Binder 1,jan 3, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

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Sanctity of Truth

SATURDAY Saturday, January 3, 2015

Vol. 1 No. 318

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My fight with Wizkid by star artiste, Davido

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} 19

}5 WIZKID

Religion is the opium of the masses — Karl Marx

unholy war

lPoliticians take February 14 presidential battle to churches, mosques lWoo religious leaders with cash, other incentives }50-51

FG failed to act on US intelligence on Chibok girls — New York Times report Ndubuisi Ugah

with agency reports

t has emerged that the over 200 abducted students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State may have been rescued had the Federal Government and

military authorities acted “swiftly” to an intelligence report titled “actionable intelligence”, which was issued by the United States. The New York Times in a report published on Thursday, reported that shortly after the U.S offered to help rescue the schoolgirls, it flew

several hundred surveillance drone flights over the vast, densely-forested regions in the North-East (Sambisa forest) where the girls were seized with the hope that the Federal Government will act swiftly on the report. The newspaper also quoted an unnamed Africa Com-

mand official in Stuttgart, Germany, who claimed that with few tips to guide the missions, the flights started yielding little information, while drones were diverted from other missions in war zones like Iraq and Syria. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

DAVIDO

BELO-OSAGIE

Jamming with Fela was a glorious experience }13

Convicted wife killer Arowolo updating Facebook status from cell }10

UTI

NWACHUKWU

How I spent my $200,000 Big Brother earnings }21

No ‘secret dismissal’ of 203 soldiers — Army }5

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Contents | 03.01.15 INSTYLE

Colours of a New Year Five designers - Temitope Alade, Doris Alabi, Margaret Adewunmi, Mona Okoroalum and Gboguren Elvis - speak about designs that would blaze fashion trends in 2015

}15

TV & RADIO

The Squatterz Tale Squatterz, a sitcom that airs on Galaxy Television is increasingly becoming an audience favourite with its hilarious story line

}23

THE ARTS

Pleasant Strokes The National Gallery of Arts goes to Enugu to showcase the works of its in-house artists as a sequel to its exhibition in Kaduna

}18

INVESTIGATIONS

Labour in Vain Since being sacked apparently unfairly by Statoil in 1999, Moses Adie has tirelessly sought justice from his former employers who would rather not comment on the matter.

}34

SPORT

Soldier Boy’s Punch Efetobor Apochi, captain of the Nigerian boxing team to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, talks about quitting the British Army to represent Nigeria

}26

DESTINATION

Calabar Still Rocks Last Saturday was a milestone for Cross River State as it marked the 10th edition of Carnival Calabar which lived up to its reputation as “Africa’s biggest street party”

}42 Plus: Street Diary 10 | Love&Living 35 | Faceoff 48

SATURDAY

Comment

Unending protests by ‘ex-militants’ n recent months, some young Nigerians who claim to be ex- militants from the Niger Delta have staged protests on the streets in state capitals and other major cities across the oil-bearing states of the country. At different times, these protests have occurred in Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Owerri, Warri, Umuahia and Benin City. In each case, the agitation was based on the same complaint. These young men who claim to be part of the ex-militants enrolled in the Third Phase of the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government are angry over their alleged exclusion from the scheme. The truth is that those who embraced the Amnesty Programme at its early stage and surrendered their weapons to the government were rewarded with monthly stipends, special vocational training programmes and even overseas scholarships in some of the best universities around the world. As a result of these benefits many more militants who were initially sceptical and suspicious of government’s motives in the Amnesty came forward to lay down their arms and get enrolled in the scheme. ISpecial Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programne, Mr Kingsley Kuku once admitted that the random emergence of groups of unregistered youths claiming rights to the benefits of the amnesty package necessitated the creation of Phase Three to accommodate more persons in the programme. While we commend the federal government for initiating the Amnesty Programme when it did, it is pertinent to point out that it was not meant to be an open-ended exercise. From the periodic protests of

the recent months, it appears that the Amnesty Office at some point failed to play by the rules and the result is the chaos being witnessed today. The Amnesty Office has become overwhelmed by the swelling army of ex-militants seeking to be included in the scheme from the various states. While we will not hold brief for the Amnesty Office, we are tempted to believe that some of these latter day ‘ex- militants’ dancing on the streets may not have been part of those who held the nation by the jugular. They may just be some jobless youths who have suddenly realized that the only language our government understands is violence. They must have seen how some of their peers who were ordinarily common criminals and economic saboteurs have become transformed into national heroes through the instrument of amnesty. We hereby urge the Amnesty office to tidy up its execution of the third phase to its programme by conducting a thorough screening of all these young men who claim to be ex-militants. The verification exercise would enable government ascertain the genuine cases of exclusion as well as sift the grains from the chaff. We also urge the government to stop forthwith the idea of paying monthly stipends to ex-militants because this largesse appears to be the reason why the ranks of ex-militants continues to swell ad infinitum. Let every genuine and registered ex-militant be enrolled in a trade or vocation of their choice and encouraged to acquire useful skills that will make them self- reliant. In that way, we will convert them from being idle ex-gunmen waiting for handouts from government to entrepreneurs creating jobs and expanding the economy.

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

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

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Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

News Editor n Ndubuisi Ugah

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Telegraph Adam&Eve

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03 JANUARY, 2015

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News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Alleged dismissal of 203 soldiers: Army denies secret trial

Emmanuel Onani he Nigerian Army has debunked the allegation that it dismissed 203 soldiers earlier drafted to beef-up the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the North-East, after a “secret night trial.” An online medium, Premium Times, had reported that “The Nigerian Army has dismissed 203 soldiers after a secret

...says trials follow due process court martial held in the dead of the night, for allegedly disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer.” It also quoted the dismissed soldiers, who were said to have spoken on the condition of anonymity, as saying they were dismissed “for asking for support equipment, following the army’s (alleged) plan

to convey them in a tipper for an operation in Bama and Gwoza, two strongholds of Boko Haram insurgents.” According to the report, the anonymous soldiers, who were deployed from the 19 Battalion in Ondo State, alleged that they were detained for over 90 days, before they were asked to leave.

The report further alleged that the soldiers are being owed salaries for about five months. This is as the paper noted that “his unit reconvened in Maiduguri last August, after they were dislodged by the insurgents in Damboa in an operation where their commanding officer and several other soldiers were killed.”

L-R: State Governor, Seriake Dickson; President Goodluck Jonathan and Chairman of Bayelsa Oil Company Limited, Chief Amalate Turner, during the president’s visit to Otuoke…yesterday

Scores injured as Fulani herdsmen burn over 70 houses in Plateau Musa Pam

l We’re yet to get details of the attacks –Police

ver 70 houses were burnt down yesterday, while three persons were shot and many others injured during a fresh attack on Shurun Marit village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, following a pre-dawn attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Shurun is a border village between Barkin Ladi and Kantoma village of Mangu Local Government Area of the state where three persons were reportedly killed by unknown gunmen on Wednesday. Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the attacks yesterday in Jos, said 70 houses were burnt, while three persons were shot with many others injured.

Loman, who condemn the attacks, said: “It is sad that my people who have been staying peaceful will be attacked without any reasons, I have visited Shurun marit village and all the houses were burnt, only a Church was left in the place, I know that this is the escalation of the attack in Mangu village sharing bordering with my local government.” He said: “The gunmen attacked the village late Thursday night and started shooting sporadically and currently three persons have been taken to hospital, but I wonder why the security cannot protect our people? The development created tension in the local government forcing innocent villagers to flee to Dorowa, a neighbouring village in the LGA. This is a very bad situation for the country.”

O Jos

The council boss called on the security agencies in the area to take serious measures to protect the villages, saying there was urgent call put to the security during the attack but the they deliberately refused to respond to protect the villages. “Why will the security allowed such attacks to be carried out at the beginning of the year when people are celebrating the New Year,” he said. A source who does not want his name in print said the gunmen had stormed the village when the Villagers were about to go to bed and started shooting, stating that: “On hearing the sound of gunshots villagers woke up and started fleeing and that was what made us to escape, our attackers had a field day as the operation lasted till the early hours of this morn-

ing.” He said barns and farmlands were also destroyed by the attackers, while also calling on the state government to come to the aid of the people. He said: “It is quite worrisome that the gunmen have been identified as Fulani herdsmen that are living within our communities and they carry out these attacks and get back to their huts unharmed. The heavy arms our attackers used go to show that there is a well coordinated plan to eliminate us.” When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Abu Emmauel, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he was yet to get details of the attack from the Divisional Police Office (DPO) in the locality.

It further claimed that “they were given two weeks pass and that at the expiration of their passes they were issued new uniforms, boots and 30 rounds of bullets each as opposed to the statutory 60 rounds. And we were going to be conveyed in a tipper lorry to Gwoza and Bama for an operation. “So, we asked for support weapons. No support weapon was provided. Our CO (Commanding Officer) said he would discuss with the GOC (General Officer Commanding) of the 7 Division at the headquarters. When he came back, he said we should stand down. We thought all was well. “On the morning of 16 of August, after the GOC briefing, our commander started calling our names and he said anyone whose name is called should submit their uniform and weapon. He added that anyone who failed to do that would be charged for mutiny. We were surprised at what was happening. “He started from the most senior soldier among us, a warrant officer who had served for almost 30 years. They asked us to go back to the barrack. It is a war zone and our weapons had been taken from us. Staying around was of no use so we left Maiduguri back home.” The next order from

the army hierarchy was for the soldiers to report to the 4th Brigade headquarters in Benin where they were detained for three months. “They kept us in the fenced field at the officers’ mess in 4th battalion headquarters. When we first arrived at Benin they took statements from us and took it to Maiduguri. The original charge against us was for deserting but after our statements were taken they changed the charge to disobedient to particular order. They said we disobeyed the CO’s order. They seized our phones, we couldn’t communicate with our families for the 90 days we were kept in detention,” Premium Times quoted the soldier as saying. However, when Saturday New Telegraph sought the comment of the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brigadier General Olajide Laleye, on the veracity or otherwise of the story, he neither confirmed nor denied it. Rather, Laleye insisted that the Nigerian Army, followed extant laws and procedures, in its trial of officers and soldiers alleged to have offended or breached its service rules. In a reply to Saturday Telegraph's text message, the Army spokesman said: "The NA (Nigerian Army) does not conduct secret trials.

Navy takes delivery of new warship

he Nigerian Navy on Friday took delivery of a new warship called “NNS OKPABANA” as part of its efforts to tackle maritime related challenges. Receiving the vessel in Lagos, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, said the addition of the vessel would boost the navy's war against maritime crimes. According to him, OKPABANA was the second of the Hamilton class of cutters to join the NN fleet. “It is worthy of note to state that the successes recorded by NNS THUNDER in curtailing threats in our maritime domain and the larger Gulf of Guinea region, with the confidence reposed in our country by the USA that made it possible to acquire NNS OKPABANA. The addition of this ship into the NN fleet will certainly bolster our zeal to end the menace in our maritime domain and the region, as well as support the regional and global effort to eliminate trans-

national maritime threats. “This nation has always requested the navy to do more and with this, the government recognises that there must be needed platform for the navy to do its job well. The present government headed by President Goodluck Jonathan took the recapitalisation of fleets as a huge challenge and has invested huge funds through the acquisition of two OffShore Patrol Vessels (OPV) from China and this one from USA. It is hoped that by the time we take delivery of all, the NN will be better for it,’’ Jibrin said. He said: “For us to be able to do effective maintenance, it is better to co-locate the two ships (OKPABANA and THUNDER) in the same command. However, deployment should be based on threat perception. If they are closely related and are operating about the same area, our maintenance team can be co-located where they are and sourcing for spares will be easier."

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

VICTORIA ISLAND Uduaghan wins Silverbird Man of the Year Award

N EWS I N BRIEF

Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has emerged as the Silverbird Man of the Year. Uduaghan’s emergence, according to the Silverbird Group, is based on his performance in the health sector as seen in the free medical care for children and the elderly as well as the free maternal care for pregnant women in the state. The award organisers also cited the micro-credit scheme where over 111,000 Deltans have been empowered to set up their own businesses. This was contained in a statement issued by the Silverbird Group, owners of Silverbird Television and Rhythm FM.

GOMBE Dankwambo disburses N750m loan to traders

Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, on Friday inaugurated the first phase of disbursement of N750 million Trade Intervention Fund (TIF) to 2,065 traders. Speaking at the forum in Gombe, Dankwambo said the loan was meant to support traders in their businesses while uplifting the standard of living of the people. According to him, the loan is interest-free but had negligible administrative charges to be paid to JAIZE Bank. “The state government is deliberately partnering with JAIZE Bank to administer the Trade Intervention Fund because of its banking ethics and readiness to contribute positively toward the development of Gombe State,” he said.

IBADAN Group pledges support for Ladoja

The Accord Party (AP) governorship candidate for Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has said the rate with which volunteers for his gubernatorial ambition are turning up, has prompted him to seek the face of God more for guidance so as to be able to meet the good expectations of the people. He made this know when the state executives of Association of Master Bakers of Nigeria (AMBN), Oyo State chapter paid him a courtesy call in his Bodija residence, Ibadan. Ladoja noted that he is aware of the importance of the bakers and caterers association to the general well being of the people of the state, and promised that he would create an enabling environment that would ensure that their businesses thrived.

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio; his Deputy, Lady Velerie Ebe and Akpabio’s wife, Unoma, at the New Year solemn assembly for women in Uyo…yesterday

Eid-el-Maulud: Emulate Prophet Muhammad, Fashola, Makinde, PDP, others tell Muslims FELICITATION

Leaders rejoice with Muslims on the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

Muritala Ayinla and Sola Adeyemo Lagos/Ibadan with agency reports

minent Nigerians, including Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa, Emir of Hadejia in Jigawa State, Alhaji Adamu Adubakar; the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; Chairman of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Alhaji Aminu Jaji, yesterday felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of the celebration of Eidel-Maulud, urging them to emulate the good virtues of Prophet Muhammed. They also urged Muslims to eschew violence by imbibing the virtues of humil-

ity, sacrifice and sharing as demonstrated by Prophet Mohammed as well as using the period to pray for peace and security in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Eidel-Maulud is the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, born on the 12th of Rabiul Awwal, 570 A.D in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which coincided yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, Fashola said the virtues of service and exemplary leadership as demonstrated by Prophet Mohammed should guide both leaders and the led on the need to give their all in the overall interest of the society. The governor noted that the challenges facing the nation would better be confronted if such qualities were imbibed. On his part, Ashafa who represents Lagos East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, said: “Nigerians, irrespective of our religious and ethnic differences, must at occasions like this, always reflect on matters that will strengthen our nation to a greater height, which we all crave.” On his part, Adubakar

tasked politicians to promote political tolerance and play according to the rules to ensure peaceful elections. The emir, who made the call when Governor Sule Lamido and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Malam Aminu Ibrahim, paid him a courtesy visit in Hadejia, urged youths to shun thuggery and eschew violence in the forthcoming general elections. Commenting also, Jaji, who is also the APC candidate for Kaura-Namoda, Birnin-Magaji federal constituency, said Nigeria had never faced serious security and economic challenges that needed urgent prayers than now. In the same vein, Makinde in a message issued through his media aide, Alhaji Akeem Azeez, made available to journalists in Ibadan, yesterday, said the birth of Prophet Mohammed which “was remembered yesterday should reawaken the Islamic faithful to the teachings of the great Prophet and make the necessary amends to please the Almighty Allah.” However, the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) has charged members of the political class to rededicate themselves to peace, truth and respect for constituted authority especially as the nation prepares for another round of general elections in February. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Friday said: “The fact that the year 2015 unfolded with Eid-el-Maulud celebration has great significance and presents an important lesson to all Nigerians to live in peaceful co-habitation and brotherhood.” Meanwhile, the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has urged Nigerians to emulate the leadership qualities and virtues exemplified by the noble Prophet Muhammad during his life time. In a Maulud Nabiyy message issued by the MMPN Chairman, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, in Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday, Balogun said: “Prophet Muhammad is not a god; neither is he a `mere’ man. He is a man with the norm and all the attributes of the human state."

INEC displays list of 15 governorship candidates in Lagos

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has displayed the names and particulars of 15 governorship candidates in Lagos State as presented to it by their political parties. The display is in accordance with the provision of the Electoral Act as amended. Section 31 Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for publication of personal particulars of all candidates contesting in the general elections within seven days of the receipt of form CF 001. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited INEC office in Lagos on Friday, reports that the commission also displayed the names of the candidates’ running mates and candidates for House of Assembly. According to the list, Mr. Ayodele Akele, is governorship candidate for the National Conscience Party (NCP), while his running mate is Dr. Akinlade Babafemi. Also in the list, Mrs. Pauline Adegbe and Mr. Olamide Oguntoyinbo, appeared as the governorship candidate for the Progressives Peoples’ Alliance (PPA) and running mate respectively. The Action Alliance (AC) also has Mr. Aregbesola Ishola and Mrs. Omolola Olorunnishola, as its governorship candidate and running mate respectively in the list. The list as well featured Mr. Godwin Mayor as the governorship candidate

for Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Mr. Ugochukwu Ekwebelem as his running mate. Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is presented in the list as governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Mrs. Aderanti Adebule as his running mate. The list displayed Mr. Olujimi Agbaje as the governorship candidate for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Mrs. Safirat Abdukareem as his running mate. According to it, Mr. Victor Adeniji is running as governorship candidate on the platform of Kowa Party (KP) with Mrs. Funmilayo Davidson as his running mate. It also featured Mr. Olatunde Olusesan as the governorship candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Mrs. Abiodun Shuaib as his running mate. In the list, Mr. Ademola Razaq appeared as the flagbearer of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) with Mr. Folawiyo Adebayo as his running mate. It also indicated Mr. Kayode Jacobs as the governorship candidate on the platform of Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) with Mr. Akeem Suberu as his running mate. Mr. Festus Igbinoba is representing United Progressive Party (UPP) with Mr. Kanu Urji as his running mate in the list. However, it was observed that the list did not reflect the governorship candidate for Independent Democrat (ID) but reflected Mrs. Omoshola Lawal as a running mate candidate.

PDP sets up reconciliatory c’ttee for Atiku, Kwankwaso, others l I won't dump party again, says Daniel Adeolu Adeyemo and Kunle Olayeni Osogbo/Abeokuta

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it had begun some reconciliatory moves to settle some differences among all the party’s aggrieved members and to also work in unity to ensure the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Also yesterday, a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, dispelled speculations that he was plotting to defect from the PDP, insisting there was nothing like that. National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, who said this to journalists in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said the party was also working round the clock to see that all its defected party

chieftains and members to other political parties like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabi Kwakwanso and others were brought back to the party. He stated that a formidable committee that would work on this had been saddled with the responsibility and affirmed that in no distance time, the efforts of the committee would be felt and seen by all and sundry. “I want to assure you that the party’s reconciliation committee recently set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will meet with all the former members of the party in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties before the next general elections to ensure that the PDP wins the elections in all parts of the country,” he said.

3 JANUARY 2015

Authenticate claims of unpaid salaries, Osun tells NLC Adeolu Adeyemo osogbo

he Osun State Government has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to allow its state council provide it with reliable and verifiable information about the government and workers’ relationship to avoid falling into the error of generalising its alleged antiworkers’ posture by some states. Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, said in a statement that if the national office of the NLC had made efforts to get the accurate information on the state of affairs between the workers and the state government, it would not have listed Osun among states which must be served ultimatum over unpaid salaries.

“We find it curious that at a time that the state council of the NLC which is the umbrella body of many of the trade unions has initiated a move to partner with Osun on how to sustain the state as a result of falling allocation from the Federation Account, the national office is singing discordant tunes by erroneously listing the state among states with “anti-workers” postures. “May we inform the NLC that workers in Osun can attest to the unparalleled pro-workers disposition of this government right from inception. At a time when many states had started owing their workers up to five months salaries, Osun, despite its very meagre allocation as the 34th on the allocation ladder then, had continued to meet its obligations by paying as and when due," the statement said.

Anambra PDP files contempt proceeding against Jega Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has initiated contempt proceedings against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, for allegedly flouting an order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in relation to the outcome of the National Assembly primaries held in the state. Jega was accused, in a motion for committal filed by the party on December 31, 2014, of disobeying a December 5, 2014 order of the court restraining INEC

from accepting “any delegate list or nominated candidates” from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee purportedly set up by the party’s national leadership to manage the affairs of the state’s PDP. Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, in his December 5, 2014 judgment in suit No: FHC/ ABJ/CS/854/2014 filed by the Chairman and Legal Secretary of Anambra PDP – Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye – (for themselves and the state’s Executive Committee of the party), affirmed the plaintiffs’ leadership of the party.

Fashola: I’ll decide my future after exit from office

Muritala Ayinla

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has broken the silence over his political future after the expiration of his tenure on May 29 this year, saying he will like to rest first before deciding his next line of action. The governor, who also expressed concern over poor logistic arrangement in the processing and distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said a trained logistic, banker or Air Traffic Controller should be made Chairman of INEC and principal officer of the commission.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

He added that the recent lapses in the electoral process had revealed that appointment of the commission's head did not necessarily require a retired judge or academic but a successful logistician. Harping on what he intends to do after handing over in 2015; Fashola said he has less than five months in office, adding he would love to rest for a moment to reflect on his performance while in office. The governor, who spoke at an interactive session with State House correspondents and other media chiefs to mark the end of the year, said: “Life after, honestly, I want to rest first and then I will think of other things after that."

OWERRI 100 motorcyclists jailed for Ihedioha flays Araraume over violating traffic rules governorship campaign SOKOTO

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sokoto State Government security outfit, Sokoto Marshals Corps, yesterday, said it had prosecuted more than 100 motorcyclists for violating traffic rules in Sokoto city and its environs in the last two months. The Commandant of the outfit, ACP Sa’idu Madawaki, said this at a news conference in Sokoto, when he reviewed the outfit’s activities since it took off in November 2014. Madawaki said the accused motorcyclists were prosecuted and committed to various jail terms, adding that most of them were arrested for violating traffic lights, routes violation and related offences.

The annual population growth rate of French Polynesia in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, on Friday condemned in strong terms the recent road show staged by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who is laying claim to the same PDP governorship ticket in the state. Ihedioha in a statement signed by his Campaign Director, Chief Chris Okew ulonu, cautioned Araraume to, “immediately put an end to these ill-advised activities that are inimical to the electoral successes of our great party in Imo State and clearly injurious to the prevailing peace in the state. It is also regrettable that the APC led Imo State Government is already celebrating this unwarranted conduct of Senator Araraume over the airwaves."

JOS Police diffuse bomb

A bomb planted at Sarkin Mangu Area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, which is close to the residence of a prominent Islamic Scholar, Shiek Yahaya Jingir, was yesterday diffused by operatives of the Anti-Bomb Squad of the state police command. It was gathered that the Islamic scholar and his followers, who were celebrating the Eid-el-Maulud might have been the target of those who planted the bomb. The Special Task Force Media Officer, Captain Iweka Ikedichi, who confirmed the incident to journalists, said the bomb was planted in the area on Thursday ahead of the festival but was discovered yesterday.

N1.03bn The IGR realized from PAYE (taxes) of Yobe State in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

70.5

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

INEC didn’t spend $75m on printing of presidential ballot papers –Jega REFUTAL

The electoral body denies spending huge amount of money printing ballot papers.

Ndubuisi Ugah

with agency reports

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said its decision to print some ballot papers abroad is hinged on the fact that it wants to protect the integrity of the electoral process. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, who said this in

an interview in Abuja, also denied the allegation that the commission had spent $75 million to print the 2015 presidential ballot papers in Europe, saying: “I am not aware of that.” He, however, said it was true that some of the ballot papers for the 2015 polls were being printed locally while others were being done outside the country. “This is a country where some elections are extremely contentious. Some elections are so contentious that however it goes, people will complain from partisan perspective and the commission is mindful of that. I can assure you that a large portion of the materials we are using, both sensitive and non-sensitive, are also being printed locally and some part of it are be-

ing printed abroad. “They are printed abroad in the interest of the country, for the integrity of the election and the acceptability of the procedure. All these have been taken into consideration,” he said. Idowu also said INEC took into consideration the economic situation of the country, security and capacity in taking decisions on the printing of the ballot papers. “We are talking of about five elections and for each of the election we are talking of between 70 and 75 million ballot papers. When you talk about capacity, which printer will deliver that required number within a window at which this must be done? “It is not that we have all the time in the world. We

only begin to print when nomination by political parties is concluded. That is the time frame that the law allows for. In that short time window, there is no printer in Nigeria that can deliver on that and that is why it has to be spread,” Idowu said. He said printing some of the ballot papers abroad was also important to prevent arguments over bias in the printing process. “That is why typically the less contentious ones are printed locally but the contentious ones are out sourced. If you print here, you will not get a better cost because the people that are doing the printing abroad already have the experience, infrastructure and technology in place,’’ he said.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (left) and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, during the governor's New Year visit to Obasanjo in Abeokuta...yesterday.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

ALAUSA

UGHELLI

NUJ decry assassination attempt Lagos to convert water on member hyacinth into fertiliser

N EWS I N BRIEF

ABAKALIKI IPMAN boss counsels politicians

The Lagos State Public Advice Centre (PAC) has said the state government would soon start the conversion of water hyacinth into fertiliser for farmers. An official of the centre, Mr. Alex Omorodion, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos that most of the water hyacinth would be used for the benefit of the people. He said the state government would employ some private contractors, alongside the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) for the water hyacinth conversion project. “Water hyacinth is a natural phenomenon that occurs anywhere you have a large or medium scale water body,” he said.

The National President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo, has called on Nigerians to extend their humanitarian gestures to the down trodden in the society. Okoronkwo said this yesterday, in Abakaliki, shortly after he received the traditional title of Nwa- Chukwumere Eze (God has made me king) of Eleoha Ututu from Eze Chris Nwankwo. He said such gesture to the down trodden would not only give them a sense of belonging but that the society has not forgotten them. The president, who led other National Executive of IPMAN further appealed to the private sector to create more jobs to reduce the over dependence of the youth on government.

£130

34.66

1,694.6m

The average weekly salary of Nigerian League players in 2013-2014 season. Source: Soccernet.com

The percentage of the individuals using the internet in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2008. Source: Itu.int

The total population of Asia region in 1960. Source: Un.org

Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ughelli Correspondent Chapel have condemned the continuous attack on the union’s Financial Secretary, Matthias Ogbagah, by suspected assassins perceived to have been sent by someone who want him dead by all means. In a statement signed yesterday by the Chairman, Festus Ahon and Secretary, Sunday Apah, NUJ called on the security agencies within Ughelli and its environs to come to their aide by putting a stop to the continuous attack on journalists in Delta state. The statement reads: “It could be recalled that on November 15, 2014, armed men spent about four hours to break into Matthias Ogbagah’s Ughelli residence in the night and macheted him to the point of death.

Gunmen kill 15 in Kaduna ATTACK

Some Fulani herdsmen attacked a village, killing some residents in the process. Ahmed Miringa

A Maiduguri

bout 15 persons were reportedly killed at AmbeMadaki village in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The attack, it was learnt, occurred at 4a.m. on Friday. A resident of the area, Mr. Yohana Adamu, in a telephone interview, said the invaders, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, arrived at the village at about 4am on Friday and started shooting sporadically and setting houses ablaze in the process. He said scores of resi-

l 40 youths abducted in Borno dents of the area sustained varying degrees of injuries from gun shots while over 20 houses in the area were set ablaze. He said: “We are surprised that despite the agreement that our communities had with the Fulanis not to attack each other, they have been attacking us. We have not compiled the casualty figure yet because some people are still missing, but we have 15 corpses already.” The spokesman for the state Police Command, Mr. Aminu Lawan, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), could not be reached for comments, but a security source in Sanga, who is not authorised to speak to journalist, confirmed the latest attack. Meanwhile, over 40 youths were abducted in Malari village of Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State when gunmen

suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group attacked the village. A resident of the area Mallam Bulama, who fled to Maiduguri, said the incident occurred at 8p.m. on Wednesday, where the gunmen gathered the whole males in the village for preaching after which they took away over 40 youths. He said: “They gather us in front of the village head`s house for preaching after which they took away over 40 of our unmarried youths between the ages of 10 to 23 years toward Sambiza forest but they did not touch a single married man. “Among the youths are three of my sons, two sons of my immediate junior brother and my uncle`s son, though most of us in the village are in one way or the other are all related. They said they are not going to kill anybody but we

have fled the village in fear of our dear lives, as we don’t believe in them any time they come again they kill us,” Bulama stated. Malari village is seven kilometres away from Mulgwai village and about 20 kilometres away from Sambiza forest. A resident of Mulgwai town, Garba Lawan, who also fled the village, said they fled the village on hearing the news of the abduction of the youths in Malari because the Boko Haram insurgents used to go to their village and gathered them in front of the district head of Mulgwai palace to preach for them. “Now most of our people are fleeing the village in fear of their lives, as they used to come and preach in the village and go away but with the recent abduction we are afraid they may at anytime come and also abduct our children or even burn the village and kill us,” Garba said.

Jonathan lacks capacity to fight insecurity, terrorism –APC …party says threat to Amaechi’s life unacceptable Johnchuks Onuanyim and Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians to use their votes to express their dissatisfaction with President Goodluck Jonathan over his inability to fight the two main challenges facing the country, corruption and security, despite having six years to do so. The party in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: “The President has finally admitted that the two main challenges facing the country are corruption and insecurity, and seems to be telling Nigerians to give him more time to tackle the problems. But the truth is that he lacks the capacity to fight and defeat these

challenges, whether in six or 10 years.” It said further: “A President who has spent the last six years trying to diagnose the main problems facing the country will apparently need another four years to plan how to tackle the challenges. By then, all of us would have been buried under the rubble of corruption and our country would have been decimated by insecurity." Meanwhile, the APC in Rivers State has described as totally unacceptable the kite being flown by the Federal Government about the possible arrest and trial of the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, in connection with some of his recent public statements in his capacity as Director General of the General Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation (GMBPCO).

