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FAYOSE, AMAECHI

who can stop them? lUntold story of two of Nigeria’s most controversial governors lHow they create rumble in the polity } 45

Halima Abubakar I had tattoo on my breast at 15 } 19 TOP HEADLINES

Gov. Orji booed in Aba over city’s neglect } 6 Troops rout B’ Haram, retake Gulak, Bara and 6 other towns } 6 Fani-Kayode: } 6 Tinubu plotting to come to power through ‘back door’ Uduaghan’s ex-security aide shot dead by fellow cop } 5

Gov. Elechi: Anyim behind moves to impeach me } 5

2

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Contents | 28.02.15 INSTYLE

Like a Bucket Combining utility and chic, and described as the skinny jeans of bags, the bucket bag won’t just leave the fashion scene

}16

THE ARTS

Meeting of Cultures A collaboration between artists from Nordic countries and some West African countries breathes life into performance art

}18

SHOWBIZ

OJB Returns Award-winning producer, OJB Jezreel, speaks on a reported relapse after his kidney surgery and his career comeback

}21

SPORT

NFF Blues Ex-international, Jonathan Akpoborie, is furious at the intrigues that has dogged the otherwise simple matter of hiring a coach for the Super Eagles

}25

CHEF’S CORNER

Humbling Rise Kizito Agbaegbu, executive chef at African Sun Airport Hotel, in Lagos, recalls rising from the lower rung to the top by dint of hard work

}40

DESTINATION

Namibia’s Endless Horizons Visiting the southern African country of Namibia is bound to unleash memories that are difficult to fade as the report shows

}42 Plus: Street Diary 10 | Love&Living 35 | Voices 12

SATURDAY

Comment

Killing the ghost worker syndrome

U

nless government fishes out those behind the ghost worker syndrome in the public service and ensure that they are punished, they will continue to find a way to perpetrate the crime no matter the technology put in place, experts have said.

This comes as the Federal Government said it had uncovered a total of 60,000 ghost workers in federal establishments across the country, following the staff audit of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on the implementation of the integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

The current number indicates a 20 per cent increase over the 50,000 earlier announced, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated recently.

She said the discovery had saved government over N160 billion, which was the amount paid to the ghost workers as salaries and allowances.

According to the director of Stop Impunity Nigeria Campaign, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, government would have to recover the lost sum from those behind the crime and ensure that they don’t go unpunished.

He said in a statement through the Centre for Social Justice that the Federal Government should provide details of verified ghost workers of MDAs. He further called for the prosecution of the accounting and other responsible officers and the full extension of the IPPIS to all MDAs. The highlights of the MDAs that recorded a high number of ghost workers, according to Onyekpere, are National Planning Commission (74.90 per cent); Federal Ministry of Finance (68.35 per cent); Budget Office of the Federation (77.33 per cent); Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (74.68 per cent)’ Ministry of Niger Delta (64.87 per cent).

Earlier discoveries showed that Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) harbours about 10,000 ghost workers on its payroll, while the prostrate Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) fritters away N2 billion annually using ghost workers as cover.

Though the incidence of ghost workers appears endless, the Federal Government has devised a panacea for the menace.

The government has set up biometric identification registration at 300 payroll distribution centres throughout the country and has registered hundreds of

thousands of federal employees into the system, identifying thousands of ghost workers who have since been removed from their database..

By utilising the identification system developed by M2SYS Technology, Nigerian federal civil service employees can now be uniquely identified. This virtually eliminates duplicate registration in any form and eradicates ghost worker payroll fraud. This should be in addition to expediting action on the installation of IPPIS in all the MDAs. The need to ensure uninterrupted power supply to keep the system functioning optimally should not be taken for granted.

But what happens to those who aided the crime? Are they being allowed to go unpunished?

From Zamfara State came a startling dimension to the ghost worker saga when it was discovered that a newborn baby in Nigeria was added to a government payroll, earning about $150 (£93) a month for two or three years.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of of Zamfara State, Garba Gajam, said the baby ‘ghost worker’ was found to be getting salaries without performing any function.

The employee was listed as being a month old in government’s records, but Gajam said the child’s father actually started collecting the salary before the baby was born. Records also show that the baby has a diploma.

A ghost employee is someone on the payroll who doesn’t actually work for a victim company. Through the falsification of personnel or payroll records a fraudster causes paychecks to be generated to a ghost. The fraudster or an accomplice then converts these paychecks. The ghost employee may be a fictitious person or a real individual who simply doesn’t work for the victim employer. When the ghost is a real person, it’s often a friend or relative of the perpetrator.

The monumental ghost-worker sleaze is also eating into the fabric of the civil service of virtually all states in the country. But quite distressing is the fact that with the recurring incidents of ghost workers in all the tiers of government, no official has been exposed as culpable or penalized for the fraudulent act, to public knowledge. It is an uphill task convincing the public that the perpetrators of the economic crime are spirits, and cannot be fished out and made to face the wrath of the law, if the government so desires.

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NEW TELEGRAPH

Money Line

MONDAY,

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Stock Watch

Afromedia: Incapacitated adverse regulation by

37

Interview

Okonjo Iweala, a mismatch economy, says Enwegbara for Nigerian

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by Shell Bank Plc, Bayo akomolafe Janet Nnabuko, and Monitoring, for the damage severity is Monitoring, done Asst. Editor of Madiebo Consumer Executive Director,National Lottery Regulatory (Maritime) He said: Protection Lagos & at the 5th sunday Ojeme Commission, South West Council, “HOMEF the compensation draw of the Ifeyinwa Afam Ojeh, Bank, Fidelity Asst. Editor sees Fidelity Save4 Nwamuo Head, Savings, amount (Insurance) Bank Plc., and Divisional Scholarship to about which will Godson Ikoro Head, Retail Ikemefuna Mbagwu, Fidelity each of savings N600,000 Asst. Editor promo in the plaintiffs Bank, Fidelity for Manager, (Money Market) Lagos. balance Bank Plc., with the going for Dele alao Richard projects Industry & – school community Agric Editor health centres blocks and Dayo ayeyemi – as inadequate for the Property Editor done.” severity of damage adeola Yusuf Atake Kunle Azeez Energy Editor ment of maintained that Wole shadare building compensation payawfully promised igeria’s missed Aviation Editor in early ics wouldof schools and and Domain New Telegraph its 2014 would increase 2014 that System Name clintarget, not by Chris Ugwu (DNS) reduce it domain uptake The missed has learnt. the demandany means fered setback space sufCapital Market names to of gent clean-up as the regulator the auspicious target was end of that for an 250,000 by .ng last year, abdulwahabEditor on the year. vironment. of the Ogoni ur- try code number domain of Isa This means of names en- (ccTLD), Top Level the coun- registered Finance Editor that the planned .ng had a target Domain Kunle azeez to be by of 190,000 country istration Nigeria Internet names planned NiRA has the end of 2014.

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Feb 14: APC blows hot

lDSS' story on hacking senseless, says Lai Mohammed Temitope Ogunbanke

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday faulted the re-

port of the Department of State Services (DSS) that it planned to inflate its membership data as well as hack into the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC's

voters register across the country.

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DEGRADATION

Dayo Ayeyemi

Sancti ty of Tr uth

No. 33

42-43

Bodo spill: N16 billion Group faults Shell’s compensati on

Communities in the NigerDelta have been drastically affected by activities of oil companies

p.22

Food price drops in index December

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Vol. 1

Insurance

Claims: Policyholder’s Leadway conflict with deepens

38

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15

12, 2015

Naira walks knocks CBN tight rope as ICAN

35

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Vol. 1 No. 327

Monday, January 12, 2015

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Ebonyi Assembly serves Elechi impeachment notice Charles Onyekwere and Uchenna Inya

T

Abakaliki

he Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday served the Governor of the state, Martin Elechi, impeachment notice over alleged gross-misconduct and other criminal offences.

The assembly in an eightcount signed by 15 lawmakers and read on the floor of the assembly by the acting Leader, Ogbonnaya Nwoforo, said the alleged grossmisconduct was a clear violation of the constitution, which prompted them to endorse the notice of impeachment on the governor.

Elechi, whose tenure will end on May 29, also lost his bid to the Senate during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial primary election.

The lawmakers also argued that contrary to and in breach of the express provisions of sections 7 and 8 of the Ebonyi State Local Government Councils and Development Centres (Amendment) Law No.007 of 2007, Elechi appointed and inaugurated 28 persons as coordinators of the centres without prior screening and confirmation by the simple majority of the assembly.

The embattled governor was also alleged to have appointed and inaugurated the

13 chairmen caretaker committees of the various local government councils and appointed chairmen and members of the state Independent Electoral Commission (ESIEC), Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Secondary Education Board, Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) and others without the assembly’s confirmation.

The assembly also accused the governor of obtaining a N3 billion loan in August 2014 from First Bank of Nigeria Plc repayable within 11 months to be completed in May 2015 on behalf of the state government without obtaining the necessary consent of the assembly.

Another allegation was that the state government spent N 6,617,000 in incorporating the Ebonyi Oil and Gas Development Company Limited with 200,000,000 ordinary shares in 2013 and allegedly allocated 100, 000, 000 controlling shares to Edon Nigeria Limited, represented by Edward Nkwegu; 25,000, 000 shares to Elechi’s son, Elechi Nnanna Elechi; 25,000,000 shares to Best Southern Global and “surprisingly giving the financier, which is the state government, a minority shareholding of 50, 000,000.”

The lawmakers further alleged that Edon contractor abandoned the Ebonyi

l Remove me with justifiable reasons, governor tells lawmakers l Says Anyim behind his ordeal International Trade Centre, which Elechi had allegedly approved its over-inflation to N2,475,114, 9998.50 billion and the sum of N790, 221,833.25 million was paid to Edon and notwithstanding the purported abandonment, Elechi went ahead to award the construction of the International Market to Edon at a whopping sum of N3, 676,942,825.70 billion.

According to them, the governor also allegedly approved the increase of the contract sum by an additional sum of N39, 204, 44.00, yet “the contract remains abysmally performed and is far from completion,” which its completion date

was fixed for October 2013.

Moving the motion, Obasi Odefa, said Elechi should be served the impeachment notice on the ground of gross-misconduct through publication in any national dailies, local tabloids, announcement in radio and television, including reporting of proceedings, through courier services to Elechi’s office or pasting the notice on any public notice board in any of the ministries.

Odefa said any of the above means could validate the constitutional requirement to serve the governor. The motion was seconded by Frank Onwe, representing Ohaukwu

North Constituency.

The Speaker of the assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku, however, adopted and announced that he would serve the governor through any of the means and it shall stand that the governor had been duly served.

Commenting on the move, Elechi urged the members of the assembly, who were pushing for his removal from office to find justifiable reasons to remove him.

Elechi, who spoke at the Government House, Abakaliki, during an interview, said: “No day passes without one or more national dailies reporting the

thickening of impeachment plot against me. The reports border on efforts to assemble sufficient number of signatories or investigation to justify the impeachment.

“It is interesting for Nigerians to know that the decision to impeach me preceded the finding of justifiable reasons to do so. It is simply the case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.”

Meanwhile, Elechi has accused the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, as the mastermind of the impeachment proceedings against him.

Elechi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Dr. Onyekachi Eni, said the assembly was not properly constituted as only 15 lawmakers sat out of 24 members. He, therefore, described the exercise as baseless.

Police: We’ve arrested policeman who shot Uduaghan’s ex-ADC Ndubuisi Ugah and Emmanuel Onani with agency reports

T

he Force Headquarters has confirmed the arrest of a yet-to-beidentified police corporal attached to Mopol 10, Bauchi State, who shot and killed the former Aidede-Camp (ADC) to Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Mr. Chris Ifeanyichukwu Eza. The police said the officer had been arrested and taken into custody.

Responding to Saturday Telegraph’s enquiry on the incident yesterday, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police (ACP), said: “Confirmed.

The officer who shot him is in custody and being interrogated. The incident is regrettable.”

A junior mobile policeman attached to Mopol 10, Bauchi, had on Thursday night shot Eza dead.

An online news portal, THEWILL quoted some sources as saying that the killer-cop had turned himself in for arrest at a Bauchi police station, after the

shooting.

Eza was until his death a Squadron Commander in Mopol 10, Bauchi.

Police sources claimed that the motive for the shooting had not been established but added that the killer-cop went berserk following a minor disagreement with Eza before shooting him five times and killing him instantly.

The death of Eza, who hailed from Erowha in Isoko South Local Government Area had been a rude shock to those who served with him in Delta State when he was ADC to Uduaghan.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Haruna Mohammed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident while speaking with journalists in Bauchi yesterday.

He said when the incident happened, “the victim was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi where he was certified dead by a medical doctor and the corpse deposited at the mortuary for post-mortem examination.”

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, during the president’s visit to the monarch in Asaba, Delta State…yesterday PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Compensate us for civil war massacre, Deltans tell Jonathan Dominic Adewole

T ASABA

he Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, has called on the Federal Government to step up the process of paying compensation for the mass execution of his people during the 1967 Civil War. Edozien, who revisited the massacre of the people of Asaba when President Goodluck Jonathan visited his palace yesterday, said Nigerian soldiers killed thousands of Asaba indigenes in the wake of the civil war, leaving their kinsmen in sorrow, tears and blood till date.

The monarch, who laud-

ed President Jonathan, who was on a consultative visit to various groups in the state, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), for the courageous role he played by constituting the concluded National Conference Committee, appealed to him to dualise the link road from Asaba to Kogi to Benue and Abuja.

He lauded the President for taking the bold step against Boko Haram terrorists even as he enjoined him to liaise with the National Assembly on the implementation of the national conference report.

He said: “So, many of our people were killed during the civil war and till to-

day nothing has been done to appease the people. We appeal and look forward to when the Federal Government will compensate us for their gruesome murder.”

While the monarch assured him of his support for his re-election bid, he urged him to upgrade the standard of the budding Asaba airport to global standard.

Earlier, President Jonathan who sought the blessing of the traditional ruler on his re-election campaigns, promised to improve on the 20,000 kilometre road network he constructed, promising to complete 10,000 more kilometres when re-elected.

While he thanked the monarch, whom he described as a “First class traditional ruler” for the support he has enjoyed from his domain, he vowed to unleash another four years of prosperity on the Delta state, and Nigeria at large.

He said: “I want to reassure you that as a party, we will do our best to bring peace and security to the country, and fast-track economic development in all parts of the country. We have tarred over 25,000 kilometres of the 36, 000 kilometre federal roads and we promise to complete the remaining ones and open up more arterial roads when re-elected.”

6

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

FCT No plan to sack Jega – FG

N EWS I N BRIEF

ST

The Federal Government has again denied the reports making the rounds that the Presidency planned to sack the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

All Progressive Congress senators had on Friday raised the alarm about a plot to force Jega to go on terminal leave next week.

But the supervising Minister of Information, Edem Duke, who based his defence on the recent assurance made by President Goodluck Jonathan during the last presidential media chat, said: "On the issue of the INEC Chairman, I want to align myself with Mr. President on that matter.’’

FCT

YENAGOA Senate passes Biosafety Bill to Law PVC: Bayelsa declares The Senate has finally passed into law public holiday on March 2 a bill for the establishment of Biosafety Management Agency.

Biosafety bill became a matter of national importance following an International Protocol which Nigeria is a signatory to.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was signed by over 160 members; variously at 2000 and 2002. Although Nigeria recognised it has not been able to domesticate the Protocol until now.

The Cartagena Protocol on Bio safety is said to be an important instrument that addresses the safe transfer, handling and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) that may have adverse effects on conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity; in view of the possible risk to human health.

Bayelsa State Government has declared March 2 as a public holiday to enable all registered voters in the state to go to their various registration points to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The state government also advised residents to take advantage of the weekend and the public holiday to visit their communities and places of registration to collect their PVCs. A Government House statement to this effect, said the state government was already ensuring the provision of logistic support to political leaders, through the office of the Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters to sensitise and mobilise their people in all the local government areas and communities.

PDP: Tinubu wants to be president by subterfuge Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alleged a sinister plot by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to become president through the back door.

Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, at a press conference in Abuja, said its investigations had shown that Tinubu had forced the APC vice-presidential candidate, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, to swear to an oath to resign after six months in office.

“The wicked plot, as laid out by them, is to force Osinbajo to resign for Tinubu to be nominated by Buhari as his replacement.

The ultimate objective of this plot is to ensure that Tinubu becomes President.

The script is simple: given the questionable health of General Buhari, Senator Tinubu who is desperate to be

president for his own selfish reasons will simply bid his time in the evil expectation that General Buhari will not be able to go the whole hog,” Fani-Kayode said.

Describing it as repugnant and sad, Fani-Kayode said no thoroughbred Yoruba man or Nigerian would want to get power through the misfortune of another person.

He said the reason why the alliance between the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) could not work was the refusal of Pastor Tunde Bakare to resign as vice-president for Tinubu to takeover from him.

“Becoming the vice-president is not the destination but becoming the president!

The agenda of the cabal within the APC is with the perceived health challenges of Buhari. They have told themselves in hushed tones that he has prostate cancer, acute asthma and that he suffers from dementia."

Troops flush Boko Haram out of Gulag, Bara, six others Emmanuel Onani L-R: Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo; Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Alhaja Mopelola Aderemi and Chairman, Freelance Independent Broadcasters Association Nigeria (FIBAN), Alhaji Kola Akintayo, at the presentation of an award of distinction to the governor in Ibadan…yesterday

Orji booed at Ezeonyia’s funeral REJECTED

Abia State governor was pelted with sachet water due to his government's unpopularity.

Peter Osondu

A ABA

bia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, ‘frosty relationship’ with the people of the state as well as his leadership deficiencies resurfaced yesterday.

He was booed and pelted with sachet water during the funeral of the pioneer Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Most Rev Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia.

The crux of the matter, according to the people, especially Aba residents was that the governor had neglected the commercial city that generated a lot of income for the state, for the over seven years he has been governor.

Orji, who attended the burial ceremony of late Ezeonyia alongside his wife, Odochi; his deputy, Emeka Ananaba and wife, former Minister of Labour and

Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, among others got the shock of his life when he was booed in the church when his name was mentioned among dignitaries that attended the Holy mass.

It was also gathered that the organisers of the event, who ordinarily would have allowed the governor to address the church and also appreciate the Catholic leadership for sending 48 Bishops to the funeral, was denied such privilege, to forestall further negative reaction from the audience.

The situation was, however, not the same as the crowd gave rousing ovations when the names of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who sent representatives, former Abia State Governor and APC chieftain, Ogbonnaya Onu, were recognised by the announcer.

Though he was not officially recognised, but the dignitaries watching the event through large television screens mounted at various locations around the church premises would at any time the image of Dr. Alex Otti, the APGA governorship candidate appeared on the screen received a standing ovation

by the people.

It was gathered that several efforts and entreats made by Orji’s protocols to persuade the church authority to allow their principal to address the gathering failed, as they signaled the aides who mounted the state box by a corner of the church to dismantle it and take same back to their vehicle.

Some Aba residents who watched the drama commended the Catholic Church for such a bold step, wondering what a governor who have no interest of Aba residents at heart would come to tell them.

According to them, they were already in a mourning or sad mood and do not need Gov. Orji to remind them how sad it for them as Aba residents following the neglect visited on them by the governor after they massively voted for him in 2011.

Other dignitaries at the event were 48 catholic bishops across the country, the first Civilian Governor of the state, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and his wife, Chief Reagan Ufomba, factional governorship candidate of APGA, Pete Edochie, renowned broadcaster and actor.

Various speakers, including the immediate

younger brother to the late cleric described his death as a big loss and irreplaceable, stressing that it had created a big vacuum among the Catholic faithful, the bishops and the immediate family, including the Uke people where he hails from.

Ezeonyia, who was also the pioneer bishop of Aba Diocese would have marked his 25years of Episcopal as the Bishop of Aba Diocese later this year before his death on February 8 after he suffered stroke attack.

Cardinal John Onaiyekan in a tribute said they (Catholic bishops) were rattled by Ezeonyia’s death.

He added that a vacuum has been created within the bishop’s circle.

Abuja

I

n a determined effort to defeat Boko Haram and pave the way for the successful conduct of the March 28 and April 11 elections in the North East, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has announced the liberation of eight territories in Adamawa and Yobe states, hitherto under the control of the insurgents.

It said the development followed two days of fierce fighting between troops and the insurgents, whose blood-letting campaign, had claimed over 12, 000 lives.

The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade.

The statement listed the following as the recaptured towns: Bara, the Headquarters of Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State, Gulag, the Headquarters of Madagali

Local Government Council of Adamawa State, Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa.

This brings to 38 the total number of territories retaken by the military from the insurgent group. The insurgents are located in the three North East states, where troops are engaged in counter-terrorism operation.

Other towns earlier recaptured by the military, as announced by the Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) and Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, are: Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso, Wanti, Jeram, Karisungul, Hong, Mubi North, Nubi South.

Others are Maiha, Michika, Shuwa, Wuro Gyambi, Gombi, Vimtim, Uba and Bazza, all in Adamawa State; Mafa, Gamboru- Ngala, Malam-Fatori, Abadam, Marte, Monguno, Baga, Gujba and Gulani.

PVCs collection now 78.93% –INEC Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said about 54,327,747 (or 78.93 per cent) out of 68, 833, 476 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) have so far been distributed.

This leaves a total of 14,505,729 PVCs yet to be distributed with less than 10 days to March 8 dead-

line given by the commission for the exercise.

A statement by the Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said only 2,052,380 (3.01 per cent) have been distributed between February 17 and now.

The commission had on February 17 said 52,275,367 PVCs (about 75.94 percent) were distributed.

The table shows that

Akwa Ibom State has the highest number of PVCS collected so far at 1,587, 566 at 94.46 per cent, followed

by Bauchi State with1, 938, 192, PVCs or 94.36 per cent.

Ogun State is still the lowest figure of 808,590 PVCs collection or about 44.20 per cent, Zamfara State has 1,397,296 PVCs(93.42 per cent) while Taraba State has 1,252,491 (93.42 per cent).

28 FEBRUARY 2015

INEC dispels claims of selective PVCs distribution in Lagos

T

Muritala Ayinla he Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday dispelled the claims that some nonindigenes in Lagos were denied their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

This was even as the commission lamented that about 1.8 million PVCs were yet to be collected by registered eligible voters’ in the state.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, who said this during a demonstration exercise of INEC’s card readers to the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the state had the highest number of registered voters with 5, 822,207 eligible voters, out of the 68,833,476 registered voters and was followed by Kano State with a total number of 4,975,701registered voters.

Orebiyi said out of the 5.5 million PVCs already collected for Lagos, only 3.693

million cards had been collected, stressing that a total of 430,000 PVCs were still being awaited from INEC’s headquarters in Abuja in the next one week.

He noted that INEC staff had been deployed in the 8,462 polling units across the state to enable the 1.8 million people to get their PVCs. He said: “As at yesterday (Thursday), the total number of cards collected in Lagos to date is three million six hundred and ninety three thousand out of 5.5 million cards that we have collected so far from Abuja. At the moment we are still expecting another 430,000 cards which should arrive by next week. But we still have in our custody 1.8 million cards yet to been collected.

“This morning we have again deployed our staff in all the 8,462 polling units across the state to make the collection much more accessible rather than stay at the local government offices where we have been for the past three weeks.”

No UNIJOS student killed in Jos explosions –VC Musa Pam Jos

V

ice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Plateau State, Prof.

Hayward Mafuyai, has refuted media reports that 12 students of the institution were killed during Thursday’s twin bomb explosions that claimed 15 lives along Bauchi Road Motor Park, close to the university’s gate in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

Mafuyai denied media report which in some national newspapers (not New Telegraph) claimed that the university lost 12 of its students to the explosions, yesterday during a press briefing at the Ni-

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geria Union of Journalists (NUJ) office.

He said only one female student sustained minor injury and was discharged yesterday from the hospital to allow her sit for her semester examination today.

Mafuyai said: “There was a bomb blast at the Bauchi Road Motor Part, which is about 60 metres from our gate and the second one is opposite the university's Faculty of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Gate. We are here to make certain clarification because of certain reports that have emerged from the print media; the reports said that 12 students of the University of Jos have died as a result of the blast."

OGBA Obasanjo tasks African scientists on Ebola cure

NEWS IN BRIEF

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday challenged African scientists to strive towards finding a cure for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), HIV/AIDS and other killer diseases ravaging the continent.

Obasanjo, who was disturbed by the plights of some Ebola – stricken West African countries, said he was eager to hear that the cure for Ebola and other diseases emanated from an African laboratory.

The former president spoke in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while addressing the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences on the topic: “The African scientists in a fast changing world.”

The lecture was organised in honour of a renowned late African scholar, Prof. Ali Al’Amin Mazrui, who died last year.

224

The total number of male circumcisions done in Namibia in 2009.

Source: Who.int

ASABA Utuama: New funding formula for DELSU if…

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama (SAN), has assured the academic community of the state university, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, of government’s readiness to introduce a new and enhanced funding formula for the state’s premier tertiary institution if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is voted into power in the March 28 and April 11 general elections in the state.

Utuama, who is the chairman of the Contact Committee of the State PDP Campaign Organisation, said this when he led 10 other members of the committee in an interactive session with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), DELSU Branch, in Abraka.

FCT Buhari: APC slams PDP

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the needless resort to sheer hysteria by the PDP and the Jonathan administration over the globallyacclaimed appearance of the APC's Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the Chatham House in London on Thursday.

In a statement issued in London yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said even when it was so apparent that the PDP and the Jonathan administration were so stunned and stung by Buhari's well-accepted presentation, they could have saved themselves from further disgrace by simply keeping quiet, instead of exposing their inanities.

6

The total number of goals conceded

by Croatia in Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

£433,333 The monthly salary of Luke Shaw of Manchester United.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

Supreme Court orders Dariye to face corruption charges VERDICT

The apex court has ordered the retrial of former Plateau State governor for corruption charges.

Tunde Oyesina

T Abuja

he Supreme Court yesterday ordered the former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye, back to the high court to face corruption charges slammed on him since 2007.

The apex court, however, dismissed the interlocutory appeal which has stalled the trial of former the governor.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, described the scenario played out in the

entire case as a “sad commentary” on the nation’s fight against corruption.

In a unanimous judgment by the five-man panel, the court ordered the accused to return to the Abuja High Court to face his trial.

The apex court had described as unmeritorious, Dariye’s appeal against the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on his preliminary objection challenging the competence of the charges instituted against him and the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court to entertain the suit.

Saturday Telegraph recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on July 13, 2007, arraigned the former governor on 23 counts bordering on money laundering and other corruption charges allegedly involving “billions of naira” belonging

to the state government.

The EFCC accused the former governor of among others, diversion of about N1.2billion of the state’s ecological funds into the account of Ebenezer Ratnen Venture, which was one the companies through which he allegedly siphoned the public funds.

The trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Abuja High Court, had scheduled trial to commence on November 13, 2007 when the former governor filed his notice of preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction and the competence of the charges.

The appellant had contended that the FCT High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit since the alleged offences involved funds belonging to the state government.

He thus argued that he

ought to have been tried in Jos and urged the court to quash the entire 23 counts preferred against him.

However, the apex court, in resolving all the four issues formulated against the former governor, held that the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the ruling of the FCT High Court which had dismissed his notice of preliminary objection.

Justice Ngwuta held that all the four issues determined by the court were resolved against the appellant.

“So, the appeal has no merit. It is hereby dismissed. The appellant should go back to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to stand his trial on the charges levelled against him. This is a sad commentary on our fight against corruption. Appeal dismissed,” the court held.

Northern Elders Forum insists elections must hold Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

T

he Northern Elders Forum (NEF) yesterday called on the Federal Government to ensure that the March 28 and April 11 elections timetable was adhered to as stipulated by the law.

The Forum said it was imperative for a government to be enthroned at the federal and state levels based on credible, free, fair, and transparent elections

by May 29 this year.

The forum at a press briefing in Bauchi, by its spokesman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said it would reject any arrangement

which was inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Abdullahi explained that the forum had observed various sinister plots being hatched by the ruling elite to scuttle the elections and derail regular democratic institutions from functioning to serve the needs of the nation and its people.

“Intimidation and harassment of opposition as ample evidence seen in various parts of the country like Rivers State, Kano State, Lagos State, and several other cases of intimidations targeted against individuals,” he said.

7

L-R: Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi; Governor Babatunde Fashola and Deputy Director, ICT Unit, INEC, Mr. Muyiwa Yussuf, at the demonstration of the use of card reader machine in Ikeja…yesterday

8

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28 FEBRUARY 2015

ILORIN LOKOJA ‘PDP best option for Kwara’ Cleric’s wife, 3 children Deputy governorship candidate of missing N EWS I N BRIEF

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the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, has described the party as the most credible platform to actualise the vision of a new and better state.

Aluko, who was a former Security Adviser to former governor Bukola Saraki and incumbent Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed, however, argued that personal interest for the state was the motivating factor behind his current relationship with his two former bosses.

The PDP candidate, who was on a courtesy visit to the Correspondent Chapel, Kwara NUJ, said the power of incumbency notwithstanding, the PDP stood a chance of forming the next government in the state.

Mrs. Augusta Irabor, wife of Pastor Francis Irabor, the founder of Great Calling Ministry, Abuja and her three children, have been reported missing.

On February 6, Irabor and her children ages between two and five, who were said to have left their residence at Utako Area at 5:00 pm to an unknown destination, are yet to return. Irabor, who was in the United Kingdom when the incident occurred hurriedly returned in search for his family.

The three children are Sarah (5), Rhoda (4) and David (2).

Irabor is worried about the disappearance of his family as he was also kidnapped late last year by unknown gunmen along Lokoja Express Road while returning from his in-law’s funeral. But he later escaped.

ADO-EKITI Fayose’s attack on Buhari hypocritical – APC

Ekiti State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state Governor, Ayo Fayose, of having an ulterior motive in his unrelenting attacks on the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The party in a reaction to Fayose’s claim that he has nothing personal against Buhari said the governor was being haunted by his alleged past misdeeds and a fear of being made to face the wrath of the law in the event of an APC victory at the March 28 presidential contest.

To the Ekiti APC, Fayose is being driven by self-preservation and not national interest as he is making Nigerians to believe, pointing out that Buhari’s presidency would not tolerate impunity and lawlessness in which the Ekiti helmsman allegedly thrives in.

68.42%

43

362,549

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Latvia in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

The number of pending asylum seekers of China at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

The total number of active fixed wired or wireless lines of Nigeria in October 2013.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

Ibori’s conviction cost £14m –Lar REVEALED

Lawmaker discloses cost of prosecuting former Delta State gov Chukwu David

C Abuja

hairman, Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-corruption, Senator Victor Lar, yesterday disclosed that a whooping sum of £14 million (N400 billion) was spent to secure the conviction of former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, in the United Kingdom.

This was as he asserted that contrary to insinuations and public criticisms that President Goodluck Jonathan had not done much, the President had fought corruption in the country more than any past leader or president in the country.

Lar spoke during the

2015 budget defence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

On the cost of securing Ibori’s conviction, he said: “People are quick to celebrate the conviction of James Ibori in the U.K. The truth is that to secure Ibori’s conviction, a whooping sum of £14 million was expended. That is almost N400 billion, which is more than ten years recurrent and capital budgets of all the anti-corruption agents put together.

“In other climes, a percentage of funds recovered or the proceeds of crime is retained by the recovering agency for funding their activities.”

According to him, the enforcement agencies were doing their best in the fight against corruption in

Nigeria under the present administration.

He, however, said the only reason why Nigerians did not notice this was that there was no more 'media trial' arrest, which used to be undertaken before, unlike the impunity of the past administrations.

“Gentlemen of the press, let me shock you by boldly asserting and declaring that contrary to the general impression being held in certain quarters, the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has fought corruption more than any other administration under this administration.

The various agencies have secured more convictions against corrupt officials and economic saboteurs.

“Indeed, over 600 convictions were cumulatively secured by EFCC, ICPC, with the NDLEA destroying a regional record of hard drugs. In fact, the discovery and destruction of three methamphetamine

making factories in Lagos (State) have continued to confound the international community.

"The truth about the fight against corruption in Nigeria is not that the enforcement agencies are not doing their best, it is that now, unlike the impunity of the past; there is no more ‘media trial’ arrest, which used to be undertaken before.

“Investigation has now been rightly reverted to the 'last' step to prosecution. Media trial has been reduced to its barest minimum. We concede though that the general expectations of Nigerians of the enforcement agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption is that we should see more convictions particularly of politically exposed persons.

"The truth about this is that it is not due absence of diligent prosecution by the agencies, but it is convoluted legal system,” Lar said.

APC, PDP differ on polls’ c’ttee in Kwara Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State yesterday disagreed over the motive in setting-up of a 21-man committee by the PDP to prosecute the general elections.

While the APC at a news conference addressed by its chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani, claimed that the group was a “war council” with the task of planning state-wide violence ahead of the polls, the PDP said the group was merely a strategy committee and accused the APC of playing semantic games on the earlier reference to the committee as a “war council.”

Balogun-Fulani, who was

Boko Haram fighters in disarray, DSS alerts Emmanuel Onani and Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he Department of State Services (DSS) has alerted that Boko Haram fighters are now in disarray, following unrelenting assaults on their locations in the North East by the military.

It noted that the recent spate of attacks by the insurgents in Jos (Plateau State), Kano, Borno and Yobe states, respectively, were an expression of anger over the heat being turned on them, by the military.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, the DSS advised the public to be vigilant, especially in crowded places, and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

The statement said: “It has become evident that follow-

ing the successful and sustained air raids and intense combat operations by the military on insurgents’ positions in the North-East which have effectively degraded the capacity of the terrorists, its members are now in disarray and have resorted to taking out their anger on hapless civilians and soft targets."

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has said officers and men of the Nigerian military were in complete high spirit to tackle the current insurgency in the North East.

Speaking at an audience with the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labriolle, at the Presidential Villa Abuja, Jonathan said he was very confident that Nigerian troops will maintain the momentum they have built up in the ongoing operations against Boko Haram.

Ghanaian surgeon on Glo-sponsored African Voices

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L-R: (Front row) Chairman, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr. Jerry Nnubia; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate, Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh; his wife, Prisca and NULGE Secretary, Mr. Austin Okoro, after a meeting where the union endorsed Umeh’s candidature in Awka…yesterday PHOT0: NAN

flanked by other party leaders at the briefing, alleged that the APC uncovered the PDP's plot after it state chairman, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, constituted a 21 member “war council” at a meeting it held on February 21 at the PDP state secretariat along Asa-dam, Road Ilorin.

But PDP’s deputy governorship candidate, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, who was confronted with the allegations when he paid a courtesy visit on the Correspondents Chapel of Kwara NUJ, dismissed the insinuations by the ruling party.

