New telegraph saturday, march 26, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

News

RIO OLYMPICS

Investigations

Nigeria’s preparations under threat over 'missing' N2.8bn Pg.25

Showbiz

A QUEEN'S BATTLE

Ibinabo’s fourth marriage heads for the rocks Pg.21

Pgs.15,16,41

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The lies, the cover-ups

SATURDAY Saturday, March 26, 2016

Vol. 3 No. 766

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

TERRORISTS TO ABDUCTED GIRL

marry B'Haram Fighter Or Become Suicide Bomber Pgs.3,10

l I'm Chibok girl, another bomber confesses l Army rescues abducted women

prices of foodstuffs killing us •••Nigerians tell Buhari

Pgs.50-52

PRICES OF SOME FOODSTUFFS FOODSTUFFS

JANUARY

MARCH

FOODSTUFFS

JANUARY

MARCH

Bag of rice (imported)

N10,000

N13,500

Bag of yam powder

N14,800

N23,000

Basket of pepper

N4,000

N8,000

One litre of palm oil

N250

N350

Basket of tomatoes

N3,000

N4,000

5-litre bucket of garri

N400

N500

Crate of eggs

N730

N930

Bag of maize

N3,500

N8,000

Carton of frozen chicken

N5,500

N7,200

A bag of 'pure' water

N100

N150

5 litres of vegetable oil

N1,600

N2,400

A tuber of yam

N250

N400

JOKE SILVA

My husband was mad over comments about my cooking Pg.13

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

SATURDAY

Comment

Contents | 26.03.16

Oil: Scarcity in the midst of plenty

aster is just a few hours away with Nigerians especially the Christian community trooping to petrol stations at a time they should be in the mood to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ who died in the first place to save mankind. There are likely to be empty seats in churches all over the federation simply because many worshippers are far away from their prayer grounds in search of fuel to power their lives. Indeed without petroleum products, things get so bad. There are fewer commuter vehicles on the road which implies that prices will go up making life more difficult for a large number of compatriots. How one of the world's largest producers of oil became one of the largest importers of the refined product continues to baffle economists. Christ himself could be looking down from heaven wondering why Nigeria was not Canaan in Galilee where he performed his first miracle. It does appear Jesus must come down to perform another miracle so that like water became wine in Galilee, scarcity will become abundance in Nigeria. As things stand now there is little to cheer. The man who should know the way out has not been able to convince anyone that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, was quoted during the week as saying that the crisis needed the touch of a magician to be resolved. That statement which his aides later denied threw panic into the market as even where fuel was available earlier, the product

disappeared overnight. President Muhammadu Buhari who also doubles as Petroleum Minister has grown more grey hairs over this sorry situation. As a man who is so much at home with oil matters, his inability to find a way out should also bother the citizens. There are many reasons to give for the scarcity, many of them weather beaten. No one in government has come out with a clearly defined solution. Nigerians are getting worried. Yuletide brought with it hardship forced by scarcity of fuel. Many entered 2016 believing that the bad times would go with the past year. Events appear to have turned hope to doom. The Federal government must find a way out of this mess. There are no new stories to believe. Government has taken off, giving excuses will not solve the problem. Turn Around Maintainable, deregulation, dip in the international oil market prices are phrases that have continued to torment the masses. To the layman, the question arises as to why countries which do not produce oil are not running into crisis powering their economies. Fellow oil producing nations are enjoying the gains. It therefore becomes more than a puzzle that Nigeria is neither here nor there. We call on President Buhari to declare a national emergency. At least, Nigerians will know that there is more seriousness on the part of government to tackle this problem.Words have not brought a solution. Criticisms have not helped either. If we need more people to clear this mess, let everyone think together.

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

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani

Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor n Vincent Eboigbe

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam News Editor, Saturday n Ndubuisi Ugah

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun Head, Arts & Creatives n Ugochukwu Nnakwe Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

Bedazzling beaded dress

INSTYLE

Bead embellished dresses are an elaborate ensemble that can instantly transform your look into something glamourous; so you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong trying out one of them

}17

No overkill

Mystyle

For creative director of Leelah Cosmetics, Omobola Adeosun, anything that is good quality is fashionable and she can splurge on it. She quickly adds however that she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t break the bank to do that

}19

Interiors

Decorating small spaces With a certain level of creativity, rooms that lack space can be made to look more spacious than they really are. You can create the illusion that will make the space appear larger by fashioning separate seating areas

}20

SHOWBIZ

Dumping the wig for camera Filmaker Mildred Okwo is a respected name in Nollywood although she is behind the camera. The lawyer-turned filmmaker talks about the challenges in the industry and sundry issues

}22

Nigerian coaches down the years

SPORT

Nigeria has had many coaches over the years; some made huge impacts while others are largely forgettable. Sports in this edition takes a peek at these coaches from the early days of Nigerian football

}26

THE ARTS

Hitlist hitting it Mursty Adinoyi is the presenter and producer of Hitlist N Cruzin. He gives an insight into what the programme is all about and the experiences and plans for the future

}37

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Pictures that tell stories JUJU LORDS- KING SUNNY ADE AND EBENEZER OBEY

egendary singers and Juju music exponents, King Sunny Ade (K.S.A. and Evang (Dr.) Ebenezer Obey, were perceived by their fans in '70s as archrivals. And they waxed many albums, the age-long industry feud. Their caustic lyrics were interpreted by their fans as jibes against each other and there was no sitting on the fence- you were either for KSA or for Obey. But decades after their rivalry, the men, KSA now in late 60s and Obey in his 70s, had openly embraced each other thereby putting to rest the reported acrimony of yore.

Ebenezer Obey and KSA in the '80s

KSA abd Obey in a recent photo

News

I’m one of Chibok girls, arrested suicide bomber confesses Olalekan Osiade and Emmanuel Onani Abuja with agency reports

suspected suicide bomber, who was intercepted in northern Cameroon, has confessed to being one of the 219 Chibok girls, who were abducted by the Boko Haram sect in April 2014. The girl, who was apprehended yesterday before she could blow herself up, claimed to be one of the schoolgirls kidnapped from a secondary school in the sleepy town of Chibok. Military and local government sources confirmed to an online news portal, Reuters that two girls carrying explosives were stopped by local self-defence forces in the village of Limani, in northern Cameroon, an area that has been the target of frequent suicide bombings in recent months. The girls were handed over to Cameroonian soldiers belonging to a multinational force set up to take on Boko Haram. In a high-profile attack that sparked a global outcry, Boko Haram militants raided the school in April 2014 while the girls were writing exams. They loaded 270 of them onto trucks, though around 50 escaped shortly afterwards. “One of them indeed declared that she is one of the Chibok hostages. She is around 15. We are now verifying because on the Nigerian side they have the names and photos of these girls,” said Raymond Roksdo, a local government administrator. Two military sources,

l Troops foil suicide bomb attack near Maiduguri l Army rescues abducted women in Adamawa who asked not to be identified, as they were not authorised to speak to the press, also confirmed that the girl had claimed to be one of the Chibok abductees. “We need a few days to be able to confirm this information. We have to debrief all the men who were present and interrogate the two girls before we can say anything,” one of the military sources said. In another development, the Nigerian Army has said that troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday, killed a female suicide bomber at Umurari village, near the capital city. A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public

Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the suicide bomber was in company of another female bomber, who had earlier blown herself up, after sighting troops. The Army said a combined team of the Nigeria Police and Army’s Explosive Ordinance Device team have since detonated the unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) strapped on the gunned down suicide bomber. It said the situation has since been brought under control. “The ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF averted yet another suicide attack

on the innocent citizens in Borno State today. “The troops intercepted two female suicide bombers at about 1.20am this morning, almost 100 metres south of Umurari village, outskirts of Maiduguri. “However, one of the suicide bombers on sighting troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself instantly while the second bomber in an attempt to escape was gunned down by one of the Garrison snipers. “It is important to state that there was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers. Presently, the troops and the Civilian JTF deployed in the vil-

Stop claiming alliance with Buhari, presidency warns group Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Presidency has dissociated President Muhammadu Buhari from an advocacy group the#Istandwithbuhari. The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement yesterday demanded that the group should immediately stop claiming any alliance with the present administration. The presidency in the statement also demanded that the persons behind the

controversial #Istandwithbuhari group should stop using President Buhari’s name and that of his wife, Aisha, to promote themselves and their activities. “Among other reasons we have found it necessary to distance the Presidency from the#Istandwithbuhari group because of its premature and ostentatious celebration of the present administration’s achievements. “It is totally inconsistent with President Buhari's philosophy of service with humility,” the statement added. Garba said: “While the present administration has

indeed recorded significant successes in its priority areas of improving security across the nation, ending the Boko Haram insurgency, curbing official corruption and revamping Nigeria's economy, President Buhari is well aware that his government still has a lot of national challenges to overcome.” He said President Buhari prefers to give his fullest attention to addressing those challenges without the unsolicited and unwelcome distraction of untimely praise-singing from groups with dubious and questionable motives.

lage are now combing the general area to forestall further breach of security,” the statement said. Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of 28 Task Force Brigade Mubi in Adamawa State, Capt A.O. Fadare, said some of the women abducted by insurgents in Madagali had been rescued. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

in a telephone interview that soldiers rescued the women while pursuing the insurgents. Fadare, who did not give the number of the rescued women, however, said he was still trying to verify. “I am still trying to verify from Madagali; as you know, the operation is still on,” Fadare said. 16 women, who went to fetch firewood in the forest around Sabongari village of Madagali on Wednesday, were kidnapped by insurgents.

Abia North rerun: I knew Kalu will be‘robbed’—PPA chair

hairman of the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), Ukwa East, Emma Nwachukwu, yesterday restated the belief that the paraphernalia of voting like the card reader machines, voters’ register, security, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials among others could be compromised in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Mao Ohuabunwa. He made this known in a tip-off correspondence he shared with the PPA’s standard bearer, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, ahead of the Abia North senatorial rerun on March 5. Nwachukwu claimed that INEC robbed Kalu of his victory in the poll. He hinged his conviction on the alleged complicity in the rigging perpetrated by INEC returning officer, Dr.

Ojike Nwakwo and his colleague, Edwin Enabor, during and after the election. He further stressed that the Secretary to the State Government, Abia State, Eme Okoro, after the election had also gone on air to acknowledge that the exercise didn’t hold in his ward where results later surfaced. Though Kalu has dragged the commission to the tribunal, Nwachukwu urged the respected tycoon to continue to do everything within the ambit of the law to recover his stolen mandate.

Kalu

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Leadership vacuum rocks South-East Governors’Forum

Ndubuisi Ugah resh facts emerged on Thursday that the leadership crisis rocking the South- East Governors’ Forum may linger for sometime following feelers emanating from the forum that two governors are jostling for the exalted position. Saturday Telegraph gathered from impeccable sources that since the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, in 2015, the forum had existed without a chairman. This, the sources argued, had left the forum to be perceived as a “toothless bulldog”, a development, which many say is unbecoming of a forum as powerful as that. Orji, who represents Abia Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, took over from the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi. Saturday Telegraph learnt from impeccable sources that given the forum’s rotational arrangement, the chairmanship ought to have been handed over to Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State. While Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who is presently the most senior among the governors, is also

•Okorocha, Umahi ‘tipped’ to replace Orji

interested in occupying the position, it was gathered that the All Progressives Congress (APC) helmsman is leaving no stone unturned so as to emerge as the forum’s leader. The development, it further learnt, had pitched the two governors against each other with the forum already polarised into two factions. A source said while three governors are allegedly rooting for Okorocha, based on his experience and as a governor of the ruling party who can influence certain decision at the federal level, one governor, is said to be indisposed to the Imo chief executive’s ambition. The source said: “There is nothing that is on ground to show that peace will reign in the forum if we analyse the body languages of the governors. The forum is supposed to be a united body which is supposed to serve the interest of the people of the SouthEast. But nearly eight months after the last occupant of the office of chairman, Senator Theodore Orji, served out his tenure, no attempt has been made by the zone’s governors to select a replacement or meet regularly.

“This is very sad and unfortunate. It shows there is no “unity” and nobody is bothered. What this also portrays is that the governors appear to be divided. Personally, I think this portends a bad signal for us in the South-East.” Sources close to the SouthEast zonal office of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed that the Governors’ Forum could not be revived because the party, which used to be in power at the centre, lost the presidential election. One of the sources told Saturday Telegraph that being in the majority, the three PDP governors are not keen on convening a meeting or thinking of how to elect a new chairman for the forum since the art of governance appears threatened by the dwindling resources at their disposal. “At present, the governors are presently disturbed on how to impact the dividends of democracy on their people instead of going into issues that would draw unnecessary attention outside their primary assignment,” a top PDP source explained. Saturday Telegraph further learnt that the development is also “threatening” the emergence of Umahi,

who many argued should be Orji’s successor. To underscore this fact, an online news portal, African Examiner, reported recently that the last meeting of the governors was on November 17, 2015, in Enugu where Okorocha presided over it while Umahi was conspicuously absent and did not send any representative. Present at the meeting, which lasted for several hours Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

group, Nigeria Needs Positive Change Group (NNPCG) yesterday described the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to continue with the trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as "a low point’ in Nigeria’s judicial system. NNPG, in a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Jide Jokotade, while reacting to the Thursday verdict of the tribunal, which threw out Saraki’s objections, argued that Justice Danladi Umar’s ruling has exposed an alleged double standard in the CCT’s procedure.

were Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okorocha, while Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke. A source hinted that the last meeting, which was earlier scheduled to hold in Owerri as planned by Okorocha, was moved to Enugu as majority of the governors insisted that it must be held at

Enugu, which was regarded as the political capital of the South-East. It would be recalled that when Okorocha, who read the communiqué of the last meeting to journalists, was asked about the vacuum in the chairmanship position, he said: “We are all governors from the South-East, anybody can be chairman; we are all equal.” Speaking further, he said: “So, I don’t think that is an issue, if there is need for us to come up with a chairman, we shall get into that.”

Asset declaration: Group berates CCT’s verdict over Saraki According to the group, the fact that the tribunal unequivocally admitted flaws in a similar case involving a former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is a strong testimony that the judgment was predetermined. Excerpt from the statement reads: “One of the key ingredients of legal decisions is standardisation, equity and fairness but unfortunately this pronouncement was predetermined and self - serving and has only observed these

tenets in the breach. “For Justice Danladi, who said we admit that the CCT took an erroneous decision in a similar case that involved the former governor of Lagos state, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and still went ahead to deny the defendant (Saraki) his right to justice leaves much to be desired. As promoters of the change mantra which President Muhammadu Buhari has committed himself to, our hope in the judiciary has become shaky and doubtful.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Mixed feelings as Nigerians celebrate Easter

Our Correspondents espite the economic downturn occasioned by the scarcity of petroleum products across the country, Christian faithful yesterday joined their counterparts across the world to celebrate Good Friday, as part of activities marking the Easter celebration. Although the event was low-keyed given the state of the nation, some prominent Nigerians, nevertheless, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the Nigerian Project. For instance, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, called on Christians to use the Easter period to pray for the restoration of peace and economic stability in the country. A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, in Abuja, Dogara said the Easter sym-

l Dogara, govs, CAN, clerics urge restraint l Jigawa NSCDC deploys 1,000 personnel to beef up security bolised sacrifice and service to God and country, and therefore, urged Nigerians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ who laid down his life for mankind. “Times are hard, our country is going through difficult times occasioned by economic downturn. Government alone cannot do it. Our contemporary challenges require that we persevere in our prayers for leaders at all levels and the country for divine wisdom to enable us surmount them. “This time calls for more patience, sacrifice, prayers and a renewed hope in the Nigerian nation. We have passed through even more difficult situations before, this too shall pass away, so long as we remain steadfast in our prayers for leaders and the country,” Dogara said.

In his remarks, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, called for demonstration of love and tolerance among the citizens. Speaking through the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef, Ambode called on all Lagosians to see the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter as an opportunity to make a new beginning in all spheres of our individual and communal lives. While wishing all Christian faithful “a memorable Easter celebrations”, the governor implored Christians to emulate the exemplary virtue of holiness. Speaking also, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, expressed optimism that the country was capable of scaling the current economic precipice

through selflessness, hard work and patriotism by the people, irrespective of social stratification. In an Easter message by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, the governor said these were the sterling attributes that distinguished Jesus Christ for which his death and resurrection had become an annual celebration among the Christians. Ajimobi said: “We can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. This is the time for us to start breaking the eggs. Without pains, there will be no gains. The Bible even supports this by saying that ‘in all labour there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” On his part, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State called on the people

The Youth Christian Workers’ arm of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos, in drama demonstrating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday… yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

IPOB faults Army c’ttee on human rights

he Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has berated the Nigerian Army for setting up a 12man committee on human rights aimed at looking into the complaints of human rights abuses levelled against the military. In a statement signed by IPOB spokespersons, Mr. Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya. and made available to newsmen, the group said the committee should have been headed by a reputable Judge, rather than the composition of the committee with an assortment of retired amembers of Nigerian military. The statement reads: “On March 21, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters represented by General Abayomi Olonisakin inaugurated what it called a 12man committee on human rights. It is not clear if the

Defence Headquarters is acting based on Section-5(1) CAP A20 L.F.N. 2004 or that General Olonisakin is trying to save the life and career of Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai. “During the inauguration of the so-called human rights committee, Olonisakin said: “Each member of the committee was invited to look into the complaints of human rights abuses levelled against the military” and “urged the committee to expand their focus beyond the North-East, to also include other areas of contention including the issues emanating from clashes with the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), IPOB and Rivers State election rerun amongst others.” Olonisakin also stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is “always guided by global best practices, Rules of Engagement (ROE) for military op-

erations other than war as well as Codes of Conduct for internal security operations.” On the other hand, he warned that the Armed Forces “would not sacrifice professionalism on the platter of lawlessness or extra-judicial conducts of anybody or groups.” “The terms of reference of this committee include “collation and documentation of written complaints, as well as investigation of all the alleged rights violations, interface with human rights bodies, recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary and advice generally on modalities to curtail violations of human rights by troops.” IPOB stated that: “It is very laughable that the socalled committee on human rights which was meant exclusively for the North-East of Nigeria was suddenly given the mandate to operate elsewhere in Nigeria

as a face-saving measure to divert the attention of the public and the ICC from the upcoming criminal prosecution of Lt-Gen Buratai, President Buhari, Solomon Arase, and other accomplices to the massacre of defenceless Biafrans which started seven weeks after the swearing-in of Buhari as Nigeria’s president. “Is it possible for Olonisakin to point at any report in the public domain from any committee that was set up to probe any of the killings in Biafraland? “In 2013, some committees were set up by the Senate and the NBA to investigate the mass murder of Biafrans and dumping of their bodies in Ezzu River but the committees’ reports were never made public. Even former Governor Peter Obi’s Ezzu River Autopsy Report is still hidden in Government House at Awka."

of the state to pray for innocent people who lost their lives in the attack on Agatu and other communities in the state owing to invasion of the areas by suspected Fulani herdsmen. In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase, Ortom restated his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies, in collaboration with the Federal Government and other stakeholders, to finding a permanent solution to the crises. “The Easter period has also come at a time Benue State is facing a difficult security situation resulting from mass killing of our people in different parts of the state by herdsmen,” he said. In the same vein, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, urged Nigerians to shun violence and reject division in the country. A statement signed by Oritsejafor and made available to journalists in Abuja, the CAN president said sacrifice, love and humility which is the focus of Good Friday, must permeate through the society. “This is a time when Christians in parts of the country are plagued by insurgency; I call for steadfastness and unwavering faith in God, the maker of all things,” he added. Commenting also, the Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo, yesterday urged Nigerians to shun vices like corruption, kidnapping, stealing and violence. In his message to Nigerians on the occasion of Good Friday, Ademowo said all

those vices were damaging to the image of he nation. “I hereby call on all those in position of authorities to seek the common good, instead of individual comfort and interest. Let us be determined in our hearts, to promote the ideas of transparency and honesty to move our country forward,” he said. The lawmaker representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, On his part, Ashafa said the symbolism of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter should not be lost on us, adding that it signifies unconditional love and sacrifice. Similarly, the Chairman, Committee on Education, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Lanre Ogunyemi, urged parents and guardians to keep close watch on their children during Easter season and second term holidays. Ogunyemi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. The lawmaker, who represents Ojo Constituency II in the House, said that monitoring their of children became necessary considering the security challenges in the country. “The Easter period and second term vacation are here; parents must monitor the movement and activities of their children. Meanwhile, Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had deployed over 1,000 personnel to beef up security during the Easter celebrations in the state. The state’s NSCDC Commandant, Malam Muhammad Gidado, told journalists in Dutse, that the gesture was to ensure hitch-free celebrations.

White Paper on Lekki killings to be released soon, says Ambode

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday said the government’s White Paper on the civil disturbances that occurred at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) on October 12, 2015 which led to the death of the Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Company, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, would soon be released. Ambode, who spoke while commissioning electrification project in 67 communities in Ibeju-Lekki area of the state, said no meaningful development can thrive in atmosphere devoid of peace, and as such the people should shun all acts that can lead to break down of law and order.

The late Disu was said to have been shot by assailants during an official visit to one of the villages within the zone. Specifically, Disu was said to be resolving a land dispute between members of Okunraye community and some private companies embarking on various massive projects within the LFTZ. Ambode, it would be recalled, had set up a five-man Panel of Inquiry chaired by a retired judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Adesuyi OlateruOlagbegi, to look into the remote causes of the civil disturbances, and recommend steps to be taken to permanently resolve the issues connected to the clash.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

PSC dismisses, demotes ASPs, SP Emmanuel Onani

T Abuja

he Police Service Commission (PSC) has confirmed the dismissal of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), as well as the demotion of a Superintendent of Police (SP) and an ASP, over cases of alleged misconduct. This was as the Commission said an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs),

6.58m

and an ASP, are to be issued with letters of reprimand. The commission, which also approved the re-instatement and retirement of eight officers, rejected the appeals of 15 but clarified that the reinstatement and retirement followed judgments of the court. The disclosure was made in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations of the PSC, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani. It further noted that one serving Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and

The total number of installed capacity (Fixed Wired/Wireless) lines in 2007. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

an ASP, were reprimanded while “an Assistant Commissioner, two DSPs and an ASP are to be issued letters of reprimand. An SP will receive letter of warning while an ASP was exonerated.” “The Police Service Commission has confirmed the dismissal of one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and approved the demotion of a Superintendent (SP) and an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) over various established cases of misconduct. “The commission also

30,300 The number of fixedtelephone subscriptions of Sierra Leone in 2007. Source: Itu.int

rejected 23 appeals from dismissed policemen for reinstatement and restoration of ranks. The decisions were the high points of the 15th Plenary Meeting of the commission held in Abuja and presided over by its chairman, a retired Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sir. Mike Okiro. “The commission also approved the reinstatement of ten other Police Officers, exonerated three and committed the dismissal of three others to retirement,” the statement said.

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

Gunmen abduct WAEC driver in Adamawa, demand N5m Ibrahim Abdul Yola

uspected gunmen on Thursday evening abducted one Usman Ismail, a driver with the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Adamawa State office along Minna-Ibadan Road, demanding N5 million ransom. Ismail, a resident of Yola, was on an official engagement from the WAEC office to convey question papers from Ibadan, Oyo State along with a police escort and another WAEC official when the incident occurred. However, the two others, the policeman and the other WAEC official were not abducted, thereby leaving only the driver at the mercy of the gunmen. A younger brother of the abducted driver, who

pleaded anonymity, had confirmed that the kidnappers have threatened to kill the victim if the ransom was not paid to them by yesterday evening. “They used his phone to contact us during which he informed the family that the gunmen had already killed four other people in their custody, a situation indicating the seriousness of the threat on we the family of the victim to make the money available. “We don't have such huge amount of money they are demanding, this is an old man and is on medications. We are appealing to his abductors to please release him for the sake of humanity,” the brother pleaded. Meanwhile, the WAEC office in Yola was said to have drawn the attention of the headquarters to the abduction.

Ortom flags-off construction of two roads in Benue Cephas Iorhemen

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry/ SolicitorGeneral, Ministry of Justice, Jonathan Okoronkwo; Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Ignatius Unah, at the inauguration of the two new Perm secs in Abakaliki... recently

MAKURDI

NNPC ‘ready’ to end fuel queues in two weeks Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday said it would take one to two weeks for the queues at the fuel stations to disappear. The management of the corporation stated this in a statement issued in Abuja, by its Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Garba Deen Mohammed. The corporation appealed to Nigerians to show more patience as it was working round the clock to end scarcity The NNPC spokesperson said: “We urge Nigerians to continue to be patient because the difficulties being experienced as a result of the situation will soon be alleviated. “We would like to assure all Nigerians that the Min-

ister of State for Petroleum Resources/Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and everybody else associated with this situation is working tirelessly round the clock to ensure relief is brought to Nigerians. “Our immediate concern is to make petrol available through the interventions and processes put in place so that the queues will disappear within the next one to two weeks". Given the measures taken by the corporation to assuages the situation, Mohammed said, "As at 1600hrs of today, one PMS cargo containing 42 million litres has completely discharged, two (2) more PMS cargos with a combined ‘Remaining on Board’ (ROB) of 44 million litres are currently discharging while another PMS cargo containing 44 million litres is berthed

and awaiting discharge. “We have enough products lined up to ensure that the supply gap which created the problem is bridged. “In order to ensure effective distribution we are working with Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), oil majors and over 1,000 NNPC staff, nationwide to ensure we overcome the obstacles in the distribution of the products". However, the Corporation mentioned the inherited problems that could be a factor to the scarcity as it said, "While not resorting to excuses we would like reemphasize that this present management of NNPC and indeed the Government inherited huge and complicated problems with respect to importation, distribution and pricing of petroleum products. “Nigerians would

recall that the sum of N522,258,934,505 meant for payment of fuel subsidy, covering the last quarter of 2014 (October to December) and the entire 2015 was approved by the Senate in December 2015 in order to pay for subsidy arrears inherited by this government.

overnor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has flagged-off the construction of two new major roads in the state. The roads include the 40.397 km OrigboImande Akpu-Gbajimba road phase 1 and the 32 kilometres phase 11 Gbajimba-Iordye-Awe, Nassarawa State border. It has been awarded at the cost of over N4.7 billion. The governor also flagged-off the construction of the 24.0 km Mobile Police road Junction-Mobile Barracks-Adeke-Welfare-Quarters-YaikyoApir road junction, which was awarded at a cost over N3.2 billion. Speaking at the separate ceremonies, Ortom said the aim of constructing the roads was to fulfill the contract he promised the people during his campaign as well as bring to an end the untold suffering of the people of the affected communities. The governor stated that on assumption of

office he had promised to provide critical infrastructure to the people, which he stated forms part of the five pillars of his administration. He appealed to the communities to cooperate with the contractors handling the road projects across the state for the speedy completion of the jobs. He also implored stakeholders including local government chairmen, traditional rulers, community and opinion leaders to enlighten communities in that regard. In an address, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Emmanuel Manger, said among the major features found along the OrigboImande Akpu, AntsoGbajimba road, are the many public and private academic institutions including secondary and primary schools. Manger said citizens of the area are predominantly farmers who are renowned for the cultivation of yam, rice, beniseed, soyabeans and melon.

Monarch lauds lawmaker for free medical outreach Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

he District Head of Kalgo in Kebbi State, Alhaji Haruna Jadda Bashar, has applauded the efforts of Mr. Umar Faruk Muslim, who is a member the House of Representatives representing Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo and Bunza for providing free medical service to the people of the area. Bashar made the com-

mendation during the flag - off ceremony of three-day free medical service to the people of Kalgo Local Government Area, which took place at his palace in Kalgo yesterday. He called on people in the area to make themselves available for the medical service and also urged other politicians to imitate his gesture. In his remarks, the Sole Administrator of council area, Alhaji Musa Hassan

Kalgo, expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for what he described as bringing development to the door steps of his people especially on health matters. The Chief Operating Officer of Mercy Home Foundation, Ema Nwosu, who is the head of the medical team, said they would be offering free selfless service to the people of Kalgo in areas of diagnosis and treatment.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

$23m

The total amount of salary/ winnings of CC Sabathia (Baseball) for 2014. Source: Forbes.com

N4.5m

The amount of prize money received by Lobi Stars in the 2014/15 season. Source: Goal.com

YENAGOA KANO Kano State Hisbah Board APCgroupberatesDickson arrests 31 girls for immoral acts The Support Group of the Ijaw in the All

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Kano State Hisbah Board said it had arrested 31 young girls for alleged involvement in immoral acts. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the board, Malam Sani Tanko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano, yesterday that the suspects were apprehended in a hotel during a special operation at Sabon Gari area in Kano metropolis. “All the 31 arrested suspects were females and mostly teenagers. Our men were able to arrest these girls at Sabon Gari area in Kano about 3pm on Monday.

38.46 The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Croatia in 2000. Source: Itu.int

Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the committee set up by the Bayelsa State Government to deal with civil servants for their partisan role during the election, arguing that the committee is targeted at only the supporters of the opposition parties. The leader of the group, Mr. Clement Adaminegbe, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, condemned what he described as “victimisation and persecution” of APC supporters in the state, alleging that Governor Seriake Dickson had been “waging war” on supporters and civil servants who were sympathetic to the APC.

KAWAYA Jigawa to construct health centre, personnel quarters

Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru, has approved the construction of a new health centre at Kawaya village and staff quarters for health personnel in Madabe village in Buji Local Government Area. The council’s caretaker committee Chairman, Alhaji Hashim Ahmed, said this when he visited the two villages yesterday. “This is to show the commitment of the state government and the local governments toward the provision of social amenities to the people.

L-R: Senate President, Bukola Saraki; the representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), DeputyInspector General of Police (DIG), Mr. Mamman Tsafe and DIG in-charge of Research and Planning, Mr. Jubril Adeniji, at the Juma’at prayer for 2016 Police Week, at the National Mosque, in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Rivers rerun: NYSC DG, others ‘weep’ at dead corps member’s home •Probe killings, electoral violence, CAN tells Buhari, N’Assembly Dominic Adewole and Musa Pam

Asaba/Jos

op management officers of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday wept uncontrollably at the home of late Mr. Samuel Chuckwedumebi Okonta, a corps member, who lost his life during the March 19 rerun election in Rivers State. The NYSC’s DirectorGeneral, Brig.Gen. Johnson Olawumi, who led the delegation, including the Delta State Coordinator to Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area home of the deceased corps member, lamented the tragedy the occurrence had plunged his team since last week. The visit came barely five hours after the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration

and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Peterside Dakuku, paid a condolence visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja to apologise for Okonta’s death. While Olawumi, whose eyes were filled with tears, promised that the NYSC would not abandon Okonta’s kinsmen to their fate, he, however, expressed disappointment in the “door-die” supremacy politics that recently engulfed Rivers State. He said Okonta would not only feature prominently in NYSC’s book of life, but had joined the league of Nigerian heroes, whose efforts in the service of their fatherland cost them their lives. While the DG prayed to God to grant his entire family the fortitude to bear the lost, he wondered why

desperate politicians were always out to truncate the safety measures put in place to preserve the lives of corps members while on national assignment. The cousin of the deceased, Ogbueshi Chukwueyen Maduka, who received the DG and his entourage, among other family members, thanked the NYSC for the show of love, especially for remembering that a member of their family was killed over controversial political tussle. Meanwhile, the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) has called on President Muhammudu Buhari and the National Assembly to immediately investigate the alleged use of the 'private' Nigerian Army during the rerun in the state and bring to book the abuse of the Nigerian Army. The group also urged the Independent National Elec-

toral Commission (INEC) to release all results of elections concluded as collated at the ward levels on March 19. Chairman of YOWICAN, Rivers State chapter, Mr. Ekiye C. Ekiye, while speaking with journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital, condemned the use of the Army during the elections, which led to many casualties. Ekiye, who is also the coordinator of Youth for Peace and God Leadership Initiative (YPGLI) in Rivers State, said: “We appealed to President Buhari and the National Assembly to investigate the death of the NYSC member and some party agents in Ikwere Local Government Council and make the findings public. “We also condemned the attack on innocent staff of INEC both permanent and ad-hoc staff by politicians and the Nigerian Army, who were tools in their hands.”

Enugu to use BVN’s biometric to capture workforce, pensioners Charles Onyekwere Enugu

nugu State Government has directed the immediate biometric capture of its workforce and pensioners using the Bank Verification Number (BVN). The state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Godwin Udeuhele, disclosed this at a press briefing after the 6th State Executive Council meeting held at the EXCO Hall, Government House, Enugu. He said the move was government’s resolve to checkmate ghost workersyndrome in its public service, while also stating that the office of Head of Service and the Ministry of Finance had been mandated to collaborate with UBA Plc to carry

out the exercise with no cost to the state government. Udeuhele explained that the exercise had become necessary in view of the bloated workforce and wage bills paid by the government despite the fact that workers have been retiring from the service on a yearly basis. He explained that when this is done, the revenue profile of government is expected to increase to take care of her other human-oriented programmes and policies. According to him, the EXCO had in the meeting approved the constitution of the tender board to manage the process of contract awards for UBEC/ENSUBEB projects as contained in the approved action plan in line with government due process arrangement.

Number of internet users hits over 3.2bn, says World Bank Clem Khena-Ogbena, Abuja

he World Bank has said the number of internet users globally had more than tripled within a decade, from one billion in 2005 to about 3.2 billion at the end of 2015. This was contained in the World Bank Report for this year, which was made available yesterday, during the presentation of the World Development Report (WDR 2016) on Digital Dividends, by Lead ICT Specialist, World Bank Group, Dr. Tim Kelly, in Abuja. The report also noted that more households in developing nations owned a mobile phone rather than have access to electricity or clean water, adding that an estimated 70 percent of the bottom fifth of the population in developing nations could boast of

owning a cell phone. The report said: “The number of internet users has more than tripled in a decade - from 1billion in 2005 to an estimated 3.2 billion at the end of 2015. This means that businesses, people, and governments are more connected than ever before. “The digital revolution has brought immediate private benefits - easier communication and information, greater convenience, free digital products and new forms of leisure. It has also created a profound sense of social connectedness and global community. “More households in developing countries own a mobile phone than have access to electricity or clean water, and nearly 70 per cent of the bottom fifth of the population in developing countries own a mobile phone.”

Okorocha: We’re training job-givers not job-seekers Steve Uzoechi Owerri

mo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has inaugurated the Nneoma Skill Acquisition Centre founded by his wife, Nneoma, which he described as the needed boost to sustainable job creation. The event also witnessed the matriculation of 130 students of the centre located at Umuowa, Orlu for the batch 'A' class of 2016. Okorocha, who was represented by his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, said his administration could boast of holistic policies and programmes that touched every facet of life of the citi-

zenry. The governor, who disclosed that his wife was a ‘large-hearted humanitarian’ explained that his government had taken this aspect of governance to a whole new height through “She Needs A Roof Programme (SNARP)”, which had provided state-ofthe-art accommodation for scores of indigent widows and also empowered them financially. Speaking further, he said the centre was a fall-out of the determination of government to meet the needs of the masses, hence inauguration of the Nneoma Skills Acquisition Centres, which was cited in each of the three senatorial zones of the state.

News

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26 MARCH 2016

BENIN CITY

KANO NOA tasks religious leaders on peace building

N EWS I N BRIEF

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kano State has urged religious leaders in the country to intensify their preaching for peace. A statement issued yesterday by the state’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the agency, Mr. Olayinka Olawore, stressed that without peace, no meaningful development could be achieved in any society. According to it, religious leaders have a great role to play in restoring peace to troubled areas of the nation.

Edo people’ll decide next governor -Group

The leadership of a socio-political group, Save Edo Group (SEG), which is clamouring for the emergence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the next governor of Edo State, has harped on the need to accord the people of the state the freedom to decide who governs them through the ballot box. Members of the SEG argued that the process of ensuring a credible governorship candidate to occupy the exalted seat should not be one given the people by a godfather.

FCT Association donates borehole to College

As part of events to mark 2016 World Water Day, the Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (BODAN), has donated a borehole to the Federal Government College Apo, in Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Inaugurating the borehole, the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, charged the college’s management to take full ownership of the borehole and ensure that the purpose of the gesture is not defeated.

