Friday, may 20, 2016 new telegraph by Newtelegraphonline

Cash crunch: Govs approach World Bank for $3.25bn grant Anule Emmanuel Abuja

overnors of the 36 states of the federation have reactivated a process to access a

World Bank grant of $3.25 billion for the funding of infrastructure. The governors met on Wednesday night at the

presidential villa under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) where they received officials of the World Bank.

Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, who briefed reporters after the meeting alongside the Governor of Zamfara State,

NEC wants special courts to try oil thieves

Abdulaziz Yari, admitted that the states are broke. El-Rufai said the money was part of the global bank's portfolio for the states in 2016. He said the funds have

been lying idle for some time now due to failure of the state governments to provide counterpart funds to access the grant. El-Rufai said: "Well, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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Friday, May 20, 2016

$40m diversion: No plot to implicate Jonathan – EFCC }10

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Vol. 3 No. 821

We’re keeping Dasuki to avoid escape – DSS }4

Metuh vomits in court premises }10

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Ronke: Autopsy indicts husband, appears in court today –Police }8

N150

Strike: Police teargas, arrest labour leaders Jonathan

Dasuki

Metuh

Late Ronke and husband

}2,6 &7 lNLC chairman sustains leg, head injuries lLabour demands release of members lStrike paralyses states

Buhari to Chibok girl: You must go back to school

}10

L-R: Rescued Chibok schoolgirl, Miss. Amina Ali; her baby, Safiya; President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Staff to Kaduna State Governor, Hajia Hadiza Baba Usman, during Amina’s visit to Buhari in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

EgyptAir crashes into sea with 66 passengers, crew }44

World risks 10m deaths annually from drug-resistance – Report

NEWS

FRIday, May 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Police beat, teargas, arrest labour leaders Philip Nyam, Uchenna Inya, Yekeen Nurudeen and Chukwu David

he police yesterday descended on labour leaders in Ebonyi State for organising rally to protest the hike in the pump price of petrol from N86 to N145 per litre. Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, was beaten and injured by the police in Abakaliki during a peaceful rally in support of the on-going strike declared by a faction of the NLC.

Nwafor, who was teargassed by the police, sustained leg and head injuries. He was bundled into a police Hilux van and whisked to police headquarters in Abakaliki, the state capital. Other labour leaders also sustained varying degrees of injuries during the rally. The labour leaders had gathered at the NLC secretariat located along Ugwuachara Road, Abakaliki and commenced the rally. On getting to Bishop Mcgretrick Pastoral Centre along old Enugu Road, the labour leaders were intercepted by a team of policemen, who were in

three Hilux vans and who immediately fired teargas on them, leading to pandemonium in the metropolis as people scampered for safety. This was as some policemen threw teargas while others descended on the labour leaders. The labour leaders were later arrested and taken to the police headquarters, where they were detained. Addressing reporters, Nwafor, who was in police custody alongside other labour leaders, said: “We were on a peaceful rally over the fuel price increase and electricity tariff when we were attacked and it is a protest that is on-going all

over the country and we notified the police of the protest. “We gave them a letter on the protest. After I called the Commissioner of Police and she didn’t pick the call, we made sure that the letter was delivered to the commissioner and then commenced the rally. “We were marching peacefully when policemen came and attacked us. They tear-gassed and beat me up. Five policemen bundled me and threw me into their Hilux van and that was why I broke my hands and legs like this. “As you can see, I can’t walk, I’m being assisted

Director General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General Johnny Hamakin (right), presenting a souvenir to the Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, during his visit to Arik Air Aviation Centre, Ikeja, Lagos…on Wednesday.

Sheriff in one-man race for PDP chair

lAkande-Adeola may emerge as secretary Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, is in a one-man race to retain his seat. Though it is not yet clear if the position will be declared vacant, the former Borno State governor is the sole candidate for the position. Sheriff was adopted last Saturday at Jalingo by PDP North-East at the zonal congress of the party. The national chairmanship position was zoned to the North-East. But it is still doubtful if the position will be contested for at Port Harcourt, Rivers State where the PDP National Convention will hold tomorrow. Three national officials of the party, including Sheriff, had obtained a court order restraining the PDP from filling the national chairmanship, national secretary and national auditor positions. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it

would monitor the Port Harcourt convention, but not the three positions unless vacated by the court. Also, former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, may replace Prof. Adewale Oladipo as PDP National Secretary. The position, which was retained in the SouthWest, was re-zoned to Oyo State. Oladipo is from Osun State. He is, however, contesting that his tenure expires in December 2018. Alhaji Fatai Adeyenju, the outgoing Financial Secretary, is also claiming that his tenure will end in 2018. But Adetunji Olosola Adeyemo from Lagos State has been pencilled down to replace him. The South-West is likely to create crisis for PDP at the Port Harcourt convention. The zone is already factionalised between Senator Kashamu Buruji group and Governors Olusegun Mimiko/Ayodele Fayose group. South-West zonal chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, who belongs to Buruji group, said the

positions of national secretary and national auditor, zoned to South-West, are not yet vacant. Ogundipe said only the position of the National Publicity Secretary, which is zoned to the South-West, is open for contest. According to him, four candidates: Dennis Alonge Niyi, Ebenezer Alabi, Eddy Olafeso, and Segun Showunmi have been cleared to vie for the position. The Mimiko/Fayose group is, however, fielding Lere Olayinka from Ekiti State as the only candidate for the position. The outgoing Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, may likely return to the position after the convention. The position was zoned to the South-South. The Chairman of PDP state chairmen, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, is vying for the position of Deputy National Secretary. The position was zoned to the North-Central and Agbo is from Benue State. Former National Vice Chairman (South-East), Austin Akobundu, has been pencilled down for

the National Organising Secretary position. However, unlike every other position, two people each are contesting for the National Youth Leader and the National Financial Secretary. The two positions are zoned to the South-East and NorthCentral respectively. Hon. Ude Okoye and Okay Nnadozie, the outgoing Deputy National Organising Secretary, are contesting for the National Youth Leader. But Okoye, who is the candidate of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, is likely to pick the position. The position of National Financial Secretary is between former PDP governorship candidate for Nasarawa State in 2015, Yusuf Agabi, and outgoing Youth Leader, Hussani MaiBasira. A source said MaiBasira may likely be the preferred candidate. Hajia Aisha Aliyu from Zamfara State is vying for the National Woman Leader while Uju Kalu Ogoko is seeking election as Deputy National Youth Leader. So far, they are two positions being contested for by women.

to walk and yet, the police refused to allow me to go so that I can go for treatment,” he said. In a reaction, the state Commissioner of Police, Ibekwe Abdallah, noted that the labour leaders were organising illegal meeting that could spark off violence in the state when police got to know about it and dispersed them. Abdallah added that she received a letter from the labour leaders over their planned protest and that the letter was brought to her office at the time the labour leaders were on the rally. Workers in the state were seen at their duty posts when our correspondent visited different government offices in the state. The leadership of the NLC has demanded for the release of the labour leaders. While demanding for the immediate release of the arrested labour members, the Congress said it would not allow any distraction to take it off the struggle path. NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, in Abuja, warned that overzealous security personnel should not escalate the protest, which has been peaceful. The Labour body said that the struggle continued, no matter government’s intimidation. "We urge overzealous police personnel who arrested and detained some of our members in Ebonyi State to unconditionally release them immediately. “We would use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to all overzealous security personnel. “This has been a peaceful protest and we intend to keep it so. They should do nothing reckless to escalate it," Eson said. The protest, which took off at the popular Berger Roundabout, Abuja moved through Area I and Central Business District with improved participation. Meanwhile, there are indications that the NLC may call off its two-day old industrial action anytime from today. This is even as the NLC yesterday agreed to resume negotiation with the Federal Government on the strike action over deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry. The agreement was reached at a mediatory meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, last night in Abuja, according to a statement by his media adviser, Turaki Hassan.

The number of fixed (wired)broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developing countries in 2012. Source: Itu.int

128,956

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Barbados in 2001. Source: Itu.int

Dogara and the NLC leaders, led by the national president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, met behind closed doors for one hour where the agreement was reached. During the meeting, the speaker made passionate appeal to the labour leaders to consider national interest over and above all other interests even as they deliberate to take decision on the current strike action. The speaker urged the NLC to, in the interest of the nation, consider suspending or calling off the strike action while negotiations continue. Responding, Wabba thanked the speaker for his interest in resolving the crisis through mediation and assured that they will report the discussions to the larger body of their members. Consequently, the NLC resolved to communicate the new development to the larger body comprising of all its affiliate unions because "we have absolute confidence in the leadership of the speaker." Speaking after an earlier meeting with the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Wabba said that Labour was open to negotiation with the Federal Government on the dispute. The NLC President, however, insisted that the strike embarked upon by the union would continue. Wabba, who is leading a faction of the NLC, also clarified that the union had never staged a walk out on the Federal Government delegation, contrary to media reports. However, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joe Ajaero-led NLC faction which controls the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), National Union of Electricity Employees and others refused to participate in the strike, calling for support for government. Saraki said that the NLC had shown commitment for dialogue, assuring that the National Assembly would play its role in resolving the crisis.

FRIday, May 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS

FRIday, May 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

We’re keeping Dasuki to avoid escape – DSS Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday told the ECOWAS Court sitting in Abuja that a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, is being kept in custody for his own personal safety. The court has, however, fixed June 29 to deliver judgement in the enforcement of fundamental human rights suit filed by Dasuki against the Federal Government over his continued detention since December 2015. This was just as the DSS admitted before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that no weapon was found in Dasuki's Guest House. Dasuki had, in his argument before the ECOWAS court, submitted that it is unlawful for the Federal Government to continue to detain him despite several court orders admitting him to bail. Justifying Dasuki's detention, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), Williams Obiora, told the court that the former NSA was arrested and kept in custody for two reasons.

The prosecution further claimed that the ex-NSA was being kept in the DSS custody for his personal security in view of allegations against him on arms purchase and to also prevent him from possible escape from justice. "There are two basic reasons why he is still in our custody. One, for his own interest, because some of the politicians implicated in the arms deal from the intelligence available to us... (he paused). "Two, there is intelligence indicating that he can get out of this country, thereby evading justice. These are the two main reasons. "In the course of the search, some of the suspected items that took us to the house were recovered. These include 5 Tavor Assault Rifles and others," he said. On whether Dasuki requested DSS for protection, Obiora said he was not aware as to whether Dasuki made any such request. "He does not need to make a request before we give him protection if his life is in danger and we owe him a responsibility to ensure he suffers no harm," he added. He, however, admitted that Dasuki's detention

was not pursuant to any judicial proceedings. The court had, on Wednesday, listened to Dasuki's argument in the matter. After listening to the submissions of the Federal Government, the presiding judge, Justice Friday Nwoke, fixed judgement

till June 29. In a related development, another Federal Government witness had told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that no weapon was found in the Guest House of Dasuki when it was searched by the operatives of the DSS last year.

At the resumed trial of Dasuki on charges of unlawful possession of firearms, the government witness, Samuel Ogbu, who was under cross examination, confirmed to the court that no incriminating items was found in the guest house by the security agents.

Ogbu, who is an operative of DSS, was cross-examined by counsel to Dasuki, Ahmed Raji (SAN) and insisted that the only weapon recovered was in the house of the ex-NSA. The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, later adjourned till June 8 and 9 for further trial.

World risks 10m deaths annually from drug-resistance – Report Appolonia Adeyemi and Oreoluwa Aboderin

ealth experts in Britain have raised the alarm about the threat antibiotics’ drugresistant ‘superbugs’ pose to man. They said some 10 million people could die annually from the infections unless the world cuts down on indiscriminate use of antibiotics. This was disclosed in a review of antimicrobial resistance report, which was funded by the British Government. The report was published yesterday as England's Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, estimated that 50,000 people in Europe and the United States are dying each year because of untreatable infections.

The more antibiotics are used - whether on humans or animals - the more resistant bacteria becomes to them. Superbugs are already breeding at a rapid rate, with increasing numbers of germs, evolving to become untreatable with previously effective drugs, said Davies. On his part, the lead reviewer, Jim O'Neill, an economist, warned that failure to act fast would cost the world in terms of finances and preventable deaths, while calling for mandatory rules that should be introduced in every developed nation to stop doctors distributing antibiotics without a conclusive test result medically requiring their use. He said: “That would have a huge beneficial influence in terms of making us not treat them like

sweets, as we currently do, and help our doctors be precise. This could be a huge, huge game-changer.” Antibiotics, also called anti-bacterials, are a type of antimicrobial drug used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infection. They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. A limited number of antibiotics also possess antiprotozoal activity. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses such as the common cold or influenza, and may be harmful when taken inappropriately. They are among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. However, antibiotics resistance has become a major clinical and public health problem within the lifetime of most people living today. Hence, the review

makes 10 recommendations to galvanise action at the individual, organisations, state and global levels,” O’Neill said. He urged everyone to play their part in only taking antibiotics when they are needed and completing their course when used. He, however, urged governments to launch a massive global public awareness campaign and build a global coalition for real action via the United Nations (UN) and the G20 group of the world's largest economies. Other recommendations include improving hygiene and preventing the spread of infections, reducing the use of antimicrobials in agriculture, improving global surveillance of drug resistance and promoting the use of vaccines and other alternatives to antimicrobials.

NEWS

FRIday, May 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEC wants special courts to try oil thieves ...says Excess Crude Account now $2.259bn

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he National Economic Council (NEC) has recommended to the Federal Government to establish special courts that will try and prosecute oil bunkerers and looters of the nation's oil revenues. NEC, which comprises governors of the 36 states of the federation, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and presided over by the Vice President, took the decision yesterday at the end of its meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja. The decision is part of the recommendations by an ad hoc committee set up by the council on crude theft, prevention and control.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) said the committee has identified reasons crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism has continued in the southern part of the country. Jonah was joined at the briefing by Governor of Kogi State, Yayaha Bello, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Cecilia Ezeilo, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma. The committee found out that one of issues responsible for crude oil theft are inadequate operational patrol vessels to conduct patrol of entire pipeline network. Other reasons established by the committee are that there is massive unemployment among youths in the region at-

Cash crunch: Govs approach World Bank for $3.25bn grant CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

the World Bank portfolio for the states for this year is $4.25 billion and out of that, $3.25 billion is lying there undisbursed. "This means the states are not meeting their conditions or not moving fast enough to draw this $3.25 billion. You know $3.25 billion can do a lot to improve the lives and livelihood of our citizens in the state and the World Bank has expressed its flexibility to look into the challenges we are facing as well as the procedure or bottleneck to ease the access of these monies. "The World Bank wants us to withdraw these monies as quickly as possible so that our citizens will get the benefits from health to education and the rural access, agriculture and the revival of livestock and water supply.” According to him, "these are the areas that most of these funds are dedicated and we all need the money because we are all broke. So, we are going to work very hard to try to get these monies in trust.” In his remark, Yari said the NGF invited the bank to brief them on the issue. "We invited the Country Director of World Bank, Rachid Benmessaoud, who briefed the forum on the money lying down in the bank which largely belongs to state governments, but has not been accessed. "Because of the cumbersome procedure in accessing these funds, most

of the governors did not even know they had such funds there; it was the initiative of the Governor of Kaduna State that they should come and make this presentation so that they can educate the governors to know that these monies are there, especially now that the states are in difficulties. It is important so that the states can move forward in terms of infrastructure development and other matters in our respective states,” the NGF chairman said. Yari explained that the governors agreed after the presentation on terms and so many things should be involved, most especially the issue of counterpart funding which the World Bank accepted they are going to look into. "Also, they agreed that they will give us the details of state-by-state how much are lying down for each state and how we are going to access it. "As of now, they are ready to facilitate a kind of workshop to the state governors and the commissioners for finance and other staff, so that we can know how best to move and access these funds for the betterment of our respective states,” he said. The issue of counterpart funding, he noted, was more difficult to fulfill since they were unable to even pay salaries presently. The governors, during the meeting, supported the decision of the Federal Government to increase the price of petrol from N86.50k to N145 per litre.

tributed to increasing incidence of theft and vandalism. He said another issue raised by the committee is non-availability of petroleum products in the Niger Delta. The committee, which was set up in 2013, consulted widely with relevant stakeholders including the Armed Forces Joint Task Force (JTF), oil companies, oil-producing states, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) among others, before arriving at the recommendations.

Going forward, the council suggested increase in refining capacity of the domestic refineries through relocation/ co-locating smaller costefficient refineries within time frame of 12–24 months. Other recommendations: "Focus on restoring upstream production by positively engaging host communities to put the current militancy to an end. "Focus on improving government funding in the upstream sector where funding has been less than 30 per cent.” NEC also recommend-

ed that there should be relief for government of monthly cash-call funding and create a sustainable self-funding arrangement while it continues to engage the general public and all stakeholders by providing relevant information and education. Bello said that 35 states have applied for the Excess Crude Account-backed loans. Council was also briefed by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, on the fuel price hike. Udoma also represented government's strategic plan for 2016, which he had

earlier presented to the nation after the budget signing by President Muhammadu Buhari. Council was also briefed by the Minister of Finance on the Fiscal Sustainability Plan and Fiscal Framework for SubNational Governments in the country. NEC also received a report on the state of the Excess Crude Account, which currently stands at $2,259,688,878.06 as at 30th April. Interest accrued on the account is presently $429,903.55 for the month of April 2016 indicating a decline.

L-R: Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Globacom sponsors ICC N45.9bn fraud: Tompolo, Arbitration conference in Africa others know fate June 17

he International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), organisers of the first ever Africa Regional Arbitration conference has announced Nigeria’s Telecommunication company, Globacom, as its official sponsor. The three-day conference, scheduled to hold at the Eko Hotels, Lagos, between June 19 and 20 has as the theme: “Arbitration and Africa: Prospects and Challenges.” The conference, expected to draw delegates from all over the world, is being organised by the International Court of Arbitration, an arm of the ICC, in conjunction with the International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria. A statement from the organisers of the event said the conference would

The life expectancy of women at birth of Equatorial Guinea in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

The life expectancy of men at birth of France in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

focus on the relationship between inward foreign investment in emerging markets in Africa, the types of disputes, which may arise and the African experience in arbitration proceedings. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour at the conference, which will also be attended by legal luminaries from across the world. Globacom, in a statement, described the conference as timely and consistent with the rising profile of alternative dispute resolution globally. “We are delighted to sponsor this strategic conference at this point in the country’s history. Conflicts are inevitable in any society, but it is of utmost importance that there are many reliable avenues for the resolution of these conflicts for social harmony and business activities to thrive. That is why we are very happy to support this conference,” said Globacom. Globacom pledged that it would continue to support activities aimed at growing the country’s economy and enhancing the reputation of the Nigerian brand in the global arena.

Akeem Nafiu

ustice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola will, on June 17, hear a suit filed by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo, against the Federal Government in which he is seeking to nullify Sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 (ACJA). The judge fixed the date after granting an application to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) file its response to the suit. The government had, in its counter-affidavit, described the suit as an abuse of court process, frivolous, time wasting, grossly misleading and erroneous in its totality. The Federal Government further claimed that the sections do not infringe on the fair hearing and fundamental rights of the applicant. It was further contended that the intention of the sections were geared towards ensuring speedy and efficient dispensation of justice and to avoid ma-

licious delay and stalling of criminal cases by parties employing frivolous and time wasting tactics to impede the course of justice. Tompolo had, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, urged the court to nullify sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA, under which he was charged, arguing that the sections are invalid and unconstitutional because they violated his constitutional rights to fair hearing. The ex-militant also argued that the Sections are unconstitutional, so far as they seek to prevent the court from exercising its jurisdiction to entertain any objection to a criminal charge and application for a stay of proceedings pending appeal. Section 221 Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, states that "objections shall not be taken or entertained during proceedings or trial on the ground of an imperfect or erroneous charge,” while Section 306 states that “an application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before a court shall not be entertained.”

News|NATIONAL

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NLC STRIKE

Adamawa workers use footpaths to access offices

Edo NLC: No work, no pay’ll not stop this strike

BENIN

ollowing the closure of the two gates leading to the state secretariat in Adamawa State by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) officials enforcing the strike over increase in fuel price, some workers have resorted to using footpaths to gain access to their offices. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many workers, particularly car owners, parked outside the closed gates and used footpaths in getting to the secretariat. Some of the workers, who spoke to NAN, lamented the closure of the access gates, adding that NLC should not insist on

enforcing compliance. “It is not proper for the NLC to go round closing gates to prevent workers from entering their offices. “They should embark on public enlightenment to woo workers to join the strike action instead of resorting to closing gates to prevent staff reporting for work,” a worker, who simply identified himself as Bappa, said. A NAN correspondent, who monitored the second day of the strike, reports that the Federal Secretariat, banks, markets and motor parks were all open for business.

Cajetan Mmuta

he protest by members of the organised labour and civil society organisations against the Federal Government’s N145 increase in the pump price of petroleum and hike in electricity tariff, continued for the second day yesterday without participation by workers in Edo State.

Work resumed in almost all the ministries, agencies and parastatals even as the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society groups as well as their members matched round the capital city to mobilise traders and market women to join the protest. The protesters led by the state Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun, took their protest to Agbado, New Benin and Oba Markets, where

N160.32bn

The total value of crude oil and noncrude oil export to United States in 2014 fourth quarter. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

they listed some of their grievances and condemned in strong terms, what the unions said was the insensitivity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians. Ademokun urged the Federal Government to softpedal on the new price regime for petrol and to address the lingering epileptic power problem confronting the nation and residents of the state.

26%

The percentage of the population of women above 60 years of Channel Islands in 2012. Source: Un.org

They noted that “before Buhari assumed power as President, the price of per bag of garri was about N3, 000 while rice was at N9, 000 and N10, 000, but that the price had tripled without due attention on how to cushion the effect by the government of the day. The protesters with placards in their large numbers passed through the busy Akpakpava Road towards Ring Road, causing hours of traffic hold for motorists.

1,067

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving civilians in 2001. Source: Satp.org

Labour rejects street protests in Kano Muhammad Kabir KANO

abour unions in Kano yesterday succeeded in shutting down the 44 local government secretariats in Kano State, government owned primary schools, some selected hospitals, selected banks, especially those that have unions and all the universities in the state. The NLC decided to monitor the level of compliance at the various government offices, while rejecting to take to the roads for reasons known to them. Some banks continued with their normal day to day businesses,

while also some government hospitals open for patients. But the streets of Kano were jam-packed with motorists and other road users moving from one end to another. NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, told our reporter that they were not going on street protests for obvious reasons, but would monitor the level of compliance in all the 44 local government areas of the state. He said some banks that have unions had agreed to join the strike, but for those that were still operating, there was nothing the union would do about them.

Labour leaders shut Delta MDAs Dominic Adewole ASABA

he strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) entered its second day yesterday with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Delta State Government still under lock and key. Also, banks across Asaba metropolis were under lock and key as customers stormed Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) trying to withdraw money. When New Telegraph visited some of the ministries in the state capital, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Office of the Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Religious Matters, Project Monitoring and Local Government Affairs respectively, gates to the buildings were locked up. The story was not different at the Ministry of

Women Affairs, Social and Community Development, adjacent the Asaba District of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BDEC) along the road leading to the Government House and Anwai Campus of the Delta State University (DELSU). There was, however, some skeletal services at the Government House, where stern-looking policemen mounted strategic positions to forestall possible breakdown of law and order. Unperturbed by the low turnout of union members, labour leaders in the state, who gathered under the Asaba fly-over bridge, were seen chanting songs of solidarity, moving around government offices to impose compliance. Workers at the state and federal secretariats observed strict compliance as their premises were empty of cars and human resources.

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other civil society groups, during the second day protest on the hike in fuel price in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Musa Pam Jos

he strike action embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the fuel subsidy removal, yesterday crippled commercial activities in Jos and Bukuru areas of the state. New Telegraph observed that banks were under lock and key while some shops around the central business area were shut down. Offices in the state secretariat and other government establishments were not

Business activities crippled in Plateau left out as the access gates were under lock, denying workers from gaining access to their offices, while students of public primary and secondary schools in the state were also sent back home. The NLC also denied staff of the University of Jos, Nigerian Film Corporation and the Nigerian Television Authority Television College, access to their various institutions. Similarly, staff of the state House of Assembly, were denied access to their of-

fices. The NLC in a statement signed by Comrade Izang Francis, made available to New Telegraph in Jos yesterday said: “Following the unilateral increase in the pump price of fuel and electricity tariff by the Federal Government, NEC of NLC has directed the immediate mobilisation of all affiliated institutions to embark on an indefinite strike action from Tuesday midnight if the government does not reverse the increase.”

The statement further states that “by this notice you are to mobilise all workers to commence strike by midnight of Tuesday if no contrary directive comes from the NLC.” Plateau State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Jibril Bancir, told New Telegraph; “we are on strike” as he denied the rumour making the rounds that some banks that were rendering services to customers in the early hours of today were fined N2 million as he said ‘that is not true.’

NLC shuts down schools, ministries in Enugu Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

s the strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) entered its second day yesterday, civil servants in Enugu State joined the strike in compliance with the directive from the national body. New Telegraph correspondent, who moved round

the state capital and its environs, discovered that workers who went to work on Wednesday, when the strike begun, had joined in the ongoing industrial action. Also some of the primary and secondary schools visited were under lock and key. The state secretariat was deserted as no workers were sighted in the premises while at the secretariat of the NLC on Works Road, Enugu, there was no

human presence noticed even though the entry gates were flung open. The situation was the same in some of the higher institutions visited by our correspondent. At the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and others owned by government had also joined in the strike, while lectures are on at

the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. However, in some federal establishments in the state, it was observed that they were not on duty both at the federal and state courts. Addressing journalists in Enugu yesterday, Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Nwobodo Virgins, said some of the places visited within the state capital had complied with the strike.

NLC STRIKE

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Police bar NLC rally in Rivers Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

eavily armed policemen yesterday kept vigil at the Isaac Adaka Boro Park, Port Harcourt, barring officials of the Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate bodies from using the park as a rallying ground to protest the fuel price hike by the Federal Government. The protest, organised by the Beatrice Itubor faction of the state NLC, had taken off from D-Line area of Port Harcourt in a carnival-like procession along Aba Road and was headed for the Isaac Adaka Boro Park, but were stopped by policemen that had been deployed there since 9am.

Although, there was no scuffle between the labour leaders and the policemen, who stopped the protest train from entering the park, there was an understanding between the labour leaders and the policemen on why the rally should not hold there. The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions that condemned the fuel hike, later turned to the Mile 1 Flyover and headed for the Mile 1 Market and addressed traders and passersby. Many vehicles, including Hilux vans, a Sports Utility Vehicle and two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) were stationed in front of the Isaac Adaka Boro Park as well as policemen stationed within and outside the park.

Strike continues in Abia Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

he strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against the Federal Government’s increase in fuel price recorded near total compliance yesterday as the few workers who were in the offices on Wednesday, deserted their duty posts. New Telegraph check revealed that fewer number of workers reported for work in spite of the warning by the state Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Vivien Umah, that those whose names were not found in the attendance register would have themselves to blame. Only senior staff were seen at their duty posts at the secretariat. Also, banks that opened for business on Wednesday did not open yesterday in Umuahia as the NLC taskforce went round to compel them to comply. They, how-

ever, maintained skeletal services at Aba, the commercial city. At the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, all the medical workers joined the strike, thereby grounding activities in the hospital. A source at the hospital told New Telegraph that the nurses, the laboratory and cleaning staff were not on duty. Only the doctors were on duty and were doing everything. According to the source, the hospital now refers patients to other hospitals because some of the vital service offices are locked. Meanwhile, workers who were on duty yesterday confessed that they did not get the true picture the previous day and having been duly informed, had no option than to join the strike. “We don’t buy from a different market; it is not better for us, so why should I be in the office,” one of the workers said.

Banks in Imo shut Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ommercial banks in Imo State yesterday closed shops to join in the strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), protesting the increment in the pump price of fuel. Comrade Austin Chilakpu had previously warned that compliance will increase by the day noting that banks in the state will join the strike to be followed by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) that had pleaded with the union for a day’s conces-

sion. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO); Federal Polytechnic, Nekede; Alvan Ikoku College of Education, all remained deserted as academic and non-academic staff of the institution had joined in the strike from day one. Speaking about the need for the strike, Chilakpu said: “It is sad and unfortunate that in a country where salaries are being owed across the states, the only thing the government deemed fit to give Nigerians as a year’s anniversary gift is this obnoxious fuel hike. It’s the height of insensitivity.”

Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs

Workers, NASU, ASUU protest fuel hike in Osun its adjourning towns in IleIfe as early as 8am, rejected the hike in the fuel price, saying that it has brought untoward hardship into the people. Though, the protest in the state capital was not as elaborate as it was on Wednesday as few people participated in the exercise while that of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilization, was pronounced and crowd pulling. The exercise, which took place at Mayfair Roundabout, Ile-Ife, crippled all commercial activities in the town as banks, shops, offices and other

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

undreds of striking workers, including members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, yesterday trooped out in Osun State to protest against the Federal Government’s deregulation policy on petroleum products. The protesting workers, who converged in Osogbo, the state capital and one of

£550m

The total operating profits excluding transfer fees of all Premier League clubs in 2014-15 season. Source: Soccernet.com

Muritala Ayinla

here was mild a drama at the Lagos State secretariat yesterday, when workers of the Lagos State Government kicked against members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), who stormed the secretariat to mobilise them to join in the strike declared by a faction of the congress. The NLC members led by its National Vice-President, Amechi Asugwuni, had stormed the secretariat and headed straight to the office of the state Head

business premises were closed down to register their support for the protest. Also, major roads in the town were deserted as vehicular movements were restricted. Armed with placards with different inscriptions such as “Nigeria Labour will never surrender,” “ASUU says no to high electricity tariff,” and “We voted for change, not chaos,” among others, the protesters, who are mainly members of ASUU and NASU of the Obafemi Awolowo University, warned the Federal Government against the

1.5%

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

deregulation. While addressing participants at the protesting ground, Comrade Wole Odeyemi, NASU chairman, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, described the government’s stand on the removal of subsidy as unfair, inconsiderate and wicked and charged it to reverse it. Odeyemi said: “Government is inflicting pains on the masses with increment in petroleum product.” “We charge the government to make policies that are “masses-friendly and that would be a sign of good governance.”

£11.34m

The annual salary of Andres Iniesta of Barcelona in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

Lagos workers kick as NLC storms secretariat of Service (HoS) to appeal to the workers to join the strike. But they were literally turned back by workers in the secretariat, who said they were expecting their May salaries any moment from now and are therefore not interested in the strike. The workers said they don’t want to be implicated in any way. Scores NLC of members marched through the secretariat at about 1pm, chanting solidarity songs. The protesters shut the

entrance to the complex, preventing anyone from entering or going out. But they were confronted by other workers, who accused the protesting NLC faction of being selfish, saying labour only protests when the situation is not in the favour of the leaders. An official in the office of HoS, who did not want his name mentioned, said: You can’t stop us from work. What has labour done for workers all these years? Money is deducted monthly from our salaries

and yet nothing to protect our interest. They only protest when the situation is not in their favour.” The official told the protesters to take their protest elsewhere and allow those who want to work continue with their work. Meanwhile, Asugwuni who addressed the workers outside the HoS office, charged the protesters not to be intimidated by the heavy presence of security personnel, saying that police were around to protect them.

