Saturday, july 25, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

WAJE

Arunma Oteh

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Former SEC DG appointed World Bank Vice President

I never planned to be a single mother

SATURDAY } 10 Saturday, July 25, 2015 Vol. 2 No. 521

Sanctity of Truth

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Taiwo Ajai-Lycett

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heavy security

I’m too opinionated; men don’t like that }20

in niger delta } 48

lTompolo calls off planned meeting after pressure from region’s elders

PRESIDENCY: BUHARI DIDN’T ACCUSE AMERICA OF SUPPORTING INSURGENCY }4

EFCC to quiz Kingsley Kuku on Tuesday }4

Gbajabiamila meets President over House crisis }6

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Contents | 25.07.15 INSTYLE

MEDIA

SHOWBIZ

INVESTIGATIONS

SPORT

DESTINATION

The Red Pumps Red seldom goes unnoticed. So, wearing red pumps is a fabulous way to express yourself and make an audacious fashion statement

SATURDAY

Comment

Rebuilding the North-east

ne of the outcomes of President Muhammadu Buhari’s justended three-day visit to the United States is }16 a $2.1 billion loan package by the World Bank for Nigeria to rebuild Beaming Optimism its Northeast region, which has BEN TV’s regional director for Africa, Lanre Ijaola, is optimistic been devastated by six years of insurgency. that the TV station launched The insurgency by the Boko Hain 2003 to serve Nigerians ram sect has consumed no fewer than in the United Kingdom will 15,000 people since it started in 2009, be successful expanding into while 1.5 million people have been inNigeria ternally displaced in the three states }18 of the North-east that are mostly affected: Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Comedy Lane Also, terrorist activities have led to Comedian Seyi Law talks a ‘steady flow’ of Nigerian refugees about a “not-too-encouraging” into camps in neighbouring Camergrowing up years and the oun, Niger and Chad. importance of creating a According to a recent United Nadistinct professional identity tions news report, no fewer than 100 }22 Nigerians are registering daily at the UNHCR’s camp at Minawao, a borBromate Fever der town in Cameroun. The camp Despite the health hazard it poses, was opened in July 2013, and has lax enforcement by regulatory witnessed a surge in its population authorities and greed of many from about 30,000 late last year to bakers have led to continuous use approximately 44,000 at about the of potassium bromate in breadtime the World Bank announced its making intervention package for Nigeria’s }23 Northeast region. With the advent of the Buhari adFinal Whistle ministration on May 29, there has been renewed hope of an early end The rising incidence of sudden to the Boko Haram insurgency, dedeaths among footballers is a spite some recent highly devastathuge worry for the NFF given ing attacks by the sect. Of recent, the reports that Nigerian players have been affected more in the military has also recorded a series of last two decades major victories against the terrorists. However, the insurgents, accord}25 ing to the governors of Borno and Yobe States, are still holding on Not Yet the Dream Walkway to some territories in the troubled A visit to the canopy walkway at Northeast. the Lekki Conservation Centre, The governors, on July 23, told a in Lagos, reputed to be the monthly National Economic Counlongest in Africa turns out to be cil meeting in Abuja that the rebel an anti-climax group still controlled five local governments within their states. }42 This is, in a way, good news given that just a few months ago, in Janu-

Plus: Street Diary 10 | Perspectives 47

ary, Boko Haram was in control of 11 local government areas, about 20,000 square miles of territory - an area the size of Belgium. It is in the light of this gain and the renewed hope of an imminent end to the Boko Haram insurgency that the $2.1 billion package by the World Bank to rebuild the Northeast is a welcome development. According to the bank, the $2.1 billion is aimed at rebuilding the badly devastated North-eastern states, and will be provided through its International Development Agency (IDA). For the first 10 years, the loan will be interest-free, while the interest for the next 30 years will be lower than the capital market rate. President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina, who issued a statement to unfold the package, listed representatives of the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigeria’s President as those who were at the meeting. It quoted Mr. President as explaining that apart from rebuilding the region in terms of infrastructure, that priority must also be given to the resettlement of the more than one million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Buhari also reportedly urged the WWe welcome the $2.1 billion World Bank package to rebuild the Northeast. No doubt the region needs rebuilding, and this initiative could not have come at a better time than now when there are high hopes of an imminent end to the Boko Haram insurgency. We, however, urge the President to ensure that the loan is applied for the purposes meant only, to the maximum benefit of the traumatised people of the Northeast region, and that its repayment is well managed such that it would not become a debt burden on the entire people of Nigeria in the future.

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25 JULY 2015

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25 JULY 2015

Alleged fraud: EFCC moves against Kuku Emmanuel Onani

T Abuja

he last may not have been heard about the way and manner funds for the Amnesty Programme were executed, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Kingsley Kuku. Saturday Telegraph gathered from highly placed sources at the EFCC's headquarters in Abuja yesterday that an invitation has since been sent to Kuku, who oversaw the amnesty programme, to appear before a crack team of investigators at the commission's headquarters on July 28. It was further learnt that he will be grilled over alleged embezzlement of funds running into hundreds of millions of naira. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, one of the sources said: “It is true that the anti-graft agency has invited Mr. Kingsley Kuku and two others, over allegations of embezzlement and fraudulent diversion of funds running into hundreds of millions of naira. “As a matter of fact,

l To quiz Jonathan’s ex-Adviser on Amnesty Tuesday l Grilled another over 10 hours Kuku is expected to appear before a team of interrogators at the EFCC office on July 28.” There have been concerns over what may be the fate of the amnesty programme under the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration, against

the backdrop of the fact that no definite pronouncement has been made on the programme that was initiated by the Federal Government to engage ex-militants, who renounced militancy in the Niger Delta. There have also been reports that some beneficiaries

of the programme are stranded outside the country. Saturday Telegraph also gathered authoritatively that operatives of the anti-graft agency had, on July 22, interrogated another former Special Assistant to the former President on Schools and Agricultural programme,

Mrs. Baraka Sani. According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Sani was questioned for more than 10 hours on July 22 by operatives of the agency, over allegation that she diverted funds meant for the schools agricultural programme.

“She was allowed to go after promising to return to the commission with documents that will back her explanations on her alleged involvement in the mega scam,” the source said. The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the development to Saturday Telegraph yesterday via a telephone conversation.

Buhari denies accusing U.S. of aiding Boko Haram Ndubuisi Ugah and Emmanuel Anule

he Presidency yesterday denied reports claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari had accused the United States of America of helping the outlawed Boko Haram insurgents in the country. President Buhari was quoted widely in both local and international media indicting the U.S government of backing the terrorist group through its Leahy law. But his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said such comments attributed to the President on America's support to the terrorist group, Boko Haram, were untrue and widely off mark.

l Death toll in Gombe twin blasts rises to 37 He said: “Reports to that effect are an unfortunate misinterpretation and distortion of the President's remarks at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) during his highly successful official visit to Washington DC.” According to him, President Buhari made it abundantly clear in those remarks, copies of which were circulated to the media, that he was convinced that the United States could never support groups such as Boko Haram. “I know the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes,” the President clearly stated. President Buhari, he noted, spoke at USIP about

the impact of the application of the Leahy Law on Nigeria's war against Boko Haram and terrorism but could not be construed as an indictment of President Barack Obama and the United States Government who had publicly and privately declared their preparedness to give the Buhari administration the fullest possible support and assistance. Adesina said: “Within the context in which they were made, President Buhari's comments on the adverse effect of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s efforts to curtail Boko Haram’s atrocious acts of terrorism should only be taken as a

passionate appeal for even greater understanding and support from a very powerful and long standing ally. “President Buhari has nothing but the highest possible regard for President Obama, the U.S. government, the people of the United States, their laws and institutions." Meanwhile the death toll from the multiple bomb blasts at two bus stations in Gombe State on Wednesday has risen to 37, with 105 others injured, a Red Cross official told an online news portal, Reuters, on Thursday. Although no one had claimed responsibility for the attacks, but they bore the hallmarks of the Islamist

group Boko Haram, which had killed thousands of people in the past six years as it tried to establish a caliphate in the North-East. The first bomb, which exploded around 7pm, was detonated by a suspected suicide bomber at a mosque at Dadin Kowa Motor Park as people gathered to pray, according to two witnesses. While the ripple effect of that blast was yet to die down, another two blasts occurred at the gate of the major Duku bus station and a small market nearby. “Twin explosions led to 37 dead, and 105 injured are currently receiving treatment at the specialist hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Gombe,” said a Red Cross official.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Army retires 11 generals

leven generals of the Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps in Lagos were on Friday pulled out of service. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the officers include eight Major-Generals and three Brigadier-Generals. The Major-Generals are Manhood Yerima, Abiodun Amao, Olayemi Abidoye, Boniface Azurunwa, Adekunle Martins, Christian Ugwu, Bode Ogini and Mashudy Adekanye. The Brigadier-Generals are Kachallah, Godfrey Nwafor and Gabriel Oladipo. In a valedictory speech, the former Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Manhood Yerima, expressed appreciation for the gesture. Yerima, who pledged that the retired officers would continue to keep the Nigerian flag high, admonished the serving military personnel to remain loyal and be extra-vigilant. He said: “Your loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria can best be given

through vigilance and security consciousness. You must continue to demonstrate total commitment to your duty to the nation just as you have exemplified in your recent successes in the fight against terrorism in the North-East. “The Nigerian people, especially the retirees are expecting a lot from you in the face of the current insurgency. Your secondary role is to assist the government in ensuring internal peace and your involvement in internal security duties demand that all of you be non-partisan.” He expressed the conviction that the Nigerian military would overcome the current security challenges in the country. Other retirees also expressed their gratitude to the army and Nigerians for the opportunity to serve the country. NAN reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Maj - Gen. Tukur Buratai, was represented at the event by the GOC 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj - Gen. Tamunomiebi Dibi.

INEC to conduct voter registration in Kogi, Bayelsa Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it would embark on continuous voter registration (CVR) in Kogi and Bayelsa states before the conduct of governorship election later in the year. The acting Chairman of the commission, Mrs. Amina Zakari, said in a television programme yesterday that the aim was to capture those who turned 18 years since the last registration exercise. “We would try to sensitise the Kogi and Bayelsa people to come out and register - those that just turned 18. I am sure the numbers would not be high because we have worked out a lot throughout 2014 and we will still do our best to make sure nobody is disfranchised through PVC or voter registration,” she said. According to her, the

commission will continue to push for the use of more technologies in the electoral process to ensure transparency. “The reforms are here to stay. The card reader is one of the best things to happen to Nigeria, and we are going to continue to push for the use of the card reader through our elections and even if we go beyond the card reader to have more technology into our electoral process because it ensures transparency and efficiency of the process,” Zakari stated. The INEC boss explained that the commission was in the process of procuring materials to be used for the conduct of the governorship elections but added, “we have some materials left from the last general elections, we are taking an audit to see what we need, and basically it’s not much we need for byeelections."

Coordinator, Honorary Investment International Council, Baroness Lynda Chalker (left) and President Muhammadu Buhari, during a courtesy visit by Chalker to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Lawyers differ on Buhari’s probe of Jonathan’s govt Tunde Oyesina and Adesina Wahab

ABUJA /Ado-Ekiti

awyers in Abuja yesterday differed on the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that he would not probe past administrations before that of his immediate predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. While some lawyers kicked against the idea, describing it as selective probe others argued that the probe is not the basis of a corrupt-free society. Also commenting on the probe report, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to be selective or play to the gallery in his avowed fight against corruption of probe of past public office holders. It would be recalled that the Buhari’s administration had in last few weeks began the probe of some former public office holders in the immediate past administration. Among them are former governors of Imo, Jigawa and Adamawa states, Ihedi Ohakim, Sule Lamido and Murtala Nyako, respectively.

l Fayose counsels Buhari against selective probe Also, a former Head of Civil Service, Stephen Oronsaye, is standing trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Recently, Buhari had been quoted as stating that past administrations before Jonathan would not be probed. Speaking on the issue, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ahamba said he could only react to it when somebody bring to his knowledge a criminal matter and he does not react to it. “There is a limit to probe, he cannot probe all the institutions of Nigeria. If there is no reason to institute criminal probe against anybody, I believe he will not do that. If a wrong doing of some person, somewhere, I know no matter when it surface, he address it appropriately. “I do not want to interfere with the modules operandi. He is the President of Nigeria. Let us allow him to operate and let us see the result of his operation,” he added. Also speaking, another Abuja-based lawyer,

CBN defends monetary stance as MPC retains MPR at 13% Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has risen in defence of its recent tradition of retaining high lending rate as instrument of controlling liquidity in the system, saying it is left with no choice in the prevailing circumstance in the economy but to consolidate on its tightening stance. This comes as eight out of 12 members of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

yesterday voted for the retention of 13 per cent Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) with corridor of +/- 200 basis points around the midpoint. Other key decisions of the committee include retention of harmonised Cash Reserves Requirement (CRR) for both private and public sector deposit at 31 per cent at a symmetric corridor of 200 basis points around the MPR. Defending CBN continuous tightening policy since last year at question and

answer session, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said CBN had no choice but continue to maintain its tightening stance. Asked whether interest of the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) is given consideration by CBN in fixing lending rate, Emefiele said: “The point is that we have our own work to do. We have money and liquidity to monitor in the system and the application of MPR depends on the liquidity we found in the system, we

would have no choice but to maintain tightening stance. "However, we will continue to review what happened in the market. MPC has 12 members and some members are independent. Decisions are arrived based on data made available and the state of the economy." Emefiele said the interbank Forex window had been meeting up to 95 per cent of Forex request, adding that the inter-bank Forex window had sufficient Forex to meet genuine request.

Ajibade Okunade, said a situation where the president decided to probe some regimes and leave some is a partial move which may make the public see the anti-corruption fight a selective one and full of sentiment. “To my mind, I don't see any reason why Buhari will leave some people and go after some people. For a criminal matter, there is no statute bar. What is sauce for the gander is also sauce for the goose. Let all corrupt officers be tried at the court and let justice takes its course. We should not keep quiet on this else we shall be creating sentiments among the geo-political zones of the country. For me, I don't believe in selective trial,” he added. While in his own reaction, President of Public Interest Lawyers League, Abdul Mahmud, stated that the president needs to apply caution in his fight against corruption. “Of course you can see that this is manifesting already. The militants are going back to the creeks. Something must be done before it all gets out of hand. “Is Buhari capable of fighting corruption? Yes, his antecedent shows he can. But, while many hurl up his record as a military head of state, it is important to exercise caution. “Military eras are different from civil democratic eras. While in the former, it is the cavalier fiat of the head of state that drives governance, the latter is founded on constitutionalism, so it is always very difficult for the personal preferences of the president to make things happen. “We hear of Buhari's

commitment to fighting corruption but that's how it goes. No attempts have been made to outline the framework of the anti-corruption fight. Is he going to use the extant laws such as the ICPC Act or EFCC Act which has been shown to be grossly inadequate? Will he be proposing an entirely new draft of legislations directed at the reform of the anti-corruption laws and the reform of the judicial and justice system? “Yes, series of arrest have been made by Buhari and as we have seen in the past, are these arrests not part of the show circus that tends to make Nigerians believe that the war of corruption is on?" In the same vein, Fayose said the probe would be needless, noting that there was no need announcing the intended probe in the media. Rather, the Federal Government should just go ahead and carry out the probe. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday through one of his media aides, Lere Olayinka, said: “From all indications, it is obvious that the probe they are talking about is targeted at some people and if activities of anti-graft agencies during the tenure of President Buhari are going to be selective, the president should know that the world is watching.” Fayose, who also counselled the Buhari-led government not to embark on selective probe, said: “Nigerians should not be probed on the pages of newspapers. Rather, the anti-graft agencies should do their jobs quietly, diligently and in accordance with the laws of the country, not as dictated by any individual or political party."

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

FCT Nigeria marks one year since last polio case

N EWS I N BRIEF

Nigeria yesterday marked one year since its last case of polio, raising hopes it will soon be taken off the list of endemic countries as the first step to being declared free of the disease. The last case was in the Sumaila district of Kano State in the northern part of the country - one of only six in 2014 and well down on the 338 recorded in 2009, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data. Nigeria will be removed from the WHO list of polio-endemic countries in four to six weeks if samples sent for checking are found clear and surveillance data meets international standards. But health professionals and campaigners said the fight is not over and warned about complacency, with another two years to go before polio-free status is achieved.

41%

The percentage of the population of Cook Islands under 15 years in 2012. Source: Un.org

LOKOJA Court remands five over kidnap of Kogi judge

A Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) five persons charged with the kidnap of a Kogi High Court judge, Samuel Obayomi. The five accused - Muktar Zubairu, Abdul Momoh, Kabiru Shuaibu, Enesi Jamiu and Abubakar O. Lawal - are standing trial on a three-count of conspiracy, culpable homicide and kidnapping. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Alhassan Husaini, ordered that the men should be kept in the DSS custody pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions. The prosecutor, Mr. Mohammed Abaji, a senior legal officer in the state Ministry of Justice, urged the court to take cognisance of the offences in line with Section 143 (c & d) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

OWERRI Ihedioha: Tribunal’s decision an affront to Supreme Court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, have described the ruling of the Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal dismissing their petition as “a deliberate affront on the Supreme Court of Nigeria.” This is even as they have asked the Court of Appeal to invoke Section 16 of the Court of Appeal Act to determine two pending motions which the tribunal abandoned as well as disband the tribunal. In its 10-ground of appeal contained in their notice of appeal dated July 23 and filed at the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal by their lead counsel, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), Ihedioha and the PDP contended that the tribunal erred in law when it subjected the decision of the Supreme Court to its whims.

N2.39m

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

38.97%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Hungary in 2005. Source: Itu.int

Gbajabiamila meets Buhari over National Assembly crisis Anule Emmanuel and Chukwu David

F Abuja

actional leader of the House of Representatives who contested for the speakership of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday visited President Muhammadu Buhari for the second time at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The visit according to sources may not be "unconnected to steps in resolving the crisis rocking the House." His visit comes barely hours as the House is set to resume plenary next week. Gbajabiamila is the preferred choice of the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to be the Speaker of the 8th session of House when it was inaugurated last month. He was, however, beaten by Aminu Dogara in a contest who against the dictates of the APC.

l Don’t use EFCC to intimidate opponents, PDP Senators warn APC This had since divided the House into two major factions, with Gbajabiamila insisted on being given the position of House Majority Leader as compensation, a demand the Dogara's faction had rejected. Gbajabiamila had since then been courting the support of the President who posited that he actually preferred the party position to be adopted although he would work with emerged as leaders of the National Assembly. Yesterday was the second time Gbajabiamila would come to the Villa seeking the support of Buhari, the first being last month when he led 29 other colleagues to lay their complaints at a meeting with the President. Emerging from the President's office yesterday, Gbajabiamila who came unaccompanied, declined to be interviewed by journalists, saying he was in a hurry

"to see the chairman", obviously referring to the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun. Meanwhile, senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday warned the APC-led government against using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate the members of the National Assembly. This was coming on the heels of the commission's invitation to the wife the President of the Senate, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, to appear before it on July 28. A statement signed in Abuja by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial District, said any attempt to unleash the anti-graft agencies on members of the National Assembly as a result of the leadership crisis would not only be constitutionally and

lawfully resisted but could have dire consequences on the governance of the country. He said: “Nigerians should ask EFCC what they were waiting for all this while before realising that they need to invite Mrs Saraki when she actually left the Government House with her husband in 2011. And why should the invitation come a few days after a senator threatened that his group and their sponsors will bring the Senate President down? “We also think that the same witch-hunt that the family of the Senate President is suffering now is the same thing happening to his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who the Police have been disturbing. But let it be known that these two gentlemen and the other leaders of the Senate enjoy the support of 85 senators and at the right time we will jointly make our opinion known on the harassment of our leaders."

Admission: Tutorial centres, students sue JAMB, UNILAG Mojeed Alabi

andidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and owners of tutorial centres in Lagos have dragged the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the management of the University of Lagos to court over what they described as the introduction of a new “draconian” admission policy which they insist will deny many eligible candidates from sitting for the post-UTME test. The candidates, who in their hundreds, stormed the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, yesterday morning were led in two BRT buses by one of their lawyers, Mr. Alex Ogedengbe, who had reportedly filed the suit at the court’s registry. According to one the parents, who spoke to Saturday Telegraph, Mr. Seye Ogunjobi, the latest step was aimed at securing an injunction from the court to

bar the university from conducting the post-UTME test until all the candidates who scored more than 180 in the UTME are allowed to sit for the test as earlier announced by JAMB. It would be recalled that protesters comprising parents, students and tutorial centre owners had on Wednesday stormed the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, accusing the institution of jerking up its cut-off mark to 250 as against the 180 earlier announced by JAMB. But in its reaction, UNILAG has said it did not have anything to do with the new admission policy, saying it never increased its cut-off marks as being speculated, as the institution’s cut –off marks is 200. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello, said the institution did not have the power to overrule JAMB over the new policy and that all complaints should be directed to the examination body.

Court stops INEC from de-registering political parties

n Appeal Court sitting in Lagos yesterday has ruled against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its policy of the de-registration of political parties if they are not successful in electoral contests. The appeal judgment delivered today at the Second Appeals Court in Igbosere by Justice Iyisoba sets aside a Federal High Court judgment validating INEC's policy of deregistering political parties on basis of not winning elections. One of the parties affected by this policy, the National Conscience Party (NCP), had challenged INEC in the Federal High Court in Lagos. But the presiding Justice Abang upheld INEC's policy against

the affected parties. Justice Abang ruled that INEC's adoption of section 78(7)(ii) of the Electoral Act 2010, which empowers INEC to de-register political parties, was appropriate and within the bounds of the law. However the NCP appealed the ruling. The Appeal judgment today on "NCP CA/L/414/13 BTW: NAT. CONSCIENCE PARTY, NCP & ANOR & NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FED REP OF NIG & ORS" declares INEC's use of the Electoral Act for de-registration of parties unconstitutional, null and void. In ruling, Justice Iyisoba said it was not part of Nigeria's constitution that every political party must win election in order for it to operate as one.

Downpour drowns six, destroys N80m property in Anambra

L-R: France Economic Controller, Mr. Simon Dominique; France Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denis Gauer and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during a courtesy visit to the vice-president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

downpour which lasted for about five hours has drown at least six people and destroyed property worth over N80 million in the Obosi community near Onitsha in Anambra State. The downpour, which started in the early hours of yesterday, also caused the collapse of an uncompleted 4-storey building in the Owelle Aja area of the community, while many houses have been flooded with their occupants trapped inside them. Our correspondent who visited the community observed that most residents were hurriedly trying to

salvage their property while others were busy laying sandbags and constructing drainage. Our correspondent observed that a lot of people in the Oduke Layout were wailing, where a family of four drowned during the downpour. A landlord in the community, Chief Achebe Ifemaje, said: “What has happened is a big lesson to everyone, especially where people refuse to plan but put money first, rather than the safety of lives. We appeal to Governor Willie Obiano to come and re-plan the entire Obosi community, especially its layouts and the Owelle Aja area."

25 JULY 2015

Take the war to Boko Haram, Army chief advises soldiers Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

hief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Y. Buratai, has ordered soldiers and men of the Nigerian Army to take the fight against insurgency to the Boko Haram sect and dislodge them because the era of waiting for the insurgents to attack and retreat is over. Buratai, who said this in Kaduna yesterday at the graduation ceremony of Nigerian Battalion 37, United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) pre-deployment training at the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre and the combined graduation of Basic Airborne course 37 and Basic rigger course 23 of the Airborne wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, NASI, Jaji Cantonment. Buratai challenged the

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troops to be on the offensive and respond quickly and appropriately to all situations because the army has all necessary wherewithals to tackle its internal problems. According to him, the cardinal vision of the Army are professionalism and responsiveness and he advised the Army the battle to the insurgents and dislodge them wherever they are, adding that ‘’I therefore want you to show your commitment to this vision.” The Army Chief warned troops on peace keeping that, “the Nigerian Army will not accept any situation where its troops are seen as soft targets or conducting themselves in unprofessional manner such as trafficking in illicit substances of any kind including alcohol and drugs as these practices negates United Nations ethics."

UMUAHIA Otti alleges threat to life

NEWS IN BRIE F

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in the last election in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has cried out over what he said was an assassination attempt on his life. Briefing journalists yesterday at his campaign office in Umuahia, the APGA governorship candidate said the incident happened in the early hours of this morning (yesterday) in a private guest house in Maitama Abuja where he stays. He said he had left the guest house the previous day (Thursday) before unknown gunmen invaded the place and killed one of the policemen on duty in the premises. “In the early hours of this morning I got information that yet-to-identified people invaded my guest house in Abuja through the back fence, cut the wire mesh and scaled through the fence and made through to where I stay," he said.

31.39%

The percentage of expatriates’ football players in France in 2009-2010 season. Source: Football-observatory.com

ALAUSA Ambode appoints Onanuga as LASPEC DG

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has appointed Mrs. Folashade Onanuga as the Director General of the state Pension Commission (LASPEC). The appointment, conveyed in a letter issued by the state Head of Service, Mrs. Shade Jaji, takes immediate effect. Onanuga, who takes over from Mr. Rotimi Adekunle Hussain as the Director General was until her appointment, the Executive Director, Technical in LASPEC. Onanuga, a 1983 graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London; Fellow, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators; and fellow, Certified Pension Institute.

JOS 'Dariye contested PDP primaries as LP chieftain'

A former Chief of Staff to Senator Joshua Dariye and immediate past Special Adviser to former Governor Jonah Jang, Chief Alexander Mwolwus, has alleged that Dariye was still a member of Labour Party (LP) when he contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) December 7 primaries. Mwolwus, while speaking with journalist in Jos yesterday, accused the PDP of discrepancy by granting Dariye a waiver to participate in the primaries without following due process. He said Dariye should have first gone to his ward, Mushere, to register as a member before writing to the state party to grant him waiver, which must be communicated to the national secretariat before a final approval is granted. But he claimed this was violated.

N11.1bn

The IGR realized from road taxes in Ebonyi State in 2010. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

31.29%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Belgium in 2001. Source: Itu.int

APC summons Dogara, Yusuf l Govs, lawmakers' meeting holds tomorrow Johnchuks Onuanyim and Chukwu David Abuja

s a means of finding a lasting solution to the lingering crisis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives, the National Executive of the party yesterday summoned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and his deputy, Lasun Yusuf, to the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja. The National Chairman of APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, said besides Dogara and Yusuf, the party also summoned the SouthWest APC governors. However, it was only the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola that attended the peace meeting. A source at the meeting which held in Odigie-Oyegun’s office said the party’s chieftains were summoned over the lingering crisis in the House. It could be recalled that the Speaker’s group had rejected the letter written to the leadership of the House on the party's nomination of principal offices. In that letter, Femi Gbajabiamila, who lost the contest for the Speaker of the 8th As-

sembly to Dogara was nominated for House Leader. The Speaker and his group had maintained that it would violate the principles of Federal Character in the House as the Deputy Speaker is from the same zone (South-West) with Gbajabiamila. To stress their position, the Speaker recently wrote to the APC NWC, while it was on break, adducing reasons why Gbajabiamila cannot be House Leader. In the letter, the Speaker insisted that no one zone would produce two principal officers. Odigie-Oyegun, in his response to the letter, told the media that the party would meet after the break and consider the letter. The letter was one of the things discussed at the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held on Thursday. Meanwhile, the meeting of the APC governors and lawmakers earlier proposed to hold today has been shifted to hold tomorrow, ahead of Senate's resumption next week Tuesday. Saturday Telegraph learnt that the meeting which is scheduled to hold in Abuja at 8pm, is meant to end the protracted crisis rocking APC caucus in the National Assembly.

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Alhaji Abubakar Dahiru and Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapher Agwai (II), during a condolence visit to Dahiru over the death of his father in Lafia, Nasarawa State…yesterday photo:nan

World Bank appoints Arunma Oteh as vice-president RECOGNITION

Former SEC DG appointed as World Bank vice-president.

he former Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, has been named the new vicepresident and treasurer for the World Bank. According to the World Bank, Oteh will now be the

third African woman to head this position. It would be recalled that Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, was the vice-president of Africa at the World Bank where she was responsible for the delivery of projects and economic and sectoral work in 47 Sub-Saharan countries while the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo –Iweala, also served as one of the Managing Directors at the World Bank. Oteh’s career has been

Omoworare, CSOs chide PDP, Odumakin Mojeed Alabi

he Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Babajide Omoworare and a coalition of civil societies in Osun State under the aegis of Osun Progressive Left (OPL) have warned the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against

what they described as over stretching their boundary in the state, saying the mass of the people will not hesitate to fight back. In separate statements issued by both Omoworare and the group, they insisted that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was returned to the office for second term

by a popular mandate and that it would take the same people who elected him to remove him from office. According to the statements, a political analyst, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, was accused of fronting for the PDP to organise what they termed “stage-managed stakeholders' summit”, warning him

to steer clear of the state. Omoworare, whose statement was signed by his Media Assistant, Olatunde Dairo, said: “The financial stress in Osun is not peculiar to the state, it is a direct result of the economic cluelessness of the immediate past PDP-controlled Federal Government."

pioneered by many firsts, including being the first Nigerian woman to be accepted into the Harvard Business School MBA project. She had served on the board of a number of organisations including National Pension Commission (PENCOM) and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). Her career soared to enviable heights when she became the vice president of the African Development Bank and restored its ratings to ‘AAA’ by Standard and Poor. She had been defined as the “Iron Lady” in respect of her tough decision-making. Oteh responded saying, “If leading change, being passionate, resilient and decisive about a great course is what makes me an iron lady then I proudly raise my hand high to that tag.” In spite of the challenges, Oteh’s tour - of - duty as Director General which led to the commission’s zero al-

location in the budget, she will be remembered for its passion, purpose, articulation and faithful implementation of a therapy of reform measures driven by the vision to transform the Nigerian market into world class market. She was in a hurry to see Nigeria achieve a world class capital market that would drive development and make Nigeria one of the most attractive investment destination. Some of her accomplishments among others include: Restoring investors’ confidence through strong enforcement actions and improvement of rules and regulations, and investor education. Creative initiatives include partnership with Nollywood to produce movies, an annual integrity award to promote integrity and capital market knowledge. SEC established the National Investor Protection Fund and strengthened its Administrative Proceedings Committee.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

AWKA FCT A'Ibom guber: Udom loses Tribunal dismisses motion bid to stop sitting of tribunal challenging Oduah’s election

N EWS I N BRIEF

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, yesterday lost the bid to stop the state governorship election petitions tribunal from sitting in Abuja. The tribunal in its ruling on the motion by the governor challenging the jurisdiction was dismissed for being misconceived and misplaced. The governor through his counsel, Chief Adebgoyega Awomolo (SAN), had challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal for sitting in Abuja, instead of Uyo, as provided by Section 285 (2) of the 1999 Constitution. The governor in his objection to the sitting of the tribunal in Abuja, instead of Uyo argued that fair hearing has been denied his client as provided for in Section 36 of the constitution.

4.23

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of D.P.R. Korea in 2004. Source: Itu.int

The Legislative Election Petitions Tribunal for Anambra yesterday dismissed a motion which sought to tender 45 volumes of documents in the petition challenging the victory of Senator Stella Oduah (PDPAnambra North). The Justice Hezekiah Solanke-led threemember panel while dismissing the motion said it was “unnecessary.” The petitioner, Mr. Dubem Obaze and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), are challenging Oduah’s victory on the ground of alleged electoral fraud in the March 28 polls. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the dismissed documents were voter registers used for the conduct of the senatorial election in Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Ogbaru local government areas.

FCT Buhari backs peace moves in South Sudan

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised that Nigeria will continue to work in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the international community for the achievement of reconciliation and lasting peace in South Sudan. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted the President as speaking while granting audience to the United Nations’ High Representative for South Sudan, Alfa Oumar Konare. Adesina said the President urged the government of South Sudan and other political factions in the country to start implementing the various peace agreements reached under the auspices of the United Nations, the AU and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa.

£93,600 The weekly salary of Carlos Tevez of Juventus. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

17,000

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

Boko Haram: Cameroun begins deportation of 12,000 Nigerians Ibrahim Abdul'Aziz

C Yola

ameroun troops and Immigration authorities have commenced the deportation of over 12,000 Nigerians who fled from the Boko Haram attacks, which it described as a preventive measure against the increasing threats from the insurgents. Already, the first and second batches numbering about 1,000 were ferried to Mayo-Oulo on the border with Nigeria and handed over to the Nigerian authorities in Mubi, Adamawa State. Many families were forced to flee on foot, taking few belongings with them and walking many kilometres before finding safety in Cameroun as a result of Boko Haram attacks. It was gathered that the immigration authorities in Cameroun had earlier

alerted the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) of this development and hence sent trucks to collect the exhausted refugees at the border. The state chairman of ADSEMA, Alhaji Haruna Hamman Furo, who confirmed this to journalists, said: “We have already registered about 800 deportees and there are still more people coming. Cameroon authorities had written us that more Nigerians will be sent back numbering about 12,000. That is why we are now working assiduously in collaboration with NEMA officials for the daunting task ahead of us.” Also speaking, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Camps’ Coordinator in the state, Mr. Sa’ad Bello, confirmed the arrival of the fleeing residents but said their final destination was

Yola, which was about 200 kilometres south of Mubi. He noted that most of the refugees who fled to Cameroun were from Borno and Yobe states as well as Madagali and Michika areas of Adamawa State, stressing that they had the option to stay at the camp or return to their homes. “We have registered over 800 refugees who had fled to Cameroun, we received them at the border and transported them to the camp in dignity. Their condition is good. About eight women gave birth in the transit camp and the officials have put in place measures to cater for the refugees,” he said. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old returnee girl, Aisha Dauda, revealed that the manner in which the gendarmes hurried the deported Nigerians was inhumane. She said many of the returnees were still on their

way, with the vast majority of them as women and children. “They didn’t even give us time to prepare and collect all our belongings. We had to abandon everything,” Dauda said. On his part, Bello Danladi, who is also a refugee recalled that while crossing over to Cameroun in the wake of Boko Haram attacks at Gamboru and Banki, several people, including a woman and her newborn twins died during the threeday walk to the border. Cameroun is hosting more than 13,000 other Nigerian refugees who have fled their localities. Boko Haram is said to have killed more than 13,000 civilians between 2009 and 2015, including 10,000 in 2014, in attacks occurring mainly in North-East, and NorthCentral of Nigeria, while about 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes.

