side of the head and do not fully cover the wearer’s head. Unlike a cocktail hat, a fascinator does not have a large base.

They are usually worn off to the side or at the front of

Make your birdcage veil fascinator

the head, and they can easily look ridiculous.

What you need: • 1 yard veil netting/ millinery netting (personal preference) • Hair clip/ hair comb • Tulle or trim lace • Ribbon (match colour of netting)/cotton fabric • Scissors • Measuring tape • Flower cardboard cutouts • Thread and needle

Steps 1: Make the flower • Make the flower shaped cut-outs from cardboard pieces. Lay cardboard cutouts onto cotton fabric and trace the flower shapes. Cut out flower shapes. Stack the flower shaped cut-outs from biggest on bottom to smallest on top. Fold stack of flowers in half twice, thereby holding the base of the flower, use your other hand to gently peel the pet-

als outward and make it bloom.

• While still holding the base of the flower, stitch the base together (going back and forth several times), when the flower is firm, tie a knot to secure it in place.

Step 2: Make your birdcage veil.

• First cut out 12-inch piece of 9-inch veil material, thread a needle and tie the loose end of the thread onto one end of the netting,

forming a knot. Stitch in and out, going through all four gaps.

• Gently gather that end of veil together, stitch the gathered part together, then tie a knot to secure it in place.

Place a 3-inch piece of ribbon at the gathered end of the veil. Fold both sides of ribbon toward the middle and stitch together. Repeat this step again on the other end of the veil.

• Cut out a small piece of cotton fabric and place in-

side the clip.

Place one side of the gathered veil on top of the clip and sew it tightly to the small piece of cotton fabric (the top of the clip in the middle of these two pieces).

• Sew the flower to the side with the clip and sew a metal comb to the ribbon on the other end of the veil.

Here you have your wedding flowers fascinator with a birdcage veil. One thing for sure is that, they will never go away.

49

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

Drink smarter (1) Ibukunoluwa Kayode

E

very drink adds up to more than you think. We tend to associate alcohol problems with binge drinkers and those dependent on alcohol. The truth remains that no level of alcohol is risk-free and regularly exceeding the sensible drinking guidelines could have a negative effect on your health without you even realising it.

Making small changes to your drinking habits will not only make you look and feel better, it can also improve your longterm health and well-being. So many health disease are associated with heavy alcohol drinking. I’m sure some will think it’s only drunkards that are classified as heavy alcohol drinkers.

Certainly not, studies suggest anyone that drinks and exceeds his alcohol units per day is an heavy drinker.

Varieties of grape wines, according to research, adds one or two benefits to the health when properly and reasonably indulged. It is very important to note that a moment of enjoyment you don’t cautiously manage might turn out to be your enemy sooner or later.

The following are diseases as-

Biwom Iklaki

F

lavours are determined by the spices used, and the palate of the diner. Many flavours inspire you to try them again and again.

And in a bid to avoid the penchant for monotony, you can shake up recipes, deconstruct them and finally come up with something new and refreshing albeit in the same beloved flavours. Such is the story

sociated with excessive alcohol intake.

•Diabetes

People who drink too much are often overweight and as a result, can develop diabetes. Though the condition is manageable, but this is a disease that can reduce your life span if not treated with the required and careful diet and daily medication.

•Liver disease

Alcohol can sometimes turn some liver cells into fat and damages others. Repeated heavy drinking scars the liver(cirrhosis) and causes permanent damage which can cause death. Too much alcohol exhaust the functions of the liver which is why we must stick to sensible drinking guidelines and take off at least two alcohol free days a week.

•High blood pressure

Regularly drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure over time. It also contains a lot of calories that increase weight gain, therefore increasing chances of developing high blood pressure. It is advisable to drink in moderation to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Ofada jollof rice of Ofada Jollof. Come with me on the journey to explore Ofada rice in a fun and frivolous assembly.

INGREDIENTS

• 10 tiger prawns • 3 medium dry fish (washed and deboned) • 2 cups crayfish

(pounded) • 4 cups rice • 1 cup fresh pepper (pounded) • 8 medium tomatoes (finely chopped) • 3 stock cubes • 2 tbs iodised salt • 2 cups onion (finely chopped)

• 2 cups palm oil • ½ cup locust bean (optional) • Spinach/Efo(washed and chopped and blanched)

PREPARATION

Parboil the rice until halfway cooked through.

Wash and set aside. In a large pot, pour your palm oil and heat until it begins to smoke a little. Add half the onions, then the tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes. This will reduce some of the sour from the tomatoes. Add the pepper, locust beans and

stock cubes. Add water and leave to steam for a while. After 5 minutes, add the salt, dry fish and prawns, stir and add the leftover onions. Pour the rice and stir. Taste to be sure of the flavours, cover and leave to cook the rice. Just before the rice comes down, add the vegetable and crayfish and then cover for another 2 minutes. Mix everything and set down.

Your ofada jollof rice is served.

50

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

The goose with the golden eggs

O

nce upon a time, a man and his wife had the good fortune to have a goose which laid a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough.

They imagined that if the bird must be able to lay golden eggs, its insides must be made of gold. And they thought that if they could get all that precious metal at once, they would get mighty rich very soon.

Hero of the week L

aughter is the medicine for all illness, they say. Comedy makes us laugh, which brings us to our hero of the week, Alleluya Atunyota Akporobomeriere aka Ali Baba.

He is from Warri, Delta State and is hailed as the father of Nigerian corporate world of stand up comedy. He started out his career in stand up comedy way back in his university days at Bendel State, now Edo State University.

He always talks about his first pay for a show which was N50. Today, he is reverred as the godfather of comedy and he is worth millions of Naira.

Stand up comedy was his passion and he followed it with diligence. This shows that no matter what your passion or talent is, if you follow it with hardwork, diligence and discipline, your success will know no limits. #Followyourdreams.

So the man and his wife decided to kill the bird.

However, upon cutting the goose open, they were shocked to find that its innards were like that of any other goose! (culled from www.kidsworldfun.com)

Gags

Gags

What do you call it when it rains chickens and ducks?

Ans: Foul weather

What has 12 legs, 6 eyes, 3 tails and can’t see?

Ans: Three blind mice

How do you confuse a fish?

Ans: Put it in a round fish bowl and tell it to go to the corner.

What’s long, green and goes ‘hith’?

Ans: A snake with a lisp

What is a frog’s favourite music?

Ans: Hip hop!

Colour Art

My Cook Corner Fruity, fun ice lollies Biwom Iklaki

R

emember those sunny days when you take a swim and just lie by the pool sipping a refreshing glass of juice? You can up the fun by making some ice lollies to suck on, then chew on the chunks of fruit. This is certainly more interesting than just gulping down some plain old juice. What’s more fun about it is that you can make them all by yourself!

WHAT YOU NEED

2 or 3 types of your favourite fruit, 1 pack ice lolli makers Blender

PREPARATION

Blend each of the fruits separately then slice or roughly chop the last of the fruit. Line the ice lolli maker with the sliced fruit, then pour in the juice one after the other in layers. Pop it in the refrigerator for 40 minutes to 2 hours to allow the slush to harden.

When it hardens, it is ready to eat. Enjoy a refreshing and healthy ice lolli anyday with your friends and family.

Source: www.hellokids.com

What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?

Ans: Finding half a worm in your apple

Faith 51

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014

I never planned to head Assemblies of God Church –Okoroafor

Sermon Our feast, faith in Christ the King p.56

Interview Nigeria’s destiny lies with the church -Evangelist Ilori p.54

News

Dr. Chidi Agodi Okoroafor is the reverend gentleman recently elected By the General Council of the Assemblies of God Nigeria to oversee the church as its fifth General Superintendent. In his first interview with the press at his Evangel Camp office, Okpoto, Ebonyi State, he spoke to OJIAKU KALU on how the church has weathered its crisis, as well as pertinent national issues.

AG cleric counsels district to be exemplary p.53

Sermon Step out of the shadow of your employment p.57

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Okoroafor What would you attribute your success in ministry to?

Generally, I would attribute it to the extravagant grace of God; He picked me from an ugly background. However, God started preparing me for leadership – so to speak, at a very tender age. I was privileged to occupy the post of president of three clubs at the same time while in secondary school – I was president of Scripture Union, Press Club, Debating Society and at the same time, I was the Editor-InChief of the school magazine as well as the Assistant Senior Prefect. I was to be the senior prefect but the teachers ganged up and said: “This boy is from S.U, if you Adebiyi make him the senior prefect, he will turn the whole school into a church.” With that they influenced the decision. Given the many positions I occupied simultaneously, I feel it was the Lord’s way of preparing me ahead of the challenges in terms of secular considerations, and spiritual input. So it’s all by the extravagant grace of God. And do please note that I was actually sold out to much prayer - so we started praying that early, we are still praying and will continue praying. Prayer means, ‘God I am inadequate, I need you desperately!’

Family wise, what kind of environment did you grow up in?

I was a headmaster’s kid, and as is normal with a headmaster’s job, you would be transferred to so many places. Even though we had a home in the city of Aba, I had my primary school education at Imo River Central School. It was from there that I went to National High School, Azumini Ukwa where I had my secondary

So I feel that apart from the extravagant grace of God, prayer really shaped me up, and it is instructive for every young adolescent to be guided through the culture of prayer, in preparation for the future education. And by the grace of God, I came out as the best academic student. My father, Jonas Okoroafor, was a very disciplined Special Class Headmaster, because that was the zenith of promotion for headmasters in those days, from first class to special class. My mother, Charity Okoroafor, is by the grace of God still alive, and is a deaconess in the Assemblies of God Church.

While growing up, was there any event in your life that particularly impacted on you?

As the last born of the family, I had two of my sisters and two of my brothers all in the United States. So when I came out as the most intelligent boy in my secondary school, my siblings wrote me a letter telling me (that) they had made arrangements for me to come over for college studies.

But the call of God into the ministry was already too clear and heavy on me. It was like if I didn’t answer His call, I would drop dead the very next minute! So when finally I made the decision to go into pastoring, they were not happy with me. To them, it was sheer foolishness and a waste of a prospective sterling career in one of the top professions. But I tell you, when God’s hand is upon you for an assignment, you become useless in every other thing except you obey Him. So I chose to ‘foolishly’ obey and follow God; and for this my siblings persecuted me. They looked at me as a deviant child by reason of decision - neglecting the great offer. Then my father counselled, “Why don’t you do as your siblings have said?

Get a secular education so that when the church disappoints you, you can defend

yourself with your certificate.” He said that to me in good faith, but the call wouldn’t let me do any other thing. But note that that offer I rejected (to go abroad), while my siblings were in one city faring for themselves, the same gospel took me to various other cities in the U.S alone, besides other continents. And by the grace of God, this foolish action that I took has given meaning to the family name by taking it where it wouldn’t have dreamt of. Sometimes when the Lord calls you to do something, it may appear foolish to observers. When God gives you a dream and you choose to disobey Him because of side comments, God would not hold those people responsible because they were not there when He called you.