Private sector operators vow to sanction workers

he Organised Private Sector (OPS) under the auspices of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), yesterday said any employee who failed to report to duty during the strike would be sanctioned. A statement signed by the Director General,

NECA, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, in Lagos, said the ‘no work, no pay’ law would also be applied. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had called for a nationwide strike, which began on Wednesday after its meeting with the Fed-

eral Government ended in a deadlock. The NLC had rejected the increment in the price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 per litre by the Federal Government and had called for an upward review of the minimum wage, among other issues. According to the state-

ment, it is in the interest of both the employer and workers to ensure that the business survives since their wages are not dependent on government’s allocation. It said that any person or group that is involved in the strike would endanger his or her job and income.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Ronke: Autopsy indicts husband, appears in court today – Police

Appolonia Adeyemi, Camillus Nnaji, Taiwo Jimoh and Oreoluwa Aboderin

olice in Lagos yesterday said the autopsy report conducted by the Department of Pathology and Forensic medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), on the death of Mrs. Ronke Shonde indicted her detained husband, Lekan. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, who disclosed this, said Shonde would be arraigned today. According to her, Shonde would be arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court, Yaba. She said: “The autopsy has revealed that Mr. Lekan Shonde, the alleged killer of his wife has a case to answer. He will be charged to court tomorrow (today) to answer a case of murder.” Earlier, the Head of Department of Pathology and Forensic medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Shoyemi, condemned media reports quoting autopsy report attributing Ronke’s death to ‘respiratory seizure’.

The late Ronke Shonde and husband, Lekan

Ronke was allegedly killed by the husband, Lekan Shonde, a fortnight ago at their Egbeda home in Lagos. The pathologist told our correspondent that the department was embarrassed by the media reports saying Ronke’s death was caused “respira-

tory seizure and water log in the head”. He said: “I am a civil servant and not permitted to speak to you. But we are embarrassed on what we read this morning (yesterday). The reports are baseless and mischievous. There is nothing like respira-

City Briefs

21-year-old man commits suicide Taiwo Jimoh

omicide detectives of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Lagos Police Command are investigating the circumstances which led a 21-yearold man to commit suicide. The deceased, Tope Diya, allegedly committed suicide yesterday morning at the Agege area of the metropolis. Diya used a cloth to hang himself to an aluminum frame at his working place on Olayiwola Street, OkoOba. The reason Diya killed himself was not known at

press time, but he was found by his brother, Sule Wasiu. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police, said: “The command is investigating a case of suicide of Tope Diya of no 5 Ademolu Street, OkoOba, aged 21 years. “It was reported by his brother, Wasiu, that he committed suicide by using a cloth to hang himself to an aluminum frame in his working place at Olayiwola Street, Oko-Oba. “He was found dead about 7am. The command operatives from Oko-Oba visited the scene and photographs

were taken and the corpse removed to mortuary for autopsy. Case is still under discreet investigation.”

tory seizure or water in the head. If this interpretation is true, then it means she died of convulsion. Respiratory seizure in medical terms refers to convulsion. That is not what we submitted.” Shoyemi said the autopsy report had been duly complet-

ed and forwarded to the Corona, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Lagos Police Command. He added: “It is only logical for the police to release it, but that (what the media reported) is not what we submitted. The full post-mortem has been handed over to them (Corona, DPP and the police).” A Family Physician and First Vice Chairman of the Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Dr. Shehu Akintade, said respiratory seizure was purely pathological finding got after the death of a person. According to him, seizures are akin to those that can happen in the brain. Akintade likened seizure to electrical discharge that could happen in the brain. He said: “Seizure must have been caused as a result of the compromise of the person’s respiration either because that person has deficiency of oxygen or excess of carbon monoxide, all of which can be a problem for the brain. This is because the brain cannot be deprived of oxygen. “There could be respiratory seizure as a pathological diagnosis when somebody dies from asthma which is also a respiratory problem.”

Holy Spirit directs me to hawk meat –Pastor Babatope Okeowo Akure

n what looked like a scene from Nollywood movie, a cleric, Pastor Adeniyi Johnson, was arrested for hawking dried meat on Ijomu Road, Akure, Ondo State. Johnson, who claimed to be a pastor of Living Faith Church Worldwide International otherwise called Winners Chapel, told those who arrested him that he was directed by ‘Holy Spirit’ to hawk the dry meat and other fetish items. He urged his captors to allow him finish the business as directed by the ‘Holy Spirit’ so that his son on the sick bed could be healed of his sickness. Johnson was nabbed by

the residents of Ijomu axis of Oke Ijebu in Akure, who were shocked when he allegedly brought out pieces of meat from his backpack, put them in a tray and asked people to come and eat with him. This development stimulated the curiosity of the people who apprehended him. While some suggested instant judgment for him, other pleaded that he should be taking to the Deji’s palace to explain his mission. Johnson, who claimed that he had just been transferred to Ipogun branch of the church from Iju/Ita-Ogbolu, was prevented from being lynched by an angry mob before he was taken to the Deji of Akure’s palace where he was quizzed by palace officials.

METRO

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NSCDC official kills driver, flees

Tony Anichebe Uyo

trigger-happy official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reportedly shot dead a 26-year-old employee of Dompec Global Resources, an Uyo-based beverages distribution firm. The corps, said to be on the run, was on a stop-and-search duty with his colleagues on Ikot Ekpene Road, Akwa Ibom State when the incident occurred on Wednesday. It was learnt that on sighting the delivery van with registration number XC 225UYY, the NSCDC team flagged down the vehicle. But while the driver wanted to park properly, one of

the NSCDC officials reportedly opened fire on the van, killing one of the occupants, identified as Chukwuma John. He hailed from Ebonyi State. Four people were four in the van. The deceased name was given as. Realising the consequence of their action, the NSCDC officials took to their heels. But colleagues of the deceased alerted passers-by who promptly called the attention of police officers. The van was later driven to the NSCDC office on Ekpanya Street by one of the occupants of the van as he struggled to come to terms with the sudden demise of his colleague. At their head office, some NSCDC officials tried to prevent journalists from taking snap-

shots of the body of John which was yet to be removed from the vehicle as at 5:30pm when journalists left. It was a moving scene as passers-by watched in utter shock. The NSCDC Commandant, Obiageli Obiajulu, expressed sadness over the incident. She promised that the culprit would be fished out and brought to book. Obiajulu told journalists that she had already dispatched a team to apprehend the suspected killer. When contacted yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Cordelia Nwawe, confirmed the killing. She said: “Investigation into the murder is

John

ongoing. Police are on the trail of the murder suspect. We will make our findings public.” On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dompec Global Re-

Drug trafficking: NDLEA saves housewife from execution Juliana Francis

Obudike

fficials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have saved a 38-year-old woman, Ndidiamaka Obudike, from execution in China for trafficking. The NDLEA officials arrested the mother of two at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during outward screening of passengers on Kenyan Airways flight to China for trafficking. In China, drug trafficking attracts capital punishment. Obudike was found with 1.155kgs of cannabis hidden in melon. NDLEA commander

at the MMIA, Ahmadu Garba, said the suspect was caught while travelling to China with 1.155kg of compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. He said: “Investigation into the case is in progress and she will soon be charged to court.” Obudike, who lives in Onitsha, Anambra State, said she was contracted by her social media friend to smuggle the drugs to China. She said: “I am a trader. I used to travel to China to buy my goods since 2014. My WhatsApp friend asked me to buy the drug and take to China. He promised

to give me a handsome reward when I get to China. Unfortunately, the drug was detected during search at the Lagos airport. I am married and I have two children.” The NDLEA Chairman, Muhammad Abdallah, who condemned her action, said the agency needed funds to embark on aggressive anti-drug public enlightenment. He said: “It is sad that while government is worried over the number of Nigerians on death row in other nations, a mother of two children is still smuggling drugs to China where drug trafficking is punishable by death.

CBN guard arraigned for stealing specimen naira notes Juliana Francis

security guard, Vatsama Danladi, yesterday appeared before Justice M. M. Kolo of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja on a four-count charge bordering on theft, illegal possession and use of specimen naira currency notes. Danladi, a security guard with Kings Guard Security attached to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ran into legal trouble when one of the new generation banks found 299 pieces of N1,000 notes marked “specimen” amounting to N299,000 during a process of cash count sometime in January. On investigation, the bank, according to the Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, discovered that

Danladi deposited the specimen currency notes into his account through ATM deposit machines at Karu and Mararaba branches. Further investigations revealed that the accused also deposited yetto-be ascertained trenches of the specimen notes into his account in another new generation bank via the bank’s ATM deposit machine at Mararaba branch. One of the charges reads: “That you, Vatsama Danladi ‘M’ on or about January 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the honourable court committed theft of property to wit: Specimen N1,000 notes totalling 488 by taking it out of the possession of the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 286 of the Penal Code.” When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty to all

the counts preferred against him. In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Andrew Akoja, urged the court to remand the accused and fix a date for trial.

Danladi

sources, Deacon Daniel Chukwuma, said he was destabilised by the incident. He described John as a very humble young man who was very dedicated to his work. Chukwuma said John’s killing was hard to take considering the circumstances of his death. While calling on the NSCDC and other security agencies to arrest the culprit, he promised to seek redress in court.

The Legal Consultant of the company, Fidelis Amaechi, described the incident as inhuman and a gross abuse of arms by the NSCDC official. He said the matter was a serious case and would be treated as such. Meanwhile, some prominent Igbo leaders, who were at the scene to show support and solidarity to one of their own, vowed to get to the root of the matter.

Student, 25, drowns while fishing Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

25-year-old student, Ikponmwosa Igiebor, has drowned during a fishing expedition in Benin, Edo State. Igiebor’s body was discovered on Wednesday in a swamp. He disappeared during the fishing exercise while in company with his close friends. He was said to have attempted to pick up a catfish from the swamp located on Iyoba Street, Uselu community near Benin, shortly after he had returned home from school. Igiebor left school for home following the strike declared by the labour unions to protest the hike in pump price of petrol by the Federal Government. The mother of the diseased, Mrs. Maureen Igiebor, said Ikponmosa was asked by the school authorities to go home owing to the strike. She said: “So, he ran home and removed his school uniform. A little boy later came to tell me that my son, Ikponmwosa, with whom they went together to hunt catfish, got drowned. “The boy told me that

he got drowned while hunting catfish from the swamp.” Ikponmwosa’s sister, Omosigho, said: “One little boy just came and said my brother got drowned at Iyoba swamp. The government should come and do something about this swamp because there are other helpless children out there. My only brother is dead.” Also, a septuagenarian, Mr. Sunday Igbinidu, said the water had been there for a long time. He said: “We do not want this kind of thing to happen next time. The state government should inform the Federal Government to come and remove this water from here. “The government needs to come to our rescue and solve the problem of flooding confronting this area. “About three years ago, somebody died in this swamp. Another incident happened early this year before this latest tragedy.” When contacted yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Osifo, said the command had not been briefed on the incident.

10 NEWS

FRIday, May 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari to Chibok girl: You must go back to school …offers scholarship Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday received Amina Ali, the first rescued girl among the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped on April 14, 2014 at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by members of the Boko Haram sect. The rescued girl, her four-month-old baby, Safiya and her mother were brought to the presidential villa by men of the De-

partment of State Services (DSS) at 2:45p.m. They were conveyed in a special security vehicle. Although state house correspondents were not allowed entry into the main hall where Buhari received the girl, except cameramen and foreign journalists, Amina was accompanied by the Borno State governor, Kashim Shetima and the Chief of Staff to the Kaduna State governor, Adiza Bala Usman, as well as other officials of the BringBackOurGirls Campaign group. Buhari, during the

event which lasted for about four hours, directed that the rescued Chibok girl must return to school. According to the president, no girl child should be forced into what he called "the brutality of forced marriage". “Amina's education and other life challenges will now become the responsibility of the Federal Government,” he said. Speaking further, the president said he was delighted that Amina has regained her freedom. He, however, lamented that he was sad at the horrors she had to go through at a very early stage in her

Metuh vomits in court premises Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday suffered a setback following his ill health. Metuh reportedly vomited within the court premises yesterday. The matter was listed for cross-examination of the third defence witness, Dr. Doyin Okupe. However, at the resumed trial, counsel to Metuh, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), informed the court that he received a call at the early hours of the morning that Metuh was rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja about 1a.m. yesterday. "I was informed in the early hours of Thursday morning about the ill health of Metuh. I was told that he was rushed to the National Hospital about 1a.m. and I responded that whatever it takes, he must be in court for the trial. "I drove into the court this morning and Metuh was at the car park in a car. On getting there, I realised he had vomited profusely and his brother in law, Mr. Andrew, narrated how they went to the hospital last night from their residence at Prince and Princess Estate. "On getting there, the only medical officer at the hospital announced

£945,000 The monthly salary of Andres Iniesta of Barcelona in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

£154.4m

The total amount spent by Man City in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

to them that they were on strike, but administered an injection and drugs to Metuh," he stated. Etiaba further told the court that Metuh left the hospital about 3:30a.m. and was advised to return at 8a.m. because the hospital beds were not in good shape to keep him on admission because of the strike. While informing the court that Metuh was on prescription and was expected to take his drugs at intervals, Etiaba prayed the court for an adjournment to enable his client attend to his health, adding that it was only the living that could stand trial. "The implication is that even if Metuh is here, he will not be able to take a particular pain killer by 11a.m. "I, therefore, pray the court to grant our request because this is a life threatening situation. The first defendant needs to stay alive to face his trial," he said. Responding, the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, who did not oppose the application for adjournment, expressed sympathy for Metuh. "This shows our humanity, we are all mere mortals; flesh and blood and subject to ups and downs of life. We will not oppose the oral application of the defence," he stated. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in his ruling on the application, held that there was no evidence before the court on the ill health of Metuh. He later adjourned the trial to May 24, for further cross-examination of the third defence witness. Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, had told the court that the PDP paid the sum of N400 million to Metuh as same was budgeted for

campaign purpose. Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are standing trial for allegedly receiving the sum of N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser to fund the 2015 presidential election of the PDP.

life. Buhari vowed that though nothing can be done to reverse the horrors of her past, the Federal Government will do everything possible to ensure that the rest of her life takes a completely different course. The president explained that Amina's rescue gives new hope and offers a unique opportunity to vital information, assuring that his administration will continue to do what it can to rescue the remaining Chibok girls who are still in Boko Haram's captivity. "Like others all over the world, I'm delighted that Amina Ali, one of the missing Chibok girls, has regained her freedom. But my feelings are stringed with deep sadness and horrors the young girl has had to go through at such an early stage in her life. "Although we cannot do anything to reverse the horrors of her past, the Federal Government can and will do everything possible to ensure that the

rest of her life takes a completely different course. "Amina will get the best care that the Nigerian government can afford, we will ensure that she gets the best medical, emotional and whatever care that she requires to get full recovery and be integrated into the society. "Yesterday, medical personnel from government and other NGOs examined her for a total of about five hours, trauma experts from UNICEF also met her. The Federal Government will assist the Murtala Mohammed Foundation, which has already been providing support for the families of the missing Chibok girls and which runs a trauma and counselling facility in Kano, in the ongoing work with Amina in monitoring her progress and any additional support she requires. "The continuation of Amina's education so abruptly disrupted will definitely be a priority of the Federal Government.

Amina must be able go back to school. Nobody in Nigeria should be put through the brutality of forced marriage; every girl has a right to education and their choice of life. "Rest assured that this administration will continue to do what it can to rescue the Chibok girls who are still in Boko Haram's captivity. Amina's rescue gives us new hope and offers a unique opportunity to vital information," he said. In his remark, Shettima said the president's patience, persistence, perseverance and doggedness for the restoration of peace in the North-East has started to yield dividend. Defence Minister, Mansur Dan Ali, who also spoke during the event, disclosed that 69 soldiers have lost their lives since they embarked on the mission. He said in the 22 days of the operations, 20 villages have been cleared of Boko Haram, while 150 have been rescued.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Usman Malah; Director Human Capital and Infrastructure Group, Mrs. Maryam Bayi; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta and Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, during a courtesy visit to El-Rufai in Kaduna State…recently.

$40m diversion: No plot to implicate Jonathan – EFCC Akeem Nafiu

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday denied any plan to implicate former President Goodluck Jonathan in an alleged diversion of $40 million. The anti-graft agency described as false the claims by Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Robert, that he was under pressure to implicate the expresident. This formed part of the averments in the EFCC's counter affidavit in opposition to the suit filed by Robert before the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking for an order of court to release him from the agency's custody. The EFCC, while denying the claims, said Robert

was under investigation over the alleged diversion of $40 million through One-Plus Holdings and a sister company, Kakatar Construction Limited. In a 37-paragraph counter affidavit, deposed to by one Mohammed Abulhamid Hassan, an operative of the agency and filed before the court on May 17, the agency averred that the ex-president’s cousin was not only being investigated over alleged diversion of $40 million, but also on the N2.5 billon theft from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Hassan averred that zonal offices of the agency are saddled with the responsibility of investigating any case or cases reported to them.

Robert was alleged to have received the sum of $40 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and diverted same to his personal use and to the use of others. It was also revealed that in the course of investigating Robert over the alleged crime, several companies were linked to him and his wife, Stella, who is the Director of Finance and Accountant of all the companies. The deponent further averred that after rigorous effort of the commission to arrest the detainee for the offence, he eventually surrendered himself at the verge of declaring him wanted and was later granted administrative bail which he was not able to perfect in Abuja,

before the agency got another intelligence report at the zonal office in Lagos which linked him to theft of N2.5 billion from NIMASA. The EFCC operative alleged that at the office of the commission in Lagos, Robert, during interview session, undertook never to show up if released on bail by the commission. He was said to have also undertook to hide all property of the companies under investigation. He averred that investigation has revealed that Robert owns Reya Telecommunication Nigeria Limited and KLOKLOK Energy Enterprises, a subsidiary of Kakatar CE Ltd, which he falsely refused to declare in his asset declaration form with the commission.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tinubu Subsidy removal hard, but inevitable

Politics The issues of zoning, dissolution of party executive and conduct of a mini-congress to choose delegates ahead of the governorship primaries are rocking the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Babatope Okeowo reports

Open Forum Agoro: Strike’ll aggravate societal problems

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Ondo guber: Discordant tunes over APC primaries

bout 50 aspirants jostling for the sole ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 26 governorship ticket in Ondo State are united in taking over the vein of government from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). The leadership and members of the APC are also united in producing a successor to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, whose tenure elapses on February 24, 2017. In order to achieve these aims, several steps are being taken, by the opposition party in the state and they include wooing members of the PDP and other rival political parties into their fold. Taking over power from the PDP, is perhaps the only thing that unites members of the APC as the aspirants, leadership and members are sharply divided on the strategies to be adopted in order to achieve the set goal. Before the March 28, 2015 presidential elections, several PDP stalwarts, who read the political barometer correctly, defected to the APC. They were joined by others shortly after the PDP lost power at the centre. But what looked like a celebration or sort when the defectors joined the APC has led to rumpus over the process through which the candidate of the party would be produced. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed in between August and September for the conduct of primaries for all the political parties. The aspirants and leadership of APC are singing discordant tunes over the need for the dissolution of

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Oke

State Executive Council of the party and the conduct of a mini-party congress before the primaries. The argument of those in favour of the dissolution of executive is that the new entrants into the party should be given a sense of belonging by incorporating them into the executive. They also argued that since the delegates have been elected before the defectors joined the party; they would be marginalised in the scheme of things. Although nobody has officially stated these positions because of the sensitive nature of the matter, those said to be in favour of the argument include the governorship candidate of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2012 governorship election, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi; a governorship aspirant, Mr Akin-Awodeyi Apata and the Helena group led by former Chief of Staff to the Governor Olusegun Agagu, Mr Femi Agagu. When it was obvious that these arguments were gaining momentum, three of the aspirants who would benefit from the dissolution declared that they were not part of those pushing for the dissolution of the executive and the conduct of a mini-congress to choose delegates that would vote during the primaries. The aspirants – Chief Olusola Oke, Hon. Victor Olabimtan and Prince Derin Adesida publicly dissociated themselves from the move to have the executive dissolved. In a statement, the trio said the electoral victory of a political party is embedded in the success-

Boroffice

People have the right to fantasize... But they are no issues before our party

Kekemeke

ful management of several variables which include subordinating personal interest, aspirations and agenda to collective interest. Their words: “More than ever before, the APC is being perceived by the people of Ondo State including, its arch rival, PDP, as the party with the brightest chance to form the next government in the state as a result of our collective hard work and the maladministration of the present government. We are aware of agitation in some quarters for the composition of a fresh congress purportedly to create a level playing ground for both old and new APC members, especially the aspirants and their teeming supporters. “The present executives (delegates) have been elected before some of us joined APC. Despite the fact that a newly constituted executive cum delegates would put us at advantage during the governorship primaries, it is not in our character to pursue personal interest at the detriment of party interest. We should rejoice in our collective victory and not individual interest. As loyal party men, we believe in the unity and oneness of the party. Therefore, we will prefer the party make use of the present executives (delegates) for the forthcoming primary election. Other aspirants including Senators Robert Ajayi Boroffice and Ayo Akinyelure also threw their weight behind the position, which spurred a recent meeting of some delegates in Ondo West Local Government Area, where they took similar position. The group

known as Sunshine Crusaders and loyal to Hon. Bola Ilori, a former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, held a meeting at Big House and kicked again zoning of the governorship seat, dissolution of executive and conduct of a mini-congress to choose delegates. However, the state chairman of the APC, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, said the constitution of the party would be strictly adhered to in the choice of a candidate for the party just as he dismissed the insinuation that some aspirants and leaders are after his job ahead of the party’s primaries. Those who are pushing for these positions, he said were only fantasizing as their position is not supported by the constitution of the party. He said: “I am a politician and I have been in this game for three decades. I know politics is a game of intrigues. I have read some statements and they amused me. Our party is a party of law and order. We have a constitution. At no time has this arisen and I am not aware this has ever been brought to public. People have the right to fantasize and say what they want in the comfort of their homes. But they are no issues before our party. It can also not be because it is not within the constitutional framework of our party. The only issue before me is how to win the November 26 election.” No doubt, the major concern of the Ondo APC is how to unseat the ruling PDP in the state, but the party must, first, put its house in order before it can achieve the set goal.

POLITICS

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM

...protests over fuel price hike

Fasehun: Protest is part of people’s right

Dr. Frederick Fasehun is the national chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Founder, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)

he Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) completely supports the call by the civil society groups and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that government must revert to the old pump price of N86.50. Demonstrations and strikes are the people’s constitutional rights and, if the government fails to do the needful, the people shall exercise the rights as we did the during the Goodluck Jonathan government in 2014. OPC will be part of the strike, and we urge Nigerians to join the strike. This strike may be our last opportunity to speak to power. It must not fail else Nigeria and the Muhammadu Buhari government are doomed to years of misrule and failure. Meanwhile, we seize this opportunity to tell the police and other security forces to avoid being used as instruments of oppression and coercion

Demonstrations and strikes are the people’s constitutional rights, and if the government fails to do the needful, the people shall exercise the rights

against the Nigerian people. Throughout the duration of the strikes and demonstrations, the Inspector General

of Police and the Service Chiefs must ensure that no single case of shooting, tear-gassing, harassment, intimidation or arrest of peaceful demonstrators occurs. The increment shows a lack of understanding of basic Nigerian economics. Nigerian life revolves on the price of petrol. The price of fuel dictates the price of transportation, which dictates the price of all commodities, rents, bills, fees, etc. How will the government justify an increase of N58.50 when it has always maintained that the subsidy on imported PMS is N12? Nigerians should do the calculation. N86.50 plus N12 is N98.50, or has a petroleum tax of N46.50 been illegally and brazenly imposed on Nigerians? Nigerians demand to know.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Tinubu: Subsidy removal hard, but inevitable

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

nderstandably the new pricing decision elicited mixed reactions from a cross section of Nigerians. This is understandable in view of the fact that the fuel subsidy had been with us for such a long period that it seemed integral to our political and economic life. However, we should not lament the departure of something just because of its longevity particularly when that very policy had ceased to serve us long ago. The decision to end the subsidy was hard but it was also inevitable. It had distorted into a system where wrongdoers benefited at the expense of the innocent. The bogus supplier was paid for supplying nothing while you sweated in long lines for fuel that was never there. The smuggler secreted fuel across the border while our economy crossed the border into fuel scarcity. As the price stayed fixed at a low level, investors were apprehensive about fixing existing or building new refineries. Our petrochemical industry remained unfertilized because potential investors could not decipher how they could make a decent return under such a pricing regime. Because of these imbalances, we were forced to export hard currency and many jobs to purchase fuel and other products abroad. While the price of fuel was cheap in paper, these were the hidden costs that made the subsidy regime an expensive and

Instead of fighting this measure, opposing segments of organised labour should consider collective investment in refineries heavy yoke the nation could ill continue. With dwindling revenue from oil due to the slump in global oil prices and a dwindling forex reserve, the country could no longer live in denial. President Buhari after carefully weighing the options decided to do what is right. In an act of courage he removed the oil subsidy thereby freeing the downstream component of this strategic sector of the economy from the distortions of price fixing. However, this decision was not to be a step toward conservative austerity as practiced by the former government. The Buhari government took a vastly different approach. Given the inefficiencies inherent in the pricing regime, this administration asked the fundamental question: could this money be better spent to help the most

vulnerable of our people. For it was also recognized that the pricing regime was a regressive feature. Its benefit went disproportionately to the well-off who needed no such help. Better to use the sums to more directly and exclusively assist poor and working class Nigerians. Thus, President Buhari followed through with a 500 billon fund to support a social safety program and empower the poor and needy. With regard to our petroleum sector, The President’s decision constitutes a major step towards removing the nightmare of fuel importation and its attendant hardships especially to our foreign reserve condition. It was the right choice to make. The club of fuel importers had become a parasite and a drain on our economy. With this decision the exploitation by marketers, the unchecked smuggling, mismanagement, lost of productive man hours with people waiting in fuel queues, traffic congestion and health hazards associated with black market and other desperate practices will steadily pass away. Instead of fighting this measure, opposing segments of organised labour should consider collective investment in refineries. Such investment will enrich membership and give them a direct interest in the success of refineries crucial to our national growth.

Oladiyun: There's need for proper education on govt polices I

Apostle Wole Oladiyun is the Senior Pastor of Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) in Lagos

will advise the Federal Government to enlighten Nigerians in all languages about the meaning of deregulation and its benefits for people to understand the reformation process the country was going through. The problem we have in the country is knowledge dissemination. Government doesn’t speak in the language the tribes in Nigeria can understand. I am saying to the government, let there be proper literacy, financial literacy, deregulation literacy. People should be educated on any policy that will be brought out in the language they will understand. Every policy the government wants to bring out must be made into the major languages so that ordinary Nigerians will understand and prepare his mind for what is coming. When we are talking of deregulation, it sounds like a very big English but let us break it down. When the government of a nation

Some are reacting without knowing what it is all about is in total control of the oil sector, there will bring some restrictions to the people in the private sector. This is the time we need those that studied Economics to sit down and programme the challenges of Nigeria into what I call an “economy chess board” and then give us possible suggestions. Deregulation means removing government control and restrictions from the op-

eration, distribution, storage and marketing of these petroleum products. Many people are crying and asking: What is happening in Nigeria? The fuel subsidy removal is generating reactions from Nigerians, while some are reacting without knowing what it is all about. We must note that anything that happens has advantages and disadvantages. When you weigh the advantages and it outweighs the disadvantages, then there is hope. Not that we will not suffer pains, it is just like a woman who carries her baby for nine months, she must suffer that pains before the joy comes. So, we are unbreakable and I will advise Nigerians to be calm and not make problems at all because the end product will be joyful. The new deregulation policy will encourage Nigerians to business in the petroleum downstream sector.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

POLITICS

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM

...protests over fuel price hike

Agoro: Strike’ll aggravate societal problems

Dr. Olapade Agoro is a former presidential candidate and National Chairman of the National Action Council (NAC)

f there is an undeniable fact currently flying sky high for all to see and appreciate, that reasonability would be found in the fact that no past labour action brought home to the commonality of the masses, any long lasting good and benefit than unwarranted end of pains, agonies and sorrows. It becomes pertinent for one to mention that past strikes in Nigeria ended up making most of the labour leaders unnecessarily popular, politically strong and rich, leaving the workers and the masses not only improvised but poorer than the church rats. One cannot but open up to conscious reality of the moment that the Federal Government recently announced petrol pump price from N86.50 to N145 per liter is not only sadist, wicked and unrealistic to the people’s plight but morally wrong. Considering the fact that the prevailing wrongs and failings in the economy of the nation were brought about by treasury looters, the novel rich and particularly those nuisance values at the political corridor of power, one will opine loud and clear that the poor must not be made to

Past strikes in Nigeria ended up making most of the labour leaders unnecessarily popular, politically strong and rich, leaving the workers and the masses not only improvised, but poorer continue to suffer for economic wrongs they never committed. Although President Muhammadu Buhari, since he came into office, has done the nation and humanity proud by exposing some of the ugly, shameless and corruptive evils that stole to stupor from the nation’s treasury and those who have brought untold shame to this nation, it becomes pertinent to say that he should not be seen punishing the poor for the offence commit-

ted by the devils who looted the treasury. I am of the view that President Buhari should have come to the nation with a sound, eloquent and penetrating argument on the need and necessity for increase in the pump price; ending up soliciting for good reasoning of the public in the wise. I bet, not many people would have grudged if the pump price had been consciously and reasonably increased from N86.50 per litre to roving current average market price of N110 the common people had been used to the past ten months or so. In the last few months, life has been too harsh for average Nigerians based on the economic situation of the country. So, the Buhari-led Federal Government should be home to reality by not allowing the labour unions and other organisations set the nation on edge with an unwanted and unavoidable strike action. Let it be a nationalistic note of warning that it will pay the nation if the pump price of petrol is immediately reversed to commonsense price placement of nothing more than N110 per liter.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

Ezugwu: Labour has been compromised N

Chief Willy Ezugwu is the National Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP)

igerians should ignore the labour unions and continue to protest against the increment of pump price of petrol despite the order of the Industrial Court stopping the strike action by the unions because both the Federal Government and the labour unions are insincerity about the matter. We are taken aback that the Federal Government could hurriedly obtain a judgment from the Industrial Court, with readiness to enforce same overnight, while it is yet to obey many other court orders against it. For instance, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) was deregistered as a political party by the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) and a court of competent jurisdiction ordered its reregistration but the commission is yet to obey the order. Today, the Federal Government selects

They have been compromised and would eventually betray Nigerians as they did in 2012

which court judgment to obey and the ones against it are jettisoned. So, we reiterate our call on all well-meaning Nigerians and the civil society to ignore the labour unions and protest against the unjustifiable pump price increment in their numbers. We suspect that the order of the In-

dustrial Court was obtained by the Federal Government in connivance with the labour unions to ambush the Nigerian masses and deny them their constitutional rights to hold opinion, freedom of expression and association. Nigerians should recall that we had earlier warned them to ignore the labour unions because our findings showed that they have been compromised and would eventually betray Nigerians as they did in 2012. The order of the Industrial Court stopping the unions' planned strike puts a question mark on the sincerity of both the labour unions and the Federal Government. But they must be made to be aware that Nigerians are unstoppable despite their glaring conspiracy against the wishes of the people.

