Saturday, march 21, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

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Nollywood actress, Funke Adesiyan: } 19 My relationship with ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau

battle for s’ west } 47

l Jonathan, Buhari in frenzied push for region’s over 13 million votes l Confab report: President’s trump card for March 28 polls

Be proud of your product, TAN tells canvassers } 54

BOLA OLAOSEBIKAN:

Doctor with a stethoscope and herbs

} 13

We’re working to } 45 reconcile aggrieved members, says disputed NLC boss, Ayuba Wabba

Ojukwu distorted details of Aburi Accord - Gowon } 6

Jega: PVC collection deadline may still be } 8 extended in some areas

Jang: Why INEC should discard PVCs and }8 card reader

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

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21 MARCH 2015

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Contents | 21.03.15 INSTYLE

Get Your Cape On

SATURDAY

Comment

CBN’s Bank Verification Number

mong the many reforms that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has effected in the recent past, the ongoing Bank Verification Number, (BVN) initiative must be most commended as it promises to fully integrate and better protect }15 banks and their account holders. Mind Portraits The initiative, which has been on since last year and is expected to end in A State of the Mind, an June this year, involves the registration exhibition featuring 17 paintings of the peculiar physical features of all by emerging Nigerian artist, account holders in the country. Nengi Omuku, opens today and Such distinguishing features as finger runs till April 8 at the Omenka prints and facial features are being capGallery, in Lagos tured using biometric technology in all }18 the branches of the banks and once these data are obtained in one bank’s branch, Just Kidding an account holder does not need to repeat Comedian Adebayo Ajibola, the exercise anywhere else no matter the popularly known as Holy number of accounts such an individual Mallam, talks about overcoming has in other banks. a tough childhood and making The data is automatically available to politically-correct jokes all the banks and can be used for pur}20 poses of more accurate identification of persons transacting business in any Off Air other banks across the country. MITV presenter, Wofai The registration process is free and Samuel, reflects on life as a literally stress-free, but involves people broadcaster, winning awards presenting themselves physically for and working with the Cross their details to be captured. Some individuals have, expectedly River State first lady, Mrs misunderstood the intentions of the Obioma Imoke initiative while some criminally people }23 are exploiting the programme to deceive unsuspecting bank account holders on Brume All The Way the Internet into releasing their secret or Since winning long jump gold at private information to such fraudsters. the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Such dupes have, with these fraudulentEse Brume has never failed to ly acquired information, stolen the funds impress. She speaks about her of these deceived banks’ customers. early days in athletics The point must, therefore, be strongly made and more widely publicised, that }31 the BVN exercise is not being done onEnchanting Tale line and that no one is required to release their secret and personal information onA Saturday Telegraph journalist line to faceless people masquerading as recounts an exciting time spent banks’ staff as doing so could put their in Dubai, a city that continues accounts at risk. to enchant even frequent Otherwise, the programme has gone travellers smoothly so far and from our observation, is receiving the full co-operation }42 of banks and their genuine customers who have come to the realisation that Plus: Street Diary 12| Love&Living 35 | Politics 45 The cape dress has been trending for a while. Not surprisingly, celebrities have been blazing trends on the red carpet

THE ARTS

SHOWBIZ

TV&RADIO

SPORT

DESTINATION

the initiative is aimed at strengthening the banking system and protecting the funds of account holders. For instance, it is a fact that this new system of identification will afford the banking system a near perfect safety net as biometric technology cannot be easily manipulated. This implies that fraud in banks would reduce significantly reduced. Incidents of individuals defrauding different banks using different identities will inevitably, be eliminated as such serial fraudsters would be easily identified and arrested for appropriate punishment under the prevailing laws of the land, given that the new system would be near error proof. Once this industry wide platform is perfected and operational, the banking system would be healthier and more efficient and Nigerians in the diaspora and even foreign investors in the country’s economy would be attracted to the nation’s banks, some of which are already making waves across the world. As such, funds flow into the banks, they would become stronger and better positioned to play a more robust role in the economy of the country, especially in such critical areas as the power sector, manufacturing, the petroleum industry and the agricultural sector. The CBN, the Bankers’ Committee and all other critical stakeholders must, indeed, be commended for this initiative, which would further restore the confidence of the banking public in the nation’s financial system. What must be stressed, however, is that there must be continuity so that the policy can be perfected and allowed to yield the expected dividends. Policy inconsistencies have been the bane of the country’s economy and this initiative must not be allowed to suffer a similar fate. Public awareness of this BVN project must also be intensified so that no account holder, wherever they may be, would claim ignorance of the directive and fail to be part of this move which would transform the banking sector dramatically for the good of all.

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

Eric Osagie

Editor n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu Deputy Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

News Editor, Saturday n Ndubuisi Ugah

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

I will win presidential poll, says Jonathan Ndubuisi Ugah and Anule Emmanuel with agency reports

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed confidence in winning the March 28 presidential election, stating that he belongs to a political party (the Peoples Democratic Party) that remains the strongest in the country. Speaking in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Jonathan said: “I will surely win. My party is still the strongest party.” President Jonathan’s assurance is coming after the postponement of the election earlier scheduled for February 14 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, speaking on

l Says he’s not desperate to serve l Commonwealth redeploys observers for elections

security matter, the president admitted for the first time that the outlawed Boko Haram sect was initially underrated by the Federal Government. He said the insurgent were now getting weaker and all territories under their control would be retaken within a month. “They are getting weaker and weaker by the day. I am very hopeful that it will not take us more than a month to recover the old territories that hitherto have been in their (Boko Haram’s) hands,” he said. President Jonathan said the newly acquired military equipment, as well as cooperation with neighbour-

ing countries, had helped push the insurgents out. On the abducted Chibok girls, the president said he was hopeful they are still alive and some of them may be at the Sambisa forest. Regarding the violence that has gone on during the period of his presidency, President Jonathan said: “Whatever goes wrong, I accept. Whatever goes right, I take the glory. Whenever I hear that somebody dies in Nigeria... I feel pained because they are all Nigerians.” Also speaking at the public launch of a book, “The People’s Choice: The story of President Goodluck Jonathan,” written by Rev. Fr. Charles Imokhai,

President Jonathan said although he was ready and willing to continue to serve as the president of the country, he was not desperate to continue in office. He said this informed the reason why he had remained unruffled despite the various things that had been said or written about him. Jonathan advised politicians who are interested in occupying any elective position either at state or federal level not to be desperate. The President said: “My second message is to all of us, especially those of us who are politicians, that for all of us who want to serve,

we should be ready to serve but we should not be desperate to serve our people. “Sometimes, people ask me that Mr. President, from what we read and what we see, we see you are still smiling and unruffled. Yes, nothing will really ruffle me because I am willing and ready to serve but I am not desperate to serve. That is what keeps me going. “All of us who want to hold offices from the least, a councillor of a ward or a chairman of a council, a member of the state House of Assembly or member of House of Representatives, Senate, governor or the President, if all of us are always ready and willing to serve our people but we are not desperate in that our mission, then of course Nigeria will be a better place for all of us.” In another development, Commonwealth election observers are set to redeploy to Nigeria ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, to be held on March 28. The Commonwealth Observer Group is led by a former President of Malawi, Dr. Bakili Muluzi. Commonwealth Secre-

tary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, in a statement yesterday constituted the observer group at the invitation of INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega. The Commonwealth observers were initially deployed to Nigeria in early February for the February 14 election. Following a sixweek postponement, the group was reconstituted by the Secretary-General and will be redeployed ahead of polling day. Sharma said: “The Commonwealth has been following developments closely since the elections were rescheduled. We are pleased that INEC has used the additional time to strengthen its preparedness for the elections. We are also pleased that more than 80 per cent of registered voters have now collected their Permanent Voter Cards. “The Commonwealth urges all involved in these elections to put the interest of Nigeria above all other considerations, and to play their parts in ensuring peaceful, transparent and credible elections. The Nigerian people, alongside the wider region and wider world, expect this in Africa’s largest democracy.” Sharma underscored the importance of these elections being held as planned on March 28 and April 11.

Gowon accuses Ojukwu of distorting Aburi Accord L-R: Former Chief of General Staff, General Oladipo Diya (retd.); National Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Chief Uche Secondus; President Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon(retd.), at the launch of a book on President Jonathan at the State House, Abuja… yesterday Photo: Timothy Ikuomenisan

You have cheapened yourself, APC tells Ndigbo Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

or adopting President Goodluck Jonathan without negotiating, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday stated that the SouthEast geopolitical zone has cheapened itself politically. Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke when the Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA) from the 19 Northern states came to pay their allegiance to the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said the South-East was not considered in the negotiation going on for the forthcoming presidential election. He said the Ndigbo, who had shown that they had a serious stake in Nigeria because of the versatility to settle anywhere had lost that negotiating power that other geopolitical

l Buhari: PDP squandered ‘nation’s wealth’ zones are enjoying today. He stated that today in the South-West that it is 60 per cent to 40 per cent between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC national chairman stated that President Jonathan was from the South-South, but noted that the South-South people were not adopting him as he had disappointed them. He posited that for SouthEast through Ohaneze Ndigbo to adopt Jonathan meant that they were crying more than the bereaved. He said: “Why are you carrying your eggs in one basket. When that basket falls and the eggs break you are left with zero. It is 95 per cent to five per cent. Where is your bargaining power? Nobody needs to do anything, you are already there. Why are you playing that kind of politics? “If you really sit down

and think, how does an Igbo man becomes president? We are the only progressive voice in this country and the progressive politics dictates that you must give everybody a sense of belonging but if you are 100 per cent in the wrong camp it forms the impression that even if you nominate an Igbo man you will still not vote for him.” Speaking on behalf of Eze Udo, Eze Uche Egenti, said Nigerians especially the Igbo would not want to experience another civil war. He said: “We are here to support your aspiration to become the president of this country, we know you it is easier to work with you because of what you stand for. We are not ready to be plunged into another civil war and we are pleading with you to help us organise Nigeria again. We want discipline to reign again.”

In his remarks, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, a national leader of APC, said the essence of the meeting was to reassure Buhari of the support of Igbo people. In his reaction, Buhari went down memory lane, revealing how the military government saved a fortune for the country only to be squandered by the PDP. He said: “I could recall the good old days. When it is Christmas and New Year, virtually all businesses shut down in the north especially in Kano. Until the Igbo go back again before the businesses will pick up again. After the interruption of the civil war, I must admit that the elements of the First Republic civil service were good because to the best of my knowledge, wherever the Igbo have property in town, there were committees in the respective towns.”

Anule Emmanuel

ormer Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has accused the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, of misrepresenting the Aburi Accord, which subsequently led to the Nigeria civil war. Gowon said this while marking his remarks at the launch of a book, “The people's choice” written by Rev. Fr. Charles Imohkai, which chronicled the story of President Goodluck Jonathan from childhood to date. The former head of state, who also presented the book, said he made corrections on issue of Aburi Accord between him and Ojukwu signed in Ghana. He said: “I have seen that you have gone back in history in your research when Ojukwu and myself had Aburi Accord. “I was fascinated by that because I can assure you that meeting was to break the ice and to all of us to allow the military leaders at the time to be able and to agree to be discussing our problems in Nigeria and to solve them.

“The little handicap that was at the final phase was scuttle. What happened to us at Aburi was that I couldn't come back because I was unfortunately down with a fever. “And Ojukwu got back and made a statement and that wasn't what we discussed and that was the beginning of the misunderstanding not because we agreed to work with Ojukwu. Since you presented that we have a meeting, I thought I should make that comment and to correct that.” He said the book would enable the people make informed decision on the people's choice as the general election is around the corner. Gowon said: “This book is coming at the time Nigerians will be voting in a matter of days. After reading the book, those not yet decided, you will vote for one of our presidential candidates. “I can assure you that the President, as democrat as he is will say do not vote for me on the basis of religion, please vote your conscience, and if it is the people choice so be it."

21 MARCH 2015

FG, DSS disown NLC’s factional group Yekeen Nurudeen and Sunday Ojeme

inister of Labour and Productivity, Joel Ikenya and the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Ekpenyong Ita, have disowned the factional group that emerged after the conduct of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) election. The faction group is alleged to be led by Joe Ajearo of the National Union of Electricity Employees(NUEE). Ikenya, who gave an open endorsement of Wabba’s administration, when he (Wabba) led other executive members of the union on a courtesy visit to the ministry, said the splinter group was only existing on the pages of newspaper as the election that brought in Wabba was duly monitored by all stakeholders in the sector. He said: “We have not heard and we have not gotten any letter from anywhere in respect of any other NLC and it was in the cable of every Nigerian that there was an election here in Abuja and our ministry participated in monitoring the process of the election. “Therefore, we will not run to into controversy because that is your internal issue, the ministry is not part of it and we know that you will sort yourselves out because there is a process and I know that all of you know that process. “I want to also assure you that I am going to learn a lot from you people because I have never participated in any unionism activities. I want us to understand ourselves, let us not even have anything on the table to discuss yet, government is very serious about the welfare of

civil servants, so I will continue to consolidate on the achievements so far.” Wabba, however, used the forum to remind the Minister that Labour was a critical component of the Nigerian economy just as he reiterated that issues of decent working environment, casualisation and industrial peace and harmony should form the basis on which his administration as Labour minister would succeed. “Labour is a critical component of our economy, we produce and create wealth. Therefore, as the creators of the wealth, it is very important that our issues and aspirations are taken on board. On his part, Ita said in view of the constraints posed by insurgencies in the country and our political dispensation, Nigerian workers should mobilise by way of information sharing to stamp out the menace. According to him, NLC should be able to partner with security agencies at all levels to reduce frictions that exist between government and workers, noting that the Nigerian interest, rather than personal interest should be the main agenda. Meanwhile, the factional election was initially scheduled for today but eventually took place on Thursday night in a hotel in Lagos. The election produced the Deputy President of the Congress and General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Mr. Joe Ajaero, as president. The General Secretary of the National Union of Textile Garment Workers, Mr. Issa Aremu, was elected first Vice President while the President of NUPENG, Mr. Igwe Achese, also got elected unopposed as second vice-president.

Yoruba leaders commend Mimiko on post-conference summits Babatope Okeowo Akure

ndo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has received the commendation of Yoruba leaders for supporting Yoruba delegates to the 2014 National Conference and his efforts in organising post conference summits which have in no small measure, ensured that the issues resolved at the National Conference remain in the front burner of political discourse. The leaders’ commendation was part of the 11-point communiqué read by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, chairman of the fourth post national conference held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, on Thursday at the instance of Mimiko. Aside commending Mimiko for convening two summits in Akure, the Ondo State capital, one in Ibadan and the grand finale in La-

gos, the summits agreed that the resolution of the National Conference recommending the deletion of the list of local government areas in the states from the constitution is in conformity with the political aspiration of the Yoruba. The Yoruba leaders resolved to fully back and work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election, which they said would guarantee the implementation of the conference recommendations. In a statement made available by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, the summits equally commended President Jonathan for his uncommon commitment to the implementation of the conference resolutions as demonstrated by the Federal Executive Council's approval of the 2014 conference report.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

YENAGOA Ex-militant leader's home attacked

NEWS IN BRIEF

Four unidentified men yesterday attacked the home of one of the ex-militant leaders in Bayelsa State, Comrade Eris Paul (aka General Ogunboss), with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The attack, which triggered a loud explosion at the Etegwe area where the ex-militants reside, occurred about 11p.m. on Thursday. The IED, according to the aides of the exmilitant leader, was thrown into the premises from the right side of the building, while he was having relaxed session with fellow ex-militants in front of the house. The explosion damaged a section of the swimming pool area with shattered lamps and tiles.

VICTORIA ISLAND

FCT

Defining Persona unveils Nigeria to maintain 76,000 The unveiling of a new book: hajj quota – Saudi

‘Defining Persona: Six virtues that transform societies’, written by Captain George Alily (rtd), will take place on March 25 by 10:45a.m, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affair (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos. Former Military Governor of Lagos State, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), will be the special guest of honour while the former Flag Officer Commander (FOC) of the Nigerian Navy Training Command, Admiral Francis Akpan (rtd), will chair the event. The inspirational book’s reviewer is the Editor of Saturday Telegraph, Mr. Laurence Ani.

The percentage of coverage of antiretroviral medicines for preventing mother-to-child transmission in low and middle-income countries in 2004. Source: Who.int

The Saudi Arabia Minister of Hajj Affairs, Dr Bandar bin Hajai, said yesterday that Nigeria would maintain her 76,000 quota in the forthcoming Hajj. Bandar stated this in a statement after a joint meeting between him and the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, in preparation for this year’s Hajj. The statement explained that the ministry’s decision to allot 76,000 slots to Nigeria was as a result of the ongoing renovation work at the holy sites in Makah and Madinah. It, however, quoted the minister as saying Nigeria could request more slots for consideration by the Saudi government. The statement said both ministers had admitted that last year’s hajj was successful and that this year’s would be better.

47,529

The number of air travel passengers of Ibadan airport in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

2.8% The annual rate of increase in population of Eastern Africa in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

S&P downgrades Nigeria to B+ VERDICT

Nigeria's economy rating suffers setback.

Ayodele Aminu iting the decline of oil prices, which has significantly affected the Nigeria's finances, credit agency Standard and Poor's (S&P) yesterday, downgraded the country's rating to B+ from BB-. The foremost credit agency, which had put Nigeria on credit watch last February, mentioning revised oil price assumptions this year and in the medium-term, also said political risks were significant. Oil has lost about half its value since late June amid weakening international demand growth and rising supplies from US shale formations. Nigeria’s economy re-

lies on the oil for over 70 percent of government revenue and 90 per cent of export earnings. S& P said the outlook on the new rating was stable and that the non-oil economy would support economic growth. Commenting on this development, Chief executive, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, (FDC) described the downgrade “as a kiss of death and a negative for President Jonathan and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.” He said: “If S&P downgrades a country eight days to elections, it means that the international investors have no confidence in the economic structure in place.” Managing Director, Head - Africa Macro Global Research at Standard Chartered Bank, Khan, Razia, also said the move is not

entirely surprising. She said: “Despite Nigeria’s relatively-diversified economy, its fiscal revenue and export dependence on oil continues to be a key vulnerability. Weak fiscal buffers and subsequent pressure on its foreign reserves have exposed the extent of that vulnerability.” She, however, does not expect the confirmation of the S&P downgrade to have a significant impact on Nigerian assets, as the risk of any ratings action had largely been priced in already. “Elections, expected in a week’s time, are a much bigger driver of investor sentiment. The hope is that Nigeria will see sustained reform momentum in reaction to weaker oil prices, ultimately lessening its economic vulnerabilities. “However, progress on any economic reform will only be gauged in the medium-term. For now, the stable

outlook assigned to Nigeria’s rating suggests that there is little risk of further ratings action from S&P in the nearterm,” the expert said. S&P rates borrowers on a scale from AAA to D. Intermediate ratings are offered at each level between AA and CCC (e.g., BBB+, BBB and BBB). For some borrowers, the company may also offer guidance (termed a “credit watch”) as to whether it is likely to be upgraded (positive), downgraded (negative) or uncertain. An obligor rated “BB-”, the rating rung, which Nigeria currently occupies, is less vulnerable in the near-term than other lower-rated obligors. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

L-R: Wife of Bauchi State Governor, Hajia Aisha Yuguda; wife of the Vice- President, Hajia Amina Sambo and Emir Of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, during the visit of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Women Rally for President Goodluck Jonathan's delegation to the Emir at his palace in Bauchi…yesterday PHOTO: NAN

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

UMUAHIA Police arrest Abia child trafficker

N EWS I N BRIEF

FCT Jonathan congratulates Israeli prime minister

FCT DSS: Why fuel scarcity persists

The Department of State Security (DSS) has attributed the fuel queues across the country The notorious child trafficker in Abia President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday to the refusal by petrol tankers to load petroState, Mrs. Mma Achumba, who has congratulated Israeli Prime Minister, leum products from the South for distribution been on the wanted list of various Benjamin Netanyahu, on his victory in security agencies, has been arrested in Tuesday’s general elections in his country. to the North for fear of being caught in likely Akwa Ibom State where she had been In a statement by his Special Adviser on election violence as witnessed in 2011. The service, however, assured members of hibernating. Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the National Association of Road Transport Achumba, whose illegal maternity the President said he looked forward to Owners (NARTO) of security, noting that home at Umunkpeyi in Isialangwa continuing to work with Netanyahu to adequate arrangements had been made to South Local Government Area of Abia further strengthen the existing cordial guarantee their safety. State had many times been raided by and mutually-beneficial relations DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, said security agencies had been linked with between Nigeria and Israel. in a statement on Thursday night, that: many child trafficking incidents. He added that he and his government “Consequently, brigade commanders, police Police said she had evaded arrest for would also continue to count on the commissioners and state directors of the over five years now while a secret baby cooperation and support of the Israeli DSS have been directed by the Chief of Army factory which was being manned by government under Netanyahu’s Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and the her son at a remote village in Olokoro in leadership as Nigeria strives to overcome Director-General, Department of State Services Umuahia South was last year demolthe challenges of terrorism, violent ished by the state government. extremism and sustainable development. respectively, to provide adequate security.”

46.19

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Anguilla in 2009. Source: Itu.int

2.5% The annual rate of increase in population of Africa in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

9,700

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Costa Rica in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

Polls: Ignore IG, APC tells voters Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has told Nigerian voters to ignore the ‘unlawful order’ by the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG), Sulaiman Abba, urging them to go home after casting their ballots during the forthcoming elections. APC in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the electorate should rather listen to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who said the electoral law does not state anywhere that voters cannot or should not wait to watch and ensure that their votes are counted. It, therefore, urged the electorate to make sure they stayed behind to protect their votes after casting their ballots, as was the case in 2011. APC said contrary to

the suspicious directive by the IGP, INEC encourages voters to stay behind and watch their votes counted, saying the law expects such voters to stay behind but to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. “According to Jega, who appeared on Channels TV on Friday morning, the electoral law says anyone that has no business with the electoral process at the polling booths but desires to monitor events should stay at least some metres away from the polling agents and completely away from the ballot box after casting their votes. “The INEC Chairman further clarified that all registered voters have businesses with the process and could, therefore, not be classified as people that don't have businesses at polling units. “Therefore, the IG has no constitutional right or powers under the constitution or Police Act to rewrite the electoral law."

WTO condemns attack on tourists in Tunisia l Death toll rises to 23 Andrew Iro Okungbowa

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, releasing a pigeon as a symbol of peace, after signing the ‘Peace Accord’ at the Police headquarters in Owerri…Thursday

Jang, Jega differ on use of PVCs, card readers CONTENTION

With less than a week to the elections, Jang and Jega tango. Musa Pam

Jos with agency reports

lateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for insisting on the use of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and card readers despite the avalanche of complaints over their use. The governor’s position on the use of the card readers came on a day INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, insisted that the use of the card reader was very important during the general elections. Jang, who spoke yesterday at a town hall meeting at Angware, headquarters of Jos East Local Government

l ‘500,000 PVCs yet to be printed'

Area, said he was suspicious of the delay in giving the PVCs to potential electorate. Addressing his party supporters whom he urged to vote the party’s candidates in the forthcoming elections, Jang said the INEC chairman performed well in the 2011elections, which he said, should be consolidated upon. The governor, who advised Jega to beware before he soils his reputation, said he was optimistic his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would win in Plateau State because the people know it is better to be in the mainstream than in the opposition. “I don't know why the APC and INEC insist on the use of PVCs and card reader when it is obvious that there are hitches, I am suspicious of the delay in giving Plateau people the PVCs.

“If I go out to vote on March 28 and the thing rejects my fingerprints, I will still vote as long as my name is on the register. Jega should not soil his reputation by putting the nation in crises. He performed well in 2011, let him consolidate on that,” he said. Also, Jega, who was speaking as a guest on Channel’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily yesterday, said the device would read the card to verify whose details were on the chip of the card, adding that any card produced by INEC was right. “INEC has decided to do authentication bio-metrically by verifying finger print if it cross-matches the details on the card. If a card reader fails, or does not function, or stops functioning INEC must provide another one between the period of accreditation which is be-

tween 8a.m and 1p.m. “If they can’t replace the card reader election would be suspended till the following day when a new card reader would be brought to the polling unit.” Meanwhile, Jega has said about 500,000 PVCs are yet to be printed as at March 20 by contractors. He said the commission was not planning to extend the collection date which would elapse tomorrow. However, he said consideration would be given to some of the cases which fall under those who were yet to be issued with their PVCs. “As at today, there are about 500,000 PVCs which have not been printed let alone for collection but that does not mean we are extending the PVC collection date. Special consideration would be given to some of these special cases,” he said.

utrage and condemnations have continued to trail the attack of tourists in the Bardo Museum in Tunis, one of the leading tourist attractions of Tunisia with world leaders, organisations and individuals expressing sadness over the attack, resulting in over 23 deaths while many sustained varying degrees of injuries. The latest condemnation is coming from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a UN inter-governmental body in charge of tourism administration. The Secretary General of the world body, Dr. Talebi

Rifai, in a statement, expressing sadness and shock over the attack, condemning it in strong term. He expressed sympathy to the families of the dead victims and solidarity with those who were injured and the people and government of Tunisia. Rifai’s statement reads in part: “This act of violence deserves the condemnation of the international community. As part of the global tourism family, we are shocked by these horrible attacks. "The relatives and friends of the victims are in our thoughts and we once more convey our solidarity with the people and the government of Tunisia.”

PDP: APC planning to use Radio Chanji to announce fake results Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday alleged that the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) was planning to use the illegal station, Radio Chanji to announce fake election results. Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode at a press conference in Abuja said the confirmation of the existence of the illegal radio station by the National Broadcast Corporation (NBC) is a serious cause for concern. Fani-Kayode said despite its denials APC has intentions and sinister plots

to use the station for nefarious purposes. “Apart from anything else, they wish to use the station to announce false results after the up-coming elections are conducted. That is the primary and more obvious intention and motive. There is, however, a less obvious motive and intention and it is as follows. “We believe that it is only after the APC has been defeated in the Presidential elections that the secondary purpose of this station will manifest. The truth is that they intend to use it to create division, chaos and strife in Nigeria by propagating the most irresponsible form of mendacious and inciting falsehood and provocative propaganda,” he stated.

21 MARCH 2015

Fayose begs striking EKSU workers Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, yesterday begged the striking lecturers of the state university to return to work and prevent a disruption in the school’s academic calendar. Fayose, who appealed to the lecturers to show understanding over the nonpayment of the September 2014 subvention owed by the administration of the former governor Kayode Fayemi, said the future of the students would have to be prioritised in the interest of all. The governor made the plea in Ado-Ekiti, during the 20th graduation ceremony of the university. The lecturers embarked on strike two weeks ago to

protest the non-payment of September 2014 salary. Represented by his deputy, Dr. Olusola Kolapo, Fayose said: “You can all attest to the fact that Governor Fayose is passionate about the payment of salaries and other benefits. “We are begging for your understanding on this issue because allowing the academic calendar to be disrupted may not be in the interest of these students, whose parents have invested so much in. “We are not running away from the payment of September subvention. We are happy that the management has helped in the payment of the August subvention, which shows that the university has been looking inward on how to generate money to assist the government for adequate funding.”

Nigeria loses 21 oil cargoes to buyers' apathy Adeola Yusuf

ver 21 cargoes of Nigerian crude for April export remained unsold at the weekend as buyers apathy worsened, marking a bearish end of monthly transaction for the commodity. May loading programmes for all Nigerian grades are already expected this week subjecting the market to facing a nagging over-supply. This means that even a smaller export programme is unlikely to significantly affect prices. “For April, five cargoes of Bonny Light for a total of just over 163,000 barrels per day were offered for export," the April loading schedule showed. “May loading programmes for all Nigerian grades are expected this week, but roughly 25 of the

total 61 cargoes of Nigerian crude for April export are still available for sale,” the schedule revealed. The dipping demand for Nigeria crude was buoyed by low demand from Asia, which is currently the Nigeria's biggest market. India has nearly doubled the amount of West African oil it will import in the first half of April, traders said, in a buying spree aimed at refiners building stocks ahead of purchases to fill the country’s new strategic petroleum reserve (SPR). The world’s fourth-largest energy consumer has stepped up purchases of the Nigerian and Angolan crude for March and April, sparking interest from a market that is watching for stockpiling after oil prices crashed by more than 60 per cent between last June and January this year.

UNIPORT Alumni endorses Jonathan

he University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association yesterday in Lagos said that President Goodluck Jonathan had the required qualities to move Nigeria to new era of greater possibilities if he is re-elected. The body, which said this at a town hall meeting held at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on the theme: “The Role of Alumni Association in Political Socialisation, said the outcome of the election would define the life of the nation and invariably the lives of the people. In his address, the National President of the group, Mr. Sampson Ngerebara, said the meeting was an important one, given its relationship with the forthcoming elections.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

“The process of producing leadership for a society should be of great concern to all,” he said. He said the Jonathan presidency had strengthened democracy by allowing freedom of expression and the rule of law, which he noted, were major contributions to the development of democracy and its processes in the country. “Mr. President has created an atmosphere of peace and love for all Nigerians. In the face of high insecurity posed by Boko Haram, as well as the attacks in electronic and print media on his person, he has remained focused. Thank God that the Nigerian Army is winning the war against Boko Haram and we congratulate the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he said.

ASABA Olejeme mourns as Uduaghan dies at 72

NEWS IN BRIE F

Deputy Chairman, Finance Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, has expressed sadness over the death of Pa Samuel Uduaghan. Olejeme said she was greatly pained by the news, saying “Delta State has lost a great leader.” “His personality was a mixture of powerful mind and sensitive conscience, of firmness of character with calmness of soul,” Olejeme pointed out. The death of the 72-year-old political and community leader occurred on March 18, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.

40.5m The estimated total population of Middle Africa in 1970. Source: Un.org

YENAGOA Dickson hails ANCOPSS

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has assured the Association of Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) of his administration’s commitment to turn around the fortunes of the present and future generation of children of the state, through quality education. Dickson, who gave the assurance when he played host to the National Executive Committee of ANCOPSS at the Government House, Yenagoa, said his administration had initiated a number of projects towards achieving the administration’s objectives in the sector. Describing ANCOPSS as key to stabilising the falling standard of education in the country, he said the secondary school level is the most critical in the education sub-sector.

FCT Polls: Party denounces allegiance with Buhari

One of the political parties contesting for the March 28 and April 11elections, the Independent Democratic Party (IDP) yesterday denounced any allegiance with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The party made the denouncement in reaction to a national newspaper publication, which included the IDP as one of the 13 political parties that paid allegiance to the APC presidential candidate. In a statement issued in Abuja by the party’s National Director of Operations, Mr. Chidi Ike, the party reiterated its earlier position of adopting President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.

The number of deaths from probable cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone as at October 19, 2014. Source: Who.int

The percentage of disabilityadjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to malaria globally. Source: Unesco.org

I’ll pay salary arrears before May 29, Jang tells workers UNSETTLED WAGES Plateau gov pledges to settle outstanding arrears before May ending. Musa Pam and Dan Atori

Jos/MINNA

lateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, has assured civil servants in the state that he will pay the five months’ salary arrears owed by his administration before he hands over government on May 29. Also, Niger State Government has approved the release of N87.1 million as compensations for 161 persons whose lands were acquired in public interest. Jang, who spoke to supporters of the Peoples

l Niger compensates 161 land owners with N87.1m Democratic Party (PDP) at a town hall meeting in Barkin Ladi, said the delay in payment of salaries was as a result of the fall in price of crude oil which he said lowered the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account. He said: “It is not the fault of President Goodluck Jonathan. It is not the fault of any governor; it is an international market phenomenon and so, I am appealing to my workers to show understanding. What we have been doing is whatever we get we look at how many ministries it can pay then the following month, we pay the others. “We are hoping may be now that I have announced that funds have been

signed if we look at it we will see how we can take from some of the loans that we have taken to do some of these projects. With the improvement in the revenue from the Federation Account, we should try to sort out the salary by the grace of God before I hand over to your new governor,” he said. The governor described teachers accusing him of withholding their salaries as criminals who should go to jail for collecting salaries from the state government with fake certificates. Meanwhile, Niger State Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Peter Sarki, alongside his Fisheries Development counterpart, Dr. Yisa Vatsa, announced the compensation plan in

Minna, while addressing journalists yesterday. Sarki said: “Out of the N87.1 million, a total of N37.1 million will be paid to seven owners of property acquired at the industrial layout in Minna.” He said an additional 250 stores were to be constructed in the Industrial Layout through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy of the state government. On his part, Yahaya said the balance of N50 million would be paid to 154 families, whose lands were acquired for the establishment of a fishery hatchery in the state capital. He said the state government had renamed the Industrial Layout after President Jonathan.