It is you He will hold responsible; you are responsible for whatever action you take.

Now it might interest you to know that the secular academics I rejected at first, I have been able to study in the course of the ministry. One of my great moments was when I earned my Doctoral degree in Theology from the University of Port Harcourt - majoring in Evangelism and Inculturation. That was a very glorious time for my family, and I have also been able to take up studies in various other prestigious secular institutions. Evidently, the Lord has time and again, opened several doors to me that I don’t regret ever obeying Him. As sure as reality, the calling came through three ways: No 1. He spoke to me, No 2. He confirmed it through other people. That was in 1982 when I was about graduating from secondary school and the Lord said, “Come and seek my face.”

CO NTINUED O N PAGE 58

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

This time around Christian

Relationship Pastor

Taiwo Odubiyi

0802 300 0773 (SMS only)

M

isan looked at the snake-like towel again. It was very funny but she wasn’t in the mood for jokes now.

And why did the man make a snake, anyway?

She prayed under her breath before she took the snake-like towel, unfolded it and threw it

on the center table.

Then she sank on the bed. God, what should I do? She had not been prepared to meet Antonio.

She looked at her daughter’s photograph and said quietly: Weyin, I’ve seen your father but I don’t know if he will be delighted to know of your existence. And I don’t know what telling him might bring.

More tears fell from her eyes. The knock on the door made her look up. Her heart began to pound. Could it be Antonio?

She cleaned her face before she checked through the peephole. It was Ruth. She quickly took her sunglasses from the table and wore it before opening the door. She went back to sit on the bed.

“Misan, is everything alright?” Ruth

asked as she sat on a chair.

Misan nodded. She was in no mood for talking.

“You don’t look it ... and why are you wearing sunglasses in the room?” Ruth stared at her. “Tell me, what is it?”

Misan kept quiet. She would like to talk to someone but could she confide in Ruth?

She asked herself as she stared at the door blankly. “What happened?” Ruth asked, looking at Misan, expecting her to talk.

She did not as she continued to stare at the door. Should she talk to one of the pastors in the group?

Ruth was still looking at her. “You were not really nauseated, it was that man.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“What is it?” She asked again.

“There’s nothing, I’m just a little upset.”

“Have you just met him on the ship or is he an old friend?”

Misan nodded.

“I asked two questions, which one are you nodding to?”“He’s an old friend.”

Misan answered quietly. Ruth waited for her to continue but she did not.

Misan was thinking. She would have loved to share her burden with Ruth but she wasn’t sure she wanted to confide in her. Although Ruth was nice, there were times she talked too much and liked to gossip. Misan had heard many stories about their church from her. Ruth had told her different things about different people in the church and twice, Misan had felt guilty, asking God to forgive her for listen-

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ing to such gossip. It had occurred to her a number of times to point out this flaw to Ruth as a good friend but her fear was that Ruth might be offended. Not many people liked to be told the truth.

Misan remained quiet. If she should tell Ruth about her involvement with Antonio, there was no guarantee that Ruth would not tell one or two of her friends in the church. “In America or Nigeria?” Ruth prompted.

Misan took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry but I don’t want to talk about it now. I’ll tell you some other time, perhaps.”

“Okay, I just thought I should ask you so we can pray about it if there’s a problem.”

If Misan had not been in such a foul mood, she would have laughed. She knew Ruth would do more than pray, she would also tell people about it.

Ruth eventually stood.

“Should we walk around the ship?”

“No, I’d rather be alone.”

Misan answered. That was the thing about her. If she was bothered, she would lose all desire to be active. At such a time, some women would get busy, go for a walk, go shopping, turn to food or clean the house. But for her, she would just sit and stare into space.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

When Ruth left, Misan continued thinking, feeling burdened. She had many questions flying around in her heart. How dare Antonio have the nerve to come to speak to her? He must have a bad opinion of her with the way she behaved four years ago, for him to come and talk about seeing her in the evening. She felt ashamed of herself. She was a victim of a wrong advice and a polygamous home. Everyone in her family did as he or she liked without control. It was hard to tell who was right or wrong as there was no good example to follow.

Misan brought her mind to the present. What should she do? Should she tell Antonio about his daughter? What would she accomplish by telling him anyway? She knew his stand from the onset. If CO NTD ON PAGE 53

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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RCCG choir hits the gospel scene with worship overflow

T

he gospel landscape music in Nigeria is changing forever as The Sweet Psalmists, Choir of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Testimony Hall Parish, Finima, Bonny Island (Rivers Province 6) debuts with an album titled Worship Overflow.

Boasting lyrical originality, expertly-woven lines and unbeatable melodies, the 11 tracks album, produced by industry’s giant Wole Oni is billed to make its way into the hearts of Christian multitudes across the country, given its sheer, indiscriminate appeal to all lovers of gospel songs, especially those

who desire a breakaway from the remixes of public domain Christian songs that are now very commonplace.

Availing listeners a bouquet containing praise, worship, native and contemporary gospel numbers, the album also has a creative edge with some songs comprising a mix of local languages, English and Pidgin English.

Along with Worship Overflow, the lead song, which is also the title of the album, other tracks include Adoration, Awesome, I TokiniGbem(in Kalabari Language of Rivers State) Praise Medley and Your Majesty. A few of the lyrics are also in Yoruba, Ibo

and Hausa languages.

Some of the basic messages cutting across the songs include God’s greatness, goodness and omniscience, which in delivery through different languages also place premium on unity

among Christians, and humanity in general.

According to the coordinator of the Sweet Psalmist Choir, Brother Seyi Oyadotun, a frontline figure in the writing and production of the songs, “God in

his greatness unifies all the means used to reach Him, as long as humankind continue to serve and glorify Him”. His summation was re-echoed by Pastor Peter Arome, the parish pastor, who summed up “God as

an infinite being who appreciates our worship and praise, which is what The Sweet Psalmists has done through Worship Overflow album.”

The album launches this month.

God will give Nigeria peace–Muoka Zainab Balogun

G

eneral Overseer of Lord Chosen Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has said that Nigeria will overcome its current challenges, especially insurgency in the North.

He was speaking at the just concluded Chosen International Crusade, held at the church’s ground in Ijeshatedo, Lagos State.

Giving the assurance, Muoka said, “There is hope despite what the country is going through as regards the Boko Haram insurgency.”

Speaking on the programme’s theme: ‘Hope for The Needy,’ Muoka said, “Even as we pray, I believe the Lord will give this nation peace.

“It was after we had publicised a proposed crusade programme in Ondo and were told that we could not hold it because of the Ebola scare that we entered into prayers for the eradication of the disease.

“I called an emergency meeting of chosen pastors to pray that Ebola must stop. When I was to travel to South Africa, I made a declaration that Ebola must stop within three days.

“I made them to understand that Ebola is a demon; and said to them that I am giving them three days to pray and Ebola must stop in Nigeria.

“I believe that with God nothing shall be impossible; and God will give Nigeria peace at last.”

Cleric charges public servants on productivity Tunde Oyesina,

Abuja

A

clergy man, Evangelist John John Uket, has urged public servants in the country to work towards optimum productivity at their various workplaces.

Evangelist Uket gave the advice while addressing journalists at the public presentation and launching of his book titled, “Winning the Office Battles” in Abuja. According to him, “What the book wants to drive is productivity in public service, and it must be anchored on the essence of godly virtues in the

workplace.”

The clergyman further stated that he was prompted to write the book by the desire to overcome the many challenges workers faced with at the workplace.

“What the Holy Spirit inspired by the reason of that book is to ensure that persons who are serving in various offices rise above religious-ethnic barriers.

“If we must rise above building a society devoid of hatred, political thuggery, especially as we are preparing towards 2015, there is need for us to en trench godly values in the system. There is need for us to preach love in the

L-R : The Apapa District Superintendent , Rev. M K Ogunbola; Odofin Group leader, Rev, Izuchukwu Chukwudebelu; District Secretary, Rev. Ahamefula Ephraim; and the District treasurer, Rev. Vincent Ezeoha at the inaugration ceremony in Lagos.

AG cleric counsels district to be exemplary Tai Anyanwu

T

he Apapa District Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Michael Ogunbola, has charged the newly created Odofin Group, to make the mother district proud.

Ogunbola, who is also a member of the Executive Council of Assemblies of God Nigeria, gave the charge while inaugurating officials of the new administrative unit in Lagos, last Sunday.

The Odofin Group was carved out of the existing Amuwo-Odofin Section, Lagos, Sunday New Telegraph learnt.

Prior to the inauguration proper, the Assistant District Superintendent, Rev. Etim Oboh, had in his message, explained that each time a group or a section was carved out, the aim was to foster the work of the ministry.

That, he continued, would throw up opportunities for more people to take up leadership positions.

“Apart from the group leader who will oversee the work, you are going to have other leaders and departmental heads for the departments that will be carved out.

“At this point, God has given you the grace to lead, the opportunity to showcase the grace of God in your lives and the power to expand the work which he started,” he added.

Oboh, however, counselled that the opportunity was not meant to seek out anybody’s glory but that it must be used for the glory of God. He charged the officials to preach the word of God and shun the wind of change that has led some denominations to water down the scriptures.

“Don’t be afraid, God is the owner of the work.

We have not been called to build the church but to build the kingdom. God is to build the church.

“We are called to gather the people; preach the word and God will build His church. Now you have been called to serve, give all you have into this service; give your time, your life, and your substance into the service and God will bless you,” Oboh charged.

Perfecting the inauguration, Ogunbola reiterated that with the carving out of the group, an opportunity to become another David had come for some people.

The district superintendent recalled that until Goliath defied the Israelites, David had no opportunity to rise to fame.

Ogunbola pointed out that when the opportunity was thrown up, David did not seek his own glory but confronted Goliath for insulting the army of God. “But he said this man has

defied the army of the living God and for that reason I am going to cut off his neck.

I like to remind you that it is not by might but by the spirit of God. “We are putting you on a stage where all eyes will be on you. Please don’t dance anyhow now that we are putting you on the stage, because God is involved.

“You stand a chance of becoming stronger than any other section in the district.

Don’t limit yourself, where there are no more areas to conquer then go beyond your boundaries.

“As we inaugurate you today, give us reason to be proud of you. The Holy Spirit who does it will keep on opening doors for you,” Ogunbola added.

Among those inaugurated were the group’s leader, Rev. (Dr.) Izuchukwu Chukwudebelu; the women ministry Coordinator, Mrs. Izuchukwu; and other departmental heads.

This time around CO N T D F R O M PAG E 5 3

wanted to push another man’s baby to him. Besides, how should she handle him if she ran into him again should she greet him or not?

She thought for a while and then decided.

One - she would greet him if she had to. Two - she would not tell him about Weyin, and three - she would certainly keep him at an arm’s length.

She had learnt her lesson the hard way.

