Saturday, may 21, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Interview

Buhari, govs behind Grazing Reserve Bill –Lalong Pg.45

News

Ladipo Market crisis: Igbo traders, Baba Oloja Pg.50 exchange words

Pg.4

Alleged wife-killer arraigned, remanded lRonke buried

Shonde

SATURDAY Saturday, May 21, 2016

Vol. 3 No. 822

N150

Total darkness imminent /newtelegraph

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Page 3

...as Militants blow up escravos pipeline ●FG risks N470m daily revenue loss ●We’ll defend Gbaramatu with our blood –Ijaws

Buhari orders military to deal with ‘saboteurs’

PHOTOS: FILE COPY

Labour leader slumps, hospitalised Page 6

Nwafor

Photo: Uchenna Inya

...after police brutality ●FG sends Tinubu to beg NLC

Ex-NIMASA DG bags 5-year jail term

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Empress Njamah

I don’t care what people say about me

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

SATURDAY

Comment

Protecting security agents T he recent disclosure by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, that about 359 policemen were killed on duty between January 2014 and April 2016, shows the danger our security agents go through in the bid to protect their compatriots. According to Arase 272 policemen sustained various degree of injuries within the same period with the casualties occurring while intervening in civil conflicts. These gallant officers and men paid the supreme price “to enhance community peace and security in the country.’’ While the killing of police personnel has steadily been on the rise since 2009 due to terrorist attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East, it is on record that a couple of days after this disclosure, five policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent were killed in Rivers State. During the same period, some criminal elements ignorant of history, armed with more sophisticated weapons also killed three soldiers at Foropa in Bayelsa State. In March, three soldiers, a colonel inclusive, lost their lives in the same Niger Delta. Indeed, it is saddening that the nation’s security agents have become canon folders, as the civil populace and criminal elements unleash vicious attacks on them with brazen savagery. Needless to say, the nation seemed to have forgotten so soon that similar attacks on security agents in the past culminated in monumental conflagrations in the country as the latter viewed such actions from “bloody civilians” as an affront. For instance, in December 1999, the murder of some policemen by some miscreants in Odi, Bayelsa State, resulted in a reprisal during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration. It led to the Odi invasion by the army, which carefully planned and executed what was then referred to as Operation Hakuri II. Till today, the nation groans over that massacre with its attendant human rights abuses. Similarly, the bustling town of Zaki Biam, in the Sankera axis of Benue State, had

a sour taste of Nigeria’s military might when a detachment of the Nigerian Army allegedly invaded the town in a reprisal attack for the alleged cold blooded murder of 19 soldiers sent to restore peace in the town during an ethnic violence. Another sad occurrence, a couple of years ago was in Nasarawa State when the Ombatshe cult waylaid government officials’ convoy and killed over 15 policemen and other security agents, leaving behind widows and fatherless boys. Put together, this level of brigandage and proliferation of arms in the hands of the civilian population are not only highly disturbing and condemnable, but typify a nation which has become a vortex of criminality. Unchecked and with the cheap assess to Improvised Explosive Devices in the Niger Delta and even in the hands of terrorists and armed robbers, the nation is gravitating towards self-destruction. It is for these reasons and more that we frown at these developments and call for immediate end to the culture of violent attacks on law enforcement agents, who are state agents with legal mandate to perform basic duties in every civilised society. In consonance with the provisions of the constitution, the nation’s security agents perform crucial roles in the lives of and for the continual existence of the country. Part of the duties of the Nigeria Army is the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity and saving it from external aggression, and with the benefit of hindsight, the nation today owes its existence to them. Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force has played significant roles in the protection of lives and property in the nation, combating riots, maintaining law and order. In recent times, they have quashed insurrection and civil unrests from various militant groups and criminals such that all over the world, the police have become a vital part of the society. For these reasons and to avoid serious bloodshed in reprisals, we say no to these senseless killings of security agents.

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

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Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

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

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

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Contents | 21.05.16 Statement making prom dress

INSTYLE

There are not so many times in life when you get to wear a truly glamorous, jaw-dropping dress. So why not make your next event one of those times with a beautiful, flattering, perfect prom dress? You can’t go wrong

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Uzoma’s fantasy

Mystyle

Judith Uzoma, CEO Kiddies Fantasy, will not spare any effort to make children happy. She speaks about her fashion philosophy which is about wearing anything she feels comfortable in especially gowns and traditional outfits

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Interiors

Alluring children’s classroom decor Apart from hiring sound teachers and offering subjects that will help children later in life, there is need to step up the décor of children’s classroom in other to remain competitive. So provide that serene environment and gorgeous classroom décor

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Onuoha’s comeback

SHOWBIZ

Actress, Georgina Onuoha, shone glowingly in Nollywood and her brilliance endeared her to movie fans before she left for the U.S. But after a 10-year sojourn she’s back and ready to grace the silver screen again

}19

Onyali’s double

SPORT

Sprint legend Mary Onyali says her eight-year-old son is likely to take after her in the future and burn the tracks like mummy. She also talks about her long career in athletics, the fall of the sport and other issues

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THE ARTS

Oghagbon’s Argungu Festival’s crusade The Argungu Fishing Festival has not taking place since 2009 due to severe security challenges in the North, but painter, Moses Oghagbon, is on a crusade to see that the 80-year-old festival is revived

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News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Ndubuisi Ugah, Adeola Yusuf, Anule Emmanuel, Ola James and Dominic Adewole

lackout is imminent nationwide as suspected militants yesterday blew up a section of the Escravos gas trunkline behind salvation city, near Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, in an assault that impaired gas supply to major power plants in Nigeria. This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari urged militants in the Niger Delta to drop their confrontational stance and work with his government to review the Amnesty Programme initiated by the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration. The sabotaged gas pipeline which contributes to the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) has led to a loss of 160mmsfcd of gas daily. The Federal Government said the last time the pipeline was blown, the power and gas sectors incurred multiple losses in repairs, electricity shortage and gas sales resulting in a loss of N470million daily. The attack on the pipeline connected to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s facility at Escravos, impacted negatively on the Olorunsogo NIPP plant (capacity 600MW) and other Power Plants. FG risks N470m daily At a cost of $2.50 per thousand scf, this loss means about $400,000 loss to the country on a daily basis (N78,800,000 daily) in gas volume, the minister of power, Mr. Babtunde Fashola, said in January when the installation was attacked. A statement signed by the Special Adviser, Communications to the minister of power, works and housing, Hakeem Bello, said: “This is in addition to losses to be incurred daily from affected power generation ($1,988,223 or N391,680,000 daily). The total daily loss to the country is therefore estimated at N470,479,931. Repairs of the damaged pipeline is estimated as costing ($609,137 or N120,000.000). Escravos GTL is a gas to liquids (GTL) project based in Escravos region, Nigeria. It is located in the Niger Delta about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Lagos. The plant converts natural gas into liquid petroleum products. The suspected militants blew up a section of the Escravos gas trunkline behind salvation city, near OgbeIjoh in Warri South-West local government area of the state. The Escravos Gas To Liquid (GTL) project was developed by Chevron Ni-

Total blackout imminent as militants blow up Escravos pipeline L-R: Senate, Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, Senator Tayo Alasoadura and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, during a condolence visit to Alasoadura, at Ijapo Estate in Akure, Ondo state, over the sudden death of his wife, late Adetayo Olajumoke Alasoadura... yesterday

geria Limited (75 per cent) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (15 per cent). Sasol gained interest in the project early on, acquiring half of Chevron Nigeria’s stake; however, due to increased cost and delays, Sasol reduced its stake to 10 per cent in late 2008. The GTL plant cost US$10 billion and started up in summer 2014; its original cost started out at US$1.9 billion in 2005, rising to US$5.9 billion in 2009 but continued to escalate. It has an initial capacity of 34,000 barrels per day (5,400 m3/d) of synfuel. The plant uses the FischerTropsch process technology and Chevron’s ISOCRACKING technology. Escravos Lagos pipeline recorded an attack in February, resulting in the shortage of 3,132 megawatts (Mw) of electricity, and difficulties for operators of power generation plants. It also affected the gas supply through the gas pipeline from Olero Creek. It would be recalled that the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a new militant group, had claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the region. Buhari orders military to deal with 'saboteurs' However, President Buhari, while speaking at a meeting with the Global Director (Upstream) of the Royal Dutch Shell Group, Mr. Andrew Brown, said he had directed the Chief of Naval Staff to reorganise and strengthen the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta to deal effectively with the resurgence of militancy and the sabotage of oil installations. The President told Brown that the operations of the JTF were also being enhanced with increased support and cooperation

from the United States and Europe in the areas of training, intelligence, equipment and logistics. He said: “We have to be very serious with the situation in the Niger Delta because it threatens the national economy. I assure you that everything possible will be done to protect personnel and oil assets in the region.” The President assured oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Federal Government was taking all necessary actions to protect strategic assets in the region from vandals and criminals. The president urged aggrieved persons, militants and communities in the Niger Delta to drop their confrontational stance and work with those who had been charged by the Federal Government to review the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Yar’Adua administration for the benefit of all parties. Earlier, Brown had appealed for an urgent solution to rising crime and militancy in the Niger Delta. Two soldiers die in boat mishap Also yesterday, two unidentified soldiers attached to the JTF in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, have died in a boat accident in Bayelsa State. The unnamed soldiers, said to be escorting oil officials from a spill site, reportedly drowned and died at Taylor Creek near an oilfield operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company in Okordia area of Yenagoa. A community source, who craved anonymity, said the incident occurred on Thursday evening. The source said the soldiers were on an escort duty and drowned when a boat conveying oil workers across the Taylor Creek capsized.

He said: “The boat conveying the crew from Agip’s field capsized on their way back from the site at the oilfield across and before help could come the soldiers had drowned. They were using a hand paddled canoe to cross the workers one at a time. “Soldiers were washing their boots when water entered the boat and it capsized. His rifle fell into the creek when the other members of the crew had crossed and waiting for him to cross.” The source said that the attention of the fishermen operating in the creeks were drawn to the soldiers and the canoe driver, saying that by the time the fishermen arrived, the soldier had died and could not be rescued. The Youth President, Kalaba community in Okordia, Mr. Samuel Oburo, said the rifles of the dead soldiers were recovered by local divers on Friday. 'We'll defend Gbaramatu with our blood' In another development, the Chairman of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, while speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone yesterday, said the military should be held responsible for the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta region. He alleged that the military had abandoned their duties and rather opted to harass, intimidate and main people from various communities at will. “The military has destroyed our traditional and cultural values. They have continued to kill, main and harass our people at will we will not take this nonsense anymore and they don’t want the crisis to end because of their selfish interest,” Mulade said, insist-

ing that the “gods” of Niger Delta would go after those who want "to destroy our peace loving communities." Mulade, who is also the chairman, Kokodiagbene community, further accused the military of collecting money from any boat that passes through their territory, and called on President Buhari to call them to order. “We don’t believe there is any further attack. From within and outside our communities, any intruder should not dare because we have resolved to take a position. Those who fabricate stories to indict their political opponents should desist from it,” the community leader stated. According to him, Gbaramatu plays host to eight flow stations, namely Abiteye, Makaraba, Otunana being operated by Chevron Nigeria limited as well as Jones Creek, Odidi I and II, Egwa and Ii being Operated by shell and its allies. “Based on this, Gbaramatu is a major oil-producing area and should not be destroyed by the self-seeking and so-called military team. But our major concern is the JTF who extort money from our people anyhow. “Whereas, the so-called military are the major illegal bunkers and they should be held responsible for the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta region. “As long as the JTF remain in Niger Delta, the regions will continue to be in crisis. We have resolved to be peace loving but the military does not want the area to be in peace,” Mulade further added. He expressed regret that a lot of persons in Gbaramatu kingdom had fled their homes as a result of the continued harassment by the military and revealed that all the con-

cerned communities in the kingdom would come together to form a peaceful Gbaramatu Kingdom. Mulade noted that government had failed to address the issue of marginalisation, stressing that what the area needed was through federalism which, he said, was the only solution to the crisis in the region. “Government or the military can continue to kill, maim and harass us and if possible jail us but our position remains unchanged,” the Ijaw leader said. He also advised President Buhari to be impartial in this struggle, adding that he should not regards himself as regional president but president of the federation. He also accused security personnel in the Niger Delta region of complicity in the saga. According to him, the security men can smoke out those behind the vandalism of oil and gas facilities belonging to NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture in Delta State and that of the Agip at Tumor in Bayelsa State. He said: “They are the ones escorting smugglers and oil bunkerers with their crude laden ‘Cotonou boats’, they even know those behind pipeline vandalism and how oil theft has been flourishing in the region.” INC berates FG Commenting on the development, the Legal Adviser to the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the first female Commissioner in the defunct Bendel State, Chief Veronica BamuzaMutu, who condemned the approach of the militants, wondered why the Federal Government was dillydallying in alleviating the suffering of the indigenes of the oil-bearing communities in the region. These came barely a week after Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, inaugurated an Advocacy Committee, headed by his deputy, Mr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, supported by Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr. Mofe Pirah, the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Kelly Penaowu and Special Adviser on Petroleum Matters, Bosin Ebikeme, according to the governor, would collaborate with JTF and gave them a matching order to remain in the creeks pending when the ‘boys’ sheathe their swords. The governor was worried particularly about the NDA, who have within two week traumatised the inhabitants of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Doubt over identity of ‘second rescued Chibok girl’ Ndubuisi Ugah

with agency reports

new twist to the rescue bid by the military on the abducted Chibok schoolgirls emerged yesterday when the leadership of the Chibok community in Borno State questioned the military’s claim that a second Chibok schoolgirl, Serah Luka, had been rescued. The controversy emerged on a day the army maintained that Luka was one of the 219 abducted by the outlawed terror group, the Boko Haram sect. Prior to this development, the army had rescued Amina Darsha Nkeki, who was abducted alongside over 200 Chibok girls on April 14, 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists, carrying her four-month-old baby on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest. Nkeki was said to have escaped after spending two years, one month and five days of captivity alongside her “terrorist husband”, Muhammad Hayatu. But speaking with aaan online news portal, Agence France-Press (AFP), the head of the Chibok Abducted Girls Parents group, Mr. Yakubu Nkeki, said the military contacted him be-

l Army, Chibok community leader differ on identity of victim l Asari-Dokubo: No missing Chibok girl found, it's a scam fore an announcement was made on Wednesday about the discovery of the first girl, Amina Ali. “We were able to identify her and then establish her parents,” he told AFP. While decrying that the report was laced with doubt, Nkeki wondered why the army failed to contact him or any other leader in the community, stating that “there was no call before Nigeria's army announced late Thursday that a second schoolgirl had been rescued.” It would be recalled that Luka had told troops that she was among 97 women and children rescued earlier that day in the Damboa area of the northeastern part of Borno State. But clarifying the issue, Nkeki said his records showed only two girls with the surname Luka. “These are Kauna Luka Yana and Naomi Luka Dzakwa. Among the list of parents we have only four priests and none of them is Luka. “Among the girls none of them is from Madagali. They were either from Chibok, Damboa, Askira and Uba (all in Borno state). So, I can say...

that this girl is not among the abducted Chibok girls. “We were never contacted by the military for verification of the girl's identity before the announcement was made,” he added. A human rights activist in Mubi, Adamawa State, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of his work, also said a Serah Luka was not on the list of the missing girls. However, a senior Nigerian military source, said yesterday that it was “beyond reasonable doubt” that the schoolgirl was among the 219 held by the Islamists since the kidnapping on April 14, 2014. “We can only change our position if the principal of the school or the government of Borno State come out and refute this established identity of the girl,” he said. President Muhammadu Buhari’s had on Thursday in his office in Abuja held a private meeting that lasted an hour with Amina alongside her mother where he vowed to continue the search to track down the missing students and to also fund Nkeki’s education. However, leader of the

defunct Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Front (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, yesterday insisted that reports claiming that some Chibok girls were rescued was not true. The former Niger Delta warlord, who took to his Facebook Page to express his doubt, insisted that no schoolgirl was kidnapped

from Chibok and that the news of girls being rescued is a scam and propaganda. He said in statement titled: “No missing Chibok girl had been found”, said: “I don’t think many of us still remember that the kidnapped Chibok girls were science students studying for the final physics WAEC examination at the time of the abduction.

The school was not in session during the attack but the SS3 students (girls) were kept in the hostel to sit for the last paper. Here is my own curiosity; why were those rescued for found unable to speak simple English language except their local language in their interviews since this drama started? Bi dem deh teach physics for hausa too? Na so physics popular for the North that almost 300 girls wan write the examination in one school? I don’t get it…epp me please! Maiyegun.”

Court remands alleged wife killer in prison custody Akeem Nafiu

l Victim buried amid tears

51-year-old man, Lekan Shonde, who was accused of killing his wife, Ronke, has been remanded in prison custody by Chief Magistrate Oluwayemisi Adelaja of an EbuteMetta Magistrate Court. This was sequel to his arraignment before the court yesterday by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti-Yaba. This was even as the remains of the deceased, Ronke, was interred at the Atan Cemetery, Yaba, yesterday. Our correspondent ob-

served that the occasion, which was witnessed by few family members and friends, was filled with emotions. Lekan was accused of killing his 37-year old wife by giving her fist blow which led to her death, on May 5, at their residence, No. 3, Tiamo Street, Egbeda, Lagos. The offence according to the prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, is contrary to and punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. The accused, who was charged with murder, however, pleaded not guilty to

the offence when the charge was read out to him. Upon his plea, the police prosecutor urged the court to remand him in prison pending when the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) will issue an advice on the matter. Consequently, the court, while noting that the offence is capital in nature, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody for the first 30 days, pending when the DPP would have issued an advice on the matter. The matter has been adjourned till June 24, for mention.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

EX-NIMASA DG, Omatseye, bags five years for N1.5bn fraud

Akeem Nafiu ustice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Raymond Omatseye, to five years imprisonment over alleged N1.5 billion contract scam. He was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 27-count charge

bordering on bid rigging and contract splitting. Delivering her judgment by fiat yesterday, Justice Ajumogobia found Omatseye guilty of 24 out of the 27 counts preferred against him. She, however, discharged and acquitted him of three of the 27 counts bordering on bid rigging. Ajumogobia found Omatseye guilty of the offence of awarding contracts above stipulated threshold, and accordingly convicted him on counts 1 to 20,24,25,26, and 27.

She, however, discharged and acquitted him on counts 21, 22 and 23 of the charge. The judge said: “In the instant charge, the defendant testified in his evidence in chief that he was released on administrative bail and asked to come back the following day and in his statement, he responded that his threshold for supply was N2.5 million. “Furthermore, his statement was corroborated by Pw2 and Pw3; Pw2 stated in his testimony that in line with the Public Procurement

Act, the chief executive officer had a threshold of N2.5 million for goods and N5 million for works. “From the foregoing, I find that the exhibit PD 16 A-Y are all above the threshold and approved limit of the DG; that means, they are all above N2.5 million. “The testimony of Pw2 and 3 that the approved threshold of the defendant on goods and services was N2.5million does not only corroborate the statement of the defendant, but totally lends credence to the

FG to ease forex procurement for oil importers Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Federal Government has promised to intervene in the logjam encountered by oil marketers in procuring foreign exchange to import premium motor spirit by working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja after a closed door meeting with the Chairman of De-

pot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), Prince Dapo Abiodun. DAPMAN Chairman had complained that his members were facing difficulty in accessing forex to bring products, stating that members had yet to convert the sum of N48 billion oil subsidy paid to them last year into foreign exchange at the official window . The money he said was still locked up in account. He expressed apprehen-

sion that the money still lying in their bank accounts might become worthless if they are unable to access official forex windows soon considering that CBN may officially devalue the currency soon He commended both Adeosun and Buhari for promptly releasing a substantial part of the subsidy arrears to his members in 2015, saying the accumulated debt was the reason for acute product scarcity during the transition period.

Recalling that oil marketers were paid another N42.4 billion last week by government to enable them to bring in products, Mrs. Adeosun pledged to ease official foreign exchange window for them to change the naira into dollar so that the importers could settle their foreign creditors. “I cannot promise that we will pay you immediately but we will work out a solution. We will liaise with CBN to see what can be done on the foreign exchange issue.

L-R: Managing Director/Country Chair Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; Shell Global Upstream Director, Mr. Andrew Brown; President and Minister of Petroleum, Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, during an audience with the President, at the State House, Abuja… PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Nigeria’s free zones foreign investments hit $75bn Bayo Akomolafe

he Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the Nigerian oil and gas free zones have reached $75 billion. The Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), Mr Victor Alabo, who disclosed this at Onne in Rivers State yesterday, said $60 billion of the investments were in Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, while non oil and gas free zones investments in other part of the country have attracted $15billion FDI He explained that Intels Integrated logistic Service had done massive investment within the free zone. He added that the company was into port devel-

opment with the Federal Ministry of Transportation under Public Private Partnership (PPP) in dredging the draft of the Onne port from seven metres to 12 metres. Alabo noted that the last phase of Onne Port investments embarked upon by Intels was about $3.5 billion. The managing director said under his agency’s regulation were zones like Onne, Ikpokiri, Warri, Lagos Eko Support and Brass Oil and Gas Free Zone. Alabo explained: “Others like Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL), Snake Island, Olokola, were being regulated by Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA). Though the law says they should

have transferred the companies under the OGFZA.” The managing director described midstream discharge of cargoes by some terminal operators as outlawed, adding that ``it has been proscribed because of the security implication.’’ He said the law had explained that cargoes destined for a terminal must first come to Customs ports. Alabo added that the agency (OGFZA) was looking for investments in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry because of crude oil and gas. He said: “We have close to 200 investors in the Onne Free Zone.We hope to replicate this success story in other free zones in the country. There is now good

expatriate quota in the free zones. As years are going back, they are reducing the expatriate quota.’’ “We are encouraging investors to come into the free zones to use crude oil and gas to produce fertilisers, plastics and petrochemicals.” The managing director said that it had been a success story in the free zones. He noted that Onne Free Zone had been the most successful free zone because of the consistency of government policy and ingenuity brought into management of free zones. Alabo mentioned regular stakeholders’ meeting, saying that government should provide physical and tax incentives for investors.

threshold limit applicable on the defendant as DG of NIMASA. “I find that the threshold as contained in exhibit PD 16 Z is applicable to the defendant, setting his limit as N2.5 million for procurement of goods, and N5 million for procurement of services. “A calm perusal of exhibit PD 16 series reveals that they are repetitive awards of contract for the supply of goods approved by the defendant in his position as DG of NIMASA. “It is clear that all the

contract sums are above the threshold as set out in exhibit PD 16 Z, thereby violating the provisions of Section 161 (a) of the Public Procurement Act 2007. “Accordingly, based on the foregoing before this court, I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, in the face of the offence contained in counts 1-20,24,25,26,and 27. I accordingly find him guilty as charged on these counts.”

Buhari sacks Christian Pilgrims Commission boss

resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved the disengagement of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara. The announcement came barely two hours after Opara attended the third session of the 9th Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), with the theme, ‘The poverty of riches’ in Abuja. A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, said

the decision was with effect from May 19. The statement read: “His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has in the exercise of his powers, approved the disengagement of Mr. John Kennedy Opara as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission with effect from Thursday May 19, 2016. “Mr. President, however, thanked him for his invaluable services to the nation and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

‘There was a near collapse of governance in Imo in 2015’ Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he Public Complaint Commission (PCC) in Imo State has presented its 2015 annual report declaring that within the year under review, governance in Imo was driven by political sentiments and arbitrariness. Addressing newsmen during the presentation, the Imo state PCC Commissioner, Chief Ambrose Ugboaja, noted that a total of 405 cases were received and initiated in 2015, adding that out of the number, 302 cases were resolved and disposed of while 103 cases are pending and still under investigation. According to the PCC Commissioner, “A careful but dispassionate analysis of the complaints received, initiated and rejected revealed a near collapse of governance in Imo state for the period under review. Most actions and inactions of government were politically motivated and arbitrary. ” Continuing, he said: “It may be necessary to share one sorry example wherein the Imo State Civil Service Commission by a mere circular relied on a wrong premise to elongate the service period of Auditor-General in Imo state. The beneficiary had already

attained 35 years of pensionable service and the circular extended his retirement to 60 years of age not minding the fact that 35 years of pensionable service was first in time.” On the judiciary system, the commissioner wondered why the Imo judiciary which is supposed to be manned by about 31 judges, had as at December 2015, less than 13 judges, including the Chief Judge and the administrative judge. “It follows therefore that justice in Imo State is not only delayed but virtually at a standstill. Legal practitioners find it difficult to exhibit their art of law knowledge. Litigants now prefer self-help or unorthodox tribunals and the state government, whose responsibility it is to appoint judges in the state, appear indecisive and unconcerned,” Ugboaja stated. Presenting the 60-page report, Ugboaja noted that the commission pursued their commitment vigorously in the year under review and adopted globally identified core characteristics for measurement which dictates among other things, that governance of both public and private concerns should include using of state power in a participatory sense and in total compliance to the rule of law.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

NLC STRIKE... NLC STRIKE... NLC STRIKE

FG sends Tinubu to beg labour

Our Correspondents

he Federal Government has finally appealed to the leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to end the ongoing strike over the increase in the pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145. Talks between the congress and Federal Government on the price increase broke down on Tuesday night necessitating the declaration of an indefinite strike by the labour body while the Federal Government entered a truce with a faction of NLC led by Mr. Joe Ajaero. But the Federal Government, on the third day of the strike demonstrated desire, to negotiate with the labour movement as it sent a highpower delegation, led by the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to the NLC headquarters yesterday. Tinubu, who led the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Kabiru Marafa, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Idi Farouk and former President of NLC, Abdulwahid Omar, pleaded with the union to call off the strike. “My mission here is for peace, my mission here is for labour to return to the negotiation table. Let us make Nigeria the centrepiece of Africa. Dislocation will not help Nigeria, I'll rather go to a gas station, let the price be competitive. Initially, it used to be difficult but to say we must continue to allocate when you have lost 70 per cent of your revenue is bad. "That's my mission here. I guarantee that this is a government of honesty. I appeal to you to let's go back to the negotiation table. Let's call off this strike. It is not done on the street. We will always end up negotiating. “I appeal to you, not as a bribe, but I come on behalf of our party, our country. APC is for change. Please that's my submission,” Tinubu said. The APC leader, who also appealed to the labour leaders to embrace new mechanism in conflict resolution as well as new ideas in issues affecting the general wellbeing of Nigerians, said the Federal Government’s decision to deregulate the oil and gas sector would open doors to investors to establish refineries in the country. He said: “We are here to appeal to you that whatever this administration is doing which include you and without you, we couldn't have won the election. Now that we have won, we can manage the success. I can

...We are open to discussion —NLC

business as if nothing was happening while others like Diamond and FCMB were under lock and key.

Public schools shut in Anambra

L-R: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and APC Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, during a meeting with Labour leader to call off the strike, in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

swear on behalf of Buhari that he will not touch a penny. He has the character and integrity." Responding, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, commended Tinubu for the visit to the Labour House, noting that his visit has demonstrated his love and concerns for the development of the country. “We have taken note of the plea and this high level delegation. This will be communicated to the higher organ of NLC. I want to assure you that we have never refused discussion or negotiation. It was when we reached deadlock at the last meeting that government team asked us to excuse them. “NLC has 37 affiliate unions and someone has six and Federal Government says it is Ayuba Wabba-led NLC that it recognises. I want to assure you that the philosophy of NLC is for the good of the people. We will be very considerate, we are ready for discussion, we are open to discussion,” Wabba said.

NLC chairman slumps, hospitalised

Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi State chapter, Ikechukwu Nwafor, has been hospitalised at the emergency ward of the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA 2), after being beaten up and arrested by the state police command during a rally on Thursday over the ongoing strike by Labour. Nwafor, who sustained leg and hand injuries during the incident, slumped after he was released yesterday evening by the police and was immediately rushed to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. Teargas was sprayed on him, he was beaten up alongside other 20 labour leaders, thrown into a police hilux van and taken to

the state police headquarters where he was detained by operatives of the command. Speaking on his hospital bed yesterday, Nwafor decried the action of the police, saying they were treated like common criminals. He alleged that the labour leaders were indiscriminately attacked and their bus and phones confiscated. “Our greatest surprise was that this team was led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and he was commanding his men to deal with me, and even when I was on the ground he was stepping on and hitting me and later ordered about five of them to lift me and throw me into a hilux van,” he said. Meanwhile, the state Police Command has banned any form of protest and demonstration without the approval by the state Police Commissioner, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah who must be notified of the planned exercise. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP George Okafor, who denied that Nwafor and other labour leaders in the state were assaulted by the police, noted that the command would not condone any form of illegal gathering in the state. “The Ebonyi State NLC had earlier circulated documents after their meeting which was also attended by the Ebonyi police that their protest would be sit at home starting from May 18. When it changed, they failed to duly inform the police and were clearly poised to engage in a protest that would be hijacked by miscreants leading to criminal activities that would further threaten the internal security of Ebonyi State,” Okafor said.

37 CS0s back deregulation

The Conference of Mi-

nority Tribes in Nigeria in conjunction with the Nigeria Unemployed Youth Vanguard and 35 other civil society organisations in Nigeria will on Monday hold a one-million-man march to express their support for President Muhammadu Buhari's removal of fuel subsidy. The Coordinator and Chief Convener of the Forum, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Abuja on the planned protest, commended Nigerians on their trust for a government whose interest is for the common man. He said: “We are not very poor as a nation but some certain elements called cabal hitherto hijacked the system in the name of oil subsidy.

NLC warns Kwara workers

Kwara State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) vowed yesterday to continue the ongoing strike against the Federal Government’s decision to hike the price of fuel. The clarification came on the heels of repeated radio announcement by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the suspension of the strike and asking senior civil servants in the state to resume work. TUC has not been part of the current strike in the state. In a statement by the state Chairman, Yekini Agunbiade, after an emergency congress, he lauded the maturity displayed by the state government since the strike started on Wednesday.

UNN paralysed

As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike enters the third day, academic and administrative activities have been paralysed at the University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka as both academic and non-academic staff joined the strike. Chairman of the Aca-

demic Staff Union of Nigeria (ASUU), Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Abada, told journalists that lecturers in the university had been directed to stay at home till the strike is suspended. “Academic activities have stopped because lecturers in UNN have joined the strike. There will be no lecture until the national body of NLC suspends the strike,” he said. Also, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) had also withdrawn their service. Many offices were under lock and key. An official of the union, who pleaded anonymity, said SSANU members had been directed to stay at home pending when the strike would be suspended. “Our member will continue to stay at home until NLC and government resolve their misunderstanding ‘Go round you will find out many offices are under lock and key,” he said.

Fuel strike grounds Enugu

Strike over the recent hike in pump price of petrol has gathered momentum in Enugu as banks and higher institutions of learning were shut down. Government owned primary and secondary schools, Thursday joined the strike as pupils and students were sent home. Labour leaders went round urging institutions to be part of the strike. Most of the offices at the Federal Secretariat, Enugu did not open because of the strike as the leaders of NLC pasted notice on Wednesday in regard to the ongoing strike. Saturday Telegraph investigation reveals that banks that hitherto continued with business yesterday shut their doors to customers. However, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch at Agbani Road was open for

Business and other activities in Anambra State yesterday continued to flourish without any disturbance particularly in the commercial centres of Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka. However, workers in state joined their counterparts in other states on Thursday after the leadership of the state NLC addressed them at the Aroma Junction in Awka, the state capital. Public schools throughout the state shut down completely as early as 8am following an earlier announcement by NUT in the state local radio station, Anambra Broadcasting Service ABS, Addressing the workers, the state Chairman of NLC, Jerry Nnubia, said the NLC had directed workers to embark on strike till further notice. “Our stand as organised labour is to ensure that the Federal Government reverses to the old pump price of N86.50 and nothing else." ‘APC is chain, not change’

Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday distorted the ‘Change’ slogan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ‘Chain’. The congress has since Thursday pitched its tent under the newly constructed fly-over bridge by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, with a loud speaker and playing victory and solidarity songs. Their favourite has been the old records of Fela Anikulapo, Idris Abdulkareem’s hit song – Nigeria jaga-jaga, everything scatter-scatter, poor man dey suffer-suffer and China’s Food No Dey, Water No Dey and Light No Dey even as supporters of the strike carried placards with various inscription, including, “Nigeria Jaga-Jaga, Everything Scatter, Scatter”, “Electricity Na Wayo-Wayo”, “Food No Dey, Water No Dey, Light No Dey”, “Labour Say No to High Electricity Tariff”, “We Need Employment, Not Fuel Hike”, “Labour Say No to Fuel Hike”, “Buhari Heal Us, Don’t Kill Us” and “Election Na Wayo-Wayo”. The state First ViceChairman of the congress, Jonathan Jemiregbe, said no amount of military dictatorship would end the strike unless the Federal Government reverts to the old pump price of N86.50.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Rivers Police: We’re ready for PDP Convention today Ndubuisi Ugah

ivers Police Command says it is ready for today`s National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold at Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt. DSP Ahmad Muhammad, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt yesterday that adequate security measures had been put in place for a successful convention. He said the command had carried out necessary deployments at the venue of the convention and other strategic places to protect delegates, lives and property in the state. Muhammad, who did not disclose the number of personnel deployed, said the police was aware of the magnitude of the event and had prepared for it.

“Adequate measures have been put in place to secure the arena and other places. But we are appealing for understanding from the public for the inconveniences they may encounter due to such measures,” he said. However, the venue of the convention is already wearing a new look following the renovation of major facilities. NAN also reports that hotels and guest houses have been fully booked up till tomorrow and Monday in some cases, by delegates arriving for the convention. Delegates from different states have already arrived in Port Harcourt and investigation by NAN showed that some PDP governors arrived since Thursday to plan for the event. Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) have also been deployed to control traffic at major roads in Port Harcourt and the venue of the event.

‘I was caught after snatching a night guard of his gun’ Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

n avowed former phone thief at Lagos bus stops, Kazeem Adewale, who promoted his trade in Ibadan, Oyo State capital by dispossessing a night guard of his single barrel locally made gun, is now cooling his heels in the police custody. Kazeem, who was apprehended around 1.30 am last week Sunday by residents of Bolorunduro Alapata, Idiroko along Amuloko on Akanran Road in the Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state, was among 11 others paraded by the Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade, at the Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan. The 12 suspects were arrested across the state for offences ranging from armed robbery, receiving of stolen vehicles, theft and pipeline vandalisation among others. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, Kazeem (34), who had old scars on his face and body, confessed that he and two others actually committed the alleged offence, but he was caught at the scene after dispossessing a night guard of his gun and was trying to escape in an unfamiliar terrain when he was caught by the residents who had been alerted by the night guard. “In fact, I was living in Lagos State and my job there was to snatch phones of people at bus stops. I came to Ibadan where two colleagues invited me to go and rob at Idiroko area of Amuloko. As we were going around 1.00am, we saw someone who flashed torchlight at us. We also flashed our own back at

him and discovered he was a night guard. We focused the torchlight on his face and when we got to him, we disarmed him of his gun. “As we were trying to find a way to go and rob in the area, the shout of the night guard who alerted the people in the area made us to try to escape. My two other colleagues found their way out of the place, but because I was not familiar with the area, the residents saw me and apprehended me with the gun. “They beat me and tied me up till day break when I was handed over to the police. This is the first time I would engage in robbery in Ibadan,” Kazeem confessed. The police commissioner said Kazeem led his men to the hideout of the two other suspects and got them arrested. According to him, the following displayed items were recovered from the suspects: "the locally made gun, one live cartridge, two empty shell of cartridges, one Airtel handset, one long mortar, and one few cap.”

Alleged wife-killer, Mr. Lekan Shonde (right), at the Chief Magistrate's Court, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo Lagos… yesterday. Inset: Ronke

Lagos unveils plans to replace danfo, okada

Muritala Ayinla agos State Government yesterday formally unveiled plan to phase out commercial buses and motorcycles also known as “danfo” and “okada” respectively, saying commercial bus drivers and their conductors would soon begin to wear uniforms with identification codes and badges. Saturday Telegraph had exclusively reported that the state government was planning to ban “danfo” buses and “okada” for a more efficient, comfortable and befitting vehicles. With the reform, yellow colour, which is the official colour for public transport in the state, will also be changed for blue while the danfo buses will be replaced with higher capacity buses, which would be fitted with air condition and other facilities. The state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said this during this year’s ministerial briefing held at state secretariat. He sai d that in the new transportation reform, it would be mandated for commercial bus drivers and their conductors to appear in the new designed uni-

l Yellow will replace blue as official colour l LASG dismisses 100 LASTMA officers forms, adding that route tags would also be pasted on the buses for easy identification by passengers. On the strategy to be adopted in replacing the buses, Mobereola said Lagosians would be left to make choice between a rickety “danfo” bus or the fully air-conditioned buses which convey them from their street to the main road. He said those who are interested in the new transportation model are already making efforts to key into the policy as government was committed to changing the state of transportation sector in the state. With the new reform, Mobereola explained that touting on Lagos would automatically be phased out while thuggery and other social vices associated with transporters would be totally eliminated as transportation would be made an attractive profession. “We are determined to professionalised the road transport sector by curbing tendencies to violence; retrain drivers; create appropriate database and maintain discipline. Other components to be intro-

WHO to address shortage of yellow fever vaccines Appolonia Adeyemi

larmed that an outbreak of yellow fever in West Africa could spread if not quickly contained, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has conveyed medical experts to discuss scarcity of vaccinations and other challenges to tackle the medical condition. This is coming on the heels of global acute shortage of the vaccination for the treatment of the desease.

