Newtelegraph saturday, december 12, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

New Telegraph Managment We didn’t receive payment from Dasuki through Obaigbena

Midnight Crew Our last song, tale of pains and joy

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SATURDAY Saturday, December 12, 2015 Vol. 2 No. 661

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

HOSPITAL WHICH GOT N750M FOR ‘SPECIAL PRAYER’ STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION }4

lFG slams 19 new charges on Dasuki }4 lFalana: Ex-NSA, others arrested for $6bn not $2.1bn theft }4 l Okonjo-Iweala unveils secret memo }9

Kanu’s pregnant wife cries out

my husband must not die

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

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Anti-graft war

we won’t disclose treasury looters

Profiteering

DPR REVOKES IMPORTS PERMIT OF CAPITAL OIL, SAHARA, }5 4 OTHERS

Kogi election } 48-49

South-West APC plots against Odigie-Oyegun }48

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Contents | 12.12.15 INSTYLE

MYSTYLE

INTERIORS

SHOWBIZ

SPORT

THE ARTS

Ankle boots for balance Although it took a while to catch on with some fashionistas because of the feeling that it makes their feet chunky, ankle boots are really heaven sent for ladies who struggle to maintain that fascinating model-like balance

SATURDAY

Comment

Biafra: Soyinka’s words of wisdom

obel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka acted the elder statesman recently when he called on the Federal Government }16 to apply some tact in dealing with the renewed call for an independent Atafo’s appeal Republic of Biafra. The agitations Fashion icon, Mai Atafo, talks about which smouldered under the leaderhis style, achievements, ambitions ship of Chief Raph Uwazuruike and and what inspired his decision to add wedding fashion to his line of business. his MASSOB gained altitude with the He also opines that government hasn’t emergence of Biafra Radio, powered by a young Nigerian, Nnamdi Kanu, done enough for the industry who chose the United Kingdom as his }17 second home. Biafra has refused to be confined Colours convergence to the dustbin of History. The name Beautifully combined colours led Nigeria to a civil war that claimed have the capacity to transform millions of lives and destroyed infraan ordinary looking place into something exquisite. Colours excite, structure worth trillions o Naira. At inspire, tantalise; and lighter hues the end of the 31-month old crisis, the have that extra knack of making belief was that what led to the bloodrooms look bigger and brighter letting in the first place would never }18 be allowed to germinate in the future. Forty-five years after, the cries are all Midnight dream over the South-East and parts of the The gospel group, Midnight Crew, South-South-geo –political zones. keeps weathering the storms Soyinka was part of the story of the 14 years after. The quartet, two war. There were fears that he had symmales and two females, give vent pathy for the Biafrans simply because to their challenges, innermost longings and the reason they will some of his friends found themselves on the other side of the divide. Chinever break up nua Achebe, Emmanuel Ifeajuna and }19 Chris Okigbo played active roles. The bonding spirit of the University ColA dwarf’s tall ambition lege Ibadan, was so strong. Lauritta Onye, a gold medallist Achebe did not go to the battle field at the IPC World Athletics with Rocket Propelled Grenades[RPG] Championship, Doha 2015, grapples with discrimination that and Small Machine Guns (SMG). He arises from her small size. She’s was part of the Biafran Ministry of Injust 1.25 feet tall, but that hasn’t formation which could move mounstopped her from walking tall and tains with words. Ifeajuna was part of having tall ambitions the liberation of the Mid-West but was cut down by bullets on allegation of }27 plotting to topple Col. Emeka Ojukwu, Stain of Honour the Biafran leader. Okigbo was brave At the heart of Kalu Uche Karis’ and joined the Army. In an act that ongoing solo exhibition, Stain of could earn a post humous medal, he Honour, is the re-imagination of tried to blow up a Federal Armoured Africa the way it used to be. The tank with a grenade. He lost his life in culture, heritage, dress patterns, the process. moonlight play among others that Soyinka did not fight in any of the have been lost and replaced by the major sectors but fight he did. He was impersonality of a concrete jungle detained by the General Yakubu Go}37 won government until the end of the war. While in jail, his father died and

Plus: Street Diary 10 | Investigation 23

the writer was not allowed the honour of burying his dad. It was in prison that he wrote The man died. The Laureate therefore is in a vantage position to talk about Biafra and the way forward. His take is that anyone who believes that Biafra would be destroyed by sending a squadron of policemen to Onitsha, Aba , Port-Harcourt or Asaba should think twice. Prof. Soyinka’s alternative is dialogue in order to find out what the grievances of the agitators are and how to meet their demands even if halfway. His conviction is that Biafra cannot die. That is a salient point. The people who feel they do not want to be part of Nigeria anymore may change their minds if certain reassurances and guarantees are made. And more should be done for the people of the South-East to feel they are part and parcel of the Federal Republic. This warning is timely. The nation cannot afford another civil war. No nation has really survived two civil wars. Times are rough for our democracy as insurgency continues to ravage the North-East. The economy is almost down on its knees and money meant for national development must not be wasted on another crisis down south. While we condemn any acts of violence from those who are free to make their points peacefully, we also advise that live bullets should not be used on innocent protesters and unarmed civilians. The militirisation of the South –East should be discouraged. Nigeria cannot afford to fight on two fronts. Normalcy should reign in places where protests have been held. In Onitsha innocent citizens now live in fear because they are forced to raise their hands in surrender as they go through areas like Upper Iweka and Headbridge. Government while maintaining peace should also offer a hand of dialogue. The peace we enjoy in the Niger Delta today came because late Presdent Umaru Musa Yar’Adua toed the path of jawjaw. That is the way to go and this is time to avert further crisis.

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, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

News

Ndubuisi Ugah and Onwuka Nzeshi

he ongoing investigation into the disbursement of funds meant for prosecuting the war against insurgency appears to be getting messier with yesterday’s revelation that a certain firm, Acacia Holdings Limited received the sum of N1.45 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for rendering special prayers. Another firm, Reliance Referral Hospitals, also got the sum of N750 million for rendering special prayers. Saturday Telegraph investigations revealed that both firms belong to the parent organisation even though there were no names or clear contact addresses of these firms. A visit to the corporate website of Acacia Holdings Limited revealed that it is made up of a group of four companies namely, Reliance Referral Hospitals, Medical Plastics Limited, Hits Furniture Nigeria Limited and the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE). Incidentally, none of the companies in the group except ICICE had anything to do with religion and prayers. Our check reveals that Reliance Hospital is a 160-bed hospital currently under construction in Abuja while the ICICE is

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

Hospital which got N750m for ‘special prayers’ still under construction a religious centre dedicated to the promotion of Islamic culture and education. Saturday Telegraph could not locate House 3, Plot 809, off Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja, the presumed headquarters of Acacia Holdings Limited but a search on the ICICE took our correspondents to a mosque located in the highbrow Maitama District of Abuja. When our correspondents visited the expansive premises of the mosque, hundreds of Muslim faithful were seen strolling out of the facility after taking part in yesterday’s Jumat service. One of the worshippers told one of our correspondents that there had been rumours that the head of the religious centre, whose names was not given, was arrested by the EFCC about a week ago over allegations that he collected some huge sums of money from government during the last regime. Asked if the money was for prayers, the worshipper said he did not know what purpose the said money was meant for. There was heavy security presence around the mosque but it was not clear

whether the security men were there to make further arrests or ensure the safety of the worshippers in view of the security alert in the city. In another development, the Federal Government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday filed 19 additional charges against the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki. Dasuki, now under detention, is being accused of extra-budgetary spending to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional $2.2 billion in foreign currency component. The money is said to be part of the $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase for the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. The charges were filed at the FCT High Court, Abuja and sources said Dasuki is expected to be arraigned today or Monday. He will be arraigned with Mr. Salisu Shuaibu, a former Director of Finance in his office; Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Acacia Hold-

ings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited. A former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Attahiru Sagir; former Minister of National Planning, Bashir Yuguda and Dalhatu Investment Limited, are also charged separately with 22 counts over alleged diversion of over N10 billion meant for arms procurement. On the fresh charges, a defence lawyer, who pleaded anonymity, said he doubted if the ex-NSA had been served, adding that “Dasuki would have to be first served the charges in person before he would brief the lawyers.” Defence counsel, Messrs. Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Ahmed Raji (SAN), both said they were aware of the fresh charges but declined to comment. The case is slated for January 20 for mention. Meanwhile, a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has vowed to drag Dasuki and others “implicated” in the alleged $2.1 billion arms deal, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) next week. While delivering a lecture in Abuja tagged: “Pro-

motion and Protection of human rights in Nigeria”, at the maiden lecture and dinner organised by the Amnesty International (AI), Falana said the accused must be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. He at the occasion, disputed media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari was engaging in impunity by detaining the alleged suspects for more than 48 hours, saying it was untrue. He further argued that the Administration of Criminal Law Act, which was enacted by the previous regime had empowered a magistrate on the application of the police or anti-graft agency to issue a remand order or detain those under investigation for more than 48 hours. “Last week some people were arrested. I think three of them principally (Dasuki, Raymond Dokpesi, and Attahiru Bafarawa). Again, contrary to media report, the suspects were not arrested for diverting the some of $2.1 billion as it has been reported by the press, but for diverting and misappropriating and conerring $6 billion. I am talking of $2.1 billion and

N643 billion”. “Now in any part of the world, this is a serious crime that affects the generality of Nigerians, that affects our right to development, that led to the untimely death of over 5,000 soldiers, and 20,000 civilians that have been massacred by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists”. “This fund was earmarked for procuring military hardware to prosecute the war on terror, but a gang of people sat down and resolved and decided to corner the fund, and continue to deceive our people that adequate weapons have been procured for our soldiers and therefore they are indolent, and cowardly by not fighting to defeat the Boko Haram sect.” “Perhaps, unlike most Nigerians I feel more pain. I feel more challenged, because I have defended scores of military officers and soldiers on pro-bono basis because I was convinced that these funds were diverted and therefore, why are you charging these innocent people with cowardly behaviour which attracts the death penalty. continued on page 5

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

Buhari: We’ll not disclose names of treasury looters Anule Emmanuel

P Kaduna

resident Muhammadu Buhari has said he is not in a hurry to disclose the full list of government officials suspected to have looted the nation’s treasury. The President said any attempt to make their names public would jeopardise the chances of security agencies concluding investigations that would lead to their prosecution. The president statement yesterday came on a day the Presidency said President Buhari was ready to step on “big toes” in the ongoing anti-corruption war to save the country from the rots which had hindered the nation’s development. Speaking in Abuja at this year’s edition of the annual Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation Lecture, President Buhari said: “Any disclosure now may jeopardise the possibility of bigger recoveries. “As I stated recently, a good number of people who abused their positions are voluntarily returning the illicit funds. I have heard it said that we should disclose the names of the people, and the amount returned. “Yes, in due course, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will make information available to the public on the surrendered funds”, adding that: “But I must remark that it is yet early days, and any disclosure now may jeopardise the possibility of bigger recoveries. “But we owe Nigerians

l CBN to disclose ‘returned loot’ soon l President ready to step on toes — Presidency

Sokoto Diocesan Catholic Bishop, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; former Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan and President Muhammadu Buhari, at the 15th Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Lecture Series, in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

adequate information, and it shall come in due course. It is part of the collective effort to change our land from the bastion of corruption it currently is, to a place of probity and transparency.” While commending the foundation for their impact on the development of ideas through its annual lecture series, the president said the themes of the lecture series have focused on critical puzzles bordering on human development particularly in the country. “Apart from the contribution of the lecture series to human development, it has also unveiled the genius personality of Em-

...N2.2bn for ‘special prayers’ continued from page 4

“Those who stole the money meant for procuring arms must not go unchallenged, nobody must invoke human rights, no lawyer must be permitted to invoke human rights to cover these crimes against humanity. “They went beyond just stealing and by next week we are filing a petition before the international Criminal Court (ICC) to ask that these guys be tried for crime against humanity because we are only talking of those who are alive, what of thousands that have been killed recklessly because of this kind of irresponsibility on the part of a few people”. “Let me clarify this, the right to liberty is guaranteed by Section 35 of the Nigerian constitution, as well as article 6 of the African Charter that nobody shall have his right to liberty taken away or abridged or violated. However, this is not an absolute right if there is reasonable suspicion that you have committed a criminal offence your

right to liberty can be taken by the state”. “Therefore, when you are told by the media that the Buhari regime is engaging in impunity by arresting people without taking them to court within 48 hours is no longer in our law. I made this point on Sunday and no one has challenged me”. “Transparency International is being hypocritical by saying Nigeria is more corrupt than Switzerland, that is loose talk. Switzerland houses all the funds stolen by all dictators including dictators that have no records of how much they hold, dictators that have died and nobody has the record of what is kept in Switzerland. So, TI will leave Switzerland alone and say Nigeria is corrupt. We are only a victim of corruption,” he clarified. Falana pleaded with AI not to remain neutral in the fight against corruption in the country, but urged them to move speedily in promoting and defending socio-economic development.

manuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe, whose philosophical insight is gradually finding place in the psyche of academics globally, particularly at a time when Africans are determined to rewrite their own history,” he said. President Buhari said the decision of the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation to choose corruption as the topic of discourse at this year’s session is, therefore, encouraging to his government. According to him, winning the war against cor-

ruption requires our synergy, a collection of our resolve that corruption must be eliminated in the social psyche of the Nigerian nation. The president explained that the anti-corruption war embarked upon by his government was not strictly about him as a person, but building a country. “When you see dilapidated infrastructure round the country, it is often the consequence of corruption. Poor healthcare, collapsed education, lack of public utilities,

decayed social services, are all products of corruption, as those entrusted with public resources put them in their private pockets. Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who said this at the opening of a three-day workshop organised for State House correspondents in Kaduna, urged journalists to help the government win the ongoing war against corruption. The workshop which is

organised by the Presidency is titled: “Journalism and the change mantra, State House in focus.” He said: “President Buhari has embarked on an anti-corruption campaign that is bound to offend many. Big toes will be stepped on and personal interests will be cast aside. As the popular saying goes, when you fight corruption, corruption fights back. “Yes, anti-corruption is a war. And the press can help President Muhammadu Buhari to win that war. You are one of the government’s most lethal weapons in this battle against the forces that aim to pull down Nigeria. “The power of the media, if they have any power at all lies in their ability to expose wrong-doing. This power of exposure is a far more effective deterrent in many countries, including our own, than the court systems that deliver judgment and not necessarily justice. “If they know that they will be exposed many crimes will not happen and herein lies the challenge of the media under Buhari’s administration. “Use your power to expose wrong-doing, the days of impunity are gone. This is the best way to help the change, now that we have a government with the will and capacity to right all wrongs. But ensure accuracy and the sanctity of the truth.”

DPR revokes fuel import permits of Capital Oil, Sahara, others Adeola Yusuf

he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) wielded the big stick yesterday as it revoked the fuel imports permit for Capital Oil Petroleum Limited, Sahara Petroleum and Folawiyo Petroleum in Lagos over profiteering. Other companies, which suffered the same treatment included Samon Petroleum, Fynefield Petroleum, Calabar and Stalliionaire Petroleum Limited in Lagos. The revocation of licenses, which will last for three month each also attracted a cumulative fine of N60 million. Specifically, the regulatory body said that the companies sold fuel above government regulated exdepot price of N77.66k. The agency in statement signed by Mrs. Abimbola Ogan, said: “The Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has been advised to revoke the companies’ allocation, while the Petroleum Pricing Marketing Company (PPMC) has been informed not to allocate fuel to the erring companies for the period of their sanction.

l Slammed N60m fines on erring firms l Fuel scarcity will end soon - NUPENG “The DPR has put in place all necessary machineries to curb all incidents of profiteering, hoarding and other unwholesome practices by operators. “The public is hereby advised to shun panic buying and report any noticeable infraction to the Department of Petroleum Resources office nearest to the people.” Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, had earlier reiterated order given to the DPR to clamp down on marketers who, he said, wanted to sabotage efforts by the government to end the long queues in filling stations across the country before Christmas. He said during a tour of private depots in Lagos about two weeks ago that: “It is also critical that people are selling at the control prices. I have asked DPR to do anything that they can to enforce guidelines that I have given them, which is if you find any station that is selling outside the price system, and hoarding product, sell the product free to the public.

“This may look draconian but we are in draconian times. We cannot afford any forms of laxity. We should also go to depot owners to make sure that they are keeping to the rules; they are selling according to the depot prices, so that individuals will not be encouraged at depot point to begin to escalate prices as it were. This is celebration period; Christmas is most important for most Nigerians. So everything we can do to ensure efficiency in product delivery to Nigerians we will appreciate it. “Critically our concern obviously is being able to find sufficiency of product available to wet our highlands; we are not doing it as rapidly as we should. A lot of issues but obviously fuel subsidy payment, speed of loading out foreign exchange allocation and obviously efficiency in terms of trucking. “We are going to work with everybody within the sector. December is a critical month for us and we want to make sure that Nigerians are not suffering for

Christmas traveling in any part of the country. “So, we are going to work with every depot owner to see how we can get the product in, encourage them to also bring product in so that we can see how to improve efficiency in loading.” Following the current fuel scarcity across the country, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), yesterday assured Nigerians that the situation would soon come to an end. The South-West Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. NAN reported that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had on December 9, confirmed the payment of N407.07 billion fuel subsidy to oil marketers. Korodo said: “There is massive loading of petroleum products in different depots throughout the country, and our Petroleum Tanker Drivers are ready to go extra mile to deliver the product to designated filling stations."

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

FCT APC’s National Vice Chairman loses wife

N EWS I N BRIEF

The South-East National ViceChairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Emma Eneukwu, has lost his wife, Mrs. Tochukwu Chidimma Eneukwu. A statement issued yesterday said Eneukwu (nee Ahanonu), aged 42, died on December 5. The statement, which did not state the cause of her death, said she died at the Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu State. Eneukwu would be buried on December 22, at Ononenyi Villa, Umuabosi Akpulu Obinagu Udi Local Government Area of the state with the Christian wake keep holding on December 21.

MAIDUGURI Perm secs, workers donate to IDPs

The Body of Federal Permanent Secretaries and Civil Servants has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State, to cushion their hardship. Presenting the materials to the state government, a director in the Ministry of Youth Development, Alhaji Waziri Laminu, said the items were purchased from the N55 million realised from the public servants by a committee set up by the Head of Service to assist the IDPs. He said: “The committee purchased medicines worth N45 million and other materials worth N10 million which we are witnessing the distribution this morning in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.” Waziri said the items were their token contribution in cushioning the sufferings of the IDPs. Receiving the items on behalf of the Borno State Government, the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Maman Durkwa, thanked the donors for their concern, while also assuring them that the items donated would be judiciously distributed to the IDPs.

95.3m

The total number of Installed Capacity of Mobile (GSM) lines in 2008. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

5.12m

The total population of men in Bolivia in 2012. Source: Un.org

ILESA Mama Nurse Awoseyi goes home

A community leader and retired nurse at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Mrs. Victoria Wende Awoseyi, is dead. She died at the age of 100 years. A statement by the deceased’s daughter, a retired Permanent Secretary in Osun State Government Civil Service, Mrs. Sola Obembe, and son, a veterinary doctor, Abayomi Awoseyi, said the burial arrangement would soon be made public. The statement said: “Mama Nurse died peacefully on December 2 at her residence, the Praise Villa, Bishop Street, CocaCola Area, Ijebu-Jesa Road, Ilesa in Osun State.”

19.72

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Bahrain in 2007. Source: Itu.int

Abia North: Kalu has won victory for humanity – Aide

Ndubuisi Ugah

rs. Rubby Obinna, an aide to former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday said the ruling by the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, which sacked ‘Senator’ Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had shown that the judgement “is a victory for humanity.” The court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election for the Abia North Senatorial district of Abia State within 90 days. A statement issued by Obinna on behalf of Orji Uzor Kalu Media Centre, Abuja, said: “Kalu has always stood against evil. He has a history of victory. He

would not have won if he did not attempt to win. He inspires the world. “He has again conquered the world with love and makes Mahatma Gandhi's quote more relevant as the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State on December 10 sacked ‘Senator’ Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election for the Abia North Senatorial district of Abia State within 90 days.” The statement recalled that Gandhi had said: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it always.”

‘Adedibu, Arisekola-Alao will re-emerge after 50 years’ Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

L-R: Member, Iwude-Ijesa Festival Planning Committee, Chief Ayo Agbede; Chairman, Olu Falomo and member, Erelu Adewale Bolarinwa, at a press conference to announce this year’s Iwude-Ijesa Festival in Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Power privatisation: Fashola goes after indolent investors

Adeola Yusuf

inister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said he was ready to go after indolent investors, whose benefits from the power privatisation are yet to be felt by Nigerians. Fashola who declared this during a visit to the Egbin Power Power plant in Lagos, vowed to hold the new power assets owners to their contracts. Promising to off-set the debts, which the Federal Government was owing generation and distribution companies, the minister who came to the facility by an helicopter, declared that the government would only pay the verifiable and legally approved debts. “To those who are yet to do what they signed to do, we will hold them to their contracts,” he said, adding that efforts are on to get all

l Gives conditions for FG’s debts payment the Federal Government's Ministries, Departments and Parastatals to pay electricity bills. “Let Nigerians pay for what they consume,” he said, adding: “One of the things I checked when I resumed duty as minister is to know whether the Ministry of Power owe. I make bold to announce today that the ministry is not owing for power. “We want all the ministries and parastatals to bring their books to know how much they are owing. The government will pay only the debts that are verifiable and legally approved." Stating that the power supply improvement is yet to be felt by many Nigerians, the power minister said: "As I sit here, I didn't have power this morning and my wife was telling me, come, you are the minister of power, where is power?”

He commended the Egbin power plant for its investments, which has transformed the firm and boosted its daily power generation from below 400 Megawatts (MW) to 1,100 Megawatts (MW) at the moment. “I acknowledge the determination of the Egbin Power Plant, the Sahara Group. It is heart-warming that the investments that have come to term have local mix. “My office is in Abuja but I will not spend much time there, I will be all over the country experiencing what Nigerians are experiencing on our roads, on power supply,” the minister who came to the facility by helicopter said. He said: “Hands are on to ensure that the sector remains sufficiently funded. We will pay debts that are verifiable and legally incurred.”

The Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Dr. Benjamin Dikki, who represented Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at the official hand over of the Egin Power Generation assets to the new owner-KEPCO on November 1, 2013 said during the minister's visit: “I have the responsibility of handing over egbin on behalf of the VP in November 1, 2013. I want to commend egbin for being a cheering examples of what privatisation should be all about.” He said: “Nigerian's power sector will work because the telecommunication sector worked and it is the same principle that we are applying. Despite the constraints in foreign exchange, equipment have been imported by the new owner which has evidently helped to boost the company's generation from about 400 MW in 2013 to 1,100MW.”

enowned Islamic cleric, Alhaji Sheik Muhydeen Ajani Bello, has predicted that the successors of late Chief Lamidi Adedibu and the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola- Alao, might not be seen until 50 years after their demise. The cleric said this on Thursday after he was conferred with the award of the “International Ambassador of Ibadanland” by the African Independent Television (AIT) in conjunction with Fountain Communication at the Cultural Centre, Mokola, Ibadan. The event tagged: “Ibadan Heroes 2015,” where the organisers launched a film produced by Abdul Lateef Ayegbajeje, entitled: “Project Ibadan: Africa's America”, also witnessed conferment of

post-humous distinguished awards on some other eminent sons of Ibadanland including the late Chief Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu (a.k.a. Penkelemesi), who was given an award of International Political Philosopher. Speaking on the occasion, Bello said: “Awe cannot have another Adedibu and Arisekola until the next 50 years. Whoever claims to have stepped into the shoe of Aare is just kidding. He can never act like Arisekola, who though had many Alfas, but trusted in God. He was humane and a philanthropist per excellence.” Speaking about the last moment he had with the former Deputy National President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Bello said: “Before his death, we had made Alhaji Arisekola the Aare of the Universe. We can never forget him."

Ondo APC seeks guber support from Lagos Temitope Ogunbanke

head of the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) from the 18 local government areas of the state have sought for the support of the Lagos State chapter to defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election. Speaking during the visit of the APC leaders to the party’s secretariat in Lagos, a human rights activist, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, urged their counterpart from Lagos to show them the way of victory in order to return the state to the fold of progressives.

He alleged that the state had been misruled by Governor Olusegun Mimikoled administration, adding that only the APC could restore the hope of the people of the state if the party is voted into power next year. “Lagos is the challenger of wrong governance in Nigeria and the transformer of hopeless situations. So, we decided to come to the place where the greatest political ideas are conceived. So, we have come for help like younger brothers. Help us and show us the way. We have come to learn from you. “If you see the condition of Ondo State, you will be sorry for us."

12 decEMBER 2015

Count me out of $2.1bn arms deal, Atawodi insists Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

ormer Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security, Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi, yesterday denied any link with the controversial $2.1 billion arms purchase deal, upon which the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The former air chief claimed that he has never worked under Dasuki in the office of NSA and as such has nothing to do with the huge sum allegedly mismanaged. Atawodi’s reaction was sequel to the usage of his photograph in some national dailies along with those already indicted by

the presidential committee that probed the arms purchase deal. Speaking through his lawyer, Mr. Wahab Olatoye, Atawodi advised that he should not be linked with any negative issue, he knew nothing about while in and out of office. Olatoye said it was mischievous, embarrassing and unwarranted for anybody or group to have dragged his client into the scandalous arms deal, adding that he had served the nation for years without any blemish record. His lawyer however, admitted that a baseless and frivolous petition was written against his client in 2012 while he served as the chairman of PICOMMS under the late NSA, Major General Owoye Azazi and that the petition after a thorough probe was found worthless and thrown out.

Agbakoba to Buhari: Beware of elite conspiracy Wale Elegbede

ormer president, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of what he called the conspiracy of the elite and their resolve to frustrate the reform agenda of his administration. Addressing journalists in Lagos, Agbakoba said the people in question wants to hijack the administration because they are very dissatisfied with the ideological change of Buhari’s government. The human rights lawyer, who gave list of the elite to include those in high positions in the churches, traditional institutions, professions and business, among others and represented a small per cent of Nigerians but exert tremendous influence, while disclosing that he has communicated the warning to the President in

a personal letter he wrote to him. “They see new agenda as a threat to their privileges,” he said, adding that the elite were the greatest roadblocks to the All Progressives Congress (APC)led Federal Government’s economic and political policy agenda. Agbakoba explained that the Buhari administration was the first ideological based Left- of- the- Centre government that would emerge in Nigeria after the defunct Western Region Administration led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, adding that it should, therefore, be applauded. He said just like the then Western Region government, the Buhari administration's focus has been on social welfare for the poor who, he said, were in the majority, adding that the country stands to benefit more from such approach.

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KYATA Army recovers 37 cows, 75 rams from cattle rustlers

NEWS IN BRIEF

A detachment of soldiers from 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bauchi State has recovered 37 cows and 75 rams from cattle rustlers in Kyata village, Ningi Local Government Area of the state. Brig.-Gen. Abraham Sudu, Brigade Commander of the brigade made this known yesterday in Kyata village, while chatting with newsmen after handing over the animals to their owners. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Inusa Danyaya, had complained to Governor Mohammed Abubakar about the activities of the rustlers. He told the governor during a Sallah homage that no fewer than 2,000 heads of cattle had been carted away and six persons killed by rustlers in Ningi Emirate Council.

13,000

The projected number of Americans above 65 years with Alzheimer’s in Wyoming by 2025. Source: Alz.org

YENAGOA Dickson’s aide denies media reports

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has dissociated himself from some reports in the media purported to have originated from his office, describing such reports as the creation of mischief makers. He also alleged that the reports were also the creation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to put the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Restoration administration in the bad light. A statement issued by Iworiso-Markson called on the media to disregard such reports, which could have emanated from criminal minded individuals or groups that, hacked into his e-mail at some point for which a statement was issued at the time to alert the media.

ASABA Chevron spends N16.7bn on community development

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has contributed a whooping N16.7 billion through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) funding for sustainable development of their host communities. The investment, said the Manager, Social Performance and Planning of the company, Mr. Olatunji Idowu, has since 2005 reduced conflicts and litigations against the company in the last 10 years. Speaking during a capacity building workshop for journalists, tagged, ‘The Opportunities and Challenges of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in Nigeria’, in Asaba yesterday, Idowu said since 2005 community contractors have been executing projects themselves through participatory partnership strategy of the company.

86m

The number of active mobilebroadband subscriptions of developing countries in 2008. Source: Itu.int

£19,440 The daily salary of Didier Drogba of Chelsea FC in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

FG targets N370bn annually to tackle housing deficit ROADS

Fashola explained that there has been a decline in the budgetary allocation. Caleb Onwe

T Abuja

he Federal Government in an effort to address housing deficit in the country, may have opted for an increase in budgetary allocation and commitment to consistency in annual spending for national housing from N1.8 billion this year to something in the hundreds of billions of naira. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, dropped the hints in Abuja, while addressing journalists during his maiden media briefing. “If we can spend N10 billion in each state and the FCT on housing alone every year, subject to the capacity

…partners foreign investors on agric devt to raise the money and the capacity to utilise the funds, having regards to our current construction methods and the time it take to complete construction, which our ministry intends to change by research and industrialisation of housing.” Fashola, however, hinged the possibility of achieving the lofty agenda in the housing sector on sustainability; which he said is critical to solving the problem. He added that one component of sustainability which the ministry shall be committed to, is ability to “repeat what we do, which means that we must recover the cost of houses, even if there is no profit, so that we can build more.” To realise his dream in the housing sector, Fashola, said that is imperative to appraise most of the current National Housing policies and also make changes only where it is necessary.

Similarly, the minister said the road sector will equally get adequate attention, but regretted that declining budgetary allocation to road sector might hamper the success he desires to achieve. “From the records that have been made available from previous budgets, it show that the last time Nigeria budgeted over N200 billion in a year's budget for roads was in 2002. It seems that as our income from oil prices increased over the last decade, our spending on roads decreased,” he said. According to him, the Federal Government budgeted N18.132 billion this year and the Ministry of Works got N13billion for all roads and highways this year, although it has contracts for 206 roads, covering over 6,000 kilometres with contract price of over N2 trillion. “We will prioritise with-

in this strategy by choosing first the roads that connect states together and from that grouping start with those that bear the heaviest traffic,” he added. Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has expressed the readiness of the present administration to collaborate with foreign investors in order to achieve agricultural development in the country through technical technology. The minister said this during his meeting with a delegation of foreign investors from the Global Good Intellectual Initiatives led by the Chief Executive Officer, NEO Resources Consulting Limited, Mr. Niyi Akenzua, in his office. Ogbeh said government was willing to collaborate with foreign investors in areas of seed improvement, technical technology, and research among others.

Bello unfolds economic blueprint for Kogi

he Governor-elect of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has unfolded the developmental agenda of his incoming government, promising to give the state a new economic beginning. Bello, who identified agriculture, education, health, tourism and human capital development as major sectors that would be used to drive the economy, said there should be a positive change in the state for the benefit of the citizenry. He pledged to address the tribal and religious differences that have combined to slow down devel-

opment in the state. Bello is optimistic that the state would be one of the best economy in the next four years. “Kogi State is unique, not just in her development potentials but even her history. As the only state bordered by 10 states, Kogi has the geographical potentials to develop rapidly by leveraging on that and also her proximity to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “The history of the people is filled with rich cultures and richer human capacity to excel against all odds.

L-R: Counsellor, Uganda High Commission, Mr. Nurh Byarufa; Acting High Commissioner, Uganda High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Nelson Ocheger; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Nike Akande and Director General, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, during a courtesy visit to the LCCI office in Victoria Island, Lagos…recently

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

FCT

DUTSE Badaru pledges to pay N18,000 minimum wage

N EWS I N BRIEF

Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abaubakar, yesterday restated his commitment to paying workers in the state the N18,000 minimum wage. Badaru gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse. He said the state government would continue to pay the N18,000, as well as leave grants and other allowances due to the workers in spite of dwindling revenue. The governor said: “I had interaction with the workers last week. I promised to continue with the N18, 000 minimum wage. I also promised to give them what we agreed upon as leave grant, that they have not been enjoying for some time. We kept our promise this year and we intend to continue next year.”

80.78%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Finland in 2007. Source: Itu.int

Recruitment: Police warn public against fraudsters

The Nigeria Police has warned members of the public against falling prey to activities of fraudsters on recruitment into the force. A statement issued by the Force Spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, an Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), yesterday in Abuja. The statement said many Nigerian youths, desirous of enlisting into the force, had been deceived by fraudsters into believing that recruitment was on. “It has therefore become necessary once again to inform members of the public that no recruitment is taking place now at the force headquarters or at any of our institutions, commands and formations,” it said.

OSOGBO Tantalizers opens new outlets in Abuja, Osun

Tantalizers Plc has opened two new outlets in Jikwoyi, Abuja and Ile-Ife, Osun State as part of its expansion programmes. The company stated that the newly opened Jikwoyi outlet is located inside Mobil Filling station, Plot 60 Jikwoyi Road, Jikwoyi, Abuja. At the official opening of the new outlet, the Deputy Managing Director, Tantalizers Plc, Gbolahan Labinjo, said the new outlet is a dream comes true for customers of Tantalizers in Jikwoyi, in Abuja. He said the reason being that these customers will no longer need to go as far as Maraba, Wuse or Garki to enjoy the delicious pastries, meals, cakes and other mouth-watering products that the Tantalizers brand is known for.

N549.1m

The total capital importation value of the Production/ Manufacturing sector in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

171.9m

The total number of connected lines of Nigeria in September 2013. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

Ebonyi guber: 10 die in road accident as Umahi floors Nkwegu

Uchenna Inya en persons, including eight members of the Labour Party (LP) who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were in the early hours of yesterday crushed to death at Ezzamgbo juction in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The victims were going to the Appeal Court sitting in Enugu, to witness the judgment on the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the LP, Chief Edward Nkwegu, against Governor Dave Umahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when the tragedy occurred. They were going to the court in a Siena car belonging to Uche Nshii the candidate of the APC for Abakaliki/Izzi federal constituency in the last National Assembly election. The conductor of the tipper involved in the auto crash also died on the spot

while the driver and one occupant of the APC Sienna car were critically injured and currently receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki. The APC branded Sienna vehicle rammed into the tipper along the ever busy junction. The accident occurred when the Sienna Car going to Enugu suddenly dodged an Okada rider, plying oneway but could not control the speed which forced him to jump the dual carriageway to hit the tipper driver on his lane. An eyewitness, Eze Omoha, said 10 passengers died on the spot, while the tipper driver was rushed to the hospital. He said it took the intervention of sympathisers who used axes and other sharp objects to break into the car. Confirming the incident, the Caretaker Chairman of Ohaukwu local government area, Mr. Clement

Odaah, said he rushed to the scene five minutes after to rescue the victims. Odaah attributed the cause of the accident to over-speeding. He added that two survivors were taken to the hospital for immediate treatment while arrangements were in top gear for the families of the deceased in order to come and identify their corpses. The chairman frowned at the incident and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased. Odaah cautioned motorists to avoid over-speeding especially at this festive period. Meanwhile, Umahi has expressed sadness over the tragic incident. Speaking at the premises of the Appeal Court in Enugu, shortly after his election was upheld by the five-man panel, Umahi said: “I thank everyone that is here. We are grateful to God for his mercies. We thank God who has

constantly frustrated the machinations of the enemies and detractors of Ebonyi. “Even today, the lives of our brothers were sacrificed by the same detractors who sit in the comfort of their homes and send people to come and witness a useless appeal. “Our learned judges said the appeal was functionally useless. We should continue thanking God as the bible tell us that whatever comes from God will always overcome. This victory is of God and no man can set it aside. “Our detractors have been going about looking for whom to bribe. We have confidence in God and the judiciary." The Appeal Court headed by Justice J.O.K. Oyewole had in its unanimous judgment upheld the election of Umahi as the winner of the April 11 government election after dismissing all the reliefs sought by Edward of the LP.