He said: “The idea of a ‘war room’ was from well know traditions but that when it was raised as a concept to think for the party, every reference to its usage as a ‘war council’ was jettisoned to avoid confusion."

lo-sponsored Cable Network News (CNN) International’s magazine programme, African Voices, will this weekend feature a renowned medical doctor, Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, as celebrity guest on the show.

Boachei-Adjei, an Orthopedic surgeon from Ghana, is being featured a week after Nigerian doctor and founder and publisher of Health Care, Bola Olaosebikan.

Boachie-Adjei developed interest in medicine early in life when he faced a life-threatening illness as a child. Since then, he has spent decades striving to save the lives of others.

His passion for medicine has made the Ghanaian

one of the leading experts in the field of spinal surgery worldwide.

A Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Chief Emeritus of the Scoliosis Service at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), he is also an Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at both HSS and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

CNN International African Voices will run the edition between 4.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. today and at 12.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. tomorrow. Viewers could also watch the show during the repeat broadcasts on Monday at 11:30 a.m. and on Tuesday at 5.30 a.m.

28 FEBRUARY 2015

My husband fought for Igbo's unity, says Ojukwu’s wife Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

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igeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, has said the greatest honour the Igbo nation will bequeath her late husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, is to defend and guarantee the sustenance of the unity, culture and tradition of Ndigbo, which Ikemba Nnewi lived and died for.

In a goodwill message sent to the traditional Prime Minister of Ndigbo, Dr. Mike Ozua Okoye, during the installation of the General Overseer of Tree of Life Gospel Ministry, Nnanka, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Most Rev. Jerry Dada Obi, as the (Mbanabalagu Ndigbo), Ojukwu said such an honour was befit-

ting to her husband.

She said Igbo leaders should de-emphasis money politics and unite to defend their cultural heritage in order for them to continue to remain relevant in the scheme of things.

According to her, the March 28 and April 11 general elections is a litmus test to the continued co-operate existence of Nigeria and Ndigbo should be properly guided to avoid unpleasant consequences.

In his remarks, Okoye said Ndigbo were prepared to make the supreme sacrifice to defend their traditional culture and value system as a people.

He said what made the difference in human existence was her language, culture and tradition while commending the Ohaneze Ndigbo for sustaining and upholding the tenets of Igbo cultural values.

IKEJA ‘Jega must proceed on terminal leave’

NEWS IN BRIE F

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A group, Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN), has said it will be a discriminating conduct should the Federal Government fail to direct the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to proceed on a pre-disengagement leave.

President of the group, Chief Udo Udeogaranya, said: “We all recalled in 2010, the then Acting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ordered that the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) Professor Maurice Iwu, to proceed on a predisengagement leave and those shouting now on the roof top over purported Jega terminal leave, hailed Iwu’s terminal leave order then, as the best thing to have happened to democracy in Nigeria.

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ABAKALIKI Elechi opposes Ebonyi ministerial nominee

Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, has opposed the confirmation of the state's ministerial nominee, Chief Fidelis Mbam, saying he was not consulted for the nomination unlike the previous ones. Mbam was named the state nominee by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Fielding questions from journalists at the Government House, Abakaliki, Elechi accused Mbam of dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when it mattered most.

He also accused the ministerial nominee of electoral violence when he contested senatorial election under the defunct ANPP in 2011.

445.2m

881

The estimated total population of Latin America and Caribbean in 1990.

Source: Un.org

The number of refugees in North Korea at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

YOLA NDLEA decries female teenagers’ involvement in drug abuse

Adamawa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised the alarm over increasing rate of female teenagers’ participation in drug abuse in the state.

Fielding questions from journalists in Yola, the state Commander of the agency, Alhaji Hassan Zungeru, said the development was worrisome and alarming.

Zungeru said recent statistics by the agency and other sister agencies had revealed that there was an increasing rate of female participation in drug abuse.

“Youths are the worst culprits of drug abuse in the state. While in the previous years, female teenagers are not known to be actively participating in hard drugs,” Zungeru said.

₦276.88m The IGR realized from other revenue sources of Ekiti State in 2011.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Ex-NBA chair condemns call for Jega’s sack Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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ormer Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), has condemned the call for the sack of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Daudu said those calling for Jega to proceed on terminal leave are just on a wild goose chase.

Daudu stated that Jega’s office is not such that the occupant should go on terminal leave at the dawn of scheduled general elections.

He said: “It is a matter of wishful thinking to wish that Jega will go at a time like this.”

The former NBA boss also threw his weight be-

hind the deployment of the military in the conduct of the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria.

Daudu further noted that the military are not being deployed to participate in the election but to protect sensitive materials used in the conduct of elections.

“The military are not deployed to participate, however, because there are certain sensitive election materials to be protected, they would be available especially in this era of Boko Haram. It is their duty to assist in keeping internal security. However, they won't be at polling booths to wipe people into lines like the members of the Nigeria Police or the Civil Defence Corp, but they, the military, should be available for immediate deployment.”

Naira records biggest monthly fall Ayodele Aminu

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he Nigerian currency, the naira suffered its biggest monthly fall in over five years this February, dealers said yesterday.

Currency traders that spoke with Reuters attributed the steep fall in the value of the naira to concerns over political uncertainty and the Central Bank of Nigeria's ability to manage a currency hammered by weak oil prices.

The naira shed 8.3 per cent to the dollar in February, dealers said, worse than a 6.9 per cent fall in November after apex bank devalued the currency by 8 per cent in order to save the nation’s foreign reserves, which have fallen steadily.

Reserves were down 8.6 percent by February 26 from a month ago, to stand at $31.46 billion after central bank stepped up support for the currency.

The naira closed at N202 on the interbank market on yesterday, a level it broadly traded at this week, dealers said.

A sale was carried out yesterday just before the interbank market closed, at N198 naira for $82.9 million, Thomson Reuters data showed. Dealers attributed the trade to a dollar sale by the CBN. At its weakest, the naira was quoted at a record low of N206.60 to the dollar earlier this month, a decline of 20 percent since the start of November.

Traffic gridlock due to queue for petrol at filling stations on Herbert Macaulay Way in Abuja…yesterday

PHOTO:NAN

Fuel queues resurface in Lagos, Ogun as NNPC cautions against panic buying HARDSHIP

NNPC injects additional 688 million litres of petrol into market.

T

Adeola Yusuf he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday cautioned motorists against panic buying as fuel queues resurfaced in filling stations in parts of Lagos and Ogun yesterday.

While the gates of NNPC mega station and AP in Egbeda/Idimu road were locked against customers, long queues were seen in Acorn and MRS filling stations in Oworonshoki axis of the Lagos - Ibadan expressway.

Long queues were also seen at MRS and Fowobi filling stations in Ota, Ogun State.

The Management of the NNPC, however, yester-

day, called on members of the public not to engage in panic purchase and hoarding of petroleum products as the corporation is working with all downstream industry stakeholders to eliminate the noticeable artificially induced fuel queues in some fuel stations.

The corporation in a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said it had already increased substantially, the volume of petroleum products distributed to marketers.

The corporation added that it is also injecting additional volume of 600, 103.047 metric tonnes of premium motor spirit, the equivalent of 688 million litres of petrol into the market within the next 48 hours, to arrest any short fall that may have been triggered by the unnecessary fears of an imminent scarcity of product.

The Federal Government had been guiding against

fuel scarcity following the promise it made to pay N264 billion subsidy debts.

Minister of Finance and Co-coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, addressed fuel marketers and importers at a meeting in Lagos and the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) where she said that part of the outcome was the promise by the minister to offset the debt before the end of March.

Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Thomas Olawore, who disclosed this at a press conference on Tuesday, said the fuel reserves, which was before the meeting depleting, has begun to pick up.

“The situation of product tightness, which is being witnessed before will improve. If you see any tightening, it is temporary,” he said.

The MOMAN consists of Total, Mobil, Oando,

Forte Oil Plc, Conoil and MRS. Olawore, who said the N87 per litre of fuel is unsustainable “with the on-going recovery of crude prices at the international market,” called for complete deregulation of the downstream sector to permanently give the government, the marketers, Nigerians and all stakeholders rest of mind.

He said: “We have outstanding recovery and outstanding on foreign exchange differentials. We were paid N345 billion last year for 2013 and part of 2014.

“However, we have some outstanding of 2014 and part of this year, totaling 164 billion on subsidy. On foreign exchange and interest, the outstanding, which the government is owing us is around N100 billion now.

Therefore the total outstanding, which the government owes us on subsidy, foreign exchange and interest is totaling N264 billion."

SATURDAY

Voices Would you attend your ex's wedding ceremony? p.12

Street Diary SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

10

Witches back Jonathan for re-election

A

Chiazor Uduh s the battle for the 2015 general elections hot up, a selfconfessed wizard, Dr. Okhue Iboi, has said the elections have already be won and lost.

Iboi, who claimed to be the Secretary General of the Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria (WITZZAN), said the elections had already been won by the incumbent President and candidate of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigerians and politicians across the country had been warned to expect many shocks and surprises.

Making this declaration in an exclusive chat recently at Ajara, a village on the outskirt of Badagry in Lagos, Iboi, said candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, and his party were just wasting their time and resources.

The PDP candidate, he said, was blessed from birth with the gift of getting whatever he desires.

“It is natural with him, he was born with it, the mark is on his body, he gets whatever he desires, you can’t go into a contest with him and defeat him,” the witches and wizards spokesman said.

According to him, 2015 is a year many politicians will suffer disappointment, and cry as certain strange developments will take place on the political arena.

“If only Nigerians can see what we are seeing in our crystal ball, many will step up their prayers. Nigeria will not break in 2015 contrary to what some people have been saying but there will be political earthquakes that will shake this country,” Iboi said, adding that the revelations were part of what they saw (the witches) in their crystal ball at their last quarterly general meeting held in Ogoja, Cross River State, recently.

Asked to explain further, Iboi said: “We are not trying to put fear into the minds of Nigerians. But we should all pray very well.

“President Goodluck Jonathan will win the poll. All Progressives Congress, APC, will flop. After the poll, the rank of APC will scatter.

“We are, however, asking Nigerians to pray because a serving governor, seeking re-election may die during electioneering. Again in broad daylight, vultures will remove the caps of two serving governors, seeking re-election while they are on campaign rostrum. On our part, we will continue to intercede for the nation.

“We as white witches are not evil people. We do good, and this is why our members always ask me to come out and show my face openly to let Nigerians know what is happening in the cosmic world. As stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we will not fold our hands and allow any evil force to threaten the peace and development of Nigeria,” he further said.

He advised leading APC presidential aspirants, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Major-General Muhammadu Buhari “to go home and rest. Like we warned both men in 2011, several months before their party primaries took place, Buhari and Atiku are going nowhere again, they

For seven times, we looked into our crystal ball, it was the same result we got on Atiku and Buhari. They are going nowhere in 2015

Iboi

are just wasting their time, energy and resources, and nothing will come out of their Presidential bids. None of them will become President in 2015.”

Urging Atiku and Buhari to take heart and retire quietly from politics, Okhue said: “For seven times, we looked into our crystal ball, it was the same result we got on Atiku and Buhari. They are going nowhere in 2015. Nigerians should go and put it on record today that we witches have said so.”

On the Boko Haram scourge, Okhue said the insurgency would fizzle out before December 2015.

“We said so earlier this year that Boko Haram would be neutralised before the end of the year, and we have been told in our coven to assure Nigerians once again that Boko Haram will be defeated before the end of 2015. Nigerian military will re-

take all those towns and villages occupied by Boko Haram,” he stated.

Calling on President Jonathan to ensure that the military was fully equipped, Okhue added that witches would also join efforts with the Federal government to defeat Boko Haram.

“In the spiritual realm, we are deploying our members to infiltrate the Boko Haram rank and file. We are going to send confusion into their midst right from now, every action and steps taken by Boko Haram will be a wrong one. They are going to be humiliated and neutralized,” Iboi said, adding that Nigerian witches and wizards would deploy some of their members to monitor the polls.

“We are going to deploy observers for the polls. It is our own contribution to ensure fairness. Where people want

to manipulate and cause confusion, we will ensure that sanity prevails, we will expose election riggers and manipulators in funny ways,” he stated.

On the APC national leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, he said: “Some evil people held a meeting at Oke-Igbo in Ondo State recently to perfect evil plans against him but we white witches saw them, and we went there to scatter their ranks. Tinubu is a good man, many of our members said he should be protected. However, Tinubu should fortify himself spiritually.”

While reaffirming their earlier warning to Tinubu that his political empire might crumble, Okhue said: “Tinubu should watch it. He should pray and fortify himself spiritually otherwise some of the states being controlled by APC will be lost to the opposition.”

CDHR protests against poor power supply, exorbitant charges Shola Adefuwa

A

Non-Government Organisation, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned the erratic power supply and exorbitant bills being charged by electricity companies.

The Lagos Chairman of CDHR, Buna Isiak, during a protest in Ikeja on Friday, observed that Nigerians were fed up with the companies.

He said: “We have patiently collated log of complaints from members of the public and Nigerians as a whole coupled with the direct experience from our various homes on the deliberate exploitation and extortion of Nigerians by the Ikeja Electricity The protesters

Distribution Company (IKEDC).”

Isiak said that Nigerians and firms expended much money on fuel to power their generators, yet IKEDC still expects them to pay their outrageous electricity bills.

“The nomenclature kept changing with high hopes and promises of improvement but the reverse is the case. System and services at the moment continues to transform from bad to worse. The company discharges poor and erratic service to the masses.

“Lack of power supply has remained the major setback for our economy and we decided thereof to mobilise the mass of the people as a test to condemn IKEDC’s act of dishonesty and deception,” he said.

11

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

SaturdayLetters You have a right to be heard. Send your letters and photographs to saturdayletters@ newtelegraphonline.com. Letters should not be more than 150 words and must have the name and address of the sender.

Q uotes of the week

‘PDP has mismanaged the economy.

You can all see that you need about N220 now to buy $1. When PDP took over power in 1999, $1 was between N60 and N65. They have destroyed the economy.’

- Adams Oshiomhole, Edo state governor.

‘There’s a court case against Obanikoro in court in Lagos and that case is com­ ing up for hearing on March 6. Should the Senate go ahead to screen Oban­ ikoro next Tuesday, it means the Senate has prejudiced the case. That would be illegal be­cause the tradition and the rule is that if there’s a case before the court, the matter should not be entertained.’

- Sena­tor Babafemi Ojudu.

Trading at the expense of their health in Lagos city. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Need for cleanliness to contain the spread of cholera Dear Editor, It is no longer news that there has been another outbreak of cholera in different parts of the country. The cause of this new outbreak of cholera can be attributed to lack of personal hygiene, potable water and toilet facilities.

Government should do its best to provide good infrastructure and potable water for the people, because the lack of these amenities the people prone to cholera.

Thompson Odur, Lagos.

Too many court cases in the build-up to the presidential election Dear Editor, The court cases in the days or weeks leading up to the presidential election scheduled for March 28 are too many and it does not augur well for the development of democracy in Nigeria. There is a court case concerning President Jonathan’s eligibility to contest in this 2015 election and another court case where some people are asking for Buhari’s disqualification. There is still yet another court case by some people demanding that INEC should not use the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) but should allow the use of the Temporary Voters Card in next month’s presidential election. These are the ones I can remember and I’m sure there are still other court cases which I either can’t remember or don’t even know about. These court cases are too many for a fledgling democracy and are capable of derailing the system if left unchecked.

Adams Egor, Plateau state.

President Jonathan has no plan to perpetuate self in office Dear Editor, Power and authority belong to God and only Him can decide the future. But absolutely, President Jonathan doesn’t have the intention to perpetuate himself in power. History will remember him as someone who was thrust onto the national leadership at a time of national crises and who grappled with the challenges and left the country a better place.

Emmy Chris, Enugu.

Government should be in business to curb the excesses of capitalists Dear Editor, Any government that doesn’t ac­ cede to the yearnings of its masses is not a popular one, and should not be allowed to continue. In my homes­ tate, Anambra, the present govern­ ment seems to be a popular one for now,as the policies initiated so far by it are masses-oriented ones. Some of

Time to investigate pre and post election violence and prosecute offenders Dear Editor, It is high time the government took the issue of pre and post election violence seriously and prosecute all offenders including the high and mighty who may be involved in such a crime. It is imperative now for government to take action because too many people have died over politics in Nigeria. We should recall that in the post-election violence of 2011 many Nigerians lost their lives in the North and nothing has been done to bring the perpetrators to book till date. This attitude of government has to stop.

Tonia Obi, Asaba.

those policies are increment in civil servants’ salaries and introduction of mass transit scheme which has benefited the masses so much. There are buses plying all routes in our state with a subsidized fare. Today, one can go to Awka from my place, Ihiala, with just N100 as against the normal fare of N450. This is the rea­ son why government should be in business, and not leave it to greedy Nigerian capitalists who are out to rip off the masses. Government

should establish businesses that will exist side by side with the private ones, in order to check their excesses.

Government should be there to pro­ tect the interest of the common man, and not the rich alone. Having said this, I will like to urge our Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to continue on this note, for this is the reason why he was voted in and will be voted in for second tenure.

Nnamdi Obi Awka, Anambra State.

‘I’ve always maintained that knocking Governor B.R. Fashola (SAN) for his achievements all because I’m running for Governor on a different platform will just be playing mere politics - and that’s not what I’ve set out to do in this campaign.’

- Jimi Agbaje ‘Some people were found to be under­ mining democra­cy using a powerful national institution like the military, and all the President could say is that there will be no investigation until the of ­fi cer who secretly recorded the tape has come forward to authenticate it. What a disin­ genuous argument.’

- Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC National Publicity Secre­tary.

‘On the rumoured plot of removal, legally, it is impossible to ask Jega to resign or remove him before the expira­ tion of his tenure. He is not a civil ser­ vant and therefore, cannot be subjected to the civil service rule.’

- National legal adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Muiz Banire.

‘They said that Jonathan’s government is corrupt and we ask them: what is the meaning of corruption? How can some­ body say he is coming to fight corrup­ tion and he is moving about with very corrupt people? Do you want to fight yourselves? Buhari is not corrupt but he inhales the odour of corruption.’

- Kingsley Kuku, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme.

‘If APC says today is Tuesday, Nigerians should check the calendar to be sure.’

- Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

‘Everything about Buhari is about dis­ cipline. Buhari would win the election because Nigeri­ans are now asking for change. Buhari has become a symbol.

He is a symbol of revolution in the minds of the people. He understands how to move the country forward.’

- Chief Livinus Okwara, South-East coordinator of the Buhari campaign organisation.

SATURDAY

Voices

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2015

12

Would you attend your ex's wedding ceremony?

I will, if invited and even contribute to its success

I would go there if I am invited and I would even contribute to the success of the wedding but in a situation where I am not invited, I would rather stay at home.

– Ojewuyi Roseline

He is my ex and not an enemy ex

There is nothing wrong with it

There should be no problem in going to my ex's wedding. It is no big deal, though we no longer date, but we still remain best of friends.

– Jackson Ibukun

If we are still friends

Yes, if he is still my friend. Yes I can, except otherwise, I won’t go.

– Precious Oluchi, student

Why not, I can, he maybe my but not my enemy. But if he deceived me to marry another woman, then I will not attend because if I do, it will be to scatter the wedding.

– Faith Onyinye, student

If the break up was not a painful one I will because I hold no grudges against him and have no regrets whatsoever calling it quits with him.

I still maintain a normal friendship with him after everything but if the break up was painful and I am yet to recover from it, I won’t go to the wedding.

– Elizabeth Ariyo, content developer

compiled by

EZEKIEL ADESAWE AND AYILARA DAYO

I will because I have moved on Yes, because I am happy for her and seeing her being married is a lot of joy. We need to move on with our lives. Yes, it is painful she left me for another man but that is not the end of the world. I need to move on with my life and pray for a better relationship because everything without prayer is failure again. For me, I would forgive and forget what happened between us and forge ahead for a better and lasting relationship.

– Edet Jimmy, student

I will even buy them a wedding present I would definitely go if I am invited. I would even present the couple with a big gift and buy their attire if they chose one.

– Ogunmusesan Dupe

News

T.B. Joshua, Soyinka, others listed among World’s Famous People

L

ess than a week after he was named the Yoruba man of the decade, another international recognition has been accorded the General Overseer and Founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet T.B Joshua and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who have been listed among the world’s famous people of all time.

According to the listing, Joshua is among the world’s famous spiritual and religious leaders, a category which included great religious icons such as John the Baptist, Confucius, Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Saint Francis of Assisi, Mother Theresa and Martin Luther.

In other categories, writers such as Alexander Swift, Lord Byron and John Bunyan, were honoured.

Renowned scientists such as Isaac Newton,

Hippocrates and Blaise Paschal, were also listed.

Maverick guitarist and rock star Jimi Hendrix as well as the iconic Louis Armstrong, made the cut in the musicians' category.

The list was released via www.thefamouspeople.com and also included former Isreali Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon (politician) and business tycoon, Peter Drucker.

Joshua and Soyinka are the only Nigerians on the list.

It would be recalled that Joshua was last week named Yoruba Man of The decade

by Pan-Yoruba online media group, Irohin Odua. According to the group, Chief Obafemi Awolowo emerged Yoruba Man of the Century while Nobel laureate; Professor Wole Soyinka was picked as the Yoruba man Of the Year 2014.

Joshua’s popularity has continued to soar even

UNICEF presents 5,800 schoolbags to IDPs children in Adamawa …says birth certificate right of every child Mohammed Kawu, and Ibrahim Abdul Bauchi /Yola

Soyinka

in the face of all the campaigns of calumny against the humble televangelist whose philosophy of “more on others and less on ourselves” has become an international model for the propagation of the love Christ preached. He has remained a prominent force in humanitarian efforts across the world attracting many foreign nationals to his native Nigeria and making the country the new-found hub for spiritual rejuvenation.

World leaders and those that matter in global society have continued to visit his ministry in search of answers to the unending questions life throws at them.

T

he United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has distributed 5,800 schoolbags and 15 tents to Internally Displaced Persons' (IDPs) children of school age under the Safe School Initiative in Adamawa State.

The distribution also came on a day UNICEF attributed the inability of parents to obtain birth certificates for their children to lack of awareness Speaking at the presentation of the materials, the representative of UNICEF in Bauchi Zonal Office, Mrs. Maryam Dikwa, said the gesture was to assist the displaced children further their education.

She urged the state government to ensure fair distribution of the materials for the benefit of the displaced pupils.

In his speech, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Alikidon Voh, thanked UNICEF for the intervention.

Voh said the gesture would go a long way in assisting the pupils and strengthening their knowledge.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Chief of D Field Office, Bauchi, Dr. Abdulai Kaikai, has described birth certificate as a document that contains information on name of a child, where and when he or she was born, saying every child has a right to a birth certificate.

KaiKai, who spoke at a meeting on how to boost birth registration for children, organised by the National Population Commission (NPC) with support

by UNICEF D Field office, Bauchi, said: “Information contained in the birth certificate will assist government in planning how many schools and health

centres to provide for the people.”

He said there were still challenges because parents need to understand the importance of their children's birth certificates.

“As the population grows, government need to provide additional facilities and can only do that when it has birth information, so we need to create more awareness in sensitising people on the importance and need of birth certificate.

“That is why we brought together traditional and religious leaders that are close to the communities to help us and the government to convince these families so that they can go and ask for birth certificates of their children from appropriate authority,” he said.

Also speaking, the state Director of NPC, Sani Ali Gar, said registration of birth certificates in the country had increased from 30 to 40 per cent.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

SATURDAY

WeekendDelight 13

C o n v e r s at i o n

Instyle The versatile Little Black Dress p.15

TV & Radio The 700 Club Nigeria p.44

Love & Living ‘I exposed my boyfriend’s homosexual relationship’ p.35

Hospitality

Wood Peckers Hotel: Elegance amid the madding crowd p.39

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

LANRE

DA SILVA-AJAYI

‘People were just moving with the norm when I started designing’ Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi parades a profile that can give her a dignified place even on global fashion’s pecking order.

This is gratifying especially for one who did not attend any formal fashion school. Yet, it was by no means a walk in the park, writes OLUSHOLA RICKETTS. anre Da Silva-Ajayi eats, sleeps and breathes fashion.

Her dress sense goes a long way to tell that she practices what she preaches. Her style is simply classy and people, especially women often look out for her at gigs. And at the recent reality show, Game On, she also demonstrated immense knowledge of the arts.

According to her, professionalism plays a pivotal role in everything she does in life and it is also a major reflection in her designs.

When she was approached and briefed about the objectives of the Malta Guinness reality show, she recalls thinking it was a brilliant idea and a project through which she could exhibit her passion for the industry more.

She told Saturday Telegraph that the Malta Guinness team must have been impressed with her achievements and decided to choose her to anchor the fashion team as captain to mentor the contestants on the reality show.

“I was pleased to be part of Game On and I did my best to ensure that the young talents tapped into my wealth of experience to prepare them for the exciting days ahead. It was a great opportunity for the young talents,” she noted.

Nurturing Talents Da Silva-Ajayi pointed out that there are so many young people who neither have the platform nor the capacity to actualise their dreams. To her, Malta Guinness did what many brands were uninterested in and came up with a brilliant initiative that will enable young people to stand on their feet afterwards. “Our society will greatly benefit from this initiative that aims to empower young talents with all the assistance needed. These young talents will in turn contribute on a large scale to the creative industry in Nigeria with time, which is a good thing. Also for everyone who watched and has a dream or passion, they will also be inspired to pursue it. Who knows, it could be their chance toCONTINUED ON PAGE 14

D A S I LVA-A J AY I

14

Weekend Delight

| Conversation

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

My vision came to pass but I can’t stop dreaming CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 3

morrow,” she adds.

Despite the visibility she has attained, she confessed it has not been a walk in the park. “Even at this stage, there are a lot of challenges and I constantly strive to be better and reach the zenith of my profession. The Nigerian fashion industry is growing rapidly, so you have to be able to visualize yourself somewhere before you can attain it. I will say I had a vision that has come to pass, but I can’t stop dreaming and striving for the next goal. It has been an exciting journey so far and I am very thankful to God and my loyal clients.”

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Coventry University and a master’s degree in finance from University of Leicester, one would have expected her to stick to a career in the banking sector or a related field. But, according to the fashion ambassador, her intense passion for the industry made her embark on that career path.

“When I got back to Nigeria, I made some outfits for my friends, and felt the public interest in my designs. I decided to pool resources and develop my passion for fashion further. It was not easy to find dressmakers to make the kind of garments I liked to wear for me then.

I am elated I made the choice.”

Before leaving Nigeria for higher education though, she had acquired the basic skills in sewing from her mother who insisted she should know how to put together an apron. Her words: I did not actually study fashion, but attended short fashion courses while I was living in the United Kingdom. That further led to my strong passion for vintage clothing. I loved going to Portobello market in London and the London Vintage Fashion, Textile and Accessories Fair at Hammersmith. It was something I did frequently and I think that further developed my passion for fashion designing. I made use of my parents’ dining table to cut while my mum helped with my baby. The dining table later became too small for me and I moved to a bigger place.”

Blazing A Trail The mother of two vividly recalls that when she started designing clothes people were just moving with the norm (blend in and be comfortable). But, she says, she came into the fashion scene and introduced the Victorian era style which includes over-the-top designs, exaggerated collars, bibs and sleeves, mixed colours that people were not used to seeing on a dayto-day basis. “This in my opinion made me stand out and people have come to know the LDA brand for its boldness, colour, and edgy designs,” she said.

Since she appeared on the fashion scene in 2005, however, things have been falling into place for her. Her brand is highly favoured among celebrities and fashion lovers. Notwithstanding her label’s strong historical design roots, she combines pattern, print, exquisite and even traditional fabrics to produce day wear, evening wear, gowns and cocktail dresses The brand has showcased locally in Nigeria and internationally, including the Thisday Africa Rising Festival, London in October 2008; Arise Africa Fashion Festival, South Africa in June 2009; New York Couture Fashion Week in September 2009; Arise Magazine Fashion Week, Lagos, in March 2011and 2012; Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2012 Made in Africa by Arise magazine in September 2011; London Fashion Week in February 2012; the Pitti Immagine, Florence, in June 2012, MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week in October 2012 and 2013 among others.

Also, LDA has been featured in various African and international media including L’Uomo Vogue, Vogue Black, Arise Magazine, Daily Mail, Essence.com, Fashion Bomb.com, Zimbio.com, WWD.com, ITN News, NTN24.com, ABCNews.com, Reuters UK and Centric/ BET. For LDA, as her brand is fondly called, inspiration comes to her naturally, especially when she is in her creative zone. “I get inspired by magazines, people I see, places I visit. The list is endless. My latest collection, the Rock Delight SS15 collection, which I showcased in Milan, Italy, was inspired by Olumo Rock in Abeokuta.”

In the course of her sojourn in fashion, she has met with fashion prodigies like Anna Wintour, Roberto Cavalli, Suzy Menkes, Angelica Cheung, Franca Sozzani, and a host others.

The World Is Her Stage Sometime in January 2012, designer Cavalli and Franca Sozanni, editor- in-chief of Vogue Italia and Goodwill Ambassador of Fashion 4 Development

made a special trip to Lagos and visited LDA’s flagship boutique to view her collections. The visit resulted in Da Silva-Ajayi showcasing a capsule collection during the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week Fall 2012/13.

It was also a fashion business initiative to attract the attention of potential buyers and investors.

Da Silva-Ajayi, who is the first of three children of her parents, hails from the famous Brazilian Quarters of Lagos Island. “While growing up, discipline was instilled in us and my father taught us how to be humble. Fashion has always been a part of me, and it was easy to transform my passion for the industry into a full time career. My parents supported my decision from the get-go which made it easy; having family support definitely helped in my decisionmaking,” she said.

Her mood, she says, determines her dress sense.

“I like to be comfortable, chic funky and classy with my style.”

LDA has created four different collections for international Dutch wax print giant, Vlisco - Urban Beat, Gallery of Poems, Reflet de Lumie`re, Tresor Brillant and Delicate Shades. With the image she has carved for herself in the industry, she now stands as a source of inspiration for younger designers.

While admitting that the industry is still growing in Nigeria, the 36-year-old designer sees fashion like any other business in the world. With the level of exposure in the country today, she says everyone is starting to see the returns on investment that fashion could yield.

“I believe the idea of fashion seen as underpriced is long gone. Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry and Nigeria is starting to tap into it.”

She sees every moment in her career as a highlight.

But one of the highest points of her career was showcasing at the Pitti Imagine held in Florence, Italy, which led to the LDA brand being the first African fashion label to stock at the Dolce & Gabbanna multi-concept store in Milan, Italy.

Local Innovation Da Silva-Ajayi has high hopes for indigenous fashion designers, noting that they’ve been able to use ankara to make remarkable designs. “There have been a lot of supports for the designers through the media, individuals and companies that have aided the industry to where it is today and all the international runway shows. Omoyemi Akerele of Style House Files has helped a lot of designers through the shows and exhibition platforms. Also, Mr. Kola Karim who facilitated the coming of Franca Sozanni and Roberto Cavalli to Nigeria and so many others have played huge roles in the industry. We are growing and that is something to be proud of,” she said.

Asked if she is worried by the intensity of competition, she dismissed ever having such fears, insisting she is rather happy that designers in the industry are making strides.

“It is good for the industry that more designers are coming up. This does not pose any threat at all to the existing designers because there is always room for more.”

But her greatest nightmare is with regard to the kind of training tailors are getting, which she describes as challenging for the business. “There are so many machinists around, but the pattern makers are hard to come by and we need good fashion institutes to teach the skill required in the fashion industry.”

Not Elitist For people who fear that they might not be able to afford LDA products, Da Silva-Ajayi has a word of hope. Her clientele cuts across all the classes, she said: “What you want could be different from what another person wants. Taste differs from one person to another.”

Regardless of her hunger to conquer more areas, she extremely remains thankful to God for her achievement thus far. “My appreciation and gratitude goes to so many people that have shown support and have helped push the LDA brand to the heights it is today. Hard work, patience and endurance are germane to be successful in any field of career. I try to exude all these traits as best as I can, and keep delivering good customer service to my clients,” she said.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

15

fashion etiquette Never wear knee-high gladiator sandals with clothes that extend below the knee

K

The versatile Little Black Dress

F

Angela Davies rench designer Coco Chanel popularised the Little Black Dress popularly known as LBD in her 1920 designs. The dress was later worn

by Hollywood actress, Audrey Hepburn, in the 1961 movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And since then, it is considered an essential piece in every woman’s wardrobe.

The beautiful thing about the LBD is that it is extremely versatile, and can therefore take on many different styles. Whether you are going to a semi formal, black tie event or just a special date, the LBD is always the perfect choice especially when you are undecided about what outfit to wear. Hence, the need for every lady to have at least one in her wardrobe.

With the LBD, there are different looks you can create depending on your personal style and the fashion statement you want to make. Consequently, you can create a conservative, trendy or sexy look with the style of the dress you opt for.

With so many styles available, selecting the right little black dress can be quite difficult since the dress comes in a wide array of fabrics, styles, cuts, shapes and necklines. Although a kneelength LBD is the most versatile and perfect for all ages and events, but, you have to consider your personal style, body type and level of comfort when purchasing one.

No matter the style of LBD you decide on, the best way to glam it up is with accessories. The right accessories can totally change the look of your outfit and overall look. So, spice up your look with eye-catching accessories like statement necklace, pearls, drop, hoops or studs earrings, bracelets, cocktail rings, stiletto, pumps, ankle strap sandals, clutch and even belt depending on the occasion.

No matter your size, shape and the look you want to create, there is always the perfect little black dress for you. Just ensure you opt for a style that you are comfortable in.

nee-high gladiator sandals are versatile. Nevertheless, you have to know how to wear them properly to avoid making fashion blunder.

To see the grandeur of the kneehigh gladiator sandals, it is appropriate to wear them with outfits that stop above your knees. In essence, knee-high gladiator sandals should be worn with shorts, short skirts and dresses since they cover the length of the leg and easily draw attention to the wearer.

Wearing a knee-high gladiator sandals with outfits that extends below the knee, will definitely hide the attractiveness of the sandal instead of enhancing it. It is vital to make your sandal the main focus as you put your outfit and accessory together.

For that edgy and distinct look, it is advisable to flaunt your kneehigh gladiator sandals but ensure your toe nails are strikingly painted with red nail polish as they would peek out of the sandals. So you have to be bold to wear this edgy and versatile sandal in short outfits to get noticed.

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Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Accessories to live for

Bucket bags Bucket bags are the ideal combination of utility and chic, writes ANGELA DAVIES.

T

hinking of what bucket bags look like? Well, even some women who carry this style of bag do not know what it is called. The bucket bag, said to be the skinny jeans of bag, won’t just leave the fashion scene.

The bucket bag has been around for a long time. Louis Vuitton's NoĂŠ bag first came out in 1932 and it was created to carry five bottles of champagne with the fifth turned upside down. But today, different designers have updated the bucket bag to suit the various taste of fashion conscious women.