Osun revenue: 'Omisore, Akinwusi, others ignorant'

ormer Head of Service of Osun, Mr. Segun Akinwusi, was yesterday told to exhibit some degree of decency and honesty in the figures he advertises on revenues accruing to the state and stop deliberate falsehood against the government. The Bureau in its statement signed by the Director, Semiu Okanlawon, said Akinwusi had turned himself to a laughing stock in the estimation of rightthinking people when within a spate of weeks, he accused the Rauf Aregbesola administration of receiving N862 billion and less than two months after, came down to N317 billion. While reacting to the various allegations leveled against Aregbesola's administration at a meeting held in Ile Ife on Thursday which was organised by defeated candidates of the PDP in Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, candidate of the Accord Party, Niyi Owolade and Akinwusi who contested on the plat-

Lagos raises the alarm over activities of ‘Area Boys’ Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Government yesterday raised the alarm over increasing numbers of underaged street urchins also known as “Area Boys”, urging parents to pay serious attention to their wards. The government which blamed the development on the rise of broken homes and failing family values, said over 50 boys between the ages of 12 and 14 had so far been arrested from Lagos streets in the last three weeks, especially in Oshodi and other black spots in the state metropolis. Speaking on the heel of

the 23 under aged boys arrested among the 132 miscreants by the officials of the Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Other Special Offence Unit, the task force chairman, Akeem Adedeji, lamented the rate of crimes perpetrated by the young boys who had absconded from their homes. Saturday Telegraph observed that almost all the arrested 23 underaged boys had different tattoos such as snake, gun, scorpion and other dangerous animals on their bodies while it was also gathered that a number of them belong to different secret societies such as ‘Eye’ and ‘Awon Boys’ among others.

Coalition tasks Buhari on economy, climate change Andrew Iro Okungbowa

L-R: Consulate General of South Africa in Lagos, Mr. Mokgethi Sam Monaisa; Treasurer General, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), Dr. Zwelini Mkhize and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja…yesterday PHOTO: GOVERNMENT HOUSE

form of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Bureau said it amounted to hypocrisy, ignorance and sheer mischief for Akinwusi, Omisore and others to continue to advertise outrageous figures as revenues to the state. “What is most baffling and shameful is that the figures which these individuals willfully advertise either as financial resources that accrued to Osun within four years or the debt portfolio of the state are facts that in the public domain. “Where then do they derive this strong commitment to falsehood? At their conspiratorial meeting in Ife on Thursday which they prefer to call a summit, they all said again that the state got N317 billion in four years, about N111 billion off the mark of what the state got. “Elder Segun Akinwusi is inconsistent and that is highly nauseating considering the fact that he rose to become the Head of Service of Osun," he said.

group, Action/2015 Nigeria Coalition, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to pay attention to environmental issues with focus on climate change due to its implication in creating a just society and improving the economy of the country. This charge is coming on the heels of the third financing for development summit held in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, in which hundreds of campaigners across the world gathered to call for long term funding of sustainable development and action on climate change. Action/2015, one of the

world’s largest civil society campaigns, led the demonstrations, rallies, public meetings and other actions in more than 70 countries across the world. The campaigners called on leaders of the world to use the summit to tackle tax injustice, fund fairly with a focus on the marginalised and those living in poverty. In Nigeria, campaigners and environmentalists gathered in some of the states, including Lagos and Bauchi to celebrate the event. It featured students from several schools in Lagos, activists, Ben Fot, Jane Ilori, Director One Campaign, and celebrities, including MI, Timi Dakolo, Nike Laoye, and Marvelous.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 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 “The Eighth Assembly has had a few distractions, but it is time to get on to the job for which we were elected. Apart from reviewing existing legislations, law reform involves introduction of new laws where necessary. Laws that aid the anti corruption struggle, infrastructure renewal, efficient and optimal utilization of our petroleum resources, solid minerals, education and social services, agriculture, diversification of our economy and massive employment of our teeming youthful population should engage our undivided attention as a parliament” - Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara.

Pedestrians wade through floods along Oshodi-Agege Road after a rainy day in Lagos.

On Exorbitant Taxation in Lagos Residents of Lagos State have always complained of high taxes and double taxation under successive APC governments. However, one fails to understand why Lagosians have to suffer all these pains of taxation under a party that uses change as its motto. It is my opinion that the Lagos State Government urgently needs to review its method of taxation and ease the burden it is presently putting on residents of Lagos. Why is it that the Lagos State government makes Lagosians pay through their noses for anything in Lagos? How could anyone who purchased a piece of land and has payed everything he has to pay be forced by the Lagos State Government to pay for construction permit, land use charge, tenement rate, and all sorts of charges? It is so disgusting! The earlier the Lagos State government reviewed its double taxation and exorbitant taxes, the better. Gina B. Atuj, Lagos.

DSS should relocate to Borno I was very happy when I learned that the military Command Centre in charge of the war on Boko Haram had relocated to Borno state. I support the move because I feel that relocation is necessary so that the military commanders can have first hand experience of what is going on in Borno State. However, I would like to suggest that it would also be necessary for the Department of State Security (DSS) to relocate to Borno state too, in order to support the military in the war against terrorism. Without adequate intelligence backup, the military may find it more difficult battling Boko Haram. Therefore, I think it is time for the Department of State Security to relocate to Borno. Nkem Bright S., Abuja.

The Senate as a Dumping Ground for ex-governors Since the return of power from the military to civilians starting from 1999, the rate at which former Nigerian governors manipulate their way into the Senate after completing their tenures in office is alarming. The Nigerian Senate is gradually becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for former governors. It is now fashionable for a governor to contest and win election into the Senate during his last days in office. The general idea behind this move is for the governor to go to the Senate and continue ‘looting’ the nation’s scarce resources or for him to remain politically-relevant.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

On Nigeria’s military human rights record It is no longer news that President Barack Obama of the United States of America recently turned down the request by President Muhammadu Buhari for weapons to assist the Nigerian military in its war on the Boko Haram terrorists. The United States government refused to sell weapons to Nigeria based on the poor human rights record of the Nigerian military. I am confident that Obama took the right decision by telling President Muhammadu Buhari the truth about the Nigerian military. The truth is that atrocities are committed on daily basis by members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces whenever they are deployed to conflict regions. For example, during the Nigerian Civil War between 1967-1970, the Nigerian military was allegedly responsible for the massacre of many innocent Igbo people and till date, even though they were accused of genocide by the Igbo, nobody has been arrested or prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In recent times, the same Nigerian military had been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity due to what many refer to as the Bama Massacre in Borno State, and the killing of innocent citizens in Odi, Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State. The fact is that since independence in 1960, the Nigerian military has not been reformed to rid it of criminal elements and recruit well qualified and capable hands which is required of a modern military. In other words, the Nigerian military is not a modern military, but is rather a military stuck in its criminal past and smeared with bad conduct. President Muhammadu Buhari must, as a matter of priority, sit down now and reflect on the kind of military Nigeria has at the moment, and his vision for a modern military composed of well educated, qualified and competent officers and soldiers who are by far less likely to commit war crimes or crimes against humanity. It is a good idea to probe the military, as the president said. However, the president should go beyond merely probing the military and initiate a total reformation or complete turnaround of the military. The president needs to get rid of the incompetent ones and recruit qualified and competent officers and soldiers. A credible system should also be put in place to duly investigate and prosecute erring officers and soldiers especially when they are suspected of committing crimes and violating human rights. If only we can put the right people in the right places and strengthen our institutions for service to the country, Nigeria will definitely be a great country once again. Chukwuemeka Y. Jack, USA.

“We expect compliance with our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) efforts. One key issue is that, unless we beef up our IGR, we may not likely come out of our current financial quagmire because it is very clear the federally allocated funds will not go beyond the level they are in now or in the nearest future, the only option we have will be to drive IGR.” - Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State. “It is left for the states in their respective situation to find the different ways of cutting cost. But what is important is that we cannot continue with the kind of huge burden or huge cost we apply to run our government.” - Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode “As a public office holder or servant, it is expected that the governor should be able to tell indigenes of the state the truth about himself and about the public affairs under his control.” - Second Republic civilian governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Abdukadir Musa, on Nasir el-Rufai. “Recent events in the National Assembly are shameful. When will the crisis and struggle for power be over? People can’t wait anymore for change to take place” - Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai “Only this week, in the United States, during his state visit, President Buhari disclosed that in the last decade alone, over $150bn of our commonwealth was stolen by public officers and stashed away in foreign banks. Amidst these developments, the feeling and perception of Nigerians is that our anti-corruption laws are either overwhelmed or do not have the requisite edge to respond to the renewed assault on our collective conscience by those taking advantage of their position to steal and loot our commonwealth, without any qualms.” - NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba

SATURDAY

Voices Will you allow your spouse's children from someone else to live with you? p.12

Street Diary SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

Taiwo Jimoh he residents of Arepo in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State are now living in palpable fear over the Thursday abduction of two photojournalists from the community by the pipeline vandals. Meanwhile, the residents have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to come to their aid, insisting that the security of the pipelines cannot be left in the hands of private guards employed to provide security for the residents. In the early hours of Wednesday, was an explosion in the area caused by vandals who were siphoning petrol from the pipeline. Some people died during the incident while many sustained severe burns resulting in the shutting down of major pipeline which supplies imported products from the Atlas Cove in Lagos to Mosinmi in Ogun State by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Speaking to Saturday Telegraph, a resident of the area, Mr. John Ibukun, said: “When I heard that two journalists were kidnapped by the vandals for doing their work, then I knew those of us who were living in the community are no longer safe despite employing private security guards to secure our area. “We want the present government to live up to the task and tame the pipeline vandals who are sabotaging the growth of Nigeria economy through their nefarious activities. “If you recollect, a pregnant woman was killed by the vandals when they were fighting the members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) who were contracted by the previous administration to protect the pipelines.” Another resident who identified himself simply as Kunle said, “Since Wednesday when the vandals and their stolen goods perished on the river, we have been living in fear because we don’t want our children to be caught amidst stray bullets. “Sometimes while at home, we heard gunshots from the creek. For those of us who live near the river we are only living at the mercy of the Lord.” When our correspondent visited the area yesterday some of the vandals were sighted on the river with about six speedboats searching for the remains of their colleagues who died in the inferno. One of the private security guards who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “Before I was redeployed to Arepo, I was told by my colleagues that our security post building was riddled with stray bullets when they came during one of their operations. Imagine what could have happened if security guards were in the building on that day.” Meanwhile, the national coordinator of the OPC, Mr. Gani Adams, yesterday sympathised with the Arepo community and Nigerians in general over the Arepo pipelines explosion that killed more than 100 people. OPC in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Yinka Oguntimehin, in Lagos, said the loss of lives was another avoidable disaster. It said in the last one month, similar deaths were recorded in Ikorodu and

Arepo pipeline: Save us from vandals, residents beg Buhari

People's scooping fuel from a ruptured pipeline at Arepo

Ijedodo areas of Lagos, with another recorded in Bayelsa due to the activities of pipelines vandals. It added, “It must be noted that activities of the vandals were permanently controlled for the period of three months that our men protected the pipelines. “It is, no doubt, regrettable that in a little more than one month after our men quit the job, more than 200 deaths have been recorded as a result of the activities of pipelines vandals. “While some people condemned

our men and called us names, it is on record that nothing of this magnitude happened during the period of the three months that our operatives secured the pipelines. “Of particular interest was the comment of the spokesperson for the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Joe Igbokwe, in which he referred to our members as hoodlums and outlaws. “The lesson to be learnt in the latest incident by Nigerians and our government is that government should encour-

photo: funloaded.com

age Nigerians with good ideas to be part of governance. “All over the world, citizens are encouraged to be partners in progress with the government to move the country forward.” It added that this was what the congress tried to represent by presenting itself as “partner in progress with the government.’’ The statement recalled that while OPC men worked at the site of the pipeline in Arepo, the people of the community had a sense of safety.

Traders protest in Ebonyi over eviction notice Charles Onyekwere Abakaliki

housands of Abakaliki meat market traders association yesterday, stage a protest against forceful eviction from their shops by the Ebonyi State Government. The people who are mainly roadside traders in the market barricaded government house, Abakaliki and demanded to see the governor; decrying what they termed unfavourable policies and ill treatment being meted against them by different task forces working for the government. The traders explained that the immediate cause of the protest was the directive by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Moses Ogodo-Ali, ordering them to relocate immediately without prior notice. They added that the commis-

sioner even as he did not give them prior notice, came along with trailers, tippers and tractors to demolish structures they use in doing their businesses. They carried placards with different inscriptions such as; “Hustling is better than stealing”, “Give us permanent site”, “We are tired of embarrassment, business is our destiny”, “Please allow us to hustle”, and “We are human beings not animals”. One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr. Ejiofor Azuewo, told journalists that they resorted to protest following the unbearable treatment being met against them in the market by those claiming to be working for government, stating that they were being forced to pay obnoxious levies. He explained that the reason for the upsurge of traders in the market was due to the increasing number of returnee-traders from

the North-East, who were now selling their wares in the market to earn their living; a situation he said was the cause of the increasing roadside trading in the market. Azuewo said the roadside traders were ready to move whenever government provides them an alternative, adding that the planned forceful eviction if implemented would affect their daily bread urging government to rescind its decision. Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Development, Mr. Peter Oba, said he was mediating on the smooth relocation of the traders and condemned the traders for embarking on protest without informing him. Meanwhile, Ali explained that the people ordered to relocate are only those trading by the roadside, saying they were constituting nuisance on the road.

He added that before the directive, he alongside senior officials of his ministry met with leaders of the traders where they agreed to move to Eke-Aba market describing the protest by the traders as a “surprise package.” “We are not asking those who are trading in their shops to vacate. We are only saying that those trading on the main road should move out because they have made the road impassable. “Government recently spent huge amount of money in repairing the road and cannot allow people trading on the main road to deface it again. But for those who have shops, we are not asking them to live now until the time government will be ready to relocate them,” the commissioner said. He, however, appealed to the traders to reason with the government and move out of the main road.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Street Diary

Embattled Niger police command recover 838 stolen cattle The poor police presence in some communities in Niger State makes it possible for rustlers to attack, kill and maim villagers with impunity. But the police insist they are determined to rid the state of bandits, reports DAN ATORI from Minna.

he Niger State Police Command recorded a major breakthrough recently in its quest to rid the state of suspected rustlers when it arrested 19 of them. The suspects, believed to be Fulanis, were arrested after six months of incessant attacks on different villages, resulting in killings and maiming of the villagers and stealing of the cows and other property. In addition, the police recovered from the suspected itinerant armed robbers, at least 10 AK47 rifles; four pump-action rifles; 10 single-barreled pistols; eight locallymade guns; three revolvers and 794 rounds of live ammunition. For most parts of the year, rustling has been a recurring decimal in certain communities in the state, particularly those sharing boundaries with Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states as well as Benin Republic. During the incessant raids on the villages, Saturday Telegraph learnt the hoodlums, who operated in commando-like style, killed no fewer than 15 villagers and injured at least 30. Our correspondent also learnt that after attacking the villages, the suspects usually retreated into safe havens in some forests along Bangi, Kagara, Mashegu, Lapai, New Bussa, Sarkin Pawa, Kaffin-Koro, Shiroro and Gurara. Apart from serving as safe havens for the suspects, attacks are, reportedly, usually launched from other parts of the forest too. Disturbed by the trend, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello contacted his counterparts from the neighbouring states and they, Saturday Telegraph learnt, agreed to collaborate in a joint operation to rid the forests of the daring criminals. The Niger State Police Command, led by the Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Olusola Amore, sprang into action and declared total war against rustlers and bandits who, hitherto, had a field day in the state. During one of such raids, the police swooped on the criminals’ hideouts and arrested some of them, including the 19 suspects. The police also found, in their possession, at least 838 cattle suspected to have been stolen from different communities across the state. Briefing journalists in Minna, the state capital, recently on the activities of the command between January and June, Amore said over 838 cows and 54 sheep had been recovered from suspected Fulani cow thieves. Saturday Telegraph gathered that recently in Dan Gunu and Zazzaga villages in Sarkin Pawa of Munya Local Government Area, three persons were confirmed killed and many others seriously wounded by 15 rustlers who stormed the villages simultaneously at about 12 midnight on a Thursday night. The invaders reportedly ransacked the community into the early hours of the next day, shooting sporadically into the air and simultaneously demanding money, gsm handsets and cows.

Suspected criminals at the command (inset) The police displaying seized ammunitions from the suspects

Some of these places cannot even boast of police presence, talk less of police posts According to one of the victims, Abdullahi Umar, “The rustlers, who were over 15, slashed three of my children on their bodies and directed one of my sons, whom they inflicted several machete cuts on his head, to release my 93 cows. “Although they were speaking Hausa, it was easy to tell they were Fulani. They took our money and phones. They killed a man and his son in Zazzaga village and another man in Sarkin Pawa town who tried to raise the alarm.” Our correspondent also learnt that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Munya LGA, Haruna Akano, was allegedly forced to relocate after receiving a threat message that he would be the next target when next the daring marauders raided the area. The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local government, Alhaji Saidu Idris, confirmed that, indeed, the rustlers chased the DPO out of Sarkin Pawa. He said: “We were about to prepare one of the victims for burial when the rustlers telephoned the DPO, asking him to confirm if he got their message. He (DPO) put the phone on speaker and was told that he is their next target and that they have specifically reserved one AK47 with four bullets in it for him. “For over a month, there was no DPO in Sarkin Pawa Division until this last one who scampered from his duty post after he was threatened.” However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Bala Elkana, who spoke with our cor-

respondent on the phone, said the police were on top of the situation. He added that some of the stolen cows had also been recovered. He said: “We have recovered 93 cows that were stolen by the rustlers but no arrest has been made yet. (The NigerPPRO’s claim of no arrest having been made obviously contrasts with the police commissioner’s statement that 19 rustlers were, indeed, nabbed by his men during the operation). They abandoned the cows when our men chased them into the bush. We are still trailing the suspects and I can assure you that we are on top of the situation.” The PPRO also denied the threat to Akano's life, saying the police were not aware of the threat. He added that the DPO had been transferred to the South-West of the country even before the attacks, adding that a new DPO had been posted to the division. “The new DPO, Chief Superintendent of Police Ango Umar, who was in Bida until his transfer to Munya, had since resumed duty.” Other areas that the bandits had also attacked include Kwati, Basa, Kaore villages in Lakpan area, Dangana, Kpada Fulani camp, Shaku, Mabini and Lefu villages. It was gathered that some local vigilantes, comprising some youths from the communities, chased the rustlers and confronted them, resulting in the killing of eight of them while three of the vigilantes also lost their lives.

Head of the vigilantes in Kwati village, Ibrahim Sule, said in an interview with our correspondent that the youths had to confront the rustlers since there were no police presence in the area. “In the clash that followed the hot chase, one of my men, 22-year-old Bashir Guduma was killed while eight of the rustlers also died in the battle,” Sule said. Some of the victims who spoke to our correspondent said the rustlers were definitely Fulanis and were always fully-armed with sophisticated weapons. Two brothers, Tambaya and Jarriri Salle of Labaru village lamented that the bandits attacked them and carted away their 100 cows. Others that were also brutally attacked by the hoodlums are Muhammed Bafashi, Umaru Nakaba, Tukur Umar and Shehu Bagga of Ranfashi village, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar and his three sons Babangida, Shuaibu and Abbas Abdullahi. Senator David Umaru described the activities of the rustlers as major concern, adding that, “government has to do something because these people in the villages are helpless. They are quite vulnerable because there is near zeropresence of police in the area. “Some of these places cannot even boast of police presence, talk less of police posts. Even where there are, they are ill-equipped to handle the situation. That is why we have seen an upsurge in the activities of the rustlers. The people have to rally round to help themselves,” he said. The village head of Kwati, Alhaji Barko Barua, appealed to state government to give his subjects adequate security to enable them to carry out their normal farming activities under a peaceful atmosphere. However, Amore said that despite the challenges confronting the police, the command was determined to win the war against crime and social disorder. “In this second quarter, we will redouble our efforts in providing quality policing services to the people,” he said.

SATURDAY

Voices SATURDAY 25 JULY 2015

Will you allow your spouse’s children from someone else to live with you? Depending on what led to the separation

I can allow it inasmuch as their mother will not be staying in the same house with me, and also what led to the separation before I came in will determine their stay with me.

– Bokky Bakry Jacinta, businesswoman

I will do it to support her I will because it makes me a responsible and reliable man. Loving a woman is not just based on emotional feelings alone but also on how you as a man can handle her challenges and give her hope for tomorrow. So like I said, I will allow it. – Are Dauda, police officer

I can allow it because I love children It depends on many factors. Are they still together? What's their agreement? I don't mind because I love kids, but it would be preferable if the mum is no more. If she's still alive it depends on the relationship between the mum and my spouse. But I can allow it. –Nike Busari, NYSC member

They are gift from God

If she has informed me of the children earlier and depending on their living conditions where they are I will accommodate them of course, as they are gift from God. – Kehinde Adewole, MD, Swife Reporter

I don’t want to be accused of favouritism I will not allow it because I wouldn't want a situation where it will seem as if I prefer my children to them thereby causing enmity among them. So, I will rather prefer everybody carry his or her own load. – Bello Modupe, businesswoman

I won’t be responsible for someone else’s negligence Why will I be responsible for another man’s negligence? If she knows she cannot cope with the child's father why then did she allow him get her pregnant? So, if she cannot take the child to his biological father, then I'm sorry I wouldn't be responsible. – Tolulope Moses, civil servant

I should be ready to share in both her pains and gains I can allow it if maybe their father is dead and she cannot carry the burden all alone. So, since I intend to marry her then I must be ready to share in her pains and also in her gains because that is what makes us one. – Opeyemi Oyeyemi, civil servant

You don’t expect her to leave her children

Only if they are well-behaved

Why not? You knew she had those children before agreeing to bring her in. So, you shouldn't expect her to leave her children. – Rotimi Ajele, banker

It depends on the character of the children. If they are stubborn, I won't allow them but if they are lovely children, I will. – Isaac Olamilekan, student

You have no choice once you're married to the person

I can assist them, but they won't live with me

Why not? Once you marry someone you are supposed to marry all their baggage. – Jumoke Adekanye, journalist

I can only assist them to the best of my capabilities but for them to live with me, it is a no. They have their own home. – Ebuka Ogbu, businessman

Why not if I love the person?

I will never marry a single mother

If I love the person it is not a big issue. My affection for her will be transferred to the child automatically. – Omega Bright

I will never marry a single mother. It will be the last thing to allow another man’s child to live under my roof, sponsoring him or her only for his father to come one day and take the child away without thanks. I can’t do it.

– Olatoye Raphael Sanmi, journalist

Marriage is for better for worse For me, if you decide to marry someone, you marry the person with his/her mistakes and their past. If there was a child in the past and it was not kept a secret from you, there is no reason you should not allow the child to stay with you. The child himself has no fault. Once she is your spouse, you accept the person with the child. That should not be a problem. – Preye Sese, engineer

It is fine by me if it is just a child Yes and no. If it is a child, l will allow it but if it is more than one child, l don't think l will allow it because my experience has taught me lot of lessons in life about parents. And don't forget l will want to be responsible for that child and that is why l need to think about it before even accepting the offer. – Benjamin Maradesa, MD, Benison Drycleaner

compiled by

OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, CHINYERE ONAH, JOHN EDU, adebola adekunle and AKIN-BRIGHT DEBORAH

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

SATURDAY

WeekendDelight 13

Instyle

C o n v e r s at i o n

The shoulder-baring dress p.15

EPELLE

TV & Radio Just how far can love go? p.34

Love & Living ‘We found love in the classroom’ p.35

Hospitality

One &Only Resorts: Perfect for summer treats p.41

A tireless voice for Albinos As founder and chief executive officer of The Albino Foundation, Jake Epelle has secured a little more than a lip service from the government for people living with albinism in Nigeria. Despite his remarkable advocacy, there are still daunting challenges like discriminatory practices and the apparent reluctance by authorities of the National Hospital, Abuja, to continue the free medical care for albinos with skin cancer. Epelle discusses the situation with OBINNA ODOH on the sidelines of a pre-musical concert to raise awareness on the condition. What is the significance of today’s programme organised by the Albino Foundation? The wife of the former German ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Maria-Cecilia Toledo-de Schmillen, came to visit us to lend a helping hand. For many years, she has played advocacy roles for Albino Foundation and albinism cause in Nigeria. She and her husband were responsible for some of the help we got from the German government. She is in the country on a personal visit to do a project with the Abuja Musical Society and we decided that it is a good thing to engage her and let her know what we are doing and that the project which she has been part of while she was here has not died. So It is sort of an opportunity to continue the advocacy work and create more awareness. Of course her personality was able to bring all the media. The strategy is simply to further engage any personality that can draw attention and focus on the cause of Albinism and that is exactly what we did.

Hospital is threatening to discontinue the treatment. Is it true? Let me tell you what is going on at the National Hospital, Abuja. The Albino Foundation and the federal government during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo reached an agreement on providing free treatment for albinos living with skin cancer. The agreement was inherited by President Yar’Adua and then Goodluck Jonathan. We came to that agreement because a lot of albinos with skin cancer cannot afford the treatment. We then agreed that these people should be treated for free at the National Hospital. The government started paying

since inception of the agreement until recently. At the moment, we have N50 million outstanding bill yet to be paid to the National Hospital by Federal government. The whole idea of our gathering today is to tell the present government to pick up the bill. We are appealing to the present government to pick up that bill because the National Hospital has threatened to discontinue the treatment if nothing is done.

We understand there is a musical concert on Sunday (last week); are the albinos included in the programme? Yes, she has been doing things with visually-impaired children, but the programme we did today has opened a door for us because now we are going to do a musical opera with her group purposely to raise funds. It will be specifically a fund-raising event for albinos.

We heard that the federal government is owing the National Hospital Abuja N50 million being cost of skin cancer treatment for albinos and the

EPELLE

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

CONVERSATION

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

‘Government should implement the National Policy on Albinism’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

What was the procedure for payment? They pay usually when the bill gets to them and this is done annually. The payment has stopped for about two years now and the implication is that the National Hospital is threatening to discontinue the process. If that happens, you can imagine what will happen to the indigent albinos who are beneficiaries of the agreement. We are grateful for being assisted through this medical treatment and we would appreciate if it could continue. Has an official report been made to the government informing them of the bill and the threat by the National Hospital to stop the treatment? Yes, even the Hospital Management has gone to the Federal Ministry of Health to intimate them and nothing has come out of it. There seems to be no hope as it stands, but I am going to write to the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo to see if we will get help from them. What are the major challenges you face and what do you think can be done to alleviate them? I will put it in five perspectives: A. Discrimination B. Learning and Edu-

cation C. Lack of policy contribution D. Economic E. Most importantly, skin cancer and visual impairment. These are areas of challenges and of course we need help in these areas at any point in time. And also special awareness on issue of discrimination because when an albino is discriminated against, the person’s right is violated. When somebody is not well and has skin cancer you won’t have good health. Youth discrimination in terms of employment are other problems we face. Because you are an Albino we don’t think you can see well. There is discrimination at home in the family, discrimination in work place, discrimination in schools, discrimination in social gatherings, there is discrimination in the professional circle, there is discrimination in churches and mosques. How can the public assist? Individuals can offer financial help or go to the market and buy sunscreen shade because that is what protects us

Last weekend, Maria-Cecilia Toledo-de Schmillen, wife of a former German ambassador to Nigeria co-hosted a musical concert with the Abuja Musical Society to create awareness and raise funds to address the challenges of albinism in Nigeria. She shares her thoughts on albinism with ONWUKA NZESHI What is the essence of the concert on albinism? We’ve known each other for a long time. Sometimes speeches, actions and plans are not as effective as songs or when you see children doing something wonderful. The message may be the same: we need help, but from my own point of view, I think that arts and culture especially the kids doing something beautiful, sometimes opens the heart of people to help them. So this is the part of the story where I think I could really help a lot. I think we can use our music society here, to deliver the message in a different way. We are going to use the children living with albinism to deliver the message in a different way. The other way round is of course, the German Embassy will add to it because my husband, the former German ambassador to Nigeria was here. We are very lucky, the new German ambassador and his wife are also fantastic human beings. I’ve met them and I think we can also maintain this one on one relationship that we had before and even to refresh it. Then the third thing is that usually our musical operas are public events. Many personalities do come because they are happy about what we are doing but they

from skin cancer. You can offer to send an albino child to school. Of course you can also provide any form of assistance in terms of monetary gifts, clothing, food, shelter and whatever you can afford. Are there special schools for albinos? No we don’t advocate for special schools because we are advocating for inclusion and integration. We need to be integrated into the society. Society is alienating us and we are advocating for inclusion and integration in all aspects of life. Is your advocacy yielding positive results? Of course, yes. Before, if you are walking on the street as an albino, people will be following you singing: ‘Oyibo pepper! Oyibo pepper! Oyibo pepper!’ But now it has stopped, that era is gone. I thank God for the success so far made by the foundation and also the media for

There is discrimination at home in the family, discrimination in work place, discrimination in schools, discrimination in social gatherings, there is discrimination in the professional circle, there is discrimination in churches and mosques. wide range of coverage without which we cannot be where we are today. In particular I want to thank the New Telegraph editorial team. I want to urge the government to continue to work with us and for the albinos themselves, I urge them to please stay away from the sun. Don’t expose yourselves to the sun because if you do it is harmful. Sun is more harmful to us than helpful. We appeal to all the donors and in fact every other person to continue to support us. Finally, I want to use this opportunity to call on the federal government to implement the National Policy on Albinism.

‘Africa ought to take the challenge of albinism seriously’ taken seriously and also to be respected with another state of mind which I think is missing a little. We have to change our way of seeing an albino.

Schmillen

are still not helping us as much as we would have wanted. The Abuja Performing Arts Centre where we have a plot is still lying fallow. After the drawings, we are still not having the help that we need. But nevertheless, we are still very keen on what we are doing but most of the time, they come into our events. I would use every single event from now on to point out that albinism has to be

In what ways can individuals help people living with this condition overcome this challenge? Actually, as a white person, it is unbelievable to see them on the streets under the hot sun completely without any form of protection and with cancer on their faces. Even children are not spared especially in Lagos. I remember the first time I saw them on the streets and I just could not believe my eyes. Sometimes, when you see them you feel like getting out of your car to go and help them. So, I think that there is a mis-perception here that they are very few; not too many albinos in your country. It’s a huge mistake! There are a lot of albinos here. So, it’s really a big problem. Secondly, that is why we are talking about this concert to help the albinos. I think this will help them in terms of offering them treatment for skin diseases and for helping them one on one. There are some campaigns that one person should help one albino. There are many ways we can try to help them. There are many non-governmental organisations in your country and they could join forces for this purpose. What triggered your interest in albinism in Nigeria? Actually, this started with a beautiful story with Jake Epelle coming to our home when my husband was the ambassador here in Nigeria. My husband

was so keen knowing about their plight and he urged me to come along. Well, I have to be honest, I didn’t quite understand the issue at first. I said albinism in Nigeria? I mean they are all dark. I thought it was an exaggeration but then when I came to the place, I saw them and how intelligent they were and the sort of discriminated they face, my perception changed completely and I said: We have to help. It’s not just a thing that started yesterday. It’s been nine years of communicating and doing things together. It’s a friendship. Are there cases of albinism in Germany? Yes. But they are all blonde and white. It is a bit difficult to distinguish between them and others. Also, you don’t have the problem of the sun. Yeah, it’s a completely different thing. In your country, it’s traumatic and it’s a problem. In my country, it’s like you are not too dark or fair complexioned. But in Africa, it’s a traumatic thing. If you don’t have the cream, you don’t have the hats , you’ll get this cancer. So, you have a huge problem particularly with the discrimination. I mean, come on, we need to change this and we are going to do it together. I’m sure we are going to do it. It’s a traumatic thing that has to be corrected and we will do it. The last thing I want to say is that my experience with albinos is that they are very intelligent. What the Lord dd not give them in terms of realty skin, he gave them in intelligence. So, we really have to admire them in the way that they go through a lot of difficulties. They are really remarkable for me and I admire them very much.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

The shoulder-baring dress

fashion etiquette Never wear ill-fitting body shaper

Liz Yemoja Portia

Dolapo Oni

Angela Davies he one-shoulder dress also known as mono strap dress can instantly turn you into a Grecian goddess. Although this dress style has been in fashion for a long time, it still manages to maintain its fresh and astonishing look. This dress style is sexy, edgy and flirty all at the same time and great for both day and night events. For daytime event, you could opt for a short dress and pair with a pair of flat sandals or lovely strappy shoes. For an evening event, you cannot go wrong with a full length gown. You could also opt for a short dress that is exquisitely embellished with sequins and wear with high heels. The one-shoulder dress comes in different fabrics, colours, necklines, length and styles to suit any occasion. Sometimes because of the dress style, it could be a bit tricky to pull off. So, here are

Linda Ejiofor

some vital things to know about styling and accessorising for an impeccable and glamorous look.

Tips

Keep neckline free and chic: The one-shoulder is already a fashion statement in itself, so avoid adding accessories that will compete with your neckline. The key to looking chic in this type of dress is to keep the neckline sleek. So play up your décolletage and shoulders. Wear the right underwear: It is best to wear this dress with a strapless bra underneath. A normal bra will look awful underneath because the strap will show and this is an unforgivable fashion mistake. Don’t cover it up: There is no need to cover up with jackets or scarves because the essence is to show off your beautiful shoulders. Solid colours: Opt for dresses in

ave you noticed how some ladies struggle to adjust their body shapers in public? It is rather nauseating. But, they usually do this because of discomfort and sometimes due to oversize. No doubt, in recent times, many women love to wear different types of body shapers as it allows them to wear their favourite lightweight and clingy fabrics knowing that they will look great from the outside. However, a good and fitting body shaper should be worn and forgotten. In essence, a great fitting shaper will allow you to feel comfortable and well put together. If you find yourself adjusting, grabbing or pulling your undergarment frequently, you are wearing an ill-fitted piece of shaping undergarment. If your shaper is too tight, it will be uncomfortable and unsightly. The extra spillage has to come out somewhere else, hence, it will usually result in a muffin top or bulge on the leg where the shaper ends. Also, if it is too big, it will defeat the purpose of the undergarment. When selecting a shaper, make sure the fabric is smooth and flows over your outfit rather than sticking to the material of your trousers, dress or skirt. You should also ensure that the shaper you wear does not peek out from your short skirt or dress so that you don’t keep adjusting and pulling it up. So whatever type of body shaper you opt for, it should fit. It should not be too loose or too tight but just perfect.