Presently, there is no treatment for yellow fever but the vaccination is used to prevent the disease is highly effective. Although, the panel convened by the WHO may not declare a public health emergency over yellow fever, a move taken with Ebola and Zika outbreaks, the session to be held in Geneva on Thursday will discuss the seriousness of the spread in Angola. Against the rising cases of yellow fever in Angola

and fears of spread to other African countries, what is of great concern is that the global supply of the vaccine is limited, according to information published by WHO.

CHANGE OF NAME

INIYEKEBI

I formerly known and addressed as BUNANANANTEI JOHN OGBORU now wish to be known and addressed as INIYEKEBI OGBORU. All former documents remain valid. Niger Delta University (NDU) and the general public please take note.

duced are: colour uniformity for all public transport in the state, body tag, re-fleeting, repainting ‘danfos’ with new buses, new number plate, corporate outlook for operators and commuters bus routing system.” The commissioner added that new the buses would be 30 seaters as opposed to 14/18 seaters’ Danfo buses, adding that the buses are eco friendly, comfortable and attractive. He said: “They can exchange their buses for the new buses. Their buses will be part of the equity towards the purchase of the new bus.” Reacting to the question

of outright ban, Mobereol said: “There are two ways of dealing with the issue. There is what they call outright ban and what we call economy displacement. Economic displacement simply means that you leave the residents to make choice. If we put 250 buses in Oshodi operating at cheaper price, the vehicles are available, comfortable and efficient, who will leave those buses for danfo buses? What we experienced at Ojota, Fadeyi and Ikorodu with commuters on the BRT buses is what will happen. Commuters prefer to stay for more than an hour waiting for buses.”

CHANGE AND CONFIRMATION OF NAME

AKINTOLA

I formerly known and addressed as AKIN OLANIYAN now wish to be known and addressed as AKINTOLA OLANIYAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

KUTON

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ARAMIDE OLUBUNMI AKINWUMI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ARAMIDE OLUBUNMI KUTON. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Government and general public note.

KUSSA I formerly known and addressed as MISS QUEEN TORKWASE UDEH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. QUEEN TORKWASE KUSSA. All former documents remain valid. Benue State University and the general public should please take note.

IFEANYI This is to confirm that UDOH OSITA MODESTUS and MODESTUS IFEANYI .U. refer to one and same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as UDOH OSITA MODESTUS. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and the general public should please take note.

AJUZIE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHINYERE PEACE UCHELLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHINYERE PEACE AJUZIE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

EBITIMI This is to confirm that WEE SEXXY and EBITIMI WEE SEXXY refer to one and same person. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHUKWU

I formerly known and addressed as NWERU UGOCHUKWU BENGAMINE now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWU UGOCHUKWU BENJAMINE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ERELAYE

I formerly known and addressed as AMOS LAYE now wish to be known and addressed as AMOS JOTHAN ERELAYE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and the general public please take note.

ADELEYE

I formerly known and addressed as OSENNI ALIMAT AMOKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADELEYE ALIMOT AMOKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ONELE

I formerly known and addressed as OGODO VERONICA now wish to be known and addressed as ONELE ANNAESTESIA NWEKE. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc, UBA Plc and the general public should please take note.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Ortom weeps as gunmen kill security aide Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

enue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, yesterday wept profusely over the killing of his Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters, retired Police Inspector Denen Igbana, by suspected gunmen. Saturday Telegraph gathered that Igbana was trailed by the assailants to his residence in Tionsha village, a suburb community in Makurdi metropolis yesterday about 12:30am where they shot him and was immediately rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital where he died. Our correspondent observed that late Igbana’s son who received with shock the killing of his father, became unconscious and was rushed to a private hospital in Makurdi. One of the chiefs in the village who doubles as the

tax collector, Chief Thomas Ijir Ayakpan, told journalists that the late governor's aide had allegedly spotted one Terwase Akwaza popularly known as 'Gana' among the assassins who accosted and shot him, as according to the chief, 'he was shouting 'Gana has killed me,' 'Gana has killed me'. According to him, Gana used to come to the residence of the deceased with some boys with him but they did not know he was after one of their own in the community. Gana is one of the notorious gangsters who used to terrorize the people of Benue North East senatorial district, but recently submitted over one hundred weapons alongside his men to the amnesty programme initiated by the Governor Samuel Ortom administration. Sources within the corridors of power hinted Saturday Telegraph that Gana allegedly used to have

Insecurity: Ekweremadu advocates decentralised policing Chukwu David Abuja

he Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has stressed the need for Nigeria to run a decentralised policing and reinforcement of the federal police to help combat the nation’s security challenges. He made the call in Abuja yesterday while decorating one of his newly promoted security aides, Mr. Uchenna Igwebuike, with the rank of Deputy Suprintendent of Police. Ekweremadu, who commended the police for rewarding hard work through the promotion, however, observed that Nigeria could no longer afford to do the same thing continually and expect a different result.

He said unitary police, which the country was currently operating, was not in tandem with federal arrangement and should be corrected. “First of all, let me say that I am happy with this promotion. It shows that hard work pays and this is the reward for hard work. The officer has showed exemplary dedication to his work; he has been a true professional. So, he deserves this promotion and I also believe that the sky is his limit in his chosen profession. “All the same, I still hold my view that in addition to the central police, which we have today, we need other levels of policing. States, local governments, and possibly other major institutions should be able to have their own police that is well coordinated."

squabbles with the late governor's aide over supremacy tussle especially on issues bothering on the amnesty programme. However, Ortom, who led other top government functionaries to the residence of his aide, could not hold back his tears as he sobbed profusely and described the passage of his aide as unfortunate and unacceptable. “I am most hit by his exit,

ustice Adedayo Akintoye of an Igbosere High Court yesterday dismissed an application by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, seeking to stop his trial over alleged obstruction of the course of justice and bribery. Tarfa is asking the court to stay proceedings in the matter pending the hearing and determination of an appeal he lodged against an earlier ruling of the court wherein his application to quash the charges against him was dismissed. It would be recalled that the lawyer was arraigned on March 9 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 27 counts bordering on al-

leged willful obstruction of authorised officers of the EFCC, refusal to declare asset, making false information and offering gratification to a public officer. At yesterday's proceedings, Tarfa's lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), argued that the defendant had filed an application for stay of proceeding pending the hearing of the appeal at the Court of Appeal. He said the Court of Appeal is now abreast of the matter and that any refusal of the application would cause a greater hardship to the defendant. He urged the court to grant it in the interest of Justice. EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, however, urged the court to dismiss the application.

ty programme and also worked relentlessly for his emergence as governor of the state, noting that the criminals have shot part of him, and tasked the security operatives to do everything to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. The governor, who disclosed that before Igbana died, he told him that kidnappers were after

him, adding that if Gana is found culpable as being alleged, he will equally be made to face the music. Reacting to the killing, the State Commissioner of Police, Paul Yakadi, promised to mobilise his men to comb the state to arrest perpetrators of the dastardly act. “By the grace of God, we will be on our feet, nose round and get those who are behind the act,” he said.

Anambra loses N2bn to cattle menace annually Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

community leader in Ekwulumili Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Ebenezer Okoli, has called for the establishment of a special riot squad to check the excesses of Fulani herdsmen in the South-East zone. Ebenezer, who made the call while addressing a press conference in Onitsha, said that statistics had shown that over N2 billion worth of crops and

farmlands were destroyed by the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle in Anambra State alone annually. He said President Muhammadu Buhari should set up a formidable force that would regulate the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in rural communities so as to mediate between them and the host communities and avert what happened in Ukpabi and Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Areas of Enugu State recently. He said: “We are prepared to defend our crops and farmlands from the devastating

encroachment of the Fulani herdsmen in my community and we will not allow anybody or group of persons to enslave us in our own community.” Ebenezer, who is a revenue consultant, also applauded the donation made by Governor Willie Obiano to the missionary schools to sustain the educational standard in the state. He said: “The N150 million he donated to the Anglican Communion and N1.5million to be distributed to other selected schools in the state under the present economic situation in the country has demonstrated

Obiano’s disposition to the yearnings and aspiration of the people of the state. “The recent donation to the Anglican and Catholic churches has shown the doubting Thomas’s that Obiano is not discriminatory. He is a generous man who has shown Anambra people that he has come to serve the people and not to rule them. “I, therefore, want to use this opportunity to call on the people of Anambra State to support the governor's bid to return to the Government House Awka in 2018 Governorship election."

L-R: President of the Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs; Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment Dr. Hajia Aisha Abubakar and Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, at the inauguration of the Large Corporations Group, by the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, in Lagos.

Rickey Tarfa fails to stay proceedings as bank confirms transaction Akeem Nafiu

but God will help me and I will recover. The criminals have shot part of me but I want to remind them that I am alive and by the grace of God who brought me as governor and has been helping me, will also help me to go after the killers, arrest and sentence them according to the law,” he said. He said Igbana was one of his trusted aides who was instrumental to the success of his amnes-

NEWS IN BRIEF

FCT

OSOGBO

CP: Abuja yet to witness farmers/herdsmen clash

Aregbesola, Mohammed for OYS celebration

The Commissioner of Police in FCT, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, has said that the command has not witnessed any clash between farmers and herdsmen in the territory. Inalegwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on yesterday that this was because of the timely intervention and proactiveness of the command. “We don’t have incident of clash between the farmers and herdsmen in the FCT because of timely intervention and proactiveness of the command. “We had a situation around waru, but it was quickly nipped in the bud, in fact they didn’t allow it to get to the police,” he said.

927

The number of deaths (per 100,000) due to Alzheimer’s Disease in Mississippi State in 2010. Source: Alz.org

The duo of the Osun State Governor and the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are some of the dignitaries expected at the golden jubilee anniversary of the Oyan Grammar School, Osun State. A statement issued by the Chairman of the event and former Provost of the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Akoka, Prof. Oluwole Atoyebi, said the school’s former students under the umbrella body of Old Students of Oyan Grammar School (GOYANS), have mapped out activities to celebrate the achievements of the school since its establishment 60 years ago. He said part of the programmes scheduled to hold between May 24 to 28 is the launching of N250 million development fund for the school on May 28 at the school premises. He added that the chief launcher at the event will be the Director of Kings Guards Limited, Olatunji Shittu.

The life expectancy of men at birth of Dem. Republic of the Congo in 20102015. Source: Un.org

FCT Prepare for Ramadan, cleric admonishes Muslims

Imam Yahya Al-Yolawi of the Area 10, Garki, Jumat Mosque, has admonished Muslims to take important steps in preparation for the forthcoming Ramadan fast. Al-Yolawi gave the admonition during his Jumat sermon at the mosque on Friday while speaking on the topic ``Preparation for Ramadan’’. The cleric said planning and preparation for Ramadan was an important part of Muslim life. “Ramadan Planning and preparation is very imperative in Muslim life. To achieve maximum out-put in Ramadan, one needs to plan and strategise for the Holy month with keen interest,” he said.

The number of fixed (wired)broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developing countries in 2005. Source: Itu.int

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Japan offers $1.5m for food distribution, agric in North-East Ndubuisi Ugah

•EU okays €19m for women, girls’ empowerment

apan has extended a grant of $1.5 million to support food distribution and provision of agricultural inputs to most vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host families in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. This is as the European Union (EU) also announced a 19 million Euro support to women and girls empowerment in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. A statement issued by the Senior Assistant/Advisor on General Affairs, Information and Culture of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. John Nwankwo, in Abuja yesterday. It quoted the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke, as saying the “gesture will to a large extent assist in reducing the risk of food shortage and malnutrition in the affected communities.” The statement explained that the funding would be used to provide direct food assistance to selected 3,000 families of approximately

36,000 people over a period of six months. It would also provide vegetable seeds and fertiliser for production and sale of vegetables to generate income that will enable the families purchase food in markets, as well as revive their livelihood. It added that the benefiting households have been identified as some of the most vulnerable and extremely food insecure in seven local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The statement listed the local governments to include Michika, Mubi North, and Yola North in Adamawa; Jere and Maiduguri in Borno and; Damaturu, Geidam, Nangere and Yunusari in Yobe. The statement indicated that the project would be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and OXFAM. “The implementing organisations are to collaborate

with state government agencies and international and national NGOs to implement the activities which are part of the Nigeria Humanitarian Plan for 2016. “The project would provide food assistance through obtaining food items from local markets and would facilitate efficient and effective distribution on a monthly basis to identify and registered IDPs and host families. “The selection of IDPs and host families would be on the basis of vulnerability with a focus on women and children. “The project would also support identified and registered IDPs and host families with access to land and water with agricultural inputs to engage in generating revenues from vegetable production and marketing,” it said. It recalled that the recent Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Analysis carried out by the Federal Government and partners showed that about 216,969 people were

currently in emergency food situation and need immediate humanitarian assistance. “In addition, a further 2,315,407 people across the three North East states are in a crisis food situation and need humanitarian assistance. “This figure is expected to increase to 2,690,946 people towards the lean season of June to August 2016,” it added. Meanwhile, an EU statement signed by its Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Mr. Neven Mimica, said the fund would support genderdriven international projects. According to the statement, the announcement was made at the “Women Deliver” Conference in Copenhagen, one of the world’s largest events on women and girls' rights, health and wellbeing. “The commission is fully dedicated to ending all forms of violence against women and girls, including early or forced marriages.

Founder/ Publisher, OrderPaper. ng, Mr. Oke Epia (left) and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, during a courtesy call to the Speaker in his office at the National Assembly, Abuja... recently

€52m

The estimated transfer value of Marco Veratti of PSG in 2016. Source: 101greatgoals.com

49.97%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Belgium in 2003. Source: Itu.int

£72.85m

The total aggregate payments received by West Brom for the English 2014/2015 season. Source: Goal.com

EgyptAir: French investigators arrive Cairo

hree French aviation accident investigators and an Airbus technical expert, arrived in Cairo yesterday to join an Egypt-led probe into the disappearance of an Egyptair jet with 66 people on board the day before. The Airbus A320, travelling from Paris to Cairo, disappeared from radar around 2:30 am (0030 GMT) Thursday, prompting a massive international search in the

eastern Mediterranean Sea. An official at Cairo airport said on condition of anonymity that participation of the French investigators in the probe is because 15 of the 56 passengers who were on board were French citizens. He added that France is also the headquarters of the plane manufacturer. Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister, Sherif Fathy, said Egypt’s aviation authority alleged that the pilots did

not make contact when they left Greek airspace as is customary. He said the jet was flying at a height of 37,000 feet (11,300 metres) when it disappeared about 45 minutes before its expected landing in Cairo. Fathy said the likelihood that it was the victim of a terrorist attack was "far higher than the likelihood that the plane developed a technical failure.

Security breach at US' White House

security breach was witnessed at the US White House last night, with the presidential residence being threatened. The White House put out

a "red alert" after reports of an active shooter in the vicinity emerged. President Barak Obama was is not on the property as at the time of the incident, according to news reports.

Staff at the White House were put on lockdown after shots were fired outside the north entrance. US Park Police tweeted that a shooting occurred on West Executive Drive, near 17th Strreet and Pennsylvania

Meanwhile, Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah alSissi, has instructed a staterun inquiry commission to start investigating the accident. A presidential office disclosed that ships and planes from France, Greece and Egypt have been scouring the area where the Egyptair flight MS804 is thought to have come down, about 280 kilometres from the Egyptian mainland.

Avenue North West. A suspect is "down and in custody", CNN reported, but it was not clear whether the suspect was shooting outside the groundsorintotheWhiteHouse grounds from a secured area.

News 9 Stop molesting Gbaramatu indigenes, Ijaw coalition tells military Wale Elegbede

he Coalition of Ijaw Youth Leaders (COIL) has raised fresh concerns over the activities of the military in Gbaramatu kingdom of Delta State. The coalition said the military, under the pretext of looking for Niger Delta Avengers, had been engaging in wanton human abuse and gross molestation of innocent and law abiding indigenes of Gbaramatu kingdom. In a statement signed by Dr. Clarkson Raphael, Messrs. Fred Brisibe and Fred Afoegba, the coalition’s chairman, secretary and national coordinator, respectively, COIL said the military is expected to be professional in its dealings with helpless masses. The statement reads: “COIL decry the wanton human abuse and gross molestation of innocent and law abiding indigenes of Gbaramatu kingdom by the military under the pretext of looking for Niger Delta Avengers.” While condemning pipe-

line vandalism and criminal activities in the Niger Delta, the coalition said it is opposed to human degradation and illtreatment. It stressed that: “Coalition condemns strongly the acts of pipeline vandalisation and every other criminal activity in Niger Delta. However, we object to a situation where the innocents, artisan and all law abiding indigenes are beaten up, manhandled, molested and subjected to crass and gross inhuman treatments. “The military is expected to do its job professionally as it obtains in civilise clime and not resorting to inhuman, extrajudicial killings of innocent and law abiding indigenes." While urging human rights bodies and influential persons to intervene in the issue, the group said: “The genocide of recent past is still very fresh; we don't want a repeat. COIL is using this medium to call on men of conscience that have respect for the sanctity of life to call the rampaging military to order."

Dogara, Kwara speaker endorse OrderPaper.ng

peaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, have commended Nigeria's premier and unique independent legislative online newspaper, OrderPaper.ng, for its reportage of the legislature.

Dogara gave the commendation during a courtesy visit by a team from OrderPaper.ng to his office in Abuja. According to him, OrderPaper.ng has made a unique imprint on the cyberspace as it concerns independently-driven interface between citizens and elected representatives in the legislature. Dogara, who said he al-

ways followed the reportage of the House by the online newspaper, urged the team to keep up the good work while pledging to support its activities. Speaking earlier, Founder and Publisher of OrderPaper.ng, Mr. Oke Epia, said his team came to interface with the leadership of the House of Representatives and seek ways of expanding the scope of interface between members of Parliament and their constituents. In a related development, Speaker of the Assembly, Ahmad, through a letter commended OrderPaper.ng for choosing to operate in a unique niche in the media industry.

Revisit privatisation of NEPA, Group tells Buhari

hairman, Association of Online Media Practitioners, Wole Arisekola, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to revisit the Privatisation of National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). The former power generating and distribution company now Power Holding Company Nigeria (PHCN) was privatised under the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But Arisekola, who is also the publisher of Street Journal, an online news magazine, in a statement issued at the weekend said the exercise has not done the nation any good, saying the it has not achieved it's objective. “Beside enriching themselves, taking over govern-

ment's huge investment at almost nothing, there is nothing they have got to show for the exercise,” it stated. He further alleged that such beneficiaries of the exercise grabbed government assets and ran away from several liabilities including debts the old NEPA was owning some contractors even as he blamed them for “the sack of numerous Nigerians and replacing them with their family members and friends.” The publisher further accused some of those who took over the remains of NEPA of allegedly buying new vehicles with government money they found in accounts frozen immediately they took over the new PHCN.

Voices

How would you cope in an abusive relationship? p.12

City & crime update

SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2016

Juliana Francis akubu Dzarma, one of the reverends kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen on March 21, 2016, in Kaduna State, has revealed in chilling details, their ordeals in the hands of Fulani Herdsmen, who were kidnappers. Dzarma, along with Reverends Emmanuel Dziggau and Iliya Anto were abducted along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway. They had gone to clear a piece of land for the foundation of their church seminary. They are clerics with United Church of Christ in Nigeria. They were released after 10 days in the kidnappers’ den. Although Dzarma and Dziggau lived to tell the story of the kidnap, Anto didn’t. The decomposing body of Anto was found after the release of his colleagues. The victims were released after payment of N4m ransom. Dzarma said that the Fulani herdsmen were armed with rifles, machetes and sticks. They also had four camps inside the bush. There are about 10 men in each of the camp. The Fulani herdsmen introduced themselves to one of their victims as Boko Haram members. This revelation comes on the heels of arguments and counter arguments that the Fulani herdsmen may be Boko Haram members. Dzarma was disturbed after his release because they left four ladies, including a pregnant one, as hostages in the kidnappers’ camp. His words: “They gave us five days to pay the ransom or they would kill us. We however stayed nine days before a ransom of N4million was paid. They shot sporadically into the air while we were at the camp. We also left four kidnapped women in the camp. One of them was pregnant. I can identify one of the suspects arrested by the IRT operatives. His name is Kasimu Shehu." Angry at the hell unleashed by the gang in Kaduna State, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, ordered his Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, to hunt down the kidnappers. After two weeks of surveillance, the team finally nailed the suspects. A police source said: “These men held Kaduna State hostage. They were made up of Fulani herdsmen. The suspects‎ were rounded up from their hideouts in Kaduna and Zaria areas of the state. They were behind the March 21, 2016, abduction of the President and Vice President of United Church of Christ in Nigeria, HEKAN, Reverend Emmanuel Dziggan, Reverend Iliya Anthony and a pastor of the church, ‎Reverend Yakubu Dzarma‎, at Dutse Village, Kaduna State. The gang also kidnapped a staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja and many others.” Members of the gang have been identified as Kashimu Shehu aka Baliago , the gang leader, Aliyu Mato, aka, Yellow, Muhammedu Mamman, Hassan Bello, Bala Mohammed and Ishiaku Kabiru. They often lay ambush for victims along the highway. Once they get a victim, they would force the person to trek for hours into a deep forest, off the Abuja-Kaduna Road. They have their camps inside the forest. Police said the gang had raked in millions from kidnapping. Two of the suspects, Kabiru and Bello, were arrested at a naming ceremony organised by their gang leader, Shehu, at Gidan Kasimu, Mai-Yahsi Village, in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government Area of Kaduna State. They were later used as

Suspected Fulani herdsmen

Fulani herdsmen told us they were Boko Haram, says kidnapped reverend baits to apprehend other members of the Azumi said that the kidnappers gang. were six men, armed with Ak47 rifles, Dzarma, 63, recalled how he and other machetes and sticks. They introduced reverends were kidnapped. themselves to the frightened victims as He said: “I and Reverend Emmanuel Boko Haram members. and Ilia Anto, went to clear the church Azumi added: “They told us that they site for a seminary school around 4pm. were Boko Haram members. We trekked We had already finished the clearing for 18 hours inside the bush before we and were about to leave when some got to an uncompleted building. They hoodlums, armed with AK47 rifles, suruse it as their camp. They asked us to rounded us. They ordered us to surrender cooperate with them or they would kill all our valuables. They collected N64,000, us. They demanded N10m ransom. They my Tecno Phone valued at 78,000 and my later collected N1m from my boss before shoes, valued at N20,000. They ordered us we were released after three days.” into the bush and we started Azumi further said that the trekking. After an hour trekFulani herdsmen collected the king, one of our pastors, Anto, sum of N20,000 that was with They gave us five who was sick, told them that him and inflicted a deep cut he could not go further. He on his head on the day they days to pay the complained of ill health. swooped on them at the ransom or they “They started beating him. prayer ground. He was able When they saw that he wasn’t to identify Aliyu Haruna as would kill us. We ready to move, they left him. one of the kidnappers. however stayed nine They collected his phone, diOne of the suspects, Haalled the last number in its call runa, 30, said he attended days before a ransom Alamajiri School at Gidan log and told the person that answered to come and pick of N4million was paid Abdulmumuni, Sabo Gayan him. They gave the person the Village. He described himself location where they left Anto. as a farmer and cattle rearer. We continued trekking. At least 24 hours The father of three said that he has 10 later, we got to their camp. They had four cows. He explained that he was arrested camps within the area.” at a naming ceremony on April 24, by He said that in each of the camps, the policemen from Abuja. kidnappers had 10 men armed with AK47 The naming ceremony was organised rifles. The next day, one of the kidnappers by Kasimu Shehu, leader of the gang. used Dzarma’s phone to contact his wife Haruna said he joined the gang in April and demanded ransom. 2016, adding that it was made up of six members. Mr. Muhammed Dan Azumi, 40, is the civil servant man working with the He recounted that the gang used to Presidency that was kidnapped when he operate with one AK 47 rifle, which was went for prayers. He was abducted on always with Shehu. Sometime in April April 14, 2016. 2016, Shehu called Haruna and asked Azumi said: “I, my wife and another him to bring food. He took the food to the woman, Hajara, were praying at Audu venue and discovered that the gang had kidnapped a man from Auden Jangwan Jangwan when the hoodlums came out Village, off Kaduna-Abuja Expressway. of nowhere and surrounded us. They He said: “I saw Shehu with an AK 47 allowed my wife to go because she was rifle in the bush. eight months pregnant. On our way, one Shehu promised to pay me N200,000 of them took Hajara on a motorbike and moved her to the camp.” once the ransom had been paid, but I was

given just N1, 000 after I delivered the food. Mohammedu Maman, a cousin to Kasimu Shehu, is also our gang member. His duty is to guard the hostages in the camp. He was the one who guarded the man kidnapped at the Presidency.” Stating his own side of the story, Haruna, 30, father of five, said that he joined the gang last year. He said that sometime in January 2016, the gang kidnapped someone and collected ransom. He was given N100,000 as his own share of the money. On April 14 they kidnapped Azumi. He said: “We found him praying along the road and ordered him to follow us at gun point. We got a ransom of N1m before the man was released. I got N200,000 as my share. The only role I played was to escort the man from where he was kidnapped to our camp.” Another suspect, Shehu, 27, owner of 40 cows denied being a member of the gang. He said the victims who identified him and gang members that fingered him, were liars. He said: “I’m not part of the gang as my friends alleged. I’m not the leader of any kidnapping gang. I’m not among the gang that kidnapped the reverends or a staff of the presidency. I don’t have an Ak47 rifle. But I have a locally made gun. I bought it from an old man, who is dead. I bought it for N600,000. I use the gun to protect my cows. I don’t have a license for the gun. The locally made gun is now with Mathew at Tunga Sabo Village, Rigina, Kaduna State. He’s repairing it." The Police Force Public Relation, Olabisi Kolawole, while confirming the report, said the kidnappers, who had been terrorising Kaduna and Zaria areas of Kaduna State would soon be arraigned in court. She added that the arrest of the kidnappers was an indication of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to the fight against all forms of crimes and criminality in the country.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

City&crime update

How Nigerians cut costs to survive hard times “M

y brother, the fuel The reality of the state of the economy has made many Nigerians resort to trying new and different cut-costing measures. hike and the state of the economy have WALE ELEGBEDE writes on the coping mechanisms of the masses to keep afloat in these trying and tough times. made me wiser. Now, when I’m driving to work every the reality on ground and they have cut there. We told our children that something morning, I pick passengers on the road off things that appear frivolous on their list. like ice cream and other luxuries would and that augments my money for fuel “Even before I lost my job, we had startbe suspended for the time being and they as each of them pays at least N200, de- ed feeling the heat because my income and understood. At this crunch period, every pending on where they boarded my car that of my husband were not regular again. kobo counts, there is no need flaunting from. There is no ‘big man’ cruising to So, we sat down and cut off some excesses any useless ego, we have deflated it in my office alone anymore. Things are tough on our spending list. Even my children house,” she noted. and I have to look inwards to cut cost.” now know that there is no room for wastSimilarly, a property merchant who also These are the words of Mr. Folorunsho age again. When they eat now, they don't serves as a pastor in a Pentecostal church Ojo, a stockbroker who lives in the Ogba waste anything again. "Our prayers is that told Saturday Telegraph that though times area of Lagos but works on Victoria Island it will not get to a point where we have to are hard, people must still take solace in when asked how he is coping with the withdraw them from their present school, God for their daily provision. harsh economic realities in the country. “We are in a very challenging period. I which is a private school to a public school. No doubt, Mr Ojo is not the only one But if we can't afford the school fees of pridropped N5,000 for my wife last week to Omidiji in the shadow of the current economic vate by next session, we won't have any cook a pot of soup, she was complaining situation. The economy is biting hard on option but to take them to a public school, bitterly of high cost of foodstuffs. A bag of many Nigerians and like the saying that " she said. rice is even selling for up to N16,000 now. hard times require hard decisions, many “Now, we plan what to do with our Congress to embark on a strike. He is doing As a car owner, if you have to transport individuals and homes have introduced meagre income. I don’t go to big grocery the right thing to make things normal and yourself, it can’t take less than N2,000 deradical changes in their economic plans store or supermarkets anymore to purI believe that within one year everything pending on the location of your work. and lifestyles. chase my household items; I go to Oshodi “I have dropped many things; I have will come back to normal. With a big dip in the disposable income Market now to buy things in larger quan“I believe we must sacrifice and it must told them at home that we will start of many Nigerians any claim to or attempt tity because they are cheaper. Also, I am the reflect in the way we spend what we get. I watching only terrestrial television, I have at opulence and affluent lifestyle has given type of person who usually doesn’t like to don’t go to the beer parlour to drink any- stopped using my car during weekdays; I way to cost-cutting measures. negotiate transport fares. more because I have a family at home and only go out with the car on Sunday with Touted as Africa’s largest economy, the “Even my husband, who used to subI have to take care of them. My income is my family. All these things are meant to reality for many Nigerians is that the econ- scribe for the Cable Pay TV because of footnow very tough to come by because the cut costs but it’s coming as a discomfort. omy of their country is currently crawling ball, has since stopped because we don’t foreign exchange has affected the cost of We pray things improve with time. We are on all fours like a toddler, irrespective of have enough to spare for that. We are now paper I use for printing. The business I get adjusting in many areas but we are in debt. what researchers are postulating. watching local channels and we are still now, I can tell you the gospel truth, I don’t I advise people to cut down on luxury and The Minister of Information and Cul- fine. Times are hard and we must cut our high lifestyle,” he said. gain anything from it,“ he said. ture, Lai Mohammed, didn’t mince words coat according to the cloth,” she said. Giving an academic angle to the costFor Umar, a clerk in a property firm in when asked about the new fuel price reAligning with Mrs. Ilevbare’s cut costcutting measures of Nigerians in the midst Lagos, the cost-cutting measure to adopt gime: “It is not about subsidy removal. ing position is a Lagos-based commercial is to stop eating out like used to and start of the current austere period, a lecturer in It is about the fact that Nigeria is broke. printer, Mr Yinka Ogunleye, who said he the Department of Economics, University cooking at home. Simple! The economy is shrinking,” he had reduced many of his spending outOn her part, an accountant in a construc- of Lagos, Dr. Samuel Omoniyi, told Satsaid. flows including visits to beer parlours to tion firm, Funke Omidiji, told our corre- urday Telegraph that the prevailing meaGiving the free fall of Naira to Dollar drink but believes that the fortunes of the spondent that she had reduced the number sures resorted to by many individuals and which was occasioned by a huge drop in nation will still be turned round under Muof hours she uses generator at home to just households in the country was as a result global crude oil price, the economy has hammadu Buhari’s administration. of rising inflation level, adding that it has two in a day. been unstable for months. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, he “Many things have given way and reduced real consumption and disposable Clearly, things have been tough for said: “The way I spend money now, I have trekking for me is now a cost-cutting mea- income of many Nigerians‎. many households. Thousands of bread- to cut it because we are facing a very chal"There are different theories to this sure. Before, I used to take bikes because winners have lost their jobs and many of lenging economy. Yes, we know Buhari the distances are not too long and it costs kind of situation we are currently in. For those who still have where to go in the and his integrity, which is why someone me N50 naira, but now they charge N100 example, economists like JM Keyes bemornings are on delayed pay, half-pay or like me cannot join the Nigeria Labour for those short distances, so I make use of lieve that in such a situation, many people are owed salaries for months. will resort to borrowing to augment their my legs now. Interestingly, the economic “Also, I have reduced my involvement income but we know that that is only feacrunch is not sparing anyonein parties and social functions because sible in developed countries where social young, old, great and small. those occasions come with different aso security works. That is why here, we make Even elder statesman, Dr. Fredebi at high costs and I would rather see effort to readjust ourselves to the prevailing rick Fasehun, didn’t hide his feelhow to use my little money on food items situation. ings: “There is famine in the land. "The issue is the weakness of the disposbecause to cook a pot of soup now is war, How can tomato sell at N100 per tomatoes are very expensive now,” she able income. For example, if I was earnfruit, 1,000 percent rise above its ing N50,000 monthly before and I could said. price last year? How can rice Mrs. Adenike Komolafe who stays meet my domestic obligations with that jump from N10,000 last year to in the Akute area of Ogun State agreed amount, but with inflation now on the rise, N14,000 currently? N200 paintwith Omidiji, saying that the dwindling that income cannot buy those things again. bucket measure of garri is now economy has made her husband to start If I have my car and I have to fuel it with N600,” he said. N2,000 and it can't even take me for two a small farm behind their house. Last week’s increase in the “We still had some land at our back- days, is it not better for me to drop it and pump price of petrol from N86.50 yard and my husband has started a farm take public transport that will go for a lesser Tomatoes to N145, has not only put many amount? And that is the same analysis for Nigerian homes on their toes, but other consumable items. In recession pehas also made many households riod, people look out for comparatives to start changing strategy and reand it is natural. ordering priorities in the tough "By now, we should not be talking economic period. about power; good roads, potable waTrust Nigerians, life must go ter and other basic amenities. But past on despite the hard times but governments didn’t get their priorities requisite adjustment to ensure right. What we should be talking about that there is a balance between now are issues like population which inflows and outflows are already is indirectly affecting us but we are not being done and costs are being seeing it." trimmed down where necessary. "Just as we are seeing now, if things One of such persons who took change positively in the economy, it upon herself to swim through people will adjust back, reprise their the current financial tide by reegos and change their status again. ordering her priorities is Mrs What we are seeing now is a function Helen Ilevbare, a mother of three, of many years of nonchalant ‎attitude. who said she lost her sales repreWe refused to manage our resources sentative job in a pharmaceutical well especially when our income was company late last year. on the rise, so what is happening now Speaking with Saturday Teleis not magic. It's better we all make the Fuel hawkers graph, Mrs. Ilevbare said her sacrifice now so that the future can be family is gradually adjusting to better than this," he said.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Voices

How would you cope in an abusive relationship? It is better to leave the marriage For a peaceful marriage to suddenly turn sour there must be something wrong which would have been from either of them or a third party. My reaction to such a marriage would be to leave because something worst might happen.

—Tosin Yinka, civil servant

I would back off It has been written in the bible that it is better to live in poverty than to have a nagging wife. So for me I would rather back off than to live with a nagging wife or cope with an abusive marriage. —Ezeoba Titus, civil servant

I wouldn’t fold my hands

I will leave the house for her Sometimes in a relationship one has to call a spade its name, that is, to stand on your ground so you don't cause more trouble while trying to allow the sleeping dog lie. So for me, I will rather watch her nag and scream while I leave the house for her.

It is better to part ways The only reason why any woman would want to manage an abusive marriage is if she is legally married to the spouse or because of the fear of being mocked by people for being a divorcee. But even the bible said if both can no longer go along with each other it is better they part ways than cheating on each other in whatever form it maybe. —Felicia Okor, self-employed

I might if it's not beyond what God can handle, but I will not just fold my hands and watch things go worst else my marriage is at risk to another woman.

I can’t cope with an abusive spouse

—Kate Otuere, businesswoman

I cannot afford to manage an abusive marriage at all. Not even now when violence is the most common happening in marriages and it is because of always wanting to manage the marriage, which at the end it is either the husband killed the wife or the other way round.

I will gladly walk out of the marriage Never! I'll gladly walk out of it rather than remain and go through emotional pains. I'll explain to my kids later if they are too tender to understand now. I am sure they will later understand that I took the decision in good faith to avoid devastating consequences that could result to death. . —Otei Oham, journalist/publisher

Abuse is unacceptable to me Capital no! This is because one of us might end up in the morgue.

—Saheed Abiola, self-employed

—Ganiyu Ibrahim, self-employed

I won’t tolerate abuse in my marriage Whatever will become of a marital life; its sweetness or bitterness, would have been planted right from courtship period. What I wouldn't tolerate in my marriage I will make clear to my spouse even before venturing into the relationship with her.

—Aribanusi Kehinde, civil servant

—Jide Oke, quantity surveyor/ project manager

compiled by: JOHN EDU AND EZEKIEL ADESAWE

Once a man starts nagging, the wife should find her way I won't cope in an abusive marriage because the moment a man starts nagging his wife he will soon start laying his hands on her and the moment such an act begins in a marriage then I think the woman should wake up and begin to find her way out before she gets hurt.

