Binder777777 april 6, 2014

Sunday Edition

Sanctity of Truth Sunday, April 6, 2014

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Vol. 1 No. 47

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POLITICS

We’ll descend heavily on pipeline vandals - PRESIDENCY }25

Sanctity of Truth

ON SUNDAY

Page 15, APRIL 06, 2014

Between Patience Jonathan and Ekaette Akpabio

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT www.newtelegraphonline.com/body&soul

People should mind their areas of core competence -Tunji Olugbodi

}46

Men’s suit lapels reach a new peak

NORTHERN YOUTHS DISOWN NATIONAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES Below the knee fashion

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lThey are faceless, says Mamman lACF, Afenifere, Falana dismiss Lamido’s secession threat Ibraheem Musa and Biyi Adegoroye

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orthern youths under the aegis of Arewa Citizens Action for Change yesterday

vowed to reject the outcome of the ongoing National Conference, just as they faulted the representation of the region at the confab.

In a communique issued at the end of a two day sum-

mit in held in Kaduna, ACAC said that the delegates are on their own and do not represent the North because the youths are not adequately represented at the confab.

The communique was signed by d convener of the summit, Comrade Nastura Ashir Sharrif.

“Consequently, this summit has resolved to adopt the position of the assem-

bly of elders and leaders of the North as contained in the Kano declaration of March 2014 in relation to the confab in its totality and declares that whatever comes out of it is unacceptable, un-

warranted and inapplicable to the youth of northern Nigeria,” the youths said.

According to ACAC, Northerners were being CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Left-Right: Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Babajide Omoworare and others during the 15th Edition of ‘Walk to Live for Healthy Living’ in Ife North Local Government, Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu, State of Osun ...yesterday.

Mixed fortunes at APC ward congresses NINE BURNT TO DEATH ON LAGOS -IBADAN EXPRESSWAY }3

CONFAB NOTES 2015: OMISORE We need to restructure PICKS PDP Nigeria - Tony Nyiam }26 GUBER TICKET Expect a new nation soon IN OSUN }3 - Chukwuemeka Ezeife}3 }40

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N500,000 ransom trap nails Ebonyi kidnap gang }13

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SUNDAY 6 APRIL 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics / National

Northern youths disown National Confab delegates CO NTINUE D FRO M PAG E 1

killed, maimed, detained and displaced in hundreds daily for the past five years, especially the youths, but the past and present leaders appear unperturbed.

“They have been primarily concerned about the 2015 polls and the crumbs that may come out of the so called national conference,” the communique said.

The communique added that the “summit has therefore resolved to set up two committees that would convey the disenchantment of the Northern youths to the region’s past and present leaders.”

The group also noted that the ongoing confab “amounts to a brutal incursion into the sovereignty of the subsisting constitution that vest such powers in the National Assembly.”

However, the spokesman for the Northern Delegates Forum, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, said they would not join issues with a faceless fringe group.

He told one of our correspondents that “any group of people can decide to meet and issue a communique.”

Meanwhile, the Afenifere Renewal Group has described the outburst of the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammad Barkindo Mustapha, that his people could seek solace in Cameroon should Nigeria disintegrate, as a very misguided statement least expected of an elder statesman of his stature.

Speaking to New Telegraph on Sunday, its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, said “such a divisive misguided statement was far from nationalistic and raised much

suspicion at a time when insurgents who attack Nigeria are using countries like Chad, Niger and Cameron as their hideout.”

The condemnation came just as frontline lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Femi Falana, described the statement as a reflection of his frustration like many other Nigerians from the North who are rounding harassed by Boko Haram without a way out.

Odumakin, who is also a delegate at the conference, said the statement was a reflection of the perception of the Lamido, adding that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. He added however, that many Northern leaders whom he spoke with confirmed that the Lamido was speaking for himself and not for the region.

He said many delegates at the conference are committed to the unity of the country.

Falana for his part said, “I don’t feel very disturbed at all by such a statement. It is not unusual for traditional rulers to feel nostalgic about their old traditional kingdom, any less the Alaafin would say that Benin Republic was part of the old Oyo Empire.”

However, the Arewa Consultative Forum has said that Mustapha’s threat to pull his people out of Nigeria to Cameroon has already been addressed and it is now a dead issue.

Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone yesterday, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, the forum’s spokesman said that the confab has already reached

Paramount Ruler in Ilaje Local Government, Ondo State, Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, being accredited at Unit 006, Ward 2 Ugbonla Riverine Area by Independent Electoral Commission officials during the bye-election into Ilaje\Ese Odo Federal Constituency in Ondo State…yesterday.

a consensus on the mode of voting last week and that there is no need to overheat the system.

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, the leader of the Northern Elders Council, asked our correspondent to call back but the distinguished delegate didn’t pick when New Telegraph on Sunday called again. Professor Ango Abdullahi, the spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum couldn’t be reached yesterday.

Last week Friday, the Northern Delegates Forum had said that no delegate was contemplating a walk out or boycotting the proceedings of the ongoing National Conference.

Mamman, the spokesman of NDF who made the comment, said that members of the forum which is under the co-chairmanship of Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, a former Inspector General of Police and ex-Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana, were among the group of 50 wise men that broke the impasse on voting mode.

Kalu, an uncommon politician – Soun of Ogbomoso T he Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, has heaped encomium on eminent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, describing him as an uncommon politician.

Oba Oyewumi made the remark on Friday when Kalu paid him a visit.

Kalu, who was installed as the Aro of Ogbomoso by Oba Oyewumi six years ago, was not at the chieftaincy award ceremony as he was out of Nigeria then.

Kalu’s visit, on Friday, was therefore the first official visit after the conferment of the chieftaincy title on him.

Oba Oyewumi said Kalu had demonstrated the quali-

ties of a good leader with his conduct before, during and after his gubernatorial tour in Abia State.

He said he remains an astute businessman with a capacity for helping those in need.

Responding, Kalu, whose Special Adviser, Prince Oyekunle Oyewumi, is the son of Oba Oyewumi,

Also, speaking to a group of journalists last Friday, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, a delegate from Sokoto State, described Lamido’s outburst as his personal opinion.

He said, “We never discussed this issue of going to Cameroon in any northern caucus meeting or in any forum.” Dingyadi recalled that there was a lot of heat and centrifugal forces in the early days of the confab and people retreated to their ethnic cocoons.

The delegate who described the Lamido’s threat as an emotional outburst , said that the royal father’s position was “generated out of certain attacks for some other quarters.”

The Lamido had said, “In the long run, if we are not careful, this conference will flop. God forbid. If it flops, the resultant effect will not be imaginable. If anything happens and the country disintegrates, God forbid, many of us who are shouting their heads off may not have anywhere to go.

“My people and the people of Adamawa have got somewhere to go. I am the Lamido of Adamawa and my kingdom extends to Cameroon. The larger part of my kingdom is in Cameroon. Part of that kingdom is today called Adamawa State in Cameroon. You see, if I run to that place, I will easily be assimilated.

“My kingdom has been in existence hundreds of years before the so called entity Nigeria and the so called civilised people from the West were the people who came and divided us and the larger part of my kingdom is there in Cameroon. It is called Adamawa State in Cameroun.

If you go to Cameroon, you can verify that.”

But Falana said: “It was a product of frustration. It should not be taken seriously. Many people from the North are harassed by Boko Haram attack without a way out. That frustration gave rise to such statement.

People are oozing out their frustrations which were bottled over the years,” he

said.

According to him, a number of people have expressed other shocking opinions on the floor of the conference. “When we were considering what system of government should be adopted in the country, somebody once suggested that we should adopt military rule! Can you imagine that?”

He noted however, that everyone has the right to express his opinion, adding that Nigerian should not be perturbed by that.

Falana expressed disappointment at the statement, adding that he had expected the chairman to say, “Look, this is a conference of Nigerians.”

He added, “But as it were, some people are out to entertain themselves at this conference and that is why we have not made any appreciable progress. It has been a series of unending debates on the same issues, unnecessary repetition and people taking us back to where we have passed. This is why we are wasting time.”

was full of gratitude to the reverred monarch for finding him worthy of such a title.

He said that his visit was not a political one but in continuation of his bridge building across religious, political and ethnic divides.

He said he had visited some other parts of the country, including the North, and would continue to do in his bid to ensure the country remains one.

He told newsmen when asked if his visit was con-

nected with the 2015 elections: “You know me that I shoot straight and say it the way it is.

“I am not set for politics.

“I am only conferring with traditional rulers all over the country.

“The country is so dear to my heart.

“We must live peacefully.

“The country belongs to us all and we must continue to support our leaders.

“Just the way I have called for support for President Goodluck Jonathan and

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, so also do I want to appeal for us to support the Soun in order to move Ogbomoso forward.

“The people of Ogbomoso must also support the kabiyesi.”

When Kalu was asked of his impression of the people of Ogbomoso, he said: “The people of Ogbomosho are hospitable.

“The reception here, though this was supposed to be a private visit, is unbelievable.”

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 06, 2014

Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

T

he recent killing of 50 herdsmen by people believed to be soldiers in Keana local government area of Nassrawa state has prompted investigation by the Military High Command.

Director of Defense Information (DDI), Major Gen. Chris Olukolade who disclosed this while entertaining questions from journalists in Makurdi, the Benue state capital yesterday said “at the moment we cannot say we know anything about what happened until the matter is fully investigated and

More governors will soon join APC - Wamakko

News

Nasarawa killings: Military begins investigation the true picture of what actually happened is gotten”.

“Lets be sure of the narration of the people who are recounting what happened, the matter will be thoroughly investigated by the military, I can assure you that.

He opined that “the incident is certainly not in line with the modus operandi of the command operations, but stated that it will investigate it to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of incidence.

“At the moment we certainly cannot say we know anything about it unless it

qualifies as a gathering of an armed gang. But those on ground should be able to give us an insight.”

Gen. Olukolade maintained that the essence of their operation in the north central is to end and apprehend the operation of all terror groups and armed gangs terrorizing residents of the area and bring lasting peace within the area.

“The mission is not targeted at any individual, organization or ethnic group; But if anyone belongs to an armed gang he has every reasons and cause to be afraid unless he

drops his arms.”

According to him, “the military operation in the affected North Central states is yielding good result and success but we will continue to assess the operation in order to make adjustments where necessary. That is why the headquarters has visited Benue to do some assessment and I strongly believe that we are making progress.” meanwhile, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIG) Michael Zuokumor yesterday constituted an 8-man Joint Task Force made up of Fulani and Tiv youths to en-

sure the quick return of peace in crisis flash points of Benue and Nasarawa states.

The JTF is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring immediate return of peace in the affected states and to also ensure that the displaced persons go back to their ancestral homes.

The DIG Operation, it could be recalled, had last Monday initiated peace move between the the warring Benue farmers and Fulani marauders to end three years of hostilities with their leaders promising to follow the line of peace.

Gof Sokoto State says more overnor Aliyu Wamakko

governors have concluded plans to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wamakko, who did not mention the names of the governors and their states, made the statement on Saturday in Wamakko after the conduct of ward congresses in Wamakko Local Government Area.

He said that the ward congresses were held to ratify the consensus decision taken by the party’s candidates in the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said that the successful conduct of the exercise was a good beginning for the APC. ``The party will win all the elective positions at all levels during the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria,” he said.

Wamakko said that the members of the party in the local government took a unanimous decision that the adoption of the consensus arrangement was in the best interest of the party.

The chairmen of Tangaza and Silame local government areas, Alhaji Mohammed Sahabi and Alhaji Mani Katami respectively, said that the consensus arrangement would help to solidify the APC. The duo, who spoke to newsmen in Gidan-Madi and Silame respectively, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

The Chairman, Ward Congress Committee, Alhaji Muhammad Dan-Ango, said the exercise was concluded peacefully in the 244 electoral wards in the state

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L-R: Bridegroom, Mr Godswill Edward; the Bride, Faith Sakwe; father of the bridegroom, Elder Solomon Edward; and President Goodluck Jonathan, at the traditional marriage ceremony of the daughter of President Jonathan in Yenegoa …yesterday

Candidate withdraws as Omisore emerges Osun PDP governorship flagbearer

S

en. Iyiola Omisore on Saturday emerged the flag bearer of the PDP for the August 9 governorship election in Osun.

Alhaji Adamu Aliero, the Chairman of the Gubernatorial Primary Organising Committee, announced the result after the collation of the delegates’ votes.

Aliero said Omisore polled 1,128 votes to beat Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, who polled 35 votes and Mr Wole Oke, who got five votes.

Sen. Adetunji Adeleke, a former governor of the state,

had on Friday withdrawn from the contest.

Aliero said that 18 void votes were recorded in the election.

He advised the aspirants to come together and rally round the candidate in the interest of the party. ‘’The PDP is one big family and we should all pull resources together to ensure victory for the party in all elections.

“I want to thank all the delegates who participated in the election for their good conduct and sportsman-

ship,’’ Aliero said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the party in Osun, Alhaji Gani OlaOluwa, said it was determined to make the primary generally acceptable to all the stakeholders.

“With the successful conduct of the primary, the party is in a better stead ahead of the general elections,” OlaOluwa said.

In an interview with newsmen after the declaration, Omisore said he was humbled by the outcome of the election.

“The next step is to reach

out to my brothers who also participated in the race; this victory is for us all.

“The party will be made stronger through sincere reconciliation in the interest of all.

“The party will explore all democratic means to win the general election.

We will not be provoked to violence,” Omisore said.

There was a heavy presence of security personnel drawn from the police, civil defence, road safety and State Security Service during the election.

While inaugurating the Joint Task Force yesterday at the banquet hall of government house in Makurdi, Zuokumor who sued for the need for peaceful coexistence between the Fulanis and Benue farmers urged them to take the assignment seriously.

Nine perish in Lagos-Ibadan road autocrash Ahaoma Kanu

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ine persons were feared dead yesterday along Lagos-Ibadan road when an 18-seater passenger bus burst into flames following a road accident.

The unidentified bus was said to have be going to Lagos when its front tyre busted, sending it somersaulted along the road before engulfing in flames. Out of the 15 passengers inside the vehicle, nine were burnt beyond recognition while four survived with serious degrees of burn.

According to a Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, who gave his name as Olokolade, the surviving persons have been rushed to the hospital while efforts are being made to identify the charred bodies of the remaining passengers.

“The accident occurred around 5pm and from what we gathered, the bus was on top speed when its front tyre got busted and it somersaulted severally before busting into flames. Before rescue efforts could be initiated, nine persons have been burn beyond recognition and we have taken the survivors to the hospital. We are making every effort to identify the victims and contact their families he said.

When New Telegraph on Sunday visited the scene, the charred body of the bus was being towed to the side to allow the easy flow of traffic which had built up following the development. Burnt human parts, vehicle parts and charred remains of personal effects of the victims were seen inside the bus.

The incident caused heavy traffic buildup which made travellers take to trekking the remaining part of their journey on foot.

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Moments

L-R : Glo Ambassadors and music stars, Bez and Chee with Globacom’s Coordinator Marketing, Adeniyi Olukoya at the demonstration of Glo’s new tracking service, the Family & Friends Finder and other Value Added Service products in Lagos...on Thursday

L-R: Head of the delegation, United States Federation Aviation Administration, Andrew Lamare; Beverly Sharkey; Crystal Mack and Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Benedict Adeyileka, during the closing session of the United States Federation Aviation Administration Category one reassessment of Nigeria, at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos...Friday PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE.

L-R: Lead, Public Sector and Education, HP System, Emmanuel Eze; Event Director, African Resources and Technology for Education Show (ARTE), Folabi Obembe and Business Development Manager Inter Semi-Conductor West Africa Limited, Omobayode Abe, at the 3rd Annual ARTE show sponsored by HP and Intel in Lagos…on Wednesday

L-R: Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Festus Ebea; Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Chris Okaeben, at the 12-km “Walk For Life” in Benin City…on Thursday

APRIL 06, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

L-R: Edozie Madu; Ezeigbo of Ibadan, Dr. Alex Anozie; former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; Chairman, House J Hotels, Bayo Fatusin and others, during Kalu’s visit to the Ezeigbo in Ibadan, Oyo State…on Thursday.

Participants during Sun Communications day, at the on-going 25th Enugu International Trade Fair … on Friday

L-R: Marketing and Activation Lead, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Tola Elatunyi; Brand Ambassador, Patience Ozokwor, and Marketing Director, Reckitt Benckiser, Oguzhan Sulivrili, at the market activation to mark 50th Anniversary of Dettol Soap in Nigeria at Oke Arin Market in Lagos …on Thursday

National President, Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria, Mrs Rose Mordi (left) and Founder, Meljenstin Youth Empowerment Initiative, Mrs. Chibuzo Patrick, during comedy infusion for the down syndromes in Lagos…on Friday

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 06, 2014

L-R: Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii; winner, Fair and White Gold Ultimate pageant, Dimoke Tiana; chairman, Bozac Group, Mr. Patrick Chibueze and Abba Folawiyo at the official launch of the company’s luxury skin products and unveiling of its brand ambassador for 2014 in Lagos

L:R: Public Relations Executive, MultiChoice Nigeria, Timothy Okwu; Director, Post-Primary Education, Adamawa State, Mallam Timothy Adamu; CEO, Innovative Technology Literacy Service Limited, Mrs. Aderonke Bello and others at the commissioning of ten MultiChoice Resource Centers in Yola, Adamawa State…yesterday

A cross section of members of Goodluck lnitiative for Transformation (GIFT 2015), during their ‘March in March’ project organised to show solidarity for President Goodluck Jonathan and compel him to declare for 2015 at the Eagle Square, Abuja

Guest Speaker, Mr. Wale Samuel; Multiple District Chairperson, Prof. Adesokan Ayoade; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Segun Awonusi; and National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre, Lagos, Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun, who represented the UN Resident Coordinator during the 36th Annual Lions Day with UN, held in Lagos at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

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Moments

Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji (middle) cutting the tape to inaugurate the Nkwoagu/ Umuaku/ Owerre Ezukalla road in Umunneochi LGA of the state. With him are; Commissioner for Works, Mr. Longman Nwachukwu (left); Hon. Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejiocha; Managing Director, BOK Construction, Mr. Ifeanyi Okechukwu and Senator Uche Chukwumerije

L-R: Board member, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), Prof. Lanre Fagbohun; Principal, Agindingbi Junior Grammar School, Mrs. Sherifat Mohammed; Managing Director, Information Technology Business, Mr. Shina Badru; Executive Secretary, LSWRC, Mrs. Tanwa Koya; Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Sebiola; President, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Mrs. Sola Salako and Board member, LSWRC, Mr. Adedoyin Owolabi; during the media launch of the Commission, in Lagos…on Thursday

General Manager, Clarke Energy Nig. Ltd, Mr. Patrick Nzekwe; Counsellor, Economic, South African High Commission, Mr. Calvin Phume; South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Mokgethi Monaisa; his wife, Mokgadi and General Manager, Southern Sun Hotel Ikoyi, Mr. Mark Loxley at the Hotel’s Quarterly VIP Cocktail in Lagos…yesterday

L-R:Senior Superintendent F.A. Alao; Elder Israel Akinadewo; Elder Joseph Otubu; Special Apostle J.A. Akande at the Christian wake keep for the late Senior Lady Superintendent Comfort Akinadewo at Bishop’s Court, Oke Iwosan, Ondo….recently

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

APC Ward Congress

APC ward congresses characterized by consensus arrangement, postponement Biodun Oyeleye, Joe Ezuma, Ibrahim Abdul, Temitope Ogunbanke and Wale Elegbede

KWARA

T(APC) held across the country yesterday went peace-

he ward congresses of the All Progressive Congress

fully with most of the leaders emerging through consensus arrangement in the.

In Kwara, one of the leaders of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje who led the factional leadership of the PDP that later merged with the APC told newsmen shortly after the completion of the congress at his Baboko Ward that the ‘aspiration’ of PDP to win the state would end as mere aspiration given the fact that those leading the party now are majorly strangers to the dynamics of the political equation of the north central state.

The congress was peaceful in all the centres monitored by our reporter. Former governor, Senator Bukola Saraki joined his ward members in Ajikobi ward 1 where the exercise took place and by 10.30 am the new executive members for the ward had been elected. A similar scenario played out in Oro ward 1 and Igbaja Ward. All the ward executives were picked by consensus and presented to the congress for ratification. Saraki described the outcome of the exercise as the product of the consensus arrangement and commended the conduct of the members asking them to keep the tempo in the state.

KANO

I

n Kano, a NAN correspondent, who visited some of the wards in Kano metropolis, reports that there was no sign to indicate that the congress was being conduct.

However, the party Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Gwarzo, said the party had resolved to conduct the congress through consensus. “We have decided that the congress be conducted through consensus but where it is not possible people are free to do it through open ballot system. It is too early to say that the congress is not being held all over the state because it can take place in some places from now to the late evening,” he said.

Gwarzo assured that the party would ensure justice and fairness in the entire process.

The story is the same in Yobe. Most of the officials of the wards emerged through consensus.

NAN learnt that stakeholders met with the aspirants on the need to produce ward officials through consensus and decided that they would go for election where there were disagreements.

A chieftain of the party, Alhaji Sani Fema, told NAN that the congresses had been successful.

“The aspirants agreed to consensus but where there are disagreements the ward will go for election. In Fune Local Government Area, Ngelzarma ‘A’ ward is the only place with disagreements, but the aspirants are lobbying each other, and if they fail to agree they will go for election,” he said.

NIGER

Mshifted to Monday because of problems of logistics.

Voters on queue during the counting exercise at the APC ward Congress, in Osho ward, Orile Iganmu, Lagos, …yesterday PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

forms that will enable them to participate in the elections during the congress.

RIVERS

Twhich scheduled its state ward congress on Saturday

he All Progressives Congrress (APC) in Rivers state

across the state suddenly postponed the exercise .

The New Telegraph investigation showed that some party members and journalist who came out in readiness for participating and covering the exercise were hit by the news of the abrupt postponement as the Party announced the postponement late on Friday evening.

A terse statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Andy Nweye stated: ‘’This is to inform all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, that the Ward Congress scheduled to hold across Rivers State on Saturday, 5th April, 2014 has been postponed. It will now hold on Monday, 7th April, 2014 at the earlier scheduled venues.

By this notice, we call on all organizations, agencies and the general public to please take note of this postponement to Monday, 7th April, 2014’’.

Although no reason was given for the postponement, New Telegraph gathered from sources close to the Party that material for the exercise was not ready while others believed that it was due to the brewing protest of party members.

Adamawa

TAll Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Titus Olapitan he Chairman Adamawa State Congress Committee of the

has disclosed on Saturday that ward congresses in the state may likely take place next Wednesday.

Sen. Olupitan who made the disclosure at the state secThe party’s Deputy Chairman in the state, Alhaji Umar Shuaibu, made this known in an interview with the NAN retariat complex of the party said some of the factors that may cause the delay have to do with constitutional proviin Minna on Saturday.

Shuaibu said that the late arrival of officials in Minna for sions while the geography of the state was another cause the conduct of the congress from APC national headquar- for the delay.

“We have an obligation to give INEC 48 hour notice before ters was responsible for the shift in date.

“The officials arrived on Friday from Abuja with the the conduct of the congress. I also understand that the state necessary papers required for the congress, but the logistics is very large and before the people can come and collect their involved require more time to allow all interested persons documents it will take about two days,” he said.

He said the reason why the documentation exercise to meet the requirements. Interested persons vying for the positions in the congress to be held across 274 wards are started late in the state was due to the late arrival of officials expected to make payment to the bank before filing the and working materials saying that the committee will work eanwhile, the APC ward congresses in Niger have been

round the clock to ensure that the lost time was covered.

“We should have started early today but we came in very late yesterday with the documents from Abuja and seeing the situation, we believed we will not be able to do a thorough job.

“If we start today the exercise will not be thorough because all the documents have to be transported to the various local Governments and wards of the state so that they can have materials to work with,” he added.

LAGOS

Agress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Lagos state, Hon. Blessformer deputy governorship candidate of the defunct Con-

ing Okere, yesterday led some members of his former party to boycott the ward congress of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, citing cheating and intimidation within the party.

Okere who spoke with newsmen at ward ‘G’ of the Apapa Iganmu LCDA, said a section of those who made up the legacy party are singing discordant tunes over the non harmonisation of the sharing formula in the state.

He noted that it is unfortunate that the former ACN members in the state are being greedy in sharing position as dictated by the party’s constitution with other political parties that joined to formed APC. He said, “if you look at what is going on in APC, we sympathise with the three parties that joined to form APC as what we are seeing the state is different from what the constitution dictates and what is happening in Abuja.

“Imagine where only four out of 26 posts were given to the three parties to occupy in a ward in the Apapa/Iganmu LCDA.” Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Hon. Abayomi Ogunnusi has decried the conduct of yesterday All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in some parts of Lagos, and called for sanctions.

Ogunlesi, who is represents Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency in Lagos, said that those responsible for betraying the party in having a successful ward congress in Lagos, especially at Ward C2 in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area must be sanctioned by the party.

He also implored the party to hold fresh congress in areas where the congress was marred.

His words: “I am especially disappointed that even in my ward, (Ward C2- Ifako -Ijaiye) election materials were not brought in as at 1pm as against the stipulated time of 10am given by the party for take off of all congresses nationwide.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 06, 2014

APC members protest discrimination in Rivers

Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

O

ver 60 members of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, alleging discrimination by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Members of the three Political parties known collectively as the ‘Legacy Party’, and estranged members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, including Governor Chibuike Amaechi and his supporters, formed the APC in the state.

The development and previously wobbly nature of the minority parties in the state that could not make inroad to the hearts of the electorate during elections led to the collapsing of the parties into the PDP and APC. While the rump of the ACN, led by its governorship candidate in 2011 , Dr, Abiye Sekibo and the APGA led by its gubernatorial candidate in the same election Sir, Celestine Omehia headed back to PDP,Dr, aggrieved members of the PDP and members of other fringe political parties went for the APC. Some observers who spoke to the New Telegraph on Sunday on condition of anonymity over the drift to APC and the PDP, had predicted an implosion in both benefitting parties in the state given the new leadership structure that emerged, the political realignment along ethno political lines as well as intrigues that attended the process of harmonization.

The protesters marched from the former state secretariat of the defunct ACN, along Railway Line, in the D-Line area of Port Harcourt, through major streets of the state capital, to the state secretariat of the APC, at no 28 Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, where they met with the leadership of the ruling party in the state.

The leader of the protesters and former chairman of

the ACN in the state, Comrade Mmuen Kpagane, told Journalists that they staged the protest to bring to the attention of the governor, the level of discrimination; members of the Legacy Party were being subjected to, in the APC in the state.

Kpagane stated that going by the present arrangement within the APC which he said,

is contrary to the spirit of the Union, the members of the Legacy Party were not qualified to be elected into positions at the local government and state levels of the party, and called on Amaechi to intervene to correct the arrangement.

“APC is a progressive party. Progressiveness means equity and justice. Justice requires that those of us from

the Legacy Party should not be discriminated against. We are protesting an arrangement were someone from the Legacy Party cannot be local government chairman of the party; cannot be local government secretary of the party.

“Someone from the Legacy Party cannot contest as chairman of the local government council and cannot contest for

the governorship position of the party. We want those things to be strengthened before the Congress. That is why we are protesting so that the governor will come into this matter.

“The PDP lack justice and equity and we want to ensure that we are not found doing all those things PDP does; so that we can defeat them in the next general election”, he warned.

Senator Iyiola Omisore (middle), and the State Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, during the primary election of PDP in Osun State….yesterday

SPE charges IPMAN to resolve leadership crisis Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he President of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Engr. Andrew Ohiawhere, has called on Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria to resolve whatever crisis that is bedeviling it in the interest of the economy.

Ohiawhere, who stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the Acting President of IPMAN, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, also submitted that the persistent fuel scarcity in the country is causing a huge loss of over N20 billion daily.

Also, the Pastor of Christian Church International, Rev. Chikere Ukpolor, has warned detractors to desist from using fuel scarcity to disrupt the Transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Rev. Ukpolor, who spoke when he paid a solidarity

visit to the IPMAN president, queried why NIPCO plant that serves more than 50,000 trucks of petroleum could be shut down arbitrarily.

In a statement issued by the Eastern Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Chief Fred Ezinwa,

Ukpolor noted that the fuel crisis had lasted longer than is necessary due to the activities of detractors of the Goodluck Jonathan regime.

The President of SPE speaking in his remarks on the IPMAN crisis said, “Over

10,000 petrol stations in Nigeria and 50,000 tanker drivers are vital to the growth of the Nigerian economy and every effort should be made to resolve the crisis plaguing IPMAN”.

Ezinwa stated that he appealed to all affiliating agen-

Obiano seeks indigenous support in Anambra industrialisation Uwakwe Abugu Awka

AChief Willie Obiano, has

nambra State Governor,

called on leading West African industrialists who are of Anambra state origin to join hands with his government to fast- track the industrialisation of the State.

Obiano made the call at the weekend when he gathered the industrialists at the Government House, Awka as part of his moves to make the state a major industrial hub in the sub-region.

During the meeting, he set the Anambra industrial agenda before them and expressed concern that with such an array of frontline industrialists, the state was still lagging behind others in industrial production and output, insisting that the trend must be reversed fast.

He further explained it was one of the key objectives of his administration to attract local and foreign investors to the state but pointed out that foreign investors would be reluctant to come to Anambra if the State’s own indigenous industrialists did not show enough

interest in investing in the state.

He expressed confidence that with the help of Anambra’s large tribe of entrepreneurs and industrialists, the state would witness a transformation that would catapult it to the forefront of industrializing hubs of Africa.

“We are building a data bank to know the number of the unemployed in the state. We are also putting in place a socially stable business environment with a one-stop shop investment board which will streamline processes and make things easier for investors.”

News

Military strikes again, kills 10 insurgents in Nasarawa Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

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he military deployed to the volatile state of Nasarawa Friday, recorded yet another fit when killed no fewer than 10 insurgents while on patrol in Awe local council area of the state.

New Telegraph on Sunday gathered that the soldiers ran into one of the insurgents hide out along Baure-Tunga road in Awe local government area which is a re-known settlement for the attackers where the insurgents opened fire upon sighting the military.

Impeacable sources said that 5 AK 47 riffles were recovered from the felled insurgents during the battle that last for about 20 minutes.

Governor Tanko Al-Makura visited Keana local council, the first point of call took a swipe at the operation of the troop operating in the state.

The governor said while addressing the people including the traditional head of Keana averted that there are no insurgents in his domain, insisting that the insurgents were in the forest and in the Benue valley where he noted they move to other states affected in the on going violent campaigns.

He could not, however; mention any of the forests in his state given the fact that the state has no such forests like Sambisa in Borno where insurgents were known to have turned them into their abodes.

The governor’s state, did not however; go down well with some indigenes of the state as a popular figure and legal adviser to a prayer group, Ombatse, Zamani Zakari Alumaga yesterday raised suspicion on the governor’s visit to Keana which he alleged was aimed at frustrating the efforts of the military to comb out insurgents.

Alumaga said the Tivs who have been on the receiving end since the up rising began have been purged out of the area and wondered why the Fulanis remained behind even in their knowledgeofmilitarydeployment, “We know the real resident Fulanies” said Alumaga who noted have being with the inhabitants of the affected places before the latest onslaught against the Tivs started wondering why the number of the Fulanies will swell over night if not for clandestine motives.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

News

Ex-Oyo deputy gov optimistic on PDP guber ticket Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

FGovernor, Alhaji Hazim ormer Oyo State Deputy

L-R: Bauchi State Head of Civil Service, Mr. Abdon Gin; Governor Isa Yuguda and Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim, during the governor’s visit to Abubakar Umar Secretariat in Bauchi …yesterday

Lack of power is Nigeria’s major challenge, says Yero Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

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overnor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has described poor power supply as the major challenge confronting the nation. ccording to him, once this is fixed, every other area of development would fall in place.

The governor said this yesterday when the Senate Committee on Power paid him a courtesy visit during its ongoing oversight tour to Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company in Kaduna.

Yero also thanked VicePresident Nnamadi Sambo for fast-tracking the construction of an ongoing power project at Kudendan area in the state, adding that when completed, it will serve the people of the state and its environs.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Philip Aduda, said the Senate was doing everything possible to ensure that Nigerians get value for their money, especially now that new investors have been mandated to commence full operations latest by August.

Aduda said the Senate was more concerned “now more than ever before and that is why we set aside two days to visit KEDC and to in-

spect complete projects and those that are near completion so that we can see for ourselves what is on ground and how we can collectively improve to serve Nigerians better.”

Aduda also appealed to new investors to absorb some sacked workers because of their experience which he said, would im-

prove productivity and bring about maximising profit.

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KEDC, Mallam Idris Mohammed, had told the committee that seven of 18 projects embarked upon by the company had been completed while the remaining ones

were at 80 per cent completion stage.

The MD also revealed that the company has 321,356 customers spread across Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa States with N1 billion as average monthly revenue, describing it as the highest in the history of the company.

Adamawa uncovers N306m salary fraud Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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resh facts have emerged on how the Yola braanch of a new generation bank and two principal staff of e-payment unit of the Accountant-General’s Office of Adamawa State as well as three other accounts employees of the State PostPrimary Schools Management Board allegedly defrauded the state of over N306 million by reportedly using 920 ghost names and 61 fake schools.

Investigations revealed that the fraud was orchestrated by inserting the names of some dead workers and pensioners and those on secondment and civil servants holding political offices.

New Telegraph on Sunday gathered that the sum of N256, 905,924.05 was discovered to have been

embezzled through dubious means, while another N50m suspected to be linked to the 61 non-existent schools was also uncovered.

Similarly, the syndicate was said to be operating salary accounts for 61 non-existent schools fully equipped with staff of different levels.

According to findings, the suspects were also alleged to have formed the habits of posting double salaries to some workers in their banks salary accounts through the bank, which is the fund custodian of the state government.

When such postings are made, they are promptly mopped and diverted into ‘Valves Account,’ through which such monies are siphoned into private pockets.

Confirming the development, the state Head of Service, Mr. Musa Kaibo, told newsmen in an interview in Yola that some others

discovered to be still enjoying their ‘salaries’ included those who withdrew their services from the state government and those on secondment.

Kaibo said the discovery was made at the Adamawa State Post Primary School Management Board, following an investigation by a committee probing the problem of non-payment of some newly recruited teachers in the board.

He said four staff comprising two fro`m e-payment office of the Accountant General and two from the PPSMB had been suspended for their alleged involvement in the alleged fraud.

“G overnment is shocked by this discovery at the board and had to mandate the committee to expand it probe to other ministries `and departments”, Kaibo said.

Gbolarumi, has said he is sure of picking the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2015 election.

He has also said he is sure to beat his former boss, Adebayo Alao-Akala; former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin and other contenders.

Speaking with New Telegraph on Sunday in Ibadan, Gbolarumi said he possessed some qualities that would put him in a good stead ahead of other contestants.

He lisrted them as age, political experience and the electorate’s rating.

Gbolarumi, who was a

Personal Assistant to the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, said, “Within the Oyo PDP, while it is true that we have several aspirants who are qualified to be the next governor of the state, I can say that the final battle for the party ticket may eventually be between my boss, former Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala; my humble self; and former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin.

“But among the three of us, and with all due sense of respect and humility, I may eventually get the ticket for some obvious reasons. My boss, who will be 65 years by 2015 is seen as belonging to the older generation of political office holders who should leave the contest to the younger elements,” he stated.

Stop destroying public property, LG boss warns politicians negatively affect the development of the state.

He said, “Public property Adesina Wahab belong to all Ekiti indigenes, Ado-Ekiti whether you are in the opposition or not. They were prohe Chairman of Irepodun/ cured with our money and it is Ifelodun Local Govern- not going to be in the interest ment Area of Ekiti State, Ma- of anybody to start destroying jor Tajudeen Awe (retd), has them because you are playing warned politicians against politics.” the destruction of public The leader of the market property and utilities as they women, Mrs. Seriki, said a begin campaign for the June supporter of the LP candidate 21, 2014 governorship election hurled a stone at the bus in in the state. front of the Onigede of Igede’s According to him, doing palace. so amounts to wasting public She appealed to the police funds used in providing the to beef up security at camamenities. paign rallies to save the citiAwe said these on Satur- zens from harm. day while commenting on the She said, “What happened alleged vandalism of a public has shown that our security bus by people suspected to be is still very porous. The police loyalists of the Labour Party should instruct their men to governorship candidate, Hon. ensure that lives are secure Opeyemi Bamidele. at all campaign rallies. We are The vandalised bus was not politicians and I see no donated to market women reason why we should be subin the local government by jects of attacks by politicians.” the state government and But Bamidele’s media was reportedly attacked in aide, Ahmed Salami, who Igede-Ekiti on Friday. absolved supporters of his The chieftain of the All boss of complicity in the Progressives Congress stated alleged attack, said it was that public utilities belong to strange that his members all the people of the state, re- were being accused when gardless of political leanings, the APC knew it actually saying vandalising them in stage-managed the incithe guise of politicking could dent.

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EDITORIAL

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Our VISION

To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

Our MISSION

To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

Sanctity Truth Sanctity of ofTruth www.newt e le g r aphonline .com

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014

Combating the tuberculosis challenge

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hen will Nigeria have a clean bill of health on some of the diseases that have been eliminated in other countries of the world? When will it cease to bear the highest burden of diseases in the world?

There is no arguing that Nigeria has poor recurrent health indices. Last week, statistics were again being reeled during this year’s World Tuberculosis Day (WTBD), which was marked on March 24. Like other years, the news was not cheery as several Nigerians are still being killed and maimed by the disease.

In Adamawa State alone, a total of 192 people were reportedly killed by Tuberculosis (TB), while 3, 300 cases were detected in 2013. Giving a broader picture of the TB situation in the country, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, in his speech at the WTBD, said Nigeria ranks 11th among the 22 high burden countries that account for 80 per cent of the global TB burden; and ranks second in Africa.