Funke Adepoju

solid colours like red, blue, pink and emerald green. Belt it if you must: You can turn a solid one-shoulder dress into something chic and fabulous by cinching the waist with a wide or skinny belt to flatter your figure. Keep accessories simple: The best way to avoid distracting the neckline is to keep accessories simple. Avoid wearing necklaces as they would interfere with the beautiful neckline of your dress, which is already a fashion statement itself. But if you really like necklace, then go for a choker or something simple which stays close to the neck without interfering with the dress. If the dress is already embellished, just go with few small accessories like bangle bracelets, cocktail rings and earrings. So, whether you decide to wear a one shoulder dress for a special evening event or simply a casual outing, ensure you look stunning.

A fitting body shaper will make you feel comfortable

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Accessories to live for

Make fashion statement with chic red pumps shoes Spicing up your ensemble with gorgeous red pump is a nice way to make a bold fashion statement. ANGELA DAVIES writes.

ed is a bright colour that will never go unnoticed. Hence, wearing red pumps is a fabulous and easy way to express yourself and make an audacious fashion statement. Adding a pair of elegant red pumps in any style will definitely spice up a dull outfit. It takes your ensemble up a notch without looking like you are trying very hard. Red pumps come with different heel heights and styles, therefore, making it possible to wear them to work, parties, weddings and other special events. However, since red is a loud colour, it is advisable to harmonise it with neutral colours like black, white, brown, navy blue, grey and cream. This is to make the shoe the centre of the attraction.

Also if you intend to wear your red pumps with a print dress or top, then, look for a pattern that has some shades of red. Red shoes look fashionable with dark colours because aside standing out, they also look more alluring. They also blend well with casual, work and sophisticated outfits. You can opt for the shorter or stiletto heels depending on how comfortable you want to be as well as the fashion statement you intend to make. You may also want to look for darker shades of red such as burgundy. The red pumps already speak for themselves. So whatever style of red pumps you opt for, ensure it is stylish and makes a bold fashion statement.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

MY STYLE

Simplicity with glitzy edge Model and shoe designer, Adetutu Adurogbangba, is often modest about her dressing. However, she balances her ensemble with outstanding jewellery, she tells ANGELA DAVIES. How would you define your style? My style is simple, smart and comfortable. What determines the kind of outfits you wear? Most times it is my mood. Then the event I am attending as well. Which outfits take up the most space in your wardrobe? I would say long dresses because I have a lovely shape so I love to flaunt it in them. What fashion rule do you live by? Simple but comfortable. What is your ready-to-go outfit? That will be a pair of jeans, nice top and comfortable flat shoes. Do you consider any fashion item indispensable? I hardly go out without a wristwatch. Best designer I love Alabi Couture; her designs are beautiful and exclusive. I also love Mai Atafo because his bespoke designs are exquisite. Signature perfume I love any perfume by Elizabeth Arden. Is there any outfit you’re unlikely to be seen wearing? Really, I don’t know. As a model I think I can wear anything. But

Adurogbangba

Beauty Ebeye

as Tutu I don’t think I will wear anything that will indicate nudity. Most expensive fashion item ever bought I would say a wristwatch. How do you love your makeup? You will hardly see me make up because I sweat a lot and would not want my makeup smear. How do you love your hair? I am always in between low cut and allowing my long curly weaveon flow down my shoulder when I fix. I also braid once in a while. What kinds of shoes do you find more appealing? I love shoes that are very comfortable. Most times, I wear flats but when modelling, it is either high heels or wedge. What kind of jewellery appeals to you? I love simple jewellery that defines itself. I mean jewellery that is simple but conspicuous. If you were a fashion item, what would you be? I would love to be a lovely pair of shoes. Best colour That will be red. You will always see something red on me and it could be an accessory or even my nail polish.

Facts United Kingdom basedNigerian designer, Nkwo Onwuka’s foray into the world of fashion started with an obsession with dolls and a mother who taught her how to sew. She launched her label at the Kulture2Couture in 2007 where she won the Mayor of London’s Award.

In Ancient Rome scarves were used to wipe sweat off the neck and face.

Fashion designer and animal rights activist, Stella McCartney never uses fur or leather in any of her designs, but uses wool and silk.

Converse is one of the most popular shoe brands in the world. Since its first production in 1966, the company has sold more than 800 million pairs of Converse all-stars shoes.

Makeup tricks women need to know

t is the desire of every woman to have a flawless makeup look especially if you have to attend a special event. So, if you are not achieving this look, then, the question is, what technique do you use when applying your makeup? Here are tips to ensure you are using everything from concealer down to bronze in the right way for a flawless look.

Bronzer Use bronzer on your neck, face and chest to even out your skin tone but ensure it is the same colour.

Powder Always apply powder at your T-zone which is the shiniest part of the face. Then brush other areas lightly.

Mascara You should jam the wand into the root of the lash and do zigzag motions as you go up.

Lipstick To ensure your lipstick is not too defined at the top of your lip and that it goes all the way out to the inner corners of your mouth, ensure to press down hard as you apply.

Eye shadow Always start with a base shadow without any glitter that matches the lightest skin tone on your face and apply all over your lid up to the brow. Also use this base shadow to ensure the darker shadows used on your lid up to the crease are correctly blended.

Blend blush back towards the top of the ear

Press lipstick down hard as you apply

Eyeliner To apply eyeliner, get as close as possible to a mirror, stick your head up and bring your chin toward the mirror. Starting at the inner corner, make sure to go all the way out to the fold on the outside of the eye as you look down as you apply the liner. With these few techniques, you are sure to have a flawless makeup look for your next outing with frequent practice.

Applying eyeliner

Jam the wand into the root of the lash as you apply mascara

Blush When applying blush, start on the apple of the cheek. Then blend the blush back towards the top of the ear, then down toward the jawline. Concealer You should not put concealer or foundation on your eyelids as a base because it will make your eye makeup to crease. Instead, use your fingers to apply foundation if you want sheer coverage and use a brush if you want a more polished, medium to full coverage.

Eyebrow To give your face the boost it deserves, always apply your brow pencil in the upper area of the eyebrow.

Media

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

'For Nigerians in the UK, Ben TV is station to watch'

BEN TV's regional director (Africa), Lanre Ijaola, speaks on the organisation's aim to locate outstanding but unsung Africans and highlight their achievements. BEN Television (Bright Entertainment Network) is a United Kingdom-based television channel launched in 2003, aimed mainly at expatriate Africans living in Europe and the Caribbeans. The channel is free to air on Sky. Ijaola spoke with LANRE ODUKOYA How was the dream to establish a TV in a foreign land conceived? It was essentially the initiative of our chairman, Dr. Alistair Soyode. This is someone who’s been doing wonderful things in all the areas of business in London before he came up with the idea. And he said, 'let’s have our own station, let’s have a place where we can voice our minds as immigrants in Europe. We must have a voice, we must be able to tell our stories. We don’t want the western press to tell our stories; they don’t know them better than we do.' And that’s why we started the first multi-ethnic satellite TV station across Europe for us to bridge the gap between home and abroad. We bring the content to Nigerians in diaspora and to Africans in diaspora and the Caribbeans in diaspora. We wanted to let them know that we would get the news from their source and relate it back to them. The programming covers our culture, values and everything we hold dear to us. We have sports, entertainments, documentaries, family programmes and we’re just like NTA; we have any programme you can ever think of. If you’re a Nigerian coming to London, certainly that’s what you want to watch. Why did you extend the reach to the Caribbean? Whether we like it or not, they’re blacks. They’re of African descent if you trace their history. We’re pan African and we have Caribbean

programmes and we have others that appeal to everybody whether you’re Caribbean or African. Projecting a people in positive light might well mean your editorial judgments may be biased. Do you ever tell the African story when it’s negative? We don’t do anything below the standard practice; we go everywhere around Africa, do the story and balance all sides all the time. We comply with strict ethical standard. How did you begin journalism? I’ve been in this practice for over thirty years. Me and the likes of Kunle Bakare, the publisher of Encomium; Mayor Akinpelu, the publisher of Global Excellence, and Femi Akintunde Johnson started soft sell journalism in Nigeria. That was about 1986. We were in Climax magazine back here in Nigeria before I relocated to London. How did you transit to broadcast from print journalism? As a journalist, it’s very easy when you’re from print and you move into electronics. It’s easier for you because then you can write, you can do editing and then you can voice. It makes it a lot easier for you. And I did a lot of training in London when I got there. So, it was easy for me to transit from print to broadcast.

Ijaola

You were with guys who now publish soft sell magazines and are doing well; you never considered setting up your own paper? By the time Mayor was setting up FAME and Kunle was founding his own, I’d already relocated to England. I managed K1 de Ultimate, one of the brightest musicians from Nigeria. I managed Adewale Ayuba and we’ve been on European tour and I’d done fanta stic stuff in showbiz with Dayo Olomu before relocating to London. How do you feel when it emerges the younger journalists do not quite know you? I don’t feel bad because when we did it, we did it for passion, I didn’t even touch my salary. I worked with Segun Odegbami, Sunny Ojeagbase, Mumuni Alao, Muyiwa Adetiba, and these are great people you can talk about who have been there for ages. The problem is that we don’t celebrate ourselves. What's your impression of the media industry when you returned? This wasn’t what the industry looked like when we were active players; we were doing things for passion. Dele Momodu, Richard Mofe-Damijo and the rest of us were doing the job for passion. It’s unlike now that most people don’t practice objective journalism. How accomplished would you say BEN TV has been since its inception? We’re very accomplished because we have BEN Radio, BEN TV, Nigerian Arise Awards to celebrate Nigerians who are doing well. There are Nigerians who are doing great here and in other climes and they’re unsung

here. We come down here, scout for them and spotlight them to the world through our platforms. Last year, we started BEN TV Entertainment Awards in which we celebrate our artistes. We come back home and take the best of what we have here and celebrate them for the world to see. And we also have our stand at the Notting Hill Carnival where we showcase Nigeria. Do you have programmes to honour other Africans and Caribbeans? We have Swahili Diaries, we have programmes for East Africa, Central Africa and I can boldly tell you that we cover everywhere. We go to Gambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Rwanda and anywhere you can call Africa. Do you envision BEN TV extending its reach to celebrate and report the west? The vision is for Africa and the Caribbean. And of course the western media get news contents from us because they know we have authentic sources of news from this part of the world. Media organisations survive mainly on how much adverts they get, does BEN TV have enough to keep the company afloat? It’s been very difficult but we’ve been consistent. We’ll never say ‘never’. We believe in our dreams and we actualize our dreams. In terms of adverts, we get some from the UK and other European destinations. We do a lot of documentary package and PR for Nigerian companies in the diaspora who want international coverage. We also arrange town hall meetings for state governments, conferences and seminars. We have other businesses that we do apart from TV.

SATURDAY

Taiwo Ajai-Lycett

Seyi Law

I would retire when I die

‘Growing up wasn't quite encouraging'

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ShowBiz SATURDAY 25 JULY 2015

Waje: I never planned to be a single mother There’s no gainsaying that Aituaje Iruobe popularly known as Waje has come a long way in showbiz. Hers has been a phenomenal rise these past years and the Glo ambassador is not resting on her laurels. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, she speaks about career, romance and family. During one of your recent performances, you said you were signed to a label for 10 years without having an opportunity to produce an album. How did that happen? I was signed to the record label as a young girl. The record label was owned by a family friend, so I didn’t bother reading through or look at the nature of the deal I was signing. Sometime, people do have good intention but in life, time and chance happens to everybody. I did not have the "ginger" because I was probably waiting for them to do everything. I did not understand the culture of going out there and getting things done for myself. But the good thing is that the contract did not expire, we ended amicably when I decided to go and pursue my career on my own. At the time I left the label, I released my song, For a Minute. I did the song myself and at the same time shot the video. So that was what happened. It was just a question of me not going out there to get things done for myself. I was waiting to be spoonfed. Not knowing that it is the other way; that you have to go out there and hustle for yourself and not waiting for people to do it for you. Was it easy for you to get things right when you left the label? Like every other industry, I have to find my feet in many ways. This is because I do not know my left or right in the music industry. So, I had to learn a lot of things along the line. I am sure that is the experience of most people in the industry. I have to learn how to look for the right people to promote my songs and also learn how to look for the right producers to do my songs for me. For me, it was all about let's go there and sing. I did not understand that as a female brand you are also a show brand; how you look have a lot to say about your career. Basically, it has all been me learning from all the people I have been meeting as I pursue my career in music. After years in the industry, do you still get anxious as regards what your fans want? Yes, I still have the fear; most of us also have the fear of what our fans want from us. But one thing I have which I thank God for is my team. I do not keep it all to myself because, you cannot know it all. So, when you finish music, play it to your team and sample opinion. I strongly believe in my talent. I strongly believe that for every single move you make there is a sound for that. And I feel that there is an audience

Waje

to cater for as well. For me, African music as much as it is danceable still has a soul regardless of how danceable it is. That is why you could still get a soul out of Fela. What is soul music? Most times people think it is slow music, but soul music is actually any kind of music that connects to your soul. I feel that my music is all about me being able to cut across to the people I can cater for, regardless of if it is going to be highlife or afro music. I am a fan of reggae music. But the thing is that there are certain messages you would want to convey to your audience. Even as you are writing the song, there is a genre that influences the song that you do. For instance, I wrote a song recently about my daughter that I will be dropping in my next album. The song has 6-8 beats and I have never done a song with that beat before, but when I was thinking about my daughter, that was the sound that came to my mind. I recorded it on my cell phone and sent it to my producer. He did the beat and sent it back to me. Do you have any plan to drop an album this year? I am not dropping an album this year, it will be next year. The plan is to drop the album the same day my last album was dropped. The same month and day and we are seriously working on that. You started singing in the church choir,

do you still sing in the church? I go to church but I have not sung in the church for a long time now. I think the last time I sang in the church was in 2013. I still sing in my church once in a while, but not in the choir. I sing when I am invited to sing a special number with the choir. I attend This Present House. I prefer not to be in the choir because I want to be free. You know we are all human beings and most times, we judge even when we do not mean to. I want to be free in the house of God, so that any day I want to cry to my God, I can lie at the altar and cry without anyone wondering whether this is Waje or not. Your claim to fame was P-Square’s hit song, Do Me, in which you did the chorus and the hook. But unfortunately, you weren’t featured in the video and at that time people were curious to meet the girl with that awesome voice. How did you feel not appearing in the video? Honestly, I felt defeated. I felt very sad. I was yet to get my big break. Maybe appearing in the video would have helped me become popular at that time. The song was huge and the video was topping the charts, I believed featuring in the video would have helped my career a great deal. Why weren’t you invited to feature in the video? I can’t really explain what happened

at that time. I felt they contacted my record label. And you know the video wasn’t shot here, it was shot in South Africa. Maybe I was dropped because of logistics reason, I wouldn’t know. By and large, I thank God for where I am today. Are you a single mother by your own design? I was not married, so there is no way I would have planned it. Are you in love now? Yes, I am in love with life. Any plan to get married soon? There should be plans like that in Jesus name. Just join me in prayers. I know that when the right time comes you will know about it. What’s life being a single mother these past years? It has its challenges to be honest. But I guess what has made it easy all these years for me is my family. My mother is an Igbo woman. When my daughter was born, I had to go back to school and my mother took care of her. I also have brothers who are close to me and are married, so most times she visits them. I think my family helped me a lot. My mother is my gold, my diamond and everything. She made bringing up my daughter easier for me than anyone can imagine.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

I would retire when I die

You once said a 54-year-old man wanted you for marriage. Do you still get suitors? Where am I going to get suitors at 75? I would be 75 in February. People just talk and I think I look too intimidating, but a woman can tell when a man wants something. People have the impression that I am too hard and formidable, even older people do too. In Africa, we like our women to be submissive or to appear submissive. I am too opinionated and men don’t like such women. Though people are friendly with me, they don’t get too close. I have been a widow for 22 years, so where are the men? I have always been focused on my work or study. The reason women fall for their prettiness is because a girl is conditioned to think she would get a husband and plays to that. I was independent, so I didn’t need a husband to make me whole. Things like someone thought I was pretty didn’t worry me. Marriage wasn’t my big ambition, but I got married anyways. Could we say your job has filled the vacuum created by the loss of your husband? I have been working like this even while he was alive. He was my number one fan. His name was Thomas Aldridge Lycett, a former Shell’s marketing communication executive. He left England to settle in Nigeria because of me. He said to me that I must come home for our people to know what they have. Success outside your country is fine, but at home is better. Since he is gone and all these are still happening, I wish he could be here. I didn’t achieve all these myself, he helped me. My husband in many ways spoilt me for any other person. Where am I going to find a man like him? He didn’t feel diminished by devoting his life to me. He thought I was doing something special and was so supportive. Now, I work every time. I always shuffle between here and abroad. Though people might say what a shame, my work is my life because the work I do is so beautiful. Everything I want in this life is in my work and I meet all sorts of people too.

Ajai-Lycett

Acting was never in the plan of Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. From a waitress in London, she rose to become one of Nigeria’s highly celebrated television personalities. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, the 74-yearold actress relived the memory of her late British husband and her life. Do you plan to retire anytime soon? I would retire when I die. You don’t retire when you have enthusiasm and you have the love of your profession. As you can see too, I am well. Once you retire, you retire from life. If you watch closely, those who retire to do nothing die few years after. You’ve committed your life into whatever you choose to do and when you say you are retired, it is like shutting the door on your life. I am almost 75 and I am still doing things like anyone else. Despite your age you are still very much vibrant. How have you been able

to achieve this? I think it is being committed to what you do, so you give it everything needed to make it function. I learn breathing by aerobic, yoga and dancing. Anybody who knows me would tell you that I am a lover of dance. I dance to any music, including what they call ‘Shoki’ nowadays, though I don’t think the lyrics make sense. I am crazy about jazz music; I went to bed yesterday listening to it. I also have people around who look after me. You should come to where I live now; I am surrounded by love. There is nothing not to love about being old. I don’t drive my own car, but

whenever I am going there is a car to take me. Then, men followed me because they taught I was brilliant. It is not about beauty, the signal I am passing to people is that black is beautiful. Our natural hair is fantastic and I have been sending that message through five decades. As blacks, we don’t have to borrow anything. I hope that other older people could see that you can be old and still be attractive. You can be African and still be sophisticated. What is the most cherished part of you? It is my voice. With your voice you can express absolutely everything. If you have a good voice people can fall in love with you and you don’t need the body of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde or any other thing to attract people to you. I think it is the media that make it look like just flesh. There is nothing wrong in beauty, but what we do is not just about beauty.

Why did you abandon your private school at Isolo, Lagos, considering the fact that it was doing well at a time? About eight years ago, my staff organised with armed robbers to attack me. It was bad; they took away money and they almost killed me. One of them must have locked the armed men in the building before they left the premises. In the middle of the night, 2am, they came in. I ran it for about 12 years and I was alone, so people said it was because robbers haven’t been seeing me with a man. But I wasn’t ready to go acquire a man because people attacked me. I decided to shut down, though people wanted me to continue but I said no. I went to my house in England because I needed to think. I launched the school (Talhouse Private School) in the memory of my late husband. After his death, I thought I should do something to remember all the wonderful things he was and still means to me. We wanted to start a school because he was disturbed about the educational system in Nigeria. He saw how expatriates who were hardly anything in their land were living large in Nigeria. They had drivers, gardeners, cooks among others. He saw how Nigerians were running after them and he thought it was a lack ofconfidence on our part and felt more of our young people should be educated. When we were running a marketing communications consultancy

25 JULY 2015

firm, Taiwo Ajai Communications, he hated it when people thought because he was a white he ran the show. I was the managing director while he was the general manager. So, he said if our children had education they can stand with anybody in the world. Contrary to what most Africans do, he was the one so interested in getting married to me. I started the school in December 31, 1994, a year after he died. It turned out very successful, it was wonderful. I also ran a theatre and computer school. Do you still the run Taiwo Ajai Communications? My husband and I were doing it together, but as time went on the business was getting a bit complicated. You had to settle, you had to share the budget and that was not the way we did business where I was coming from. I still operated our business for a couple of years after he died on December 31, 1993. It was an awkward thing to die on New Year’s Eve. It was difficult for me more because I was depressed. I plan to restore my school back very soon. I want to start adult education, teach acting, presentation among others. Was it love at first sight? For him, I think it was because of the circumstances we met. I was looking for a new apartment and I visited the site. He told me later on that he saw me the day I visited while I was alighting from my sport car. My late husband and I didn't have any child together because we met when we were old. We were both divorced. My son is a nurse in London. What do you miss about being young? I don’t miss anything. When you are older you have more confidence. I don’t have to be false and this is because we feel insecure at times. While I was young and people thought it was elegant to do your hair in such a way, I never did. Ideologically, I was and still firmly African. Why do you represent everything African despite your deep interaction with the west? We grew up when African countries were gaining independence. Ideologically, if you are not proud of yourself why do you want independence? Didn’t you suffer any form of segregation or discrimination? The only time somebody stood up from where I sat, it was an African and possibly a Nigerian. I was wearing my natural hair and the person thought I was a bush woman. When I got to England I had no qualifications, I applied to work as a waitress at Lyon’s Tea Shop where the financial people used to come to drink tea. The city gentlemen would come to me and they thought I would be great in the future. Those days, not many people travelled abroad and many of them had not met black people. I made friends and I started learning how to type too. I later applied to the United Kingdom General Post Office, Gresham Street headquarters and I was employed. But since they knew I had nothing they sent me for trainings. So, it all depends on what you think of yourself. When you are doing the same with them and probably at the top of the class, how would they discriminate against you? America and Europe even now is about merit. When I started working I excelled and they kept promoting me. Even my bosses recommended books for me to read; that was the kind of relationship I had before I ventured into showbiz. I later took a sabbatical to go to college, the North Staffordshire College of Technology (now Keele University) because I knew that in Nigeria we only recognised certificates. I was given paid sabbatical.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

I don’t think the world owes me anything and what happens to us is a reflection of how we live our lives But why would you leave Nigeria to become a waitress over there? In Nigeria then, there were no opportunities if you were not educated and we only had one university. I went to England to study; I went by myself and I needed to make money to go to school at night. That was how we did it in those days. Do you feel fulfilled now? If I die now, I would have lived a wonderful life. I am very grateful for the journey so far. I know of people who are still doing great in their 80s. I still improve myself every day. Life is a bit different now; you can take any course online. At what point did you enter showbiz? I think it was 1965 in my 30s. I never thought I was an actor; I didn’t start with the mind-set that I wanted to be famous, though I liked the theatre. I went to the cinemas all the time and concerts. I loved music and anything that had to do with arts. I thought it was all about that, I had no idea I was a performer until I went to see a friend who was rehearsing and the director asked me to join the production. After that day, everybody was after me. The next weekend, I was at the BBC working. For years, I was a presenter for the BBC’s magazine programme, Calling Nigeria. So, nothing prepared me for this. I did photojournalism too and I covered all sorts of things. From acting, people kept pushing to do this or the other. What role has been the most challenging in movies? Every role I play is very challenging. There is no way you will get to a stage and you think everything will be so easy for you. So, I think my work is very challenging and therefore keeps

Ajai-Lycett, in her younger days

me on my toes all the time. All of them have been challenging because I had to find way through them. How often do you still go to locations? Nothing has changed; I think I am busier now than before. You must have been seeing Oloibiri on television, a movie about the place oil was first discovered. I am in that with Richard Mofe Damijo and Olu Jacobs. We have some veterans who have been forgotten long ago. What are you doing differently that still makes you relevant? I have enthusiasm. I don’t have any set ideas about myself and I am open to give service. And above all, I am not hustling. I have something to give and other people think so too. Does this mean other forgotten veterans didn’t do the right thing? I am not blaming or criticising anybody, but I would tell you how I see life. I don’t think the world owes me anything and what happens to us is a reflection of how we live our lives. I am not saying I am clever than anybody; I am saying that the environment or condition you find yourself is a manifestation of what you have in your head. For instance, Majek Fashek, how can you start blaming the world? He is a lovely man, but what happens to us is by our doings. You think the world tells you how to live your life? When you go on a particular path it could take you down, so you have to be careful which path you are toeing. Why are you not seeing me in nightclubs or where people smoke? When you start moving with people who take cocaine you would soon join them. Life is personal or choice, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help each other in a bad situation. We are largely responsible for ourselves and we must all take responsibilities for our lives. How has it been starring in Tinsel? This is my third year in Tinsel and it has been wonderful. I am playing the mother to Ireti Doyle, a lead character. I have three children, one young man and two girls. I was working in England when the producer asked me to join the cast. Often times you voice your displeasure about the industry. Don’t you think older actors like you failed the younger generation? I have been running a theatre school since 1979. I couldn’t get these your people you talked about because of their arrogance. They don’t think they need training. That is what you guys should be addressing; the media makes them star. I switch on the television and I cannot hear what they are saying, but they believe they know it. Some of us started schools for them, but they didn’t think they need to acquire knowledge properly and we cannot force people to learn. Why do you think I am doing Tinsel? It is about professionalism; it is what you do with yourself that will determine how far you go in your career. I am going to start my school again and see how many of them would join. To them, they are in this business to make money and become famous. When I was discovered and they threw me into BBC I said they would soon find out that I was a fraud. I was all over the place and I became afraid, so I got five private tutors for music, voice, dance among others. I went to schools to improve myself. When you see me those days, I was always moving with a big bag because I went from one class to another. What is responsible for my longevity is not my pretty face; it is my body of work. How about your Kehinde (Yoruba name for a twin sibling)? My Kehinde died many years ago.

O u t &A b o u t

Timaya in Florida

Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya, holds a concert toady at District 3 Events Center 802 E Whiting St , Tampa Florida. It is an opportunity for ladies to dance to his hit songs including, Sanko, Bum Bum, Hold Me Now, and Sexy Ladies.

Tuface , Sir Victor Uwaifo in concert Fans of pop star, Tuface and legendary musician, Sir Victor Uwaifo are in for a thrilling atmosphere tomorrow. The concert, ‘Eargasm,’ holds at This Day Dome in Abuja. It would also feature legendary reggae act, Daniel Wilson aka Mr Raggamuffin, Sunny Neji, EME songstress, Niyola, Dammy Krane, Yung 6ix and Queen Moda. According to Tuface Idibia, he holds the concert dear to his heart because of the opportunity it would afford him to further display his dexterity. "I’m really excited about the concert and can’t wait for it to happen. Performing on stage with Sir Victor Uwaifo is like a dream come true for me," he said.

MI and his boys The Stage Unplugged hosts Chocolate City artistes (Choc Boiz Nation) tomorrow at the Soul Lounge, The Palms, Lekki, Lagos.. The exclusive edition will also unveil the new Choc Boiz 2.0 (Koker, Dice Ailes and Milli) while featuring Nosa, Pryse, Ruby Gyang, Loose Kaynon, Dj Lambo, Dj Caise, L37, Victoria Kamani, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince and M.I Abaga.

Seyi Law’s 10 years anniversary Nigerian comedian Seyi Law has concluded plans to celebrate his 10th year on stage with an unusual comedy and music moncert tagged Seyi Law: Fast & Funny. The week-long celebration will end with performances from Alibaba, AY, Gordons, Omobaba, Emeka Smith, Mc Shakara, Funny Bone, Acapella, Elenu, Senator, Olamide, Chidinma, Iyanya, Banky W, Oritse femi among others. Also, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Superstar DJ Exclusive, and DJ Jamsmyth are fully involved in Seyi Law's Fast & Funny.

Dammy Krane fights terrorism Royale F.C. today brings youths together at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, to raise awareness for the abducted Chibok Girls and support for the troops in the war against terrorism. Afropop star, Dammy Krane, is the host for the day. Activities include an awareness road walk, a football tournament and presentation sessions by distinguished guest speakers and celebrities. Royale Football Club is proud to be a strong supporter of this cause.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

‘Growing up wasn't quite encouraging' Comedian Seyi Law (Aletile Idileoye Oluwaseyitan) speaks with DEBORAH MAKOJI about splurging on a wristwatch and how his formative years toughened him. What was growing up like? Growing up was fun. It was not too encouraging but I now look back and laugh over it. It was one of those things that are meant to happen for me to be where I am now. Did your background influence who you are now? I can’t really say it did but then, I have always been a funny type. I was in a house where we were all serious people, where all you did was read your books as a result of which I started writing letters when I was in primary two. My uncle taught me how to write a letter when I was in primary two and I followed the trend. Comedy to me is something that started just like that. What inspires your various creations? I love to deal with reality that appeal to lots of people in one way or the other, hearing what happened to you in the past at comedy show will give your audience a sense of belonging. Real life event is my source of inspiration. Who do you look up to in the industry? I have got a lot of people who are my mentors for different reasons. I look up to somebody like Ali Baba for his father figure; Basket Mouth for his ability to brand the industry; Ay for his event-packaging ability; Gordons for his audibility; I Go Die for his creativity and Teju Babyface have good command of

English language. Looking at all these qualities in them to me is like learning the rudiment of the industry. I use the knowledge I got from it to build up a body called Seyi Law. What influences your fashion sense? I love to dress well, I am very much a casual person but because of my job I cannot be casual at all occasions. The occasion I want to attend determines what I wear. A lot of times you see me in my t-shirt and boxers. I love it free most of the time. How did you meet your wife? We met in a church. Were you both choir members in church? I met her in a church where I was invited to give a comedy performance and she was there right in the audience laughing and having fun. Her laughter caught my attention but I was not confident enough to go close to her. When we finished, she walked up to me and said, 'men I love your confidence on stage'. Meanwhile, I lacked the confidence to walk up to her. The rest is history. What is your advice to youngsters who look up to you? I always tell people to understand why they want to go into comedy and I get funny answers about the desire to be famous and celebrated by ladies. I always see people that nurture such vision as those heading to nowhere. You have to know the reason why you want to go into it, discover yourself if you are fit for it and refine yourself by working continuously on yourself. Create a unique identity because if you try to look like somebody you become a second person to that person. Who do you consider the most creative in the industry? Creativity is large, everybody say something at different times and it make lots of time so, it’s hard to tag a particular person as the most creative. We’ve got a lot of comedian who are creative, anyone who say something that makes you laugh is creative. When I look at creativity in terms of longevity, I give it to Ali Baba and I salute I Go Die for keeping it real. What will Seyi Law never be caught wearing? Nothing. You mean you could wear skirt and bra too? I can wear skirt and bra while playing with my wife at home. Tell us about your perfect holiday destination The place I enjoy most is London because it is very similar to what we have here in Nigeria. I feel at home if I’m in London because I can easily get to wherever I want to go because I'm conversant with London environment as much as I am with Nigeria environment.

Seyi Law

Most expensive fashion item ever bought A wrists watch that I bought for two thousand dollars.

Oludre

'I want to be accepted here like I am in the UK' United Kingdom-based singer, Babajide Oludare aka Oludre, returned to Nigeria with promise. He speaks with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS. What kind of music do you do? I have always enjoyed listening to the likes of Obesere, Pasuma and other fuji artistes. Their music influenced my sound. So, I came up with my genre, hip-hop fuji. I was very young the first time I heard Obesere's song. It was about 5:30am, but I got up and started dancing. Why music? In the United Kingdom I was not fulfilled with the job I was doing. I wanted to do something that made me happy and I noticed that whenever I switched on the television new artistes kept coming up. I felt I could do better than them, so I decided to try what I love to do. I started writing my songs and before I knew it I began to sing. I was a member of the church choir when I was growing up. I have always enjoyed singing. Are you not concerned that fuji music is seen largely to be for the streets? That was in the past. Right now in the UK, afro-beat is gaining more recognition. The people in the UK only need to hear what you are saying to embrace your music. I live there so I understand what I need to do. I tried to put words of English Language into my songs, which helps them to relate with it. How would you describe the reception of your single? It has been very encouraging. Television stations in the UK play my songs a lot. There is hardly any club that you go to in the UK that they do not play my song. The fact that Nigerians are plenty in the UK makes it better. There are some places you would go to that give you the impression that you are in Lagos. That is where I get most of my acceptance. The white too love good beats. Once your beat is good they would dance to your song. Were you doing other things before music? I was working at a supermarket but I was not fulfilled. I felt I have the potential of becoming the next big artiste to come from Nigeria. That is why I decided to concentrate on music. You quit your job for music? I am still working and I am also doing my music. It has not been easy, but

I have made up my mind and once I am determined to do something I go for it. I already have large supporters in the UK, so it is a sign that I am doing the right thing. I have never thought of giving up on my music since I started, though I have faced some financial constraints and others. When I started singing fuji in the UK the concept was relatively new. I did not really think I could do it but I began to enjoy it along the way and I don’t want to stop at all. Since you have been accepted in the UK, why did you return to Nigeria? I do hip-hop fuji and it has its roots in Africa. I cannot remove that home factor from it. I want to be accepted here as much as I am accepted in the UK. I am established there and I want to be established here in Nigeria too. How about racial discrimination? Racism is a very sensitive issue and the truth is that it cannot be totally eradicated. It will always be there and what I used to conquer it is self-esteem. Personally, I like it when people look down on me because it gives me strength to show people what I am made of. I have not faced any encounter with my music, but I had experienced it in my workplace. It is quite difficult for you to rise at work if you are a black man in the UK. They tend to favour the white when it comes to promotion. We don’t complain most time because we may lose our jobs. Since I started my music I don’t bother anymore because I am on the road to success. How do you compare the music scene there with that of Nigeria? The competition is quite stiff in Nigeria. It is easy to do music in the UK while I do other jobs, but I cannot say the same about Nigeria. Buy if you can plan yourself, it is possible in the UK. I have never worked in Nigeria, but from what my friends told me I feel it is tough. An average Lagos resident leaves his house by 5am and does not come back till 9pm mostly due to traffic. When will such person go to the studio to do songs? What makes you unique? My genre of music is different and I believe I am original. I like to promote my culture and Ibadan where I am from.