Tension as two Warri communities clash over boundary dispute Gabriel Efeduku

T Ughelli

he Divisional Police Headquarters in Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area, has been sacked and the armoury allegedly looted during a renewed communal clash between Ogbe - Ijoh and and Aladja communities in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion had to be drafted to the crisis-torn area before sanity could be restored. Saturday Telegraph learnt that the crisis, which has been brewing for the past years, came to the head yesterday when a boundary dispute between the two communities led to the shootings and alleged torching of houses in the communities. Security sources disclosed that the police station located in Ogbe - Ijoh was over ran and their armoury looted during the crisis. It was gathered that the clash was as a result of alleged attack on Aladja women who were returning from their farms by some Ogbe - Ijoh youths on Wednesday morning. But the Aladja youths on Thursday allegedly blocked the only access road leading to Ogbe - Ijoh community, which allegedly provoked the clash between the two

•Police armoury allegedly looted

•Ex-militant blames Delta govt for crisis

communities. A reinforcement of mobile policemen was drafted from Warri to join the soldiers already deployed in the troubled area. As at the time of filling this report, refugee camps have been created on both sides of the Ijaw and Urhobo communities. Meanwhile, residents of the communities, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members had fled the communities in the wake of Thursday attack. However, Ijaws in state yesterday called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to quickly intervene in the ongoing crisis. The Ijaw through the National President of Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHRAC), Alaowei Cleric, in an online statement, wondered why the state government had been unable to implement the resolution of Tunde Smooth-led committee presented to the then governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.” They accused the state government of inciting the communities by non implementation of its decision in respect of the land dispute. The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to

the impending communal crisis between the people of Ogbe - Ijoh community in Warri South-West Local Government Area and the people of Aladja community in Udu Local Government Area both in Delta State. The said near – bloodbath, according to our findings, is caused by the perennial land dispute that has engulfed both communities. It is instructive that the land dispute has been in existence between both communities for a period of time. We do not know what has been the response of the Delta State government over the years on this repeated debacle. “For the sake of peace and tranquility, we are calling on leaders of both communities to prevail on their people to sheath their swords. This is a clarion call for peace to reign in the Niger Delta. We also call on the Delta State Government and all relevant security agencies to swing into action in order to restore normalcy to both communities. “If it is true that the latest crisis is still caused by the age-long land dispute, then the government should do the needful. The government should not shirk its duty and allow the communities to shed blood on the altar of land dispute. The

government should acquire the disputed land to avoid further breakdown of law and order.” Also, a former militant leader in the state, Chief Michael Johnny, yesterday blamed the state government for the crisis between the two communities. Speaking to Saturday Telegraph on the renewed hostilities between the two communities, Johnny said it was sad that the state government was yet to find a lasting solution to the age-long boundary dispute between the two communities. “I want to blame the Delta State Government for failing up till now to settle the boundary dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities over the years. I raised alarm over the matter during the tenure of former Governor Uduaghan, but he failed to resolve the matter and since Governor Okowa came on board, this is about the third time, the people of the two communities are clashing and he has not shown a deep concern over the worrisome matter and this is why I'm blaming the government for its inability to settle the matter once and for all,” he said.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom (centre with microphone) flanked by the contractor handling the Origbo-Imande AkpuGbajimba project, Mr. Cheng Yuan; Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Emmanuel Manger and other government functionaries at the flag off of the road construction in Gbajimba... yesterday PHOTO: CEPHAS IORHEMEN

UNICEF, Unilever partner on safe water

•Nigeria, three others benefit from pact Ndubuisi Ugah

NICEF and Unilever have announced a partnership to improve access to safe water in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. It was gathered that part of the agreement will include financial investment, strategic engagement with government and civil society, implement innovative community and school-based programmes to promote sustainable management of safe water and also to improve hygiene and hand washing practices. UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr. Manuel Fontaine, in a statement said: “The business case for greater investment in safe drinking water is clear. Just looking at the

impact of safe water and positive hygiene practices on child health and nutrition, it’s easy to see how this is an investment that can hugely improve and save the lives of children – and there is no greater return on investment than that.” Speaking also, President Unilever Africa, Bruno Witvoet, said: “At Unilever we want our brands to make a difference to the lives of the people of Africa, but the scale of challenges such as providing safe water go far beyond what any organisation, public or private can do alone. “This partnership will draw on the joint expertise, resources and networks of both UNICEF and Unilever, to magnify our efforts so we improve the quality of life for ordinary people and help Africa meet the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Swiss Biostadt partners Siemens on medical equipment Flora Onwudiwe

medical equipment company, Swiss Biostadt Limited, has made a giant stride toward addressing Nigeria’s medical equipment needs by entering into an agreement with Siemens Healthcare (Pty) Limited. Their business agreement is expected to provide Swiss Biostadt with the guidance it needs to establish its foothold and to develop strategic relationships with other business entities. With the support of Siemens, Swiss Biostadt will gain from this partnership exclusive distribution rights to the international community. It is expected that such collaboration will bring global recognition to Swiss

Biostadt’s pharmaceutical enterprise. Chairman of Swiss Biostadt Limited, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, said that he would turn the company into a leading Nigerian Medical equipment company, making it one of the largest medical equipment companies in Nigeria. “My goal is to provide Nigerians with excellent quality medical equipment at affordable prices. I am very confident that working with Siemens will help me achieve this end.” Maduka, who stated this at the partnership launch between Swiss Biostadt Limited and Siemens Healthcare, in Abuja, said to prepare for major growth, he had planned to take the product to every nook and cranny of the country.

NGO donates Lassa fever awareness campaign kits

non-governmental organisation, Charity and Development Initiative (CDI), has donated many packs of Lassa fever enlightenment awareness campaign leaflets to the Lagos State Government through the state Ministry of Health. Receiving the donation on behalf of the state government, representatives of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, thanked the donor and promised that the items would be put in proper use. Idris, who was represented by the Director, Disease Control and Mrs George, health educator in the ministry, said government was al-

ready reviewing areas where much had not been done to tackle the disease. On her part, the leader of the delegation and national co-ordinator of the group, Mrs. Bolatito Obaigbo, said the desire for proactive approach to curb epidemics and other life threatening diseases prompted the organisation to collaborate with the state government through the ministry of health. She promised that the gesture would be a continuous exercise, while also urging other donor agencies to come to the support and rescue of the government as government alone cannot do everything.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Why PTAD boss was suspended by Adeosun

Ndubuisi Ugah

with agency reports

resh facts have emerged on how the suspended Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) boss, Nellie Mayshak, allegedly made about N40 million monthly through interest rates in commercial banks. Investigations revealed that hundreds of millions of pension fund was fixed in a deposit account with a little over N40 million generated

•Allegedly made ‘N40m monthly from pension fund’ monthly as interest from the illegal action. According to a source, the profits were traced to her personal accounts in one of the commercial banks (name withheld). Mayshak’s personal bank statement obtained and analysed by anti-corruption agencies revealed that interest generated from the transactions were discovered in her account which is against government rules.

19.8

The number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developing countries in 2013. Source: Itu.int

It was gathered that the commercial bank transfers the proceeds monthly to her personal accounts according to documents. The source also revealed that the suspended boss is also being investigated over large scale contract scam involving contractors working with the directorate. However, an online news portal, Per Second News, gathered that trouble started for Mayshak during an audit

$7.05trn The aggregate net worth of 1,826 billionaires in 2014.

Source: Forbes.com

report from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF). In what started as a routine oversight function done in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) revealed various malpractice and dirty deals. It was also gathered that an official in the AGF’s office said the PTAD boss “did not cooperate” with officials during their findings and instead created bottlenecks for

62,668 The number of refugees/people in refugee-like situation in Liberia at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: National Coordinator, Charity and Development Initiative (CDI), Bolatito Obaigbo; Director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Eniola Erinosho; Health Educator, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. George and CDI’s Deputy Coordinator, Dr. Ralph Okeke; during the donation of lassa fever enlightenment awareness campaign leaflets to the Lagos State Government… recently

ALAUSA Lagos suspends sanitation exercise

N EWS I N BRIEF

Lagos State Government has suspended the order restricting vehicular movement of people during the March Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise to allow for free movement of citizens during the Easter celebration. The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who stated this in a statement, urged Lagosians to observe the monthly exercise by cleaning their homes and immediate environment. “We cannot but encourage cleanliness in all aspects of our physical and spiritual life, having just completed the 40 days of the Christian fasting.

ETHIOPE EAST Oghre for burial April 8

The funeral rites of late Elder Joseph Oghre, aged 82, of Oghre and Ejogbamu families of Okpara Waterside, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, who died on January begin on April 7 with service of songs at his residence in Okpara Waterside while church service and interment hold on April 8, with entertainment of guests at Okpara Girls Grammar School. A thanksgiving service will hold at All Nations Christian Centre at Okpara Waterside on April 9. He is survived by many children among who is Rev. Anthony Oghre of World Evangelism Oghre Bible Church.

IVROGBO-IRRI Family fixes April 9 for Okpei’s burial

The remains of late veteran broadcaster, Odio Charles Oghenemoro Okpei, would be laid to rest on April 9 at his ancestral home in Ivrogbo – Irri town in IsokoSouth Local Government Area of Delta State, after a funeral service at The Saint Barnabas Anglican Church (Ivrogbo Parish) by 10am. Okpei, aged 81, who died on January 28, was a renowned broadcaster with former Bendel Broadcasting Service (BBS), and later Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) where he rose through the ranks to the highest echelon before retiring to lead a quiet private life.

Strike: Amosun reaches truce with labour leaders Kunle Olayeni

O Abeokuta

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the organised labour in the state have reached a truce on the contentious backlog of unremitted deductions and nonpayment of gratuities. This was after the state government backed out of

its threat to invoke 'no work, no pay' rule against workers who recently embarked on indefinite strike to protest their demands. The truce was the outcome of a closed-door meeting between Amosun and leaders of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC), among others, held at the Governor's Office,

Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Thursdat night. It will be recalled that the intervention of the House of Assembly, traditional rulers and well-meaning personalities in the state led the striking workers to suspend their industrial action for two weeks. Addressing reporters at the end of their parley, Amosun said the government had sorted out with the labour leaders and expressed

satisfaction with their decision to resolve pending issues with his administration. The governor attributed the failure of the state to meet up with its indebtedness to the dwindling economic situation of the country. He, however, noted that despite the state of economy, Ogun is among the few states that regularly pay salaries and fulfil their obligations to workers.

them. Following the frustration encountered by the officials arising from her attitude, the officials were said to have vowed that they would send the report of their findings to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun. It was based on the outcome of the report that prompted the minister to suspend her and two other officials. Unconfirmed reports revealed that Mayshak, who is presently on house arrest, according to Per Second News findings, is also being investigated for diesel fraud with sums ranging from N15

million to N50 million being spent on diesel on a weekly basis. She was placed on suspension by Adeosun while a director from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), had been appointed as acting Executive Secretary/Director General. She is the pioneer DG of PTAD, which was established in August 2013 in compliance with the Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2004, as an independent pension agency for the public service of the federation. PTAD oversees the management of pensions under the Defined Benefit Scheme for pensioners not transiting to the defined contributory scheme.

Eviction: Customs officers’residents sue Presidential C’ttee, NCS •Industrial Court hears suit May 17

he National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos, has fixed May 17 for hearing in a suit filed by residents of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Quarters in the Federal Housing Estate (Gowon Estate), Ipaja in Alimosho Local Government Area against the government’s committee on the sale of such property. More than 192 residents have jointly and severally sued the Presidential Implementation Committee on Federal Government’s Landed Property and the NCS. The residents are contesting what they called clandestine moves by an “influential Nigerian” to get the committee to eject them and acquire the blocks of flats built some 40 years ago and named after former Head of State, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, now National Coordinator and Convener of Nigeria Prays, an interfaith Christian

intercession platform. They had expressed interest to buy the flats as sitting tenants in March 2012 and paid N10, 000 each for the expression of interest form after which a verification exercise was carried out. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Federal Government had in 2004 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo advertised the sale of its residential properties across the country, including Lagos, first to sitting tenants. The immediate past Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdulahi Dikko Inde, had on December 23, 2015 directed the Lagos Zonal Office of Customs to eject the officers both serving and retired by December 31, 2015 via a circular NCS/ENF/ABJ/113/S.174 titled “Administration and harmonisation of quarters/ barracks allocation.’’

Foundation takes kidney awareness campaign to schools Camillus Nnaji

n line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) awareness campaign on prevention and early detection of kidney disease, a Lagos-based group, St. Remmy Foundation, has taken the campaign to some schools in the state. With the theme: “Kidney Disease and Children: Act Early to Prevent it,” the Chairman of the foundation, Mr. Obetta Remigius, said the choice of the awareness in schools is to mark this year’s world Kidney Day with reference to the theme In a statement issued in Lagos, Remigius said the theme was chosen following

the rise in kidney failures in children. He said: “This call motivated St. Remmy Foundation, which is a charity organisation, established to cater for people with life threatening health challenges on renal issues to partner with Sacred Heart Schools comprising Sacred Heart Nursery/Primary School and Sacred Heart College all located in Apapa, Lagos.” Remigius said: “The schoolchildren were sensitised on the important functions of the kidney in the human system, the implications of damaging them and the socio-economic consequences of managing failed kidneys.”

City & crime update

SATURDAY, 26 MARCH, 2016

‘I was asked to marry or be a Boko Haram suicide bomber’

n February 9, two Nigerian girls entered an Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) camp in Dikwa, Borno State where they detonated their explosive vests, killing 58 people in the process. However, a third girl refused to take part in the suicide mission for the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, she later recounted her story as captured by an online news portal, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The girl, Hauwa (not her real name), doesn’t know her age, but she looks 17 or 18. She had been held by the sect alongside the two other girls for more than a year when her captors finally suggested the plan to attack the Dikwa camp. In return for carrying out their mission, the three girls were told they would go to “paradise”. But Hauwa said she knew she would defy them.

“I said ‘No’, since my mum is residing in Dikwa, I won’t go and kill people there. I would rather go and stay with my family, even if I die there,” she told BBC through a translator. Both her parents and siblings, except for one brother who had been captured with her, were staying in the camp at Dikwa, along with about 50,000 others forced from their homes. Recounting how she ended up being lured into joining the group, Hauwa said: “I had spiritual problems and so the Boko Haram told me they could help get rid of them.” Though it could not be ascertained what Hauwa was suffering from, but these socalled ‘evil spirits’ had caused her to soil herself and even put her hand into a fire. But for whatever reason, she saw Boko Haram as the answer to her problems, and they took her in. Speaking further, she recalled a typical day

Hauwa living with the militants. “We were living in grass-thatched houses. When my husband was around, I cooked three times a day... the men would steal meat and bring it for us to cook,” she said. After a while, Hauwa separated from her husband and then got remarried. Her second husband then ran away and when she refused to take a third husband, the group suggested their plan: “They said since I refused to re-marry, I should take the bomb,” she said. The Dikwa camp for the IDPs was 85kilometres (50 miles) north-east of Maiduguri, which is regarded as the “birthplace” of Boko Haram. Armed with Dikwa’s geographical map, Hauwa knew it was not far from the place

Tragedy as two die in underground fuel tank Muritala Ayinla

ragedy struck yesterday in Berger area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when two men got trapped and eventually lost their lives while cleaning an underground fuel tank at Fagbems filling station. Saturday Telegraph learnt that the tragedy struck when a man identified as United, who was cleaning the tank as part of the routine maintenance exercise of the station, got trapped due to suffocation from the gravity of the gas emission from the tank. His boss, identified as Adekunle Ipaye, aged 30, allegedly moved into the underground tank to rescue him. But other co-workers raised the alarm when both of them couldn’t come out for several hours and informed the emergency responders. The state Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other agencies that stormed the station, had hectic time trying to access the tank but could only later discover their lifeless bodies from the tank. Speaking on the incident, LASEMA’s General Manager, Mr. Michael Akindele, described the incident as unfortunate even though the agencies were not informed on time. He said: “Investigation conducted by the agency’s Emergency Response Team at the incident scene, showed that the two victims died as result of suffocation and gas emission inside the underground tank. “The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday March, 2016 at about 6.10 am while the victims were carrying out underground cleaning and renovation of the tank of a petrol station (Fagbems) located at Oando Bus-stop at Berger. “The Lagos State Fire Services and LASEMA Emergency Response Team recovered the bodies of the two victims. The bodies

The deadly underground fuel tank where they got trapped

have been evacuated by State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit to the Lagos Mainland Hospital Mortuary. Akindele said proper investigation would be conducted to ascertain what led to the incident. He however warned contractors to use right equipment and also adhere to other safety messures while carrying out underground cleaning and other duties. Also speaking on the incident, the state’s Director of Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe,

said the victims had died before the call for rescue came. According to him, the agencies were not informed on time the two couldn’t come out of the tank. Other agencies at the scene were the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, the Police from Ojodu Police Station. Meanwhile, a car belonging to Ipaye, one of the dead victims, had been taken to the police station as at the time of filing this report.

she was being held by the militants, so she decided to sneak out very early in the morning of the night before the attack was due to take place. Though her plan was to alert her family members and others staying at Dikwa of the impending attack. She was unlucky as she was too late. By the time she reached Dikwa camp, the two suicide bombers had already struck. An army officer showed the BBC team the scene of the attack. “This is the spot where the first explosion went off,” he said pointing to brown patches on the tarmac, where blood stains had been darkened by a layer of dust. The camp stretches across both sides of the road and so residents still have to pass the scene of the attack every day to get water and food. The army officer further explained that: “There are 15,000 people still living here and they are scared. But they have nowhere safe to go, so they are staying here. Now, they say they cannot trust anyone, not even children.” An elderly woman, Falmata Mohammed, who remembers the moments before the attack, said: “A soldier was trying to arrange our queues… There was this woman wearing a red veil and she had long hair.” Mohmmed said she looked round when the woman began complaining about the soldiers, who were trying to disperse the crowds. “As soon as we moved onto the road, she shouted ‘Wayyo’, saying she had a pain in her stomach… People rushed to help her and tried to lift her up and that's when the bomb detonated.” “We saw fireballs around us,” she said. She said suddenly she became aware that she was surrounded by dozens of mutilated bodies. Hauwa who said she did not see the attack herself, but she was shown footage of the aftermath by military investigators reflect on the fate of the two girls. “It wasn’t a pleasant thing to see. It wasn’t good to carry a bomb to go and kill fellow human beings. I don't know if the other girls knew they would die when they went on the mission,” she said. For parents in this part of Nigeria, the fear of Boko Haram is all too real. The group is prepared not only to abduct their children, but to send their own young back as assassins in the very places they have sought refuge. This is the same state where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in April 2014. Most of them are still missing. Hauwa chose to defy the group and to escape, saving her own and the lives of many would-be victims. Discussion shifted to her future, but when the topic of children comes up, she laughs it off. “I'd like to get an education,” she says.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Police arrest 10 over Onitsha mayhem Okegwo Kenechukwu

T Onitsha

he Police in Anambra State yesterday said they had arrested 10 suspected hoodlums who masterminded last Monday’s mayhem in Onitsha. Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ali Okechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the matter was handled by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Awka. He said, however, that he was not sure of the number of those arrested, but confirmed that some people were now helping the police in their investigations. He said: “We are on top of the situation, investigation is ongoing and as soon as we conclude it, the culprits would be charged to court”. The PPRO further stated that: “The matter was a bailable offence”, but added that: “We will not relent until those who committed the dastardly act are

brought to book and made to face the full weight of the law.” Meanwhile, a dependable source close to the state CID Awka, told journalists that “over 10 persons have been arrested since the incident happened but I am not sure if they have been released on bail”. It would be recalled that an angry mob had early on Monday took over the commercial city and matched through the Onitsha Main Market through Iweka Road to Menax Motor Park brandishing machetes and other dangerous weapons while chanting war song. They were however accosted by a detachment of anti-riot policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Central Police Station, Onitsha, Mr. Mark Ijarafu, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP). The hoodlums attacked and stabbed the DPO with broken bottle and ginflicted several cuts on his hand and damaged his car, before he was rescued and rushed to the Hospital for treatment.

City&crime update

Building materials’chair shot dead trying to rescue injured victim Juliana Francis

he chairman of Building Materials Suppliers, Alaguntan Village Chapter, Ajah, Lagos State, Yusuf Elegushi, has been shot dead while trying to rescue a young man who was also shot. Elegushi, 26, a graduate of Business Administration, University of Lagos (UNILAG), was shot on his chest by a certain Lawal last week Thursday at Ajah around 7:30pm. He was said to have been shot trying to rescue a victim that had earlier been shot by the same Lawal. Investigation revealed that Lawal was said to have disappeared after shooting the two men. The deceased’s father, Chief Muritala Adedoyin Elegushi, has urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, to fish out Lawal wherever he might have run to and see that justice is done. Elegushi said his son was rushed to the Yaba General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead. According to Elegushi, trouble started after a disagreement occurred between a gang led by Lawal and a man simply identified as Dodo two days earlier over the sum of N 3,000.00, where Lawal sustained an injury on his jaw.

Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Johnson Olawumi (left), signing a condolence register for late Mr. Chukwudumebi Okonta, a corps member who was killed during the Rivers State rerun election for the National and the State Assembly in Illah, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State… yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

gun State Police Command yesterday confirmed the arrest of four students of University of Lagos (UNILAG) for allegedly acting suspiciously at the graveside of a colleague, Eniola Jacobs, who died from an intake of a lethal pest control chemical widely known as “Sniper.” The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrest to an online news portal, SaharaReporters, said the students acted “suspiciously.” The arrested persons, identified as Adeboye Timothy, Aramowo Stephen, Awe-Obe Raphael and Iwerima Jacob are said to be members, along with the deceased, of the Cherubim and Seraphim campus fellowship. “We arrested the students at the graveside when they insisted they wanted to exhume the corpse,” Adejobi said. The PPRO said the action was unacceptable to the parents and also appeared strange to the police. He confirmed that the students arrested are being detained at the Criminal Investigations Department of the Eleweran Division in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Jacobs died Sunday morning at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) while being treated for toxin

Police arrest four UNILAG students over death of colleague intake. Colleagues of the deceased, who were at the scene of the incident, told SaharaReporters that a bottle of Pepsi and a container bearing the chemical were found in his bag shortly after the incident, which took place at the library of the Faculty of Education. “His screams were coming from the Education Library. He got assistance and was taken to the Alpha Base from where he was moved to the hospital,” a classmate said. The deceased was said to have shouted: “sniper...sniper..!” while hurrying out of the library and calling for help. Two accounts have emerged on the cause of the deceased's action. One has it that cult members forced him to take the sniper while his colleagues said he could have taken the action out of acute depression. “He missed the opportunity to register his courses during his first year and had been worried about it,” a member of his department told SaharaReporters. According to his friends, Jacobs, a 300-level student of microbiology, was doing well in his studies despite the problem he had in his

first year. “I think he was already getting over it,” another colleague said. The colleague also disclosed that the Course Adviser of the deceased, Dr. Nze, had advised him to ensure that he kept getting good grades while working on the courses he missed during his first year. The Lagos State Police Command has already begun an investigation into the allegation that he was forced by some cult members to take the toxic substance.

Jacobs

The gang led by Lawal, perceived the injury as a slight and mobilised last week Thursday at Alaguntan Building Site for a reprisal attack on Dodo. Elegushi said: “Lawal was said to have brought out his pistol and shot at one of the boys at the site, thinking it was Dodo. My son, who knew nothing about fracas between the groups, ran innocently to rescue the man who was by Lawal. But Lawal shot him. My son was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.” According to the man, the matter was reported at Ogombo Police Station and three members of Lawal’s gang had been arrested. The matter was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigations. Elegushi, who described his son as a quiet and easy going person, said the late father of two, had made arrangements on how to mark his 26th birthday next month. He said: “We have petitioned the Lagos State Governor and the Commissioner of Police to search for my son’s killer and bring him to book. This is not the first time Lawal’s group would be engaging in such gruesome murder of innocent souls in the area. Many of his atrocities had been swept under the carpet by the police.”

Heritage Bank partners group on N500m YES project

eritage Bank Limited has launched a N500million grant for Young Entrepreneurs and Students (YES) last Tuesday in Lagos. According to the bank, the initiative which is in partnership with the Nigerian Youth Professional Forum (NYPF) will support students and young entrepreneurs toward socio-economic freedom. The Heritage Bank Managing Director, Ifie Sekibo, in his remarks at the occasion explained that the bank’s support for the programme rose from the fact that the initiative aligns with the vision of the bank which is to help in creating, preserving and transferring wealth across generations. The Managing Director, who was represented by Obioma Emenike, Group Head, Market Strategy, added that the bank will also support the project in terms of training the beneficiaries, disbursement of the grant as well as monitoring and evaluation of the project’s milestones as agreed with the beneficiaries. “We have been playing strongly in the education and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) sectors of the economy. This project with our mission and vision as a bank. The age bracket of 18 to 40 years for the beneficiaries also aligns with our corporate goal, just like the key sectors which include agriculture, ICT and creative industry, identified for the project are pivotal for economic growth” he said. According to its chairman, Moses Siasia, the NYPF is a non-governmental organisation conceived by a group of young professionals with the mission to promote innovative ideas for socio-economic development. For the students, the grant can be accessed for tuition fees to help low income students and technological research and innovation. Students in Nigeria can access up to N500,000 (five hundred thousand naira) only; students in the United Kingdom can access up to GBP 3000 (three thousand pounds while students in the United States can access up to $5,000 (five thousand dollars). For young entrepreneurs, the grant will be available for the following target sectors: Agriculture, Creative Industry, Information and Communication Technology. In each category, an entrepreneur with an existing business can access up to N2 million.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Young Telegraph with DEBORAH MAKOJI

26 MARCH 2016

Question

What is your experience on a first date?

I was shy The experience was fun although I was shy because it was something I did for the first time then but the guy I went out with is a very sociable one.

Coached on how to comport myself

That was in my first year in the university. I have wonderful older friend that I share things with, my friends couch me on how to comport myself so, it’s difficult for one to know that it was a first date.

ROSE OLALEKAN

ADEPEKO KEHINDE

Not a bid deal I don’t really see it as a big deal, there was nothing special because it is something I have always done with my friends. We relax in a well decorated restaurant with a bucket of ice cream and the guy sang romantic songs for me.

I was prepared for it

The guy told me a week to it and I agreed go on a date with him. I had enough time to prepare for it; I even shop for a beautiful dress and sandals that I used that day and it was fun.

CHINENYE AUGUSTUS

CHRYSTAL ABAH

I was confused

I was confused at first because the lady I had my first date with is quite older and more exposed than me. I could not tell her anything for over 3 hours so we went back home just like that.

She asked me to dance for her

OLAMIDE VICTOR

It was my most embarrassing moments, the lady requested that I dance for her and unfortunately for me then I do not know any dance step. I felt so embarrassed. JUSTICE ONATE

I lost my wallet

It took me a long time to get the attention of the lady I went out with that day. I lost my wallet and I did not know until we have finished eating. I couldn’t redeem my image till now because the lady believed I lied to her about it. CHUKWUDI ONAGA

It was all fun

It was so fun, I had the opportunity to be closer to the lady and we had a wonderful time together in each other’s arm.

I have no experience yet

I have no experience yet but I am preparing for one soon and I believe it will be fun. She is my class mate and we are already planning on having a date soon. ENEJO JAMES

STEPHEN OKPANACHI

WeekendBliss UP ON

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

CLOKSEESILVA

MY HUSBAND WAS MAD OVER NASTY COMMENTS ABOUT MY COOKING

Seasoned actress and director, Joke Silva, is one of the most respected thespians in Nollywood. With numerous awards in her kitty, Silva has inspired many talented actors yet she continues to look young and fit for the roles on stage, television and films. The lady of charm and candour speaks to LANRE ODUKOYA.

arried to a veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, their relationship is a model in the industry. Arguably Nollywood most experienced couple, Joke explained what has helped them come this far: “One of the things that have kept us together is respect for each other. Second is forgiveness for each other. I think it’s so key even for the young people who are getting married now. Sometime you hear things like, ‘haaa Mummy Jay, I can never forgive him for what he did to me or no I will never forget it in my life. Fine, you are entitled to your anger, you are entitled to it. Over the years, I have realised that you must forgive each other. When Christ was asked how often does one forgive his brother in the bible? He said 70 times 70 times. It is in marriage that you do that 70 times 70 times. If you don’t learn to forgive each other honestly it’s not going to work because neither of you is perfect. And I think also one of the things that we’ve learnt, we were not always like that, but we’ve learnt over the years to be honest with each other, to be honest about our feelings to each other”. As a star actress married to an equally effervescent actor, Joke, reveals what it’s like at home. Away from the glitz of stardom, back at home, Joke and Olu are just ordinary persons doing what your next door neighbour does daily. “It’s as simple as that. At home I’m simply Joke and not a celebrity. The same goes for Olu.” Three decades and counting yet this couple doesn’t show signs of waning attraction for each other. Probing to know whether or not the bubbly actress does the cooking and other domestic chores like everyone else elicited a response that underscored her unassuming disposition. She was blunt about the truth with regard to her attitude to the chores in the kitchen. The actress made a revelation about her person which is contrary to what many think, especially those who believe that her career may have changed her. “I have never lied about it. I’ve never been the cooking kind of woman. When my husband met me, C o n t i n u e d o n pa g e 1 4

Instyle

Dazzling beaded dress © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

p.17

The Arts

Hospitality

TV & Radio

p.37

p.41

p.33

We want to celebrate everybody in Nigeria —Adinoyi

Jerome's Garden and Suites: Basking in nature’s haven

Journalists' Hangout: Discussing anti-graft war

Close Up

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

'When I'm feeling low, my people stay clear' C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 1 3

he knew. He was the one that used to do the cooking because he was so good at it. I did the cooking when I felt like it, when I just feel like ‘oh, I want to go into the kitchen and cook’. Sometimes it was a huge success and sometimes an abysmal failure. Once during our dating years, I cooked ‘Efo’ and it was drawing. And he was just such as gem, he ate it and it’s not as if my mum didn’t teach me how to cook ‘Efo’. He’s just an amazing man. Yes, we do all the house chores together. We do all the things that you do as a normal family. I think for my husband, he hasn’t had the time to cook; cooking for him is therapy, but it’s not for me. For me it’s a chore. And yet, he will always tell you ‘I look after him so much’. But I do that in other ways. Now of course, we have somebody who does the cooking, I’ve assigned them to cook the way I like. And we have people who do the house chores and the general cleaning. For someone like my mum, cooking for her is a therapy,

keeping the house nice and neat and all that for her is a therapy but no, not me. I remember someone was saying that I was ‘a beautiful decoration’ when they heard that I didn’t like to cook. My husband was so mad and his retort is that: ‘you don’t know half of what this woman contributes to this relationship’. Do you understand? He was really upset. He said all those trying to pigeonhole roles are old fashioned. There are women who love cooking. I have friends who adore cooking. I would sit down and watch them and say: ‘wow!’ Joke might not be the best hand on cuisines, but no one can take away her charm and warmth. That she’s effortlessly cheerful is no praise. Would this be a kind of therapy? It is a well-known fact that as a judge on the popular reality TV show, MTN Project Fame, she’d been criticised for being too emotional. “If you know the kind of mother I have, people who know my mum will say: ‘little wonder!’ That’s how my mother is. But to get a smile out of my late father would be as ‘easy’ as having the camel pass through

For someone like my mum, cooking for her is a therapy, keeping the house nice and neat and all that for her is a therapy but no, not me

the eye of a needle. But my mother was always the smiling one.” But every home has its downside except Joke tells us hers is different. “In my home, when I have my low moment, my people know and they stay clear. But during the low moments, I just found out that by the time I have shouted here and shouted there, I would still go back to God. I just go back to God and lay it on His feet. Once I’ve handed over, and I am not one of those that hand over very easily, I let go. I always believe that I can sort it out. And that’s one of the things my husband doesn’t understand. For him, if there is a situation he just sleeps, but not me. But finally, when I have done the sleepless nights over and over again, I hand over.” Joke also addressed the MTN Project Fame criticism: “I don’t care. That’s their own. I mean you see the growth of these contestants then it gets to the point where you feel that this person is normally so good and at this particular time they just had a bad day and it’s a day when they should go? It’s not as if they are not good enough. It can be very painful.” We resumed discussion on the box office after rounding off the talk on her family and lifestyle. She holds impressive optimism for the movie industry. “Nollywood is doing very well. It’s been celebrated all over the world and Nollywood is in the process of reinventing itself and that is one of the reasons I have never accepted to limit industry to just the past twenty years. I refuse to. I always say that Nollywood is actually a name that was found for the entire film industry. The film industry has had several cycles in its lifespan and one of the cycles was the time of the Ogundes, Ladipos, Ade Loves and then another cycle was when you had the Kenneth

Okonkwo intervention and all that. Another cycle has come again, where you have some people coming with different kinds of films, the Kunle Afolayans, Tunde Kelanis and so on. Each time this cycle comes, it always raises the bar. And which is exactly what we want. So, that’s what I see happening in Nollywood. But Nollywood is in a place now where it needs to solidify its structures. Like the late Amaka Igwe would say, the time for celebration is over. It’s now time to make sure we have the structures in place. And that has been happening”. With over three decades in the Nigerian movie industry, it is only natural to enquire from this veteran what her secret of staying power is. “Wow! God’s amazing grace, allowing me to do a job that I enjoy. Do you understand? Because a lot of times when you are doing a job that you enjoy, you don’t realise that you are working until you get home or you are done for the day and you are exhausted. God’s amazing grace for allowing me to belong to that profession and also having an amazing, amazing husband who belongs to the same profession and who is proud to be an actor, a producer. He’s made me have an extra sense of self-worth for belonging to this industry. And then, it also occurs and I guess that would be God’s gift again, in the sense that, we are in an industry that is beginning to flourish, that is beginning to attract attention from various areas. One of the things that I have discovered in my years as a performer, as a producer, as a mentor for so many of the people who have come into the industry and are now flourishing, is the fact that, we are at the stage where Nigeria celebrates its performers but doesn’t support them with the necessary tool to be able to take it to the level that it should be. It celebrates us, there is no doubt about it, and we celebrate ourselves. Our art form is part of our cultural memory. Without a cultural memory, a people will always make the same mistake over and over again, thinking that they are doing things for the very first time. A cultural memory is important for those who come after us to know what we are like and to have dignity about who they are, that is so key. We do some things as a people because we have not achieved our cultural history. Those are the things that I am saying. It’s beyond money. Money is important, finance is important for us to able to do the kind of things that we want to do. But there are other structures that need to be put in place and our cultural history is part of it.”

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Investigations

The lies, the cover-ups The myth that schools like Queen's College, Lagos, are special appears to have been shattered following the recent allegations of sexual harassment, impropriety and indecent treatment of children by some of its teachers. But, what is more shocking seems to be the action of the management of the school, which tacitly supported its students’ demonstration before proper investigations into the matter commenced. ISIOMA MADIKE, who has been following the story, reports that this may not be the first scandal in the 89-year-old institution

ueen's College, is revered as a Federal Government girl’s secondary (high) school with boarding facilities, situated in Yaba, Lagos State. Established on October 10, 1927, the school is often referred to as the “sister college” of King's College, Lagos. Its alumni comprise doctors, engineers, and lawyers, who live and work all over the world, including the respected first female vice chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Grace Alele Williams. With its motto as “Pass On The Torch”, Queen's College has grown to a population of 3000 students, and staff strength of well over 300 fulltime teachers. It has, over the years, provided education for girls in Nigeria, creating equal gender opportunities in professional fields and allowing them pursue courses in the sciences, medicine, engineering, law, architecture and the arts. Sadly, the beautiful attributes of Queen’s College appears to be tainted by alleged sexual scandals involving some of its teachers and none teachers alike with students in recent times. The most current being the allegation of sexual

Isioma madike

Editor, INVESTIGATIONS isioma.madike@newtelegraphonline.com isiomamadike69@gmail.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

molestation of a junior student of the school by a teacher in the senior class. However, for a small academic community like Queen’s College, it is not difficult to identify a stranger. Little wonder, the visit of Saturday Telegraph to this school on Monday, caused a stir. Staff and students were unusually quiet. But, it was understandable since lots of negative stories have emanated from the compound lately. This may be why a first time visitor to the college has the problem of being mistaken for a security agent or a journalist. The atmosphere partly explained why most staff of the school shy away from questions they consider Seni is what probing and by extension implicating. Ironically, the students also he is, a sexual appear to be under some kind of predator to oath to nurse their pains secretly. The sour story started when vulnerable one Chinenye Okoye, supposedly young girls a parent accused a teacher, Olaseni Osifala, of sexually molesting her daughter, a JSS 2 student of the girls-only school. In a letter which she wrote to some online blogs, she recounted her daughter’s experience with the teacher. According to Okoye, the man, who she said was an Integrated Science teacher, cornered her daughter on her way back from relieving herself just before lights out and assaulted her. “She started screaming and then students started coming out so he left her and pretended to punish her,” she added. But in a swift reaction, the school principal, Lami Amodu, released a statement

Osifala

on Monday, denying the allegations on behalf of Osifala. She stated that the accusation is strange to her as no parent or student has ever reported Osifala to her. Amodu in a statement claimed the allegations were an attempt to ridicule, not just “Mr. Olaseni, but the hard-earned reputation” of Queen's College. “As I talk to you, no single parent has come to me or any of my vice-principals to report Olaseni as a molester. I assure you that if the allegation was true, other parents would have been buzzing our lines non-stop. Personally, even before I resumed, a former principal of King's College had recommended Olaseni as a credible person to work with. His name is Otunba Dele Olapeju. He is a highly respectable man. Let us not forget that Olaseni worked with five different principals, all of who also told me good words about him, despite the various allegations against him. “I have investigated and we are not relenting in our determination to get to the bottom of this case. The man in question has been of impeccable character and committed service since I resumed work here. I can vouch for him. When I resumed work here, I was told a few

unsavoury things about him. But investigations showed that each time a new principal resumed at Queen's College, these allegations popped up. “They would tell every new principal that Mr. Olaseni is a molester. But after investigations, nothing concrete came up. My predecessor, whom we just sent forth today, told me the same thing. So, it has been a recurring decimal, these allegations. We have come to understand that some persons are on a campaign of calumny against this teacher. Yet, he is the best teacher in our school. During World Teachers’ Day, he bagged five awards. The students all have good things to say about him. Somebody somewhere is up to some mischief and we will uncover this unfortunate drama. “When I resumed work as the principal here, I was told of a certain matron who housed a person that had attempted to have an affair with a student. I was not here when it happened but as soon as I was told, I made sure that the matron was moved out of the school premises. I have zero tolerance for such behaviour. I have a daughter who schools here, even before I began work here. I will not take chances.” C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 1 6

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Allegations not unfounded – Old girls

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

The principal is not alone in Osifala’s defence. The chairperson of the school’s Parents-Teachers Association, Beatrice Akhetuamen, also said the claims were an attempt to disgrace their beloved teacher. “I have two daughters schooling here,” she said. “After six years in the school, I should be able to trust them to intimate me about things that happen in the school, especially when I ask. They have made it clear to me, no such thing occurred. Meanwhile, no parent has called me to make any such allegation against the teacher in question and I find it very strange. There is a policy against use of phones in the college but we hear rumours that some students smuggle in phones. “Do you imagine that such students would not have called their parents with the gist? And for all this time that the event allegedly occurred (one month now) do you think that no parent would have raised eyebrows? When I asked my daughter about this story, she said she only started hearing about it today. I am an Edo woman; I speak from my heart because I fear only God. Even if I face anybody now, I can defend him (Olaseni) authoritatively. I have always recommended him to every principal that was posted here.” Aside the principal and the PTA chairperson, the students of the college, on Monday were seen in the rain, carrying placards in their uniform protesting that Osifala is innocent of the allegations levelled against him. They even berated the media for casting aspersions on their ‘darling’ biology teacher. Almost immediately, an anonymous reaction filtered in, condemning the students’ action. “What nonsense? It is obvious this is staged-managed. Who gave the students placards? Did they buy it themselves? The leadership of the school should be severely punished if not sacked. Honestly, it is better to err on the side of caution than sorry.” In like manner, a non-governmental organisation, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, also accused the college of sponsoring the Monday protest in defence of the teacher by the school. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, she raised some questions, saying the school did not get the permission of the parents before taking the pupils to the streets. Meanwhile, the embattled teacher in his reaction said, “This is a fiction; this must be from my hater. It is a share jealous. I don’t live in the school compound, I don’t drink and I don’t teach junior school. Please disregard this dubious story.” Yet, all of these have raised unanswered questions. Many are not comfortable with the way and manner the principal of the college, as well as the PTA committee hurriedly cleared Osifala of any wrongdoing, despite the several testimonies from different quarters about his alleged womanising proclivities. It is also puzzling that the principal who chose an online portal to defend her teacher would turn around to decline speaking with the traditional media on the issue, hiding under civil service rule. However, the claim by the parent who raised the alarm over the issue, that the man

The allegations were an attempt to ridicule, not just Mr. Olaseni, but the hardearned reputation of Queens College IGP, Solomon Arase

teaches Integrated Science instead of Biology, threw up the question of untidiness in the whole saga. Though, some conflicting discrepancies, seems to have somehow been resolved. One of such is the testimonial of the Senior Boarding House Mistress, D. A. Oludinmu, who admitted that Oshifala “comes around the hostel because he is the hostel maintenance officer. “But there is a procedure for that. He never comes without the permission of the principal and even during emergencies, he does not come alone. The principal still has to permit him, and he always comes with the maintenance boys. He does not come to the hostel outside working hours. I can vouch for him,” she said. Meanwhile, Saturday Telegraph investigations have revealed that contrary to opinions of the school authorities, the allegations against Osifala date back to 2005. Aside that it was equally discovered that some male staff live within the hostel areas.