2014 Int’l tourism figure to hit over 1bn Andrew Iro Okungbowa

xpectations are on the rise as international tourism figure for the time ever may hit the over 1.1 billion mark when the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometre releases the result of performance of the sector for 2014 early this month. It was also gathered that the Sub-Sahara Africa may record an improved performance despite the negative effect the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which ravaged some countries in West Africa. This is gleaned from the result of performance for the period between January and October 2014 where international tourists grew by five per cent. According to UNWTO World Tourism Barometre, overnight visitors reached

978 million, 45 million more than in the same period of 2013. This translates to an increase of 4.7 per cent, and continues international tourism growth well above the long-term trend projected by UNWTO for the period 2010-2020 (+3.8 per cent), and is set to end the year at over 1.1 billion. According to the details of the result, Africa’s number grew by 3% with SubSahara countries experiencing 3% growth despite the challenges of the Ebola Disease Outbreak in a few West African countries. But the highest regional growth was recorded by the Americas with +8% followed by Asia and the Pacific (+5%) and Europe (+4%) while by sub region North America grew by +9% and South Asia by +8%, Southern and Mediterranean Europe, North-East Asia and Northern Europe all recorded +7 per cent.

Decide who rules you, Olofin tells Nigerians Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

L-R: Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin and a representative of the United States Embassy Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins, at the reception for the newly-acquired ship by the Navy in Lagos …yesterday

he All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ekiti Central Senatorial District in this year’s general elections, Mr. Gbenga Olofin, has urged politicians to allow Nigerians decide who governs them through free, fair and credible elections. In a message in AdoEkiti yesterday, Olofin said politicians must play the game by the rules to ensure that peace reigns in

our land and beyond. “Everybody knows that 2015 is a special year for Nigerians irrespective of our religious and political backgrounds, hence the need for all to be careful and allow Nigerians to decide who will govern them for another four years,” he noted. While congratulating Nigerians, the people of Ekiti State and especially the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Olofin urged them to continue in prayers for peaceful polls in February 14.

3 JANUARY 2015

Police arrest 482 robbery suspects in Kano

ano State Police Command yesterday said it arrested 482 armed robbery suspects and recovered 85 arms and 546 ammunitions in 2014. In a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Magaji Majiya, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), made available to journalists in Kano, said: “The command was also able to recover 125 stolen vehicles abandoned during the period.” Majiya added that the command also recovered 24 high calibre Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in different locations in the state. He stated that 214 suspects charged with rape were arrested, in addition to 27 others charged with homicide within the period under review. “These achievements cannot be ruled out of the cordial synergy enjoyed

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with all sister security organisations, the state government, traditional institution, members of the press and the good people of Kano State,’’ the PPRO said. While commending the people for their cooperation, Majiya called for the sustenance of the tempo in 2015 and beyond, so as to ensure a crime-free society. Meanwhile, the Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Enugu Zone, Mr. Samuel Obayemi, has urged road users to always obey traffic rules and regulations while driving to avoid crashes. Obayemi gave the advice during an aerial surveillance on road network on Friday in Enugu. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the heavy traffic situation along Ninth Mile Road on December 30, 2014 gave rise to the surveillance exercise.

KANO JALINGO 2015: HoSF cautions against Senate Chief Whip urges Nigerians to live in peace religious, ethnic voting

NEWS IN BRIE F

The Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, has urged people of Taraba State to vote for credible and tested candidates that will introduce change and ensure development in the state. He made the call on Friday in Jalingo at a breakfast organised in his honour by Global Achievers Group for Jonathan 2015. The head of service told his audience that what Taraba and indeed Nigeria urgently needed were credible and tested candidates, saying people should not mind the ethnic or religious backgrounds of candidates but what they can offer. He said what Taraba State and Nigeria urgently required was development in terms of basic amenities and infrastructure.

0.8%

The annual rate of population increase in Northern America in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Bello Gwarzo, has stressed the need for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians to foster unity in the country. In a New Year message signed by his Media Assistant, Ibrahim Garba, in Kano, Gwarzo, who also congratulated the Muslim community on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud, prayed for the sustenance of peace in the New Year. He said: “The Senate Chief Whip wishes to extend his goodwill message to all Nigerians during this New Year. He also prayed that the lives of the people will be filled with joy and happiness in the New Year.”

37,375

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Andorra in 2008. Source: Itu.int

IKEJA Wiko affirms NCC, international certification for phones

French phone brand, Wiko Mobile, has said its range of 11 phones inaugurated in the Nigerian market is certified by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and by international regulators. A statement made available to journalists by the Wiki Mobile Channel Marketing Manager, Mr. Adebayo Abodunde Adams, said NCC granted “Type Approval’’ for Wiko’s various ranges of phone to operate as terminal equipment in the Nigerian telecommunication network. He said the approvals for the phones were signed since September 2014 by NCC Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Mr. Haru Alhassan, on behalf of the NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Eugene Juwah.

7,800

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Azerbaijan in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

Osinbajo consults HID Awolowo, Awujale, others Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Vice-Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday visited the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief H.I.D. Awolowo, the Akarigbo and traditional ruler of Remoland, Oba Michael Sonariwo, and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona. Osinbajo, who is the running mate of APC presidential candidate, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), was accompanied on the visits by his wife, Dolapo (granddaughter of Mama Awolowo); his younger brother and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Mr. Akin Osinbajo; and former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, among others. During his courtesy visit to Mama Awolowo in Ikenne-Remo, Professor Osinbajo said he was in his homestead to receive blessings from the nonagenarian for successful outing during the presidential elections on February 14. He attributed the prevailing insecurity, unemployment, power sector woes and other socio-economic challenges of the nation to bad leadership. Osinbajo assured the people that the APC would bring about the desired change in all ramifications of governance. He extolled the virtues of the former Premier of

the old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, saying he (Awolowo) contributed significantly to Nigeria's development. The APC vice presidential candidate promised that his party would not derail in carrying on with the good policies and programmes of the late Awolowo. "My choice as the vicepresidential candidate of our party is a rare opportunity for Remoland, Ogun State and Nigeria. It is God's divine. Awolowo came out of Remoland to become the Premier of the defunct Western region and he did excellently well. It is my utmost belief and prayer that we will do more than him," Osinbajo added. In her remarks, Mrs. Awolowo expressed her satisfaction over the choice of Osinbajo as Buhari's running mate. She, therefore, urged the people of Ikenne in particular and Nigerians in general to support the APC ticket in order to make Osinbajo's dream a reality.

L-R: Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Willy Oyadougha; former Principal Executive Secretary, Government House, Yenagoa, Mr. Douye Diri; Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Rachel Dickson and her husband, Mr. Seriake Dickson, at a special New Year Church service at Toru Orua, in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state…yesterday

2015 election a turning point, says Oritsejafor REVELATION

CAN President says this year's election will determine the nation's developmental bearing.

resident, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged Nigerians of all tribes and religions to unite against challenges this year. He said Nigerians

should approach this year with a renewed sense of vigour and understanding for the development of the country. Oritsejafor, who made the call in a New Year message, said Nigerians should approach this year by inviting God’s presence to lead the country in everything and approach issues with a positive mind. “If we want peace and prosperity, then we must work for it and not lament over challenges; this is the spirit that will lead Nigeria

Taraba acting governor working for APC, group alleges Temitope Ogunbanke

head of the February general election, a group of youths in Taraba State under the aegis of Taraba Joint Youth Forum (TJYF) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be careful of working with the state Acting Governor, Sani Abubakar Danlandi, on account

that the acting governor is working for the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba. The group in a statement by its Chairman, Jibrin Mohammed Auwal, alleged that Danlandi was clearing the road for his political friends in APC by dismantling all PDP political structures built by his predecessor, Alhaji Garba Umar.

“The PDP structure built by Umar so far toward Jonathan 2015 is now history and gone as the present government headed by the incumbent acting governor engages in clearing the road for his political friend, Senator Aisha Alhassan of APC, giving her all the needed support to clinch the seat of power in 2015," the group stated.

to the promise land,” he said. According to him, Nigerians must learn to support their leaders in prayers and physical support in the New Year. Also, he urged Nigerians to show love and make sacrifices for the nation collectively, in the quest for a better Nigeria in 2015. “Despite the daunting challenges in 2014, we were able to weather the storm and have emerged even stronger and can be counted among people of strong character and unwavering faith. “We have come to the end of another eventful year that truly tested our strengths and weaknesses; measured our faith in God and stretched our limits beyond what we all could have imagined. “As we reflect on the events of the past year and look forward to the times ahead, I want us to concentrate on the issue of overcoming all challenges,” he said. Oritsejafor, who allayed fears among many Nigeri-

ans that the 2015 elections would throw the country into chaos, said: “As a man of faith, I see the election as Nigeria’s turning point.” He urged leaders in the country to be wise and courageous in their decisions in the coming year. “It has already been known that the challenges are becoming multifaceted from insecurity to crashing oil prices and many others. I see a lot of positives and opportunities in the midst of these challenges and that is what I want Nigerians to absorb in their hearts. “The year 2015 may seem quite challenging for Nigeria, but it is one that equally holds a lot of hope and promise that could lead to the fulfillment that we have all yearned for. “I believe that 2015 might just be that year in which Nigeria’s socio-economic revolution will be actualised,’’ he said. Oritsejafor commended the gallant men and women in the battle against insurgents and wished Nigerians well in the New Year.

Voices Have you thought of writing a will? p.12

Street Diary SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

Is Arowolo updating Facebook status from condemned inmates' cell?

Worried by the frequency of jail breaks across Nigeria lately, the federal government announced the ban of mobile phone use by prisoners and officers within the prison yard. As Lanre Odukoya discovered, the practice was apparently so prevalent that an inmate in the condemned prisoners' cell updates his Facebook status on a smartphone

very June 24, a haunting emptiness descends on a man who was convicted for the murder of his wife. The date particularly scars his heart because it was his 31st birthday. His name is Arowolo Akolade, his late wife’s, Titilayo Omozoje Akolade and the heinous crime was committed on June 24, 2011. Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja sentenced Akolade to death having found him guilty of a murder charge pressed against him on February 21, 2014. Since then, the Facebook account of Arowolo, a fairly active youth pastor on the social media has been abandoned, event at that, some of his friends continued to tag him in posts all of which he hasn’t responded to. But suddenly on November 21, last year, Arowolo’s cover photo on Facebook was updated again with a gospel post. Though, he wouldn’t respond to any message sent him, he’d probably read and ignore. And by December 19 and 20, the account was updated with fresh posts. Here reads his last three posts before his incarceration in 2011; April 18, 2011: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!" (Numbers 23:23), April

Dejected...Arowolo ponders his fate

...after the death sentence

...with late wife, Titilayo in happier times

6, 2011. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:55-57), March 18, 2011. The reporter who has been Arowolo’s Facebook friend before the incident sent him a message shortly after his last post on December 20, earnestly expecting a response which never came. But by December 24, the

Screen shot of his Facebook page on December, 20

last post had been brought down from Facebook. At present, the only recent update left is the cover photo that was replaced on November 21. In keeping the fact credible enough, the reporter had taken a screen snap of the updates and the alterations that were later made by whoever used the account. The reason the updates were brought down was simple; the reporter’s personal Facebook profile still screams he’s a journalist and the handler of Arowolo Akolade L’s account imme-

...after the December posts had been deleted

Nobody, no matter highly placed you are; you don’t come to prison with your phones, not even the minister of interior diately discerned the implication. The updates weren’t done with a mobile phone apparently, at least the smart phones will indicate if any of their devices was used for that purpose. Asked to comment on the issue, the public relations officer of the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Prison Service, ASP Biyi Jeje, gave a terse reply: “Whoever gave you my number should have told you that I am the PRO. I discuss issues in my office and that’s my principle. I don’t discuss official matters with people on the phone, you have to come and see me in my office.” This development highlights the access inmates have to technology and other devices, especially the ones on death row. Last month, the federal government through the ministry of interior banned the use of mobile phones in Nigerian prisons last November. The interior minister, Comrade Abba Moro then said, “I have visited some prisons in other countries as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Nobody, no matter highly placed you are, you don’t come to prison with your phones, not even the minister of interior as the supervising minister over the prisons. So, why are you an exception?”

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Street Diary

Sure-P beneficiaries in Benue groan over non-payment Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

Accident scene

photo: saharareporters.com

Three die in Ibadan auto crash Sola Adeyemo

A Ibadan

New Year tragedy occurred Thursday evening when at least three people died at Adeoyo State Hospital Road in Ibadan where a Honda Pilot Jeep car crushed a family. Sources told Saturday Telegraph that the family comprising father, mother and a child were taking a new year stroll on the street when they met their untimely death. Eye witness account had it that the Honda Pilot Jeep which was driven by a young lady was on top speed and she was said to have been heavily drunk when the accident occurred. The vehicle

afterwards rammed into a pole of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the source disclosed. It was gathered that the lady (daughter of an influential man), who drove in company with another woman was in a convoy of other cars when the accident occurred. It was revealed that all the cartons of hard drinks and beer in the car were quickly evacuated into another car before the lady and the woman were taken to an undisclosed hospital. Sources further revealed that the corpses of the deceased were later taken to the mortuary of the Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road in Ibadan by a group of police on patrol, while the vehicle

Eight-month-old baby dies in New Year inferno Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

n early morning fire has killed an eight-month-old baby in a building on Ewemade Street, off Benin-Sapele Road, Benin, on New Year eve in the Edo State capital. Eyewitness said the ugly incident occurred in the upper part of the building at about 11 pm. It happened when residents of the area had gone for worship at their various churches for the all night service. Men of the state fire service who stormed the area to put out the fire were not allowed entry into the scene of the incident as the aggrieved residents alleged that they arrived late after much damage had been done. Investigations revealed that the inferno might have been caused by power surge from faulty electrical appliances as the area was thrown into darkness but power was restored minutes later after the fire outbreak. According to an occupant of the building who also owned a shop in the affected building, the fire spread

wildly and destroyed many properties worth millions of naira in the process. He said the incident happened “about 11pm on Wednesday, after everyone had gone to church. “Few minutes after power was restored, we were about to leave the shop when we heard people shouting, ‘fire! fire!’ Before we knew it, it spread to other parts of the building as if kerosene was added to it.” The charred remains of the little baby were later taken to a mortuary. An official of the state Fire Service, Mr. Anthony Osadolor, said that men of the command were never contacted by residents of the building on the incident. “From the record I have here, there were fire incidents reported at Akpakpava and Sapele roads. But I can't confirm that someone died in the incident because they did not allow us to alight from our truck; they said we came late. It maybe that there were other fire occurrences at the same time they called. It is not our fault that we did not get there on time,” he stated.

was on Friday afternoon towed to the Oluyole Police Station at the Mobil Petroleum Station in the Ibadan South West Local government area of the state capital. When contacted, the acting Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu (DSP), told our correspondent that he was told that an accident which involved an Okada rider occurred at Majerita/ Adeoyo Hospital Road area on the night of January 1st, but that he was unaware of the car crash. He asked our reporter to call him back in another forty minutes for proper confirmation. But as at the time of filing this report, his mobile number could not be reached.

s the battle between civil servants in Benue State and Governor Gabriel Suswam over non-payment of a backlog of their four to five months salaries assumes a worrisome dimension, beneficiaries of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in the state are also groaning over the two to three months arrears owed them. At least 10,000 unemployed youths across the 23 local government areas of the state have been engaged in the programme in different units with the aim of reducing the high rate of unemployment as well as alleviate the suffering being faced due to unemployment. While other state governors had invested their share of the Sure-P funds in development projects, Benue committed the funds to train and create employment for unemployed people with those on Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) collecting a monthly stipend of N20, 000 while nurses, teachers and athletes are receiving N15, 000 and N10, 000 respectively. But some aggrieved beneficiaries who spoke exclusively to Saturday Telegraph in Makurdi, the state capital, yesterday but preferred to be anonymous, expressed bitterness over the seeming collapse of the programme in the state citing insensitivity of government to their welfare. While some are claiming arrears of two months being owed them, others said they were owed three months, a development that made them not to celebrate both

the Christmas and New Year. “As I speak with you, I have not received my Sure-P allowances for October and November, in fact it’s like government is carrying out selective payment because others are being owed only the December allowances,” said one of the beneficiaries attached to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. They said the non-payment has negatively affected their homes, in addition to their inability to pay the school fees of their children. While tracing what they described as the accumulated months of unpaid allowances to the possible global economic recession, the Sure-P beneficiaries appealed to Suswam to expedite action towards the payment of their outstanding salaries to better their lives before he leaves office in the remaining four months. The programme has a short life span, as it has been scheduled to terminate in the life of the present administration in the state.

Suswan

Chibok schoolgirls: U.S., Nigeria ties falter CONTINUED from PAGE 1

The New York Times said: “Although the United States reached an agreement with Nigeria last spring to share some intelligence, American officials did not include raw intelligence data because they believed that Boko Haram has infiltrated the Nigerian security services. Soon after the Islamist group, Boko Haram, kidnapped nearly 300 teenage girls in Nigeria in April, the United States sent surveillance drones and about 30 intelligence and security experts to help the Nigerian military try to rescue them. “Gen. David M. Rodriguez, the top general for American missions in Africa, rushed from his headquarters here to help the commanders in the crisis. “Seven months later, the drone flights have dwindled, many of the advisers have gone home and not one of the kidnapped girls has been found. Many are believed to have been married off to Boko Haram fighters, who in the past six months have seized hundreds more civilians, including children, planted bombs in Nigerian cities and captured entire towns. “Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States has accused

the Obama administration of failing to support the fight against Boko Haram, prompting the State Department to fire back with condemnations of the Nigerian military’s dismal human rights record. The State Department’s former top diplomat for Africa, Johnnie Carson, said in an interview, that: “Tensions in the U.SNigeria relationship are probably at their highest level in the past decade. There is a high degree of frustration on both sides. But this frustration should not be allowed to spin out of control.” In Stuttgart, the New York Times reported that an officials at the headquarters of the U.S Africa Command had offered

President Jonathan

their own bleak assessment of a corruption-plagued, poorly equipped Nigerian military that is “in tatters” as it confronts an enemy that now controls about 20 per cent of the country. “Ounce for ounce, Boko Haram is equal to if not better than the Nigerian military,” said one American official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational reports. The lack of cooperation was magnified when Maj. Gen. James B. Linder, the head of American Special Operations forces in Africa, visited Nigeria in late October, but was barred from visiting the base where American trainers were instructing the new Nigerian Army battalion created to help fight Boko Haram. “General Linder was left waiting at the gate in what some American officials viewed as another dig at the Pentagon. Africa Command officials insisted it was a “coordination issue that was remedied with a meeting later in the day. “We continue to engage with Nigeria on a broad range of training, equipping, and information-sharing projects across all of the military services,” Benjamin Benson, an Africa Command spokesman, said in an email to the New York Times.

Voices

SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015

Have you thought of writing a will? I am still very young

No, because I believe I am still young. I believe that if God says I will die now, I don’t think my children will have any problem because there are just two of them. Everything I have will automatically go to them. – Mrs. Ebosele, nurse

Yes, because of our society

Yes, it is because of the African setting, where extended family members may intrude on the nuclear family’s property after the owner is no more. As such to put things in order, you just have to have a will. –Bernard Siwoku, agriconsultant

Because I am not sure of tomorrow Yes, because I am not too sure of tomorrow. I need to take care of my immediate family, though I don’t pray for death now. I need to take care of my wife, children and immediate relations. That was primarily what inspired me to think in that direction. – Simon Peter, businessman

Not necessary for monogamists No, it depends on your believe in God, especially your religious affinity. If you are a man with one wife, there should be no need for a will. Every other family member has their homes. As long as you have kids, and you train them to a particular position and they know what to do, it is not a big deal.

Our society warrants writing a will Yes, because of the society we are in. We don’t know when we will die, and we cannot predict what will happen. People may want to take over your property when you are no longer there. If you have willed it to somebody of interest, especially your children, it will save them that embarrassment in your absence. – Igwubor Jonathan, lawyer

It's not in our culture to write a will

It is good to write one For me, I am in support of writing a will early especially where the man is married to more than one wife. If the will is not properly done and the property shared among the wives and children, it will create problems. – Abioye Sarah, businesswoman

Am in support of writing one What causes disputes among family members and their relations is when the head of the family dies without leaving a will especially when he dies very early. So I will say writing a will before time is the best. – Odigwe Ndubuisi, trader

– Kenneth Rafua, politician

No, because it is not in our culture to write a will. As far as I had all my children for one man, I don’t think there is any need for a will. – Mrs. Maris Isokpaa, businesswoman

It saves the family members from problems It's a nice idea as it will help save every member of the family from trouble which might arise when the hero is no more. It will be good for everyone to adhere strictly to writing a will since there is a witness who can attest to the will and that is a lawyer. –Balogun Olagunji, lecturer

compiled by

UDUH PEACE CHIAZOR, AYILARA DAYO and john edu

It's something I need to do soon Really, I have the thought since I got married few years ago but I have not done that. But I think the time to do that is here. So I am going to make amendment and meet my lawyer soon. – Shola Joel,engineer

It's something every parent ought to do It is something all parents ought to do. As we keep gathering the property and material things we should try and write a will to keep our children in safer hands after our demise. As for me, I have done mine and still make little changes every year. – Funmilayo Ayilara, trader

I have never thought of it To be candid, I have not and I have not even thought of it for once because I believe am not there yet. I have not gotten all the necessary property to will to my children and wife.

– Adam Akewusola, businesswoman

Yes, to avoid family squabbles Yes, I will to avoid family members fighting over what they did not work for. And, also where the father tries to avoid a situation where the child he delights in will not miss out from the wealth when the father is no more. – Olalere Oladele, engineer

It has positive, negative side to it Writing a will has both good and bad side. It is good because you will help to save a lot of people from the trouble of fighting over your wealth. Then it is a bad thing because it will make it look like you are preparing to yield to the call of nature even when you are not prepared and ready for it. – Ayaegbu Femi, businessman

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

SATURDAY

WeekendDelight 13

C o n v e r s at i o n

The Arts The pictorial and natural at Enugu Art Fair p.18

TV & Radio

Living among the Squatterz p.23

’KEEM

BELLO-OSAGIE

Love&Living ‘I hid behind the bedroom door so his wife won’t see me’ p.35

Hospitality

Tinapa Lakeside Hotel: Renewing promise with bold makeover p.39

As a student, I got Fela to perform at King’s College Entrepreneur and boardroom guru, Hakeem Bello-Osagie has long been enamoured of the Kutis, an admiration rooted in his love for music. LANRE ODUKOYA captures a rare moment with two greats, Bello-Osagie and Femi Kuti where the former recounted an interesting story about his secondary school years.

s a boardroom strategist, ‘Keem Bello-Osagie’s reputation precedes him; he’d proven that at United Bank for Africa for the period he held sway as chairman. Astute, cerebral and genteel, he had further endeared himself to many when he quietly strolled into Forbes’ list as the 40th richest man in Africa. But to say that this man with strong presence of mind, on figures particularly, have an unsung fetish for music is humbling enough. So he flung open the doors of his palatial Lagos home to afrobeat exponent, Femi Kuti (for whom he has a remarkable admiration), the Chocolate City records president, Audu Maikori and a few others recently. The glitz and class the courtyard of his home ooze leave nothing more to desire. Class starts and ends here, you would readily conclude. His glowingly decorated living room has exquisite paintings, sculptures and nice miniature pieces of arts to covet. And just before the guests got seated, the unassuming man of means and Harvard Business School alumnus who currently chairs the Nigerian arm of UAE telecom provider, Etisalat sauntered in. Nobly, he apologised for joining the meeting just a few minutes behind schedule. And the hobnob began in earnest. “It is my honour to welcome you to my house,” he stated CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

“We should listen very much to the words of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti, I think that in their music they speak very much of a Nigeria we should have.”

B e ll o - O s a g i e

Weekend Delight

| Conversation

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

‘It shouldn’t be surpriszing there’s a large sum of hugely successful King’s College alumni’ “He (Fela) insisted that a band from the school including me should come to the stage and play and that he was going to back us. We played, I sang some songs with his backing and I want to assure you that to all the Queens’ College girls on that occasion, I was a hero.”

Man of style... Bello-Osagie CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 3

warmly. “We are celebrating two things today: on one hand we’re celebrating a young group of men at the Chocolate City who I believe have done a remarkable job in the promotion of music in our country and have become role models in many senses outside the conventional industries like law, engineering and medicine. It was my excitement about what they were doing that I accepted to be the chairman of the company notwithstanding my wife’s

.... with Emir of Kano

view that it’s not good for my brand. I also want to celebrate Femi Kuti because in my view, he is Nigeria if not Africa’s greatest musician and it’s a very big honour for me that he came to this house. I was delighted when I heard that Chocolate City was successful in securing him as one the company should manage. Before going further, I would just like to take you through my own memory lane and explain a bit about my passion. “My passion for music started when I

was 11 years old and when I was 12, I was in Form 2 at Kings’ College, Lagos and my ambition was to be a pop star. And the senior boys set up a pop group and I still remember one name: ‘The Rhythm of Five’. I set up a pop group with friends of mine and I was the vocalist of the group and our group was called the ‘King’s College Hotspot’. I regarded myself as a very hotspot in secondary school. I was also elected Head of the Students’ Council and my job was to organise a school dance, here Hotspot must play and in addition, I must invite someone else from outside to perform. So, we decided to show how effective we were that we could get Fela Anikulapo Kuti. We didn’t know as schoolboys how we were going to get Fela but we later found out through my father, Professor Bello-Osagie who was once a boss to Fela’s younger brother, Doctor Beko Ransome-Kuti and he also knew his older brother, Olikoye who was a professor of medicine at the University of Lagos. Armed with these connections, I went to negotiate with Fela to play in our school. He gave us a discount, but still as school boys, what we were charged was such that we had to choose between either eating in school that evening or watch Fela perform. So, we chose Fela and we didn’t eat that evening. I’m delighted to tell you that he came to the school, he played and it was the most glorious dance we ever had. And in the middle of the occasion, he insisted that a band from the school including me should come to the stage and play and that he was going to back us. We played, I sang some songs with his backing and I want to assure you that to all

... with Femi and Yeni Kuti

the Queens’ College girls on that occasion, I was a hero.” Understandably, when he became the chairman of UBA, part of his desire to give back to the music society as Fela had encouraged them was to give back to young Nigerian artistes to become pop stars that people like him were unable to do. “That was why at a function of UBA, I invited Femi Kuti to come and play to the management. So, having Femi to work with as a second generation of the Kutis and Bello-Osagies with Chocolote City makes me very delighted,” he remarked. He believes that with globalisation, ambitions should as well be global and looks forward to seeing a Nigerian win the Grammy Award. In an exclusive chat with this reporter, he stressed what spurred his interest in music: “I’ve always enjoyed music as a child. I think I see music as something uplifting, relaxing and enjoyable. To some degree, my father very much liked music and in secondary I joined a band myself. For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed music. So to now be in a business that can encourage, manage and promote Nigerian artistes gives me great joy. And I think that young Nigerians are responding splendidly to the challenges of putting Nigerian music on the world stage. For young people, I see music as a way of utilising their tremendous talents and I think the music industry, if well developed in Nigeria just as it’s developed like the movie, sports and the art and culture industries, it can provide employment for Nigerians because we’re so talented in these areas and this can provided sustenance for Nigerians economically.” How did his dad, an academic - a professor for that matter - take his plunge into music at the time when all that mattered to him was academic excellence? “He was never afraid that I might get anything wrong. He very much encouraged what I was doing. And he was very proud about it and was not worried at all. His attitude was whatever you want to be, as long as you’re very good at it, do it.” On the impressive list of hugely successful Kings’ College alumni, he said: “I will just say that the school had the best in Nigeria. Obviously, it has a tradition which it continuously reaffirms of excellence, merit and you’re educated in the school to believe that whatever it is you do, you do to the very best of your ability. So, it should never come to you as surprise that there is a large sum of King’s College boys who are exceptionally successful.” Austere times are looming and preventive measures are solicited from those in the know, and to this end, Bello-Osagie gave his view: “I think we should listen very much to the words of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti, I think that in their music they speak very much of a Nigeria we should have, the yearnings of the Nigerian people and put music to the cries of Nigerian people for a better life, electricity, water, healthcare, quality educational system and so on. I think that if any government can respond to what they say in their songs, we would have a better tomorrow.” He has stayed trim, an unusual feature among the rich and privileged. To that, he said: “Well, I think staying fit is a matter of good luck sometimes, good health and another part of it is trying to exercise regularly and paying good attention to diet and not worrying too much.”