Investigations SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 25 JULY 2015

“M

y father has been eating Agege bread for years and has not died of cancer or any serious health crises.” This, sadly, is the view of Adelekan Abiola, an automobile engineer. To him, eating Agege bread or any bread for that matter, does not kill. It is cheap, soft, delicious and available in all sizes that everybody, both the rich and the poor, can afford. “It has been there for ages.” Abiola is obviously not concerned about the noise over bromate, the dangerous substance that sweetens bread used by some bakers. He believes he has always known the brand from childhood and will, therefore, not be harmed, bromate or no bromate. But, the very popular Agege bread, according to National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is baked with almost an overdose of the dangerous potassium bromate. The food regulatory agency said that bromate overdose usage causes cough, sore throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and kidney failure; hearing loss, bronchial as well as ocular problems. These, it added, are some of the noncancer health problems associated with ingestion of the substance. The agency has also noted the numerous studies that revealed the potential of potassium bromate to cause cancer in humans. This may be why it is banned in many countries as bread improver. In Nigeria, however, some bread makers and bakeries have continued to include it in their bread in spite of its being a killer substance. A hair stylist, Mutiyat Adeoye, 56, told Saturday Telegraph that she cannot be separated from Agege bread despite the threat of bromate. “I’m aware of potassium bromate, but to stop eating bread because of that is like separating fish from water. Can you separate fish from water and life still remains in that fish? That is how I’m attracted to Agege bread. Or, will you also tell me to stop ‘ewa agonyin?’ Both of them are like Siamese twins,” she said. Yet, there are those who do not like Agege bread. Blessing Akpan is one of those. She said: “I don’t like Agege bread despite the fact that it’s delicious, soft and popular among Lagos residents. What I don’t really like about it is the poor and unclean conditions under which they are baked. “Sometimes, you see women covering the bread with their wrappers, spread on the ground. At another instance, sellers would carry them in dirty vehicles with flies perching indiscriminately. The thought of it alone is nauseating. I would not say that I dislike it because of bromate but the reasons that I have given to you,” Akpan said. There are those who have also alleged that some other materials employed in bread making like water and the environments where these bakeries are located are not free from

Isioma madike

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

Bromate: Sweet poison in bread Bread, no doubt, is one of the most popular breakfast meals in Nigeria. It is a part of growing up in the country as most kids cannot do without a slice or two with a blob of butter a day. It is delicious and ready-to-eat snack, which is consumed extensively in homes, restaurants and hotels. It is made from low protein wheat and usually contains several ingredients that would help improve its quality. But, the convenience of this food as CHIJIOKE IREMEKA finds out in this report, comes with many health hazards

Assorted brand of bread

contamination by heavy metals such as lead. Investigations have revealed that many of the native bakeries are located in the midst of slums. The Federal Ministry of Health had banned potassium bromated breads following its harmful effects on consumers in 1993. The substance, according to experts, is an oxidizing agent used as food additives, mainly in the bread-making process. They also confirmed that it induces renal cell tumors. In addition, it initiates as well as promotes other renal diseases. The major challenge however, is the baking quality of flour, which is

determined by the capacity of the dough prepared from it to retain gas. As a result of wide variations in the composition of flour, various treatments and supplements conditioning agents (flour and bread improvers) are added for strength during mixing, molding and to increase loaf volume and texture. Over the years, several improvers have been used but studies have shown some to be harmful to health, thereby necessitating their ban. The use of potassium bromate has been a common choice among flour millers and bakers probably because it is

cheap and makes bread look appealing to the public. Incidentally, local bakeries are not the only ones using bromates in their breads. Other bakeries, especially those owned by Asians in the country, also use it to grow their bread. One of the private bread bakers at Ikotun Egbe, Lagos, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “the major reason bakeries still use bromate is because of its action in rising flour. Potassium bromate acts faster, especially, when used on poor quality flour.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

...in an unhygienic environment

Bread display on the highway

It may cause kidney failure, say experts C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

At FESTAC branch of Sweet Sensation, a staff who refused her name in print because “I’m not qualified to speak on the issue” told our reporter that the eatery does not use bromate for its bread. She though, admitted that the outlet uses other flour and dough improver, which she refused to mention. Officials at Tank and Tummy, along Oshodi-Apapa expressway, and Big Threat at Omole junction, Ogba equally denied the use of bromate in their bread. Enquiries were also made about the use of bromate at Oasis Bakery, along WEMPCO Road, Ogba. Though, there was nobody to respond to our reporter’s probe, few customers encountered said they suspect the outfit. “Their bread here is very sweet; I won’t be surprise if it is established that they use bromate in their bread. Theirs can’t be ordinary bread,” the man who identified himself simply as Ibrahim, said. But, Segun Adekanmi told Saturday Telegraph that one would not be able to answer the question.” Customers lack the techniques to determine such. There is no physical method for us to determine that. All I can say is that businessmen, especially those from Asia would always want Nigerians to believe that they can do things better even when they are killing us. It is for you to investigate by asking experts who should know,” he said. When contacted, a food scientist and lecturer at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Dr. Olukayode Opeifa, said “Bromate free” expression display on the labels of most consumed bread and confectioneries in the country is a “make belief” in order not to elicit agitations from the public. “This is because it will draw NAFDAC’s attention to the products. But I can tell you that most of the breads in the country are baked with bromate.” The food technologist however, reaf-

firmed that bromate has adverse effect on human health when consumed. He added that labels of most products in Nigeria are deceptive. “True information is not always given on the products’ label. Use of bromate is a serious issue. It reduces vitamins A2, B1, B2 and E, which are the main vitamins available in bread and its consumption causes cancer and other health complications,” Opeifa said. Speaking on the effects of the substance to children and pregnant women, Dr. Magomya Magomya of the Depart-

Agege bread seller with her child strapped on her back

ment of Chemical Sciences, Federal University Wukari in Taraba State, said bromate toxicity is very harmful in children and expectant mothers. “It leads to acute renal failure and deformation in unborn babies as well as mental retardation in children. Sometimes, severe cases are fatal,” the don added. A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) space and brain researcher, who doubles as the managing director of Chidicon Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Prof. Philip Njemanze, affirmed

that potassium bromate in humans is harmful and can cause serious health crises including but not limited to abdominal pain and cancer-related infections. Njemanze’s position tends to corroborate DecodedScience.com 2013 report on potassium bromate. According to the report, bread conditioner causes cancer, and has been banned in the United Kingdom and Canada since 1990 and 1994 respectively. The report went further to affirm that the substance induces renal cell tumors. For NAFDAC’s Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), Mrs. Mainasora Ogochukwu, bakers violate many baking rules including banned substances from the use of potassium bromate to improper packaging and labeling. She said that a lot of bakery facilities have not been carrying out the regular laboratory testing of bread for bromate, which is one of the food safety issues that ought to have been observed. Ogochukwu, however, stated that the agency has put measures in place to ensure that flour used in baking bread is fortified with vitamin A and B as well as enforcing mandatory compliance with good hygiene practice at food produc-

Bromate free expression display on the labels of most consumed bread is a make belief

SATURDAY 25 JULY 2015

SATURDAY

FREE

Sport Splash 25

NPFL Interview

I want to win the league, says Sunshine’s Boboye p.26

News

Lazio lure Onazi with Champions League action p.27

Pre-Season tourney Chelsea, PSG in battle of champions p.31

Pre-Season tourney Fireworks in US as Man United, Barca clash p.31

Death of footballers: Final whistle on the field

The Team

Vincent EboigbelAssistant Editor Ajibade Olusesan l Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

ince the death of Sam Okwaraji inside the main bowl of the National Stadium in Lagos over a quarter of a century ago, a slew of Nigerian footballers down the years have lost their lives in similar circumstances. Undoubtedly, the incidence of sudden deaths among players while on active duty has been highest among Nigerians in the world in the last two decades, thus raising the question whether Nigerians are more ge-

netically disposed to these kinds of fatalities among blacks, who it has been proven, are more vulnerable to these cases than other races. Given that such deaths have been on the increase, FIFA, the game’s world governing body, instituted measures, including adequate medical facilities and regular checks before signing players to reduce such risks. But whether Nigerian clubs have these facilities in place is a different matter altogether,

Endurance Idahor

and with a Nigerian player, David Oniya, collapsing and dying on the pitch in Malaysia as recent as last month, the issue assumes a more compelling dimension. This piece examines this all-important heath matter, getting expert insights from doctors and those directly involved, the players and others like coaches, club chairmen and spokesmen, to get a rounded view. SEE STORY ON PAGES 28 & 29

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Nigerian League Rendezvous

I want to win the league, says Sunshine’s Boboye Sunshine Stars are currently leading the Nigeria Professional Football League table after 19 games. In this interview with Saturday Telegraph’s CHARLES OGUNDIYA, the coach of the team, Kennedy Boboye, attributes the success of the team to the support from the Ondo State Football Agency and the fans. Excerpts: Congratulations on the success of your team in the season so far? First, we have to give thanks to God, second to the supporters. I must also congratulate my players for where we are now, it’s all about hard work, that has been our only motto.

Rangers' Samuel Agba (left) challenges Sharks' Chiamaka Madu during a league match

Top Scorers

11 GOALS Bright Ejike (Heartland) Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars)

8 GOALS Ibrahim Shuaibu (Giwa FC) 7 GOALS Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors) Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves) Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors) 6 GOALS Esosa Igbinoba (Nasarawa Utd) Ocheme Edoh (Giwa FC) Ibrahim Mustapha (El Kanemi Warriors) Christian Obiozor (Enyimba) 5 GOALS Adamu Muhammed (Kano Pillars) Mubarak Umar (Wikki Tourists)

Facts after first half Sunshine Stars are the only side in the league to have won all their home fixtures this season. Enyimba FC are the first team to have won more than three away matches (four) in a league season since Dolphins FC (five) in 2010/11. Sunshine Stars have got 10 points from losing positions this season, no team in the league has achieved more. FC Taraba are without a win in their last 16 matches, longest winless streak by any NPFL side in over a decade. Shooting Stars have kept four clean sheets in their last five home league matches. The whole of 2013/14 NPFL season produced 24 away wins, but 2014/15 league season has recorded 19 away wins in 19 round of matches.

LMC promises better second half

The second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation thanked the football body for its support in providing an enabling environment for the league to thrive. He applauded the referees for their impressive performance in the first stanza of the league while also asking for more from the men in black. He said: “We have been working closely with the NFF to make sure we provide the best atmosphere for the league and also to get the best referees to officiate our matches so as to get better results. “The idea is to give everyone a level playing field and we are happy with what we have seen so far. In the second round we can’t afford to fall below what we achieved in the first stanza; we need to improve on it. We now have a benchmark that we must follow strictly.”

Stories by Charles Ogundiya

he chairman of the League Management Company, Shehu Dikko, has promised a better outing during the second half of the season. The league went on a twoweek break after 19 matches with the second round scheduled to commence on August 2. Dikko said there was improvement in the league compared to last season. “We expect a better outing in the second half of the season,” Dikko said. “The league is improving and we hope for further improvement during the second round. Leagues across the world strive to get better and ours will not be an exception. “We can’t say we have achieved anything, we have to keep improving until we get to the top.” NPFL LEAGUE TABLE

No.

Team

Sunshine

Enyimba

Wikki

Heartland

Giwa FC

Warri Wolves

Abia Warriors

IfeanyiUbah

Kano Pillars

Rangers FC

Shooting

Nasarawa Utd

-2

Akwa Utd

-5

El-Kanemi

-6

Kwara Utd

-4

Lobi Stars

-6

Sharks FC

-6

Bayelsa Utd

-9

Dolphins FC

-6

Taraba FC

-11

PTS

A delicate way to watch a game

t is a thing of joy seeing fans getting back to stadiums to watch live league games like it was in the past. But these days with stadiums already filled to capacity, it's not unusual to see fans searching for any available space where they can perch to watch a game. It however came as a surprise to Saturday Telegraph in one of the league venues recently to see some fans climbing telecommunication masts inside the stadium to watch the match.

What is the secret of the team? We all agreed as a team to work in one spirit; we are like a family, we have a bond because everybody is important. Both those playing, the ones not playing, everybody in the team are like a family and that has been really helpful. My relationship with the players is wonderful. I am like a friend, a brother and a coach to them. Can you compare your time as a player to the current generation? In our days we played for honour; of course we were also looking for money but it was not the main motivation. It was an honour to represent your country, to have a club to feature for and hearing your name ringing a bell everywhere. But now everything has changed, now there is big money in the game. Football is now big business and the motive of every businessman is to make profit. The management wants to make money, the players want to make money. Now everything is about money. How did you get involved in football? Just like every young boy that wanted to play football but my dad didn’t allow me. I had to force my way to play. I finished school way back and started playing with Sharks and then to other top clubs in the country before I travelled out. I played abroad as a professional for 15 years, so there is nothing new to me. My life is still as if I am playing with the boys because we are all one big family.

when a new player arrives they must fight for shirt. So we need two or three players to strength the team. What can you say about level of officiating in the league? We have started doing something good in the league, we are doing great now and I want to use this opportunity to applaud the Nigeria Referees Association for the great work they have been doing. I pray they continue the same way in the second stanza. Tell us your best moments in the game? That will be when I won the league as a coach. And now I want to win the league for Ondo State. If I can achieve that I will be satisfied that I have done a good job in the season. Anything short of that, I won’t be happy. You often have a full house during your home games, what can you attribute this to? First of all, I have to give it to Ondo State Football Agency; it’s only the state that has an agency which is doing a very good work in bringing crowd down to the stadium. Also the team is doing well; with the way the players are playing nobody will be forced to go and watch matches. That’s why you are seeing this full capacity. Your advice to the players? My advice to them is not to allow anything get into their heads; they should continue their hard work, continue as if they don’t have a break. Three of my players have been invited to the Super Eagles, because they are on top, that’s what hard work can get for you.

Which are some of the clubs you played for? I started with Sharks before stints with Udoji United, BCC Lions. When I travelled abroad I played for Sint Dennis-Sint in Paris, France, Fortuna Dusseldorf and KFC Urdigen in Germany, Al Jazeria in Dubai, Tadamon of Lebanon, Manning Rangers in South Africa before returning to Nigeria where I won the title with Dolphins of Port Harcourt. With the two-week break, are you thinking of fortifying the team? Definitely, we have to fortify the team, although not with too many players. We are looking at three more players, those that will add value to the team. One thing going for this us is continuity. A lot of the players we have in the team are getting old, but

Boboye

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Fish to end career after US Open

Onazi

Lazio lure Onazi with Champions League action

Ajibade Olusesan uper Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has confirmed his decision to remain at his Italian side, Lazio, because of the opportunity to taste Champions League action again next season. Lazio secured the chance to play in the prestigious competition after finishing third in the Serie A last term but will play in qualifiers against a yet to be decided opponent. Onazi who has been tipped to

leave the club after being chased by several clubs including West Ham and Everton has been relishing the opportunity to play in the Europe’s premier competition. The former My People FC player featured only 16 times last term and he is expected to find greener pastures elsewhere. But the 22-year-old told Saturday Telegraph that he would stay at the club to challenge for regular playing time. “I have said a lot of times that I

have a contract at Lazio and I want to respect it. I did not play as much as I wanted last season but I am glad I contributed my quota to help the club. We will feature in the Champions' League and I am looking forward to playing in that tournament. It is the biggest club competition in the world and I want to be there again. “We still have to play the qualifiers and I hope to feature in that one and help the team qualify for the main tournament. I believe we can do it,’ he said.

AfroBasket title our target, says Gumut Ifeanyi Ibeh

igeria and Mark Mentors guard-forward, Stanley Gumut, who was included in the country’s 26-man preliminary squad for the FIBA Africa Championship, has told Saturday Telegraph that the sole target of the national team at the upcoming AfroBasket is to emerge victorious at the end of the tournament. Nigeria’s D’Tigers have never won the AfroBasket title since its inception in 1962, but have finished second on three occasions, most recently in 2003. D’Tigers have also finished third on three occasions, the most recent coming in 2011, but lost out in the quarterfinals to Senegal at the last edition in Cote d’Ivoire in 2013. The winner of this year’s tournament in Tunisia, from August 20 to 30, will automatically qualify for the basketball event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Gumut, who was at the 2013 AfroBasket but was not in the final 12-man team to the London 2012 Olympics, believes there is no greater incentive for

Gumut

D’Tigers to win in Tunisia. “We have been to the Olympics in the past but we have never qualified directly from the African zone, and we have never won the AfroBasket,” said the 29-year-old. “So the stakes are quite high, and as such we really desire that we make it this year. “That is what we are focussed on and we are all trying to stay in shape so we can go to Tunisia and do something.” The team left Nigeria for France on Wednesday for an invitational

tournament taking place in Paris from July 22 to 27, and will arrive Tunisia five days before the commencement of the AfroBasket. “Training tours are vital because I remember when we qualified for the 2012 Olympics we embarked on a number of tours. It was from China down to Brazil, the United States, and then to Venezuela, where we qualified for the London Olympics. That experience, I think should tell a story that everything is preparation.” He added: “Preparation is the major key to everything and, so far so good, we have commenced preparations early. We have had a lot of games and taken part in a couple of invitational tournaments; those are the build-up to the AfroBasket. “Whatever adjustments that need to be made will be done as we approach the tournament. I think we are on course to getting there.” D’Tigers will compete out of Group A at the AfroBasket alongside host nation and 2011 champions Tunisia. Uganda and Central African Republic are the other group members.

ormer top-10 player Mardy Fish says the U.S. Open will be the last tennis tournament of his career. The 33-year-old American has played just one competitive match since August 2013 as he's dealt with anxiety issues. The U.S. Tennis Association said that Fish was using a protected ranking to gain entry to the singles field for the year's last Grand Slam event. ''I will finish my career at the US Open,'' Fish tweeted. His agent, John Tobias, said in an email that Fish planned to enter tournaments in Atlanta, Washington and Cincinnati before that. Fish, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 7 in 2011, had announced last month that he would play doubles with retired pal Andy Roddick in Atlanta along with making his singles comeback there. Fish's health problems began in March 2012 when his heart started racing uncontrollably the night

Fish

after he lost a match at Key Biscayne, Florida. A couple of months later, doctors induced extreme palpitations to try to pinpoint the problem. Fish then returned to action at Wimbledon that year. At the 2012 U.S. Open, Fish won a five-setter in the third round, setting up a match against 17time major champion Roger Federer. But Fish withdrew before playing Federer.

Ogba calls for more sport institutes Idris Idris

he president of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Dr. Solomon Ogba, has called on the government to establish more sport institutes like the High Performance Centre situated inside the University of Port Harcourt, in Rivers State. Ogba, who stated this in a radio programme monitored in Lagos on Thursday, said: “The sport institute which embarks on recovery, research, exercise sociology, sport journalism, little sport science and sport medicine will aid in the development of not only athletics, but also those engaged in basketball and wrestling.” Ogba believes Nigeria stands to benefit a lot from establishing more sport institutes especially as the nation is currently far behind some of the world’s leading nations when it comes to athletics. Having emerged tops in the track and field events of the last All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, with 10 gold medals, the AFN president promised that the country’s athletes won’t rest on their laurels when the competition gets underway in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville, in September.

Ogba

He also appreciated the recent efforts of reigning Commonwealth 100m and 200m champion, Blessing Okagbare, and wished her well during the IAAF World Championships, coming up in Beijing from August 22 to 30. “If we have someone that is ranked number two or three in the world, it means we are doing fine. We are happy she started from here and has conquered the world, and there are many others that will follow in her footsteps,” he said. The former Commissioner for Sport in Delta State will on Sunday be honoured with a grand reception in Edo State for his contributions to sport development.

Sport

SATURDA 25 JU

Death of footballers:

Final whistle on the field Vincent Eboigbe

Age of innocence he death of David Oniya last month while playing for his Malaysian club has once again thrust to the fore, in forceful relief, the issue of fatalities on the field. The 28-year-old Nigerian slumped after introduction into the match moments earlier and died almost immediately, leaving no room for medics to attempt to save his life. All over the world players had suddenly collapsed and lost their lives in the full glare of fans and TV audiences; but this issue hit home forcefully in Nigeria following the death of Sam Okwaraji in harness on August 12, 1989, during a World Cup qualifier against Angola inside the main bowl of the National Stadium in Lagos. The match was watched by a large crowd, and although it looked scary when the midfielder went down under no pressure from any player, his teammates, fans and Nigerians didn’t fear the worst. So when the news broke that he had died, the entire nation was left reeling and inconsolable. Autopsy showed later that the 24-year-old had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure. Since that loss of innocence nearly 26 years ago - that was about the first time Nigerians would witness that kind of experience right on the pitch - some Nigerian footballers have lost their lives in similar circumstances. Six years after that fated day in August 1989, Amir Angwe of Julius Berger collapsed and died of heart attack on the pitch. But one of the most high profile cases of such deaths was of Marc Vivien Foe. The Camerounian collapsed while playing in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final and died shortly afterwards in hospital. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Since then a rash of deaths of Nigerian players on the field, a case of the final whistle in action, have followed in quick succession. On May 26, 2009, Orobosa Adun of Warri Wolves slumped and died during training. Less than a year later, Endurance Idahor met a similar fate in Sudan. The Al Merreikh man slumped during a match and died in the ambulance. Autopsy report revealed that he suffered a circulatory collapse from a heart attack. In the same year, Victor Omogbehin and Emmanuel Ogoli, who played for Ocean Boys, also lost their

lives on the field after suddenly slumping. In 2011 and 2012, Bobsam Elejiko and Chinonso Henry also kept a date with the grim reaper while on active duty. Causes It is no surprise that given the regularity of the occurrence of such deaths, it has remained a topical issue within FIFA with the world football governing body insisting certain medical measures must be put in place before and during matches. But what would cause a seemingly healthy man in his prime to suddenly go down without warnings and breathe his last right on the turf? “Sudden deaths in sports, not just football, is a topical issue and the possible causes range from sudden cardiac arrest - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to the common cold. The former is the most common cause of sudden deaths among young sportsmen. Infections are also a causative factor as they can affect the heart muscle. “A player may just have fever and would still want to play believing that after all it is just a minor matter, but it could have gone as far as affecting the heart in which case the person concerned can drop death,” states a former Super Eagles physician, Dr. Paul Onyeudo. Dr. Ibrahim Gyaram who is a staff of the National Sports Commission and current medical doctor attached to the national team notes that this is one area where FIFA has done extensive research and instituted measures to prevent them. He says: “What could cause collapse and deaths among footballers is a situation in which the heart chamber becomes thickened and as such susceptible to abnormal rhythms which can cause sudden arrest. It is genetically linked and commonest among blacks. Hypertension, coronary artery disorders are also other causes of this kind of sudden cardiac arrest.

Oniya

“Fever is another one; it comes with pains in the joints, it is the same way it affects the heart but the signs are not that obvious. That is the reason a player for instance should not engage in training when down with fever. Footballers’ lifestyles in terms of whether they use hard drugs may also be an issue in such matters although it is not so likely.” Preparedness of clubs to deal with such matters The majority of the deaths that occur on the field take place in club sides, suggesting that most, if not all the clubs operating in the country, are still seriously deficient in the very crucial area of having the medical equipment and personnel in place to detect cases of heart diseases and therefore prevent fatalities. “We have to give it to the Ondo State Football Agency. This is the only state

Omogbehin

INVESTIGATIVE Series

Muamba

Elejiko

that has an agency and it has been doing a very good job. We have a clinic that deals with players’ medicals and we refer very serious cases to the general hospital. The clinic in the agency is functioning and does check up as well as make sure that everybody is in good health,” says Sunshine Stars Coach, Kennedy Boboye. The team doctor, Ismaila Busari, adds that the clinic delivers first-rate services to the players with its team of medical staff. “We have a diverse team of medical personnel made up of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, masseurs among others; together they deliver first class medical treatment to our players. I can confidently say that we have the best medical facilities in the league. “We have very good and dynamic personnel that make correct diagnosis and engage in prompt medical intervention,” Dr. Busari asserts. Enugu Rangers’ chairman, Ozor Paul Chibuzor, notes that aside from the regular medical personnel on the club’s employ, they make recourse to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital for cases that need further attention. “We have a consultant doctor, a doctor and a nurse attached to the club, but in the case of emergencies we use the UNTH. We are fully prepared to deal with any medical emergencies; beside we also engage in pre-season medical checks for the players and we’ve done that this term,” states Chibuzor. Media officer of Heartland, Cajetan Nkwopara, adds that clubs are supposed to have the minimum medical requirements of a doctor, nurse and a physiotherapist and that at Heartland they have the full complement of these staff. While admitting that the doctor does not travel for all the away games given the cost implication, he however says that the League Management Company, the body charged with organising

AY TELEGRAPH ULY 2015

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INVESTIGATIVE Series

Ogoli

the game at that level, has provided an equipment that has been very useful. “We have a doctor, a physiotherapist and a nurse who are present in all our matches but because of the cost the doctor only attends our home games and some of those not too far from home. But the other medical personnel, who I must say are very experienced and professional, are present in all our matches, whether home or away, but in the event of more serious cases we refer them to the hospital,” Nkwopara points out. “Again, the LMC recently provided a medical equipment to all the clubs and it is in a small bag that can be easily carried anywhere. It contains everything an ambulance can handle with the exception of a stretcher and the vehicle itself. This medical kit can be used to resuscitate players. I must also say that there is a lot of awareness about this issue in Nigeria; club officials have had the benefit of attending seminars and have knowledge of these things.” Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Ojo Olorunleke, who plays for Giwa FC, also says his clubs has the necessary medical facilities in place to serve the players. “We have a competent doctor in the team, although God is the best doctor, but we have been lucky that we have not experienced any serious crisis in the team that the doctors couldn’t handle,” Olorunleke says. But another player, who wasn’t prepared to be tactful with regard to the true situation in his club, insists that disaster is just a heartbeat away as they don’t posses the most basic medical facilities. “We don’t have a clinic and I have to tell you the truth nothing like checkups or anything for the players; the truth is that anyone that loves his career will take care of his health on his own. I usually go for medical checkups every month and sometimes when I am with the national team,” declares the player who doesn’t want his name mentioned.

Okwaraji

The Nigerian connection It is known that there is genetic linkage in this kind of sudden cardiac arrest, that blacks are the most susceptible to it. Cases of such deaths have been more rampant among Nigerian players. In fact since the death of Okwaraji over a quarter of a century ago, nearly 10 other compatriots have suffered similar fate. Are Nigerians more genetically disposed to this condition than other blacks? “Such cases are commonest among blacks, it has a genetic link. And Nigerian footballers have been the most affected in the cases of sudden cardiac arrests in the world. I can’t tell you the reason for this because no research has been done in this area as yet, but I can hazard a guess that the fact we are the most populous black nation in the world may have something to do with it. So because of the huge population you are likely to find more Nigerians suffer from such cases,”

We don’t have a clinic and I have to tell you the truth nothing like checkups or anything for the players

Foe

Gyaram suggests. Preventing fatalities on the field In 1996 former Super Eagles skipper, Nwankwo Kanu, was diagnosed with a serious heart disease and underwent surgery in November of that year to replace a defective aorta valve. Interestingly, Kanu had played at the top for several years before then; it is now left in the realm of conjecture what would have happened if he had continued to play with that condition undetected. Onyeudo insists that the best solution to sudden cardiac arrests is to detect them on time and take action. He says: “Preventive measures like pre-competition medical assessment are mandatory these days by FIFA standard. So before the season begins it is important to carry out tests to check the cardio pulmonary system to be sure it is functioning properly.

“There are advanced tests like the ECG and two-dimensional echocardiographspecialised tests that can help check the heart and detect if there are any malfunctioning. If these tests are done it is likely that many of these cases can be detected and remedied. “Again, it is important that clubs have standing medical facilities in place complete with a doctor, physiotherapist and other staff. These are standard requirements no matter the level of competition. “However, even after taking all the necessary precautions there is the likelihood that a couple of cases may still go undetected in which instance the automated external defibrillator becomes a crucial piece of equipment to have handy. It is an apparatus that helps start the heart again. It was what saved the Bolton player, Fabrice Muamba, after he collapsed in an English Premier League game. In fact he was already dead, but was given shock 75 times to restart the heart.” Gyaran agrees no less. He points out that a series of tests need be carried out so that those with heart diseases can be fished out and excluded if necessary. “It is about prevention and it is consistent with FIFA and CAF’s position that players must undergo elaborate investigations so that those with problems can be isolated and treated, and if it is such that they have to be stopped completely from engaging in sports then that option will be taken,” Gyaran says. “We carry out tests like echo, MRI and others and it is mandatory for players to undergo them. The Nigeria Football Federation also agrees with FIFA’s position and instructed clubs to certify players fit before signing them. Even referees must show results of some of these tests before being certified fit to officiate matches. “Although it has to be admitted that even sophisticated tests and investigations may still not pick some of the conditions, we have to add that the cases have been reduced to the barest minimum.” It is clear in all this that clubs are still not fully prepared for this kind of medical emergency, even though the majority of them would not admit it. So as they merely get by, another fatality may just be a heartbeat away.

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NC big man Abu on balancing fast, on-court improvement L ike many of the approximately 3 million other people in the U.S. who practice Islam, Nigerian-born Abdul-Malik Abu chooses to fast when the sun is up during the month of Ramadan. The main difference between Abu and others who fast is that the 6-foot8 forward also has to keep his weight up during the month to prepare for the next basketball season while going without food and water for more than 14 hours each day. Last summer before his freshman season, Abu struggled, losing approximately 12 pounds during the first week of Ramadan. But a year later, the Boston native proudly says he has kept his weight at around 240 pounds entering the last few days of the Islamic calendar ’s ninth month thanks to increased focus and discipline on his part and support from North Carolina State’s athletic staff. “I just try to use (fasting) as my biggest strength,” Abu said. “I try not to use it as an excuse for anything but your best performance in all things like the classroom (and) weights. I still have to manage my five times a day prayer in between class and weights. When I’m done with weights, basketball and class, I have the rest of the day to rest up and wait for the sun to go down, keep praying, eat, and do it all over again.” A Boston native, Abu said on a typical day in which he has a practice, workout and class during Ramadan, he usually sleeps less than

25 JULY 2015

reach during Ramadan. “That’s an astounding number to me,” Poppleton said. “(Yet) he still manages to practice with a smile on his face and everything.”

Nigerian-born North Carolina State's Abdul-Malik Abu guides the ball in front of an opponent

four hours at night. After leaving the mosque five minutes from the team’s practice facility, where he worships at around 11:30 p.m. or midnight following a ceremonial prayer, Abu said he tries to wake up at 3:30 a.m. to get the necessary food and fluids to get him through the next day. N.C. State nutritionist Amanda Poppleton said that at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, the 19-year old Abu could expend as many as 4,000 calories during a typical day doing between two and three hours of exercise – calories that would need to be replenished at night. Many nutrition websites and

organisations recommend that 2,4003,000 calories per day be consumed by males ages 19-30 with average levels of activity. Carbohydrates like rice and proteins are usually what Abu chooses to refuel, but perhaps more demanding than going without food is having to perform on the court and in the weight room while dehydrated. Poppleton explained that in addition to recommending that Abu snack throughout the night, she suggests that he take in 183 ounces of fluid – or six 32-ounce bottles – each day, a figure that is even tougher for Abu to

Tough work In addition to dedicating himself to staying replenished at night, Abu also noted that strength and conditioning coach Bob Alejo has helped him maintain his strength this summer. But although appreciative of the work Poppleton, Alejo and the rest of the N.C. State staff do, Abu said with a chuckle that some of his toughest moments come after practices and workouts – when there is always something good to eat within reach. “Our nutritionist is always ready to feed us,” he said.” I’ve got to kind of watch everyone eat. After class or workouts, everyone is like ‘You want to go get food?’ I kind of drift of into the shadows until the sun goes down, and then I’m ready to eat. The hardest part is not being around (the team) as much (because) I’m not eating meals.” Abu’s hard work on the court was one of the reasons powerhouse programs like Connecticut sought the big man’s services, but ultimately the sense of togetherness in head coach Mark Gottfried’s programme and in Raleigh’s Muslim community led Abu to commit to the Wolfpack. “It’s pretty convenient to keep your faith and your hobby together hand in hand,” he said. • Culled from News Observer

CONCACAF Gold Cup

No Bob Marley until after final for Reggae Boyz - Schafer

amaica's Reggae Boyz hailed their history-making result after defeating defending champion USA 2-1, becoming the first Caribbean squad to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final by shocking the heavily favoured hosts. "We made history by getting into the final. It shows what this team is capable of," goal scorer Giles Barnes said. "We've shocked a few people along the way but we've not shocked ourselves. We don't fear anybody. We put out a great team." On Sunday in Philadelphia, Jamaica will play for the crown against six-time champion Mexico, which edged Panama 2-1 in the other semifinal of the biennial North American regional football championship. "We cannot have a party now. We still have one more match," Jamaican coach Winfried Schafer said. "Bob Marley comes after the match." In Jamaica, the late reggae legend's music might be playing all day and night until the match. "Just incredible. The feeling right now is just insane," Barnes said. "The phone hasn't stopped. Back in Jamaica there's got to be a party on. It will be even bigger when we lift the Cup on Sunday." After Jamaican defenders dis-

rupted US attacks for the first half hour, Darren Mattocks nodded home the first goal in the 31st minute and Barnes scored with a free-kick in the 36th - set up by a controversial violation from US goalkeeper Brad Guzan - to put Jamaica ahead 2-0 and signal an epic upset was in the making at the sold-out Georgia Dome. US captain Michael Bradley answered in the 48th minute but the Americans never managed an equaliser against the stubborn Caribbean backline and lost to a Jamaican side that was 1-13 with eight drawn in their prior matches. The five-time champion Americans had won their past five Gold Cup semi-finals but were undone by a Jamaican side that matched its best runs in 1993 and 1998 just to make the last four. It was the first Caribbean semifinalist since Guadeloupe in 2007. Bitter pill for USA "The team is disappointed," USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "I cannot complain about the performance of the team. They kept pushing, pushing, pushing. We had enough chances. We had enough chances to put three, four, five in there and we didn't do it and that's why we lost. "Congratulations to Jamaica on

Jamaica's Joel McAnuff (10) heads the ball in front of United States' Gyasi Zardes (20) during the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal

making the final and we have to swallow that pill." A long throw from the left side found Mattocks, who outleaped two defenders and headed the ball in off the far post, and the second goal came off a free-kick set up when Guzan was whistled for a throw with his foot outside the area. "In all of my years of being professional, I don't think I've seen that call," Guzan said. "Especially since seeing a still image of it - maybe (it was) an inch or two. Bradley called it "a head scratcher," adding, "You don't see it very often." Barnes curved a free kick from just

outside the penalty area over the wall and into the upper right corner of the goal. The US scored when Aron Johannsson blasted a shot that Jamaican goalkeeper Ryan Thompson stopped but couldn't keep in his grasp. Clint Dempsey followed and spilled over prone Thompson as the ball came loose and an onrushing Bradley buried it into the back of the net. "The luck was not with us but maybe we were not clinical enough as well," Klinsmann said. "We saw a lot of good stuff but it's the goals that matter." •

Culled from FIFA.com

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Global Football Special

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH www.newtelegraphonline.com

'Russia must do more to stop racism ahead of 2018 W'Cup'

Rooney

Fireworks in US as Man United, Barca clash

ootball fans will expect a fireworks as Manchester United play Barcelona today (Saturday) in the International Champions Cup which is part of the club’s preseason tour of the United States. United have won both games of their US trip so far, but the opposition - San Jose Earthquakes and Club America - are not perhaps the best guage of how strong their form is. Barcelona defeated LA Galaxy 2-1 on Tuesday night, the first game since they touched down in the US. United are expected to restore David De Gea in goal after he sat out the first two games of the club's tour. Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Javier Hernandez are all set to join the tour squad on Saturday. But the United manager insisted that none are likely to play against Barcelona or Paris Saint Germain in Chicago next Wednesday. Barcelona are without Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar, who were both on Copa America duty, but are otherwise at full strength.