In 2010, out of over 14 million cases of TB reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria ranked fourth among 22 high TB burden countries globally in terms of incidence after China, India and Indonesia. In 2011, a total of 190, 000 new cases were estimated, out of which 27, 000 persons died. In 2012, about 97, 799 cases were recorded, 81,156 of these cases (83 per cent) were tested for HIV with positivity rate of 26 per cent. In 2013, which is the year under review, Nigeria was also in the league of 22 high burden countries, recording at least

180, 000, cases of TB annually, according to WHO. But one of the startling revelations is the admission by Dr. Alhassan that Nigeria’s actual burden of tuberculosis is about three times higher than the current WHO estimates and five times more than what is being notified by the National TB and Leprosy Control, adding that Nigeria’s “burden of TB was worsened by negative effects of the interactions between TB and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).”

This is commendable and a deviation from past practices when government officials were never at ease with figures from other stakeholders.

Surprisingly, despite enormous advances in provision of services in recent years coupled with unwavering foreign funding, TB remains a leading cause of death in the country, while incidence is stable or falling in many regions of the world especially China. This is shocking because Nigeria is

While we commend the authorities and other stakeholders for their efforts so far, we urge them to increase their surveillance with a view to reaching the three million people that are “being missed” especially those in the rural communities who lack knowledge of the disease

one of the countries that benefit enormously from the global fund for TB and other deadly diseases.

Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease.

With drug-resistant strains that are no longer responding to standard drug regimens or standard treatment with firstline anti-TB drugs, the mortality rate of the disease that used to be known as “consumption” due to its devastating effect is likely to increase. The implication being that the disease that could be treated within six months would take up to two years or more to treat with drugs that are less potent, more toxic and much more expensive.

This is sad coming two decades after the celebrated breakthrough of a combination therapy that had stemmed the tide of the disease and even eradicated it in some countries. It is also an indication of the level of poverty, failing health care system and lack of government’s political will to tackle the disease.

Compounding the TB challenge are poverty, emergence of new MDR strains, which are harder to control and up to 100 times costlier to treat, ignorance, HIV/AIDS and the boom in international travel and tourism and increased migration. Worse still, it is shrouded in a culture of silence and secrecy

as only an insignificant fraction of the sufferers present themselves for treatment because of the social stigma associated with it.

While we commend the authorities and other stakeholders for their efforts so far, we urge them to increase their surveillance with a view to reaching the three million people that are “being missed” especially those in the rural communities who lack knowledge of the disease. Equally important is the urgent need to spread the diagnostic centres, which are currently located in urban and semi-urban centres across the country for easy accessibility to ensure that no one is left behind.

We urge government and other stakeholders to step up their programmes to ensure access and coverage for all, especially the most vulnerable groups and areas most heavily affected, work towards zero TB deaths, infections, suffering and stigma, and embark on social research, improvement of diagnostic testing, development of new vaccines, and enlightenment campaigns to increase health literacy and the implications of late detection.

We re-echo the call for a global effort to find, treat, and cure all people living with TB. The recent reports indicating increase in the incidence of MDR-TB with high mortality rate already ascribed to it, requires governments’ urgent attention for a TB free Nigeria. If proactive steps are taken, there will be an improvement when the next World TB Day is marked.

BOLAJI TUNJI Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director FELIX ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALA Managing Editor, North GABRIEL AKINADEWO Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board JOSEPH ONYEKWERE News Editor (Sunday) PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

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APRIL 6, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

OPINION Kidnapping: Can it be eliminated in Nigeria?

C O N T I N U E D F R O M l a s t w ee k

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inancial institutions with the support of the Central Bank can develop certain currency features with indelible ink markers and electronic signal emitting devices that are triggered once the money is delivered or the notes become worthless but incriminating evidence once handled. It may have a 24-48 hour timer that goes into effective after the release of the victim. Some US law enforcement agencies have developed similar devices to help curtail bank robberies.

Community organisations can develop collaborative pacts with Nigeria law enforcement to assist in community policing partnership to boost efforts to curtail kidnapping. This sort of partnership and or assistance will done after training of selected individuals who obtained basic understanding on how to track and trace criminal elements. The danger is that there is the likelihood of infiltration and leaking of vital information. No nation is crime proof. What makes a difference is when a large segment of the population frowns on criminal elements

and activities, and commits to fighting its occurrence. If in Nigeria there is no trust with the police, policing is weakened and criminals get free pass.

Increased law enforcement budget allocation: It is no gain-saying the obvious, the Nigeria Police Force has the lowest resources per capita of nations its size. Nigeria Police hardly have $1 billion in annual operating budget and even at that, very little in terms of crime fighting equipment and tools are available. Many Nigeria Police personnel do not know how to use crime maps to locate criminals and many of its rank and file can hardly describe a crime scene to aid in identifying what happened. In developed nations, communities assist the police and law enforcement to obtain added resources to contain crime. In Dallas, of the city budget of nearly $3b, almost 45% of that goes to public safety which is police and fire and rescue departments. For a city of 1.3m people, its budget is bigger than that of the Nigeria Police Force in a country of 160m plus people: Do the math. Public safety budgets in developed nations for local govern-

ments constitute the highest single aspect of their expense. While crimes do occur in US, at least one gets a sense something will be done.

State by state public safety endowment fund should be encouraged and duly established as additional resource to assist the police in fighting crime. While availability of money alone does not guarantee success, its lack aids the continued success of criminal elements. This is an innovative approach to fighting crime in given areas in collaboration and partnership with communities and law enforcement. As a supplement to each state’s police command, there is the need for Citizens Police Council of very trustworthy residents; they must have physical presence in the state. To endow the fund, every resident of voting age separated by those who live in urban and rural areas will have to pay at least N500 each year for no more than three years. Businesses in that state pay maybe N5000, depending on their size. Here is how it works; assuming one million eligible residents of a state or based on percentage of the state population, say 25% are eligible. That

throws off N500m and businesses contribute another N500m, for a total of N1bn annually, and must only be used in that state.

The community organisations must be manned by credible citizens whose memberships are made public with request to challenge the inclusion of anyone considered unfit. CPC collaborates with the state police command on a weekly basis to review crime stats and allocate resources to fight crime. All deliberations are made available to the public. The Police Commissioner must appear before the organisation to make a case for allocation from the fund and match their authorised budget to the fund’s resources. This is very complicated to establish, especially in a community or nation where membership in certain organisations may arrogate undue powers to some. But when done, it boosts policing resources to entrench a sense of investment with the police command.

•Ejike E Okpa II, is a Dallas resident and graduate of Dallas Police and alumni of Dallas FBI CA programmes with combined hours totaling more than 60 hours.

C onc l uded

The sedition charge against Ebere Wabara Michael Jegede n Friday, March 28, 2014, I was taken aback when I first read about the arrest of Mr. Ebere Wabara, a veteran journalist and associate editor with the Sun Newspaper on the Facebook wall of a Port-Harcourt based media consultant and writer, Odimegwu Onwumere, in a Gestapo-like manner that easily reminds one of the military era.

According to Onwumere, who spoke with the wife of the senior editor and language expert, police officers from the Abia State Police Command stormed the Lagos residence of Wabara in the early hours of the day, and arrested him supposedly on the orders of Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, without due recourse to the canons of democracy.

Wabara was said to have been first taken to Sholoki Police Station in Aguda, Surulere, then later to Oyingbo Police Station, both in Lagos, before he was eventually whisked away to Umuahia in Abia State, where he was detained. He was however released late Saturday night on bail, after the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and told to report to the office of the Abia State Commissioner of Police the following Monday at 10 a.m.

The release of Wabara did not come without serious bashing and condemnation of the action of the police officers from individuals and different groups in the country. The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) were quick to decry the molestation of one of their own and asked for his immediate and unconditional release. The likes of Femi Falana, the human rights lawyer; Richard Akinnola, a lawyer and journalist; Igho Akeregha, acting president of the Civil Liberties Organisation; and Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity, all added their voices in knocking the action of the policemen, describing it as undemocratic, unlawful and appalling.

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They all wondered why Wabara, a responsible media expert, should be so bundled all the way from Lagos to Umuahia in handcuffs like a common criminal. They noted that there was the need for the Nigerian Police and indeed other security agencies to carry out their operations in more civilised manner, at least, to give a clear indication that we are truly in a democracy. Akinnola particularly likened the case of Wabara to his own abduction in 1996.

“Wabara’s abduction reminds me of October 13, 1996, when I was similarly abducted by Abacha men. It is despicable that this is happening under a democratic government. There is no rationale for the abduction.”

Upon his release, the Sun associate editor who also doubles as the media adviser to former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, reportedly took ill and was hospitalised as a result of the dehumanising treatment said to have been meted out to him by the police during the period of 36 hours he was held hostage. For this reason, he could not report in the office of the Abia State Police Commissioner on Monday as directed while he was being granted bail.

Notwithstanding his health condition, Wabara was arraigned in absentia by the Abia State Police Command and slammed with a 10-count charge bordering on seditious publications against Abia State Governor at an Umuahia Magistrate’s Court. In the matter cited as Commissioner of Police vs Ebere Wabara with Charge No U/11/C/2014, the embattled journalist was alleged to have committed sedition with his articles in The Sun and other local media between January and March 2014. Wabara was accused of sedition for publishing articles such as; “Demystify a Master Strategy”,“Go to Akwa Ibom, Weep for Abia”,“T.A. Orji’s 7 years Demystification of Kalu,” among others.

Speaking with newsmen after the court proceedings, Orji’s counsel, Chukwunyere Nwabuko, said, “Freedom of expression is not a licence

to disparage a sitting governor. That is not our law. It is very terrible thing when people throw caution to the wind in the name of journalism.”

However, some legal pundits have argued that the law of sedition is a relic of imperial rule that died with colonialism and was buried with it thereafter. Commenting on the status of the law of sedition in Nigeria, foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said the Court of Appeal repealed the law over two decades ago.

His words, “Sedition is a colonial law, which went away with colonialism. It was a law meant to protect the government from being brought into disrepute. Now we have a constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression. As such, the law of sedition can’t coexist with the provisions of the constitution on freedom of speech and expression. The Court of Appeal declared over 20 years ago that sedition has ceased to exist and that is the way it must be.”

Human rights lawyers, Fred Agbaje and Festus Keyamo, in their separate submissions totally agreed with Sagay. Agbaje for instance said, “The law of sedition, which is grounded in Section 61 of the Criminal Code, is one of the colonial heritage Nigeria has inherited. Under the law, any publication that brings the government into disrepute is actionable. But in the State vs.

Nwankwo in 1983, the Court of Appeal in Enugu declared the law as not only contrary to the constitution of Nigeria, particularly the provisions on freedom of expression, but also one law that can no longer stand the test of modern jurisprudence.

“The court was vehement in its assertion that Nigeria is no longer the slave-yard that colonialists thought it was. The Court of Appeal has placed a nail on the coffin of the law. Where a writer exceeds his bounds, there should be a resort to the law of libel. Criticism is an indispensable right in a democracy.”

In 2006, a similar incident had occurred

where two journalists, Gbenga Aruleba of African Independent Television (AIT) and Rotimi Durojaiye of Daily Independent, were charged for sedition over a presidential jet story during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Durojaiye had published a piece on June 12, 2006 with the caption: “Controversy over age, cost of presidential jet.” Durojaiye who is now the Daily Editor of the newspaper said research

by Daily Independent showed that the government had bought a five-year-old aircraft from the German carrier Lufthansa and not a new jet directly from Boeing, as it claimed. Aruleba was joined in the sedition charge for making the Daily Independent article the subject of discussion the following day in his national talk show programme on AIT. In a publication captioned: “Who is afraid of sedition?” written to condemn the action of Obasanjo’s regime then, Reuben Abati, a highly respected journalist and popular critic of government activities at that time (now on the side of government) said, “Sedition, the law under which two journalists and two media houses, Gbenga Aruleba with the African Independent Television and Rotimi Durojaiye of the Daily Independent Newspapers are currently being tried at an Abuja Federal High Court is a relic of colonial rule, a tool of tyranny, and a dead law, duly pronounced so by the courts, whose reinvention is a comment not on the practice of responsible journalism but on the growing resort of the Obasanjo administration and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to a culture of intolerance that is completely antithetical to democratic norms...”

It is important for those in charge of governments at all levels in the country to know that we are now in an era where citizens are very much free to exercise their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.

•Michael Jegede, a journalist and public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

News / Plus

GDP review: Nigeria’s economy may emerge Africa’s best Siaka Momoh with agency report

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igeria may leapfrog South Africa as the continent’s biggest economy when the government statistics agency publishes revamped data this weekend, but will still remain poorer than South Africa, Bloomberg has reported.

The National Bureau of Statistics is set to release Gross Domestic Product figures based on 2010 production patterns in Africa’s most populous country, the first time Nigeria has overhauled the data in two decades. A report will be released at a press conference in the capital, Abuja, at about 2 p.m. local time on April 6.

The revision may boost the size of the economy by as much as 60 per cent to between $384 billion and $424 billion, according to London-based Renaissance Capital Ltd., lifting Nigeria ahead of South Africa in the World Bank’s global rankings.

“This will make it increasingly hard for companies looking at Africa to overlook Nigeria, especially considering the size of the domestic market and its potential,” Samir Gadio, a strategist at Standard Bank (STAN) Group Ltd. in London, said in an e-mailed response to questions.

Nigeria emerging as the

biggest economy in Africa “changes nothing in terms of the challenges facing the economy -- the need to build infrastructure,” David Cowan, an Africa economist at Citigroup Inc. in London said. “Nigeria will remain a poor country in terms of per capita income, even compared to South Africa.”

The World Bank calculated Nigeria’s GDP at $263 billion in 2012 and South Africa’s at $384 billion. The West African nation’s population of 170 million is more than three times bigger than South Africa’s.

Nigeria is following Ghana and Zambia in recalculat-

ing the size of its economy.

When Ghana, a West African oil and gold producer, rebased its data in 2010 in a similar exercise, the value of GDP increased by 75 percent to about $31 billion.

The economy of Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, increased by 25 percent to about $24 billion following data revisions in February.

Regardless of the new GDP number, investment in oil-producing Nigeria is constrained by power and infrastructure bottlenecks, corruption and weak governance. Nigeria’s power supply is less than a 10th

of South Africa’s, while the West African nation was ranked at 144 out of 177 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index last year.

“Addressing these shortcomings will probably have much more impact on investment than the perception that Nigeria is now a bigger economy,” Gadio said.

The revisions will increase the number of industries measured by the statistics agency to 46 from 33 and give greater weighting to sectors, such as telecommunications, financial services, insurance, real estate and film-making.

The new numbers will probably lower Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio, while reducing the proportion of government revenue to GDP. “Crucially, what is not always clear is how governments then respond to these new ratios,” David Cowan, said in an e-mailed response to questions. “Do they think they can borrow a lot more, or do they think the best policy response is to boost tax revenue? The latter is clearly the better policy response.”

The naira has dropped 2.1 percent against the dollar this year and was trading at 163.89 on the interbank market as of 11 a.m. in Lagos, the commercial capital.

Asaba

Aof the remotest villages baby factory sited in one

in Oko, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State was yesterday uncovered by the state police command.

Several pregnant women, including four children, one Ibrahim Usman, a five-yearold boy; Usman Mohammed, two years; Chidera Okechukwu, five years; and Abigail Ezeugo, a year old, were rescued.

A suspected human traf-

Tsador to Nigeria, Mr

he Indonesian Ambas-

Sudirman Hanseng, on Saturday said that no fewer than 400 Indonesians would be casting their votes in Nigeria in the Indonesian legislative elections, slated for April 9.

Sudirman who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sidelines of the voting in Lagos said the election would also be conducted in Abuja on April 6.

The envoy said that the election was being conducte d, ahe ad of the Indonesian legislative elections.

“Here in L agos to day, 200 Indonesians a r e vo t i n g to e l e c t their choices of rep r e s e n t at ive s i n t h e election.

“And another 200 will tomorrow April 6, be voting in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.

Mixed reaction trails Ondo bye election Babatope Okeowo Akure A Chieftain/BOT member, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun (left) and the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, during the Primary election of PDP in Osun State….yesterday

New allottees emerge in Lagos Homes draw Police uncover baby one Chinelo Ezeugo, ith 200 new homes on He explained that a pro- to demonstrate that this is factory in Delta ficker, was also arrested in connecthe offer, the Second spective allotee does not possible”, he said.

Dominic Adewole

400 Indonesians vote in legislative elections

tion with the crime.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who conducted journalists round the baby factory where the pregnant women were cramped into before delivery, said several of them were undergoing nurturing for the purpose before delivery for onward sales.

According to her, the ‘B’ Division of the police command on a tip-off got information that the said Ezeugo believed to be in her forties had recruited unknown pregnant women and delivered them of their babies for sale.

W

Draw under the Lagos Home ownership Mortgage Scheme was conducted in Lagos on Friday with the State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) imploring those who have engaged with the process and have seen the transparency and efficiency to become ambassadors for the scheme.

The Governor who spoke after the draws that took place at the BlueRoof Hall, LTV 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja and which produced another set of 35 successful allottees urged them to go out there and tell other people to do what they have done.

need to know anyone but just needs to engage with the website of the Lagos HOMS scheme, apply, show necessary records and hopefully become a winner at the next draw.

“We have committed to providing a minimum of 200 homes every month.

This is the second month that we have kept our promise. And as the Secretary of the board has already indicated that in another 30 days or thereabout, we would be ready again to put 200 homes on the market.

From very modest beginning, our people have started

According to the Governor, it was instructive to note that in some Estates there were less applicants than the homes that were available, resulting in a situation where in such places like Igbogbo where there were 20 homes available, only one applicant successfully met the condition and automatically became the winner.

“In Ojokoro, there were 16 homes available; only three applicants met the prequalification conditions.

So they were the automatic three that we had and those were already announced here.”

Mday trailed the conixed reactions yester-

duct of the bye-election to fill the Ilaje/Eseodo federal constituency seat as the leading political parties in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party and the ruling Labour Party, expressed divergent opinions on the conduct of the polls.

Both the PDP and the LP agreed that voting was disrupted in some units and wards both in Ilaje and Eseodo local government areas of the state.

Security was, however, tight in many lf the areas visited as the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC and military were seen patrolling the area, to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

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APRIL 06, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

News

SEC begins clampdown on unregistered investment scheme operators Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

Aliferation of unregistered gainst the backdrop of pro-

investment schemes operating in the country, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Ms. Arunma Oteh, said the Commission will soon commence clamp down on their activities.

This is as she advised investing public desirous of investing through the scheme to seek information from relevant quarters in order to ascertain the registered ones to avoid playing in to hands of fraudsters.

Oteh spoke over the weekend in Abuja during a Town Hall meeting with the Commission’s staff and , warned Nigerians to be wary of doubtful investment schemes that promised unusual returns.

“It is unfortunate that people will set up schemes, enrich themselves and take money from people. They will not be tolerated by the Commission and anyone found engaging in such acts will be made to face the law”

Lagos Boat mishaps: Wouldbe-groom’s body recovered Muritala Ayinla

F

our days after the boat plying Ebute-Ero to Ikorodu, was involved in a fatal accident, killing many of its occupants and left many injured, the rescue agencies yesterday recovered the body of a victim identified as Isaac Akere.

The remains of the 38-year-old shipping company executive, whose wedding ceremony was expected to hold April 12, 2014, was discovered around 7am by the rescued team from the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA. Until the unfortunate incident, Akere was said to be working with CMA CGM Delmas Nigeria Ltd., based in Apapa, Lagos.

The body was identified by family members and a colleague of the deceased and it had been deposited at the hospital morgue.

Diezani’s private jet: EFCC, ICPC decline comments on investigation Chijioke Iremeka, Lagos & Emmanuel Onani, Abuja

T

he Federal Government may have barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from divulging further information to the media concerning the situation on N10 billion

jet deals by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

This position was confirmed, when both anti-graft declined comment on their respective investigations, pertaining to the matter.

More so, when contacted

by New Telegraph on Sunday for an update on the matter, the EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said EFCC has an established modus

operandi, which will not be breached. “The commission will not disclose its position to the press till the appropriate time. We have a way of conducting our affairs.”

In the same manner, the ICPC’s media head, Folu Olamiti made ‘no comment’ statement, when contacted, confirming our initial position that the FG have barred the anti-corruption grafts from divulging information,

regarding the burning issue in the heart of the country.

Recently, House of Representatives raised an alarm that Diezani spent about N10 Billion of public funds on the maintenance of a Challenger Jet for her private use. It was also, gathered that she maintains another jet for international trips estimated to gulp about €600,000 per trip.

Last week, the House,

environment family”.

He emphasized that the retreat would further avail agencies within the environment family the collective insight into environmental challenges and also serve as a platform for harnessing solutions that would foster a sustainable environment.

The Commissioner added, “As we all know, the focal point

of he responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment is policy formulation, monitoring and regulation of activities of the various agencies so as to ensure proper execution of their function in line with laid down policies and guidelines.

These agencies need to improve on their interaction with each other in order to take full advantage of group dynamics.”

while acting on a motion raised by Hon. Samuel Adejare (APC, Lagos), mandated its Committee on Public Accounts to investigate whether Diezani actually spent taxpayers’ N10 billion on maintaining a private jet, which costs €300,000 per trip.

However, it was further learnt that some documents obtained by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the course of its investigation revealed that the minister also allegedly maintains another jet for international flights.

The document revealed that the panel is in the possession of a flight manifest of the chartered jet wit registration number, OF-LGX Global Express, the number of trips undertaken with dates and destinations. The lawmakers have decided to summon those, whose names appeared on the manifest to testify in the investigative hearing on the subject.

The House also alleged that the Minister spends about N130 million on monthly bases to maintain the said jet, an allegation, which Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) countered.

NNPC also defended the minister on the initial accusation of wasting N10bn on the Challenger jet, saying the corporation reserves the power to maintain such facility in line with its 2004 Act. While denying operating any private jet for private use of Diezani, NNPC spokesman, Dr. Omar Farouq Ibrahim, said no law prohibits it from owning or chartering an aircraft, explaining that the corporation engages third parties for the provision of services outside of its core business.

Joe Ezuma

and would be commissioned next month.

This followed an inspection of the site the Managing Director of the commission, Sir, Bassey Dan-Abia, on Wednesday.

Dan-Abia who was accompanied by the Executive Director ,Projects, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, and Executive Director Finaance and administration, Dr. Henry

Ogiri, announced that the 44-chalet complex would soon been inaugurated .

The executive management of the NDDC was shown round the new corps member’s lodge, by the Director Bayelsa State office of the commission, Dr. Princewill Ekanem, who explained that the facility was customized to meet the needs of the youth corps members.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right) and former Governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba during the Ward Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Osoba’s ward in Igbore, Abeokuta… yesterday

263 days of rainfall: No cause for alarm, says Lagos Muritala Ayinla

T

he Lagos State Government has allayed fear over impending disasters arising from negative impact of climate change in the state, saying measures are being put in place to forestall disaster as a result of the predicted 263 days of intense rainfall in the state.

The state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello who made the disclosure at a 3-day retreat organised by the Ministry of the Environment at Orchid Hotels, Lekki, also assured residents that strategies are being mapped out to mitigate the impact of climate changes.

Urging residents to partner with the state government in addressing environmental challenges, Bello said government efforts would be intensified in that regard, adding that a platform had been built for harnessing solutions for a cleaner, healthier and sus-

tainable environment for the residents.

According to him, the three-day was geared towards creating an avenue to discuss ways in forming a synergy between agencies in the state Ministry of the Environment in order to tackle the environmental issues in the state.

Speaking on the theme of the retreat entitled: “Charting The Course For Environmental Renewal : Looking Back And Moving Forward”, Bello said the aim of the retreat was to identify grey areas in the discharge of statutory responsibilities of the ministry and its agencies so as to foster a cordial working relationship among them.

He said, “the objective of the workshop is to develop a framework that would enable a better working relationship, strengthen policies and evaluate strategies, while addressing areas of conflict so as to forge a better and coordinated

NDDC to commission NYSC lodge in Otuoke

Port Harcourt

Topment

he Niger Delta DevelCommission (NDDC) said at the weekend, that an ultra-modern lodge it built , for members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been completed

Mr. Flint: coming back with a plus size dream p.63

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Life 13

Ransom for a dead man: How N500,000 ransom nailed Ebonyi kidnap gang Leo Sobechi

T

he death of Elder Ihebunandu Okorie at the hands of kidnappers has kept Okposi community of Ebonyi State in deep pain. Before his abduction and eventual demise, Okorie was the founder of Zenith International Secondary School, Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He served as Coordinator of Okposi Development Centre for five years.

The curious twist to his kidnap was that knowing that the man had lost his life, his kidnappers continued to mount pressure on the family to pay a ransom of N10 million. Okorie’s wife, Mercy, was at big loss on how to raise such an amount of money. Though her husband served as coordinator, he had spent so much money on the quest to become the chairman of Ohaozara Local Government, which he believed would not only advance his political profile but also enlarge his fiscal status. It was the knowledge of his interest in the position that political jobbers and conmen exploited to fleece the former development centre coordinator of huge sums of money. At a point, not knowing that he was throwing money into a bottomless pit, Okorie started selling his fixed and movable assets. The scales fell off his eyes when eventually the Ebonyi council poll held and winners were inaugurated. It then dawned on the man that those assuring him of the Peoples Democratic Party ticket were not able to fulfill their side of the bargain.

It was in that dazed state of psychological trauma that unknown gunmen kidnapped the former coordinator. For days, no contact was made with the family but when the kidnappers called, the outrageous amount demanded reminded the victim’s wife of the gradual depletion of the family’s resources. She started moving round to friends and political associates of her husband in a desperate bid to raise the ransom. And because of the status of the victim, the law enforcement agencies got involved in the search for the victim. However, the abductors continued to press for the ransom threatening to harm their hostage if nothing was done expeditiously. Okorie’s wife succeeded in raising the sum of N500, 000 and informed the abductors how far she had gone to raise that sum. She pleaded that they understand her plight and have mercy on her. The distraught mother and wife was then directed to take the money to a particular spot.

By this time, security agents had become involved in the matter. So, when she went to drop the ransom, they rewarded the ‘messenger’ of the kidnappers with a gunshot. He was taken into custody where he not only made useful statements but also led the security operatives

Late Okorie and wife, Mercy

to the place where the decomposing body of the hostage was buried in a shallow grave in Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state. The development threw Okposi community into pain and panic. Two other suspects were later apprehended, but the Department of State Security declined to disclose their names.

There are indications, however, that the fear of political connection seems to be justified.

The decomposing corpse of the victim was buried in Okposi last week.

Speaking during the burial, Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, David Umahi, said the state government was pained by the abduction and murder of the former coordinator. Umahi, who represented Governor Martin Elechi on the occasion, stressed that security agencies had been directed to unravel the mystery surrounding the abduction and murder of the school proprietor as well as bring the perpetrators to book. Meanwhile, Okorie’s kinsmen have sworn to use all means, including orthodox and unorthodox, to fish out his killers.

As allegations fly about in the community, youths have threatened to go on a protest march, to drum home their belief that the incident was politically motivated. When contacted, Okorie’s successor, Mr. Mark Onu, denied that his area was restive, retorting, “Was there insecurity in Okposi before?” However, less than 24 hours after the coordinator spoke

to our correspondent on the telephone, the state government announced his immediate removal.

Reacting to the development, a communitybased organisation, known as Greater Okposi Initiativepraised Elechi for promptly sacking Onu. The group, which regretted the climate of fear and insecurity that seemed to pervade Okposi during Onu’s tenure, commended Elechi for “the swift termination of the appointment of the embattled coordinator” and called on security agencies to find and prosecute ensure Okorie’s murderers.

In a statement signed by Barrister Aja Nwani Aja and made available to journalists on Friday, the group said though government did not state reasons for the coordinator’s sacking, “we believe strongly that the governor has reacted positively to the negative security reports emanating from the area since late last year. Greater Okposi Initiative recalls that the brief tenure of Mr. Onu as coordinator has been characterised by serious cases of gun running, proliferation of small arms, criminal intimidation, mass and public recruitment and initiation of young persons into secret cults, kidnapping, murder, armed robbery and attacks on political opponents in Okposi Community,” the group stated.

While noting that the governor’s action was timely, GOI said it wished the coordinator had

Because of the status of the victim, the law enforcement agencies got involved in the search for the victim, the abductors continued to press for the ransom threatening to harm their hostage if nothing was done expeditiously

not been appointed in the first instance, since according to it “there is no doubt that that appointment was a monumental mistake; it was indeed a disaster foretold.” The group therefore called on the state government, the state commissioner of police and other relevant security agencies to restore law and order in Okposi community stressing that “the swift sacking of Mr. Onu presents a veritable opportunity to heal all gaping wounds. At the same time, we appeal to all the relevant security agencies to immediately commence the process of mopping up the small arms in circulation in Okposi and the neighbouring communities of Uburu and Onicha; which have remained havens for the hoodlums allegedly sponsored by some notable politicians in the area,” the statement added.

It has yet to be ascertained how scheming by politicians in the zone for the 2015 election contributed to Okorie’s sad lot. Elechi has declared that the governorship position in the state will be zoned to the Ebonyi South Senatorial District. The deceased’s community and their Uburu neighbours do not see eye to eye and do not cooperate politically.

Okposi made spirited efforts to occupy the coveted Ohaozara Local Council, alleging that they had never occupied the position since the council was created more than 14 years ago.

Notable PDP stalwarts from both Uburu and Okposi have indicated interest in the governorship position. It is not clear to what extent the political rivalry between the two communities played a role in the demise of Okorie. It would be recalled that a four-year-old girl, Miss Faith Chukuka Okorie, was also kidnapped from Okposi on September 28, 2012. Faith, the daughter of a primary school teacher and a pupil of Federal Government College, Okposi Nursery School in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was kidnapped by unknown gunmen at about 9pm.

Her father said the kidnappers stormed his Mgbom Enu home with guns and forcefully took her away. He added that before leaving the compound, they dispossessed family members of their mobile phones. The girl was, however, released one week after by her kidnappers after her parents had coughed up a N400,000 ransom.

Faith was picked up at the premises of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state at about 8am. Her father, who was then still recuperating from a major surgery, took her directly to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Obiozara to report her recovery.

Given the at the ease which small arms are currently circulating in Ebonyi State, it is left to conjecture how the state would fare during the 2015 elections.

Kiddies Teens with Kate Robin Adanihuwan

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

14

08066519657 (sms only)

Hello kids, With the second term holiday just beginning, lots of plans are on ground to make the break enjoyable. It’s also Easter season which makes it merrier. What are your plans for the holiday? The amusement parks, beach, the camps, to mention a few, are places you wouldn’t want to be told about. Tell us how you intend spending your holidays. Till next week, stay blessed

Find your way to reach them at the middle

Table Manners for kids Continued from last week } Bread etiquette, bread plates are positioned to the upper left of a dinner plate. Kids need to learn not to butter the entire piece of bread; rather, butter is placed on the bread place, and then a bitesized piece is to be buttered only. Some breads are to be “torn off ” with your hands while other types may need to be cut. Younger kids won’t be apt to understand the differences, but older ones should be able to make a distinction. } Practice napkin use this is about how kids should wipe their mouth appropriately, and where to put the napkin if they need to get up or go to the bathroom. } conversation ideas, Kids are not to talk with their mouths full or too stuff too much in their mouth, or chomp with their mouths open, or other disgusting kid habits. Kids should be reminded to eat slowly and to not gobble down their food. } Use utensils and only eat with fingers if it is meant to be eaten with finger. } Kids should always thank the cook for the delicious meal--even if it wasn’t to your taste. Someone put forth an effort, and kids should be taught to find at least one or two things they did like, and to praise those items in particular. } Kids should stay seated until the dinner is concluded or until there becomes an obvious point where kids are being excused and going elsewhere so that adults can linger. } Adults should set the stage for success through practice. A “fancy table” can be set up at home and kids can ask questions and practice so that they are comfortable and familiar enough to wow everyone with their great table manners when it truly counts!

LEARNING CORNER NAMES OF PLACES AND THINGS A place where ......

Letters and parcels are posted Post Office

Spot the difference in this picture

Doctors treat patients

Hospital

Dead people are buried

Cemetery

Soldiers or policemen live

Barracks

Orphans are kept Orphanage Moving pictures (films) are shown Cinema Money is deposited and withdrawn Bank Flour is baked into bread Tennis is played

Plays are shown

Bakery

Court Theatre

Sanctity of Truth

ON SUNDAY

Page 15, APRIL 06, 2014

People should mind their areas of core competence -Tunji Olugbodi

Men’s suit lapels reach a new peak

Below the knee fashion

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Body&Soul APRIL 06,

2014 NEW TELEGR

WELLN& Reward yours ESS elf with a ma ssage e-mail: yourb

With eautyguideFunmi Azike @yahoo.co m

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appy new mont gratulate you h, fitness friends! I conon depression improving your your efforts so far or grief; impr at lower fitness and ove circulation I think you deser blood press living right. ; pain, ve a special recovery from ure; boost self estee dedication m; aid pains low back pain, foot cram an injury or and hard work reward for your the , breathing accid musc . laxing full-b problems, const ps, period ody massage? How about a re- reliev les; improve flexibility ent; relaxe arthritis The massage ipation and in the hand Yes, you do deser and posture; e head it and your and peaceful. room should be clean, body, espec benefits to childr . It is also of treme ve your organ aches and revitalise/i warm ially Massage tables ndous do with its healin the muscles, en and more should can its relax s and body functions. mprove ly and even g benefits. A so to the elder- and comfortable. If couples havin will increase Along with ing, the massage be firm good stres mass out on the floor, s-relieving, blood flow to g sexual difficu age heali is carried The Right spirit a thick foam ng the muscles, ing your musc lties. used Massage mat should help- know qualities, massage has ual and les heal and or several To achie be thick blank ve the optim n for necessary strain recover from long been provide ets piled up um benefits the ing benefi its cosmetic and beaut massage, you to from a used a well-padded surfa them by your and pressure being put y enhancneed time, ts as well. ce.

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There are differ trained to decid beyond its popu the powers of massage Mass ent massaging e the kind of sage to be go to treat administer effects. Num lar ‘feel good’ and paintechniques mas- side- age is a very safe thera different issue ed relief py that has erous resea effects when and to deter your suitab s, but they mon –the prom no rches have ility for a mass that massage mine ever, done otion of relaxa have in com- quired shown Some not only feels there are certa the right way. Howage. He/she to tion get incredible healt of the treatm good but also is re- wher and health. certain inform ents has sage e massage shoul in medical conditions h benefits. ation from parlours includ offered in most mas- like your age, medical d be done with history, energ you or avoided entire e Swed areas caution atsu, Manu y level, tion, ly. They includ Benefits al Lymphatic ish massage, Shi- tell of stiffness and sensitivity. inflammatio e skin infecthe therapist Drainage Mass Reflexology, Be sure to Massage is of any condi Hot age, have, wounds, inflam n, severe bruising or tions you migh or have recen Massage. Majo Stone Massage, and open mation of the encompasse an art of touching whic t deep vein Thai tly got rity of these vein (phlebitis) s a wealth throm massages have him/ her to areas which over. This will alert of healing poten h their origins in through the ver, infectious bosis, cardiac conditions, , the East wher stimulation need treating tial techn particular care. e fedisea of blood and the iques flow by rubbi with when common ses, cancer, developed. lymp ng/st particularly it has invad But the most Before the gers the relea roking the skin. This h lar and commonly ed the lymp massage, you popu and trighatic pract undia need to undre se of endo will proba iced is the system, gnosed lump massage produced in rphin (horm s under the Having a profe the brain that one to heavy which is based on a seriesSwedish the therapist ss completely or partia bly skin. lly pain). This ssion reduces or will use towel but natural pain kills tradit movements on the body of light parts of your s to cover those derful and truly rewa al massage is a wonionally descr killer make feel better and body which rding exper you s you ing), ibed as effleu which are saged at can are improves your ience. But not being masalso benefit any given time. petrissage (knea rage (strokalso assists mood. Mass greatly from ing yourself. the body’s Wristwatch age (perc jewellery shou ding) and tapot massagYou can organs and es and impr ussion). to function ld be ement some syste optimally and ove flexibility ease aches, pains and spas combine taken off. Sometimes Swedish mass speed up healinm Generally, it with simp , techniques massage with age can help you le massage steam bath that can be a sauna or to clean and cope with stressg. wide range of condi can be used to treat a done anyw anytim warm up the tions, includ preparation , sion, heada here and skin in give e. With the knowledge ing depresfor ches, tensio gained, you friends, famil cases, a quick the massage. In some n, neck and can other simpl y and speci rub down is shoulder al loved ones, done using a e relaxing mass wet towel to warm endea clean and prepa ages that will red to you. re the skin.

See next week keep them self-massag ’s article e techniques . Till then, stay on fit.

NEW TELEG

Y APRIL 06, RAPH ON SUNDA

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Body&Soul

2014

flip flops Strutting in deco find them and You can fur, flowers, rated in faux re, cartoon charmotifs of natu favourite Disas our kids s, and even lmost as soon love to try acter acters. There are also they red efney char colou can walk, y find s. You like or cand on adult shoe ring her jelly. flip child wea heels fects attention to their the girl Pay e up and be used mom’s mak before the miruse they will formal flops beca and preening happens, it is other more and a than this wear more . They are comfy ror. When e their foot ‘footies’ e, by the hom for time to mak g. This is by no rred pair gs. estin party prefe and some casual outin more inter ed to their pool means limit shoes.

Iklaki Biwom

A

Contents 06.04.14 COVER

The versatile midi gives an ultraladylike and demure allure to any outfit

-Tunji Olugbodi

} 22&43

} 18-19

BEAUTY

T h e Te a m

FASHION

Every organisation cannot decide to be doing everything that professionals are expected to do

l Juliet Bumah l Bayo Adeoye l Vanessa Okwara l Biwom Iklaki +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 chibumah@yahoo.com julietbumah@newtelegraphonline.com

Associates

ACCESSORIES

Most makeup brands now come with an SPF, or sun protection factor.

