Saturday, may 23, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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SATURDAY Saturday, May 23, 2015

Vol. 2 No. 458

Spectre of Empty Treasury:

How we plan to tackle problem, by incoming governors } 49

Sanctity of Truth

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JOAN IBUZOR The lady who gave Agbani Darego to the world } 13

ETCETERA

I don’t care what Tiwa Savage and MI say about me

}20

fall of mu’azu lHow PDP chairman was forced to resign lFactors that would shape his successor’s emergence }45

50 heads of Amid controversy, Kano youths burn Sharia state for Buhari’s local government election court over ‘blasphemy’ inauguration }6 holds in Rivers today }5 l Sect disowns preacher }5

J’ODIE

I won’t strip to make headlines

}18

REVEALED

University students are plying soft drinks with codeine to get high }10

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Contents | 23.05.15 INSTYLE

A True Gem Gemstone earrings are colourful, dramatic and are just perfect for adding a finishing touch to any outfit

}16

SHOWBIZ

Eyes on the Limelight Twenty-six-year-old Oluwatosin Ogundare, an actress with a fledgling career in the Yoruba genre, talks about the pains of rising to the top

}22

THE ARTS

A Veteran’s Brushstrokes To celebrate his 80th birthday, educationist and artist, Chief Timothy Fasuyi, unveiled 80 personal works at an exhibition in Lagos

}34

DESTINATION

Lost Allure Once the face of the most appealing destination the country has to offer, Bauchi State seldom attracts anyone these days, no thanks to the Boko Haram insurgency

}42

TV&RADIO

Lives as Under-30s Before 30, a new drama series that shed light on the daily struggles of the average single lady is proving to be a hit among Nigeria’s television audience

}44

SPORT

Breaking Barriers Nigeria has never excelled in combined events, but Temidayo Osinbajo, a gold medallist in heptathlon at the Junior Athletics Championship in Ethiopia, is out to change that

}27 Plus: Street Diary 10 | Perspectives 54

SATURDAY

Comment

Going back to the rail lines

resident Goodluck Jonathan is keen on keeping the rail lines busy even as he prepares to hand over to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in the next few days. Many Nigerians, born after the Second Republic, probably did not see much of trains in the country until very recently. Dr. Jonathan rekindled interest in rail transportation and beyond the old locomotives that steam their way across the coast and the savannah, a few luxury trains were also introduced to ease the stress of moving across our cities and states. Speaking in Abuja while commissioning new services, Mr. President said, “we cannot do mass transit using taxis, small cars and small buses even luxury buses.” That is sound reasoning. Past leaders did not pay so much attention to this means of transportation and it was so disappointing that at a stage, the massive Nigeria Railway Corporation was out of operation. Gen. Buhari has a lot to tackle. In dealing with the gridlock which has become a sorry part of our journey into the wrong side of economic development, the rail lines must be fully brought back to live. It does not matter how they are brought back , but there must be action on the part of the incoming administration. It would not be a surprise if Buhari’s first trip from the North to the South was by train. As a young officer, it was the most available means of movement for troops across the divide. It is important to do a thorough study before embarking on the big project of offering efficient rail services. Presently, there is a lot of Chinese presence. Under the military, government used Indian expertise which did exactly yield what was deserved. Without taking away anything from the Indians and the Chinese, we think that more ventures should be undertaken beyond these two. The Indians share similar colonial experience as Nigeria and are still operating their conventional train services. The Chinese are not new to Africa having tried their technology on Tanzam Railines in the days of Tanzanian President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and his Zambian counterpart, Kenneth Kaunda. In driving an efficient rail system, we may have to look towards Japan. And there are good reasons for that. Their most important means of transportation is the train. And they are very efficient. With 27,268 Kilometres of rail lines, Japanese railways carried about 22.24 passengers in 2006 alone. The Chinese and Indians are way ahead of us in population but the Japanese are

closer to Nigeria’s population. It is going to be like also planning with what operates in their country. Japan has 46 of the 50 busiest train stations in the world and many of them also have subways. A trip from the commercial hub, Yokohama to the political capital Tokyo would not take more than an hour, depending on the class of train. Taking off from the Sakuragicho station Yokohama, which lies on the Minato Mirai section, to Akihabara or Ueno, to buy the best of electronics will not take two hours. Quite unlike a Lagos resident commuting from Ikeja to Alaba international market ,to do the same kind of shopping. It could take a whole day. There are the ‘bullet trains’, Shinkansen and indeed they are almost supersonic. You may call them airplanes on rail tracks. They look much like aeroplanes and are very fast. There is all the comfort and convenience for passengers. You can have all your meals, breakfast to dinner, and close your eyes for a good rest while the train is speeding it’s way across mountains and rivers. Bringing back the trains will help the Nigerian economy. All the precious time wasted on the Apapa–Oshodi Expressway will turn to joy because just one train can evacuate as much fuel as 30 tankers. The roads will be free and road users saved from the torture of sleeping outside of their homes. Two week ago was another round of hellfire for road users in Lagos. Many spent over 12 hours on that road, as tankers tried to load fuel at the end of negotiations following the fuel crisis. One car owner, Chionye Ndubuisi saw it all. “I was on my way to Kirikiri at about 10pm. But on reaching Freedom Bus stop, I was stuck in traffic, occasioned by tanker drivers who took over the entire Expressway. Could you believe that I spent five hours in a distance that ordinarily, would have taken five minutes to drive,” Ndubuisi told newsmen. The Buhari government must bring the change he promised. There are so many heavy duty vehicles on the road that there is hardly space for other road users. Many lives have been lost and so much time and resources wasted. With an efficient rail service, Ndubuisi and other Nigerians do not have to go through the trauma of making their bed on the road and spending 12 hours looking at the chaos called expressway, time enough, for President Barrack Obama to breeze into Nigeria to sign a new deal of economic understanding.

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

Eric Osagie

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

SPECIALonREPORT The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jeremiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murray Bruce

Peter Nwaoboshi

Biodun Olujimi

Dino Melaye

Monsurat Sunmonu

Bayero Usman Nafada

Bala ibn Na’Allah

Isiaka A. Adeleke

Abubakar Danladi

Adeola Olamilekan

Binta Masi Garba

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim

Mustapha Bukar

Duro Samuel Faseyi

Fatimat O. Raji-Rasaki

Shehu Sani

Mustapha Bukar

Philip Aruwa I Gyunka

Buhari Abdulfatai

Suleiman O. Hunkuyi

Osinakachukwu Ideozu

Danjuma La’ah

Bassey Albert Akpan

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Mohammed A. Ohiare

Nelson Asuquo Effiong

Achonu A. Nneji

Sabo Mohammed

David Umaru

Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi

Barau I Jibrin

Nnaemeka Anyanwu

Clifford A. Ordia

John Enoh Owan

Mathew A. Urhoghide

Utazi Godfrey Chukwuka

Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi

Gbolahan Dada

Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

Francis A. Alimikhena

Olaka Johnson Nwogu

Ogba Joseph Obinna

Tijjani Yahaya Kaura

Donald Alasoadura

Rose Okoji Oko

Yele Omogunwa

Ogola Foster

Gershom H. Bassey

Suleiman M. Nazif

Malam Ali Wakili

Abdullahi A. Gumel

Marafa Bashir Abba

Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdulrahman Abubakar

Salihu Hussain Egye

Mohammed Garba

Ighoyota Amori

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Ahmadu Abubakar

Mohammed Hasan

Isah Hamma Misau

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Muhammad Ubali Shitu

On June 4, 2015, the eighth Senate of the National Assembly will be inaugurated. Of the 109 Senators who will be taking their seats, 74, representing 66 per cent will be fresh in the upper chamber. Who are these fresh Senators? What are their backgrounds and antecedents? What quality of debate and contributions are we likely to see from them? These and more will be the kernel of a special report by New Telegraph on that day. The report presents a unique opportunity for family, friends and associates of these fresh Senators to felicitate with them. For enquiries and participation: Call Biodun: 0802-301-5582, Taiwo: 0803-304-2915, Onwuka: 0803-733-9843, David: 0810-759-1663

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Kano youths burn Sharia court over ‘blasphemous’ comments

Rivers LG polls: INEC denies releasing voters’ registers

Muhammad Kabir

Ndubuisi Ugah

P Kano

andemonium yesterday broke out in Kano following the burning down of a Sharia court, which was supposed to hear an alleged blasphemy comment made by a sect member of Tijjaniyya, Malam Abdul Nyass. Our correspondent reports that the youth, in their hundreds, took to the streets towards Mandawari and Dandago areas before proceeding to the Emir of Kano palace, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to register their displeasure over the alleged blasphemous comment. The Sharia court, which is situated at Rijiyar Lemo was razed down before the accused sect member could be brought in for trial. While calling for his punishment according to Islamic rites, the protesting youths condemned the statement made by the sect member against the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The sect’s leader who is a known figure among the followers of Tijjaniyya, reportedly made a statement against Prophet Muhammad last week during his usual preaching at Goron

l Tijjaniyya sect disowns preacher

L-R: Chairman House Committee on Defence, Hon. Bashir Adamu; Minister of State for Defence, Col. Augustine Akogudun (rtd.); President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Barde, at the inauguration of the Armed Forces Radio FM Station, at Mogadisu Barrack in Abuja… yesterday PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Dutse general area of Kano metropolis. It was also gathered that the mob had arrived the court to witness the trial of Nyass, who was taken into custody last Wednesday after he was rescued from mob at Makwarari quarters. However, efforts to get

the state police spokesman, Mr. Musa Magaji Majia, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), to speak on the incident, proved abortive as he could not be reached as at the time of filing this report. Reacting to the incident, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi and Khalifa Sheikh

Isyaku Rabi’u, condemned Nyass’ preaching. Bauchi was quoted as saying during a press briefing: “We are warning some people who in the name of Tijjaniyya are making unguarded statements. We distance ourselves with anybody who did this because anything Islam says

is wrong is prohibited in Tijjaniyya. Those who are calling themselves YanHakika are not Muslims, Tijjaniyya never says what is prohibited in Islam is allowed in Tijjaniyya.” Rabi’u also said that the person who made the offensive utterances was not a member of the sect.

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State yesterday said it did not release voters’ registers to the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct council polls. The state electoral commission had said it would use the voters’ registers from INEC for today's council polls. In a statement in Port Harcourt, the INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Rivers, Mr. Roy Obijuru, denied releasing the registers to the state electoral body for the election. “INEC wishes to state categorically that at no time did we release voters’ registers to RSIEC as claimed in the news item being aired by some media houses. “To put the record straight, INEC Rivers received a letter on April 28 on the pending suit between Peoples Democratic Party versus INEC and four others from Mr. Chima Aguma, counsel to PDP,” Obijuru said. Meanwhile, the state police command has ordered a “restriction of movement of vehicles across the state between 10pm on May 22 till 6am on May 23 in the first lap, and finally between 9am and 6pm on same May 23”.

Fuel crisis: Senate summons Buhari absent at Juma’at Okonjo-Iweala, Alison-Madueke prayers for handover ceremony l PENGASSAN warns against removal of subsidy Chukwu David and Sunday Ojeme

he Joint Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) yesterday summoned Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and her counterpart in the Petroleum Resources Ministry, Mrs. Deziani AlisonMadueke, to appear before it on May 25 over the lingering fuel crisis in the country. Also summoned along with the two ministers are the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Managing Director Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Others who are also summoned to appear before the lawmakers include representatives of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria; Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and

the National Association of Road Transport Owners. The invitation, which was issued in Abuja by the Chairmen of the two committees, Senators Emmanuel Paulker (Upstream) and Magnus Abe (Downstream), explained that the summon of the public officers and groups, was as a result of the assignment given to them by the Senate on Thursday. The statement further explained that the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, had on Thursday drew the attention of the Senate to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country and the untold hardship on the citizens of Nigerians. It added that Ningi had also urged the Senate to look into the matter with a view to finding the causes and lasting solution to the problem. It stated that it was in view of the development that the Senate directed its Committees on Downstream Petroleum sector and Petroleum Resources (Upstream), to investigate

the matter and brief the Upper Chamber about their findings next Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned against abrupt removal of fuel subsidy. In an open letter addressed to the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, the association lamented that the importation of refined petroleum products was resulting in major leakages of revenue to the nation and creating jobs for the exporting nations in the face of unemployment challenges in Nigeria. The letter titled: “PENGASSAN’s View on The Roadmap to Revamp the Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry,” and signed by the President and General Secretary of the association, Francis Johnson and Bayo Olowoshile, respectively, observed that the continued importation of refined petroleum products was putting the naira under undue pressure and creating social problems for the economy.

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, was yesterday absent from the special Juma’at prayer organised in preparation for the May 29 handover ceremony. Buhari was rather represented at the National Mosque in Abuja, where the prayer held by the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The president-elect, who was at the Defence House in Abuja on Thursday where he received the interim report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Transition Committee, was alleged to have travelled out of the country yesterday morning. It was premeditated that Buhari was going to attend the Juma’at prayer as the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress President Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, had sent out invitation to reporters for the Juma’at prayers at the mosque. Shehu in the invitation said: “The handover

ceremony will start today with Juma'at prayers at the National Mosque Abuja by 2pm. You are invited.” But when the reporters got to the mosque it was discovered that Buhari was not there and was represented by Atiku. Atiku, who spoke to journalists at the mosque said: “I am here to represent the president-elect and some of the governors that accompany me, who is unavoidable absent. The prayers have gone on very well, we are grateful for all the support and cooperation of all Nigerians. We have prayed to have a successful transfer of power on the Inauguration Day, which is on May 29 Insha Allah.” The Jumat prayer is the first in a series of weeklong activities marking the commencement of the inauguration of a new President for the country. Christians across the country will hold prayers in churches for the same purpose on Sunday. The formal oathtaking to swear in the new President will take place on May 29.

At the service, the Chief Imam of the National Mosque in Abuja, Sheikh Kabiru Mohammed, admonished the congregation to take the issue of trust seriously as the creator would call everyone to task based on what we do with responsibilities entrusted to us, both as individuals and public officials. In the message, the people were warned to be careful of what they do with opportunities and resources given to them or put in their care for the common good as almighty God would demand explanation for our actions or stewardship. The Chief Imam said special prayers for the nation, the people and the leadership and urged all Nigerians to work for the unity of the country. The sermon to the worshippers in the mosque was said in the three major Nigerian languages of Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa as well as English and Arabic. The service was graced by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Etsu Nupe, among others.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

IKEJA Ambode receives Transition Committee’s report

N EWS I N BRIEF

Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has reiterated his commitment towards maintaining the 'Centre of Excellence' status of the state. Speaking yesterday while receiving the report of the Transition Committee, Ambode promised to continue the tradition of excellence that the state is known for. The 10-member committee, headed by the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, was set up to make the transition between the outgoing administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola and the in-coming one of Ambode a seamless one. He thanked members of the committee for a job well done and for submitting on schedule, adding that the report would assist the incoming government in ensuring that the tradition of excellence that the state is known for continued.

FCT PDP crisis: Group calls for dialogue

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Grass Root Supporters, yesterday drums support for the embattled National Working Committee (NWC) members, calling on party members to embrace dialogue rather than engaging in blame game for the loss of March 28 presidential election. The group, which staged a protest at the National Secretariat of the party, also advised those calling for the sacking of NWC to have a re-think as such is capable of disintegrating the party. The leader of the group, Desmond Adejo, said members should be guided by the constitution of the party. “This is time for us to rebuild PDP.

BADAGRY Customs generate N712m in April

The Seme Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it generated N712.2 million as revenue in April. The spokesman for the command, Mr. Ernest Olottah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Seme that the revenue generated was N61 million lower than the N 773million generated in March. “In the month of April, we generated lower because there was a slight drop in trading activities but as the year progresses, the revenue will get higher,” he said. Olottah said the command generated N9.6 billion in 2014, which was N3.4billion less than the N13billion target for the year. He said that the command would still surpass the N13 billion target set for it this year. Olottah said the command made 91 seizures in the month of April, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N26.8 million.

Five pregnant women hospitalised as traders, touts clash in Onitsha Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

t least five pregnant women and 30 others are now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State, following the degrees of injuries sustained during a clash between traders and touts. The touts and their leaders, according to the traders, stormed Onitsha Main Market along Sokoto/ Haruna Street with their leader, looting and carting away goods of traders. The touts who claimed they were working under the guise of decongesting unit of a private company working for the state government was inaugurated early this week by the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano. The touts and some of the officials told the traders that they were officials of the state government when they stormed the market with

three buses and immediately descended on the traders, destroying their make-shift shops and wares for allegedly causing obstruction. Some of the traders who attempted to resist them were beaten to stupor. Some of the victims who spoke to journalists shortly after the incident said that the touts and their leader told them authoritatively that they are from the Ministry of Transportation, Awka. “When they came they started destroying our goods, while some of them were pulling down our shops and others beating anyone who resists them," one of traders said. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Fegge Police Station, Mr. Rabiu Garba, who confirmed the incident, assured residents that those arrested would be charged to court if found culpable. He added that miscreants would not be allowed to operate in the area again.

Encomium as Chukwumereije is laid to rest Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

T L-R: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammed; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin; VicePresident, Namadi Sambo and former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at the special Jumu’at Prayer for the May 29 inauguration and 59th anniversary of Nigerian Navy, in Abuja…yesterday Photo: NAN

50 world leaders to attend Buhari’s inauguration TRANSITION

Fifty heads of states and governments across the world to grace Buhari's swearing in.

Anule Emmanuel

o fewer than 50 world leaders have confirmed their intention to attend the inauguration ceremony of Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria on May 29. Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee, Chief Edem Duke, confirmed this while briefing reporters in Abuja. According to a programme released by the federal government for the inauguration, the one week event has since begun with a Juma’at prayer on Friday (yesterday) at the National Central Mosque, Abuja. Duke told reporters that invitation cards had been

dispatched to all the 55 countries in Africa and other countries of the world. The Culture and Tourism Minister said: “As we speak the 55 countries on the continent of Africa have been invited. Very many of the heads of states will be coming. There has been a huge interest, especially from head of countries in Europe to attend this inauguration and at the last count I think we must have in excess of about 50 heads of states and delegations expected at this inauguration.” While explaining that a high security strategy was being put in place for a hitch-free inauguration, the minister said all invitees for the various segments of the inauguration would be subjected to thorough screening. He said some roads in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be blocked on the inauguration day to ensure smooth movement to and from the Eagle Square venue of the inauguration.

He said: “The security agencies are working in close concert to ensure that there is absolutely no threat to the security of this inauguration. Arrangements are being made to screen all the invitees long before they access the perimetres of the location.” He noted that all residents of the city need not to throng the venue of the inauguration as big screens would be stationed at various points of the city to beam live proceedings of the inauguration. “There is also a plan that in some locations within the city there might be big screens for members of the public to follow the activities of the swearingin, especially. So, people don't need to come to the Eagle Square if they don't have invitation cards.” The minister also denied the media report claiming that the inauguration will gulp N3 billion. According to him, less than N2billion will be spent for a befitting inauguration.

Co-Chairman of the sub-committee, Chief Pius Akinyelure, said everything was being put in place to achieve the overall objectives of the committee. On his part, a member of the committee, Senatorelect Dino Malaye, said: “We are very ready and we have worked with the outgoing government to ensure we have a befitting inauguration.”

he senator representing Abia North in the Senate, late Senator Uche Chukwumereije, was yesterday laid to rest in his home at Ngodo Isuochi, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. In his sermon titled: ‘Judgment’ at the Wesley Cathedral, Ngodo, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Uche, described the late Chukwumereije as a man who prepared for death by reconciling with members of his family six days to his death, unlike many who die unprepared, saying that every action of man shall be judged by the all seeing God. According to him, late Chukwumereije built the Wesley Cathedral to lift the financial burden off the members of the church, describing him as gentle, amiable, accessible and a team player. The cleric, who urged

Nigerians to unite against corruption, lamented that it had permeated the society right from home to offices and churches. He said a situation where National Assembly members were paid N300 million without projects to show for it even when civil servants are owed salaries and unemployment is growing, was capable of causing revolution in the country if not checked. The Methodist Prelate commended President Jonathan for conceding defeat which he said was an answer to the prayer of the church for peace in the country and called on the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that the change promised is actualised. “It beats my imagination how a senator can take home N300 million; it is stealing. You should slash every salary by half, so that we can reduce unemployment in Nigeria," he said.

Jonathan: I’ll be peace Ambassador after May 29 Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he would venture into peace advocacy when he finally hands over the instrument of power to the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buari, on May 29. The President said this yesterday while receiving an award of excellence from The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, which was bestowed on him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The 2015 Epitome of Peace Award was presented by the Field Superintendent of the church, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Field, Apostle John Buzu. President Jonathan said he had decided to be talking to religious faithful across all denominations and religions in the country towards ensuring that peace prevails. “One thing I have decided I will do after leaving office is to be talking to faithful of all religions: Christians, Muslims and other religions, on the

need for Nigerians to live in peace. This is because when there is crisis in any part of the country, nobody can practice his own religion. If there is crisis anywhere, people cannot go to the mosque, they cannot go to the church,” he said. The President stressed that every Nigerian needs to understand that security is necessary for the survival of the country. “We need peace in this country, no matter our religious persuasion or belief," he said.

23 MAY 2015

Elechi appoints CPS, 15 others as perm secs Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, yesterday appointed his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Dr. Onyekachi Eni, alongside 15 others as permanent secretaries. Elechi, while swearing in the permanent secretaries at the Executive Chambers, Government House, Abakaliki, said the appointment of permanent secretaries was the oldest in the civil service rule that had not been abolished, adding that his purpose when he came on board in 2007 was to ensure qualitative civil service reform. He urged civil servants to undergo training to be able to meet up with the requirement needed in civil service such that they would qualify to be appointed permanent secretaries.

The governor charged the permanent secretaries to be dedicated and committed to the service, stressing that if they did not they would be shown the way out. Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Ben Igwenyi, said the appointees were taken from the 13 local government areas of the state. He said the governor under Section 208 (2) was empowered to appoint permanent secretaries, stressing that the governor implemented the 35 per cent affirmative order of the wife of the President, Mrs. Patient Jonathan. The commissioner said six out of the 16 permanent secretaries were women and commended the governor for appointing them, stressing that this action would enable the state to record uncommon development.

Women, youths halt crude output in Nembe oilfield

he protesters, mostly young men with some women, arrived in about 30 speedboats and climbed the fence at one station with no resistance, and dodged security at the other, both of the facilities are located in creeks in the Niger Delta region. Output ceased at 10 a.m. (0900 GMT) though the extent of the stoppage was not yet clear, according to Reuters. Oil traders said the protest had no immediate market impact given an existing oversupply of June-loading cargoes of Nigerian crude. At least 15 million barrels of crude in Africa’s largest energy producer remains unsold. Resentment of oil production in the Delta, in the southeast of Nigeria, goes back decades because of the devastation wrought

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by frequent oil spills and the relative lack of development benefiting impoverished local communities. Discontent led to the rise of militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which became notorious for kidnapping foreign oil workers and attacking oil installations until a 2009 amnesty. Royal Dutch Shell Plc sold its operating stake in OML (oil mining license) 29 and the accompanying Nembe Creek trunkline in late March to Aiteo Eastern E&P Co for about $1.7 billion. The license includes three sets of oilfields Nembe, Santa Barbara and Okoraba. Shell said combined production averaged around 43,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent in 2014.

ONITSHA Anambra JUSUN to resumes strike May 25

NEWS IN BRIEF

Following the alleged non implementation of the state government’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reached in March, the Anambra State branch of the Judiciary Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is set to resume its suspended strike on May 25. According to the MoU, which was signed on March 20 this year before the strike was called off, it stated that henceforth, money for salaries, overheads and capital projects should be paid into the account of the judiciary in line with its new financial autonomy status, but as at yesterday, it was yet to be implemented. Saturday Telegraph gathered from some workers that their April salaries were yet to be paid, while they were yet to be communicated on how it would be paid.

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has dedicated its Metrology Laboratory named after Engr. Otis Anyaeji and the Faculty of Engineering Library named after Lanre Adesuyi on May 5. The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Asuzu, said the inauguration of the two facilities was in fulfillment of promises made by Anyaeji and Adesuyi during an infrastructure development drive and fund-raising dinner held in Abuja on October 23, 2013. Asuzu said Anyaeji made an initial pledge of N4, 188,971 for the completion of the Metrology Laboratory, which was redeemed within 24 hours. He later made a further donation of N655, 000 for the laboratory furniture.

4,714,725

The total number of votes scored by PDP in the South South zone in the presidential election of Nigeria in 2015. Source: INEC

IKEJA

FCT Varsity inaugurates engineering lab, library

EFCC re-arraigns three oil marketers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned three oil marketers - Opeyemi Ajuyah, Abdullahi Alao and Olarenwaju Olalusi, over an alleged N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the defendants were charged before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court. They were re-arraigned on an amended eight counts alongside their companies - Majope Investment Limited and Axenergy Limited. NAN also reported that the defendants had been previously arraigned on October 10, 2012, on a nine counts of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of fake documents.

18%

The percentage of access to sanitation linked to a sewage system in Asia. Source: Unesco.org

€227m

The total transfer fees received by English Premier League clubs from academy sales since 2013. Source: Goal.com

Senate Presidency: Don’t jettison zoning, Akume warns APC leadership Chukwu David

S Abuja

enate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, yesterday opposed the positions of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Tinubu and the former National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, who recently said zoning should not be used to undermine merit in the constitution of the leadership of the 8th National Assembly. Fielding questions from journalists in Abuja, Akume, who represents Benue North West, admonished the leadership of the APC not to jettison the idea of zoning, explaining that the arrangement was deliberately and fundamentally created to ensure inclusion of various political enclaves in the management

…says he is still in the race of the affairs of the nation. This came on a day he refuted reports that he had withdrawn from the Senate Presidency race, declaring that he was the most qualified candidate to occupy the seat, going by his current leadership position in the Upper Chamber. The former governor of Benue State also pointed out that, in advanced countries, zoning was also deliberately put in place so that the weak political units of a country was not subjected to marginalisation and denial of participation in decision-making processes. While stressing that zoning had become part and parcel of Nigerian politics, Akume advocated that all sensitive political offices should be rotated in the country to avoid provoking strife and con-

fusion among the various political substrata. He said in formulating a zoning arrangement for any position in the country, stakeholders must ensure that fairness and balance was observed in the occupation of strategic political positions in the country. “I want to be as frank as I can in the course of this interaction. I got into the Senate after eight years sojourn as the governor of Benue State, where I have interacted meaningfully well with the state legislators, and during my stay here, I moved from one platform to another. From PDP which I co-founded to the ACN and eventually, I became the Minority Leader and in that vantage position, I became the chair-

Interior designers to woo Nigerians with exhibitions Olushola Ricketts

President of Niger Republic, Issoufou Mahammadou (left) and President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, during Mahammadou’s visit to the president-elect at the Defence House in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

man or the leader of the caucus party in the Senate. “I believe that given this track record, I am sufficiently prepared to take a shot at the highest office in the Senate. As for the posters in Abuja, I did not sponsor any production of posters or placement in Abuja or anywhere. I took things for granted because we are practicing Presidential, democratic system of government and in that system, the process of succession to leadership in the legislature is clearly established. “As a Minority Leader, automatically I should have become the presiding officer and it is important to take note of this.We are all learned people and for anybody to say I withdrew is purely in the imagination of a few," he said.

he Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) has concluded plans to hold exhibitions in Lagos and Abuja to commemorate this year’s World Interior Day celebration. Speaking at a press briefing, the president of IDAN, Titi Ogufere, said the core vision of the association was to be the voice of designs and promote the trade in Nigeria. “I don’t know if you are aware in Nigeria that we have no school for interior designs. We want people to know what the industry does. We have interior designers, decorators and suppliers as members and we have been in existence

for seven years,” she said. Ogufere said due to the need to bring interior designs to youths, the association had struck a partnership deal with the University of Lagos (UNILAG). “In UNILAG, we would start with a certificate course by September. We are also in arrangement with a school in the United Kingdom with the intent to set up our own school of designs. "We are yet to finalise with them, but we are hoping it would work out next year. But we are excited about the opportunity available for students to learn interior designs at UNILAG and the management of the school is excited about it too,” he said.

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

KADUNA COAS tasks Army on selfless service

N EWS I N BRIEF

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, yesterday tasked graduating recruits on selfless service to further facilitate national cohesion. Minimah made the call while speaking as the reviewing officer at the passing out parade of the 72 Regular Recruits Intake of the Depot Nigerian Army held in Zaria, Kaduna State. Minimah, who was represented by Chief of Training and Operations, Maj-Gen. J.A. Ewansiha, identified discipline, commitment, dedication and patriotism as unambiguous path to success in life. The Army boss urged the graduating recruits to make discipline their watchword and work hard to prosper in all their future endeavours.

APAPA 29 ships expected at Lagos ports

Twenty-nine ships are expected to offload their cargoes at the Lagos ports from May 22 to June 5, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said yesterday in Lagos. The NPA’s daily publication, “Shipping Position” in Lagos, said 10 of the expected ships would arrive with containers, while eight others were to sail in with food products. The food products include frozen fish, soya beans, buckwheat, bulk salt and crude palm oil. Meanwhile, 15 ships have arrived at the Lagos ports with various products. The publication said nine of the ships arrived with petroleum products, including petrol, bulk gas, base oil, aviation fuel and diesel. The remaining six ships arrived the port with rice in bags and frozen fish.

179.97m

The total number of connected mobile (GSM) lines of Nigeria in September 2014. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

EKET FRSC arrests 48 traffic offenders, convicts four

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Eket Unit Command, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday said it had apprehended 48 traffic offenders and convicted four others for violating traffic rules between April and now. The Unit Commander, Mr. Lucky Ugenlo, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket Local Government Area, said the offenders were arrested for contravening various trafficrelated offences such as: over loading, drivers’ not using the seat belts while driving , lack of driving licenses, fire extinguishers, speed limit, road traffic and route violation. “We apprehended 48 traffic offenders who appeared at the last mobile court sitting and the court awarded an option of fine to some of them for violating various traffic related offenders,” he said.

The sex ratio of women to 100 men of Cuba in 2012. Source: Un.org

0.95%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Benin Republic in 2004. Source: Itu.int

OML42: Why NPDC, NECONDE firm differ on 45% equity share Gabriel Choba Ughelli

resh facts have emerged on why the rift between the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the exploration and production arm of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the NECONDE Energy Limited, which is in a joint venture with the NPDC on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42. The oil industry operators had few days ago backed NECONDE over the battle for the operatorship of OML42, which according to NPDC, did not pass through due process. But speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday Telegraph, the former Group Chairman of NNPC, Mr. Richard Otovwievwiere, who spoke on behalf of the workers’ union, said the rift between NPDC and

NECONDE, which bought the 45 per cent stake jointly controlled by Shell, Total in OML42, failed to contribute its 45 per cent stake and had been receiving a full return of the crude oil share since 2014. It would be recalled that the Federal Government through the NPDC controls 55 per cent equity share, while the 45 per cent equity share is due for validation in nine months. He said: “The corruption we are talking about is hidden behind awarding contracts to improper and incapable people into shortchanging the Nigerian people, by the Federal Government to better the minds of a few. "It is only in the oil sector you will see a national oil company like NNPC going into a strategic business alliance with an individual carrying a briefcase, companies without capacity and they will tell you it is local content."

'How we delivered affordable houses to civil servants' anaging Director and boss said upon his firm’s arM Chief Executive of rival in the state, it observed Banksome Group, Mr. An- that Imoke was sincere and

Executive Director in charge of administration at Ibru Organisation, Mr. Henry Muogho and his wife, Jacklyn, during the burial of Chief David Muogho, in Aladja, Delta State… recently

N’Assembly returns to Supreme Court over constitution amendment LEGAL TUSSLE

The battle for constitutional amendments is far from being over as legislators head back to court. Tunde Oyesina

T ABUJA

he National Assembly yesterday through its counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) applied to the Supreme Court to have the case bothering on amendment of constitution relisted for hearing before the expiration of the tenure of the current National Assembly. The Supreme Court, which had earlier adjourned the matter to June 19, days after the expiration of the life span of the current National Assembly,

l Court sets Monday for hearing had rescheduled the hearing of the case for May 25. A copy of the new hearing notice, which was obtained by Saturday Telegraph in Abuja, reads: “Take notice that the above motion will be listed for hearing before the Supreme Court of Nigeria sitting at Abuja on Monday, May 25, 2015. “And further take notice that in accordance with Order 2 Rule 1(2) of the Supreme Court Rules 1985, as amended, this notice is deemed sufficiently served on you if it is left at your address for service or sent by registered post and since the date of service by post is material, section 26 of the Interpretation Act, 1c64 shall apply.” In the suit, the National Assembly is asking the apex court to discharge the interlocutory orders of injunc-

tion made on May 7, which barred the lawmakers from overriding President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto. The National Assembly is further asking the court to dismiss the originating summons filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on the grounds that the originating summons dated April 22 is incompetent, fundamentally and incurably defective and thereby robs the Supreme Court of its jurisdiction. Awomolo also submitted that there is no known or reasonable cause of action disclosed in the originating summons to ground jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. He also argued that the originating summons filed by the plaintiff is an improper and or reckless invocation of the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

He further argued that the AGF was not competent to invoke the original jurisdiction of the apex court under the Supreme Court (additional jurisdiction) Act. While urging the court to hear the application, Awomolo said the National Assembly was inaugurated on June 6, 2011, for a term of four years and that the four years’ lifespan of the 7th National Assembly would terminate on June 6 this year and the case would therefore become abated. “It is in the interest of justice and the good people of Nigeria that this suit be given expeditious hearing and determination,” he added. Saturday Telegraph recalls that the Supreme Court had earlier stopped the National Assembly from going ahead to enact into law the Fourth Alteration Act, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution.

thony Somefun, has revealed how his firm’s partnership with Cross River State Government has resulted in the provision of cheap and affordable houses for the state’s civil servants. He cited Governor Liyel Imoke administration’s strict adherence to due process as a motivating factor in the partnership that had ensured his firm’s delivery of 850 civil servants’ housing units at Atimbo, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state. Somefun said: “Our relationship with Cross River State Government has proved to us that, there is a state that adheres to due process and good governance and we are glad to do business with it.” The Banksome Group

passionate to provide shelter for his civil servants who after a long and meritorious service to the state, deserve to retire into decent and affordable houses of their own. Somefun said: “When we first came to the state, we discovered that the governor was not only determined but also sincere about providing shelter to his civil servants. Apart from this, the governor’s strict adherence to due process and good governance were some of the motivating factors that actually made the partnership to work. "And today, we can say that we have been able to assist his administration in providing about 850 housing units for civil servants in the state.”