Bucket bags have a round or oval bottom and a drawstring closure, resulting in a shape similar to a bucket. They usually have an open top, but may have a magnetic closure for added security. This is to prevent your necessities from dropping.

The bucket handbag styles are typically made of leather and can be adorned with studs, fringe, chain, zip, pouch and other embellishments for that extra allure. They also come in a variety of designs and colours.

The bag looks great with both casual and formal outfits but depending on the design. The conventional bucket bag have long shoulder strap which can also be used as a cross body bag if you want. However, the modern designs come in different sizes with shorter unique straps so that one can carry the bag stylishly.

And usually, the bucket bag is more spacious than it looks but you have to go light on the stuffing so that it does not go out of shape. So just carry the bucket bag in style.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

MY STYLE

Comfortable in casuals Makeup artiste, Mercy Iyamu, is comfortable in a pair of jeans and T-shirt on a normal day. Nevertheless, she dresses to suit special occasions, ANGELA DAVIES writes.

How would you define your style?

My style is simple and unique.

attending an event especially an evening event, I make it dramatic.

What determines the kind of outfit you wear?

The outfit I wear depends on the occasion I am attending.

Best colour Pink. It is a cool colour.

Which outfits take up the most space in your wardrobe?

You will see jeans and T-shirt because on a normal day, I like to look casual. You will also see lovely evening gowns for special events.

Is there any outfit you will never be caught wearing?

You will not catch me in skimpy clothes. You won’t even see me wear skimpy clothes when I am on set.

Most expensive fashion accessory you have ever bought?

It is a pair of high heel shoes by a designer called Replay.

Fashion item you cannot do without?

I don’t think I have any particular thing I cannot do without.

How do you love your hair?

If I am not wearing short hair, then, I must wear long braids that get to my butt. And it must be gold colour. Gold makes my colour glow and people easily associate me with the colour.

How do you love your makeup?

I like it subtle. However, when I am

Beauty W

hen it comes to the hairstyle that is suitable for any weather, the good old braids still comes first. They are the most popular protective styles and that is why they are also the most versatile.

Hence, for this hot weather, whether you decide to wear the big or small box braid, twist, pick and drop or Ghana weaving combined with braids, the way you decide to style your braids, is important for your comfort.

No matter how you love your braids, you can achieve a flawless style that will make you look incredibly chic and comfortable. So, you can wear your braids in bun, ponytail, braided updo or even wrap style and held in place with bobby pins or hair pins just to make you feel comfortable.

However, the braided updo and buns are probably the most popular ways to style your braids for a chic look. These two updo styles can be done in a variety of creative ways especially if you want to wear a new style every day or week. But ensure it suits your facial structure. These updo styles are also a perfect way to show off those earrings you love so much.

So if you decide to twist it, braid it, pin it or roll it, just rock your braids in styles you love. Take a cue from some of the pictures on this page.

What kind of jewellery appeals to you?

I really don’t wear jewellery that much. But if I must, it has to be simple but good-looking.

What kinds of shoes hold a special appeal to you?

I love Replay shoes whether it is high heels, wedge or flats. Their shoes are comfortable and last long.

Favourite designer I like a designer known as Giftiano. He may not be known but he ensures that whatever he sews fits and suits the wearer.

Signature perfume I love Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million for women. The fragrance is simply alluring.

If you were to be a fashion item, what would you want to be?

I will like to be a Replay shoe.

Who do you consider your fashion role model?

That will be Omotola JaladeEkeinde. I love the way she puts her outfit together. And she looks unique in whatever she wears.

Facts Shakara Couture label founded in 2004 is a familyrun business with a design team led by the creative director, Ewemade ErhaborEmokpae. She pursued her passion and attended the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins to be professionally trained in millinery, dress-making, fashion illustration and personal styling after her law degree.

Standard women’s clothes are designed to fit women between 5’4 and 5’8 tall.

At the end of the year, Louis Vuitton burn all their unsold bags. They take this drastic measure only to maintain the privileged and high-end nature of their brand.

The Guinness World Records named the Gucci’s ‘Genius Jeans’ as the most expensive jeans in the world.

Different ways to style your braids

17

SATURDAY

The Arts SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2015

Putting the performance in the art TONY OKUYEME writes on a collaboration aimed at bolstering performance art.

Reflection with

Tim Akinleye 08098668480

timwriteswell@gmail.com

SORROWFUL SOUND

P

erformance art is a genre that is not popular in the Nigerian art scene.

However, as critics posit, performance art is a natural part of the native African expression as installation art is to traditional religious setting of the people, contextualising it as an art form in contemporary terms, is still regarded with caution and suspicion.

For about one week, seven artists from the Nordic countries and West Africa converged on Lagos for an exchange programme aimed at sharing knowledge about performance art as it relates to the two cultures.

The creative exploration tagged “Performance Workshop Exchange” between Nordic Countries and West Africa, and hosted by the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, had Marianne Hultman of Oslo Kunstforening, Norway and Bisi Silva of Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos, as curators, and Petter Pettersson of Lilith Performance Studio, Malmo, Stockholm, Sweden as producer. Participants were Bernard Akoi-Jackson (Ghana), Christian Etongo (Cameroun), Henna-Riikka Halonen (Finland), Tori Wrånes, Sandra Mujinga (Norway) and Taiwo Aiyedogbon, Odun Orimolade (Nigeria).

The workshop offered insights into the various expressions possibilities even as it relates to other art forms.

The workshop’s schedules included video presentations in the morning and out-door in the afternoon. The works of the Nordic participants viewed via the video screens were mostly indoor, done either in studio or large scale sound stage.

On the final day of the workshop, saw the artists presenting their works live in both indoor and on the streets. Indeed, the performances turned some major streets in Yaba, Lagos, into giant stages with performances by Nigerian artistes and their counterparts from the Nordic countries, namely Orimolade, Aiyedogbon, Akoi-Jackson.

Earlier, Akoi-Jackson led participants through the streets in Sabo, Yaba, in his work based on environment and perception. The work of Aiyedogbon was about ritual offering to appease the gods and avoid bloodbath during the forthcoming general election in Nigeria. Her work was performed out door, at the junction of Herbert Macaulay and McEwen Street, Yaba.

The organisers stated that the aim of this collaborative project is to create conditions for a broader public representation of artistic cultures and traditions that have not received sufficient attention in Sweden/Scandinavia.

Basically, it’s abo ut creating conditions for freedom of expression for all citizens in the Nordic region and West Africa. “We believe that all partners have as much to learn from each other, it is the only prerequisite for a productive and creative exchange. Performance is still considered an independent art form, and because it has no historical ‘baggage’ in West Africa, it makes it a useful tool for conversations about contemporary art, its place in society and freedom of expression,” the organisers stated.

Also, the projects, they further stated, aim to provide space and a voice to the West African artists on the Nordic art scene. Oth-

18

When my piano hums in the minor, Deep thoughts engage my ears In some wet dialogues. Perhaps to honour A soul, who bows out in defeat. As fears Paddle my soul and eyes in tears.

Christian Etongo (Cameroun) performance

When into the memory lane I pace, The tour-guide unlocks the vault of my past, Then my moment is suspended in a haze; That's when my sorrow is augmented to last Whether in black or white, natural or accidental.

Bernard Akoi-Jackson (Ghana) performing at Yaba, Lagos

Between the major and the minor chords, Great melodies are often born in earnest That make the heart merry, dreary or recoil; Knowing whatever key fate strikes at her behest One must find some notes, a rhythm or a rest.

Sometimes, life’s tunes may be hard to dance, Its seventh may not always resolve the ding To harmoniously lead us home to see A crescendo. Or eh! The key is to again begin; Or modulate with a new scale to sing.

Bad times compose best music, Sorrowful sounds, regardless of clef or clime: Treble, alto, tenor or bass acoustic, May yet be the tune and melodic rimes To rehabilitate our rebellious minds.

All rights reserved. © Copyright Tim February, 2015

Olabisi Silva, director CCA at the Performance Workshop Exchange between Nordic countries and West Africa

er goals include the following: learn more about performance and the art form’s potential outreach; establish stable networks for future collaborations between artists in Scandinavia and West Africa; increase visibility of African artists at art institutions and galleries in Sweden/Scandinavia; offer the Lagos art scene an insight into the Nordic performance scene, through public presentations and a workshop based performance festival at Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos; offer Malmö a glimpse of the West

African performance art scene, through four large-scale performance art productions at Lilith Performance Studio.

The founder and artistic director of the CCA, Bisi Silva, recalled how the idea of the collaborative workshop was initiated

by Hultman, when they both met at an international art event, few years ago.

The issue of copyright was raised by Hultman during the discussion which covered a wide range of issues beyond the frame of the workshop.

We believe that all partners have as much to learn from each other

SATURDAY

OJB Tuface was sad we recorded African Queen without p.21 Plantashun Boiz

Has eastern Nigeria regained its lost groove?

p.20

ShowBiz SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2015

19

I had tattoo on my breast at 15 –Halima Abubakar

of man should be but not anymore as long as we can tolerate each other, I think that is it. Marriage is not an easy thing and I’m sure those in it can attest to this. I don’t want to say too much so that they will not say I’m trying to discourage those who are married because I am not. But do I want to get married? That is another question.

Kogi State-born actress and producer, Halima Abubakar, is probably one of Nollywood’s most controversial actresses.

In this interview with ANGELA DAVIES, she spoke candidly about Nollywood, marriage and pains of being criticised.

Why would you not want to get married?

I see a lot of people's marriages and it’s not something that I want to be in.

How would you describe yourself?

I am calm, easy going and calculating.

But you can make your marriage be what you want it to be Yes, I can that is why I said if we can tolerate each other. So, that is where tolerance comes in.

How long have you been in the industry and how is the journey so far?

The journey has not been wonderful but not easy, but I thank God because I am not the type who gives up. The fact that I am a young lady, giving up was not an option for me.

I have been in the industry for over 12 years; since I was a child. Well, I almost gave up but then I urged myself to keep pushing on and that’s it.

How would you define your style?

Different, eccentric and I don’t copy anybody’s style. I wear what I want to wear as long as I am comfortable in it. When I see people arguing about my style, I wonder if I am bothered but I am not. It is so funny when people criticise my dressing and later start dressing like me.

So why did you almost give up?

It was because the industry was not encouraging. It was very disappointing after dedicating so much time and resources to the industry and it doesn’t work out, of course, you will feel rejected. So that was what I felt at a point and I decided to just give it up. I told myself maybe I should go and get married and have children or do something. But then because I am not the type who gives up, I still decided to pursue what I enjoy doing – acting.

Was there a time you actually took a break from Nollywood?

Yes, I took a break from Nollywood twice. The first break was for three years and the second was for four years which is seven years in total.

You must have been really disappointed. So, what were the major issues?

I would not want to talk about one of the issues. But the second issue was just the fact that I am not in a clique. The third issue is that I don’t have a godfather but God. And the fourth one is money, I was being owed. They want you to do movies for free and I did that for a very long time. At a point, I had to tell myself that I didn’t even have a car yet I kept doing free movies and for how long will it continue? I had to put a stop to it.

Let’s talk about the issue of cliques Cliques exist in Nollywood. There are some producers who only want a particular set of people in their mov-

ies and it is still happening to a lot of actors. I have a lot of producers regardless of the fact that I didn’t work with them I still talk to them. And the only reason why I still do is because if I can survive for that long in Nollywood, I don’t think I want anybody to be my enemy. Also, I still talk to producers who still owe me till date for jobs I did a long time ago.

What other business do you do right now aside acting?

I’m into agriculture in Lokoja. I started with poultry before going into cassava and all that. Of course, the first year of the business, I lost more than I actually invested and it was heart-breaking for me. And then the building collapsed and I had to channel all the money that I had into that. But thank God for everything.

You seem to have lots of tattoos on your body. How many do you have

It is so funny when people criticise my dressing and later start dressing like me

and do you intend to have more?

Tattoos are addictive a bit although it’s painful, but I just have a few. The ones I have are not too common or exposed for everyone to see. It is the tattoo on my breast that everybody knows because I have had it since I was young. I had that tattoo at age 15 and I started acting when I was 13.

Which movie would you say is your most memorable production till date?

Probably White Hunters because it is a comedy and people liked it so much because of the role I played in the movie.

When should your fans expect to hear the wedding bell?

Well, first they should ask if I do have a boyfriend.

So who is your ideal kind of man?

I used to have what my ideal kind

Talking about criticism, you were recently heavily criticised when you posted a picture on social media allegedly showing your bra…

(Cuts in) I did not show my bra in that top I wore. It is a top I took from different clothing and because it had a cut-out in front I wore a black corset underneath. When I posted the picture on Twitter, someone first asked, ‘Is that a bra?’ Another person said, ‘what is she wearing?’ and the third person said, ‘I can’t believe you are showing your bra.’ And people just started criticising me instead of asking me directly if that was my bra showing. Since the top had a cut-out in front, I needed to wear it with a corset, tube inner wear or anything that I was comfortable in as an inner which was what I did but they didn’t understand it until I posted the top with the skirt it came with on Instagram side by side the picture of how I wore it.

And then, they started apologising that I should have positioned both pictures together earlier. I’m used to criticism now, so it is alright. These days, I respond to criticism because not responding to a lot of things cost me so much and I am not ready to go through that again.

You have produced about three movies. So what should your fans be looking forward to this year?

I have a lot of things for them.

For instance the movies, ‘How I was raped and the journey’ will be out very soon. And I have other people’s movies too that I featured in. I don’t want pressure in my life. They should just chill, I’m chilling too.

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Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Has eastern Nigeria regained its lost groove?

A

t the end of the Civil War, two things stood the Igbo race out: soccer and pop music. On the soccer scene Rangers and Vasco Da Gama football clubs took the lead, while pop groups like Strangers, Wings, Apostles, Ensemble, Funkees, Black Children, Flames, Wrinkars Experience, Heads Funk, Denono, among others, blazed the trail with what was commonly known as the Ariaria Beat.

Songs like Love Rock by the Strangers, Akula by the Funkees, etc were everywhere and even the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) couldn't ignore them.

Also, disc jockeys and presenters found songs from the pop groups very essential in their music libraries. Ariaria beat calmed the body and soul and quickly made the war trauma a forgotten tale.

At the time in question, Aba became the Mecca or centre of showbiz. The impor-

tance of the city became so pronounced that even Lagos-based pop groups like Mono Mono, Tee Mac Connection, Segun Bucknor’s Soul Assembly came to experience it. Also, the late afro beat King, Fela Anikulapo, could not resist the temptation of visiting Aba. From 1988 to 2005, however, a massive wind of change blew away all that had made the Ariaria beat prominent and introduced the “Jah Movement.” There was an exodus of musicians to Lagos. So, it was not a surprise when musicians like Onyeka Onwenu, Dora Ifudu, Oby Onyioha, Alex O, and lately Psquare, Flavour, Ruggedman, etc saw comfort in Lagos.

But a revolution is now taking place in the music industry, especially in Aba. Artistes such as Collenshy, X-ten, Young Kizzy, Ruff-Koin, Nwa-Aba are now putting the heat on their colleagues in Lagos.

A name that has particularly stood out above these new breeds of music is Ugota Dominic Maduka aka Young Kizzy.

The Ebonyi State born act recently just dropped an album titled Beyond Imagination, which instantly won the heart of presenters in the east. At present, no wedding or birthday is complete without the songs from the album.

A University of Port Harcourt undergraduate, Young Kizzy said, “I never imagined I could drop a debut album that will be well accepted. When I was working on the album, all I had in mind was to do a good job and take it up from there. I was overwhelmed with the impact it even created before it was launched.”

On the album, there are songs like Straw Berry Beautiful Girl, Kedu-Kedu, Naija Boy, etc.

– Okay Bob Okoro

Tonye sizzles at press breakfast

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rimed for super stardom, the Kalabari queen from Rivers State Tonye Nkiruka Garrick’s presence is hitting the Nigerian music sphere like a thunderbolt. Three years after returning from the US to fervently pursue a long hidden passion in music, Tonye has churned out five tuneful tracks altogether to the delight of pundits home and abroad. Simultaneously etching her craft on the consciousness of those with ears for good music other than relying on fleeting hypes, the dark-hued songbird in works titled, Ari Belema, Criminal, Wait for Me (A re-mix of Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Ade’s evergreen song), Insane and Criminal Remix featuring Timaya, is reassuring fans she’s not a flash in the plan.

The singer and songwriter with a university degree in international business and fashion merchandising pays quite an impressive attention to her trade. This explains why

SOLUTIONS TO CROSSWORD PUZZLE E X A M P L E N

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Etisalat parleys media, others on Idol 5

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s a build up to the season 5 episode of Nigerian Idol on March 1, the sponsor, Etisalat, journalists and guests to an exclusive episode of the show at Oriental hotel, Lagos.

Etisalat Nigeria's Head of Events and Sponsorships, Modupe Thani, said the company has packaged an interesting show for viewers and audience.

“As a brand we consider youths as a critical audience and we are passionate about what drives them.

This year’s edition promises to be one of the best because we have put so much in place to give the audience and viewers an all-round exciting experience.”

For this season, the winner will receive a N7.5 million cash reward; a brand new car and a recording deal with Universal Music Company worth N7.5 million among others.

S E E

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she travelled to Ondo a while back to get KSA’s blessing on the song, Wait for Me. Ari Belema, the latest of her repertoire is a Kalabari expression which simply translates as "I Love You". About two weeks ago, the crème of Nigerian entertainment journalists graced the Press Breakfast hosted by PR Uno to officially unveil the face behind the fine notes and tones and to exclusively release her new single, Ari Belema, cowritten by Ada Edolo. The track was produced by Orbeat. At the said event, Tonye’s interaction with the media exposed other colourful sides to her - fashion and interior designs.

Draped in a pair of tailored black shorts paired with a matching camisole from the Nigerian fashion brand, Gozele Green, Tonye sizzled in every sense of the word.

Young Kizzy

18. VAIL 22. ALE 23. USA 24. AKA 25. PAL 26. MARQUEE

15. BURUTU 19. AGAI 20. TEAR 21. NAP

British Council lauds BoI for growing Nigeria’s creative industry T he British Council has lauded Bank of Industry for its enviable impacts on growing the creative industry in Nigeria. At the fourth edition of its annual Creative Industry Awards held recently, the UK agency honoured stakeholders in the media, entertainment, fashion and business sectors in different categories.

The bank's group head of creative desk, Mrs. Uche Nwuka, on behalf of BOI's managing director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, thanked the British Council for identifying with the creative sector and encouraging various stake holders through her reward system. Nwuka’s words partly read: “We supported this project without any collateral and we are happy to say that the project performed very well.”

She named Filhouse Cinemas, G-Media distribution outfit, Silverbird Cinema, Ozone Cinema, Viva Cinema, Flower Girl and Half of a Yellow Sun as some of the projects the bank had supported.

Themed “Innovation and Creativity”, some showbiz stakeholders who smiled home with laurels include Don Jazzy, Ayo Makun, BellaNaija, EbonyLife TV and DJ Xclusive, among others.

L-R: Taopheek Babayeju; Director of Entrepreneurship, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Permander Vir; Group Head, Creative Industry Bank of Industry Limited, Mrs. Uche Nwuka; Director General, Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN), Mr. Wale Ewedemi and Leke Oyinsan at the 2015 Creative Industry Awards held recently in Lagos

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Showbiz

21

OJB: Tuface was sad we recorded African Queen without Plantashun Boiz it to what we have done in the past.

Jazzman Olofin and co used to rap the way Olamide, Reminisce are rapping now. Even if you didn’t mentor them directly the inspiration is in the air and they were part of the people who put it there.

In a recent encounter with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, awardwinning music producer, OJB Jezreel, speaks on a reported relapse after his kidney transplant and his music comeback.

How far have you gone with OJB Foundation?

We have done a lot. January 19 marked exactly one year we launched OJB Foundation. In that one year we have done health programmes where we brought in doctors from abroad to do free screening and test people to know their kidney status.

How often do you do the exercise?

We’ve done it like three times in the space of one year. It is not an easy expenditure because you have to think about the cost of bringing and lodging the expatriates. We've visited areas like Festac, Ikorodu town (both in Lagos), among others. The idea really is to make people to be conscious of checking their status. We saw teenagers with serious kidney problems in some of the areas we went to, including a 13-year-old, nine-year-old and a case of a baby born with it. We had cases that the early detection prevented surgeries, etc and the victims are okay now. It becomes a serious problem because it is not in our culture to visit the hospital.

How do you source for fund?

Right now, there is trust deficit everywhere and I don’t want my story to become 'he has come to disturb us again for money'. What we have decided to do is to reach out to one or two individuals and foreigners to support the cause and they must have seen that there is credibility in the whole idea. We partner with hospitals and sometimes we share the cost too.

Have you visited India for check up since you came back?

Since I got back it was normal to visit like once or twice. I have been there once and I think to a large extent God has been merciful. My story is just so funny, as the doctor also testified that the way I am responding regardless of the pressure is remarkable. I think I hold that to God. I am expected to just be sleeping, taking my medication and eating more. Naturally when you come out of a surgery you will want to be careful with things you eat, drink and stay away from stress too, but I am a hard worker. I didn’t start music relying on people; I worked for everything I had achieved. Since I am used to working it is an issue to stay idle, but I still need to slow things down because I have no choice.

There were indications that you fell sick again last year and some people attributed it to the kidney illness. How serious was that?

I was coming back from Abeokuta with a friend after my birthday last year and we had an accident. The car somersaulted. The windshield of the car cut part of my body and it took a long time to heal, almost two months. And during the healing process, I had to start using a walking stick to move around because I needed to keep working. So people started making assumptions because they saw me with stick and the way

I was in pain.

Who would you love to work with among the younger artistes?

In all sincerity it would be Burna Boy. He is strange and different. It is not something I’ m hungry to do, but if I have to it would be him.

Didn’t you feel the need to inform the public what happened?

What happened was still related to the kidney ailment in a way because the healing process was slower than normal and I needed to be careful. I even heard people saying that they had flown me out of the country again for surgery.

It seems the pace at which you do music has slowed down?

The natural graph of life must always happen. There is a level you get to and your noise is not as much.

This is not because you are not making hit songs, it is a level. There is what we call the new sensation; they must always take over. At a time I was the new sensation, I enjoyed that for 15 years. I don’t think anyone has held it that long. So, others must come up but my sound is still there.

When they are calling top 20, etc, my music will still be somewhere there.

It is a natural graph of life; that is the way I see that. But in all fairness to my songs, I have had a rough seven years battling with sickness and many other things. So, I didn’t have time to concentrate on music totally for a while. When an artiste tries to drop a material and there are many issues to battle with, it affects the outcome. When I got back last year the songs I put out were not my best, but I had to do something because I am a hard worker. I appreciate all what Nigerians did for me, but I am not the type that will sit down and expect people to feed me. I worked for everything I had achieved. So it has been a rough seven years; there have not been time to put my whole energy on music.

I appreciate all what Nigerians did for me, but I am not the type that will sit down and expect people to feed me

How do you intend to correct that?

I just recorded a song titled Chinedu. Regardless of the hit songs I had sang over the years, I rate this new record high. On the surface it is a dancehall, but it is deep. I believe strongly in time and the fact that there is time for everything. I think it is time to actually make a strong comeback into the music scene. I sincerely had tried to come back with one or two songs, but it was probably not the right time. When the time comes the unique idea comes. And the song is coming at a time I want people to know I am back.

But don’t you think the industry now favours younger artistes?

We have many artistes, but one OJB. We have one Tuface, one Psquare and so on. So it is not going to change anything. The problem here in Nigeria is that we try to disconnect the past from the present. Jay Z, Puff Daddy are still doing music, are we not cotemporaries? It is just like you telling me that Kenny and D1 should go sit down because they are not getting younger anymore. If you listen carefully to whatever these young artistes are doing you can link

OJB

What year do you consider your breakthrough in music?

I think that peak period was 1998. It wasn’t even African Queen that brought me into limelight. In '98, the music business was a small community and everyone just wanted that unique and foreign sound and there was no place they could get it but OJB’s. DJs and radio personalities were always coming to me to do one thing or the other for them. I did jingles and advert that people might not even know were done in Nigeria. So my breakthrough wasn’t African Queen, though it put me in the eyes of the world.

Do you consider African Queen your greatest production?

I cannot deny that. The song was well traveled. From there, I started going to work in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Italy, Scotland, Germany, among others, because of the success of the song.

Could you recall how you both arrived at the song?

It was during one afternoon, though Tuface was supposed to do the song with other members of the Plantashun Boiz. He didn’t feel good that he would have to do the song without them, but for some reasons the song gave me a kind of feeling I wanted. We however recorded it because we thought we should just do something and when everyone was gathered, we would adjust things for the others to do their parts. People always say they didn’t see a particular song becoming a hit, but I was expecting it. There were songs I did that I never expected to go far, but not with African Queen.

Since you’ve come back into music how many songs have you produced?

I have done like 80 songs. If I don’t work how do you expect me to survive? For someone like Joe El I know I have done almost like 15 songs for him, though the way he is releasing them might be at random. In Abuja I have been there to do like 20 songs and have been to the east too. I cannot really remember all, but I am working. Like I told you I work hard.

When I got back to this country after the surgery I was with three hundred dollars. I am not ashamed to say this.

So how do I feed my family? Do you expect me to ask for help again? Nigerians will just give up on me.

22

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

‘Fan walked up to me at airport and wanted to kiss me’ Soft-spoken Nollywood actress Esther Audu is passionate about her career in the make-believe world. The beauty who continues to dazzle fans with her diction and charm in movies talks about different issues with ANGELA DAVIES. How long have you been in the industry?

I will say I have been in the industry officially since 2010 after I graduated from the University of Jos where I studied business management. Before then, I took part in one or two plays. However, my love and passion for acting brought me into Nollywood.

But why did you settle for business management, and not theatre arts?

For me, acting is a calling and something I have always loved to do, whereas business management for me is a profession.

How was your growing up years?

Growing up was quite fun and interesting. I actually grew up in the barracks and it was fantastic. You know the military kind of parents, there was no room for being naughty or stubborn. I’m a Christian and a believer, from a family of six. I was actually born at Ikeja Cantonment, in Lagos.

Were you sexually-harassed as a new comer in the industry?

Talking about sexual harassment, it does not only happen in the movie industry, it is everywhere. But it has never happened to me. I’m a woman, men ask me out, men want to sleep with me but it is my choice to reject them. As a lady when you go out, men will definitely make passes at you or pass glances at you, but I don’t see that as sexual harassment. It is just about what you want. But desperation makes a lot of ladies fall and then they end up saying, ‘I have been sexually harassed.’ If you are interested in the man’s advances, you should accept and if you are not interested, you should also say no, nobody is going to force you to do what you don’t want. If you feel that the only way I can work with you is by dating you, you can as well keep your script.

What inspires you in life?

I am inspired by my family, God and the environment.

What do you look at for before accepting a script?

I look out for originality and impact. If I’m doing something, I need to make an impact in my own way. When I started acting, making impact wasn’t my goal.

But as it gets better, I needed to decide what I really wanted.

So, making impact is very im-

portant for me because I need to be able to touch a life with every script I take.

What would you say you like most about being a Nollywood actress?

I feel very happy whenever I move from one location to another facing the cameras, meeting people and learning new things.

Which would you choose: talent or beauty?

I will choose talent because talent can take you to a lot of places and beauty will be appreciated.

But beauty without talent, forget it, you are going nowhere.

Are you married?

I’m single but not searching.

I’m involved with someone.

So what do you find special in him?

That is my private life so I wouldn’t want to talk about it. A man is a man; it is just a thing of choice. So, I have my choice and I’m with my choice kind of man.

You have a passion for acting but what if your husband wants you to stop when you get married?

Well, my husband has the right to say that and I definitely can. But it is a matter of understanding. Well, I have not gotten to that bridge; however, when I do I will know how to cross it.

But marriage can affect certain decisions I would have to make.

How would you define your style?

Simple and comfort does it for me. I don’t follow trend, I wear what I am comfortable in.

What is that clothing item you will never be caught wearing?

I would never be caught wearing a net top without wearing something underneath to cover up.

What part of your body do you consider your most striking?

All parts of my body because they complement one another. So all parts of my body put together give me a fabulous look.

Do you have a crush on any male celebrity?

No, not really. I just love the songs of some artiste. The funny thing is that I could love somebody’s song so much but then, the person would pass by me and I wouldn’t even turn to look at the person.

Who are those you look up to in the industry that inspire you?

Different people inspire me.

I have people who inspire me

based on their skills and passion. I will say Nse Ikpe because she is really deep and I admire Genevieve Nnaji and Joke Silva.

I also look up to some male actors like Majid Michel, Ramsey Nouah and a few others If you are to go on a date with one male celebrity today who would that be?

That will be Idris Elba, his acting skill is excellent. I love him and would want to be on set with him. I also will not mind to go on a date with Shah Rukh Khan, Indian film actor, producer and television personality. Both actors are very passionate about their job and they are really deep. This also inspires me a lot.

What is the most interesting character you have played so far?

Most characters that I have played are quite interesting. That is because it is not like I play one particular character all the time.

I play different characters and I love most characters I've played so far.

What is the craziest thing a fan has said to you?

A guy walked up to me at the airport and told me that he wanted to kiss me.

What was your reaction?

It was quite embarrassing but I just smiled, waved at him and walked away.

Do you have any tattoos?

No I don’t have, it’s not my thing. For those who have tattoos, it is a matter of choice.

What puts you off people?

People with pride turn me off.

What are some of the movies you have done?

I have really lost count but a few are Heart of a Fighter, Drop of Tears, Blood of the innocent, Two Hearts and many others.

Desperation makes a lot of ladies fall and then they end up saying, ‘I have been sexually harassed

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Evelle

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Simeon

O'Khaz

Njamah

23

Lolo 1

Would you accept to be photographed without makeup?

R

Angela Davies ecently, fans of American singer, writer and actress, Beyonce lashed out on Twitter, after more than 200 of her alleged "untouched" photos from a 2013 L'Oreal Feria and Infallible campaigns, which advertise hair dyes, lipsticks and foundations leaked on a fan site called "The Beyonce World".

The leaked photos showed Beyonce in a way her fans were not used to seeing her face. Instead of the pictures showing her flattering, glamorous and flawless face, the close-up pictures showed glint of sweat on her forehead, a few wrinkles, visible pores and evidence of acne. This only shows that she is just a regular woman like everyone else.

When the pictures went viral, while some people were happy to see "unphotoshopped" pictures of the diva, some of her fans demanded that the pictures be pulled down as they claimed the pictures were not real. Hence, due to the widespread condemnation of the photos, the fan site had no choice but to remove the photos. The site owners

however noted that they just posted the photos to share the fact that their queen is naturally beautiful, and that she is just a regular woman.

Nigerian celebrities, from actresses to beauty queens and music artiste takes the time to post their makeup-free pictures on social media once in a while especially on their Instagram page so that their fans can see their close-up faces, warts and all, to highlight their humanity.

In doing this, while some are described in unflattering terms even with makeup, some are praised for posting pictures of their makeup-free faces which indicate that they are truly beautiful.

Although, makeup enhances a woman’s beauty, however, the question is would you want to be photographed without it?

Empress Njamah, actress – Yes, I will say a big yes. I love nature and I do it a lot. Makeup is just to enhance the beauty that is already there.

Doris Simeon, actress - Of course, I don't mind being photographed without makeup.

My face is beautiful, any other item is an icing on the cake.

Tonye Garrick, artiste Why not? There is much more

Beyonce's untouched and touched photos

to my beauty than makeup. It is just to me 'the finishing'. My black is beautiful and you can see it.

Nkeiru Sylvanus, actress If need be, why not? There are different reasons for different pictures, so I wouldn't mind my face photographed without make up to serve a purpose.

Lolo 1, On-air-personality and comedian - Yes, of course, I can be photographed without makeup, there is no big deal. I am beautifully-created.

Bola Akinboade-Bello, Celebrity blogger - If it's a professional photo shoot, I will definitely use makeup just to give the picture a perfect finishing. I am not a fan of heavy makeup though, something light and

flawless.

Evelle, Nigerian Idol winner – It is only people who think they are not beautiful naturally that have issues with that. On a second thought celebrities believe that their fans prefer them fake. So that's all they want to feed their fans.

D'lyte, artiste - I look way younger without makeup.

But makeup makes me bolder and older, so it's always nice to apply some light makeup before being photographed especially for a photo shoot for that makeover look. No doubt, makeup helps cover rough patches, spots and pimple, gives a flawless look and also gives beautiful ideas to the photographer.

SOME CELEBRITIES WITHOUT AND WITH MAKEUP

Chidinma

Bimbo Akintola

Rita Dominic

Genevieve Nnaji

Ebube Nwagbo

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

Thelma Omone O'khaz, actress – Of course, I can.

Makeup is only used to enhance what you already have.

It's not necessary that you use it all the time.

Blessing Patrick, actress - Yes, I can be photographed without makeup. Aside the fact that I am naturally beautiful, people always tell me that they prefer me without makeup. Makeup is just to enhance my natural African beauty.

Phina Don, actress - I am not really a makeup person because I like to look natural.

So, yes, I can be photographed without makeup. I look more beautiful when wI don’t use makeup. I apply makeup sometimes though.

Investigations SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 28 FEBRUARY, 2015

24

The ugly side of Shoprite

T

he coming of Shoprite, a world-class selling and leisure facility into the retail shopping business in Nigeria was greeted with mixed feelings.

While it brought relief to those, who had longed for it for so long, the small retail outlets in the country had anxiety over how they would survive sideby-side the giant, which has all the resources to edge them out of business.

But, while Shoprite appears to be muzzling some smaller retail outlets out of business, there are those who are seeing the competition as a sort of blessing. According to those in this divide, the situation has helped them to refocus their business strategies. “It has, somehow, brought unimaginable benefits to us, also,” they added.

However, a sales manager at Cash ‘n’ Carry electronics in Broad Street, Lagos, who gave his name simply as Thomson, believes that Shoprite would do more harm than good to Nigerian economy in the long run.

According to him, Shoprite is already overshadowing many small scale businesses and forcing their owners to close shops. “We need to be objective here. Small businesses do not have access to the kind of capital available to multinationals like Shoprite and as such cannot possibly compete favourably with them.

“For the avoidance of doubt, goods are not cheaper at Shoprite except if what you go there to buy are only drinks. The only time I go to Shoprite is when I have free vouchers. I once made my shopping list and confirmed their prices from my regular local supermarket and then drove all the way to Shoprite hoping to buy at cheaper rates. To my surprise, except for drinks, every other item at Shoprite is expensive. Above all, all the cash being made will fly back to South Africa at the expense of our economy. The question now is: What will happen to owners of small shops when the likes of Shoprite’s force them to close business?” he asked.

Angela Nwajei, a Brand Representative of The Wardrobe, a boutique shop located at No 37 Allen Avenue Street, Ikeja, also toe this line of argument. She sees the incursion of Shoprite within the Ikeja vicinity as more of a curse than blessing. To her, there is nothing special about the giant Shopping Mall other than its beautiful edifice.