Serene ambians of the school

Amodu

Testimonies These findings are in tandem with some testimonies of students both past and present who spoke to our undercover reporter on condition of anonymity. According to one of them, “there is nothing that I witnessed first-hand but girls always talked about it. At least, I know he was always using inappropriate language in his classes. There were these strange ways he looked at girls and most of them tried to avoid him. I had never been close to him often enough. “I have two girls that spoke about him harassing them but nobody liked to talk so much about it because of the fear of being reported to the school authorities. There was a time he had some girls he was helping out of school, one of them said the man was always giving her money. Even if this particular case is not true, he has always had issues like this on his neck. I believe strongly that he’s capable of doing what

he’s alleged to have perpetrated.” Another, who identified herself simply as Tomi, said, “he is well known for this kind of thing. The complaints have been coming for a long time, since when I was in junior classes. It’s a pity nobody has the courage to speak out publicly. Everybody is afraid of the consequences.” An alumni of the school also said, “I believe every word in this story. I was once a student in Queen's College and I remember the biology teacher. So, he's still continuing with his ways? I know how many of my class girls he harassed. He even tried to kiss one of us in front of everyone in class. He claimed he was trying to explain a biological concept. The man even cornered one of my classmates in the toilet and tried to handle her but she escaped. Most QC girls know about the man's ways. “I'm so disappointed but I'm not surprised. There was a time men were sneakCONTINUED ON PAGE 41

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26 MARCH 2016

Instyle 17

Dazzling beaded dress

Deborah Makoji

hether you’re going to a cocktail party or any other formal party, you can’t go wrong in bead embellished dress. Beaded dress is an elaborate attire that can instantly transform your look

into a g l a m o ro u s one. Embellishing a dress with beads adds a sparkle and richness that looks and feels elegant. The idea of sewing jewels, pearls, silver and beads onto a garment is an old one that was practised long before the renaissance and it is making a serious come back as fashion lovers are now ‘slaying’ the trend. The design, colour, size, shape of beads, how and where the beads are placed are factors to consider when buying dresses that are embellished with beads. Apart from adding weight to a dress, beads will enhance the overall design and look of the attire. A simple geometric pattern that highlights the beads such as diamond, square or circular patterns looks elegant. Using only beads gives an elegant look to a garment, but beads can also be used with embroidery, trim or

couching. It’s all about creativity. B e a u t i f u l clothes are just fun, and elaborate, detailed pieces like beaded dresses are great because of the way they accentuate all body size.

Tips Accessorising beaded dresses is so easy, as you have a bit more freedom than if they were sequin because beads produce less sparkle and shine. Beads are usually used to embellish only a part of the fabric and are incorporated into the design of the dresses in order to accentuate a particular aspect of the piece but don’t be afraid go for an all beaded dress like Mercy Aigbe did with her AMVCA dress. Beaded dresses are non-conformist, they are appropriate for both formal and casual events. Keep makeup subtle because the dress is already a statement. Finish the look with either beaded or metallic clutch.

18 Instyle

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26 MARCH 2016

Acc e s s o r i e s to l i v e f o r

Sway for extra J statement with chandelier earrings

Deborah Makoji ewellery is the perfect way to bring life to an outfit and enhance your best features. What better way to do so than to complete your look with a bold, striking and attention-grabbing piece of statement jewellery like chandelier earrings? Chandelier earrings in themselves create a pretty dressed up look and they never go out of style, so don’t be surprised if your mum, you and the little girl next door are wearing the same sort of earrings. Chandelier earrings are one of those fashion classics that every woman should live for. They get their name from the long dangling chandelier lamps which light up the atmosphere around it at one flash. They are with many long, dangling chains, beads, or pieces. Chandelier earrings offer a feminine yet beautiful accessory to your outfit. By wearing one, it will turn a simple outfit into a luxurious one. You can find a variety of styles and gemstones used for making them, which makes it flexible no matter what your taste, style or specific look you are aiming for.

Tips • If you have a thin face, balance it out with broader earrings in exactly the opposite way and don’t wear earrings that fall too far below your jaw line otherwise it just seems disproportionate • You can pick a glittery dress to go with your chandelier earrings. • Chandelier earrings also go well with shorts. If you can, you may even match the colour of your earrings with the shorts for added dash of flash; keep top simple and basic. • Choose bold colours to wear for a formal or evening soiree and accentuate the use of chandelier earrings with classic pumps and a clutch. • You could wear a matching bracelet or a ring at the most. However, definitely avoid a neckpiece at all costs otherwise you look a little too much like a Christmas tree. • Wearing chunky necklace with flashy earrings will be an overdose of bling; focus the attention on the beautiful earrings instead.

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26 MARCH 2016

MY STYLE

Instyle 19

Tasteful but not overdone Omobola Adeosun is a beautician and the creative director of Leelah Cosmetics. In this interview with DEBORAH MAKOJI, the beautiful mother of one talks about her fashion philosophy, tips on makeup and sundry issues.

What is your fashion sense? Anything that is of good quality is fashionable to me. I spend a fortune to look good but I can’t really go out of my way to do that. If I see anything that I like but can’t afford it, I simply take my eyes off it but the truth is, I love looking good. What determines the kind of outfits you wear? The most important thing for me is that the outfits must be decent and not tend towards promiscuity. I dress based on my mood; I don’t wear clothes that are too revealing but that does not mean I don’t dress nice. Do you consider any fashion item indispensable? May be shoes but there is nothing I can’t let go. What kind of shoes appeal to you most? All shoes hold special appeal for me; it could be high heel, footwear or flats. I wear all kinds of shoes but they must be nice. While shopping, which fashion item catches your fancy quickest? Shoes and dresses How easily do you get your fashion

items in Nigeria? Very easily. I buy my fashion items anywhere. The only thing I look out for is quality; I don’t mind where, provided it’s of high quality. Is that to say you are not label freak? I look at labels but I don’t buy based on labels rather on quality. When it comes to fashion, would you say your physique works to your advantage? Sure! I am a size 8; I am not big at all even after having a child. My size works to my advantage because it is very easy for me to see things that flatter my body. What will you never be caught wearing? You cannot see me wearing clothes that reveal my body unnecessarily. How do you love your makeup? I am not really a makeup freak. I don’t wear makeup, I feel I look great without it. As a beautician that does not like makeup, how do you communicate to your clients? Maybe it’s because I know the dos and don’ts of makeup, it takes me time to makeup because I will want to do everything professionally. So I avoid it in

other to save my time but that is not to say I don’t wear it once in a while. There are different makeups for different events but many abuse that in Nigeria. How do you love your hairdo? Right now my hair is on transition but I love braiding my hair. Is there any jewellery that appeals to you most? I love simple jewellery. What informed your decision to go into cosmetics? Beautifying people is something I have always wanted to do. I like transforming people to look great and that is the major thing that drove me into cosmetics business. The market seems saturated already, what are you doing that is different from others in the business? There is nothing so different, it is more of individual marketing strategy and the way you package yourself. One unique thing about cosmetics, is that you don’t need to push too hard to get customers since it’s something that people use on a daily basis. Many ladies nowadays prefer to look good than to eat, so they will spare nothing when it comes to looking good.

Beauty

Homemade recipes for bridal glow Deborah Makoji

Adeosun

Facts Former New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia popularised the modernday thong. He introduced it in 1939 to make New York City’s nude dancers cover up a little bit.

It was Mark Twain that invented and patented bra-strap clasp.

Up until around 1910, it was totally common for little boys to wear dresses until they were around five or six.

Jeans was named after Genoan sailors from Genoa, Italy, who popularised wearing the material.

on’t allow the high price in consumer goods and the nation’s poor economy take your attention away from what you need to do as you prepare for both your big day and Easter celebration. Your wedding day is one of the most important days in your life. There are a hundred things that need to be done. But most important of all, you have to look beautiful! So calm down, drop the stress and get into this beauty routine. The skin protects us from the elements and pollution; we all want to look our best, but it can be challenging in our hectic world to protect our skin as it protects us. For brides who wish to look gorgeous, there are certain extra things that

you can do from the comfort of your home to get that extra bridal glow. Just because you are going to be a bride does not free you from your daily juggling of work and other regular stuffs, so you need something simple and useful that will help you transform into a gorgeous bride. Avocado Avocado will give you the most required healthy glow that the brides yearn for. Take a ripe avocado along with two teaspoons of yogurt and add a few drops of lemon juice into it. Mix it all well and apply it on the face and wash it off with cold water. Use this mask regularly to get the desired glow. Honey Honey adds that extra moisture to your skin and thus adds a clear natural glow to your skin. Take a spoon of honey and add one spoon of un-boiled milk and mix well. Apply this on the face, neck as well as hands and legs. Leave for 20 minutes and then wash it off. Yogurt Yogurt can remove the tan and make your skin even, follow this simple treatment regularly to get rid of the tan. Take one spoon of yogurt, add one spoon of lime juice into it and half spoon of honey. Mix well and apply it on the face, neck and body and leave it for 20 minutes and then wash it off.

20 Interiors

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26 MARCH 2016

Creative ways to decorate rooms that lack space

Deborah Makoji

s we prepare for the rising of Christ from death (Easter), giving your home a facelift is important and there is no doubt that decorating a small room poses unique challenges for every designer. With a certain level of creativity, you can win the war and make the most out of your less-than-large space. You can create the illusion that will make small space appear large in a long living room by breaking down the space such as creating three separate seating areas with pieces of furniture that are small in scale. There are so many ways to decorate a small room to create the impression that the room is bigger. A soft, light colour running throughout a small house fades away to let the focus remain on the sweeping views outside the living room windows. A lack of artwork on the walls also keeps the space from feeling closed and cramped. When you are dealing with small space, opt for furniture that suits a smaller space, like petite round table. Even traditionally bulky pieces, such as upholstered club chairs, come in narrower widths these days, so you can get the same look without cramming in your furnishings. In a small master bedroom, make a big statement with one large piece of furniture,

like the dramatic four-poster bed. Playing with scale in this way, the eye will think the room is bigger than it actually is. Make every inch of a small home count with these inventive design ideas, creative organisation tips, and decorating strategies

TIPS

Use light colours on the walls and floor, softer hues can make a cramped room feel bigger and brighter. Place a mirror opposite a window and it will bounce light around the room, making the space feel airier. The bigger the mirror, the better. A shimmery lamp, light fixture, or object will have a similar effect as a mirror, reflecting light and brightening up a space. Install floating shelves, they offer storage space without the bulkiness of chests and bookcases. You can even swap out your nightstands for floating shelves. Installing curtain rods a few inches below the ceiling instead of right above the window frame will draw the eye upward and make windows seem taller. Curtains that blend with the walls create an unbroken line, making a room feel much larger, so match your curtain colour to your walls. Paint a small bedroom in a cheerful hue to make an impact. Wish you happy Easter celebration.

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26 MARCH 2016

Mildred Okwo I cry when I watch movies

p.22

Showbiz

Tonto Dikeh Why I parted ways with D’banj p.35

IBINABO FIBERESIMA

A QUEEN'S BATTLE AGAINST MANY ODDS Former president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberisima, needs all the strength she can muster to walk out unscathed from the web of troubles she is mired in. LANRE ODUKOYA recounts the travails and hopes of the beleaguered actress.

Road to jail n a split second, everything had happened. One car had been rammed by a sport utility vehicle and an ex-beauty queen was reportedly in coma while a medical director of a general hospital in Lagos writhed in pain and struggled to stay alive. According to a source, that was all Ibinabo Fiberesima could recall in a recent visit to her at the Kirikiri Female Prison in Lagos. “It was like using the switch to light up a room and turning it off in seconds. It happened too fast,” she told her guests at the reception of the correctional facility. The vehicle she drove in the accident that claimed the life of Dr. Suraj Giwa 11 years ago belonged to her friend, former singer, Daniel Wilson. So, the Department of Public Prosecution, Lagos Division, took up the matter which ended at the Court of Appeal, Lagos, where Fiberesima would later get her five-year jail term for reckless driving resulting in the death of the doctor. And since March 11 when the verdict was pronounced, life hasn’t been the same for the vivacious lady who broke down in tears in the courtroom. Life in prison Our source gave a vivid description of the facility, entrance is well manned by courteous male guards with rifles. Although a female prison, perhaps for security reasons and requiring the strength of men, the facility had no other male staff in sight aside from the men at the entrance. You’re required to submit yourself to a search by the ladies in uniform who check you in after dropping every gadget on you at the entrance. That way, unapproved surveillances and recordings are excluded. Then you are ushered into hostels of ladies serving terms and those awaiting trial. A flurry of activities handled by the convivial Prince Eze Madumere of Afternoon Sit-Out makes you feel you’re only around to see your ward in her hostel. Fiberesima was brought to the reception opposite this place, in her black jean trousers and dotted long sleeve shirt rolled to the elbow on a pair of jelly slippers. She was full of smile as she welcomed her guests. No wrinkles, no black spots, her face still as fresh and fair as her days before the ordeal. A bespectacled lady hugged her and behind her glasses flowed painful tears. “No, don’t cry. As you can see, I’m strong now. You know me na. I have taken everything in good faith,” Fiberesima was said to have interjected. She narrated how a colleague and friend, Patience Ozokwor a.k.a. Mama Gee, had visited earlier. “She broke down here and was crying. She said, IB, you’re a good woman, this shouldn’t be happening to you. I told her that I give God the glory. The kinds of stories I hear from some inmates here have made me to be grateful in everything.” We gathered reliably that some of those who visited are top comedians, Yibo Koko and Bovi. Her friend, Charles Novia, had earlier posted an article online commenting on the visitors she receives. "High profile visits have already been carried out to Kirikiri to reassure Ibinabo by over fifty celebrities on Sunday, March 13." In fact, Chief Zebrudaya of the New Masquerade fame would be visiting tomorrow. She doesn’t know how the prison food tastes because she doesn’t eat it. They bring her food

from home and she just asked some of the friends she’d made there, “where is my food na? I neva chop since.” Where she lives now, friends bring her consolation; unintentionally, they even make comments that move her to tears as strong as she thinks she has become. The ex-beauty queen is tired of all the strife in the outside world, even the April 7 date to hear her bail application isn’t enough to cheer her. Torrents of goodwill Further checks from informed sources revealed that many individuals and NGOs, most of whom are even unknown to Fiberesima throng the prison in solidarity. That camaraderie humbles the delectable mother of five. During one of the visits, she felt so loved and proud. And the overwhelming excitement reflects in her tone, “one NGO even came here and dropped N100,000. I don’t know them. They just came and showed their sympathy. They said the battle is no longer yours from now, it’s ours,” according to the source. She ranks today as the most visited person at the facility and that singular feat shapes what manner of treatment she gets from fellow inmates. Likely role of politics in the saga A likely causalty factor that needs some interrogation is the prolonged battle for the presidency of the AGN. She had been in and out of court against Emeka Ike who finally got a ruling confirming him as the new president of the guild. The ruling came days after her sentence was handed out. It bears recalling that Fiberesima led Nollywood to drum support for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan to power, got a board appointment during his reign while the national secretariat of the AGN is cited in Lagos, an All Progressives Congress (APC) state. It’s in this connection that a respected industry player who prefers to comment anonymously insists that: “her matter is political and she should have sensed there could be trouble immediately Jonathan lost. Well, the poor lady thought the matter had been laid to rest before its sudden resurrection.” Efforts to get freedom Given this knowledge, concerted efforts are being made to access the powers that be in the ruling party. Sources further insist that this explains why a delegation from Nollywood was sent to plead with the Oba of Lagos, Ridwan Akiolu. This delegation was to meet the monarch last Wednesday, March 23. Ostensibly, the final destination is Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, believed to be the only man with the wherewithal to calm the storm in Fiberesima’s life. The final hurdle and her last hope is the Supreme Court and her sympathisers believe it’s not over until it’s over. After the judgment, Fiberesima’s friend of over 15 years, Charles Novia, who posted an article recently, claims that he has an eye witness’ account. “My name is De Gaulle (surname protected by me) You see, I’m ready to come out to testify or say whatever happened that night of the accident because it happened in my presence. I witnessed it and saw everything. We were many who saw what happened that evening and I assumed that others might have told the world what really

went down, but I’m surprised to read so many untrue things about what happened at the scene of the accident that evening,” the post partly reads. Chances are that Fiberesima may yet walk out of the gloom encircling her if the man makes good his promise to testify at the apex court. Other hurdles to scale Something seems to be wrong on all fronts for this lady of charm. As many worry about her jail term, unknown to them, there are more trials scarring her heart. The source continues, right there at the reception of the prison, just as she tried to express submission to God’s will in the matter that landed her in jail, fresh thoughts of other issues to deal with if she manages to extricate herself from the current dilemma confront her. Chief of them is her marriage. Speculations are rife that her marriage to Uche Egbuka which had barely lasted a year has hit the rock. “She’s worried that even if she is set free today, she’d still come out to face the issue of divorce. How many troubles can this lady handle at a time? She wants all the mess to be in the public domain at the same time so that the world would know about them and forget about all at the same time. She doesn’t want to be in the news serially for the wrong reasons. IB is a very kindhearted lady. She’s just unlucky a lot of time. She laid bare the truths about the marriage to her friends and how much she had tried to save it,” another insider confirms. There’s yet a N10.8m fine waiting for her to pay. Sometime in February, Justice Adolphus Enebeli of a High Court in Port Harcourt, ordered Fiberesima who owns AMC product Nigeria limited to pay damages to ‘Miss Earth’ 2011/12, Monachi Chineye, for seizing her crown and other entitlements after winning the contest. He ordered that the sum of N10.8m be awarded to the applicant, Miss Earth Nigeria 2011/2012 as damages. It looks like there is no end to the travails of this former beauty queen. Whether she would come out of it all with her head held high is a puzzle only time will unravel.

Fiberesima

22 Showbiz What was the reaction of your parents when you wanted to quit law? I don’t know and I didn’t ask. I was a grown up woman when I made the decision; I was not 18-year-old. When you are an adult, you get to do whatever you want to do with your life. I cannot tell you what their reaction was, but I know that they have supported me in my choices. My father bought me my first video camera during my first year at the University of Benin. Was there a time you regretted leaving law? I was making a lot of money as a lawyer, so adjusting to being a filmmaker in Nigeria was tough but I knew I was laying down foundation for something better. My outlook in life is that you must do the things you enjoy doing and I feel life is too short not to do that. This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy practicing law, but I find filmmaking much more challenging and enjoyable. I look at lawyers now and I wonder how they do it and I am certain as well that lawyers wonder how we do what we do too. You just have to do the things you love and when you do it well, you would earn money from it. How were you able to stand tall in the field dominated by men? Right now, I think there are so many women who are producers and even female directors are coming up as well. But I agree with you that filmmaking is dominated by men. It was something I never really thought of while coming into the industry. I just saw what I wanted to do and I did it. I wanted to study law and I did it. I didn’t look around for women or men; I just went about trying to be the best I could be. When I was studying law in the United States, most times, we were always only two or three black people in a room of about 100 white and I never really cared. So men dominating the industry meant nothing to me. I just went about the business of getting films made. How did you find yourself in the movie industry? I didn’t find myself in the movie industry. I intentionally made the decision to become a filmmaker. It was not by chance at all. I was practicing law in Los Angeles for a long time; I lived there for 21 years. While I was there I was watching the home industry and paying attention to what was going on. So when the opportunity presented itself, I moved back to work in the industry. My first film was ‘30 Days’ in 2006, which I co-produced with Ego Boyo. When did you have your break? I think this question is for people who came around and were waiting for opportunities. I meant people who came in with nothing; they were just waiting for that one chance. I didn’t

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26 MARCH 2016

'I cry when I watch movies' The name Mildred Okwo may not ring a bell to an average Nigerian, but the lawyer-turned-filmmaker is well respected in Nollywood. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, the award-winning director, producer and screenwriter speaks about her rise and Nollywood.

Okwo

come into the industry like that. I moved back to Nigeria to be part of the industry and co-produced my first film. I don’t think the question relates to my own experience and journey. What were the challenges during the early days? The thing I noticed was that the industry was very tight and not too open to new ways of doing things. They are often suspicious of new people coming to take over so to say. This is why new filmmakers come in and ignore the establishment. When I came in, I initially wanted to mix up and be part of the movement but I met stiff opposition to my ideas. So I just went about doing my own thing. However, once you can show success and that you want only good for the industry, they welcome you with open arms. There are no real structures in Nollywood as is obtainable in other places; I am talking about when I came back in 2006. Nollywood was popular but had no structures and we are still struggling with that. People need to talk or collaborate more for us to have a better film industry. Even when we have differences, we should be able to talk through it and continue to work. We don’t do that in this industry and it is a big challenge. Was there a time you wanted to give up? If you meant give up on the indus-

try, there was no time I felt like that really. I like to see things till the end and I enjoy what I am doing. Giving up is like giving up on my life; you give up on things you are not really passionate about. This is what I love doing and there is no giving up no matter what the challenges are. One does have bad days where one wished one was doing something different. Just a few days ago, I had a bad day where I felt the people didn’t just understand things. It is just a momentary thing, but you just have to look for a way to get things running again. Don’t you think actors take all the shine from directors and producers? It is the nature of the job; the actors are the products. Nobody knows who owns peak milk or coca cola; people just like the products. Once they like and believe your actors, you have obviously done your part. In Nigeria, I have noticed that many producers and directors are clamouring to be known like actors. I think it is the nature of our society that pushes them to do that. We only appreciate noisemakers. When you are a good director in developed countries, people know it and it doesn’t necessarily have to be people outside the industry. I feel actors should take all the glory because everything we do is to push

A FAN DID TO ME

RAS KIMONO

hile I was performing a lady came to the stage, hugged me and bite me on my neck. I was screaming but people thought I was enjoying the whole thing. They thought it was a kiss. I was freed when security operatives came and pull her away. It was crazy. Be-

fore I got back to my hotel room she was already there waiting for me. I said to myself that ‘this girl must be a witch for her to know where I was sleeping’. I can never forget the experience. In Italy too, I met some ladies who asked me to sign autographs on their breasts.

them to the forefront. I am happy with my anonymity. If a director wants to be adored by people, they should act. When was the last time you cried? I cry quite a bit, I even cry when I watch movies. The last time I cried really was when I lost my cousin (Scholar) some months ago. I also cried bitterly when I lost my aunt (aunty Ann) towards the end of last year. Those two loses made me cry. Have you ever thought of being in front of the camera? Never! The last time I act was on stage in school; my first degree was in theatre arts. Even then, I didn’t enjoy being an actor. I always saw myself as a director or choreographer or in other capacities behind the scenes. That is why I never pursued a career in acting; I don’t think it is something I would ever pursue. But anything is possible in this Nollywood of ours. They may be looking for someone for a ‘waka pass’ role, so don’t be surprised when you see me one day. You co-own an entertainment company with Rita Dominic; how would you describe working with her? Rita and I own the Audrey Silva Company, a full service entertainment company. We plan to diversify into many things; it is not just about making feature films. We have a 10-year plan and many things in the pipeline but we are doing them stage-by-stage. It is lovely working with Rita. She is like a sister considering the fact that her country home is not far from my mother’s village in Mbaise. Everyone has their differences but you get to work them out as long as there's unity of purpose and like minds. What other things do you? The things I do in film are enough already. I write, I produce, I direct and I also manage careers. I try to avoid doing much more because filmmaking is a jealous master; you have to pay a very close attention to the craft. Once in a while as a true Nigerian a contract or two may come my way. If it is something I can do and make a lot of money without distracting me from my normal duty, I do it. I like doing things to the best of my ability, so you won't find me doing things I don't know how to do.

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26 MARCH 2016

CHIN OKEKE

Why I’m passionate about entertainment Chin Okeke is the brain behind the annual Gidi Culture Festival, which takes place today at the Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The founder of Eclipse Live Africa speaks with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS.

What are the expectations for today’s festival? A lot of fun, I just left the site. There would be great music and a relaxed atmosphere for fun lovers. The gate opens from 12pm and from 1pm there is a breach soccer event where celebrity team plays against the fan team. We would also have volleyball tournament where we would have a celebrity team against the fan. The volleyball is sponsored by Red bull while soccer is sponsored by Pepsi. The main stage opens at 4:30pm and we have lined up back-to-back performances from Nigerian finest musicians like Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, D’Banj, Phyno, Timaya and a host others. We have artistes from South Africa too. The only artiste that is not showing up is Davido. We have signed contracts with all artistes and they’ve been sorted. You must have seen them promoting the concert on their social media pages too. Aside from the fact that we are doing things rightly, we also have personal rapport with them and their managers. For Davido, he had to be in America; we all know he just signed a record with Sony Music. Were there challenges putting this third edition together? With the current economy, we couldn’t book all the international artistes we wanted for the show. Last year, we had artistes from Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana, among others. We are only bringing artistes from South Africa this year. Was there a time you got frustrated and wanted to quit? There will always be situations l i k e that. At least, once this week I had woken up and thought over it. But anytime I question whether all the efforts are worth it or not, there are people around who encourage me to keep going. There are times you need people to remind you the importance of what you are doing. But sometimes people don’t get it and they make things very difficult for you.

Okeke

Why are you so passionate about this? I grew up as a musician. I played the drums and piano. I have always been passionate about music and developing the

industry since I know how much potential and talent we have. I have been fortunate to travel around the world and I have always wanted to change the way people view our country and culture. I desire to tell our story in our own way and Gidi Culture Festival is the representative of the progression of the urban youth culture of the continent. There are many people looking into Nigeria and this is one of the platforms I have created to sell the country. Are there plans to take the festival around? Our initial plan is Africa; we wanted to do Africa, Ghana and Kenya but we later changed our focus to Nigeria alone. So we are looking at Port Harcourt, Abuja, Benin; we are looking at cities where there is high demand for this. Why didn’t you pursue music as a career? Music is just a hobby; I played the piano for almost 15 years. I played the drums too and I used to sing. While I was studying in England, I was into events. I started promoting events from the age of 16. Organising events and putting things together are things I have always enjoyed doing. There are so many things I can choose to go professional with, but I choose this. I am a lawyer as well, I used to swim for England; so there are many thigs I could have done and I am not saying I won’t do those things again. I just have to choose one and this is what I settled for. I feel that my business acumen and ability is stronger than pursuing a solo career. My ability is to be able to create and empower more people around me. How far did you go with swimming in England? I didn’t swim at the national level, but I did at the state level. I only swim for fun now. What is your concern for the industry? My concern is having an industry without a foundation or infrastructure. Because of social media and many more, a lot of importance is given to the wrong aspect of music business as opposed to the real thing. People place importance on having high followers on Facebook and Instagram than having a structure. The industry is more of an advertising agency than a music business. If you are not generating money through music itself, then you are doing music. How much have you made from tickets? I cannot really say the exact number but I know it is about a thousand. We reconcile every week; we have six agents in five universities and we have agents in different malls too. But we expect an increase in sales this week because people like to buy tickets few days to the event. Though there are sponsors for the festival, we look to generate revenue from tickets, food, beverages and our content. We’ve built our own ticketing platform since we know Nigerians don’t have the culture of buying tickets in advance. How many tickets did you sell last year? We had about 4,000 people but most of the tickets were sold at the venue of the event. We introduced the ticketing platform 10 days or so to the event. How about security? Safety security is paramount for us. We work closely with Lagos State in every project we do through the tourism and sports commissions. We work with the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Navy, Eko Atlantic security and our private security. We have ambulances on sight too as well as the officials of the Lasgos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

Showbiz 23

O u t &A b o u t

Lagos Grill and Barbecue Festival

The second edition of the Lagos Grill and Barbecue Festival holds today at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria

the Island, Lagos. Official vendors for the 2016 Lagos Grill Festival include: Grills in and out, Islander Bbq, Sean Barbecue, Grind Grill, Lala’s Grill, Kmac Grill, Delicioso Mobile Chefs, Ginger Topas & Grill, Roadstar burgers, Ready Steady bbq, Zee3three bbq, buctchers bbq, Urban Fuxion and more. Entertainment will be top notch as the intensity will be high throughout the duration of the event. Artistes scheduled to perform include: Jesse Jagz, Eclipse, Attitude, Fefe , classiq , Kach , Tonye Garrick, Attitude ,YungL, Simi, Emmebangz and Falz, who returns as the host of the event after the maiden edition. Chief Coordinator of the event, Francis Ebie, informed that they had put together a once in a lifetime experience for Lagosians and tourists. He said: “We paid attention to detail, and improved on the last edition. I strongly believe we have a show-stopper on our hands. I can’t wait for everyone to witness what we have lined up for Easter Sunday. Monitoring and observing the different ways the barbecue festivals are done in different countries of the world, and implementing the best experience, infusing it with our own culture and ways of doing things will make this year’s event even better. One of our major objectives is to nurture this event to international standard, considering the huge tourism potentials this event can attract to the host cities.”

Nolly Awards for May 1st The Nolly Awards 2016 is set to take place on 1 May at the Land Mark Event Centre, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. Countdown to the event will be preceded by an exclusive nominees unveiling ceremony to be broadcasted live to a television audience. The countdown campaign has already begun through all media sponsors alongside a number of media collaborations added to the reach.

West Africa Fashion Awards holds today The West Africa Fashion Awards (WAFA) is set to recognise incredible talent and celebrates the excellence and creativity in Nigeria today. The President of the WAFA, Adewole Olanrewaju, said: “We are incredibly excited about this year’s West Africa Fashion Awards; this annual event is fast becoming one of the highlights of the global fashion calendar. The award recognises the incredible talent we are so fortunate to work with and celebrates the excellence and creativity within our industry both at home and abroad. ” Event starts at 4:30pm with red carpet arrivals, the VIP reception and media opportunities. Guests will be seated at 5:30pm, and the awards show begins promptly at 6:00pm.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Social Media Craze

Trending

Gist

Photos Controversies

With OLUSHOLA RICKETTS

You are all ‘fake’ people,

Annie Idibia goes naughty at wedding anniversary

Lepacious Bose calls out colleagues over Nomoreloss’ death

hough Nomoreloss is gone and he would be put to rest on April 1, comedienne, Lepacious Bose, has taken to her Instagram page to lambast ‘fake’ friends who have been praising the singer since he passed away on Monday. According to the comic act, some of their colleagues who are singing praises after Nomoreloss’ demise didn’t show any care while the singer was battling with illness. She fumed: “Ok so Normoloss is gone! Painful but more painful is all these social media downloaded pictures everywhere. Yes downloaded because most of you don’t have real pictures of him. He was never on your contact list neither did you have his phone number. Where were you all when he was sick, dying of pain and depression? Oh yeah some of you will say ‘I never

knew/heard.’ That’s crap! His last post on Instagram was 13 weeks ago. Did you try to find out why? Did he change DP on BBM or Whatsapp? Some fake ass pple putting his name on DP now didn’t put his picture up on his birthday oooo. Now he is dead, they are putting his picture up. Calling him prolific music writer, why didn’t you ever pay him to write for you? Calling him a great performer, when was the last time any of you paid him to perform at shows? Where were you all when Muyiwa’s career went down? You fake ass friends avoided him like a plague cause you thought he was no longer a relevant artiste. Today you are celebrating a dead man we could have saved, a lovable guy that championed the crusade to save the life of another artiste went off the radar and no one noticed. Msheeeeeeeeew! You guys never celebrate the living. Once a celebrity becomes ‘irrelevant ‘ you pack them. Reading some comments and remarks about Nomoreloss you will know most pple didn’t know him. They had no relationship with him; they are just doing follow follow to look like they care. Muyiwa you were a great man, you will never watch another go through what you went through. You are gone now let the conscience of those of us alive judge us. God bless all the good friends that stood by you, may early death not be their portion. Good night Muyiwa.”

Lepacious Bose

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives suspended its rules to permit the entry of Ayodele Dada, Nigeria's CGPA record breaker into the hallowed chambers of the House for the purpose of holding a commendation session in his honour, a rare privilege. Photo: Facebook

nnie Idibia on her Instagram has showed ladies how to get naughty with their husbands. While celebrating their third wedding anniversary on Wednesday, she reposted a video, which demonstrated

her twerking to Rihanna's song ‘Work’ while her hubby kept laughing. Her manager Naomi Adenuga who originally posted the video said: “Happy wedding anniversary to my faves. Never a dull moment, never not loving, never not caring, never not sharing, never not standing by one another. I learn from you both everyday and see how your love continues to grow. And that's why I will never settle for less than this crazy, passionate, sexy, goose bumps giving, candle burning strong in the midst of a tsunami true love. Your life and love is a testimony. Annie - Superwoman to her superman. Inno - Superman to his superwoman. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder! You will grow old and gray together. Amen. Happy anniversary Inno, Annie and her alter ego Vivica.”