—Omotayo Olufumilayo

One should thoroughly understudy the spouse I think to make your marriage work out fine there is need for understanding between both parties. So one has to know the weakness and strength of his or her spouse with this you will be able to know at what point you intervene whenever there is nagging and when to be quiet. —Amos Ubong, civil servant

I will rather quit It can only take an abusive couple to live together else they will both part ways. But for me, I don't think I can cope with an abusive marriage else I will get into trouble instead I will rather quit.

—Esther Ataire, self-employed

It is better to renegotiate the terms of the marriage Marriage is about happiness and if you cannot find it in a marriage, it is better to renegotiate the terms of that marriage.

—Emeka Umejei, journalist/PhD student

WeekendBliss

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

N O P U E S O CL WAZ

Where have you been all these years? Well, I left Nigeria for New York, United States of America, in March 1997. I left because of the stress in the country; things became a bit difficult and I had no choice than to pack my things and leave. I was one of the pioneers of professional modelling in Nigeria and I have contributed immensely to the fashion industry. But the government was not ready to help anyone or the industry. If there was a concrete decree, that things would have been better for the models and people in the fashion industry, including myself. I would have stayed behind if things were okay. But when you are being honest, you only eat from your labour and you are not ready to sleep around with men, it is hard to survive in this country. I was not ready to cut corners, so I had to leave. I have to be frank; I left because I didn't want to stay in pain and suffering. I left the country to look for a better life.

YEMI FA

WHY I HAVE NEVER BEEN MARRIED

What have you been doing in the US? I was living in New York before I decided to go back in 1997. There, I tried to get into the fashion industry and my first job got was with a very big fashion company. While I was working with this company, I tried to set up my own business but it was difficult. I wanted to focus on promoting African fashion; it was extremely difficult because people were not ready for that. People there would tell you they wear Ankara, and Adire. But I wanted to go beyond all that; we wanted to go into Iro and Buba,’ ‘George,’ K e n t e among others. Though people were wearing them, it was not the way we wanted it. Even Africans who were supposed to patronise these things preferred to wear the English or American designs. If you look at most African celebrities in Hollywood today, they don’t patronise African outfits.

After contesting in the maiden edition of Silver Bird Miss Universe (now known as Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria), Florence Yemi Fawaz left the country. One of the pioneers of professional modelling in Nigeria, Fawaz tells FLORA ONWUDIWE why she left the country, her effort to take the modelling industry to greater heights among others.

You were named Fashion Icon of Nigeria in Houston, Texas; how did you feel about this? It came as a shock to me. I was surprised that people organised such an event in Houston, Texas and thought about me. I guess they knew and appreciated what I did in Nigeria; they were people who had been following my progress since I started in 1978. It feels good to be honoured as a Fashion Icon of Nigeria. Why did you come back to the country? I love my country regardless of what had happened or is happening. My heart still bleeds when I see the traffic and certain things, though I saw remarkable things the continued on page 14

Instyle

Blaze the trail with prom dresses

p.15

The Arts

Hospitality

p.37

p.41

Echoes of Argungu Fishing Festival on Oghagbon’s canvas

Golden Tulip Festac Lagos: Sights on the top five rated hotels

TV & Radio

Rising inflation in Nigeria

p.36

Close Up C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 1 3

two ex-governors, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, did. I am so impressed with their administrations. Since these two governors did all these within 16 years, Lagos could be another London if they were given 24 years to govern the state. Nigeria is one of the largest oil producing countries in the world, but we are still experiencing fuel scarcity. It scares me; it saddens my heart. I had seen the way people are suffering; people have been suffering in this country for years, though we enjoyed a bit after Independence. I came back with the mindset that I would contribute my little quota to the society, especially to the children. Many people I left behind are much older and some have struggled to attain a particular level in their lives. My concern is for the younger ones, especially in the area of health because I was diagnosed with a large heart in 1999. It could be the reason God made me to experience all I went through. If I was in Nigeria when the ailment was discovered, I could have died. I think God took me there for me to go through the ailment and get the right treatment because this kind of sickness has killed thousands of people in Nigeria. If it is not well treated, it could turn out to be conjunctiva failure, which is one of the deadliest heart diseases. I was adding weight and I did not know that such a thing was going on in my system. I sailed through and I am here to share the goodwill with my people in Nigeria. Are you working on any new project? Our new projects include World African Fashion Day Parade (WAFDP) where we want the Westerners to wear African clothes. When we talk about African clothes, we are not only talking about Adire or Ankara. We want them to wear Iro and Buba to the Oscars. This is why we started WAFDP, which is incorporated in Banner of Love. We want to use the parade to raise funds for the Banner of Love International Outreach. The maiden edition was held last year; we were all dressed in glamorous outfits in New York. We specially chose Fashion Avenue, the fashion district is in New York. The next edition comes up in September and everyone must dress solely in African outfits. The men should wear big ‘Agbada’ while the women wear Aso Oke, ‘George’ or Kente. The best dressed woman would be awarded a thousand dollar while the man gets five hundred dollar. It is not a promise yet, but we are trying to involve Ford Company to give us a car. Whoever wins the car even though the person is not based in New York, Ford would look for a way to get the car to the person in any of the African countries the winner comes from. How do you get sponsors? Though we got sponsors last year, it was a bit difficult. Unless you live in America, you won't know that racism is still very rampant there. Once you mention Africa they feel they have no reasons to be involved. Africans there too don’t get involved, including our embassies and I see it as a big disappointment. People at the Nigerian Embassy disappoint the most, they would rather pocket money than using it to help their own people in America. At the first edition of WAFDP, Nigeria carried the flag of Africa in America, but our Ambassador and Consular General did not come. They didn't send representatives too. Did you invite them? We invited them. Even when we did the fund raising ceremony for the orphanage in the Nigerian Embassy, no representatives came. It is sad what we Nigerians go through in America. I wanted to have an audience with President Muhammadu

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

'I've never worn a wig' should marry me, I should not marry the man. Most women today marry men; that is why women are not respected in the society.

File photo: Fawaz (m) at a press conference announcing her World African Fashion Day Parade, last year.

Buhari, but the protocol did not permit it. I know the in-and-out of New York and things that concern Africa. If a Nigerian is in trouble in America, our people from the Embassy don’t come to help such persons. At times, it could be an immigration issue or any other thing that is not related to crime. What do you aim to establish with the Banner of Love? The inspiration came after I was diagnosed with a large heart. It is a non-profit organisation, it is my dream. It is part of my promise to God. I said God 'if You heal me I would go back to Nigeria and help my people.' It is a promise I made to God and when I made that promise I started doing research on non-profit organisations on heart issues. I acquired so much knowledge on how I could successfully help people, particularly in the third world countries but my country is the first priority. After concluding my research, I set up a non-profit organisation, which is known today as the Banner of Love International Outreach and it was incorporated in New York in 2008. But it kicked off over two years ago. Is your hair natural? I have never worn a wig in my life, it is my natural hair. The reason I don’t perm my hair anymore is because I am tired of it. I want to wear the natural hair God gave to me. All I do is to wash my hair and use a very good cream. Once I wash my hair, it becomes very kinky and difficult for me to comb.

Bible says that a year before God is like a thousand. God does not work with age. Sarah in the Bible had a baby when she was over 70-year-old. Am I really interested in marriage? If I must get married, the man must be one with a good heart like me. I also love a man who is ready to use his money to help people. I give God all the glory that I have never been married. I have come to discover that this thing could make one not to make Heaven. They said neither fornicators nor adulteress will inherit the kingdom of God. You can imagine Elizabeth Taylor was known with nine husbands. I give God the glory that I have never been married and divorced. I am now married to Jesus. If the man comes and he is good and rich, I might consider him. At my age a man

Are you not thinking of marriage, starting a family? There was a rumour that I got married to a billionaire. I have never been marIt is sad what ried and I won’t marry out of we Nigerians go Christ. If I through in America... If don’t meet a devoted a Nigerian is in trouble in Christian, I America, our people from don’t think I would the embassy don’t come marry. People shouldn’t forto help such person get that age does not really count in the eyes of God. The

What happened to your modelling school? When I was leaving the country, I said I was not going to look back because Nigeria disappointed me. You need to know what I went through, how I fought for girls in this country, and how I used my own money to bring out girls from the streets. I was shocked that after Mrs. Maryam Abacha and others saw my proposal, it was hijacked. It was a programme I was supposed to introduce before I left the country. Before I knew it the late Mrs. Useni hijacked my project, which was to bring girls out of prostitution. It was my proposal they saw in Abuja that they put into action. Top models in this country were involved in this project; we were to demonstrate in Abuja how models should be recognised in Nigeria and the need to put an end to prostitution. They changed the name of the project, but the way they carried it out was exactly part of my plans. I thought with the project I would bring the modelling industry to a greater level. When it happened, I decided I couldn’t stay here again. How did you feel when you didn’t win Miss Universe Nigeria? Miss Universe Nigeria was the first pageant of Silver Bird and it was highly controversial. Two people came second, though I knew I deserved the crown. My dear friend, late Mrs. Stella Ojukwu, was among the finalists and she was yelling that she couldn't be Miss Universe since she got mixed background. I came third. I was looking forward to being the first beauty queen and was hoping that God would use me to bring the crown to Nigeria, but I got disappointed. They later changed it to the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), but I am surprised that the Silver Bird Production never talks about us whenever they talk about their ex-beauty queens. They don’t involve us except the MBGN queens.

Fawaz

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21 MAY 2016

Instyle 15

Blaze the trail with

prom dresses

Deborah Ocheni

ife is too short to wear boring clothes, there are very few times in your life when you get to wear a truly glamorous, jaw-dropping dress. Why not make your next event one of those times with a beautiful, flattering, perfect prom dress? Elegant and stylish, full-length dresses continue to be sought after by women of style all over the world. The cyclic world of fashion, glitz, and glamour has been constantly evolving, setting new trends

combining chic designs and posh styles, but the timeless appeal of the full-length dress has always held ground. Floor length dresses also known as prom dresses flatter all body size, whether with figure-hugging styles and silhouettes such as sheath, mermaid, trumpet, and A-line or peplums and empire waist for those who are conservative, these dresses are a woman's prized possession. Full-length dresses are created in several styles to ensure that women with any body shape, height, and size can wear and carry off full-length dresses.

They are available in breath-taking colours, to create a rich, sexy, and stylish look at parties and other semi-formal events. Tips •A dress that trails on the ground could be disastrous, unless the wearer is going to be indoors most of the time and walking on even surfaces. Climbing stairs and going outdoors chores could easily snag the hem of a floor-length dress as well as attract grime and dust. This certainly is not what one wants after signifi-

cant expenditure on fine formal dresses. • Ideally, a full-length dress will cover the footwear and remain a bit above the ground. A woman who has a lovely pair of shoes that she wishes to showcase along with her gown may choose to have a hem a couple of inches above the ground. • You can shine like a star with the right jewellery. Glamorous fashion jewellery adds just the right touch of sparkle and colour to your ensemble. You can use jewellery to add your own personal stamp to your fashion.

16 Instyle

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21 MAY 2016

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

Matching shoes and bag: ‘Insanely’ gorgeous B Deborah Ocheni

ags and shoes say much with their own style quotient. If you are using your outfit to make a style statement, let your bag and shoes add its own subtle chic message of resonance. Matching clutch and shoes are glamorous and playful, so decide on the look you want and rock accessories that echo your style. Matching shoes and bag is a great way to pull a look together; a very simple rule to accessorising is that colours should blend and complement each other. Your shoes should not look too odd from your bag although it is also good if you are bold enough to define your personal style by combining different colours of shoes and bags but when doing that, always remember that there is a difference between contrasting combinations and mismatched colours. When dealing with matching shoes and bags, keep outfits simple because too much matching between clothes and bags is quite injurious to style. The real trick lies in getting it right without looking like a monochrome mannequin. The best way to draw subtle attention to your outfits is by matching your bags with your shoes and there is no limit to what you can sway with matching shoes and bags. The beautiful thing about matching your clutch to your shoes is that, it can instantly transform ordinary casual outfits to more sophisticated ones. If properly paired, you can make bold statements with it without trying so hard. Tips •If you are wearing a monochrome or colour blocked ensemble, try a multi-coloured strappy sandals with a matching bag that catches the eye. • A multi-coloured outfit requires a neutral monotone bag to offset all those colours, try an all-time classic black or beige leather bag. •For a flirty touch, tie a slim scarf in outfit’s colours to the plain bag and match it with your shoes. • If wearing a printed outfit, either play safe and go with a monochromatic bag that picks just one colour from the print to highlight it. •Go classic by matching your bag and shoes. If adventurous, keep either the bag or the shoes neutral and amplify the other for a glam look.

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21 MAY 2016

MY STYLE Judith Uzoma, CEO Kiddies Fantasy, will not relent in her effort to make children happy. In this interview with Deborah Ocheni, the beautiful and fashionable entrepreneur speaks about her fashion philosophy and more. What is your sense of fashion? My sense of fashion is to wear anything I feel very comfortable in especially gowns and traditional outfits. Would you say your physique works to your advantage? Yes; I will say am blessed with all the natural endowments that will suit any outfit. I feel like an African woman when I rock those ankara prints. Do you consider any fashion item indispensable? Oh yes; I consider denim jeans indispensable. What determines the kind of outfits you wear? Weather and the occasion determine my outfit. Is there anything you are unlikely to be caught wearing? I won't be caught wearing a bum short outside my house. What is the most expensive fashion item you have ever bought? The most expensive fashion item I've bought is a 100 percent human hair; I am a hair freak. What is your ready to go outfit? My ready to go outfit is jeans and polo. How do you love your shoes? I love my shoes flat and comfortable. Which jewellery appeals to you most? Neck pieces; I don't like my neck bare. Who is your best designer? My best designer is Effizy Couture; she's a Nigerian designer based in Enugu. She designs virtually all the traditional outfits I wear. What is your signature perfume? My signature perfume is Jean Paul Gautier While shopping which fashion item catches your fancy? Jewellery and hair accessories catch my attention.

I don't like my neck bare –Uzoma How easily do you get your fashion items in Nigeria? Most of my fashion accessories are locally sourced in Nigeria. If you were to be a fashion item, what will that be? I'd be an earring How did you come up with the name Kiddies Fantasy and what is the message behind it? Kiddies Fantasy is a concept developed from an admixture of the traditional love of parents for their children and the quest to give them what makes them happy in contemporary times. Our children nowadays are ardent viewers of programmes such as Barney and Company and a lot of other cartoons. To some of them such things appear to come from other planets and done by aliens. Kiddies Fantasy is designed to bring to their doorsteps what they fantasize about and had hitherto thought unattainable. Where do you see Kiddies Fantasy in five years? I see Kiddies Fantasy being the mainstay of every children festivity. I see it as an irresistible component of any function whether or not such are meant for children alone. I see Kiddies Fantasy being the mainstay of children entertainment; more so I’d like to own a learning academy where kids can be trained to be more creative, from acquiring vocational skills to etiquette classes to spelling bee and lots more. Any challenge so far? The challenge so far has been funding (finance) and location of the business; a relaxed mind is a peaceful mind. Simply put, if Nigerian kids are given a relaxed environment, for instance making the recreational facilities a national agenda whereby each local government has up to 20 or more recreational centres, youth restiveness would be reduced, kids will perform better in schools, young talents will be discovered early and nurtured effectively. How does dealing with kids affect your choice of fashion? Dealing with kids has affected my fashion in the sense that they look up to me as a mentor, so I can't afford to dress indecently; Secondly your appearance has to be child friendly both in mannerism and organisation to get the best from my target audience (children). Would you say the government has done enough for children in terms of creating fun filled relaxation centres? Honestly speaking the government has not done enough. Some states like Lagos are in the forefront in terms of creating fun filled relaxation centres for kids. However the issue of zoological gardens should be revisited as they are lacking in most states. For example in Enugu State as far back as early ’80s up to the ’90s

Beauty

Homemade care for natural hair Deborah Ocheni

ell I don’t need to say that natural hair is the in thing now because if you turn to look at your neighbour you will probably notice that she is on transition. Returning hair to its natural state can be a discouraging process, it is like being introduced to something completely new, it involves a whole lot of process from detecting scalp drying ingredients on product labels to detangling without pulling out balls of hair, maintaining and styling thick curls. There are tips that will help you in saving that cash you are spending on chemically processed hair products that only provide immediate solution in caring for your natural hair. It is time you left behind chemical relaxers and heat-styling tools to style and maintain the natural hair you grew through

Instyle 17

rigorous transition method. The banana has a way of minimising shrinkage and softening the hair when mixed with the other ingredients. Meanwhile, glycerin and honey, which are both humectants, and olive oil, which is known to penetrate the hair, all contribute moisturising benefits. This recipe is ideal for naturals who want to achieve easier blow-outs or better stretched styles. Ingredients: 1 large overripe banana (sliced) 4 table spoon extra virgin olive oil 2 table spoon pure vegetable glycerin 2 table spoon pure honey Instructions: Place the sliced banana, extra virgin olive oil, glycerin, and honey all in a blender. Blend the ingredients thoroughly making sure no lumps or banana bits remain. Apply to hair and let sit for 30 to 45 minutes under a shower cap. Detangle, rinse thoroughly, and style as usual.

Uzoma

there used to be a zoological garden located at the heart of the state and easily accessible too but sadly today, it is no longer in existence. I remember those days of visiting the zoo with my peers. It remains an unforgettable experience for me. But sadly kids growing up in Enugu metropolis now cannot have that same experience. The issue should be made a national priority.

Facts South Korea used to have actual fashion police who would go around measuring the miniskirt length of women. If skirts were deemed too short, they could be fined or arrested.

After a student was suspended for wearing one of their T shirt, the band Korn gave away hundreds of their shirts to a Michigan high school. Police actually helped hand out the shirts.

A man designed GPSprogrammable shoes that are activated by - you guessed it - clicking your heels together three times.

Michael Jordan’s dad, James Jordan, was murdered by a guy wearing a Michael Jordan T-shirt.

18 Interiors

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21 MAY 2016

Classroom décor ideas Deborah Ocheni

chools are becoming more competitive in this modern age. Apart from hiring good teachers and offering subjects that will help children later in life, there is the need to step up the décor of children’s classroom in other to remain competitive in today’s world. Your school will be sought after if it is one with a serene environment and gorgeous classroom décor. Apart from the quality of education schools offer, parents are also interested in how the schools look. And in achieving statement classrooms, you need not try hard; all you need to do is spread relevant teaching aids in classroom in an organised manner. A shambolic environment is not a fun place to teach or learn but there is nothing a little bit of paint and a hot glue gun can't fix. It’s no news that more preschool classrooms are moving away from functional look and evolving into more home-like settings, with muted colours and less stimulating décor. Some parents may feel that natural wood furniture and muted colours

aren’t fun or are too boring, so don’t be timid. Add a splash of colours, children love colours because of the exciting appearance it gives. Children spend many of their waking hours in school programmes and as such, they need spaces that are calming, comforting and evoke feelings of home. A good classroom should feel like a good place to be, instead of beclouding it with boring décor. Tips ·A good school should have safe and interesting things for children to play with. A classroom with buckets upon buckets of toys may keep children entertained, but an over stimulating environment can also overwhelm. Rotate toys based on the curriculum and children’s interests. · Besides being a starting point for conversation, artefacts such as art or other projects are evidence that children spent time in some sort of meaningful activity. ·Academic information like alphabets, calendars, and word charts on posters or rugs perform the dual functions of teaching kids and decoration?

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21 May 2016

Empress Njamah: I don’t care what people say about me

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In the late ’90s, actress, Georgina Onuoha, shone glowingly in Nollywood and her brilliance endeared her to movie buffs. But when fans least expected, she left for the U.S. where she was married to a physician, Dr. Ifeanyi Igwegbe, from whom she later divorced. She was in Nigeria recently for the official release of her movie dubbed ‘Ure’ featuring Harry Bal, Chioma Toplis, Angela Okorie and other top actors. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, she speaks about straddling two careers, marital status and sundry issues. You’ve been away for nearly a decade, what’s your assessment of the industry you returned to recently? My impression of Nollywood is that it has evolved and for the better too. We might not be there yet but today the industry has made tremendous progress when it comes to technicalities and reaching the larger audience other than just the Nigerian viewers. Nollywood is going places and I’m very happy about its meteoric rise. I’m hopeful it’s still getting better. Some fans thought you cheated them by promising so much with your talent but disappeared too soon… Well, to those who are my fans and those who are not who feel cheated by my absence from the industry for almost a decade, I apologise. It’s just that we get to a certain stage in life and we begin to find priorities. For me, at the time I left, starting and raising a family was of utmost priority. So, I took a sabbatical leave to go and raise a family. But I’m back now. Do you mean you’re back to the country? No, I’m back to the industry. I’m based in California but I shuttle between Nigeria and the U.S. every now and again. I’m usually in Nigeria for five to six times a year now. So, you’ll be seeing more of me now.

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I’m single but not available for romance –Georgina Onuoha help my daughters pursue higher education and stay happy. I’m not in the frame of mind to be romantically linked to anyone. It’s nowhere in the list of the things I want or need. In the U.S. you’re a healthcare officer but an actor in Nigeria; how easy was it to transit to an entirely different field abroad? Like you rightly said, I was a pure arts scholar in Nigeria, I had my associate degree in International Law and Diplomacy, Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Strategic Studies and when I got married and relocated to the U.S., I was married to a physician who had a private practice. In order for me to be part of what he was doing, I had to change my course of study. My dream had always been to be a diplomat, an attaché- to just work in the diplomatic circle. But everything is not as it seems, fate deals with us in ways we least expect. When I got married to a physician, I had the desire to try to help and I returned to school. I attended Western Career College to train in Healthcare Administration. I got an administrator’s license to practice as an administrator at the Department of Health and Social Services. From there I went on to have my master’s degree in Healthcare Administration with f o -

cus on Health Informatics and since then I’ve worked as a quality assurance auditor and health information specialist. That was how I changed from pure arts to social and human services. How did you achieve a nearly scandal-free career during your heyday in Nollywood? I wouldn’t say I haven’t got my fair share of bad press but as our faces are different so are our approaches to matters in life. I was raised in a very conservative home in Southern Nigeria, specifically Badagry, Lagos, so the way I perceive life may be different from the way some of my colleagues see life. At one point or the other, there would have been a negative

report about nearly every artiste because it comes with the job. The last time you visited Nigeria, were you part of any movie project? I came to release my film entitled ‘Ure’ at cinema. It was produced in the U.S. last year and it’s a beautiful love story. I came to market and promote it at the cinema. It was the basic reason I came home last month. I came to premiere it, got it shown at the cinema and to sign contracts with other networks to air it. It was my first film after a decade. I produced and starred in it. It’s out there for people to go and watch and it’s also on Africa Magic. Is the story about your personal life? ‘Ure’ is just a love story that’s equally addressing health issues which is something I’m very passionate about given the kind of healthcare system in Nigeria where patients’ care is not about money and most of us suffer from some genetic health issues like heart problem, diabetes, and many others. Check-up should be a routine thing for everyone to do about two or three times a week Couldn’t you have just taken your acting career further since you’re closer to where things happen in Hollywood? For me, it’s not too late to pursue that because I’ve had opportunities to do it. It was just not part of my priorities. Art is what I’ve loved, it’s been part of me growing up in Badagry in Dramatic Society in the church. I was a Catholic; I attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church where we started a singing group called Arch Angels. I’ve been in the church choir from the age of six when my mum was the choir mistress. We moved from Ede in Osun State, it was formerly in Oyo State. As an actor, you never grow old or out of the practice, but there was a point in my life when I took the 10-year break because it was of utmost importance for me. At that point featuring in Hollywood movies was not the priority for me. Joke Silva, Ngozi Ezeonu and the other older actors are still in Nollywood, they’re not too old to act.

Not much was heard of you after you relocated abroad but you marital issues. Are you separated or divorced? Well, I’m single and as regards what transpired in my family, I’d like to keep private matters private. What I would say is that we all go through phases in life- things happen for good and for bad. But we must treat each other with mutual respect and love. You don’t have to be Mrs. Somebody to be happy. We don’t have to be a couple to be happy and to have a great relationship. So when it comes to the matter of my marriage out of respect for my kids and my significant audience, I choose not to discuss private matters publicly. By being ‘single’ do you mean suitors can now approach you? Suitors are not allowed. There’s no vacancy. Right now, my priority is to

Tonade: It’s not easy growing up without a mother

Georgina

You’ve not lost your Nigerian accent unlike many after 10 years of sojourn abroad… I’m a core Nigerian girl and this is my identity, maybe because I can relate with you and I understand how I should be speaking. If I was speaking to a Caucasian you might probably not understand the way I pronounce certain words. There’s always an identity in Nigerians that you cannot lose. I went to the U.S. as an adult in my 20s and I’m going to be 40. There’s no way I would throw my identity away because I want to start sounding like an American.

20 Showbiz

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Empress Njamah: I don’t care what people say about me Most people won’t forget the sad end of the romance between musician Timaya and Empress Njamah in a hurry. Though she’s moved on long ago and apparently delved into other businesses, Njamah’s reputation as a top notch actor is still intact. Declining questions on her relationship with Timaya, she speaks with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS about many other issues. Your roles in movies have reduced, are you tired of acting? I can never be tired of acting because it is something I have great passion for. All my life I have been an actress and I cannot think of quitting now. There are other things I am engaged in which need equal attention as well. But I intend to appear more in movies now; so expect to see me often. You must have made a lot of money from acting? Well, it is not all about the money but the passion one has for the job. Acting has been sustaining me from day one and it is still paying part of my bills. I have another business I'm focusing on, but I thank God.

learn from one another. Do you have a new movie project you are working on? Yes I have, but I am not ready to let the cat out of the bag. All I can say is for people to watch out for some new materials from me.

on.

things started working for you? Every bit of my life was and will always be a turning point. I did not have a very special time but God has been faithful to me over the years and I remain grateful to him. I am aware that God is the one that crowns all our efforts as humans. No matter how hard working one is, without the blessing of God, it is in vain.

Are you in a relationship at the moment? I don’t want to talk about that. I like to keep my private life private. Could you point at one period when

How do you describe yourself? I am just a fun loving and sociable person. I spend so much time with the children from my foundation; I love them very much. As much as I love to be around m y loved ones, I find so m u c h peace in the comfort of my home. I play a lot but when it is time to be serious I don't joke. I am not a fan of hypocrisy and gossip.

You’ve had your share of controversies in the past, how have you been able to avoid more of such? In life, nothing good comes easy and you should always understand that you are a public figure. But if other people have decided not to mind their businesses and keep passing negative comments about another person, I think it is their own problem and headache. I have learnt to keep to myself and mind my own business. I don’t care about what people say and God has been my rock.

At what point did you venture into make-up? I've been doing it for a long time. How does it feel when The bridal make-up comes up alyou read or hear unpleasmost every weekend. After finishant stories ing one job, I get anabout you? other one from it and I just say to it goes on like that. It is important Bridal make-up has myself “they have come been very okay. to identify what again” and I exactly one wants move on with What is your sincere assessment of the my life. I owe noin a marriage before industry? body any explanaThe only contions. going into it stant thing in this life Why do you think is change and the Niit's hard for gerian movie has been Nigerian celebrities to stay in able to evolve with this change over their marriages? the years. You can't compare the movies that were made in the ’90s We all have our differwith the ones shot in 2015. I believe ences, motivations and what there is a big improvement in all arwe want in a marriage. It is important to identify eas, and things will only get better what exactly one wants in Nollywood. in a marriage before going Why do you shun most entertaininto it. Without this, one ment or social events? could rush in and rush It is far different from the way out. The fact that someyou see it. The fact that I'm not gracthing worked out for one person does not ing all the red carpets events does not mean I have shunned them. mean it would work You don’t expect me to gate-crash out for another. events; I only attend the ones I'm inWe shouldn’t vited to. I could be busy with other speak badly of marthings too and there is a clash. I just riages because no one knows have to sacrifice one thing for the other because it is not possible to what the coube in two places at the same time. ples are going through. Was being an actor a childhood Most imfantasy? portantEvery part of me has always ly we should wanted to be an actor. My brothlearn to ers are in the movie industry, so I put God would say acting runs in the family. We are proud and happy of what first in marwe’ve achieved. riage and It helps to have a brother who whatever we does the same thing that you do. We lay our hands

Why did you relocate to Abuja? I needed to change my environment and Abuja is also a lovely place to live in. Also, I have my boutique in Abuja and there is need to monitor my business. How do you give back to the society? I give back to the society in so many ways. The major way I give back is through the Empress Njamah Foundation, a foundation I have been running successfully for 10 years now. I am so happy that most of the children are now grown-ups and are doing well. Sometimes it looks difficult to carry on, but God has always been faithful at the end of it all. I built classrooms for them because I know that most of these children are very intelligent, especially the blind ones. To make the children happy always, I try as much as possible to celebrate with them eight times in a year. I want them to feel loved all the time. On May 27, Children’s Day, I would be holding a party for them in Abuja. I'm looki n g f o r ward to and excited about that. Njamah

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

I no longer crush on girls after my experience in north –Taiwo Ibikunle Quintessential actor and chairman, Oyo State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Taiwo Ibikunle’s prowess remains as compelling as his organic rise to stardom. He recounts his humble beginning in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA. You’re an actor, a TV host and a compere, how did you hone your skills? I’m an actor, the presenter of ‘Oyato’ a Yoruba programme on Africa Magic and I also compere events. I graduated from the University of Ibadan where I studied Theatre Arts. Has acting been all you dreamed of from childhood? I’ve always loved to be a mass communicator and also loved to study International Relations. I never knew of Theatre Arts to be candid. I didn’t even know people would go to the university to study it. People close to me had urged me to come to Theatre Arts but I called their bluff. After sitting for the JAMB for some time without success, I couldn’t attain the cut-off marks for the courses I desired dearly. So, one of those who’d advised me about studying Theatre Arts then went ahead to purchase a diploma form for me. I objected going for diploma- for me, it had to be a degree programme or I would sit back at home. The person filled the form and only asked me to bring my passport photograph. From that point I just got an invitation for an audition. I passed the audition and that was how I started. I got admission. How did your parents feel about that choice? My mother wouldn’t let me rest then. She was always complaining. She would always ask why I was such in a hurry. She would say I could still sit for another JAMB, but I felt I

Ibikunle

was becoming too old because my peers were already in 200-300 level in different universities. I couldn’t wait. But what made my parents to free me totally was my first production in school. When I went for rehearsals sometimes I would return late and they would be afraid “this boy has joined a cult.” They would ask, “What kind of course are you doing that they would be releasing you by this time of the night?” I invited them eventually, they watched the play. And they were marveled by the amount of applause I got from the audience screaming. Incidentally, the main message of the play was to reflect that every child has predestined career to pursue and it could be catastrophic if parents come in their way. And I was the lead character, after the show, they just told me they have thrown their weight behind me from that point on. The family then had a meeting where I was asked to promise the them that I wouldn’t bring them to disrepute. That was how I was liberated. When you left the school to face the hustle of the industry, who were those you’d admired

A FAN DID TO ME

–Tope Tedela

met a lady at a show and she asked me to sign autograph somewhere crazy. That’s one of the craziest

things that I’ve ever experienced. When I read or hear certain things about me, I laugh because I know it’s important for newspapers to sell or for the online platforms to gain traffic. Sometimes, all you need to do is to ignore if you don’t want it to become a trending issue.

remotely and later came to cross paths with? To be very candid, I wasn’t a fan of home movies. I hardly watched them because I was so obsessed with stage plays. I must say that I was one of the lucky few who didn’t go from school to the industry to lobby for roles. I was invited. I’d been on TV then but the shows were organised by my department, we called the organisation University Theatre Arts Company (UITAC). We presented for their terrestrial TV on Galaxy, BCOS, and so on. We did ‘soaps’ then. My first English movie then that I’m yet to see till tomorrow was dubbed ‘Uncertain Blight’. One day, we were still in school when a friend told me he has a brother who would need our assistance. It turned out to be Muyiwa Ademola and my friend asked if I knew him, I just said I’d seen him on the posters many times. He said he wanted to do a movie entitled ‘Akinkanju’, the movie was about the occult. It was before he did the famous movie, ‘Ile’. We assisted him. We did it and it was successful and I would say that was my debut in home movies. I’ve rounded off in school but was yet to go for NYSC. Tope Idowu, Ade Adeniji, Bimbo Oshin and Biodun Apantako just came to meet me in UI. They told me they were going to have a production and asked me to stand beside Apantako- they reckoned, “well, they look alike.” They invited me to Lagos for a screen audition. Dudu Heritage was the executive producer of the project. The movie was called ‘Eji Owuro ’ (the morning dew) and that was the work that brought me fame. And ever since then people have been inviting me for their works here and there. In all these years of acting, who has been your lady crush? (Chuckles) I must be very honest with you, I hardly crush on anybody. The reason is that when I was in school, those moments I was running around for productions, I discovered that I got emotional attachment to some people. There was this Nigerian University Theatre Arts Festival that was taken around the country. My first experience was in Zaria. I met a girl there and I fell in love with her. But eventually when we all departed, there was no GSM then, the only communication channel was to write letters. For months, I had sore in my heart anytime I remember. I wish to see her again. The next time I went to another one, the same thing happened to me. Then I had to talk to myself- how many places do I want to go and fall in love with girls who would never be accessible? I realised that in the business I will always meet different people, they will go and some will come back. Since then my relationship with female actors has been platonic. In fact, I don’t have any friend in the industry that I call regularly or that I must hear from. The truth is that most of us in the industry know one another. I will not feel happy that I’m dating a girl in the industry and later here she’s seeing another person.

Showbiz 21

O u t &A b o u t

Ebenezer Obey excited!

Nigeria's highlife legend, Ebenezer Obey, is fully prepared to give his best at the Space Legend Series Concert today. Expressing his joy to Obey perform alongside Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Ade after a longtime, he said: "I want to appreciate the organisers of this event for coming up with such a great idea. Concerts like this should be held at least three times in a year as a way of recognising music pioneers like me." The CEO of Motbensonz Solutions, one of the organisers, Omotoye Benson, told journalists that they had also confirmed the presence of Orlando Julius. The event is aimed at providing premium experience and class entertainment to the accomplished personalities and captains of industries.

New Media Conference 2016 The New Media Conference 2016, which is to be held on May 27, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Lagos, will feature Ajibade keynote speakers such as Mrs. Lola Masha, Country Manager for OLX Nigeria; Ms. Olajumoke Okikolu, Senior Manager, Product Marketing at Samsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA); Chude Jideonwo, Adaora Mbelu, Ono Bello, Audu Maikori and a host of others. This second edition brings together key new media practitioners, corporate brands and digital media agencies for a comprehensive overview of the rapidly expanding digital media space, application and technology.

Escape Fight Night Escape Fight Life, a premium Amateur/ Professional Boxing Promotion outfit that combines sports and entertainment holds the second edition of the Escape Fight Life event tagged Fight Night II today at Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island. This edition features surprise guest performances, a celebrity match and a raffle draw with many gifts to be won.

Cocktails & Dresses The Made-in-Africa fashion event, “Cocktails & Dresses,” will be held tomorrow at the Intercontinental Hotel, Oniru Victoria Island, Lagos. The CEO, Dressmeoutlet. com, organisers of Cocktails & Dresses, Olatorera Oniru said:“ The aim of the bi-annual Cocktails & Dresses is to strongly promote the very best of African designs and to greatly increase visibility to the fashion, retail and e-commerce industries in Africa.” Cocktails & Dresses serves as an innovative retail experience where new products are launched and high-quality, luxurious fashion and beauty brands, designers and manufacturers gather to showcase products and services to the African market.” Some of the confirmed VIP attendees for the event include Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Lola Akande, Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce, Abimbola Ashiru and others.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Social Media Craze

Trending

Gist

Photos Controversies

With Olushola Ricketts

Tonto Dikeh makes case for less privileged

ollywood actress Tonto DikehChurchill has called on the public to show love to the less privileged in the

society. Through her Instagam page on Thursday, he solicited for help, sharing: “No one gets poor by giving! Never well you see a giver lacks! The Tonto Dikeh Foundation of Nigeria & NCI Foundations of the United Kingdom partner for good causes. "God blesses and He is always happy with those who put smile on the faces of the less privileged. On this note, with great goals & aspirations, both charities will be coming to-

gether in London, United Kingdom from June 4, collaborating ideas on how to tackle and support the less privileged across the globe, "Let us support this laudable initiative that is centered on issues that affect our society by joining the train. YOUR PRESENCE & THE LITTLE YOU GIVE COUNT.” Most of her followers were impressed with her gesture of love and care for others. A follower, Rejoice Amara, was quick to commend her gesture. She wrote: "You too much pls let everyone support this great genius. I love you dear so much. Even

PHOTO OF THE WEEK PHOTO: FACEBOOK

though I don’t like the tattoos on your body, I have always loved you from the beginning and I will forever by His grace that abounds on us my sweet model. Stay blessed.” With the handle lady-jfr, she said: "Tonto Dikeh-Churchill I love you. You are so real, so kind and so generous. May the good lord continue to bless you and your entire family and may He always grant you all your heart desires. I love you so

much. I am your biggest fan and that will never change". Balogun Kenny said since she started following her on Instagram she had seen the good side of the actress. “Whenever I hear the word Tonto Dikeh, the next thing that follows is always not pleasant. But since the first day I started following you, you’ve always put smile on my face and I wonder who you really are."