Chelsea's Gary Cahill vying for the ball with PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Chelsea, PSG in battle of champions

n a battle of two champions, English club Chelsea will meet French team Paris Saint-Germain in a heavyweight 2015 International Champions Cup match at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday. PSG had been impressive in the friendly tournament so far, beating Portuguese champions Benfica in their opener last week at the BMO Field in Toronto, 3-2, and thrashing Italian club Fiorentina at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Monday, 4-2. The Ligue 1 champs conceded two goals apiece in both matches, but their offense allowed them to pick up the wins. Laurent Blanc's squad was boosted by the three goals in two appearances of the up and coming 18-year-old

Don't compare me to Guardiola - Tuchel

Tuchel

orussia Dortmund's new coach Thomas Tuchel says he is an admirer of Pep Guardiola, but insists he should not be compared to the Bayern Munich boss. Having taken over from Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund after a bright spell with Mainz, Tuchel is seen as a very promising coach with an intelligent and attractive playing style. The 41-year-old has admitted that he has been inspired by his Bayern counterpart, but says he has not tried to copy the Spaniard's coaching methods. "As a fan and coach I simply admired Pep's work at Barcelona," Tuchel told Bild. "But from this admiration I have not tried to copy or imitate Pep. "It would not work, imitating his style."

French striker Jean-Kévin Augustin. Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimović leads Les Parisiens in the absence of team captain Thiago Silva of Brazil and resident striker Edinson Cavani of Uruguay, who are both resting after playing for their respective national teams in the Copa America last month. The Blues are equally remarkable, winning their last three games going back to a Premier League game versus

Sunderland in May, 3-1, then emerging victorious with the same score in two friendly matches against the Thailand All-Stars and Sydney FC, 1-0, via Goal. Chelsea lost their opening ICC stint 4-2 against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday at the Red Bull Arena. The prediction is a tough penalty shootout win by PSG over Chelsea. José Mourinho may not field his best team and Les Rouge-et-Bleu will take advantage of that.

Mourinho will get Falcao back to his best - Essien

ormer Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has praised Jose Mourinho's ability to bring the best out of his players and backed him to ensure Radamel Falcao is back to his best. Essien, now with Panathinaikos, joined Mourinho's Chelsea from Lyon in 2005 and also played under the Portuguese during a loan spell at Real Madrid in 2012-13. The Ghanaian said Mourinho's success was down to man-management and believes loan signing Falcao, who endured a highly disappointing spell at Manchester United last season, will recover the form that made him a star at Porto and Atletico Madrid. "He knows how to get the best out of his players, how to say the right thing, how to motivate them," Essien told The Guardian. "He will get him back to the Falcao everybody knows." Elaborating on Mourinho's management at Chelsea, the

32-year-old said: "We had players with big egos and big characters but at the same time they were good men as well. "Mourinho has a big ego as well but in a good way. It was easy for him to manage those kind of players. He is still the same man. He's still tough."

Falcao

ussian football authorities need to do more to combat racism and have so far failed to fully grasp what it means, a United Nations official has said. Racism in the 2018 World Cup host nation was thrown back into the spotlight on Wednesday when the Russian Football Union (RFU) rejected allegations that the Ufa midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong was racially abused by Spartak Moscow supporters. The Ghanaian said he was subjected to monkey chants during a Russian Premier League fixture penultimate Friday, where he was sent off after he raised a finger to the crowd in response. He was subsequently suspended for two Premier League matches. “I don’t think there is a total denial of racism in Russia but there is certainly a lack of understanding by officials in Russia of what racism is,” Yuri Boychenko told Reuters after a Fifa press conference. “The authorities here should do more to stop it,” added Boychenko, who heads the anti-discrimination section at the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.

Neto

Ambitious Neto aims to progress at Juve

ew Juventus signing Neto says he can identify with the winning mentality at the club as he looks to further his career. The goalkeeper spent four and a half years at Juve's Serie A rivals Fiorentina, before announcing his intention to leave back in January. After completing his free transfer to Juve, Neto says he had little hesitation in opting to join the reigning league and Coppa Italia champions. "Right through the organisation there is an expectation and desire to win and that is a mentality that I share," he said. "The time came, after a fantastic stay in Florence, for me to take my career into my own hands and I've done that by joining a team of this quality "There is no doubt that Juventus was the right choice for me. "Since I arrived in Italy my ambition has been to play at the very highest level, so when Juventus came in for me my mind was made up."

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

style of Sportsmen

Life

Unveiling Szczesny’s new fiancee H

e may be set to lose his place in the Arsenal team to Petr Cech, but Wojciech Szczesny has had some good news after he proposed to his partner Marina Luczenko… and she said yes! The WAG revealed the news on Instagram, and while she appears delighted at the prospect of becoming Mrs. Szczesny, the Polish stopper ought to be pretty delighted with himself as well. Just take a look at these glorious photo of marvellous Marina, who doesn’t also seem that bothered that photos revealing her acceptance of Szczesny’s proposal were ‘illegally stolen’ from her friends’ private social media accounts.

Benzema spotted with Witsel’s ex

arim Benzema looks like he has been enjoying the summer off-season as away from the Bernabeu the Real Madrid striker has found himself a new girlfriend. It's not just any new partner for Benzema though, because the France striker has got together with Analicia Chaves - the ex of Belgium international Axel Witsel. The concept of a footballer going out with another's ex is not exactly earth-shattering, but Benzema appears to be proud of his new partner.

Footage of the 27-year-old and Chaves shows the two enjoying a moment while the 27-year-old mimes along to a song. Benzema was previously linked with singer Rihanna before landing with Chaves. While the striker's personal life seems to be secure right now, his professional one is less clear. The Real Madrid hitman is on Arsenal's wanted list, although a move by Arsene Wenger for the long time target could be unlikely this summer.

The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered there is opportunity for growth. - Unknown

Benzema with Chaves

Luczenko

Porn star

Jameson

reveals she's a Man United fan

Vidal (right) with Sampaoli

Vidal keep fit on holidays

rturo Vidal is enjoying his summer break after helping Chile win the Copa America but is making sure he stays in top condition after being pictured going for a run with national boss Jorge Sampaoli. The Juventus star is currently in Miami as his future still remains unclear with Bayern Munich keen to take him to the Bundesliga. But despite the speculation, Vidal seemed unfazed as he relaxed by the pool following his run with the Chile manager. The pair helped their country win the Copa America during the summer and are enjoying their time off It's been a summer of ups and downs for the 28-year-old after being arrested for crashing his Ferrari while under the influence of alcohol.

ouis van Gaal has revealed that the 'surprise' acquisition he hopes to bring to Old Trafford is not a striker, but Manchester United supporters have been treated to news that Jenna Jameson is a Red Devils fan. The Queen of Porn is desperate for a ticket to the next leg of United's USA tour, with Van Gaal's new-look United set to face Barcelona in Santa Clara on Saturday. Jameson posted a screenshot of the details for the International Champions Cup tie, with the message: 'I'm trying so hard to get tickets to this!!!!' before confirming her allegiance to the Manchester club to her followers. The 41-year-old has been married three times, but her unwavering loyalty to United can be seen in her interaction on Twitter, with the former glamour model even revealing she wanted 'more than a ticket' for the game.

Jameson

Robbie

Ronaldo eyes star actress

ristiano Ronaldo seems to be hitting a star secretly as he was observed liking actress Margot Robbie’s pictures on Instagram one late night. The Real Madrid star liked pictures of the ‘Focus’ actress dated back to March 2014 and sent heart emoticons on four of her pictures including a snap of her hot Vogue shoot, News.com.au reported. It is now being rumoured that the football ace is all set to find his new love in the 25-year-old Australian actress, but she is already dating assistant director Tom Ackerley for more than a year now. Stories courtesy Dailymail

25 JULY 2015

Protection of Nigerians from foodborne diseases requires preventive approach, not reactive tion facilities. She noted that protection of Nigerians from food-borne diseases requires a preventive management approach and not reactive. According to Baking Industry Trade Groups, “it’s well within the normal production control measures in any modern bakery to ensure that bromate residues are minimal if used. This harmful additive could be found in breads in large quantities if not controlled, which is the reason most small and commercial bakeries voluntarily avoid bromated flour.” However, NAFDAC, it does appear, has gone to sleep as bakeries resume in their dubious use of the banned substance in bread-making and other groceries in Nigeria. Though, most people are aware of the harmful effects in the bread they eat, yet cannot stop its consumption because they are addicted to such breads. Regrettably, the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC to discourage the use of bromate in baking of bread and other groceries in Nigeria, due to its health implications, has continued to fail as many bakeries, fast food and confectionery industries have sustained the use of this illegal substance at the expense of Nigerians. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said that potassium bromate, regarded as unsafe ingredients by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) expert committee on food additives was banned worldwide and removed from the list of bread improvers. He, however, confirmed that a recent nationwide surveillance by his agency has revealed that some bakers still use this dangerous chemical. He added that “the continual usage of potassium bromate by bakers was mainly because of its low cost and the ability of the improver to act as an efficient oxidizing agent.” Also, the Director, Special Duties and Media, NAFDAC, Dr. Jimoh Abubakar, told Saturday Telegraph that steps are being taken in the fight against the substance by organising workshops for unemployed citizens, which is another form of poverty alleviation scheme. He said due to the fact that little capital is

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Orhii

Bringing bread close to commuters

Njemanze

Akpan

Abubakar

Chukwunulu

needed to start up bread production, the agency teaches the unemployed how to get into the industry and the dangers inherent in bromate. He said: “It’s better to teach them well than to let them learn the wrong way. In addition to the trainings, NAFDAC has started bread registration. In the past, the agency was pre-occupied with hygienic status of the bakeries but now, it has included the registration of bread by certification. This, in itself, is another tool of regulation. If the bread is no longer wholesome, the baker’s certificate will be withdrawn. “This helps in making them compliant in the issues of safety and content. If bromate is found in bread, that baker must be prosecuted and the bakery shutdown. We will also publicise it and ask the public not to buy from such baker. We have an enforcement unit that can arrest and prosecute offenders,” Jimoh. In line with this, NAFDAC has launched a nationwide on-the-spot bread test initiative for the detection of the banned substance and other harm-

Unhealthy partnership (bread and ewa agoyin)

ful bread improvers. One of the procedures is pressing the bread together and watching out for quick response, such as, the bread rising to regain its original shape immediately. If this does not happen, it means that such bread contains some non-recommended flour improvers. An event, tagged: “Bread monitoring Exercise for Bakery Facilities and Good Hygienic Practice Seminar” took place at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) Lagos, recently. It was attended by stakeholders in food and confectionaries industry, bakers and sellers of bread and the general public. A food production scientist at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Samuel Chukwunulu, is worried about people’s attitude to food consumption. “People eat anyhow in this country. There is no serious law or agency monitoring what we consume. NAFDAC has tried to certain extent but has also failed in many areas. We don’t hear anything about the campaign against bromate again. It seems to me that NAFDAC has stopped working and people are not bothered, as they eat anything they see. Even the ones we rush because they write bromate-free on the labels could, in actual sense be bromate overdose. “NAFDAC seemed to have thrown in the towel. It appears the agency has gone to sleep on monitoring bromated foods in the country. In recent past, nobody hears anything about the fight against bromate in breads. Areas like Oshodi, Mushin, Ojuelegba, Agege and Iyanoba all in Lagos among others are some places where local bread bakers are thriving without recourse to standard practice, using whatever ingredients they want at the expense of the consumers,” Chukwunulu said.

photos: suleiman hussein and godwin irekhe

TV & Radio with Angela Davies

SATURDAY 25 JULY 2015

This weekend Channels

Just how far can love go?

hat happens when the children of rival business family fall in love? Well, that is what you have to watch and find out in Taste of Love, an adaptation of one of Latin America’s bestselling romance novel with the same title Taste of Love. However, it is told strictly from a Nigerian point of view for the Nigerian television audience. This drama series is a story full of love, betrayal, pain, joy, intrigues and the many turns of destiny. The story revolves around three major families - Musa-Phillips, Pepple and Rhodes - and capture a romance story that dates back to the 1990s. Taste of Love dates back to the military era of the 1990’s in the history of Nigeria. However, the drama chronicles the intriguing tale of friendship, betrayal and hatred between rival sugarcane plantation families, Musa Phillips and Pepple whose children, Kelechi Pepple and Hadiza Musa-Phillips fall head over heels in love with each other. With the long standing rivalry between both families, their children’s sizzling romance threw everyone in a state of dilemma. Ibrahim Musa-Phillips is convinced that Jonathan Pepple has betrayed him and caused the death of his wife Maria. Until the truth comes to light, Kelechi played by Blossom Chukwujekwu, fast rising Nollywood actor and Hadiza played by Makida Moka, one of Nigeria’s top international models, the lovebirds who are separated by

their families' past and hatred, must ride the tides of countless trials, lies, deceits and betrayal to allow their love blossom and truly be together. The drama series which goes beyond love, intrigue, suspense and betrayal is the first of its kind to be produced locally. It also portrays the wealth of our culture and governance. It was shot in locations in Ilorin, Ibadan and Lagos. The telenovela features both fast-rising Nollywood actors like Blosson Chukwujekwu, Makida Moka, Lilian Esoro, Mofe Duncan, Gabriel Afolayan, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Ayo Lijadu Yomi Obileye, Kunle Coker, Paul Adams, Wale Macaulay, Femi Brainard amongst several others. So, will Kelechi and Hadiza’s love finally stand through their families’ web of lies and hatred or

will they give up amidst family battles? Well, that is what viewers have to watch and find out. The drama series will tell this enthralling story of betrayal, intrigues, love and lies through its 150 episodes. Undoubtedly, Taste of Love is spellbinding and enlightening but with the increasing love for telemundo and Indian soaps on Zee world on DSTV as well as various Mexican drama series on different local stations, will Taste of Love, the first indigenous telenovela be accepted wholeheartedly by viewers? Well, to know more about this drama series watch the programme on African Independent Television (AIT) on Saturday at 10:00 pm and Silverbird Television (STV) on Tuesday 7:30 pm.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

Breakfast with City FM's Oscar

bemileke Oscar Oyinsan popularly referred to as Oscar is a seasoned media practitioner, compere and also the head of programmes department presently at City FM. He started his sojourn in the media world at the University of Lagos radio station. He was part of the Flava Drama crew for BBC during that period as well. He has also been on media platforms such as Inspiration FM and BBC Media Action. His witty nature, clear diction and comedy-influenced mode of banter make him stand out as an on-air-personality. He currently hosts “Breakfast in the City,” with Dan Fos-

ter and Kemi Smallz. Oscar believes in media and its power to effect change. So for him, he is on a journey to know how.

Oscar

City kids’ show (City Fm )

Band of Five (ONTV)

On the town (TVC)

It is a variety show which focuses on children. The show features segment like music, quizzes and interactive sessions specially designed to appeal to young children.

Band of five is a teenage drama series which focuses on a group of teens in secondary school who were distracted by teenage romance during their senior WAEC examinations.

It is an entertainment weekly programme which focuses on movies, music, musicians, Nollywood and Hollywood news, views, gossips, events, celebrity guest and special features.

Mon @ 9.30 pm

MITV

Saturday 7:00 Monster Rancher 8:30 One Cubed Naija 9:00 Sunrise Saturday 12:00 Metro File 12:30 Health Matters 1:00 News Track 1:30 Eyewitness Report 2:30 Views From The Top 3:00 News Track 3:30 BOI weekly 4:00 News Round 4:30 Akwa Ibom State 6:00 News Track 6:30 MDGs Track 7:00 Capital Market 7:30 Dateline Abuja 8:00 News Track 8:30 The Gavel 9:00 Entertainment News 10:00 News at 10 Sunday 7:00 Art House

7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:15 1:30 2:00 3:00 5:00 6:00 6:10 7:00 7:30 8:00 9:00

Saturday 8:00 Yoruba Nollywood 10:00 Salvation ½ Hour 10:30 Sports World 11:30 Blissful Saturday 12:20 The Champions 12:30 Monster Muziq

Flying House Entertainment News Turning Point News Track Metro File Health Matters News Track Question Time News Track Channels Sports Sunday Special Report Sports Ville Rubbin’ Minds Moment of the Truth News Track Seriously Speaking News Track Walk The Talk Politics Today Channels Discovery

Saturday @ 11:00 am

1:00 My name is Earl 2:30 ABC 3:00 Train To Win 3:30 Education Zone 4:30 The Tinu Show 5:00 FAB 5:30 Arrested Development 6:10 Nollywood English 7:30 Monster Hit Banger 8:00 Sparkle 8:30 Awotunwo 9:00 Wetin Dey 9:30 World News 10:00 EL Clon Sunday 7:00 What The Bible Says 8:00 Peoples Palava 8:30 ABC 9:00 Ashiri Ihinrere 10:00 Woleola 11:20 The Storm 12:00 News 12:30 Dabira Leto 1:00 Nollywood English 3:00 Let The Nations Hear 4:00 My name is Earl 4:30 Covenant Discovery ½ hour 5:00 Movie 5:30 People and Places 6:30 Hour of Salvation 7:00 MITV Kitchen 8:00 WWTBM 9:00 News Special 10:30 Atmosphere For Faith

RADIO

Splash 105.5 FM

Saturday 8:00 Voices 10:00 Entertainment Splash 11:30 Strictly Comedy 12:15 Yoruba News 12:30 World Sports 2:00 Saturday Afternoon Jamz 6:00 News at Six 6:15 You & The Police 7:20 Religious Belt 10:00 Night Shift 11:00 Dj In The Mix

Magic Fm 102.9 Aba

Programme summary Saturday @ 12:15 pm

TELEVISION

Saturday 7:00 Afro Naija Flava 8:00 Hang Over 9:00 At Your Request 10:00 Talk Sports 11:00 Rep Your Club (Soccer) 12:00 Kick Off/Predictor Game 1:00 Those Were the Days 2:00 At Your Request 3:00 It’s Our City 4:00 Old School Highlife 5:00 Music/Talk 6:00 Extra Time 7:00 The Big Saturday

Sunday 8:00 Turn It Up 10:00 Wakati Iyin 12:00 English News 12:15 Yoruba News 1:00 Dj in the Mix 2:15 Editorial Review 3:00 Reggae Time 7:20 Religious Belt 9:00 Jazz Reel 10:00 Heart Matters

Sunday 7:00 A Day with the Lord 10:00 Sunday Free Way 12:00 Kick Off/Predictor Game 1:00 100% Naija 2:00 Focus on Family 3:00 Tear Rubber 4:00 Campus Line 5:00 Magic FM Music Survey 7:00 Magic Request Line 10:00 Soft Side 11:00 Who’s on Your Mind

SATURDAY

Dear Love Doctor, ‘She jilted me when I was jobless'

p.37

Life Experience

'My roommate kicked my boyfriend out'

p.36

L ve&Lv ng SATURDAY 25 JULY 2015

‘We found love in the classroom' Confession

It’s funny and very pleasant to know a person who looks like you, thinks like you and have the same tastes for food, movies and music

In this story, a young man meets a lady in class and is swept off his feet by her appearance. He gets up close and personal with her, and a love of a lifetime soon begins to develop.

Michael Uchebuaku y name is Simon. I remember when I and my fiancée first met in the classroom or lecture hall at the university. She was the most classy girl in class and I almost instantly infatuated with her, which later developed into love. After I introduced myself to her, I offered her a handshake and she pleasantly obliged me by giving me a soft lady-like handshake. But after shaking her hand, I intentionally refused to release it because it was very soft to hold. So I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it. After kissing her hand like white men do to their women, my eyes were drawn to her beautifully painted fingernails, and I instantly fell in love with her fingernails. We chatted and got up close and personal, and I suggested to her that since our exams were soon approaching, it would be better for us to read together. I also said I would like her to teach me one or two things in some of our courses which I found difficult to understand. Some students were saying that it would pay us better if the school authorities postponed our upcoming final year exams because we didn't know how it was going to be, considering the fact that we were not yet ready. However, the same set of students were also advising everyone who cared to listen that it would be better to take many electives from other departments in order to increase our cumulative grade points. Wura was one girl in my department that I really admired. Right from our first year in the university, I had had a serious crush on her. I don’t know whether it was infatuation or not. All I knew was that my heart longed for Wura. I’m a shy person by nature and throughout the years I could not muster the courage to walk up to Wura and tell her that she was the only woman I dreamt of every night.

But now that we were in our final year at school, I was desperate to be friends with her because I feared that I would lose her totally after we had graduated. Now was the time to tell her the way I felt about her. That blessed day, as Wura walked into the class, I struggled to overcome my long lasting timidity and walked up to her. Wura walked into our classroom looking lovely as usual. Somehow, l knew that she wasn’t going to snub me. l didn't know why... but l just felt that Wura was the one meant for me. Now, looking back, l know why l felt that way. It was because God had destined us for each other. Time passed and we started to know each

other a little more. We went to a dinner at the end of our first semester together. Great dinner. After that, we spent a "long" time without news of each other. Almost a month. At the end of the first semester, l traveled and so did Wura. But l knew we still had a lot of things to find out about each other. Our second semester together soon started. And classrooms, labs, assignments, tests and going to the cyber café together to browse the Internet made us become closer. In every class, every conversation, every word said, l could feel love like fire in my heart for her and the desperate urge to get to know everything about her.

Now, two years after, we have both completed our NYSC programme and started working. Sometimes we feel that we can even read each other’s mind. It’s funny and very pleasant to know a person who looks like you, thinks like you and have the same tastes for food, movies and music. When one of my friends recently seemed to express doubt concerning the love we have for each other, I told him that as long as we loved each other deep in our hearts, nothing could and would ever come between us. I have a favourite love quote which says that there is no such thing as a "broken family." Family is family, and is not determined by marriage certificates, divorce papers, and adoption documents. Families are made in the heart. The only time family becomes null is when those ties in the heart are cut. If you cut those ties, those people are not your family. If you make those ties, those people are your family. And if you hate those ties, those people will still be your family because whatever you hate will always be with you. It's a famous quote by JoyBell and it fits perfectly into my concept of the family and my relationship with my loved one. It was Elbert Hubbard who said a friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. I thank God that even with all my flaws and past mistakes, my woman still believes in me and continues to stand by my side, come rain, come shine. I wished we could have more time together but l know it’s hard because Wura, my love, works in a bank. The important thing is to make it worth it when we are together. We have met each other’s families and they have given their consent for us to set a date for our wedding. We are currently saving money for our marriage. And by the grace of God, we’ll get married before the end of the year.

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Love News

very morning, 58-year-old MariaLouise Warne reclines topless on her sun lounger in the pretty garden of her home in rural southwest France. Usually she's looking, by her own appraisal, nothing short of breathtaking in one of her numerous designer two-pieces, that she believes complements her perfectly honed 36-26-36 hourglass figure. However, while her youthful looks and age-defying bikini body may garner plenty of admiration, the English language teacher claims that the neighbours are less supportive of her habits. Maria-Louise, who is originally from Bovey Tracey, Devon, said they're, 'incandescent that I prefer to get an all-over tan in my own garden,' and admits that she's seen as an 'outrageous exhibitionist'. But she puts their behaviour down to jealousy. 'On a good day I know I look 20 years younger and can easily pass for 38,' she said. 'My breasts haven't dropped, I don't have a muffin top and there isn't an ounce of spare flesh on me. It drives most women mad.' According to Maria-Louise, women once loved being in her company - but only when she was by her own estimation, overweight. 'When I was married, 14 stone and a size 18 during my late-30s and 40s I had lots of female friends. 'But when I lost my husband and shed the weight, I suddenly found my girlfriends no longer wanted to know me either.' During her teenage years she had, she now recognises, her first taste of the ugly side of the sisterhood. An only child, she was also something of a local beauty. Indeed when she celebrated her 15th birthday, she discovered that she was 'officially prettier' than her peers: 'I was photographed and written about in a newspaper. She said: 'The piece was all about me being a local beauty. 'While my deceased father was proud as punch, my late mother was so resentful and bitter about it that she didn't speak to me for a month.' During her 20s and early-30s Maria-

'Men prefer a sleek sports car to an old banger'

'I Could Be The One (Stranger)' (feat. Nicky Romero)

Do you think about me when the crowd is gone? It used to be so easy, you and me I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free

Louise put her 'good looks and bombshell figure' to work in the sales industry. She won awards for her company, smashing through all of her targets. 'I was able to have a BMW, buy a boat and go on far-flung holidays,' she giggles, 'I earned a fortune and I put that down to being easy on the eye.' 'I was on the road during the week visiting bored but rich and sophisticated married businessmen who were usually used to dealing with podgy men in suits. 'No wonder they were falling over themselves to do business with me. When their wives met me at social functions, they couldn't stand me.' The only flies in the ointment were potential female clients: 'My boss stopped giving me sales appointments with women. I spoke well, was confident and attractive and I knew our products inside out,' she said. 'Yet women would refuse to buy them from me - they hated me on sight.' Maria-Louise moved to France in 2002 with her then husband, but today she lives

alone in a lively rural community. While she's been married twice, she's never had children of her own. She said: 'My mum hated me so much and was so threatened by me, that I feared I'd compete with my female offspring too. 'I couldn't ever risk having a daughter. What if she was fat or ugly and was jealous of me too?' Today Maria-Louise is 18 months away from her 60th birthday. Not only does she have zero cellulite, but she has never been under the surgeon's knife and neither has she resorted to Botox or fillers. She says that her looks and size 10 figure are simply down to a strict eating regime and a gruelling daily exercise routine that would give Gisele pause for thought. 'I exercise for two hours each day. First I run 15 miles, then I walk my dogs for an hour. I have to buy new trainers every three months - I'm so fit and focused on running. Courtesy: Daily Mail.

September. Tessah had signed and magneted the lease on the refrigerator. I asked Tessah if she wanted me to sign too. She said no. She claimed I didn’t need to sign the lease because we were renting from someone she knew. At some point, the lease disappeared from the fridge without my signature. Tessah was...spiritual? Alternative? Esoteric? I’m not sure what words describe her, but she was into things that were different. Energies, astrologies, auras, past lives. Having been raised by hippies who believed in this sort of thing, I was fluent in the lingo, so it wasn’t weird to me

When you need a way to beat the pressure down When you need to find a way to breathe I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free If you never see me when the crowd is gone It used to be so easy, can't you see? I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free

Love Poem

Michael Uchebuaku

Touch me with your kisses

'My roommate kicked my boyfriend out'

AVICII

Do you think about me when you're all alone? The things we used to do, we used to be I could be the one to make you feel that way I could be the one to set you free

Life Experience

was 21 years old and a junior in college. I had been living with The Girls, Liz and Diedre, who were awesome, but timing and circumstance meant I would have to move out at the end of the summer. They had two more roommates moving in, something arranged before I’d even started living with them. I hadn’t really even started looking for a place when out of the blue, a friend of mine, Tessah, contacted me. She was looking for a roommate and was just calling around to see if anyone else was looking. Tessah already had a place lined up -- a condo that belonged to a woman her mother worked for as an accountant. The arrangement seemed great. I would be living with a friend instead of a stranger. The price was right. It was conveniently located on a bus line to school in a great neighborhood. I could bring my cat. The condo had hardwood floors, a dishwasher and an enclosed courtyard. But as I hung up the phone after agreeing to move in with Tessah, I had a very bad feeling about it. I immediately ignored that feeling and started packing my stuff. I moved in a week after the fall semester started, the first week of

Love Songs

that she claimed she could see energy. I came home one evening and Tessah told me she’d been communicating with my cat, Sheba. The cat, Tessah informed me, had been a warrior named Ichobar in a past life and from that point forward, Tessah would be referring to Sheba as Ichobar. I shrugged noncommittally, but suggested the cat still preferred to be called Sheba. Another night, my boyfriend, David, was over and while Tessah cut vegetables in the kitchen, the three of us talked. Tessah authoritatively informed David that his aura was yellow-greenish, and very strong. She then asked his astrological sign. According to Tessah, as a Carpricorn, David was incompatible with her sign, a Leo (I think). David rejected the legitimacy of astrology, and the conversation took a confrontational turn. As I tried to think of a way to change the subject, the two of them traded barbs that got more and more personal. The argument ended when Tessah slammed the knife down into the cutting board, made a comment to David about ending his life and then laughed. Before she strolled off to bed, she assured us she was just kidding about all of it. continued on page 38

A flower wouldn't be so lovely, if it isn't as tender as your touch. And the sky wouldn't be so bright, if it isn't just like your smile. Touch me with your kisses, and reach deep into my soul. Feel me with your embrace, and make my heart as soft as your breath. The beauty of your affection gives color to flowers, And the power of your love gives strength to horses. Every day the world looks beautiful, And it truly is, because you are!

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

Romantic Joke

The BBQ Grill!

A husband exclaims to his wife one day, "Your butt is getting really big. It's bigger than the BBQ grill!" Later that night in bed, the husband makes some advances towards his wife who completely brushes him off. "What's wrong?" he asks. She answers, "Do you really think I'm going to fire up this big-ass grill for one little weenie?"

25 JULY 2015

Relationships & Love Advice

Odd News

‘She jilted me when I was jobless'

Blackberry Connection Nkechi, 29, from PH, a graduate and beautiful, wants a man of 32 to 35 years for a relationship that will lead to marriage. He must be a Christian and working or businessman in the East. BB pin: 293AE0D5.

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Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci share steamy moment

Dear Love Doctor, My name is Bob. I’m from Plateau State. I was involved in a long term relationship with a girl. And during this time, I was jobless. Then one of her relatives living in the East came and showered her with money. Then she abandoned me. Later, I got a job and she now claims that I am the one she really loves. What do I do? From Bob. Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Bob, Your girl acted badly by abandoning you when you needed her most. However, I don’t understand what you mean by “one of her relatives”. Are you accusing her of incest? I guess what you mean is that she followed a man who hails from her hometown, that is, her kith. If she now claims you’re the one she really loves, it might mean that circumstances drove her into another man’s arms. Maybe because you were jobless and she desperately needed money, so she abandoned you. But that is no excuse because if she truly loved you, she wouldn’t have abandoned you. Besides, if she desperately needs money, she should get a job. That is because she cannot depend on a man for-

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

ever. Again, maybe because she has now grown wiser and more mature, she has finally realized that you’re the best man for her since you gave her true love during the time you were dating. However, you must ask yourself one critical question before you decide to take her back or not to take her back. The question is: Does she love you for who you are or for the money you have? Now that you have a job, don’t

be naïve because a greedy/materialistic girl will always claim to love a rich man. Is she coming back to you now because you have made money or because she truly loves you (or both)? You need a girl who loves you for who you are, not for what you have. Do not rush back into her arms. Take your time. Find out her real motive before taking your decision to have or not to have her back.

he first full-length trailer for Spectre has finally been released and it looks like James Bond fans are in for a real treat with Sam Mendes' new installment of 007's adventures. The teaser, which hit the internet on Wednesday morning, kicks off in true Bond style with plenty of fast cars, explosions and glamour as Daniel Craig's alter ego uncovers the existence of a sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. The 47-year-old actor is joined by an all-star cast including menacing new villain Christoph Waltz and Italian beauty Monica Bellucci, with whom he shares a steamy moment in the trailer. A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond’s actions and challenges

the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Daniel Craig smoulders in new James Bond: Spectre trailer Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As Bond ventures towards the heart of the mystery, he learns of a strange connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz. Waltz proves to be a chilling force as villain Franz Oberhauser, who cryptically tells the hero, 'You came across me so many times, yet you never saw me.' What took you so long? It was me James, the author of all your pain', he declares. Spectre follows 2012's Skyfall, which became the biggest Bond of all time, taking an impressive $1.1 billion at the global box office. The film is released in the UK on October 26, and in the US on November 6, 2015. Courtesy: Daily Mail.