Interview by FeLIX NWANERI

Odumakin: Only restructuring can solve the problem

Mr. Yinka Odumakin is the National Publicity Secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere

hile I join other well-meaning Nigerians to condemn in the strongest terms, the recent insensitive, wicked and punitive increase in the price of petrol to N145 per litre, I have to tell all those who have called on me to be part of providing leadership for resistance to the measure to perish the thought. My heart is with the conned people of Nigeria as they fight this unpopular act of government but my body will not be in their midst. Having spent 30 years of my life in the struggle against the manipulation of the people on this issue of “fuel subsidy,” I am fully persuaded that I have to deploy my energy to a nobler cause. After leaving school, I have participated in so many protests against “subsidy removal” the most memorable of the anti-fuel hike protests for me was “Occupy Nigeria” in 2012 when the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan increased pump price to N140 per liter on New Year day. Pastor Tunde Bakare who joined us on the street for the first time in 2010, when he convened the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) to rattle the cabal that would not allow power transfer to Jonathan in spite of the incapacitation of President Umaru Yar’Adua had

If we devolve powers to the federating units, there won’t be... Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) forcing these pills down our throats asked me to call a meeting of the fighters. We met at the SNG secretariat and agreed to have a rally at Ojota on January 9, 2012. We expected good turn-out based on the mobilisation we carried out but the turn out surpassed our expectations. The second day doubled the first day. The third day spilled out of control. The fourth day communicated to us that a stampede was in the offing if we did not do something. We had to ask the crowd to go home for the weekend on the fifth and return on Monday. Our suspension allowed labour to cut a deal and Ojota was taken over before we could come back on Monday by troops.

It was a moment that proved clearly that social mobility is not frozen in Nigeria, if the right leadership is provided. At the 2014 National Conference, I warned this country about the crises we would get into if the price of crude were to crash in the international market. It was with deep conviction I took the position in 2015 that no ‘change’ would come to Nigeria either from Jonathan or Buhari if we fail to change this structure. I would not have voted for either if it was all about ‘change’ and ‘transformation.’ I backed Jonathan who made commitment to implement the 2015 confab report. It was the same position that made me supported Buhari in 2011, when the Buhari/Bakare manifesto had restructuring of Nigeria as the first item, although it was only Bakare, who raised and spoke to that manifesto. I insist the battle we must fight to solve all these problems is to restructure. If we devolve powers to the federating units, there won’t be any Ibe Kachikwu or Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) forcing these pills down our throats from Abuja.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Siasia’s skipper, Mikel, a misnomer Emissary EMEKA OBASI emobas2003@yahoo.com 0809-445-7557 (sms only)

ream Team Coach Samson Siasia does not need to do this now, distraction will set in and his dream of getting another Olympic soccer gold for the country will just disappear through Izon Creeks. He is yet to confirm it but there are reports that Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi will lead the team to Rio. The Chelsea star is one of the three senior players that will make the team . Mikel who made global mark at the 2005 FIFA U-20 Championships in Netherland as one of the silver winning Flying Eagles under Siasia played hide and seek in what would have been his first Olympics, the Beijing 2008 Games. Siaisia took the team to the grande finale and was denied the gold by Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Coach and player are friends again. Mikel’s Olympic dream is very much alive, a good development that will benefit the team and nation. The idea of naming him Skipper is not going to help psychologically. There is a substantive captain Azubuike Okechukwu who led the squad all through the qualifiers and the ticket to Brazil was earned. Bringing someone who was not there in the first place makes sense. What may not help is asking him to come in as the leader. One does not have to be relevant through the skipper’s band. As a senior player, Mikel has earned his respect among the younger ones. There is so much to learn from him and they will accord him that honour as long as he comes, plays his

role as an elder and goes back to base. It is enough that the Chelsea midfielder is captain of the senior national team. Playing in the U-23 team as Eagles skipper is better than Captaining both teams. The younger players will feel great playing alongside a senior whose job is just to help the team and not to control the camp. Nwankwo Kanu was captain of the golden Dream Team One from scratch. Even when senior players like Okey Uche, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke were drafted to boost the squad, he remained the boy in charge . It worked well, that arrangement. It could still work even better now. Isaac Promise was Siasia’s choice during the Beijing 2008 qualifiers. The introduction of the more experienced Osaze Odemwingie during the Games proper did not affect the command chain. The senior player came and adjusted. Nigeria got another Olympic soccer medal, a silver after the Argies grabbed the gold with a lone goal victory. There is nothing unusual in bringing a senior player to star in a team captained by someone else. In 1975, Enugu Rangers went into the Africa Cup of Champion Clubs [ the present CAF Champion’s League] captained by Christian Chukwu. When they won the National league in 1974, Dominic Ezeani was team Skipper. Ezeani left for the United States at the end of the season with Keneth Ilodigwe. When the going got tough in the continental competition, especially after the goalless draw with Tanzania’s Young Africans [Yanga] in the Lagos first leg, the duo were invited to fortify the team. Chukwu remained captain. He had also become skipper of the Green Eagles. In the course of the competition, Dominic ‘Alhaji’ Nwobodo who was Ezeani’s predecessor and Godwin Achebe’s successor, also returned to

There is a substantive captain Azubuike Okechukwu who led the squad all through the qualifiers

Rangers. Chukwu retained the band. Stephen Keshi was handed the captain’s band by Coach Festus Onigbinde during the Africa Nations Cup, Cote D’Ivoire ’84. In that team was seasoned Mudashiru Lawal whose first appointment as Eagles skipper was announced in the air in 1981 in the botched attempt to bag an Espana ’82 World Cup ticket. The Eagles led by Segun ‘Mathematical’ Odegbami had been trounced 2-0 in Lagos by Algeria in what turned out to be Keshi’s Eagles debut. Chukwu was recalled from retirement to feature in the game that also saw Andrew Atuegbu and Thompson Usiyen returning to the team from America. Odegbami remained captain in that match that Chukwu was off form and had to be replaced by Keshi. These examples should help Siasia. Mikel should come in with his experience and guide the team. He does not have to be made captain to show that he is a senior player. We all know and the younger players will always accord him the deserved respect. He has won the Euro Champion’s League, the Nations Cup and has World Cup experience. No one is disputing that. I also think Siasia and the team could do with keeper Vincent Enyeama. This should be a subtle way of luring the former Eagles Skipper back to the senior national team. The goalie is one of our best players, we need him too. The Brazilians are going with their very best, Neymar. Enyeama has played in three World Cups, won the Nations Cup, won the CAF Champion’s League, played in Africa, Asia[geographically], Europe but has not tasted Olympic action. This Dream Team will go places with the skipper Azubuike Okechukwu leading Big Boys Enyeama and Mikel. Their presence as senior players will boost not just the team and country but also the captain.

The judgement of history Isioma Madike

here are some issues that Nigerians are united on. One of them is the need to fight and reduce incidence of corruption to the barest minimum. The consensus stems from the fact that corruption in all its ramifications has done incalculable harm to the physical development of the nation and also the image of the country. It is very painful to know that this problem that has brought so much odium to the country is caused by a very negligible proportion of the population. I am also sure that the vast majority of Nigerians are in support of the anti-corruption drive of the present administration; although there may be different views on the modus operandi of the fight. It is in the light of the above that the yearly Transparency International (TI) reports on corruption have become very popular in Nigeria. But, what have we been using the reports for? Have we been using them as tools to unfairly criticise the government? Have we seen them as reflections of our collective failure as a people to win the battle against corruption? Have we even taken a critical look at

how these surveys are conducted? There is also the survey that said that Nigerians are the most religious people in the world. Yet, another pointed to the fact that Nigerian people are the happiest on the planet earth. But, are these not contradictions to the various TI reports that we are among the most corrupt in the universe? The other day, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, even labelled us “fantastically” corrupt. One of the surveys is definitely questionable. My goal, however, is not to determine which is doubtful but to advocate that the time has come for us as a people to start taking a second look at the methodology of any survey in order not to blindly accept what other people say about us. There is a pertinent question that needs to be asked here. Does poverty of any kind, physical or intellectual, contribute to corruption? This may be a very controversial question. It is rightly so because history thrives on controversy; its nature makes this inevitable. History is the story of man’s past written by man himself. That is a minus. Societies trust no man to be totally fair to his society and his fellow man. History is, therefore, suspect in the eyes of society itself, not without a good reason or two. No story about man and his society

written or told by man is unflawed by personal understanding and judgement or lack of them. For no man, however fair and broadminded, is safe from the compulsion of influence of personal understanding, influence of personal experience, influence of peer groups and influence of positions and expectation. When these are not obvious, man’s record of history is flawed by his choice – choice of what period of history to look at and the dramatic personae therein; choice of how the story will be told and the choice of when to tell the story. The motive that forms the decision to look back to man’s immediate or remote past, determines how the story is told by whoever is telling it. Written piece of history, be it a biography or an autobiography, stands as much chance of acceptance or the risk of rejection. It stands the risk of arousing strong public passions. History is not just a record of the past. It is more importantly a contemporary interpretation of the past. It is a task undertaken for a number of reasons, the most important being the desire to set records straight either to enable the present pass a fair judgement on the past or, perhaps, to compel the present to exonerate the past. To do so, the present must be made to view, with sober reflections sane

emotions, the context in which certain decisions and actions were taken by those entrusted with the responsibility of looking after society at a time. Alternatively, why should a man, a sane man, put his neck in the noose in defence of a poorly articulated belief ? The grand idea about history is not to merely learn of what happened but for the present to learn from the mistakes of the past. That way, the present can best learn to conduct its affairs by avoiding the mistakes of the past. It may be a debatable point whether or not the present learns from the past but there can be no arguing the fact that the desire to learn from the past is strong in all human societies, ancient and modern. Recorded history must necessary be fair to some and unfair to others. This is unavoidable. No historian, however efficient, can write equally from both sides of the fence. In the circumstance, therefore, some events might be given a short drift, some dramatic personae may be poorly treated and motives that inform decisions might be given liberal interpretation. Not perhaps, out of a desire to do mischief but, perhaps, because no man has enough eyes to see everything, be it in the past or the present. No man has the power to be totally fair.

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NFF: Buhari to the rescue

igerians have been enduring in different spheres since President Muhammadu Buhari took charge about one year ago. The recent ones include fuel scarcity, power shortage and rise in rates of foreign exchange which has a corresponding effect on the prices food items and basic domestic needs. Naturally, the name of Mr. President has been on the lips of so many Nigerians as people general y struggle to make ends meet. Somehow, it is expected that the President brings his magic wand to bear in every sector in the day-today running of the country. We have written on a number of times about the crises in our football scene. Rather than having a drop in the brouhaha, more and more ugly situations are rearing their ugly heads. It is bad enough already that a club owner, Mr. Chris Giwa, took the Nigeria Football Federation to a High Court in Jos, claiming legitimacy to the presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation. The case came up as a surprise because it had been thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for sports, which is the highest body for settling dispute in sports. When Giwa decided to exhume the case only two months back, it was also a surprise because we recall that the minister of

Sport, Solomon Dalung, at a time called Giwa and the NFF President to a meeting and urged them to embrace peace. It is sad that it was this same crisis that led to the nonqualification of the Super Eagles for the 2015 Nations Cup. The NFF has been engrossed with many other crises such as the coaching problem. Nigeria again failed to book a ticket to the forthcoming Nations Cup in Gabon due to the numerous crises before the federation. For example, three different coaches handled the Super Eagles in the 2017 Nations

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corded more shameful scenes in the leadership tussle of the country’s football. Giwa was at the secretariat of the NFF and was arrested for threatening to take over the operations of the federation. He also has some people working with him for media to counter all the pronouncements of the Pinnick-led board. For example, when news came out last week that the NFF had banned

This tussle for the soul of the NFF is affecting the fortunes of the game

Cup qualifiers. Stephen Keshi was fired, Sunday Oliseh resigned and Samson Siasia who came in as interim was again asked to leave. By the time Nigeria plays the last qualifier against Tanzania, it will be on record that four different coaches handled the team. For now, the NFF has created another problem for itself with the decision on foreign coach. Getting a coach should not be a big issue but we frown at the process of the federation which is always not transparent and it sparks issues within the entire football family. The past weeks have re-

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Giwa for five years, the Giwa group through a journalist with the group, came out with a release that Pinnick and six other peo-

ple have been banned 10 years. This, we believe is ridiculous. No doubt, this tussle for the soul of the NFF is affecting the fortunes of the game in Nigeria. It is obvious, Pinnick is immersed with how to retain his seat as NFF President. As if the leadership crisis was not enough, the fans of Giwa FC disrupted a Nigeria Professional League Football match against Rangers in Jos. Rangers were leading 1-0 and the fans were throwing stones and other objects at the assistant referee. The match was abandoned and rather than award the match to the visiting team,

the League Management Committee ordered that the remaining 16 minutes be played in Abuja while Giwa FC was banished to Ilorin. The club surprisingly did not turn up for that match and they did not also to turn up for the home games in the Ilorin against Wikki Tourists and Akwa United. We make bold to say Giwa is bringing the game of football into disrepute with his fight for power and now he has told his team not to honour games which could attract a ban in accordance with the LMC statutes. The future of some people earning their daily bread is at stake and this is most unfortunate. It is obvious that Dalung is reluctant to the take a bull by the horn in resolving the football crisis. FIFA, the world body, recognizes Pinnick, the government of Nigeria also recognizes him and his board so why should we continue to swim in crisis. President Buhari has many other state issues before him but it would not be out of place to make a pronouncement on this lingering war to permanently end the crises. The federation should be busy with how to get a quality substantive coach for the Super Eagles and how to qualify Nigeria for Russia 2018 World Cup. Enough is enough.

POLITICS

Uche Anichukwu

n May 12, 1962, when Ike Ekweremadu was born in Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, there were no comets; there were no singing birds; not even the star; not even the wise men tracing the star; not even the traditional fortunetellers would tell that a great man had arrived. But today his homeland, Nigeria, and indeed the world, have recognised that a man in the person of Ike Ekweremadu is here. Those were the words with which Prof. Simon Otuanya, described the birth and rise of the Deputy President of the Senate during a public lecture recently delivered by the Senator at his alma mater, the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. It couldn’t have been better said. Call him an enigma or man of destiny, you won’t be wrong, for Ekweremadu’s life defies estimation. At a time you didn’t give him a chance, when you thought he has come to the end of the road, he bounces back like the cat with nine lives or Phoenix, the immortal bird in Greek mythology. Who could have thought that the little town of Mpu could produce a senator, let alone a threeterm Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate? Given political permutations at about this time in 2014, who believed he would return to the Senate? And given his party’s loss at the polls, who believed he would reemerge as the Deputy President of the Senate. Yet, he returned- not by power, and certainly not by might, but by a combination of grace, destiny, and the popular will of the people. A rewind to Ekweremadu’s testimony in 2013 during the dedication of a cathedral he built in his community unmasks his success and philosophy. His words: "As a young man growing up, I looked around me, both in my home, my local government, and the greater part of my state, and saw hopelessness. Just finishing from secondary school, I went to church and we were asked to pray and ask God whatever we wished. I said to God, 'Because of all the challenges I can see around me; if you make me an instrument for addressing these problems and make me successful in life, I will build a church for you'. And from that day, my life changed completely. It has been one progress after the other”. One only needed to visit his constituency and environ to know if his prayer was answered. Ekweremadu is a bearer of the anointing of God’s grace, no doubt. But it is also true he has profusely oiled the wheels of grace by selflessness, patriotism, kindness, hard work, and commitment to the common good. He surrendered himself early in life as a channel, not a terminus of his blessings. His approach to politics as service, his preoccupation with the collective rather than self, has continued to boost his political staying power. For instance, when news filtered in, in September 2014, that Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had been adopted as the consensus gubernatorial candidate of Enugu PDP at the end of a meeting with the former governor, at the Enugu Government House, I met

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ekweremadu: Politics underpinned by patriotism

Ekweremadu

with Ikeoha at his Abuja residence to articulate our position on the matter. Although he wasn’t a guber candidate himself, one would have ordinarily expected him to frontally oppose the choice, given the political temperament and interests that proposed him. But Ekweremadu described Ugwuanyi as a well-experienced and kind-hearted gentleman capable of reuniting the contending forces and leading the State with the fear of God. So, he said it was needless opposing a good man for the sake of opposition. Again, in the aftermath of the acutely divisive 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections, the patriot in him reflected in his well-publicised address at the meeting with Enugu West Senatorial District, and later, South East PDP leaders on April 7, 2016. Although his speech was entitled “On PDP We Stand”, he emphasised: “It needs to be reiterated, however, that the SouthEast PDP and indeed Ndigbo have nothing against General Muham-

He does not believe patriotic politicking means keeping quiet when things are going wrong

madu Buhari (Rtd) as a person or against his incoming administration. We will work hand-in-hand with him in line with our regional agenda and the overall development of Nigeria. We will give him all the support to succeed because he was elected as the President of Nigeria, not President of the APC or any section of the country in particular. “He has the choice to be a statesman by ensuring that no part of this country is discriminated against in the distribution of opportunities and development projects on account of their ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, and region or to do otherwise. But I believe that whatever choices he makes will determine his place in history”. Furthermore, while fielding questions on Raypower Radio’s Political Platform, recently, he said it was in Nigeria’s interest for Buhari to succeed. He added: “As PDP, we are Nigerians and we love Nigeria as well. We are not going to hinge our return on the failure of the APC. No. Certainly, we want APC to succeed. We would like APC to succeed in the interest of Nigeria. We are going to hinge our return on superior argument, superior vision, and better ideas to run Nigeria if given another opportunity.” I was with him at a High Level Seminar on “Peace, Security, and Sustainable Development” at the Belgium National Parliament, Brussels, in October 2015. He debunked some false assertions made by some European parliamentarians on insurgency under the current administration. Ekweremadu told the international audience that the President Buhari Administration was building on the efforts of the previous government and had shown “enormous will and commitment towards ending the twin evils of insurgency and terrorism”. This was in line with PDP’s decision not to play politics with the war against insurgency. Nevertheless, he does not believe patriotic politicking means keeping quiet when things are going wrong. For instance, quoting Albert Camus in the opening pages of his new book, Who Will Love My Country, he writes: “I should be able to love my coun-

try and still love justice”. Thus, he once charged PDP faithful to “put the ruling party at the mercy of the truth; confront errors with the truth; stand up for what is right; offer constructive criticisms of the follies and errors of the ruling party; and proffer better ideas for moving the nation forward”. This is what he has also tried to do as an opposition leader. Although he has often drawn the flak of the ruling party for such good faith criticism, there is nothing Ekweremadu or any PDP leader has said that compares to the unbridled name-calling and vitriolic hauled at former President Jonathan and PDP government by the former opposition! Check out two of the many namecalling and vitriolic tweets by a former Acting Deputy National Secretary of the APC, now a state governor: “Weak but wicked, clueless but corrupt, shamelessly incompetent, bold-faced but cowardly, smiley but genocidal” and “Many prayers of the lazy, docile, incompetent, clueless, hopeless, useless leader!” Ekweremadu’s patriotism also shows in courageous admissions and insights contained in his book, Who Will Love My Country. The book is an honest and patriotic attempt at dissecting the Nigerian Federation and challenges, telling the hard truths with undiluted facts to engender good faith national discourse on the way forward. Indeed, if the glowing tributes paid to him by eminent Nigerians like General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), President Muhammadu Buhari, governors, ministers, heads of diplomatic missions, first class traditional rulers, and international organisations, members of the academia, corporate Nigeria, labour, civil society, professional organisations, etc who graced his book presentation are anything to go by, then one can say that although no comets or other heavenly elements annouced his birth, Ekweremadu’s good works, patriotic policking, and annointing of grace have continued to announce his presence. Happy birthday, Ikeoha Ndigbo. •Anichukwu is Special Adviser on Media to the Deputy President of the Senate

FG should revert fuel price – Group

group, Centre for Global Solutions and Sustainable Development (CENGSSUD), has called on the Federal Government to revert the former price price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The group in a statement by its Executive Director, Adebowale Adeniyi, said the decision of the Federal Government may be good but the timing is wrong. It said if government cannot be quick to increase the minimum wage of workers, fix the

foreign exchange, electricity, security, unemployment and economic challenges, it should not be also quick to remove the subsidy on fuel. It said: “CENGSSUD strongly frowns at the level of insensitivity and poor mannerism displayed by the Federal Government towards the sudden removal of the pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145. “Despite the fact that we are not unaware of the long-term economic benefits and gains through the removal of subsidy,

and the moves to block financial insanities, recklessness and looting by the few cabals sucking the nation’s treasury dry, which at the end always reduce the government’s financial ability and capability to engage in robust developmental projects, yet we condemn the timing and the manner of removal.” The group also noted that “fuel subsidy is one of the most sensitive and controversial issues in Nigeria and if it must be removed, should not be something sudden and done in

isolation. “We frown at the Federal Government’s price fixing of N145, as we are yet to know what yardstick or logic the government used to arrive at this figure. “We hereby call the government to immediately do the needful and return things to the status quo. Subsidy is very a sensitive issue, and not something government can tamper or play with without putting various structures and palliatives in place.”

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

CULTURE

Firm partners gallery to pioneer food art exhibition

Grand finale for GCGT

…brand Ambassador sets to release single

F A scene from a recent stage production of Prof. Femi Osofisan’s play, “The Engagement” at the Arts Theatre, University of Ibadan, by the Ibadan Play House.

A Chance To Survive highlights greed, corruption Tony Okuyeme

t was a brilliant, thought-provoking theatrical presentation as students of the Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration (PGDCA) of NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, 2015/15 session last Monday, staged Barclays Ayakoroma’s play, A Chance to Survive at the Staff Assembly Ground, NICO Head Office, Abuja. The playwright, Ayakoroma, who is the Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), is also a Visiting Asso-

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

ciate Professor at the Department of Theatre & Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK). A Chance to Survive is a satirical drama about a community king, HRH Kurokaki who, with his chiefs, corruptly sells community lands to enrich themselves. Their greatest undoing is when all the community fish ponds are sold off making it impossible for fishing activities to take place. This and other acts of maladministration are challenged by the youth, led by Oloye, whose father had been supposedly killed by the king for challenging his authority. Angered by this new opposition to his authority, and the ugly incidence of his daughter falling in love with Oloye, the king plans to eliminate him (Oloye), like his father; but he meets his waterloo. The only chance for the king to survive lies in the hands of his arch enemy, Oloye. The superlative performance of the students in the 55 minutes excerpt of the hilarious play, which was directed by Mrs. Jane Anigala, an Assistant Director in the Department of Admin & Human Resources of the Institute, thrilled the audience.

Commenting on the performance, the playwright, Ayakoroma, commended the efforts of the students in putting his thoughts into reality, but advised them to work on their lines for a better performance next time. Also speaking, the course lecturer, Dr. Philip Umaru, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), commended the students for their efforts and that he hoped for a better performance from students during the next academic session. In his remark, Mr. Michael Bush, who is also the class governor, appreciated Management and Staff of NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, for providing the platform and the enabling environment for students to learn other cultures and also showcase their talents. Other management staffers at the occasion, including the Acting Director, Admin and Human Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Hussaini; Acting Director, Research and Documentation, Mr. Michael Ekoko; Deputy Director/SA to ES, Mr. Law Ezeh; Head of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Alfred Ogbe Herbert, also gave various remarks.

ollowing the successful conclusion of its regional and quarter finals, God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT) is set for the grand finale. The competition, which saw over 2,000 entrants who participated for free, has over the past couple of months through a keen contest, pruned down to 10 contestants. GCGT is a social development project of the RCCG Apapa family which distinguished itself this year by opening up its doors to a wide range of non – RCCG contestants across Nigeria. The gospel talent hunt is focused on discovering, grooming and producing young talents and stars in various fields of artistic expressions across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America. This year’s grand finale, the organisers stated, will take place at Eko Hotel, Lagos, and the competition will be presided over by leading performing and nonperforming artistes who will help along with the audience votes to determine the winner of the N5m star prize, including a production contract, talent development packages and other attractive prizes. Founder of the Society for Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN), Sarah Boulous, Uti Nwachukwu, Dayo Benjamin-Laniyun, Wale Oni, Youth Maverick, Zuriel Oduwole, Jeremiah Gyang and many others are the Judges for the grand finale. Award-winning musician, producer, and songwriter, Cobhams Asuquo will be the performing guest artistes. One of the highlights of this year’s event is the release of a single by the GCGT Season 5 Brand Ambassador Ms. Praise Olorunsuyi, an undergraduate of the University of Lagos, who won in the singing category last year. Head of Apapa family, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade explained that the vision of the initiative is to engage children/ teens in a positive way, using their talents to glorify God. “God’s Children’s Great Talent was born out of a desire to identify and nurture the diverse talents available in children.” The exhibition will run still June.

Winner, GCGT Season 5, Olurunsuyi Praise Oluwakemi

Oluwakemi, winner, GCGT Season 5

ART

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Culinary art, photography exhibition opens in Lagos

Mojeed Alabi

ulinary art and photography exhibition as well as online competition, which opened last Sunday, offers insight into what could be described as an unprecedented talent discovery innovation. Themed ‘What’s Cooking?’, the exhibition featuring the works of two prominent photographers, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Ade Asiko Okelarin, also drew inspiration from Nigerian cuisine created by three leading chefs, Tiyan Alile, Ozoz Sokoh (Kitchen Butterfly) and Dunni Obata (Dooney’s Kitchen). Preceded by an online culinary art contest attracting more than 300 entries from across the country, the exhibited art works were captured by the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge smartphone by the renowned photographers. The development has led to what is now known as #TechMeetsArtNG initiative, a platform where technology helps to enhance art on different levels. The Food Art competition, organised by Samsung Electronics West Africa in partnership with Rele Gallery, a contemporary art space, also engaged talented Nigerians from all over the country trying their hands at culinary artistry by creating an original work of art using real food in line with the exhibition theme. The overall winner of the competition, Ms. Haneefah Adam, a medical scientist and lifestyle blogger, whose work depicted the portrait of the African woman with ingredients of the South East Nigerian delicacy, was rewarded with Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone, and had the winning picture displayed at the Rele Gallery. The second and third runners-up were also rewarded with Samsung products.

Other work on display

Speaking at the event, which held at Rele Gallery, Onikan, Lagos, the technology company’s Managing Director, Mr. Paul Lee, said both technology and art have had an unfamiliar relationship over the years with many people wondering what the nature of the relationship is. “Art and technology derive strength and inspiration from one another. Hosting a competition among chefs is logical as cooking is also a form of art. With this novelty, Samsung is rebooting the relationship between art and technology by being a part of exhibitions and initiatives that will foster new collaborations across both disciplines and industries,” Lee said. The Founder and Curator of the gallery, Adenrele Sonariwo,

The winning art work

Art and technology derive strength and inspiration from one another.

noted that the gallery is committed to changing the way Nigerians consume and navigate the world through art. “As we have come to discover that food is much more than something we eat, through this project, we highlight that there is an art to cooking and presenting it. For the first time ever, Nigerian cuisine gets to be documented as an art piece, to inspire experimentation and exploration of the possibilities. Technology has once again proved to be an important, reliable partner in establishing this narrative.” Also speaking, the Director, Information Technology and Mobility, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanuoil Revmatas, expressed satisfaction with the quality of entries received, while reiterating the company’s

mission in making life better and more exciting. ‘‘There are a number of necessities that are imperative in life, and two of them include food and technology. The collaboration between Samsung and Rele Gallery has produced the #TechMeetsArtNG initiative, a platform where technology helps to enhance art on different levels. This year’s theme, ‘What’s Cooking’ is all about fusing technology and art as well as food. The special culinary delights were brought into focus with the use of Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Smartphone by renowned photographers such as Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Ade Okelarin (Asiko) to capture Nigerian art food created by all three distinguished chefs,’’ Revmatas explained.

Sisi Eko@50: VoTC finalists stage live painting, literary arts competition Tony Okuyeme

he race for the top prize of this year’s edition of Vision of the Child (VoTC) continued last Friday for the 50 finalists as they participated in a live painting and literary arts competition at Federal Palace Hotel - Victoria Island, Lagos. And for the participants, it was another opportunity to not just showcase their talents but also win. The finalists representing 30 schools from different parts of Lagos State had emerged from 500 student-participants (drawn from 200 schools – primary and secondary) who took part in a three-day intensive audition in April. They enthusiastic participants worked on the year’s theme: “Sisi Eko@50,

Ageing gracefully? Or Na So So Pancake?” A panel of eminent jury comprising teachers, artists, child minders/carers and social workers assessed the participants – in the age bracket 8 – 12 years old. For the second leg of the competition which held last Friday, 30 of the participants in the painting category were provided with brush, water and poster colour, painting papers, brushes, pallets, easel and other materials and were required to illustrate their literary presentation in the complimentary medium of painting. The rest 20 featuring in the literary category presented their works – poem, essay, short story etc – in the reading studio specially conceived for the project. Sponsored by Diamond Bank since 2012, VoTC 2016 is dedicated to the golden jubilee celebration of the creation of Lagos – hence

Lagos@50. According to the organisers, the Lagos at 50 celebration will be declared open at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on May 27 (being International Children’s Day). It sets off a series of commemorative events

that will reaffirm the place of Lagos as the multi-cultural capital of the African continent. The VoTC exhibition of Sisi-Eko at 50 will be opened formally at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on 27th of May; the works will eventually be exhibited at different locations in the state for a period of one year.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sex and Marriage Counselor

Feminique

Seven tips to a long sex life

Diary of a dating mom I can’t believe I have little or nothing to worry about

20 20

Torehall: No nation grows with poor treatment of women Pauline Torehall is the Head of Politics, Press and Information, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS. In an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, she noted that countries that don’t treat their women well, don’t grow. EBERE AMEH writes

nspired by the thematic focus of the African Union for 2016, which is ‘Year of Human Rights with Special Focus on Rights of Women’, the European Union chose the same theme for the EU Day celebration that took place on the 9th of May. Expatiating on the reason for the theme, Pauline said that what informed their choice is the fact that there are lots of gender equality issues in Africa. “The thematic focus of the EU in 2016 is also a way for us to show solidarity with African women because we know that there are lots of gender equality issues in Africa. The documents and the policies may be there but the problem is implementation. “Equality between men and women is a core value of the European Union, enshrined in its legal and political framework. The EU is at the forefront of the protection and fulfilment of girls’ and women’s rights and vigorously promotes them in its external relations. In recent years, there has been an increasing political momentum in the international community to ensure that girls’ and women’s rights are fulfilled and that empowering action is adequately supported through

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

galvanised efforts,” the diplomat explained. Pauline who joined the Nigerian delegation in 2015 added that smart societies are those societies where women have equal say as men and have their rightful place. “The country that does not treat their women well does not grow. So there has to be respect for women, there has to be equal opportunities for women there and has to be empowerment of women both politically and economically.” On the Gender and Equal Opportunities bill that suffered a setback during its presentation at the Senate recently, Pauline advised that the Nigerian women would have to group together to make their voices heard. “The women would have to stand up together, and that is very important, and speak to the people that don’t want to pass this bill. I know there’s a gross gender imbalance in the total representation in the National Assembly of this country, but there are women in the senate that are fighting for this bill. They need to work harder to convince their male counterparts that this is not something that is dangerous to them, that it is something that will benefit everybody - men and women. So they have to lobby and campaign for the bill now. “But the positive thing about the fact that the GEO Bill was thrown out on the 15th of March, is that it has given it a lot of international attention and a lot of attention even in this country. It has also made some women groups like FIIDA and WIMBIZ stand up more for this bill. Since then, there has been a lot of collection of women groups that are today standing up for the bill,” the amiable lady ob-

The country that does not treat their women well does not grow...there has to be equal opportunities for women

Torehall

served. The issue of gender parity in Nigeria has been generating a lot of controversy after the rejected GEO bill that took place a few days after the International Women’s Day celebration, which had as its theme Planet 50-50 by 2030, stand for parity. While many are of the opinion that Nigeria can actually achieve parity by 2030 as the theme signifies, others think it is absolutely impossible. “I’m convinced that Nigeria can achieve gender parity by 2030. Every country can achieve that, but it takes political will, it takes good leadership, it takes having role models, it takes brave women, who have a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and with knowledge about what gender equality is about. Good enough, you have all that here. All you just need is to make the transition. You need women in business, you need women in political settings in the House of Assembly and among the governors. Women have to make their voices heard and men have to welcome women into the fold.” In her message to the men, Pauline urges them to understand that it would eventually be for the benefit of all. “It benefits men as well. It benefits the whole country, so men need to relax. It makes for more harmonious cohesive society when women have equal opportunity, when they have their own say.” The EU has been at the forefront of helping in promoting women’s engagement in peace and security in norther Nigeria. Their threeyear 10 million Euro Programme, which focuses on three northern states, is implemented by the UN Women and seeks to strengthen

women’s leadership, advance gender equality and improve protection of women and children in conflict settings. Talking about the project, Pauline said: “It’s a project on peace and security in northern Nigeria. Women are seldom part of the war, but women need to be part of the peace. It is the women that are often left with taking care of the children, picking up the pieces after the war. So women should be more involved in the peace processes as well, in mending their society, in having their voices heard in society and in improving the security situation in Nigeria. “In countries like this, women carry the fabric of society and the UN Women is doing a great job with the state leaderships and with the religious and traditional leaders in those states,” she noted. In their forty years of existence in Nigeria, the EU has made significant contributions to the growth and development of the country. Their support to Nigeria in ensuring the end of insurgency in north east Nigeria, while helping to overcome the humanitarian situation that arose from the conflict is monumental. While the focus of many has been an end to Boko Haram and rebuilding the north east, it is unfortunate that the citizens in the south east and the middle belt especially, have to battle with killer herdsmen who ravage and sack communities. According to Pauline, the killer herdsmen issue is one that they are very observant on yet. A Swede and alumna of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Pauline joined the Nigerian Delegation in 2015.