Assembly crisis: Olugbemi warns Omirin, others on violence Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he factional Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dele Olugbemi, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the House led by Dr. Adewale Omirin against fomenting “further trouble with a view to destabilising Ekiti State.” Olugbemi, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, accused the APC lawmakers of planning to foment troubles with a view to destabilising the state at the eve of the departure of the present Assembly. He warned that any such moves would be met with reasonable level of resistance by the people. Olugbemi said the po-

lice in particular should be vigilant on the activities of Omirin and others in their group whose activities in the last two months had been averse to peace. “The former speaker and deputy and some other members have absconded from the House of Assembly without any correspondence with the Clerk of the House since November 11, 2014,” he said. He said public authorities in the state, “including the executive and legislature should discountenance the activities of the former speaker and the deputy or any other person purportedly acting on behalf of the State House of Assembly aside from me, Dele Olgbemi, the legitimate speaker of the assembly.”

23 MAY 2015

Lawmaker, don sue Suswam over 'appointments' Cephas Iorhemen

A Makurdi

member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Benjamin Adanyi and a senior lecturer at the state university, Prof. Aloysius Ihuah, have dragged the state government under Governor Gabriel Suswam to court over what it termed as “last minute employments, appointments and sale of government's property.” In a separate writ of summons filed by Prof. Tony Ijohor (SAN), Adayi, who is the Minority Leader of the Assembly and Ihuah are praying the Makurdi High Court to restrain the state government from employing 4,500 workers and making further last minute appointments. Ihuah averred that as a public servant duly employed by the state government, he has not been paid his salary for the past three months while other workers have not been paid for over five months, yet the govern-

ment was seeking to employ over 4, 500 staff and further compound the situation. He said the first defendant had also concluded arrangements to lease some state-owned companies including the Benue Fertiliser Blending and Chemical Company Limited, adding that the actions would further compound the delicate financial situation of the state government. According to the plaintiff, the current market value of the Benue Fertiliser Blending and Chemical Company with its machinery, warehouses and other facilities, is above N200 billion while the current market rate of leased properties such as the plant is N250 million per annum, pointing out that it was being leased out to a crony at a giveaway N2.5 million per annum. Joined in the suits is the Attorney General of the state, while AT & S, the firm that has been earmarked as a beneficiary of the lease, was also joined in the suit challenging the lease.

Hotel Presidential Enugu makeover to gulp N4bn l To open for business in 2017 Andrew Iro Okungbowa

-Hospitality Services Limited (EHSL) has won the bid to makeover and manage Hotel Presidential Enugu under a concession arrangement with the formal opening for business set for 2017. This decision was reached by the Governor Sullivan Chime – led government following months of considerations of many other bids submitted to the government by other investors and interested parties both from within and outside the country. Under the agreement, EHSL is to undertake the project through a special purpose company – Primeview Hotels Limited. EHSL will also engage a suitable International hotel

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

management company to operate the hotel post renovation. When fully operational after the extensive renovation and remodelling expected to be carried out by the new team, the hotel will step into the gap as the premier business and leisure facility in the South-East zone of the country, which presently lacks a first class rated hospitality and leisure facility. Since taking over physical possession of the hotel, Primeview is said to have swung into full action with surveys and concept designs and other critical works done and a contractor named and mobilised to the site while the stripping of the hotel had commenced in preparation for the redevelopment works.

FCT

CALABAR IFAD disburses N665m to 52,000 households

NEWS IN BRIEF

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) yesterday said it had disbursed about N665.7 million as grant to empower 52,000 rural household farmers in Cross River State communities from 2007 till date. IFAD is a United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating poverty in developing countries. IFAD’s Coordinator in the state, Mr. Innocent Ogbin, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, said that the grant, under its Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme in the Niger Delta (CBNRMP-ND), was for various agricultural businesses that would make them self reliant.

4.23m

The total population of Congo in 2012. Source: Un.org

GUSAU

NANS lauds FG over upgrade Benue Assembly passes N97.952bn budget of 4 COEs to varsities

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Federal Government for upgrading the Alvan Ikoku College of Education and three other colleges of education to universities. A statement signed by the NANS’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Nwankwo Ezekiel, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja said the Federal Government had proved that it attached premium to education. The statement said the development showed that the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan was not paying lip service to the sector.

Benue State House of Assembly has approved the sum of N97, 952 billion as budgetary estimate for the fiscal year. The sum represents a reduction of N593, 473 billion from the proposal sent to the assembly by Governor Gabriel Suswam in December 2014. Suswam had proposed to spend N98, 546 billion year but the assembly after due consideration slashed the estimate following non-inclusion of money for the conduct of local government polls this year in the state. The figures approved by the assembly shown that the recurrent expenditure is higher by N59, 075 billion, while N38, 877 billion is for capital expenditure. The assembly also provided for a deficit funding of N8,769 billion.

$27.1m

The total pay (including salary/ winnings & endorsements) of Peyton Manning (NFL) for 2014. Source: Forbes.com

21.46%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bahrain in 2004. Source: Itu.int

Ado-Ekiti main market burnt as Fayose relocates Hausas Adesina Wahab

l Assembly mgt directs 26 APC lawmakers to vacate offices

arely 12 hours after Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, some unknown persons have burnt down the popular Ojaba Market. The market, which is located close to the palace of the Ewi of Ado – Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, was burnt in the early hours of yesterday. Also hit by the act of arson was the Lagos section of the market where traders sell such items as clothes, shoes, cosmetics, perfumes and other materials. Disturbed by the development, Fayose, who rushed down to Sabo and Atikannkan to ensure the safety of Hausa residents of the areas, vowed to get

to the root of the crisis and bring the culprits to books. He expressed disgust at the latest development after the state government had taken necessary precautionary steps and however, ordered the immediate evacuation of the Hausa traders to Shasha area along Ikere Road, stressing that they would be there until the situation is normalised. Also, some irate youths almost attacked some policemen who came yesterday morning to the scene. The grouse of the youth was that some policemen allegedly aided the arsonists to set the market ablaze. It took serious restraint on the part of security men not to engage the youth in a face-off. There has been unrest in the city in the last three days

Ado-Ekiti/with agency report

following clashes between some drivers and Hausa traders over the alleged snatching of the bag of a lady containing some money. Meanwhile, the management of the state House of Assembly yesterday directed the outgoing All Progressives Congress (APC) 26 lawmakers in the state to vacate their offices. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Clerk of the assembly, Mr. Tola Esan, in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti, said the lawmakers were directed to remove all their personal belongings from their offices, in preparation for the inauguration of newly-elected members. The clerk, according to the statement, called on the legislative aides of the lawmakers to ensure strict compliance with the direc-

tive on or before May 29. The statement said the directive was to enable the assembly management to carry out some repairs and the renovation of the entire complex, ahead of the inauguration of the 5th assembly. The assembly management thanked all the outgoing lawmakers for their rewarding services to the state and promised that their contributions would be remembered. The management also said their wealth of experience would be explored at all times. NAN also reported that invitations to the inauguration of the 5th assembly, scheduled to hold on June 1, were already in circulation. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 26 seats in the incoming assembly in the state.

Group commends Ado Bayero’s appointment

igeria Youths Patriots (NYP) has described the appointment of Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero, as the managing director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) as a step in the right direction, which will foster greater development and national unity. In a statement jointly signed by the president and national secretary of the group, Collins Ibe and Danjuma Galadima, respectively, the group noted that the choice of Ado Bayero was

a divine choice despite not chosen as his father’s successor when the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, died. The statement said despite being an heir to the throne which could have stirred a rift between the sitting monarch and him, the new NPA boss failed to raise an eyebrow. “His emergence is something that can be looked from the point of view that he is a detribalised Nigerian, who is unassuming and proactive in nature,” the statement said.

Security personnel supervising the evacuation of Hausa traders from Atikannka area of Ado-Ekiti to Shasha along Ikere Road… yesterday PHOTO: WAHAB ADESINA

Street Diary

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

How students ply soft drinks

egun (not real name) was tired when he got home. He quickly rushed to the refrigerator to have a glass of water but opted for a bottle of Coke he found in it. But after gulping part of the drink, he realised that the taste was strange. His younger brother, a student of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos, kept the drink in the refrigerator and went to bed. He woke him up and queried what he added to the drink. After mounting much pressure on him, the brother confessed that he added a cough syrup to the soft drink. He said his friends in school introduced him to the mixture and they normally take it because “it makes them to feel relaxed.” Though drugs intake in Nigerian higher institutions is not new to the system, findings by the Saturday Telegraph reveal that most students have increasingly become addicted to cough syrup using it as a substitute for hard drugs. Since the cough syrup is usually mixed with soft drink, nobody will be suspicious of the intent. According to a young man who runs a dispensary at Gbagada, Lagos, the act of mixing cough syrup with soft drinks gained popularity after an ex-General’s daughter, Cynthia Osokogu, was drugged with something similar. “The accused confessed that they drugged her with retinol by adding it to her Ribena drink, which was expected to make her dizzy and weak,” he narrates. He, however, says that most cough syrup contains codeine and too much of it is not good for the health. “When you take overdose it reacts. Most people take it because they see their friends doing it. I have a female friend who used to be very calm, but after mingling with some guys she started taking codeine. She now takes it more than the guys who introduced her to the lifestyle,” he explains. The man who prefers to be anonymous states that most people who come to buy the drugs claim they need it for cough and they usually go to any length to convince him whenever he is reluctant to sell. “Immediately they get inside the shop they would start coughing or come along with doctor’s prescription, which make it difficult to question the purpose for which they are buying it. “My business is to sell drugs and other items. The price of cough syrup that contains codeine ranges from N400 to N1, 000 or even more and we have different products. They mix it with soft drinks and any other available ones. But most of them like coloured drinks in order to deceive people. For instance, when you mix it with coke you won’t know it is mixed because the colour remains the same.” Another owner of a dispensary at Akoka, Bariga in Lagos, insists that cough syrup now sells more around this vicinity (Akoka) due to the high intake by youths, especially students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), St Augustine’s College of Education and Federal College of Education (FCE). To him, most of them take soft drinks because of what they want to mix them with and they are so happy to do it because nobody will suspect them. Even when they have cough, he stresses that some students gulp the bottle once, instead of following the prescription. “I know a student of UNILAG that normally buys from me. I sell it to him for N550, instead of N600 because he buys plenty and he has been a regular customer. He collects money from his friends and buys for them because some pharmacists don’t sell it to students or underage since they know what they use it for.

It has become so common among Nigerian youths, especially students in higher institutions, to abuse cough syrup that contains codeine. OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, who has been following the trend, writes that students often mix it with soft drinks with the intent of making themselves hyper.

Collection of soft drinks and codeine

“They take it everywhere once it is mixed with a drink. They don’t misbehave when they take codeine; it makes them to just be slow. Some don’t call it by the name; they call it ‘coda.’ We dealers already know what they mean once we hear the name. So, if a policeman is here now and someone says he wants to buy ‘coda’ he would never suspect anything. Married adults also take it. I have couples who always buy it in my shop,” he explains. He also noted the price of cough syrup has increased, explaining that Benylin with codeine, a popular cough syrup, once sold between N200 and N250 before, it has increased to between N1, 000 and N1, 200

I know a student of UNILAG that normally buys from me. I sell it to him for N550, instead of N600 because he buys plenty and he has been a regular customer

Orhii

and people still buy it. He adds that the sudden price increase is because the demand is high. He says, “Even unknown or random brands have started making sales and have increased their prices too. You could get cough syrup which was formally sold N100 for N400 or N500 now because of the high consumption rate by the youth. In the past, if an underage comes to me and says he wants to buy codeine I won’t sell to him or her. But now, I sell it to anybody and advise them on how to use it efficiently. But most pharmacists sell it to only adults now.” Chukuma Ezenwanne, a student of

UNILAG, says most of his friends who take codeine see it as a safe way to get high. “If you take marijuana people could easily perceive the odour on you and it has a very bad and obvious effect. But if you take anything containing codeine such as couch syrup and mix it with a soft drink, it is just like taking overdose of the drug. You will recover after a couple of hours or days, but at that particular time you will be high. The kind of ‘high’ is also a bit different from what people are used to. Students don’t misbehave as such after taking it. Some believe that when they take, they are less worried about things bothering them. “But once they take it, they will become very slow. If you touch them, they can easily fall, though most people just go to bed after taking it. Nowadays, if you see a student not behaving well, there is every tendency that he has taken it. Guys also add it to drink for ladies to get them dizzy,” Ezenwanne narrates. The zoology student says that ladies also take it, pointing that anything boys do in the UNILAG, girls do them too. He adds, “I have seen a girl taking more mixture. They can add Emzolyn and alcohol to make them really hard. The intake increased when the likes of Wiz Kalifa and Lil Wanye (American musicians) said they love to take codeine in their songs. They called it purple. So, I feel the music affected most youths who normally listen to foreign songs because they see these musicians as role models.” In UNILAG, Ezenwanne insists that that there is hardly any socially inclined student who has not done the mixture before. “I can bet that the majority of boys in the school had done the mixture one way or the other. Some lecturers are aware of it, but it would be hard for them to stop students from the act because it is not possible to be checking all the drinks you see with us. I could still recall that my chemistry lecturer during one of her classes made mention of the fact that students put codeine inside drinks. Similarly, Gbenga Akeju, a student 300 level student of social work, UNILAG, says it becomes sweeter when one mixes codeine with coke or any other drink and most students now prefer it to the regular alcohol. “A normal cough syrup makes one drowsy, so they get drowsy after the intake. Alcohol makes one to be aggressive, but codeine has a different effect on you. Some pharmacists do not sell it to young boys like us or students because they are familiar with the abuse. But some don’t care because they want to sell their products,” he says. In his faculty, social sciences, he insists that 80 per cent of the students there, including ladies, take drinks mixed with cough syrup. “I am not sure about how frequently they take it, though. I will say 50 per cent of the students in my faculty take it frequently. There is one you will take and your tongue becomes blue. I cannot remember the name, but it is not a cough syrup. I think they sell it for N150. Students take it in the class too, as most lecturers are not aware of the mixture. Though I have not seen any case where someone gets sick after taking it, I heard that it causes seizure,” Akeju emphasises. For a final year student of Leads City, Victoria Ewoh, codeine is everywhere in her school. The mass communication student says most people in her school take it with Ribena juice or Coke and the aftermath varies. She says, “Sometimes it makes you very slow, sometimes it makes you very tired and sometimes it makes you hyper. It all depends on your body system. Now, before I could take a drink

Street Diary

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

with codein to get high from people I sincerely ask them if it is mixed or not. It is now risky on campus to just collect drink from your friend and start drinking it because you cannot tell the content of what you are drinking from. Girls too take it; it has nothing to do with gender.” Ewoh states that 75 per cent of the students in Leads City take it and they don’t hide it. “When I was in 100 level, I knew some people usually take it, but they were doing it secretly. But it is a different story now; nobody is even hiding the fact that they take it anymore,” she adds. Speaking about the effect of abusing codeine, Ewoh notes that she doesn’t think there is any major effect other than the fact that it makes one to be very weak. “I had not really seen anything wrong with the people who have become addicted to it, but I know that if you ask them questions they might not even understand what you are saying. The reason I think it would not have dangerous effect on the body is because one is diluting it with a drink. I feel the bigger danger is when you take codeine in its rawness all the time.” In addition, she believes that the practice is more common in private institutions than the public ones. If you go to Babcock University, she insists that it is common there and once a student is caught in most of the private universities Drinks mixed with codeine they expel him or her immediately. In support of Ewoh’s view, a lecturer at the Bells University, who craved anonymity, says many of their students have been expelled because of codeine intake. “If you check their bags it is most likely to contain cough syrup. They often mix it with juice, but once you are caught that it is the end of the journey for you.” But experts have warned that the abuse of codeine or other related drugs kill the brain and could lead to grave consequences. A psychiatrist, Dr. Anthonia Pedro, says codeine is a short-acting narcotic most often used for the treatment of pain relief. She stresses that codeine could be highly addictive and provides the user with an overall sense of calm and feelings of pleasure, but this kind of pleasure, she warns, could lead to both psychological and physical dependence. “When codeine is used it enters the Adebayo brain and causes the release of neurotransmitters that stimulate the reward centre of the brain, leaving the user with Someone who intense feelings of wellbeing and pleasure. Some individuals use it for legitiis addicted to mate medical purposes, but over time codeine can begin develop an addiction problem. After prolonged use, an individual develops to feel symptoms of a tolerance for this substance and needs withdrawal if they to take more and more of the drug in order to feel the effects. Someone who go even a short time is addicted to codeine can begin to feel symptoms of withdrawal if they go even without using the a short time without using the substance. substance “Other individuals become addicted to codeine and begin to use it to manage other problems in their lives, such tion of uppers and downers can lead to as emotional pain or stresses due to the cardiovascular failure and myocardial euphoric feelings it causes,” Pedro says. infarction,” she adds. Although codeine is a prescription, Also, she states that many who have become addicted to codeine use it with Pedro emphasises that its abuse could other substances - polysubstance abuse- cause significant damage to an indisuch as benzodiazepines or alcohol to vidual’s life. “Some of these effects may increase the calming sense of wellbeing include acute pancreatitis, major depresthese substances cause. But according to sion, liver damage, kidney damage, fiher, this could lead to major health risks nancial problems, legal issues, domestic such as respiratory depression and coma problems, job loss, heightened pain senif taken in high quantities. “Other people sitivity, uncontrollable muscle twitches, may take codeine with stimulants like loss of productivity at school or work, cocaine or methamphetamines in order impaired social relationships, seizures, to reduce the severity of unwanted side respiratory depression, coma, cold and effects of the stimulants. This combina- clammy skin,” she warns.

Ewoh

Akeju

The Head of Clinical Service, Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Richard Adebayo, says students have always taken one drug or the other to keep themselves active, especially during examination periods in order to stay awake to read. He says, “I want to say it is not a new practice; it has been in existence for so long

and it has dangerous health effects. Codeine is just like stimulant, and like any other stimulant, it affects the brain. Some students love to keep themselves hyper so to say, while some believe that it gives them inspiration to do things, which is a wrong perception. What happens is that such people may become aggressive or too slow because the brain will start to function abnormally. It also deviates you from reality and you will begin tohave a strange kind of judgement on things." For a lot of them, since the brains have not rested well, their memories could be affected. “Even the so-called advantage of quick assimilation is fallacy because they won’t be able to recall things. Initially, it may appear that they are having their way with the drug, but the end is not always good. It also is a wrong notion that it makes them calm because as time goes on they may become aggressive when it has caused damage to the brains. Though some might not become aggressive, they become useless to themselves and people around them.” To the consultant psychiatrist and clinical psychologist, the only way to help students stay away from codeine is to embark on general enlightenment. With this, he says, people who have even become addicted to the drug might be saved before it gets out of hands. “It is good for our youths mostly to know the repercussion of their lifestyles or what they take inside their systems and abstain from such. For those who are already having problems, the best thing the need is rehabilitation. They would benefit from medical intervention and they would need to see mental people for help. “Addiction is not what some of them can stop on their own; they obviously need help. A lot of people have made bold attempts to stop it, but they’ve discovered that it is practically impossible because they still go back. “Fifteen out of 20 students will find it difficult to stop taking codeine or other drugs on their own. So, they would need the help of mental health experts to see them through. It is not madness, but they still need to see psychiatrist, especially in the area of substance abuse, and also a psychologist to help them. Also, sometimes it may require admitting them in hospital to help them to get over it and the need to teach them coping strategy to avoid those substances,” he adds. When our correspondent contacted the Public Relation Officer, National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Lagos, Mrs. Christy Obiazikwor, she says they’ve been embarking on programmes to sensitise youths on the effects of codeine and other drugs. “NAFDAC is embarking on massive public enlightenment campaign on the dangers of abuse of codeine containing medicines in Nigeria. The agency has put in place strategy to limit the supply and distribution of codeine containing cough syrups in Nigeria. Prescribers and dispensers are encouraged to prescribe and dispense these cough syrups rationally. Consumers are advised to take codeine containing cough syrups only on prescription by health care professionals,” she explains. NAFDAC is working with the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development(NIPRD) to arrest the increasing abuse of these cough syrups in Nigeria.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

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

“I am prepared to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects; it doesn’t matter who the person is or where he or she is from. There is due process for the selection of leaders of the National Assembly. I will not interfere in that process.” - General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.), the President-Elect.

Unregulated sale of drugs in open markets in Lagos Dear Editor, Last week, I wanted to buy the popular Gala snack from a female trader at Oshodi market in Lagos. But I was shocked when I bent down to pick up the snack from her tray and saw assorted medicines also on display on the tray. In other climes, medicines are not hawked or sold by just anyone. Pharmacies are the legitimate places for anybody to go and buy medicine. Medicines are never displayed in the open market. The relevant authorities need to take note of the sale of drugs in the open market in Nigeria and do something fast to nip it in the bud, as it constitutes a serious threat to public health.

“For as long as I live, I will fight the purported sale of TBS. The buyers should go and collect their money back from the Federal Government. The constitution vested the powers of land trustee on the governor. But the Federal Government continues to breach the constitution by setting up land registry in the states and issuing Certificate of Occupancy from Abuja on lands that belong to the state.” - Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State Governor. “In the past, we used to pay salary before month ending because we never waited for federal allocation. It was when the alternative fund avenues had been exhausted that we started waiting for federal allocation.” - Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State governor. “Multichoice has over the years treated Nigerian customers with much disdain. Unlike in other climes where Multichoice operates, Nigerians pay to watch local channels. Nigerians also pay exorbitant subscription charges compared to others despite poor services rendered.” - Comrade Tijani Usman, The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS).

Jude Uggo, Lagos.

Acrobatic display during the recent Lagos Carnival.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

The need for a comprehensive policy for the petroleum industry

Unpaid salaries and the economic development of states

Dear Editor, As Nigerians continue to endure the fuel scarcity that now appears to be endemic, I will like the incoming government to brainstorm properly on the issue and come up with a comprehensive policy that will address the myriad challenges in the country’s petroleum industry. If the APC government fails to fully address the challenges facing the petroluem industry, it will probably be setting the stage for its fall from power in the 2019 elections. Now is the time for the APC to show all Nigerians that it is indeed a better alternative to the PDP by coming up with a better policy on petroleum. The incoming government should also make serious effort to implement the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) if it is to be taken seriously.

Dear Editor, Shortly before the presidential and governorship elections, Nigerians were told by both federal and state governments that the international price of oil had fallen abysmally low, and as a result Nigerians were told to tighten their belts. I want to suggest that it is high time that all the states in the country started looking for alternative sources of revenue instead of solely depending on the federal government for money from oil revenue to run their states. The era of state governors depending on federal allocation should end. State governments can run their states without depending on the federal government for money by fully investing in their own state economies. They can do this by empowering small and medium enterprises in their states, providing electricity or alternative sources of energy, infrastructural development and by creating an enabling environment for business to thrive in their states.

Hilary Obin, Warri.

The new inspector-general and the issue of police welfare Dear Editor, Recently, the newly confirmed Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, stated that he would make the welfare of police personnel his priority. I feel much gladdened by the statement of the inspector-general because there is no way Nigerians can have a crime-free society if attention is not paid to the welfare of officers and men of the police. A situation where police officers are not well paid or do not receive their salaries on time can no longer be tolerated, especially in this age and time. In this digital age, Nigeria deserves an effective police service and the irregular or nonpayment of salaries and arrears to police officer should no longer be an issue if Nigeria is truly serious about becoming one of the top 20 global economies in the year 2020. Ogor Phil, Kwara.

Q uotes of the week

Melvin Ajai, Benue.

The menace of dogs in Lagos Dear Editor, It was in the news recently that nine dogs attacked a bus driver in the Ajah axis of Lagos. There was another case of dog attacks whereby some foreign breeds of dogs attacked and killed little children and babies in Lagos. Several other cases of dog attacks have also been recorded in Lagos and other parts of the country. In Lagos, stray dogs are seen all over the place and nothing is being done to rid the streets of these stray dogs which harass and attack people at any time of the day. It is now clear that dogs have now become a horrible menace in the country, particularly in Lagos, and the federal and Lagos State governments need to enact and enforce laws that regulate the purchase and use of dogs in Nigeria. Alabi Elvis, Lagos.

“Acts as lobbying for appointment, exhibition of bad behaviour in and out of court, influence peddling, rendering dishonest or questionable legal opinions, submission of false credentials, are just some of those conducts exhaustively listed in the 2014 guidelines as acts that would preclude appointment to Judicial office.” - Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, The Chief Justice of Nigeria. “School administrators must be disciplined themselves and must set examples for students to copy; children should be made to comply by copying good examples, not by fear.” - Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the Minister of Education. “For Buhari to fight corruption too, as a leader, he must show total example. You don’t only have to be prudent, you must be seen to be prudent. These are the major factors that if taken into consideration, corruption will be nipped in the bud.” - Chief Sam Eke, presidential candidate of CPP in the 2015 election. “I hope that Enugu State people will not allow this. The police should obey court orders and not to restrain us to carry out our legislative functions. What we are suspecting is not favourable to my personal liberty and it goes to show the level of impunity going on in this state.” - Mr Eugene Odo, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly. “There is no iota of truth in all the allegations published by online media against the governor-elect and the members of the transition committee. No one collected such a huge amount of money from the state government.” - Auwal Jallah, the APC Publicity Secretary in Bauchi State.

SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2015

WeekendDelight 13

C o n v e r s at i o n

Instyle Hats and contemporary African attire are no strange bedfellows p.15

Joan Ibuzor:

The lady who gave Agbani Darego to the world

TV & Radio Getting prepared Before 30 p.44

Love & Living ‘I married my cousin because he was meant for me’ p.35

Joan Ibuzor is the founder of House of Marie, a leading fashion label that accentuates the everyday living of Nigerians. Ibuzor recently launched a collection entitled ‘Urban Struggles’. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, she speaks about her passion, family and how she discovered Agbani Darego.

Hospitality

Bucker’s Palace Hotel: Giving guests their money’s worth p.41

Ibuzor

What exactly does Ann Marie symbolize? Ann Marie is a lovely label borne out of the necessity to emphasise what we face in our country which we titled ‘Urban Struggle’. No matter the class you belong or where you come from, whatever brought you to a certain place to settle down has a reason. And you know for example; you’re a banker and there’s a certain time you would close and get to the bus stop to get an okada (motorbike) as fast as possible to get home. And when you finally get into a bus, you’d remove your Louis Vuitton and wear your slippers. And at this point, you’re sure to get home about 11pm or around 12 am. When you look at the other side, you’d still see a woman selling boli (roasted plantain) or akara (bean cake), you’d quickly buy this because once you get home, it would be too late to make food. These are the struggles we are talking about. Let’s be real, why am I going to start manufacturing prints that don’t depict what I’m going through? I want a situation where you’re going anywhere around the world and you wear a piece of where you’re coming from. And they’ll ask you, why are you wearing this? You’d simply reply, “these are what I really face.” Actually, under the label, Ann Marie, there’s a whole lot of things we’re going to talk about, but we’re trying to interpret our arts like this. We want to talk about the girl-child, the Niger-Delta and issues that bother us so

much like our religion. We want to employ fashion as our platform of communication locally and internationally through the use of fabrics. This is the story of Ann Marie. How affordable will items from Ann Marie be? They’re actually very affordable because we realize that if we have to stick to Ann Marie from the House of Marie where we source fabrics which are very expensive on their own, you’d look for manpower and the rest that goes into the production. This really starts from getting an artist to draw the scene of our urban struggle and finding someone that can interpret it on the fabric of choice that will be good for our temperature. We put all these in our items yet we made them very affordable. There’s actually a collection which stemmed from one of my team members who with others came together and said: ‘you know House of Marie has always done mature things, we want to do things that 20, 10 and five-year old can wear. So, this is very affordable.” But the launch held at Lekki, Lagos, a highbrow area… We’re also located at Maryland, Lagos. You can never quantify your time, your arts and who can truly tell you this is the value for this or that? But to God be the

glory, we have decided preach it and practically use it at a reasonable price because a lot of people are going to continue talking about it. How many times do people go to offices wearing cropped tops and everything that feels nice and easy? But you can actually wear it and every day too. The younger and more youthful generations are the ones that will spread the news. What have you been doing previously before Ann Marie? I’ve had a label called House of Marie and we’ve done quite some shows. We’ve been part of the Lagos Fashion Week and many others. However, I’m a very introverted person. I never wanted to be seen. I didn’t want to be in people’s faces. I don’t party and hardly even socialize. I tell people that I’m only used to keeping my home and taking care of my family. I also don’t want to sacrifice my family over my art called my passion. My passion is to feed my money but my family, my children who are growing, I have young adults and teenagers. I need to be there for them. If I’m there where am I supposed to be? When I was in Silverbird Television, I stayed back till 3am sometimes. We would be struggling and there were days we left about 5 am. And I had a little child then and that’s been about 16 years, I’d done banking too and I’m out of that career so, why must I continue that vicious cycle of struggle? As a woman, I have a bread winner who is a man, so if he chooses to provide for me, what I CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Weekend Delight

| Conversation

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

‘I’m just a rebel who doesn’t follow designers or colours’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

need is to impact the little love and the attention I have on my children. The only thing they can also learn from me is that a woman does have respect. I can choose to do something I’m passionate about and make money through it, but it doesn’t mean I would sacrifice my home. Why did you leave Silverbird? I left when the ovation was loud. I’d discovered Agbani Darego who became Miss World, what other thing would I rather hope for? Matilda Kerry was my first queen, and I’d done all the marketing, looked for the beauty queens, God bless late Ogbonna Amadi, we’d done all the struggles. It used to be that in Miss Surulere today, you’re the judge and you’re getting to be a judge again on Miss Nigeria, I’d done all that. Like the case of Agbani Darego, before she became Miss World, she’d already got offers from Naomi Campbell, and another from Donald Trump, so let’s be honest, we’d already given her a good platform for her to propel herself to whatever she wanted to be. Either she wanted to use modeling to get scholarship to attend the best schools she wanted to help her life or any other way she wanted to grow. So, how loud again would one want to be? I had to leave to face my family. Does that mean you don’t mean those days when you called the shots at pageants? I think I’m satisfied. I’m happy and I look it. Why should I sacrifice my happiness because I want people to know my face? It’s never been my style. I’m happy being someone’s mom, being a wife but also doing something I’m passionate about. I’m showing people the birth of something and as I tell people, I’m not a politician and I don’t know how to play politics. There are people who recognize my efforts and see that this lady does a good job. I have clients who know what I’m worth and works. Even proper designers know my brand but most of them don’t even know what I look like. The most important thing is not only knowing the brand; it is, who are the people coming to buy it? You see my brand every time on EbonyLife Television and at Studio 53, they wear a lot of my

Clading dresses from Urban Struggles collection

brand. But I’m saying that enough is enough of selling only tie and die now, that’s not the only thing Nigeria had. We have issues on women kidnapped from home and their schools because they want to better their lives. Most of them want to be another Chimamanda. I want to use that platform to talk all that and this is the only way we can reach out. What’s your expansion plan since Ann Marie collection targets everybody telling their ‘Urban Struggle’ stories? I’m first of all an economist. That’s why when I left banking and Silverbird, I wanted something I could do without friction because the banking life can be so regimented. How long did you work in the bank? It was merely two years plus. How about Silverbird Television? I was at Silverbird for just two and a half years and that was 16 years ago. My baby is going to be 16 because he was a month old when I was in Silverbird. I thank God. After that, I went to Lagos Business School and you learn things that let you know you can’t own 100 percent of all, it’s only madness to try to. That’s why if you notice, I’m trying to groom young designers and give them the platform to shine. Even today May 16, in Thisday, House of Marie’s collection was published because I do collections every year. And what I did was that I tagged this year’s collection; “The Name of the Young Designer”. They asked me why and I said to myself, if John Galliano is that big today, how was he given that platform? It’s because someone saw him and said, “You know what? I will not be selfish,

Alexander McQueen is dead but he lives on because he allowed young designers to work under him

let these people come up.” Alexander McQueen is dead but he lives on because he allowed young designers to work under him. As long as I build the brand and the basement, let people come and shine. That’s why when these young people came to tell me, “we can do this in this way, we want young people’s things” and I said to them, carry on. That’s my succession plan. You can imagine that I have time for my family because there are able people that can be doing some other things that we all love, but my inputs is very important because there are setting principles that guide me. On the average, how many of these young designers are you working with at the moment? Right now, I have two interns and I’ve had four proper designers and illustrators work with me. Right now I have one designer, two interns and a PR executive that is amazing. She’s a young lady but she’s as much as possible trying to rise tall. How would you describe your transition from banking to media and now to fashion? Truth be told, this is what I’ve always wanted to do as a child. I’ve always loved beautiful things. I’ve always loved to give people my clothes and make them look great. I give clothes and when they want to give me credit, I’d say, ‘no, I don’t want to be there’. Don’t call me but you can wear it for pageant. So, people have always known that part of me. And fashion-wise, I’ve always been a nonconformist. My mother would tell you I never wore the same dress with my siblings. I’ve wanted to wear something different. Even when my siblings got married, I never wore the ‘aso-ebi’ (uniform ceremonial dress), I don’t wear aso-ebi with people. I always want to be in my space if I ever step out at all. I want to wear what I’m happy that I wore. Even when I got the job at Silverbird, when the recruitment firm was looking for pageant manager, it was someone who knew me in school that recommended me. And I’m very strict when it comes to women and children. Like my daughter, she sews very well. When she complained about the hurts

from the needles, I told her, these are the benefits, the sacrifices God blesses for you to propel yourself. For over forty years of my life, I’ve always loved what I’m doing. It’s my comfort zone. But I chose my home over my passion. In achieving these things, how do you deal with challenges? I’ve had a lot, but I’m a Nigerian, we’re so resilient that we surmount them one after the other. Truly and honestly, I don’t allow those headaches get the better part of me. At the end of the day, how do you unwind? I dance and sometimes I sing. If you have headache you’d take Panadol and that’s it. I’ve always slept by 8.30pm and 9.00pm latest. It was Silverbird that made that impossible for me once upon a time. When I have a job at hand, I have an adrenaline rush and I can’t sleep or shut down until I’ve done the work. I don’t sleep and whatever be the case, if I sleep, by 3.00am I’m awake. What would you have done differently if you had a second chance? Nothing at all, I have the best life now honestly. Thanks to God, it’s been a big lesson. What’s your eating habit like from breakfast? I eat a lot, but I’ve never been one to like sweetened drinks. I can shut off and I think where I watch it. I love water and I can drink it for a living and I don’t exercise. It’s because I don’t exercise that I have to ensure that my body parts function well by watching my meals. Do you have your personal style? I honestly like to be unique. I’m not boasting, but I’m just a rebel who doesn’t follow designers or colours. I don’t even know how to pull off fashion forecast. And I don’t wear revealing things, it’s one thing I don’t know how to do.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Hats and contemporary African attires are no strange bedfellows

fashion etiquette No too much skin at work

omen usually make one of two mistakes when dressing for the office. They either flaunt too much, or they look too frumpy by trying to hide their natural curves beneath ill-fitting clothes. However, the right thing to do is to find the right balance between femininity and professionalism when you choose work clothes. You should wear practical pieces that will fit you right without looking too casual or sexy. To avoid showing too much skin and becoming a distraction in the office, avoid wearing low-neck blouses, spaghetti strap outfits, sleeveless blouses, backless dresses, cut-out dresses in vital areas, mini skirts and dresses. Even if you want to show off some skin, the rule is to show off one piece of skin at a time that will still make you look chic. For instance, wearing a mini dress with a low neckline to work is over the top instead; opt for a knee length dress with a scoop neck line. For a professional look, you should not bare too much skin. Also do not feel obligated to disguise your natural figure, either. It is not acceptable to show off too much skin at work or anywhere that is not a club.