Suddenly, she felt the urge to go out

again to catch a glimpse of Antonio. A part of her said no but she eventually convinced herself that she needed to go back to the restaurant to eat. Seeing him again after all these years still felt like a dream ... a bad dream. But what would she say to him if she saw him? She wasn’t sure but she had to see him again.

She looked at the yellow blouse she wore. It wasn’t rumpled. She had bought it at a store in the State of Maryland, having come a week before the cruise so she could do

some shopping. She stepped into the bathroom which was to the right of the room and looked at her face in the mirror.

The tears had messed up the powder.

She quickly washed her face with the body wash that had been provided and took one of the many towels on the shelf to wipe the water off. She reapplied the powder and used perfume. This time, she wore low shoes and set off again.

To be continued

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

Nigeria’s destiny lies with the church -Evangelist Ilori The Shepherd of Celestial Church of Christ, Ifako, Lagos State, Senior Evangelist Abayomi Ilori, has blamed the church for moral laxity in the nation. He spoke on this and other related issues with STANLEY IHEDIGBO What were you doing before you became a pastor?

Before I answered the call of God, I had a good education, good job and career. I studied accounting for my first degree, masters in corporate finance and PHD in management science. Also, I am a member of Chartered Institute of Accounting.

I worked with Agip Oil Company. When I left Agip, I went into professional practice and had my office in Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

What attracted you to the ministry?

As an accountant, I was very comfortable and money was not my problem. Everything was going well until one day the Lord said I should stop whatever I was doing; that He wants to use me. I told God that I was willing to support His work with money. I begged God not to take me into full-time ministry. God told me again that He needs me and not my money. When it became a matter of yield or die, I surrendered and pleaded for forgiveness because I didn’t want to die. Then the Lord told that I am on an assignment to this world and that the assignment is not to make money but to win souls for Christ; to populate the kingdom of God and depopulate the kingdom of Satan. God promised to give me whatever I would need. I had no option to accept because it was at the point of life and death. I then resigned my secular job and accepted to carry the cross. Relations, friends and colleagues thought that I was mad but I had to do whatever it took to obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

Did you have challenges along the way?

I must confess it was very rough at the early stage of the ministry. As a spiritual church, there are people who could be

called satanic agents. When they see a vision of good things coming, they want to stop it. But one thing is clear; there is no victory for Satan. The Lord has given us all the victory because Jesus paid the price on the cross. If I never looked back I give God the glory, it is not by my making or my power but by the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Could you tell us about your recent 40th anniversary?

The Celestial Church of Christ, Ifako One, has just marked its 40th anniversary. We started with harvest thanksgiving services. The 40th anniversary was a turning point for us spiritually and physically. It is usually said that a fool at 40 is a fool forever. Even in the Bible, it was at 40 years old that God sent Moses back to Egypt to deliver to deliver the Israelites from slavery. The church was founded by Pastor Samuel Oshoffa of blessed memory. The pioneer pastor of our church is Baba Oshoffa’s biological son who succeeded him, according to the direction of Holy Spirit. We give God the glory for seeing the church through all these years. Our message to the people is that if they want good treasures in their lives, they should be able to sow good seed through faith in God, obedience to God and to demonstrate reverent fear of God. God Himself has promised his people that He will bless the work of our hands and that we will not borrow. God wants us to be the head not the tail. That is the destiny God

R;L: side Prof Israel, Sir (Prof) Chief Ladipo Huponu-wusu, Rev Dr. (Mrs) Helen Odus, Bishop (Prof) Charles Olu-Odus (Rector and President), Dr. Deji Morenikeji and Dr. Fonjindam Emmanuel Ndi who just graduated as PhD holder from Cameroon.

Ilori has purposed for His children; but the problem is our disposition, our relationship with God. If we stand right with Him, we will see the greatness of His goodness. So the harvest has come to usher into the church a turning point. People from all works of life came to grace the occasion. We put together a week-long programme, beginning with a three-day revival crusade and a symposium. The following Sunday was the grand finale. It was a wonderful day and God manifested His presence to show that He was really part of the programme.

God has blessed this country but we are not maximising our potential. And some of the problems we encounter arise because our relationship with God and fellow human beings is not as it is supposed to be. At the event, we prayed for our political leaders, our nation and the coming elections.

What is your take on the involvement of men of God in scandals and corrupt practices?

I want to say that the mantle of leadership is a heavy burden. But a Christian leader must aspire to satisfy God first. Having said that, I am bothered by the way many pastors just want to belong. The church is meant to build destinies. If the churches fail in that assignment, then the nation will fail too. From all indications, the church is not doing well in this aspect and that is why I have suggested that Christian leaders should come to a roundtable and seek ways by which the church of God can excel as custodians of moral and spiritual rectitude. Let’s have a five-year working plan because if Christian leaders speak to the hearts of the people of the country as they

Let’s have a five-year working plan because if Christian leaders speak to the hearts of the people of the country as they ought to speak to, things will change for the better ought to speak to, things will change for the better. There was a time a group of young men came to me for prayers. They told me that as soon as they come back from their business trip, they will give me N5 million.

Then I asked them my sons, what kind of business trip was that. They said that I should pray for them, I should not worry. In the process, God revealed it to me and I saw blood. I told them that if they went on that business trip, they would not come back.

I advised them to look for a better way of living and that they should as well pray for God to touch them and make a better way for them. I had a 15-minute discussion with the young men and I was able to appeal to their hearts. Instantly, they had a change of heart concerning that particular trip. So, the church has the ability to minister to the heart. The moment any man’s heart is wrong the person’s life will be wrong. Corruption that we are talking about is from the heart and the political leaders cannot fight corruption.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Faith

Channels of favour Mystery ofAnxiety John Ogbansiegbe

0803 341 6327

O

pen your mouth and say positive things and it shall be well with you. The Almighty God declared in His word: “I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out Egypt. Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10. This scripture is not talking about the physical opening of your mouth; it is talking about the spiritual impact and importance of your spoken words. Aforesaid, the word of God declared, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”

Proverbs 6:2 A snare is a trap, by implication; this scripture is saying that your word can put you into a trap or on the mountain top of success.

Your words are so powerful that Satan fears them. Satan prefers to see you close your mouth or if you must open it, always say negative things. The Bible recorded that they overcome him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimonies and they loved not their life unto death “Revelation 12:11.

In view of this scriptural provision, it is an irrefutable presumption that Satan fears your words as he fears the blood of Jesus Christ. Your words are like the bullets. They are acidic to the devil and they are dangerous bullets to his kingdom.

Man was created exactly in God’s image. God does not carry out any project without saying and declaring it first with His mouth.

To this end, the word of God challenged us and declared thus, “Be ye therefore, followers of God as clear children “Ephesians 5:1. It is a divine challenge to imitate God. It means to talk like God, act like God and declare positive things with your mouth like God. It naturally follows that if God created everything in the whole world by speaking, then you too can create your world (your dreams, vision and expectations) by speaking and declaring them.

A great philosopher called Sammy Hagar said, “Words have power that is why poetry can affect people and that is also why musical lyrics and songs affect people. Again, another Christian scholar and philosopher, called Richard Kadrey said, “It doesn’t matter if you and everyone else in the room are thinking it, you must speak it forth. Words are weapons; they blast big bloody holes in the world.

Words are bricks, say something out loud and it starts turning solid, say it loud enough and it becomes a wall which you can’t get through.”

Right now open your mouth very wide and start speaking greatness into your future, business, family and ministry.

Stand on the wonderful promises in the word of God and begin to declare wonderful positive things to your dreams, visions, expectations and aspirations and the Almighty God shall bring your spoken words into physical, tangible, spectacular and glorious manifestation in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

The Channel of forgiveness

You should not be tired of forgiving others, not until seven times, but seventy times seven To forgive means to pardon or overlook an offence from an offender. To forgive means to show mercy where the offender deserved punishment it means to be compassionate. It is a remission or a disposition to pardon. To forgive means to overlook, ignore and even forget a wrong done to you by another. You should not be tired of forgiving others, not until seven times, but seventy times seven.

God Himself is never tried of forgiving His children.

The word of God in his regard recorded thus, “Then came Peter to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? And Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times but seventy times seven.”

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king who would take accounts of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him who owe him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold; his wife and children and all he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying lord, have patience with me and I will pay thee all. Then, the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed him, and forgave him that debt. but the same servant went

out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owe him a hundred pence, and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat , saying pay me that thou owest.

And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him saying, have patience with me and I will pay thee all.”

And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he pays the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told their lord all that was done.

Then, the lord after that had him called and said unto him, “O thou wicked servant, I forgave you all the debt because thou desiredst me, shoudest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was worth, and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly father do also unto you if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.” Matthew 18:21-35.

In the context of this discussion, pardon represents a divine forgiveness for all.

Our lord Jesus Christ represents this king. Man owes a debt which he should not pay.

Our Jesus Christ forgave that debt.

Man was under the condemnation of the broken law and couldn’t save himself and our Lord Jesus gave Himself for our sins. To every soul, our Lord Jesus Christ freely offered His blood and bought pardon. This is the ground which we should show compassion to our fellow men.

The word of God said in 1st John 4:11, “Behold, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Why A Prophet… Why Revelation?

Oracles God

foreordained for that generation with a ‘thus saith the Lord.’ We had only one Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, etc. The Apostle Paul is a Prophet to the Gentiles. The return of Elijah as prophesied by Malachi to foreFrank Oboden Olomukoro run the second coming of Jesus Christ, frankolomukoro@yahoo.com Malachi 4: 5-6, and confirmed by Jesus Christ in Mark 9:12 and Mathew 25:6 is a 0703 362 1866 major prophetic sign that will herald the Rapture.

Following the set scriptural pattern of God’s operation, there must be a prophet for the closing time who will restore us to the pattern set by the Apostles. mos gave the answer on why it Indeed, this Prophet has come and gone has to be a prophet. “Surely the but the message of restoration remains Lord God will do nothing, but the only valid preparatory indices for the revealeth his secret unto his servants the Rapture. prophets.” Amos 3:7. God has no other History is repeating itself because by way of bringing a scriptural revelation the time the disciples were asking Jesus except by a prophet. That is to say, in “Why say the scribes that Elias must first every dispensation the people must look come?” in his reply, Jesus said, “That out for the scriptural promised prophet Elias is indeed come, and they have for their day who reveals the program done unto him whatsoever they listed, of God as earlier predicted. Noah was a prophet who revealed the oncoming judg- as it is written of him.” Is it not therefore surprising that John the Baptist came, ment God by flood because of their sin and the subsequent way of escape was by fulfilled his scriptural commission but the disciples and the Jewish nation didn’t going into the Ark. Again, God revealed the secret of the destruction of Sodom and even know it. It will not be a surprise therefore that many Christians will not Gomorrah to Abraham, also a prophet even know that the present-day Laand he started to intercede for the righteous in the city. Other prophets to whom odicean prophet of Rev. 3:14-18 and 10:7 God revealed His mind runs through the has come and gone.

When Jesus came on the scene, while entire scripture. That is why a prophet is a his birth was shown to the wise men sign of God’s impending judgment.