FEMINIQUE

e all start sex after puberty. One way or the other. Either doing or thinking about doing. As is usual in all facets of life, some of us are early starters, and others are late. Actually, in those days, everybody was a late starter. Nobody thought about having sex before the age of 18. It was considered an abomination. Unfortunately, today, the reverse is the case. I have seen girls as young as 15 years of age getting pregnant for boys of the same age. Early marriage has become more common especially in some areas. This piece is actually for two types of people. Those who want to start early and enjoy as much as possible before age sets in. Secondly, those who are scared or who have the belief that after a certain age, sex is no longer possible. Especially after the age of 60. Well, I am here to tell you as an expert that you can enjoy sex for as long as you want to. You just have to abide by some rules and regulations. As you well know, there is no free lunch anywhere. You want to have a long and enjoyable long life, you must work for it. Fortunately, it is not hard work. It is even very pleasant.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Seven tips to a long sex life Sex and Marriage Counselor drtaiwofadeyi@gmail.com

08033148899

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi So here are the tips/tools you will need. 1. Manage Your Stress. Stress, destroys everything in your life. Your health, your work, ambition and most importantly, your sex life. Stress, makes your sex life go on vacation. Which may be permanent if you are not careful. 2. Talk with and not to each other. Do you remember my earlier article on this issue? Or did you miss it completely? If you did, then rush to new telegraph office and ask for one. You need it. 3. Experiment. This is the time to start doing so. Especially for the older ones but young at heart like me.(Don’t laugh. I’m serious.). The brain is a fantastic organ. Loves fantasy

and novelty. Try new locations (bathroom, kitchen, sitting room etc). New fantasies. And finally new positions of sex. I know so many couples, who for the past 40 years of their sexual wlives (both premarital and marital) used only the missionary position. Can you imagine that? When there are over a thousand fantastic ones, dating from the stone age of cassaniova and Kamasutra, up to now. I usually help them out by giving them books on the various positions of sex. None so far has complained. You can contact me if you want one. Only on one condition. You must promise to use it regularly. 4. Use it or lose it. I have said this on countless occa-

You want to have a long and enjoyable long life, you must work for it

sions in my previous articles. If you don’t use it, you will lose it. Numerous surveys have shown that those who have sex weekly affirm that they have better relationships and more satisfaction than those who don’t. Why not join them? Why be different? 5. Relax and enjoy yourself. Stop worrying about your grey hair, fat belly and how good you were in bed at a younger age. Instead, enjoy the here and now. 6. Boost your health. Regular exercises, weight control, balanced healthy diet, good sleep and a lot of other health basics matter as grow older. 7. Talk with your doctor. Finally, your doctor is your friend. Don’t hide health issues from him. We are always ready to help. Consult specialists when you have challenges that affect your sex life. Premature Ejaculation, Small Penis, and Weak Erection (Erectile Dysfunction) are the big ones. Don’t patronise the guy in a mobile van with a loudspeaker. They are not specialists. They damage more than they repair.

Ego: Diary of a happening mom

Ebere Ameh

onday was rather an eventful day for me. I ran into Segun when he sneaked into the children’s school to see them. Thank God I got there on time; when the Nanny on duty was about going in to bring them for him. Too many thoughts came to my mind – ‘Has he been doing this?’ ‘Should I allow him to see them?’ No, he lost the right to their custody and he must bring a legal document to have any kind of access to them. I reasoned. “Are you new in this school?” I queried as I pulled the visibly distraught teacher back. “Gosh! Seems like my children are not safe here anymore. Is this how you bring children out for kidnappers and ritualist?’ I said, sizing him up with my eyes and gesturing my disgust. “Don’t you know that this man has no right to see the children he is demanding to see? In fact I need to see the Head Teacher immediately,” I threatened, brushing the young woman aside, ignoring her plea for pardon. “Ma, I’m so sorry. I was just employed last week and he said he’s their father,” I overheard her say. But I was already at the Head Teachers door. As a good friend of mine, I knew I can plead with her not to sack the young lady but I needed her to give a sound warning to her staff concerning my children. They all need to know that I am their sole custodian and any other person coming for them should be treated as a potential kidnapper. Did I just give Segun a silent treatment? Good! I was so angry at the teacher to notice him. I’m

I can’t believe I’ve little or nothing to worry about

happy I didn’t give the pleasure of a response. Anyway, the Head Teacher assured that she would take the necessary action and I left with my children shortly after, with Segun still ranting at the gate. “Mum, I saw somebody that looks like Dad,” Tobi said as they entered the car. Hmm, he definitely need to know that I was not in the mood to give him an answer. I can’t believe they have almost forgotten their father. In short, Tosin didn’t believe Tobi as they argued

on top of their voices. ‘It serves him right’, I thought. When he was hitting and kicking me, didn’t he know I have children for him? He kicked us out, he rejected the children and I because of his side chic, Biola. He should go back to his family, to his wife handpicked by his Mum because she is same Tribe with him. I won’t forget how they called me an Igbo prostitute that could not get her tribesman to marry. ‘They have not seen anything at all. I will ensure that his children not only forget him but hate anybody by the

name Segun,’ I vowed, shouting at the noisy kids to allow me enjoy the music playing in the car. We settled for Teal green and Peach for the aso-ebi. It was my idea that we chose colours and allow people the freedom of choosing their fabrics and it was unanimously accepted. I’m happy we arrived at a middle ground, something different from the choices made by my friends. The caterer on her part was asking for an arm and a leg and I would have readily taken over the cooking from her had Danny not continued with his protest. “I don’t want you to bother yourself. It’s that expensive because of the rise in fuel price but I’m sure you can’t do the stress of cooking for the multitude we are expecting,” he explained. Talking about the fuel price, I just hope it doesn’t affect my get-together with my friends on Thursday. We are billed to meet at our usual venue - the hilltop café, to unwind. This time, I know they would want to know how they could support in the burial of my father-in-law. We had met weekly for just three weeks and it has been refreshing, to say the least. From husbands to home care, career and children, we gist and laugh away our challenges, and learn from one another over lunch. Danny got a two weeks leave to go bury his father and we shall be departing for Benin on Friday. I still can’t believe that we are travelling to the village and I have little or nothing to worry about.

friday, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Criticize

Mariah Carey disses Jennifer Lopez again on ‘WWHL’

Nicki Minaj sends secret message to Drake

Entertainment Jaywon

Bovi: My wedding ring lasted only one week

Toyin Aimakhu gets her groove back

Adekunle Gold to quit Olamide’s YBNL record label

How Toke Makinwa survived depression

LANRE ODUKOYA COORDINATOR

lanreodukoya@gmail.com

People steal my songs, but I don’t talk about it

Despite his controversial exit from Kennis Music, Oluwajuwonlo Iledara, popularly known as Jaywon, is still relevant in showbiz. The Next World Music singer and CEO, in this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, speaks on his new album and sojourn in music Who exactly is Jaywon behind the fame? Oluwajuwonlo is easygoing, friendly and very accommodating. I am like any other person on the street. The only difference is that I am popular because of my chosen career. Music gives me life; it’s hard for me to quit. How has it been running your record label, Next World Music? It has not been easy, but I am enjoying it. I’m enjoying the fact that I’m paying salaries; I always tell them if I don’t make money, there’s no way I’ll pay. I’m the boss and I’m still going to get partners as time goes on. It’s been stressful, but I’m enjoying the fact that the money is coming in and I plan myself properly. Was there a time you wanted to quit music? Yes, there were times I felt like quitting music. It’s actually strange when you do things rightly and some people feel like it’s not enough. If you don’t make yourself visible enough, people think you are dead. You can’t just satisfy people even when you keep things real. How would you describe the reception of your new album since the release? The feedback has been very positive, but I am not relenting and all hands

are on deck towards the coming project. We’ve received good comments. We concluded a video shoot of a song in the album titled ‘Gbadun’featuring Reakado Banks and directed by Unlimited LA. ‘Oba Orin’ (King of Music) is a name I got from one of my fans when I released This Year. I also saw that whenever I perform This Year at shows, people always call me “Jaywon, Oba Orin.” So, when I was thinking of a title for the album, Oba Orin was the first thing that came to my mind. The money I made during the first two weeks I released the album was donated to an orphanage home in Abuja and we plan to do more of such. Why do you embark on such charitable gesture? I have always wanted to do this for a long time, but when you are under a record label, you have to follow their rules. I am now my own boss and I can take decisions on my own. I thank the Almighty for making it possible for me. With the support of Mr. Churchill (Tonto Dike’s husband), I was able to bring smiles on the faces of the orphans in my own small way. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 2

entertainment

friday, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘I can’t explain how I avoid scandals’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

Is this album your biggest so far? I cannot be the judge here, neither could I say this is my best album. I leave the listeners, members of the public to make the call. Before I dropped this album, I had two albums, but decided to release this. Like I said, the response I have been receiving is good and certain people even described it as the album of the year. It’s left for the people to decide if the album is good enough. Do you have a favourite track on the album? I would pick Show Me, because I’ve been trying to stay away from scandals. It’s a track I dedicate to all bachelors. In Jolly Muke featuring 9ice, I appreciated God for all He had done in my life and career. I took time out to give praises to Him because I don’t have any other god that I worship. Both in the lyrics and video, I demonstrated how I rose from nobody to somebody and the fact that people still reckon with the Jaywon brand. It must be tough getting big names on the album? The first question I ask

when I call an artiste for collaboration is “can you do it?” I don’t want a situation where I would have to be running after anyone. All the people I featured on the album were all supportive from the beginning. I enjoyed every bit with them, from the recording process to the finished work. Everybody was excited just like I was too. I appreciate the likes of 9ice, Olamide, Reminisce, Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks, Ortisefemi and a host of others for making the album a success. How often do you visit your parents in Kogi State? I find time to visit my parents, no matter my busy schedule. My mum understands me well; her prayer keeps me going. How do you stay away from scandals? It has been God’s grace; I cannot explain how I have been able to manage it. I try as much as possible to keep to myself. It’s good to be known and famous. It’s good to be recognized and to know that people love you. I’m enjoying it, but I don’t let it get into my head. How do you react to negative or unpleasant stories?

I laugh because I know them very well and I know it’s important for newspapers to sell or for the online platforms to gain traffic. I feel bad when some artistes react. Sometimes, all you need to do is to ignore such stories if you don’t want it to become a trending issue. If you want it to trend, you could talk. What is your sincere opinion on quarrel in the industry? I think it’s good because

when someone fires at another wrongly, he or she should be prepared to get a feedback. Sometimes, it’s fun; you just have to speak up. But you just have to learn how to ignore a whole lot of things. When people complain that they steal their songs, they’ve been stealing my songs since I started music till date. Since it is my intellectual property, when you pick a line or two from my song, I expect you to accord me the respect.

What makes you different? My voice is still my strongest point. But when I started, people said I sounded like 9ice. I’m happy today that people have been able to differentiate us. Is there any female artiste you like to work with? I seriously desire to do collaboration with Asa because she is one of the greatest female artistes from Africa. I respect and love her craft so much.

Toyin Aimakhu gets her groove back N

Aimakhu

ollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu, has had it rough from 2015 through 2016, especially with her love life, which made several headlines. But she has been able to brave the odds and come out unscathed. Her failed marriage to her hubby, Adeniyi Johnson, got many talking and pleading with the actress to accept her man, who admitted he was guilty of infidelity, back. But while many were waiting to hear the good news, she got in the news again for the wrong reason. It turned out to be that she was seeing a Yoruba showbiz promoter, Seun Egbegbe, just a few weeks after her breakup with Adeniyi and the rest of the story on her new lover became sour. And following his threats, Aimakhu, on Monday, dragged Egbegbe to the office of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai

Owoseni. Aimakhu, who was also at the station in company with her lawyer, Bosun Osifowora, stated that Egbegbe’s threat had affected her business and that colleagues and producers are afraid to call her for movie shoots because of the threat since they were aware of his violent nature. The actress’ embattled lover was made to sign an undertaking to desist from disturbing the actress. He signed an undertaking never to hurt or disturb Toyin, whether privately or in company of people. Egbegbe also agreed to make a new video as proof of his willingness to comply with the promise not to disturb the actress and as a confirmation of his readiness to comply with the police undertaking he signed. He is also to report fortnightly at the CP’s office in Ikeja and he has been placed under watch.

Egbegbe

Egbegbe, following the recent development, took to his Instagram account to apologize to his ex- lover for all the inconveniences he caused her. He wrote: “I hereby regret any inconveniences I might have caused Toyin Aimakhu. She’s is an A-list actress, anyone who wants to do business with her should deal with her as a celebrated artist. I wish her the best,” he noted. Aimakhu may have got her groove back after all. She decided to make it known that on her Instagramaccount that, “mistakes have the power to turn you into something better than you were before.”

entertainment

friday, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Adekunle Gold to quit Olamide’s YBNL record label

BNL leader, Olamide, has proved to be a man of his words, especially with his relationship and deals with his sign-ons. He’s repeatedly said he only signs a 2-year deal with all his artistes, after which they are free to go. With the exit of Lil Kesh from the label on the expiration of his deal in April 2016, we now have feelers that talented singer, Adekunle Gold, may be the next in line to leave the label. Lil Kesh left YBNL to float his YAGI records after dropping his debut album. Inside sources insist that Adekunle Gold is

next in line, “After his album drops in June, Kunle may leave YBNL to focus on his own label too,” an insider insists. His new label, we gather, would be called ‘Gold’ records. Somehow, the trend stays the same. Olamide left ID Cabasa after dropping the YBNL album, which became his record label name, Lil Kesh also left after dropping his YAGI album, which became the name of his label as well. Adekunle’s debut album is also titled ‘Gold’, which may very well become the name of his own record label too.

How Toke Makinwa survived depression

oor Toke Makinwa almost gave up in the face of the many silent battles she is fighting daily. Do stars also cry? Makinwa is in the best position to answer almost flawlessly too. Since she left her marriage with ex-husband, Maje, she has been battling online troll and personal demons. She just confessed that she was tempted to “throw the towel in” “Today wasn’t one of the best, but I choose to see it as a bad day and not a bad life. We all struggle sometimes, we are human! I share my journey to inspire someone out there not to give up. I came close to it today, I said some unkind things to God

and I really just wanted to throw the towel in. She revealed what gave her the strength to move on: “Reading my Open Heavens tonight gave me a reason to share this. There is peace in God; his peace alone can calm the raging storm. If you are in the storm right now, I pray that God sees you through to the other side, I pray for clarity and, overall, I pray you find peace. You will see the sun again” One can only hope she looks up to God to help her through her difficult moments.

Bovi: My wedding ring lasted only one week N

igerian comedian, Bovi, who has been married to his wife, Christabel for over six years, has spoken about what keeps his marriage going strong. Coming at a time when more and more celebrity marriages are breaking, Bovi, who was a guest on Beat FM on Wednesday morning, said “Marriage? It affects many artistes. But there are married successful entertainers. What’s sauce for the goose may not be sauce for the gander.” “My wedding ring lasted only one week. I don’t like rings. And my wife understands. We follow a practical approach to marriage. A ring doesn’t stop me from being good or bad”.

Love meets art in Simi’s Love Don’t Care video

igned to X3M Music label, Simi’s meteoric rise in the industry emphasises the label’s reputation in building music superstars. Again, Simi wows her fans with her artistic talents in the new music video of Love Don’t Care. Released this year, on Valentine’s Day precisely, the love ballad speaks of a love that soars above tribal and social prejudices. Since its release, the ballad has received massive airplays due to its compelling narrative and beautiful harmony of the traditional instrumentals. Known for her comic storytelling lines with evocative messages, Simi showcased her artistic taste in this video. The use of space and African prints in the video perfectly balances the folktale imagery of the song. The video starts with Simi lying on a bed. Another character playing her mother is also seated on the bed making a call while Simi beautifully sings. The video follows similar narratives, carefully making the characters glued to their part without direct communication with the singer. The video ends with Simi returning to her bed. Simi also dazzled her fans with her ballet dance steps, proving once more that she is multi-talented. Directed by Clarence Peters, the video is subtly embellished with iconic images of Nigeria’s history, reminding us that in our diversity lies our unity.

entertainment

Demi Lovato slams Taylor Swift again, says ‘We don’t get along’ D emi Lovato first dissed Taylor Swift earlier this year in February, when Demi wasn’t impressed by Taylor’s donation to Kesha to support her fight against Dr. Luke. But then, on May 17, Demi revealed that she still doesn’t like her, or consider her a feminist. Here’s more. Demi Lovato, 23, is an absolute savage. Once again, she’s admitting that she “doesn’t get along with” Taylor Swift, 26. Not only that, but she calls into question Taylor’s right to call herself a feminist. Demi and Taylor used to be buddies, but ever since February, there’s been bad blood between them. On May 17, Demi did a new interview explaining that not only does she not like Taylor, but that

Swift

Carey

t’s been three long years since Mariah Carey stopped by Watch What Happens Live and many knew she’d be spilling some shade at someone else, but were shocked that she dissed Jennifer Lopez again. Mariah Carey, 46, proved to be every inch the diva she’s known for when she dropped by the clubhouse to visit with Andy Cohen, 47, on May 17. He’s such a professional at getting stars to dish hard and this time was no exception as Mimi totally burned Jennifer Lopez, 46, yet again. It’s been three years since the last time she visited Andy on WWHL, but not much has changed. After she showed up late to the live show and made Andy sit in other chair because she only

friday, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mariah Carey disses Jennifer Lopez again on ‘WWHL’ likes her right side to show (which she also did in 2013), she once again announced that she “doesn’t know who” JLo is. However, she did admit that she’s “very forgetful” and may have simply forgotten meeting her. Yeah, we’re not sure that that’s better. Andy tried to re-ignite the Mariah/J Lo’s alleged feud when J Lo stopped by in February. The actress got called out for being caught texting during one of Mimi’s awards show appearances and she tried to defend herself, though it fell on deaf ears. However, she made sure to avoid saying anything mean about Mariah. Clearly Mariah wasn’t feeling the love. There were other fun tidbits on the show when Mariah wasn’t totally slam-

she doesn’t care to make amends with her at all. When asked about her beef with the Taylor, she said “there are women that I don’t get along with, and that’s fine,” Demi told Refinery29 . “My thing is, don’t brand yourself a feminist if you don’t do the work. I have an immense amount of respect for women like Lena Dunham … or Beyoncé, who make amazing political statements through their work.” Demi had argued in February that Taylor took the wrong approach to helping Kesha fight Dr. Luke after the songstress alleged that he raped her. Taylor gave Kesha $250,000 to help with her lawsuit, but Demi thought it was more important to be vocal about

Lovato

her support, saying “take something to Capitol Hill or actually speak out about something and then I’ll be impressed.” She defended the statement on May 17, saying, “I’m not going to stop saying what I believe in. I have no problem standing up for myself.” Clearly, Demi isn’t scared of burning a few bridges if that’s how she feels, but it’s crazy that she’s so upfront about not liking the leader of the most powerful squad in music.

Nicki Minaj sends secret message to Drake W

Lopez

ming Jennifer. For starters, she says she would love to do a duet with Beyonce and that her favorite show is Boardwalk Empire. So much has happened since her last visit to WWHL, as she got divorced from Nick Cannon, 35, became engaged to Aussie billionaire James Packer, 48, started her very own Las Vegas residency and is now filming a reality show about the behind the scenes drama that goes on at her shows! The last time Andy had Mariah visit was back in 2013 and she totally dissed on Eminem, 43. When the host asked her to say three nice things about him, instead she described the candies and packaging and refused to even acknowledge the rapper as a person.

e may have just discovered a secret message from Nicki Minaj to Drake — buried in a rap verse in Ariana Grande’s new song, Side To Side. Unless you’ve already listened to Drake‘s new song, Hype, you may have missed what seems to be a message from Nicki Minaj to the rapper in Ariana Grande‘s new song, Side To Side. Nicki is featured on the sexy track, and as soon as many heard her lyrics, they gasped. Okay, so let us break it down for you. Drake recently performed his new song, Hype, on the May 14 episode of Saturday Night Live, and in it, he

rapped, “It cost me 50 at Tiffany’s/Shout out to Tiffany, Stephanie.” Then, in Ariana Grande’s new song, Nicki rapped, “Kissing me, copped the blue box that say Tiffany/Curry with the shot, just tell ’em to call me Stephanie.” Either it’s a super strange coincidence that both Drake and Nicki said the names Tiffany and Stephanie, or Nicki is trying to get Drake’s attention. And because their romantic history is known, we’d go with the latter if we had to venture a guess. Nicki and Drake have never dated, but he once said he wants to marry her. He would even put a ring on her finger, if he knew she’d say ‘yes’.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Labour

Business What's news Builders fret over inferior iron rods p.28

IPP: S’African bank upbeat on N200bn Nigeria project p.28

Organised labour on path of further breakup

Environment Fuel: Group predicts severe water scarcity in Nigeria

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Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

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Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

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Senior Correspondent

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Asst Production Editor

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at May 16)

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Source: CBN

L-R: Human Resources/ Corporate Service Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola; Chairman MTN Foundation, Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi; Executive Secretary, Ms. Nonny Ugboma and award winner, Sunday Ogah, at the hosting of 200 nominators as part of activities to launch Phase II of the ‘What Can We Do Together Initiative’ in Abuja.

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The delayed auction of the frequency spectrum could hinder the much-expected growth in the industry

Deputy Editor (Business)

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE April 2016..................................13.7% March 2016..............................12.8% February 2016...........................11.4%

SETBACK

The Business Desk

gain, the proposed auction of the 2.6-gigahertz frequency spectrum band expected to commence in Abuja on Tuesday and end yesterday (Thursday) has failed, New Telegraph has learnt. This is the third time the proposed auctioning of the much-needed spectrum for broadband development would fail to hold in two years. In November 2014, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had unexpectedly truncated the plan to auction the spectrum band, initially slated for auctioning in early December of that year. After four months of hiatus, the Commission auspiciously announced its resumption of the muchsought-after auction, which, it said, would take place from May 5-8, 2015. However, on March 30, 2015, the industry witnessed a second shocking postponement, when the regulator postponed the proposed auctioning of the telecoms band ‘till further notice.’ But early this year, precisely on February 28, the Commission announced that it was resuming the auction of the 2.6Ghz spectrum band, creating excitement and expectation in the industry. The 2.6Ghz spectrum band was

Telecoms: 2.6Ghz spectrum auction fails for third time expected to fetch government a minimum of $224 million (about N44.8 billion) after a transparent and competitive bidding process, which the Commission is known for. The new arrangement to auction the spectrum, which also failed this week, was to see the auction process run from Tuesday May 17 and Thursday May 19, going by the timetable contained in the Information Memorandum (IM) issued on the planned auction by the regulator. The Information Memorandum (IM) defines the process for the licensing of paired Spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band by the NCC. As at Wednesday, some stakeholders were still wondering, while the euphoria in the past weeks around the proposed auction gradually waned early this week without the auction taking place. NCC published the Intention to Bid (IoB) for the auction in major national dailies on February 25, 2016 and various activities had been embarked upon until this week’s failure to actualise the spectrum auction plan. While there have been various speculations regarding the failure of the spectrum auction to hold, the telecoms regulator has also remained silent, as no reason has, so far, been given for the failure of the auction to hold as earlier planned. The licensing owes great con-

N44.8 billion Being the cash expected to be realised by the Federal Government from the 2.6Ghz spectrum band auctioning

tributory potential for deepening broadband penetration in the country from its current 10 per cent to targeted 30 per cent penetration by 2018. “NCC has reasons for cancellation or postponement of the spectrum auction as to why it did not hold again in spite expectations from the industry. But we believe that NCC is in a position to tell us why and I am sure they will do that at an appropriate time,” newly-elected President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, told this newspaper by phone on Wednesday. “We cannot just comment on why it did not hold again. NCC, at some point, is expected to tell the industry the next move regarding the auction after it must have given reason why it did not hold,” he added, stressing that there must be a good reason for the inability of the auction to hold. Also reacting, a telecoms industry analyst, Mr. Akin Akinbo, said: “NCC must have tangible reason for the inability of the auction to hold and we are confident that the spectrum will later be auctioned in a transparent manner with which NCC has been known for.” He said: “What we have seen in the new NCC leadership is a burning passion to accelerate the growth of CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BUSINESS |news

FOUL PLAY Steel products that are supposed to be 16mm in diameter are only 14mm

Dayo Ayeyemi

omebuilders have raised fresh fears over the proliferation of substandard steel/iron rods in the building materials’ market. Their fears were further heightened by recent disclosures by the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory that over 46.6 per cent of steel/rein-

2.6Ghz spectrum auction fails for third time CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

the industry, especially through its eight points agenda aimed at deepening universal telecoms access. So, let’s wait and see how things unfold.” However, efforts to get comments from the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, was not successful, as several calls made to his mobile line did not go through. The 2.6Ghz spectrum band is useful for the deployment of high-speed Internet - broadbandin the nation’s telecoms sector, where voice market has grown significantly with broadband being recognized, as the next growth frontier for the country. “It is useful for the deployment of high-speed Internet - broadbandin the nation’s telecoms sector, where voice market has grown significantly with broadband being recognised as the next growth frontier for national economy,” said NCC’s Director, Spectrum Administration, Mr. Austine Nwaulune, during a press conference in Lagos, recently. Meanwhile, on assuming office last year, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, had expressed his resolve to accelerate broadband development in the country through releasing more spectrum bands for existing and prospective players in the industry. Such spectrum frequency spectrum bands include the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum; the 5.4 gigahertz spectrum band and the 70/80 gigahertz bands, the licensing of service providers in the 38 & 42GHz bands and the re-planning of the 23GHz microwave spectrum band, among others. Apart from the economic benefits of licensing such frequency spectrum bands to the operators to provide improved services to the growing telecoms consumers, spectrum auction activities of the regulator since 2001 have, so far, contributed over N300 billion into the government coffer. In 2014, the Commission through an Auction process awarded a Frequency License in the 2.3 GHz band to Bitflux Communications Ltd. This was bundled with a Wholesale Wireless Access Service Licence.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Builders fret over inferior iron rods forcement that passed through its tests in the last one year failed integrity check. One of the builders, who spoke with New Telegraph, indicted local manufacturers of the product, pointing out that findings had shown that immediately they received their certification from Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), they threw caution to the wind. Second Vice President of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Kunle Awobodu, said that most reinforcement rods in the market and construction sites were sub-standard in strength. While raising concern over the issue, he stated that it has been confirmed that many substandard iron rods littered the building materials’ market. Some of the fake products, he said, had been traced to local manufacturers, who claimed to have changed workers in their

production line to forestall recurrence. “What we discovered is that once these companies are certified by SON, nobody comes again to monitor them, they do anything they like,” he said. According to Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, in its yearly data, out of 3,682 tests carried out on steel/reinforcement in 2015, 1,719 were substandard, while 1,963 were satisfactory. Also, SON had recently raised the alarm that substandard iron and steel products had flooded the market. The agency said it took painstaking monitoring and enforcement by its task force to discover that most manufacturers of the products are now cutting corners on the required standards. Recently, Acting DirectorGeneral of SON, Dr. Paul Angya, noted that steel products that were supposed to be 16

millimetres (mm) in diameter were discovered to be only 14mm. This, according to him, fell short of acceptable standard by 2mm, with a significant impact on the overall strength. “Those that were supposed to measure 12mm measured only 10mm in diameter, while those that should be 10mm were only eight mm,” he said. He pointed out that apart from violation of standards in terms of physical properties such as diameter and length, manufacturers also failed to meet acceptable standards in the area of chemical properties such as carbon and manganese content. He stated that the plan of the organisation was to work with manufacturers to ensure that government comes up with a policy to support madein-Nigeria steel products. However, Awobodu, who is

also the President of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), expressed concern that if the sharp practice by manufacturers of steel/ reinforcement products were not checked, it would affect durability of houses built with the products. Another homebuilder/contractor, Mr. Yemi Alonge, said the nation would record a lot of building collapse cases unless measures are put in place to punish erring companies. He said: “The proliferation of substandard steel/reinforcement would result in more building becoming distressed earlier than expected.” Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, said that LSMTL is currently working with necessary agencies of government to properly test steel materials for building.