“People go to the shop, maybe, because of the edifice or just to have fun. Often times, you find out that it is few of their things that are cheap like coke and other canned drinks. Edible things, clothes and others are very ex-

The incursion of price-slashing retail store giant, Shoprite, into the scene in Nigeria was hailed by customers, but is, somehow, causing ripples as it is gradually shrinking the market for smaller operators, writes ISIOMA MADIKE pensive. But, people prefer to go there simply to show off. Something like, oh! I got it from Shoprite and stuff like that. These slow down business of smaller shops because people hardly patronise them anymore,” she said.

Nwajei does not think that Shoprite has renowned designers because “I have been to a gown shop at The Mall and the gowns I saw there are just regular ones. So, people just prefer Shoprite because they want to belong.

Other things are equally expensive there: shoes, bags and sandal shops are examples of where prices are outrageous.

“So, shopping at the mall is more like an attitudinal thing among Nigerians. You know our mentality as a people. Nevertheless, the edge could be that Shoprite opens on Sundays

Goods are not cheaper at Shoprite except drinks

Rows of fruits

Isioma madike

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

Shoprite's outlet at Ikeja

PHOTO: suleiman husaini

and other shops don’t. But, with time they will face serious competition. You know they are still new; other people will soon catch up with them. I believe if so many people come together in one roof like Shoprite, then there will be stiff competition and they would be given a run for their money.

"What they are enjoying now is economies of scale. If our government can walk their talk, they would at least attempt to protect homegrown retail shops from the hands of foreigners," Nwajei said.

Incidentally, Bisket retail shop at the popular Allen Avenue, Ikeja is over 35 years in existence. It is one of the indigenous shops being threatened by Shoprite. A middle-aged man who would rather stay anonymous, but who claimed to be a manager at Bis-

PHOTO: LOGBABY.COM

ket, told this reporter that sales have been low since the arrival of Shoprite in Ikeja.

“Yes, we are feeling the heat from Shoprite. You know Nigerians with their mindset, since the arrival of the giant retail shop within our territory, the upwardly mobile men and women have literally abandoned some of us.

But, for our very loyal customers, we would have been in a more serious mess. We are just struggling to survive,” he said.

Just like Bisket, many shop owners at the popular Alade Market, also in Ikeja, are complaining. In what looked like a planned chorus, the traders lamented the lackluster trading activities in the market. They, however, attributed this new trend to the presence of the international retail shop, which, according to them, has drained their customers. Although, the retail traders agreed that Shoprite environment looks more hygienic.

In like manner, a lady sales representative at Corinthians Furniture, located at the end of Toyin Street in Ikeja said the management of the furniture company had their anxiety and fears when the multinational retail chain opened shop at the Alausa end of the capital city in 2011.

“My management was more perplexed when the mall was unveiled, because of the crowd that goes in and out of the place to do their shopping.

They had fears that the shopping mall would snatch their loyal customers,” the lady, who refused her name in print because “I am not authorised to speak to press”, said.

That notwithstanding, the sales in the furniture company did not decline as expected; but rather it improved after the initial interruptions occasioned by the mall. The reason was because their loyal customers remained with them while they discovered that the multitude they noticed at Shoprite just

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2015

SATURDAY

FREE

Sport Splash 25

League Cup Final Mikel may return against Tottenham p.27

Confederations Cup Dolphins look to turn back Leones Vegetarianos p.27

EPL

Man City threaten Liverpool's run p.29

Interview

I may run for Ethiopian presidency in the future – Gebrselassie p.30

Presidency has taken over NFF roles – Akpoborie J

Vincent Eboigbe

The Team Vincent Eboigbe l Assistant Editor Ajibade Olusesan l Correspondent Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

onathan Akpoborie is furious at the extent of politicisation of the otherwise simple matter of hiring a coach for the Super Eagles.

The position of the national team boss has been vacant since the expiration of the contract of erstwhile coach, Stephen Keshi, and the Nigeria Football Federation headed

by Amaju Pinnick had favoured a complete break from the past especially following Eagles’ failure to qualify for and defend the AFCON trophy they won in South Africa in 2013.

But the powers that be at the highest level of governance in the country have made it impossible to sack Keshi. The "Big Boss" was recently named as the sole candidate for the Eagles job by the NFF technical committee, but former Nigeria international, Akpoborie, insisted that the overt overbearing stance of the presidency regarding the

issue of retaining Keshi is objectionable.

“When they said it was only Keshi that was listed for the Eagles job I felt terrible.

How can they say that in a country of over 160m people? That is wrong,” a still livid Akpoborie told our correspondent.

“Yes Keshi won the Nations Cup but regardless of that fact we have been playing terribly, it was even through some stroke of luck that we won in 2013; wobbling and fumbling to clinch the trophy, but we give it to him. However, it is obvious that the man should have been let go since. I can tell you that if Amodu Shaibu had handled those last two AFCON qualifying matches we would still have qualified.

“Look at the way Cote d’Ivoire won the Nations Cup, everybody saw it coming in the way they worked for it. On our part, we were just lucky in 2013, go and watch the final match against Burkina Faso again you will appreciate my point.

“But the presidency has made it impos-

sible to move away from the debacle of the Keshi era. In fact, let presidency come and directly run the game in the country. It is even more obvious now that the post of the president of the NFF is a political one, if he can’t hire and fire a coach. Clearly there is no need for elections in the future into the federation since the presidency decides who the coach of the Super Eagles should be.”

The former Hansa Rostock and Wolfsburg striker noted that there was so much duplicity and insincerity regarding the matter as people who should ordinarily be forthright had chosen to play the diplomacy card.

Akpoborie specifically mentioned exinternationals who he accused of admitting in private that the situation with Keshi was untenable only to change tune in the public.

He noted that this attitude would not help in the quest to get the Super Eagles to the top again.

26

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Nigerian League Rendezvous

What should fans expect this season?

W

ith the kickoff of the Nigeria Professional Football League drawing near, fans have been asking questions about what the league has in store for them.

The 2014 league season was full of incidents both good and bad, as Kano Pillars won their third title in three years.

Some records were created in the league, while it is also on record that the season had the highest number of protests by players since the beginning of the league many years ago.

On the good side, Enyimba’s striker, Mfon Udoh, became the record top scorer in the league after scoring 23 goals in a season.

Newly recruited Esperance of Tunisia striker, Emem Eduok, scored six goals in a single match in a 6-0 whitewash of Nembe City, an unprecedented feat in the league while so many players like Osoguona Ighodaro, Gbolahan Salami, and Peter Ebimobowei recorded double figures for their various clubs.

However, on the bad side, players of clubs like Dolphins, Sharks, Akwa United and relegated Kaduna United, protested the non-payment of their salaries for months.

Despite clubs still owing and some top players departing for greener pasture, the new season promises to be more exciting.

Enyimba was able to hold on to their top asset, Udoh, and the club

NNL Super 4: Chairman gives kudos to Kwara State governor

S

atisfied with the smooth organisation of the annual Super Four Tournament which ended in Ilorin, Kwara State, last Wednesday, the Chairman of the Nigeria National League board, Emeka Inyama, has commended the government and people of Kwara state for hosting a perfect competition.

Speaking to the media, Inyama commended the governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, for accepting at a short notice to sponsor the 2014/2015 NNL Super Four Tournament.

“It takes a man like Ahmed with deep interest in the development of the youths through sports and a lover of football to agree at short notice to bankroll the cost of organising a big football fiesta like the NNL Super Four Tournament which brings together four top clubs that gained promotion to the elite division,” the chairman of Abia Warriors said.

Inyama who is also a member of the Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation equally appreciated the efforts of some officials of Kwara State government and other stakeholders.

would be looking forward to him repeating his goal scoring form in the new season.

Will there be another goal king this season or another emerging star taking the centre stage? Which new coach will spring surprises in tactics and formations? Would more young players emerge in the NPFL as was the case with teams like Nembe City and Giwa FC? Which of the newly promoted sides, Shooting Stars, Kwara United, Wikki Tourists and Ifeanyi Ubah United will put fear into the old timers like Giwa FC and Abia Warriors did last season?

With Shehu Dikko taking over the leadership of the League Management Company, the fans cannot wait for the new season to start.

Okonkwo returns to Nigeria for Ifeanyi Ubah Utd

F

ormer Under-23 midfielder, Chibuzor Okonkwo, has returned to the Nigeria Professional Football League with newly promoted side, Ifeanyi Ubah United.

Okonkwo, who played for the club between 2004 and 2007 returned to the country after a stint with Libyan side, Asswehly S.C. The player, who was part of the silver-winning Under-23 team to the Olympic Games in 2008, has featured for several sides in the Nigeria league with Enugu Rangers his last club in the domestic league, before departing for Libya in 2013.

The former Heartland of Owerri star will be bringing his wealth of experience to bear on the Nnewi side as the club faces life in the elite division.

Also, to have a successful season, the club has secured the services of Crown of Ogbomoso's top striker, Bode Daniel, ahead of the new season.

Daniel was spotted in the camp of the "Ochendo boys" and the club has said they are working on clearing him from Crown ahead of the new season.

Okonkwo

Ikechukwu Ezenwa of Sunshine Stars is challenged by Razaq Adegbite of Rangers during their league match last season

Ifeanyi Ubah United: Kujah gives reasons for name change

F

riday Kujah has explained the reasons behind the sudden change of name of newly promoted premiership side, Ifeanyi Ubah United from Gabros International.

Speaking with League Rendezvous, Kujay said the need to position the club for greater feat ahead of the new season necessitated the change of name.

Kujah said the owner of the club, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma and Ifeanyi Ubah are brothers, claiming that there was nothing wrong naming your property after your brother.

“I was surprised when I saw in the newspaper that Gabros had been sold to Ifeanyi Uba when actually he owns the club through his brother,” Kujah said.

“If you look at Ubah’s achievements, you will know that he has the magic wand to take the club to a new height.

“There is need for him to bring his good luck to bear

on the club, I can tell you that the change of name is already bearing fruits. The club just won the NNL Super Four and hopefully we can make a better impact in the league this season.”

Elaborating further, Kujah said the achievement of Ubah in his business has shown that he has the magic wand citing the example of Capital Oil owned by

Ifeanyi Ubah United

the young businessman.

Ifeanyi Ubah United gained promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League after finishing top in Group B of the Nigeria National League last season; the club also won the Super Four competition organised by the NNL to identify the NNL champion, defeating Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-0 in the final game.

28 FEBRUARY 2015

McCleod steps up preparations for ITF Africa Juniors

D

F

resh from her impressive performance at the ITF Junior Circuit that was concluded at the weekend in Kenya, emerging youngster, Angel McCleod, took no time to announce her intention to bring glory to Nigeria as she registered for the maiden Lagos Country Club invitational tennis tournament scheduled to serve off on Monday.

In company of her mother, Beauty, who was a former Nigerian player, the 13-yearold returned to the courts on Thursday to fine-tune her readiness for the five-day tournament which serves as the last-lap of preparation for the ITF Africa Junior Tennis Championship billed for March 9 to14 in Tunis, Tunisia.

McCleod twice reached the semifinal of the West & Central Africa Junior Circuit in Togo but her display in the U-16 category where she competed in order to fast-track her development was astonishing which earned her a month long scholarship trial to Morocco soon after the AJC in Tunisia.

The organisers had ruled her out due to the fact that she had taken part in many tournaments and feared she might be tired. However, they were surprised that the youngster, who last year shifted her base to Lagos from Dubai, showed up for registration. Among the other players that trained on Thursday at the Lagos Country Club - the only clay court facility in Lagos - are Tunisia-bound Michael Ayoola and Martins Abamu.

Meanwhile, a total of 48 players have been confirmed for the tournament that is in five categories. They are Girls U-10 and U-16, while U-10, U-12 and U16 will be competed for in the Boys’ event.

“In addition to the winners who will progress to the knockout stage, all the losers will also keep playing in what we have termed consolation draw aimed at making sure that the players play a handful of matches, either win or lose,” said Paul Moses of MP Tennis, organisers of the event.

27

Confed Cup: Dolphins look to turn back Leones Vegetarianos

Mikel

Ajibade Olusesan

McCleod

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Mikel may return against Tottenham M

Ajibade Olusesan ikel Obi may return to Chelsea line up when the Blues confront Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final at the Wembley Stadium tomorrow (Sunday).

Mikel has played just once for Jose Mourinho team in the past one month.

Injury and the imperious form of Nemanja Matic have kept him on the bench, but the 27-year-old is likely to be in action this weekend after Matic is ruled out due to a card offence.

Matic is serving a two-

match ban after bagging a straight red card in Chelsea’s 1-1 home draw with Burnley last weekend.

Mikel has played 21 times for Chelsea this season, four of them in the Capital One Cup and he will fancy his chance again as Mourinho seeks his first title in his second spell at the Stamford Bridge.

Victor Moses may add to his two goals in the English Premier League when his Stoke City host Sone Aluko’s Hull City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Moses scored the winner last weekend as the Potters secured a 2-1 win at Aston

Villa and has provided three assists before injury knocked him out for a few months.

Brown Ideye’s goal spree was halted at Sunderland last weekend but he can return to scoring ways immediately when West Brom host Southampton. He has three EPL goals to his credit and has formed a good understanding with Saido Berahino in the attack. The England international is doubtful for this tie and Ideye’s compatriot, Victor Anichebe, may be handed a role after medics declared him fit.

olphins will hope to reverse their fortunes when they confront Leones Vegetarianos today in the CAF Confederation Cup, after losing the first leg 1-0.

The Equatorial Guinea side arrived Port Harcourt on Thursday for the all-important encounter.

Dolphins’ loss in the 1st leg in Malabo on February 14 means they need a twogoal win to progress to the 2nd round in regulation time, but given the Port Harcourt-based side’s record against clubs from Equatorial Guinea, hope is high they will sail through on home soil even though they have not met teams from that country in the Confederations Cup. Dolphins have always beaten clubs from Equatorial Guinean in the CAF Champions League. In 2005, after losing 1-0 in the away leg to Renascimiento of Malabo, Dolphins won 3-0 in Port Harcourt.

In 2012, after winning 3-0 in the away leg against Sony E La Nguema, Dolphins won 3-1 in Port Harcourt.

Dolphins have however not played against any side from Equitorial Guinea in the CAF Confederation Dolphins technical adviser, Cup. Stanley Eguma

Nigerian Sports Award mourns Ogan

T

he organisers of Nigerian Sports Award, Unmissable Incentive Limited, has commiserated with the family of the late Nigerian sport veteran, Dr. George Ogan, who died on February 16, in Port Harcourt.

Ogan, aged 76, was born July 20, 1938, and had several exploits in long jump and triple jump. He represented Nigeria at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.

The late Ogan was one of the three sports veterans that were honoured by the Nigerian Sports Award with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in Sports Award at the 2014 edition.

Ogan, as a medical student at the University of Ibadan, won a silver medal in triple jump at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, to make a glorious podium appearance for Nigeria coming behind his fellow countryman, Sam Igun, who set a new games record in winning the gold.

‘Van Gaal, De Gea have not spoken in months’

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avid De Gea‘s future at Manchester United has been discussed often, with rumours that he’s a prime target for Real Madrid and demanding a release clause in any new contract.

The lanky 24-year-old goalkeeper has a contract that runs through the 2016 season and has been a massive part of United’s rise up the Premier League table.

But a report from Spanish publication AS, no stranger to

Real Madrid transfer rumours, claims that De Gea hasn’t spoken to his manager in quite a while.

“What is pushing De Gea away from Manchester and nearer to Madrid is his bad relationship with Van Gaal,” claims the report.

“They have not spoken to each other for a few months.”

The Manchester Evening News reported on the rumour, but was pretty skeptical of AS AS, often regarded as an

unofficial Real Madrid mouthpiece to drum up interest in prospective players, state Champions League winners Real are in ‘constant contact’ with De Gea’s agent, Jorge Mendes.

Mendes recently confirmed he was negotiating a new De Gea deal with United.

One thing is absolutely certain: Van Gaal will despise answering questions about this at the next Manchester United manager ’s press conference.

Van Gaal with De Gea

if they are to continue challenging for a top-four finish.

Last week’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool saw Ronald Koeman’s side drop out of the top-four for the first tome since December, while the Reds, Tottenham and West Ham are all breathing down their neck.

And the Dutchman told Shoot that he believes three points at the Hawthorns are crucial if Saints are to keep their European dream alive.

“We have to win this game,” he said.

“If we want to stay on the road for the Champions League, we have to win. I don’t care how we win, just as long as we do.”

However, Southampton have found the back of the net just once in February – Sadio Mane’s injurytime winner at QPR – but a rate of four goals in the last six league matches is something that doesn’t concern Elia.

“Every game I play for Southampton now, we have 80 per cent of the ball and are the better team,” he said.

“We create chances to score every game, so it will change.

“I always say when you score one goal, then the second will come too.”

Elia: West Brom game is 'mustwin' outhampton winger Eljero Elia SBromwich says Saturday’s trip to West Albion is a “must win”

Larsson

www.newtelegraphonline.com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

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n the space of a few hours on

in his first year at Chelsea in 2005, and

Liverpool. With only 12 rounds left,

Sport aris Saint-Germain's trip to face Monaco at Stade Louis II on Sunday headlines the action in Ligue 1 this weekend.

P

Barca sit four points behind leaders Real Madrid, who welcome Villarreal to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Real head into the clash on the back of three consecutive 2-0 wins in all competitions since losing 4-0 at local rivals Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

Atleti have the chance to put a significant dent in any Champions League aspirations Sevilla may have when the sides meet at Estado Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Monaco host PSG

2-1 win in the first leg of their last16 clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Messi missed a golden opportunity to effectively put that tie to bed when he saw a stoppagetime penalty saved by goalkeeper Joe Hart, before heading the rebound wide of an open goal.

However, Luis Suarez has backed his team-mate to bounce back when Barca take on struggling Granada on Saturday, insisting: "Leo knows how to deal with these situations."

Matic with John Obi Mikel. Mikel

arcelona take on Granada in La Liga this weekend, while Real Madrid are at home to Villarreal.

Barcelona will be hoping Lionel Messi does not suffer a hangover from his UEFA Champions League penalty miss at Manchester City as they look to bounce back from a Liga defeat to Malaga this weekend.

The Catalan giants lost 1-0 at home to Malaga last time out in the league, before picking up a

B

CAPITAL ONE FINAL

Gaal's side this weekend would only be their fifth league win of the campaign, and would be a welcome boost in their battle to avoid relegation this term, with Poyet's men sitting just three points above the drop zone.

Larsson is quoted in the Chronicle reflecting on last season's games, saying: "I would say the league win was more important – but then I did not play in the cup win!

Messi aims to bounce back from penalty miss

Chelsea, SPURS in CRUNCH ENCOUNTER

underland midfielder Sebastian Larsson says there is no reason the side can't stun Old Trafford again after last season's exploits.

Last season, Gus Poyet's side managed to do enough in the League Cup semi-final to qualify on penalties, and towards the end of the season they managed to get the win to maintain their Premier League status.

A win against Louis van

Sunderland star confident of upsetting Man Utd

Global Football Special 28 SATURDAY N 28 FEBR

Serie A

P PTS 24 57 24 48 24 45 24 40 24 39 24 36 24 36 24 35 24 33 24 33 24 33 24 29 23 28 24 27 24 25 24 24 24 23 24 20 24 16 23 10

NO TEAM 1 Bayern 2 Wolfsburg 3 Gladbach 4 Schalke 5 Augsburg 6 Leverkusen 7 Hoffenheim 8 Bremen 9 Frankfurt 10 Hannover 11 Mainz 12 Dortmund 13 FC Cologne 14 Hamburg 15 Paderborn 16 Freiburg 17 H. Berlin 18 Stuttgart

P 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22

PTS 55 47 37 35 35 33 30 30 28 26 25 25 25 24 23 22 21 18

Bundesliga

NO TEAM 1 Juventus 2 Roma 3 Napoli 4 Lazio 5 Fiorentina 6 Sampdoria 7 Genoa 8 Inter 9 AC Milan 10 Torino 11 Palermo 12 Sassuolo 13 Udinese 14 Empoli 15 Verona 16 Chievo 17 Atalanta 18 Cagliari 19 Cesena 20 Parma

P 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

La Liga

NO TEAM 1 Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3 Atletico 4 Valencia 5 Sevilla 6 Villarreal 7 Malaga 8 Celta Vigo 9 Espanyol 10 Sociedad 11 Eibar 12 Bilbao 13 Getafe 14 Vallecano 15 La Coruna 16 Almeria 17 Elche 18 Levante 19 Granada 20 Cordoba

PTS 60 56 53 50 45 44 38 31 29 27 27 27 26 26 24 23 23 22 19 18

P PTS 26 60 26 55 26 48 26 47 26 46 26 45 26 44 26 39 26 37 26 36 26 32 26 28 26 27 26 27 26 26 26 25 26 22 26 22 26 22 26 18

PREMIER LEAGUE

NO TEAM 1 Chelsea 2 Man City 3 Arsenal 4 Man United 5 Southampton 6 Liverpool 7 Tottenham 8 West Ham 9 Swansea City 10 Stoke City 11 Newcastle 12 Everton 13 C. Palace 14 West Brom 15 Hull City 16 Sunderland 17 Q.P.R. 18 Burnley 19 Aston Villa 20 Leicester

I also guided the team to the Premier League later that season to launch the most successful period in the club's history.

The same double could be repeated a decade later.

Before starting the cup final, Chelsea will know if their five-point lead in the league has been cut by second-place Manchester City when the champions play away to in-form

T

Sebastian Coe, a two-time Olympic middle-distance champion now running for president of track and field's governing body, feels athletics needs to find life beyond Usian Bolt if it is to keep up in an ultra-competitive sporting market.

"One of the challenges we have is to show that we have athletes other than Usain Bolt. And I'm a big fan of Usain Bolt," the British great said from France in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "We have great athletes and we have to really shine a light on them so our sport is not just about Usain Bolt."

Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber believes that ex-teammate Sebastian Vettel needed to find fresh motivation in Formula 1, prompting his move to Ferrari for the 2015 season.

“Seb’s not a silly guy,” Webber said. “He realised that he needed fresh motivation and a new change and I think the decision was made very early, probably before the season even started to be honest.

“The line is not ‘they [Red Bull] won’t miss Vettel’, the line is that when he wants to do something else and be in a different environment, then he is better off going somewhere he might feel he will get more out of himself.”

Bundesliga Saturday Leverkusen v Freiburg Dortmund v Schalke Hannover v Stuttgart Hertha v Augsburg Hoffenheim v Mainz Frankfurt v Hamburger Sunday Mö’gladbach v Paderborn Bremen v Wolfsburg Serie A Chievo v Milan Sunday Cagliari v Verona Atalanta v Sampdoria Cesena v Udinese Genoa v Parma Palermo v Empoli Sassuolo v Lazio Inter v Fiorentina Torino v Napoli

Underdog Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday he has a simple tactic to beat American favourite Floyd Mayweather in history’s richest fight by two longtime rivals for the planet’s top “pound-forpound” boxer crown.

“Use my left and right (fists),” the Filipino boxing hero told reporters when asked how he planned to deal with his undefeated foe’s height and reach advantage, as well as famed defensive skills.

“If I hurt him I expect him to run. Otherwise he might fight me toe-to-toe.”

The Philippines is in the throes of “Pacmania” as the 36-yearold, dubbed “The National Fist” by local media, is set to fly to the United States to train for the May 2 Las Vegas bout.

West Ham v C/Palace Burnley v Swansea Man Utd v Sunderland Newcastle v Aston Villa Stoke v Hull West Brom v Souton Sunday Liverpool v Man City Arsenal v Everton

Premier League Saturday La Liga Saturday Granada v Barcelona Vallecano v Levante Almería v Deportivo Málaga v Getafe Sunday Valencia v Sociedad Eibar v Bilbao Sevilla v Atletico Real Madrid v Villarreal

FIXTURES

With their title rivals all in action earlier in the weekend, Paris Saint-Germain make the trip to a buoyant Monaco on Sunday looking to keep the defence of their Ligue 1 crown on track.

Monaco, fresh from a stunning 3-1 win at Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, were runners-up last season, but Lyon and Marseille have replaced Leonardo Jardim's side as PSG's closest challengers this time around – with just four points separating the league's top three.

Jardim's men can close the sevenpoint gap to Marseille in third when they play their game in hand at the Stade Louis II and PSG defender Gregory van der Wiel is wary of the threat Monaco will pose.

"You have to fight in every match in order to pocket the three points. We have to be highly motivated and concentrated to claim victory," he told the club's official website.

"Playing away against Monaco, which is a quality team, will be complicated but I have trust in our team."

Lyon face Lille on Saturday.

Lille have won just once in their last seven attempts and the 2010-11 champions are now just six points above the drop zone.

Manny Pacquiao

who boast a nine-point lead atop the table ahead of Monday's trip to the Stadio Olimpico.

"We need to maintain possession because that allows you to score. We needed to be more effective in front of goal against Hellas," said Garcia In-form Juve, who have won the past two meetings between the teams, are favourites to extend their lead following Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie.

Napoli, who were in action in the Europa League midweek, could leapfrog Roma on Sunday should they beat hosts Torino by a big margin in Turin.

Usian Bolt

SPORT BRIEFLY

ith their grip on second spot slipping away, Rudi Garcia has called on Roma to be more effective in the final third heading into Monday's showdown with Serie A leaders Juventus.

Roma have drawn six of their past seven league matches to see their buffer ahead of high-flying Napoli reduced to just three points after 24 rounds.

The Romans were held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Hellas Verona last time out, presenting Napoli with an opportunity to claim second place by the end of the round depending on results.

With Napoli within touching distance, Garcia knows Roma must improve if they want to consolidate their position against Juve,

W

Sebastian Vettel

he match officials could be in for a busy afternoon at Anfield on Sunday, when the Liverpool and Manchester City attacks try to fire their teams to three precious Premier League points for different reasons.

Patience won’t be a virtue as the rivals go for victory, City in an attempt to close the gap on leaders Chelsea to two points while the London club concentrate on the Capital One Cup final, and sixth-placed Liverpool in a bid to strengthen their claim for a Champions League place.

Brendan Rodgers’ men are only three points behind third-placed Arsenal after a stunning run in which they have lost just once in 18 matches and won five of their last six games.

Their attack is purring nicely in the shape of Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Ster-

has played only one game in the past month.

The only time Matic was on a losing Chelsea team this season was against Tottenham in a 5-3 defeat on New Year's Day. A positive for Chelsea is that Spurs have only won four of nine matches that have followed their Europa League outings this season.

Crucial clash for Roma, Juve

Chelsea will be an even bigger title favorite if City draw or lose at Anfield, where it hasn't won in any competition since 2003.

Chelsea have only lost three games all season — and Nemanja Matic wasn't playing in two of them.

So, the midfield anchorman's absence on Sunday because of suspension will be a major blow to Mourinho, who is likely to replace

ling and Daniel Sturridge, but sometimes they are too quick for their own good and they have acquired a reputation for being caught offside frequently.

For example, in their 2-0 win at Aston Villa last month they were flagged five times – as they were in the corresponding fixture against City last April, which they won 3-2.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side has also developed a recent trend for succumbing to the offside trap, being caught four times in the 4-1 romp at Stoke earlier this month and three apiece in the 1-1 home draw with Hull and at Chelsea.

The officials will therefore need to be on their guard for an encounter in which attacks have dominated in recent years, with a minimum of three goals having been scored in each of their last five meetings.

Man City threaten Liverpool's run

Sunday, Chelsea could win their first trophy in Jose Mourinho's second spell as manager and take a big step toward capturing the Premier League title.

The first piece of silverware in the English season is up for grabs when London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham meet at Wembley Stadium for the League Cup final.

Mourinho won that competition NEW TELEGRAPH RUARY 2015

Sport

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I may run for Ethiopian presidency in the future – Gebrselassie Long distance legend, Haile Gebrselassie, talks about the sport that brought him fame and fortune, the doping scandals raving it at the moment, the Great Ethiopian Run that he organises, his businesses and sundry issues in this exciting interview with the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). them. We must be a positive example for those who want to become like us. We have to clean up this world, all together, including managers and trainers.

They think they can’t get great results without tablets as they’re bombarded by news about doping. We have to be clean and show them our internal strength.

What is Ethiopia currently and where is it going?

At the moment we are contributing to the development of the country, which is still running at two speeds, with the Great Ethiopian Run. Our people now realise that it can, ‘we can’ – many think that. Development is moving but we Ethiopians have to run to catch up with the rest of the worldEurope, America and Asia.

We have to work hard. In this Great Run 40,000 people celebrated a festival and 90 million followed it on television. This is a race for Ethiopia, everything was coloured; it’s the future.

Do you think prison is right for those who use drugs?

I don’t believe that’s the solution, I think banning them from sports is more useful. Putting them in prison and taking them out of society is too painful. We have to avoid reaching this point.

We have to prevent young people from giving in to the allurement of the artificial paradise of doping, and our example is essential.

You’re already doing a lot; you’re at the head of many companies. How many employees have you got?

At the moment 1,500. We’re in the property, hotel, farm and school markets. We import Hyundai cars and now we we’ve also started surveying the land because we are also involved in gold mining. At present, we are starting coffee cultivation - it is the right season. We’ve got an area of 1500 acres and we’ll soon be exporting coffee to Europe, America and Asia.

How would you define the power of sport?

Sport is everything - relations, hard work, creativity, putting people together and development. You came here for the Great Ethiopian Run and you’ve seen that there are no divisions of religion, tribe, colour or politics. There are Christians, Moslems and politicians of the government and opposition among the 40,000.

Sport is culture.

When you were 13, you had a photo taken with a bib on which you’d drawn a large ‘I’.

Were you already very ambitious?

My dream was to become the number 1. I’d decided when I saw Miruts Yifter win in the 10,000 metres at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. I said to myself ‘I want to do that too.

I want to be the number 1’. I kept repeating it to myself. If you want a good thing, it will come true. You’ve always got to dream and to want something.

At this point in your career, what do you want to do?

You’re no longer a boy.

I won’t stop running. Running is a form of life. I also trained before the Great Run. I still want to have the ‘flavour’ of the 10,000 metres which has brought me here. In the Great Run there are those that take three hours, but it is a festival, there are many faces to the race, all lovely and positive.

When are you going into politics?

I was thinking of running for the president… oops parliament in 2015, but am too busy in business and I’ve deferred it until 2020.

So is it the presidency or parliament in 2020?

You know the first idea may seem difficult but nothing is impossible for me because the impossible doesn’t exist. You have to believe in what you do.

We’ll see.

My dream was to become the number 1. I’d decided when I saw Miruts Yifter win in the 10,000 metres at the Moscow Olympics in 1980

Do you have any regrets as an athlete?

Only that I didn’t win the Olympics marathon. There was a chance in London, but I lost it.

enough time and concentration to obtain the maximum. I’ll carry on running but with lesser objectives.

There’s always Rio 2016…

No, when you work hard in business you can’t stay at a very high level because you’re not alone, you have to discuss with others and so there’s not

Do you think that someone will soon go under two hours in the marathon?

Perhaps in 2030, it could happen in 15 years because it is not easy. Look, the improvement from (Abebe) Bikila, who

won in Rome in 1960, to date is 12 minutes. The idea of lowering the record by another three minutes in 15 years is reasonable.

What advice do you have for young people?

Discipline, work and to be serious.

The news about doping is terrible for

The best moment in your career…

The gold in the Olympic 10,000 metres in Sydney against (Paul) Tergat, because I still ask myself if I really won it. Tergat seemed to have the gold in his hand already. Go and watch the race again. Paul had already won it but then the impossible happened. That’s why that medal is not in the showcase at home because I took it into the church because God gave it to me.

You are an idol in Ethiopia…

The people have helped me a lot for more than 20 years. Sometimes, their love risks ‘killing’ me, overwhelming me but it’s that love that gives me the strength to go on working for them. It’s got into my blood, it’s a wonderful feeling. I owe everything to sport. It’s right that I now repay all that trust.

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Lifestyle Do not live in the shadow of the masters for ever. Learn to live in the light of your soul. Life deserves full expression.

- Amit Ray

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Ex-Man Utd defender’s wife slams magazine T he WAG of a Premier League footballer has come up with a brilliant response to a magazine article that implied she was too busty. Tanya Bardsley, the wife of Stoke City defender Phil Bardsley – formerly of Sunderland

and Manchester United – posted a picture of the offending article on her Instagram page.

And she wrote: “I think I should have got the size up on my gym gear.”

Tanya and Bardsley married in 2014 and they have two sons together.

Sex scandal hits EPL club A

married Premier League defender is caught up in a £100k blackmail attempt following a night of extremely passionate sex with a one-night stand, according to The Sun. The newspaper claims that the unnamed football star met the single 33DD babe, who is in her 30s, at a late-night party last year.

Within hours of meeting they were apparently having sex. A Sun source described it as “pure animal passion”.

Following the hook-up, the player is said to have sent the woman explicit photos of his geni-

tals, as well as a video of himself masturbating.

Shortly after, the woman discovered that he was married and took the photos, videos and dirty texts straight to the club, demanding £100k to keep quiet.

Club officials then contacted their legal department, before insisting that they would not pay a penny.

The Sun claim they have not revealed the identity of the player or the club for legal reasons, but the cheated wife is said to know about her husband’s affair.

One thing is for certain, we have not heard the last of this story!

Crouch’s pregnant wife shows off growing baby bump

Messi, Pique spotted with Fabregas at casino

T

heir 11-game winning streak may have come to an abrupt end after Saturday's horror show against Malaga, but Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique were still out and about the following night.

Amidst renewed talks of crisis at the Nou Camp after Juanmi's goal sent the La Liga title challengers crashing to their first home defeat since November 1, the pair were spotted outside the Casino de Barcelona at around midnight on Sunday.

Messi and Pique caught up with Chelsea midfielder and former Nou Camp team-mate Cesc Fabregas outside the Barcelona setting that houses poker tournaments, roulette and blackjack tables and serves a range of gastronomic delights in its numerous restaurants.

Arsenal legend caught out pinching hot wife’s bum!

F

ormer Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires, who was part of the Invincibles team in 2003-04, is married to hot French model Jessica

Pires.

Randy Robert was recently caught out by a photographer, when he publicly grabbed Jessica’s bottom!

A

bbey Clancy has shown off the growing baby bump from her second child with husband Peter Crouch via a selfie.

The pair already have one kid, a little girl called Sophia. Her footballing dad is hoping the second will be a boy.

Stories courtesy Dailymail

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wanted to be part of the new shopping experience.