Banky W celebrates 21 years of friendship

&B singer Banky W spoke nice words about his close friend, Captain Tunde Demuren. While celebrating their friendship that has lasted for over 21 years, Mr. Capable shared a photo of him and Demuren on

Tee A and wife N

Tee A and wife, Kenny

igerian comedian, Tunde Akinwale aka Tee A, has taken to Instagram to celebrate 11 years marriage anniversary with his wife, Kenny. He shared the post on Thursday, praising his wife for sticking with him through thick and thin. He said he wouldn’t trade their relationship for anything, as she is the perfect partner. Read his post in full below: “#Happyanniversarytous baby. 11 beautifully amasing, sometimes challenging, yet fulfilling years. Through it all we ride on trusting only in the Lord. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Thanks for being the perfect partner and the wind beneath my wings @ken-

nyadewale.” Similarly, in 2015, the stand up comedian celebrated 10 years of marriage by sharing an emotional message on Instagram saying: “Words are not just enough. 10 amazing years with the very best, indeed in God’s own time He makes all things beautiful. Happy anniversary Queen bae, too emotional to write plenty stuff now, will save all the speech for the big party.” The couple started as just friends while on campus at the University of Lagos. They were friends for five years and dated for another five years before he proposed and got married on May 19, 2005.

Snapchat on Tuesday. He captioned the photo: “Capo: Best friends for 21+ years“. Their being on the executive board of EME executives has even made their friendship stronger. Demuren’s traditional wedding to Beat FM On-air-personality Toolz on January 30 made Banky W considered getting married soon. Banky W had referred to himself as the last man standing. Meanwhile, a lady on Instagram had told Banky W that God revealed to her three times that Banky is her husband. The lady wrote a letter about the revelation and shared it with Banky W on Instagram.

Banky W and Demuren

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Investigations

FUN SPOTS

Making millions despite economic crunch Bars in the open, indeed, are redefining nightlife around the country. This may be why some believe that pleasure has unofficially been embedded into the culture of Nigerians. The 'sit outs' now compete with, or has since overshadowed the number of religious centres in the nation. ISIOMA MADIKE in this report serves the salacious breakdown of these relaxation spots make on a daily basis

Isioma madike

Editor, INVESTIGATIONS isiomamadike69@gmail.com 08090896879 © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

he beer appears not to be the only thing seeing the sky these days. Its consumers, too, are eager and willing to see the sky. They have relocated from the regular 'beer parlours' to the outside. At night, bars in the open now adorn the skyline in many parts of the country. Though, drinking joints are not entirely new in Nigerian metropolis, they are, at present, gaining more prominence. This points to a new way forward in business activities in the country and offers the populace a break to kill the day’s boredom. More street corners and roads become a beehive of activities every evening, especially on weekends in the ambiance of the cool night. On the vast anterior spaces, the corporately-dressed men and women display the latest state-of-the-art cars besides the joints. And commuters traversing those streets have tough time passing through each point. At night fall, these areas metamorphose into something else. Open air drinking, suya spots, food vendors and commercial sex workers, all compete for space at the joints. There are no marble floors, well decorated settees or cushioned chairs. But, those who patronise the joints are sure to listen to tunes from quadraphonic sound systems and watch their favourite teams play in the English Premier League while they consume their liquor. At LASCOFIS, along WEMPCO Road, a

first time visitor may have difficulty figuring out the enjoyment that goes on there. Coming from the Ogba end of the road, “parish”, as the joint is fondly called, is on one’s right. The not-too-smooth street stretches out in an apian bowl-shaped manner that barely suggests anything unusual in the neighbourhood. But a stroll into the half-fenced land with buildings spread in vehicular formation will expose a modern relaxation arena that offers various kinds of entertainment to its guests. The assemblage is typically not the usual party crowd of flimsy professional chasers. It is a blend of journalists, technocrats, top civil and public servants, businessmen and women, and the young upwardly mobile, the type described with the street lingo “aje butter.” Hence, incidents of lost

Though, drinking joints are not entirely new in Nigerian metropolis, they are, at present, gaining more prominence

cell phones and body adornments are not often heard in the joint. Ponmo (cow skin), smoked cat fish, ofada rice, and of course, the ever cool beer are the main attraction of the joint. The other delicacies are asun barbecue (a type of goat meat suya), Nkwobi and fish pepper soup that are prepared in a special way. However, a good number of the “parishioners”, as LASCOFIS guests love to call themselves, see the “Slaughter House” as the centre of attraction because of the absolute privacy the joint offers. Slaughter house is the members’ slang for short time lodging with the opposite sex in a replay of the Adam and Eve game in the days of yore. “We also have quite a sizable number of bankers and other professionals apart from our big time journalist customers, who apart from drinking, engage in very serious business discussions. They are mostly people who try to escape the terrible hold up traffic. Some use our joint to intermingle with old friends too,” a lady employee who refused her name in print because “I’m not authorised to speak for the joint,” told Saturday Telegraph. According to the lady the regulars at the entertainment spot, who are usually over 350 on the average, spend an estimate of between N175,000 and N262,500 by drinkcontinued on page 24

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Catfish pepper soup. photo:www.nigeria.eye.com

A specially prepared asun photo:plslestdrinklagos.com

A pot of Nkwobi photo:dooneyskitchen.com

‘We make N2.3m daily on the average at Oluwole tarmac’ c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 2 3

ing an average of between two and three bottles of the available lager. This amount does not take into account those that eat Ponmo, smoked catfish, ofada rice, asun barbecue, Nkwobi and fish pepper soup that are prepared in a special way. “By the time you add all these, the amount spent on the average here should be close to half a million. The business has been good in spite of the economic hardship in town. People cry that there is no money but they drink away their lives almost on a daily basis. You are here today and you can see for yourself. Unfortunately, many people didn’t come around today but you can see what is happening. You do the calculation yourself,” the employee added. The situation is not different in Elis, another joint located in Ikoyi area of Lagos, very close to Yoruba Tennis Club. It opens about 6.30pm every day and sometimes runs through the night till early the next morning. This joint caters for the big boys of Lagos Island. Working into the venue, the first thing that arrest your attention is the stand, the dim lights, and the spiraling metals. From whatever part of the ground you find yourself, the encircled and wooly music envelopes guests like a warm welcome hug. Live bands perform every Friday night to add colours to the relaxation spot. As the enjoyment goes on in the joint, the owners are laughing all the way to the bank. “My brother, business has been good. We thank God. Our customers here don’t seem to feel the hardship in town and it’s rubbing off on us positively as we make between N700, 000 and a million naira every night on the average,” said a man who claims to be a supervisor and identified himself simply as Bola. Yet, Oluwole tarmac, opposite the Ogba Retail Market, paints a different picture: Large spaced and fully concrete in the centre of the popular Oluwole Estate, and situated at the heart of Ogba, on the outskirts of Lagos. It is a special kind of joint. For the first timer, it is likely going to be a tasteless impression about this quarter and its occupants. It is also possible for a few to conclude that this neighbourhood is just about hustlers and

fun seekers. Barrack-like, with obvious grimy environs that could scare the faint-hearted; the smoke from ganja-smoking guys frightens but contradicts its surrounding that exhibits a calm serenity. Even at that, moving around the area offers the sight of comfort, especially at night. The tarmac is unique and quite popular among its guests. It displays an extremely tired appearance but swims in the mannerism of a well-managed neighbourhood. It has a commercial flair, and can well be described as one of the last relics of age. Yell in the middle of the night, out of fear or excitement, and you will be sure to get a response. It is all part of the fun. This is the harmonious attitude of the natives as the tarmac gestures around the willing. Enjoyment in this estate is 24 hours a day and seven days a week. For the ladies, the ever festive moments at the tarmac presents a convenient shovel that digs them up from the monotony of brothel life. One could read the shock and surprise on their faces as the callers show familiarity with some of their antics. This trend of acquaintance with crimson sisters, no doubt, leaves a big impression on the minds of the visiting wolves. Chris Idemudia, a frequent crawler at the tarmac, confirmed that tarmac is the place to be any day. "Just go there with your friends and have the fun of your life," he said. It is a place that accommodates all kinds of people who come not for the fun alone but also to discuss business. “If you are the fast type, those big boys can connect you. You don’t have to know anybody. Just walk into the tarmac and you won’t have any problem,” Idemudia said. The main attraction, according to him, is the air of freedom. He said that everything is done in the open with cool breeze that sooths nerves. “So, all manner of people find the place convenient

to relax; the main thing really is the cat fish pepper soup. They will show you a live one to select from (point and kill) and in 10 minutes the soup is ready. The aroma alone is something that many would find difficult to resist.” Mama Akin, Old School, Hunters and White House are some of the popular bars that operate at the tarmac. The beer manufacturing companies seem to be

I won’t lie to you, individual shops here, make at least close to N150, 000 every night

at war at Oluwole tarmac as they compete for patronage. But the most popular, according to these sellers, are the Guinness and Star brands. To the occupants of the estate, this seeming invasion of their domain is welcome and satisfying. The human and vehicular traffic in their vicinity does not betray the mammoth crowd that gathers here on a daily basis. What is not in doubt here is the amount of money that exchange hands on a daily basis. “I won’t lie to you, individual shops here make at least close to N150, 000 every night. And we are over 15 in number. That will give you an estimate of N2.3m,” said Josephine, the owner of Hunters drinking spot, who confided in this reporter. Across the federation, it is the same story of booming business for enjoyment spots. For instance, in Niger State, owners of these spots rake in millions of naira on a daily basis as customers troop to licence joints to cool off. In Minna, the state capital, customers rush to joints, especially during football matches to secure seats. Notable

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Global

FA Cup: Man United, Palace eye history at Wembley p.28

Sport Splash

Ajibade Olusesan igeria’s number one women table tennis player, Edem Offiong, has raised the alarm over shoddy preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympics. The former African champion said that it was unfortunate that with just about three months to the start of the games the National Sports Commission was yet to call players to camp for intensive training and preparation. She lamented that their counterparts in other countries now have competitive edge heading into the games because they had stepped up their preparation compared to Nigerian players who are yet to be called to camp. She said that it was unfortunate the country had to toe a well-worn path once again but was certain the authorities would soon do the needful. The 2011 All Africa Games champion said that although such development was capable of affecting the performance of the players, they would invoke the Nigerian spirit and give the country a good representation in Brazil. “I am bothered we are yet to start something very serious in terms of preparation because I am aware that all our colleagues in other countries who have also qualified for the Olympics are already in camp. We have just three months to the Olympics but we know how we do our thing in this country. “That is not to say that we, the players, would not do our best at the Olympics. We tend to do well sometimes when we don’t have the best of preparation, that Nigerian spirit always keep us going. But I am hoping that very soon they will call us into camp so that we can start something serious,” she said. Nigeria’s women team failed to make it to the Olympics for the second consecutive time losing to Egypt on both occasions and Offiong said the North Africans would continue to dominate on the continent because of the level of support the players enjoy. “We have good players here but I don’t think we are getting enough support in terms of sponsorship. The Egyptians are leading us now because their players are attending major international competitions. How many tournaments do we have here; apart from the on-going Nigerian Open we may not have another international exposure before the Olympics. But these Egyptians are moving from one place to the other but we don’t have such things here. “We can only get to where we used to be if we start to do the right things. The federation is doing their best but when there is no money, there is little they can do. We need to have more sponsors come into the game to help the players,” she said.

25 Interview

I see a lot of myself in my son –Onyali p.31

Rio Olympics

Offiong raises the alarm

•Says players are suffering

The Team Ajibade Olusesan l Co-ordinator

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

Offiong

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Nigerian League Rendezvous BY CHARLES OGUNDIYA

Boboye welcomes Sunshine to Umuahia •As league goes on mid-season break I t will be a reunion for Abia Warriors’ coach, Kennedy Boboye, when he faces his former club, Sunshine Stars, on Sunday in Umuahia, in one of Week 19 Nigeria Professional Football League matches. Boboye was the coach of the Akure Gunners last season and nearly took the club to play on the continent and at some point during the season, Sunshine were leading the league table. Abia Warriors have lost just three games after 18 matches and will be looking forward to adding Sunshine to one of their conquered foes.

Warri Wolves will welcome El-Kanemi Warriors to Warri while Kano Pillars will be the guests of Plateau United in Jos. In other matches, Ikorodu will continue their battle to remain in the league with a tricky tie against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi. The Oga Boys won their third game of the season against Warri Wolves midweek and will be looking forward to maintaining the momentum with a good result in

Bauchi. Enyimba will play host to Nasarawa United as Lobi take on Rivers United also on Sunday. It will be IfeanyiUbah FC against Niger Tornadoes. Meanwhile, the league will be going on mid-season break after this weekend games. The mid season break and transfer window will afford clubs the opportunity to

beef up their team ahead of resumption in two weeks time. Speaking recently to our correspondent, the coach of Ikorodu United, Sam Okpodu, said they have to go to the transfer market if the club wants to stay afloat in the league. Ikorodu United are rooted to the last position on the league table and it will take a lot of turn around for the club to escape relegation at the end of the season.

Gombe United face ban if...

igeria National League side, Gombe United, have till May 23 to pay off their former coach, Maurice Cooreman, or be banned by FIFA. The world governing body passed a verdict on the club to pay off Cooreman on or before May 23 over the disengagement of the office. Speaking with League Rendezvous, the secretary of the players and coaches arbitration committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Nasir Jubril, said the management of the club is currently in contact with the NFF and Cooreman’s agent on a way to resolve the issue amicably. He however said the case should serve as a lesson to other clubs whenever they are signing contract with either coaches or players.

“It was never stated in the contract that they could terminate the coach’s appointment due to poor performance,” he said. “NFF is trying to play a fatherly role in the matter, but it is beyond the federation and the club has no other option than to pay the N12.5m to Cooreman and other fines imposed by FIFA. “I already met with the club management, Gombe State Sports Commission chairman, and the Secretary to the State Government of Gombe, and I am sure it will be resolved soon.” FIFA recently passed a verdict that the club must pay the Akwa United coach the sum of N12.5m, another sum of 9,000 Swiss Francs to FIFA for litigation and additional 1,000 Swiss Francs to Cooreman’s lawyer.

Action recorded in the match between Bayelsa United and Sunshime Stars

MATCHDAY 19

Our approach still orthodox, says referee boss Could you describe the improvements in referees performance in the country? It is not far fetched, we have done a lot of training and retraining in the last two years since coming on board as the president of the federation. We have introduced a lot of measures among which was the introduction of match assessors. Match assessors are not there to kill referees, but are part of the development of the game. They have contributed their quota to the development of the game and above all, we have introduced discipline more than before. What have you achieved with the training? The game is dynamic and not static. It keeps evolving with new amendments to the rules every year. The only way to be abreast with the rest of the world is to continue with training. This year alone, the amendments have been massive, about 110 pages of new things coming into the game. We see a situation whereby offside is picked from your own half of the game, a lot of things are new and there is no better time for FIFA to come in hence the just concluded training in Abuja. We have a lot to do because the ones trained in Abuja will have to go back and train others in their zones. It is not going to end with the referees alone, we have to let the clubs understand the new laws, including the coaches, administrators and spectators. Fans see referees as killers of the game,

The President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez, told League Rendezvous in an exclusive interview that the influx of fans to various match venues could be attributed to improvement in officiating. Excerpts... fans are coming back to match venues, it is obvious that the officiating have improved tremendously. The fans want to see good football and with their return, sponsors will be more interested in the game. We want to take the league back to the pinnacle within the continent and across the world.

Azeez

how are you planning to educate them? We are looking at taking advantage of the midseason coming up soon, although we are not likely to introduce the new law this season, but definitely at the beginning of the coming season. We are going to have a series of workshops that involve all the stakeholders in our league. If you look at the rate the

We are yet to see the country's referees using some of the latest gadgets across the world, when are we going to get there? We are looking in that direction because our approach is still orthodox, we are yet to introduce enough technology into our game. For example, the flags used by the Assistant Referees in Europe has a kind of pager attached to it that whenever it is raised, the referee will be aware of it without even looking, we are really working towards getting there. We are conscious of the cost of some of these gadgets and we are currently in discussion with the League Management Company on how to get these gadgets for our referees. The ones available now cannot go round hence our decision to wait until we have the full complement of the gadgets. People should start judging us and comparing us to the other referees when we are well equipped.

Plateau Utd vs Kano Pillars Rangers vs Heartland Warri Wolves vs El-Kanemi Wikki vs Ikorodu Utd Abia Warriors vs Sunshine Akwa Utd vs Shooting Lobi vs Rivers Utd Enyimba vs Nasarawa Utd MFM vs Giwa IfeanyiUbah vs Tornadoes NPFL LEAGUE TABLE Team

PTS

1 Rangers FC

2 Rivers Utd

3 Abia Warriors 17

4 Wikki

5 Kano Pillars

6 Lobi Stars

7 Akwa Utd

8 MFM FC

9 IfeanyiUbah

-1

10 Warri Wolves17

-1

11 Sunshine

12 Enyimba

13 Nasarawa Utd18

-4

14 Tornadoes

-2

15 Heartland

-2

16 Plateau Utd

-5

17 El-Kanemi

-4

18 Shooting

-11

19 Giwa FC

-15

20 Ikorodu Utd

-16

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Blast

From the past

Vincent Eboigbe

he ’80s! They are simply unforgettable. It was the decade that, in the main, gave birth to the future, where many inventions and innovations that define the way the world runs today found their root. It was the decade of the Personal Computer (PC), of CD and Walkman and many others. The ’80s were also the period when some of the greatest music were made. It was the era of Rafael Cameron and the zoot trousers, Kool & The Gang and Stepping Out With My Baby, Third World and Lagos Jump, Michael Jackson and Thriller, Ollie and Jerry’s There’s No Stopping Us, Champagne King, Dynasty, Kris Okotie and I need Someone and many others. Interestingly, many of these artistes came to Nigeria at that time. Indeed, this reporter had the opportunity of seeing Jazz great and Bebop exponent, Dizzy Gillespie, live at the very end of that decade when he visited the country with his long-time Cuban collaborator, James Moody and the inimitable Puerto Rican drummer, Giovanni Hidelgo. No less significant, the ’80s were also the golden years of boxing, when some of the greatest boxing bouts took place. By some quirk, four of the greatest pugilists in the history of the fistic trade campaigned at this time around the same weight category. In a pre-fight interview before one of the most momentous bouts of that era, Sugar Ray Leonard captured his upcoming fight with Marvellous Marvin Hagler this way: “If you were a betting man you’ bet on Hagler, but if you were a smart man you’d bet on me.” Of course, the proposal for the fight between these two ring gladiators had been on almost from the time Hagler took apart British boy, Alan Minter, to win the Middleweight crown in 1980. But, Sugar somehow managed to avoid a clash with Hagler. However as the decade wore on, the Sugarman knew he won’t rest easy if he didn’t settle scores with the reigning champ. The foursome that dominated in that division – the other two: Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns and Roberto ‘Stonefist’ Duran – have all, at one time or the other, fought one another. It was only Sugar and Hagler that had not met inside the roped arena. Finally, Ray Leonard, who had previously retired following a detached retina he suffered earlier, agreed to the bout. But fight prognosticators were almost unanimous that Sugar will be badly mauled by a boxer who had mastered every conceivable fighting style, a fighter who before then had successfully defended his belt 12 times and was targeting Argentine great, Carlos Monzon’s record of 14 title defences. Ray Leonard was rusty but that didn’t deter him. Time was running out and if his place among the greats was to be unquestionably secured, he had to take on Hagler once and for all. Also, he had a point to prove to himself. The fight finally took place on April 6, 1987, at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Hagler had the habit of sometimes hitting his bald pate before taking the battle to his opponents. Mean and tough as they come, he had turned back some of the best middleweight fighters of that era. Hearns, Fulgencio Obeimejas, Juan Domingo Roldan, Vito Artuofermo, John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi, Mustapha Hamsho, all had a taste of the brute power of the Marvellous man. Even pugilists like Bobby Bogallo Watts and Willie Monroe, infighters who man-

Remembering the Fabulous Four

Sugar (right) versus Hearns in one of their duels

Duran

aged to beat a younger Hagler, were repaid with painful defeats later. The fight turned out to be controversial at the end. Hagler insisted that he lost to politics and what rankled with him the most was not that they decided to take away his title, but that they gave it to Leonard. Even today, there are still fight fans who believe Sugar didn’t do enough to win the bout. But the truth is, Sugar never showed any signs of fear; a superb ring strategist he moved, danced and taunted, occasionally standing toe-to-toe with Hagler. But he refused to be drawn into a pound-forpound duel with the champion. A move that paid off for him as a slug fest would have resulted in an almost certain defeat. The first among the Fabulous Four that Ray Leonard lost to was Duran. The Panamanian strongman would lose their rematch in the famous or is it infamous ‘No mas, no mas’ (no more, no more) fight. Duran would later vehemently deny uttering those words, wondering how the boxing commentator, Howard Cossel, who was some distance away from the ring could have heard what he said. Whether he actually said ‘no mas, no mas’ suffice to say that the fight was abandoned. Of the quartet, the Hitman from Detroit may have possessed the fastest hands, they moved like Ali’s piston. But Hearns also had what they call ‘glass jaw’ in boxing as opposed to the granite chin of Hagler for instance. And the fight between these two in 1985 ranks as perhaps the most brutal three rounds in boxing history. The strategy in Hearn’s camp was an early all-out assault that consists of straights, hooks and crosses. Hearns rattled Hagler in the first round, even opening up a cut in the champion’s

face. Such strategy could have worked with a lesser fighter but not Hagler. In the third round, a bloodied and ferocious Hagler took the battle to Hearns and knocked him cold. The Hitman couldn’t survive Hagler’s fury at seeing his own blood and the old glass jaw played a role as it also did against Sugar. In that bout against Sugar, Hearns was on his way to victory, leading on all the scorecards but Sugar, with all the punishment, held on to knock out Hearns in the 13th round. The Hitman sought to avenge this loss and in front of a baying crowd in Caesar’s Palace during the rematch, he threw everything at Sugar and though he had won only for the fight to be declared a draw. Even the Sugarman would admit later that Hearns deserved to win. Duran was like the Joe Frazier of the division - one of the fiercest fighters ever. No boxer could drop him. He won and lost to Leonard, lost to Hagler, but as tough as he was he could not stand in the same ring as Hagler (left) and Sugar during their 1987 battle

Hearns. The Hitman blew him apart in two just as it was only George Foreman who could handle Frazier. It is interesting to note that it was only Hagler that was a natural middleweight of the lot. The others moved up from lightweight and welter. Hearns went all the way to 175 pounds, picking titles in six different categories along the way. Hagler on his part refused to budge even when there were suggestions about his moving up to clash with Michael Spinks at the light heavyweight class. Spinks later moved up to dethrone then world heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes. Boxers like Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Felix Trinidad, Fernando Vargas, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquaiao among others did their bit, but the division of Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake La Motta and Dick Tiger is in need of derring-do fighters who will evoke memories of the Fabulous Four.

fter missing out on Champions League football to neighbours Manchester City, Manchester United will be aiming to end a disappointing season on a high when they travel to Wembley to take on Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final. Taking part in this final for the first time since 2007, the Red Devils are favourites to join Arsenal as record 12-times cup winners by lifting the trophy a full 12 years since their last triumph. Having lost out to this opposition in a replay in their only previous final appearance back in 1990, Alan Pardew’s outfit can also claim the first major honour in their history by pulling off a shock victory here. With his side having seemingly gone backwards this season and Jose Mourinho eagerly waiting in the wings,

Kickoff: 5:30pm

sults that have made the Dutchman particularly unpopular among the Old Trafford faithful, but also his team’s fairly lethargic brand of football. While they can usually be relied upon to dominate possession, Van Gaal’s men finished the season with just 49 goals to their name in 38 league fixtures – a record low for them in the Premier League era. Although United should feel confident of at least finding the net against an Eagles defence that let in four at Stoke on Sunday to make it six games without a clean sheet, their slightly ponderous style of play

Man United, Palace eye history at Wembley

FA Cup

Rodriguez

am just enjoying my time in this club, a fantastic club and fantastic supporters. We will see what will happen and you will have to ask that question to the manager [Jurgen Klopp]. "Of course I want to stay. It's a great club to play in, but the manager has his plan and any decision I will respect. He is a top manager and he knows what he is doing."

anchester United have been boosted by the news Real

Madrid star James Rodriguez would prefer a move to Old Trafford this summer. The Colombia international, who joined Los Blancos from Monaco on a six-year deal in summer 2014 on the back of his Golden Boot exploits at the World Cup in Brazil, has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu. The 24-year-old impressed with 17 goals in his first season in the Spanish capital, but he has found first-team action difficult to come by this past campaign because Lucas Vasquez, Jese Rodriguez and Casemiro have often been ahead of him in the pecking order.

Rodriguez targets Red Devils move

Toure

iverpool defender Kolo Toure is out of contract this summer but hopes he is offered a new deal at Anfield. Toure is out of contract next month but he hopes he has done enough in recent weeks to earn a new deal. Toure remains in the dark over the prospect of a new deal but he stressed his preference is to stay with the Reds. "I don't know to be honest," he told Sky Sports when asked about his future. "I

TRANSFERS Toure wants new Liverpool deal

Global Football Special www.newtelegraphonline.com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

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should also leave them open to the counter attack.

Neymar

Dortmund fans expected to travel to the capital. "I think we have got a 50-50 chance – a final is a final and anything can happen," the 26-year-old told the Bundesliga's official website. "I hope we can win it this year. We have lost the last two years and it is time that we win. "We have got to see how it goes, but I believe we can do it. While we know it is going to be hard, we simply have to win."

Retired boxing champ and now senator-elect Manny Pacquiao is still open about competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro -- but only if Filipinos approve. Pacquiao has been previously vocal about representing the country in the quadrennial event with the allure of possibly winning the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal.

Manny Pacquiao

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ayern ended up winning the Bundesliga for a fourth straight season, but Thomas Tuchel's Dortmund kept them honest in the title race until the penultimate week of the league campaign. Germany's top two now meet in Berlin as both look to seize upon the last chance to secure silverware in 2015-16. With Bayern having crashed out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage for a third straight season, the Pokal crown would give them a double to send Guardiola out on a high. Meanwhile, Dortmund need to win if they are to avoid finishing the campaign without a major trophy after former boss Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool knocked them out of the Europa League quarterfinals. Dortmund defeated Guardiola's side in last season's Pokal semi-finals, but have lost the last two finals against Bayern in 2014 and Wolfsburg in 2015. That is a run star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – who has scored 39 goals in all competitions – is desperate to bring to an end, with 100,000

German Cup: Guardiola bows out as Aubameyang seeks final flourish

Ibrahimovich

Barbosa

The big rumour swirling in F1 circles at present is whether Nico Rosberg is really contemplating a switch from Mercedes for 2017. Italy's Corriere della Sera claims talks between the championship leader and Ferrari are underway. When asked about that as he departed the Barcelona test, Rosberg said: "I feel very good at Mercedes, but let's see what the future holds."

Nico Rosberg

Aubameyang INSET: Guardiola

aris Saint-Germain are leading Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for Santos star Gabriel Barbosa. The 19-year-old Brazilian has already been tipped for a big future, with scouts comparing him to Neymar. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have been watching the striker this season, as have Bayern Munich. But according to Barbosa's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, Paris Saint-Germain are the club who have made the first move.

PSG aim to beat Arsenal, Chelsea to 'new Neymar' MAY 2016

Rory McIlroy has expressed frustration at the "negative spin" that has been aimed at the Northern Irish golfer's winless start to the season, adding there is nothing wrong with his game. "I know expectations for myself are higher than other players, but you look at my record this year and my bad weeks are top-10s, basically,"

Rory McIlroy

arcelona have won the Copa del Rey an astonishing 27 times and are the defending champions when they face Sevilla at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon on Sunday. Barcelona overcame their April jitters where they lost four games in five, which allowed both Madrid clubs back into the league title race, clinching it with a 3-0 win at Granada. The buccaneering way in which they finished the campaign will be enough to make Sevilla believe they face an almight task. Sevilla will enter the match on a high after their thrilling come-frombehind victory over Liverpool in Wednesday night’s Europa League final, but much will will depend on how Unai Emery’s side recover from that encounter, and how they blunt Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Barcelona, Sevilla target double

aving finished the Ligue 1 season 31 points ahead of their nearest rival, Paris Saint-Germain will look to further underline their monopoly of silverware in France by claiming the Coupe de France as they bid farewell to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Their opponents Marseille may boast some of the most passionate fans in the country and a magnificent stadium, yet their league season was abysmal by their standards finishing in 14th place, nearly 50 points behind the champions. Despite the gaping disaprity between the sides, their two league meetings this season

were pretty close with PSG winning both by the same 2-1 scoreline to extend their unbeat en run against the side from the south to 11 matches. As previously mentioned they scored in both their ties with PSG this term and in Michy Batshuayi they boast an exciting and talented forward. The 22-year-old Belgian netted 17 times in Ligue 1 and four goals in seven Europa League games, and along with the likes of impressive midfielder Remy Cabella, Marseille have the capacity to score against PSG, even if they look unlikely to beat them.

n i e l l i e s r a M e PSG tackl h c t a m l l e w e r a f Ibrahimovic's

Louis Van Gaal’s days seem numbered whether he lifts the cup on Saturday or not. It is not just the disappointing reY TELEGRAPH

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Lifestyle of Sportsmen Ranieri lookalike beds 26 women

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21 MAY 2016

eicester City's fairy-tale ending of winning the Premier League has unleashed some bonkers stories in the media - including a Claudio Ranieri lookalike who claims to have found sexual success with the ladies. Unemployed Scottish electrician Alan Ashcroft says he has seduced 26 women, thanks to his resemblance to the Italian coach. He moved into a hotel in the Midlands city after the Foxes won the league to be able to take full advantage of his good fortune. "I never lie to them and I've never claimed to be Ranieri but they assume it and I don't put them right," the Glaswegian told the Sunday Sport.

Suarez's WAG celebrates 200,000 Instagram followers

Liverpool's target Karius set to bring stunning girlfriend to Anfield

he model girlfriend of Watford midfielder Mario Suarez has posted a nude Instagram photo to celebrate gaining 200,000 followers. Malena Costa Sjogren, 26, is a Spanish model and has been in a relationship with the footballer since 2012. She celebrated 200,000 fans on Instagram with a nude photo that received 17,000 likes. Sjogren posted: "Millions of thanks to my 200,000 followers! I had this photo prepared to celebrate this great day! Thank you for your support and I’m sending you a big hug." She also thanked Susana Hervas and Alex Archer, the two photographers she works with.

IVERPOOL are closing in on the signing of German stopper Loris Karius — but his stunning model girlfriend is the real keeper. The Reds want to sign a replacement for Adam Bogdan this summer to shore up their defence. And FSV Mainz 05’s stopper Karius looks set to join Anfield in a £5million move. This means his catch of a partner, Annelie Alpert, could also be on her way to the Premier League. The beautiful model could grace the Kop next term once the transfer is finalised. Karius met the 2009 Miss Hamburg winner while the blonde beauty was making a name for herself modelling across Europe last year.

Sjogen

Arsenal’s Wilshere engaged!

rsenal midfielder, Jack Wilshere and his girlfriend, Andriani Michael are now engaged after the midfielder proposed. Wilshere and Andriani -who is the daughter of his barber-have been dating for a year now. The midfielder got on one knee at the surprise 25th birthday party of Andriani and celebrated the engagement at Shaka Zulu and Gilgamesh in north London. “This weekend my beautiful girlfriend made me the luckiest man in the world and said yes! Couldn't be happier!” the midfielder wrote on Twitter alongside a photo of him and his fiancée. Adriana is the daughter of Wilshere's barber Michael Michael, the owner of a barber shop in Cockfosters and a football scout for Chelsea. Wilshere has two children from his ex-girlfriend Lauren Neal. Archie Jack Wilshere was born in September 2011 while the midfielder’s second child, Delilah Grace Wilshere was born in the same month in 2013.

Stories courtesy : Dailymail

Ranieri

Bony allegedly impregnates student, dumps her

Wilshere (left)

married Premier League footballer has been accused of pursuing a 23-year-old student on Instagram before leaving her when she became pregnant. Wilfried Bony, an Ivory Coast international who earns £100,000-a-week at Manchester City, has been criticised by the family of Londoner Courtney Ngobe. The striker, who has two children with his wife, denies he is the father and has reportedly agreed to a paternity test after the child is born. The allegations came to light after Miss Ngobe's sister, Nicole, posted an angry message on the footballer's Instagram page. She wrote: 'I've sat back and said nothing while you ruin my little sister's life.If you don't want children how about you learn how to use a CONDOM!!!!!!!! 'You told her you would support her to turn around and do absolutely NOTHING!! All you've done is cause nothing but

Bonny INSET: Ngobe

stress and grief for my sister. 'Once we prove the child is yours you can't take these eight months back! We don't want your money but you have to provide for your child!' Nicole, 24, later told The Sun: 'Bony chased my sister on Instagram. She had no idea he was married with kids. She's naive.' Nicole defended herself against attacks online, insisting: 'My sister regrets nothing and couldn't be happier for the little blessing she's about to have.''

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21 MAY 2016

I see a lot of myself in my son – Onyali severs to have come out of Nigeria, winning lete ath test grea the of one is ali Ony ry Ma ph’s exclusive interview with Saturday Telegra al laurels during her active years. In this n she two said she felt sorry for her mother whe CHARLES OGUNDIYA, the mother of raisinging her. Excerpts… realised what the woman went through

You had a glorious career, tell us how you got into athletics I will say athletics got to me when I was just a kid, six year old. I loved running around the community like every other kid, involved in plays like touch the flag, first to touch the pole, football, high jump, anything outdoor. I just enjoyed running around. That is exactly what my son is doing now and it is making me dizzy. Now I understand the stress I put my mother through while growing up. I just had too much energy according to my mum and I needed to burn it. How did you later settle for athletics? After running round for so long a time, I was actually trying to concentrate on high jump, but it got to a level that it was becoming too high for me and I was running too close to the pole, so I was put in the race and I did well, so I concentrated on that. What stood you out as an athlete? Actually my best event was 200m, 100m was a bonus for me. I never had a good start, they always leave me in the block, but because of my speed, endurance, I could hold my speed a bit longer than the others. I always started my race at 60m, so that made me a speed endurance 200m, 400m runner. 100m was always a bit difficult and tricky for me, but sometimes I got away with it. What could you say is the difference between your time and now? The difference between now is like night and day. It’s so bad now that I feel like cloning myself in each of all the athletes. They have the talents, it is natural and God-given, but the environment or the system has not been encouraging. I have to give them kudos for being able to still compete despite the environment. It shows they have the passion and love for the sport but the system is completely working on the opposite direction. If you go to the secondary schools from where most of us were discovered, by age 16 you had to be focused on what you want ed to become, get a coach that knew the right technique to help you become a better athlete before getting to the tertiary institution level. If you missed the 15-16 age bracket, to be properly technically guided, you might not get it again and that is what is happening in the country now. What is your view on athletes’ love for money? Money is good, we all love money, but you need to have the talent first, the right coach, and the system allowing the best in you to come out then money will definitely follow. When you have these three things: Talent, good coach and the right system, the three of them will bring money for you. It is when you perform well as an athlete that so many things come to you. It might not even be monetary rewards, it could be scholarship, it could be a car, house and so many good things. The reward will be waiting for you. But if the athletes are putting the money before performance, then they have already failed. It is just like putting a starting block 5m behind the starting point; you have

already lost the race. Money is a good motivational influence, but athletes should not put it at the fore-front. When I was competing, my focus was not money but how to get better in my game because I knew if I ran well, whatever the prize money would be mine. As an athlete, if you raise your game, like we did during our days, when like eight of us would breast the tape at the same time, and the photo finish suffered because it would be used to separate the top three finishers; there was constant fight to be part of the 4x100m relay team, because in individual races, you couldn't really separate us. The sponsors were ready to be part of our events. Mobil was ready to sponsor our meets for many years because the competition was very stiff. Let the athletes make their games strong again and see how sponsors will come back. When the standard is high, the spectators will come out to watch, media men will be ready to cover the events, and the sponsors will be ready to invest their money. When you win as an athlete, you get the biggest part of the cake. The kids these days have turned it all around by placing money before performance.

am currently engaging in with my colleagues. I have my sports foundation which I am yet to activate. I have been kind of restless since I retired. What is your generation doing about the dwindling fortune of athletics in the country? My heart bleeds when I see half-baked athletes especially as I know they have what it takes to excel. The system has failed them, the stakeholders

(coaches and ex-internationals) have failed them but thank God, we the stakeholders have decided to take the sport back. The exinternationals have decided to come together, not only in athletics but in all sports by trying to get into the system. Even when they are not allowing us to get Onyali in through the door, we will go in through the windows because we need to rescue the sport. It hurts us (ex-internationals) when these athletes complain bitterly to us how the system has failed them. It will be a shame on our part watching them crumble, we have decided to step in and that’s why most of us have decided to be going to different meets to support the athletes. Seeing us alone will serve as a morale-booster for them. We don’t have to start giving them money, seeing us around alone shows that we care. How did you manage your family and career during your active days? In everything you do in life, one thing has to give way for the other. You can never be faithful to the two. Sport has a very small window and if you failed to utilise it at an early stage when you are very young, then you have missed it. That is why family sometimes takes the back seat for an athlete to excel. But they are always there as the support system. If they are not there for you, it will be somehow difficult. When I was running, I was able to hold my family and after my retirement, I am fully back with them. Are any of your kids taking after their mother? I have two kids, my daughter is 18 and just gained admission into the University of Houston on scholarship just like I did, while my son is eight and in primary school. The two of them are into sports. My son is full of energy and already outruns everyone in his school including his headmaster and I have to warn him to take it easy. I can see a lot of myself in him and I feel sorry for my mother when I realise she suffered same thing I am going through now when I was growing up.