L-R: Members, Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (QSRBN), Mr. Ayodele Olusegun; Mr Mohammed Olayiwola and Prof. Yakubu Ibrahim, at this year’s National Project Cost Reduction Summit organised by QSRBN in Abuja… yesterday PHOTO: NAN

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

DUTSE 500 APC supporters defect to PDP

N EWS I N BRIEF

A faction of the Ubale Hashim of the All Progressives Congress (APC) numbering about 500 from Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State, have dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Addressing a press conference in Dutse, the leader of the faction, Alhaji Alasan Madana, said their defection was informed by poor organisation, division within the APC and leadership tussle among the party’s high ranking officers. “Persistent lack of trust among our leaders, couple with poor organisation within the APC fold and lack of faith in ideology was what motivated our resolve in dumping the party and choosing PDP as the best option towards the realisation of our goal for success and prosperity,” he said.

UGHELLI 500 PDP chieftains join Labour Party

No fewer than 500 chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kokori, Egbo and Okpara Inland of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday joined Labour Party (LP) in the state. Leading the defectors, Chief Smart Ovie, a leader in Ward 6, said they had been in bondage in the PDP for over 16 years. He stated that they had worked tirelessly for the PDP in the past 16 years with little or nothing to show for it other than insecurity, poverty, lack of infrastructure and total absence of development. “Ethiope East deserves the best hands in Delta State House of Assembly, and looking at all the candidates, Chief Evance Ivwurie, stands out,” he said.

32%

The percentage of monetary cost as a factor influencing Primary School drop-out in Nigeria. Source: Nigeria.usembassy.gov

ABAKILIKI Anyim, Egwu for Umahi’s fund raising dinner

All is set for the fund raising dinner in support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi, for the April 11 election. Those expected at the event include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; former governor of the state, Chief Sam Egwu and Minister of State for Health, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo will attend the event slated for today. A statement made available to Saturday Telegraph by the Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation (DMCO), in charge of the Umahi’s campaigns, said the dinner will hold at Osborne La Palm Hotel, in Abakaliki.He said: “SEEFOR has not only created jobs, we are not just addressing insurgency, we have successfully reduced criminality, combated poverty and increased productivity and entrepreneurship.”

23.35

12%

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Bahrain in 2004. Source: Itu.int

The crude birth rate of Northern Europe in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

EFCC petitioned over ‘contract scam’ by Enugu assembly

group Concerned Enugu Citizens has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over what it described as ‘criminal reach of trust, conspiracy, stealing and looting of Enugu State treasury by the Enugu State House of Assembly.’ The petition was signed by its executive secretary, Mr. Caleb Omekagu. The group alleged that the state House of Assembly had drafted a resolution to be adopted recently authorising the state government to “issue Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to the United Bank of Africa (UBA) in the sum not exceeding N11billion to cover monies paid or to be paid by the state government to its contractors executing projects in the state, whereas in reality the said contracts are either non-existent or

at least not captured in the state government’s annual budget or provided for in a supplementary budget by the state government.” The petition reads: “Last year, about the month of November, Enugu State House of Assembly in collusion with some faceless persons, vaguely and corruptly referred to as “Enugu Contractors,” prepared, moved and passed for themselves a loan authorisation of about N11 billion purportedly for the payment of phony and un-established obligation of Enugu State Government to some unknown contractors. “The pursuit of the motion and its passage within such a time frame attracted the attention of Enugu State people whose worry is the rationale of a House of Assembly whose time was nearing its end to engage in such loan approval."

CBN: Micro-finance firms key to economic growth

Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Dr. Sally Mbanefo, presenting a gift to the Cote d’Ivoire’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Toure Nee Kone Maman, during Maman’s courtesy visit on the NTDC boss in Abuja…recently.

Shell rakes in $737m from OML 18 oil field stake’s sale CAPACITY

OML 18 produces an average of 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Adeola Yusuf

oyal Dutch Shell yesterday said it had completed the sale of its stake in a Nigerian oil field for $737 million as the Anglo-Dutch oil major nears the completion of a strategic asset review in the West African country. Oil and Mining Lease (OML) 18 and “related facilities in the Eastern Niger Delta” were sold to Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited. “Eroton also acquired French oil major Total’s 10 percent stake and Italy’s

l Company, others complete auction of 45% stake to Eroton E & P limited Eni's five per cent stake in OML 18, giving it a total 45 per cent holding,” Shell said in a statement. OML 18 produced around 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2014. Shell announced last October that it had signed sales agreements for all five Nigerian oil assets it put up for sale following a 2013 review of its business in Nigeria. The Anglo-Dutch company completed the sale of OML 24 in November. Another asset sold by Shell, Nembe Creek Pipeline, suffered a shut down on Thursday. The Nigeria's Bonny Light crude exports, as a result of this also suffered disruption following the shutdown of the pipeline.

Royal Dutch Shell, operator of the facility, confirmed on Thursday that it closed the pipeline for planned maintenance work. The Nembe Creek oil pipeline carries Nigeria's Bonny Light crude to export terminals. There was no indication as to whether the “short term” engineering work would affect Bonny Light exports, and the company would not give a timeline for the maintenance. The Atlantic Basin market is facing nagging oversupply, meaning even a smaller export programme is unlikely to significantly affect prices. May loading programmes for all Nigerian grades are expected this

week, but roughly 25 of the total 61 cargoes of Nigerian crude for April export are still available for sale. For April, five cargoes of Bonny Light for a total of just over 163,000 barrels per day were offered for export. This shutdown announced by Shell on Thursday came barely four months after Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) completed the sale of the $1.1 billion Nembe Creek Trunk line (NCTL) to Aiteo-led consortium, Shell has shut down the facility due to vandalism. Exactly three years after replacing the NCTL with a new line at a cost of $1.1billion, as a result of persistent attacks by oil thieves, Shell had in November 2014, sold the pipeline and Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 to Aiteo Consortium.

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) to the growth and stability of the economy cannot be over-emphasised. Director, Development Finance Department of the CBN, Dr. Mudashiru Olaitan, who said this at a three-day workshop on the N220 billion MSME Development Fund organised by the Bankers’ Committee’s sub-committee on ‘Economic Development, Sustainability and Gender’ said the importance of MSME remained a driving force to sustaining economic growth. The N220 billion MSME intervention fund was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan in

August 2014 to stimulate growth in the sector as a means of strengthening the link between entrepreneurs and access to financial services. But speaking at the workshop, Olaitan, who was represented by the Assistant Director, MSME Development Fund, Mr. Tobin Jonathan, said the workshop, which was conveyed in line with the vision of the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, was to promote financing to the MSME sector. He said the workshop was also organised to crossfertilise ideas and bridge the knowledge about the MSME sector by the lending institution and to also correct the wrong perception of the risky nature of the sector.

Aluko denies link with attack on Buhari’s wife in Kwara Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

eputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Mallam Yinka Aluko, has condemned alleged attempts to link him with the attack on the convoy of Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, during her visit to Ilorin. Aluko, who had been fingered by the APC in the attack said in a statement he personally signed that linking him with such an incident was absurd as he was nowhere near the venue of the attack. He said: “As a responsi-

ble citizen of this state who has a genuine stake and interest in nation-building especially the growth and development of our dear state, Kwara, I found it utmost important to condemn the unfounded allegation in its entirety describing it as uncharitable to the relative peaceful co-existence in which we are enjoying in Kwara State despite our political differences. “Let it also be on record the deliberate attempt by the Kwara APC to assassinate my humble character is frivolous, ungodly, unwanted, questionable and barbaric. "The claim is a blatant lie and cheap blackmail aimed at distracting the attention of the focused people of Kwara State.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 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

‘Sometimes, people ask me that Mr. President, from what we read and what we see, we see you still smiling and unruffled. Yes, nothing will really ruffle me because I am willing and ready to serve but I am not desperate to serve. That is what keeps me going.’ - President Goodluck Jonathan. ‘Let the government respect Nigerians as individuals, allow them to choose those they want to represent them and to lead them and Nigerians will be surprised to see how peaceful this country is going to be. - General Muhammadu Buhari, former Head of State and APC Presidential Candidate. ‘I heard that another batch of PVCs including my own have come, those of you who are yet to collect theirs should go and collect’ - Jonah Jang, Plateau State Governor

All alone... children at a fire stand in Lagos from where their mother sells consumables

Political rallies and traffic congestion in Lagos Dear Editor, Since the start of the political campaigns, motorists in Lagos have not known peace because of the incessant traffic congestion caused by political rallies. Lagos State as it were, is already congested and motorists have to endure so much traffic on the on the roads every day, either on the way to work or on the way back home after work. Now, traffic caused by political rallies constitute an added burden to Lagosians by further compounding an already bad traffic situation in Lagos. Therefore, it would be highly appreciated if the Lagos State Government takes proactive action to ease the traffic on our roads and prevent political rallies or campaigners from making traffic worse for Lagosians. Margaret Eric, Lagos.

The need for unity after elections

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Second Niger Bridge shouldn’t be politicized Dear Editor, I view the issue of the second Niger bridge as a necessity and see no reason why politicians should politicize the issue. The issue of building the second Niger bridge should not be politicized because it is a bridge that would help foster economic and social development in the South-East and South-South and in Nigeria as a whole. Therefore, it shouldn’t be viewed as an Igbo problem alone but as a national problem. Developing the South-East is equal to developing the country as a whole, because the impact of an economically buoyant South-East would contribute positively to Nigeria’s overall economic development and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Emeka Ogu, Anambra.

Dear Editor, It is very obvious that the country has been divided right from the beginning of the Jonathan administration. Secondly, the nature of the current presidential campaigns of the two leading political parties is characterized by so much hatred and calumny. In fact, hardly a day goes by without Nigerians hearing one hate speech or another, especially by the ruling party against the opposition and its candidate. Therefore, there is urgent need to unite the country after the elections to avoid a greater evil. I would therefore advise the winner of the election to set up a government of national unity immediately on assumption of office. Richard Aliu, Edo.

Similarity of political party slogans Dear Editor, I want to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians that the coming elections shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair. The truth is that both candidates of the two leading political parties appear to be committed to seeing a better Nigeria. Even the slogans of both parties mean generally the same thing. Transformation means change and change also means transformation. Let all Nigerians be truly committed to having a better country after the elections. Effiong Ubong, Cross River.

Can our first lady be ever amenable? Dear Editor, To say that Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan’s utterances can ever be controlled, could be an understatement. One cannot imagine that after reading the article titled “Can someone call Dame Patience to order” written by a renowned journalist, Mr. Kanayo Esinulo, which was published at the back page of Daily Sun of February 13, 2015, she still would not employ decorum. This is so after considering her utterances at her rally in Benin, capital of Edo State the following day, which witnessed minimal improvement. Does it mean that the First Lady is not amenable? President Goodluck Jonathan should have taken time out to plead with his wife not to make him lose the March 28 elections, because her utterances could be responsible, if added up. Dr. Cyril Kachi Madueke, Awka Road, Wuse II, Abuja.

‘We strongly believe that the implementation of this report that covers the views of all segments of the populace is also expected to help in addressing some socio-political challenges in the land, guarantee harmonious living among the people and boost economic growth across the country.’ - Olisa Metuh, PDP National Publicity Secretary. ‘To me, I think, we are getting to the age where people now understand their freedom, their voting rights and they consider them to be very crucial and important.’ - Otunba Henry Ajomale (APC Chairman in Lagos). ‘Our major concern in the PDP is not to allow our country to be hijacked by desperados masquerading as purveyors of good governance who promise heaven and earth to the people in the name of ‘Change’ without any intention of fulfilling their election promises.’ - Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, PDP National Chairman. ‘For those that are campaigning, saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear is. But they shouldn’t be afraid, because we are all yearning for change away from the way Nigeria is being run.’ - Hajiya Aisha Buhari, (wife of General Muhammadu Buhari). ‘Ex-military officers and security officers are trying to push aside the political contestants and use the unrest as an excuse to establish an interim government.’ - Prof. Wole Soyinka. ‘It is an aberration and indeed abnormal for a government to produce a constitution for the people as they are only elected to make and implements laws and policies in accordance to the provisions of the constitution covenanted by the people.’ - Olawale Okunniyi (PRONACO Spokesman).

SATURDAY

Street Diary SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

I wanted to kill myself when I became blind, says journalist The story of Solomon Abiodun Elugbaju, a journalist with Radio Nigeria, is inspiring. Despite being an orphan and suffering permanent darkness at the age of 19, Elugbaju told OLUSHOLA RICKETTS how he worked his way to success.

hen the doctor told Solomon Abiodun Elugbaju that he may never be able to see again, tears welled in his eyes. He was 19 years old when the disaster struck him. According to him, he left the school to get treatment after he experiencing a serious headache. He was then a JSS 2 student of Sardauna Memorial College, Kaduna. On getting to the hospital on March Elugbaju 7, 1991, he says he was told he had measles. But through interplay of some circumstances, especially negligence on the part of a family member he was staying with, the illness got serious and affected his sight. “I left the school with the hope that I would return healthy. Though I was diagnosed of measles, I later realised that things got out of hands. My aunt showed little concern and it became late to avert the defect,” he says. Elugbaju was born in Ile Ife, Osun State, in the '70s, but the deaths of his parents made him to relocate to Kaduna. He adds, “I went to Ogbon Agba Primary School, Ile Ife, and later proceeded to Anglican Commercial Grammar School. But after the death of my father in January 1988, my life took a dramatic turn.” The sudden demise of his father, Pa Alimi Elugbaju, affected him in many ways. His father was a “washer man” (a laundry hand) and an agent for the then Unity Party of Nigeria, while his late mother, Mosunmola, was a trader. “After the death of my father, I worked as a bus Elugbaju during a church service conductor in Ife and I would trek from Arubidi to Obafemi Awolowo University I lost my sight that same year and I couldn’t to help students wash clothes and carry continue school again." loads. I was not blind then, but there was Recalling the memory, he admits that it no-one to fend for me. The suffering even- was a painful thing. As a young boy, he says tually made me to go to Kaduna to stay he desired to do what everyone was doing but he could not do certain things. He states, with my father’s sister,” he laments. He left Ife for Kaduna with the convic- "I was left to a bitter fate. I never knew that tion that he would be able to further his a person of my age could go blind. I made education under the tutelage of his aunt. efforts to terminate my life. I drank battery During his primary education days, he water, but nothing happened to me. It was says he was always in-between first and obvious that God needed me to stay alive.” Later, Elugbaju joined a branch of the Cethird position. But when he got to Kaduna, things didn’t work as he had anticipated. lestial Church and was living there too. The He states: "My aunt asked me to wait till church later sent him to the school for the her son finished his primary education blind in 1992. Despite his challenge, Elugbaju, before she could enrol me in a school. I who had Islamic background, came out top was already in JSS 2 before I left Ife, but I in a competition organised by the church. waited since I had no choice. She even at a “They saw something special in me and my point suggested I should go learn auto me- performance at the competition elated them,” chanic. After persuasion from her son, she he adds. At Ade Okunbajo School for the Blind, later enrolled me at Sardauna Memorial College, Kaduna in 1991. Unfortunately, Ijebu Igbo, he says he learnt Braille writing,

If everyone could have a large heart towards the needy in the society things will get better for them typewriting, craft making, and farming. He also explains that the owner of the school was a blind person. “I was meant to spend three years, but I spent a year because I still wanted to go to secondary school. At 23, I went back to secondary school and started from JSS 2, where I stopped. I went to Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode. I left the school in June 1999 and got admission into the University of Lagos in December 1999 to study mass communication. I wrote GCE in SS 2 and God crowned my effort. I graduated in 2004 with a second class upper. I had my master’s too in 2009," he explains. What he learnt at the school for the blind saw him through his secondary and university education. Also, he says he was lucky to have friends who were helpful around him. “I had friends who were dictating to me and I turned it into Braille. Then, Nike Ashaolu was always seen with me. I also have Funmi Fanobi who is also a journalist. The truth was that no-one saw me as disabled when I was in school. Since teachers couldn’t read Braille I used my type writer during examinations. They also gave me extra minutes."

He says he was never distracted by ladies while on the campus. "Whenever I felt I like a girl I went to meet her. The least I would get was a no. I am not married but I have a serious relationship." When things were tough for him, he would find solace in his faith. “I remember the quality of food we ate when I was in the school for the blind because we paid little or nothing. When I got to the boarding house, it was another thing entirely. Our food changed because we were paying. Things got better gradually. At the university I was able to eat what I wanted. I got like six scholarships when I was in the university. I played talking drums too, so anywhere I ministered they supported me. I still play drums," he narrates. Elugbaju, however, confesses that he didn’t notice the goodness of God and the need to help others in the society until he was ordained pastor in November 2011. Now a pastor at the Highest Glory Global Mission, he has realised that God wants to use him to bring succour to people living with disabilities. “I registered my foundation in 2012 and we've provided scholarship to over 35 disabled students. We are not getting much assistance; we are still crawling, but I know things will get better. The name of the foundation is Hope and Life for Disabled Persons. I get calls from people who must have heard about the foundation somewhere. Every day we get responsibilities, but it has been hard to get financial support. Someone still called me last week that she discovered a deaf girl selling vegetables at Abule Egba bus stop, Lagos.” Though it has been put to rest due to lack of funds, his live radio programme on Radio Nigeria became the major means people were reaching out to the foundation. “People normally called in during the programme, but it is no more. The name was Akonda Ogo (Special Glory) and it was aimed at bringing out ability from disability. Most of the time I minister in churches too I tell people about us,” he states. Recently, he says a certain man called from Kaduna and sent N10, 000 into the foundation’s account. Regardless of the amount, Elugbaju notes that he appreciated the gesture. "If everyone could have a large heart towards the needy in the society things will get better for them. We should all stop thinking about ourselves alone. I also encourage people not to keep persons with disabilities indoor," he points out. Making a case for the government, he says they may not be able to do enough because the case of disabilities is increasing daily. “We may have records for the dead, but you cannot get records for the disabled and most of them are from poor homes. As I speak to you someone is going blind or getting crippled. Also, the government can only see people who are in the eyes of the public. I won't like us to depend on them alone because they can't reach out to everyone,” he insists.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

SATURDAY

WeekendDelight 13

C o n v e r s at i o n

Instyle Get your cape on p.16

Bola

Olaosebikan

TV & Radio Reflections of an on-air personality p.23

BRINGING HERBS INTO THE MAINSTREAM

Love & Living ‘I fell in love with my patient’ p.35

Hospitality The Kingdom: A piece of nature and pleasure p.39

Herbal medicine was once associated with the grimy backstreet visited by those who couldn’t afford the fees of regular clinics. Dr Bola Olaosebikan helped changed that when he embraced herbs in the treatment of patients much to the chagrin of his colleagues in orthodox medicine. He speaks with Appolonia Adeyemi and Angela Davies on how it all began. You were recently a guest on CNN’s African Voices. What was the focus? The focus was on malaria and the potential of natural ingredients in tackling the disease which claims millions of lives, as well as the use of herbs in creating products that can help supplement conventional medicine in combating malaria. It also focused on my Healthcare Herbal Products and the company’s mission to deliver good health to the people nationwide and globally, using scientific and modern methods of manufacturing and marketing for Nigerians, Africans and global clients.

Why malaria? I focus on malaria because 70 per cent of our diseases are malaria related. It is the number one disease in Nigeria and Africa. We have not done what we should do to eradicate malaria. Malaria did not start in Africa but it is now resident in Africa. Malaria started from Russia but it has come to Africa to stay because of leadership and management problems, lack of strategic planning, lack of focus and, of course, our temperature is hot and malaria likes hot environment. I remember those days when malaria was so bad, they use to call West Africa “the white man’s graveyard”. But despite that they were able to do what they came here to do. So malaria should be tackled and I have decided to be one of the champions who will

find lasting solution to malaria through drug production, public health education, use of policies and research. Malaria can be defeated as it has been done in the United Kingdom and America. Seventy percent of Africa’s sickness is due to malaria, it is the most common disease. So, the earlier we tackled malaria, the better for us because it is worse than HIV. I have produced a malaria drug which is effective and efficient. I am also working on a malaria laboratory and malaria projects in five African countries as well. I am also working at the international level with multinational corporations to ensure we have a global campaign against malaria and very soon we will have malaria conference in Africa. It is a global programme which will be championed by me. How involved is the government in the campaign against malaria? Government already have their programmes which they call National Malaria Programme and Roll Back Malaria where they distribute treated mosquito nets. But we have to go beyond that because we have to become more creative. So we must try to continue to see the good that can come from ongoing programmes and policies but be open to new policies and programmes. We are in the age of globalisation where we have to use new ideas. We have to do what the World Health Organisation say should be done to tackle

health problems which includes community mobilisation. There is no much community mobilisation in material control in Nigeria and Africa. What is going on is just top-down syndrome but what we want to do now is called bottom-up approach. We are going to have community mobilisation and we are going to also use appropriate technology and there will be inter-sectoral collaboration. There has to be orientation of the whole society and of course there will be a lot of use of local resources. This Atesunate drug for malaria people buy is herbal. All the medicine being used to treat malaria now are all herbal medicine from China. So in essence there is a close relationship between modern and herbal medicine? Yes, they complement each other. We are breaching the gap now; the reality has dawned now in medicine that science and nature must come together. Science cannot solve the problem alone again. Chemical drugs and surgery cannot solve the problem alone; you must put natural herbal medicine with it. So, it is herbal drugs that are curing malaria. In specific terms what is new in the malaria drug that you are bringing? It is scientifically produced and toxicity CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Weekend Delight

| Conversation

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

‘There are no drugs in orthodox medicine for many ailments’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 3

has been checked. Also, it is local. Atesunate is imported but what we are offering is Nigerian and African as it is made with roots and herbs across Africa. We must not neglect herbs, forest and leaves we have because what we use are called medicinal plants. More than 3000 herbs have been discovered to have medicinal values that were neglected before now. And we are developing herbal gardens as well. I commend states like Lagos because they have also gone far in herbal medicine. It is the first state to have a board of Traditional Medicine in Nigeria which was set up in 1980 by Alhaji Lateef Jakande. He is a past pacesetter in development in our country and every state should emulate that direction. States should encourage doctors to embrace modern complementary medicine and try and send their youths for training. What is your speciality in medicine? It is public health, but after graduation I did more of surgery. My boss then was Dr. Jide Femi Pearse. He was quite impressed with me because he said doctors who had worked with him did not read journals but I was always reading journals. I was not just reading those journals but I would tell him what I had read. So what motivated your interest in those journals? It was education and knowledge. I have always been a reader. A reader can also be a ruler. I have also known that it is good to read to have knowledge and it is only when you have knowledge that you can be an authority. So reading is a passion for me and it has really helped me seriously. I was the assistant secretary general of the Nigerian Medical association in my days and was in charge of media relations. And because of my reading habit, I started writing. Reading gave me so much I had to put out and then I developed a social conscience. That is, I had a connection with the society rather than just clinical conscience which is limited to the clinic. I have mentors like kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi because I was reading books that were beyond medicine and my thoughts were always beyond medicine. So those books helped and by the time I was assistant general secretary of Ikeja NMA I was in charge of the media I was writing press releases. Also, I became a columnist in Sunday Punch for one year in 1985. I was a doctor who was always taking press releases of NMA to media houses and in the process, I learnt sub-editing and casting headlines. In 1986 I started publishing Healthcare Magazine. So my reading helped me to acquire knowledge, activism led me to meeting journalists and I didn’t know I was going through another internship. At what point in your career did you go into herbal medicine? I came in contact with herbal medicine in 2000 through a personal experience. I used a particular product and it worked for weight loss. I have made it into a product now. That time it was just called weight loss medicine. In modern medicine there is nothing for weight loss. In modern medicine there are no drugs for many things. In modern medicine there are many things that don’t have cure, so there is medical frustration already from

diseases where there are no drugs. So at the time when there was medical frustration, I saw those agents I used then, it worked and I started giving it to people. Also there was medical frustration from a disease that they say had no cure called staphylococcus orus also known as staph. My readers urged me to find a cure for it since they have been taking all the “cin” drugs yet there was no cure. I found cure for staphylococcus orus in herbal medicine and that also became another watershed for me. So I started practising complementary medicine where I combine orthodox with herbal medicine. Sometimes I add devices which are also called alternative medicine like using pumps and machines. In orthodox medicine there is nothing called cleansing, but in herbal medicine you talk of cleansing such as putting your leg inside water, adding salt and you will see dirt come out of your body. So I started doing all that and it was evident that people were getting better. People who couldn’t sleep, started sleeping well, those with excess weight, lose weight and people with memory loss started recovering their memory. Also, people high blood pressure got better. And today see where we are. Did you continue your herbal medicine journey as the commissioner for health in Kwara State? Yes, I continued. I was the pioneer commissioner for health in Kwara State under Dr Bukola Saraki. When I was commissioner I had the opportunity to also be in charge of health policy for the whole state. I made sure we registered all the traditional medical practitioners in the state. I also ensured that we had an edict on traditional medicine in the state and they held traditional medicine fair as well. It was during that period I was able to classify herbal medicine into four groups. First are the traditional healers who use herbal medicine to heal people. Second, are traditional birth attendants who take deliveries. Seventy percent of deliveries in Nigeria are still taken by traditional birth attendants. They are the ones that can help Nigeria to meet the Millennium Development Goals because they are in the rural areas assisting women to give birth. We were able

States should encourage doctors to embrace modern complementary medicine and try and send their youths for training

Olaosebikan

to register, train and empower them with delivery kits so they were able to take delivery better and have quality maternal care improvement and reduce maternal mortality. One of the ways through which can determine if a health care system is good or not is in the area of mortality. The third category is the traditional bone setters and the last category is the traditional mental health practitioners. By the time I came back to Lagos, I set up Health Care Herbal products and I have over 20 products now registered by NAFDAC. I formulate products based on the disease pattern we have in Nigeria. As a doctor I know our disease pattern and so I am clapping with both science and nature. I looked at the causes of those diseases and then put the herbal components for cure together. I have been doing this in the last 15 years. So the journey started from information, it has gone to the level of industrialisation, international and then it will become an institution. Growing up My growing up was a very happy time. I grew up with my grandmother in Offa. She was the inspiration that made me become a doctor. When I was in primary school, I used to follow her to the hospital carrying bottles. Those days, most medicine were in syrup form, so once she came out of the doctor’s office, I would take her card and go and queue up at the pharmacy to collect her drugs with the bottles. My first love was to become a pharmacist because of that. As a child I wanted to give drugs to people because I felt that was the climax. But after my secondary education, my uncle said I was brilliant and that I should study medicine. He said it was doctors who head hospitals and prescribe drugs to be given out by the pharmacist. So they changed my interest to medicine. But I am still going to be a pharmacist someday. What has life taught you? Life is a school full of everything but it has taught me to be always positive and know that there is God. It has taught me also to be clear about my purpose and be my best to achieve that purpose. It has taught me that it is what you sow that you will reap. It has also taught me to always know there will be a future, not just the present.

Finally, it has taught me to be good and kind. Do you have any child that has taken after you? My first daughter is a pharmacist practising in Canada. She wanted to become a paediatrician but I suggested that she studied pharmacy. At the end, she ended up studying pharmacy. My son too is in a nice career and he is doing well too. All of them are doing what they want to do, but I keep reminding them to keep a good name and be of service to humanity. How do you keep fit? I do exercise, walk, jog and I control what I eat. I go up and down my office staircase about 10 times a day. I also play lawn tennis which is also a good form of exercise. What do you consider the most outstanding experience in your life? One experience that is outstanding which was also a turning point in my life happened in 2007. In a space of one month, armed robbers came to my house and my house got burnt by a mysterious fire. When robbers came, I tried to jump and I broke my leg. It was put in POP and I started walking with crutches. That is why I said life is a school full of everything. I never believed that I will walk with crutches or my leg will be in POP because we do that every day as doctors but we never know that there is always a turn. The day it happened and they took me to the hospital, six doctors attended to me whereas patients will get to the hospital sometimes and there will be no doctor on ground. But that day four doctors were around, one was in the casualty ward and the most senior specialist that we did NMA together in 1985 had closed for the day and was on his way home when they called him and he came back. Having been caring all my life for patients, I received the greatest care that day. I was over 50 when it happened and most cases, such bone fracture may not unite because of age. For some people they have to put bolt and plate to put the bone together. I had the fracture in June and by November my bone united. It was fantastic. Then on June 12, there was a mysterious fire and I became homeless. From being a landlord, I became a tenant so I cannot forget this experience. It was a turning point in my life and it was a circle I had to go through for about seven years before I could get out of that circle. I always thank my grandmother because she nurtured me with love, care, joy and stability. I always weather the storm because of the fearless foundation I had. Parents should give their children love and support them so when they meet challenges in life, they will always remember they will get through it. Educational background I am a medical doctor born in Kwara State in Offa Local Government Area. I went to primary and secondary school in Kwara State. I went to the University of Ibadan and I have been practising medicine for the past 34 years. I did my National Youth Service Corps in 1983 then I joined Lagos State Staff Management Board and worked in general hospital. I am the founder, publisher of the first health magazine in Nigeria, Healthcare magazine which I have been publishing for the past 29 years.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Get your cape on Angela Davies

he cape dress has been trending for a while. So it is no surprise that some celebrities were spotted in different styles of the dress at the recently held African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) as well as other events. A cape dress combines features of the cape and the dress. It is either a cape-like garment is attached to the dress, integrated into its construction or the dress and cape are made to co-ordinate in fabric and colour. International celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Solange Knowles, Lupita Nyongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;o and others have all rocked different styles of the cape dress at different events. The cape dress has undergone different variations in fashion over time. And it comes in different lengths, colours and fabrics to choose from. Depending on your personal

taste and the event, you can opt for the floor length or short dress cape style. There are styles like the short structured cape dress, lace cape dress, boubou cape dress, belted cape dress, cape sleeve shift dress, vintage 1960s cape dress and floor length. Also, the classic cape dress comes in different sharp lines, split sleeves and colour. Your choice depends on the fashion statement you want to make. If you do not want to adorn the floor length cape dress style, then you can try a shorter hemline for an alternative to the Little Black Dress and be the cynosure of all eyes. Just ensure you choose a colour that complements your skin tone for that sophisticated look. Due to the style of the dress, minimal accessories are required. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a celebrity to rock this elegant dress. If you are looking for the perfect dress to make you stand out at that event, then, adorn a simple but elegant cape dress.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Accessories to live for

Diamond drop earrings Diamond drop earrings are captivating and fun to wear especially with lovely evening gowns. ANGELA DAVIES writes.

iven the way they dangle from the ear, drop earrings are often majestic and feminine. They can vary from an inch long to nearly shoulder length. So, you are sure to find a pair that will look smashing with any outfit. Wearing diamond drop earrings for that evening event helps achieve a unique look. Diamond drop earrings are often found in a line or curved shape encrusted with small stones. Other diamond drop earrings feature

diamonds in circle or square shapes, or set in links that drop to the shoulder. Diamond drop earrings are an essential piece of jewellery for every woman. This type of earring comes in many different styles, from the elegant to simple. They are superb to wear with a lovely evening gown to a special event or a night out. You can also select matching rings, bracelets and necklaces to create a perfect set. Diamond drop earrings also come in styles

that feature many other gems including pearls, sapphire, emeralds and rubies. When combined with other stones and metals, you will be able to wear them at any time of day or night and look wonderful. You can wear simple but elegant diamond drop earrings to the office. A single diamond hanging delicately from the ear can accentuate that office look. So for your next special evening event, you should don diamond drop earrings for that elegant look.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

MY STYLE

Dressing on the go Stand-up comedian and actor, Saeed Muhammed popularly known as Saeed Funkymallam is as simple as he looks. His everyday look is jeans and t-shirt, he told ANGELA DAVIES. How would you define your style? My style is simple. I just mix and match my outfits. What determines the kind of outfits you wear? The event determines what I wear. When I am going for an award event or dinner event, I dress to suit the occasion. If I am doing my stand-up comedy, I may wear jeans and T-shirt. What kinds of outfits take up a larger part of your wardrobe? It is jeans, I am a jeans person. The good thing about jeans is that you can dress it up or dress it down. What is that fashion item you

would not be caught wearing? It is like Patorankingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outfit. I mean his two-quarter trousers, long socks and canvass. It looks like colonial police.

because I always put on jeans. But for corporate events, I wear shoes. I like designer shoes as long as it fits and I am comfortable. I love quality shoes.