A word of advice to P-Square

he war in the Okoye’s family (P-Square) has attracted huge attention from fans, loved ones and colleagues in the music industry. Just like P-Square, the singing twins, Mamuzee, also shared their concerns on Wednesday in an open letter through their Instagram page. With a photo taken alongside Peter and Paul, the brothers wrote: “Today, we speak about our fears and worries for our brothers from another mother Psquare. Every time people see us it has now become a cat phrase…Mamuzee una self go soon break up, Mamuzee make una nor let money or woman break una like Psquare ooh! Comedians now make an emotionally disturbing story like this a mockery and a big joke to sell how funny they are. We have become a laughing stock, a topic of joke, fun and games for the world to laugh at because our brothers, friends and fellow twin fail to see the big picture. This fight is not about who is right or wrong or about who is better or worse, or who is Peter or Paul but about PSquare, their love for each other, their bond, their oneness as twins with the same umbilical cord, their faith, their hope, their immediate family and finally their case and problem as a case study to judge all twins. They fail to understand that it became a twin’s affair when God found them worthy to bless them together as twins and not Peter or Paul but P-Square. My dearest brothers all these unhealthy talks and thoughts

PSquare and Mamuzee Twins

must be put to a stop now or else u guys will sell the love and bound between u guys to the devil at a very cheap price. U guys will distribute your wealth and fame in the ocean of disgrace, u guys will subject your children and your parents memory to shame. In all, know this fact that sometimes in life u don’t always have to think u are right or feel u are perfect or need a plan. U just breath, trust God, let go and see what happens. We have always believed that it’s better to be a king with your silence than a slave with your words. Today we speak not as fellow musicians or friends, but as twins and brothers that we are. Nobody needs to call heaven to remind your parents about who is right or wrong cause the last time we checked Mr. and Mrs. Okoye was and is proud about their twin sons and their achievements. Heaven knows how we feel about this and how it has given us and all proud twins sleepless nights. Please my brothers and friends we love and plead with u both to put a stop to this and forget about everything and remember who u guys are Twin.” Though Okoye brothers had apparently put an end to their disputes, which lasted for almost a month, Mamuzee’s message to them is clear. The three brothers (Peter, Paul and Jude) on Monday shared the same message on Instagram, asking fans to forgive them for forgetting the importance of family.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Feature

A close up on past coaches of the Super Eagles p.26

Sport Splash

News

Infantino, Messi, Romario pay tribute to Cruyff p.30

RIO OLYMPICS

PREPARATIONS UNDER THREAT OVER MISSING N2.8BN

Dalung

• Buhari vows not to release more funds • EFCC drills ministry chieftains

Adekunle Salami here is huge crisis currently rocking the Ministry of Sports over the N2.8billon given to the body for the preparation of Team Nigeria athletes for the forthcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Saturday Telegraph authoritatively learnt that trouble started when the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, went to The Presidency to demand money for preparation and participation in the forthcoming games. Dalung was however shocked when President Muhammadu Buhari told him that preparation money was released to the Sports Ministry before he took charge and must be accounted for before further funds would be approved. After investigations, the former Director General of the ministry, Alhassan Yakmut, was said to be the best person who should know about the ‘missing’ money. Our correspondent learnt that it was the N2.8bn Olympics grant that caused a big prob-

lem between the former Director General, Gbenga Elegbeleye, and erstwhile Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo. “It’s a long chain but sad enough this is a big hindrance to the preparation of Team Nigeria for the Rio Olympics. President Buhari is not ready to approve more money until there is a clear account rendered on how the money released was spent,” our source said. Dependable sources also revealed to our correspondent that Yakmut and some other chieftains of the ministry had been invited by the Economic and

Yakmut

President Buhari is not ready to approve more money until there is a clear account rendered on how the money released was spent

Financial Crimes Commission over the money believed to have been misappropriated. It was also learnt that the fresh excuse of some of those involved in the scam was to lie with the name of an official of the ministry who recently passed on. “Olu Akoja died earlier this year and now that the issue is heating up, his name has been mentioned by those trying to get themselves out of the web,” the source added. The beaming of the searchlight of Buhari’s administration on the sport sector has been affecting the running of sport as officials are being extra careful not to join the list of those under the watch of anti-graft agencies. Media Assistant to Dalung, Nneka Anibezie, bluntly refused to be dragged into the current imbroglio over the ‘missing’ Olympics money. “Those things happened before my boss came in and so it was inherited. I don’t know about it at all,” she said.

The Team Ajibade Olusesan l Co-ordinator

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

Okagbare

Sport

Ajibade Olusesan o Nigerians, football is more than a sport; it is a staple, something like a religion. The game elicits excitements, apprehension, happiness, dejection in equal measure among Nigerians depending on the outcomes of matches involving their national teams. An average Nigerian football fan is a coach whenever a national team is playing, he wants to flaunt his knowledge of the game, he sometimes want to prove to know even more than the coach in charge. It is his passion, his commitment, his life. One of the critical components of football is coaching and the Nigeria national football team has had its fair share of coaches since John Finch led the first national team, the UK Tourists, to England on a playing tour in 1945. Close to 40 coaches, both indigenous and foreign, have managed the Nigerian side through the years. They have come and gone with dissimilar records; while some of them proved their worth, others were simply inept. Many of them came for the money; some never had the opportunity to show their stuff due to the treacherous manner football administration is handled in Nigeria. Current handler of the team, Samson Siasia, is the 37th man to manage the team, and his position is still not certain despite assurances from the Nigeria Football Federation chiefs that he could be allowed to continue if he gets results from the 2017 AFCON qualifying matches against Egypt. Five foreign coaches have reportedly submitted applications for the plum job and the likelihood of a change of guard in the coaching crew is becoming real by the day. In the beginning Finch was the first man to handle the Nigerian national team; the Englishman took the then UK Tourists on a tour of England in 1945 where they played their first ever match which was against the Marine Cosby. The Nigerian side which had Dan Anyiam , Peter Anieke, Teslim Balogun, Etim Henshaw and John Dankaro among others claimed a 5–2 victory, and won further games against Dulwich Hamlet and Bromley. They drew twice against Corinthian League XI and South Liverpool, but lost to Bishop Auckland, Leytonstone, an Isthmian League XI and an Athenian League XI. Finch also led the team to its first international match when the Tourists had a stopover in Sierra Leone to play a friendly match with the country’s national team. The coach helped Nigeria to defeat their fellow British Colony 2-0. The former Fulham player left the job shortly after to take up appointment as Iceland national team coach same year. Nigeria was without a coach until Elliot Williams was appointed in 1954, but after two years of uneventful stint, the Englishman left and Les Courtier was hired in 1956. The coach did relatively well, he masterminded the team’s biggest win ever when the Red Devils (the new name given to the Nigerian side) beat Dahomey (now Benin) 10-1 on November 28, 1959. Courtiers left before the Independence and Moshe Jerry Beit took over in 1960. The Israeli’s baptism of fire was a somewhat terrible one as Ghana beat the Red Devils 3-0 in Lagos in his first match in charge. The backlash from the press and fans was stern with many pundits asking for his immediate sacking. He stuck to the job and still managed to win over some critics before he left about a year later. Hungarian manager George Vardar was the next man but he had a dismal performance despite spending close to two years in charge. He was sacked in 1963 with a Nigerian, Dan Anyiam, taking charge on the interim. Anyiam’s brief stint ended when Nigeria appointed first Brazilian to manage the national team.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Westerhof, Bonfrere,

•A close up on past coaches of the Super Eagles

Westerhof

Amodu

Jorge Penna spent just one year in charge before another Hungarian Joseph Ember assumed duty. Under Ember, Nigeria failed to qualify for the Nations Cup in Tunisia in 1965 and in Ethiopia in 1968. His assistant, Peter ‘Eto‘ Amaechina, took over from 1969 to 1970. The next man was German Karl-Heinz Marotzke who had managed the Black Stars of Ghana between 1968 and 1970 but barely nine months in charge of the Green Eagles, the NFA gave the coach a new assignment as Technical Instructor, with a mandate to develop local coaches while Penna who spent just one year in his first spell returned to replace Marotzke as national team coach. Penna enjoyed tremendous support from the FA despite churning out unimpressive results including Nigeria’s elimination by Senegal in the preliminary round of the qualifiers for the 1974 Olympics. He was even co-opted into the NFA board. Administrative tsunami hit the Nigerian football when the National Sports Commission sacked the Edwin Kentebeled NFA board and disbanded the national team in 1974. The NSC appointed Othman Calder in December that year with a mandate to reorganise the Green Eagles and form a squad from the over 90 players selected from the National Sports Festival that was held a year before.

Otto Glória

It is hard to cope with the peculiar structure of Nigerian football as a coach

However, the German quit his position in a controversial manner claiming his employers did not respect the terms of the contract they signed. He left because his salaries were not paid on time, the NSC also failed to give him his official car and house. Enter Jelisavic ‘Tiki’ Tihomir. The Yugoslav who was popularly known as Father Tiko almost qualified Nigeria for her first ever World Cup appearance in Argentina in 1978 but for Godwin Odiye’s own goal in the match against Tunisia. That was the highlight of his about four-year stint but he had prepared the ground for the success that followed. Otto Glória was hired in 1978 and built on the structures erected by Father Tiko. The Brazilian who had earlier handled Portugal guided Nigeria through the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations she hosted. , The Green Eagles defeated

Algeria 3-0 in the final in Lagos to claim their first AFCON title. Sadly, he could not reproduce such magic two years later as the Eagles failed to defend the title they won in Lagos, they crashed out in the first round of the 1982 Nations Cup in Libya. Gloria was asked to go same year when his team again lost 2-0 to Algeria in the first leg of the Spain 1982 World Cup. The then coach of Julius Berger Football Club, Gottlieb Göller, was appointed to lead the team for the second leg of the qualifiers but his team still lost 2-1 to their hosts and the German left shortly after to coach Mozambique. The NFA decided to look inwards and appointed Coach Adegboyega Onigbinde as the new Eagles helmsman in 1983. The coach became the first indigenous person to take the national team to the African Nations Cup when he guided a relatively young side to the final of the tournament in 1984 losing 3-1 to Cameroon. The usual crisis in Nigerian football consumed the coach who left the job upon return from Cote d’Ivoire ’84 to take over as Shooting Stars manager. Another local coach and former Flying Eagles handler, Chris Udemezue, took over but was booted out after he failed to qualify the team for the 1986 Nations Cup hosted by Egypt. Ex-Eagles defender, Patrick Ekeji, also had a cameo stint managing the side for just a match before another former international, Paul Hamilton, got his own opportunity. But just about a year after Hamilton took over, the NFA had grown tired of local coaches and relegated the former NEPA FC player and appointed Manfred Hoener from Germany as the new manager. The appointment of the German coach who had previously worked in Austria, Turkey, Egypt and Thailand was shrouded in controversy. For seven months he was not paid, the question of who takes up the responsibility of his payment sparked a major row at the time but despite the problem he still managed to take the team to the final of the 1988 Nations Cup in Morocco where Nigeria again lost to Cameroon. Hoener left in 1989 in another controversial manner; he came under intense media bashing after he was accused of being more of a physical trainer than a tactician. Hamilton again stepped up to take full charge of the team and handled some 1990 World Cup qualifiers as the soccer body searched for a substantive coach. They

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Keshi still stand out! brought in a certain Clemens Westerhof, and then a new era in Nigerian football began. The Golden Era Westerhof, till now, is regarded as the best coach Nigeria has ever had. Although he failed to qualify the team for the 1990 World Cup as Cameroon knocked the

country out in the last stage of the series, the Dutchman had shown that he was the right man for the job with the team’s performance. Barely one year in charge, Westerhof took a bunch of young players to the Algiers 1990 Nations Cup after some established players revolted, and despite losing 5-1 in the opening game of the competition to the hosts, his team still dazzled its way to the final. That tournament provided the platform for the formation of the best Nigerian side ever. His squad could only manage a third-place finish two years later in Senegal 1992 but the Dutchman brought Nations Cup success after a 14year wait in what was the crowning glory of his incredible reign and the apogee of Nigerian football. The class of '94 remains the greatest crop of players Nigeria have ever put together, ably managed by the indefatigable Dutchman. His in-your-face approach and work ethic saw Nigeria qualify for her first ever World Cup (USA '94) and rise to fifth on the FIFA rankings. There was a paradigm shift in World football and the imaginations of millions were triggered, as the game became ever so popular and Nigerians ever so proud. They were the best days of Nigerian football in many ways. Despite his good work, the coach fought several battles with his employers and survived for five years on the job largely because he enjoyed direct access to the then country’s number two man, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, who backed the coach throughout his reign. The tactician however left the job unceremoniously immediately Nigeria crashed out of the USA ’94 World Cup. The BCC Lions of Gboko coach, Shaibu Amodu, who had led the Makurdi-based team to a continental glory, was immediately drafted in but he lasted just a year before another Dutchman and Westerhof’s former assistant, Bonfrere Jo, took over in 1995. Although Bonfrere arrived Nigeria as Westerhof’s assistant, the former MVV Maastricht of Netherlands midfielder dis-

Keshi

Bonfere Jo

Some of the problems we have in Nigerian football are hereditary tinguished himself when he was given Bora Milutinovic the opportunity to handle the national women team in 1991. His success with the Super Falcons earned him the job when the NFA wanted an expatriate for the Eagles. One year after taking up the job, Bonfere took Nigerian football to another level by leading the Olympics team to football gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. But when Nigerians were still enmeshed in the euphoria of the Olympics victory, the coach shockingly resigned. He moved to Qatar. Then again, Amodu, returned as the chief coach of the Eagles. After Bonfere’s shock exit in 1996 and Amodu’s brief stint, the football house hired Phillipe Troussiers whose success with African clubs had earned him the nickname ‘White Witch Doctor‘. He was engaged by Nigeria in 1997 and guided the Super Eagles in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup even with a game to spare (Nigeria’s best ever run in the World Cup qualifiers). But he left the same year after being criticised for his style, which some critics claimed was strange to Nigerian football philosophy. Troussier’s exit left Nigeria to search for a coach with few months to the Mundial and the federation went for one of the most experienced ones around, Bora Milutunovic. The Serbian, popularly referred to as the Miracle Worker, had taken three teams to the World Cup before joining Nigeria in 1998. He later guided China to the Mundial in 2002. The coach was hired simply for his World Cup experience needed to guide the Eagles through France ‘98. He hardly made any change to the squad he inherited from Troussier and it was not a surprise that the Eagles failed to go beyond the second round of the competition. After a disappointing World Cup campaign by Milutinovic, the NFA hired Thigt Libregts who had been without job for close to five years after Olympiacos of Greece fired him. The former Dutch national team coach was immediately drafted to the Nigeria U-20 team campaigning in the FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted by the country. Despite his intervention, the team crashed out in the quarterfinal of the tournament. The coach himself was asked to go after just two wins in five matches in the build-up to the 2000 Nations Cup. Then again, Bonfere returned to the Eagles and he led them to a second place

finish at the 2000 Nations Cup co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana. Nigeria lost to Cameroon via penalty shootout. He left Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates in 2001 following, dismal performance of the Eagles in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup; the country was on the verge of losing the ticket before his assistant, Amodu, salvaged the situation. Amodu qualified Nigeria to Mali 2002 Nations Cup and the World Cup but his reign signified end of the Golden Era. His team crashed out in the semi-final of AFCON tourney they were expected to win, and the coach also failed to manage his team properly which led to a fiasco after their elimination from the tournament. Key players including Captain Sunday Oliseh attacked several football personalities including the Minister of Sports, Ishaya Mark Aku, who later disbanded the team and sacked the coaching crew. Onigbinde was appointed to take the team to the FIFA World Cup that year. Onigbinde had to start all over with recruitment of new players and a few old ones but they could not progress beyond the first round of the tournament in Japan. Onigbinde walked away after the tournament and former Eagles captain and ex-handler of Kenya team, Christian Chukwu, came to the saddle. He led the team to the semifinal of AFCON 2004 in Tunisia but was blamed for the team’s failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He was sacked and another former captain, Austin Eguavoen took over. The former Bendel Insurance player did not fare better than Chukwu as he could not take the team beyond the semi-final of the 2006 AFCON. He left that year for Berti Vogts The German had vowed never to return to football management after dumping the Scotland team but a lucrative deal with Nigeria made him change his mind. His four-year contract abruptly came to an end 13 months later after he resigned following the poor performance of the team at the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana. Veteran coach James Peters held sway briefly but Amodu came back for his third shot at the job. He qualified the team for 2010 World Cup for the second time and reached the semi-final of AFCON, a result not good enough for the insatiable Nigerian fans, they called for his head and the NFA answered. Swedish coach Lar Largerback was given the mandate to manage the Eagles to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The tactician could not help the team beyond the first round and was shown the exit doors shortly after. After excellent performances in the junior teams Samson Siasia who led the Flying Eagles to the final of WYC in 2005 CONTINUe on PAGE 30

Andy Murray

SPORT BRIEFLY

Carlos

Ochoa

Lewandowski

atch out Finland, Robert Lewandowski is in town. The Bayern Munich striker is in the form of his life this season, and that makes Poland a good bet to make the semi-finals at Euro 2016. Lewandowski scored 13 goals in Euro qualifying and will fancy his chances against the Fins this March. Finland manager Hans Backe may want to experiment and rotate but he must have a strong defence to handle Lewandowski. In fact, the quality of this Poland midfield, with Jakub Blaszczykowski and Grzegorz Krychowiak running the show, means even the strongest team at Backe’s disposal probably won’t be enough to stop the Poles.

headache for Finland

capacity crowd is set to greet Mexico for the first of Canada's two CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against the Group A leaders. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio insists his team are not daunted by the prospect of a hostile sell-out crowd for Friday's World Cup qualifier at BC Place Stadium. A capacity crowd is set to greet Group A leaders Mexico

game unbeaten streak – can deal with the atmosphere, given the experience of the likes of Javier Hernandez, Andres Guardado, Hector Moreno, Raul Jimenez, Hector Herrera and Miguel Layun in Europe. "I think that most of our players have played in that type of environment," said Osorio, who included debutants Orbelin Pineda and Alejandro Palacios in his squad.

David Haye has hit out at "insane" plans to allow professional boxers to compete at the Olympics, warning it would put fighters' health and safety at serious risk. "You get these young kids who are training their whole life to go to the Olympics," Haye said during a conference at Wembley.

David Haye

for the CONCACAF qualifying fixture, with over 50,000 tickets already sold in Vancouver. With Canada only two points adrift of Mexico after two matches in the fourth round of qualifying, the hosts have a huge incentive to deliver for their home fans in the first of two meetings between the sides in five days. But Osorio is confident Mexico – in the midst of a 15-

Mexico coach not daunted by hostile crowd

could choose. The situation here was interesting, more so after Willy Caballero left,” the Mexican recalled in an interview with AS. “I came at the request of the coaching staff and we all know the story. “The best thing to happen here? The birth of my second child. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life. The attachment will be forever and affection eternal for this wonderful city. “Even if I’m not here, my son will want to return, no doubt.”

Even before he became a dad last month, Andy Murray made it clear he would put family first. With wife Kim Sears eight months pregnant during the Australian Open, the tennis star vowed to return to the UK during the year's first major if she went into labour. "My No. 1 priority now is, I want to try to be a good father, a good husband.

Russia v Lithuania Austria v Albania Poland v Finland Hungary v Croatia Kazakhstan v Azerbaijan Germany v England

International Friendlies

Muller

uillermo Ochoa has no problems fighting for his place at Malaga and says he’ll always return to the city after the birth of his second child. Ochoa moved to La Rosaleda after World Cup 2014, leaving French club Ajaccio, but had to wait until March 2016 for his La Liga bow as Carlos Kameni retained the gloves. “I had several offers and I was fortunate because I

Ochoa happy to ‘fight’at Malaga

Sport

Lewis Hamilton's supporters are concerned that his only serious rival, Nico Rosberg, has topped the Formula One podium in each of the last four races. But they will not have their worries assuaged by the news that their concerns are shared by the three-time world champion himself.

Lewis Hamilton

hings might not be as vitriol as they were a few years ago, but there will never be a lot of love lost when Germany face England on a football field. It might be a friendly match this weekend, but neither set of fans will want to lose the game as preparation for the Euro 2016 Finals continues. Both Germany and England will be in France as expected although the goals of both nations will vary. The World Champions Germany will be expected to add the European Championship to their haul, while a quarterfinal appearance from England will be a good return for a nation expecting to challenge for the 2022 World Cup. That seems a long shot for England, but this current crop of players did come through the qualifiers with 10 straight wins and will be expected to come out of their Group in France. From there England would likely be favoured over any Second Round opponent, so reaching the quarterfinal might be a minimum expectation of this nation. England have won six of their last seven games and beat France 2-0 at home in their most recent friendly game. However, that snapped a run of three friendly games without a win and England were defeated 2-0 in Spain in their last away friendly and they have now won one of their last seven away friendly games although only losing in two of those. A small hangover from the World Cup win saw Germany make a slow start to their qualifying group for Euro 2016 before comfortably making the Finals. The Germans were beaten 2-0 in their last friendly game in France, although that is a match that will forever be overshadowed by the terrible events that occurred in Paris that evening including at the Stade de France. Germany themselves haven't been at their best in friendly games and they have only won one of their last six home friendlies. That includes defeats in two of their last three home friendly games, but the World Champions are still a force to be reckoned with.

Germany, England CLASH ahead Euros Lewandowski

Global Football Special www.newtelegraphonline.com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 SATURDAY

26 MAR

Sunday March 27 Mozambique vs Ghana 3:00pm Congo vs Zambia 3:30pm Kenya vs Guinea-Bissau 4:00pm Benin vs South Sudan 4:00pm Botswana vs Comoros 4:00pm

Seychelles vs Lesotho 4:30pm Burkina Faso vs Uganda 6:00pm Senegal vs Niger 7:00m

h e n Rwand a head coach Johnny McKinstry is giving his pre-match talk ahead of his side’s crucial 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritius next week, he will likely retell the story of a country over 7,000 kilometres away. McKinstry, who hails from Northern Ireland, is drawing inspiration from his native homeland defying the odds by booking a place at EURO 2016, as his

Rwanda team look to cause a surprise of their own by securing qualification to their second-ever AFCON next year. “The players are probably tired of me doing this but I draw parallels between Rwanda and Northern Ireland all the time,” McKinstry told FIFA.com. “Both sides don’t have any superstars, it’s about everyone getting in the muck and working hard. “Both are also middleweight footballing nations who have a bit of history but in recent years, have really been nowhere near it. People tell me how Rwanda beat the likes of Morocco and Ghana in Kigali – there were these big single results that sat amongst years of underperforming, and that was the same in Northern

McKinstry

Ireland. “There were these extreme moments of high in the 1990s and 2000s in Northern Ireland that were surrounded by mediocre performances.

McKinstry: Rwanda can qualify for Gabon 2017

Saturday March 26 Burundi vs Namibia 3:00pm Mauritius vs Rwanda 3:00pm Cameroon vs South Africa 3:30pm RD Congo vs Angola 3:30pm Cape Verde vs Morocco 4:00pm

AFCON qualifiers

urundi will target a second successive home win in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they host Namibia in Bujumbura on Saturday for a Group K clash. Kick-off at the Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium will be at 15h00 CAT. The Swallows come into the clash placed second on the standings on three points, level with third placed Niger and three points behind leaders Senegal. The Brave Warriors, meanwhile, have zero points. Burundi claimed a 2-0 win over Niger in their last qualifier, with goals from Fiston Abdul-Razak and Abbas Nshimirimana securing three points in Bujumbura following

target second home win

Burundi

a 3-1 loss away to Senegal in Dakar in their opening Group K match. Namibia’s results were a 1-0 loss away to Niger, followed by a 2-0 reverse at the hands of the Teranga Lions in Windhoek, leaving them in dire straits as far as their hopes of reaching Gabon 2017 are concerned. Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti is realistic about his team’s chances of finishing top of the group ahead of Senegal, but believes that they can beat both Burundi and Niger to the runners-up spot. “The objective is that I really expect us to get a positive result in Burundi and in the return leg at home,” Mannetti said.

outh Africa have history on their side as they prepare to face Cameroon in back-to-back African Nations Cup qualifiers, with their only previous defeat against the Indomitable Lions coming in a friendly 24 years ago. The weekend fixture will be the first time that South Africa have played in Cameroon, with all other clashes either on home or neutral soil. The countries have met on seven previous occasions – most recently ahead of the 2015 African Nations Cup finals – and Bafana have tended to come out on top when it mattered. But that will in truth be little comfort to coach Shakes Mashaba and his players as they prepare for battle in Limbe on Saturday, with Cameroon having not lost a home qualifier since 1975.

They will then clash again in Durban on Tuesday, with Bafana needing to win both matches to have a realistic chance of reaching the Nations Cup finals in Gabon. South Africa however have a special history with Cameroon – they were Bafana’s first opponents upon readmission to international football in 1992 when the side led by Roger Milla made a hastilyarranged three-match tour of the country. South Africa won the first game in a wet Durban 1-0 thanks to a Doctor Khumalo penalty after a generous award from the Botswana referee Jelas Masole, who perhaps had a sense of the occasion. Cameroon bounced back to win 2-1 in Cape Town two days later, despite Bafana taking the lead thanks to a Jules Onana own-goal. Onana had also given away the penalty in the first game with an alleged hand-ball and was also later sent-off in this game to round off a miserable tour.

S/Africa bank on history against Cameroon tie

RCH 2016

Renard

ew Morocco coach Herve Renard begins his quest for a recordequalling third Cup of Nations title with back-to-back qualifiers against Cape Verde, the top-ranked African team. A seven-day, 50-match schedule starts Wednesday and the co-Group F leaders meet in Praia Saturday and in Marrakech Tuesday in key matches as only mini-league winners are guaranteed places at the 2017 tournament in Gabon. Both countries beat Sao Tome Principe convincingly and Libya narrowly in previous matchdays with Cape Verde topping the table on goal difference. Renard, a 47-year-old who succeeded Badou Zaki last month after indifferent Moroccan performances, guided no-hopers Zambia to 2012 glory and repeated the feat with perennial underachievers Ivory Coast last

year. Hassan Shehata coached Egypt to three consecutive titles between 2006 and 2010, but only Renard has won the Cup of Nations with different countries. His successes in Africa contrast with failures in France. He could not prevent Sochaux being relegated and a second Ligue 1 stint ended this season with Lille sacking him. Given that Morocco are ranked only 19 in Africa, Renard has been set a tough target of at least reaching the 2017 Cup of Nations semi-finals by his new employers . And while some pundits remain sceptical as to whether Cape Verde are the strongest African national football team, they are chasing a third consecutive Cup of Nations appearance. Like Morocco, Cape Verde will have a new coach with local Felisberto 'Beto' Cardoso succeeding Portuguese Rui Aguas, who quit after not being paid for seven months.

Renard begins quest for third African title

Gabon 2017

Africa Nations Cup

Y TELEGRAPH

Sport 29

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Infantino, Messi, Romario pay tribute to Cruyff

'NFF, Eagles' problem' CONTINUeD FROM PAGE 27

and the U-23 team to the final of the 2008 Olympics, had become a favourite among Nigerian fans. His appointment was celebrated and he was tipped for the long haul. However, he disappointed badly after his team failed to make it to the 2012 AFCON. He left the stage for his former captain, Stephen Keshi and providence smiled on Nigeria. The former African champions did not need to wait for another two years to return to the continental showpiece as the AFCON tournament was scheduled to take place just a year after the one the Eagles missed. Keshi wasted no time in qualifying the team to the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. In terms of achievement, Keshi seems to be almost at per with his former boss, Westerhof. Against all odds, the former Anderlecht of Belgium strong man won the 2013 AFCON, 19 years after he captained the team to the title in Tunisia 1994. He also qualified the home-based side to CHAN for the first time after two attempts and led them to third-place finish in the competition. His side made it to Brazil 2014 World Cup and reached the second round of the tournament, although he failed to qualify the team for the 2015 AFCON. He had a turbulent reign despite all his achievement; his relationship with his employers was that of a cat and dog, he tried to resign shortly after Nigeria’s triumph at the Nations Cup but for the intervention of the then Senate President, David Mark. And twice the NFF also attempted to sack him, he survived until he was caught negotiating for the vacant position of Cote d’Ivoire head coach. TV pundit and inexperienced Oliseh succeeded Keshi after Daniel Amokachie’s brief stay. Oliseh spent less than eight months in charge and the highlight of his stay was the dismal outing of the home-based team at CHAN 2016. They crashed out of the tournament in the first round despite leading their group up to the group final round of matches. He clashed with his players, his fellow coaches, his former teammates, even abused the Nigerians fans including his employers. He resigned with few weeks to the AFCON back-to-back clash with Egypt. The NFF appointed U-23 coach Siasia to take charge of the Eagles’ ties against Egypt with a proviso that he will be given the job on a permanent basis if he qualifies the team to the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon. The problem The NFF should be blamed for the high turnover of coaches in the country, according to Chukwu. He said that most of the problems leading to the sacking of many of the coaches were as a result of administrative lapses on the part of their employers. He said that coaches, especially the locally based ones, face a lot of hardship in the discharge of their duties which invariably affect their performances. “It is hard to cope with the peculiar structure of Nigerian football as a coach. The syestem does not encourage you as a manager to do your job effectively. We don’t support our coaches enough; we don’t give them the time to succeed. I know what I went through when I was the coach of the Super Eagles, but it is time

for us to do things correctly. We need to support whoever that is there, the person should be given a long-term mandate to build on the strength of his team or correct the mistakes instead of sacking him in the time of trouble. We have to give them more time,” he said. Onigbinde echoed the same sentiments; he said the federation tends to give foreign handlers more opportunities than the local ones. “I was the first Nigerian coach to take the national team to the final of the Nations Cup but despite what we did, they still asked us to go. I saw hell as a coach but I thank God I am still alive today. “For three years there was no official residence, even training materials they did not give us and when we complained they took us up. I have always said that the problem of Nigerian football is not coaching and tactics per se, it is administrative. How can a coach work for several months without pay, can they do that with those oyinbos they brought? Unfortunately, we seem not ready to learn from our mistakes, we keep doing the same thing over again and we expect different results.” The Vice President of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi, admitted the current administrators inherited a flawed system but the new board was ready to end the cycle. “Some of the problems we have in Nigerian football are hereditary but we are determined as a board to put an end to them before the expiration of our tenure. The issue of owing coaches is not today’s thing, but we want to give our football a different culture. “For instance we are perfecting partnership with corporate bodies to see the salary of a particular coach tied to one company, such partner will take care of the pay. But one of the problems that we have now is the new government policy that means all revenue including sponsorships money must first go to the government purse. We have sought for waiver in sport and we hope the FG with look into that. “We have also done a lot in the area of capacity building for our coaches and it is an on-going process,” he said.

Cruyff

IFA president Gianni Infantino has hailed Johan Cruyff as one of the greatest players ever following the Netherlands legend's death and expressed his condolences to the Dutchman's family. Cruyff was diagnosed with lung cancer in October, but recently stated that he felt "2-0 up" in his battle against the illness. However, he passed away in Barcelona on Thursday, surrounded by his family. Infantino has now joined the outpouring of tributes to Ajax and Barcelona great Cruyff, describing him as a "symbol of elegant play". "Johan Cruyff was a magnificent player, one of the greatest players the world has ever known," Infantino said via a statement on FIFA's website. "Cruyff was a symbol of elegant play. An inspiration. A source of admiration for fans. He has marked football history forever. "I'm very saddened by his death. He will be terribly missed. "Both personally and on behalf of FIFA and the world football community, I would like to

extend my sincerest condolences to his family and friends." Lionel Messi also paid his tribute to the former Barcelona player and coach with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner posting simply on his official Facebook page: "Another legend has left us today." For former Barcelona and Brazil striker Romario, Cruyff remains the best coach he played under. The Dutchman steered the club to their first European Cup in 1992 and won four consecutive La Liga crowns between 1990-91 and 1993-94. Romario joined the feted "Dream Team" for the latter season and expressed his sadness at the passing of his old trainer, writing: "We woke up with the sad news of the death of my friend Johan Cruyff. "I had the privilege to have you as a coach when I played at Barcelona. "He was, without doubt, the best trainer that I had, your teachings will live on forever in my life.”

Zikiye takes Unamba to the altar

Zikiye (left) and fiancee

ano Pillars’ defender, Jonathan Zikiye, will on Saturday, March 26 (today), take his fiancée, Fame Unamba, to the altar as he dumps bachelorhood. While speaking with League Rendezvous, Zikiye expressed his joy as he moves to another level in his life as a man. “I know this will improve my game as it will be a new chapter in my life,” he said. “Fame is one of the best things that has happened to me as a man, and I want to tell her how much I love her.” He however called on his teammates to give him a wonderful wedding gift by defeating IfeanyiUbah when both teams take to the field on Sunday in a Nigeria Professional Football League match.

Enyimba return to Aba soon – Hon Nwangaga Victor Mba Aba

Siasia

he Commissioner for Sports in Abia State, honourable Chinwe Nwangaga, has assured the fans of Enyimba of Aba that their darling team would be returning to Aba for their next continental match. The team has been playing their CAF Champions League matches in Port Harcourt while their league matches are played in Umuahia. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, the commissioner said the ongoing work at the stadium necessitated the movement of the team,

but assured fans that in two to three weeks, the stadium should be ready. “We went for the re-grassing of the stadium because we do not want Aba Stadium to be blacklisted by CAF,” he said. “The situation now is that we have completed the local aspect and are awaiting the imported materials from Italy to finish the re-grassing of the pitch. In the next two or three weeks, hopefully, the pitch will be ready for use.” The commissioner believe that Enyimba can beat their next round opponent in the Champions League, Etolie Du Sahel, and progress to the group stage. He said: “All we need is the cooporation of all and total commitment of the players. We have to give those extra pep talks and psychological tune up.”

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Nigerian League Rendezvous Ogunbote eyes continental with Giwa

NPFL LEAGUE TABLE Team

PTS

1 Rangers

2 MFM FC

3 Lobi Stars

4 IfeanyiUbah

5 Kano Pillars

6 Akwa Utd

7 Wikki

8 Abia Warriors

9 Giwa FC

10 Tornadoes

11 Rivers Utd

12 Plateau Utd

-5

13 Shooting

14 Warri Wolves6

15 Heartland

-2

16 El-Kanemi

-4

17 Enyimba

-1

18 Ikorodu Utd

-7

19 Nasarawa

-2

20 Sunshine

-3

MATCHDAY 9 Sunshine vs Shooting Ikorodu Utd vs Rivers Utd El-Kanemi vs Nasarawa Utd Heartland vs Giwa Kano Pillars vs IfeanyiUbah Plateau Utd vs MFM FC Rangers vs Enyimba Warri Wolves vs Lobi Wikki vs Akwa Utd Abia Warriors vs Tornadoes

How Alimi made Agege fans dump MFM for Pillars

he recent debate about acceptability of the Nigeria Professional Football League by Nigerians was confirmed in Lagos during the week when former champions, Kano Pillars, came visiting. Agege Stadium was the venue and Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos were the hosts. It was an unprecedented crowd in the history of league games at the stadium, with more than 5,000 fans turning out to watch the encounter, mostly Hausas living around the community. Super Eagles players, Jamiu Alimi and Prince Aggrey, were the centre of attraction, with Alimi taking the loudest ovation due to the fact that he grew up within the community. Majoro Street, a stone throw from the stadium. Some of Alimi’s brothers who were present at the stadium were seen chanting the name of the former Shooting Stars players with youths from the street chanting Sai Masu Gida, in respect of Kano Pillars, the players’ club. One of the youths from Majoro, was running around with a banner in support of Pillars as the Hausamen inside the stadium continued to dole out money to him. He used the money to buy bottled water and shared it to people. Rahmon and Rasak Alimi, two of Jamiu’s brothers, were also seen buying things for people as they turned the stadium to a reunion of sort. Immediately after the game, the player was mobbed as he approached the team bus to the amazement of his teammates.

Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars vying with Nana Bonsu and Bright Esieme of Rangers

Table topping Rangers target Enyimba's scalp

Stories: Charles Ogundiya igeria Professional Football League leaders, Rangers International, will seek to return to winning ways as they take on champions Enyimba in a Week Nine game this weekend. Last season fixture ended 2-1 in favour of Enyimba but they have started this season in an indifferent fashion while Rangers have been flying like an Antelope in keeping with their name. The midweek loss against Lobi Stars failed to dislodge Rangers from the top of the table after the game between MFM FC and Kano Pillars ended 1-1. It will be another derby between Sunshine Stars of Akure and Shooting Stars of Ibadan; the SouthWest derby promises to be top notch. Ikorodu United will be hoping to put their

recent bad spell that had seen them picking a point in their last five games, when they welcome Rivers United to the Onikan Stadium, Lagos. Two newly promoted sides Plateau United and MFM will battle it out in Jos while Heartland welcome Giwa to Jos. Other matches to be played this weekend will see Warri Wolves taking on Lobi Stars while Abia Warriors will hope to continue their unbeaten start to the season with a home defeat of Niger Tornadoes in Nnewi this weekend. Nasarawa United will be concentrating on the league after their elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup. The Solid Miners as the team is fondly called won their first game of the season when they defeated Ikorodu United 2-0 on Thursday. They will be away to El-Kanemi Warriors on Sunday.

iwa FC of Jos head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, said his target at the end of the season wasto lead the club to claiming a continental ticket at the end of the season. The former coach of defunct Sharks of Port Harcourt, said despite starting the season poorly, the players were beginning to understand his style. Giwa lost their first game in the new season to IfeanyiUbah FC in Jos, but have recorded back-to-back victories over Ikorodu United in Lagos, before defeating El-Kanemi Warriors in Jos in a midweek game. “Our first away win against Ikorodu United has improved the confidence of the players,” Ogunbote said. “We are getting better game after game and the target is to win a continental ticket that has eluded the team since gaining promotion. “It is going to be difficult, but I believe there are enough quality in the team than can help us achieve our target of playing on the continent.” He expressed happiness over the support received from the club’s management since taking over the team few weeks to the beginning of the new season. The coach assured fans that they would continue to work hard so as to reciprocate the kind gesture of the sponsor.

Ogunbote

Don’t rubbish me, says former ODSFA TD

Abiodun

rstwhile technical director of Ondo State Football Agency, Henry Abiodun, has warned the chairman of the Agency, John Ola Mafo, against tarnishing his image. According to Abiodun, if the chairman want him to go, he should be paid all his entitlements and let go. Speaking exclusively to League Rendezvous, the USA-trained coach said he was yet to receive a letter to indicate he had been relieved of his duties as the technical director of the team. “A lot of things have been said

about me and I just want to set the record straight,” he said. “I am a professional and not a politician. I handle my job as stated in my contract. “This is a witch-hunt because they say I am loyal to the former management. I am being made the scapegoat. “Two weeks after I was reportedly sacked, I am yet to receive a letter to that effect. And before now I have not received any memo or query, so where is this sacking coming from?” He added that the reason given for his sacking was a big surprise to him as he never had any clash with the former coach of the team, Samson Unuanel, who was given the boot same time as the technical director, either on the field of play, the dressing room or anywhere around the team. In a release by the agency, it was reported that the internal wrangling between the coach and the technical adviser which had affected the players and team’s performance necessitated their sacking.