What can you say about the Golden League organised by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria? The national classic has been replaced with the Golden League, different names but same circuit like we called it in our days but Onyali we don’t have Mobil sponsorship again. When Ogba (Solomon) came as the president of the AFN, it was towards the end of the Mobil sponsorship and I don’t know why the partnership was not renewed. If the federation can get a big sponsor like Mobil that will absorb all our trials, because Mobil was actually taking care of all our activities then which always ended with the national trials. It was carnival like every time we came around for the trials, but it very unfortunate we have to make do with half-baked meets like the Golden League we have now.

Any advice for parents on how to handle their wards who are interested in sports? We always encourage parents to allow these kids not to specialise when they are at very tender age. Very soon, their area of specialisation will find them, and when they are hooked to a particular sport, then you will allow them to continue from there.

Describe life after retirement After my retirement, Yali Yali Sportswear became my baby. I have some other youth development programmes which I Son

Do you see Nigeria performing well at the Olympics? I am not God, and I don’t want to wish my children (because I call all the athletes my children) ill, I want them to go there and do well, even though things are not the way it is supposed to be for them to do well. It was not 100 percent when I was competing but better than what we are experiencing now, that is why it is difficult for me to say we are going to perform or not. I want us to do well, I hope the zeal and the competitive energy in a typical Nigerian man, not just in sports alone, but all aspect of our lives, that never fail attitude that we have in our system, will see us achieving something in Rio. Sometimes when we were pushed to the wall, you would see us pulling some surprises especially in difficult times like this. Yes things are difficult, but I am hoping, because it has gone beyond prayers now, I am hoping that we get things right.

Sport

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21 MAY 2016

CAF U-20: Amuneke unleashes Nwakali, Osimhen on Burundi N Ajibade Olusesan

igeria begins their defence of the U-20 AFCON crown against to Burundi, and Flying Eagles coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, will count on the duo of Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimhen to punish their hosts today. Last year, the Flying Eagles conquered the continent in a blistering style without losing a match under coach Manu Garba who has since being replaced by Emmanuel Amuneke after the one-time African Footballer of the Year, led Nigeria’s U-17 team (Golden Eaglets) to a record fifth FIFA World Cup title in Chile last year. Incidentally, Amuneke has promoted virtually all members of the Chile team and reckons that his youngsters will be ready for the ‘rough and tumble’ task given the stiff competition expected in Bujumbura. This would be the first match for both sides in the qualifiers, since the West Africans were exempted f r o m the First Round, while Burundi reached the second round

following the withdrawal of DR Congo. Nwakali was the Most Valuable Player in Chile while Osimhen was the highest goalscorer and the two players have been the bedrock of the U-20 team. “We are preparing, and have been working pretty hard for the match against Burundi,” Amuneke said ahead of the match billed for the Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium in Bujumbura on Saturday. “They (players) know what is expected of them and collectively as a team, we are looking forward to the match with optimism. Individually and collectively, we are doing everything in order to be on the same page and when we get to Burundi (Bujumbura), we are going to give a very good account of ourselves as a team,” noted the former Barcelona winger. Apart from Nwakali and and Osimhen, Amuneke can also count on the experience of Samuel Chukwueze who was the Bronze Shoe Winner in Chile, goalkeeper Akpan Udoh, defenders Ejike Ikwu, John Lazarus among others.

Kulu-Akinyemi

Rio Paralympics: Athletes begin camping June Adeolu Johnson Abuja

pecial athletes representing the country at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in Brazil from September 7 to 18 are to begin intensive training when they move to camp in Abuja next month. The Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD) in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Hauwa Kulu- Akinyemi, said the athletes would begin to move to camp now with release of this year’s budget

to the ministry. Hauwa said the changing of the National Sports Commission to the Ministry of Youth and Sports somehow delayed the take-off of the camping exercise. “I can assure you that preparations for the Paralympics Games will commence as soon as the money gets to us,” she explained. She disclosed that preparation for the Olympics Games proper had been concluded with the athletes at the final phase of camping. “People are worried because they do not see most of these athletes camped together in one place, but I can assure them that everything is going on smoothly except for one or two federations like boxing and weightlifting which are still going through the qualifiers, “ she pointed out. The director said the athletes for the last event Canoeing will be coming in from London, exuding confidence that everything is going on accordingly. The Nigeria Para-powerlifting Federation (NPPF) had earlier in the year declared that its final preparation for the Rio Paralympic Games was being threatened by paucity of funds, as a result of the economic meltdown in the country. At the last count, 18 of the nation’s power-lifting athletes; nine men and nine women had qualified for the Rio Paralympic Games. They were supposed to attend a championship in Malaysia as part of their preparations but could not due to non-availability of funds.

Educate Nigerians on new FIFA rules – NRA Scribe Adeolu Johnson

T Osimhen (riht)

Abuja

he Secretary of Nigeria Referee Association (NRA) Olukayode Oluwa, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation and the League Management Company to begin an enlightenment campaign on the 17 new FIFA rules to avert chaos at match venues. He said the new laws would become effective from June 1st and he called on both football bodies to begin the campaign through the media, seminars and symposiums. The NRA scribe said the campaign should not be limited to the practitioners but to the general public

and fans that will throng venues to watch matches. He said he was saying this to avoid a situation where some referees are held to ransom over some decisions. He said the rules were fast changing, citing a situation where a goal-bound player is impeded in the box and the offender gets a red card and a penalty awarded against his team. Oluwa disclosed that according the new rule the penalty stays but the red card has been replaced by a yellow card which means the offender will no longer be sent out. He said this and many more are the things over 100 referees are benefitting from the ongoing FIFA MA course for elite and other grades.

20 Teams for Access Bank- Bolt: Doping findings rough for athletics UNICEF Charity Shield Polo O

Emmanuel Tobi

bout 20 teams have confirmed participation for the 10th edition of the Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament scheduled to hold in Kangimi Resort, Kaduna, from May 25 to June 5. The tournament which is being organised in collaboration with Fifth Chukker is the biggest charity polo event in Africa and it will feature 15 teams vying for honours in three categories. According to the Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu, “We have been working in Kaduna, in collaboration with UNICEF to elevate quality of lives. We need to do

a lot more in support of these orphans and vulnerable children especially in the IDP camps to enable them to live a better life and have access to education.” The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough, added that: “We know that sustainable development begins with safe, healthy and well-educated children irrespective of status. We have no doubt through this partnership, made positive impacts in the lives of disadvantaged children in education and healthcare and we are hoping to do more.” Babangida Hassan, Fifth Chukker Polo Captain, said they were proud to continue in the development of this established partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF.

Bolt

lympic sprint champion Usain Bolt said the finding of 31 positive doping samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics marked a rough point for athletics, but backed the World Anti-Doping Agency in its effort to crackdown on drug use in the sport. Thirty-one athletes from six sports could be banned from this year's Rio Olympics after failing dope tests when 454 samples were reexamined from the 2008 Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday. "It's rough in the sport," the six-times Olympic Champion told British media. "Something that's been tarnishing the sport for years." The IOC said it would begin re-testing athletes likely to take part in the Rio Games to prevent any drug cheats from competing. "Hopefully, we can take steps forward in making the sports better and in the coming years we won't have these problems," said Bolt, 29. "But I think it's a process, and I think over time we will get better because they're (WADA) doing such a good job."

Investigations 33

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Ofada/amala corner at a popular joint in Lagos. photo:pulse.ng

Tantalising suya beckoning on customers photo:pulse.ng

NB’s half-year gross profit climbed 3.8 per cent to N29.6 billion

Ex-militants leaders. photo: dailypost.ng

amongst the spots are the popular TMama, IBB Pen House, Army Barracks, Police Officers' Mess, Ben Jama'a, Rita Spot, Sambisa and FM Maitumbi. The owners, however, refused to disclosed their sales or profits but one of our correspondents gathered from a reliable source that IBB Pen House, managed by Lubiana, makes over N90,000 daily and a little over N600,000 weekly. “Customers spend at least between N200 and N1,000 at a sitting depending on the peak periods (weekends), especially,” the source who refused his name in print, added. It was however gathered that each of the licenced drinking spot in the state capital makes an average of between N500, 000 and about N1 million weekly and over N3 million monthly depending on the patronage. Relaxation is also one of the tools being used by the people of Osogbo, Osun State capital, to ease off their stress and tension after every day's work. Many of them now prefer to hang out in bars and other drinking spots where they believe their nerves and pressures could be better cooled. For instance, a visit by another correspondent to many of these drinking spots revealed presence of large drinkers in most of these centres. A middle aged man, Adeoye Alowonle, said, visiting of drinking spots remains an habit that can never be taken away from him by any creature except God or death. Alowonle

did not stop there. He added: "The spots also serve as convergent points for the intellectuals who always display their grammatical and analytical skills after getting drunk with many bottles of beer. “Drinking spot is not a gathering of mediocres alone but a place where knowledge could be sought, learnt and assimilated fast. It is also a place where unknown could be revealed to the novices and where information flows freely like kite to the wise,” Alowonle said. When asked of the average cost of such enjoyment on a weekly/monthly basis, he said he spends about N50,000 on a weekly basis and an average of N200,000 monthly. At Sir "k" beer parlor, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, an operator who identified himself as Ade said, drinking spots operation is one of the most lucrative businesses in town at present. He said despite the fact that the nation’s economy has become battered and shattered, the industry still booms. Cross River, often seen as a civil service state, is equally a land of merriment and this seemed to have been embedded into the culture of the people. It is therefore, not surprising that the number of drinking spots, or what has been described as “sit outs” tend to compete with, or has since overshadowed the number of churches in the state.

Averagely, an individual spends about N750 per day, which buys three bottles of beer for those who drink brands like Star beer, small Stout, Legend and such other brand which is sold for N250 a bottle. For those who drink such brands as Harp, Heineken, Origin, which is sold for N300, they spend higher. However, one noticeable thing in recent time is the fact that the majority of those who patronise these spots now drink the 33 brand which is sold for just N200. Also in Asaba, Delta State capital, fun-seekers defy economic hardships on a daily basis to soak themselves in beer. Despite the current dwindling economic fortune in the country, night life and other refreshing activities have continued to bolster in the state. Checks at some popular hangout spots along the popular Nnebisi and Okpanam Roads in the capital territory, revealed that a bottle of beer costs about N300 to N500 in some of these centres. This is against their regular price of N200 in less fancied places. There is usually a plate of fresh fish or goat pepper-soup with which they gratify their delight and accompany the drinks. The pepper soup costs between N500 and N1,000, depending on standard of the restaurant. One of the managers of a booming restaurant, adjacent the G.R.A State’s School, along Okpanam road, who craved anonymity, said: “Although there is paucity of funds in government circle, customers have not stopped patronising us. “We have those we refer to as regulars. Even if nobody comes in here to say ‘what do you have’? Our regular customers must come and we know the amount of money they spend daily on drinks at a sitting. It is usually a bumper harvest whenever they come with their friends, especially girls. On the average, we sell close to N500,000 daily,” he disclosed. However, these busy drinking spots,

Faces of drinking joints across Nigeria photos: our correspondents

appear to have translated into more profits for the lager companies. Recently, Nigerian Breweries Plc has recorded a profit after tax (PAT) of N10.45 billion for the first quarter. The unaudited results made available by the company to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the N10.45 billion PAT was four per cent higher than the N10.10 billion PAT recorded in the corresponding period of 2015. The company’s revenue for the period grew by 11 per cent from N69.92 billion in 2015 to N77.55 billion in the current period. A further analysis showed that the results from operating activities improved by 10 per cent from N16.37 billion in the first three months of 2015 to N17.99 in the corresponding months in 2016. Nigerian Breweries explained in a statement that the 11 per cent growth in revenue was a reflection of the company’s strong and effective route to market, increased sales during the festive Easter period as well as higher number of sales days in the period as against the lower number of days recorded in the corresponding period of 2015 due to the general elections. According to the statement, despite the current challenging operating environment leading to consumer downtrading, rising inflation, increased cost of financing due to higher foreign exchange cost and increased input cost among others, the company was still able to return the four per cent increase in PAT. The increase in profit was also helped by the one-off merger costs incurred in the first quarter of 2015. The statement signed by the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mr. Uaboi Agbebaku, further said although the board expects the operating environment in 2016 to continue to be very challenging, it remains confident that the company is in a good position to take advantage of any upswing in the market especially with its twin agenda of cost leadership and market leadership supported by innovation. Nigerian Breweries Plc. had ended 2015 with a revenue of N293 billion in 2015, up by 10.3 per cent compared with N266 billion in 2014 and profit before tax of N54 billion. Additional reports from Dan Atori (Minna), Adeolu Adeyemo (Osogbo), Musa Pam (Jos), Clement James (Calabar) and Dominic Adewole (ASABA)

34 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Tonade: It’s not easy growing up without a mother Despite being an emerging actor, Tonade Emmanuel Taiwo, has produced four movies between 2012 and 2016. His latest effort, ‘Omo Ologo’, which was produced last month, will hit the market in July. The Yoruba movie maker tells OLUSHOLA RICKETTS about his new picture and love for acting. Why did you venture into filmmaking? I joined the film industry in 2002 after my secondary school and I became a professional actor and producer in 2010. I have no regrets since I became involved in this, and I always believe in whatever I lay my hands on. Did your parents support you? I lost my mother from day one; I was brought up by a single parent, my father. My father has been very supportive in his own little way. He always advised me to do things well because I don’t know where it could take me to. It must be tough growing up without a mother? It was not easy growing up without a motherly figure in my life; no one can replace the role of a mother. But with the help of God, my twin brother and I survived and we are doing well. I am a devoted Christian; I don’t play with

the things of God.

trol because anything He is involved in comes out well. It would be available in the market in July by the special grace of God. Are you fulfilled as an actor? I am an actor, a producer and very soon I will be moving into directing. I am happy. I am passionate about the movie industry. While growing up in the church, I was in the drama group. Do you make money from movie production? I cannot say how much I have made from it, but I can tell you how much a movie production has cost me. We are all aware that piracy has really turned everything upside down. Nevertheless, I thank God.

Is your twin brother into movies too? No, he is an accountant by profession. As my only brother we always look out for each another, though we disagree on issues a lot. How would you rate your performance in the industry? I would not say I am there yet, but I am doing my best and I am satisfied with my growth. My first production was in 2012 titled ‘Ife Owu’, which featured Damola Olatunji, Austin Emmanuel, myself, Jide Kosoko and other good artistes. I normally play lead roles in all my productions.

What are the challenges? We have challenges from marketers, the public and pirates. If the public are buying original movies only, the pirates w o u l d have run out of business by now.

How did you convince Jide Kosoko to be part of your project? He believed in the project and my ability. I produced ‘Ofin llumi, ‘Irire Nla, and I have a new movie entitled ‘Omo Ologo.’ What is the storyline behind ‘Omo Ologo’? It is about a child that was abandoned because of a family problem. We have stars like Jaiye Kuti, Ladi Folarin, Tayo Adeniyi, Taiwo Aromokun and a host of others. How much did you spend on the movie? No point exaggerating how much, but we spent almost N2m. We shot the movie for seven days at a location in Ikorodu, Lagos. I just want God to take absolute con-

Tonade

How would you challenge upand-coming actors and producers? They should be steadfast and determined because there are many challenges that would come their way.

Kiss Daniel's album concert: How singer got it wrong using Eko Hotel Olushola Ricketts

iss Daniel has proven himself as a good singer with songs like the massive hit ‘Woju’ and recently ‘Mama’, but he obviously didn't need to use Eko Hotels and Suites for his album concert held on Sunday. He was ill-advised by whosoever pushed him into it, especially for a debut album. Unlike Olamide's concert in December and other shows where people struggled for parking space, it wasn't hard to access the car park of the album launch concert funded by GWorldwide E n t e rtainment Kiss Daniel C E O ,

Emperor Geezy. At the car park, surprised with the situation, a fun seeker asked our correspondent if they were actually having a show there. Our correspondent replied: "I am sure the hall is full and also the rain must have delayed many people. They are on the way." Though the venue was the highly rated Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, it was just a little part of the hall that was used for the album concert and it was still a struggle to fill it up. To make matters worse, the media representatives who were supposed to help them occupy the space were not allowed to go beyond the red carpet. Kiss Daniel’s management team led by Louiza Williams claimed that the media would be allowed in later. She said to our correspondent: "The press cannot enter now. They should stay on the red carpet." The disposition of the organisers towards the media of course didn't go down well with most of the journalists who had supported the young singer all along. They didn’t ask for anything; they only wanted a live

coverage, which was a plus to Kiss Daniel’s rising career. While some of the journalists left in annoyance, others waited patiently or looked for other ways to get into the hall. Saturday Telegraph's correspondent had an 'All Access’ tag, a pass he collected from a friend. The show didn’t kick off until a few minutes past 10pm. Aside from performances from up-and-coming artistes, notable names like Vector, Seyi Law, AY, Yaw, Reekado Banks, Akpororo, Ushbebe, Burna Boy and others came out to support Kiss Daniel. 2face Idibia gave everything and more to the singer. At some point he introduced Kiss Daniel to the audience, saying: “This boy here is one of the talented ones. He is one of the real ones, and that’s why you guys are here.” When Kiss Daniel came on stage amid drama, 9ice and 2face later joined him. Together, they performed the classic hit songs ‘Street credibility’, and ‘Gongo Aso’. For most people at the event, that was the performance that made their night.

Showbiz 35

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Courage, emotions as Airtel’s ‘The Voice Nigeria’ enters episode 6

n what is already turning out to be one of the most exciting competitions on African television, viewers were once again treated to a spectacular blend of entertainment and display of talent as aspiring singers thrilled coaches and fans alike in episode six of The Voice Nigeria, proudly sponsored by Airtel Nigeria. Sunday’s episode saw TeamTubaba win over the silky voiced Obed Ogbonna and the petite songstress, Precious. TeamWaje continued her impressive streak as she won over male vocalists Promise and Uche Michael, while TeamPatoranking scored with Benjamin and TeamTimi successfully wooed Kofo. Highlights of the show included the performance by visually impaired Adim, who inspired a rousing applause from the audience for his courage, and opera singer Amanda who could not garner support from the coaches despite a sterling performance. At the end of the episode, the teams were neck deep in competition with Teamwaje leading the pack with 11 talents. TeamTubaba, TeamPatoranking and TeamTimi each have 10 talents in what is turning out to be one of the most exciting competitions on African television. If you missed Sunday’s episode of The Voice Nigeria you can still catch all the highlights from the show on Wednesday at 8.30pm and 7pm on Galaxy TV and ONtv respectively. You can also download The Voice Nigeria app on the Apple and Android app stores and get updated on backstage photos, news and highlights from Africa’s biggest show. The show can be followed on twitter @Africamagictv and on Instagram @AfricaMagic and audience can visit www.africamagic.tv and http:// thevoicenigeria.dstv.com for more information.

TURNING P INT Benjamin Spellz

cannot really say, but winning producer of the year at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) on September 30, 2013 was a big one for me. Other awards came after that, but it was my first and I was very excited about it. I made a promise to myself afterwards that I would always be on top of my game and here I am to God be the glory.

'Gaga Crazy' by Chuddy K actually bought me into limelight, but I was hoping it would be 'On Point,' 9ice featuring Wizkid. 'Gaga Crazy' came doing the fuel subsidy removal and was everywhere. We made the song within 45 minutes and it marked the beginning of more hit songs.

‘Le Rouge By Amma’Strolls To Town

hough starting and marketing a clothing line may seem quite daunting, this appears the perfect venture for Fatima Amma Indimi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Le Rouge By Amma and Fashion Cafe Abuja, who is passionate about fashion, its creations and designs. When asked whether opening a relatively unknown brand, Le Rouge By Amma in Wuse II, Abuja, an economically trying time in Nigeria and the Nigerian fashion industry was not a risky gamble, she was circumspect. “It is never a good time or a bad time; it is just a question of knowing what you can do. Now, I have a brand. I wanted to try this challenge at this point in my life. And if not now, when? There might never be another brand like this passing by,” she enthuses. The brand collection, which was launched recently, offers an exclusive selection of clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery and cosmetics. The brand is all about fashion, with particular focus on quality and design details, as well as personal expression and styling. And what explains the birth of Le Rouge By Amma? “My birthstone is Ruby, and it is the colour red. Rouge is a shade of red. So, Le Rouge was a good fit for my brand as I have always been fascinated and inspired by French fashion,” she retorted enthusiastically. Indimi gets inspired by a lot of designers depending on the collections they make each season. “The one I definitely look up to the most is Stephane Rolland. I wish I could do what he does. He is a freak of nature!” Indimi, who has nothing to lose by letting her imaginations run wild, has stepped into the realm of innovation, extracting her fashion statement from her use of French influences and a twist of an African dress sense to appeal to the African as well as the western markets. This fusion, according to her, has set her brand apart, and looks to generating worldwide impact hopefully soon .Take Le Rouge By Amma brand,

promising unique avant-garde-looking but culturally adaptable style, is now stocked for the fashion-conscious ladies in the country. And of course launching and managing a fashion and retail business successfully require a lot more than mere knowledge of the latest fashion trends. Amma has created sustainable fashion at the best price; a collection which includes everything, from moderate party collections to quintessential basics. The width and variety of Le Rouge By Amma collection mean customers can always find something to suit their style and their wardrobe. The brand is a fashion experience clothes, accessories, and a store concept characterised by creativity and colourful and detail design. The brand's individualistic fitness is aimed primarily at those with fashion sense, but it is also about personal style for agile mentality.

Fatima Hamma Indimi and a friend at the opening

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

TV&Radio

21 MAY 2016

with Deborah Ocheni

This weekend AIT

Muktar

Rising inflation in Nigeria B reakfast Show is a lifestyle programme that discusses daily life challenges and activities; this edition of the programme focused on the rising inflation in Nigeria and its effects on the nation’s economy. It is aired daily on TVC at 7:30 am. Mohammed Muktar, an economist, was the speaker during this edition of the programme and he noted that over dependence on foreign raw materials and lack of liquidity were responsible for the inflation the country currently experiences. “Most of the things we use are imported, the only thing that is somewhat stable in Lagos is housing as landlords no longer demand for two years rent but the rents are still there. If you look at the fuel situation, it is only in Lagos and Abuja that you get fuel at official price. Outside these places, you get it at a higher rate. So when you look at those indices, it doesn’t speak in definite terms about where we are heading,” Muktar said. Speaking about the effect of inflation on economy, he said: “we sit

down, doing the same thing and expect a different result. The only thing CBN has done differently was to say no more supply of dollars, every other thing is done the same old way.” On the role of government in salvaging the naira, Muktar said: “The naira itself is in the worst stage it had ever been and it has been devalued over time; the difference between the official exchange rate and parallel rate is too wide, so tactically the naira has been devalued and when this happens the cost of clothing and foodstuffs that are brought into the country will be high because the manufacturer don’t have access to FOREX. So, they have to source for it in the parallel market and they do it at a very high rate. So it boils down to what the government can do.” He however noted that lack of economic indices is responsible for the inflation we have now. “The problem with Nigeria is that we don’t have economic indices, we don’t look at our economic environment and adjust ourselves to it, and even our government doesn’t do that. For instance, the issue of budget padding, you could see that

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

Smooth FM's Sope

ope Martins is a trained International Studies and Diplomacy postgraduate with love for all things creative. Having spent most of her life in the United Kingdom, Sope finally decided to relocate home and live her secret dream life in broadcasting with Smooth FM 98.1. After graduating with a BA in Italian and Linguistics, Sope spent quite a while working in research in the Italian economy. Now that Sope is in her dream career, she’s all about helping Nigerian youths get onto the ladder for their ideal career through her upcoming internship project. When not walking the halls of the station, she can be found baking her novelty cupcakes. Hook up with Sope on Smooth Breakfast and The Smooth Book Review daily.

it is not the reflection of where we are going. Generally, Nigerians don’t do things to reflect economic indices, if you look at the current economic indices, you will notice that there is not much cash in the system, no liquidity in system. A lot of things are supposed to naturally take their place by going down but in Nigeria that is not the case. Another thing we have to look at is demand and supply, the demand is still high and there is no supply and anywhere this happens, the few that have liquidity will use it the way they want. “We don’t have a proper barometer in measuring our economic roles, we tend to be political when we want to do our economic analysis; nobody wants to tell the truth about the reality on ground, rather they paint a picture of an economy that is doing well despite the challenges. We depend so much on importation of materials, a lot of things are imported into the country and earnings have gone down.” Another problem is that the CBN is not able to meet the internal dollar demands that they were hitherto able to, so importers source for the currency and when they bring in goods they charge according to how they sourced for currency. He advised that Nigerians should patronise made in Nigeria goods in other to help the economy. “We knew for over five years now that we were going to have challenges in terms of fall in oil prices but we never prepared to face the challenges. The way out is to look for made in Nigeria goods, it’s difficult but we need to start adjusting and boost our agricultural system in other to help our economy,” Muktar said.

Programme summary

Sunday Homily

Ait (253) Sunday @ 11am It is a programme that summarises Sunday Catholic Mass and how to apply the tenets to everyday life.

Question time Channels (254)Sunday @10am Sope

It is a political programme that profiles the basic activities and accountability portfolio of officeholders in Nigeria.

TELEVISION

TVC

Saturday 8:00 Nickelodeon 9:00 Brights 10:00 Smallvile 11:00 Crack in the Wall 11:30 UAC Soccer Lafflines 12:00 Music Video and More 12:30 Voices 1:00 Indomitable

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

1:30 MBGN Diary 2:00 Adams Apple 3:00 Unspoken 3:30 Boom Town 4:00 Local Movies 5:30 Two Sides of a Coin 7:00 News 7:30 Secrets and Scandal 8:00 My Wedding Story 8:30 Fans Championship 9:00 Local Movies 9:30 Events Diary 10:00 News Sunday 8:30 Brights 9:30 Gospel Rhythms 10:00 St Dominics 11:00 Gospel Symphony 12:00 Walking with God 12:30 Revival in the Land 1:00 The Advantage 1:30 Love Dating and Marriage 2:00 Mountain Top Life 2:30 Impact Today 3:30 Singles and Married 4:00 Chapel of Uncommon Grace 4:30 Elevation Church 5:00 Reel Infotainment 5:30 Gospel Rhythms 6:00 WWTBAM 7:30 Hour of Salvation 8:00 Local Movies 9:00 Entertainment weekly 9:30 Boom Town

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

RADIO

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

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

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

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

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

The Arts

Culture, ceremony as NWA holds anniversary

Flora Onwudiwe visual encounter with the body of work by Moses Oghagbon, which is on display at The Moor house Ikoyi, Lagos, bears the symbol of the high quality of the products of Yaba College of Technology, (YABATECH), which expresses itself in a deep colourful medium. His paintings bear striking characteristics of the Yaba Art School which justifies the excellence of his exhibits as the only way he has chosen to distinguish himself from his contemporaries. After all every artist must have a style that is peculiar to him. Oghagbon, an artist trained at the YABATECH School of Art and Printing Technology, where he graduated with the Higher National Diploma(HND) in Fine Arts, specialising in Painting, challenges his viewers to look beyond Argungu Fishing Festival in this exhibition comprising 30 of both miniature and large paintings, which he titles Argungu Series 2. In a highly philosophical manner, he expresses his coming in contact with the Northern landscape, especially the fishing festival, and other cultural activities of the Argungu people. The artist is on a crusade on why the government of Kebbi State needs to resuscitate the Argungu Fishing Festival that started over 80 years ago, but due to the security challenge threatening the peace of the nation it’s been put on hold since 2009. “We were completing the plan to host the festival when we received threats from the Boko Haram terrorists that if we host the festival, they disrupt the festival. Although, the security men told us that we should disregard their threat, we could not bring in Nigerians and foreigners to the festival. We are very hopeful that the festival will be back next year,” representative of the government of Kebbi State, who is also the consultant Argungu Fishing Festival, Mr. Abel Akinosi, said. fishing they are really desperate to get According to him, the festival back to the river. We could see the growstarted in 1934 as a symbol to promote ing vegetation of a fertile land that has friendliness and peace. He said: “There produced enough food for the people was animosity between the Sokoto Ca- of Kebbi State. liphate and the Kebbi Kingdom and the He is apparently not keen on whethfestival started in 1934 as a symbol to er the government of Kebbi ensures put an end to the centuries of hostility. that the festival comes alive, but rather “On receiving the Emir of Sokoto he is against that the continuous threat with his entourage, the elated Emir and pains the terrorists have caused the of Argungu then thought of what he people who have sustained this festival could give them that they did not have for more than 80 years. in their own state; what he did was to In another painting, entitled “Experitake them to the Malan Fada River ence 1” the artist shows an old man who is bank and fished for them. very frail, grey haired with a sagging skin; “And they all went home with a lot even his eyes are sunken in their sockets; of fish. The Emir of Sokoto was very perhaps, Allah must have been preservhappy and said that he would be coming him to tell the stories right from his ing here every year to have these fishes. childhood days. He must be as old as the That was how Argungu Fishing Festi- fishing festival that began in 1934. val started. But of recent it has not held From his experience, he has been able because of security challenges.” to document all the activities that go along One of the paintings, which is enti- with the festival, he has almost given up tled The Way We Are 3, (Oil on Canvas), all hope as the terrorists are not in any way is the artist’s glorification of the spirit relenting, but for Oghagbon, who is drumof the three local young men and boys, ming harder with his brushstrokes in his who are passionate about the festival, visual narrative form, it is really sad that waiting eagerly in readiness to for eight years what used to boost plunge into the Malan Fada the state economy, making it a River bank. The fishermen tourist home is in dire need of are armed with their hand the government to expedite nets and gourds. action in the fight against The artist assumes the the terrorists. role of piloting the boat It is interesting to know for the people of Arwhat Oghagbon, who is gungu, who are mainly from Omolua-Igbanke in fishermen and farmers. Orhionmwon Local GovernFor eight years now without Oghagbon

Tony Okuyeme

Experience

Echoes of Argungu Fishing Festival on Oghagbon’s canvas

ment Area in Edo State, could be doing in Kebbi State for such a big project that has become a centre of attraction for the government of Kebbi State. “The project started when I did my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2003, in Kebbi State. Then I moved from one local government to another with my analog camera taking photographs of the beautiful ancient town; and my Corps members used to make fun of me, which led to Nigeria project that gave birth to Argungu series 2. Though, Argungu series 1 was showcased at Terra Kulture, Lagos in 2013,” Oghagbon said. He recalled that the first time he saw the festival was in 2003. “I was a corps member then, and since I intended doing the fishing festival in form of visual arts. Here in Lagos when you mention Argungu, people will say those people in water.

Festival

he rich cultural heritage of the people of Ukuani and Ndokwa areas of Delta State will be on display with their vibrant and colourful cultural performances as Ndokwa Women’s Association (NWA) holds its 30th anniversary celebration. The event which will hold at City Mall, Onikan, Lagos, under the distinguished chairmanship of the Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, will have several sons and daughters of Ndokwa including Dr. Austin Atimoh Odili, veteran filmmaker and former chairman of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Chief Eddie Ugboma, celebrated thespians, among other in attendance. President NWA, Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Tilije, while addressing the press recently in Lagos, said NWA (Out Okwa N’Uzor), is a philanthropic/cultural organisation, formed 30 years ago out of deep desire to reach out and help women in Ndokwaland, (Girl Child) who either through ignorance or lack of proper counseling continues to waste opportunities for self-improvement. “Motivated by this brilliant idea, five foundation members, led by Chief Mrs. Mary Okpor who is our Mother General today, sent out invitation letters to interested women of Ndokwa origin to join the association,” she said. NWA (Out Okwa N’Uzor), she added, is a philanthropic/cultural organisation, founded in 1986. “It is a body registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja. NWA is a non-governmental organisation with over 40 active, educated and vibrant members of Ndokwa daughters by birth or marriage. “NWA has successfully educated over 65 female indigent students from various tertiary institutions in the country through its scholarship programme. These graduates are contributing meaningfully today to the socio-economic development of Ndokwaland, Delta state, Nigeria and the world. “This conference was born out of the need to launch NWA’s laudable achievements over the years and future endeavour to the rest of the world, especially its 30th anniversary and launching of N120 million Ndokwa Women’s Association Development Centre.” The proposed Ndokwa Women’s Association Development Centre in Obiaruku, she further stated, will consist of a primary diagnostic centre, skill acquisition centre and a hall for social and cultural activities. “This project when completed will help to improve the quality of life of not only the girl child/female gender but also the male gender. “The skill acquisition centre when fully operational will provide an opportunity for both male and female children of school age who couldn’t get a place in any of the secondary schools or tertiary institutions or young adults who are unemployed even after graduation from different institutions of learning to acquire basic skills in different vocations that will help set them up for a productive life.”

FRED NWAOZOR

“T

he Horse.” Coach Burgos called right in the dressing room, squatting. “Yes, Coach.” Ikem responded as he was seated on the tiled floor unwinding himself. The tete-a-tete was necessitated by a football match Ikem’s team just had few minutes back with their closest rival, in the city of Toledo, Spain. Ikem Ogbuehi - popularly known as ‘The Horse’, a Spanish-based Nigerian striker who played in one of the second-division Spanish clubs, Superoni FC had been the talk of the day ever since he joined the club about eight months back owing to his resilient and exemplary attribute. Prior to his stay in the club, he was actively playing in one of the amateur clubs in Nigeria. Aside his dogged and fascinating style of approaching football, since he became a player in Superoni FC, there was no match he couldn’t score at least a goal for the club; as a result of this outstanding and historic record, he was reckoned to be the Horse of the Superoni FC, which remained one of the most respected football clubs in the history of Spain. Ikem who doubled as an Under-17 (U-17) player in the Nigerian Golden Eaglets was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that he lived up to the expectations. “You really did very well in that match.” Coach Burgos complimented, still squatting. Ikem’s Spanish coach, Mr. Wilson Burgos had thought it wise to commend him for his wonderful performance, which wasn’t unusual, during the match the club just had with their rival. In that very match, Ikem who played wing number 8 both in the club and in the Nigerian U-17 team scored a hattrick. The coach just moved very close to where he was unwinding amid his fellow players. “Thank you, Coach.” He replied, head bent. Still seated on the tiled floor. “If you continue like this,” Coach Burgos rode on. “I bet you, you will go places.” Ikem listened attentively. “You’re a blessing to your generation.” The coach asserted, paused. “But you must remain consistent and persistent, because you still have places to go.” Ikem remained calm. “And,” Mr. Burgos continued. “Stay away from women.” He teased, pointing one of his right fingers at him. Ikem laughed. “Thank you, Coach.” He appreciated. “That’s my boy!” the 40-yearold white coach exclaimed cheerfully, stylishly tapped Ikem’s head with his left hand concurrently. Stood up and walked away. Ikem smiled as he watched his pleasant boss depart for other corner in the resting room.

ShortStory

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21 MAY 2016

frednwaozor@gmail.com +2348028608056 Follow: @mediambassador

Paradoxical discovery

The following week of the year (2006), Ikem Ogbuehi was invited by the Nigerian U-17 team coach to feature in the upcoming qualifier match against their Ghanaian counterpart for the 2007 U-17 World Cup to be hosted by South Korea, and he complied as usual. The match which was meant to take place in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria was scheduled for March 17, 2006. On Wednesday 15th of March, 2006, two days to the awaited match, every invited player had assembled at the camping ground in Lagos State and therein they headed in unison for Benin City the venue for the match; the team which was made up of over 25 home and foreign-based players coupled with three coaches was travelling via land in two white Coaster buses amid tight security. It was initially a smooth journey till they ran into an unfortunate situation along the Benin-Asaba Expressway in Benin metropolis, Edo State about one kilometre to the hotel they were meant to lodge in. At the front gate of the University of Benin commonly addressed as UniBen, the leading Coaster bus struck one of the male students of the university who was about crossing the expressway

“Daddy...!” the victim who was lying by the roadside subconsciously responded, gasped for air

as it (the bus) tried to dodge a glaring pothole situated in the centre of the federal road. Every player in the two buses including Ikem who was in the second bus quickly moved out to rescue the relatively conscious victim who happened to be a 24-year-old final year undergraduate student of the school amidst an abrupt crowd. Chidi…!” Ikem shouted furiously the moment he got to the spot. The sudden and surprising exclamation aroused striking looks from his fellow players as well as coaches.