Fashion accessory you cannot do without That will be my wristwatch and two rings.

If you were a fashion accessory, what do you think you would be? I would be a wristwatch because wristwatch speaks volume.

Best designer We have lots of creative designers who churn out unique designs. However, I will say Yomi Casual. I have seen his works on celebrities. They are unique and he sews to fit. What kind of shoes appeal to you? I am used to wearing sneakers

What fashion rule do you live by? Simplicity and comfort. Signature perfume Gucci. I like the fragrance. Best colour I like black because it goes with every kind of colour.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

Black print blazer

Facts

Olakunbi Oyelese, creative director of April by Kunbi launched the label in 2010. She noticed that whenever she wore clothes to events friends often wanted her to make same for them. So she went to the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, to become an expert in creating bespoke and ready-to-wear creations. She has designed for many Nigerian celebrities.

In Europe in the 16th and 17th Century heels on shoes were always colour red.

Sneakers were first produced in 1800. The name sneaker comes from the fact that their soles are smooth and hardly make a sound when you walk in them.

Hand-made items, such as clothing and purses, are considered very fashionable and valuable today. But up to 1850, 70 percent of people used to make clothing for themselves because comfort was what mattered.

he fashion face-off this week is between comedian and producer, Ayo Makun popularly known as AY, and actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu. And the outfit in contention is a black print blazer. AY, winner of the New Era Award at the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) rocked a black evening print blazer and black pants to the

Chukwujekwu

event held on Saturday, March 7 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. He paired the blazer with a white long sleeve shirt with black buttons, black bow tie and white pocket square. He accessorised his evening look with a brown leather wristwatch and black leather shoes. Chukwujekwu, winner of the Best Supporting Actor (Drama) award also rocked a black floral

print blazer and black pants to the same event. He styled his evening look with a white long sleeve shirt and black bow tie and accessorised with a black leather wristwatch and black lace-up shoes. Although both men looked dapper, however, who in your opinion rocked the black print blazer better? Is it comedian Ay or actor Chukwujekwu?

SATURDAY

The Arts SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015

Reflection with

Tim Akinleye 08098668480

timwriteswell@gmail.com

Have Mercy Lord Upon Me Have mercy Lord upon me, According to thy lovingkindness, Make me pure, make me white, Then I'll sing about your goodness. I have so sinned, so sinned, And come short of your glory; Please restore me when I'm cleansed With joy to sing of a wonderful love story. Have mercy Lord with compassions, According to thy tender mercies, Blot out my offending transgressions, Wash me in the blood my iniquities. I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sins and my blight. Before thee I make confessions, Of the evils I've done before thy sight.

'I Can Drive', 2014

'Fear', 2011

Portraits of the mind Tony Okuyeme

State of Mind, an exhibition featuring 17 remarkable paintings by emerging Nigerian artist, Nengi Omuku, opens today Saturday March 21 and runs till April 8, at the Omenka Gallery, in Lagos. Through colour, Omuku explores the extent to which the human figure can be transformed based on the premise that things could not only look, but also be otherwise. The release from the physical form has led her into a new territory, a moment-by-moment expression of beings that have been transformed from their present reality and reanimated through colour and marks. The artist notes that it is her desire to convey portraits: presences floating through active spaces, presences that have the aspiration of becoming events in their own right. She also frequently explores the encounter – what happens when different forms meet. Another element of her work is the scape, in particular, the escape the bodies inhabit.

Born in 1987, Omuku is an exceptional painter and sculptor whose oeuvre consists largely of a series of self portraits that document her strongly personal journey or escape across several energy levels as various expressions, bounded only by the law of energy conservation. Nengi obtained her bachelor of arts at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, and has won several awards including the Prankerd Joney Memorial Prize in 2012 and the Nancy Balfour MA Scholarship in 2011, both awarded by the UCL. She has also won the British Council CHOGM art award, presented by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. Since Omuku’s solo exhibitions titled To Figure an Encounter, Open the Gate, London in 2011, featuring paintings in her new-found abstract style, she has participated in group shows such as Deep Cuts, Last Measures, 2011, at Stephen Lawrence Gallery, Greenwich, Surplus to Requirement, 2011, at Slade Research Centre, UCL and The Next 50 Years, 2014, by the Society of Nigerian Artists at the Omenka Gallery, Lagos.

Wash me in your flowing love, And I shall be whiter than snow. My ears itch for your healing words; And rivers of joy that from thee flow. Hide not from me thy glowing face. But create in me a clean heart. Hence, Renew a right spirit within me and chase Me not Lord, away, from thy presence. Take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Less an empty vessel become I in days. Restore the joy of thy salvation unto me; So I can teach transgressors thy ways. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, Even as Christ died in my place; My tongue shall proclaim thy righteousness. And my mouth shall show forth thy praise. You desire not sacrifice, nor gift Neither is your delight in burnt offerings. But in a broken and contrite spirit: That values Christ’s death and sufferings. Unto me, in thy pleasure, do good. Build up the broken walls of my life. That thy countenance may gladly, as a hood, Fall upon my sacrifices of righteousness, Inspired by the Psalm of David, psalm 51 All Rights Reserved. © Copyright Tim February, 2015

'Bodija Heiress', 2013

SATURDAY

Holy Mallam I don't find it funny being called a comedian anymore

p.20

ShowBiz

Shank I can't be jealous of Patoranking

p.22

SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015

'Some fans swarmed me in excitement and tore my dress' Funke Adesiyan's romance with controversial actor, Saidi Balogun, earned her fame. But away from the riotous affair that hit the rock about four years ago, she has nicked a few milestones. She discusses her career and ambition for a seat at the Oyo State House of Assembly with LANRE ODUKOYA.

You have added some weight, what is responsible for this? You are not the first person to say this. I don’t know what is responsible for this because as a very busy person I hardly eat. I am a contesting for a seat in Oyo State House of Assembly to represent Ibadan South East Constituency 2. It has always been something I have flair and passion for. Politics has always been in me and I have been involved underground but I choose to come out now to represent my people. It appears you're using acting as a launch pad to achieve your political ambition? Politics is not just about the office but about active participation. PDP has higher chance of winning the election in Oyo State come 2015. Many are of the opinion that Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau is your political mentor? Mallam is like a father to me because my mum is from Kano State. Do you have his backing in your political quest? The most important backing is that of God Almighty. With that, he will cause men to support you. Everyone along the line has been supportive. Politics is not about lies but it is about service to the people. It is not an industry of people who are not upright. Are you ready to trade some of your treasures to achieve your political ambition? I don’t think you have to sell your properties to achieve anything because you don’t achieve anything by being desperate. I don’t believe in getting something out of the box because that to me will amount to looking for trouble. Youths in my community contributed money to make souvenirs for me and an undergraduate in one of the universities got me campaign stickers. All these to me are significant and a sign that my people really want me. How close are you to your people? Some people think I live in Ibadan because I am very close to my people. I have not detached myself from them and I will never detach myself from my people. There is hardly a week that I don’t spend less than four days in my community.

Some of your colleagues are also in the race to contest for one political post or the other, what do you think is responsible for this influx? You can’t really take politics away from entertainment as we have been working with politicians and politicians have equally been working with us. We have access to the people and some of us genuinely have the love of our people at heart, so we are vying to represent our people well. Do you have the support of some of your colleagues because some say that you are arrogant? I don’t know what that person meant by being arrogant; I am just me and I hate pretence. I just came back from my constituency and some of my colleagues travelled down there with me just to give me their support and to show solidarity. Who is bankrolling your political campaign? I don’t have any major financier anywhere; I am banking on God and the goodwill of people around me. They so much believe in me. I am very sincere in all I do and I will never promise what I can’t do. I started acting as a professional in 2003. I am a product of God’s grace and that has been sustaining me since.

million when I was 17 years old. I have always been a business-oriented person as I started business when I was barely 13 years old. Though if my mother had her way, I wouldn’t have gone into business at such tender age. There was little she could do about it because she noticed that trait in me when I was very young. I have always had flair for trading. I had a shop when I was in secondary school.

What attracted you into acting? Acting has always been something I have great passion for. I started acting as a child. I can’t really remember when I started acting, but I know it is something that has always been in me. Won’t politics affect your acting career? Hope is a beautiful thing and let us keep hope alive. I don’t believe in appearing on every movie jacket and I control the movies I appear in. Acting is my hobby and not my business. There was a year I appeared in just one movie. I don’t want my face on every movie jacket because I don’t believe that what makes people love you is being in every film. My training on stage is to do whatever I do very well. Aside acting what else do you do? I am into business; wine importation, construction and general importation of goods into Nigeria. I started business long before I came into limelight and I made my first

You are a practicing Muslim... Yes and I am trying to be more committed.

I don’t believe that what makes people love you is being in every film

When do you intend to visit Mecca? There are five pillars in Islam and it is expected that you take a step at a time and not jump from one step to the other. I believe that is not the best. I don’t want to be an Alhaja just for the sake of people calling me an Alhaja. What is that question you are tired of answering? I don’t think I can ever be tired of answering any question. Don’t you think you might intimi-

date would be suitors if you eventually become a lawmaker? It is only a man with low self esteem that will be intimidated by my success and I don’t want such man around me. I don’t worship money and money can never be a big deal to me. There are certain qualities I look out for in people before I get close to them. What was the most challenging role you have played? I approach each role I act as if it is the best I will ever do. All of them have been so far challenging. Can you share with us your most embarrassing moment? It was a day when I decided to purchase goods at Idumota market (in Lagos). On sighting me, some women probably out of excitement were around me, some grabbed my cloth and in the process it got torn. I was greatly embarrassed but there was nothing I could do. One of them offered me something to cover up. I couldn’t say anything but deep down within me, I was boiling. I like to keep to myself and I do things without minding my status as an actress.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Holy Mallam: I don't find it funny being called a comedian anymore you get it wrong. I thank God for the steps so far, but there is still a lot we have not done. I do inspirational talks; I speak to young people and business owners. For instance, Lagos Business School used me as a case study. There are lots of lives that I am yet to touch, so I feel I have not done anything.

Adebayo Ajibola, known as Holy Mallam in showbiz circuit is perhaps the only top comedian in Nigeria that strives to make politically-correct jokes. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he reflects on his career. Could you recall your first major job as a comedian? I was an undergraduate at the Lagos State University. The Foursquare Campus Fellowship organised an event at the LASU car park. Pastor Seyi Jaiyeola was the head then and one of my church members introduced me to him. I spent about 17 minutes on the stage. I was very happy. From there, I began to get invitations to different churches, fellowships and events. There was a particular vigil where I worked as the master of ceremonies and was paid N500. I was so excited. In 1995, when I was a teacher, I earned N500 as monthly salary. But for just a night I got that same money as a comedian. But did you know comedy will pay off for you? I just appreciated the fact that I could make people happy and I was happy about it. It wasn’t the money that came first. Why did you settle for comedy? I cannot say that there was a particular thing that influenced my decision to do comedy. I just knew that I could make people laugh. It started from church and the thing grew gradually. I was engaged in other things before I decided to take up comedy as a full time job; I wasn’t jobless. And it is not just comedy I do; I am into a lot of things. I just don’t want to discuss them yet because I had said things in the past that put me in tight corners. Did you get your parents' support? I got support from my mother. She was my motivation and I even got the comedy skills from her. My mother is naturally funny. She encouraged me all the way. How was your upbringing? My father was comfortable before I was born. We used to stay in Festac Town, Lagos, but things took a dramatic change. My father had to sell our house in Festac and we moved to Okoko (a suburban neighbourhood in Lagos). He could no longer pay my school fees and I was hawking bread. Sometimes, my classmates would see me on the streets and laugh at me. It really affected my self-esteem and I also sold eggs and pure water. When we relocated to Okoko, I saw life from a different perspective. I understood the intensity of embarrassment as a child, and I’d never like to experience it again. How do you come about jokes? A lot of things happen and I get inspirations from them. I have never had any challenges in putting jokes together. But since I studied communication arts and being a Christian, I understand things that are ethical and things that are not. My faith doesn’t allow me to say some things and from the beginning God has helped me to lay down that

foundation. But that doesn’t mean I don’t do events outside the walls of the church. I do events for companies in the oil and gas industry, health, information technology, among others. Though I am a product of the church, I am not restricted to the church. Also, I am a professional master of ceremonies; I am not just a comedian. I feel that is where most people get it wrong. I am beginning not to find that funny because everything in life is about transformation. The fact that I started with comedy doesn’t mean it is the only thing I do. Are you fulfilled? I am not fulfilled; I am just a work in progress. And I feel this is how it should be for everybody. The day you feel you’ve arrived is the day

The fact that I started with comedy doesn’t mean it is the only thing I do

How have you been able to remain relevant? It is the grace of God that keeps me relevant, I must say. And I am conscious of the fact that I know who called me. God gave me the gift and I will only stop if I say I don’t want to do comedy again. Anything from God is progressive; it doesn’t become obsolete. You are often seen at Daystar Christian Church; what’s your relationship with Daystar? Pastor Sam Adeyemi is one of the people I look up to. I like his leadership style and the fact that he is not cocky.

Who are your mentors? I have quite a number of them. I don’t really want to mention names, but Pastor Sam is one. What legacy will you love to leave behind? I would like the whole of Africans to understand that nobody was created as a mistake or by accident. So, I would like to look back and say that because of me a lot of people discovered what they were created for. This is my primary assignment away from comedy or making money. The cure to challenges in Africa is for people to understand their roles or what they require to discover their potential and use it to develop the society. Was comedy a childhood dream? I wanted to study law when I was a child. However, I didn’t regret not studying law because comedy has taken me to where law wouldn’t have. I have met like 10 presidents and many other top personalities. I move globally. I also noticed that one may not understand what his or her calling is. In some cases, you may do the conventional, which will give you a conventional result. But the ultimate is when you do what God had destined you for. Is there anything you would love to change given the chance? I would just have used my mind better than I had done in the past. If I had known all the things I now know I would not be where I am today. This is also the major problem in Africa; a lot of minds have been deprived or eroded. I feel culture and tradition has a way of pulling people down or back. So, if I had the opportunity to revisit the years I had lived I would change my mindset earlier than I did. I wasn’t exposed to certain things I am exposed to now, but I still thank God. Has there been a time you got tired of comedy? I have never wanted to stop; I was even fond of encouraging people to continue. But when the time to stop comes I would not look back. The young shall grow; we must leave the stage for the younger ones at a point. What we should do is to train and make them professionals. MC may not stop so soon as comedy and there are still other things I do. But do you think the emerging comedians have what it takes? Of course, yes. I wasn’t the one who gave them the talent; God gave them. But what they decide to do with it would determine how long or relevant they remain in the industry. Any extraordinary ability you see in this world comes from God. Only Him has the power to give and take. How long have you been in marriage? By October I would be 10 years in marriage. Though marital life is the combination of ups and downs, it is a good feeling. For the first five years, couples must learn to understand themselves. Marriage is determination and something you must work on every day.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

‘Racism in Malaysia frustrated my music career' Up and coming musician, Debrah Jephson, known in showbiz circle as Debby J, has a feminine sounding name. He speaks about his rather curious christening and life trying to make good music in Malaysia where he studied software engineering in an encounter with LANRE ODUKOYA. Your name really sounds feminine; do you get this remark often? Every day when I meet people, they mostly say, "we expected you to be a woman". Have you ever been to a show where they announced your presence and people expected to see a lady? It actually happened when I wanted to go for my photo shoot last week. People were like where is the chick? And my manager said, “he is not a chick, look at him standing there”. That has happened on different occasions. I am perfectly ok with my name. Is there a story behind the name? It is a very long story. I can remember back then, my daddy used to tell me how they kept giving birth to female children and they were dying. So someone came up with the idea that let us give this one a girl’s name and they named me Debrah. Was that how the first male child survived? Exactly, the deaths stopped from my birth. What spurred your interest in music? Music as an art has always been in me. I could just see a friend or anyone singing and I would want to mimic. My mom told me that as a child, I often sat in front of the television and would dance to whatever music was on air. As I grew older, I tried my best to rate songs when I heard them and from that, I went to choir school during my secondary school and that is all. At what point did you start making music professionally? That was in 2013. What informed that decision? I was actually waiting to graduate. I graduated in 2013 and I was doing music in Malaysia. What did you study? I studied software engineering. Like I said, I was doing music long before now, but I definitely couldn’t serve two masters at a time. I have to pay more attention to one which definitely was education. Where I come from, you must go to school. But during my leisure period, I would go to the studio to do something and post it online so that the name Debby J will still be there. After my studies, I decided to come back home because I wanted to do music. I came home and met with some friends, one of whom introduced me to OT Beats when I told them about my interest in coming up with something good that will be appreciated. What are you bringing to the table that's different? Well, the thing is when it comes to music, I try to play with notes and tones in very unique ways and they produce fine songs eventually. The way I do my music is totally different. I have a unique way of

delivering my songs and my looks make me entirely different from the lot. Are your dreadlocks natural? It’s a different package on its own. It’s my natural hair, I didn’t grow it artificially. Most people with dreadlocks are usually perceived to be reggae artistes and there's a common notion too that they smoke marijuana. Does this capture your personality? Most dreadlocks-wearing guys can take whatever they want to take, but I don’t smoke. I don’t know why the assumption that people who keep dreadlocks are musicians. People think I do reggae too because of my looks, but I don’t know why it’s like that. The claim is that cigarettes and marijuana inspire good music. How do you get your own inspiration? To be honest, I was like let me see what is in this cigarette that makes people go crazy, I tried it last Christmas Day for the first time. I took it and found out that nothing was actually changing, I was still ok and calm, so this thing they take is nonsense to me. Did you ever regret you smoking? Of course, I did. It’s just a waste of time. As a man, you will like to do what people are doing. Your parents sent you to Malaysia to study software engineering and you came back doing music; what was their reaction? The truth is that I didn’t like school. I didn’t like going to school, but I am my parents’ only son and I needed to represent my family as an only son. So when they gave me this opportunity, although I was schooling, something happened. I was in Madonna University but always going to Port Harcourt to do music. After sometime, I lost the interest of going to school. My parents felt bad when I made the decision, so they advised that I should go to school and after my studies, I could do whatever I wanted to do. I was supposed to go to Ukraine, but somehow it didn’t work out, I had to go Malaysia. Many Nigerians complain that racism is a huge problem in Malaysia and that blacks bear the brunt of the prejudice. What was your impression? I did music at the initial stage, but when I discovered it was a waste of time, I stopped. The country does not support anything that has to do with black people. So, they will never play your song on radio. They don’t even play the songs of the black guys who grew up there and their native songs let alone that of a man from Nigeria. It’s not encouraging. I just couldn’t wait to finish school then. How many sisters have you? I have two beautiful sisters that are married now.

get unsettled when others flock around me as an entertainer makes me love her more.

How was growing up like? At times, I behaved like a girl, I played their kind of plays. As an only son, you're pampered like an egg, but my case was different.

What are you currently working on? I have a single now titled, Agogo. If the song gets as much acceptance as I hope, I would drop the video too, otherwise, I will drop other songs.

Did growing up with girls spike your love for women? Of course, I love women, but I have a girlfriend. So, it’s not like I’m a flirt.

Have you had any crush on any Nigerian singer? That would be Victoria Kimani from Chocolate City.

How did you meet your girlfriend? No, I’m not going to talk about that here. To be honest with you, she still doesn’t believe in me right now. She’s yet to believe she’s the only one in my life when I say that. She’s the woman of my dream and the fact that she doesn’t

What do you find enchanting about her? She’s a good singer and I’ve never heard any scandal about her.

SOLUTIONS TO CROSSWORD PUZZLE S

U C

A A

C E

D S C F

N A

M B B

P C

C T

N U

A D

A E

T R

A C

C A

P R

O C

O O

ACROSS 1. SUBVERT 5. NBA 7. RUE 8. CAC 9. IBA DOWN 1. SUCCEED 2. BACKER 3. EMIT 4. TRADER

10. DOTS 11. EDEN 12. BE 16. MI 17. DAAR

5. NEST 6. ACE 13. CURATOR 14. IMPACT

18. SKIP 22. ACE 23. LOT 24. NEC 25. FAG 26. TRACTOR

15. BALLOT 19. KING 20. NEPA 21. CAF

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Shank: I can't be jealous of Patoranking With his hit song, Julie, released in 2009, dancehall singer, Shank, became king of the airwaves. But his shine was momentary and he soon went under the radar until lately when he started making a few public appearances. He speaks to LANRE ODUKOYA about his reign, regrets and forthcoming album. Is it true you just signed a lucrative deal with a recording company? I have no idea about that. That was somebody’s exaggeration. It’s true that I signed a management deal recently, a couple of months ago precisely. I’m hopeful about that and there’s no music on the way and the album is almost done. We’re at the final lap of the works which is choosing the right songs to put on it. If it’s mouth-watering as they say, it means ‘progress.’ Your departure from your former label seems too cordial to be true; how did it happen? I don’t think it was as smooth as you believe because there was a bit of turbulence from being with a label and being an independent artiste. But with time, I guess I was lucky. How come you stuck to dancehall when it was like the least popular and wasn’t as rewarding as other genres? What I do is what I’m used to and what I know. So, you might as well stick to your guns if hindsight asks you to. I had that reggae influence because I’m a child of the '80s, so I came from a generation when reggae was the in thing. I can make other secular music, R&B, pop, afro beats; but I’m a reggae head.

You’ve finally succeeded in winning more fans for dancehall music (from reggae), but suddenly, the new kid on the block, Patoranking, came and he’s getting almost all the rewards. How does this make you feel? This fact makes me feel really good. I feel happy that finally, there is a platform for reggae artistes to be seen in the same light as any other secular act. So it is a win-win situation for me. I can never be jealous of Patoranking. There is no envy at all. I have had my moment in the spotlight and when I was on top of my game during the Julie era, there was no one else around to contend with me. Right now, there are a lot of people doing dancehall music and it has become a movement. I don’t see it as if it's only one person who is spearheading the reggae movement. I like the fact that anybody that sings dancehall music would be listened to now. It is not about who the artiste is, it is about the music. I can never be jealous of Patoranking or any new kid on the block. You’ve not been romantically linked with any woman unlike many of your contemporaries most of whom now have their families. How does this make you feel? Where I am right now psychologically,

mentally, emotionally and professionally, I don’t need the distraction of an intense relationship at the moment because a relationship requires time and effort and I would rather put that into my music. And you don’t have any baby-mama somewhere these past years? I don’t have a baby-mama. There is none that I know of and that is what I told them when I was asked if I had a kid at the embassy. I have just been very careful. Are you having any collaboration with any major artiste in your forthcoming album? Of course, I just finished recording with Davido. I had collaboration with Wizkid and another with Olamide. So, expect something really good. A lot of people have been complaining about working with Wizkid; did you have any tough time working with him? No, I don’t have any issue. He’s a real guy. One thing about being real is that you make a lot of people angry. When you speak your mind, you upset a lot of people. Fela was not the most adored fellow during his time but he spoke his mind. If I disagree with someone, I’d tell him how I feel.

Does it not bother you that you’ve not had any brand endorsement like some artistes who earn it after dropping just a song? That has nothing to do with me as a person, it’s more of a job for the management to do. It’s not in my place to go around offices to get those corporate stuffs. It’s something that can happen any moment from now and that it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it won’t. What exactly happened between you and your former management? I cannot remember what happened actually, but we fell out at some point. It’s all because of stuffs like money, how one person is blaming the other for not working hard enough, it’s either me not showing up for the right event or place and at other time the management not pushing me to the right avenue. Looking back through the years, what would you have done differently? There are lots of associations I would have avoided, a lot of actions that I shouldn’t have taken and I’ve been rude to certain people in the press at one point in time. Somehow the stigma stuck for a while and I’m sorry about it. I apologised to all of them individually, but things like that just don’t go away easily. That’s one thing I really would have done differently.

TV & Radio with Angela Davies

'It's a battle adjusting from camera to reality' enough because you can always be the best in whatever you want to be.

Wofai Samuel took interest in journalism when she worked as an executive assistant to a media consultant to the Cross River State government. Since then she has never looked back on the career that has won her fame. Angela Davies writes.

How would you describe yourself? I am an easygoing girl, very confident in myself. I never put myself down. I keep my head high up and I always want to achieve the best in life. Who are your mentors? Mo Abudu is someone I look up to. She is someone I have admired over time. Oprah Winfrey internationally is someone I admire too. Then when it comes to young people like me, I admire Eku Edewor and Yvonne ‘Vixen’ Ekwere. I wouldn’t say they have gotten to the apex of their career but they are doing very well.

When did you start journalism? I started working with Her Excellency, Barrister Obioma Imoke, First Lady of Cross River State as executive assistant to the media consultant of the state. That was how journalism started for me. But officially, I have been presenting programmes on television since 2007. I worked with Cross River State Television courtesy of the governor. I have also worked with Africa Independent Television, Nigezie as a brand ambassador and currently I work with MITV where I present FAB, a red carpet programme for A-list celebrities and Entertainment Expose where we play host to the biggest celebrities in Nigeria. How would you describe the journey so far? The journey so far has been tough and challenging. Presenting programmes on television is a lot of brain work because viewers want to hear the best of information and you have to give it to them at all times. In essence, you have to make sure your viewers are well informed as well as entertained. It’s very challenging but at the end of the day, it’s worth it. What would you say are the challenges of the job? I wake up every day at 6:00am to do my research and also make sure my production team is in order before the programme goes on television. Then getting unexpected comments from fans and viewers some good and sometimes not too good while live on air. So the challenge is trying to battle between the camera, which is more or less artificial, and reality. And what gives you fulfilment doing this job? What gives me joy doing this job is that so far I have won over 20

Where do you see yourself in the next five years? By the grace of God I would have gone further than where I am today.

awards. A lot of people get to appreciate what I do and that propels me to work even harder. When I started, I never thought I could come this far in my career. So far my best opportunity in the media job is working with the media consultant in Cross River State. That is one of my high points ever and then working for Nigezie as a brand executive. Also, working for MITV, I got recognition with five governors at the Vanguard Awards and that was a big one for me. I am also in the panel of pundits for Nollywood London, United Kingdom. What have you learnt with all these experiences? I have learnt that you should never look down on anybody. One of the most important things I have learnt in life and on this job is to be nice to everybody you meet. Secondly, you must try as much as possible to be confident in yourself. You should never allow anybody put you down by telling you that you are not good

Programme summary

O & M Sunday Show AIT

Refresh City 105.1 FM

It is a talk show that features multiple guests and diverse topics ranging from politics, finance, entertainment, fashion to sports.

It is an inspirational and motivational programme with tips, quotes and suitably themed music designed to set the mood for the new week.

Sunday @ 2:00 pm

Sundays @ 10:00 pm

Advise for young ones who want to go into television journalism? They need to sit down and ask themselves if they are fully prepared for the job because it requires a lot of work. It is more than what they see on television. You have to put in so much work starting from your looks to the things you say down to the way you carry yourself. And you have to be up to speed if you want to do this job. At the end of the day, it pays.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

Omalicha

nita Ifeoma Isedeh popularly known as Omalicha is a bubbly on-air personality that works with Rhythm 93.7FM. She is a downto-earth presenter who would ask the most uncomfortable questions. She is co-host of The Morning Drive on Wednesday with IK, The Late Morning Show (Faji Friday) on Fridays, Hola at the Seaside (request show) on Saturdays and Sunday at the Seaside. She always says the key to a healthy heart is a happy heart and advises her listeners to smile regardless of what they are going through, noting that "it makes the heart lighter". Music plays a major role in her life. She loves cartoons, movies, books, travelling, meeting people and learning about their culture, beliefs and history. Her weakness is good food. Her favourite sign off is, “It's all good when you keep it real with the Most High”.