Emirship tussle: Ado Bayero’s son drags Sanusi to court

he son of the former Emir of Kano, the late Ado Bayero, Usman Ado Bayero and two others yesterday filed a case at the Kano State High Court challenging the emergence of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 14th Emir of Kano. The plaintiffs, Usman Ado Bayero and Sadiq Yahaya and Hamza Madaki Cigari, are praying the court to sack the emir with immediate effect. They alleged that a number of irregularities trailed the selection process which produced new emir of Kano.” According to their counsel, Lady Rose Mbata Esq, an Appeal Court sitting in Kaduna state had restrained one of the kingmakers, Alhaji Bello

Nigeria’s lost glory’ll be restored, says Oyedepo Ndubuisi Ugah

he Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (a.k.a Winners’ Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, has said Nigeria’s lost glory would be restored, if the people turned to God. He also said Nigeria will be a vital force in driving God’s end-time agenda. Oyedepo, who said this while delivering a sermon at the ‘Shiloh 2015’, at Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, said every revival changed the level of the nation. Speaking on the theme “From Glory to Glory”, Oyedepo said: “Nigeria will experience greatness because every nation that hosts the ark of God is richly blessed for it. Every move of God moves the nation forward; engaging with the revival will settle all forms of menace. “Nigeria will become one

of the most peaceful nations on earth from this great platform. Wherever revival goes, goes civilisation; every country that accommodates a revival changes level. This will bring solution and rest to the earth,” he said. Oyedepo, who said the convention was the 17th, said over 175 countries were connected to the prograamme through the internet and the development confirmed the manifest presence of God. While speaking on a sermon titled “Engaging the Wonders of Divine Visitation,” Oyedepo said: “The ark of revival has landed on our shores. Nigeria will be vital force in driving God’s endtime agenda and this commission has been positioned by divine election to play a leading role among others.” Oyedepo said every divine visitation was to fulfill divine agenda.

Court of Appeal upholds Akpabio’s election Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

L-R: Mrs. Adetoun Adun, the celebrant, Mrs. Gladys Abimbola; her husband, Henry and Pastor Comfort Oshagbami, during the birthday and 10th wedding anniversary celebration, in Ikeja, Lagos…recently PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Abubakar Tuta from parading himself as the Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta at the time, yet he participated in the selection process that produced the emir. He argued that Tuta’s participation in the selection process amounted to contempt of the court, hence his action was null, void and of no value whatsoever. The plaintiffs prayed the court to nullify the selection of Sanusi as well as declare all appointments, dethronement and other actions he had taken as invalid since his selection did not follow due process. However, counsel to the respondent, Barrister Sunusi Ali faulted the arguments of the plaintiffs describing the issue before the court as a mere waste of time.

he Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday upheld the election of the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District. The court, however, dismissed the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the March 28 poll, Chief Inibehe Okori. In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Moshood Oredola, the appellate court dismissed the appeal case against Akpabio’s election for lacking in merit and upheld the decision of the

lower tribunal which had earlier endorsed the election. Justice Oredola in the judgment that lasted over one hour said the although there was an error in one of the nomination papers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which indicated that Senator Akpabio stood for election for Akwa Ibom North-East, the mistake was however successful corrected in all other documents. The three-man panel of justice also held that the oral evidence of appellants witness, that of the People's Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) successfully rebutted the case of non-qualification alleged by the appellant.

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12 decEMBER 2015

CBN tightens requirements for BDCs as naira slumps Tony Chukwunyem

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday revised the rules for Bureaux De Change (BDCs) as part of efforts to tighten regulation to curb speculation after the slump in oil prices impacted the foreign reserves and weakening the naira. The naira fell to a new low of N260 to the dollar on the parallel market yesterday, sustaining a decline that began last Wednesday when the CBN suspended dollar sales to some BDCs. In the circular dated November 30 but posted on its website yesterday, the apex bank stated that with effect from January next year, all BDCs are to deposit a mandatory cautionary deposit of N35 million in an account with the CBN, in addition to a minimum capital requirement of N35 million. The banking regulator also restricted BDC operators to one branch operations, whose license will be

renewed yearly and gave those operating with branches 90 days to close them. According to the CBN, BDCs can obtain dollars from private sources including its window to fund travel allowance of up to $5,000. It, however, added that operators wishing to sell more than $10,000 shall be required to disclose their source. The CBN has been struggling to bolster the naira following the plunge in oil prices, Nigeria's main export, which started late last year. Nigeria's dollar reserves shed 1.1 per cent in a week to $29.59 billion as of December 7, according to the figures obtained from the CBN. The CBN sold $30.5 million to some BDC operators on Wednesday, lower than $84.5 million it offered two weeks ago. It also excluded several others from the weekly sale on the grounds that they submitted incomplete documentation.

Court of Appeal sacks two Rivers senators Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday removed two more senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State on account of nullification of elections that brought them to the senate. The two senators are Senator Osinakachukwu Idoezu representing Rivers South-West Senatorial District and Senator John Olaka-Nwogo representing Rivers South-East who's elections were nullified by the Appellate Court for failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply substantially with the provisions of the electoral act and other guidelines in the March 28 National Assembly Election. A three-man panel of justices led by Justice Ibrahim Gumel unanimously ordered for fresh elections

to be conducted within sixty days for the two senatorial districts. Delivering judgment in two separate appeal cases filed by Senator Magnus Abbe and Otelemagba Dan-Amachree both of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the court held that the elections of the sacked senators were not properly conducted as required by law. Justice Gumel held that from the available evidence of even the Independent National Electoral Commission and those of the appellants, the election of March 28 in Rivers State, did not conform with set guidelines such as the use of voter card reader machines, voter register and other election guidelines. The court held that from available evidence, all the polling units in the two senatorial districts abandoned the use of card reader machines thereby giving way to manipulations.

Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase (right), with Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Hassan Karma, during the IG’s visit to Awka headquarters of the command…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

We didn't get N10m from Dasuki through Obaigbena — New Telegraph

he management of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph Newspapers, yesterday denied receiving N10 million from the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The N10 million was alleged to be money paid as compensation for the illegal seizure of some newspapers by the military during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. A statement issued by the company’s Managing Director and Editor-inChief, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, said the claim by the THISDAY Publisher and President, Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, that he paid N10 million to the company as untrue. The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the inclusion of New Telegraph Newspapers on the list of media houses that THISDAY Publisher and President, Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) claimed he paid N10 million each to from funds he received from

the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), as compensation for the illegal seizure of some newspapers by the military during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. “It is on record that following the decision of NPAN to seek compensation from the Federal Government in the aftermath of the seizure of editions of newspapers by the military, New Telegraph computed its losses, which were passed to the association.

n a bid to recover a debt of N924,788,754.56, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has ordered that all accounts belonging to former captain of the Super Eagles, Nwankwo Kanu and his company, The Hardley Apartments anywhere and in any bank or financial institution in Nigeria should be frozen pending the hearing of a suit filed against him and his company. Also affected by the or-

der of the court is a Director of Hardley Apartment, Ayoola Gam-Ikon. The order of the court was as a result of a debt recovery suit filed by Asset Management Corporation Of Nigeria(AMCON) against the defendants. In an affidavit sworn to by a Credit officer in the Directorate of AMCON, Mr Victor Igabor, and filed and argued by Barrister Niyi Olopade, the deponent averred that sometime

between May, 2008 and 10 January, 2011 Skye Bank offered The Hardley Apartments engaged in business of hospitality located at Plot 46, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, a loan of N520,457,000. The loan was secured by a mortgage on the company’s three blocks of forty accommodation units with estimated open market value of N395 million as well as unconditional personal, joint and several guarantee

has been received. “The first letter was written on May 22, 2015 followed by another on July 16, 2015 with a reminder written on November 19, 2015. “Therefore, it is nothing but sheer falsehood for the NPAN president, who claimed he received the money on behalf of the association, to have included New Telegraph Newspapers as one of the beneficiaries of the funds, which as it has now emerged, was disbursed by the former NSA.”

...Okonjo-Iweala unveils secret memo, pleads innocence Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

ormer Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday unveiled one of the secret memos she sent to former President Goodluck Jonathan in the build up to the release of $322 million to the embattled former National Security Adviser ( NSA) , Col. Sambo Dasuki, for the purchase of arms. The memo dated January 20, 2015 and marked CME-HMF/FMF/2015/18 was titled: Re: Request by

N924m debt: Kanu Nwankwo’s accounts frozen

However, since then, the company has heard nothing from the association on the matter. “Following a report that NPAN has begun paying N9 million (not N10 million as contained in the report that has gone viral on the internet), the management of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, has written three letters to NPAN for its share of the compensation; but regrettably, as at this moment, not even a kobo

of Ayoola Gam-Ikon and Nwankwo Kanu. The defendants failed to repay the loan with the accrued interest despite repeated demands, consequent upon which Skye Bank Plc assigned the defendants indebtedness in the sum of N558,313,905.37 as at 1 April, 2011 to the AMCON as a toxic bank asset in line with the establishment objective of the said AMCON.

NSA for Transfer of Funds showed how the decision to transfer the funds was reached. It read thus: “Attached please, find a request by the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the transfer of US$300million and British Pound £5.5 million of the recovered Abacha Funds to an ONSA operations account. The NSA has explained that this is to enable purchase of ammunitions, security and other intelligence equipment for the security agencies in order to enable them fully confront the ongoing Boko Haram threat. “His request is sequel to the meeting you chaired with the committee on use if recovered funds where the decision was made that recovered Abacha funds would be split 50-50 between urgent security needs to confront Boko Haram and development needs (including a portion for the Future Generations window of the Sovereign Wealth Fund). “This letter is to seek your approval to borrow these funds for now, to disburse to the NSA. These funds form part of the pro-

jected Federal Government Independent Revenue to be appropriated. “In light of this and for accountability, given the peculiar nature of security and intelligence transactions, we would expect the NSA to account to Your Excellency for the utilisation of the funds.” The former minister lamented that for the past week, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and other persons have embarked on a campaign of falsehood against her and have distorted the contents of the January 20 memo in which she responded to a request by the former NSA. According to her, some online media had quoted selectively from the document to make their allegations of “illegal diversion” of funds, which she said was false and malicious. Okonjo-Iweala said she decided to make public the classified memo to show that throughout her tenure, she acted with transparency and integrity, patriotism and professionalism as well as worked hard to protect the interest of the country.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Nnamdi Kanu’s pregnant wife opens up: My husband must not die in prison Ndubuisi Ugah

with agency reports

rs. Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife of detained Radio Biafra director, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed concern over the prolonged detention of her husband, who she said “is a prisoner of conscience.” Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB and other proBiafran groups are calling for the independence of territories that constituted the Biafran Republic established in 1967 and re-annexed by Nigeria in 1970, following a civil war that claimed between one and three million lives. Speaking in an exclusive interview with United Kingdom’s online news portal, International Business Times (IBTimes) on “This is why we need Biafra”, Okwu-Kanu defended her husband’s struggle for independence and argued that pro-Biafran agitators have the right to self-determination. “The Biafrans are suffering. We do not have good schools, no good roads, nothing to enjoy. Not even jobs. They want to press us down both politically and otherwise. That explains what they are doing, and they don’t want us to leave. That is not right. Nnamdi Kanu is just a prisoner of conscience. His incarceration is extra-judicial. Obviously he is dying. There was no medication whatsoever until the British came. They asked for a mattress for him, but when they left the mattress was taken away. He still sleeps on the bare floor. “When they arraigned him in court, the man I saw was not my husband. He is gradually becoming a ghost. I could feel his pain, I could see it. If he is someone you know, when you look at him now you’d know he is in pains. What they have done is really wrong. If you think someone is agitating for his freedom and you are not comfortable with it, it is a democracy; it is left for you to place the cards on the table. This is how you go about it,” she said. Okwu-Kanu also urged the Federal Government to release her husband and engage in dialogue rather than arresting people “who agitate for freedom.” “If you are asking for bread, then that is because you are hungry but if you still don’t get it, you will still be hungry meaning that you have not gotten what you want. This means you will still be hungry and you

•Nothing will stop him from Biafran agitation •Police, Amnesty Int’l differ on alleged torture of agitators

Kanu acknowledges cheers in court Inset: wife

will still ask for your bread. So, he will still continue. “All the resources in that country (Nigeria) come from Biafra. They are using all the proceeds to develop the northern parts, the western parts. So, we have all the resources from Biafra and you are working to have a better life for others,” she said. Okwu-Kanu, who is eight months pregnant, expressed fears about her husband’s well-being and alleged he was being tortured by the Department of State Service (DSS). “What I hope for my family is long life and not just for my family but Biafra also, because there is no hope in Nigeria, no better place in Nigeria. He has to be released because he

has not done anything wrong. This is a very, very serious issue. I need my husband. The whole world needs to be involved in Kanu’s issue. This is a serious issue. You can imagine an eight-month old pregnant woman without her husband. I need him and they need to let him go,” OkwuKanu said. The wife of the detained IPOB leader also recalled the genesis of how Nigeria became an entity, saying: “It is the British that laid the foundation of Nigeria. It is a contraction that brought together Biafra, Oduduwa and Arewa together.” According to her, “these people are all from different cultures, with beliefs, different understanding towards life and religions. We are all different in several ways. So

we are not actually meant to be together. You must have heard of the Civil War. I wasn’t born then. We defended ourselves for a very long period of time. Now, these people got help from the British, the French to try to subdue us but still did not overcome us, I would want to believe.” On how to address the injustice meted out to the Biafran agitators, Okwu-Kanu said: “I would say addressing it is not a bad idea. This is the reason they need to understand why we want Biafra. When a referendum is carried out I can assure you everybody is voting to get out. And that is what Nnamdi Kanu is doing- creating awareness.” Speaking on the impact of the protests by IPOB, OkwuKanu said: “A lot people have

woken from their slumber. Most people that were hitherto sleeping have come to realise that this is really the way it is supposed to be. If you really know the reasons you are asking for something, you will know why he is doing what he is doing.” She also claimed that she had been able to speak with her husband only once since he was arrested by the DSS after he travelled to Nigeria from London in October. She warned that her husband's health was getting worse as he was no longer able to take medication for “his life-threatening ulcer.” It would be recalled that the Radio Biafra director was apprehended on charges of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to an unlawful society. Although

he pleaded not guilty to the charges, Kanu appeared in court on December 1. However, his lawyer, Mr. Vincent Obetta, said the hearing had been postponed as the judge lost his father and so could not hear the case. Obetta and Kanu’s sister, Princess Chinwe Kanu, also expressed concern over what they described as Kanu’s “deteriorating health”, after seeing him in court on November 23. Reacting to this, the Federal Government told IBTimes UK that it did not consider the separatist movement a threat to the current leadership and defined pro-Biafran protesters as: “insignificant number of frustrated people who are not a threat to the existence of Nigeria.” Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, told IBTimes UK: “The message to the Biafrans is clear: The army and police might use the rules of engagement on security operations to the fullest depending on the circumstances.” Similarly, Amnesty International said in an exclusive report by IBTimes UK that there was “credible evidence that pro-Biafran separatists in Nigeria are targeted by police.” However, the police denied these claims, arguing that pro-Biafrans agitators hold violent rallies that disrupt peace. Commenting also, a public relations officer for the police in Anambra State, Oleehkukyu Ali, told IBTimes UK that the police had nothing against pro-Biafran groups as long as they behave in a peaceful way. He said: “Our country provides freedom of association, speech and movement. But groups have to behave peacefully. Police in Anambra are operating a very open policy and leaders of groups should engage with us and let us know what they are doing so that we are aware of protests.”

Unongo: Agitation for Biafra ‘ill-timed’ Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

he Second Republic Minister of Steel, Chief Paul Unongo, yesterday condemned the agitation by pro-Biafra agitators from the South East for the creation of the Republic of Biafra, describing it as “illtimed”. He said the agitation was a deliberate ploy targeted at distracting President Mohammadu Buhari from healing the wounds inflicted on Nigerians by the last administration through the

fight against corruption. Unongo, who said this while addressing a news conference in his Makurdi residence, advised those pushing for Biafra to have a rethink in the interest of peace and development of the country. Unongo, a Deputy Leader of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), who expressed regret at the involvement of youths in the “mass slaughter”, said he was one of the living witnesses of the civil war led by the architect and leader of the Biafran secessionists, late Chief Chuk-

wuemeka Ojukwu, where millions of people were killed and property worth billions destroyed. According to him, the agitators for Biafra have a hidden agenda aimed at heating up the polity, and called on Nigerian leaders to rise up in unison against the move as nothing could be achieved under an atmosphere of violence. He expressed worry that the agitation was coming few months after former president Goodluck Jonathan left office, noting that the Igbo people of the South

East ought to be grateful to the present administration for integrating them fully into the national scheme of things and appealed to them to be calm. “It appears the agitation is sponsored to divert the attention from the spirited and focused campaign of the current administration to retrieve some of the colossal sums of money looted from public treasury by some past public office holders as well as some of those who enjoyed the patronage of Jonathan's administration and were

allowed unlimited and unmerited access to the wealth of this country including the collection of fuel subsidy money without accounting for one litre of imported petroleum products. “As an elder statesman, I question and advise advocates for a renewed Biafra to re-examine the reasons for which they are advocating for Biafra which took so many lives and put the reasons forward for examination. They should desist from making inflammatory, provocative and reckless vituperations” he said.

Voices Is having a child out of wedlock a terrible mistake? p.12

SATURDAY

Street Diary SATURDAY, 12 DECEMBER, 2015

Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government yesterday insisted that the shut churches and mosques would have to pay fines ranging from N100,000 and above, and sign undertakings before they would be reopened. This was as pastors and imams stormed the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa, to plead for the reopening of their worship centres. Saturday Telegraph observed that the clerics were among captains of industries and managers, who converged on the premises of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, the General Manager of the agency, Engr Adebola Shabi, said one of the worship centres and the shut hotels and facilities won't be reopened until the stipulated conditions were met. He said: “We need to take radical approach in tackling the rate of noise generated by worship centres in Lagos, otherwise they will take over the state. Of course the growing population in the state would bring about increase in the number of worship centres. “They will be paying fines, right now the minimum they can pay is N100,000. The bigger worship centres will pay more. “When they start paying and see that the government is serious about the fine there will be absolute compliance.” He lamented the rate of noise pollution in the state, saying that the agency got 180 petitions on Wednesday and that the agency's website and telephone lines were already bombarded with complaints from residents. Shabi hinted that the agency was planning to carry out a mass sealing of noise-making worship centres, hotels, factories and club houses in the coming weeks. On the compliance level, Shabi said Lagosians were now aware of their

Noise pollution: Churches, mosques to pay fines, sign undertakings ...as clerics storm Lagos Secretariat over shut worship centres

Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Bauchi State Chapter in Protest, at Government House, in Bauchi…yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

right to be free of disturbances from their neighbours, saying that as the agency seals more facilities, the compliance rate increases. “You can see that they have been coming since morning to sign undertakings. Some of them have started paying the fines, but we will not stop sealing their premises until they all comply with the regulations.” He reiterates that the state government has regulations for noise making for factories and worship centres

which everyone must comply with. “Lagos has its own laws and standards on environment. During the day, it is 55 decibel and 45 at night in residential areas, but in industrial areas, it is 90 decibel during the day and 80 at night. There are some areas we call mixed areas because we have commercial and residential together in such areas it is 65 decibel during the day and 55 at night; when your noise exceed these limits, it becomes noise pollution,” Shabi explained.

Abia pupils,students to show evidence of tax payment for admission Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

bia State government says that from January 2016, pupils and students in both public and private schools in the state must show evidence of tax payment by their parents or guardians before being admitted into schools. This was part of the resolutions of the state executive council in its meeting, yesterday. Though the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Bonnie Iwuoha, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting did not give details of how the tax would be administered or computed for the different strata of society, he said that the people should imbibe the culture of paying tax to contribute to government development efforts.

Accordingly, all principals and headmasters have been directed to comply with the directive from next academic session. He also said skills acquisition centres would be established in all public and private schools in the state to realise government policy on vocational education and education for employment. Also, the executive council resolved that all ministries and agencies of government should stop using revenue agents to collect revenues. He explained that there was a central revenue management for the state chaired by the deputy governor. The council, according to the commissioner, also approved the grading of rural roads in all the wards as well as establishing poultry villages in Ogwe and Item to enable youths who are in-

terested in poultry business to use the facilities for a fee. Iwuoha, who was accompanied by the chairman of the state tourism board, Ngozi Nwangwa, who explained the preparedness for the mini carnival in Aba from December 21 to22, also said that a visiting panel had been set up for the school of nursing in Aba. The aim, he explained, was to investigate cases of admission scam in the school. The council also approved the resuscitation of the schools of nursing in the state with a view to training quality nurses to man health institutions in the state. He commended the Ministry of Public Utilities for promptly responding to the directive to revive Uturu water project, saying it will soon commence work on that of Umuahia.

Ado-Odo/Ota CAN celebrates 2015 exco's first year anniversary

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Chapter, recently celebrated the oneyear anniversary of the induction of the current members of the chapter’s executive council with fanfare. The event, which also featured the conferment of honours and awards on some deserving members of the Local Government CAN chapter, took place at Faith in Christ C&S Movement Church (Ayo ni o), Sango –Ota, Ogun State. The Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government CAN coordinator, Canon B.B Fawole, who was full of praises to the Almighty for the achievements recorded by the association in the last one year under his leadership, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to all members of the CAN chapter for their supports and dedication. Fawole equally thanked all members of the chapter’s executive council for their absolute loyalty and support since the inaugu-

ration of the present executive council in 2015, adding that their cooperation in the last one year made his administration to be effective, efficient and smooth in all ramifications. He assured all members of his determination to continue fostering better working relationship between the executive council members and the different blocks being represented in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government of the CAN. The CAN coordinator used the occasion to appeal to members to support the association in its determination to build a befitting chapter secretariat, purchase of a parcel of land, a set of computers, photocopier machines, evangelism bus and institution of an endowment fund, among others. On the occasion, 15 distinguished members of the Local Government CAN Chapter were honoured for their immense contributions to the association in particular and Christianity in general.

SATURDAY

Voices

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015

Is having a child out of wedlock a terrible mistake? Not if I marry the woman It is not a mistake as long as I end up marrying the woman. I would even want to see my child grow and play with me as a friend and not as father and child.

–Caleb Rejoice, accountant

I don’t like the idea As for me, I don't like the idea of having a child out of wedlock especially in this country because some women today still have children for another man while in marriage. It is just a terrible thing affecting us. – Gloria Pogah, teacher

I hate it Having a child out of wedlock is terrible. It might guarantee a happy home but God does not like that idea. That is just the truth. I hate it.

– Toriola Richard, banker

Not many parents support that

It takes the grace of God to have a child out of wedlock because some parents don't support it and that might even lead the girl to abort the child. It is really terrible to say the least.

– Ebere Odom, civil servant

If it will promote joy

If having a child would bring joy between me and my woman, I would support it. After all it is my child and I have to take care of him/her. All we need is just understanding. – Jacob Tawa, chef

A grievous mistake It is a mistake for any couple to do that. – Andrew Aondoso, self-employed

It has negative consequences As a woman, having a child out of wedlock may have lots of negative effects because if the man denies it, no man would be ready to breed another's child without complains. – Rebecca Evans pharmacist

The burden would be on the woman

Having a child out of wedlock depends on the individuals involved. If they really love each other, there is nothing wrong but whereby they don't, the burden would be on the woman who would have to cater for that child before she sees another man to marry. – Joseph Abiama, civil servant

It is a binding tie

Having a child out of wedlock help couples to love each other more. Because when there are situations where they have to separate, the child will come to their mind and that would keep them together for those that understand. – Franca Abuchi, teacher

If it is done intentionally

It is a terrible mistake if it is done intentionally but if it is through an act beyond one’s control (rape), it is not. Consenting to have a child from that guy/or lady intentionally means you are ready to settle down with him or her, and if that is your intention, you should do the right thing first, which is to marry him or her before bearing a child. – Johnson Makoji, electrical engineer

Ladies should be cautious Everything happens for a reason. If God didn’t plan it that way, it won’t happen but ladies have to be careful as well. – Kate Benjamin, kitchen manager/

cook at Jubix kitchen

compiled by

DEBORAH MAKOJI AND NGOZI OGBOLU

There is nothing wrong with it

There is nothing wrong with it except the woman decides not to marry the man. Every child out of wedlock would want motherly care which the man might refuse to let go.

– Ayorinde Agboola, public speaker

Not if you can take full responsibility It's not a mistake because a child is a gift from God, the bad aspect of it is when you are unable to take full responsibility as a mother or father and you neglect the child at a tender age. Leaving them at that age can lead the child astray. – Maryann Ahmodu, entrepreneur

If it didn’t have negative impact It depends on what my woman wants. If we had a child out of wedlock and it didn't affect our life negatively then I see no terrible thing in it. – Onyeka Emmanuel, artist

It helps to reduce abortions Having a child out of wedlock is not a terrible thing because it helps us to reduce the rate of abortions among our youths. – Favour John, student

It is a sinful act Sex before marriage is a sin before God. Also, having affairs out of wedlock is equally adultery. Child can’t be formed without sex. – Oseafiana Edith, self-employed

That was our fore fathers style There is nothing wrong with having a child out of wedlock. Our fore fathers succeeded in having so many children by that and they helped in farming and other things. I love to have a child outside wedlock. – Adegoke Wahab, civil servant

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015

SATURDAY

WeekendDelight 13

C o n v e r s at i o n

Instyle Dainty and feminine boots p.16

YOMI

CASUAL

The Arts

Stain of Honour in womb of creativity p.37

Hospitality

Golden Tulip: Delivering on promise p.41

TV & Radio

Runway Fiesta: Discussing fashion, music p.44

N0T ALL CELEBS PAY FOR CLOTHES I MAKE FOR THEM Although the fame of his comedian brother Ayo Makun aka AY was highly instrumental to his phenomenal rise in the fashion industry, Omoniyi Makun has successfully built a timeless brand known as Yomi Casual for himself. After graduating from Auchi Polytechnic where he studied fashion design and clothing technology, he moved to Lagos for greener pastures, and the rest is now history. In an encounter with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, the celebrity stylist talks about his rise, the role AY played in it and the woman in his life. Growing up The dream of all parents is to live long enough to reap the fruit of their labour. That was however not the case with Yomi Casual’s parents who passed on while he was young. But the saving grace for him was that he had older siblings, including the comedian AY, to cater for him. He is not happy that his parents had to say goodbye so early. He shares: “I lost my father when I was 13 and my mother when I was 15. So they didn’t enjoy their labour. It is so sad and I wish they were alive to see what their little boy had become. I am the last of seven children, so I got all the encouragement and support from my brothers and sisters.” Growing up in Warri, Delta State, was instructive for Yomi. According to him, everyone who grew up in Warri must be brave and smart. He says while growing up he was that smart boy who could grasp things easily, which is still helpful to him today as a designer. Apart from AY, another brother Lanre Makun is into showbiz too. “If you Google him you would see; he is doing very well as an event planner. We always help one another and that is as a result of our upbringing. Our parents taught us that if anyone of us was doing well he must help the others. The three boys are united, even women cannot break us.” Till date, AY still shows direct in-

terest in what he does. He says he is still his elder brother regardless of what he has achieved. “There are times I get it wrong and he quickly calls me. He could just tell me to remove something I put on Instagram because he feels it is not good for my brand. I call him my backbone; he is like an angel watching over me because he has been in the limelight long before I started,” he says. The big dream The mindset of every young man venturing into business is to make a success of it. That was Yomi’s dream too, but he admits that he never saw it coming very soon. “But on the other hand I won’t say it is early because this is my eighth year in the business, although I am also aware that there are many people in the industry that are yet to acquire what I had under 10 years. So, it’s God really; it is not my creativity alone,” he adds. His interest in fashion increased tremendously when he moved to Lagos and saw some creations of Mudi, who he calls his mentor. He thought they were really nice and asked how much people were paying for them. The price was like an eye-opener. His words: “I was told that people even pay more. Despite the fact that I like to look good, I saw that there was money in the business as well. I

YOMI CASUAL

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

CONVERSATION

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

‘Plus-size people spend more to look good’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

looked at Mudi’s lifestyle and saw that he was very big with what he was doing. I then got the encouragement I needed from my brother AY. Being a celebrity he 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.” At the beginning, Yomi modelled his products himself but that has changed. He says he has many celebrities who are willing to wear his products. On getting to Lagos newly, Yomi actually started as a model. He didn’t believe then that he could make money from fashion, so he kept to modelling. But the experience wasn’t a good one. He explains: “I would go for auditions and they would tell me I was too dark. I actually gave up modelling at that point and concentrated on fashion. I became bigger than most of my friends modelling within a year.” Electricity was a major problem those days and he had to manage with his brother for a while. He shared the same room with Seyi Law, Elenu among others and that room was also his office. During the day they took the bed to the kitchen and brought it back at night. “It wasn’t easy then. It feels so good that I am living my dream, although there is still much work to do. But I am so excited about things generally and I am grateful to God,” he says. Styling celebrities As a designer, he doesn’t make too much money from celebrities even though he clothes many of them but that is not discouraging. He sees them as a medium to make his products visible. He informs: “When you make an outfit for a celebrity, it puts your name out there

and that is how they do it in most developed counties too. The cars that top musicians drive you will find out that they didn’t buy them; they were given to them by the car companies. They know that once these men start driving them it would attract people’s attention to the cars. That is how it works abroad, so why can’t we do the same thing in Nigeria? I make clothes for celebrities for free till date, especially if they have events coming up. They’re not my target market; I am looking at the masses and once you make an outfit for a celebrity you’ve succeeded in winning the heart of his fans. It is one of the easiest ways to market your product, trust me. “When I say the masses I mean selected few because the kind of cloth I make is not for everyone. It depends on how much you earn and if you feel you can afford it.” He, however, objects to the idea that his products are basically for the rich, insisting that there is always a way out. He says there is something for everybody who visits his store and that people who are close to him can testify to this. “The good thing about me is that I hardly allow clients to walk out, especially when they get to see me one-on-one. I am so flexible except when you start asking for my life, and it is not possible I give you that.” My brand Yomi Casual This came as a surprise even to this correspondent, but Yomi doesn’t make shirts. He says he only makes native wears and most of the fabrics are expensive. “We don’t use the common fabrics except you want us to bend the rule for you, but that means I won’t put my label on it. I cannot put my label on an outfit I cannot vouch for. I know what I am selling and it has brought me this far, so I cannot decide to come down on my quality at this moment to satisfy certain people.

Yomi (r) with Bovi, the comedian

Some models wearing his designs. L-R: Uti, Alex and Ebube

Some people don’t understand this fact,” he clarifies. But starting from March, there would be some adjustment to Yomi’s brand, including the introduction corporate wears. He explains that he started with native first because he wanted people to know him for one thing. “Of course I can make shirts; anyone that makes native attires can make shirts. But I wanted people to know me for just native and I have done that. I wanted people to think of me when they think of native wears. If I didn’t start like that I believe I would have confused my audience.” Despite the fact that plus-size people form a huge part of his clientele, he confesses that he likes working with slim people. He says everyone knows his brand for cut to fit, but that plus-size clients have more money to pay because they like to look good. In leaps and bounds Although he only has two stores at the moment situated at Lekki and Surulere, both in Lagos, Yomi has big plans. He plans to open a store in Abuja next year while Port Harcourt is next in line. Also, in another five years, Yomi says the plan is to have the biggest fashion school in Nigeria. “You would have to gain admission into it and there would be hostel for students as well. It is a proper university, but just for fashion students. We also hope the government keys into this because fashion is now highly recognised. I have three graduates working for me at the moment. They decided to go into fashion after university; so this is to tell you that the world appreciates what we do now. Anywhere I go I get the same respect a banker or lawyer gets. It is no longer a child’s play; it is serious business now. We are making money from it, we get prestige from it and we are even helping to create jobs,” he explains. Yomi attributes his phenomenal growth to consistency, emphasising that it is key to the survival of any business. Apart from that, he says one must stand out and try not to follow the trend or crowd. “At some point you will see many tailors doing what others are doing. I do just me and it brings recognition to me because people have been able to differentiate my brand from others.” Yomi is not just a fashion designer; he does interior designs too, a part of him that is unknown to many people as the fashion aspect appears to have overshadowed it. He says he designed his Lekki store and does jobs for mostly hotels. He explains: “I am a creative person. I am a born artist; I paint and sketch a lot.” The only certificate Yomi has is the one he got from Auchi Poly, in Edo State, from the department of fashion design and clothing technology. Since he moved to Lagos and ventured into fashion fully the nature of the job won’t permit him space to study. He opens up: “I understand that I need to go back to school, but I hardly have that time right now. Hopefully in the future I would have the time, but for now I cannot say because I have to be at work every day. I hardly travel; if I travel outside I don’t really stay too long because it would affect my business.” Yomi doesn’t deny the fact that he relies so much on his workers, describing

I don’t jump from one girl to another. I have been warned to be careful of such and it is better I just settle for one, which I did.

them as the pillar of his brand. He says he ensures they are happy and tries to be open to them. “I wish you could interview them one after the other; I am not a boss around them. I let them know that we are family, but when it is time to get serious we get serious. I understand I cannot do everything all alone,” he shares. He has all the opportunity to try out acting especially now that his brother is into movie production, but he says movie is not his thing. He confesses: “No way I can play lead roles; I am a very shy person. I hate when I need to face the camera.” More people more quacks Once people are excelling in a business or profession, he believes it is natural for more people to rush into it, which also encourages quacks. But, according to him, in every business there are professionals and people who are not very good at it. “Some are in the business because other people are making money, while some ventured into it because of the passion. If it is the passion you will go far. What I am doing now I studied it in school and I love to look good. I was passion driven first before the money started coming in along the line,” he stresses. Crazy love for cars Yomi who recently got a car worth N12m doesn’t deny his love for cars just like his mentor, Mudi. To him, one must pick a mentor wisely because he or she has so much influence on one’s life. His mentor is Mudi; he loves cars and Yomi loves cars too. Anything Mudi does he does the same. “He was the first Nigerian designer who started using celebrity to model his outfits and I took that from him. That is my mentor playing a major role in my life. Mudi inspires me lot. He has over eight branches all over the world. He has in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Asaba, South Africa, London, Ghana, among others. Mudi is very big and I work to be big like him.” Being faithful to a woman This will break many ladies’ heart. Due to his fame and charming look, there is reason for most women to want be around him. But he says his attitude towards women is different and modest. “I don’t jump from one girl to another. I have been warned to be careful of such and it is better I just settle for one, which I did. What I do requires my brain and once I mess it up I go down. I don’t want anything to affect my business.” Although the Ondo State indigene was somewhat oblique, he hints that marriage is around the corner. Speaking highly of his woman, he says she is homely, Godfearing and reserved. “She knows how to make me happy and when it is right to say sorry. She plays a major role in my life and at times I feel she’s the man because she makes most of the decisions. I don’t have a choice than to accept them because she is always right. She doesn’t impose, she suggests.” Man of the year His new collection: Man of the year comes out this weekend. Whenever he looks at the collection he thinks it is one of the best he has done so far. “The design is very unique, I took it away from the normal me and I tried to be flexible with this. The colours look foreign and for ladies, it is something a white woman would wear comfortably. The men’s outfit too is nice. Some of the inspiration came while I was at the office; an artist thinks things differently. I get inspiration from lines a lot too. The collection is extremely unique,” he informs.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

fashion etiquette Dress decently when going for weddings

Rita Dominic Joselyn Dumas

Omotola JaladeEkeinde

Tiwa Savage

Mercy Johnson

You can’t go wrong in regal prom dresses

Deborah Makoji nderstanding what you'll use for the many lined-up events in the Yuletide season can be challenging, but not to worry as prom dresses often arrive suitable for the many occasions you have to attend this period. Prom is derived from the term "promenade" which had to do with the presentation and display of guests at the beginning of a formal event. Proms are beautiful dresses that are suitable for evening parties and red carpets. All you need to do is pair them with statement accessories for catchy and sophisticated looks. They are designed from beautiful materials and cut in an elegant style but ensure you opt for style that flatters your figure.