L-R: Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran; Chairman, Mr. Larry Ettah and Company Secretary, Mr. Godwin Abimbola Samuel, at the company’s 18th Annual General Meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

IPP: S’African bank upbeat on N200bn Nigeria project ASSISTANCE The World Bank played a role in facilitating the participation of commercial banks

Sunday Ojeme

outh Africa’s Rand Merchant Bank has given further insight into the $900 million investment in Nigeria’s power sector through the 450 megawatts gas-fired Azura electricity project. Rand Merchant Bank is part of a group of five core-lending institutions responsible for the day-to-day structuring responsibilities. The IPP project is an open cycle gas turbine power station and the first phase of a 2,000MW power plant facility that reached financial close on December 28, 2015, while construction started

last January after it was stalled for some time. President Buhari had come to the rescue of the project by ordering the resumption of work at power plant that was halted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking on the project, RMB’s Senior Transactor, Mark Schmaman, said the World Bank had a very important role in the project, adding that there were a mix of development finance institutions and commercial banks. He said: “The World Bank played a role in really also facilitating the participation of the commercial banks because they helped to backstop some of the political risks that are being quite sensitive especially when looking at long-term financing required for infrastructure assets. “Not only is the World Bank a provider of senior and mezzanine financing through the International Finance Corporation to the deal, but they also provide political risk support

through their arms. “For example, Omega and IBRD to the commercial banks as well as other risk guarantees within the financing structure really helped to prop up the liquidity and the solvency of some of the stakeholders involved in the project.” In a special podcast released by RMB, Schmaman said that given that Azura was the first independent power producer to reach financial close and the new reforms in the country, “We think over the next couple of years, it will be a very exciting time in the country and one in, which they would make very good inroads at achieving their objectives.” He said that over the last few years, there had been other projects similar to Azura that have also been progressing their own development, stressing that the market has been really watching the Azura case as a guinea pig and with very good interest. “In the Azura example, we have a mix of funding institutions, commercial banks, and de-

velopment finance institutions.” He said that the Azura project was the first phase of an overall facility that the developer would be constructing at the site. According to him, there should be a second phase and we expect a similar size plant to follow in the years to come. The Edo state is to some extent one of the hotbeds of activity within Nigeria. It is very close to an important modal point of the high voltage transmission infrastructure. He said in order to progress the project’s development and achieve financial close, the stakeholders, including lenders, required certainty of gas supplies to the project, which requires parallel investment in upstream infrastructure. “It is very much a symbiotic type of relationship where in order to have one form, an investment in the form of a power plant; you require parallel investment or synchronistic investments in upstream infrastructure,” he added.

FRIDAY, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SCHISM Polarisation has provided room for the Federal Government to give instant recognition to a hitherto struggling faction

labour

Organised labour on path of further breakup

Sunday Ojeme

he division in Nigeria’s labour unionism went farther apart last Wednesday as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and a few of its allies were left alone to protest against Federal Government’s refusal to revert the new pump price of petrol from N145 to N86.50. In the last one year after the delegate conference that led to the polarisation of the once formidable union, the NLC has become a shadow of itself, unlike in the past, especially in the era of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, when all the labour allies spoke with one voice to confront government on behalf of workers, the unemployed and ordinary Nigerians. The polarisation in the last one year, has made Nigerians rely less on the unions to fight their cause, as no reasonable result has emerged in the few battles they had waged. The schisms have been so obvious as the two factions choose to draw their swords separately against perceived enemies. This was further accentuated Wednesday when NLC became the lone voice in Abuja, while others went into their shells. Last week, as soon as the

NLC President, Wabba

Federal Government announced the new price, the labour unions, comprising the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other allies, had threatened to ground the country if by last Tuesday government failed to revert to the old price. Although the Joe Ajaeroled faction of the NLC did not come out with an official position as regards embarking on strike with the Ayuba Wabba-led faction, observers had hinted that the former

Varsity workers tutored on digital application

orkers attached to a private university, Samuel Adegboyeg University (SAU), Ogwa, Edo State, have been trained on Advanced Appreciation Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI). The International Centre according to a statement, gave the training for Information and Communication Technology’s Digital Bridge Institute, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). ADAPTI, which started in 2006, is a special training programme sponsored by the NCC, for tertiary institutions in Nigeria to enhance skills in the area of Information and Communication Technology. Declaring the five-day training open, the ViceChancellor of the university, Professor Eronmonsele Aigbokhan, pointed out that the school authorities were

putting in place necessary modalities for globalised classrooms and lecture theatre for staff and students. Aigbokhan said that digital communication could proffer a way forward to access quality education through e-learning. He said that through digital communication, the tedious and time-consuming methods of processing results had become easier and faster. The leader of the fourman team, Ohia Omiri, disclosed that ADAPTI had been organised in several higher institutions in the country to make participants highly computer inclined in discharging their duties. He expressed satisfaction towards the attitude of all participants, adding that SAU had indeed shown that it truly nurtures for discipline and excellence.

Ajaero

would be on the side of government due to the different positions they have taken on burning issues in recent past. What, however, came as a surprise was the last minute pull out by the TUC after a seemingly deadlocked meeting with the Federal Government. Prior to Wednesday, the TUC and the NLC had in separate meetings agreed to mobilise workers for the strike if the Federal Government failed to change its position. At its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, the TUC had promised to interface with the NLC and other civil society allies to enable them meet with government on the appropriate way forward. The leadership of the Congress rejected in its entirety the astronomical increase and demanded that government revert to the old price with immediate effect. According to the communique, “the NEC-in-Session also directed the leadership of the TUC to interface with the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) and civil society

allies to work out action plans that would be put in place to protest the insensitive fuel price hike should the government fail to meet the Wednesday, May 18, deadline.” On its part, the NLC gave the Federal Government a 96-hour ultimatum to rescind the deregulation and revert to the old petrol price of N86.50 per litre or face a total shutdown of the economy from last Wednesday. The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said if government failed to accede to their demands by midnight Tuesday, the workers would have no option than to call out their members on an indefinite strike. Although the National Executive Councils of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) last Friday resolved to support the government, Wabba said the ultimatum to government was the collective resolution of the NECs of the various affiliate unions and civil society groups.

Wabba said: “Since there has not been any increase in salaries, wages or pensions of workers in the past five years and in the face of devaluations, spiralling inflation and other vagaries of the economy, the increase in fuel price is unrealistic, unaffordable, unacceptable, and is thus rejected. “It is evident that the neo-liberal forces in government have taken over and we should expect more inhumane policies, which will further degrade the living standard of the average Nigerian. The punitive electricity tariff and PMS product prices may just be teasers.” However, reports across the country indicated that the planned action actually faired less than expected. TUC announced it was pulling out of the strike after a joint meeting between labour leaders and the Federal Government. This came after electricity workers and oil workers had already signified they would not participate in the proposed strike action. On the strength of the prevailing disharmony, it is obvious that the leadership of the unions had given government an opportunity to infiltrate the organised labour and make it weaker. Already, the Federal Government has gone ahead to applaud the TUC and the Joe Ajaero-led faction of NLC that was hitherto struggling for recognition for their understanding to shelve the planned strike. According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, the Federal Government, after two consecutive days of deliberations, had full cooperation from the TUC and the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC, to set aside the planned strike. According to him, a faction of the NLC completely agreed with the position of the TUC that they will participate in all the technical committees and that work continues on Wednesday as usual.

NIM to firms: Re-evaluate mission, vision

ollowing the prevailing downturn in the economy, the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has called on management of companies to re-evaluate their missions and visions in order to blend with current realities. A guest speaker at the Corporate Members’ Forum

of the institute, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, made this call. Adedipe, who expressed concer ns over Nigeria’s present economic challenges, identified some of the challenges facing the country to include overdependence on hydrocarbons for foreign ear nings and gover nment revenue.

Others, he said, include bloated government recurrent expenditure; high unemployment rate which is largely youth dominated, 10.4 per cent unemployment and 18.7 per cent underemployment; high cost of doing businesses and threatened source of foreign earnings

28 GROWTH Nigeria is expected to attain 450m population in the next 10 years

he Federal Government plans to setaside about N750 billion agric funds for Nigerian farmers to assist them develop agriculture. Also, government said it would distribute 7,500 metric tons of maize to poultry farmers across the country. Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this during the 2016 Poultry Summit held in Lagos. Lokpobiri said the move was part of government’s effort to lessen the lack of raw materials in the sector. According to Lokpobiri, other areas of collaborating with the association and farmers in general like access and affordability of credit would be addressed soon. He said: “Part of the support we are giving not only to poultry sector but to every sector of agriculture is to make credit affordable and very accessible. “The present commercial interest rate is very high and nobody can survive under such. Government is trying to set up N750 billion agriculture funds for farmers. We are giving them all the support they need; the biggest challenge we know is raw materials, that is why Federal Government is distributing 7,500 metric tons as support to poultry farmers.

agric

FG to float N750bn agric funds for farmers

•Allots 7,500 metric tons of maize L-R: President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Chief Mrs. Nike Akande; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; Head, Pharma Sales/Marketing, Mr. Chukuka Chukutem and Finance Controller, Mr. Ayodeji Aboderin, both of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, during the presentation of the Award for High Quality and Safety in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to May & Baker Nigeria Plc, during the 2016 Commerce and Industry Awards organised by LCCI in Lagos.

“We know that is not enough but we have to start from somewhere. We do not even have enough in the Strategic Grain Reserves.” The minister urged poultry farmers to access the various farmers’ funds by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria at a single digit interest rate of

Foundation offers $1m grants to boost cassava shelf life Appolonia Adeyemi

he Rockefeller Foundation, Dalberg Global Development Advisors and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have launched an Innovation Challenge to uncover innovative solutions to increase cassava shelf life in Nigeria. This was announced at the World Economic Forum – Africa annual meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. It will provide up to $1 million in funding, as well as technical assistance to implement business model development and product design. Given the global nature of cassava, which outside of Africa is grown in countries as diverse as Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil, the Challenge is global and open to organisations with innovative products/technologies, processes or services - in various stages of development - from anywhere in the world. Rockefeller Foundation Cassava Innovation Challenge stated that it would consider

FRIDAY, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

applications that are incremental as well as those that are transformative to the Nigerian cassava value chain. Cassava is critical for food security in Africa. It is the main source of nutrition for around half of the continent’s population or 500 million people. Yet this root crop has a very short shelf life and if unprocessed, it will get rotten within 24-72 hours after harvesting - less if it is damaged during harvesting or transport. Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer, accounting for over 20 per cent of global production – over 50 million tons annually, grown by nearly 30 million smallholder farmers. Approximately 40 per cent of this cassava is lost due to spoilage, a problem that limits farmers’ incomes and rural economic development and one that stretches far beyond Nigeria’s borders as food spoilage and wastage affects global economy and impacts greenhouse gas emissions.

nine per cent. Lokpobiri said that the country is expected to be 450 million populations in the next 10 years, adding that the cost of feeding would also increase. Consequently, he said Nigeria need to start investing in agriculture. According to him, govern-

ment is aware that smuggling is a major challenge and it is in talks with Customs to create an enabling environment and curb smuggling. He said: “An enabling environment is needed, to ensure increased production because, what we are consuming is more than what we presently produce and so, once we

stop smuggling. “We know that this is one sector than can also create a huge number of jobs for our teeming youths”. The annual poultry summit is held every year to bring stakeholders in the sector to deliberate on the challenges faced in the sector and the way forward.

How to curb incessant attacks by herdsmen–Don Stanley Ihedigbo

ean, School of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ogun State, Nigeria, Professor Akintunde Akinsoyinu, has urged the Federal Government to support ruminant block research for Fulani herdsmen to stop their incessant attacks on innocent Nigerians. He made this call while speaking with journalists in his office. The ruminant blocks is a system where these cattles would be confounded in a particular location without roaming indiscriminately at major cities where they would be feed with the food specifically made for ruminants. The dean explained that the ruminant block would be made from cassava peels, groundnut cakes, yam peals and wheat offal for production of ruminant’s food. Akinsoyinu noted that un-

der the last dispensation, he had headed a committee under the Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), which came up with a solution by fabricating blocks for ruminants, that would have addressed the recent Fulani herdsmen and farmers massacre. He said: “We had concluded our research but we were at the test running and implementation stage when they stopped funding the project, this would have addressed the issue, just as it is in some other countries of the world. “N23 million was allocated for the project by the previous administration, but only N5 million was released to us, so, we became handicapped and the project was truncated. And for me, spending N5 billion to feed these animals annually is better than shedding of blood of Nigeria citizens.” He added that the institution had fabricated some equipment to help famers in

the value chain for value addition and for processing of palm oil from the scratch to the finishing. The don said: “We have been able to produce egg with less cholesterol, and it is not been done in any part of the world before, but we pioneered it. “The government has been running away from the reality, oil will finish one day, but agric will not finish. I am a beneficiary of cocoa in the then Western Region, what happened to our groundnut pyramid? We had better face the reality and address it squarely before the situation goes beyond what we are facing now. “One of the problems of the recent times is that students are not interested in studying agriculture, that is the faculty where we record the lowest application, they all want to study banking, accounting and other social sciences like economics and so on.”

FRIDAY, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

POTENTIAL Nigeria is one of the top producers of ginger in the world

businesS \ agric

Steps to cultivating ginger

inger is well known in many human communities around the world. It is the underground rhizome of a perennial tropical crop called ginger plant (Zingiberofficinale). Originally, the plant is a native of South Eastern Asia, but over centuries it has been introduced to various parts of the world like the Caribbean, the Americas and Africa. Presently, the top growers of the crop include Jamaica, Indonesia and Fiji, among others. A mature ginger rhizome is fibrous and has a striated texture. The outer skin of the rhizome is brownish in colour while the inner flesh depending on the variety may be red, yellow or white. Ginger in Nigeria Nigeria is one of the top producers of ginger in the world. In the Nigerian market, ginger is well known and in high demand, even though it is quite expensive. Kaduna State stands as the highest producer of the crop, while states such as Gombe, Bauchi, Benue and Nassarawa among others, are major producers of the crop. In the market, ginger is available in various forms such as fresh, powder ginger and dry ginger rhizome. Growing Ginger For ginger to thrive, the following are required . Mulched fertile soil. . Loam is the most preferred soil type . Ridges should be made for the planting of the crop . A minimum annual rainfall of about 1500mm . An average daily temperature of about 30°C . Viable ginger rhizomes with buds . Good drainage to prevent water logging/flooding Cultivation Ginger is cultivated vegetative from its rhizomes. The vegetative propagation of ginger involves the following steps; Sett preparation: When the fingers of rhizomes to be propagated begin to develop buds, they are cut into smaller pieces called SETT. A sett is about 3cm in length with each sett having at least a bud. The set to be propagated is usually stored until signs of growing are noticed before planting is performed. Planting: Ginger is planted by burying each sett in a hole about 8cm deep with the bud of each sett pointing upwards in the soil. The sett should be spaced 30×30cm apart. Each sett grows into

Ginger

a new ginger plant. Planting should be performed about a month before the rains come. Planting rate 2500kg per hectare Fertilizer: Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be used. Compost manure is preferable. The preferred fertilizer in Nigeria for ginger growing is the N.P.K 15:15:15, which is applied twice; first about 20 days after planting at a rate of 4 bags per hectare. The second application is about 40 days after the first application at the rate of two bags per hectare. Urea is used during the second fertilizer application. Weed control: Controlling weed growth in the ginger farm can be done manually by hand picking or by using chemicals (herbicides). Pest and disease control: Mites, shoot borers and leaf rollers are some major pests that usually attack ginger plant. Using pesticides and insecticides can control these pests. Captan is used to control some diseases that affect ginger plant like leaf spot. Harvesting: On the average, ginger takes about nine months from the time of planting to mature. The rhizome can be harvested at different times depending on its purpose. If fresh ginger is required, it is harvested about six month after planting. If a matured ginger rhizome is required, it is harvested nine months after planting. Sometimes the rhizomes are left in the ground for nearly two years for propagation to continue. In Nigeria, harvesting begins in October and runs all through to May. Ginger rhizome can be harvested manually by hand or with machines such as the mechanical digger. Expected yield 20 tons per hectare Processing: The activi-

ties involved in processing ginger depend on the end product required. When the harvested rhizome is washed with boiling water and dried later, the product is called dried ginger and this can be grinded to produce powder ginger or can be used as a full dried ginger rhizome. The rhizome can also be processed as fresh ginger or be peeled. Uses of Ginger It is used as a spice in many local cuisines Used in bakeries as flavor A constituent of some local (herbal) medicines It is used in breweries to produce ginger ale or ginger beer Ginger plant can be used for landscaping. Intercropping Coconuts with Ginger Preparing the seed pieces: Select fresh and healthy seed pieces weighing at least 20 grams each and showing signs of early sprouting. Before planting, wash the seed pieces in running water. Then soak them for 10 to 15 minutes in a solution of acidulated mercuric bichloride (for every 20 liters water, add 45 grams captan). Land preparation: Prepare raised beds one week before planting to ensure good drainage. Beds with two rows should be about 30cms high and less than two meters wide. Row lengths depend on the farmer’s convenience. When beds are located in areas with high occurrences of soil-borne diseases, such as damping-off, the beds must be sterilised by burning dried rice straw, banana leaves or coconut leaves three times on the soil surface. Plant the seed pieces about 5cms deep in each hill 25cms apart in double row in each bed. Arrange the hills in a triangular pattern, whether the seed pieces are planted in poorly drained ar-

eas or areas. When planted under coconut trees, the seed pieces should be planted 25 to 20cms in shallow furrows of 45cms apart. At the time of planting, fertilize the soil with complete fertilizer (12-24-12), 400 kg if soil is sandy, 300 kg if soil is clay-loam per hectare. After planting, mulch the beds or ridges with green leaves (either ipil-ipil or madre de cacao) or rice straw, 10,000 kg /hectare, to prevent the soil from drying and to prevent erosion caused by monsoon rains. During the second and fourth months of growth, apply fertilizer again. Generally, they should be weeded at least twice during

its growth period. Harvesting: Ginger should be harvested when the leaves become yellow and start to wither. This occurs eight months after planting. In small harvesting areas, the crop is dug with a spading fork; the plant is pulled out, shakes off the soil and lays them on the bed. Stems are cut off without breaking the ginger bulbs. In large plantation areas, ginger is harvested by harrowing the soil, and then dried on an open shaded area. •Culled from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’ (IITA) website

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

Price 481-2 397-0 1079-4 369.3 32.79 197-4 12.055 457-2 537-4

Change -0-6 -1-0 -13-2 -1.7 -0.59 -3-2 -0.160 -1-0 -2-6

Contract Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16

Time(ET) 08:42 08:42 08:42 08:42 08:42 08:42 08:41 08:42 08:41

Price 62.09 145.40 132.00 16.70 2901 323.50 1.3455 0.1646 2899.00 0.6211

Change -0.15 -0.25 -2.40 -0.31 +3 -4.20 -0.0090 -0.0036 +4.00 +0.0121

Contract Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 May 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16

Time(ET) 08:42 08:38 08:42 08:42 08:42 05/17/16 05/17/16 07:11 04:36 05/17/16

Price

Change

Contract

Time(ET)

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Lumber CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa CME Cotton #2

Meats Commodity Live Cattle

123.525

-0.500

Jun 16

08:42

Feeder Cattle

148.850

-0.275

May 16

08:42

Lean Hogs

82.700

-0.275

May 16

08:4 1

Class III Milk

12.35

-0.15

May 16

08:27

Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price. Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

Environment Watch

FRIDAY, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EXORBITANT Eighty per cent hike in fuel price would make the product less affordable to Nigerians

Dayo Ayeyemi

evere scarcity of safe drinking water in Nigeria looms following the increase in the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol from N86.50 to N145.00, an expert has forecast. Also, the World Bank said that water shortage, exacerbated by climate change, could hinder economic growth in Africa and East Asia, leading to declining up to six per cent of Gross Domestic Products( GDP) of the region by 2050. Programme Officer, Bread of Life Development Foundation (BLF), a Lagos-based NGO, Taiwo Owolabi, said the increase in cost of petrol would worsen the current water shortage in the country. Raising the alarm over major increase in the price of PMS, he pointed out that majority of Nigerians that depend on fuel powered generators to pump water from boreholes, household wells and other sources into storage tanks would find it difficult to access safe water. The expert noted that about 80 per cent hike in fuel price would make the product less affordable to Nigerians, thereby decreasing their capacity to access safe water from groundwater sources for drinking and sanitation purposes. “About half of Nigerian populace presently do not have access to safe drinking water and sanitation services; and majority of those with safe access to water are serviced by private water vendors that source water from groundwater sources, through the use of fuel powered engines,” BLF said. Expressing concern over the increased fuel price, Owolabi stated that it would further compound urban and rural poverty, with critical implications for

Queue for water in one of the towns in Nigeria

Fuel: Group predicts severe water scarcity in Nigeria

•Shortage may cost Africa 6% of GDP, says Word Bank access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Nigeria. “Common man will find it more difficult to afford the high cost of PMS to pump safe drinking water from groundwater sources to storage tanks,” he said. Consequently, he called for a downward review of the fuel price, adding that the financial gains of oil price deregulation will likely be eroded by social and economic costs of poor access to WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), which he listed to include increase incidence of water related diseases, drop in school enrolment, as well as infant and maternal mortality. Meanwhile, a new report from the World Bank pointed out that most countries could neutralise the adverse impacts of water scarcity by taking action to allocate and use water resources more efficiently. Key findings of the study

Minister to CEOs: Adopt viable business models

inister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, has urged Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of some listed companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to be more responsible by adopting sustainable business models for safer environment. The minister gave the advice while sharing the ‘New Narrative’ at Federal Ministry of Environment that focuses on empowering people, taking climate action and protecting the environment with the CEOs in Lagos. Received by Chief Executive Officer of the Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, the minister, according to a statement, later rang the Trade Closing Bell at the NSE.

According to the minister, environment and private sector partnership is key towards a sustainable transition to a green economy, as it would ensure that industries adhere to standard and regulations on environmental protection. Beyond just Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR), Mohammed pointed out that the era of sustainable development is the paradigm shift needed to ensure that Nigerians protect the planet for future generations by ensuring the interaction of the environment, social and economic needs. She urged that as NSE strives to green the economy, they must begin to reduce environmental degradation, pollution and the effects of climate change.

revealed that combined effects of growing populations, rising incomes, and expanding cities would see demand for water rising exponentially, while supply would become more erratic and uncertain. “Unless action is taken soon, water will become scarce in regions where it is currently abundant – such as Central Africa and East Asia – and scarcity will greatly worsen in regions where water is already in short supply – such as the Middle East and the Sahel in Africa,” the report said. World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, said the findings underlined the need for governments to manage water better.

“Water scarcity is a major threat to economic growth and stability around the world and climate change is making the problem worse,” he said. “If countries do not take action to better manage water resources, our analysis shows some regions with large populations could be living with long periods of negative economic growth.” In the world’s extremely dry regions, he stated that more farreaching policies are needed to avoid inefficient water use, adding that stronger policies and reforms are needed to cope with deepening climate stresses. Pointing to conflicts in Africa, Brazil and India that have erupted after drier years or

floods, the report also warned, “there are sound economic reasons to expect rainfall anomalies to cascade into violence”. The study noted that water insecurity could multiply the risk of conflict, while food price spikes caused by droughts could inflame latent conflicts and drive migration. “Improved water stewardship pays high economic dividends. When governments respond to water shortages by boosting efficiency and allocating even 25 per cent of water to more highly-valued uses, such as more efficient agricultural practices, losses decline dramatically and for some regions may even vanish,” the report said.

Scientists seek more clarity on Paris pact’s adaptation

o fully implement parts of the Paris Climate Change Agreement that relate to adaptation to climate change, scientists and other practitioners are seeking more clarity on how to recognise and review measures to build resilience with the help of comparable methodologies. This was the key conclusion of experts that met at the Adaptation Forum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Adaptation Committee – the overall advisory body on adaptation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – organised the forum on the margins of the Adaptation Futures Conference, the 4th International Climate Change Adaptation Conference. Co-Chair of the Adaptation Committee , Don Lemmen, outlined the objectives of the forum.

He also informed participants of the adaptationrelated aspects of the Paris Agreement and receiving inputs to be used by the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group in making key elements of the Paris Agreement, which relate to adaptation operational. Officer of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the USA, Roger Pulwarty, addressed the question of reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation actions and support thereof. According to him, most assessments of adaptation are restricted to impacts and planning; only few assess the processes and metrics of implementation and the evaluation of actions. During the discussion moderated by Vivienne Parry of the United Kingdom, participants referred to existing frameworks, such as

national adaptation plans, to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation. Many participants lamented the lack of common adaptation metrics in the adaptation components of national climate action plans (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, or “INDCs”). For example, Burkina Faso seeks to distribute 1,000 drip irrigation kits per year as part of its adaptation efforts in the water sector, whereas Comoros aims to increase the percentage of farmers with adaptive water management systems and Bolivia wants to significantly increase its water storage capacity. Katherine Vincent of Kulima of South Africa highlighted ways to recognise adaptation efforts of developing countries. One such method of recognition could include Climate Public Expenditures and Institutional Reviews.

FRIDAY, May 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AutoBeat

Tyres of death

lFRSC kills' fake, used tyres Paul Ogbuokiri

he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has urged the Federal Government to place full prohibition on the importation of substandard and used tyres into the country. This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of two-day stakeholders’ forum on Substandard and Used Tyres in

Abuja. In the communiqué signed by Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the forum attributed majority of road crashes in the country to substandard and used tyres and said that it had become necessary to bring the issue to the front burner of national discourse. This, it said, was with the view of stemming the development to ensure compliance

with the pillar 3 and 4 of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety. It said the aim was to share vital information and ideas among stakeholders towards curtailing incessant tyre-induced crashes in the country. According to it, there is need to properly educate all road users to imbibe safe tyre use culture as well as the need to report those dealing in sub-

standard tyres to the appropriate authorities. “The importance of tyres in road transportation particularly as it relates to safety is paramount to the FRSC,” the Communique stated further. “Substandard tyres get into the country quite easily and the marketers and dealers operate with impunity without adequate checks on their activities. “Substandard tyre market

2015: Nissan profit hits 523.8bn yen N issan Motor Co. has announced increased full-year revenues and profitability for the 12 months ending March 31, 2016. Rising demand for new products in North America, Western Europe and China offset the impact of negative foreign exchange movements and slowing or declining sales in emerging markets. According to Nissan, operating profit rose more than 34 per cent to 793.3

2015 Nissan X Trail

billion yen for fiscal-year 2015, representing a 6.5 per cent margin on net revenues that reached 12.19 trillion yen for the period. On a management pro-forma basis, which includes the proportionate consolidation of results from Nissan’s joint venture operation in China, net revenues increased to 13.4 trillion yen in fiscal 2015, up 7.7 per cent year-

on-year. Pro-forma operating profit rose by 30.2 per cent to 935.5 billion yen compared with fiscal-2014, representing a profit margin of 7.0 per cent. Globally, Nissan sold 5.42 million vehicles in the period, a 2.0 per cent rise year-on-year. “These solid results reflect the success of our continuing product offensive, particularly in the North American market,” said Carlos Ghosn, president and chief executive officer. “Encouraging demand for new models, combined with con-

tinued cost efficiency, helped us withstand currency headwinds and volatile trading conditions in several emerging markets. “In the coming year, we will deliver further product innovation – particularly in autonomous-drive systems – and rising synergies from the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Looking ahead, we expect continued improvement in Nissan’s underlying performance as we focus on the demanding goals of the Power 88 mid-term plan. However, we have adopted a cautious outlook for the current fiscal year given continuing market and exchange rate volatility.” Nissan expects to sell 5.6 million units in fiscal 2016, up 3.3 per cent and equivalent to global market share of 6.3 per cent. Recentlylaunched models including the Nissan Maxima, Altima, Titan pick-up truck, and Infiniti Q30 are expected to contribute to global sales growth in the coming year.

enjoys a boom due to a seeming comparative cost advantage to the consumers, devoid of safety consideration. “The absence of local tyre manufacturing companies in Nigeria, in spite of the fact that there are abundant raw materials within is of great concern.’’ The forum said that tyre importation constituted avenue for capital flight and opened the country to dumping of substandard tyres, especially the use of tyres not designed for the Nigerian roads. They said that some importers connived with manufacturers to lower the standard of tyres imported into the country thereby causing serious crashes on the roads. They, therefore, said that FRSC would collaborate with relevant stakeholders and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure that importers of fake tyres were punished so as to ensure safety on the roads. The forum called on government to put in place friendly polices to promote local production of tyres so as to curb influx of substandard ones into the country. According to it, one of the major reasons for tyre burst is the inappropriate pressure pounds per square inch for tyres as most tyre menders are not learned. They called for training of tyre menders on how to maintain and repair tyres effectively, adding that the menders should form themselves into organized union to access loans to procure modern equipment for their trade. The forum urged Nigerians to only patronize genuine tyres to avoid being apprehended by FRSC “because their vehicles will be impounded pending when the correct tyres are bought’’.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EXHORTATION “OR DO THOSE WHO DO EVIL DEEDS THINK THAT WE SHALL HOLD THEM EQUAL WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE (IN THE ONENESS OF ALLÂH ISLÂMIC MONOTHEISM) AND DO RIGHTEOUS GOOD DEEDS, IN THEIR PRESENT LIFE AND AFTER THEIR DEATH? WORST IS THE JUDGMENT THAT THEY MAKE.” (QURAN 45:21)

Islam

13 Shaban, 1437

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

RELATIONSHIP WITH NON-MUSLIM PARENTS QUESTION How can a muslim relate with his or her non-muslim mother? CONTINUE FROM LAST WEEK

ANSWER

'He asked us to worship only One God, and not to associate anybody with him; not to follow the habits and practices of our ancestors; he further asks us to perform prayers (Salat), tell the truth, keep chaste, and to treat our blood relations well.' -(Bukhari and Muslim) On the authority of Ibn 'Umar (R.A.), who said: The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: "He who just returns the visits of his relatives does not completely fulfill the obligation of relationship. But he who ignores the mistakes of his relatives, forgives them, and visits them in order to bind the ties of relationship when they are broken does fulfill the obligations of relationship.' -(Bukhari) On the authority of Jubair bin Mut'im (R.A.), who said: The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: "He who breaks off the ties of blood will not enter Paradise." -(Bukhari and Muslim) In fact, this Hadith preaches the person who breaks off relations with his family by not visiting them or helping them will not go to Paradise. On the authority of Abu Usaid Malik Ibn Rubia Al-Saedi (R.A), who said: While we were sitting with the Prophet (S.A.W.) a man of the Bani Salamah tribe came and said: "O Prophet (S.A.W.)! Is there anything, I can now do in benevolence towards my parents after their death? The Prophet (S.A.W.) answered: "Yes, by praying for them and soliciting mercy and forgiveness towards them, fulfilling their promises and undertakings, doing kindness to those who may be related to you through them, and respecting their friends." -(Abu Daoud) Another this is that a muslim should always try to please your parents and avoid deeds that may hurt their feelings, especially when they get old and short-tempered. In old age people do tend to make unusual demands and claims but it should be tolerated cheerfully without any retort in anger or frustration. It is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an: "Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them but address them, in terms of honor." (Qur'an 17:23)

L- R: Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Asiwaju Musilumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Olatunde Badmus; and the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yussuf, during an Islamic prayer session/ birthday celebration of Alhaji Khamis Badmus in Osogbo, Osun State

REIMBURSEMENT 2015 pilgrims begin claims for N1.7 billion reimbursement Stories: Adeola Yusuf

he federal government has disqualified five airline operators including three airlines and two cargo carries, for the 2016 Hajj operations. This came as the government also subjected accommodation providers in Makkah and Madinah, food caterers, transport providers, tent providers, zamzam providers, amongst others to rigorous screening exercise. A statistics of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) obtained by New Telegraph showed that three out of the nine airlines screened for airlifting of pilgrims and two airline operators screened for cargoes services failed to meet the requirement set by the government. The list of those who were

FG disqualifies Chanchangi, Kabo, 3 other air carriers for 2016 Hajj ...subjects accommodation, transport providers, caterers to rigorous screening

disqualified in the pilgrims airlifting category includes Chanchangi airlines; Kabo Air Limited; and Skypower Express Airways Limited. The Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited and Evergreen and White airline could not meet up in the cargo lifting screening category. A statement issued by Head of Media of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Uba Mana, has earlier revealed the Azman Air Services, Chanchangi Airlines, Dornier AIEP, Fly-Nas, Kabo Air Limited, Max Air Limited, Med-View Airlines, Skypower Express Airways Limited and Top Brass were screened.