SATURDAY, 21 MARCH, 2015

This weekend AIT

TELEVISION

Saturday 06:30 Cartoon 08:00 Infotech Network 08:30 Destiny Encounter 09:05 Arambara 10:00 The warp Trio 10:30 Sports File 11:00 One Cubed 11:30 700 Club Nigeria 12:30 Security Watch Africa 1:00 Gbedu on the move 2:10 Films and Stars 2:30 Best Of Sports 3:00 Dateline Abuja 4:30 Dawn In The Creeks 5:00 Video Fashion 5:30 School Hunters 6:30 True Nigerian 8:00 AIT News hour 9:00 Oasis

9:30 Secrets And Scandals 10:00 Taste Of Love 10:30 Beautiful liars 11:00 Live Beats Sunday 08:00 Catholic Mass 10:30 Bold Faces 11:00 700 club int'l 12:00 Week in Review 1:00 Impact 360 1:30 The Gender Agenda 2:00 O & M Sunday Show 3:00 Mini Jojo 4:00 World News 6:00 Hitlist N Cruzin 7:00 The Valley Between 8:00 News Hour 9:00 Tales of Eve 9:30 Nectar 10:00 Taste of love 10:30 Music + Videos and More

ONTV

Saturday 8:00 Marco and Gina 9:00 Cartoon 9:30 Village Square 11:10 Hypochondraic 12:00 Soundcity Choice Videos 1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta 2:30 Headline News 2:40 Village Square 4:10 Movie 5:30 Headline News 5:40 Los Rey 6:20 Spice Most 7:00 Headline News 7:10 Disclosure 8:00 Higher Learning 9:00 News 9:30 Soundcity Party Mix 10:30 Omnisport 11:00 Movie Sunday 7:00 Headline News 7:05 Turtle Hero 8:30 Farhat 9:00 Arambara 9:30 Village Square 11:00 Headline News 11:05 Hypochondraic

1:00 Hitz 1:30 Pavitra Rishta 2:40 Village Square 4:10 Movie 5:30 Los Rey 6:25 Sunday Paparazzi Show 7:00 Headline News 7:10 wetin Dey 8:00 House of Badmus 8:30 Bella’s Place 9:00 On the Couch 9:30 Soundcity Greatest

Radio Continental 102.3 FM Saturday 5:00 Highlife 6:10 Saturday Special 7:00 Music 7:30 Papers Today 8:00 Box of Goodies 9:00 Who's Getting Married 9:30 Good Living 10:00 Saturday Sports 11:55 Healthy Living? 12:00 World News 1:00 Fan Zone 5:00 World News 5:15 Salsa Plus 7:00 Music 7:30 Afrobeat Tonight 9:00 Single Life 10:30 Old School Groove 12:00 Whispers

Smooth FM 98.1

Saturday 6:00 Breakfast in Bed 9:00 Bite Size 9:30 Entertainment News 11:00 Total Football 12:00 Metro Life 5:00 Luxury Soul 09:00 Late Night Blues

Sunday 5:00 Worship 6:00 News at Dawn 6:05 Hymns Inspired 7:00 Music 7:30 Press Report 8:00 Church without barriers 10:30 Think you know the Bible 11:00 Country Music 12:00 World News 1:00 Chart Busters 2:00 Lagos News 2:30 Palaver 5:00 World News 6:00 Youth Connect 7:00 Woman's Own 8:00 Sunday Evening Groove 10:00 Music 11:00 Symphonia

Sunday 7:00 10:00 12:00 4:00 6:00 10:00

Smooth Motivations Music Mix Sunday Brunch Music Mix Soulfully Yours Music Mix

Investigations SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 21 MARCH, 2015

Drink-Driving

No longer the original sin? Hawkers of alcoholic drinks, including Orijin-a product of Guinness Nigeria Plc., in flagrant disregard for the “don’t drink and drive” campaign, now flood major roads in Lagos, tempting drivers to sip, even while at the wheel. In this report, MOJEED ALABI, captures the danger the development constitutes to the Nigerian society

jo Yusuff, 44, from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, was full of optimism for 2015. Incidentally, he was to be cut short in a cruel manner. In an ironic twist, Yusuff and his entire family’s dreams ended in the hands of an alleged 30-year-old female drunkdriver, Abimbola Popoola. They were crushed to death less than 24 hours into the New Year. Popoola had allegedly hit the family with her silver colour Honda Pilot SUV with registration number LSD 483 CY after she lost control of the car in front of Theodolite House, Challenge Area of Ibadan at about 8:30pm. The victims, who died on the spot, were returning home from an outing. According to eyewitnesses, which included a lawyer, who identified himself simply as Adeyemo, alcoholic drinks were found in the very vehicle that killed the Yusuff family. “Immediately the accident occurred, Popoola’s friends who were in a convoy, returning from party, instantly transferred bottles of alcoholic drinks from their friend’s car to theirs. They did this before they attended to the victims,” Adeyemo said. Adeyemo also confirmed that Popoola, who only sustained injury on the leg, reeked of liquor at the time of rescue. The counsel to the deceased family, Misbau Lateef, who expressed shock

Isioma madike

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

at the recklessness of the accused, confirmed that all evidence pointed to the fact that both Popoola and her friends were drunk at the time of the Orijin hawker in the traffic incident Though, efforts to speak with Popoola were unsuccessful, her uncle, Ogundipe, told Saturday Telegraph that Popoola was not drunk “because only a test conducted by experts Traffic officials could either confirm or disprove the attribute allegation.” Yusuff, before his untimely death, leading cause was an employee of one of the building firms handling some construction of accidents to works at the Redemption Camp of the drink-driving Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Mowe, Ogun State. And Mary, his wife, had just set up a patent medicine store in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, which was scheduled for inauguration in January. She was carrying a five-monthold pregnancy. Their three-year-old child, Hannah, was to be enrolled in school also. The couple were said to nition. This, perhaps, may be why have considered 2015 a unique year, medical professionals and road traffic especially after more than a decade of officials, attribute leading cause of acfruitless hustling together. They were cidents nationwide to drink-driving. already counting their blessings and Statistics also supports this ashad ushered in the year with songs sertion. In Lagos State, for instance, of praises before their world came pockets of rescues carried out by the crashing. Federal Road Safety Commission In a related development, the then (FRSC) indicate that in 2014 alone, 106 North-west regional manager of Railpeople died on the spot in about 323 way Property Management Company crashes involving about 2,088 people. Limited (RPMCL), a subsidiary of NiAccording to the officer in charge of gerian Railway Corporation (NRC), crash data, Okey Omattah, the figand father of four, Kabir Adisa, was ure quoted above does not include one of about 22 people who lost their police data, which is said to be more lives on February 22, 2012. The acencompassing. But, of about seven cident was also said to have been major causes of accidents identified caused by an alleged drunk-driver by the agency, speed violation and of an 18-seater commercial bus along dangerous driving, which are usually Abuja-Lokoja Road. related to drunkenness, accounted for At the Lokoja Federal Medical Cenbulk of the crashes. tre where the victims were rushed to, The many innocent lives lost to such avoidable deaths, according one of them, who eventually gave up the ghost, had confirmed that the bus to the Lagos Sector Commander of driver was reckless on the road. He FRSC, Hyginus Omeje, informed the commencement of the commission’s linked such behaviour to drunkenness. Adisa’s Toyota Camry car and “don’t drink and drive” campaign. the bus were burnt beyond recogThis, he claimed, had helped in no

small measure to halt the hitherto rising cases. Omeje said the campaign took the commission to motor parks, schools, markets, bus stops, and various other public places for sensitisation against the culture of drinking liquor and driving. He added that there had been partnerships with various individuals and organisations including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), among others towards ensuring the

Scene where Yusuff and family perished

SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015

SATURDAY

FREE

Sport Splash 25

Tribute

'The Willy Bazuaye I knew' p.27

La Liga

Barca, Real gear up for crunch el Clasico p.28

EPL

Liverpool, Man Utd in top four battle p.29

Interview

Fame has not changed me in any way – Brume p.31

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

Onazi

says no to Liverpool, happy at Lazio S

Ifeanyi Ibeh uper Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has dispelled reports linking him with a move away from Italian side, SS Lazio, insisting he is happy at the Serie A club. The internet has been awash with reports that two English Premier League sides, Liverpool and West Ham, are in the hunt to sign the Nigerian star. Liverpool have long shown an interest in luring Onazi to Anfield ever since the conclusion of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with English newspaper, the Daily Express, and Italian sports daily, Gazzetta dello Sport, both reporting that the former European champions were close to agreeing a part exchange deal for the player during the January transfer window, with Fabio Borini returning to the Italian capital. Ultimately, the move never came to pass, but the report claimed that Liverpool have now been informed that Lazio would be prepared to talk again about a possible deal in the summer for the Nigeria international. The news, which stated that Lazio would be willing to part with Onazi if any club meets their seven million pound valuation, also caught the attention of West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, who is keen to strengthen his midfield at the end of the season. But Onazi, even though he would at some point in his career like to play in England, is happy to remain with the Biancocelsti for the foreseeable future. “Playing in England is something I would like to do at some point in my career,” said Onazi. “The English Premier League is one of the best in the world.” He added: “But I am a player of SS Lazio and I am very happy here. I enjoy playing for the club and that is all I can say about these rumours.” Onazi, who joined Lazio in 2011 from Nigerian nonleague outfit, My People FC, only penned a contract extension with Lazio at the start of the season following a successful campaign with the Super Eagles at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he featured in all of Nigeria’s games.

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Nigerian League Rendezvous

Taraba, Kwara may continue unbeaten runs

WEEK three Fixtures Enyimba vs Bayelsa Taraba FC vs Lobi Stars Sharks FC vs Akwa Utd Gabros Utd vs Rangers Giwa FC vs Sunshine El-Kanemi vs Abia Warriors Wikki vs Kwara Utd Heartland vs Nasarawa Utd

Heartland ready to consolidate against Nasarawa

edia officer of Heartland FC of Owerri, Cajetan Nkwopara, has said Heartland will be looking forward to consolidating on their Week One victory in Ibadan, when they take on Nasarawa United in Owerri on Sunday. Speaking with League Rendezvous on the telephone, Nkwopara said the team would be going all out for total victory on Sunday, noting that all the players are 100 percent fit. “Another win will give us the confidence needed to march on as the season progresses,” he said. “We defeated a good team in Shooting Stars and we are not looking down on Nasarawa United, as they are also a good team. “We want a continental ticket this season and to achieve that we must win matches. Not just at home, but away too.” Speaking further, the media officer said it was imperative they began the season brightly as they ended last season on a poor note.

Moses Awala of Sharks clears the ball after James Ayeyemi is beaten by Razaq Adegbite of Rangers

Stories By Charles Ogundiya

araba FC will hope to continue their unbeaten start to the season in a home game against Lobi Stars this weekend. The Tijani Babangida-led side is yet to drop a point in the league after winning their first two games 3-2 at home to Rangers International and 1-0 away to Akwa United, last weekend.

In Bauchi, Kwara United will stake their unbeaten run in the new season when they take on home team, Wikki Tourists. Kwara United have already taken four points in two matches while Wikki Tourist have won one and lost the other game. In other matches, Enyimba will be home to Bayelsa United while Sunshine Stars will be looking forward to another point on the road when they take on

Kogi United take positives from friendly games

Team

PTS

Taraba FC

Kwara Utd

Sunshine

Kano Pillars

Heartland

Gabros Utd

Warri Wolves

Nasarawa Utd

Rangers

El-Kanemi

Wikki

Lobi Stars

Enyimba

Abia Warriors

Dolphins

Sharks FC

-1

Akwa Utd

-1

Bayelsa Utd

-2

Giwa FC

-3

Shooting

-3

Alimi dedicates goals to late dad W

T Kelechi Ekeh

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ead coach of Nigeria National League side Kogi United, Yomi Elijah, has stated that the club took positives from the friendly games it had played so far, with the latest being the draw against Ekiti United. Kogi United played 1-1 against Ekiti United in an encounter at Confluence Stadium, in Lokoja. Coach Elijah noted that the dominant performance from his boys in some of the friendly matches had shown that the team is already taking shape ahead of the new season. “I'm very satisfied, as you know

we are preparing for the big league ahead of us, and we believe we will get it right,” the coach said. “What we need now is to be patient in front of goal because if you dominate any team and you don't get a goal, it means nothing. So we are going to work on our goal scoring ability while also trying to bring some entertainment into our game.” Meanwhile, chairman of the Confluence State club, Abdul Adama, has reiterated his side's ambition to consolidate on last season's performance which is to gain promotion to the elite league.

Giwa FC in Jos. Sharks FC will host Akwa United in Port Harcourt and El-Kanemi Warriors will also be home to Abia Warriors. Rangers will be away to newly promoted Ifeanyi Ubah United (Gabros). The games involving teams playing on the continent, Dolphins and Kano Pillars, have been postponed by the League Management Company till further notice.

arri Wolves hero in one of Week Two rescheduled games of the Nigeria Professional Football League played on Wednesday, Alimi Sikiru, has dedicated his brace against Giwa FC to his late father, Pa Alimi Rasheed. The Warri Wolves new recruit stated that the debut double means a lot to him and his career, while appreciating his new team mates for their support. "I feel really good and fulfilled scoring twice on my debut in the Nigeria Professional Football League with Warri Wolves,” he said. “This is what every striker prays for and I thank God for crown-

ing my efforts with the goals. I'm really grateful. "I wish my daddy were alive to see his son making progress in his chosen career, but God knows best. So I'm using this opportunity to dedicate the goals to him and my teammates and the coaching crew for their support so far and for having faith in me.” He promised to score more goals to help his club achieve success in the new season. The former First Bank of Lagos striker scored two goals and created an assist for Gbolahan Salami in the 3-0 whitewash of Giwa FC on Wednesday in Warri.

Ogun FA drums up support for Gateway United

n a bid to gain more supporters for Ogun State-owned club, Gateway United, the state Football Association has directed its affiliate football councils to woo and register more supporters for the club. According to the state’s FA chairman, Ganiu Majekodunmi, the directive is one of its latest moves to increase the support base of Gateway United as well as bring more spectators to the stadium. The club will soon begin its campaign in the new NNL season. Reacting, the General Manager of Gateway, Adetunji Onatolu, thanked the FA for the initiative, saying that

the club will reciprocate the good gesture by gaining promotion to the elite Glo Premier League at the end of the new NNL season. Onatolu used the opportunity to reveal that the club has played many friendly matches against top clubs like Enyimba, Sunshine Stars and Remo Stars as part of its preparation for the new season while the owners of the club, the Ogun state government, has continued to give the moral and financial support needed to make the new season a big success. Gateway United placed ninth in Group B of the NNL League last season.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Sport

Tribute: The Willy Bazuaye I knew

CAPTION Willy Bazuaye (left), celebrating with the Dream Team after they won the football gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996

Adekunle Salami oach Willy Bazuaye died at the age of 80 during the week. It is sad that his last moments were not glorious. He was on sick bed and did not get the required attention from the authorities despite his service to Nigeria. Bazuaye was in the coaching crew that brought the then FIFA U-16 World Cup to Nigeria in 1985. The late coach and Christian Chukwu were assistants to Sebastian Brodericks. He was also an assistant to Jo Bonfrere in 1996 when the U-23 team stunned the world to win the Olympic gold at the Atlanta Games. Not many people can talk much about the late coach simply because he loved his privacy. He was easy going and preferred his job to speak for him in terms of results. He was a very strict tactician. Players fear to come late to camp in the national team under Bazuaye because he took punctuality seriously. The same goes for team schedules. Players strove to be ready for trainings, restaurant, meetings and all the other things on schedule because the late coach will always be there 10 minutes before time. Today, I remember my early days as a journalist and can confirm that the late Bazuaye was an interviewer’s delight. It is not easy to convince him to grant an interview, but if he is eventually available the journalist will surely enjoy the session. I recall meeting him at the camp of the Nigeria U-23 team preparing for the Olympics Games. He was surprised to meet me at the team's hotel in Enugu, Nike Lake Resort. He said: “Mr. journalist, this one that you were the first to reach camp, na you wan play the match? Let me tell you from now on I am deaf and dumb. No questions because I won’t give you an answer, we are here to work. Serious business.” My organization then, Punch Newspapers, sent me to Enugu to report everything in camp including arrivals, trainings and every little thing I could get. And so the next day when I saw coach Bazuaye, he did not utter a word. He greeted me with sign language using all methods to gesticulate. I took it in good fate and the next day reported under my briefly column that “Bazuaye goes deaf and dumb.” After the training session where he was fully in charge because Dutch chief coach Jo Bonfere was yet to join camp, he saw me and was still using sign language to warn me. Next day, I did not use it as a major story but also reported that the national coach was still deaf and dumb and could not grant interviews. Following the reports, people started asking Bazuaye why he was not talking. And so he approached me to ask what I really wanted. “My friend the journalist, now I can talk, what can I do for you?” Of course I simply asked him to grant me an interview. Speaking on Nigeria’s preparation

Mr. journalist, this one that you were the first to reach camp, na you wan play the match?

for the OlymBazuaye p i c s Games he said: “There is little I can say about my team. Players are fit and will be ready but to say more will be exposing our tactics because if our opponents were climbing trees before they will now start climbing Iroko tree and intensify their preparation. We need to keep our tactics to ourselves as a team so that we can surprise our opponents. ” In one of the qualifying games, Nigeria won 4-0 at home and the late Bazuaye also spoke on the return leg: “We are going to play devil ‘commot for my area’ with them.” Of course he got reporters confused with that

response until he explained that the strange tactics meant kicking the ball off danger areas. “With four goals what tactics are you asking us to play again? We are going to frustrate them by kicking the ball to the spectators. I have very reliable players who can do that very well.” In the return leg, Nigeria recorded a goalless draw to qualify on 4-0 aggregate. No doubt, Bazuaye knew how to get results on the job. Another interesting scene with Bazuaye was at a restaurant at the National Stadium with a colleague, Fidelis Igbinigie. The late coach ordered for food and drinks for us unbeknownst to him that Fidelis was recording the informal conversation. Bazuaye spoke about some of his challenges as a coach. He had no car and had to be at various places in Lagos for administrative matters for the national team. He also had to keep an eye on the players to ensure players were keeping to the camp rules. “Every night, I am always very tired and sometime wake up to walk round just to be sure all the players are asleep without any problem. You are not only a coach but you are seen as a father in the camp.”

The next day, Fidelis played back part of the discussion on Raypower sports programme. A furious Bazuaye saw me at the stadium and said: “I did not know your friend was recording but he did not playback the part where I ordered for more drinks. That is the painful aspect, he should have also told Nigerians that I bought him drinks.” The late coach was a jolly good fellow. He was a policeman for over 15 years and that informed some of his strict measures in camp including his insistence on physical fitness. All through his active coaching years, we were close because he later trusted me as a journalist that will not misquote him. When some reporters and I approached him for interview after a match, he was not comfortable with the various midget recorders placed before him. I was the only one without a recorder. “Please, make una take am easy. I will answer your questions but wetin be all these equipment (recorders)? This my friend here (referring to me) will take note with his jotter and he has never misquoted me.” Rest in peace, double golden coach, Bazuaye!

orussia Dortmund visit Hannover in the Bundesliag on Saturday, just three days after their UEFA Champions League thrashing at the hands of Juventus. Jurgen Klopp's side came into the home second leg of their last-16 clash with a realistic chance of reaching the quarter-finals, following a 2-1 loss in Turin three weeks ago. However, they were outclassed by a Juve side who triumphed 3-0 on the night to seal a resounding 5-1 aggregate success. With 10th-placed Dortmund seemingly out of the reckoning for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga and a return to the Champions League, Klopp wants his players to pull together as they eye a strong finish to what has been a testing campaign. "If you are not strong enough, then you can't mind going out of the Champions League," he said. "We weren't strong enough in the Bundesliga either. We have other problems, there are some reasons why we don't have 60 points in the league. "We have to learn how to handle situations. We're better, but not good enough yet. "We are out, now we can concentrate on the Bundesliga. We are together, we win together, we lose together, that's not the problem. "It's not our best moment, but it is life and we have to stay in the race."

Wenger fears fatigue ahead of Newcastle clash

he eyes of the footballing world will be locked firmly on Camp Nou this Sunday as Barcelona host rivals Real Madrid in a crucial 170th Liga Clasico contest. Arguably the biggest match in domestic football will attract a reported half a billion viewers worldwide.

The clash between Real and Catalan giants Barca always promises to be an intriguing contest, regardless of the context. But with just one point separating La Liga leaders Barca from second-placed Real, the mouthwatering fixture has plenty of extra spice. Luis Enrique's men, who beat

Time: 9pm

weekend's surprise Ligue 1 defeat at Bordeaux. "Zlatan has had a complicated season, between injuries and suspensions," the PSG boss told reporters on Thursday. "The best thing for him to do now is to score goals. He must prove to those who think otherwise that he is a great champion."

Ibrahimovic

Bundesliga Saturday Cologne V Bremen 3:30pm Hannover V Dortmund 3:30pm Paderborn V Hoffenheim 3:30pm Freiburg V Augsburg 3:30pm

both teams and Barca's Luis Suarez is expecting the match to have the feeling of a final. "It's a final. Real Madrid are always Real Madrid," he told Gol TV. "That sort of game means a lot for morale. In terms of motivation, it gives you a lot of confidence and we hope that it will be a good show for spectators."

Time: 2:30pm

Manchester City 1-0, 3-1 on aggregate to make the UEFA Champions League last eight on Wednesday, have dazzled by winning nine of their past 10 Liga matches, with superstar Lionel Messi galvanising his team-mates with 17 league goals in 2015. With the gap so minimal, though, the pressure is high for

aris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc has called on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to put the controversy surrounding his anti-France rant behind him and prove himself a "great champion" again. The Sweden international was caught on camera calling France a "s**t country" during an angry outburst towards the referee following last

Barca, Real gear up for crunch el Clasico

more victories will be enough to ensure Hull stay in the Premier League for another season. "We've got a decent little cushion but it's never over until it's over," he told the Hull Daily Mail. "I've seen it in the past. Last year we saw Sunderland and Crystal Palace shoot up the table and out of the relegation zone so we need to make sure we get the points we need as quickly as we can. McShane

Klopp calls for unity after Juve defeat B

ull take on Chelsea this weekend and Tigers player Paul McShane is hoping they can pull off an upset against one of the big boys between now and the end of the season. Hull looked in big trouble at one point as they slipped into the bottom three, but a recent run of good form has seen them climb out of it again and they are now three points clear. Paul McShane believes three

PSG coach admonishes Ibrahimovic P

Global Football Special

McShane targets Chelsea scalp

www.newtelegraphonline.com

NEW TELEGRAPH

anchester City welcome West Brom to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, desperately seeking a win to keep them in touch in the Premier League title race. City's hopes of retaining the title suffered another setback when George Boyd's goal saw them go down to a shock 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Burnley last weekend. There was more misery for the champions on Wednesday, as they lost by the same scoreline to much more vaunted opposition, Ivan Rakitic scoring the only goal of the game for Barcelona as City were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League at the last-16 stage. City now return to league action and, with a six-point gap to make up to leaders Chelsea, they can ill-afford any more slip-ups. Manager Manuel Pellegrini was magnanimous in defeat to Barca, and goalkeeper Joe Hart - who produced an outstanding display at Camp Nou - was grateful for the backing of the City faithful who made the trip to Spain. "It's West Brom next, and a big shout to the fans who came here again up in the clouds," Hart said. "We really appreciate them coming and we know we're going to turn up on Saturday afternoon and will be ready to go again."

Man City seek response after back-to-back defeats

28 Sport SATURDAY N 21 MA

P PTS 27 64 27 50 27 49 27 46 27 45 27 45 27 37 26 37 27 36 27 35 27 35 26 32 27 32 27 32 27 30 27 29 27 25 27 21 27 21 25 9

NO TEAM 1 Bayern 2 Wolfsburg 3 Gladbach 4 Leverkusen 5 Schalke 04 6 Augsburg 7 Hoffenheim 8 Frankfurt 9 Bremen 10 Dortmund 11 Mainz 05 12 FC Cologne 13 Hannover 14 Hertha 15 Hamburg 16 Paderborn 17 Freiburg 18 Stuttgart

P 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25

PTS 64 53 44 42 39 38 36 34 33 30 29 29 27 26 25 23 22 20

Bundesliga

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

Serie A

Klopp

P 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27

La Liga

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

PTS 65 64 57 56 52 49 44 36 33 33 32 32 29 27 27 25 25 25 22 18

P PTS 28 64 29 58 29 57 29 56 29 54 29 50 29 50 29 42 29 40 29 39 29 35 29 33 29 33 29 31 29 28 29 28 29 26 29 25 29 22 28 19

PREMIER LEAGUE

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

Wenger

Sitting ninth at the time of that loss, Liverpool have rocketed back into Champions League contention and now sit a mere two points behind Manchester United for the final Champions League spot. Manchester United — like their rivals — have also been on an impressive run. Winning their last three games, the Red Devils have lost only once in their last eight matches. Losing only three matches away from Old Trafford this season, Manchester United will look to tighten their grip on a top four finish. Missing out on Champions League soccer for the first time since 1995, United are desperate for a return to Europe next season.

ampdoria host Inter on Sunday as their vital month in Serie A continues, with Sinisa Mihajlovic's men aiming for a fourth consecutive victory. The Genoa-based outfit stunned Roma 2-0 in the capital on Monday in their first of four straight games against some of the biggest clubs in Italy, ensuring Sampdoria remained level with fifth-placed Fiorentina on 45 points. Fiorentina hold Serie A's final European qualifying berth on goal difference ahead of sixth-placed Sampdoria, while Inter (37) sit eighth before Sunday's fixture. With games against Fiorentina and 10th-placed Milan to follow, Mihajlovic's men know this month could decide their season, as they aim to rein in Lazio (49), who lie third in Serie A's final UEFA Champions League spot. "It was the first of four difficult games and we won," defender Lorenzo De Silvestri said after Sampdoria's triumph over Roma. "Now if we continue like this, in the end we will know where we stand. "We are aware of our abilities, we are now there and we do not hide."

Surging Sampdoria target Inter Milan

Aguero

WWF global ambassador Andy Murray has named a sniffer dog he sponsors, Sears, after his fiancée, Kim. Sears will join Murray, who was named in honour of the World No. 4, in support of the WWF’s fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Nepal. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to name the companion of my namesake dog," said Murray, who is competing at the BNP Paribas Open this week. "Dogs love companionship and I hope this partnership will aid them as they work to tackle poaching in Nepal. March is an important month in the fight against poaching with the Botswana government hosting an international conference on illegal wildlife trade.

the fore now, with a trip to Reims on Sunday. "Now we must turn the page and focus on the next game in the championship, and aim to be playing back in the Champions League next year," defender Aymen Abdennour said after the Arsenal game. Monaco sit fourth in the table, one place and four points adrift of the final qualifying berth for European football's premier club competition, although they do hold a game in hand over the leading trio.

Gennady Golovkin insists he is willing to drop down to light-middleweight for a possible mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. The unbeaten Kazakh is considered one of the finest fighters on the planet after a string of destructive wins, his most recent stoppage coming against British middleweight Martin Murray in February. But he is yet to battle a big-name opponent and would consider a step down in weight for a possible clash against superstars such as Mayweather or Pacquiao, who will finally face each other in Las Vegas on May 2.

Gennady Golovkin

onaco make their return to Ligue 1 action this weekend with the club on a high following their qualification for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Leonardo Jardim's side lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal on Tuesday, but their 3-1 victory in the first leg proved enough to see them through on away goals. It is the first time Monaco have reached the last eight since 2004, when they went on to make the final, but domestic matters come to

Monaco visit Reims on a high

Serie A Saturday Chievo V Palermo 6pm Milan V Cagliari 8:45 pm Sunday Empoli V Sas'olo 12:30pm Juventus V Genoa 2pm Cesena V Roma 8:45pm Lazio V Verona 8:45pm Napoli V Atalanta 8:45pm Parma V Torino 8:45pm Sampdoria V Inter 8:45pm Udinese V Fio'tina 8:45pm

Fernando Alonso will undergo medical tests conducted by the FIA on Sunday. The broadcaster Sky Italia said the Spaniard needs the governing body's green-light in order to return to the cockpit of his McLaren-Honda in Malaysia next weekend. Almost a month since his mysterious Barcelona testing crash and subsequent hospitalisation, Alonso was back in the driver simulator on Wednesday at McLaren's Woking headquarters. The British team said he focused on "operational work" whilst practicing "qualifying and race procedures". "Great day today", Alonso agreed. "Lots of meetings and simulator work," he told his more than 2.2 million followers.

SPORT BRIEFLY

ing Luis to just six Premier League starts. The Daily Telegraph suggested earlier this week Atletico are prepared to provide escape route out of Stamford Bridge for Luis. And the Evening Standard claim Mourinho has cast his eye on Koke, who was previously a transfer target for Manchester United.

12pm

4pm 6pm 8pm 10pm 10pm

Villarreal V Sevilla 5pm Sociedad V Córdoba 7pm Barcelona V R'Madrid 9pm

Andy Murray

helsea are reportedly ready to sell Filipe Luis back to Atletico Madrid in order to launch a move for Koke. Luis has struggled to hold down a starting spot under Jose Mourinho following his £16million switch from Diego Simeone's side last summer. Mourinho has preferred to deploy Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back instead, limit-

Chelsea to sell Filipe Luis for Koke C

he biggest match in the English Premier League will hold at the Anfield tomorrow (Sunday) when Liverpool host Manchester United with so much at stakes. It is not often that the two clubs with the most trophies in England’s history meet with this much on the line. The two sides are desperate to keep their respective runs alive, with both eyeing a spot in the top four of the Premier League. Liverpool enter the clash having won their last five matches and having not been defeated in the Premier League since December 14th. However, the side that last defeated the Reds, just happens to be Manchester United.

Liverpool, Man Utd in top four battle T

Anfield boils

La Liga Saturday Atletico V Getafe Vallecano V Málaga Levante V C'Vigo Bilbao V Almería Granada V Eibar Sunday Deportivo V Espanyol

EPL Saturday Man City v W’Brom 1:45pm A’Villa v Swansea 4pm N'castle v Arsenal 4pm Souton v Burnley 4pm Stoke v Palace 4pm Tot'ham v Leicester 4pm West Ham v Sun'land 6:30pm Sunday Liverpool V Man Utd 2:30pm Hull V Chelsea 5pm QPR V Everton 5pm

Stuttgart V Frankfurt 3:30pm Schalke V Leverkusen6:30pm Sunday Mainz V Wolfsburg 3:30pm Bayern V Mö’gladbach 5:30pm

Fernando Alonso

rsenal could be suffering from fatigue as the Premier League top-four race hots up, Arsene Wenger has conceded. The Gunners endured a gruelling 90 minutes in Monaco on Tuesday and despite a 2-0 win in the principality still crashed out of the Champions League. That came off the back of what Wenger has described as a “physical” win over West Ham last weekend, while he expects the same intensity against Newcastle on Saturday. Speaking ahead of the clash at St James’ Park, Wenger agreed fatigue could catch up with his players. “I believe West Ham was a very physical game,” he said. “Some of our offensive players the second half against Monaco paid a little bit. “It’s a concern yes. We have to see how everybody recovers.” Thomas Rosicky is the only major concern for Wenger ahead of their game with Newcastle, while Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Debuchy remain injured. Arsenal currently sit third in the Premier League table, three points clear of fifth-place Liverpool and meet Reading in the FA Cup semifinal next month, with a clash against the Reds scheduled before that Wembley date.

NEW TELEGRAPH ARCH 2015

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

I proved to my parents I could combine school and athletics – Peka Charles Ogundiya

igeria junior athlete, Victor Peka, has said he has been able to prove his parents wrong after living his dream as an athlete. While speaking with Saturday Telegraph, the Kwara State Polytechnic National Diploma graduate said with his achievement at the last African Junior Athletics Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he had shown to his

GOtv Boxing Night delivers knockout punch

f there was a need for evidence of boxing revival in Nigeria, it was emphatically supplied last Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium. The occasion was the second edition of the GOtv Boxing Night, an event primarily designed to spark the revival of the sport locally. When it debuted last November with six professional fights in different weight divisions, it did with a huge promise that it could arrest the decline the sport had experienced. A clear evidence of that was the massive fan-turnout and the unrestrained excitement they displayed at the chance to watch top class professional boxing action once again. That promise has since been built upon, with the second edition drawing an even larger crowd. As early as 3pm, fans had started trooping to the venue, excitement on their faces. Some brought their families along. A few hours later, the show began with the first fight of the night, a six-round lightweight bout between debutant, Otto "Joe Boy" Joseph and Kehinde "Ijoba" Badmus. Joe Boy won the fight on points. Next came the National Light Middleweight elimination contest between Sunday"Capo" Olalekan and Tonbraye "Tornado" Christmas. Christmas, an army corporal, had a large contingent of soldiers in attendance to cheer him. The fight was fast and furious, leaving fans in raptures, as both boxers went for it. There was little to separate the two exciting fighters and the judges declared the bout a draw. The excitement was brewing, as Jamiu "Rotor" Animashaun and Wahab "Hammer" Adebisi got into the ring to show what they have got over 10 rounds in a National Light Middleweight elimination contest. Both gave their best until a slight anomaly made the judges declare the fight a no- contest. Immediately after this came the National Light Welterweight elimination bout between rising star, Olaide "Fijaborn" Fijabi, and Waliu " Oganla" Arogundade. Fijabi, a three-time gold medal winner at the National Sports Festival, defeated his opponent and also won the trophy for the best boxer at the event.

parents that he could combine education with sport. Peka won silver in the men’s 200 metres behind his compatriot, Divine Oduduru, although he failed to make it to the final of the men’s 100m. “There was no support from my parents when I wanted to take up athletics, they believe that you cannot achieve anything in life without education,” he said. “They told me clearly that I could not serve two masters and it was not a matter of choice, that I should pick education and dump athletics. “Today I have shown that I can handle the two. I just finished my ND in business management from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, and also represented Nigeria at the African Junior Athletics Championship; one of my dreams has come to fruition.” The Kogi State-born athlete added that he had learnt a lot as an athlete and would be looking forward to the forthcoming All Africa Games.

Nigeria’s Ajayi Junior closely watched by a Gabonese defender in the last AAG qualifiers

PHOTO: SHENGOPIX

Lawal, Esin tip Siasia, U-23 team for glory

Charles Ogundiya

Peka

s the national U-23 team take on Zambia tomorrow (Sunday) in Abuja in the first leg of the last round of qualifiers for the All Africa Games, the Samson Siasia boys have been tipped to excel at the Congo 2015 games and the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, in 2016. The match is billed for the National Stadium in Abuja and Siasia has charged his players to go for a big win good enough to make the return leg a mere formality.

I advised Keshi to quit, says Erico J

oe Erico has revealed that he advised outof-contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, to quit the national team’s coaching job so as to "maintain his integrity". Erico, who was assistant Eagles coach alongside Keshi at the African Nations Cup in Mali in 2012, noted that it was obvious that the “Big Boss” no longer enjoyed the support of the Nigeria Football Federation and that he should rather walk away than allow his reputation to be impugned further. “I advised Keshi to leave and maintain his integrity, but I don’t know why he is hanging in there. It is clear the way things are going he is not wanted anymore,” Erico told Saturday Telegraph. The former national team goalkeeper who also revealed that he was still being owed salaries by the NFF added: “For his own sake he should quit, that is what I told

him. He told me certain things that I can’t divulge to you, but I still feel the best thing is for him to just walk away regardless”.