But Abiodun has come out to deny having any issues with the coach, claiming that he never had an argument with the coach. He said: “Whatever we discuss is always about the game which is done as mature men. When Unuanel came, I was one of the members of the Technical Committee that interviewed him and approved his appointment. “The truth is the chairman does not really know the difference between the technical director and the head coach. My job as the TD has to do with Sunshine Stars, Sunshine Queens and the academy. “I am doing this to clear my name, I am not stubborn and I don’t want people to drag my name in the mud. “I don’t want anyone to rubbish my name; I have worked my way from technical instructor, to the head coach of Sunshine Stars, later assistant technical director before I was named the TD which is the highest position in ODSFA.”

Lifestyle of Sportsmen

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Ronaldo's mother unhappy with star insisting she has a bodyguard

ristiano Ronaldo's mother doesn't want the body guards her famous footballing son has ordered for her protection. Ronaldo has more than 100 million Facebook followers as well as 41.1million Twitter followers, raising the prospect of an obsessed fan that could harm him or his family. Maria Dolores Aveiro, 61, believes the Real Madrid and former Manchester United star is worried she will become a target unless she has proper security around her.

Ronaldo and Mom

Aveiro discussed the situation with Portuguese writer and TV presenter Julia Pinheiro with the interview reported by British media. "When I go anywhere, Ronaldo says: 'A mum has to have security with her,' but I never want to," Aveiro said. "I feel happy and don't feel the need to have a bodyguard with me. I live very peacefully. "I'm more apprehensive when I'm with Cristiano but I've never been bothered."

Nkwocha weds on Monday S uper Falcons legend, Perpetua Nkwocha is set to tie the knot on Monday, March 28. According to information on the official website of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Nkwocha will be wedding Ernest

Nkwocha

Serena puts butt on display T

Ikechukwu Nwufoh. The wedding will take place at Our Lady Carmel Catholic Church, Emekuku, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. Reception follows immediately after service at the bride’s father’s compound in Amankwu Umuhu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government area of Imo State. The 40-year-old is currently an assistant coach of the Super Falcons. Nkwocha played in seven Africa Women Cup of Nations winning five of them in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2014. She was also voted African Women's Footballer of the Year in 2004, 2005.

Serena

Dele Alli ready to dump TV reality star

Eto’s ex-girlfriend jailed for stealing his Rolex watch

ottenham Hotspur prodigy Dele Alli has been balancing their Premier League title tilt with a steamy romance with reality TV star Ferne McCann, according to The Sun on Sunday. The couple have reportedly been spotted kissing in nightclubs and “acting like young honeymooners”, shortly after McCann revealed that she was seeing a mystery sportsman. Sun sources claim that The Only Way is Essex beauty McCann, 25, is “obsessed” with the England international and was “clinging onto him” at London’s Libertine Club two weeks ago. But 19-year-old Alli has now apparently called for some space from the 2015 I’m a Celebrity finalist after being upset by her spreading evidence of their fling to her TOWIE co-stars. An onlooker at the Celebrity hotspot told The Sun: “They did not stop kissing and did not care who saw them. There were fireworks and absolutely no doubt they were really into each other. “He’s a red-blooded bloke who fancied Ferne. They hit it off straight away and he was very keen. But Ferne’s decision to tell everyone about their passionate affair has shocked him. “He’s wondering if he has a future with her.” McCann sent close pals a series of photos of the pair, introduced by mutual friends, and Alli is now said to be having second thoughts about the relationship, which has left Ferne gutted! Stories courtesy : Dailymail

ennis champ, Serena Williams put her butt on display while preparing for a swim on Monday, March 21. The 34-year-old shared a video on Snapchat of her backside wearing a chequered pant, a white swimming top and face cap. She took the photo as she prepared for a swim and shared a video on snapchat. Serena shared the photo after she played against Victoria Azarenka in the final of the BNP Paribas Open.

Charlotte

Ferne

x-girlfriend of Cameroon football legend, Samuel Eto’o has been sentenced to jail for stealing his Rolex watch. Eto'o and Nathalie Koah had a sexual relationship for seven years according to reports. T h e football star had

Koah

accused Koah of stealing his Rolex wrist-watch, with the court deeming it ‘improper retention’. She was given a suspended six-month jail term and asked to pay 12.7 million CFA Francs to Eto’o, the cost of the watch. Koah filed a case of coercion and blackmail against Eto’o which he was not found guilty of. This comes after Eto'o stopped the release of a 'Revenge Porn' book which was written by his former mistress. T h e 24-year-old wrote a book titled 'Revenge porn-football, sex, money which is a testimony to warn others from sleeping with celebrities.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

TV&Radio

26 MARCH 2016

with Deborah Makoji

This weekend AIT

L-R: Ozugbakum, Kolade-Otitoju, Bakare, and Onyegbile

JOURNALISTS' HANGOUT

Discussing anti-graft war

‘J

ournalists' Hangout’ is a live programme on TV Continental where journalists from different media houses converge to discuss national contemporary issues. It is shown on every day of the week between 5 and 6pm with a repeat broadcast between 11pm and 12am and 5am and 6am. It is also on DSTV Channel 418. Usually, two topical issues are discussed each day by a four-man team including the anchor man. Since it is a live programme, viewers are allowed to make a call to contribute, ask questions or seek clarification on issues being discussed. Also, viewers send tweets, which are usually scroll on the screen. One of last week’s editions focused on the anti-graft war. Although all the contributors expressed divergent views on the methods being adopted by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, they unanimously agreed that corruption is a menace that is antithetical to the progress and development of the country if not well tackled. However, the anchor man, Ayodele Ozugbakum, expressed concern that there are fears in some quarters that the fight against corruption could bog down the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and prevent it from concentrating on other developmental issues that require government’s attention. But the Deputy Sunday Editor, The Nation, Mr. Olayinka Oyegbile, allayed this fear. He said what is required is for the government to provide the necessary support for the EFCC and the judiciary to enable them to prosecute all cases. Insisting that the anti-graft war could be fought without serving as a hindrance to socio-economic development of the country, he added: “All they need to do is to make facilities available to the judiciary. Nigeria is rich enough; you can give some of the money you are collecting from these thieves to lawyers to prosecute the cases while the government moves to other areas of governance. The fight against corruption shouldn’t be a hindrance to beneficial projects. “ On the alleged non-remittance of

a whooping N3.2trillion by the NNPC to the federation accounts in 2014, an employee of the TVC, Babajide KoladeOtitoju said: “The auditor general said certain documents he asked for were not given to him. The scale of corruption is higher than the man that documented this report.” He also recalled during the ebola outbreak the federal government claimed that N2.8 bn was spent on hand sanitiser for public schools, adding that corrupt government officials seized any opportunity to enrich themselves to the detriment of the country. He added that “They claimed that N2.8 billion was spent distributing hand sanitiser to public schools during the ebola outbreak. The question now is which of the public schools? In Lagos here, the schools provided washing hand basins for their pupils to wash their hands. I did not see any hand sanitiser that the federal government bought. Our laws in Nigeria as it concerns corruption and anti-corruption are extremely weak. Big men in Nigeria sometimes have the opportunity to impregnate their wives while in prison. I know a big man that was imprisoned in Kaduna. At night, the

warders would take him to a night club but the only thing is that prison warders would be around him”. Oyegbile suggested Chinese method of dealing with corruption as the way out. “In Nigeria, I believe the law is weak to fight corruption, if we have to use the Chinese way to defeat corruption, honestly I am not against it. We need to do something because whenever I see these people, I tell myself that these ones don’t deserve to walk on the surface of the earth”. Kolade-Otitoju said Nigerian celebrate thieves, adding, “it is because we don’t shame them. Alamesiya came out of the prison the other day and he was celebrated, they gave him a grand reception when he came to Bayelsa State and this was the man who took stealing beyond the shores of Nigeria. When James Ibori of Delta State returns, he will set the state on fire because he still remains the kingmaker in that place”. Waheed Bakare, another seasoned journalist, who was a discussant in the edition, expressed doubt if the Senate committee could be trusted the auditorgeneral’s report that is before the lawmakers.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

Wazobia FM’s Chiboi

h i a g o z i e Agoawike otherwise known as Chiboi hails from EhimeMbano LGA of Imo State. He was born to a family of three kids and he grew up in Jos, Plateau State where he attended Fatima Private School, Saint Joseph's College, Vom, and the University of Jos where he studied Zoology. Chiboi found out

quite early that entertainment was a part of him as music, radio, comedy

Chiboi

and dancing are the lifestyle for the young people in Jos. Everyone has some form of entertainment to bring to the table when it came to Chiboi's friends. Little wonder his friends from way-back include Peter and Paul (P-Square), Jude Abaga (M.I), Kevin Pam (BBA winner), Katung Aduwak (BBN winner) and Joey Lar (OAP Cool FM Kano).

Programme summary

Islam Channel ISLAM(347) Daily @ 6AM

Rejoice with the lord Daystar TV (344) Monday @6am

It provides innovative programmes that personalises Islamic theme as well as entertaining its viewers.

It is a national religious telecast of the morning service from the Pensacula Christian Caampus Church.

TELEVISION

Saturday 7:30 Business Africa 8:30 Destiny Encounter 9:00 Cartoon 10:00 Super Book 10:30 Sports File 11:30 Snakes and Lizards 12:00 Souncity Top Choice Videos 1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta 2:35 Village Square 4:10 Movie 5:35 Los Rey 6:20 Spice Most 7:00 News Headline 7:10 Footprints 8:00 Pulse 234 8:30 Spider 9:00 Spice Specials 9:30 Soundcity Party Mix 10:30 Omnisport Sunday 8:00 Hutos 9:05 Arambara 9:35 Village Square 11:05 Snakes and Lizards 12:00 Soundcity’s Global Countdown 1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta

2:40 Village Square 4:10 Movie 5:35 Los Rey 6:30 Glam Mamas 7:05 Before 30 7:30 Saints 8:00 Sunday Paparazzi Show 8:30 Spider 9:00 On the Couch 10:25 Omnisports 10:50 Movies

WAP TV

Saturday 06:00 Wap-Alaffs Report 06:30 Popular Songs 07:00 Kookoorokoo 09:30 Indomitable 10:00 Sport Arena 11:00 Awokogbon 12:30 Nnena and Friends 01:00 D Beat Zone 02:00 Destiny River Report 02:30 Reel Naija Spare my Life O4:30 Teju Baby Face Show 4:00 World News 4:30 Turning Point 5:00 Personalities Places and Events 5:30 Our Ladies Our Pride 6:00 Hitlist & Cruzing 6:30 Making of a Chef 7:00 The Valley Between 8:00 AIT News Hour 9:00 Tales of Eve 10:00 Taste of Love 12:00 Sunday Homily Sunday 06:00 Wap-Alaffs Report 06:30 Turning Point 07:00 The Relevant Church 07:30 Kookoorokoo 09:30 700 Club 10:00 Awokogbon Kogbodeye 11:30 X2D 12:00 Indian Series Omnibus 01:30 The Benjamins O2:00 Video Fashion 02:30 Thousand Laugh Xtra 04:30 Reel Naija Spare My Life 6:00 Igbo Series 6:30 Clinic Matters 7:00 I Love Nigeria 8:00 Knorr Taste Quest 9:00 Tales of Eve

RADIO

Rainbow 74.1 FM Saturday 7:30 You and your Marriage 8:00 Whispers 9:00 Sports Tackle 10:00 Family Life 11:00 Kids on Radio 12:00 Hot Gist and D Sport 4:00 Wazobia Flavour 6:00 Request and Shout 11:30 Icon Saturday

Sunday 8:00 The Word with Interaction 9:00 God Bless Nigeria 10:00 Rainbow Gospel Gig 11:00 Talk your Own 11:30 Story Story 12:00 Classic Music 5: 00 180 Degrees 5:30 House Party Mix 9:00 Akamara 10:30 Afro Classic

Radio continental 102.3 fm Saturday 77:30 Papers Today 8:00 Good Living 10:00 Saturday Sports 12:45 Replay Africa 1:00 Fan Zone 4:00 Me & You 6:00 Entertainment Unscripted 7:30 Afrobeat Tonight 9:00 Single Life 10:30 Old School Groove

Sunday 7:00 Press Report 8:00 Church without Barrier 10:30 Think You Know the Bible 11:00 Country Music 1:00 Chart Busters 2:30 Palaver 5:00 World News 6:00 Youth Connect 8:00 Sunday Evening Groove 10:00 Music

34 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

If my dad sits across the room, I won’t recognise him –Granville Singer, actor and producer, Charles Granville, is back to the studio to raise his game. His gospel song, ‘Titi Lailai’ became an instant hit when it was released. Today, he is very involved in the movie industry where he also records soundtracks. He speaks to LANRE ODUKOYA on his acting debut, music and more. You are about to release another single. Why did it take so long to come up with a new song? The last song I did was ‘Titi Lailai’ and when you have a song with such success, it is always a big task to do another song. You will always want to outdo your last work. So I have been in the studio trying to top my last effort. As you probably know, I am also doing a lot of work in the movie world. I have been doing music and soundtrack for films and TV shows. You may have noticed that I have also been acting in some movies lately. I also do casting and co-produce movies. I have been very much involved in Nollywood in recent time. I am working to release the soundtrack I did for one of Chico Ejiro’s movies, called When Dreams Fall Apart. The song is entitled ‘Angel’. There has been a lot of demand for me to release the song to the public and I will be doing that soon. Also, my birthday is coming soon and I need to give my fans a gift. So, I will be releasing it on my birthday. What informed your decision to move into movies from music? Some people have just one talent, some have more. I like the possibility of exploring all the talents that I have. I didn’t know that I could act and that is because I never tried it. My first outing was on Obi Emelonye’s ‘Last Flight to Abuja’. I played a company executive who was meant to be on that flight but my daughter kept asking me not to go. So I did not go at the end of the day. After the movie, I tried to get people’s opinion, and they all told me how fantastic I was. That spurred me on to do more roles. Now the confidence is there. I also do a lot of music for the movies I act in even on Last Flight to Abuja.

me to do the song for them and not the other way round. But in the long run, if your song is good, you will definitely make money out of it one way or the other. What do you mean when you say it is not about the money? A lot of people do music for the wrong reasons, or let me say, for different reasons. Some do it for the money. Some see musicians making money and they too jump into the studio to sing. They can’t sing, they can’t follow the beats, the producer will have to use technology to make them sound good. When the song is out, they mime to their own songs on stage. Give them a live band and you will find out that they cannot sing to save their lives. For them, it is a business. For me, it is inborn. It is a passion for me. Music is a friend, my father, my mother and my com-

panion. With all I have experienced in life, I have always found joy when I sing. That is what I eventually started reaping from. Even till today I still do a lot of work gratis because it is not all about the money like I said. I am sure you have heard stories of people who said that they were on the verge of committing suicide and were uplifted by a certain song. That is the kind of thing that gives me joy. I want people to listen to my song and be happy and joyous. When exactly did you decide to go into music? Like every child I wanted to be a doctor while growing up. It wasn’t because I knew what it meant to be a doctor, but because that was what every child at that time was saying. But as I was growing, I discovered that I could sing. It is not that I was singing for people to hear but, like I said, I used music to give myself succour. I did not know people were listening. No one said anything to me, so I kept singing. It was not until I got into secondary school that I was noticed and encouraged. The proprietor of my secondary school who was also a musician noticed that I could sing and on that very day took me for a concert. I performed with him and his wife on stage and everyone clapped. I was so carried away that I did not know when they left me on the stage. I just kept on singing. It was un-

What was your experience the first time on set? It was a very big challenge for me. I was scared and I won’t lie to you. I have fans out there who listen to my music, and I do not want them to see me mess up in a movie. There were a lot of expectations and I did not want to let anyone down. So it was not easy at first but I had help. I had help from the director himself. Hakim Kae Kazeem also helped a lot. When I started and I was not doing well at first, he noticed it. He asked the director to excuse both of us. We went somewhere private and he taught me some skills that really changed my view of acting. In the few minutes he spent with me, he was able to instruct me on some basic techniques that instantly worked for me. When I got back on set, it was all smooth sailing for me. Doing soundtracks or releasing your own personal works, which is more profitable? It’s not all about the money. Each has its own profitability that is unquantifiable. For me to produce a song for myself, I will have to pay the studio session and production fees. I will also have to dole out money for promotion. But for soundtracks, it is someone else paying

til I looked back that I found out they had left the stage. I quickly dropped the microphone and ran off stage. The crowd burst into laughter. So that was my first introduction into stage performance. He is Pastor Belemina Obunge. Today he is the national youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. From there, I started getting invitations to perform. I later started training choirs. Then I had a choir of my own. Before you know, we were going for competitions and we were winning a lot of them. Later I started a foundation where I discovered and trained talents. Actors, dancers, singer, and comedians were all accepted. It was from that foundation that we discovered a lot of talents in the NigerDelta, who are till today many of the top comedians. Did you have it easy growing up? I will be lying if I said I had it easy. It was not easy for me growing up in Port Harcourt. It was not a pleasant experience and even the memory of it now can bring tears to my eyes. My parents separated too early and my mum raised four of us all on her own. She did her best in raising four boys but you know, it is not easy for a woman raising even just one boy. I wish I had a complete family, I wish I had a father figure, I wish I had a relationship with my father but I never did. He never came around, he never added one naira to our upbringing. He did not know whether we went to school or not. In fact, till today, I still do not have a relationship with him. If he sat across the room here, I would not recognise him. He had no hand or influence in my life whatsoever. It was later in life when I was getting successful and I was on television that he came around. My mum said he came and said that I was his son and that he wants me. When I heard that, I said ‘what?’ There are some friends who advised that I make a move and try to meet the man, but why should I be the one to make the move. I did not abandon him, he abandoned me. He should make the move. He thinks I am a billionaire because all I hear is he wants his share of the money. I will rather he’s not be by my side. My mum was the only one who invested in me and of course my proprietor who discovered my talents. You recently admitted you had just left a relationship that was leading to marriage. What do you look for in a woman? I am not the type to make a list. I don’t bother myself about things I cannot change. I look out for things I can change. Nobody is perfect. In fact, if I see someone perfect now I will flee. It shows that you are masking something. I look for humility and she must be able to complement me. She must also be able to appreciate, understand and support what I am doing. Trust is also very important. What turns me on most is self-confidence.

Granville

Many who keep your kind of hairstyle say it’s spiritual, is yours? No, that’s not it at all. The hair does not even go well with a lot of things I do. People judge you sometimes by the way you look, but I like challenges. I had an Afro hairdo before, but my good friend Samsong started keeping the Afro as well. After a while people started calling me Samsong and they started calling him Granville. I decided it was time for a new branding. My girl who was then my fiancé asked me to do the rough dreadlocks at the time. I did it and it has grown to this now.

Showbiz 35

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

19 MARCH 2016

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Dakore Akande, Agbani Darego, others storm Interior By Designs launch

he launch of the new TV Reality show, tagged “Interiors By Design”, was held at Angelika’s, Lagos choice luxury home on Sunday, March 20, graced by seasoned professionals in the world of design, finance, media and entertainment to celebrate REDTV, Glam Networks and the Interiors By Design team. The lucky winner of the new TV Reality show will not only be crowned Africa’s “Next Interiors Star” but will also have the opportunity to receive further training in one of UK’s leading Interior design schools, as well as an unparalleled profile on Africa’s hottest online network. The show is part of REDTV’S roster of pioneering content highlighting the very best of talent across the African continent. The Chairman of UBA Plc (principal sponsors of REDTV), Tony Elumelu, expressed his delight that UBA is supporting the noble endeavours of the producers in encouraging young talent. Also GMD designate of UBA Plc. Kennedy Uzoka, said that championing unique programmes such as Interior By Design is part of the bank’s greater mission to equip and empower the next generation, and to show that UBA is very much in touch with the needs, desires and concerns of this crucial demo-

graphic who are pivotal to Africa’s future successes. Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications of UBA, Mrs. Bola Atta, encouraged the audience to subscribe to REDTV channel on YouTube and embrace its mission of setting the narrative for a dynamic and successful Africa. The audience at the launch also got an opportunity of a sneak peak of the show. It was a chance to congratulate one of their own, Titi Fowora and to raise a glass to REDTV for being at the forefront of such a pioneering programme which seeks to shine the spotlight on the interior design industry in Nigeria and across Africa. Top dignitaries present at the occasion included, Tony Elumelu, Kennedy Uzoka, Mrs. Onari Duke, Agbani Darego, Dakore Akande, Ozzy Agu, Betty Irabor, Fade Ogunro, Lanre Da Silva- Ajayi, Folake Folarin-Coker, Nkiru Anumudu, Bola Awolowo, Mai Atafo among several others. The audience left with appetite fully sated for the roller coaster ride on Season 1 of Interiors By Design on REDTV, that will display the twists and turns and sift between the pretenders and the real-deal, as well as discover the many incredible spaces and places that make up the cultural and aesthetic landscape of Nigeria and Africa.

TURNING P INT With YOMI CASUAL

didn’t see my success coming very soon. But I won’t also say it is soon because this is my eight years in the business, though I am also aware that we have people in the industry who are yet to acquire what I have within 10 years. So it's God really; it is not my creativity alone My interest in fashion became huge when I moved to Lagos and saw few pieces of Mudi, who I call my mentor. It was really nice and I asked how much people were paying for them. Despite the fact that I like to look good, I saw that there was money in the business as well. I looked at Mudi’s lifestyle and saw that he was very big in the fashion industry. I then got encouragement I needed from my brother, AY. Since my brother was a celebrity, it brought me closer to all the celebrities in Lagos. When I tell them that my name is Yomi Casual and I am AY’s younger brother, they become nice to me. I now have many celebrities who are willing to wear my products here and there. I actually started as a model because I didn’t believe I could make money from fashion. But the experience wasn’t a good one. I would go for auditions and they would tell me I was too black. I actually gave up modelling at that point and concentrated on fashion. But I became bigger than most of my friends modelling within a year."

Toyin Aimakhu’s ex-husband taunts with new post

his might well be another way to taunt controversial actress, Toyin Aimakhu, by her estranged husband, Adeniyi Johnson. The post seems too clear to debate that it mocks Aimakhu who just fell in and out of love with socialite, Seun Egbegbe. The actor’s latest Instagram post reads: "Of all your strategies and struggles what have u achieved? Man proposes only God disposes man's plan. I'm a man with God that's why he keeps keeping me..DON'T LOSE A CROWN RUNNING AFTER A WIG. Wigs fade in little time but Crown is eternal and gives dignity. Prestige, integrity and honour. God bless our hustle. God owns my life. GOD OVER ALL. Aimakhu and husband Only the wise can relate."

Daddy Freeze excited as Lekki Garden boss gets bail

fter intense arguments over whether or not the owner of the collapsed building at Lekki should be freed, the court has finally granted Richard Nyong bail after he was initially arrested. The collapsed building killed over 30 people in Lagos State. One of the celebs championing his right to bail, On-air-personality, Daddy Freeze, has jumped into jubilation since the news broke. The man put some defense for Nyong on his Instagram captioned, "Breaking!!!! LEKKI Gardens boss Richard Nyong granted bail!” He continues: “GOD is indeed faithful. Like I earlier said, I am not saying he shouldn't be tried, my emphasis lies greatly

on a fair trial, without stripping away his dignity. Also the alleged human rights violation/abuse reported in this case (which I won't talk about in this post) is another thing I am absolutely against! Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat (the burden of proof is on the one who declares, not on one who denies), is the principle that one is considered innocent unless proven guilty. In criminal law, Blackstone's formulation (also known as Blackstone's ratio or the Blackstone ratio) is the principle that: It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer" - William Blackstone. If we want democracy and its dividends we must learn to embrace justice for all.

Tonto Dikeh: Why I parted ways with D’banj

ollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, veered into music in October 2012 with the release of her controversial singles, Hi and Itz Ova, before signing a deal with DB records in July 2014. The actress who welcomed her first child in February has confirmed parting ways with the D’banj-led record label. In her latest interview with Golden Icons, she says, “No, I’m no longer with DB records.” On why she left the label, she says, “Nothing really, D’banj is a very sweet person. I think he’s one of the best people I’ve known on earth and that’s no joke. I love him so much as my brother, but we couldn’t work it out business wise.” Going forward, she says she’ll remain under her entertainment company called ‘Poko Entertainment’. In her words, “I do have an entertainment company called Poko Entertainment, and I really want to kick-start it after I take care of my baby for a little while.”

Tonto and D'Banj

36 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Celebrity RĂ&#x2C6;sume

Real name: Bose Oladimeji Stage name: Boseaiyemi First single: Catch Me produced by DJ klem for knighthouse First director: Bayo Tijani First movie: Oniduro Major influence: Mami Mentors: Bimbo Akintola, Jackie Apiah Most wanted collaboration: Olu Jacobs Ugliest moment on stage: As a new entrant, I forgot my lines on set. I just went dumb until I had to revert to my script Reaction from parents to career: They are very supportive Most heard songs: Celine Dion -Because You Love Me Ring tone: Don Moen Best personal items : My handbag and mobile phone Best colour: Blue and pink Best food: Amala and ewedu Favourite holiday spot: With family at the beachside Man crush: Chris Pine Sate of origin: Kwara State Zodiac sign: Leo

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

The Arts

26 MARCH 2016

UK, Europe, there is nothing like Hitlist N Cruzin. That’s to say that when you talk about originality, you talk about local content going international, you talk about Hitlist N Cruzin. That concept, that content alone is what’s giving us awards. So if the major awards are coming now, glory be to God, because it means that someone sat down somewhere to look deep into the programme to understand that it’s one hundred percent original. Not like it’s being done in America and we’re replicating it in Nigeria. It’s our own concept in going global; so it’s its concept and content speaking for us.

HITLIST N CRUZIN

We want to celebrate everybody in Nigeria —Adinoyi

Do you think this award will open the way for many more? I believe so. I believe that sometimes you wait for something to happen, and when it happens, the best you can do is to keep praying that your work should not be in vain, that others should recognise you as well. And now that NBMA has recognised us, the next thing that will definitely come into any rightful thinking man’s mind is that many people are recognising the good work we’re doing. So we pray that others who organise awards of this nature in Nigeria should look into what we’re doing and honour us.

Mursty Adinoyi is the presenter and producer of Hitlist N Cruzin which won the Best Entertainment Programme on TV Award at the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards held recently in Abuja. The Kogi State-born producer in this interview with TONY OKUYEME shares his experience and plans. How do you feel winning the NBMA Best Entertainment Programme on TV Award? You know, sometimes, you can’t even express how you really feel when such awards come your way. In the first place, to be nominated in that category alone it was a big one for me, but then winning it again means that Nigerians are watching us, and love what we’re doing, and so you’re appreciated with an award. The joy is much and you have this feeling of satisfaction that the purpose of doing what you’re doing is to touch people, to make people enjoy what you’re doing, and then you receive an award of this magnitude, that is to say that Nigerians you’re entertaining are actually appreciative. So I feel wonder-

least we’re captain.

What are your next plans for Hitlist N Cruzin? We have a lot of them. Sometimes, when you have a lot of plans, you just have to take it step by step, one after the other. We’re looking at being able to celebrate everybody in Nigeria, which is a bit tough. We hope that by the time the security in the north improves, we can go to the north. When we have enough security in the south-south, we should be seen in Port Harcourt.

Would you say you’re producing Hitlist N Cruzin in a better way than you used to, from your experience over the years? Of course, life is all about moving forward. The way we started is not the way it is right now. Definitely there’s improvement in what we’re doing. But apart from that improvement, the concept and content of Hitlist N Cruzin is what is giving us awards, because we’re not like any other entertainment programme or any other programme for that matter. When you see us, you see that we don’t copy anybody; and when you look at programmes all over the world, US,

How are you celebrating the award? We’ve been celebrating it. We’ve cut cake, and one of my brothers, Senator Ahmed Ogembe, just won the senatorial seat of Kogi Central and we intend to visit him with the award. We’ll also call on my Governor, Yahaya Bello and Dr. Tom Adaba for their blessings as part of our celebrations. That’s after dedicating it to God Almighty and our fans. And we’ll further move around to celebrate it with a lot of good people who have been with us over the years and show them that this is what we’re doing and what they’re supporting us for.

Adinoyi with the award

ful, grateful, happy, blessed, and I thank God so much and all the people who’ve supported and are supporting us. Is this Hitlist N Cruzin’s first award? This is our first major award. I believe that you always have your time in anything you do. In a sports team for instance, at a particular time, a certain person may become the team’s captain. If it’s not your turn to become captain, there’s nothing you can do. You cannot force it. You might join the team, and within two, three years, you become captain. It depends on how fast it gets to your turn. But sometimes you might stay, you know, for forever without even being captain. The joy is that at

Beacon of Ikorodu Award for Ayanbguren at ICDA 2016

A group performing at a previous edition of ICDA

Tony Okuyeme

he highpoint of this year’s edition of Ikorodu Community Development Awards (ICDA) which holds on Saturday, April 30, at Ikorodu Ultra-modern Town Hall, will be the presentation of The Beacon of

Ikorodu Award - highest award - to His Royal Majesty, The Ayanbguren of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Shotobi Adegorunshen V. Now in its fourth year, the annual ICDA award celebrates resident of Ikorodu Division or an indigene of Ikorodu that is doing the community proud outside the division in various areas of endeavours including the creative arts, sport, business, community development among others. Past recipients include: veteran actress, Sola Onayiga a.k.a Catering Practical, Oriwu Sun Newspaper, late Prof. Dele Awojobi, Papa Agura CDA, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, Elepe Aga CDA, Azeeza Osuola and others. The 2016 award categories include: Arts & Entertainment; the Bishop Mike Okonkwo Award for the Most Outstanding Secondary School; Rhoda Youth Award for Student with Best WASSCE result; Female Student with best WASSCE result; Sports; Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade Award for the Most Outstanding CDA; Market of the Year; Garage of the Year etc. Announcing that the highpoint of 2016 edition of ICDA will be the presentation of The Beacon of Ikorodu Award - highest award - to His Royal Majesty, The Ayanbguren of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Shotobi Adegorunshen V, the Chairman of the foundation, Mr. Austin Awulonu, said that

the foundation had been encouraged to sustain the award by the positive comments and feedbacks from residents of Ikorodu since 2013 when the award was first held. Awulonu stated this when he led a delegation of the foundation on a visit to Oba Adewale Shotobi Adegorunshen V. He said ICDA is an event that promotes selfless service, industry, harmony, honesty, education, creativity among others within Ikorodu. He added that it had grown in credibility since its debut in 2013, with notable Ikorodu indigenes and key stakeholders endowing some of the award categories. “It is a testimony to the integrity of the awards that winners like Papa Agura CDA and Ms. Owoduni went on to win further laurels from Lagos State,” he said. Responding, The Ayanbguren of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Shotobi Adegorunshen V pledged support for ICDA, saying: “The level we want to take Ikorodu to, I am glad that I am not the only one thinking in that direction; there are other people who are also keying into the vision to develop Ikorodu. “I am so glad that all what you have read out is in line with what I put together before I even ascended the throne of my forefathers. I really appreciate your coming and I will see how I can be of assistance. You have my support,”

FRED NWAOZOR

“H

ello handsome!” Lady Bolanle greeted. The salutation was dished out as she walked closer to the supposed recipient having caught sight of him in the distance in one of the most famous supermarkets in Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria. Bolanle, a single mother at 45 whose only child begotten out of wedlock was ten years old, was no doubt a prosperous importer who specialised in all kinds of gold jewellery. Owing to her ego, she had vowed never to settle down with any man or to be under any mortal in the name of ‘marriage’; to her, marriage was a forsaken union. Towards quenching her libido, she went for any young man whom she chose or whomsoever she found suitable for her classy person. “Hi!” the supposed recipient, Akeem responded, still concentrating on the wares showcased in the shelves. Going by the tone of her abrupt greeting, he needed not a seer to interprete what she was up to. Akeem a bachelor at 30 though deeply engaged, was a graduate of Human Physiology from the Lagos State University (LASU), Iyana-Oba, Lagos State who was yet to secure a promising job. “Sorry for bashing into you.” Bolanle tendered. “Noted,” Akeem said, looked at her. “What can I do for you?” He added unfriendly though seemed charmed by her elegant look. Bolanle who had her handbag in her left hand was indeed both in nature and appearance a very attractive lady that had all it takes to win the attention of any man regardless of what he was made up of; she was fair, huge and about 1.8 metres tall. She put on a multicoloured dress, grey balancedheeled sandals, low-cut hairs and sunshade spectacles coupled with designer perfume and various gold jewellery ranging from earrings to necklace, wristwatch and what have you – everything on her was golden in appearance as it could be testified by even a visually impaired being. On his part; Akeem, clad in black jean trousers, light-green shirt, black trainers spotted with red colour and a red cum black baseball cap, was about 1.74 metres tall, chocolate and plump; though financially less-privileged, he was actually looking resplendent and buoyant in his dress. Bolanle who leaned on one of the shelves stylishly removed her specs. “Don’t you think you are being harsh?” she queried cheerfully. “Common.., be a gentleman.” This time, they were facing each other and closer too; both of them were carrying their trolleys in their right hands. “Sorry if that was harsh.” “It’s okay,” she said. “Well, I’m Bolanle.., but you can call me Bola.”

ShortStory Such a mess

“Alright,” he replied. “I’m Akeem.” “Let me not waste your time,” she hinted, dipped her right hand into her handbag. “This is my card.” She added handing over her complimentary card to him. “What for?” He queried, ignoring the offer. “Please take it,” she urged. “Call me anytime, we need to talk.” He reluctantly collected the card and glanced at it stylishly. She smiled over the compliance. “I still don’t understand,” said Akeem. “What are we to talk about?” “Till you call, Mr…” She said, seemed to had forgotten his name. “Akeem.” He reminded. She nodded. “Mr. Akeem, please try and call me, okay?” she enjoined looked into his eyes passionately. “You would be glad you did.” “I will try.” He said, looked away and continued with his shopping. “Cute man indeed.” She thought pleasantly, looked at him for the last time and left the arena for where she was, felt fulfilled.

He was so myopic to be preoccupied with the notion that whenever he disclosed to her the intention of settling down, she would hastily hug, cuddle him and therein lick his toes

On Friday March 22, 2002 being exactly three days cum three nights after the incident having employed reasonable delay and tactics, Akeem made up his mind to put a call across to Bolanle with the opinion that the lady might be of help to his future since he was still job-hunting; a call that instantly transformed his status from a weary to a magnificent one just like a magic. During the phone call, they scheduled for a meeting at her office. Consequently, she succeeded in luring him into her net; Akeem concurred with her proposal to go on a date with him having disclosed to her that he had a fiancée. Keeping a ‘sugar mummy’ in his life was one of the ‘evil’ experiences he never dreamt of, little did he know that he would someday fell prey to such a mess. Afterwards, the moment the romantic affair commenced, Akeem was provided with everything a man of his age needed as he was promised; he could boast of a car, expensive wears and a befitting house in Benin, Edo State where he chose to relocate to. Prior to this time, he had lied to his pretty fiancée Bukola who

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

frednwaozor@gmail.com +2348028608056 Follow: @mediambassador

was also resident in Lagos State that he secured a job in Benin with an oil servicing firm; the lie became consequential because he needed to distance himself from her in order to avoid any iota of suspicion that might arise in the future. Bolanle was very comfortable with the arrangement; she was frequenting Benin whenever she wanted to meet him, or she would send for him directly to a hotel suite in any locality in Lagos – apparently the choice was hers. The ugly scenario proceeded for over six months till one fateful day when Akeem thought it wise to lead Bukola down the aisle. Subsequently, he disclosed the intention to Bolanle who rejected it emphatically and threatened to make his precious life miserable if he dare went ahead with the plan. The unpredicted altercation dawned the awful truth on his person. He was so myopic to be preoccupied with the notion that whenever he disclosed to her the intention of settling down, she would hastily hug, cuddle him and therein lick his toes since he told her from the onset that he was seriously engaged. Though at the beginning she agreed to allow him get married with his fiancée whenever he chose to, but obviously it’s easier said than done; no sane woman would be glad to watch her man walk out of her life let alone when the woman in question had spent a fortune on him. The depressed and flabbergasted Akeem who felt suppressed later wore a bold skin, hence decided to give her warnings a deaf ear. Thus, he went ahead with his plan to settle down with Bukola having estranged from Bolanle. In view of this, he sold his duplex in Benin and relocated to Asaba, Delta State having told his wifeto-be that he got a transfer. Bolanle seemed to had been spying on Akeem right from when their estrangement set in contrary to Akeem’s presumption that there was no way she could trace him; needless to state that she was smarter than him. Two weeks on, Saturday 14th of December 2002 specifically, Akeem who hailed from Ogun State headed for Oyo State to pay Bukola’s dowry. On his way to the epoch-making ceremony in the company of his friends and relatives including his parents, the beautifully groomed bridegroom who wore a traditional tartan kilt was brutally murdered in cold blood along Lagos-Ibadan expressway; the assassins comprising three huge men whom had stopped the deceased’s motorcade for a brief scrutiny disguised themselves as policemen. It was a very hard blow to his parents alongside the bride who got the news in a jiffy. • Nwaozor novelist, playwright and poet, is Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research & Career Development - Owerri

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Travel & Tourism

CHEF'S CORNER

t is Easter celebration, a joyous and fulfilling moment. Therefore, in the spirit of the season why don’t you give yourself and loved ones a special treat by trying out this special recipe offered by Sandra Lee of Foodnetwork?