According to the statement, applicants as excess luggage carriers were, Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, Evergreen and White, Med-View International Travels and Cargo and NAHCOH Aviance. NAHCON however said in a new statement published on its website six airline operators who were approved included a Saudi-designated airline. It listed the carriers as Medview Airlines Limited, Max Air Limited, Dornier Aviation Nigeria AEP Limited, Top Brass, AZMAN Air Services and Fly-Nas Air (Saudi Arabia designated carrier). It added that the government had approved two compa-

nies to airfreight pilgrims’ excess cargo during the exercise. According to the statement, the companies are NAHCO Aviance and Medview International Travels and Cargo. Meanwhile, pilgrims who participated in the 2015 Hajj rights have begun screening to get reimbursement of N1.7 billion, which NAHCON said it planned to return. The commission has earlier said that it planned to refund the money to every Nigerian who paid to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a pilgrim under the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Commissions or Agencies during the 2015 Hajj.

MSSN seeks solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges

he Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit (MSSN Lagos) has expressed concern over the current economic challenges facing Nigeria. The Amir of the society, Saheed Ashafa, expressed the concern in a statement ahead of the group’s annual MSS Week programme. Ashafa advised that to solve Nigeria’s economic crisis, all hands must be on deck and be engaged in productive activities. The Muslim students’ leader

urged President Muhammadu Buhari to unveil his economic policies to enable Nigerians understand the direction of his government. Ashafa said, “We are not unaware of the current economic crisis in the country and we are really affected and worried about it. The situation requires a collaborative effort and pragmatic approach from both citizens and government. Government should decisively pick its policies and stop putting Nigerian masses at risk through

its frequent trial and error economic policies. “It pains to say that the government currently has no economic direction. Government should realise with all sense of responsibility that Nigerians are truly hungry, jobless and frustrated. As a society, we feel that one of the proactive methods to reduce the pains experienced by Nigerians is by promoting entrepreneurship. This greatly informed our theme for this year’s MSS Week, ‘The Magnate’.

“With the theme, we will be sensitising people on the need to be self employed by creating their businesses. This is because those who suffer inconsistent policies most are people who are not in control of their own income. Nigerians must develop the attribute of a magnate and be ready to succeed in tough periods like this.” Ashafa also appealed to the Nigerian populace, especially youths, not to be demoralised with the current economic challenges.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Duty Top five female police image makers

Crime

Murder How policemen killed suspect, emptied bank account

Divorce Husband: My wife goes out with different men

35 36

‘Why I lured my sisters into prostitution’ Taiwo Jimoh

32-year-old lady, Mary John, has revealed to officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos State, the reason she tricked two of her younger sisters and a cousin to Lagos and forced them into prostitution. Mary, from Cross Rivers State, said she lied to the girls that hairstylist work was awaiting them but on reaching Lagos, she talked them into becoming prostitutes. The girls, Joy Lawrence 22, Happiness John 23 and Love John 22, said they were shocked when they realised Mary, whom they held in high esteem, was a prostitute. The suspect, who said she used to have sex with four to five men every day, added that she usually charges each of her clients N400. Sometimes, in a day, she would smile to her room with N3000 to N4000. She added: “I sleep with about four to five men every day. If I play well with some of them, they pay me N500 or N700, depending on the pocket of the man.” According to Mary, she convinced her sisters and cousin to join her in prostitution because their mother was in dire need of financial assistance. She said they had made over N300,000, when policemen stormed the hotel one day, arrested them and collected N150, 000 for bail. Her words: “Each time I travelled to the village, my sisters always nagged at me that they want to follow me to Lagos. I brought them to Lagos this year January. Our father is late and our mother is not doing anything. I brought them to Lagos, so that we could make money and assist our mother financially. “I lied to them. I initially told them that I work in a hotel. When they came to Lagos, I told them the truth. They had no option than to join me in prostitution.

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

L-R: Mary, her sisters and cousin

They wanted to make money too. They agreed immediately without stress.” The Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Musa Masa, said: “The young ladies were deceived into prostitution by their sister Mary. She told them that they were coming to Lagos to assist her in her hairstylist work. The girls were later forced into prostitution by Mary. The owner of the hotel, Akpoghare Regina, assisted in forcing them girls to sleep with men against their will.” Masa said that the prostitution ring was smashed after Mary’s two sisters, escaped from the hotel. One of them went to report the sexual slavery at Immigration office, Ikeja. Masa said: “It’s unfortunate that young girls find themselves in this kind of situation. The issue of sex slavery is becoming alarming. Parents should be wary of people who come to them pretending they went to help their daughters to Lagos in search of greener pastures.” Regina, an indigene of Delta State, said: “Whenever these girls bring their clients to my hotel, they pay me N200 for each of the men. I wasn’t the person that brought the girls into my hotel, their sister did. Mary had been patronizing my hotel, Morning Star, located at Sango, for long.” Regina, who said her hotel boasts of 15 rooms, noted that Mary had been staying in her hotel for four months, before bring-

I told Mary the girls were too young for prostitution. I instructed her to return them, but Mary pleaded with me

Regina

ing her sisters and cousin. “In fact, on the day Mary brought the three girls, I wasn’t even around,” said Regina. Regina continued: “When I returned, I told Mary the girls were too young for prostitution. I instructed her to return them, but Mary pleaded with me. I was only running my business. It never occurred to me that I would be arrested.” Narrating the genesis of her journey to Lagos, Mary said that she came to Lagos with a friend in 2014. She was working

with Indomie Noodles Company as a flour mixer when a colleague, who had earlier resigned, told her there was a better lucrative job somewhere. Mary said: “My colleague took me to Happiness Hotel at Sango, where I started prostitution.” Mary said that she never once collected money her sisters and cousin made in prostitution, explaining, “They saved their money after deductions of hotel and feeding money. We had been CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

CRIME

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Top five female police image makers

Ilobanafor

Emmanuel Onani, Sola Adeyemo, Dominic Adewole, Emmanuel Marsha

everal policewomen are today spokespersons in various commands. This position used to be formerly reserved for policemen. But many of these policewomen took over the office and are doing amazingly well. There are five women police image makers who faced a lot of storms in managing their commands, swam to the shore and were later applauded. 1. Oyo Command: Olabisi Okuwobi Ilobanafor Olabisi Okuwobi Ilobanafor is the former spokesperson for Oyo State Police Command. She’s a graduate of English. She enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 2002. Not much was known of her until she assumed duty as the police image maker in Oyo State in 2007. She was the Delta State Deputy PPRO in 2004 and subsequently the PPRO in the state till 2007. Upon her transfer to the Benue State Police Command, she became the PPRO there in 2007 before being transferred to Oyo State in 2007. She was an active police image maker between 2007 and 2010 before embarking on a United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in 2010. During her tenure, Ilobanafor was a darling of many journalists and accessible to members of the public. Unlike most image makers, Ilobanafor could be reached on her mobile telephone at any time of the day. If any journalist was in police trouble, he or she was in safe hands if Ilobanafor could be contacted. Ilobanafor once left her residence around 1: am to go to a police station to identify and free a journalist who was involved in a civil matter. She hardly ever switches off her phone. She shunned the idea of selecting some journalists for press brief-

Abbey

Celestina

ing as most police image makers do. She was broadcast journalists’ delight when it comes to interview on radio and television; where she used to display her dexterity in the English Language. When the news filtered out that she was going on a foreign peace mission assignment in 2010, many journalists and citizens of the state prayed that Ilobanafor, then a DSP, would return to her position after the trip. Their wish came to pass when she returned in 2012 and effectively manned the office until 2014. When most police image makers are contacted for reaction or confirmation of stories, they would reply, “I have not been briefed. Call me back later.” When the journalist calls back, they wouldn’t pick. But Ilobanafor does not wait for a journalist to call back. She would verify the story and call. This attribute is what gave her an edge over other image makers. What clinched Ilobanafor’s number one position in the top five list of female image maker is her civility and quick attendance to journalists outside her command. In situations where most police image makers would say, “I don’t know you,” Ilobanafor would call to verify the story, then call the journalist. Ilobanafor is now a Superintendent of Police (SP) and currently serving in Lagos State. 2. Lagos Command: Ngozi Conchita Braide Ngozi Conchita Braide was the first female PPRO in Lagos State Police Command. She had never been an image maker until Lagos Command. She was a green horn and struggled to succeed in an unknown terrain. She was made the image maker of Lagos Command on June 11, 2012 and redeployed in September 2014. Perhaps because of her charming looks, Braide had to fight and win a lot of battles before becoming one of the best image makers, clinching a position in the top five female image makers. In Lagos Command, she got what many journalists termed, ‘baptism of fire.’ After she assumed office, she was first deceitfully sucked into the Igbo-

Unlike most image makers, Ilobanafor could be reached on her mobile telephone at any time of the day

politics apparent in the crime beat. She soon realised that being an image maker, wasn’t about hobnobbing with Igbo journalists. She was too caught up in the controversies and gossips pervasive in the crime beat that her job began to suffer. There were complaints of Braide not picking calls or replying text messages. Still others maintained that whenever there was a police function for journalists, she wouldn’t invite them. Braide got into further trouble with online reporters and blackmailers. But she soon got wiser to the antics of mischievous and unscrupulous journalists. She began to ignore the lies, ignore the so-called Igbo politics and sometimes confronted those who tried to blackmail her. Soon after she was able to tackle these issues, a new police image maker emerged. She got stronger and better in her job. She began to pick her calls and reply text messages. She also learnt how to manage negative stories. She began to be praised and admired by those who had earlier chastised her. She survived the fire and storm in volatile Lagos crime beat. One of her greatest achievements was being able to get the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, to renovate the Lagos Command’s PPRO office. 3. Rivers State: Rita Inoma Abbey Rita Inoma-Abbey currently heads the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID), Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She was police image maker in Rivers State Police Command from 2008 to 2011. Abbey holds a doctoral degree from University of Port Harcourt in Educational Planning. During her tenure as an image maker, she was the darling of the state government, journalists and members of the public. She was loved for her distinctive approach to information dissemination and timely responses to issues relating to the police and the state. She was the spokesperson when militants, agitating for the Niger Delta cause were on the rampage in Rivers State. It was either an ex-

patriate had been kidnapped, or a pipeline or a flow station had been blown apart. But Abbey made information dissemination a child’s play. She had a way of calming the pressure mounted by journalists for accurate and up to date information on the activities of militants and criminals. She would even pick her calls around 2am without betraying her emotion of being called at such odd hour. Abbey always calls back if a journalist airtime finishes during phone discussions. She was always a delight to talk to. She would later land in Bauchi State, where she worked briefly before returning to Rivers. Apart from policing work, Abbey is an author, whose works include Streams of Vengeance (2003) Blackmail (2013) The Price (2013) and Chains of Change (2013). 4. FCT Command: Altine Daniel Altine Daniel, DSP is the former PPRO, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command. As FCT PPRO (2013 - 2014), Daniel literally “de-mystified” the office of the PPRO. She was always prompt to respond to calls from journalists. She was known for giving clear clarifications to journalists on security issues, as well as providing timely information to ease production tension. She is also known for returning missed phone calls; a disposition that is not common. Daniel’s prompt responses in 2014 cleared the air surrounding an explosion around Kurudu-Orozo-Karshi axis, near Abuja. In the midst of the confusion, Daniel explained to all callers - and promptly too - that what happened was a “controlled” explosion by one of the construction companies. There was consensus of opinion about Daniel’s amiable disposition while in office when New Telegraph sought the views of some crime correspondents in Abuja. Among those who spoke glowingly about her, is the Crime Editor of The Authority newspaper in Abuja, Mr. Hassan Zaggi. CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

CRIME

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

How policemen killed suspect, emptied bank account Camillus Nnaji

n May 2015, four policemen, attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Police Command, left for Edo State, on a robbery investigation. When they got to Edo State, they went to the Edo State Police Command, to book. A policeman from the Edo State Command was drafted along with the team from Lagos, making them five men. In the course of their investigation, the policemen narrowed down on a suspect, identified as Benson Obodeh. While police accused him of being a car snatcher, his family members described him as a car dealer. On May 21, 2015, Obodeh was arrested by the policemen and allegedly killed the same day after being tortured. His corpse was later dumped at the Specialist Hospital, Benin City with a different name. The policemen were also discovered to have collected Obodeh’s ATM card and withdrew N330, 000 from his account using Ecobank and First Bank branches in Port Harcourt. The policemen would have gotten away with the crime, but for the aggrieved members of the deceased family. They hired a lawyer and

within a twinkle of an eye, the lawyer petitioned the Inspector-General-of Police, Solomon Arase. Arase ordered the arrest and orderly room trial of the men. They were found guilty and dismissed. The four policemen from Lagos Command are Adedeji Adeleke, Oniyo Musa, Abena John and Henry Shobowale. The policemen are all police corporal. The family of the deceased alleged that the policemen killed 26-year-old Obodeh, after arresting him from his residence in Benin City, on phantom charges of receiving a stolen car. The fifth policeman, from Edo State Police Command, is Constable Joseph Omotoso. He was said to have led the other FSARS officers from Lagos, to the residence of the late Obodeh. After thorough investigation by the police authorities, the cops were dismissed from the service. An autopsy examination conducted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH) on September, 30, 2015 and signed by Dr. Ushie D.E on October 2, 2015 gave the cause of Obodeh’s death as ‘Severe Multiple Blunt Injuries.’ Although Obodeh, from Ubierumu , Uromi in Edo State

IGP Arase

had been buried, his family members are leaving no stone unturned to ensure his alleged killers are brought to book. After the orderly room trial and dismissal, the five policemen were handed over to the Edo Police Command for prosecution.

They were subsequently arraigned at the High Court 2, Benin City on May 3, 2016. The fifth police officer, Omotosho, was not brought to the court. The case filed by the claimant, the Attorney-General of Edo State against the dismissed officers had in its submission, a-three-count charge of conspiracy and murder of Obodeh, an offence punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 and 319(1) under the laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976. Counsel to the claimant, Barrister Oluwole Iyamu, told the court that the defendants were duly served to appear in court for an alleged murder case but refused to append signatures to those effects, adding that the 5th defendant was also not in court. The defense Counsel, Barrister Otunba Goke Olukalshin, argued that his client was not properly served as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He observed that such practice was against the rule of fair hearing, especially as the case was said to be a capital offence. The presiding judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele, expressed displeasure over Omotosho’s absent in court. Ovbiagele also noted that the counsel to other defendants were absent as well, but prayed that both should be properly informed to appear during the next sitting for commencement of the case. The case was adjourned till June 7, 2016, as both counsels pleaded for more time to put their houses in order.

Women who shaped police commands at the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Secretariat, Force Headquarters, Abuja. 5. Delta Command: Celestina Kalu Celestina Kalu is a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command. Kalu, described as ‘well-behaved officer’ served with two commissioners of police in the last three years. The present Delta State Commissioner of Police, Baba Alkali Usman, in several fora, described Kalu as an obedient officer,

quick to answer the call of duty. The confidence reposed in her by Usman, led to her briefing journalists on several occasions on his behalf. Kalu’s responses to signals from Divisional Police Headquarters across the state had never been queried. She’s renowned for treating distress calls with utmost respect and understanding. “I have had reason to call her around 2pm in the night and she responded with great understanding,” said a practicing journalist in the state.

‘Why I lured my sisters’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

Braide

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Zaggi said: “Altine is very sharp and articulate. She has a special way of relating with journalists. One good thing about her is that she picks calls at any time of the day. Most times, if she sees your miss calls, she would call back. In my years of working with her, I have never seen or heard that she had troubles with journalists.” Another crime correspondent, with National Dailies, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “She made the job of

Altine

crime correspondents easier. She picks her calls and usually replies text messages, no matter how short the response might be.” Daniel got enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a member of course 22 on February 1, 2005. She passed out of the Academy after 18 months training, and was posted to Adamawa Police Command, where she was appointed PPRO; a position she held from 2007 to 2012. Upon her transfer in 2012 to the FCT Command, Daniel was made PRO in February 2013. She is currently on posting

able to save N340, 000, 00, but policemen raided our hotel. We had to bribe them with N150, 000. It was after the policemen collected the money that we decided to leave Happiness Hotel for Morning Star.” Lawrence, Mary’s cousin, said that she decided to follow Mary to Lagos because she wanted to make some money. She said she was however shocked when they reached Lagos, only for Mary to tell them the true nature of her work. Lawrence said: “When I could longer bear the hardship in the hotel, I ran away. I went to report everything to the immigration officer. He took me to their office and later went to arrest my sister. I want to change. I can be a better person. I used to have sex with three men on a daily basis and make at least N1500.”

Happiness said: “Mary persuaded me to join her in Lagos. She said we would work to raise money in order to assist our mother. But I never knew it was prostitution. When we got to Lagos, I discovered the truth. I had no choice than to do what they were all doing in the hotel. I didn’t want to die of hunger.” Love said: “I don’t allow any man to have sex with me without condom. I don’t want to get pregnant. Government should set us free; we had nobody to advise us before we embarked on the journey to Lagos. Our mother must not hear about our activities in Lagos. She would die!” The victims, Regina and Mary were handed over to the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matter (NAPTIP) for further investigations and prosecution.

DIVORCE COURT

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Husband: My wife goes out with different men

r. Olayemi Aremu, has prayed an Omu-Aran Area Court in Kwara State, to dissolve his 10-year-old marriage to his wife, Kemi, because she used to go out with different men. Olayemi, who resides at Oko Road in Omu-Aran, further cited desertion, waywardness, extra-marital affairs, denial of love and lack of care as other reasons for seeking divorce. He asked the court to award the custody of their three children to him. The petitioner told the court that since he married his wife, he had never enjoyed the relationship. He said: “She is fond of making trouble with me at the slightest provocation. I caught my wife on many occasions, going out with different men. She failed to heed my advice to desist from extra-marital affairs. Sincerely speaking, I’m tired of this union! I have explored many mea-

sures to make her see reason why she needs to keep our marriage and make our children happy but to no avail. All I want is the dissolution of the marriage and the custody of the children.” Kemi, who did not dispute her husband’s allegations and prayer, urged the court to assist her to recover the N66, 000 owed her by Olayemi. In his ruling, the judge, Mr. Abolade Banigbe, said that from the arguments of both parties, the marriage had broken down irretrievably. Banigbe said: “I have no option than to dissolve this union after carefully listening to the arguments of the two sides.” Banigbe asked the parties to file separate suits for the award of the custody of the children and the issue of debt at the appropriate court. “I cannot give any order now on the issue of the custody of the children and debt claim as such issues attract separate suits at appropriate courts,” said Banigbe.

Wife drags husband to court for raping daughter

Gudu Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory has remanded, Uche Uzogora, for allegedly defiling his 11-year-old daughter. Earlier, Blessing Akarayere, wife of the defendant, told the court that her husband, Uzogora raped their 11-yearold daughter. Uzogora, who resides in Kabusa Village, Apo, FCT, however, pleaded not guilty to a count charge of raping a minor. The Prosecutor, Urom Otu, told the court that the complaint reported her husband. Akarayere accused her husband of raping their daughter at the Apo Police Station on May 2. Otu said the complainant told the po-

lice that she left the victim in the care of her husband when she travelled to her village in December 2015 to write an examination. He added that the defendant allegedly had sexual intercourse with the minor without her consent and threatened to kill her if she tells anyone. The prosecutor further said that the defendant made confessional statement during police investigation. Otu said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code. The presiding officer, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, remanded the defendant in police custody, and adjourned the case till July 25 for hearing.

Man batters wife

he police have arraigned a civil servant, Michael Kwekwe, in a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged unlawfully battery of his wife, Anita. Kwekwe of Kubwa, Abuja, was arraigned on a two-count charge of assault and hurt contrary to Sections 264 and 249 of the Penal Code. The Prosecutor, John Ijagbemi, said Anita reported the case to the Commissioner of Police, FCT, through a petition on May 9. He said the defendant unlaw-

fully assaulted her by beating her mercilessly to the extent of pulling off her natural hair with his bare hands and she sustained serious injuries. Anita of Efab Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja, said her husband assaulted her at 2-2 Kubwa, Abuja. The Magistrate, Mr Teribo Jim, admitted the defendant to bail. Jim said that the defendant should produce a surety on grade level 12 in the civil service, and adjourned the case till June 28 for hearing.

Brothers arrested for alleged murder Babatope Okeowo Akure

wo brothers, Sunday and Gbenga Akinye, have been arrested for the alleged killing of a community leader, Chief Joseph Omosuyi, at Ilu Titun in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State. Omosuyi was reportedly murdered on Sunday. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, who disclosed this, said the police had commenced investigation into the matter while the two suspects were in custody. This development came as Joseph said the police had not established the whereabouts of reverend sisters kidnapped in the same area also on Sunday. One of the suspects was said to have hit Omosuyi in the chest during an argument which ensued during a family meeting at Agirifor area of the town. A source explained that the deceased, who was a retired vice-principal, slumped and was rushed to the hospital. He, however, gave up the ghost on the way. It was gathered that the incident almost caused crisis in the community as the youth reportedly gathered to avenge

the death of the 62-year-old community leader. Police, however, intervened to douse the tension. Joseph also said that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Akure, for further investigation. Meanwhile, the PPRO said that the police had no inkling yet on the whereabouts of the reverend sisters, who were kidnapped by gunmen. He said efforts were on to rescue the victims. The reverend sisters and the driver of their vehicle were abducted on Benin-Ijebu Ode Expressway at Kajola village in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state on Sunday. Joseph said the command had been on the trail of the hoodlums but no one had been arrested in connection with the incident. He said: “We are still on the trail of the kidnappers but for now all I can tell you is that we are investigating and very soon they would be released and the abductors would be arrested.” Also, the Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Rev. Father Leo Aregbesola, said the Vicar-General of the diocese had met with the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Harrison, on the matter.

FRIDAY, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ANXIETY Bosses also worried about social instability Tony Chukwunyem

lmost all company bosses in Africa are worried about the effect of the exchangerate volatility on their businesses, a study by multinational auditing and accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has found. The report‚ which interviewed 153 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of private and government entities across 15 countries‚ said they were also very worried about social instability and governments’ responses to the fiscal

business \ money line

PwC: Africa’s CEOs fret over exchange rate volatility deficit and debt burden faced by the countries in which their businesses operate. PwC Africa CEO, Hein Boegman, said during the launch of the Africa Business Agenda survey that although African countries faced many issues‚ company leaders should do their best to focus on the positives and how they were going to solve the problems. “The global financial and economic crisis has revealed Africa’s vulnerability to a number of external economic shocks. These include the decline in commod-

Lender partners IHVN, Dangote on N5bn research centre

o promote public and private partnership for quality health services, capacity building and research in West Africa, the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) is collaborating with Access Bank to raise N5 billion for the building of a state-of-the-art International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) in Abuja. The center, which was established in 2015, according to a statement, is one of the major fulcrums of the vision of IHVN as a local nongovernmental and notfor-profit organisation established to bring quality health services within the reach of millions of Nigerians and nationals of the West African region. The Chairman of the IHVN Ad-hoc Committee for the building of the Center, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Mutallab, said that with the establishment of IRCE, the Institute sees a future in which scientists are nurtured and provided world-class infrastructure to research collaboratively on diseases of relevance to the local community such as HIV, TB, malaria, cancer, noncommunicable diseases, and emerging infectious diseases. Executive Director, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu said the ultramodern research facility by IHVN would go a long way in helping to nip diseases in the bud. “The true essence of life is, relationship with others. It’s the real reason we are here. When we sit back and watch diseases take over while we do nothing, we stand

to lose everything. I think it’s a really worthy cause. So, here is a call to you to come, join hands with IHVN and help restore hope,” Etuokwu said. Similarly, Managing Director/CEO of Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, noted that the Foundation was partnering with IHVN as part of its strategic objectives. According to her, health is pivotal to achieving the other components, which are education and socioeconomic development. “It is in no doubt that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, we are delighted to be part of this laudable project especially for providing opportunities for health promotion and disease prevention.” The centre, located along airport road in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, will be a combination of laboratories, offices, training facilities, and lecture auditoriums on a 2.5 hectare of land that IHVN has acquired and fenced. It will contribute immensely to the sustainability of the HIV, TB, malaria, cancer, other diseases and programs in Nigeria and beyond. In a statement IHVN’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Patrick Dakum said the IRCE as a Centre of IHVN will be directed under the leadership of Professor Alash’le G. Abimiku, a distinguished scientist herself, IHVN will use the center to create an enabling environment for creative thinking and innovation in science to address Nigeria’s and global health priorities.

ity prices fuelled by the economic slowdown in China; a marked decline in the demand for commodities; and the

collapse in value of the emerging-market currencies against the USdollar in anticipation of an interest rate hike‚“

Boegman said. He said companies that wanted to invest in African countries would not reap rewards over-

night but their chances of succeeding in making big profits would materialise only if they invested for the long haul.

CBN raises N111bn in treasury bills at higher yields

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold N110.93 billion worth of short-dated Treasury bills at an auction yesterday with higher yields than at the previous sales reflecting the sharp spike in inflation growth, data from the apex bank showed yesterday. The apex bank sold N32.43 billion in the

three-month paper at 8.10 per cent, compared with 7.99 per cent at the last auction on May 4. A total of N22.82 billion of the six-month bills were sold at 9.20 per cent against 9 per cent previously, while N55.68 billion of the one-year debt was sold at 12.48 per cent compared with 11.05 per cent previously.

Investors demanded a total of N216.5 billion against 261.52 billion subscriptions at the last auction. Annual inflation in Nigeria quickened to a near six-year high of 13.7 per cent in April, from 12.8 per cent the previous month in part due to rising petrol and electricity prices, the National Bureau of Sta-

tistics (NBS) had said last Monday, fuelling expectations of another rate hike. The CBN’s ratesetting body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to meet next Tuesday to take a decision on benchmark interest rates and other financial tools to curb growing inflation.

Corporate governance: FBN Merchant Bank boss tasks lenders

anaging Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), FBN Merchant Bank Limited, an FBN Holdings Company, Mr Kayode Akinkugbe, has urged Nigerian lenders to imbibe the culture of corporate governance in order to ensure a safe and sound banking system. He stated this during his keynote speech at the recently held Monthly Meeting of the Committee

strong pillars that ensure overall market confidence in institutions. He said, “Sound corporate governance goes beyond compliance and check-lists; it must become a way of life. We have a duty to ensure that it permeates the length and breadth of our banks”. According to him, the institution of corporate governance, backed by legislative, economic and financial reforms intended

of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (CCCOBIN), a statement from the bank said. In his address entitled, “The Place for Sound Corporate Governance in Today’s Banking Institutions”, he noted that the principles of corporate governance must form the basic framework for ensuring that stakeholders are able to enjoy long-term benefits and value from banks. They also serve as

to promote transparency, accountability and the rule of law in the economic life of the country, are critical in assuring the banking public retains trust and confidence in such essential of bodies. Akinkugbe stated, “This not only ensures compliance with legal and ethical standards, but helps in building the strength of financial institutions within an economy.”

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 13.7 12 10.77 US$48.59 US$26,656,283,753

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 April, 2016 24/3/2016 Mar 2015 12/5/2016 17/5/2016

Source:CBN

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) O/N 1M 3M 6M

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.96 114.56 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 83.91 98.09

1.08 3.25 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.30

NIBOR

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

Bid Yield 10.09 10.57 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.43 12.41

Change (%) 2.17 ▲ 0.20 ▲ 0.24 ▲ 0.22 ▲

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Price 105.11 114.86 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 84.21 98.39

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 9.95 10.47 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.38 12.37

NITTY

1M 2M 3M 6M 9M 12 M

Treasury Bills

Rate (%) 5.4817 7.3699 7.8938 9.2453 9.3846 10.0913

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04▲ 0.04 ▲ Change (%) -0.25 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 0.29 ▲ 0.60 ▲ 0.45 ▲ -0.44 ▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) Change (%) 7.90 8.06 0.26 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 12.67 0.00 ↔ 23-Jun-16 8.15 8.32 0.26 ▲ 22-Sep-16 8.71 8.46 8.82 0.46 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 13.75 0.42 ▲ 9.10 0.46 ▲ 16-Mar-17 9.31 9.06 9.92 0.00 ↔ 10.22 0.00 ↔

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.45

Offer 198.55

Change (%) -0.14 ▼

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

FRIday, May 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

businesS \ Financial Market News

FRIDAY, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stock market advances on sustained bargain hunting BUOYANCY Investors gains N91bn Stories by Chris Ugwu

he local bourse trudged along, driven by sustained bargain hunting activities, which lifted the NSE ASI and market capitalisation by 0. 99 per cent. Almost all sectored gauges closed in the green, as investors continued to take advantage of low prices of stocks despite industrial action embarked by the organised labour to press for reversal of pump price of petrol back to N86.00. Specifically, the All-Share Index gained 264.38 basis points or 0.99 per cent to close at 27.028.24 index points, as against 26,763.86 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N91billion or 0.99 per cent to close at N9.283 trillion from N9.192 trillion. Meanwhile, a turnover of 498.78 million shares in 4,765 deals was recorded in the day’s trading.

Banking subsector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 186.8 million shares exchanged in 1,465 deals. Volume in the subsector was

largely driven by activities in the shares of Diamond Bank Plc and UBA Plc. Premium subsector boosted by activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc followed with a turnover

of 112.97 million shares in 974 deals. The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 33, while decliners closed at 17. FCMB Group Plc led the

gainers’ table with 9.92 per cent to close at N1.33 per share, while Eterna Oil Plc followed with a gain of 8.93 per cent to close at N3.17 per share. GTB Plc added 7.32 per cent to close at N20.97 per share.