God only had one major Prophet in any from the far East and to unknown shepherds in the night, the Jews and governgeneration; there never were two in the field at one time. Elijah and Elisha walked ment of the day knew nothing about it. arm in arm but Elisha never became fully Matt. 2:1-3 and Luke 2:8-15. It was not until Jesus stepped on the pulpit on one a prophet until Elijah’s robe dropped of the Sabbath days in the synagogue upon him. That’s the truth. A Prophet is and read from Luke 4:17-21 announcing a man who is born, predestinated and

the of

A

Himself by the prophecy of Isaiah as the expected Messiah, saying: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” But what was the response of the Jews to the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah? The Jews took the declaration as profane and in Luke 4:29, they rose up, and thrust him out of the city and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. Isn’t that a sad episode that the very Messiah that they were expecting, came and they threw him out not recognising Him.. Is it not a surprise to note that while the religious Jews and their leaders where turning down their Messiah, a harlot by the well in Samaria saw him and said I perceived that you are a Prophet. John 4:19. She saw the sign of a Prophet (Messiah) in Jesus Christ and immediately recognised Him and believed Him. Today our Pentecostal and Orthodox brethren cannot even read in between the lines of the scripture and see the hand writing on the wall. Anything preached or taught that does not conform to their denominational doctrine is immediately branded as heretic and a false prophet.

Apostle Paul grappled with this spiritual blindness of the Jews until they sought to kill him, when he declared in Acts 24:14 “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy.

So worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the Prophets.”

Denominational Christians today are so scripturally inept and blind to identify the fulfillment of the scriptures in our age. And even when they are told, they brand it as false because their pastors and General overseers think otherwise.

The Word of God is our standard and not any servant of the master Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, if the blind leads the blind they both will fall into the pit. Wake up from your slumber oh thou that sleepeth.

Look away from your church traditions and for once look unto the Word of truth, God has sent somebody to turn on the light. That light (Jesus Christ) leads the adherence to escape God’s judgment.

Noah turned on the light in his day.

Moses did as a deliverer. Then came John the Baptist, he was a light bearer, he also turned on the light when he introduced Jesus Christ, “Behold the lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world” John 1:29.There is a mid night prophet that has come to turn on the light. Every preacher must lead the people to the light. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, we have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. John 1:49 It will take a prophet, a dispensational prophet in God’s plan of salvation to carry out His plan because the Word of the Lord comes to the prophet and he in turn reveals it to the people. A true prophet has the true Word. Before the rapture strikes a prophet must come on the scene and reveal to us the rapturing faith in preparedness and readiness.

Whoever ignores the prophet of his day goes into condemnation. So it was in the day of Noah, Moses, Elijah etc. It is important we note that the prophet cannot come out from your denominational setting, he has to be a man sent from the presence of God as John the Baptist, John 1:6. Of necessity you must hear, recognise and act on the voice of the prophet of your day.

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Faith

Our feast, faith in Christ the King Firm Faith:

Right Reason Most Rev.

Emmanuel A. Badejo fradebadejo@yahoo.

0803 949 4219 (SMS only)

The conspiracy of evil Nigerians today find themselves further up the road to Golgotha, a road strewn with suffering, sadness, exploitation, corruption insensitivity and even death.

When the walls of evil close in and tribulations come from all sides, what can the just do? Nigeria languishes today under many vices. Now, the pervasive culture of death, or better still the culture of murder, nurtured by a substructure of sin and immoral Western culture is invading even the most sacred of relationships and institutions like the family, religion and culture. Unrepentant, unrestrained personal and social sinfulness eventually provokes a loss of the sense of the sacred, disdain for the rule of law, arbitrariness and impunity and eventually institutionalises criminality and indiscipline in high and low paces. It does not help at all to hear that similar vices are also found in some other countries nor does it make the situation any less deadly.

Ascendancy of the culture of murder Diminished respect for the sanctity of human life in Nigeria has enabled the aggressive advancement of the army of death who advertise all sorts of anti-life

measures as desirable and even necessary.

These advertise various artificial family planning methods, euthanasia, legalised abortion and unrestrained contraception for children and adults alike as means to a better quality of life. They get so bold as to attack religion and culture as obstacles in the way of modernisation and liberalisation of the rights of women. Much of what they do, however, is glorified murder through the poison they sell. If you thought that Boko Haram killers and suicide bombers are the only terrorists around in Nigeria today, seek awareness!.

Terrorists in an even greater measure are the promoters of these means which truncate human life at any levels. Sadly, those who are responsible for protecting human life and dignity in our Nigeria have also abandoned that sacred duty and rather sound like Biblical Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Politicians proliferating death As elections draw near in Nigeria, security agencies denounce the huge amount of illegal arms in circulation in the country. Obviously, many powerful people strongly believe that ‘might is right.’

Conveniently, they forget the Biblical wisdom that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. (Mt. 26:51-52). It seems immaterial to them that the Psalms warn: “Some boast of chariots, some of horses; but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Their forces will collapse and be crushed, but ours shall rise and stand firm.” (Ps.20:8-9). This ‘arms race’ is not so new after all. It was only overshadowed at some point by other vices competing for primacy like kidnapping, political thuggery and collapsing infrastructure. Now that political activities have been revived,

Some boast of chariots, some of horses; but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Their forces will collapse and be crushed, but ours shall rise and stand firm arms proliferation has taken its primacy back. So, many ask: “Whither bound Nigeria?”

Our hope in Christ the eternal King This is the situation in which once again we celebrate the solemnity of Christ as King and Lord of the Universe, the good, the bad and the ugly of it. Jesus’ Kingship is undeniable. The Archangel Gabriel declared at the annunciation: “of his kingdom, there shall be no end.” (Lk 1; 330). Jesus Himself declared that all powers in heaven and on earth had been given to him (Mt 28:10). The celebration and the traditional Catholic procession all over neighbourhoods, towns and villages remind all that Jesus reigns as king not only over individual souls and private lives but also over families, societies, nations and rulers. In the book of Revelation, St. John speaks of his vision of the twenty four elders who worship before the One who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before him and say: “Our Lord and God, worthy are you to receive glory, honour and power! For you have created all things; by your will they came to be and were created” (Rev 4: 9-11). Christians believe that Christ is that Lamb who was

made worthy according to John. He is however a king who claimed the right to his sovereignty through blood, not power or riches for his own is a messianic kingship.

Whence comes then our salvation?

All this sounds great but how long must we wait? The words of the Christian hymn rhymes relevant: “Christ come quickly, there’s danger at the door. Poverty aplenty, hearts gone wild with war.

There’s hunger in the city and famine on the plains. Come Lord Jesus the light is dying, the night keeps crying: ‘Come lord Jesus.” But it is at such despairing times that we must remember that evil does have its limits and that Jesus will reign as king over all. So the toughest of times call for the virtue of patience. Would Abraham and Sarah have ever had Isaac if they had not been patient? Would Joseph have become a ruler over so many had he not patiently endured cruelty from his brothers, the shame of false accusation and imprisonment? Would Job have become the Master of perseverance in the eyes of the world without patience? Yes, indeed, on the Lord whom we believe is the eternal king we must patiently wait.

“Keep calm before the Lord, wait for him in patience; do not fret if others succeed when they carry out evil schemes...

Remember this; the wicked will perish, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land” (Ps 36: 7-9). Therefore, our salvation comes from that capacity to patiently wait on God of whom the Bible declares that his arms are not too short to deliver those who trust in him. Yes the time of the righteous will surely come as surely as dawn follows the night but until then we pray for the grace of patience.

Where is my venison?

Insight Rev.

Femi Akinola

www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

T

he emphasis of the scriptures on honour in relation to our biological parents is beyond the customary ethics of greeting; thus, it is an issue that revolves around the fulfilment of obligations towards them as a symbol of respect for their effort to the realisation of one’s yearnings, dreams and aspirations. Reverence for one’s parents is Biblical; however, the place of attributing the due honour is a composite of recognising those inputs that can adequately reciprocate their many travails, care, support and benevolence. Beloved, the mess you are in today might not be unconnected to your parental care negligence.

“Regard (treat with honour, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you”.

Exo 20:12 (AMP) If you cannot care of your biological parents, how then can you take care of your spiritual father? The reason you seem to be mean to your pastor or spiritual father is because you either lack understanding or you are ignorant of the commandment as it pertains to parental care. When I was much younger, I

observed keenly how my parents took care of their pastors and the result today is undeniable. I have seen people bless men of God as if they are demigods but that trend, today, is fast being eroded.

There are people who are gods on earth and two of such are your parents; if you are going to fulfil your destiny on earth, your father is a ‘principality’ (a force) to be reckoned with.

Except you honour your father and mother, you are beckoning on suffering and hardship. The blessing of your parents is earned on the platter of your giving and generosity to them. Alas!

There is something you must give to your father and mother before their exit from the surface of the earth, which is the propeller of parental blessings. Hence, if you have failed in this regard but your parents are still alive, then you still have a second chance.

The mystery of the venison Literally speaking, venison refers to the meat of a deer. However, in this context, venison refers to those special delicacies, gifts, material possessions or monetary packages you give to your parents and that are capable of provoking a generational blessing. It was after Isaac had taken what his heart desired most (the venison) that he pronounced a transgenerational blessing upon Jacob. On the contrary, Esau’s right was denied him because Jacob was able to give his father the venison that made him superior in the covenant.

“And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought

And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.

And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son

him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” Gen 27:25-29 (KJV) I heard a story (which happened in the ‘60s) of a particular brother; this brother who would go every morning to bathe and cook for his aged parents before attending to his personal daily routine

in the office. He did this for a period of 17 years. Somewhere along the line he was unable to continue due to weariness.

Suddenly he encountered a problem in his office and this same problem took him to prison. His sudden disappearance became a cause for concern to his parents and on hearing about his sorry state, his father began to intercede for him and shortly afterwards, he was freed. After his release, he continued caring for his parents and they (his parents) made a pronouncement upon him saying, ‘Your other brothers will serve you.’

In every family, there is a throne; you may call it the financial throne or the covenant seat and it can only be occupied by the smartest of the children with good understanding of this mystery of the venison.

This has got nothing to do with your religion, education, profession or even charisma. Are you the first child (male) of your parents? By practice, you ought to ‘chair’ the financial seat of that family but of course, there is a price you must pay.

This is by giving your father the venison (parental care) he deserves and desires.

This issue in discourse is what propels the prayer (the blessing) from the soul and it is the child that gives the venison regardless of his age or position that will be given the financial scepter of the family. The story of Esau and Jacob is a perfect picture in this regard. May I ask you, when last did you give your father what he asked for? When last did you give your mother a meagre N10,000? I don’t care what you are doing now; it is the end that matters.

Please watch out for the continuation of this message next week.

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Faith

Step out of the shadow of your employment Word of Life

Bishop

Moses Kattey

moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

Y

ou can never be more important than your work place, industry, etc as long as you have not stepped consciously out of its shadow. Most of your income will always come and as determined by the owner of the shadow.