“Daddy...!” the victim who was lying by the roadside subconsciously responded, gasped for air. He was hurriedly rushed to a nearby hospital, and therein the doctor in charge assured them that the poor dude would bounced back in a short while having ascertained the real state of his entire body system. “Who’s that guy?” the head coach of the team Mr. Damilola asked Ikem having called him out to one of the lonely corners in the hospital for a crucial inevitable interrogation in respect to what transpired at the scene of the accident. “Which guy?” Ikem pretentiously dished out. “The victim, of course,” Mr Damilola reiterated. “We all heard him; he called you Daddy.” “He’s my son,” the interviewee who wasn’t obviously in a good mood finally answered. “If you must know.” He added frankly. “What?” the astonished Damilola uttered. “Your son?” What a paradoxical discovery! The mind-blowing and untold truth was that Chidi, the victim, who was begotten out of wedlock twenty-four years back, was the first child of Ikem

Ogbuehi; the Lilliputian Ikem who was actually born in February 1961 begot him (Chidi) when he was barely 21-year old, few years after his secondary education. Unfortunately, at that point in his life, nature chose to unravel the hidden idiosyncrasies that were covered by his miniature look; just as the saying goes, ‘Three things cannot be long hidden – the sun, the moon, and the truth’. Apparently, the 45-year-old Mr. Ikem Ogbuehi was left with no option right in that hospital than to let the cat out of the bag. The following day, the banner headline of virtually all the local and national tabloids in Nigeria read, ‘An U-17 player fathers a 24-year-old man.’ Consequently, Ikem was indefinitely suspended by his Spanish league, whereas he was asked by the Nigerian football governing body to apply for voluntary retirement. But, who was to be blamed for Ikem’s bogus odyssey? Think about it! • Nwaozor novelist, playwright and poet, is Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research & Career Development - Owerri

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21 MAY 2016

Travel & Tourism

CHEF'S CORNER

estin Hotels and Resorts has introduced a new menu list known as Westin ‘Sleep Well Menu,’ which is something for everyone to benefit from. We present details of this must try menu list: Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ brand, Westin Hotels and Resorts, has officially introduced the Westin Sleep Well Menu, now available 24 hours and seven days a week at the brand’s more than 200 hotels and resorts around the world. Recommended by the experts at SuperFoodsRx, the items on the Westin Sleep Well Menu are packed with amino acids, vitamins and minerals that promote rest and recovery. In response to the growing number of studies emphasising the benefits of a restful nights’ sleep, Westin designed the menu to help guests ease into sound slumber so that they can easily adjust to a new time zone, recover from a hectic day of travel or prepare for an active day ahead. “Eating the right foods can have a dramatic effect on your quality of sleep and ultimately your well-being, so we were delighted to partner with Westin to create a menu that specifically ad-

Travel Personality

Ubong Ekpe Okon: States could harness huge revenue from developing tourism industry

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Hospitality

Golden Tulip Festac Lagos: Sights on the top five rated hotels

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Destination

Seychelles Carnival: Classic global cultural feast of all times

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

Westin Hotels and Resorts introduces sleep well menu

Enjoy a perfect sleep. Inset: A sample menu

dresses this,” said the Managing Partner, SuperFoodsRx, David Stern. He that: “Essential elements like tryptophan, magnesium, potassium, folate, serotonin and thiamin work together to prevent in-

somnia and reset sleep cycles, giving guests the chance to feel refreshed and energised in the morning.” Designed to help guests feel their best wherever they are travelling, the menu features items such as, grilled wild salmon with walnut quinoa; a micro chopped turkey salad; poached eggs on asparagus with snap peas and shitake mushrooms; and oatmeal tabou-

TRAVEL BEATS Association of Professional Chefs of Nigeria partners NIHOTOUR on training If all go well, a new dawn may just be in the offing for cooks across the country as the Association of Professional Chefs of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIIHOTOUR) to work together to facilitate training, standardisation and professionalism in the system. Speaking on this development, the national President of the association, Paulius Okon, said it is a welcome move as is aimed at equipping chefs with the right knowledge and skills as well as introduce standard and make it a professional calling so as to earn some level of respect for the practitioners. According to him, the association, which has its head office in Calabar, Cross River

State, with over 13 chapters across the country, is pleased with NIHOTOUR partnership as the institute, which is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, is statutorily mandated to train, regulate and develop manpower for the tourism and hospitality industry. Okon explained that the MOU for the regulation of culinary practice in Nigeria is aimed at ensuring public health safety, eliminating of quacks through compulsory and unified NIHOTOUR Advanced Professional Training. The project will also develop a comprehensive data base of chefs practicing in the country for easy employment, sanity in the profession, boost employers’ confidence and a sense of safety. The first batch of the training with six months duration is expected to start in August.

NTDC DG, Sally Mbanefo, reiterates tourism economy As the nation seeks to diversify its economy following the dwindling oil price, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, has reiterated the viability of the tourism industry as an alternative to oil economy, insisting that what the nation needs now is to focus more on its productive and service industries with tourism as one of such because of its huge potential and multiplier effects.

She spoke at the recently held seventh Annual National Conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria (AES) in Lagos on the theme, ‘Nigeria beyond oil’. She explained that the tourism value chain that cuts across all sectors of the economy had the potential to create the most employment opportunities, grow small and medium scale enterprises, reduce poverty, foster and encourage social integration.

leh, among others. As a bedtime snack for guests who have a small appetite before going to bed, the menu offers whole grain crackers with peanut butter; non-fat yogurt with granola; edamame and whole wheat pretzels; cherry walnut oat muffins and more. Local herbal teas with calming herbs will also be available including lavender, peppermint, cinnamon, passionflower, lemon balm, ginger, chamomile or valerian root. “With a history of industry firsts, Westin’s winning approach to wellbeing continues to resonate with guests and local communities around the world, who aim to leave our hotels feeling better than when they arrived,” said the Global Brand Leader, of the hotel, Brian Povinelli, adding that:“From our Heavenly Bed to the addition of our Sleep Well Menu, Westin knows nothing restores your mind and body like restful sleep.” The Westin Sleep Well Menu builds on the Westin brand’s global Well-Being Movement, an initiative dedicated to inspiring guests and associates to discover new approaches to wellness through innovative partnerships and programmes across the brand’s six pillars of well-being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well.

Hilarious COOKING BLUNDER

Okro soup turns sour Phoenix Ifeoma Ezendu is a new breed in the Nollywood industry and a bundle of great talents whose passion for writing and acting are boundless. With Greenday Entertainment, she has already penned some scripts and daring enough to produce one of her scripts, Dante Fall with some acclaimed Nollywood acts, which is set to premiere soon. A graduate of Health and Human Services from Wilberforce University, Ohio, USA, she speaks on her cooking blunder Do you cook and what is your best menu? Yes. I love acha with chicken slices. What is the most memorable cooking blunder made by you and what was the outcome of it? I put too much garlic and ginger in okro soup. It tasted very bad and my daddy hated it.

40 Travel&Tourism

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21 MAY 2016

UBONG EKPE OKON

States could harness huge revenue from developing tourism industry Ubong Ekpe Okon is the Executive Director of Akwa Tourism Development Company Limited, he speaks with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on his devotion to the tourism industry as he tells one that “I gained so much experience working in Cross River State.”

Okon

Fascinated by Donald Duke’s passion for tourism kon’s interest in the tourism industry was ignited by the passion the former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, displayed when tourism was taking root in the state by encouraging people to sign up for the new found tourism economy, which today has continued to blossom in the state. He was one of the few young men in Calabar then who bought into the vision and decided to go on the journey with Duke and his team. “What attracted me to the tourism industry was the passion Donald Duke brought to Cross River State in terms of receiving visitors to the state in 1999. He had always encouraged visitors to visit places of interest while coming for conference or to do business in the State.” Equipped by Edem Duke But somewhere along the line, Okon disclosed that he encountered the founder of Mirage Hotel and former minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, who took him on his wings and helped to hone his skills and shape his devotion to tourism. “At the dawn of the Millennium (2000), I had a meeting with Edem Duke who also was passionate about receiving visitors and inviting them to the state. His hotel, Mirage Hotel, had influx of foreigners at all times. I spoke to him about opening a tour agency (Mirage Travel & Tours) in his hotel so that guests of the hotel could be taken on a guided tour and he consented. “He gave me an office space for free. Later Mirage Travel & Tours was adopted by him as one of the hotel’s subsidiaries. He employed me and gave me the opportunity of being trained as a tour guide in South Africa. When an opportunity for training comes up, he gives me support to attend the training. So far, I have been trained in hospitality and travel management in Sao Tome, Benin Republic, Ghana, Kenya and the Gambia. With these experiences my passion for the industry grew,” revealed Okon.

TRAVEL PERSONALITY Earliest engagements With the gospel of tourism by the former governor catching on like harmattan wildfire, different people and groups began to introduce all forms of activities to attract visitors to the state. One of such earliest activities as revealed by the executive director of Akwa Tourism Development Company Limited, was a tour package titled Ntimkama in partnership with the defunct ADC Airlines by the trio of Edem Duke, Mrs. Clara Braide, who was the publisher of Executive Travels and Effion Essien of Grand Trip with him as one of the tour guides. This was about 2001 and following the upgrading of former Obudu Cattle Ranch now Obudu Mountain Resort, the group extended its package to the resort, which was known as Ntimkama Owoh. Explaining further, Okon said that it was these activities that gave birth to the creation of Cross River State Tourism Bureau (CRSTU) and Cross River State Tour Circuit by the former governor and later on Edem Duke and his team founded Cross River State Tourism Development Initiative (CRITODIN) in 2003. Okon was named the public relations officer of the group while years later CRITODIN metamorphosed into Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Cross River State chapter, with Okon as the PRO. He also had the privilege of serving as a member the planning committee of the first Cross River State Tourism Summit in 2004 and that of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Travel Association (ATA) summit hosted by the state in 2005. And also a tour guide for the botched Miss World pageant that the state was billed to host then. Okon was also part of the team that gave birth to the now famous Carnival Calabar in 2004 when they first organised the test run of the carnival. Ever since, he has grown acquiring experience and building the right network, which had seen him to the present day

Setting up Akwa Tourism Development Company Limited Having established a name for himself in Cross River tourism circle, Okon decided to take a plunge into a new terrain by relocating to his own state, Akwa Ibom State in 2008. In his words: “When I resigned from the Mirage Group in 2008 I relocated to Akwa Ibom State, my home state, to contribute to building a strong economy through tourism.” He incorporated a tour agency called Holiday Makers International but “I didn’t have the funds to take it to the level I had wanted with the fire burning in me through my passion and experience from Cross River State,” he admitted. But not the type to quit easily, “I met a young man Joseph Utin and we partnered to incorporate Akwa Tourism Development Company Limited in 2013 with financial support from Dr. Nestor Udoh who showed so much enthusiasm for the tourism industry. “Our company has in the last three years been involved in tourism advocacy and education since many people don’t understand the gains of tourism and how it can drive the economy of a state. We had challenges breaking into the government circle for them to appreciate the new economy driver aside oil. “Our vision is to be a one-stop shop for our clients to experience tourism as we offer guided tour services, consultancy and destination marketing. We publish the only freely circulated tourism magazine (Tourism Impressions) to encourage tourism education and advocacy and market Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State as the best destinations in the world.” Furthermore, he reveals that “our company brought ‘Gulder Ultimate Search’ to Akwa Ibom State for the first time. We invited UNIDO Bio-diversity team to Akwa Ibom State to audit the coastal areas. We initiated the first private sector driven cultural festival, Akwa Mbono. Planned and executed the first Tourism Submit in Akwa Ibom State. For reason of lack of funds, these activities which should have been annually cannot continue.” Okon is hopeful that some of these programmes initiated by his company would in the days ahead attract government’s attention and be revived because

BACKGROUND Ubong Ekpe Okon is from Afaha Etok Ibesikpo in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State but was born and bred in Calabar, Cross River State. He attended Presbyterian Primary Big Qua Town, Calabar, Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar and studied Policy Studies and Administration in the University of Calabar. He is married and has four children.

of their huge potential. “We hope in the nearest future that the government will be the one driving these projects because they are sustainable and can create employment for our teeming youths. They can generate revenue and direct foreign investments,” he added. Tourism in Akwa Ibom State will grow with time Tourism in Akwa Ibom State will grow like speed of lightening because the infrastructure that drive tourism are all on ground. Road network, security and good hotels are scattered everywhere to give tourists comfort and safety. From the rolling hills of Itu to the undulating landscape of Obot Akara to the longest stretch of sandy beach in West Africa (Ibeno) Akwa Ibom State is just the place to be. “Before today not much was done because those infrastructure needed to be on ground before marketing could commence. Now with the appointment of Ini Edo (Nollywood actress) as special adviser to the governor on tourism I am sure she will explore her contacts in making the state known in the area of tourism. So, for me marketing of the state huge tourism potential has started. These she exemplified at the just concluded National Culture and Tourism Submit by her attendance and sharing of some marketing materials at the summit.” Fulfilment “My involvement in the tourism industry has opened my eyes to the huge revenue states could harness from developing the industry, its employment opportunities, sustaining and protecting our environment. It’s been fulfilling I must say. It is one industry you make money leisurely.” Africa richly endowed with nature “My travelling experience has been wonderful. Africa is so blessed with nature. Every African country has products that are uncommon. I learn more in every trip I make.” Fascinated by Kenya “My best destination is Kenya, the Massai people and the wildlife, these describe God to me more. In love with Obudu Mountain Resort “In Nigeria my best destination is the Obudu Mountain Resort because of the rolling hills, its warmth and the cold cloud that take your breath away.” Enchanted by nature “I unwind sitting out with families and friends appreciating nature, the cloud, trees and birds that sing in the skies.” A simple lifestyle “My lifestyle is simple. I live for others to live.”

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he visit to Golden Tulip Festac Lagos in AmuwoOdofin area of Lagos on this fateful day was to attend the African Travel Business Association (ABTA) corporate forum, which was hosted by the hotel. Having not visited this facility for a while, one was overwhelmed by the level of transformation that has taken place within the expansive complex of the hotel. Right from the entrance, you notice the transformation as the enExterior facade trance itself has been recof the hotel. reated to reflect the new Inset: Andeweg offerings and picturesque scenery of the complex. Besides the hotel itself, the festival mall, which is part of the hotel is now operational while adjacent it new structures accommodating Shoprite and Silverbird Cinema among others beckon. The blend here is a perfect combination of some sorts with the hotel and the newly located facilities in full bloom as shoppers, conference attendees, fun and leisure seekers and hotel guests mingling around. You could feel the excitement in the air amidst the frenzied activities unfolding with a certain calmness and serenity defining the mood. Fascinated by the new spirit pervadANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA who was at the Golden Tulip Festac Lagos ing the air, one sought audience with the general manager of the hotel, Mercel writes on the hotel’s devotion to providing standard facilities and services Andeweg, a Dutch national, who obvias well as being a one-stop shop for business and leisure travellers ously is pleased by this development, as he sees it as an opportunity for the hotel to further entrench itself in the market niche market and it is what we are good place and offer a wide range facilities and at. Basically, we are very well equipped services to its numerous clients. for that, we’ve got 15 conference halls First, he tells one how impressed he is and a large marquee as well to host this will certainly translate into an inwith the facilities: “First of all I was im- events,” he discloses, adding that “in crease of people and companies using pressed to find such huge and large prop- combination with our large numbers of our hotel.” erty in Lagos outside the area where the ma- rooms that we have available, it is defiThen he reels out what appears to be an jority of the international brands are.” Then nitely a niche market because we can endless list of the hotel’s other facilities and he opens up on his mission at the hotel. host everybody at the same venue inservices: “There is leisure in the hotel as “My mission is to make sure that this stead of having to share accommodation we have the garden for people to unwind, hotel gets known not only in the Lagos venue which sometimes happen with we have two restaurants in the hotel. One thing we did last year was to significantly market but in Nigeria and African hospi- other properties and that gives us an tality markets and to check more guests advantage over our competition.” upgrade our sport facilities, we have resurinto our hotel.” And with the additional facilities faced our tennis and squash courts. On the target market, he says: “Our within the hotel complex, the general “The gymnasium has also been upbusiness is derived mainly from confer- manager, believes the hotel is the place to graded as well as we now boast a 180 ence and banqueting business,” explain- be as he says that “our compound has resquare metres of fitness area. We have ing that “we have large facilities to host cently been upgraded as well with large added steam rooms and sauna and there meetings, as we speak we are hosting shopping mall, which certainly gives the is a total spa services in the hotel,” he two major retreat events for two large opportunity to offer cinema, shopping says, even as he explains that this facility corporate entities here in Lagos. and entertainment among others, added is opened to both guests of the hotel and “We also target the airline market to our already existing options, which is members of the public with membership to host airline crews and we also assist hospitality, leisure and sports. in various categories. them in providing what we call lay over “So, Golden Tulip Festac Lagos toBesides, you are enchanted by the rich accommodation for their passengers.” gether with the Festac Festival Shopambience of the hotel and the unfoldWhile on the location of the hotel, he ping Mall is becoming more attractive ing scenery as you move from one end sees it as strategic and easy to locate: “Peo- location for those organising conferences to another. This, Andeweg, attributes to the service culture and philosophy ple do find Festac easier to come to and and events because they can give their also closer to the airport and host their visitors more options than what are of Golden Tulip, which simply is about retreats here because we’ve got the space. available in other hotels. offering international standards with lo“Business conference is definitely our “We definitely see the advantage and cal flavours. The rich blend is certainly

GOLDEN TULIP FESTAC LAGOS

Sights on the top five rated hotels HOSPITALITY

Lounge bar

One of the rooms

appealing and enriching. Andeweg is also not scared of his competitors, as he tells you that the hotel has it niche and has earned its place in the market. “Of course you have to look at your competitors and what they are doing but we have definitely gained our space in the Nigerian market. We are definitely in the top range of the international hotels and we can easily measure ourselves with the likes of Eko Hotels and Suites and Sheraton Hotel Lagos.” He added that: “There is a tremendous potential in Lagos and tapping into that market is what I see as the biggest opportunity that this hotel has. “This hotel merits being among the top five Lagos hotels because we have the space and capacity especially to host large events. This hotel is in an area of Lagos where a lot of developments are going on. Not a lot of people see that and a lot of people look at Festac and sometimes it looks like a bit of forgotten part of Lagos. “And that in my view is a wrong perspective because the area has developed tremendously since FESTAC 1977. There is a lot of spendable income in Festac and I can only see that growing. That only adds to the number of possibilities that we have as a hotel. “That makes our place in the market better because Golden Tulip Festac Lagos now has an added value especially with the mall being around and offering those services as well and therefore, it becomes more attractive and we see a significant increase with those that want to spend the weekends in Lagos.” The general manager also celebrates the fact that there is never a dull moment at the hotel as “there is always something to do, swimming and sport and the cinema offering a very wide variety of movies. It is just a wonderful combination on the leisure market where we can show that we are different. “We offer live music in our lobby bar in the evenings and also around the pool side and there is a band playing on special weekends.”

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

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Seychelles Carnival: Classic global

DESTINATION Seychelles carnival otherwise known as Carnaval International de Victoria held recently was all pomp and celebration of a people’s culture, flair for fun and life in its sweetest form, writes GBENGA OLUBOYE who was part of the celebration

eychellois love for life and its celebration to the fullest has never been in doubt. It shines through the moment one sets foot on this pocket of islands, which is one of Africa’s best kept secret that many people across the world are beginning to discover. If you call it Africa’s new frontier you may not be wrong because it is exactly what it seems to a first time visitor like this reporter who visited the country on the invitation of the country’s Tourism and Culture Minister, Alain St.Ange. The visit, which turned out to be an historic, memorable and ever cherished one for me, was on the occasion of the celebration of the country’s yearly carnival, which is called Carnaval International de Victoria. It is one of the many events of the people that aptly depict their penchant for life and celebration. It was an event that was witnessed by a number of tourists from across the world. This is one country where tourism is booming and it is the main source of

revenue earner for both the government and the people. Beach and coastal life is on the high here as well as night life but the carnival event is when the country witnesses one of its glorious moments with everybody coming to the party. It is an occasion for everyone, ranging from the lowly to the highest, children to the aged and government officials, including the president of the country who actually doubles as the main host, to catch fun and get their groove back. A day before the night of the formal opening ceremony, which held at the Stade Popiler with the president, James Alix Michel in attendance, St. Ange hosted a pre-festival press conference, using the occasion to reel out impressive results about the country’s tourism and the carnival itself. Just to underscore the importance of the carnival and its growing following, over 23 foreign carnival troupes and 124 media houses’ representatives from across the world, attended the event while a new hotel, 40 chalets Carana Beach, was opened on the eve of the celebration in Mahe, one of its main islands. Last year the country’s arrival figures, according to the minister, rose by 19 per cent on a year-on-year basis with over 275,000 visitors coming to the islands by air and cruise liners while for this year, in spite of the many global challenges, for the first three months the numbers were already 11 per cent ahead of that of 2015. “It took the Seychelles 40 years to reach 130,000 arrivals, and in the space of the past seven years we more than doubled that figure. It shows we are doing something right. When a market goes soft, like after Paris, we are now able to accelerate growth from other market

places. This development must be safeguarded,” the minister said. Guests at the media parley were later treated to the world premiere of the film ‘Aldabra, Once Upon An Island’ featuring the Seychelles' second UNESCO World Heritage site after the Vallee de Mai on the archipelago's second largest island of Praslin. Located nearly 1,000 kilometres south of Mahe is the Aldabra atoll, often described as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, closer to Madagascar and Mauritius than to the capital, Victoria. Then came the day of the carnival proper, with Victoria, which is the country’s capital city, taking on a new colouration as all the streets’ corners and crannies decked in pomp and celebration from Bois de Rose Avenue to Palm Street, stretching all the way to Manglier Street and filled with people of all colours and different customs amidst colorful floats as the sixth Carnaval International de Victoria got underway. Leading the roll call were St. Ange; Principal Secretaries of the two departments - Benjamine Rose and Anne Lafortune; and the Seychelles Tourism Board team led by the Chief Executive, Sherin Naiken, with the parade commencing at 3pm from Bois de Rose Avenue, and down 5th Avenue. Also in the mixed crowd were such notable personalities like the former president of Seychelle, Sir James Mancham, vice president Danny Faure, designated minister Vincent Meriton, and other ministers as well as government officials, and a number of international dignitaries, including South Africa's Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom; Madagascar’s Tourism Minister, Roland Ratsiraka and the Conseillere

Regionale of Reunion Island, Faouzia Vitry. Just before the outburst of energies and boisterous celebration, the formal opening ceremony witnessed two brief speeches by both the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Ms. Sherin Naiken and St. Ange who used the occasion to also showcase his trilingual nature by addressing the crowd in English, Kreol and French. In her opening remarks, Naiken said: ‘‘The Seychelles carnival makes a strong statement at a time of great international turmoil. The Carnaval International de Victoria points the way to a better world – one in which we can live together side by side with no regard for differing ethnicity, faith or political persuasion.” While St. Ange attempted to paint a picture of what the celebration holds for the people as he said that “through culture you will find your soul, and through culture you will consolidate your respective tourism industries.” The performance of the annual carnival theme song was one of the opening acts, which set the tone for the celebration with the whole crowd erupting in feat of celebration and enveloped by sounds of music and later by enchanting dances and gyrations by the likes of the steel bands, Brazil, China, Vietnam, India, Sweden, South Korea, and Ethiopia alongside South Africa and Reunion Island. Both were the two co-host countries for this year’s carnival event. In his speech St. Ange referred to the Seychelles carnival festival as the “United Nations of Culture,” which it truly turned out to be judging by the diverse cultural floats and countries that paraded the

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cultural feast of all times streets alongside the host country. It was a perfect feast with the natural elements in their best form, as the weather was clement and the night balmy, cooperated for Seychellois to once again deliver a perfect carnival celebration, a feat for which the country and city of Victoria have become famous over the years. A total of 37 floats were on parade on the day with each displaying rich and diverse theatrics of music, dance, magical acts and singing of all sorts. What was quite apparent and perhaps the most attractive and enchanting element of the carnival, was it global fascination as pervading the air and unfolding before the people was a classic world cultural performances because it was truly cesspool of some sorts for the various cultures of the world to answer to their names in a very enthralling and appealing manner for the people to savour. St. Ange put the entire celebration and configuration of people in attendance in better perspective when he said: "Showcasing one's culture is putting the people of our respective countries in the forefront. Today, the world needs to understand each other, as to know each other, if we are to see a more understanding world. Seychelles has become the melting pot for the world through culture.” Besides, the tourism and culture minister also waxed lyrical when she spoke glowingly of the theme of the carnival, which is that of unity. “Touching on the theme for this year’s event the 2016 Carnaval International de Victoria is dedicated to unity. Here you are safe and will be safe because we, Seychelles, are proud to say we are friends of all and enemies of none, and here in Seychelles immaterial of your political affiliation, immaterial of the colour of your skin, or immaterial of your religious belief, you are welcome, and you can all stand side by side, walk side by side, and shake hands with each other, because we are all part of the children of this world – our world.” The Notting Hill Roadshow Carnival, which was the biggest float, came in the rear and it made quite an impression on the people, gathering huge following along the way and entertaining the people to some fascinating and enthralling displays. But not before the crowd soaking in high sound and scintillating performances from the likes of the Brazilian Momo Kings Group from Sao Paulo, Indian dancers and drummers from Réunion Island with such local heroes as Patrick Victor, Joe Samy and

he Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cote d’Ivoire Tourism Board on the promotion of tourism between the two countries across the African region. The ceremony took place during the Cote D’Ivoire Economic Forum held recently in Lagos State. Speaking at the event, the Director General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo said: “Our country needs to improve its production capacity and must invest in labour intensive sectors like tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. It is the only way to create jobs for the small and medium scale entrepreneurs, youths and women. “We have also been holding talks with Ghana Tourism Board as well as the South African Tourism. Two years ago we signed an MoU with the Gambia Tourism

the Mardilo dancers from La Digue and other places within the country, creating such an ecstatic mood with the joyous sounds of ‘karnaval de karnaval Mae Sesel’ filling the air. The night performance at the stadium climaxed with an exciting and breathtaking fireworks display. Sponsors of the carnival included Air Seychelles, Etihad, Airtel Seychelles, and among others also Kenya Airways while the over 26 countries in attendance included South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia, China, Sweden, South Korea, Germany, Vietnam, Reunion Islands, United Kingdom, Cuba, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Italy. The three days global fiesta was brought to a befitting close with the children’s carnival, which debuted this year and a Family Fun Day in Freedom Square. Stage performances included high-energy dance and music from Mauritius (that brass) and Réunion with plenty tea and pandas from China, pyramidal acrobatics from India, elaborate costumes and an emotive soundtrack from Indonesia, and an excited drummer from Ethiopia. Then there were prizes presentations to the different groups for their performance thus officially putting a lid on the celebration this year. However, the city celebrated far into the night with all night parties set up at different spots by the people. To think that the carnival is only six years old as it was first introduced in 2011 and has become such a success, so magic, artistic and entertaining as well as defining the offerings of the country and

its tourism, said St. Ange, is something for which the people must be appreciated because they fully embraced it and sold it to the world. Therefore, he was full of praises for his fellow Seychellois for making the country proud. One of the local people best described the feeling of the country when he said that “carnaval brings out our identity as a people. I have been part of this since its inception and I am happy to see the different cultures of the world in my small capital of Mahe.” Winners Notting Hill Carnival came top as the best international float making it the fifth for the band, which had taken part in all six editions of the carnival. Reunion Island and Indonesia trailed behind respectively. The Ile Perseverance float won the prize for best local float; Perseverance is a reclaimed island adjoined to the Seychelles main island, Mahé. Seychelles third largest island, La Digue, retained the title for best cultural float won last year, depicting the economic activities that take place at L’Union Estate. South Korea and Zambia won the second and third prize respectively in the best cultural float category. The Seychelles Tourism Academy charted away the prize for best school float, while China and India were acclaimed for their wonderful and exceptional show-

Sights and scenes from the carnival. photos: socanews

pieces. La Retraite showcasing the pirates theme won the best kiddie float. Oluboye, a Nigerian Travel journalist, is based in Canada.

... to host FetAfrik to mark Africa Day on May 22

marting from the successful celebration of its yearly Carnaval International de Victoria, Seychelles is set to host yet another cultural event, tagged FetAfrik, which opens tomorrow (May 22) and coincides with the celebration of Africa Day on May 25. The entire event spans May 28. Activities slated for the celebration include gala dinners, musical shows, public lecture and workshops while the official ceremony will be held at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles in Victoria on May 25, which also is the Africa Day celebration. The theme for this year’s Africa Day celebrations is human rights with a particular focus on the rights of women. Speaking on the event, the country’s Minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange, said it is a very important event for his country even as he urged people of African descent to be proud of their colour and heritage. "For the Seychellois to better appreciate this FetAfrik event the islands as a whole need to learn about the rich cultures of Africa, and this the FetAfrik 2016 celebrations are doing by bringing in cultural groups from mainland Africa to take part in the upcoming FetAfrik inclusive of professional guests speakers who will be sharing their vast knowledge with us,” said St. Ange. “Often we hear people say they are not Africans, but I say to you that you do not have to be born in Africa to be considered an African, but you become an African with Africa in born in you. When you value your link with the African continent this builds in you the characteristics of an African,” said the minister He added that FetAfrik like other events organised in Seychelles, is for the people of Seychelles. He called on members of the public to take part in the event and give it the recognition and value that it deserves. One of the country’s main musical act, Stephen Eliza also known as Elijah, among others are expected to entertain guests during the event as well as top African musicians who have made their mark in the world such as Weasel from Uganda and Prophecy from Mauritius.

NTDC signs path with Cote D’ Ivoire on tourism Board and as soon as we signed the MoU, the first batch of my staff were approved for training and best practice exchange. We will not stop until we achieve a West African Tourism brand, so that when tourists begin their trip in one African country they can conclude it in Nigeria to get a holistic approach to tourism in West African.” Furthermore, she revealed that “we want to encourage other African countries that have best practices for cocoa production, textile and fashion industries to collaborate with Nigeria to create jobs for the youth. If our manufacturing and agriculture industries are reawakened tourism would have contributed to job creation through such synergies with Cote D’Ivoire and other African coun-

tries where we can emulate their industry best practices.” According to her, the corporation has been collaborating with Cote D’Ivoire Tourism Board for the past three years. “They have been coming to the corporation for collaboration between the two countries. The MOU signed

today will unite us together and help to achieve the ECOWAS Tourism Brand Regional Alliance which NTDC has been working on with other African countries.” In her remarks, the Ambassador of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria, Mrs. Toures, expressed appre-

ciation to all the participants for honouring her invitation and that the country is ready to partner with Nigeria in all spheres. Toures said: “We will co-operate and partner with Nigeria in many areas such as tourism, textiles, telecommunication, power, health and education. L-R: President of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank, John Oaltunde Ayeni, LUBCON GROUP, Jani Ibrahim, NTDC DG, Sally Mbanefo and Executive Director, Heritage Bank Plc, Niyi Adeseun, at the event

44 By David Reavy

The Problem ull-ups are one of those ubiquitous tests of strength, but a move that can humble even the toughest of men. Most who are unable to do this particular feat think the answer lies in more weights. And while your lats, biceps and traps are doing work during this move, the real answer lies in your serratus anterior (SA), the muscle that holds your shoulder blade against your rib cage. If your SA isn’t working correctly, you are setting up the other 17 muscles that attach to your scapula to fail. When the scapula is out of position, you are putting yourself at a mechanical disadvantage. In other words, it’s not strength, it’s positioning. As a physical therapist, I am always amazed to see how much strength is trapped in the body because bones are out of position. When I put the bones back in to the right position, the muscles are at the right length, and all of a sudden, the body moves better. You may be strong, but you are always stronger in balance and in alignment. This is especially true for the strength and balance required to do a pull-up. Put the scapula in the right position, and your lower trap, biceps, and lats will work much better. With the scapula out of position, you are asking your teres major and minor (which are tiny muscles) and only a portion of your lat to lift your entire body. No wonder you can’t get your chin up to the bar. The Solution You need to start releasing muscles that attach to your shoulder. Modern life is about texting, working on the computer, and stuffing oneself into airplane seats built for 12 year old kids. The result is a forward head and rounded shoulders and ultimately, a shoulder blade that is constantly drifting forward and up. Gravity exacerbates the situation, pulling you down and further out of position. Here's what you need to do. Get a lacrosse ball and then get to work. First release your pec muscles, then the teres (those little guys on the outside of your scapula that are working so hard to get you over

Dad's Corner

“H

e saved me,” said 13-yearold Gracie Johnson, after her parents, sister, and two cousins were tragically killed in a rock slide. She was speaking about her dad, Dwayne Johnson. The family had gone for a hike along the Agnes Vaille Falls trail in Buena Vista, Colorado. Recent rainfall had made areas of the mountains unstable. As they were walking, one witness described what sounded like loud thunder cracking and boulders the size of cars coming down the mountain as the Johnson family stood helplessly in their devastating path. In an act of heroism, Dwayne dove on top

In The GYM

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Why you can't do a pull-up

that bar), and finally the upper trap. For the pec and teres, place the lacrosse ball on a tender spot and lean up against a wall. Lean a tolerable amount of weight onto the ball, then move your arm back and forth. For the trap, you want to find a bar bell, get underneath it so your upper trap is, well, trapped underneath it, shrug up and depress your shoulder. For each release, you will know it is working when your body starts to melt into the lacrosse ball or barbell. Then I have some strengthening for you to do:

1. Lower Trap RDLs: Holding two dumbbells (or a barbell), stand with your weight on your heels and knees slightly bent and forced out. Your feet should be turned out at a 10–15 degree angle. Keep your palms forward, pinch your shoulder blades down and back, and squeeze your glutes. Slowly hinge at the hips, keeping your back flat and shoulder blades down and back. Slide the weights down, keeping them just in front of your shins, but not touching. Go down as far as you can without starting

to slouch (ideally a 90-degree angle) then slowly hinge back up to the start position. The weights you use should be light enough that you can maintain good form but heavy enough to challenge you during the exercise. 2. Downward Dog Push-Up: In a push-up position, lift hips toward the ceiling forming an upside down V shape. Be sure the back is straight and both legs are straight with the heels touching the floor. Both hands should be splayed and facing outward. With both arms straight, push into the ground so as to open up the armpits. In this position bend at the elbows, lowering your head to the ground, then push back to starting position. 3. Scapular Stabilisation Push-ups: Place dumbbells on floor, about three inches outside shoulders, turned outward at 45-degree angles. Start in a raised position, abs and glutes engaged, back flat, and head at a neutral position. Punch forward with shoulders to engage serratus anterior. Slowly lower toward floor, stopping when elbows reach a 90-degree angle. Raise to starting position. Repeat. 4. Serratus Anterior Stabilisation Push-ups: Place dumbbells on floor, about three inches outside shoulders, perpendicular to the body. Start in a raised position, abs and glutes engaged, back flat, and head at a neutral position. Punch forward with shoulders to engage serratus anterior. Slowly lower toward floor, stopping when elbows reach a 90-degree angle. Raise to starting position. Repeat.