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Love Education

What is Sexophobia? S exophobia, also known as heterophobia, is the fear of the opposite sex. While men and women are created equal, there are still some people who develop a fear of the opposite sex. This is primarily because of a negative experience from the past. Sexophobia is the fear of sexual organs or sexual activities and, in a larger sense, the fear of sexuality. As such, it can be applied to the attitude of a person based on his or her educational background, personal experience and psyche, or to the general position of collective entities like religious groups, institutions or states. Sexuality is regulated in the three main monotheistic religions through the concept of sin. For instance, in Islam there is a series of designated haraam (forbidden) acts, of which zina condemn specifically many kinds of sexual relationships that are viewed as

impure. Other religions such as Buddhism predicate a renunciation of sex that may eventually lead to sexophobia. Catholic Church Sexophobia as the fear of sex and sexuality has a long and complex history related to the Roman Catholic Church, since its very beginning. It condemned practices such as masturbation and the general enjoyment of the body in favor of chastity and self-mortification. French philosopher Michel Foucault, in his book The History of Sexuality, analyses how the church developed a discourse on sexuality through the ritual of confession. Indeed, catholic priests had to confess whether they had committed any of the sins of the flesh, but also if they had thought of them, or desired them. Source: Dr. en.m.wikipedia.org.

Elist;

Love&Living

True Story

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

'My daughter’s noble sacrifice'

M Kiran

y wife called,"How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?" I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu looked frightened. Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with curd rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has just turned eight. She particularly detested curd rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects' of curd rice! I cleared my throat, and picked up the bowl. "Sindu, darling,why don't you take a few mouthful of this curd rice?Just for Dad's sake, dear." Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. "OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this. But, you should..." Sindu hesitated. "Dad, if I eat this entire curd rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?" "Oh sure, darling," I replied. "Promise?" "Promise." I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine, and clinched the deal. "Ask Mom also to give a similar promise," my daughter insisted. My wife put her hand on Sindu's, muttering "Promise." Now I became a bit anxious. "Sindu dear, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now. OK?" "No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive." Slowly and painfully, she fin-

ished eating the whole quantity. I was silently angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child eat something that she detested. After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention was on her. "Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!" was her demand. "Atrocious!" shouted my wife, "A girl child having her head shaved off? Impossible!" "Never in our family!" my mother rasped. "She has been watching too much of television. Our culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!" "Sindu darling, why don't you ask for

Wedding Traditions

The Magic Hanky: Ireland

he traditional wedding ring is called a claddagh, and depicts two hands holding a heart bearing a crown. The hands represent faith, the heart love, and the crown honor. The brides typically wore wildflower wreaths in their hair and in their bouquets—especially lavender—and they braided their hair to symbolize feminine power and luck. Another accessory for the bride is a lucky horseshoe, which is tied around her bouquet. However, the points must face up so that it can catch and hold all the good luck. The magic hanky is a tradition where the bride carries a special handkerchief that with a few stitches can be turned into a christening bonnet, which can then be turned back into a hanky for that child’s wedding day. Courtesy: Irish Central

something else? We will be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head." "No, Dad. I do not want anything else," Sindu said with finality. "Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?" I tried to plead with her. "Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice." Sindu was in tears. "And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for.Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you who told me the story of King Harishchandra, and its moral that we should honor our promises no matter what?" It was time for me to call the shots. "Our promise must be kept."

"Are you out your mind?" chorused my mother and wife. "No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honor her own. Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled." With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big and beautiful. On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom. She turned around and waved. I waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted, "Sinduja, please wait for me!" What struck me was the hairless head of that boy. "Maybe, that is the in-stuff," I thought. "Sir, your daughter Sinduja is great indeed!" Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the car, and continued, "That boy who is walking along with your daughter is my son Harish. He is suffering from... leukemia." She paused to muffle her sobs. "Harish could not attend the school for the whole of the last month. He lost all his hair due to the side effects of the chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional but cruel teasing of the schoolmates. Sinduja visited him last week and promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue. But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son!" "Sir, you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter." I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. "My little Angel, you are teaching me how selfless real love is!"

'My roommate kicked my boyfriend out' continued FROM page 36

As uncomfortable as it was, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt that she really was just kidding, and the knife slamming was her bizarre way of ending an awkward, confrontational conversation. In the meantime, we clashed over typical roommate things. She had a bird that she let fly around the bathroom -- I didn’t like the shit everywhere and asked her continually to clean up after the bird. She usually didn't. She also left her uncleaned juicer out during the day which attracted tiny flies. I asked her to clean this, too. She wouldn't. One night, she told me she’d overheard David and I having sex. Embarrassed, I apologized and promised to be quieter. She assured me it didn’t bother her, but I was quiet from then on. About four weeks after I had moved in, David was over, spending the night. He'd fallen asleep while we'd been watching T.V. in my room, and I was close to being asleep when I heard a knock at my door. It was Tessah, hysterically crying in our hallway. “What’s wrong?!” I asked, thinking something had happened to a family member. Through her sobs, she choked out: “He...has...to...go…” *sob* “What? Who?” “Him,” she choked out, pointing into my room. “David? Why?” “I just...I can’t….*sob* It’s his… *sob*...energy. I just can’t have him here…*sob* with his energy *sob*.” With that, she ran down the hall-

way into the bathroom and vomited into the toilet. When she emerged, she told me should couldn’t deal with David’s energy anymore and he had to leave. Then she started sobbing again, ran into her room, and slammed the door. Not really knowing what to do, I woke David up and explained what was going on. I asked if he could go home so I could talk to Tessah about what was going on with her. Sleepy and more than a little annoyed with me, David agreed to leave. As soon as he did, Tessah came out of her room, puffy, red, and tear-stained, but obviously in a much better mood. We sat in the living room as she explained that she'd been sensing his energy and it had become overwhelming for her. She didn’t know what to do, so he had to leave. My years of hippie parenting guided my advice to her, which was to learn to block out energy from others. There would always be energies -- good, bad, intense and otherwise -- and she needed to learn to block them out so she didn’t become overwhelmed. She agreed -- she did need to learn that. I went to David’s house that night to try and assuage the situation on his end. I was only marginally successful. Maybe a week or less later, Tessah emailed me to tell me she was moving out and I would need to find another place to live. Caught off guard and confused, I called her and asked why she was moving. She had a litany of reasons (finances, nearness to campus, space). Not wanting to move again after a month, I suggested that instead of

both of us moving, I would stay and get another roommate. She said she’d have to ask the landlord who was in Australia. Maybe the owner’s son could make that decision, Tessah suggested helpfully. She would call the son and ask him, she told me. In the meantime, October rent was due. Because Tessah’s mother was the condo owner’s accountant, our checks went to her. Before I left for campus the morning of the last day of the month, I gave Tessah the rent check, a day that also happened to be a Friday. My parents were helping me out and would both deposit some money in my account by the end of the day. By 10 a.m., I had a voicemail from her mother informing me the account didn’t have sufficient funds for the rent. She really needed me to call her back and let her know how I was going to pay it. I called her back, explained my parents would deposit money that afternoon and by the time the check hit my account on Monday, it would clear. All seemed fine, and my parents put money into my account that afternoon as promised. A few days later I received another email from Tessah. She wanted to know when I’d be moving out so she could tell her next roommate when they could move in. Feeling like a crazy person, I called her and asked what was up. "I thought I was going to stay and find a roommate, and you were the one moving out," I reminded her. "Why am I moving out if you are just going to find another roommate to live with again?" I asked.

SATURDAY

Travel &Tourism SATURDAY 25 JULY 2015

Travel Personality

CHEF'S CORNER

Tony Tyler: IATA is committed to developing robust cyber security strategy p.40

Hospitality

One&Only Resorts: Perfect blend for summer treats p.41

Destination

Lekki Conservation Centre’s canopy walkway not yet an allure p.42

AVOCADO

Healthy choice for your palate A vocado pear is not one of the commonly used seeds in this part of the world and that is because not many people know the health and nutrient values as well as how enriching it could be to have among your meal list.

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

10 things to note Avocado is also referred to as alligator pear because of its bumpy, green skin and pear shape. Like butter: Avocados were used as a spread instead of butter when European sailors travelled to the New World. Learning from the past, avocados are a healthy alternative to butter, mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese. Cuteness: Avocados don’t self-pollinate; they need another avocado tree close by to produce fruit. The avocado is an Aztec symbol of love and fertility and they only grow in pairs. Party time: During the Super Bowl, there are more than eight million pounds of avocados eaten across America. And during Cinco de Mayo, there are about 14 million pounds eaten. Don’t ripen on trees: To ripen, they have to be plucked from trees. To help ripen an avocado, place it in a brown bag and keep in a cool spot for two to three days. Dessert: Avocados can be used as an ingredient in desserts. In Brazil, avocados are a popular ingredient for ice creams and in the Philippines they purée avo-

cados with sugar and milk for a dessert drink. Popular variety: The most popular avocado is the Hass variety, named after mailman Rudolph Hass from La Habra Heights, California. He patented his tree in 1935. Royalty: Avocados used to be served only to royalty and were a symbol of wealth. Now, you can enjoy them anytime. Squeeze test: You can judge when an avocado is ready to eat by squeezing it. Colour alone does not indicate if an avocado is ripe. Hold the fruit in your palm and then gently squeeze, being careful not to bruise the fruit. It should be firm, but give to gentle pressure. Fun Facts About Avocados Baby friendly: Avocados are the size of a baby in its mother's womb at 16 weeks. They're also a good snack to feed to babies young and old! Rich fiber: There are 10 grams of fiber in one medium-sized avocado. There are two grams of fiber in one serving, which is one-fifth of a medium avocado. It contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber (which speeds up the passage of foods) accounts for 75%, with the remaining 25% as soluble fiber (the fiber that makes you feel full). Natural packaging: Their thick skin protects them; it's natural packaging! You can't eat the skin, but it shields the green

goodness inside, making avocados perfect for travel. Lower bad cholesterol: Avocados are one of the only fruits that contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (the good-for-you fat) that helps boost good (HDL) cholesterol and lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol. Upgrade your dips and spreads: An avocado serving size is 50 calories, which works out to be three thin slices or two tablespoons mashed. There are fewer calories than the same amount of butter, mayonnaise, sour cream, peanut butter, almond butter, olive oil, and coconut oil — plus avocado has over 20 vitamins and minerals to upgrade your natural diet! Use avocado as a substitute today! Gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and cholesterol-free: Avocados are naturally full of nutrition, so there's no need for special labels. They're full of flavour; think of all of the meals you can healthify with avocado! Ripe and ready: Avocados are ripe when they feel heavy for their size, yield to light pressure and are dark in colour. But don't squeeze these delicate babies too hard. Not ripe? Put in a brown paper bag for 2-4 days, or you can speed up this process by putting a banana or apple in the bag. Anti-aging powerhouse: Supercado is what we should call avocados, because they're one of the most inexpensive anti-aging tools for your skin! Don't let its rough outer covering fool you

— the inner smoothness and creaminess are what we need for youthful skin. With all of the nutrients, healthy fat and vitamins, an avocado tree could be the next fountain (tree) of youth! Fun etymology: The word “avocado" comes from the Spanish word aguacate, which is from the the Nahuatl word ahuacatl. When I lived in Chile, we called it palta, which is its Quechua name. It's also sometimes called the alligator pear due to the shape and rough green skin (cut it open and it looks like an alligator eye, too). I prefer to call it palta; my strong love for avocados started in Chile. Climacteric fruit: Yes, avocado is a fruit and is climacteric, meaning it matures on the tree but ripens off of the tree. The “paltas" we get in non-avocado bearing climates are picked hard and green and kept in coolers until they reach their final destination. Avocados must be mature to ripen properly. In a perfect world they would fall off the tree and ripen on the ground naturally. When will you be picking up some avocados? Do it today! There are over 500 varieties of avocados in the world, with the most popular in the United States being the Hass varieties. Pick a few up and share some green avocado love! Culled from:www.msn.com/ en-us/foodanddrink/cookingschool and Nicole Baker of mindbodygreen (mbg) - MindBodyGreen

Travel & Tourism

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25 JULY 2015

TONY TYLER

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

IATA is committed to developing robust cyber security strategy Tony Tyler is the director general/chief executive officer of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global body responsible for regulating the activities of the aviation industry. At a recent event in Singapore, he reflects on the threat of cyber-crime in aviation, challenges and opportunities in the sector.

On cyber security and its implication for aviation his is a new and dynamic threat and we will likely always be on a steep learning curve. And it’s such an important and urgent issue that we need to climb that curve fast. Importantly, we all recognise that cyber security is a critical issue. Each day seems to bring fresh news of a securitybreach or data theft. Damage from such attacks can run into hundreds of millions of dollars and leave a company’s reputation in tatters. A successful cyber-attack on an airline could paralyze operations and result in thousands of stranded passengers. Indeed, LOT Polish Airlines may have been the victim of a cyber-attack just a few weeks ago. No business is immune, but aviation is a specific target for those intent on doing cyber mischief and theft or worse. Airlines are the highest value target for fraudsters and close to fifty percent of all phishing attempts are made against airlines and airline passengers, according to one cyber security firm with which we work. … Steps to guard against it We know this well at IATA. We operate global financial systems through which flow annually some $388 billion of air travel related revenues. We are keenly aware of our responsibility and we are extremely vigilant in protecting our business systems to eliminate vulnerabilities for potential cyber theft or malicious attacks. We structure our internal information security program around three main goals: To guard against unauthorised external or internal access to IATA’s IT systems; To ensure early detection should an unauthorised access occur; and To be able to react quickly to address any intrusion and assure secure business continuity. This programme is guided by global standards and best practices. Our business critical systems that are involved in the delivery of financial services as well as those relating to members’ data, such as the Global Aviation Data Management System are certified to ISO27001 standards. Even more importantly, we are guided by an IT security quality group comprised of our member airlines.

Tyler

Transport generate heavy business for global economy I imagine this level of activity is probably fairly typical for a major financial institution or retailer. Cyber-attacks are a fact of modern life. But aviation presents a special target for those who seek to damage or disrupt the integrated air transport network upon which the

global economy depends. This year, aviation will connect some 3.5 billion travellers with nearly 100,000 flights per day across 51,000 routes. Aviation and related tourism supports some 58 million jobs and $2.2 trillion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We can contribute even more in the future—as long as we maintain the trust we have earned from travellers and shippers that flying is safe and getting safer. IATA is committed to helping aviation fights cyber crime Safety is the top priority for everyone associated with aviation. We do not compete when it comes to safety and we must take the same working together approach in addressing cyber-threats. IATA’s role in this regard is to assist airlines in developing a robust cyber security strategy and to help drive coordination of global efforts to address cyber threats to aviation. To achieve this, we have put in place a three-pillar strategy that comprises: Working to understand, define and assess the threats and risk of cyber-attack; Raising awareness of cyber security issues and identifying reporting and information sharing mechanisms; and Advocating for appropriate regulation and mechanisms for increased cooperation throughout the industry and with governments. Last year we launched the Aviation Cyber Security Toolkit. The Toolkit provides a general overview of the subject. It proposes solutions to run internal analysis of current cyber risks to help security stakeholders identify ways to protect their vital IT infrastructure. It is intended for airlines but is also applicable to airports, ground handlers and others in the value chain. It is an essential part of our strategy to bolster cyber security and we will release a second version this year. On stakeholder partnership Commercial aviation was built on cooperation. Every flight that takes off or lands is the result of working together and information sharing among many different entities such as airlines, airports and air navigation service providers (ANSPs). Yet the very nature of our collaboration also enables potential cyber vulnerabilities. For instance, we exchange operational and air traffic information to manage our daily operations. It is vital that we be able to rely on the integrity of that information. We are only as strong as our weakest link. An airline is dependent on its ANSP and airport partners to be highly engaged in cyber security. Many airlines and airports have robust systems in place to address common hacking threats. The challenge is the evolution of the threat. Cyber experts have to improve their expertise constantly in order to remain vigilant and keep ahead of hackers. What we are facing is close to an asymmetric warfare in which it is easier to attack than to defend. In order to assess the broader threat to the aviation system, there is a need to adopt a holistic approach which would include all our IT infrastructure as well as that of our partners. A related vulnerability comes from the

introduction of greater levels of automation. The industry relies on information and communications technology such as flight management systems, electronic flight bags and e-enablement of aircraft and there is greater connectivity between these systems. There is no question that automation significantly enhances safety and aircraft capabilities while simplifying many rote tasks. But as a result, the number of entry points into systems is increasing steadily. The more systems we automate, the more vendors we have and the more interfaces that can be targeted for attack. On developing cyber security culture Given our environment of rapidly evolving applications of technology, a systemic approach to understanding and addressing the potential risks is critical. And the challenge becomes even more complicated as airlines increase the use of outsourced systems and technology. An important part of the relationship with vendors and partners is developing a cyber-security culture that is continuously evaluating and mitigating risks. Some of this is addressed in the Aviation Cyber Security Toolkit. But as it is an ever evolving threat, we need to be continuously vigilant and constantly in communication with our partners across the value chain. On the role of governments Industry cooperation, while an absolute necessity, by itself will not get us where we need to be. Governments have resources and access to intelligence that the private sector can never achieve. They also have a responsibility to use these resources to support industry efforts. We have an example of this approach in the decades of successful government-industry cooperation on safety. Unfortunately, we have not achieved that level of cooperation in security. As the threat of malicious cyber-attacks increases, the need for consultation, coordination and cooperation built on trust – among governments, between governments and industry, and within industry – becomes more critical. A key component of managing risk is effective sharing of information, including common or mutually understood policies and procedures for doing so. It is a lesson we learned following the tragedy of MH 17. Information that may be shared can include vulnerabilities, threat intelligence, and incident reporting. Today, constraints of national classification systems and ambiguities around the legal rights and mechanisms for sharing information across borders are particularly challenging. However, the significant risks of not sharing information demand more progress in this area. It is not acceptable that one airline may have access to information and best practices regarding appropriate cyber measures and potential vulnerabilities, while another carrier does not, simply because it is based in a different country. Aviation is a global business that transcends national boundaries, and governments must come together in this area to find a solution.

Travel & Tourism

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25 JULY 2015

HOSPITALITY

One&Only Resorts: Perfect blend for summer treats With the summer holiday gathering momentum, One&Only Resorts brand is offering holiday makers an embarrassment of choice, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

or exclusive treats this summer, perhaps the One&Only Resorts brand is one of the hospitality brands in the world for holiday makers to catch some exciting and memorable fun time as its nine resorts scattered across the world are offering a splendid array of packages to its regular patrons and other visitors. These outlets are: One&Only Royal Mirage and One&Only The Palm in Dubai; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Cape Town in South Africa; One&OnlyReethi Rah in the Maldives; One&Only Palmilla in Mexico; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas, One&Only Hayman Island on the Great Barrier Reef and Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains in Australia. This award-winning collection of luxury resorts’ unique options for the season include complimentary nights, exclusive dining experiences, exciting activities and complimentary yacht transfers among others for high-end guests ready to explore the best of the leisure and entertainment world. In Dubai for a start, guests at the two highly rated One&Only Royal Mirage and One&Only The Palm, should look forward to savouring the best of the Arabian world with exclusive packages on request. One&Only Royal Mirage offers a host of upscale leisure ranging from exclusive spa, restaurant and nightlife experiences across its three distinctive properties; The Palace, Arabian Court and the Residence and Spa. While at the One&Only The Palm, a beach-front property, it is a perfect blend of nature with wining and dining at their best as it combines unique culinary experiences with lounging by Yannick Alléno, chic and sophisticated yet relaxed feel with 101 Dining Lounge and exhilarating leisure experiences. Guests are offered a discount of 20 per cent on the best available rates for a minimum of five nights, including breakfast for two at both resorts. This exclusive offer is valid until December 25.

In Mauritius’ north-eastern coast, the One&Only Le Saint Géran beckons with it exclusive natural setting of luscious silver sands with a mix of coconut palms. Here paradise – like treats await the visitors with it extensive luxurious high end facilities, which the kids’ club facilities, exhilarating water sports, 9-hole Gary Player golf course and a host of local activities and unmatched excursions to the tranquil world of the One&Only Spa and elegant dining, making for an idyllic summer getaway. Guests are also offered discounted rate of 40% on the Junior Suites, Junior Suite Beach Front, Ocean Suites or a Family Two Rooms Ocean Suites and complimen-

tary half board to enjoy stylish dining experiences, valid until 18 December 18. One&Only Cape Town located in the amazingly enchanting Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, is the place for vacationers in the Southern region of Africa as the resort, which is known for its high-end market offerings has an extensive range of luxury services ranging from safaris to pristine beaches to the exploration of the world-renowned Cape wine region. Guests here are also entitled to a discounted rate of 15 per cent on Marina Suites, Marina Grand Suites or Onebedroom Suites. This offer includes daily breakfast for two and is valid for

September 24. Set on one of the largest islands in North Malé Atoll in The Maldives, One&Only Reethi Rah, is offering a fun-filled and adrenaline-pumping packages with extensive outdoor facilities for guests with passion for athletics, snorkelling and diving. Spa also entices with pampering sessions while culinary experience from the over-water Tapasake restaurant and fusion cuisine at Reethi Restaurant to romantic beachside dining, should delight many guests. Guests can enjoy the exclusive offer of a stay of seven consecutive nights, guests will receive two nights, half board and return shared yacht transfers for two complimentary. This offer is valid until December 19. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary night when staying four nights. One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, welcomes guests to its newly recreated enclave with its new steakhouse, SEARED, one of the places of interest for many. Ocean front guest rooms and suites are also available while the Spa and Fitness Centre is brimming with new facilities. Guests can experience the return of this legendary resort with exclusive offers including two nights complimentary when booking seven nights or for those looking for a shorter stay. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary night when staying four nights. The offers include daily breakfast for two, return transfers and a choice of cocktail snacks delivered to the room daily. In the Bahamas, One&Only Ocean Club, which is set on a peaceful and delicate white sand beaches of Paradise Island and known for its timeless elegance and sophistication, is where vacationers should savour a perfect blend of white sand beaches, luxury yacht excursions, outdoor facilities, Balinese-inspired spa and many more. Summer guests can enjoy up to four complimentary nights with the Ocean Club Retreat Offer. Guests booking seven consecutive nights will receive two complimentary nights; guests who book 14 nights will receive four complimentary nights, offering the ultimate summer break. While in Australia, One&Only’s two luscious resorts, One&Only Hayman Island and Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, are exceptional and grand properties to explore this summer with their upscale leisure and entertainment packages. Guests can relax in refined style and experience warm, personalised service combined with unrivalled experiences.

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

FESTAC, LAGOS

ABA LAGOS

REE DANIELS HOTEL AND SUITES

Panda Hotel Suites & Lounge

42 Travel & Tourism DESTINATION With the recent addition of a canopy walkway to the offerings of the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), the expectation is that the enchanting and dangling bridge reputed to be the longest canopy walkway in Africa and second in the world, would make the centre a must-see destination for people but as ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA discovered in a recent visit, it is still a long walk before it ignites the desired tourist traffic.

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Lekki Conservation Centre’s

The long awaited visit n the last decade or so one can’t remember visiting the Lekki Conservation Centre, run by Nigeria’s foremost conservation outfit, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). Both the NCF and LCC are located in a pristine forested area at the Lekki axis of Lagos with Chevron, which is interestingly one of its major sponsors, as a major landmark in the conservation's enclave. Perhaps the last time one can recall visiting the NCF was during the reign of the former director-general, Dr. Aminu Kano, with the likes of Paddy Ezeala who was in charge of media and communication and Mrs. Mohammed in charge of conservation education, all part of the conservation team. But in the last couple of years, there was a renewed interest to visit the place but one could not get around to doing so. However, with the construction of the canopy walkway as the Babatunde Fashola administration began to roundoff and with its reputation as the longest suspension bridge in Africa and the second longest in the world, it was obvious that one had to visit the centre. With this latest move, something new that was bound to change the face of LCC and turn it into a real destination, grabbing the attention of everyone has finally surfaced. Given that one had also had the opportunity to explore the only two existing canopy walkways in Nigeria - Becheve National Park in Obudu Mountain Resort, also owned by NCF and Afi Wildlife Sanctuary both in Cross River State - it was time one paid the centre a visit, at least to be part of the unfolding history. The opportunity finally came last month to visit the centre. It was a bright Monday afternoon and the weather was in its best elements. Nothing seemed to have changed here as the environment looked well kept, inviting and naturally appealing. Once you drive through the gate, you know for sure that you are in a conservation enclave with its airy and breezy nature. The trees and flowers in their bloom, swaying and dancing rhythmically to nature’s song; perhaps welcoming one to their enclave. Just for you to understand that you are no more in an entirely human kingdom but that of the animals, colourful peacocks, squirrels, monkeys as well as birds and others, even insects are all roaming free, flying and swarming around and even beckoning you to their world. You are forced to take on a measured step and linger on just to catch a glimpse of these beautiful creations. The first port of call was the office of the project manager of NCF, Mr. Adedayo Mahmud, who before now had gracious-

Ghana border

A family having fun walking the suspension bridge

Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, with others at the scrabble playground

ly provided answers on the phone to all my enquiries and agreed to see me on this Monday. Warmly, he received one and after the exchange of pleasantries, we finally settled down for talk about NCF and LCC’s newest baby before setting out on a guided tour. LCC: NCF’s flagship project Taking one down memory lane, the project manager described the Lekki Conservation Centre established in 1990 by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation as the NCF's flagship conservation and environmental project, which is globally acclaimed for its historic strides and leading role in nature’s conservation and advocacy. Essentially the setting up of LCC by NCF was to promote nature conservation, research, eco–tourism and sustainable natural resources management and a resource centre for preservation of nature and environmental education, research and a tool for policy advocacy. According to him, LCC was also established to preserve the representative’s samples of the unique plants, animals and habitats of South-West Nigeria's coastal resources. LCC beckons The centre is open to the public from Monday to Sunday including public holidays and between the hours of 8am and 5pm daily. It has over the years played host to

Tree house

One of the gazeboes

over 500, 000 visitors with students forming a larger percentage of this number. School visits by students from nursery to university are between Tuesdays and Fridays and they are required to book ahead but just in case any of the schools failed to do so they are nevertheless welcomed. Trained guides are available to conduct visitors and educate and inform them of the various activities of the centre and what are available. Food and drinks are sold at the restaurant while food packs are discouraged although people may bring in their meals but corkage is charged for this. Gate fees are charged the various categories of visitors ranging from students, children to adults and also the ages of the children are also graded as each age grade attracts different fees. Visitors are forbidden from feeding the animals, touching or hunting them. High heel shoes are discouraged while excessive body perfumes are not allowed because they attract insects and may cause bodily harm to the visitors. But besides the conservation activities and education, LCC has also in recent years become a centre of eco–tourism and entertainment as well as leisure spot for the people with the Lagos State government partnering with NCF to put in place a number of relaxation spots and equipment for the people. A clear demonstration of this is the canopy walkway, which is expected to drive more traffic to the centre.

Exploring the world of LCC And done with the brief by Mahmud, one finally sets out for a tour of the centre. The project manager was not only kind enough to provide a guide but also offered his boot for one's use as certain portion of the centre is sometimes flooded with the wooden platform in that part of the centre broken and discarded. Ekpah Ojonugwa was the tour guide for the day and interestingly one was joined by a family of four, a mother and her three children – two little boys and a girl. They all live in the United States and were home for holiday. They have in the course of their short visit seen other parts of the country and on that fateful day they were at the NCF to see the centre and its star attraction – the longest suspension bridge in Africa. Their adventurous spirit made the tour quite fun-filled, amazing and fulfilling. Some of the places their mother and sister were not daring enough to see with the tour guide and I, the two little boys where more than willing to go, giggling and exuberant as they plodded along and sometimes in hot pursuit of each other. On the stretch, the first stop was the entrance to the canopy walkway. What an electrifying moment it was for everyone, particularly the children who without prompting at first made for the dangling bridge only to stop momentarily; I guessed a bit frightened by the swaying. After a little persuasion and with the

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canopy walkway not yet an allure

A female tourist with a monkey at the centre

NCF's dome

Fish pond Turtles at the centre

Children's facility at the nature station

tour guide and me on the lead the two little boys continued and then followed by their mother and little girl who though stopped half way through the first portal. Unfortunately we couldn’t go beyond this first portal as it was the only functional part of the about six portals on the day of visit. The guide explained that the other portals have been closed temporarily for maintenance work. Certainly, one was disappointed by this development having long dreamt of walking the entire stretch of the 401-metres long suspension bridge. At that point one’s enthusiasm was dampened and the shine taken off the visit. Even the children were disappointed as well when told that no one could go beyond that level. Then you wonder why all the noise and celebration by the Lagos State government and tourism ministry about the canopy if weeks after its commission visitors cannot walk the entire bridge because that is actually the adrenalin-pumping bit and where the adventure comes to play. I wonder when next one would ever visit the centre again because no one is sure when the entire canopy would be functional. Again, one was also disappointed by the fact that not many people seem to know about the canopy walkway because one had expected to witness heavy traffic at the site, particularly children. But for the over two hours spent at the centre there was virtually no traffic besides another family of three – a couple with their infant who were

The jungle gym

making their way into the inner recess of the centre as we were returning. This near apathy or low patronage is not what the state government and even the authorities of NCF wanted when they were conceiving this project, which I was made to understand had cost millions of dollars to put in place. What this means is that the

government and NCF must look for a way to create some buzz around this facility and get the people to appreciate it by visiting. It should be promoted as one of the eight wonders of the world, which certainly all canopy walkways across the world are and wherever they exist, they usually commend high traffic and are money-spinners.

10 TOP CANOPY WALKWAYS IN THE WORLD l Danum Valley canopy walkway, Malaysia: Located in the forest reserve of Danum, Sabah, Malaysia, spanning 348sq kilometers, it is 300 metres long and 27 metres high. l Baumwipfelpfad, Germany: Located in Neuschonau, Bavarian Forest National Park, Bavaria is put at 1, 300 metres (4, 250 feet) long and reaches the height of 25 metres (80 feet) and has 360 – degrees spiral staircase. l Kakum canopy Walkway, Ghana: It is situated in Kakum National Park and is 100 feet (30 metres) above the ground level with the length put at 330 metres (1, 080 feet) and said to pass across seven bridges. l Xstrata treetop walkway, United Kingdom: Found in Kew Gardens, it is 18 metres (60 feet) high. And starts from

underground, which makes it very unique in the world. It accommodates over 3, 000 visitors daily and said to be 200 metres (650 feet) long walkway. l Sky walk, Costa Rica: Located in the Monteverde rain forest, it is a combination of suspension bridges and walking trails with a total of six bridges with the longest put at 948 feet (300 metres) while the trails extends beyond 2.5 kilometres (over one and a half miles) l Valley of the giants treetop walkway, Australia: Located in the west of Denmark and east of Walpole on the southern ocean coast of Western Australia and right in the heart of the Valley of the Giants, it is 600 metres (1,970 feet) long and 40 metres (130 feet) high. l Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, Guyana: Is a series of suspen-

sion bridges and decks of up to 30 metres (100 feet) in height and 154 metres (500 feet) in length and is located in the Iwokrama Forest. l Mamu Rain Forest Canopy Walkway, Australia: With a 350 metre (1,150 feet) long elevated walkway through the canopy, a cantilever, a 37 metre (120 feet) observation tower and more than 1200 metres (3,950 feet) of walking tracks. l Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, Peru: Is 344-metres (1,135feet) long complex of seven hanging bridges, six treetop observation platforms and two 29-metres (95 feet) tall towers. l Canopy walk, Ulu Temburong, Brunei: Located in Ulu Temburong National Park in Batu Apoi Forest reserve, it is 60 metres above the forest floor with 1, 260 steps.

The case of Lagos should not be an exception. Now Lagosians and visitors to the "centre of excellence" now has more than enough reason to visit NCF/LCC and the right communication and marketing tools should be employed by the tourism ministry to sell this project, otherwise it would suffer a stillbirth just like the state’s other tourist attractions which are begging for attention. Well, putting the disappointment behind us, we still managed to inch our way further into the inner sanctuary of the enclave to glimpse its other offerings, which included the nature station where you have children’s playground with some facilities for the children to play with and a built-up hall, used to host different activities. Further down is the section which also hosts a number of leisure spots such as fish ponds, small and big -sized gazebo, family hunts of different sizes, which are used for different leisure events, meetings and parties by the public. There are also a number of sporting/game facilities, but the interesting thing about these facilities is the fact that they are not physical or tangible object you can hold and feel but they are etched on the ground. Some of these include ludo, card games, chess, scrabble and draught among others while you have volleyball and tennis courts. There is also the jungle gymnasium with facilities both for keeping fit and also for endurance physical activities. It is a real sport and a different world out here with activities and facilities to engage the interest of every visitors. Barbecue spots are also found in here while one was made to understand that you can actually host exclusive or private parties here. It will be interesting someday to be part of such party where you are entirely cut off from the noisy world and enclosed by nature and its beauty. There is also tree houses, gigantic and creatively built in the centre but at the time of visit they were not functional because they were closed and said to be undergoing maintenance. Visitors would find the tree houses exciting and adventurous. For those who can’t go on the canopy walkway at least you can also afford to climb the tree house to have a better panoramic view of the entire centre. Unique features of LCC’s canopy walkway The uniqueness of the LCC’s canopy walkway goes beyond its being the longest suspension bridge in Africa stretching to 401 metres, 0.6 metres wide with the peak at 22.5 metres above the ground level; it is made of aluminium and not a wooden structure like most of the world’s known walkways. This makes it the most modern and weather-resistant of all canopy walkways in the world. By the way, it is built by the same construction company which built both the Becheve Nature Park and Afi Wildlife Sanctuary suspension bridges and others across Africa and the world. Other features of the canopy walkway include its having six towers with entrance and exit portals spaced 50 kilometres apart. To tell you the magnitude of the canopy walkway, over 527 were employed in its construction while over 56 people would be employed to operate it when it becomes fully operational. Children below 14 years, nursing mothers cradling their children, heavily pregnant women and others afraid of heights (vertigo) are not supposed to go.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Maje Ayida apologises to wife, Toke

I’ve found the right man, says Iyabo Ojo

ot long ago, in an interview Yoruba actress, Iyabo Ojo granted Saturday Telegraph, she foreclosed the possibility of remarrying any time soon; but the tide seems to have changed the claim all together. The mother of three has revealed that she will be getting married soon as she has found love in another man after her first marriage crashed. “I am getting married soon. You see, my definition of marriage is undiluted happiness. Ever since I have been separated, there’s only one goal and that is happiness and that is what I look for. “When you are married, you will have sound mind and then you can concentrate on achieving so much on your kids, your work and businesses. I am very hardworking and very determined and I don’t compromise my happiness. I can’t trade it for anything. My happiness comes first,” she told City People. She added that, “I have a man in my life and we have been together for a while now. I love him, he cherishes my happiness and can’t compromise it as well. He supports everything I do but sometimes the best boyfriend may not be the best husband, but I leave all to God to perfect all that is left.”

aje Ayida, fitness expert and husband of popular media personality, Toke Makinwa, openly apologised to her on Instagram today weeks after news broke that he impregnated his ex-lover. "I am writing to express my sincerest apologies to my wife. I was wrong, it is indefensible and I am sorry. I deeply regret what my wife and my family has had to endure. My behaviour has caused a lot of anguish to everyone. Though this matter has been very public in nature, it is a private issue and I would appreciate the opportunity to face it privately. I love my wife and will make every effort to make things right – cc@tokemakinwa". Last month, the story broke online that Ayida had impregnated his ex, Anita, and it stirred a torrent of comments on the social media. According to story, Anita, who is bi-racial - Lebanese and Nigerian - is a lawyer and runs a beauty salon in Calabar. She is said to have been in a relationship with Ayida for the past eight years, but he broke off with her briefly to get married to Toke. It was gathered that Ayida helped her with the funds to set up the salon in Calabar and was constantly making trips to the city to visit her. Anita is in UK to have Maje's baby, but the family members are reportedly disappointed that their young, promising daughter is involved in such scandal. They’re even more so disgusted that he left her and got married to Toke only to return to make her a mistress. Should Toke consider Ayida’s public apology? The matter still trends on many social media platforms.