When you however step out, you will increasingly discover that what comes to you is not determined mainly by the owner of the shadow. The sun and the rain will reach you directly. If you do not step out of that shadow you will only be noticed with respect to the business, or the owner of the shadow. Nothing reaches you except through that organisation.

Furthermore, since you are under the shadow, most of what you do will not be noticed. In fact, they may not even notice that you exist because you are in a place without light, under a shadow.

Paul out of shadow of the Apostles Why was Apostle Paul noticed and

prominent? The reason was because he did not operate under the shadow of the great Apostles. Hear directly from Paul.

But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother’s Womb, and called me by His grace. To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them, which were apostles before me, but I went unto Arabia and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the disciples saw I none, save James, the Lord’s brother. But they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past preached the faith which once he destroyed (Gal.1:15-19, 23).

Paul stood on his own and never under the shadow of the apostles. He became even more important than them. You cannot be more relevant and important than the person under whose shadow you comfortably and gratefully dwell.

You must step out of that shadow into the shadow of the Holy Spirit to have and experience the fulfilment of your personality. If you do so, you may not be truly independent, but you will be networking.

Shadow of the family Let every member of a family step out of the shadow of that family. The children should step out the shadow of the parents and of the siblings (brothers

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him and sisters). Let the wife step out of the shadow of the husband and the entire family. The husband should step out of the shadow of the greater family, etc.

You will discover that every member of the family will shine and network, working together but not independently.

There will not be competition because the Holy Spirit will arrange the relationships such that will benefit every family member. You will realise everyone’s relevance and importance.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him, That there should be no schism in the Body but that the members should have the

same care one for another. And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it or one member is honoured all the members rejoice with 2it. (1 Cor. 12:15, 18, 25, 26).

Stepping out of one’s shadow does not mean disobedience, quarrelling, division, disloyalty, etc. There is a way the Holy Spirit handles it and all are honoured together. You need not wait till the big person dies before you achieve your potential and make a name. In addition to practical cooperation, and appreciation, networking will be defined and experienced.

CONCLUSION Let the rain, which fell on the owner of the shadow, the heat that scorched him/ her and the ‘cup’ which he/she drank from come to you too. That rain made him what he is. That scorched sun made him what he is today. The cup he drank made him what he is today. All these did not kill him, so they will not kill you if you step out of the shadow. They will together make you what that person is today, and better.

Under that shadow, nobody will notice you. Under that shadow you will be less important than the owner of the shadow.

The blessings of God will not reach you directly. This is why I always step out of every shadow that I knowingly or unknowingly, consciously or unconsciously take shelter in. The shadow shields and screens you from the light of God and light of blessing.

Taming Your Emotions Taming your Emotions Bishop

Lawrence Osagie 0806 325 0667 www.powerlineministriesinc.org mail:powerlineministries@mail.com

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ob speaking said: What I greatly feared has now befallen me – suggesting that he had had this fear in his heart and soul for long. And that is the reason we should be careful with what we mediate and dwell on. When a man continually fears that the wife is living in sexual immorality, he will soon reap the fruit of the seed he is sowing in the thought realm. One truth is that thought will cultivate envy, anxiety, curiosity and jealousy. When her phone rings you want to know who she talked or stayed with.

If you don’t take time you will die of heart attack. My brother, don’t lose your confidence, don’t lose your courage and trust, don’t lose your manliness. Don’t give your mind to fear by allowing devil whisper suspicion into your ear.

The Bible says: I have not given you the spirit of fear but because of fear, some men don’t allow their wives to rise high. No! Calm down.

Allow your women to express their gifts; don’t tie her destiny to your emotional fears. You cannot lose anything walking by faith.

In Luke 18:22, Jesus told his disciples: ‘Let us go to the other side.’ You cannot remain on one spot continually

and profess to be going forward. There is a time a cross over. This is that time for you in Jesus name. The master told his disciples let us go to the other side.

There was a reason for that journey. But in the middle of the trip, there came a big storm threatening the success of the journey. That Jesus was in the midst of the sea did not stop the tempest – it still came. So a storm is a natural phenomenon. It will certainly come, one way or the other. It is only a tree that has fruits that receives stones and harassment. Who will trouble a fruitless tree?

The Alpha and Omega was in the boat and the sea waves continued boisterously. Was heaven not aware? Where were the host of ministering spirits and angels? My brother, relax! There is a need for us to bring our spirits under control, especially in troubled moments. Waves came, there was a boisterous wind, the storm was heavy, Jesus was there. And the disciples could not contain their anxiety. And one them asked the Master: Don’t you care that we are about to die? Why this question. They noticed perhaps that He was not worried in any form.

There was a KLM flight from USA to Amsterdam. On the way, the flight had to stop by an international airport to refuel. Somehow, another flight landed unaware of the presence of the KLM flight on the terminal. When they collided, the brain box recorded the pilot to have said: We are about to die.

And the aircraft went up in flames.

But in the craft was a believer who was heard saying: ‘I shall not die but live to declare the work of the Lord.’ She came out unhurt to the surprise of everybody.

If you are a believer, the Bible says: fear not. In about 356 places in the Bible, the word says: Fear not. Do not be afraid, child of God. Your God, your father is able. With Him all things are possible. All power belongs to God and He has given His angels charge to keep watch over you. You are His peculiar treasure. Fear is torment therefore arise and cast it away. Tell yourself: ‘I fear no one for my God has put my fear and dread upon my enemies

Beloved, it does not matter what the devil confronts you with. Don’t entertain any fear, be courageous and stand firm. Be bold and stand still. Moses told the people of Israel: Fear not. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, for the Egyptians you see today, you will see no more. (Exodus 14:12) David said: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

for thy rod and staff they comfort me.

(Psalm 23:4).

If you are a believer, the Bible says: fear not. In about 356 places in the Bible, the word says: Fear not. Do not be afraid, child of God. Your God, your father is able. With Him all things are possible. All power belongs to God and He has given His angels charge to keep watch over you. You are His peculiar treasure.

Fear is torment therefore arise and cast it away. Tell yourself: ‘I fear no one for my God has put my fear and dread upon my enemies.’ Your faith is winning. You will arise and shine. No man shall be able to stand against you because God is with you always.

Child of God, I am glad you have come this far with this study. I feel certain that God has equipped you for something unique.

Confession of Faith Have you ever asked Jesus to come into your life? That is are you born again? If your answer is no, or you are not sure, please pray this prayer with all sincerity and confidence.

Lord Jesus, I come to you today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me my sins, cleanse me with your precious blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the Living God. Today, Lord Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and my saviour. Thank you Jesus for saving me.

Now, I know I am born again.

Congratulations beloved. We are happy for your confession of faith. We are willing and ready to help you grow in Christ Jesus and help you realise and actualise the essence and purpose of your life.

Advertise your church events, special programmes, conventions and other church activities on these pages. Contact: Tai on 07064380029

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Faith CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 51

I obeyed Him and went into fasting and praying. So far, that has been the longest I have ever done. Later on He said, “I have called you into fulltime ministry.” Then He showed me pictures of great men of that time and said, “I am showing you pictures of these people because your ministry is going to be as great as theirs.”

From then on, I became convinced that He was calling me into fulltime ministry and had no peace until I obeyed Him. No.3, I also remember so many people that God used to convince me - like a sister of blessed memory who told me, “Bro Chidi, the Lord told me that what He wants you to do is to go into fulltime ministry.” Another brother said God revealed to him that I am an end-time minister. But I didn’t just take what other people said; what they said was only a confirmation of God’s personal instruction to me. I needed to be fully convinced because ministry is not what you get into by flash. You know there is a difference between flashing and calling. If you rush into ministry because you were flashed, you may have a problem along the way because there would certainly be junctions in your life, when you can only come out of your dilemma by invoking the call of God on your life. If He ever did call you, He will definitely defend His calling upon you!

There was a time when answering the call of God was regarded as a foolish thing; not now that people desire and make a show of it. To be called in a typical AG, you know what it means - where you don’t have a guarantee of pastoring a particular kind of church. Here, ‘you have to go prove your ministry,’ is a popular slogan because they can post you somewhere to go prove your ministry. This is because besides the call you received and your Bible School training, you have to go prove that God has truly called you. I tell you I prefer the Assemblies of God because they have the best training. A trained pastor of the Assemblies of God can weather any storm and can be anywhere regardless of how remote it is. We are trained to preach to thousands and also trained to preach to empty rooms. That is why if you look at AG you see its seriousness as a grass roots church; it is in this system that you see a church located in a remote environment, a place with only two members – a widow and a small child, and yet they have a full-time pastor put in charge of them. A lot of churches would merely stop at the city-centres and be sending visiting pastors to a church in the rural areas if any, but here in AG we send fulltime pastors to those areas. That is why by statistics we have the highest number of full-time ministers in this country.

What are your plans for immediate reconciliation of parties in the wake of the crisis?

We are very open. The people who were sincerely deceived into leaving the church would definitely come back to the fold. The leadership of the AG is very open to receive the returnees. If they return, we will receive them, so that the church can move forward. Now we have established something in the church. The AG has a very functional organogram that audits itself: if you have deviated from the church at the local level, you can go back to your local church level, sectional and general council level and reconcile with them at the very level that your problem occurred. You see why we are here today is because of the inability of those who deviated and wouldn’t change their attitude toward the body of Christ; and the danger is that if somebody becomes permanently unrepentant and in addition uses intimidation to threaten the church, if the church bows to that kind of intimidation, then we shall be running a church without standard - a

I never planned to head Assemblies of God Church- Okoroafor to the Holy Spirit, then you quietly leave us alone and go found your own church and run it the way you please.

The AG is the most democratic Pentecostal church and so, it’s not a personal affair. The positive aspect of the recent development is that every pastor in the Assemblies of God must be careful in his daily conduct because the AG is no respecter of persons. The AG is the only church that can discipline her General Superintendent and if the General Superintendent could be punished for an established offence, then who are you down there? This is also a silent warning to the leaders of AG: you have to be careful to ensure that you live right in the sight of God and man, because you can’t do anything unseemly and get away with it. You must make sure that anything you do is according to the Bible, according to the standard of the Holy Spirit and according to the constitution of the church.

Okoroafor

This place you want to transfer me to would affect my children;” You can decide to discipline a pastor and he drops his earthly might on you

church where anybody can rise and take the pastor to court and virtually do anything and get away with it. If we are not careful this kind of thing would become the order of the day, and as the Lord’s representatives here, that’s not how He has charged us to run His business.

For instance, you transfer a pastor and he waves a court order at you - citing human rights like: “This place you want to transfer me to would affect my children;” You can decide to discipline a pastor and he drops his earthly might on you. This is why in our willingness to forgive and reaccept, we must carefully uphold the integrity of the church.

For instance, we would have not been where we are today if the attitude of the suspended had changed. It would not have taken more than, “I am sorry for this thing that I’ve done.” It would not have taken more 24 hours reshape things up.