This means they have some type of sunscreen or sunblock built-in to protect your face

Weddings, cocktails, formal occasions, among others, are perfect opportunities to flaunt your facinators

} 21

GLAM DUDES There are three basic types of lapelsnotched, peaked and shawl

} 44

BED, WORK & LIFE

H.E. Toyin Ojora Saraki

Funmi Azike

Omu Obilor

Stanlee Ohikhuare

By this time, all the muscles in his body were turbo-charged.

His man was beginning to show signs of weeping

} 20

APH ON SUNDAY

Fitness

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 06, 2014

Body&Soul

Accessories

Fascinating Fascinators Biwom Iklaki

T

he Royal Ascot is a perfect avenue to display various trends in hats and fascinators.

While the athletes race on horses and the stable hands are grooming, the gamblers are betting away, the ladies are most definitely sizing up each other’s fashion. From beautiful sun dresses to lovely jewellery pieces and their flamboyant head gear.

In fashion spheres, the fascinator rave

kicked up a notch after the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Several designs, textures, fabrics, feathers, stones and beads make up the fascinators.

Weddings, cocktails, formal occasions, among others, are perfect opportunities to flaunt your style in this trend.

Veuve Clicquot & Genevieve Magazine ‘Fashion & Style Day Out’ Lagos Polo President’s Cup was one of such events.

18

Body&Soul

APRIL 06, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

People should face their areas Managing Director/Chief Executive, Verdant Zeal Marketing and Communications Limited Mr. Tunji Olugbodi, reflects on the business, challenges and prospects in advertising in this interview with BAYO ADEOYE How did the marketing communication industry fare in the previous year?

I think we fared very well. When I say very well, I mean within the limitations that exist within our environment. If you look at it from the scope of activity by clients and the resourcefulness of organisations to meet the needs of the clients, I think we did not do badly at all.

There is the perception that clients are shrinking their advertising and promotions budget. How much has this affected players in this industry?

It is not a belief, it is a reality. Again, that is their reaction to the inclement economic environment. What most clients do is to reduce their advertising and promotions budget and that has been on in the last couple of years. What is responsible for this is government policies that are not consistent and continuous as well as happenstances within the economy that do not show discipline of focus, either by the government, or sometimes by the organised private sector in terms of what I identify as their priority areas. So, it has been shrinking and affecting the advertising and marketing communications industry in a very negative way. Again, what that tends to push people to do is to look at alternatives and to look for ways by which the budget can be stretched and see how they can effectively impact on the client and his brands within the little budget that is available.

How did Verdant Zeal begin?

Verdant Zeal is a God-given vision. It started as a result of my interest in better fulfillment.

I had wide experience in advertising before we set up Verdant Zeal in 2007. I had played significant roles in organisations I worked with before setting up Verdant Zeal. We did an appraisal of entire landscapes of the industry and we felt that in terms of values, there were a few things that we might want to correct. With that on ground, we are able to get dynamic stakeholders on board, helping us in whatever we have been able to do over the years.

What are the values and philosophies of the organisation?

We believe in delivering service with excellence in consideration of professionalism. As a professional, you can become an authority in the area of your core competence. We want to be a full-blooded Nigerian agency with global outlook. That means that whatever ideas we are bringing on board must have bearing on the person, who is our target audience.

I always advocate that whatever we are doing must be original and have bearing on our roots. Most of the times, we try to copy the Westerners, but we need to understand that advertising mirrors the society. Despite the fact that we still copy them in some areas, they cannot determine our identity. Our identity, beliefs and ways of life are totally different. Even the way we name ourselves is different.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 06, 2014

of core competence –Tunji Olugbodi Can you tell us some of your blue-chip accounts?

We have a different understanding to this question; we don’t talk about our accounts and clients on the pages of newspapers. We want our clients to appreciate us by virtue of what we do for them.

What is your view on the emergence of in-house advertising agencies in some multi-national companies?

I think it is a self -serving and selfish phase that will come and go. What do I mean by this? Every organisation cannot decide to be doing everything that professionals are expected to do. There are reasons why people in manufacturing are in manufacturing and there are reasons why people in production are in production. My question is this, if you are able to set up an in-house advertising agency, are you going to set up a legal practice? Are you going to set up an accounting practice? That is why I called it self-serving, because some people are profiting from it. No matter what they claim, they can never do it the way professionals will do it. The funny thing is that they don’t hold themselves responsible for how things should be done. What they are doing is to undermine the duties of the agencies. The fact is that any agency that is doing that will continue to be on the same spot. My advice is to give the jobs to the professionals, who are guided by the ethics of the profession for excellent delivery of services. I think it is better for people to face their areas of core competence. They may be thinking that they are saving money, but this cannot be a long-term goal, but a short-term benefit.

Do you really think APCON is active? Have they hammered any agency for being high-handed?

I think they have. I think what APCON has done is to adopt the carrot and stick approach. Number one, sensitising everybody as to what the ideal practice and conduct should be. Number two, when people err and it can be proven, they are sanctioned appropriately.

I think they have been up and doing in that respect.

What is your projection for the industry?

For the industry, a great deal of flux. A lot is happening that is not what used to be. There is what I call a clear incursion of foreign organisations to the industry. They come with different values, standards, benchmarks, thresholds. Number two, we will have more people operating from their briefcases than from the comfort of the four walls of brick and mortar offices and as long as you cannot contextualise where they are located for you to be able to reach them, it poses a challenge for the practice. Three, the advertising budget that we are even talking about will reduce even more because many organisations are confronted with huge challenges which impede meeting the ir responsibilities. Four, many parts of the prac-

tice are suffering; we have the dearth of copywriters, art directors affecting the practice.

What are the immediate plans of Verdant Zeal?

Our plan is predicated on one main thing and that is to enhance our value-driven proposition to our clients.

That in itself is going to be catapulted on the platform of a greater focus on client servicing. If you understand the client within the circumstances at which they operate, what you need to do to assist them achieve their objectives in terms of threshold, is to offer the kind of value they cannot get elsewhere. That will put you in a good stead. Fundamentally, that is what we are all about to our clients and prospects. We have never been one to wait for a brief which is a function of understanding the dynamics of the client and the market, offering direction that will ultimately be of utmost benefit to the client.

Verdant Zeal as an agency hit the ground running; it did not come as a surprise though. What was your strength then and what is your strength now?

Our strength then was passion. We understood what the market needed. We knew that three things would set u s apart-how quickly we were able to respond, how strategic our response was able to c arry our client or prospect in the medium or longterm, and how cost effective that would be. Now the goal has

Body&Soul

shifted a little bit-it is understanding the dynamics of the market so that the solutions we bring go beyond the three levels I mentioned earlier. Passion still remains a very strong currency because without passion for the job, profession or business, you will see every challenge as an impediment rather than a motivation and opportunity to do well or better. Apart from passion, it is also people; we appreciate the fact that people make the business. Our business is predicated on the quality of people that you have, so we put a great deal into treating people well and ensuring that we have the right people with the skills to match emerging opportunities. Third, but not the least, is profitability; looking at processes and procedures to ensure that the job is achieved with an eye on the bottom line for the client as well as the agency.

What has been your major challenge as a CEO?

I think the major challenge is identifying the right resource material in terms of human capital and being able to sustain them in an environment that is predominantly predatory.

With the success your company has attained now, will you say you regret going into the business late?

A lot of people keep asking me this question. The fact of the matter is that whatever we are today is by the grace of God. I understand God so much that if I had started earlier, we may not have succeeded. I have no regrets at all, particularly when one looks back and recollects things that God has used one to achieve.

There is no regret at all. Verdant Zeal came on the scene at the appointed time and I am very grateful.

What are the challenges facing advertising agencies in Nigeria?

It is the same challenge facing any businessman or entrepreneur in the country. We have the challenge of infrastructure, power supply, security, over-taxation.

There is also a challenge of human resource.

What activities do you engage in at your leisure time?

I read. I am into biographies, watch movies and play a little golf.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 06, 2014

Body&Soul

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770 chibumah@yahoo.com

‘I’m in love with another man’ R

ichie heeded Dr KC’s advice and visited another hospital. After the tests, the doctors told him the same thing -he couldn’t have fathered any child! He went home an angry and dejected man. Angry that ‘simple’ Ruth was smart after all. He thought of all the things he had done for her -the car, rented and well-furnished apartment, the salary and everything. He wished he had a pistol.

“If I have one, wilI I have the heart to use it?

Can I hurt my daughter, Cherish? Can I hurt Ruth? Daughter? The doctor just told me I didn’t father her. The doctor just made me know that I had been spurting water which couldn’t have fathered a baby. How could a woman be so cold and calculative? Ruth! I need to find out the truth. Ruth owes me that explanation. How will I tell Patra that what she saw was a lie? How will I tell her that I had been the cause of her childless state?” Richie’s mind wandered far and near.

He pulled his boxers and took hold of his limp man, shook it and screamed, “So all the joy and excitement I got from you were all for nothing?” He moved to the mirror in his room, stood in front of it and contemplated his body.

For the first time, he realised that his body had aged considerably. He noticed the almost flabby tummy. By now, his man seemed to have shrunk a tad more. It hung lifeless, like an armed robber that had just been executed at the Lagos Bar Beach.

He hissed and picked his phone. He dialed Ruth’s number and she picked it immediately.

“Daddy Cherish, I was about to call you. She’s been running temperature and I need to take her to the hospital. I’m also not feeling too strong, not been sleeping very well. Your baby kicked all night and I woke up very weak...”

Richie didn’t hear all she said. His mind was elsewhere.

“What if the doctors were wrong? What if the results were mixed up? It’s possible. No, it’s not possible. What if some enemies he didn’t know cast a spell on the doctors so that they made wrong assumptions?”

He slapped himself hard.

“Hello...hello...helloooooo...”

Ruth was still on the phone. He hadn’t said a word since.

“Hello,” his voice was a croak.

“Are you alright,” she asked, a tinge of worry in her voice.

“Yeah, I’m good. Cherish? Who? I mean...yes Cherish...listen Ruth, we need to talk. We need to, it’s absolutely necessary. I’ll call you back,” he said and ended the call. ************* Ruth held on to the phone. She heard the disconnection beep and an alarm bell went off in her brain.

“Wetin he talk?” the old man with rheumy eyes asked anxiously.

“When he wan send the money? Look, Patricia, since you go Lagos come back, you never talk true. You talk say him wife catch you. Wetin she do? Woman wey no born dey talk for man house? Abeg make you....” He ranted on and on. Ruth hardly paid him attention.

Something was definitely wrong. Richie was not himself.

She wished she never went to Lagos for that Valentine’s Day celebration. Everything changed after that. The baby in her womb kicked. She was due in less than three weeks. The doctor said the baby might come earlier.

“Patricia, Patricia, I wan eat. Go cook food for me o,” the man said as he reached for his snuff bottle.

Ruth sighed and moved towards the kitchen. Midway, she turned and told the old man, “I don tell you say make you dey call me Ruth. I no just understand why you no fit call me Ruth.”

The old man laughed and said, “Your papa and mama name you Ruth? Na for my body you dey get power.”

Ruth hissed and walked into the kitchen. She was really worried. Richie didn’t sound like the man she knew. He didn’t even show any concern when she told him that Cherish wasn’t feeling fine. Strange. She wondered what he wanted to discuss with her. **************** Richie looked at the phone in his hand. He had wanted to ask Ruth who had been impregnating her but couldn’t. He wanted to know Cherish’s father.

He dialed his wife’s number on the phone and Patra picked.

“Hello dear,” she cooed into his ears.

“Darling, I’m missing you. The house is so empty without you,” he said into the phone.

“I understand dear. I’m coming back tomorrow,” she replied.

“I love you,” he told her.

“Same here,” she replied. *************** Patra was alone in the hotel room. Pius had gone to take care of a personal business. He called every few minutes to express his love to her and assure her he would be back immediately he was through. She contemplated her rich environment and smiled. She felt so loved. “OMG! I’m in love.” A shadow flickered

across her face as she remembered that she had to go back to Lagos the following day.

Her phone rang again, it was Pius.

“I’m on my way, my love. I will be with you in less than 10 minutes. The meeting took longer than I expected,” he said.

“I’m waiting for you my sweetheart,” she told him, her body tingling all over. She felt so loved. He blew her a kiss and the line went dead.

When he tapped on the door lightly a few minutes later, Patra was waiting in her birthday suit.

His eyes popped and his blood rushed downward.

He quickly closed the door behind him and drew her into his arms. As he made to move, Patra whispered, “No, not a step”.

He leaned against the door and watched as she unbuttoned his shirt and took off every item of clothing on his body.

Patra could live her fantasy. She moved a few steps back and admired his fine, firm body. As her eyes rested between his legs, the ‘man’ lunged at her.

“I said, don’t move, or I’ll punish you,” she chided him playfully.

“I didn’t move.” He forced the words out of his clenched teeth.

“Oh you didn’t? I see,” she said and his man nodded again.

He almost swore under his breath.

Pius used to take pride in the fact that he could control his emotion. But that control seemed to have flown out of the window. Everything about Patra unsettled him. He forced himself to think about other things, to keep his mind on check but failed.

Patra moved close and ran her fingers through his body, poking here and pinching there like a doctor examining a patient. He felt like a million needles were being shot at him.

“Keep still and don’t touch me,” Dr Patra warned.

She ran her fingers this way and that. By this time, all the muscles in his body were turbo-charged. His man was beginning to show signs of weeping.

“Please....” He moaned but she paid no heed. Instead, she dropped on her knees and ran her fingers through the V of his legs, resting on the man who was already in the throes of agony.

She then stood up and ran her fingers through his chest, It was too much for Pius. He stooped and gathered her into his arms.

As he made to move, she whispered, “No...here,” pointing at the pack of sheaths she kept beside the door. He set her down and like two school children left to play in a field, they explored ...and explored.

Patra tempted him with her mountains and valley and set his blood boiling with her tongue and fingers on his body. They left reason and entered the world of fantasy. On the floor, against the wall, on the couch, Pius galloped and Patra kept the pace. He took her through the cloud to a new planet paved with precious stones. They beheld a large circular diamond afar off and sailed towards it. As they crashed into it, it disintegrated into millions of shinning stars, blinding them momentarily. They got back to planet earth, spent and held on to each other, unwilling to let go.

“I’m going with you to Lagos,” Pius murmured and Patra shook her head, too tired to talk.

“Then you must be in Abuja every week,” he said. ********** Does Richie still have a wife?

The series continues next Sunday.

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APRIL 06, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Body&Soul

You need SPF for your skin Biwom Iklaki

I

t’s important that women use sunscreen or sunblock every day. The sun’s rays can feel great on your face but they can also cause much damage. Too much exposure to the sun can lead to premature aging and wrinkles, and may cause skin cancer. Even if you’re just driving to the office and back, you want to be sure you’re protected.

Most makeup brands now come with an SPF, or sun protection factor. This means they have some type of sunscreen or sunblock built-in to protect your face. In many cases, you actually protect your skin more when you wear foundation than if you don’t, and wearing a light coat of makeup can give you some protection from the sun’s rays. However, is it enough protection? Do you need an additional sunscreen or sunblock even if you’re wearing makeup on your face?

The answer depends on your environment, makeup, and skin tone.

Very often, your makeup is enough during the cold season. However, on sunny days, your make-up’s SPF

is probably not enough protection. The sun’s rays are brighter and you need more coverage for your skin. A light spray of sunblock or sunscreen can be sufficient for every day, when you’re just driving or will be indoors most of the day.

You’ll need even more protection than just your make-up and a light spray of sunscreen on very sunny days. Using a good sunblock on your face is necessary, even if you’re just driving to work and back. It’s also important that you use protection on your arms, neck and other exposed areas. You want to protect the delicate areas of your face that are more likely to burn, such as your nose and around your cheekbones.

Protection becomes even more important if you have very fair skin, which is more likely to burn and be sensitive to the sun. Use a higher SPF on your face and exposed skin all the time if you live in the tropics, but especially so during sunny days.

Body&Soul

APRIL 06, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Below the knee fashion

22

Interview ‘FG will descend heavily on pipeline vandals’ p.25

biyi adegoroye, ASSISTANT Editor, Politics NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

APRIL 6, 2014

biyi.fire@yahoo.com

Tel: 08033024007

23

Politics ON SUNDAY

2015: Gladiators battling to succeed Uduaghan

Orubebe

I

f the array of billboards of various governorship aspirants currently adorning parts of Delta State and subtle campaigns at wards and local government areas of the state are anything to go by, then it goes beyond conjecture to say that the race for the Delta State Government House next year will be a keenly contested and nerve-racking one.

Though only a few of them have publicly declared interest in the race to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015, a number of politicians, most of whom are loyalists of former Governor James Ibori and the incumbent, are already at daggers-drawn in what is fast becoming a game of intrigues.

Apart from the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, who was recently forced to resign his number three position, several others like the immediate Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; former Minister of State for Education, OlorogunKenneth Gbagi; and the current Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Ndudi Elemelu, have exhibited much interest in the position.

Others who are taking a shot at it are the current Chief of Staff to Uduaghan, Dr. Festus Okubor; President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye; former Acting Governor of the state, Hon. Sam Obi,

Elumelu

Ochei

As the race for the Delta Government House hots up, DOMINIC ADEWOLE, in this analysis looks at the contenders for the job, their strengths, weaknesses and how zoning arrangement will affect the governorship election in 2015 Chief (Mrs.) Ngozi Olejeme; a former Assistant Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Chief Godswill Obielum; Chief Tony Prest; and Dr. Otive Igbuzor.

Expectedly, many of the aspirants have upped their game though a few see it as a “door-die affair.” But the question on the minds of many stakeholders in the state is: ‘Will the interest of the people of the state be paramount in choosing the next governor among this group?

New Telegraph on Sunday presents the credentials of the aspirants, juxtaposing it with their strengths and weaknesses.

Godsday Orubebe Orubebe, a junior minister in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs at its creation in December 2008, left office two months ago as a fullfledged minister. He is from Ogbobagbene in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

Before he fell out with his godfather, and foremost Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Orubebe served as chairman of Burutu Local Government from where he rose to become late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s Minister of Special Duties. He is from Uduaghan’s Delta

South senatorial district.

Throughout his tenure, his ministry got enough bout of criticism but Orubebe trudged on making some achievements in the development of Niger Delta area. His fight to retain his position as a man from the same ethnic block with President Jonathan, by the Ijaw nation of the Niger Delta region was no small one. Hence some have said the governorship position should be conceded to him, but the fact that he is coming from the same senatorial district with Uduaghan makes the case worse for him.

That explains why he has been busy kicking against zoning arrangement and power rotation in the state.

Today, scores of foot-soldiers currently handling his campaign are believed to be“aggrieved members” of some of the political parties and he comes across as a spoiler of the zoning arrangement in the state. Even his godfather, Chief Clark, faulted his ambition to be governor, categorically kicking against it. He however, has a deep wallet to prosecute the elections.

Kenneth Gbagi Former Minister of State (Education), Olo-

rogun Kenneth Gbagi, a lawyer and businessman from the Urhobo stock in Delta Central, is another contender for the post. A native of Oginibo, in Ughelli South, Delta Central, he said he is in the race to give Deltans the best in terms of governance and sustainable development after crude oil.

Gbagi, a founding member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, has been traversing the state for this purpose. Speaking with New Telegraph on Sunday, Gbagi said: “My target is industrialisation of Delta State, as a basis to bring about massive employment.

If I am elected, no Deltan living anywhere in the world will not have a job. We have more than enough in the state to take care of our needs. We will open the air space and the land space and bring in our neigbours including expatriates as investors to bring about growth, security and development.”

In his view,” it is about time people generally stop those who want to use government offices as spring board for recognition; spring board for personal business and personal growth.

As far as I am concerned, anyone who is 40 CONTINUED ON PAGE24

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Politics / Cover

Delta 2015: Gladiators battling for Uduaghan’s job C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

and above who has not achieved anything should see himself as a monumental failure.”

He frowned on the zoning arrangement, stating that there was no document or agreement to disenfranchise any senatorial district in Delta State from the governorship election. He stressed that all qualified sons and daughters of Delta should join the race to enable Deltans to pick the best at the polls.

“It is irresponsible to zone the presidential and governorship seats.

Zoning has never worked in Nigeria.

The election that brought Governor Uduaghan was contested by people from Delta North, Delta Central and Delta South. You must allow people to vote according to their beliefs.

Victor Ochei Engineer Victor Ochei, hails from Ogbekenu in Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the Delta North Senatorial District of the state. Ochei has been in the state House of Assembly since 2003, until he became the Speaker in 2011.

A former businessman and chairman of DavNotch Nigeria Limited, Oche embraced philanthropy as a key ingredient in the service to humanity by founding the Victor Ochei Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, which though with limited financial resources, still provided succour to Aniocha North through the provision of easy means of transportation, small and medium scale business and a committed belief in the education sector.

This culminated in various scholarship schemes to brilliant, but indigent students, erecting classrooms and fencing of such secondary schools.

No doubt, he has a great sense of aesthetics and judgment, but carried the burden of his inability to explain his role in the failed N27 billion independent power project linked to him. The changes he introduced to the Assembly complex will remain evergreen. Facts emerged after he was forced to resign some days ago that as the Speaker he was intolerant of opposing views from his colleagues and the media. He was said to have operated the “bend or you break’ philosophy and once escaped being killed at Obomkpa.

His resignation as Speaker recently is believed to be a setback to his governorship bid. He was said to have stepped on toes and was allegedly caught hobnobbing with the All Progressives Congress (APC). This anti-party game simply put him in the hand of party buffs who swiftly brought up charges against him.

Nonetheless, he alludes to his contributions to the development of his constituency and has continued his subtle campaign.

Gbagi

Ifeanyi Okowa Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is a rugged politician and his commitment to realising this governorship ambition today is as good as it was in 2007 when he swept the PDP primaries before he was prevailed upon by the national headquarters of the PDP and the powers-that-be in the state to step down for Uduaghan. Okowa has been a loyal party member who rose from councilor to council chairman, after which he was appointed commissioner for health by Ibori. Shortly after he stepped down for Uduaghan in 2007, he was appointed Secretary to the State Government, a position he held until 2011, when he picked the Delta North Senatorial District form to replace Senator Patrick Osakwe who spent 12 years in the Senate.

Okowa a medical doctor turned politician is referred to as “the Ekwueme of Delta North politics.”

He contested with the wife of the former National Chairman of PDP, Mrs. Nneamaka Ali, and three others to win the ticket. The senator, who just completed his 33 months in the Upper Chamber, said he has 12 bills to his credit, including those of the Management of Sickle Cell and National Health which has passed through third reading. He assured the people of the state during his recent empowerment programme that: “We are springing forth to glory.

We have been able to conquer as a party and we shall continue to conquer through the challenging moments of our country. We may have fallen with loaded challenges; we shall prevail since the world has not come to an end.” His chances are bright.

Sylvester Monye Prof. Sylvester Monye is President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Projects’ Monitoring and Evaluation. He hails from Delta

Okowa

North, the district that has not tasted the governorship of the state since it was carved out of the defunct Bendel State. Observers believe that if Uduaghan has an interest in a particular candidate then Monye may have an edge. He may also enjoys the blessing of the presidency. He has not declared for the job, but his body language in recent time shows that he has an interest.

Otive Igbuzor Dr. Otive Igbuzor is of the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC). He hails from UgonoOrogun, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state. A pharmacist by profession, Otive is unperturbed about the numerous aspirants fighting to get PDP’s ticket.

He is contented with APC. He holds a masters in Political Science and International Relations. Besides that, he has studied wide, and he is currently the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (LSD).

He has served as a commissioner, representing Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the South-South on the board of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Presidential Amnesty Committee for the restoration of peace in the then troubled Niger Delta region. He is likely to get APC’s ticket.

Ndudi Elumelu Chairman, House Committee on Health, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, and two-term federal lawmaker from Delta North federal constituency is another aspirant for the coveted position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. A former director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, holds a first degree and masters in Business Administration and Finance from Edo State University, and certificates from Oxford and Harvard universities.

As the high stakes, politicking and horse-trading continue, one cannot but look forward to a tough contest ahead of the primaries later this year and the main contest in February 2015.

Okubor

Elumelu says he is driven by the passion to serve his people in greater capacity, having displayed dependability by the various constituency projects in the 42 wards within Aniocha North area, and youth employment and empowerment both in his capacity as a lawmaker and chief executive officer of Ndudi Elumelu Foundation.

Sounding like a thorough-bred grass roots politician, he said he has toured the 268 wards in the state, and would not only develop the state in accordance with the manifesto of the PDP, but also promote peace and development while building on the various achievements of the outgoing governor, who has envisioned Delta State beyond oil revenue. ”I will maximise and strengthen the state’s internally generated revenue, capture non-oil revenues and build on the achievement of my dynamic governor, who has already started looking at Delta State beyond oil. And carry out more education and infrastructural development in the state,” he said.

On zoning, he believes morality and fairness on the part of other senatorial districts of the state make it incumbent on them to allow Delta North, to produce the next governor of the state, by voting for a man of justice who will be committed to overall development of the state and not an ethnic jingoist. His governorship ambition, he said, however, is not a do-or-die affair.

Elumelu, who said he has executed various development projects in his past seven years in the National Assembly, has also attracted the construction of a N1.2 billion medical facility to the state which will be commissioned very soon.

Festus Okubor Dr. Festus Okubor is Governor Uduaghan’s Chief of Staff. He is his boss’ colleague in the medical profession. He has paid his dues as a loyal PDP man. While the calculation and the permutation were rife, a PDP source in the state said “the caucus of the party will soon spring its surprise as Ibori did in 2007, when he waited till the 11th hour before anointing Ud-

uaghan. The source however said the pendulum is gradually settling down on the ex- Commissioner for Health, and Commissioner for Information under the defunct administration of Ibori. Okubor is a former Director of Protocol under the present administration of Governor Uduaghan, and now, the Chief of Staff. How he will outsmart 12 others in the race is a big issue.

Impact of zoning Zoning, which is supposed to play an important role in determining who will succeed the governor in 2015, has torn members of the ruling party in the state apart. The chairman of the state chapter of the PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, and Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, are now said to be sworn enemies over which district of the state should produce the next governor. Provision of Section 3(c) of the PDP as amended, states that:“The party shall adhere to the policy of rotation in justice and fairness seems to have been discarded. While Delta northerners (the Ibo speaking axis of the state) and Governor Uduaghan’s kinsmen in Delta South are at loggerheads, the Urhobos (Ibori kinsmen in Delta Central) have kept mum over the race. It is clear they are aggrieved, going by their recent outburst over “acute marginalisation by Uduaghan and Jonathan.” But it is crystal clear that zoning will play a major role in the state in 2015. The body language of the governor shows that he is going to be fair and just next year. He seems to have sympathy for the district. He has consistently warned politicians in the state not to heat up the polity, maintaining that, “power belongs to God.” As the high stakes, politicking and horse-trading continue, one cannot but look forward to a tough contest ahead of the primaries later this year and the main contest in February 2015. The recent attempt on the life of Ochei with an improvised explosive device and other incidents in the state will test the dexterity of law enforcement agents in the state in the build-up to the elections.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Politics / Hardball

FG’ll descend heavily on pipeline vandals, says Okupe

W

hat is the state of power generation in spite of the promises made by the President on constant and available power supply?

It is a major concern to the current administration that there has been major drop in supply. And I want to explain and let you that we are working and we have hope that there would be light. I can say it 100 times and I say it with all sense of responsibility that there would be light. But this will also perhaps be the lowest point and period in power supply in this country. I want to let you know how far the journey has been.

But the people are more concerned about power supply?

Yes, when the administration took over, the power generation capacity in this country was 2,800 mega watts.

That was the maximum generation capacity. The President inaugurated a Power Road map and it became part of the transformation agenda. And it was followed and formed the basis of telling Nigerians that there would be regular and sustained power supply in the country. By December 2013, the power generated in Nigeria was up with 4,200 mega watts. It hovered between 4,200 and 4,800 mega watts. That was a major increase of about 2,000 mega watts. That increase was never experienced since 1960.

That is the truth. From 1960 to 2011, all we achieved was 2,800 mega watts. By 2013 November and in two years of Jonathan’s administration, we had generated huge capacity.

Within President Goodluck Jonathan’s two years in office, we saw that the 10 National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) started during the Obasanjo administration were in a total comatose. They were not functional and were abandoned. Many of the components and parts were at the ports. President Jonathan in perfect alignment with his transformation road map in the power sector completed the 10 NIPP projects. They were expected to add additional 5,000 mega watts to the national grid. In the process of near completion, there came the issue of gas supply because the power plants were not fully aligned with the gas infrastructures. And that was a major problem. We had power plants standing and they were not in any way close to the gas supply pipeline. The government now declared an emergency in the gas sector and allowed the 10 NIPP projects to supply gas. That was the third major step. And the final step was the unbundling of the PHCN. The process had been on for the past five years. It was in abeyance.

But many still frowne at the unbundling process and the fact that it has no major effect on poor power supply?

This administration was able to satisfactorily unbundle the PHCN to the commendation of the international community. It was transparently conducted and evidently com-

Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, spoke with CHRIS EJIM on the plot by some politicians and gas pipeline vandals to frustrate the Jonathan’s promise of regular power supply to Nigerians by 2014

if everything had been working well without disturbances, vandals and sabotage, we would have been generating over 300 per cent of what we would have been generating since 2011. This unemployment we talk about, we would have been taking care of. These people are harming, not only the President, but the Nigerian people, and are trying to kill the Nigerian dream. We have an installed capacity of 4,000 mega watts lying in waste and untapped somewhere because some people have decided that it must be so for their selfish and political reasons.

But what is the Federal Government doing to salvage the situation? Or has it succumbed to the sabotage of these “evil” politicians?

mended by all. With that in place, we believe the dynamics will not come to play. We had expected what happened in the telecommunications sector to take place in the power sector. But, unfortunately those who are unrelenting in their attempts to ensure that they give a wrong perspective of President Jonathan and his capacity to deliver and perform. It is an unbidden fact that there are some Nigerians in this country who are willing to put their lives down to ensure that President Jonathan is not perceived a performer in the country.

When the President started to commission the NIPP projects and they started coming on stream, what did we experience? Pipeline vandalism all over the country and that was a major sabotage. In some places, gas pipeline that were buried six meters below the surface of the earth were blown off. That is in excess of 18 feet down was blown up for several kilometers. We continued to play a very dangerous games in the country and politicising virtually everything. It is very obvious and clear to us that some people, knowing full well that all things being equal, President Jonathan will deliver on his promise on power. And believing that once that is done, Nigerians will have no other thing to do but return him if he decides to contest.

So, because of that people took a terrible decision and sabotage government efforts. As I am speaking with you, I have spoken to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, James Olotu, and he told me that the majority of the NIPP power plants commissioned or not, are just there and not functional. They are not working.

Not because they are defective but because of gas supply.

They can only be made to work if you supply them gas. So, we have a huge investment of over $16 billion lying down, fully completed but saboteurs are about to kill the dream.

This is the major reason, the President has not delivered on interrupted power supply. Our major thrust has been on gas for energy supply. We have NIPP plants that can produce 5,000 mega watts but are being thrown out because some evil people have decided to punish Nigerians and give the President a bad name. We have installed power plants with installed capacity of 7,000 7,500 mega watts. That is,

President Jonathan has released funds for the repairs of vandalized pipelines nationwide. Also the President has mobilized security agencies, including the military, to combat pipeline vandalism in the same way they are combating terrorism. It is now a major battle. It is national security affair now. And government is not going to leave any stone untouched in ensuring that we stopped this.

The perpetrators will be brought to book. The sum of $1 billion has been released to prosecute this war including oil theft, pipeline vandalism and others.

But would this “war” against vandals and saboteurs not affect innocent Nigerians in the form of poor power supply?

It is expected that within the next six to eight weeks, that will be the lowest low period in terms of power supply in Nigeria. We can’t go below this and we will not go below it. We will just have to turn and move up. Within the six weeks, the repairs will be completed and we will begin to see the effect of some of the repairs as more NIPP projects are being brought on stream. There will be ease in the power failures being experienced by the people.

Efforts are also being made by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to increase and improve local gas supply to these NIPP projects. The Federal Government has also issued directives on the domestic needs. The gas we use as export is different from the one we use at home. What we export is Liquefied Natural Gas. But now, NNPC is working on standby arrangement that the nation does not suffer when there is vandalism. What government and NNPC are doing now is to use the LNG with a conversion plant close to the NIPP projects. It will be gathered and treated to power the gas plant. Government is trying to ensure they are available close to the NIPP projects. We can also supplement from export market and bring into use. I am very sure the promise of 18 to 19 hours of uninterrupted power supply will be enjoyed by Nigerians in major cities of Nigeria.

You talk about saboteurs. Why is it difficult for the FG to CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

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APRIL 6, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

National Conference

‘Why we need to restructure Nigeria’ Col. Tony Nyam (retd.) came to limelight during the 1990 aborted military coup that sought to restructure Nigeria and excise some parts of the Northern Region from the country. He was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee that laid the foundation for the ongoing National Conference. In this interview with Onwuka NZESHi, he insists that the foundation of Nigeria is faulty and explains how the country can be restructured

Y

ou were part of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the national conference even though you resigned along the line. Now would you say the conference is in consonance with your dreams at the formative stage?

I am happy you used the word dream. Dream, especially if it is visionary is in the realm of the angels and spirits. But whatever incarnates into the earthly realm tends to take the connotation of the earth so it is not as perfect as it was in the spiritual realm. What we have now in the context of limitations and constraints that bedevil anything, is relatively what, I think, can be gotten.

What is your impression of the inaugural address of Mr. President to this conference?

It was one of the best speeches the President has ever given and the spirit that inspired that speech is certainly one that is full of light and that is the light of Allah if you are a Muslim and Light of Christ if you are a Christian.

From the happenings so far at this conference, do you think that the Femi Okuronmu Presidential Advisory Committee did a good in terms of setting the frame work for the confluence?

Nyam

I cannot answer that question because I left the committee before it could complete its assignment. So, I am not in a position to know how the framework was eventually set.

I think you should ask the Chairman, Senator Okuronmu that question because I believe that he will be in a better position to know.

In other words, the goal of the conference is to produce a new constitution?

going back to parliamentary system? Are we going back to true federalism?

Yes, that is the ultimate goal. Remember it is the 2014 National Conference of the People of Nigeria. It is deliberate. In recent times this is the first time we are having a conference of the people of Nigeria.

One of the delegates alleged that the President as a hidden agenda that was why you were brought in through the back door to attend the conference after the controversy that trailed your participation in the advisory committee?

What is your position on this?

How are you going to achieve this goal given the preponderance of opposition mainly from the North who do not see anything wrong with the structure we have today?

I am happy that you have used two confusing terminologies. You are asking whether we are going back to parliamentary system or true federalism as if they are two different things. There are federalisms that are parliamentarian like in India and there some that ate presidential like what obtains in the United States.

There is really no difference. The only distinction is that there is what we call vertical and horizontal restructuring. In horizontal, it means restructuring that applies to either federal or any other system. It is left for you to decide whether you want to be parliamentary or presidential. You could be either unitary or federalism.

But in terms of the structure that we currently have, we have to stop being the devil and a liar. How can we say we are a Federal Republic of Nigeria and yet we are not operating a federal system? The constitution that we have undermines everything that is federalism.

One feature of federalism is that the centre and the federating unites are coordinates. What does it mean?

It means that the responsibilities are much more on the federating units than on the centre. In our own case, it is the reverse. Check the Exclusive List and the Concurrent List and you will see what I mean. Not only has that, in our type of federalism, the federal government had almost everything while the states are mere appendages.

Secondly, in federalism, the federating units are supposed to be viable, but in our own case they are made not to be viable by turning a house that should have been a three storey building to almost 37.

There are some deliberate inclusions in the 1999 Constitution which undermine the whole essence of federalism and to the extent, we are living a lie. I guess most of us are Christians or Muslims and to live a lie is the worst thing any faithful Christian or Muslim can do.

It is only honourable that we stop living the lie. I have no doubt that the consensus of Nigerians would stand by the truth even if they pretend. The truth is that we are a federal republic in name alone. It is fraudulent and that is why you see it manifest in every of our actions.

Is it any wonder why there is corruption? Is there any surprise why there are miracle centers for students taking the school certificate examinations? If we cannot

If I may ask, who is that delegate? This is because I don’t respond to allegations made by ghosts. So who is that delegate? I will really be interested to know that delegate or somebody. I am a Nigerian and I think that President Jonathan is a democrat in every respects. I am a son of the Boki nation; I’m a son of the South -South and I am entitled to attend this national conference. I wasn’t in any way brought from the back door; I came through the front door as a Federal Government delegate. Is there anything more open and legitimate than that?

The issue of restructuring Nigeria has been on the front burner at this conference but it appears to be echoing from a particular section of the country, the South. Why is this so?

It is not true. Two great speakers from the North East just gave an account of the problem facing the country. For anybody who comes from the perspective of an intellectual assessment of the situation on the ground, one cannot but take up the issue of restructuring. What are structures? You see, I will always like to give this analogy. The word nation building can also be seen from the analogy of house building.

There are essentially three parts of a building. The most important part of a building without which the building cannot stand is the foundation. What we are doing here is like the work of an architect redesigning the foundation of Nigeria.

Like what some said at the conference, the present foundation of our country is faulty.

We had a foundation which was designed for a three story building. Soon after, this three story building became four and later twelve. Again it rose to nineteen, twenty one and now it is thirty six. There is no way that same foundation will take that high rise building. It is really important that we rebuild that foundation and to do that the first thing you do is to redesign the foundation. What is our task? Our duty is to work towards a people’s determined Constitution.