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

2015

Trends and colours

Angela Davies

lobally, fashion trends are inspired by the four major fashion weeks, which holds in the fashion capitals of the world namely New York, London, Milan and Paris. A fashion week is an industry event, which last approximately one week. It allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows so that buyers and the media can take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events allow the industry know what is “in” and what is “out” for the season. These fashion weeks display many gorgeous, sexy, weird outfits as well as colours to look out for around the world. Still, designers create outfits in styles that will be appropriate for fashionable people especially women, of course, taking a cue from these shows, red carpet events as well as personal instinct. In this regard, what are the trends and colours that will rock the fashion scene this year in grand style? Temitope Alade, creative director, Ibile Vogue - “In forecasting the trends and colours for 2015, it is essential to look into the past and the present trends. This year, the Ankara print will get a more audacious voice, come in vibrant colours and with more energy. I also feel that heavily embellished ankara pants will be a big bang too. Generally, the ankara print will speak a louder voice this year globally. The beret will make a big come back as well. There will be a lot of bohemian evening wears. This year is about loose dramatic and gorgeous dresses, setting aside the strict and sharp cuts. Also cropped jackets will rock the fashion scenes. When it comes to trends for footwear, the gladiator sandals and platform shoes will get more attention.” Speaking further, she said, “And when it comes to colours, yellow will most likely rule. Basically, fashionistas will block bold and bright colours and fashion trends will generally be bolder and more vibrant.” In conclusion, Alade said, “This forecast is based on linking the existing trends, present market trends and the needs of the buyers. Designers must constantly inject something fresh into their designs in order not to bore the buyers. As the market is growing, the buyers’ needs are changing as well. There is a desire for something new and different so designers must be creative enough to keep the buyers looking forward to buy new fashion items. This way we can also remain in business. It is about meeting the buyer’s needs.” Doris Alabi, chief executive officer, Alabi Couture - “This year, the fashion scene will see a lot of loose maxi like clothes, flowing gowns and not too hugging clothes. Trendy women will be dressing more complete from head-to-toe and there will be a lot of mixing and matching of bold colours. For instance, a lady could wear a green outfit, wear red shoes and carry a blue handbag. Colours are coming to stay this year.” “The bold colours to look out for are orange, green, royal blue and pink. Red has had its season but it’s still going to be in the background. The bolder the colours, the better. The trend is going to be about colours everywhere.” She also said that hats and fascinators will make waves this year. “Also, the fashion scene will witness hats and fascinators in different colours and styles. Hats such as

the bowler and fedora hats and probably berets will take centre stage.” And when it comes to the ankara print, Alabi said, “Designers will churn out more exquisite ankara evening wear styles for the red carpet and special events. There will also be combination of ankara prints with sheer lace, sequins and other embellishments to give it some western touch. The fashion scene will see a lot of exotic ankara blazers, jumpsuits, pants and flare skirts this year. These forecasts are based on fashion weeks as well as what buyer’s will need.” Margaret Adewunmi, chief executive officer, Lillies Trendy Fashion Home - “I think colours that will trend this year are subtle colours like peach, coral, ivory and cool blue. But orange is gradually making its way too. People are tired of red and royal blue. At least most of the jobs that we did December 2014 were more of subtle colours like ivory and peach. This year, when it comes to traditional attires, women will not wear for instance, a yellow lace blouse and match it with royal blue wrappers. It will just be one colour. Women would wear for example; a turquoise blue lace blouse paired with turquoise blue wrapper and then harmonise with a silver scarf to give it a little contrast.” She added that the jumpsuit is going nowhere. “There will be more of jumpsuits and tulle skirts as well. The fashion scene will see tulle skirts made with ankara, net, organza and satin in different lengths and styles. In fact, we are going to see more of the mullet tulle skirt styles. Also, there will be loose outfits but it would be just for casual wears for informal events.” Adewunmi concluded by saying that, “These forecasts are based on what I feel, what I have seen so far and what I worked with towards the end of 2014.” Mona Okoroalum, chief executive officer, Sugga Collections - “Colours for the year will be bright colours like orange and pink. In terms of trends, we will see strips in different styles and there will be bold colour combinations. Floral and crop top w i l l also take centre stage. The thigh high slits too will rock this year. I believe ladies would go for more glamorous looks. There will also be gorgeous mixture of our African fabrics with a lot of lace chiffon. Well, my prediction is based on everyday looks, events and the red carpets.” Gboguren Elvis, CEO, 3G Stitches Couture “For colours, bright colours like orange, yellow, pink and maybe royal blue will rock. There is going to be lots of classy trends such as the jumpsuit, crop top, floral print, bohemian evening wears as well as other trends since fashion evolves. But for sure, the African print will trend in a more classy way because designers will go all out to give it more international recognition.”

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Accessories to live for

Timeless accessories for every woman this year Accessories are an integral part of every woman’s dressing. ANGELA DAVIES highlights some of the essential and timeless accessories every woman should possess in her wardrobe this year.

his year, no woman’s wardrobe would be complete without certain essential and timeless accessories to harmonise her outfit either during the day or at night. These accessories would always add panache to your outfit and overall look. So here are the essential, timeless and versatile pieces that is a must have for every woman that will go from elegant to edgy. Black Pumps – Classic black shoes come in different styles and heights. They could be worn during the day and at night paired with just any kind of outfit without the question of which shoe goes with which dress confusion. So, own a pair of black pumps for an ultra sexy look. Statement Neckpiece – Owning a versatile neckpiece could make all the difference to your outfit. It could transform a dull outfit into something chic and amazing. However, choose a colour that would match and complement many of your outfits. Metal Watch – You should invest and have a good metal watch in silver, gold or a combination of both to add that glamorous touch to your outfit. These timeless trend watches complement both western and ethnic attires. Pearls: Pearls make every woman look classy whether you are wearing a classic set of pearl earrings and necklace, long neckpiece in glossy or matte finish or even faux pearl set. Whatever style you choose to wear pearls, you will always stand out. Diamond studs: Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Having a pair of classy looking diamond stud earrings should do the trick for those sit-down dinners and other

formal events. Black Clutch: A cute black clutch can be paired with almost any style and colour of outfit with panache. You should make your pick from a cute box clutch which is the trend or leather, suede, skin and other materials as you desire. Belts – Belts are not only chic and trendy. They are also versatile. You have the choice of stocking your wardrobe from a wide range of options such as wide, thin, colourful or printed, depending on your personal style and occasion. Gold dangle earrings: Have a pair of gold dangle earrings that could be worn with elegant evening gown. Choose gold dangle earrings in different styles to make you look elegant. Metallic evening shoes: You should have a pair of metallic high heels in silver or gold for those evening special events. If it has some sparkle, the better. Cocktail rings – Invest in assorted cocktail rings that would blend well with both casual and formal wears. Sunglasses- There are many styles of sunglasses that suits different facial structure to choose from. Remember, sunglasses possess both fashion and functional purpose. Scarves – Scarves can be worn in different creative ways that would stand you out. So, select from plain, pattern or even print and you would make a compelling statement. Flats: Comfortable and chic flats shoes and sandals in varied colours will go well with jeans, dresses, skirts as well as traditional outfits. Ensure you have more than one colour in your wardrobe. So, with these basic yet overlooked pieces in your wardrobe this year, you would never have a dull fashion moment.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

MY STYLE

A blend of formal and informal If red carpet presenter and compere Elma Godwin could help it, she would rather stick to leggings and tops which give her immense comfort. But her job which keeps her in the limelight, entails she turns out in classy ensembles, writes ANGELA DAVIES. How would you define your style? I would say simple but comfortable. I love to be comfortable in whatever I choose to wear. What determines the kind of outfits you wear? It depends on the event I am going to. Apart from events, I could wear anything I want because I am always going to look beautiful. What kind of outfits take up the most space in your wardrobe? I would say skater dresses, pencil skirts, midi dresses and basically body hugging outfits. My everyday style is leggings and top, although I don’t wear it to events. Clothing item you will never be caught wearing I will never be caught wearing one shoulder dress because I would feel like one breast is comfortable while the other isn't. This is because I have big breasts. Apart from that, I could wear anything. Do you have a favourite designer? My favourite designers are Ejiro Amos-Tafari and Lanre Da Silva. Ejiro Amos-Tafari has given me the shape I don’t have and Lanre Da Silva has made me the most comfortable in her outfits. Whenever I wear both of their outfits, I get more compliments than any other time.

Godwin

How do you like your hair? I love carrying my natural hair which I style in different ways. And sometimes I just wear a ponytail when I feel like. The last time I wore weave-on was in 2010. How do you like your make-up? If I am doing my make-up myself, I literally just want to have nice eye brows. I don’t really need eye shadows but eye liner, mascara if I don’t have lashes, lipstick and a little foundation. Best colour It will be lavender but when it comes to make-up on my lips, it will be purple because it’s close to lavender. Can you still recall the most expensive fashion item you ever bought? Probably my Christian Louboutin shoes which was bought for me by my father. If you were a fashion piece, what will you want to be? I think I would be a dress because everybody has to wear a dress. I am an attention seeker so being a dress, I will be very attention seeking.

Signature perfume It has to be Roberto Cavalli’s 2013 edition.

Do you love shoes? I am a shoe freak. I have more shoes than clothing. I love high heels, nice sandals and slippers but I don’t wear platform heels or covered shoes.

Fashion accessory you cannot do without I hardly wear jewellery. I am so simple there is nothing I can’t really do without.

Why wear ankle bracelet? It was a birthday present two years ago from a friend and for no reason, it just has not washed off so I have been enjoying it.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

Red strapless evening gown

he fashion showdown this week is between singer and rapper, Modupe-Oreoluwa Oyeyemi Ola popularly known as Mo’Cheddah and presenter and content developer, Oreka Godis. Both ladies rocked similar red strapless evening gown to the Future Africa Awards which took place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos on Sunday, December 7, 2014. Mo’Cheddah rocked a red strapless evening gown with slit at the back from the House of Nwocha to the event. The upper part of the gown was garlanded with lovely red lace to give the outfit some touch of sophistication. She styled her evening look with silver drop earrings, white box clutch and lovely pair of red strappy high heel shoes.

Leaving both wrists bare, she completed her look spotting side part locks, make-up that accentuated her eyes, well shaped brow and red pout. On her part, Godis wore a red strapless floor length gown. The three piece fish tail evening gown featured a fitted ruffled upper bodice corset that accentuated her slim figure. She coordinated her look with clutch and pair of hair heel shoes. Then, she matched her evening look with small gold hoop earrings, straw curl hairstyle, lovely done make-up that highlighted her smokey eyes, brows as well as red pout. Although, both ladies wore similar red strapless evening gown, however, who do you think rocked it better? Is it singer and rapper, Mo’Cheddah or presenter, Godis?

Mo'Cheeddah

Godis

Facts Kehinde Fehintolu Ejiogu creative director of Valerie David came into the fashion industry about six years ago. The graduate of agronomy, who likes to constantly improve herself, took short courses at the London School of Fashion and also learnt from renowned designer, Yemi Oshikoya of Kosibah Creations.

During the 18th Century, milliners took the hat-making art out of the home and established the millinery profession.

The cardigan was originally made to be a military jacket made of knitted wool.

During the early 20th Century, Brogues were outdoor shoes specifically for walking on wet grounds as the perforations helped dry the shoes by letting the water drain off. But today most perforations are just decorative.

SATURDAY

The Arts SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015

The pictorial and natural at Enugu Art Fair

Reflection with

Tim Akinleye 08098668480

Uche Nnadozie

timorousray@gmail.com

Enemies of the State (2) Citizens who revel in Defying our laws and decent ways of life, Driving against traffic And jumping patient queues Puzzling younger ones without a clue. Law enforcement officials who, At the slightest provocation, Brutalise unarmed civilians, And ignore a distress call For lack of fuel in the patrol van.

It's Time for Break by Adeyemi Ramon Omojola

The subjects, contents and visual language of the exhibits are perceptual, vigorously abstract, quite figurative and strongly naturalistic

Ukpera’s “Untitled” – a textile of the tie and dye rendition and Dolapo Fawale’s “Togetherness” of candle wax technique, all reminiscent of Paul Igboanugo’s creative style. In “Victory” a rounded im- Victory by Richard Ahokhai

age, Richard Ahonkhai probably adds to the knowledge of carving methodology in his own creative modesty. The “Victory” is the “V” shape of the fingers executed on the aesthetically luxuriant ebony wood. His counterpart, Francis Ejiofor in “Egwu Ozo” reveals an artistic and conscious manipulation of metal forms to achieve rounded images with aesthetic equitability. “Egwu Ozo” depicts figurines of titled men in a dancing form in royal pageantry executed with metal found objects. Also in this visual league is Essien Akanimoh’s “Reunion”, an art piece with authoritative sculptural statement. 32 artists participated with 41 works of art displayed at the Enugu Art fair. Of course, this show was possible because of the clarion call by the director-general of NGA, Abdullahi Muku, and his insistence that NGA artists must “keep their brushes active in painting and their chisels active in creating images of three-dimensionality.”

Norrd Phenomenon for Terra Kulture Art Brief

he Enugu Art Fair, the first in the South-East zone but third in the series, is a sequel to the Kaduna show initiated by the National Gallery of Art to showcase the works of its in-house professional artists in 2013. The first and second editions took place in Kaduna in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The Enugu exhibition opened at the NGA Temple Street office, GRA, on Friday, December 12-Tuesday, December 16, 2014. It featured a collection of artistic products which include paintings, prints, photographs, mix media, sculpture, textile and a display of visual products of high formalism, produced by art professionals with an appealing beauty of art neophytes. The subjects, contents and visual language of the exhibits are perceptual, vigorously abstract, quite figurative and strongly naturalistic. The paintings are natural, pictorial and vividly representational. Adeyemi Omolaja’s “It's Time for Break” and Obiora Anamaleze’s “Ka Anyina” quickly appeal to one. Omolaja’s work depicts a group of chicken feeding on a bowl of cereal at dawn reminding one of not only the painstaking rendition of realism but the impressionist and photo-finish tendencies that accompanied the work just as Anamaleze’s “Ki Anyina” created in radiant perches of red, orange with white as highlights. The vivid understanding of children’s anatomy is not in question because the work pictorially reveals a boy taking his younger sister by the hand and leading her home. The photographs of the artist, Chukwuemeka Okenwa, provide the viewers with conceptual relevance and aesthetic comfort. Of particular importance is his work, “Igwebuike” which is a photograph of soldier ants working together for their survival. This is probably why the artist is the man who stops to “watch red ants in their cheerful handshakes,” a scene which would ordinarily not attract the attention of many. Izuu Muoneme’s “Harmonius Blossom” - a mix media whose forms are arranged with found objects in a vegetative/flora appeals, provides the viewers with pleasant visual luxury of art forms. Other works worthy of mention for their creative and artistic flavors include Vera Nwokokoh’s “Reconciliation” – a print with etching and woodcut technical combination, Victoria

Norrd Phenomenon, an exhibition of works by Nissi Ogulu opens tomorrow at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. The exhibition will run till Friday January 9. The works displayed are that of an artist who one would consider, an old soul. Be it a painting of a "Massai Warrior from East Africa" or an abstract piece which serves as a reflection of the current times, one thing is certain. Norrd has the look of art which can be termed contemporary, but yet nostalgic in the same space.

“There is never a defined demographic in mind during the creative process of my work, everyone is welcome to have a look,” she said. Ogulu is a 20-year-old second year student of mechanical engineering at the University of Warwick, UK. Her grandfather is a veteran broadcaster and music critic, Benson Idonijie, and her older brother is the popular musician, Burna Boy. In addition to art, Nissi pays several musical instruments and sings afro jazz, creativity does indeed run in her genes.

A Commander-in-Chief, Who goes on a dancing spree, Ignoring burning roofs in Chibok, Waving goodbye to disappearing girls As territories yield to Boko Haram onslaughts. Agents of darkness, Who kill our factories, And sell light to us in noisy boxes! Who lay our refineries in the morgue, And drill rigs in our pockets for fuel. Faceless enemies of the State, Who fought our rail system To a standstill. And flood our fragile roads With their overburdened trucks. Ferrying away our collective wealth. Enemies of the State who, Yield their hearts as headquarters of evil. And divide our fragile unity Brewing religion as opium, And sedate our souls with overdose. Faceless enemies of Nigeria, Who corner elders’ pension funds, And buy exotic real estates overs, While many sleep under bridges, Funding funerals of aged on pension queues. Enemies of State who nurture, Mediocrity also known as Nigerian Factor, Who preach unholy gospel Of ‘nothing works in Nigeria’ But ensures the chaos works for them. Enemies of Nigeria who sabi no God, But self-appointed advocates of God, Who deny us merit and service That may stem from same faith Twin blessings from our churches and mosques All rights reserved © Copyright Tim 2014

SATURDAY

Uti Nwachukwu 'If it was up to Nigerians, Tayo would win BBA 9'

Artistes to watch out for in 2015

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ShowBiz SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015

My feud with Wizkid was resolved by some rich men David Adedeji Adeleke a.k.a Davido has enjoyed a greatly rewarding year. This, however, might be the reason he is upping the ante for 2015 with a massive album launch. Recently, he embraced his arch-rival, Ayodeji Balogun otherwise known as Wizkid, at the just concluded Headies Awards, which stirred a lot of discussion among showbiz buffs. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, the superstar singer shares his plans for 2015, resolved face-off with Wizkid, and his many awards. Excerpts: How has 2014 been for you, career wise? I’ll summarise my year as very great and I thank God for the blessings and the support from my fans. I started the year with a fresh hit ‘Skelewu’. So, I had a lot to prove because that was like my first international hit. I had gone on tour and done many things. To me, 2014 has been wonderful. Many believe that the song Aye was phenomenal. Do you agree with this thinking? The response to the song ‘Aye’ has been amazing, shout out to T – Spize, who produced the song. The song was actually meant to be a sound track for a movie, but I won’t disclose the movie since it didn’t happen. So, we decided to just keep the record, along the line, we decided to drop it and see how it will grow. I remembered I was in South Africa when the song dropped on February 7, and in just three days, it was everywhere. Aye is my fastest grown song thus far. What about awards, which swarmed your kitty this year? I don’t want to discredit any award show. I got 23 this year but the one I really wanted was the BET. I thank God that I got it. How did you feel not winning in any of the five categories you were nominated for in the Channel O Awards? Everybody knew that it was planned. I even knew that before the award show, but I just had to perform for my boy ‘Lil Kesh’. Truly, I knew that I wasn’t going to win. Somebody told me that they’ve gone funny and changed the names, but it’s all good, I’m still cool with them. I have Channel O Awards that I have won before. So, they are trying to say that MTV and BET with 17 million views compared to 600,000 for Channel O are wrong. You do the arithmetic. You appear to have sheathed the sword with Wizkid after a prolonged feud. How was that achieved? It’s all good now. Some rich men brought us together and helped us to finally resolve our differences. This is official; no more drama. Who are these rich men? Some very powerful men, I can’t say their names. It was like a round table meeting and it’s all good now.

Should your fans watch out for a possible collaboration soon? Well, maybe. Nothing is impossible. What stage are you in your forthcoming album? I’m almost done with my album. I don’t have a title for it yet, we are still joggling the names but it’s going to be out in March, 2015. It is going to be a big album launch. The album has 20 songs. I collaborated with two American artistes, but I can’t say their names yet. But in Nigeria, I have artistes like Wande Coal, Olamide, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage and Uhuru. Five of the songs in the album will be released; then the remaining 15 will be fresh, new and unreleased materials. I’m dropping a new song in January 2015 titled ‘The Sound’. How do you plan to reward loyal fans and friends? I was actually planning to do a big concert this Christmas but on a second thought, I felt I should push the concert to the album launch in March and do something almost free. It won’t also be completely free because all the proceeds from the show will go to charity. Regular tickets will just be N1, 000 while the VIP will be N3, 000. Where do you plan to stage the album? You know I’m an Island boy, and I haven’t really done something for my fans on the Mainland and the love there is just enormous. So, that’s why we plan to do it in the Mainland. Which albums are your favourites in 2014 apart from yours? I like M.I’s album. I also like Wizkid and Olamide’s album. But the ones I’ve really listened to and liked is that of Wizkid and M.I. At least I have four songs each that I love on the albums. Do you have a crush on any entertainer? In Nigeria I don’t have but if I look outside, it’s got to be Nicki Minaj. What I simply look out for in a lady is brains. A lady that can advise me, a lady that I can talk to when I’m angry and I’ll surely know if she’s jonzing me’.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Celebs photoshoot for Christmas

ere’s a collage of some alluring photos our showbiz celebrities had for Christmas. While some processed greeting cards from theirs, others simply adorned their social media walls with eye-popping photos either to celebrate or as some sort of status symbol.

9ice and family

PSquare

Rukky Sanda

Gloria Ibru debuts with Sugar Mama

E-BRIEFS

fter well over two decades of being a musical act and by popular demand (well, so it's said), Gloria Ibru has eventually released her debut single, Sugar Mama. The song which admonishes listeners to enjoy life and forget their sorrow is a blend of highlife, afrobeat, calypso, jazz, among other genres. At the media unveiling of the song on Wednesday, December 24, Ibru, said Sugar Mama produced by Wale Oni is not about sex, romance or a relationship between an older woman and a young man, but about people forgetting their sorrows and enjoying life. The first track from the album due for release later this year when it eventually drops will also feature another track produced by Cobhams Asuquo. The song, Sugar Mama, also features up and coming artiste, O’ Franklin, while the visual of the single which is expected to hit the airwaves soon was directed by One Soul. To make the release of her first

From Silverbird, a new pageant Mother Daughter Nigeria debuts

rior to this mesmeric adventure from Silverbird Productions were top quality events among which are the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant established in 1986; now in its twenty-eight year and Mr. Nigeria World pageant which has in a short period become hugely successful. Recently, the media brand in a speech through its vice president, Guy Murray-Bruce unveiled not just another pageant, but something far more special than that when he boasted; “We are unveiling to you not just another pageant, but something far more special than that. We are unveiling a commitment from us to the public towards maintaining and strengthening family bonds. We recognise that we are at a crucial period as a nation where keeping close family ties have never been more important, and we intend to celebrate that bond as much as possible.” Participants are expected to purchase forms and shortlisted candidates will be in camp for seven days.

Empress Njamah

While in the camp, they will be engaged in a series of activities involving each mother and daughter such as cooking competitions, fashion shows, game night, talent hunt and others. Winners will emerge from each challenge and the points will be added to their grand finale performance holding at the Eko Hotels & Suites early this year. The Mother Daughter Pageant Nigeria is conceptualised to foster, showcase and celebrate the bonds that tie families together. The MDPN is the first of its kind in West Africa; and it is aimed at celebrating the love and bond shared between mother and their children. The organisers say they appreciate the need for propriety in this peculiar pageant and so would not be doing any bikini activity while the event lasts. The theme for this maiden edition is "Timeless Grace" and according to Murray-Bruce, “this is our way of focusing on how homely, family qualities are passed down from mother to child.”

SOLUTIONS TO CROSSWORD PUZZLE C

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ACROSS 1. COLOMBO 5. ZOO 7. SUE 8. MAT 9. NEO

10. GLUE 11. REEL 12. OB 16. EM 17. AXLE

22. BOO 23. IRE 24. OIL 25. OUT 26. EMINENT

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DOWN 1. COMOROS 2. LATHER 3. MINT 4. OSOGBO

5. ZEBU 6. OFT 13. PREVENT 14. FEEBLE

15. EXPIRE 19. BLOT 20. GONI 21. OMO

commercial single worthwhile, an elaborate event was put together and guests were thrilled with the performance of the musical piece by Gloria and her band. While Niger Fm presenter, Ushbabe, loosened the audience with a few jokes, the socialite and velvet-voiced singer added spice to the day with a wonderful performance.

Pasuma out with Me, Myself & I

uji music exponent, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma has enthralled his fans again with yet another riveting album dubbed, Me, Myself & I. Produced and marketed by Sarolaj Music and Films International, the 10-track album. Though the famous musician is yet to release any video from any of the tracks, the audio content is a further testament to Pasuma’s proficiency in the art. The album is coming just after Pasuma wowed many with his hilarious outing in a musi-comedy dubbed Fuji vs Theatre (featuring the crème of Yoruba movie industry and his protégé, Taiye Currency) and the love song he had with Tiwa Savage. And this is his 34th album.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

'If it was up to Nigerians, Tayo would win BBA 9' Uti Nwachukwu is the winner of Big Brother Africa (BBA) Season 5. His sudden appearance at the last BBA Hotshot electrified the house to the delight of many. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, the showman speaks about that cameo, romance and what he did with his $200,000 BBA prize money. Excerpts: Many people were surprised at your sudden appearance at the last Big Brother Africa (BBA). What could have prompted that? Well, as a BBA alumnus, you could be called upon anytime for an assignment, and you can’t say no to such task. So, when I was called, I asked what it was about and I was made to understand that BBA actually wanted me to help in carrying out a prank on the housemates. I confirmed my availability and was asked to return to the house to cause commotion; just to stir up the dramas a bit because the housemates were playing too safe. They were all acting too nice because they were all conscious about Africa. ‘Oh, how will Africa perceive me? I’ve got to be perfect’, were some of their thinking. So, all the fun elements were thrown out in a bid to be too good. We had to bring out the ugliness in these amazing characters and cause some drama. And we did just that. But, we were actually supposed to target our countrymen, and that was a tough one for me. You know how difficult that could be; if you over do that people will accuse you of going in there to jeopardize the chances of your compatriot. So, I went in to just be an instigator and before leaving the house, I was expected to also be a motivator, mentor and all of those I did. Nigerians expected Tayo Faniran to win the grand prize but that was not to be. Would you say the judges were fair in their choice? Well, Faniran is my countryman and friend and naturally, I would have wanted him to win but people must come to understand that the show is Big Brother Africa and not Big Brother Nigeria. It’s one thing to charm your country and another to charm other nationals. Idris won and when I was inside that house, there was something I noticed about Idris; he was a charmer. He thrilled the ladies almost effortlessly. I guess that as well shone through the screen. And you know that the BBA winners get more votes from women, men only vote with their mouths. So, if it was up to Nigerians, Tayo would win but Idris won Africa’s heart. Going by the chart, Idris won by three countries more. We always try to sensitise Nigerians not to feel cheated all the time. We should remember that other countries voted for people like me, Karen Igho and Kelvin Chuwang-Pam. It boils down to the individual at the end of the day. BBA has spent so much money and time than to endanger its credibility. I’m a product of the show, if there was anyone they wouldn’t have allowed to win, it would have been me. Come on, Kelvin had just won the previous year, I had a serious battle with Munia, so if there was anyone they were going to cheat, they would have cheated me. I can vouch for BBA’s credibility. You won after 91 days of gruelling experiences in the BBA house with a mouthwatering sum of $200,000. How did you spend that money? That’s actually a very personal question. Do you want to start asking me to list everything I’ve had to do with the money? Obviously, a chunk of it has gone into my career and that’s the most I’m going to say; l secured my future with that money. By God’s grace, there is no going back. Dillish Matthews was once quoted as saying that the BBA Hotspot was boring. Could that have been part of why you were invited? It wasn’t boring. The housemates were just playing too safe. There was no drama and BBA needed that element but that obviously, was missing. There was no fighting and the rest. I would have given you my opinion on this, but honestly, I was too busy to watch it. When I was invited to BBA to stir that

drama, I had to cut a whole lot of things. I am a very loyal person, so I’m loyal to the brand because it set off my career. I was supposed to do two things that week, but I cancelled them. When BBA calls, it’s like your dad’s calling you. It’s difficult to say no. nothing could be accepted as an excuse. Matthews actually meant that the house lacked drama because all the crazy people had been evicted. The only person that was left in the house as far as many were concerned was our own Faniran. He was the one bringing all the drama and many housemates were not allowing him to be as dramatic as he wanted to be. But if you notice, when we were in the house for that one week, a lot of people came out of their shell. And that’s what the BBA is all about. You have to bring the drama in as much as you want to please Africa. In a wise way, you must stir your drama. Nearly every weekend, you are a compere at wedding receptions. When will you invite your fans to yours? When it happens, you’d know. That’s if I even want you to know. For all you care, how do you even know I’m not married already? It’s a very personal thing. I’m keeping my personal things private now because the mistake I made in the past was addressing such issues. Let’s leave that side. Whenever it h a p pens, it happens.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Artistes to watch out for in 2015

These musical artistes had re-invented themselves and given Nigerians a reason to love their songs and individual brands. They have topped various charts and some of them have won prestigious laurels to show for their hard work and ingenuity. LANRE ODUKOYA chronicles a list of Nigerian musicians who will swing surprises in 2015.

OREZI – AFRICAN HIP-HOP/ RAGGAE/DANCEHALL rezi makes the list after rising to prominence with song, Rihanna, in 2013. He had all the media publicity and airplays, and we thought that was it till he released You Garrit, in 2014, plus a remix to the song featuring Wizkid same year. He recently released Shoki, a total club banger and it’s really looking like 2015 will be explosive for this award winning singer. YEMI ALADE – AFROPOP/RnB Yemi Eberechi Alade made famous by her popular song, Johnny, is an artiste to keep an eye on in 2015, because the song remains on the lips of many. More or less an anthem for kids, radio stations, DJs and bars, this song retains its freshness. But many expect more from the lady who seems to spend more time on the red carpet than the studio. SKALES – HIP-HOP/POP Skales, former Empire Mates Entertainment recording artiste is one to watch out for in 2015. Since Raoul John Njeng-Njeng popularly recognised as Skales parted ways with EME, he has dropped countless hit songs and presently fresh on Dj’s playlist with hits like Shake Body being belted out on the streets, at parties and club houses. This rapper, singer and songwriter has been active since 2000. But the big break is here. RUNTOWN – AFROPOP Runtown rose to fame with a track, Gollardo, which he teamed up with HKN’S Davido to achieve. It’s a song with Nigerian and western appeal. Since dropping the hit single, his career experienced a rebirth and he has continued to drop hits after hits. 2014 worked in favour of this Afropop singer whose songs are presently enjoying impressive airplay on TV and radio stations. Little wonder he clinches deals within and outside the country quite frequently. DAMMY KRANE Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel (born 1992 in Lagos), popularly known as Dammy Krane, is a Nigerian singer, composer and performer. In January 2012, at 18, he signed a record deal with Hypertek Records (currently Hypertek Digi-

Dammy Krane

Niyola

Orezi

Yemi Alade

Skales

Oritsefemi

Patoranking

Runtown

tal / 960 Music Group). He is most famous for his hit single, My Dear. He’s known for his melodic voice, engaging lyrics and his exciting genre of African alternative music. Dammy Krane has received numerous nominations including The Next Rated award at the Headies and won one award, Rookie of the Year at the Headies 2012. In 2014, he wormed his way into the hearts of many with a remake of K1’s song, Amin. Amin is now a song that may well become another evergreen as it appeals to men of all ages. NIYOLA - POP Her sojourn in music began in 2000, when she emerged runner up at the Amen Starlet Competition. In 2005, Niyola began her professional music career and was briefly affiliated with eLDee’s Trybe’s Records. Following that, she signed a production deal with Freestyle’s Make Sum Noise Entertainment. Niyola’s first three singles: Me n U

Making it to this list is unquestionable because currently Patoranking is one of the most sought after artistes in Nigeria

Fassy Yusuf stages elaborate 60th birthday shindig today

ommunication scholar, erudite lawyer and Ijebu high chief, Fassy Adetokunbo Yusuf, is playing host to the high and mighty today at Grand Inn and Suites, Stadium road, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The Baagbimo of Ijebuland will be celebrating his 60th birthday and the high society will be storming the talk-of-the-town occasion which will be a convergence of il-

lustrious Ijebu sons from across the world with their friends. Yusuf is the secretary of the planning committee of the annual tourist event, Ojude Oba, arguably the biggest social gathering in Yoruba land. The celebrant is a known social commentator, a mass communication lecturer and the Head, Chief F.A.O Yusuf and Co. He chairs Olabisi Onabanjo University Alumni.