Prom dresses are enough to give you the suave style you desire but ensure you select the one which has a shade that looks well on you. Prom will allow you to look your best, so keep it easy so that people will appreciate you when it comes to the accessories or hairstyle you want to rock with the attire. Just keep in mind that there is more in less.

Tips

• Plus size people are gifted with curves, this is not a problem at all so be proud and show off your curves. Many plus size women wear fitted dresses and they look great. Just make sure you don't wear anything too tight as it can make you look bigger. • Women with no curves should wear dresses that have extra details such as puff sleeves or ruf-

fles that will enhance their shape. • Small-busted bodies should wear dresses that add size to the upper body. Dresses with hidden padded bra cups are good. Choosing dresses with ruffles or lace trim on the bust will add a more full look. Dresses that define your waist will flatter the upper body. • Flabby under arms can be hidden with the help of a loose sleeve shrug or bolero. Choose one that will show a lot of your neck so you can wear a nice choker to draw attention away from your arms. • Unattractive legs can be hidden with full-length dresses. Wide shoulders can look smaller with a one-shoulder/asymmetrical neckline dress. Choose one that also has a lower waistline to balance out your wide shoulders.

nowing what is appropriate to wear to an occasion requires as much good taste as it is to dress elegantly. Appropriateness and adherence to the dress code are keys to having good clothing etiquette at the wedding you intend to attend this weekend. Sadly, in this growing, busy society, it is unfortunate that dressing etiquette is barely observed and this is especially so during weddings. In all, this societal disease of sloppiness should be avoided. Dress to the appropriateness of the occasion, otherwise it would be very vulgar. No matter how elegant you may be dressed, if what you are wearing is not appropriate to the occasion your elegance is diminished, not to mention the unwanted attention you are likely to attract.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

Accessories to live for

Dainty and feminine ankle boots F

Deborah Makoji or ladies who are having a hard time maintaining model-like posture and balance, ankle boots are heaven sent. It took some fashionistas a while to get on board the ankle boots trend, mostly because they felt it made women’s feet look chunky and cut off their legs right above the ankle, making them look wide. But that is not true if you find out few ways to wear them. They are flattering and don’t make it look like you have fat ankles if properly paired. Like most boots, brown ankle booties can be best paired with skinny jeans, mini skirt, denim shorts, or above the knee dress. Since

brown is a neutral color, you can put on some colorful accessories to make your look extra perky. Otherwise, keep your overall look simple by keeping everything else easy. There are so many fun ankle boots out there such as wedge, heel, flat, cut out, laced, buckled; and the list could go on and they are so big for fall. You really should own a pair to keep your legs looking slim and fabulous.

Tips

• Ankle boots come in different varieties such as lace up that occurs in bright and vibrant colours. It’s fun and easy to wear with floral prints and glam up any simple wear such as white tops and skinny jeans. • You can show off a bit of your

pretty nails with peep toe wedge boots that is dainty and feminine. This type of ankle boot will certainly look good with your little white or light blue prom dress. Want an extra dose of femininity? Wear a headband with a cute bow or braid your hair for that ladylike look. • The deep colour of blue brings elegance to a ripped, short and off shoulder top combination. Put on your over-sized sunglasses and boho bag for that fashionable tourist look. • When pairing jeans with booties, go for the half cuff, it’s an effortless look and is fun when paired with an oversized Tshirt and sunglasses for a weekend with friends.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

MY STYLE

Instyle

Mai Atafo: I'm classy but not over-the-top

One of the most prominent faces we see on the red carpet, whose designs and unique style never cease to amaze and keep the ladies drooling, is Ohimai Atafo popularly known as Mai Atafo. This exceptionally creative designer has been in the industry long enough to be considered a fashion icon. He discussed his fashion philosophy and more with DEBORAH MAKOJI. What is your sense of fashion? Fashion to me is been comfortable in whatever you wear. My sense of fashion is very classy; I don’t overdo it. What determines the kind of outfits you wear? My mood and the occasion I am attending. Is there anything you are unlikely to be caught wearing? The truth is, there is nothing I totally averse to wearing. Do you consider any fashion item indispensable? No, everything is dispensable. How easily do you get your fashion item in Nigeria? It’s very easy because they are always available. I make them too. Do you think government has done enough for the fashion industry in Nigeria? Government has not done enough for a lot of industries, so it’s not limited to fashion alone. The same problem the fashion industry faces also affects small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria. What would you like the government to do for the industry? If they can give us, small and medium-size entrepreneurs, light and water we will be fine. What inspired you to go into fashion designing? It is my love for clothes. I love clothes

Atafo

Beauty

so much and that informed my decision of going into fashion designing. How will you describe the experience so far? It’s been very good. We have been working for a few years now. It’s challenging but it’s been very good and satisfying because it’s what I love doing. What will you say is you greatest achievement so far? It’s yet to come. What are your thoughts on Nigerian fashion with the influx of new generation fashion designers? Fashion designers in Nigeria are creatively competent, great at what they do and are at par with other designers around the world. However, in terms of fashion marketing, public relations and infrastructure we are behind. This is not the fault of the designers; people don’t want to invest enough to appreciate it. What does the future hold for you? To focus on what I have now and try to expand it. If you could change anything about the decisions you have made concerning your line of work, what would it be? To take fashion as a business rather than a passion from the beginning. Who is your role model? Internationally, I admire Tom Ford. If I can achieve half of what he had in terms of publicity, fashion and so on,

The four most common clothing materials are linen, cotton, polyester and rayon.

Simple needles made out of animal bone first appeared about 30,000 years ago.

Men’s shirt is button on the right and women’s on the left.

Cotton is the most widely used clothing material, but it only became common in mid-1800s, when Eli Whitney’s cotton gin made it easy to separate the cotton fibres from the seeds.

How did your parents take the news of your leaving the corporate world for fashion? It was really my decision to make and they were in support of it. The only person I had to reassure I wasn’t being silly was my mum. But in the end, she was in support as well. What does the Mai Atafo crest represent? The symbol that looks like the alphabet ‘A’ represents the A in MAI, so that’s my logo. The green leaves represent growth which means the brand is growing and flourishing. The red colour in the background is a shield which symbolises blood and sweat; hard work basically. The Lions on each side represent protection; they are protecting the empire I’m building. The Crown symbolises I’m the best in what I do and finally my name at the bottom, that represent me. What inspired you to add wedding to your line of businesses? It was just to show people the diversities, length and breadth in terms of wedding fashion. There are different elements to consider, it goes beyond the normal traditional ones. So for instance, if someone wants a beach wedding, glamorous wedding among others they can get bridal wear that flows with the occasion.

Hairstyle for natural short hair

Deborah Makoji

Facts

I’ll be glad. Also, I admire Puff daddy, P Diddy or Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs; he has different income generating businesses, is an activist amongst other roles and he is respected.

frican women often encounter surprises and troubles with their short natural hair. It’s either difficult to style or lacks length for versatile and impressive hairstyles you see on your friends. When your hair is getting extremely dry and brittle due to experiments with styling products and styling procedures, the only way out in such cases is to have a short haircut and wait for the new healthy growth. Meanwhile the other puzzle that emerges is how to style your short natural hair so that it looks decent. Here are some fantastic stylish hairstyles you can try out. Protective updos They do not only look very stately, they also protect the delicate structure of your hair from the elements and loss of moisture. Twists These take any extra volume under control and look fancy whether you wear them loose or in elegant updos. Puffs A puff is a substitute for a common bun so loved by African ladies. When you also introduce twists or elements of braiding into your puff hairstyles you have the chance to come up with something truly exquisite and eye-catching.

Interiors

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

Interiors feel grander with

COLOURS

Deborah Makoji olours have the ability to transform, excite, inspire, tantalise and calm surroundings. Walking into any colourful home gives a squishy feeling of contentment. It is a generally known fact that light colours make a room look bigger and brighter. Light and bright walls are more reflective, making a space feels open and airy, which helps maximize the effect created by natural light. Dark colours, on the other hand, tend to absorb light, making a room look smaller. If you ever walked into a space and sensed that something was not quite right but did not know what, then chances are that colour has something to do with it. The colours that surround us influence our moods and perceptions in the most powerful way. Colours and their placement can make us feel comfortable or disconnected. An easy way to create colour flow is to use lighter and darker shades of the same colour throughout your home. Consider how you'd like to see these colours transition from room to room. To create a sense of continuity and harmony throughout your home, you need good colour flow: a balanced colour scheme that seamlessly connects one space to the next, you can also apply the principles of colour flow to every architectural and personal style. If you are on the lookout for your dream home, check out this collection of colourful Interior that will instantly transform your home to a stunning one.

Tips for creating colour flow

• Create continuity by selecting hues with similar undertones. If you love

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reds with blue undertones, look for other colours with blue undertones. Look to existing furnishings for colour inspiration. Pick up colours from fabrics, artwork, or a favourite accessory and use them in different rooms throughout your home. Choose between three and five favourite colours, and then alternate the primary, secondary, and accent colours for each room. For example, perhaps the main wall colour in one room becomes the ceiling colour in another and an accent colour in another. You can also use wall stencils, pillows, lampshades, or window treatments to carry these colours from room to room. Select one or two colours that all your rooms will share. Start by picking a colour for your biggest room let’s say your living room, choose a hue that feels beautiful, inspiring and true to what you love. Build on this to create a limited palette of colours for your entire home, using different combinations of those colours in each room. Think about what you want from your home to communicate to the outside world. No one will be talking about your beige-on-beige home, so go a little crazy. Be reckless, I say! The more your confidence grows, the more you’ll feel like experimenting with colour. Be brave and start decorating with colour, it can seem like a daunting task. Colour behaves differently according to where you put it. The effect changes again once you add lighting, pattern and texture. Bold hues, on the other hand, make everything on display feel grander, cooler, more intense, with beautiful undertones subtly changing in the daylight.

SATURDAY

Daddy Fresh I inspired Tuface, D’banj

p.22

ShowBiz

Muslims' ban from US Charly Boy lampoons US presidential aspirant, Donald Trump p.35

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015

MIDNIGHT CREW

Abdul, Ayo, Pat and Gbenga

OUR LAST SONG IS A TALE OF PAINS AND JOY Multiple award-winning gospel group, the Midnight Crew, comprising riveting lyricists, Patricia Uwaje King, Gbenga Oyebola, Odunayo Ojo and Mike Abdul remains one to beat with a repertoire of pulsating gospel numbers. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, the 14-year-old group speaks about some of their challenges and staying power among sundry issues. After the musical video of your popular song you did to capture the last election, you don’t seem to have done anything else… Ayo: We’re the people of the spirit, however God says we should move, we move. ‘Mo Dibo Fun Jesu’ is a song in our fourth album entitled ‘King of Nations’. We just felt it was time to sing it out and produce the video for the people and we’ve since then been waiting for God to lead us into more things to do. But while we’re waiting, we’re working on our individual projects. When you’re working on such projects, it’s massive and time consuming, so, right now, that’s what we’re working on. Mo Dibo Fun Jesu came out two months exactly before the election. So, we felt it was a perfect thing to do to calm the tension all over the country at its time of release. We were able to get that attention, we achieved

our aim with the song and video and it’s why Nigerians are still loving that piece of work. You’re known by all as a group, The Midnight Crew, but you already mention doing individual works; what’s your modus operandi? Ayo: It’s something that was inevitable to run this way- it was something we had in mind to do. The Midnight Crew gives expression to individuals. We give the platform for each of us to express himself or herself. We’re individuals with gifting different from one another, we’re not our own enemies. We’re here to support one another, so if Michael has something he’s doing, we’d support him. If Pat has any project, the other three will rise and support her. We don’t do divide and rule, we do support and rule. Together we take over

the world. The stage we’re at the moment which is why you’re yet to see a new material from us is the solo expression, Mike has something he’s doing, Pat has hers, I have my own, so very soon, you could come to our concert and you’ll be buying four different albums. And you could be at the same concert and will be buying Midnight Crew’s album. Did you learn this from the break of some groups? Pat: About four years ago, we said we were going to do a four album in one. It could be Michael featuring any member of the Midnight Crew, Pat featuring the crew, Bishop featuring the crew, but when we looked at the economic factors to it, we decided to start dropping it one by one. We don’t have to have to drop everything at a time. We’re not interested in the break of some groups the

way it had happened these past years, we’re actually very sad and hope that if upcoming groups can learn one or two things, they’d realise that it’s very good to give platforms for individuals to have expression. The emotion poured out by Ayo in the song, ‘Mo Dibo Fun Jesu’ as the lead vocalist suggests there’s something personal about the lyrics. Were you telling anyone’s true life story in the lyrics? Ayo: We did the album in 2011 and I had a major challenge health-wise and it was so critical, one thing about Midnight Crew is that the challenge that one person has, every other person shares. It was so gross that everybody could feel the pain, but eventually, God just came through for me in a very subtle manner. to be continued on page 36

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

ESTHER IGBEKELE

Male admirers should appreciate my talent not my body Esther Igbekele is one of the leading lights in Yoruba gospel music. Though an indigenous act, the songstress has traversed the world and knows the score. In this interview with DEBORAH MAKOJI, she speaks about her fledgling career, family, fashion and sundry issues. You are about to release a new album, what are we expecting? My new album, to the glory of God, is going to be seven beautiful tracks of thanksgiving and praises to the lifter of my head. It is about giving hope to the hopeless, that it's going to be well with Christ in one’s life. How long did it take you to get this done? I have been working on the songs now for about three months because all the songs weren't recorded in one studio. It was recorded in five different studios. So, it took a lot of time to put them together. What informed the title, ‘Taking Over?’ Well, originally ‘Taking Over’ was a track composed by my biological son, Michael, for me. He said to me: ‘Mum-

my I have a song for you because God revealed to me that he had taken over our lives for the better’ and I followed his spirit and got the work done with the help of God and my producer. Why did you delay the release till end of the year? Taking Over is my 13th album and my last album was released three years ago. So much love was shown to me by my fans, they were always asking me, ‘Esther, when will your new album come out?’ So with the direction from God, I decided to put this beautiful piece together to celebrate this festive season and to let people enjoy the grace of God through this album. Could the title ‘Taking Over’ be symbolic? Well, I can't really say it's symbolic and at the same time it is, because in the rules of traffic, there is a sign that can direct someone if there is need to overtake. But in the rules of God, overtaking is allowed. And it depends on what you allow to overtake or take over your life. But in this case, what I am trying to say in that song is God has changed my life from good to better and from better to best, that He has taken me over with his faithfulness.

You’re very energetic on stage, where do you always get the strength from? Well, anything one does with zeal and skill appears like that to people. I perform just like other artistes do, but the thing behind it is just a mystery from God. When I’m on stage, I forget everything that can bring any distraction to my performance and concentrate on God to direct me and strengthen me for the task He has given me. That's just it. How many hours can you perform on stage nonstop? My performance can't be judged by time because it depends on the kind of gathering I’m invited to and the type of occasion. But I know with the help of God and the ability I have, I can withstand any situation in music.

and distraction and strengthen me to do more than what is expected of me. And He should use my ministrations to bless people's lives. You travel a lot, how do you cope without your husband and children? I travel with my children, if not all of them, at least one of them. I can't do without them. But on how I cope without my husband, that's between me and him. It’s not easy but with understanding we are coping.

You minister predominantly in Yoruba dominated churches, why is this so? It’s not exactly as you think. I go to other churches that are not dominated by the Yoruba, but due to how I launched out with my music as an indigenous gospel singer, I have a lot of them inviting How do you prepare for shows? me to sing. But in this new album it's a Preparing for shows is not my job mixed bag of both indigenous and conalone. I have different managers taking temporary. care of different aspects. So, I can't really say I prepare for shows by myself, it's a What are the fashion accessories to collective effort. But I always try to get find in your wardrobe? You can find a lot of headgears (gele) it right and prepare myself for the kind in different colours and different attires of events I am invited to. of different designs and styles. What do you do five minutes before you What was the experience like the first go on stage? Every artiste will always have sometime you ever stepped on a stage to thing to say about this question, but perform? My first time on stage was a memomy last five minutes are about praying silently, begging God for His rable one because I was overwhelmed mercy and support for me with joy with the way people accepted my performance and appreciated me. I to fight against fright was able to conquer stage fright. How do you handle male admirers who make passes at you? I treat them with respect and let them know they should always accept my music and me for who I am and not for any other ulterior motives. What would you love to change about yourself? I get annoyed easily especially when I don't think the person I am annoyed with could behave in the manner he or she did. So, I react quickly to people’s negative actions towards me, but I think I need more patience. I’m not temperamental, but could be disturbed by what you don't think could really disturb me.

I treat them with respect and let them know they should always accept my music and me for who I am and not for any other ulterior motives Igbekele

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

I can die for money —Deker

Showbiz ON THE RISE

O u t &A b o u t

Music meets Runway

The 5th Edition of Music Meets Runway Organised by Le Reve Events will hold at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on December 22. The annual MMR celebration, which has been running since 2011 combines the best of fashion and music in Africa, bringing together some of Africa's finest creative artists and showcasing their talents to a huge audience. Jennifer Olize, founder and creative director of MMR, said: "This year, the MMR foundation wants to do a spotlight on the modelling industry in Nigeria because this is a fast growing segment. In previous years we have focused on fashion and music, but in Nigeria we often fail to recognise that the modelling industry offers a real career path that can create more jobs for our young people." The modelling industry should be taken

Money they say, is the root of evil, but a Nigerian musician, Bernard Deker Chukwuka, aka Deker, will leave no stone unturned to ensure he makes a lot of it in life. He speaks with DEBORAH MAKOJI about his love, life, growing up and many more. Take us through your love life. If you look at my index finger you will see a ring that has red design. That is a symbol that I am married to the game, I am married to music right now, the only love life I have now is my music. Onyenekwu is one of your songs that is gaining wide popularity in the industry now, what inspired you to write that song? I was working somewhere the day the song idea came to me and I was inspired immediately. Onyenekwu simply means ‘who is talking’? I have been talking for too long but no one knew I was talking, so now is the time for people to know that I am talking. The song is aimed at advising people on how to spend their money, for them not be reckless spenders. Money is so sweet, if you have it and hold it well. If money is out of your life, sweetness is out of your life so, you have to handle it well so that the sweetness will not turn sour. Is it true that you sustained injury when you went for waxing at a spa? Yes that is true, I was burnt and I felt bad but I am this kind of confident guy that doesn’t see things as obstacles. So I still went on with my life normally. I never allowed that to bring me down although the burn was really bad. Did you take up any case with them, like reporting to the appropriate authorities? Yes I did that; I was not really the person's that reported the case but one of my friends who saw that the thing was really bad. She snapped the picture and sent to them. The manager of the spa later called me and he apologised. What was growing up like? It was normal like every other person's though it was tough. At a stage I had to struggle on my own to make things happen, but that is not an issue any longer because I believe that nothing good comes easy. Does your background influence who you are now? Yes it does because most of my songs are inspired by the things I have been through in life; they are real life stories of what I have been through in life. You have been in the industry for a while now, is there anybody you look up to as a role model? I always tell people that my number one role model is God because, He has always been there for me. Ordinarily, I hate to say that somebody is my role model but I respect their works for the love I have for art. I respect people like Fela Anikulapo Kuti because he was a great man who did very well for the industry; afro-beat is still living because of him. My number one role model however is God himself because He is my source of inspiration.

everywhere. I have shot the video, another one is BAM (bounce and move). BAM is more of a party song, we have shot the video too and it is on air now in Sound City, Hip TV and other channels. We are doing the promotional work now and I am still hoping to release more singles. As an artiste, do you have any area of specialty? I call my genre of music hip life; the word conveys the meaning on its own; it is simply a combination of hip pop and high life. If you listen to most of my works, you will notice that they are more of hip life but that notwithstanding, I try to do everything because everybody is trying different things in the industry. So, sticking to a particular thing when you can do almost everything is limiting yourself. I try not to do that, I do plenty other things but hip life is what I admire so much.

Olamide and his boys

What informed the decision of going into music? I made that decision because music had always being a dream. Right from when I was a kid, music has been a lifelong dream for me. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to express myself musically, thanks to Diwise. Deker is from the street and he is making hits right now. Who is your sponsor? I have a record label which is Dihoo Records and the boss, Diwise, has been so helpful. What are the challenges so far? I don’t want to go there but the fact is that they are challenges. What is your sense of fashion? I love fashion so much; my love for fashion is same as the love I have for money. I love money so much. To what extent can you go to make money? I can die for money, what is life without money? The essence of life is money. I can sell myself for money, in fact, I can die for money. In case you don’t know, I am money oriented and there is no need to pretend about that. I don’t think there is much more essence to life without money. If not music what would you have done? If not music I would have been a fashion designer, a model or a chef. What determines the kind of outfits you wear? The occasion I am going for if it’s an all casual event I dress casual, if it’s hip pop I will dress in a way that will suit it.

Deker

What is your signature perfume? Versace. What is the most expensive fashion item you have ever bought? Shoes. Nike sneakers is the most expensive fashion item that I have ever bought. How much is that? Six hundred dollars ($600). I am still struggling to grow big but there is hope that I will make it big time soon. What kind of shoes holds special appeal for you? I love normal sneakers because it is always comfortable and can easily be paired. Do you consider any fashion item indispensable? No, I make do with whatever is available provided I am comfortable. What will you never be caught wearing? I wear everything but for now, I don’t think you will find me wearing skirt and bra. Although it may be possible for me to wear it after now. What kind of jewellery appeals to you most? I love chains and earrings. I am not really a wristwatch person.

How do you handle female fans’ excesses? I just tend to be calm with females, the fact is, you have to respect ladies if you want to live long. So, I respect ladies a lot although their excesses can be boring at times. I respect them because it is not easy for someone to appreciate you. I am not the kind of artiste that sends my female fans away.

Give me an idea is your ready to go outfits? Normal pants and shirt. What kind of outfits take up most space in your wardrobe? I love crazy wears and I think I have more of crazy outfits in my wardrobe.

When it comes to fashion, will you say your physique works to your advantage? Exactly, because I have the type of body that flatters anything on whether big or small.

How many tracks so far? The first one is Onyenekwu and it went well. In the eastern part of Nigeria especially, people are asking for more, the jam is

Who is your best designer? For now, my best designer is Sexy Steel of ‘Needle and Stitches’. They are doing great and he is my best designer for now.

Which fashion item catches your fancy while shopping? I love shoes so much; good shoes catch my fancy easily.

Musician Olamide is set to wrap up 2015 with the second edition of his concert Olamide Live In Concert on December 27 at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Tagged OLIC 2: Beast Mode Unleashed, the likes of Olamide, Lil Kesh, Viktoh and Adekunle Gold are expected to perform also.

Two stage comedies in Abuja Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, will bubble with life as two stage comedies, Ahmed Yerima’s ‘The Lottery Ticket’ and Jerry Alagbaoso’s‘Specks in Our Eyes’ will be staged there tomorrow. The stage plays are produced by Mosaic Theatre Production and Cruise Entertainment. It would feature Nigeria’s best theatre artistes such as Patrick Diabuah, Omololu Sodiya, Odera Orji, KelvinMary Peters and a host of others. The plays would be directed by Agozie Ugwu and produced by Ekene Ngwu, the duo who featured Ramsey Nouah in Ola Rotimi’s ‘Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again' in Abuja recently. ‘The Lottery Ticket’, with its hilarious scenes and twists, discusses the greed and gullibility of man, while ‘Specks in Our Eyes’, a satirical comedy, explores the ills of the society with an aim to correct them by encouraging everyone to look inwards.

All Flavours concert Chocolate City Nation musicians, M.I Abaga, Jesse Jagz, Victoria Kimani and Nosa will take the stage with other top Nigerian musicians like Simi, Solidstar, and a host of other acts at the biggest urban radio Christmas Concert in Lagos; the Metro 97.7fm FYNE2.0 All Flavours concert. Come December 14 at the MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos, It would be a show of music, dance and comedy. It is a black tie The group event and strictly by invitation. performing

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

Daddy Fresh: I inspired Tuface, D’banj meet the good and ugly. You would face a whole lot of embarrassment and joyous movement as well, but it depends on how you handle things. Fame is good and also dangerous. Some of these things they do are youthful exuberant. What I don’t fancy is taking drugs and a lot of them do that. It makes them to misbehave, but I believe they would come to realise they don’t need it. They shouldn’t get carried away at all. Some of them are truly disrespectful, but fame is not forever.

Innocent Michael Onyemuwa, better known as Daddy Fresh, was among the musicians that introduced Ajegunle to the world through music. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he speaks about his latest efforts and the growing demands of music.

Why does it appear that old-time musicians are struggling to get attention? I can only speak for myself alone. Music is everything I do, music is me. It is not all about dropping singles, but giving people what they want and knowing what is obtainable at this moment. It doesn’t mean you have to deviate for what you do, but try to move with trend. Getting acceptability won’t be difficult for me because I know the right thing.

Do you still do music? This question is coming rather too late because I released three singles two weeks ago and it's now on the radio, internet and YouTube. We started television promotion on Monday and we are still on it, making sure that it gets to local and international stations. I have songs like Oyoyoyo and Love of My Life. Is seems you stopped doing music at a point? I have been off the mainstream, but that does not mean that I stopped because music is the only thing I do. Music is my life; it is my passion. Truly I went on break, but I am back. I was still doing showbiz all those times people didn’t hear from me, but I was at the background. I am actually taking my time to give people what they want because the industry is highly competitive now. You can tell for yourself too. I have to give these new acts a run for their money and it has not been easy. All I need to do now is to make sure I polish my music well. I believe I am back and I am better. When did you have your breakthrough in music? I believe all the albums I released did well; they got massive airplay and well accepted. But the album that surprised me most was my second album because we didn’t shoot video till date. Elerugberu e was my third album, the second album gave rise to Elerugberu e. Is music still paying your bills? I have made so much from music and it still pays my bill till tomorrow. What do you think about Ajegunle music at present? I happened to be a pioneer musician in Ajegunle and it still remains our musical home. I am working on an entertainment foundation for the youth, Save the Youth Foundation. I am trying to give back to the residents of Ajegunle for what they gave to me. Ajegunle was the place I nurtured my music and where the name Daddy fresh came from before it became widely accepted. What led to the decline of Ajegunle music? I am a crossover artistes. If you listen to my album you would find out that I don’t play a pattern of music; it is the combination of different genres of music including RnB, Afro, fuji and gospel. But some of my colleagues came out with just one style and they failed to realise that music changes. I believe that my exit from Ajegunle contributed to the decline too because I was up and doing. Musicians were always coming to me and I gave them suggestion, but since I left only few of them still keep it real. How did you come about the name? People started calling me the name from secondary school days because they felt I look young and fresh. As old

Who do you wish to collaborate with among the new acts? It depends on the years you are looking at and the music. The kind of song determines who should run on it, but they are all good. They are making us proud out there. If am doing a hip hop song with indigenous vibe the likes of Reminisce and Olamide will be good for it. If I am doing an afro pop I would look out for Wizkid. If I am doing dancehall we have Timaya, Burna Boy, General Pype, Patoranking, among others.

Daddy Fresh

as I am, I still look young. It is a name that has come to stay and God choose that name for me. Music is all about happiness; I sell happiness to people in exchange for money and when you are happy it affects your health. I also love to take good care of myself; I pay attention to what goes inside my body. My wife has contributed to this also because she knows what to feed me with. What led to the collapse of your group with Daddy Showkey? There was no time I thought the group collapsed. The group never collapsed actually. We started as a group of five, but one person left before we released our album. The economic situation of the company actually contrib-

uted to it and no encouragement form the record label too. Our parents were not happy with our growth because we were not bringing money home, though we knew where we were going. When the royalty it was nothing to write home about because it was always shard among four people. We had no problem. I missed those days; it was fun and a nice experience. I would have wished for a rewind, but that is gone. You’ve tasted fame before; how was those days like? It is all about focus and being able to manage it. Managing limelight is a very big one and your management has a whole lot to do. It also requires wisdom and understanding because you would

Do you still get respect from them? That is one of the reasons I am thanking to God today. The little I had contributed I never knew it went far. When I called Tuface for a collaboration he was so excited. He has been like my son in the industry and he sees me as a role model. I thank God for his progress. He personally footed all the bills; he paid for the studio and fueled my car. He told me that he was owing me more because I did a lot for him, though I don’t know what I did. When I met D’banj on Lagos Island, he almost tore my shirt with joy. He told me that I was one of his mentors, begging me to take whatever I wanted in the club. How many do I want to mention? I thank God that they’ve always shown me appreciation. Do you have regrets? The only regret so far is the loss of my greatest icon and role model, my mother. I lost her in 1996. I still remember her even though she is gone.

Musician SG, Big Time in a musical romance

ig Time Entertainment has unveiled Selom Oke Eruedoja aka SG at their new act. The ceremony, which which took place at R & A City Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, attracted musicians and friends of the label. Speaking to journalists at the event, the record label CEO, Kelvin Richman, said that the entertainment outfit was a company established to make things right for Nigerian artistes, especially the up and coming. The music promoter added, “I have passion for what I am doing. I said to myself five years ago that when I get to a certain level I would invest in up and coming artistes. Apart from Wizkid, I have worked with Davido and many other top artistes. 97 per cent of music artistes that are successful today passed through my table when it comes to promotion.” Since he had made a mark in music marketing and promotion, Richman felt it

was right to take things to the next level. “A lot of people come to me for advice when they want to open a record label and at the end of day they do very well. So, I don’t think running a label is a problem for me” Expressing gratitude to his new management, SG said that he was ready to take his musical career to the next level through hard work and perseverance. “Doing music is something I have been dreaming of right from childhood. It is something I like. I used to watch Michael Jackson's video while growing up and that influenced me musically. I listened to a lot of foreign artistes while growing up and I made up my mind to be greater than them. I started music in 2010,” he narrated. The graduate of media publication at the University of Buckingham in England

described the experience so far as a mix of good and bad, saying, “life is full of ups and down but we cannot complain." He continued, “Music requires a lot of hard work. You have to be focused and determined to make it in the industry. You must have direction as well, but it is quite difficult to create awareness or make people know you. That is peculiar to every up and coming artiste and one has to work extra hard to get there. At times, I sleep in the studio just to make sure my songs are ready. I thank God we are moving forward gradually.” His single, Wado, is a form of greetings in Niger Delta. SG is a rapper and singer. His grandfather who passed on in 2005 influenced his music greatly. “I was very close to him. He liked good music and he played a lot of foreign songs. That was how I developed love for music."

Investigations SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 12 DECEMBER 2015

Miners in the prime of coal industry in Nigeria PHOTO: nidf.blogspot.com

COAL

Story of Nigeria’s lost treasure Coal mining, which made Enugu State so popular, was a major source of revenue for Nigeria. Today, however, it is left to play second fiddle to oil. Even its once bubbling sites are now desolate with aged miners rooming the premises complaining of their unpaid entitlements, reports CHARLES ONYEKWERE

gbete mine, located within the coal camp area from where Enugu owes its existence, appears to be desolate. The aged miners roam the premises of the now moribund corporation complaining endlessly to no one in particular. They seem to have been used, dumped and rejected. Some of them say they have been unable to receive their entitlements since the closure of coal mining by the federal government a few years back. Also, carcasses of cars, building and even offices have been abandoned as the once vibrant compound is now forsaken and turned into a graveyard. Many view this situation

Isioma madike

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

as most unfortunate for an industry that boomed until about 31 years ago when the declining mining of coal gradually led to the closure of the mines in 2001. Since then, coal mining in Enugu and other parts of the country has been in depression. A visit by Saturday Telegraph during the week, confirmed the once boisterous mining sites as ghost areas with its numerous facilities in shambles. Few people were willing to discuss the coal sorry story. Those that managed to speak expressed dismay over the abandonment, blaming the federal government for this woe. They also complained about the various employment opportunities lost. One of those that worked in the engineering department of the now forgone corporation, John Nkwocha, said the government should be held responsible for the plight of the former coal workers. The situation, according to the old man, was compounded by what he described as “total lack of attention” by succeeding administrations in the country. “Workers of the coal corporation were thrown out to the streets, and their entitlements never paid.”