Keshi

In this regard, two of Nigeria's ex-internationals, Garba Lawal and Etim Esin, stated emphatically that Siasia has what it takes to lead the U-23 team to clinch the gold medal at the All African Games and the Olympics Games. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph recently in separate interviews, the former internationals said they were not surprised at what Siasia had been doing with the team. “Siasia has been the master of the junior teams. He got to the final of the U-20 World Cup in Holland in 2005 and also Olympics football final in 2008. I am sure he will continue to perform well with the team,” Etim said. “The team is actually on the verge of qualifying for the AAG and I don’t see Zambia stopping Nigeria from qualifying for the competition. He should be able to make the Olympics too and possibly win gold at the two championships. “Seriously, I am not surprised with what Siasia is doing with the team, all I wish him is the best.” In the same vein, former Roda FC of Holland’s midfielder, Lawal, said consistency should be the key for the team. He said he was happy that for the first time in recent years there had been contsistency in the different age grade teams. Lawal said: “In football you need continuity and if you look at the composition of the U-23 team, it is a blend of players that have been together in different age categories which I can say is working for the team. “Although you cannot judge a team with only a few games, but with the results so far, I believe they have what it takes to achieve greatness at the AAG, and Olympics Games next year.”

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Fame has not changed me in any way – Brume

Sport

2014 Commonwealth Games long jump gold medallist, Ese Brume, was the star at the recently concluded African Junior Athletics Champion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she told CHARLES OGUNDIYA how she came into the sport, her sibling in athletics, the influence of her coach, future plans and more. Excerpts...

The beginning It started when I was in secondary school, although I was not discovered the regular way. One afternoon a dog was chasing me and the way I ran without getting hurt impressed my coach, who later told me that I could be a good sprinter. Our games master at St. Theresa Grammar School came around one day to select some of us. He took us to the stadium for trials and from there we came to Lagos for the National School Sports Festival. That was in 2008, although I was not serious about it. I came second in the long jump and then I stopped for a while before my coach, Mr. Kayode Yaya, took me to Benin where he started training me. Now athletics is a full time job for me, taking into consideration my humble background, as you know rich kids rarely get involved in sports.

it says we shall be the head and not the tail and whatever we lay our hands upon shall prosper. I believe that whatever I lay my hands upon, with dedication and hard work would surely prosper. That is why I keep going into different areas of the sport. The main target for me in 2015 will be to perform better in the sprints. The season has just started, but my biggest target this year will be to stand on the podium at the World Championship and also to win an Olympic gold medal next year.

Commonwealth Games gold I will give the glory to God first and then my coach, Yaya. Before the Games, I was at the lowest point of my career after the disappointment of the World Junior Championship in the USA where I failed to get to the final. After talking with my coach, he encouraged me, telling me to generate positive energy, which I did. I also had a call from my pastor, Victor Adeniji, and the technical director of the Athletics Federation Nigeria, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, who also gave me words of encouragement that I have to pull myself together and look ahead to the future. I took their advice and the rest like they say is history. Immediately after winning the gold, I was so glad because it was a dream come true for me.

Handling fame I still remain the old Ese because I never allow success to get into my head. I still do what I always did when there was nothing.

Effect of athletics on your life Seriously my life has not been the same since I started. Like I said earlier, ‘rich man pikin no dey do sport’. Things have taken a turn for the better in my life since I became a professional athlete. Parents’ support I had the full support of my parents from the beginning. They have been praying for me to succeed and have supported me in every area. They are hoping and praying that one day I would become the world’s best athlete and the fastest woman in the world. Motivation Permit me to quote the bible here,

Success at the African Junior Athletics Championship I am happy and grateful to God for the opportunity given to me to excel at the championship. I am also glad that I was able to achieve two personal best times in triple jump and long jump.

Sibling's interest in sports I am not just the influence, maybe it is in the genes. My mum was once an athlete. My sister is running now as a quarter miler and will be representing Nigeria at the African Youth Championship next month in Mauritius. Education I am currently a 100 level student of Human Kinetic at the University of Benin, but before the end of the year I hope to move to the US, combining my education with athletics.

...Brume has a big heart, says coach

he coach who took Brume from her parents in Ughelli to Benin, Kayode Yaya, has described the athlete as a youngster with a big heart. Coach Yaya said Brume sometimes scared him because of her positive attitude to life. “She is somebody that is so generous, she can give her all, she carries everybody along, kind to a fault and sometimes I get scared,” he stated. “When they want to treat her special, she will decline and say she wants to be with the rest. She deserves everything she is getting now because she works so hard for it.”

Speaking further, the University of Benin coach, said with her dedication to training, she will surely make it big in athletics. Yaya said: “During training, she works so hard, sometimes she gasps for breath, sometimes she vomits everywhere; but that does not deter her from moving ahead. She knows how to get whatever she wants by working hard for it.” On how he discovered the potential in Brume, Coach Yaya said it was just sheer luck while describing her as a fragile human being. “Brume is a kid that I always look at and conclude that it’s just God that wants her to be where she is today.

“If you look at her, she has nothing to suggest she would be a professional athlete. She’s very fragile, a loner, someone with low confidence, if you shout at her she will start crying and sometimes I wondered what she was doing in athletics. “As an individual you need to be patient with her, you must understand her nature very well, otherwise you will be treating her wrongly and unfairly too. When we started understanding her nature it was then we started getting the best out of her. It was then she started coming out boldly and strongly. Seriously, if she has not been in track and field, I wonder what she would have become.”

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Lifestyle Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive. – Elbert Hubbard

Nasri cheats on girlfriend with Lindsay Lohan

rench tabloid magazine Public has claimed that Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has cheated on WAG Anara Atanes with Hollywood movie star Lindsay Lohan. This week’s edition of the mag uses its front page splash to claim that the pair hooked up in Paris and enjoyed a “crazy night together”. The publication uses images from Paris Fashion Week which shows the two photographed together with Nasri appearing to lean in and kiss the actress in one picture. Public goes on to claim that the two partied in exclusive Paris nightclub Rasputin before leaving together at 5am.

Lohan

Sanchez denies sex tape allegations A rsenal star Alexis Sanchez has taken to Twitter to deny allegations his friends secretly filmed he and a former girlfriend having sex. Valentina Roth claimed at the weekend that she dumped the Chilean, who she had been dating for more than a year, when she heard noises coming from a wardrobe and upon opening it found a number of Sanchez’s friends holding a mobile phone. However the Gunners ace denied the claims by the 24-year-old dancer in a Twitter message exclaiming: “Never in my life have I disrespected that person nor any other woman.” The rebuttal from the Arsenal man follows an interview published in the Sun on Sunday

Garcia

De Gea's girlfriend fuels fears of Real Madrid transfer

he girlfriend of David de Gea has dealt a blow to Manchester United's hopes of keeping him by describing his adopted city as 'not very nice'. Singer Edurne Garcia, Spain's Eurovision Song Contest entrant, made the comments on light entertainment show El Hormiguero. Host Pablo Motos asked her: 'I've been

told Manchester is uglier than the back of a fridge.' And rather than leap to the defence of the city where her boyfriend plies his trade, the 29-year-old replied: 'It's not very nice, that's for sure. You have to hunt out specific places, the nice places. 'But even then Spain is nicer. The reason I like it is because David's there. With him being there, everything looks wonderful.'

Valentina

with Miss Roth last week in which she said: “We started to make love and I was on top of Alexis when I heard a noise. I asked him if he had heard it too. “He put his hands over my ears but tried to disguise it by caressing my hair at the same time. A few seconds later I heard the door creaking. I jumped up and opened it and saw his friends. “They were in the cupboard, red-faced, holding up a mobile phone. I grabbed it, ripped out the SIM card, threw the phone to the floor and smashed it to pieces. “I was furious. Alexis insisted he had nothing to do with it. He kept on saying he was sorry, over and over again.” Stories courtesy Dailymail

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

success of the campaign nationwide. But, whatever success the FRSC may think it is achieving with its campaign is likely to be overshadowed soon by the new Orijin alcoholic drinks being hawked on the city’s major roads. Before its arrival to the beer industry, alcoholic brands like Alomo Bitters, Pelebe, Squadron, Pakurumo, Baby Okwu, Kerewa, Kogbebe, Dadubule, Action Bitters, Ogidigba, Pasa Bitters, among others had almost run the big manufacturers of beer out of business, mainly a the grassroots. Motor parks, roadsides, brothels, and

other public spaces had been overtaken by these “bitters”, which some consumers insisted have capacity to strengthen men’s sexual virility, hence, their preference for them. However, by late 2013, Guinness Nigeria Plc. joined the fray when it introduced to the market, Orijin, which it describes as “an alcoholic blend with the flavours of African herbs and fruits combined to give a refreshing bittersweet taste...” The drink, which is available in 30cl cans, and 75cl bottles, is said to contain neutral spirits, sugar, citric acids, trisodium citrate, caramel extracts, nartire, chamomile, thyme, cinnamon and orange. And like other bitters, Orijin has six per cent alcoholic content. Orijin, which instantly became a success and rave of the moment, cannot be dissociated from the status of its maker, regarded as an international company of repute. Investigations reveal that many consumers, both corporate and casual, now take Orijin for its supposed seal of safety. Several health organisations had warned against the consumption of those that came before it, which they described as unbranded and unhygienic. Today, ubiquitous young men and women, between the ages of 16 and 25 are currently engaged in the brisk businesses of offering Orijin to commuters and their drivers at cheaper rates in virtually all major road traffic gridlock spots in Lagos. From Oba Akran Road in Ikeja to Airport Road, Ikorodu Road, Maryland as well as Third Mainland Bridge, the story is the same. While a can of Orijin in bars costs N200, three of such go for N500 in traffic. The traffic strategy has thus increased the patronage by commuters. One of the hawkers, who identified herself simply as Amaechi, from Emene in Enugu State, told this reporter that a carton of Orijin containing 24 cans is sold for N3, 000, and that he sells a minimum of two cartons daily. Amaechi, who has become a popular face on Oba Akran Road in Ikeja, explained: “Every day, I buy two cartons for N6, 000 and I make N1, 000 from each carton; that summed up to N2, 000 profits. There are times I sell as much as three cartons, especially on Fridays when traffic logjam is usually high. But, I also buy nylon, which costs me about N100.” Similarly, another hawker, who refused his name in print, said he buys his products from a wholesale depot on Opebi Link Road, and sells to customers, who purchase from him on a regular basis. “Some of them buy from me

Accident scenes

Police officers even buy from us, maybe because it is cheaper here

on Mondays while going to work and they include men and women. In fact, many of them have my telephone number and they call me after the close of work. Whenever they call, I just pack it for them in big nylon bags. It is a good business and I enjoy doing it,” he said. Asked whether teenagers also buy from him, he responded, “What concerns me about teens? Am I not supposed to sell to every one? I come Lagos to look at bridges? No be moni I come make? Why I no go sell for people? By the way, who be teenager self?” His counterpart, Kelechi, sells along Awolowo-Alausa Road. She confessed that contrary to general belief in some quarters, security agents do not disturb them except, according to her, men of the Lagos State Taskforce. “Police officers even buy from us, maybe because it is cheaper here. But task force people disturb us a lot. So, we are always on

A young man hawking Orijin along Awolowo-Alausa Road in Ikeja

photo: punchng.com

Investigations

the alert. It is not only us that they arrest. They arrest all hawkers, but at this time of election, they have become a bit lenient with us, may be because they also need our vote,” she said. Meanwhile, many individuals have expressed dissatisfaction with the new development, describing it as a dangerous trend in the nation’s sales and marketing culture. They know that sales of alcohol might not be strange to Nigerian roads but being joined by products of supposedly responsible brands, raises questions. An advertising expert, Akeem Akinniyi, wants the matter addressed urgently. According to him, hawking alcohol is not only morally wrong but professionally too.” Akinniyi insists that the practice should be outlawed “because if the FRSC could be promoting ‘don’t drink and drive’ campaign and people are selling alcoholic drinks on the roads, it means the campaign is not effective. People buy bottle of water and soft drinks, they buy sausage and eat, so, are you saying somebody will buy a can of Orijin and will not open and drink while driving?” Akinniyi, however, is not aware of any law against this practice in the country. “But, if there could be so much control on the sale and advertisement of cigarettes, there is need for a law controlling where alcohol should be sold and who should buy. If there could be campaign that says, ‘Drink Responsibly,’ then there should be law saying, ‘Buy Responsibly.’ If you are not 18, then you should not buy alcohol.” He added: “We can see how the campaign against cigarette has erased images of cigar-smoking models from our minds as it is no longer visible on our televisions, newspapers and radios. Only smokers know the various brands and not the average citizen. This is not to say that beer advertising should be banned, but there should be strong restrictions against its sale and use.” Lateef, who is also a law lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, said he cringes at the sight of public sale or hawking of alcohol. He challenged the responsibilities of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies to cracking down on what he described as brazen crime. He said that hawking of alcohol, particularly in traffic, is a crime punishable under the Criminal Code. “The practice also breaches the Children and Young Persons Act because most hawkers are usually within the age brackets of between 18 and 21. It is not that we do not have the laws against such acts; it's just that some people (law enforcement agents) are not doing their job. For example, such acts are actually criminalised and punishable under sections 158, 249, and 409 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011,” he said. He did not stop there but added that across the world, the relevant age bar against sale of liquor to children or young person is 21. “In the US, for example, several states have different laws. However, they all have 21 years as their baseline. But most importantly, brazen sale of alcohol in public places such as roadsides or inside traffic is outlawed in those countries. It is, perhaps, only in Nigeria or other backwater countries that such act could be found,” he further said. To the manufacturers of Orijin, hawking its product is not encouraged, but “it is also not the firm’s responsibility to arrest the hawkers.” The company’s public relations officer, Olayinka Edmond, said Guinness is not comfortable having its product sold in traffic, because it is a responsible corporate body. CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Investigations

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21 MARCH 2015

Hawker along Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos

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

She said: “We do not sell or encourage the sale of any product, including alcoholic beverages in traffic. And as a responsible corporate citizen, we are not comfortable with our products being sold in traffic and we do not support it as it is against our expressed commitment to educating consumers on the dangers of drinking and driving. We have taken steps to educate our partners along the value chain on the need to curb this practice with the use of flyers and leaflets distributed to our various partners at distributor and wholesale level.” But, has any regulatory organisation approached Guinness concerning this development? Edmond said, “we have not yet been approached by any regulatory body but we have taken these steps to curb it because of our deep commitment to educating consumers on the proper use and enjoyment of alcoholic beverages as part of our broader drink driving agenda.” When contacted, the director of Special Duties and Public Relations Officer of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in the Lagos office, Mrs. Christy Obiazikwor, said the body only ascertains that products are safe for consumption but does not regulate premises where they are sold. According to Obiazikwor, NAFDAC, as a statutory regulatory agency regulates drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and bottled water but only extended its responsibility to the sales of drugs because it wants the drugs’ efficacy to be intact. “That is why we have deployed so many facilities to ensure that drugs stocked by retailers are in perfect order. We do not licence premises but because of our concern for the health of the public, we go farther to ensure that the environment where the products are sold is conducive for consumers. This is because we are aware of the porosity of our borders and that is why we run after the retailers even in their shops. Local government officials and KAI, in the case of Lagos, are supposed to be in charge of arresting hawkers,” she explained. In the case of Orijin, she told Saturday Telegraph that NAFDAC only regulates its content and certified it as consumable “but how they sell it goes beyond our mandate. But Nigerians should know that for a normal person, even the shirts you are wearing shouldn’t be bought from hawkers not to talk of what you eat. I have seen before young men hawking cooked rice and I wonder who would buy it but people were buying. What if you get home and the shirt is torn, where do you go to complain? “Don’t put this responsibility on NAFDAC because we do not regulate Lateef premises. This is a new development and I think it should open our eyes to the new ways of responding to the challenge. Before now, there was nothing like that, we were only battling those hawking drugs but now that you have called our attention to it we should be able to work on it. "Meanwhile, I should tell you that we have our advocacy projects on substance abuse and we partner several bodies and individuals to sensitise the public on the danger fake products constitutes and why consumers must buy from right channels. In fact, not long ago, we organised a forum for commercial drivers and okada riders at the NITEL compound in Oshodi where we enlightened them on the need to shun consumption of dangerous alcoholic drinks, particularly while driv- Obiazikwor

PHOTOS: godwin Irekhe

'Hawking alcohol, morally wrong'

Omeje

Akinniyi

We are committed to educating consumers on the proper use of alcholic beverages

ing,” she further explained. Similarly, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) also said it does not regulate sales of products but only concerns itself with advertisement regulations. APCON chairman, Udeme Ufot, said that the body only had responsibility for determining who could practice advertising in Nigeria, and how and where he or she practices. “APCON, through its ASP, vets advertising materials and determines their suitability for exposure for public consumption. But how or where products are sold is beyond the purview of APCON,” he said. When Saturday Telegraph approached the chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Bayo Sulaiman, he said the Taskforce was not established to target alcohol hawkers but to address all forms of hawking in the state. He, however, said that the body was trying to ensure that Lagos roads are free of hawkers but, according to him, the solution was far beyond arrest. He enjoined parents and guardians to cooperate with the agency to ensure that appropriate channels are used to engage in sales and marketing business in the state. He said: “I must state that we are not only focused on Orijin hawkers but all forms of hawking. Yes, they are all part of the societal crises, which require the support of everybody to be put under control.” To the FRSC, the act establishing it does not empower it to arrest hawkers of alcohol, and so it could only sensitise the public against the practice. This responsibility, it claimed, is being carried out committedly. In an interview with Omeje, he said “we will keep advocating a better society; particularly through our ‘don’t drink and drive’ campaign and we hope organisations like yours will also help in stepping up this campaign.” However, there are people, who fear that if this ugly scenario is not addressed soon, chances are that other alcoholic brands may also storm the roads in a sort of competition war. This argument appears potent in that at present, Nigerian Breweries Plc has already hit the market to challenge Guinness with its Ace Roots, another ready to drink herbal brand. The NB’s sales director, Hubert Eze, while presenting the brand some days ago, said the launch was informed by the quest to meet the needs of consumers and reconnect them to an era when herbal drinks held sway with regards to cure for many health challenges. He said though NB was not claiming that the product is a health drink, the new product, according to him, is blended with African herbs mixed with spirit. This is the imminent “war” of the two giant liquor makers in the country that many had feared. But, where it would land the nation, is what no one can tell.

SATURDAY

Dear Love Doctor,

Life Experience

p.37

p.36

'Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m married but I'm attracted to another man'

'I fell in love with my patient'

L ve&Lv ng SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015

'My wife is a lesbian' Confession

One thing I noticed about my wife was that she started becoming a member of various women's associations and clubs

Infidelity in marriage cannot be tolerated by many people. Infidelity in marriage also appears more disgusting if the unfaithful partner engaged or engages in a same-sex relationship with a stranger. In this story, a man is shocked to discover that his wife is a lesbian, but rather than divorce her, he opts for a peaceful settlement.

As narrated to Michael Uchebuaku

y name is Chris and I'm an Igbo man from the Eastern part of the country. I'm 47 years old and have a good job. I grew up with what I can describe as a semi-silver spoon. That's because my parents were not too rich but at least they were comfortable. I had my elementary education in Nigeria. I also completed my first degree programme in physiotherapy at a university in the south-west. However, my parents wanted me to become a medical doctor by all means. So I was sent overseas to study medicine soon after I graduated. After I had successfully completed my medical studies overseas, I returned to Nigeria to work based on the advise of my parents who said they wanted me back in the country because they would rather not I married a white woman. On my return to the country, my parents quickly urged me to look for a suitable girl to marry in Nigeria. They advised me to go to the village and pick a good girl. I heeded their advise and headed to my hometown three weeks after I returned to Nigeria after my studies abroad. It was in my village that I met Kelechi. Kelechi was a tall, fair and very pretty girl to behold when I first set my eyes on her. However, there arose a minor problem of communication gap between us during the initial days of our courtship.

The problem was that Kelechi was not very good at understanding the English language. She only spoke and understood Igbo, while I spoke queen's English. I wasn't so fluent in Igbo and my many years of living overseas as a medical student had made me almost forget my mother tongue. But soon, I picked up with my mother tongue and Kelechi too began to communicate better in English. Before long, we were head over heels in love with each other and we made certain that we saw each other everyday. I didn't need to seek a second opinion before I decided to marry Kelechi, because as she lay in my arms everyday, the fire of love consumed me and I just couldn't

let her go. Both families consented to our getting married and we had one of the most memorable traditional marriages. Kelechi was heavily pregnant during our traditional marriage, so she advised me to postpone the church wedding until after she had given birth. After the birth of the child, we wedded and began to live happily ever after. We have had five children during the past twelve years, but over time, one thing I noticed about my wife was that she started becoming a member of various women's associations and clubs. She would tell me that she is a member of so and so women's clubs and I would just remain silent because I didn't know what to say. Over the past decade of our marriage, I've tried my best to convince her

on the need for both of us to be members of the same club, because I didn't want us to be separated. Again, as a devoted Catholic, I believe that it is good for both husband and wife to always do things together, but the problem is that my wife likes going her separate way on issues. She doesn't even go to church except on Christmas day, Easter or New Year Day. I've begged her to state her reasons, if any, for not wanting to wed in church, and she hasn't said anything. I'm a member of several societies in the church and fellow church members always looked at me strangely in the church because they know that my wife doesn't attend Church services regularly. However, last Sunday after church, I was shocked when one of our family friends walked up to me and told me that my wife is a member of a lesbian club. At first, I didn't believe the man, but when he called his wife and his wife confirmed it, I just prayed for the ground to open up and swallow me. I now realise that some of these so-called women's clubs that my wife joined were actually lesbian clubs, but I don't understand why my wife needed to join a lesbian club. After all, I satisfy her sexually to the best of my ability. I wanted to confront my wife over the allegation but members of my family and my family friends told me not to do that. They said I should report the matter to the priest and he will settle everything between me and my wife. To my greatest surprise, my family friend told me that my wife had always been a lesbian even before I married her and that the lesbian clubs also help her business grow by patronizing her shop. I can't believe that my wife is actually a lesbian, but I've reported the matter to my parish priest and he promised to talk it over with my wife. I'm ashamed and very disturbed about this, but I don't want my marriage to crash. I don't want to divorce my wife.

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Love News

Love Songs

Cameron Diaz says sex is the secret behind her physique

ewlywed Cameron, 42, revealed that she and her new husband Benji Madden, 35, are keeping things active between the sheets because sex is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. “It’s something healthy that we need to be doing for many different reasons,” Cameron said in an interview with UK’s Cosmopolitan. It’s not only sexercise that Cameron uses to keep fit though, as she says she has to work at it to keep in shape. “You have to just do it. Once you commit and really put in the effort, your body goes, ‘Oh, it’s not OK to be without this.’

People say, ‘My body rejects exercise.’ No, it doesn’t. Your mind rejects exercise,” she said. In spite of this though, Cameron says that she never denies herself the occasional treat. “Wellbeing is an equation,” she continued. “Remember, you don’t have to have the whole cake, you can have a piece. Don’t deprive yourself. Have fun. Just be selfaware.” Just as all good nutritionists and fitness experts advise, Cam says it’s all about moderation. “If your equation is 80 per cent good, 20 per cent bad most of the time, then a little

movement toward the centre isn’t going to affect you much.” It’s not the first time that Cameron has spoken openly about her belief that sex forms a vital part of an active lifestyle. In 2010 she told UK’s Vogue that "The fountain of youth [for me], let's see...I guess it's exercise, healthy diet, lots of water, lots of laughter, lots of sex — yes, sex, we need that as human beings." You gotta love Cameron’s refreshingly healthy and shameless attitude! As she said: "It's healthy, it's natural, it's what we are here to do!" Courtesy: Daily Mail

Life Experience

'I fell in love with my patient'

had always wanted to be a nurse, ever since I was a little girl. I thought it was a really honorable profession and that I could really make a difference. I started night shift at the nursing home just after I finished my training. At 21, it was my first real job and my first hands – on nursing experience. I chose geriatric nursing because I love old people - their wisdom and the way they look at life. I knew many of them might be lonely and thought I could be there for them. Nursing homes often have such bad reputations and I believed I could offer some top quality nursing, conversation and kindness to those who may not have a supportive family around them. On my first night at the home the senior nurse took me around to meet the patients in my ward and helped me get them settled for bed. Most of the patients had decorated their rooms to make them homely and comfortable, filling them with pictures of their children and grandchildren. The only one who hadn't was the last patient I met that night - Karl. He was German and had moved to Australia in the 1940s. He sat in his chair, surrounded by pictures of buildings and landmarks from all around the world - no children, no grandchildren,

not even a photograph of a sweetheart. He looked very dapper in his dressing gown and cravat and stood carefully when I entered the room and introduced myself. He took my hand and gently kissed it. In his thick German accent he said, "Ah Emma. I knew a very beautiful girl in Germany named Emma. You are even more beautiful than her." I blushed and pulled my hand away as the senior nurse told him to stop his nonsense and get ready for bed. I already had a boyfriend crass, crude, motorbike riding Pete - whose idea of a compliment was a rough smack on the bum and telling me I'd made a nice dinner. I had never had a man stand as

After a few weeks I started to notice that I was looking forward to being at work more and more

I entered a room, kiss my hand and tell me I was beautiful. After I had finished my rounds for the night and was getting ready for a much needed coffee, I walked past Karl's room and saw that while everyone else slept, he sat in his chair, door open, writing in his diary. I walked past quietly and for a moment hoped he was writing about me. I loved working at the nursing home, even though there were sad times when one of my lovely patients got sick. I became very attached to them all and it was hard to see them slowly deteriorate with cancer or dementia. After a few weeks I started to notice that I was looking forward to being at work more and more. The main reason for this was Karl. Every evening I would pop in to say goodnight and slowly started staying for a cup of tea and a chat. Eventually I would finish my rounds and go and sit with him for the rest of the night. He was such a night owl that it was perfect for us. We would talk until the sun came up. We were different in so many ways - at 76, he was 55 years older than me. We had completely different backgrounds and while my life was really just beginning, his was winding down. He was mentally continued on page 38

Betty Wright

Tonight Is The Night First of all I'd like to say good evening And we're so pleased that So many of you could come out and share In all the love and all the happiness we have in store for you We want you to have a real good time 'Cause that's just what we have in mind Is that alright with you Now, this is a tune that I composed And it's called Tonight is the night That you make me a woman Now I never intended recording this song It was a personal poem This is until the day that my producer Happened to thumb through the pages of my notebook He came across the words and he said "We got to somethin' with these words It's happening every day And people wanna hear about it, Betty" You see, it's the story of a young girl Making love for the very first time Now when I finally got a melody I took it home and I-I played it for my mother Now I got to tell you a little bit about my mother You see I come from one of those pretty large families And I'm the baby of the family And you know you never grow up to your mother I'll never forget the way she looked at me when I played it for her She said, "Uh, I like the music You know, baby, the melody it's really nice But I know you're not gonna sing that song" But we eased it right on by, yes, we did And it became one of my biggest records too So I want you to do this for me if you will Everybody think back to your very first time Now I'll give you a little while longer 'Cause I know some of you Have to think back a little further than others Come on now, I want you to play catch-up 'Cause I don't want you waitin' till I get to the end of my song Sayin', "Oh, yeah, now I remember" Now whether it was good Or you just smilin' it was good Or on the other hand if it was not so good

Love Poem

Michael

Life is nothing without you I love you because you make the sky so blue and the sun so white. Your love gives the grass its green colour and the rose its redness. Life is nothing without you, That's why I can't do without you!

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

Romantic Joke

Jack or Barbara?

One day Mr. Smith, the president of a large corporation, called his vice-president, Dave, into his office and said, "We're making some cutbacks, so either Jack or Barbara will have to be laid off." Dave looked at Mr. Smith and said, "Barbara is my best worker, but Jack has a wife and three kids. I don't know whom to fire." The next morning Dave waited for his employees to arrive. Barbara was the first to come in, so Dave said, "Barbara, I've got a problem. You see, I've got to lay you or Jack off and I don't know what to do?" Barbara replied, "You'd better jack off. I've got a headache."

21 MARCH 2015

Relationships & Love Advice

'I’m married but I'm attracted to another man' Dear Love Doctor, My name is Josephine and I am 35 years old. I reside in the Northern part of the country. I have a problem and my problem is that I just can’t stay with only one man. I got married five years ago and my husband is a very caring and loving man. However, after these few years of marriage, I seem to have gotten tired of my husband and now I am really attracted to another man. I feel like cheating on my husband or even leaving him with our two children and eloping with the new man I fancy. How do I go about it? Please tell me what to do. From Josephine. Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Josephine,

around us but only weak people fall for it. It is people that cheat that make other people feel insecure in life. However, one way to resolve this issue is for you to try to rekindle the love you have for your husband for the sake of your children. That will help you to remain with your husband. However, if you know you can’t be faithful to your husband, tell him, so that both of you can find an amicable way to dissolve the marriage. *Send your comments/stories to Love Doctor. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com. For free marriage/relationships counseling, call Love Doctor Mike 07031028714, 08131161840. Visit lovedrmike.blogspot.com.

This is actually not acceptable. If you are after more than one relationship or can’t stay with only one man permanently, then don’t get married. You shouldn’t have got married in the first place. Your partner might adore you more than anything in this world, but what happens when he or she finds out you have cheated, especially if you are the only person your partner has his or her eyes on? Put yourself in your partner’s position and feel what he or she would feel. Temptation is all

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Odd News

leading paediatrician has said he would rather his children used marijuana than alcohol, such is the devastation that drink can cause. Aaron E. Carroll, professor of paediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, said while he would prefer youngsters to use neither, if forced to make a choice, he would opt for pot. Writing for The New York Times, he said that as his children grow up, he is frequently asked - given his profession - which of the two substances he would prefer them to use. He said: 'The immediate answer, of course, is “neither". And after sifting through all the studies and all the data, I still say “neither". Usually, I say it more than once. 'But if I’m forced to make a choice, the answer is “marijuana".' His decision is based on research into a number of factors - essentially the harm caused by both drugs. But in the course of his debate, he explains that while marijuana is easy to demonise because it's illegal, the evidence shows that in terms of harm and death, alcohol causes significantly more damage. He goes on to argue that while research has linked marijuana to changes

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Would you rather your child tried cannabis or alcohol? in the brain and psychosis, as well as changes in lung function and cancer risk, 'these are all associations, not known causal pathways'. Instead, he explains, there may be other factors that explain these links - perhaps people with mental health problems are more likely to use the drug, he suggests. However he warns what many of us - especially parents - do is overlook the huge dangers of alcohol. He cites statistics from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, which state that alcohol use is a factor in 40 per cent of all violent crimes in the United States, including 37 per cent of rapes and 27 per cent of aggravated assaults. No such association has been found among marijuana users. 'People who are high are not committing violence,' he explains. He goes on to add that nearly 20 per cent of male delinquents and 10 per cent of female delinquents have an alcohol problem. Meanwhile binge drinking was responsible for around half of the 80,000 alcohol-related deaths in the United States in 2010, whereas cannabis kills

virtually no one. He also factors in statistics for drink driving and domestic violence - and once again, alcohol fares worse. As it does in terms of long-term dependency. Professor Carroll states that while nine per cent of pot users eventually become dependent, more than 20 per cent of alcohol users do. From first-hand experience as a paediatrician, he says he has also seen more damage - some almost fatal - caused by alcohol poisoning.

Then there is the link with unprotected sex, drunken fights and accidents all of which are significantly more likely when alcohol is thrown into the mix. Despite being marginally in favour of marijuana over alcohol, Professor Carroll denies his arguments are 'pro pot' - nor is he burying the negative effects of the drug. Indeed, he goes on to acknowledge marijuana does have risks and negative consequences - and they are 'certainly greater than zero'. Courtesy: Daily Mail.

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Love Education

True Story

'I exposed my boss's sexual harassment'

hen I was 15 years old I worked in a butcher's shop after school and on

weekends. There were a few butchers working there and they were nice to the girls who were the shop staff, but then a new butcher started working there. He seemed nice at first, but one day during a shift, he brushed past me and as he did, he pushed his groin into my backside! This occurred in a part of the shop where the counter was, which was a narrow part of the shop front. No one else saw this at the time and I was absolutely shocked! This man who was three times my age was taking advantage of me being naive and young, thinking that I wouldn't say anything. Initially, I thought it to be some kind of mistake, so I kept working there, and then another incident occurred that made me change my mind. On another shift, I was in the narrow part of the shop again when I looked up and saw him watching me, and when I kept working in the same spot he

came over and brushed past me, this time along my front, and rubbed himself along me as he went past! I was disgusted to say the least. This time I decided to do something about it and I spoke to another girl who was working with me who was in her twenties and asked whether she had noticed what had happened. She admitted that she also had been targeted by this disgusting man and said not to say anything as we would probably be fired.