Corned beef and cabbage with herb buttered potatoes

Ingredients: • Three pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet • Two carrots, cut into two-inch pieces • Two medium onions, chopped • One small head green cabbage, cored, roughly chopped • Two cups apple juice • One cup water • One and a half pounds baby red potatoes, sliced in 1/2 • One and a half stick butter, softened • One tablespoon chopped garlic • Two tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation: Corned Beef: Put the carrots and onions on the bottom of slow cooker, and put the corned beef on top. Arrange the chopped cabbage around the beef. Add the apple juice and one cup of water along with the contents of the spice packet. Cook on low six to eight hours until the beef is tender. Remove the beef and vegetables to a platter and keep warm. Potatoes: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 12 to 15 minutes. Drain and return them to the pot. Add the butter, garlic, parsley, and salt, and pepper, to taste. Gently combine so that all the potatoes are evenly coated. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with corn beef and vegetables from the slow cooker.

TRAVEL BEATS

Zimbabwe shines at ITB Berlin 2016 Travel Personality

Patrick Ugbe: Rebranding Cross River was great achievement

p.40

Hospitality

Jerome’s Garden and Suites: Basking in nature’s haven p.41

Destination

Old Oyo National Park: A mixed blend of wildlife, historical, cultural heritage

p.42

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA Editor, TRAVEL&TOURISM iroandy@ymail.com

Zimbabwe received the Best Destination for adventure Award from the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) at the recently held International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany. The award was presented to the country’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry; Dr. Engineer Walter Mzembi, at an award ceremony officiated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary General, Dr. Talib Rifai on the sidelines of ITB 2016. In his acceptance speech, Mzembi was upbeat that the award would help in consolidating Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s destination promotion efforts and strategies already under implementation to attract more tourists from the Pacific and Asian markets. “Bestowing of this achiever tourism destination status by PATWA affirms the evident interest in the country’s tourism offering as witnessed during the ITB tourism fair. The award distinguishes the

country’s tourism vibrancy despite the challenges the industry continues to face in adequately executing destination promotion initiatives in various markets around the world. “The award comes at time the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry is championing an all-encompassing national brand so as to fully realise the country’s tourism, investment and trade potential,” said the minister. PATWA is a professional organisation of travel writers which was founded in 1998, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with India as its base. PATWA is an organisation responsible for tourism development in the Asia Pacific region. PATWA also adheres to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United Nations (UN), and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in all its business processes.

Wakanow, KQ holidays for travelscope youth tourism forum Travelscope, the leading online travel company in Nigeria, is to host the seventh edition of its yearly Youth Tourism and Holiday Leaders Forum with Wakanow.com and KQ Holidays signing up for the May 4 event holding in Ibadan. According to the publisher of the magazine and organiser, Omololu Olumuyiwa, "This year’s edition of the annual youth tourism forum as expected will rally participants from all walks of life to a day of tourism education and scholarships for some lucky participant”, Olumuyiwa hinted. Olumuyiwa stated further that the theme of this year’s edition is ‘Reviving Tourism and Hospitality sector in Nigeria - A Way Forward’ and will throw light on different areas to solve issues bothering the industry and stakeholders.

Some of the expected speakers are Dr. Carol Ogunlade of Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Mr. Kenneth Oudah, Stay Up Aviation Institute of Technology and Dr. Tijani Olawale, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). While KQ Holidays and Wakanow.com, will at the forum educate participants on its online platform and their various services that will be of great value to them, travel agents and stakeholders in the travel industry. “Youth must be encouraged as they are the future of the tourism advancement in Nigeria and Travelscope Magazine will continue to work assiduously to see that youth tourism is given its rightful place in the scheme of things,” added Olumuyiwa.

Soltan Travels and Tours welcomes TBI on Royal Caribbean cruise From Soltan Travel and Tours Limited, the pioneer and leading wholesale cruise agent for Nigeria and Ghana, as well as the official representative for Cruises International in Nigeria, has given a thumbs to Tour Brokers International, one of Nigeria’s leading tour firms for coming on board Royal Caribbean cruise as one of its sales outlet in Nigeria. “TBI was one of the first agencies to run with our vision of promoting cruise vacations in Nigeria, while their representative participated in our very first agents Fam Cruise in September, 2006. We are proud of how far they have come and are glad they have found their niche in the market,” said the Managing Director of Soltan, Travels and Tours, Mrs. Victoria Soluade, in her congratulatory message to the tour firm. She further stated that “I therefore seize this opportunity to encourage other agents who are yet to sell cruise holidays to join us. For those who prefer to specialise in a particular cruise product or destination, you are welcome so to do.” Soltan Travels’ products offer includes over 18 Ocean and River cruise companies. There is such a wide variety to suit every sector of the market.

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26 MARCH 2016

PATRICK UGBE

Rebranding Cross River was great achievement P

Andrew Iro Okungbowa atrick Ugbe cuts his teeth as a thoroughbred broadcaster before crossing over to the public sector about eight years ago where he first served as the chief press secretary to the former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke and later commissioner for information and ending as the commissioner for youth and sports development. He also experimented with partisan politics when last year he joined the fray and contested for the governorship ticket of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He, however, stepped down in support of the current governor of the state, Professor Ben Ayade. But he has put that not too successful experimentation behind him and has gone back to his first love -broadcasting by setting up the first private radio station, Hint 95.9 FM, in his state with Calabar as the operational base. The new station, which hit the air waves last year December and formally commissioned this month, is riding the crest and enjoying rave reviews and enjoying patronage from the general populace Patrick Ugbe who is the chief executive officer and his team, are the happier for this instant success and fame. On this fateful Saturday morning, Ugbe took this reporter on tour of the radio station before settling down in his cosy office where he spoke extensively on his new venture and life as a public officer among others.

TRAVEL PERSONALITY lessly to ensure that we hit the airwaves.” Why Calabar? Of course, I am from Cross River State, I have seen that gap in broadcasting because this is the first private broadcasting outfit in Calabar. That gap has always been there, people yearning for quality broadcast, quality radio and quality TV. That need has always been there so we have come to fill that gap. What we intend to do is to give people the best of music and the best of talk, which is what we have as our pay-off line: Best music, best talk, in a very professional manner. Broadcasting is meant to entertain, educate and inform and those three things are what we would do by focusing on music and talk.” A risky business Well, doing it anywhere is a risk because business itself is a risk. So, it is the same kind of risk that I will face doing it in Lagos that I am going to face doing it here but we intend to do it professionally because what sustains

I am back to my first love Observing him this morning, it was obvious that Ugbe has transited easily and comfortably well into the broadcasting profession. He carries on with ease and mannerism of a true professional and with a contagious glow that tells you that he is at home with the new venture and enjoying it all the way as he tells you that broadcasting is his life and first love. I have been a broadcast professional before coming into public service, broadcasting is my life. And at the end of public service I think I have returned back to my first love, which is broadcasting. I think it has always been a dream to own and run a professional broadcasting outfit. That dream has been nursed for a very long time now and when an opportunity came, we ceased that opportunity, requested for a licence and got approval for the licence and I have worked tire-

a radio station is advertising such that when the advertisers look to this market we would be the number one choice for them to reach their customers.” Abiding by the ethics of the profession Well, by constantly standing on the side of truth, doing what is professional by keeping up with the ethics of the profession. If you do that I believe that you will go very far and once you create that bond with the people and they see you as their own then you will surely go far. We have a core target of 15-45 years and within this range you will see that the youth, the professionals and all fall within that target area. It is a core target area and it doesn’t mean that we are not going to take care of others. The programming is such that take care of all. A breath of fresh air I must say that it has been amazing because everyone who has tuned unto Hint 95.9 FM keep praising the quality of what they get. They keep praising the quality of presentation, the quality of the music, the quality of the programmes. It is something different. It is a breath of breath air. Broadcasting is costly Financing, that is one, two power. Power is a major issue because you are running 24 hours operations, it means

you are running with alternative power and if you have the power issue solved a whole lot of things will fall into place. Basically those are just the major challenges. Broadcasting improved tremendously Broadcasting has improved tremendously in the past few years as we have seen how broadcasting has helped shape the direction of the country. We are called the fourth estate of the realm not just for nothing because we shape opinions, we shape perceptions of people and we saw what broadcasting did to the way the last election went. A whole lot depended on what the media gave to the people, for that I will say that it has improved tremendously from what it was before. Many years back it was purely government owned but a few private individuals ventured into it and it has blossomed now. A lot more has gone into it and a lot of people now have radio broadcast licences and there is going to be more proliferation of radio stations across the country and what it will do is that eventually we begin to have mixed broadcasting as people would pick areas that they would focus on. The professionals too There is improvement as well because the industry can’t improve without the professionals, the people improving. It is the people’s improvement itself that makes the industry to improve. So, it goes hand in hand, there has been an improvement in the people as well. I distinguished myself serving the people My days in government were very fulfilling and I am happy that I had an opportunity to serve and I want to believe that I distinguished myself in serving the people. I serve creditably. It was another stage of development personally for me as well because there were a lot of things that I learnt at the time which I think I will carry forward in life. Not too challenging, I was doing basically what I like to do, I was in communications and from there I went to youth and sports, which of course still goes hand in hand with communications and as a sport person I loved it. So, I wouldn’t say challenging. Rebranding Cross River was great achievement But I think working through a process with my boss then and a number of people to rebrand Cross River State as a destination for business and leisure I think that was one. And again changing the face of sports in Cross River State, a number of things happened as Cross River became a destination for sporting excellent and there was an improvement in the performance of Cross River State in sport itself and for me I look back

Changing the face of sports in Cross River State, a number of things happened as it became a destination for sporting excellent Ugbe

continued on page 43

Investigations

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26 MARCH 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

ing into our dormitories, stealing from the girls and molesting them. The students complained to no end but the authorities covered it up. There was a tag name for these guys, 'Perplex'.” For Titilayo Are, an old student in the set of 2007, “I’ve been very silent about the sexual abuse case ‘cos I thought I’ll take the back seat. But it’s frustrating to see people defend him on the basis of ‘he is a good teacher, he is a good man, I have known him for years, a man of integrity’. But, do people know the meaning of integrity? Call a spade a spade. A good teacher, why? Because he is very raw and vulgar and excites teenage girls. Take away vulgar language from his teaching and he is just another clueless teacher with a chalk and a board. “Rewind to SS2 (05) in Queen’s College, that man used to flirt with students, made students feel uncomfortable and used disgusting vulgar language. We were too young for the way he treated us and the things he said to us; that was sexual harassment. You don’t need to touch someone physically to sexually harass or abuse them. So, please stop calling him innocent because he is far from it. I can understand sympathisers and friends may find it hard to believe, but he is what he is, a sexual predator to vulnerable young girls. While, Fash Pelumi, wrote on her Facebook account: “Not surprised. ‘Am just a little bit disappointed. Just glad this one is out for the world to hear. It will save other girls a chance from meeting him. There’s too much male freedom in that school. He was indeed a splendid biology teacher.” Apart from students, members of staff are talking too. For instance, a senior member of staff union of the school told Saturday Telegraph. “As for me, I believe that there is no smoke without fire. The only thing I will say is that there should be a proper investigation to unravel the truth.

Students protesting

Nothing should be swept under the carpet. “If you see what the old students are writing on the social media, you will see that what was taken to be rumour by many may not be rumour after all. Nobody can just wake up and fabricate such story. Don’t mind what the school is saying. “These ones that demonstrated are still

young. These students are not the Queen’s College students we used to know. Nobody is as shocked as I am. If it were in those days, they would write petition as soon as anything untoward happens. These set of students are not ready to learn. That is why they were bought over so easily just because they want the marks. “What do they know about demonstrations? Who bought the cardboards that they used for their placards? We have clubs and anytime we hold our meeting we give them our own personal money to go and buy cardboards to use. Demonstration is a punishable offence, why were they not stopped? The demonstration doesn’t tell well of our school. We have sold ourselves out; many think we are covering something. “Sexual molestation happens every day here. This rumour did not start today. There

The case would have gone unnoticed were it not for the media, which brought it to public attention A cross-section of students

One of the Junior students' hostel

are students and even teachers who have been victims . But the problem is that they won’t come out. As teachers, we see a lot of things but we are cowardly sometimes. No teacher wants to be singled out and none wants to lose his or her job. So, we tread with caution. ''One thing about sexual immorality is that it’s not written on the face. I advise the government to do a thorough investigation because it could be our own child tomorrow. Go and read what our old students are posting, I don’t think somebody can buy over all of them. If the government is serious, they will get at something.” Also, Queen’s College parent, who doubles as a teacher in a command secondary school said, “From the little experience I have in my current school, I know that worse things can happen. Forget about the demonstration, students, most times are the ones that sexually harass teachers nowadays. In my school, they have affairs with both teachers and the military men in whose compound our school is located, with impunity. You won’t believe they have cults in public secondary schools and do initiations and teachers dare not raise an eyebrow.” However, the old girls association initiated a 15-man investigative panel at its emergency general meeting with a 48-hour mandate to deliberate on the issue. The panel had since completed its preliminary work. The summary of its findings indicated that, indeed, the allegations are not unfounded. They did not stop there. The ‘big’ girls urged both the police and the education ministry to, without further delay, commence proper, detailed and criminal investigations into the matter. In what looked like a direct reaction to the call, both the ministry and the police, almost immediately constituted panels to scrutinise the allegations with the police inviting the teacher for questioning. But he was released on Thursday after 72 hours with the police. ‘’We have suspended the interrogation of Mr. Osifala until next week,’’ the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, said. Yet, one of the members of the old girls’ panel, who declined to give her name, raised a poser: “When a particular allegation is repetitively being labelled against someone by different persons, common sense demands that the person in question should re-examine himself. The question some discerning minds should concern themselves with is, why this man all the time? People should not allow sentiment to override their sense of judgement.” Rape of innocence A few years back, the PTA of the college tackled a similar case. That incident though was alleged rape involving one of the students, a 12-year-old Junior Secondary School girl and a technician in the school's physics laboratory. The case, like the current one, would have gone unnoticed were it not for the media, which brought it to public attention. The young girl was said to have gone to the physics laboratory to check with the technician who normally brought messages from her parents, whether she had any message. The technician, who must have been eyeing the poor girl for a while, tricked her into a corner of the laboratory, and reportedly overpowered her. Then she defiled her. It was the poor girl's screams that attracted the attention of other students who also alerted the school principal. The rapist, husband of two wives and father of four children, was thereafter handed over to the police. The school principal, according to the report, wept profusely. The students were told to steer clear of the male teachers in the school as that was the first time such an incident would be reported in the school. •Additional report from Ebere Ameh

Travel&Tourism

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DESTINATION The historicity, relics, archaeological findings and cultural heritage are some reasons why you should explore Old Oyo National Park, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA in continuation of his series on the seven national parks

hile six of the seven national parks spread across some states in Nigeria are wholesome combination of vast wildlife resources and rich ecosystem, that of Old Oyo National Park comes with much more resources as it in additional warehouses rich historicity, relics, archaeological findings and cultural heritage of the once famed and powerful Oyo Empire, a reflection of the histonics of the people of western Nigeria. Spanning a landmass of 2, 512 square kilometres in Oyo town, the ancestral home of the Alaafin of Oyo, few kilometres away from Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, South-West Nigeria. The park is a combination of two formal native administrative forest reserves – the Upper Ogun (1936) and Oyo Ile (1941). The name of the park is an apt reflection of its properties, which besides its wildlife resources and ecosystem, are the ruins of the Old Oyo (Oyo Ile) Empire. An empire that you will see from some of the sightings at the park was noted for its rich, powerful and sophisticated political and administrative structures as well as cultural elements, which made it the envy of many empires and kingdoms then. These distinctive ecosystem and historical relics were named reserves in 1952 and finally upgraded to the present status of a national park. One of the most unique and interesting discovering of the park is the fact that its landmass spreads across 10 local government areas of Oyo State and extending to one local government council in neighouring Kwara State. No other national park has such a spread. The first port of call for a visitor to the park is the administrative office, which is located in Oyo, Isokun area along Oyo-Iseyin Road. Here you meet with the officials of the park and you are intimidated with both thephysical and natural properties of the park among others. Once your mission is established and your presence documented, a guide is assigned to you who then brief you and take you on a lifetime expedition of some sorts through one of the richest, most famous and established empires ever in Africa. You

OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK

A blend of wildlife, historical, cultural heritage

Drive way to Serena Mountain Lodge

would be totally confounded and held spellbound by the discovering that you would make as your trudge along with the guide who is well versed with the park’s history and properties. Features: (Physical) The park has a number of interesting features and one of such is the physical platitude, which for many is the first attraction or what strikes you easily as you make your way through the reserve. It bears a beautiful combination of lowland, which is said to be between 330 and 508 metres above the sea level; high forest and dense savannah mosaics woodland; slope along the Ogun River valleys; outcrops of granite and hilly ranges and plains as well as caves and rock shelters, which not only served as homes but as hideaways then for the people during the numerous wars persecuted by them. Besides Upper Ogun River, the cut-

Elepant Sanctuary in Nairobi

ting across the park also are Owu, Owe and Tessi rivers, all adding colours and increasing the leisure attractions of the park especially when it comes to water related activities with the Ikere George Dam also coming into play in this regard while its numerous outcrops and rocky formations as well as hilly ranges beckon adventurous mountaineers and those wishing for some adrenalin push while exploring the park because part of the excitement and fun of visiting lies in meandering through and exploring some of the inner recesses and crevices as well as natural entities. Perhaps if you are the less inclined type, you are most likely to be inspired and buoyed by the presence and daring nature of other visitors that you are most likely to come across on your visit, as the park most time teems with visitors mostly schoolchildren and youths who are on field mission and excursion. Wildlife Nature trail and safari at the park is a pleasurable experience and reason for repeat visits. The richness and vast nature of its ecosystem and its properties, which consist of the luscious forest, savannah and open woodland among others make you hunger for more especially if you are coming from a denuded forest enclaves. Some of the fauna findings include buffaloes, bushbuck, nile crocodile, rock python and land tortoise. Others are lion, elephant (two of the big five), western kob, roan antelope, western hartebeest, grimm’s duiker, oribi, crested porcupine, anubis baboon, spotted hyena, waterbuck, warthog, guinea fowl patas monkey and tantalus monkey. It is believed that the park once haboured the endangered and rare wild dog.

Just like every other national Park, Old Oyo National Park also has a wildlife museum, which is located at the Akoto base camp, one of the base sites where you can relax and refresh before setting out on your exploration again. Birdlife It is also rich in birdlife and what a fun activity it could be for many orthinologists in search of the variety of birdlife existing in the park especially when attracted by their sonorous songs and chirpings at certain intervals. The park is said to host over 30 species of birds including African based and migratory ones. The list include guinea fowl, hammer kops, white headed plover, African fish eagle (Cucumber vociferous), yellow mantled Whydah (Euplectes spp), bush fowl (Francolinus bicalcaratus), Senegal fire-finch (Lagonostica senegalus), grey hornbill (Tockus nasitus) grey heron (Ardea cinerea) bannerman’s weaver (Ploceus bannermani) crossley’s ground and thrush (Zoothera crossleyi). Historical relics The other basic element, which makes the park great is it historical relics which include the ruins, artifacts and archaeological findings of the former Oyo Empire, which was at its peak in 16th Century but met its end in the 18th Century. All of these exhibits are within the northern end of the park and they include the old city walls of Oyo Ile, the great Agbaku cave, which has evidence of stone age, the kosomonu hill, the old Akesan market, Alaafin’s palaces with crucibles of pottery used some centuries ago. You can also enjoy the beautiful scenic views of places like Igboko, Ipapo-

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'My family is my best companion' c o n t i n ue d f r o m pa g e 4 0

at those and I feel happy that yes, somehow we tried our best in doing something. Overcoming bottlenecks in government There would always be bottlenecks but I think if you are focused you can work around those bottlenecks and achieve the results that you want to achieve. That has been my own personal belief. I worked around those bottlenecks and get things done. The most important thing is to get things done and as long as you get things done there are no issues.

Some of the historical heritage

the life and times of Alaafin Sango and the empire itself. Historically, Sango brought prosperity to the Oyo Empire during his reign. He is associated with the sacred animal, the ram, and the colours of red and white. Sango displayed his magical powers by directing lightning unto his own household killing his wives and children. He hanged himself after the incidence; he was deified as the god of thunder and lightning. Akoto tourist camp Located within the park, the camp, which is near Sepeteri village, one of the rural communities of the park, offers guest accommodation for visitors staying overnight to sleep, relax and unwind while on nature trail. Some of its facilities include restaurant, swimming pool and a number of recreational amenities. It also has a youth hostel. ile and Kaso. Kase is the site where Alaafin Sango, one of the most powerful and revered lords of Yoruba cosmology, committed suicide. Some Nigerian movie makers have produced interesting flicks on

SEE THE

WORLD

istory was made last month when the ground breaking ceremony of La Campagne Tropicana River Resort Koton Karfi in Kogi State held at the resort’s site amidst colourful celebration and feasting by the people of Koton Karfi and others in attendance at the event. Thirty years on La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, which first debuted in Ikegun Village in Lekki axis of Lagos as African theme resort has extended its tentacles, the first, outside its traditional Lekki home where it has played host to both the high and mighty and people of all sorts who over the years have not only found solace but pleasure, entertainment and fulfillment as well as profound joy in the blend of rare African and sophisticated offerings of the resort. The new resort is to seat on 89.7 hectares stretch of land with the River Niger forming a lake across the land. Interestingly, just like the Lekki resort, which has

Accessing the park The park is easy to access and can be accessed from any part of the country either by air via Ibadan airport and completing the rest of the journey on road, which is less than one hour drive by road.

Not be able to host the National Sports Festival was a disappointment The National Sports Festival, which we were not able to host, was a disappointment for me. We just couldn’t come around hosting it for a number of reasons. That was when financing has dipped badly and apart from that it also coincided with the electioneering period. So, even if we had everything ready it would have been difficult at that time to host the festival successfully. That is one major disappointment for me as a person that we couldn’t really have it at that time but I am very happy that the current administration is working towards having that festival this year and I give them thumbs up for that. The present administration is doing well The present administration is doing well already. They have quite a number of signature projects that would add up to the ambience of Cross River State and the tourism profile. The two previous administrations had done things to a certain level and the good thing is that each administration that comes has one signature project that they leave behind as a legacy project and I think the current administration is doing well with that as well. The focus of this administration is opening more the economy which is why they are talking of the deep sea project and the superhighway, which would open up access across the state and I think they are doing quite well with those and if they are able to do those projects I can tell you that

Cross River State will be a different place altogether. My family is my best companion I have a lovely family, a lovely wife who understands what I am doing and lovely children who also understand as well that sometime dad stays very late at work but we are a very closely knit family. The family is the best companion that I have and any little time available I try to spend it with my family, so we bond a lot and they are very understanding. I love exploring I love travelling but do I have a favourite destination? Not, really because each one is unique in its own way and each one has an appeal in its own way so I wouldn’t say that I have a favourite destination per se. But I love exploring, I love going to new places. So, a favourite destination for me is probably wanting to go to the Caribbean Islands, I have been to Jamaica and Cuba and I would want to go further than those in the Caribbean Islands. I wear what fits me well It depends on the purpose for which I am buying it for. If it is for formal wear I will look for a decent suit to wear. If it is for causal I know that I am looking for a pair of jeans, a pair of chinos and some good causal shirts.

Ugbe

La Campagne Tropicana River Resort Koton Karfi holds ground breaking ceremony the Atlantic Ocean and the lagoon with the mangrove swamp and stretch of forested land harbouring some animal habitats, the Koton Karfi resort also comes with its complete blend of natural elements such as the lake and forest area, which hopefully would make the resort a distinctive natural hideaway as well. Speaking during the ceremony, the Founder and President of La Campagne, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, described the new venture as a new dawn and celebration of industry and successes that have been achieved in the 30 years of the existence of La Campagne in Lekki and that he hopes to replica the same in Koton Karfi and even surpass it. He urged the people to embrace the resort because it is for them as it is meant to bring development to the community and open it to the international community thereby improving on the socio- economic and cultural development of the people and the community. According to Akinboboye,

L-R: Emir of Koton Karfi, Isa-Koto with presdient of La campagne, Akinboboye during the ceremony

the resort, which is an African themed resort would entirely promote the culture of the people of Koton Karfi and its environ as well as the people of Kogi even as he charged them to be culturally aware, to polish and refine their various cultural products and traditional practices in such an

appealing manner to attract the hordes of visits especially international tourists that are expected to patronise the resort. The focus of the project, he said is that tourism and that it will be of great benefit to the people especially the youths as he said that ‘‘this youth of today will have a

bright tomorrow because what we are building here today is not only for today but for tomorrow. The youth and the children here will be the ones to benefit from it.’’ Furthermore, Akinboboye said that ‘‘the entire Koton Karfi will begin to benefit from it today.’’ And to give effect to his word, he announced the employment of 25 bricklayers, 25 carpenters and 25 security men, all of whom he ordered to register with the secretary to the emir palace and be deployed to site immediately. It was elated emir of Koton Karfi, Alhaji Gambo Abdulrazak Isa – Koto, rose in commendation of Akinboboye whom he described as a visionary and dedicated advocate of African culture. He assured him of the corporation and commitment of the palace and his people towards the successful delivery of the project as planned. The event ended on a colorful note with glamour, cultural celebration and entertainment headlining the day.

44 Travel&Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

HOSPITALITY

HOSPITALITY BITS Rockview Hotel Festac

It is time to break out of your shell this Easter season by giving yourself, family, loved ones and dates special treats and no better place to savour the blissful feast than Rockview Hotel Festac, which has on the bill unique and sumptuous packages from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Friday is dedicated to buffet dinner of seafood between 7pm and 11pm; Sunday is time to enjoy family brunch between 12noon and 5pm while Monday offers Galilee lunch and dinner from 12noon till 11pm. Also, discounted luxury accommodation with complimentary breakfast, live entertainment at the poolside with comedy shows headlining and Karaoke from 1pm daily while the sport bar is opened for relaxing moment and live telecast of sporting events while children are welcomed to the kiddies play ground with rich and abundant activities to the bargain.

Transcorp Hilton Abuja named 2015 Hilton Brand Awards Winner

JEROME’S GARDEN AND SUITES

Basking in nature’s haven ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA who was at Jerome’s Garden and Suites writes on the natural serenading fascination of the Lagos – based hotel which boast arrays of sophisticated facilities and distinctive services

erome’s Garden and Suites exudes a natural ambience, which is accentuated by its luscious and blooming greenery. From the moment one steps into the hotel, which is situated at 29, Oroleye Crescent, off Abel Oreniyi Street, Off Salvation Road, Opebi area of Ikeja, Lagos, it is obvious that one is welcomed to a garden-like cocoon with refreshing sight and setting. You gasp a breath of appreciation as you take in the naturally inviting and aesthetically pleasing scenery knowing too well that you are in for a life time experience given its appealing setting and the blend of sophisticated facilities that you are later confronted with once you settled into the grove for the day. According to the Director of Operations, Bola Adebayo, Jerome’s Garden and Suites, which is referred to as JGS, is not only strategically located but it is an upscale hospitality home that is devoted to offering the best of facilities and services for both the business and leisure travellers. She further revealed that the hotel, which is of high taste, is stylishly created with the intention of promoting comfortable and exquisite hospitality: home for the discerning travellers as evident not only in the naturally inviting setting but most importantly in its mix of facilities and services. All these are of international standard with experienced professionals in the different departments of the hotel pandering to the needs of its guests.

The garden. Inset: The double deluxe suite

It boasts 15 bedroom suites, all tastefully fitted and furnished with array of amenities for the relaxation and comfort of its numerous patrons. These include a comfy king size bed, Jacuzzi, tea/coffee making machine, TV with satellite channels, and settees as well as work desk and chair. Other facilities in this blend of exotic and natural stimulating environment include a swimming pool for you to enjoy a cool dip and swim in the water and a pool bar for some of the best drinks; a restaurant for nicely presented African and continental dishes; a bar/lounge where you can lounge and enjoy barbecue, with a wide selection of drinks. There is an event garden, which is distinctively set up and a unique offering to the hotel. For those seeking a nice outdoor for event, this is one place to patronise because of its rare and creatively designed garden. With its scenic beauty, the garden which aptly represented the biblical Garden of Eden, seats about 500 persons. Other facilities and services include 24 hours room service and power supplied, concierge, laundry and dry cleaning service, car hire service ad airport pick up and a leisure centre. Speaking on its different offerings, the director of operations said that “our lush garden is beautifully landscaped in a way that segmented parts can be used for after- work relaxation, private events (20-50 people), team building events/strategy meetings/TGIF/Business lunch meetings in six different parts on the first level and (120-500 people) in levels 2 and 3, for weddings, birthday parties, video, photo and musical shoots.’’ With about 15 minutes from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, the hotel is easily accessible from all areas of Lagos.

Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja has been recognised as 2015 Hilton Hotels and Resorts Brand Award winner. The hotel was also honoured with the awards of 2015 Director of Sales, 2015 Sales Team of the Year and 2015 Best Tactical Marketing Campaign for Middle East & Africa (MEA), awarded by Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. “We are delighted to be recognised and honoured for our outstanding accomplishments by Hilton Hotels & Resorts,” said the general manager of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Etienne Gailliez. “The awards are dedicated to the hotel's team and our owning company for their consistent support of our efforts at delivering the highest levels of quality service to our guests. I trust the awards will inspire all our team members to continue the drive for excellence.'' While the Managing Director/CEO of the hotel, “I am proud of the great performance of our team at Transcorp Hilton Abuja and I join them to celebrate the achievement.” The recognition from Hilton Hotels & Resorts arrived on the heels of the hotel winning the highest honour given by TripAdvisor, the 2016 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice™ awards for Hotels, ranking first out of 64 hotels in Abuja based on the reviews and opinions of global travel community. Kayode Olabode won the prize for 2015 Director of Sales as he was adjudged the best to represent the Hilton Worldwide values of Hospitality, Integrity, Leadership, Teamwork, Ownership and Now. The hotel's Marketing Team won the prize for 2015 Best Tactical Marketing Campaign to Drive Revenue for its best use of multi-channel marketing campaign during the last Ramadan and Eid.

Norwegian to open resort-style port in Belize

Norwegian Cruise Line has disclosed plans on its new Western Caribbean destination experience Harvest Caye. Located in southern Belize, Harvest Caye will feature an authentic Belizean environment that provides easy access to the mainland. Scheduled to open in November this year, the resortstyle port of call will include luxurious amenities and several eco/cultural activities. It will also be the only port in Belize that features a cruise ship pier.

NEW TELEGRAPH PARTNER HOTELS B E N E F I TS There are lots of benefits to derive as one of our partner hotels. For enquiries and details on how to join the programme, please contact Andrew Iro Okungbowa: 08023152195, e-mail: iroandy@ymail.com

FESTAC, LAGOS

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REE DANIELS HOTEL AND SUITES

Panda Hotel Suites & Lounge

CAPITOL HOTEL, AGEGE

29, OROLEYE CRESCENT, OFF ABEL ORENIYI, OFF SALAVATION RD, OPEBI, LAGOS

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Injustice must be redressed before we return to APC – Kaka

p.46

Women complain that they have not been given enough opportunity in politics. Do you agree? When you talk about women, you talk about family which is the smallest unit; it is a woman that caters for everybody born of a woman. Women needs to make their intention known and this can be achieved in three steps; the first stage of achieving anything is to think about it, second stage is to talk about it and then the third stage is to do it. The 'do it' stage is always the most difficult of all, I think a lot of women have been thinking of one thing or the other but doing it is where the problem lies. Women generally think of creative ideas, politics for instance, a lot of women will say ‘if I were this, I would have done this or that’ and my question to such people is what stops you from being that which you wish? Take for instance, how did I join politics, I just took the decision and I followed it up. I therefore challenge women that they should never relent in their dreams, dare to venture, dare to win. All we need from our male folks is encouragement to move our courage. Do what you believe in and what you think you can achieve. Should lawmaking be made part time in view of the nation’s dwindling economy? To do that, you have to amend the law, if you want lawmaking to be made part time, then, the process of amending the law should start now but I cannot get into that kind of controversy at this point in time. Lawmaking is not all about being a full time or part time, it is more about what you can achieve, so let us see how things go, it is a new parliament. What will you tag your major achievement when you were in the House of Representatives? I don’t think I am in the right position to answer this. I think you need to ask the people, I am the sponsor of many motions which have become law, e.g., violence against women and rape now attracts life imprisonment and many more. This is a bill that will affect the way we live, it is now left to the media to propagate that the law is here, if anyone reports the case of rape, the rapist will be sentenced to life imprisonment and justice will be done. Then I did a lot of possessive projects and most importantly is that I was there to speak as a representative of my people, I thank God for the privilege to represent Ikorodu for 12 years. Why did you decide not to contest in 2015? I just decided not to contest and I think it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Even if you stay there for 20 years you cannot achieve everything, there is a time you need to step back and give others a chance. I am still involved in politics and I am part of history that my party was able to take over power from the ruling party. It is about you knowing what you want to do and your conviction. The decision of going into politics and not contesting in 2015 is a personal one.

OLALEKAN OSIADE Assistant Editor 08033076969 lekanosiade@gmail.com lekanosiade@yahoo.com

Politics

45 EFCC’s case against Kalu will end in praise

p.53

Not contesting 2015 election, best decision I ever took – Dabiri-Erewa Abike Dabiri-Erewa is the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora. In this interview with DEBORAH MAKOJI, the journalist-turned-politician speaks on sundry issues. Has there ever being any moment you regret taking that decision? The most important thing is that I was able touch lives positively and that is what I will continue to do wherever I find myself. It’s about knowing what you want and the impact you want to make in the society. Like I said earlier, not contesting in 2015 is one of my best decisions.

Dabiri-Erewa

Looking at the present administration, there are speculations that women are sidelined especially in the ministerial aspect. Ministerial position is less than one per cent of appointments that will be made; it is not all about the number but about what you are bringing to the table. It is about how many women you are lifting up as a woman, the administration has not even started giving out appointments because ministerial appointment is just 36 out of over 5000. So, I really don’t think women are sidelined. It is about the quality of women and the question of women lifting other women up. Do you want number of women or the situation whereby a lot of women are improved? It is about who is thinking about the women in the rural areas. But women were in charge of key minisstate assemblies? tries in the last administration. I wasn’t following the conversation so, Yes women were in charge of petroI can’t judge for them. I don’t really have leum and finance ministries. Did they much to say on that because I was not folgive more women the opportunity to lowing that conversation. deal in kerosene, a woman was a minister of finance did that make What is your fashion sense? more women to be economically I believe you can be elThere is a time you empowered? So let us look at it egantly simple, wear what holistically, yes we will demand need to step back suits you and not what suites more, but this is just the beginthe other person, I don’t necesand give others a ning of things that will happen. sarily go for what is in vogue chance. I am still but what I am comfortable in What is your advice to women most importantly is that that are thinking of going into involved in politics and you take care of yourself inpolitics? side out. Have faith; ignore those who will tell you that you cannot do It seems you have a burning desire for it. Stay around people who will encourage politics, how do you mix politics with your you, believe in yourself and let integrity duties as a mother? be your watch-word because without inI put family first most especially in raistegrity, you are nothing. ing my children. If I have a conflicting deAs for me, I believe that sense is not mand between my job and my kids I will about how old you are but about how pick my kids first because the job can wait. many lives you are able to touch. Do your best to lift somebody up and believe that Is that to say you don’t employ househyou are a woman and you can always elps despite your busy schedule? make a positive difference. As hardworking as I was from NTA, I never leave my children at the mercy of Do you support the motion that indighousemaids. They were there sometime enous languages should be used in some but they were not fully in charge of my

children and then family helps, we have mothers and sisters, so we have a way of supporting one another. If I am not around, the kids can be with my sister or sister-in-law. Wiill you say extended family members are still involved in the training of children like it used to be? I don’t know if that is still happening now, but I grew up where they believe it takes the village to raise a child so, you will find out that you have lots of relations that will always be there for you. If my children are not with me they are with big aunty so I tend to balance my job and family up. It is getting more difficult nowadays but we have to try and strike that balance between our family and job because without that balance you cannot say you are successful. What is the point of being successful and then when you look back your children are not there? It is a challenge for women and we have to work continually to ensure we strike a balance. Family is everything, when you have a home, you will always want to go back to a supportive family, no matter what happens out there, you will always have your family support to lean on.

46 Politics Your leader and a former governor in Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, recently said reconciliation talks are ongoing between his camp and the APC at the national level. How far has the reconciliation gone? Even if there is a quarrel between you and your wife, the normal thing is to settle it. We have differences which were based on principle; if they are able to iron it out, so be it and if they are unable to iron it out, the world is well made. So as far as we are concerned, the talk is ongoing. We are patiently waiting for the outcome of the talk. We are talking based on constitutional issues affecting our party which we jointly formed. And because of what we conceived to be perceived injustice, we left. So, if there is anything to warrant our returning, those injustices must be removed and the constitutional entanglement must have been disentangled. So we are waiting.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Injustice must be redressed before we return to APC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kaka

Recently, there was altercation between you and your successor, Senator Buruji Kashamu, over some of the projects that you initiated but allegedly hijacked. Have you been able to resolve it? We were to commission three projects recently, and we've scheduled everything with two hours interval. But because some people have lied to the people that they have brought projects, so it turned out that their lies have been made flat, they now wanted to disturb us from handing over to the community. Whereas the whole process, the particular school in question - Japara High School - the principal wrote a letter to me in 2014 begging me to come and help them renovate their classrooms and I said, I don't normally promise but I will see what could be done. And when I saw the opportunity in 2015, then I slotted it in. And somebody is now saying he wants to inherit it by force. So, it is lack of understanding which is very pitiful. I hope they'll go and learn the principle behind what we are doing. The constituency project is an annual thing. A new budget has just been put in place, so they will have the opportunity for the next four years to put in their constituency projects. They should go and conceive what they want to do. I sat down with eminent people and we conceived through the nine local governments and balancing everything and methodically I was implementing it. So, if they need assistance, I will be too glad to assist them if they ask for it. As regards the school project, were you actually stopped from handing over the project? I was not stopped but I stopped be-

Kaka

Reacting to the ongoing reconcilliation talks aimed at wooing former members back to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a former deputy governor of Ogun State and a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Adegbenga Kaka, in this interview with KUNLE OLAYENI, speaks on the need to rejoin the party and conditions attached, among sundry issues. Excerpts: cause I didn't want bloodshed. Even the Kabiyesi, the chairman of the local government council, the Iyalojas and the Babalojas were turned back. As I was coming back from Isiwo where we did the first commissioning, that particular one, we were attacked by some thugs. So, to avoid bloodshed, I just decided to ignore them. What is to be done has been done and the people knew those that facilitated it. So, let them go and work if they want something to report on.