You know you cannot win AG by intimidation, you win by submission. In pursuance of peace in the body of Christ, there are three formulas there are approaches. One is that the suspended comes to the church leadership and submits a letter saying, ‘’I am sorry, please forgive me;” I tell you there is no way we would not oblige because AG is a forgiving church. You saw what happened at the recently held Council Meeting, where one or two persons that had sidestepped from the fold came back and were also elected into offices with others - this attests to the AG having a heart of forgiveness. Two, it’s either it happens like that or the next alternative would be that the entire leadership should go kneel down before the suspended, apologise and beg them to please come back. And the third would be that if you don’t want to agree to the principles and the constitution of the church and you will permanently not agree to the church’s principles, which by the way were derived from absolute obedience

Do you think the crisis was avoidable in the first place?

Yes it was avoidable in the first place if the principle of teamwork had been observed. Under teamwork when you are working in a corporate body like AG and with elected executive committee members as is always the case, with more than a 2/3rd majority telling you, “Let’s handle it this way,” if it had been handled that way, we won’t have been where we are today.

You were the number two man before the bubble burst. Didn’t you ever have the opportunity to inject some positive change in the system?

Thank you. One of our leaders used to say, “You don’t donate advice.”’ He also asserted that you don’t advise your boss.

That same leader told us publicly that the chairman should not have a different opinion from his deputy and many other things. However, that does not mean we were not able to give advice, or we were not able to talk, or to give our opinion whenever necessary. But do note that the buck stops at the table of the chairman. It was only when it came to extreme struggle that we had to say ‘let’s refer this matter to a higher body’ - as recommended by the constitution of the church. One beautiful thing is that it was that in the wisdom of the founding fathers of AG that four generals were made full-time.

You know the implication of that? You can tap from the wisdom of these people to stabilise the secretariat, in addition to input from other committee members.

So all I am saying is that it is something that could have been avoided, and the truth is that we tried our possible best to prevent this trouble from escalating.

If you also look at it, you won’t hear that officers of the General Council and the Executive Committee members started talking about the issue, but that does not mean we were not enduring certain things. I can assure you that no principal officer or EC member aggravated this issue, no matter how bad it was going. We only came in when the matter officially emanated from the Ambassadors and the National Consultative Assembly. When the issue was formally raised, I sat down and asked, “Ok, what do we now do to stop this matter from escalating?” So we started organising ourselves and started begging my boss to call these people and prevent the issues from escalating. I remember approaching my former boss and telling him, “Sir, if you are not predisposed, please allow us, for the sake of the flock, to handle this matter.” I remember telling him at a very critical point to leave it for me that I could handle it; if he wanted to travel, he was free but he should leave me to handle the matter.

But in his own wisdom, he said no other

person could handle it and neither would he invite the complainants. It’s at this point the issue would have been tackled and settled without further altercations, but even as I speak to you, the very issues raised by the ambassadors have yet to be discussed.

Who are the ambassadors?

The ambassadors are our professionals, our laymen who meritoriously were recommended for honour, by reason of their contributions to the districts and national church levels. That is the rule, you must make your contribution at the district and national levels to merit the honour.

So these are genuine professionals, fine Christian men and women honoured by the church.

What is your primary message to the flock of Christ right now?

Let us avoid distractions and move forward; what has happened is a distraction. Distraction is the only thing that can divert our attention from our primary assignment - which is evangelism. Come 2015 by God’s grace, we have already planned for church growth on missions convention called, ‘Port Harcourt 2015.’

Given your high academic and spiritual exposure, how do you plan to reposition the church?

I am a team worker, and I believe God has given me a good team at the officers’ level, at the Executive Committee level and I am ready to carry them along as we implement the visions of God for our house. By the grace of God, I’m taking the new Executive Committee to orientation; from there we will go into retreat and from there we gather the whole leadership where we will share with them the direction the church is actually heading. We must use a spiritual curtain to close our ears to what the devil is saying so that we can move forward. Time is no longer on our side; we must do the work of Him that sent us now that there is time, because the night comes when nobody would work. Then from there we will go into Easter Retreat and the theme for the coming Easter retreat is: ‘Revival of Our Mandate.’ During the Easter Retreat, everybody will be talking and focusing on the mandate of soul winning, with a view to taking it to the next level. For instance, we would not begin to look at how to use social media to win souls because that same social media is what people use to rubbish others. No, we would not do that. Instead we should be looking at how to use newspapers to reach out to our publics; so that when you see us on television you would know that it is for soul-winning and not for tarnishing the image of other people on TV. That is what we intend doing so that from there we get into church growth and advancement.

Nigeria is the big brother in Africa and Nigeria, geographically speaking, is located at the trigger of Africa. You know when you touch the trigger the gun will go off. You see God has an agenda and God’s agenda is for revival and missions – toward changing men by establishing Christ in them, and God will use Africa to reach out to Europe and other continents. That is why the church of God must never be distracted.

The story of churches in Nigeria would never be complete without the AG, and this is why Satan is fighting to derail the church, and we should never yield an inch! We must at all times be at the forefront of firing these evangelistic guns to ensure the fulfilment of our purpose. We have many leaders and pastors in AG and for this, we cannot afford to suffocate this formidable ministry at the altar of politics.

Sport 59

SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

Interview

Modupe Oshinkoya:

Sport died in Nigeria a long time ago p.60

Boxing

GOtv Boxing Night: Organisers assure fans of adequate security p.61 Golf

132 players for Ikoyi Ladies Open Championship p.61

Football

Federation Cup final: Dolphins, Enyimba scramble for trophy p.61

Sunday Team

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu Golf Reporter Ifeanyi Ibeh

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Eagles’ failure blessing in disguise, says Uduaghan •It’s not time for blame game •We must help team rebuild

‘

Dapo Sotuminu The Super Eagles of Nigeria went to sleep after winning the African Nations Cup title in South Africa in 2013, this was again the law of sports, as the team and their managers forgot that, winning is one thing, while maintaining the status as a champion is another,’ these were the words of the sports-loving governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, while reacting to the team’s failure to book a ticket to play in the 2015 edition of Afcon.

He stated that, no great team

go to sleep after winning a major championship, stressing that, the 1994 Eagles that won the Nations Cup in Tunisia were focused and never went to sleep the way the coach Stephen Keshi-tutored team did after they won the title in 2013.

‘If the 1994 team was not stopped from taking part in the 1996 edition in South Africa, they would have won because they didn’t go to sleep. After Tunisia they had excellent performance at the USA 94 World Cup and were ready to go and win the 1996 Afcon.

‘For me the loss in Uyo brought mixed feelings as I felt bad that

my country wasn’t going to be represented in the 2015 Afcon and at the same time, this is not good for us in a country where a lot of good things are tied to football and sports generally. I also see it as a good development, in the sense that it would allow those saddled with the responsibility of running sports in the country put their house in order. We cannot continue with so many crises in our sports while we pretend that all is well.’

Uduaghan noted that, at this point falling is not important but how we recover. Nigerians should come together to help our football recover.

‘It is not the best time to play the blame game. We must start to work ahead of the next assignment for the Eagles which is the World Cup qualifiers. With good planning, it is possible Nigeria rise again in the qualifiers and go to World Cup to do well in 2018.

‘Germany knew four years earlier that they were going to win the FIFA World Cup title in Brazil and of course they won, as they planned for it thoroughly and the team was dedicated to the cause.

For Nigeria, what we have now is the result of going to sleep. It’s time to re-strategise not only in football but in all the sports.

‘We must not leave sports in the hands of government alone, the states too must try as much as possible help identify and develop talents at all times. If we pull our resources together, Nigeria would become a first class country in sports more so if the likes of the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, president, Chief Solomon Ogba who are special gifts to the country are allowed to function well.’

He appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to follow-up the progress of age-grade and grassroots sports. These must be encouraged in the country.

‘Nigeria must take the issue of sports more seriously. We have depended so much on oil wealth that we have forgotten that there are other things that could be used to develop our economy. Nigerians should start looking at sports as a source of economy.

‘Going to the 2015 African Nations Cup should have one or the other helped the Nigerian economy, but we failed to see it in that light, it’s unfortunate, Uduaghan lamented.

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Sport

Modupe Oshinkoya: Sport died in Nigeria a long time ago

She was Nigeria’s best athletes forty years ago as she won some valuable laurels for the country at the international level, which included a Commonwealth Games gold. Modupe Oshinkoya, relocated to the United State in 1976 where she has been a Sports Instructor. She told DAPO SOTUMINU in this interview that, true sports development died in the country a long time ago

The last time you won a Commonwealth Games gold medal was 40 years ago, but you are remembered by Nigerians as a superwoman, who brought honour and pride to the country, how do you feel about this?

I feel so excited that Nigerians still remember me as if what I did for the country’s sport was just 10 years ago. It’s a good feeling, quite encouraging and commendable. It is good that I am still recognised and I don’t think other athletes who did the country proud in the past have been given their dues for laying down their active days for the country. Though, the recognition given me so far would serve as a motivation for upcoming young athletes still representing the country. This is what other developed countries of the world do to bring out the best in their athletes at the international level.

It is good that Nigeria’s current best athlete, Blessing Okagbare is getting all the desired recognition, but I want to call on the National Sports Commission to improve on this by inviting more of Nigeria’s sports legends and reward them accordingly since no retirement benefits and pension scheme have been arranged for them. It would be great achieve-

WEEKEND RESULTS

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ment if the Sports Commission eventually put in place a scheme for retired athletes to fall back to when they quit the stage.

I was lucky to have travelled abroad at the time I did, it would have been a different story today, I thank God for directing my course in life, it was not easy but I thank God for His care over my life all these years.

What do you think the NSC should do to boost sports in Nigeria?

The government should partner with the private sector to provide facilities for the various sports in Nigeria. With these, the athletes would be able to train regularly on these standard facilities across the country. Full scale training on these facilities must start from the elementary to the high schools.

In these high schools, tartan tracks should be provided so that the young athletes can start having a feel of the kind of running tracks they would be competing on when they mature in their events. This would enable the identification of new talents over time who would take over from the ageing athletes. Starting late on real tracks and proper facilities have been the albatross of Nigerian sports development, but now that these have been identified, the country stands a better chance of consistently winning Olympic gold medals in the long run. I learnt that the country did not win any medal at the last edition of the Olympics in London.

Can you compare the standard of athletics those days with what we have today?

They are incomparable, it was the good old days then and not the half measure we have today in Nigerian sports. I can’t believe the decay in the country’s sports today where athletes train on their own to compete in the colours of Nigeria. It never happened in my active days. That time, we had the full backing of the military government in power headed by General Yakubu Gowon. In our days, the military government paid more attention to sports development than what the democratic government is doing today. They

were interested in sports and they encouraged us to win in our various events.

Dr. Awoture Eleaya was the one who brought me up as a champion from my days in the high school and kept me under his wings to develop into a world class athlete that I was.