'I fell in love with my patient' c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 3 6

quick and bright but his body was slow and old. I would tell him about Pete and he would say, "You deserve someone better Emma. Someone who appreciates you." We started to spend as much time together as possible. The hours away from him were torture. Pete and I were fighting all the time and all I wanted to do was be with Karl. We started sleeping together and even though he was old, he was a tender, gentle lover and with some help from Viagra he could satisfy me even more than Pete could. Our nights were spent talking and holding each other, except for the brief moments when I had to go and check on a patient or make an appearance in the tearoom so that the other nurses didn't get suspicious. No one really thought it was possible for a girl like me - young and pretty - to fall for an old man. They thought I was just being kind and listening to his stories. Little did they know I had fallen in love with him. Pete moved out saying that I was never there anyway. I wasn't sad to see him go. I just wanted to be with Karl all the time and even asked him to move in with me. He said he couldn't put that pressure on me to quit my job and look after him full time. I tried to convince him but he wouldn't. A few weeks later it was our three month anniversary. I turned up to work with some of Karl's favourite foods in a picnic basket. I had baked his favourite apple teacake and brought some special cheeses that he couldn't have very often because of his health. It was going to be a special night

full of forbidden foods and love making. I had even bought a new lace teddy to surprise him - black with pink stitching and nice and high cut, just the way he liked them. Smiling and excited, I burst into his room expecting to see him get up out of his chair but the room was empty. I felt sick. Something was very wrong. I felt the tears well up in my eyes. I dropped the basket of food and ran to the tea room. One of the nurses was there reading a magazine and having a cup of tea. My voice shook as the tears ran down my face. "Where's Karl? Where's Karl??" She looked up at me, "Oh darling, he died this afternoon. It was his heart. I know it's your first death here. I know it's a shock." I let her hold me as I sobbed. Afterwards I sat in his room, in the same chair he had sat in all those evenings. The room still smelt of him. I hugged one of his dressing gowns and breathed him in, wishing he was still alive. I left my job soon after because the rumor mill went into overdrive. It was normal to miss a patient, to feel sad at their passing but people soon got suspicious of my constant tears and the fact that I was the sole beneficiary of his will. I used his money to travel the world, wishing with all my heart that he could have shared each moment with me. Then I came home and got a job at an office. I still curl up in his chair at night with a glass of port, imagining him with me. I read his diary and my favourite page is decorated with sketches of pretty flowers and a few simple words - "Today I met a beautiful girl named Emma." Courtesy: Cosmo

I worked out a plan, which depended on customers being in the shop, and I was ready for the next episode

He also got along well with the other butchers so I didn't think they would believe me, so I didn't say anything. I decided I didn't want to work in this sort of environment, but I wanted to give this disgusting person a taste of their own medicine first. I worked out a plan, which depended on customers being in the shop, and I was ready for the next episode. As it turned out it happened during Saturday at lunchtime when we were quite busy. He brushed up against me, quite hard this time, and actually smiled — a smirky kind of smile — and that's when I turned to the line and said in a really loud voice, "Keep your hands off me Gary. I don't like you rubbing yourself against me and touching me in that way!" And I looked him straight in the eyes. He just stood there with a red face and the whole shop just went quiet and stared at him and I remember some people even shaking their heads in disgust. I left that day with my pay, that I demanded, and an intense feeling of empowerment! Courtesy: nine.com

Wedding Traditions

Taking a long bath to wash away past love: France

n the day of the wedding, the bride would take a long bath to wash away any thoughts of previous lives or loves. It is traditional for the groom to pick up his bride at her house and walk to the chapel. Typically in small towns, children block their path with white ribbons, which the bride cuts to symbolize breaking through these obstacles. A pre-cursor to the modern veil may be a tradition that originated in France where the carre, a square piece of silk fabric, was held over the bride and groom’s heads as they received the priest’s final blessing in the ceremony to ward away descending malice and the bride would also wear a wreath of flowers on her head. Courtesy: Irish Central.

What is Ovulation? O

vulation is the event of de Graaf's follicles rupturing and releasing secondary oocyte ovarian cells. It is the phase of a female's menstrual cyclewhen an egg (ovule) is released from the ovaries. After ovulation, during the luteal phase, the egg will be available to be fertilized by sperm. Concomitantly, the uterine lining (endometrium) is thickened to be able to receive a fertilized egg. If no conception occurs, the uterine lining as well as blood will be shed during menstruation. In humans, ovulation occurs about midway through the menstrual cycle, after the follicular phase. The few days surrounding ovulation (from approximately days 10 to 18 of a 28 day cycle), constitute the most fertile phase. The time from the beginning of the last menstrual period(LMP) until ovulation is, on average, 14.6 days, but with substantial variation between women and between cycles in any single woman, with an overall 95% prediction interval of 8.2 to 20.5 days. The process of ovulation is controlled by the hypothalamus of the brain and through the release of hormones secreted in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In the pre-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, the ovarian follicle will undergo a series of transformations called cumulus expansion, which is stimulated by FSH. After this is done, a hole called the stigma will form in the follicle, and the secondary oocyte will leave the follicle through this hole. Ovulation is triggered by a spike in the amount of FSH and LH released from the pituitary gland. During the luteal (post-ovulatory) phase, the secondary oocyte will travel through the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. If fertilized by a sperm, the fertilized secondary oocyte or ovum may implant there 6–12 days later. Follicular phase The follicular phase (or proliferative phase) is the phase of the menstrual cycle during which the ovarian folliclesmature. The follicular phase lasts from the beginning of menstruation to the start of ovulation.[9][10] For ovulation to be successful, the ovum must be supported by the corona radiata and cumulus oophorousgranulosa cells. The latter undergo a period of proliferation and mucification known as cumulus expansion. Mucification is the secretion of a hyaluronic acid-rich cocktail that disperses and gathers the cumulus cell network in a sticky matrix around the ovum. This network stays with the ovum after ovulation and has been shown to be necessary for fertilization. An increase in cumulus cell number causes a concomitant increase in antrum fluid volume that can swell the follicle to over 20 mm in diameter. It forms a pronounced bulge at the surface of the ovary called the blister. Ovulation Estrogen levels peak towards the end of the follicular phase, which causes a surge in levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH). This lasts from 24 to 36 hours, and results in the rupture of the ovarian follicles, causing the oocyte to be released from the ovary via the oviduct. Source: en.wikipedia.org.

SATURDAY

Travel &Tourism SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015

Chef's Corner

Akpu: The evergreen meal of strength p.40

Travel Personality Rosana Forsuelo: Hospitality, career of the century p.41

Destination

In the grip of Dubai, the enchanting city p.42

The Kingdom's alluring facade

Rapids pool and bar restaurant

HOSPITALITY

aid beautifully against the backdrop of Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and Zimbabwe’s most stunning tourist attraction, The Kingdom offers a sublime view as you drive into the hotel from Victoria Falls Airport (about 20 minutes drive). The look inspires many descriptions: Natural kingdom - where nature is at the best? African kingdom – where Africans are at play in their natural setting? Or pleasure kingdom – where all the pleasures of this world amid sophistication and upscale facilities are at your beck and call. But as you come to discover later, The Kingdom is all of these and many more put together. Of course, you couldn't feel any less when given the royal treatment. The hotel is an architectural masterpiece built around a man– made lake and enjoys the natural scenery provided by the Victoria Falls National Park. Managed by African Sun, The Kingdom is an authentic African-themed resort with a tinge of Western style leisure activities in a very elevated and enchanting manner. Accommodation It offers 294 rooms of diverse categories such as Standard rooms, Family rooms, Standard Suites and Paraplegic rooms. They are all stylishly fitted and furnished with a number of amenities like flat screen LCD TV, en– suite bathroom with shower/bath, tea/coffee making facilities.

Dining/wining The excitement of dining and wining at the hotel is always turbo-

The Kingdom: A piece of nature and pleasure ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA who was at The Kingdom, Victoria Falls, writes on the fascinating and natural pull of the hotel.

body massage, aromatherapy full body massage, Clarin’s ultimate body relax, scrub and massage and facial care (Clarin’s custom designed facial). Casino It is also noted for its casino and gaming facilities with The Makasa Sun Casino as the spot to visit most nights for an exciting gaming experience, with different options of slot machines and tables (Black Jack and American Roulette tables) to choose from.

The pool arcade

charged because here the art of eating has been perfected and made a pleasurable experience held in an inviting and stimulating atmosphere. Sometimes it is a mixture of food, music and dance as the hotel’s cultural troupe entertains either at lunch or dinner time. The options here are as exciting as they come, both coated in African and international dishes at the Whitewaters Restaurant, which is the main eating place of the hotel. Other spots include Rapids Pool Bar and Restaurant, Quartermains Bar, Wild Thing Action Bar and The Pit. Then there is a section known as The Great Enclosure located on the

hotel’s premises. It offers a variety of dining and wining as well as entertainment options such as Panarottis Pizzeria, the Pub & Grill and The King Bean Coffee Shop, Spur Steak House, The Burger Place and The Sweet Hut. There is also a pharmacy and shop outlets within. Fitness The Kingdom is also top notch with regards to fitness and health regime. There are three swimming pools of varied sizes for both adults and children, a safari health and beauty spa offering diverse services such as pedicure, French manicure, Swedish body massage (neck, shoulder and back), full

Conference Other than its array of rich and pleasurable leisure and entertainment facilities, The kingdom is home too for business tourism. It boasts a number of conference facilities from The Leambe Room to the Thuli boardroom, all exquisitely furnished with basic conference amenities. Leisure/entertainment activities You also have a rich blend of leisure and entertainment on the bill of The Kingdom. This include sundowner cruise, flight of angels (helicopter flight over The Victoria Falls (six seater), bungee jumping, lion walk, elephant back safaris, float plane ultra light, microlighting, canoeing, white water rafting, day and night game drives and game walks.

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

ABA

FESTAC, LAGOS

LAGOS

ABA

Panda Hotel Suites & Lounge

Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

CHEF'S CORNER

Akpu

Ingredient zz 200g of cassava and water

Akpu: The evergreen meal of strength

Method zz Peel the cassava, rinse and put in a basin filled with water, cover and leave for two to three days. Thereafter, put in another basin, sieve and place in a tightly secured bag and place a heavy weight on it to drain the water content. Then remove the content from the bag, mould the cassava paste into balls and place in a pot with boiling water and allow to boil for about 30 minutes. Remove the balls, place them in a mortar and pound to achieve a smooth consistency. Then mould into balls, ready to be served.

Akpu, a rich cassava meal, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA has earned the right to be a common household meal across Nigeria and even beyond.

igeria has got a rich blend of menu particularly in the traditional setting that has over the years earned the distinction of staple foods in the land. One such meal is akpu (the name of the meal in Igbo). It is a common staple food in the eastern part of the country but the fact remains that you can easily find it in most places across Nigeria, especially in restaurants run by the Igbos. It is in the same meal line as the popular eba, amala, semovita and starch. Interestingly, while you can find eba, pounded yam, amala, semovita and starch on the menu list of a number of highbrow eateries and hotels, it is not so with akpu. However, it is a meal that many eat on a daily basis. Although akpu is the common name, today in the different communities where it is eaten, it has come to assume

different names. For some, it is known as "six-to-six" because of its sustenance capacity. While others also call it "Bishop White" or "Lohilo". I first heard these names years back when I was on my National Youth Service Corps programme in Abia State. The names sounded quite interesting and funny, and curious to find out what it meant I ordered for it in the local restaurant only to be presented with akpu in it all white, pure and majestic state. Not really a fan of the meal, I politely declined and ordered instead for garri. However, it is really a healthy meal, offers carbohydrates among others, when eaten in the right proportion and the right mix. Some advise it's best eaten light due to its heavy nature. It could also be eaten with all sorts of soups, but the bitter leaf soup is a huge favourite.

A ball of Akpu

Bitter leaf soup

Ingredients zz Beef, dry fish, ground crayfish (2tbsp), stockfish, fresh pepper, bitter leaf, cocoyam, achi, one litre of water, palm oil, onions, seasoning and salt to taste. Method zz Wash bitter leaf and stockfish, add sliced onions, seasoning and salt to taste. Then cook till tender, add dry fish, peel off the cocoyam, wash and cook in a separate pot for about 30 minutes. Pound the cocoyam, add palm oil and achi which helps thicken it and add the mixture to boiling pot that has the other ingredients. Cook for a few minutes and add crayfish and fresh pepper and cook for about 15 minutes. Thereafter add the bitter leaf and cook for few minutes. zz Then it is ready to be served.

Bitter leaf soup

Additional information from Nigeria Cares produced by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation)

Nigerians top list of Heathrow's VIP biggest spenders

TRAVEL BEATS

Kerzner International elevates two personnel Kerzer International Holdings Limited has disclosed the promotion of two of its personnel, Ian Connolly - promoted to the post of Chief Development Officer - and Paul Macpherson - named as Executive Vice President, Global Business and Real Estate Development. They are expected to support the strategic worldwide growth of Kerzner International, including the iconic Atlantis resorts that are the ultimate in entertainment destinations, and the ultra-luxury One & Only Resorts. As Chief Development Officer, Ian Connolly will lead all global development for the Company. He is responsible for all development projects worldwide and leading the team of executives responsible for the planning and coordination of both design and construction. Mr. Connolly joined Kerzner International in 2005 as Vice President, Commercial, where he was integrally involved in every aspect of the design and

development of Atlantis, The Palm and also assisted in contractual and commercial elements in the development of One & Only Cape Town and Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort while Mr. Connolly was promoted in 2010 to Senior Vice President, Development and Facilities where he also took responsibility for the development of all new resorts including Atlantis, Sanya Hainan and multiple One & Only resorts. In 2014, he was promoted to Executive Vice President, Development and Facilities, overseeing the extensive renovation of the iconic private island resort added to the One&Only collection, One&Only Hayman Island, and the new Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences in Dubai. Paul Macpherson has been named Executive Vice President, Global Business and Real Estate Development and will drive the business development strategy to continue the global expansion of Kerzner International’s brands.

Connolly

Macpherson

Nigerians have been listed as the world’s biggest spenders on Heathrow Airport luxury retail and VIP services. A recent statistics from the airport actually revealed that of the people that used the airport’s services, Nigerians spend an average of £1,059 ($1,594) per visit on luxury retail. ‘‘Heathrow’s VIP Service was originally designed for dignitaries such as Heads of State, but we recognised that the privacy and exclusivity that we offered is something that many passengers are looking for in their own lives. Making the service available to First Class and Business Class passengers, we now provide a quality experience that allows our passengers to enjoy a personalised service and we’re delighted to welcome many of these from Nigeria,” explained the retail director of Heathrow, Jonathan Coen. He further stated that the service which started in 2013 has been hugely successful. “The Personal Shopping service is incredibly successful at Heathrow, especially with our international passengers. The service started

in October 2013 with a five-member team and just over a year on, we have grown to 15 members who are on hand from the first to the last flight and offer assistance in 38 language.’’ For departures and arrivals via Heathrow, the service offers a dedicated entrance to the airport, a chauffeurdriven luxury car ride to and from the aircraft and a private lounge as a waiting area. The passenger is assisted with their check-in, immigration and baggage collection procedures, creating an exclusive travel experience. Heathrow also offers the Personal Shopping service, which is available to all passengers flying through the airport. The bespoke service affords passenger a dedicated Personal Shopper to accompany them to the terminal of their choice and for consultation during purchases. Personal Shoppers cater to language requirements with staff members who are fluent in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo as well as other local and international languages.

Sheraton Hotels in Nigeria Celebrates Women ECHOES of motherhood are reverberating at Sheraton Hotels in Nigeria - Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Sheraton Abuja Hotel - as the hotels joined the rest of the world last week in the celebration of the International Women’s Day and Mothers' Day. In this regard, the hotels have lined up series of activities in March while calling on women of all ages and works of life to bring friends and family to connect. The packages on offer include fine dining with special discounts of up to 40 percent, gym membership discounts and free group work outs in the fitness centres, which are guaranteed to connect women and help old friend’s to bond during the fitness sessions. According to the Area General Manager of Starwood Hotels in Nigeria, Mr. Barry Curran, “each female diner that visits our restaurants during the month of March will be entered into a raffle to win special prizes ranging from

Kalahari lifestyle products, Pandora Jewelry items as well as free night stay vouchers at both of our Sheraton Hotels in Nigeria.’’ Curran further stated that “you have to be a Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) to be eligible for the raffle draw and SPG membership is free.” According to him, the two partners for the event are delighted about it. “Our two partners for this initiativePandora and Kalahari are happy to offer 10% off when you show our Sheraton Hotels in Nigeria Women’s month in March flyer at their stores in Nigeria. “Husbands, partners and children are always welcome to dine in our restaurants; however the discount is only valid for Women, this is our own special way of recognizing and honouring our women, pampering them and encouraging them to connect and form more valuable friendships through all our packages, partners and activities this March.’’

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Travel & Tourism

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

C Mandate

reated in 1972 by the Women’s Board Educational Cooperation Society under the spiritual guidance of the Prelature of Opus Dei of the Catholic Church, Wavecrest College of Hospitality, which first started as a training centre for continuous informal education of the girl child started in 1973, offering one year programme in housekeeping it then began offering City and Guilds London examinations in basic cookery and home craft and over the years earned the accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education. Today the college is widely acclaimed in the country and outside the country as one of the best privately run monotechnics offering both Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in hospitality management. It also offers accelerated certificate in hospitality operations, and short term courses in basic techniques in culinary arts, professional home management training and hospitality training for practitioners as well as outdoor catering, consulting and research. Entry qualification for the school’s OND programme is credit in five subjects with English and biology or agricultural science as compulsory subjects. Partnership The school, the provost says, has notched up high profile partnership with a number of individuals and established organisations and hotels. One of such is InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG). Constraints Top on the list of constraints affecting the college, Forsuelo reveals is inadequate student enrolment. Funding is another area of constraint as she informs that the school is privately funded. Getting quality lecturers, she says, is an issue as a result of the small population of qualified lecturers while the few available are usually poached by competitors. However, she says the college is fortunate enough to have a crop of core personnel who are very dedicated to its mandate. I am proud of my students “I am proud of my students,” says Forsuelo, adding that, “I am really impressed by this and many of the employers rate our graduates very high.” According to her, graduates of the school are hot cakes and head hunted even before graduating, as they are rated thoroughbred professionals who are cultured and uniquely trained. She also reveals that the college follows on the trails of its graduates, assisting to place some of them in employment and give guidance in setting up their businesses. One of the wishes of Forsuelo is to see some of her graduates establish management outfit of theirs. She is also happy with the fact that the school has become a reference point in the industry, offering assistance to many hotels and operators. Changing phase of hospitality If there is one development in the hospitality sector that Forsuelo is happy about, it is what she calls the changing phase of hospitality, as she informs that a lot of people are now showing interest in the hospitality

ROSANA FORSUELO Hospitality, career of the century

Rosana Forsuelo is the provost of Wavecrest College of Hospitality, a Lagos-based training institute devoted to educating the girl child in technical and vocation skills acquisition. She speaks with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on the school’s mandate, contributions to the hospitality sector, state of the sector and the tourism industry. sector and that it has developed into a full professional career. “People now see that it is really a career. Many people are moving from other careers to hospitality.” This development, she reveals, has spurred the college into developing different programmes to cater for the needs of the sector.

BACKGROUND

Hospitality training needs improvement To capitalise on the gains of the changing phase in the sector, she advocates a commensurate improvement in the training of personnel, explaining that many of the training schools are not properly structured and equipped to offer the students enough hands on training and exposure to the basic standard. She particularly decries the fact that Nigeria does not have a dedicated hotel school as it is the standard internationally. While admitting that “setting up hotel school is very expensive because it is capital intensive,” she impresses on the Nigerian government the need to set up a properly run hotel school so as to advance professionalism in the country. Independent hotel owners need to up their game While acknowledging the growing trend in hospitality with hotels and guest houses springing up daily in every street corner across the country, she, however, laments the poor standard and management of many of the hotels. “Independent hotels owned by Nigerians don’t operate to international standard and rudiments,” she says, explaining that many of them busy themselves with the hotel building forgetting about the other aspects of the hotel, which according to her, are the most important. And these are facilities and management. ‘‘She puts the life expectancy of any Nigerian hotel to five years and that is because they don’t have

Forsuelo

One of my dreams is to make sure that the graduates of the college are able to form their management outfits to run hotels in Nigeria

Rosana Forsuelo is from the Philippines and has been working and living in Nigeria since 1986. She came to Nigeria on the invitation of the Women’s Board Educational Cooperation Society, a Non- Governmental Organisation, with Ijebu Ode (Ogun State) as her first port of call. She was then in charge of the group’s outfit, a hospitality school with a conference centre and primary health facility, for five years before moving to Lagos to work in Wavecrest Training Centre, which over the years has metamorphosed into Wavecrest College of Hospitality. She is today the provost of the college. Forsuelo is a known face in the travel industry and quite familiar with the terrain. If there is anything that she is passionate about, it is training in the hospitality sector and putting in place the right structures for the training of personnel. She holds a bachelor of science degrees in marketing; Hotel and Restaurant Management and a Master’s in Tourism Management from the George Washington University.

good management. “So, there should be a good management team to handle some of these hotels,” she advocates. Hospitality is the career of the century “There will be an explosion of this industry. For me, this is the career of the century because of the way the industry is moving,” she says with a high level of optimism. While also insisting that there is tourism in Nigeria, she admits that business tourism is only what is thriving today. “We have to develop the tourism

industry,” she says even as she calls for good policies to be put in place, for regulators and trade associations. “The government should be more committed and be proactive. There should a chartered body for the industry,” Forsuelo says. Hospitality is more for women Forsuelo justifies her college focus on the girl child training on the premise that women are naturally best suited for hospitality. “Hospitality is more for women because it is innate in their nature to provide hospitality service. Their place in the society is to be able to offer that service because she is in a natural environment,” she says. I feel happy training women Forsuelo is elated and happy training women in hospitality: “I feel so happy training these ladies because they come into the college without anything and suddenly you see them blooming like beautiful flowers. You can see that through the way we form them, the way we nurture them and you see a fully fulfilled woman. “For me, when you educate a woman, you educate the whole nation. The woman educated in the hospitality for me, you are not only helping her but the family, which is the core of the society.” The future is bright Looking into the crystal ball, the provost reveals that the future is a bright one and that so much need to be done in the college. With Wavecrest chosen as one of the training providers for the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) recently approved by the federal government and, which is expected to come into effect soon, she says the college has her work well cut out while the sector will be better for it as many of the personnel will receive training and certification and be treated with dignity by their employers.

42 Travel & Tourism

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Dubai: In the grip of the city

Inside Dubai Mall

DESTINATION WOLE SHADARE who was in Dubai recently writes of his impression of the city, which never ceases to charm millions of visitors with its iconic buildings and pleasant offerings.

Burj Khalifa

ubai is one city many people look forward to visiting. When the opportunity came to be part of the familiarisation trip, one joyfully jumped at it having dreamt of visiting the charming city. The trip was made possible by Kerzner International, owners of One and Only, Atlantis and Mazagan Hotel Brands across the world and Emirates Airlines. Dubai is one of the most beautiful cities of the world. There are so many places of attractions that are listed to be covered while planning a vacation to this place. The city, which is the pride of United Arab Emirates (UAE) enclave, is famous for its iconic and modern architecture, shopping, enriching tours, which include desert safari tours and also its heavily technology - driven daily existence. It has been one of the most exciting and volatile economic stories of the 21st Century. It's global, glitz and growing crazy trend. It also has a red-hot property market that has experts warning of a collapsing bubble again. It is also quite known for the finelooking landmarks that it possesses. Although it is just a city, even then it is now less than a large country in development and fame for each and everything that it possesses. Still, the tiny economy has developed into a world city that is a business and

One of the iconic structures

cultural focal point in the Middle East and it has the attention of the world. Tourism and real estate drive the economy and there seems to be a never-ending development of innovative and over-the-top projects. Some of the very famous buildings located there include the marvellously crafted Jumeirah Mosque, the enchanting Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Mall, the most luxurious and tallest standing hotel tower in the world. Not to be left out is the iconic Burj Khalifa, reputed to be the tallest building in the world. Along with the modern architecture in the city, it is also surrounded by the beautiful golden desert too. The Dubai city tour is a wellplanned day tour that covers most of the world famous places of the city and this is complemented by the alltime favourite activity that is none other than shopping. The Dubai Mall The Dubai Mall is situated next to Burj Khalifa and is the world’s largest

and most famous shopping mall. Built at the foot and an integral component of the Burj Dubai, the $20 billion project is the world’s largest in total area with 1,200 shops. It is four times as spacious as the new London Westfield centre. Twice delayed, Dubai Mall opened on November 4, 2008, with about 600 retailers, making it the world’s largest-ever mall opening in retail history. However, it is not the largest in gross lease space and is surpassed in that category by several malls including the South China Mall, Golden Resources Mall, SM City North Edsa, and SM Mall of Asia. Sprawling across more than 12 million square feet (equivalent in size to more than 50 soccer pitches), Dubai Mall has a total internal floor area of 5.9 million square feet and lease space of 3.77 million square feet, just as West Edmonton Mall. The architecture has a modern touch along with the grandeur of the Arabian touch. This reminds you of tales of the Arabian Nights. Atlantis, The Palm It is a UAE’s most charming resort located at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah. It was the first resort to be built on the island and is themed on the myth of Atlantis but includes distinct Arabian elements. The resort opened on September 24, 2008, as a joint venture between Kerzner International Holdings Limited and Istithmar. The 1,500-room nautically themed resort has two accommodation wings, also referred to as the Royal Towers, consisting of the East and the West Tower, both linked together by the Royal Bridge Suite. It is complemented by the Aqua Venture Water Park and the locally popular Nasimi Beach, which frequently plays host to concerts and other events. The Palm houses Atlantis, which is a man-made set of islands that finished construction in 2006 and was created

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that never fails to enchant

Emirates - A flight of fortune

using land reclamation. The Palm consists of a trunk, 16 fronds and a surrounding crescent island. It is connected to the mainland by a 300-metre bridge and the crescent is connected to the top of The Palm by a subsea tunnel. The island is five square kilometres while it adds 78 kilometres of beach to the Dubai coastline and is home to Atlantis - The Palm, Dubai. Dolphin Bay-Atlantis The catch phrases here for anyone exploring this water related leisure spot is meet, play and swim with the dolphin. Dolphin Bay in Atlantis is one of the most sophisticated dolphin habitats in the world. Here you have the opportunity to swim with dolphins in Dubai; tourists could choose from a range of dolphin experiences suitable for all ages and swimming abilities. Interactions range from standing in shallow water to swimming or scuba diving alongside these charismatic creatures. Whether you’re a hotel guest or visiting for the day, Dolphin Bay in Dubai offers an unforgettable experience. Burj Khalifa Burj Khalifa was designed to be the centrepiece of a large-scale, mixed-use development that would include 30,000 homes, nine hotels (including three hectares) of parkland, at least 19 residential towers, the Dubai Mall and the 12-hectare (30-acre) man-made Burj Khalifa Lake. The decision to build Burj Khalifa is reportedly based on the government's decision to diversify from an oil based economy to one that is service and tourism based. According to officials, it is necessary for projects like Burj Khalifa to be built in the city to garner more international recognition and investment. The ruler of Dubai, ‘‘Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wanted to put Dubai on the map with something really sensational," said Jacqui Josephson, a tourism and VIP delegations executive at Nakheel Properties. The design of Burj Khalifa is derived from patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture. According to the structural engineer, Bill Baker of SOM, the

Another iconic structure

building's design incorporates cultural and historical elements peculiar to the region, such as the spiral minaret. The spiral minaret spirals and grows slender as it rises. The Y-shaped plan is ideal for residential and hotel usage, with the wings allowing maximum outward views and inward natural light. One & Only Royal Mirage This is where magical moments and all the mythic charms of old Arabia come alive. It is the Arabian Peninsula's city of gold, where the ancient desert meets the cosmopolitan charms of the coast. This is Dubai. Here on the shores of the Gulf, a wonderful place of intricate arches, domes, and towers, infused with rich green courtyards and vibrantly colorful gardens. One & Only Royal Mirage evokes a sense of majesty and style. This is a wondrous place, composed of three distinctive environments – each flowing into the next to ignite the senses: The Palace, Arabian Court, and Residence and Spa. Palm-shaded pools, reflecting waters, and cooling fountains heighten the sense of pleasure and well-mannered calm of this outstandingly magnificent resort in Dubai. It is considered Dubai’s most stylish

beach resort, where genuine care and hospitality blend with fantasy and tradition, creating an ambience of Arabian influenced refinement and majesty. Overlooking Palm Island Bay, representing an oasis of calm in the heart of bustling ‘new Dubai,’ the resort offers understated elegance and exclusive charm with a kilometre of private beach and 65 acres of lush landscaped gardens. The Palace at One& Only Royal Mirage conjures the magic of Arabia, a domain where guests may wander amidst the abundant garden or stroll amongst the meandering water features. The property is generous, with 147 superior Deluxe rooms, 49 Gold Club rooms, 33 superior executive and Gold Club Suites and two royal suites, on a private beach that offers rich leisure facilities, such as the impressive temperature controlled swimming pools, water sports centre, tennis courts, golf putting green, ‘kids only’ children’s facilities and most importantly, a tranquil haven for rest and relaxation. At first glimpse, the Arabian Court is illusive and mysterious, an ancient dwelling that is disguised behind a sheltered oasis, protecting the inner beauty. The property is crafted in the spirit of the orient with dramatic architecture creating symmetry, amidst a landscape of fountains, walkways and lush gardens.

Fit for royalty...guests savouring an array of meals

The story of Dubai will not be complete without a strong national airline connecting people to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The story of Emirates is no less fascinating each time it is told - and it has been, many times around the world. Dubai’s quest to have its own international airline, issuing of $10 million cheque from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the two leased aircraft and the small team that established an airline of the highest order saw to the high reputation of the carrier. Many still marvel at what Emirates has achieved in 29 years, since the first flight to Karachi took off on October 25, 1985, from a relatively rudimentary Dubai airport. Emirates is a story of collective wisdom, forensic planning and the boldness to create an airline that will help create an inspiring modern city, snatched from the desert. The growth of the airline and Dubai went hand in hand and they still do to this day. With a fleet of more than 200 modern, wide-body aircraft and two aircraft arriving every four weeks, the airline currently flies to over 140 destinations in six continents, from its international hub of Dubai. The impressive portfolio includes Dubai’s household name of dnata, the successful supplier of air travel services and many other entities, such as Emirates SkyCargo, Emirates Hotels and Resorts, Skywards and Emirates Aviation College. In all, there are more than 30 brands, employing over 68, 000 people. Sometimes competitors have accused Emirates of receiving subsidies, but the carrier has consistently dismissed this allegation, saying, “we wish that was the case, but we receive no financial assistance from the government of Dubai and is subject to the same market forces as those who stand in awe.” The management of the airline stated that despite this and jostling in arguably the most competitive industry in the world, Emirates has enjoyed double digit profits for the past 28 years. All Emirates’ frontline facilities including the massive Emirates Engineering centre are now equipped to handle the Airbus A38, 82 of which are on order. The airline’s total order book numbers 283 aircraft valued at over $138 billion - not bad for an airline that began with two leased aircraft - a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4.