Particles of Coal

The aged miners roam the premises of the now moribund corporation complaining endlessly to no one in particular

He narrated how miners in those days suffered. “Their hands were dried like those of chimpanzees. They used pikes, which was later modernised into detonators used to blast the coals.” Another former coal worker, Peter Ugwu, also alleged that workers of Coal Corporation were owed as much as 39 months’ salary at the time former President Olusegun Obasanjo took over in 1999. “It was followed by privatisation carried out by the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE), which led to the sale of all fixed and movable property of the CorporaCONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

tion.” Ugwu said the present developments in and around the world where attention was fast shifting to coal gives the hope that someday the Nigerian coal commodity could bounce back and regain its pride of place in the economy. “It is possible to revive the coal industry here; yes, it’s very possible. You know from the coal industry they used to bring a material that was sent to the Nkalagu cement factory to enhance the production of cement. That one has also declined because there is no source again. When coal was there the railways were also at their peak transporting coal to the cement industry and other places. “Coal did not collapse; government stopped it and we are appealing to the federal government to reconsider its stand on the industry. Nothing happened to it; the dump is still there unexcavated, untapped; so, if government re-opens it now it can afford to use more scientific mining method. That is what we have been praying for, because it will provide jobs, it will boost the economy. “We are talking of power supply these days and coal could have been an alternative. When we were there, there was hardly any family that did not have somebody working in the corporation; every family benefitted from it. You needed to see their office any day they announced they were going to pay. There were people who would crawl out in the morning to get there and wait. People from distant communities around here used to trek to the place; the lucky ones had bicycles to ride to the place. Motorcycles and cars were not many then but still people managed to get to that place.” Ugwu stated that the energy need of the country has continued to rise, which would have got the present administration thinking along the coal line. “Similar situations had forced many countries to begin to evolve other sources—wind, sun among others—to meet their energy needs,” he further said. Coal had pioneered the source of Nigeria’s economy. It was used to power the River Power Station that supplied electricity to the whole of eastern region. It also powered the locomotive railway as well as the Nigerian Cement Company (NIGERCEM). It was equally used for cooking and as domestic and industrial sources of energy. Indeed, coal was the major source of energy in the country before the discovery of oil. Today, however, it appears to be on the brink of collapse. The civil war produced a perfect reason for abandoning the Enugu coal fields. The war led to the exodus of many expatriate mining experts from the country. But, the black gold, as it was once called, has remained, ever since, a major player in the world’s energy mix. It is arguably the most important fuel in this regard and the second most consumed in spite of its associated environmental issues. Despite these setbacks, South Africa, Argentina and other Latin American countries have continued their interest in Enugu coal. This may be why some people believe that the sector was killed by lack of political will. That apart, the country’s coal resources have been estimated at 2.5 billion tonnes, lignite at 250 million tonnes, and limestone at 600 million tonnes spread over 15 states in the country. The federal government had, many years ago, signed its first product sharing agreement with Nordic Industries, a consortium of Danish, British and local firms to develop the coal industry. Whereas the Okaba/Odigbo mine district in the northern Kogi State has reserves estimated at 22 million tonnes and is due to be developed, the Enugu mine has a capacity to produce 150, 000

One of the abandoned Enugu coal sites

It could be a perfect substitute to oil -Don tonnes per year. In 2002, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development gave the go-ahead for a joint venture between South African group, LSC Consortium and Polish company, Kopex, to explore coal from mines at Onyeama, Okpara in Enugu and Owukpa in Benue State. Also in 2007, the government opened negotiations with some Chinese companies over the exploration of this resource. The then acting managing director of Nigerian Coal Corporation (NCC), Enugu, Dennis Okafor, confirmed that approval had already been given to a “group of Chinese companies” to build seven power stations across the country using coal. According to Okafor, “all over the world, coal has always been a major contributor to the energy demands of any nation. Around the world, it is the same everywhere. We cannot hide the fact that Nigeria is seriously endowed with coal resources. In fact, studies done on Nigerian coal deposit show that we have over 2.5 billion tonnes of black coal in Nigeria. “But, there is the other one, lignite, which is the immature coal. That one has not been fortified. It has a very large deposit at the same time. Coal is a major source of energy. It is used in power generation, firing the boilers of factories, in the cement and battery industries, it has remained essentials. Even at the domestic front, instead of using firewood to cook, we have it for cooking. I am sure this will impact seriously on Nigeria’s energy demand if it is well exploited,” Okafor said. Saturday Telegraph gathered that the BPE had actually sold part of the assets of the coal corporation but the buyers

Coal didn’t collapse; government stopped it and we are appealing that it should reconsider its stand on the industry President Muhammadu Buhari

The entrance leading to the Coal mining

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015

SATURDAY

FREE

Sport Splash 25

Interview

I’d marry a six-foot tall man if… – Dwarf gold medallist, Onye p.27

Global football

Messi, Neymar scare leaves Barca anxious against Deportivo p.28

News

Nwosu faults Mikel's attitude in Eagles

U-23 AFCON: Nigeria go for gold p.30

Lifestyle

Former F'Eagles star welcomes son p.32

...urges NFF to intervene in feud with Oliseh

Vincent Eboigbe

Mikel

The Team

Vincent EboigbelAssistant Editor Ajibade Olusesan l Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

former Eagles skipper, Henry Nwosu, has asked the Nigeria Football Federation to step into the simmering altercation between Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh and midfielder John Mikel Obi for the good of the game in the country. Oliseh and Mikel fell out during the double 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland. The midfielder started from the bench in the first leg away and also in the second match, but refused to warm up for introduction in that reverse fixture in Port Harcourt. His grouse, apparently, had to do with being left on the bench. There is also the matter of the acrimonious exit of erstwhile captain of the team, Vincent Enyeama, and the handing of the skipper’s band to Ahmed Musa, by passing a more experienced Mikel. Oliseh was unhappy with the affront and vowed not to invite the player any more for national duties. Nwosu noted that it was wrong of Mikel to refuse to be brought in for the match and that instead of sulking he should have used the chance

to prove that he is not the kind of player to be left on the bench. “If he actually refused to come in against Swaziland, then he is trying to be bigger than his coach and I won’t support that,” said Nwosu. “I was captain of Nigeria but was dropped to the bench in one of our matches in Enugu against Algeria I think. I was introduced 20 minutes to the end of the game but I still scored the only goal to secure the victory for the team. “What I proved with that was that I wasn’t the sort of player to be on the bench. That is what I expected Mikel to have come in to do and not refuse to play. He must learn to be humble.” Nwosu however argued that the feud should not be allowed to fester, as both coach and player were crucial to Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the African Nations Cup in 2017 and the World Cup in 2018. “My appeal is for Oliseh not to shut out Mikel. We still need him in the team. Let the NFF find a way to sort out the matter so that Oliseh can continue to invite him for national engagements,” Nwosu added.

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Nigerian League Rendezvous

Failure always an orphan!

Stories: Charles Ogundiya

Salami welcomes baby boy with wife

Another prize for NPFL top scorer, Salami

t was a show of shame in Jalingo at the weekend when players of relegated FC Taraba were subjected to a very dehumanising treatment in the hands of security operatives attached to the governor of Taraba State. The players were protesting the nonpayment of their backlog of salaries and match bonuses when the soldiers pounced on them. It was reported that the armed soldiers had a field day molesting the innocent players for asking to be paid their entitlement. It is interesting to note that, if the team had won the Nigeria Professional Football League title or probably the Federation

Cup, the governor would have rolled out the drums to welcome the players as heroes. A case in point is the Federation Cup winner, Akwa United, which suffered the same issue of non-payment of salaries for most part of the season, only for the Akwa Ibom State governor, Emmanuel Udom, to start treating them as kings after they won the cup. Apart from paying the players their backlog of salaries few days to the final of the Federation Cup, the players were rewarded with N2m and a house each for winning a record first trophy for the state. The popular adage ‘success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan’ quickly comes to mind to illustrate the situation in

most of the government-owned clubs. The question is would Akwa United players have received their money if they didn’t play in a final of the Federation Cup? Or would it have been a different story for the FC Taraba players if they had escaped relegation or won a major trophy? It is obvious the governors only use the success of the clubs as part of their achievements in government not minding what they suffer to achieve the success. The players are also family men and part of the work force of the state and must be treated as such. States that are not ready to sponsor these clubs should disband them and let the players look elsewhere for their livelihood instead of treating them like criminals.

he Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer, Gbolahan Salami, at the weekend scored another great goal when his wife, Ololade, gave birth to a baby boy. The Warri Wolves striker scored 17 goals to top the 2015 top scorer chart and was honoured recently by the Rashidi Yekini Foundation for his feat in the concluded season. It was however another moment of joy for the former Shooting Stars of Ibadan striker when he saw his newly born baby. “It was a double celebration for me when my wife was delivered of the baby,” he told League Rendezvous on the telephone. “We have to move to the hospital immediately I came back after collecting the award, and thank God both the mother and child are in good and perfect condition.” The naming ceremony according to the striker, will be on Sunday (tomorrow) as League Rendezvous congratulates the family.

Enyimba's Mfon Udoh scores from the spot against Sharks in a league match

Sponsors announce date, venue for Multi-Sports pre-season tourney

elta State will play host to the fourth edition of the annual pre-season football tournament organised by Lagos-based outfit, Multi-Sports International. According to John Tata, coordinator of the tournament, it will involve teams playing in the league and takes place between January 10 and 17, 2016. He assured fans of a fantastic tournament as the organisers have learnt a lot from the last three editions. “Lagos hosted the first two editions of the tournament while we were in Ibadan for the third edition,” he said. “This year, we decided to take it to Delta State in honour of the state Governor, Dr, Ifeanyi Okowa, and we have renamed the tournament Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa Pre-Season Football Championships. “There are going to be two venues unlike in the past when we had just one. Matches will be played in Sapele and Agbor.” Tata said 12 teams, divided into two groups, would be fighting to dethrone defending champions of the tournament, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, which won the last edition in Ibadan. He said the clubs that had shown interest in competing in the eight-team tourney were defending champions Shooting Stars, Port Harcourt-based Dolphins and Sharks which won the 2013 and 2014 editions of the tournament. Warri Wolves and Delta Stars from Delta State, Rangers of Enugu, Heartland of Owerri, Sunshine Stars of Akure, newly promoted Ikorodu United of Lagos, and Nigeria National League side, First Bank, have also indicated in-

terest to be part of the tournament. Others are Yobo FC, two-time finalists of the tournament and Lagos-based side, My People FC. Tata added: “The teams will play round robin games with two of them emerging from each centre and then progress to the semifinals. “The winner will take home the sum of N500,000 while the runners up will get N200,000 for their effort. The two finalists will also be entitled to a set of jerseys from Lotto.”

Shooting Stars General Manager, Rasheed Balogun (right), with the Multi-Sports trophy won by his team

Season of coaches’ sacking

he Nigeria Professional Football League 2015 season has come and gone, but some coaches have started seeking greener pasture while some have been asked to go by the management of their clubs. The likes of coaches Kennedy Boboye, Ladan Bosso and Abdu Maikaba have already resigned their position as the head coaches of Sunshine Stars, Abia Warriors and Wikki Tourists respectively, claiming their inability to meet with targets at the beginning of the season as the reason for their resignations. Also, Akwa United coach, Zakary Baraje, has threatened to leave the Federation Cup champions if they fail to recruit players ahead of the new season. It is also noteworthy that the coach of relegated Kwara United, Tunde Abdulrahman, was given the sack after the club failed to escape relegation while Festus Al-

len, Sharks of Port Harcourt coach, may just be counting his days as the boss of the Blue Angels. The case of a coach is always that of hiring and firing but in Nigeria, the atmosphere is often not comfortable for some of them to excel, while lack of knowledge of the game is the undoing of some of the coaches. It is pertinent to state that some of the coaches have not gone on any training courses for years now and are still living in the past. Immediately Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United secured their promotion to the NPFL, Coach Abdullahi Biffo of Tornadoes and Abdullahi Mansur of Plateau decided to go back to the classroom to improve their knowledge of the game. The other coaches must take a cue from these two young men and improve their skills and knowledge of the game.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Onye, flanked by Rima Abdellahi (left), bronze medalist at the IPC World Athletics Championships, and Olabisi Azeez, Secretary of Paralympics Sports Federation

...with coach Anaeto

I’d marry a six-foot tall man if… – Dwarf gold medallist, Onye

Vincent Eboigbe

he may not be prepossessing going by known standards, she is just 1.25 feet tall. That’s already a drawback in a world where beauty is glamourised. It hasn’t sunk in and may never will that physical beauty is only skin deep. However, Lauritta Onye, shot put gold medallist at the just-concluded IPC Athletic World Championship in Doha, Qatar, is tall given her achievements in sports. Perhaps that explains why she doesn’t feel any sense of inadequacy. She says God who made her the way she is knows why and that she has no regrets on that score. “I didn’t create myself,” Onye states as a matter of fact. God made me in His image and likeness and I am satisfied with that. Anyone who is not comfortable in their skin that is their own problem.” Onye also doesn’t bother about discrimination against her on the basis of her small size. She argues that discrimination is something that everybody experiences in one form or the other, at some point and that it may present in the form of a lack of intelligence, fat or slim, tall or short among many others. She notes: “People discriminate on the basis of just about anything you can think of. People often dismiss others and say ‘forget him, he’s a dull person, he’s not intelligent’. That’s discrimination. “It could be that the person is too fat or too slim; short or even ugly. Nobody is free from it; even President Muhammadu Buhari is discriminated against on the basis of where he is from. Some people are even saying that he is not smart. It is only God that is free from such human judgements. “So I don’t have to give instances where I have been put down. Discrimi-

nation against people like me is real, people will always find faults, but for me the most important thing is the reaction to it.” Getting g involved in sports for Onye was fortuitous, it was not something she gave serious consideration until she came to Lagos in 2007. Having not sorted out the matter of a future direction, she was not averse to the idea when a member of her association – Little People of Nigeria – invited her to a sports meet. She took up the offer and has not looked back since. “Somebody advised me to try my hands in sports when I came to Lagos in 2007. I took up the challenge and was invited to Ibadan for trials and fortunately I qualified for the All Africa Games in Algiers that year,” recalls Onye. “However, we could not compete because it was only five countries that sent athletes for my event. It was disappointing, but I really didn’t feel too bad because I was just starting out. But I was able to compete at the AAG four years later in Maputo 2011 and I won a silver medal in shot put.” Shot put is seen as requiring a lot of energy and technique to grasp and excel in, but Onye points out that it comes naturally to her and that she actually combines all the throw events. “It’s not a big deal for me. I do all the throws. In fact I combine shot put, discus and javelin and I can take part in all of them at the same championship. It is all about training, the grace of God and of course my coach, Patrick Anaeto. He has been my master, mentor, coach and friend. He pampers me, gives the confidence to go on and not give up.” Many families are not particularly disposed to supporting a member who shows a more than passing interest in

God made me in His image and likeness and I am satisfied with that

Onye

Sport

sports, especially female ones. Although her family supports her career, she adds that they however feel disappointed that she has practically nothing to show for all her years in athletics and the medals she has won. She asserts: “My family is proud of course that I travel all over the world doing sports and winning medals, but they expect me to be rich, to have some money at least. But that is not the case as I keep telling them there is nothing whenever they ask questions. That makes me sad; I mean if you are doing well for your country you should be rewarded. Government doesn’t recognise what I’ve achieved.” So, she is not likely to support any family member or a child in the future who would want to follow her footsteps and venture into sports. Although Onye was oblique in her response the import was unequivocal. “I don’t have to encourage any family member or my child to do sports. It is clear for everyone to see; if you are doing well people will see it and want to follow your footsteps. What do I have to show for my career in sports? I don't even have a carpet. So I don’t need to tell anyone anything, it is obvious.” After Nigeria’s failure to win a medal of any hue at the last Olympics in London in 2012, then Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, addressed a press conference where he pledged that preparation for Rio 2016 would commence immediately to avert that London fiasco in the future. But with barely eight months to the Rio Games, nothing seems to be happening in that regard. Onye refuses to be drawn into the politics of preparation but reveals that she is doing her own thing in readiness for the games. “My life is all about training. Coaches and the federation will do their bit, but the athletes need to help themselves. Heaven helps those who help themselves as they say. I have to train hard on my own and it also means spending my personal money. I have a competition to attend in February in Dubai in 2016; it’s an Olympics qualifying event although I have already qualified for the Olympics through the last championship I took part in earlier in the year in Doha, the IPC World Athletics Championships, which is the Paralympic equivalent of the World Athletics Championships. ''I won a gold medal in shot put in the F-40 class in that meet. I also took part in the F-41 class, a higher category, where I placed fifth.” The Olympics is the peak of competition for any sportsman or woman and Onye is looking forward excitedly to the Games which she wants to be her crowning glory. She says: “My dream is to win a gold medal at the Olympics. That is the peak of it all and I can’t wait to be an Olympian. It will be my first and I want to make it memorable.” Like everyone else, Onye plans to get married in the future and have children, although she admits that is something she has no control over. “Of course I look forward to marrying in the future and having kids of my own, but I can’t predict that future. That’s in God’s hands,” she notes. Would she marry a six-foot tall man given that she is just 1.25 feet? “I won’t discriminate against anybody whether he’s six-foot tall,” affirms Onye who hails from Obodo, Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area in Owerri, Imo State. “I would just seek the face of God; everything is in His hands. I only pray for a God-fearing man.”

arren Anderton insists Bournemouth should have nothing to fear against Manchester United and reckons the Red Devils are “a good team but not as solid as they used to be”. Anderton made more than 300 appearances in the Premier League before ending his illustrious career with a two-year spell at Dean Court between 2006 and 2008. The former Tottenham star says he has been impressed with Eddie Howe’s team this season. And after watching them topple reigning champions Chelsea, Anderton believes Cherries could claim another scalp when they host United on Saturday. “It is a big game against United and I am looking forward to it. Their manager has been there and done it and knows how to win games, not in the manner that most United fans would probably like to see. “But it is about winning and they certainly do that. There is absolutely no reason for Bournemouth to go into the game with any fear. For me, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were to win.

Bournemouth can shock Man United -Anderton

www.newtelegraphonline.com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

arcelona will face their final Liga match before the Club World Cup against Deportivo with concerns over the fitness of star duo Lionel Messi and Neymar. Neymar, who has been nominated alongside Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the final three contenders for the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career, picked up a groin injury in training this week and was forced to miss the 1-1 Champions League draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. Messi, meanwhile, also sat out a recovery training session on Thursday, though the club cited "personal reasons" for his absence rather the hamstring problem it was feared he had suffered in Germany.

Kickoff: 4pm

Dutch striker Bas Dost. "We are a bit behind our expectations. We want to be playing in the Champions League next season. " Wolfsburg qualified for the last 16 of Europe's biggest club competition by beating Manchester United 3-2 on Tuesday with a late goal from Naldo. "The team did an outstanding job against Manchester," coach Dieter Hecking said.

coming days. With Neymar injured and question marks raised over Messi following that tough encounter in Germany on Wednesday, Deportivo fullback Luisinho believes they have a strong chance of extending their unbeaten run to six matches. "It's a pretty difficult game. We have the hope of taking something and the moment is good, because the team are going through a good moment. That's ideal to play against Barcelona," he said. Ivan Rakitic, however, feels the difficult 1-1 draw with Leverkusen

Messi, Neymar scare leaves Barca anxious against Deportivo

Schuerrle

fL Wolfsburg, last season's Bundesliga runners-up and German Cup winners, will be desperate to arrest their slide down the table when they host Hamburg on Saturday. Following a promising start to the season the Wolves have slipped to fifth in the Bundesliga after picking up just one win in four matches. Andre Schuerrle, the German in-

ternational who joined from Chelsea midway through last season, was supposed to be their new attacking weapon but he has failed to deliver so far and Daniel Caligiuri has won their head-to-head battle for a starting spot. Last week's 2-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund ended Wolfsburg's 29game unbeaten league run at home. "Fifth place is not good enough," said

Wolfsburg aim to arrest slide in Bundesliga

Global Football Special

Napoli Sampdoria Fiorentina Roma Napoli

Serie A

1 Aubameyang 2 Lewandowski 3 T. Müller 4 M. Reus 5 Y. Malli

17 14 13 8 8

14 10 9 7 7

Dortmund Bayern Bayern Dortmund Mainz 05

Bundesliga

1 G. Higuaín 2 Éder 3 N. Kalinic 4 M. Pjanic 5 L. Insigne

Barcelona Barcelona Sociedad Bilbao Real

14 13 11 10 10

Leicester 14 Everton 11 Leicester 10 Watford 9 Arsenal 8

EPL

LA Liga 1 Neymar 2 L. Suárez 3 I. Agirretxe 4 A. Aduriz 5 C. Ronaldo

1 J. Vardy 2 R. Lukaku 3 R. Mahrez 4 O. Ighalo 5 O. Giroud

TOP SCORERS

S Roma appear to be falling into another mid-season slump with injuries piling up and their own fans turning against them. Although they scraped into the last 16 of the Champions League, Roma were jeered off the field by 29,000 fans in a

Roma desperate for survival

Rodriguez

illarreal host Real Madrid in an intriguing encounter in La Liga on Sunday. The home side are in 5th place as it stands, and are on a good run of form, having won four out of their five last home games. Real Madrid are in 3rd place, but will be looking to make up some ground on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Los Blancos thrashed Malmo 8-0 in the Champions League and will be hoping to take that momentum into this game.

Real chase points to Villarreal

28 Sport SATURDA 12 DECE

TABLE

P Pts 15 33 15 32 15 31 15 28 15 27 15 26 15 24 15 24 15 22 15 21 15 19 15 19 15 18 15 16 15 16 15 16 15 15 15 14 15 10 15 6

P Pts 15 40 15 35 15 26 15 26 15 25 15 24 15 23 15 21 15 21 15 20 15 20 15 18 15 14 15 14 15 14 15 13 15 11 15 10

P Pts 14 34 14 32 14 30 14 25 14 24 14 22 14 21 14 20 14 20 14 19 14 19 14 17 14 15 14 15 14 14 14 14 14 11 14 11 14 11 14 10

eisuke Honda could reportedly leave Milan in January after finding himself marginalised by a change in formation. The Japan international has been linked with a San Siro exit since the summer, but was expected to see out the season under Sinisa Mihajlovic. However, the Coach’s change to a 4-4-2 has meant that Honda is on the fringes of the Rossoneri project, according

Jenson Button considered leaving Formula One this year as McLaren endured their worst season but said he decided to continue after talks with boss Ron Dennis and other key people at the team. "Last year I wasn't sure If I'd be racing and it wasn't my choice," the 35-year-old Briton told Sky Sports television. "This year it was totally my choice and there was a moment where I thought 'I am not sure I want to do this anymore and be where we are'.

EPL

SUNDAY Eibar Vs Valencia 4:00pm Villarreal Vs Real Madrid

Tyson Fury has denied that he is a homophobe and claimed that he is "uniting the world" as controversy continues to circle the recently crowned world heavyweight champion. Fury has come under increasing scrutiny for comments he has made since he upset long-time champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany on November 28.

Tyson Fury

Sevilla Vs Sporting 8:30pm

Levant Vs Granada CF 6:15pm Atl Madrid Vs A/Bilbao 6:15pm

Celta de Vigo Vs Espanyol6:15pm

Barcelona Vs Deportivo 4:00pm R/Vallecano Vs Málaga 12:00

SATURDAY

La Liga

SATURDAY SATURDAY Norwich Vs Everton 1:45 Genoa Vs Bologna 3:00pm Crystal Palace Vs Southampton Palermo Vs Frosinone6:00pm 4:00pm Sassuolo Vs Torino 6:00pm Man City Vs Swansea 4:00pm Udinese Vs Inter Milan Sunderland Vs Watford 4:00pm 8:45pm West Ham Vs Stoke 4:00pm Bournemouth Vs Man Utd SUNDAY Chievo Vs Atalanta 3:00pm 6:30pm Empoli Vs Carpi 3:00pm SUNDAY Milan Vs Verona 3:00pm Aston Villa Vs Arsenal 2:30pm Napoli Vs Roma 6:00pm Liverpool Vs West Brom 5:00pm Juventus Vs Fiorentina 8:45pm Tottenham Vs Newcastle 5:00pm

Serie A

FIXTURES

depressingly empty Stadio Olimpico after a dismal 0-0 draw at home to BATE Borisov. Rudi Garcia's team, Serie A runners-up for the last two seasons, have failed to win any of their last five games in all competitions, a run that included a 6-1 mauling by Barcelona in the Champions League. They have dropped to fourth in Serie A, five points behind leaders Inter Milan, and on Sunday have a tough trip to third-placed Napoli, who themselves are eager to bounce back after a shock 3-2 defeat at Bologna last Sunday ended an 18-match unbeaten run and cost them top spot. Ivory Coast forward, Gervinho, captain Francesco Totti and defender Vasilis Torosidis are among those on the treatment table, while Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has also been out injured. Dutch midfield Kevin Strootman is also out, having been plagued by injuries since joining the club at the start Gervinho of the 2014/15 season. "There's a different atmosphere at the stadium without the Curva Sud," said coach Rudi Garcia.

Rafa Nadal remains fiercely loyal to his uncle and coach Toni despite saying he does not know when, or even if, he will win another grand slam title. Former world number one failed to add to his 14 major titles this year as he missed out on any of the sport's four grand slams for the first time since 2004. "I don't know when that's going to happen and I don't know if that's going to happen," he said.

Hazard (right) flanked by Leicester City players

Jenson Button

SPORT BRIEFLY

stall Leicester's ultimately successful relegation escape bid. Rewind back to the identical stage of last season, after 15 games Chelsea were top with 36 points while Leicester were marooned on 10 and apparently doomed. Now, Leicester have 32 to Chelsea's 15. A Leicester win on Monday would mean a 49-point swing in their favour compared to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea after 16 games of the previous campaign. And Leicester's form is clearly no flash in the pan either. In the last 24 Premier League games, stretching back to last season, they have 54 points, four more than Arsenal and Manchester City during the same period.

to Corriere della Sera. The newspaper writes that this has resulted in the attacking midfielder considering a departure in the winter window rather than the summer.

Honda ready for January exit

could serve Barca well for the coming challenges as they look to end 2015 on top of the Liga table and as the newly-crowned world champions.

Leicester's title credentials on show against champions

Honda

t is still easy to look at the Premier League standings and assume you are reading them upside down but Leicester City's title credentials would be difficult to mock if they beat reigning champions Chelsea on Monday. Going into the 16th round of fixtures, Claudio Ranieri's vibrant side are two points clear of Arsenal at the top and brimming with confidence. Such has been the remarkable transformation that Leicester, who spent 140 days at rock bottom last season, could justifiably be regarded as favourites to beat a struggling Chelsea side and retain their lead. When the sides met at the Kingpower Stadium on April 29, Chelsea won 3-1 to all but clinch the title and

Rafael Nadal

No Clubs 1 Bayern 2 Borussia 3 M’gladbach 4 Hertha 5 Wolfsburg 6 Schalke 7 Mainz 8 Leverkusen 9 Hamburg 10 Cologne 11 Ingolstadt 12 Darmstadt 13 Frankfurt 14 Hannover 15 Bremen 16 Augsburg 17 Stuttgart 18 Hoffenheim

BUNDESLIGA

No Clubs 1 Inter 2 Fiorentina 3 Napoli 4 Roma 5 Juventus 6 Sassuolo 7 Atalanta 8 AC Milan 9 Torino 10 Empoli 11 Chievo 12 Lazio 13 Udinese 14 Sampdoria 15 Bologna 16 Genoa 17 Palermo 18 Frosinone 19 Carpi 20 Hellas

TABLE

SERIE A

LA LIGA

No Clubs 1 Barcelona 2 Atletico 3 Real 4 Celta Vigo 5 Villarreal 6 Deportivo 7 Bilbao 8 Valencia 9 Eibar 10 Sevilla 11 Betis 12 Espanyol 13 Sociedad 14 Gijon 15 Getafe 16 Vallecano 17 Malaga 18 Granada 19 Levante 20 Las Palmas

No Clubs P Pts 1 Leicester 15 32 2 Arsenal 15 30 3 Man City 15 29 4 Man United 15 29 5 Tottenham 15 26 6 Palace 15 23 7 West Ham 15 23 8 Liverpool 15 23 9 Everton 15 22 10 Watford 15 22 11 Stoke City 15 22 12 Southampton15 21 13 West Brom 15 19 14 Chelsea 15 15 15 Swansea 15 14 16 Norwich 15 13 17 Bournemouth1513 18 Newcastle 15 13 19 Sunderland 15 12 20 Aston Villa 15 6

Premier league

Herreira

Both forwards are now in doubt for the clash with Deportivo at Camp Nou on Saturday and Barca will be anxious over their availability for the Club World Cup, with the European champions heading to Tokyo in the AY TELEGRAPH EMBER 2015

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Grassroots football tourney in Lagos excites Onigbinde

Rio 2016: IAAF adjusts entry standard Charles Ogundiya

ising from their November 26 council meeting, the International Association of Athletics Federation, has approved changes to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games entry standards in 17 events. The IAAF also said that the International Olympic Committee had been notified of the changes released on Thursday. “Resulting from the experience of these championships, the Technical Delegates proposed some amendments to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games entry standards, which have been accepted by all parties,” the statement read. “The aim is to have more

athletes achieving the standard and therefore, to get closer to the target number of participants.” Athletes trying to compete in the women’s 400m at the Olympics must achieve a standard of 52.20secs unlike the previous standard of 52.00secs while women’s high jump has been adjusted to 1.93m from 1.94m. Also, one of the events affected is 800m for both men and women, where the previous time of 1:45.80secs for men and 2:01.00 for women was adjusted to 1:46.00 and 2:01.50 for men and women respectively. For triple jump, women must leap 14.15m instead of 14.20 while the men must achieve 16.85m from the previous leap of 16.90m. The men’s discus throw was also adjusted to 65.00m instead of 66.00m.

U-23 midfielder Etebo

IFA instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde, has expressed satisfaction with the number of grassroots football competitions taking place in Lagos on a regular basis. Onigbinde who was among the invited guests that watched the final of Baale Omole Football Competition recently at Agege Stadium said he was impressed that there were large number of grassroots football matches in Lagos compared to other states in Nigeria. “A nation without developmental programmes cannot succeed in the international competitions,” he said. “It is only from grassroots football tournaments that you can discover players who are good enough to represent the country in the future.”

U-23 AFCON: Nigeria go for gold Nigeria long jumper, Ese Brume

Fans criticism of U-23 spurred team to victory

ootball fans in Ebonyi have claimed that their criticism of the U-23 team must have propelled their latest victory where they secured an Olympic ticket for the soccer event. The fans told NAN in Abakaliki after the team defeated hosts Senegal 1-0 that the criticisms from fans were the tonic that the players needed to bounce back to winning ways. Charles Akpuenika, the Ebonyi Commissioner for Youths and Sports, congratulated the team for the victory but warned against complacency during the final match. “The team has not played any impressive game since the beginning of the competition and this might have compelled fans to call for the heads of

Ajibade Olusesan

some of the players and their officials, including the coach,” the commissioner said. “This appears to have spurred the players to give an improved performance which was evident in the `hardfought’ semi-final victory over hosts, Senegal.” Jude Nwaneri, a soccer historian stated that most teams that succeed in continental and world soccer competitions did not necessarily play attractive football. “The Argentinian and the Ghanaian teams that reached the 1990 World Cup and AFCON 2010 finals respectively played `negative’ football at the group stages,'' he said.

igeria’s U-23 team got the job done when they picked the Rio 2016 Olympics ticket with a 1-0 win over hosts, Senegal, in the semifinal of the CAF U-23 Nations Cup on Sunday and they would go for the icing on the cake when they confront Algeria in the final today. The Nigerian team was dismal in the maiden edition of the tournament four years ago when Austin Eguavoen’s side crashed out in the group stage but Samson Siasia will relish the chance of adding to his growing medal collections as a coach when his side square up with the North Africans in Dakar today. Siasia won the African Youth Championship in Benin Republic in 2005 and followed that up with silver medals in both World Youth Championship that year and in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. His men have not been dominant in this tournament despite reaching the final. They raced to 3-0 first half lead in their first match against Mali only to capitulate in the second half. The Malians scored two quick goals and the Nigerians were lucky to still go away with a 3-2 win. Their second game against Egypt followed similar pattern. They scored two goals in the first half but still

surrendered the lead as the match ended 2-2. They were more cautious in their last group game as they played goalless draw with Algeria. They struggled for most period of their semifinal clash with Senegal but still managed to run away with a 1-0 win. Algeria’s story was not different from that of their final opponents. They were in the same group in the previous edition and both crashed out in the preliminary stage. The North Africans have been one of the best teams in Senegal; they led Group A and defeated South Africa 2-0 in the semifinal to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 35 years. This will be the third time the two teams would face each other since the inauguration of this tournament four years ago. Nigeria walloped the North Africans 4-1 in the last group game of the previous edition but both team played out a goalless draw last Saturday in the second face-off. Nigeria midfielder Oghene Etebo said despite winning the Olympics ticket, his side wants to go a step further by claiming the trophy today. “We have achieved our number one objective which is to qualify for the Olympics. Now, we have a chance of becoming the best side at this level in Africa. Hopefully we will beat Algeria on Saturday," he said.

Sprite Triple Slam rocks Celebrity Basketball face-off

prite Triple Slam took over the sidelines of the Celebrity Basketball face-off event organised by Playcentre Nigeria which held at the Landmark Events Centre, Lagos, recently. The star-studded event featured A-list Nigerian musicians including, Paul Okoye of P-square; Darey ArtAlade; Mavin’s crew henchman, Dr. Sid and Afro Hip-hop star, Sound Sultan, who teamed up to compete against one of Nigeria’s leading basketball teams, the Lagos Islanders. Other celebrities in attendance included Vector tha Viper, D’ Prince, Chidinma, Ikechukwu, Beat Fm’s Jimmie, N6 of Cool Fm, Praiz, Vix-

en, Ace, JJC, Saeon, Push X, Sarz, Flexx, Tee Billz, Sweet J of Harlem Globe trotters. While celebrities turned up at the court inside the Hall, Sprite was the headline celebrity off the court as it engaged attendees with its popular Sprite Triple Slam activation. Speaking about the event, singersong writer and recording artiste, Sound Sultan, who participated in the first edition of the Sprite Triple Slam event in 1998 said: “Through Sprite Triple Slam, Sprite is effectively propping up the local Basketball League by providing a platform for the discovery of new talents. “I am passionate about the game

and it is gratifying to know that it is receiving the support of The CocaCola Company.” Commenting on the night’s Sprite Triple Slam performances and Sprite sponsorship of the Faceoff Celebrity Basketball event, Senior Brand Manager, Flavours, CocaCola Nigeria Limited, Toyin Nnodi, said that Sprite was committed to enabling its consumers bring to life their true passions and ability for self-expression. Hip-hop has been a key element of the Sprite essence for many decades and through our Sprite Triple Slam platform, the brand actively sparks up the creativity inherent in young people”.

Action at the Celebrity Basketball face-off

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

I weep anytime I watch Nadal win titles - Babalola Abdulmumuni Babalola was Nigeria’s number one tennis player for almost a decade. Although the veteran has since lost his top spot on the rankings, he is still considered one of the finest around. He told AJIBADE OLUSESAN in this interview that the Nigeria Tennis Federation was not doing enough to develop the game. Excerpts...

Babalola

Your team, Civil Defence, lost the final of the maiden edition of Nigeria Communications Commission Tennis League to Team Tombim, a side you beat in the group stage, what happened? It was a long walk to the final of the competition, I appreciate my colleagues for their efforts in reaching that level. Sport is about winning or losing, we came all out to win the tournament but unfortunately for us we could not make it. Most of my colleagues were not fit for the final, I had a little injury, just like one or two other players in the team but we just had to play in the final because the date had already been fixed. Apart from keeping the players busy, the NCC League also offered the biggest prize money in African tennis; do you think the game is on the ascendancy with the introduction of the league? It is an interesting thing to have a tennis league in the country, the maiden edition has been awesome, and the turnout for the final was impressive. It is a good start for us and we encourage other companies to emulate the NCC by supporting Nigerian tennis. The players have had more opportunity to compete and we are happy about it.

Sport

and win titles the memories keep coming that this is my dream, this is where I should have been, I should have, been up there slugging it out with these guys if not for what happened. But to God be the glory, I believe I am still okay and fine. When do you intend to stop playing tennis professionally? I have already stopped and I am just doing it for the love of tennis. For instance I am not playing at the Governor’s Cup. I would rather go back home, take care of my family, come back and watch. I have given up on professional tennis. That means you won’t ever make yourself available for national team selection? No, I would rather give the upcoming ones the chance because I believe the people that are running tennis in this country know what is good for the game but I don’t think they are doing the right thing. We played CBN Open in May, we played Dala Hard Court in November. We have 52 weeks in a year and played just two tournaments. Thank God for the NCC that kept us busy. That’s why anybody who wins the CBN Open will be number one throughout the year and it is not supposed to be like that. The NTF is supposed to go all out and look for sponsors for the players and get competitions for them too. I believe the President of the NTF, Engineer Sanni Ndanusa, should task his board members to work on this. He has to tell them that from their various zones we need a certain number of competitions, by doing that we should be able to play up to 10 to 15 tournaments in a year. Nigerian players can hit top hundred in the world if that happens. I don’t think there will be any need for Nigerian players to travel abroad by all means to do menial jobs; they will stay here and play tennis because they will be making a lot of money from those competitions. If you win N700, 000 it’s something and next week there will be another N700,000; everybody will fasten their seat belt. You mean many of your colleagues were driven abroad to do menial jobs due to lack of competitions? Why not? This year we only played Central Bank and Dala Cup, this is so sad for the players. That is why you see they want to travel out and do not want to come back. Many Nigerian tennis players and future stars are washing plates and doing other odd jobs in Europe and America because our system does not support talented players to excel in their careers.