Angela Davies

ell tailored contemporary African outfits celebrate the African heritage. They do not only make them look trendy but also feel and look their best. Contemporary African outfits are a more relaxed way of dressing especially if you want to take a break from your everyday suit and tie routine to attend that special event with your family or alone at weekend. Depending on your taste and style, the outfit could have little or no embroidery. However, it looks trendier with a touch of simple but unique embroidery to add allure to the attire. The top and pants could be of the same fabric and colour or it could be two complementing colours. These lovely outfits could be designed with fabrics like linen, brocade and adire. For that sophisticated look, it would be appropriate to pep up your contemporary African look with a hat of your choice. Donning beautiful hats like bowler, fedora, panama, red and tagiya hats in different styles and colours in harmonizing colours will add panache to your overall look and equally stand you out at any event. Then complete your stylish look with a good pair of black shoes, loafers, leather sandals or slippers depending on the occasion. Depending on the fashion statement you want to make at that event, you could also add other accessories of your choice. So for your next special event, think of donning a lovely contemporary African outfit enlivened with a hat. Remember, the kind of hat you don is what will make you stand out.

Lovely outfit but not appropriate for the office

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Accessories to live for

Highlight your face with dramatic gemstone earrings Gemstone earrings are colourful and dramatic. They are the perfect finishing touch for any outfit, ANGELA DAVIES writes.

reating a complete look for any occasion depends on the outfit you choose to wear. However, the value of accessories especially beautiful earrings should never be underestimated. Elegant earrings give you the opportunity to express your personality and the right choices can often add a fantastic sense of style to your outfit. Gemstone earrings are beautiful, classy and outstanding. They are available in different styles, stones and colours. You can find gemstone earrings in exquisite chandelier, drop, stud, hoop and teardrop styles. They add a sophisticated and colourful accent to complement a variety of outfits. Drop or chandelier gemstone earrings are perfect for wedding and evening events as they have an eye-catching appeal. Hoops, studs and teardrop gemstone earrings are suitable for daytime events to add some spice and colour to your outfit and overall look.

Gemstones for earrings include sapphire, topaz, ruby, emerald, amethyst, amber, onyx, opal and a lot more combined with sterling silver, yellow gold, rose gold and white gold. They also come in different shapes and sizes. If you want green gemstone earrings, then, opt for emeralds but if you love blue colour, then opt for sapphire gems. However, you have a wide choice of gemstone colours to choose from to make your fashion statement. Daring, dramatic and fascinating are some of the words that can be used to describe gemstone earrings. Their bright and bold colours make them the perfect statement earrings. So, if you love attention, gemstone earrings are the perfect earrings for you to wear. The colours of these earrings make them bold, striking and elegant.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

No slave to fashion

MY STYLE

For event consultant and blogger, Peter Ebuka, comfort precedes being fashionable, writes ANGELA DAVIES. How would you define your style? For me, style is being yourself in whatever you wear. It is one’s own fashion statement. However, the important thing is that you are comfortable in it. So, my style is feeling good, confident and comfortable in whatever I wear. What determines the kind of outfit you wear? Sometimes, it's the event and, sometimes, it depends on my mood. Which outfits take up the most space in your wardrobe? I think jackets, shirts and jeans. Is there any outfit you will never be caught wearing? I won’t be caught wearing sneak-

ers with traditional attire. Also you will never catch me wear an oversized shirt because I love my shirts fitted. Do you think there's a fashion item you cannot do without? I cannot do without a belt. It is an important fashion accessory that helps to hold up my pants. What fashion rule do you live by? I don’t compromise my comfort for fashion. Can you recall the most expensive fashion item you have ever bought? That would be a pair of shoes.

Best designer In Nigeria I like Asandrea Collection; the outfits are unique and body-fitted. Then I like Louis Vuitton products but most especially the label's unique LV logo that appears on most of its products. What kinds of shoes do you find the most appealing? I love to wear black corporate shoes. Black can be worn with any colour of outfit. Signature perfume That will be Cool River. I love the strong fragrance. Best colour I like orange, it’s a bright colour. I like white as well.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

Indian Sari

Facts

Siblings Darlene and Lizzy Okpo are the brains behind William Okpo label. They started the label because of their common interest in the fashion industry. When it comes to their individual style, Lizzy is the ‘trendy old lady’ while Darlene is ‘simple and comfortable’. Their pieces can always make statements on their own even without pairing with other pieces or accessories.

Stilettos are a sexier type of heels but they may not be suitable for all settings.

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel and her brand are most well-known for costume jewelry, two-tone shoes, quilted bags, and simple suits made of tweed or jersey.

During fashion weeks, MAC has 3,810 wands of mascara and 800 sets of lashes on standby each year.

Ighodalo

he fashion face-off this week is between two fashionable business entrepreneurs, Mo Abudu and Ifeyinwa Ighodalo. And the outfit in contention is different styles of Indian sari which both women wore to the same event. Chief executive officer of EbonyLife Television, Abudu wore an embellished colourful skirt, short sleeve crop top with complementing sari to the Maharaja Ball a charity event to support down syndrome in Nigeria

Abudu

which held on Saturday, May 9 at Eko Hotel & Suites. She styled her look with silver drop earrings, metal bracelets, wristwatch, cocktail ring, heels and clutch. Her makeup was subtle but striking and she nicely let down her shoulder length side part locks. Ighodalo, managing director and Partner at Design Options on her part wore a colourful green skirt with red and gold borders, green and gold satin quarter sleeve crop top with comple-

menting sari. She accessorised with lovely earrings, necklace, red embellished clutch, green stone cocktail ring, bracelets and heels. She wore a black turban, nethi chutti also known as maang tikka on her forehead and also spotted subtle makeup with red pout. Although both women rocked different styles and colours of Indian saris, however, who in your opinion wore it better? Is it television host, Abudu or furniture maker and interior decorator, Ighodalo?

SATURDAY

Etcetera

'Tosin Ogundare

Doesn't care what Tiwa Savage, MI, others say

Can't fall in love with an actor

p.20

p.22

ShowBiz SATURDAY 23 MAY 2015

J'odie: It's easy to be in the news now; all you need to do is strip Joy Odiete otherwise known as J’odie, released her debut album, African Woman with the successful single Kuchi Kuchi sometime in 2010. But since then, she slid into a career lull. In this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, she reveals what has been happening to her career, expectations and her kind of man.

For the few times I’ve been in love, I haven’t been able to explain even to myself why I fell so hard, real hard learnt to embrace uncertainty, that is what makes life what it is called – life. How would you rather describe your fashion sense? If you feel happy, it will reflect in your looks whether you have your hair in threads or an expensive wig; whether you put on a hot, sexy gown or wear 'Iro' and 'Buba'. As long as you are happy, comfortable and confident, step out in style. My style is simple but African just with a little stunt on it. I was a lot more conservative but I had to spice it up a little to add a little more colours. I love to wear clothes with African touch but not entirely African because I still want some contemporary feel around my outfit. And when it comes to my kinky hair, I don’t mind fixing and braiding but I do not ever want to perm my hair. I love the texture of African hair, but it is just that a lot of women don’t know how to take care of it. Also, I comb and style it the way I want.

Not much has been heard from you in a while, what have you been up to? It’s difficult staying on the entertainment news now than it has ever been. Or is it the easiest thing? Lately, all a lady has to do is strip and take a picture or say something sensationally ridiculous and in a jiffy, you are in the news already. Would you blame me for being a bit laid back sometimes? Nonetheless, I just released a new single, Butterflies (Nwoke Oma) and the reviews have been awesome so far. Tell us about the challenges of churning out good tunes. Nothing good comes too easy, not even a well-cooked pot of jollof rice. It has its processes. But the more often you do something, the easier it becomes. Now, I don’t see the difficulty in doing the kind of music I do. I enjoy the process and it’s a lot of fun. Some people love it, some hate it, others are indifferent, but that is what life is all about.

What informed your kinky hair signature? Actually when I decided to go kinky, that is wearing my natural hair, it wasn’t about brand. I was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos then and I had not even decided to become a professional singer. So it is more of my lifestyle first even before my life on stage.

How would you describe J’odie? J’odie is odd and odd is good. A lot of people see you as a fragile and emotional person; are you confirming this is true? I’m cool with that perception. Your relationship is something a lot of people still don’t know about, tell us about your kind of man and what makes him special. I always like that part of my life hidden; nonetheless, my kind of man is still a mystery to me. For the few times I’ve been in love, I haven’t been able to explain even to myself why I fell so hard, real hard. How do you handle the mood particularly when you have to leave the man you love to be at events? I’m in love with the stage. The mood lights, screams and loud sounds may just be better than sex. How do you relate with men who see you as easygoing and want something

Dakolo

more than platonic? Simple, I do not say yes when I mean to say no. But you can rest assured, it’s always going to be the sweetest ‘no’, they ever heard. Let’s discuss your progress, where is your music career headed? It’s evolving from just what I want to what I and my fans mostly want. It is a hybrid of meaning and ‘gbedu’. If I am granted long life and good health, time will reveal this.

What does the future hold for you? I do not know what the future holds for me. When I was a teenager, I thought I’d be married at 22, but the future didn’t turn out that way. The future, instead, gave me a chance to know more about myself; it gave me a chance to explore; it gave me a chance to truly understand that the whole purpose of a girl’s life isn’t just marriage, so that she would be classified a good girl by the society. I have my plans for the future, but I have

How has success affected your life? Success is not changing me, the kind of work I do is changing me. I told many people earlier that I am an introvert. I am only trying to be more sociable and interactive because of the kind of work I do. I have to be more careful with the way I do things, be more diplomatic. I care about things I normally would not care about previously because with stardom, everything is no longer the same. How do you relax? It really depends on my mood, but I find the taste of Apple Pie a la Cold Stone simply orgasmic, though I need to strive not to make it a habit.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

SHOWBIZ TODAY

LANRE ODUKOYA 08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Pregnant celebs and that fad called baby-shower

umans are changing and we’re quick to blame it on the times. As the Nigerian showbiz industry is daily influenced by some positive cultures of the west, so are the rather repugnant foreign cultures creeping in. In the days when cultural inhibitions still held, who would dare expose her pregnancy to the world to see let alone roll out the drums and begin to count her “chicks before they’re hatched?” Nearly every passing week now, the internet is abuzz with the lavish photos of one pregnant celebrity or the other in a babyshower ceremony with friends. The popularity of this borrowed culture is soaring at a rather disturbing rate as it’s even assuming a status symbol already. A CONCEPT AND ITS ROOTS The term shower is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts. The related bridal-shower may have derived its name from the custom in Victorian times for the presents to be put inside a parasol, which when opened would "shower" the bride-to-be with gifts. Cake and finger foods are often served at baby showers. Traditionally, baby showers were given only for the family's first child, and only women were invited. According to etiquette authority, Miss Manners, because the party centres on gift-giving, the baby shower is typically arranged and hosted by a close friend rather than a member of the family, since it is considered rude for families to beg for gifts on behalf of their members.

E-BRIEFS

Stella and Daniel

alien culture of waste, prioritizing it over even the conventional baby christening (a.k.a. naming ceremony). Celebrities now go as far as exposing their babybumps on the social media, often prompting the question: “what's the goal of all these show-offs?” It’s already another carnival here. If not, why would singer, Tiwa Savage-Balogun, leave the comfort of her home to spoil herself and friends on billionaire, Femi Otedola’s yacht? No fewer than 20 female celebs stormed the soiree in uniformed caps, partying as though the Forte Oil ambassador’s baby was already here. As you read this, another celebrity somewhere is also thinking of how to stage a glitzier babyshower. Soon it will become another "owambe" and these celebs would spare no cost to outdo one another. Doesn’t it even make more sense to save the noise for the child christening/dedication? Why do we need a pre and post natal parties for God’s sake? It’s not our thing and it shouldn’t be made to look like it. Celebs who have had baby-showers include Annie Idibia, Mercy JohnsonOkojie, Omawumi Magbele, among several others. One could even excuse Uche Jombo Rodriguez, she’s married to a Puerto Rican who might well have asked for it. The way things are going, they’d popularize this fad so much that our wives will all soon start asking for baby-showers whether the husbands are financially up to it or not. Even if so much of these festivities are affordable, isn’t it rather wise to channel this money to some other things the child would later appreciate in future?

Tiwa Savage and friends at the event

However, this custom varies by culture or region and in some it is expected and customary for a close female family member to host the baby shower, often the baby's grandmother. Guests bring small gifts for the expectant mother. Typical gifts related to babies include diapers, blankets, baby bottles, clothes, and toys. It is common to open the gifts during the party. A possible decoration or gift is the baby diaper cake. To make one, diapers and other typical baby supplies are arranged in a tiered form. Just like every other bastardized practice, our pregnant celebs have started entrenching this

Omawumi Magbele's baby-shower

Stella Damasus on What Women Want N

ollywood actress, Stella Damasus, earlier on in the week used her Instagram page to announce that her lover, Daniel Ademinokan, would be joining her in the studio for her show dubbed, Undiluted with Stella Damasus. In the last episode which aired on Monday, May 18, on i2radio, the couple discussed the topic "what women want". Here’s the excerpt: On sex drive diminishing between couples after first few years of marriage, she said, “Women’s body are different from men’s, we have hormonal imbalance. As a woman gets older, her sex drive diminishes. "In the beginning, you are excited and really want to please the man every time. But as time goes on, other things come into play. You become a wife and mother. " Speaking about herself, she said "I don’t believe it should be so. You should always try to please your man, but the man should also understand when she’s not into it." On what women want from a man in bed: 'I believe in the pleasure not the duration. I believe in quality over hours. Normal women who have normal sex drives look for pleasure over the duration."

Robinson

For the Village Headmaster, Femi Robinson, the curtain falls

emi Robinson, the first actor to star as the village headmaster in the classic TV series of the same name is dead. The veteran thespian passed away on Wednesday, May 20. He trained as a public relations expert, business and theatre administrator, and was the pioneer director of programmes at the Ogun State Television (OGTV). Other cast and crew of the Village Headmaster who have died include Justus Esiri, Oba Funsho Adeolu, Chief Segun Olusola, among others.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

I don’t care what Tiwa Savage, MI, others say about me Although Etcetera is a musician, he is more known for his commentaries on societal issues than in music. His confrontational approach has brought him at loggerheads with top Nigerian entertainers, including MI, Tiwa Savage and her husband, Tunji Balogun. The singer tells OLUSHOLA RICKETTS why he left music since 2010 and his philosophy. Why did you leave music? I am still a musician; there was no time I left music. It is just that after my last album in 2010, I said to myself that I needed to take five years break away from music. No matter what you say or think of me I urge you to listen to my songs and you will agree with me that it takes a lot of work to put together my kind of lyrics. You just don’t pick things together and put them down; you have to be a deep thinker and you must be a good reader. Producing two albums in the space of three years and having 30 songs on both albums was not easy. So, I took a break and ventured into other things. What do you do now? I write; I have a blog, I am a columnist with Punch Newspaper and I am also an on-air personality at Top FM. My programme is ‘Etcetera Live’ and I talk about the ills in the society. These are among things I wanted to try my hands on and I am doing them right now. But the five years is elapsed, so I feel it is time for me to put out some songs. Don’t you think a comeback into active music could be difficult now considering the apparent stiff competition? The album of Sade Adu before the present album was done in the 90s and it took her many years to drop another album. The bottom line is that when you have a good material you will have a fan base that is based on discipleship. If you notice novelist don’t write every time; they have gaps in-between their books. You could only rush music if you do music that has no depth. For me, I put out songs based on inspiration. I don’t just wake up and go to the studio. So, I need to take my time for me to achieve a certain standard. If at the end of the day I put out materials and they inspire people, I won’t have a problem with my comeback. People will always appreciate good music. What kind of music should we expect from you now? For people who have supported me and stood by me till this point and people who have been waiting for my songs, I would drop some materials shortly. I am recording new materials because it is been a while I did music and for those people who have been there all the while I was away. I get mails, messages, phone calls on a daily basis and it is really humbling to know that people are still there waiting to hear my music. I won’t disclose the details of when I intend to drop songs, but it is very soon. One certain thing is that my new songs won’t be far from what I am known for. Etcetera

But we have artistes whose style is similar to yours and they have been

consistent. Is there anything you want to do differently now? What is the similarity between me and those artistes? I do alternative music; I cannot really pinpoint any artiste who does what I do. If you listen to my songs well you will understand what I do better. There is no similarity between me and anybody in the entertainment industry. How did you come about music? It was by chance. It started from the church. I was in a catholic youth’s organisation and the church approved that we could start buying musical instruments. We were not allowed to play contemporary instruments those days, but a lot of people complained to the archbishop and he agreed. We then acquired instruments and called musicians to come perform. They came around that Sunday we were expected to showcase the instruments, but refused to play. They saw the calibre of people who were there and they demanded more money. We didn’t agree to that and they left us alone. It was a big embarrassment, but members of the association decided to learn how to play the instruments ourselves to avoid such episode again. I picked the piano, I started learning from the basics and it actually felt good. Once I decided that was what I wanted to do I said to myself that I must do it well. So, I went to the Musical School of Nigeria (MUSON), Onikan in Lagos, to learn the rudiments of music. I thought that there was nowhere I could get the best knowledge of music than the MUSON. How was life as a boy? I grew up in a prison barracks and I would say it was fun and I learnt a lot. My father was a chief warder of the Maximum prison, Kirikiri, Lagos. I mingled with criminals and many of them told me their stories. I learnt from them and it made me to always stay away from trouble. I saw people who from their explanations didn’t commit crimes they were tried for and were jailed. When I heard their sympathetic stories l felt the decadence in the system personally. When you lived or grew up in the midst of all the things I went through, your orientation about life must change and you will grow up a wise man. I saw many things and the ways prisoners were treated. Is there any similarity between your writings and music? I see them in the same direction. Music is words in form of songs, while writing is just using your pen to put things down. With music, I sing the words and people listen to them, but people read what I write in papers or online. Also, my programme on Top Radio is the same with my music and what I write. It is just about how you bring them together to make them work for you. So, the three things are basically the same thing. What I write requires thinking just like you think of what to sing. You get inspired some times to write about some things and you also get inspired to sing about things.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Would you agree that you have become more popular as a commentator than a musician? If you say because I haven’t done any song for the past five years people know me more for my writings, maybe you should wait until I drop some songs very soon. I cannot go into that agreement being more popular for my writings than my music because they are both arts. For me, I love writing inasmuch as I love singing. If you’ve never heard my song, but you’ve read my article and you know me for that, it is fantastic. I am happy that people know me for something, either for my writings or music. Were you encouraged by your parents to do music? My parents were indifferent, though I lost my mother before I started doing music. My dad was indifferent; he is the kind of person who allows you to do what you love to do inasmuch as you are happy doing it. We are nine children; I am the seventh child. I came from a large family and the same mother gave birth to us. My name at birth isUche Pascal Ejikeme. When did you realise you could write? Don’t forget that I write my songs too. The things most people see now in my writings they would probably have seen it in my songs. The same way I write my articles is the same way I write my music. My music is basically poetry, so I have been writing long ago. It is just because I am recently a columnist with a newspaper and I run a blog people felt I had started music before writing. I am not the kind of artiste who goes to the studio and hear a beat before I sing; I write my songs and take them for recordings. I write my songs and it takes time to put them together because you have to sit down and make corrections to arrive at a song. And I would still need to go over them to make sure they are perfect. I started my column in Punch last year June; I

Showbiz

think it is about a year now.

How would you make it an industry if you were in a position of power? People have to benefit from their effort; musicians have to make money with their intellectual property. I would make it mandatory for all radio stations to pay for works they use because the same radio stations collect money from advertisers and brands. So, they should pay for the contents they are using to entertain people. Radio stations don’t play music for free alone; they still collect money for songs to enjoy airplay most cases. This doesn’t make any sense to me. If you must use somebody’s property you have to pay and this applies to the clubs, bars, airlines and other entities. There must be a structure for the money to get to the artistes and it has to be transparent and open to all.

How do you feel knowing that people follow your comments? It feels good to know that people get inspired by what you write, but I am not writing to get fame or to go about collecting feedback. I know that people read them. While some people get inspired by them, some are not pleased with what I write or put out. But that is what you get from people; people will have different opinions about what you do. Etcetera You have to understand this; you have to tolerate and you have to learn how to accept what people feel about certain things because do good or bad, it would always what I write is my opinion too. generate reactions from people. I don’t get worried about things How did you feel when the likes like that. I don’t have any issue of MI, Tiwa Savage and others with anyone; I just say things the heavily criticised you for some way I see them. Are we siblings articles and called you a failed for MI to say we started music musician? together? I don’t have to react to Nobody can tarnish my image. what everyone says. If you step Like I said, I write what I feel, it out of this building right now and is my opinion and I respect the you give five beggars the same opinions of others too. What- amount of money, one of them ever they say about me is what could grumble and say stuffs they feel at that point in time; it about you. Every action of yours is their ideologies and I have to brings reactions, so who am I to live with that. I cannot change object to whatever people say? the fact that people must react to certain things. But whether you Would you call yourself a

Are there other benefits from the industry? Entertainment industry is so big that it can generate a lot for the economy. The fact that parents now want their children to do music shows the growth of the industry. Those days, most parents never wanted their kids to go into entertainment. As a matter of fact music has taken a lot of people off the street. People who saw themselves as nothing are now inspiring people with their music. If not for music only God knows where they would be. So, I expect government to put in structure for people to benefit from their sweat or labour because I don’t think Alaba market (a popular market in Lagos where they sell electronics) is bigger than the government or the country. A DJ wakes up in the morning and makes compilation of other people’s songs without even reaching them. Bloggers too put songs on their webs without seeking permission and would ask people to download for free. Do we even remember that artistes don’t make these songs for free?

I mingled with criminals and many of them told me their stories. I learnt from them and it made me to always stay away from trouble

success? Of course, I am fulfilled. But there are still some things in life you want to do as a young man. I still want to achieve greater things, though I am okay and I feel I am doing well for myself. If death comes now, so be it. Are you satisfied with the entertainment industry? There is no industry. We only have few people who are trying to make something out of nothing. Before you call something an industry there must be a structure in place. But in this case we have nothing like that.

Entertainment industry will collapse if… says Afolayan

igerian producer and actor, Kunle Afolayan, is still an angry man. His thriller, October 1, was pirated before he could start counting his gains after investing so much. The budget of the film was over four times of his previous movies. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph, the award-winning actor and producer said it was shameful when one had put in so much money into the production of a film and didn’t get any return on the investment. According to him, the purpose of the recent protest to Alausa, Lagos, was to convey their grievances and anger to the authorities. “Piracy is something that has been in existence for a long time and it seems the government is doing nothing about it. This is not my fight; it is the industry’s fight. We realised that there is no need working in this kind of environment. I am not just talking about Lagos State; the issue cuts across all other states in Nigeria. It is such a shame when you put so much money into production and suddenly someone wakes up before the film is released and duplicates it. They even come to our face and show us as if they have the right to steal our works. They make money from our sweat. We cannot take laws into our hands;

we cannot fight because we are good citizens of this country. And this is why we are pleading with the authorities to do something. If we have laws and we have law enforcement agents, all these would have been put to an end. I don’t think all these people who sell pirated films will be on the streets if there are laws. But since the government is not doing anything, we just have to plead and continue to call their attention to it. If care is not taken, before we all know it, the industry could shut down and practitioners will have to go to neighbouring countries like Ghana to practice. I am not just talking about films; we need copyright for writers, for sculptors and for people in the arts and electronics,” he narrated. Afolayan, however, called for the review of the laws on piracy and political will to enforce it. “We need to educate the public more on the need to stop patronising pirates. If everyone boycotts them they will know what they do is wrong. If these people channel all their energy towards selling original copies, I strongly believe they will still make more money. The onus is on the government to protect its citizens and also their intellectual property. We are helpless,” he added.

Afolayan

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Oluwatosin Ogundare: I doubt that men are worth it; I can't fall in love with an actor Twenty-six-year-old burgeoning actress, Oluwatosin Ogundare, dreams tall in the make-believe industry and the Ekiti-born graduate of Economics trusts that there’s a place in the star for her. In a recent interview with LANRE ODUKOYA, she recounts her experience as a rookie, last romance and her plan B, if acting doesn’t pay the bills.

Wentworth Miller (Michael Scotfield) of the Prison Break fame. I find these ones really awesome. In Yoruba movies, I love Ibrahim Shatta, he’s extremely good.

How exactly did you start acting? About six years ago, I went to Afeez Abiodun a.k.a Afeez Owo, a movie director and producer. He’s also like a family friend. My sister was the one who started it, she told me one day, ‘people have been saying you know how to act, why don’t you just go and enrol in any of the film classes?’ I told her that I was afraid of the film makers because of sex-for-role scandal. At that time, I loved acting so much, I didn’t have any contact. My sister insisted that there was someone we could trust, and his institute advertised training for actors then. I had just N12, 000 and the form was selling for N15, 000. I went to Afeez Owo and told him I didn’t have enough money, he collected what I had and said I deserved to be encouraged. I started going for rehearsals twice a week, every Tuesday and Saturday. I was also in school at some point, so I couldn’t really balance going for rehearsals and my academics. I studied economics at the North American University, Ouedegbe, Benin Republic. After four years, I came back to Lagos and told my boss that I would like to start acting fully. Whenever he had jobs, I followed him but because I was under training, I couldn’t really work outside his caucus. I got my first job through one of my seniors, Sherif Kazeem, who served under him, the movie was titled, Jayinfa.

If you don’t finally get as much money as you anticipate from acting, what would you do? Let’s even face it, how many people make money from acting? It’s just used as a platform to achieve other motives.

Do you do any other job aside acting? I’ve never been a fan of 9am to 5pm jobs. I sell shoes, bags and clothing. I order online for the stuffs I sell and I market them well. You have an incredible height, have you taken a shot at modelling? At some point, I tried to do it and contested for Sisi Oge of Africa in 2014 but a friend of mine beat me to it. After then, I just didn’t feel the passion for it.

How much was the first pay you got as an actor? I don’t want mention this please. It’s too ridiculous, the producer would just call you and start telling you how things didn’t go the way he planned, his many disappointments and how he had to borrow from banks. Which film is your favourite? For now, it’s the Blacklist from Hollywood and 30 Days in Atlanta from Nollywood. Can you date anyone from your industry? I don’t like to have an affair with people in the limelight. I like it when romance is as private as it should be. If it happens that you fall in love with a fellow actor, would you give up acting for him? I doubt that men are worth it, so I cannot fall in love with an actor and if I do, I can never give up acting for love. My career won’t leave me, a man can.

Who were those on the cast of the movie? There were quite a number of star actors; Muyiwa Ademola, Ibrahim Shatta, Mide Martins and I actually played the role of a friend to the lead actress.

Has any man broken your heart? Well, not really, I was in love with a guy who travelled abroad and later married there.

Have you got any lead role yet? Yes, it was in the movie titled, ‘Ibere Ese’, it will be released soon. We shot it early this year. And I just completed another one entitled, Dr. Romilayo and I’ve actually done some skits produced by Movie Train Entertainment and they are showing on Orisun on TVC and Galaxy Television.

Did he tell you he was going to marry another woman? He didn’t tell me and I felt bad about it for a few weeks and after then, we got back as friends. I thank God I didn’t end up with him. He didn’t apologise, he just told me life goes on and he’s not back to Nigerian ever since. Are you in a relationship now? No, I’m not.

So how have you been faring since it hasn’t started paying the bills yet? It’s not easy, I’m always responsible for my feeding, accommodation and everything. You provide yourself accommodation and feeding on other people’s project? Whenever they ask you to come for the job, they believe you’re a lady and that you have the means to cater for yourself. Even if you have to be there for two weeks, it’s that bad. But that is not the standard… Of course, I know, but I know where I’m going and that’s why I’m resilient. Did they finally ask you for sex before role? Afeez Owo never asked me for sex, he’s like a big brother to me and his wife is like a sister. He really respects himself. How about others that you’ve had to work

Ogundare

with? (Chuckles) Please don’t let me soil anyone’s name here. But the truth is that I haven’t found myself in that dilemma because I’d never presented myself as if I’m desperate. Randy men know when to cut the crab too. When they noticed you’re a lady and hungry for stardom, that’s when they’d asked you for sex and if you obliged one of them, they’ll table your matter among themselves the next time they meet at the bar. How did you know they do this? You just need to be close to one or two

and you will see how reckless some of these guys can be. Who is the Nigerian actor you’re dying to act with? I think I love to act with Genevieve Nnaji, she’s a very good actress. The way she interprets her roles is amazing. I also admire Joseph Benjamin, he’s equally a sound actor. And who are your best actors in Hollywood? The first is Angelina Jolie and I respect

Did you stop giving love a chance because your ex-boyfriend betrayed you? I’ve not been in a relationship after then, I just haven’t found the right man four years after my last relationship. Is it four years of celibacy for you? That I’ve not been in a relationship doesn’t mean I’ve not had sex for four years. Did your parents give you the blessing to act? My father did, but my mum was very sceptical. My mum kept on saying, ‘you cannot do this. These people are prostitutes, they have no life…’ And I convinced her that there are good and bad women, those are the two kinds of people; prostitution is not an exclusive preserve of a profession.