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Scramble for the soul of South-West p.47

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Can Jonathan's trump card deliver the South-West? p.51

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TAN launches volunteer scheme, PVC-tracking initiative p.54

ÂŠ Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re working to reconcile everyone, says NLC boss What were the issues before the NLC election? I'm sure having followed the trend, let me try to put issues in context that all preliminary issues that were raised by any of the parties or contenders to that conference were addressed at a meeting we had with the veterans, the elders of the movement under the leadership of Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu. All issues, preliminary issues leading to peaceful conduct of that conference were actually taken on board and all of those issues were actually addressed and therefore, that's why the conference was convened. The conference was convened to, among others, review the issue of the venue and other logistic issues, including security which was improved upon because these were part of some of the issues, part of the challenges that led to the distrupted conference. Specifically, the Conference Organising Committee was also reconstituted where each of the contestants were given opportunity to bring two people. I was requested to bring two persons to represent my interest on the committee that was going to organise the election, Joe Ajaero brought two people, Achese Igwe brought one and ASUU President was the Chairperson of the Electoral Committee and General Secretary of the Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson was the Secretary. All issues were taken on board. That's why that committee was set up. So nobody can blame the committee because each of us had two members on the committee. I have two members in person of my General Secretary and General Secretary of Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives; Joe Ajaero had two persons; his President, Musa Monsur was a member of the committee. So the committee of seven was the one that presided over the election and therefore since you were there, you also witnessed that the process of accreditation went smoothly, the process of election also went smoothly and the process of counting which also you know because on one ballot paper, you had eight people and therefore you had to do tallying and everything went smoothly. It was at a point when the ballot paper for the office of the president that problem crept in because even before those attempts to disrupt the conference arose, don't forget that three offices were already counted. The offices of Auditor, Trustee and the office of Financial Secretary. They already counted and results declared and all of them are from my line up. It was at the point of sorting out and counting that of the president that suddenly the agent of Ajaero, you were there, pretended to have slumped. They brought an ambulance to convey him but he suddenly stood up, washed his eyes and said no he was going nowhere and his people came, picked him and they wanted to drop him where they were doing the collation and counting and that's why the security agencies played a very effective role, took them away and stopped the process. His president who was a member of the Organising Committee, now stepped in to be the agent of Ajaero and that's how the process went smoothly. All the other processes including the three elections that were counted, his agent signed.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba, immediate past treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was elected the president of the congress at the rescheduled National Delegates' Conference of NLC held at Eagles Square Abuja on March 12. But his emergence, YEKEEN NURUDEEN writes from Abuja, has stirred controversies within the union, with some members threatening to form a rival faction.

You were there and therefore you can also better tell the story of what happened. Do not also forget that all the media houses that were there, every process was captured in camera and we can make the copy of the clip available to you. Therefore, when the results were announced by the first Secretary of NLC who doubled as the Returning Officer; we were surprised also that they said they don't agree with the process of the election. But our elders and veterans that were there, including Hassan Sunmonu who actually presided over my inauguration, confirmed the transparency of the process and, therefore, nobody can come and discredit the process. So that's the point we are and these were the issues that actually took place during the conference and after the conference. It is true also that they have declared themselves (as a rival faction). I learnt that initially, they wanted to have the conference on Saturday and when they realized they couldn't muster the

number required, they went into a closet and declared themselves winner of the election which is really unfortunate. Nobody can declare himself a winner because if you contest an election and you didn't win, it is most undemocratic for you to go and declare yourself, under any circumstance, as leader because 3,119 delegates is not something that can be undermined or waived away. This is the process and therefore, you are part of the process and, I'm sure, you would be able to testify to what the processes are. I agree with you there are challenges and we are making efforts; yesterday we met at the level of National Administrative Council. On the advice of the elders, we set up a Reconciliatory Committee. Four of the members of the committee are elders of the movement and we joined them with the members of National Administrative Council. We are not averse to reconciliaCONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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'We 've lost significant prestige' C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 4 5

tion and see how we can be able to resolve the issues and, on the advice of elders, we have tried to put all of these machineries in place. Because initially, as we said, they were planning to have a parallel conference on Saturday but they realized that most of the unions are not with them and what they did was to go and hire a crowd and sit down in a room without any process of either election or not and said were declaring themselves as leaders. You know between us and them who are actually the legitimate leaders. But the most unfortunate aspect is that people are being used to undermine the movement. I think that's what pains me. No reasonable worker should be used or should allow himself to be used to undermine a system that he believes in. We have enough internal dispute resolution mechanism, including the one we have used which have been tested over the years and can be used to actually advance your grievances and those grievances should be addressed. That's why we have organs, that's why we have constitution. So if you feel, in anyway, that you are aggrieved, you can use the structures and our constitution provides that you can seek redress. Initially, during the aborted Delegates Conference, a reason for disruption of the conference was the allegation that the whole process was designed to favour you, including where your name appeared about three to four times on the ballot paper and their own names didn't appear. What would you say to this? First, I'm not a member of Credential Committee. The first credential committee, let me tell you who are the members. First, NUEE president was a member of that committee, the General Secretary of NUPENG was a member of that committee and three other persons. My union was not a member. So I was not even represented at that committee level, therefore, whatever happened must be a concoction of those elements that were representing specific interest on the committee. Don't also forget, a journalist just raised the issue with me yesterday that he found out that the same dramatis personae, that disrupted the process during the aborted February conference, was the same person that was the agent of Ajaero that pretended to have fainted. Go and cross check this in your cameras. He said he recorded this and saw the same person that disrupted the process, claiming that some names were double-printed to favour one candidate and that those issues were issues that led to the disruption of the process. Don't forget, the same person was the agent of Ajaero who tried to slump when the counting was about to commence after sorting of the ballot papers. So I can tell you it was a trick. It was a trick that's well known. Go and cross check the cameras, cross check the proceedings and who disrupted the last conference because you can remember it was when NUEE were casting their votes, he suddenly brought out a ballot paper from his pocket and said this was what was happening. Where did he get the ballot paper? Could you see the truth of it? Could it be a deliberate plan to...? Certainly, it was a deliberate plan because his president is a member of the Credentials Committee that actually presided over the election in the February Conference. I was not repre-

sented and you can confirm that. But it is the same dramatis personae that wanted to disrupt the process before security agents stopped him. I want you to go and cross check this fact from the clips because most of the media houses have the clips. They have called our attention to that; that it was the same person that disrupted that process who is the same person that slumped today, claiming was not feeling well. But when they wanted to carry him away, he wanted to disrupt the same process again before the security agents moved swiftly and tried to restore order. That is how the election went smoothly. I want to say, with all clarity, that all of these were pre-planned because people realized that they would not win the process and wanted to disrupt the process and make sure that the results of the election was inconclusive. But we thank God that the election was conclusive and the results were announced. In the Constitution of the movement, which organ has the right and power to convene delegates' conference? It is only the National Executive Council (NEC) that has the power to convene delegates' conference and they have so done at the conference of March 12, 2015. They have used that power and authority. Only the General Secretary has the right to send out invitations for people to participate. All those procedures are time tested procedures that are backed by our constitution. In the event that if this other party goes ahead to convene their delegates' conference, what will the labour body do? We will follow all legitimate processes to make sure that that possibility is also addressed. We would also make sure that whatever reconciliation process we can be able to do is followed through to a logical conclusion. We are going to follow legal means; all legal means that can be used to address the issue and put it to rest, we are going to used them. Legal means? Do you mean litigation? I said legal issues, all legal issues because if someone does not conform to the constitution of NLC and is doing illegality, we shouldn't join them to do illegality. We should be able to find ways and that means how legal issues are done. What I'm also telling you is that they are not even convening a conference, what they merely did was to sit in the comfort of their room and said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I declare myself president and I declare the other person General Secretary because the Constitution of NLC said there should be only one National Returning Officer that would be appointed by the or-

Wabba

I declare the other person General Secretary because the Constitution of NLC said there should be only one National Returning Officer that would be appointed by the organâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

ganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. And you were there before the conference went into session, the National Returning Officer was introduced and he was presented to the delegates. That's the only person that has the right to declare the result of the election and he has so done it. Does NLC has a way of sanctioning members causing division in the movement? Well, there's such provision in the constitution, especially for those that do not conform with dictates and provisions of the constitution. Those provisions are there in the constitution. But it is for organ to decide and not for me as an individual to sanction somebody or not because we are working to make sure that at least ,there's unity. Our organisation's unity is very important and paramount. But I think Nigerian workers and the general public also know that these are issues that are not expected of any leader aspiring to lead an organisation of the

status of NLC. We can't reduce ourselves to how politicians behave; when they lose elections, they form factions or create new political party. It is not expected of us as NLC and therefore those are issues we tried our best to resolve. But if also the organ decides this is the line of action taken to address the issues, I think, as a leader, I am going to conform with that. You lamented that workers are being used. Who are those using the workers? Well, I don't know because my perception is that as a leader, as somebody in my right senses that knows the stakes, the issues at stake because for us to have a united NLC and a united Labour Movement, it is in our best interest ,as workers and therefore, if my interest is the interest of Nigerian workers, I don't think that I can descend so low to do what some of our colleagues are doing. Except where the interest that you are pursuing is no longer the interest of Nigerian workers. That's why I said in my remarks that if actually the interest that's driving and pushing our people to behave the way they are doing is the interest of Nigerian workers, I don't think such an action is desirable at this point in time, looking at challenges before us, looking at challenges even before our country, because this is really a trying period, we are at the eve of election and the system is already of over-heated. We are anticipating that those challenges, even the Labour movement must be part of solution, not part of the problem. Partly, I think we shouldn't be part of problems in our economy and security. We should be part of solution and that's why I'm very concerned. That's why I have the premonition that those people are not acting in the best interest of Nigerian workers. How will the NLC redeem its image after all that has happened? Well, the issue, as we are aware, there was a cause and certainly that cause is outside what we can manage and what even the elders can manage. As you can see, all the elders have written their letters of congratulation, including Comrade Adams Oshimhole to me because they believe the process was very transparent. They partook in the process and therefore they believe the process was transparent. What I'm saying in essence is that we are going to do everything possible within our means to try to see to it that we are able to actually bring about reconciliation. First is reconciliation, to have a united house, after having a united house and reconciling we then think of how to build our image. I agree with you. The truth is we have lost very significant amount of prestige and also influence from all these challenges but it is something that can be redeemed. There's nothing that cannot be redeemed, it depends on how quick and fast we are able to put our house in order. Once we are able to do that, then we can be able to get through it. There were times in the history of NLC that we went through the same road and were able to put our house in order and we were able to move forward, depending on the capacity of the leaders. Therefore, I'm hopeful that the prayers of workers would not go in vain and that truth, at the end of the day, would also be revealed because truth exalts an institution, it exalts a nation but falsehood, anywhere, will be a disservice to any organisation.

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Jonathan

o doubt, the South-West has become the beautiful bride ahead of the March 28 presidential election. Though the zone ranks second behind the NorthWest in number of registered voters, the end view of political permutations has suggested that the South-West may be the game-changer in the contest between President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the South-West, which comprises of six states, namely, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo, has 14, 296,163 registered voters, representing 19.44 per cent of the total number of voters nationwide. Lagos has the highest number of registered voters with 5,822,207 while Oyo follows with 2,415,566 voters. Ogun has 1,829,534; Ondo, 1,524,655; Osun, 1,407,107 and Ekiti 732,021. No President has ever emerge without winning in either the North-West or South-West. With the high possibility of Buhari winning his zone, North-West, President Jonathan badly needs the votes in the South-West. If the president loses North-West and South-West, he is surely on his way out. But he needs South-West to neutralise Buhari’s votes from the North-West. Buhari also needs the South-West to brighten his chances at the poll, which compelled his choice of running mate. With the postponement of the general elections, the two parties retreated to their drawing boards, deciding to up their ante in respective zones. For President Jonathan and his party, the calculation index shows that their popularity in the South-West is in an all-time low state. Interestingly, the positive intervention of the same zone boosted the overall victory of the president in 2011. How, where and when did relationship went sour is the question on the lips of many analysts. Though the former governor of Lagos State and the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu is regarded as being the aristocrat of the South-West politics, given his influence and enormous political structure, the tide of the forthcoming election seems to be in variance with that school of thought as the PDP, led by President Jonathan, is making alarming

Buhari

Scramble for the soul of South-West

Seven days to the March 28 presidential election, the die is cast for both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The tug of war between them translates into a fierce battle for the soul of the South-West. WALE ELEGBEDE chronicles the surreptitious moves and plots by both parties to harvest votes from the zone inroads into Tinubu’s territory and doing so without his permission. Presently, the APC controls Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states, while the PDP has Ekiti and Osun states under its ambit. For the March 28 election, the political crystal ball suggests a plummet in the fortunes of the PDP as against what obtained in 2011 when the party soared at the presidential election with 22 million votes but the sequence of events triggered by the mass protest of last Monday may have, regrettably, discredited this prediction. The president in 2011 got majority votes

Adebanjo

in 24 states and a quarter in 31 states. Based on the wave of support across the country and the strength of the candidates, the general prediction is that the mass appeal and cult-followership of Gen. Buhari in the North, may sway as much as 15 states in the North to his side, thereby shutting the door against the president in the zone. For President Jonathan, categorical support in the South-East and SouthSouth may have put the votes in the region under his armpit, but the volume of votes in both region cannot match that of the Northern zone.

Mimiko

But since all a candidate requires to win the presidential election is to get the highest number of total votes and also obtain at least one quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the states, which is 24, the task then to fulfil the two benchmark must be approached differently, hence, the duty to amass the highest number of votes is different from task of getting one quarter in 24 states. With the stated scenario that no one can win the election with the votes of one region and both candidates having field days in their comfort zones, the attention turned to the South-West for votes. For the president, the body languages from the zone is not friendly to him and his party as cries over the marginalisation of the region in the present government has filled the air. Leading the onslaught himself to the zone, the president literarily moved the apparatus of the state to the region as he shuttled around the six states for various consultations and private meetings, with dramatic consequences. Over the last three weeks, the president’s campaign train criss-crossed the length and breadth of the South-West paying homage to monarchs, politicians and meeting with different stakeholders in a bid to woo their support. It is on record that the president visited both Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adedibu twice within two months. The president did not leave various groups and ethnic nationalities in the zone out of his itinerary as he hosted the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) at the State House, Marina, Lagos. While some believe that the president was only being human by adopting a desCONTINUED ON PAGE 48

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Scramble for the soul of South-West

C O N T I N U E D f ro m PA G E 4 7

perate approach, others took a swipe at him, noting that he was only trying to pull a wool over the face of the people in the region, alleging that he was only fuelling the support with cash gifts. But can not be true because an issue like restructuring of the country has been a long-term objective of the region. Holding the convocation of the national conference as his trump card for the support of the zone, President Jonathan has repeatedly told stakeholders in the zone of his resolve to address the marginalisation of the zone, if elected for a second term. For the APC, the party is at home in the South-West but the penetration of the PDP is causing anxious moments for the party, thereby making the party to firmly gird its loins for the battle ahead. Historically, unlike before where the battle for the control of the South-West was mostly internal battle, the 2015 electoral contest has presented a new scenario as there is no internal bickering within the parties but only left to be seen whether the typical electoral behaviour of voting for anyone other than itself at the national level which was violated in 2011, will be sustained. During the First Republic, the SouthWest voted mainly Action Group, in favour of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo with about 69 per cent voters’ turnout. The same trend followed in the Second Republic as the zone cast 78.7 per cent of its total votes for the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in favour of Awolowo. In the famous June 12, 1993 presidential election, the pattern was repeated with vociferous voice with Chief MKO Abiola getting 84.5 per cent votes in the zone. In the 1999 election, the only two candidates for the presidency were both from the zone and the region voted along that line especially in favour of Chief Olu Falae of APP. In 2003, the region voted for Obasanjo with 71 per cent votes. The trend however changed in 2011 when

Fasanranti

the zone didn’t field any candidate. With an envisaged alliance packing up, the South-West voted for the PDP. In the 2011 poll, President Jonathan won in the five South-Western states except Osun. Expectedly, the outcome of the March 28 election in the zone will be a product of local politics, ethnic and religious appeal as well as political leaning. For once, the emergence of various political warlords in different shapes and colour will also add flavour to the outcome of the poll. The impact that non-Yoruba speaking citizens in the zone like Igbos, Niger Deltans, Arewa Community and Middle-Belters would add sizeability and cannot be neglected. Majority of them stay in Lagos which contributes about 40 per cent of the votes in the South-West. So, the influence of the non-indigenes would make marginal difference at the end of the day. Although, the APC picked its vicepresidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, from the South-West, some analysts perceived his choice as more of a political deft move than pursuing the interest of the zone. They opine that when the chips are down, the former attorney general of Lagos is nowhere around political ace in the region. But whether his worth is more than the foot soldiers of the PDP in the zone is a different kettle of fish. Speaking with New Telegraph, a former Minister of Transport and PDP Board of Trustee member, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said the South-West will vote massively for President Jonathan irrespective of the antics and propaganda of the APC, adding that the president truly has the interest of the zone and the entire nation at heart. “The South-West will vote massively for the president come March 28 because our people know that Mr. President is a genuine democrat. For even daring the status quo to accede to calls for the convocation of a national conference clearly shows that he is a

Babatope

Tinubu

STATE

REGISTERED VOTERS

EKITI

732,021

LAGOS

5,822,207

OGUN

1,829,534

ONDO

1,524,655

OSUN

1,407,107

OYO

2,415,566

democrat that has the interest of this nation at heart because the future and wellbeing of all facet of this nation is right there in the report of the conference which President Jonathan has promised to look into. So, it is clear where the pendulum will swing on election day.” Reacting to the proactive visit of the president to the region, the Director of Publicity, South-West APC, Ayo Afolabi, noted that the visit had no redemptive electoral value in SouthWest because, “it is devoid of strategic assessment,” querying how many of

Okurounmu

such desperate and impromptu meetings were needed before Yoruba voted for the president in 2011. “How much did President Jonathan spend to get Yoruba votes in 2011 and why should he think money will save him now? Except the Yoruba, all other regions extracted several promises from President Jonathan in the race to 2011 elections,” he said. With the clock ticking to the election and anxiety mounting as to which party will emerge victorious, analysts have raised some poignant questions: Did Mr. President and his party badly manage the South-West where it had overwhelming votes in 2011? Will his make-up moves placate the region? Will he be second time lucky and survive the Tinubu and APC onslaught against him? Will the people of the region play ball with the PDP again or will they leave the party in the lurch? Could it be that the APC is taking the zone as taken thereby becoming complacent? In any case, the unpredictability of the South-West will always come to play at every point. But whether it will favour the PDP or APC lies in the belly of time.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Cover

All the president's men

Olusegun Mimiko Even before his defection from Labour Party (LP) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, the Ondo State governor has preference for President Goodluck Jonathan. Since he defected to PDP, Mimiko has been the rallying point for PDP in the South-West. His appointment as the SouthWest Coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has also put him in the limelight in the battle for President Jonathan’s re-election. As the arrowhead of PDP and Jonathan’s campaign in South-West, Mimiko has been organising different summits and mobilising support through different individuals, groups and organisations for the president within the six states in the South-West states of Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Ogun. Buruji Kashamu His influence through his Omo-Ilu foundation has put the leadership of the PDP in Ogun State on his lap. Regardless of his battle with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on who controls the affair of the party in the gateway state, Kashamu has amass support from the region for himself and the PDP. With the pendulum of the leadership of the party swinging to the path of Kashamu, he has become one of the strongest backers of the president. Though Kashamu himself is running as the senatorial candidate of the PDP in Ogun East, his massive support for the president even outside Ogun State cannot be discountenanced. For critics, however, Kashamu's support for the president is a minus owing to the fact that he has a criminal case in the United States with regard to drug offences. Musiliu Obanikoro His second time ascension as a serving minister is clear – to galvanise support for the president in the South-West. As the Minister of State for Defence, his influence in the Ekiti State governorship election was visible. The carriage and personality of the newly appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 11, may positively rub on the fortune of the party in 2015, it is only left to be seen to what extent that would be. But the presidency would be relying on him to use his grassroots swag and influence especially in Lagos where 5.8 million votes are at stake. He has baggage’s with the Ekiti audio clip saga but like a true Lagos boy, he sees it as politics from the opposition but whether his drive and commitment would still be high especially with the armour of opposition he faced before his second time confirmation as a minister, is a different kettle of fish entirely. Olu Falae The former Minister of Finance and onetime Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is the National Chairman of the revived Social Democratic Party (PDP). Falae supported Buhari in the 2011 presidential election but has pitched his tent with President Jonathan in the 2015 polls. His party, SDP, has adopted Jonathan as the presidential candidate. Falae is expected to mobilise support for the president across the South-West states where SDP is fielding candidates for different seats. Falae is also one of the leaders of the Afenifere. Bode George Fondly called Atona Oodua, George by all standard has enjoyed a great run of influence and recognition in politics; both in Lagos and on the national stage.

It's eight days to the presidential election and the foot soldiers of President Goodluck Jonathan in the South-West are upbeat that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will harvest more votes in the zone. This piece unveils Jonathan's men that want to confront the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West. WALE ELEGBEDE reports

Falae

Osoba

Regarded as the backbone of PDP in Lagos, he is a master of several political strategies with well-honed formula. The former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP reportedly orchestrated the endorsement of Jonathan for 2015 presidency by the South-West zone of the party at a zonal meeting on June 17, 2013, in Lagos. Given his influence and followership level, it would be foolhardy for anyone to wave BG, as he is fondly called, aside in the thick of activities in the PDP in the South-West because he always has a way around issues. George was in the thick of activities that threw Jimi Agbaje as the Lagos PDP governorship candidate and it is believed that he has the ears of the presidency before making the audacious move for his support. He has made it clear for all that cares to listen that the South-West will vote the president irrespective of the dominance of the APC in the zone. Olusegun Osoba Another political heavyweight backing President Jonathan is Chief Olusegun Osoba, the former governor of Ogun State. Until his defection to the SDP, Osoba was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His faceoff with Governor Ibikunle Amosun led to his exit from the party. Osoba did not leave alone; he took along the three serving Senators representing Ogun State, a significant number of members of the House of Representatives, as well as some members of the State House of Assembly. As a grassroots politician, he is expected to mobilise support for Jonathan in Ogun State. Ayo Fayose Fayose, the governor of Ekiti is an unrepentant supporter of President Jonathan

Bode Olajumoke Olajumoke is a PDP senatorial candidate in Ondo State. The election is very crucial to him. So, the former Senator will do everything possible to ensure that PDP as ruling party in Ondo State have victory in the March 28 poll and to ensure that Jonathan is re-elected. OPC Formed in 1994, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) is regarded as the militant voice of the Yoruba especially with its activities in the wake of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections. Though factionalized, the influence of the group spans across many Yoruba speaking states of Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun. While Dr. Fredrick Fasehun holds sway as the founder of the group, the ‘militant’ faction has Otunba Gani Adams as its National Coordinator. Interestingly, the long drawn cat and mouse relationship between the duo seems to be vanishing as both gladiators have pitched their tent with President Jonathan and the PDP. Few days after the group secured a pipeline protection contract said to worth about N500 million monthly from the Federal Government, a massive rally under the aegis of "Coalition for Concerned Nigerians" was held in Lagos to protest against Prof. Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria.

Obanikoro

George

As a grassroots politician, Osoba is expected to mobilise support for Jonathan in Ogun State and in the last few months he has not hidden his support for the president. In fact, Governor Fayose is one of the PDP governors who have been sponsoring hate campaign against Buhari and the APC. Many political analysts believe that March 28 will determine the future of Fayose and that was why the governor is doing everything possible to ensure that President Jonathan wins the presidential election. Fayose is going to the lead onslaught against Buhari in Ekiti State and with PDP being the ruling party in the state; the governor will do everything possible to save Jonathan in South-West since the zone will determine the president’s fate in the election. Iyiola Omisore Senator Omisore is a prominent politician in Osun State, having served as deputy governor and Senator in the state. He was also the PDP governorship candidate in August 9, 2014 governorship election. Omisore, being one of the faces and financiers of the PDP in Osun State, will work in conjunction with the likes of former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, and many others to get votes for President Jonathan. The will have to contend with Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Gbenga Daniel Daniel is force to reckon with in the politics of Ogun State and South-West. The former two-term governor has a wide political network and grassroots support across the nooks and crannies of the state. He is one of those leading President Jonathan campaign in Ogun State. In fact, he was with the president in all his visits to the South-West traditional rulers. Daniel will work with other party chieftains in Ogun and South-West for the victory of the president on March 28. Jumoke Akinjide She is the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and daughter of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN). Ms Akinjide is the face of Jonathan’s campaign in Oyo State. In the last few months, she has been shuttling between Abuja and Ibadan to mobilise support for Jonathan’s re-election. She has told Ibadan people that with Jonathan, a new state is a guarantee for the people of the state. She will work with other prominent PDP chieftains like former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; former Minister of Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese, PDP governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, Senator Lekan Balogun, among others. Afenifere leaders Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba sociocultural organisation, has publicly endorsed the president for re-election because he has promised to implement the report of the 2014 national Conference. Apart from Afenifere, other prominent Yoruba groups, like Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) have also thrown their weight behind President Jonathan. With the likes of Chief Reuben Fasorounti, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, among others who are core followers of the late sage and Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, backing Jonathan, the president may likely poll good votes in South-West.

50 Cover

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Felix Nwaneri hereas the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate enjoys a kind of cult followership in the North, his popularity in the South-West geo-political zone is not that pronounced. However, two things would be working for him in the zone. First, is his choice of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, an indigene of Ogun State as his running mate. The second and most critical, is the support of his candidacy by key political personalities in the zone. They include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; his successor, Babatunde Fashola and Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola. Bola Tinubu Former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the arrowhead of General Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign in the South-West. Tinubu has before now persistently spoken of his readiness to join hands with all like-minded people to enthrone a government that will work for the generality of Nigerians no matter the cost. Perhaps, part of the cost was letting go of his grip of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which merged with Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form the APC. Before now there had been attempts by Tinubu and Buhari to forge an alliance that will oust the Peoples Democratic Partyled Federal Government. One of such bids was the botched deal that would have seen the defunct ACN under Tinubu’s leadership and Buhari’s CPC present a joint presidential candidate in the 2011 elections. While both camps put aside the disappointment of 2011 to work for the formation of the APC, Tinubu was reported to have shown interest in the APC vice presidential ticket after the party’s national convention that saw Buhari’s emergence, but he was compelled to back down after consultations by party chieftains on the effect of a Muslim/Muslim ticket on APC’s chances in the presidential poll. This paved way for the choice of a former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, though not without Tinubu’s endorsement. While the former Lagos governor did not get the vice presidential ticket, he has not allowed it to affect his resolve to see the PDP out of power. He has been in the forefront of the Buhari campaign, traversing the length and breadth of the country, canvassing for votes for the former military ruler, particularly in the South-West, where he holds sway politically. Many have also said that he is the major financier of the APC presidential project. Besides mobilizing his political machinery for Buhari, Tinubu has equally made available his media and political platforms for him. Besides this, the APC presidential candidate is enjoying the goodwill, which the former Lagos governor has built among various stakeholders over the years. To many political observers, Tinubu is the reason for the inroad, which Buhari is making in the South-West. His influence is beyond Lagos, as the Tinubu political dynasty has spread to states like Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti states. There is hardly any political office holder in these states whose loyalty is not to the former Lagos governor. It is therefore expected that Buhari will ride on Tinubu’s back for South-West’s votes in the March 28 presidential poll. Rauf Aregbesola The Osun State governor is another APC chieftain who General Buhari is banking on to secure substantial votes

Fashola

Obasanjo

Aregbesola

The General's foot soldiers from the South-West. Formerly a commissioner in Lagos before he contested for governorship in his home state in the 2007 elections, Aregbesola’s political influence, like that of his mentor, Tinubu, has continued to grow since he ousted the then PDP-led government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola through the court in 2010. A justification of this budding political influence was first witnessed in the 2011 presidential election, when Aregbesola opted out of a said agreement by the leadership of the then ACN in the South-West to support President Goodluck Jonathan. The governor mobilised voters in his state for the party’s presidential candidate, who scored 299,711 votes to lead President Jonathan, who had 188,409 to emerge second. Aregbesola was to re-enact this feat in the August 2014 governorship election in Osun State. Despite federal might, he defeated Senator Iyiola Omisore of the PDP in a fiercely contested poll to be re-elected for a second term. Not known for double speak, the Osun governor has never hidden his support for Buhari’s candidature. According to him the former Head of State is the best candidate for the change Nigerians are yearning for. This support, Aregbesola has further demonstrated by embarking on a door to door campaign for Buhari in his home state and even in Lagos where he is also popular. He was at the recent one manmillion march for the APC presidential candidate in Lagos. Unlike some other governors of the APC, one advantage Aregbesola has is that he is not seeking re-election and therefore had the resources and time to crisscross his state and beyond for votes for Buhari. Babatunde Fashola The Lagos State governor is the Direc-

tor of the Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Fundraising Committee, and he had so far brought his ingenuity to bear by deploring several measures to raise funds for the presidential project. Besides raising funds, Fashola has also being in vanguard of the APC’s presidential campaign. There is hardly any of the party’s rallies that he is not seen marshalling out point why the electorate should vote out the PDP-led Federal Government. The Lagos governor was among those penciled to run with Buhari, but was dropped on the grounds of religion. However, given the fact that Lagos State, his primary constituency boasts of being one of the states with the highest number of registered voters in the country and his performance as governor in the last eight years, there is no doubt that he will to a large extent influence the voting pattern in the country’s commercial capital. Fashola has attracted lots of followers to himself within and beyond Lagos with the way he has conducted governance in Lagos, and it is likely that these numerous fans are likely to heed to his call for votes for the APC presidential candidate. Abiola Ajimobi, Ajimobi, an incumbent governor battling to break the second term governorship jinx in Oyo State, is expected to lead Buhari’s campaign in his state. The Pacesetter State has 2,415,566 votes and the governor will do the needful to ensure that the APC presidential candidate get a block votes on March 28 knowing full well, the outcome of the election will have effect on his election on April 11. Olusegun Obasanjo Obasanjo, a former President and immediate Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, is one of the prominent critics of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last few months. He has on several oc-

casions decried the president’s re-election bid and endorsed Buhari for the presidential election. With Obasanjo’s backing, many of his loyalists and foot soldiers, especially those who have already dumped the PDP, will work for Buhari. Obasanjo’s influence in South-West and beyond will count for Buhari at the poll. Ibikunle Amosun With his performance in Ogun State since 2011, Governor Amosun has positioned APC in the state. As a grassroots mobiliser, he has been able to sell Buhari’s candidature to the larger part of the electorate. The APC presidential running mate, Osinbajo, is from Ogun State. Olagunsoye Oyinlola Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State and ousted PDP National Secretary is one of the foot soldiers that Buhari will be counting on to work with Governor Aregbesola to deliver the state to APC next week Saturday. Considering how he partnered with other APC chieftains to ensure his new party victory in last year Osun State governorship election, Oyinlola this time around will do the needful to ensure Buhari’s victory at the poll. Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi Former governors of Ekiti State, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi are leading the onslaught against the PDP in Ekiti on March 28. Both of them will work with a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, to ensure that they checkmate the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, by preventing him from delivering the Fountain of Knowledge for Jonathan or at best ensure Buhari gets bulk of the votes in the state. Traditional rulers The traditional rulers in the SouthWest will also play crucial role in the election. Although President Jonathan has visited prominent politicians in the zone to enlist their support for the poll. Even at that, Buhari will count on traditional rulers in the zone with the influence of their governors for support on March 28. Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran have identified with the APC.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Postscript

or the third time within a month, post-National Conference summits have been held in three different parts of the South-West, with the aim of swinging the votes of the people of the zone to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and incumbent, PresidentGoodluck Jonathan. The first of the post-National Conference summit was held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while the second one was held in the political capital of the zone, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The third was held in Lagos State, the commercial nerve centre of the country. Although the summits were held with the aim of assessing the outcome of the National Conference held last year, however, all the summits arrived at the same decision: “Support President Jonathan for second term in order to implement the decisions of the National conference.” It must be noted that Governor OlusegunMimiko, the South-West coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation, most admirably convened all the summits. The discussants at the summits held in the three different states were the same and the messages the same. Present at the summits at different times were Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; his Secretary General, BasorunSeindeArogbofa; Chief Ayo Adebanjo;former presidential candidate, Chief OluFalae; Senator Femi Okunronmu; founder of Oodua People’s Congress(OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasehun; the National Coordinator of the group, OtunaGani Adams and leaders of other pro-Yoruba groups, among others. Although the crowd that listened to the speeches were not the same, the communiqué reached in all the summits with little variations remained largely the same; support the re-election of President Jonathan so that he would be able to implement the reports of the National Conference; a plea which does not deviate from the zonal objective of re-structuring. All the discussants said the decision of President Jonathan to allow Nigerians to discuss at all is a right step in the right direction. The platform afforded Nigerians the opportunity to dialogue and, through consensus, evolved a workable agreement that is geared towards self-expression of socially and culturally diverse people within a nation-state that reflects their desires. The conference, according to them, dealt with many, if not all, of the difficult issues facing the country, including the structure of the federation, devolution of powers, states creation, resource development, and state police, among others. They added that everybody has something in the confab report that contained over 600 resolutions which 492 people passed by consensus. Mimiko said the rival All Progressives Congress(APC) would not be able to implement the report because they were not part of it, adding that they condemned the convocation of the conference ab initio. His word: “Those sceptics who alleged that the confab was a ruse and a Greek gift and that delegates were on a jamboree have been proved wrong. Now that they are scheming to hijack power so as to throw the confab report to the dustbin of history, I am sure that they will be proved wrong again. The report will not gather dust because it contains many things that will bring joy to Nigerians.” The governor said the challenge before the race is to safeguard the confab report and ensure its implementation. He added that the summits are crucial as the nation prepares for the general

Cover

Can Jonathan's trump card deliver the South-West? Ahead of the March 28 presidential election, the implementation of the National Conference report has become the main campaign issue for President Goodluck Jonathan in the South-West. BABATOPE OKEOWO reports

Jonathan

elections. Adebanjo,87, who was the chairman of all the post-conference summits, said the template for all the changes that Nigeria, as a nation, needs are embedded in the report of the conference submitted to President Jonathan last year. According to him, the 633 decisions reached at the conference have taken side with the people as the issue of state police, devolution of powers, resource control, creation of state and local governments and rotational presidency have been included in the over 400-page report. He said Yoruba should support President Jonathan who convened the national conference as he would be the person to implement the recommendations of the national conference and not those who opposed its conveyance at initial stage. There is no doubt that the people of the zone consisting mainly Yoruba people have been agitating for the convocation of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to address myriads of problems affecting the development of the geo-political zone and the country at large. The need for the conference was louder after the annulment of the June 12 presidential election presumably won by late Chief M.K.O Abiola. Although the Afenifere, the mainstream Yoruba socio-cultural group, had been clamouring for a conference to address the perceived imbalance in the polity, the refusal of the then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to hand over to Abiola, having presumably won the election, reinforced the impression that the North was not ready to concede power to the South, intensified agitations for the SNC. The convocation of the National Conference by President Jonathan therefore became a campaign issue as

The need for the conference was louder after the annulment of the June 12 presidential election presumably won by late Chief M.K.O Abiola

the PDP members have been painting those who opposed the convocation of the National Conference as the enemy of the race. They have also given the impression that anybody, that opposed Jonathan for second term so that he could implement the recommendations, is the enemy of the people. For instance, Falae who is one of the delegates to the conference and the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said whoever does not support the implementation of the confab report is an enemy of the nation. The former Minister of Finance said the implementation of the report of the national conference remains the change Nigeria desires and not the change being mouthed by the APC. His words: "The statement of Gen. Buhari is a glaring evidence that APC is an enemy of the Nigeria. For over 100 years, Nigeria has remained static and for over 20 years, every prominent Nigerian, including the APC leadership, have been clamouring for National Conference. Lagos State has 20 local governments, Kano has 44. The two states were created same time. Don't forget that Jigawa was created out of Kano and the population of Lagos is higher than the two states combined together. They are looking at the monetary aspect without the effect it has on the generality of the people. This again shows them as the enemies of the people. How many of their leaders were as rich as this in 1999? "Look at the report, it gives the states control over the solid minerals in the states. Some will score 250 in Join Matriculation Board Examination, yet they will not get admission while those who score less than 200 will get admission simply because they come from education disadvantaged states.