Toke and Ayida

Paul Play returns with fresh vibes

wo weeks ago, the son of legendary musician, IK Dairo, was the guest on Your View, a daily programme aired on TV Continental. There, R&B and highlife singer, Paul I.K. Dairo a.k.a Paul Play, spoke exclusively and elaborately about his close shave with death, his re-emergence and the controversial pact with Tope Alabi’s ex pastor, Elijah Iretiola Ajanaku. The first question he was asked dwelt on what exactly happened to him. He explained how an internal tumour suddenly appeared without symptoms for an incredibly long time until he went to South Africa to complete the music video for his last album. “I felt some pains and it became intense when I went to the convenience to ease myself. So, my friend in whose place I was at that time called his doctor. The doctor who also knew a Nigerian doctor practising there recommended me for treatment in his hospital. After diagnosis, the Nigerian doctor told me they’d need to operate me as soon as possible to remove some tumour that

couldn’t remain inside me for more than one week,” Paul Play recalled. He had to halt everything he’d gone to SA to accomplish to attend to his health and after then, the healing took a while for him to return to his old vivacious self. It was while recuperating that he was attending churches for prayers and along the line, according to the velvetvoiced singer, “I met Tope Alabi who introduced me to her pastor. Though I know she wouldn’t want me to say this, but that was truly how I met the pastor.” The news had gone viral on the internet that the singer was healed by the late Pastor Ajanaku three years ago. He was asked to shed light on whether he got healed by the pastor or not. “I had met some men of God when I returned from SA and he was just one of them. A friend of mine had kept telling me this ‘pastor wants to see you’. And one thing with me is that, when you mention God, I just feel the reverence is urgently needed. I went and after a while, I just felt that something wasn’t right about the church. But I felt, 'Paul, you’re in this thing already'. One thing about Christianity is that we tend to believe that men of God are very clean and can hardly be found with blemishes. God said ‘give your life to Christ’; he didn’t say give your life to a pastor. And we must all understand this fact. Growing up, my father was a pastor, so I understand certain things to expect. So after I felt something wasn’t right, I started drawing back before I relocated to Abuja. So, when there was that messy fight it was Tope Alabi that was at the centre, I was just praying, ‘God don’t let them drag my name into it o.” It’s often presupposed that people who suffer any form of kidney disease either smoke or drink and or make wrong lifestyle choices. On what

Paul Play

triggered his health problem, he said: “Sometimes you can just be unlucky and have this ailment. I’m saying this because I don’t have any unhealthy lifestyle; I don’t drink and I don’t smoke.” A caller on the phone-in programme also asked if Paul Play is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, a question that got him laughing. “You see, I’m a professional singer and I run my business based on the acceptable standards. When I’m engaged to work on advertising or anything that has to do with campaign, I have to feed my family. The fact that I sang a song at a campaign doesn’t mean that I’m a politician or a member of any particular party.” Six years is more than enough to send an artiste into oblivion yet the Paul Play feels he’s been only away for just a few months. As to how he intend to match up with the new kids making waves in the industry where he once held sway: “If you say it is difficult to come back and then give up things will pass you by. If the likes of Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder have stood the test of time, why label yourself as old school? With a good pedigree, people will respect you and with God you can still make a comeback. I don’t intend to stay in music for a long time,’’ he noted. He’d just released the video to his song, Fool for Love in which he starred a mulatto girl which stirred another debate about the fad for the light-skinned girls most of whom are from the west. After laughing hard about what he described as sheer misconception, he set the record straight: “I knew this question was going to crop up because when I watched the videos of most of the new acts, they mostly have white girls. And people have been asking, ‘are the black girls no longer beautiful?’ But the lady is a Somalian. Should we now say that African girls can't be light-skinned?”

Iyabo Ojo

YCEE drops new song

CEE, a hip-hop artist from Lagos is signed on Tinny Entertainment. The starlet hails from Lagos state and Oludemilade Martin Alejo is his real name. Though currently studying marine biology at the University of Lagos, in December 2012, YCEE released his first official single, Smile on Me, which was produced by Jay Sleek . The video was shot by Aje Filmworks before its official release in January 2013. Prior to Smile on Me, music was just a hobby and not a career for YCEE. In August 2013, YCEE released his sophomore dubbed, Pass Me, which was produced by Karma and then his third single, Amen, came in November of the same year and it featured Rugged Records’ act, Mbryo. Amen was produced by Popito. Aside music, YCEE also has keen interest in a lot of other things. YCEE also likes to draw as a hobby. Condo is YCEE's latest offering and it has enjoyed an appreciable acceptance from fans. The effervescent rap act featured reggae sensation, Patoranking, on his latest work. The video for Condo was shot by Clarence Peters and released in May. YCEE has performed at major events in the country, alongside some of Nigeria's biggest acts. The last quarter of the year promises to be an eventful one for YCEE whose hands are on deck to churn out more singles and videos. YCEE

SATURDAY, 25 JULY, 2015

SATURDAY

Politics saturday interview 45

Prof Alkali

Cover

MEND: Tompolo Shelves Meeting, says ‘My intentions are genuine' p.48

PDP requires re-engineering

FaceOff

APC, PDP bicker over honour for late DeputyGovernor, Olayinka p.50

Politics

Buhari and the US Leahy Law p.53

Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali’s knowledge about the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is almost encyclopaedic, having worked with four National Chairmen as the party’s National Publicity Secretary. As the immediate past Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, the academic-turned politician is also familiar with the intrigues on the corridors of power. The eloquent don, however, declined comments on current national issues and evaded problems confronting PDP and how to reform it as IBRAHEEM MUSA reports. Now that the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is out of power, the trend amongst most public affairs commentators is to ascribe all the nation’s malaise to it. As a founding member of the party, what can you point to as PDP’s achievements in the last 16 years? Well, as you are aware, it has been the tradition of most of our people to use their extra time to engage in all forms of criticisms. Criticisms about PDP, as you are aware, has been going on for a long time, even when the party was in charge of government. But all the same, I have always said that no matter what people say about PDP, we must give it to the party for achieving a number of things in the history of our country; some of the things that are today not only being celebrated by Nigerians but people around the world as well. But we often take these

Alkali

things for granted. Let me start by saying that we tend to forget where we came from; this has always been my popular refrain. Sixteen years ago, senior citizens mobilized themselves, most of them suffered direly for standing up against the military at that time. Their position was that they wanted to form a party that will bring all Nigerians together, so that they can establish a basis for democratic governance in this country, that will now serve as a precursor for development. Today, we have forgotten that those people made sacrifices; they sacrificed their comfort and their lives. Without their sacrifice, the democracy that we are celebrating today will not have been there in the first place. So, we had people who stood up at time and fought for our country and made a difference. They must be celebrated. That move that was made in

1998, led to the formation of a political party in this country, that was uniquely a national political party, organically linked, with deep roots and with a base that spread across the whole country. There is no ward, village or local government that you will not see the flag of PDP flying. It has been like that. In fact there was a time that we had between 27 and 28 governors who were running various states in this country, apart from the president and the federal government. The National Party of Nigeria(NPN) in the second republic tried to be such a broad based political party but not from the beginning. The election of 1983 gave it a bigger spread than 1979. On the other hand, PDP started as a national party and continued spreading. Secondly, for the first time in the history of this country, we had a democracy that ran for 16 years and is still running. There was a time that, when you invite people to come and join politics, they would simply decline because they had no faith in it. They would say that it will not last. Professionals, academics, serious-minded businessmen, top civil servants and the leading elite group in this country didn’t want to join politics. They left it to artisans, to people who had nothing to lose. But today, there is alot of scramble for political power. This is a product of the stability of democratic governance and this scramble has intensified both within the political parties themselves and between the political parties. Now, you will find out that professionals, academics, serious-minded businessmen and even civil servants are no longer afraid of resigning to contest elections. The third point is that we are now celebrating a new leadership in this country, which is very good. And we are also celebrating the transition of 2015, which is also very good. No matter what people say, we must realise that it is the PDP that brought all these about. First, through the amendment of the constitution to provide a base for the amendment of the electoral act. To provide a base again, for reforming the electoral system as a whole in this country, where it was able to create an Independent National Electoral Commission; underline this phrase ‘’Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)’’. I have gone through some of the laws of some of the electoral commissions of countries around CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

Saturday Interview

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

'The ruling party should put its acts together' CONTINUED from PAGE 45

Africa, especially the ones that we used to bandy around as standards of democracy. If you see the kind of freedom that our INEC has, no electoral commission have that kind of freedom in Africa. There was no member of PDP that was in that commission. Even the INEC Chairman was not known by President Goodluck Jonathan when he appointed him. At the same time, the popular cry that we used to hear that INEC was being emasculated either through administrative fiat or lack of funding was also not there throughout the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. From December last year up to the end of the election, we have not heard INEC crying of lack of funds. It was like creating a government inside government. This was what facilitated and gave INEC leadership the political will to succeed. Of course Professor Jega is a respected man of integrity but he couldn’t have succeeded without this legal, political and financial muscle that we provided. This also leads to us to the other point. The electoral reform that PDP carried out did not only provided basis for this election but it has also strengthened our democratic institutions. The registration of political parties has been sanitised. In the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, we had a lot problems about who is what in political parties. But under PDP, Jega’s INEC was fully in charge and could register and de-register political parties without government’s interference. The APC which has won election was an amalgam of strange bedfellows but because the federal government was not interfering with INEC, it registered them in our own very eyes. In other countries, the opposition couldn’t have been registered by the country’s electoral umpire. In essence what I have been trying to explain is that PDP has achieved alot for the country in the last 16 years, contrary to what some people will want us to believe. In any case, you don’t throw away the baby and the bathwater. Whatever you say about PDP, you must give it that it has provided the paradigm shift in the Nigerian democratic history.

tion and thereafter, we are going to have answers to our problems. One of the problems that you should find answers to is the issue of internal democracy. We have seen a situation whereby people won the primaries only for their names to substituted. Sometimes, primaries were not even held at all. How will you tackle that? It is one of the issues that people have always been talking about. But I think we should look at internal democracy from a fresher angle. The name of our party is Peoples Democratic Party. If it is only merely engaged in internal democracy and stopped there and it is also not being democratic in the relationship of other political parties or in its relationship with the National Assembly or INEC, or the judiciary, there is also a problem. For a party to be democratic, it is not only about internal democracy; it has to exercise both internal and external democracy. Yes, internal democracy is what touches party members but I think PDP has tried to do so many things at the same time. Like I said, I’m not going to go into where we got is wrong. I know we will have time to look at ourselves, know what our gains are, what our loses are and what we should do in order to bounce back in whatever form and in whatever way. Nobody should contemplate that PDP is dead and buried. Is your optimism borne out of the events in the National Assembly, where the PDP pulled a surprise by determining the outcome of the election of the Senate President and the House Speaker in the 8th National Assembly? People have been mixing the issues of the National Assembly. Most of the legislators are elders and leaders and most of them are educated; at least, the current 8th National Assembly. It is an institution of its own which has its own rules and guidelines and it is also guided by the Nigerian constitution. Certainly, the parties that the legislators come from have a lot of influence on them. But whatever we do, we must also realise that we cannot force an organisation to choose leaders for themselves. They have to take a total picture of all the laws, all the forces and all the actors in order to come to a position. So, we are saying that what happened during the National Assembly election to chose presiding officers recently, the legislators should not be blamed. The party that won the general election should have put their acts together and plan its war strategy outside the National

From your narration, part of the problem with PDP was that you couldn’t manage success. Like you pointed out, it had produced the president of the country since the restoration of democracy in 1999; it controlled both chambers of the National Assembly Whatever we and, at one time, it had 27 out of the 36 governors. At what point did the party do, we must also start derailing? I will not be tempted to answer the realise that we question because of where we are today. cannot force an This is the kind of question that we members of PDP are supposed to ask ourselves; organisation to where did we get it wrong, what hapchoose leaders for pened? In a general way, if we are able to reflect on where we came from and look themselves at the evolution of the party, how we were able to get successes at various levels and how we started declining and up to what happened in the 2015 elections, we shall be able to have good answers. But now, even if I have the answers, I don’t think that I will be willing to share it with the media for now. It is our own internal matter. I don’t want to expose our party to ridicule. Ultimately, PDP is PDP and like most people are saying, which I agree with them, the party is not a push over. Alkali We are going to do some self examina-

Assembly. So, by the time that they bring their proposal to the National Assembly, it would have been much easier to sail through. But they cannot come and insist that the decisions that they reached at the party level, they will now dictate to the leaders of the National Assembly. How did PDP solve the Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal challenge when it emerged? He was not the party’s anointed candidate but became Speaker of the House of Representatives and, somehow, the party managed the situation till the end. It’s along story but now, the case of Tambawal is finished; he is already a governor in Sokoto state. Now we are dealing with a current situation and that is enough to engage us. One of the problems of PDP was that in the absence of a strong opposition all these years, some elements constituted opposition from within the party. It is generally believed that that is what weakened the party which ultimately made APC to grow in strength and defeat PDP. Is this analysis correct? Like I said at the beginning of our conversation, PDP had structures which were defined by the party’s constitution. From the caucus to the Board of Trustees, to the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee down the line, to the various state chapters, including the local government and state chapters, every organ’s role is clearly defined. So, whatever the party does, it has a way of communicating these decisions down the line, or also getting inputs from the grassroots up to the national secretariat. From 2008 upwards, we insisted that there should be devo-

lution of authority and that nothing should come to the secretariat until it goes through the official channel; from the ward level to the local government level, up to the state to the zone before reaching the national level. For example if somebody commits an offence, he will be punished at the ward level. There are also various committees, some of them ad hoc and some of them standing, dealing with either disciplinary matters, funding etc. But you know when a political party becomes so strong, the internal struggle becomes more intense. This is one of the challenges that the party is facing. But all the same, like I said, this is the kind of issues that we will discuss and find solutions to as a party. PDP has the highest turn over of national chairmen. Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Muazu was forced to resign because he led the party to defeat. Don’t you think that this frequent changes of the party’s helmsmen has affected the party somehow? This question is a rather difficult one. From the early history of the party, they were some major challenges both within and outside the party. The work of the national chairman of PDP is enormous. He heads the National Working Committee, he is the leader of NEC, he also chairs caucus meetings. So, the pressures are just too huge. He also deals with all the governors elected on the party’s platform, state and federal legislators and chairmen of the party in the entire 36 states of the federation, including Abuja. The structures and organisations of PDP are awesome. Therefore, it requires a lot of efforts and diligence on the part of the national chairman. And each one of them did their best. It is the totality of the contribution of the various chairmen that brought the party to where we are now. I have had the privilege of working with four of them and I knew how difficult it is to be chairman. But with the collective responsibility of each and every member, the party can still stand and fight future battles in the political terrain. The circumstances of the exit of the various chairmen always differ but we have always said that we have no reason to continue accusing each other and exposing ourselves in the public because that is what the ruling party wants. But the only good thing about the situation is that the party that won the general election now, which is supposed to be the party in power, is still acting as the opposition political party. So, this is the tragedy of African politics. But it is a plus for us because we don’t have to fight very much in order to make our point.

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

When will our beggars go on strike?

part from the classic Prof. Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” which was an eye opener for me in terms of the enormous series of literary works African writers have to offer, another artistic work of lasting worth that enlivened me in my first year in the university is Senegalese Aminata Sow Fall’s “The Beggars’ Strike.” First written in French in 1979 and later translated into English in 1981, its simple narrative, plot arrangement, theme, good characterisation, lively dialogue among other elements of literature embedded in the 99-page book makes it a compelling one. “The Beggars’ Strike” is set in an unnamed West Africa country in a city known only as “The capital.” The government observes that there has been a sharp decline in tourism with its attendant effects on the economy. It puts the blame on local beggars who have constituted themselves into nuisances by scaring away tourists from the city. The government resolves to rid the city of the dregs of society as the panacea to declining tourism. The task is placed on the shoulders of Mour Ndiaye, the director of the Department of Public Health, who instructs his department to carry out weekly raids. During one of such raids, a lame beggar, Madiabel, ran into an oncoming vehicle as he tried to escape. He died on the spot, leaving two wives and eight children. Yet in another raid, another old beggar considered to be well-behaved and loved by fellow beggars and givers of charity, Papa Gorgui Diop, died. This is the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Having studied the society in which they live, the beggars repulse the raids by forming a union and convince themselves that they are not dysfunctional, but rather an important part of the society. “Where will you find a man who’s the boss and who doesn’t give to charity so that he can stay the boss? Where will you find a man who’s suffering from a real or imaginary illness and who doesn’t believe that his troubles will disappear the mo-

Waheed Bakare on Saturday 08124877036 (sms only) waheedbakare2003@yahoo.com

It is indisputable that giving of alms to the poor is one of the pillars of Islam, a socioreligious obligation meant to bridge the gap between the haves and the haves-not ment a donation leaves his hands? Even the parents of a man…expecting to be condemned, have recourse to charity…in the hope of an acquittal,” one of the beggars says at their meeting where they decide to go on strike and repudiate charity. About this time, the position of the vice president became vacant in “The capital” and Ndiaye is in a pole position to fill it. He consults a marabout who assures him that he will become successful once he gives alms to beggars on the street and not to those who had moved en masse to the new “Slum-Clearance Resettlement Area, a remote location outside the city” because of the strike. Ndiaye is confused so are many residents who want to give donations to the beggars. People form long queue to give the beggars money at their new abode since they refuse to come to the street to take alms. A fretful Ndiaye begs the beggars to go on the street and take his alms just for one day, but the beggars repudiate him, thus aborting his dream of becoming

the vice-president. Although “The Beggars’ Strike” is a fictional literary work, the observance of the beggars that most givers of charity do so not only to satisfy either religious or cultural belief, but ultimately do so with the expectation that God will replenish them or remove their troubles once donations leave their hands, is incontrovertible for those of us who have had cause to give money to beggars. I find last week’s face-off between Governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna State and the beggars operating in the state as well as the ongoing clamp down on beggars in Lagos State relevant to Fall’s “The Beggars’ Strike.” It is indisputable that giving of alms to the poor is one of the pillars of Islam, a socio-religious obligation meant to bridge the gap between the haves and the havesnot. But this is often misconstrued to mean Islam sanctions begging. However, there are categories of people who are entitled to beg as far as Islam is concerned: an orphan, a stranded traveller, someone who lost his /her property to disaster and a widow who has no one to cater for her. Outside this category, the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) says it is better for a poor Muslim to go into the forest, fetch firewood, sell it and use the money to feed him/herself rather than resort to begging. He also admonishes Muslims that the hand (almsgiver) that gives is more glorious than the one (alms receiver) that receives. And who says charity cannot be taken to hospitals, prisons and orphanages? Perhaps, it is a cultural thing or a way of life chosen by some zealots who cloak

under religion. This could be the reason some beggars left the shores of Nigeria to beg for alms in Saudi Arabia under the pretext of going on pilgrimage a few years back. They were rounded up and repatriated to Nigeria by the Saudi authorities. If begging cannot be divorced from Islam, Saudi Arabia, the spiritual home of all Muslims, would have known the import of such religious tenet and could not have deported those Nigerians who wanted to constitute themselves into nuisance in the holy land. Even at home, some of the beggars continue to constitute themselves into nuisance and such arrant nonsense cannot be tolerated in view of the prevailing security situation in the country. This is why I am on the same page with el-Rufai on his insistence that street begging remains banned in his state. How I wish other states will take a cue from the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Although I am aware that some past governments had taken similar steps except that when beggars are taken off the street, they are dumped and forgotten in their colonies. And after a while, they are back on the streets again and during election year, nobody talks about taking them off the street because of politicians’ populist sentiment. Leaving them on the streets and giving them hand-out rather than rehabilitating them may be a deliberate ploy by the elite, particularly those who feel this will enable them to fulfill their so-called religious obligation or finding them as agents of destruction during political or religious crisis. A visit to the Lagos beggars’ colony a few years back, was an eyesore and I doubt it has improved in recent time. El-Rufai also attested to the fact that the Kaduna beggars’ colony and rehabilitation centre needs urgent rehabilitation. Either knowingly or inadvertently, beggars are creations of the society and it is the duty of the society to take them off the streets through orientation and rehabilitation that can correct their misconception that begging is a “normal business.” Once this is done, our beggars can go on an indefinite strike!

North: As Tambuwal, El-Rufai rejig governance

overnor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Kaduna State’s Nasir ElRufai are hardly candidates for sainthood. But if these Young Turks maintain the positive governance courses they appear to have defined for themselves quite early in their first terms they could just nick that quirky distinction. Here is why. Due to deep corruption and a crying atrophy of vision, a scenario that has triggered de-legitimation of both political and moral authority in Northern Nigeria, this vast territory of great promise has suffered extreme human development deprivation. However by their current executive actions, this duo, often seen as political upstarts by their foes, promise fundamental change. In his recent essay, History Is Still Over, Prof. Francis Fukuyama noted that, “A sad reality of human affairs is that people will not change deeply entrenched attitudes except under the direst circumstances.” A snapshot of the socio-political and economic situation of the Northern region will show that for over three decades it has experienced the direst of circumstances. But what specific actions have these politicians under reference undertaken to signal they recognise a major regional crisis exists, must be confronted frontally - and therefore merit this particular focus? Early this week, Sokoto State governor forwarded a bill to the state parliament seeking to make education compulsory and also criminalizing parents’ refusal to

The Nation-State With Louis Achi

achilouis35@gmail.com comply. According to Tambuwal, the radical move targets boosting school enrolment and providing quality education to every child as required by local and international laws. As part of measures to enhance implementation of the new policy, he explained his administration will build and equip 240 primary and tertiary healthcare centres in the three senatorial zones of the state. The governor outlined this course while addressing religious, traditional and political leaders from 11 local government areas of the state who paid him a Sallah visit in Sokoto, and explained the policy’s imperative against the background of the high percentage of parents who deliberately frustrate government efforts to educate children. Since assuming office as governor, Tambuwal has taken several progressive governance actions but this writer has deliberately chosen to restrict this analysis to his radical action in the crucial education arena. An important part of underdevelopment in the north lies squarely in extreme lack of

education. Notwithstanding that Islam urges its adherents to seek knowledge, even up to China the Boko Haram challenge is a baby of ignorance powered by lack of education and quest for knowledge. Instead of committing funds to education in their states, many northern state governors chose to fund pilgrimages to Mecca to score ignorant political points. Governor Tambuwal’s singular move to make education compulsory in Sokoto State and also criminalise parents’ refusal to comply is perhaps the most important news from Northern Nigeria in the past two months and deserves full plaudits. The remaining 18 northern governors should follow suit. In Kaduna State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has hit the ground genuinely running. His actions some of which are generating some tension - under two months of governance indicate a nimble readiness that unfortunately cannot be said for many of

his regional peers. There is more. Hear El-Rufai: “As we took briefings from the ministries, departments and agencies in our very first week, the depth of the financial problem became clearer to us as well as the impact the decades of impunity have had on the mental attitudes of the institutions that constitute the public service. “We emphatically reject this mentality. The new government of Kaduna State has therefore declared that the resources of the state will be devoted to serving the public, with schools, hospitals and roads; aiding our farmers and doing our utmost to create jobs. To do that, we must cut the cost of running government.” The biometric verification of its employees ordered by El-Rufai in order to update the payroll and provide reliable data on the precise number of personnel in the public service is understandably raising hackles. A Tax Reform Committee he set chaired by Ifueko Omogui, former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service is up and running. Its brief is to review the states internal revenue generation structures, systems and laws and recommend ways by which Kaduna can improve its IGR. Tambuwal and El-Rufai demonstrate readiness for office, governance innovation, security consciousness and leadership by example. They are the kind of leaders the North needs - and at the appropriate time, Nigeria!

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

MEND: Tompolo shelves meeting, says ‘my intentions are genuine' Donald Ojogo

S Abuja

trong indications emerged last night that ex-militant leader and founder of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, may have shelved the meeting with his erstwhile field commanders. The decision of the exmilitant, Saturday Telegraph gathered, was as a result of the intervention of prominent leaders of his ethnic extraction, the Ijaw, who view the planned MEND commanders’ meeting as having the potential of unsettling the prevailing peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was also reported to have personally waded in. Jonathan, who was scheduled to visit Bayelsa State this weekend, may likely invite Tompolo for a meeting. “Oga would want to know exactly the reason for the MEND meeting”, a source close to the former president told our correspondent on the telephone. Feelers that the meeting of the "exagitators" might be called off emerged shortly after Tompolo issued the notice of meeting, according to our source. It was gathered that immediately he was informed of the development, former president Jonathan made frantic efforts, albeit unsuccessfully, to reach Tompolo to know exactly what the reason for the meeting was. “Oga tried to reach the man (Tompolo) but it was initially difficult for them to connect; but I think they may have spoken afterwards. “I also know that Oga (Jonathan) was making attempts to reach the Bayelsa and Delta states’ governors to reach Tompolo and possibly ask him to cancel the meeting, not because they lack the right to assemble but the anxiety such a meeting will generate is what people needed to avoid,” he said. It was gathered that the Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson as well as two unnamed governors in the oil-rich region personally called Tompolo to plead with him to cancel the meeting. ….My Intentions Are GenuineTompolo An indication that Tompolo had yielded to the pleas of his kinsmen came thereafter as he issued a statement rationalising his intentions for the meeting, regretting however that he was misunderstood. His statement read: “I am compelled to clarify issues as they relate to the meeting of the leadership of ex-agitators under the platform of MEND and other organisations summoned at my instance. “The nation would recall that in the build up to the Amnesty offer of the late president, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, there was hesitance on the part of most of Niger Delta agitators until God in His infinite mercy, granted me wisdom to provide leadership. “The nation will also recall that under the Amnesty programme as inherited by the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, relative peace was enjoyed even as security of lives and property was enhanced to an appreciable level. “Also oil production increased from 700,000 barrels per day to 2.5million

� Jonathan, Ijaw leaders, Niger-Delta governors intervene � Security beef-up in Bayelsa

Tompolo and Dokubo

barrels per day. Put simply, hitherto aggrieved Niger-Delta youths who inadvertently became agitators, upon the acceptance of the Amnesty offer, refrained from armed agitation to face normal urban life. “Nonetheless, while some of us understand to an extent, the apparent delay in the continued payment of the monthly stipend to the ex-agitators in view of the seeming scrutiny of government agencies, including the Amnesty office by the current administration, same cannot be said of the majority of beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme. “To this extent, some of us, particularly myself and other leaders have been under intense pressure from ex-agitators’ commanders, individuals, parents and guardians as well as communities who are beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme. “While a few see the delay in the payment of their monthly stipends in the light of the need for the current government to settle in properly, others see the delay as a template to stop the programme. The expulsion of some students (home and overseas) by their schools and training institutions particularly has heightened these fears. “Hence, I thought it wise that a meeting of the collegiate leadership of the platform under which we operated as agitators could be convened to appraise the situation and possibly, explore means to douse the tension that is growing among the disarmed youths whose stipends (training allowances and tuition fees) have been delayed for months. “This becomes more compelling in view of the fact that as leaders of the platform that served as midwife to the Amnesty offer, we owe the nation a duty

whatever form. “We appreciate the pressures being mounted by leaders from the region, especially as some have expressed concern that the meeting could be misinterpreted to mean the resurgence of hostilities in the region; we say it is not. “However, we take into account the fact that having embraced peace and remained supportive of various governments at all levels including the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, we are surprised that a meeting of ex-agitators could prop anxiety. “Hence, we shall ensure our genuine intentions are reflected in our attitude towards peace, security and development of the Region. Calling off today’s meeting can also be an option if need be, in order to strengthen our belief in a peaceful Niger Delta”, Tompolo said in the statement signed by him. Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson

to play our roles in order to stem a relapse of the relative peace in the Niger Delta Region. “Therefore, I consider it unfortunate that a section of the Nigerian nation and the media have chosen to mischievously thread the path of misinforming the public and right thinking persons by linking the meeting to whatever decision the current government at the centre may have taken in relation to the stoppage of the pipeline surveillance contract, even though payment have not been made for the services rendered in the renewed contract, or termination of appointments. This is highly provocative and despicable. “The tension generated by the meeting is uncalled for, diversionary and mischievous as no evil is intended in

…Security Beefed Up In Bayelsa Meanwhile, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital is said to have experienced a sudden security beef up around major spots in the town. A military source told our correspondent that there was the need to ensure that if at all, the meeting ended peacefully. It was also gathered that special units of the military intelligence outfits as well as the Department of State Services (DSS) were secretly deployed to the state immediately after the notice of the meeting went viral. “We are on top of the situation to ensure that there are no stray incidents; we are calm but watchful and nothing will be taken for granted because the man(Tompolo) has the capacity to dislocate circles even though we cannot say what the intentions for the meeting are,” he said.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Rumbles in the delta

Cover

When the news broke that former militants in the creeks of the delta were planning an impromptu meeting slated for today, security circles quaked. This is expected. They were the same people that held the country hostage for years in the name of agitation for their rights. But, would this latest move, have reenacted the jungle style military campaign for internal reparation? ISIOMA MADIKE looks at this new twist through the eyes of experts

nxiety had built up in the air as the creeks of the Niger Delta roared again. One of the founders of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, had kept Nigeria and Nigerians on their toes. With his summon of key commanders of the group to a meeting, which was supposed to hold today, there were fears that the country, in a matter of days, might explode again. That, of course, would have been bad news to not only Nigeria but also to the world at large as such would have added to the already frightening war on terror that Boko Haram sect has unleashed on the country via the North that is yet to abate. The meeting of the once deadly militant movement, billed for Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, was however, called off as reason prevailed. An extract from Ekpemupolo’s statement read: “I am compelled to clarify issues as they relate to the meeting of the leadership of ex-agitators under the platform of MEND and other organisations summoned at my instance. “The nation would recall that in the build up to the Amnesty offer of the late president, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, there was hesitance on the part of most of Niger Delta agitators until God in His infinite mercy, granted me wisdom to provide leadership. The nation will also recall that under the Amnesty programme as inherited by the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, relative peace was enjoyed even as security of lives and property was enhanced to an appreciable level. “To this extent, some of us, particularly myself and other leaders have been under intense pressure from ex-agitators’ commanders, individuals, parents and guardians as well as communities who are beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme. While a few see the delay in the payment of their monthly stipends in the light of the need for the current government to settle in properly, others see the delay as a template to stop the programme. The expulsion of some students (home and overseas) by their schools and training institutions particularly has heightened these fears. “Therefore, I consider it unfortunate that a section of the Nigerian Nation and the Media have chosen to mischievously thread the path of misinforming the public and right thinking persons by linking the meeting to whatever decision the current government at the centre may have taken in relation to the stoppage of the pipeline surveillance contract, even though payment have not been made for the services rendered in the renewed contract, or termination of appointments. This is highly provocative and despicable. “We appreciate the pressures being mounted by leaders from the region especially as some have expressed concern that the meeting could be misinterpreted to mean the resurgence of hostilities in the

Region; we say it is not,” Tompolo said. Incidentally, the planned meeting had sent disturbing signals to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It would have been the first official meeting of MEND since its members, who disrupted oil production and embarked on kidnapping of oil workers and piracy, accepted the amnesty offer of the administration of the late president Yar’Adua in 2009. Tompolo had called it a crucial and urgent meeting of leaders of various wings of the militant group. His spokesman, Paul Bebenimibo, though, allayed fears that it was a prelude to the outbreak of fresh hostilities in the oil-rich region, many believe he was only being economical with the truth. In spite of this assurances however, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the oil-rich Niger Delta region seemed not convinced and comfortable. “We are worried; this man is not known for frivolities and we need to find out why such a meeting at this time because he has remained silent and had made suggestions on the way forward for the Niger Delta region under this administration,” a top APC leader from the South-South, said. Despite this fear, the presidency said it had no comment to make on the planned meeting, which is coming on the heels of the president’s return from a state visit to the United States. Femi Adesina, who spoke on behalf of the government, said: “I cannot make any comment on a meeting I know nothing about; you will also note that we just returned to the country, so there is nothing to say.” Meanwhile, Saturday Telegraph gathered that the meeting may have been slated to discuss among other things the statement credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the alleged poor performance of the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan would continue to affect the Niger Delta region. There was also the issue of the planned probe and possible arrest of Jonathan as well as the delay in appointing the head of

Buhari

the amnesty programme. Non-payment of three months allowances and scholarship fees to former militants undergoing training in the country and abroad is equally on the table as well as the composition and structure of the new MEND. Cause of action to take about the actions of Buhari since his assumption of office and the revocation of Tompolo’s maritime security contract are suspected to be among issues to be discussed The presidency had ordered the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to discontinue payment for the provision of platforms for security of the nation’s waterways to Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL), a few weeks ago. The move, according to presidency sources, is meant to strengthen the Navy and marine police instead of leaving the security of the nation’s waterways in the hands of private individuals. The $103 million (N21 billion) maritime security contract was approved by the Jonathan’s administration and awarded by NIMASA in 2011, shortly after its DirectorGeneral, Patrick Akpobolokemi, was appointed to head the agency. Akpobolokemi himself was recently shoved aside in what leaders of the South-south region described as a shocked move meant to shortchange the zone. “It is difficult to believe that former President Goodluck Jonathan would hand out the security of the nation’s entire maritime domain to his kinsman under the guise of Public Private Partnership (PPP). It was certain that such a contract would not stand the test of time. It was a matter of time and like the pipeline security contracts awarded by the same regime, its time is over,” added the source.