(In da club), No More and Dem Say were released under this imprint. He later joined Empire Mates Entertainment records under which she released the famous song, Toh Bad, Be My Lover and Belle No Be Show Glass. She has been a serial nominee at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards and The Headies. Niyola promises to wow her fans with an album, her debut due to be released this year. PATORANKING – DANCEHALL/ RAGGAE He is unarguably one of the best discoveries of 2014. Making it to this list is unquestionable because currently he is one of the most sought after artistes in Nigeria. He got immensely popular with his track, Girle O solo version, plus the version with Mavin’s first lady, Tiwa Savage, which is on heavy rotation on radio and TV station nationwide. Recently, the dancehall singer boasted about his

first endorsement deal worth well over N16 million from a yet-to-bedisclosed brand. ORITSEFEMI - STREET POP Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele (born January 5, 1985), popularly known by his first name Oritsefemi, is a singer, songwriter and performer. He is best known for his remake of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s Double Wahala. His rendition of the song earned him two nominations at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards, winning the award for Most Popular Song of the Year. He also won the Indigenous Artiste of the Year award at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. In 2014, he released the remix for his version of the song featuring D'banj. Oritsefemi’s music is currently in high demand and to prove he’s no fluke, he has just released another single, Igbeyawo, and he’s becoming a household name already.

TV & Radio with Angela Davies

SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015

This weekend STV

TELEVISION

ONTV

Saturday Saturday 8:00 Nickelodeon 9:30 Batman 11:00 UAC Soccer Lafflines 12:30 Kid Zone 2:30 1 music 3:30 Ignite 4:00 Face 2 Face 4:30 Glass House 5:00 Family Ties L-R: Shege, Papa, Buchi and Danjuma

Living among the Squatterz

t is the beginning of the year and what better way to start than with the laughter, excitement and fun of the sitcom, Squatterz. Squatterz revolves around the lives of four young men with different characters and backgrounds sharing an apartment after each one had a shelter problem. In reality, Shege (young landlord) offers his close friend, Papa, a bookstore owner, accommodation in his two bedroom apartment pending the time he can raise money and get his own apartment. But Papa in turn brings in his cousin, Buchi, a computer engineering graduate without a job who will not do anything worthwhile but wait for big opportunities, which often time leaves him gullible. There is also his friend, Danjuma, the son of a retired major-general, the only one with a real job and the smartest one in the house. As difficult as it seems initially, they learn to live with one another’s differences. Every episode, each fights for survival in the apartment with different issues coming up. And often, their activities around the house can only do one thing: make the viewers laugh and crave for more laughter with their acts. They fight and quarrel over virtually everything. From bed space - since Buchi, Papa and Danjuma sleep in one bed - to food, girlfriends, who should clean the house, whose girlfriend is the best cook to who sings best among other sundry issues. It actually highlights the daily lives of young bachelors and the way they think life should be. However, despite the jeal-

while, they should show viewers the lives of these young men outside their posh apartment. So, in essence, they should look beyond their lives inside their apartment. Squatterz is full of comedy, laughter and more laughter. The four young men who teamed up to give the viewer’s rib-cracking comedy in the sitcom are Stanley Chibunna popularly known as Funnybone, played Buchi, Zikky Alloy as Danjuma, Big Tony Ogbetere played Papa and Femi Amusan as Shege. Squatterz is a production of DaySix Entertainment. The programme airs on different television channels; however, it airs on Galaxy Television on Saturdays at 7:30 pm.

ousy, anger, worries and cruelty that may arise sometimes, they never go to bed without settling their differences. I like the fact that the sitcom did not totally revolve around the four men who sometimes bring other acts that play the role of girlfriends, parents, family members, friends as well as enemies to the apartment to add more excitement to the programme. The opening montage is captivating; it portrays the four young men as funny cartoon characters dancing humorously. Also, I find it compelling that sometimes they speak pidgin to drive home important points especially when they are angry or trying to clarify issues. However, I feel that once in a

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

ade Ogunro is a graduate of journalism and creative writing from Birmingham University, United Kingdom. She worked as a freelance journalist for some publications in London including Vogue. She left Nigeria at the age of eight and since returning has produced music videos, television commercials and live concerts such as the Koko Concert. Fade anchors the Liquid Lounge on the Beat FM on Saturdays and Sundays. She loves quirky fashion, hardworking people, reading books, shopping for shoes and all genres of music from classical to jazz and everything in between.

Ray Power 100.5 FM

Ogunro

700 Club Nigeria

Gidi Up

Gospel zone

The Nigerian version of the International 700 Club is the flagship programme of Christian Broadcasting Network Nigeria. This 30-minute weekly magazine programme produced from their Abuja studio highlights the work of CBN in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa. The programme also shows testimonies, features and music videos.

Gidi Up is a Nigerian television and web drama series. The series follows the lives of four young adults namely Obi, Tokunbo, Eki and Yvonne who are pursuing success and independence in Lagos, thus, revealing the challenges they are faced with at every step of the way in their quest to achieve their dreams.

DJ Gosporella and Dami play inspiring and soul lifting gospel songs from various artistes for straight four hours. The gospel songs played are from both local and international gospel artiste. Gospel music is the unique music genre that is sung by Christian artistes to express their personal and spiritual communion with God.

ONTV Sunday @ 7:30 pm

8:00 House of Badmus 8:30 Husband and wives 9:00 On the Couch 10:50 Movie

RADIO

Programme summary AIT Saturday @ 11:30 am

5:30 Two Sides of a Coin 6:00 MTV Base 7:00 STV News 7:35 Nollywood English 8:30 Secrets and Scandals 9:00 Boomtown 10:00 News 11:00 MTV Base Sunday 7:30 Tom and Jerry 8:30 Brights 9:30 Gospel Rhythms 11:00 Red Hot 11:30 Gospel Symphony 12:00 Walking with God 1:30 Love, Dating & Marriage 2:00 Mountain Top Life 3:00 Quantum leap 6:00 WWTBAM 7:00 News 7:30 Salvation ½ Hour 8:00 Real woman 8:40 Boomtown 9:00 Gospel Symphony 10:00 News 11:00 Smooth DJ mix

Saturday 8:00 Cartoon 9:00 Arambara 10:00 Nollywood Yoruba 12:00 Soundcity Top Choice 1:30 Pavitra Rishta 2:40 Village Square 4:15 Movie 5:30 Gabriela 6:30 Spice Origin 7:00 Headline News 7:10 Disclosure 8:30 House of Badmus 9:00 Spice Specials 9:30 Soundcity Party Mix 10:30 Omnisport 11:00 Movie Sunday 7:00 Venetian Rascal goes to America 8:20 Farhat 8:45 Omnisport 8:50 Headline News 9:00 Arambara 1:00 Headline News 11:05 Hypochondraic 12:00 Soundcity Top Choice 1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta 2:35 News 2:35 Village Square 4:00 Movie 5:30 Gabriela 6:20 Fanz Championship 7:00 News 7:10 One love 7:30 Gidi Up

The Beat 99.9 FM Sunday @ 7:00 am

Saturday 7.00 Breakfast Show 7.30 News Headline 9.00 Mega Sports 10.00 World News 10.55 Presenter’s D’Lite 11.00 Young World 12.00 UK TOP 40 2.00 Saturday Jamz 4.00 Saturday Jamz 6.00 Nig. Today 6.15 Saturday Jamz 6.55 Sat.Nite Groove 8.30 Squadron Football 9.00 Kennis Music 10.00 Tonite@10 10.10 Club Train

Radio Lagos

Saturday 11:05 Eyi ara Ajide Olayinka 1:00 Oyin momo 2:30 E da wa lohun 4:00 Oba Orin 6:00 State News 7:00 Lagbo Regal 8:30 Ohun enu Yoruba 10:15 Music 11:00 Iroyin ni soki

Sunday 7.30 News Headline 10.00 World News 12.00 Ray Power Cruise 1.00 Afemai Nekhai 3.55 News Trip 4.00 UK TOP 40 6.00 Nig. Today 6.15 Sports Tonic 7.05 Watch & Pray 7.10 Power Play 7.55 News Flakes 8.00 Jazz Hour 9.00 Ballade 10.00 Tonite@10 10.10 Country Lane 11.00 Quiet Storm Sunday 11:05 Mukulumuke 12:00 World News 1:00 Music 2:00 Orita Aje 3:00 Iroyin ni soki 7:45 Music 8:30 Ba Olorun pade lori oke Sioni 9:30 Igbalaye 10:00 National News

Investigations SATURDAY NEW TELEGRAPH 3 JANUARY 2015

Banks’ auto financing and hidden clauses (2) Banks and auto dealers’ romance for a dream ownership of brand new low-budget cars in Nigeria appears to be gaining momentum. But, would the Federal Government’s promise of a revival of auto assembly plants, which seems to be the drive for this scheme, not go the way of those before it? ISIOMA MADIKE concludes this two-part series on ‘gradual demise of tokunbo’

rior to the introduction of the auto policy, prices of new vehicles were prohibitively high such that they were beyond the reach of most Nigerians, especially the middle class. Resultantly, many Nigerians inevitably resorted to imported used cars, popularly referred to as “tokunbo”. But, the use of imported used vehicles, apart from constituting environmental and public health hazards, some say, is humanly degrading to Nigerians. However, in the wake of the banking sector consolidation, which Chukwuma Soludo started soon after he was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in May 2004, most of the banks started paying their workers jumbo salaries. This saw the old salary of banks increasing by about 300 per cent. A middle level member of staff, who previously earned N1,800,000 per annum started earning close to N4 million per annum. For most banks, remuneration for graduate trainees went up to between N1, 200,000 and N1, 800,000 per annum. It was the same story in the telecommunications sector. This reporter gathered that MTN Nigeria, for instance, paid N5 million per annum to its middle-level managers while Globacom and Airtel, the other two major Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) operators in the country then were not left out in what many described as jumbo package arrangement. The oil and gas sector was

equally in that bracket as well. Multinationals in the manufacturing sector joined the craze. Establishments such as Nestle Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries and Dunlop Industries, all had to raise their remuneration packages to be able to attract competent professionals, especially in key areas of their operations. Similarly, new world-class airlines sprang up due to the liberalisation of the sector with Arik Airline, Aero Contractors and others creating the right ambiance for employees and paying salaries that were competitive internationally. With all that, it was then a reality that the middle-class in Nigeria was re-emerging. This new drive in the sectors of the nation’s economy threw up a new generation of workers with big spending power. From then on, there emerged a crop of people earning good enough to plan for the future. The trend continued, and today, in most of these companies, staffers earn good income and are able to take care of themselves and save. They are also able to access credit with which they acquire brand new cars, build their homes and other essential items, and pay back at a later date. A human resources consultant, Peter Ephraim, while assessing the

Tokunbo cars at Tin Can port in Lagos photo: naija.fm

situation says with stable incomes, there is no reason why members of the middle class should not acquire items and pay 100 per cent. “The banks are now identifying those people and giving them credit to acquire cars, build their homes and pay back over a period of time. You will be able to appreciate this more when you see the effect on the demand side. This is what happens in the advanced world,” Ephraim said. In what looked like a support of this argument, Osita Ogbu, former economic adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former chief executive, National Planning Commission (NPC) said that without the middle class, there will be no consumer credit. “Virtually all the automobile purchase loans, which enable workers own brand new cars are targeted at staff of organisations that pay good salaries. “For instance, to buy a brand new car valued at N3 million, a worker must make a down payment of 25 per

Before the auto policy, prices of new vehicles were beyond the reach of most Nigerians

cent, which is N750, 000 and pay the balance plus interest over a period of 48 months. That is about N65, 000 per month. The beneficiary must, therefore, not only work with a viable organisation but with one that guarantees job security to profit for such credit now being offered by banks,” Ogbu said. Incidentally, the same formula, according to analysts, almost collapsed the American economy, said to be

Isioma madike

Editor, INVESTIGATIONS isioma.madike@newtelegraphonline.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

PAN assembly plant, Kaduna

Nissan assembly plant in Lagos

photo: nairaland.com

photo: blog.policyng.com

A t

SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015

SATURDAY

FREE

Sport Splash 25

Interview

I abandoned British Army for boxing – Apochi p.26

La Liga

Real target historic win at Valencia p.28

Athletics

The good and not so good in 2014 p.30

Life Style

Ronaldo’s 14-year-old son causes stir with kiss p.31

The Team

Vincent EboigbelAssistant Editor Ajibade Olusesan l Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

2015: Taiwo tips Nigeria to rise again O

Charles Ogundiya

ut-of-favour Super Eagles defender, Taye Taiwo, has said Nigerian football will rise again in the New Year after the national team failed to qualify for the 2015 edition of the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. The Bursaspor player believes that various junior teams that will feature in international competitions this year will form a strong production line for the new senior national team. Flying Eagles and the Golden Eaglets will play in continental championships, which serve as qualifiers for FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Cup. National U-23 team too is bidding to make it to All Africa Games slated to hold in Congo Brazzaville also in 2015. And Taiwo said more talents would be discovered from the junior teams that will help Super Eagles technical crew build a new squad. He said that the quality of international friendly matches the Nigeria Football Federation has organised for the Eagles would also help in the rebuilding process. The defender however said that for the team to achieve its goals in the New Year there must be a change of guard in the coaching crew. Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos recently, Taiwo said the only way to achieve success

was to remove Stephen Keshi as the head coach of the team and to allow a new coach to build a fresh team. “Everybody in Nigeria knows that when Samson Siasia did not qualify the team for the AFCON in 2012, everybody insisted that they have to sack him. So it is normal that when a coach does not qualify for the Nations Cup or the World Cup he is not allowed to stay on, I am sorry to say that; they have to sack him (Keshi), to achieve results in the new year. “Nigeria is not just for one person, if a coach does not qualify for a competition why do you have to keep him?” Taiwo querried. He further stated that with the type of selections since the AFCON victory in South Africa in 2013, the future looked bleak for the team unless Keshi was removed as the coach. The former AC Milan defender said: “When you look at the selections since we won the AFCON in 2013, you will know that the team cannot get anywhere; for me, there is need for a new man in the team.” He however debunked insinuations that he had been attacking Keshi because he was ignored by the coach in his invitations to the team. Taiwo said: “Don’t get me wrong, I have no problems with Keshi, Amokachi or even the NFF, everything is in the hands of Allah. If I get the chance to play for Nigeria again I will, if not, life goes on.”

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I abandoned British Army for boxing – Apochi

3 JANUARY 2015

Efetobor Apochi, captain of the Nigerian boxing team to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, speaks about the challenges in Nigerian boxing, his target for 2015 World Boxing Championship, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and more in this interview with Ajibade Olusesan. I admire many boxers. Oleksandra Usyk of Ukraine is my favourite though.

How will you describe your career from the time you came into limelight at the Kaduna Sports Festival? I want to thank God for making me what I am today because if not for Him I wonder what my life would have turned into. Well, I have been doing well in my career since KADA Games where I got a silver medal. I could not get the gold medal because that was my first festival but I came back in 2011 games hosted by Rivers state and made the correction. I won gold medal in that one which earned me a call to the national team for the first time. I made Team Nigeria to the All Africa Games in Maputo, and again that was also my first international competition, I fought my way to the final and got a silver medal. I have attended a couple of tournaments where I did the country proud. You also got a medal at the last Commonwealth Games, how will you describe your experience in Scotland? Yes, it was a wonderful experience for me. It was like an eye opener, but I had some challenges with boxing politics. It was a dirty one that affected my game plan; I found out they were doing everything to eliminate African countries from the tournament. That's AIBA (International Boxing Association) politics but I still discovered a lot about myself. The Commonwealth Games was a big credit to my boxing career despite the fact that I got a bronze. I know bronze might not be good enough, but I value the experience I got there. You spoke about AIBA politics, are you suggesting that the organisation has always worked against African boxers? Of course, but I don’t want us to worry ourselves about that because it has been happening for ages and nothing has been done about it. We have our problems in Nigeria and we need to take care of that. Nigeria is far behind in the sport, I have been to some countries and I discovered what they do in terms of preparation towards major tournaments. Nigeria has the money but they don’t want to spend it on athletes. I have so many boxing friends who always tell me about what they usually do in their countries; they tell me about how they go on tours and having sparring and training sessions with other countries’ boxers. This is how to prepare athletes for tournaments. We don't have a standard boxing gym in Nigeria, we lack boxing equipment and with this our boxers can't grow. But I'm thank God for the president of Nigeria Boxing Federation who is the current chief of army staff. He's done a lot for the boxing federation in recent time.

What is it about the boxer that you like? His style of boxing; he won the World Championships 2011 and also won the Olympic in 2012. I want to have such record. I know my time has come to have such records, I have what it takes to win gold medals in both the World Championships in 2015 and the Olympics in 2016.

Apochi (2nd left) in the British Army uniform

those days But what event prompted your decision to take boxing as a career? I will say it was a revelation from God and my dad. He made me like boxing because he was always watching boxing on television; he loved Mike Tyson so much. I was following boxing then the interest finally came, I was known as Mr. Tough Guy because I liked to fight every day on the streets back then. I understand your dad is a former athlete; what influence did he have on your career? Oh yes, he did athletics and boxing. I saw some of his medals also. My dad has a lot of influence on my career, about 70 percent. He made me believe I was a strong boy. He's always supports me financially. In fact, he loves me doing boxing. Is it true that you abandoned your place in the British Army to be part of Nige-

It must have been very tough for you getting to where you are now? It wasn't all that easy from the beginning of my boxing career because nobody supported me except my dad. Nobody thought I could make it, until after the KADA Games, because I stated boxing very late. Were you into boxing in your school days? No, I was just a tough guy back in

Apochi in action at the Commonwealth Games

rian team to the last Commonwealth Games? Not to the last Commonwealth Games, it was actually to the World Championships in 2013. I have a dream in boxing that must be accomplished and being in the army was in the way. But being in British Army ensure some kind of financial stability… Yes, but that can wait, but boxing can't wait. We had spent too much time on trying to get a permission to leave… Do you mean you were not granted the permission and you decided to quit completely? I was only in the recruitment process and not fully in the army when Nigeria called and I had to obey That is patriotic and it is gratifying to know that you did that for the love of your fatherland but who is your mentor in the game? My mentor used to be Tyson but now

Are you saying you will go to the World Championships and claim the gold in the heavyweight division? Yes it very possible. All I need is the support and encouragement from Nigeria. I also need coaches Jerry Okorodudu and Adura Olalehin. I love these two Nigerian coaches; they are the best. They are the brains behind the current success of Nigerian boxing; they are fantastic coaches. You sound so optimistic but I know you aware it is tough to win an Olympic medal, because apart from talent thorough planning and preparations are required? I am somebody who believes that with God all things are possible. For me, winning a medal in the Olympic is not such a big deal. I'm equal to the task. The fact that I will meet most of my challengers at the World Championships will give me an idea of what to expect in Rio. I know all the 91kg fighters in the world at the moment and there is nothing special about them, I've done my research, trust me I'm clever. Do you have any plans for turning pro anytime soon and what is the target you need to achieve before quitting the amateur ranks? Of course I have my plans to quit amateur boxing. I only need two more medals, that is World Championships and Olympic medal before I quit.

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3 JANUARY 2015

I knew Brume would be a top star, says school coach

MEMORABLE SPORT IMAGES IN 2014

Ese Brume was one of the revelations of the 2014 track and field season in Nigeria. Her coach at the University of Benin, Kayode Yahaya, sheds some light on her rise to the top in this interview with AthleticsAfrica. Can you let us into the background of Ese Brume? I can tell you about her background up till where she is now but I cannot tell you about her future because a lot of factors can hamper or enhance her progress. Ese is from Ughelli, Delta State, and she was involved in track and field in the primary and secondary schools. She was admitted at the University of Benin and was brought to Mr. Okosun who was then the assistant head coach for athletics at the university and now head coach. Her father brought her and she started training with us. After a lot of rigorous exercises and sessions she turned out like this. For the future, only God knows. Where you expecting the kind of display Brume put up in 2014? I was really expecting over seven major jumpers to be at the Commonwealth Games, I told Ese after she won the national championships in Calabar that she just had to go to the games and do well. She had a little challenge in the World Junior Championship at Oregon in the United States in 2014, but she had to put herself together and she knew she had to do that because it was part of the training sessions as well. One had to always put oneself together no matter the condition one finds oneself as there is always a way out. She did that and did not let the situation beat her down but kept her focus. I think that was what really interested me and got me excited because she did not allow the Oregon experience to put her down. Even if she had not won the gold medal, the fact that she was able to get her acts together impressed me. I knew she was going to do well but I never expected her to have such a breakout performance at the Commonwealth Games. But it came that

Athletes need basic clinical education. Some of them don’t even know the ingredients in the drugs they take

Brume

way and we are savouring the moment. What are your expectations from your athletes in the new season? In the new athletics season everybody wants to step up. A lot of people want to catch up and those who are already up want to keep going up. We have to take everything one step at a time and hope for the best. But those of us at the university have our basic preparations that we call general conditioning going on right now. It is quite unfortunate that the National Sports Festival that was postponed has obstructed a lot of things and we are trying to fix ourselves into the general conditioning so that we can have a better platform since the season is short. We are in a cloud of uncertainty but we are doing our best to keep the athletes fit. Hopefully before the season starts, the athletes should be in top form. With little or no cases of drug use last season, can we say we are winning the drug war? Let me digress here and I really want to draw a line here; a lot of things are happening because there isn’t proper education. Athletes need basic clinical education. Some of them don’t even know the ingredients in the drugs they take and they are not so familiar with their managers who may just prescribe anything for them. Most times you don’t expect your manager to prescribe something that would harm you but sadly it happens a lot of times. A manager is a like a father figure to most of these athletes and many of them dare not disobey their instructions. Even the managers need basic clinical education. We do not know all the supplements so we need to be educated about them also. You go to the World Anti Doping Agency website, you’ll see the ones that are legal and the non-legal ones but how many of the managers take time out to do that. We need to have a workshop where athletes and coaches can be given that education. Everyone is trying to get an edge in performance and what people do to get there can be amaz-

ing and terrible, you don’t just understand the reason but when you get closer to them you will discover that they are just ignorant. These guidelines are from the World Anti Doping Agency and some other organisations and these people are well informed before they came out with those instructions and guidelines. In this part of the world however, people are not as informed. So I think a proper clinical education should be given to both coaches and athletes about what goes into their system. They should understand that they have the right to research and ask what is being given to them so they know the repercussion of their actions.

Germany celebrating after beating Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup in Brazil

Table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, rose from 237 place to 30 in the world

Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years imprisonment for fatally shooting girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp

Asisat Oshoala with her golden boot at the Women's U-20 World Cup in Canada

Kano Pillars celebrating their third consecutive league title win in 2014

Yaya Toure

anchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has taken to Twitter to deny claims made by manager Manuel Pellegrini that he is injured. The City boss told reporters that Toure hadn’t been fit for Sunday’s draw with Burnley due to a groin problem. But Toure insists he was fit and was simply rested by Pellegrini.

Toure refutes Pellegrini’s injury claim

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

NEW TELEGRAPH

the Copa Del Rey, Champions League and European Super Cup. Since late September, Madrid have won each and every game they have played. The Whites are enjoying a phenomenal run of 22 consecutive victories in all competitions in this season and are three victories away from setting a world record of most consecutive victories. A former Real coach, Fabio Capello, has praised Real Madrid and the club coach Ancelotti on their stunning winning run. He said “They are going to define an era. They have a

great defense, a midfield that can play football as well as put in the miles and a frontline that scores goals for fun.” Valencia manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be looking to start their new year campaign with a victory, but it will be tough task for them as Ancelotti’s boys are virtually unstoppable. The Whites are currently on top of the La Liga table with 39 points after 16 rounds of the league with 13 wins and two losses while the Oranges are on 4th place with 31 points with nine wins, four draws and three losses.

ay Parlour believes Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin would be the perfect signing for Arsenal. Although Gunners legend Parlour concedes a swoop for the Saints ace is unlikely to happen in January. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is desperate to bolster his midfield ranks next month and has reportedly targeted the signing of Schneiderlin. "Schneiderlin would be a great signing," Parlour told Sky Sports.

Parlour: Schneiderlin perfect signing for Arsenal

Johnson

eovil coach, Gary Johnson, believes they can surprise Manchester United when the Red Devils visit for the FA Cup tie on Monday. United have met Yeovil once before in the competition back in 1949, with the Red Devils winning 8-0 at Maine Road, and Johnson is delighted to have secured a home tie against the 11-time winners. "I'm always so proud of the club when we come through a game like this," he said. "I knew what this meant to the club, me, my family, our directors, supporters and my management team. "There is no prize greater than this one. And now we've got the game against probably the world's biggest team. That's the one to look forward to now."

FA Cup: Yeovil target Man United win Y

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fter winning the prestigious Club World Cup title, the leaders of the La Liga Real Madrid will travel to the Mestalla Stadium to take on Valencia on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti‘s men come into this match on the back of historic win in the Club World Cup final against San Lorenzo while the home side Valencia will come on the back of 1-0 away win against Eibar. Madrid's 2-0 victory over San Lorenzo of Argentina in the the pre Christmas Club World Cup final made 2014 the most successful in the club’s 112 year history – with

Real target historic win at Valencia

Global Football Special 28 SATURDA 3 JANU

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FA Cup fixtures

Pirelli are confident their new tyres will see quicker cars and more entertainment in the 2015 Formula One season. Having helped the sports transition to new power units this year, the Italian manufacturer has now set about making tyres that can provide more pace during races. Motorsport director Paul Hembery says they had to be "conservative" this season and that will change next year - which could see faster times. "This year, we did come in to a year of a little bit of unknown technology," he told Crash.net. "We had a reasonable idea of what to expect but there's no substitute really for actually seeing what it translates to in track performance.,” he said.

Sunday Atletico v Levante Sevilla v Celta Vigo Elche v Villarreal Deportivo v Bilbao Malaga v Almeria

La Liga fixtures

Pirelli

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16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16

Rubén

lmeria goalkeeper Rubén is convinced that following his side’s win over Celta Vigo before the Christmas break, they are able to beat just about anyone, even an in-form Malaga side, who they just so happen to be facing this weekend. “If the team can get a win in Vigo, then they can do it again in Malaga. The game against Malaga will be difficult, but not impossible because the team is feeling really good following our recent results and our play is also coming along.” Ruben is also upbeat about the progress of his elbow injury, which forced him to miss his first game of the season last weekend.

Rubén: We can win in Málaga

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) needs to define clear roles for players at the time of their selection to avoid what happened in the World Twenty20, said former Pakistan captain Shoaib Mailk during a press conference at Karachi’s National Stadium. Malik was exempted from international cricket after his less-than-satisfactory performance in the mega event, which he claims happened due to lack of communication on the board’s and team management’s part as they sent him out to bat on different positions each day.

20 Elche

11 Ath Bilbao 12 Getafe 13 Rayo 14 Sociedad 15 Levante 16 Almeria 17 Deportivo 18 Granada 19 Cordoba

SATURDAY NO TEAM P PTS Barnsley v M'brough 1 Juventus 16 39 Spartans v Birmingham 2 Roma 16 36 Bolton v Wigan 3 Lazio 16 27 Brentford v Brighton 4 Napoli 16 27 5 Sampdoria 16 27 Cambridge v Luton Town 6 Genoa 16 26 Charlton v Blackburn 7 AC Milan 16 25 Derby v Southport 8 Fiorentina 16 24 Doncaster v Bristol City 9 Udinese 16 22 10 Palermo 16 22 Fulham v Wolves 11 Inter 16 21 Huddersfield v Reading 12 Sassuolo 16 20 Leicester City v Newcastle 13 Empoli 16 17 Millwall v Bradford City 14 Torino 16 17 15 Verona 16 17 Preston v Norwich City 16 Chievo 16 16 Rochdale v N' Forest 17 Atalanta 16 15 Rotherham v Bournemouth 18 Cagliari 16 12 Tranmere v Swansea 19 Cesena 16 9 West Brom v Gateshead 20 Parma 16 6 Sunday La Liga Dover v C'Palace NO TEAM P PTS QPR v Sheffield Utd 1 Real Madrid 15 39 2 Barcelona 16 38 Sunderland v Leeds Utd 3 Atletico 16 35 Aston Villa v Blackpool 4 Valencia 16 31 Man City v Sheffield Wed 5 Villarreal 16 30 Soton v Ipswich Town 6 Sevilla 15 30 Stoke City v Wrexham 7 Malaga 16 30 Yeovil Town v Man Utd 8 Celta Vigo 16 20 Chelsea v Watford 9 Eibar 16 20 10 Espanyol 16 20 Arsenal v Hull City

Serie A

TABLE

US Open champion Marin Cilic has withdrawn from next week’s Brisbane International with a right shoulder injury, with the Croatian opting to sit out the Australian Open warm-up event to recover fully ahead of the season’s first grand slam. Despite the world number nine’s withdrawal, a strong field is expected for the event, including Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov and Juan Martin del Potro, who have all confirmed their participation.