R-L: GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; Chairman, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu; CEO, Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou; Chief Executive Officer, IHVN, Dr Patrick Dakum and Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu, at the press conference on the proposed N5bn fund raising for the International Research Center of Excellence by IHVN in Lagos….on Thursday

Nascon shareholders get N1.46bn dividend CSCS total assets hit N25.4bn he total assets of Cen- commodity prices – which •Approve Ayeni chairperson tral Securities Clearing took a huge toll on commodi“I am confident that as System (CSCS) Plc as at ties export dependent econowe continue to invest appro-

hareholders of Nascon Allied Industries Plc yesterday received N1.46 billion as dividend for the financial year ended 31 December 2015 . They also endorsed the appointment of Yemisi Ayeni as the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the company. The Board at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) recommended for shareholders approval, the payment of a dividend of 55 kobo per 50 kobo share as against 50 kobo paid in 2014. This represents a payout ratio of 70 per cent at N1.46 billion, an improvement from the previous year when the company paid N1.32 billion. Addressing shareholders at the AGM, the outgoing Chairman, Aliko Dangote said through his tenure, Nascon has undergone significant change. “The past three years have especially seen substantial investment in expanding our product lines as well as strengthening and restructuring almost every aspect of our existing operations. In 2015, our objective was to grow seasoning, refined oil tomato paste businesses to ensure that these new product lines compliment and straighten our existing refined salt business, contributing to revenue and delivering profit,” he noted. “We resolved the technical difficulties encountered during the installation and testing phases for the vegetable oil refinery and tomato paste packaging machines. The crude palm oil refinery, with an installed capacity of 156,000 metric tones and

the tomato pastry packaging plants, with an installed capacity of 37,440 metric tones were commissioned in the third quarter of 2015. Dangote said that the production from these new lines have been constrained due to current foreign currency restrictions. He said that the Board on December 15, 2015 appointed Yemisi Ayeni, who succeds him as chairperson of the company. He noted that the Board is confident that she will drive Nascon’s advancement, adding that her influence had already been established in her commitment to provide stable and well directed leadership, which has enhanced the board’s performance. The new Chairperson, Ayeni said that it was an honour for her to succeed Aliko Dangote as Board Chairman.

priately in existing and new product lines, we will achieve our strategy of growing revenues,” she said. National President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, who applauded the company for the dividend of 55 kobo in spite of the harsh operating environment, also praised Dangote for his leadership qualities. He urged the new management of the company to emulate his sterling qualities to continue to implement better strategies that would improve the company’s performance at the end of current financial year. Also, National Coordinator of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, commended the company’s board for impressive performance of 2015.

December 2015, stood at N25.4 billion, representing a 9.17 per cent increase over N23.07 billion recorded in 2014. The company’s shareholders’ fund also grew by 13.59 per cent to N23.82 billion from N20.58 billion in 2014. Chairman, Board of Directors, CSCS Plc, Mr. Oscar Onyema, disclosed these yesterday to shareholders at the firm’s 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. He noted that the Board of Directors had proposed a dividend of 26 kobo per share in line with the company’s dividend policy, which provides that payout of such should be 30 per cent of profit after tax recorded in a year when dividend is declared. He noted that the global economic environment in 2015 experienced subdued growth owing to a number of precipitous events among, which are weak

mies, the slowdown in China and the resulting stock market crisis and a stronger United States dollar stimulated by the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy of raising interest rates on interbank lending. CSCS, he noted, recorded a total operating income of N7.6 billion in the year under review compared to N8.24 billion recorded in 2014, thereby resulting a drop of 8.42 per cent. Total expenses during the period stood at N2.59 billion as against N2.48 billion recorded in 2014, resulting in year-onyear rise of 4.02 per cent. Hide original message Profit before tax decreased by 14.79 per cent to N5.01 billion in 2015 from N5.76 billion in 2014, while profit after tax stood at N4.46 billion, representing a decrease of 3.63 per cent from N4.62 billion recorded in 2014.

Investment in stock market not mandate of NSIA

anaging Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr. Uche Orji, has ruled out direct investment in the equities market for now. Addressing journalists during a visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lago,s Orji said direct investment in the stock market is not the mandate of the authority. According to him, the mandate of NSIA is to manage three funds, which include: The Future Generations Fund (meant to preserve and grow the value of assets transferred into it by investing in a diversified portfolio of appropriate growth invest-

ments); The Nigeria Infrastructure Fund (aims to invest in domestic infrastructure projects that meet targeted financial returns and contribute to the development of essential infrastructure in order to stimulate the growth and diversification of the Nigerian economy) and The Stabilisation Fund (that acts as a buffer against short-term macroeconomic instability). Orji noted that NSIA now has assets under management of about $1.8 billion, comprising the seed capital of $1.25 billion and about $550 million that it manages for third party. He said having been focusing most of its investment out the

country in the past, the time has come to investment in domestic market, noting however, that the focus will not be on stock market for now. “We have five areas of immediate focus for infrastructure, which are healthcare, agriculture, tolled roads, power and real estate. Our mandate is to manage the three funds by investment mostly in infrastructure. But we are hoping that some of that investments we made in private equities will lift such companies and they will list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE). Secondly, we are also hoping that as our infrastructural programme develops, we will be raising bonds and that brings us into the mar-

ket. We are also hoping that as we create other co-investment vehicles, those vehicles attract people to bring money on the platforms, we are creating to invest in Nigeria, which will create liquidity that will help the stock market,” the NSIA boss explained. He disclosed that agriculture is the centre piece of most of their investments this year, noting that the company cosponsored the first agriculture financing in Nigeria. “That funds brought other investors and invested in dairy farm in Kano, Tomato paste company in the north. They are doing a few things and we are helping them. You will see us more in agriculture this year,” he said.

NEWS | south-west

friday, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Landgrabbers may face 10-year jail term –Lagos Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government yesterday said that landgrabbers in the state would be liable to 10 years imprisonment or below if the bill prohibiting forcible entry and occupation of landed properties becomes law. It also stated that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would sign the bill into law by the third quarter of the year. This was even as the state government declared that it also generated N8bn between May, 2015 and March 2016, saying N2.5bn was raked in between January 2016 and March 2016. New Telegraph gathered that N27.05 billion was generated between January and December 2014, which exceeded the money generated in 2013 by N18.65 billion. In 2013, the sum of N8.3 billion was generated. But the N8bn was a sharp decline from last year's revenue. Briefing journalists on the activities of his agency in the last one year, Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Bode Agoro, who disclosed this

at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing, also said that 5,625 Lagosians have received their Certificates of Occupancy, C of O's, from the Lagos State government within the last one year. He said the Bureau has introduced a Help Desk to attend to the lists of applications for Certificates of Occupancy. On the activities of land grabbers, popularly called 'Omo Onile', he said a Bill is currently before the state House of Assembly to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed property in Lagos, with prison term ranging

he Lagos State Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Issah Attah, has called on the Federal Government to increase worker’s salaries as proposed by the labour union. This, according to him, is because the situation on ground against the backdrop of the hike in pump price of petroleum has put untold hardship on the Nigerians. Attah, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at the MHWUN State Secretariat, Ojuelegba, at a press conference, noted

IBADAN

onal Coordinator of Ibadan Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Segun Ajiboye, yesterday described the increment in the pump price of petrol by the President Mohammadu Buhari-led government as a ‘terror policy’. While addressing a mammoth crowd of anti-subsidy removal protesters in front of the university of Ibadan gate

£101.5m

The net amount of money spent/ received by Man City in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

today by Prof. Ademola Abass, during a press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, to render account of stewardship of the agency in the past one year. Prof. Abass who, emphasised that the state Government would only approve investment pro-

Smart

I formerly known and addressed as Ireozor Franklin Nnoruka now wish to be known and addressed as Frank Smart. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

Yusuf

AVWERHONYO

L-R: Author/Chairman, Editorial Board, The Nation newspaper, Sam Omatseye; Special Adviser, Media, to the Governor of Sokoto State, Mallam Imam Imam; Special Adviser on Education to the Governor of Lagos State, Fela Bank-Olemoh; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Chairman of the occasion/Publisher, Vanguard newspaper, Sam Amuka-Pemu and former governor, Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, at the public presentation of the book: “A Chronicle Foretold” in Lagos…yesterday.

that the effect of the recently increased pump price of petrol has hit the workers like a thunderbolt. “It therefore required an urgent incentive like increase in workers’ wages in order to cushion the effect,” he added. He said that MHWUN is in line with the Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Attah said that no matter the ploy used by the federal government to break the ranks of the labour union, its antics of divide and rule method will not be acceptable in any form.

yesterday, Ajiboye stated that the pain being unleashed on Nigerians in the past one year by the federal government has become unbearable and required a mass anti-terror movement to check it. Ajiboye, who noted that the past one year has been full of blames of past government and pain on Nigerians, wondered what the information Minister Lai Mohammed wanted to add to the nation by requesting for N13million for a trip to China. He noted that the many

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Two APC groups disagree on zoning

Babatope Okeowo AKURE

wo groups within the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State, the Sunshine Crusaders and Ondo State Fresh Insight Network (OFIN) yesterday disagreed over the zoning of governorship seat ahead of the November 26 governorship election in the state. While the Sunshine Crusaders ruled out zoning and dissolution of executives to pave way for mini-congress to elect delegates that would choose candidate for the party, the OFIN through its Chairman and Secre-

lies of the present government must be stopped before Nigerians will be labeled liars in the international community. He opined that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is now All Promises Cancelled (APC). “They promised to bring down the price of petrol below N50, they promised light, good roads and qualitative health services, but rather than fulfilling these, it has been one lie over another while they also disobey court orders at will."

tary, Peter Adewumi and Olumide Akingbade, said the leadership of APC must zone in the spirit of fairness. In a statement made available to reporters yesterday, OFIN said those promoting anti-zoning agenda are clearly against the interest of the party winning the forthcoming election. According to them, those promoting and sponsoring the anti-zoning agenda are clearly not working for the interest and success of the APC. They said: “No genuine leader that loves Ondo State will stampede the APC for selfish interest and coax the party hierarchy to jettison the spirit of fairness, equity and natural justice. “In Ondo State, we started the 4th republic in 1999 with Adefarati (1999-2003) from the North. He spent four years. Agagu followed him (2003-2009) from the South. He spent six years. Mimiko took over (20092017) from the central." He’s about rounding off the 8th year. The spirit of fairness, equity and natural justice demand that the North should produce the next Governor. “There are two major political offices in Ondo state APC today; the party Chairman and the Minister."

posals that are beneficial to Lagosians, said that the proposal for pencil manufacturing by Gold Anchor Investment Limited. was approved by the Lagos State Government which facilitated an expanse of land in the Epe axis of the state for the company to take off as first of its kind in West Africa.

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

This is to confirm that Avwerhonyo Ovwromo Harrison, Avwerhonyo Harrison and Avwerhonyo Avwromo belong to one and same person and that my correct date of birth is 4th April, 1975. All documents bearing the above names/date of birth remain valid. Ecobank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and General Public take note.

ASUU decries fuel price increase Sola Adeyemo

submission of vital information. Meanwhile, Lagos State is set to join the league of pencil producers in the world as a pencil manufacturing company has been given the nod by the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration to pioneer the production of the age-long writing tool in the whole of West Africa. This was made known

This is to confirm that Shakiru Yusuf, Sakirudeen Kolawole Yusuf and Sakiru Atanda Yusuf refer to one and same person. Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Sakirudeen Kolawole Yusuf. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Alleviate workers' hardship, group advises govt Isioma Madike

from two to 10 years upon conviction. According to him, Governor Akinwumi Ambode has also approved the creation of a Special Task Force on Land Grabbers. He urged potential land buyers in the state to take pragmatic steps before purchasing land. Agoro said efforts are ongoing to ensure that applications are treated as quickly as possible, and that decision was necessary upon discovery of a substantial number of uncompleted and abandoned applications which, according to him, are associated with non-

Ebepu

I, formerly known as Miss. Chidimma Catherine Emereuwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ebepu Chidimma Catherine. All document bearing my former names remain valid. Imo State University, NYSC and the general public should take note.

Osebor

I formerly known and addressed as Angela O. Osemudiamen now wish to be known and addressed as Angela O. Osebor. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

Edienini

I formerly known and addressed as Ediseimokumo Ezi now wish to be known and addressed as Edienini Jones Ezi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Udoh

This is to confirm that Udoh Deborah Francis and Udoh Ekebo Francis refer to one and same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Udoh Ekebo Francis. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and general public should take note.

Eluu

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnachi Christiana Uchenna now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eluu Christiana Uchenna. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should take note.

Wilson

This is to confirm that Micheal Wilson with which my Ecobank/BVN was registered is the same person as Tari Wilson. That henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Micheal Wilson. All former documents remain valid. Zenith bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Seanberry

I formerly known and addressed as Gidado Seun Abdulmalik now wish to be known and addressed as Bakare Oluwaseun Seanberry. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Momoh

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Opone Uzezi Rita now wish to be now known and addressed as Mrs. Momoh Uzezi Rita. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public should take note.

Adewusi

I formerly known and addressed as Taiwo Tumise Omotosho now wish to be known and addressed as Bukola Susan Adewusi. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

Isaiah

I formerly known and called Trust Peter now wish to be known and called Trust Peter Tubo Isaiah. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

Uzoma

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Emereuwa Anulika Calista now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uzoma Anulika Calista. All document bearing my former names remain valid. Imo State University, NYSC and general public take note.

Elizabeth

I formerly known and addressed as Samson Itunu Iyanu now wish to be known and addressed as Samson Itunu Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

John

I formerly known and addressed as Glory Iyere John now wish to be known and addressed as Glory Clement John. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

Clinton

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Itoro Augustine now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Itoro Rogers Clinton. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Kosikimi

I formerly known and addressed as Mr. John Kilakime now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. John Kosikimi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

Great

I formerly known and addressed as Timi Ife now wish to be known and addressed as Francis Great. All former documents remain valid. UBA, Unity bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Abiri

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Mamugha Ajua Miekpo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mamugha Ajua Miekpo Abiri. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

KELECHI

I, formerly known and addressed as Uzor Anthony Osi wish to be now known and addressed as Uzor Anthony Kelechi. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Diamond bank and the general public should take note.

Ademakinwa

I, formerly known and addressed as Adeola Adetoun Ogungbayi wish to be now known and addressed as Adeola Adetoun Ademakinwa. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public should take note.

south-east | news

friday, may 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Biafra transcends Igbo land –IPOB Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he Indigenous People of Biafra,(IPOB) has described its self-rule agitation through the proclamation of the Biafra nation as transcending the interest of the Igbo-speaking area of the country. The group stressed that its agitation for self-rule was a mission which transcends the Igbo-speaking people occupying the five eastern states that formed the area covered by the Biafra nation. According to the group, Biafra spreads from the It-

sekiri Land to the boundary of the South-Western states to Bakassi in the eastern boundary with the Cameroun. In a press statement by spokesmen of the group Mr. Emma Mmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, said "Biafra also stretched from Idoma and Igala lands in the Middle Belt which share boundary with Northern Nigeria to the Bight of Biafra which is the South of the beautiful Island of Bonny. "In the present-day contraption called Nigeria the Biafra nation consists of states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers.

"Biafra also include Igbanke in Edo State, Igala in Kogi State, and Idoma in Benue State. The footprints of Biafra listed above show that this great nation is not populated by only the Igbo-speaking people. It is also important to note that the last head of state and commander-in-chief of Biafra was not from the Igbo-speaking area of Biafra land. The group stressed that its statement clarified that although Biafrans speak different languages, they have one destiny. "Biafra is a nation where different languages are spoken but irrespective of the vary-

ing languages, the people have a common value system, four market days, and a unique traditional clothing (two-piece wrapper) for every Biafran woman. It is instructive to note that Igbo is just one of the languages in Biafraland. Even the Igbo language has different dialects as someone travels from one community to the other or from one state to another state. "The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is using this press statement to advise people who speak or write out of ignorance on the history and geography of the nation of Biafra to desist from doing so’’, the group said.

Speaker, others laud Obiano’s donations to schools Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

he Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinwe Nwaebili Clare has lauded Governor Willie Obiano over his recent financial donations to the development of missionary schools in the state. Nwaebili Clare, commended Obiano for the gesture, stating that the governor deserved the support of people of the state for re-election as governor of the state. Also, a former governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Nwachi Patrick Obianwu commended the

The total amount received by Man City in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

How we stopped fuel diversion –Ebonyi

ENUGU

nugu State House of Assembly has begun public hearing on a bill on the state Land Use Charge Law 2016, which its approval is being sought. The bill which was presented by the leader of the House and lawmaker representing Udenu state constituency, Hon Ikechukwu Ezeugwu about six weeks ago had already passed its first and second readings. The bill according to Ezeugwu was seeking to amend an existing law. The essence of the amendment according to him was to remove double or multiple taxations on land matters and to consolidate such taxes into one account, which proceeds, would be jointly shared between the state and the local governments. Speaking while declaring the public hearing open yesterday, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Edward Ubosi stated that the public hearing would make room for nonlawmakers to participate in the debate on the bill that would eventually become law. The Speaker stated that

governor for the generosity, saying “I stepped down for Governor Obiano and I am happy he has justified the confidence reposed in him to move Anambra State forward.’’ The Commissioner for Transport, Princess Nwaebili, while commending the governor’s gesture outlined his achievements to include: prompt payment of salaries, provision of security, improvement of the state’s trade and commerce, growth of the state’s agricultural sector as well as the development of the orient petroleum resources located in Anambra East Local Government Area of the State, among others.

£52.9m

Ebonyi State labour leaders during their rally in Ebonyi … yesterday

Kenneth Ofoma

Enugu Assembly begins public hearing on land use charge bill

House places premium on the bill, necessitating the constitution of four joint committees to work on it. He requested the committees which include: Works and Lands; Local Government; Environmental Management and the Judiciary to make their honest and professional inputs on the bill. In his remarks, the chairman of the joint committee and chairman of Works and Lands committee, Hon Sunday

Ude-Okoye, who was represented by the chairman of Local Government Committee, Hon Iloabuchi Aniagu, explained that the House had considered the bill, debated its merits and demerits, and now felt it was necessary to invite the public to make their inputs. He noted that such inputs would help reposition the law which has been in existence. Chairman of the Association of Local Govern-

ment Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Cornelius Nnaji stated that because of the importance of the bill, ALGON would submit written memoranda in a few days’ time. Also, Chairman of the Association of Estate Valuers in the state, Cosmas Eze who submitted written memorandum noted that the bill did not provide for who should constitute members of assessors of property for proper taxation.

bonyi State Government yesterday said that it has successfully curtailed the incidents of the diversion of petroleum product by some independent marketers who caused frequent fuel scarcity in the state. The Special Adviser to Governor Dave Umahi on Petroleum and oil, Chief Onyibe Bassey Chima revealed this in Abakaliki while briefing reporters. He said unlike in the past when the marketers engaged in the nefarious act and got away with it as a result of inadequate monitoring, no person would be indulged in the act under the present government and go scot-free. Onyibe said the state government now monitors the distribution of fuel from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and ensure that

Ugwuanyi reconstitutes IMT Governing Council

UNIZIK screens 300 for breast cancer

Charles Onyekwere

Pamela Eboh

Awka

bout 300 female employees of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State were yesterday screened of breast cancer at the institutions’ auditorium by a team of experts. Prior to the test, the women were hosted to a lecture on breast cancer awareness which was organized by the Nnamdi Azikiwe Univer-

sity Women Association (NAUWA). Delivering a lecture on the causes and prevention of breast Cancer among women, the guest lecturer, Prof. Stanley Anyanwu submitted that breast cancer can be caused by generic factors such as family history, early menarche, late menopause, radiation exposure or individual lifestyle. The lifestyle he noted include: smoking, high fat diet and exposure to

ultrarviolate ray advising the women to cultivate the attitude of regular breast check. Anyanwu, who is also a professor of surgery (Breast Oncology and Gastroenterology), however, noted that cancer symptoms include: nipple discharge and inversion, slowly growing mars in the breast and severe pain but urged women of child bearing age to always go for medical check on their breasts.

whoever got fuel supply meant for the state was allowed to distribute it. While admitting that the government cannot rule out very insignificant cases of diversion, he cited a recent case involving one of the independent marketers (name withheld) who diverted the product meant for Abakaliki to his station at Okigwe in Imo State and was tracked down. Onyibe said he had petitioned the depot manager recommending for arrest and prosecution of the people involved in line with the law on diversion of petroleum product. He also decried the inadequate quantity of product being allotted to Ebonyi State by Petroleum Product Marketing Conmpant (PPMC), disclosing that he had lodged a formal complaint.

ENUGU

nugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday reconstituted the Governing Council of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, with the appointment of the Federal Commissioner, representing Enugu State in the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Festus Uzor as Chairman. A statement signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Mr. Gabriel Ajah revealed oth-

er members of the council as Dr. Emmanuel Igiligi, Pharmacist Cyril Aniwike, Mr. David Sunday Onwuegbu and Prof. Gabriel O. Agbo as members. It stated that the appointment was “pursuant to section 5 sub-section 1 and 2 of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Law, Cap 97 Laws of Enugu State 2004.” The statement also directed the Academic Board of the Institution to elect two of its members to serve on the council, in compliance with Section 5 sub-section 1 (E) of the aforesaid law.

News|south-SOUTH

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dickson, Tompolo behind Niger Delta Avengers, says APC Benin DISCO to relocate head office Chris ejim Yenagoa

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State yesterday faulted Governor Seriake Dickson’s claims that the party was responsible for a renewed violence and insecurity in the Niger Delta region. Instead, it alleged that the governor was a known sponsor of violence, criminality with suspicious affinity with the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. APC said although

€45.6m

preliminary investigations had shown that the claims by Governor Dickson against the party was based on nonperformance and pocket of crimes caused by unpaid salaries, it described the governor’s claims as frivolous, saying it was meant to corroborate those made by his cosponsors of criminality against the Federal. The party in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa via e-mail by the State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Panebi Fortune, alleged that Governor Dickson and an

The estimated transfer value of Oscar dos Santos of Chelsea in 2016. Source: 101greatgoals.com

ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo were the brain behind the rampaging nascent militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. The statement reads: “The recent utterances by the state governor in relation to previous others by Ekpemupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, wherein both accused leaders of the APC in the state of being responsible for the spate of pipeline bombings, were a confirmation that both were working together. ‘’For the records, it is shameful that in spite of

The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developed countries in 2012. Source: Itu.int

the huge revenue accruing to Bayelsa state from the Federation Account, the level of hunger, poverty and under-development in Bayelsa State is high and unacceptable. ‘’This is more pathetic when the state owes its workers more than six months of their hardearned wages, much more than most non-oil producing states. The result has been despair and desperation that has created the current situation of insecurity in the state as various youths have resorted to other unsavoury means of livelihood.

£18m

The total amount spent by Arsenal in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

Adeola Yusuph

he Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) is to relocate its head office from Benin, capital of Edo state, New Telegraph has learnt. A reliable source yesterday said that the planned relocation was triggered by increased hostilities faced by the company from its host community, which has been reported to the Edo House of Assembly. Hinting that the power supply load shedding in Benin City may fall further if the power firm goes ahead with its plan, the source disclosed that out of a total of the low 1,271 megawatts of power generated nationwide yesterday, BEDC as one of the 11 beneficiaries had an allocation with a share of 109 megawatts. “Out of these 109 mega-

Community leader fingers security operatives in pipeline vandalism Joe Obende Warri

P Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress protesting hike in price of petrol in Port Harcourt …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Agip suspends production over pipeline attacks Chris Ejim Yenagoa

n attack on a pipeline at an oilfield operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), at Ogbembiri in Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa has compelled the oil firm to shut production on the line. The oil firm has subsequently deferred its production to the tune of 1000

barrels of oil equivalent of its equity share of production in the field run with the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation in a joint venture. The attack by unidentified gunmen reportedly occurred on Sunday night around 9 pm. An Eni spokesperson, who confirmed the development yesterday in an email statement yesterday said some 1,000 barrels of oil equivalent

of Eni’s equity share of production was affected. “I can confirm the sabotage to that pipeline. The production impacted is approximately 1kboed Eni’s equity,” the Spokesperson who prefers not to be named stated. Sources at the outfield disclosed that the line has been blown up at least 13 times in the last one month. Eni, parent company of NAOC could not estimate how long it will take to fix

the damaged gas pipeline. The gunmen reportedly stormed the community at about 9:00pm on May 16 traced the pipeline and ruptured it at a point it was previously repaired after the last attack. The pipeline is a major gas supply pipelines to power plants passing through Tumor community in Bomadi, Delta; Ogbuasiri in Ekeremor and Ogbembiri in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa.

APC leaders apologise to Obaseki over attack on campaign team Cajetan Mmuta Benin

eaders and delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sobe community, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State have apologised to Mr. Godwin Obaseki and members of his campaign Organization for the unfortunate incident in which suspected gunmen attacked the team. The ugly development had led to disruption of Obaseki’s visit to ward 11

when he visited the area recently. The people stated this when members of the community were on a solidarity visit to the APC governorship aspirant in the forthcoming election in the state. Members of the delegation disclosed that the Sobe community mandated them to pay the visit and to tender an unreserved apology to Obaseki over the incident, promising that such an act would never repeat itself again. They also used the op-

portunity of the visit to pledge their unflinching support for the APC gubernatorial aspirant and endorsed him as the sole candidate for the APC ticket at the party’s next month’s primaries. Among the party leaders on the delegation include Mr. Zacheus Enahoro, who is the leader of the ward and Hon. McDonald Obasuke, the Honorable Commissioner for Art and Culture, the immediate past councilor representing the ward Hon. Jefred Oba-

watts, the host Edo State received 50 megawatts, while the remaining 59 megawatts are shared among three other states - Ondo, Ekiti and Delta. Further investigation revealed that the Disco may be forced to balance the power among the states covered by BEDC if its head office is relocated from Benin, the source said. “What this means is that the megawatts supply in other states would improve and the excess given to Benin would reduce. The company will equate the supply balancing if this is done.” BEDC had earlier lamented the harassment of its staff by major stakeholders, including youths and civil society groups in Edo State over a disagreement with its officials and security agents.

diko and several others. Speaking earlier, Mr Zacheus Enahoro said that Sobe is violent free and are members of one family, adding that as a family, they have resolved to support Obaseki’s ambition for the party’s ticket and consequently win the election come September 10. He commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration for the massive development across the three senatorial districts of the state, urging the sustenance of the legacies.

ersonnel in charge of security in the Niger Delta have been accused of complicity in illegal oil bunkering and smuggling. Chairman of Kokodiagbene Community in Warri South-West Local government Area and Niger Delta Environmental Activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has accused security personnel in the oil rich region of Niger Delta of complicity in illegal oil bunkering and smuggling. Mulade, who spoke in Warri, said security men on patrol looked elsewhere when smugglers with their crude laden

‘Cotonou boats’ often ‘settle them’ with large sums of money. This, Mulade said the security men looked the other way while the oil thieves escaped with their loot. He further alleged that in some instances, the military men would escort such boats to safety, lamenting that in spite the numerous military outposts dotting the coastal areas, pipeline vandalism and oil theft flourished. The activist insisted that “they even know those behind pipeline vandalism and oil theft.” He said: “Blame them for incessant vandalism of our pipelines and illegal bunkering.”

Rivers lawmakers back Wike on N10bn bailout fund Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State House of Assembly has given Governor Nyesom Wike the go-ahead to take a N10 billion bailout fund from the Federal Government. The governor had in a letter notified the Speaker, Dabotoru Adams of his intention to apply for bailout fund from the Federal Government with a view to using it for salary and pension payments. In the letter, Wike stated that the monthly N3.5 billion received from the Federation Account would not meet the state’s monthly wage bill for workers and pensioners, explaining that

the N10billion bailout would be provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Speaker had before the debate on the fund, urged his colleagues to approve the governor’s request to enable his administration fulfill its obligations to Rivers people as the fund was necessitated due to the dwindling Federal Allocation to the state, adding that the governor needed it to fulfill his administration’s obligation to workers and pensioners. Subsequently, the House leader, Martin Amaewhule, Evans Bipi and other lawmakers agreed on the need for the N10 billion bailout based on the dwindling economy.

News|NORTH

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court reinstates Lawal as Kogi Speaker Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the reinstatement of embattled Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Momoh Jimoh Lawal, who was recently removed from office. Lawal and nine other principal members of the House had approached the court to challenge their purported removal from office by the Umar Imamled group on February 16, 2016, insisting that due process was not followed. Other plaintiffs in the suit were, Aliyu Akuh

(Deputy Speaker), Kolawole Matthew, Osiyi Godwin, Sunday Shigaba, Ndako Idris, Oluwatoyin Lawal, Musa Jimoh, Victor Omofaye and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Joined as defendants are Umar Imam, Friday Sani, Lawal Ahmed, Bello Abdullahi and John Abah, as well as the 1st to 5th defendants respectively, while others include the IGP, DG-DSS, Commandant Civil Defence Corps and Kogi State House of Assembly. Specifically, the plaintiffs had challenged their replacement on the grounds that it was unlawfully and unconstitutionally done. They, therefore, urged the court to set it aside

and restored them to their positions. Whereas, the defendants argued that the removal of Lawal as the Speaker, was as a result of his resignation, but the 1st plaintiff (Lawal) insisted before the court that he did not resign. However, delivering judgement on the matter, the presiding Judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered the 1st to 5th defendants to immediately vacate the different offices they now purportedly occupy by reason of the purported impeachment and removal of the Speaker and other Principal Officers. Consequently, Justice Dimgba directed the Speaker (Lawal) and the

other Principal Officers (2nd to 9th plaintiffs) to immediately resume their duties in their different offices as they were never impeached and, or removed. Justice Dimgba also ordered the DSS, Civil Defence Corps and KSHA to immediately restore the security details of the 1st plaintiff (Lawal) and other Principal Officers purportedly impeached or removed by the illegal acts of the 1st to 5th defendants. The Judge further restrained the 7th to 9th defendants from further barricading the complex of the House of Assembly and preventing the plaintiffs from accessing

the hallowed chambers of the KSHA to conduct their legal and legitimate duties as legislators validly elected to represent their various constituencies. The court declared that the purported impeachment of the leadership of the House on February 16, 2016 by the 1st to 5th defendants was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void with regard to the provisions of Sections 90, 91, 92 (2)(c), 95 (1), (2) and 96 (1) (2) of the Constitution; Rule 3(1)(2) Standing Rules of the KSHA and the proclamation of the KSHA dated February 16, duly signed by the Speaker pursuant to Rule 4(2)(3). More so, the court de-

clared that the election of the 1st to 5th defendants as leaders of the House was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. According to Justice Dimgba, “A careful perusal of Chapter 5, Part 2 (Comprising Sections 90 to 129) of the Constitution does not reveal any provision that deals with the resignation of a Speaker of the House of Assembly. “But it is important to assert that whether or not a resignation has occurred at any material time is not an issue of law, but an issue of fact. Facts are proven by evidence, not by declaration and the rule remains that he who asserts must prove” the court held.