Investigations SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 23 MAY, 2015

Ado-Asari Iganmu primary school, Lagos (for children with special needs) photo: tony eguaye

For public schools, it’s still a dream deferred

The rot in Nigeria’s education sector set in a long time ago with almost everyone watching the decay like a movie. The result is what is believed to be a decline in both infrastructure and standards. This, incidentally, has brought sad memories of a glorious past in the country’s learning system. But, how did the nation come to this sorry pass? What impact has this made on the younger generations? Could it have been a deliberate conspiracy to blur the vision of those usually referred to as future leaders? ISIOMA MADIKE’s report seeks an answer to these puzzles

he founding fathers of modern Nigeria envisaged a school system that would be a global champion, whose products will play major roles in the country’s future. This probably informed the original mission of schools, which was “to encourage the advancement of learning throughout Nigeria and to hold out to all persons, without distinction of race, creed or sex, the opportunity of acquiring a liberal and sound education.” The schools, in the early days of Nigeria’s formation, fulfilled this mis-

Isioma madike

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

sion as they became major factories for the production of a new generation of Nigerian elite, who went on to take charge of the new Nigerian nation that emerged. Most of the key members of Nigeria’s civil and diplomatic service, the cultural and political establishments, and even corporate Nigeria were mainly products of these schools. They equally produced scholars, who ranked among the best in the world in their fields. The tertiary institutions were such global champions that scholars from all over the world came to teach, study, and conduct research, and they soon became a meeting point for a diversity of culture and interests, and social institutions that served as a bridge between town and the gown. Their campuses were a beauty to behold too. But, not any more as they have degenerated and become eyesores. There is no longer any sign of their status as planned schools right from their entrances, particularly the primary and secondary schools. Most of these school buildings have been bastardised over

the years, while those wearing rainbow new looks have only paints applied without extensive repair work. Many of them lack access to water and sewage disposals, as there are limited spaces for soak-away pits following the breakdown of the central ones designed many years ago. Roads leading to some of the schools are not easily accessible and are in terrible states of disrepair with heap of refuse that become worse whenever it rains. The once beautiful and attractive schools have today become environmental blights not only to people in their neighbourhood but also to the government, which built them. The schools are, indeed, becoming slums. Dirt, debris, acute shortage of basic amenities and infrastructural decay has crept in on the once vibrant institutions. A recent visit to some secondary schools scattered across Lagos State revealed a lot; the major stain being the steady decline of the infrastructure. It is obvious most of them are living in the glory of their past. The decay, however, is most visible in the classrooms, hostel

facilities, dining halls and lavatory. The model schools are no different. From Kankon in Badagry to Meiran down to Igbogbo at the outskirts of the state, the story remains the same. Incidentally, susceptible parents, who could not afford the high cost of private secondary institutions but wanted standard, still manage to hang on to this noble ideas of the founding fathers of these colleges. The schools were established to provide among others, a comprehensive residential education for students in the state. They were sites to behold at the infancy phase. And their state-ofthe-art teaching and learning materials, amenities as well as knowledgeable teachers made them the envy of parents and other schools at the time. Funding then was also said to be above those run by the Federal Government. Little wonder many once described them as true models. Today, however, it is a different story CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Investigations

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

'Government has to wake C O N T I N U E D f r o m PA G E 2 3

in many of such institutions. Perhaps, this may be why a parent lamented that “the model colleges at present are everything but decent. They portray government’s inconsistency over the years. This is a state that prides itself as Centre of Excellence where education is free, yet we pay more than those in private schools. The facilities are in shambles and these young chaps are made to go through a very difficult time for a systemic failure they did not cause. Government has to wake up to its responsibilities or phase out the model colleges if it is incapable of redirecting the focus and put up a standard infrastructure befitting of such schools. The way they are now, epidemic of great proportion would not be far in sight,” he said. He added: “There is no control measure over the number of intakes. The teachers, politicians, people in government, all use their influence to bring all manner of students into the school. Today, things have got out of hand as government is not expanding and resuscitating the facilities to accommodate the number of the existing students. In most cases, it is the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) that builds classes, renovates and provides other necessary things to keep the system running.” At the Ojo Model College also in Lagos State, learning and healthy environment equally appears to be a luxury of sorts. The hostels are not just overcrowded, they are unkempt. Besides, there are no standard bathrooms and toilets. The boys defecate in a makeshift latrine, which is covered with planks in the premises. Interestingly, that serves as a bathing place for the pupils also; the offensive odour in and around the school compound leaves fear in the minds of not only the students but their parents, who fervently pray against epidemics. In this college, pupils sleep in their classrooms at siesta periods to evade heat and filthy hostels. Night rest is not better either, as many struggle for the few spaces on the floor where they have to battle against mosquitoes and other vectors, including bedbugs and lice. Equally of concern to parents is the way food is cooked and served in the school. Aside the quality and quantity the students have to contend with, the food does not come at the right time. The kitchen personnel allegedly shortchange the pupils by starving them and serving breakfast in ridiculous measures. “I couldn’t recognise my daughter when I saw her. She was so skinny and looked malnourished,” said a parent. Another added in frustration: “When I was young, I attended a boarding school too, and I felt things were still good like I had in my days. That was why I brought my son here, but it is unfortunate that our children are treated as if they were prisoners.” Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, is disturbed about the happenings in these schools. To him, government is only paying lip service to the issue of education in the state. This, he said, is giving private school proprietors a field day as they remain the only option for any parent that desires good education for their wards. He said that the dwindling fortune of public schools have defeated the purpose for which they were established and further sink the education sector in deeper mud. “Today, different private schools spring up under different names and

standards. The government, which is supposed to be a check on the influx of these mushroom schools, is as guilty as those private individuals that are establishing them. A government that cannot provide a desk with which students in government schools could write, lacks the moral justification to question the setting up of a sub-standard school in its state. This has been the situation all along, and it is sad,” Adeniran said. However, a narrow, creaky, and decaying wooden-bridge provides the only access to Fingers of God, a privatelyowned Nursery and Primary Schools located in the Ikeja axis of the state. Looking more like a medieval cage, many of the wooden small classrooms only have benches without chairs. The interiors are moist just like the murky marches all around. The dingy corners, however, provides excellent sanctuaries for swarming throng of mosquitoes. Through the parallel gaps that run across the wooden floors, the pupils are constantly faced with the sights and sounds of their amphibious neighbours, breeding and luxuriating in the stagnant waters below. And like all other houses in such miserable corners of this Lagos suburb, the school buildings stand in vulgar, wobbly pose, defiantly threatening to disintegrate any moment. Yet, Fingers of God is not alone in this neglect. Most others across the federation are equally in terrible states, except for the high class, populated by the very rich in the Nigerian society. However, this situation, coupled with the grinding poverty in the land, appear to have forced many school age children out of school with most of them readily taking to menial jobs in order to make a living. This group of people

Maiyashi

Children playing on a Lagos street

A classroom in north-east Nigeria www.telegraph.co.uk

often sees the market environments as providing a sanctuary for them. They hawk food items, hawk goods and engage in other activities that could fetch them something to take home. They are daily confronted with ignorance, disease and malnutrition. In the cold hours of the morning, for instance, 12-year-old Akeem’s eyes would examine the roads. He usually squats among other boys of his age at Ogba-CMS garage. Away from such established garages are other boys with that age bracket also, struggling in the traffic-choked streets and crowding commercial buses popularly called Danfo in Lagos State. They jostle and shove around Danfo doors, fighting for a few hours’ work as bus conductors. One child is picked - the others melt back, to sit among the dirt, awaiting the next chance. They all share something in common - they are children, who no longer go to school.

photo: tony eguaye

“This is my job, my father is no more, that’s why I do this,” Akeem told Saturday Telegraph. “It’s not that I hate school; I just want to earn some money, to help my poor mother. Perhaps, someday, I will return to school,” he added, looking unperturbed. As this reporter probed further on why school age children do such menial and dangerous job, a bus driver who identified himself simply as Stevens, provided an immediate answer. He said that the drivers prefer younger boys because they are considered less likely to pilfer money from fares, and are better at scrambling the crammed vehicles. Also in the neighbourhood of Orile Agege area of Lagos State, Edet, 13, lay curled by the wayside, looking wretched in rags. His unclean attire suggests that he had been there for days, if not weeks. He was forced out of school after he lost both parents in a ghastly motor accident

Nigerian kid hawker photo: nationalmirroronline.net

SATURDAY 23 MAY 2015

SATURDAY

FREE

Sport Splash 25

Interview

I have nothing against marrying a fellow athlete - Osinbanjo p.27

La Liga

Atletico target Champions League berth p.28

News

All set for NCC tennis league launch p.30

Lifestyle

Man United youngster offers student £10,000 for a threesome p.32

Kits sponsor

NFF, Eagles on collision course N

Ajibade Olusesan

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

igeria Football Federation and many Super Eagles players are set for a showdown over the new contract signed by the soccer body with kits manufacturing company, Nike, Saturday Telegragh can authoritatively reveal. The NFF signed the contract as the former kit sponsors, Adidas, refused to extend its initial deal when it expired after the 2014 World Cup. Although some stakeholders have expressed displeasure over the worth of the new deal, saying the financial commitment of Nike is paltry and not a true reflection of the worth of Nigerian football. Our correspondent has also learnt that members of the Super Eagles are kicking over some clauses in the contract which affect their per-

sonal kits deals. Just like the global practise, many Eagles stars have personal kits sponsorship deals with many manufacturers including Nike and they are under obligations to wear those kits even during international engagements. Our correspondent had few months ago exclusively reported that one of the many sins of Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, was that he allegedly encouraged his players to wear rival kits during international engagements as against the approval of the then sponsors, Adidas. But as part of moves to prevent recurrence of the crisis that led to Adidas’ refusal to renew its contract with Nigeria, the NFF and NIKE agreed on clauses that prevent national team players from wearing kits of rival companies during national assignments. According to our sources, the players may

not wear even the boots of their sponsoring companies. However, Saturday Telegraph learnt that several Eagles stars who have deals from many kits companies other than Nike and are ready for showdown talks with the federation over the development. Eagles will play their first match in the 2017 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers against Chad on June 13 and some of the players are threatening to wear their respective sponsored kits in camp and during the match. One of them who sought anonymity said that: “It is something we will have to look into when we arrive camp. Personally, I am happy the team has a new kit company but they also have to show some respect to our individual image rights. I am sure they will sit with us to find a way around it.”

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Nigerian League Rendezvous Sunshine can win the league – Adeniji

unshine Stars of Akure striker, Tunde Adeniji, has said the club has what it takes to win the league title at the end of the season. According to the striker, Sunshine will maintain their top position on the table when the league resumes next month. “At the beginning of the season, we the players decided to go for the title,” he said. “I believe with dedication and team play, we will achieve our target. “The secret of the team has been dedication and hard work, coupled with the support from our management.” The player, who is the league joint top scorer with five goals after 10 games, said his personal target would be to lead his team to the title with his goals. The former Rising Stars striker said: “I can’t say I want to score particular numbers of goals, but I want to end the season as the league champion and also the top scorer. “I have been able to get the goals with the support of my team-mates and I am sure they will do more for me when the league resumes in June.”

Top Scorers 5 GOALS

Ibrahim Shuaibu (Giwa FC) Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars) 4 GOALS Mfon Udoh (Enyimba) Bright Ejike (Heartland) Mohammed Usman (FC Taraba) Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors) Esosa Igbinoba (Nasarawa Utd) Ubong Ekpai (Kano Pillars)

No.

Team

PTS

Sunshine

Kano Pillars

Enyimba

Gabros Utd

Giwa FC

Wikki

El-Kanemi

Heartland FC

Abia Warriors

-1

Nasarawa

-3

Rangers

-1

Taraba FC

-1

Kwara Utd

-4

Akwa Utd

-5

Warri Wolves

Dolphins FC

-2

Bayelsa Utd

-4

Lobi Stars

-4

Sharks FC

-4

Shooting

-4

MFM ready for promotion – Enakhena

C Rangers' Chinedu Justice (middle) trying to retrieve the ball from Nasarawa United's Munir Ubale and Aliyu Ishaya during a league game

Season of ultimatum, sack Stories by Charles Ogundiya

s the Nigeria Professional Football League embark on a three-week break, clubs will be reviewing their performances after 10 matches. Some teams are already feeling the heat as their coach-

es and players have been issued ultimatum to perform or get the sack. Bayelsa United head coach, Solomon Ogbeide, was the first coach to be sacked this season, while Abia Warriors and Heartland’s managements have also threatened their coaches and players. At the beginning of the season, Shooting Stars coach,

Franklin Howards, was threatened with the sack after dropping some valuable points and the axe might be back for the coach after the club dropped to the bottom of the league table. The question now is who will be the next to get the sack as clubs prepare for the resumption of the league in three weeks’ time?

hairman of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football Club, Godwin Enakhena, has said the target of the club this season will be to gain promotion. The club started the new Nigeria National League season with a 1-0 away win over Gateway FC of Abeokuta at the weekend and will be home to local rival, First Bank of Lagos on Saturday (today). Speaking with League Rendezvous, Enakhena said the only way to pay back the efforts of the sponsor of the team and General Overseer of the church, Dr Daniel Olukoya, was to gain promotion at the end of the season. “We want to become the first church club to play in the Premier League,” Enakhena said. “Last season' the club dropped some crucial points at home which affected our promotion ambition, something we want to correct this season. “Football is about taking advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Win your games, don’t be complacent."

No regrets joining Enyimba – Abdulrahman Former ABS striker, Abdulrahman Bashir, told CHARLES OGUNDIYA in an interview that his main target this season was to help his new side Lobi Stars maintain their Premier League status among other issues. Excerpts: Why did you join Lobi Stars from Enyimba? I needed a club where I would have the opportunity to play regularly, so as to resuscitate my career. I am happy to join Lobi Stars because I know I will have the opportunity to exhibit my talents at the club. How will you rate your new club with Enyimba? Nothing much to compare for now because Lobi Stars is currently at the bottom half of the league table while Enyimba is up there at the top, but we have what it takes to move up the league table. Can you say it was a mistake joining Enyimba from ABS? No, it was not a mistake. Enyimba is a big team and you have to

be at your best always to be able to play regularly at the club. When I newly joined the team, I was having playing time until I got injured. Since then I have found it difficult to break into the team again. The presence of top players like Mfon Udoh in the team did not help my cause also, hence the need for me to look for another club. How did you feel scoring your first goal and first victory with Lobi Stars in the 1-0 defeat of Heartland last Wednesday? I was over the moon to finally get my first goal. It was not about the goal alone but also helping my club to get the first victory in the new season, something we have been hoping to do a long time ago. With the league going on break, we will have the opportunity to correct

some of our mistakes and return to get more wins. Can Lobi survive relegation? Yes! I believe we can survive. The quality is there and we just need to get our act together and everything will be alright. The team is not playing badly and all we need now is to start getting the maximum points from our matches like we did against Heartland. What is your target as a striker for Lobi? The target of every striker is to score goals and maybe end the season as the highest goal scorer, but for me I want to score goals that will take my team away from the bottom of the league table and to be among the top scorers at the end of the season.

Abdulrahman

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Sport

Who is your heroine in athletics? I look up to someone like Blessing Okagbare who has done a lot in athletics. I am hoping to emulate the performance of somebody like Usain Bolt, although he is a male athlete, he has shattered so many records, which is also my target as an athlete. Which coach has left an indelible mark on your career? All the coaches I have worked with have made positive impact in my career so far. They are all great people with great knowledge of the sport. Coach Lateef Obisesan, Femi Emmanuel, Solomon Aliu and Hidde Egbers. What they have given me I can’t buy with money. Why did you choose combined events? My coach took the decision at the time; he felt I was good in most of the events and decided to work on how I can be adept at most of them. Although it wasn’t easy to participate in some of these events like the 800 when I am built for the hurdles and short distance races, I still worked hard in the events I am not too good at so as to get points. Which is your preferred event? I concentrate more on 100m hurdles and also long jump. I have been competing in the hurdles since I was young and I love it, the same with long jump.

Osinbanjo (left) after winning a medal for Nigeria at the African Junior Athletics Championship in Ethiopia

I have nothing against marrying a fellow athlete - Osinbanjo Nigeria has never been a force in combined events but Temidayo Osinbajo is set to change all that. The Ogun State-born athlete won gold medal in Heptathlon at the African Junior Athletics Championship in Ethiopia. In this interview with CHARLES OGUNDIYA, the promising athlete talks about education, the All Africa Games and her future ambitions. Excerpts… How did you get into athletics? The truth is I started track and field when I was very young. I had an uncle who is a coach. His name is Lateef Obisesan, he actually dragged me to the tracks everyday against my wish. But today I am happy for what he did then.

What makes you cry? I am an emotional person despite my career as an athlete. I am always in tears when I experience some personal issues even outside the sports.

What was your parents’ reaction? Of course it was acceptable to them since it was coming from someone they know very well, I mean my uncle. My parents were so insistent about the need for education, thankfully I was able to combine both. I am currently planning to go further in my studies.

What has been the high point of your career? I was over the moon when I won gold at the last African Junior Athletics Championship in Ethiopia. I was

What was your experience as a junior athlete? I enjoyed my time as a junior but now it’s the time to move forward. It was a period I really enjoyed. I was pampered, taken care of and so on, but now I am an adult and I need to learn to stand on my feet all the time. What makes you feel good? Whenever I win a medal as an athlete, I am always on top of the world, especially when I am the champion during an event. Also, when I see something funny I always feel on top of the world.

What do you think he saw in you? He said I had the physique to be a good athlete and because of that he forced me to go out with him whenever he was going for training. As time went by I started enjoying it.

How has it been combining sports with education? Very challenging, you have to measure up in both areas and I am grateful to God for helping me thus far. It has not been easy but I have been coping. I plan to further my education to higher institution, although I am targeting a school abroad where I can benefit fully.

You are now a senior athlete, what has changed? First, I have to give glory to God for how far He has helped me. The truth is as a senior athlete I now have more responsibilities, more challenges and more work load. I know I have to work real hard to compete with more established athletes. Also, I now have bigger meets to compete in against some of the big athletes across the globe. I have the confidence in myself that I can make it.

What is next for you now in your career? To move forward in my education and also win medals in my events in major competitions within and outside the country as a top athlete. I am also looking forward to be part of the All Africa Games later in the year. Can you marry an athlete? If that is God’s desire for me, who am I to question Him? But for now, I am concentrating on my career and when the time comes, I will take that decision.

Osinbanjo

not expected to achieve anything tangible in the combined events, but due to hard work and God’s grace, I was able to surprise everyone including myself. I am so happy and grateful to God for the achievement. What could you say was the lowest

point of your career? That will be missing out of the world junior championship last year in the United States. I thought I had done enough to be part of the team unfortunately I failed to make it. It was very painful but I took solace in God and decided to work harder.

Where did you see yourself in the next five years? I want to be an Olympics Games gold medalist because that is the high point of every athlete’s career, and I am not an exception. I hope to have also graduated from the university and taken my career to the next level.

hris Smalling has warned Hull City that Manchester United are poised to beat them in Sunday’s final Premier League fixture, a result that would send Steve Bruce’s team down in to the Championship. Two points from safety, Hull have to defeat United to have any chance of survival, and Smalling said: “It will be tough. They’ve got a lot to play for but we’ll want to finish the season on a high. We want to make sure that we go out with a win.” Smalling, who led United against Arsenal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, echoed his manager, Louis vaan Gaal, who admitted being concerned at how United allowed the Gunners

after United had dominated the visitors. “In these games you need to get that second goal and unfortunately we didn’t, and we paid the price at the end,” the defender said, before saying that United’s likely fourth-place finish is not good enough for the club. “No, it’s not. It’s not

Smalling

N apoli will attempt to keep their fading Champions League dream alive when they travel to Turin to take on Juventus in Saturday’s Serie A clash. Three points off third-placed Lazio with just two games to go, Rafa Benitez’s men can maintain the pressure until the final day of the season by coming out on top here. However, the champions added the Coppa Italia trophy to Scudetto in midweek, and can also take all three points in this one. The Bianconeri have now drawn three of their last four matches in all competitions. Although six points may seem like an unrealistically large gap with just two games left to play, the remaining fixture list does offer the Partenopei some hope of making a late surge into the top four. With the Rome derby between second-placed Roma and third-placed Lazio also taking

Benitez’ Napoli seek Euro ticket

They were knocked out by holders Real Madrid in the quarter-finals in the latest edition, having lost to their city rivals 4-1 after extra time in last year's final. "I will say that the season has been very good if we are third after Saturday's game is over," Atletico midfielder Koke said at a promotional event in Madrid on Wednesday. "There have been changes, the team has responded well and has known how to compete," added the Spain international. "If we are third we will keep fighting for trophies next season." Atletico have 77 points, with Valencia, who play at Granada's fellow strugglers Almeria, on 74 and Sevilla a point further adrift in fifth before their trip to eighth-placed Andalusian rivals Malaga. Sevilla, the Europa League champions who are through to the final for a second consecutive year, are assured of at least fifth and a place in the continent's secondtier competition, while Villarreal cannot be caught in sixth, which also carries a Europa League berth.

Man United won’t spare Hull – Smalling

tletico Madrid have been unable to repeat the magnificent achievements of last season in this campaign but can congratulate themselves on a job well done if they secure a lucrative Champions League berth on Saturday. Barcelona clinched the La Liga title last weekend thanks to a 1-0 win at third-placed Atletico and the season concludes with the Madrid club playing at relegation-threatened Granada and looking to protect a three-point lead over Valencia in fourth. Led by inspirational coach Diego Simeone, Atletico won their first La Liga title in 18 years and reached the Champions League final last term but an exodus of key players, including top scorer Diego Costa, set them back. New arrivals like Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic and Fernando Torres have helped them remain competitive and third spot would send them directly into the group stage of Europe's elite club competition. Atletico Madrid players celebrating after a goal

tion in Sunday's final game against West Ham. Only Hull City or Newcastle can be relegated this weekend after Sunderland's 0-0 draw at Arsenal on Wednesday kept them up, and a home win against the Hammers would guarantee the Magpies another season in the Premier League. But a draw for John Carver's side might not be enough if Hull defeat Manchester United at the KC Stadium as they currently boast a goal difference advantage of seven. Dummett, however, is adamant he and his team-mates will do their utmost to get the win which will ensure safety. "It's still in our hands," he said. "I think the fans are probably sick of us saying that as we've let ourselves down in the past where we didn't produce but luckily it's still in our hands now, it doesn't matter what happens with Hull as long as we win our game then we'll be ok.

Dummett: Newcastle up for it ewcastle defender Paul Dummett N says the whole team are up for the fight and "desperate" to stave off relega-

Global Football Special

Atletico target Champions League berth

www.newtelegraphonline.com

NEW TELEGRAPH

illarreal have entered the race for

Sport

Villarreal chase Atalanta midfielder

Hamburg's Pierre-Michel Lasogga

third of the Bundesliga's 18 clubs will be sweating it out until the last final whistle of the season on Saturday, hoping they will be one of the lucky sides to survive one of the most closely contested relegation battles in recent history. The sextet comprises former European champions Hamburg SV, the only club to have never been relegated in the league's 52-year history, former champions VfB Stuttgart, as well as Freiburg, Hanover 96, Paderborn and Hertha Berlin. With Bayern Munich crowned champions at the end of April and the top four already assured, the focus has shifted to the bottom of the table, where a fierce battle to avoid the drop has been raging for weeks. Hamburg are in 17th place on 32 points, one ahead of basement-dwelling Paderborn and just below Stuttgart, and could see their top-flight status finally broken even with a win over Schalke 04 as they need other results to go their way. This week, coach Bruno Labbadia has taken his squad on a mini-training camp in an effort to prepare his players for the vital showdown away from the unwanted attention of over-zealous fans placing added pressure on his men.

German relegation battle goes down to the wire

28 SATURDAY N 23 M

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

PTS 90 86 77 73 70 57 50 49 49 47 46 43 40 36 36 32 31 31 31 20

[a season] where we’re massively celebrating, it’s a step. Next season we know that won’t be good enough.”

Serie A

Bundesliga

NO TEAM P PTS 1 Bayern 33 76 2 Wolfsburg 33 68 3 Gladbach 33 66 4 Leverkusen 33 61 5 Schalke 33 48 6 Augsburg 33 46 7 Dortmund 33 43 8 Bremen 33 43 9 Hoffenheim 33 41 10 Mainz 33 40 11 Frankfurt 33 40 12 FC Cologne 33 39 13 Hertha 33 35 14 Freiburg 33 34 15 Hannover 33 34 16 VfB Stuttgart 33 33 17 Hamburg 33 32 18 Paderborn 33 31

P PTS 36 83 36 67 36 66 36 63 36 58 36 56 36 54 36 52 36 51 36 46 36 46 36 44 36 43 36 42 36 41 36 41 36 36 36 28 36 24 36 17

11:30am 2pm 2pm 2pm 2pm 2pm 7:45pm

5pm 7:45pm

3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm

Levante v Elche Almería v Valencia Ath Bilbao v Villarreal Barcelona v Deportivo Celta Vigo v Espanyol Eibar v Córdoba Granada v Atletico Málaga v Sevilla Vallecano v Sociedad Real Madrid v Getafe

La Liga Saturday

3:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 7:30pm

Bundesliga Saturday Cologne v Wolfsburg 2:30pm Dortmund v Bremen 2:30pm M’gladbach v Augsburg 2:30pm Frankfurt v Leverkusen 2:30pm Bayern v Mainz 2:30pm Hamburger v Schalke 2:30pm Hannover v Freiburg 2:30pm Paderborn v Stuttgart 2:30pm Hoffenheim v Hertha 2:30pm

SERIA A Saturday Juventus v Napoli Genoa v Inter Milan Sunday Empoli v Sampdoria Cesena v Cagliari Chievo v Atalanta Palermo v Fiorentina Parma v Verona Udinese v Sassuolo Milan v Torino

EPL Sunday Arsenal v West Brom Aston Villa v Burnley Chelsea v Sunderland Crystal Palace v Swansea Everton v Tottenham Hull v Man Utd Leicester v QPR Man City v Southampton Newcastle v West Ham Stoke v Liverpool

FIXTURES

ith the top two places already set, the only thing to be decided in the last round of the French league is which team will finish third and take the final Champions League spot. Monaco, which plays at Lorient, holds a two-point lead over Marseille and Saint-Etienne, who have home games against Bastia and Guingamp, respectively. Paris Saint-Germain clinched a third straight title last weekend, and Lyon is guaranteed to finish second. It will also be an emotional night for striker Andre-Pierre Gignac as he bids farewell to the Marseille fans after five eventful seasons.

Monaco, Marseille, Saint-Etienne fight for 3rd place

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

TABLES

P PTS 37 84 37 76 37 72 37 69 37 62 37 61 37 60 37 56 37 51 37 47 37 47 37 45 37 44 37 38 37 38 37 38 37 36 37 34 37 30 37 30

P 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36

La Liga

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

EPL

Berbatov

back into the contest. Tyler Blackett’s 82nd-minute own goal cancelled out Ander Herrera’s first-half strike

Hamsik

Mayor Mazilu

Former World 100m Champion, Kim Collins, has confirmed to this St. Kitts & Nevis Amateur Athletic Association that he will be making his triumphant return to the National Youth, Junior and Senior Championships scheduled for June 13th – 14th 2015. Dubbed as the most anticipated Nationals in the history of the SKNAAA, Collins is expected to compete against a star-studded field featuring a host of world-renowned athletes from the Federation. Sprint double National Champion, Antoine Adams, is dubbed as Collins’ fiercest competitor.

Kim Collins

SPORT BRIEFLY

league games and are first in the Süper Lig, three points clear of second placed Fenerbahçe with two games left to play. Chedjou did expect to recover in time for the Beşiktaş derby over the weekend. “I feel good, I will train and see what happens, I do expect to play in the derby next week,” Chedjou told the Milliyet. Galatasaray will, however, welcome back Selçuk Inan, who returns from injury and have no other missing players, other than long term absentee Aydın Yılmaz.

Chedjou to miss Istanbul derby

Dummett

lthough Galatasary defender Aurelian Chedjou is pushing and feels that he is ready for the Istanbul derby against Bestikas, reports claim he won't make it. According to Fanatik, the Cameroon international will miss the biggest derby when his team will be looking at maintaining their number one spot. Ironically, Galatasaray have enjoyed their best defensive performances over the last five games. The Istanbul giants have kept a clean sheet in their last five consecutive

Chedjou

Serena Williams is ideally placed to win a 20th Grand Slam title when the French Open gets underway at Roland Garros on Sunday according to tennis legend Martina Navratilova. If the 33-year-old American player does so she would stand just two shy of the Open-era record of 22 set by Steffi Graf and four short of the all-time mark of 24 owned by Margaret Court. “Serena is amazing and she will get to 20 for sure,” Navratilova told the Tennis Podcast. “It definitely gets harder when you are in your thirties but at the same time, the new generation hasn’t quite caught up with Serena so she has a nice window there."

Serena Williams

Romanian soccer team couldn't play its weekend match at home because the mayor rented the stadium for his daughter's wedding. Fourth-division club Gilortul Tg.Carbunesti played Saturday's match in a town about 40 kilometers (25 miles) away because of the nuptials. Mayor Mihai Mazilu's secretary, Liana Chirita, tells The Associated Press they put up a large tent on the field in Targu Carbunesti for the wedding because there was nowhere else in town big enough for 500 guests. Chirita says the wedding was celebrated ''in good taste'' in the town of 8,600 nestling the Carpathian foothills. Gilort board member Cristian Luntraru says the team told the federation it would play elsewhere three weeks ago and didn't break any regulations. Gilort beat AS Stejari 7-1. Mazilu has been mayor since 2008.

Romanian mayor stops match for daughter's wedding

place this weekend, a victory here could well put Benitez’s side within touching distance of the top three as they head into the final match day to take on none other than the Biancocelesti themselves. The guests should, therefore, have no shortage of motivation as they travel to the Juventus Stadium to take on a side that could be forgiven for having their concentration fixed elsewhere.

Baselli

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton was in a league of his own in a second practice truncated by rain at the Monaco GP. The world champion was 0.74 seconds faster than team-mate Nico Rosberg, who lagged behind Hamilton through both sessions on Thursday. Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were third and fourth ahead of Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat. The Toro Rossos of Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen were next from Fernando Alonso's McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton

the signature of Atalanta’s highly-rated midfielder Daniele Baselli. Both Milan and Sassuolo are keeping tabs on the 23-year-old but, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Yellow Submarine are now showing an interest in bringing him to El Madrigal and are ready to outbid their rivals. Baselli is a product of Atalanta’s youth academy but was farmed out to Serie B club Cittadella for two seasons in a co-ownership deal in 2011, before returning to the Nerazzurri in June 2013. A regular in the Italy Under-21 side, his current agreement with Atalanta expires in June 2018, although it is understood he was involved in negotiations with Milan back in January. Baselli has scored once and provided two assists in 20 Serie A appearances this season.

V NEW TELEGRAPH MAY 2015

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Success ready to prove fitness against Atletico

Ajibade Olusesan ranada striker, Isaac Success, may have to prove his fitness level ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup when his La Liga side host Atletico Madrid today. Success was named in the Flying Eagles squad for the World Cup but there have been concerns over the player’s fitness. The striker only returned to Granada squad last weekend after spending a few weeks on the side line due to injury and some pundits have advised Coach Manu Garba to drop him from the party to New Zealand. The former Golden Eaglets forward is yet to join the Flying Eagles in camp as he was granted the permission to stay with his club for its last league match and he can use the tie against Atletico to convince his doubters about his fitness. Granada need to beat their visitors to guarantee their La Liga status and the 19-year-old is expected

Success

NNPC/Shell Cup: Our way of reducing unemployment – Weli Charles Ogundiya

hell's general manager in charge of sustainable development and community relations, Mr. Igo Weli, has said the company’s continued contribution to the annual NNPC/Shell Cup competition is a way of reducing unemployment in Nigeria. According to him, despite the problem faced by oil firms in Nigeria and around the world, the outfit decided to invest more in the Nigerian youths. “Sometimes people ask what has been the company’s gain from the competition and I often explain to them that it is our own way of helping the country in the area of employment,” he said “We have interest `in developing the youth by taking advantage of their talents. The talents abound in Nigeria and when they use it positively, the country will be better for it. “If youths are restless, as a company we cannot work; but if they (the youths) were engaged positively, it also help in the area of security.” Speaking further, he said even as an individual, investing in the youth takes more pressure off him. He however called on other corporate companies to put more into such laudable ventures that would improve the lots of youths in the country.

to play a part in this one. He was an unused substitute in their 3-0 win at Real Sociedad last week but a convincing appearance against Atletico who are also looking to seal their Champions League berth will make national team selectors think they have taken a right decision to have included him in the squad to the World Cup. Ramon Azeez’s Almeria are in the same situation as Granada; they must also win their final match to stand a chance of remaining in the La Liga and they will welcome another strong side, Valencia, today. Azeez came off the bench in Almeria’s 2-1 loss to Sevilla last weekend to record his 14th appearance for the club this term and he maybe look forward to scoring his second goal of the season and help his team avoid the drop.

Emenike

Emenike eyes top spot in Turkey Ajibade Olusesan

uper Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, can help Fernabahce to the top of the Turkish league when they travel to play Istanbul Basaksehir this weekend. Galatasaray are currently topping the table by 73 points and they can drop to the second position if they lose to third-placed Bekistas on Sunday and Fernabahce win their match. Emenike is a regular for Yellow Submarines, has played 27 matches for the club this season but he is yet to make an impact that made him the toast of the club’s fans when he joined last season. He has just four goals and he has not scored since Valentine's Day. But he can still win over the fans if he scores decisive goals in the club last two matches. If Fernabahce win this weekend and Galatasaray lose, they can claim the title when they host Kasımpaşa.

Basketball: DStv League All Star Game holds today Ifeanyi Ibeh

ll is set for today’s DStv Premier Basketball League All Star showdown as the Atlantic Conference All Stars take on their counterparts from the Savannah Conference at the National Stadium, Lagos. For the Atlantic Conference All Stars, the starting line-up will consist of former national team captain and Boston University hall of famer, Tunji Awojobi, and his Lagos Islanders teammates, Jason Ebie and Ben Uzoh. Dodan Warriors’ Ameh Ajeh and his Beninese teammate, Romaric Quenum, are also in the starting-five. The rest of the Atlantic Conference side consists of Emmanuel Dayo (Oluyole Warriors), Emmanuel Balogun (Customs), Malik Tella (Police Baton), Solomon Ajegbeyi (Union Bank), Umar Garba (Dodan Warriors) and Mojuba Oyeleye (Oluyole Warriors). They will be coached by Lagos Islanders Head Coach, Lateef Erinfolami, who will be assisted by his Oluyole Warriors counterpart, Taye Sobogun. Last year’s All Star game MVP, Abubakar Usman, who also finished as last season’s DStv League Finals MVP, tops the list for the Savannah Conference All Stars. Others in the starting-five are Usman’s Kano Pillars teammate, Matthew Onmenya, and Mark Mentors Stanley Gumut, Abdul Yahaya and Victor ‘Koko’ Anthony. 2013 All Star game MVP, Azuoma Dike (Mark Mentors), Femi Emmanuel (Plateau Peaks), Eli Abraham (Gombe Bulls), Menasseh Achi (Gombe Bulls) and Kano Pillars’ Ibrahim Yusuf, Abdulwahab Yahaya and Dele Ademola will start from the bench. They will be coached by Mark Mentors head coach, Peter Ahmedu, who will be assisted by Gombe Bulls, Mohammed Abdulrahman. In addition to the All Star game, there will also be a Slam Dunk contest as well as a Threepoint shootout challenge, which makes a return to the programme after being excluded from last year’s event.

Shehu Lawal, one of the players to feature in the tennis league

All set for NCC tennis league launch Ajibade Olusesan

ignitaries will witness the launch of NCC Tennis league slated to take place at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club tomorrow (Sunday). According to Godwin Kienka of the International Tennis Academy, the organisers of the game, the first ever tennis league in the country will be launched with fanfare. Kienka said the launch would feature an exhibition game between players based in the northern part of the country and those in the south. There would also be some traditional dances and skill displays from other sports. "The NCC Tennis League is truly worth celebrating and we plan to use the launch to promote unity through sports. We also hope that it will be the final major sporting event for

outgoing officials at the federal and state levels who should use the occasion to say their sporting good byes," Kienka said. Eight teams are competing for the NCC Tennis Cup which is offering a star prize of five million naira to the winning team. The runner-up and third place teams are getting three and two million naira respectively while the fourth gets a million naira. The league is also introducing 30 weeks of tennis in eight different locations to the Nigerian tennis calendar. "It's a huge break for Nigerian tennis players who are looking to go professional," explained Kienka who worked with the International Tennis Federation and the ATP in the past, "because they get to train and play in squads and automatically attract sponsorship from team owners."

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Sport

Majri: France can win FIFA Women's World Cup

mel Majri is accustomed to making pacy runs down the flank, but she may even have surprised herself with the speed of her rapid rise in the world of professional football. Having made her French First Division debut for Lyon at the age of 18, and earned her first cap for France just three years later, the tireless left-back is a player with a bright future. The 22-year-old will soon have the opportunity to perform on the world stage at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, where her talent, athleticism and positive attitude should make her a valuable asset for Les Bleues. As a child, the future international learned quickly that, to earn a place in local youth teams, she had to show she was capable of competing with boys, which she did with typical confidence and good humour. “A girl who nutmegs boys doesn’t always get the best reaction,” she told FIFA. com, with a cheeky smile. “I was just as good as them, and was sometimes even better.” As Majri’s family moved to France from Tunisia when she was just one year old, Majri grew up with a foot in two different cultures, an aspect of her childhood that she appreciates. “Sharing two cultures certainly broadens your horizons; you end up soaking up the best parts of both,” explained the self-assured defender. “Playing football in Tunisia is not all that different from playing football in France. People don’t prejudge you and you can play without worrying about things too much.”

We’ll take every game as World Cup final – Mohammed Flying Eagles skipper, Musa Mohammed, talks to Comfort Chukwu about his dreams of lifting the U-20 World Cup and his readiness to give everything to realise that ambition. Should we expect a good outing from the Flying Eagles in New Zealand? We pray for that and we are prepared to give our best for the country. Are you afraid of Brazil? No. It’s not just about Brazil; we take each and every game we are going to play as though it is a World Cup final. We will approach every match we are going to play with all seriousness to achieve our target. Are you well prepared going by your camp experiences so far? Yes, we’ve had good training and we have good coaches who know what they are teaching us. If we can listen to them, everything will be fine. What can you say about the welfare of the players, are you well taken care of? Yes. I would say they are trying, the NFF has done what ought to be done; now we will just round off with the Germany tour. It is a good effort and good training for my teammates and I.

France first After playing her way into the starting XI at French giants, Lyon, where she developed swiftly under the watchful eye of coach Patrice Lair, Majri began to dream of international recognition. “The Tunisians spoke to me, but I’d already decided that I wanted to represent France. I was keen to defend the colours of my country.” Current France coach Philippe Bergeroo was the man who helped her realise that dream, identifying skills, discipline and a surprising maturity in her game that would serve Les Bleues well.

Nigeria is yet to win the U-20 World Cup, are you going to change the story this time? Yes, it is our wish and we are intensifying efforts to make sure we bring the trophy home. As captain what are you doing differently to contribute to the team’s success? I always try to give my best for the team, and for the country so that the job will be easier for us the players. It will be an honour for you to lift that trophy… That is my greatest dream, everyday I close my eyes I dream it, and I think of what to do to make it happen. It will not just be an honour to me, it will be an honour to all our players, those who played, and to our dear nation, Nigeria. So it is what we all are looking forward to. For me if other players are working like 50 per cent I’m expected to work 100 per cent because a lot is on my shoulder.