An ex-militant and his group at the height of their violent campaign

photo: sunnewsonline.com

The Federal Government had also cancelled pipeline protection contracts awarded to the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). Ex-militant, Mujahid Asari Dokubo had warned shortly after Buhari took over the helm of affairs from Jonathan that “Nigeria will never be the same again.” He had, however, said that he would wait for the then President-elect to “draw first blood” before taking action. Dokubo had threatened that his group, the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), was ready to begin its battle again under the new government. He also boasted that “truly Nigeria will never be the same again; the future is pregnant.” The question was: Is that pregnant future here now? That was the puzzle for Nigerians at that moment. But, national chairman of Advance Democratic Congress (ADC), Okey Nwosu, is praying that Nigeria does not return to the horrible path again. He is of the belief that the new government must learn to navigate mindfully. “We have transited from militancy in Niger Delta courtesy late President Umaru Yar’Adua and ex-president Goodluck Jonathan. Challenges that we have overcome must not be reawakened. Also, our media must be careful. I believe that the leadership of the groups have become more sophisticated, disciplined and patriotic. They can seek justice the right way if any government tramples on them,” Nwosu said. A security expert and regional vice president, Asis International Region (AIR), West Africa and Central Africa, For Wilson Esangbedo, is of the opinion that the militants may be looking at the possibility of forcing the government to reverse itself on the revocation of the pipeline contract awarded to some of them in recent past.. “They were rewarded as it were with the contracts, which were actually a ploy to dissuade them from fermenting trouble in the region again. “Now, the feelings one gets is that they are somewhat feeling deprived and would want to maintain relevance. And the only way to achieve that is to continue to blow up the oil pipelines again; this time around, not only for resource control but to have a share of the so-called national cake. “But, the fear is that Nigeria may not have what it takes to take on two violent militants at this point in time. If it is allowed to happen, we sure may not have a country to be called ours in near future,” Esangbedo said.

FaceOff SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 25 JULY 2015

Olayinka’s memorial: APC is re-cycling a familiar hypocrisy, says PDP How best can a worthy departed soul be remembered? In Ekiti State, keeping the memory of the late Deputy-Governor, Mrs Olufunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, fresh in the minds of the people has ignited a huge fight between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). ADESINA WAHAB speaks to the Special Assistant, Public Communication and New Media to the Governor, Lere Olayinka. Excerpts. What is the cause of the controversy over the Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka Civic Centre? The needless noise by the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State about the Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka Centre being built by Governor Ayo Fayose is not strange to us. The APC thrives in lies and cheap propaganda. In Ekiti State, the people have recognised the deceit in the party. We are amused with the ineffective rantings of the APC over the construction of the multi-purpose Adunni Olayinka Centre in Ado-Ekiti. The stock-in-trade of the APC has been to cry wolf when there is none. When, in 2005, Governor Ayo Fayose wanted to dualise the Fajuyi Park-Iworoko Road, the Alliance for Democracy, as APC was then known, hollered that Gov Fayose wanted to desecrate the nearby cemetery belonging to the Anglican Church. We thank God that Ekiti people are no fools as the APC think they are. The road was eventually dualised, the dead and their living relatives did not have to complain and is the road not being used by all today? In 2008, when the Peoples Democratic Party-led government of Chief Segun Oni wanted to upgrade and beautify Fajuyi Park, the same set of people accused him of wanting to desecrate the tomb of the late Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi. The story was reported in The Nation Newspaper of October 3, 2008 and quoted Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesman for the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation as saying the same thing Taiwo Olatubosun is re-choing now. Is it not stupidity for somebody to be doing the same thing, using the same process and expecting a different result? The APC should look for a better thing to do, we know that they are jobless now and their expectations from Abuja fast becoming an illusion. Is just burying a person in a lonely, big expanse of land enough to immortalise her? They buried the former deputy-governor and there is still a large expanse of land unused and we are putting it to use and incidentally, the facility will be used to address women issues that the late Olayinka was passionate about. Well, my late grandfather was buried in Okemesi. And I would want the governor to do so to where my grandpa was buried in 1983, what he is doing to the place the APC is complaining about. Somebody in building a four-storey building in memory of the woman, whose body they dumped in a lonely place and built a bus stop in a place where there are no buses

plying the roads. The bus stop is now used by lunatics and miscreants. The new centre will have a library, the Ministry of Women Affairs and other facilities. Issues relating to affairs of women will be discussed. What did they do for the woman? Fayose of PDP is honouring her who was in the APC. When Segun Oni was beautifying Fajuyi Park, the same people said he was desecrating Fajuyi Park. Incidentally, Olatubosun was with Oni then and he saw the hypocrisy in the AC then. Because of their claim then, a man came all the way from Lagos to see the place and he told Oni that he would want him to do so for his father's tomb. They are only recycling their thoughts. If the APC is regarding the construction of a befitting edifice to be named after the late deputy-governor as desecration of her tomb, someone needs to have his reasoning faculty reassessed. A four-storey edifice to be called Funmi Olayinka Women Development Centre is being constructed in front of the late deputygovernor ’s tomb

Olayinka

and if the APC is telling the world that doing that to honour the woman amounts to desecration of her tomb, it means the APC in Ekiti State has members with very serious case of psychosis. But the APC is accusing the state government of hating the former deputy-governor? Why should the state governor hate the late deputy governor? There is no reason for that. He has no reason to hate her. Somebody who puts up something befitting in memory of the woman cannot be said to hate her. The APC should sing a new song and stop needless cries. Nobody is desecrating

the memory of the late deputy-governor of the state. The APC should know that the people of the state are wise enough to know who their friends are. The more the APC spew out arrant nonsense as they have been doing, the more the party is hated by Ekiti people who, overwhelmingly, made Fayose their governor. To Governor Fayose, dumping the late deputy governor’s corpse in an open space with no benefit to the people is not enough. Rather, while the tomb remains where it is, the government deemed it necessary to put up a befitting edifice in front of the tomb in her honour and for the benefit of women in the state whom the departed hero was passionate about. If the APC people in the state see that as desecration of her tomb, something needs to be done to their reasoning faculty urgently. What about the law on Heroes' Park that the APC says the state government has breached? Are they saying they want to compel people to bury their dead in such a place? Will they go to Imesi Ile and bring Fabunmi's corpse to bury there? That is nonsensical! There is still a lot of space behind the structure for other things to be put there. Why is Lagos not burying people at Alausa or Awolowo Junction in Ikeja? The governor has not precluded the burial of heroes there- if the relatives of the people concerned want to do so. There is ample space for that. If they want to bury their dead there, there is still place. Does the law preclude erecting other structures there?. The APC is insisting the state government is wasting money on the new project? The same party that was in power here and borrowed money to build new Government House, state pavilion and abandoned civic centre did not waste money, by their own reckoning. The new Governor's Office they appropriated huge funds for did not take off after hundreds of millions of naira were squandered to clear the land. For instance, the pavilion, that was hurriedly put up when there is a stadium already, has only been put to use twice and the only time it was put to economic use was the N1.5 million paid for its use during General Muhammadu Buhari's campaign. They want Fayose to waste money on the abandoned civic centre when there are Jibowu and Adetiloye halls. I understand their concern, maybe they expected to grab something from the contractors if any money was paid to them (APC) .

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

FaceOff | Politics

Fayose has desecrated Olayinka's memory, APC insists The publicity secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Taiwo Olatubosun, speaks with ADESINA WAHAB. What is the basis for the controversy over this Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka Civic Centre? In Yoruba land, you don't talk ill of the dead. Before Governor Kayode Fayemi left office, there was an edifice under construction which is multipurpose. Governor Ayo Fayemi came into office and decided to stop the project and started a ramshackle, badly constructed project and using it to block a Heroes' Park. We are saying that the desecration of the tomb of the late Deputy-Governor, Mrs Funmi Olayinka, amounts to politics of bitterness taken too far, Governor Fayose's defence of his action betrayed a jittery afterthought. The governor's action is a deliberate act to distort his master plan for the Heroesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Park originally meant to be a library, instead of a Women Development Centre. This is an act of hatred. Why are you saying that the action by the state government (erecting an edifice in memory of the dead), amounts to hatred against the late deputy-governor? We challenge the governor to produce the master plan of the new building and show where it was designed as a Women Development Centre. Fayose's original plan was to distort and cancel the mas- Olatubosun ter plan that makes that space a Heroes' Park as established by edifice which contains a library, the House of Assembly law by research and archives centre, amerecting the so-called library to phitheatre and women developdeliberately block the tomb from ment centre after her, while the public view. third is to fleece Ekiti tax payers This is a deliberate humili- of their money as usual by such ation to diminish the honour a needless structure. We learnt of the late deputy-governor the governor is planning to name who served the state meritori- the Funmi Olayinka Civic Centre ously and erase her memory project, started by Fayemi, after in the hearts of Ekiti people. It himself or one of his benefactors was when Fayose was advised after he might have placated Adoagainst building a library in the Ekiti people with the ramshackle place that he came up with the structure he is erecting to block deceptive idea of honouring the Olayinka's tomb from public view. late Olayinka with a Women DeOgun State Government and velopment Centre when, in ac- the family of the husband of the tual fact, his plan was to insult deceased had preferred Ogun and erase her memory. Fayose State as burial site for the late depbetrayed his real intention dur- uty-governor, but Ado-Ekiti peoing his last media chat when he ple, especially the Ewi-in-Council, used a derogatory language for persuaded them to release her the late deputy-governor, saying body for burial at the Ekiti State in Yoruba, 'Eni to ti ku ti ku, (the Heroes Park after assurance of a dead is gone), why waste such a more befitting memorial park that huge space for her burial'. would, in future, become a tourThe distortion of the master ist site. plan is to achieve three purposes, including abandoning the gi- What does the law you mentioned gantic, befitting and multi-task on Heroes' Park recommend? Funmi Olayinka Civic Centre to Characteristically, Fayose portray Fayemi as wasteful. The feigned ignorance of the fact that second is to deny Olayinka the the land was meant to bury Olayhonour of naming such a huge inka alone even when all Ekiti

Fayose's plan was to insult and erase her memory

people know that the law established the place as a resting place for other Ekiti heroes and heroines who made their marks in the development of the state and contributions to humanity in general. Their corpses need to be there. Today, he has defaced the place without consideration for the legislation that set it up. He sees it as too honourable to be allowed to continue. It is not in good faith for him to do that. The Heroes Park was mooted by the administration of the former governor in tune with the global best practices to honour all heroes and heroines of Ekiti origin; it was to serve as ultimate honour to such heroes. In order to sustain this noble idea, the Heroes' Park was created within the prism of the law. It was, indeed, a creation of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. An infraction will be a disservice and deliberate impunity. As a mark of honour, the late deputy-governor was interred in the park in compliance with law. The park was beautifully fenced and decorated with a potential for improvement to accommodate more Ekiti heroes

and heroines. It pained us to the marrows that this edifice could be abandoned only to start from the scratch a mini women centre right on her very tomb. But the state government says the cost of finishing the abandoned centre is unaffordable now given the precarious economic situation in the country. Do you agree? When the governor said the former project is bogus, we laughed. Let him tell the whole world what he is spending on his project. What he is doing is not honouring Ekiti people as a whole. He should consider what the other project will offer. He should have assessed the cost of completing the abandoned project and know what is the best thing to do. Fayose's refrain of shortage of funds to complete Fayemi projects, especially the civic centre, is a ruse. If the governor had put the money he is spending on his women development centre on the uncompleted Funmi Olayinka Civic Centre, the place would since have been ready for public use

Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Sylva in the eye of the storm

Francis Sagbama n other climes, Chief Timipre Sylva, selfacclaimed opposition leader in Bayelsa State, would bury his head in shame for putting Bayelsa, ‘the glory of all lands’, in reverse gear for about five years. As governor of the littoral state between 2007 and 2012, a period of oil boom, the Sylva administration allegedly impoverished the people, under-developed the state by mismanaging its resources and stifled dissent in a manner reminiscent of Thomas Hobs’State of Nature. That is why Bayelsans stopped Sylva’s re-election bid in 2012. But Nigeria might be a paradox where anything goes. Sylva, who has, curiously, been acquitted of multiple corruption charges, now struts the political landscape with exaggerated swagger, posturing sanctimoniously as a governorship candidate under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). What a country! I can beat my chest that if Sylva throws his hat into the governorship ring, he would equally bite the dust the way he did on March 31 when Ben Bruce trounced him in the Bayelsa East senatorial contest. Already, the mainstream women and youth groups in the state, the clergy and Ijaw elders in Bayelsa have condemned the gale of defection of some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) members to APC, many of whom were aides, appointees and associates of Sylva. The groups have consequently led the charge in the re-election of Governor Henry Dickson. Tagged Operation Retain Dickson in Creek Haven campaign, the groups particularly the elders, clergy, women and youth organisations said they must return Dickson to government house to prove that there is reward for hard work and selfless service to fatherland. At separate events, these groups endorsed the re-election of the Countryman Governor. Rising from an emergency meeting in Yenagoa last week, the elders led by the financial expert and political heavy weight, Chief Francis Duokpola described the PDP politicians defecting to the APC as a shame to the Ijaw nation. They wondered why a party that controversially wrested power from Dr.

Jonathan, an Ijaw icon would be embraced by desperate politicians. They vowed to stop APC from gaining root in Bayelsa State even as they declared; ‘‘The APC has declared war on the Ijaw nation. Right from the days of our forefathers, the Ijaws have never been conquered and our generation cannot be conquered by APC!’’ Bayelsans are not in a hurry to forget how commissions of enquiries

were capriciously set up by Sylva with the sole mandate of indicting his perceived opponents on phantom charges with a view to making them unfit for public office. The incumbent governor who was Commissioner of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of Bayelsa State under then governor Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was principal victims of Sylva’s despotism. In 2008, precisely, less than 10 months af-

ter Sylva was elected as governor, he amongst other things, accused his predecessor, Jonathan of approving and releasing the sum of N150million for a Library project to the Ministry of Justice under the watch of Dickson as Commissioner. Sylva claimed that the money was diverted. The truth of the matter however, was that the contract was actually awarded but the money was not released before Jonathan’s

government wound up. The certified true copy of the handover note to Sylva which was made public contained this hard fact. As usual, we, Bayelsans knew the facts. We stood behind Jonathan and Dickson. And they triumphed over their adversary while the commission fizzled out even before the Sylva days came to an ignominious end! Curiously, it was a fact that under Sylva’s watch, corruption walked with

25 JULY 2015

two legs untamed. Public funds were frittered and the state was turned into a private estate of a cabal. In spite of the huge revenues accruing to the state, Bayelsa stagnated for almost five years under Sylva - no serious development in terms of infrastructure and human capital development took place. • Sagbama, a grassroots politician and Public Affairs Analyst lives in Yenagoa.

Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

xpectations were high when President Muhammadu Buhari departed the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for the United States of America (USA) to honour an invitation for a three-day state visit from President Barak Obama. Expectedly, President Buhari, prior to his departure to the US, had given an insight into what he would discuss with his American counterpart during the visit which, he said, would centre on security, war against terrorism, as well as trade and economic relations. Although the President has since returned to the country after the visit, investigations revealed that the President was able to “hold high-level talks with President Obama and other senior officials of the US government on how to strengthen and intensify bilateral and international cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and West Africa.” One interesting thing about the visit is that the President was able to acquaint his host of the numerous socio-political and economic problems facing Nigeria. Chiefly among these problems include the fight against insurgency, which according to observers, had accounted for more than 12,000 deaths and destruction of properties worth millions of naira in the North-East since 2009. To underscore this fact, President Buhari, during his visit, had appealed to the US government and Congress to review Nigeria’s status regarding the application of the “Leahy Law” to enable her (Nigeria) access appropriate strategic weapons to fight insurgency. Making the appeal in a paper he delivered at the US Institute for Peace (USIP) in Washington, on Wednesday, President Buhari said the blanket application of the “Leahy Law” by the US on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against the nation’s forces had denied Nigeria the necessary weapons to prosecute the war. He said: “In our efforts at combating the activities of Boko Haram, the new government has sought and obtained the support of not only our neighbours, but also other international friends and partners. “Regrettably, the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our forces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute the war against the insurgents. “In the face of abduction of innocent school girls from their hostels, indiscriminate bombings of civilians in markets and places of worship, our forces have remained largely impotent. This is because they do not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which they could have had, had the so-called human rights violations not been an obstacle. “Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy law amendment by the US government has aided and abated the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of civilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous crimes.” The president has since clarified this statement. President did not imply that the United States was supporting the insurgency, the statement said. The President stated that the proponents of the “Leahy Law” did not enact it to act in this manner, stressing that the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes. The president, therefore, appealed to both the executive arm and the US Congress to examine how the US government could provide Nigeria with far more substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings. “The longer we delay, the deadlier

Warm handshake...President Buhari and President Obama during their recent meeting

Buhari and the US Leahy Law Revisiting his counterterrorism appeal to President Barack Obama while on his just-concluded three-day visit to the United States, President Muhammadu Buhari made a passionate appeal to his US counterpart to review Nigeria’s status regarding the application of the “Leahy Law” to enable her (Nigeria) access appropriate strategic weapons to fight insurgency. But as NDUBUISI UGAH reports, the appeal may have raised fresh concerns on how far the federal government intends to go in its renewed war against Boko Haram the Boko Haram gets. At all events, we have re-written the rules of engagement protecting the rights of combatants and in particular safeguarding civilians in theatres of conflict. “As we ramp up our efforts to defeat Boko Haram, we know that winning this battle sustainably will require that we expand economic opportunities and create jobs for our teeming young population,” he said. South Africa unaware of released $15m arms funds… While President Buhari was busy making his appeal to the US to assist in counterterrorism, the South African Government on Wednesday said there was no information on the reported release of the $15 million arms funds that was confiscated from the Federal Government in 2014. Speaking on this development, the South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, promised to find out the status of the subject from Pretoria, but when the correspondent contacted him on Monday, he explained that he had yet to get a feedback from the authorities in South Africa. When Mnguni was again contacted on the issue on Wednesday, he said he had no update on the release of the money, stressing that he would not be able to speak further on the issue. He explained that it was not ideal for the Federal Government to read about the matter in the media without being briefed. “We have not heard anything (from

The longer we delay, the deadlier the Boko Haram gets South Africa), even if we hear anything, we still have to communicate it to the government of Nigeria, we can’t go to the press without talking to the (Nigerian) government. We have to talk first to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said. The dilly-dally game continues… To further put the issue in proper perspective, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mr. Ogbole AhmeduOde, said he did not have any information on the issue, stressing that there was no update on it. On his part, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation said it had no records that the seized amount has been returned to the government. The Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, who spoke through his media office, said: “The truth is that we don’t have any evidence to that effect and there is nothing here now to show it has been returned. “In any case, if it’s returned it won’t come to us straight and we won’t know immediately. It will go to the office where

the funds was first released before such records get to us. So, I advise you check with the agency from where the money was released for the arms acquisition deal.” The Assets Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had confiscated the $15 million meant for purchase of arms by the FG in two separate tranches of $9.3 million and $5.7 million. The first tranche of $9.3 million cash was found stashed in three suit cases by two Nigerians and an Israeli at Lanseria Airport, north of Johannesburg in September, 2014 while the second amount was seized three weeks after. The news of the first transaction sparked anger after it emerged that the private jet involved belonged to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Oritsejafor, a close ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan, said the plane had been leased to a third party and he could not be blamed for its schedules. The Federal Government later admitted it was behind the arms deal, claiming it acted out of desperation for arms to defeat the Boko Haram sect. The waiting game continues… Prior to President Buhari’s visit to the US, Nigeria had chided US under Jonathan for refusing to sell weapons needed to deliver “the killer punch” to defeat Boko Haram terrorists. Washington’s allegations of widespread human rights abuses by the Nigerian army “cannot be substantiated by facts,” Adefuye said, adding “halftruths” had been spread by Jonathan’s rivals and human rights groups with an agenda. “The terrorists threaten our corporate existence and territorial integrity,” the ambassador said, urging members of the Council on Foreign Relations to plead Nigeria’s case with the US administration. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The true test of friendship is in the times of adversity.” Despite Adefuye’s position on US “reluctance” to assist Nigeria, US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, on Tuesday, said the US government had found a ready and willing partner in President Buhari to tackle terrorism in Nigeria. Conclusion… From the foregoing, it is imperative to note that the US can help Nigeria’s efforts to protect her territorial waters and halt the menace of small arms and light weapons proliferation if the right atmosphere is nurtured.

Sport Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

Mikel to see out Chelsea contract

igerian footballer John Obi Mikel has confirmed that he will remain at Chelsea until the expiration of his contract. Mikel was linked with a move away from Chelsea after nine years at the club as he was offered lucrative deals by United Arab Emirates side Al Ain and Turkey's Fenerbahce. The midfielder who is currently with Jose Mourinho's men in their pre-season tour of The United States has confirmed that he won't be leaving this summer. Mikel who played for Chelsea in their pre-season defeat to New York Red Bulls says the manager wants him to remain at the club. "I have two years left on my contract here and want to see them out," Mikel was quoted as saying by the London Evening

Mikel

Cargolux squash tourney rounds off Idris Idris

he 11th Cargolux Merchant Express Squash tournament ends today, Saturday, July 25, in a grand finale at the squash section of the Lagos Country Club. The week-long tournament which has not disappointed in terms of quality of squash will today feature the final games in the U-15, U-19, classic and other categories. After the conclusion of the closed tournament amongst members of the Lagos Country Club on Tuesday, the U-15 and U-19 commenced in earnest with plenty of excitement from the youngsters. The open, which is the final category, served off on Friday. In the men's category of the closed version of the tournament, Haniel Hadison defeated Funmi Bankole 2 – 1 to clinch the

title while Imo Udo-Akagha and Ayo Ogunsusi both settled for 3rd place respectively. The excitement carried on to the Veteran's category as Mike Adekoya continued his fine form as he subdued Taiwo Sanni in the final to pick the title. The final was an exciting game, one truly worthy of a final with both Adekoya and Sanni exhibiting great skills in their quest to win. Captain Shina Akinfenwa and Deji Sule - both missed out in the final also gave a good account of themselves during this tournament but finished in 3rd place. Akinfenwa however fared better in the super veteran category reaching the final but found the skills of Welly Eyimina too much to handle. After an exciting game, Welly walked away with the title while Akin Aluko came third.

Standard. "I am happy here and we will see what happens. I do want to stay, the manager wants me to stay so I don't have any issues. "The manager has told me he wants me to stay. He said that and I'm pretty happy to stay. "This is going to be my 10th season at the club, next year it will be my 11th. I have been here so long due to the contracts I have signed and I like to be somewhere where I have developed friendships. "This is like my family now. Every time I come to work it's like coming into see my family. "I know the whole place, the staff, it is going to be a hard place to leave when my contract runs out and then we will see what happens." Mikel is expected to return to the Super Eagles in September after a long absence.

Ogba proud of Nigerian athletes Adekunle Salami

hile many people believe the fortunes of Nigeria is dwindling in athletics, the President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Chief Solomon Ogba, maintained Nigerian athletes are doing well. Ogba noted that despite the prevailing circumstances, the country’s athletes have performed well above average. “There are many factors hindering the standard of the

Ogba

sport but the athletes have been doing well. People might say anything but I am particularly proud of the athletes. “Blessing (Okagbare) is in the top three in the world, in the relays we are also among the best and so what is the yardstick of saying fortunes are declining? I cannot understand.” Ogba however acknowledged that Nigeria had the potential to do better at the global stage. “When I look at Jamaica, Bahamas and even Britain, I want to agree that we could have been better, but that was because the whole world moved and we did not follow at a point. The failure to respond to certain development many years back is still affecting us. Overall, we are not doing badly at all,” he added. Ogba is billed to be honoured on Sunday evening in Lagos by the Edo Sports Media practitioners Forum.

City boss dims Iheanacho’s first team hope Ifeanyi Ibeh

anchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has stated that Kelechi Iheanacho may not make his much anticipated first team breakthrough this coming season, even though he, as well as two

other City youngsters, has impressed him on the club’s current pre-season tour of Australia. The two other youngsters, besides 18-year-old Iheanacho, that have impressed the Chilean-born coach are 16-year-old Cameron Humphreys, who was

voted player of the year by his peers in the City U-18 squad, and 17-year-old Manu Garcia. Iheanacho scored and made one in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Roma. “For all young players it is important to have pre-season with our squad - after that

they have different levels,” Pellegrini said at a press conference. “Two or three of them have demonstrated they will have an important part in the future of our squad – I am talking about Kelechi, Manu Garcia and Cameron Humphreys."

Sport Slaming Adekunle Salami adekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only)

Interesting tales in ‘FA Cup,’ elite league

t is always sweet to narrate good tales. You do so with smiles and expect your listeners, readers or viewers to be equally infected. Sad tales are of course the reverse and in narrating sad tales it could be to teach a lesson or to instigate change. For so many weeks, I have been writing about the rot in the system: the in-fighting in the football family, the crisis that erupted after Nigeria’s game with Chad, Vincent Enyeama saga, Ogenyi Onazi’s lamentations, Stephen Keshi’s sacking and so on. The list is endless in trying to correct the wrongs in the system and putting in perspective the challenges before administrators and athletes to get it right. However, I am happy with the situation in the domestic football in recent time. The elite league has been very interesting in many ways. Away wins that were almost taboos are now frequent occurrences in the league. At the end of the mid-season, 19 away wins were recorded in the Premier league. It has never happened in the history of football in the country. The revolution started last season in which a total of 24 away wins were recorded but now just at the half way mark, 19 away victories delight me. Enyimba have won four times away and recorded three away draws. Wikki Tourists have also recorded three wins and three draws away. Evidently, the Shehu Dikko League Management Board is doing great but let me quickly add that the revolution started last season under the leadership of Nduka Irabor who is still a board member of the LMC. The referees, I learnt, have been doing a good job and this is also because there are independent assessors at all match venues. The incentives introduced by the LMC to boost the quality of the league are also commendable. For example, N250,000 is up for grabs for any team with an away win and N100,000 for away draw. Enyimba won N1.3m in the first stanza. There is also N50,000 for teams with above 5,000 fans in home games. This has the effect of making the clubs more creative in the bid to bring fans back into our stadia. The league body is also giving teams N200,000 monthly to maintain their pitches. All round, the quality of the league is on the rise and the LMC should work towards making things even better. Kano Pillars are the surprise team so far in the league. After three consecutive triumphs, Pillars have not been able to find their rhythm this time. They are 9th on the table with eight wins and eight losses. The team has 27 points while Sunshine Stars, the current leaders, have 36 points. However, Pillars have maintained their home invincibility in the last 23 years. Julius Berger were the last team that defeated Pillars at home back in 1992. This season, that record might crash especially with the current poor run of the team. Interestingly, the Federations Cup which I choose to refer to as the ‘FA Cup’ is also in the last eight with heartwarming results. High flying Enyimba and Wikki with the best away win records in the elite league have been bundled out of the FA Cup by relatively unknown teams. Remo Stars edged out Enyimba 1-0. Tornadoes Feeders defeated Wikki on penalties (7-6) in the round of 32 and went ahead to beat Dolphin also on penalties 4-3 in round of 16. Heartland were also on Wednesday bundled out by BJ Foundations with a 3-2 win. In round of 64, J Atete of Delta whipped league leaders, Sunshine 3-1 while Kukuruku FC of Edo defeated Giwa FC 4-2 after penalty shoot-outs. It is amazing that five surprise teams -Lobi Stars, Abia Warriors, Akwa United, BJ Foundations and Tornadoes Feeders – are in the quarterfinals in the same tourney in which Enyimba, Heartland, Pillars, Sunshine, Wikki and Dolphins have been eliminated. FA Cup is noted for surprises but the volume is so huge this year and it means the Nigeria Football Federation is also getting it right. Officiating has generally improved and merit seems to be prevailing. Eagles Head coach, Sunday Oliseh, should swing into action fast especially now that things are going better in domestic football. The NFF and the LMC should get more fans to watch these games live at various stadia and in their home through better television rights deals. These are good tales in the game and things can only get better.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

25 JULY 2015

NSBIF 2015 is organised by the Nigeria High Commission, in collaboration with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the International Enterprise (IE) Singapore. The second edition of the Nigeria-Singapore Business and Investment Forum (NS8IF 2015, is scheduled to take place on 4 August, 2015, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, while bilateral meetings/visits will take place on 5 August, HER EXCELLENCY 2015. The Theme of NSBIF2015 is, “Deepening NigeriaNONYE RAJIS-OKPARA. Singapore Bilateral Relation.” Conference Host. High Commissioner The event will bring together both pubic and private of Nigeria to Singapore sector officials from Nigeria and Singapore to explore business and Investment opportunities, aimed at beneficial business projects. It will equally, provide a good opportunity for the States Governments to promote their investment opportunities to Singapore prospective investors as well as, for both sides to learn from each other’s experiences. Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the immediate past Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment will deliver the keynote address and Mrs Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) will make a presentation on the investment opportunities available in Nigeria and an in-depth analysis of the Federal Government policies and measures put in place to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI), into Nigeria. The Governors of Akwa lbom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Ekiti, Katsina, kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers and Sokoto States have equaly been invited to the Forum. The forum will also provide an ideal platform for Chief Executives and Captains of Industries, to share business experiences, as well as, to further explore business opportunities, which will strengthen existing relations. Highlights of Event: • The signing of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Singapore. • Initialing of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) by Nigeria and Singapore; and • Presentations by State Governors, High level Government Officials, Chief Executives and Captains of Industries from Nigeria and Singapore.

DR. ORJI UZOR KALU, Chairman, SLOK Holdings

ALH. ABDULLAHI DIKKO INDE, Comptroller General of Customs Federal Republic of Nigeria

MR. OSCAR N. ONYEMA OON, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange

IMO STATE GOVERNOR, H.E. Owelle Rochas Okorocha

NASARAWA STATE GOVERNOR, H.E. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura

KADUNA STATE GOVERNOR, H.E. Mallam Nasir el-Rufai

RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR, H.E. Chief Ezenwo Nyesome Wike

AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNOR, H.E. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel

BAUCHI STATE GOVERNOR H.E (Barr) Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar

ADAMAWA STATE GOVERNOR, H.E. Bindo Umaru Jibrilla

NIGER STATE GOVERNOR, H.E. Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello

MR. JOHN SWINDEN Chairman of Advisory Board, Business Development, Swiber Holdings Ltd.

PROFESSOR JULIUS A. OKOJIE, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission

MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO ADO-BAYERO Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority

MRS. UJU AISHA HASSAN-BABA, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)

MR. SEGUN AGANGA Founder and President, 3V

MR. JIM ROGERS, Investment Expert and Author

ER. LOUIS TAY. Managing Director, Africa, Surbana International Consultants

MR. MOHAMED ISMAIL GAFOOR, CEO, PropNex Realty

DR. BRYANT (ABC) ORJIAKO, Chairman, Seplat Petroleum Development Co.

KEY FOCUS AREAS • • • • • • • • • • •

Maritime and Port Management Education/Technical and Vocational Housing and urban development Infrastructure development Manufacturing Agro allied Customs reforms & Trade Facilitation Water Treatment & Waste Management SME/Entrepreneurship Non-oil sector Financial and Stock Exchange Markets

Organised by:

Sponsors:

Event Partners:

Media Partners:

In Appreciation to:

DESTINATION

Lekki Conservation Centre's canopy walkway not yet an allure

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SATURDAY SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

Perspectives

Sanctity of Truth

When will our beggars go on strike?

N150

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Siasia: We’re going for goals in Congo T

Adekunle Salami he head coach of the national U-23 team, Samson Siasia, is banking on scoring away goals to win the crucial match against Congo scheduled for August 2 in Pointe Noire. Nigeria defeated the Claude Le Roy-led Congolese team 2-1 in Port Harcourt and the former Nigeria international admitted that the job of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games playoffs is far from being over. Siasia in an exclusive interview with Saturday Telegraph said the return leg would be decided by how potent the attack is. He said: “The goal they scored here means we do not have any advantage. We have to go there and play to win. It also means we have to score more than one goal to stand a chance of qualifying. “I expect a crazy match of sort and we are going to approach it with all seriousness. We have to score two goals or more because anything short is dicey. “What I am saying is that we are going to play attacking football as if we are at home. They need goals and we also need goals. We cannot go there to defend one goal because any mistake can occur anywhere. “The best option is to go all out for goals. It won’t be easy for either side but we are going to push for it and get the result needed to qualify. “ The former Super Eagles coach, who would be banking on two-goal hero, Junior Ajayi, as well as the very dangerous Taiwo Awoniyi to score in Pointe Noire, added that he had players good enough to carry out his game plan in the crucial encounter. “In the first leg, we created many scoring chances but were unlucky not to hit the target more than twice. In the first half, we could have scored three. So, we intend to improve on this to get goals in the return leg. As I said earlier, 1-0 is not enough for us, we are planning to score two early goals if possible to make the match easier and confuse them.”

U-23 star, Junior Ajayi

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: (Lagos 09029281425), (Abuja 08055118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: Laurence ani.