SPORT BRIEFLY

runo Soriano has issued a warning to Villarreal’s rivals ahead of the season’s restart. “We’re eager to return and compete again.” The Yellow Submarine ended 2014 strongly with six consecutive victories, and the midfielder - who was recently recalled by Spain - is adamant his side will have no qualms in prolonging their impressive run of results into the New Year. “I don’t know if we can keep [our form] up for the course of the season. Our intention is to go step bystep without looking beyond our next matches,” he told reporters. “We know what we have to do, we must compete at 100 percent, giving the maximum for this club. Our ambition is to continue flying high in the League. “We’re a young team who want to grow and draw confidence from our strength to compete. “The holidays have been good for resting, but we’re already eager to return and compete again. “Every game from this point onwards will be very difficult because everyone will be playing for something. “In La Liga if you relax a little, anyone can beat you. Therefore, we must proceed with the good dynamics [we had in the first part of the season.

‘Villarreal ready to compete in 2015'

Meanwhile, a win for Levante will pull them away from the relegation zone, with just two points keeping them out of the bottom three over Christmas. The visitors' only injury concern is Hector Rodas, who has been out since mid December. Levante have won just once in their last six outings, but have drawn their last three, which helped move them out of the relegation zone.

Shoaib Mailk

to get distracted. “You need players who are exemplary professionals. Besides, the Bianconeri are accustomed to winning and staying at the top. When a player comes to Turin he knows that he will have to live there thinking only of success. “Allegri's team is more complete, and more determined on the pitch. “But when Roma do play well, they are better than their rival. They are more lively and they show a more beautiful game.

Sacchi

A tletico Madrid will be hoping to close the gap on league leaders Real Madrid when they return to action against Levante after the La Liga winter break this weekend. The Spanish champions have won four of their last five outings in the league, leaving them third in the table, just four points behind their city rivals, who have played a game less.

Striker Fernando Torres could make his second debut for the side after AC Milan agreed a deal with Chelsea to buy the forward and loan him to his former club. Koke and Mario Mandzukic will both be available again, having missed the last match before Christmas through suspension, while Cristian Ansaldi is back in training following time out with a knee injury.

Atletico ready to stop Levante

Marin Cilic

eteran Coach Arrigo Sacchi says that Juventus are a better team than Roma, and that the latter will need to do ‘something exceptional’. The Giallorossi are currently chasing after a three-point difference in the standings, and Sacchi was asked whether the Bianconeri deserved their advantage. “Yes, and for many reasons,” said the proponent of total football. “For one thing it's the location that makes a difference. In Rome you live well and it's easier

Juve better than Roma, says Sacchi

The Ivory Coast international wrote on Twitter: “Just a note to say the boss rested me for the Burnley game, I am not injured…!! really hope to be involved against Sunderland! #ComeOnCity!” That was in contrast to Pellegrini’s comments on the matter. In his post-match press conference after the Burnley game, the Chilean manager said: “Yaya Toure was not able to play today. It was a risk for him. The players that played today were the players who were able to. “Yaya felt a problem at the beginning of the last game against West Bromwich.” City’s official Twitter account retweeted Toure’s claims that he is not injured. With Toure and his employers falling out earlier this year, City fans will be hoping this public difference of opinions isn’t indicative of an ongoing problem.

Ahamada

fter slipping down the pecking order, Toulouse FC 'keeper Ali Ahamada's return to the first team has been bolstered by a three-year contract extension that links the Comorian international glovesman to the club until June 2018. It has been an up-and-down season so far for Ahamada, 23, but on Tuesday the Comorian international cemented his relationship with Toulouse by putting pen to paper on a three-year contract extension. After spending last season as Toulouse's first-choice 'keeper, Ahamada found himself kept out of the first team in the current campaign by new arrival Zacharie Boucher, but after Boucher failed to impress, the former France U-21 international returned to coach Alain Casanova's starting XI in Week 13.

Ahamada extends Toulouse deal

Parlour

"He's a proven player in the Premier League but I don't think Arsenal will get him as Southampton are in a great position in the league. "They need a centre-half as well. That and a central midfielder would be the two main targets for Wenger." AY TELEGRAPH UARY 2015

Sport

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3 JANUARY 2015

Athletics:

The good and not so good in 2014

Okagbare, queen of the track

“2

Charles Ogundiya 014 was a mixed year for Nigerian athletics; we did very well at the Commonwealth Games, we equally did well during the African championship, although there were some hitches but in all it was a wonderful year for Nigeria. “We recorded so many international successes; young athletes like Ese Brume and Divine Oduduru are coming through just like an established star like Blessing Okagbare crowned the year with medals at various championships.” Those were the words of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games gold medalist in 4x400 metres -Nigeria was awarded the gold medal after the US was stripped of it following a doping offense - Enefiok Udo-Obong, while reviewing athletics in the past year. It was a case of numerous stories of successes for the Athletic Federation of Nigeria in 2014. The year started for Nigeria with the IAAF World Indoor Championship in Poland where the country failed to win a medal despite a brilliant performance by quarter-miler, Regina George, who pulled out of the Women 400m semi-final due to injury. At the African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana, despite the failure of Nigeria to retain the title the country won two years ago at the first edition of the competition, track and field events was still part of the success in the competition for the country. Ethiopian duo of Teshome Asafan and Wuday Ayalew emerged the men and women’s champions at the second edition of the Okpekpe 10km road race in Edo State, while Nigerian athletes failed to make the top ten. The year could be referred to as one for the women as several Nigerian female athletes won medals for the country starting from queen of the tracks herself, Okagbare. Women 4x400m quartet of Sade Abugan, Patience Okon George, Omolara Omotosho and Regina George won a bronze medal at the IAAF World Relay

in Nassau, Bahamas behind USA and Jamaica who won gold and silver respectively. The country recorded its best performance in recent years at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and followed it up with an excellent performance at the African Athletics Championship in Marrekech, Morrocco. The country ended its campaign in second position on the medals table with eight gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals behind South Africa who took the top spot with 10 gold, five silver and four bronze medals. It was not all bad news all the way for the men as youngster, Oduduru, won a silver medal in 200m at the World Junior championship in USA. Other male athletes also dazzled at the African Athletics Championship. One phenomenon that gained more prominence in 2014 was the influx of foreign-based Nigerian athletes who switched allegiance to the country. Mark Jelks, Dominique Duncan, Mozavos Edwards, Christian Morton, Nicole Denby are some of the athletes who previously competed for the United States who now don the green and white colours of Nigeria. There was also employment of two Americans, Maurice Green and Eric Campbell, as national high performance coaches by the National Sports Commission. Some Nigerians like a former President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Dan Ngerem, and ex-international, Udo-Obong, however criticised this occurrence. “Why hire two Americans and then pay them in dollars when at the World Indoor Championship you did not give one kobo to the athletes that represented the country? “You have not supported the coaching crew, you have not given scholarships to the athletes, and you have not even supported those based in America,” Ngerem said. For Udo-Obong, these athletes that suddenly switched allegiance to Nigeria have passed their prime and also not good

Why hire two Americans and then pay them in dollars when at the World Indoor Championship you did not give one kobo to the athletes that represented the country? role models for the younger athletes. He said: “I don’t have anything against any athletes of Nigerian origin coming to represent their fatherland. But when you are bringing in an athlete in Ese Brume, one of the youngsters his late twenties, what is such an athlete offering? “I would rather we developed the 2004 Olympic Games bronze medalist said. young athletes in the country who could World fastest man, Usain Bolt, for inthen give us 10 to 15 years of top per- stance was out of the circuit for most part of the year, competing in only a few meets formance.” The establishment of the IAAF-ap- during the year. Former 100 metres world record holder proved high performance centre situated in the University of Port Harcourt is expected Asafa Powell was handed an 18-month ban to serve as a boost for Nigerian athletes. that was later reduced to 10 months after The Confederation of African Athletics had being found guilty of taking banned stimusigned a protocol agreement with the AFN lant oxilofrine by the Jamaica Anti-Doping on the establishment of the centre whose Disciplinary Panel. use will not be restricted to only Nigerian South African Paralympian, Oscar Pisathletes. torius, was jailed for five years for the At the world stage, some top athletes shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steendid not take part in various meets allow- kamp. The target for Nigeria now is to iming some other athletes to shine. The reason for this according to Udo- prove on their performance in 2014 and Obong is that top stars always decide to take put up a good showing at the World a break from the circuits in a year preceding Championships and the All Africa the World Championship. Games. Udo-Obong however says it will be “2014 is what we call a down year in athletics, a year when some of the top athletes an uphill task for Nigeria at the Worlds prepare for the World Championship and as top athletes will be out to take their Olympics Games. rightful place but he still believes that “Most of them will want to rest ahead of with proper preparation and support, the rigour of the World Championships and the year will be a good one for the Olympics in the following year,” the Athens country.

Stephen Mozia, one of the foreign imports Pistorius

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3 JANUARY 2015

Glamour model set to sue ex over Ozil

Sport

Lifestyle

lamour model Melanie Rickinger is planning to sue her ex-boyfriend for leaking private messages between her and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil onto the internet, reports the Mirror. Rickinger’s is set to sue former Bayern Munich player Christian Lell, and is seeking damages for “theft of date” after flirty messages between her and Ozil were leaked onto the internet. Earlier this season Lell accused the Arsenal star of having an affair with his then girlfriend, despite the former Real Madrid man already being in a relationship with Mandy Capristo. The 24-year-old singer moved to London with Ozil when he made the switch from La Liga, but immediately broke off their relationship when the messages were made public.

onaldo’s son, Ronald, is currently causing an uproar in his native Brazil with his latest relationship. Despite being just 14-yearold, Ronald is already over 6ft tall and working as a DJ in a Rio nightclub. And it was in that nightclub where he was snapped getting intimate with a 27-year-old school teacher named Lu Bernardi. Bernardi herself has confessed to the affair, which has understandably caused outrage in Brazil, though she is adamant that she did not know his real age. “I swear I did not know. When we met we were in club, and he was taller than everyone there. How could you think that boy 1.85m tall was underage?” she said. “He lied and said he was 18. I swear his age did not cross my mind. He had good conversation, he was not immature.”

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orgeous medical student Camila Karam has denied relationship with Barcelona star Neymar. Neymar is currently back in Brazil for the holidays, and earlier in the week the footballer was spotted with a pretty brunette who has since been identified as medical student Karam. Gossip columns in Brazil have devoted much space to the 23-yearold over the past few days, but she took to Instagram to confirm that she and the Barcelona ace are nothing more than friends. Meanwhile, Caroline Celico, the wife of Brazil legend, Kaka, has moved to deny rumours that she had spilt with her husband. In November, it was reported that Kaka and his stunning wife had spilt, there were suggestions that the former AC Milan star had already started dating another Brazilian celebrity. But Celico stormed the social media, Instagram to post a photo her and her husband loving up ahead of the New Year.

- Sholom Aleichem

Vieri receives saucy tweet from female fan

Glamour student denies Neymar's affair

"Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor."

Ronaldo’s 14-year-old son causes stir with kiss

Rickinger

Karam

ince his retirement from the game, former Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri has been making a few acquaintances in Miami, and on Christmas Day he gave his followers a racy eyeful of one of them. On Christmas Eve Vieri got a very revealing message from a female admirer, Liz Harris, who was also on her way to the States, and Vieri opted to retweet the x-rated image to his Harris 360,000 Twitter followers.

Townsend enjoys night out at the darts

Hazel O'Sillivan

ndros Townsend made a short trip across north London from White Hart Lane to Alexandra Palace to enjoy a night at the darts. The Tottenham winger was in the crowd at the World Darts Championship on Tuesday to watch the last of the firstround action two days before Christmas. Townsend was also there in support of girlfriend Hazel O'Sullivan, who was one of the walk on girls during the London event. The couple certainly look to be very much in love with O'Sullivan recently taking to Twitter to thank Townsend for sending her flowers despite being in another country. She wrote: 'I'm in another country & he still managed to surprise me with flowers to my door on my birthday @ andros_townsend'. Stories courtesy Dailymail

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3 JANUARY 2015

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3 JANUARY 2015

the financial world power as well as other economies around the globe a few years back. The financial institutions in these countries reportedly advanced mortgage and other loans to a class of their societies whose incomes had nosedived. As a result, many of them could not repay the loans. This was the observation of a renowned economist and financial analyst, Henry Boyo. According to him, “it is what appeared to be responsible and rightly acknowledged to be so by the American public. We were informed that the financial crisis was brought about by the failure of people, who took mortgage to buy houses and couldn’t pay back their loans on time. “This phenomenon was described as the greed of the banks and the mortgage institutions, for extending facilities to people to buy houses, which were so much higher than they could pay. In other words, once you start to pay over 30 per cent of your income as mortage repayment, then you are treading on very dangerous ground.

Auto assembly worker putting a finishing touches to this car photo: matchdeck.com

Aganga

Soludo

Boyo

Madueke

"In some cases, people whose salaries were not so large, were given loan to purchase houses and the repayment of these loans sometimes consume 40, 50 or even 60 per cent of their incomes. So, it was only a matter of time that the whole thing came crumbling down,” Boyo said. This, however, may be why Boyo has cautioned against the move to reinvent the auto companies partnership with banks and other financial institutions that now sell cars with convenient payment mode. But, there are those who have had an experience in recent past. One of those is former MD of PAN, Aliyu Kakumi. He had keyed his then vision into the challenges he met when he assumed office in January 2007. He had at the time emphasised his plans to return the automobile company to an enviable height in the face of stiff competition from other auto dealers that had besieged Nigeria with different brands of cars. Kakumi had his strategies. One of it was his promise to reclaim, with determination, PAN’s position in the Nigerian auto industry. To actualise this plan, Kakumi addressed every department that he believed would help the new management realise its objectives. He maintained that time was ripe in the face of competition to launch the Peu-

Cotonou cars photo: movebacktonigeria.com

Once you start to pay over 30 per cent of your income as loan repayment, then you are treading on very dangerous ground

geot Ownership Made Easy (POME) scheme in collaboration with the then Bank PHB. This development enabled Nigerians that wanted to own brand new Peugeot cars to afford them without paying at once. The company did not, however, restrict its relationship to Bank PHB alone; it soon added other banks to the new arrangement. Coscharis Motors, which sells mostly BMW brand of cars followed the footsteps of PAN and engaged some banks to partner with it. From then, other car dealers and banks cleverly queued up to reap from the benefit of the idea that gradually captured the hearts of Nigerians. Union Bank of Nigeria and Access Bank soon join to operate similar but slightly different schemes. While UBN had what it called the Union Plus Auto Loan Scheme targeted at car acquisition for maximum repayment of four years, Access Bank on the other hand allowed its customers to choose to check the cost of their choice car and obtain an invoice for it. Yet, they soon faded off. What many thought was to be the rescue from the jaws of tokunbo patronage soon reversed, living sev-

Investigations

eral people wondering what had gone wrong. But, it has not always been like this. In the years of oil boom, Nigeria had a clear cut middle class segment of the society. This was in the 1970s through to the ‘80s. It was a time when going for new cars was the craze among this class of Nigerians. That was the period PAN and Volkswagen Nigeria offered, for instance, brand new 504 GL and Beetles, nicknamed “sokinso”, literarily translated to mean “drop and let drop” for N7, 000 and N1, 500 respectively. The Beetle brand was so popular then, even though, it had only two doors. A graduate freshly out of school at the time would select his choice from those lined up by companies as part of the package to entice young people into accepting job offers. The corporations scrambled for graduates and went straight to the Universities to recruit fresh brains. It was also a time when teachers owned new cars, especially the Peugeot 404 salon brand, and were not reminded that their reward awaited them in heaven. There was nothing like the concept of fairly used cars at the time. However, with Volkswagen Assembly Plant going comatose and the recession in the nation’s economy, which started manifesting increasingly in the late 1980s, the consumers’ purchasing power took a deep plunge. This resulted in a kind of revolution that saw importers flooding the Nigerian automobile market with tokunbo of various brands. Most of them had run a full circle in their countries of origin and were only good for the junkyard. Yet, the importers increased the influx, and purchased fairly used cars from Europe, particularly from Germany and Belgium, later America as well as Asia to fill the vacuum created by the high cost of acquiring new cars. There was no age limit for the imported tokunbo cars. And soon those that could be described as scraps started arriving the seaports, and Nigeria became a dumping ground for overused cars. This prompted the government to intervene, as it fixed the age limit for used cars at eight years. The move, according to government, was to stop the dumping of unserviceable cars in the country. To ensure full compliance with the order, the government empowered the Nigeria Customs Service to seize cars from dealers and importers that failed to comply with the directives. The fiscal policy was meant to encourage local automobile assembly plants, even as government approved five per cent tariff for wholly imported new vehicles. This strategy worked as Honda Place, Elizade, Coscharis and GM Motors among others opened shop to complement PAN with brands like Honda, KIA and BMW making impressive entry into the Nigerian automobile market. The dealers offered plausible incentives to lure individuals into patronising them. To compete with the seemingly thriving tokunbo market, the auto dealers gradually introduced various credit schemes, which observers predicted would silence the once vibrant fairly used car trade. And the banks, smarting from the successful consolidation exercise opted to partner with the automobile dealers to have a competitive edge and wooed customers. Unfortunately, the romance did not last long. And finally, the “cookie crumbled”. • Concluded.

Investigations

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3 JANUARY 2015

oses Adie hails from Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. He was employed by Statoil Nigeria Limited, a Norwegian company located at No 1A Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi in Lagos as a driver on October 19, 1993. He was so good at his job, prompting a rapid promotion that saw him attaining an enviable position of a senior driver in less than four years. However, this impressive rise was punctuated in November 1999 when a fabricated allegation was levelled against him and four other members of staff. They were said to be the brain behind a false rumours on alleged amorous relationship between two members of staff, Neil Smith, a Briton and an anonymous Nigerian lady. Even though, investigations by the management of the company exonerated the four when submissions of the findings established that the said rumours were baseless and unfounded, Adie was “marked” for further punishment for his perceived role in the saga. The subsequent intimidations culminated into his being summoned by a Norwegian, who doubled as the company’s security manager, Colonel Oddmund Iversen (rtd.) to his office on January 23, 2000. “I thought Col. Iversen had good news for me but to my surprise he told me that I had been sacked. “He did not stop there but ordered me out of the premises of the company as he told me the dismissal was with immediate effect. He, thereafter, brought out a termination letter and asked me to sign, which I refused because I knew that I did not do anything to warrant such humiliation,” Adie said. After this drama, a cheque of N33, 037.75k (thirty three thousand, thirty seven naira, seventy five kobo), which was attached to the sack letter was presented to Adie as a payoff. He refused to collect that too because "that coudn't have been my benefit for the long period that company engaged my services." Adie also maintained that his verbal sack without any previous query or warning not only negated Nigeria’s Company Act but amounted to injustice and dishonour. He, afterwards, demanded to know what his offence could have been that resulted in his being treated as a slave in his own country. Adie saw his travails as against the ethics and rules of the company, particularly because he was a permanent member of staff. But, his bold stance signaled the beginning of more woes. Though, he sought audience with the then managing director, E. Syrstad, his request was never granted as Iversen, who later invented a story of threat to life against Adie, blocked that. The new charge took Adie to several detention cells, including his forced imprisonment at both the Ikorodu and Ikoyi Police divisions, respectively. “After these horrible experiences in police cells, one Captain Albert Oti (Rtd) threatened to eliminate me if I dare challenge the company authorities. He boasted that as a corporate organisation, Statoil has enough money to buy its way anywhere in the country,” Adie recounted. This development prompted Adie to incident the matter at Zone 11 Police Headquarters at Onikan, Lagos. “Immediately after, we were invited by a Deputy Commissioner attached to Zone 11 and the man in confidence advised Statoil representative to go and settle amicably with me. We both thanked him and left,” Adie said. More than 14 years after that meeting, Adie is yet to get justice. He had hoped the peace initiative of the Police would reverse the injustice visited on him by Statoil. But, he was wrong. Though, he never stopped to seek alternative means of getting justice. He cried to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to intervene. He also took his case to Lagos High Court. Yet, both moves met a brick wall, necessitating his writing to the Norwegian High Commission though, without any response. This reporter’s efforts at getting Statoil management to state the company’s side of the story, including a letter attentioned to

Slaves in their country Mass unemployment, reign of impunity and government negligence appears to have conspired to reduce Nigerians to slaves in their land by foreign companies. Moses Adie, who worked with one of such establishments, told ISIOMA MADIKE, in this report how his promising career was punctuated through fabricated lies, cooked up to deny him his dues

Statoil's corporate head office, Lagos

photo: Sulaiman hussaini

Nigerian authorities are not sensitive about the plight of Nigerian workers in the hands of foreigners

Adie

Syrstad were rebuffed. Although, a response letter from the company dated December 12, and signed by Ariwoola Ogbemi, who claimed to be the managing director, stated that “as this is a matter concerning the relationship between Statoil and ex-employer, we have no comments to the media on this issue.” Similarly, efforts at getting the Ministry of Labour and Productivity as well as Zone 11 Police Headquarters, Onikan to confirm or deny knowledge of the dispute were equally unsuccessful. However, the Executive Director, Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, reacted by saying that his organisation is hugely shocked by this “barbaric, inhuman and lawless maltreatment of Adie by Statoil.” He, therefore, condemned the act, stating that, “we are also worried by the fact that Nigerian authorities appear not to be sensitive about the plight of Nigerian workers in the hands of foreigners, who exploit our cheap labour.”

Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu

Yet, Adie is not an isolated case. Several other Nigerians also have tales of inhuman treatment from their foreign employers. Nowadays, the safety issue and health at workplace, which once occupied a major place in the programme and plan of employers, is treated with levity. Some of the victims, who have suffered major injuries like loss of limbs, are often dismissed after receiving tokens that the companies give out on “compassionate” ground. This, perhaps, is due to the fact that the Workman Compensation Act that is supposed to address some of these issues in the country, is as good as none-existent. The rampant “union-busting”, arbitrary pay cuts, unwritten job contracts, and none payment on maternity are some of the conditions at these foreign-owned companies. The dehumanising treatment being meted to workers in Nigeria has been likened by some Nigerians to the condition of work in pre-industrial revolution Britain.

At present, workers’ health, safety and dignity are flagrantly being violated despite the relevant factories’ acts and laws of the land. While all bosses exploit workers though, Asians bosses are generally seen to be the worst. But, Nigerians may have to continue to endure due to lack of employment in the country. Some have had to survive by accepting casual employment, even though, they may be more qualified than their Asian counterparts. A few years back, some 200 workers in a factory at Ikorodu, on night duty were roasted alive because they were locked inside the factory when fire broke out and there was no exit for them to escape. The factory, West African Rubber Products Company Ltd (WARP), is owned by Lee Group of Companies. The Chinese employers had locked the doors of the workplace and gone home with the keys as a labour control measure. A massive fire swept through the rubber slippers/ aluminium spoon/bottled water factory in the early hours of Monday, September 16, 2002, at Odogunyan in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. It was a long existing practice aimed at preventing the workers from pilfering their employers’ products and raw materials. The incident was described as the worst tragedy in the state after the January 27, 2002 bomb explosions at the Ikeja Cantonment that left over 1,000 people dead and several thousands homeless. Today, the company operates as if nothing of such ever happened. These actions, however, run contrary to provisions of the Factories Act 1987; cap 126 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1990. Under that Act, the Director of factories at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity is responsible for periodic inspection of various factories/industrial establishments to ensure compliance with the various health and safety provisions of the Factories Act by factory owners across the nation. Incidentally, the factory inspectors, if and when they do visit the factories, usually look the other way while employers of labour violate and flout the various company regulations with impunity.

Dear Love Doctor, 'I can’t say no to my ex'

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Life Experience

'I hid behind the bedroom door, so that his wife would not see me'

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L ve&Lv ng SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015

‘I promised never to break her heart' Confession Heartbreak is an experience nobody likes to pass through. That's because it causes trauma for the individual, and the emotional scars from a heartbreak could last for a long time. In this story, a dashing young man promises his lover true love... Michael Uchebuaku

hen I first saw her she was sitting on her own on a bench with her face in a book. She was quiet and withdrawn and it was evident to me that she had gone through some form of trauma. I wasn’t far from the truth. I somehow guessed that someone had broken her heart, but I was a Christian and I took it upon myself to get to know her. Her name was Sade. I tried to make her talk. And as Sade emerged out of her shell,she was everything I had suspected; playful, caring and quick to smile. And the way she looked at me just made me melt. We were fast friends and we were soon spending as much time as we could around each other. We would talk for hours about everything, our passion for music, art and horror, as well as our hatred of bad governance and injustice in the society. It didn’t take Sade long to realize that I was interested in being more than friends. I remember once when we were caught by my mother kissing in the living room when Sade had come to visit me. I got the feeling that my siblings had also been watching from the looks we got from them. So there we were with shy smiles on our faces with a newspaper strategically positioned on my laps so as not to show my bulge. Despite the obvious sexual tension between us whenever either of us attempted to express our emotions to one another, we realized that it was better to avoid fornication since we were not yet married. Sade had experienced both a pregnancy and a heart-break. So she was not quite ready at that time for sex with a man again. So in the end we just remained very good friends. During that period we learnt all of our bad habits. Sade learnt how often I still smoked and drank alcohol and would bother me by saying I should quit and not spend so much money

on drink and so much time on the computer etc. We knew for the sake of our friendship that we had to have our own space. So I moved out of my parents’ house to an apartment not too far away. Since I moved to my own place last year, not much has changed between us. We still flirt with each other. I promised not to break her heart like other guys did before me. And we have started making plans on how to take our relationship to the next level. We still talk about any and everything. Indeed Sade is the only person

I feel comfortable confiding in. She means so much to me and in many ways I do still love her and she knows this. I tell her she brings out the best in me. And I hope this lasts for a very long time. Every day, I think of my woman and I wonder what I would have been without her. Heartbreak is not something that I wish for anybody, not even my worst enemy. I know what it means to love and end up with a broken heart, because I have loved before and lost. I have given my heart to a woman whom I thought loved me back. But unfortu-

nately, she broke my heart. But like someone once said, it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Love is both the message and the goal of a true relationship. And I believe that in this world we live in, there is someone for every one. All it takes is for a person to find his or her soulmate. I believe that as long as a man or woman is genuine and sincere in his or her feelings towards someone else, their love will grow in leaps and bounds and in so doing, they will find happiness.

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Love News

Girlfriend exposes 'cheating boyfriend' on Christmas morning

girlfriend served her revenge perfectly wrapped this Christmas after she packaged up print-outs of her cheating boyfriend's messages to another woman and left them under the tree. A woman who goes by 'Cassie' on Twitter (@NessLovnTrey) posted pictures of the carefully wrapped present containing the unfaithful messages. She then posted a series of images, including her supposed cheating boyfriend opening the gift and his confused-looking expression as it slowly dawns on him that he's been caught out. Twitter user Cassie posted pictures of carefully-wrapped stacks of paper containing her cheating boyfriend's messages to other women On Christmas morning, her boyfriend

was in for a big suprise when he unwrapped the gift and was faced with his infidelity. The scorned girlfriend then posted another picture with the message: 'I don't tolerate cheating' However it didn't appear that her boyfriend (@Bugatti_Boii_) was too bothered after being found out - as he later tweeted in response to his girlfriend's pictures: '@ NessLovnTrey247 could've mention me I would've gladly retweeted it.' Although the truth of Cassie's cheating claims have yet to be proven, she appears to be a genuine Twitter user (with 31,000 tweets to her name) and is the mother of a young child. Courtesy: Daily Mail.

Life Experience

'I hid behind the bedroom door, so that his wife would not see me' Michael Uchebuaku

y name is Agatha and my life experience story is about how I dated a married man two years ago. He was my boss at the office. We worked together, but we didn't really start talking of going out until I had broken up with my boyfriend at that time and started going out with someone else. I was aware that he was married because his wife used to visit him in the office occasionally. But the secrecy thing about our relationship really made the whole affair exciting. His wife never found out about our relationship. She was always away working because her job as a medical doctor was very demanding. So I usually spent the weekends and sometimes weekdays in his house whenever she wasn’t around. When I think about it now, I realize that it was a ridiculous arrangement and a silly relationship I had with him. I spent most of my time waiting for him to call me, saying that his wife is not around and ask me to come over to his house. I was simply at his beck and call with nothing to gain for myself. How foolish I was for what I thought was love! I even found myself cancelling plans with my family and friends just in case he wanted me to spend the weekend at his place. He only ever came to my house once. And the only reason he came to my house that day was because he had called me and asked me to come over to his house but I had refused because I was getting so sick of sneaking around. An hour later after the call that day, he was at my door and at the

time I was trying to fool myself that he actually loved me instead of his wife. Obviously he didn't love me, because first thing the next morning, he asked me to leave his place so quickly after speaking with his wife on the phone, that I knew he was really committed to his wife. The way our affair ended is what I'm most ashamed of. One night, I went to his house while his wife was away. We watched a movie, had dinner and went to bed. The following morning, we woke up to the sound of the front door closing because his wife had come back early to surprise him. I was absolutely so scared and grabbed my clothes but he wouldn't let me out of the room and made me hide behind the door just before she walked in.