So, for anybody to come out and be pointing fingers, they should first of all examine themselves. They should come out clean first before attacking others. I'm not saying the National Assembly is not corrupt but nobody should attempt to exonerate himself. Some people were even corrupt against themselves and against their families, children and grandchildren. They should go and examine themselves.

Your party chairman, Chief Olu FaOgun State is a sleeping giant. We lae, claimed he disbursed N100million Former President want people that can arouse the he got from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sleeping giant so that it can get out of Anenih across the recently wrote to the National Assembly. the slumber and move to become state state chapters of the party but Ogun State Do you agree that of the Nigerian Jews chapter has denied senators and Reps ever receiving such are indeed corrupt money. Do you know and wasteful as he what transpired? alleged? It's a pity, Chief Olu Falae was only unThe executive is sitting on nearly 90 per fortunate. By any stretch of imagination, cent of the nation's resources. From the he doesn't deserve all the bashing that he's President to the National Security Adviser been given. I've said it before that SDP as to the ministers to the heads of agencies, a party committed blunder by adopting executive directors and everything, all of Goodluck Jonathan and I said it before them are doing that. What have they been the election and I'm still maintaining it bedoing with the money? We've been having cause there is no contrary view to change oil jackpot, the crude o i l my stand. So what is happening is that price rising from all the aspirants in all the 36 states of the $9 per barrel in federation bought forms, they paid for 1999 to $147 nomination forms according to the posts per barrel in they were contesting for, and so several 2006/2007 millions were raked in. We in Ogun State and yet made the SDP what it was because all the all that National Assembly members defected en should be masse into SDP giving it a national spread done were and the presence that made it number not done. three or so in Nigeria. So, as a result, F r o m when they said they were disbursing electricmoney to states, initially we thought it ity to road was part of the money we raked in from to waternominations and sales of forms. So we ways, we said well, as far as we are concerned, neglected we said with all the complements of the everything. National Assembly members, we don't need any subvention from the national, we are capable of handling our own issue. So, we didn't. But coming back home, if I may be allowed to do the devil's advocate; any political party at all, if they are organising election, to fund the agency fee in a local government, you'd

require more than N3million and if you talk about the N100million they are talking about N100million divided by 36 states; it's less than N3million. And if there is collaboration between two parties - it could have been the APC - so what is all the fuss about? So as far as I'm concerned, it is a non-issue. Would you subscribe to the fact that the money in question should be returned to the Federal Government? For God's sake, you have a smoke, can there be smoke without fire? So, if you want to quench the smoke, don't go after the smoke, go after the fire. If it's Anenih that took the money and there's a courtesy relationship between the two parties, they should go after Anenih. If there is going to be any refund, let them go to the source. As far as I'm concerned, I think it's a nonissue. I don't want to comment on it. But Chief Falae, in his reply, said he sent N8million to the state chapter but it was rejected because the money was too small. Never! Nobody told us what amount of money other than they want to forward money. But I'm not competent to say all this. The chairman of the party in Ogun State is there, the secretary of the party is there, the publicity secretary is there, the treasurer is there. So they should be able to talk on it. But the little I know is what I'm saying. So, get back to the national headquarters of the party or state office to be able to get this information. Ogun recently clocked 40 years. Do you think it was worth celebrating? Even our birthday, we celebrate it annually. So as far as we are concerned in Ogun State, we are proud to be a state that produced the likes of Obafemi Awolowo, the likes of Wole Soyinka, the likes of the Ransome-Kuti. We are happy to have produced Senator Abraham Adesanya, we are happy to have foremost Obas - the Awujale, the Alake, Olu of Ilaro. And the MKO Abiola, Tunji Otegbeye are there. We have produced Tai Solarin. So we are proud that we have a great legacy to emulate. So, if we are celebrating everyday, it's not out of place. And if we make it annually, so be it. And if anybody says he's celebrating 40th, so be it. May God let us be alive to celebrate more of the creation day of Ogun State. But Ogun State is a sleeping giant. We want people that can arouse the sleeping giant so that it can get out of the slumber and move to become state of the Nigerian Jews which we are noted for; to have a combination of the various ethnic groups, enlightened, sophisticated groups in Ogun State. I don't think we still deserve the level we are in. We know what is going on. Arable land, industries all collapsing right, left and centre. Yet Ogun State is positioned to Lagos like New Jersey is positioned to New York. So, we ought to be reaping bountifully from the adjoining states and the fact that we are endowed with human and material resources. Even our tourism potential is being neglected. When you go to Iwopin and the entire Waterside, you can imagine that we have our own Florida here. Yet we are not tapping. Go to the various agricultural estates, people are still talking of peasant farming. With all our knowledge, with our ability to comprehend technology, we're talking of peasant. What do you want to do with peasant? We need few people that are dedicated, who would be able to work on technology, to move farming forward and then convert whatever we have there through value addition into industrialisation. That's what we need.

Interview 47

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Queen's College: Law must take its course, says Shittu Wahab Shittu is a legal practitioner with over 30 years in the profession. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, the lecturer of law at the University of Lagos speaks about laws guiding students in the classroom and the ongoing Queen's College’s assault saga.

There are also situations where students victimise teachers. Students come to us and they say they are ready to give themselves to sail through a course someone is your son and you beat him to stupour. You can go to jail because there are laws regulating the society and the family is an integral part. It also depends on the child and the availability of witnesses. If I whip my son mercilessly under the cover and protection of a father and my wife decides to keep quiet without reporting, I am free. But when neighbours decides to take it up under the fundamental right enforcement procedures and there is a complaint on my conduct, then there is a duty imposed on me to answer to the criminal allegation against me.

Shittu

What does the law say about whipping of students in school? The critical thing is striking a delicate balance between the duty of the educational institutions to enforce discipline and the duty of not enforcing discipline to commit crimes. In other words, we are familiar with tradition of ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’ because the education of a child must be balanced. It is just like fundamental rights that are guaranteed to citizens but are not absolute. When you go beyond enforcing norms or discipline to inflict uncommon injuries on a child, especially when it is not your child, you then have to face the criminal laws. There is a limit that you are not expected to go in enforcing discipline on a child. For instance, nobody can arraign a teacher for requesting a student to cut grass or suspending a student from classes. But when you go beyond it to descend on a child and beat the child to a state of stupour, then you have gone beyond your mandate and you have to deal with the laws governing the society. What are these laws? The laws are there. You cannot assault anybody whether it is your student or not. You cannot inflict injuries under any pretext without having to deal with the consequences of such action. You cannot hide under the cover of the school authority or claim immunity

by virtue of your relationship with the student in question to escape the consequences. How should students handle assault from their teachers or lecturers as the case may be? It is just like rape cases, victims must report to the right authorities. It takes courage for a child who is assaulted or raped to come out openly. Similarly too, it takes courage for a student who is still undergoing tutelage to come out and lay official claims against the institution or authorities because he or she is yet to graduate. But the fear of what could happen is not enough justification for one to debase your humanity. This is why the system must protect such students. I think the important thing is the element of courage and for authorities, including the police, to ensure that such victims are not victimised. Traditionally, parents are used to flogging as a way of reinstating orderliness. Don’t you think we are getting too much from the West? Even as a parent you are not expected to humiliate or debase the humanity of your child on the pretext of discipline. You can be held criminally-liable under the law of the country if you violate the human essence of a child. That is why I said from the start that it depends on the striking balance. You won’t say because

Is this not encouraging a free society in a way? The law procedure won’t permit the kind of fears that you are nursing. It is not enough for a lady to walk in here to say I assaulted her; she must be able to prove it. There are certain elements of a criminal offence that you must establish. There must be the criminal intense and the physical act. Before you can be adjourned to have committed an offence, you must have a criminal intention to commit the crime. For instance, someone threatens to deal with you and goes ahead by acquiring a gun or weapon to inflict injuries on you. Clearly from the scenario I have painted above you see that the person has a criminal mind, which he has manifested by also procuring a weapon. So if the court believes that the father was trying to enforce discipline, then the parents might escape offence. But when you discipline someone to the extent of wanting to kill him or her, then the society must intervene because the child you are beating has rights under the law. Everyone has rights. All the vulnerable people in the society have specific laws protecting them. We have specific laws protecting the general populace, we have Child Right Act protecting the child, we have rights of the widows, there is a law prohibiting violence against women, among others. Was it right for the police to free the Queen's College’s teacher who was allegedly accused for assault? There is a complaint against the teacher so it is the duty of the police to investigate. But we shouldn’t confuse the duty of the police to investigate to being found guilty. It is a process. If there were complaints against me by anyone, the police would take steps to invite me for questioning. Depending on the nature, if it is violence, they could order for my arrest but it doesn’t mean I am guilty. I would be requested to say my own side of the story; they would take

a narration from me, narration from the other party and look at the strength of both. What happens to the teacher if he is guilty? He goes to jail; that is simple. The law is not a respecter of person or status. We’ve seen instances where the Head of State goes to jail. If he is not guilty, he is restored back to his duty. How about his image that has been tampered with? He can sue for malicious prosecution. He can sue those who instigated the complaint and authorities who may have taken actions in the violation of his rights. So there are laws for everything but you cannot insist on malicious prosecution when you are yet to clear yourself of an allegation. One step precedes the other. If you are facing criminal allegations, you should defend yourself and clear your name. What is your take on the issue generally? I see high level of awareness. You know a lot of things go on in our institution of learning. Do you know that there are demands for sex for marks? Do you know that people are victimised daily in some institutions? Is it because they don’t cry out? Is it because actions are not taken? Do you know how many students who have lost their callings because of prejudices and victimisation? So there is an increased awareness now. What you should be alarmed about now is not people complaining, but the fairness of the procedure. They should be fair hearings to all parties, both the complainer and the accused. We should approach this case with an open mind; we shouldn’t conclude that the teacher is guilty. Let the judicial process be set in motion in a transparent manner. He has been accused; it can be anybody but he should be given all facilities to defend himself What can be done to correct assault and victimisation in institutions? It is an ethical issue; the challenge of our society today is the crisis of values, values are collapsing. There are also situations where students victimise teachers. Students come to us and they say they are ready to give themselves to sail through a course. Have you experienced such a case? I speak from narrations and experiences I have seen. It might not necessarily be me, but I know that it is frequently reported. Some students are so desperate; rather that focusing on their studies they want to play very hard. When examination comes, they are ready to give anything and they could as well blackmail you if you don't play to their tune. There are laws against that too, but if a student seduces a lecturer, it is hard to resist. Some lecturers would be happy that the student brings herself to them. It is to the lecturer’s advantage and he enjoys maximum pleasure, but some might see it as a trap or an avenue to quickly report. One thing I won’t like us to think is to say all these things don’t happen because they do, but what we should insist on is the rule of law, moral reawakening, building our institutions, teaching the right ethics and engaging in preventive measures.

Perspective

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Ojudu: A Sun Tzu at 55

Segun Dipe ray, how does one write about a seemingly enigmatic and energetic person like Babafemi Ojudu without having to goof one's lines? The name Ojudu rings so many bells. The frequency is as high in the media as it is among the nation’s human rights activists. Ojudu is also not a rookie in politics; neither is he alien to the popular culture world nor is he an ignoramus in entrepreneurship. In Ekiti where he was born, Ojudu is a factor, so is in Lagos where he plied his profession as a journalist and in Abuja where he was a member of the Senate’s 7th Legislative Assembly. If one’s network were to determine his or her net-worth, then one would be right to assume that Ojudu freely controls billions of dollars. But what Ojudu may have lacked in money, he has gained in courage. The book titled The Art of War by Sun Tzu remains the ultimate guide to combat strategy, the oldest military treatise in the world. It must have taught Ojudu how to appear weak when he is strong; and strong when he is weak. Ojudu seems to have made a mantra of the saying in the classical book of Sun Tsu, the greatest military experts of ancient China, which is “know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a thousand battles without disaster.” At 55, Ojudu has fought several battles on several fronts enough to last him his lifetime. And he wins always. Today he is the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters. The Art of War has been applied to many fields well outside of the military. Much of the text is about how to fight wars without actually having to do battle: it gives tips on how to outsmart one's opponent so that physical battle is not necessary. As such, it has found application as a training guide for many competitive endeavors that do not involve actual combat. And if the number of wars Ojudu has fought and won are his measure of strength, then, he and Sun Tzu are metaphorically linked. Here is the key as provided by Sun Tzu: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Ojudu is not an extra-ordinary human being. His story reads like that of any grass-to-grace person of his generation. He was born on 27 March 1961 at Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. He attended Ado Grammar School in Ado-Ekiti between 1973 and 1977. In 1976 he won a schol-

arship jointly sponsored by activist lawyer, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Jùjú musician King Sunny Adé for indigent students of the state. He proceeded to the then University of Ife, Ile-Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, to study English where he took interest in journalism. While at university he joined the Association of Campus Journalists, reporting for COBRA, a Campus Journal. He and two friends founded a journal called The Parrot, which he edited until graduating in 1984. A foremost journalist and former Managing Editor of the Independent Communications Network Limited, publishers of TheNews, PM News and Tempo was a senator between 2011 and 2015 on the platform of then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, before the merger that transformed it into the All Progressives Congress, APC. At the Senate, he was the Vice chairman of the Committee on establishment and Public Service, a member of the Defence Committee and spokesman for the APC Senate Caucus. In all these committees, he had always being at the forefront of fight against padding of budgets, which President Muhammadu Buhari has now taken up with verve. In December 2014, he announced his desire not to seek reelection into the Senate but he has continued to play prominent roles in the activities of his party, the APC leading to the success of his party at the 2015 presidential polls. Ojudu was one of the victims of the military brutality as a result of the courageous roles played by him and his colleagues during the brutal military regimes, notably the dark days of the Abacha government. This constantly pitched him against the military authorities and he was incarcerated several times, the climax of which was his nine month detention in a solitary cell at the State Security Service, SSS, cell at Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Lagos. Little wonder why, as a senator, he constantly fought against criminalizing of the soldiers being arrested for refusing to go to war with their bare handswhile some people in government salted away the money meant to procure weapons for them to fight. He worked as a reporter on completing his National Youth Service with The Guardian while attending the University of Lagos between 1985 and 1986 where he studied for a master's degree in Political Science. The presidential appointee moved to African Concord in 1987 as a Staff Writer and rose to become the Assistant Editor. In 1992 Ojudu resigned in protest of a request by the Publisher of Concord, the late business mogul, Chief M.K.O. Abiola to apologise to the then military

Ojodu

Ojudu is equally very passionate about anything Ekiti and it has been his belief since youthful days that the state is not lacking in the resources

President, Ibrahim Babangida over a piece critical of the military regime. In 1993, Ojudu and some of his former colleagues established The News magazine, with Ojudu as its first Managing Editor. Gani Fawehinmi assisted in funding the newspaper with a contribution of N25,000. The first version of The News did not last long before it was banned by Babangida in 1993. Years later, when Babangida said he was in interested in running for president in the 2011 democratic elections, Ojudu said that the second coming of Babangida to rule the nation should be resisted by every Nigerian who wanted progress for the country. He said "He does not have anything good to offer us. We have suffered enough in his hands... He is a trickster. Look at how many journalists were killed during his time. Look at what he did to our colleagues (journalists)... Look at what happened to our institutions when he was around. He destroyed the system and he is now seeking to come back. " Ojudu was arrested, tortured and detained several times during the draconian days of the Sani Abacha regime. He was arrested and detained for three days at the notorious Shagisha prison in the outskirts of Lagos on 11 August 1996. The cause was an article in The News about Oil Minister Dan Etete which alleged that Etete was giving government contracts on behalf of the Nigerian State Oil Company to his family and friends. Later in 1996 Ojudu went to the USA for six months as a fellow at the School of Communications, Howard University, Washington, D.C. On his return in June 1997 he was appointed Group Managing Editor of Independent Communications Network Ltd., publishers of

The News, P.M. News and Tempo. He was arrested on 17 November 1997 after returning from a conference in Kenya. In July 1998 (after the death of Abacha) it was reported that Ojudu was suffering from typhoid fever and jaundice, both life-threatening, caused by the unsanitary conditions in which he was detained and denied access to medication. In addition to his Managing Editor work, both before and after the return to democracy, Ojudu has been a member or chairman of several organizations and committees involved in media and human rights. In total, Ojudu spent 26 years in media practice before entering politics in 2010. He formally declared that he would run for the Senate in August 2010. He left his post as Group Managing Editor of Independent Communications Network to run for office. The 10 January, 2011 primaries for ACN candidate for the Ekiti Central Senatorial seat were held in three of the five local government areas that make up the Senatorial district, and Ojudu won in all three. In the April 2011 election for the Ekiti Central Senatorial seat, Ojudu polled 67,747 running on the ACN platform. Labour Party (LP) candidate and former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose received 29,773 votes. Kayode Alufa of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) received 29,488 votes. The election, although contested at the courts later confirmed Babafemi Ojudu as the validly elected senator to represent the Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly, where he offered his constituents quality representation until he voluntarily left at the expiration of the 7th legislative session. Like the classical Sun Tzu, Ojudu’s passion to mentor the youth in diverse fields, which include medicine, law, management and even politics, knows no limit. He would always argue that brain wins more wars than brawn and the best legacy to bequeath the youths in any nation is the intellect, with which they can fight and win. Ojudu is equally very passionate about anything Ekiti and it has been his belief since youthful days that the state is not lacking in the resources, human and material, to rank among the best. So what is special about clocking 55 years for someone who has won numerous battles without jeopardy, one might want to ask? Well, Number 55 is comprised of two 5’s, making 55 a powerful number as the energies and attributes of number 5 are doubled, amplified and reinforced. Number 55 carries the vibrations of adventure and versatility, curiosity, facing challenges, learning life lessons through experience, auspicious opportunities, idealism and activity, making positive life choices and important changes. Number 55 as a message from one’s angels tells that it is time to let go of the ‘old’ that is no longer positively serving one, and get ready for big changes to take place in one’s life. Old doubts, fears and perceived obstacles must be released as one looks forward to wonderful new opportunities. This only goes to confirm all that Sun Tzu has said in The Art of War.

•Dipe is a Lagos-based journalist

News Extra 49

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

BIRNIN-KEBBI

FCT

Health school honours 30 students

Insecurity: NIS moves against illegal immigrants

KANO Kano inaugurates c’ttee to address teachers’ stagnation

Kano State Government yesterday inaugurated a six-man committee to look into the problem of non-implementation of promotion for some primary school teachers for over 10 years. A statement signed by the Director of Press in the Deputy Governor’s office, Malam Usman Bello, and made available to journalists in Kano, said the committee was inaugurated by the Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar. The statement quoted the deputy governor as saying the state government was very much concerned that some primary school teachers had stagnated for over 10 years. He said no meaningful development could be achieved in education when the development of teachers in terms of their welfare and career progression was neglected.

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Martin Abeshe, yesterday said the service had put in place new and stringent measures to flush out illegal migrants from Nigeria. Abeshe made the disclosure at a press briefing on migration and border management issues in Nigeria in Abuja. He decried the menace of illegal immigrants in the country and noted that the service had arrested and deported a lot of culprits across the country. “I am sure you have been hearing of arrests and deportation of these illegal migrants by the NIS from across the country. “We have also put in place additional measures to checkmate any foreigner that is here to disrupt the peace we are enjoying,” he said.

Kebbi State School of Health Technology, Jega (SHTJ) yesterday honoured 30 best students of the institution with outstanding certificates. The awardees were presented with certificates of excellent performances during their last final year examinations in 2015/16 at the first annual academic excellence award ceremony held at the premises of the school. Speaking at the occasion, Principal of the school, Alhaji Aminu Mohammed Dakingari, described the event as one of its kinds since the school came in to existence. “Our library, laboratories and classes are continually upgraded as we continue to lay emphasis on the students acquiring both the theoretical and practical knowledge,” he said.

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Youth Professional Forum (NYPF), Mr. Moses Siasia; Head Marketing Strategy, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Obioma Emenike and Director of Entrepreneurship, NYPF, Mrs. Vivian Achuonye, at the inauguration of the N500 million Young Entrepreneurs and Students (YES) grant in Lagos… recently

Electoral umpire has revealed that the Rivers REC will decide when elections will hold Onyekachi Eze

T ABUJA

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State would soon make declaration concerning the suspended results of the March 19 rerun. The commission however, said it would not conduct fresh elections in areas where voting was disrupted until there is an assurance of security and safety. INEC on Monday suspended further release of

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Martins Kure Abeshi, yesterday disagreed with the former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, on the capacity of NIS personnel to produce international passports. Abeshi, who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja, to announce the NIS conference, which would address issues on the security and migration, said Moro failed as a minister as he could not upgrade the capacity of the NIS as issuers of international passports to Nigerians. Moro had at a House of Representatives investigative hearing on NIS stated

that the NIS had no capacity to produce international passport. Speaking on the agreement entered by Immigration for passport production, Moro said: “As at today, it is not correct to say that NIS has the capacity to implement these projects. As at today, I am saying the NIS does not have the capacity for passports production and CERPAC forms.” But the CG in his response stated that the Service had the capacity and ability to produce international passports if given the required supports. He said: “With all due respect, the former minister is entitled to his opinion. However, he was minister for four years; what did he do about the capacity of the NIS to produce and issue international passports to Nigerians."

Jonathan’s foster father: My abductors treated me well

INEC: Rivers REC to decide on suspended results soon DECISION

Immigration boss faults Moro on passport production

results until the it conducts audit of its personnel and materials used in the elections. Only the results of one federal and nine state constituencies were released before the suspension. But in a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Osaze Oluwole-Uzzi, INEC promised to conclude and make returns in constituencies where it is satisfied that voting and collation were in compliance with the Electoral Act and its guideline. According to the statement, the constituencies where the suspended elections might be released are areas where “collation has been concluded but no declaration and return made; voting had been concluded and collation was ongoing but yet to be concluded; (and)

N300bn

The projected expenditure of special intervention programs of Nigeria’s 2016 Budget proposal. Source: Channelstv.com

voting concluded but collation yet to commence.” INEC however admitted that there were some shortcomings on its part in the preparation for the election, but denied that fake result sheets were used in the election. The commission said it would not endanger the lives of its personnel, journalists and observers and others involved in the exercise, and would conduct elections in the cancelled local government areas after due consultation with parties involved, and subject to the advice of the security agencies and guarantees by the political parties, candidates and their supporters. “INEC will, at a date to be decided, conduct fresh elections starting with accreditation and voting in all local government areas, constituencies, registration areas and polling

1.7%

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

units where the exercise was disrupted before voting was concluded on March 19. “While the Commission is committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections, it hereby reiterates its resolve not to return to Rivers State (or anywhere else where there was a breakdown of law and order in the cause of conducting elections) until there is a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of credible elections. “As a responsible organisation, it will not expose its stakeholders especially voters, its officials, observers, media personnel to any danger and even where dates have been fixed and published, it will not hesitate to again suspend the exercise where there is a clear danger or credible threat of a breakdown of law and order,” INEC said.

98.08

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Monaco in 2008. Source: Itu.int

ncle and foster father to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Inegite Jonathan, yesterday said his abductors treated him well. The Septuagenarian told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa, that his abductors gave him a preferential treatment before setting him free. The victim was abducted by gunmen on February 17 and freed on March 23, after 35 days in captivity. Jonathan’s foster father added that he was allowed to open his face while others were blind folded. “I was properly taken care of by the kidnappers. I eat three square meals daily, my drugs was administered

to me appropriately by the boys,” he said. The chief said they even asked other kidnapped victims with him to start paying allegiance to him as the only person that was untouchable in the camp. He said before they started treating him well, they argued between themselves from his house but on getting to the camp they resolved their issue. However, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr Asinim Butswat, said details of the release were not available. Jonathan had told the police that he would not succumb to the demand for ransom.

Buhari’s economic retreat mere jamboree, says Fayose

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has described the just concluded National Economic Council (NEC) retreat as mere jamboree and waste of over N250 million public funds. In a statement issued yesterday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “The retreat has further exposed the fact that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Muhammadu Buhari lacked economic blueprint as the president is still talking the way he talked while seeking votes from Nigerians.” The governor said it was funny that the same set of people who as governors, ruined the economy of their states were the resource persons at the retreat, asking; “What solution can the likes

of former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who as governor plunged the state into unprecedented debt by borrowing money to build Governor’s Lodge, pavilion and uncompleted civic centre proffer to the economy of Nigeria?” The statement added that it is strange that close to one year after Buhari was sworn in, he still cannot tell Nigerians one major economic step his government had taken to salvage the economy. He said: "He had not taken any key step and there was no economic team and that was strange! “I was at the retreat and I can tell Nigerians categorically that it was just a jamboree. It was a waste of over N250 million public fund because most of the resource persons were the same people who ran their states aground."

s e

50 Feature

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Prices of foodstuffs killing us, The current economic downturn in the country occasioned by the fall in the prices of oil in the international market, no doubt is having a ripple effect on the nation’s economy. Arising from the depreciation of the naira against the dollar, among other economic challenges, Nigerians are now faced with steep increase in the prices of essential commodities across the country. Investigations by SATURDAY TELEGRAPH across the states indicate that many Nigerians are lamenting the prohibitive prices of staple foods and other commodities even when the purchasing power of consumers remains static.

Market indices unrealistic market survey by Saturday Telegraph revealed that there is increment of about at least 20 per cent on most electronic equipment. According to a Sales Representative with Thermocool Engineering Company, Mr. Darlington Richardson, a Bob Thermocool 2.5 KVA generator which hitherto sold for N40, 000 now sells for N70, 000. Similarly, a Thermocool Hustler which was N55, 000 is now N80, 700. He said a deep freezer 146 Silver Thermocool that used to sell for N55, 000 is now 85,000 while a Thermocool Microwave that was selling for N28, 000 is now N38,000. Going by these soaring prizes therefore, Richardson said, sales had dropped tremendously. On a weekly basis, his sales used to be as high as N700, 000, but hardly is he able to make up to N200, 000 now. Another trader dealing in motor servicing parts that spoke under the condition of anonymity told Saturday Telegraph that: “The moment they find out from the other shop that the high cost is real, what they do is just purchase the item from the second shop instead of returning to the previous one. What this means is that the owner of the first shop has missed out on this particular opportunity.” Giving further details of the price rise, he said a Weeber break oil which used to sell for N300 is now sold for N500 while Abro transmission brake fluid used for automatic gear which was N600 now sells for N800. With regard to food prices, it is the same story. Both popular Caprice and the Mama Gold brands of rice which were sold for between N10, 500 and N11, 000 are now sold for N13, 500. Considering that rice is a staple food in a majority of Nigerian homes, the high cost of purchasing the commodity is very frustrating. An instance of such frustration played out in a commercial bus taking passengers from Ikeja to the Berger area of Lagos State recently. An apparently irked commuter lamented: “I do not understand this change that politicians promised. I am yet to see the change.” Another passenger in the bus also echoed the former’s sentiment: “This is the first time in my life that I would buy a ‘Derika’ (unit of measurement) cup of

rice for N230. During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, a ‘Derica’ cup of rice was only N150. “For how long will the price of rice continue to rise? The way things are going, we may get to the market the next day and find that the same ‘Derica’ cup of rice is now sold for N300. “If everyone is blaming the soaring prices of goods and commodities on the high value of the dollar against the naira, does this mean that the government has no solution to the problem? It’s time the government intervened to stop the trend,” she stressed. She added that people are dying of hunger in Nigeria now. On the domestic front, many women out to purchase food items for their families, are groaning daily, considering the high prices of foodstuffs. While traders revealed that it is not the rise of the dollar per say that is affecting the high prices of fresh tomatoes and pepper in the market today, they attribute it to the season. According to a trader, who spoke to Saturday Telegraph, the rains are already setting in hence it is not a good season for some agricultural products. She stated that a basket of pepper which can be got at N8, 000 now used to sell for between N4, 000 and N4, 500. Given that the rainy season is not good for tomatoes and pepper, the trader said from now on there would be reduced quantity of pepper. A basket of tomatoes which was N3, 000 before, now sells for N4, 000 while a crate of fresh eggs which was N750 now goes for N800. With regard to the near lack of power supply being currently experienced by Nigerians, a retailer of frozen chicken who spoke under the condition of anonymity told Saturday Telegraph that its impact on business had been tough. According to her, the little profit that accrues from the business goes into buying fuel which is equally scarce to get. “Some businesses that can no longer cope are closing down. The reality on the ground is that to avoid spending many hours looking for fuel to purchase, many

now turn to the black market to buy what is accessible but pay exorbitant prices. At the end of the day, one is just working with nothing to show for it,” she said. Industry review For Small and Medium scale Enterprise (SME) operators in the country, the current economic woes have impacted their businesses negatively. Many of them are struggling to remain in business as government’s foreign exchange policy coupled with scarcity of fuel and electricity, have taken a toll on their operations. Specifically, since the beginning of the year, no manufacturer operating in the country has made any reasonable turnover in his business, as high operating cost of running day-to-day business has eaten deep into their turnover thus, putting uncertainty to their profits at the end of this year. Organised Private Sector (OPS) said spending on fuel and energy is taking 65 per cent of its members’ operating turnovers every year. There is no gain saying that the manufacturing sector is the most hit sector in the country’s economy. Situation pathetic The cost of some items such as sachet water has increased from N100 to N120 and in some cases 150 per bag, while a sachet now sells for N10 instead of N5. The worst hit of all the staple foods are rice and cassava flakes, known as garri. A bag of rice (40 kilogrammes) regardless of the brand is selling for N12, 500 as against N7, 500, N8, 500 and N9, 500 depending on the brand. A plastic of rice (16 cups) sells for N3, 500 instead of N2, 500 or N2, 200. A ‘derica’ cup of rice that used to be N150 now sells for N200. While a paint rubber of cassava flakes now sells for N550, an additional price of N200. In addition, a small sachet of salt now sells for N70 against N50, the former price, while a sachet of Maggi (Knorr Chicken) goes for N450, as against the former price of N350. And Maggi Chicken is now N700

instead of the former price of N500. Pieces of the Maggi go for four for N50. A litre of ground nut oil-N350 as against N250 while the 25 litres of groundnut oil now sells for N11, 500, a huge increase from the old price of N7, 500. Mrs Wura Opemipo, a trader in Mile 12 Market, Lagos, spoke to Saturday Telegraph about the price increase. “Before we sold rice between N8, 500 and N10, 000, but now we sell at N13, 000 and N14, 500,” she said. Opemipo who deals with yam powder said before she used to buy a full bag of dry yam between N14, 800 and N23, 000 and she sells in retail of a drum bucket for N4000 as even regulated by the Lagos State government. “But now, that drum bucket sells between N6, 500 and N7, 500 depending on the price. Before this disparity in our currency and dollar rise, I made a profit margin of about 85 per cent of what I bought but now I only make about 50 per cent of what I made before,” she said. Ayo Kalesanwo, popularly called aunty AY in the Mile 12 market, said: “Before, palm oil was N250 for a litre, but now we are selling it at the rate of N300/N350. It is really affecting my family, school fees have increased. Government should come to our aid. This is not the change we voted for.” At Agege market, the grumbling seems even worst. The price and quantity of vegetables, probably the cheapest Nigerian staple, have also increased. A bunch of vegetable (spinach) is now countable. Saturday Telegraph observed that about 10 sticks of spinach with scanty leaves goes for N200 while about five sticks of pumpkin (Ugwu) also with scanty leaves on them goes for N100. There are no more N50 Ugwu leaves and no more N100 spinach and its likes in almost all the markets! A vegetable seller known simply as Iya Wasiu, said: “That is the result of the change we voted for. Ordinarily, vegetable shouldn’t be affected at all with fluctuation in our currency. Before, we buy a row of vegetable from the farm for about N400 and we make profit of either N700 or N600 on it. “But now, we buy a row for N1, 000 with

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Nigerians tell Buhari for N150. “If I sell at N10 per sachet, I will end up making N50 after selling a full bag. And you know, I pay for rent, and also pay a washer,” she said. Most ‘Mamaput’ operators, especially those who sell by the roadside, no longer sell N50 rice like it was in the past. They now sell at a flat rate of N100 and customers are made to buy at least N250 worth of food. Generally, the prices of foodstuffs in Port Harcourt and its environs have shut up, with the price of garri rising significantly. Up until late February, the price of a yellow paint bucket of garri used to sell for N400, while the white colour type sold for N300. But starting from the first week of March, the price of yellow and white sells for N500 and N400 respectively. The cost of transportation has also increased in most parts of Port Harcourt, the worst hit being inter-city travellers, who pay more due to fuel scarcity. They are the ones who bring in most of the goods, including foodstuffs that are sold in the markets.

A Lagos market

the excuses from the farmers that all the materials and ingredient used in planting have sky rocketed. Now, to buy vegetable starts from N200 and in some cases, N100. We are really suffering.” The importation of frozen chicken was banned by the Federal Government in 2015 and this affected the price of the chicken. A carton of frozen chicken used to be N6000, but now it is N8, 500. While the price of turkey, which used to be N7, 500, is now N9, 500. A carton of fish (Croaker and Mackerel) used to go for between N6, 500 or N8000 but now goes for N9, 500 and N12, 000. Panic grips consumers Saturday Telegraph visited Oshodi, Mushin, Abule and Ikeja markets in Lagos State to examine the development and confirm the fears raised by Nigerians as they concern recent cost of consumer goods and services. Some consumers, who spoke to our correspondent, expressed sadness over the prices of goods in the market. For Mr. Adebola Ayobola, a rice retailer, “the situation of the Nigeria economy is affecting everybody, I have never experience what is happening now since I started this business.” He said: “People are complaining seriously because there is no money in this country and prices of goods is on the high side, I am not happy with the business I do any longer because we are dealing with foodstuffs, it is true people cannot do without food but I now have to explain to any customer that comes around, some will understand and some will think you are unnecessarily hiking the price” it is really difficult for many Nigerians but I believe things will get better with time.” On her part, Mrs. Olajumoke Kemi, a trader in her late 40s, Nigerians are now regretting the choice of the present leadership. She expressed disappointment over the Buhari-led administration, stressing that what she and her family were facing was the opposite of what they expect from the President. I came to this market with N2, 500, the

small bottle of vegetable oil that goes for N550 is now N900; a dozen of sachet tomatoes before now was N150 but it now goes for N220 while a paint container of garri is almost double of the price it used to be,” she said. Nigerians grumble The nation's economic downturn is fast taking its toll on the socio-economic conditions of residents and people of Ogun State. Findings by our correspondent revealed that the incessant fuel scarcity and epileptic power supply had combined, among other factors, to worsen the situation in the state. In the last few weeks, the cost of goods and services as well as transportation have soared considerably with attendant agonies for residents. A trader in Abeokuta, Mrs. Olabisi Bello, said: "When you go to the market today, things are expensive. The next time you go, items would have further increased in price. “Even artisans are generally relying on fuel to do their jobs; power supply has been really bad lately. That means their charges would increase and this would also have negative effect on the economy,” Bello said. The same story of agony was shared by Abeeb Alao, a commercial driver, who plies his trade on Abeokuta-Ijebu-Ode route. He said petrol is now being sold at N130 per litre at many filling stations. Situation the same in Rivers Since November 2015, the long queue in Port Harcourt roads has defied solution due to the scarcity of fuel, diesel and other petroleum products. The annoying aspect, according to one motorist is the presence of black marketers, making brisk business just beside these queues. Last week, along Ikwerre Road, there was a mild drama at a restaurant, when the owner charged a customer N15 for a sachet of pure water, which used to sell for N10. The restaurateur, whose kiosk is a few metres away from Chisco Transport, complained that she used to buy a bag of ‘pure’ water for N100 but that it now sells

This is not what we bargained for, Nigerians lament Average Nigerians now lament the catalogue of issues ranging from frequent fuel scarcity, inflation, security challenges to dilapidated infrastructure, bedevilling Nigerians. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, Tony Abe, a banker, lamented the frequent fuel scarcity in the country since the current APC-led government assumed power. “The fuel scarcity under this administration is unexpected at all. This is killing. We all know there is unstable power supply in the country and most people rely on generator which is powered by the petrol. As we speak, there is no definite price or fixed price for fuel due to shortage of supply of the PMS. “Although the Buhari-led government reduced the price from N97 to N86.50k but we can't see the impact, instead things are getting worse. We complained so much but government is doing nothing about our plight. Almost every day we queue at various filling stations for fuel.” Lamentation by residents in Abia Some residents who spoke with Saturday Telegraph stated that if the government was sincere with its commitment to the change mantra, some of the recovered money should have at least been channelled to fix the economy and reduce the sufferings of Nigerians. For instance, a litre of fuel sold in Umuahia for between N150 and N180, kerosene sold between N115 and N120 per litre while a litre of fuel was between N180 and N200. This has taken its toll on the cost of transportation. Inter-state travels have shot up while there is a sharp increase in intra city transportation. Food items are not left out. For example, a medium size tuber of yam that sold for N200 earlier now sells for N400 and N450. The N50 size of bread now sells for N70 just as there is N20 increase across board for all sizes of bread. A civil servant in Umuahia, Mrs. Ngozi Iroha, said: “We don’t know what to do. The exchange rate of the dollar to the naira has shot up everything and as if that is not enough fuel is scarce and when you find it the price is double the official pump price. I don’t know what they want us to do. I wonder who they will govern when we are all dead.”