“When Shoprite was under construction, many of our friends advised us to relocate to another area where its influence would not have much impact on our sales. Furniture was one of their main stay and that really caused a stir for us. We told them we had such plan but needed to study the situation a little bit before taking our final decision. Though, at the initial time, the huge population of shoppers visiting the place every day, especially on weekends, was enough to give a reasonable person concern. That period, sales actually dropped. Nearly all our customers went to Shoprite to have a feel of what it takes to shop there.

“But, as time passed, things began to improve as our customers started returning. To retain them, we needed to do some special things, and what we did was to repackage our sales strategy.

We introduced a unique selling point.

We had to do this because of the challenge, so as to remain in business. We also introduced some vibrant customer service essentials, like cultivating interpersonal relationships with them. This paid off eventually as those that came back brought with them new customers.

“Apart from that, we equally started granting credit facilities to some of our loyal customers. Shoprite would not do that for them. But we made sure the profit margin is huge enough to take care of the delay in payment,” she said.

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Jaji, who runs cosmetic shops along Agidingbi Road, told a similar story. She was anxious over the fate of her business when she heard about the coming of Shoprite Super market in her neighbourhood.

Jaji said she had been to Shoprite on Victoria Island, and witnessed how shoppers literally flooded the facility.

“With what I had seen on the Island, I gave up hope without giving my small business any chance of survival when I got to know that Shoprite was coming to Ikeja.

“I thought I would lose my customers to them because they are also into my line of trade. And I know that they sell cheaper than I do. So, I began to wonder how to survive the competition. I had sleepless nights without a clue regarding how to go about it. I resigned to fate.

But surprisingly, despite the huge number of shoppers that visit Shoprite on a daily basis, I have recorded incredible sales over time,” she said.

However, Jaji admitted that on the first month that Shoprite debuted within

Snacks and drinks section

We repackage our sales strategy to retain our customers

A staff arranging products on their shelves photo: vencarta.com

her neighbourhood, it shook her business. To stave off the competition, she had to take out time to visit the super store to study what they were doing and how they did it. She then resolved to apply her experience to provide the services the multinational were not offering customers in the locality.

“Of course, I knew I couldn’t compete with them in anyway. So, what I did was to go round the shelves and see what they had in stock and the prices.

I also monitored how the workers were attending to customers. On some occasion I bought from them and displayed in my shop. When my customers began to notice that I also sell what Shoprite

offered with a slight difference in price, they started coming back. Sometimes they would buy one or two items and go back to the mall to buy more; I didn’t mind that,” she said.

Yet, she remained focused and persistent with her strategy, which eventually paid off as she began to win back her customers. Sooner than later, Jaji expanded with new strategy to have an edge over Shoprite. “I had to start the sale of drinks, especially lager. Though their drinks are cheaper and sold with bottles, the edge I have is that I don’t have closing or opening hours. My services are round the clock. So, my customers are sure they would get attended

photo: logbaby.com

Shoprite's expansive parking lot is another attraction

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photo: nairaland.com

Teniola An array of products on the shelves

Investigations

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Ibeh

to anytime they call on me. Also, because I have personal relationship with some of them, they always come back, and that has been working for me,” Jaji said.

Yet, a manager at HealthPlus Pharmacy, located inside Shoprite in Ikeja, who identified herself simply as Izzy, believes Shoprite has been a blessing in the sense that it has afforded smaller retail shop owners in the country the opportunity to up their game. For those, who have not stepped outside the shores of this country and had never seen this type of mall, it takes their minds to Europe and America where it has long become the way to go.

“Shoprite is progressively influencing consumer behaviour, expanding the influence of retailers and directing financial flows into Nigeria. Among other things, it offers consumers the luxury of spacious, well organised parking lots, clean environment, a friendly staff and competitive prices to mention a few. We should not also forget that it has helped to mop up the teaming army of unemployed youths in the country,” Izzy said.

An anonymous supervisor at Diva Accessories, another shop inside the Ikeja Shoprite appears to have support for Izzy’s argument when she said that she does not believe that big cooperation such as Shoprite can swallow up small businesses in today's Nigeria. Diva sells costume jewellery.

“Considering the fact that we have very bad roads, crazy drivers and the not-central location of many of these big shops, you would not be a wise spender in my own opinion, to go right ahead and benefit from their supposedly low prices. In developed nations, they have good roads and it is relatively cheaper to move around to purchase bulk items from such locations. People also patronise such giant shops knowing it wouldn't take a toll on their finances, since they have well developed monthly budget.

Right here, the story is not entirely the same,” she said.

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

Another boutique owner, Uptown Closet located at 17 Abiodun Jagun Street, by Retail Market Road, Ogba, Onyeka Ibeh, has a different opinion.

He would rather attribute the current situation to harsh economic realities of today than blaming it on the arrival of Shoprite.

“As you can see my shop is very small, no space to showcase much of our goods. So, that is what affects most of us. For the prices, it depends.

In Shoprite, the difference is not much.

Apart from the beautiful environment, another issue is advertising. Shoprite advertise their goods on different media including online, but here we don’t have the resources to do the same. This makes them to attract more customers.

You should also have lots of the mannequin to help showcase your wares,” Ibeh said.

To Teniola, who sells wine and soft drinks along Ogba-Isheri Road, Shoprite has impacted negatively on indigenous businesses. “Shoprite items are cheaper, no doubt about that. The price of goods there is the major attraction and that is why smaller shops would continue to lose their customers. This is possible because of the huge financial outlay at their disposal. Again, most shoppers go there to pick several items at a go. It’s like going to get everything you need at once.

“Some people have also said that their goods are original; that I can’t comment on because I don’t know the source they get theirs. Those, I think, are the reasons many go to Shoprite and such patronage affects smaller shops.

There are those who also go there to relax,” she said.

But, there are others, who see Shoprite in a different light. One of them is Anthony Uzor, owner of LiteField Furniture along Agidingbi Road in Ikeja. “I have been in this business for 11 years now and I can tell you that things are not really cheaper at Shoprite. For example, things that are sold for N300 outside may be N299 at Shoprite. Unfortunately, you can’t get the N1 balance. People also go there because they feel that what they buy there is original than the ones outside. They also relax better in the mall because it is comfortably built with functional air conditioners,” he said.

Incidentally, observers of the rapid expansion of Shoprite agree that its presence in Nigeria means that roadside sellers of bread, vegetables and meat would be adversely affected in a country where retailing is largely informal; it thus threatens existing market structures.

But, there are those, who believe that Shoprite’s positive effects outweigh the negatives. Those with this opinion say that though Shoprite is influencing market patterns, it cannot completely displace traditional market systems in Nigeria, at least for now. But it could in the near future modify them, they noted.

More specifically, findings revealed that Shoprite has boosted the Nigerian economy and has significantly shaped the pattern of internationalisation of

Shoprite brings worldclass retail and leisure facilities

Another section of Shoprite PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

‘It threatens existing market structures in Nigeria’ retailing in Nigeria. The only thing, according to people who hold this view, is for the government to ensure that it monitors the activities of foreign megastores through the appropriate agencies so as to prevent them from monopolising the markets and dictating prices.

Shoprite came to Nigeria in December 2005, when it opened a store inside The Palms, Victoria Island, Lagos. The company has since then opened stores in Ikeja, Abuja, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano and Ibadan. It accommodates some of the notable eateries such as KFC, Mr. Price, Twice as Nice, Nike and Aldo among others. The design of the malls incor-

porates informal meeting places, a food hall and cinemas. It is equally an ideal environment for convenient parking and shopping.

While declaring open one of the malls in Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola said it will restore Ikeja back to its rightful place as the retail heart of Lagos. According to him, the mall provides an inspiring vision of what can be achieved through collaboration between partners, regulators, government officials and tenants, noting that Ikeja City Mall brings world-class retail and leisure facilities.

Shoprite Group Chief Executive Of-

A boutique and furniture shops suffering from the presence of Shoprite photos: godwin irekhe and chinyere onah

ficer, Whitey Basson, has also said that the group plans to expand its scope with many more outlets in the near future to make it the leading retailer across Nigeria as well as the brand of choice for many consumers across the country.

Its large following of loyal customers, he said, can be attributed to their ability to offer wide range of products and the highest standards of freshness and quality whilst maintaining relatively low prices.

For years, foreign companies hesitated to invest in Nigeria because of logistical challenges, poor electricity and high level corruption. But, as Nigeria’s middle class grows along with the appetite for foreign brands, more foreign restaurants and lifestyle companies entered the country. And the draw on Nigerians’ new discretionary spending also put new expectations on providing quality service in a nation where many have grown accustomed to expecting very little.

However, the end of military rule in 1999 saw the country’s economy slowly opened up, with new professional jobs being added in banks and the rapidly growing mobile phone market. That gave birth to the rapidly growing middle class, whose members earn fabulously. Over time, those figures started to attract businesses, which previously had not been working in Nigeria.

In retail, Shoprite got into the country, finding a place in the new malls being opened around. It soon drew upscale crowd in Nigeria, where most still shop for food in open-air markets.

Today, it appears like a day in the life of most Nigerians is, perhaps, incomplete without a visit to Shoprite, which dotted strategic places in major cities.

They have become hot spots for all sorts of meetings, business or social gatherings. At present, everyone, including kids and adults has caught the bug.

The shopping malls are usually conspicuous in the neighbourhood, especially because of their strategic locations. Their peculiar architectural structures are captivating as well as their surroundings. This makes them easily command attention even as the surging crowd that are perpetually present in its premises tells one a Shoprite outlet is in the neigbourhood.

• Additional reports by Chinyere Onah

SATURDAY

Dear Love Doctor,

‘I’m afraid to leave my abusive and violent husband!

p.37

Life Experience

'I set my husband up to cheat on me'

p.36

L ve&Lv ng SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2015

35

‘I exposed my boyfriend's homosexual relationship' Confession

As I peeped through the keyhole, I had to stop myself from crying out at what I saw

In this story, a woman gets the shock of her life when she discovers that her husband is gay. Equally painful is the fact he is involved in an adulterous relationship with her best friend.

As narrated to Michael Uchebuaku

M

y name is Maryann and my story is quite an interesting one. I believe it will teach a lot of people lessons, so I will just go straight to the point.

I was thrilled when my best friend, Nduka, got a job with the same company as my longterm boyfriend or fiancé, Henry. The two of them got on well and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. Henry, my boyfriend, was never threatened by the closeness of my friendship with Nduka.

When Henry's hours started getting longer and longer and he began coming home later and later, I confided my suspicions of an affair to Nduka. I was worried Henry was cheating on me with his new and attractive female colleague at the office.

Nduka assured me that he had his finger on the pulse with office gossip and that I had nothing to worry about. He insisted that Henry never even looked twice at the new girl on the block, and that he was just working harder than ever.

I still had my reservations.

Call it women's intuition, but something wasn't quite right. If he wasn't at the office, he was on the phone, if he wasn't on the phone, he was on the computer. He was becoming distant and I couldn't get through to him.

Henry called one night to tell me he would be working late and that I should go ahead and eat dinner without him.

This was becoming an everyday thing, but he sounded ex-

hausted and genuinely sorry. I felt guilty for suspecting he was doing anything else but working and decided to pack his dinner and take it to his office.

In hindsight, perhaps it was instinct driving me to see for myself that everything was okay, that he wasn't cheating on me. I called Nduka to see if he wanted to come with me but he didn't pick his call.

When I got there, I was let upstairs by the doorman and

found my way to Henry's office easily. A small beam of light shone beneath the partially drawn curtains. I moved to push open the door but decided to peep through the keyhole first.

As I peeped through the keyhole, I had to stop myself from crying out at what I saw. I saw Nduka and Henry together. My heart stopped. This couldn't be happening. My boyfriend and my best friend were both hav-

ing a gay relationship? How could I have had no idea about it?

I decided not to walk in and confront them. I couldn't face them in that position. Instead, humiliated and hurting, I went back home, threw Henry's dinner in the bin and started planning. I was burning with anger.

I had been betrayed by the two people closest to me. My boyfriend was not who I thought he was and my best friend too

had hidden his homosexual identity from me. I had never felt so alone.

I lay in wait for the next opportunity and it came when Henry called again, a few days later, to say he'd be home late. I told him I'd be in bed when he came home. But instead of that, I dressed up and went out to his office again. This time, I simply walked to the window, looked through the gap and snapped a picture of them together with my mobile phone.

After that, I went straight back home and secretly opened his e-mail. It was easy for me because his password was always my name.

I clicked "Send to all" in his contacts, attached the picture, titled the e-mail, "There is something you all should know", took a deep breath and clicked "Send".

He came home the next day with the news he had lost the promotion he'd been campaigning for. I tried to comfort him, but couldn't bring myself to actually do it. Then he broke down and told me about Nduka.

He blamed his PA for letting it leak to the company and to this day believes she sabotaged his career because he was immune to her sexual advances.

Henry became depressed and quit his job, unable to deal with the workplace ramifications of his affair and his sexuality.

I traveled out of Lagos soon after it all happened. The memory of the pain he had caused me and the guilt of the pain I had caused him was too fresh on my mind. I couldn't just imagine this was a man I might have married!

However, he will never know it was me who exposed him to his entire office and cost him his promotion and his job in the end.

36

Love&Living

Love Songs

Shanice

"Loving You" Sweet heart...

I'd want to tell you How much I love you How much I care Loving you... soo beautiful..oh Loving you is easy cause you beautiful Loving you is all I wanna do Loving you is more than just the dream come true And everything that I do is all of loving you [1:] La la la la la [x4] Du du du du ... aaaaaa No one else can make me feels the colors that you've been Stay with me while we grown on and we will live each day and spin time Loving you is make my life so beautiful Everyday in my life is beauty loving you Loving you I see your soul come shining through And every time will be and so in love in you Loving you is easy cause you beautiful Everyday in my life is beauty loving you Loving you I see your soul come shining through And every time will be and so in love in you I love you baby

Love Poem

Zendora Armstrong

Touch Me Touch me softly, With your beautiful lips Touch me gently, Put your hands on my hips, Touch me, You won't hurt me, If you do it passionately It's the middle of the night And my body is calling your name, I'll touch you, If you do the same Just touch me, I'll touch you, I need you, I need you to touch me boo!.

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

Romantic Joke

Flying in the plane

Sue and Bob lived in the mid west, and had been married for years. Bob had always wanted to go flying. The desire deepened each time a barn stormer plane flew into town to offer rides. Bob would ask, and Sue would say, "No way, ten dollars is ten dollars."

The years went by, and Bob figured he didn't have much longer, so he got Sue out to the show, explaining, it's free to watch, let's at least watch.

And once he got there the feeling become really strong and Sue and Bob started an arguement.

The Pilot, between flights, overheard, listened to the problem and said, "I'll tell you what, I'll take you up flying, and if you don't say a word the ride is on me, but if you bark one sound, you pay ten dollars."

So off they flew. The Pilot doing as many rolls, and dives as he could - heading to the ground as fast as the plane could go, and pulling out of the dive at just the very last second. Not a word. Finally he admitted defeat and went back to the airport.

"I'm surprised, why didn't you say anything?"

"Well I almost said something when Sue fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars."

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Woman who claims she was Prince Andrew's 'sex slave' now has her credibility questioned

T

he woman who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew during her time as a 'sex slave' for billionaire Jeffrey Epstein is now having her credibility questioned following a new report that reveals she previously accused two young men of rape.

Virginia Roberts, 31, is currently in the midst of a lawsuit claiming she was recruited to join Epstein's harem of underage women in 1999, naming Prince Andrew and attorney Alan Dershowitz as two of the men she was made to 'service'. Both men strongly deny the claims.

It has now been revealed that just months before she was introduced to convicted-pedophile Epstein, then 14-year-old Roberts accused two acquaintances of rape.

The Daily News uncovered court records which show prosecutors decided not to press formal charges due to Roberts' 'lack of credibility' as a victim.

According to the records, police started investigating the case on the insistence of Roberts' mother and after a report made by a social worker at a group home.

While officers at first had a hard time getting in contact with Roberts because she was living at a medical facility, she eventually told them her side of the story.

She reported that in early February 1998, she had been drinking alcohol and smoking pot in a wooded area near West Palm Beach with friends Josh, 18, and Kevin, 17, when she passed out. (Their full names were not reported since they were not formally charged with a crime.)

She says she later woke up to both of the young men taking turns raping her - an ordeal she says went on for about five to seven hours.

Love News

Prince Andrew and Roberts

Roberts recalled being dropped off at Josh's house later where he had sex with her again.

When officers tracked down the two men later the following summer, both testified that it was a consensual threesome.

A detective who spoke with Josh reported that the young man said the girl was tired and that he urged her to do to sleep. He says she then 'said to him something to the effect of "why don't you keep me awake."' So he thought it was consensual when they had sex following that statement.

'At no point did I hear no, I guess that's the important thing,' Josh said, according to the police report.

Josh surrendered to police in August 1998 and was booked on a charge of lewd assault upon a child. He told the Daily News that he only saw Rob-

erts once again after that night and that he was completely surprised by the accusation. Kevin was processed as a juvenile.

However, prosecutors decided to drop the case in October 1998 due to Roberts' 'lack of credibility and no substantial likelihood of success at trial.'

Michael Salnick, the defense lawyer who represented Kevin in the rape allegations, says the fact that prosecutors didn't believe Roberts would be a believable victim could hamper her current lawsuit.

'She needs to be careful the past doesn’t come back to haunt her,' he told the Daily News.

But one of Roberts' current lawyers says the previous case proves nothing.

'For the prosecutors to describe her as not credible means only that they did not think they had sufficient evidence to win. But she was raped,' attorney Sigrid McCawley said in a statement. 'And to be victimized all over again with the leak of sealed juvenile records is disgraceful.'

According to court records connected with Roberts' current lawsuit, she maintains that she was recruited to join Epstein's harem in 1999 by his friend, the socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

She says during the three years she worked for Epstein, she was made to entertain his friends and named Prince Andrew and Dershowitz as two men she had sex with.

Both men have denied having sex with Roberts, and Dershowitz is trying to get his name removed from the suit, claiming Roberts made the entire story up.

Epstein, 61, has already served 13 months behind bars after admitting to soliciting sex from the underage girls.

Courtesy: Daily Mail.

Life Experience

'I set my husband up to cheat on me'

I

had just come out of a relationship with a man who had cheated on me repeatedly. I was distrustful of men in general and swore off love for good — or so I thought. That was until I met Grant, my current husband.

I was put onto Grant by a friend; he was an accountant and I needed someone good to take care of some tax issues I was having. He was very direct and very honest and, against my best instincts I found myself becoming increasingly attracted to him.

He was — dare I say it — tall, dark and handsome and funnily enough it was me who asked him out. We had dinner and I was soon comfortable enough with him to tell him my tale of heartache with my previous boyfriend. He was clearly affronted by my ex-boyfriend's behaviour and I dared to dream that Grant was "the one".

We went out quite frequently over the next month and when we weren't out together we spoke on the phone.

Everything happened so fast. I asked Grant to go with me on a holiday that I'd had planned. We went up north for two weeks and it was just perfect.

That was until I noticed all the attention that Grant received as a result of his dashing good looks.

I uploaded a photo of him and painted him to be a bit of a swinger in need of some action

At first I felt proud that others envied what I had, but my pride soon turned to jealousy. When we went out to eat, waitresses would giggle flirtatiously and direct their gaze toward him as though I wasn't there. Grant seemed flattered by it all and alarm bells started going off in the back of my mind.

When we returned to our respective homes I was distant to the point where Grant would ask me repeatedly what was wrong and I would just say I was thinking about work or was tired. My mind was haunted by

flashbacks of my last boyfriend and it started to eat me up inside. I then did something that I would forever regret.

I set up an account on a well known dating website under Grant's name.

I uploaded a photo of him and painted him to be a bit of a swinger in need of some action. I entered the fact that he was attached but looking and I waited. I also set up an e-mail account that I could check during the day. The e-mails started coming almost immediately — some with very racy continued on page 37

28 FEBRUARY 2015

‘I’m afraid to leave my abusive and violent husband!

Dear Love Doctor, I have a boyfriend even though I'm married because I no longer love my husband. Everything is perfect with my lover and I know I’ve met my soul mate, but he’s giving up on me because I’m finding it so hard to leave my husband.

I’m 37 and married, with a 14-yearold son. I met my lover at work. At first we were just friends but then we started texting and emailing. The texts and emails became very flirty and we started a relationship.

He’s 39 and single. I love him deeply and he says he loves me. Everything was great, including sex. He begged me to leave my marriage before my husband kills me, and for months I’ve been trying to work out how to. But my lover has just broken with me, because he’s fed up with waiting and worried that I’ll never really do it.

If I left my husband even now, I’m sure that my lover would have me back.

I really miss him and I’m so unhappy not seeing him, but I don’t know if I have the guts to leave my marriage.

My husband is verbally abusive to me and our son and has been violent towards me. I’m sick of his bullying and think there’s a chance of real happiness with this other man, but I love my son to bits and don’t want to put him through the trauma of a separation or divorce. My parents separated when I was 15, so I know how it hurts.

I don’t want to be with my husband but I’m afraid that if I leave him, he’ll either kill

me or himself. But I don’t know if I can bear to stay. I feel like I’m losing the love of my life and if I leave it much longer, I would have missed my chance.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Your lover is right not just to hang around while you stay in an abusive marriage. Your staying with an abusive and violent husband is not even good for your son. Staying with a husband who is abusing you

'I set my husband up to cheat on me' photos attached. I picked out the woman I thought would most appeal to Grant and sent her a reply.

Her name was Amelia and she was tall and slim with very sexy eyes.

We started communicating daily and I got some sort of sick thrill playing the part of Grant and wooing Amelia on his behalf. I looked forward to seeing her e-mails in the morning and watching her attraction to the character of Grant I had created. It wasn't long before she was desperate to meet up and that's when I set the trap.

I organised to meet Grant at our favourite bar in the city and e-mailed Amelia giving her the same details. I told her in no uncertain terms that I didn't want to talk about the dating site. In fact I stated that I wanted to act out the fantasy that we had just met by chance and she seemed completely titillated by the idea.

I met Grant for lunch that day and in the afternoon told Amelia what "I" would be wearing — a grey pin-stripe suit and watermelon coloured shirt. I told Amelia where I would be sitting — the very booth where I'd said I would meet Grant that night — and she said she would approach "me" as if out of the blue. It was perfect.

I made sure I was running late to meet Grant that night — late enough to allow his "chance meeting" with Amelia. I was — as insane as it sounds — hoping to catch him flirting outrageously with the strange woman at the bar.

I waited an hour — which felt like an eternity — and then called his mobile. I was trying to pick up on any signs of deceit in his voice. I

imagined Amelia sitting opposite him and the thought burned me up inside. He sounded like he was just sitting and waiting for me but I didn't believe it. I told him I couldn't make it as I was swamped with work and that I would see him another time. I told him to enjoy himself and have a drink for me. He sounded disappointed but said he would stay a little longer then head home; the trap was about to spring forth!

I then made my way to the bar and walked slowly toward our regular booth. I was waiting to see the dark-haired beauty touching his arm and laughing rambunctiously. What I saw made my face and heart drop. He was alone — sipping on a drink and looking a little forlorn. I approached and mumbled something about catching up on my work the next day.

He looked so happy to see me. He then — in his typically honest way — told me about the strange woman who had approached him. He said she looked so offended when he knocked her back and told her he was in love with a beautiful woman already. He said it took some convincing but she finally took the hint and, looking very put out, stormed off. He said he felt lucky to have me. I felt like the biggest turkey in history.

We were married six months later and Grant has turned out to be such a catharsis for me, the most loving and honest husband a girl could wish for.

Confessing this here is the first step. I'll tell Grant about my awful deception as soon as I work up the nerve.

Courtesy: nine.com

37

Odd News

Relationships & Love Advice

continued from page 36

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

and verbally abusing your son is giving the boy a terrible message which will undermine his selfesteem and set him a horrible example of relationships and how it’s OKAY to treat women.

Do you think there is any real chance your husband would change enough to make you happy? If so, insist he gets expert help by seeking counseling from a marriage counselor, psychologist or any other qualified expert.

An abusive partner simply can’t be tolerated?

If you know he’s not going to make the radical changes needed, find the courage to leave regardless of whether your lover is waiting for you or not. But first, report to both your family and his, and see if there’s a way they can make him change. You can also seek help concerning domestic violence from your spiritual director, local council or NGO. Tell your lover your plans and ask him to give you time to sort it out. I hope your story has a happy ending.

Please let me know.

Katie Price returns to original breast size after seventeen years

K

atie Price is reportedly back to her original breast size after undergoing painful surgery to remove infected implants earlier this year.

The former glamour model – famed for her busty appearance – is thought to have flown to Belgium for the operation shortly after winning the fifteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother in February.

Katie’s latest bout of surgery reduces her chest from an ample 32FF to a more natural 32B and sees her back to her original breast size for the first time since finding fame as modelling alter-ego Jordan in 1998.

A representative declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

The operation is thought to have prompted her to cover up on Friday evening at Somerset House, where she took to the catwalk in an androgynous suit and shirt combination as part of Naomi Campbell’s Fashion For Relief charity fundraiser.

Her chest was also hidden beneath an elegant black dress the following day as she renewed her wedding vows to cheating husband Kieran Hayler during a lowkey ceremony in rural Sussex.

The removal of her infected implant comes just months after she jetted to Belgium for her seventh breast op last November.

Courtesy: Daily Mail

*Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08131161840.

Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com

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38

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

True Story

A

few years ago I was working as a nanny in Sydney. My employer, Sylvia, was a single, immensely successful barrister. She was also utterly gorgeous, with a flawless complexion, luminous feline green eyes and a mane of tumbling, red curls.

Sylvia also had a vicious temper. She would frequently lash out at me and I quickly learned to stay well out of her way when she had her claws out. Her daughter Isabel was four and just as gorgeous and as vicious as her mother.

Isabel simply adored her mother. All she wanted was to be with her, but Sylvia worked long hours and often many days would pass before Isabel even got a glimpse of her.

Isabel blamed me for her mother's absence and thought that if I wasn't around, her mother would spend more time with her. Sylvia must have preferred that Isabel believed all fault lay with nanny and did nothing to dissuade her daughter of this notion. Thus, I was marooned for long days on end with an angry and spiteful little girl who did everything in her power to make nanny go away.

I was miserable, but I was also heavily in debt. Sylvia paid well and I could not afford to just walk away.

Each Saturday, we would stroll to the local beachside cafe for breakfast. Sylvia and Isabel would promenade ahead, a veritable

A nanny's revenge I was miserable, but I was also heavily in debt. Sylvia paid well and I could not afford to just walk away

vision of the perfect mother and daughter.

I would trail behind dutifully, tottering under the week's supply of newspapers and glossy magazines for Sylvia and colouring books for Isabel.

Wedding Traditions

The three by three exchange: Japan

T

he Japanese ritual of "san-sankudo", the three by three exchange is rich with meaning. It is performed by the bride and groom and both sets of parents; each person takes 3 sips of sake from each of 3 cups. The first 3 represent three couples, the bride and groom, and their parents. The second 3 represent three human flaws: hatred, passion, and ignorance. "Ku", or 9 is a lucky number in Japanese culture. And "do" means deliverance from the three flaws.

Another highlight of this ceremony is a rosary with 21 beads that represent the couple, their families and the Buddha all joined on one string to symbolize the union of the families. Part of the ceremony involves honoring the parents with offers of flowers, a toast, or a letter expressing their love and gratitude.

The crane is a symbol of longevity and prosperity and so 1,001 gold origami cranes are folded to bring luck, good fortune, longevity, fidelity, and

peace to the marriage.

The bride traditionally wears two outfits: the shiro, which is a white kimono worn for the ceremony and the uchikake kimono which is a patterned brocade worn at the reception. The hair is worn in a bun with colorful kanzashi accessories and a white wedding hook called the tsuno kakushi is worn to hide the two front golden tsuno horns to symbolize obedience. The bride also carries a tiny purse (hakoseko), a small encased sword (kaiken), and a fan that is worn in the obi belt that represents happiness and a happy future.

Plenty of courses are served, but never in a multiple of four because the number four sounds like the word for death. Additionally, the different foods served all have special meanings, for example lobster might be served because red is a lucky color or clams served with both shells symbolize the couple’s union.

Courtesy: Irish Central.

One Saturday morning, Sylvia purchased two instant scratchies from the newsagent, one for herself and one for Isabel to scratch while waiting in the cafe for breakfast. We had just sat down at the table when Sylvia's mobile rang for the third time that morning. On cue, Isabel instantly began to mewl piteously. Sylvia shot me an exasperated look and moved away to take the call at a far table.

In an attempt to distract Isabel, I passed her a key and encouraged her to start on her scratchie. She sourly scratched the cover of the Cleomagazine instead. Knowing better than to stop her, I scratched her

scratchie for her.

To my shock, I saw I had uncovered the jackpot, the $100,000 prize!

I stared down at the scratchie on the table before me. Sylvia was still talking into the mobile and Isabel had started defacing a second magazine. Without thinking, I automatically pushed the magazine out of her reach.

Isabel jumped down from the chair, ran to her mother squealing and clung tightly to her legs. Sylvia glared at me over the top of Isabel's red curls. I heard her say loudly into the mobile that it was high time she got a decent nanny with a modicum of intelligence and ability.

I dug about in my bag for a similar scratchie I had purchased and scratched a few days ago. Luckily, it was still there.

Without hesitation I switched the scratchies, just in the nick of time. Sylvia snapped her mobile closed and angrily stalked back to the table, Isabel tearfully triumphant behind her.

Before Sylvia could say a word, I announced that I didn't think the arrangements were working for any of us and that I was resigning, effective immediately. Then, with a rush of joy, I walked out of the cafe to start the rest of my life.

Courtesy: nine.com

SATURDAY

Travel &Tourism SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2015

39

HOSPITALITY

Chef's Corner

'Cooking opened doors of opportunities' p.40

Travel Personality Ime Udo: Fired by a passion to make a difference in tourism and hospitality industry p.41

Destination

Basking in Namibia’s endless horizons p.42

Wood Peckers Hotel: Elegance amid the madding crowd Cute, stylish and elegant are words that best describe Wood Peckers Hotel, Lagos, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

I

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

One of the rooms

The hotel facade

t thrives on surprises and loads of it. The first surprise for a first time guest is that Wood Peckers Hotel is located in a built-up residential area of Surulere, Lagos, but yet it is remarkably distinct and stands out from the motley of buildings trying hard to subsume it.

How the owner manages to achieve this feat is something baffling and commendable. Then added to this is the fact that once in the hotel, you are entirely cut off from the noisy environment that you have just passed through as the hotel exudes a peaceful and calm scenery, maintaining an existence of its own.

From the reception to the different sections of the hotel, you are taken in by the unfolding scenery which smacks of high taste that are obviously absent in most hotels of this nature.

For the hotel owner, Charles Nwogu, an accountant turned hotelier, he was simply consumed by the idea of offering the best possible comfort and high quality product for the guests. It is no wonder then that any first time guest falls easily in love with the hotel. Nwogu said

his concern way back was ‘‘to have a comfortable place and provide a product that offers guests value for their money.’’

Then he adds the punch line: ‘‘If this makes people happy it certainly gladdens my heart.’’ The bottom line for him is not just to make money, but to offer service in a very elevated and appreciated manner by the people, he added.

Having been in business for over a year, Nwogu says the hotel is performing relatively well.

But he believes it could be better if the environment were more conducive than what it is now. One of the challenges of the environment, he noted, is the multiple taxations and sundry charges imposed by all levels of government and the problem of irregular power supply.

Focus According to the young and enterprising manager of the hotel, Funke Joseph, the hotel has its eye on corporate clients. With its central location, she believes that it should be a haven for discerning corporate clients looking for relative calm, a secure and quality environment to conduct their businesses and relax.

Regular travellers, leisure tourists and others, she said, are also welcomed to the hospitality home as its doors are open to people seeking value for their money. The hotel presently does about 70% occupancy, especially during the weekends (Thursday – Saturdays), which she says are the peak period.

But she is confident that this figure will improve as more and more people get to know about the hotel and its unique offers. ‘‘We are located in a very secure area and most people don’t yet know us. But those who do know and patronise us appreciate it and they enjoy it because it is in a hidden, cool and calm area. Most people like it whenever they do visit and discover our whereabouts and how good the product is,’’ she says.

Uniqueness For the manager and even as alluded to by Nwogu, what stands out the hotel beside it peaceful ambience, is the quality of the facilities and services. Joseph insists that the facilities are of a high quality and standard as the management don’t compromise on this because it understands perfectly well the nature of the business and the need to give the guests a fantastic treat away from home.

Rooms The hotel has 32 rooms, which are categorised as Standard, De-

From the reception to the different sections of the hotel, you are taken in by the unfolding scenery

luxe, Royal and Suite, all tastefully fitted and furnished to meet the requirements of their different classes with amenities such as comfy bed, shower/bath, work desk and chair, settee, flat screen TV, balcony, refrigerator, complimentary drink and newspaper, among others.

What you also discover is the fact that each of the room is specially named and made in terms of its fittings and decor to fit the given names such as crystal, amber, onyx, topa and ruby.

Kitchen/bar The hotel do not have the regular restaurant setting. What it has is a kitchen/bar setting where guests are offered local and continental delicacies and with a dedicated chef and kitchen staff available 24 hours to cater for the needs of the guests.

Fitness The hotel also offers a fully equipped gymnasium for its guests to engage in exercises and fitness routine daily.

Leisure Some form of leisure and regular entertainment is also on the bill as the hotel entertain guests with music during weekends and festive periods at the bar.

Conference The hotel boasts a conference hall with seating capacity for about 35 persons and it is fitted with modern conference facilities for the use of the guests.

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

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CHEF'S CORNER

BACKGROUND

'Cooking opened doors of opportunities' Kizito Agbaegbu, executive chef at African Sun Hotel Airport Lagos, has an impressive culinary skills he has successfully deployed in making the hotel's Iruka Restaurant a place to visit, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

T

he first thing that strikes you about chef Kizito Agbaegbu, executive chef at African Sun Airport Hotel, Lagos, is his unassuming poise and soft spoken manner. He strolls quietly over to where I sat on the fateful Friday morning, introduced himself and led me to one of the bars.

No airs whatsoever, affable and self–enfacing. He is the type that easily disarms and puts his guest at ease with his courtesies. A former chef at Sheraton Lagos Hotel, former general manager of Zaaz Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, and senior sous chef at InterContinental Lagos, among others, Agbaegbu has come a long way as a "self made chef" with over 25 years experience in the kitchen.

Settling down for a chat, he tells you that it is this wealth of experience and skills acquired over the years that he brings to bear at his new post where in his words they are gradually settling down for business, having opened late 2014. ‘‘With my experience in all these hotels, I know what happens there and I know exactly what they do; so I am going to use those experiences to do what others are not doing around this area,’’ he says as he speaks of his mission.

Agbaegbu is not giving out much yet.