No! I don’t agree with you. From the evidence which is in fact written evidence from the contributions of most people from the North, it is the minority that has that view.

The majority of the people from the North recognize the fact that we need to talk. More so, we had a situation where one delegate from the North was crying out to Nigeria that we should stop playing politics with the problem of insecurity because children are dying on a daily basis. It was a lady delegate from the North East who cried out during the debate and I was moved by that cry. It is not a matter of politicking; children are dying as a result of the problems in that part of the country. We all owe her a duty to respond and the only way we can respond meaningfully is to put something in place to save the people. At the moment, there is a military action going on there but as you know the military response never solves a problem completely.

You will always have to go back to the political way but this has to be preceded by a well thought out plan. This is what we are doing.

So what kind of structure are we looking at now? Are we

For anybody who comes from the perspective of an intellectual assessment of the situation on the ground, one cannot but take up the issue of restructuring.

What are structures? You see, I will always like to give this analogy. The word nation building can also be seen from the analogy of house building

CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

Rovin’ Worshipper Kumuyi’s time out with youths p.28

Interview Give teaching of God’s word priority in your church – Pastor Chidi p.30

Sermon Reject privatisation of public trust (2) p.32

27

Faith

TAI ANYANWU, titus.anyanwu@newtelegraphonline.com 0706 438 0029

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/faith

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

APRIL 6, 2014

ON SUNDAY FAITH BRIEFLY Apostolic Faith plans five-day Easter Retreat The Apostolic Faith Church plans a five-day Easter Retreat programme beginning from Thursday April 17 to Monday 21.

The church’s head of Public Relations, Kayode Adeleye, gave the information in a statement made available to New Telegraph on Sunday.

He said: “The Apostolic Faith Church is putting together a series of programmes to commemorate the vicarious sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, for this year.”

The programme will feature sacred songs, Bible studies, play, film shows and inspiring testimonies.

The church’s annual Musical Concert will hold on Easter Sunday, April 20 while the doors of charity would be thrown open for people, especially the needy, who will be invited to select items and materials needs which the people of God have made available.

“The residential retreat, which is themed Expect The Blessings of Calvary, is expected to be blessing-filled,” Adeleye added.

He also explained that delegates are expected from outlying areas at the West and Central Africa headquarters of the church; and that feeding as well as lodging would be free for the delegates.

Holy Aruosa Cathedral where Oba of Benin presides The Holy Aruosa Cathedral is a unique traditional religious worship centre for the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa , palace chiefs , family members, some government officials, Muslim and Christian faithful, including men and women of Bini origin who constitute the worshippers. The revered centre commands high respect from the Bini speaking people who find the place quite serene to commune with God writes CAJETAN MMUTA

T

he Holy Aruosa Cathedral is as old as the ancient Benin Kingdom. The place was reportedly a popular Christian worship centre for the Portuguese Catholic missionaries. According to history, shortly on arrival, the Portuguese were said to have converted the then Oba into Christianity and he also gave the missionaries one of his sons to be part of activities at the church.

Located along Akpakpava Road, Benin City, Holy Aruosa, otherwise known as the Eye of God was established in 1849 as a traditional worship place for the people to directly commune with their ancestors and God without an intermediary. To the Binis, it is the oldest church on the African continent.

The Oba of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa, is the spiritual head of the church. The language of worship and activities are all done in Bini language.

With the speedy turn of events and as the years rolled by, the prominence of the church, its growth and proliferation with geographical spread cut across apart from old MidWestern state (now Edo state, but also the Cross River), Western parts of Nigeria and parts of Dahomey, the present-day Republic of Benin.

But when the missionaries left after several years and the British colonial administration moved in, the centre became a worship domain for the Binis and it was

named as the Holy Aruosa where the people commune directly with their ancestors and God the creator. Its location about less than a kilometre to the palace of Oba of the kingdom smacked of strong affinity with traditional institutions.

Any first time visitor to Benin City, the capital of Edo State, might assume it to be a worship centre for one of the new generation churches except one is keen enough to observe its highly spiritual activities quite different from what obtains in the modern day Christian church services.

Historians over the years gave divergent views about the origin of Aruosa as a religion.

CO N T I N U ED ON PAGE 30

Chioma Jesus sings at Lagos Pool of Bethsaida

Chioma Jesus Queen of gospel music, Chioma Jesus, from Imo State, is expected to bring God’s glory down at the ‘Greater Than the Pool of Bethsaida,’ a deliverance/healing programme of Kings in Christ Church coming up in Lagos in the month of May. General Overseer of the church and convener of the programme, Pastor Chid Anthony, explained that Chioma whom he described as the lady with an angelic voice, would be at the vanguard of other gospel musicians expected at the event.

The minister explained that the programme would take place between May 15 and 16.

The programme would also feature ministrations by anointed men of God such as Praise Machin, Voice of the Cross, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, Prophet Tony Aniekwe and the host minister and his wife.

The venue is the mini stadium and multipurpose hall of Oshodi Local Government, Lagos.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Faith

Power of the WORD by

Izuchukwu Chukwude belu izuchukwudebelu@yahoo.com or phone +2348028390885, +2348056027044.

F

or we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. II Cor. 13:9-11.

I believe in a holistic approach.

We are not just arms and legs, eyes and ears, a heart and a brain, but a complete human being. The whole person goes to work and the whole person comes home. We take family problems to work and work problems to the family. What happens when we take family problems to work? Our stress level goes up and our productivity comes down. Similarly, work problems too have an impact not only on our family but on every aspect of our lives. Personal, professional and social problems impact each other.

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak

foolishly,) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites?

So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which

A holistic approach is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. II Cor. 11:21-33.

Apostle Paul was a genius of his age because he was able to adapt to any situation, condition or environment he found himself. No wonder he was able to affect the great and the mighty across the then Asian continent, his persecutors and oppositions notwithstanding. I have been privileged to explore Paul’s missionary journey across Israel, Italy, Greece and Turkey. He was a kingdom Lilliputian of no comparison. You are not disadvantaged and do not make people think you are.

Let me ask you: Are we born with attitudes or do we develop them as we mature? What are factors that form our attitudes? If you have a negative outlook on life because of your environment, can you change your attitude? Most of our attitudes were shaped during our formative years. While we were born with tendencies toward temperaments, there are three factors that largely determine out attitude formation.

These are the terrible E’s of attitude:

behaved, courteous and considerate. You go to another home where everyone is fighting like cat dog. In countries where the government or political environment is honest, generally you will find that the people are honest, law abiding and helpful.

And the reverse is true too. In a corrupt environment, an honest person has a hard time.

Whereas in an honest environment, a corrupt person has tough time. In a positive environment, a marginal performer’s output goes up. In a negative environment, a good performer’s output goes down. Culture in any place always goes from the top down, never from the bottom up. We need to step back and look at what kind of environment we have created for ourselves and those around us. It is tough to expect positive behavior in a negative environment. In societies where lawlessness becomes the law, honest citizens becomes cheats, crooks and dacoits. Take some time to evaluate how the environment that you are affects you, and the one you create affects others. If a church environment you find yourself is not conducive for you to freely access God and do His will, you need not to wait for any prophecy before you relocate.

The barriers you must overcome

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hou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” II Timothy 2:3-5 (KJV) The destiny of every man is inundated with challenges, obstacles and hindrances. Everyone, therefore, has the responsibility to turn such situations into instruments of positive transformation. As a believer, there are barriers you must overcome and crush; as Christians, we must be ready to endure persecution, rejection and tough times.

“There is a real opportunity here for great and worthwhile work, even though there are many opponents.” I Corinthians 16:9 (GNT) According to Apostle Paul, there is an open heaven, a promised land, but there are barriers to meet and overcome. You must overcome your destiny barriers be it man-made or otherwise. Many of us are often disenchanted when we meet with barriers on the way to our land of promise. This is because we fail to understand the reason for such. However, this wouldn’t be an issue of fear or worry if only the purpose is well understood.

What is a barrier?

A barrier can be said to be an obstacle which when overcome, makes you a winner otherwise you would only chicken out in the race of destiny.

It is a challenge which is targeted at testing your strength or weakness. Without the barrier, it would be difficult to know or distinguish

Environment, Experience and Education. In the next article we shall evaluate each of these factors individually.

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria. II Kgs 2:24-46.

You are not to be a captive of your environment. Environment consists of the following: School – peer pressure, Social environment, Home – positive or negative influence, Traditions and beliefs, Cultural background, Work: supportive or over-critical supervisor, Media – television, newspaper, magazines, radio, movies, Political environment, among others.

All these environments create a culture. Every place be it home, organization or a country, has culture.

For example, you have probably been to a church workers and managers to sales clerks alike to be polite, helpful, friendly and cheerful. Yet at another ministry or shop you find the staff rude and discourteous. You go to a home and find the staff rude and discourteous. You go to a home and find parents and children well-

the strong from the weak.

It is a check that is capable of stopping one from making progress. There is no greatness without a barrier.

FACTS ABOUT BARRIERS Barriers are part of life. It is almost impossible to be a great man or woman in life without barriers.

There is no barrier or obstacle facing you now that someone else has not experienced before.

Barriers can become stepping stones to open heaven.

Great achievers are people who have learnt to overcome barriers in life.

God can allow you to pass through barriers.

In the Bible, there are examples of people who became great because God allowed them to pass through some barriers: David (I Sam 17:45-46, 50) – Without Goliath in the life of David, he would not have been as popular as he was. At the time, Goliath was a big problem to the entire Israelites. God allowed it and this was the same pedestal on

which he was lifted. From the scripture, it is obvious that God did not create David to fall before the barrier.

Elisha (II Kings 2:12-14). He also had a barrier to overcome which was River Jordan. Unknown to him, there were scorners already waiting to see his end but he got to the barrier, smote it with Elijah’s mantle and crossed over. He had to cross Jordan before he became what God said he would become. Stop complaining; don’t forget that barriers are part of what to overcome before you get to your promised land.

Joseph. Without his brothers, he probably might not have been able to get to the seat of power in Egypt. Certainly, that barrier you are faced with is your stepping stone to your glory.

Daniel (Dan 6:19-22) – He was mysteriously delivered from the lion’s den. At this juncture, I want to ask, what is your attitude when you are confronted with barriers of life?

BARRIERS THAT MUST NOT HINDER YOU Financial lack (Matt 6:25-26) – The answer to financial lack lies in God. If the birds of the air are not worried of their sustenance, then you also must see your temporary lack as a barrier to be surmounted.  Lack or helper (Psalm 121:1-2; John 5:7) – The greatest blunder you can make is to expect help from any man. Man has no help to offer you.

Poor Background – If you fail to conquer your background, this can be your limitation.

Past mistakes (II Cor 5:17) – Don’t poison

your future with the pains of the past. Is there anything in your past that you are still holding on to and is preventing you from moving forward? Drop it now and move on. God will help you make it.

Lack of education.

HOW TO TURN BARRIERS INTO STEPPING STONES Do not pretend that there are no barriers else you will be crushed.

Sit down and identify the barriers you are facing. If you fail to identify them, you will not be able to remove them. If you are able to identify them, you have solved the problem halfway.

Encourage yourself. (I Sam 30:6) – Depression cannot get you anywhere; neither can it achieve for you anything.

Employ the power of prayer against barriers; certain barriers cannot be overcome except by prayer.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU OVERCOME? •David became the king.

•Elisha took over the mantle of power from Elijah – IIKings 2:15 •The brothers of Joseph bowed to him (Gen 43:28; 44:16) •The three Hebrew boys were promoted.

PRAYERS • O Lord, empower me to overcome my barriers!

• Powers behind any problem in my life, die!

• I will reach my goal whether the devil likes it or not!

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Reving worshippers

Youths at the Lagos empowerment summit

Kumuyi’s date with youths Youths in their thousands had to pass a night ahead of schedule, just to ensure they didn’t miss out on this year’s Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) of the Deeper Life Bible Church. TAI ANYANWU writes that Pastor William Kumuyi’s bonding with the youngsters is positioning them for positive change

Kumuyi

Y

oung people from different parts of Lagos State recently converged on the Deeper Life Church camp located on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The excitement on the faces of the youths was vivid as they anticipated another opportunity to receive guidance and godly counsel from ministers of God. While most of them slept over night, others arrived later in droves. As they alighted from several mass transit vehicles that bore inscriptions of their various stations or local church branches, the optimism was palpable.

“Our General Superintendent (GS), Pastor William F. Kumuyi, counts on divine quality very much in his pursuit and commitment to changing our society using the avenue of youth empowerment for positive change”, one of the church members stated. According to him, development is one of the cornerstones of the Deeper Life Bible Church.

Beginning in the late 1970s, he had nurtured his youth sensitisation agenda from the post primary schools. The outreach was taken to higher institutions around the country, which later metamorphosed into campus fellowships.

“The focus of the programme was basically

to reach youths across the country. A cordinator was appointed to closely monitor the success of youth activities in different locations nationwide.

“Due to the tremendous successes recorded from the youth sensitisation initiative, the GS designed an annual programme which was meant to gather campus students across Nigeria together,” our source added.

Consequently, the Youth Empowerment Summit was birthed. The first edition of the summit held in 1994 and attracted an unimaginably huge attendance. The GS, as a result, decided that it was better to organise the summit on state basis to ensure effective monitoring and crowd control.

The target was to position the youngsters to acquire the right attitudes, skills, knowledge and all they would need to utilise opportunities in order to achieve desired change in society as well as to ensure a better tomorrow.

For the caurse, the GS adopted a strategy to annually expose the church to superior sensitisation through lectures by eminent personalities as well as bring them into godly guidance. Prof. Pat Utomi of Pan African University, Lagos; and former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili among others have been featured as guest lecturers at one time or the other at the summits.

The just concluded Lagos Summit brought former World Bank Vice President for African regions, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, to address the young and receptive minds.

Pastor Kumuyi willingly yielded his pulpit for close to an hour of expose. Taking a scho-

lastic approach, Ezekwesili gave a vivid background on the global economic/financial crises, the spill-over effect on Nigeria’s economy, the challenge of growth in Nigeria, the need for right education and how youths could grab opportunities.

Though a harsh economic climate pervades in the country, she gave hope to young people, pointing out that their generation is a great generation.

“You are faced with a world that is trimmed to have a new life and a new level simply because there are some new developments that have made it different from the past,” she explained.

Ezekwesili noted that Nigeria had recorded some economic growth but remarked that the country was still trying to improve on the growth. Describing growth as the additional value that is created in goods and services in an economy in a year, she explained that a country achieve growth and yet may not be able to produce better food for her citizens to eat.

“That is why we say the structure of an economy is important where we can maximise resources and job opportunities will come up,” she added. She explained that two things were involved in the unemployment such as the ability to expand economic opportunity and job employment opportunities.

This, she said, not only makes people employable but also implies that a society can bring change to any form of unemployment.

Ezekwesili regretted that some people had studied courses that were not relevant to our

Ezekwesili

society while others just read course that were actually chosen by their families.

It only helped to fan the upward trend of unemployment in the country, which she said had reached 24 per cent and 40 per cent for young people in particular.

The guest lecturer prescribed that government could solve the problem by tackling the macro, micro and cultural aspects of the economy.

“If all these areas are tackled, then the problem will be minimal. We should make sure that the education sector must give the people the capacity to think, reason and grow; make them to engage in features that give those moral lessons and skills; must have the capacity to be able to do things that are right to build peoples’ physical development, IQ and idea.

“When you talk of idea, I do remember the work of God, He gives ideas and is there anyone of you today who has ideas. It takes grace to have it even the Bible talked about talents and everyone has at least one talent.

“It is all about knowing what you have to know and what you have to do at the right time till you get the material information of what you need to know,” she explained.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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Faith

Confab: Methodists commend Jonathan, counsel delegates Tai Anyanwu

T

he Methodist Church of Nigeria has c ommended President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up the National Conference, as a means of charting a course for Nigeria’s future The church delivered the verdict at the

end of its 26th Annual Synod of The Trinity Church Council, which held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Ketu, Lagos from March 20 – 23, 2014. The synod was presided over

by Bishop of The Trinity Church Council, His Lordship, The Rt. Reverend Oladapo Omotayo Babalola.

The synod, which held with the theme

‘Let my people move forward,’ deliberated on a series of issues affecting the church, the society and the nation, according to a communiqué made available to New Telegraph on Sunday.

It advised confab delegates to see the conference “as an opportunity to deliberate and find lasting solutions to the humon-

Kumuyi’s date with youths CON TINUED F R O M PAGE

She pointed out that some people had misused their opportunities in life; adding that that makes education important and should be a priority, especially for youths.

“But when you look around and you see there are few opportunities; but as children of God we should advantage and make use of our youthful moments,” she urged.

With that, Ezekwesili proceeded to prescribed some of the keys that young people need to acquire to excel not only in West African sub region but elsewhere in the world.

Youths must aspire for and acquire education, develop the capacity to listen, ask questions and gather information that can help them.

They must also possess the skill to use number: decide what to be calculated what needs to be counted, be able to compile data

using the appropriate method and technology.

Those things, she, added are very important for an excellent behaviour.

She emphasised that the world today needed people with the capacity to identify problems and be able to solve them.

“As a member of the youth church you must be a person everyone goes to when they have a problem that can allow you to think and solve problems you should be able to identify the problem, accept the situation and fine the mathematical digression of the problem for you to say yes this is the solution that is the skill you to think.”

Management skills, personal skill, attitude, good character were identified as some of the essential attributes of a youth who would make a difference in these trying times.

“You must portray positive attitude and behaviour, be responsible, accountable and learn from people without being led astray

by people with negative attitudes and know just as the word of god says: “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me” yes I can see successful people in the nation among you. Also God hates waste resources and you will not be waste resources to the nation,” she prayed in Jesus name.

Pastor Kumuyi assured the young people that great prospects awaited them, but they needed to connect to God’s programmes for their lives. That way, the young people, he continued, would enlist on God’s partnership and awesome power to realise their divine purposes.

He explained that young people must make conscious choice and choose intelligently, individually and chose rightly because God wanted to use them. “He will give you rest, hear your prayer, mend you, heal you and there will be salvation and favour,” Kumuyi said.

gous problem of home grown terrorism, religious intolerance, endemic corruption, failed schools, failed hospitals, failed roads, failed security, failed power supply, Niger Delta militancy, oil bunkering, kidnapping, the vanishing opportunities for our youths, the widening gulf between the rich and the poor and worst of all, the receding faith in Nigeria by Nigerians.”

The synod frowned on the “unfortunate and avoidable death of some innocent jobseekers who went to attend the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise recently. Synod believes it is a reflection of the problem of unemployment in our country which on its own is a ticking time bomb.

Synod calls for a proper audit of what actually happened and urge the Government to create jobs for our youths.”

The church, which thanked God for His mercies, protection, provision and love expressed joy that it was able to go through a peaceful transitional period in 2013.

It commiserated with the families of those who had lost their lives, property and means of livelihood in the course of the series of terror attacks in major parts of the North, especially Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina.

It also “expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the students of the Federal Government College, Yobe, who were gruesomely cut down in their prime in a senseless and incomprehensible act of evil by terrorists.”

‘Aruosa is a rallying worship centre for Binis’ CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 27

The British according to the World Initiative for Peace, a non-governmental organisation, in its 5th World Conference on Religion and Ethnicity with a special reference to the Portuguese, Ancient Benin Kingdom and the Romania Churches as case studies, noted that Holy Aruosa was founded by the Portuguese in 1406 AD. But Col. Paul Ogbebor (rtd.)

Counselor and chairman Board of Trustees (Aruosa), who vehemently contradicted the position of World Initiative of Peace.

According to him, agreeing with that amounts to saying that America was founded when the Spanish got there. “The Portuguese came for commercial and religion treaties; they only came to complement what we have. Before their advent, we had a very disciplined and strong religion. They took our priest to Portugal, but the difference is that, we go directly to God, while the Christian pray through Jesus Christ. We are not Christians. We are gods. We deal directly with God.” He said that so many years ago, Edo people experienced strange happenings, and man’s inhumanity to man abounded.

Spurred by three fundamental requests that the young ones should not be dying before their elders; the need to continue to have rain throughout the season and that the dead should be able to visit the living, Okhuahe, a Benin priest volunteered to take the message to God. Although several years later, when God replied them, the above requests could not

be granted as they tend to violate the natural law which says there cannot be witness of any person who has seen God on earth.

He said the present site called Aruosa was where the Binis gathered, praying and awaiting the return of Priest Okhuahe.

While making a comparison between Holy Aruosa and contemporary religions, Col. Paul said, Aruosa is more impacting.

“Christianity has nothing to do with Bini culture, but Aruosa is Benin. You cannot see five percent of Binis who live 100 percent by Christian doctrines, it is rare. But Aruosa is Bini culture. Before most Binis go to church, they pray to shrines to keep their homes”.

The incursion of modernity and computer age as well as wide travels, teachings and learning, the activities of the centre became adversely affected by western civilisation.

The Nigerian civil war also dealt a big blow on it. With the British annexation of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 and tragic exile of Oba Ovorawmen N’Ogbasi to Calabar, the Holy Aruosa was almost on its knees. Its fame was resuscitated by Oba Akenzua’s ascension to the throne in 1933. Then life was injected into the various branches with massive reconstruct works at the Benin headquarters; the Port Harcourt, Onitsha and the far Dahormey branches.

The Senior Presiding Priest of Aruosa, Royal Priest Harrison Okao, Justice of Peace (JP) said Aruosa is a rallying center for Christians, Muslims and idol worshipers.

“We are not against any religion, but we are concerned with the state of the mind,” he said. The revered Priest Harrison, a product of Ministry Pastoral School Institute, United States and Worldwide Ministry, said the Oba is responsible for the appointment of the priests through inspiration from God. Speaking on his specific roles in Bini Kingdom vis-à-vis the worship centre, he said as a priest of Aruosa and in collaboration with the Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, both have the onerous duty to protect the Oba. He said, “I pray to God on behalf of the Oba, while Isekhure prays to ancestors on behalf of the Oba.” He stated that, “The Oba’s wives are not under my jurisdiction. No Oba’s wives come here, but we only pray for them.”

However, women who are mostly the choristers are allowed to worship freely, and to commune freely with Osanobua (God or

creator) without any intermediary.

The Priest stated that, “During the prayer session, I ask people to come out and talk to their God and say or ask whatever is paining them, which they want God to do for them.

There is a specific time during every worship service when such people will come out to cry to their God. To me, it is one of the best sessions in the entire service.”

He went on, “The prayer every successive Oba offers at the worship site ensures the success of the kingdom and its inhabitants as a whole. God has been answering our prayers. Here, we pray for barren women, jobless youths, our children—that they have the fear of God and grow properly; we pray for our market women and others generally. So, being a place of true worship, and of prayer for good things, Holy Aruosa is a very important place to the society here.”

Investigations revealed that the Benin monarch attends worship at the traditional church on the last Sunday in each year which marks the end of Igue festival for thanksgiving and that enables him to usher in a new year. The temple services hold each Sunday and has an “unadulterated Bible” for its members. The rituals of service have the same semblance of what obtains in the orthodox churches while the traditional white chalk is used to conduct baptism on new converts and little children. There is also traditional sprinkling of holy water during service for blessings and possible casting away of evil spirits.

Golf Nigeria’s Mbuko blazes new trail in SA’s Sunshine Tour p.34

Football Ambrose: I don’t need rest to perform p.63

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/sport

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

APRIL 06, 2014

Dapo Sotuminu, Deputy Sports Editor dapo.sotuminu@newtelegraphonline.com 08099400190, 08038154192

31

Sp rt

Nwanu: Eagles must imbibe USA ’94 spirit in Brazil F

ormer Super Eagles World Cup defender, Chidi Nwanu, has declared that for the coach Stephen Keshi-tutored Eagles team to excel at the Brazil 2014 World Cup they must imbibe the never say die spirit of the

Did you know?

That at the 1974 edition in Germany, tournament debutants, Haiti, stunned Italy by taking the lead through Emmanuel Sanon - it was the Caribbean nation’s first goal in their first and last World Cup appearance

Chidi Nwanu

Calabar Carnival action

USA 94 squad.

Nwanu who spoke with New Telegraph on Sunday from his base in Belgium said that, the Eagles team must not accord undue respect to any of their opponents at the World Cup if they want to get to the quarter-finals and even go beyond.

“I am using this opportu-

nity to tell the present crop of Eagles players preparing for the Brazil 2014 World Cup to work hard and be dedicated, put their faith in God and not in fetish metaphysical things as they bring hard luck which disappoints people and brings heartbreaks.

Full interview on pages 32 & 33.

Centenary Games 2014: Calabar plans world-class ceremonies Dapo Sotuminu

T

he Cross River State Commissioner of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Patrick Ugbe, has disclosed that the Organising Committee of the Centenary Games ‘Calabar 2014’ National Sports Festival would give Nigerians world class ceremonies at the 19th edition of the biggest sports fiesta in Nigeria in November.

Ugbe told New Telegraph on Sunday in an exclusive interview that: “The only thing that would be different at the Centenary Games is the opening and the closing ceremonies which would be quite unique and different from what we saw at Eko 2012 and other editions of the National Sports Festival.

“The opening ceremony would be spectacular and it is a type that has not been seen before anywhere in the country and something of international quality. It would show our culture and also tell stories about our people.”

He noted that, aside from any other thing, the ceremonies at the Games tell a lot about the potentials of the host.

The former Commissioner for

Information stated that, Calabar is working according to a time lime and would be ready well ahead of the Festival kick-off in November. “Some people have been asking questions about our readiness, the point is we cannot be ready for a National Sports Festival that would be coming up in November/December now. We are working according to our time lines and we are not behind schedule in anything at all. We have event schedule and we are following it religiously.

But the bottom line is that, we are going to be ready ahead of the opening ceremony.

“Festival is festival, it is a sporting competition, and there is nothing different in any other competition, the rules and the facilities are the same, so there is nothing different from what happens. What could only make the Centenary Games 2014 different from Eko 2012 are the ambiance of the city of Calabar and the warm and hospitable nature of the people, which would make this festival different and unique.”

He said the Local Organising Committee is working in accordance to the schedule timeline to make sure the facilities are ready as scheduled. continues on page 34

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Sport / Stars of Yesteryears

Nwanu: Immaturity ruined Eagl Chidi Nwanu got his popularity as Nigeria’s World Cup star when he took the place of Super Eagles captain, Stephen Keshi, at the USA 94 World Cup. He told DAPO SOTUMINU in this exclusive interview that the Nigerian team would have played in the finals of that edition of the Mundial if not for immaturity and indiscipline

Nwanu, left, close marking Diego Maradona at the USA 94 World Cup

A goal was scored against Nigeria by Argentina in a set piece as Diego Maradona combined effectively with Claudio Cannigia in a group game as the Eagles defence lost concentration. You were there, what really happened?

It was a simple case of immaturity and indiscipline on the part of the Super Eagles players at the USA 94 World Cup. At that moment when the goal was scored immaturity counted a lot, it was exhibited as we didn’t keep our heads cool knowing that the Argentines were provoking us and some of us went out shouting on the referee at the set play. Two times we were caught flat footed. That immaturity affected us adversely and that was why I said we shouldn’t have left the World Cup in the second round. We had all it takes to even play in the finals of the USA World Cup because when you look at it, the politics of the game was in play as the referees protected the Argentines against Nigeria. We were told that, a lot of people came to the USA 94 to watch Argentina play and FIFA officials in their wisdom won’t allow their early exit in the competition.

We had all it takes to storm the world but a little bit of immaturity put us out of the competition earlier than expected. The other aspect I saw about that World Cup is that most of my teammates were satisfied being at the World Cup. But you see, you may have the opportunity of coming to the World Cup twice but your best bet is the one chance to

be in the competition.

There was a lot of disorganisation in the national team, and surprisingly it is still like that in the Eagles today and it is unfortunate that nobody has been able to learn from the past. But the other thing is that, it is not only what happens on the field of play that counts, it is what takes place off the pitch. It is very important that players must be disciplined and observe some restrictions for themselves when they are off the pitch, knowing that millions of people are looking towards a moment of happiness for them to make the nation proud. So, when you know that it is not about you but about the nation, then there would be some more serious discipline and commitment in the game.

How do you feel playing against a soccer legend like Diego Maradona?

I want to say here that we played that match believing that it was eleven players against eleven.

Playing against Maradona was a big motivation for me. I didn’t need any other motivation, his name and presence motivated me to stand up on my two feet against him. I like to stand up against giants too. This was how I made my own name too. Nobody expects you to do anything special, but anything you do there makes you carry the day, so why not go ahead and do it.

I also had a swell time playing against Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov and Yordan Letchkov, they were

the biggest players in Europe and giants of world football at the time. And we blocked them off and defeated them. That was where we hit it big. As a player look out for every opportunity to upstage a top class player, if you do so, you will take over his position. That is the best way to play the game.

When the Super Eagles players go into the Brazil 2014 World Cup in June, they should not go into any of the games afraid of any player who has a name, two legs and one head like them. They should just go in there, close their eyes and defend the cause of the nation. Stand up and make something extra to entertain the people and make them happy. Let’s forget the deaths in Nigeria, people are looking for something to hold hands on especially in this time of trouble, confusion, depression and austerity they are looking for something to cheer them up and I hope and pray that the Super Eagles would get there at Brazil 2014 World Cup. You became popular at USA 94 as you took the place of a great player like team captain Stephen Keshi, how do you feel about this?

You see it is something I would want to use the opportunity to advise the players, the coaches and the NFF officials. What is important playing at the World Cup is the name Nigeria and not the individuals. When someone feels that he has done a lot of great things for the country in the past and cannot do it again, you must step aside and encourage the young ones to do it.

It is better we have a strong young player who can do the job than an old player who can’t do it but he is there because of the name he made the previous years. We have an attitude of bringing players who feels or say I should be there, but your time is up, please encourage the young ones to come up. This is the spirit of sportsmanship. It is not about my name, if we had won the World Cup in 1994, Nigeria’s name would have been written in gold forever by FIFA. For the popularity, when your moment comes you take it, do what you are supposed to do, people will see you and they will say you did your job and remember you for good. But if you mess up, they will always remember you for bad.

Nigeria had played in four World Cup finals, but the participation at the USA 1994 remains the best?

The Super Eagles USA 94 World Cup team was a special one; it was a team where the players looked out for each other’s mistakes and you know that everyone in that team was capable of taking your position anytime your legs slips. So, what did we do, we put our two feet on the ground and make sure any position you are occupying you don’t let go. It was evident that those who made the team did so strictly on merit and not on sentiment. This was one of the secrets. The other secret was that, we were more of men than children. We did not playing to the gallery but wanted to make a mark.

From Clemens Westerhof to the players, everyone was waiting for each other to make mistakes and your position is gone. So, all the first team players played with so much care and perfection, much that those on the bench had no cause to complain that they were marginalised.

When I was in the team, I was the prayer war-

rior before and after the games. The Eagles must be spiritual at Brazil 2014 World Cup. They must pray unto God to help them to win.

My advice to Mr. Stephen Keshi, the coach of the Nigeria national team is very clear, he has been there before and he knows what it takes to advance the team beyond the second round of the World Cup. Today, he has a second chance to do what he couldn’t do as a player, but could do as a coach. He has my support and my prayer goes for them all to do us proud and I am looking forward to every single game to rejoice and lift up the national flag everywhere I am. Let them go with confidence, no panic, and no fear once they train well and they are fit, God will see them through and they shall win.

If you are given any assignment to work with the Nigeria Football Federation, will you accept?

Definitely, this is something that I have been confronted with a lot of times by journalists in Europe who have been asking me this question. It is embarrassing at times as t h e

quest i o n comes to me. Nigeria should have their record and they should be able to know that even though they have a coach who is in Nigeria, there are some of the trusted players who played this game, who knows what it takes following the modern trend of football. These ex-players should be given a job to keep tabs on key players in Europe so that those who would be invited for the World Cup and other top international competitions would be on merit and not sentiment.

It is not about lobbying, personally for me, for Nigerian football, I can help as there are lots of works to be done. I can donate my house in Lagos for this purpose.

A lot of modern technological equipment in football, feeding and techniques all these things must be ap-

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les’ USA 94 World Cup dream plied in our local league to breed and train players to get them into the form of professional football players and avoid early departure and early wastage in Europe, because most of them that left early never made it in Europe. There are wasted talents who are suffering in Nigeria. We do not have that managerial ability to groom these boys and place them on a level whereby they can have a living in Nigeria until they are matured enough to go for professional football in Europe thereby helping our local league. We need to know how to turn the table around now, we have the talents but we need the managerial ability.

If you look at the USA 94 World Cup until date, there has never been any form continuity in the Nigerian national team from one generation to another, so what we did over the years is still what we are doing today. We just assemble players for a particular competition and when such ends everyone goes, when another one comes we start rolling around again to assemble fresh players, it is not done like that in Europe and that is why they dominate world football, because they have continuity, they monitor their players from time-to-time. The players come home to play friendly matches and the coaches see who is who, but for us in Nigeria sometimes in the next four years we might not see the players again and when a competition comes up, the coaches choose the same players based on their conditions four years ago.

When did you start playing serious football?

Football is something you start playing seriously without a date, just as a child begins to play it on the street and play it in the school for the school team. From the school, I started playing it as machinery. After my secondary school education, I went to Aba, in Abia state, where I started playing club football with PZ Football Club. Before my movement to Aba, I played for some local teams in my village.

Can you remember the names of these local clubs?

Yes, one was Mbotu Vipers FC and after Nwanu

chidi nwanu’s profile Position: Defender Date of Birth: January 1, 1967 Place of birth: Port Harcourt National Team cap: 20 Debut: June 21, 1994 World Cup games: 4 Olympic Games: Seoul 88 Nigerian Clubs: Mbotu Vipers FC, PZ FC of Aba, Falcons FC of Owerri, Enyimba International of Aba, ACB FC of Lagos.

European Clubs: Westerlo FC of Belgium 1989, Club Vise 1991, Beveren FC 92-93, Anderlecht 1994-97, Warwick FC of Holland 1997-98.

that I went to Aba to join PZ FC. From there I went to Falcons FC of Owerri, when I left Falcons the journey took me to Enyimba FC of Aba after which I joined ACB of Lagos. It was from ACB that I left for Europe.

Which year did you move to Europe?

I left for Europe finally in 1989, but before then in 1988, I was on ground for the preparation for the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. The deal to move to Europe was finalised during the Green Eagles camping in Germany ahead of the Olympics.

How long did you play in ACB?

I spent two full years in ACB before I left for Europe. I was so happy playing in the club. It was my first time of playing in a professional league side that was so organised with so much professionalism. It was an eye opening to me on everything I have done concerning playing football at club level.

Actually, it was the best club I played in before travelling abroad.

sional football in Europe?

My greatest moments came actually when I realised that I had gained prominence playing football in Europe. It was the time I gained selection to play in the Nigerian national soccer team for the World Cup USA 94. That was the moment, it was something that happened miraculously, and God had a hand in it. That was the right moment.

It was just the time I was moving to Anderlecht.

That was the peak of professional football when every player’s greatest ambition is to be at the World Cup and probably play in the Olympics.

These two competitions are the greatest and I was so privileged to play in them. I had a feel of what they are like, but the World Cup is the ultimate. I played the Olympics in Seoul 1988 in South Korea for Nigeria.

Do you have any regrets or low points playing in Europe?

For everything, most times I went through some difficulties but I was able to solve the problem over time. There were some low points especially when you are addressed in a particular language and you feel disoriented. And there is a low point also when the language becomes a barrier, you feel used, and in some cases you feel bad when you are not given your worth because you are seen as a foreigner. The problem of freebeing was also a low point for me and in football you need a lot of communication.

With all these low points, this is where your determination and discipline come into play. One will

not give up fighting because of these low points.

Everywhere you are and even in your home there are low points, so you must learn how to breakthrough in spite of all these obstacles, that is the only thing that it takes. Once you know you have the talent and ability the sky is your limit, you must fight against all odds and make sure you shine out.

You said earlier that your invitation to the Super Eagles for the USA 94 was a magical moment. I saw it too as such because you were not a part of the qualifiers yet you made the team to the World Cup. How do you feel about that?

Looking at the Technical crew of the Super Eagles, they did a very good a job as they took the best Nigeria could offer across the world and that is how things should be done. Selection of players for a competition as big as the World Cup should be based on current form and not your old performance. That reminds me of the slogan ‘a living dog is better than a dead lion.’ So, as at that time Nigeria took the best, this is what I can say to you.

I was so privileged, happy and grateful that I made the team. It was a history that I still believe and praying that the present generation can still improve on the record. Because that was not the best we could put up at the World Cup. We could have done better if we were a little bit more disciplined and result oriented, we could have gone further to the quarter-finals and even beyond.

A lot of immaturity played a part in our participation in that edition of the World Cup.

Which was your first club in Europe?

My first club in Europe was Westerlo FC of Belgium. I played there for two years before moving to another club. Actually, when I joined Westerlo I never knew it was a second division side and this happened because of the language barrier.

So when I signed it was very difficult for me to get out of the contract, but with much insistence I finally got my freedom and eventually moved to the top flight of the Belgian league.

How did you cope with the issue of language?

Did you enrol in a school?

No nothing like that. I didn’t go to any special school for language, as football speaks every language same with talents, all you just have to do is to show your skills and that’s what boosts you and give you an edge. After Westerlo, I joined Football Club Vise a second division, I went there on loan for one season. Afterwards I moved to Beveren FC a Belgian first division club and after then the journey began to go according to plan.

When did you retire playing club football in Europe?

My last club in Europe was Warwick FC in Holland, I retired due to divine appointment from God for me to take up His work and propagate His name all over the world. That was in 1998.

Can you share you greatest moments playing profes-

Nwanu, left, with teammate, Uche Okechukwu at the USA 94 World Cup

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E-mail: ifeanyiandrewibeh@gmail.com Tel: 08085973490

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

APRIL 06, 2014

Centenary Games 2014: Calabar plans world-class ceremonies continued From page 31

We will deliver the facilities before the commencement of the Festival and would also test run them to ensure their readiness.