It's surprising to see you compete favorably with the younger players despite being on the stage for a very long time... There is nothing you cannot do But big players like you can constantly speak out to complain about this when you are determined. Our anomaly opponents are younger and fitter They don’t give us the opportunity to say our mind; to them they but I know how to pick my points, are doing everything right. I was the team captain at the 2011 All Africa I know how to Games and I asked for equipment for the players but hang in there. I got decamped. know that I can I didn’t come out fighting with them, they said Nigerian tennis still do it and that is we should follow protocol, players should talk to the why I am still hanging coaches and the coaches should speak with the secreplayers are doing in there. Everybody keeps tary who will now go to the president. The president asking 'Babalola what is the odd jobs in Europe will be the one to go to sports ministry. So I spoke with secret of your longevity?' I bethe coach, the players had no shoes, no shirts, socks, and America lieve it is all about my passion, nothing and they had been training for the past one everything about me is tennis and month. I used one pair of shoes for two weeks. because our system I am also disciplined. Then I went to them to complain and they said 'Badoes not support balola because you complained on behalf the players Talking about discipline what are those you are decamped.' Which is not right. talented players things you don’t do? I don’t get involved in things I know Apart from tennis what other sports do you play that can affect me, my career and health. It is not that I gives you joy? don’t socialise, I do hang out with my loved ones I play soccer and swim a lot. You know if you swim but I am someone who knows the most important thing is time. I am a lot your mental toughness on the tennis court will be solid. That’s what a very time-conscious person because it is of great essence. I know the keeps me going, I play soccer and I swim. right time for me to hang out and when to dedicate myself to training. I know you have a family now, would you encourage your kids to play You have had a good career representing the country and winning tennis? individual honours, looking back now do you have any regrets? I have two kids, but they have to decide on their own. If they want to I have enjoyed every moment of my career I love tennis and anytime play tennis fine, if they do not want to play the game I won’t force it. I I step on the court whether for competition or not I enjoy myself. will encourage them in whatever they want to do. But looking back, I am not always happy whenever I remember an incident. The International Tennis Federation gave me a scholarship to Is it because of the problem in Nigerian tennis? train and develop my career in an academy in Barcelona. I was there at No, my first daughter used to play tennis but not much anymore. My that time with now great players like Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo, second daughter is something else, I really want her to play the game David Ferrer, and Jean-Kome Loglo from Togo. Actually, we were three because she got the determination. If she wants to do something she goes West African players that were given scholarships to Catalonia, Barcelona. all out. My first daughter is like 'Ajebo'. So they asked the Nigeria Tennis Federation if they could sponsors me to stay there, because they saw the potential in me. But the NTF said there How was growing up like for you? was no money. You know when there is no sponsor there is nothing you I caused a lot of trouble growing up. I made things tough for my parcan do. So for me that is one area I can say I don’t really feel happy about ents and they would always say 'what kind of kid are you?' My mum because I had in front of me an opportunity to hit limelight internationally was always saying 'I know one day you will think about what you want but collapsed because my country could not help me. It drives me crazy. to become'. But when she visits now she asks me 'why are you so gentle my son, Looking at Nadal and Ferrer do you usually feel you also should have been this is not how you were when you were young?' And I usually say it’s all playing at that top level? about maturity, tennis is a gentleman’s game. Tennis changed my lifestyle, Blood runs through my veins and any time I watch the big guys play my career, everything about me, so I thank God for everything.

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Reported Ronaldo’s gay partner dated Gullit’s ex-wife

eported Cristiano Ronaldo boyfriend dated cheating Chelsea legend Rud Gaullit's wife in 2012. Moroccan kickboxer Badr Hari has had his name thrown around the internet after being romantically linked with Real Madrid goal hero Cristiano Ronaldo. Hari and Ronaldo’s “gay relation-

Former F'Eagles star welcomes son

ship”, as The Sun described it, has not been commented on by either man, so it remains wild speculation at this point. Many may already have heard plenty about Ronaldo’s relationship history… However, most people probably don’t know much about Hari’s dating past.

style of Sportsmen

Ronaldo

Life

‘Miss BumBum’ goes naked after Sao Paolo victory

ormer Flying Eagles star Olanrewaju Kayode on December 7 welcomed a bouncing baby boy with his wife Ezinne. The FK Austria player took to Instagram to announce the arrival of his son which has been named Jayden. On May 3, 2010, he earned his first call-up for the Nigeria national under-20 football team for the qualifiers to the African Youth Championship in Libya. He was called on April 12, 2011, for the 2011 African Youth Championship in South Africa. He got married to his longtime love, Ezinne Okoro, in Ozuitem, Abia State, Nigeria, at her family's village compound in June 2015.

tunning Brazilian model Suzy Cortez has followed in the strange new tradition of hot South American woman stripping off for their favourite football clubs. Miss BumBum 2015 is apparently such a big fan of Campionato side Sao Paolo that she made a very public promise last week to get naked if her favourite club reached the most prestigious South American club competition. And on Thursday night, Sao Paolo reached their objective, and true to her word, Cortez duly stripped off and posed for a few pictures which she them posted to her social media account.

Cortez Stories: Courtesy Dailymail

Rodgers settles disputes with wife

Bellerin’s ex-girlfriend heats up Instagram with provocative pictures

ector Bellerin’s stunning exgirlfriend heats up Instagram with more provocative pictures Young Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin was dating hot Londoner Isabella Johnson-Ewers earlier this year, but it seems the couple are no more. Isabella, who describes herself on Instagram as an ‘actress, dancer and model’, has erased all photos of Hector from her social media accounts, while her latest uploads

Rogers and wife

ormer Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has settled a cash dispute with his estranged wife Susan at a family court. A judge at London’s Central Family Court in May ruled that Rodgers will have to pay a monthly maintenance fee to Susan who he was married to for 14 years. A dispute ensued after the hearing but it has finally been resolved

at a court hearing with Both Mr and Mrs Rodgers present. According to reports, Rodgers has now agreed to pay monthly maintenance to Susan. The couple have two children, Oldham Athletic footballer Anton, 20, and daughter Mischa,17. They split last year making Rodgers to move from the family home into a private flat.

Kayode with his son

Isabella (right)

include a snap of her kissing an unknown man. Not much is known about him. Nor is it so important. After all, he’s not a footballer or a stunning actress, dancer and model. However, many followers on Instagram may want to see some of Isabella’s recent photos, although Mr. Bellerin may want to steer clear because her level of hotness could upset him!

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

A man using detonator to blast the coals

PHOTO: nidf.blogspot.com

Truth is, the sector was killed by lack of political will

Early miners at the Onyema Coal Mine, Enugu State

lamented that they bought what they did not know. This led the government, according to sources, to hire two consultants to re-access the project afresh. Samuel Olabaniyi, a professor of Geology in the department of Geosciences, University of Lagos, took a holistic look at the coal mining sector of Nigeria’s economy. He went on to advocate that government should involve the private sector and take selfless decision to maximise the potential of coal. “The problem is not expertise but the will to remove selfishness from decision making. The truth of the matter is that anything handled by government does not work well in Nigeria. That is number one problem with coal mining. The Nigerian government does not do business well; it is just now that they are beginning to involve the private sector that we may have headway. The mines we have were shutting down intermittently because of lack of proper coordination. It is the private sector that ought to drive that sector.” Olabaniyi did not stop there. He said that before oil was discovered in Nigeria, the country was generating its revenue from cocoa and groundnut production. “What happened? Everything stopped

Another with ramshackable equipment

PHOTO: www.nairaland.com

immediately we started producing oil. Similarly, with the amount of coal that we have today, if we don’t have oil, I believe that it could be a perfect substitute, especially in the generation of electricity in the country,” he said. Recently, the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) reminded President Muhammadu Buhari of his promise to prioritise development of the solid mineral sector. MAN President, Alhaji Sani Shehu, said the association was optimistic that Buhari would fulfill his presidential campaigns promise to develop the sector. The APC presidential candidate had said he would bank on huge coal deposits located at Amasiodo, Inyi and Leje axis of Enugu coal belt to generate 1,000 megawatt of power and export coal from the region. At the campaign, which took place at Enugu West APC Zonal Rally held in Orie, Awgu Market, Awgu Local Government Area of the state, Buhari had promised he would, if elected president, award contract for mining and construction of coal-fired-power-plant. “We believe that coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in Enugu State and Enugu Coal is one of the most qualitative brands in the world, which means that while some are used to generate electric-

Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State

ity, some will be exported,” he had said. In what looked like given this presidential promise verve, a member of the National Assembly, Ibrahim Gobir, also affirmed freshly that the nation could possibly generate 45,000 megawatts of electricity if it utilises its coal reserves. He said that if the coal resource in Enugu, Benue and Kogi were harnessed, power problems in the country would be a thing of the past. “During those days, we were using coal to generate electricity in Enugu and other places. Today, if we want to generate 45,000 megawatts, we can generate that using coal. In Enugu axis alone you can generate 30,000 megawatts; Kogi and Benue, can produce about 15,000 megawatts. So, we are talking about 45,000 megawatts from coal alone. All that we have been talking about over the years is to generate 40,000 megawatts. But today, we are just dangling with only 4,000 megawatts. So, I think we have to look at some of our planning,” Gobir said. But, how these assertions would play out in years to come would only be as a result of proper planning by government, many believe. Nonetheless, the environmental impact of the coal industry should also be

a source of worry for any administration. The sour issues are land use, waste management, water and air pollution, caused by the coal mining, processing and the use of its products. In addition to atmospheric pollution, coal burning produces, according to environmental experts, hundreds of millions of tonnes of solid waste products annually, including fly ash, bottom ash, and flue-gas desulfurisation sludge that contain mercury, uranium, thorium, arsenic, and other heavy metals. There are severe health effects caused by burning coal as well. According to the reports issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008 and by environmental groups in 2004, coal particulates pollution are estimated to shorten approximately 1,000,000 lives annually worldwide. Its mining generates significant additional independent adverse environmental health impacts, among them the polluted water flowing from mountaintop removal mining, the experts further said. Historically, coal mining has been a very dangerous activity and the list of past coal mining disasters is a long one. Underground mining hazards include suffocation, gas poisoning, roof collapse and gas explosions. Open cut hazards are principally mine wall failures and vehicle collisions. In the United States, an average of 26 coal miners per year died in the decade while South Africa has had one of the world’s worst coal tragedies to date. Also, strip mining severely alters the landscape, which reduces the value of the natural environment in the surrounding land. If mining is allowed, resident human populations must be resettled off the mine site; economic activities, such as agriculture or hunting and gathering food and medicinal plants are interrupted. What becomes of the land surface after mining is determined by the manner in which the mining is conducted. Usually, reclamation of disturbed lands to a land use condition is not equal to the original use. Existing land uses (such as livestock grazing, crop and timber production) are temporarily eliminated from the mining area. High-value, intensive-land-use areas like urban and transportation systems are not usually affected by mining operations. If mineral values are sufficient, these improvements may be removed to an adjacent area. It equally eliminates existing vegetation, destroys the genetic soil profile, displaces or destroys wildlife and habitat, alters current land uses, and to some extent permanently changes the general topography of the area mined. Adverse impacts on geological features of human interest may occur also.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

RUBY (JESSE JAGZ'S BABY MAMA)

My love life, daughter and MI How did you develop interest for music? I grew up in a musical family. I started singing in the choir when I was five years old. In 2003, I met MI and Jesse Jagz and we started a crew, Loopi Music. Then, we just wanted to sing; we didn’t think of taking it professional. Eventually, Chocolate City signed MI. Years later MI made it and he told me to come to Lagos for us to do things together. I moved to Lagos in 2010 and that was it.

Though Ruby Gyang and Jesse Jagz of Chocolate City are not married, they had a daughter together. The singer in this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, talks about her child, relation and how MI Abaga convinced her to join Chocolate City. Have you released any song since you got signed to Chocolate City? After my single Good Man, I got signed to Chocolate City and I put out two songs on the 'Indestructible Choc Boi Nation' album. I did ‘No More’ featuring Jesse Jagz and ‘Loose Soul’ featuring DJ Caise.

What came to your mind when MI asked you to come to Lagos? I couldn't imagine living my daughter behind. It took me a year to make that decision, but someone said to me that the worse kind of parent is one that cannot provide for his or her child. He urged me to make money for my kids. I then obliged to it.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Zaria, Kaduna State. My parents worked at the Ahamdu Bello University and I have five siblings. Growing up for me was all about God, music, fun, fight and love; it was beautiful. I am from Benue State and we were raised with pounded yam. I ate a lot of Hausa food while growing up too since I lived there.

How often do you see your daughter? We see very well. She stays with my mother. We see like every month or two months, but we talk everyday on the phone. Is there any possibility of you getting married to her father, Jesse Jagz? Jesse and I are very good friends, which is amazing. I know many people who shared kids that are not together anymore. Before we started dating, we were friends for a long time and it made things easy. We love our daughter so much, so we have decided to maintain our friendship. It is important she sees her mum and dad together, so we work hard at being friends.

Do you think female singers are doing enough to take centre stage in the industry? We need to work extremely hard, there is need to consistently promotes our music and puts out visuals. We need to be active on Instagram, other social media platforms and take charge of our business. We need to understand the music business and see how it can work for us. I don’t think there is anything like impossible, I believe that you can only limit yourself. What is your view of females that would rather sell sex, nudity? There are certain genres of music that it is expected like the pop world because competition there is huge. So, sometimes there are things you do to get forward or have an edge over others. I understand why they do what they do, which is because of the aspect of music they do.

Are you single now? Yes I am. My faith is extremely important to me, my man must share the same faith. He must be a Christian. My faith informs my beliefs and values, which are love for God, people and love. He must be a gentle man, that type of man who opens door for me. That is the way to my heart. I like a man who enjoys laughing too; he doesn’t have to be funny.

Can you go to that extent? Luckily for me I don't t have to because I am a Soul RnB artiste. The focus is our gift. If you cannot sing or perform, don’t go there because it is really about your skills.

Did you get support from your parents to do music? At first, my father hated the idea. He is no more now. I studied economics at the University of Jos and he wanted me to pursue a career in that. He said if I so wanted to be on television I should be an analyst instead. For three years he was against it. My mother from day one embraced it. She had the opportunity to become an artiste, but she chose her kids. She told me that I should go for it and she has been supportive all the way. I got beating up or grounded a lot by my dad while I was a kid because of my love for entertainment. But when you have passion for something and it is huge, beating cannot stop you. I would brave anything just to do it because the joy it brought me was immense.

Your style is not the most popular in Nigeria; why did you stick to it? It is not the most popular yet, it is a new sound. The present Afro pop we have now is not 20 years old yet. I love what I do; it is what I grew up listening to and I am passionate about it. I understand that it is a slow start but it has a long lifespan. There is acceptance; it is just that it is yet to have a massive market so we are not getting the attention like the likes of Olamide, Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa and others. The markets are very different. The greatest challenge for me is that we don’t have a lot of event that caters for the live music sound. It is very difficult and you appreciate what I do more when there is live music. What are you doing differently as a singer? For me, it is more of being business-minded as an artiste because all the artistes out there have great music. It is about growing my brand and making it visible to the public. I have been into showbiz for some years and I have come to understand that this is what would take me further.

What are your regrets? I wish I had my daughter later in life, when I would really have her time.

It seems your voice is your strength? I have not always sounded the way I do now. The more you build, the better you are. I have worked with a voice coach who has helped me to develop my voice and vocal techniques to make me sound better.

How long have you been single? I have been single for a long time, six years. I have been so engrossed in music that I don’t have time for some things. But I have realised that it is terrible to have all work without love, so now I am open to it.

Where is your favourite place of hangout? For me, it is the Shrine. Femi Kuti is a god; he is highly skilled. I am entertained there, but I also learn.

How do you get inspiration for love songs since you are single? I have been in love so I know the feeling and there are people around me who are in love.

You must be smoking or drinking then? I don’t, I tried smoking once but it was a disaster and I left it behind. Drinking is terrible for the voice, so I don’t do that. I don’t encourage people either to indulge in smoking or drinking too. What do you so wish for yourself? My personal struggle is to empower myself, stand alone as a businesswoman and I desire to live the life I want for myself.

Ruby

Why did you leave your last relationship? I realised I was very unhappy, but I didn't know why. It was until I came back to music that I found happiness. When you are unhappy it affects people around you. I was blaming him for everything.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

Toyin Aimakhu’s embattled lover, Seun Egbegbe gives up on stolen car

ocialite and To y i n Aimakhu’s embattled lover, Seun Egbegbe, is yet to get over the sudden loss of his newly Egbegbe acquired Honda Crosstour at Allen A v e n u e , Ikeja, Lagos. According to Seun, who was not in the country as at the time the incident occurred through a phone chat with Global Excellence magazine, it was when one of his boys, Atiku, drove the car to attend Pasuma’s show at LTV8 compound that it got snatched from him. Seun, who gave account of how it all happened said that, ““The car was snatched from one of my boys, whose name is Atiku. I was not around, I’ve been in Dubai for some days now; here I am when I got the call and I ordered him to report the case immediately at Area F police station in Ikeja because the gun men tactfully dropped the Toyota Corolla they brought to rob them and carted away my Crosstour. I asked them to take the car to the station and give account of how it happened. The information I got this morning now is that the owner of the corolla had surfaced. I was told the car was snatched from him at Ogba two days before mine was snatched and the rogues decided to rob mine with the car and dropped it.” Still sad over the incident, Seun sent out a message in Yoruba which reads, “Te ni be igi l’oju, igi ti wa ti ru we” which literally means that there’s nothing for him to grieve about, the perpetrators are unfortunate ones.

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

MUSLIMS' BAN FROM US

Charly Boy lampoons US presidential aspirant, Donald Trump

harles Oputa better known as Charly Boy- the area fada, has come for US presidential aspirants, Donald Trump, after he made the hate statement seeking that Muslims be banned from the United States. On December 7, the front runner of the Republican Party, Donald Trump advocated a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” and this position has stirred wide criticism especially because he seeks the hallowed seat in the White House, this explains why Charly Boy questions how long Donald Trump will be allowed to continually make statements that could actually disturb the peace of the Americans and provoke unhealthy rivalries between Muslims and Christians in the country. According to him, “So my question is this, for how long will Donald Trump be allowed to fan this Islamophobic messages which is definitely causing the GOPs sleepless nights. Is he going to be the favoured candidate for the Republicans? A good meal for Hillary Clinton

Charly Boy

Trump

if you ask me. How can the excesses of Trump be cut down? For months, Trump has defied the laws of political correctness and gravity by maintaining

his lead despite a never-ending string of mis-yarns and controversies. I strongly doubt if his improbable campaign can go the distance.”

Glo Dance with Peter climaxes as 10 dancers battle for final slots

lobacom-sponsored reality TV show, Dance with Peter, has reached a denouement as seven finalists will slug it out next Tuesday at the grand finale where a winner will be held. With this development, three of the remaining 10 dancers in the Academy, will be eliminated and sent packing for the rest seven to battle for the final slot. G-Xtreme, Tee Jay, TRubber, Amazing Amy, C-Fly, Julius Fakta, Kelvin, Miracle, Da Octopus and Mali Hot Boy. are the ten remaining dancers in the academy. Subsequent to last week’s performance, Contemporary African Dance will take the center

stage in this week’s edition during which three of the ten remaining dancers will exit the competition, while the rest seven will vie for the final 5 slots that will qualify them to contest for the grand prizes courtesy of Globacom. Kevin, Teejay, Julius Faktah, TRubber and Miracle were put on probation in the last edition. The big question remains- which of them will survive and which three will end their journey here? During the broadcast of the show on Africa Magic Urban (Channel 153 on DSTV) at 7 p.m. today, viewers will be privileged to watch the final stunts of their favourite contestants. The show will be repeated on African Independent Television (AIT) at 5 p.m. tomorrow Sunday and on MTV Base on Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Globacom enjoined the public to vote for their preferred contestant by sending his or her code to 55518 at the cost of N50 per SMS. Voting lines are open from 8 p.m. on Saturday to 12 midnight on Monday Dance Director, Wale Rubber, disclosed that the focus this week was to showcase the rich African culture through dance and assess the ability of the contestants to switch and adapt to African music and dance. He said that the judges, Don Flexx, Kaffy and Peter Okoye would examine the unique skills, techniques, and versatility of the housemates. Popular actor and Glo ambassador, Van Vicker, will be the guest judge in this week’s episode. “I came here to be entertained and have fun, I just want to see raw dance talents from the contestants,” he said.

28 Years on, Tonto Dikeh remembers late mum with a tribute

Dikeh

e all lose our pearls, our most valued treasures too, but where do our loved ones go when they die? With the hope for a place for them in paradise even when it’s obvious some don’t deserve to inhabit there, who speaks ill of the dead? Celebs like every other person remembers dear ones lost sooner or later. Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh had expressed her emotions in a short tribute to her mom. Her emotive words flow on Instagram; “A few words may suffice to pay tribute to a soul that departed the world sooner than she deserved. It’s been 28 years since you were taken from us dear mother; you’re a gem that cannot be replaced. You’re a symbol of love, selflessness and compassion, strong yet tender

to all of us. The lessons you gave me are as priceless as the sacrifices you made to get me to where I am today. Even now, as I speak of you, secret tears still flow within my soul, what it meant to lose you no one will ever know. I love you mama,I always will.thank you for looking after me in such a special way from a special place,I am ok,We are ok..I turned out super great and am sure you are happy,pls come for my wedding.i know you never leave my sight,your presence I feel always and I hope some day I will be half the mother you were.. Sleep on mama,sleep on princess,sleep on baby,for you left us in the hands of the best man in the world and he did such a great job.. I love you now and forever more… #mama the Queen of my heart #mama I just want u to know that loving you is like sweet to my soul #28years #RIP baby”

The Counsellor

12 decEMBER 2015

The prostitute’s argument (2)

s for using what you have to get what you want, you need to understand that there are definitely things that are more important than just what you want in life and there are dozens of alternative ways to achieve them if they are important. The purpose of God for your life and the legacy you will leave on earth after your existence are more important than temporary self satisfaction. Good name is better than riches. PROSTITUTE is not a good name. It is an impediment to your destiny and it can affect the destiny of your children (God’s heritage), if any. But there is hope for you. “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee” (Jeremiah 1:5 KJV). If you understand that God created you so that you will be a blessing to other people on earth, there is no way you can do some of the things you do. You are not in this world for you alone. There are hundreds of young innocent minds in your street, apartment, office, church or town who see you as a model. There is no opportunity to explain to them that you are not so happy with the idea of sleeping around to get money, but that you are just doing it for ABC reason. You don’t even know them but they have observed and registered your lifestyle as a standard or proper norm. They have even made up their minds that your dimension of prostitution is little compared to what they would do in future, when they attain your age or status. So, your life has an impact (positive or negative) on the destiny

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Marriage Clinic

08038117704 (sms only) marriagecanwork@yahoo.com of many people. You see that God’s judgement is near you, concerning those you have led astray with your lifestyle in this world, against his will. God is expecting something from you at the end of your stay on earthan account of what you did with your stay. The truth is that you can never know the purpose of God for your life except you discover the God of the purpose. He created you. You did not create yourself (Psalm 100:3). God did not send you into this world to expose your life to ritual killers at streets and hotels at night just to have sex and receive money. You are more valuable than that. He did not create you to come to this earth and die faster than his plan by contracting sexually transmitted diseases. This is why there is hope of mercy and healing for even those that are already victims of diseases, if only they can repent. God has not sent you to live in the fear of tomorrow and cheapen yourself to the extent of destroying his temple. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy,

which temple ye are” (1st Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV). God did not send you into this world to traffic people to hell fire by coordinating pre-marital sex as your profession. God could not have sent you into this world to work against his will by marrying your spouse, only to toil with his or her emotions through your infidelity. By the way, God may never honour your prayers if you dishonour your spouse in anyway, including infidelity (1st Peter 3:7 KJV). Momentary pleasure has always and will ever be destructive. Therefore, always carry your brain along whenever your heart begins to misbehave or manifest lust. Think. All the prostitute’s arguments have terrible implications. There is possibility of a damaged womb and childlessness after several abortions and systemic complications and infections. This is against God’s plans for you. A scandalous future is in the waiting. This can affect your marital life and even, create spiritual and moral burden for your children. There is an image problem, even for a corporate prostitute, before God and man, except there is a repentance and encounter with Jesus Christ. Exposure to dangers of rape, ritual

killing and sudden death is not God’s plan for his creature. But this is the plight of the prostitute. Above all, by working against your creator ’s will by misleading the younger generation to think that corporate, roadside, blow job or any form of prostitution is a positive thing, you are an enemy of God and “God is angry with the wicked everyday (Psalm 7:11). But THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU. Jesus Christ died for people like you. He did not die for nothing. No matter how terribly deep you are into this sin of fornication or adultery, he can forgive you. Surrender your life to Jesus right now. Say this prayer from your heart. Lord Jesus! I come to you as I am. Please, forgive me my sins. Have mercy on me. Write my name in the book of life. Take over my life from today. Thank you Jesus for coming into my life, in Jesus name. Amen! Congratulations. You are born again now. Isn’t this amazing? Go and sin no more. Your marriage shall be a blessing and a testimony in Jesus name. See more details in the book, MAKING YOUR MARRIAGE WORK by Albinus Chiedu. Your marriage shall be a miracle 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

'Why we can never break up'

contin u e d f rom page 1 9

We were at a studio, Michael you remember? (And he gave his nod) Michael just chorused the title of the song and told me, Ayo, I want to write your song. I asked him, how is it going to be? And he told me he was going to capture everything we’d been through together. He didn’t say what I had been through. In fact, ‘Eri Ife Oluwa simi’, an expression in that song is the name of my first child. So, it is the testimony of God’s love. Pat was with me through and through in my labour room and those lyrics were not fictitious, they were things that actually happened. Till tomorrow, if you ask my son, which is your favourite Midnight Crew’s song, he’ll mention ‘Mo Dibo Fun Jesu’.

things but the most important thing is that you heard me many years ago and you still hear me today. That means there’s still something that is alive in me. So, I don’t see it as something that must happen over and over again. The most important thing is that you’re where God wants you to be and you listen to Him every step of the way. God might send you a manna that will last you for the next 10 years. Then in the whole of the 10 years you won’t have to struggle to find

what to eat. Just stay where God wants you to stay and He will come for you again, give you another and load you more and you’ll keep flying. When you put people under this kind of pressure, it tears them off. When people come back to me to tell me they’re under pressure to set a record and beat, I say to them, let no one pressurise you. Stay where God wants you to be and immediately God sends the manna out, the music, that particular word, that thing that will in-

spire the next generation; He will give it to you to last you for a lifetime. Some is for a year, some for six months and some for a lifetime. But I just see in my spirit that the song, Igwe, is still flying. So, I don’t want any pressure on me. I am only interested in dishing out what God wants me to dish out from time to time. It’s 14 years for Midnight Crew and it’s a blessing beyond description. This is the 23rd year for me ministering to the lives of people and it’s a blessing.

Michael seems to be the most energetic and dramatic on stage, you own Spaghetti Records and you still sing, how do you joggle roles? Michael: Everything is just about management which helps you to balance all sides to your life. I think I have applied that well. There’s management for Spaghetti Records and there’s another for Midnight Crew, what I need to do is just be at the right place at the right time. Pat was the first person most gospel music fans got to celebrate after the impact of the song, Igwe, had on your fans. When are you going to do a song to beat that? Pat: I don’t know how you assess

Abdul, Ayo, Pat and Gbenga

SATURDAY

The Arts SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015

Stain of Honour in womb of creativity

Stories: Tony Okuyeme

ostalgia is at the heart of “Stain of Honour”, an ongoing solo exhibition by Nigerian artist, Mr. Kalu Uche Karis, known for his love for painting and cultural awareness of his environment. The exhibition which opened last Saturday at Didi Museum, Victoria Island, Lagos, aims to, as he puts it, “communicate who we are as Africans, the past that we are fast forgetting, our culture, heritage, dressing patterns, the moonlight plays, the cock fight we enjoyed as children. The direct neighbourhood relationship without long fenced walls as we are seeing today to mention but few; my painting is to take you back to the memory lines where you can connect the dot of the childhood memories from which you can tell your own stories”. For him, the “Stain of Honour” lies in “our abilities as an artist, art collectors, art lovers, art patrons, art dealers, etc to impact creative knowledge on the choice of work we paint, appreciate or buy; if we are doing our work as artists especially in Africa where we have many challenges ranging from poverty, government neglect, environmental pollution etc.; if our paintings are focusing on some of these areas, who knows whether our creative painting is the message that will bring the so called change that we are looking for”. Some of the works include “See no evil” and "Eagle Sight". He added that he chose “Stain of Honour” as the title of the exhibition, because when people come to the studio and comment on works and appreciate what the artist does and the story behind the paintings, the artist sometimes look around the body, see stains of colours, nods his or her head, and say to himself or herself that ‘this is indeed stain of honour’. “We found out that some people derive joy seeing stains with colours in the studio. Ev-

Women of Substance. Inset: Karis

See no evil, Speak no evil , Hear no evil

ery child has the gift of art; it is the ability to bring out that creativity in him or her that makes that person an artist. We are next to God in creation; but He is the master creator who created mankind from nothing. Look around, you will see the beautiful things that He has created through the artist. So we live in art; art lives in us.” There is also philosophical note. He says, “No matter what life is turning into, “the greatest wealth is wisdom; the strongest weapon is patience; the best security is faith; the greatest tonic is laughter; and surprisingly all are free”. The Nigerian artist Mr. Kalu Uche Karis was born in the mid-70s in Isiugwu, Abia State. He loved painting and drawing from a very young age. He recalls how he spent hours painting and creating images and objects with any material that was available. More so, the love of art made him enroll at Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Lagos State, after his junior secondary school examination with main focus on painting and sculpture. After completing his technical education he obtained a fine art degree from Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, where he studied visual art. According to him, as a student, he won art awards, was a teacher to his fellow students, and organised the first Afaas exhibition in the school. “After school, the true work of art began. My passion as an artist, which I believe is far more interesting, satisfactory and rewarding than any paid job, led to the opening of my art gallery. He has featured in both national and international art exhibitions.

BON 2015: Nollywood stars storm Akure

head of the 2015 edition of the Best of Nollywood Awards holding on Sunday, December 13, palpable excitement and anticipation pervade Akure, Ondo State, as some of Nollywood’s finest and most celebrated stars storm the serene city. Many of the leading lights in Nollywood are already in Akure, especially those listed to participate in a mini tourney at the 18-hole golf course with Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the idyllic and mountainous Idanre town tomorrow. Winner of the golf tourney among the celebrities will walk home with a cash prize courtesy the governor. The indigenous awards ceremony

which is in its seventh edition, “has been putting a golden seal of excellence on the works of those toiling and sweating to produce and star in feel-good and educative movies”. This year’s edition, the organisers stated, is especially symbolic because unlike previous editions where only veterans were honoured with the coveted special recognition awards, former president Goodluck Jonathan and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio will join Chiwetalu Agu, Tade Ogidan and Patience Ozokwor. Speaking on the choice of the Special Recognition Awardees, the executive producer, Seun Oloketuyi said, “There is no gainsaying the fact that no other

Nigerian president helped Nollywood grow as much as former President Goodluck Jonathan. We are all living witnesses to how he established a N2 billion fund aimed at improving the distribution of audio-visual content, reducing piracy, protecting intellectual property in the entertainment industry and boosting film production and distribution within and outside Nigeria.” He described Akpabio, now the Senate Minority Leader, as a Nollywood aficionado with more than just a passing interest in the arts. Oloketuyi said the choice of the three veterans was arrived at after due consideration of their contributions to Nollywood over the years”.

Reflection with

Tim Akinleye 08098668480

timwriteswell@gmail.com

Rule of law, made in Nigeria c o n t i n ued f r o m l ast w ee k

In my country, to break the law, All you need: be armed with a uniform; Share state secrets and weapons for a token Then you're good to go with impunity. My country is blessed with unprepared govs, Who embark on white elephant projects. And ministers who minister to self, Fellow looters of the federal republic. My country assemble selfish legislators, Who fight over juicy committees. Appoint judges who rule in favour of looters, Pen robbers we beg to give a little back. A helpless state in her own court, Always losing competence in jurisdictions, Thieves who buy houses they'll never live in, And waste more public funds to cover up. Today, many inconsequential thieves Languish in congested prisons; Money bags purchase our mandates, And bore us for four years of self enrichment. In all these, whither is the rule of law? Whither is justice and equity? Whither is equal right? Whither is punishment for wrongdoing? Whither is our collective morality? Why does ethnicity supersede what is right? When will a Southerner without prejudice Face justice in the North or East? When will the judiciary stand for the state? Dispense justice speedily? Stop exploiting the weak points of the law To enrich self and strengthen evil? We must revisit our laws and her rules, She must protect the state and the lawful, Inhibit crimes and punish offenders, Till then, all we'll have is rule of law, Made in Nigeria, bedevilled by Nigerian Factor.

Short Story

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

“W Fred Nwaozor

hat kind of trade is this?” Afam thought sadly. “Every day, same story.” He added while seated on the main chair situated in his shop. Afam, a thirty-five year old young man who was of Anambra State origin just rounded off his apprenticeship on sales of building materials six months back; and since his boss settled him immediately after his seven-year old apprenticeship, things hadn’t been going smoothly as he anticipated to include low pace of sales as well as constant nightmares experienced by him. To worsen it all, a lot of responsibilities awaited him being the first born of his vulnerable parents who could boast of eight children including himself. “I pray God would deliver me from this bondage.” He continued. “Afam, how far nah?” Ugo exclaimed amidst the lamentation the moment he walked into Afam’s shop. Afam was obviously outside minded. “Afam…!” He repeated in a loud voice while still standing. He was standing directly opposite Afam; their positions were demarcated by a wooden table. Afam quickly became conscious owing to the gravity of the last call. “Hey Ugo,” he exclaimed in a very low tone. “How nah?” Ugo hurriedly sat on one of the single seats sited adjacent to his (Afam’s). “Guy, what is eating you up?” He enquired. “My brother,” Afam said. “Just tiredness...” “Tiredness?” Ugo chipped in. “Did you go to night vigil?” “No,” he responded. “I’ve been very busy since morning.” It was about some minutes past two in the afternoon on Tuesday June 21, 2011. Ugo was Afam’s closest friend and neighbour; they lived very close to each other at their place of residence in Onitsha the commercial city of Anambra state, and their shops were also located near each other. He was also a trader but he majored in motorcycle spare parts. Both of them were of the same age bracket, though Ugo appeared older. “Afam,” Ugo called tenderly. “When did you start hiding things from me?” “How?” “You and I know that you’re not happy going by your countenance.” Afam became silent and calm. “If you don’t share your burdens with me,” said Ugo. “Who would you.” Afam immediately took a very deep and noisy breath. “My brother,” he said. “You already know all my worries.” Ugo became attentive. “What else do I need to tell you?” Afam added. “Is it about sales?” “What else, my brother?” Replied the frustrated dude. “Since morning, only one customer has walked into this shop.” “Is that why you want to kill yourself?” scolded Ugo. “You can’t continue like this.” “So what would I do?” He asked inquisitively. Seemed confused and pale. “My dear,” Ugo proceeded. “I’ve been into this before you.” He said referring to trade. Ugo was almost a year old in trading and he was doing well; he com-

Suicidal Fugitive

menced six months before Afam joined the trend. Afam became attentive and curious. “You see,” said Ugo. “I was like you when I started mine.” Afam was silent. “I was almost frustrated just as you are.” “Bros,” Afam broke his silence. “You can’t compare yours with mine, though I was not there.” “Since you were not there,” Ugo chipped in. “How would you know how serious was mine?” Because mine appears totally different and strange.” Afam responded. “How can one not experience even a patronage for a whole day?” Ugo abruptly became silent and submissive. The last statement made by Afam stroke his lips, thus he threw in the towel. “Honestly, I think there’s something wrong somewhere.” Afam insinuated. “So, what’s your plan?” “I want to go and see my boss before the week runs out.” Afam disclosed. “He might have something useful to contribute.” His boss Chief Okeke was also a resident of the city, Onitsha and the headquarters of his trade was situated there; it was at the main branch (headquarters) that Afam did his apprenticeship. Ugo nodded. “I think you are right.” he encouraged. “But you must not let this thing weigh you down.” He added. “Thank you.” Afam appreciated. ****** “Good morning, Sir.” Afam greeted lowering his head as soon as he stepped into his boss’s sitting room at about some minutes to eleven on Saturday 25th of June, 2011. The entrance to the room was let open by Chief Okeke’s female house help having received an alert via the doorbell.