10 things loving fathers do for their children of Gracie as a shield, saving her life and surrendering his own. In situations like that you have no time to think, as instinct takes over. Dwayne Johnson’s natural instinct was that of a loving father. Loving fathers are self-sacrificing and protect their children. Here are 10 more things loving fathers do for their children: 1. Loving fathers… love their children’s mother Love your wife without reservation – you can’t do much more for your kids than that. If you are divorced, treat your children’s mother with respect, even if it is not reciprocated. Never return disgrace with disgrace. 2. Love them unconditionally Make sure that your children know you love them no matter what. Don’t confuse this with permissiveness. Unconditional love does nothing to encourage the wrong kind of behavior. In fact, kids who are secure in their father’s love tend to act out less, not more. 3. Grow up We’re talking about the us here, not the kids. Children don’t want another buddy; they want a dad. They want someone who thinks things through, makes tough decisions, and engages life with responsibility. Someone they can count on. 4. Be there “Quality time” is all well and good,

but it has nothing on quantity time. Make the time. Everyone has the same 24 hours available. Make yours count. 5. Provide As best you can. Material provision can be tough when jobs are lost and tough times hit. However, you can always provide a stable home with love and affection. 6. Discipline Children appreciate an even hand, balance, accountability, and lovedrenched discipline. It’s called consistency and, without clearly defined boundaries, it is very difficult to grow up. 7. Value education Don’t just read to them; read with them. Don’t just fuss about grades; get involved with their homework. Don’t just talk about learning; be a hands-on advocate. 8. Raise them to leave T h e simple goal of being a family and parenting our children doesn’t look any

more complicated than this: Raise them well equipped to leave home and to establish faithful lives. 9. Teach them to take responsibility Kids who learn how to duck responsibility and avoid cost will sooner or later fall flat on their faces. Loving fathers make sure their children know how to own up, clean up and move forward. 10. Teach them to love this life The best predictor of happiness in children is happiness in their parents. If we learn how to love this life and then give that blessing to our kids, they will be well prepared for satisfaction. Credit: http: allprodad. com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics

21 MAY 2016

I’m out to expose APC’s lies – Lere Olayinka

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Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State recently marked his 53rd birthday and used to occassion to chat with journalists. MUSA PAM, who was at the event brings exerpts. How fruitful was your trip to China? If I had not gone to China we would have missed a lot because the whole world is now focused on China even America is running to China, when we got to China even Americans were there looking for opportunities to invite investors. I was there with few of my commissioners because Mr. President has opened an opportunity, he has signed a bilateral agreement with the Chinese government and believed me, my commissioners will bear me witness, when we got there everybody was going for Plateau State. What if the governor was not there? Most of the meeting will not be held with commissioners, if your president is not in that country, there are certain meetings they will not hold with you, every investor will want to first of all have a direct link with the leader of a country or state, he will want an assurance from the governor and president. So that is why when you see governors travelling, it is not on a jamboree trip, it will open opportunities for the people of the state and in my trip to China, there will be a lot of benefit because we met with a lot of rich investors, billionaires who are interested in mineral resources, agriculture, tourism and housing. How far have you been able to have an inclusive government in your administration? Let me start with the appointment of the members of my executive, not all of them are members of the APC, some of them are members of the APC, but a lot of them were taken outside the party from the opposition and not necessarily from the APC, so when you look at this people, it means my administration is carrying everybody along. Recently in the implementation of the bailout for infrastructure, I told you that 70 – 80 per cent of contracts that we are doing now are contracts initiated by the last administration and that was something not seen in the habit of the last administration under former governor Jonah Jang. All the contracts that we initiated when I was the speaker of the state Assembly for eight years during Senator Joshua Dariye were all abandoned even when those projects were very important to the people, they refused to complete them. However, in line with the APC manifesto and which is in line with what Mr. President is doing, we are not going to leave any abandoned project especially the ones that are very important to the people, because there is no need to start embarking on new projects. I know the approach may not be palatable to our party people but we have do it for the good of Plateau people.

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

45 PDP Convention: Divided they stand

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Buhari, governors behind Grazing Reserve Bill –Lalong

Lalong

So, in the interest of the state, we are continuing with what the opposition, that is the PDP, left behind in the state and we are carrying everybody including stakeholders along in the state, and for appointments it is an exclusive right of the party, but I have done my best to include people from the other side of the party too. What is your position on the issue of grazing reserves for herdsmen? I think this an area I will also want to appeal to the media and Nigerians about, there is a very serious misconception about this grazing reserve, even some state governors that had agreed are now turning down to say we didn’t agree. When the crisis came, Plateau State was seriously involved in it, almost the whole of North Central zone and some states were not interested because they think that it will not get to their states but all of a sudden the issue was everywhere. The herdsmen and farmers have been having clashes all over the country, so Mr. President asked the governors and the National Assembly to sit down and find a solution, even the Fulani herdsmen that we are talking about, the President himself is also a Fulani man, but he is not left out, he is also a target in his village because the herdsmen were also clashing with the Fulani in Daura, so it’s a very serious issue that we needed to find a solution an the issue of grazing ranches was introduced by the governors, now when people hear grazing, they say it

is grazing reserve, grazing route, grazing reservoir, but initially, even in the constitution, grazing route was there, but what we have to do is to take away the issue of grazing route because when you emphasise on grazing route, it means that everybody has the right to move on the grazing route, but these days, some have taken advantage of our people. People from Chad pretend they are Nigerian herdsmen and the next thing is you will hear attacks here and there, and part of the solution all over is that it is this grazing route that is causing the problem. We are getting developed and so the next solution was to suggest a way of having people kept in the permanent environment, now governors will intervene and because it is done in so many countries, that is our concerned now, but when you mention ranches people believe it is grazing route again and we say no, the purpose of the ranches is to introduce another mode of equipping our people. We are emphasising on agriculture, we need to go and enlighten the people in the villages that this is the time for everybody, because when we talk about agriculture, it is not only farming, farming also includes grazing. I know the intention of Mr. President is that they will stop people from moving about with law, nobody will move about anyhow again and you will not hear of Fulani people invading villages. I was talking to my commissioners and I said we are going to reach out to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture there is a need for further enlightenment on this issue otherwise politician are taking advantage of it. For those of us in Plateau, we have a lot of this issue, for me it is an advantage because we have one of the issue of Fulani and the farmers clashing, secondly there are so many cases of cattle rustling. The purpose of the grazing ranches is to reduce the issue of cattle rustling because when you have cow in a ranch each of those cows will definitely have a chip and there will be no way you can steal a cow in a ranch. That is the purpose that the president is introducing a laudable intention, but this issue was presented at the governors forum and we agreed at the governors forum meeting and we introduced that, that was why we also told the National Assembly members and they agreed that a bill should come to that extent and I know that a lot of people have their own opinion, but now it is left for the National Assembly to look at it, but for Plateau State we are trying to create an opportunity that will have a public announcement in respect to the issue before

A lot of people have been regular visitors to the EFCC from Plateau State in respect of the looted funds by the past administration

we go into full implementation for the purpose of understanding the true concept of what we are doing about this issue. What about the looted funds you mention at the beginning of your administration any success of recovery for now? You remember I called a stakeholders' forum meeting and at that forum I presented to the people of Plateau State the picture of what I received from the report of the transition committee which was headed by the deputy Governor Professor Sunny Tyoden, but I want to assure Plateau State people who have given me a mandate that we are doing our best to recovery all the looted funds and we have written our petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and they are really working on the issue. As matter of fact some people have been saying that nothing has happened, but if they asked the EFCC, they will know that a lot of people have been regular visitors to the EFCC from Plateau State in respect of the looted funds by the past administration. I was told some days ago that a former commissioner was still answering questions from the EFCC in respect of the looted funds and has not been given bail, it is not a process that is fast, but I want to ask Plateau people to be patient as the result of the looted funds will soon be out. EFCC is still doing its investigation and it will bring all of them to book. In addition to that, I told you that we have also engaged a consultant, an auditing firm for the state workers because there are lots of ghost workers and we want to know the actual number of our workers in the state and that is another way of fighting corruption. The audit firm is almost done with the civil servants, but we will also do it for the local government areas and based on the report they have given to me, I'm satisfied. As a result, we have now saved money from the ghost workers because a lot of people are outside the country and also collecting salaries in Plateau State. When it was time for BVN they came and did it, then ran back, even some working in the local governments and were collecting double salaries both from state and local government. As for some, their children are in school but their names are on the payroll of government without working or doing anything for government and I have the responsibility to settle salaries every month. I know we constantly settle salaries of N1.7billion every month and pension is increasing, but we are doing our best to curb corruption. Why the delay in payment of salaries of workers? The payment of salaries which we have almost surmounted will be conquered in no distant time, we inherited over eight months nonpayment of salaries by the last administration, but we have been able to settle almost all. The task of addressing the many economic woes that we are facing is no doubt difficult and we will come out of the hardship that people are currently facing.

46 Politics

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

I’m out to expose APC’s lies – Lere Olayinka Lere Olayinka is the Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Public Communications and New Media. He earlier worked as Media Assistant to former governor Segun Oni between 2007 and 2010. He spoke with OLALEKAN OSIADE on his ambition to become the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and why he is vying for the top job in today’s national convention of the party. You want to be the Publicity Secretary of the PDP. Do you have what it takes? I’m a journalist and I have been in this job for over 19 years. I started active journalism since my days in the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), I have practiced as a publisher, as a reporter, and I have been involved in broadcast journalism, print journalism and even social media journalism. That’s academic, what of your political grounding? I’m a committed member of the PDP. I have never belonged to any other party since I joined party politics. My love and commitment to democracy and the PDP made me to remain in the party when my former boss, Chief Segun Oni, moved to the APC. I have paid my dues in terms of projecting the PDP, in Ekiti, Southwest and Nigeria as a whole. I have contributed in shaping narratives on social media, which led to the emergence of Fayose as the governor of the state. I led a virile opposition against the APC government of Kayode Fayemi, while contributing immensely to the victory of PDP in the June 21, 2014 governorship election. My opposition to the APC government of Fayemi led to my arrest, detention and trial on October 12, 2012. And the leader of my party, Fayose, is interested in me becoming the National Publicity Secretary of our party. Why were you arrested by the Fayemi government? I was accused of inciting over 22,000 teachers in Ekiti State against the Fayemi government. Agents of the then government broke into my residence in Ado Ekiti through the roof. There were several threats to my life, but I was undeterred. The very day I was released from detention, I granted press interviews castigating the APC government led by Fayemi. How do you hope to reshape the battered image of the PDP? There is no battered image of the PDP. That is pure assumption. When you have an organisation with varieties of interests, there are bound to be conflicts. Like other political parties, we have our share of crises in the PDP, and it is normal in politics, because of the divergent interests. In political communication, you have to tell the people what your party is capable of doing, tell them what your party can do differently, let the people see that if your party is in government, you would have done things differently. It is about marketing your party and de-marketing your competitors; my job is to market the PDP and de-market APC. And you should know that I am going into this job to expose the wickedness of the APC. The APC that is the ruling party today has deceived Nigerians for too long and we are all seeing it now. They deceived Nigerians to get to power, but I am going to expose their lies and deceits. People have faulted the imposition during the last congress in Ekiti… There was no imposition; it was a consensus arrangement. Consensus is not imposition. Consensus is a mechanism put in place to discourage acrimony and rancour among contenders for a particular position. It’s an

arrangement put in place to encourage contestants to step down for one other and allow the best candidate who is properly fit for a position to emerge, but in a situation where nobody wants to step down, we can call for outright election to settle the matter. Why are so outspoken against Buhari? It is to my credit and that of Fayose that

Like other political parties, we have our share of crises in the PDP, and it is normal in politics, because of the divergent interests

the Buhari administration has been put on its toes in the area of national issues and economic policies. What are your selling points in today’s convention? I am deeply committed to any carefully chosen cause, I am able to work under pressure, I am a team player, I am a person with amiable social skills, able to act and think flexibly, responsible and highly creative. There is no doubt that having somebody like me as the next National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, will be of immense benefits to our members and the entire public.

Olayinka

Why Adeniji-AdeIe never became governor –Lagos LG boss

nyone who is conversant with the politics of Lagos State especially the Ikeja axis of the state would equally be familiar with the name, Mallam Ahmed Moyo Jaji, the incumbent Executive Secretary of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, a grassroots politician, whose partisan influence stretches across the state. One sad incident which Jaji is yet to recover is the sudden demise a fortnight ago of the man they call “Papa”, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, a friend from university days who not only introduced Jaji to politics but sold to him the Babatunde Fashola concept as the real deal for the state. Prior to the election that produced Fashola, in which Adeniji-Adele, played a pivotal role, both Jaji and Adeniji-Adele were in the PDP, in stout opposition to the style of

Jaji

governance of Senator Bola Tinubu, the then governor of the state. “You see, 'Prince of Hope', introduced me to politics. And before then, he was a student of the University of Ife and I was in Ilorin. He was a very good Badminton player, and I think he represented Nigeria on one or two occasions. But we had this Omo Eko fraternity. Wherever we are, we look out for each another. So, when he graduated, I was still in the university, but we maintained that contact. And when he became the council chairman on Lagos Island, I was then a banker. Because of my attitudinal disposition to political discussion, he was instrumental to my joining politics, that politics needs people like us. We should not be only interested in criticising, criticising. We should also get involved in the fray, and as he used to call it, in the racket. “So, because of the unrelenting prodding, I have to join politics in 1996. But unfortunately, when I joined, we happened to be in opposite camps. I was with the then, moribund UNCP. And he was with GDM. But in spite of political stations, we still had cause to interact, and Demola was such a person that political differences do not matter to him. What matters to him essentially is the essence of who you are. And that is why most of what I do today I can relate them to the way I observe him do things. Though it might be, you know, we have natural things we share together. Demola did not really mind spending his last kobo on somebody who needs assistance. I have been there before. Demola was with three million naira in his office opposite Igandugunran, the palace of the Oba of Lagos. Three million naira and he was distributing the money. He got to a point I was watching. He said Mallam, come and take your own because before you say Jack Robinson, I would have succeeded in distributing this money to my people. And that was exactly what happened. “So, you know, he made you understand that amassing wealth is no big deal. It is what you are able to give to the society that makes you different. And I can tell you till Demola died, that was his philosophy, which some of us are clinging to tenaciously even in public

office. I don’t give a damn about wealth. I have a house that took me 10 years to build. Besides that house, I don’t want any other thing. But if I see my people happy, so be it. And that has been Demola’s philosophy. He would have been a multi-millionaire or billionaire all over, but he chose to give out whatever he had to those who needed them.” As Jaji pointed out, Adeniji-Adele was chairman of Lagos Island Local Government Area. But that was in the days of state-owned political parties. His was the Social Democratic Party. At that time, Adeniji-Adele was so popular that a lot of people expected him to become governor of the state only too soon. It was not surprising that when he was in the GDM under the ill-fated Sani Abacha transition, his immediate political ambition was to become the governor. All of a sudden, the ambition hit the rocks. In the current political dispensation, he is not known to have contested any public election for governorship. He started in the PDP as running mate to Chief Dapo Sarumi whose political influence in the state was waning. Not only did Sarumi lose the governorship election to Tinubu, he could not secure the PDP ticket to contest the same seat four years later as he was dusted within his party by the late Funsho Williams. On the reason Adeniji-Adele did not achieve his aim of becoming governor of the state in spite of his huge followership. He, however, became a commissioner only a few years ago. Jaji said it was an act of providence that Adeniji-Adele became a commissioner at all. “Becoming commissioner in the state was an act of providence. Demola never wanted to be anything. All he wanted was to provide service to his people.” Jaji also spoke on what some people consider as Adeniji-Adele’s inconsistency, explaining it to mean he was not focused on any ambition and his defiance of godfatherism and hero worship. “Demola did not care who you are,” he said, in veiled reference to Adeniji-Adele’s relationship with former Governor Tinubu, a relationship many believe was far from cordial.

Politics 47

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

X-raying humanitarian side of Dogara P

Nankpah Bwakan rimarily, the role of a lawmaker in any democratic setting such as Nigeria is to make laws for the betterment of the society but the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, takes delight in combining law making and humanitarian gestures in order to help the poor and needy in the society. One of the ways he touches the lives of the poor and needy that come his way is by providing free medical services, and that has not deterred him from rendering humanitarian services to all manner of people. Even while he was a floor member of the House, Dogara has consistently organised annual free medical services to his constituents of Bogoro, Dass and Tafewa Balewa constituency. Last year, he organised a one-week free medical services through the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association where doctors and other medical personnel attended to over 300 patients, performing both major and minor surgeries. This year’s free medical outreach was origainsed by the Speaker through a non-governmental organisation known as 'Doctors on the Move Africa' was designed to cover 20 local government areas of Buachi State but patients from neigbouring states of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Plateau trooped to Abubakar Tafewa Balewa Teaching Hospital, the venue of the exercise to access the free medical services. However, opponents of the Speaker said the medical outreach was political and designed to further boost Dogara's popularity, an insinuation the Speaker denied. Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Illiya Habila, the Speaker said he had

Dogara

been organising free medical outreach in his constituency since he was a floor member of the House of Representatives. “Dogara who represents Bogoro/ Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency had undertaken similar free medical outreach programmes in the past eight years for his constituents", however, with his emergence as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the medical outreach was expanded to cover all the 20 LGAs of the state." At the commencement of this year's free medical outreach, a visit to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital showed that an unprecedented number of patients trooped out with various types of illness in order to benefit from the expertise of the medical practitioners. While flagging-off the exercise, Dogara at ATBUTH said a total of 5,000 patients were targeted for the medical services and that people from his constituency had initially benefited from the free medical outreach. The Speaker, who was represented by a member representing Misau/Dambam constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Mallam Ahmed Yarima, said that instead of restricting the free medical outreach to Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa constituency, he decided to extend the gesture to the entire 20 local government areas of the state. Dogara said the free medical treatment would be conducted by a team of 50 doctors, adding that the beneficiaries of the free treatment would be tested and screened for diseases like hepatitis, HIV/ AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, trachoma and other epidemics free of charge. However, there was cheering news for a girl born without anus, and two other patients born with heart problem and muscular disruptions as it was disclosed that the Speaker would sponsor

The beneficiaries of the free treatment would be tested and screened for diseases like hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, trachoma and other epidemics free of charge

their operations abroad for them to live normal lives. They were diagnosed with lifethreatening health matters during the free medical outreach by Doctors on the Move Africa. The leader of the medical personnel drafted for the free medical outreach, Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu, disclosed that the patients who were among over 18, 000 that turned up for the free medical outreach had to be flown abroad for surgeries. He added that over 200 minor and major operations had been performed by his team in Bauchi State since the operation began two weeks ago, but regretted that they could not handle the case of the girl born without anus and two others. He said: “Besides minor and major surgeries, we have also performed 300 cataract operations and our target is 400. The gesture is well received by the people of Bauchi and neighbouring states of Adamawa, Borno, Kano, Plateau and Taraba. According to him, “we have seen patients that were born with heart problems, and they will need open heart surgery. Some of these patients need to go

out of this country. There is the pathetic story of a young girl who does not have an anus. She needs to be prepared before an anus could be created for her. We have made a memo to the office of the Speaker in his magnanimous nature to give assistance to these poor Nigerians who cannot afford the expensive treatment and are not captured in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).” At the end of the two weeks free medical services, patients, their relatives and well-wishers commended Dogara for the gesture and offered prayers for his success as the Speaker and in his future endeavours. However, the outreach witnessed an unprecedented overwhelming crowd of patients even on the last day, while the medical personnel had to put in extra efforts to ensure that all the patients were attended to. Habila explained why his boss decided to expand the annual programme to cover the 20 LGAs of the state to help those who could not afford hospital bills. Describing the exercise as a huge success, Habila noted that the programme ended with the last set of cataract surgeries of 42 patients at the eye clinic, and over 20,000 patients were attended to by over 100 health personnel of the Doctors on the Move Africa, and volunteer health personnel within the state. It added: "The medical team conducted over 230 surgeries such as hernias, lipoma, thyroidectomies, hysterectory (total and vaginal) and X-Loparatory. Other major and minor surgeries conducted by the health personnel during the outreach included orthopaedic implant removal, hydrocelectomies, laparotomy(cystectomies) and myomectomies." When Saturday Telegraph visited the hospital, some of the patients and their relations commended the kind gesture of the Speaker, saying the Free Medical Outreach has better their health conditions. The mother of a 13-year-old, Isa Usman, who was operated upon, said the surgery was supposed to have taken place last year but they could not afford to settle the medical bill and that when they heard about the free medical outreach by Dogara they quickly took advantage of the exercise. 32-year-old Aliyu Bala from Lere village, said he had been suffering for years and had been going for treatment in ATBHT for years but the doctors recommended operation, which he couldn’t afford. But when he heard of the outreach, he rushed to the venue and registered and the doctors performed an operation, after which he is feeling better. But for Mr. John Michael, the story is different as he heard of the medical outreach a week after and he is having difficulties to see any of the doctors as there were many people who came much earlier and are waiting to see the doctors. A particular case that caught the attention of everybody around was that of Madam Iliya Titus, who has been without a child for over six years. The barren woman said she was purposely in the hospital and that she was prepared to be operated upon, but got dismayed when the doctors examined her, and gave drugs differently from what she has been taking. She had to beg the doctors to see the need to have her operated upon as she believed that a surgical operation is the only solution to her problem.

Politics

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are divided over the conduct of the national convention for the election of the next national officers of the party, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

oday's National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holding in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital has all the attractions of previous conventions of the party - horse trading, political intrigues, back stabbing, legal encumbrances, and to crown it all, factionalisation. As some members of the party were heading to Port Harcourt for the convention, others stayed in Abuja for the same purpose. At the end, two national leadership of the party may emerge and what this means is the factionalisation of PDP. Such scenario played out at the midterm convention of the party in 2013. While party leaders were sweating at the Eagle Square in Abuja, others converged on the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre to elect their own leadership. That was how nPDP emerged, which later became part of the groups that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). The only difference however, is that no elected governor or National Assembly member is known to have identified with the Abuja group. The Abuja group is led by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, and consists mostly of the founding fathers of the party, former PDP ministers who served between 1999 and 2015 who are still in the party as well as majority of the Board of Trustee (BoT) members. The group is insisting on the restoration of the zoning principle of the party. The lost of the 2015 presidential election was blamed on the breach of the zoning principle. The Post-Election Review Committee headed by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu had in its report, blamed the loss of the 2015 presidential election on the breach of the zoning principle between the north and the south. The committee subsequently recommended that the presidential candidate of PDP for 2019 election should come from the northern part of the country to appease the region for what happened in 2015. If PDP will chose its presidential candidate for 2019 from the north, it is expected that the national chairman will come from the south. This is the argument of the Professor Jerry Gana led Concern PDP Stakeholders' Forum. This is moreso because the outgoing National Chairman, Senator Sheriff is from the north. In a communiqué issued at the end of its summit in Abuja two weeks ago, the Concern PDP stakeholders said the zoning arrangement adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) for this year's national convention ran contrary to the party's "established principles and practice," which, it said, had sustained the PDP in continuous unity for the last 18 years. "The purported extension of the tenure of the Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee by the party by the NEC was an illegality and therefore untenable and contrary to the provisions of our party Constitution which gives such powers only to the National Convention of the party,” the group further added. It went further to announce the setting up of 21-member steering committee to manage the affairs of the party pending the election of NWC members at a properly organised national convention. Attempt to reach out to them for possible reconciliation was unfortunately rebuffed. Even when it seemed that ev-

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

PDP National Convention:

21 MAY 2016

Divided they stand

Modu-Sheriff

By law, the Port Harcourt convention has an edge over the Abuja faction and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will monitor the convention and no other erything has been settled after the BoT meeting last Monday, the Gana group still went ahead with its parallel convention. At the BoT meeting in which all the anti-Port Harcourt convention were present, newly elected BoT secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, told journalists: "We have moved away from the brink and are ready to unite ourselves and we are happy to announce that all our discussions centered on party unity. "We have moved away from the brink and we are a stronger party ready now to be a reinvented PDP." Sounding philosophical, the former PDP National Secretary added: "We are did a lot of self-examination, so don't think that our decisions today were easy. Every issue was very seriously dealt with and there were a lot of divergent opinions, there were quite a lot of anger, but at the end of the day our decision was simple. "If Nigeria has given us 16 years of opportunity to lead this nation, it will be a national tragedy if we allow PDP to die or to go under because if it goes under, first it will go with the institutional memory, even the mistakes that we have made are part of our assets." In a communiqué he read after the meeting, Maduekwe disclosed that three decisions were agreed upon. "One is that in spite of the well-articulated proposals of many highly respected leaders and members that the convention should not go ahead as planned in order allow more time to resolve our differences, the consensus opinion, because we do not vote in the BoT because a divided BoT be-

Gana

comes a divided conscience. "By consensus, we decided to support the NWC and NEC' s decisions that convention should hold on May 21. "Secondly, all the grievances which have been clearly and well-articulated by well-meaning leaders for the purpose of making the party stronger, not grievances pushed merely to smear the party or factionalize the party, will be carefully looked into and in the process of political consideration, and engineering, we will see how to carry everyone along. "We agreed to suspend amendments to the constitution. We resolved to ask the convention to rectify the motion to zone the presidential ticket to the north. When that happens the chairmanship will automatically be revert to the south in accordance with PDP zoning principle and tradition. "Finally, certain states where there were observed challenges during the congresses, which even the chairman and governors acknowledged, the party will look into what happened in those states and make amends," the BoT secretary added. Sheriff who addressed the board members before they went into close session, had conceded some grounds, and announced the suspension of the amendment of the constitution. He also agreed to set up a committee to address the issues arising from the party congresses in states where they were contentious. The question therefore is, after the laudable decisions taken by the BoT, which is the conscience of the party, why is still parallel conventions? This is so because, Professor Gana and most others who are leading the Abuja faction, were present at the board meeting and participated actively at the debat before a consensus was reached. By law, the Port Harcourt convention has an edge over the Abuja faction and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will monitor the convention and no other. INEC Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi said "there's only one convention known to the law and our regulations for which we were given appropriate notice - the one in Port Harcourt." He however added

that "INEC will monitor the elections to all offices EXCEPT National Chairman, Secretary and Auditor for which we have been served with a court order (unless or until set aside)." A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on Monday restrained the PDP from conducting elections into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor. The court presided over by Justice I.N. Buba also restrained INEC from monitoring the conduct of any election into the offices. The case was brought before the court by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; the National Secretary, Professor Olawale Oladipo and the National Auditor, Alhaji Fatai Adewale Adeyanju. The affidavit in support of motion on notice and the exhibits attached were deposed to by Alhaji Adeyanju. The case had been adjourned to May 24, three days after the Port Harcourt convention. Aside the court order, the PDP South West is also factionalised between Senator Kashamu Buruji group and the other group led by Governors Olusegun Mimiko and Ayodele Fayaose. In a paid advertorial on Thursday and signed by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, South West zonal Chairman who belong to Buruji camp, the group said that the positions of national secretary and national auditor zoned to South West were not yet vacant. Ogundipe said it is only the position of the National Publicity Secretary, which is zoned to the South West, is open for contest, and has been zoned to Ondo State. Four candidates: Dennis Alonge Niyi, Ebenezer Alabi, Eddy Olafeso, Segun Showunmi (all from Ondo State), are the only ones, according to the group, recognised to contest for the position. But the other faction led by Mimiko and Fayose zoned the position to Ekiti State and has chosen Lere Olanyinka, Fayose's media aide as the only candidate. Last Saturday, the Mimiko group had held a zonal congress, which purportedly elected new zonal officers for the party. The court has nullified the election and restored all the positions to status quo ante. The court judgement has further factionalised the South West PDP. The Gana's faction is not just against the north retaining the chairmanship but Senator Sheriff remaining in office. Since he defected to PDP in 2014, and in spite of his vigorous campaign to win Borno State for the party in 2015 presidential election, Sheriff is still seen as an outsider in the party. Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a founding member of PDP said in an interview that the former Borno State governor is not qualified to lead the party. This is the same view held by most people who stayed away from the Port Harcourt convention. The Port Harcourt convention will be the first to be held outside Abuja. It will also be the first national convention since PDP lost the presidential election after 16 years in power. The good thing is that none of the group has threatened to leave PDP, but the crisis is not doing PDP any good. At a time Nigerians are looking up to the party leaders to provide virile opposition to the APC administration, the PDP is budged by crisis.

21 MAY 2016

Young Telegraph with DEBORAH OCHENI

No I can’t

TOPIC

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Dating one's boss/ colleague

It makes no difference

I try not to mix intimate feelings with my official assignments. Knowing that I have a lover around me may limit my performance.

It is not a big deal if there is understanding between us; what different does it make dating your colleague and or an outsider? NOAH UDALE

SALIFU SAM

Personally, I will not do it

It will distract me

I don’t see anything wrong with it but ordinarily, it is not something I will subscribe to for personal reasons.

It will distract me; I will prefer dating outside to having an intimate affair within my place of work.

MARK ROSELINE

JOSEPHINE ATADOGA

It will affect my performance

I can

Date my boss? It is not something I will consider even if it is the last option; it will affect my performance in that organisation because I will feel that the boss is my boyfriend.

All we need to do is to adhere to the core definition of work and relationship and we should be able to differentiate them. HABIB RABBIU

DEBORAH ACHILE

It is unethical

Mutual respect will be abused

It is unethical to have anything to do with one's boss; the business or company won't grow, I might not carry out my duties to the best of my ability because of the illicit affair we are having. He will overlook my shortcomings thereby causing serious havoc to both the business and myself.

If I date my boss the mutual respect we are supposed to have for each other will be abused. Anyone who sleeps with his or her boss has low morals and will only achieve cheap success not through hard work and dedication. IJIOMA THELMA

ZULLY SULEIMAN

I can date my colleague

I can’t even date my course mate

I can date my colleague, it all depends on his kind of person. If the relationship won't affect my work then it's fine.

Not at all, I cannot even date my classmate or faculty mate in school not to talk of my boss or colleague in the office.

MARY JUDE

BENJAMIN EDOGBANYA

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

A cross-section of traders at Ladipo Market PHOTO: AKINWUNMIAMBODE.COM

Ladipo Market crisis: Baba Oloja, Igbo traders exchange words N

Olushola Ricketts

ormalcy seemed to have returned to the Ladipo Market in Mushin, Lagos, after chaos erupted earlier in the week. Two persons were reportedly killed while 15 persons sustained injuries. But after meeting with various leaders in the market yesterday, it appeared more crises are underway. When Saturday Telegraph visited the market, both the representatives of the Igbo and Yoruba traders shared their grievances. Yoruba group of the market was not satisfied with the attitude of the Igbo traders who dominated the area. The Igbos too won’t allow the Yorubas to rule over them. Popularly known as Baba Oloja in the market, Abibu Oladotun, said though he was not aware of the number of people who died during the recent crisis, Igbos had been instigating crises in Ladipo. According him, members of Ladipo Auto Central Executive Committee (LACEC) are just making money from the traders. He said: “Those people called LACEC are the cause of the trouble we are experiencing in Ladipo. Most of the members don’t have shops here; they are just using the association to collect money. They only came here to sell market; they should sell and go but our politicians have given

them too much freedom to operate.” He said that the Igbos were not happy with his position as Baba Oloja because they controlled the market, insisting that he assumed the position since 2011, saying that inasmuch as there was an Igbo leader there must be a Yoruba leader too. “The fact that they are more than us doesn’t mean they shouldn’t recognise the owners of the land. We should all come together to solve problems and make Ladipo a better market. But they don’t want to listen or accept us. Since they don’t listen to me and I don’t collect anything from them, I don’t come into their matters.” Commenting on the recent crisis, he noted that an Igbo man known simply as Aguleri went to dismantle the shops of people who were selling food and they had to retaliate. Oladotun added that in the cause of the trouble they attacked one Yoruba man and there was an uproar. “If they refuse to accept us, things can’t be normal. The associations here is almost 20. LACEC is just a name; the people there doing businesses in Ladipo are not more than five. They just went to bring others from some place to make money and oppress people. “Lagos is no longer the capital; it is Abuja, they should go there. The most painful part is

our people who often take bribe from them. If you know me well, you will know I am bigger than all of these. The Yoruba urged me to take the position and I have representatives who attend meetings on my behalf.” The secretary general, LACEC, Steve Ijeoma Paul, claimed that every market, any gathering of different tribes, must always have misunderstanding a way or the other. “Ladipo market is a peculiar market and different kinds of people come here but we are working closely with the security operatives to always make sure that people do not inflict trouble on our market. We also make sure that people who do not have any business with Ladipo Market, people who are not traders or importers, are reported to security agents because we have no legal power to chase anybody away.” He stressed that there was nothing building up crises other than people who had no reason to be in the market, pointing that it was impossible to reap what they didn’t sow. “Who funded this place? How did the market come place? We call it Ladipo Market today but I have described it in many places I visited as the secretary general as a trade environment. We have only four markets that the Mushin Local Government could lay claims too here and these are the Aguyi

Ironsi Market, newly modernised main market and two Warehouses. “This building (the office) belongs to a man and he could decide to bring it down tomorrow because he is the landlord. People turned most of the buildings here to shopping malls. This is how Ladipo Market came to place and the Igbo found the market about 36 years ago. “After an association (LACEC) that has lasted for over three decades, through many challenges, suddenly somebody thought of having a Baba Oloja or another association. We made Ladipo what is it today.” Ijeoma insisted that the only way a leader could emerge was through election, while pointing that they had over 40 autonomous units that could come together to select their leaders after every three years. “If people see credibility in you and you are worthy to be their leader, they would vote you in. In our records, we have had a Yoruba person becoming secretary general. We have many of them as our task force personals, we don’t divide. It is only the Yoruba that can’t treat other tribes the way we do. Part of our slogan is ‘Home For All’, we accommodate people. Any Yoruba man is free to contest in our elections. “We do recognise and respect the Yoruba culture. We recognise the Oba

of Mushin, we respect his office and we respect the Local Government too. But coming to the market to divide the house is what Igbos who dominated almost 95 per cent of the market say no to,” he explained. He maintained that there was no rancour in the market and if there was, he knew nothing about it. He said they had no issue with the Baba Oloja but he should only control his Warehouse and other areas of influence. “You can be the Baba Oloja in your own warehouse, which is where you have power. I am just trying to clarify that Ladipo is quite different from other markets in Lagos. What we know is the office of the President-General and that is how the government addresses us too. We have mechanic union and we’ve never fought them; we have other subsidiaries that we accommodate too because our constitution says any affiliated body can join us. We are trying to bring everyone together so that we can have a larger house and do things as one.” Reacting to the accusation that the recent crisis was fuelled by an Igbo man, he said they only tried to clear the road and surroundings when Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was visiting. “We went out making sure that vehicles were not in wrong places. To make things work properly in

this market, you need to apply little force. For former Governor Babatunde Fashola to transform Lagos, we could all attest that it wasn’t an easy tax for him. But the fight itself didn’t originate from the LACEC body, take note of that. "Already, the Olapeju traders where the fight erupted have been having issues with the residents. When it started on Wednesday, we intervened as a body. The president had to call the attention of the area commander and DPO. We came on a roundtable, we went to CP’s office and everything was resolved amicably. At the grand opening of the newly constructed shopping plaza, all the parties looked calm. The fight was between the community and the traders of Olapeju. They are not part of the LACEC family,” he recounted. The president of LACEC wasn’t around, but the Chief of Staff to association's president, Onyeke Igwe, insisted that they tried not clash with the Yoruba community in Onitsha, especially in the areas they dominate. “We are trying to put things together, we are not fighting them but to forge a cordial relationship. The Baba Oloja had taken us to the force headquarters in Abuja, but they asked him to go and manage his own warehouse,” he concluded.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Enugu raises the alarm over ‘dumping’ of new-born babies at dustbins Kenneth Ofoma Enugu

nugu State Commissioner for Gender Affairs, Peace Nnaji, has raised the alarm over the rate at which new-born babies are recklessly dumped in dustbins, septic tanks and hidden places by their mothers. She lamented that the incidence of abandoned babies and teenage unwanted pregnancies were on the increase, insisting that it had become imperative for government to come up with programmes that would help in empowering young girls and women and by so doing take their attention away from such ugly vices. The commissioner spoke at the commencement of a week-long training of 50 women on the making of Tie and Dye textile materials in

Enugu Thursday. Nnaji appealed to young ladies in the state and beyond to take advantage of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) skill acquisition programme in order to become useful to the society. “The issue of teenage pregnancy has become a major problem. Every now and then you see beautiful new-born babies dumped in open places by some of these young girls. At the moment we have a good looking baby we picked up and for weeks we have been battling to save the baby who is suffering from acute pneumonia. “We also have a baby who we picked but found out it is blind. Information available to us showed that the mother had tried everything to abort it but failed, so upon delivery, she pierced it two eyes and

made it blind. This is terrible. “These are young girls that were deceived by men who took advantage of them after giving them alcohol and “nkwobi” and all that. I am pleading with these young girls and women to get involved in skill acquisition because white collar jobs are no longer available,” she said. In his remarks, the Director General of NDE, Kunle Obayan, announced that the agency has initiated a number of programmes that would get such vulnerable Nigerian youths meaningfully engaged. Obayan, who was represented by the Enugu State Coordinator of the NDE, Joseph Iroegbu, said no fewer than 500 persons mostly women who had acquired different types of skills would be resettled in line with its

£61.8m

92,200

The total amount spent by Watford in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

The total number of followers on Twitter of Obafemi Martins (Shangai Shenhua) in 2016. Source: Goal.com

Artisans Resettlement Mentoring Scheme before the last quarter of this year. The skills include fondant ice coating, hats and beads making, interior decoration, confectionery, fabric and designs bags and shoe making. Already, 10 persons, who according to him, participated in the NDE's Agricultural Skills Training Scheme in Enugu, have received the sum of N1.5 million as soft loans to start their vegetable gardens at various locations in the state. Meanwhile, the wife of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Princess Akunna Ubosi, who chaired the opening ceremony, said the training programme would go a long way in turning the lives of the participants around as they would be empowered to be self-reliant.