He is simply putting the basics in place before stepping up his game. For now you are treated to both local and international delicacies in the form of buffet or a la carte from breakfast, lunch to dinner. ‘‘What we try to achieve here is that for anyone who steps out of the big hotels and come in here you will discover that there is no difference between them and us,’’ he said.

He acknowledged that the competition in the hotel business is stiff, but noted that the edge for his hotel is in the food and beverage because of the experience they offer. ‘‘We make sure that any guest that comes here will come out with an experience that he can’t get anywhere else.’’

Some of the specialties guests of the hotel and visitors should look out for, he says, is the

TRAVEL BEATS The attention of the world would be focused on the travel industry as ITB Berlin, regarded as the world’s leading travel trade show begins on March 4 at its traditional grounds in Mess Berlin and ends on March 8. It is the second global tourism show for the year following FITUR, rounded off early this month in Madrid, Spain.

Over 180 countries are expected at the annual gathering which draws the best travel and tourism trade operators, destinations, sellers and buyers of travels, government agencies and national tourism boards.

Meanwhile, indication from the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) is that Nigeria will be missing from this year’s event owing to lack of funds. This would be the second year

barbecue night on Fridays where they would be treated to live grills accompanied with a welcome cocktail drink at the poolside bar between the hours of 6.30pm – 10pm.

For buffet, he says, it is a vast and enriching options for the guests as they offer wide selection of menu from starters, main course and desserts. The main course often comes in different varieties as every guest would get whatsoever they wish, especially for those with special health needs.

Once the guests are convinced and sold on the savoury delicacies of Iruka Restaurant, chef Agbaegbu says it would then be time to step up. One of the things that would be introduced afterwards is the Sunday Brunch, which he says is going to be different from what others offer.

It would be a continuous buffet, he explained, spanning lunch and extending to dinner. It would begin at noon and instead of closing shop by 4pm would extend to dinner hours with rich varieties for the guests to feast on.

"When we start our Sunday Brunch, you will see different foods because every Sunday you will never get the same food from what you got the previous Sunday.

That is a promise because we know what it takes and we have the number of staff who are well experienced to take care of that,’’ boasts the chef.

He pointed out that since the hotel opened, the food has attracted a number of guests from their competitors as everyone who tastes meals prepared at the facility always come for more. ‘‘Anybody who comes here and ask for chicken will be treated to over 20 different ways of making chicken in the Nigerian way.

Whatever you eat here you will not get a match anywhere around, that is what we promise,’’ he insists.

Also, chef signature would be an attraction here with the poolside bar offering meals like chicken wings, nkwobi and other little chops prepared in a different way. He reveals that there would be a weekly chef signature night where the

Chef Agbaegbu

One of his creations

guests would be treated to varieties created by the different chefs.

To make it more interesting and creative, he says that it would be a competitive affair with every of his chef thrown into the mix. With this, he says, there would be more creative varieties for the guests while it would as well encourage creativity on the part of his chefs who will be rewarded each week.

Theme nights would also be on the bill. ‘‘I have a lot of things on my mind but I want to make sure that I don’t pile too much on my hands. But as time goes on we would be introducing different theme nights and different specialties. ‘‘There is nothing as far as food is concerned that I can’t do, but I have more flair for and stronger with continental foods,’’ he says, adding that he tries to lay more emphasis on Nigerian meals and present them in such a manner that non Nigerians particularly whites will be attracted. His advice to other chefs is that they should be more creative when it comes to Nigerian food.

ITB Berlin 2015 begins March 4 l Targets six billion Euros travel deals

that Nigeria would be absent at this world’s leading event in over a decade of attendance. NTDC cancelled its participation last year but the directorgeneral of the body, Sally Mbanefo, alongside some staff, board members and journalists eventually showed up as "observers."

With over 10, 000 exhibitors, 20, 000 convention visitors, 50, 000 private visitors and 110, 000 trade visitors among others, a travel deal of over six billion euro is targeted on the floor of the exhibition, which exhibiting space spans over 160, 000 sq metres.

Mongolia is the country partner for this year with a string of sponsors for the various aspects of the five-day event.

The United Nations World Tourism

Organisation (UNWTO) would also play host to some events during the exhibition. These include 5th Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting: Strengthening Cooperation through Transnational Route Development March 4; ITB Minister’s Roundtable with the theme - Opportunities and Risks of Sport Mega-Events in cooperation – slated for March 5; 4th Tour Operators’ Forum on the Silk Road: Unlocking the Silk Road's Adventure Travel Potential for March 5; Community Empowerment through Creative Industries and Tourism: Special focus on Women, Youth, Indigenous Communities and People with Disabilities for March 6; and 30th Meeting of The World Tourism Network on Child Protection for March 6.

Chef Kizito Agbaegbu who hails from Mbaise in Imo State and married with children, is a self made chef who started from the lower rung and by dint of hard work rose to the top. He is today one of the most sought after Nigerian chefs. ‘‘Cooking is in my blood; I grew up with my mother and growing up with her gave me the opportunity to cook. My mother cooks nicely and most times I am always with her in the kitchen,’’ he says of his background.

Although he never put any premium on this until a friend of his lured him away from his factory work in Lagos and introduced him to the culinary world. He started out with Eko Chinese Restaurant on Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja (now defunct) as a steward.

But while at his duty post he, however, observed the operations at the other sections including the kitchen. So, following the sudden departure of the Chinese cook, the owner of the restaurant automatically reassigned him to the kitchen. ‘‘I was helping them in the kitchen. That was how I became a Chinese chef. That was how I started cooking because I never went to catering school, not even for a day to learn or study how to cook,’’ he recounts of his meteoric rise.

It was from here he moved to Sheraton Lagos Hotel as a Chinese chef, working as a casual chef for six years. He acknowledged the mentoring role that the hotel played in his career. ‘‘Sheraton made me what I am today,’’ even as he gives credit to Chef Oluwole, an awardwinning Nigerian chef, for helping him hone his skills while at Sheraton for 18 years.

While there, he had the opportunity of working at the different sections of the kitchen, thereby learning to become a complete professional.

He took all the lessons and even the challenges in his strides. ‘‘Cooking made me what I am today,’’ he said, beaming with a nostalgic smile.

He revealed that for over nine years he was cook to Reinhard Bonnke, the German evangelist who made frequent visits to Nigeria in the '80s and '90s for crusades. ‘‘Today, I can beat my chest and say to you that from cooking I have achieved a lot and God has been on my side. ‘‘If any of my sons insists that he wants to be a chef, I would not stop him,’’ he says, adding that ‘‘I am fulfilled and deeply satisfied because God has been good to me.’’ The future, he says holds quite a lot as he looks to setting up a business for himself in the hospitality sector once he retires.

However, he concedes that the work of a chef is stressful and demanding, but added that ‘‘the most important thing is that if you love what you are doing you will not feel the stress.’’

He is not an outdoor person, he says, so he relaxes by watching television and spend whatever free time he has with his family.

Sheraton Abuja Hotel hosts UPIN, screens Selma Sheraton Abuja recently made a new stride as it played host to the screening of a movie – Selma as over 1, 000 guests converged on Ladi Kwali Conference Centre of the hotel to savour the historic moment.

The organisers and promoters of the movie screenings in Nigeria, Bishop and Rev. Bob Alonge, collaborated with the hotel through the United for Peace in Nigeria (UPIN) Movement to bring to the Abuja community the non-violent movement of the life and times of America’s foremost civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. The Selma event commenced with a red carpet reception and a second screening with symbolic UPIN sign

up for peace. It also featured a grand raffle draw initiated by representatives of the management of Sheraton Abuja Hotel with the two winners to be treated to either a weekend for two, a dinner for two or swimming for two.

The general manager of the hotel, who was represented by the deputy general manager, Mr. Emad Rizk, remarked that, “we are proud to collaborate with this generic initiative, a worthy cause which puts Nigeria in the hall of fame of greatness.” He further stated that “Sheraton Abuja Hotel is a landmark hotel that has often historically hosted many of such classical events and we are happy to be a part of this for the good of the nation.”

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TRAVEL PERSONALITY

Ime Udo: Fired by a passion to make a difference in tourism and hospitality industry Ime Udo is the managing director of Leadway Tours and Travels, Lagos. She is also a member of the governing board and the chairman for the technical committee of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).

She speaks with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on her passion for the travel industry, tour business and proffer solutions to domestic tourism in Nigeria among other issues.

what is happening. Once you are building your cultural industry automatically your tourism begins to work.”

This is the time to invest in tourism With the looming economic crisis resulting from the continuous fall in oil price, she says this is the right time for the country to pay serious attention to the tourism industry. “I think it is an opportunity for the government to begin to look at the development and growth of tourism in Nigeria. It is an opportunity for government to see that tourism is a goldmine that has been untapped. If we have oil that has been tapped we have an equivalent of oil that is yet to be tapped.”

Stakeholders should present a united front “This is the time that stakeholders in the industry to come together, no more divisions. This is the time for the people to come together and work to build a pact.”

That is her message to the industry operators, insisting that there is no better time in the history of the industry than now for all the operators to see themselves as dependent on one another for survival.

“Once we decide that we want to build inbound tourism that becomes our focus. we have to come together to structure in place to ensure that we begin to build inbound tourism. The numbers alone are enough, once we build our inbound tourism we would not spend money marketing Nigeria outside because they will come looking for us.”

I

Journeying into the travels world me Udo strikes you as a quiet and easy-going person but beneath that facade is a woman that is all fired up and passionate about the tourism industry, where she first cut her teeth and ever since has never looked back. Rather she loves and enjoys it the more and even becomes a dedicated advocate for the industry.

She started out years ago from a background of management and consulting with Krane Travels and Tours located in Ikoyi but it was a self-discovery of sort and pursuit of self-actualisation that led Udo, an English graduate to the world of travels. “I think it was borne out of passion for service, a passion to contribute my share to the tourism sector. I didn’t study tourism or anything in that regard,” she says as she speaks of how she began her journey.

“When an opportunity came for me to work in a company in the industry, I took advantage of and I started working in that company with no prior knowledge,” she recalls, adding that “while I was working there I began to understand the technicalities involved in travels. I immediately realised that there is a clear distinction between travels and tourism/ hospitality," She further schooled herself on the basic elements and nuances of the industry and developed a knack for tours. After learning the ropes, she left and partnered Skyright Travel Consulting with a friend. She says that “gave me the opportunity to express and experiment what I thought the industry should look like and immediately we began to do a lot of tours.”

Young and vibrant as well as armed with an uncommon passion for her new found love, she experimented with all sorts of packages but the bottom line, she reveals, was: “Just to try and build the tourism industry and create awareness in people that you can

Udo

actually go on tours, become informed, exposed and generally increase ones knowledge base.”

But in 2006, she set up Leadway Tours and Travels, Lagos,where she calls the shots as the boss. Her company is one of the leading tour companies in Nigeria and a trade partner with the South Africa Tourism (SAT). She is also an activist of some sort in the industry and quite vocal about her beliefs.

She is a member of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies ( NANTA) and Global Travel Business Association ( GBTA), among others and a member of governing board and chairman of the technical committee of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).

A devotion to the promotion of domestic tours Her devotion is to domestic tourism however, she engages on outbound tours with the sole aim of giving people the experience

and drawing their attention to the Nigerian scene.

Nigeria can be a major destination Udo has no doubt in her mind that Nigeria can be a tourist destination but for this to happen, she insists that the idea of tourism must be propagated and supported by the government first and as well as everyone, then made a national ethos for the people to realise the importance of it and that it exists in every facets of our daily existence.

Once we decide that we want to build inbound tourism that becomes our focus

Let’s develop our cultural and creative industries She advocates a return to our cultural and creative industries: “So let’s go back to our culture, let’s get our cultural industry working, we have a lot of talents, we have exceptional talents out there at the grass roots and let’s begin to build structures that will sell and develop tourism and make Nigeria a destination.

“We need to look at it properly because if you ignore tourism you ignore your culture and that is

It’s a fulfilling journey Despite the challenges imposed by the tough operating environment that Nigeria is, Udo says the journey has been a fulfilling one because “I am doing what I love and that alone is fulfilment on its own. I have been able to meet great people, I have been exposed and I have been able to travel far and wide, I have been able to increase my knowledge base on the entire industry, not just only within Nigeria but also outside Nigeria.

“It has been quite fulfilling, I have done quite a number of things. It just keeps me abreast of what really is going on in the world. That is what tourism does; it puts you up there so that you know really what is going on.

However, she admits that she is yet to make the kind of money that would make many of the banks trailing her. The future, she says, is bright as she looks forward to making Forbes list s someday.

“Financial wise, there is still a lot more I can do but when you are talking of your passion you are not looking at the finance first. You are looking at the satisfaction you are getting from what it is that you are doing then you begin to talk about the finance and I am optimistic that by God's grace, that will come very soon.”

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DESTINATION

Basking in Namibia’s endless horizons

N

Background amibia is one of the Southern Africa countries with rich colonial and modern history. It is a small country spanning a landmass of 824, 269 square kilometres characterised essentially by tropical swamplands, desert and semi–desert. It is this admixture of natural elements which makes the country with a small population very peculiar in terms of its colourful landscape.

Besides, it is a multi–cultural society with about 13 different ethnic groups with each displaying it peculiar cultural heritage and characteristics while the people are friendly and noted for their warm and traditional hospitality.

English is the official language of the country but other languages spoken are German, Afrikaan and a number of local dialects and languages. With its abundant natural resources, modern and sophisticated infrastructure, array of activities and events all year round, Namibia is an alluring tourism destination beckoning adventurous souls. Namibia Tourism Board is charged with regulating and administering the country’s tourism, which it has dubbed an "endless horizon."

Tourism wealth Namibia is noted for its rich and diverse tourism offerings where visitors are guaranteed different levels of pleasures and enchanting experiences from the different destinations, attractions and activities generated by the many operators in the industry.

From its sunny weather, exciting landscapes, colourful people and culture to its adrenalin packed activities as well as fascinating natural features, tourists exploring the beauty and rich offerings of the country are sure to be excited by tour packages on offer.

Every of the country’s regions or destinations are known for their peculiar and unique adventurous settings. For instance, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are generally regarded as the adventure enclaves or capitals of the country. Wildlife is also very unique among the country’s offerings with many people visiting just to explore its nature and wildlife sanctuaries.

The country also offers interesting indoors and outdoors activities with a colourful night life to experience in Windhoek, the capital city, and many

other major towns and cities. There is also a splendid shopping experience on offer.

Focus Tourism in Namibia is witnessing a boom and its importance is acknowledged by both the government and the people.

According to the country’s envoy to Zimbabwe, Balbina Daes Pienaar, in a presentation at last year’s Sangnani/Hilangnani, a tourism expo hosted by Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in Harare, tourism is regarded as one of the economic sectors, which is highly prioritised in the country.

She noted that it has ‘‘the capacity and potential to reduce poverty, advance rural development, create more jobs while at the same time conserving our natural and cultural heritage and preserving our biodiversity for generations to come.’’ She added that with the right environment created for it, tourism is expected to grow and flourish while contributing immensely towards the realisation of the country's economic vision.

To underscore her point, she reeled out the performance figure of 2011 with tourism recording a growth of 4.4% compared to 2010 with tourist arrivals put at over a million (1,027,229). Tourists from African countries were more in numbers as the country recorded 9.8% arrivals from Africa. Angola, South Africa, Germany, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, United Kingdom, United States of America, France and Netherlands made the top 10 of the country’s source markets.

Reasons to visit The reasons for people choosing to live their dreams by choosing to visit Namibia, also known as "The Land of the Brave," are numerous. These, according to her, include ‘‘its tireless conservation efforts, stunning sceneries, sophistication, safety, security and diversity.’’

Furthermore, Ambassador Pienaar’s pitch for her country includes the fact that ‘‘Namibia’s tourism industry caters for various types of visitors’ needs and expectations. For example, we have mountainous

Parliament Garden, Windhoek. Inset: A glimpse into the people's culture

and yet scenic landscapes, breathtaking activities for adventure travellers, diversity of cultural experiences, excellent business infrastructure, wildlife and conservation programmes, declared wetlands, rock paintings, just to mention a few.’’

To really make guests present at the event have a feel of Namibia’s brand, they were treated to some of the country's home–grown products. These included the famous Windhoek beer, Vigo soft drink and Biltong while the cultural troupe of the country gave a scintillating and resounding performance with many in the audience left awestruck by the amazing and unique cultural offerings of the country.

Windhoek This cosmopolitan city is the capital city of Namibia, a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

It is well laid out and structured with amazing and fascinating geographical and physical features, making it an inviting and impressive city to visit.

Windhoek is a national symbolism for the people, a melting pot for culture and as a centre of commerce, business, social and political activities.

Nearly all of the country’s major infrastructure and amenities in the different spheres of life are located within the city.

And, more importantly, it possesses enchanting natural elements for which the country is famous. It is surrounded by the Auas and Eros Mountain and the khomas Hochland, making it actually the starting point for tourists exploring the natural beauty of the country.

Different wildlife species at a water hole. Inset: Entrance to Etosha National Park

The city is also host to the country’s international airport, Hosea Kutako, which is located 45 kilometres east of the city. Other attractions to look out for include Penduka – which is seven kilometres from the outskirts of the city and nearer – Katutura; Namibia’s Craft Centre, which is in the city’s centre; National Botanical Garden; N/a’an Ku se Wildlife Sanctuary – east of Windhoek; Alte Feste and Owela Museums; Christus Kirche; Tintenpalast – Parliament House; Heroes Acre and Joes Beerhoouse.

Offerings Perhaps the best way to explore the country’s rich and abundant tourism bouquets may just be by the region or activities as the destination seems structured on regional basis and the various activities on offer packaged into a discernible whole to cater to the different interests of visitors.

Here are samplers: Eastern region This tourism circuit is also noted for its numerous rich and natural offerings with Gobabis town, said to be the largest in the region symbolising its vast attractions.

Situated about 200 kilometres from the capital city, Gobabis is largely a pastoral town, with farming and cattle-rearing as major vocations.

The San people or Bushmen as they are known are the earliest known settlers in Namibia and a number of them still work the cattle farms. A few others are also found in the Kalahari Desert and North – Eastern region (Tsumkwe and Khaudom areas).

Some other monuments or attractions in the town include Harnas wildlife Foundation, which is located 100 kilometres north east of the town and Lazarette (old field hospital) National Monument.

Northern region The Northern region of the country could be described as the most attractive and scenic part, and home to one of the most natural attraction that makes the country a choice destination for many when it comes to wildlife.

This number one attraction is the Etosha National Park located in Etosha village that spans over 23, 000 square kilometres. It is noted for its vast and rich flora and fauna offerings, which allow for memorable wildlife experience. It's no surprise it is always on the list of many conservation adventurers.

It is believed to house over 300 species of birdlife and this is beside its large stock of other fauna species such as elephants,

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Travel & Tourism 43

Art and craft on display

rhinos, and giraffes, lions, while hippopotamus and buffalo are missing from the list of the Big Five. However, it still presents an interesting and alluring viewing for many on daily safari.

The park surroundings play host to different categories of accommodation ranging from farm camps, guest houses, lodges and full service resort while the park itself also boasts an amazing number of accommodation for people.

Besides Etosha National Park, Waterberg Plateau Park is also another attraction in the region owing to its vast wealth of natural resources. Its landmass covers about 400 square kilometres and is home to 25 mammal species and 200 bird species. It also houses a number of rare species such as roan and sable antelopes while white and black rhinos alongside buffalo are some of the other popular sightings in the park.

Other attractions to savour in the region include AfriCat Foundation – B1 – 48km south of Otjiwarongo; Cheetah Conservation – 44 km east of Otjiwarongo on D2440; Dinosaur Footprints – over 100 years old and located 30 km north of Kalkfeld; Grootfontein Museum – Grootfontein; Hoba Meteorite – the largest meteorite in the world – Grootfontein; Otjikoto and Guinas Lakes – 25 km north west of Tsumeb; Otjiwarongo Crocodile Ranch – Otjiwarongo; The Living Museum of the Ju/’’Hoansi San – Grashoek and Vingerklip – finger rock – 95 km west of Outjo.

North – Eastern region This region consists of the Kavango and Zambezi regions with the Khaudum National Park also part of it. This is one of the most beautiful region of the country with rich vegetation and natural elements, which make for interesting view, especially its rural facade as it opens a window to the people’s rural existence.

To this end, the region is home to five of the country’s national parks. These are Bwabwata, Khaudom, Mangetti, Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara, making it the richest when it comes to wildlife resources. Add to this the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), which was officially launched in 2012 by Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, covering an area of over 440, 000 square

Scenic waterfalls

scattered across the Kunene region compels attention due to their age long culture and tradition.

Other attractions to explore in this region include the Burnt Mountain in Twyfelfontein; the Petrified Forest; Organ Pipes; Desert elephants, lions and rhinos; Epupa Falls and the Living Museum of the Damara. kilometres, the largest conservation area in the world, which was created for the protection of wildlife corridors and free movement of animals.

Rundu is a major town in the Kavango region and holds its attraction for the visitors. Situated on the banks of the Okavango River, which is on the tip of the border to Angola, it is a veritable source of water for the people. The people of the town are also renowned wood carvers and basket weavers while the Zambezi region, also known as the Caprivi Strip, is home to Katima Mulilo town, the gateway to the famed Victoria Falls and the Chobe National Park in Botswana.

The region has beautiful and enticing landscapes with series of rivers, woodlands, swamps and flood plains. It also has a rich population of animal species with its elephant population said to be very high.

Other savoury attractions in Northern Eastern region are the Living Museum of the Mafwe; Living Museum of Mbunza; Popa Falls; Mashi crafts; Lizauli traditional village; Caprivi Art Centre and Ngoma Craft Centre.

North-Western region The North-Western region also comes with its own attractions, especially in the area of material culture with its playing host to a special variant of the people’s creative arts. One of such fascinating creations is rock painting or rock art galleries in the town of Twyfelfontein, which is the country’s first World Heritage Site,

A formation of rocks considered a national monument

One of the national statues

Getting there The country is quite accessible from many parts of the world by air from Europe and Africa. The country’s national carrier, Air Namibia offers connections from Europe and SADC countries, flying to its hub in Windhoek and then offers intercity connections to a number of the major towns and cities.

Getting to Windhoek from Nigeria you have to transit through some Africa countries such as South Africa (Johannesburg) or Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) as there is no direct flight from Nigeria to the country.

You also need a valid visa as Nigeria is not among the visa exempt countries.

Budget For anyone wishing to visit for a three-night stay, a budget of $2,000 (all inconclusive ) should suffice.

hosting over 2, 000 rock engravings.

There is also White Lady Rock engravings, which are abundantly evident at the foot of the Brandberg Mountain, the highest mountain in the country while the semi-nomadic Himba people,

Southern region This region is noted for its World Heritage Site – Sossusviel, which forms part of the Namib Sand Sea. Known as the Big Daddy, it is believed to have the highest level of sand dunes in the world measuring 340 metres high.

The region is also home to the Fish River Canyon, which is recorded as the second largest canyon in the world and the largest in Africa. Statistically it measures 160 kilometres long, 27 kilometres width and 550 metres deep.

Luderitz Bay is another attraction of the region and Luderitz is a harbour town, which is noted for its German colonial architectural master pieces, arts and wildlife.

Other places to visit in the region include Namib Naukluft Park; Ai – Ais hot springs; Sperrgebiet National Park; desert horses of the Namib, Duwisib Castle and Oliver tree forest.

Western and Coastal region This region boasts uniquely attractive and creative natural features, the list include Swakopmund enclave, which is Namibia’s premier coastal holiday destination. This enclave is characterised by beautiful and clean beaches while its coastline also harbours rich flora and fauna as well as birdlife.

Walvis Bay is one of the most popular attractions in this region and is heavily patronised. It is the country’s major harbour town and serves as the hub of the fishing industry. It also comes up as an important wetland as it is a RAMSAR site and boasts heavy presence of birdlife.

TV & Radio with Angela Davies

700 Club Nigeria

44

This weekend Channels

T

he 700 Club Nigeria is the Nigerian version of the International 700 Club, the flagship programme of Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Nigeria. The 30-minute weekly magazine programme which is produced from their Abuja studios highlights the work of CBN in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa.

The programme which is hosted

by Barine Gbosi and Ethelle EkpeAderemi comprises testimonies, features, humanitarian works and Christian music videos. Gbosi and Ekpe-Aderemi use their experiences as born again Christians to relate with the viewers as they handle the various segments of the programme together.

In the last edition, the first segment showed the 700 Club partners provide pipe-borne water to a community in South-South Nigeria after they heard about the heartrending story of how young Helen and other children had to queue in long lines or even trek miles to the stream to fetch water before going to school.

The second segment featured the interesting story of Kempiya Emmanuel and her husband, Emmanuel Nyabam. It told the story of how they started the Child Love and Protection Advocacy Initiative (CLAPAI) in November 2006, an orphanage that housed and took care of over 170 children. In the orphanage, the children got free education and their basic needs are also met.

But most importantly, they have love and hope for a beautiful future in the place where they are also brought up in the way of the Lord.

Kempiya, founder of CLAPAI said the urge to take care of the orphans began as a childhood dream.

It all started when at the age of eight she watched a documentary on AIDS orphan in Africa. Then at age 12, in a summer camp she volunteered to become a missionary.

She forgot about her call and commitment to this call. About a year after she got married to Emmanuel Nyabam, they realised that God was calling them into the ministry.

So they chose to obey, trusting Him to provide all the resources they will need to carter for the orphans.

They also rehabilitate prostitutes, take care of pregnant teenage girls and reconcile them with their families after they give birth. The couple said they were fulfilled and happy despite the difficulties they faced as they could not imagine their lives without these children.

The third and last segment saw the inspiring story of Charles Akogwu a young man who was part of a notorious secondary school boys group. Af-

SATURDAY, 28 FEBRUARY, 2015

Ekpe-Aderemi and Gbosi

ter shedding so many innocent blood, he later became born again and started ministering to his friends.

Narrating his ordeal, Charles stated that the deep rejection from his mother led him to go in search of love and acceptance. When he met this gang, he believed their comforting promises, joined the gang and faithfully carried out all the assignment given to him. His devotion to the group brought him rapid promotion to the post of a senior striker.

But soon he had to deal with his conscience as he began to hate his lifestyle and with each passing day, he struggled with the fear of being killed by a rival gang.

When he decided to leave the gang, they threatened to deal with him. However, his life took a different turn when he met Faith. Faith agreed to go on a date with Charles but it turned out not to be the kind of date he expected. She introduced him to Joshua Selman, founder of Eternity Network Int’l, who spoke to him

about Jesus Christ and he gave his life to God. Charles said since he was prayed for on May 27, 2010, he immediately lost the desire for drinking, smoking, womanising and gambling. He spends a lot of time talking about Jesus to people.

He noted also that he has forgiven and reconciled with his mother.

The Christian programme features different inspiring and life changing stories with footages and pictures for authentication.

The programme shows how deep God’s love is for humans. His love is so deep that it can turn a person or situation around only if you believe.

At the end of the programme each week, either Gbosi or EkpeAderemi led viewers who want to surrender their lives to Christ in a short prayer. Although the programme airs in different television stations, nevertheless, it airs on African Independent Television (AIT) on Saturday at 11:30 am.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

J

known as D’butafly hosts The City Cafe (Mid-Morning Madness) with KShow weekdays between 11am and 1pm.

Over the years she has earned nominations for awards like The Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) and the Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2014 JLuv (NEA).

Programme summary

Today on STV

Poise on Radio City

Is a breakfast show that features different segments including guest discussing trending issues. It is presented daily by the trio of Aghogho Eboh, Victoria Pepple and Chinyere Ejemi.

The show teaches etiquette and soft skills from a Nigerian angle with a global perspective. The show aims to inspire agents of change in the Nigerian corporate landscape.

Mon-Fri @ 7:00 am

Saturday 8:30 One Cubed Naija 9:00 Sunrise 12:00 Metro File 1:00 News Track 1:30 Business Incorporated 2:00 News Track 2:30 Views From The Top 3:00 News Track 3:30 Road Map 2015 4:00 News Round 5:30 Dawn in the Creeks 6:00 News Track 6:30 Network Africa 7:00 Capital Market 8:00 Nigeria 2015 9:00 Entertainment News 9:30 Art House 10:00 News at 10 11:00 Face Off Sunday 7:30 Tom & Jerry 8:30 Turning Point 9:00 News Track 9:30 Metro File 10:00 News Track 10:30 Health Matters 11:00 News Track 11:30 Question Time 12:00 News Track 12:30 Channels Sports 1:30 Law Weekly 2:00 Sports Ville 2:30 Inside Out with Agatha

3:00 Rubbin’ Minds 4:00 News Track 4:30 Insight for Living 5:00 Moment of the Truth 6:00 News Track 6:20 Seriously Speaking 7:00 News Track 7:30 Walk the Talk 8:00 Politics Today 9:00 Channels Discovery 9:30 Ogun Weekly 10:00 News at 10 11:00 Nigeria 2015

Radio Continental

JLuv

ennifer JLuv is an onair-personality with a passion for life and a unique personality. She successfully captures the heart of every listener and has the ability to reach across every age bracket.

With over 10 years’ experience in the media, she brings professionalism and life to radio. JLuv also

TELEVISION

105.1 FM Tuesday @ 6:15 am

Saturday 7:30 Papers Today 7:45 Saturday Special 9:00 Who's Getting Married 9:30 Good Living 10:00 Saturday Sports 1:00 Fan Zone 4:00 Me & You 5:00 World News 7:30 Afrobeat Tonight 9:00 Single Life 10:30 Old School Groove 12:00 Whispers

EKO FM

Saturday 07:15 Morning news 08:30 Weekenders sport 09:00 Music 10:00 The news 3:00 Top ten countdown 4:00 Cover story 4:10 Woman tori 5:00 National news 12:00 Webcast

LTV

Saturday 9:00 Voice of Restoration 11:00 School Buggie 11:30 Silent Noise 12:30 Afin Alayeluwa 1:00 Mariana and Scarlett 2:00 Living Spring Half Hour 2:30 Mide Mase 3:00 Laughter Foundation 4:00 News 4:35 The White House 5:00 Power in the Word 5:30 Health Wise

6:00 Iroyin 6:30 Hour of Empowerment 7:30 Oracles of God 8:00 News 9:30 Red Hot 10:00 You will get there 10:30 Soul City Sunday 7:30 Better Life for City People 9:00 Sunday Express Live 9:30 Zakat and Sadaqat 10:00 Omnbus India Soap 11:00 Documentary 11:30 Burning Spear 12:00 Purification of Soul 12:30 Music 1:00 Mo gbejomide 2:00 Nnkan Nbe 2:30 Hour of Salvavtion 3:00 Gbarada 4:00 News 4:10 Redemption Way 5:00 Grace Point 5:30 Great Hope 6:00 Iroyin 6:30 Inside Out with Agatha 7:00 News 7:10 Promised Land 7:30 LAMATA ½ Hour 8:00 Sunday Menu 8:30 Crime Fighters 9:00 Business Connect 9:30 Ibudo Labe Orun 10:30 Lagos Assembly 11:00 Amuludun Xtra (R)

Sunday 7:30 Press Report 8:00 Church without barriers 10:30 Think you know the Bible 12:00 World News 2:00 Lagos News 2:30 Palaver 5:00 World News 5:15 Studio 102 7:00 Woman's Own 8:00 Sunday Evening Groove 10:00 Music 12:00 Whispers

Sunday 7:15 Morning news 10:00 News 12:00 News summary 3:05 Rhumba jamz 4:00 Music 5:00 National news 5:10 Make it happen 7:00 African news 9:10 Something for singles

SATURDAY, 28 FEBRUARY, 2015

SATURDAY

Politics 45

Politics

PROLOGUE

Election watch: PDP, APC clash over deployment of military p.48

The colours of power and fame

Interview

'Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas would help curb restiveness in Niger Delta' p.51

Perspectives

CAN of worms and bribe-for-vote scandal p.53

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

COVER

There is a philosophical basis for the controversial swaggers by governors Chibuike Amaechi and Ayo Fayose, writes DOMINIK UMOSEN

T

he parable that you do not know a man or what he is capable of until you give him fame or power must have been invented exclusively for Governor Chibuike Amaechi and Governor Ayo Fayose of Rivers and Ekiti states, respectively. Before the controversial roles which both men have so far imposed upon themselves, those who have known both in and out of power say there was no way of telling that circumstances could galvanize them to volunteer for the ebullient political roles that have come to be associated with both men.

For Governor Fayose, who has imposed on himself the role of chief traducer and critic of the alleged shortcomings of the APC presidential candidate and former head of state, retired Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, championing an ebullient campaign to fault Buhari’s credentials for the presidency on account of old age is understandable because for every political partisan, there comes a time when it's imperative to pay homage and prove one's loyalty.

And for the Ekiti State governor, apart from the obvious need to dramatize his gratitude to President Jonathan for his political rehabilitation after former President Olusegun Obasanjo engineered his impeachment, his most enthusiastic condemnation of Buhari’s candidacy on account of alleged old age is the most expedient way to express gratitude and even stretch the gesture further by throwing occasional jabs, whenever the need arises, especially now that his favoured taunt (Buhari), may be enjoying an inti-

mate closet political romance with Fayose’s political Herod (Obasanjo).

Gov Amaechi, on the other hand, has different reasons for his battle ad infinitum with President Jonathan and the First Lady, Dame Patience, which observers say is driven by an uncommon vehemence and enthusiasm. Though both parties to the unending feud are often reluctant to say why, Governor Amaechi claims that his problem with the president and his wife became firmed after he consistently rebuffed alleged attempts by the First Lady to treat Rivers like a private estate.

This claim might be con-

For every political partisan, there comes a time when it's imperative to pay homage and prove one's loyalty

troversial but there is neither controversy nor doubt about that fateful day in Okrika, Rivers State, when an angry First Lady snatched the microphone

from Governor Amaechi and went ahead to declare that he could not demolish buildings in Okrika as intended by the state government before this public put-down.

Those who know also say that there was no way anyone could have predicted that the easygoing persona that Amaechi represented suddenly transmogrified into an implacable critic of the Presidency after the epic Supreme Court judgment that ordered his swearing-in as governor, lending credence to the wisecrack that you never really know someone until they have been invested with power and fame.

46

Cover

W

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Amaechi, Nigeria's most ‘controversial' governor

hen he was Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years, four of which he doubled as Chairman, Conference of Speakers' Forum, Rotimi Amaechi was not known for radical views. This was probably because as Speaker, and by extension, the whole House, which he presided were appendages of then Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili.

When he became governor of Rivers State towards the end of 2007 following the Supreme Court judgement, Amaechi's real character suddenly emerged. The circumstance under which he assumed office won him the sympathy of many Nigerians.

What endeared him the more and won him many admirers was his courage to confront, even in their own den, the Niger Delta militants who had held Rivers State hostage for many years.

Amaechi, in company of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), shortly after he took over from his cousin, Celestine Omehia as governor, went to the much dreaded "Evil forest" in Okrika where they reportedly recovered a huge cache of arms. He was the first governor to visit the forest.