Ugbe said unlike what some hosts of the festival do ahead of the Games, where athletes’ preparation for the event is jettisoned as all energies are put on provision of facilities, Cross River is mindful of that fact, and the athletes are being prepared for the challenges of the Festival.

“We have not forgotten our athletes while we work hard to host Nigeria. Some organising states spend valuable time putting facilities in place while the athletes are neglected, but it is not like that in our case and I want to assure that with the excellent form of our athletes, Cross River would have a credible performance.”

On the issue of hosting to win, Ugbe said: “If you follow the speech of the Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, at the unveiling ceremony of the Games’ logo and mascot, he was very clear on this issue. He said the state was not hosting to win, but that does not mean we are not going to win.

“What this means is that, when we are winning, we shall be doing so creditably. We are not going to cheat to win as most of the states would do. For us, it is not hosting to win at all costs, but hoping to give the country a good experience at the Festival.”

On legacies to be left after the Centenary Games, the former broadcast journalist said there are a whole lot of facilities that would be left behind after the Games.

Aside from the UJ Esuene Stadium which has been there for long, we are building sports infrastructures that cut across. We are building brand new top class facilities at the state university these we shall be leaving this behind as some of the legacies.

He stressed that Calabar is ready for the large influx of Festival competitors, officials, journalists and spectators. “We are used to it, we normally have our Annual Festival where we welcome people from all over the world, so it is nothing new for us and we are very ready for that.

On security, Ugbe said, Calabar as you know is very safe, it is about the safest place in the country.

That situation hasn’t changed. That doesn’t mean that we are not security conscious. As a matter of fact, the hospitable and the classic nature of the people and the city itself would make the Centenary Games one of the most secured and safest in the history of the National Sports Festival. We are conscious about our security plans.

He also spoke on the idea of the open festival which would be the case at the Centenary Games. “It is okay, we are happy about it. We were one of those advocates who called for the festival to be opened, as it would be unfair to restrict any Nigerian from taking part in the National Sports Festival. We know that the Festival was set out to discover talents, but then if you don’t have stiff competitions to discover real talents you will keep discovering talents that are mediocre.

So, you must have a platform where every Nigerian can compete favourable together, and even when the mediocre are pitched against the professionals, they can aim to displace the top athletes and become stars themselves. That to me is the essence of the National Sports Festival.

“From the very first beginning, I have been advocating for the festival to be opened to everyone who is a Nigerian no matter where you are that to me is the only way to start building a team that would represent the country well at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and the All African Games,” Patrick Ugbe said.

WITH IFEANYI IBEH

HOLE IN ONE

Nigeria’s Mbuko blazes new trail in SA’s Sunshine Tour

Uloma Mbuko takes a stroke at the South African championship

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igeria’s top lady golfer, Uloma Mbuko, has broken new ground in her golfing career by becoming the only Nigerian professional on the recently launched Sunshine Ladies Tour in South Africa.

Mbuko had four years ago attempted to turn pro in Nigeria but after failing to achieve that status in Nigeria, she pitched tent with the South African PGA where she completed a two-year national diploma in golf course at the end of which she reapplied for membership of the Nigerian PGA. She pitched tent with the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja, where she was engaged as a resident pro, in the hope of getting the approval of the PGA. But the big snag for the England-trained golfer was the fact that the PGA’s constitution hasn’t been revised to accommodate lady golfers.

That failure led Uloma to South Africa where she now competes on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, and only last week, she finished joint 10th at the maiden edition of the SLT Zambian Open at the Ndola Golf Club in Lusaka.

For her efforts, she went home with 18,660

South African rand (about N287,000) and is looking forward to more tour tournaments.

“It is nice having somewhere to play without all the inhibitions. It feels good playing regularly and competing against other ladies and I hope it improves my game considerably,” she stated in an email to New Telegraph on Sunday.

She added: “I look forward to a time when I will be able to compete back home but for now I am focussed on the Sunshine Tour.”

She may not have to wait for too long as

Bako hoping to get better N igerian amateur golfer, Kamal Bako, is hoping he can continue to improve on his game and make a legitimate claim to his increasing status as one of the best amateurs in the country.

The Kano-based Bako, who is an officer with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was

2014 Masters: Tiger’s absence leads to drop in ticket prices

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he Masters has remained the only Major that Tiger Woods has never missed.

That will change this year, as Woods underwent back surgery earlier this week for a pinched nerve that will sideline him for four to five months.

With the world’s top-ranked golfer sidelined by back surgery, ticket prices have dropped on the secondary market and Las Vegas is taking fewer wagers.

Ticket broker Vivid Seats reports an 8% decline in overall prices since Woods announced his withdrawal from the tournament. StubHub.com has seen Thursday tickets fall from $1,200 apiece to $920 over the last two days.

efforts are being made to pave way for her admittance into the Nigerian tour.

“A lot of things are changing, and we are just waiting for the next executive meeting to be able to kick start the process in the constitution so as to be able to accommodate players like her,” said Festus Makelemi, the Nigerian PGA’s Director, in an interview with reporters where he revealed that plans are underway to create an associate membership status for players who fall into Mbuko’s category.

“It’s a significant drop,” said Cameron Popp, a StubHub spokesman. “I don’t think there is any other athlete in the world who affects ticket prices like Tiger does.”

Jeff Sherman, assistant manager at the Las Vegas Hotel’s SuperBook, told Bloomberg.com that fewer bets usually coincide with a smaller television audience.

“There’re so many people that say, ‘I just want to root for Tiger,’ and now they’re not going to get the opportunity,” Sherman was quoted as saying.

Woods underwent a microdiscectomy earlier this week to relieve nagging back pain.

He was hoping to return to the PGA Tour by summer.

the top amateur at last month’s ULO Golf Championship, in Otukpo, Benue State, and even led the field consisting mostly of professionals after the opening 36 holes.

Not since the late Paul Odoh, twenty years ago, has an amateur led a Pro-Am event after 36 holes and Bako, who won last August’s Kano Chetex Golf Tournament, is thrilled with the comparisons to a true legend of the Nigerian golf scene.

“I have heard a lot about late Paul Odoh but I am not aware he led a ProAm field like this,” said Bako. “Being compared to him is remarkable; I am honoured and really glad to take that compliment because he is more or less a legend of the game in Nigeria.

“But I won’t let it get into my head as all I want to do is get better and inspire other people with the way I play.”

Having dominated the amateur scene for some time now, it is expected that Bako will, hopefully, sooner than later, leave the amateur scene and turn pro.

The likeable golfer insists such plans are in the offing even though he isn’t willing to be specific on when he intends to dump his amateur garb.

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo

Phone: 7747546-8; E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

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Mordecai, who was ordained for hanging. They had built the gallows where they would hang him, but instead of being hanged, he began to reign (Esther 6:1-11).

• Nehemiah: The king asked Nehemiah what he wanted, and he granted the request. So, turnaround favour visited Nehemiah from the platform of prayer and fasting (Nehemiah 1: 1-4; 2:4-8).

• Jesus went on a 40-day adventure in fasting and prayers, and He returned in the power of the Holy Ghost (Luke 4:2, 14).

Watch out, what nobody could think about us or what we could not think about ourselves, shall become the order of the day in our lives this year!

Please note, nothing guarantees a future like favour. Labour, without favour makes a failure. It is favour that gives value to our labour. It is the blessing of the Lord upon the works of our hands that maketh rich and adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). So, it is favour that makes a success. Favour is the highway

THE Oracles of God by

Frank Oboden Olomukoro

frankolomukoro@yahoo.com, 07033621866

A

nd it came to pass, as we went to prayers, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the Most High God, which shew unto us the way of salvation”. Acts 16:16 – 17. Where did this correct inspiration of the word of knowledge come from? From the spirit of divination.

Correct doctrine, yes, but a wrong spirit. Can’t you see the act of deception by this spectacular feat? To all practical intent and purpose, their mission was not for the course of the gospel but for filthy lucre (money), to make gain.

The curtain is opened, this damsel has enlightened us and confirmed our suspicion, even the devils can say a measure of the truth to deceive.

That is why we have witches, herbalist, cultist, astrologers, wizards, enchanters, diviners, magicians ordained and consecrated as pastors, evangelists, apostles, self-styled prophets, church founders and pul-

pit preachers with satanic powers for incredible miraculous acts to the consternation of the simple minded. “for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light”. 2 Corinthians 11:13 – 14. That is why also many things are not real in the life of some of these men of God. You cannot be a Jew in the church and be a gentle outside the church. Like the master of the damsel, the whole drill in the church is still around the manipulation for money, power and control. That is why the church image has been sorely battered.

Only the devil impersonates signs, wonders and miracles to draw attention to himself without an effective delivery of a message of eternal life. Signs alone, without the voice of God’s word pointing the sinner to the cross for the salvation of his soul or spiritual edification are an effort in futility. Consider 2 Thess. 2:9 “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs

Faith

Encounter with turnaround favour!

The Voice of ecognize that prayer and fasting are spiritual investments into our destiny. They are investments whose dividends are forever guaranteed (Galatians 6:7-8).

That simply means they are spiritual platforms created for our change of levels. Wherever we appear from now, they will take knowledge of us that we have changed! The words of our mouths, our actions, our dispositions, and the authority at work in us, will show that we have changed level!

Prayer and fasting have proved to be veritable platforms for provoking the release of turnaround encounters with favour, and we saw that in quite a number of examples in scriptures.

• Esther: We saw how, after only three days, favour erupted for Esther on the platform of prayer and fasting. They prayed and fasted three days. On the third day, Esther appeared before the king and favour answered (Esther 4:1617; 5:1-3).

• Mordecai: Favour rescued

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to a world of fortune.

Love: the Platform of Access to Favour God’s favour is triggered by man’s love. It is our love for God that triggers the release of God’s favour on our lives (1 Corinthians 2: 9).

Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel (1 Chronicles 28:4). There are a lot of differences between “being loved” and “being liked.” When you love God, He likes you and when He likes you, He manifests Himself to you. David said, “You liked me and made me king.” It was God’s favour that made David, king.

We should go beyond the level of God loving us, to the realm of Him liking us. When God likes a man, He will make anything out of his life. This year, God will make some strange things out of our lives!

Joseph: He was a man in love and favour trailed every of his steps. He did not go down for Portiphar’s wife, because his love for God wouldn’t let him do it. In the prison he found favour, in Portiphar’s house he found favour and favour finally brought him out of the prison straight to the palace.

God’s favour is changing our levels permanently!

Solomon: “And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. In Gibeon

the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:3, 5). Favour responded to Solomon’s love. God came down that night and said, “Ask anything, I am presenting to you an open cheque of favour.” God will always respond with an open cheque to His lovers, and that open cheque is what we call favour (1 Kings 3:13). God is going to daze us this year!

Friend, enjoying God’s favour, is the preserve of those born again. You are born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You can do so now if you haven’t been, as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I can’t help myself. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood.

From today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.

Now I know I am a child of God.” I will continue this teaching next week. The Exceeding Grace of God shall be your portion this year, in the name of Jesus!

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge.

For further reading, please get my books — Born To Win and Walking In The Miraculous.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Of signs and wonders and lying wonders”. This is the mystery of iniquity better known as the Anti-Christ. Being mysterious means he is a man with twist and curves about him.

Being miraculous, the people’s attention will be won just as the people of Samaria in Acts 8:10 applauded Simon the Sorcerer as “the great power of God”. Climaxing a showdown, the Anti-Christ will declare himself God that is worshipped through the deceit of lying wonders. Revelation 13:13 – 14 paints a more vivid picture of his modus operandi “And he doeth great wonders, so that he make fire come down from heaven on earth in the sight of men. And deceived them that dwells on the earth by the means of these miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live”.

Sir, can a herbalist deceive church people? No! It will take a religious church man to deceive church people, just as it took an old prophet to deceive a young prophet in 1Kings 13. Who is this beast in question? The Anti-Christ of course! The image made to the Anti Christ is the Association of the World Council of Churches, the Ecumenical. Your church or denomination would, if she had not already become a registered member and when your pastor, respected man of God harp his support to this image Council, the congregation will say, God has spoken. Deception will sweep them clean into the great tribulation.

But how do we escape this spiritual death trap?

We should be very sensitive to scriptural interpretations that trumpet manipulations. We must also find our balance in the scriptures. First, be certain you

have received the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, not church spirit. Be sure your baptism by immersion in water is correct, in the name of Jesus Christ for your sins to be remitted (as opposed to the church traditions of water baptism in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost). Acts 2:38. The church today has evolved as the centre of attraction (No longer Jesus Christ) and multitudes flock in there in quest for Christ but in exchange they are given man made orchestrated spiritual devices; What do you make of “Holy Water” being dispensed commercially by servants of God? Could that be in Habakkuk? Signs, nothing less! Haven’t you heard of ”Special Bathing Soap” that cures? Is that not a lying wonder?. The mystery of iniquity doth already work, 2 Thess. 2:7. Should a sick or afflicted person “drink oil” for his healing? The bible was specific, annoint (not drink) the sick and pray for them. James 5:14. Who gave this counter instruction?. Further to that, oil is now used to annoint virtually every and anything that is not sick including the pot of soup. These false annointed men of God are indicted! For these lying signs, powers, wonders, traditions and creeds are but inspirations from the pit of hell.

The behaviours and audacity of these pastors and other servants of God on the pulpit make them sound as if they are God who can do all things or God’s deputy who will take over from God. Deception indeed, is very subtle, sugar- coated and far from being suspected to be a lie. Only the spirit of God in you, coupled with your vigilance will unravel the white horse rider of Rev. 6:1.May the good Lord open our eyes of understanding. Amen!

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Interview Interview

Give teaching of God’s word priority in your church -Pastor Chidi The General Overseer of King in Christ Church Worldwide, Pastor Chidi Anthony, speaks on the need to give preaching of the word of God priority in churches in this interview with TAI ANYANWU Why do some worshippers sleep in your church?

The Bible says, “In the days of his power people shall be willing.” From the first day I caught the vision of my apostolic ministry, God said to me: “I am giving you the city of Lagos. “In this ministry, people fly from US, Europe and other places to tap anointing upon my life. So, I am not surprised because they have seen and a tested the power of God and found out it is awesome in this place of worship. Also, people, who come from distant places, do sleep in church so that they wouldn’t miss the service.

How can one know when the power of God and not fake power is operational in a church?

The Bible says “I will confirm my word with signs and wonders.” Any place where signs and wonders are not preceded by the word of God, it is not real. The word must proceed first. Signs and wonders are actually a confirmation of the word of God. They make people know that God; is real. Here, we preach the raw word of God, salvation and every other thing follows.

It is said that little time is devoted to ministration in some churches. What is your view on this?

I give a pride of place to teaching the word of God in my ministrations because, without the word there is nothing like miracles. The word of God activates faith, and faith activates miracles. The Bible says in the book of Romans, “Faith cometh by hearing the word of God.” I believe that fellow ministers need to give more attention to preaching the word especially because the word is the change agent aside producing miracles.

How do you feel seeing believers running after miracles?

It’s a sign of the end time. The Bible speaking about it noted that even the elect will be deceived. A lot of people, who claim to be Christians, still chase after miracle, signs and wonders. But the Bible enjoins Christians to seek first the kingdom of God and all other things would be added to them.

Miracle is good. I like miracles but I let my people know that miracles, can come and go. Indeed, everything can come and go but the word of God will remain intact. A cripple can walk and still go to hell. So, what mat-

ters is the word. People must come to the understanding that one can’t receive what he or she does not know. They must know the God of miracles; that is the ultimate.

Hence, I preach God first and my congregation are catching up; loving the word.

How does it make you feel hearing that some men of God engage in fetish practices to grow their church?

I am not surprised. These are signs of the last days. I have to use this opportunity though, to tell people that hell is real and that they should be careful of the last days.

Nigeria might face sanctions from making homosexual and lesbian activities criminal acts. What is your take on that?

I am happy that President Jonathan and and members of the National Assembly did not embrace it.

The stance shows that Nigeria still remains a God fearing country. The Bible is explicit that God was angry against the cities of Sodom and Gomorra and had to destroy them because of the twin evil called homosexuality and lesbianism. I thank God for our leaders who recognised that homosexuality and lesbianism are taboos.

The National conference has finally started. What word of advice do you have for the delegates?

We need to pray. They need to do the mind of God; because if the hand of God is in what they are there to do, he will direct them on the way forward for this country.

What are your views about 2014 and 2015 elections in Nigeria?

Chidi

For the elections, we need prayers because without God’s intervention this country will split. I am praying for the unity and progress of this country. Two things are likely. One is that Nigeria might split in 2015; the other is that if the country is able to come out of the 2014 and 2015 elections in one piece, the country would be ushered into an era of evaluating peace.

is not only preaching the gospel but giving also to the needy and assisting others.

What then is your advice for politicians?

We have different leaders who serve different altars. But if all of them will focus on God, the nation will be far better. Election is not a-do-or-die affair. If our politicians are God fearing, they would not need ritual killing or bloodletting to win election.

How do you handle the needy in your church?

There are so many people I’m training in the university that I don’t even know their families. Last week Sunday we raised money for somebody and we took time to visit the orphanage and contribute for them.

If you listened to my messages today, I said so many men of God live luxurious lives which are not supposed to be. My ministry

Can you tell us about your yearly programme called Pool of Bethsaida

When God showed me the vision, I saw people in chains and the Lord told me that they have been caged by satanic forces; and that I should go and lose them because greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

So this year the lord said that we should go and wait for Him there because He is greater than the pool. Hence, every year we devote a period of prayer and fasting in obedience to the command of the Lord to liberate those who are oppressed by the

We need to pray. They need to do the mind of God; because if the hand of God is in what they are there to do, he will direct them on the way forward for this country

devil and his cohort. But this year’s own will be special. It will start on Thursday morning from 6am. We will come back on Friday and a lot of people will be coming from outside the country. There will be great men of God ministering and enough parking space at our present venue. Last year there were lots of miracles but this year will be very different. Earth shaking testimonies have always trailed past editions of Pool of Bethsaida. People troop into Lagos from Europe, America and other parts of the world to seek solutions to their spiritual needs. Last year, the programme was at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. But this year is scheduled at the mini stadium, Oshodi Local Government Area. It will be awesome, as great men of God will be ministering under high anointing. The programme starts on Thursday morning from 6am. We will come back on Friday by 8am through to Saturday morning. Already, lots of people will be coming from outside the country like Europe, Asia to mention a few as i mentioned earlier. They are booking reservation close to the venue already.

God will manifest His powers in this year’s episode in greater magnitude.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Word of FAITH by by Apostle Clement Apostle Clement Ogbonna Ogbonna apostleofgraceinwof2010@gmail. apostleofgraceinwo com, 08036774737

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henever the thought of marriage enters into the heart of an individual, the first question that follows is, “Why do I want to marry?” This question is paramount to the future and destiny of that person. And until there is a clear justification to this, the idea or worry about “Who?” may be the fortunate or unfortunate fellow shouldn’t arise.

So, many young people today marry for reasons that are not genuine or grounded. This is why they marry today and separate or divorce tomorrow, or in a bid to cover their shame, live together in untold agony for years.

It is unacceptable to get into marriage because of sentiments, strong emotional attachment, procreation or sexual aggrandizement. Lasting and true marriages should not be based on the above factors. Worse still is for one to rush into marriage because all his or her mates are married and have started having children. No! No! Marriage is bigger than that. It is too complex that such

unnecessary challenges should be the base of motivation or attraction.

Why you want to marry entails the type of person you should be praying for and relating with. Why you should marry should be close or in uniform with your destiny, the will and purpose of God concerning you.

When this is real in you, then go for the bone of your bones and the flesh of your flesh. In Genesis 1:28-30, God created Adam and blessed him. He planted him in the Garden of Eden and empowered him to be in charge.

For several seasons and periods, the vision and prophecy of fruitfulness, multiplication, replenishing the earth, and others couldn’t come to pass because the right partner was not given to him. In Genesis chapter 2:18, God saw that Adam’s destiny was bruised, and He thought it wise to create the right partner for him.

Everyone needs the right partner; an understanding partner; a destiny link partner; and a supporting partner. God in that chapter formed the woman out of the ribs of the man, and He (God) called her a help-mate

I want to marry suitable for the man. Eve came as the right partner, suitable, completing and supporting to help Adam become the real man God wished him to become.

It is important to note that Adam saw Eve and called her ‘woman’, because “she is the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh.” One should know that the realisation of the destiny of a wife is anchored on the destiny and life of a true husband. This is why you should always define the purpose of your thought of marriage before thinking or going for a woman or a man of your choice.

The Complexity of Marriage Marriage has become so complex that many young people are afraid to go into it. To many young women, marriage is their wedding day. But it is bigger, larger and more complex than that.

Every wise young person prepares for marriage and not for wedding. This is because marriage is forever while wedding is for a day. You wed on an open day but marry every day. Now, knowing that marriage is for everyday and comes to us like a container sent from abroad, we need to thoroughly prepare for it. Sometimes, what an importer requests to be put in a container is not what he gets. The manufacturer on most occasions cheats his major buyer by either reducing the quality of the goods or reducing the quantity. Marriage is like that! What you see while courting is not likely what you may see after wedding. It is another world of fantasies.

Today, too many married couples imagine they never got married because of the complexities of their union. Some even wish that their partner or spouse dies so that they would free to live their lives the way they want.

Marriage is a big world that defeats human imagination. This reveals that many matrimonial homes are

Reject privatisation of public trust (2)

E

ven as the winner-take-all economy has enriched those at the very top, their tax burden has lightened.

Tolerance for high executive compensation has increased, even as the legal powers of unions have been weakened and an intellectual case against them has been relentlessly advanced by plutocrat-financed think tanks.

In the 1950s, the marginal income tax rate for those at the top of the distribution soared above 90 percent, a figure that today makes even Democrats flinch. Meanwhile, of the 400 richest taxpayers in 2009, 6 paid no federal income tax at all, and 27 paid 10 percent or less. None paid more than 35 percent.

Historically, the United States has enjoyed higher social mobility than Europe , and both left and right have identified this economic openness as an essential source of the nation’s economic vigor. But several recent studies have shown that in America today it is harder to escape the social class of your birth than it is in Europe . The Canadian economist Miles Corak has found that as income inequality increases, social mobility falls — a phenomenon Alan B. Krueger, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, has called the Great Gatsby Curve.

Educational attainment, which created the American middle class, is no longer rising. The super-elite lavishes unlimited resources on its children, while public schools are starved of funding. This is the new Serrata. An elite education is increasingly available only to those already at the top. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama enrolled their daughters in an exclusive private school; I’ve done the same with mine.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , earlier this year, I interviewed Ruth Simmons, then the president of Brown. She was the first African-American to lead an Ivy League university and has served on the board of Goldman Sachs. Dr. Simmons, a Harvard-trained

literature scholar, worked hard to make Brown more accessible to poor students, but when I asked whether it was time to abolish legacy admissions, the Ivy League’s own Book of Gold, she shrugged me off with a laugh: “No, I have a granddaughter. It’s not time yet.”

America’s Serrata also takes a more explicit form: the tilting of the economic rules in favor of those at the top.

The crony capitalism of today’s oligarchs is far subtler than Venice ’s. It works in two main ways.

The first is to channel the state’s scarce resources in their own direction. This is the absurdity of Mitt Romney’s comment about the“47 percent” who are “dependent upon government.” The reality is that it is those at the top, particularly the tippy-top, of the economic pyramid who have been most effective at capturing government support — and at getting others to pay for it.

Exhibit A is the bipartisan, $700 billion rescue of Wall Street in 2008. Exhibit B is the crony recovery. The economists Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty found that 93 percent of the income gains from the 2009-10 recovery went to the top 1 percent of taxpayers. The top 0.01 percent captured 37 percent of these additional earnings, gaining an average of $4.2 million per household.

The second manifestation of crony capitalism is more direct: the tax perks, trade protections and government subsidies that companies and sectors secure for themselves.

Corporate pork is a truly bipartisan dish: green energy companies and the health insurers have been winners in this administration, as oil and steel companies were under George W. Bush’s.

The impulse of the powerful to make themselves even more so should come as no surprise. Competition and a level playing field are good for us collectively, but they are a hardship for individual businesses. Warren E. Buffett knows this.“A truly great business must have an enduring ‘moat’that

Faith

experiencing internal separations yet the couples live together. They regret, abuse each other, curse each other, dance and celebrate the problems of each other. Many fathers and mothers also wish they never had a child, let alone children. They see their kids as an obstacle to their separation or divorce. Now, to some young persons who are still dreaming to get married, adequate preparation and nurturing of the spirit, soul and mind should be the first thing to be done because marriage in the presentday complex society is not for boys and girls.

Nurture your heart and spirit to accept any shock.

The shocks may come from some unanticipated areas or persons. Many friends, well-wishers, relatives and mothers-in-law or fathers-in-law become instruments of satan to destabilise some marital relationships. In this case, ‘Honey’ turns to ‘Dirty’, ‘Sweetheart’ turns to ‘Bitterheart’ and ‘Darling’ turns to ‘This man’ or ‘This woman.’

We wish and pray it doesn’t happen. To avoid 50 per cent of such occurrences, you just assure yourself that: You are not marrying Mr. or Miss Perfect.

That nobody is an angel That marriage is a whiteman’s container, and anything can be found inside the container You must be willing to accept each other’s weak points and shortcomings You must not expect eventualities You must not expect everything to be according to your desires You must develop the mind to accept some wrongs, apologies and corrections You must read good and quality marriage books, listen to inspiring marriage tapes and attend spirited seminars and conferences.

CHURCH && Politics by

Oscar Ossai

Email: info@cityofrefugministry.net.

Phone:08033065892

protects excellent returns on invested capital,” he explained in his 2007 annual letter to investors. “Though capitalism’s ‘creative destruction’ is highly beneficial for society, it precludes investment certainty.” Microsoft attempted to dig its own moat by simply shutting out its competitors, until it was stopped by the courts. Even Apple, a huge beneficiary of the open-platform economy, couldn’t resist trying to impose its own inferior map app on buyers of the iPhone 5.

Businessmen like to style themselves as the defenders of the free market economy, but as Luigi Zingales, an economist at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, argued, “Most lobbying is pro-business, in the sense that it promotes the interests of existing businesses, not pro-market in the sense of fostering truly free and open competition.”

IN the early 19th century, the United States was one of the most egalitarian societies on the planet. “We have no paupers,” Thomas Jefferson boasted in an 1814 letter. “The great mass of our population is of laborers; our rich, who can live without labor,

either manual or professional, being few, and of moderate wealth. Most of the laboring class possess property, cultivate their own lands, have families, and from the demand for their labor are enabled to exact from the rich and the competent such prices as enable them to be fed abundantly, clothed above mere decency, to labor moderately and raise their families.”

For Jefferson , this equality was at the heart of American exceptionalism: “Can any condition of society be more desirable than this?”

That all changed with industrialization. As Franklin D. Roosevelt argued in a 1932 address to the Commonwealth Club, the industrial revolution was accomplished thanks to “a group of financial titans, whose methods were not scrutinized with too much care, and who were honored in proportion as they produced the results, irrespective of the means they used.” America may have needed its robber barons; Roosevelt said the United States was right to accept “the bitter with the sweet.”

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Sermon & Faith

Encounter Overshadowed by God’s power and favour GOD’s Power by Rev. N. Odege Tel: 08039494219

revodege@yahoo.com

I

heard a story of one man called Thomas Edward Lourence; in short they called him T.E Lourence. He was born August 16, 1888 in Wales under the British Empire and was popularly known as Laurence of Arabia. During the First World War, T.E. Laurence was the liaison officer interlinking the Arab and the British in order to stand against the Turkish army that was against the British War trust. However, by the ingenuity and wisdom of this man, he was able to buy the Arabians over. So, they do call him the sheikh of Arabia. After the First World War was over, he brought some of the Arabians to England and they had never seen the queen before they went to Buckingham Palace. Infact history has it that it was after the visit of the Arabian sheikhs under T.E. Laurence the queen started wearing gloves before having a handshake with anybody. This was because the Arab so shook the queen’s hand that it became almost red. So it was advocated in the Brit-

ish parliament that the queen must put on gloves. The British House of Commons passed a law that the Arab would always be favoured by the British parliament because they helped them to fight the Turkish army. They were also given wonderful hotels. While the Arabs were in the hotel, just because they had been used to spending all their lives in the desert, they had never seen a shower before. So when they were about to leave they made a request.

What was that request? They said they wanted to go with that particular thing that releases the water so that they won’t lack water when they get back to the desert. They never knew it was not the faucet that was releasing the water. They never knew that behind the faucet was the plumbing and that the hot water coming out from it was from an energy source that heated the water before it flowed through the faucet. They never knew that it was connected to something.

I want you to get a lesson out

of this story. You have children, grandchildren, wonderful businesses. You have life going for you, 15 years of marital bliss; 80 years of existence; 49 years of marriage; children; grandchildren and they are doing well. It was not you, there was a source behind all these testimonies. I’m sure you must have also heard me saying without the source will never come forth. Everyone of us should remember that we are connected to a source and that that source is the source of the favours of life. When you are disconnected from Him, favour will not come your way. For any man or woman of favour, when God is your source, your supply will never be cut short.

I’m grateful that you have come to God who is the source of life, knowing that you are just a vessel. A vessel that was not qualified to produce such beautiful children, a vessel that was not ready to be used by God; but as you submitted yourself unto Him, He has been using you.

Looking at you, you may be 65 years to 70 years and at 80 years you are going strong, walking up and down, standing while others are sitting; and many people do not know you are 80. May that Grace never cease in your life in Jesus name. So whom the Lord has favoured, the power of God will be active in him

or her. I pray this morning that the favour of God will never lack in your life (Amen).

Second lesson is that Luke 1:22 and 23 has shown me what favour can do and what favour is all about.

It is the story of Sister Mary, a unique and awesome story, an incident that brought about the angel of the Lord coming to visit Mary while she was preparing to get married to Joseph.

And the angel announced to her saying, “Mary, blessed are thou amongst women for thou art highly favoured.”

What sort of greeting is this? she must have asked. The Bible says that the angel said unto her, “Mary, fear not for thou has found favour with God. Behold thou shall conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and He shall be called son of the highest. The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of the father and it shall be forever and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall these things be seeing I know not a man?” What I understand is that there must be conjugation between a man and a woman. To make matters worse, I’m not yet married to this man (Joseph). The ceremony is not yet done and we are just planning it. And the angel replied and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee

Family

The purpose of marriage (II)

I

welcome you to our insightful discuss and series on marriage.

Today we would begin from where we left off last week – talking about the purpose of marriage.

Before I get to the main points of our discussion today, I want to state that no marriage is too good it cannot be improved upon; and none is too far gone, that God cannot salvage it and turn it around.

But we must accept His principles and guidelines that are laid down in the manual of life – the Bible.

And in accepting them, we must earnestly, consistently and patiently work the truths into our lives and marriages for the change and the good we expect.

Like I said last week, God’s principles are universal and transcends societal and cultural differences. The Bible says, “that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by him” and that He, “JESUS CHRIST is Lord of all (Acts 10:34, 35, 36b).

God did not create marriage to be independent of Him, rather it is a covenant He established to be a part of. So Biblically speaking,

God should be the centre of nay marriage that will truly succeed.

God established marriage for the sinless man in the Garden of Eden; not the fallen man in his nature and world today. So God established marriage as an instrument to achieve His plan and purpose on the earth for man and through man. Then God was still the centre of his focus and worship.

Today, many people do not know God let alone involve Him in their lives and marriages. Yet these are the same people who in many ways inform and shape the world’s opinions and views about marriage. And unfortunately, so many in the church have bought and followed these views, ideas and concepts. No wonder the divorce rate in the church is almost matching the world’s rate in numbers.

Nobody knows how marriage can work better than the one God who invented it. Just like nobody can operate or tell how a gadget can work better than the inventor and designer. The Psalmist declares “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.

You established the earth and it

Matters

abides (Ps. 119: 89-90).

Why did God establish unity as the basic purpose of marriage?

(Gen. 2:24).

This is because through the power of unity, the power of God is released on the earth for the accomplishment of His work.

Through the power of unity the force of heaven is released on the earth. “though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a three fold cold is not quickly broken” (Ecc. 4:12).

There is a great power in unity and agreement. Jesus taught it in His days on earth in the flesh (matt. 8:19-20). And in practice, He sent out His disciples in companies of two.

Nowhere else is this truth more possible and practicable than the marriage union. Marriage brings all the powers and quality of mankind into play in the affairs of life where there is unity and understanding.

Unity commands the power and blessing of God upon a people.

It is a force that opens the heaven for the shower of God’s goodness upon a people who believe (Hus-

and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore the holy thing which shall born to you shall be called the Son of God.” I’m sure the angel must have been saying, “If you doubt what I’m saying because you may not believe in impossibility, look at your cousin Elizabeth. She is beyond menopause yet Jehovah has remembered her and she has already conceived. Now, she is six months pregnant.” I’m sure Mary must have said, “Wow.” For with God, nothing shall be impossible. And she sang a song, “Be it unto me according to your word.”

If you’re a highly favoured man here, may it be unto you according to the word of God (Amen).

I believe today I’m speaking to favoured people. If you have not been favoured, before you cross the gate, favour will come upon you and the power of God shall demonstrate it in the name of Jesus. Wherever the favour of God comes upon you, the power of God through the agency of the spoken word shall actualise it. A candidate of favour is also a candidate of God’s power, which means anybody who is highly favoured is carrying the power of God to manifest. It shall be your portion in the name of Jesus.

by

O.C. David

Tel: 08033409221 band and wife) (Ps. 133: 1-3).

Unity, even when found among unregenerate, unbelieving and fleshy minded people is formidable. Such unity as we see in Genesis chapter 1 verse 1 to 8, gave God so much concern that He had to take a drastic action to stop the evil intended and propagated by such unity. Verse 6 of that scripture says, “And the Lord said, indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do, now nothing that they purpose to do will be withheld from them”.

So what did God so? He introduced a divisive element – confused their speech by dividing their tongue – and they left off their evil project and were scattered over the face of the earth.

This is God’s plan for marriage;for us in marriage to have such power through unity. Unity not just in living in the same house,but unity in all aspects of our lives as husbands and wives. When families

are united there is no problem too difficult they cannot surmount or an objective too high they cannot achieve it.

So unity should be job number one in one’s marital relationship. Husband and wives should work hard to find ways to be in agreement in every aspect of their lives and in everything they do.

In though and purpose, in vision and direction, in planning and pursuits.

After all, marriage is a union of two lives.

“You were united to your wife by the Lord. In God’s wise plan, when you married, the two of you became one person in His sig ht…” (Mal. 2 :1 5 Tay) .

“A n d s a i d , f o r t h i s c a u s e shal l a man le ave father a n d m o t h e r, a n d b e j o i n e d to his wife and the two shall become one” (Matt.

19:5 RSV ).

To b e c o n t i n u e d n e x t week

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Politics

Solomon empowers 382 Lagosians Wale Elegbede

I

t was a boon moment recently for 382 unemployed youths across the Lagos West Senatorial District as they completed their vocational training and youth empowerment programme, part of Senator Ganiyu Solomon constituency activities which enable them to realise their aspiration for a better life.

For those who are conversant with the make-up of Lagos West Senatorial District, it comprises of 10 local government areas and 18 local council development areas.

Some of the areas under the district are Alimosho, Mushin, Agege, Ajegunle, Oshodi, Badagry, Ikotun, Badagry and others.

The large size of the district which makes it the most densely populated senatorial district in the state further made the delivery of democracy dividends a very challenging one. Hence, the establishment of two vocational training centres in Mushin and Satellite Town by Senator Ganiyu Solomon was a response to this.

Beneficiaries of the programme were trained under the supervision of a consulting firm, Stable Technology, in vocations such as barbing, dish installation, bead making, shoe making, knitting, hair styling, fashion designing, costume and make-up for three weeks.

The beneficiaries, who were resplendent in their blue t-shirt outfit on the graduation day, were during the training paid transport fare of N1, 000 each daily and given free lunch for the entire duration of the training programme by Senator Solomon.

Addressing the gathering in Lagos, Solomon said that the initiative was to complement the efforts of the state government at reducing unemployment and poverty. “No government can employ every youth looking for employment, which is why youths should look inwards and channel their Godgiven ability in positive ways.”

Explaining the reason for the scheme, he said: “Some of the youths are unemployable because they don’t have skills that could make them entrepreneurs, and that is why we have embarked on this skill acquisition and training programme for them”.

Solomon, who called for a minute silence for youths that lost their lives during the recent Nigeria Immigration Service recruit-

Senator Solomon (third from left) and Chief Henry Ajomale (second left) along with others while handing over a certificate to one of the beneficiaries.

ment exercise, said the empowerment drive would witness some innovations from next quarter such that more unemployed youths could be absorbed in the scheme.

“All hands must be on deck to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty. If 80 per cent of the beneficiaries of this programme apply their knowledge and make judicious use of the tools given to them, you can imagine the number of people that have been taken off the unemployment list, not to talk of the multiplier effect of those who will go on to employ workers and those who will go on to train another set of people in their various vocations. For us therefore, the idea is to teach people how to fish rather than giving them fish to eat,” Solomon said.

In a message to the gathering, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, said Senator Solomon has shown through his commitment to youth development that he is a grassroots’ mobiliser who has the interest of masses at heart. He said the state has embarked on capacity building for artisans to upscale their skills and make them to be at par with modern technology with the establishment of 18 vocational and skill acquisition centers across the state.

Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke

Orelope-Adefulire, also commended Senator Solomon for making it a point of duty to reduce poverty in the society through empowerment and skill acquisition, as way of “teaching youths how to fish rather than giving them fish to eat.”