Majri

“I can’t claim to have discovered Majri,” the former international goalkeeper pointed out to FIFA.com. “Two years ago, Patrice Lair said to me, ‘Listen, I’ve got a great young player here – I’ll take her under my wing, and when she’s ready to take a step up, I’ll give you a call.’ And one day, he did exactly that.” Having flourished at Lyon alongside elite players and within a professional structure, Majri proceeded to do the same in the French set-up. “Playing international football means you have to pay more attention to things like your image, and ensure your lifestyle and diet are healthier – sweets and other rubbish are off the menu,” she said, laughing. Athletic ability A former athletics exponent, the energetic Frenchwoman eventually turned her back on the sport during her youth to focus on football. Rather than regretting this choice, she has found a way of applying her running skills to the beautiful game, and can regularly be seen powering down the left-hand side of the pitch. Having previously played further up the field, she has adapted to her defensive role for club and country with aplomb, even if her opportunities of hitting the back of the net are more limited now. “Full-backs tend to get forward quite often and so I use my dribbling skills and my ability to drive into opposition territory at both club and international level. Although I don’t get many chances to score, it’s a bit of a trade-off,” she said. On 9 June, France, appearing in their third Women’s World Cup, will face England in their opening group match of Canada 2015. “I don’t want to come across as overconfident, but I do think we can win the tournament, “ said Majri. “We have a nice mix of styles – we can pass the ball around really well, but we’re also good in the air. We’ve got pace and a physical presence, and we’ve shown that we can play intelligently when need be. “Against the top teams it’s going to come down to the little things, but we’ve got a great coaching staff, and that’s obviously going to go in our favour,” she concluded with an air of confidence. • Culled from FIFA.COM

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Lifestyle

Balotelli spotted with ex-fiancée, Neguesha, in Milan

Adebayor shows off his new haircut E

n the eyes of most Liverpool fans, he's been an expensive disappointment. But Mario Balotelli appears to have a supporter in his former fiancée, Fanny Neguesha, after the pair were spotted together in Milan, Italy. The 24-year-old striker, who parted ways with the beauty late last year after his move from AC Milan to Liverpool, was spotted in a sports car with Fanny after a lavish shopping spree at the flagship Gucci store. Fanny, who was seen in the stands supporting her beau as he played for Italy during the World Cup last summer, stepped out in style for the outing. With her ombré tresses sitting on her shoulders in soft curls, she wore a patterned T-shirt with skintight black trousers, while she stood tall in a pair of pink strappy booties. She hauled a black Louis Vuitton suitcase behind her as she made her way to the luxury vehicle, before being driven off with Mario. Reflecting on their relationship, she added: 'Mario was my first big love. But I hope there's still another big love left for me. I'm still young. One day I want to get married and have kids - what else?'

mmanuel Adebayor has been on the fringes of the Tottenham squad this season and the striker appears set for an exit from the London club this summer. So with a change coming on, the 31-year-old changed his hairstyle and uploaded a picture of the new cut to Instagram. Adebayor appears to be an unwanted player by boss Mauricio Pochettino and almost joined West Ham on loan in January. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is expected to conduct an overhaul of his team in the summer

Ronaldo cheated with dozens of women - Shayk R

Balotelli with Neguesha (Inset Neguesha)

Adebayor

Man United youngster offers student £10,000 for a threesome

McKinney

19-year-old student has claimed Manchester United youngster Andreas Pereira offered her £10,000 for a threesome with him and Old Trafford team mate Paddy McNair, The Belgian-born Brazilian, allegedly offered 19-year-old Kelly McKinney cash to spend the night with him and McNair after she met the United squad at their Christmas party. Pereira is also said to have invited Kelly to his home for sex days before his Premier League debut, mentioning that he was with two other members of the first-team squad. "I nearly fell off my chair when he offered me £10,000 for a threesome. What kind of low-life does that? I'm not that kind of person at all and found it very, very insulting.'He's clearly desperate and

struggling to find anyone that he doesn't have to pay for a s ex." Kelly claims that Pereira tracked her down on Twitter after the team's Christmas party at the Neighbourhood bar in Manchester where she was invited to the VIP area to drink with the other players. In a series of WhatsApp messages, the midfielder allegedly asked if she wanted to meet with him and McNair before she responded questioning what he meant. Pereira is said to have replied: "threesome. Will take care of u. U want? How much. Tell me. We were ready to pay 5 each." Pereira's agent Leo Scheinkman said: "He is young and single and can have sex with whoever he wants. What does he have Pereira to apologise for?"

The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters.

eal Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was dumped by Irina Shayk after she accused him of cheating, reports The Sun. The 29-year-old ended their five-year relationship after finding flirty messages on his phone from women around the world. Now going out with Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper, the Russian model said in the aftermath that she was looking for an “honest man” who was “loyal to women”. This was perhaps alluding to the news that has now surfaced. The three time Ballon d’Or winner confessed to his then girlfriend on New Year’s eve, and the pair eventually broke up in March. A source close to the couple told The Sun on Sunday that Irina had said to her: “Now I know the truth and I feel completely betrayed. “I trusted him and stuck up for him when there were rumours he had been with other women. I feel stupid that Cristiano has fooled me.” The source added: “Irina could not believe it. She felt she had been completely betrayed. She immediately confronted Cristiano about it, but he initially denied any knowledge. After she explained to him what she had found he eventually admitted to messaging the girls.

- Audrey Hepburn

Stories courtesy Dailymail

Shayk

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Investigations

up to its responsibilities'

Ezekwesili

a few years back. From then, Edet’s life appeared to be gradually grinding to a nasty halt as his hopes dimmed and death became imminent. After several nights in the shanties of a market around his Agege abode, Edet, according to him, summoned courage, not minding the danger, to take to begging for survival. Many, though, did not believe his stories. Yet, he was undaunted. He continued as that was the only thing that raised his dying spirit. “I had to do all that to save myself from a premature death,” he narrated in his little English. Edet added that begging was far better than stealing. Akeem and Edet, however, are not alone. There are other known destitute children in other neighbourhood as well. Many sell cellophane packed water, popularly known as “pure water” in popular areas of Nigeria’s metropolis and hope to return to school someday. But because of their poor background, many of them are often used as domestic servants in

One of the nation's dilapitated primary schools

households and as street traders. There are also those who could be found in groups sitting under the bridges looking forlorn and unkempt. They remain in vicious cycle of need and unmet expectations. Apart from their pathetic stories, most of them are daily been smuggled across the Atlantic to other countries to work as servants to wealthy merchants or on farmlands. In many homes, including those of the elite across the country, the sad tales are replicated as the children often undergo debasement and dehumanisation as victims of sexual abuse by their mistresses, husbands or their older children. Even those who hawk wares on the streets also run the risk of being victims of those “animals in human skins.” Street hawking has turned a lot of them into hopeless youths with a bleak future. It is not uncommon to see children walking the streets looking desperate, wretched and hungry while hawking during school hours. The streets have become normal for many of them, who seem to have accepted their fate. Incidentally, some of them grow up to become touts, thugs, drug addicts or armed robbers. The girl child is no different. Her devourers prey on her ignorance, self-worth and vulnerability. Everywhere in the neighbourhood, the pitiable states of these children are evident. Just like Lagos, the phenomenon of out-of-school children and the associated problems are matters that have also been of great concern to successive governments in states like Anambra. Every day, children of school age, who have been denied access to basic primary and secondary education respectively, are being

photo: www.pmnewsnigeria.com

exposed to all sorts of dangers. The worst hits are the orphans, who are usually “loaned” out as domestic servants and apprentices at very tender age. In Cross River State, about 50 per cent of the population of young people of school age is often seen roaming the streets during school hours begging for alms from motorists and passersby. They do this not because they enjoy that enterprise but as their last resort at making ends meet. Also in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Saheed, who would be 15 by October, does not see any big deal being out of school. The largely unkempt teenager dropped out in primary two. According to him, he was staying with his mother who had remarried and was not finding it comfortable living with his step father. “I have been out of school for many years now due to no fault of mine but that of my parents. There were many times that I would be asked to bring things in school and my mother, rather than concentrate on helping me, would focus on the kids that she bore for my step father,” he said. In the northern part of the country, children are often compelled to beg. These children, known as almajiris, by convention and tradition, go to the Koranic school teachers to imbibe the culture of humanity. However, instead of giving the kids religious teachings, the teachers would allegedly send them out to the streets to beg. They constitute, according to statistics, about 90 per cent of children out of school in Nigeria with a staggering figure of over nine million. Former Commissioner for Education in Kaduna State,Tom Maiyashi, blamed the government for providing insufficient budgetary allocations and improper management of education sector. He identified poverty as the main obstacle to development of education, even as he

Pupils are made to go through a very difficult time for a systemic failure they did not cause

urged the government to prioritise the growth of the sector. But, in what looked like a direct response to Maiyashi’s suggestion, former acting secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), prof. Charles Onocha, said that specific interventions geared towards broadening access and ensuring functional learning for Nigerian citizens were being initiated to address the issue of large number of outof-school children estimated at over 10 million. Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, insists that Nigeria has failed the children of the poor in the country. She stressed that the “dynasty of poverty” and high number of out-of-school is unacceptable. “There are so many children of the poor that this nation has failed, and there is no reason why this nation should fail them,” she said. She stated that access to quality education was important in any society and that the nation was sitting on a time bomb if nothing is done to address the crisis. In Nigeria, officials routinely steal funds appropriated for building classrooms, buying textbooks and implementing programmes that should bring more children to school. Not too long ago, some officials were indicted for stealing funds released to the nomadic education commission, an agency charged with the responsibility of getting Fulani herdsmen to enroll their kids in school. Despite the setting up of UBEC, governments at all levels, according to opinions, have not demonstrated the commensurate determination to pursue the stated objective of putting every child of school age in school. It is, therefore, worrisome that Nigeria lags behind in all sectors in the implementation of Education For All (EFA) programme adopted in 2000. This is in spite of the 2015 global deadline on the second item of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In the midst of this confusion, is Nigeria imparting the needed knowledge for the youth that is expected to lead her beyond the 21st century? Would it not be better to use the celebration of Children’s Day to reappraise the educational sector that ought to mould these younger generation of leaders? Perhaps, the incoming government may have to take a second look at the entire system that breeds and prepare these youths for future tasks. Until that is done, the nation’s future, many would agree, still hangs in a balance.

Metropolitan Nursery and Primary School, Sari-Iganmu, Lagos

photo: tony eguaye

SATURDAY

The Arts SATURDAY 23 MAY 2015

Eighty brushstrokes for Fasuyi

or octogenarian artist, Chief Timothy Adebanjo Fasuyi, age is not a barrier to creative expression, especially the visual art. Even at 80, he says, he still paints, and will continue to do so. “All these works are mine; they are what I have done over the years. You don’t grow old and out of creativity; I will still be painting after this exhibition and I want the younger ones to know that age is not a challenge to creativity,” he says, at the opening of the exhibition of 80 of his works as part of his 80th birthday celebration, held at Timothy Adebanjo Fasuyi Gallery (TAFAS), Ikeja, Lagos. The 80 works being exhibited are among series of works he has done in the last 50 years, since graduating from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Explaining the purpose of the exhibition, Fasuyi said: “Apart from celebrating my 80 birthday, the last six year of my stay at the Federal Ministry of Education, where I was in charge of Federal Government Colleges nationwide and seeing what was happening to the students of Federal Government Colleges in the North East was saddening. So, I have

Renowned educationist and artist, Chief Timothy Adebanjo Fasuyi turned 80 recently. To celebrate the milestone, he rolled out the drums and demonstrated that his passion for painting has not waned in spite of his age, writes TONY OKUYEME decided to sell all the works; no matter the price, and give the proceeds to help those students who are displaced from those colleges.” He recalled how his love for arts started, “When I went to secondary school we had an art teacher who taught us drawing and we did some craft, too, and sculptor. So, when we got to Zaria, and for the first time, we met brushes and paint and they taught us how to use them, the methods and materials. We

Ghana Must Stay by Fasuyi

were asked to create our own art advocacy, which is what Onobrakpeya has been doing and he is a great artist. “I was painting when I left Zaria but the type of work I got at the Federal Ministry of Education did not give me enough time to paint. But after I retired I started planning painting technics and now I am fully in the studio”. According to him, he feels fulfilled generally about life and even as an artist.“That is why I am having this exhibition as one of the major events of my 80th birthday. I am proud to be

an artist and I hope to continue with it. “I must say that at the end of my course in Zaria I had the best result and I won all the prizes available. I’m versatile in my area and my creation depends on my mood, materials available and time. Some of my works are rendered in surrealism, symbolism and others. I do all of them; I don’t box myself in one corner. I’m free in all the areas”. Fasuyi appealed to younger generation of artists to make their works relevant to the Nigerian situation. On the state of arts in secondary schools in the country, Fasuyi said: “I am not sure of what is obtaining now but when I was there, I made sure every Federal Government School had at least one art teacher and some schools two; but now I don’t know. It is very important that each school has at least two, three or more art teachers. This is because one will be a sculptor and will not be able to paint and the sculptor may ignore the area of painting and design; so it is good to have several so that the students can exhibit their creativity.”

Rélè Gallery and Laurent Perrier Champagne launch art exhibition

Reflection with

Tim Akinleye 08098668480

timwriteswell@gmail.com

The Moment of Grace

What a friend have we in Jesus, Who for the love unequalled for us, Chose to die while sinners yet we were! Oh what greater love for man there is? For one, his life and time to give That his friends and all may live. Coming, He chose the manger, Sharing a stable of raw with his holy mother, Beats of sheep as lullaby for the Life Changer. That all: rich and poor, high and low, To Him, access may gain; and to know: He came to set the captive free, and oh, He came. He fought. He conquered: Not like Roman rulers were required Nor like Temple priests fully attired. Not in war battle as a warlord Nor as a Roman judge, with a sword But a Prince of Peace with the Word. What a candid King! What a tender Teacher What a humble Husband! What a pure Preacher! What a serving Master! What a loving Leader!

he Rélè Gallery, a new art destination in Lagos, last weekend launched its fourth exhibition of modern and contemporary art titled ‘STRIP’, and sponsored by Laurent-Perrier Champagne. The exhibition, curated by art and culture writer, Ayodeji Rotinwa and broadcaster, Wana Udobang was a themed collection of nude art. It featured a vibrant group of artists namely, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Reze Bonna, Ayoola, Ibe Ananaba, Isaac Emopkae, Logor and Toyosi Kekere-Ekun, in various exciting mediums such as plexiglas and photography on aluminium. STRIP is an investigation of the human anatomy, an attempt to provoke keen engagement, to deconstruct myths and truths of power, shame, freedom, beauty (and more) - the different shades of attendant feelings that accompany an encounter with a naked body. The exhibition, a curatorial debut for both Rotinwa and Udobang, was hailed by guests in attendance - collectors, art enthusiasts, captains of industry, blue bloods of the lifestyle industry and social media influencers - as a triumphant start. Guests in attendance enjoyed glasses of Laurent Perrier's impressive range of champagne - the Brut, Demi-Sac and Rose - as they took in the art on display. The Rele Gallery opened only four months ago has continued to garner accolades for its accessible and edgy exhibitions. STRIP is open to the public and will run till June 7.

A gentle General, a tender Terror! Darling Divine, glorious God, Most memorable Moment for the Conqueror. Rejected by His own, desired by the Gentiles; Despised Prophet, deserted Temple, Honoured without, scorned by his people. To the cross, like a lamb, was led, Nailed, crowned, pierced. Profusely, He bled Alone in the cold, His friends cringed and fled! The prince of this world, and his hellions Had no clue that through His death, salvation Would come through Christ to save my soul. And now the Victory of the Cross, The abundance of life eternal is devil’s loss Wherein I celebrate the Moment of Grace Just before the cross.

Kelechi Amadi-Obi

SATURDAY

Dear Love Doctor, ‘She threatens to commit suicide if I leave her' p.37

Life Experience

'My friend dumped me because I was fat'

p.36

L ve&Lv ng SATURDAY 23 MAY 2015

'I married my cousin because he's meant for me' Confession

I was from Mali and according to Mali's culture and tradition, we were permitted to marry, as long as we loved each other

They say loves comes in unexpected ways. In this story, a lonely undergraduate meets the man of her dreams. Surprisingly, however, he is somebody within her extended family circle.

t's said that once you marry, you are meant for the person that you married and no one else. There is also an inside-out argument that you didn’t marry them because you were meant for them. You are meant for them because you married them. There is nobody else. There is no other “right” person at that point. There might have been another person seconds before you said “I do,” but not after the wedding. Something happened that moment that you exchanged vows. You changed, the earth changed, and it’s irreversible. If we are meant for someone in particular, who’s to say you’re wrong? This is the person God Himself designed for you. I remember reading an article in which somebody wrote that if you’re single, there are probably hundreds of options out there. None of them soul mates, but all of them possibly potential soul mates. So you don’t have to sift around looking for that one custom made, personalized grain of sand in the desert. You’ll be alone forever if you do that, and you don’t have to be alone forever. So all you need to do is reciprocate the love of anybody who gives you all of himself. That 'anybody' who gives you all of himself is most likely to be the perfect person for you. My cousin and I didn't meet till we were in our early twenties. And it was at a wedding in Mali. The wedding was out of town. After the wedding, during the whole three-hour drive home in the bus, all I could do was think of how handsome he was. I didn't get to see him again until three years later. He contacted me to let me know that he would be moving to my city. I thought that would be a good idea so I encouraged him to stay with me for at least a few days when he moved to the city. I was a student in one of the country's top universities and I lived in a cosy apartment off campus. I was living alone and that made me feel very lonely sometimes. I didn't even have a boyfriend at that particular time because I was tired of men breaking my heart all the time.

So I was happy because my cousin was going to keep me company whenever he came. Within the next two weeks my cousin moved to the city and came to stay with me in my off campus apartment. His place of work was not far from where I lived, so he said it would be better if he stayed with me for some time and help me to pay my bills since he was employed and I was still a student. I couldn't deny that there was chemistry between us from the moment he moved into my apartment. I could see it in the way he looked at me seductively and how he seemed to dress to impress me. Even the way he complimented me on my good cooking showed that my cousin was in love with me. And whenever our bodies brushed past each other, sparks literarily flew and I felt turned on instantly. Well after about a month together

in my apartment, my cousin called me late one evening and said he had a long day at work and wanted a drink but didn’t want to drink alone. I felt that it was cool for us to drink together, so I went over to him with a bottle of wine. I didn't know wine turned him on and made him bold enough to express his feelings. After some glasses of wine, my cousin held me in his arms and told me how much he loved me. I didn't resist him even though he was my cousin, because I felt the same way too. After all, I was from Mali and according to Mali's culture and tradition, we were permitted to marry, as long as we loved each other. In fact, several members of my family had also married their cousins. My cousin told me that he wished to marry me because he had always loved me. All he wanted now was for me to love him back. "I love you so much, Aisha," he said. "I can't live

without you. It's because of you that I decided to come and work in the city. Please don't reject my love." I told my cousin Usman that I also have feelings for him and would like my parents to give him my hand in marriage. On hearing me, he was so happy that he gave me a sweet kiss on the lips and squeezed me. So I decided to slip out of the formal clothes I had worn to school and get comfortable in something more casual and sexy. Then I started watching TV. Usman came to where I was sitting and watching TV and told me to sit on his lap. I sat on his lap and we started kissing again. Everything was so romantic and I couldn't believe that this was actually me and my cousin. But still, I had to speak my mind and I told him that I wanted a man who would save me from further heartbreaks. I really needed a man who was going to love me for the rest of his life and wasn't going to break my heart like the rest. And Usman promised to be that man. "I swear that I will never break your heart. Aisha, from now on, I will save you from having any more heartbreaks," he said. It didn't even feel wrong because we saw each other as husband and wife, even though we had not yet officially got married. We didn't talk too much. We had sex for a significant part of the night. My cousin eventually made good on his promise to seek my hand in marriage. My parents gladly agreed for us to marry each other and we wedded just a few months after our first night together. I married my cousin because he was the one destined for me. I couldn't have married any other man because no man ever made me happy like he did. All that other men ever did to me was break my heart. Being married to my cousin is like heaven on earth. He saved me from having any more heartbreaks and makes me think I'm the most beautiful woman in the whole world. The experience is so sweet and I'm glad that me and my cousin were destined to be together.

Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Married mother dies in India after traveling to meet lover she met on Facebook Love News

rs Slinn, who worked as a nurse, had spoken of the trip to her children, aged 15 to 24 – but did not mention it to her husband Stephen, 48, according to The Sun. Her mother-in-law Doreen Slinn said: 'I don't understand how a healthy woman can suddenly die like that. She went to India because she thought she'd found love - but it turned into tragedy.' Mr Singh - who lives in Ludhiana, Punjab, and first met his lover in 2014 - told the newspaper: 'I can't believe she is no more.' Mrs Slinn, a former St Andrews University student who is from Dundee and has also lived in Germany, described Mr Singh on her Facebook profile as 'my handsome man Jaspal'. In return, Mr Singh, who studied at Satish Chander Dhawan Government College, has commented on a number of her photographs, referring to her as 'beautiful' and 'my love'. The pair used the social network to regularly share photographs of one another, under which they both often declared their feelings. On January 2, the couple changed their relationship status to confirm to friends and family that they were together. Beneath the post, Mr Singh com-

Love Me Like You Do You're the light, you're the night You're the color of my blood You're the cure, you're the pain You're the only thing I wanna touch Never knew that it could mean so much, so much

So love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do What are you waiting for?

mented requesting mutual friends to confirm the pair's projected marriage date with Mrs Slinn. Mrs Slinn lived in a £125,000 detached house in Crewe with her husband, but it is understood he had left the property before she went to India. The family were today too upset to speak when approached. Mrs Slinn was known throughout the town, and is believed to have recently acted as a carer. A member of staff at the nearby Co-

op said: 'She used to come in here quite regularly to do shopping for someone she cared for, she was really lovely, really nice. I'm so shocked.' One person described the 45-year-old as a friendly face in the community. The neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: 'She was very quiet, never any trouble. 'I'm so shocked, it's such a quiet road. She used to wave to me on her way out in the morning.' Courtesy: Daily Mail.

'My friend dumped me because I was fat'

Ellie Goulding

You're the fear, I don't care 'Cause I've never been so high Follow me through the dark Let me take you past our satellites You can see the world you brought to life, to life

Life Experience

arly was my most recent, and last, matchstick friendship. By that I mean a friendship that starts with a spark and burns intensely and brightly until a short while later it burns out. I met Carly where I met most of my friends in my early 20s: church. She was new to our side of town, eager to make friends, and more outgoing than anyone I had ever met. The night we were introduced she literally grabbed me off the couch so I’d go dancing with her at a country-western bar. Line dancing was about as far from my idea of fun as you could get—but I went anyway. That was the power of Carly—she always got you to do things you never thought you would. That first night we hung out (with the “cool” people from the church singles group who never paid me much attention) I found her to be exciting and sweet. I’m not the kind who warms easily to strangers, but here she was, spinning me around a dance floor filled with cute guys in cowboy hats, acting like we had been friends for years. I was in a transitional period of my life then and kind of lonely. She was just what I needed. We jumped right into the bestfriends zone after that night. She had me over to her house, where she lived alone, almost every day. I was much more into staying in and watching TV, but Carly always wanted to be social. Together we organized game nights, casino parties, dancing, bowling, pretty much any kind of quasi-wholesome nondrinking activity you could have fun with your clothes on doing. We were good Christian girls, after all. There was also the reading of entire books of the Bible nights—

Love Songs

mainly Revelations—and the frequent “worship” parties, where our friends from church would light candles and gather to sing worship music for an hour or two longer than made me comfortable. While Carly was in her element at these events, I always felt uneasy. As much as I loved God, I didn't love the end-times obsession, or the way the people from the awkwardlynamed IHOP church made me feel. Above all, Carly was passionate. Mostly about God, but also about fitness. She paid her bills working as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor, even taking out a business loan to open up a small studio in her house. It was clear early on in our friendship, that as much as Carly liked me, she didn't like my weight. Even though I was no shrinking violet back then, this was before I had discovered Health At Every Size. It was before I ended a hor-

ribly unhealthy “relationship” with a guy who would periodically convince me to sleep with him, then tell me he couldn't talk to me afterward because Jesus didn't want him to. And it was before I learned how to love, let alone actually like, my body. I’d always loved myself—I was proud of who I was— but had yet to accept the bag of flesh and bones that self was encased in. She was a good personal trainer, I’ll give her that. Half the time I didn't even realize what she was doing -- we’d just be walking somewhere, then walking farther, and farther, and then running for some implausible but fun reason. Her two adorable dogs certainly helped with this distraction. Carly never said “we need to work out” so much as she made exercise a part of our friendship. I moved more and ate less during the months I was friends with her than any other time in my life. I even lost a negligible amount of weight. Mainly because as much as we hung out together, we never really went out to eat. Or ate much in general. Even though she was fit and toned and a solid, muscular size 6, Carly was herself always trying to lose weight. There was almost never food at her house. I was often hungry when I was with her, but was too embarrassed to complain. If I did, her most common response was, “You don’t need food.” One night, at yet another wholesome party, Carly and I lounged on a pile of coats in a darkened room, talking about the cute guys on the other side of the door. “Doug seemed to maybe be flirting with me a little, right?” I asked her. The expensive black dress I’d bought for the party had me feeling prettier than normal. Her pause was long, and deafencontinued on page 38

Fading in, fading out On the edge of paradise Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've got to find Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire Yeah, I'll let you set the pace 'Cause I'm not thinking straight My head's spinning around I can't see clear no more What are you waiting for? Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (like you do) Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do What are you waiting for? Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (like you do) Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (yeah) Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do What are you waiting for? I'll let you set the pace 'Cause I'm not thinking straight My head's spinning around I can't see clear no more What are you waiting for? Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (like you do) Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (yeah) Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do What are you waiting for? Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (like you do) Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (oh) Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do What are you waiting for?

Love Poem

Michael

Fool for Your Love I'm a fool for your love, A fool for your charms, A fool in your arms, A fool on your laps, A fool in your bed, A fool you dream about every day, That's why I can't live without you, I love you.

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

Romantic Joke

Drunk Man in Female Toilet

A drunk man enters a female toilet by mistake. One woman sees him and screams, “This is for the ladies.” The drunk man replies holding his manhood, “This is for the ladies too.”

23 MAY 2015

Relationships & Love Advice Dear Love Doctor, I have a new teenage girlfriend but my older married lover threatens to kill herself if I dump her. I am 27 years old. My new girlfriend is 19 and totally gorgeous. She is everything I ever wanted in a lover. She is always ready for sex and would see me every day if she could, but I have to keep seeing my other woman or she threatens me. She is 42 and married. We met at a restaurant. She looked really beautiful and I had no knowledge that she was married. We were just friends at first and then things went further when she suggested I come to her place when her husband traveled. We had sex on the sofa that day. I’ve been seeing her for two years now. When I met my new girlfriend, I told my married lover to go back to her husband but she threatened to kill herself if I didn’t keep seeing her. I really worry she will commit suicide if she feels I have abandoned her. I feel trapped with this married woman. What do I do? From Samuel, in Lagos. Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Samuel, You can’t keep a relationship going just because of emotional blackmail. If your married lover is genuinely suicidal it will be because of issues long before she met you. If you know the one you want

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Love&Living

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

‘She threatens to commit suicide if I leave her'

Odd News

Hormone that gets us drunk on love

L is your new girlfriend, tell your married lover as kindly as you can that it has been wonderful but it’s over for you. All threats of suicide should be taken seriously but don’t be drawn back into that adulterous relationship. Don’t tell her husband. But if she threatens you about committing suicide again, one thing you can do

is this: find out the church/ mosque she attends and report her to her spiritual director/ priest/pastor. He will call her and talk to her. She will feel embarrassed knowing that her priest/pastor or spiritual director is aware and thank God that her husband is not aware of her activities. After that, she will leave you alone.

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ove really can be intoxicating. Research shows that a hormone released by new mothers, lovers and even doting dog owners has many of the same effects as alcohol. Oxytocin, known as the ‘love hormone’, engenders trust and generosity – but, just like a drink or two, it can also fuel aggression. The similarities between oxytocin and alcohol are ‘striking’, say British researchers. The hormone is produced by women during labour to help them bond with their baby. It is also released during lovemaking, leading to it being nicknamed the ‘cuddle chemical’. Other loving touches, from hugging a teddy bear to patting a pet dog, also trigger its release. But the hormone has a dark side, with some psychopaths having more than ten times the normal amount. Birmingham University researchers re-examined previous studies and discovered that just like a glass or two of wine, oxytocin makes us feel more generous, trusting and empathic. And by making us more relaxed, it lowers our sense of fear, which could lead to us taking risks that we otherwise wouldn’t. But it also fuels aggression, arrogance and envy. Writing in the journal Neuroscience and Behavioural Reviews, researcher Dr Ian Mitchell says oxytocin – which can be bought as a nasal spray – could

give the Dutch courage we need for first dates, job interviews or other nerve-racking situations. But he suggests relying on natural forms instead. ‘If you are anxious about going for an interview, a quick embrace from your partner could certainly help,’ he said. While it might seem odd that a substance that evokes feelings of trust also causes anger, Dr Mitchell says it makes perfect sense. He believes that new mothers are programmed to become aggressive when oxytocin surges as this reaction will help protect their babies from harm. Oxytocin’s many effects mean that scientists the world over are investigating it as a possible treatment for everything from anorexia to autism. Birmingham University researcher Dr Steven Gillespie said: ‘I don’t think we’ll see a time when oxytocin is used socially as an alternative to alcohol. But it is a fascinating neurochemical and, away from matters of the heart, has a possible use in treatment of psychological and psychiatric conditions. ‘Understanding exactly how it suppresses certain modes of action and alters our behaviour could provide real benefits for a lot of people. ‘Hopefully this research might shed some new light on it and open up avenues we hadn’t yet considered.’ Courtesy: Daily Mail

Wedding Traditions

Diamond flames of love: Italy

n Italy, during the proposal, a groom will typically serenade his bride first and then present her with a diamond ring because of the belief that a diamond was created by the flames of love. Sunday weddings are the luckiest and if a bride wears

green the night before the wedding, it will bring luck and abundance to the couple. Conversely, if she wears gold on the day of the wedding or before it, she will receive bad luck. Courtesy: Irish Central.