The Evil Forest was allegedly the fortress of Tom Ateke, leader of the Niger Delta Front. Also found in the enclave was a pipeline of about 150 meters long laid from the Evil Forest to the NNPC jetty in Port Harcourt through which the militants allegedly siphoned petroleum products which they later sold to the Nigerian public as condensate products. Amaechi later turned the forest into a health centre.

When he appeared before the state House of Assembly, the governor told the members, "We have converted Ateke's Evil Forest to a health Centre. We will not stop there. We will keep his house for the world to see where he lived".

But the attempt to stretch his luck further by trying to demolish buildings in Okrika waterfront, brought him into confrontation with Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of the president who incidentally is from the area. Since then, there was no love lust relationship between the governor and the first family.

Mrs. Jonathan, during a state visit to Rivers State clashed with Governor Amaechi when the governor tried to explain to her why some structures around a newly constructed school project had to give way.

Obviously, not comfortable with Amaechi's incendiary attacks on her husband since he became Chairman of Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF), the First Lady snatched the microphone from him and gave the governor a piece of her mind.

"I want you to get me clear. I am from here (Okrika). I know the problems of my people. So I know what I am talking. I do not want us go into crises. We are preaching peace and we must maintain peace at any time.

"But what I am telling you is that you always say you must demolish. That word 'must' you use is not good. It is by pleading. You appeal to the owners of the compound, because they will not go into exile. Land is a serious issue", she adominished him.

With this statement, every discerning mind knew that the battle line has been drawn between the governor and the president. Since then, Amaechi did not spare any opportunity he has to attack and abuse President Jonathan.

Neither the decimation of the Nigeria Governors Forum as an independent platform nor his celebrated face-off with President Jonathan and his wife has been able to muzzle Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, OYEKACHI EZE reports.

Even before he finally left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Amaechi had consistently attacked the party leadership and the president.

Amaechi, since he became NGF Chairman has 'militarised' the Forum. Notwithstanding that he come from the same geopolitical zone with the president, the NGF under Governor Amaechi was more like opposition party to the PDP controlled Federal Government, despite the fact that majority of the governors were elected on the platform of the party.

At a stage, Jonathan described the Amaechi-led NGF as a “monster”, noting that “when the Governors’ Forum became a monster … we had a lot of challenges…”

The president also observed that “the way some of the governors talk and behave, if 50 per cent of the governors behave that way, probably, we would have vacated this place and allow others to come and manage it for us.” Then, Amaechi was still a PDP member.

After the governor eventually left the party, it became an opportunity for him to launch virulent attacks on the president and his wife. He accused Jonathan of taken the state’s oil well in Soku to Bayelsa State where the president comes from. He also said 41 oil wells in Etche local government of Rivers state was given to Abia State.“Is the President or his wife from Abia State? Why do they want us to suffer? If President Jonathan comes back to power in 2015, Rivers State economy will crash.

"Ask yourselves this question that I have always asked Rivers people. What have we (Rivers people) done to President Jonathan that he has refused to bring any

project to Rivers State. We had to fight them before they could do the East-West road. I had to abuse the federal government and they abused me back before they could do the work you now see on that road,” he said.

Amaechi also told the graduating students of the University of Ibadan and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education that"since September this year, the federal government has not been able to pay any state from the federal allocation. They said they don’t have money. This is the first time that our president is emerging as the 6th richest person in Africa.”

He claimed that corruption has now become a state policy under the present federal government, noting “Under former presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, the oil subsidy was N300 billion, but six months into 2011 under Jonathan, the oil subsidy became N2.3 trillion. When governors went on strike, it was N1.7 trillion, and we said we wouldn’t collect our monthly allocation unless they returned/

This is the first time that our president is emerging as the 6th richest person in Africa

28 FEBRUARY 2015

stopped further subsidy, and Jonathan swore he would, but didn’t.

"After a while, we didn’t see the documents again until the National Assembly investigated and found out it was N2.3 trillion.”

He said his quarrel with the wife of the President was because she wanted him to corruptly share the Rivers State money with her. Amaechi would not stop there but accused Mrs. Jonathan of sponsoring militancy to destabilise his government by deliberately ensuring that militants, who had fled the state to Lagos, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, returned to fight him.

Immediately after the attack on APC governorship campaign rally in Okrika two weeks ago, Amaechi had no difficulty blaming the attack on the wife of the president.

"Again, as usual, the wife of the president won’t allow the APC hold rally in that place (Okrika). The wife of the president and the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers again organized thugs to disrupt APC rally. As usual, the police couldn’t protect us, over 200 police men. I asked the commissioner of police and he said they have over 200 policemen there. Yet, three explosions and then they opened fire on members of APC. The Channels TV reporter I hear, is injured, stabbed, and members of APC injured.

“We had meetings with DSS (Directorate of State Security) and police and they confirmed we could go ahead. There were 200 policemen and there were over 20 to 30 DSS men who came there and they did nothing,” he said.

He expressed doubt over next month's general elections, arguing "there were crises in the Niger Delta in 2007 and there were elections. So if the 14 local governments of Borno and Adamawa and Yobe, he can’t go ahead with election, then where is he going ahead with election when the whole of Rivers State is being invaded by PDP and PDP thugs and security men are watching and doing nothing.”

Amaechi did not spare PDP in his ceaseless attacks. In fact, the reason why he led other four PDP governors out of the party was because party members rejected the call for the removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of PDP. He said they had to leave PDP because they could not continue to remain in a party that undermines the interests of their people.

"The governors met on Monday and decided that we must meet with the APC leadership and when we met with the APC leadership, it was important we took a position and the position we took is for the good of our democracy and will ensure that Nigeria moves forward. We can’t continue the way we are, where we are.

"The picture painted by the PDP was as if we were begging to come back to PDP and issues were not being looked into, issues were not being resolved and it’s important that we resolve it one way or the other".

Amaechi added that they were concerned that their well-being was not central to the leadership of the PDP. "We do not find this satisfactory. We have therefore decided that it is in our best interest that we move to a party that shares the hopes and aspirations of our people and realises and recognises our right to exist and be treated as equal partners in our democracy," he said.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

ADESINA WAHAB chronicles the many controversies that have been stirred by Gov Fayose who is fast cutting the profile of a maverick.

P

reparing for elections in Nigeria is like going to war. In fact, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2007, while preparing to lead the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the year's general elections, described the elections as a 'do-or-die' affair. As politicians jostle for positions in this year's elections, this mindset has not changed, especially for the plum office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which the incumbent, Dr Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are the leading candidates.

However, tongues wagged over the unsual ebullience demonstrated by the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, to shore up support for Jonathan and the PDP. He literally stirred the horner's nest when he placed an advertisement on the front pages of some newspapers on Monday, January 19, 2015, dubbed 'death wish advert' by his traducers.

In the advert, Fayose raised concern over the health status of Buhari and his capacity to lead the country.

According to him, Buhari, 72, is too old and sick hence feeble to lead contemporary Nigeria with its hyper challenges.

In the advert, which he entitled 'Nigerians be warned', Fayose urged cxompatriots to learn from the past and avoid repeating previous mistakes. The governor said the matter before Nigerians was choosing between life and death and urged them to choose life and quoted from the book of Deuteronomy 30 verse 19: "Therefore, choose life that both thee and thy seed may live."

Also in the controversial advert, pictures of some late Nigerian leaders including Gen. Murtala Muhammed, Gen. Sani Abacha and Alhaji Umaru Yar 'Adua, who all died in office and who all incidentally hailed from the North-West geo-political zone like Buhari, were referred to.

Fayose's opponents were quick to insinuate that he was wishing Buhari dead, even though he concluded in the advert that Nigerians should vote Jonathan and the PDP. He said the North should wait till 2019 when it would definitely produce the President and then go for a younger, energetic person.

While various commentators and political opponents lampooned Fayose over the advert, the national leadership of the PDP also dissociated itself from the action he took, saying it was Fayose's personal opinion.

Not yet done, he resurfaced with another statement entitled 'I have no apology over advertorial'.

Gov Fayose insisted that Buhari, is too old and sick to be the president of this country.

"I wish to refer to the late President Umaru Yar 'Adua who former President Olusegun Obasanjo claimed was hale and hearty to lead this country and subsequently took ill and died. I must assure all those who have expressed genuine concerns, unlike the APC that is playing cheap politics over the issue -that my intention is not a death wish to General Buhari but a factual position that APC is covering.

"My consideration for the advertorial in the midst of alleged ill health of the late president is the need for the nation not to forget the crisis we were thrown into in 2010 but saved by the National Assembly which had to invoked the Doctrine of Ne-

Fayose:

Troublesome governor or seer?

cessity after protests by the Save Nigeria Group ( SNG) "It is in defence of fairness that I called attention to the potential crisis we may face God forbid that the health of the general becomes a hindrance if he was president and his vice, who is from the South-West would have to step into the saddle not too long after Obasanjo's eight years in office. " I wish to draw attention to the lead story in the Sunday Tribune of January 18, 2015, entitled, 'Buhari's planned visit to US causes furore.'

"The story revealed that arrangement had been concluded to fly Buhari to US for a medical check up. That Buhari has been stressed from effects of the rigours of presidential campaigns across the country and he is definitely in need of medical attention.

"Again, I say it that Buhari is too old and spent to lead Nigeria. The health of all of us who have stepped into the leadership space is nothing personal to us anymore as it has implications on the polity," he said.

When some people thought the matter has been laid to rest after some weeks of 'ceasefire', Fayose was the first to fault Buhari's trip to London. He alleged that the general went there for medical attention and took great effort at making nonsense the claim that Buhari was interviewed by a UK-based Nigerian journalist.

"As against the claim of the APC that Buhari was on a short working visit to the UK, Buhari is being treated at a hospital located at Cavendish Street, Cavendish

The North should wait till 2019 when it would definitely produce the President and then go for a younger, energetic person

Square, W2 London West End, London," Fayose said.

He also dismissed claim that Buhari would address dignitaries at Chatham House, but Buhari eventually did.

People are asking, why is Fayose obsessed with Buhari not winning the coming presidential election? Does he have any axe to grind with the retired general?

Is Fayose feeling not secure with Buhari's presidency? Does he have anything that Jonathan can help him hide but which Buhari will expose? The questions are endless.

For the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Taiwo Olatubosun, the governor's antics are only diversionary.

"Governor Ayo Fayose is only trying to divert attention from the rot that has

Cover

47

become the lot of the state since he took over last October. He collected September 2014 federal allocation but refused to pay workers' salaries for the month. He collected N2 billion ecological fund and cannot explain how it was spent, "Their escapade during the June 21, 2014 governorship election has been revealed by audio tape leak and he knows he cannot get out of all the mess. He is only diverting attention from himself and his poor governance of the state," Olatubosun said.

House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, said it was high time Fayose stopped his verbal attacks on Buhari and faced the serious issue of governance.

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 in the National Assembly, who also contested last June election with Fayose on the platform of the Labour Party, the parlous state of the finance of Ekiti was enough for the governor to think about rather than engaging in matters that did not concern him.

“Just like President Jonathan has a right to contest and legitimately expect to win, he has equally assured all and sundry that if he loses the election, he will honourably handover to the winner, making it clear that neither a military nor an interim regime would be an acceptable alternative.

“If President Jonathan is speaking in this parlance and Governor Fayose is busy abusing former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while denigrating the age and person of General Buhari to the extent of wishing him dead, then surely Governor Fayose must be weeping more than the bereaved. And when a sympathiser is weeping more than the bereaved, there is definitely a cause for suspicion.

“Let Governor Fayose call himself to order. Let him leave General Buhari alone and come up with a more positive and decent manner of adding value to the our democracy and politics. Right now, he is a like cancer to our body polity.

“Let him stop dragging the name and image of Ekiti in the mud. Ekiti people abhor hate politics and if even Abuja would disown Governor Fayose’s hate campaign style, then the extent of damage he is doing to the Jonathan campaign in Ekiti State is better left in the realm of imagination,” Bamidele said.

Also, an APC member of the House of Representatives (Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1), Dr. Ife Arowosoge, said Governor Fayose must apologise for his advertorial on Buhari. To him the publication was not only offensive but blasphemous.

He expressed disgust that Fayose could descend so low to wishing a political opponent dead in what is supposed to be a contest of ideas.

Arowosoge said as a Christian, he viewed Fayose's twisting of the contents of the Holy Bible in the Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 30 Verse 19 for selfish political ends as an action amounting to blasphemy.

He advised the governor to seek the face of God for forgiveness for quoting the Scriptures out of context, warning him to stop playing God whom he said has the final say on the time of death of every mortal.

"The character of the person of Fayose has been revealed by the advert. He is from a Christian home, his late father was a pastor and his mother established a church during his first tenure.

"Can you imagine Fayose even going to the Bible to extract a quote in a desperate bid to malign another person. This is blasphemy, twisting the Word of God to suit your mischievous opinion.

"Fayose should remember that he is not the giver of life because God is the giver of life and age does not dictate death. A one-year-old can die while a 120-year-old might be spared of death.

48

Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Tempers have flared over the planned deployment of troops to maintain order during the forthcoming presidential and governorship elections, report ONWUKA NZESHI, ONYEKACHI EZE, JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM and TUNDE ODESINA.

I

n the heat of preparations for the March 28 and April 11 general elections gather momentum, the two dominant political parties in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and All Progressives Congress( APC) have reached for each other's jugular over the expected deployment of soldiers across the country during the elections.

Although both parties seem to agree on government providing some form of security for the elections, the APC appears comfortable with only the Nigeria Police while the ruling party would want the military deployed at strategic points as a back up to checkmate all forms of violence associated with the conduct of elections.

The Walkout Just last Wednesday, the altercation between these two parties snowballed into a major crisis on the floor of the House of Representatives, resulting in the members of the APC staging a walk out in protest.

A week before then, the APC through the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila had sponsored a motion seeking to stop the anticipated deployment of soldiers during the forthcoming elections. The motion was however stalled when a member raised a point of order drawing the attention of the parliament to the fact that the matter was already a subject of a suit before the law courts and that it would be subjudicial to discuss it.

Based on that observation, Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal referred the motion to the Committees on Judiciary, Justice, Rules and Business to re- examine the issues raised and advise the chamber appropriately.

The joint committee met and returned with a report that did favour the intentions of the original motion.

According to the report, “ the president’s power to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces in Nigeria for the purpose of maintaining and securing public order is a mandate donated by the constitution and the Armed Forces Act”. It also stated that in view of the supremacy of the Constitution, "the National Assembly cannot by an Act derogate from this let alone through a resolution without running foul of section 1(1) and (3) of the constitution."

It was in the process of presenting this report that members of the APC Caucus walked out in protest and promised to return with the motion at a later date.

The Trigger The confrontation at the parliament is only a reflection of how emotive the issue of deployment of troops at the forthcoming elections has been among the political elite. No doubt, the issue has been on the table for several months but the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for six weeks threw it up afresh in the polity.

The postponement has given a deeper interrogation to the debate on

Mu'azu, PDP Chair

Odigie Oyegun, APC chair

Election watch: PDP, APC clash over deployment of military • We can do without soldiers - Tunji Abayomi • No, we can't, because Nigeria is at war - NHRC boss

the propriety or otherwise of deploying the military to provide security during the elections.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega stirred the hornets nest when he hinged the decision to postpone the elections on the advice of the security chiefs that the military cannot guarantee security for the elections if they were held at the earlier dates.

Apparently not prepared to take responsibility for the decision to shift the polls, Jega played down on the challenges INEC was having with the distribution of permanent voter cards ( PVCs) , card readers and training of polling officers and chose to highlight the security issues.

"The conduct of elections in a country like Nigeria is invariably a collective venture that involves not just the Election Management Body (EMB), but also a diverse range of stakeholders, notably security agencies, political parties and their candidates, voters, as well as interest groups, such as the civil society organizations and the media. To guarantee successful conduct of elections, there are things that are wholly the responsibility of the EMB. But there are other things critical for the success of elections, which fall outside the control of the EMB. "In other words, while INEC must

There are a number of issues in the preparation and conduct of an election, the most critical of which is security

work hard to perfect its systems and processes for conducting elections, and take responsibility for any imperfections thereof, whatever the Commission does may not by itself be sufficient to guarantee the success of elections. There are a number of issues in the preparation and conduct of an election, the most critical of which is security, which is not under the control of INEC," Jega said.

The security advice became a perfect alibi for a man who wanted to retain his integrity and an institution that was not ready to take full responsibility for its own shortcomings. The Commission which had consistently told Nigerians it was ready for the polls even while the basic things were not in place was afraid of owning up to its internal lapses. It felt it was more convenient to pass the buck and direct the public rage to some other persons and somewhere else.

But this effectively re- opened an old and festering wound. The ruling People's Democratic Party( PDP) and the opposition, All Progressives Congress ( APC) have been at loggerheads over the deployment of troops during elections in the country. Both parties had bickered over this issue when governorship elections held in Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti at different times. In each of these iso-

lated governorship polls, there was hue and cry from the opposition camp at the commencement of the elections because they see it as militarization of the electoral process to scare away their supporters.

There has been a mutual suspicion between the ruling party and the opposition itching to unseat it. Underneath this mistrust is the fact that Nigeria has had a history of violent elections and the President Goodluck Jonathan seemed to have achieved some reasonable success in stemming that tide of violence with the deployment of soldiers on the streets during elections.

In a recent interaction with the Senate! Jega told Nigerians that even the feasibility of the new dates set for the elections depended largely on the security situation. In other words, he was reiterating his initial position that the initial postponement had nothing to do with INEC's perceived unpreparedness but purely the discretion of the security chiefs. It is a red flag that the opposition has seen and interpreted to mean nothing but danger.

In the eyes of the oppsition, danger looms in two spheres- the election might be shifted again or held under a tense security presence which they believe might be counter- productive to voter turn out.

Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Impunity or Right In a chat with Saturday Telegraph, a former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu stated that the use of military in the conduct of the March 28 and April 11 general elections would amount to impunity.

Onu stated that the insistence of the presidency and the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to deploy the military during the conduct of the general elections was against the ruling of a Sokoto State High Court on the matter.

Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Sokoto State High Court on January 29, 2015 had declared the use of Military in elections as illegal. Similarly, a judgment was also given by the Court of Appeal, Abuja on February 16.Talking about the use of the military, the APC has made it very clear that we don't support the use of Military for electoral purposes because we believe in the rule of law.

"So if a court gives an order through a judgement it should be obeyed because if you choose and pick, which order of court to obey and which one to disobey then you are going to have problems. We should all be below the law. Nobody should be above the law because when you have a situation where some people are above the law then you are going to have problems in such a society".

Onu said that it was unfortunate that politics and elections in Nigeria have been charactersed by violence, but aintained tat there would be no violence if there was no impunity and everyone obeyed the laws of the land.

"You have the electoral law, you keep to the electoral law; you have the constitution, you adhered to the constitution, but once we have impunity, once you violate the laws that you have made yourself, definitely there would be violence and that is why we want APC to be in government because elections should not be seeing as war. Today, if you are going to election it is like you are going to war. It shouldn't be that way.

"Election is something that people should be happy to participate in. As a matter of fact, people should be able to stay in their houses and use technology to vote who they want and still continue with whatever there are doing.

"In most developed countries and in many developing countries police men are not seeing, soldiers are not seeing anywhere. People just go around their businesses because everybody knows what the law is. The nation should be a nation of laws. You keep to those laws and don't violate it and then there would no violence," Onu said.

In a sharp contrast, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the stiff opposition mounted by the APC against the deployment of the military during the general elections as part of a hidden agenda by the opposition party to throw the country into chaos and anarchy reminiscent of the Wild Wild West electoral violence in the First Republic.

Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said that contrary to the impressions being created by the APC, the military had never posted directly to polling stations during elections, but deployed at strategic point to maintain peace.

He explained that bearing in mind the violent nature of elections, especially in the run•up to the 2015 general elections, where street urchins attacked the convoys of President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP campaign rallies, it was in the na-

Olisah Metuh

Lai Mohammed

Ahmadu Ali

Olagunsoye Oyinlola

tional interest to deploy soldiers in flash points during the elections.

“Deployment of the military during elections is not new. It has been done before; soldiers aren’t involved in elections, but they are kept in strategic places to safeguard the nation.

Whoever that is afraid of the security provided by the army or the police and want to have their own private army to conduct the election, is the one that wants to throw this country into crisis. The PDP supports the government to make sure that Nigerians are secured," he said.

Similarly, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has risen in defence of the policy, stating that it is the constitutional right of the President to deploy the Military at any situation he considers it necessary to safeguard lives and property of the citizenry.

Abaribe , who spoke exclusively to Saturday Telegraph expressed doubts about the judgments cited by the opposition in the matter. He said the court cannot rule against the constitutional rights of the president. According to him, it is tantamount to court saying that the Senate should not do its constitutional functions.

"The court cannot stop the president from doing its job. The constitution provided for the president to deploy soldiers where there is high tension or likelihood of violation of the laws.

"The deployment of the military for election would be as a result of volatility of the elections. The court ruling that the president should not deploy soldiers for elections is like asking the senate not to do its constitutional functions on the plenary," Abaribe said.

They know that it would be far more difficult for them to do that when soldiers are on the streets

Why we want soldiers The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation believes that if soldiers were deployed to supervise the 2011 general elections, the gruesome murder of 11 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Bauchi State wouldn't have happened.

Director, Media and Publicity PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said it is for this reason that the Federal Government must deploy soldiers to ensure peace, stability and security during and after the elections.

Chief Fani-Kayode observed that the Federal Government had deployed soldiers in previous elections conducted in Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States which were devoid of violence.

"Remarkably, the APC won in Edo and Osun; APGA won in Anambra, Labour Party won in Ondo while PDP won only in Ekiti State.

"The basis on which the APC is agitating for the exclusion of soldiers from the election by sponsoring court cases is patently dubious and untenable. The reason that the APC and its leaders do not want soldiers deployed is to be able to intimidate voters and unleash violence on the polity once they lose the elections. They know that it would be far more difficult for them to do that when soldiers are on the streets", Fani-Kayode said.

At a different forum, Fani-Kayode, had expressed concern at the attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to discredit the use of soldiers during the forthcoming polls. He accused the main opposition party of promoting a misleading audio footage of the purported rigging during the Ekiti governorship election, as a ploy to discourage the deployment of troops during the next election.

“The federal government deployed soldiers in the Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections

49

and all those elections were devoid of violence. Remarkably, the APC won in Edo and Osun; APGA won in Anambra; Labour Party won in Ondo while PDP won only in Ekiti State.

“The basis on which the APC is agitating for the exclusion of soldiers from the election, by sponsoring court cases, is patently dubious and untenable. The reason that the APC and its leaders do not want soldiers deployed is to be able to intimidate voters and unleash violence on the polity once they lose the elections. They know that it would be far more difficult for them to do that when soldiers are on the streets,” he said.

Legal perspectives A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla told Saturday Telegraph that the military has no role to play in the election and hence, there is no way their opinion could decide whether or not election should hold.

"Let us compare the number of Local Government we have to the number where insurgence is taking place. It is so minute that such should not in any way stop the conduct of the election.The security of an election is provided for by civil security personels and not the military. In other words, there is nothing the military is expected to do during the elections.

Recently, the Court of Appeal re-emphasised it that military has no role to play in elections", Obla stated.

A constitutional lawyer and civil rights activist, Dr. Tunji Abayomi was also of the opinion that the military has nothing to do as far as election concerned under Nigeria law.

"If it is about the conduct of election in the troubled zone, we can do without such zones and based the calculation on the number of Local Government where election is conducted.

"Democracy is based purely on election. It is possible that in some areas, election may not be possible but the constitution makes provision for such uncertainties. What will happen is that election will still have to be conducted. The two-third as well as the majority of votes which the constitution provides will be that of the states where election takes place.

"It also likely that elections will be conducted in such states, but it may not get the require number of voters because of the security situation but constitutionally, election must hold because there is provision for transitional government. The tenure of the President will cease and there will be no basis for him to continually stay in office", he stated.

Another senior lawyer, Terma Ivhorie stated that a further postponement of the election will be a breach of the constitution and Electoral Act. "We have seen other countries where there is security challenges and they still went ahead with their elections. There is no doubt that Nigeria is at war, but that is not enuf to stop an election. Only about seven local government also are being affected out of about 774 local governments.

"It will rather be an injustice to shift elections for 774 local government because of just seven local government.

INEC should come out clearly to tell Nigerians if it is having logistic problems and not hide under the insecurity again. And fortunately, going by the news we are hearing, the military seems to be achieving success in the fight against insurgents. So let us hope for the better", he added Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission( NHRC) , Prof.

Chidi Odinkalu said the plan by the federal government to deploy troops during the election was absolutely a step in the right direction giving Nigeria's current security situation.

50 Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

These are abnormal times, says Ohanaeze Ndigbo

The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo says no emphasis is too much in support of deployment of troops to maintain order during the coming elections in the country.

•No way, says ACF, el-Rufai, etc

T

he Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the umbrella socio-cultural organization for the Igbo of Nigeria, has joined the debate whether or not soldiers should maintain peace at polling units and other strategic locations during the coming general elections in March and April. The thrust of its argument is that given the nation’s recent history of post-election violence and the tinderbox of insurgency, the military should be involved.

The group did not want to give any consideration to the other side of the argument which predicates its fear that soldiers could lend themselves to manipulations by either of the two main political parties that are slugging out the presidential and other elections, saying the exigency of the situation at hand overrides other considerations.

Speaking to Saturday Telegraph, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, insisted that “this issue comes under expediency, that is, it does not matter whether it is good or bad but the fact is that it is necessary”.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe who came off vehement and uncompromising in defence of protagonists of deployment of troops during the elections, alluded to similar actions in the past by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying that “we saw it when the senate invoked the doctrine of necessity . Looking at the military terrain, against the background of insurgency in parts of the country today and our history of post-election violence, precautionary actions must be put in place.

“Consequently, troops have to be on the ground to avert any unruly eruptions .

Secondly, Mr. President is the commanderin-chief of the nation’s armed forces and he is on oath as the president of the country to maintain law and order, including the preservation of lives and property”, he maintained, insisting that “to be able to do so, he needs his troops to be on the guard”.

He made no pretences that the apex Igbo organization has fully thrown its weight behind perceived preferences by the presidency to deploy soldiers for the crucial elections. Not even the alleged genuine feelings in the camp of the opposition parties that the doctrine of ‘he who pays the piper, dictates the tune’ could prove true in the use of the soldiers or that strongholds of the opposition could be thrown into fear at the sight of heavy military presence in a location could change the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s resolve, going by the secretary-general’s argument.

Hence, when asked to consider what might constitute adverse effects of such deployment, Dr. Nwaogu declared: “I take sides after full evaluation. People can’t be speaking as if we are in a normal situation.

We are in an abnormal situation”.

The position of the group would not come off as a surprise. Despite some studs

constitutional responsibility of the police.

The Inspector General of Police has on several occasions assured Nigerians that they are not only capable of providing the needed security but they are also well prepared for the re- scheduled March/ April elections. The 120000 polling units provided by INEC all over the country can adequately be manned by the men of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

• Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim is the National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) Election is not war, leave the military out of it – Northern Elders There is absolutely no need for the military to be used either in the monitoring or for security duties during the forthcoming election. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is totally against it. There is nowhere in the world that the military is used for election duties, except in Nigeria. The police are adequately equipped to deal with the threats of party thugs. They can serve as a form of deterrence but not the military. The constitution only gives the president the mandate to deploy troops in times of war or threats to the sovereignty of the country. Election is not war so there is no need deploy a fighting machine like the military for election purposes. Even in terms of Internal Security, the police is first drafted to deal with the issue and when they are overwhelmed, they seek for the assistance of the military. That is what obtained even in the fight against the present insurgency. In the United States for example, internal security is the preserve of the police. When they can’t deal with the situation, they seek the assistance of the National Guard, then the military.

You are asking whether there is the possibility of using the military to rig elections? Are you a Nigerian? Do you live in this country? You are asking me of the possibility of using the military to rig? You know the answer except if you are working for President Jonathan. Or may be you are one of those journalists that have been compromised with the dollars that are flying around.

Ohanaeze

• Professor Ango Abdullahi, one time Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, is the Spokesman of Northern Elders Forum(NEF)

Ango Abdullahi

strewn on its way from several quarters, especially those drawing strenght from the roots of the opposition, the Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey-led executive of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo where Dr. Nwaogu is the secretary-general recently galvanized support and mustered all the arsenal to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan on behalf of the Igbo people for the March 28 presidential election. It is also currently digging deep to legally muffle the opposition to its continued leadership of the organization as processes are now going on in court to bar the Caretaker Committee of Ohanaeze led by Chief Ralph Obioha from speaking or acting on behalf of Ndigbo.

Police, Civil Defence Corps more suited

El-Rufai

The court has barred the military from elections – El-Rufai The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is against the deployment of soldiers for the March 28 and April 11 elections or subsequent elections in Nigeria. EL-rufai said that the military has no reason to be at polling centres or collation centres during elections because only the Police are constitutionally empowered to monitor elections in the country.

The former FCT Minister pointed out that a Federal High Court in Sokoto State had already delivered judgement preventing military personnel from taking part in elections. The military authorities should abide by the court judgement and dedicate their energy to flush out the Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast.

for election duties - ACF The Arewa Consultative Forum regrets the politicization of the military in the electoral process for which they have no constitutional responsibility. The Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections of 2014 were heavily militarized and alleged to have been compromised against all known democratic processes. This portends great danger to the development of our democracy and the process of free, fair and credible elections. ACF therefore demands that the military be kept out of the electoral process and restrict itself to its primary duty of protecting the nation's territory and integrity against any internal and external aggression. The only security requirement in the electoral process is the • Mr Samuel Aruwan is the Spokesman of El Rufai. maintenance of law and order which is the

Interview

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

51

'Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas would help curb restiveness in Niger Delta' What is your mission in Abuja?

I am here to attend a budget defense alongside other rectors at the National Assembly. Then I would attend a meeting of COFER on Friday. COFER stands for the Committee of Federal Rectors.

Rector of the newly established Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, Professor Elijah Tamuno Iyagba, tells OJIAKU KALU about the unique focus of the institution which emphasises how to stop perennial restiveness and eliminate huge government spending on manpower trainings abroad.

What is the frequency of this COFER conference?

We are trying to make it more regular, say every two months. But now it's every quarter, because we are trying to instill more life into the nation’s federal polytechnics. So COFER would try to meet more frequently.

So your institution has taken off?

Yes, we have taken of administratively and are presently setting up facilities for full academic activities soon - starting with a remedial programme in a few weeks time and main ND programme this October.

Is your institution advertised in the JAMB brochure?

Not yet because we are waiting for a visit by the NBTE. We are now putting things in place to get them give us their final nod. It is only after that we would make the JAMB brochure.

React to the planned ASUP strike which has been averted by government; is the ASUP agitation justified?

I am particularly happy about the timely intervention of the Honourable Minister of Education because the polytechnics cannot afford another strike, just coming out of a nine-month strike last year. So it was a timely intervention by the Honourable Minister so that we can make progress in the polytechnics. As to the justification of the ASUP demands, I think part of it is as a result of communication gap between the union and the supervisory bodies. It got to a point on this CONTISS 15 issue that some institutions were paying while others were not. So it created a lot of misinformation, but I am sure that with the intervention of the minister, all of these would now be settled so that we can make progress. I must commend the Hon. Minister for his intervention; you would recall that the other strike was called off shortly after he assumed office.

What is the mandate of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas? The mandate is to train mid-level manpower in the oil and gas sector.

Because oil and gas exploration and exploitation is a highly technical field, people that work there need some deep skills therein and we have been charged with training young men and women to work there not only within the shores of Nigeria but beyond. You know that oil is being discovered in many other places around Africa. So we want to impart skills to youths to be marketable globally.

Will your polytechnic help to reduce huge spending by the Federal Government through PTDF in training manpower in the oil and gas sector abroad?

I believe so, because it is a lot cheaper to train 20 students here than sending that same number overseas with all the attendant capital flight and all that. If we can create an enabling environment, in other words, equip the laboratories with same standard, train resource persons with the same standard, why

administration should be commended for ending the lingering delay.

Was enough resources approved as take-off grant for you?

Yes. A take off grant of N1 billion was approved through TETFUND and you know the processes for accessing funds through TETFUND. So we are on those processes but in less than week or so, we shall get the approval in principle. All the projects that we would use the money for have been identified and we have met all the requirements and have appointed consultants.

All the laboratory equipment that we want to acquire have been identified.

In short, we have scaled through the first phase of TETFUND’s demands and any minute from now, we would access the funds and work would start immediately. So yes, we have accessed the one billion Naira in addition to another N250 million special grant from TETFUND given the unique terrain of Bonny. We are going to use this extra grant to build a library; and we have already advertised for the project.

So as we speak, are there staff on campus?

Yes, we have recruited administrative staff and they have assumed duties.

But academic staff would start coming on board precisely in the next three weeks to start the remedial programme and prepare the ground for the main programme this October.

Iyagba

Theory is important but the hands-on is particularly important

spend money sending people overseas.

Investments for this might be a little hard, but it would be a lot cheaper and government would ultimately save a lot of money - especially with the current economic situation.

Do you propose a mechanism to check youth restiveness in the area?

Certainly, yes. Bonny has a lot of industries in its environs like LNG, Mobil, Shell, and you have a lot of unemployed Bonny youths on the island and part of what hampared that employment was that they did not have the requisite skills.

LNG came in by setting up a vocational centre in Bonny but that was at the City

and Guild level. Now with the polytechnic here, products of the vocational centre and others can acquire better skills and become employable in these companies and that I am sure, would really reduce restiveness in this community to a large extent. Infact, that was actually the motivating factor for setting up the institution in the first place, even though it dragged on for a long time without its taking off. The initial foundation was laid the same day the Nigerian LNG started so that youths would be trained for the requisite skills in that industry and elsewhere.

Why did the take-off of the institution and its collaboration with the LNG take so long?

Well it started as a Rivers Stateowned technical institute in the year 2000, but for six years nothing happened. Then president Obasanjo in 2006 asked PTDF to take over the building of its physical infrastructure but again for reasons I still do not know, this also dragged on for many years until President Goodluck Jonathan came to power.

He eventually ensured that work was accelerated in the construction and as well, upgraded the Institute to a fullfledged polytechnic. Since then, enormous progress has been made in the last two years culminating to our appointment last year. So I think the current

Is there synergy between your polytechnic and other parastatals situated in Bonny?

We would like to collaborate with the industries within our location because we essentially train their manpower.

We must train people in anticipation of their own needs and requirements. We constantly talk with them because they are of tremendous assistance to us not only in making inputs in our curriculum but also in advisory capacity on how our programme may best function to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. We plan to have some of their engineers and technicians to teach part time in our departments; and we would like to have some of our academic staff do internship in their companies so that they would also gain practical experience because as a polytechnic, the emphasis would be hands-on training. Theory is important but the hands-on is particularly important and this we can only have if there is a growing synergy between the industries and our institution. This is our major line of thought and we intend to diligently pursue it.