“It is a timely intervention and that is why we appreciate the gesture. Government efforts at eradicating unemployment and poverty should be complemented, and that is what Senator Solomon has done through his empowerment and skill acquisition scheme,” She said.

Orelope-Adefulire urged the beneficiaries to make cautious use of the opportunity so that the sponsor will be encouraged to do more thereby giving others the opportunity to benefit.

Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief Henry Ajomale, who also chaired the occasion, said the gesture was in tune with the capacity development agenda of the party.

“We have to commend Senator Solomon for this gesture and this is what our elected officials should emulate. If others are doing similar things, unemployment will be reduced to the barest minimum,” Ajomale said.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries who were independently selected from the nooks and crannies of Lagos, Akeem Adeyanju, a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, lauded the gesture, explaining that the skills and empowerment needed to pilot successful business has been given to them, thereby putting to an end their search for employment.

“I graduated almost four years ago and had been searching for job since then, but noting came out of it. The physical and psychological effects of being a graduate without any source of living are so horrific, but I thank God that it has all ended now. I will start my own business in Egbeda and I hope to start employing people.”

For Adeola Alasela, who was trained in fashion designing, it was all accolades for the lawmaker, as she described the programme as a unique one. ”The fact that we were given the tools with which to practise our trade after the training really fires me up. In the past, we had not seen the benefits of these kinds of programme because people just learnt and have nothing to practise with. But with this, I can become not only self employed but also an employer of labour,” the mother of two said.

‘Why we need to restructure Nigeria’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 6

show example with our grand norm, the Constitution, what else can we do?

You are a retired soldier, much of the problems we have in Nigeria have been blamed on the military and their incessant interventions in the governance of this country. How would you respond to these blames?

Nyam

The military is one of the most honorable professions and the Nigerian military compared to any other institution in Nigeria remains one of the most honourable institutions. The fact that some politicians in uniform came and used the name of the military to usurp the democratic rights

of the people does not subtract from the dignity of the Nigeria Armed Forces. They (the juntas) don’t represent the military. I will suggest that there have never been real military coups; there have been rogue military coups - that is people who pretended to be military men, plotted coups and seized power.

If you want to see military coups, we have good examples from Rawlings in nearby, Ghana; Arthur Turk in Turkey and the chap who transformed South Korea, Li Park. Those are military regimes. What we had here were just pretentious military men who took over and that is why some of took action against such people.

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National Conference

Ezeife: Expect a new Nigeria soon The ongoing National Conference has given rise to a lot of opinions on the way forward for Nigeria. In this chat with Onwuka Nzeshi on the sidelines of the conference, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, exudes optimism that delegates will sink their differences and allow the birth of a new constitution as the basis for a new Nigeria

T

his conference has been on for three weeks and a lot of things have been done and said; but what exactly do you hope to achieve at the end of it all?

Well, may be, I am an optimistic person and I’ll like to be one. I am expecting a new Nigeria. A totally new Nigeria. A new constitution will come out of this conference. Elements that are good in the old constitution would be retained, but a new constitution which we the people of Nigeria make and give unto ourselves is what I expect from this conference.

But it appears that some delegates here seem not favorably disposed to the idea of a new constitution coming out of here. They say this conference has legitimacy problems and does not have the powers to make a new constitution. What do have to say on this?

What you’ve just said is consistent with the general press attitude to this conference. You, the press are negative to the conference. What started in the beginning with some negativity on the part of some delegates is what you are still holding on to. The delegates have now understood themselves as one good and united team for Nigeria but the press is still persisting in the negativity. When you plant something negative on people, they will answer you on the negative and you blow it up. The other day the press reported that religious conflict has torn the conference apart. You people said that Muslims and Christians were

Ezeife

at each other’s throat. Iro ni! Lie! There is no such thing. After the resolution of the voting system, we have been behaving like brothers and sisters. A Professor of Christianity and an Imam of the Islamic faith spoke so well today and called on all religious leaders to tolerate one another and sink all their differences. So people are preaching oneness to themselves here at the conference. Everybody is extolling the wisdom of Mr. President for convoking the conference, but the press... I don’t know who is paying you and why you people continue to behave this way and I will send Amadioha to deal with all the press men who are castigating the conference. (Laughter).

Don’t send it yet so that we can defend ourselves before you crucify us. (Laughter) What political structure or system are we looking forward to in this new constitu-

tion?

I think the majority of delegates are thinking of a parliamentary system. No matter what arguments these supporters of the presidential system are making, the cost implications are too much when compared to the parliamentary system and you don’t have that concentration of powers in one person under the parliamentary system.

Beyond this, are we likely going back to the regional structure as some have suggested?

Well, some people hate regions, so they are talking about zones. If the zones are approved, then we will be going to zones instead of the state arrangement we have today. It is most important that we go to zones. If we don’t, we’ll regret it in a short time. One problem with Nigeria is that people who are in office, are

trying to sell their own interest instead if the interest of the whole country and the future.

What other changes are we expecting to see in this restructuring?

Eeemmm, basically, one house.

You mean one united country?

I mean unicameral legislature. Instead of having the House of Representatives and the Senate, we will have one or the other which will operate on part time basis to save cost.

Then we should have zonal police working side by side with the federal police. There are not too many more changes but they will unfold as time goes on.

What would you do about the issue f revenue sharing?

That is where the controversy would be but I don’t know ... But it will eventually come out and we would decide it.

‘FG is addressing electricity problem’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

arrest

these saboteurs?

I just told you that in order to align these gas pipelines to the NIPP infrastructures, an additional 4,000 kilometers of pipelines were added. It is impossible to man these pipes, kilometer by kilometer. Majority of these pipes are not accessible except to the criminal. Some of these criminals go deep into the forest and dig up to allow their bombs blow them up. For example, if we have pipelines and police stations close within each kilometers, it is easy for the criminals to stay somewhere in between and blow it up. Peoples are given money to do these dirty jobs. It is not done elsewhere. In Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and other places, there are no forests. These pipelines are on sand but

the people are patriotic and would not touch their pipelines. It is for the common good, it is unfortunate but we will get there. Here, with the positioning of the pipe under water and inside creek, our people still go there and vandalize it. If government spends $10 billion dollars to protect gas pipelines, it will be on gas. If don’t check them, they will check us out.

These are the areas the government money is going.

How do you solve the issue of poor prosecution and need for special court for prosecution?

Yes, it has to be part of the war. We have to show deterrent. The mood of the Presidency now is to do everything possible to checkmate those behind these evil acts. And that will include protecting the gas pipeline and arresting those hell bent on destroying it.

Okupe

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Politics

Senate’s moves to transform railway

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here is no doubt that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been in a comatose state over the years as a result of negligence by successive governments. This was, however, the same transport sector that boomed in the 1970s and 1980s.

Apart from the huge economic potentials inherent in the sector in terms of employment generation for the citizenry, railway also has varied chain effects on the national economy as it has the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s national income, if properly developed.

Unfortunately, Nigeria has almost lost all the concomitant socio-economic benefits accruable from railway because the corporation has been caught up in a quagmire of infrastructural deterioration and socioeconomic malfunction in the past several decades.

This situation has reached an alarming rate and calls for a state of emergency to be declared on the sector. It really requires drastic remedial measures to be taken by the Federal Government to revive and reposition the sector to be productive. This can be achieved by revamping the one time viable corporation, which has become a sleeping giant.

The Senate is however, disturbed by the state of affairs in the NRC and it is determined to work within their legislative

T

he House of Representatives has consistently and tactically stayed away from making any pronouncement on the ongoing National Constitutional Conference. Except for individual members who voiced out their opinions, the leadership of the lower chamber has kept mute all this while.

Majority of the lawmakers who had cause to react to the convocation of the confab had dismissed the idea on the pretext that there is an elected assembly of representatives of the people and anything outside it would be an aberration. To this group of lawmakers, the confab does not have the force of law and cannot stand the test of time.

Some however welcomed the development arguing that talking is never harmful but beneficial.

Now, the House is singing a not so pleasurable song. The House through its deputy chairman on media and public affairs, Hon. Victor Ogene declared that unless the 1999 Constitution is further amended to make provision for referendum to ratify the outcome of the on-going national conference, the outcome may be an exercise in futility.

In other words, the House said referendum is alien to the nation’s constitution and therefore, it is illegal. Hence any decision or recommendation from the National Conference cannot be subjected to any referendum making the process a mere talk show.

Ogene explained that there is no provision in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that provides for referendum. He said the only document that

From the Chukwu David jurisdiction to salvage the sector, and by extension the country from the economic decadence that has characterized the economy over the years.

Therefore, in its determination to help resuscitate the NRC and reposition it as a key driver in employment generation in the transport sector, the Senate on Thursday passed to second reading a bill to that effect.

The Bill which was entitled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act laws of the Federation of Nigeria and to enact the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act 2013 for the efficient railway system in Nigeria and other matters, was sponsored by Senator Andy Uba from Anambra State.

Senator Uba, while trying to persuade his colleagues to pass the bill, explained that it was designed to re-establish the railway as a key driver in the transport sector by transforming the Corporation from a non- performing and debt-ridden body to

He also noted that the passage of the bill would among other things fast track the country’s economy and generate 20,000 skilled jobs and about 40,000 semi- skilled jobs nationwide a dynamic player in the transport sector.

He said, “There is no doubt that a Railway Act that meets the current realities is long overdue and this bill seeks to address the existing deficiencies in the existing Act and bring the law that administers railway in conformity with present day realities and international best practices”.

Senator Uba lamented that the NRC

which used to be an effective and cheaper means of transportation for the carriage of goods and passengers in the early 60s and 70s was seriously neglected and abandoned by successive governments.

He also noted that the passage of the bill would among other things fast track the country’s economy and generate 20,000 skilled jobs and about 40,000 semi- skilled jobs nationwide and would also provide a legal framework for the most effective, affordable, energy saving and environmentally friendly form of transportation of goods and services across the country.

To demonstrate their concern about the sorry state of the NRC, the Senate after passing the bill to second reading, committed it to the Committee on Land and Transport for further legislative action and requested that the report on it be laid before it in two weeks time.

With this step taken by the Upper Chamber, there is hope that when the rail system becomes effectively functional, most of the setbacks being currently suffered by the nation’s economy would be eliminated. For instance, one of the causes of damage to our roads is the frequent use of the roads by big trucks. But when rail transport becomes functional, it will reduce the pressure on the roads by the heavy vehicles, thereby enhancing their longevity.

Getting lawmakers to adopt referendum From the

GreenChamber

Philip Nyam Whatever the outcome of the confab, the executive arm of government would need to constructively engage the legislature the legislators are statutorily bound to invoke and act upon is the constitution. “The only document we swore to uphold is the constitution. For any section to be altered you need a 2/3rd of both chambers of the National Assembly and 2/3rd of the state assemblies” According to Ogene, unless this is done the issue of referendum will not sail through, as there is “nothing on referendum before the House”.

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had three weeks ago, while inaugurating the National Conference said that there was a possibility that the outcome of the exercise would be subjected through a referendum, based on the ongoing consti-

ternyam@gmail.com tutional amendment which he says is seeking to open the space for public participation in governance. But looking at the statement from the deputy House spokesman and the content of the reviewed bills for amendment, referendum is nowhere to be found.

Is the presidency going to propose an amendment bill on referendum now that both chambers are in the process of harmonizing their positions on the reviewed proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution (as amended)? Perhaps, this would have been pursued much earlier by the Presidency.

It is instructive that the lawmakers will not be favourably disposed to even inserting referendum in the constitution for now and this requires intense and consistent lobbying. Going by this development, would one be right to conclude that the confab may not achieve anything positive? Feelers from the first two weeks of the event are no so promising. It took the delegates more time than necessary to

agree on a voting arrangement or percentage. One expects that this should have been one of the easiest things to be done at the conference but it is turning into a big fight.

Although, President Jonathan had cautioned against discussing the unity of the country, there are already threats by certain individuals to pull out of the conference and even Nigeria.

The utterances and general behavior of some of the delegates has so far raised doubts on the successful conclusion of the exercise. The same sentiments that have destroyed the country are being carried to the confab by most delegates and this account for why it is even difficult to adopt a common voting procedure.

Whatever the outcome of the confab turns out to be, the executive arm of government would need to constructively engage the legislature. Feelers from the Senate in the past weeks were also not palatable as the Upper Chamber threatened to withhold appropriation of funds for the exercise.

The delegates at the conference must justify the huge amount of money being splashed on them. Many of the delegates are rabid critics of the National Assembly but what they are exuding now is most worrisome. With due respect, they should reduce the rate at which they sleep off and settle for business.

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Politics

Jonathan and his humourous principal secretary

P

eople in positions such as the principal secretary to the President are rarely heard. More often than not, they seem to be technocrats who would rather be fixated on the job and nothing else. Most principal secretaries would prefer to operate silently at the background taking the rare stage at even public functions.

The responsibility of most principal secretaries to top government functionary lies in strategic thinking and initiating of quality policy ideas for the boss. This no doubt, gives direction for speedy and smooth running of the affairs of government. In ranking, the office of the principal secretary is directly next to the chief of staff to the President.

Unknown to most people however, some principal secretaries do possess certain hidden qualities humorous in nature even to the hilarious excitement of their bosses.

Ambassador Hassan Tukur, principal secretary to President Goodluck Jonathan seems comfortable currently in exhibiting these traits of a different secretary with the capacity of driving through several minutes in control of protocol at events attended by his employer.

He has had the privilege to moderate ceremonies such as swearing in of senior presidential aides, committees and cabinet members in the council chambers of the Presidential Villa where he usually presents their profiles to the President.

Anule Emmanuel The visit on Monday by stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party from the North Central zone provided yet another opportunity where Tukur did not fail in proving to his boss that he could do better than ‘Ali Baba and Clint de Drunk’ were his job to be a comedian. For more than 12 minutes, the principal secretary introduced the delegation, historically running through the importance of the zone to Nigeria.

Hear him out; “For some months now, we have been witnessing flurry of political activities in order to unify and solidify the people’s Democratic Party. North-West visited you some few months ago, today you are receiving PDP stakeholders from the North Central zone. They are led by no other person than Senator Ahmadu Ali.” One could only wonder what was going through the mind of the President as he listened patiently as the PSP continued.”This zone of course, is referred to as the power zone. Why I refer to the North central as the power zone is for three reasons. First is

that most of the hydro power electric dams are located within this zone. The two major rivers in the country transverse the zone and that is why they are referred to as the power zone.”

Could Tukur run himself into problem soon? The emergency master of ceremony gave the second reason which threw the crowd into long murmuring. But that did not deter him.”Secondly, in the history of Nigeria, it is only the North Central zone that has been able to rule this country for almost 20 years.” Most people wondered why such comments would come from a very high profile officer of the president.

While they pondered on this statement, Tukur brought to their ears intriguing comments which spurred in accolades. “Your Excellency sir, the third and most important one is that the zone has been a stabilising factor in the history of the country.”

(There is loud applause).

He continues; “Those of us who are good students of history will recall that

during the unfortunate years of Nigeria, the North Central played a key role in stabilising this country. And today, in the political life of this country, we have the Okpokpoulu of the universe, the chairman and President of the Senate who is stabilising the polity. The executive and legislative arm of government are faring smoothly with the dear leadership of the senate President.

“Your Excellency, your people from the North Central zone are here to pay a solidarity visit. So, when you have political juggernauts and political canca-cancas from this zone, you know that you have your political family here. Some body was joking that ‘which zone am I from? Well I said that a Fulani man is from every zone even in South Africa. So, when you have a Tiv governor from the zone here, a Fulani man is comfortable here too.”

He took the crowd through expressions that were not without laughters but finally concluded. “Your Excellency, without wasting much of your time, I will call on the leader of the delegation to nominate one Muslim and one Christian for the opening and closing prayers. Thereafter, the leader of the delegation will speak to Mr President the purpose for this visit and then the other leaders from the zone will speak and Mr President will respond.” Tukur must be so endeared to his boss who also understands these qualities that he possesses.

Rekindling hope in constituency delimitation B

arely two months after the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega ruled out the possibility of a delimitation exercise before the conduct of the 2015 general elections, hope began to rise last week that the commission might embark on the exercise after all.

Prof Jega had in February told an audience at a forum organised by the National Broadcasting Commission in Abuja, that certain obstacles were likely to hinder the conduct of constituency delimitation before 2015. He mentioned the difficulty in getting the joint resolution of the National Assembly to pass the enabling law for the creation of new constituencies as well as the controversy over the 2006 census figures as some of the factors likely delay the exercise.

In what appeared like a response to nationwide clamour for it, Jega last week inaugurated a nine-member constituency delimitation committee to carry out the exercise. The committee, which he heads, comprises Directors-General of National Boundary Commission (NBC), National Space Research Development Agency (NSRDA), National Population Commission (NPC), Surveyor General of the Federation as well as some commissioners on INEC. The committee is to consider the existing composition of constituencies and identify imbalances that existed and make appropriate recommendations to INEC. It is also to review all previous reports and establish a methodology of carrying out the constituency delineation as well as develop a guideline in line with the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Before the inauguration of the commit-

INECDiary Onyekachi Eze

INEC however, needs to convince the National Assembly to pass an enabling law that will permit creation of new constituencies tee, the inkling that the INEC chairman might reverse himself on the matter had come two weeks ago. That was at the 8th lecture series of the commission held at the INEC Institute in Abuja. The topic of the lecture, which was delivered by Professor Nurudeen Alao, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos and a renowned geographer was: “Delimitation of Constituencies: Issues and Challenges”.

Whether the topic or the lecturer was deliberately chosen or it was by coincidence can best be answered by the organisers. But one thing is clear; Prof Alao must have been able to provide an insight on how INEC could conduct a successfully and crisis-free delimitation exercise.

Firstly, he called for massive enlightenment campaign and for INEC to engage the various communities concerned by making them drive

the process. Secondly, he said INEC should encourage and respect the country’s natural geographical features and barriers.

Prof Alao listed eight universally acknowledged criteria for evaluating electoral districts which the commission could depend on in carrying out the delimitation exercise. These include constitutional criteria which stipulated the basic goal of equality of population, chorological mandate that deals with structural compactness and nearness of electoral districts and geopolitical criterion that harps on the importance of marrying district boundaries with political boundaries to ensure effective representation.

He advocated a mixed system, “which integrates the stabilising properties of majoritarian system with the higher level of fairness characteristic of proportional system”. This may be the icing that precipitated the renewed interest in constituency delimitation.

But there are still big hurdles to scale through before INEC could arrive at its destination. One of them is a law backing the creation which will come from the National Assembly.

INEC has, between now and end of this year to lobby the National Assembly to pass the

enabling law that will permit creation of new constituencies. How this could be done is best known by Prof Jega and his team, and it must be a joint resolution of the two chambers.

The other issue is the population. Less than two years to the conduct of the next population census, the figures declared by the National Population Commission in 2006 are still being contested. And every constituency delimitation must take cognisance of the population of the constituents. Again, how the commission will wriggle out of this can better be imagined.

We are however, optimistic, especially with the fact that such key players like the directors general of NPC, NBC and NSDRA as well as the Surveyor General of the Federation are on the committee. The expertise of these people is enough to give the nation accurate, reliable and uncontestable new constituencies, including one for the ‘special areas’ currently affiliated to some part of Tapgun constituency in Taraba State.

Unfortunately, Nigerians are averse to change and we tend to politicize everything in order to be heard. A traditional ruler, for example, would be uncomfortable with moves to spilt his area of control, because he wants to control a large kingdom; political officeholders want to manage large constituents so as to have huge federal allocation accrue to them every month.

If the Jega-led committee succeeds, it will break new grounds. It will be recorded as the first INEC boss to conduct constituency delimitation exercise under a civilian administration. Nigerians hope that this might be possible.

he midi gown is absolutely classy and understated-chic. It’s longer than right-below-the-knee and just shorter than a maxi. The versatile

T

Biwom Iklaki

midi gives an ultra-ladylike and demure allure to any outfit. Sure, ladies love minis, and maxi gowns obviously have their time and place, too. But lately, they are paying particular attention to the in-between midi length.

Ending anywhere from just below the knee to a few inches above the ankle, ladies love the midi gown.

Feast on the windows to your fashion soul‌

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 06, 2014

Body&Soul

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Body&Soul

Vanessa Okwara

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Notch Lapel (also called the Stepped lapel)-The ‘notch’ is the opening where the bottom of the collar meets the top of the lapel, usually at a 75 – 90 degree angle. The notch lapel is the most common lapel for a reason – it’s the most versatile of the bunch.

It is most often found in singlebreasted suit jackets, blazers and sports coats. If you only own one suit, this is the lapel type to go with.

fter years of slim, subtle notch lapels on men’s suits, high-end designers are trying to nudge men into bolder, more pronounced lapels.

Lapels are the folded flaps of cloth on the front of a jacket or coat, and are most commonly found on formal clothing and suit jackets.

There are three basic types of lapels-notched, peaked and shawl.

The notch lapel is found on the everyday type of suit, while the peak and shawl lapel are for the fashion forward.

Suits can be incorporated to fit just about any event. Whether you are going for a business meeting, on a date, special events or church, you will find a suit

that will match.

Always wear your suit with a quality dress shirt, belt, shoe, and good socks that match the pants in colour.

For trendier additions to your wardrobe, include these three types of lapels to your suit collection and you will definitely make heads turn in your direction at every event.

New peak in men’s suit lapels

Peak Lapel (also called ‘pointed lapel’) – Peak lapels are traditionally the most formal of the lapels and were originally common in formal wears such as the tuxedo. The lapel could be wide and peak upwards at the same time. Peak lapels are the most expensive lapel to manufacture because it requires the most amount of skill.

Shawl Lapel –they are characterised by a continuous curve without breaks or points, unlike the notch or peak labels. The shawl lapel is most common on dinner jackets and tuxedos. They are good for special events such as special dinner events, awards or an event in your honour.

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Body&Soul

Strutting in flip flops Biwom Iklaki

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lmost as soon as our kids can walk, they love to try on adult shoes. You find the girl child wearing her mom’s make up and heels and preening before the mirror. When this happens, it is time to make their foot wear more interesting. This is by no means limited to their party shoes.

You can find them decorated in faux fur, flowers, and motifs of nature, cartoon characters, and even favourite Disney characters. There are also jelly-like or candy coloured effects.

Pay attention to their flip flops because they will be used more than other more formal ‘footies’. They are comfy and a preferred pair for home, by the pool and some casual outings.

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Body&Soul

with

Bayo Adeoye 08014867475

bayoolunla@yahoo.com

Tinubu’s platinum wristwatch birthday gift

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siwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s birthday might have come and gone but it would remain one of the best he had celebrated so far.

Though a low–key celebration, some of the birthday gifts he got would make this year’s event a remarkable one.

Celeb Lounge gathered

from a source that the former Lagos State governor got a platinum wristwatch from one of his ‘boys’, Gbenga Akintola. The gift was said to have cost the dude a tidy sum.

Akintola is the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Public Works Corporation -an appointment he got two years ago for his loyalty to the top politician. Before this, he was a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State (on Works and Infrastructure, with primary responsibility for the LSPWC).

Akintola, an architect, is one of the few allegedly being considered as Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola’s successor in 2015.

Opral Benson, Abba Folawiyo as ageless matriarchs

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ou cannot help but turn your head in admiration anytime you see either Opral Benson or Abba Folawiyo at any event. These women are simply ageless!

One cannot help but wonder how they have have been able to maintain their lovely looks and fashionable mien even at age of 70.

They were spotted at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island,

Lagos last week looking forever beautiful and regal. The two women sat at the same table at the official launch of the Fair & White Gold Ultimate and unveiling of its Brand Ambassador for 2014.

Opral Benson, the Iya Oge of Lagos, wore a red outfit

made from an Indian fabric, while Abba Folawiyo also looked beautiful in a flowing gown and her customary stylish head cover that exuded simplicity. They both had flawless makeup that blended

Dimoke Tiana is brand ambassador for Fair and White Gold

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ast weekend, beautiful, oval face, Tiana Dimoke, emerged the first brand ambassador for the Fair and White Gold ultimate cosmetics range. The luxury skin care products are solely distributed by Mr. Patrick Chibueze-

owned Bozac Group.

Tiana was unveiled to the Nigerian public at the prestigious launch of the product line at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos last weekend.

Tiana, a third year philosophy undergraduate of University of Benin, clinched dedicate his next political venture the crown competed for by a long list of in Delta State to God. He also used the opportunity to other beautiful lacall on all well-meaning Deltans dies and became the and Nigerians to support and give brand ambassador President Goodluck Jonathan four for the product line. more years to consolidate on his The exalted position comes with a transformation agenda.

The well- loved man, Celeb brand new Nissan Lounge gathered, is positioning 2013 Rogue and a himself as the PDP candidate for diamond-studded Russian Swarovski the 2015 governorship election. wristwatch as prizes.

Godsday Orubebe seeks God’s face

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till basking in the euphoria of the encomium being poured on him even after his exit from the Federal Executive Council, former Minister of Niger-Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, declared his continuous commitment to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.

The former minister stated this at Glory Sanctuary Christian Centre (GSCC) during its March

well with their well-kept skin.

These two veterans have been in the fashion and cosmetics business for over 25 years and they are still relevant today as fashion icons and ambassadors of goodwill.

All-Night service held inside the church auditorium. Orubebe, while recounting his story and testimony, regaled the congregation with story of how God opened doors of breakthrough for him.

Orubebe said these while officially declaring the service open which, according to the church, is aimed at ushering in innumerable moments of praises for all his accomplishments as a minister as well as

Between Patience Jonathan and Ekaette Akpabio T W

Notable faces spotted at the high class event include the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii; Opral Benson; Abba Folawiyo; Grace Egbagbe; Uche Jombo-Rodriguez; Embassy Pharmaceutical boss, Nnamdi Obi; Chairman, Bryan Franklin Investment Ltd, Mr. Okechukwu Anolue; Chairman, Banex Group, Dr. Victor Mbanisi, among other top personalities in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry.

Fair and White Gold Ultimate skin beauty range is manufactured by Labo Derma, one of the world’s biggest skin beauty cosmetics research laboratories in France and distributed in Nigeria solely

by Bozac Group.

Hajia Aisha Bala Muhammed’s milk of kindness

Patience Ekaette

he wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio, is regarded as the engine room behind the soaring political profile of her husband. She is elegant, flashy and stylish in the way she appears at public functions.

During the campaign for the 2011 governorship election, Mrs. Akpabio was the chief campaigner for her husband’s second term bid. She inspired the formation of a women group, which she used as a platform for the mobilisation and sensitisation of the women folk in the state.

Through this platform, she

tutored them on the need for political participation of women. She carried this campaign to the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

Her struggle for women, Celeb Lounge gathered, has endeared her to the First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, as the two women are so close that they are now regarded as sisters and are always seen together in many functions. This, we gathered, also positively affected the relationship between President Jonathan and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

ife of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Hajia Aisha Bala Muhammad, in her characteristic nature and as a very compassionate mother, is extending her hands of fellowship to all residents of the FCT irrespective of their political leanings. Celeb Lounge gathered that the woman, through her pet project, the Al-Muhibba Foundation, has been donating foodstuffs to the less privileged and the sick directly and through motherless children homes and hospitals.

She recently carried out

such donations at some major general hospitals where she distributed relief materials such as clothing, food items and petty cash to the sick.

The dark-skinned woman does not limit her kindness to people in Abuja alone, she also extends her love to Bauchi State where she recently donated sewing machines and motorcycles to people.

Apart from this, the beautiful woman has been urging all mothers not to allow their children to engage in thuggery, intimidation, subversion or other forms of electoral malpractices.

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Body&Soul

GLOBAL fashion

African designers’ niche in global fashion Biwom Iklaki

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frican inspired fashion is the new rave in the international fashion scene. You can see the presence of African designs

by Africans on the runways at fashion shows around the globe.

They present their Ready-toWear and haute collections in African inspired designs.

Celebrities and fashionistas alike now have an eye trained on the continent for style inspiration and a uniqueness of look that only this crop of designers

can achieve.

During her visit to South Africa, Michelle Obama shirked her western designer clothes in favour of Nigerian Duro Olowo’s jacket when she stepped off the plane. Solange, Angela Simmons, Rihanna, Alicia Keys and Nicki Minage have been known to spot African designs. Kanye’s past and present girlfriends (Amber Rose and Kim Khardashian) have even worn the same wax print dress!

Abba Folawiyo and Uduak Umondak are designers who

started using the African print in their collections. Ituen Basi revolutionised Ankara jewellery.

Designers Sheria Ngowi (men’s fashion), David Tlale, Anisa Mpungwe (Loin Cloth & Ashes), Jewel by Lisa are also trending designers. Danielle and Chantelle Dwomoh-Piper (popularly referred to as the DPiperTwins); 23 year old twin fashion model and designer, and Maya Antoun are jewelers. These and more Africans have taken indigenous African design to another level.

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Body&Soul

My Wardrobe

I love to sparkle -Ure Okezie

Ure Okezie, popularly known as Queen Ure is an ex-banker turned musician. Her passion for music compelled her to leave a thriving career in the banking industry to pursue her dream. She spoke with VANESSA OKWARA on her fashion favourites and music project

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our family background and career

I am a physics graduate from University of Jos, an ex-banker, a life coach and a music artist. I officially started my music career in 2012 but I’ve been singing all my life, I had a music group on campus called “the rubies” and as a teenager I did back up singing for Panam Percy Paul. I’m the last born and the only girl with three elder brothers.

My father Dr. J. O J Okezie (he’s late now), was a medical doctor and a politician, a two-time minister in the First Republic and my mum is a female activist involved in women empowerment. After over a decade in the banking industry I left to do music and life coaching after my certification from the coaching academy UK. Aside from music, you have a pet project. Tell us about it.

The Queen Ure Fan Club is a platform for my fans and I to get together and engage in positive activities mainly charity work and so far we’ve reached out to a number of homes.

What inspires you in life and music?

My inspiration comes from within and from life in general.

Describe your style?

I am generally a stylish and trendy person. I love to sparkle and look good.

What are those fashion items you love so much and cannot do without?

I love good jewelry, chokers and hand chains.

What fashion item are you so fetish about?

I always wear high heels; I’m most comfortable in high heeled shoes and love to wear them at every opportunity I get.

If we take a peep into your wardrobe, what kind of things are we likely to see?

You will see all sorts of clothes ranging from dresses, skirts, jeans blouses, traditional clothes and all manner of jewelry and bags. As an artist most of my wears would be artistic and colourful in nature.

Which is your favorite perfume?

soonest?

I just shot a new video The Porpori dance and it will drop in less than two weeks from now.

What do you like and dislike in a man?

I love perfumes and body oils a lot.

My favourite perfume is Angel by Terry Mugler and for body oils, I love the Body Shop.

I like easy going people and I dislike domineering people.

What would you like people to remember anytime they hear about you?

My life philosophy is be happy and allow others to be happy too.

I want the Queen Ure brand to represent positivity and excellence.

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

It takes me quite a while to get myself ready, give and take an hour to bath and do my hair and makeup. I do everything myself.

What are your fans expecting from you

What is your life philosophy?

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Body&Soul

wine & dine

Cat Fish Pepper Soup Biwom Iklaki

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oup is one of the healthiest meals you can have, depending of course, on the accompaniment. This week, I am sharing the cat fish pepper soup recipe, my way…

Ingredients: • Medium-size cat fish • Salt, stock cube(Maggi, Knorr, etc), • Onions, and pepper to taste • Aromatic stick (Oburunbebe) • 6 to 8 pieces calabash Nutmeg • 8 pieces Negro pepper (Uda seeds) • 1 tablespoonful seeds of Alligator pepper (Atariko/Ulima seed) *These make about three tablespoonfuls pepper soup spice mix. Note: some people add garlic, dried ginger roots and cubeb peppers (uziza seeds) to their

mix, so feel free to personalise your mix.

• Chopped uziza leaves or Basil leaves (known as scent leaf,efirin or Nchuawun.

Preparation: • Cut fish into portion-size pieces • Gut and wash fish in warm water. The water should be hot enough to turn the skin grey.

Scrape off the goo with gentle strokes of the knife. Then rinse off immediately in cold water so you do not cook the fish. This process takes care of the slimy texture of the skin.

• Roast seeds till you smell their aroma then blend (calabash nutmeg, Negro pepper and alligator pepper) into a smooth powder.

• Bring about four cups of water to boil.

• Add fish, onions, salt, stock cubes, pepper and pepper soup spice mix

• Leave to boil for about seven to 10 minutes, add more water if needed.

• Put the pot down and garnish fish with the chopped uziza leaves.

Tip: Always taste meal during preparation so that you can add or reduce boldness of flavour.

Serve cat fish pepper soup hot with your choice of boiled rice, sweet/Irish potatoes or yam.

This dish is spicy, so consider a wine with some sweetness, like a Sauvignon Blanc which is versatile enough to go with almost anything and produces a palatecleansing effect. Or if everyone at the table is eating something different, order a bottle of nice Champagne—one of the most food-friendly of wines. The basic brut (dry) Champagnes from the major houses—Veuve Clicquot, Pol Roger, Bollinger, and Taittinger are some of the most reliable wines in the world.

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Body&Soul

Reward yourself with a massage

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appy new month, fitness friends! I congratulate you on your efforts so far at improving your fitness and living right.

I think you deserve a special reward for your dedication and hard work. How about a relaxing full-body massage? Yes, you do deserve it and your body, especially the muscles, can do with its healing benefits. A good massage will increase blood flow to the muscles, helping your muscles heal and recover from the necessary strain and pressure being put on them by your new/resumed workout routines. However, the powers of massage go beyond its popular ‘feel good’ and pain-relief effects. Numerous researches have shown that massage not only feels good but also has incredible health benefits.

Benefits Massage is an art of touching which encompasses a wealth of healing potential through the stimulation of blood and lymph flow by rubbing/stroking the skin. This triggers the release of endorphin (hormone produced in the brain that reduces or kills pain). This natural pain killer makes you feel better and improves your mood. Massage also assists the body’s organs and system to function optimally and speed up healing.

Generally, it can help you cope with stress,

depression or grief; improve circulation; lower blood pressure; boost self esteem; aid recovery from an injury or accident; relaxe the muscles; improve flexibility and posture; relieve headaches and revitalise/improve your organs and body functions. Along with its relaxing, stress-relieving, spiritual and healing qualities, massage has long been known for its cosmetic and beauty enhancing benefits as well.

Types There are different massaging techniques to treat different issues, but they have in common –the promotion of relaxation and health.

Some of the treatments offered in most massage parlours include Swedish massage, Shiatsu, Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Reflexology, Hot Stone Massage, and Thai Massage. Majority of these massages have their origins in the East where the common techniques developed. But the most popular and commonly practiced is the Swedish massage which is based on a series of light to heavy movements on the body which are traditionally described as effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading) and tapotement (percussion).

Swedish massage can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including depression, headaches, tension, neck and shoulder

& WELLNESS Fitness

With Funmi Azike e-mail: yourbeautyguide@yahoo.com

pain, low back pain, foot cramps, period pains, breathing problems, constipation and arthritis in the hand. It is also of tremendous benefits to children and more so to the elderly and even couples having sexual difficulties.

The Right Massage To achieve the optimum benefits from a massage, you need time, a highly qualified masseur, and a relaxing environment. The masseur is trained to decide the kind of massage to be administered and to determine your suitability for a massage. He/she is required to get certain information from you like your age, medical history, energy level, areas of stiffness and sensitivity. Be sure to tell the therapist of any conditions you might have, or have recently got over. This will alert him/ her to areas which need treating with particular care.

Before the massage, you will probably need to undress completely or partially but the therapist will use towels to cover those parts of your body which are not being massaged at any given time. Wristwatches and jewellery should be taken off. Sometimes, some spas combine massage with a sauna or steam bath to clean and warm up the skin in preparation for the massage. In some other cases, a quick rub down is done using a warm wet towel to clean and prepare the skin.

The massage room should be clean, warm and peaceful. Massage tables should be firm and comfortable. If the massage is carried out on the floor, a thick foam mat should be used or several thick blankets piled up to provide a well-padded surface. Any surface used should be covered with a clean sheet.

Warning Massage is a very safe therapy that has no side-effects when done the right way. However, there are certain medical conditions where massage should be done with caution or avoided entirely. They include skin infection, inflammation, severe bruising or open wounds, inflammation of the vein (phlebitis), deep vein thrombosis, cardiac conditions, fever, infectious diseases, cancer, particularly when it has invaded the lymphatic system, and undiagnosed lumps under the skin.

Having a professional massage is a wonderful and truly rewarding experience. But you can also benefit greatly from massaging yourself. You can ease aches, pains and improve flexibility with simple massage techniques that can be done anywhere and anytime. With the knowledge gained, you can give friends, family and special loved ones, simple relaxing massages that will keep them endeared to you. See next week’s article on self-massage techniques. Till then, stay fit.

Sunday Transport NPA records zero cargo growth in 2013 p.53

News Nigeria will not meet MDGs by 2015, says UN p.52

NTWEEKEND ONLINE AT

www.newtelegraphonline.com/politics

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

APRIL 6, 2014

Market and malls ‘FG must return trade fair complex to owners’ p.58

51

Business AZUBIKE NNADOZIE, ASSISTANT Editor, SUNDAY

azubike.nnadozie@newtelegraphonline.com

ON SUNDAY

Why Woolworths left Nigeria –Analysts Chijioke Iremeka

I

ndications were rife this week that the South African food and clothing retailer, Woolworths Holdings, may have closed down its three retail outlets in Nigeria. The company had earlier complained of high overhead cost, customs duties and difficulties with its supply chain.

But analysts say they failed in the country because it did not understand the attitude of an average Nigerian consumer. The company also priced its products out of competition, they said.

Woolworths closed its Victoria Island office few months ago. However, latest information available to New Telegraph on Sunday, indicate that the company may have permanently closed down operations in the country.