The life expectancy of women at birth of Guyana in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

News Extra 51

TETFUND executes N2.6bn projects at Sokoto Poly Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

he Rector of Sokoto State Polytechnic, Prof. Aminu Ibrahim, yesterday said the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), had spent about N 2.6 billion in the execution of various projects at the institution in the last one year. The rector who made this disclosure while fielding questions from journalists in Sokoto, said all the projects had been successfully completed and put to proper use. Ibrahim listed some of the projects to include the construction and furnishing of a new administrative block and six engineering workshops. The rector further stated: “Through the conference intervention of the fund, 30 staff of the institution are billed to attend various international conferences and workshops in different countries of the world. “Similarly, through the fund's Academic Staff Train-

NANTA, IATA commit to improved business environment Andrew Iro Okungbowa

L-R: Prof. Pat Utomi, President and CEO of Baywood Group, Mr. Chris Baywood Ibe and Mrs Pat Utomi, at the burial ceremony of Ibe’s father, Chief Benson Ibe, at IsuAwaa. Enugu State…recently

OKITIPUPA

MAKURDI

Monarch seeks inclusion of Ikaleland among oil bearing communities

The Abodi of Ikaleland, Oba Alayeluwa Faduyile, has advocated review of petroleum deposits in Ondo State and inclusion of Okitipupa and Irele Local Government Areas as oil bearing areas. Faduyile made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikoya/Okitipupa, Ondo State, yesterday. He said the people of Ikaleland did not want to be treated as beneficiaries of a small percentage of the 13 per cent derivation allocated to the Niger Delta region. “The petroleum deposit in Ilaje, Apoi and Ijaw administrative areas is available in commercial quantity,” he said. The monarch said while Ikale was excluded from privileges enjoyed by oil bearing communities, Ilaje, Apoi and Ijaw enjoy benefits of NDDC in terms of scholarship, infrastructure and social facilities.

Commission to recruit 11,000 ad-hoc staff for LG polls

Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) says it plans to recruit 11,000 ad-hoc workers to complement its staff for the conduct of local government elections in the state. Chairman of the commission, Dr. John Tsua, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Makurdi that the local government elections would be held before November. He said the commission needed additional manpower to conduct transparent and credible polls. “The state is delineated into 3,999 polling units and with staff strength of 267; it will be difficult to hold elections in all the units,” he said. Tsua said the ad-hoc workers would be recruited from staff of tertiary institutions and students with trustworthy guarantors.

GUSAU

25,000 farmers’cooperatives registered for agric programme

Zamfara State Government yesterday said it had registered over 25,000 farmers’ cooperatives for its Agricultural Comprehensive Revolution Programme (ZACAREP). The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Lawal Jangebe, disclosed this in Gusau, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Jangebe said thousands of farmers across the 14 local government areas of the state would be enrolled under the programme, through their respective cooperative bodies. “This programme was introduced during the previous administration in the state, under the former governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Sani. We know the contributions it made to the development of agriculture in the state and the role it played in the provision of food in the state and its supply nationwide,” he said.

ing and Development of 2015, more than 10 academic staff are to enjoy sponsorship to pursue post graduate degrees at home and abroad. “In addition, academic and administrative staff are regularly sponsored for various local seminars and workshops.” He further stated that with the immense support of the fund and the state government, the polytechnic was striving hard to achieve an orderly and balanced physical development. This, the rector averred, was through a myriad of constructions, furnishing and equipping of classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories, workshops and academic staff offices, among others. Others are the procurement of engineering equipment, construction of classrooms, offices, installation of solar street lights and construction of road networks. The rector said TETFUND also funded manuscript development, research and fabrication, as well as several other renovation works among others.

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has pledged to work with the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) and other relevant bodies to tackle the debilitating issues plaguing the industry and make it profitable for the operators. This is coming as operators in the aviation sector continued to groan under the Nigerian business environment occasioned by the scarcity of foreign currencies, caps on agency commission and other unfavourable policies by the airlines. The pledge formed the outcome of the meeting held between both parties when members of the newly elected national executive council of NANTA paid a courtesy visit to officials of IATA in Lagos. According to the president of NANTA, Bernard Bankole, the purpose of the visit was to establish better working relationship with the management of IATA and also to work out ways of improving the business of its members. While expressing the desire of NANTA to visit

the regional office of IATA in Amman, Jordan, he outlined some of the problems affecting the business of his members, which included airlines’ policies, describing it as unhealthy for the travel business. In his response, the IATA, Area Manager, South West Africa, Samson Fatokun, expressed delight over the visit by NANTA and pledged the commitment of his office to attending to the issues raised by working with all the relevant agencies in aviation even as he called on the NANTA president and his team to continue to work towards unifying the body and seeking peaceful resolutions to problems facing the sector. Fatokun explained that in the travel business, IATA could be said to be at the middle, between the airlines and the travel agencies, adding that their role is to make sure that every partner in the sector has a level playing ground for a win-win deal. He promised IATA’s support for NANTA in seeing that their new vision is successful, adding that it is when NANTA succeeds that they also benefit from the sector.

Intels to build airstrip at Eleme community in Rivers Bayo Akomolafe

ntels Integrated Logistic Services has concluded plans to build an airstrip at Ateo in Eleme in Rivers State, to enhance business in Onne Port. The company’s Head, Administration and General

Services, Mr. Chibuisi Onyebueke, who said this while conducting journalists on a facility tour of Intels, said the company was partnering the Lagos State Government to ensure that light planes could move from Lekki to Onne. He added that the company had obtained the neces-

sary approvals from the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) to move the project off the ground. Onyebueke said the company had also invested billions of naira on community relations yearly. According to him, with the airstrip, oil executives coming

in from Lagos to Onne could transact their businesses in a day without any problem. He urged the Federal Government to connect Onne Port to the National Grid, adding that the firm used 100,000 litres of diesel daily. Onyebueke said: “We rely on generators to power our

services and in the last 10 to 15 years, we have had several meetings with officials of the federal ministry of power on how to restore electricity in the port. “One key way to higher productivity is for government to let us have access to power supply to save costs.

“Over 150 companies are domiciled in Onne port. Over 10,000 vehicles are being driven in and over 80, 000 people are working in the port. “Power supply is not our core area. We would not do it,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Onyebueke as saying.”

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Conflict management in marriage

t is not possible for two different human beings to live together under the same roof never to argue, disagree on issues or get offended. Your capacity to manage conflict in your marital relationship is actually one of the factors that make you a spouse. This is why marriage is not for minors but for adults. Couples who you see and describe as perfect and never in conflict, have only devised strategies for managing conflict in their relationship. Whether you believe it or not, marital conflict has a spiritual background. Therefore, it can hardly be managed effectively, relying ONLY on your personal powers and abilities. (John 15:5). “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11). God’s grace is sufficient for you (2nd Corinthians 12:9). You need grace of God that flows through the Lord Jesus Christ to handle challenges in your marital relationship. You just need to tap into the available grace. So, you must trust God for grace to do the following: 1. AVOID DEVIL’S COOKING POT: There is no quarrel without the devil behind the scene. When your argument with your spouse is getting hot, it may be wise for you to excuse yourself politely and walk away from that scene to enable nerves calm down. You may need to go into another room or take a brief walk until emotions go down. “The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so quit before the quarrel breaks out” (Proverbs 17:14). It is also a good time to pray to God for self control, patience and understanding. 2. RESIST THE URGE TO RETALIATE: When hurt by your spouse, retaliation is not an option because your

Marriage Clinic with Albinus Chiedu 08038117704 (sms only) marriagecanwork@yahoo.com spouse is a part of you. Remember also that peace in your marital relationship is more important than winning an argument or conflict. Besides, no award awaits the winner of a quarrel. Only Satan celebrates if self control is not applied. 3. PERCEIVE YOUR SPOUSE CORRECTLY: Many marital relationships break down because of one party’s wrong perception of marriage. There is a difference between husband and man. There is a difference between wife and woman. Man and woman are identities. Every human being is one of the two. Husband and wife are responsibilities (taken by choice) and not mere identities. Your spouse is a part of you and not just anybody outside. Your spouse therefore, requires your special and unique attention and treatment. 4. APOLOGISE TO YOUR SPOUSE: A simple “I am sorry” can put off a rising fire. If you have been in a marital relationship for years and you have never been wrong; if you believe you are always right after a quarrel with your spouse and you are always the one that deserves sorry, you are simply an emotional blackmailer, full of ego and self. Your relationship is just an experiment and if the spirit of God is not invited to intervene in this matter, you might end up with a bitter lesson. Apologise to your

spouse when you offend. When apology is given to you, be quick to forgive. 5. WATCH YOUR UTTERANCES: “Thoughtless speech is like the stab of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health” (Proverbs 12: 18). Irrespective of the subject or level of provocation or argument, never forget the fact that you are addressing your better half. There are words you cannot use for your spouse. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). Avoid abusive words and hurtful accusations such as “I know you don’t care about me.” Avoid any form of violence, name-calling and threats. These are fuelling elements that could ignite unprecedented fire. Besides, your children are watching and you are empowering them with virtues that can give you problems in your old age, possibly make you regret bearing children, and negatively affect your children’s marital life in future. 6. BE PATIENT: “With patience, a ruler may be persuaded and a soft tongue will break a bone” (Proverbs 25:15). Be patient with your spouse. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind...” (1st Corinthians 13:4). 7: LISTEN TO YOUR SPOUSE: If for instance, you believe that all women (including your spouse) are the same,

and do not have any progressive ideas to offer, you will find it difficult to develop a listening attitude towards your wife. In this case, peace will definitely elude that relationship because no one person is a know-it-all, except God himself. Listen to suggestion. Receive it. Compare, discuss, pray, consider factors and then, jointly take a decision. Herein lies the joy of marriage. If you cannot jaw jaw with your spouse, with whom can you do it? 8. CONSIDER YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONFLICT: Whenever there is a conflict or quarrel, ask yourself: “What is my own contribution to this problem?” Then, make amends. Do not start with a blame game in your heart or seeking and discovering what your partner did not do right. You will only be extending further, the journey to conflict resolution and peace. 9. DROP YOUR SELF: Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). If you are still under the rule of self in marriage; if you stick to ‘a whole me’ syndrome, you may NEVER have a joyful marriage. It involves compromise, sacrifice, forgiveness and true love. Put success of the relationship above quest to prove a point that you are a god. There is nothing ‘whole’ about you if you cannot respect your creator and humble yourself before him, obeying his instructions. For questions, prayers, personal counselling, seminars, wedding ministration, etc, CONTACT: The Coordinator, MARRIAGE CAN WORK MINISTRY Mobile: +234-8038117704 E-mail: marriagecanwork@yahoo.com; marriagethings@gmail.com P. O. Box, 13188, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

News

Johns Hopkins, AfDB partner ABUAD for world class hospital

Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

minent lawyer and founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has lamented a culture of miserliness and uncharity among Africans. Aare Afe, notable philanthropist, was upset that wealthy and well-to-do individuals, particularly in Nigeria, have continually failed to endow initiatives and foundations that could genuinely redeem their societies and individuals. According to him, world acclaimed universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins and many others, which had all been the source of great inventions and innovations across fields of scientific endeavour, were, just like ABUAD, products of single individuals who envisioned greatness for humanity and genuinely wished to support the humankind.

Afe who said "The hospital is expected to take off this November", spoke while receiving a delegation from Johns Hopkins Hospital, world's leading medical facility based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, led by Dr Timothy Amukele, an Assistant Professor of Pathology. The delegation was in ABUAD to explore possibilities of establishing relationship between John Hopkins Hospital and ABUAD Teaching Hospital (ABUADTH). Earlier, ABUAD had received a team from the African Development Bank (AfDB) led by Principal Private Sector Specialist, Emmanuel Akinwumi, who came with others including Ousmane Fall and Dr. Soumendra Kumar Dash. AfDB team had come to seek ways of cooperation with ABUAD to equip its teaching hospital complex with latest diagnostic and therapeutic facilities/equipment to enable the hospital provide the best medical

services in the country. Afe explained that the Johns Hopkins delegation's visit had brightened hopes for ABUAD, adding: "Your coming here is a great lesson which will make us change out attitude. What we have learnt from you will be extended far beyond Nigeria". Clarifying the the Johns Hopkins collaboration would essentially focus personnel exchange and drugs supply, Afe noted that the university was seeking the "possibility of having a centre of excellence in ABUADTH. This will naturally stop Nigerians from going abroad for medical treatment". While receiving the AfDB team, he had said “We want to partner with ADB for further development of this great hospital and their coming here is historic because there is no evidence that they had visited any private university before." Amukele said ABUAD, through the proposed partnership, had the potential to "rewrite the myth of African

Babalola (right) and others after the event

inadequacy", adding that "research and scholarship are the hallmarks of great institutions". The Assistant Professor of Pathology, drew similarities between Johns Hopkins' founder, the late Johns Hopkins and Aare Afe, in the areas of establishment of university, hospital and charity, noting "ABUAD has the potentials to be a leader in scholarship". He observed "it is very amazing for one person (Babalola) to do this (refer-

ring to both ABUAD and the teaching hospital)", promising the team would report its findings in ABUAD to the authorities of John Hopkins Hospital to facilitate undelayed conclusion of the proposed collaboration between the two institutions. John Hopkins Hospital, currently the best medical facility in the world, has presence in 30 countries. Provost, ABUAD College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Prof Olurotimi Sanya, said the university hoped to

partner John Hopkins Hospital "in a way that we can access both their human and material resources. His words: "We are looking forward to the type of partnership that will allow even their experienced consultants to come here and do some work and our staff will be going there on exchange so that we can acquire knowledge from them. Our ultimate aim with ABUADTH is to close the door of foreign trips for medical tourism".

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Amosun and his thinking signature cap Waheed Bakare A on Saturday former Dean of Stanford Graduate School of Business, Dr. Robert L. Joss, in his last studentsponsored series ‘View from the Top lecture, in 2009, espoused series of insightful recommendations that could be useful to leaders with listening ears. He emphasised the need for them to invite open criticism using techniques such as town hall meetings, confidential surveys or simply walking around and talking with employees. He used his personal experience as the CEO of Westpac, a company in New Zealand, to show why it is important for leaders to have feelings for their employees. An employee of the company was shot and killed in a bank holdup. Joss felt there was no need to attend the employee’s funeral as doing so in his estimation would be an intrusion into the deceased family. But the company’s human resources manager had a contrary view. He put up a convincing and compelling argument, which changed Joss’ earlier plan. Joss’ presence at the funeral was quite symbolic for the late employee’s family and a morale booster for the other workers. “It is not about you. It is about them. It’s about the relationship between you and them,” Joss told attendees at his lecture. Joss advised leaders to earn trust and respect of their followers rather than asking that they should be respected and trusted. “You have to enlist followers when you are in a role at the top, and you are very dependent on those followers. What you want are people who are inspired, who are committed, who are motivated. It’s your job to instil confidence in them,” he added. This, he said, should not breed sycophancy. He struck the chord with what I consider his most important recommendation that leaders should think less about their power and more about their responsibility to those they lead. He summed up the relevance of

09056089320 (sms only) waheedbakare2003@yahoo.com

this position with the evocative coda of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you are to say you are, you aren’t.” Nothing can be more awful than having a reluctant person as a leader. Although this was not part Joss’ lecture, decisiveness remains one of the sterling qualities that stands out a good leader. All leaders should be able to take tough decisions particularly those that are in the best interest of the generality of the people. Some tough decisions may not necessarily enjoy overwhelming support among the populace but extraordinary leaders don’t hesitate to take vital decisions on critical issues as the dire consequences of lethargic approaches to contemporary issues can be costly and antithetical to good governance. While good leaders know the import of decisiveness, they are also wary of the inherent danger in taking unilateral decisions that could turn them into dictators. Hence, collaborative decision making becomes their guiding principle before arriving at decisions. It is not in doubt that Nigeria has produced an array of good and competent leaders but we have remarkable leaders in short supply. A competent leader will have to bring to bear his competence before he can be rated as a remarkable one except if we want to misconstrue competence to be same as remarkable. Last Saturday, Ogun State Governor,

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, struck me as a leader who thinks more about his responsibilities and less about his power when he assumed responsibility for the collapse of the state-owned shopping mall in which one person was confirmed dead and at least 16 were injured last week Friday. “I take full responsibility for what happened here, not even the commissioner of works can take the responsibility because when the glory comes we share it together, but if anything goes wrong, I take the blame, so I take full responsibility, but we are going to get to the root of the matter, Amosun said. The governor’s position has corrected the misgiving I had about the precipitately issued earlier statement that said nobody actually died in the tragic incident. Human life is too sacrosanct to be played with irrespective of status, faith or ethnicity. Attempt by the opposition to play politics with the tragedy has been dwarfed by the governor’s uncommon position as far as our country is concerned where blame game usually plays out as ready excuse for failure. Odious and cynical remarks won’t take away the glory of that gratifying moment when the governor accepted responsibility for the building collapse. It is high time our leaders learnt that people will naturally gravitate towards responsive and responsible leaders who admit errors and take responsibility more than those who pretend that they are al-

ways right and infallible. It is human to make occasional mistakes but admittance is the hallmark of a good leader. For me, what Amosun did has opened a new vista in the concept of leadership and governance in Nigeria. I have struggled for one week to recall a similar gesture at least in recent time among our politicians but no name has come up to debunk my position about the uniqueness of the stance Amosun took on the incident. The governor should take it a step further by getting to the root of the matter, have the political will to deal with the situation and more importantly prevent a recurrence. The governor has already sold himself to the people of the state through mass road constructions and building of bridges in places where nobody ever thought it was possible. I am also aware that he has taken giant strides in the area of security and education particularly with the building of model schools some of which will soon take off. While paucity of funds could be a hindrance, the governor should open up the rural areas using the available resources as this will complement his achievement in road construction and ease the process of transporting farm produce from rural areas to the urban centres. The governor should avoid concentrating on urban centres at the expense of the rural areas. This remiss had been committed by various administrations in Ogun State and other states and this should not be replicated by any government which is serious about development that is not limited to urban areas. Besides, the Ogun State Government should improve on its health care delivery service and keep to its electioneering promise of free health service to the people. The governor should further prove me right that his straight cap is not a mere signature but a thinking cap that will remain relevant beyond the Amosun years.

FA Cup: Like Sir Alex, like van Gaal?

ccording to reports, Sir Alex Ferguson was on the verge of being sacked by his employers at Old Trafford after four years of failing to take the Red Devils to the Promised Land when fate played a big part in the name of Crystal Palace. Brought from Aberdeen, where he had not only been able to break the vice-like grip of the Glasgow clubs in Scottish top flight football – Rangers and Celtic – he had also taken the unheralded side to glory in Europe winning the now rested UEFA Cup Winners Cup and Super Cup in 1983, but Ferguson had so far failed to get the former England giants challenging for honours. And so according to reports, the 1990 FA Cup proved to be his saving grace after he finally landed a trophy for the Old Trafford side after winning the replay 1-0 when the original match finished 3–3 after extra time. Following this victory, which finally ended Manchester United’s five-year wait for a trophy, the Old Trafford bigwigs decided to give Ferguson a little more time and the rest as they say is history. Ferguson, now 74, retired three years ago as not only the club’s most successful manager in its 138-year-old history, but also the most decorated manager in British football with 49 major trophies to his name. And now is lightening going to strike twice 26 years later with the same foe (Crystal Palace) about to save the skin of another Manchester United manager in Luis van Gaal, in the same competition (FA Cup)? This appears to be the amazing coincidence as both clubs square up against each other in the final of the FA Cup this after-

TS from the Sidelines 08050498544 (sms only) tunsul2@gmail.com noon at the famous Wembley Stadium, London (incidentally that was exactly where the 1990 final was played!). However, while for Palace manager, Alan Pardew the stakes are not that high; because win or lose he will still be rated highly by his employers and fans for a job well done, however, the same cannot be said of his opposite number van Gaal. The 64-year-old former Dutch national team handle, who received universal acclaim for taking an ‘average’ Dutch team to the bronze medal at the last World Cup in Brazil, has spent a torrid time at Old Trafford, especially this season, with reports of his being sacked refusing to go away. After kick starting his three-year contract in 2014 by first stabilising United after the disappointment of the short David Moyes era and securing a top four finish at the end of his first campaign, things have not gone as smoothly in his second season. Rather than building on the top four placing and then challenging for the title, the Red Devils only managed a fifth placed finish, which has cost them a lucra-

tive place in next year’s UEFA Champions League and consigned them to the less prestigious Europa League. For any other outfit that would have been triumphed as a success, but for Manchester United that must be seen as a ‘failure’, especially in the wider context of the season where a 5,000-1 outsider, Leicester City walked away with the Barclays English Premier League diadem. Although van Gaal’s managerial career has been littered with honours at various clubs, from Ajax, to Barcelona, to AZ and finally with Bayern Munich, all this will count for nothing with United fans and possibly the owners should he come up short today. Things have not been made any easier for the Amsterdam-born native, because he took over United the same time as Mauricio Pochettino joined Tottenham Hotspur from Southampton. But while the former Argentine international defender has been able to improve the fortunes of the London outfit, the jury is still out on van Gaal. When the 44-year-old Pochettino took

over two seasons ago, Spurs had finished sixth; since then he has been able to guide them to fifth and third in his two seasons in charge. But for their late collapse, for much of this season Spurs was actually challenging for the title. In the two meetings with Manchester United, it took an own goal for the Red Devils to win the first fixture at Old Trafford while Spurs blew United away 3-0 in the return leg played at White Hart Lane – showing the attacking football United is traditionally known for but rarely seen under the tutelage of the Dutchman. And so for many Manchester United fans this afternoon’s outing is stirring up mixed emotions. While some I’ve spoken too would love nothing more than United returning to the trophy winning was they were used to under Sir Alex; others are cynically praying for an ‘upset’ hoping that should the Red Devils finish the season empty handed again then perhaps it will be enough to finally make up the mind of Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward of the need to do away with the services of the Dutchman. To be honest I’m torn between feeling the joy a victory over Crystal Palace will undoubtedly bring or the sadness that such an outcome may ensure van Gaal sees out the remainder of his contract. Well, let’s hope the neutrals will see an enjoyable game of football! NEXT WEEK: HOW FOOTBALL LANDED ME IN KIRIKIRI – A TRUE STORY!

54 News Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

Why 2.6Ghz spectrum auction did not hold, by NCC

Kunle Azeez he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has explained why the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum slated for May 17-19 could no longer hold as earlier planned. Speaking in a statement made available to Saturday Telegraph yesterday evening, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said it was because only one company bidded, a development which he said, had foreclosed the need for an auction. He said: “In line with Information Memorandum (IM) on the auction of 70 MHz in the 2.6 GHz Spectrum Band published on February 25, 2016 the Nigerian Communications Commission, on behalf on the Federal Government of Nigeria, wishes to announce that the auction process, which closed for submission of applications on April 29, 2016, produced one qualified bidder. “The qualified bidder expressed an interest to bid for six Lots out of the 14 Lots on offer and paid the bid deposit as specified by the Information Memorandum on the Auction.

“Therefore, the need for an auction event no longer arose as the IM, stated that “If the aggregate demand from Approved Bidders is less than, or equal to the number of lots on offer, the Commission will provisionally award the license to the party/parties at the reserve price.” Ojobo said: “Consequently, the Commission is currently undertaking a due diligence with a view to issuing a letter of award of license for the cumulative 30MHz in the 2.6GHz Frequency.” He added that upon approval, the qualified bidder will be required to pay a total of $96 million for the licence. “The Commission wishes to express its profound gratitude to all telecom

stakeholders for the interests shown in the auction process for the 2.6GHz spectrum band,” he added. The 2.6Ghz spectrum band is useful for the deployment of high-speed Internet - broadband- in the nation’s telecoms sector, where voice market has grown significantly with broadband being recognised as the next growth frontier for the country. “It is useful for the deployment of high-speed Internet - broadband- in the nation’s telecoms sector, where voice market has grown significantly with broadband being recognised as the next growth frontier for national economy,” said NCC’s Director, Spectrum Administration,

Mr. Austine Nwaulune, during a press conference in Lagos recently. Meanwhile, on assuming office last year, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, had expressed his resolve to accelerate broadband development in the country through releasing more spectrum bands for existing and prospective players in the industry. Such spectrum frequency spectrum bands include the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum; the 5.4 gigahertz spectrum band and the 70/80 gigahertz bands, the licensing of service providers in the 38 and 42GHz bands and the re-planning of the 23GHz microwave spectrum band, among others.

Negative GDP, rising unemployment hallmark economy Q1, 2016 —NBS report Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) slowed down by 0.36 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms first quarter of 2016 just as the number of jobless people in the country was on steady rise also within the period, National Bureau Statistics (NBS) data on GDP and unemployment for Q12016 obtained yesterday has revealed. The GDP figure was lowered by 2.47 per cent points from growth recorded in proceeding quarter and also lower by 4.32 per cent. Points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015. On quarter, real GDP

Change must also reflect in media practice —Lagos NAWOJ chair A call has gone to all stakeholders in the media industry to ensure that the change mantra going through our nation is also reflected in the industry so that media practitioners can truly discharge their responsibility as watchdog of the society. Making this call recently, the new chairman, Nigeria Association of Women

Journalists, Lagos State chapter, Hajia Sekinah Lawal, emphasised the need for special salary scale for media practitioners. She stated this after her emergence as the new chairman of NAWOJ. The new chairman who was elected unopposed at the monthly Congress of the association in Ikeja-

Lagos at the weekend took over from Mrs. Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, who has served two terms in office. The Secretary of the association, Ifejola Otun and the Treasurer, Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha of The Nation were also returned unopposed. In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Lawal said the new executives would make

training and retraining of members an important aspect of their programmes both in terms of getting better professionally and as entrepreneurs during and after active service. The new NAWOJ boss promised to put in place a reconciliation committee to resolve all issues of aggrieved members.

slowed by 13.71 per cent while aggregate GDP stood at N22, 262,575.97 million (in nominal terms) at basic price compared to the Q1 2015 value of N21,041,701.10 million, nominal GDP was 5.80 per cent higher. On sector by sector analysis, oil and gas sector led the decline growth, In first Q 2016, oil production stood at 2.11 million barrels per day, indicating 0.05 mpdd lower from production in Q4 of 2015. Oil production was also lower relative to the corresponding quarter in 2015 by 0.07mpbd when output was recorded at 2.18mbpd. The real result growth of oil sector slowed by 1.89 per cent (year-on-year in Q1 2016. Meanwhile, the number of jobless people in the country( those within the working age group willing, able and actively looking for work) has increased to 78.q4 million in first quarter of 2016 from 76.9 million figure of fourth quarter of 2015, representing increase in labour force by 1.99 per cent . This means an additional 1,528,647 economically active persons with age 15-64 (working age group) entered the labour force between January 1 and March 2016.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH'S DEBORAH MAKOJI WEDS New Telegraph employee, Deborah Ocheni (née Makoji), recently ties the nuptial knot with her long time lover, Sunday Etu Ocheni. The traditional marriage was held at Mr. Silas Amodu Makoji's compound in Odu Okpakili Ateh and church wedding at St. Joseph Catholic Church Anyigba both in Dekina LGA, Kogi State on 28th and 29th of March respectively.

The newlywedded, Mr. and Mrs. Sunday Etu Ocheni

Couple with little brides

Couple with maids of honour, Ann Edibo (Chief bridesmaid) and Aka John (best man)

... with groom's family

... with bride's parents

Sport Extra 55

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

21 MAY 2016

LMC expels Giwa FC from NPFL

Charles Ogundiya he League Management Company on Friday expelled Giwa FC from the Nigeria Professional Football League 2016 season for breach of NPFL Framework and Rules according to a statement from the league-ruling body. The club failed to honour three cumulative fixtures without acceptable reasons against Wikki Tourists in a Matchday 14 game, Akwa United (MD 16) and Enyimba (MD 18). The club was banished to Ilorin after the unruly behaviour of their fans in a 1-0 loss to Rangers in Jos and the club has failed to honour any of their games in their new home.

The release further stated that: "For failing to honour the fixture with Enyimba, Giwa FC will pay a fine of N10million." LMC’s Article 13.28 states: “If a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the League season without an acceptable reason to the LMC such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled.” The club however has a right to appeal or accept this decision within 48 hours. In the 2012 season, Ocean Boys, were also thrown out of the league under similar conditions with the club later changed to Nembe City. All matches played and unplayed by the club would be cancelled.

Nigeria Open: Coast clears for Toriola Adekunle Salami

igeria’s Segun Toriola is highly favoured to win the overall men singles trophy at the ongoing Nigeria Open Table Tennis Championship taking place in Lagos. After two days of events at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, our correspondent observed that Aruna Quadri and defending Champion Omar Assar are absent from this 4th edition of the world series ranked by the International Table Tennis Federation. The two players are said to be busy with club commitments in France. Aruna features for Morez Jura TT while Omar plays for Istres. Aruna and Omar played in the final last year which the Egyptian won. These are two players who could beat Toriola

based on current form. However, the experienced player who will appear in his 8th Olympic Games next August in Rio will still face stiff oppositions from Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun, Ojo Onaolapo and Kazeem Makanjuola. Two EgyptiansKhalid Assar and El-sayed Lashim. The competition which began on Wednesday ends on Sunday.

Toriola

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

Beyond Nigeria Open Table Tennis series Dikko

NOC seminar for coaches ends in Lagos Charles Ogundiya

three-day seminar organised by the Medical and Scientific Commission of the Nigeria Olympics Committee under the auspices of the International Olympics Committee for trainers, coaches and medical personnel from the 36 states of the federation, sports federations and some selected universities which started on Wednesday, ended in Lagos on Friday. The course which focused on basic fundamental principles in the area of injury prevention, sports rehabilitation, performance optimisation, biomechanics, periodic medical evaluation, basic life support, sudden deaths in sports amongst other major components in able and disabled athletes, was geared towards enhancing the skills and working relationships of medical personnel in their respective fields. The seminar which took place at the Command Guest House, Apapa and sponsored by the Olympics Solidarity Group, was to encouraged a unified front and an athletes-centred goal orientation among stakeholders and also to cultivate a suitable strategy for development amongst other important components.

Pinnick, Dikko meet new FIFA SG, Samoura

FF President Amaju Pinnick and 2nd Vice President/LMC chairman Shehu Dikko were at a breakfast meeting with new FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, in Abuja on Thursday. Samoura was appointed into the position at last week’s 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City. The 54 -year old is the first-ever woman to hold the position in FIFA’s 112-year history. “We are very much delighted at your appointment. You are not only the first woman in this very important post but you are also the first African. We are very proud of you and what you have achieved with the United Na-

F’Eagles T set for Bujumbura battle

tions to deserve this position. “By your appointment, the FIFA President Gianni Infantino has shown his hand at the kind of organisation he wants to run: a dynamic, efficient and people–friendly institution that will fulfill his motto of bringing football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football,” Pinnick said at the meeting. Both Pinnick and Dikko delivered to Mrs. Samoura a special message from the FIFA President, who will visit Nigeria next month.

he delegation of U-20 team, Flying Eagles, has arrived in Bujumbura ahead of Saturday’s 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Young Swallows of Burundi. A team of 18 players and 11 officials landed at the Burundi International Airport on Thursday afternoon and was received by officials of the Nigeria Embassy led by 2nd Secretary, Chrisantus Daniel and Counselor Dennis Chukwueze. There were

Sport Slaming

Pinnick

also officials of the Federation de Football de Burundi. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has spoken about the determination of his team to do Nigeria proud on Saturday. The match is scheduled for the artificial turf of Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium from 3pm Burundi time (2pm Nigeria time). The Flying Eagles trained at 5pm Burundi time on Thursday and also trained at 3pm Burundi time on Friday.

t was mixed feelings for me during my short visit to the Molade Okoya-Thomas hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Thursday. I was proud to be a Nigerian seeing ping pongers from various parts of the world compete for honours in the Nigeria Open Table Tennis Championship which is an event ranked by the International Table Tennis Federation. In the ’90s, there was a competition tagged All Stars Table Tennis Championship. It was sponsored by Cadbury and it brought to Nigeria the best table tennis players from other parts of Africa and the world. I remember top four seeded players in the world were always in Lagos for the big event. It was a big event with top Nigerian players like Atanda Musa, Sule Olaleye and Taofik Maya also gaining experience with the competition. This time, the Nigeria Open is achieving similar impact with players from Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Hungary, Romania, Finland and Slovakia in attendance. Egypt leads other African countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Congo DR, Cameroon etc. to the event. The Nigeria, Egypt rivalry in the game is expected to come alive again with this competition but credit must go to the President of the Table Tennis Federation, Enitan Oshodi, who has a tremendous passion for the game. I learnt some board member are having issues with him, XXX I advise them to key into the federation’s programmes and bring more successes. It is on record that Oshodi brought this competition to Nigeria shortly after he took over as the federation boss in 2012. For example, the event only this year now has a title sponsor in Premier Lotto. For the 5th edition, it will be splendid Oshodi to have more sponsors such that the prize money can be increased and top players from Germany, Sweden, Italy, France, England, Korea and China can come to Nigeria. Since the event attracts points, prize money can be used to lure top players to Lagos. Top Nigerian players like Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri, Ojo Onaolapo, Bode Abiodun, Kazeem Makanjuola, Funke Oshonaike, Cecilia Akpan and Offiong Edem have benefited by gaining points in the competition. This is more so because it is not sure for some of these players to be sponsored for similar table tennis world series outside Nigeria. It is also of note that the ongoing event in Lagos is the only world series event in Africa for now. While commending Oshodi for the initiative, it is vital to urge the tennis boss to further work towards maximising the goodies to be derived from this event. The U-21 event of the competition should be taken seriously especially because Nigeria is in search of those who will take over from Toriola and Oshonaike. Onalapo was in the final last year but lost to an Egyptian. I was impressed with the national U-16 competition staged recently. Emmanuel Augustine and Jamiu Ayanwale emerged first and second in the boys cadre while Sukurat Aiyelabegan and Rofiat Jimoh were the best in the girls cadre. These are players that should be encouraged to get better. If Nigeria is the only country in Africa staging a world series event, then Nigeria should go back to the days of sweeping seven gold medals at continental competitions. We now barely struggle to win one or two gold medals. This has to change with hard work on the part of all stakeholders in the game. For example, where are the coaches to develop our talents? There should be a deliberate effort to expose budding talents in table tennis especially with the hope of taking over the number one position from Egypt at major games. Toriola is going to Rio later in the year for his 7th Olympic Games while Oshonaike is going for her 6th. The two players should be utilised in the development of other junior ones.

Sanctity of Truth

SATURDAY

SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2016

DESTINATION Seychelles Carnival: Classical global cultural feast of all times

N150

- QUOTE OF THE DAY A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on

p.42

- Sir Winston Churchill

PERSPECTIVE Amosun and his thinking signature cap

p.53

LVG battles for survival with FA Cup glory …banks on Martial, Rashford to keep United job

Ajibade Olusesan

SPORTS WORD SEARCH

Nigerian Foreign-Based Football Players (Part 2) Uche Ajilore Worgu Ejide Ujah Aghahowa Ovie Obasi Yobo Ighalo Emeghara

Adebola Akpala Haruna Ikedia Obodo Adeleye Echejile Onazi Martins Dike

oday’s English FA Cup final between Manchester United and Crystal Palace is not only significant for the Red Devils to end their 12year wait for the title but will greatly define the future of Coach Luis Van Gaal. After failing to qualify the team for the UEFA Champions League for the second time in three years, the Wembley showpiece represents Van Gaal's last chance to make good on a lackluster campaign. LVG was booed as he addressed supporters after Tuesday's 3-1 home win over Bournemouth and although victory against Palace will give United their first significant piece of silverware since Alex Ferguson left in 2013, reports suggest that his days at Old Trafford are numbered. However, Van Gaal can take positive omens from what happened to Ferguson 26 years ago. The legendary Man United coach was under fire going into an FA Cup final against the same Crystal Palace following an underwhelming performance of his side that season. Prior to the 1990 final, Ferguson had gone three and a half years without a trophy, but following a gripping 3-3 draw, a solitary goal by left-back Lee Martin earned United a 1-0 victory in the replay.

That was the turnaround Ferguson needed to kickstart his glorious reign at Old Trafford. The image of charismatic coach Jose Mourinho looms large behind him but van Gaal can completely banish that if his side posts a commanding performance to assuage the suffering of the hapless Man United’s faithful. His squad returned lowest goals in recent history of the club but he certainly will need goals to nick this trophy and will rely on his teenagers, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford for that. Martial looks like a more attractive option to add to his 17 goals for the season, having hit the back of the net four times in his last four matches – including the late winner against Everton in the semifinal. Alternatively, fellow rising star Rashford is another proposition to score the goals after scoring eight times in 17 fixtures since graduating to the first team – form that has earned him a surprise call-up to England’s preliminary Euro 2016 squad. LVG surely knows his future is on the line today when he said: "I think the interests of the club are much more important than the manager. Of course, you have put your own aims. (Winning the FA Cup) is one I have always had. But close is not enough. You have to win it. I have read that the last FA Cup (won by United) was in 2004, so also for Manchester United it is a big title."

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