Feature 51 ‘Poverty is now walking the streets’ “Poverty is now walking the streets” is a common refrain among folks in Akwa Ibom State as the economy bites harder leaving the people cursing the “change” mantra brought as a slogan by the present administration. “Things are really difficult in the state and the astronomically increase in fuel, foodstuffs, fruits and every other thing makes me feel like leaving the country for good,” says Mr. Ubong Ikpe, a civil servant, in one of the ministries in Uyo. Ikpe’s frustration is further demonstrated by Mr. Friday Okon, a ‘keke’ operator who said the high cost of fuel and the decision of most people to trek distance they ordinary use his services had left him struggling to meet up with his many daily challenges. For instance in five different private schools in the Uyo metropolis currently taking their first term examination, only about 50 per cent of parents have paid their children school fees. A trend they described as strange and confusing. “All we get areapologies and promises from parents,” a school principal claimed. Mr. Nyong Okon, who manages one of the biggest beer joint along the Uyo red light district area known as Maitama, said in an interview that sales had dropped from about 30 cartons of assorted drinks daily to less than five since January forcing him to sack over 50 per cent staff in his joint. Taraba: Things are getting tougher Residents of Taraba State have decried the current difficulties occasioned by the increasing cost of living, hike in prices of commodities as well the perennial fuel scarcity. However, traders are lamenting as virtually all the prices of foodstuffs and other domestic items have skyrocketed in the state. Apart from the hike in the prices of items, fuel scarcity is also affecting residents, thereby forcing many vehicle owners to park their cars at home and start patronising commercial keke NAPEP. “Our salary was not increased, we receive normal salary, but they have increased the price of everything,” a resident, Danjuma Bako, decried. Our correspondent, who carried out a survey at the Jalingo main market, reported that prices of items in the market have all gone up. A bowl of foreign rice which was selling at N600 some days ago is now sold at N700. A one kilogramme sachet of Golden Penny Semovita which was sold for N200 last week, is now N250. A sachet of Maggi cube which was N260 was now N280. A litre of vegetable oil which was sold for N300 is now N400. The prices increase also affected the table water. A bag of sachet (pure water) which was sold at N70 is now N100. However, a gallon of petrol which was selling N700 few days at the black market, now is N1, 000. In Edo, it’s unbearable The situation can best be described as unbearable in Edo State as residents are daily greeted with frustrations occasioned by the realities of the high cost of food items and others things in markets and retail outlets across the state. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, Mr. George Oaku, a worker, said: “My experience so far is that things are harder than what they were in the past. Even if government said this year would be tough we never expected that it would be this tough. We were getting three hours power supply per day before but now at time we don’t see it for 30 minutes in my area. The other day I went to the NNPC mega station to buy fuel about 6am and left there at 3:30pm. The much talked about change by the present government is a mirage.” On his part, Chief Akhere Agene, a busi continued on page 52

Feature

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26 MARCH 2016

Prices of commodities rise over 50% continued from page 51

nessman, said: “We are in a terrible situation in this country. When this administration came, it asked Nigerian to tighten their belts and what came to my mind was that we are going to experience another austerity measure in terms and with the way things are going the reality is glaring that we are in for a tough period. A bag of rice that sold for N10,000 before is now N16,000 to N17,000. Now back to the reality fuel now sells for between N170 and N200 per litre and it goes round every other thing in the whole state.” Dr. Samson Isibor said he was disappointed with what is presently happening in the country as the unfolding hard economic realities are a true reflection of the change Nigerians yearned for. He said: “The masses have not had it so bad like this; everything is on the high side, the masses cannot afford it and even civil servants’ the month take home package cannot buy anything. So, it is a gory experience, the country is drifting aimlessly. The APC-led government both at the states and federal levels have abandoned the masses; nothing is working. They only came with fighting corruption, is it what the masses will eat?” Kano residents divided Many residents of Kano State argue that the government is not doing what it should do, while others see the situations as a temporary one. Umar Muhammad Rabiu, a civil servant, believes that the government should wake up to face the reality of governance. Umar urged President Buhari not to be carried away by the euphoria of the support he enjoyed from the masses, warning that the current situation if not immediately checked, the support would naturally perish and that would be the beginning of his trouble. For Faizu Alfindiki, the Special Adviser to Governor Abdullahi Umar on Information, the situation is a temporary one and sooner than later, Nigerians would see the real change they voted for. Nigeria economy on the downward spiral Presently the prices of both local and imported goods in the market have risen to the roof top. For example, a bag of foreign rice which before now sold for N10, 000 now sold for between N12, 000 to N15, 000 depending on the make. The same is applicable to food items like the small pack of Semovita which now sells for N700 against N400. Even vegetables which are cultivated on the soil of the land are not spared as traders have doubled the price blaming it on labour cost Apart from food items, clothes, shoes, handbags, water tanks, rubber drums and the like also have their prices increased. According to Mrs. Stella Okilo, a civil servant, she said she could not afford to change her three children’s school bags because of hardship. “After my husband finished paying the outrageous school fees private schools pay, there has to be foodstuffs in the house, then you add the snacks you give when they are going to school to sustain them during the time of lesson till they return home. “After taking care of all that, you talk of fuel for generator because electricity is never there. I have to take care of my sick mother and then take care of myself. At the end you find out you are left with nothing. Things are really tough and only God will save us,” she said. For Mr. Okwudili Ikeazor, a businessman that deals on cosmetics, he said: “Times are quite hard, I never imagined Nigeria getting to this point. It wasn’t this

Tomato market

bad some years ago and even when Jonathan was there. I don’t know what is happening. When you go to market to re-stock, you are not able to buy anything because of increase in prices of goods. We in the cosmetics business are only managing to make sales at all because women cannot do without cosmetics, if not, it would have been a disaster.” Three square meal difficult now in Osun For instance, in Osun State, the state of the living spring, the situation is terribly terrible to the extent that residents find it extremely difficult to afford a meal talk less of three square meal. Speaking on the unpalatable development, a top civil servant in the state teaching service who identified himself simply as Adeniyi called on the federal and state governments to speedily address the situation he described as unbearable for humanity. Also, a commercial trader, Mrs. Adebayo Mariam, told our reporter that the economy had been so terrible to the extent that they hardly see customers patronising them in the market and that few ones that approach them for foodstuffs do so on credit. APC is just a necessary evil Relieving his discomfiture, a rights activist, John Ojo, ‎told Saturday Telegraph that he was deeply confused "whether this democracy we are witnessing is really that of change or chains.‎ Many of us were eager to send off former President Goodluck Jonathan, not bothering to weigh the strength and capability of General Muhammadu Buhari to take us to our expected Promised Land. The change mantra many of us embraced has turned a mirage. APC is just a necessary evil we will have to endure till 2019 the way I see it. “Before May 29, 2015, the exchange rate was about N150 to a dollar, but now it has gone to about N400. The cost of imported and even locally-produced goods have gone up astronomically that it is getting out of reach of many masses. Petroleum has become a scarce commodity that many Nigerians are groaning to get it as its price now fluctuates between N110 and N150 instead of the regulated N86.50k. God help us,” Ojo said. To a secondary school teacher and mother of three, Mrs. Omolara Oyekola, “This suffering is getting unbearable. ‎I have not collected November and December 2015 salary. Same for January, February and March. It is now almost five months in arrears. We can hardly eat at home,” the teacher complained.

It was a similar tale to an apple seller, Alhaja Serifat Oriowo of Egbeda area of Ibadan, who imports the fruit from Cotonou to Nigeria. She said: “The exchange rate has affected our business. The apple we used to sell at N50 is now N70. The size of N70 is what we are now selling at N100. This is because the exchange rate has gone up and transportation has also been hiked. Eating three square meals at home is now difficult. The government should please make things less difficult for us in this country. Many are dying because they could not afford hospital bills. It is no longer a case of eating what one likes, but whatever one can afford. This is too much.” ‘Boko Haram attacks have robbed us of the pains’ Our correspondent when round to seek the views of the residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and report that many of the residents cry of the increasing high cost of living despite the decrease of source of income and the economic depression and their impacts on their lives. A resident of Maiduguri, Malam Shuabu Hassan, said as resident of Maiduguri, the recent economic hardship in Maiduguri is not a new thing, as they have being suffering hardships since the inception of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. He said: “Since the inception of insurgency 2009, our businesses have been crippled, major roads linking Maiduguri and other parts of the country closed, we also experienced over six months of lack of power supply in Maiduguri due to Boko Haram insurgency but we thanked God for President Buhari for the success achieved in the war against insurgency, as security is our number priority.” Another resident, Mallam Isah Idris, said: “We use to buy a bag of maize at the cost of N3, 500 but now is being sold at the cost of N8,00, we also buy a measure of cooking oil at the cost of N180 but now is N270, I call on President Buhari to do something before it get out of hand, as I am speaking to you many family household cannot feed themselves.” ‘Govt must intervene’ Our correspondent, who visited the Birnin Kebbi central market, observed that the prices of food items had risen up from 40 per cent to 70 per cent. Speaking to Saturday Telegraphy, a member of the market association, Issa Alhaji Jega, said: “We do sell a bag of rice before at the rate of N8,000 but now is N11,000 and some places is N12,000, maggi which

was N200 but now is N250, we want government to put end to this hardship in the country.” In a related development, the former member of the state House Assembly, Alhaji Muhammadu Kaoje, expressed dismay over the economic situation of the country. Kaoje, who said government needed to take a drastic measure that would make the economy stable, said: “If you look at things, the economy is getting worst.” FG insensitive to our plights-Residents Workers, businessmen, motorist, buyers, students and residents in Jos, the Plateau State capital, have expressed sadness over the living standard of residents in the country. According to them, government has not done its best to control prices and boost the economy. A trader, Mallam Suleiman Ado, told Saturday Telegraph in Jos, that: “Even when the price of dollar has said to have dropped, but government has refused to ensure that marketers lower the prices of goods which is causing serious hardship. Just imagine a bag of sachet water we use to buy N80 and N90 is now sold for N150 why? He added: “And we voted Buhari to make life easy for us but now he is increasing our hardship, just look at the measure of Maize that use to be N50 now the price has increase to N100 why? If Buhari claimed to have come for us the poor, why are we suffering now? I think this administration of Buhari is not realistic since we are the ones that voted for him and we are the casualties of the government, I think President Buhari is just enjoyment himself and looking fresh forgetting the masses that voted him.” A rice trader at the Terminus Market, Mr. Kingsley Ogbonna, said the economic policies of the Buhari administration are to blame. “People think that when the prices are high, we are making more than enough profit whereas what we make is nothing to write home about because people no longer buy as before, I used to sell many bags of rice and beans every until the widespread inflation, but hardly sells more than a half bag presently,” he added. Report by Appolonia Adeyemi, Oluwatosin Omoniyi, Kunle Olayeni, Muritala Ayinla, Deborah Makoji, Emmanuel Masha, Tony Anichebe, Sabiu Mustapha,, Cajetan Mmuta, Pamela Eboh, Awka, Ahmed Miringa, Cheke Emmanuel, LAFIA, Muhammad Kabir, Adeolu Adeyemo, Sola Adeyemo, Abubakari Abdul, Biodun Oyeleye, Musa Pam and Uchenna Inya

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Youth Corps members as election cannon fodder?

very year, thousands of youngsters from various higher institutions across the country bid their families, friends and love ones goodbye as they leave for different parts of the nation to undergo their mandatory one-year national youth service. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme was set up in 1973 by government to involve the country's graduates in the development of the country and to also bring the different ethnic groups closer by getting the graduates to mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds, to learn the culture of the indigenes in the place they are posted to. The goal was an attempt to bring about unity in the country and to help youths appreciate other ethnic groups. Although it initially met with resistance from fresh graduates who saw it as an attempt by government to have access to ‘cheap labour,’ gradually the scheme, which was at first limited to only university graduates before polytechnics and colleagues of education graduates joined, gradually gained acceptance amongst Nigerians. I still remember as a youngster then how I watched in awe as ‘corpers’ in their white t-shirts with NYSC boldly emblazoned on the front and their khaki uniforms and hats with the NYSC emblem used to move around with pride. Then they were a welcomed (perhaps even revered) group of Nigerians who were dubbed ‘Omo ijoba’ (‘government pikin’) and so were not caught up in whatever domestic strife occurred in their areas of ‘primary assignments’. It was NYSC that first introduced me to the now ubiquitous okada, when I arrived Uyo for my service year in the mid 80s! Little did I know that one day what was ‘unique’ to Cross River State back then would become a household name across

TS from the Sidelines 08050498544 (sms only) tunsul2@gmail.com the country! I served in Cross River State as the Corps Public Relations Officer and had an official car and accommodation attached to the office. And thus I was able to crisscross the state (then Akwa Ibom had not been created) visiting ‘copers’ at their various primary assignments with the main complaints being the backwardness of where they were serving i.e. no electricity, portable water and many of the things found in urban cities that they were coming from. Security was never an issue even for some of the corpers posted to very remote areas to help improve the lot of the children there as teachers, doctors and what have you. Sadly recent events have once again raised big question marks over the continued relevance of the 43-year-old programme. Yes even before last weekend’s rerun elections in Rivers State, with the nauseating pictures of corps members sleeping rough all because they want to help their fatherland conduct elections to the sad murder of one of them, Okonta Samuel, the scheme had already been severely threatened by the various religious insurrections like Maitatsine but had somehow survived them. However, the rise of the Boko Haram menace has become a more enduring scourge and has effectively meant that

thousands of Nigerian youngsters can no longer be posted to cities and villages within their own country because of these extremists. Ironically despite the glaring Boko Haram threat NYSC authorities were slow to react and were still posting corps members to such hotspots like Borno and Yobe states before they came to their senses. I wonder how many NYSC officials would have allowed their own sons and daughters be posted such areas! Despondently while the corps members are no longer being caught up in the cross hairs of these religious fanatics, it is the political class that has now turned them into canon folder as has been the case in recent elections. It was only five years ago that former President Goodluck Jonathan forked out N5million to the families of the 10 corps members who lost their lives in the post election violence of the 2011. The 10 corps members were Adewumi Paul (Ekiti), Okeoma Okechukwu Chibudom (Imo), Ukazeone Amsalem Chukwunonyere (Imo), Olawale Tosin (Kogi), Akonye Ibrahim Sule (Kogi), Gbejo Ebenizar Ayotunde (Osun), Adeniyi Kehinde Jelil (Osun), Anyanwu Agnes (Imo), Okpokori Obina (Imo) and Adohe Elliot, who left behind his wife and four kids (Bayelsa). Of course government vowed that it would not happen again and adequate security would be provided to ensure that

corps members are safe wherever they are posted to or when on national assignment like election duties. Last weekend once again showed how hollow these words were with the death of Okonta Samuel. Following Samuel’s death, the same old song is being played once again with Governor Nyesom Wike insisting he would be immortalised, while the NYSC apologised to the family of the late corps member, who incidentally is an orphan, for the loss. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has offered automatic employment to a member of the National Youth Corps (NYSC) who lost her sight during the 2011 general elections in Yobe State, promised to fully participate in the burial programme of Okonta Samuel. Director General of the NYSC, BrigGeneral Johnson Olanwumi, who said the NYSC had already set up a panel to investigate the corps member's death, criticised the government and leaders of political parties in Rivers State for instigating the violence in last Saturday's rerun elections. He disclosed that after the panel's report, the NYSC management will review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INEC ‎to ensure the protection and safety of corps members on election duty. Good words indeed, but the million naira question is should corps members still be deployed for election duties considering the irrevocable evidence as to the volatile nature of the polls? My personal and candid answer would be ‘no’. I cannot imagine my children being posted for election duties. Or can anyone imagine what the families of the late corps members are going through now? So in keeping with the adage “better safe than sorry” I would prefer to have my son or daughter alive rather than get a presidential handshake and N5million!

EFCC’s case against Kalu will end in praise Olaniyi Olanike

here's always going to be the side of distraction in any person’s life. On the part of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State, he has always triumphed with relevance and prudence when faced with circumstances he didn’t plan that were orchestrated to humiliate him. One thing that has stood Kalu out is that he is a socially concerned citizen of Nigeria and by extension global with social, business and political relevance. So, when anything affects him at the national scene, voicing it requires intelligence in order not to sound fixed. When recently the Supreme Court gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the nod to arraign him, the internet has been awash with comments. A finger on the Google search on your laptop, one million and one links of “Kalu and EFCC” will pop-up. How else is one relevant? Kalu is.My argument is whether the EFCC knew that Kalu was already a billionaire before he joined politics. I see the N5.6billion being the money that the EFCC was alleging that Kalu laundered while he served as Governor of Abia State, as an insult to Kalu’s personality. I’m saying this because going by the money he sponsored the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with, at its formation and the ones he gave to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo when the later wanted to vie for presidency and the ones Kalu overtly and covertly expended in making sure that the PDP stood

as a party and Obasanjo won, is more than that paltry sum the EFCC is amplifying around for public sympathy. Hence, saying that Kalu stole that miniature amount is rather a case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang her. When I look at the side of claim by Kalu clandestinely that he’s being tried for opposing Obasanjo’s 3rd Term, I agree with him into-to. Although, Kalu has paid greater price than what detractors think that he is facing in the hands of the EFCC. Remember that while studying at the University of Maiduguri, he became a student activist and got involved in the “Ali Must Go” riots. His participation in the riot led to his suspension and fellow students. While his fellow students were meant not to be readmitted but only Kalu, he objected the offer and told the authorities that he would only accept if others were recalled. A corrupt mind would not have behaved so – to abandon his educational career for the love of humanity, for the love of his fellow students that the authorities did not want back to the university. But today, the EFCC wants the world to believe that Kalu is a common criminal. Hmmm! Diaris God o! Kalu has however shown that he had nothing to be afraid. His doors are open for any prosecution. However, I see the EFCC’s move against Kalu as persecution! Notwithstanding, I really like the immortal comments made by Kalu through one Ebere Wabara – Kalu’s spokesman – after the judgment that he should be tried. Kalu said, “This is part of the price I

have to pay for opposing the third-term agenda fiasco of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I have all the records and facts of the case. I am willing to submit myself for the rule of law to take its course. That has always been my passionate advocacy right from the lower courts where the case emanated.” The statements show that Kalu had nothing to hide. As an anti-corruption crusader, he fervidly expressed, “This clarification has become imperative lest oppositional forces mischievously misinterpret the ruling and mislead the public by injecting their jaundiced opinions into the routine directive as had always been with similar cases where the apex court intervened. There is nothing novel about the latest manifestation in the on-going litigation—it was the next thing to expect.” Kalu assured the EFCC of his continued support and profound cooperation in any further investigation into this allegation. He reaffirmed that all the defence documents

One thing that I have loved of Kalu is his heart for forgiving those that want to pull him down. I've read him in some fora advising that he does that as a devout Christian

relating to the case are at his disposal and he is willing when the time comes to make them available to the agency. He opined that there is nothing surprising about this stage of the case. He said, “Having exhausted the lower court processes, the next level is where we have arrived and as I have always insisted I will be vindicated at the end of it all. I have nothing to fear as there is no skeleton in my cupboard hence my robust commitment to the rule of law in this and other issues involving me.” Aside that, one thing that I have loved of Kalu is his heart for forgiving those that want to pull him down. I've read him in some fora advising that he does that as a devout Christian because in the book of Luke 6:27-36, it is written, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them... " My prayer for him is in Deuteronomy 31:6 ; and it says, be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you…. It will end in praise.

• Olaniyi Olanike wrote in from Umuahia.

Perspective

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

Married adult children

hen I was a child, I spoke as a child. I understood as a child. I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1st Corinthians 13:11). Naturally, a matured adult is expected to first think about something and understand the idea before eventually speaking out or acting. Any adult that operates in the order of a child as reflected in the above scripture is quickly cautioned: “Think before you speak.” Adults who operate in the format of children are nothing but adult children. One of the major challenges of many marriages today is that there are so many adult children that are married. Children speak and act on impulse most times before thinking. Are you a father or mother that fights in public and indulges in violent acts even in the presence of your children? Sorry. You are an adult child. Some public office holders even fight on national television while their children watch them at home. What a shame! Children and teenagers exhibit exuberance and try to explore uncharted territories. This pushes them into violation of instructions handed down by parents or leaders. Are you a parent that drives your car after consuming excessive quantity of alcoholic drinks despite all warnings against this act? You are a married adult child. Are you a married person that violates traffic rules and endanger your life and that of your passengers even though you know what the traffic law says? You are a married adult child. Children have the tendency to lie when they commit an offence for fear of being

Marriage Clinic with Albinus Chiedu 08038117704 (sms only) marriagecanwork@yahoo.com punished by their parents. Do you lie to your spouse? You are an adult child. But wait a minute! Why should you lie to your spouse? Are you afraid of being spanked with a cane or something? It is childish. You are an adult child when you play Casanova as a married person. When you are with a strange woman or man and you lie to your spouse via the phone about what you are engaged in, you are just a big baby. Grow up and be open to the person you vowed to live with, until death comes. On seeing a young lady, there is tendency for a teenager or young man to be engulfed with lust and consider acts of immorality or sexual intercourse with the strange lady. Some even go ahead to engage in conversations aimed at ungodly affairs. If you have this attitude as a married man, you are a married adult child. If you are a grandfather that indulges in extra-marital sex with girls that share same age with your daughters or granddaughters, you are an adult child. Many single guys and ladies dress indecently and immorally because of their shallow thinking that this foolish act is what makes them “happening babes” and “happening guys”. If as a married man or woman, you have the attitude of indecent dressing, you are an adult child.

Children play hypocrisy by doing things to please their parents when they are before them, but exhibit contrary behaviours outside their home. If you are a parent that does everything in church for the purpose of impressing your priest or pastor to make him believe you are a good person, but live a contrary life outside the church premises, you are a baby. You have scores to settle and bear malice with everybody in your neighbourhood or the compound where you live. Forgiveness is not in your dictionary. Yet, on Sundays, you go to church to clap hands and shout halleluiah, disturbing the peace of the whole environment and deceiving yourself. You inflate contract figures in your office and participate in fraudulent practices. Yet, you hold a big title in church and engage in Sunday-Sunday ceremonies while your children watch, copy and grow with this attitude. You are simply an adult child. Genesis 1:27 says: “So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Adam had the image of God and he was like God. Satan came in Chapter 3:5 saying: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing

good and evil.” Satan encouraged Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit so that they would be like God (whereas they were already like God). Adam then foolishly started struggling to become who he already was, by disobeying God’s order. This was the character of an adult child. Do not take an unserviceable loan just to meet up with the Joneses. Don’t drag your life and family into financial crisis because you are trying to be like or compete with your neighbour or contemporaries. You are what God says you are and not what people think you are. Adult children are very many in categories. A clergyman who beats up his wife at the slightest provocation and goes to the pulpit to warn couples against acts that could destroy their marriage is just an adult child. A parent who indulges in criminal activities and yet, warns his or children against doing such things is an adult child. I could go on and on to describe categories of married adult children. If you are a married man or woman still thinking and or behaving like a child, please, grow up. Stop playing an adult child in the interest of your marriage and family. Children of God are champions who have maturity as a key attribute. Read more about Maturity To Marry in the book titled MAKING YOUR MARRIAGE WORK by Albinus Chiedu. You could also reach us via contact details above this piece. Your marriage shall be a blessing and a testimony in Jesus name. Amen. For questions, prayers, personal counselling, seminars, wedding ministration, etc, CONTACT: The Coordinator, MARRIAGE CAN WORK MINISTRY Mobile: +234-8038117704 E-mail: marriagecanwork@yahoo.com; marriagethings@gmail.com P. O. Box, 13188, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

Feature Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

risis is brewing in Enugu State as the indigenes of Umunenshi Umunnajingene, Amechi Uwani community, in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state have vowed to resist an attempt by the state government to forcefully take over their land. The aggrieved indigenes who protested and lamented that the state government is trying to hijack their land, said the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led regime is in the process of granting Right of Occupancy to a private developer, who wants to build houses and shops on the land and sell same to willing buyers. The protesting villagers, numbering over 200, comprised old and young members of the community, declared that is better they all die than allow the state government take over their land. The spokesman for the community, Comrade Friday David Nnaji, who spoke with Saturday Telegraph on behalf of other indigenes at the disputed site accused some leaders in the area of conspiring with government officials, while noting that the said leaders have no stake in the property. Nnaji also faulted the attempt to by the state government to forcefully take possession of the property despite subsisting court orders, while citing separate courts judgment, which confirms that the indigenes are the rightful owners of the parcels of land. According to court documents obtained by Saturday Telegraph, the indigenes by inheritance and purchases under the native law and customs as well as by virtue of the land Use Acts 1978 are lawful occupiers of the parcels of land known as Agbirigba Umunnen-

Enugu govt, community in land tussle shi l and, Amechi Uwani in Enugu South. The said land is shown in a dispute survey plan No. AN\GA/114/77, in which the people of Umunnenshi had taken the people of Umuewoukwu to court on perpetrated acts of trespass and won up to the Supreme Court in suit No.E/170/76. In the court Judgment of June 25, 1985, the then Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice P.K. Nwokedi, delivered judgment in the said suit and declared that the plaintiffs of Umunnenshi Umunnajingene family of Amechi Awkunanaw are entitled to a customary right of occupancy of the piece of land known as and called ‘Agbirigba UmuNensi’ situated at Amechi Awkunanaw and which is more particularly described and delineated on plan NO.AN\GA/114\77. Further court papers reveal that one Egbo Nwugwu and the other nine defendants in the suit filed an appeal against the judgment in the court of Appeal suit No. CA/E\52/92. On the 29th of April 1993, the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division delivered Judgment and dismissed the Appeal of Egbo Nwugwu and the nine others. Not being satisfied Egbo Nwugwu and the nine others appeal again to the Supreme Court in SC.252/1993 against the judgment of the court of Appeal. On the 16th February 1994 the said appeal of Egbo Nwugwu and nine others was dismissed by the Supreme Court. Egbo Nwugwu (Samuel Egbonwaugwu) and nine others filed a motion in the Supreme Court to re-list their appeal which

The Land

was dismissed on February 6, 1994. But on January 16, 1997, apex court finally struck out their suit No. SC 148/1996 on the ground that their appeal had already been dismissed. During a visit to the site, bulldozers and caterpillars were sighted on the land at work. Investigation conducted by Saturday Telegraph revealed that there were private developers whom were given the land by the state government through the state Commissioner of Lands and the said piece of land having been acquired from the Amechi people. The indigenes accused a traditional ruler in the area His Royal Highness, Eze joseph Ogbodo of complicity for having hand in land by supporting the government to take over the piece of land.

But when Saturday Telegraph visited the traditional ruler at his palace, he denied the whole allegation, saying that he still remain on the side of the people against the government. He stated that it was not the first time this is happening, that during Sullivan Chime’s regime, the state government had wanted to take over the same piece of land which according to him, they resisted. According to the traditional ruler, three promising young men have been killed as a result of their refusal to release the property to the government. Reacting also to the allegation, the state Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Solomon Onah, said the whole allegation was baseless and untrue, adding that the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had met the people to find a lasting solution to the matter.

Sport Extra 55

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

26 MARCH 2016

AFCON 2017: Salah breaks Eagles heart in Kaduna •Team likely to travel on chartered flight

Adekunle Salami and Ajibade Olusesan

M Kaduna

ohammed Salah’s 90th minute strike broke the heart of over 25,000 fans that came out to support Super Eagles in a 2017 AFCON qualifier played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, on Friday. Oghenekaro Etebo was at the right place at the right time as he put the Super Eagles ahead in the 60th minute of the game after Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho’s left-footed shot rebounded off the cross bar for a simple tap-in from the Warri Wolves player. Salah however got the crucial equaliser in the 90th minute as the Eagles defenders were caught flat-footed as they were keeping offside allowing the Roma striker to score against Carl Ikeme in goal for Nigeria, who had few saves to make during the game. Eagles’ prospect of playing at the next AFCON now remains dicey as they remained second on the table, two points behind Egypt who will be happy going back home with a point

Sport Slaming Adekunle Salami

as they await on the Super Eagles for the second leg on Tuesday in Alexandria, Egypt. Nigeria bossed ball possession after a bright start to the game, but Egypt threatened on the counter. Ikeme pulled off the first big save of the day when he put out his foot to block a goal-bound effort by Ahmed Hassan after 18 minutes. Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shennawi was also at his best in the closing moments of the game when he turned away a low, goal-bound shot by Iheanacho in the 45th minute. In first half stoppage time, subdued Odion Ighalo failed to direct his shot from inside the box with the Egypt defence at his mercy. Six minutes from time, Victor Moses went clean on goal after he was released by Iwobi but his shot was cleared off the goal line by Hamada Tolba. It was Nigeria’s biggest chance of the second half. It nearly turned worse for the Eagles as a goal bound move by Salah was stopped by the referee’s final whistle. Speaking after the game, Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, and captain, Mikel Obi, said the goal came as a result of loss

adekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only)

I Mikel

of concentration, as they assured Nigerians of victory in Egypt. “The boys played well and to instruction, but a moment’s loss of concentration cost us the full point,” Siasia said. “If they perform the same way in the second leg, I am sure we are going to get the victory in Egypt.” Meanwhile, our correspondent scooped that the Eagles might be travelling on a chartered flight to Egypt with the team expected to depart on Sunday or Monday morning for the second leg.

Siasia happy with U-23 Charles Ogundiya

S Fans sitting very close to the pitch

Poor crowd control mars Eagles match •NFF helpless, closes filling stations Ajibade Olusesan

D Kaduna

espite the deployment of about 1000 security men, the Nigeria Football Federation still found it difficult to control the crowd that thronged the Ahmadu Bellow Stadium, Kaduna, for the Nigeria versus Egypt match on Friday. A member of the security committee of the federation had told our correspondent in an exclusive chat that there would not be issues concerning crowd and it's control but it almost overwhelmed the officials as it went out of hand about two hours to the kickoff time. By 3:30pm the whole seats had been filled up and the crowd outside the stadium was far more than that those in the mainbowl. Many of them still found their way into the complex and some still entered the mainbowl. There were no seats to sit and many ardent fans resorted to standing on the terraces, more than 50 fans were hanging on TV camera stands. The whole arena was thrown

into shock when one fan climbed one of the floodlights waving the flag on top of it. Another dramatic one ran into the pitch when the players were warming up and was chased for about 100 metres before he was caught by security men. There was a lot pushing and shoving outside that a lot of journalists could not get into arena to do their job. "We have good security arrangements for this match. We have about 1000 security men on ground and they are properly briefed on what to do. As part of security plans, we had arrangements with the filling stations around not to operate so that there would be less traffic," an official who was not authorised to speak told our correspondent. Saturday Telegraph also learnt that some parts of the fence had collapsed and the official said about 70 security men had been stationed at the spot to prevent breach of security. The Super Eagles drew 1-1 against the Pharaohs with the second leg billed for Tuesday in Alexandria, Egypt.

uper Eagles and National U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, has expressed happiness over the 1-0 victory of the U-23 team in a Grade A friendly match against Brazil’s U-23 team early on Friday. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, the coach who led the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw against Egypt on Friday was full of praises for the team and the assistant coach, Fatai Amoo, who led the team to Brazil for the encoun-

ter. “I know I can count on the team in my absence because I have wonderful assistants,” Siasia said. “Amoo and the other members of the technical crew have shown that they can function even without my presence. He is an experienced coach that I am proud of. He has been of immense support to the team.” Akwa United’s striker, Ubong Ekpai, fired the only goal for Nigeria to beat their Brazilian Olympic team counterparts in the friendly game.

Cruyff: Family 'touched' by support

ordi Cruyff says he is 'touched' by the messages of support and tributes to his father, Johan, who lost his battle with cancer on Thursday. The Dutch football great has been hailed as one of the best in his-

Cruyff

tory by fans around the globe - while a charity match between his final club Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam on Thursday was paused in the 14th minute in his honour. In a message posted on his father's official website, worldofjohancruyff.com, Jordi wrote: “On behalf of my mother, sisters and the rest of the family I would like to say thank you for all the love, kind words and memories that have been shared with us, since Thursday but also over the past months.''

Before ‘they’ kill other sports…

n the past one month or so, the entire attention of the sporting fraternity in the country has been on the Nigeria, Egypt back-to-back ties. The first one was decided yesterday in Kaduna while the second one will take place on Tuesday in Alexandria. The importance of the match is clear to all especially because Nigeria did not qualify for the 2015 Nations Cup and to miss the continental event back-to-back will be too bad. It is not in contention that football is the number one sport in Nigeria. That is why many people are merely football fans and not sport fans while administrators who are supposed to superintend all sports disciplines also get carried away with the football obsession. In the process, so much money is spent to use the game to win the hearts of the citizenry. However, in trying to service football many other things are taken for granted. Not many people are aware that Nigeria has over 20 sports disciplines under the ministry of sports. If the ordinary Nigerian is not aware of this, it is expected that the minister of sport should know. This is why sport ministers are always accused of football bias. The current minister, Solomon Dalung, cannot be accused of football bias, rather, the man is just floating without a direction since he does not even know what to do. During the week, I was so sad to learn that out of the 10 boxers that travelled The current to Yaoundé, Cameroon, for the Rio 2016 trials, only one minister, boxer picked the ticket. Efe Solomon Ajagba is his name. He will be Nigeria’s only representaDalung, cannot tive at the Rio Olympics after be accused of winning gold in the final of the AIBA Africa Olympic being football qualifiers. The boxers were not well-prepared and mobias, rather, tivated to get results in the the man is just continental competition. Coach Tony Konyegwachi floating without said the boxers would still a direction since vie for more slots but how would they win in these he does not other competitions that are expected to be tougher than even know what the last one? to do Boxing is a traditional sport and it is sad that we do not have national competitions as often as before. The ministry is not bothered but fans of the sport are crying out over not having enough of the game. The wrestlers are not better but they are simply luckier to have Daniel Igali as president of the federation. Igali has the experience and he is also using his contacts especially in Bayelsa to stage competitions for his athletes. He is optimistic of about five to seven tickets to the Olympics but wrestling trials are yet to take place. Track and field athletes in Port Harcourt only few days back were complaining that they were not being fed in camp. The athletes in camp are mostly up and coming ones hoping to be in shape to compete for the Rio 2016 slots. Taekwondo athletes were also at the African trials and they all failed to make the cut for the games. Of course, same story: no money to prepare well, no motivation. The story of table tennis is not new. Two male and two female players will compete in the singles event of Rio Games after selfsponsorship to trials in Sudan. Elite athletes in the mould of Blessing Okagbare and Aruna Quadri have personal targets for the Olympic Games but there is no support from Nigeria whatsoever to help them. Ordinarily, elite athletes who are Grade A medal-prospects are supposed to get grants but nothing of such has been done even though we are in an Olympic year. The disposition of Nigerian government to other sports is appalling. Gradually, government and the clueless administrators are killing other sports. Maybe there is need for a football minister apart from the sport minister so that other sports won’t suffer the kind of neglect we see today.

SATURDAY, 26 MARCH 2016

SATURDAY

Sanctity of Truth

N150

DESTINATION

TS from the Sidelines

OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK:

Youth Corps members as election cannon fodder?

A mixed blend of wildlife, historical, p.42 cultural heritage

p.53

Mane

takes EPL form to Dakar S

Adekunle Salami enegal’s Sadio Mane is one of the players making Africa proud in the English Premier League but this weekend he returns home to show football fans in Dakar that what they have been watching on television is no fluke. The Gabon 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers is on centre stage this weekend and Mane is vital for the success of high-flying Senegal in the race as the Terranga Lions confont Niger in Dakar. He is the man on form. Only last weekend, the Senegalese was introduced in the second half after Southampton were down 2-0 to Liverpool but he was pivotal to the amazing turnaround recorded to beat the Reds 3-2. In fact, his winner in the 88th minute sent his manager, Ronald Koeman, on a 100m race at the St. Mary’s Stadium. First, Mane missed a penalty but few minutes later he stepped up to reduce the tally by one goal. Liverpool searched for the killer goal but it was Southampton that got the equaliser. Just when both sides were settling for a draw, Mane struck again with a clincher to give the Saints three maximum points and send the fans into wild jubilation. After two matches in the qualifying series, Senegal are on top of Group K with six points from two matches. In Day One, Mane was on target in the 3-1 victory recorded over Burundi and on September 5, 2015 (Day Two), he again scored the second goal for Senegal in the 56th minute as his team whipped Namibia 2-0. All eyes will be on Mane this evening when Senegal file out against Niger at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar. The home fans will be eager to see their super star replicate his EPL form Little wonder, EPL giants, Manchester United, have been on the trail of the striker in the past one year.

SPORTS WORD SEARCH We shall search for Nigerian Soccer Players in Europe in today's word search. [Part Two] Reuben AGBOOLA Chidi OSUCHUKWU Kelvin ETUHU Ismail YAKUBU Pascal OJIGWE Ugo UKAH Eniola ALUKO Olubayo ADEFEMI Edward OFERE Hope AKPAN Alex IWOBI Leon BALOGUN Abiola DAUDA Joseph AKPALA

Note: You are to search for their surnames writen in bold and uppercase letters.

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