Love&Living True Story

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

LOVE EDUCATION

‘My marriage broke down because I was a bad wife'

got married just before I turned 25 and divorced when I was 26. We separated after only 11 months of marriage. When people ask, "What happened?" I usually tell them something like, "I was too young," or "We never should have gotten married," or "I think there's a chance he was gay." All of these things are true. But if I wanted to be completely honest, I would say "His mom got a brain tumor." I usually don't say that because, admittedly, it makes me sound like a pretty horrible person. But if I had to pinpoint what actually happened during my brief marriage that led to its swift demise, it was definitely the brain tumor. It was early December when his mom called to tell him the news. The information was pretty hazy -- no one seemed sure what it was or how bad it was, but with brain tumors, it's usually safe to say that it's not good. He was, understandably, upset. And when he told me, I remember thinking, somewhat selfishly, "Please don't let her die." Now, I genuinely wanted her to be okay, for the normal reasons. But it was also selfish. I had been slowly realizing over the last few months that I was not happy with my life. And a large part of it was that I was not happy with who I had married. I hadn't yet admitted out loud that I was thinking about divorce, but I was on the brink. And when I learned that his mom might have brain cancer, of all things, I saw a future flash before my eyes. I saw tragedy and grief and I saw myself unable to escape. Because you can't ask someone for a divorce when their mother has brain cancer. I tried my best to comfort him. I desperately wanted to convince him that she would be fine. And I did want her to be fine -- I needed her to be fine. For me. I called my brother, a doctor, hoping he could better explain the limited information we had. I told my distraught husband that my brother agreed with one opinion that it was probably a meningioma. And that if you're going to have

a brain tumor, that is the brain tumor you want. This was good news for me, because I really wanted to leave him. But nothing would be certain until they operated. She wanted to wait until after Christmas so they scheduled a surgery for late January. It was a stressful period. And as much as I knew that if it were my mom, I'd be a wreck, his constant worry was driving me crazy. I realize that makes me sound cold and uncaring, but on top of the things that were already troubling me about my marriage, I was learning that there were new things too. I was learning that in a crisis, this was not the man I wanted by my side. He actually seemed to thrive on the drama. As genuinely concerned as I know he was, I also got the feeling that he really liked being able to utter the words "my mother's brain tumor." I felt embarrassed and uneasy. I don't think there's any way to tell this story without sounding like a bad person. So I'll just go ahead and say it -- I was a bad person. And a bad wife. I didn't handle it well either. He arranged to fly home for the surgery, telling his boss that he needed to be there for his mom, and I agreed. He needed to be there, but I didn't. I mean, it wasn't my mom. For some reason, he accepted that I wouldn't join him. I was a freelancer for a television network and I often got jobs with very short notice. I think that was my excuse. But really, I just needed a break from him. And I just couldn't imagine being there, acting like part of the family, and consoling someone who I secretly wanted nothing to do with. During the time that he was away, a lot of things became clear to me. I realized that I didn't feel the way that I should about the man I had married. I realized that I didn't want to be a part of his family. I realized that I couldn't imagine forever with this person who I thought I knew so well. And I realized that I was happier without him. I felt guilty. I felt bad about using this time to think about

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 6

ing. “Guys like Doug don’t go for girls like you, Emily.” She said this flippantly, while checking her cuticles. I sat up, slowly. “What do you mean?” She laughed. “You know what I mean. You’re too big.” The rest of the party I spent hiding in a corner, or huddled outside in the cold, staring at the pitifully small bonfire. Even though she’d commented on my weight plenty of times before, it’d always seemed to be a small part of who I was to her. I knew I was fat, but I didn't see myself as defined by that, especially in our group of friends. Not until that night. Reluctant to cause a fight, I convinced myself she was right. None of the single guys at our church had asked me out. I forced myself to use her comment as motivation to lose weight. At the same time Carly and I were spending all of our evenings together, some other big changes were happening in my life. My best friend of over a decade had just come out to me, and his revelation was shaking up a lot of my religious beliefs. I discovered feminism for the first time, and realized I didn't need to hate my body. And, much to my surprise, one of those cute guys from church actually did ask me out. These events pulled me away from Carly. The more I was away from her, the more some of her behavior began to wear thin. Like her insistence that I shower at her place, if I told her I needed to get ready before coming over, because she hated being alone. Or

What is miscarriage? CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

myself and to plan my escape from our marriage. But that's what happened. And had it not been for the tumor, I don't think I would have realized any of this. Or at least, not until much later. In the end, his mom was fine. They removed the tumor and it wasn't cancer. But when I told him that February (less than a month after her surgeries) that I wanted to move out, he said, "So when I was gone, sitting at my mother's bedside, you were out looking for apartments?" Yes, I told him. I never planned it that way. It's not as if I got married knowing that I would eventually want to get divorced, but was just waiting for one of my in-laws to develop a serious medical condition. That would be a terrible plan. I learned that while there's never a good time to ask for a divorce, there can always be a worse time. I didn't want to be the woman who left her husband during a crisis, but it turns out being the woman who left her husband immediately following a crisis doesn't sound much better. But, however it sounds, I'm glad it happened. I'm glad his mom was okay and I'm glad that I realized what I needed to do before I wasted any more of his time, or mine. Courtesy: Huffington Post

'My friend dumped me because I was fat' the way, if I tried to go home because I was tired, she’d beg and plead for me to just sleep over and spend the night with her. And especially how, if I tried to take a night in by myself, she’d get hurt and offended and refuse to text or call me back. It was during the cooling-off period of our friendship, when we still were friendly but no longer spent every weekend together, that she started her blog. It was ostensibly about the connection between health and faith—her business had one of those Christian-y fitness names—but as I read more deeply, it took a turn. She had written a blog calling for repentance in the church. This was not unusual. But the repentance she was talking about was for the “sin” of obesity. I remember reading her words while sitting on my couch, and just staring at them, dumbfounded. She was saying, essentially, that my very existence as an overweight person was sinful. That I needed to step on a scale every morning and pray for forgiveness. I was furious. So I left a comment on her Facebook, outlining every reason why I disagreed with her post. I’m not sure why I expected her to backtrack and apologize, but I did. My parents, who she had met and spent time with, and who were arguably more religious than she (but full disclaimer: also fat) jumped into the fray. Respectfully, they used Bible verses and reasonable logic to

dispute her claims. This made Carly very angry. She said that if we didn't repent we deserved “rebuke.” Immediately, she un-friended me and my family. I was shocked. There was no conversation, no phone call, no text even. Just a click of a button that effectively ended a nearly yearlong friendship. For days after I simmered, waiting for an apology, or even a figurative olive-branch. None came. She had already moved onto a more conservative church at this point, so we never talked again. A few weeks ago, I was having lunch with my now-husband (that cute guy from church), when I saw someone familiar a few tables over. I realized with a lurch in my stomach that it was the mother of the guy Carly had been on-and-off-with for years. Carly sat across from her, smiling and looking happy. I started to sweat and my heart raced in a way that was not normal for me. I switched seats with my husband so that my back would be to their table, but I kept myself braced for her to come over, to say hello. She never did. It wasn't until this nerve-wracking near run-in that I realized my matchstick friendship was actually an emotionally abusive one. One that I’m very glad my “sinful fatness” inadvertently ended. Courtesy: xo.com

Alternatively the following terms are used to describe pregnancies that do not continue: • An empty sac is a condition where the gestational sac develops normally, while the embryonic part of the pregnancy is either absent or stops growing very early. Other terms for this condition are blighted ovum and anembryonic pregnancy. • An inevitable miscarriage describes a condition in which the cervix has already dilated open, but the fetus has yet to be expelled. This usually will progress to a complete abortion. The fetal heart beat may have been shown to have stopped, but this is not part of the criteria. • A complete miscarriage is when all products of conception have been expelled. Products of conception may include the trophoblast,chorionic villi, gestational sac, yolk sac, and fetal pole (embryo); or later in pregnancy the fetus, umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic fluid, and amniotic membrane. • An incomplete miscarriage occurs when some tissue has been passed, but some remains in utero. • A missed miscarriage is when the embryo or fetus has died, but a miscarriage has not yet occurred. It is also referred to as delayed or missed miscarriage. The following two terms consider wider complications or implications of a miscarriage: • A septic miscarriage occurs when the tissue from a missed or incomplete miscarriage becomes infected. The infection of the uterus carries risk of spreading infection (septicaemia) and is a grave risk to the life of the woman. • Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or recurrent miscarriage is the occurrence of three consecutive miscarriages. If the proportion of pregnancies ending in miscarriage is 15% and assuming that miscarriages are independent events, then the probability of two consecutive miscarriages is 2.25% and the probability of three consecutive miscarriages is 0.34%. The occurrence of recurrent pregnancy loss is 1%. Signs and symptoms The most common symptom of a miscarriage is bleeding: bleeding during pregnancy may be referred to as a threatened miscarriage. Of women who seek clinical treatment for bleeding during pregnancy, about half will miscarry. Symptoms other than bleeding are not statistically related. Miscarriage may be detected during an ultrasound exam, or through serial human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) testing. Women pregnant from ART methods, and women with a history of aborting, may be monitored closely and so detection is sooner than women without such monitoring. Psychological Although a woman physically recovers from a miscarriage quickly, in general, psychological recovery for parents may take a long time. People differ greatly in this regard: some are able to move on after a few months, but others take more than a year. Still others may feel relief or other less negative emotions. A questionnaire (GHQ-12 General Health Questionnaire) study following women having aborted showed that half (55%) of them presented with significant psychological distress immediately, 25% at 3 months; 18% at 6 months, and 11% at 1 year after miscarriage. Source: nhs.uk; en.wikipedia.org.

SATURDAY

Travel &Tourism 39

SATURDAY 23 MAY 2015

Travel Personality

CHEF'S CORNER

Neville Paul: Hotel is my passion, I love to serve people’ p.40

Keep a tab on the spare around your belly

Hospitality

Bucker's Palace Hotel: Giving guests their money's worth p.41

Destination

Bauchi's tourism dream in the grip of insurgency p.42

Some tips to help you with taking off weight around your abdominal region. f you are one of those going around with a heavy tummy, sorry, "tummy pack" and not "six packs" and not sure of what to do to deal with what is now generally regarded as "abdominal obesity," then relief may just be on your way. A recent report by the Journal of American Medical Association has shown that 54% of US adults now have abdominal obesity up from 46 percent in 2000. Note this, if a male’s waist line measure more than 40 inches, then it is considered fat. Where is the tape rule? Anyway, if you belong to that class, you are candidly advised to watch what you eat and cut down considerably on the intake of the listed foods that is if

they are part of your food regular intake: Refined Grains: This refers to ingredients found in such foods as white rice, white bread and white pasta. You could possibly avoid these foods and instead go for unrefined grains as contain in such foods as whole wheat and brown rice, which are healthier for you. These, coupled with taking fruits, vegetable, low fat dairy and protein, research findings say lead to weight lost in the abdominal area. Potato Products: Either in the form of potato chips and potatoes should be on your watch list. Red and processed meat: Research findings have shown that people who ate more red and processed meat gained weight. Frosting: Be on the watch for these cupcakes and trans fats in such foods as pre–made baked goods, snacks and frozen pizzas. Always go for unsaturated fats. Diet Soda: Just be careful of some of those zero– calorie labels as they are not what they seemed. Try to avoid diet soda because they have been found to induce abdominal weight gain.

Red meat

cupcakes

TRAVEL BEATS Ethiopian Airlines flies Sao Paulo route Abuja Sheraton claims Hot FM

Social Media Award At the recent 20th anniversary of hot Fm Awards, Abuja Sheraton clinched the Best Social Media Friendly Hotel Award at the colourful event which had celebrities in attendance. The event was held at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel. The award is in recognition of the hotel’s operational and service standards in

… Honoured by NANS for 'building tomorrow’s leaders'

compliance with international social global metrics and its dynamic support of the media in Nigeria. Presented by Senator Chris Anyanwu to the area communications director of Starwood Hotels, Nigeria, Nanji Tyem, the award also honoured the hotel’s commitment to continually supporting and assisting start-up organisations and groups across board. Tyem was given special mention as the hotel’s face and collaborator while the general manager, Boris Bornman in his remarks, reiterated the hotel’s devotion its social corporate responsibilities and delivering of excellent services to the people.

Ethiopian Airlines has commenced flight operations to Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a non-stop flight from its Addis Ababa hub. The tri-weekly flights to Brazil are operated using the ultramodern Boeing 787. With these new operations, time spent by transit passengers has been greatly reduced. According to the chief executive officer of the airline, Tewolde Gebremariam, ‘‘the new nonstop Addis Ababa – Sao Paulo flights will provide efficient connections for customers from almost all of our destinations in the other four continents we serve.’’ Passengers to and from Sao Paulo will enjoy maximum connectivity to destinations in Ethiopian world-

Also, the hotel has been honoured by the National Association of Nigerian Students for its contributions to developing and building leaders of tomorrow for the country. Tagged National Outstanding Leadership Award is in recognition of the hotel’s leading role in progressive support to academic and educational development in Nigeria. The award was presented to the hotel by the representatives of NANS led by the vice president, Comrade Oluwatosin Ogunkuade and the national secretary, Comrade Lawal A’pounds. The hotel’s general manager, Mr. Boris Bornman who received the award, described it as the recognition of the hotel’s ‘"dexterity, sound leadership acumen, professional organisational capabilities and progressive support to academic and Area Manager, Public Relations, Starwood Hotels, Nigeria, Nanji Tyem (2nd left) with Senator Chris Anyanwu (4th left) with other guests at the Hot FM Award ceremony educational development in Nigeria".

wide route network in Africa, Middle East, Asia and Europe. The new non-stop flight will enhance travel on the China – Africa – Brazil trade lane.

Royal Caribbean places order for fourth Quantum–class vessel Royal Caribbean, a leading cruise liner, has disclosed an order for its fourth Quantum–class ship with Meyer Werft in Germany. Its delivery is due for 2019. For the chairman and chief executive officer of the cruise line, Mr. Richard D. Fain, this development underscores ‘‘the success of the first two Quantum-class ships. We have received a remarkable response from travel agent partners and travelers and are thrilled that we’ll be able to deliver another revolutionary ship with our partners at Meyer Werft.’’ While the president and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean International, Mr. Michael Baylay, said, “the fourth Quantum class vessel will be a trailblazer in smart-ship design and vacation innovation,” adding that, “Royal Caribbean International is synonymous with adventure, and the icons and amenities on this ship will continue to challenge and expand guests’ expectations of the cruise experience.”

Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

TRAVEL PERSONALITY

NEVILLE PAUL Hotel is my passion, I love to serve people Neville Paul is a Sri Lankan hospitality expert with experience spanning 36 years in the industry, spent across the Middle East, Asia and now Africa. Presently the general manager of Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Lagos, he speaks with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA on his career, the hospitality industry and his commission at VCP Hotel. Passionate about training If there is one thing that Paul is most passionate about in the industry, it is building a corps of sound professionals through training and mentoring, as he says his mission in Africa is “to educate and train managers and make managers better managers.” “We have to do more training and educate the people to be more hospitable. In hospitality you have to been very, very courteous, that is one thing that everyone should keep in mind. Courtesies and common sense goes a long way in our industry and we need people who are willing to serve with a smile.” Nigeria hospitality industry has a huge potential for growth The VCP Hotel’s general manager is well abreast of the Nigerian hospitality industry, as he observes that the potential of the industry is very huge. “I can see the huge potential of the hospitality industry and the growing economy of the country,” he says. The future, he says, is very bright as many more investors in the coming years would be attracted to the industry. Besides investors, he states that Nigeria would soon witness heavy tourist traffic coming its way. Therefore, the nation needs to shop for adequate accommodation to meet the demand. “We need the people, we

need the hands and the legs to serve this people, which is a big task,” adding that, “that is the only issue which the industry will face.” Nigeria needs a proper hotel training school To close the gap, the Sri Lankan hospitality expert, calls on the government of Nigeria to establish a proper hotel training school to look after the manpower need of the industry. “We always talk about establishing a proper hotel school, it can be from the federal government or state so that it becomes easy to educate the people because the people here speak English and it is very easy to train them. “If we need to produce good front liners then we need them to get the basic knowledge before they come to the hotel industry because in the hotel industry what we can do is to give them training on the job,” he says, insisting that, “we also train them to let them know that when you come into a hotel, it means that you are coming to serve people and those people expect you to be very groomed, very well trained and to serve in a proper manner.” Journeying to Africa Paul who first stepped on African soil in 2010 when he was invited through the African Management Services Company, as an experienced general manager to help revive a struggling ho-

Paul

It is very challenging when you work as a general manager anywhere in the world. Today, general managers are more actively involved and hands-on

BACKGROUND Paul who describes himself as “an outgoing person,” reveals that he was encouraged by his friends and relations to consider a career in the hospitality industry way back. He started out in 1979 as a trainee and later went on to acquire the pre-requisite education, training and skills as well as varied experiences, which in the last 36 years have seen him rise to the top of his career. He has grown to love the industry, he says in an emotion-laden voice: “Hotel is my passion. I love to serve people, I like to be with people, and it is my passion. You are always loyal to the industry and that is why we are still here. You meet people and you serve them and that gives me pleasure and joy.” Perhaps some of the skills that have served him besides his outgoing nature are his managerial, public relations and impresario acumen coupled with the fact that he is

a good sportsman. He is adept in most of the sports and can take on any one, insisting that part of his job is to make people happy, adding that, “in the hotel industry it is a lot of PRO, you meet people, you understand them and take care of them.” He also adds, “It is very challenging when you work as a general manager anywhere in the world. Today, general managers are more actively involved and hands on. I like to be hands on person and I really enjoy it. I am an operational person. One of his greatest desires is touching lives. “I always touch people’s hearts,” adding that, “you must be prepared to serve others because if you are not prepared to serve others you can’t be in hospitality industry. We should be willing with our hearts to serve.”

tel outfit in Accra, Ghana, described the move as a happy one for him. “I was very happy to take up that challenge. They wanted a general manager with a vast experience and also they wanted me to educate the people and build up a nice management team and train the people,” he recalls. He described his short stay in Ghana as a successful one: “I was successful at it. We worked very well together with the management team. I am a very easy and humble person but I am very firm in whatever I do. Discipline is number one for me but with a friendly smile.” For his dedication and achievement in turning around the fortune of the hotel, the hotel was named as one of the best hotels in West Africa in 2012 while he won for himself the accolade of one of the top hotel chief executive officers in the region. Nigeria, here I am! It is the same dedication, passion and winning mentality, he says he brought to Nigeria. “It is the same thing that I carried into Nigeria,” he adds. Speaking on his first job in Nigeria, he says he was poached by the owner of Grand Hotel and Conference Centre, Asaba, Delta State, to transform the hotel, which was at the time at its very low ebb. The “Mr. Fix it” that he has become, Paul reveres in his success at the task of fixing the hotel. “Thank God that I was able to a great extent to bring back the Grand Hotel and put in a proper management structure. A commitment to uplift VCP Hotel Early this year, the Sri Lankan got a new commission as the general manager of Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island, Lagos. It

is a luxury hotel of 49 well-appointed and furnished rooms/ suites with all the glam and sophistication that come with it and array of classic amenities and services complementing it. He is happy with his new commission, which he sees as a challenging one, but his sight is set on the goal: “It’s challenging and the competition is there with big branded hotels all over the place but VCP Hotel definitely is going to be a different hotel. That is the niche we want to create here.” If there is one thing that he wants to achieve here, it is to infuse his dream and enthusiasm as well as skill as an experienced and hands on administrator to the team he is putting together here, as he notes that the education and training of the team are paramount. For the hotel’s patrons, he promises them an excellent and personalised services and assures the investors, a return on investment. That way, he believes, everyone will be happy. “I believe in personalised service and I want to make this a big hotel because we are all one family. We should be able to give the best of services and improve on our revenue.” Build proper hotels While reiterating that there is huge potential in the Nigerian hospitality industry, he however emphasised on the need for people to build purpose-built hotels. “I will always suggest that people should build proper hotels, good hotels so that people will pay the price. There are people who are willing to pay good price and that is why we upgraded our facilities. “There is a need for luxury hotel in this part of the world and that is why we want to improve more and we are marketing already,” Paul says.

Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

HOSPITALITY

Bucker's Palace Hotel: Giving guests their money's worth Hotel's facade

JOHN EDU who was at Bucker's’Palace Hotel writes that the Lagos– based hotel is actually living up to its promise to offer excellent service at a rate guests won't find prohibitive.

agos hospitality scene has continued to witness the emergence of new hotels with Bucker's Palace Hotel, situated on United Estate Sangotedo area of Ajah, as one of the latest additions. Opened on January 31, it parades new and sophisticated facilities, offering luxury and numerous hospitality and leisure services to the people. Since opening for business it has become a toast of the neighbourhood, scoring an instant success with its various leisure offerings, ranging from leisure treats to the best of dining. According to the chairman and chief executive officer of the hotel, Chief Wilson U. Nnaji, a lawyer and also a Rotarian, the new outfit is devoted to the public good. ‘‘It’s a hospitality company where we make people comfortable and ensure that they enjoy their money after a busy day of work," he said. Putting up such a beautiful edifice with its numerous attractive facilities and services, according to Nnaji, is a function of his exposure to international facilities. So, having experienced some of the world’s leading hospitality homes, he decided to replicate same in his immediate environment. ‘‘What I see in foreign countries caught my attention and I so much wished that I could come up with something of that nature here in my country and at an affordable rate for the different classes of people." On the choice of location, he said: ‘‘we actually choose an estate because of the quiet atmosphere and it's a residential area. We want our clients to have a feel of the relaxed and secured environment because most people after the stress of the day, will probably need a cool and secured place to relax and ease their stress. These are some of the things we put into consideration while choosing the location." Nnaji explained that the hotel hopes to expand into a bigger outfit and become a reference point in the hospitality sector in the years ahead. ‘‘ we offer credible service to our customers patronising us because they are our marketers in one way or the other after having a feel of the excellent services that we offer they will in turn spread the good news to others and from there we

get more patronage. Already from the turn out so far it is likely that in the next three to four years this place wouldn't be conducive for this business again,’’ he said. The hotel's target market include high, middle and lower classes as the idea is to offer a prime product that caters to every guests' taste. While acknowledging that competition in the business is stiff, he noted, however, that they are on top of the game. Their secret is to offer quality and personalised services, he added.. Facilities The hotel has 30 rooms, all furnished with impressive and alluring décor and facilities for the comfort and satisfaction of the guest. The classes of rooms here include Standard, Executive standard, Deluxe and Super Deluxe. Just so that the guest get the best of the hospitality world, especially in the area of leisure, the hotel has a number of well apportioned, fitted and stocked bars at the various sections of the hotel for guests. This include the VIP Lounge, which is very attractive and colourful and this is where many of the high end guests resort to for relaxation and private treats. The restaurant offers diners African and continental dishes while the scenery is a cosy and serene one. There is also a fully fitted and equipped gymnasium for guest to explore and keep fit. Conferences and social activities are also prime features with its event hall well suited to play host to a number of activities. "As a neighbourhood facility, many of the neighours are quite happy about this as they don’t really have to go further afield seeking a conducive facility for their business and social engagements. We also have event hall very close to us that will be open next month where people can lodge during and after events," he said. At present, there is plan to introduce jazz night this month and it would see some of the established names in the genre entertaining the hotel’s guests with their classy acts. Theme nights would also be a popular affair here with Spanish and French nights on the bill.

Hotel's facade

One of the bedrooms. Inset: Nnaji

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

ABA

FESTAC, LAGOS

LAGOS

REE DANIELS HOTEL AND SUITES

ABA

Panda Hotel Suites & Lounge

42 Travel & Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

An aerial view of Bauchi State Photo: Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)

DESTINATION

State's profile auchi State was created in 1976 from the former North Eastern State with some areas later carved out from it in 1996 to form part of the present day Gombe State. With Bauchi as its capital, the state bordered to the north by Kano and Jigawa states, Yobe and Gombe states to the east, Kaduna State to the west and Plateau and Taraba states to the south, has a landmass of about 45,837 square kilometres. The state in the North-East geoâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;political zone prides itself as "The Pearl of Tourism," and also boasts a rich history and culture. It enjoys a beautiful landscape from plain ranges, mountains, undulating hills to rocky regions of picturesque sceneries and breathtaking sights. So the moniker, "Pearl of Tourism", seems a fitting tribute to the many attractions in Bauchi. But a good number of these sights are in unflattering state even though they continue to hold a special appeal for visitors. It is one state that lovers of nature would easily connect with it especially those seeking for a calm and serene enclave to explore the bliss of nature. Besides Bauchi, there are a few other towns with interesting sights. These include Azare, Alkaleri, Ningi, Toro and Dass. Development varies from one place to the other and you are not likely to see the most modern, sophisticated and iconic architectural masterpieces; but visitors would surely find the rural and sometime pastoral life of the people a somewhat thrilling experience. The introduction of Sharia over the years did not exactly kill the desire for leisure and entertainment as a number of leisure spots and hospitality homes still dot street corners across the cities and towns. The culture of cinema was maintained while the most appealing of their cultural and religious fiesta, the Durbar, remained an event to which residents and visitors always looked forward. It was a colourful and celebrated event held at regular intervals every year. Night life and the various entertainment packages that come with it were the subdued type and not the riotous and boisterous affair that it is in some other parts of the country. But it was all

Bauchi's tourism dream in the grip of insurgency Once the face of the most appealing destination that the country has to offer tourists, Bauchi State seldom attracts anyone these days, no thanks to the rise of insurgency in Nigeria's North-East, writes ALHASSAN the same an enjoyable outing for visitors and the regulars who combed the various huts to satiate their cravings. But with the advent of insurgency and the attendant blooding-letting in places like Bauchi, the state capital and Azare, which climaxed in 2014 with bombings at Bauchi bus terminal and other public places, tourism, nightlife, leisure and entertainment took flight in Bauchi, Azare and other notable towns in the state. Frightened, the people kept indoors with many unwilling to venture out to public places or attend public events. With the heightened fear, business and economic activities plummeted as many people were forced to abandon their businesses and sources of livelihood as a result of lack of patronage. Tourism operators and leisure homes as well as entertainment spots have been counting their losses. In fact, many have long closed shops. Bauchi city The capital of the state is perhaps the poster city of the state in every respect as it is the most developed, serene and teems with social activities. It has its own allure and charm for both residents and visitors and when it comes to tourism and leisure activities it has its own

fair share of spots and events for the people to explore to their fill. But with the downturn in activities life in the city, especially night life, is a subdued one. For the record, the city is home to a number of high end, middle range and budget hotels and leisure homes more than anywhere else across the state. The list include Protea Hotel, Bauchi VIP Suites on Yakubu Bauchi Road, Zaranda Hotel on Jos Road, Awalah Hotel on Maiduguri Road, Horizontal Hotel on Yandoka Road and State Hotels on Tafawa Balewa Road as well as Plaza Hotel on Murtala Muhammed. Between them, these hotels are the hub for social activities, seminars, workshops, training sessions and many activities by the government and people. But in recent time, their visibility has greatly decreased and they have become less attractive locations to visit due to the insecurity in the city. This was evident after a few hours spent at Zaranda Hotel. The reception was devoid of its usual bustle. It was the same with the number of people coming to make enquiries about the restaurant's location - scanty. Also, there was no event of any kind taking place at the meeting rooms or banquet hall. The hotel's general manager de-

clined to speak on the grim situation, claiming that he is not authorised to speak. But Saturday Telegraph learnt that the occupancy rate has nosedived and that it's a struggle to sustain operations. Cancellation of bookings are also said to be a regular feature, a situation which the source attributed to the increasing activities of insurgents. The situation was not different from Awalah Hotel, a popular hotel though not as big as Zaranda. Patronage here has also dropped significantly. According to the reception manager, who identified himself simply as Mr. Ango, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;business is stagnant at the hotel". He added that the poor patronage is affecting operations and continued existence of the hotel, owing to the difficulty in maintaining the facilities and meeting it overhead. But he noted that things might have been better if the state government had paid its N50m debt owed the hotel. Local and traditional eateries and leisure spots within the city have also not been spared low patronage by the people. Unity Park, which used to be a bee hive has also witnessed a downturn in its fortunes while vendors of foods, drinks and other items as well as children and youths that regularly come around to entertain visitors at the park have also cut down on their visit to the spot. The stadium, a few metres from the park, which usually witnessed heavy activities from sporting events to social gatherings is almost a deserted ground most times of the day. The Polo field is not an exception. But although polo events and activities have not completely stopped, the tempo and rhythm of these events cannot be said to be what they were in years back when the ground is always besieged by a huge crowd of sport enthusiasts whenever there are activities. This grim state of affair is what you see also in spots such as Kobi night club, Yankari Unity Park, Shadawanka Mummy Market, Bauchi Club and Zaranda Recreation Centre. A number of food vendors and operators of small and medium businesses in the city are also not happy with the state of affairs as some of them narrated their experiences to the reporter. Mr. Reu Leu, a Chinese businessman who owns and runs a bakery factory in the city, named Oases Bakery, located along the state police command headquarters,

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Zaranda Hotel

said the state of insecurity has completely rendered him bankrupt. According to him, patronage has over the months completely fallen and below expectation. His bakery, which has been in business over seven years has in the last three years suffered huge losses arising from dwindling sales. Suya, a local barbecue, is a popular staple in the city just like in any other cities and towns across the country. But Mallam Idriss Abdullahi whose stand is at Bauchi Club where he sells his ware said he has been in the business over the years, noting that the past two months have been unprecedented in terms of low sale. He attributed this poor state of affairs to the insecurity in the state while calling for prayers for the restoration of peace and security in the city. On her part, Miss Naomi Tije, a restaurateur, complained that her business which she opened recently is also suffering low sales, a development she attributed to residents' reluctance to spend time outdoors. It's a similar tale from Mallam Abdulkadir Sa'idu who sells grocery in one of the city’s neighbourhoods. However, he added that besides insecurity, the poor sales figures stems from the fact that workers in the state are owed

Isa Yuguda...Bauchi State governor

Travel & Tourism 43

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Mausoleum

salaries by the state government. Yankari Park Yankari Park, which is located in Duguri and Alkeri districts of the state, has a rich history and is vastly endowed with diverse fauna and flora with some of them endemic to it while some are almost extinct. Over the years, it has undergone a lot of transformation from a former game reserve to national park. It was one of the country’s eight national parks until the Bauchi State government during the administration of former governor, Adamu Mu’azu, fought for the takeover of the park by the state government and so its status was reverted. However, the status has again changed as the state government gave up its right and handed it over to the federal government few years ago. But, sadly, this change has not reflected positively on the fortunes of the park. However, it is historically on record that

the park, which spans over 2,244 square kilometres over the years has been the most patronised of all the country’s parks and games reserve. This is attributed to its rich nature and appealing environment. Besides the locals, it is very popular among foreign visitors. But just like other attractions in the state, Bauchi’s prime attraction appears not to have been spared the lull in patronage as discovered from a recent visit to the park and interviews with some of the management officials. It was a lonely drive to the park but all the same an enjoyable and delightsome one, feeding on the natural attractions of the park. Life here is sedate with activities on the low ebb as the park is obviously passing through one of its worse moments in its rich history. But for the few staff either milling around or having some discussion, the picture that comes across is that of desertion. Even the animals seemed to be aware of this sad tale as they have also taken leave of the environment moving into the inner recesses of their natural abode for solace. The baboons and monkeys, which usually come running around and climbing every available height when visitors arrive were not in sight on this day. The public relations

Entrance to Yankari Game Reserve. Inset: Wikki warm spring; elephants on parade in the reserve

officer, Mr. Caleb Yarima, said the park has experienced a dip in patronage. The park is said to be endowed with both tangible and intangible cultural materials as well as historical. There are arts and craft, as well as game-viewing and safari. This include the Dukkey wells, numbering about 11 with interlinking holes from inside, measuring 10 to 15 feet; Marshal caves, reputed to be the former abode of the locals which served also as a defensive hideout during wars. It is about 59 dwelling caves dug into sandstone escarpments, which were discovered by P.J. Marshall in 1980. Tsohongori is another interesting section of the park to visit. It is an old town of the Dass people of Bauchi. Some other attractions include the palace of the emir, the treasury house, the Dass sacred rock and Jakiri rock. There is also the Takwalkwal rock, which was once a safe haven for the people. Apart from the camping ground, other facilities in the park include chalets of different categories, a restaurant, conference hall, indoor and outdoor sport facilities such as table tennis, squash and badminton courts. Wikki Warm Spring: This is another attraction in the park which has a constant temperature of 31.1 degrees Celsius all year round. The spring water gushes from underneath a limestone escapement surrounded by vegetation that boosts the ecology of the warm spring.

TV & Radio with Angela Davies

Getting prepped Before 30

he television drama series Before 30 centres on the lives of four women living in Lagos and the pressures and challenges they face in their personal relationships to be married before they turn 30-year-old. The series aims to shed some light on the daily struggles the average single Nigerian woman faces in her quest to become a wife. Each character covers various social, physical, economic, religious and cultural aspects of the Nigerian woman, thereby creating a cast that everyone can relate to in some way. The stories of these four beautiful women are told through the eyes of the lead character, Temi Coker played by Damilola Adegbite-Attoh using voiceover. She follows the lives of her three friends Nkem, Aisha and Ama in their everyday personal relationship experiences. In the last episode, Temi Coker looked at the "biggest mistakes" people make. According to her, some mistakes can be small and fixed immediately, enormous and have no quick solution, some mistakes are obvious and realised right away while other times it is realised too late. However, the question is for those who realise their mistakes: Did they do anything in their power to stop or even correct it? Starting with herself, Temi narrated how her high school sweetheart and ex-boyfriend, Ayo, asked her to attend a wedding with him. After discussing with her friends, she agreed to attend the wedding with Ayo because Akin her boyfriend will be out of town that weekend. Ayo tried to steal a kiss after dropping her off at home, but she stopped him. A few days later, she invited him over to lunch to tell him that going to that wedding with him was a mistake but before she could utter a word, Akin walked-in on them and without saying a word, angrily walked away. Although she ran after him to explain the situation and professed her undying love for him, with teary eyes, he told her that he cannot forgive her. Temi’s meddlesome mother tried to intervene but Akin told Temi that she cannot use her mother to blackmail him. Aisha also told the girls about the grave mistake she made while on holiday with her husband, Sheriff, in Brazil. As a result her marriage is on the brink of collapse as her husband openly checked out other women in front of her and declared his attraction to specific women. Not just that, he also asked her if such a woman could be their partner in bed. Nkem too was heartbroken because her boyfriend, Emeka, ended their relationship via a text message without any explanation. To help her friend get answers from Emeka, Temi decided to visit him without telling Nkem. After much persuasion, Emeka opened up that his cousin who lives abroad with his family saw himself and Nkem’s pictures on Facebook and told him that he had had a one-night stand with her four years ago. He claimed he could have forgiven her if she had gotten involved with a friend but not a family member. The four women are exceptional in their own ways. For instance, Temi Coker (Damilola Adegbite-Attoh) is a

SATURDAY, 23 MAY, 2015

This weekend TELEVISION

Channels

MITV

6:30 MDGs Track 7:00 Capital Market 7:30 Dateline Abuja 8:00 News Track 8:30 The Gavel 9:00 Entertainment News 9:30 Art House 10:00 News at 10 Sunday 8:00 Entertainment News 8:30 Turning Point 9:00 News Track 9:30 Metro File 10:00 News Track 10:30 Health Matters 11:30 Question Time 12:00 News Track 12:15 Channels Sports Sunday 1:30 Special Report 2:00 Sports Ville 2:30 Inside Out with Agatha 3:00 Rubbin’ Minds 4:30 Community Report 5:00 Moment of the Truth 6:00 News Track 6:10 Seriously Speaking 7:30 Walk The Talk 8:00 Politics Today 9:00 Channels Discovery 9:30 Law Weekly 10:00 News at 10

12:30 Dabira Leto 1:00 Nollywood English 3:00 Let The Nations Hear 4:30 Covenant Discovery ½ hour 5:00 Movie 5:30 People and Places 6:00 Tax Talk 6:30 Hour of Salvation 7:00 MITV Kitchen 7:30 Awotunwo 9:30 Jogunomi 10:30 Atmosphere For Faith

Saturday 8:00 News Track 8:30 One Cubed Naija 9:00 Sunrise Saturday 12:00 Metro File 12:30 Health Matters 1:30 Eyewitness Report 2:00 News Track 2:30 Views From The Top 3:30 Road Map 2015 4:00 News Round 4:30 Akwa Ibom State 5:30 Dawn In The Creeks

L-R: Beverly Naya, Damilola Adegbite, Anee Icha and Meg Otanwa

27-year-old lawyer with a complicated relationship. She is the only child of the Coker Family. She tries daily to balance her own desire to find love with the pressure to just be married. But with a hopeless romantic and meddlesome mother, this battle becomes harder to win every day. Nkem (Beverly Naya) is a single 27-year-old sexy business consultant who believes men are simply play things. The way she walks, her eyes and the way she speaks all form part of what makes her irresistible to men. Aisha (Meg Otanwa) is a 28-year-old Muslim housewife who is married to a billionaire. Though she is still adjusting to the ups and downs of marriage herself, she understands her friends’ desire to be married.

Ama (Anee Icha) is a single 25-yearold sweet and cheerful banker. She always wants to do the right thing. She is spiritual and is not afraid to share her faith with anyone. She is the youngest of the four women. Before 30 also features stars like O. C. Ukeje, Karibi Fubara, Patrick Diabuah, Gideon Okeke, Tina Mba and others. This exhilarating and gripping drama series has lessons to be learnt with every episode. It airs on different television channels. However you can watch it on ONTV every Sunday at 7:05 pm to know the personal and relationship experiences these ladies go through every week, how they show concern and love for one another, handle different situations and what they discuss when they have conference calls or hang out.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE Inspiration fm's Ego

go Abili is best known as the love messenger on radio. She joined the Inspiration family in January 2012 as the winner of the stations radio superstar competition. With no formal training, but sheer determination and passion propelled her to make her mark in the broadcasting world. Ego had a brief stint with Rhythm 93.7 FM La-

gos between 2003 and 2004. She brings her very special charm to the airwaves as she helps her listeners forget all their troubles. She ensures that they get lost in the mood and ambience she deliberately creates for the night time with her very special and unique love messenger touch. She is an avid music lover with a good ear for music.

Programme summary Pavitra Rishta (ONTV)

Mon-Sun @ 1:30 pm It is an intriguing Indian soap opera that tells the story about the strong and emotional bond that every daughter shares with her mother.

Disclosure (ONTV)

Monday @ 7:30 pm It’s a series of dramatic stories focusing on trendy relationship and debatable life’s issues with a happy ending and often with a strong moral message.

Cruise Control (Inspiration FM ) Saturday @ 10:30 am It is a show designed for every car owner where professionals offer solutions to challenges and create an interface with listeners to improve quality of service.