There were other people like the Commissioner for Education in Lagos state and the Principal in my secondary school also in Lagos who gave me the push and blossomed my way to stardom.

This is what we need to bring back to Nigerian sports so to return it to what it was in the 70’s and 80’s.

Apart the Commonwealth Games’ gold, which other laurels did you win as a first class athlete?

I did all that in the United States, it was called that the NIAW which was the women’s category at the college level (university) where I won the Long Jump and the Pentathlon gold for the UCLA several times.

Which year did you relocate to the United States and what have you been doing since then?

That was in 1976 I believe and I competed for sometime before I had my daughter who took after me as a top athlete in the USA. She got a sport scholarship and was also a champion in her active days. Today, I am a grandma taking care of my grand children. I am a happy woman and I don’t have any regrets doing what I did in my active days for Nigeria, if I have the opportunity I will do it all over again, the only problem is that those who were given the responsibility to take charge of sports administration in Nigeria allowed the country’s sports decay for a long time. If they had ensured proper development, Nigeria should have been in the class of countries ruling sports in the world. Those days we were ahead of Jamaica, South Africa and other upcoming countries in international sports, but all these have overtaken Nigeria leaving the country in the backbench.

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NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014

GOtv Boxing Night: Top class boxers battle for supremacy

S

ecurity measures have been put in place for the safety of fans at the National Stadium, venue of the GOtv Boxing Night on Sunday, November 23. The security assurance was made by the management of Flykite Productions, promoters of the GOtv Boxing Night after a security meeting with National Stadium authorities.

Mr. Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Productions, emerged from the meeting to declare that boxing fans have nothing to fear because arrangements have been made to ensure they are protected from any untoward experience at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, venue of the event.

Alumona further revealed that security on the day will be handled by KSquare Security, a top-tier security firm.

“The company that will provide security at the GOtv Boxing Night is vastly experienced in the handling of events of this magnitude. They have demonstrated their expertise over the years, the reason for which they are in the top bracket in the sector.

“Having them with us is a big bonus and I assure every fan of protection from harassment and intimidation. There is absolutely no need to fear. Fans are assured of their safety,” he said.

GOtv Boxing Night, a sixbout professional boxing even which has been sanctioned by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), is conceived to end the decline boxing is currently experiencing in Nigeria and aims at bringing continental and world title fights to Nigeria in the near future.

The biggest of the fights, which will be in various weight categories, is the National Featherweight title bout between Dare “Fighting Machine” Oyewole and Waidi “Skoro” Usman. Other fights include the Heavyweight clash between Adewale “Tiger” Abbey and Tope “Young” Ogunshakin and the Featherweight duel between David ‘Lucky Boy’ Ekpeyong and Muhammed “Fearless” Tijani. Chijioke “Painless” Nigige will swap punches with Sunday”Capo” Olalekan in the Middleweight category, while Stanley “Edo Boy” Johnson fight Saheed “Happy Boy” Olayiwola in a Lightweight bout. Dele “Lagelu” Adeleke will seek to stop Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji in the Light Middleweight duel.

The event, which is sponsored by GOtv, Custodian Life Assurance Plc, 1960bet, Paragonis Multimedia Productions, KSquare Security and Zetaweb, will start at 5PM.

Federation Cup final: Dolphins, Enyimba scramble for trophy

F

ormer Super Eagles goalkeeper, Rotimi Sunday, has assured that his club Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt would emerge victorious at the end of today’s Federation Cup final against perennial rival, Enyimba International FC of Aba. He noted that Dolphins victory would make it the fifth time the club would win the Confederation Cup title.

Going into their fifth final in the second biggest club competition in Nigeria, Rotimi, stated that his team have the players to upset former league champions, Enyimba in the final that would be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Dolphins and Enyimba have been the most consistent teams in the Federations Cup lately. Dolphins have won four titles while Enyimba have three. Rotimi however feels this year is for the Port-Harcourt side.

“It will be a difficult but we are hopeful we can win. We have a good team. We do not have serious injury concerns and the players are in top form

so we are optimistic. It is a cup final and we always want to win them so we believe.

“We have worked hard to get here despite the troubles of the year and we believe we can win. Enyimba FC who the defending champions is a good side but we have played them many times before and we know what to expect,” he said.

Meanwhile, Enyimba FC players have said that they want to pacify their supporters after failing to win the Glo Premier League which they lost narrowly to Kano Pillars, by winning the Federation Cup trophy.

One of the players, Chimezie Amanfor said: “We have already won the CAF Champions League ticket courtesy of our second placement on the league but we want to deliver proper silverware to them. We are expecting nothing short of outright victory.

We shall maintain the existing tradition as we are yet to lose to Dolphins either in Aba or Port Harcourt in the last three seasons.

Golf Weekly 132 players for Ikoyi Ladies Open Championship •As Lady Captain, Ngoka, reels out plans

Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

he 40th edition of the Ikoyi Club Ladies Open Championship, which gets underway on Thursday, November 27, at the Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, would have a record number of participants in attendance with well over 132 participants expected to compete at the two-day championship.

The previous record was 90, but as at Friday over 132 lady golfers from various parts of the country, most notably Port Harcourt, Kano, Asaba, Ibadan, Makurdi, Abuja and Calabar, had signified their readiness to come to Lagos and claim the title currently held

by Evelyn Oyome of the Ibadan Golf Club.

Making this known to New Telegraph was the Lady Captain of the host club’s Golf Section, Ngozi Ngoka, who expects the figure to rise to peak at 150 before Thursday’s tee off.

“This year’s edition is going to be unique. Apart from golf, once everybody comes in they are in for a really good time,” said Ngoka.

“We have a record number of attendees this year. As at today, we already have 132 players registered and still counting.

“In all, we are expecting about 150 players. It has never happened before, so it is going to be a bit of a challenge for us but we have hired a tournament consultant to make sure everything goes seamlessly,” added the affable Ngoka, who disclosed that

the host club’s facilities won’t be stretched by the record attendance figures.

“Our club can actually accommodate 180 golfers,” she continued. “But this tournament is a gross competition so out of the anticipated 150 participants only between 85 and 90 will be eligible to play for two days as the second day of competition is going to be for the lower handicappers.”

She added: “Also, out of that anticipated 90 only 50 will make the cut-off. So, it is not something we can’t handle as we have been organising tournaments for many years. But the reason we are getting a consultant is because we want to have fun.

“My committee members and I have worked so hard to make this happen, and we don’t want a situation where we will be bugged down and not actually enjoying ourselves and interacting with people that have come to our club.

“And that is why we decided to get a consultant to handle this so that we can be part of the competition; after all it is a tournament for amateurs and not for pros, so we are all eligible to participate.”

It won’t strictly be action on the golf course this time around though as this year’s tournament, which has been supported by First Bank, Zenith Bank, United Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Mandilas Motors and Total, will feature an arts and craft exhibition of a unique nature; unique in the sense that the exhibitors are staff of the legendary Lagos-based club.

“We have a lot of programmes to keep everybody happy such as a cocktail on Wednesday (November 26) where made in Nigeria furniture and artworks will be exhibited.

Artisans will be around to showcase their products and we hope the publicity will help them grow,” continued Ngoka.

“It’s a new innovation for us Ngoka and it is our

own little way of giving back to the society as well as having a good time playing the game that we love.”

The Lady Captain also disclosed the motivation behind this innovation.

“What motivated me was the day I saw one of our cleaners here at the club stringing beads and they were really pretty. So I asked her where she learnt to do that and if she actually earns a living from it,” she disclosed.

“I was quite impressed and told her that when next we have an event I would like her to come and exhibit her products. That was when I got to find out that her daughter helps out with the beads while her son makes shoes, and that got me thinking that there could be others out here into something similar.

“And I was right as there were a lot of other workers here, including caddies, involved in so many similar activities such as painting and music which most of us didn’t know about. So, this will be a good avenue for them to showcase their stuff to a large audience.”

Tip of the Week

O

ne of the most common mistakes amateurs make is improper alignment. Some think they should align their feet at the target, others try to get their shoulders parallel to it. Some even try to align everything at the target!

They’re all wrong.

The correct way to align your shots is to always begin by first assessing your target from behind the ball. This will give you a perspective of the entire hole and help you aim right where you want the ball to go. Secondly, before you make your actual stance, set the clubface behind the golf ball and align it directly at the target.

Do this before, not after, you get into your stance. PGA Tour players have a knack for aligning the clubhead in this fashion. Pay attention to how they do it the next time you tune in.

After you have the right clubface alignment, then comes time to situate the rest of your body.

Most players benefit from aligning their lower body left of the target line and their upper body parallel to the target line. There’s actually no right answer as to what works best for you, but one thing is for sure. Aligning your body directly at the target rarely works. It usually leads to crossovers and overthe-top swings. Keep your body aiming left of the target line, and experiment with what works best for you. But be sure to align that clubface first!

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SUNDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

Ndoma-Egba kicks as PDP cancels congresses Onyekachi Eze, Clement James and Sola Adeyemo

T

he cancellation of the November 1 ward congress in Lagos, Cross River and Oyo State by the Peo-

ples Democratic Party has continued to attract mixed reactions from aspirants to the various positions from the affected states.

Controversies have continued to trail the outcome of the ward congresses held by the PDP across the country,

NIMC, NIS partner on e-ID

N

ational Identity Management Commission and the Nigeria Immigration Service have agreed to collaborate on advanced identity management and national security.

A joint statement by NIS Public Relations Officer, Chukwuemeka Obua, and Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, NIMC, Abdulhamid Umar, said the commission’s DirectorGeneral/CEO, Chris Onyemenam, led the management on a working visit to the NIS on Monday aimed at deepening the existing collaboration between the two agencies with regards to identity establishments and management and also leveraging on the existing warm relationship between the NIS and NIMC for better

identity management and national security.

The team was received by the NIS management team led by the ComptrollerGeneral, David Parradang, at the agency’s boardroom, in Abuja.

Onyemenam presented a comprehensive overview of the national identity project, which is to assign the National Identification Number to genuine Nigerians for identity management in tandem with international best practice.

He reeled out other electronic functionalities embedded on the document to include financial transactions and most importantly the fact that NIMC’s database could serve as a veritable tool for cross-checking information provided by passport applicants.

and the appeal panels set up by the party to address the grievances have failed to calm frayed nerves.

The party had, last week, wielded the big hammer in Ebonyi and Adamawa states by suspending some members of the state executive for one month for publishing the results without clearance from the PDP national secretariat.

Last Friday, the party eventually announced the cancellation of the results in the three states and ordered a repeat on Monday.

It also lifted the suspension clamped on some party members in Cross River State and said they could participate in all party activities, including the repeat ward congress.

But Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor NdomaEgba, who is from Cross River State said he had not yet made up his mind whether he could participate in the repeat congress on Monday or not.

“I know the matter is in

court. They should have waited for the process to be completed,” he said in a telephone interview.

Ndoma-Egba is seeking to return to the Senate on the platform of the party.