I was absolutely so scared and grabbed my clothes but he wouldn't let me out of the room and made me hide behind the door just before she walked in

He managed to convince her that they should go out to an eatery for breakfast since she was too tired to cook, and then I quickly left the house after they had gone because he deliberately didn't lock the door when they were leaving. On my way home, he called me apologizing profusely and I asked him never to call me again, and he never did. Can you imagine? He told me to hide behind the bedroom door so that his wife would not see me when she walked in. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed of myself. Since that day, I decided never to date a married man anymore. I've since found out that I was only one in a long line of women he had cheated on his wife with, and that last year she actually caught him with another woman.

Love Songs

Cher

Believe No matter how hard I try You keep pushing me aside And I can't break through There's no talking to you It's so sad that you're leaving It takes time to believe it But after all is said and done You're gonna be the lonely one Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no What am I supposed to do Sit around and wait for you Well I can't do that And there's no turning back I need time to move on I need a love to feel strong Cause I've got time to think it through And maybe I'm too good for you Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no Well I know that I'll get through this 'Cause I know that I am strong I don't need you anymore I don't need you anymore I don't need you anymore No I don't need you anymore Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no Do you believe in life after love I can feel something inside me say I really don't think you're strong enough no.

Love Poem

Michael Uchebuaku

In your arms In your arms I find rest, Rest from the world which is against me. In your arms I find rest and shelter, From the bombs of human hatred and hostility falling all around me. In your arms, I find heaven, Now that the whole world is hell; And I can't help but wonder where you've been all along.

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

Romantic Joke

A Widow’s ‘Visitor’

Widow: “No sex for now please, I’m mourning my husband…” Man: “That’s why I’m wearing a black condom.”

3 JANUARY 2015

Relationships & Love Advice

'I can’t say no to my ex' Dear Love Doctor, I’m having sex with my ex though he is engaged to another girl. I just can’t say no to him. I’m 23 and my ex is 36. We had our ups and downs but split up over a year ago when I ended our relationship. He then met someone new and they have recently become engaged. Despite this we stayed in touch and have had sex a few times. I know it is wrong but I regret splitting up with him, even though it wasn’t working. I still love him and I’m finding it hard to let go. The first time we had sex was a few months after we split. I was feeling low when I bumped into him in a club and it just seemed like old times. We spent the whole night together and ended up back at his place. His fiancée was nowhere to be seen. We pulled each other’s clothes off. The sex was better than ever and it felt so right, even though I know how bad it looks. I want a fresh start and I want to move on, but I can’t let go. From Judith. Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Judith, This guy is not your Mr Right. Your ex may genuinely care for you as well as lusting after you, but he can’t have it all. He has to choose between you and his fiancée, even though you say you know deep-down it is unlikely to work a second time any better than it did firsttime around. End this dead-end secret affair before you get even more hurt. The real problem is the

H♥♥K UP...find your heart’s desire Women SEEKING relationship/ marriage ♥ Favour, 40, Igbo, in Asaba, a graduate looking for job, needs a slim man of 40-50 years, preferably a civil servant, widower or divorcee based in Delta, Rivers or Bayelsa state only. 08125106352. ♥ Divine wants a loving, working or business, widower (not a divorcee) of 35 years for marriage. He must be a graduate, tall, and a sincere pentecostal christian man. 08169279907. ♥ Bola, 28, pretty, romantic and good looking, needs a graduate, reliable & working man for marriage. 08037604915.

void in your life so learn to stand alone before rushing to find a new man. Someone new is out there who is right for you, but take any new relationship slowly. I wish you the best!. Have you two actually sat down and discussed this? You need to sit down and discuss this matter with him as calmly as possible. Tell him that you insist on being an equal contributor. That you want a savings account for the future, like having children. That a woman needs a skill, a talent, a way to make a living, just like a man does. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08131161840. Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com

♥ Grace, 35, chocolate, 6ft tall, single mother of one, needs a loving and caring man from 50 years and above for a serious courtship. 08098957792. ♥ Becky, 31, chocolate, 5.7ft, public servant, HIV positive, needs a loving and caring responsible man of 38-40 years for marriage. 07012444576.

MEN LOOKING FOR RELATIONSHIP/ MARRIAGE ♥ Ade, 34, Christian, Yoruba, working in the banking sector, desires a beautiful and working class lady between 25 to 31 years for marriage. She must be serious minded, mature and willing to settle down. 09050735557. ♥ Chidera, 40, from Ebonyi, in PH, civil servant, needs a very busty lady of 23-31 years for marriage. 08037317375. ♥ Edwin, 37, a writer/businessman, needs a fresh graduate lady with vision, from the Southern or Northern part of the country. 09031502399, 07080473788. ♥ Kennedy, 6ft, businessman, needs a godly working of 30-45 years for marriage. 08105266854, 08021495049. ♥ A life and relationship coach needs a kindhearted or generous person in any part of the country to invest in his ministry. 07032944123, 08023700641. ♥ Precious, 28, a young medic, needs a woman within 35- 48 year who wants to explore real romance but she should be ready to assist him financially. +234 8126650955.

Lovers’ Answers Game: The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love, and choose your lover from the top 3 answers. A girl via 07031139789, is asking all men:

"Why do some men prefer to date a married woman even while she is still living with her husband?" *Call Mike: 07031028714 to send questions or issues.

Odd News

The pen that doubles up as a charger

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

t is said the pen is mightier than the sword, and this latest model certainly shows how powerful pens can be - literally. The £25 ($39) Power Pen doubles up as a stylus and phone charger for a wide range of gadgets and other electronics. It contains a 700mAH battery, a microUSB port for Android phone and tablets, e-readers and portable speakers, plus a Lightning Connector for the latest range of Apple devices. Plus, it works as a stylus for any touchscreen device, as well as a regular ballpoint pen at the twist of the tip. The built-in battery isn’t enough to charge a device completely, but it can give gadgets a much-needed boost until the owner gets home. Firebox told MailOnline it is the equivalent of roughly a third of a smartphone’s battery life, but this depends on the device being charged. When the pen’s battery is running low, it can be charged using a built-in USB connector. The Power Pen is available to pre-order, in black or gold, from London-based Firebox for £24.99 ($39). It will then ship on 29 December.

Blackberry Connection Omolola, 34, single mother, wants a man of 35-45 years, preferably a Yoruba man. BB pin: 2A9E3EAA. 09033643433.

• Connect with Mike on WhatsApp or BlackBerry Pin: 7ab29e22 or 21978F71 for details on how to send your BlackBerry or Smartphone Connect request. • Call Mike on 07031028714, 08131161840 to link up and for direct hookup.

Love Education

What is Incest? S

exual relations between people classed as being too closely related to marry each other. the crime of having sexual intercourse with a parent, child, sibling, or grandchild. Incest is intimate sexual contact between a child under the age of eighteen and a relative such as an uncle, aunt, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, or grandparent. In other words, someone you are not legally allowed to marry. About 23 percent of all sexual abuse is incest. Father-daughter incest is the most commonly reported and legally prosecuted form. In about one quarter of the reported cases, sexual contact is a one-time occurrence, but more typically it continues over a period of years, having an average time span of three and a half years.

When the daughter is young, between five and 12, the relationship very rarely includes actual intercourse. Once the daughter is past 12, intercourse is likely to be part of the sexual contact. Alcohol is a significant factor. (Between 20 and 50 percent of the fathers are alcoholics. Even when the man is not an alcoholic, the first experience may take place when he has been drinking.) A number of studies have concluded that brother-sister incest is the most common form of incest. Research does not support the view that brother-sister incest is “normal.” It usually occurs in families where serious problems exist. Healthy families exhibit a lot of holding and affection. However, affection is different from deliberate erotic stimulation. Source: josh.org; Wikipedia.

Love&Living

True Story

y best friend Julia and I lived together for almost eight years before she met her "one-andonly", Richard, and got engaged. I felt nothing but happiness for her and gladly accepted the privilege of being her maid of honour. The wedding was five months away but Julia spoke of nothing else. Every time she'd open her mouth it would be about how many tiers the cake would have or how stressed she was about losing the sufficient pounds to fit into her wedding gown. Most people around her quickly grew tired of all the wedding banter, but not me. We were best friends and I was almost as excited as Julia was. That was until one Friday night when we went out for a couple of drinks at our favourite city drinking hole. Julia ordered a bottle of sparkling and we toasted her and Richard repeatedly. I have to say, there was a bit of craziness about Julia that night as she repeated "I'm getting married!" over and over again, not only to me but to any passer-by who'd listen. She then decided that she would expound the benefits of being married, to me — now her only single girlfriend — and tell me how sad she was for me as I hadn't had a boyfriend in over two years. She then proceeded to advise me on how I could "pretty myself up" so as to be more alluring to the opposite sex and how Richard insisted she only wear certain brands of make-up that brought out the best in her lovely skin tone. There was much more to this diatribe but I blocked it out as I fumed inside. I said little to Julia over the next few days. Although it is hard to avoid someone you're living with, I did my absolute best. It was when Julia came home almost in tears one day after catching a glimpse of her growing bottom in a shop window, the little devil on my shoulder gave me a great idea. "I'll help you lose weight", I announced. "Would you? That would mean the world to me!" was Julia's reply. I was working as a part time chef at a cafe at the time and did much of the cooking at home as well, as Julia was hopeless in the kitchen. Night after night I produced meals that looked low-fat on the surface: fish dishes with vegeta-

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‘I fattened up my best friend for revenge'

bles, soups and salads. Julia was thrilled with the thought that she would soon be shedding the kilos as the wedding was months away and there would be plenty of time. I was waking early to make Julia breakfast and packing her a lunch as well, "to make sure all the meals are calorie-controlled," I told her. She was so happy that her low-fat meals tasted so good and that she "wouldn't have picked that they were low-fat if she didn't know better". Luckily she didn't. I had been putting fairly generous quantities of olive oil and butter into every meal I cooked for her. I was also using double cream in some dishes (lying that I'd used low-cal condensed milk). It was after a few weeks that Julia lamented about how she hadn't seemed to have lost a single kilo — in fact she thought she had gained some weight. I had to work extremely hard to mask my pleasure in this as I provided a much needed shoulder to cry on. I told her that maybe she needed to exercise more (knowing full-well that Julia was very nearly allergic to exercise using the excuse that she never had the time.) I told her it was probably just her metabolism re-adjusting to her new diet and that soon it would even out. She bought into my reasoning and I continued to fatten her up. A month later and Julia saw that her 'metabolic adjustment' hadn't happened yet. In fact she had weighed herself at a friend's

I actually increased the amount of butter and other highcalorie ingredients I was using in her food.

house — something she was generally scared of doing — and she was certain she had put on at least five kilos. I reassured her and made up a few new excuses. I told her I would double my efforts ("Yeah, double the fat content," I thought) and make sure that she won the battle of the bulge before her big day. I said I'd also exercise with her if she was willing and she seemed placated. We started doing some very low-impact "pilates" (ie: a bit of stretching that I ad-libbed) and I actually increased the amount of butter and other high-calorie ingredients I was using in her food. A month before the wedding Julia threw a hissy-fit of nuclear proportions. She screamed that nothing was working and that she was going to a well-known weight loss establishment to help her. When they told her that the amount of weight she wanted to lose to fit into her "already-purchased" and "obscenely expensive" size-10 wedding gown would not be viable or safe, she broke down. Julia cancelled the wedding and broke it off with Richard. Their relationship only got going again almost a year later and for that I feel guilty. I had let my own personal hurt turn me into a monster and in turn hurt the friend who had always been there for me. Revenge isn't always as sweet as it's made out to be. Courtesy: nine.com

Wedding Traditions

Wedding Cake Made of Bread and Cheese: Norway

ashion at a Norwegian wedding isn't just for aesthetic affect. The bride will traditionally wear a white or silver wedding gown as well as a silver or solver and gold crown. Small spoon-shaped bangles that tinkle when moved also hang from the crown. According to Norwegian legend, the music produced from these bangles will ward off evil spirits. The groom wears a traditional hand-made woolen suit known as a bundas. The wedding cake, also know as kransekake, at a Norwegian wedding isn't a traditional cake. It is made of bread and topped with a mixture of cheese, cream and syrup. The dessert is then folded over and cut into small squares. Courtesy: Business Insider.

SEXUAL COMMUNICATION

Why do I feel pain during sex? P

ain during or after sex (dyspareunia) can be caused by many things, such as: • illness • infection • a physical problem • a psychological problem If you get pain during or after sex, your body may be trying to tell you something is wrong, so don't ignore it. See your GP or go to a sexual health clinic. If you find talking about it embarrassing, remember that doctors are used to dealing with problems like this. Pain during sex can affect both men and women. Painful sex in women Women can experience pain during or after sex, either in the vagina or deeper in the pelvis. Pain in the vagina could be caused by: • an infection: thrush or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or genital herpes. • the menopause: changing hormone levels can make your vagina dry and affect your desire for sex • lack of arousal at any age • vaginismus: a condition where muscles in or around the vagina shut tightly, making sex painful or impossible • genital irritation or allergy caused by spermicides, latex condoms or products such as soap and shampoo Pain felt inside the pelvis can be caused by conditions such as: • pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) • endometriosis (when the womb lining grows outside the womb) • Fibroids • Irritable Bowel Syndrome • Constipation Painful sex in men Some causes of painful sex for men are: • Infections like thrush, which can cause soreness and itching, and some STIs, such as herpes. • If the foreskin is tight, penetration can be painful as the foreskin is pushed back. • Small tears in the foreskin that can't be seen but cause soreness and a sharp, stinging pain around the tear. • Inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis). • Testicle pain and swelling can sometimes be caused by getting sexually aroused but not ejaculating (coming). It can also be a sign of an infection, such as chlamydia. What to do If you have pain during or after sex, you should get advice from your GP. They can assess what’s causing the problem and whether you need any treatment. For example: If you have pain, unusual discharge, itchiness or soreness around your genitals, they may recommend treatment for thrush or having an Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) test. If your vagina is dry, you may be advised to try using a lubricating product – remember to use a water-based product if you’re using condoms, because oil-based lubricants can damage them and make them ineffective. If you have an allergy or irritation around your genitals, you may be advised to avoid using products that could be causing it. If there’s an emotional reason or anxiety that's causing problems, a counsellor or sex therapist may be able to help, and your GP or sexual health clinic can refer you to one.

SATURDAY

Travel &Tourism SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015

Chef's Corner Home-cooking recipes for the season (2) p.40

Travel Personality John Mirenge: Striving to make RwandAir Africa's preferred airline p.41

Destination

10 years on, Carnival Calabar rocks p.42

Tinapa Lakeside Hotel: Renewing promise with bold makeover HOSPITALITY ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA who was at Tinapa Lakeside Hotel, writes on the facilities and services of the hotel, which have now experienced a rebound and become a toast of many visitors and residents.

akeside Hotel Tinapa, which is located within the Tinapa Business Resort on the outskirts of Calabar, Cross River State, has a rich and enduring history. It was built to service the teeming visitors and businesses in the resort, which then was envisioned as Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business and leisure resort with great potential and promise. It has not had it so good since opening for business but in the last six years the general manager of the hotel, Mr. Michael Idakwo and his team appear to have come with a magic wand, which has seen the hotel in the last few years getting an impressive lift and enjoying high patronage and rating in the hospitality world as a hotel of first choice in the city. Accommodation The hotel currently has 242 sellable rooms made of 183 standard rooms, 27 executive rooms and 32 suites, all furnished to cater to the needs of the guests. Some of the amenities in the standard rooms include a medium size bed, bath, flat screen TV, work table, safe, wardrobe and bed side lamp while the executive rooms, which are bigger in sizes are fitted with well laid comfy bed, two baths, work table, three sofas, safe, wardrobe and flat screen TV and bedside lamps. The suites are the star products of the hotel and they come with

One of the standard room. Inset: Idakwo

a cosy feeling and very attractive scenery with a bedroom and living room that are colourfully fitted with two bathrooms, sofas, flat screen TV, work table, safe and wardrobe. Peculiar to it are two standard rooms with interlinking door, a suitable feature for families seeking a vacation hideout. Dining/wining The Lakeside Restaurant, which sits about 150 enjoys a calm and inviting ambience, offering guests breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet style with 24 hours room service is also on the offing. For the general manager, the delicious offerings of the restaurant coupled with the chef's expertise are what sets it apart. The chef, along with his team, offer a rich blend of intercontinental and Nigerian dishes. Friday is one of the days when the restaurant is at its best with a Calabar theme night, which holds between 5pm and 10.30pm. Among its specialties are a rich compliment of indigenous Efik delicacies and other flavours which the people are famed for. Fresh palm wine and the local juice, zobo, could also be enjoyed by guests as they are serenaded by a live band.

According to Idakwo, a discount of 40 percent is offered for the food and drink to attract patronage and reward clients. With the resounding success it has recorded, he said plans are in the pipeline to introduce other theme nights of contemporary nature that the people would find very exotic, colourful and interesting. Leisure/entertainment Leisure and entertainment are class act in the hotel given its natural ambience and luxurious nature as well as the stretch appointed facilities within the Tinapa Business Resort. Its game arcade with a luxury water park, which the general manager said is one of the best in Africa, is a bee hive of activities, especially during festive periods such as the Calabar Festival and Carnival Calabar, which ended late December. The artificial lake is another leisure spot for boat cruise on the Calibre River to the Marina Resort and also spot fishing and sun bath for many while the other entertainment facilities within the complex such as the amphitheatre, the Nollywood Studio, cinema hall and theatre hall.

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS

FESTAC, LAGOS

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ABA LAGOS

ABA

Shopping This is supposed to be one of the major planks on which the resort was built as a shopping emporium. There are a number of shopping outlets such as T-Mart where the people enjoy luxury shopping at heavily discounted rates. Success factors For Idakwo, a lot has taken place at the hotel since the new management team took over in the last six years. The hotel and the complex though may have suffered from wrong perception, but he said all that has changed as it is now seen positively by the people hence the rebound it has experienced. For instance, he said the hotel rose from the third best hotel in Cross River State in 2011 to become the number one hotel in the state in 2012. Achieving this new status, he said comes down to the premium that the hotel management places on its customers. For him, the satisfaction and happiness of the guests are priority as the hotel's work force always strives to deliver on this through quality facilities and high standard as well as professional service delivery.

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

Travel & Tourism

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CHEF'S CORNER

ew days into the New Year, the celebration is still on swing and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have some home cooking to celebrate the refreshing experience. Here are some options to work with: Devilled turkey Serve as main, healthy and in stir fry categories. Ingredients: • 2tbsp olive oil • 1lb (450g) turkey breast cutlets, cut into strips • 1 onion, finely-chopped • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips • 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips • 1garlic clove, minced • 3tbsp fresh orange juice • 2tbsp whole grain mustard • tbsp mango chutney • 1/4 tsp sweet paprika • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 fresh hot red chilli, seeded and minced. Preparation: • Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Add the turkey and cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Transfer to a plate. • Add the onion and stir-fry about 2 minutes, or until it is just beginning to colour. Add the red and orange peppers and garlic and stir-fry about 3 minutes. • Mix the orange juice, mustard, chutney, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and chile together until well combined. Stir into the vegetables and return the turkey to the pan. Cook about 5 minutes or until piping hot and the turkey is opaque throughout. (Serve hot). Chicken Cacciatore Serve as main course and of Italian theme Ingredients: • 4 chicken legs, about 3lb 3oz (1.5kg)

Devilled turkey

Chicken Cacciatore

Grilled sardines on toast

Home-cooking recipes for the season (2) Still in the spirit of celebration, ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA presents a few recipe for your enjoyment. • • • • • • • • • • • • •

total weight salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, sliced 3/4 cup dry white wine one 14.5oz (411g) can chopped tomatoes 2/3 cup chicken stock 7oz (200g) white mushrooms, sliced 1 celery stalk, chopped 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 tsp chopped rosemary 2 tsp chopped sage 1.pitted Kalamata olives, halved

Preparation: • Trim any excess fat from the chicken and season them with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large flameproof casserole over mediumhigh heat. In batches, add the chicken and cook, turning once, for about

•

4 minutes, until browned. Transfer to a plate. Pour the fat out of the pan. Add the remaining 1 tbsp oil and heat over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring often bits in the pan. Stir in the tomatoes, stock, mushrooms, celery, tomato paste, rosemary, and sage and bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pan and cover. Simmer for 40 minutes, or until the chicken shows no sign of pink when pierce, about 3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the wine and boil for 1 minute, scraping up the browned end at the bone. During the last 10 minutes, add the olives. (Serve hot).

Grilled sardines on toast This should be a very easy meal to prepare and could go for main course, very healthy and belongs to the grill category.

Ingredients: • 8fresh sardines, cleaned, gutted, and filleted • 4 tbsp olive oil • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced • 1 fresh green chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped • juice of 1 lemon • 1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed • 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • ciabatta, sliced and toasted, for serving Preparation: • Brush the sardines with a little of the oil and cook under a medium-hot broiler for 3 minutes on each side. Remove and allow to cool. • Meanwhile, mix together the remaining oil, garlic, chile, lemon juice, fennel, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add the sardines, tossing to coat well, then marinate for 20 minutes. Serve on slices of toasted ciabatta.

TRAVEL BEATS UNWTO and UNESCO to host first world conference on tourism and culture The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) have agreed to host for the first ever a world conference on tourism and culture, which will have in attendance among others ministers of tourism and culture, experts and stakeholders from across the world to explore new models of partnership between tourism and culture. Billed for Siem Reap, Cambodia, from February 4 – 6, 2015, the global forum is expected to provide a global platform for policymakers, experts and practitioners in tourism and culture to meet and identify the key challenges and opportunities for stronger cooperation between these highly interlinked areas. Five key topics for consideration include – governance and partnership models, cultural preservation, living cultures and creative industries, cultural routes and urban regeneration through cultural tourism. Speakers include King Simeon II, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, John Delaney, Senior Vice-President of Seabourn, and Elizabeth Becker, awardwinning author and former correspondent for the New York Times.

NTDC DG commends Mimiko on tourism

South Africa is world's leading safari destination for 2014 South Africa has clinched the award for the world’s best safari destination for 2014. This latest honour for the country was announced at the recently held World Travel Awards in Anguilla in the Caribbean. South Africa beat last year’s winner, Kenya, as well as the other nominees - Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe - to the crown. Apart from the country’s award, establishments in the country also won awards

in different categories, namely: World's leading safari resort 2014: Legend Golf and Safari Resort; World's Leading Eco-Lodge 2014: Shamwari Game Reserve – Eagles Crag Lodge; World's Leading Boutique Hotel 2014: Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa; World's Leading Luxury Lodge 2014: Thanda Private Game Reserve; World's Leading Private Game Reserve 2014: Shambala Private Reserve; and World's Leading Luxury Safari Company 2014.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has lauded the governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, over what she described as his commitment to uplifting the status of the state as a major tourist destination in Nigeria. The DG spoke during the hosting of Mare Festival in Idanre town where she was the special guests of honour at the formal opening ceremony of Idanre Resorts, developed by the state government to promote traffic to the ancient town. “As a result of the level of development in the state’s tourism sector, I have continued to promote the various tourism potential to the global community. Ondo State people are great in hospitality, each time I visit the state, there is always something beautiful that makes me feel at home. As an advocate of domestic tourism, the changes in the state and particularly Idanre Hill since the last time I visited it is so dramatic. ‘‘Ondo State is today the shining light in the medical tourism in the country. I commend the level of work carried out at the Idanre resort which has employed more than two hundred workers.” Following this, Mbanefo pledged the continuous support of NTDC for the Mare Festival and other engagements of the state government in the tourism industry. According to her, Overland airline has indicated it intends to commence commercial flight from Akure - Abuja and Lagos in order to facilitate the movement of tourists and fun seekers to various tourism destinations in the state.

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Travel & Tourism

John Mirenge: Striving to make RwandAir Africa's preferred airline RwandAir recently received the IOSA Certificate from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is on its way to earning ISAGO. The chief executive officer of the airline, John Mirenge, speaks on this achievement and the future of the airline.

hen John Mirenge, chief executive officer of RwandAir, a few days ago received the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) Certificate from IATA’s Vice President for Africa, Raphael Kuuchi, he singled out the support by the government of Rwanda and the hard work and dedication of his staff as two major factors for this impressive success story. But he lingered only a little while on what the airline, the first of 10 selected by IATA for a pilot programme had accomplished while undergoing this most vigorous of audits in the aviation industry, and as is his custom straight away looked ahead to the things still to come. Next to conquer will be a similarly extensive audit for the airline’s ground handling unit for which IATA had launched a second tier audit named ISAGO, short of IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations, to not only assure passengers of safe operations as certified under IOSA but also assure other air operators using the handling services at Kigali’s international airport of equally high standards when it comes to ground handling. ‘‘We are looking at a fleet of 11 aircraft and to fly to 25 destinations by 2017,’’ was one of the key statements made by the CEO, once again affirming that while Rwanda may be a geographically small country, there is nothing small at all about the country’s vision of where ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’ wants to be in a few years’ time. RwandAir clearly fits in 100 per cent into that vision of the New Rwanda, the government, together with the people of Rwanda has developed over the past years. The airline presently operates a fleet of five owned and two leased aircraft, two ex-production line B737-800NG Skyinterior, two ex-production line Bombardier CRJ900NextGen and one ex-production line Bombardier Q400NextGen which are joined by two leased B737-700NG’s, formerly operated by TuiFly and five and six years old respectively when they joined the fleet in Kigali last year. While it was announced here a few weeks ago already, following the launch of destination 16, Tanzania’s lakeside city of Mwanza,

TRAVEL PERSONALITY that two new aircraft will join the fleet over the next 12 to 18 months, did Mirenge affirm that indeed a second brand new Bombardier Q400NextGen will be delivered during the first couple of months of 2015, to be followed later that year or in early 2016 by a third brand new Boeing B737800NG Skyinterior. That will bring the number of aircraft operated to nine and will cater for an extensive network across Eastern, Southern and Western Africa to then feed into the planned long haul operations which will be launched when in the 2017/18 financial year two Boeing B787 Dreamliners will arrive in Kigali. Closer to that however, and that was breaking news too, not known outside the RwandAir headquarters until this moment, will Lusaka be launched within the space of weeks, after the South African Civil Aviation Authority granted, in the record time of three days after filing the application, fifth freedom rights between Lusaka and Johannesburg, making flights from Kigali to Lusaka suddenly viable by combining the routing and serv-

While Rwanda may be a geographically small country, there is nothing small at all about the country’s vision of where ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’ wants to be in a few years’ time

ing two destinations. For West Africa is RwandAir committed to launch flights to Abidjan in 2015, but is also looking at Bamako, again very likely in a combined operation and hopefully with fifth freedom rights from waypoint to waypoint. Also in the cross hairs of RwandAir is Abjuja, Nigeria’s political capital after Lagos which is already served six times a week. While not flying to any of the Ebola outbreak affected countries has RwandAir nevertheless equally suffered from the negative publicity over the epidemic and the sharp downturn of travel to not only West African countries but travel to Africa overall. Passenger numbers for 2014 will subsequently be lower than anticipated, a problem other leading African airlines are also struggling with. Putting that challenge aside however did Mirenge continue: ‘‘The African Union is now committed to push through the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Agreement by next year and we hope that this will finally open up the airspaces for African airlines able to deliver quality services and not leave the field to the foreign carriers’’ quipped Mirenge, which when finally signed and sealed will prove to be a game

changer for Africa’s leading airlines. It is here that pending fifth freedom traffic right applications will, when approved, provide a springboard for RwandAir to finally launch flights to Mumbai, which the airline intends to serve via Dar es Salaam, combining Kigali with Tanzania’s commercial capital and then connect on to India, offering nonstop and onestop services respectively. ‘‘The B737-800 and also the B737-700 have, as a result of Kigali’s elevation and high temperatures, load restrictions which would make flights unviable. Dar es Salaam is an ideal stopover point for such flights and it will of course offer Tanzanians nonstop flights to India for the first time in recent history’.’ On a considerably sadder note did Mirenge make mention of pending fifth freedom right destinations right here in East Africa, a topic which was in the past repeatedly covered here in extensive detail, but clearly leaving the CEO of one of East Africa’s national carriers exasperated. On the upside though had the Heads of State of the East African Community’s Northern Corridor states, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, decided the day before that their aviation bureaucrats, and in particular those who had slammed on the brakes, to remove all pending obstacles and open the skies for a uniform aviation regulatory and economic regime, which should within weeks at the latest bring a resolution for RwandAir’s pending applications from for instance Entebbe to fly to Nairobi. With South Sudan on board for this ground breaking agreements, will flights to and from Juba be equally included in the new deals. But there comes a time, Mirenge pointed out, when the Bugesera airport project will be coming on line and then provide a capacity for Rwanda’s national airline and foreign carriers of five plus million passengers per annum, way beyond the capacity of the present airport. Again, as done several times during the interview, did he attribute these milestone projects, the new airport, the new national convention centre and the growth of RwandAir, to the commitment of the government of Rwanda and in particular to President Paul Kagame, who made aviation one of the cornerstones of the country’s economic development, to support tourism, MICE events and trade with the rest of the continent and the rest of the world. That said, did the young, dedicated if not outright driven staff of RwandAir get a big pat on the back from their CEO for their extraordinary efforts over the past years to lift the airline to the level it is now and to keep pushing the envelope to make Rwanda’s national carrier the airline of choice when flying across the continent and beyond. Culled from eturbonews

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DESTINATION

10 years on, Carnival Calabar rocks

Last Saturday was a milestone for the government and people of Cross River State as they marked the 10th edition of Carnival Calabar, a yearly fiesta which has been tagged the biggest and perhaps the most colourful street party in Africa. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA who witnessed the celebration writes on the pomp, thrills and frills of the festivity.

ou could tell that Mrs. Magdalene Agibe and her four friends, all gaily dressed, were having fun and set to roll along with the tide and entertainment muse, which was already gathering momentum this fateful Saturday morning. They were part of the Passion 4 revellers who were caught in their own world; dancing and celebrating as if there would be no tomorrow. This was shortly before the party went on full swing. It was an exciting and memorable scene to behold and judging by the fact that Agibe was not just one of the young revellers of the day but rather an elderly woman displaying such energy, artistic and appealing zest as well as liveliness, was a plus for the carnival and typified the mood of the celebration on the day. As early as the break of dawn, there was palpable celebration on the air as the entertainment muse had begun to cloud the Canaan or Paradise City, as Calabar is fondly known by the people, as people from every corner of the city had begun preparation and movement towards the Millennium Park (Eleven Eleven), the gathering point for the celebration. It was celebration time again for the people of the state and others from across

the world who have come to be part of the 32-day celebration of the Calabar Festival, which started since November 30, 2014 with various activities unfolding each day and leading to this fateful Saturday, which heralded the climax of the festival. It was the 10th edition of the carnival, which was first introduced in 2004 by the former governor of the state, Donald Duke. The people expected to witness a powerful, colourful and exciting carnival with the 12 kilometres carnival route, beginning from the Millennium Park and terminating at the U. J. Esuene Stadium filled with people who have taken positions from the morning hours with some even setting up a party session along the route. Although the carnival parade was expected to have started in the morning hours of the day, it never went underway till about noon. Governor Liyel Imoke and his wife as well as the few friends that made up his entourage to the carnival yearly have always turned up at the celebration with uniquely designed outfits. Last year’s was not an exception as they were all dressed in what looked like a throwback to the days of Robin Hood; Pirate-styled fashion. And to the admiration of the estatic crowd, they were accom-

panied by the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye of the P-Square musical fame. Their astonishing outfit and dramatic entrance left no one in doubt that the day’s celebration was going to be a most fulfilling and joyous one, which it turned out to be at the time the celebration was rounded off with the announcement of the results in the early hours of Sunday morning (3.30am) at the stadium where everyone ended up to pay homage to the five bands and watched them entertain the audience. Just before performing the traditional tape-cutting ceremony to signal the commencement of the carnival, an obviously elated Imoke, who was excited by the turn of affairs and the fact that he and his team were performing officially their last carnival rituals, expressed profound appreciation to the people of the state, the visitors and everyone who in the last 10 years have supported the carnival and the entire festival. For him, the people are the real heroes and heroines because without them there would have been no carnival or festival to celebrate. Going forward, he urged them to continue to support the dream project

One of the Carnival bands on parade

and embrace the new administration that would come after him. As if in a prophetic but somewhat dramatic fashion, he gave charge to Senator Ben Ajade, the PDP governorship aspirant for the 2015 election who with the wife, stood close by, to ensure that the project continues and grows in tempo once they take over the mantle of leadership of the state. As the people applauded this symbolic charge of sort, the governor went ahead to cut the tape, declaring the celebration open officially as he said thus: “Let the celebration begins,” and the people responded in a resounding manner with shouts of joy and suddenly the sound of celebration filled the air with the popular track from Kool and the Gang – Celebration time – rendering the air and interestingly, ‘celebration time,’ was also the theme for the carnival. From that point on, it was indeed celebration time as the mood automatically changed with the muse of entertainment now fully in charge and the tempo completely went turbo charged as the entire arena went into fits of celebration, dancing, gyrating and singing to the high heavens.