New Telegraph on Sunday’s investigation revealed that Woolworths’ administrative office at the Lagos City Mall, Ikeja was closed down in January, when the company moved its operations to its Lekki office.

According to a security operative at the mall, “Woolworths moved since January and left their forwarding ad-

dress. After sometime, the management came and removed the address and, since then, their space has been under lock and key.”

New Telegraph on Sunday further learnt that Woolworths is now undergoing the process of liquidation.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ian Moir, reportedly said that the South African food and clothing giant is winding up its business in Nigeria due to high over head cost and other factors.

He said: “When an investment does not generate viable returns, dif-

ficult decisions have to be made to contain costs.”

According to him, Woolworths clothing and general-merchandise business in Nigeria has not been successful, despite several attempts to improve performance. “The decision doesn’t signal a change in the retailer’s African strategy,” he added.

However, Daniel Isaacs, an equity analyst said, “Woolworths is a good allocator of capital. They did mention that they were on business trial, pulling out at this point means that they have done their model, they have

looked at the returns possible and they have decided that they can get better returns for shareholders by investing in other parts of Africa and South Africa.”

He said that due to price points, a retailer like Mr. Price was probably better placed to move further out into Africa.

“In the African countries where you have a much lower gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, affordability is a huge concern, and you can’t, at least, not for a long time, institute the same credit services you have here in the country. It will be more interesting to see where the other relatively higher-priced guys like Foschini and Truworths stand and what moves they now make in terms of Nigeria.”

According to South African-based Nigerian analyst, Mr. Etebarian Coban, the pricing of Woolworths’ products does not match its quality.

“Nigerians are brand conscious but ready to pay when the products worth the price,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Inside

L-R: Manager, High Value Loyalty& Retention, Nkechi Ajih; CEO, Bluebird Communications, Mr. Ogunmefun Adekunle; CEO, Base Concepts & Designs, Mr. Ademola Okulaja; Managing Director, Rahamaniyya Group of Companies, Capt. Dare Adeyemi Francis; Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Adefemi Adeniran; and Head, High Value Experience, Akamiokhor Charles, during the presentation of free round trip tickets to winners in Airtel Premier Club Royalty Rewardz held in Lagos..Thursday

Nigeria lost N14.67trn to gas flaring in 38 years –Report Chijioke Iremeka

N

igerian Liquefied and Natural Gas Company in a recent report says Nigeria lost over $95bn (about N14.67trn) to gas flaring between 1970 and 2008.

According to the report, despite the start of gas monetisation project, Nigeria has retained the unenviable position as the world’s second largest gas flaring country after Russia for the past decade.

The report noted that succes-

sive revision of the 1979 Associated Gas Act sought to penalise flaring, placing fines of over $500, 000 per flare. It said that since then, gas operators throughout the country have begun to reduce flaring with the rate falling from 30 per cent in 2010 to 11 per cent in 2013, expecting it to drop to two per cent in 2017.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have called for punitive measures against the companies that flare gas, saying it is wastage of gas that could have been converted into cooking gas for domestic use.

Prof. Gregory Ehrabor, a chest physician and President, Nigerian Thoracic Society, said that air pollution, such as gas flaring should be discouraged and defaulters heavily punished. He said that gas flaring causes several respiratory diseases, including asthma, bronchitis and lung related problems.

He also said that exposure to a certain amount of CO2 and other active ingredients in the flared gas is harmful to human inhabitation. “Harmful chemicals have effects on human health, which lead to kidney problem and can-

cers,” he said.

According to the Managing Director, Jalz Energy Limited, Mrs. Zumunta Machunga-Disu, there are several ways of burning gas instead of flaring.

“Gas flaring is the cheapest form of ‘waste’ management in the extraction industry. The whole of this wasted gas could be harnessed into cooking gas,” she said According to her, gas should not be wasted in the country because it has several uses to CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

Nwokedi

‘High import duties affect cost of vehicles, transportation’ pg 54

Oyebode

‘Lessons the Fayemis taught me’

pg 55

52

APRIL 6, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Business / News

Nigeria will not meet MDGs by 2015, says UN Chijioke Iremeka

T

he United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure, has said that Nigeria and many other countries would not meet their targets for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

Speaking at the 36th Annual Lions Club Day with the United Nations, Multiple District 404 Nigeria, held recently in Lagos at the Nige-

rian Institute of International Affairs, Toure said Nigeria has the potential to meet MDGs’ Goal 6 (Combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases) and Goal 8 (Develop a global partnership for development) but lack the ability to meet Goal 7 (Ensuring environmental sustainability).

He said Nigeria has an average potential to meet Goals 1 (Eradicate extreme poverty), G2 (Achieve universal primary education, hunger),

G3 (Promote gender equality and empower women), G4 (Reduce child mortality) and G5 (Improve maternal health) respectively.

“The UN continues to benefit from the efforts of Lions Club members around the world who are supporting our work to prevent disease, end poverty, promote education, empower women, and protect the environment. You are worthy partners for the implementation of the MDGs

since its declaration and together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable people in Nigeria and across the world,” he added.

The guest speaker and consultant for World Bank Global Partnership for Education (GPE) programme in Nigeria, Mr. Wale Samuel said Africa’s stride towards the fulfillment of the goals has been significant though at an uneven and slow pace.

“Wide disparities in performance

Ecobank Executive Director, South East and South South, Mr. Kingsley Umadia (right), handing over keys to the vans donated by Ecobank, to Executive Director, Operations, Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, Mr. Emmanuel Wowo, during the presentation ceremony in Warri… Friday.

Cosmetics makers warn FG against signing EPA with EU Biyi Adegoroye

T

oiletries and Cosmetics group of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, (MAN) has warned federal government against signing of Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, stating that it will kill local industries and turn the nation to a dumping ground for their products.

Rising from a meeting in Lagos during the week, the group said the proposed agreement which will grant European countries access

to 75 per cent of the Nigeria market, through gradual reduction of tariff by 2020, and total termination duty payment on good by 2025, will not augur well for development of the nation’s industries.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Okon Umoh, said as producers of cosmetics and toiletries whose products are used all over the world, they should be given import waivers in order to grow the industry and employ more youths.

Some of the companies are Virgin Beauty Industries, Stellarchem,

Shagoya, Vintage, VIP Industries, Skin Beauty, NN Fems, Cybele Cosmetics, Kates Associates, Alpha Gold, all of whom are producers of cosmetics and toiletries operating in the country.

He regretted that imported products which are creating unhealthy competition for them have made it difficult for these products to be available in supermarkets in Nigeria; cosmetics companies have the highest potentials for job creation and poverty alleviation.

They also frowned on moves to

Why Woolworths left Nigeria –Analysts C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

He further said that the company did not do its research before entering the Nigerian market.

“Nigerian market is not like the South African market where people do not have savings but spend all they earn every month. If you talk about high cost of rent, I will tell you that what Woolworths pays in South African is nowhere close to what they pay in Nigeria.

“You don’t take a product that is not of high standard like the major world brands to Nigeria and expect that it would break into the market,” he said.

Efforts by New Telegraph on Sunday to get Woolworths’ contact person, Chika Okoro, to comment on the development was not fruitful. Her number (08071990854), was inactive.

Also, a mail sent to her email address (storemgrikeja@woolworths.co.za)

bounced back, saying, “Error, invalid recipient.”

Woolworths opened its first two Nigerian stores in Lagos two years ago, followed by a store in Enugu in October 2012. The company was established in 1931, offering customers a choice selection of quality clothings, home wares and food in over 286 stores across the world. It has grown into one of South Africa’s leading retail chains.

compel them to submit to Standard Orgainsation of Nigeria”s MANCAP- the mandatory, confirmation prgramme at a fee, saying it will duplicate the same process which they have already completed with the National Food and Drug Administration and Control.

This, Umoh described as double jeopardy since NAFDAC, the Nigerian version of the Food and Drug Administration and Control of the United States, has already inspected their company premises, products and certified them all right before granting them operating licenses.

Instead of duplicating activities of NAFDAC, to generate fund for itself, Umoh urged SON to concentrate on ensuring the manufacturers to obtain good standard, by making sure that they get Nigeria Industrial Standards, which will serve as a marketing tool to launch Nigerian products into the international market.

They called on the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, to provide them with necessary assistance in this regard, urging them to desist from treating them as small and medium scale companies since this casts aspersion on the quality of their products in the market.

have been recorded across countries, and targets. This background means there is much to be done in Africa if these goals are to be attained.”

Like many other nations, Nigeria is a signatory to the Millennia declaration and consequently introduced programmes and institutions aimed at achieving the MDGs by 2015.

Through this institutions, particularly the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs) billions of naira gained from debt relief granted to Nigeria by international financial institutions have been channelled into numerous programmes designed to ensure the attainment of the MDGs in Nigeria,” he said.

However, “fulfilling the MDGs in Nigeria is increasingly becoming daunting with challenges like the ever widening income inequality, corruption, insecurity and population bulge.

Fresh challenges in the form of terrorism and global economic meltdown are currently threatening to turn the tide against the ample gains of the MDGs in Nigeria.”

According to the Lion’s District Governor, Gbolagade Adebisi, chairman organising committee, Lion Oluwole Adeyemi, and Lion Multiple District Chairperson, Prof. Adesokan Ayoade, at 61 deaths per 1000 live births, infant mortality lags behind the 2015 target of 30 per 1000 live births.

They added that at 94 deaths per 1000 live births in 2012, the underfive mortality rate (U5MR) lags behind the 2015 target of 64 per 1000 live births, saying that the maternal mortality rate is 350 per 100,000 live births against the target of 250 per 100,000 live births. “The proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel is currently 54 per cent against the target of 100 per cent and antenatal care coverage (at least one visit) is currently 68 per cent.”

‘Nigeria lost N14.67trn’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

mankind but due to the laxity on the side of the government, this practice has continued.

“If not for anything, government should consider the negative effects of gas flaring on the atmosphere,” she said.

Machunga-Disu further said that people are cutting trees for firewood, while one of the best ways to discourage them from such is by making cheap gas available for domestic use.

She also stressed the need for legislation to this effect to curb deforestation.

SundayTransport

53

PAUL OGBUOKIRI,

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNRDAY

paul_ogbuokiri@newtelegraphonline.com 0802-779-0557

APRIL 6, 2014

NPA records zero cargo growth in 2013 Paul Ogbuokiri

I

ncreasing cargo volume which the Nigerian ports have been witnessing since the concession of the ports in 2007, may have stagnated at 77 million metric tones recorded by the Nigerian Ports Authority last year.

NPA also recorded 77 million metric tones of cargo in 2012.

Before the concession, NPA cargo throughput went down to 29 million metric tonnes in 2000.

But the volume of cargo started rising in 2001 to 36 million metric tonnes, 37 million metric tonnes in 2002 and 40 million metric tonnes in 2003. The record further rose to 41 million metric tonnes in 2004, 45 million and 46 million in 2005 and 2006 respectively From 2007, the concession year, cargo throughput rose to 57 million metric tonnes. In 2008, 64 million metric tons was recorded, while 66 million metric tons was handled in 2009. A total of 77 million metric tonnes of cargo was handled by the authority in 2010.

However, NPA made its all-time best mark in 2011 as the landlord of West Africa’s largest port, as it recorded 84 million metric tones of cargo throughput that year alone.

But in 2012, NPA failed to sustain the growth it had been recording since 2000. The 2010 figures, 77 million metric tones, was recorded.

In the organisation’s performance statistics, the Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi presented at the just

concluded 12the edition of Intermodal African Conference and Exhibition in Lagos, NPA again recorded 77 million metric tones of cargo throughput in 2013.

Abdullahi, however, said that the drop in cargo throughput is attributable to the downturn in the global economy and the insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.

The cargoes handled by NPA in the review period include containers, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Refined Petroleum shipments, Dry Bulk cargo and General Cargo..

In the review period, a total of 5,185 oceans going vessels with a total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 131,674,337 gross tonnes called at the Nigerian ports.

The Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 34,466,291 gross tonnes. A total of 1,498vessels were handled in the period under review at the port.

Tin can Island Port recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 42,758,161 gross tonnes while 1,725 ocean going vessels were handled

at the Port within the period.

Calabar port recorded a total GRT of 2,792,488 gross tonnes, showing a decline of 2.8 per cent compared with 2,871,622 gross tonnes, leaving the port with 197 ocean going vessels in the period under review.

Rivers port complex recorded a total gross registered tonnage of 6,394,270 gross tons, 7.9 per cent drop compared with 6,929,179 gross tons, in the corresponding period of 2012. 447 ocean going vessels were handled within the

period under review.

Onne port recorded a GRT of 38,967,131 gross tonnes reflecting a decrease of 7.4 per cent as against 42,062,351 gross tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2012 with 820 vessels in the year under review.

Within the period under review, the Delta Port Complex recorded 6,295,996 gross tons showing an increase of 105 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 3,069,887 gross tons, with 498 vessels handled.

L-R: Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chandrasheker Tampy; Executive Director, Kunle Ade-Ojo; and General Manager, Corporate Services, Bunmi Onafowokan, during a press launch of All New Corolla in Lagos... Friday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

ABC Transport begins cargo services in Ikorodu Rivers port holds cervical

A

BC Cargo Express, a division of ABC Transport Plc, says it has opened a cargo traffic office in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Public Relations Officer of the company, Uche Umezurike made this known on Wednesday.

He told New Telegraph on Sunday that the Ikorodu office brings the total number of ABC Cargo Express outlets in Lagos to 11. He said other ABC cargo offices are at North ASPANDA, South ASPANDA, Alaba International, Ikeja, Fadeyi, Jibowu, Bolade, Amuwo Odofin, and Lekki, all in Lagos.

He said the company would soon take delivery of additional new trucks before the third

quarter of 2013 runs out.

Umezurike also said that in addition to strengthening ABC cargo express capacity, manpower training and enhancement workshops were recently organised, especially for cargo staff, supervisors, drivers and attendants.

According to him, these workshops were aimed at imbuing them with the necessary skills to manage modern-day quality service delivery and customer relationship.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that since 2012, ABC cargo express commenced setting up outlets, increasing fleet size, and establishing a maintenance depot solely dedicated to cargo

trucks.

Meanwhile, ABC Sprinter Service has since commenced operations on the Lekki (Lagos) – Owerri and Port Harcourt routes.

According to Umezurike the route is designed for passengers who like to travel light, with little or no luggage.

He said that National Youth Service Corps members can now enjoy N500 discount on fare every time they travel with any ABC coach or Sprinter bus.

He said, the Corpers’ Rebate is available only on the following routes: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Enugu, Aba, Calabar, Umuahia, Onitsha, Jos, Ibadan, Awka and Uyo.

cancer awareness for women

T

he management of Rivers Port in collaboration with the Ports Medical Department and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has successfully organised a one day awareness campaign to tackle the prevalence of cervical cancer among women in Port Harcourt.

Port Manager, Rivers Port Compex, Mrs. Akum Ufere, said on Tuesday that the awareness programme took place recently at the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Christian Fellowship centre in Port Harcourt. The programme attracted women from the city and NPA staff.

She told New Telegraph on Sunday that the opportunity

was given by NPA, as a way of promoting the well being and health of its workers and its host community.

She urged women who participated in the programme to ensure that they take the recommended vaccination.

According to Ufere, hand bills distributed at the programme contain information on what every woman must do to protect themselves from the deadly scourge. She stated that only pregnant women and those undergoing their menstrual period or those vulnerable to a medical condition called hysterectomy (without womb) were exempted from the exercise.

54

APRIL 6, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

SundayTransport

‘High import duties affect cost of vehicles, transportation in Nigeria’ Managing Director, Municipal Export Company, a commercial vehicle exporting and brokerage firm, Mr. Ken Nwokedi, spoke with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on the challenges of high import duties on imported vehicles in the country

W

hat is the effect of the latest upward review in the import duties of vehicles on the cost of vehicles and transportation in the country?

Yes, the government has increased import duties to 35 per cent and this is very high. It will lead to increase in our selling price too.

If the operators buy at a very high price, in the end, they will transfer the burden of increased taxation to end users. This is done because they would want to recoup their investment. So, the passengers are at the receiving end.

This will soon be over when we start vehicle assemblage in Nigeria. We are already making plans to start vehicle assembly in Nigeria and that will reduce our overhead cost.

What can you save, assembling vehicles in Nigeria, rather than importing?

We will save a lot assembling in the country but before then, we have to ensure that we understand the things that are required in vehicle assemblage in Nigeria. As part of the things to gain by the country is job creation for skilled and unskilled labour.

We will spend less than half of what it costs us to import vehicles in the country, putting other factors into consideration. Analysing this, in terms of labour, for instance, labour in Nigeria is quite cheap when compared to labour in America.

Also, we now have to eliminate the 35 per cent import duties, which is substantive enough to take care of certain things. Also, the shipping cost has been eliminated from my cost too when I assemble in Nigeria. You can now see how it works.

Do you encounter any form of challenges with the terminal operators with regard to vehicle theft or vandalism?

I don’t have any problem with shipping.

I never lost any vehicle because they come with satellite device that helps to monitor the vehicles and know where they are at any

We will save a lot assembling in the country but before then, we have to ensure that we understand the things that are required in vehicle assemblage in Nigeria.

As part of the things to gain by the country is job creation for skilled and unskilled labour.

given time. I don’t have to be worried about theft or vehicle vandalism.

In a situation that the driver goes off route, it will be detected and you will know where the vehicles are. Thus, you know exactly where to catch the driver at any point in time. GEO system in the vehicle could pick signal from four metres out of the road.

With this device, you can stop any attempt to steal the vehicle. Those who buy our vehicles stand to gain these if they subscribe to it. We can help them with this. It has to be operated and paid for. The hardware is already in the vehicle so when you pay for the services, it will be all round active. It’s renewable.

Why are you importing more vehicles than investing on ferries?

Well, road transportation is the most popular in Nigeria before air and others.

Majority of Nigerians make use of road transportation. So, it becomes viable enough for us to start with a known system. We have a company that manufactures our buses in America with a tracking system.

Also, the vehicles we deal in are not easily seen anywhere. We have long luxury buses and mini school buses. Others include trucks and sewage compactors, among others. We are starting with Lagos for now and we will soon be extending to Anambra and Delta states.

We want to go into water transportation but we want to first of all get grounded with the road transport system before we can move into that. That has to be later.

What are the challenges so far with this business?

Our focus is getting people to understand the reasonable brand we have. We are dealing in good and durable American brands, which are not comparable to Indian, Chinese products and others. Ours is strictly

American-made, made for the Americans and you can imagine its quality. We don’t sell used vehicles.

All over the world, there is emphasis on the use of eco-friendly vehicles to reduce green house effect on the environment.

How eco-friendly are these vehicles?

Well, United States is eco-engine compliant but the problem here is the sustainability of such eco-friendly vehicles in Nigeria if imported because fuel used in Nigeria is different from what is used in US. If we get such in Nigeria and in other African countries, it would not last.

But on the contrary, Dangote Group has a number of eco-friendly tankers and trucks, yet they are still on the road. Where do they get their own fuel or what do you have to say about that?

I don’t know about how eco-friendly their trucks are and the fuel they use. I can only talk about mine.

Is this a one-off sale or will there be an after sale service for your vehicles?

Yes, there will be after sales support which includes repairs, spare parts and serving. We have trained professionals who will do this.

And this will help to increase the life span of our vehicles.

So, what we need to do is to get people to understand the business we have been doing. We are not deterred by the number of vehicles or companies in the country because our products are good. We have factory trained technicians who have good ideas on how to do these.

The team is not yet on the ground but they are coming. We are trying to get a show room that can also accommodate the after sales service section. We want them to be together for easy administration. We have been on for the past four months testing the model.

The testing will be a routine thing because

after Nigeria, we are going to test in Ghana and other African countries. So far, so good, there is no problem. We are not into real transportation or operations; we are just in sales to support the operators.

Who is your target market?

Currently, we are discussing with several companies for multiple sales. We also sell to individuals and companies that want to be part of our business.

What does it cost to buy a truck or bus?

It depends on the company and the buyer.

It depends on what we agree on. The pricing system is not fixed as one may think.

Some want it for BRT; inter state or intra state travels. The configuration of the vehicle determines what price it goes for. I don’t want to give the prices but they are affordable.

How would you convince a man who has been comfortable with other brands to leave them for yours?

There is no basis for comparison. The leg room for our buses is long, the roof is quite high, seats are wider, and tracking devise is there. For vehicles in Nigeria, they may have three to four years life span due to bad roads and poor maintenance system. For ours, we do not need to wait for the light on the engine to come up before we go for servicing. It is regular practice to service.

Do your vehicles come with any form of warranty?

Our warranty comes with special training for the drivers. If you buy 10 trucks, we have to train the 10 drivers that will drive them.

They are with automatic transmitters and we need to train them on transmission system.

For this period of two years warranty, our technicians do routine check the vehicles and others. Our vehicles are not comparable to any other because they are well structured to suit the purpose. We are also working with a local bank to ensure our financing.

55

NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Business / Media

Lessons I’ve learnt as gov’s spokesman

Olayinka Oyebode has been a spokesman for Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, since October 2010. Oyebode first served as the Press Secretary to the Wife of the Governor before being appointed as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. In this interview with ADESINA WAHAB, he speaks on what serving with the Fayemis is like and other issues

Y

ou were in media practice for years before becoming a spokesman for people in government. What is the difference?

For me, there is really no fundamental difference so to say. Luckily for me for almost 15 years, I was on the political desk of various newspaper organisations and I was very conversant with political developments in Nigeria and happenings in Ekiti State. Generally speaking, journalists by training talk about the society, they report the society and a journalist is involved in the feedback mechanism of the society.

The cardinal focus of the media is to inform, to enlighten the society, and so, if you have done that for about 15 years on a daily basis, writing to inform, analysing situations and getting the society linked to the feedback mechanism, now becoming the spokesman for Mr. Governor, also a strategic link in the feedback mechanism of the administration still on a daily basis; I still wake up to analyse political and economic developments, monitor news and stay on top of developments in terms of news break even though I am not reporting news breaks now. I am an interested party, I want to know how it affects the state and the administration. Also, I have to put up certain things to enlighten the citizens by issuing press releases, writing articles and featuring in programmes and to also set the record straight in some instances. Sometimes figures are juggled and people say opinions are free but facts are sacred. Sometimes you may have to come out to say this is the figure, this is the time, the purpose and reason. By and large, one is still a strategic link in the feedback mechanism of the government, especially a government that listens like that of Governor Kayode Fayemi. The spokesman for such a government should be on top of the situation and must know what is going on and having the right answer to every enquiry that comes to your table.

You are also a critical gatekeeper. You must know what to say and how you say it. How you

Most times if you meet him in his car, he is probably reading a book, newspaper or magazine.

Such a person like that, who is not the ‘Owambe’ type, is not the loud type but the philosopher-king.

Her Excellency is more sociable, but Dr Fayemi is always calm even in the midst of crisis.

frame your words is also important.

Is it true that serving as the spokesman for a politician is as good as being the one lying on behalf of the principal?

You don’t have to tell a lie in the course of defending the right cause. I have been very lucky. I must say because I am working with a governor that is credible, that knows what he is doing. My job is therefore made easy. What I do essentially is to break it down for the people and the media. Let us say for instance we are talking about the money raised from the capital market by the administration, why did we go there to raise the money? The amount that was raised and the programmes the money is being committed to. As the CPS, I can now break it down in terms of facts and figures.

The issue of bond some people don’t understand it. Some issues as simple as free education, free health care services, some people don’t understand them. So, you break it down for them. You don’t have to tell a lie. Telling a lie does not help the job.

Ultimately, people will still read between the lines. Ultimately, a public like Ekiti State where people are informed and well educated, telling a lie will not help. The best thing is to explain why government has to make the decision it has made and these are the things we intend to gain in the short run and on the long run.

People who think you have to tell lies, you have to be abusive don’t get it right. You don’t have to be abusive or tell a lie. You need to employ dignified language because you are dealing with people who are sensitive. You are dealing with people who want to know and you have to understand that they have the right to know.

Once you have it at the back of your mind that you are accountable to the people and that your principal is also accountable to them, you have to swallow your pride, use dignified language and come straight with facts and figures. If you have to a draw chart or employ some visual aids to get them to understand what you are saying, you do that and keep saying what you have to say until they understand your message. You don’t need to confuse or bamboozle them.

You were the Press Secretary to the Wife of the Governor before becoming the CPS to the governor. How would you describe the couple?

They are an excellent couple. You cannot wish for a better boss to work with. Let me put it this way, you cannot wish for a better principal to work with. They don’t relate with you as in a master-servant relationship. The two of them take me as a strategic partner in the rescue mission they have come to do in Ekiti State. Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, is a

very cerebral woman. She is very energetic and intelligent. She does not take no for an answer, so you know you have to be in your element. The first thing she taught me was that when you are coming to meet your principal you

come with a pen and paper so that as you are discussing, you are taking notes, especially of those things you are to do, so that you don’t come two days after and you begin to argue. The first time I walked into her office, after the formal introduction, she asked me, where is your jotter.

Since that day, I never went to her office without one. That day she supplied me with a jotter and a pen. Even when we were discussing off record, I would take notes about her schedule. So if your principal is having a tight schedule tomorrow, you don’t go and book an interview and you having to apologise later if it cannot hold.

I also learnt about putting the people first from her. Forget about public perception, she looks elegant outside, she is down to earth and she is at home with people. She is time conscious, as you are discussing with her, she gives you her itinerary for one month. I worked with Her Excellency for six months and moved over to Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Dr. Fayemi leads by example and he is cerebral too. He is a deep thinker and you don’t just go and meet him for the fun of it. Whatever contributions you also make to decision making, to policy formulation will be acknowledged. Even in his books, he acknowledged every contributor. He does not look at people and say they are only doing their job. He would tell you don’t take glory for another person’s work.

But some people see him as being aloof and maybe arrogant?

There is nothing like that. He is civil, gentle and down to earth. He is cool in nature and a deep thinker. Most times if you meet him in his car, he is probably reading a book, newspaper or magazine. Such a person like that, who is not the ‘Owambe’ type, is not the loud type but the philosopher-king. Her Excellency is more sociable, but Dr Fayemi is always calm even in the midst of crisis. But if you move closer, he is ever ready to engage you. He is one governor that civil servants, journalists will send a text message to and he will respond. While he was

a candidate and when he became the governor, he never changed his line. Some of his friends asked whether he had changed his line when he became governor and he told them to call him on the line and he would pick it. He is one governor who put his telephone number and email address on the state’s website so that anybody who calls will get a response. As his CPS, I have unrestricted access to him. There is no time limit for me to see him or any meeting that if need be I am not allowed to meet him and give him necessary information. This is because he values information and relationships.

The election is fast approaching, what advice do you have for journalist?

Truth is constant. I want to make a special appeal to my colleagues in the media that they must know that truth is constant and they must be on the side of the people. Let us report to inform, to enlighten and to educate. Let us be objective and be as neutral as possible. Ekiti State is very sensitive politically speaking but the media that have a special role to play. If we inform, educate, enlighten it will help to maintain the path of peace we are treading and the peace we have been enjoying in the last three and a half years. If we become unprofessional in our conduct by becoming partisan, it will be the other way round and we will be contributing to the escalation of crises. But I know and I trust the media in Ekiti State that they are alive to their responsibilities. The crops of journalists we have in Ekiti State are alive to their responsibilities and I want to believe that they will continue to uphold the ethics of their profession.

They are practising their profession in a peaceful atmosphere and that is why they are making positive impact in their various media houses and they are also critical stakeholders in the state. If there is a peaceful election, no cameras would be smashed, no head would be bloodied and nobody would be chased around with machetes. They should be unbiased umpires who will say it as it is.

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Nigeria: Investment Risk/Return Factors …possible hope for financial markets?

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n 2013, the Nigerian financial markets flourished as foreign portfolio managers in search of higher yielding assets flocked to developing economies (total FPI in 2013 grew by 28.78% to settle at USD17.37bn). 2014 however, has seen the start of the tapering which has thrown those economies into disarray as the reality of capital reversals impacted the markets.

The quantum of foreign funds inflows into the equities and bonds so far in 2014 has been markedly lower than in the corresponding period of 2013 with data showing a 53% total decline to USD2.24bn from USD4.73bn in JanFeb, 2014 relative to the same period in 2013.

Against the backdrop of both risk and return potential of Nigeria’s economic indicators, polity, and financial market relative to Emerging Market Economies (EMEs) and other African Markets, we analyse the possible investible opportunities given the current market state.

Strong Economic Fundamentals...but uncertainties raise concerns

Largely, outlook for the Nigerian economy remains strong, with the IMF’s 2014 growth forecast for Nigeria pegged at 7.3% this year, up from 6.4% in 2013. By NBS estimates, real GDP is expected to expand by 7.43% in 2014 while post-rebasing; the economy (nominal GDP) is expected to probably outpace that of South Africa (our estimates put the number at USD396bn).

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest oil producing countries though recent domestic

production has been unstable due to internal challenges (i.e. oil bunkering). We note that the government has expressed commitment to resolving the challenges while the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is also expected to be passed in the medium term.

The NBS latest inflation numbers for February 2014 put headline inflation at 7.7%. We expect inflation to stay within the single digit band, though fiscal and election spending by H2:2013 may put upward pressure on price levels. The policy rate (MPR) has remained at 12% for over two years (well higher than most of other EMEs except Ghana). The exchange rate has remained at NGN/USD155±3% at the official market, while interbank market spread averaged 5%. Also, the foreign reverse has lost >10% in 2014 (albeit sufficient to cover c.6 months of import). The recent Ukrainian/ Russian crisis may suggest possible hike in oil prices which may result in further accretion to FX reserve.

In terms of demographics, the economy remains a huge consumer market with a population of 170million people (2013 est.) which is expected to grow to about 220mn by 2025.

The political quagmire however calls for concern so far in the year with investors being cut in the middle in deciding where the pendulum will swing. This has resulted in investors dealing cautiously to avoid being taken unawares by the outcome of this event.

Overall, we continue to contrast the strong fundamentals of the Nigerian economy with the inherent concerns which border largely on political uncertainties and insecurity threats.

The Nigerian economy still portends oppor-

tunities not just in the financial market but also in the real sector. This is on the back of the growing population, emerging middle class, which is compounded by regulatory and policy reforms which continue to stir the need to take advantage of the underserved population in terms of basic needs such as those of infrastructural and housing, power and energy, shopping mall, healthcare, investment to name a few.

Nigeria vs. Emerging Market Economies (EMEs)

2013 was a very rewarding year for Nigeria in terms of returns, as the country’s equities market ranked 2nd amongst its peers (MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey) and BRICS) with a return of 47.19%. However, the effect of QE tapering, further hike in CRR to 75% on public sector funds from 50%, and the suspension of the CBN governor Mallam Lamido Sanusi amongst other factors have acted to create a great deal of uncertainty in

the financial markets. This has caused investors to trade cautiously, resulting in a loss of 6.33% Ytd. Currently, the NSEASI compared to other emerging markets (i.e. MINT, BRICS and African peers) is one of the cheapest in terms of P/E multiples. From the chart below, Nigeria has the 4th lowest P/E ratio of 12.74x after Russia and Turkey with P/E ratio of 5.84x and 10.39x respectively.

However, in terms of Return on Equity (ROE), Nigeria outperformed all other emerging markets with an average ROE of 19.03%.

With the combination of those two metrics of the highest ROE and relatively low P/E ratio amidst its peers, Nigerian equities market remains one of the most attractive markets for investors to make impressive returns notwithstanding the inherent risk factors.

Furthermore, yields on fixed income instruments generally trended up across the EMEs in 2014 as the US Fed gradually wound down on assets purchases. Using the average yields on the 5Y and 10Y bonds across the MINT and BRICS countries as a leading indicator of the performance of the fixed income markets, we notice that yields on Nigerian 5- and 10-year FGN bonds still remain the highest, making them more attractive than other peers.

Heightening Political risks inform outlook review

Standard and Poor’s has revised its outlook on Nigeria’s sovereign credit to ‘negative’ from ‘CreditWatch Negative’. They have also categorized Nigeria’s banking sector in group ‘8’ under their Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment (BICRA) which is ranked on a 1-10 scale, where group ‘1’ represents the lowest economic and industry risk. This was done due to continued infighting within the country’s ruling party which has heightened political and institutional risks. The review

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Market Report to a negative outlook is a redflag for possible lower ratings in the future. S&P, however, reaffirmed its ‘BB-’ ratings on long- and shortterm foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings.

Since the CBN Governor was suspended, it is reckoned that the likelihood of increased political pressure on the central bank’s management is a possibility which could negatively affect the strides being made in bank regulation and supervision. The effect of the rating on the Nigerian financial market is expected to be more prominent in the fixed

income segment as it will likely put upward pressure on yields. Also, the equities market may suffer as foreign investors divest their interests in the Nigerian bourse.

With the implication that some of the foreign funds still resident in the country may be repatriated, there may be need for a swift policy action to attract more funds to cushion the depleting foreign reserve and consequently manage the naira.

In comparison to other emerging markets, only Kenya and Egypt carry stable outlook ratings according to S&P. However, Nigeria

ICTWorld

still ranks higher than both countries. South Africa remains the country with the highest rating on the continent with BBB (S&P) ratings. For non-African emerging economy, Turkey and India both have Negative outlook rating although both countries have better credit ratings of BB+ and BBB- by S&P.

Nigeria Remains Attractive

There are undoubtedly inherent risks in Nigeria as an investment destination due to the uncertainties caused by such factors as; the uncertain political climate, continued

pressure from capital flight on the financial markets, and the attendant effect on the value of the currency. However, as our analysis shows there is still a great deal of value in the Nigerian market compared to EMEA peers, making the country a comparatively suitable destination for investments directed towards emerging market countries.

It is our assessment that as the uncertainty vanishes and with recovery on the horizon, Nigeria’s relative stability will augur well for capital inflows into Nigerian financial markets.

with

Kingsley Roberts kingndcha@yahoo.co.uk

How mobile phone radiation affects you

W

hat constitutes mobile phone technology?

Mobile phone technology, incorporating mobile phone base stations (antennae/ transmission towers) and Mobile phone units themselves, is associated with the production and propagation of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range. The radio waves emitted by modern GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication; 900 & 1800 Megahertz or MHz) handsets can have a peak power of up to 2 watts (2W), while other digital mobile technologies such as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access; 800 and 1900 MHz) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access; 800 and 1900 MHz) have power outputs under 1 watt, levels generally regarded as being “safe” by most international governing authorities. The power generated by the handset can vary according to the amount of interference with the signal, a feature referred to as Adaptive Power Control (APC; see below).

• Are cordless phones emitters of radiation?

As reported by Schuz and colleagues (J. Schuz, et al., “Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted from base stations of DECT cordless phones and

the risk of glioma and meningioma (Interphone Study Group, Germany)”; Radiation Research (2006) Volume 166; pages 116-119), one important source of low-level continuous exposures to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) is base stations of cordless phone’s that are located indoors, e.g., the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) standard, operating at about 1900 MHz. These devices (both handset and base station) operate with 250 MW maximum power output, with their base stations continuously emitting pulsed radiofrequency radiation irrespective of the handset being in operation or not, and often with the base station being kept close to the bed head at night. Measurements of these base stations’ electromagnetic fields reveal power densities (defined below) between 4 and 170 mW/m2 for distances up to 3 metres from the base station (maximum permitted by law is 450 mW/m2); these fields are present longterm and this magnitude is comparable to power densities measured in residences in the main beam of nearby cell phone base station antennae or in the vicinity of broadcast towers.

• What about “walkie-talkies” or “CB (Citizens’ Band) radios”?

Unfortunately, these devices

emit at relatively very high power outputs (e.g., 3-4 W) compared to mobile and cordless phones, even though their frequency bands may be lower. They are considered to be the worst offenders of all the mainstream hand-held “Wireless” two-way communication devices in terms of electromagnetic radiation exposure. They are widely used by the emergency services, armed forces, construction sites, trucking industry airports and rural communities. Children use them without any knowledge of the potential dangers associated with such devices.

• What is the Inverse Square Law and how is it relevant to mobile telephony?

The intensity of electromagnetic radiation varies with the distance from the source according to the Inverse Square Law. This means that the radiation’s intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source and the exposed object. Applying this concept to mobile telephony, the further one holds a mobile phone from the head, the less the (intensity) exposure of the head and brain to electromagnetic radiation. This accounts for the relative safety of a hands-free speaker phone mode and, in cars, the use of hands-free car speaker/ microphone kits (where the car’s

roof acts as the antenna) instead of the mobile phone itself or an unshielded headset. Regarding car speaker kits for hands-free mobile telephony, The Australian Government Environmental Protection Agency states that due to the increased separation between the antenna (now the car roof ) and the user’s head, exposure to electromagnetic radiation is reduced by about 100 times when compared to normal mobile phone use.

• What is the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)?

The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measures the rate at which radiation is absorbed by the human body. For the head, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC; USA) has set a SAR of 1.6 W/kg. The SAR is 0.08 W/kg averaged over the body as defined by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines. The averaging volume (e.g., “head” versus “whole body”) must be specified in order to make meaningful (and less ambiguous) interpretations of stated SAR values between emitters and between receivers.

Note that the human head weighs about 9 pounds or 4 kg, while the average adult male weighs around 180 lbs or about 80 kg). A SAR of 4 W/kg is associated with a 1 de-

gree temperature rise in humans.

Although current mobile phones operate with power outputs that fall within “acceptable government-set limits”, local thermal or heating effects on the head may still be quite apparent to users after prolonged usage.

The underlying brain is also heated as depicted on an Australian Government Webpage.

In mobile telephony, the specific absorption rate or SAR depends on several factors, including the antenna type and position, the distance between the phone and the head, and the power output of the phone (which through “adaptive power control” can change during the conversation; see below).

• What is Adaptive power control (APC) and how is it relevant?

The level of electromagnetic radiation a user’s head may be exposed to during mobile phone telephony can vary during the conversation, according to the variable power output of the phone.