Since morning, only one customer has walked into this shop

Afam had earlier informed his boss that he would be at his place on that very day during the morning hours and Chief Okeke consented to the proposal. Chief Okeke who was in his middle fifties (50s) was married with four female children; his last child was about ten years old. On that very day, he alongside his wife Lolo Ujunwa was watching television at the sitting room; she was aware of the scheduled visit. “Good morning, Ma.” He added instantly. “Good morning Afam.” The couple responded concurrently, smiling. “How’re you?” Chief Okeke added. “I’m fine, Sir.” Replied the guest. Stood still. “You’re welcome.” Lolo Ujunwa exclaimed. “Please make yourself comfortable.” She cheerfully urged. “Thank you, Ma.” Afam appreciated. Majestically walked to one of the single upholstery chairs in the parlour and sat on it. He was seated adjacent to the couple who was making use of the only two-in-one upholstery chair in the room. The couple was dressed in pairs of Pyjamas of different patterns while Afam putted on a pair of dark-blue, purple T-shirt spotted with a strip of white colour as well as a pair of black

shoes. Ujunwa stood up. “So what do we offer you?” She asked Afam. “Don’t bother yourself, Ma.” “How?” She said. “You don’t care for any drink?” “No Ma.” Afam responded waving his right hand. “Afam, what did you mean you don’t care for any drink?” Chief Okeke said. Frowned. “I’m Okay, Sir.” “What about food?” Ujunwa chipped in; stood still. “Or, have you taken your breakfast?” “Ma, I’m Okay.” Said Afam. “Thank you very much.” It was apparent that the young man wasn’t looking bright; he obviously seemed pale. “Na wa ooh!” Ujunwa exclaimed. Went back to her seat. “Afam,” Chief Okeke called. “You don’t look happy.” His wife nodded in agreement. “What is wrong with you?’ Chief Okeke added. “Sir, that is why I’m here.” The couple looked at each other in surprise on hearing the last clause. “Madam, please excuse us.” Chief Okeke urged his wife. It appeared he was already aware of what was on Afam’s mind. Ujunwa hurriedly stood up and walked to her matrimonial room. Afam was calm. “Is it about your trade?” Chief Okeke guessed correctly. Afam looked at him amazingly. “How did you know, Sir?” to be continued

• Nwaozor is Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research & Career Development - Owerri frednwaozor@gmail.com +2348028608056 Follow: @mediambassador

SATURDAY

Travel &Tourism SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015

Travel Personality Seyi Olusanya: I enjoy giving people amazing experience p.40

Hospitality

Golden Tulip Essential Airport Hotel: Delivering on the promise p.41

Destination

Calabar glows for carnival feast p.42

CHEF'S CORNER

ith the Christmas and New Year season here again, it is time to be adventurous as you think of ways of adding verve and some fun to your lifestyle. One of such ways is giving yourself and the family or friends special culinary treat. Why not try out this special recipe on Apricot-glazed turkey with fresh herb gravy. It could add some excitement and satisfaction to your gastronomic experience. Ingredients • (Turkey) • One 16-pound fresh turkey • One tablespoon canola oil • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper • One lemon - halved • Six garlic cloves - crushed • Six large thyme springs • Four large rosemary sprigs • Four large sage sprigs • One fresh bay leaf (Glaze) • 3/4 cup apricot jam • One 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • Two teaspoons grated lemon zest • One 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped sage • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (Gravy) • Three cups turkey stock, chicken stock or low-sodium broth • Four tablespoons unsalted butter • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • Two tablespoons chopped parsley • One tablespoon finely chopped sage • One teaspoon chopped thyme • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Apricot-glazed turkey with fresh herb gravy

Preparation: • Remove the turkey from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before roasting. Pat the turkey dry and set it on a v-shaped rack in a large roasting pan. Rub the turkey all over with the oil and season it inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the lemon halves, crushed garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage and bay leaf. Roast the turkey for about two and half hours until golden all over. • In a small bowl, mix the apricot jam, lemon juice, lemon zest and sage and season with salt and pepper. Microwave the glaze until thinned slightly, about 20 seconds.

• Brush the turkey with half of the glaze and roast for about 15 minutes, until the skin is mahogany-coloured. Brush the turkey with the remaining glaze and roast for about 15 minutes longer, until the skin is deep mahogany. Tilt the turkey to drain all the juices from the cavity into the roasting pan. Transfer the turkey to a carving board and let rest for 45 minutes. • Skim the fat from the drippings in the roasting pan. Set the roasting pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Add the turkey stock and cook for two minutes, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over moderate heat until smooth, about two minutes. Strain three and half cups of the liquid in the roasting pan into the saucepan and whisk to blend. Bring the gravy to a simmer and cook over moderately low heat, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about five minutes. Stir in the parsley, sage and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Pour the gravy into a small pitcher. Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy. *Culled from www.foodandwine.com

TRAVEL BEATS

Jewel of the Seas gets new looks, unveiling for April 2016 Royal Caribbean International, world’s leading cruise outfit, has announced a make-over in the region of $30 million for Jewel of the Seas, as it preps for the summer 2016 Mediterranean season boasting a new shine and ready to explore the ‘old world.’ The 90,090 gross-registered-ton ship, featuring nearly three acres of exterior glass will receive a complete makeover from bow-to-stern, unveiling a fresh and thoroughly contemporary style. Sparkling with ocean-facing glass elevators and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the ship, Jewel’s superior combination of shipboard experience, convenience and value will make it a natural option for family summer travel in Europe, particularly for discovery-driven travellers looking to explore the most coveted isles and cities in and around the Mediterranean. From May through October, Jewel of the Seas will be the only ship in its category sailing round-trip from the marquee city of Rome, Italy, on an array of Eastern Mediterranean itineraries. With new staterooms, new restaurants, technology upgrades and exciting entertainment, Jewel will be

the most contemporary ship to sail from Rome this summer. Additions include a two-bedroom family suite and 24 new outside and balcony accommodations that showcase the picturesque coastlines of the Eastern Mediterranean. Giovanni’s Table, Vintages and Izumi, some of Royal Caribbean’s most popular dining venues, will join the diverse menu of dining options. Chops Grille, the spa and retail areas also will be refreshed with a new modern design.

Jovago wins Best Use Technology award

Jovago has won the Best Use Technology award at the recently held Nigerian Mobile Economy Summit (NIMES) 2015. The leading online hotel booking platform beat other contenders to the prestigious award at the colourful ceremony held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos. The category, which was sponsored by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), was created to promote and reward the excellent achievements stakeholders in the technology L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy represented by Luqman Bashua; Managing Director at Jovago Nigeria, Kushal Dutta; Director Public Affairs at Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Tony Ojobo during the award ceremony

sector contribute towards building a sustainable economy. Jovago.com, through the innovative deployment of efficient cyber operations and secure payment facilities, has been able to enhance the quality services clients receive, ensuring that partners and customers get the best value on each investment. The Managing Director of Jovago, Kushal Dutta, described the award as recognition of the high premium the company places of technology: “This is a great achievement for us especially. It is good to see that our effort at improving the standard of e-commerce operations within Nigeria is recognized. At Jovago, we place key focus on delivering excellence to all our clients through our website and mobile platforms and this award by NCC will drive us to do more.” As the first African company to partner with Google Hotel Ads, Jovago provides a vast portfolio of 8,000 hotels in Nigeria and over 200,000 hotels around the world at the best prices possible. With the recent launch of its offices in Myanmar and Bangladesh, Jovago now has a global presence in more than 41 countries around the world.

40 Travel & Tourism TRAVEL PERSONALITY

M Background

rs. Seyi Olusanya earned a degree in English Language from the Lagos State University before moving over to London where she also earned a degree in Law from the University of London. Her decision to study law was influenced by her late mother who had always impressed it on her the need to become a lawyer. However, she admits that she was not cut out for the law profession despite studying law. “My mother wanted me to be a lawyer but by the time I finished the law degree I just knew that I was too restless to ever become a lawyer because as you know lawyers have to do a lot of studying. “Of course, at the time I finished, I hated it. I was just too restless, too creative and very expressive person,” she said. Therefore, she decided to channel her creative energy to some other areas, adding that “I decided to then change to Information Technology because there were lot of opportunities at the time.” By her admission, it was a booming industry at the time she signed up and for a decade she earned good money from it and living life to the fullest. “I knew that there was something missing. I just didn’t have job satisfaction, I could do the job and I did it well and I earned a lot of money,” she says. Over the years, she has learnt to follow her heart and so it wasn’t a difficult decision for her to quit the secured and lucrative job for an uncertain path against the advice of friends and even her husband. However, she braced the odds and went ahead with her dream to set up a business for which she has won fame, fortune and seen most parts of the world.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

SEYI OLUSANYA

I enjoy giving people amazing experience Mrs. Seyi Olusanya is the managing director of Once Upon A Destination, an event and lifestyle management company based in Nigeria, but with a global reach. She speaks with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on her various pre-occupations and travels around the globe smoothly and flawlessly, such that it is not causing them any stress. So, I find that quite challenging and interesting and I said yes I could do this.” Also given the fact that the Owoborn (Ondo State) event planner, is very accessible, with affable personality and glows wherever she finds herself. Besides, she easily lends a helping hand to people and enjoys relationship with people, which made a lot of people to trust her judgement, and entrusted her with helping to organise not just their events but their lives. “I am a relationship person, I draw people in and so people would come to me and say ‘Seyi I need this’ and I will sort it out for them,” she recounts. It was in the process of helping people to manage their lives that one of her clients drew her attention to the fact that she was a gifted lifestyle manager given the services she was offering.

The birth of Cedar Event Growing up, Olusanya has always delighted in her expressive and creOnce Upon A ative side. Also, she has flair for orDestination ganising events, in fact, she glows It was that when it comes to lending a helping discovery that hand but these latent talents were not later gave birth encouraged to blossom until she got to Once Upon married and moved to England. “So, A Destination in it was never really encouraged but by 2013. She says; the time I got married I was able to “Our main goal is express myself, my creativity and all to create life experithat because I love beautiful things and ence that people will I like to do beautiful things.” remember for a long Spurred by friends who noticed time,” adding that “I how good she was at organising events enjoy giving people and managing people’s affairs, she deamazing experience and cided to take the plunge by turning what I literary enjoy this aspect of her life into a business is to create one-off by setting up Cedar Events. experience each “Eventually, I said you know what time for my I am very good at these things, let me client just go ahead and do it and that is how I started my first business, Cedar Events in 2002,” she recalls. She became an instant success as her services were in hot demand in England and elsewhere as many Nigerians entrusted her with organising their events and planning their weddings. “I very much enjoyed it,” she says of her various engagements. One thing then was that it never really crossed her mind that she was into destination wedding other than the fact that “I enjoyed the challenge of logistical side of destination event because people don’t realise that there is a lot of logistical planning. “You got to figure out how people would move Olusanya from point A to point B

My mother wanted me to be a lawyer but by the time I finished the law degree I just knew that I was too restless to ever become a lawyer even if they have been somewhere before I want them to go and see it differently. “Again, for me, I see it as a creative outlet, using my creativity and turning my energy into something like that. That is where we are leading the company now. Focussing a lot more on tours and travels -destination and everything encompassing,” she reveals of her new found love. She underscores the fact that engaging her services is very germane as she informs that “what they are tapping into is my experience of over 14 years of doing this, my contacts and my creativity. Those are my selling points.” According to her, destination wedding “is getting more and more popular now because Nigerians are very receptive to using wedding planners.” However, she says; “I feel the industry is not quite where it should be yet because of some people who don’t know what their roles are. “So, we have to educate the clients to let them understand what their role is. At the moment, what I am finding out is that people just think that a wedding planner is

somebody who just runs around for you. No, she is not your maid and she is not your personal assistant (PA).” Event planning is about managing people “I always say to people that any kind of event management is people’s management because you are managing the clients, their dreams, their expectations, the budget, the flow, you are managing your suppliers and you are managing guests that are going to come on that day, so those are the three groups of people. “What I am finding more and more especially in Nigeria is that the clients themselves are quite difficult because their expectations are not quite right and I feel that has been the problem in the industry where people have done things the wrong way.” Managing this group of people, she says, is challenging. However, she tells you that there is no challenge that can’t be surmounted, insisting that “the key thing is being able to keep calm, think on your feet and deal with it.” Olusanya who is also a public speaker said hers has been a very fulfilling and profitable business, as she tells you that “it gives me a lot of fulfilment. And also being a creative and expressive person with every new event I am doing something different. “I am using my imagination, I am coming up with new ideas, and I am travelling around the world. I could not think of anything else that I could do right now that will give me more fulfilment. “I am a people person and so anytime I am with people I am happy. And I am using my creative imagination in creating new ideas.” I love travelling “I absolutely love to travel. I travelled for the first time unaccompanied at age 10 and from then I have always loved to travel. The thing I love about travelling is that you meet people. You get to know about their culture and when I travel I don’t do what the tourists do because I find my way of getting around the people because that is when your eyes is opened to different experiences. “Also, when I am organising tours, or experiences or destination weddings for my clients, I do the same. I find out what they can do differently hence we are able to come up with experiences that people appreciate. Travel opened my eyes in a lot of ways. I see things that I will not normally see in my normal surroundings. It might just be something in nature or the way somebody arranges something.” Besides, “my children are very well travelled. We take them everywhere with us,” she recounts, as she informs that Cape Town, South Africa, is one of the most outstanding destinations for her. “Cape Town is so beautiful. Mauritius is beautiful but when I went to Mauritius I was very focused on work, so I couldn’t really see it much. But Cape Town, the landscape is very interesting, you’ve got sea, you’ve got mountains, you’ve got the wine yards, you’ve got safari and there is so much that you can do.” Some of the destinations she wishes to see in the future include the Maldives, Asia -Thailand, Bali and Malaysia as well as India. But she wants her children to accompany her on these trips once they are grown enough.

Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

HOSPITALITY Formerly African Sun Lagos Airport Hotel now Golden Tulip Essential Lagos Airport Hotel, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA the hospitality home now enjoys a new lease of life while climbing its way to the top

Stilting

he reception was calm and cosy this Monday morning and after the usual checks and exchange of pleasantries one was ushered to the lounge bar where one sat to await the General Manager of the hotel, Ronald Stilting. Minutes later he walks in briskly, almost sprinting and with a certain swag and rhythm to his carriage. If you understand well the history of the property that the Dutch-born hotelier now manages and the cross that he has to carry then you would probably understand that there is every reason for him to do more than sprint. The hotel, which is located just a few metres from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, was from birth under the management of African Sun but since October this year there was a change of guard with Golden Tulip assuming the role of the new operator with Stilting as the hotel’s new general manager. He certainly has a rich sense of history as he understands perfectly the critical role that his management outfit has been saddled with by the owners of the property and the urgency in delivering on the goals. Given that the former managers were not quite successful in delivering on the goals; the new general manager knows too well that failure is not an option. “But unfortunately, the previous operators, African Sun, weren’t really successful in marketing and operating it. So, that is why the owner chose to change the operator and get better result for his property,” he says while admitting “that is not quite as easy in the current market situation.” However, he insisted that Golden Tulip is set to make a difference and in fact reveals that the numbers have been going up since he assumed the mantle of leadership of the hotel. And just when he was speaking glowing on the improved rating being enjoyed as one of the best 50 hotels in Lagos by Trip Advisor, a new rating for the week by Trip Advisor popped up in his system, rating his hotel among the top 11. Stilting was overwhelmed by joy with this new rating, as he enthused almost enraptured thus: “This is one of the indicators for the quality that we deliver. That is our guests confirming how best

Delivering on the promise we perform.” He says: “That is what we are good at and that is why I am here. “As an hotelier for more than 30 years it is always my passion to deliver excellent hospitality. That sounds wonderful but at the end of the day we are all in this business to make money. My goal obviously is to make money for the owners so that the owners are happy about what we are doing here.” Clearly, he tells you that “my motto is to deliver. Don’t give people stories why you couldn’t do it but deliver your promise. I am pushing it even further by saying over-deliver. Give people more than what they are asking for. I am not talking about more rice on their plates. No, that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the service, taking care of people.” Three months on Stilting discloses that “business is improving,” but not as fast as he would had expected. He points to the fact that the country’s economy is not in good shape as there is a loll in economic activities with companies and individuals cutting down on their budget and expenditure profiles. “That is going to be a challenge for quite some time, which obviously turning around a hotel, re-establishing it on the market is not easy, it is especially difficult if you are in a situation like this. “But the positive is that things are picking up and gradually the occupancy level is rising. We are getting there and clients are coming but due to sur-

rounding circumstances, it doesn’t go quite as fast as you would have hoped.” As an airport facility, he reveals that the target market for the hotel is the business traveller. “This is more focused on business,” he says, adding that transit visitors, leisure seekers and businesses within the community are also on its radar. For now, he says, “our goal is to fill up the rooms, to increase business volume which is gradually happening. Business is improving, our online reputation is improving, which is a reflection that we are getting good feedback and our people are motivated and I am very, very happy that the whole staff is more positive, more proactive, interacting with guests and the feedback we are getting from the guests is very good. “And that is encouraging because it is only by delivering that people will come back and talk about you.” Stilting, who has had a stint in his country of birth, The Netherlands, Germany, South Africa, Liberia, Tanzania and now Nigeria, hinges the success of the outfit on team work with him as the trainer, who has the duty of equipping and motivating the team to deliver on the promise. “The key to the overall success of the hotel would be to give people the right mind-set and let them focus on delivering the right service and empower them to deliver. We need to give people the tools to do their jobs and we need to support them in doing their jobs. That

is my task and gradually they will grow to higher level, they will be able to take on bigger responsibilities and they will become more self-confident and they will perform better. Facilities The hotel boasts 75 rooms, including Standard, Deluxe, Executive rooms and Suites, all tastefully furnished and equipped with modern hospitality gadgets such as tea/coffee making machine, flat screen TV, bath/Jacuzzi, fridge and comfy bed. Diners can enjoy savoury meals, African and continental breakfast, lunch and dinner at its exquisite Iruka restaurant where Executive Chef Kitizo and his team are ever ready to treat you to sumptuous culinary experiences. Also, guests can enjoy relaxing moment at the lounge bar and the outdoor Wharfedale pool bar with posh environment and wide selection of drinks while the outdoor swimming pool offers a moment for refreshing deep and swim with ample seat-out area to relax. Added to this is a well-equipped gymnasium for you to enjoy work out and keep fit. The hotel also beckons conference and event planners with its two fullyfurnished conference rooms. One of them is the rooftop hall, which offers a good view of the airport area and its environs. It is great for parties and dinner event.

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

ABA

FESTAC, LAGOS

LAGOS REE DANIELS HOTEL AND SUITES

Panda Hotel Suites & Lounge

CAPITOL HOTEL, AGEGE

Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

DESTINATION

A scene from one of the previous editions of the street carnival

Calabar glows for carnival feast

inally, the city of Calabar, which is also known as either the Paradise or Canaan City, is all lit up and swirling with different forms of entertaining activities from the traditional to the most contemporary and eclectic celebrations. The people have long waited for this month of celebration, which has taken place in the last one decade without fail. Over the years it has turned into a communal feast of heavy gyrations and celebrations with people from all over the world visiting the city in large numbers to partake of the annual feast especially in the Carnival Calabar, which has been tagged the largest and most colourful street party ever in Africa. It has attracted huge following since its inception. Prior to the commencement of the Calabar Festival last week, there has been a long build up with the governor of the state, Professor Ben Ayade, who is the chief celebrant engaging in different activities to draw attention to the monthly feast, which he, as governor, would be hosting for the first time this year since assuming office as chief executive of the state. Ayade has four years in the first instant to leave his mark on the festival, which has come to define the people of Cross River since it was initiated by former governor Donald Duke in 2004. Aware of the burden of history and the need to give something to his people and the world to celebrate, Ayade appeared to have taken his time to deliberate on the mold and path he wants to take the festival particularly the carnival, which is clearly the star attraction of the festival. Engaging with the public last month in Lagos during the unfolding of the carnival theme where there was significant presence of foreign visitors as a number of international delegates that attended this year’s Akwaaba, African Travel Market, were hosted to a dinner at Oriental Hotel, the governor made clear his new direction for the entire celebration. The entire process, he said would be driven by business as he impressed on the audience the fact that Cross River

The excitement is on already as Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State, hosts the world to a month-long feast culminating with the Carnival Calabar slated for December 28. ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA brings you highlights of this year’s festival and 20 things you can do in the Canaan City

Carnival calabar dry run scene held last month

State stood for elegance, panache and beauty and that the state offers people the capacity to recognise and realise their potential. He explained that the festival had been redesigned to offer people opportunities to explore the business offerings of the state, adding that Cross River State is the hottest spot for business in Africa. According to him, the new focus is to use the carnival to change the perspective, concept and belief of the people of the state and Nigeria. ‘‘Be ready to dance and fellowship but also be ready to do business,’’ he said, insisting that Africa is a great continent and that the carnival will be used to change the concept of the people as it is a deliberate effort to reconstruct the concept of Africa and create new template for the continent. ‘‘It is an opportunity to rethink and

believe in yourself, in your country and continent,’’ added the governor. To this end, he disclosed some of the projects that his government would be executing to encourage the influx of investors and businesses to the state. This include the highway project, which was formally flagged off last month by President Muhammadu Buhari, the first official project outside Abuja to be attended by the president since his assumption of office in May. Others are, according to Ayade, the Calabar deep seaport and industrial parks across the state. To underscore the seriousness of the government when it comes to exploring the business content of the festival and carnival, he disclosed that a garment factory, one of the largest and most modern in Africa, would be formally launched in Calabar next week (Dec. 15) and that

it would be devoted to catering for all the garments and costumes needs of the carnival among others. Internationalising the carnival Perhaps what is more important to Ayade is internationalising the carnival; he has unveiled an elaborate plan to open the carnival to the world not just in terms of participating in the street parade but more importantly as tourists so as to boost the economy of the state and the people. To this end, one of the first duty he performed on assumption of office was to appoint a consultant, Mr. Ikechi Uko, who is the publisher of African Travel Quarterly (ATQ) and organiser of the yearly Akwaaba, who is charged strictly with the responsibility of marketing the carnival at the international level and

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

Travel & Tourism

HOSPITALITY BITS This time around Calabar will rock and it will rock greatly

L-R: Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Gov. Ayade, Chidi Ikediashi and Miss Nigeria 2015, Pamela PeterVigboro Lessi during the unfolding of the carnival calabar theme

Obudu Mountain Resort

Aerial view of Marina Resort, Calabar

driving international traffic and participation to the carnival. Arising from this drive, over 20 foreign countries both within and outside of Africa are expected as participants and visitors to this year’s carnival. When that happens it would be a historic feat as it would be the first time in over a decade of the existence of the carnival that such huge number of foreign countries would be recorded. It is no wonder then that on the day governor Ayade clearly stated that: ‘‘this year is an international carnival year.’’ Some of the countries expected to parade alongside the traditional five bands of the carnival – Seagull, Masta Blasta, Passion 4, Freedom and Bayside – and others include Spain, Thailand, Belize, China, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Rwanda, Cape Town (South Africa), Seychelles, Toronto, New Orelans (USA), Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe. Rocking Calabar If there is anything that any visitor to Calabar at this time of the year should expect it is the fact that the city is not only set to rock but is already rocking.

20 THINGS TO DO IN CALABAR 1. Take a boat ride 2. See the Endangered Monkeys 3. Picnic at Kwa Falls 4. Tour the Slave History Museum 5. Tour the Old Residency Museum 6. Enjoy a barbecue at Aqua Vista Resort 7. Shop for fresh seafood 8. Enjoy the best of local bush meat 9. Calm your body 10. Enjoy the nightlife 11. Visit the area that never sleeps 12. The Old Calabar Mini-Tour Circuit 13. Watch a film - and a river 14. Enjoy a taste of arts and culture 15. Dine with the nobles 16. Journey back in time 17. Go golfing 18. Join the Suburban Happy Hour 19. Enjoy tasty Calabar cuisine 20. Enjoy fifty shades of suya (For details of these packages contact the Cross River State Tourism Bureau (CRSTU) or your tour operator)

This is judging by the enthusiasm and optimism displayed by the governor over his intention to take the festival to a greater height with the introduction of different activities and new segments to the communal feast. ‘‘This time around Calabar will rock and it will rock greatly. I am going to dance and dance, we are all fully prepared and mobilised for this carnival and you have nowhere else to be but Calabar,’’ said governor Ayade, adding that ‘‘Cross River State is the safest state in Nigeria because as a people we are contented and believe in ourselves have rich culture and hospitality.’’ Indeed, that culture of feasting and hospitality would be on showpiece with the introduction of such acts as the biker’s parade, which according to the governor would be one of the most exciting and exhilarating activities of the festival with bikers across the state, including himself, displaying their artistry. Also on the line up is another new entrant - disco festival - an all night musical and dancing event dedicated to celebrating the best of African music holding at the U J. Esuene Stadium. There is also Fela’s Day, a performance dedicated to the late legendary Afrobeat exponent, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, with the best artiste to mimic the great musical act to be rewarded. With ‘Climate Change’ as the theme of the carnival this year, it will be interesting to see how this plays out on the carnival day, which is Monday December 28. But it should also be noted that this is one topic that is very dear to the governor who himself is an environmental scientist and obviously he would play a critical role in the realisation of this theme as he has totally declared huge support for the environment. That is why the governor and his wife would be hosting a special programme during the festival, tagged green ball with a green carpet. It is an entire evening devoted to the celebration of the environment where the colour green would dominate the space. High hope in the horizon Certainly, the expectations of the people and visitors to the state are high as they look forward to savouring all the offers on the festival’s basket. The Chief Executive Officer of NovaRoster, Geraldine Itoe, puts the feelings of the people succinctly: ‘‘Well for this year’s carnival, we have our fingers crossed, we have high hopes for it and we know that our governor is a happening governor and he never disappoints. So we are really looking forward to having an extravagant carnival this time around. We are looking forward to having a twist, the Ayade way. ‘‘But again, you never know what they have because lots of things have changed and I think that they are changing the structure of the carnival and with change you need to be patient. We don’t know what exact plans that they have but I am optimistic that it would be worth our while when they unveil them.’’

With the Christmas and New Year celebrations mood also setting in, a lot of hospitality and entertainment outfits are prepping for a sizzling and exhilarating fun time with enticing packages for the season.

La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort

One of the places to enjoy family, corporate and individual retreat is La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ikegun Village, Ibeju Lekki, on the outskirts of Lagos where the management has put together fun-filled offerings for discerning adventurers: Thursday December 24 Dinner/Christmas Carol - 7 – 10pm; Karaoke/ family duets; Bonfire; DJ Friday December 25 Morning aerobatics - 6.30 – 7.30am; Breakfast with cultural display - 8 – 9.30am; Christmas church service - 10 – 11am; Exotic Nigerian/ continental buffet lunch/grilled chicken/fish barbecue; Welcome alcoholic/non-alcoholic cocktails; DJ with bouncing castle; Popcorn and ice cream; sharwama stand; asun, small chops; Lunch with classical music; dinner with the stars; and bonfire Saturday December 26 Morning aerobics - 6.30 – 7.30am; breakfast with the models and fishing experience - 8 – 9.30am; Xmas carnival - 10am – 1pm; Unveiling of Father Christmas; lunch with classical music -- 1 – 3pm; masquerade dance - 3-6pm; dinner with the stars; from La Campagne Tropicana with love this Xmas; comedy; moonlight stories; movies; Dj; and bonfire Sunday December 30 Morning aerobics - 630 – 7.30am; Breakfast with the sea and sand - 8 – 9.30am; and boat regatta Thursday December 31 Dinner with the stars - 7 – 9pm; Movies 9-11pm; cross-over service - 11pm- 12am; fireworks - 12am; and bonfire Friday January 1, 2016 Morning aerobics - 6.3 0- 7.30am; breakfast with sea and sand - 8- 9.30am; boat regatta Xmas raffle draw; competitions - 10am – 4pm; lunch with classical music - 1- 3pm; dinner with the stars - 7- 9pm; comedy; competitions/prize giving; movies; moonlight stories; bonfire; and DJ Saturday January 2 Morning aerobics - 6.30- 7.30am; Breakfast with cultural dance display - 8 – 9.30am; Beach carnival - 10am -4pm; Dinner with the stars - 7 – 9pm; Family duets; Karaoke; Movies; DJ blast; and Bonfire Sunday January 3 Morning aerobics - 6.30 – 7.30am; breakfast with models and fishing - 8 – 9.30am; and DJ blast Oba Ile’ Rigi/Ile’ Rimi/ Obieze Christmas packages for three nights inconclusive of bed and breakfast for two; cocktail; exotic Xmas brunch for two; free access to all land activities; mini bar; fish/barbeque, private chef and butler; children party.

Rockview Hotel Festac

For regular guests, walk in guests and residents of Festac Town, Odofin Amuwo and environs, Rockview Hotel Festac, is one of the spots to harvest fun this season as the hospitality home has on offer dedicated offerings, which include four nights stay with 50 per cent discount on the fourth night and it comes with complementary breakfast among others. Wining and dining would also be a special treat with chef Pius delighting diners with some of his special treats while at the pool side there would be a lot of fun moments with point and kill barbeque, isiewu, nkwobi, abacha, ugba and stock fish alongside wine, beverages and cocktail. The the sport bar and lounge offers appealing setting for people to catch some of the live international games.

TV & Radio with Deborah Makoji

SATURDAY, 12 DECEMBER, 2015

This weekend ONTV

Enekwe displaying some of her collections

Runway Fiesta: Discussing fashion and music

t is a programme that shows the array of colours, stitches and flamboyance from different designers all over the world, it is aired daily on Spice TV channel 192 at 10 am. Last week’s edition focused on the relationship between music and fashion and the other things to consider before designing any outfits. Olivia Jude-Okoji and Sylvia Enekwe both fashion designers spoke on the rigour that went into the beautiful collection that was on display during the programme. Okoji and Enekwe presented a strong new collection on the night, with models flawlessly made up by M.A.C Cosmetics and music performed live by a show-stopping act from Black Magic. According to Okoji, finishing is the most important aspect of the whole process of sewing as it could either make or break any design. She said: “This fabric is soft and you can talk about the colours, for instance: green, off white among others. After deciding on what we want, we went into sketching of pattern before sewing and finishing. Finishing is about the most important aspect of the whole process because it makes the work appears very neat”. Speaking on the techniques used in designing the collections, Enekwe said: “For this particular collection, we did

Programme summary Health and Lifestyle Nigeria Info (99.3) Wednesday @1:35am

not use any new technique, we added the details while sewing and the whole process of making these collections has been inspiring and breathetaking.” On the relationship between fashion and music, Okoji agreed that there was a connection between fashion and music. “Music and fashion are quite related because most musicians are lovers of clothes and great fashionistas. The same thing is applicable to fashion; when you are on the runway showcasing your collections you need music to bring your show to life. Music will make the show more interesting and enjoyable. Music will make viewers feel more at home and excited because of the flavour it adds to the whole thing. Music and fashion go hand in hand, it gives fashion shows that energy and vibe that will keep both audience and models lively,” she said. Still on the relationship between music and fashion, the musician, Black Magic, said music and fashion were means of expressing lifestyles. “Fashion is lifestyle as well as music. My music is inspired by

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Cool FM ‘s Super Cee

hika Ezekwe, popularly known as Super Cee is known for her special impersonations and hilarious sense of humour. She is currently working at 96.9 Cool FM Abuja. Chika was born in Enugu State where she grew up with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chike Ezekwe both from Anambra State. She is from Nibo, in

It focuses on health matters where guest speakers enlighten listeners on different health issues and the measures they can take to ensure good health. It is a weekly programme.

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real life and the way I choose to express myself and I think the same thing is applicable to fashion. You dress the way you choose to express yourself and it is the same thing music does. Music and fashion go hand in hand,” stated Black Magic. Both designers speak on the need to hire an assistant in other to stay calm during a fashion show. “The best way to stay calm during a fashion show is to have an assistant that works for you because without that you could get frustrated, disoriented and lose focus. But when you have an assistant, your focus will be sharp because your assistant knows what to bring, when and where to place them.” If you want to remain trendy, watch Runway Fiesta on Spice TV to see the latest kinds of fusion in fashion, music and style. Runway Fiesta is a show that is designed to celebrate one designer, one artist and top models in the industry, with a glittering lineup of fashion and music’s very best.

Super Cee

Awka-South LGA. She attended Air Force Primary School, Enugu, Federal Government College, Enugu, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. She began her radio career in 2010 in a field graced with many great talents. She anchored the Love Zone and briefly, the Midday Oasis on Cool FM. She is currently a co-anchor with GANG on the Good Morning Nigeria Show on Cool FM Abuja. She is described by fans as Radio’s Tag Team Champion’. Chika is the third child of her parents. She values family and good friends; loves and deeply appreciates all that is good.