Acrobatic displays

VIEWS FROM THE STREETS This is really celebration time

It is a dream come true because I have heard a lot about this great carnival and I learnt that about 800, 000 are expected to attend this event and 10 million people are watching live this great carnival. I have also learnt that this is the greatest street carnival in the whole of Africa and the theme of this carnival is celebration time and you can feel that this is really celebration time. Let me tell you that Nigeria deserves celebration time. What can be lovely more than a foreign diplomat in Nigeria

to attend celebration time? Nothing! lUriel Palti, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria

We're going to have fun on the road

Today is adult carnival, December 27, every year we celebrate the carnival in Cross River State and this is Passion 4 band and the general theme for the carnival this year is celebration time and so we are all celebrating and happy. The carnival is 10 years old and we have achieved a lot as you can see

Calabar is a destination for the entire nation this December particularly this carnival time. All the hotels are fully booked, economically as a state we are benefiting. We just want to be happy and celebrate carnival and we are going to have fun on the road. Yes, we are going to win, Passion 4 for real, always, any day and anytime. l Mrs. Magdalene Agibe, member of Passion 4

It’s the people’s carnival

It is celebration time and we want to

say thank you and that it has been sustained for this long is beyond us and it has now become the people’s carnival and the carnival for the community. Our desire is that we should make it a Nigeria tourism capital and that has been experienced because today we have the Israeli ambassador and the minister of tourism from Rwanda are among the huge number of people who have come here to share with us. The biggest legacy is that nobody can stop the carnival and it has a life of its own and we desire that the carnival should represent our live styles and

that has come to stay. It has huge political leadership and huge following. l Gabe Onah, chairman, carnival commission

It has become a more organised street party Well, this is the biggest street party in Africa and what we are saying is that is for everyone to come to catch the greatest fun that they can ever have. I can bet you that you will have a wonderful time. It is 10 years now. If you were here in 2005 and in 2006

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3 JANUARY 2015

Revellers strut their stuff

went to Seagull while the carnival band for the year in that section went to Masta Blasta with Seagull, Freedom, Passion 4 and Bayside bands following in that order. In the senior carnival section, the best costume crown went to Passion 4 while the carnival spirit and band of the year crown was claimed by Masta Blasta with Passion 4, Seagull, Freedom and Bayside following in that order.

Passion 4 was the first band to serenade the people with its various scintillating and titillating dance moves as the various segments of the band took on various sub themes and attires in a bid to interpret the theme of the carnival to the appreciation of the audience. Next on parade was Masta Blasta followed by Freedom, Seagull and Bayside bands. The five competing bands of the carnival presented beautiful, colourful, exciting, dramatic and theatrical pieces throughout the event. For many of the celebrants who had thronged the streets and the stadium to savour the theatrics, it was indeed a wonderful and memorable ritual for the carnival, which has grown and matured since its inception, 10 years ago. Garlands for the bands At the end of the day, results for the various competing segments of the carnival alongside that of the

children's carnival and cultural display were announced by the head of the adjudicating panel, Dr. Arnold Udoka, with Odukpani Local Government Area ranking second runner up in the cultural parade followed by Bakassi Local Government Area while Calabar Municipal came tops. In the junior king contest, Passion 4 ranked fifth followed by Bayside, Freedom and Masta Blasta respectively while Seagull claimed the crown. In the junior queen category, Bayside claimed the rear followed by Passion 4, Masta Blasta and Seagull respectively while Freedom came tops. In the senior king section Bayside also hugged the rear then came in Freedom, Seagull and Passion 4 while the title was claimed by Masta Blasta. In the queen section Bayside came last followed by Passion 4, Freedom and Masta Blasta while Seagull was crowned the queen. In the children carnival the best costume and carnival spirit crowns

The dance gets serious

you will begin to understand and see the kind of development that we have had with this carnival because from 2007 we took it to the next level and it became a more organised street party from what it was when it started. It started just like some celebrations on the street but now it has a theme every year, which means that what you are seeing is theatre on the road where all the bands are interpreting the theme for that year. This is part of the culture of the people, the people love the carnival and their lives are part of the carnival and they

want to participate at the carnival and we want to see the carnival year on year. This is one carnival that will grow and begin to rival the likes of the Brazilian Carnival, the Notting Hills Carnival, Trinidad Carnival that have been there for years. We believe that by the next carnival we will see the carnival band association take direct charge of the carnival. The carnival commission will only be regulating but it doesn’t mean that the carnival commission will not be working hand and in hand, it is a partnership

Governor Liyel Imoke with his wife, Obioma (extreme right) with other guests and the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Uriel Palti and his wife (left)

Organisation/security For many of the people, the organisation and security were almost flawless and seamless as everything fell in place and orderliness characterised the street parade from the starting point to the stadium. The only infraction witnessed was at the stadium towards the close of the celebration when it took over 20 minutes for Bayside band to take its turn to entertain. The intervening interval witnessed some fracas from a section of the crowd, which took a while for the security agent to put under control. Steps should be taken in the future to control the crowd at the stadium and ensure that they don’t run into the pitch while the parade is on as was the case during the celebration. Endnote That the carnival and the entire festival have reached the 10th year mark, for many of the people and observers, is a plus and credit to the vision and organisational skill of the government and the people. Besides, the fact that it has attracted the attention of the people with some from outside the country and also private sponsors – a

few blue chip companies, people say shows the carnival and the festival are good products. The challenge for the government and people now is not only that of sustaining it but to ensure that interest in it does not wean, which means that the next edition and subsequent ones must look for better ways to connect with the people and build on the legacies inherited from the last one decade. Obviously, the next edition will probably be a difficult one and of course, a defining moment too for the carnival, because it will be run by a new government and under a new structure as the carnival band association is expected to take charge of the event under the watchful eyes of the carnival commission. To achieve this task will require a link between the past administration and the new administration. This means, the new government should seek to work with some of the good hands and brains that have laboured to midwife the festival and not to discard them for political exigencies or patronage. Imoke must also be seen to rally support in every possible way, especially through his presence, as demonstrated by former governor Duke, for the new governor. Therefore, 2015 will be a watershed in the life of the carnival as whatever happens will greatly demonstrate what is to be expected in the years ahead. The success or otherwise of it will surely mark the new administration out, as the critical mass of people – visitors and investors who are likely to adopt a watch and see attitude in the months ahead, will decide then whether to continue to support or discard the carnival.

Carnival Commission Chairman, Gabe Onah, flanked by two female revellers

that will see to the greater success of the event. l Patrick Ugbe, Cross River State commissioner for sports

I’m impressed by the level of organisation

The major thing that I have seen here so far is organisation but without organisation you can’t have a successful programme. From what I have seen here even the sponsors are participating to show the level of seriousness. This is the kind of tourism event that we are looking

Members of Passion 4 strike a pose

for in Nigeria and I am sure that when we most times go for the World Travel Market, the Notting Hills Carnival, and the Caribbean ones, we see seriousness and we see proper organisation and the private sector which has invested in making it work are also participating, so I give kudos to them. In actual fact, this is my first time of actually participating but I want to enjoin and encourage other states, let’s have carnival like this so that we now have a timetable. Let all the states have something unique and not to copy the white man’s programme or cultural

dressing. Calabar Carnival is fantastic and if you want me to score it, I will score it 150 that is above 100 per cent. Because from what we are seeing, the banks are involved, the telecoms companies are involved. Now basically all we need to do is that those of us who are tourism practitioners should also come out with some kind of unique group that will follow them to parade. l Steve Isokari, a travel agent and member, Board of Trustees of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA)

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Politics 45

Face-Off

Trading blames over emergence of two 'speakers' in Ekiti p.48

Politics

Poverty alleviation: Much ado about the stomach p.49

Perspective

2015: Threats as new marketing tool (2) p.53

Presidency must remain in the South – Arogbofa, Afenifere scribe Secretary-General of Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa wants the Presidency to remain in the South to ensure continued existence of the country. Arogbofa tells BABATOPE OKEOWO that Yoruba should be cautious of who they support for elective positions just as he warned against selling their votes to the highest bidder. Excerpts: What are your expectations on the general election? Before, during and after, we should all bear in mind that we have no other country we can call our own, we must put this first in whatever we do. To this end, the electorate have to make sure what will make them sell their conscience should be avoided. Material inducement, food inducement, any commitment at all except the programmes of the parties, what the parties want to do for the people should be their primary concern because that is where the future lies. This is what they should carry into the election period, those seeking their votes or mandate must be the people they can vouch for not just anybody. They must look at their record, what they had been, may be they have been useful to the society, or selfish, whether they are trustworthy whether they love the citizens, all these are very important. I know hunger is on the air but for two or four weeks is a short period in a year not to talk of four or five years, for that short period, we should buckle up since it has been part of what we have been experiencing. They will come with their rice and money, if it is compulsory for them to take all these things without mortgaging their conscience, no problem. But they must let people know that we are not for your money, we are for what you want to do for us when you get there.

As a people, which direction do you think Yoruba should go in 2015? Talking for myself, for the next four years and as a result of my experience in the confab, the Yoruba people have to be very careful. I am one of the few, few in the sense of the people I interacted with but I know millions of people in that group who feel that for now the presidency should still stay in the south. The South-West has just got two terms, so the South-West is ruled out. The South-East; the Igbo people are saying they are not ready, talking of the south, they are out. We are now left with the SouthSouth and they are saying President Goodluck Jonathan to continue. The opinion of

the people there overweighs those who are saying something different. By and large, it is the South-South that is prepared for the presidency. We don’t have an ideal leader. Take a look at our leaders which of them can be said to be ideal. I don’t know. Whether military or civilian, each of them has got its own fault and when you talk of leadership, it does not refer to the man at the apex alone, leadership in governance are those who have something to do with government. It is not only the president, Senate President, speaker, and the National Assembly people, No! Anybody who is in position to lead, if I do what is right as a leader, you do what is right as a leader, the leader at the topmost

will be bound to do what is right. For now, since we cannot ask for the presidency and for the reasons I have advanced, I think we should still make do with what our southern brother want because that is the only way for sanity for now. We should not be too much in haste in this country. And the way I see people doing, those who want to gain power, I see element of selfishness there, not that they are patriotic. When they say there is maladministration in the government, I see hollowness. Those who want to gain power are they honest? What is their antecedent like? Can they be better? Look at so many things happening in this country, CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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‘The security situation is formidable' CONTINUED from PAGE 45

People have to realise that insurgency does not stop election

we should not play the pope in politics. In the previous elections, Afenifere used to adopt a particular candidate, are you going to do the same thing now? Politics then and now generally are different and so Afenifere is not an exception. At the onset, Afenifere has the philosophy of welfarism and that was why we went for education for the poor, free health for all to show our love, gainful employment and integrated rural development for most of our farmers and we did this successfully when we were in government. We were able to harness these and did a lot for our people. They appreciated us because we demonstrated welfarism, this idea to be good to one another. Apart from the four cardinal programmes, we did a lot to make people happy and so, they were ready to vote for us in all the political parties we floated, our AG, UPN, SDP and AD until things started scattering gradually. By then, we floated parties especially in the South-West with welfarism as cardinal programme and people bought it. But there came a time when over ambition crept in especially before the big crisis, Wild West (wetie) before the military intervention. It was not that Chief Obafemi Awolowo had 100 per cent control of the people then, no but I guess he had more than 60 per cent which was good. But somewhere down the line, we had people with inordinate ambition and we started having problems within the Afenifere setup. That notwithstanding because we are the conscience of the nation especially those of us who remain steadfast not that we have the money. We never looted money from the government treasury, Pa Ajasin when he became governor of Ondo State contested election with less than N200.000 and he won, that may sound strange. With him coming to government, we see that government as people’s government. The idea of looting or amazing of wealth never occurred to him, the security vote, he never spent it.

of the people, about health, education, jobs for them, what else do you want? These are what make you an Afenifere. Within the Afenifere group, we have official party and we have people who also belong to other parties, we co-exist as long as you believe in Afenifere credo.

Arogbofa

He did not have an additional house than the one he had in Owo. That was the spirit then. But gradually people became materialistic. The point I am making is that when we were in government, we never looted and because we are idealistic, we did not plan fortomorrow so that we can stock money for election here and there and the situation became worse during the AD era when some of the governors and because of power mongering they became the leaders of the party, that was where things started falling apart. With money and outside influence and because of inordinate ambition, things fell apart. It is not that we are not floating parties, we floated AD, SDMP, DPA and lately SDP coming back to live. But what I observe is that they became very weak structures

because of money to fund them. What we do is to establish a party as an ideal for human beings to imitate, those of you who have the money should go there and use it because it is welfarist, and people oriented. Are you not adopting any political party or candidate for this election? The Afenifere as at now comprises people of different background but brought together by the four cardinal principles and in such a situation once you believe in those things and you want to belong to Afenifere, you are absolved. We are not puritan, the society does not allow for being puritanic in this type of thing. We are convinced that if you have somebody who thinks about the welfare

What is your on the security challenges in the country? The insurgency problem has been intractable. We should see it as a national issue and should not pass the bulk. Political parties have been passing the bulk. We have not been patriotic enough about it. If we have come together collectively to fight insurgency, we would have seen an end to it. As long as we pass buck, we would not get to anywhere. People have to realise that insurgency does not stop election. The election must go ahead, governance has to go ahead even during war, and we have government. People should be very careful about this. I want to plead with everybody not to allow what the America soothsayers said about 2015, let us make mess of it. Let us make sure that the election comes and go, let us make sure we are not divided. Let us make sure that their bad dreams about us do not come into reality and I am sure God will help us. Some people may not like us but God loves us and our resources should be made to use judiciously. We should remember that oil is drying up, let us make sure that every state goes back and tap natural resources for the benefit of the people.

‘President Jonathan has transformed Nigeria’ Chancellor of the Uyo-based Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development, Pastor Bassey James, tells DOMINIK UMOSEN why support for President Jonathan should be the obligation of every patriotic Nigerian. Beyond the galaxy of distinguished personalities present at the event, how successful was the public presentation of the magazine, ‘Jonathan: Nigeria’ in Abuja? You know, the Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development is passionate about good leadership, including showcasing the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan who is the best leader Nigeria has ever produced. The magazine constitutes part of our efforts to project our contribution to good governance which this dispensation represents. President Jonathan has transformed the Nigerian landscape, in spite of contrary claims. This significantly-improved landscape include transformation in aviation, rail

transportation, roads and power which have all been unbundled for greater efficiency. For the first time in the country’s history, the best brains have been assembled to work with a committed leader to achieve the objective of transforming the country. This is a president that should be celebrated. The magazine is a private initiative to celebrate a government that is worthy of celebration. We have nothing to do with government. What gave you the conviction that this government is worthy of celebration? You are asking a wrong person. Ask Nigerians who is a better candidate between those contending for power. If you talk about good governance, for God’s sake, give 99 per cent of that to President Jonathan. I may be from the Niger Delta region but that does not subtract from the issue at stake. We believe that his candidature will rectify many years of wrongs committed against the region by the country. We have talked to people in the North, South, East and West. Everybody wants President Jonathan to return and conclude the good job that he has started. We are merely reflecting this overwhelming consensus. Make no mistakes: President Jonathan will win the presidential election because Nigerians want him to sustain

happened in Osun, Edo and Anambra. The INEC has said it several times that President Jonathan has never interfered in the operations of the commission. For the sake of fair play, justice and equity, what was good for the goose must also be good for the gander. If every Nigerian is insisting that President Jonathan should return to complete the good work he has started, then it means that there must have been something in him they have seen and appreciated; something that he has that others do not have.

James

the dividends of democracy and good leadership that he has come to represent. Yes, President Jonathan has re-defined the concept of good leadership, sense of direction which this country lacked for several years running. He is a leader who is always open to criticisms, even from the opposition. This is the first time in the history of this country that any person could a leader and get away with it. It is also the first time a sitting government could be trounced in election as it

What do you make of the attempt by oil workers to summon strike in solidarity with a female colleague who refused posting to Lagos? Whatever factors might have contributed to this situation definitely has nothing to do with this government. You will agree with me that this administration effectively and most admirably, sealed the door against perennial fuel crises that had become a way of life in this country until this government came. The administration of President Jonathan will possible crises in sector in the bud as he had always done in the last nine or so years. The contrived crisis will fizzle out in days, I can assure you.

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FaceOff

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 3 JANUARY 2015

Omirin is only confusing himself - Olugbemi Honourable Dele Olugbemi, a claimant to the Ekiti State House of Assembly's speaker's seat in this interview speaks on a number of political issues in the state. ADESINA WAHAB brings excerpts. The APC lawmakers recently held a plenary session and took some decisions, what is your reaction to that? They are only deluding themselves. The sittings of the honourable members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly is legitimately, legally and constitutionally fixed for the hallowed chamber of the House and that is at the House of Assembly Complex in Ado-Ekiti. The sitting of the Assembly is not like Adewale Omirin calling a family meeting for Aisegba-Ekiti. Their sitting is null and void and of no effect. They were elected into office by the people of the state to serve them and not to turn themselves into lackeys of their paid masters in Lagos and Osun states. Sittings of the honourable House of Assembly are not held in beer and drinking joints or the sitting room of a political godfather somewhere. As far as the Ekiti State House of Assembly is concerned, sittings are held in the hallowed chamber of the House and that is what we are doing. We have received the 2015 Appropriation Bill from Mr Governor, we have screened some appointees, we are performing our oversight functions and doing much more. I hope Omirin and his co-travellers will wake up to the stark reality that they are only chasing shadows and turning themselves to 'awada keri keri' people (comedians). If the sitting of any legislative house can just hold anywhere, then why do we have hallowed chambers of assemblies all over. If Omirin likes, let him call a meeting, am saying a meeting, not sitting, of his group for the kitchen of his house. But Dr Omirin said the leadership of the House can decide to sit anywhere it

pleases if the situation is not conducive and he cited the issue of insecurity, what is your take? Which leadership is he talking about? The one that has been sacked and replaced? He is no longer the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. He has been removed from office and duly replaced. We challenge them to tell the whole world where they held their 'ipade ebi' (family meeting). The business of the legislative arm of government, which is to make laws for the good governance of the people, is too serious to be taken to a beer parlour and one coming out to say they have done this or that. Your APC colleagues are raising the alarm that your party, the PDP and its leaders are planning to frustrate them from campaign for the coming elections, is that true? The sinner is only running when nobody is pursuing him. In the first instance, they were the ones who went on self-exile. Look, they know they cannot win a single seat in the coming elections. When they were in government, with a sitting governor, they lost in all the 16 local governments, out of the 177 wards in the state, how many did they win? Maybe about 60, so, the people of the state rejected them. Now, with their hypocrisy known and exposed to the people, how many polling units can they win? They are only offering excuses for their electoral failure ahead of the poll. The APC lawmaker also accused Governor Ayo Fayose of planning to arrest them. What is your reaction? Though His Excellency, Dr Ayo Fayose is the chief security officer of the state and he would not watch and allow some people to throw the state into confusion, it is the duty of security agencies to arrest anybody who contravenes the law. When Omirin led APC lawmakers to negotiate with the governor before they went haywire, were they not the ones begging the governor to help them settle their criminal cases of murder?

Omirin

Fayose can't coerce us, says Omirin

Dr Adewale Omirin, who is battling to regain control of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, explains to ADESINA WAHAB the significance of some raging political issues in the state. Your group recently held a plenary session at an undisclosed location. Is this guerilla legislation or what? We were elected to make good laws for the governance of Ekiti State by the people of the state. That we did, conscientiously for three and a half years, under the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi and everything went on well without any rancour. In fact, the House of Assembly then was adjudged the most productive in the whole country going by the number of bills, motions, resolutions, etc that we passed. We also did our oversight functions well without any trouble until Governor Ayo Fayose came into office. He came into office with the mindset of cajoling us and, if possible, force us to do his bidding, even if it is against our will. We said no and crisis erupted with the attendant purported take over of the Assembly by seven members out of 26. Yes, we have not been able to sit in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly for some weeks due to security reasons and threats to our lives. However, wherever the leadership of the Assembly decides to take its sitting to is allowed. We sat the other time and it is not that we adjourned indefinitely, so, it means we are going to sit and can sit at anytime. Nobody can stop us from performing our legislative duties. But the PDP faulted your sitting and challenged you to disclose the location where you sat, what's your reaction to that? We sat in Ado-Ekiti and if they are faulting us, the onus of proof lies on them. They are the ones saying the sitting was not in Ado-Ekiti, then let them tell the world where we sat. They are the ones to prove that.

Olugbemi

You and your APC colleagues have not been that visible in the state in the last few weeks. How do you hope to

campaign during the coming general elections? On the issue of public visibility, we don't need to go on air to announce our movement. If I have anything doing in my hometown now, I don't think it is appropriate to go and announce it that I am going on a private visit to Aisegba-Ekiti. Be that as it may, we are aware of all the clandestine moves to harass us. Those of us among the 19 APC lawmakers seeking re-election, we are 10 in number and the new ones who have been given our party's tickets, will be on the field to campaign and seek the people's votes. We are not unmindful of all their evil plans to harass, hound and hunt us. The other time we told the people of the state and Nigerians and the whole world watching what is happening in Ekiti State that Governor Ayo Fayose wants to get us arrested. But the fact and the bitter truth that they must know is that nobody can stop us from performing our legitimate duties. Is that related to your earlier claim that Governor Fayose wanted to get you people arrested? Yes. They have different evil plans and we are up to the game. One bitter truth the governor must know is that he cannot stop us from performing our legitimate duties. He cannot coerce us. It is not possible for him to arrest us. Let him try it and see the consequences. In continuation of Governor Fayose's stomach infrastructure programme, he donated food items and cash to people, what is your comment on that? We are not against the people he is giving those things to, but we pity them. Look at the type of items he gave them. It is ridiculous. He gave out five-week-old chickens to people, gave them N200 may be to buy salt, for I don't know what that amount can buy in today's Nigeria.

Politics

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he Holy Book says “the poor you will always have with you,” though nobody wants to be poor, one way or the other, some people are still poor. The presence of the poor in all societies has led to governments, agencies and even public spirited persons to come up with various programmes and intervention steps to reduce poverty. Among the basic needs of man, namely food, shelter and clothing, food appears to be the most important. To underscore the importance of food to man, the saying ‘a hungry man is an angry man,’ is globally acknowledged. Even the Yoruba have a proverb 'orisa bi ifun ko si ojojumo lo n gba ebo lowo eni' (there is no deity like the stomach, it gets sacrifice from people everyday). When Ayo Fayose, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the June 21 governorship election, created an upset by defeating the incumbent governor, who stood as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, a number of commentators accused the people of the state of ‘selling’ their conscience by voting for rice and other food items given them by Fayose, despite that all the candidates shared one thing or the other. Fayose, who doesn't shy away from controversy as long as it suits his purpose, somewhat legitimised the concept of ‘stomach infrastructure’ when he appointed a special assistant to be in charge of the project. “We know that the three basic needs of man are food, shelter and clothing. This is constant all over the world whether you are in America, Europe or Africa. Poverty knows no boundary and we are poised to reduce poverty in our state. “My main duty is to put food on the tables of Ekiti people. In advanced countries, they have what they called ‘Soup Kitchens’ where the poor go and eat. When somebody eats well, he will be in good health to contribute to the growth of the society. “Being in good health will also reduce man hours lost due to illhealth. Apart from the fact that we will be giving out food items to people, our administration will also create the enabling environment for our people to be financially empowered by patronising them in the execution of contracts. “The era where artisans such as carpenters, bricklayers and others are ‘imported’ to Ekiti from other states to do jobs our people can do is over. We will also ensure that our health facilities are in good shape, because that is part of our concept of stomach infrastructure. “The Ekiti Homes Agenda, through which we are collaborating with various agencies to build affordable houses for our people, is also part of the scheme. Ours is a total package,” Fayose said about the scheme. The governor followed up his promise with the distribution of rice, chickens, groundnut oil and cash to people and various groups in the state during the yuletide. Among the groups that benefited were commercial motorbike operators, teachers, civil servants, the elderly etc. However, the scheme raised a lot of dust, drawing angry exchanges between leaders of the APC and the PDP, the two main parties in the state. The APC, through the state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Olatubosun, faulted the much-touted

Poverty alleviation: Much ado about the stomach

Last June, a new terminology, 'Stomach Infrastructure,' was added to the political register of the country, courtesy of the intense jostling by candidates in the Ekiti State governorship election. ADESINA WAHAB, examines how different people and groups see it.

t t s c m fl p

Fayose giving out a live chicken to a woman

scheme of Fayose, saying it would further impoverish the people instead of making them live better lives. “The governor has turned Ekiti people to beggars by giving them hand-outs in form of kwashiorkorinfested chickens not bigger in size than ailing pigeons. “Governor Fayose gave two ‘congos’ of rice and miserable palm oil not up to one litre, all totalling N700 to each worker that the governor had earlier deducted N2,000 from their salaries for Christmas gift. “This is in contrast to Governor Kayode Fayemi who empowered the people through agriculture, cooperative and employment and apprenticeship schemes involving over 2,000 youths, which helped the people to earn a living and made them happy for four years as against Fayose's tokenism as Christmas gifts. “Fayemi last year paid civil servants 30 per cent of their salary as Christmas bonus. He also paid their leave bonus while their December salary was paid on December 18. In contrast, Fayose has refused to pay civil servants their September salary even though he had collected September allocation from the Federal

They abused us for providing immediate succour for our people. They described stomach infrastructure as an insult to Ekiti people

Government. Civil servants are yet to be paid as at December 22. “Last year, apart from 30 per cent bonus and leave bonus, all offices in MDAS were given gifts but all these have gone under Fayose as workers are now praying for their September salary let alone December salary or Christmas or leave bonus. “From what Fayose is doing, he is deliberately encouraging poverty so that people can be subservient to him and we sympathise with Ekiti workers and people who have suddenly been inflicted with miserable conditions by a governor touted to be the friend of the masses,” Olatubosun said. The governor’s party, the PDP, which rose to his defence, pointed out that APC copied Fayose’s initiative, and slammed the party for criticising the governor. PDP State Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, said if the concept was not good, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would not have shared similar goodies to people in Lagos last Sunday. Aluko said, “They abused us for providing immediate succour for our people. They described stomach infrastructure as an insult to Ekiti

people. They said it does not add value to the people; it diminishes their self-esteem, it diminishes their sense of self-worth and it denigrates what politics ought to be about. “However, their party leader in Lagos on Sunday, adopted the same concept of stomach infrastructure by personally sharing food items to people. “After condemning the concept, isn't it rather too late that the APC people are just realising that poverty should be addressed by providing immediate succour because poverty is poverty; it knows no religion and it has no tribal mark; and it affects everyone of us? “Governor Fayose will continue to run a welfarist government. He will continue to identify with the masses by putting food on their tables. "Most importantly, Governor Fayose will provide gainful employment for the youth and assist traders with soft loans so that they can be able to feed themselves. “With the average Nigerian daily assailed by problems ranging from insecurity to joblessness, if only his stomach is periodically filled with goodies from the collective pot, will he mind?”