Kaduna APC threatens to expel Senator Sani Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Chibok, Gwoza and Damboa Constituency, Dr. Asabe Bashir; Representative of parents of the murdered Buni Yadi Boys, Mrs. Aishetu Bunu; wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, at the presentation of N25 million cheque on the murdered Buni yadi boys in Abuja

Ortom seeks UN intervention to end herdsmen’s killings Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

s the serial killings of innocent farmers in Benue State by suspected Fulani insurgents continue unabated, the state governor, Chief Samuel Ortom yesterday sought the intervention of the United Nations. This was as he said such support had become

imperative to collaborate with the government in its efforts to end the invasion of the communities and killing of the people in the state. Ortom made the call when the Regional Director of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), visited him at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi. He said the end of the

Chibok community condemns referring to Hayatu as Amina’s husband Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Chibok community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has kicked against referring to the alleged Boko Haram insurgent, Mohammad Hayyatu, as the husband of the just rescued one of the 219 abducted Government Secondary School girls, Amina Ali Nkeki. A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Chairman of Chibok community, Tsambido Hosea Abana said the commu-

nity frowned at the media referrence to Hayyatu as their daughter’s husband; rather, they described him as “Boko Haram sexual exploiter.” Abana in the statement noted that the arrival of Amina and useful information so far provided about her other classmates, would go a long way in helping security agencies to trace where the other girls are being kept, with a view to rescuing them. He said the Chibok community welcomes Amina and her baby wholeheartedly and awaits others still in Boko Haram captivity.

killings and destruction of property would restore peace and pave way for the smooth running of United Nations education programmes as well as other development projects in the state. Meanwhile, the governor restated that the crisis had paralysed economic activities in many communities in the state, while farming, which is the main occupation of

the people, could no longer take place. “Our people can no longer go and farm in their farms. Farming is done in the farm and when the farmland becomes a no go area, where would the farmers run to? If the farmers are allowed to farm in peace, they can raise money to fund the education of their children,” the governor lamented.

Kebbi releases N21m for supply of food items to IDPs Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

he Kebbi State Government has approved the release of N21 million for the purchase of grains for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North East part of the country. The Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, while briefing newsmen shortly after the state Executive Council meeting yesterday, said that the gesture was part of the government’s efforts in assisting the less-

privileged. He said that the money would be used to purchase food items that would be distributed to IDPs camps in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, being the hotbeds of insurgency. “Kebbi State Government wants to assist people, who are victims and affected by the Boko Haram insurgents, and also to empower them,” he said. The Commissioner, further pointed out that the gesture was part of the government’s effort towards industrialising the state.

he Kaduna State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned Senator Shehu Sani to desist from attacking President Muhammadu Buhari or face explosion from the party. Addressing a news conference in Kaduna yesterday, the acting Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Alhaji Salisu Tanko Wusono, declared the party’s support for the Federal Government’s decision to eliminate the fuel subsidy racket, which had been milking the country dry over the years be undermined. Wusono, who noted that the 2016 budget had no provision for subsidy, argued: “Why should Senator Sani and other legislators in his group, suddenly turned around to attack President

Buhari for removing oil subsidy. The party pointed out that Sani’s attacks on Buhari began last year, when the Senator formed an alliance with greedy and disloyal senators who defied APC and foisted a strange leadership on the Senate. According to the Publicity Secretary, the Senator followed up his attack on Buhari by criticising the president’s war against corruption, saying it was politically motivated. The party said: “The Kaduna APC this time has decided to teach him party discipline with a view that he would have been reformed. He was placed on suspension, but rather than learnt his lessons, showed remorse and worked towards the interest of the party, the Senator has chosen to continue to show disloyalty to the APC and President Buhari.”

Suswam’s probe: Court dismisses suit against commission’s report

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

Makurdi High Court sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, yesterday struck out the application brought before it by Mr. John Tyokegh, who was indicted with 51 other persons by the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the incomes and expenditure of the state between 2007 and 2015. The governor, Samuel Ortom constituted the panel to probe the incomes and expenditure of the state during the tenure of his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, who was among the 51 other persons indicted by the commis-

sion’s report. Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Adam Onum said each of the prayers brought before the court by the applicant, Mr. Tyokegh, was incompetent as a fundamental rights process and deserved to be struck out. Justice Onum said there was profound merit in the points of objection raised by counsel to the Benue State Government, Moses Atagher against the competence of the application. He, therefore, added that he saw no reason to touch on the various other grounds of objection, including the one bordering on the juristic personality of the third respondent, the Kpojime Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

WORLD \ NEWS

66 perish in EgyptAir plane crash

Oluwatosin Omoniyi and Wole Shadare

l Wreckage found near Greek Island

n EgyptAir jetliner bound from Paris to Cairo with 66 people aboard crashed in the Mediterranean Sea early yesterday. Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said the Airbus had first swerved 90 degrees to the left, then spun through 360 degrees to the right. After plunging from 37,000 feet to 15,000, it vanished from Greek radar screens. Egypt’s aviation minister said it may have been a terrorist attack. There were no immediate signs of any survivors. Egypt Air Flight 804, an Airbus A320 with 56 passengers and 10 crew members, went down about halfway between the Greek island of Crete and Egypt’s northern coastline after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport, authorities said. Those on board, according to Egypt Air, included 15 French passengers, 30 Egyptians, two Iraqis, one Briton, one Kuwaiti, one Saudi, one Sudanese, one Chadian, one Portuguese, one Belgian, one Algerian and one Canadian. Egyptian military aircraft and ships searched for debris and victims from the plane, whose

Life jact found near assumed wreckage of EgyptAir MS804

passengers included two babies and a child, officials said. Egypt’s aviation minister said a terrorist attack was more likely to have taken down the aircraft than a technical failure. In Cairo, Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi cautioned that the disaster is still under investigation. But he said the possibility it was a terror attack “is higher than the possibility of having a technical failure.” Russia’s security chief, Alexander Bortnikov, said: “In all likelihood it was a terror

Relatives of people on the missing EgyptAir flight

Those on board

here were 56 passengers, seven crew members and three security personnel on board, according to Egypt’s civil aviation minister. The passengers comprised 30 Egyptians, 15 French, two Iraqis, one Briton, one Kuwaiti, one Saudi, one Sudanese, one Chadian, one Portuguese, one Belgian, one Algerian and one Canadian. Three of the passengers were children, two of them infants, EgyptAir said. Egypt’s state-run al-Ahram newspaper identified the pilot as Captain Mohamed Shokeir. EgyptAir said he had had 6,275 hours of flying experience, including 2,101 hours on the A320, while the first officer had had 2,766 hours.

attack.” The airline said the Egyptian military had received an emergency signal from the aircraft, an apparent reference to an Emergency Locator Transmitter, a battery-powered device designed to automatically give out a signal in the event of a crash or sudden loss of altitude. The Egyptian military said it did not receive a distress call, and Egypt’s state-run daily AlAhram quoted an unidentified airport official as saying the pilot did not send one. The absence of a distress call suggests that whatever sent the aircraft plummeting into the sea was sudden and brief. Egyptian security officials said they were running background checks on the passengers to see if any had links to extremists. The airline’s Vice President Ahmed Adel has said the wreckage of the missing plane had been found. “There are so many reasons why a plane can fall from the sky and crash. We have no explanations at this stage. We need more investigation,” he said. Egypt’s envoy to France said Greek authorities had informed his counterpart in Athens that they had found blue and white debris corresponding to EgyptAir’s colours.

What happened

reek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said that before it had disappeared from radar, the plane made two abrupt turns and suddenly lost altitude. “It turned 90 degrees left and then 360 degrees to the right, dropping from 37,000 [11,300m] to 15,000ft [4,600m] and then it was lost at about 10,000ft [3,000m],” he told a news conference. Mr Kammenos said the Greek authorities had mounted a search for wreckage in an area south and south-east of the Greek islands of Kassos and Karpathos. A Greek de-

fence ministry source earlier told Reuters news agency that Greek officials were investigating an account from the captain of a merchant ship who said he had seen a “flame in the sky” some 240km (130 nautical miles) from Karpathos. At one point, EgyptAir said on its Twitter page that the plane had sent an emergency signal at 02:26 GMT (04:26 Cairo time) - possibly from an emergency beacon - two hours after it had disappeared from radar screens. But Mr Fathy said later that further checks had found no distress calls had been received.

Later, the Egyptian civil aviation ministry said that Greek authorities have found “floating material” that looked like debris from the missing aircraft. Greece deployed aircraft and a frigate to search for the missing Airbus and officials said they had found pieces of plastic and two life vests that appeared to have come from an aircraft in the sea 370 kilometers (230 miles) south of Crete. Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said it was too early to rule out any explanation, including an attack like the one blamed for bringing down a Russian airliner Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula last year. Egypt said it would lead the investigation and that France would participate. Other countries also offered to help, including Britain and the United States. In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama received a briefing on the disappearance from his adviser for homeland security and counter-terrorism, the White House said. According to Greece’s civil aviation chief, calls from Greek air traffic controllers to flight MS804 went unanswered just before it left Greek airspace, and it disappeared from radar

screens soon afterwards. The airline in a statement said: “EgyptAir sincerely conveys its deepest sorrow to the families and friends of the passengers onboard Flight MS804. Family members of passengers and crew have been already informed and we extend our deepest sympathies to those affected. The Egyptian Investigation Team in co-operation with the Greek counterpart are still searching for other remains of the missing plane.” According to Greece’s civil aviation chief, calls from Greek air traffic controllers to flight MS804 went unanswered just before it left Greek airspace, and it disappeared from radar screens soon afterwards. There was no official indication of a possible cause, whether technical failure or sabotage by hard-line Islamists who have targeted airports, airliners and tourist sites in Europe, Egypt, Tunisia and other Middle Eastern countries over the past few years. Wreckage of EgyptAir flight MS804 has been found south of the Greek island of Karpathos, Egyptian aviation officials confirmed. The Airbus A320 is a widely used twin engine plane that operates on short and medium haul routes. Nearly 4,000 A320s are in use around the world. The last deadly crash involving one of the planes was in March 2015, when one of the pilots of a German wings flight deliberately slammed it into the French Alps, killing all 150 people aboard. Airbus said the aircraft in yesterday’s disaster was delivered to Egypt Air in 2003 and had logged 48,000 flight hours. The pilot had more than 6,000 hours of flying time, authorities said. In March, an Egypt Air plane was hijacked and diverted to Cyprus. A man described by authorities as mentally unstable was taken into custody.

Why is terrorism suspected?

gyptian Prime Minister Sharif Ismail was reluctant to speculate over the cause of the disappearance. “We cannot exclude anything at this time or confirm anything,” he told reporters. That can only be ascertained when the plane is located and the cockpit voice and data recorders, commonly known as the black boxes, are recovered. However, Egypt’s civil aviation minister said the possibility of a terrorist attack bringing down the aircraft was “stronger” than technical failure. The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) was also quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying: “In all likelihood, this is a terrorist act.” Aviation experts agreed

that there was little chance that a technical failure was responsible, while the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation said the weather was clear at the time the plane disappeared. Last October, an Airbus A321 operated by Russia’s Metrojet was brought down by a bomb over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board. A local affiliate of the jihadist militant group Islamic State (IS), called Sinai Province, said it had smuggled a device on board. An EgyptAir plane was also hijacked and diverted to Cyprus in March. An Egyptian man described by Cypriot authorities as “psychologically unstable” is in custody.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Did you know?

Sport

No Rodriguez worry for U-23 Eagles

That on May 15 2004, Arsenal became the first team in the EPL history to remain unbeaten for one season after the 2-1 win over Leicester.

International Rio: Portugal coach not sure of Ronaldo

Dalung: Court didn’t ask Giwa to take over NFF …as lawmakers hold interactive session with NFF, ministry

Dalung

Giwa

Adekunle Salami

inister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Thursday in Abuja stated that there was no time any court asked club owner Chris Giwa to take over the operations of the Nigeria Football Federation. Dalung who was speaking during an interactive session between the House Committee on Sportsled by Goni Lawal, and the top officials of the NFF led by vice president, Shehu Dikko, stressed that the court did not fire the Amaju Pinnick board. The minister, who is also a lawyer, argued that the Giwa case was already dead and what happened in April at a Jos High Court was ‘relisting.’ Dalung said: “When the Giwa group served a notice of discontinuance to the court in October 2014, the court

struck the case and made it clear that the case was dead. I don’t know anyone else who has been able to raise the dead except Jesus Christ! “What the court did on April 8 was simply to re-list the case for hearing. It did not sack the NFF board and certainly did not ask Giwa to go and take over the Federation.” The interactive session followed a motion of ‘urgent national importance’ moved on the floor of the House of Representatives on May 16 and the lawmaker thereafter mandated its sports committee to handle the matter. At Thursday’s session, Dalung, the Director of Legal Services in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olatigbe Johnson, and NFF’s Head of Legal, Okey Obi, established that there was currently no court order nullifying the election of the Pinnick-led NFF

board. Dikko noted that there were clear channels for dispute resolution apart from the ordinary courts. He noted that Mr. Giwa had taken his case to the highest sports court - Court of Arbitration for Sports– and lost. “If he had won at CAS, everyone in the Nigeria football family would have been obliged to submit to him. He lost. So, he should respect football rules and wait for the next elections. “Some of the persons who took part in the ‘elections’ where Giwa claimed to have been ‘elected’, also participated in the Warri elections that brought in Amaju Pinnick! Yet, some of them are strangely clinging to a ‘mandate’ supposedly given to them alongside Giwa.” Dikko also referred to recent cases involving Egypt and Benin Republic,

saying that the threat of a ban looms large. “FIFA recently slammed a two–year ban on Benin Republic from all competitions because some persons went to court and stopped the elections. “We have the case in Egypt where some persons went to court against elections that were conducted in 2012, and the court gave a ruling that the Minister of Sports should dissolve the Executive Committee. The Minister of Sports in Egypt has refused to do that because he knows the consequences.” However Article 68.2 of the FIFA Statutes states: “Recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations. Recourse to ordinary courts for all types of provisional measures is also prohibited.”

Ekundayo defends African boxing title June 4 Emmanuel Tobi

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

frican and Nigerian welterweight title champion, Larry Ekundayo, is gearing up to defend his African Boxing Union title belt against Tanzanian star Saidi Mundi on Saturday June 4 in London. Ekundayo who is the undefeated African Boxing Union champion, International Masters welterweight title holder and the 2012 Prizefighter champion will battle the Tanzanian Champion Mundi who has

an impressive ring record of 14 wins and two losses. The fight which is the first time an African title defence has headlined at the home of British boxing, the York Hall, London, is also expected to be attended by Nigerian celebrities from the worlds of music and film. This night is of significant importance to the boxing phenomenon Ekundayo as victory will propel him up in the world rankings ahead of a potential title defence in Nigeria on Independence Day, October, 2016.

Ekundayo (right)

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I’m not under pressure, says Yusuf

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SPORT NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

I’m not under pressure, says Yusuf

Ibrahim Azeez

nterim Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf has insisted he is not under pressure to win this month’s friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg. Nigeria will play Mali on May 27 in France and Luxembourg four days later, but they have been depleted following the withdrawals of top stars like Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, Russia-based forwards Aaron Samuel and Ahmed Musa through injury and other commitments. But Yusuf, who has worked as an assistant to Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh and Samson

Siasia, has maintained he will not be under pressure to win the games. “I won’t be under pressure because there won’t be any reason to,” said the former Enyimba and Kano Pillars coach. “They are just friendly games and while they are impor-

tant for what we want to achieve, we won’t be under pressure. “We have some new players we are giving opportunities for the first time, but no pressure at all.”

The Nigeria Football Federation is yet to announce a substantive coach for the team ahead of 2018 World Cup qualifiers beginning in October.

Mali unveils strong squad for Nigeria friendly

Yusuf

ali coach Alain Giresse has named a 23 man strong team to face Nigeria in an international friendly in Rouen, France on May 27th. Les Aiglons will face the Super Eagles at the Stade Richon in a game both sides will use to tune up their squads for upcoming engagements. Mali have a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with South Sudan on June 3-5 and will welcome a stern test from a Nigeria team who have lost out in the running for a ticket to Gabon 2017. Giresse has included Crystal Palace winger Bakary Sako. KAA Gent’s rising start Kalifa Coulibaly and Cheick Diabate of Bordeaux.

No Rodriguez worry for U-23 Eagles Colombian star to miss Olympics

Emmanuel Tobi

igeria U-23 Eagles need not to worry on how to curtail Columbia star, James Rodriguez, at the Rio 2016 Olympics as the Real Madrid star has been ruled out of the tournament. Nigeria team led by Samson Siasia will have their first game of the Olympics against the Japanese team on August 4, play against Sweden on August

7, tackle Colombia in the last group match on August 10. President of the Colombian Football Federation has confirmed on Thursday confirmed that Rodriguez will not be selected in the Colombian squad for the Olympics but nothing was said about on-loan Juventus midfielder Juan Cuadrado and Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina who are the other big names listed for the Games.

Eguavoen, Obiekwu hail South-South tourney

x-Super Eagles stars Austin Eguavoen and Kingsley Obiekwu have hailed the ongoing South-South Champion of Champions football tournament in Benin City, Edo State, saying it will help prepare teams from the region for the 2016 Federation Cup. The competition, which is organised by the Edo FA and sponsored by FROT Group, ends on Saturday. Tunisia ’94 AFCON winner, Eguavoen, now coach of Akwa Starlets, said, “I’m excited by the concept behind the competition. It will help build confidence and competitiveness in players and teams from the region.” Atlanta ’96 gold medallist, Obiekwu, who is on the coaching crew of Delta Force, also thanked the sponsors and the Edo FA for initiating the competition. “This is a noble idea from FROT Group and Edo FA,” the ex-Feyenoord defender said. Eight teams namely Edo FA Cup kings Inneh Stars, Dynamite FC, Insurance (Edo); J.Atete, Delta Force (Delta);

Yenagoa Academy (Bayelsa), Akwa Starlets and Go Round FC (Rivers) are vying for honours in the inaugural competition, which has the winners going home with N1m while runners-up will receive N500,000.

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman included James in his preliminary 40-man squad for the Copa America Centenario in June. After participating in the United States, the Real Madrid midfielder will not be considered for selection as one of the three over-23 players permitted at Rio 2016. “He [James] had a private chat with the members of the national team coaching staff and they took the decision that he will go to the Copa America,” FCF president Ramon Jesurun said. “It is understandable. It was very difficult to have him in the two competitions, it must be understood. “James is a phenomenon, a fabulous player and an extraordinary person. “Everything he has given us has been extraordinary, but he has many more years left to give joy to Colombian football and the country.”

Super Eagles winger, Moses Simon

Ifeanyi Ubah Grassroots Soccer begins June

he first edition of the Chief Ifeanyi Ubah-sponsored Grassroots Soccer Championships will start-off in June in Anambra State. The competition, according to the sponsor, would see all the 127 communities in Anambra battle for supremacy in an event that would run from June to October 2016. The youthful Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, who is also the Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, noted that, he had decided to bankroll the competition “so as to make sure all the

GTBank’s Master’s Cup

St. Gregory, Queens College qualify for final Emmanuel Tobi

(L-R)Chairman, Organising Committee, Walk For Life Programme organised by Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Mr. Bala Yesufu; Prince Gbenga Lufadeju, Vice President, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and Mr. Shina Atilola, Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Sterling Bank Plc at the press conference arranged by Sterling Bank for the LLTC Walk For Project.

youths in the state are engaged in the tournament aimed at ensuring that talented youngsters who have hitherto been hidden in the grassroots without the opportunity of showcasing their talents are given the leverage to come to the front burner.” He stressed that, the competition which is one of his programmes to move football forward in the state would be played in a league format for five months across the communities that would also involve the three senatorial districts in Anambra.

efending champions of the GTbank’s Master’s Cup in both the male and female categories, St. Gregory’s College Ikoyi , and Queens College Yaba, on Thursday qualified for the 2016 finals after emerging winning in their respective semifinal matches at the Onikan Stadium. The prestigious secondary school football tournament is an annual competition among first generation and missionary secondary schools in Lagos State. Defending champions of the male category, St. Gregory’s College edged

out high-flying debutants, Chrisland Schools, 4-3 in the first semifinal. Also, three-time winners, Queens College, Yaba, who breezed through the group stage of the competition without losing any match, outclassed perennial rivals, Ansar-Ud-Deen Girls High School, Itire, 2-0 to qualify for the final. M e a n wh i l e, t wo time finalists, King’s Colle ge, will battle Greensprings School, in the male category of the second semifinal billed for Friday at the same venue while Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba will battle against Methodist Girls High School in the girls category.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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joebooster391@yahoo.com

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JOE BOOSTER

Olympics and the Golden Sham

t is not news any more that sports into a state of frenzy, preparatory to in Nigeria is not pleasing at the mo- the forth coming Olympic games in ment. But the irony of it all is that Brazil, nothing tangible appears to be those saddled with the responsibility happening due to paucity of funds. The of breathing new lease of life into it are pain again is that the Federal Governthe ones desperately and vehemently ment had earlier released the sum of suffocating it to death. N2.9billion considered to be partly sufAn attempt to rekindle the hope of ficient to cover preparations and parNigerians last weekend by the Athletic ticipation in the games. Federation of Nigeria proved to be a These sordid tales associated with fatal disaster. The once glamorous Ath- our sports over the years, where monletics Golden meet usually spiced up ies allocated for major events are reguwith the bevy of our foreign legion that larly diverted for uses other than for the people yearly look forward to seeing, purposes they meant, have continue unwas not only colourless but a complete abated; yet questions are seldom asked shadow of itself. For lack of correct ad- by the authorities, let alone meting out jectives to qualify what really unfolded sanctions. Thus, this has embolden the at the National Stadium, perpetrators of these brazen Abuja, I would just say that conducts. The most regrettable the entire organisation is that barely two months to the was a fiasco, a big sham, games, Nigerians are not sure without finesse and hopewhat the fate of the nation’s ath...they lessly uninspiring. At best, letes would be. The camping is in it was far below a nursery shambles; training tour to climax (athletes) school’s inter-house sports. preparations are off the card; arhave been The overwhelming derangements for necessary logiscay inherent in our sports abandoned tics are nothing to write home was loudly pronounced, as about, yet the minister of sports in the there was no publicity for appears unconcerned. the event, the tartan tracks There is no gainsaying the national were not marked, the stafact that the nation is currently camp at dium environment largely suffering from complete system unkempt and neither was collapse in the sports sector, the mercy electricity available at the occasioned by either complete of hunger, complex. The handful of lack of commitment on the part spectators that were presand without of the present administration or ent were not thrilled at those assigned the task of overthe usual all as the existing records seeing the affairs. The truth is were never threatened by monitoring that there is a clear disconnect the performance of particior general apathy on the part of associated the current sports minister gopating athletes, majority of whom have been knocked ing by what is on ground. He apwith off by the IAAF standards pears to have missed the point camping. that now makes it imposcompletely right from the onset. sible for nations to embark Without being too harsh on on jamboree in the name the Minister for the current state of participating in an Olympic event. of our affairs, it may be right however to Currently, before any athlete could say that nothing is currently working in qualify for the Olympic 100m event, our sports sector. There has not been any such must clock 10.10 seconds, ditto new initiative put on the card with the other events. Unfortunately, most intention of reviving our sports, other athletes that participated at the event than the “Khaki and red Beret philosoposted an average of 10.68 seconds in phy” that have become the new selfish 100m, which was a far cry from estab- trade mark of the Minister. lished marks. The Minister who is yet to appreciWe can hardly blame the athletes ate the huge potential in sports, has for the poor preparations and perfor- left us no option but to condemn the mance, because they (athletes) have recent merger of the National Sports been abandoned in the national camp Commission with the Youth Ministry at the mercy of hunger, and without the by the current administration. usual monitoring associated with campIt has further dealt a deadly blow to ing. Their nutrition and hygiene are no the promises our sports holds in the emlonger monitored. Under such situation, ployment generation scheme. In other Nigerians should expect all manner of words, under the current arrangement scandals. That the athletes are still par- Sports has been swallowed up and furticipating in the events shows clearly the ther relegated by the conduct of the level of love they have for the nation. Or- Minister with his few officials, who still dinarily, no one cares for their wellbeing, see it as “Ministry of small pickin and not even the President of the Federation, play-play,” apologies to my friend. Solomon Ogba, and others who hold poMy candid view is that something sitions for the fun of it. drastic must be done to pull the nation In an Olympic year such as this, from this impending shame. This case of when all facet of our sporting fam- one step forward and ten steps backward ily ought to have been fully mobilized must be put to an end.

Rio: Portugal coach not sure of Ronaldo

ristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to try to add Rio 2016 gold to his medal collection, according to Portugal Olympic coach Rui Jorge. Portugal’s Olympic coach does not expect Cristiano Ronaldo to turn out for his country at Rio 2016. The Real Madrid superstar would be eligible to feature at the Games as one of three overaged players allowed in

Ronaldo

squads for the under-23 tournament. Ronaldo, 31, will make his latest bid for an elu-

sive major honour at international level when he travels to France with Fernando Santos’ Euro 2016 squad next month. “We do not yet know exactly about the three players over 23, we will wait, but I don’t believe Cristiano Ronaldo will be there,” he told Lance. “We are not thinking about that. Of course he is one of the two best players in the world. Any club or country could use his contribution.”

Funke Oshonike

ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open:

Top guns taste action as tourney enters Day Three Ajibade Olusesan

able tennis fans at the Molade OkoyaThomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium will see many of the top

stars in action today as the ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open enters Day Three. Many of these stars including Nigeria’s Segun Toriola, Funke Oshonaike and Aruna Quadri

Europa loss won’t affect Liverpool transfers – Kloop

iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes defeat in the Europa League final to Sevilla can be the catalyst for a “wonderful future” for the club, outlining his plans to revamp the squad ahead of the new campaign. Daniel Sturridge gave the Reds a first-half lead in Basel but Kevin Gameiro equalised 17 seconds after the break before Coke netted a double to secure the La Liga club their third consecutive triumph in the competition. Defeat means Klopp’s side will not be involved in European competition next season, leaving them free to focus on their domestic campaign. “Tomorrow, in a week or whatever, we will see it a little bit more clearly and then we will use this experience,” he told Liverpool website. “That’s what we have to do. Now it’s clear we are not in a European competition next year, it means no football on a Thursday and it means we have time to train.

Kloop

are yet to taste action in the tournament as the preliminary rounds in both men, women singles dominated first and second day. But Day Three will witness plenty of action as doubles event in both men and women categories take centre stage. In the men’s doubles round of 16, Toriola will partner youngster Ojo Onaolapo to face Helmy Mahmoud and Magdy Shady from Egypt, while Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun will confront Bukin Andrey and Filatov Vasilij of Russia. Kazeem Makanjuola and Omotayo Olajide will square off against Cazacu Alexandru and Zhao Tianming of Portugal.

Yobo testimonialcelebrates children

or mer Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo will welcome a host of English Premier League stars in Port Harcourt on Friday May 27 to mark his Testimonial and Centenary Game. Among the stars expected are Chelsea captain John Terry and former Everton and Manchester United Manager David Moyes as well as Ghanaian stars Dede and Jordan Ayew. Yobo, a committed family man, is giving

families a chance to be part of the event, which is happening on Children’s Day, through their kids. A total of 22 kids between 6 and 12 years old will walk out with the players onto the pitch and Yobo is offering a lifetime opportunity to families around Port Harcourt to give their kids 16 spots of this unique experience. They are expected to go online to activate their ambition of being part of the 22 kids.

On Marble

My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.

Sanctity of Truth

Emeka Obasi Siasia’s skipper Mikel misnomer

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

— Winston Churchill

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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

When your husband is on loan Y

ou must have at one time or the other suspected your husband was having an affair. No big deal, most married men do. The occasional fling to relieve their youth or assure them that the strands of gray hair on their temples have not affected them ‘downstairs’. As long as they always come back, what’s a roving eye between husband and wife? The deal becomes big when the affair graduates from being on occasional fling. When your husband goes a step further from the late nights to spending nights, weekends outside the matrimonial home, you can’t help but worry. When he stops telling you where he is going or where he’s coming from, you should worry. So what do you do when you find out your husband is going steady with another woman. Maybe when he has gone as far as renting and furnishing an apartment for her. Do you burst an artery and end up in a wheelchair? Would you scream, tear your hair and threaten to send hired killers after her and your shameless husband? Would you accept defeat and pack out? Is there really a cut-and-dried acceptable way to react to the threat of the other woman? All these questions chased one another round my brain when I heard how some women handled such situations. Actually, the first instance is the one that really started this topic. The woman, let’s call her Mrs. X, had found out that her husband, Mr. X had rented and furnished a mini-flat in Ishaga area of Lagos State for his girlfriend, Miss B. That Monday, the randy husband had spent the night at his girlfriend’s place. The following morning, still in his bathrobe, the secret lovers received an August visitor- Mr. X and Miss B. No introductions were needed. Mrs. X pounced on Miss B. dealing severe blows on the surprised lady. When the latter saw that Mrs. X was ready to send her to the great beyond, she fought back. At the end of the battle, Mrs. X was stripped naked by Miss B while Mr. X roared that Mrs. X should not return to their matrimonial home. That was one woman’s way of defending her territory and she got thoroughly beaten and disgraced for it. I think she had it coming too. How can any woman descend that low, and for a man’s sake? What if she suffered a mortal blow like ruptured spleen or spinal cord injury? She could have died, you know. And what would have become of the territory she so desperately wanted to protect? To physically attack your husband’s mistress is a totally foolish thing to do. It’s very demeaning and I tell you, no man is worth that trouble. He’d either do a cowardly disappearing act or issue a decree banning you from your matrimonial home. As I was busy castigating this hot woman, one of my friends told me of another tactic used by another woman on detecting that her husband has a mistress. She was angry and ready to do anything to stop the affair. She sent

Adam’s Apple

FUNKE EGBEMODE egbemode3@gmail.com 0805-506-9066 (sms only)

Honey boy, sure ma’am can’t take you to Cloud 9 anymore

thugs after the girl. They gave her a thorough beating, dragged her out of her car and burnt it to ashes. The snag in that tactic is that, it may endear your husband more to his mistress, especially if you had earlier threatened to deal with the other woman. You could still lose out or end up in police cell if the thugs squeal on you.

PHOTO: www.cdn.xonecole.com

One woman decided to cut her losses. As far as she knew, antagonizing her husband’s mistress was not the solution especially because the other woman was older and richer than her. She warned her way into the mistress’ favour. “What’s my own? She was ‘spending’ my husband, so why can’t I spend her

money? At first, my husband was wary; afraid I was up to mischief but he soon found out I had no time for lost battles. The woman was too old to have babies for my husband and she was loaded, always jetting around the globe. At the end, she helped me expand my business and one of my children is studying abroad on her bill.” It wasn’t easy taking a step like that but what the hell; you might as well make the best of a bad situation. If your husband is on loan, make the best of it. Readers’ rejoinders are welcome. Signs of an abusive relationship Possessiveness: • Checking on you all the time to see where you are, what you’re doing and who you’re with. • Trying to control where you go and who you can see and getting angry if you don’t do what they say. Jealousy: • Accusing you without good reason of being unfaithful or flirting. • Isolating you from family and friends, often by rude behaviour. Put downs: • Putting you down, either publicly or privately, by attacking your intelligence, looks, mental health or capabilities. • Constantly comparing you unfavourably with others. • Blaming you for all the problems in the relationship, and for the times they are out of control or violent. Threats: • Yelling, sulking and deliberately breaking things that you value. • Threatening to use violence against you, your family, friends or even a pet. • Saying things like ‘no one else will want you’. Physical and sexual violence: • Pushing, shoving, hitting, grabbing, making you have sex or do things you don’t want to do • Harming you, your pets or your family members. • Courtesy Reachout.com

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: AYODELE OJO.