Saturday 8:00 Yoruba Nollywood 10:00 Salvation ½ Hour 10:30 Sports World 11:30 Blissful Saturday 12:00 Mid-day News 12:20 The Champions 12:30 Monster Muziq 1:00 My name is Earl 2:00 New Testament Voice 2:30 ABC 3:00 Train To Win 3:30 Education Zone 4:30 The Tinu Show 5:00 FAB 5:30 Arrested Development 6:10 Nollywood English 7:30 Monster Hit Banger 8:00 Sparkle 8:30 Awotunwo 9:00 Wetin Dey 9:30 World News 10:00 EL Clon 10:30 Wrestling Sunday 7:00 What The Bible Says 8:00 Peoples Palava 8:30 ABC 9:00 Ashiri Ihinrere 10:00 Woleola 10:30 EL Clone 11:20 The Storm

RADIO

Radio Continental 102.3 FM Saturday 9:00 Who's Getting Married 10:00 Saturday Sports 11:55 Healthy Living? 1:00 Fan Zone 4:00 Me & You 5:00 World News 5:15 Salsa Plus 7:30 Afrobeat Tonight 9:00 Single Life 10:30 Old School Groove

Sunday 7:30 Press Report 10:30 Think you know the Bible 11:00 Country Music 12:00 World News 1:00 Chart Busters 2:30 Palaver 5:00 World News 6:00 Youth Connect 7:00 Woman's Own 8:00 Sunday Evening Groove

Ray Power 100.5 FM Saturday 7:30 Newspaper Headline 9:00 Mega Sports 9:30 Breakfast Show 10:00 World News 10:30 Family Affairs 10:55 Presenter’s D’Lite 12.00 UK TOP 40 2.00 Saturday Jamz 6:00 Nigeria Today 9:00 Kennis Music

Sunday 7:30 Newspaper Headline 9:00 Ward Rounds 10:00 World News 12:00 Ray Power Cruise 1:00 Afemai Nekhai 2:00 News in Retro 6.00 Nig. Today 6.15 Sports Tonic 7:05 Watch & Pray 10:00 Tonite@10

SATURDAY, 23 MAY, 2015

SATURDAY

Politics COVER 45

Cover Xtra

Spectre of empty treasury: How incoming governors will tackle problem p.49

Face-Off

Is the police doing enough to arrest kidnapping in Ekiti? p.53

Perspectives

Senate Presidency, Speakership: The conversation continues (2) p.54

The rise and fall of

Mu'azu

Before the 2015 general elections, the profile of Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu'azu, then National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was very high. But he left the party with his head bowed, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

e came, he saw but he was unable to conquer. That was the story of Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu'azu, now former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Unlike his predecessor, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, the former Bauchi State governor was a cult hero among stakeholders of the party when he assumed office as PDP National Chairman. He was seen as the one who brought life to the party after the dark and inglorious era of Tukur administration. This gave rise to the sobriquet "the game changer" affixed after his name.

Former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, told some PDP members in London shortly after Mu'azu became the National Chairman that Mu'azu was the one who understood the game of politics. "Our great party, PDP, is waxing stronger through the able and dynamic leadership of the party. The national chairman has brought unity into the party through genuine reconciliation and harmonisation. “He has continued to use his practical experience in politics to increase the membership of the party through justice, fairness and equity. All these are evidenced by the

fortunes the party has made in recent times,” Kalu noted. Such accolades were lavishly showered on Mu'azu by party members who saw his coming as a turning point in the history of PDP. President Goodluck Jonathan while presenting him to the National Executive Council (NEC) members on January 17, 2014 explained that Mu'azu emerged the choice candidate among other aspirants because he was a bridge builder and has the ability CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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23 MAY 2015

From 'game changer' to the unwanted one C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

to reach out and make friends with aggrieved members. "People came to me, some did not mention names but came with suggestions, and I agreed with them in terms of what we need now: somebody who can build the party, make friends and reach out. "All those who showed interest are eminently qualified but one quality that stood Mu’azu out is because from comments about him and his unique attributes as a peace maker who has many friends from the North to the South, from the East to the West. "He has some unique attributes as a person who has many friends all over Nigeria; he is not known to be a tribalist or being a slave to his tribe. He is someone who will never allow his religion to influence his thoughts. “You are the best that will handle PDP for now, you are someone that will build bridges and not just be fighting. He is someone who can reduce tension in the states,” Jonathan added. Mu'azu assumed PDP leadership at a time the party was almost a sinking ship. In one fell swoop, five serving governors elected on the platform of the party left for the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC). Also for the first time, since 1999, PDP majority in the National Assembly was threatened, when 37 members of the House of Representatives publicly joined APC. Some senators were also on the verge of abandoning the party save for the mature handling of the matter by the President of the Senate, David Mark. The outgoing governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, who was among the governors who threatened to leave the party said the PDP under Tukur’s leadership was divisive and vindictive. "If governors and National Assembly members were leaving and you said you were not worried, then you should know that something is wrong with you. “Many of our members were unjustly insulted, humiliated and abandoned by the immediate past leadership of the party. The G-7 Governors were made to feel unwanted, pained and traumatised. “I hold nothing against Alhaji Tukur because I respect him as my elder. But one cannot be happy seeing party members being suspended and chased away by the leadership," Lamido told Mu'azu when he paid a solidarity visit to him shortly after he became the national chairman. Mu'azu saw his new assignment as a challenge, and he promised not to let the members down. He observed that the party has been in the news for negative reasons in recent times, and said he would strive to redeem its image by transforming it. He urged party leaders to open their doors to all those who want to join or return to the party. "In the coming weeks and months we shall engage in sweeping reforms, we cannot continue to operate as if we are in the 19th century,” Mu'azu boasted. He promised not to tamper with any of the state structures of the party but pleaded with the state chairmen to allow everyone to register. “Those without work should stay off PDP secretariat. Those who want to gossip should be able to say whatever they tell me in the presence of the person they are gossiping about. I’m not here to listen to gossip," he cautioned. Mu’azu also promised that the party would not condone questionable primary elections. These promises helped to reverse the misfortunes of the party: some defected party members in the House of

Representatives returned. Those planning to defect had a re-think and stayed back. The National Chairman had promised to teach APC how to poach, and indeed, he did. Some prominent members of the party, among them former governors of Kano, Borno and Sokoto states, Ibrahim Shekarau, Ali ModuSheriff and Attahiru Bafarawa, joined PDP. And steadily, PDP continued to win more members from APC, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party. His promise to conduct fair and transparent party primaries manifested in Ekiti State in the run up to the governorship election in the state. Former governor of the state, Ayo Fayose, against all odds, emerged PDP candidate after a competitive primary election. Fayose went ahead to win resoundingly in the June 2014 governorship election. Mu'azu was praised for insisting that PDP candidates in every election must emerge through a transparent and competitive primary. But that was the far he could go. The governorship primary in Osun State some months after was less than transparent. PDP lost the election. The worse was the primaries that produced PDP candidates for the 2015 general elections. Former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, described the primaries as "bazaar". "List of delegates was changed several times to suit the whims of aspirants who claimed to have the ears of the national chairman. Aspirants were milked by party officials at all levels.... The result of that was witnessed during the presidential and governorship elections in the form of the apparent apathy of former aspirants and their supporters. The refrain was, 'it serves them right'," he added. Ohakim said Mu'azu paid deaf ears to complaints and petitions from ag-

There is no party chairman of the PDP since 1998 that has led the party to such a disastrous outing

grieved aspirants. "Malam Adamu Mu’azu never addressed any of the issues that were causing discomfiture in the state chapters; but resorted to a style that saw him pick and choose friends from among party leaders and chieftains across the country. "None of the petitions written to the NWC on the governorship and National Assembly primaries in the states were treated," he stated. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State blamed "characters that surrounded" President Jonathan at presidency for PDP loss. These people, he said, had a field day with the death of former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi and the health complications suffered by late Oronto Douglas who was the special adviser to the President on Research and Documentation. Olisa Metuh, PDP National Publicity Secretary, equally claimed that the NWC members were not carried along during the electioneering and therefore should not be held accountable for the loss. According to him, "Our advice and suggestions were ignored. We cannot be held responsible for the failure.

"In a situation where the NWC had been preoccupied with the success of our gubernatorial candidates and House of Assembly candidates and we spent more than 90 per cent of our monies on them, how can you say that this NWC is not concerned about the success of our candidates?” He, however, attributed the inability of the party`s northern leaders to garner support for their candidates in the region to the hate campaigns embarked upon by some of its officials prior to the elections. “While we are not holding any excuse for them, we cannot be held accountable for issues that were generated that worked against our candidates in the North. All Nigerians know what happened,” he said. But the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, accused some NWC members of sabotaging the re-election of President Jonathan. Mu'azu made some other faulty steps. He had promised to open the door to willing returning PDP members. But he failed to prevail on state governors to register former party members willing to come back. In Enugu State, Governor Sullivan Chime, blocked the way for his predecessor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, to rejoin PDP, the same way his counterpart in Abia State prevented his godfather, Dr.Kalu from reregistering. In Osun State, former National Secretary, Olagunsoye Onyilola practically begged Mu'azu's PDP not to allow him leave the party. But the party paid deaf ears to his plea. Onyilola was part of the factors that helped PDP lose Osun governorship last year. The defeat of PDP in the general election was predicted. Most aspirants who contested the primaries under PDP but were disenchanted left the party to contest on the platform of APC. They decried the style of leadership of Mu'azu-led National working Committee (NWC). When eventually the elections were conducted, PDP lost woefully. The party lost the presidency for the first time since 1999; it also lost majority in the National Assembly and control of most of the states. PDP which was in control of 24 states after the 2011 general elections is now in control of only 13 states. Former Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, said: “There is no party chairman of the PDP since 1998 that has led the party to such a disastrous outing." The call for Mu'azu's resignation was overwhelming. Fayose said the National Chairman worked against the party. Chieftains of the party from the South-South and South-East said the NWC and NEC members, especially those from the North, covertly played roles that contributed to Jonathan’s loss. Mu’azu, however, denied the allegation, saying it was an “allegation made long ago without any substance.” He blamed the loss in most states on outgoing governors whom he said arm-twisted the NWC to field candidates of their choice. "Except the Ebonyi State governor, all the outgoing governors got the candidates they wanted. The candidates they were pushing turned out to be unpopular. That was why the party lost in most of the states," this was how one of Mu'azu's aides defended.This was a proof that Mu'azu was never in control of state of affairs in PDP. For Mu’azu, he has left like those before him. From being a "game change" he was practically hounded out of the party as various stakeholders that applauded his administrative competence mounted pressures on him to quit as the party helmsman.

Cover

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

he exit of Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu on Wednesday, as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) proved that the proverbial peels at the National Secretariat of the party that led to the fall of past National Chairmen have not been cleared. Since formation in 1998, no occupant of the office of PDP National Chairman except late Chief Solomon Lar, had a crisisfree tenure. Mu'azu was the 10th National Chairman of the PDP. He was also fifth to be forced to resign midway before a national convention that supposed to end the tenure of a national chairman and give birth to a new one. Two of these chairmen –Dr. Mohammed Bello Haliru and AlhajiAbubakar KawuBaraje – were, however, on acting capacity. Solomon Lar The former governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar served as PDP National Chairman between 1998 and 1999. He succeeded former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who resigned as interim chairman to seek the presidential ticket of the party for the 1999 presidential election. Lar's tenure was, however, crisis-free. He superintended over the conduct of the presidential election and led the party to victory in the 1999 governorship and presidential elections. His tenure lasted less than a year. It was, however, said that his attempt to contest the chairmanship during the December 1999 national convention was thwarted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who already had a preferred candidate. Lar conducted the convention and handed over to Barnabas Gemade. Barnabas Gemade Now a senator of the Federal Republic, Gemade emerged PDP National Chairman in 1999 following a national convention that even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said was less than transparent. Gemade weathered a lot of storms during his tenure as National Chairman. He escaped removal at the party's mid-term convention by whiskers in 2001. He only succeeded in getting the delegates to adopt an amendment of the PDP constitution for a four-year term for National Working Committee (NWC) members, which his NWC was not a beneficiary. Audu Ogbe To ensure that Gemade did not seek re-election, Obasanjo went to his home state, Benue, to shop for his replacement. Audu Ogbe was his choice. Ogbe, former Minister of Communication in the Second Republic became PDP National Chairman in 2001. He was supposed to be one of the first beneficiaries of the approved four-year term for elected party executive members, but his tenure was dogged with controversies. The National Chairman had several brushes with President Obasanjo. The height of this was the Anambra saga when an attempt was made at kidnapping a

From Lar to Mu’azu: The unwanted chairmen Once again, the proverbial banana peel at the Wadata Plaza, the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has claimed another victim. ONYEKACHI EZE takes a look at circumstances that led to the fall of PDP national chairmen. Few days after writing this letter, Ogbe was invited to a launch with the president at Aso Rock. He had barely finished his meal when he was asked to sign his resignation letter as PDP national chairman, thus becoming the first to be shown the exit door.

Lar

sitting governor, Chris Ngige, with tacit support of the president. Ogbe, in a letter dated December 6, 2004, drew the president's attention to all the atrocities perpetrated in Anambra State under the watchful eyes of security agencies. He called for his intervention "and bring any, and all criminal, even treasonable, activity to a halt." Ogbe further told Obasanjo, "We were singly and severally accused of connivance in action and so forth. Public anger reached its peak."

Ahmadu Alli Alli, a retired Army Colonel and former Federal Commissioner of Education under Obasanjo's military government was appointed to serve out Ogbe's tenure. Though, Alli's tenure was not immune to controversies, Obasanjo was not interested in his removal. Instead, he supported him to seek election after he finished serving out Ogbe's tenure. He was elected National Chairman for four years in 2005 but served till March 2008 following the re-zoning of party's offices. Vincent Ogbulafor Prince Ogbulafor became PDP National Chairman in March 2008 following the zoning of the party's Number 1 office to South-East. Senator Alli had to quit with the election of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua as president.

Ogbulafor

Ogbulafor had smooth reign until Yar'Adua's death in 2010. He ran into trouble waters when he insisted that the party's zoning principle has to be respected. Ogbulafor's tenure as Special Adviser on Economic Matters during Obasanjo's first tenure was called to question. He was taken to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Ogbulafor was forced to resign as PDP National Chairman in 2011.

OGBEH'S LETTER [December 6, 2004 - Hope For Nigeria Library] His Excellency, The President, Commander-In-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja RE: ANAMBRA AND RELATED MATTERS About a month ago, the nation woke up to the shocking news of a devastating attack on Anambra State resulting in the burning down of radio and television stations, hotels, vehicles, assembly quarters, the residence of the state Chief Judge and finally, Government House, Awka. Dynamite was even applied in the exercise and all or nearly most of these in the full glare of our own police force as shown on NTA for the world to see. The operation lasted three days. That week, in all churches and mosques, we, our party, and you as Head of Government and Leader of this Nation came under the most scathing and blithering attacks. We were singly and severally accused of connivance in action and so forth. Public anger reached its peak. Recommendation: You set up a reconciliation committee headed by Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, and we all thought this would help calm nerves and perhaps bring about some respite. But quite clearly things are nowhere near getting better. While the reconciliation team attempted to inspect damaged sites in Anambra, they were scared away by gun fire, further heightening public anger and disdain for us.

Ogbeh

Bomb Explosion in Government House, Awka: On Tuesday, the 30th day of November, 2004, another shocking development; a reported bomb explosion in Government House Awka. Since then, the media, public discourse within and even outside of our borders, have been dominated by the most heinous and hateful of expletives against our party and your person and government. It would appear that the perpetrators of these acts are determined to stop at nothing since there has not been any visible sign of reproach from law enforcement agencies. I am now convinced that the rumours and speculations making the rounds that they are determined to kill Dr. Chris Ngige may not be unfounded. The question now is, what would be the consequences of such a development? How do we exonerate ourselves from culpability, and worse still, how do we even hope to survive it? Mr. President, I was part of the second republic and we fell. Memories of that fall are a miserable litany

of woes we suffered, escaping death only by God's supreme mercy. Then we were suspected to have stolen all of Nigeria's wealth. After several months in prison, some of us were freed to come back to life penniless and wretched. Many have gone to their early graves un-mourned because the public saw us all as renegades. I am afraid we are drifting in the same direction again. In life, perception is reality and today, we are perceived in the worst light by an angry, scornful Nigerian Public for reasons which are absolutely unnecessary. Mr. President, if I write in this vein, it is because I am deeply troubled and I can tell you that an overwhelming percentage of our party members feel the same way though many may never be able to say this to you for a variety of reasons. But the buck stops at your table and in my position, not only as Chairman but also as an old friend and loyal defender of your development programmes which I have never stopped defending, I dare to think that we can, either by omission or commission allow ourselves to crash and bring to early grief, this beautiful edifice called democracy. On behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party, I call on you to act now and bring any, and all criminal, even treasonable, activity to a halt. You and you alone, have the means. Do not hesitate. We do not have too much time to waste.

A.I. Ogbeh, OFR National Chairman, PDP.

Okwesilieze Nwodo Ironically, Ogbulafor took over from Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo as PDP National Secretary in 2001, it was Nwodo that also succeeded him as National Chairman in 2010. Nwodo's tenure was very short. His problem, however, was not from the presidency but from the governors, particularly his state governor, Sullivan Chime. Tussle over control of PDP structure in Enugu State between Nwodo and Chime cost the former his position as PDP chairman. On the eve of 2010 national convention of PDP for the election of the party's presidential candidate, Chime group obtained court order preventing Nwodo from parading himself as PDP chairman. Technically, Nwodo was barred from presiding over the national convention. The baton was passed to the deputy national chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Haliru. Mohammed Bello Harilu Dr.Harilu, Deputy National Chairman stepped in as Acting National Chairman. His tenure was cut short with his appointment as Minister of Defence by President Jonathan in 2011. Abubakar Kawu Baraje Baraje, PDP National Secretary was appointed to serve out the remaining period of Ogbulafor's administration. He remained Acting National Chairman till March 2012 PDP National Convention. Bamanga Tukur Tukur, former governor of defunct Gongola State, was elected PDP National Chairman in 2012. Perhaps, his tenure was the most controversial. His style of leadership was at variance with expectations of the PDP governors, who believed it belonged to the yesteryears. In 2013, Tukur survived the sack of NWC members when INEC said their election was not in accordance with the electoral laws. Despite the upholding of his election by INEC, the National Chairman was in constant collision with the governors. During the party's special convention in 2013 at Eagle Square, some members of the party including some governors staged a walkout and held a parallel primary at Yar'Adua Centre and formed a New PDP. A parallel executive was elected for the party by the group. Adamu Mu'azu Mu'azu, former Bauchi State governor, succeeded Tukur on January 17, 2014. He enjoyed the support of party members and governors until the party lost the presidential election and most of the states under its control during the governorship election. They believed the National Chairman's style of leadership was responsible for the poor performance of PDP in the general elections. Like his predecessors, he was forced to quit on Wednesday, May 20.

Cover

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

The Uromiborn politician always exudes the courage of his political conviction

For Anenih, it's end of an eventful political era O

Johnson Momodu n Wednesday, May 20, two significant events happened in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recently-held general elections: The resignation, in quick succession, of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih. Whereas Mu’azu’s resignation did not come as a surprise, given the lingering agitations and mounting pressure on him to do so on account of the party’s dismal electoral performance; it was the decision by Anenih to step down as BoT chairman that caught a vast majority of PDP members unawares. In a one-page letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated May 20, Anenih cited the current state of affairs in the party as a reason. Anenih said further that his decision to step down would enable President Jonathan to effectively assume the chairmanship of the BoT. According to him, “Your Excellency will recall that in a conversation I had with you a few weeks ago, I had offered to step down from the office of the Chairman of our party’s Board of Trustees and proposed to hand over to you as its new Chairman in a ceremony that would have taken place on the 23rdof May 2015. I had also repeated this

Postscript position in our subsequent meetings.” He added: “As a follow up to the above proposal and in view of the current state of affairs in our party, I have decided to formally put my offer in writing to enable you effectively assume the Chairmanship of Board of Trustees or approve a process that will enable any other member of the BoT, who is considered competent, to assume the position. Kindly accept, therefore, this letter of notice of my decision to step down from the position of Chairman of the BoT of our party with effect from today, the 20th of May, 2015. I am happy to inform you that, I remain a loyal foundation member of our great party and will continue to pray for the prosperity of Nigeria, our party, and for you and your family….” It is not always that this kind of magnanimity manifests in the dark alleys of cloak and dagger politics in Nigeria. Besides Anenih’s magnanimous action is the strategic wisdom on his part to seize the initiative to step down as chair of the BoT, a position he once occupied between 2004 and 2007. He must have learnt one or to lessons from the 2007 incident when former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had then just completed his eight-year presidency, unceremoniously snatched the position of BoT chair from him.

Obasanjo had deliberately caused the constitution of the party to be amended to make the BoT chair the exclusive preserve of former presidents. Indeed, Obasanjo’s coup-like move against Anenih then was not unconnected with his (Anenih’s) subtle opposition to his (Obasanjo’s) third term agenda. To Obasanjo, it was pay-back time for Anenih. Obasanjo was not ready to follow due process in assuming the coveted position. He was not ready to be nice. However, Anenih had taken Obasanjo’sgangsteric act philosophically in his strides. His taciturn nature played out in much bolder reliefs. The man, popularly called Leader, who had functioned in Obasanjo’s cabinet as Minister of Works (1999-2002) and overseen his re-election in 2003 as Deputy National Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Organisation was, after the rough treatment, appointed Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) by the late President UmaruYar’Adua. He has, under Jonathan administration, had the second chance of being chosen as BoT chair following Obasanjo’s resignation. The administration had also appointed him for the second time as Chairman of the Board of NPA. These appointments were in recognition of his leadership qualities and roles. He has always been a successful strategist in the plotting of election victory for the

PDP since 1999, until the 2015 general elections when things went awry due to a combination of factors. The alleged betrayal of Jonathan by his party men and women as well as the party's National Working Committee. Even in the current state of the party, worsened by the worst kind of defections (pre and post-election), Anenih, as constant as the Northern star, has resolved to remain a loyal foundation member of the party. Many frontline foundation members of the PDP are today in the APC. The Uromi-born politician always exudes the courage of his political conviction. For him, it is not about politics of convenience, but of collective purpose, indeed, of good governance. This would appear to be his driving force; which perhaps explains his decision to invest his time, energy and resources in his political belief including his party and politics. Over the years, especially during the Second Republic and the ill-fated Third Republic, Anenih has played the role of a dependable leader and robust stabilising factor. Deploying his wealth of experience, he has been able to lead his parties to victory at different times and dispensations. Consider: he led the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic to electoral victory in the old Bendel State when he was the party’s State Chairman; he did the same to the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) of which he was national chairman, at a point in time, to victory both in Edo State and in the country; and he repeated the same in PDP in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 in the presidential elections. It is common knowledge the strategic role that Anenih played in all of these elections. He was largely instrumental to the ground works that resulted in the party’s string of victories. He did not only build the party; he also built men and women as foot soldiers. In the 2015 general elections, he was the National Campaign Adviser in the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation; his role was said to be offering advice on how to run the campaign and manage the funds. With the defeat of the PDP in the presidential election and the need for President Jonathan to still provide a rallying point for the party, if he wishes, the position of BoT chair is the most rational platform to occupy. And Anenih has readily given it up for his President to continue to be relevant in the party. For Anenih, a luminous epoch in politics and politicking would appear to have ended in a solemn, yet grand and dignifying style. At well over 80, time is now to operate quietly and influentially from the background of politics and political engagements. And perhaps, more of his attention, henceforth, may be devoted to his family and business. Time will tell how fully Anenih will henceforth invest his time, energy and resources. • Momodu, a public affairs analyst, contributed this piece from Benin City.

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Spectre of empty treasury

How incoming governors will tackle problem PROLOGUE

Ndubuisi Ugah n May 29, global attention will focus on Nigeria as a new democratic dispensation would be heralded in the country. As expected, the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, will be sworn-in as the next president, following his electoral victory at the March 28 presidential elections. Similarly, some incumbent governors and governors-elect would also be sworn-in across the states. But beyond the swearing in, is the fact that most of the governors, if not all have got a lot of work to do as they step into their various Government Houses either for their first or second terms. The challenges many of the states have are so enormous that they need to be addressed as urgently as possible. For some, it is important for them to encourage investment, which would not only create the most needed jobs but also enhance the revenue potential of their states. To start with, it is for the governors to create the enabling environment for such investments to thrive, while there would also be the need to initiate policies to help facilitate this investment drive. This would help the states rather than depending entirely on the usually “handout” from Abuja. In this regard, the states would need to sustain and redouble their efforts to substantially reduce dependence on the Federation Account allocation by intensifying on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Recently, many of them reportedly complained over the lean revenue accruing from the Federation Account which, according to them, had been dwindling and fluctuating with the consequence that the states and local governments were getting much less. Without federal funds, it is believed that most of these states may neither afford salaries payment, nor execute any project. Most states have had to take shortterm bank loans to settle wages whenever there were delays in the monthly disbursements by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). Each of the 36 states pays yearly salaries in two-digit billions, but most of them only generate IGR in single-digit billions annually. Indications are rife that the Federal Government and the other federating units - states and local governments are facing a grim financial crises arising from steadily dwindling national income derived predominantly from the sale of crude oil. Since last year, there have been rumblings at the monthly FRAAC where the commissioners of finance from the 36 states and their Federal counterpart meet monthly to review national earning chiefly from crude oil and share the proceeds to the federating units according to the statutory revenue allocation formula which gives the bulk of the revenue to the Federal Government leaving the states and local governments with less. This has left the governors with one

el-Rufai

Amosun

should be the key to development. The governors are, therefore, expected to be effective chief security officers to be able to protect the lives and property of their citizens. To underscore this fact, our correspondents across the states, present what looks like the governors’ policy framework to achieving the task ahead.

The states would need to sustain and redouble their efforts to substantially reduce dependence on the Federation Account Umahi

option; to shore up their IGRs as the trend where the states largely depend on federal allocations does not augur well and can no longer be sustained. The best in this circumstance, many believe, is for the governors to identify areas they can generate funds to increase their revenue. At present, Lagos State stands tall in this respect with a projected IGR of about N23 billion per month, which represents almost 50 per cent of its annual budget and N276 billion annually. There are so much wastes and corruption in some of these states. And this has to be checked. The governors must be able to manage their resources, espe-

cially now that revenue has drastically dwindled due to the sharp drop in oil prices across the globe. The governors, thus, need to be good managers of resources, while demonstrating high sense of accountability and transparency. In like manner, the governors would have to create wealth and jobs. With unemployment rate rising to the skies and poverty ravishing the land, the chief executives are expected to reposition their states to address these challenges. From insurgency in some parts of the North to ethnic banditry, armed robbery and other forms of violent crime, the need to maintain security in the states

el Rufai’s blueprint Malam Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna State governor-elect, seems to have a clear understanding of the task ahead of him as from May 29. There are high expectations also from the electorate, given his antecedents and the lack lustre performance of the outgoing administration. Due to falling oil prices internationally, the statutory allocation from the Federal Government has been dwindling. In addition, el-Rufai is most likely to inherit a huge debt profile from Governor Muktar Yero going by his own account, as the second most indebted state in the federation after Lagos. Domestically, it is indebted to local contractors to the tune of N20 to N30 billion. Significantly, with this lean purse and debt burden, the new administration may find it difficult to meet some of its campaign promises, especially free education from primary to Junior Secondary School level. Notwithstanding, the governor-elect is optimistic that he will deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Kaduna State, by using creative ways to generate revenue. Though, Saturday Telegraph inquest to el-Rufai’s media consultant, Muwiya Adekeye, to unveil his principal’s blueprint did not yield any result, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

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Spectre of empty treasury

Ortom

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 9

Transition Committee spoke to our correspondent off record. According to the Transition Committee member, the incoming administration will curb waste, plug all loop holes and reduce the cost of governance as well as raise the IGR of the state. “First and foremost, the era of giving out free money to politicians is over. For example, what is the rationale behind sending rams to a former governor or senator during Sallah or Christmas festivities, when they can afford it?” the source asked. The source did not stop there but added that the government will not sponsor people for pilgrimage as had been the practice from time immemorial. Similarly, el-Rufai, according to the source, will reduce the cost of governance by constituting “a small, effective and efficient cabinet.” The governor-elect himself has said that there would only be about 13 or 14 commissioners and four or five Senior Special Assistants. Before now, all of the 23 local governments in the state have been producing a commissioner each. Presently, there are 26 commissioners in Ramalan Yero’s cabinet. Apart from plugging loopholes and curbing wastage, the government, it is gathered will also embark on an aggressive revenue drive. At present, the monthly IGR of the state, according to reports, hovers around N1 billion but el-Rufai’s projection is to hit N3 billion in the next one year. Specifically, the government, according to him, will enforce the payment of ground rent and property tax. He has also promised to computerise land sale and acquisition, which is another source of revenue. In addition to boosting its revenue base, the state’s chapter of the APC has asked all the 34 state constituencies to identify 10 projects each for possible execution. The list will be complied and given to el-Rufai and within one year, the governor is expected to execute at least one project in each constituency. Amosun: I’ll use technology, block leakages Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has promised to deploy more technology in revenue generation and block leakages to boost the state’s capacity to execute capital projects

Dankwambo

during his second term in office. He has also vowed to save cost on the expenses of the state government, even as he enjoined people of the state to support his administration's efforts towards actualising various electoral promises. Speaking with Saturday Telegraph on the outcry over dwindling revenue nationwide and how governors could address the shortfall in federal allocation, Amosun said efficiency and effectiveness in the management of revenue should be prioritised. The governor, who was recently re-elected for a second term, had last year vowed to increase the state monthly IGR from what it is now to N10 billion. He believes this improve generation would lead to self-sufficiency. But speaking yesterday through his Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the governor said his administration was committed to making the state economically buoyant despite the prevailing situation in the country. “We will strive to be far more efficient in revenue drive by deploying more technology, block leakages and also try to save cost on our expenses - the cost of doing businesses,” Adeosun told Saturday Telegraph in a telephone interview. When asked whether the state government intends to reduce the number of political appointees in view of the dwindling revenue, Adeosun said she was not in a position to comment on that. She, however, expressed confidence that the state government could achieve its target of N10 billion monthly IGR. “The state is part of the wider economy and it will function within it. But it (N10 billion target) is achievable,” she added. Umahi’s development agenda for Ebonyi Despite being among the three states of the federation that receives the lowest allocation from the Federation account and faced with a high debt profile, the incoming administration of Chief Dave Umahi in Ebonyi State is upbeat of success. In his blueprint earlier presented to the people of the state, Umahi said he would pursue an integrated policy of economic development and transformation anchored on agro-industrialisation. He also

The grim face

Ganduje

We will strive to be far more efficient in revenue drive by deploying more technology

promised aggressive prospection and exploitation of the rich mineral deposits to make the state a tourist destination and a haven for investors through a balanced and vibrant economy. Umahi said he will create an economy that will be self-propelled, self-sustaining and self-reliant within 10 years to reduce the risks of dependence on federal allocations. He equally would like to create jobs for the people of the state, especially in the private sector so as to address the current huge dependence on white collar jobs and its adverse effects for over-head costs. He pledged to actively engage the private sector and build strategic partnerships with the international development agencies to open access to private capital and know-how for harnessing abundant endowments and making the state one of the top destinations for investors. Umahi explained that he will create sovereign investments and savings for the state to allow it benefit from opportunities in the capital market and provide a bulwark for fluctuations in earnings and revenues. “There will be a robust accounting system with a strong financial management infrastructure, with a view to improving the level of IGR automation and reducing the over-dependence on unstable Federal revenues. Some of our immediate neighbours are the oil-rich states of the Niger Delta. We would develop a protocol for long- term partnership with these states to leverage our respective resources to our mutual benefit. “My administration will play a leading role in the diversification of

the economy to reduce reliance on oil receipts and engender local content in our domestic economy. We would work with our development partners as well as development finance institutions to improve the leverage of the state’s financial resources to create multiplier effect in terms of the budget resources available to the state. The state will divest from stateowned enterprises that are a drain on resources,” he said. According to him, there shall be improvement on tax collection systems under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) framework. While protecting the poor, he promised an aggressive pursuit of the Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship training of the youth with the aim of making them self-reliant. I’m going to rejig Cross River economy - Ayade For Ben Ayade, the governor-elect of Cross River State, the state today boasts of perhaps the most outstanding conference centre in the whole of Africa, which will drive a lot of traffic into the state and make it a robust economy. Speaking on how he intends to drive the economy, Ayade said: “I am going to rejig the economy profile of the state and of course create an opportunity for investors to come into the state. “But essentially, I do believe that the core focus of my administration is taking advantage of all the natural resources we’ve got. It is not true, never ever true, that you have to inherit plenty to succeed. My take is that all the core investors that have been talking with me, the whole essence is, how we can package our debt and turn it into an asset. I have a motto, a motto that every single debt that we have got, we are packaging it for sale and of course the essential element in economics is that if you want to convert a liability to an asset, you have to present the fundamentals to be attractive and exciting. “We are a state with over one million hectares of forest; that forest is an asset, an asset that has remained unexploited. We have conserved this forest in the course of time without exploitation, but that’s not the way we are going to go forward. We will create a robust profile that will excite any

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of electoral triumph

Okowa

investor to come into Cross River State so that gradually, we will be moving from a civil service state to a business state. That is the model we’re going to be driving. “For instance, we think that as a state, we must own a shipping line. The national shipping line is long gone moribund. What is wrong with a state government having a shipping line? If we can ship in our petroleum products either internally or from foreign sources, we can run our own profile. In the first three to six months, what we are going to experience is not massive employment but massive deployment. So, what we are going to do will be to improve upon the current structure. “To do this, every ministry should be able to generate funds. While we will not sack any worker, all those who are in the ministries doing nothing will have to be sent to the agricultural sector to work. It is as complex as it is simple. I do not believe that you need to tax your people to prosperity but I also believe that as responsible people, you owe government the duty of paying your tax. You must, therefore, put it in such a way that it has a very good balance. I have also noticed that the duty of government to tax creates a burden to be responsible because when you tax somebody, you owe that person some responsibilities. When you tax people, you owe them the duty to make their business work. “But we must create that balance because you need that balance for government to continue to sustain infrastructure and at the same time, allow you make money and live a good life. So, we will create a balance and review some where we need to review. We are expecting more investors to come into the state so we will revisit the tax and ensure that they thrive,” Ayade promised. I’ll implement my campaign blueprint, says Ortom Benue State governor-elect, Chief Samuel Ortom, has said his approach to revenue generation would be through infrastructure provision and cutting of bogus budgetary spending. According to him, the issues of roads connecting the people are very important to any meaningful administration but when you have challenges of funding it can be difficult. “I know that the present government

Ugwuanyi

has done its best to ensure that we have good roads network all over the place. Sometimes when I come here and I go to a street that before then could not be accessed and I see a tarred road, it shows the commitment of government. But when you’re spending more than 70 per cent of your revenue on recurrent expenditure then it becomes a problem and the same thing is happening at the federal level. If we don’t take time it’ll go to 80 per cent or even 90 per cent,” he said. At the local government level, Ortom said: “I think as we speak, they (Gabriel Suswam-led government) are spending more than 90 per cent on recurrent expenditure, it then becomes difficult. Some local government areas even find it difficult to construct ordinary culvert; that to me is not right. He also said industrialising the state is the way out to ensure that commercial activities are going on. We would try to bring investments from outside so that all these industries and other things can be funded in a manner that we will divert attention from government to the private sector, and make the private sector more lucrative. I also think this is something that government can do. “My government will be the type that will seek to include everybody. Everybody must be a stakeholder. This is democracy and that is the beauty of it. Everybody should come on board but there should be direction as to where we want to go and we’ll follow it and by the grace of God we’ll be able to succeed. On unemployment,