The APC and those who are beneficiaries of the corrupt system don't want change in the status quo. They want to change personalities at the helm of affairs without the change in the system so that they would continue to corruptly enrich themselves." The president, who had visited many monarchs, leaders of thought and other stakeholders in the zone, said he would implement the recommendations of the report of the National Conference if given the second term in office. But many people in the zone are of the opinion that the promise of the implementation of the confab report is another campaign promise that would go after the election. Their thought was as a result of the fact that the National Assembly, that was supposed to pass the report into law before its implementation, is dominated by Northerners and is poised to kill it at the National Assembly. Since the series of summits were successfully held and the importance of the implementation of the confab report effectively drummed into the ears of the people, a considerable proportion of people’s mind have gravitated towards the PDP’s candidate. The campaigns in the zone have also moved away from the issue of non-performance on the part of the president as speakers largely used the occasion to tell the electorate the jobs executed so far in the region. The summits also familiarised many people with the advantages of implementing the report. To what extent the series of summits have been able to address, the answer is so far still controversial but there is no doubt that enough level playing field has been created for every political party . However, many people especially in Ondo State have since keyed into the idea of implementing the report and the need to allow Jonathan to continue for the benefit of the Yoruba race. Various advertorials on radio and television in the state have also succeeded in opening the old wounds and pitched the minds of the people against the candidate of the APC, Gen Muhamadu Buhari. As laudable as the confab report is, its implementation would not be a deciding factor for the South-West electorate to vote for the president on March 28. Confab as a campaign issue may be advantageous to the PDP and Jonathan’s supporters. Certainly, it won’t significantly affect voting in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti save Ondo where the convener of the post-confab summits, Mimiko, is the governor. The organisers of the summits have not educated the electorate enough on the importance of implementing the confab report. A large number of voters in the South-West are not well-informed about the essence of the report. If the electorate are well-informed about the confab report and how it will improve governance, they could have made informed choice. Hence, a vote for President Jonathan will be based on his performance, although implementation of the confab report will definitely enhance the president’s chances in the zone.

52 Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Yoruba monarchs, Awujale and partisan politics

hen the eyes were on the kneecaps and cheeks were on the buttocks as they say in oral literature, kingship was a revered institution in Yorubaland, SouthWest Nigeria. Then, kings were regarded as representatives of God on earth. Perhaps, except for the old Oyo Empire, where the principle of check and balance thrived, the average Yoruba monarch had power of life and death. His mere utterances were orders. His subjects were subservient to him. They called him “Kabiyesi,” a title, which depicts the absoluteness of his authority and powers. But such folklore can now only be found in either history books or epic literary works and no longer in tune with today’s reality. Traditional rulers have lost the political authority that they hitherto enjoyed. They are now mere ceremonial rulers. Except for the semblance of royalty and obvious opulence associated with some of them, it is not out of place to say that some royal fathers have become obvious embarrassment to their subjects by desecrating their royal and ancestral stools. A few instances will support this assertion. On May 30, 2010, the then Deji of Akure, Oluwadare Adesina, before the full glare of his subjects allegedly beat up his wife, Bolanle. Although he claimed that it was “a domestic matter,” that singular act made some youths of the town, who might have prostrated before him in the past, beat him up and vandalised his vehicle. He was eventually dethroned. On June 21, 2013, angry youths chased away Ilupeju-Ekiti monarch, Oba Olaleye Oniyelu, for allegedly installing an unpopular person as traditional chief. And on August 26, 2012, indigenes of Igburowo Community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State chased away their paramount ruler, Oba Pius Adewole, from his palace over alleged gross corruption and

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

It is the duty of the king’s subjects to make their choices. A prudent monarch should know that his subjects cut across all parties and that was what Oba Adetona did indiscipline. The Yoruba have not forgotten in a hurry how some of their traditional rulers connived with the military junta to ensure that the annulment of June 12 election victory of late Chief MKO Abiola was not reversed. Some of them did not fare better, under the late General Sani Abacha, probably the most enigmatic and despotic ruler to have ever piloted the affairs of Nigeria. Under his reign, Nigeria was in political and military quagmire. Even his deputy at a time, Gen. Oladipo Diya, was caught in Abacha’s web of bestial conspiracy following his alleged involvement in a hoax coup. Diya was on his way to the Golgota. To drum up support for his evil machination, Abacha needed the

support of Yoruba monarchs to nail Diya’s coffin. Quite a number of them were invited to the seat of power to watch the video of how Diya knelt, cried and begged Abacha, who was the protagonist, in the theatre of absurdity, to spare his life. Diya, according to some Yoruba monarchs, was the obvious mastermind of the coup. It was a case of dog eating dog. Abacha achieved his sinister aim using some Yoruba monarchs. But amidst these vicissitudes, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, was far from the maddening crowd. At a meeting presided over by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, which had in attendance all the military administrators in Nigeria, Adetona, who went in company with some people refused to condemn Diya. Rather, he quoted a verse from the Quran: ‘Ihdinnasiratalmustaqeem,’ meaning, ‘God should direct us aright.’ He confounded the military class who wanted him to align with some Yoruba monarchs who saw Diya as an ingrate who wanted to upstage his magnanimous boss. When he eventually met Abacha, Oba Adetona refused to be part of the conspiratorial gang-up against Diya. He could have told Abacha a pernicious lie about Diya just to please the General but rather advised him to think twice before taking any drastic step against Diya. Many years after that portentous Abacha era, Lagos monarch, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, had revealed the role he played as a com-

missioner of police in the alleged bribery of some Yoruba monarchs by Abacha to frustrate the actualisation of the mandate given to Abiola. While we are still waiting for Oba Akiolu to name the monarchs that benefitted from the largesse, he has assured us that Oba Adetona was not a beneficiary. A monarch with such enviable pedigree can’t be chased away from his palace by his subjects given his uprightness. It was not surprising that the Awujale again displayed uncommon courage in this tempting time where some monarchs are already laughing all the way to the bank to tell President Goodluck Jonathan during a recent visit to his palace that it was improper for Yoruba monarchs to canvass for votes for any candidates seeking elective posts. It is the duty of the king’s subjects to make their choices. A prudent monarch should know that his subjects cut across all parties and that was what Oba Adetona did. On what basis will a monarch ask his subjects to vote for a particular candidate or give his royal blessing to one candidate and shut the door of his palace against the other? And this is why I have problem with the impression being given by Oba Akiolu that only Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is good enough to be the next governor of Lagos. What if Lagosians decide otherwise? It is for reasons like this that some monarchs had been accused in the past of conniving with politicians to rig election in their palaces. Our monarchs need not fish in trouble waters. As for politicians, it is myopic to assume that subjects will have to wait for their monarchs’ directive regarding whom to vote for. Except for the incurable optimists among our politicians, they ought to know that the grandiose idea and political nostrum of running to traditional rulers when election is approaching will not necessarily improve their political fortune as the eyes are no longer on the kneecaps.

Is NASS ready for Orji Uzor Kalu?

arian L. Tupy, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s Centre for Global Liberty and Prosperity once called Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu “Nigeria’s Reagan”. The Cato Institute is an American libertarian think-tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded as the Charles Koch Foundation in 1974. Notes Tupy in a recent Washington Times article, “Africa may be slowly changing, but many Africans are rightly dissatisfied with the pace of reforms…Would Mr. Kalu be a different kind of leader? That is impossible to predict, but judging by his rhetoric, Mr. Kalu certainly represents a break with the past.” Moving forward, is the nation’s 16-year old national parliament ready for a new message and a maverick new messenger in the mould of billionaire business mogul and former Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, in its sedate midst? This is debatable. Here is why. After a complex, intrigues-laden “negotiation” with the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) which incidentally he is a founding member, Dr. Kalu opted to run for the senate on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). It was on this platform he founded eight years ago that Kalu anointed Governor Theodore Orji as state chief executive, thrashing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s protégé, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu who contested on PDP ticket. Of interest to many observers today is that Kalu is backing President Goodluck Jonathan to the hilt for a second term. Besides electrifying the contest for who represents Abia North Senatorial Constituency, Kalu’s direct entry provides a powerful boost for all other candidates running on the PPA platform in the region and beyond.

The Nation-State With Louis Achi

achilouis35@gmail.com More, it provides a warning to national parliamentarians who favour the regressive status-quo instead of transformative political action to leverage society that a different type of legislative business template is afoot. The National Assembly has become a curious comfort zone which must not be touched. While the federal government communicated it is minimizing cost of governance in the face of down-spiraling oil price which has left many states struggling to pay salaries and forced down national capital budget to its lowest in nearly a decade it retained a huge N150 billion allocation for federal lawmakers in 2015. From details of the 2015 budget the federal parliament will continue to spend N150 billion as it has done since 2010. Perhaps not many would realise that this princely amount is more than the annual budget of each of at least 15 states in Nigeria. From the rosy-cheeked “progressive” parliamentarians to the legislators of the ruling party no Nigerian has heard a whimper of protest on this count! Interestingly, details of how the Senators and members of the House of Representatives spend this jumbo allocation annually has remained a top secret over the last four years. Both NASS and the finance ministry have declined to provide related details de-

You cannot make public officials less corrupt by appealing to their virtue. You have to eliminate the source of corruption spite repeated requests from the media and non-governmental organisations. A Nigerian federal parliamentarian on the average earns over N300 million yearly, representing the total of their basic salaries and allowances, and quarterly allowances. This quarterly allowances is commonly tagged “jumbo pay”, while the legislators say the funds, in tens of millions of naira each quarter, constitute “administrative cost”. It could be recalled that in 2012, the UKbased Economist concluded that Nigerian lawmakers were the highest paid in the world. The report considered only salaries of the lawmakers, not the “jumbo pay”. Former Vice President, World Bank (Africa), Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, disclosed to a gathering of civil society organisations that the National Assembly had gulped over N1

trillion in about eight years to the detriment of the nation’s economic development and therefore proposed a reduction in such senseless spending by making legislative duties part-time. Her candid proposal that National Assembly members should be gainfully employed people who would only serve on part-time basis not surprisingly drew condemnations form NASS. The Speaker Tambuwal-led House of Representatives said it would never work and knocked Ezekwesili for her effort. It is to this quirky national legislative environment that Dr. Kalu has signaled his intent to enter and work. So, what will a billionaire with strong North-South connections, a radical bent and matching swagger do in this kind of parliament? The politician who fought former President Olusegun Obasanjo to a stand-still and who is no stranger to assertive politics will certainly not settle for ‘hand-outs’ from the executive or accommodate myopic perspectives from conservative revisionists to shortchange Nigeria. He has already warned that lingering national legislative business like passing the PIB needs urgent attention because of its national importance. According to Kalu, “Nigeria needs small government and a large market; instead of running businesses, the government should focus on making the business environment more conducive to foreign and domestic investment. You cannot make public officials less corrupt by appealing to their virtue. You have to eliminate the source of corruption by drastically reducing the number of permits and licences.” Clearly focused legislative action can aid in fast-tracking progress in these critical governance arenas.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

programme called the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward Volunteers Scheme (aka Umbrella Revolution) has now been flagged off in the thirty-six state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory. The scheme which was earlier flagged off by the PDP's presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, seeks to showcase the landmark achievements of the president. The "umbrella revolution" is said to be driven by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PCO) and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), in conjunction with Women for Change and Development Initiative. Both groups have been quite passionate and committed to successful outing of Jonathan and PDP in the general elections, was aimed at raising at least 30 million supporters and volunteers for his re-election across the eight thousand, eight hundred and twelve wards in Nigeria. The project, said to be the brainchild of Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, TAN's vice chairman, commenced with the training of select representatives from the states nominated by PDP stakeholders, party chieftains, candidates and ex-governors, serving and former legislators who were put in charge of this project in each state. They had similarly at the state levels recruited and trained another group of volunteers drawn from all councils, wards and senatorial zones in their respective state. Shedding light on the programme, Mr Christian Udechukwu, a director in TAN, said over forty thousand volunteer centres would be established across the country while five personnel are expected to man each ward, distributing information materials from PCO and souvenirs from the political advocacy group. He said over thirty seven million vote right forms have been printed and would be distributed to the grassroots which he noted is prepared in a way to give education to voters on how to go about voting without invalidating their votes. Udechukwu said that a feedback mechanism is also embedded in the PDP Ward Volunteers Scheme which will give opportunity to applicants to take advantage of employment openings. The volunteers were also provided with information materials including a register for all those who have not received or had yet to trace their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVC). They were expected to give a written detail of their particulars and data for TAN to now take it up with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Again, Ubah pointed out that this civic task was non-partisan. The national coordinator of the volunteer scheme, Mr Chuma Nwofor, also urged the states to keep a round-the-clock monitoring on all the volunteers for effectiveness. Ubah who supervised the distribution of the volunteer scheme materials at the group's Amuwo Odofin, Lagos office, which ran until late night got a good pat on the back from the Lagos State governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr Jimi Agbaje, who paid him a morale-boosting visit, on Thursday. The duo also led the party supporters and members on sensitization and mobilization road show tagged "million-man march" round the various streets of Lagos chanting solidarity songs for Jonathan, Agbaje and all PDP candidates nationwide. They distributed branded souvenirs such as t-shirts, face caps, scarfs, mufflers, hand fans, balloons, and several other items. they also distributed vote-right

21 MARCH 2015

Volunteers attempt to woo a prospective voter

TAN launches volunteer scheme, PVC-tracking initiative cards. The road march ended at the National Stadium, in Lagos. On a similar note, ward chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory yesterday received their training on how to reach out to people from the PDP Volunteer Umbrella designed for the 2015 campaigns. They were advised to be proud of the presidential product they are marketing. The over 60 ward chairmen were told that this push in the last lap of the campaign was meant to place issues in their right perspectives and reverse the negative narratives that the opposition has been championing against the administration of Jonathan. Addressing the ward chairmen at the train-the-trainer session at the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) City in Abuja, Professor Godswill Iheanyichukwu Nnaji told the trainees that the evidence of the transformation agenda executed by President Jonathan are obvious.

These facts are stubborn; if you bend them they will bounce back

TAN's vice chair, Ubah, supervising the exercise

He said no matter how the opposition tried to discountenance the programmes of the administration, it cannot hide the facts. "My fellow compatriots, what we are doing here today is just to talk about the real thing. Not talking about what we will do, President Jonathan has performed very well in all sectors of the economy. "The whole essence is about continuity. Continuity of the Transformation Agenda already going on. Our training is about debunking the false representation of the GEJ administration. "So no matter how the people in the opposition keep trying to undermine the truth of the successful outing of President Jonathan for which we need to pursue continuity, all we have to do is to simply mention one project or more to the people in our wards and they will admit it because it is real.

"That makes the fact of good roads, improved maternal mortality, increased power station for more power supply, accessed opportunities under SURE-P scheme by young people some of whom we know, massive improvement in agriculture, etc "These facts are stubborn; if you bend them they will bounce back. As they admit the good works show them the Vote Right sample of the ballot paper and then tell them to vote for the PDP which is for Jonathan. He directed them to ensure that they use the right thumb to thumb print and the left hand to drop the ballot paper in the boxes to avoid smudging the ballot and invalidating the vote. He told them that the performance of the Jonathan administration are concrete and should bolster the confidence of the PDP supporters in their respective wards. Another lecturer, Mr. Chikezie Paschal told the trainees that the whole process of promoting the GEJ programmes in their wards for mobilising the people for the PDP and President Jonathan should be with high level of decorum. One of the trainee, Wilson Ogbeche, PDP ward chairman in Gwagwalada Area Council and Secretary of Forum for Chairmen, Gwagwalada Area Council, said the training and strategy is unique to the PDP and very simple to execute especially as the PDP candidate has made the work easy for the volunteers. "From the little we were able to get we know that TAN and the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation Are actually serious and from what they taught us today it is clear and easy for us to propagate the good works of President Jonathan in our wards. "This is not just an issue of campaign it is about promoting what is already going on and that is the real catch for us. The opposition is talking about what they will do or might do, in our case we are talking about continuity of the good work which is evident.

Sport Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MARCH 2015

Q'final draw: Madrid derby in Champions League

tletico Madrid and Real Madrid have been drawn to play each other in the quarterfinals of the Champions League in a repeat of last season's final. The city rivals met in Lisbon last term, with Real eventually running out 4-1 winners to land La Decima -- the club's 10th European Cup win. Atletico looked set to add the Champions League trophy to their La Liga title, with Diego Godin's opener appearing to be the decisive goal. However, Sergio Ramos went on to net an equaliser in the last minute of normal time, before Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo

turned the game around in extra time. The two sides have already met six times this season, with Atletico winning both the Spanish Super Cup and a Copa del Rey round-of-16 tie over two legs, while Diego Simeone's men also won both La Liga clashes, including a 4-0 victory in February. Elsewhere, Paris SaintGermain and Barcelona have been pitted together in a repeat of 2013's quarterfinal. PSG will be hoping to gain

revenge after Barcelona progressed that year and will take confidence following their elimination of Chelsea in the round of 16. Bayern Munich will take on Porto as they look to land a second Champions League title in two years. Bayern won the trophy in 2013 and Pep Guardiola will be keen for his side to make amends for last season's disappointing semifinal exit to Real, which saw them lose the second leg at

UCL Q/Final FIXTURES PSG vs Barcelona A'Madrid vs R'Madrid FC Porto vs B'Munich Juventus vs AS Monaco Ties to be played April 14, 15 and April 21, 22

Apapa hosts Egbayelo APC Cup Final

he grand finale of the 1st Mike Egbayelo APC Cup takes place today at the Astro Turf, Caulcrick Road, Apapa, with APC chieftains across the state expected to grace the occasion which will see Ward C and Ward E battling for the trophy. Ward C maintained their brilliant form which has seen them defeat all their opponents with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Ward D, while Ward E defeated Ward A 4-3 in a very close contest.

Super Sunday live on SuperSport

his weekend provides SuperSport’s football fans with the chance to enjoy two of the biggest rivalries in world football that could also have a huge impact on the fortunes of the clubs involved. Liverpool hosts Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday having gone unbeaten in the Premier League for three months since their visit to the Theatre of Dreams last December, turned into a nightmare; 3-0 loss. Hours later, the latest chapter in the story of Spain’s El Clasico will be written when Real Madrid travels to Barcelona having slipped behind their great rivals in the La Liga title race in recent weeks. Liverpool vs Manchester United will be broadcast on SuperSport 3 at 2.30pm and Barcelona vs. Real Madrid will air on SuperSport 3 at 9.40pm.

home 4-0. Monaco's reward, meanwhile, for knocking out Arsenal in the previous round is a tie against Juventus, who currently sit 14 points clear at the top of Serie A.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale shooting past Atletico players

Okocha wants me to handle Nigeria - Allardyce Emmanuel Tobi

est Ham coach, Sam Allardyce, has stated his desire to stay with his current team till the end of the season in June this year despite being linked with the vacant Nigeria coaching job. The 53-year-old coach while writing on Friday on his weekly column in the London Evening Standard, said, “At the last count, I believe I’ve been linked with three jobs this week: Sunderland, QPR and Nigeria! The first thing I have to say is that, in case no one noticed, I still

have a job here at West Ham.” He attributed his respect and mutual relationship with his former captain at Bolton, Austin Okocha, which he described as the factor of being linked with

Allardyce

the Super Eagles job. “I presume the Nigeria connection, for example, is because Jay Jay Okocha, who played for me at Bolton, and is now involved in football in that country. “For me, Jay Jay is a top man, one of the best I’ve met and he is Nigeria’s equivalent to David Beckham in his stature and the esteem he commands in his homeland. Okocha can speak four different languages, he was seen as flamboyant on the field of play but off it he is very calm, collected, family orientated and quite a religious person."

Falcons, U-23 team seek AAG tickets and Zambia respectively. Falcons are in Bamako to play against the Malian national team in the first leg of the last stage of the qualifiers for the continental competition. As African champions, coach Edwin Okon and his ladies are expected to have

Adekunle Salami

igeria is in search of football event tickets of the forthcoming All Africa Games taking place in Congo later in the year as the Super Falcons and the male national U-23 team file out this weekend against Mali

upper hand today in the encounter since Mali is not among the big names in African female football. Okon is however expected to prosecute the encounter with home-based players as top stars like Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala are not part of this.

On the other hand, Samson Siasia and his U-23 male team have a date with Zambia at the National Stadium in Abuja on Sunday. “We want to win well here to make the return leg easier for the team. We are ready in all departments of the game,” the coach said.

GAMES/CROSS WORD PUZZLE Nigerian Capital Cities-1

KEY WORDS

DUTSE ENUGU MAKURDI YOLA GOMBE MAIDUGURI UYO CALABAR UMUAHIA AWKA ASABA ABAKALIKI BAUCHI KADUNA ADO EKITI YENAGOA BENIN OWERRI

G C G N A A G H N B L

A L O E U J O F U S A

I H A U M B I B M O D R A O Y B U L N I D G O M B K U Y T I E D T R R G I E S R D A K G E F M N F W B A T E O

4 7

9 10

E N A O R I G D T U N I A W K B S E A D O U S D C B A H A Y I C A

Y C A L A B A R H U A

U G

N E M

18 19

A K U

15 17

1 5 7 8 9 10 11 12

Overthrow the authority of, (7). Nig. Bar Association, abbr., (3). Feel regret for, (3). Nigeria church, (3). Lagos suburb, (3). Small round marks, (4). Paradise, (4). Live, (2).

DOWN 1 Accomplish an aim, (7).

2 Supporter, (6).

3 Give out, (4). 4 Merchant, (6). 5 Secluded place, (4).

R D

14 16

ACROSS

16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

3rd sol-fa scale note, (2). Ray Power owner, (4). Omit, (4). Expert, (3). Great number, (3). National Electoral Comm., abbr., (3). Boring task, (3). Farm vehicle, (7).

14 Strong effect, (6). 15 Method of secret voting, (6). 19 Male monarchy ruler, (4). 20 Former Electricity producer, (4). 21 Conf. of African Football, abbr., (3).

6 Wining serve in tennis, (3).

13 Person in charge of museum, (7).

See solution on page 21

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

Of quality table tennis coaching, development

was at the Teslim Balogun Stadium to see some of the matches at the just concluded International Table Tennis Federation World Tour. Lagos State Government and the Enitan Oshodi-led Nigeria Table Tennis Federation deserve commendation for bringing the ping pong game back to the fore in the country. However, the National Sports Commission has refused to give backing to table tennis and other sports generally. When other sports disciplines run to government for money for international events, the ready answer is ‘no money’ but such won’t happen to football. Paradoxically, with good planning, football can fend for itself. Super Eagles is a big brand that should have its own sponsor but what we have is a sponsor of all the national teams with a ridiculous amount. The Flying Eagles, Golden Eaglets and the U-23 team should have different sponsors. The women’s teams could have yet another sponsor either for each cadre of the teams or for all the teams. This is a story for another day. Back to table tennis, it is ridiculous that the NSC did not show up at the international table tennis event which had the backing of the ITTF. Findings revealed that there was no support technically or financially from the apex sports ruling body. It is a big shame. The Director General, Gbenga Elegbeleye, or the Minister of Sports, Tammy Danagogo, should have been around to see the ping pongers and embolden them. Portugal had representation at the event while Egypt, Nigeria’s rival on the continent in the past decades, also presented a robust team with Omar Assar winning the singles title at the expense of self–motivated Aruna Quadri. I saw the Egyptians training and was very awestruck with their organisation. They had over 100 balls in a bag with the trainer involved. The Nigerian players were simply ‘knocking’ the ball with one another with no trainer and not more than one ball. The Egyptians had their coaches and trainers with them while training. With due respect, Nigeria had none. No coach, no trainer. Those masquerading as Nigerian coaches at the competition had lost touch with modern developments in the game. They could at best be described as grassroots coaches and not national coaches of Nigeria. In the semifinal matches of both the women’s and men’s singles, it was only Quadri who defeated his compatriot Onaolapo Ojo to play in the final. He was supported by his teammate in Portugal, Andre Silva, to win the match 4-0. Two ladies, Edem Offiong and Funke Oshonaike, lost in the semis to their Egyptian and Portuguese opponents respectively. In the final, ‘coach’ Nosiru Suraju could not come up with any tactical input to help Quadri and Nigeria win the title especially when the momentum was with the Portugalbased player. All we could hear from the coach was: “Ko fun, sunmo table, duroti.” Meaning: “Hit him, close to the table, stand with him.” Imagine the technical input from a national coach. Generally, I realised that the facilities we are talking about are now available but there is need to expose the players and have the right coaches. Apart from Quadri and Ojo, there are other promising male players who deserve urgent attention. It is sad that till date, Quadri who is the current best table tennis player in the world is not getting grants from the NSC to boost his various tours. He is currently playing in the World Tour in Germany without any help from Nigeria. Ojo is equally very talented but these ping pongers have been abandoned despite showing signs that with little assistance, they could rule the world. We should not allow these talents to rot away. NTTF boss, Oshodi, has done so well in the game but he can do better by getting a Chinese trainer for Nigeria while Segun Toriola and Oshonaike take charge as national coaches in the male and female cadres respectively. This is the way forward while more national competitions should be organised to develop talents. Staging two World Tours in the year will also be great to expose more players. Egypt now dominates the game on the continent but I can recollect vividly that for close to two decades, Nigeria was recording a clean sweep of gold medals in Africa during the All Africa Games and African Championships. I make bold to say the country has the potential to achieve that again if we work hard towards that direction. Quadri, after beating all the top players in the world, is a potential medallist at the Rio Olympics if well motivated.

DESTINATION

Dubai: In the grip of the city that never fails to enchant

P.42

Sanctity of Truth

SATURDAY SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

SPORT

Onazi says no to Liverpool, happy at Lazio

N150

p.25

Ronaldo

looks to bounce back with

El Clasico H

Ajibade Olusesan

e is the FIFA Player of the Year but Cristiano Ronaldo will have to arrest his recent poor form when Real Madrid confront their fiercest rivals, Barcelona, in the 263rd El Clasico at the Camp Nou on Sunday (tomorrow). The Portuguese blew away all oppositions in 2014 scoring 65 goals in all competitions as he helped Los Blancos to Copa del Rey and Champions League titles last season, retaining the Ballon d’Or in the process. He started this season in similar fashion as he racked up 30 league goals and 11 assists, but the 30-year-old appears to have taken his feet off the gas since he claimed the Ballon d’Or in January. The striker has managed just nine goals in all competitions this year, a figure that is far below his own high standards. There was a time he was leading his rival, Lionel Messi, by 10 goals in the scorers' chart but the Argentine has since overtaken him at the top, with 32 league goals to his name now against Ronaldo’s 30. Ronaldo’s dip in form coincided with Real Madrid’s slump. The Los Blancos who looked unstoppable at the start of the season have been overtaken by their arch rivals Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table and they were even on the verge of crashing out of the Champions League after Schalke conjured a shocking 4-3 win at the Santiago Benerbeu. They only progressed thanks to their 2-0 first leg win in Germany. Some pundits have suggested that Ronaldo is battling with a psychological problem after splitting with his long-time girlfriend, Irina Shayk, and that has affected his performance on the pitch.

His frustration was evident in the way he behaved in last weekend’s 2-0 win against Levante when he did not celebrate with the team after Gareth Bale scored from his effort. But teammate, Sergio Ramos, has played down the incident saying that Ronaldo will bounce back. "It is difficult to be Cristiano and he has been performing at a very high level for a number of years," Ramos said. "He knows himself better than anyone, he has a very competitive character and we are not worried if he didn't score if Bale subsequently did. We have to appreciate what he brings to the team." However, Ronaldo is expected to return to his imperious best as El Classico usually sparks compelling emotions among the players and supporters of the two clubs. It had been a straight battle between Ronaldo and Messi anytime Real and Barca clashed. The Portuguese has scored 14 goals in 22 Classico matches while the Argentine has recorded 21 goals in 29 matches he has played against Real. But it is instructive to note that Ronaldo has the record of scoring in the last six El-classico matches and he will be expected to extend that run today. The stakes in this tie are high, Barcelona hold a delicate one point lead over Real Madrid, and so three points would give them a sizable margin. On the other hand, Real Madrid can turn the tables and take first place with a win. Real won the first Clasico this season after Ronaldo cancelled Neymar’s goal while Karim Benzema and Pepe also scored to claim a 3-1 victory on October 25, at Santiago Bernabéu, and will rely on their striker to again lead the way.

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