50 Cover

hen Karl Marx, a German popular for his socialist writings, said in one of his works, Critique of the Hegelian Philosophy of Rights, that “Religion is the sign of the oppressed creature”, many in his time did not pay much attention to what he said. He was criticised for touching on the sensibilities and emotions of faith people. But, that was not enough to deter him. He, instead, saw religion in another instance as “the Opium of the Masses.” Incidentally, Marx’s statements, some say, are beginning to make sense in Nigeria. For proof, there is hardly any newspaper, television or radio stations in the country today that are not swamped with religious advertisements, giving notice of either the formation of one church group or the other, or handbills and flyers announcing crusades and special healings by churches, and recently, mosques. The bug, it seems, has also caught up with politics, especially in Nigeria where religion is now seen as the bet for winning elections, particularly the crucial presidential election. This antics, however, appears to be hitting a crescendo at present. The battle for Nigeria’s presidency began immediately after the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, as the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC). Ahead of the presidential election in April, Jonathan and Buhari have continued to show signs of using ethno-religious lines to brighten their chances of winning. This is understandable. Jonathan, it seems may have lost a lot of support in many areas of the North at this critical time. While Buhari at the other end seemed not to fare better either; he contested several elections in the past and lost. These postures, analysts say, is what has pitched the two main gladiators against Nigerian voting public, who seem to be caught in the current political web. The populace seemed to be condemned to making a choice from the two, in the absence of other veritable options. In the unfolding drama and dilemma, however, the two contenders of the highest political seat in the land have turned their attention to religion in which they are now using churches as well as mosques as campaign grounds to appeal to the sentiments of voters. Observers are of the opinion that politicians’ interests are money and power and as such could do anything to achieve their aim. In this regard, politicians in their movements, characters, behaviors, statements, utterances and overall attitude toward the elections would demonstrate evidence of godliness as either Christians or Moslems, who read Bible and Koran respectively even when they meant the opposite. Incidentally, religious leaders in the opinion of others are falling prey to this simply because of their alleged interest in the fat offering envelopes these politicians throw at them when they visit. It all started on February 22, 2013 when the President announced that he would, from then on, worship outside Aso Rock Villa Chapel every last Sunday of the month. He announced the decision at the headquarters of Dunamis Gospel Church, Garki, Abuja, where he attended a Sunday service. According to him, “I decided to be going from one church to another every last Sunday

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Presidential election:

The battle moves to churches and mosques Religion is supposed to be an avenue for seeking solemn union with the creator. Today, such appears to be making way for a more carnal pursuit, especially in Nigeria where it is now touted to be the bet for swaying votes. But, would it help decide the 2015 presidential elections? How would the political gladiators use it to advantage? These forms the fulcrum of this report by ISIOMA MADIKE of the month to show appreciation to Christians for their prayers.” Jonathan said the decision was neither political nor out of contempt for Aso Villa Chapel where he ought to worship traditionally. “Traditionally, we have the State House Chapel where I worship every Sunday. If we do not have the chapel, probably, I would have been here one or two times before this time. It is only during the Christmas period, may be, two Sundays before Christmas and the Sunday before and after New Year that we sometimes close the chapel, and allow people to participate in their church services and that time I do go round. This year, we have decided that from now onward, until I leave the State House, every last Sunday of the month I will go to different churches,” he said. He followed that with a visit to Jerusalem on Saturday, October 9, 2014 for a supposedly two-day pilgrimage to Israel. According to the president’s itinerary, Jonathan used the occasion to pray for Nigeria at an Interdenominational Church Service with the theme: “A day with Jesus for Nigeria in Israel’’. That was the second time Jonathan was performing pilgrimage in office. As it turned out, the pilgrimage became a veritable avenue for political bigwigs and other supporters of the President to subtly canvas for

Buhari visits Adeboye

He is expected to attract the sympathy of members of his church

votes in the coming presidential election. The roll call was intimidating. The entourage included Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission and Jones Arogbofa, the Chief of Staff, John-Kennedy Opara. Other dignitaries that accompanied the President were Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Obioma Onwuzurumba, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide and Senator Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Members of the Federal Government delegation in the pilgrimage include the Nicholas Okoh, Primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for FCT, Chinedu Neboh, Minister of Power, Sarah Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources, Philip Aduda and Ndudi Elumelu, were also part of the delegation as well as Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Jonah Jang of Plateau. They were on arrival at the David Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel Davi Obasa. However, since his return, the President has been speaking in negation of his earlier promise against

President Jonathan worshipping at the RCCG Olive Tree Parish Ikoyi, Lagos, with Pastor Adeboye and wife, Folu www.nigerianmonitor.com

making his worship at religious centres a political affair. His recent church outings suggest as much. Speaking at St. Mathew’s Anglican Church in Maitama, Abuja, Jonathan told the opposition politicians that Nigeria does not belong to anyone and cannot be considered anybody’s personal estate. He claimed to have always been embarrassed by divisive utterances made by some politicians, noting that those involved in such do not mean well for the country. “As a politician, you want people to elect you to perform your responsibilities. If you mean well for the country, you wouldn’t be fanning the embers of discord and hatred. Nigeria is nobody’s personal estate, but you want to serve. If the people want you to serve, you serve. But if they say no, then leave. So, I get embarrassed when we the politicians make provocative statements; statements that create division among Nigerians and that can set this country ablaze. Those who take government by violence hardly end well; examples abound in some African countries,” he said. Incidentally, most church leaders have tacitly joined the President’s band of campaign, directing members at certain instances to come out and join the “rented crowds” at political rallies. Some, according to reports, even went further to ask willing members of their congregation to write down their names for the purpose of making adequate “logistics” provisions for them. However, Buhari’s campaign managers have also been squaring up in this regards. They seem to understand the image problems the former Head of State has suffered for his strong Islamic religious inclinations. He is perceived in many quarters as being intolerant of other religious views. This appears to have attracted disaffection towards him, especially by Christian religious leaders and groups, who believed that he was out against the Christian faith and to antagonise them. They are, thereby, convincing their followers

Cover

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

that a vote for Buhari meant a vote to Islamise Nigeria. Buhari, in the past, was said to have also in his desperation, arrogantly canvassed that Christians voted for Christians and Muslims for Muslims, thereby giving strength to the arguments of his opponents that he was a religious bigot. Today, he is equally finding it difficult to convince Nigerians of not making inciting comments that instigated post-election violence at different times, as well as appearing to be supportive of the activities of the Boko Haram sect. To erase these blurs in the minds of voters, Buhari, like in advanced democracies, has continued to encourage clerics to participate in the electoral process in the country. He has, in this wise, consistently chosen Christians as his running mates. In 2011, he chose a devout Christian and Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, and now, another devout Christian and pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Yemi Osibajo. This is even as Buhari now appears to drop fanatical religious attitude and was reported to have visited the RCCG Camp Ground in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to score his point of not being anti-Christians. To many, the choice of Osinbajo remains a political masterstroke. The erudite scholar and motivational speaker is seen as a brilliant legal practitioner whose expertise has been called to play in many legal battles where he made good showings of himself. He is expected to attract the sympathy of not only members of his church for the opposition party, but that of the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria. Also, RCCG, since 1981 when the present General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye took over, the church has witnessed membership explosion. It is said that the church boast of over 2,000 parishes across Nigeria. One of its programmes, Holy Ghost Service, an all-night miracle service that holds on first Friday of every month at the Redemption Camp

along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, equally records an appreciable number; an average of 500,000 worshipers. It is this huge population that the APC, according to analysts, is likely to leverage on through Osinbajo’s candidacy. Jonathan has also been to Redemption Camp at different times in the past where Adeboye was seen subtly canvassing for his continuation in office before his devotees. He has visited a number of their Pentecostal churches to solicit for their cooperation to convince members to back his candidacy for the presidency. But, critics have not found these romance of religions leaders funny. Many of them believe that pastors of all churches, Mosque and Temples should stop inviting politicians to their worship centres. “They should adopt a policy of if you steal our resources our gods would fish you out and deal with you. Not bringing them in and collecting brown/white envelope and act as if nothing ever happen,” those in this divide, said. However, PDP has said it will

Under no circumstances should politicians be allowed to campaign in the mosque

refrain from making inflammatory statement that might heat up the polity. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, in a telephone interview said that officials of the party will comport themselves based on the directive of the President. Reacting to statement that politicians now resort to the use of churches and mosques for campaign, Metuh said “it is early in the year to comment on this. We abide by the directive of Mr. President. The President said we should comport ourselves and to avoid comments that will heat the polity. He is our president and we have to obey him," he stated. In his own reaction, the spokesperson of APC, Lai Mohammed, says “if any political party is guilty of using and exploiting ethnic and religious device, it is not simply APC. And this is what we have been preaching against and what the PDP and the presidency have been encouraging all along. Fortunately, people are now seeing the light. “This is very disturbing. This is a policy that has been promoted by the President in the last two years; it is divisive, it is counter-productive, and it can only lead to further evil; unnecessary heating of the politics. The president in particular has exploited the fault political lines such as ethnicity and religion to further divide Nigerians. And this is very unhealthy. And you see, we are just grateful that some of the religious leaders are now seeing the danger in this kind of approach. And this has been simplified by the recent interview granted by Father Mbaka in Enugu, in which he said the issue at stake is not about religion but about competence and capacity. Mr. Jonathan has shown that he lacks the competence and capacity to address the issue of corruption and insecurity. We hope that other leaders, whether Christians or Muslims would look at the candidates and what they stand for and not either because they are Christian or Muslim. “This frequent visit of Mr. President to churches is not the norm. You see for a secular state like that, while the President and our leaders are entitled to their faith; there religious inclination should be private affairs. But when you now see a governor or a president blatantly exploiting religious divide, it is very dangerous,” he said. On APC candidate leaning towards religion in the choice of running mate, Mohammed says,” no,

FCT CAN Chairman, Akanji, President Jonathan, Deputy Chief Imam Abuja Mosque and Vice-President Sambo during Sallah visit at the Villa photo: www.alashock.com

what our presidential candidate, Buhari, has done is to respect religious sensibilities of all Nigerians. What we have done is that we have taken into recognition the religious sensibility of Nigerians not exploiting religious belief in a country with diverse religious and cultural beliefs." Yet, Islamic scholars appear to be divided on whether politicians should be allowed to campaign or make political statements in the mosque or not. The Mudir of Markaz Islamic and Arabic Institute, Lagos, Sheik Habeebullahi Adam Al-Ilory, said it was not a bad idea if politicians come to the mosque to address the congregation. “The institute has a large mosque, which is used for jumat prayers on Friday and has hosted many politicians of note in the past,” he said. However, Al-Ilory, who insisted that there was nothing wrong if mosques host politicians, warned against abuse of the privilege. He said, “There is nothing bad in it at all. If you listen to the sermons will give on Friday, you will discover that they have varieties. It could be on politics, health, religion, social development and so on. Such topic must also be relevant, timely and current. It could social, political or economic in nature. “During the time of the Prophet, he was the head of religion, government and the chief judge. You can do constructive criticisms in the mosque, you can settle disputes in the mosque, and we can talk about how to bring development to our society there. So, it is a misconception to say that mosque is meant for worship alone. The only problem is that when you allowed politicians, they can abuse it, they can turn it into a place where they criticise one another. This should not be allowed. Another problem is that some of our politicians are not sincere. During electioneering, some of them will come to the mosque but immediately after the election, you don’t see them again and they don’t even listen to the clerics,” AlIlory said. Al-Ilory, who is also the Publicity Secretary of League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Edo and Delta states, added, “it is not wrong for politicians to talk to people in the mosque but they should not be encouraged.” Also, a professor of Islamic Studies at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Ishaq Akintola, said politicians are “free to move in and out of the mosques and they are free to talk to people.” He, however, cautioned that the best place electioneering should be done is outside the mosque. He said, “For instance, if I am a politician and a Muslim, I can talk to a few people after the prayers. Although the mosque is for worship but politicians can talk to people unofficially. I said unofficially because the Imam may not know about it. Politicians can distribute leaflets in the mosque and you cannot stop them from doing that. You can’t say they can’t enter the mosque.” But for the executive director of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, under no circumstances should politicians be allowed to campaign in the mosque. “It is not allowed in Islam. Mosques are strictly for religious worship. If the mosque has hall, such electioneering can be done there,” he added. • Additional reports from Onyekachi Eze, in Abuja and Temitope Ogunbanke, in Lagos.

Milestones

Sufuyan Ojeifo

met Ambassador Emmanuel Oseimiegha Otiotio in 1998 while I was Deputy Bureau Editor in the Abuja Office of Vanguard newspapers. At his instance, I attended a lunch meeting, in his house at the “E” wing of the Apo Legislators’ Quarters, which provided an opportunity to let us into his political plans and build a friendship that has, since then, flourished. Otiotio, an official of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, was Chief Protocol Officer in the Office of the Head of State, a position he assumed in 1995. In 1998, he resigned to make a foray into the murky waters of politics; and, his aspiration was to be governor of Bayelsa State. He was confident that

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Otiotio, ambassador of Christ at 56

he would make it. But his quiet mien and soft voice, as he regaled us with his vision for Bayelsa State, painted a contrasting picture of a gentleman taking up the gauntlet, to confront a horde of rugged, desperate and unconscionable politicians who were all set to grab power at all cost. At the end of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries that he reportedly won, but which victory was awarded to Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, President Olusegun Otiotio

Obasanjo, acting in concert with the leadership of the party in the state, decided to pacify him by appointing him Nigeria’s ambassador to Japan. While in the saddle as ambassador in Tokyo, he performed creditably, helping to develop frameworks that strengthened bilateral relations between Japan and Nigeria. He returned to the country in 2003, with his eyes sharply focused on the governorship of Bayelsa, but he did not enter into the race. He says he is waiting for specific instruc-

3 JANUARY 2015

tion from God on the right time to take the plunge. Otiotio, who is 56 years old today, is not under any pressure to make a hurried decision. He does not believe the factor of age is potent enough to stymie the plan and purpose of God for his life. Ask him any question, no matter how tricky, his answer is always: “I am praying and we must continue to pray. God will guide me and He is the One who has the final say.” Born in Nembe, Bassambiri in Nembe Local Government of Bayelsa State on December 27, 1958, Otiotio, who is happily married and has five children, attended Government Primary School, Opobo Town and State School, Bassambiri between 1966 and 1971, before proceeding to Nembe National Grammar School from 1972 to 1976. From 1978 to 1982, he studied and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in History from the University of Port Harcourt, and from 1985 to 1986, he obtained a Master of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Lagos. He studied at the Foreign Service Academy, Lagos, from 1987 to 1988 from where he obtained a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies. Consequent upon graduation and his one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Otiotio was employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was posted to West Germany in August 1992. He was seconded from the Ministry to the International Training Institute for Peace, Lagos in 1994. He was thereafter seconded to the Office of the Head of State as Chief Protocol Officer in January 1995. His Emmanuel Oseimiegha Otiotio Farms and Foundation both of which he established in 2005 are up and running. And because of his influence and capacity to offer Godly advice, he was appointed Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Government of Bayelsa from August 2008 to February 2012. A polyglot, who speaks Ijaw, Igbo, German and English, Otiotio is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. His hobbies are reading and studying the Bible, singing Christian songs, praying for leaders (any time he sees me, his admonition has always been for us to pray for Nigeria and its leader), playing golf and doing community service. He has attended so many important courses spanning the secular and religious spheres. He took courses at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Havard University and Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. In the religious sphere, he has taken a number of courses organised by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. • Mr Ojeifo, journalist and publisher, sent this tribute from Abuja.

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

learly, the political stakes are extremely high. Nigerians are mindful that failure to achieve democratic stability through a transparent electoral process may imperil the country's future as a coherent state. This scenario is apparently being misread by certain forces who out of desperation or mischief or both are fielding fundamentally flawed game-plans to “retain” or “retrieve” power. The main thrust of this essay is captured in part by the recent position expressed by prominent Kaduna-based Nigerian Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi. “Surely there is religion in politics and politics in religion. However the 2015 PDP v APC is not about religion. It’s a time bomb and God is not the author of mischief. “Security members have clamped down on APC members and taken away their computers, while some irrational youth are threatening the lives of PDP members with their families in the North. PDP posters are vandalized in some places.” Gumi has willy-nilly built a reputation of speaking with alarming frankness on national issues. However, for his efforts the cleric recently revealed he and his children have received specific threats from shadowy general Muhammadu Buhari supporters in the North. His position is curiously perceived in certain quarters as blasphemous against Buhari. Last week the first part of this article focused was on the threats against President Jonathan from pro-Buhari forces in the North. We look at threats from President Goodluck Jonathan supporters from the South. At issue is to draw attention to the evolving trend of deploying threats as a new political marketing tool. Threats from pro-Jonathan forces directed against the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential flag-bearer are perceived to come in two key sources. One is from the security agencies and the other is chiefly from ex-militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, Jonathan’s kinsman. It could be recalled that in November, 2014, a combined team of men of the DSS and OP-MESA stormed the Bola Ajibola Data Centre belonging to the APC in the Ikeja area of Lagos, arrested 25 APC data agents and seized several computers. The APC saw the move a threat against the party’s operational capacity and strategy. Without doubt their concerns are legitimate and can only be dismissible if the security agencies show credible reasons for their actions. Where they cannot, this will simply result in handing propaganda ammunition to APC which has a competent generalissimo in its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed. On the other hand the perceived threat from Asari

2015: Threats as new marketing tool (2) Dokubo’s public pronouncement appear to hold more cause for concern than even the invasion of APC data centre in Lagos. Dokubo speaks with extreme boldness. In one of his outbursts Dokubo told Nigerians that, “No Northerner will ever, ever be elected President in this country again. We will match violence by violence. We will match intrigues by intrigues. We will match bullet by bullet. We will match blood by blood. “We are ready for them. Goodluck Jonathan will complete his tenure of two terms whether they (north-

The Nation-State With Louis Achi

achilouis35@gmail.com erners) like it or not. To us, they don’t even exist because we pay them. He who pays the piper dictates the tune.” Not one to let the grass grow beneath his feet , Lai Mohammed fired back: “What on earth gave AsariDokubo the confidence to issue threats against a whole nation? If he doesn’t care about elections and democracy, how else could his hero,

President Jonathan, have come to power? Does he know the meaning of anarchy? Does he think anyone, no matter how big, is more important than his country or bigger than its constitution? “When he said President Jonathan ‘must complete the mandatory constitutionallyallowable two terms of eight years’ or the militants will

make Nigeria ungovernable, was he aware that even the North that has become his favourite whipping boy did not complete its own eight years before his kinsman became President?” Clearly this trend of ‘dialogue’ is neither civilized nor safe because they could easily morph into other undesirable dimensions. Generation of political hot is actually not a unique feature in politicking in other turfs. But when this takes toga of real threats to lives, limbs and property it clearly has crossed the line and requires a firmer restraint both by the state and key political actors.

In his New Year speech, President Jonathan appears to have correctly recognized this evolving dangerous dimension and pledged appropriate response. His words: “After the 2011 general elections, some unpatriotic elements embarked on an orgy of violence, resulting in the destruction of lives and property. That will not be allowed to happen this time around. This government will act decisively against anyone who disrupts the public peace, before, during or after the 2015 general elections.” • CONCLUDED

54 Sport Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

Gerrard confirms Liverpool exit

iverpool captain Steven Gerrard called his decision to leave at the end of the season "the toughest" of his life. The 34-year-old, out of contract this summer, joined the Reds aged nine and has scored 180 goals in 695 games. "This has been the toughest decision of my life, one both me and my family have agonised over for a good deal of time," said the exEngland midfielder. He added he would continue to play but not for a potential rival as he could "never contemplate" facing Liverpool. Gerrard is being linked with a move to Major League Soccer in the United States once the English season ends. He stressed: "I won't be playing for a competing club and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool. "My decision is completely based on my wish to experience something different in my career

Sport Slaming Adekunle Salami

and life and I also want to make sure that I have no regrets when my playing career is eventually over. "From now until the last kick of the last game of the season, I will be as fully committed to the team as I ever have been and giving everything I have to help Liverpool win games." Gerrard, born in the Merseyside village of Whiston, joined Liverpool's academy when he was nine years old, making his first-team debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998. He led the club to the Champions League title in 2005, scoring his side's first goal as they came from three down to draw 3-3 against AC Milan and then win on penalties. He has also won the UEFA Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two UEFA Super Cups, and earned 114 England caps before retiring after the World Cup.

adekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only)

New Year, new Eagles

Football did well in 2014 – Sanusi Charles Ogundiya

he Director of Competitions of the Nigeria Football Federation, Sanusi Mohammed, has described 2014 as a successful year for Nigerian football. Speaking to our correspondent in Abuja during the week, Sanusi expressed joy over the successes recorded by all the national teams in 2014 despite the inability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the African Cup of Nations slated for Equatorial Guinea. “Nigeria football did very well in 2014; all our

Murray

Murray beats Lopez in Abu Dhabi

ndy Murray beat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-1) 5-7 6-4 in the opening match of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. The Scot won on his fifth match point and faces world number three Rafael Nadal in the semi-final on Friday. Murray, 27, said: "Lopez had break points and I had a lot of match points so I'm happy just to get through." The six-man exhibition event is the unofficial season opener and Novak Djokovic is also taking part. Nadal and world number one Djokovic receive byes into the last four as the topranked players.

teams qualified for various competitions in the New Year and the only glitch in the year was the inability of Super Eagles to qualify for AFCON. “Another setback in the year was the crisis faced at the federation, but apart from that, we had a fruitful year. “The female national teams also did wonderfully well in the year. The Flamingoes got to the quarter-final of the U-17 FIFA World Cup, the Falconets got to the final of the U-20 FIFA World Cup while the Super Falcons won the AWC,” Sanusi said.

In the New Year, Sanusi said the target of the federation was to build a new Super Eagles team that the fans would be proud of and also to rebuild the relationship between football stakeholders in the country. He said: “The target now is to look forward, build a formidable team in 2015 that Nigeria can be proud of to eradicate the heartbreak of 2014, and of course to build the relationship between stakeholders at the federation, and I am sure the Amaju Pinnick-led board is doing something about that."

Man charged for confronting Wenger

man has been charged after allegedly confronting Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger during the Gunners' 2-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year's Day. Luke Bryant, 25, from Lymington, Hampshire, is accused of going on to an area adjacent to the pitch contrary to the Football (Offences) Act 1991. He will appear at South-

ampton Magistrates' Court on 22 January. Mr Bryant allegedly approached the Arsenal boss, 65, before being led away by stewards and detained by police. Southampton Football Club said he was an Arsenal fan who had been sitting with home supporters but Wenger said he believed he Wenger was a Saints fan.

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Nigerian State Capitals-2

KEY WORDS ABAKALIKI ABEOKUTA ADO-EKITI AKURE ASABA AWKA

GUSAU MAIDUGURI IBADAN MAKURDI IKEJA MINNA ILORIN OSOGBO JALINGO OWERRI JOS SOKOTO

K A B U I Y N O B E T

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

S I N

O G S

K O E

O K N

T E U

O B G

U A

G H

4 7

9 10

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

I H B I N U M U

O I

I A

N D

14 16 18 19 21

1 5 7 8 9 10 11 12

The capital of Sri Lanka, (7). Zoological garden, abbr., (3). Prosecute, (3). Floor covering, (3). Indicating 'new', (3). Adhesive, (4). Stagger, (4). River in Russia, (2).

DOWN 1 Indian Ocean independent state, (7).

2 Foam, (6).

3 Fortune, (4). 4 Osun state capital, (6). 5 Domesticated variety of cattle, (4).

24 25

ACROSS

6 Frequently, (3).

13 Avert, (7).

16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

A square, (2). Shaft on which wheel turns, (4). Competent, (4). Jeer, (3). Annoyance, (3). Lubricant, (3). In the open air, (3). Well-known, (7).

14 Frail, (6). 15 Run out, (6). 19 Stigma, (4). 20 2nd Republic Borno Governor, (4). 21 Washing detergent, (3). See solution on page 20

wo-time Africa Footballer of the year, Nwankwo Kanu, during the week scored Nigerian football low in 2014. He was particularly irked about the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Kanu has seen it all in the game and he has every reason to feel bad about the lack-lustre performances of Coach Stephen Keshi and his players. The home-based Eagles started on a brilliant note by winning a bronze medal in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) event held in South Africa. It was Nigeria’s first outing at the competition meant for players based on the continent. However, Nigeria failed to reap from the exploits of the lads at the event. Expectations were high about the Eagles’ participation at the World Cup but the competition held in Brazil became another issue entirely as the players and officials chose to fight for money rather than do the country proud at the global stage. Players skipped training in protest as they asked for dollars and it was not a surprise they lost 2-0 to France in the second round match they could have won ordinarily. A new president, Amaju Pinnick, was elected boss of the Nigeria Football Federation after months of crisis that started during the World Cup in Brazil. The emergence of Pinnick was not enough for the warring factions in Nigeria’s football crisis to sheath their sword. Instead, the crisis continued and it was one of the reasons that led to the failure of the Eagles to pick a ticket to the AFCON in Equatorial Guinea. At the end of 2013, Nigeria was 4th in Africa according to the FIFA rankings but in December 2014, Nigeria was ranked 9th on the continent. This is indicative of Nigeria’s decline in the round leather game. The Super Eagles recorded poor results despite the huge money spent on them by the NFF and government. Sad enough, the coach who led Eagles to the disastrous qualifiers is still hanging on to his position courtesy of the external influence of politicians including President Goodluck Jonathan. The women national team won the African Women Championship in Namibia but the story is that the players were given their match bonuses in Nigeria after winning the trophy. Super Eagles cannot be owed after winning a match and you still expect them to file out for another game. One is not encouraging the NFF not to pay the players as at when due but they should also be professional in the discharge of their duties on the pitch. The women teams deserve more respect. The Falconets won silver at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. The attitude in the Super Eagles is so bad and that is why there is always problem in the team. Looking forward, there is need to have a change of attitude in the Eagles in the New Year. The players should think more of what they can achieve for the country and the huge followers of the game in Nigeria. Because of football, many other sports are languishing in abject neglect, yet football seems to bring more pains than joy to the people especially from the Super Eagles. In this New Year, the Eagles need a new handler to start a good developmental programme and who will travel to all parts of the country to look for good talents for the team. There is need to evaluate the players in the current Eagles and pick only those who are ready to flow with the new idea of embracing discipline with patriotic zeal. Players who seem to be bigger than the country should be shown the way out. A fresh code of conduct is desirable following the crisis that has engulfed the team in recent time and only those ready to abide with it should be considered. In 2015, there is a big chance to start the building process of a new-look Super Eagles. The Super Eagles is a big brand and since the performance of the team is the only yardstick FIFA uses to rate the country, everything about the team should be taken seriously. The NFF should insist on having an attractive domestic league where a solid team could be raised such that the foreign professionals will sweat for shirts in the team. The New Year is a busy one for the football house but the task of raising a solid Super Eagles is also very KEY. Happy 2015.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

3 JANUARY 2015

DESTINATION

10 years on, Carnival Calabar rocks

P.42

SATURDAY N150

Sanctity of Truth

SPORT

2015: Taiwo tips Nigeria to rise again

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2015

P.25

Ronaldo resumes goals charge T

Ifeanyi Ibeh he last time Real Madrid came up against Valencia, back in May 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning, improvised back-heel volley to salvage a draw for Los Blancos that kept the European champions in the race for the La Liga title. Down 2-1 in the 92nd minute, Angel Di Maria crossed from the edge of the box onto the path of Ronaldo who managed to evade his marker before twisting his body away from goal and back-heeling the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2. The goal was Ronaldo’s 50th of the 2013-14 season which made the Portuguese forward the first player in

Spanish football history to score 50 or more goals for four consecutive seasons. But that incredible strike against Valencia was to prove irrelevant at the end of the season as Carlo Ancelotti’s side failed to prevent city rivals Atletico Madrid from clinching the La Liga title. This season, Real Madrid remain on course for the La Liga title on the back of an incredible run of results that has seen them win their last 20 competitive fixtures in all competitions, including the UEFA Champions League. They are one point ahead of fierce rivals Barcelona and, with a game in hand, will be hoping Ronaldo continues his recent scoring record against Valencia and consolidate their slim lead over Barca.

The last time Ronaldo failed to score in a La Liga game against Valencia was back in August 2012 in a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. “I love scoring goals. The season has been great so far and I hope to keep scoring to help the team (Real),” Ronaldo said. But in the five other matches he has started against Valencia, the Portuguese has found the back of the net seven times and chances are that the 29-year-old will, come the end of Sunday’s encounter at the Mestalla, add one or more goals to the 25 he has scored so far from 14 La Liga matches this season – a figure which is currently 10 more than that of his fierce rival in the race for the Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi of Barcelona - who has played two more matches than the former Manchester United star.

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