A governorship aspirant also from Cross River State, Goddy Jeddy-Agba, told Sunday New Telegraph that he had accepted the party’s decision and was preparing for the repeat congress.

Meanwhile, Director-General of Victor Ndoma-Egba Campaign Organisation, Chief Earnest Irek, yesterday vowed that his group would not accept the national leadership’s action.

Irek told journalists in Calabar that cancelling the results was prejudicial given the fact that the case is before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to him, his group has not been communicated with either in writing or otherwise, saying it was the height of injustice for the national leadership to take sides.

Also speaking, a frontliner in the Oyo State governorship race, Seyi Makinde, described the cancellation as a confirmation of the fact that it was fraught with irregularities.

Makinde, who said the decision was a reaction to the protest by he and other aggrieved aspirants, stated that the national leadership came to the conclusion that the congress conducted in 351 wards across the state was not properly conducted, hence the cancellation.

He explained that there were strange results presented by various sources, recalling that the aspirants conducted the congresses by themselves, evidence of which he said was presented before the appeal panel led by Prof. Alphonsus Nwosu during its sitting in Ibadan.

“The preponderance of evidence presented before the appeal panel informed the final decision taken by the party and it is our hope that the Monday exercise

will be given the necessary monitoring to ensure that the party’s image is protected,” he stressed.

Another aspirant, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, said the cancellation was “a welcome development and a right decision at the right time.”

A statement by his Media Assistant, Dayo Omotoso, said “Senator Adeseun is highly pleased with the cancellation of the ward congress in Oyo. He nevertheless appealed to the national committee of the party to conduct a free, transparent, open, fair and peaceful congress on Monday. He appeals to co-aspirants and their loyalists to conduct themselves in orderly and peaceful manner as they do another congress billed for Monday (tomorrow).

“Anybody who wins will be supported by us. We should all maintain decorum as our party will not condone any act of indiscipline.”

Kidnapped LG boss regains freedom Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

T

he Head of Local Government Administration in Atakumosa West Local Government of Osun State, Mr. Kunle Falode who was kidnapped last Wednesday night in Osogbo by yet to be identified gun men who demanded N50million ransom has regained freedom.

Sunday New Telegraph’s gathered that the family members succeeded in negotiating the ransom downward to N10m before the kidnapped civil servant

could regain his freedom from his adductors.

However, in a letter of appreciation and commendation unanimously signed

by Falode dynasty, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the family commended the state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Marafa, for his prompt intervention in the matter.

It described the attitude of the commissioner to the criminal act as positive and commendable and charged other police commissioners in other states to emulate him on quick response to troubles.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; Managing Consultant. Bestdat Consult, Mr. Femi Ekundayo and Head, Synergy and Business Solution, Mr. Joshua Abiakalam, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between BoI and Business Development Service Providers (BDSPS) in Lagos

‘We paid INEC officials, provided generators to obtain PVC’ Tobi Fabiyi

S

ome resident of Lagos and parts of Ogun states have expressed disgust over the just concluded distribution of the permanent voter’s cards and registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that they paid the officials and provided them with refrigerators before they obtained their cards.

Not only did they complain about inadequacy of capturing machines and printers for fresh registrants, but also lamented the overcrowding of the centres, which over- stretched the

INEC personnel deployed for the job.

At Aseese Bus Stop, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the registration exercise was suspended for about five hours last Wednesday following a fight by some angry youths, who protested the slow pace of the work and alleged favoritism. It took the intervention of the police and the traditional ruler of the place to restore the peace.

At the Isheri Secondary School compound, a centre which took care of over 120 registration units from Magodo, Olowo-Ira and Isheri, participants were bitter of about the pain of getting

registered and converting their temporary card to the PVC. “In some cases, the laptop computers used for the exercise either broke down or the printer failed to work here. In another instance, the over-stretched staff lump the crowd together for hours and days sorting out their cards from the various sacks with little or no success,” Mrs. Eugenia Ekuribe said.

According to her, INEC staff and operatives of the Neighbourhood Watch made brisk business at the centre, receiving between N1,000 and N500 before giving out the PVCs to de-

serving electorate. A mild drama also occurred at the centre when some “agents” of the All Progressives Congress who were ‘facilitating’ the registration exercise threatened to stop work if the party failed to increase their allowances to N1,000 par day.

At the Agege Local Government secretariat, potential voters showed similar grievances over the rigorous process they went through in the course of the registration which at the end yielded not too impressive result. They said not even the directive for them to text their numbers to INEC achieved any result.

“We were told to text INEC, Lagos, surname, and the last five or six digit of our voters identification number on our voter cards to 20120, using any network. And at the end, we couldn’t find our cards which is disgusting,” one of the voters said.

Another affected voter in Agege who pleaded anonymity said: “It is a shame that INEC which had shifted the exercise twice in the past could not guarantee a seamless exchange of the temporary card for the PVC. I am deeply disappointed at this display of inadequate planning.”

He further stressed that in

some areas where collection of PVCs took place, some residents had provided generators and also fueled them from their purses due to the nonchalant attitude of INEC. Baale of Aseese in Ogun State, Chief Jamiu Solona, said he provided four printers for INEC officials before they could commence printing all the temporary cards issued for the people in the area. “We provided them with the printers, but unfortunately, shortly after I left there for lunch, some hoodlums stormed the unit and fomented trouble, forcing INEC officials to terminate the exercise,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2014

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SPORT Modupe Oshinkoya: Sport died in Nigeria a long time ago

FAITH

Sanctity of Truth

I never planned to head Assemblies of God Church – Okoroafor

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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N150

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Let the security debate begin (2) The Nigerian L Project ast week, we commenced with the character sketches of the major dramatis personnae in the contest for the plum job of the Nigerian Presidency in both the PDP and APC. Today, we conclude the security debate, continuing with the remaining portion of Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s character sketch.

From this brief sketch, Kwankwaso who has been a two-time Governor, dealing with Critical Security Matters, and also Minister of an A-list Ministry of Defence, can be said to have a good knowledge of Security Matters. But, do these, without more, mean that he can frontally confront the Boko Haram Menace? Have there not been bombings, even under his nose as Governor of Kano State? Only time will tell.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR Maverick Atiku Abubakar was born on 25th November, 1946, to an itinerant Fulani trader and farmer in Jada Village, Adamawa State. A vice President to Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, Atiku was an only child to his parents after the death of his only sister. Having attended Jada Primary School, Adamawa Provincial Secondary School in Yola, Atiku obtained Grade 3 in WASC in (1965); Diploma in School of Hygiene, Kano (1967); and Diploma in Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1969).

Atiku joined the Nigeria Customs and Excise (as the name was then) in 1969.

He retired in April, 1989, as Deputy Director, the then second highest position in the Customs and Excise.

A member of the Constituent Assembly in 1989, Atiku first unsuccessfully ran for Governor of then Gongola State (now Taraba and Adamawa States) in 1991. In 1993, he contested the Presidential Primaries under SDP, placing third behind M.K.O. Abiola and Babagana Kingibe. He was elected Governor of Adamawa State in 1998, before Obasanjo picked him as his running mate, even whilst being Governor-Elect.

His second term as Vice President marked a stormy relationship with his boss, Obasanjo. When in 2007 he sought to contest the Presidency under the then Action Congress (AC), he was disqualified by INEC which accused him of being ineligible on the ground that he had been indicted by a panel set up by Obasanjo. It took the Supreme Court of Nigeria to clear him, before INEC returned his name on the ballot paper few days to the election. He lost the election and placed third, after Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP and Buhari of ANPP. A co-founder of Intels, an Oil Servicing Business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad, Atiku founded the American University of Nigeria in 2003.

He strenuously believes that a successful modern government has to be run like a business.

In 1984, whilst he was Deputy Director of Customs in charge of the Lagos International, Atiku was in the eye of the storm when he refused to deny, under immense pressure, that a Northern Emir had illegally flown 70 suit cases with unknown contents into Nigeria from Saudi Arabia, and refused Customs check, at a time old naira notes were being replaced with new ones by the Buhari Military Junta, to cripple allegedly corrupt Politi-

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08128444555 (sms only)

Atiku

Kwankwaso

“On the 31st of December,

1983, Buhari overthrew the democratically elected Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Buhari was himself over thrown on the 27th of August, 1985, by General Ibrahim Babaginda (IBB)”

cians’ financial muscle. This almost cost him his job.

At 43, in 1989, when he could not get the substantive Directorship of the Customs, Atiku voluntarily retired and

MAMA LASISI

delved into Real Estate, which he had started in 1974, whilst a Customs Officer at Apapa Port. He had set up Nicotes (later Intels). He has extensive interests in Agriculture, Trading, Oil and Gas and Education.

Will Atiku’s experience as a Customs officer and Vice President for eight years, give him an added advantage over his co-contestants on the APC banner? Will he step down for Buhari who almost removed him from office in 1984? Can he confront Boko Haram that has all but over run his native Adamawa State? The next few weeks will determine. Precisely 10th December.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI A stern, no nonsense Soldier of Spartanlike disposition, Buhari was born in Katsina on December 17, 1942. He will be 72 years old by December, making him the oldest of the aspirants. His old age is an Achilles heel which his opponents have continuously harped upon.

He joined the Army in 1962, the year Nda and Okorocha were born, trained at the Defence Services Staff College, MONS Officers Cadet School and Nigerian Defence Academy. He was appointed by Obasanjo as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources in 1976, when Obasanjo was Military Head of State. He became Military Governor of newly created North Eastern State during the Murtala Mohammed regime, and headed the then newly created NNPC in 1977.

On the 31st of December, 1983, Buhari overthrew the democratically elected Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Buhari was himself over thrown on the 27th of August, 1985, by General Ibrahim Babaginda (IBB).

Buhari as military Head of State appointed a fellow Muslim and Northerner, General Idiagbon, as his Deputy. He ruled with an iron first, promulgating Decrees that abridged freedoms and Civil liberties. Under his pet project, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), many Nigerians were flogged publicly for failing to queue up properly, or obey simple traffic regulations. Politicians were detained without trial for many months, whilst others were jailed after secret trials by Military Tribunals. Some never recovered from the horrific ordeal. Many were banned from holding public office for many years. Buhari banned strikes and lock outs by workers and founded a secret Police Force, the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO).

Buhari got sentenced and jailed, for 10 (ten) years, popular Afrobeat Musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who was later pardoned and freed by IBB. Buhari got Umaru Dikko, Shagari’s erstwhile Minister of Transport, drugged and crated in a luggage meant for shipment, before eagle-eyed British Police discovered and freed him.

He muzzled press freedom and promulgated some draconian Decrees such as Decree Nos. 2, 3 and 4 of 1984, under which some Journalists like Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor, then of The Guardian newspaper, were jailed for publishing statements which though true, were considered embarrassing to his Government. Under his punitive retroactive Decrees, three young men, Batholomew Owo, Ojuolape and another, were sentenced to death and executed for allegedly trafficking in drugs. The Decrees under which they were executed were promulgated to take retroactive effect.

To be concluded next week.

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By Aliu Eroje

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