What courses are you taking off with?

We would start with courses such as petroleum engineering technology, chemical engineering technology; of course mechanical engineering is also key. Then there is the geophysical sciences, environmental sciences, etc. These are courses around the oil and gas business. But, of course, there would also be foundation courses because we would also teach the English language as well as management and other pertinent socio-economic related courses. These would be domiciled in the School of General Studies so as to have products that are well balanced in scholarship.

Personal Finance SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 28 FEBRUARY, 2015

52

Trading in stock can enrich you I

Segun Edwards

nvesting is a great avenue to build wealth and enjoy a stable financial status. While other areas of investing - bonds, property, managed funds, etc - are important, stock can easily pass as the most prominent (even glamorous) investment platform. Across the world, investing and trading in stocks have attracted a huge followership, a pointer to the wide acceptance of this vehicle for wealth-creation. Buying and selling stocks is a full business engagement for many. These are mainly the stock traders, often stockbrokers and fund managers. For many more, investing in stocks may not be a full-time engagement, but it represents an important element of their strategy for financial security and retirement planning.

Okay, let's leave the 'hype' and go to the basics. Question: does stock investing really work? Is it possible to build financial security by investing in stocks? From years of global experience, the answer is yes. Stocks can be an important part of your investment portfolio and substantially help you to build wealth.

Get off the block To get going with acquiring the skills you need for moneymaking in the stock market, we have assembled a solid bunch of resources on these pages. If you hope to tap successfully into the stock market, you need to get equipped for the challenging and yet exciting venture. Get primed for action and do have successful investing!

Accumulating, nurturing wealth with stocks Wealth creation can be achieved through a variety of means or a combination of some, but investment in stocks remains a highly attractive option. If you have suffered loses before in a sliding stock market, you'll probably think I'm foolish or simply not well-informed. Well, I have lost money too, but that has not changed the fact.

In reality, such declining market situations still offer a unique opportunity for wealth building, except when we fail to understand the market. So, whichever way it goes, the stock market is still a potential force to build wealth.

Growth of Nigerian stock market Nigerians are embracing the stock market by the day. It is not a chance development. Credit must go to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for its spirited effort, in recent years, to draw the attention of the populace to the opportunities that lie in the capital market.

This has been multi-pronged: an attempt to lure companies, including small and medium players to the funding opportunities of the Exchange and an effort to attract the citizens to the investment opportunities in stocks and other instruments. The massive and aggressive drive of the Nigerian banking sector to raise capital on the Exchange has also been a catalyst.

Banks needed to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) induced share capital enhancement to a minimum

of N25billion each by December 2005 and had to bring a new verve to the marketing of share issues, which made the whole nation take notice. Insurance companies were in a similar race, all pointing to more awareness by the Nigerian public. If you add the role of the increasing number of shareholders' associations, you begin to see that the trend can only go up.

Why you don't have to miss out Building massive wealth from stock investing is not a new thing. Many big names in America and some of the wealthiest today built their wealth mainly from the stock market. Even when they've made money elsewhere, the stock market offers a depository to hold and further grow their wealth.

Some of the notable figures in this regard include; Warren Buffet, Per Lynch, Bill Gates, etc.

In Nigeria, some of the richest people around have massive holdings in major public companies. You only need to look at the company’s registers to see the names (the published accounts, listing directors' and other major holdings, will also give you a peep). What you may not accept is that many of these people started small and gradually accumulated holdings that are now in billions, but that's still a fact. Some have publicly told their stories of how they became millionaires and billionaires overnight.

You can replicate success The exciting thing about success paths is that most of what others have done to succeed, if understood and replicated creatively, can bring similar results as those earlier achieved.

You can still build wealth in the capital market by investing in shares of quoted companies, following the footsteps of the millions who have treaded that path. Interestingly, the Exchange has

A hit on that sector will readily leave a major impact on your fortune

had the exceptional track record, over several years now, of out-performing the major markets around the globe, in terms of average returns on investment.

The attraction There are many attractions to stock investing, but these four would do: Generally, the stock market can yield very high returns. Granted that loses do occur, an investor that builds a strong portfolio can hope for better returns than available from, say, bank deposits. While bank deposit rates can hardly exceed 12 per cent per annum, today, First Bank of Nigeria Plc's share has, in the last few months risen by close to 100 per cent. Annualised, that is possibly above 300 per cent return.

Investment in stocks is relatively flexible. If you want to invest in real estate, for instance, you'd need a sizeable chunk of money, even to buy a shop. That would tend to exclude a lot of people. For stocks, everybody is a winner. With just N500, you can find stocks to buy on the Exchange.

Those low-priced stocks have, often, achieved the highest market yields.

So, there is no excuse, so to speak. The processes of buying or indeed selling, are also not cumbersome. More importantly, you can sell bits of your holding if you have to. If you buy 1000 units of a stock today and need some cash tomorrow, you can sell 200 units if that will meet your needs. With some other investments, it's all or nothing.

They're less cumbersome to manage.

Some investments will require your direct involvement in running them on a continuing basis. If you opened a restaurant or some other business, no matter how small, you will be tasked to manage it. Even when you engage somebody, the burden of oversight will still bug you. With share investing, you're generally spared these worries. Public companies usually have a competent management team and other staff and an appointed Board to direct their affairs. Granted that you will monitor the market, this is nothing to compare to the challenge of a personal business or other personal investments.

You Can More Easily Diversify Out Risk. Even with just N5,000, you can spread your holding into a few sectors of the market to minimise risk. If, on the other hand, you set up a pharmacy shop even with a lot more money, you will still have more difficulty spreading out your risk. A hit on that sector will readily leave a major impact on your fortune. With shares, you can invest some in pharmaceutical companies to benefit from any boom in that sector, while plugging some into other sectors.

A hit on the pharmaceutical sector will only affect part of your investment, that is, if you fail to quickly exit.

How to reap from stock investing If you've decided that stock investing should figure in your investment portfolio, here are some steps to take: You need a Stockbroker. Only licensed stockbrokers can buy or sell shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

If you must buy shares, you need have an account with a broker. Just be careful to select a knowledgeable and honest broker that understands customer management. Your broker will also provide a lot of needed investment guidance.

You need investment education.

This does not mean you being taken back to school. But it means you must begin to take interest in news and information about the economy, stock market and individual companies, which, luckily, is readily available in newspapers, business magazines, TV channels, online, publications of companies and the exchange, wordof-mouth, etc. It will also profit you a great deal to know the basics about stockholding and market behaviour.

Set your goals as to what you want to achieve. A long-term perspective will always be a wise approach, but act according to your objectives. If you need help, consulting with your broker is a good place to start.

Decide and take action. No idea, no matter how brilliant, can get you anywhere, until you begin to take actions.

Mistakes may be made, but see them as tuition fees if money is lost. Over time, if you have learnt the ropes, you are likely to recover them several fold.

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

I

CAN of worms and bribe-for-vote scandal

f there are issues I loath to talk about or will not want to even touch with a long pole, religion will occupy a conspicuous place. The phobia one has for religious issues is not out of fear that one could be labelled a blasphemer or heretic but because one has come to realise that religion thrives more on sentiment and emotion at the expense of reason and logic.

This esoteric fact is compounded by religious leaders’ aversion to criticisms and such repugnance can be buoyed by their cult-like followers who are quick to label spiritual leaders’ critics as hardened cynics whose criticisms can be nothing but irreligious.

The evocative statement of the late German economist, Karl Max, that “religion is the opium of the people” became more manifest after watching the video of one heretic pastor, Lesego Daniel, in Garankuwa, North of Pretoria, South Africa, who commanded his followers to devour grasses on his church premises. He told them that humans could eat anything to feed their bodies and doing such would bring them closer to God. The way the devotees ravenously and gleefully ate the grasses will make herbivores green with envy. A handful of the faithful claimed that they were healed of their ailments after eating the grasses. Such is the illusory happiness religious zealots inadvertently derive from their religion. However, there were dozens who ran to the toilet after the outlandish meal and became sick afterwards.

In my view, it will not be presumptuous to question errant men of God because since they are mortals, they are fallible.

In recent time, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the umbrella body of Nigerian Christians, has continued to tangle in a web that cast aspersions on the group’s credibility.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was the first to blow the whistle

Waheed Bakare on Saturday 08124877036 (sms only) waheedbakare2003@yahoo.com

It was N7 billion that was given to the CAN by President Goodluck Jonathan.

They (CAN) later disbursed N3 million each to the state chairmen of the CAN that Nigerian pastors had received N6 billion bribe from the presidency to begin and sustain a campaign of calumny against the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, and circulating documents to convince Christians that the APC and Buhari would Islamise Nigeria once the ex-General is voted into power.

But in a counter argument, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Cross River State, an integral part of CAN, accused Amaechi of giving bribe to 500 Nigerian pastors in October 2014 to get their support for the APC. I find it curious that the Chairman of PFN in Cross River, Bishop Emmah Isong, pretended that he heard and saw no evil about Amaechi’s bribe until now.

Interestingly, a Borno State-based pastor, Kallamu Dikwa, said Ameachi even got the figure wrong. According to him, the actual amount handed out to CAN by the president was N7 billion.

“It was N7 billion that was given to the CAN by President Goodluck Jonathan.

They (CAN) later disbursed N3 million each to the state chairmen of the CAN. The money was handed over to CAN leadership on January 26. This is what I know.

One of the CAN officials from Abuja told me that they have collected the money,” Dikwa said, adding that other officers received between N1 million and N2 million.

As far as Dikwa, the Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, is concerned the white clerical collars of men in CAN are now dotted with filth and iniquity as a result of their avarice.

“They are corrupting the Body of Christ because of money,” he said.

Expectedly, leadership of CAN took Dikwa to the cleaners for making unsubstantiated profanities against men of God. CAN’s Secretary-General, Rev. Musa Asake, did not only deny the allegation as “baseless and worthless”, but also distanced the group from partisan politics because its membership cuts across political parties. He said CAN leadership was too upright to be linked with dirty deal, saying “this is the hand of Esau, but voice of Jacob.”

53

However, the cacophony of noise coming from the pulpits over the saga is sacrilegious and indicates that the Body of Christ in Nigeria is ill at ease and clerics need not pretend about it.

If the accusations and counter accusations are subjected to presumptive diagnosis, whichever way the pendulum swings, it is safe to say that some pastors have soiled their hands in iniquity by receiving bribe from either Amaechi or President Jonathan. The accusations and counter accusations, in my view, cannot be wrong as I want to hold on to the maxim that there is no smoke without fire.

CAN’s position of asking the police to investigate the allegation will amount to nothing. In fact, the suggestion is ‘Dead on Arrival’ (DOA) as they say in medical parlance for obvious reasons.

CAN, though a religious body, was hitherto a revered voice in the polity which Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations, looked up to on issues of national importance. If the same CAN is now perceived to be cut adrift from everything it was known for, such perception deserves to be viewed with utmost sincerity rather than playing up emotion or resorting to name-calling.

The Body of Christ should purge itself of its self-made attitude of “President Jonathan is our own” as that will not fly in a country that is already divided along religion lines. Although it claimed that it is not partisan, its body language and the conduct of the president who is fond of making political statements from the pulpits every so often will continue to attract opprobrium from a section of the country and other religious groups. And whenever there is accusation against CAN, the burden of proof might be on it because it is an association of men of God and men of God must come to equity with clean hands.

A cause for trepidation Titus Soyombo

L

ike me, I suspect, a few of your plans for this year may be undergoing serious review. This, most likely, has been necessitated by the devaluation of the naira which, even with the flimsiest knowledge of economics, suggests that you would have to pay more for some of the goods and services that make life a lot more livable.

For me, a major bother since the naira began its latest slide against the dollar, not unexpectedly, is how to fund some of my passions and habits. I have turned this over in my mind so many times that it has left my mind in a whirl.

Currency devaluation, to my not exactly economics-savvy mind, connotes far-reaching negativity. It carries with it the possibility of reactions, many of which may not have the appropriate results, because the Nigerian economy mainly depends on oil.

Naira, with its current anorexic value, will drive export of local products, which are not currently available in the required volume, but will create an additional burden on the populace. The burden will come in the shape of a steep hike in the cost of goods and services across the board.

As a voracious consumer of television content, especially premium entertainment and sporting content, I have wondered whether or not the subscription fees for the two services I use will not go up.

Nobody, except those with other-wordly incomes, is immune to a jolt when conditions necessitate a hike in the price of goods or services he or she enjoys. The

best things in life, as they say, may be free but I do not think this applies to premium television content, without which the golden age television enjoys will unravel in no time.

In the event that it unravels, heavens forbid, it will be a return to the age of tedium on our screens; the age of grossly limited choices in programming and, of course, grim audio-visual quality. The possibility of that should fill anybody already accustomed to a diet of top-tier television programming with dread.

Similarly, the possibility that my income could thin out a little more, on account of rising costs occasioned by devaluation, is a cause for trepidation.

Is there a possibility of paying the same subscription fees pre-devaluation in an era of falling naira?

I wish there was. Very strongly. My heart wants that, but my head tells me that the chances of that happening are as thin as dental floss.

Why? In one sentence: Television economics, especially where live sports broadcast and airing of movies are involved. Sports, for example, accounts for a huge percentage of the programming costs of TV. TV, without a doubt, accounts for more than half the revenue of many professional sports leagues. Without television, professional sports could scarcely exist. Without sports, the cable TV bundle and the golden age of television in existence, most likely, will unravel.

Let's take DStv and GOtv as examples.

The former is an upmarket package, while the latter is a downmarket one. The subscription, whatever it is, you pay is

The burden will come in the shape of a steep hike in the cost of goods and services across the board for the programming ( the channels you watch, that is) and the distribution (the infrastructure and profits for the cable companies). So, every time you pay your subscription, the channels collect a small fee, which is called an "affiliate fee". Affiliate fees are a way in which cable providers compensate producers of this allimportant programming. Affiliate fees are the primary revenue stream that drives content development. They are basically a "share" of the subscription fee we pay to our cable or satellite operator that is then shared back to the content owner or distributor, usually on a per subscriber basis.

The most in-demand channels attract the highest fees and those tend to be entertainment channels like those of sports and movies. DStv has an array of sports and movie channels. Live football matches from the most prestigious leagues of Spain, Germany and Italy as well as of other sports competitions come with the package.

With the devaluation, the implication is that DStv will have to fork out a lot more to acquire the broadcast rights to this all-

important content, given that the cost of acquisition has always been huge. So will GOtv and indeed, all other pay-television providers for whatever content they bring to subscribers' homes. It also means that the cost of doing business locally will experience an exponential jump.

For those involved in the production of original African content, such as what MultiChoice makes available to viewers via AfricaMagic and M-net, there are cost implications in the shape of payments to movie producers.

Where will the money come from? I can think of only one source: subscribers.

A very interesting thing happened in the UK earlier this month, when the new television deal for the Barclays Premier League was signed. As a result of the fierce bidding

by Sky and BT for the rights, the cost rose by 70 % to £5.14billon. The new deal, which runs from 2016 to 2019, got the alarm bells chiming among subscribers, who knew they would have to pay more to watch live football. Sky, which retained the lion's share of the deal by agreeing to pay £4.176billion, attempted to calm frayed nerves through a statement saying its customers would not have to foot the bill for the huge outlay. But the company knew the money still has to come from the subscribers and said so in a barely disguised manner. ""The company will work hard to minimise the impact of higher rights costs on customers, with the majority of the funding coming through substantial additional savings to be delivered by efficiency plans,” the statement explained somewhat disingeniously.

•

Shoyombo, a retired broadcaster, lives in Ilorin

54

Interview

Do you think the postponement of the general election is good for our nascent democracy?

In our democracy, anything can happen, especially in the Nigerian context.

Shifting of election that has already been scheduled is as a result of certain factors.

It happens every where when things are not adequately in place. But my worry is only when the date for hand over comes and election is not conducted, that is where we will have a serious problem. But for the shifting, we are not congratulating Nigeria or the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), for shifting the two dates of elections but we know things that led to that. If there is any reason to shift date of any election in any democracy or institution, there should be genuine reasons but my worry is that let the shift of election not affect the date of hand over and inauguration. Election can be conducted at anytime before the hand over.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Scrap NYSC scheme, says Methodist Bishop Rt. Revd. Godfrey Agupusi, Bishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Abakaliki and former chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria,( CAN), Ebonyi state chapter, tells CHARLES ONYEKWERE why the NYSC scheme should be scrapped and replaced a with training of graduates in the army for one year, among other issues.

Are you one of those who say that INEC is not ready to conduct this election, being as a result of poor distribution of PVCs? For instance, as I am talking to you now, I have not received my permanent voter’s card, PVC, and millions of Nigerians have not received theirs as well. I have gone to the station to collect it severally but I didn’t get it. How can election take place when millions of people that registered have not received their PVCs? Who and who are going to vote? That is not fair enough. If PVC have not been distributed adequately to have a free and fair election that will gladden the heart of everybody then INEC is not ready. And if INEC is not ready then there is every justification to shift the date of the election to enable us including me to receive our PVC. Do you think, there is reason for the delay in the distribution of PVC to the people?

The major reason, I think, that is affecting the distribution of the PVC by INEC is that it is a national disgrace that people registered and INEC has been assuring us that all is well, yet PVCs have not been substantially distributed to the effect that everybody could say, yes lets go to the polls and have free and fair elections. It is not commendable on the part of INEC. Do you envisage any problem of security in the conduct of the next month’s election?

On the issue of security, I feel very bad

The burden will come in the shape of a steep hike in the cost of goods and services across the board when I hear that the military wouldn’t have enough personnel to supervise election and provide security. I see it as a national disgrace which means we have been decayed to the extent that if we don’t have policemen and military men everywhere, we cannot comport our selves. We cannot have enough moral decorum to cast our votes, collate the votes and announce the results unless we are under the presence of the military. That is the extent of decay that Nigeria is in. Are we again saying we don’t have enough soldiers to combat forces here and there in Nigeria? If all the soldiers we

have in Nigeria are in the North-East, supposing there is another external aggression in any other part of the country, so this country will get stranded? In this age of security threats and consciousness, it is my view that Nigeria should have a rethink about National Youths service corps, NYSC, programme and replace it with training of our graduates in the Army. Let us train every Nigerian as a soldier. This is what is happening in some other countries.

So, instead of putting them class rooms to teach for one year in the circumstance that is facing us now in Nigeria, we should

provide logistics and give them military training for one year.

If you go to some countries, at the age of 18 years everybody will go to serve in the army. This is what Nigeria should think about now instead of taken our young graduates to their non- speaking language areas in the north, west etc to go and serve as youth corpers. Let them go and be trained as soldiers so that within the next few years, we have enough soldiers in this country. At least everybody will have that security consciousness in Nigeria and not when there is external aggression or internal problem, we will be looking for soldiers here and there.

It is alleged that some politicians are sponsoring Boko Harm, what advice you have for such personalities?

If there is any proof that any top politician or anybody else is sponsoring or masterminding Boko Haram threat to this country, then it is necessary to investigate and bring the person to book either because of what the person has said, what he has done or body language. if anybody is masterminding that kind of threat which is a menace to this country, the person should be called to question.

What do you think would be done to ensure there is free, fair and credible election?

For Nigeria to witness peaceful and free general election, let us mind our actions as politicians. Those who are campaigning now should not see it as a do or die affair.

Let us have that consciousness in us that whoever wins should be allowed to takeover government at all levels and let the PVC be distributed for everybody to collect his or her own and go to the poll to vote according to the person’s conscience. And let the election be transparent, let people see what has happened, let the counting of votes be transparent and open and everybody will be happy.

Perspectives

The SWOT analysis Umahi owes Ebonyi Agha Ibiam

F

or Ebonyi state that has abundant human and mineral resources to move away from the state of backwardness and turn the fortunes of the people around for good, its political leaders should take the bull by the horn and drive developmental projects at a very high speed. Nonetheless, this cannot be done unless there is a SWOT Analysis and retrospect on how its past leaders have governed the state.

Whatever that has a beginning, it is said, must have an end. This basically means that the tenure of Governor Martin Elechi, which started sometime on May 2007, is systematically but gradually winding up. Possibly a day after May 29, 2015, it will dawn on him that he was once a governor and therefore will be addressed as a former governor. The accolades and unending retinue of cars and convoy will drastically reduce and Elechi will sleep with two eyes closed.

Because nature abhors vacuum, Elechi’s exit from that exalted position will then open a door for someone else to move in and occupy, especially now it is certain that the general election will hold as rescheduled – March 28 and April 11 of this year. Whether peoples’ vote will count or not, someone will be elected or selected as a governor. The major political

All he should do is to turn those threats to opportunities as soon he holds the mantle of leadership of the state parties that will slug it out, either by ‘fire or thunder’ in April 11 election, already know themselves.

But suffice to say that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), among others are highly charged for action. Sincerely, these political parties are also eminently represented by heavy weight politicians as gubernatorial flag bearers. Those who will stand for election are: the present deputy governor of the state, Engr. David Umahi for PDP; APC, Senator Julius Ucha and LP, Edon Nkwegu, an architect and successful businessman.

Other things being equal, Umahi have already wished himself well and other thing being equal, he had already indicated that he will not probe his present political boss, Chief Elechi when elected as the governor of the state. In fact, he has also made it clear that he doesn’t support his impeachment, a threat that

is constantly coming from aggrieved legislators. Some of them, who were humiliated out of office in the name of impeachment, really want a pound of flesh from Elechi.

For that singular statement, Umahi could be regarded as a ‘good man’ with a pat on the back. However, no one is expecting Umahi to probe Elechi when his tenure ends. Nigerians knows with certainty that no political party, especially PDP, will ever probe a party member notwithstanding his/her atrocities.

Even during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he never used probe to correct the ills of the society. Rather, it was deployed discriminatingly to fight selected and perceived political enemies.

Again, when Obasanjo’s tenure was about to end on May 2007, Nigerians were sold the dummy that most of the governors would be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the eve of May 29, 2007. But to the surprise of most people, that idea collapsed overnight, and as a result, it liberated most of the ex-governors to contest senate positions and were even more garrulous than ever before. Therefore, nobody expects Umahi to probe Elechi as their party have always resolved such matters by opting to call it family affair.

However, for Umahi to succeed in office, one thing is paramount for him to do, and that

is to holistically carry out a strength, weakness, opportunities and threat (SWOT) analysis on Chief Elechi’s government in which he was a deputy governor. If he really wants to be serious and achieve what he promised the people of Ebonyi State during his election campaign, he should seriously x-ray Elechi’s economic strength, if any, and see what he can borrow from that and embed it on his government for the progress of the state. Conversely, he should likewise look at his weaknesses, decrypt areas that he did not perform creditably for the common good of the people and make amend.

He should also look at different opportunities which abound during Elechi’s tenure but were not adequately tapped. He Umahi should see how he can positively tap on those opportunities and translate them to socio-economic development of the state. Umahi should not claim that their administration did everything right when in office, but should see to it that if he eventually becomes a full-fledged governor after the election, should aggressively utilise those opportunities which are numerous to mention and convert them to plausible opportunities.

•

Agha Ibiam, a journalist and oil and gas management expert writes from London

Sport Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28 FEBRUARY 2015

Murray’s defeat down to Davis Cup - Agassi

A

ndy Murray's defeat by Borna Coric in the Dubai Championships had more to do with him wanting to prepare for the Davis Cup, according to Andre Agassi.

Britain's Murray, 27, was beaten 6-1 6-3 by the Croatian, 18, on Thursday.

American Agassi told BBC Sport the Scot wanted to be "preparing for what he probably is really valuing - that is the Davis Cup".

Murray has been named in Great Britain's squad to face the United States in Glasgow from 6-8 March.

Robin van Persie out for more than two weeks

M

anchester United striker Robin van Persie could be out for more than two weeks with an ankle problem, says manager Louis van Gaal.

Van Persie, 31, fell awkwardly after putting over a cross in the defeat at Swansea on 21 February.

The Dutchman left the Liberty Stadium on crutches and wearing a protective cast on his right foot.

"I do not think it is very heavy but ankle problems can take a long time," said Van Gaal.

Take a firm stand on Keshi zz Lagos SWAN tells NFF

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the federation in line with its vision, programmes and the expectations of the public on Nigerian football.

The statement said: “First of all, we take exception to the statement of the NFF accusing a section of the sporting press of having lied or exaggerated the statement credited to Keshi. For the avoidance of doubt, Keshi spoke in a live interview which recordings are available and he was reported correctly. We therefore stand by the veracity and integrity of that particular report.

“However, as responsible partners, we will make no further issues of this unfair attack on the sporting media. We will rather encourage the NFF to take full possession of its mandate as the governor of our football to be decisive on issues to enable it discharge its duties in line with its vision and programmes to meet the expectations of Nigerian football lovers. "

Ajibade Olusesan

he Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation, to take a clear stand on the status of Coach Stephen Keshi for the progress of the game.

Lagos SWAN made the call in reaction to a statement by the NFF accusing a section of the media of having lied in a report in which Keshi was quoted to have expressed some displeasure with the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, and the Football House.

In a statement titled “Enough is enough,” and signed by SWAN President, Fred Edoreh, the body advised the NFF not to, in any way, drag the sports media into whatever difficulties it may be having with Keshi but to boldly express the authority of its mandate as the governing body of Nigerian football to steer the ship of

Wilshere has minor ankle procedure

A

rsenal's Jack Wilshere has had a "minor procedure to stop ankle discomfort", says boss Arsene Wenger.

The midfielder, 23, has not played since hurting his ankle in his side's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United in November.

He first had surgery in November and was on the bench for last Saturday's win at Crystal Palace.

Super Eagles' Emmanuel Emenike (left) challenging for the ball during a match

Ogunjobi, Chukwuemeka, Ogba retain FA chairmanship seats

O

ne –time General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation and former chairman of NFF Technical Committeee, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, has been re-elected chairman of Osun State Football Association.

In the election conducted in Osogbo on Thursday, and supervised by NFF assistant chief sports Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, Ogunjobi, who was unopposed, polled all 34 votes cast by eligible delegates. Three delegates were absent.

J. O. Olayemi, also unopposed, retained his vice chairmanship po-

sition with 33 votes, while Hon. E. O. Adeniyi, Prince Bamidele, Hon. S. O. Adio, Engineer K. O. Aina, Chief Rasaq Mustapha and Prince Dauda Abimbola all won seats on the executive board.

In Umuahia, the Congress of Abia State Football Association returned Sir. E. C. Chukwuemeka as chairman for the next four years.

He defeated Dr. Mayor Nwachukwu by polling all 21 votes at the elections supervised by Secretary of State Elections Monitoring Committee, Mr. Tunde Aderibigbe.

Dr. Obioma Onyeaghala won 16 votes to retain the vice chair-

manship seat, defeating Mr. Edede Ndudi who got five votes.

Former Member of NFF Executive Committee, Chief Obinna Ogba, retained his seat as chairman of Ebonyi State Football Association, in the elections conducted in Abakaliki also on Thursday and supervised by Member of NFF Executive Committee and chairman of the Finance Committee, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi.

Ogba got all 11 votes cast, with no vote for his opponent, Nwankwo Patrick. Andy Chukwu became the vice chairman after thumping Akpa Peter by nine votes to one.

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Countries in the World-6

KEY WORDS

MADAGASCAR U.A.E MALDIVES YEMEN MAURITIUS OMAN SEYCHELLES NEPAL PAKISTAN SRI LANKA SAUDI ARABIA SUDAN

U A S E L L E H C Y E

H R E S E V I D L A M

O I N D O N E S I A A

A E R O K N O N D I U

E N A T S I K A P L R

R U R T E L G D O O I

O R A E U A E U M G T

S

E

N

I

P

P

I

MONGOLIA N. KOREA S. KOREA BRUNEI INDONESIA PHILIPPINES

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

L

I

H

P

1

2

8

3

4 7

5

6

9 10

D

11

12

A

14 16

I B A

18 19

R A I D

21

S

25

15 17

22

1 5 7 8 9 10 11 12

Model, (7).

Perceive with eyes, (3).

Pinch something, (3).

Players of a duet, (3).

Assistance, (3).

Until, (4).

Not often happening, (4).

Introducing alternatives, (2).

DOWN 1 Approve formally, (7).

20

2 Town in Oyo state, (6).

23

3 Make an earnest request, (4).

4 Bear hardship, (6).

5 Eject saliva, (4).

24

U A

13

ACROSS

16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

Jewish calendar's 11th month, (2).

Ancient fortress, (4).

Lower, (4).

Type of beer, (3).

'God's own' country, (3).

'Arm' in Edo language, (3).

Friend, (3).

Covering like a roof, (7).

14 'Peace' in Islam, (6).

15 LGA in Delta state, (6).

19 Arab man's headband, (4).

20 Pull apart, (4).

21 Sleep lightly, (3).

6 Recede from the shore, (3).

26

13 Print image, (7).

See solution on page 20

55

Sport Slaming Adekunle Salami adekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only)

Task before Okocha, others

L

eadership at any level of human endeavour is not easy.

It takes a whole lot. You must be astute to solve various riddles as the head of a group or unit. It also requires having a listening ear and the ability to achieve results even in a challenging situation.

In the past three weeks, elections into the board of state football federations started all over the country. It holds once in four years. To administer football at state level is a huge task. There must be platform for the youth to exhibit their talents and to groom promising ones into superstars. Some of the incumbent chairmen have been re-elected while some are still in crisis to regain their seats. Chris Green apparently did his homework well and he won the Rivers election easily to retain his seat. Seyi Akinwunmi (Lagos), Amanze Uchegbulam (Imo), Dele Ajayi (Ondo), Ibrahim Gusau (Zamfara), Ganiyu Majekodunmi (Ogun) and Nasir Seidu (Sokoto) are some of the chairmen who also retained their seats. Ekiti FA boss, Isaac Ayodele, was not as lucky he lost his seat to Ayodeji Alabi.

The new chairmen should think less of what they will achieve in office and focus more on the development of the game from the grass root. There are lots to be done at local government levels and in schools to bring out hidden talents for various national teams. Bringing back the sponsors to boost the game should be paramount. It will be great to have different sponsors for the Principal’s Cup at secondary school level, have another sponsor for a competition at tertiary level and also keep the youth busy with inter-local government football tournaments.

I was delighted with the victory of a colleague, Frank Ilaboya, who won in Edo against all political odds.

Election result in Delta State was the most interesting because of the emergence of a former international, Austin Okocha, as the FA chairman. I congratulate Jay Jay but also hope the ex-footballer is battle ready for the huge challenges ahead. Delta is one of the elite states in sports with 12 functional stadia and about 120 football clubs. This makes the task before Okocha to be huge but he is lucky that the past chairman of the body, Amaju Pinnick, is the President of the Nigeria Football Federation. Okocha needs some tips from Pinnick to excel. The Delta State league should be as vibrant as the state FA Cup. There is so much glamour in the state FA Cup with many sponsors involved. Involvement of corporate world in events is one of the legacies of Pinnick. Okocha should leverage on that and bring to bear his experience as a former player who saw it all.

Other former internationals should emulate Okocha who with his emergence as Delta FA boss has started a journey to the top level of administration. This is the right way to go for anyone aspiring to be on the board of the NFF instead of cutting corners to disrupt the NFF elections every four years.

Mourinho, Chelsea vs Refs, English FA

F

ootball is a very emotional game. I felt bad on Saturday as the referee of the Chelsea/Burnley EPL match, Martin Atkinson, wittingly or otherwise shocked followers of the game with his decisions. In football there could be errors but when the referee makes about five to six ‘mistakes’ in the same game, it becomes an issue.

I pity Coach Jose Mourinho and Chelsea fans because of the two crucial points dropped. I am surprised that the English FA did not charge Burnley’s Ashley Barnes for the horror tackle on Nemanja Matic. Mourinho talks too much but he is spot on in this case. The ball handling in the box and the Diego Costa incident were clear penalties. However, I disagree with Mourinho that there is a campaign against Chelsea. I will rather indict the FA of exhibiting double standard and the referees too for incompetence.

Back home, the League Management Company should have independent match assessors at all match venues.

Coaches should also display maturity in reacting to officiating because sometimes, it could backfire. I remember Kwara United were at a time complaining bitterly of bad officiating and somehow this affected the psyche of players such that the team was relegated. Chelsea are in great position to win the EPL this term but the outcry of Mourinho and the team could derail this ambition.

DESTINATION

SATURDAY

Basking in Namibia's endless horizons

P.42

N150

Sanctity of Truth

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

SPORT

Presidency has taken over NFF roles – Akpoborie

p.25

Coutinho Liverpool v Man City

burden for Toure, others

F

Ajibade Olusesan

ive days after they were outclassed by visiting Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, Manchester City confront another daunting challenge when they face rampaging Liverpool in an English Premier League tie at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds, after a shambolic start to the season, are the most in-form team in the EPL at the moment. They remain unbeaten in their last 10 matches and have kept five clean sheets on their travels with a certain Phillipe Coutinho at the centre of the resurgence.

Coutinho, 22, had a slow start to the season just like his team after missing Brazil’s World Cup campaign, but he has quickly become 'undroppable' for Liverpool.

After a number of substitute appearances at the beginning of the campaign, when he was in and out of the side due to injury and poor form, the Brazilian playmaker has now started 19 consecutive games - finishing 17 of those. This is the reason Coach Brendan Rodgers had to leave him out of the trip to Besiktas in the Europa Cup on Thursday.

His game changing output is on the rise - he has scored or assisted a goal seven times in his last 16 games - and being susceptible to tiredness and injury has helped bring stability to a side that was floundering at the beginning of the season. He has proved himself as more of a battler, winning an extremely impressive 50 challenges and showing he is more than just a flashy Brazilian.

For a player generally considered to be

lightweight and not much of a physical presence, that shows an incredible misreading of his abilities, and he has now cemented his place as a true star, rather than a luxury player in Rodgers’ plans.

He has proved that his form of last season was no fluke and could engineer another frustrating afternoon for the defending champions. Yaya Toure and others in the midfield will have a tough time in the battle for the soul of the match.

His stunning goal in the 2-0 win at Southampton last weekend has prepared him for this tie and Liverpool legend, John Aldridge, believes the Brazilian can become a great after that world-class goal.

"I'm absolutely over the moon with the win and the goal from Philippe Coutinho was 'a worldie'. He can go on to become a Brazilian great, we know he's got the ability and I'm delighted for him."

Former Tottenham striker, Garth Crooks, corroborated Aldridge's position, saying the Kops cannot look too far for the heir to departing captain, Steven Gerrard.

“What is interesting since the departure of Luis Suarez and the reduction in Steven Gerrard's first-team appearances pending his exit - is that Coutinho is now the commander in the midfield.

Coutinho might be the man to fill Gerrard's boots after all,” he said.

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