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SATURDAY, 12 DECEMBER, 2015

SATURDAY

Politics saturday interview 45

Politics

Kwara LG bosses sack linked to disagreement over allocation p.47

News

South-West APC plots against Odigie-Oyegun p.48

Perspectives

Sanusi: The epoch of a rabblerousing royal fathers p.54

CHIDI AMUTA Government’s handling of Biafran protests triggered crisis Despite shunning active politics for many years, Dr. Chidi Amuta still remains a public commentator of repute. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he speaks about the renewed agitation for Biafra, its consequences and his faith in President Muhammudu Buhari to lead Nigeria out of the woods. You witnessed the civil war, could you describe the experience? I have difficulty in reacting publicly to the ongoing protests for a number of reasons. The experience of the civil war for those of us who saw it and lived through it is not a subject you want to discuss in a beer palour. It was too tragic an experience and too gruesome that you don’t want it to come back. To that extent I try to isolate myself from it, but this Biafra that is being used as a selling point for those protesters is not the Biafra we knew; this is a different thing. This Biafra has become a name for the expression of youth discontent in a part of

This Biafra has become a name for the expression of youth discontent in a part of the country

the country. In the Niger Delta, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) became the name for marketing and promoting discontent. In the southern areas of the north too a bit of Boko Haram has also become the name. In-between, we also have other manifestations of discontent, ranging from kidnapping to robbery, students’ protest, among others. So, what we are hearing from Niger Delta militants or the new Biafra agitators is not what it is, though all of them are united as a form of expression of discontent with the state of Nigeria. So, there's no amount of discontent shared by the Niger Delta, Arewa and Biafra that amounts to genuine secessionist movement. A secessionist movement is usually an agitation of commonly held feelings among a group of people who share either an ethnic similarity, nationalistic or geographical identity, among others. Everyone must share that feeling that we must go our separate ways, but you don’t find that in either Biafra or Niger Delta. You don’t find the feeling that cuts across the people; what you find are young people who have no jobs and seek attention. That is why I made a distinction between the First Republic of Biafran and the pro-Biafra protest. The recent version is just an adoption of a name to market a discontent and that is very clear to me. Do you think it is right for the federal government to detain Nnamdi Kanu of Radio Biafra? The federal government has no right to hold any citizen more than 24 hours without going to court and giving such person the right to defend him or herself in the law court. You cannot hold anyone for any reasons. I think it's wrong-headed and the federal government must take full responsibility for the outburst we are experiencing. He

Amuta

CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

Saturday Interview

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

CONTINUED from PAGE 45

should be inside the bush, not flying business class. But they created a hero out of him by taking him from a luxury hotel and putting him somewhere. I think that was a failure of intelligence because the government triggerec the whole thing. They could have put the fellow on trial, grant him bail and dissipate this pressure. The federal government's response to the Biafra thing is less than what a responsible government should do. They ought to have a superior technology to stop radio Biafra and if there are contents that sound treasonable they should convict Kanu. If he's guilty he would be put away and if he's not he would be freed. There are so many avenues the government has. Nigeria enjoys good relationship with the British government even if he's operating from there. We can use the relationship with them to make him to behave. They know what to do, but I don’t know why they didn’t do it. What are your suggestions to appease the parties involved in this upheaval? Government should play a bit of politics. The anger in the south-east is known including issues of marginalisation, under representation and lack of federal government’s investment. These things can be addressed. I haven’t seen a major political leader in the south-east recently who goes there to say these are our plans for the people and plead for time. They should demonstrate that they feel their pains, but nobody has done that. We don’t take things for granted. Though what is going on in the north-east is very bad and people talk about it daily, it is not the only place there are injuries. People paid attention to Niger Delta because those boys were creating injuries and kidnapping workers. So the boys in Onitsha, Aba, Ebonyi, among others are protesting and they need to discuss with them. They should find out the genuine leaders of this movement and meet with them. They should find out what these grouses are and address them politically. Technically, the whole Nigerian states are marginalised. Tell me any zone that doesn’t have bad roads or lack basic amenities like good schools and hospitals. Where the president comes from is also marginalised, when you take pictures you would see that they don’t have five-star hotels all over the place. We are all partakers in a common heritage of betrayal and that is the basis of the matter. So when we start saying this is Arewa, this is Afenifere and this is that, we are going back to the primordial. In a modern nation state, poverty and marginalisation are not allocated based on ethnicity; they are structural. We have poor people in my village, in Owo, in Borno and all over the place. Rich people are also scattered everywhere. So, we would need to address empowerment across ethno geopolitical zones otherwise there will always be discontent. Would you say Buhari has been the messiah we were hoping for? My attitude at this point, six months down the lane, is to say the president needs time. We all agreed, especially the media, that we didn't want Goodluck Jonathan anymore. It was not because we didn't like his nose or face, but his best was no longer good enough for Nigeria and if we leave the country in his hands we would wake up one morning and find out that we have no country anymore. When we looked at the alternative, we saw that it was only Buhari we had. He has

They only made a hero of an otherwise anonymous entity who nobody knew. Who knew Kanu? What does he stand for? If he is a secessionist leader why is he living in London?

long way in enhancing the work of the president if he has two capable hands. I also see the president coming from a purely moral perspective, thinking that if over 90 per cent of our revenue comes from oil, he wants to be held responsible for what happens in that industry in the next four years. I think Nigerians don't have a problem with it; we only have a problem when the president is a thief.

Amuta

'Buhari needs time to fix Nigeria's problems' many things working for him, including his personal integrity and track records. Against that background and the enormity of problems he inherited, I think he needs a little more time. One thing we need in order to actualise the full potential of Buhari is patience. The problems that touch us mostly, which are fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply and unemployment, cannot be fixed in six months. Do you think these new ministers are the best Nigeria could offer? In this circumstance, I would say yes but don’t forget that the presidential term is four years. He would find out along the way that some of the appointments he made are below standard. They would prove themselves on the job and he would drop those he can no longer carry along the road. We should know that every Nigerian cannot be a minister and some of the people on the list have done credibly well in managing and addressing public expectations. So in terms of quality I think this is good because if he goes after professors who have never managed anything before there could be a lot of grammar at the end of the day. This cabinet contains a number of people who have proven themselves on the job. But I am not expecting any miracle because our ministries are more like

policy formulation agencies. They don't implement unlike ministries in colonial period and immediately after colonialism that combined policy making with implementation. But over time the implementation aspect has been transferred to contractors. So, no matter the intention of Mr. Babatunde Fashola for instance, he can't do the job himself, he has to use contractors. Then, the government had a core of engineers that they could deploy at short notice to address infrastructural issues. Ministries now are just policy and budget management agencies and this explains why we don’t get too much. Do you think it was right for Buhari to appoint himself as the Minister of Petroleum? Under the constitution, he hasn’t done anything wrong. He can decide to be the minister of anything he likes. He also has a minister of state to assist him but he still needs to look for a good managing director for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) because the minister of state cannot act in both capacities. There is no way you can be a regulator as well as an operator and the two functions must be stated out clearly. They should start looking for a good managing director who can work with the minister of state. It would go a

You once said you were not interested in politics or governance; do you still share the same sentiment? I have tried to stay above partisanship, which is very difficult. I am not PDP and I am not APC. I have friends in both, but I have more friends in APC and it is accidental because most of my friends were opposed to Jonathan. Being non-partisan is also informed by my professional orientation. As a media person, it is difficult for you to wake up one morning and drop your creativity on one side. I am also a very private person and I like to have absolute control over the use of my time. And the government position can never give me such freedom. I can decide to go to the airport once I finish having this conversation and no one can stop me. So, there comes a time in your life that you cannot possibly have another boss and I guess I am at that point. The role I play in public policy is to freely offer advice to the government. But I am not interested in assuming positions in government. I have never lobbied or gone to anybody. Though I don’t have a CV to give out, I have had a long and fulfilling career. If you ask for my CV this moment it could take me days to bring it out because I cannot remember everything I have done. How would you describe your brief stay as the director of the Rural Development Programme in the old Imo State? Though I did my best, but Nigerians criticise a lot. They criticised Ibrahim Babaginda, they criticised everybody. I just woke up one morning and I said I don’t want to continue with that. I was on sabbatical from the university at that time, I am taking about 1987. The institution didn’t exist in the state; I created it and went straight to the implementation mode. We did everything such as opening of roads, boreholes, among others. Of course the resources available were so small compared with what we have today, but the impact was global. Imo came first in the implementation of projects when I was there. After about a year I felt I had done enough and the whole thing was becoming boring.

Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Kwara LG bosses sack linked to disagreement over allocation

News of the suspension of eight local government chairmen in Kwara State came to many as a big surprise given the ‘one family’ mantra of the ruling party in the state. More worrisome, BIODUN OYELEYE reports from Ilorin, was the curious link between the reason for their misfortune and a resolution of lawmakers in the state.

wara lawmakers had, while confirming the suspension of the chairmen for recruiting workers, called on the state government to intensify efforts to promote agricultural entrepreneurship scheme and incorporate policies on youth employment into its budget. They equally enjoined the state government to ensure the completion of its International Vocational Centre in Ajase Ipo to make it fully operational. These were some of the resolutions reached following a motion on the "Need to create more employment opportunities for youths in Kwara State”, raised by a member representing Ilorin North West Constituency Hon. AbdulRafiu AbdulRahman. The motion equally called on the state government to introduce entrepreneurship courses and programmes into the curriculum of secondary and tertiary institutions in the state to make youths in the state job creators, instead of job seekers. The embattled chairmen were suspended for recruiting workers without authorisation at a time the economy of state is cliff hanger! Many councils in the state owe workers and have so far survived on bailouts from the state But supporters of Gov. AbdulFattah Ahmed, at whose instance the chairmen were suspended by state lawmakers, insisted he was being guided by a pragmatic need to defend the state’s financial situation. Ahmed had, through a letter to the state’s House of Assembly, sought approval to suspend the affected chairmen. The letter was read by the Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad, on the floor of the House. The affected chairmen are those of Moro, Irepodun, Asa, Oke-Ero, Patigi, Ilorin South, Ekiti and Baruteen local government councils. For instance, Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Yisa Yeketi, told a meeting of heads of schools and their teachers in Ilorin, the state capital, on Thursday that the state had to obtain a N4.8 billion loan from commercial banks to offset an earlier salary arrears for the local governments with an understanding that the loans, which he noted, came with high interest rates, would be refunded once the federal government settled its promised bailout for the local governments. “Unfortunately, as I am speaking no state in the federation has received that portion of the bailout”, he said, noting that it was the need to meet the obligations to banks that made the local governments and the state to agree on using their recent allocation to settle the bank loans. He allayed fears among the teachers, who are now owed three months in arrears, that the new strategy being worked out by the government would settle every bill soon. On August 19, the state House of Assembly had approved a bailout loan of N5.017 billion for the 16 local government areas in the state. The loan is repayable in

20 years with a nine percent interest rate. The approval, according to a letter from Ahmed, was needed for the council areas to benefit from the bailout arrangement being put together by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for states. The sum represented the total outstanding salaries, pension, and gratuity of the council areas. The governor’s letter was read on the floor by Speaker of the Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad. While speaking on the approval, Ahmad Ali also warned the council chairmen to ensure that the bailout loan was strictly used for the intended purpose, saying that the House would not condone diversion of the loan for any developmental projects. He assured the people that relevant committees of the House would monitor its implementation to ensure strict compliance. The leader of the House, Hassan Oyeleke, had while leading other members in debate, said the request was necessitated due to the inability of councils in the state to pay outstanding salaries, pension and gratuity, saying that the loan repayable within 20 years had a single digit of nine per cent interest rate. Oyeleke who said no conventional bank in the country was ready to offer such facilities urged members to grant the request, saying that no allocation of states and councils in the country could address the problem. The deputy speaker while contributing to the debate noted with displeasure that most local government councils in the state had been grounded due to non payment of salaries and expressed delight that the bailout would promptly ameliorate the standard of living of workers at the third tier of government. In his message, the governor said the debt profile of states and local governments, especially on salaries, pension and gratuity, had been submitted to the Federal Government, stressing that the approval of the House was prerequisite to accessing loan at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Ahmed had during a meeting with the 16 council chairmen in the state threatened to sanction any of them found to have recruited staff despite owing salaries. He told them he had been informed that some of them had resorted to employing additional staff while struggling to pay existing employees. Thereafter Ahmed constituted a fourman committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Alhaji Yusuf Babtunde AbdulWahab, to investigate the recent recruitment by local government chairmen and also instructed that anyone who had received any such employment letter in the last six months, should disregard such, as the appointments are unauthorised and would be reversed. Obviously, the four wise men found the council chairmen guilty as alleged. The governor therefore sent a letter to lawmakers asking them to support his move against the chairmen. Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker said

Ahmed

There were insinuations in many quarters that the suspension was actually linked to disagreement over the sharing of a recent allocation to the state that it agreed with Ahmed that it was unlawful for the council chairmen to carry out recruitment without the approval of the State Local Government Service Commission and mandated the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to investigate the allegation and report to the House within seven days The Speaker said the alleged misconduct was contrary to the provisions of the law and added that the House would carry out a thorough investigation to avoid miscarriage of justice. Members had while contributing said the governor under section seven of the 1999 Constitution has the power to suspend any chairman for any case of misconduct. But there were insinuations in many quarters that the suspension was actually linked to disagreement between the government and the suspended council chairmen over the sharing of a recent allocation to the state from the excess crude account. It was gathered that some of the chairmen had held a meeting where they expressed opposition to the move by the state government on the matter. Although none of them was ready to

talk openly on the issue given the sensitive nature of the matter, some supporters of the embattled chairmen argued that both the governor and the lawmakers were wrong in the manner they carried out the suspension. Such people argued that the chairmen were empowered to recruit staff provided they know from their resources that they could pay. “How can the state come and dictate to me when I can employ and or not”? one of them queried. According to this particular chair, the state government ought to have learnt a lesson from the cases of two former chairmen in the state who were similarly suspended and later removed and who today are being paid huge sums monthly by the government on the orders of court because they won their case against the government. Some others also wondered whether the affected council chairmen could have carried out any recruitment without consultation with the Local Government Service Commission which is the supervisory body for all cases of employment, redeployment and termination of employment of local government workers. Although there were rumours as at the time of filing this report that affected chairmen would be impeached shortly, a Government House source told our reporter nothing of such was in the offing. “No, no, we are not going to do that”, the source said, adding that even the currentcase would still be settled amicably and the chairmen returned to their posts. The days ahead would however determine what happens to the chairmen and by implication the APC family in the state.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

South-West APC plots against Odigie-Oyegun

Olalekan Osiade

he honeymoon among leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be heading for the rocks as stalwarts within the party are set for a clash following supremacy battle among various groups. This is coming on the heels of recent happenings that pitched the leaders of the party against one another, even as some members of the party have started throwing tantrums, while allegations of different plots are flying among ‘old friends’. While some APC leaders of northern extraction are said to be making moves to clip the wings of certain leaders of the party from the South West, those from the Yoruba-speaking area have also been alleged to be plotting the removal of the national chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, through an illegal convention. To this end, Saturday Telegraph gathered that some party faithful outside the South-West block are planning to forestall an alleged move by some leaders of the party in the South-West to call for a national convention next year, as they believe that the convention is a clandestine move to remove the chairman. Odigie-Oyegun is being accused of not towing the line of the South-West APC leaders, who were the main block behind his emergence. He had contested against a former Minister of Information, Tom Ikimi, but one of the leaders of the party, Bola Tinubu, was reported to have supported his candidature. But shortly after his emergence, Odigie-Oyegun was said to have jettisoned moves by the Tinubu group to take control of the party, instead, he was alleged to be playing a ‘good boy’ role to President Muhammadu Buhari. Even before the convention, allegedly being planned for next year, different blocks had emerged within the party just some months after the APC won the presidential election. The new twist in the battle for the control of the APC started during the race for the senate presidency, when the incumbent Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, went against some powerful blocks within the party to contest for the exalted seat against the party’s chosen candidate. Tinubu was believed to have thrown his weight behind another senator from Yobe State, Ahmed Lawan, a position that did not augur well with Saraki’s supporters, who felt the former Lagos State governor wanted to hijack the party. To further prove that the party is becoming factionalised, a splinter group recently emerged at the Kaduna State chapter as a group that

L-R, Member, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Danlami; Governor Nasir el-Rufai; Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Shehu Garba and Chairman, State House Correspondents, Mr. Kehinde Amodu; at the opening of a three-day retreat for State House correspondents in Abuja, hosted by el-Rufai in Kaduna…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

calls itself, ‘True APC’ was launched in the state. The ‘True APC’, which its members claim would soon have a national spread, may just be the vehicle the breakaway faction will eventually ride on. However, the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the governorship election that took place in Kogi State. The gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Abubakar Audu, died during the collation of results and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had to call for substitution of the late candidate. The Dino Melaye group was said to be against the emergence of James Faleke, who was the running mate to the late Audu, as the party’s flag bearer in the supplementary polls. To this end, they were again at loggerheads with the Tinubu group, whom they believe is trying to impose Faleke, so as to continue to spread its tentacles and have a strong hold on the party.

A party stalwart, who hails from the North Central zone and prefers anonymity, carpeted the leaders in the South-West and urged them to toe the line of the mainstream body. “How can the party take a decision, and they are going against it. Look at the situation in Kogi for instance, we picked a man who ran for primaries with the late Abubakar Audu, so as to fulfil the constitutional requirements, but they are sponsoring their boy, Faleke, to go to court against the party. “Isn’t that anti-party? Didn’t they cry foul during the saga that produced Saraki as the senate president? We were all here when they said Saraki was involved in anti-party activities by not obeying the supremacy of the party. They even wanted Saraki suspended, but they are doing worse things now. We all know those behind the ‘Lagos boy’, if they want him to obey the party, they will simply call him to order. “We understand that

Troops rescue 210 captives, kill 5 Boko Haram suspects - Army Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Nigerian Army has said that its troops rescued 210 people that were abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in some villages in the North East. The Army further noted that five suspected insurgents were killed on Wednesday by soldiers in Geidam Local Government Area. The disclosure was made in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, late Thursday. “In an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists, ad-

vancing troops of Nigerian Army at Furkati village, Geidam Local Government Area, yesterday killed five Boko Haram terrorists and recovered four AK-47 rifles. “In a related development, troops responded to a tip off on Boko Haram terrorists’ besiege on Ejilije, Bulagaije-lari, BulagaijeAdamde and Ajiri villages and holding the inhabitants captives. “The terrorists fled the areas before the arrival of the soldiers. The team found and rescued 210 persons, comprising of mostly elderly men, women and children who have been safely evacuated to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

politics is a game of wits and guts, but the desperate way the so-called leaders in the South-West and their foot soldiers are going about their acts, is inimical to party rules and democratic ethos. They are attempting to cripple the APC and make it a one-man show, but all their efforts will be thwarted. “They are hurling baseless allegations against the president who is the authentic leader of the party. What do they expect the president to do? He must obey the rule of law. During the Saraki episode, the president himself saw that the man was popular among his colleagues. “And in Kogi, it has to be by the rules, and that was what the leadership did, they played by the rules. The electoral act says a candidate must have participated in all the procedures. Did Faleke contest the primaries? So, why are they blaming the chairman? Must the chairman be their stooge? “The chairman has to obey the rule of law, and I

can tell you that any arrangement they are planning, that will oust the national chairman, will be resisted. That is their plan, but they will fail, because we cannot allow a few moneybags to throw our party into crisis”, he said. But in reaction, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who also craved anonymity, faulted the claims of those he called “northern elements”. The one-time lawmaker said, “They are plotting to ground the party base, but they will regret it. History has shown that the forces of evil can never succeed against men of goodwill. We are aware that they have plans to hound and clampdown on our members, who are loyal to our leader, but they will fail. “In fact, their clandestine moves will cripple Buhari’s programmes and destabilise the party, because there is a plot to hijack the party for the northern block and that will be to the detriment of the APC.

“These people are vampires; they are obsessed with taking power at all costs and by any means. We are not surprised by their actions, we know their antecedents; they came from a party that was built on lies”, he lamented. Another Tinubu supporter and incumbent local government boss in Lagos went further to explain the two scenarios that led to the open confrontation, saying that Tinubu only wanted fair play and has never forced his wish on party loyalists. The executive secretary of a local government told Saturday Telegraph that “when Saraki emerged, Tinubu did not dabble into the politics of the senate”, saying it was purely the affairs of the senators. “And you must have read Asiwaju’s statement to counter Dino (Melaye)’s argument that Tinubu plotted to remove him from the senate. What has Tinubu got to do with Smart Adeyemi? It’s all fabricated lies. “It was even funny to say Tinubu wants to plant Faleke in Kogi, what a shameful statement. Is Faleke not from Kogi? Doesn’t he have a right to contest? And if he feels that you have wronged him in the selection process, doesn’t he have the right to exercise his fundamental human right as enshrined in the constitution? When reminded that there is an internal mechanism for settling dispute within the party, and that the APC frowns at such moves, he simply replied: “where else do you expect him to go, if he doesn’t go to court?” Meanwhile, calls and messages sent to Oyegun were not responded to as at press time.

Sylva asks INEC to declare winner in Bayelsa guber poll

he Bayelsa State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 5 election, Chief Timipre Sylva, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to add up and announce the results from the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and declare a winner in the elections. In a petition to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, which was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), Sylva said the commission lacked the powers to cancel already concluded or on-going election.

“It is important to note that under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), there is no power either, express or implied that is vested on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, your commission or any staff whatsoever to cancel election that has commenced or concluded, in any manner as was done in Bayelsa State. The Commission’s power, in the above is limited only to the postponement of election that has not commenced,” Sylva wrote in the letter date December 8. The APC candidate, however, further requested that should the commission feel “strongly that it has the

powers to cancel already concluded or on-going elections,” it should also cancel the elections in Ekeremor, Sagbama Local Government Areas, Wards 4 and 5 of Yenagoa and Ward 8,9 and 10 of Nembe Local Government Areas.” On Southern Ijaw Local Government, Sylva admitted that there was no election in the area on December 5, due to some violence. He, however, insisted that on December 6: “Election materials were distributed from Local Government Headquarters at Oporoma to the different ward headquarters, and elections conducted in a free and fair manner at the different polling units and results announced.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

and Uruans, not to mention the legal colossus, Justice Udo Udoma, will in their graves rejoice over a true progressive and dynamic son in whom they are well pleased – Senator Godswill Ibanga Akpabio, the quintessential democrat. Not forgetting the Eduek Ekpe, His Excellency Arch. Obong Victor Attah, the very man Akpabio rehearsed and worked with as a commissioner. The story of Akwa Ibom will continue to attract creative minds with ideas as to how a civilised city setting can attract global attention in a short while, even in our time. From the preceding analysis homo sapiens with standards still exist today with achievable records to ignite hope. The labour of our living heroes and those whose records of achievements have shown that tomorrow is brighter than we have anticipated, should be applauded by those of us still living. This conclusion may be very hasty because of the persistent presence of critical and crucial influence predicated on the role of the real game players, the politicians, who have been in the habit of polluting the mindset of the youths and other citizens with bitterness towards pulling down leaders and forgetting all the great positive strides of those who have attempted to improve the welfare of their citizenry. We should check the records of the great sages like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the great Sir Tafawa Balewa and the great Ahmadu Bello and of course Denis Osadebe. Unfortunately many Nigerians have refused to learn from the experiences of this nation from 1960 till date. Where do we go from here! We are in a dilemma, where many young people are for political gains, while some unscrupulous and die-hard politicians virtually grow in bitterness to undermine and rubbish such great personalities and icons who have done so much to better the lots of their society.

Akpabio’s vision is ideal for Nigeria

great British statesman Benjamin Disraeli stated that the visionary leaders as well as citizenry of any great nation are the trustees and to a larger extent, builders of the society. Every society or community has sustainable indices that propel such societies to grow; therefore without viable vectors that are automatically the catalyst of growth and expansion, no society can grow. An American miracle woman professor Helen Keller having gauged the social impact induced by growth dynamics occasioned by visionary leadership stated that: “it is not possible for civilizations to flow backward while there are youths, men and women inspired by great and constructive visionary leaders.” Such wise sayings underscore the pre-eminence of visionary and dynamic leadership in a nation or state. This is the era of assessing the possible contributions of our political leaders and their possible impacts. We are out to x-ray impacts and milestones arising from various missions, visions as well as project execution and deliverables of men and women across the 36 states and FCT including the nation’s leadership, since May 29th, 1999. Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, is an accomplished erstwhile Governor of Akwa Ibom State in the South South zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This distinguished Nigerian can be likened to Abraham Lincoln who gave a classical definition of democracy at his Gettysburg war memorial speech in which he conceptualised democracy as being simply, a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The impact created during Akpabio’s first tenure of four years in Akwa Ibom State compelled the people to attend the next periodic polls to transparently and creditably cast their ballots. Akpabio will not be forgotten so soon with his uncommon transformation agenda. This has adequately carved a niche of uniqueness for an average Akwa Ibom person who was hitherto undermined. But today, an aver-

age Akwa Ibom person is globally respected. scale services are there for everybody to And we must not forget that as at today, judge. I do not subscribe to the trend, where election into any public offices is the only envy and jealousy breeds distrust process or avenue through which all other and disrespect. Let the sons processes of democracy can reach its destinaand daughters of Akwa tions and indeed, fulfill its objectives namely, Ibom celebrate at the return of sovereignty to the people and least for once one of making government to dutifully concern itself the best they have solely with the welfare of those that took part produced in recent in the process, that is the people. His Exceltimes. The Eyos of lency, Senator Akpabio as an accomplished Uyo, the Ibanga democrat on taking over from his predecessor, Akapbios and the who is also one of the first architects of the Nyong Essiens statecraft translated all the major master archiof Uyo tectural structure to create a new landscape in Uyo and other cities or towns. Akpabio was indeed the uncommon transformer and he should now be in a position to recreate in the Senate chambers what he did in the Executive arm. He had transformed Akwa Ibom and indeed the capital Uyo from a semi-urban to a highly sophisticated cosmopolitan city in Nigeria with almost all the streets paved with gold. Every Nigerian should invite other governors to go do a case study on Akwa Ibom State. This man had a vision of an enduring legacy and history will remember him. Apart from the geometric infrastructural leap, human capital development and capacity building as a case in point, Akpabio the small and medium

TRIBUTE

Obong Akpaekong he people of old Cross River State, comprising the six major ethnic groups of Ibibio, Annang and Oron in the present Akwa Ibom State and Efik, Ejegham and Bekwarra in Cross River State, will forever miss Chief Donald Dick Etiebet, their second civilian governor. He was known to have exerted enormous but very quiet positive influence on them during his life time. Etiebet, died on July 22. Born in 1934, Etiebet hailed from Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly (1977 – 1978) and member of the Constitutional Conference, Abuja (1994 – 1995). His first major outing in the nation's political structure was in 1979 when he was elected Second Republic senator. He completed his four-year tenure in 1983. In October of that year, Etiebet was elected the second civilian governor of old Cross River State on the platform of National Party of Nigeria (NPN), with Fidelis Nnang as his deputy. He succeeded late Chief Clement Isong, the state's first civilian governor, who succeeded Udoakaha Jacob Esuene, the military governor under Yakubu Gowon. As governor, Etiebet had many lofty dreams and programmes for the state, but he could not implement them because his administration ended three months after, when the then General Muhammadu Buhari-led military junta sacked the Alhaji Shehu Shagari democratic government in December 1983. A respected lawyer and grassroots man, Etiebet had promised during his electioneering campaigns, to spread development beyond Calabar, the state capital, to what

Etiebet

used to be known as Mainland Cross River - the present Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket senatorial districts as well as to the Obubra, Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu axis of the state. The first Annang-speaking governor also planned to largely improve the agricultural and industrial base of the state, raise standard of healthcare delivery and education, tackle unemployment and boost women development activities during his tenure. Many looked forward to an accelerated development of the state under Etiebet. All these were halted by the coup-de-tat. However, outside of Government House, Etiebet continued to work with highly placed Nigerians to promote the unity of the country and improve the quality of life for the people of the state.

•Akpaekong, MD/Publisher of Sipper Magazine, writes from Akwa Ibom

lorious exit – With gratitude to God At this point, she agreed to travel abroad. for a purposeful and fulfilled life, the She travelled to America, Britain, Canada etc. Akinsolotu family of Ondo in Ondo On her return back from abroad, she fell State announce the transition to glory of our sick after a while. From her sick bed, she bebeloved Mother, Princess Victoria Adelanke gan praying for everyone starting with her Akinlosotu nee Gbadehan who passed on children, family and members of the church. Tuesday, July 22nd 2015 in Ondo town, Ondo She also admonished us to endeavor to give State of Nigeria. She was born in April 20, 1942 our children the best education that we can in Ondo town. afford; otherwise, she would not have had She was born into the family of Gbade- the opportunities to travel to these places. She han’s ruling house to Kiladejo. She also got was satisfied that she trained her children well her Primary education in Owena Primary and she enjoyed the benefits. School, Ondo. Later she got married to LawShe is survived by children, grandchildren rence Akinsolotu in the early sixties. and great grandchildren. Amongst whom are: Thereafter, she proceeded on cloth trading Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Akinfemiwa called Fopahan & Adire. Later, she came to Mr. Anthony Akinlosotu Ebute-Metta, Lagos where everyone knew Mr. Oluwafemi Akinlosotu her as Mama Aladire. Mr. Abiodun Akinlosotu The progress in business continued to esMrs. Agnes Olabidemi. tablished back to Ondo. With the husband, they built a house at Ebute-Metta, Lagos and M a y in Ondo as well. Later, she delved into tim- her genberwood, cocoa products of which she got tle soul stores in both Ayeyemi street Oke-Odunwo rest in and Odo-Shida in Ondo town. perfect She will forever remain a colossus in the peace! political history of Nigeria; mostly in Ondo State. PDP will never forget her. She was the woman leader in Agagu’s tenure. She was a devoted member of the Celestial Church of Christ. Both in Lagos headquarter, Ketu to an extent that Papa Pastor S.B.J. Osholfa named her as (Wolli-Sokudaye) in 1978. She was later ordained as Iya-Ijo of Igando, Ikotun. On her return to Ondo state, she was also named Iya-Ijo of Iyamu-Oluwa parish. She was very close to God. She called her children to celebrate her birthday in order to ascertain how she would be buried if she eventually died. After the birthday celebration, she said she was satisfied with the cooperation shown by her children to give her a befitting birthAkinlosotu day celebration.

Feature

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

The big fight over management of facilities at 1004 Estates

In twos and in threes, the march of members of Home Owners and Residents’ Association (HORA) of the multi-racial 1004 Estates on Victoria Island, Lagos, began to gather momentum. At some point, over 40 residents had come together to wrest power from Hispania, the management company, responsible for running the posh complex. The convergence held last Saturday, November 5, at the estate where a coordinated march for possession of the estate's facilities was to take place. The action was purportedly hinged on a subsisting court injunction in favour of the association to expel and replace the management of the 1004 Estates Limited. This was however fiercely contested, by Hispania, LANRE ODUKOYA reports.

he strained relationship between the HORA and 1004 Estates Limited management company, Hispania, a Spanish firm led by a Nigerian real estate expert, Samuel Ukpong, took a fresh dimension as the former led its members to oust men at the facility’s power and water plants last Saturday. HORA mobilised its members who were upset over alleged inefficiency in the running of the facilities as well as extortion by Ukpong. HORA toured the estate to sensitise its members and seek the support of residents and landlords in the estate while equipping them with the interpretation of the said injunction and how it empowers the association to run a parallel management. In the same vein during the exercise that lasted about five hours, the security personnel manning 1004 Estates were replaced with private guards and security officers from Halogen Securities. Though only a fraction of the number of residents of the estate participated, the peaceful exercise resulted in the seizure of essential amenities under the watch of some police officers who were on standby to avert possible pandemonium. In what seemed a monumental victory for HORA, its members jubilated back to their respec-

tive apartments after seizing control of power, water and security. But while all this lasted, Ukpong’s security details, like tamed lions, remained docile; they watched helplessly as a new Sheriff took over the reins of power. Chairman of the HORA, Tayo Soetan, sheds some light on what happened: “Well, what you see today is something we’ve been waiting for and working on for a while. It’s not a sense of victory or anything; it’s just for us to take the ownership of what ordinarily should have been ours in the first place but which we had been denied for the past four years. Ukpong has apartments in the estate, so he’s just like anybody else now. He has the right to be around to safeguard his investments. To that extent, all we are saying is that the administration and management of this estate is no longer in his hands.” With regard to what is contained in the judgement purportedly in favour of HORA, he stressed: “The judgement we got is very simple, he was the one who took us to court to declare the association as illegal. And what the court ruled is that we are a duly registered association and have the right to demand that he accounts for money he had taken from us.” But in a meeting with Ukpong on November 6, he furnished this reporter with a copy of the Deed of Sub-lease which states that 1004

Ukpong

Feature

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

HORA and its men at the power plant, Ozumba Mbadiwe, VI, Lagos

The Patrol team at 1004 Estates

Estates Limited is the sub-lessor while owners of the apartments are the sub-lessee. The same document also recognises an association of residents and landlords but not with the same nomenclature as HORA. An argument Ukpong depended on to disregard any union unknown to the deed. The said document also explains that 1004 Estates Limited shall manage the facilities and this agreement is the reason Ukpong insists the management and administration of the estate cannot be transferred to any other person or organisation. It’s also the premise he based his refusal to oblige HORA in many of its demands, claiming to be opposed to whatever condition the Deed of Sub-lease and Offer Letter don't bind. One of the landlords and residents in the estate, Bukky Williams, stated the reason he threw his weight behind the HORA: “I’ve been in this estate since 2010. They started with indiscriminate increase in service charges that could not

be explained. We tried to get Ukpong to give account of exactly where the money went, but we didn’t get any cooperation from him. We also noticed how he switched off power and water in the estate where everything depends on the provision of these two whetther for cooking, elevator and several others. He switches them off to force people to pay service charges. Service charges are imposed by him and if you want to get technicians into your apartment, you’d have to go to his office to pay some fees for technicians to work in your apartment. The value of our apartments is dropping on a yearly basis because of the way he’s running the estate. The gymnasiums and club houses are falling apart.” Ukpong’s divergent account of this allegation partly reads: “If someone can park two Rolls Royce and a Lamboghini in this estate even without staying here full time, it tells you how safe this place has been made to be. He doesn’t even

The value of our apartments is dropping on a yearly basis because of the way he’s running the estate

cover them and he’d never returned to see a scratch on or any parts missing from his stateof-the-art automobiles. That tells you a lot about our security system. 1004 Estates is the lowest service charge-paying estate in the whole of Victoria Island and its environs. That’s why the place is fully occupied. People are not stupid. Airtel, MTN, Globacom and so on have their staff living at the estate. Globacom has about 100 flats here. They know everything works in 1004. We’re charging N658,000 per annum as service charge. It continues: “We have taken the same amount in the past two years in spite of inflation. We started charging this amount since 2014. The Offer Letter specifies N200,000 as deposit for service charge. This sum is paid along with the purchase price because at that time, the place (the 1004 Estates) was still the asset of Union Homes and UPDC; they had observed that when they finish an estate or a building, people don’t move in at the same time. They could finish 40 units or more and everybody won’t move in at the same time. So, if one or two move in, you cannot ask them to pay the whole cost of running the place. That was why they developed the system of collecting advance service charges until the place is finally occupied and then you demand the proper service charges.” However another N250,000 was levied in the same year to arrive at the initial N450,000 service charge, he says, adding that the tenants may not be aware of the N200, 000 deposit for service charge which was paid with the purchase price. Ukpong further posits that in an inflationary economy, HORA cannot expect him to be reducing service charges. The service charge covers security, elevator, landscaping, cleaning, water and water treatment, electricity for the common areas, fire-fighting, insurance and so on. For the communal running of the estate, the service charges are still due and payable even if there’s nobody in the flat, he states. Adeola Sokoya, a resident in the estate, also voiced her sentiments regarding the state of the estate: “It’s been a terrible experience because when you live in a place like this, you desire the best and won’t anticipate unnecessary issues. But when you have somebody like Ukpong trying to enslave you, it beats good reasoning. Most people left this estate because they felt enslaved. I’ve been here for almost five years but it’s not been a good experience. He’s acting like one of the past Nigerian presidents who just wanted to rule by decree. The reason we waited this long was for us not to fight without following due process. He sometimes makes statements like ‘I cannot talk to tenants’ and you would wonder if this is truly your facility manager.” In response to Sokoya’s allegation, Ukpong said: “There are over 1000 people living in this estate. Please, if I have to answer everybody individually, would I still be able to do any other thing at all?” Ukpong was alleged to have truncated an auditing agreement he had with the landlords and residents. But he said that KPMG, the auditing firm, they hired for the job, was encroaching into other accounts aside from the only one which they had permission over are ‘service charge’. Ukpong said KPMG was unwilling to assure him of the safety of other information he would only want the firm to have in confidence. Ukpong had also vowed to petition the Inspector General of Police for the illegal patrol team, from Ogun State, that stormed the estate to shield HORA. He alleged that the cops were out of their jurisdiction and that neither the Lagos State Police Commissioner nor the Divisional Police Officer was aware of the operation. He maintains that HORA is dragging him into a dirty fight so that he can lose the confidence and trust of the estate mostly populated by expatriates from India, China, Lebanon, USA and so on. He further alleged that the sole reason Soetan led the onslaught against him was because he turned down his demand to become a director in 1004 Estates Limited in 2011. In the meantime, HORA is in control of the management of all the facilities under its auspices. But Ukpong insists he’s still in charge and will follow due process to reclaim all that had been seized from him.

News Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 decEMBER 2015

Synagogue: Court orders substituted service on contractors ARRAIGNMENT Synagogue’s contractors may appear before an Ikeja High Court on January 19, 2016 for arraignment.

Akeem Nafiu ustice Lateef LawalAkapo of an Ikeja High Court has directed that the contractors who supervised the collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), be served with court processes through substituted means. According to the judge, the substituted service of the court process should be executed by pasting same on the front door of their addresses; 34, Akindele Street, off Kollinton Bus-Stop, Alagbado, Lagos State, and 42, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos State. The court further ordered that photographic evidence showing the Sheriff of court pasting

IBIBIA

same should be tendered before the court. The Lagos State Government had dragged the defendants to court following their indictment and subsequent recommendation for prosecution by the Coroner Inquest it set up to investigate the cause of the collapse building leading to the death of 116 people mostly South Africans in September 12, 2014. The Coroner Court sitting in Ikeja, presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe had on August 7 this year ruled that the church and its contractors were essentially negligent in the fatal collapse of the six-storey building owned by the church. The court's directives was sequel to the granting of an exparte application brought by the Lagos State Government on the issue The contractors; Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun are the 4th and 5th defendants in the criminal

charge initiated by the Lagos State Government following their indictment by the Coroner who handled the inquest into the incident. Other respondents in the suit are; The Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Hardrock Construction Company and Jadny Trust Ltd, who are 1st-3rd respondents in the

Ezekoye I formerly known and addressed as MISS EZEH BIBIAN CHINAZAEKPERE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EZEKOYE MARYANN BIBIAN CHINAZAEKPERE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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TIMI

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eli

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names OWEDE AZIBAYAMAN SPIFF and OWEDE AZIBAYAMAN ELI refers to one and the same person. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. FCMB, Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

akpoti

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Anule Emmanuel Kaduna

overnor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) – led Federal Government inherited a country at the tip of failure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the sort of under hand dealings that took place under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration

ige

This is to confirm that EDABA PAMINIOLA MERIT is the same person as EDABA PAMINIOLA IGE. Also, that my correct date of birth is 18th October 1992 and not April 20th 1991. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

dennis

This is to confirm that ROBINSON ITEIMO DENNIS with which Sterling bank/BVN was registered is the same person as ITEIMO DENNIS on my Stanbic IBTC bank account. That henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ROBINSON ITEIMO DENNIS. All former documents remain valid. Stanbic IBTC bank Plc and the general public take note.

enofe

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IBRAHIM

I, formerly known and addressed as BRAIMOH MURIANO MICHAEL now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM MURIANO MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

as stranger than fiction. El-Rufai spoke at the opening of a three-day retreat organised for State House correspondents in Kaduna. The retreat with the theme, “Journalism and the change mantra, State House in focus”, was organised by the Presidency and is being hosted by the Kaduna State Government. In his speech titled: “The choices before the State House Press Corps in enabling change”, the governor said consequences of the incompetence and

ormer Interior Minister, Abba Moro and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbor, yesterday urged the people of the state to see the rerun election for the cancelled seat of the former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, as a necessary challenge to emancipate the Idoma nation from oppression. The PDP stakeholders spoke in Otukpo, when Mark was hosted to a reception, following the annulment of his election by the Court of Appeal. The event was homecoming for Mark after the tribunal’s ruling. Addressing the audience at Mark’s Otukpo country home, the leaders expressed reservations over the tribunal’s verdict but sounded confidence that another opportunity was in the offing with the rerun election to prove that the former Senate President won the March 28 election.

BERNARD

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, BERNARD DAVID MIRACLE do hereby state that my name was wrongly written in my NECO result slip as BENARD DAVID MIRACLE instead of Bernard David and my correct gender is male not female. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

SEAT OF AMAZING INTERNATIONAL SOULGRACE BASED CHURCH MINISTRY

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maureen

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by substituted means by pasting on their addresses. The affidavit evidence to show that it has been impossible to serve the 4th and 5th defendants is before this court.” Following the granting of the prosecution's request, the judge adjourned the matter till January 19, 2016 for report of service and possible arraignment.

thievery that reigned under Jonathan are only becoming clear to all. He said the PDP simply ran the nation's economy aground in the past 16 years which he described as an imperial rule. “The responsibility that has been entrusted in the hands of the new government is immense. The APC inherited a country at the tip of failure. “As it is becoming clearer by the day, some of the things that went on under the previous government

are stranger than fiction. “The consequences of the incompetence, the thievery and the divisive ethos that reigned are only becoming clear. “Nigerians are only beginning to realise that the Jonathan government, despite years of $100 oil, was borrowing to pay salaries. The PDP simply ran this economy aground. Our party and our president will do their level best to pick up the pieces, restore economic vitality and make life better for Nigerians.”

Rerun poll: Moro, PDP chair drum support for Mark F

I, formerly known and addressed as OSOBUSOLA ABIOLA OLUYEMI now wish to be known and addressed as ABIOLA OLUYEMI BERENA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

berena

able to serve the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants and there is proof of service to that effect. “But we have been unable to effect service of court processes on the 4th and 5th defendants. There is a motion ex-parte and we pray your lordship to allow us move same. “It is seeking an order to serve the information on the 4th and 5th defendants

El-Rufai: APC inherited a country at the tip of failure

CONFIRMATION AND change of name Animashaun

This is to notify the general public that my correct names are ANEMIKAYE GLADYS IBIBIA and not MATHEW ARIBIBIA ANEMIKAYE as erroneously written in my Trust Fund records. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

charge respectively. At yesterday’s proceedings, prosecution lawyer, Idowu Alakija, informed the judge of the existence of a “motion exparte” dated December 11, seeking the court's permission to serve the contractors by substituted means. Alakija prayed the court to grant same application. She said, "we have been

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES: 1. Ikegbunam Christian Ogochukwu (Chairman) 2. Ezechukwu Clement Edika (Secretary) 3. Ogbonna Esther Ebere 4. Ikegbunam Prosper Ifeyinwa 5. Ozodiegwu Juliana Ndidi 6. Mmuo Onyebuchi Stanley 7. Ogbuda Cletus Tochukwu 8. Nnaoma Charles Nwabeke AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Soul winning for Christ. 2. Saving people from darkness. 3. Getting people ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Ikegbunam Christian Ogochukwu (Chairman)

In his remark, Mark urged his constituents to be calm and law abiding in their approach to the forthcoming rerun. He said: “I know that my people of Benue South are angry about the Court of Appeal judgment. But be calm and resolve to translate this anger into good conduct and massive vote for me in the forthcoming rerun election. “See this forthcoming rerun polls as challenge for our emancipation. We must not allow external forces to dictate our political destiny. We won the election clearly. We will win again. These are trying times, but his-

tory will judge because the mandate of the people cannot be compromised under any circumstances. “We (PDP) produced a Senator, four members of House of Representatives, 10 of the 11 state House of Assembly members in our constituency, so how will any other party have a space here,” Mark said. Speaking also, Agbo urged the Idoma people to remain steadfast in support of the PDP saying that the forthcoming rerun is only a temporary setback because "We have decided that Senator Mark is our light and there is no going back".

Panels: Fear grips varsities, colleges Mojeed Alabi

he decision by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Education to set up factfinding panels to look into allegations of fraud and sexual harassment in about 10 campuses across the country may have thrown the management of many institutions into a state of fear and confusion. As investigations by Saturday Telegraph have revealed that the leadership of some of the petitioned institutions have started making moves to appease the warring factions and perfect documents to be presented to the visitation panels. The Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu, had on Thursday inaugurated the fact-finding panels for the institutions including the Federal University, Dutsin-

Ma, Katsina State; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, University of Abuja. Others were the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State; University of Calabar, Cross River State; Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State; Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State and the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State. According to Adamu, the setting up of the adhoc committees was in response to petitions received from different stakeholders within and outside the institutions with varieties of allegations bordering on irregularities, abuse of due process, mismanagement, immorality, fraud and corruption, among others.

Perspectives 53

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Why senate should not take us back to '84

n less than 10 months, I have had cause to express my aversion to abuse of social media twice in my column. Precisely on March 14 in the one entitled: ‘Social media and social responsibility’, I argued that despite its pervasiveness and importance, there were downsides to social media. Ironically, that article became a victim of social media abuse. A media organisation picked it without my knowledge or approval from the medium I work with and placed it on its back page. It branded me as ‘a guest columnist’ perhaps to give the impression that I sent the article to it. And in another article: ‘Free speech, social media and journalists’ published on November 28, I took a swipe at journalists who are quick to point out the anomalies of citizen journalism but end up being worse going by their unethical, indecent and flippant remarks on social media. So, after these articles I did not envisage that there will be reasons to revisit the pervasive brusqueness on social media at least for now until the Senate Deputy Leader, Bala Na’Allah, stirred up a hornets’ nest with his bill entitled ‘a bill for an act to prohibit frivolous petitions, and other matters.' Since the introduction of the bill, there have been arguments and counter-arguments over whether it is meant to stifle free speech or not. Freedom of speech, the right to communicate one’s opinions and ideas without fear of government and censorship, is a fundamental human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognised in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 19 of the ICCPR states that; “Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference" and "everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive

Waheed Bakare on Saturday 08124877036 (sms only) waheedbakare2003@yahoo.com and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice". It is not in doubt that freedom of speech is an essential ingredient that spices up the quality of governance particularly if a listening government is in power. To underscore the importance of free speech in democracy, Prof. Thomas .I. Emerson, a great scholar, who moulded civil liberties law, described freedom of speech acts as a “safety valve”, which continuously put people in check whenever they think about revolution. He further posited that, “The principle of open discussion is a method of achieving a more adaptable and at the same time more stable community, of maintaining the precarious balance between healthy cleavage and necessary consensus.” True to Emerson’s assertion, one of the fundamental flaws that often lead to deposition of despots is stifling of free speech. Some countries recognised the importance of free speech as far back as the 1870s through provision of ‘Speakers’ Corner, an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion were allowed. Hyde Park, London, in the United Kingdom, remains one of the most popular ‘Speakers’ Corners in the world. Here, speakers are allowed to air their view on any subject as long as the

police consider their speeches lawful and there are no complaints about profanity. Different countries had replicated this idea of ‘Speakers’ Corners. In Malaysia, the square is opened for the public to speak on Wednesday and Sunday between 6.00pm and 10.00pm, while in the Netherlands, its speakers’ corner, known as ‘Spreeksteen’ is open for free speech 24-hours everyday to allow complete free speech. In Singapore, speakers are exempted from obtaining police permit as long as they conform to the rules and regulations. However, there is nothing like absolute freedom of speech and this explains why there are limitations especially if free speech conflicts with other values or rights. These limitations are well spelt out in Article 19 that free speech carries “special duties and responsibilities” and may “therefore be subjected to certain restrictions when necessary for the protection of national security or of public order (order public), or of public health or morals.” This was my grouse in my last column on social media abuse, that freedom of speech is not a pretext to harm others. I argued that if people could not self-regulate themselves, and exceed the boundaries, the only way such unethical practices could be checkmated was through the use of the instrument of law. What I had in mind was that we already

have existing media law and perhaps people have not been using it hence social media abuse remains unabated. But the thinking of Na’Allah and the likes of Senator Dino Melaye is that our laws on defamation should not only be civil but criminalised. Melaye, who once enjoyed a robust relationship with online media platforms when he was on the other side, could not even hide his aversion for Saharareporters as he kept mentioning the news portal while canvassing his argument to support the ‘anti-social media’ law during the debate on the floor of the Senate. The argument by those in support of the bill that it centres on ‘frivolous petitions’ and that opponents only acted out of ignorance can no longer hold in view of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s strange discovery on Tuesday that …”later on we did find out that there was a section in it about social media.” That some senators even claimed ignorance of a bill that has sailed through second reading shows that there is more to it than what was presented to us. If a country like Malaysia opened its ‘Speakers’ Corner’ in 2010, we cannot be thinking of stifling free speech in 2015. It is instructive that freedom of speech provides a balance between stability and change. If the intention of the senate is to lead us to quasi-military dictatorship in a democracy, such retrogression deserves vehement resistance. We passed through that route in 1984 through Decree 4. That the promoter of that obnoxious decree, President Muhammadu Buhari, has dissociated himself from such undemocratic tendency should be enough to tell the senate that excesses of social media can be handled in a better way.

Desperate times for Man United fans under LVG

e came with a big reputation and a big ego. He was touted as the man who would finally be able to fill the massive shoes left by the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, which unfortunately his chosen successor, David Moyes, was unable to fill. At 63, Luis van Gaal arrived the 'Theatre of Dreams' after an impressive World Cup outing in Brazil where he was able to guide the Dutch, who hardly featured as possible title contenders before the tournament kicked off to within touching distance of the biggest prize in global football – a bronze medal. Before taking up the reigns as national team coach of his native Holland, LVG, as he is also called, had made a name as a tough coach, whose often strong armed tactics was largely overlooked because he was able to deliver results. Starting way back in 1995, LVG caught the attention of the football world when his young Ajax side, which incidentally featured two Nigerian internationals in Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George triumphed in club football’s premier prize, the UEFA Champions League, beating seasoned campaigners, AC Milan, on penalties in the final. Before leaving Ajax he had won three titles and the UEFA Super Cup. He was so successful with the club that the bulk of the Dutch national team players were from Ajax. And although the 1995 Milan win turned out to be his solitary European triumph, he did go on to win domestic honours in Spain with Barcelona and Germany with Bayern Munich.

TS from the Sidelines 08050498544 (sms only) tunsul2@gmail.com

With Barcelona (1997–2000) he won two league championships (1997–98, 1998–99) and the Copa del Rey once; he then moved the Dutch national team, but left after failing to qualify for the Korea/ Japan 2002 World Cup. He then made a short stint return to Barcelona but left by mutual consent on January 28, 2003 with the club in 12th place, just three points above the relegation zone and 20 points behind leaders Real Sociedad. His next big team was Bayern, which he joined on July 1, 2009. However, despite winning the Bundesliga trophies Bayern Munich declared that Van Gaal's contract was to be cancelled after the end of the 2010–11 season. However, he was instead sacked on April 10, 2011, after losing the third place in the Bundesliga. It was from the ruins of the Bayern outing that he returned to the Dutch national team and took them to a bronze medal finish at Brazil 2014, with his most memorable game being the come-frombehind 5-1 demolition of the then world champions, Spain. So the Glazer family, owners of one of the biggest club sides in the world, cannot

really be faulted for placing their faith in such a man, who despite, reports of his iron fist rule was still able to secure trophies. A clear indication of how much they trusted him was in the manner they opened their purse strings for him to bring in any player of his choice. The record £59.7 million fee he splashed on luring Angel Di María from Real Madrid on a five-year contract was clearly a statement of intent. Alas just a year later the South American was shown the door for an almost £20 million loss by van Gaal who felt Di María was not truly committed to the United cause. Many pundits believed that he acted a bit hastily in getting rid of the Argentine, who only 12 months earlier had been voted Man-of-the Match when Madrid won their 10th UEFA Champions League title. And this has been symptomatic of many of van Gaal’s buys so far of which he has spent close to £250 million. Many of them have not turned out to be true Manchester United players. Furthermore now almost 18 months into his reign the wheels appear to have come off with both the fans and many

former players wondering if the Glazers have not made a mistake in signing the Dutchman. Tuesday’s Champions League exit has only further exasperated the feeling that van Gaal is not the right man for the Old Trafford job. In a group, which under Sir Alex United would have easily qualified from, van Gaal failed to inspire his wards to raise their game throughout the six matches played and ended up with just two wins against such teams like Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow! Speaking after the match van Gaal said he was at a loss to explain his side’s exit. Sounding like a broken record he said United had dominated and had more shots at goal than the team that beat them. Alas we have been hearing this for weeks but while these stats do tend to support him, the bitter truth is that the main and all-important stat, which is goals do not. Statistics provided by Sky Sports shows that when it comes to the Premier League, United tops in terms of average possession with 60 per cent; passes in their own half 3416 and PASSESS BACKWARDS with 16 per cent. However, when it comes to PASSES FORWARDS United is last with only 31per cent! Even the stats of chances created show that they are a mid table side with only 121 which is the 15th best. So unless the Glazers are willing to take drastic action and show the Dutchman the way out, United fans are in for one and a half more seasons of all possession and no penetration football!

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

Sanusi: The epoch of a rabblerousing royal fathers

n a despairing bid to rubbish the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his not too publicized but massive achievements while in office, President Muhammadu Buhari and handful of his loyalists most embarrassingly, some notable personalities in Nigeria are obviously deriding themselves and their exalted positions. Since his election, President Buhari and his allies who are acting as if they are envious of Jonathan’s cult figure status in the world have made some spurious and unsubstantiated allegation of financial misappropriation against the man revered internationally. And in their failed attempt to indict him, handful of his key ministers and aides has either been arrested or being investigated over one allegation or another. The latest among this barrage of allegations was the preposterous revelation without facts that Nigeria lost about $1bn (N197bn) every month under former President Jonathan made by the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), governor and now the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who has gained notoriety for rabblerousing. Speaking during a programme titled ‘How a cancer of corruption steals Nigerian oil, weapons and lives’, which aired on The PBS NewsHour, an American daily evening television show, Sanusi alleged that many shady deals took place under the ex-Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is now being investigated in the United Kingdom. According to Sanusi, there is no accountability in Nigeria and that is why he thinks Nigeria’s corruption is worse than corruption in most parts of the world adding that he thinks a billion dollars under Jonathan a month was about what we were losing.

He further alleged that during AlisonMadueke’s tenure as petroleum minister, people paid as low as $50m for access to crude oil blocs valued at over $2bn. Explaining how some of these shady deals took place, Sanusi said, “Basically, all she does is allow a group of people, who themselves don’t have any kind of operating background, to pay $50m for access to the crude oil in blocs, valued at over $2bn and they just take the crude oil, ship it out and don’t return the money and there is no trace of where the money has gone. “Someone gets a contract to lift crude from the terminals to the refineries and in between, that crude is stolen; it is stolen on the high sea. “If she goes to court and is jailed for example, it sends a signal; I think that there is a day of reckoning.” Furthermore, Sanusi said the second most common method of stealing oil was to make oil ships disappear mysteriously. The implication of Sanusi’s claim is that N2.364 trillion was being stolen annually during Jonathan’s administration whose budget for 2013 and 2014 were N4.987 trillion and N4.69 trillion respectively. For the records, the 2014 budget has N2.726 trillion overhead cost and N1.96 trillion capital expenditure, so where on earth did Jonathan’s officials found whopping N2.364 trillion to lavish annually without crippling the

economy? Appraising his claims on the American TV, further, Sanusi was also not outstanding and was guilty of the crime of unaccountability as well as, allegation that group of people pay as low as $50 million for an oil bloc valued at $2 billion for failing to provide any document fact. If he was scrupulous as he is making the world to believe, during his tenure as the CBN Governor, he should have documented these shady deals to back up his claim and help the present government accelerates investigation and bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act of sabotage to book. From all perspective, the statement that not only money but ships laden with crude oil disappears on the high sea without traces in a contemporary world would have sounded better in a village idiot mouth than Sanusi who TIME magazine listed among its 100 most influential people of 2011 and who also was awarded a special GIFA award at the third Global Islamic Financial Award held in Dubai in 2013, for his advocacy role in promoting Islamic banking and finance in Nigeria. There is no money that is not traceable provided it is not banked in the moon or Jupiter. Me thinks that there is agreement between Nigeria and the western world brokered during one of Saint Buhari’s many

trips abroad (where he even criminalized as well as defamed Jonathan’s government with malicious claims and absurd generalization), to assist Nigeria in returning monies looted illegally by our public office holders and politicians. All these things summed up have even lend credence to the competence doubt raised by some financial gurus during Sanusi’s appointment as CBN Governor where he vindictively removed some Banks Managing Directors, declared the banks insolvent and hastily liquidated them hiding under recapitalization. This time around, what does Sanusi want? Could it be that he is seeking another elevation probably as United Nation Ambassador after his $20 billion missing NNPC non-remittance funds rabble rousing facilitated his enthronement as the Emir of Kano as well as the sympathy of President Buhari who lampooned Jonathan’s government for sacking him instead of probing his malicious allegation? Buhari in his normal impulsive attitude of reacting to issues had then vowed that his administration would take a second look at Sanusi’s allegation and in September, the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu before his appointment as Minister of State for Petroleum said NNPC has decided to revisit the issue of the missing $20 billion NNPC fund by bringing back the auditors to do a full audit of NNPC accounts. Up till now nothing concrete has come up from the auditing and like the $20 billion missing NNPC funds this recent bogus allegation might equally turns out to be a hoax, then one will be tempted to add Lai to his already exalted royal name Alhaji Lai Muhammadu Sanusi II, God forbid, politics will never be allowed to desecrate the office of our Royal Father. INSHA ALLAH!!!!

Why it has to be Yahaya Bello Dayo Thomas

ife writes lousy scripts and dispenses rewards in ironic doses. The echoes of these words reiterated profoundly in various shapes and forms in the recent governorship election in Kogi State The act of fate has greatly manifested in the entire election that the whole state will not forget in a hurry. It has loudly estabished a fact that of all the factors that determine leadership anywhere in the World, the act of God seems the most potent. Though, instructive and dramatic, the almighty God finally had his way in the final outcome. The pronouncement by the INEC that the election was inconclusive couple with the sudden death of the governorship candidate of the APC, Abubakar Audu, combined to further heightened the already tensed political atmosphere in the state. But wisdom, rationality and legality have prevailed over emotions and political considerations. All the contestants for the governorship position were eminently qualified and the final endorsement of Alhaji Yahaya Bello by the party to me does not in any way diminish or subsumed the status of other contestants. It merely suggest that we submitted to the Supreme will of God; that we are united as a party and possess the capacity to resolve our challenges and differences amicably. Aside the God's factor that was glaringly in favour of Yahaya Bello from the timing and the way our leader, Audu, was called to eternity by the almighty,

the most legal thing to do at the time election. was to endorse Bello since he was the All the members were screened by runner up to prince Abubakar Audu at our party and Audu came first while Yathe primary. Since no one can be sworn haya was the first runner up. The first in as governor without passing through and the second were duly elected by the the primary. 3,458 delegates . We are aware of the many issues the In any contest as competitive and difchoice of Bello have generated especially ficult as it may be, there must be a winfrom the supporters of our brother Hon. ner and this is not an exception to the James Abiodun Fakeke , but we must general rule. We don't want the camp move beyond the contradictions as a of Faleke to see this as a defeat or sign of weaknesses. They must also not feel family and face the future together as one big party. disappointed , but we The choice of Bello must move forward and was collective and no work together to get our We believe that the death primordial sentiment state moving. like religion was conWe believe that the of our leader, Audu, is death of our leader, sidered as it is being still fresh in our memory Audu, is still fresh in rumoured. The APC our memory and we believe in justice and and we must not be seen must not be seen to fairplay and these are to be fighting over the be fighting over the some of the values we promote and strive to governorship seat in a governorship seat in a transmit to governance. manner that is bereft of and the entire society. morals. Governance is manner that is bereft of Justice, unity, peaceabout service and we morals able legality were the must be contented with driving forces behind whatever role that God has assigned to us . the party's response to that constitutional lacuna and its effects. We set out to elect a governor that would be a reflection of the genuine Since the constitution did not anticipate what happened, our leaders and collective expectation of our people. responded to it realistically and adIt was an opportunity for the people again to showcase their genuine patrioequately. As loyal and dedicated members of tism and modest contributions to the the APC, we must trust the judgement of greatness of our dear state. our leaders and be faithful to our course. The election in Kogi State has come The choice of Bello was also in response and gone and the people have spoken to the decisions of the delegates and up and they have spoken very clearly and we must respect the wishes of the peotill now there has not been any allegations of manipulations at the primary ple. No election in the world has ever

been perfect, and the Kogi election was not an exception. Many have felt aggrieved, and they have the right to be, but they must pursue their grievances within the confine of the law. The election and future elections will continue to enrich our history and cultural heritage until we become a civilised society. I am particularly humbled by the final outcome of the whole process. It is something that calls for a deeper reflection. We must be more determined and willing to partner with Bello to bring about the change we need in Kogi State. Whatever the approaches to the victory and whatever our differences, we are fellow Kogites. It was a friendly match and no winner, no vanquished. Some especially the Aufu/Faleke camp had wished the outcome had been different and favourable. Man proposes but God disposes. The road had been very difficult from the outset with 22 candidates from 22 parties and none of them made it. There were many tricks, lies, propaganda, unfounded stories, unguided press statements, blackmails and drawback and many others that were bereft of things expected in modern campaign in a bid to outsmart one another, still God had His way. God has once again proven that political adventurism is not always correlated with wealth, propaganda, personal egoism, tripping and myopic megalomania. It is all about God. •Thomas is a media aide to Bello

Sport Extra 55

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

12 DECEMBER 2015

NSC releases ‘intervention' money for U-23 team

Sport Slaming

Adeolu Johnson

Adekunle Salami

T Abuja

he Ministry of Youth and Sports on Friday released the sum of 226,000 dollars outstanding allowances and bonuses the Nigeria Football Federation is owing the national U-23 team. The money was released in a reaction to the news that the boys were planning a showdown with the federation by boycotting the final tie today against Algeria. Nigeria played the semifinal against Senegal following appeals from wellmeaning Nigerians and coach Samson Siasia who begged the players to save their career. Nigeria won the match 1-0. And to avert any embarrassment today, the Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalong ordered the Permanent Secretary Christian Ohaa and Director General, Alhassan Yakmut, to hurriedly source for funds and settle the outstanding payments of all the qualifying matches. The money was later remitted into the

adekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only)

Sad tales from Senegal Nigeria, Algeria in the group match. It ended 0-0

NFF account. Meanwhile, Ohaa and Yakmut will lead the government delegation with some NFF officials to cheer the team and bring home the U-23 AFCON trophy.

Dalong had said that it was uninspiring not to pay the players their outstanding bonuses and allowances before the final while charging the players to go all out for victory.

Access Bank stages marathon Feb. 6 Kalu commiserates with Keshi Charles Ogundiya

ome of the world’s top marathoners as well as the International Association of Athletics Federations President, Lord Sebastian Coe, are expected to be in Nigeria for the maiden edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon slated for February 6, 2016. At the world press conference at the Access Bank Corporate Headquarters on Friday, the organisers said the event was targeted at reviving the healthy life style among Nigerians whilst showcasing major sights in the city of Lagos. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports and Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Ayodeji Tinubu, pledged the unwavering support of the government while appreciating the efforts of Access Bank in bankrolling the 42km event.

Executive Director, Personal Banking of Access Bank, Mr Victor Etuokwu, announced that mouthwatering cash prizes would be won at the epoch making event, with the winners of both men and women’s events expected to go home with $50,000 each, while second and third place finishers would take $40,000 and $30,000 respectively. The top 20 Nigerians will also be rewarded with cash prizes starting from N1 million, while the second and third positions will settle for N750,000 and N500,000 respectively. The race will start off from the National Stadium in Surulere, enroute Ojota, the Third Mainland Bridge, Ikoyi Bridge and Lekki Toll Gate, before culminating at the Eko Atlantic City. AFN President, Chief Solomon Ogba, stated that he was elated with the development which he described as a dream come true.

illar of Sports in Africa and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has expressed sadness over the demise of the wife of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, Kate. He described her death as painful and devastating considering the significant roles the late Mrs Keshi played in her family. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said, “I was shocked when I heard the news of the passing away of Coach Stephen Keshi’s wife, Kate. It is an unfortunate incident as she was a supportive and submissive wife to her husband. She was gentle, friendly and accommodating. Mrs. Keshi was a caring mother not only to her kids but everyone around her. Our prayers and thoughts are with the entire Keshi family at this sorrowful period”. The former governor advised the deceased’s family especially Coach Keshi to take heart as his late wife was a role model to her gender. Kalu, while commiserating with the Keshi family and sports stakeholders, prayed God to grant the departed eternal rest and also give the family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

FIFA: Platini loses suspension appeal

Frank Momoh, President FROT Group; Greg Dyke, Chairman of the England FA and Tony Uzoebo, Executive Director, Zenith Bank (UK)... during the NFF leadership training in the UK

COPA Lagos will be another club experience – Ogunbote

ormer coach of Sunshine Stars, Sharks and current 3SC coach have lend his voice with other technocrats by taking the positive derivatives from the Beach Soccer Club challenge. The coach, who is a two time CAF Confederation Cup semifinalist said the introduction of beach soccer to the growth of Nigerian domestic league was a good ini-

tiative "It is great development with the participation of FC Barcelona, Kano Pillars and Pepsi Academy will be another experience for every participating team, putting into consideration that beach football is still at the cradle stage and may come with some roughness, but will at the long run be better for Nigeria," Ogunbote said.

EFA president Michel Platini has failed in his bid to have his 90day provisional ban from football

lifted. Platini's request was denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which means the Frenchman will not be allowed to attend the Euro 2016 finals draw in Paris on Saturday. The 60-year-old was suspended in October, along with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, while corruption claims are investigated. Both deny any wrongdoing. Platini and Blatter will have personal hearings with FIFA's ethics committee next week, following allegations that a £1.35m payment was made in 2011 for work Platini did as Blatter's adviser. A verdict is expected on Monday, December 21.

igeria is a very wonderful place to live in. Sport is big business all over the world but that is not the case in Nigeria. It is becoming increasingly difficult to fund sport and generally improve the welfare of athletes in the country. For example, in the just concluded Nigeria Premier League, FC Taraba, El-Kanemi Warriors, Warri Wolves, Dolphins and Sharks had welfare issues. Players were owed salaries as the League Management Company threatened to deduct points and invoke sanctions. It is sad that administrators have to struggle to take care of athletes in Nigeria. The league situation is a story for another day. During the week, there was jubilation in the country over the qualification of the national U-23 team for the football event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The team under coach Samson Siasia defeated Mali 3-2 in the first match but drew 2-2 with Egypt and played 0-0 against Algeria in the preliminaries. The crucial semifinal tie was against Senegal and somehow the team was able to pip the host 1-0 to emerge the first team in Africa to book automatic ticket to the games. The players and coaches achieved this feat again plenty odds. Before the competition, Siasia cried out that the team was neglected by the football federation as the players walk in and out of the camp in total disregard of camp rules because there was no adequate attention given to their welfare. The team was originally billed to travel to Argentina on a training tour but it was cancelled due to financial constraints. The team latter travelled to The Gambia for some days before the competition prior to the trip some players who were also in the CHAN Nations Cup team were not allowed to join Siasia. Some other players opted to celebrate the league title win with Enyimba rather than travel with the team. Issac Success was initially named to lead the team’s attack but his Spanish La Liga team didn't release him. The implication is that Siasia left Nigeria with a depleted U-23 team. Just two days after the team travelled, his mother was kidnapped in Bayelsa. The woman was released just a day to the beginning of the competition. The odds against the team were such that there were enough grounds to perform poorly in Senegal. However, the Nigerian spirit prevailed as the team managed to snatch the ticket. A day after achieving the feat, the players vowed not to file out for the final match today. The morale of the players is very low and even when they file out against Algeria, as I expect them to, it will be a miracle for them to win. The Olympic ticket won is sufficient for me. Nigeria was not represented in the male and women's football events of the London 2012 games. Picking a ticket this time is a great feat and maybe the players would feel that way too. The country has not done enough to emerge champions of the AFCON U-23 event especially because the main actors, the players, are not well motivated; they are in the competition like orphans. It was Siasia that managed to raise $100 each for the players shortly before the crucial semifinal match against Senegal. The sad tales from Senegal are every disturbing. The U-23 team players are not the only ones in this predicament. The Eaglets were not paid all through their campaign in Chile, The Falconet are being owed bonuses for the last qualifying match against South Africa while the Super Eagles are also still waiting for the winning bonus of the 2-0 victory recorded in the Russia 2018 qualifier against Swaziland. NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, admitted that it’s a very rough time for the federation. I sympathise with him because he inherited the majority of the problems facing the body because of sentiments. The marketing drive of the NFF is faulty and there is an urgent need to declare an emergency in the quest to raise funds for the federation. There must be a way out of this situation. Many reasons are being thrown up for the current financial impasse in the NFF but it is obvious sponsors are just not enough for the programmes of the federation. The chieftains in the Glass House must find solutionS because the days of relying on government for funds are now numbered. God bless Nigeria.

DESTINATION

Calabar glows for carnival feast p.42

SATURDAY

Sanctity of Truth

PERSPECTIVES Why senate should not take us back to '84

p. 53

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015

N150

U-23 AFCON

Siasia

faces another final test T

Ajibade Olusesan oday makes it the fourth time Samson Siasia will lead out a team in the final of major international competitions as the national U-23 team confronts Algeria in the final of the CAF U-23 Nations Cup in Dakar, Senegal. The former Super Eagles striker won his first final as a national team coach when he guided the U-20 team to a 2-0 win over Egypt in the final of the African Youth Championships in Benin Republic in 2005. The coach, again, led the Flying Eagles to the final of World Youth Championships in Netherlands same year but this time he was not lucky as Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina defeated his team 2-1. Although they lost the final, Siasia’s side that had Mikel Obi, Taye Taiwo and Isaac Okoronkwo played effective football to the admiration of Nigerians and it was no surprise that two of the players, Mikel and Taiwo, were adjudged the second and third best players of the tournament respectively. In 2007, Siasia was promoted as the handler of U-23 team and he never disappointed as he guided the team to qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He worked with the bulk of the players that reached the final of the WYC three years earlier to get to the final of the Olympics, beating the likes of Cote d’Ivoire, the Netherlands and Belgium in the process. However, his nemesis, Argentina, denied him the oppor-

tunity of winning Nigeria’s second Olympics gold medal. The South Americans paraded players like Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Ezequiel Lavezzi with Di Maria’s 56th minute goal separating the two teams after 90 minutes at the National Stadium, Beijing. The former Super Eagles coach is on the march again and his deep knowledge of African football can help him win his second major title as a coach today. He learnt from the mistakes of his predecessor, Austin Eguavoen, by not relying on overseas-based players to prosecute this championship. He has just four foreign-based professionals in the squad to Senegal and they braced all odds to not only get to the final but pick Olympics ticket. His team was dogged with morale-deflating issues, the players and officials were not paid their bonuses and allowances and the coach had to battle personal problems ahead of the tournament. His mother was kidnapped few days to the championships and the aged woman had not even regained her freedom at the time the coach led his team out for their first match against Mali. He is surely a happy man today after his side achieved their target of making it to Rio 2016 and he would be keen to get the icing on the cake by beating the Algerians.

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