The operator’s network controls and adjusts the output power of each connected mobile phone to the lowest level compatible with a good signal quality. This is obtained by scaling the power from the maximum (1 or 2 W at 1800 MHz and 900 MHz, respectively) down to as low as 1 milliW.

MARKETS&MALLS

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Tel: 08027790557

Paul Ogbokiri

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he controversy surrounding the concessioning of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex to Aulic Nigeria Limited, lingers five years after the deal.

Some of the traders said on Friday that the Federal Government should revoke the concession agreement and return it to the owners, the traders who have invested overt N185 billion to upgrade it to international standard.

They said the market associations are united in their struggle to get the Federal Government to return the market to them.

According to the Secretary of Auto Spare Parts and Machine Parts Association, Mr. Uche Nwankwo, the concession to Aulic has forced traders to put on hold further investment in the market.

The Public Relations Officer of Association of Progressive Traders ( Jewelry Dealers), Olotta James, said the concession of the market to Aulic, was not in the national interest. “It amounts to robbing Paul to pay Peter. The dividend from the investment of poor traders would go to a neutral person, just because he has connections in the corridors of power.

We will continue to fight for our rights because we are also Nigerians,” he said.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is also seeking to acquire the complex, saying it will be properly managed if it is given to them.

But, Vice-President Namadi Sambo after a recent meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) in Abuja, said government intends to immediately commence the legal process to review the concession agreements between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and various concessionaires in a bid to return the complex to the rightful owners.

Since its concession alongside National Arts Theatre and Tafawa Balewa Square in 2008, the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex has attracted more controversies than the other two.

Alpha Consortium, LinkGlobal Logistics, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Bureau and Aulic Nigeria Limited took part in the concession exercise for the complex, in which Aulic Nigeria emerged as the preferred concessionaire.

The concession won by Aulic Nigeria Ltd. in 2008, had been halted by a protracted dispute between LITFC Forum of Stakeholders and BPE.

FG must return Trade Fair Complex to owners -Traders

L-R: Project Manager, Vintage Gardens, Seun Ajala; Customer Relationship Manager, Onikepe Akinsanya; and Regional Sales Manager, South South, Uche Madufor, during a media tour of the company’s Vintage Gardens in Port Harcourt …Wednesday

Ladipo market now clean –Animalu P

resident of Ladipo Auto Parts Association, Mr Iyke Animalu, has said that the filth which prompted the Lagos State Government to close down the market last year is now a thing of the past.

He said on Wednesday that the present clean state of the market was made possible by the Memorandum of Understanding the leadership of the association signed with the Lagos State Government.

He told New Telegraph on Sunday that sequel to the MOU, the association made a rule that all the traders in the market must close last Thursday of the month, to enable traders to take part in

cleaning the market.

He said the market clean up complements the state monthly environment sanitation exercise that comes every last Saturday of the month.

According to him, during the clean-up, all shops remain locked from 7am till noon to ensure that the exercise is strictly adhered to by all the traders in the market.

According to the Vice President of the association, Nze Duru Eze, every last Thursday of the month, the leaders and members have the mandate to make Ladipo market cleaner. He added that all members of the body have been complying.

In similar vein, the Chairman

of the Market’s Environmental Sanitation, Chinonso Chiofor said; “If you look at the place, you can see everywhere is clean.

Over 36 units which made up the Market association shut down for the exercise. The removal of the refuse is done by the market leadership. Nobody, even the local government is assists us in doing it. We are avoiding having any problem with the government,” he said.

The Chief Public Relations Officer of the union, Onyeka Igwe told New Telegraph on Sunday that that the new outlook of Ladipo market was due to the leadership qualities of its President, Animalu who he described as do-

ing a lot to ensure the wellbeing of the traders and customers alike.

“You can see that everywhere is clean. We have a way of dealing with defaulters; the exercise is continuous. We have been doing it in the past two years. The quality leadership of Ikechukwu Animalu is bent on cleanliness of the market”, he said.

Igwe thanked members of the market for the total compliance during the exercise adding that they recorded 99 per cent compliance.

“I am advising members to make every day clean-up of the market to be part of them, not only when there is general sanitation”, he said.

Good times await Ojo market investors – Chairman

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he Executive Chairman of Ojo International Trade Centre, Mr. Godwin Ibe, has said that investors in the market will soon begin to reap the dividend of their investments.

He said this on Tuesday at the market in Alaba International Market, Lagos.

He told New Telegraph on Sunday that he

was optimistic that investors in the market, especially those that put money into properties, would soon start to make good returns on their investment. He said his optimism was hinged on the growth the market witnessed in 2013, and the strategies he and his executives had put in place.

He commended the investors whom he said

committed their money to the development of properties in the market; even though the profit is yet to start coming in.

He also called on people who have yet to develop their land in the market to do so as soon as possible, saying that is the only way they would benefit from the rapid growth the market is witnessing currently.

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Abuja Beats

National Confab: Good times for Abuja hoteliers Simeon Ogoegbulem and Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

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oteliers operating in the Federal Capital Territory, especially those on the outskirts, are now laughing to the banks as they play host to delegates to the National Conference which opened in Abuja a fortnight ago.

About 492 delegates drawn from different geopolitical, professional and interest groups across the country are attending the conference, with their retinue of aides and other personal staff.

The Federal Government had said that hotel accommodation, feeding and logistics needs of the delegates would be monetised to enable the delegates to make their personal arrangements.

Each of the delegates would be paid N4 million monthly to cover their accommodation, feeding and logistics expenses.

Investigations carried out by Abuja Beats showed that most of the delegates are looking towards cheap hotels located on the fringes of the city centre for their accommodation needs while the conference lasts.

While topflight hotels in Maitama, Central Business District, Utako and Jabi are believed to have attracted few delegates, especially the elder statesmen, most of the confab discussants have opted for hotels located in the suburbs of Lugbe, Kuje and new districts such as Nbora,

Gudu and Dape.

The attraction to the budget hotels lies mostly in the affordability of their room rates and personalised services as well as proximity to the venue of the conference.

While room rates of major hotels in the city range from N25,000 to N80,000 per night, most of the budget hotels range from N5,000 to N8,5000 per night.

Unlike during major political party conventions where most hotels are fully booked more than 96 hours to commencement, rooms are still available in most hotels located in the city centre..

Some of the workers in the budget hotels expressed their readiness to play host to the delegates as they made all necessary arrangements to ensure their comfort.

Some of them who spoke to Abuja Beats

on condition of anonymity stated that some of the arrangements made to ensure the comfort of the delegates include minor and major renovations, replacement of items ranging from beddings, cutleries to generators.

The hotel workers expressed confidence that they would reap bountifully during the three-month duration of the conference. This is because each delegates is to spend an average of N500,000 on hotel accommodation.

Trancorp Hilton, Abuja

FCTA, AMAC, investor sign N22.2bn agreement for park upgrade Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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ederal Capital Territory Administration, Abuja Municipal Area Council and a private investor have signed a whopping N22. 2 billion ($134, 483, 543 million) contract to upgrade the existing Utako Ultra Modern Motor park in Abuja metropolis.

The agreement which was reached after a battle between the Federal Capital Territory Authority and the Abuja Municipal Area Council on whose authority it was to provide the investor was signed at the Minister’s Conference room in Abuja.

The FCTA Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, speaking two years ago on the FCTA’s concessionary powers over the park stated that it was not interested in taking over the facility from AMAC. She said it actually wants to turn it into a motor park of global standard in the

territory.

“First of all, I want to make some clarifications; Nigeria has been looking for foreign investment. Turkey is one of the countries that have been targeted and the Turkish business delegation in this particular consortium is interested in Jabi (Utako) Motor Park,” she explained.

Jumoke Akinjide

However, the AMAC boss, Hon. Micah Jiba, had then pointed out that before the ministerial directive, the council had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an indigenous firm for the upgrading of the motor park.

He had stressed that the design was similar to the one the Turkish consortium presented to the minister.

He stated further that he was taken aback when he received a letter from the minister of state’s office directing the council to hand over the motor park to the Area Council Service Secretariat.

This administrative loggerhead had delayed the upgrade for two years.

But, since the the two bodies have agreed on the investor provided by the area council, signed the project. Its cost was put at $134,483,543 (about N22bn), with a completion date of 48 months from the date of commencement.

The investor holds 70 per cent equity while

the FCTA and AMAC have 20 per cent and 10 per cent equity respectively.

Akinjide, who signed for the administration said that upon completion of the project, the concession agreement would last for 25 years.

Akinjide said the success of the ceremony was a show of government at its best as it sought to represent the best interest of the residents.

According to her, the agreement as an important milestone in the transportation model of the city as the project would incorporate facilities such as an inter-modal bus terminal, terminal building, shopping mall, parking area, a 200room four star hotel and a 50-room bread and breakfast inn, among others.

The administration said it leveraged on the past failures of Public Private Partnerships to prepare the present documents for the PPP, which provides the administration with a window to enable it to avoid incurring unnecessary debts if the investor fails to meet his mandate.

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Abuja / Beats

NEXT Cash & Carry: Shoppers’ delight Abdulwahab Isa and Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

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tanding majestically on more than one hectare of land along Banex-Gwarimpa Road is the newest super market in the city of Abuja. It is a shopping outlet that prides itself as a place where you have everything under one roof.

Welcome to NEXT Cash and Carry Hypermarket. Since its inception on February 21, 2013, the ultra modern shopping mall has operated with the sole aim of attracting both low and high income earners.

Reference the new kid on the block by teeming customers trooping to its expansive hallways to pick their needs. In Next Supermarket, shoppers told Abuja Beats that they locate all their needs under one roof.

Both customers and management attested to this in separate interviews with Abuja Beats.

Our correspondent had a chance encounter with the CEO, Learningaid Integrated Concept, Mrs. Lanre Adedipe, while she was shopping.

In a brief summary, she narrated her experience thus.

“When they first opened, I came here and realised that it is easier to shop here than in the conventional market, because it is quite open.

You shop in a comfortable environment, and at cheap prices too. Many of their products here are cheaper than the products in the market.

I am satisfied with the kind of services they render, that is why I keep coming back.

“The environment is very convenient and fascinating. If I were in Wuse market now, I would be sweating and you know how hot the

sun is out there,” she said.

A testimony by a female medical practitioner, Dr. Ola Okike, succinctly captures customers’ sense of satisfaction.

She said, “My shopping experience here has been good. The kids like coming here. It is not all about shopping as it also serves as a place for outing. There are a variety of things to see and sometimes you get discounts.

“In terms of convenience, it is good, though sometimes you meet queues at paypoints. Generally, it is a place where you can come to enjoy your shopping; you take your time and shop with the kids. Their commodities are cheaper than what you get in some smaller shops. For instance, if you go to their wine section you can save up to N300. They are price-friendly and this is where I do my regular shopping, most especially as it is close to my house.”

Another shopper, Usman Kabiru, said NEXT has really brought improvement into shopping in Nigeria.

“Their products are relatively okay compared to other shopping outlets in the country.

With their coming, I think there is serious competition and the masses are really benefitting from it. In terms of convenience, the complex is very okay, as you can come in and go out very easily. The environment is very comfortable, you can even go to their cafeteria and eat.”

For Bivan Ezra, “It is okay, even though there is something I was looking for that I didn’t see (spray for brown timberland). I know they have quality things here, and this is not my first time of coming here. It is better for me to come here than to go elsewhere, because they have quality and affordable things.”

Emmanuel Emmanuel says NEXT super-

market is ‘cool’, and operates like their payoff, ‘Everything under one roof’.

“You can get anything you want here. Shopping in Next is much better because their goods are cheap compared to other supermarkets in Abuja. The few expensive things are mainly in the female clothing sections. There are discounts most times. So, generally it is very cheap.

It is very accessible.”

Ifeoma Okeke said NEXT was more convenient because “they have a whole lot of things in one shop, ranging from households to drinks to anything. Compared to other big shops, their prices are okay, and shopping here is stress-free.”

A shopper, who refused to disclose his identify, stated, “Well, you cannot over emphasise the fact that everything is under one roof. It is easy for you to go round and shop. You know the harassment of Wuse market. The problem with this place is parking space. Here, you can shop and eat because they have restaurants.

“When I come here I do most of my shopping and a little at Wuse market.”

Obviously NEXT Cash and Carry is a product of intensive research conceived to fill a huge gap.

Head of Admin/Human Resources, Mrs. Smart Ihejiaku O. Mercy, told Abuja Beats that ‘everything under one roof shopping’ is a child born of necessity.

In the words of Mercy, NEXT is not an outfit for only high networth individuals.

“The things we sell are of good quality and affordable. Even a low income earner can always afford our items. Secondly, NEXT goes the extra mile to get quality products to make customers satisfied. We deal both in retail and wholesale business,” she declared.

Explaining further, she said, “You can buy in

bulk or in small sizes fom us and it is within the neighbourhood. We are strategically located in a residential area, so you readily can easily run to NEXT when cooking and pick something.”

But NEXT is not the only shopping outfit located in Abuja. What is responsible for the huge human traffic you may ask?

She offered an answer.

“Yes, if you look around, you will notice that NEXT is the biggest. It is a special type of its kind in Nigeria and I understand, Africa as a whole.

“It is a hyper-store. So it is expected that we will have that kind of traffic because we sell different items. We have foreign goods and made in Nigeria goods. We have a standard bakery and our bread is one of the cheapest and the best.”

She explained the concept of “Everything under one roof,” a catch phrase of NEXT. “Yes, that is one of the reasons why we have the traffic; everybody wants to see that place that has everything under one roof. We have all sorts of groceries and pastries, assorted fruits, vegetables, toiletries, drinks. We have the Lebanese restaurant, Chinese restaurant and Nigerian restaurant and we have furniture also. Not forgetting clothing. If you want to open a library, NEXT has books.

“We also have a photo studio. We sell phones and accessories, just name it. Before you leave, just go round and do some shopping as well,” she declared enthusiatically.

She said its location is very accessible to all irrespective of direction or location.

“It is more or less at the centre of the city. If you are coming from Nyanya, it won’t cost you more than N150 to get here. If you are coming from Kubwa, an average of N100 would bring you to NEXT. If you are coming from Apo it is within the range of N120 and N150. We are strategically located in an accessible location.

Even if you are coming from Wuse market you can still locate us easily,” she added.

To appreciate its customers and deepen their sense of patronage, the management discounts most items and runs promos during important seasons like Christmas, Sallah and Easter.

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Abuja / Beats

Behold Abuja’s container/portakabin market

T

he Abuja Container/Portakabin market is located at Utako, opposite Bently Hotel. It is the market for the sale of containers, portakabins and other mobile shelters.

The operators are registered under the name Construction Equipment and Scrap Dealers Association. The organisation was incorporated over 10 years ago with the Corporate Affairs Commission, as one

of the dealers told Abuja Beats. At the temporary site, you have all kinds of containers and portakabins that could serve for shops or residential apartments.

The prices range from N350, 000 to N400, 000 for a 20ft container and N550, 000 to N600, 000 for a 40ft container.

One of the dealers told Abuja Beats that they procure the items from construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, and

other construction companies as registered contractors and sell to individuals who want to make use of them.

He revealed that people from cities near Abuja also come to the place to buy as most construction companies that

bring in equipment with containers have their headquarters in Abuja.

A visit to the site shows that there are more than 100 different kinds of containers and portakabin of all sizes.

Soldier drags army to court over illegal detention Tunde Oyesina Abuja

A

soldier with the Nigerian Army School of Medical Sciences, Lagos, Lance Cpl. Micheal Emefik, has dragged the Nigerian Army to a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over alleged illegal detention.

Emetik in his affidavit averred that his only offence was that he caught a senior officer, who is a colonel, having an illicit affair with his wife.

The plaintiff is, however, praying the court to award him the cost of N100 million against the Nigerian Army for detaining him illegally.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Adejoh Jibrin, in his submission said that his client had been in illegal detention at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, since January 21, 2013.

However, the Army through its counsel, Mr L.N Ezionye, in a counter-affidavit asked the court to dismiss the applicant’s claims on the ground that he is not entitled to any of the reliefs he sought for.

He submitted that granting the applicant’s application would be prejudicial to the interest of the respondents and so it would be in the interest of justice to dismiss the application.

He further submitted that Emefik had engaged in a series of offences ranging from “insubordinate behaviour, fighting, quarrelling and disorderly behaviour and disobedient to standing order.”

He added that the soldier was invited to the army headquarters for questioning on the said offences but he could not give satisfactory answers which warranted his detention.

Ezinoye also stated that the applicant, being a serving soldier, is subject to military law and discipline and therefore, urged the court to so hold and dismiss the application.

He informed the court that Emefik was

already facing a military court-martial and so the court was deprived of jurisdiction to entertain the suit or order his release from detention.

Emefik’s counsel had earlier at the mention of the case in February prayed the court to order his client’s immediate release from “unlawful arrest and detention by officers of the Nigerian Army.”

He said that the order became necessary following the refusal of the army authorities to release the applicant after more than one year of repeated demand.

Jibrin also prayed the court to declare that the continuous detention of his client “is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

He asked the court to compel the respondents to pay N100 million as general damages jointly and severally to his client for the treatment meted out on him.

The applicant’s counsel further told the court that his client’s only ‘offence’ was that he got wind of an illicit affair going on between his wife and his superior officer, who is a serving colonel.

He said the applicant reported the case to the appropriate authorities and tendered a letter dated 24th March, 2010, as exhibit.

Jibrin claimed that the colonel used his influence and contacts in the Nigerian Army to victimise him.

The applicant’s counsel said that his client was merely invited from his base at the Ojo Military Cantonment, Lagos, via a signal he got from the army, to report to Abuja on January 13, 2013.

He said he was arrested upon arrival in Abuja and detained since January 21, 2013 without being told of his offence.

The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned the case till April 30 for hearing in the substantive suit.

BPE DG tasks Arewa youths Simeon Ogoegbulem Abuja

D

irector-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has urged the Arewa Youth Forum to take advantage of the bureau’s 2014 work plan to sensitize Northern governors, leaders and the business class in the region to participate actively in the Federal Government’s privatisation programme.

Dikki, who gave the charge when the AYF visited him and conferred on him an award of Excellence, decried the apathy exhibited by Northerners in previous privatisation exercises.

He, however, expressed happiness that the trend changed in the recently concluded power transaction in which the North actively participated.

The DG expressed concern over the lack of industries in the north and appealed to bodies like AYF to embark on sustained sensitisation of Northern leaders, governors and wealthy individuals to establish industries in the zone.

The BPE boss informed the visitors that

FCT water board gets acting director Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he Minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration, Senator Bala Mohammed, has appointed Mr. Michael O. Adebayo as the Acting Director of the FCT Water Board.

The appointment was made last week after the minister approved the redeployment of the former director of the board, Engr.

Jiniya Anto, on grounds of insubordination.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, the director was also accused of “disobliging attitude, disdain and disregard for Board members, their decisions, requests and directives.”

Ogbuenyi in his statement said, “The Minister of FCT has approved the redeployment of the Acting Director of FCT Water Board, Engr. Jiniya B. Anto. He was relieved of his position over incompetence, insubordination and a vote of no confidence passed on him by members of the Governing Board of the FCT

Water Board led by their Chairman, Alhaji Alhassan Gwagwa.

“The board members accused the Acting Director of failure to seek and refusal to seek and provide vital and necessary information to enable the board to perform the statutory functions it was appointed for.”

They also accused him of “disobliging attitude, disdain and disregard for Board members, their decisions, requests and directives.”

It added, “Following his redeployment, the Deputy Director, Quality Control of the FCT Water Board, Mr. Michael O. Adebayo,

power supply in the country would have greatly stabilised after the privatisation of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria but for vandals who blow up gas pipelines to sabotage government’s efforts.

He described the award conferred on him as heart-warming, stating that the award is dedicated to the management team and staff of the privatisation agency.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo for their support and commitment to the privatisation programme, which had led to the achievements recorded so far.

Earlier, National President of AYF, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, had called on the Federal Government to ensure that only genuine investors were handed over privatised enterprises to bring about positive economic benefits of providing employment to jobless youths in Nigeria and the North in particular.

He said that Dikki was given the award based on certain parameters among them: “An articulate technocrat, a right peg in a round hole, a true patriot and a man with razor sharp intellect and the ability to think out of the box.”

has been directed to oversee the affairs of the agency on acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Director. The minister has also directed that an interview should be conducted as soon as possible for qualified senior officers for the appointment of a new director.”

Ogbuenyi further stated that members of the governing board had restated their support and loyalty to the administration of the FCTA under the leadership of Senator Bala Mohammed.

“The board is proud to be associated with the achievements recorded since your assuming the mantle of leadership as the Minister of FCT,” they declared.

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NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

Life

Mr. Flint: Coming back with a Plus size dream couraged them from dating me; calling me a burden. I’ve grown to ignore those negative comments and opinions,” he said.

Now, Mr. Flint wants to make a statement with his brand new show; he has concluded plans to organise a beauty contest for women on the plus size to showcase the beauty of big Nigerian ladies.

“Currently I run a charity called ‘Second Chance in Life’ in Nigeria. It is geared toward helping people with physical disabilities be more independent and increase the quality of life. I am also launching two organisations to aid in the discrimination of plus-sized people. One is called “Curvy Plus” in the U.S. and “Plus-sized Africa in Nigeria. I am bringing this to Nigeria soon and plus size Nigerian ladies will have the opportunity to show the world how beautiful they are. I am doing this in partnership with a whole lot of organisations in the US and one of them is known as Yum-Yum; she is a big name in the plus size pageant in American and she is part of the show. I am doing this to give inspiration to the ladies and also to let my brothers and sisters who are physically challenged and are most times never put into the scheme of things that they can go into any endeavour and make the best out of it. Your disability is not a barrier,” he said.

He also intends taking up some of the discriminations against physically challenged people when he touches down and urged government to do more for people with disabilities like installing automatic doors for more places of business, recreational centres for the physically disabled and housing that totally meets the needs of the wheelchair bound.

Ahaoma Kanu

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hether he is the studio to have a session in downtown Brooklyn, New York in the United States or shuffling through the rowdy crowd in Lagos, the City of Excellence in Nigeria, Leroy Fagbemi is always pushing to make the best of whatever he is focused on doing. At the age of 17, when teenagers his age were still undecided on what career path to choose, he knew what he wanted and got into the game with some determination; that drive had him open up a T-shirt company and had some recording of his music. Mr. Flint, as he is also known, is not your everyday man around town; he is determined to succeed in any endeavour he finds himself in despite being a physically challenged person. Born in the United States, brought back home at a tender age to attain the Nigerian mentality, Mr. Flint now shuttle between both continents, he is just loving it.

“I am a homeboy from Mende in Maryland in Lagos and moved back to Brooklyn afterwards. As a youth in Brooklyn, NY things were cool, it was the Black Pride era. My parents are both Nigerian and were working citizens in the U.S. They also owned a business in Nigeria.

Way back then when the likes of Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek and other music artistes were rocking the airwaves, he had a knack for rap music, a genre he has remained stuck with. Having the belief that one day the music industry will blow up, he started up a group in his neighbourhood known as Mende Boys.

“Making music was always a passion for me. When I arrived in Nigeria at approximately 11 years old I started a Pop group called the “Mende Boys”. We stayed together until I graduated from high school, and returned to the U.S. Upon arriving back to Brooklyn, I immediately noticed the Black Pride era had become the Crack epidemic era. The transition was very much a challenge because first of all I was born in the U.S. and sent to Nigeria to learn African culture,” he said.

Going back to America, he had a vision and did hang out with some of the artistes back in New York that would later become big names in the world music scene like Christopher Wallace popularly known as the Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur. He wanted a part of the American dream, he worked earnestly to get a piece of the pie and just like every black American hustler, he had to make the extra money needed to realise his dream through extra means but all came to halt when he was involved in an accident.

“When I returned and saw how difficult it was to make money legitimately, especial-

ly while going to college, I began hustling to supplement my income. The hustling came to an end when I had the automobile accident that paralysed me. I was in my car, a hundred feet from the entrance to my job at the time and an 18 wheeler truck ran a red light and hit my car. The accident left me paralysed from the waist down. I was in the hospital for six months recovering and going through occupational therapy sessions. Since this accident in the midnineties I have contemplated suicide three times but music and the desire to create music definitely help me overcome feelings of deep depression and suicidal thoughts. A friend of mine connected with some artists and we formed a seven man group called “KIng Tinz Fam”. This opportunity was what helped rekindle my passion for making music,” he said.

So far, after joining forces with some Nigerian artistes in Diaspora, he has released

multiple tracks featuring top Nigerian artists like Sound Sultan, Young Grace, Olamide, and is also looking forward to working with Phyno, Ice Prince, Tuface Idibia, Brymo and Burna Boy. His main goal is to make music that uplifts the disabled community especially those in Nigeria where he wants to be a voice against discrimination of physically challenged people in Nigeria.

“One main difficulty that people may not realise is that a majority of doors at public places like the banks, churches, private car service or restaurants are not wheelchair accessible. Also, most hospitals don’t have amenities that are wheelchair friendly. One other thing is that I sometimes experience friends assuming I pay for the company of the women I’m involved with. I also have had friends discourage me from dating able-bodied women and plus sized women.

Lastly, a few of the loved ones of women I have been in relationships with have dis-

63

APRIL 06, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH ON SUNDAY

Sport / News

Ambrose: I don’t need rest to perform

Nasri celebrates after scoring

S Man City defeat Southampton to close gap on Liverpool

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wo goals moments before halftime helped Manchester City beat Southampton 4-1 on Saturday and keep the pressure on at the top of the Premier League table, as Jay Rodriguez’s World Cup hopes were hit by a knee injury.

A Rickie Lambert penalty cancelled out Yaya Toure’s early goal from the spot, but late strikes to Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko meant the 2011-12 champions went into the break with a two-goal lead, an advantage they extended through Stevan Jovetic with nine minutes left.

City moved to second place with 70 points, one behind Liverpool who play West Ham United on Sunday.

Chelsea, with 69 points, can move past them both if they beat Stoke City later on Saturday, although City currently have a match in hand on both their fellow title chasers.

uper Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose, has said that despite not having any rest since he joined Celtic from Israeli club Ashdod in 2012, he is still playing at his optimum as that is not a problem for him.

Such is the 25-year-old’s commitment to club and country that 48 hours after helping Nigeria to Africa Cup of Nations triumph in South Africa in February 2013 he lined-up for Celtic in a last 16 Champions League clash against Juventus.

While some of his team-mates will be on holiday taking a well-deserved break Ambrose will be at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with the Super Eagles.

He said: “Because I am Efe. I like playing football. I enjoy it. It is the first thing I think about.

“Sometimes the body needs a rest but I try not to in case I get used to it.”

He said: “I don’t like to have time off. Even when I am off, I still play football in Nigeria. I know the manager has spoken about giving players a break between now and the end of the season but we don’t have a

game next weekend so that will be an opportunity to get three or four days off. That will be enough of a break for me.

“I don’t really like being off because it gets me down. I like to keep working every day. I enjoy playing football. When I wake up in the morning I just want to get a shower and get down to the training pitch and play football. That has always been my mindset; I have never thought of rest.”

Speaking at Celtic Park where he was promoting a scheme to encourage fans to own a part of the club by buying personalised paving stones at the club’s stadium entrance, he added: “The medical team don’t know my body like I do. I speak for my body and it is okay. Of course they will say I need a rest but if you give me a rest it gets me down and it’s harder to lift myself again so I like to keep myself going.

“In Nigeria, I get up at six o’clock

Brazil 2014: Keshi rules out Joel Obi

S in the morning to play. I play with my friends and sometimes I play in charity matches. That is what I enjoy.

“Sometimes we will play for two hours - and then do it again in the evening. But that is pleasure, not work. In these matches at home I play in midfield: I never play in defence because then I would have to tackle!

“I want to play in every game between now and the end of the season. Our aim is to improve both individually and as a squad because we want to play in the Champion’s League group stage again.

“The qualifiers won’t be easy and some of us who are playing in the World Cup won’t be here for preseason; now is the time to start putting things together.”

uper Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, has systematically ruled out AC Parma of Italy star midfielder, Joel Obi, who he said is injury prone and has been able to prove his worth as an international player.

With this situation, Keshi said it would be difficult to give the 22-yearold a chance to shine in Brazil as a result of his recent injury woes.

Obi has started just two league games for AC Parma this season against Juventus and SS Lazio, as he struggles to find his best form and the Eagles coach stated that he feels sad about the struggles Obi has had to face with injuries in recent months.

“When I first took charge as Eagles handler, Joel was one of the players I wanted to build the team around. I feel so sorry for the player because more often than not, he’s been injured,” Keshi said.

Obi played just 95 minutes in Serie A in the 2012/13 season and Keshi revealed that he tried to help the midfielder during that difficult phase of his career.

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS (SAT)

Man. City 4 - 1 Aston Villa 1 - 2 Cardiff 0-3 Hull City 1 - 0 Newcastle 0 - 4 Norwich 0 - 1 Chelsea 3 - 0

S’ampton Fulham C’Palace Swansea M. United West Brom Stoke

Joel Obi

Sunshine Stars target away win against Rangers

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Wenger blames mystery supplements for injuries

AArsenal’s injury problems have

rsene Wenger has suggested that

been made worse by some of his players taking medication without telling the club.

The Arsenal manager says that some of his injured stars may have hampered their recovery from injuries by taking certain supplements that have detrimental effects on vital organs.

The Gunners have been hampered by a number of injuries this season and the identity of the players in question were not revealed by Wenger.

Referring to the injury problems, he told reporters:“Some of them are down to the medication that the players take that you don’t even know about.

“Then you realise afterwards that they took this medication but that it’s not prudent.”

Ike Alvadogo in jersey No. 6 of Dodan Warriors trying to dribble past Union Bank of Lagos player in a 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Male Basketball League game played at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos...Union Bank won by 64-62 points

Odemwingie offers support to West Brom striker

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igeria’s striker, Osaze Odemwingie, has shown empathy towards former teammate Saido Berahino in the wake of his dressing room bust-up at West Bromwich Albion.

Odemwingie, now plying his trade with Stoke City, revealed his disappointment at his treatment during his time at The Hawthorns, as well

as offering support to Berahino.

Odemwingie was accused of trying to engineer a move to Queens Park Rangers during the latter stages of his West Brom career and believes his reputation has been tarnished by the allegation.

Furthermore, the 32-year-old believes England Under-21 international

Berahino is being picked on by teammates. “I have been painted as the bad boy and the money grabber. I am not.

I would have accepted some of the blame for what happened if the club and the agents would have accepted some as well, but they would not. What Berahino is facing now, I faced and they are just picking on a young boy.”

unshine Stars Football club of Akure player, Sunday Abe, is optimistic that his side would win their first game of the season when they face Rangers International at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu today in the Glo Premier League.

The Ondo state governmentowned club have drawn two and lost one of the three matches they have played so far this season.

The player reckons that they have played well on their trips to Kano and Port Harcourt even though they were not able to win the matches.

“We have prepared well for Rangers and we are going there in search of victory.

Rangers are a good side, and we know it is not going to be an easy match. We have matched our opponents in our previous games, but have not just been lucky.

“We scored against Pillars and Dolphins because we played an open game and we won’t change our style against Rangers.

“The problem has been holding on to our lead, and we have been working on that.”

Faith Kumuyi’s date with Deeper Life youths } 56

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or the purpose of today’s column, permit me, once again, to reproduce (with slight modifications) a part of my Saturday Notebook column of September 5, 2009 in The Guardian, with the headline Between Lamido Sanusi and Nuhu Ribadu.

“Lamido Sanusi, Governor Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are two of a kind,” the article read in part. “Physically, they look alike---both are slim, very slim, and spot the long-face, pointed-noise trademark of the average Fulani. They are the types that newspapers in Lagos like to refer to as Northern radicals, men of privileged births who later become some nihilistic, gun-ho social crusaders with messianic instincts, who, every so often, arrogate to themselves the repository of society’s wisdom and higher values, which must be preserved from pollution by its other madding, evil-doing, lesser members out there.”

“Seemingly groomed from the very beginning to see themselves as ‘born to rule’,” the article continued, “such radicals tend to see others as minions for whom the law prescribes no rights, only a chain of commands and obedience thereto. To them, opposition is irreverent and must not be brooked from any one or group. The due process is for the weak---in fact, it is one undesirable aspect of democracy that any ‘strong well-meaning’ leader can conveniently do without. Not for them, therefore, the archetypal leadership process that is characterized by negotiation, compromise, horse-trading and sometimes even outright blackmail! Thus, faced with a complex leadership problem, they seem often to believe in simply shooting from the hip first and thinking later!”

Cast your mind back to Nuhu Ribadu’s days as boss of EFCC and try analyzing the raging controversy over the removal of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as CBN governor and you will find that, more than anything else, it’s the impulsive, self-righteous attitudes of these two to authority and others that diminished their rating as super heroes of the anti-graft war.

Dr. Junaid Mohammed is one of those ‘Northern radicals’, a clan of volatile characters who love to listen only to themselves, people who have nothing but disdain for everyone else’s views except those of others who share in their narrow definition of Nigeria. And, to all intents and purposes, that Nigeria is one where power must eternally flow from only one source and woe to those who say nay to such humbug!

I have read a thousand and one newspaper interviews of Junaid Mohammed and not a single one of them is positive about anybody or anything. To be sure, he delights in excoriating and desecrating everybody and or everything that is dear to others: Jonathan is a failure; his wife is illiterate; Babangida is a manipulator; Buhari has expired; Kutigi has no integrity and by the way, he is Nupe

Sanctity of Truth w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

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

VOL. 1 NO. 40

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014

N150

SPORT Brazil 2014: Keshi rules out Joel Obi

}31

Limits of radicalism

Sunday

Notebook

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

abugufex@gmail.com 08076290498 (sms only)

not Hausa and cannot represent the North; Maitama Sule is a worthless Northern elder who has been bought over by Jonathan...

Indeed, I am amazed at the man’s capacity for hubris. As one contributor to Vanguard online put it, Mohammed is simply a bad northerner. I add that he is a bad Nigerian, one of the many ugly reasons so many want this unhappy union to be dissolved. In one of those emotive interviews he routinely grants, which was published by this newspaper on March 17, the Monday Jonathan inaugurated the ongoing National Conference, Mohammed had this to say about Igbo’s quest for justice in Nigeria: “Please convey this to every Igbo man on Nigerian soil, that there won’t be state creation from this Confab. No Igbo state or other state will be created. If the Igbo are claiming parity with the Yoruba, that since the Yoruba have six states, they must have six states as well, they are talking nonsense.”

He continued: “In the former structure of the country, we had the East, North and West. The West has been split into six states.

The East has been split into five Igbo states and six South-South states. So, these people talking about parity, they want to be equal with the Yoruba…There will never be another Igbo state again.”

Ordinarily, the thing to do about such bilge of a statement is to ignore it, especially since we have established that people like Mohammed talk before they think. But, in another edition of New Telegraph, Auwal Yadudu, a law professor and clearer-headed, more sober academic and another Kano delegate to the Confab had also expressed a similar

MAMA LASISI

sentiment, insisting that the Southeast does not deserve a sixth state because it does not have enough land mass and population to sustain another state. Before Mohammed and Yadudu, the Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had virulently attacked any hint of state creation in the South East, while reacting to the report of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu Committee on the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution. And you ask, is this about what Kano doesn’t like or what the North considers as against its interest?

So, we must contribute to the debate--or lack thereof---on this issue. First, I consider Mohammed’s attempt to pit the Yoruba against the Igbo as disingenuous and childish. There are six constitutionally recognized geopolitical zones in Nigeria, three in the North and three in the South. All the others have six states each (Mohammed’s North West has 7) except the South East and this does not matter to Mohammed, Yadudu and Kwakwanso? They are not interested in having a Nigeria in which justice and fair play reign?

By referring only to the number of states in South West and ignoring that of the North West viz-a-viz what obtains in the South East, Mohammed pitiably fell into the rather fossilized delusional trap in the north, namely, the assumption that the North West is far bigger in size and number than its two southern counterparts, so there is no basis for comparison at all between it and either the South West or South East. In terms of size, I accept that the North’s superiority glaring. But in terms of number, I dare say that the only people who have always had faith

in the discredited censuses that have been conducted in Nigeria over the years are the Junaid Mohammeds of this world who constantly flaunt the politically allotted figures as evidence of their superiority in number. And so, I ask, if the north is so confident of this superiority, why are Kwankwaso and Co. so vehemently opposed to inclusion of tribe and religion as items to be captured in the census?

What are they afraid of ? What is wrong in knowing how many Igbo people there are in Nigeria; how many Yoruba, Hausa Fulani, Ibibio or Nupe? Does knowing how many Christians, Muslims and or members of other faiths there are in Nigeria not aid planning?

How does having such data detract from the credibility of a population census?

The truth is that Rabiu Kwankwaso and co-travellers know that the figures they have been parading all these years are a ruse and cannot stand a transparency, veracity test. And they cling to such fake figures and oppose any attempt by anyone to do the right thing for Nigeria because they use the figures to corner a greater chunk of our national patrimony to themselves. Others use their census figures to plan; we use ours to share money. Kwakwanso, Mohammed and Yadudu want one Nigeria by all means but they don’t want a just Nigeria, where everybody is happy and has a sense of belonging? How convenient!

Ok, if they don’t want another state in the South East, so be it. But, let them also agree to the restructure of Nigeria so that every region owns its resources and contributes only an agreed sum to the national pool for skeletal federal administration. Let us reconfigure Nigeria into a confederation and let every confederating part be responsible for its own survival through the exploitation of its Godgiven resources—human as well as material.

Let’s end the sharing binge in Abuja. Which is to say that the North must make a choice ...either to support the cause of justice for all or to let us go our separate ways! The era of ‘the north doesn’t want’ and it is carried is gone forever. Junaid Mohammed and Co. must bear this in mind.

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By Aliu Eroje