While we will not sack any worker, all those who are in the ministries doing nothing will have to be sent to the agricultural sector to work

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Lalong

the only option is what I told you before – industrialisation. When you export your primary products you are exporting jobs; that is what we’ll seek to correct. “Today, I know that once in a while we have opportunities to fill in vacancies in certain government organisations, departments or ministries. The same thing applies to states, but what will give a boost and minimised unemployment is nothing outside industrialisation and this is what government is doing at the federal level. I will seek to ensure that we replicate what is happening at the federal level back home. Of course worldwide that is what is happening. Industries are the ones providing jobs. If you go to China it is not government that is providing jobs for the over one billion people that are there. That is the way forward,” he said. I’ll consolidate on fiscal operations - Dankwambo Gombe State Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo, was re-elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and will be sworn-in on May 29 for the second tenure of four years. The ultimate desire of his administration, according to him, is to consolidate on its fiscal operations, engendering strong and sustainable economic development as well as job and wealth creation to reduce poverty and upscale living standard. Having analysed the revenue and expenditure profiles and the volatile economic circumstances, the governor said he is going to boost his revenue profile for infrastructure development through consolidating the development efforts for the benefit of the people. “Through the completion of all ongoing projects and programmes, the provision of physical infrastructure, deepening the implementation of the poverty reduction initiatives, projects and programmes, we would pursue human capital development for sustainable development. This would lead to aggressive rural development drive and maintaining a robust monitoring and evaluation system that would serve as a feedback to the citizens on their stewardship. “Others areas to boast the revenue is by strengthening development cooperation and partnership with all interested and willing parties, maintaining

peace and security throughout the state and strengthening regional cooperation and development,” he stated. Ganduje vows to cut ‘bogus’ spending to boost revenue Kano Governor-elect, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, said given the dwindling revenue shortfall accruing to states across the country, he has marshalled out his revenue blueprint. This, he said, excludes the concentration on creating internal means to boost his revenue generation. He also vowed to block financial leakages in government’s spending as well as reduce the cost of governance in order for him to achieve his campaign promises. The governor-elect, among other areas, said that he would give prominence to boosting of agricultural development via irrigation farming by making the over 20 dams that are yet to be put into use. He also promised to create additional means that will help local farmers to process their produce easily. Ganduje hinted that since the state had commercial viability, he would open its gate to foreign investors by ensuring that the state enjoys maximum security through the creation of a well-equipped security network that would boost investors’ confidence. Similarly, he explained that he will not delve into the activities of the industrial sector, but would allow them free hand to operate and revive some of the closed down industries. “Some of them would be given soft loans from government,” he promised. Though there are well over 90 projects yet to be completed, the governorelect has promised to complete and concentrate on other critical development areas, which requires a lot of finance despite the little resources coming from the Federation Account. In same vein, chairman, Garo Local Government Area, who doubles as the Association of Local Government chairmen, Murtala Garo, said all the 44 local government areas were going to be used for revenue drive for the incoming administration. He said presently, they have developed a blueprint of the economic viabilities of each local government CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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Spectre of empty treasury

‘What we'll do to grow revenue' C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

in agricultural and natural resources to harnessed and use it as a contributing economic factor for the development of the state. “That is why we in the Local Government will use our meagre resources to help the state and as well develop our areas, which already we have gone far in that direction,” said Garo. Okowa plans to boost IGR Delta State governor-elect, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has designed several means of hitting the ground running from May 29. He said: “I will formulate multi-sectorial and multi-dimensional strategy on revenue drive and spending policy. I shall block all leakages in government income and expenditure, and bring governance to the doorsteps of every citizen of the state.” On IGR, Okowa said he had decided to lay emphasis on the following areas to get the desired results out of his blueprints for the development of the state. He has equally vowed to accelerate the positive challenges that these mega industrial activities will offer by seeing to their completion for valuable economic advantages and boost the IGR of the state. “The state under my watch will work closely with relevant agencies of the Federal Government in commerce and industry and engage the private sector effectively to drive commerce and grow industries,” he promised. Having acknowledged that the state has tremendous potentials in agriculture, Okowa has also vowed to pursue multiple strategies that will boost the sector by encouraging free market for raw materials and foodstuffs. “I shall engage the youth by encouraging cluster farming, supporting and promoting out-growers associations. Robust and focused agricultural extension services will be put in place to support the farmers. “Input provision, mechanisation and cooperative farming will be aggressively pursued. It is my earnest desire to encourage and create the enabling environment for commercial farming to thrive through the private sector and public-private-partnership. I will ensure the active participation of the local government areas in the development of agriculture; by this, the revenue of the state would have improved. During my tenure as governor, at least, one city or urban settlement in each of the 10 federal constituencies will be designated for comprehensive renewal,” he said. In doing this, the governor-elect has vowed to focus on creating and improving on internal road networks, dualisation where necessary, drainage, construction of bridges and flyovers, erosion control, modern transportation facilities and provision of electricity and other public utilities. “The development of roads, bridges and ancillary infrastructure would not only ease commercial activities but consequently enhance economic growth and personal wellbeing of Deltans. It will attract foreign investors to the state, and indirectly add advantage to the state’s revenue. I am determined to create a virile civil service whose full potentials will be developed through proper recruitment and focused capac-

ity building. Integrity, hard work and honesty will be rewarded,” he assured. On wealth creation and employment generation, Okowa said, “With the executive arm under my watch, employment will remain the central theme of all my policies. I will deploy and harness every resource available, especially through agro-businesses, to confront the scourge.” According to him, deliberate effort will be made to generate employment and productive livelihood for the teeming youth population. This, he was convinced, “will not only go a long way in reducing undue conflict in our communities but shore up the revenue drive of the state.”

Ayade

Ugwuanyi’s revenue challenge in Enugu Enugu State governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had on January 20 during his tour of the Enugu East Local Government Area, promised the people of the state that within the first six months of his administration, he would create 10,000 jobs for the unemployed youths in the state. “We will create 10,000 new jobs for the unemployed youth within the first six months of my administration if elected,” he assured. Lalong: Job creation, prudent revenue management my priority Plateau State governor-elect, Mr. Simon Lalong, has said he believes the most effective way of tackling poverty is through job creation and a radical reduction in unemployment. He said his government will embark on small and medium enterprises through macro and micro economic policies that focus primarily on job creation by creating awareness on available support to several new businesses. “Our government will establish opportunity Centres and state Venture Capital Fund where small businesses can access support and conduct all their businesses as well as provide initial funding for start-ups and early stage enterprises,” he said. Another area he emphasised on is the agro-allied, food processing sectors, which he said, have vast agricultural potential for the state, especially in attracting industrial development for the processing of sugar potatoes. Others are yam, cassava processing, moringa (zogale), fish processing, medicinal plants processing, agro-forestry, textile industry among others. On the area of solid minerals exploration, he said that available data from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development reveals that government is only generating less than 25 per cent revenue from solid minerals. “The solid mineral sector as a key driver of economic growth offers viable prospects for mining, mineral processing and the manufacture of a host of intermediate raw materials for local industries and foreign exchange earnings. It presents the opportunity for diversifying our local economy with the view to reducing poverty and dependency on oil revenue,” he said. Lalong stressed that developing the mining industry would radically curb the growing level of unemployment and move rural miners into middle class. He also said his administration would

Ambode

My government will protect the growth of small and medium scale enterprises through tax incentives provide an enabling environment that would facilitate investment in mining, rather than neglecting its potentials. Ambode: I’ll boost IGR through structured economic blueprint Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has vowed not only to reposition the state’s economic potential but also strengthen the state’s revenue generation profile. Presently, Lagos appears to be the only state that could still conveniently pay its workforce and execute its numerous projects simultaneously in spite of growing apprehension and lamentations from others states. Many others have become indebted to their workforce as a result months of unpaid salaries. From the N600 million IGR in 1999, the state now generates N23 billion monthly and N276 billion annually. Hence, to consolidate the financial buoyancy of Lagos, Ambode said his administration would create a roundthe-clock economy that is typical of a city-state like Lagos. He also promised to set up a Lagos Employment Trust

Fund (LETF) with N25 billion over four years, through an access to finance business worth a minimum of N1 billion annually across the five divisions of the state. This strategy, Ambode said, will allow the youth and unemployed people in the state to have access to adequate finance for entrepreneurial ventures. In his economic blueprint, the governorelect expressed commitment to drastically reducing unemployment in the state through jobs creation, transportation, housing, agriculture and infrastructure renewal and development. “My government will protect the growth of small and medium scale enterprises through tax incentives while also implementing government policies that will encourage the private sector to employ more citizens and foster economic development. We will boost IGR by improving the collection mechanism through e-governance,” he said. He did not stop there but plans to encourage the creation of a Corporate Social Responsibility Trust Fund (CSRTF) by the private sector, to be managed by a Board of Trustees (BoT). aside that, Ambode promised to pursue a fully integrated transport management system that takes into consideration roads, rail, water and walkways as means of mobility for ease of movement of residents in the city centre and the suburbs. He said: “We will introduce and establish officially designated bus stops and routes in Lagos. We will improve on traffic with construction of new roads and maintaining existing ones, as well as placing directional signs in strategic places. We will also increase the usage of our waterways through channelling and dredging.” To vigorously address the problem of housing deficit for the estimated 21 million residents, Ambode said his government would create communities that are self-sustainable for residents that will encourage even development across the state. “We will provide affordable housing schemes by collaborating through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to increase the available housing stock. Our government will improve on the current policy of home ownership through Lagos HOMS and provide ownership options such as Rent to Own Programme (ROP),” he assured. Already, Ambode has recognised that governance is a continuum and, as such, promised to build on the current administration’s efforts on agriculture by opening up the virtually untapped aquatic and seafood resources in the state. Harping on his determination to pursue the resolutions of the state economic plan, Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing (PATH), the governor-elect said he would drive the state’s economy through the key areas. He added: “We will provide incentives for agricultural processing companies, thereby providing employment for our bulging youth population.” Recognising the need for a more robust infrastructure as the cornerstone of the state economy, Ambode, in his economic blueprint, said: “We will ensure the provision of good and motorable roads across the state, excellent by-passes, pedestrian bridges, traffic intersections, public and amusement parks and ensure that all public institutions and facilities are of the highest standards and quality.” • Additional reports from Uwakwe Abugu (ENUGU), Ibraheem Musa (KADUNA), Kunle Olayeni (ABEOKUTA), Uchenna Inya, (ABAKALIKI), Clement James (CALABAR), Cephas Iorhemen (MAKURDI), Ben Ngwakwe (GOMBE), Muhammad Kabir (KANO), Dominic Adewole (ASABA), Musa Pam (JOS) and Muritala Ayinla (LAGOS).

FaceOff

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH 23 MAY, 2015

Police not doing enough to protect us, says NMA chairman In the past few weeks, Ekiti State has been gripped by a spate of kidnappings, first with the abduction of Mrs Margaret Aladenika, a theatre nurse with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti. Subsequent abduction of former chief medical director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Patrick Adegun and his wife, Kikelomo, sparked protest by the Nigerian Medical Association. Ekiti NMA chairman, Dr John Akinbote, tells ABDULWAHAB ADESINA the expectations from the police concerning investigation into the matter. What's your reaction to the spate of kidnappings in the state? It is very disturbing. While we understand that the escalating rate of unemployment, poor youth development and empowerment programmes by our government and dysfunctional family problems are some of the harbingers of these nefarious acts, we want to speak to the conscience of the kidnappers to, please, have a rethink, release their captives unconditionally and let us be at the vanguard of transforming our society, positively, rather than inflicting undue pains on ourselves. Why do you think medical doctors are targets of kidnappers? I think it has to do with the erroneous impression and questionable belief that medical doctors, nurses and lecturers are well paid in the state. We have evidence of outstanding salaries and promotion arrears yet to be paid to these categories of civil servants. What steps do you think should be taken to safeguard the lives of doctors? Before the kidnap saga started, we recorded a number of instances in which doctors, nurses and medical personnel were harassed by relations of patients in some hospitals in some parts of the state. We cried out against that, but this issue of abduction is worse and we want people to know that we are saving lives and risking ours in some cases. Security agencies should be alive to their responsibility of providing security for all, including medical personnel. Generally, security should be beefed up to stem crime in our society.

abducted? We are disturbed and grossly disappointed by the level of protective and investigative measures put in place so far by security agencies to curb the menace of kidnapping, murder and other criminal activities in the state. When we heard of those cases, we held an emergency meeting and we said we are marching to the office of the commissioner of police and the Governor's Office. We were given assurances and made to believe that within 24 hours we will start noticing improvement. But then Dr Femi Omisore from OAU was kidnapped. The Ifaki-Ido axis is the hub of their activities and has not been manned by the police. People are getting threat messages on their phones and we gave the police the phone numbers involved and they kept threatening them and nothing seems to be done. A member of my association got a threat message and was asked to pay some money to a particular account and we gave that to the police. If they are working, why wouldn't they have worked on that tip, with all the technology in town to track down such people. Do you think the law of the land is punitive enough to stem the tide of kidnapping? I don't think we have laws and, if they are in place, they should be well implemented. There is need for more punitive measures. We need to harmonise the laws passed by each state, so that kidnappers would not be moving from one place to the other because the law may be harsher in one place and softer in the other. We are doing our best.

What precautionary measures do you think your members should take now in the face of the current challenge? We should be watchful and, generally, keep a low profile. I advise that our members should remove doctors' stickers from their vehicles. We should mind those we discuss with and give our contacts to. We should also avoid going to some public places that easily give us out as doctors.

We are doing our best, PPRO insists The spate of kidnappings in Ekiti State in recent weeks has put the state police command on the spot. Groups and individuals have different views about the performance of the police in their handling of the matter. The command's spokesman, ASP Alberto Adeyemi, tells ADESINA WAHAB about the development and steps being taken by the command to counter the menace. What do you think accounts for the spate of kidnappings in the state? A lot of factors. These include social and economic, among others. Like most countries of the world, Nigeria is passing through economic recession and that has led to a number of social problems, including unemployment. That has also led to many of our youths being unemployed. But that is not an excuse for anybody to engage in criminal acts for whatever reasons. Unfortunately too, some of our youths are so much in a hurry to make money and they therefore seek illegal but what they think is a fast way to do that. Cultural values have been bastardised and many parents too are not bothered how their wards come about sudden wealth. What is happening in the state is a reflection of the malaise in the society. Why would medical workers be targeted by the kidnappers? It is unfortunate that medical personnel are some of the victims of these criminals. However, one would not want to say that medical doctors or medical personnel are the main targets of these kidnappers. Other people doing other things as their professions have also fallen victims. University lecturers, businessmen etcetera are also victims as well. Generally, these criminals have what they look out for in their victims and anybody who falls into their profile could be a victim. Is there any step the command is taking to ensure the safety of medical doctors? We are not only taking steps to ensure the safety of medical doctors, but to ensure the safety of everybody in our society. The police are for everybody and not only for a particular group.

Is there an indication that she's safe? We are concerned about her because we are working together as a team - doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. I would not want to divulge what we have heard, but it is like the same group that abducted her was the one that abducted Adegun and Omisore. Are you satisfied with efforts by the police so far to secure the release of those

Adeyemi

Akinbote

What can medical personnel do to protect themselves? It is not only medical personnel that need to protect themselves, but everyone of us. We must be security conscious and avail security agencies all the needed cooperation. Criminals are not spirits, they live in the society like other people. For instance,

landlords and house owners should be interested in who they let their properties to. It is not that they should only be interested in their rents. What is the progress being made to secure the release of those abducted? We are definitely making progress and we are closing in on those people. Apart from the officers and men that are on ground in the command, we are getting support of additional personnel from the Inspector General of Police. We will soon bust the kidnap gangs. The NMA has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner the police are handling the matter, what is our take? We are professionals and we are handling the matter professionally. There is no information or lead that we are given that we are no working on. We investigate and follow up all leads. We cannot afford to throw away any lead because we work on information and intelligence gathering is also about information. There is no dereliction of duty on our part. What about threat messages the NMA said you are not working on? That is not true. We act promptly on all information given us and we have even taken some other pro-active steps. We recently held a meeting with all hoteliers and sought their cooperation and we gave them tips of what to do. For instance, henceforth, hotels in the state will be submitting to the police the daily manifest of their guests and lodgers. We are dong this to keep a tab on people using those facilities. Is it that the law against kidnapping is not strong in the state that has given rise to this surge in the criminal act? The police are not the ones to make laws but to enforce them and this we are doing with all seriousness. When a crime is committed and the person involved is arrested by us, our duty is to take the person to the court for prosecution. It is the duty of the court to find the person either guilty or not. So, the interpretation of the law is that of legal officers not ours. We obey the rule of law and we cannot begin to fault the interpretations of laws

Perspectives

23 MAY 2015

Why Buhari should prioritise power too

oing by the myriad of incessant problems besetting Nigeria, I have always been an advocate for prioritisation of our challenges with the aim that the government will concentrate on key problematic areas instead of trying to solve a bit of all the problems. This will make government to be focused and will make the citizens to easily assess its performance. Perhaps, this seems to be the thinking of the incoming administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari who told a delegation of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) that “My administration will concentrate on three major areas on assumption of office. That is insecurity, the economy/unemployment and corruption. We will ensure we nip the insecurity in the bud.” Even though I will not claim that I have the profundity of economic policies that can bail us out of the present socio-economic nadir, the non-inclusion of the energy or power sector as one of the areas of priority by the incoming administration is a big mistake. The importance of the sector can be viewed in the two ways it contributes to economic growth and social development. First, it creates jobs and value. Second, it underpins the rest of the economy. In other words, energy is fundamental to socio-economic development because it provides an input for nearly all goods and services. This explains why the developed countries of the world prioritise the sector while countries that have acute shortage of electricity like Nigeria always rank low in terms of socio-economic development. Despite the claim by the outgoing government that it has made a tremendous progress in the power sector after it was privatised, the so-called progress is yet to transform into regular supply of electricity. Our expectations of uninterrupted supply have remained a mirage while our dream that the energy crisis will abate after the promises made by investors has remained an age-long fantasy. This crisis, which started over three decades ago, has culminated in deprivation and incidence of poverty. To show the enormity of the problem, the Council for Renewable Energy of Nigeria, a few

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

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

Energy is fundamental to socio-economic development because it provides an input for nearly all goods and services Buhari

years back, raised the alarm that Nigeria loses about N126 billion annually as a result of power outage. Apart from the loss of revenue, there is also the danger of emission of carbon monoxide from cacophony of generators from different neighbourhood due to power outage. Beside its health hazard and effect on climate change, emission of carbon from generators has led to the death of some hapless Nigerians. Some firms have also folded up because they could not meet up with the cost of production, let alone make profit after spending so much on energy. A few years back, this was the reason Dunlop relocated to Ghana, a neighbouring country. Expectedly, the company sacked so many Nigerian employees, sold all its properties thus making Nigeria’s loss in investment and employments Ghana’s gain. As at August last year, Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said his cement firm spent between N230 million and N250 million per day on diesel

and gas to power its plant at Ibese, Ogun State. This amounts to a whooping N.7 trillion every month. Such huge amount of money eats into the company’s profit. Perhaps if Dangote is not a Nigerian investor, the amount expended on power is enough to discourage him. One can imagine what will happen in terms of business expansion and employment generation it will translate into if that money is ploughed back into the business. Telecoms giant, MTN, had last year raised a similar concern that it spent N600 million on a monthly basis to fuel the company’s 6,000 generators at its base stations across the country. The generators supply power to MTN’s base stations for 19 hours daily. Although this was last year, it is obvious that there has not been any significant improvement in power generation this year and it is plausible that the company may be spending more now. Senate President David Mark expressed his disappointment last Friday when he told the management team of the Electricity Management Services Limited in Abuja who visited him that

the privatisation of the sector is meaningless since Nigerians have yet to feel the positive impact of the sector in spite of promises made by investors. For a country that spent over $8.5 billion repairing and building power stations under former president Olusegun Obasanjo without a corresponding increment in power generation, one cannot but agree with a professor of economics at the Lagos State University, Emmanuel Adewole, that ours “is the most expensive darkness in the world.” No reasonable businessman with the right ethos and financial acumen will invest in a country that still gropes in the dark. If those who are at home are finding it difficult to trust the Nigerian business environment, it should be expected that foreigners will not invest in a harsh business ambience. A lot of artisans are now Okada riders because there is no power to work with in their shops. This is why Buhari should include power among his priority. If Buhari’s plan is to concentrate on three areas, substituting unemployment with power generation will make lot of sense. Nothing will work unless there is an appreciable improvement in power generation. Relying on alternative source of power will make the cost of doing business high and this will affect prices of goods and services. When prices of goods and services are high, they will be beyond the reach of the people whose purchasing power has crumbled under the biting effect of inflation. It is natural that when the cost of production is high, the only alternative is for prices to increase and when prices are unaffordable, demand will fall and companies will either fold up or retrench some of their workers. Businessmen are not Father Christmas, their sole aim is to make profits. The president-elect needs to realise that firms are in a better position to create employment, the only thing expected is for the government to provide the enabling environment that will make businesses thrive. How many states can provide employment now when those employed are being owed salary for months? If there is constant power, jobs will be created and all other things will take shape.

Senate Presidency, Speakership: The conversation continues (2)

was speaking to a senior colleague recently on the aspirations of Saraki and Akume and he drew my attention to what happened in the Second Republic Senate when the father of Bukola Saraki, the late Oloye Olusola Saraki, contested for the position of Senate (Majority) leader. Oloye had a challenger in the late Tiv-born Senator Joseph Tarka. The elegant, impactful and suave politicians threw all they had into the race. But when it was apparent that the race would insert a permanent wedge between them, coming from the same middle-belt region, Tarka was said to have stepped down for Saraki to become Senate Leader. My senior colleague then drew a nexus between then and what is going on now between Bukola Saraki and Akume, who is a nephew of the great Joseph Tarka, arguing very poignantly that given the parameters of ranking and merit that weigh against Saraki, he should consider what Tarka did for his father and take advantage of the senate presidency now to reward a progeny of Tarka in the person of Akume. He said there would always be time to reciprocate good turns, if only the temptations to be desperate and ex-

treme are overcome. If Saraki withdraws for Akume, it will enhance the political rapprochement between them and in the North central zone. Not too far away from the AkumeSaraki scenario is Lawan’s candidature. It is true that Lawan was in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. That was the same time Akume was governor in Benue state. But both of them got elected into the Senate in 2007. Akume, who was then in the PDP, had mustered the courage to contest the senate presidency against Mark. Now the Senate rule does not take into cognizance the fact of a member ’s legislative experience in the House of Representatives or House of Assembly in the determination of his ranking status. Therefore, both Akume and Lawan are ranked equal in terms of the length of time spent in the senate. But Akume has a head-start over Lawan in that he has been the Senate Minority Leader since 2011. This is why watchers of the Parliament argue that the principle of leadership by progression should weigh in favour of Akume for the senate presidency:

Akume has a head-start over Lawan in that he has been the Senate Minority Leader since 2011

what it means is that he should simply move up to continue to provide the leadership he has been providing as minority leader. It is not about zoning anymore; it is about merit, ranking and legislative experience. The same thing should apply to the House of Representatives, where three-term member, Femi Gbajabiamila has been holding the forte as minority leader. He is the most senior in terms of holding a principal office and he should naturally step up as speaker. If the APC leadership wants

to put a stamp of zoning to the emergence of senate president and speaker, it should be guided by their consideration, choice and emergence to cede the positions to where they come from. It will be salutary to the parliament and the party. In rounding off, I refer the APC to the American exemplar: in the 100 member-US Senate, the longest serving senator, who is President pro tempore and chair of the Judiciary committee, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy (representing Vermont State) began his term on January 3, 1975 (40 years, 4 months), while in the 433-member House of Representatives, the longest serving is Democratic Party John Dingell (representing the Michigan 12 District), being 60 years. He is, on account of seniority, Dean of the House. This is food for thought for Nigeria’s National Assembly members, the APC and other parties: stick to ranking, deepen a parliamentary culture of merit, and sidestep the divisive factors of zoning and religion. • Ojeifo, Editor-in-Chief of The Congresswatch magazine, wrote via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com

Sport Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

23 MAY 2015

Siasia invites 30 for Olympics qualifier

Sport Slaming

ead Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has released a list of 30 players who will kick-start the team’s camping programme ahead of the qualifier for the African U-23 Championship against the winner of the tie between Ghana and Congo, in July. Familiar faces Erhun Obanor, Oduduwa Segun, Sincere Seth, Emmanuel Daniel, Abiodun Akande, Oghenekaro Etebo, Usman Mohammed and Junior Ajayi are joined by new faces like Aniyikaye Adeleye, Ekpo Daniel and Daniel Etor. Gabros FC's Christopher George Jenom, Enyimba FC's Okeke Uche, Chisom Kisito of Diamond Football Academy and Dolphins FC's Ekpo Daniel are coming into camp for the first time. All the invited players are expected to report on Sunday, May 31, while training will commence on Monday, June 1. FULL LIST Goalkeepers Daniel Emmanuel, Abiodun Akande, Yusuf Mohammed, Daniel Emmason Defenders Obanor Erhun, Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Iroha Ebuka, Sani Faisal, Aniyikaye Adeleye, Chisom Kisito, Ekpo Godwin Midfielders Azubike Okechukwu, Tiongoli Tonbara, Freedom Omofoman, Usman Mohammed, Ekpo Daniel, Okeke Uche, Daniel Etor, Sunday Gabriel, Ubong Ekpai, Eteobong Elisha, Christopher George Jenom Forwards Peter Onyekachi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Junior Ajayi, Akinbule Ayonfe, William Memme, Moses Omoduemuke, Iyorhe Luter Benjamin

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

Super Eagles players

Keshi demands hunger, commitment from Eagles ...as training starts in Abuja

Adekunle Salami uper Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, on Friday charged the players to display hunger and commitment to excel in the team as training began for the June 13 Nations Cup qualifier against Chad. The coach noted that it was important for the players to be very focused on getting good results for Nigeria in the AFCON 2017 qualifiers and other events. Media officer of the team, Toyin Ibitoye, told Saturday Telegraph on Friday that Keshi addressed the players before the early morning training which started at 7.30 at the Goal Project in Abuja. Ibitoye said: “Everything is going on well in camp. All the invited players are in except the players from Warri Wolves who have been excused to remain with their team for a continental match. “Coach Keshi told the boys to display discipline on and off the pitch and his talk with the team was the very first assignment in camp before the training exercise.” Keshi further urged the players to justify their invitation to the national

Murray faces French Open qualifier in opener

Murray

ritain's Andy Murray will play a qualifier in his opening match at the French Open. The Scot, seeded third, was drawn in the same half as nine-time champion Rafael Nadal and top seed Novak Djokovic. British number two Aljaz Bedene faces Austria's Dominic Thiem in round one.

Top seed Serena Williams will play a qualifier and British number one Heather Watson plays Mathilde Johansson. The main interest in the draw was where Nadal would land after his fall to sixth in the seedings, and it resulted in a potential blockbuster quarter-final against Djokovic.

team. Many of the invited home based players arrived at the Bolton White Hotels and Apartments in Abuja on Thursday night to begin the battle for shirts in the senior national team. Players in camp as at 7pm (Thursday) included Chibuzor Okonkwo, Rabiu Ali, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Mfon Udoh, Ezekiel Mbah, Gabriel Okechukwu, Azeez Shobowale, Moses Ebong, Chima Akas, Nathaniel Joseph, Chinedu Udoji, Chidiebere Eze, Olabisi Samuel, Esosa Igbinoba, Joe Omale, Onyedikachi Bright and Idris Aloma. Later in the night, same day, Ibrahim Shuaibu, Kunle Odunlami, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Tunde Adeniji also joined the team.

NBBF All Stars display Hearts of Gold Ifeanyi Ibeh

riday, May 22, will for a long time be etched in the memory of children and staff of Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice following a courtesy call by the best of the best of the Nigerian Basketball Federation DStv Premier Basketball League to the establishment’s Surulere base. The basketball players, comprising members of the Atlantic Conference All Star team, and their Savannah Conference counterparts, who were accompanied by board members of the NBBF, led by its President, Tijjani Umar, took time off from their eagerly anticipated showdown in Saturday’s All Star matchup to hand out gifts to the children. Captain of Nigeria’s men’s national team, Olumide Oyedeji, who is also a member of the NBBF board, was also on the trip. The gifts comprised mostly of household items, food items and beverages.

Mourinho, Hazard clinch EPL awards

helsea manager Jose Mourinho has been named Barclays Premier League manager of the season for the third time. In his second spell at the club, the Portuguese, 52, guided Chelsea to their first Premier League title in five years and a League Cup success. Blues midfielder Eden

Hazard, who scored 20 goals for the champions, was named player of the season. It adds to his Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association awards. Mourinho was also recognised after Chelsea's league triumphs during the 2004-05 and 2005-06

campaigns. He succeeds Tony Pulis, who was named 2013-14 manager of the year after he masterminded Crystal Palace's remarkable escape from relegation. Hazard's team-mates John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic were also nominated for the player of the season award.

Hazard

Super Falcons deserve better

he women’s national team, the Super Falcons, have been very consistent with good results for Nigeria. The female version of the Africa Nations Cup, the African Women’s Championship, has been staged nine times with Nigeria winning seven times. In 2008 and 2012, Equatorial Guinea won the trophy and till date there are doubts about the gender of some of the key players in the team that denied Nigeria victory. I recall players like Florence Omagbemi, Okunwa Igunbor, Ann Chiejine, Eucharia Uche, Mercy Akide, Kikelomo Ajayi, Patience Avre, Maureen Madu, Precious Dede, Efionwan Ekpo, Perpetua Nwocha, Stella Mbachu, Nkechi Egbe, Rita Nwadike, Ebere Opara, Yinka Kudaisi, Cynthia Uwak and Nkiru Okosieme put smiles on the faces of Nigerians many times. Each time the Super Eagles disappoint, we bank on the Falcons to smile. Anytime the Black Stars beat the Eagles, we rely on the Falcons to whip the Black Queens of Ghana. In 1999, Nigeria made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup but lost 4-3 to Brazil in a thrilling encounter. The Super falcons have been to the World Cup six times. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is again here but I feel so much pain the way the Nigeria Football Federation has treated the team. The preparation of this team for the event scheduled to start on June 6 in Canada has been very poor. It took the federation so much time to call the players to camp. It was expected that there will be quality friendly matches for the team but it did not happen. After Mali pulled out of the Olympic qualifier match two weeks ago, the NFF vowed to stage a Grade A friendly for the team but again that did not happen. The coaches and players yearned for a training tour for at least six weeks but all they could get was the four weeks camping the team had in Abuja. I hate to compare but I just can’t help it. The national U-20 team preparing for the World Cup slated for New Zealand has been in Germany for over three weeks. The Flying Eagles have played three quality friendly matches. The Super Eagles before the World Cup last year played a friendly match against Scotland in London. The team also embarked on a training tour of the USA with two other friendly matches played against Greece and the USA national teams. With less than two weeks to the Women’s World Cup, the Falcons were only promised a friendly with host Canada. The team left Nigeria only few days ago straight to Canada. This is not the best way to prepare a team that has been giving Nigeria good results. We are all looking forward to the team doing well at the global stage but the players lack support. Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, Onome Ebi and others are good enough to shock the world but not with the poor preparation of the team. Nigeria has the USA, Sweden and Australia to contend with in the group stage yet the players are not well prepared for the big task ahead. Certainly, all national teams deserve attention. The Falcons particularly deserve more from the federation. With this setting, I wonder the magic we expect this team to perform in Canada. The cash reward the NFF promised the players to attain success should have been used to prepare the team well for the competition. The NFF is unfair to this team.

The voice of the elders

was at a forum of elders recently in Lagos. It was the annual get-together of the Association of Sports Veterans which has Jonathan Ogufere as President. Even at their old age, they cried out over the neglect of lesser sport. During the week, the body issued a statement that the presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari, should appoint somebody that has knowledge about the sector to be the sport minister and not just any politician. The cry of the veterans is a result of the recent trend in sport as the ministers always battle to understand the terrain. The voice of the elders is voice of wisdom and so I expect the president-elect to act on this. A former DG of the NSC, Chief Patrick Ekeji, also gave similar advice. Since the new administration is another party, it is good to correct the mistake made by the outgoing ruling party. Sport should have a true sports person as sport minister.

DESTINATION

Bauchi's tourism dream in the grip of insurgency

P.42

SATURDAY SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2015

Aluko, Ameobi battle EPL drop

Perspectives

Sanctity of Truth

Why Buhari should prioritise power too

N150

p.54

Ajibade Olusesan

ewcastle United and Hull City will on Sunday engage in last push against relegation from the English Premier League and the two clubs will count on their respective Nigerian imports, Sammy Ameobi and Sone Aluko, in their fight against the drop. Newcastle United plunged into a third relegation battle in six years after losing nine games from 10, taking just one point from possible 30. Something like a calamity has struck the Magpies since their erstwhile coach, Alan Pardew, suddenly dumped the team for a move to Crystal Palace in January. Ironically, Pardew paddled the then troubled Palace away from relegation and from afar, he watched his former side sink into that murky water. Newcastle host West Ham today and a victory against the Hammers can guarantee their safety. Ameobi has been one of the exciting fellows in that struggling side but he has to do much more today to help his side. The Nigerian has scored just two goals from his 26 shots in 25 appearances this term and his goal in Magpies 3-0 win at Hull City last January was his last for the club. His other goal came in a 2-1 win against Tottenham last year October. He has two assists but he has to do a lot more today. Although he has been heavily linked with a move away from the Saint James’ Park he can nonetheless make his name indelible in the history of the club if he contribute meaningfully to the rescue. Sunday is a day of reckoning and he stands the chance to make history. For Coach John Carver, it is still unbelievable his Newcastle are battling against the drop but it is a challenge he believes they can surmount. “We're in this situation; we've got to deal with it. I feel like we've got to win. If we do that we take care of our own business,” he said. Hull City coach, Steve Bruce, is also bullish, he is confident the trouble will be over after today despite coming against Manchester United. "We've been to three top clubs, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, and got a result, and then beaten Liverpool at home as well. I know we're capable.” Super Eagles striker, Aluko, has to play his part. He has to show why Bruce should rely on him, it is expected that the former Birmingham player would have done enough in training to make the cut for this one, and if it means adding to his solitary goal in 24 matches to help the team, then he has to do that.

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